Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video GRANVILLE In 1972, a toddler named Howard Hodgie White died unexpectedly. At the time, Hodgies death was ruled an accident, despite a series of abuse allegations, but new evidence led to a reexamination of the case in 1994. Hodgies father, David J. Pope, was then convicted in the death of the child, and in 1995, he was sentenced to 25 years tolife at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, where he died in 2012. After Hodgies death in 1972, David Pope and Hodgies mother, Mae White, were married and had several more children, all of whom suffered at their fathers hands and spent time in and out of foster care. They were time and time again, returned to a torturous environment. Mike Pope, the youngest of the children called his time with David sheer hell. You lived in fear every day. You didnt know when the next slap was coming, or kick, or stomp, Mike said in a recent interview. Basically, if he hit you and you fell down, hed stomp on you. Mike Pope said he was locked in a cellar and denied soap to bathe. Growing up, I had to hunt, fish for my own food. I ate a lot of stuff I shouldnt have eaten, he said. Bugs, snakes, lots of squirrels, rabbits, (and) birds. Given time, and with the help of professional counselors, Mike Pope said hes come to a certain level of understanding regarding his fathers abuse. Mike Pope is an active member of a Facebook group called Hodgies Hope, which was started by Tom and Connie Aiken to connect victims of abuse with each other and with outside support systems. Tom Aiken was the investigator who helped to put David Pope behind bars in 1994. He and Connie wrote a book together, published earlier this year, entitled Now They Lay me Down to Rest. Mike Pope said he hopes telling his story, and working with the Aikens promoting their book, will bring greater awareness about abuse, how it affects families, and how it can be hidden in plain sight. For him to do the things he did, Mike said of his father, he had to have some screws loose upstairs. So I can almost I wouldnt say forgive him for it but I can understand, kind of. In his opinion, however, his mother is guilty of a far worse betrayal. My mother could have stopped it and chose not to, he added. She knew he killed her son, and she continued to have kids with him. Mike Pope said his parents never talked much about Hodgie, and Mike himself didnt think much about his brother until after his fathers trial in 1994. We knew we had a brother who died, and we were told the same thing everybody else was he swallowed a chicken bone, he said. In the book, the Aikens allege that county health and service officials were negligent and worked to cover it up, in multiple cases. In Hodgies case, the negligence contributed to his death. Mike Pope added that he and his siblings were continually returned to his abusive parents. I told Child Protective Services workers, teachers at school, guidance counselors doctors, law enforcement police officers in Granville, and nothing was done, he said. I was told several times, We need your sister to come forward, because she was being sexually abused. Mike Pope said his and his brothers cries for help were actually cast as the problem. The doctors report said it wasnt the parents, it was the kids who were punks that didnt want to listen to their parents. Point blank, he said. I can remember that like it was yesterday. Wed go to court, theyd throw us in a foster home for a month or two, then ship us right back home. With no one listening to him, he felt trapped and isolated, Mike Pope said. You feel like, no matter what you do, its wrong. It takes its toll, he said. There is no escape. Its all up here (pointing to his head), and its all in here (pointing to his heart). To this day theres no escape. In 1994, Mike Popes sister, Nellie finally came forward with allegations regarding her fathers sexual abuse. It was an investigation into those allegations that uncovered new testimony about David Popes involvement in Hodgies death. By that time Mike Pope was 18 years old. He had moved out of the house and he said his relationship with his father had gotten better, only to have it ripped away by Aikens investigation. At that time, Id finally got what Id fought for. Id finally got acceptance from my father. All of a sudden he gets arrested and it just took a big part of me, he said. I hated Tom for a long time. Deep down I knew he was right, but I hated him for a long time. Mike Pope was so emotionally wrought over his fathers conviction that he had a hard time reconciling what had happened to Hodgie. It took me a long time to go to the cemetery because I didnt want to blame Hodgie for losing my father, he said. I know what (my father) did was wrong and he needed to be punished. But in my heart I still love him and still want him here. When David Pope died in prison in 2012, Aiken arranged for Mike Pope and his sister to see their fathers body before it was cremated. He was still psychologically controlling us in a way, Mike Pope said at the time. This man controlled us from the day we were born until the day he died. To put this to rest we had to see the body. On the Hodgies Hope Facebook group, Mike Pope tells his story and that is mixed with the facts surrounding Hodgies death as detailed in the Aikens book. It is a message of hope and healing. Be strong and dont give up. Youre not alone, and eventually someones going to be there to help you. It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow, Mike Pope said. If we can help one parent realize what theyre doing is wrong, how it affects their child; and change, then its a success. Progress has been made. At the time of Hodgies death, then-Washington County District Attorney Philip Berke, who prosecuted the case, was very vocal about how uncooperative the Department of Social Services was. They werent cooperative at all and were advised (by the department counsel) not to give the district attorneys office information at all, Berke said in an earlier report by The Post-Star. I had a lot of concerns about that. Berke lobbied which led to the creation of laws requiring mandatory reporting of child abuse by certain professionals who come in contact with children. Counties are now required to create Child Protective Services agencies, and a hotline was set up for child abuse reports. At 47, Mike Pope is a father and a husband himself. He said it has taken him a long time to learn how to let his guard down enough to allow others into his life. One thing I wanted in my adult life and never got, Im never going to get, was just, Im sorry, he said. No big explanation, no, Why this, why that, just, Im sorry. He credits his wife, Julie, with having the compassion and the patience which allowed him the time to finally start accepting love. Now, hes even able to draw from his experiences and the help hes received from others to break the cycle of abuse he suffered. The whole, history repeating itself is a crock of sh-t, he said. If (my father) had the same help that Id had, would he have been a better person? I dont know Theres times when I stop and think I can do better, or be a better person, but its easier said than done. On June 21 this year, more than 50 years after Hodgies death, a eulogy was held for him at his grave site in the North Granville cemetery. Mike Pope, his wife Julie, and their son Braedyn where joined by friends, including Tom and Connie Aiken. The title of the book is, Now They Lay me Down to Rest, Tom Aiken said during the ceremony. Were hopefully giving him that peace and that release that he so much deserves. Although Mike Pope has also found a measure of peace with his past, he said hes still fighting for justice regarding the massive neglect alleged in Aikens book, neglect, which he says destroyed multiple lives. Ive had lawyers tell me theres too many people involved, too much time involved. So theres nothing they could do, he said. As far as Im concerned, New York State owes me a life. Actually they owe me two. The towns of Indian Lake and Blue Mountain in Hamilton County are under a necessity-only travel emergency order. So basically just emergency vehicles coming into Blue Mountain and going into Long Lake and points that way, said Hamilton County Chairperson Brian Wells. The village of Long Lake was hit the hardest by flooding. Wells said a dam was lost as well as a bridge between Long Lake and Newcomb. In Indian lake, Wells said flooding around the water plant is concerning officials, as well as a washed out private road leading to Hemlock Hall and the Minnowbrook Conference Center. Were trying to work on a plan to get their guests out of there, he said. County officials have been partnering with the New York Department of Conservation to clear roads and extract stranded campers and visitors in those areas including Moose River Plains. In Warren County, officials are warning that the Hudson River is expected to rise to a minor flood stage in North Creek this afternoon. Warren County experienced a partial washout on County Route 19 in Chester early this morning, traffic was reduced to one lane there but repairs are expected by this afternoon, said Don Lehman, director of public affairs for Warren County in an email to The Post-Star. "That was our only significant issue so far. Lehman said the biggest regional flooding problems seem to be in Essex and Hamilton counties, and Warren County staff are reaching out to counterparts in those counties to offer assistance as needed. Earlier this morning the National Weather Service in Albany cancelled the Flood Watch that covered all of Washington County. However, the Flood Warning for the Mettawee River in Granville remains in effect until 4 p.m. "We are continuing to work with our local leaders and Public Works personnel to continue monitoring conditions with a strong focus on our local waterways all of which are elevated, moving swiftly and contain debris (in various forms) from the storm - all of great concern for anyone in our communities frequenting the areas immediately around them," said Tim Hardy, deputy director of Public Safety for Washington County. (Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) United States President Joe Biden met with King Charles III on Monday where they talked about various issues, focusing on climate change and China. United States President Joe Biden met with King Charles III on Monday, the first of its kind since the royalty leader's coronation. The two met at Windsor Castle, and the meeting comes a day after the Democratic US leader sat down earlier in the day with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. That discussion was held in London at No. 10 Downing Street, the latter's official residence and office. Joe Biden Meets With King Charles III The two main focal points of Biden and the King's discussions were climate change and China. The former has been a topic that was close to King Charles III's heart since he was just a prince. Biden later said that his talks with King Charles III "went well" after he arrived in Lithuania, posting on Twitter that it was an honor to meet with His Majesty. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also said that the two also talked about Beijing, as per USA Today. The White House noted that Biden and King Charles III's meeting underscored the strength of the relationship between the US and the United Kingdom and the friendship between the two regions' people. Biden's special envoy on climate, former Sen. John Kerry, was also involved in the meeting at Windsor Castle. The White House said that following the discussions, the two leaders met with a group of leading philanthropists and investors focused on mobilizing funds to address the climate crisis. The meeting was also part of the US president's pledge to see the relatively new royal leader after he could not attend the coronation last May. First Lady Jill Biden instead attended that event. During the talks, Biden was particularly focused on what actions could be taken in the insurance industry to provide a safety net for certain investments. According to CNN, Kerry said that another part of the conversations focused on getting multilateral development banks and corporations to work together to reduce risk to the investments. Read Also: Ukraine NATO Bid: Biden Says War With Russia Must End First Talking About Various Issues He noted a lot of capital in the world but argued that some of it was left sitting on the sidelines. Kerry added that the priority now is to accelerate the development of new technologies and the deployment of existing technology, including nuclear, solar, and wind. While Kerry declined to comment on King Charles III's first meeting as monarch on a policy issue, he noted that the two had a "great discussion" and compared it to a briefing for His Majesty. The situation comes as both Biden and King Charles III face challenges of the public being skeptical of their institutions. A professor of history at Boston University and scholar of modern Britain, Arianne Chernock, said that the two are older men at the pinnacle of their careers. She argued that they need to redefine what it meant to be an "older person." Chernock added that the two leaders would need to find new ways to connect with a younger multicultural generation moving forward, said the New York Times. Related Article: Russia Criticizes Turkey Over Alleged Violation of Prisoner Exchange Deal @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. ATLANTIC CITY A little more than halfway into its six-month exclusivity period, the group trying to build a $3.2 billion car-centric development at Bader Field has paid $500,000 to the city, provided information to state agencies and city professionals, and begun soil tests and a traffic study, according to one of its principals. The big requirement is to ... prove various aspects of the proposed development to many state agencies, DEEM Enterprises CEO Erick Feitshans said in a telephone interview Friday. DEEM is transmitting information to the state Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, Board of Public Utilities and more, Feitshans said. The city has said DEEM has engaged with its experts and made payments to it required by the agreement. Since the signing, economic, energy and finance experts from the city have engaged with DEEM over a series of ongoing meetings. We are gathering all information, including all testing that occurred on Bader Field, city spokesperson Alexxus Young said in an email response to questions. So far, DEEM has made the $500,000 escrow payment consistent with the MOU. Mayor Marty Small Sr. signed a memorandum of understanding with DEEM Enterprises March 24, giving it six months to convince the city and state it will be able to create a housing and retail development on Bader Field, with a 2.4-mile auto racetrack for residents use. You have six months to show us what youve got, Small said then. Feitshans, who works in the television and motion picture industry and is based in Los Angeles, said DEEM would have liked a full year exclusivity period but will get as much done as it can in six months. Atlantic City Skate Zone to remain open, Small says ATLANTIC CITY The Atlantic City Skate Zone will remain open as an ice rink until the city On the financial side, DEEM is working to line up $750 million in investment needed to proceed. Thats what is needed to complete the site preparation, Feitshans said. While our project has a budget of $3.2 billion, we dont need to raise all that right now, Feitshans said. DEEM needs to raise $750 million to cover the first phase of building, he said, which would cover the horizontal construction costs related to site remediation, raising the site about six feet, and getting everything ready to build on through infrastructure and design work. One of the key components the state and city need to see as part of the MOU is financial capability, to be able to finance the project, Feitshans said. Were confident we can do it in that amount of time. The group has already spent about $25 million to date, he said, on engineering, architectural and brownfield work over the past few years. DEEM is keeping details confidential about who is investing and the amounts, Feitshans said. He expects DEEM to finalize financing needed to proceed in the next two to six weeks. Institutional real estate, venture capitalists, high-net-worth individuals and automotive and gaming companies have expressed interest in investing, he said. The city also has engaged a number of professionals who are looking at noise abatement, the effect of the development on the environment and property taxes, and more. A big hallmark is we will reduce Atlantic City property taxes in a very significant way, Feitshans said. We have given information over to agencies, they are digesting it and coming back to say we need more information on this or clarification on that. We have just completed giving most of the information to the citys professionals, Feitshans said. In the next month or so, DEEM will get most of those reports back, he said. DEEMs technical team has been drilling test borings at Bader Field for about three weeks, he said. We go down and check the soil and other issues, Feitshans said, that go towards geotechnical process that we must conduct and provide to the city engineer. Its not only for construction but brownfield remediation and other items. There is a plume of aviation fuel under part of the site, and DEEM has said it will clean that up as part of its development. We are also in the middle of conducting a traffic study, Feitshans said, now that the city is in the midst of its highest traffic season. That will continue for the next month to six weeks, he said. Bader Field: A look at the pros and cons of three proposals ATLANTIC CITY Bader Field is the most coveted piece of real estate in the city, which expl The last big item we need to do is test wells for geothermal wells, he said. One of the green initiatives is to use geothermal to heat and cool the buildings. It will be a sustainable development that will use cutting-edge technology in building materials and methods, DEEM representatives have said. Atlantic Shores, which is building an offshore wind farm off Atlantic City, plans to move its electric trunk line across the city. Atlantic Shores ... wants to take it through Bader Field, Feitshans said. We are working with them in a proactive way to work out how it can be done so each side gets what it needs as cost effectively as possible. A hearing on the Atlantic Shores proposal to impact about 11 acres of Green Acres land at Bader Field is set for 6 p.m. July 27 in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 1301 Bacharach Blvd. A second teenager was arrested Thursday in the murder of a 16-year-old in Millville late last month, and two adults have also been charged, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said. The 16-year-old also is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, destruction of evidence, hindering apprehension and obstructing the administration of law. Also on Thursday, Alavion Harris, a 20-year-old Bridgeton resident, was arrested in Jefferson City, Missouri, in the case. Another Bridgeton resident, Nashaloni Harris, 21, is wanted in the murder, the Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday in a news release. Both Harrises are charged with obstructing the administration of law and hindering apprehension, the Prosecutor's Office said. Nashaloni Harris is additionally charged with destruction of evidence. Alavion Harris is in jail in Missouri awaiting extradition to Cumberland County. Their charges stem from a 16-year-old's shooting death June 25. Police found the teenager dead from a gunshot wound on Mount Vernon Street in Bridgeton. Another 16-year-old was arrested June 30 and charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, destruction of evidence, hindering apprehension and obstructing the administration of law. Anyone with information about Nashaloni Harris' whereabouts can call Bridgeton police at 856-392-9031 or the Prosecutor's Office at 856-579-1431. WEST CAPE MAY Work continues on a Sunset Boulevard property thats set to become Cape May Countys first legal cannabis dispensary. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved a class 5 retail license for Tomas Nuscis for Shore House Canna LLC in March. The business had originally planned to open its doors by April 20, often described as a weed holiday, and later advertised a June 30 opening. Now, the store hopes to begin serving customers by Labor Day. Were a little hesitant to put a date on it, said Nicole Melchiorre, one of the principals of Shore House Canna. Thats in part because even with a license, the business is not through with the regulatory process. Renovations continue to transform the building, which had housed a gift shop and a construction company, into a legally compliant weed store. Melchiorre, Nuscis and Dave Christian, another principal in the business, discussed the progress on a recent morning, over the sound of circular saws and while waiting for the wire guy who was set to arrive by 11. Melchiorre said the work will likely take about two more weeks, and when it is complete, the business will be ready for inspection by a staff member from the commission. That process will take at least a month, she said, and some businesses have waited 60 days so far. The commission will want to review the business layout, especially security measures. Nuscis did not want to discuss any of the security measures for, well, security reasons, but Christian indicated they are extensive. Jersey Shore towns say state's marijuana law handcuffs police and emboldens rowdy teens Officials and residents of several New Jersey shore towns say the states law decriminalizing marijuana use is having an unintended effect: emboldening large groups of teenagers to run amok on beaches and boardwalks. Its the most secure facility in Cape May County, Christian said. After the state approval, the business will be set to open. In addition to being the only cannabis dispensary in the county, it will also be the only one in a Jersey beach town, with the notable exception of Atlantic City. While Atlantic City has leaned in to the new industry, with hopes of adding legal weed as a major tourism attraction, most beach communities have said no to allowing cannabis businesses. That includes nearby Cape May. West Cape May was one of the few Cape May County communities that said yes to allowing cannabis businesses, which also included Middle and Lower townships. There is a local benefit. New Jerseys cannabis regulations allow towns with cannabis dispensaries to impose a 2% tax on sales, above the existing taxes. Nuscis did not have an estimate for how much money that could mean for the borough each year but said other communities have brought in enough for a firetruck or new playground equipment. Melchiorre and Nuscis also declined to provide much detail on finances, aside from saying the expenses continued to climb. A lot, was how Nuscis described the costs so far. They said the startup costs can be a considerable obstacle for new businesses, even if the owner is able to acquire a state license. They purchased the building and are putting extensive amounts into renovations. It also costs money to hire attorneys and consultants to shepherd the application through a lengthy state regulatory process, and the costs have not finished adding up. Decline in Teen Binge Drinking Seen With Implementation of Recreational Cannabis TUESDAY, June 27, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Implementation of recreational cannabis laws (RCLs) was associated with increased past-month binge drinking in adults aged 31 years, but decreases in binge drinking in those aged <21 years, according to a study published in the August issue of the International Journal of Drug Policy. That is before investing in the product itself, which will be purchased through wholesalers, not grown on site. For now, that market is dominated by multistate businesses that are growing and producing weed and cannabis products in New Jersey. More local businesses are on the way, Melchiorre said, but they are going through the same startup process and will not have product ready when Shore House Canna opens its doors. Customers will enter from the front of the building, after their IDs are checked by a security guard. There will be displays for edibles, tinctures and flower along the walls and a seashore-themed center table, where customers can place their order through a tablet. The plan is for customers to be able to see and smell the cannabis buds before purchase, using secure containers. In New Jersey, customers are not allowed to touch marijuana before buying it. Christian said there will be staff to help customers with ordering and to answer any questions. As he described it, the business will aim for a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, less austere than some of the spots that started operations in a medical-only market, and more personal than what has been described in California as an Apple store for weed. He and other staff members have visited other dispensaries in New Jersey and traveled to more mature markets in Colorado and Massachusetts. Customers who know what they want will be able to order ahead online. There is also a walk-up window for people to pick up their purchases. Plans continue to evolve, Melchiorre said. Our point-of-sale counter has been recreated five or six times now, she said. That counter is partially built, running along one side of the store. Once a purchase is complete, customers will exit at the back of the property. Legalizing Marijuana Tied to More Binge Drinking in Folks Over 30 WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- A growing number of states are legalizing marijuana for recreational use, and it may be leading to an unexpected side effect among millennials and Gen Xers: binge drinking. The team emphasized that no consumption lounge is under consideration, and there will be no smoking or ingestion allowed in the store or parking area. That has been a repeated concern from community members, Nuscis said. I use the example of, if you buy a bottle of wind in the liquor store, do you drink it in the store? he said. Borough officials have been extremely cooperative, they said, and both police and firefighters have visited the site and toured the building while construction is underway. Christian expects edibles what New Jersey refers to as soft lozenges to be popular, especially among adults who are interested in trying cannabis now that it is legal, and for those who may not have indulged since their college days. But the largest market remains the flowers. The store is about 1,500 feet from the beach, Nuscis said, and just over the town line from Cape May. He said Cape May County goes from about 100,000 people in the winter to millions in the summer, and he expects interest from many of the summer visitors, but he does not think Shore House Canna will be a strictly seasonal business. In part, he cited Cape Mays nearly year-round appeal. This town, you know, it doesnt stop, Nuscis said. OCEAN CITY With a wind power project proposed off the beach taking a big step forward this week, Mayor Jay Gillian on Thursday criticized the approval process and called offshore energy production a crazy gamble. City officials have expressed skepticism about the Ocean Wind 1 project since its proposal, but at the City Council meeting, Gillian went farther than usual, offering a blunt assessment of the project, describing the approval process as rushed and suggesting most of the benefits would flow to a foreign company. Ocean Wind 1, owned by the Danish energy company rsted, received its record of decision from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Wednesday, clearing a major hurdle and opening the way for construction to begin. The company expects to begin onshore work in the fall and start offshore work on 98 huge wind turbines starting about 15 miles off the beach in 2024. A recent projection indicates the turbines will begin generating power in 2025, and when completed the project is expected to power about 500,000 homes. An announcement from the company Wednesday included quotes from elected officials and environmental advocacy groups describing the project as a vital step toward a cleaner energy future, and stating the new wind industry will bring good-paying jobs to the state, in the construction phase and in the long term. As proposed, it will be the largest offshore wind power project on the East Coast and the first such project in New Jersey, but many more projects are working through the planning and approval process. Gov. Phil Murphy and company representatives celebrated the approval Wednesday. By preparing to begin onshore construction this fall, Ocean Wind 1 will help bring New Jersey one crucial step closer to achieving a 100% clean energy economy by 2035 and 11,000 MW of offshore wind power by 2040, Murphy said. New Jersey governor signs tax break for Orsted's offshore wind farm New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a bill giving a tax break to Danish offshore wind developer Orsted for the first of two energy projects it plans to place in the waters off the Jersey Shore. And he faces pressure from another offshore wind company looking for similar assistance. The governors office said he would sign the bill, allowing Orsted to keep federal tax credits that it otherwise would have been required to pass along to New Jersey utility ratepayers. Another offshore wind project, Atlantic Shores, also wants government aid for its own project off the southern New Jersey coast. But the reaction was far different in Ocean City. During his report to council, Gillian painted the project as reckless and the approval process as exceedingly fast, with the potential impacts and costs still largely unknown. Despite the thousands of pages of paper masquerading as a complete review of the projects impact, we still have absolutely no idea what this will cost the states taxpayers and ratepayers, and what benefits we might see in return, Gillian said, reading from a prepared statement. One thing is certain, everyones electricity bill is going up. Ocean City and Cape May County held off on approving the route power lines will use to land wind turbine-generated electricity. As proposed, the lines will run under Ocean City at 35th Street and along Roosevelt Boulevard in Upper Township to reach a new substation at the former B.L. England power plant in the Beesleys Point section. In 2021, a state law took the decision on the use of the right-of-ways from Ocean City and the county, instead giving it to the Board of Public Utilities. Local officials condemned the move as a significant erosion of New Jerseys principal of home rule. Both Gillian and city Administrator George Savastano alleged the approval process moved far too quickly. Gillian cited the extensive approval process required for beach replenishment projects and for a proposal to used dredged material to rebuild a marshy island in the bay known as Shooting Island. I cant even move mud from Snug Harbor over to build up Shooting Island because of environmental issues, Gillian said. He criticized the recent state approval to transfer federal tax credits to Ocean Wind 1, money he said should have gone to ratepayers and taxpayers. New Jersey governor signs tax break for rsted's offshore wind farm Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill Thursday giving a tax break to Danish offshore wind developer rsted for the first of two energy projects it plans to place in the waters off the Jersey Shore. Thats over $20 million out of our pockets into rsteds, Gillian said. Instead of worrying about what the Kardashians are wearing, maybe well worry about where the money is going. He added that the billions to be spent on offshore wind could be spent to help communities and residents deal with the effects of climate change, including raising homes and infrastructure above future flood levels. Theyre scaring everybody with global warming, he said. Savastano, who is an engineer, argued the federal environmental impact statement and other documents compared the proposed project to the potential harm from climate change, as though the single project could reduce the impact of carbon in the atmosphere. Vague references to climate change replaced actual specifics across much of the documents, Savastano said. He suggested that at thousands of pages, the federal environmental impact statement seemed designed to keep people from reading it all. Everyone here, I believe, here is for green energy. We all want to help with climate change, Savastano said. But that does not mean he supports the offshore wind project. Gillian suggested nuclear power or solar energy as potentially better options for electricity without burning fossil fuels that release carbon into the atmosphere. Council member Bob Barr said the federal decision infuriated him. Can we appeal? Can we challenge? he asked. To me, this is complete and utter nonsense. US gives go-ahead for Orsted's New Jersey offshore wind farm to start construction The federal government has given the go-ahead for New Jerseys first offshore wind farm to begin construction. It cleared the way Wednesday for the first of at least three such projects in a state trying to become the East Coast leader in wind energy. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved a construction and operations plan for Ocean Wind I, which would be built by Danish wind energy company Orsted off the coast of Atlantic City. The wind farm would power 500,000 homes. Other approvals remain to be granted, but Orsted plans to start construction this fall, The company hopes to have power flowing by 2025. He asked city attorney Dottie McCrosson what could be done. She said she would be happy to speak with him outside of the public session. I dont think this is the time or place, she said. Gillian compared the project approval process at the state and federal levels to the governments pandemic response. If COVID taught us anything, its that theyre going to tell us what to do: The few, Gillian said. He also suggested that once the project reaches the end of its useful life, the huge monopiles could be left in the ocean. There are a lot of politicians who are desperate to see clean energy as a part of their legacy, Gillian said. It sure seems that in the rush to achieve green energy, the legacy will be an obstacle course of failed and wildly expensive structures running the length of the East Coast. Officials with Ocean Wind 1 said the project is expected to have an operational life of 35 years, after which the structures will be removed from the ocean. In an emailed response to questions Friday, rsted spokesperson Stephanie Francoeur said, It is anticipated that all structures above the seabed level or aboveground will be completely removed. Ocean Wind 1 receives federal approval; offshore work to start next year Ocean Wind 1 announced it received its Record of Decision from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which falls under the U.S. Department of the Interior. Onshore work is expected to start this fall, while offshore construction is expected to start next year. Citing federal law governing the offshore construction, she continued, The decommissioning sequence will generally be the reverse of the construction sequence, will involve similar types and numbers of vessels, and will use similar equipment. Plans call for up to 98 wind turbine generators within the project lease area, which will be visible from the beach. The upper tip of the wind turbine blade will be more than 900 feet above the water, with each turbine describing a circle with a diameter of more than 500 feet, set on a monopile in an underwater foundation. The structures will be visible from the beach, if built as proposed. Be assured, we will continue to fight, Gillian said. In the Region No Change in Uzbekistan Until At Least 2037 When Shavkat Mirziyoev became Uzbekistans leader in late 2016 he made a lot of promises about changing the way the country was governed. There were hopes inside and outside Uzbekistan that badly needed social, political, and economic reforms were coming. On July 9, Uzbekistan conducted a snap presidential election. Mirziyoev predictably won the election, receiving 87.05 percent of the votes. None of Mirziyoevs three opponents in the poll managed to get more than 4.5 percent of the votes. The real losers were anyone who still held out hope that there really could be a new Uzbekistan, as Mirziyoev promised many times. The titles of reports and headlines of articles about the Uzbek presidential election in the days before polling stations opened showed how low expectations were. RFE/RLs headline aptly summed up the sentiment: Little Mystery Over Final Result As Uzbeks Prepare To Vote For President. Human Rights Watch released a report on July 7 entitled Uzbekistans Election Highlights Lost Hopes for Reform. A Voice of America article on July 8 had the headline Disillusioned Uzbeks Prepare to Reelect Mirziyoyev. Al Jazeera wrote Uzbekistan presidential election: No choice amid apathy and heat. Only registered political parties can nominate candidates. There are five registered political parties in Uzbekistan. Two of them the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and Milli Tiklanish (National Revival) party supported Mirziyoev. The snap election was announced just days after the April 30 referendum on amendments to the constitution. Among those amendments was one extending the presidential term from five to seven years. Constitutional experts in Uzbekistan ruled that change annulled the two five-year terms Mirziyoev already won, freeing him to run two more times and potentially remain in power until 2037. Why Its Important: Any hope for political reforms, especially allowing genuine opposition parties or independent candidates to participate, seems dead, for now. It is not just a pity for Uzbekistan, but for all of Central Asia. Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia with more than 36 million people and it borders all the other Central Asian states. If Mirziyoev had kept all his promises on greater participation in politics for the people, and respect for independent media (See this weeks Majlis podcast), it might have encouraged neighbors to follow Uzbekistans example. As it is, this snap election shows Uzbekistans system of government appears to have changed little. Falling Russian Ruble Is Bad News for Remittances On July 7, Kyrgyzstans National Bank set the daily exchange rate of one Russian ruble as worth slightly less than one Kyrgyz som. The exchange rate of the U.S. dollar is about 87 Kyrgyz som to $1. On July 8, the Russian rubles value dropped further to around 93 to one U.S. dollar. Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina attributed the rubles decline to falling exports. The ruble has lost 23 percent of its value in 2023. That will have a big effect on the estimated six million Central Asian migrant laborers in Russia, and on remittances sent to their families back in Central Asia. Why Its Important: In 2022, remittances accounted for 31 percent of GDP in Kyrgyzstan and some 51 percent of GDP in Tajikistan. In Uzbekistan remittances averaged around 12-13 percent of GDP, but in 2022 remittances nearly tripled and made up some 21 percent of GDP. Remittances sent to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have become invaluable to hundreds of thousands of people in those countries who are unemployed and underemployment remains high. Remittances to Central Asia increased in the first four months of 2023 with transfers to Uzbekistan up by 21 percent. Most of these remittances are coming from Russia. The resilience of remittances from Russia is partially due to more people from Central Asia going to Russia in 2022 and 2023 to find work. If the ruble continues to drop in value or remains at current levels, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are likely to see a significant drop in remittances in the last half of 2023. It will be a problem for Central Asian migrant laborers also. There is no work back home in their countries and, due to language and visa problems, limited options for going to other countries. The Latest Majlis Podcast This weeks Majlis podcast looks at Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoevs failure to keep his promises to journalists. Mirziyoev has said several times he supports the media, and he has encouraged journalists to uncover shortcomings and corruption in state and society. A recent report from the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights details how journalists and bloggers have ended up in prison for reporting on topics Mirziyoev urged them to bring to light. This weeks guests are: Umida Niyazova, Director at the Germany-based Uzbek Forum for Human Rights; and Matthew Schaaf, Advocacy Director at the Washington-based organization Freedom Now. What I'm Following New China-Afghanistan Route Starts Operation A train left Lanzhou, China on July 4 bound for Afghanistan via Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The multimodal route uses trains from Lanzhou to Kashgar in Xinjiang, where cargo is loaded on trucks that carry the cargo to Kyrgyzstans train station at Osh. From Osh, the goods will go by train to Tashkent. That section of the trip will take 12 days. From Tashkent the train goes to Afghanistan. Number Two Guy in Kyrgyzstan Against the Matronymic Last week, we looked at the controversy over one woman in Kyrgyzstan wanting to give her children a matronymic, a middle name that shows they are her children instead of the patronymic that refers to the childrens fathers. Kyrgyzstans Constitutional Court agreed and ruled legislation should allow use of the matronymic. Kamchybek Tashiev is the head of Kyrgyzstans State Committee for National Security and President Sadyr Japarovs righthand man. Tashiev wrote on Facebook that whoever (made the decision) should cancel it! Tashiev said that was his personal opinion, but he is a powerful figure in Kyrgyzstan. The battle for equal gender rights is far from over in Kyrgyzstan. Fact of the Week Kyrgyz officials estimate water shortages will leave the reservoir of the countrys main supplier of electricity the Toktogul hydropower plant with two billion cubic meters less water than anticipated. That will translate into a shortage of some three-billion kilowatt hours of electricity during the coming autumn-winter period. Thanks for Reading Thanks for reading Central Asia in Focus! I appreciate you sharing it with other readers who may be interested. Feel free to contact me on Twitter or by responding to this email, especially if you have any questions, comments, or just want to connect about topics concerning Central Asia. See you next week for more on whats happening in Central Asia. Until next time, Bruce Stars Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha will return to voice their characters for season 2 of the audio sci-fi thriller series Virus 2062. The series is the Hindi adaptation of the Chilean audio series Caso 63. Speaking about his role in the audio series, Fazal said: In season two of Virus 2062, my character of Peter Pereira returns, stranded in a lost future. It has been both exciting and enriching to return to this show and continue to expand my creativity voicing this extraordinary world, in a podcast, and I hope the audience enjoys listening to this season as much as we enjoyed making it. Chadha, who returns as Dr Gayatri Rajput in the series, said, Following the success of season one, reprising my role as Dr Gayatri Rajput for the second season of Virus 2062 has been an exciting challenge. In season two, we emerge in a new timeline, where Gayatri has to grapple with a reversal of roles and a new reality. The sci-fi thriller audio series focuses on the character of Peter Perera (Ali Fazal) who tells Dr Gayatri (Richa Chadha) that he is a time traveler from the year 2062 who has come back to the past to save the world from getting destroyed by a deadly pandemic. IANS Eyebrows have been raised at the scant utilisation of the COVID-19 donation funds by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Civic official says it can be used for other healthcare purposes. However, with the pandemic long gone, the remaining amount is adorning the coffers. Out of the total of Rs 8 crore received from citizens and various organisations to tackle the challenges posed by the pandemic, only Rs 1.3 crore was utilised for the procurement of beds and ventilators at the civic bodys facilities. The PMC has earned an interest of Rs 54,39,479 on the remaining amount. The issue came to light after Vivek Velankar, president of the Sajjan Nagarik Mancha, received information through the Open Day when citizens can access information by inspecting files under the Right to Information (RTI) Act every Monday between 3 pm and 5 pm. The inspection revealed that the municipal corporation received a donation of Rs 4.89 crore in March 2020 and an additional Rs 3.10 crore in 2020-21. These funds were intended to enhance healthcare infrastructure, provide medical supplies and equipment, support vaccination campaigns, and implement measures to curb the spread of the virus. However, PMC's inability to efficiently disburse the designated funds has raised serious questions about its management with citizens expressing their frustration and disappointment. They argue that stringent measures should be put in place to prevent such lapses in the future and safeguard the health and well-being of the residents. Citizens and various organisations donated money to PMC, so that people could get some help during the pandemic, but the civic body failed in providing any help. The conditions in many government hospitals remain pathetic. From now on, people would be hesitant to donate money if any pandemic-like situation occurs in the future because of the underutilisation of funds, said Velankar. When Mirror reached out to PMCs health department, Dr. Bhagwan Antu Pawar said that he was not aware of the issue and would check the documents in this regard. There is no provision regarding the fund allocation. The COVID-19 fund can be used for building medical infrastructure and a better healthcare facility. It is not limited to only Covid-related usage. The allocation of funds is looked after by the municipal commissioner, added Pawar. Many citizens and health experts expressed their concern and said they would be reluctant to donate during times of public crisis. Hospitals have reported shortages of essential medical supplies, a lack of ICU beds, and insufficient medical staff. With the help of funds, all these issues could have been resolved, they added. Dr. Avinash Bhondave, a leading health expert, said, This is very tragic because many government hospitals and dispensaries lack good infrastructure. They need more modern equipment; PMC could have used the fund amount to better its healthcare service. The donation money didnt serve any good to people, but the civic body still has the chance to use it for the hospitals which are deprived of good medical infrastructure. A man accused of cutting a Davenport police officer on the face in April awaits sentencing after accepting a plea agreement. The officer was hurt during an arrest early on April 13 in the 2800 block of Diehn Avenue, according to Scott County court records. Authorities accuse Samuel E. Cheatheam, 45, of Davenport, of wielding the knife and he faced 11 charges as a result. Those charges included willful injury causing serious injury and three counts of assault on persons in certain occupations, according to court records. On Friday, Cheatheam pleaded guilty to willful injury causing bodily injury; interference with official actsdangerous weapon; eludingsecond or subsequent violation; driving while barred and possession of controlled substancesecond offense, court records state. The new willful injury charge was a lesser version of the one initially filed against Cheatheam, court records state. He pleaded to the other four counts as originally charged. The drug charge stems from an allegation that Cheatheam had methamphetamine. Police were looking for Cheatheam that morning because hed fled a traffic stop about 1:18 a.m. at the HyVee at 3019 Rockingham Road, court records state. Police attempted the stop on a 2001 white Ford Mustang that was illegally parked in a handicapped zone in the store parking lot and was suspected of casing other vehicles in the area. Officers later found the unoccupied Mustang in the alley near 2809 Diehn Ave. and saw Cheatheam standing nearby, records show. When officers approached him to make an arrest, Cheatheam brandished a knife, according to Scott County court records. The blade was more than 5 inches long. Cheatheam is accused of stabbing the officer in the nose during the ensuing struggle, records state. At the time of Cheatheams arrest, authorities said the officers injury could cause permanent disfigurement. An update on the officer was not immediately available Monday. Cheatheams plea was part of an agreement with the Scott County Attorneys Office, records state. In return the remaining charges will be dismissed at Cheatheams expense. Other elements of the plea agreement include prosecutors recommending the sentences for the five charges be served at the same time instead of back to back, court records state. In that arrangement, Cheatheam could serve up to five years. He will also have to pay damages, the amount of which will depend on the wounded officers medical expenses, court records state. District Court Judge Patrick McElyea has ordered a presentence investigation ahead of Cheatheams sentencing. Such investigations provide a background report on a person scheduled for sentencing. Those reports are meant to aid the judge in determining the appropriate sentence. Cheatheam is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 31, court records state. This week marks a dark and troubling anniversary. On July 10, 2020 Breasia Terrell was reported missing. In the days, weeks and months that followed, multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, searched fields and waterways throughout Scott and Clinton counties in a desperate search for the 10-year-old. Her remains were found near DeWitt on March 22, 2021. Just days after Breasia's disappearance, Henry Earl Dinkins was arrested and charged with violating Iowa's Sex Offender Registry. He was the only person of interest named in Breasia's disappearance and was charged with her kidnapping and murder on May 5, 2021. Dinkins has a long criminal history that started decades ago. He was convicted of third-degree sexual assault Aug. 23, 1990 his first offense. He was 17 at the time of the crime and was found guilty of assaulting a girl 13 years old or younger. Dinkins is considered a Tier III offender, the most severe of the three Iowa sex offense tiers. It means the offender committed violence or threatened violence during the assault. His trial for Breasia's murder is to get underway in Cedar Rapids on Aug. 8. A winding road to Cedar Rapids Scott County District Judge Henry Latham scheduled Dinkins' trial in Linn County. That decision was reached in December of 2022, after seven continuances had been granted in the murder case. The legal process of moving Dinkins' trial from Scott County began when Latham granted a defense motion for a change of venue on March 30, 2022. The Iowa Supreme Court chose the Linn County Courthouse on April 22, 2022. The attorneys who won Dinkins' venue change are not the attorneys who will represent him at trial. In fact, Dinkins has had three different teams of attorneys since his arrest in July of 2020. He is now represented by Chad and Jennifer Frese, who were appointed to the case April 12, 2022 after Dinkins successfully argued he could not be represented by Miguel Puentes and Kyle Worby. Dinkins has been held in three different jails. He was moved from the Scott County Jail to the Clinton County Jail after the discovery of Breasia's body and is currently being held in Marshall County Jail. That move was made to put him closer to his attorneys. What happened to Breasia? On July 10, 2020, officers were sent to 2744 E. 53rd St., Apt. 8, to investigate Breasia's disappearance. Officers spoke to Dinkins, who told police Breasia was missing when he woke up. Dinkins also told police she had never run away before. Dinkins' girlfriend, Andrea Culberson, told police she fell asleep at 11 p.m. or midnight July 9. She said when she went to sleep, Dinkins was on the couch in the living room and Breasia and her half-brother were asleep in the bedroom. While investigators questioned Dinkins and Culberson, the Davenport Police acted quickly in the hours following Breasia's disappearance. Five search warrants were executed on that day: A warrant to search Dinkins cellphone, a black Samsung phone, was signed by a judge at 1:15 p.m. A warrant to search a motor home was signed by a judge at 2:21 p.m. A search warrant requesting DNA swabs from Dinkins mouth and under his fingernails, and pictures of Dinkins' body, was signed by a judge at 5:26 p.m. A search warrant requesting penile swabs from Dinkins was signed at 6:53 p.m. At some point on July 10, a search warrant was executed on the Chevrolet Impala Dinkins was known to drive. Dinkins' statements and those first made by Culberson offered no explanation for what happened to Breasia, but evidence collected by investigators offered a glimpse of what prosecutors have pieced together. Some of that evidence was revealed in court records. According to a search warrant, Culberson told police she woke up about 3 a.m. July 10 and discovered Breasia and Dinkins gone. She attempted to call Dinkins, but he had left his cell phone at the apartment. At 7:17 a.m. Culberson texted Dinkins asking where he was. She said he returned home after that text. When Dinkins came home he picked up his cell phone and then left, saying he was going to look for Breasia. According to the search warrant, Dinkins' phone records show Culberson attempted to call Dinkins at 3:11 a.m. and 3:12 a.m. Phone records indicate Dinkins' phone was off when the calls were made. She called Dinkins again at 5:55 a.m., and the call duration was 40 seconds. Phone records also show an outgoing call to Culberson that is 10 seconds long at 6:01 a.m. Culberson attempted to call Dinkins again at 7:12 a.m. and 7:15 a.m., but Dinkins' phone was off during those times. Dinkins had access to multiple vehicles, including a 2012 black Chevrolet Camaro and a 2007 Chevrolet Impala. The Impala was located within several blocks of the police department, while the Camaro was in the parking lot of 2744 E. 53rd St. and was impounded by police. On July 14, Culberson asked to speak to detectives. In a follow-up interview, she said she had put Dinkins phone on a phone charger at 3 a.m., something she had not told police before. She also denied trying to call Dinkins even though Verizon's phone records show she called him at approximately 3:11 a.m. and 3:12 a.m. She also disclosed she had seen Dinkins after 3 a.m. on July 10 before he left again. She also said she saw a girl she believed to be Breasia standing outside by Dinkins red Impala. Dinkins' cell phone was tracked to Clinton, where he was seen on video footage at 7:04 a.m. at Walmart buying two bottles of bleach. Dinkins then was tracked back to his trailer on Schmidt Road in Davenport at 8:20 a.m. (Photo : Adam Berry/Getty Images) Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly held a meeting with Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin a few days after the mercenary group's failed rebellion against Moscow's military leadership. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly met with Wagner group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin a few days after the mercenary group's failed rebellion against Moscow's military leadership. In a statement on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the meeting between Putin and Prigozhin only lasted three hours and was held on June 29. He also released a few details regarding the discussions but noted that the Russian strongman provided an "assessment" of Wagner's actions on the battlefield and the failed mutiny. Putin Met With Prigozhin Days After Failed Mutiny Peskov said that the commanders presented their version of what happened during those times, underscoring that they were staunch supporters and soldiers of the head of state and the commander-in-chief. They also committed to continue fighting for their homeland. The Russian president spent the next few days after the thwarted rebellion discrediting the Wagner chief and claiming that the Russian people did not support Prigozhin's mutinous takeover of Roston-on-Don and his group's march toward Moscow, as per Fox News. However, Putin's claims contradict the seemingly positive images after Wagner's bloodless rebellion. The mercenary group took over the southern city, which also serves as the headquarters of the Russian southern military district command. There were about 35 people who attended the meeting between Putin and Prigozhin last month, including top commanders from the Wagner group. However, it needed to be made clear whether or not raking Ministry of Defense officials were also present during the talks. The mercenary group leader had repeatedly claimed that he was not rebelling against Putin, only the latter's top military commanders. These include Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov, whom Prigozhin said mistreated Wagner troops fighting in Ukraine. The Wagner group's failed rebellion ended with charges against Prigozhin being dropped and offered a move to Belarus. According to BBC, the mercenary group and the Russian Ministry of Defense have had infighting over the conduct of the war as Prigozhin accused officials of failing to provide supplies to his group. Read Also: Russia Criticizes Turkey Over Alleged Violation of Prisoner Exchange Deal Thwarting the Wagner Group's Rebellion The situation comes as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who brokered the deal that ended Wagner's rebellion, said that Prigozhin was in Russia on Thursday. The latter's private jet was initially tracked flying to Belarus in late June and returned to Russia later that evening. There were also speculations that the mercenary group's rebellion was thwarted in exchange for Gerasimov being removed from his post. However, he was later seen on footage issuing orders to attack Ukrainian missile sites. The meeting was seen as an attempt by Putin to avoid completely removing an experienced fighting force that has a popular following while Russia is in the middle of a very costly war with Ukraine. Some analysts argued that the Russian president could also see the rebellion as little more than a factional feud that went out of control. The director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Alexander Gabuev, said that he was not assuming that Prigozhin was immediately back on Putin's good side, said the New York Times. Related Article: Turkey Supports Sweden's NATO Membership, Paving Way to Stockholm's Accession @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A 27-year-old man sustained injuries Monday in a crash on Interstate 80 near Davenport. Davenport police officers, firefighters and Medic Ambulance responded about 7:23 a.m. to investigate a report of a crash on I-80 just east of U.S. 61, Davenport Police Department spokesman Owen Farrell said. When they arrived, they found a single-vehicle crash and the apparent driver, whose injuries were considered serious but not life threatening. Authorities sent the man, the sole occupant of the vehicle, to the hospital via ambulance, Farrell said, adding that he thought a MedForce helicopter was called to the scene but was not used. The injured mans identity was not available late Monday morning. Officials briefly closed I-80 while they handled the crash but it has since been reopened, Farrell said. The Iowa State Patrol and Scott County Sheriffs Office assisted at the scene. Further details of the crash, which is believed to have involved a Ford F-150, were not available Monday morning, Farrell said. The investigation was ongoing. MedForce and the Davenport Fire Department had not yet responded to requests for information. A Davenport tattoo shop owner has had one question for property management of the Executive Square building, which was tagged by the city as uninhabitable a month ago because of areas of structural concern. Will they ever be able to move back in? Ryan Kistenmacher, who opened Obscura Tattoo & Gallery in the 4th Street building in downtown Davenport, has been waiting for an answer. Its been extremely frustrating, Kistenmacher said. Its hard to know what to do when youve not been given options. Its a guessing game, and Im hoping someone gets back to me. On Monday, he said, he got his first glimpse of hope from property management of 400 and 410 Main St., he said, who told him his belongings would be safe and he should be able to return fairly soon to his business. On June 8, city staff and structural engineers found Executive Square had areas of structural concern and ordered the remaining five residential units evacuated. Being adjacent to 324 Main St., which partially collapsed May 28, the city had already ordered most tenants out of the building. Kistenmacher looked at other commercial spaces, he said, but rents were considerably higher than his lease at Executive Square, where he opened shop three years ago. Hes willing to go if the building owner wont make repairs. But hed prefer to stay put, because customers know where hes located and it would save the trouble of moving and remodeling to meet health codes for tattoo shops. I just want to hear a definitive answer, Kistenmacher said. City staff have advised residential and business tenants that they can retrieve their things to move out. In absence of confirmation from the property management, some residential tenants have left. Andrew Sommer, who lived at Executive Square with his toddler son, estimates hes spent more than $4,000 between spending nights in a hotel, buying food out, putting a deposit on a new place, and paying first months rent. I was pretty much depleting all of my emergency fund. I was scared. I really was, Sommer said. Areas of structural concern As other buildings and businesses adjacent to the collapse reopened, Executive Square did not. The city requested the property owner, Kerr Enterprises, LLC, obtain a structural engineering report, Sarah Ott, Chief Strategy Officer for the city wrote in an email, and make repairs before tenants could re-occupy. The property owner is responsible for selecting and hiring a professional engineer to assess the structure and a contractor to complete necessary repairs in accordance with the engineers specifications, Ott wrote. The City will reinspect after the repairs have been completed and prior to reoccupation. Ott directed questions on a timeline of repairs to the property owner. Village Property Management, which manages Executive Square and was the company managing The Davenport, did not respond to questions from a reporter, asking whether it would make repairs and when tenants could move back in. No permits appear to have been pulled at 400 or 410 Main St. in the past month, according to Davenports online portal. The most recent permit pulled at 400 Main St., according to the citys website, was in March for electrical work. The inspection on that permit was marked fail. The last at 410 Main St., was a plumbing permit, which passed. A Band-Aid on a hatchet wound The closure came just as Obscura was taking off, Kistenmacher said. They entered the Locals Love Us contest among 20-some other tattoo shops, he said. We got third, and I was super proud of that, he said. I felt like the business was on the right track. Being booked out a year, I thought things were going great and then its like the rug was pulled out from underneath us. In the meantime, another tattoo shop allows him to operate there and fulfill appointments, but he must work around their availability. He isnt booking new appointments, he said, until its clear whether he can move back to Executive Square. He received the $5,000 from the City of Davenport for adjacent downtown businesses closed by the collapse at 324 Main St., but between paying bills and sharing the money with a second artist at Obscura, he said the aid is like, trying to put a Band-Aid on a hatchet wound. Sommer, the resident at Executive Square, was among those who received $1,000 as a resident of a building evacuated because of the building collapse. But because of income restrictions, he didnt qualify for state or other local aid. Initially, Sommer moved into a studio at 324 Main St. in early 2022, he said, but he needed more space and had frequent problems; air conditioning didnt work and his plumbing needed fixes. Later that fall, he moved around the corner to the Executive Square building, which was managed by the same company. Almost immediately after their apartment building was evacuated, Sommer started looking for a new place. Right off the bat, I knew moving back in wasnt an option, he said. The Rock Island-Milan School District announced a tentative schedule for its ongoing superintendent search, with a goal of hiring a permanent superintendent to start next summer. According to the schedule which is subject to change the Request for Quotes (RFQs) for superintendent search teams were due on Monday. The remaining schedule is as follows: July 18: Special Board Meeting to review RFQs July 25: Interview RFQ candidates, if needed Once a search firm is selected, the Rock Island-Milan school board will collaborate with the firm to discuss possible community meetings. According to the districts announcement, the goal is to hire a full-time superintendent this winter with the individual starting on July 1, 2024. Boucher will serve through the first semester of the 2023-2024 school year. The school board will choose an interim superintendent for the second semester at a later date. The Iowa Capitol will be ground zero for state abortion policy Tuesday. Advocates on both sides of the issue plan to fill the Capitol as lawmakers consider legislation to severely restrict abortion access in the state. Iowa lawmakers meet today in a special session to consider a bill that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat defined as cardiac activity, the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac is detected. It includes exceptions for pregnancies that are the result of rape in cases that are reported within 45 days, and incest in cases that are reported within 140 days. It also includes exceptions for miscarriages, a fetal abnormality that would result in the infants death, and for when the mothers life is threatened. Maggie DeWitte, executive director of the anti-abortion group Pulse Life Advocates, said shes thankful Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republicans responded to calls to act quickly on new abortion restrictions to save more and more unborn childrens lives and protect women from the harm of abortion. Opponents, including physicians, argue politicians should not be making medical decisions for patients, and that the law ignores well-established medical standards. A trio of Iowa OB-GYNs told reporters last week a doctor's ability to detect embryonic cardiac activity varies between pregnancies, but can occur as early as six to eight weeks of pregnancy before many women know they are pregnant and before the fetus can survive outside the womb. They also warned such restrictions will hinder their ability to provide medically necessary care, prevent disease, avert emergencies and respond to time-sensitive issues. They noted doctors in other states with strict abortion measures, fearing legal repercussions, are risking grave patient harm to comply, including letting patients conditions deteriorate until they threaten the mothers life. These laws often force doctors between providing evidence-based essential reproductive health care or breaking the law, Dr. Sarah Traxler, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States, told reporters Monday. The reproductive health care system provides abortion services in Iowa and surrounding states. Lawyers shouldnt be the ones making health care decisions, Traxler said. DeWitte contends Iowa law clearly articulates when in fact Iowa physicians can help women who are having a medical emergency. Medical providers under Iowa law can always act to save a womans life, she said. Providers are well within the law to provide care, and the heartbeat bill and passage of the heartbeat bill will not change that in any way. In 2021, an estimated 10.2% of pregnancies in Iowa ended in abortion. That number does not take into account miscarriages. There were 3,761 abortions in Iowa in 2021, the most recent year for which numbers were available from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, compared with 36,786 total births. Thats down about 7% compared with the 4,058 abortions performed in the state in 2020. Physicians who perform an abortion in violation of the proposed law would face disciplinary action from the Iowa Board of Medicine, including the possibility of losing their license. A woman who receives an abortion would not face civil or criminal liability. The bill states the law takes effect upon enactment, and directs the Board of Medicine to adopt rules to administer the bill. Legal fight likely if new law is passed Iowa Planned Parenthood representatives said they are prepared to again take the state to court to block abortion restrictions. Iowa physicians and medical professionals say the use of the term fetal heartbeat is misleading. Some major medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, note that what is detected at six weeks is electrical impulses. An actual heartbeat does not occur until roughly 17 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, they say. Supporters of the bill say the presence of a heartbeat indicates life that deserves equal protection under the law. Abortion is currently legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks. Abortion rights advocates say such a prohibition would end 98% of the now-legal abortions in Iowa. New restrictions could widen health inequities, advocates warn Representatives of Planned Parenthood North Central States and Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City told reporters Monday banning abortion at any stage of pregnancy denies a person the fundamental right to control their own body and health care decisions. Ruth Richardson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said the proposed ban and similar restrictions in other states disproportionately affect marginalized people who cannot afford to travel to another state for care. Such restrictions widen existing health inequities for people in rural areas, people of color, people with disabilities, and people with low-incomes, and make them more likely to be forced into pregnancy, Richardson said. Those health inequities will continue to grow, she said, as state abortion bans and restrictions lead to labor and delivery unit closures, essential health care providers leaving the state, and a lack of comprehensive reproductive health care training for medical students. Iowa has among the fewest OB-GYN specialists per capita of any state in the country, according to data from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the state of Iowa. DeWitte said anti-abortion advocates continue to advocate for and have secured additional funding from lawmakers this year for crisis pregnancy centers that provide pregnancy support and discourage abortion. And theyre located all across the state, 55 of them, in rural and urban areas, DeWitte said. And theyve been providing quality health care services, financial assistance, mental health counseling all of the things these women in crisis pregnancies need to be successful parents. Abortion rights advocates and Democrats say the crisis pregnancy centers lack expertise, accountability and regulations that medical centers that provide abortion have to abide by. They also argue the centers, often religiously affiliated, provide misleading information about abortion. Iowa clinics ready to help patients access abortion care Planned Parenthood North Central States will continue to provide abortions in Iowa as long as it is legal to do so, but will comply with the law once enacted, Traxler said. Richardson said the organization has also expanded its abortion patient navigator program that connects patients with the care they need across the region and country. The Minnesota Department of Health reported a 211% increase last year in Iowans traveling to the state to receive an abortion. In 2022, 174 Iowans traveled to Minnesota for the medical procedure, compared to 56 in 2021. Overall, Planned Parenthood North Central States helped more than 1,600 patients, including those from as far away as Texas and Louisiana, get to abortion appointments last year. Francine Thompson, executive director of the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City, said the chaos of never-ending attacks on abortion access and the rapidly shifting landscape of abortion regulations have created confusion and unnecessary medical barriers to care, including a 24-hour waiting period. In the last year, the confusion has increased dramatically, Thompson said. Iowans who used to be able to cross the state line to get an abortion in Missouri now have to travel longer distances across the state of Iowa to get the care they need. More people will likely be pushed further into pregnancy as they travel for care, face longer wait times in their own or other states, and as they gather the funds and the supports necessary to access care. Thompson said its the clinics priority to remain a provider of reproductive health care, and will continue to provide appropriate referrals. We understand that this is going to be challenging for folks, but were going to work really hard to make sure there everyone who wants and needs an abortion is still able to get one in spite of what happens in the next couple days, she said. How to watch or participate Iowa House lawmakers will hold a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Iowa State Capitol in Room 103, Supreme Court Chamber, on HSB 255. Speaking time will be limited to two minutes per person and alternate between those in support and those opposed to the legislation. The hearing ends at 11 a.m. Those signed to speak must be in person at the event. The meeting will be livestreamed via YouTube. The link will be provided 60 minutes before the start of the meeting on the homepage for the Iowa Legislature at www.legis.iowa.gov. Those wishing to sign up to speak on the bill can do so at bit.ly/44z8xyF. Check in will start around 9 a.m. Individuals can also leave written testimony or comment at the link above. Those with questions can contact the Chief Clerk at (515) 281-5383. Iowa Legislature special session schedule 8:30 a.m.: both chambers gavel in for the special session, vote to adopt rules 9:15 a.m.: House HHS committee meeting begins (will adjourn for public hearing) 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.: public hearing 11 a.m.: House HHS committee resumes (end time unknown) 11 a.m.: Senate State Government committee meeting begins 2 p.m.: Senate State Government committee ends (if still going) 4 p.m.: Senate debate begins 11 p.m.: Senate debate ends (if still going) Rally for reproductive rights Representatives from Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, One Iowa Action and Progress Iowa will gather inside the first floor rotunda of the Iowa Capitol at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to demand state legislators reject any abortion bans and further restrictions on abortion care. Parking options for Tuesday here: bit.ly/3JSNKOK. Coalition of Pro-life Leaders in Iowa also will be at the Iowa Capitol tomorrow and is encouraging Iowans to join them and speak at the public hearing to support the legislation. 16 political cartoons that judge the Supreme Court DES MOINES Kim Reynolds ascension to governor of Iowa and her first election victory are all thanks to Donald Trump, the former president asserted Monday in a social media post. In his post, Trump noted that he opened up the governor position for Reynolds in 2017 by selecting former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad as his ambassador to China, then claimed credit for her election victory a year later. Trumps post came after the New York Times published an article over the weekend describing apparent strains between Reynolds and Trumps campaign. The Times reported that Trump and his campaign feel Reynolds is betraying her pledge to remain neutral in the Republican presidential primary by being friendlier to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his campaign. The Times article also described competing narratives from Reynolds team and Trumps campaign over her attendance or lack thereof at Trump campaign events this year, compared with her attendance at DeSantis campaign events. Trump posted his thoughts Monday on Truth Social, the social media site that was created for him after he was suspended from Twitter in 2021 for spreading misinformation about the 2020 presidential election that he lost. Trump wrote: I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won. Now, she wants to remain NEUTRAL. I dont invite her to events! DeSanctus down 45 points! Reynolds ascended from lieutenant governor to become Iowas first female governor in 2017 when Branstad left to become ambassador. Reynolds, a Republican, then won her first election atop the ticket in 2018, edging Democrat Fred Hubbell by just less than 3 percentage points. Many polls on that 2018 Iowa governors campaign including the final two Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Polls before the election showed Hubbell in the lead. Trump campaign in Iowa twice in 2018. In 2022, Reynolds cruised to re-election by 19 percentage points. Reynolds staff did not respond Monday to a request for comment about Trumps post from her campaign. Reynolds has pledged to remain neutral during this years presidential primary election season, as have most Iowa governors in the past. Typically, Iowas governor acts as a host to all presidential candidates who visit the state that historically has kicked off the nations presidential election season. Reynolds attended Trumps campaign event in Davenport in April, but was not scheduled to appear at a Trump rally in Des Moines in May that was canceled due to severe weather forecasts, did not appear with him while he campaigned in the state in early June, and did not appear at his rally in Council Bluffs last week. However, Reynolds has appeared with DeSantis at a PAC-hosted event in Des Moines before he was an official presidential candidate, and at his first official campaign event in suburban Des Moines. Reynolds also appeared with DeSantis wife, Casey, at a campaign event last week in suburban Des Moines. Trump did not directly respond when asked by The Gazette during his campaign trip to Iowa in June whether he might, if he secures the nomination, choose Reynolds as his running mate. Well, I have a lot of people that I consider, Trump told The Gazette. We have some great people. Whoever it is, itll be somebody who will be terrific. Were gonna have a lot of great people. We have incredible people in the Republican Party. While there has not yet been much independent polling on the Republican presidential primary in Iowa, national polling has consistently showed Trump as a strong front-runner over the rest of the field. DeSantis, in those national polls, typically is second. In Real Clear Politics averaging of national polls, Trump has a 32.1-point advantage over DeSantis and the rest of the Republican field: Trump is polling nationally at an average of 53%, and DeSantis at 20.9%, according to Real Clear Politics. DeSantis weighed in later Monday, tweeting out his compliments of Reynolds. (Reynolds) is a strong leader who knows how to ignore the chirping and get it done, DeSantis tweeted from his individual Twitter account, also referencing Reynolds 2022 election victory and todays special session of the Iowa Legislature in which Iowa Republicans plan to sign into law an expansive restriction on abortion access. Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, of Marion, came to Reynolds defense Monday on social media. Hinson posted on Twitter, Iowa is lucky to have the best Governor in the country! Photos: Trump returns to Iowa Monday at Adler Theatre in Davenport South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem announced this week more than 90 teachers aides have been selected to participate in South Dakotas Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway. The pilot program will launch during the 2023-2024 school year and result in apprentices gaining teacher certifications. When I announced that we would be rebooting our Registered Apprenticeship programs here in South Dakota, this is exactly the kind of thing I had in mind, said Noem. This new opportunity will allow South Dakotans to work towards their bachelors degree this year, while still providing them the freedom to continue working. Our kids and grandkids deserve the best teachers we can give them, and this pathway will help us meet that goal. The Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway will take successful para-educators, employed by school districts, and help them become fully certified teachers. These para-educators represent more than 50 school districts or systems across the state. Over a two-year period, teachers' aides will complete their coursework, which is offered virtually in the evenings and at other convenient times. This program will culminate with the para-educator serving as a student-teacher in their home district. Teachers aides will walk away with a bachelors degree in education. I am very excited for these para-educators. They are all fitting candidates to fill the states teacher pipeline. They already live and work in our communities, and they are committed to providing their students with the best possible education, said Dr. Joseph Graves, South Dakota Secretary of Education. I want to thank Dr. Kathryn Blaha, our Director of the Division of Certification and Accreditation, who worked tirelessly to get this project off the ground. Northern State University and Dakota State University have partnered through the support of the Board of Regents to offer the coursework for this program. The Department of Education is providing oversight and funding. And the Department of Labor and Regulation is providing funding and guidance to the development of the Registered Apprenticeship program in compliance with the U.S. Department of Labor. Rapid Citys Main Street Square was lined with Indigenous artists showcasing their work on the weekend of July 8 and 9 for the eleventh annual Native POP: People of the Plains market. This years Native POP kicked off on Friday with a juried art show at the Journey Museum, followed by the two-day market and Saturday fashion show. During the fashion show, six Indigenous designers took to the stage to have Indigenous models grace the runway in stacked ribbon dresses, leather, fringe, beadwork and more. Among the designers was the AltarxNatives trio: seamstress and small business owner Caitlin Hein, Sicangu Lakota from Mission, SD; leather worker Ryia LeBeau, Oohe Nunpa Lakota from Eagle Butte, SD; and visionary Eunice Straight Head, Mniconju Lakota from Eagle Butte, SD. All three also vended during the market portion. LeBeau had a booth alongside her mother, Bonnie LeBeaus, star quilts. The booth featured a photo of her great-great grandmother, whose son (her great-grandfather) inspired her to become a leatherworker. LeBeau still uses her great grandfathers leather working tools today and used them to create her pieces for the collection. The AltarxNatives collection was inspired by alternative fashion with an Indigenous twist. Models walked the catwalk to Beyonces Alien Superstar in studded leather chokers, leather earrings and leather concho belts. Straight Head finished out the AltarxNatives portion of the show wearing a massive wide-brimmed hat with floor-length fringes. This was the first test run for AltarxNatives, and it went extremely well, Straighthead said. The trio is now planning on making logos and a fall collection that will lean more toward goth/punk with warm-colored pieces. I think weve found ourselves, an expression of ourselves and we complement each other so well, LeBeau said. On Friday, Straight Head was awarded best in the photography division for her image, titled, "Liberation Day," which documented the 50th annual Wounded Knee Anniversary. We are very ambitious and passionate and expressive of our creative outlets, Straight Head said. The group is hoping to be at the Santa Fe Indian Market next summer. The Native POP pieces are currently available for purchase through Garbage Tale Vintage at 626 St. Joseph St. in Rapid City or online by messaging Garbage Tale Vintage on social media. Also among the designers was Darla Takes The Knife, Hunkpapa Lakota and a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. After 17 years, in 2001, Takes The Knife quit her job at Indian Health Service (IHS) to pursue a full-time career in fashion design for her brand, Ohopa. I have a dream to make clothing for our Lakota culture and for people to be able to wear, just everyday clothing, she said. Takes The Knifes line for Native POP, called Ni Hope, means you look stunning in Lakota. The Ni Hope collection featured ribbon t-dresses, shirts and skirts alongside Lakota symbols and art. Takes The Knife said her dream is to have her own small-scale factory where she can spread out and work. For the time being, Takes The Knife spends her days sewing all over her house. It takes over my kitchen and my living room, she said. Takes The Knifes collection will be on sale following Native POP. She is hoping to establish a website where she can sell her clothing. Aside from the fashion show, the goal of Native POP is to expose the Black Hills area to the art of their Native neighbors, executive director LaFawn Janis, Oglala Lakota, said. It brings an opportunity for the Indigenous artists to have an Indigenous-led effort and the economic impact goes directly back into our Native American households, Janis said. This year 40 vendors showcased their art during the two-day market, and two booths of culture-bearers were set up to educate attendees. Indigenous musicians played at Abys Bar and Grill and Murphys Pub. Tawa Ducheneaux, Cherokee Nation, has been involved with Native POP since 2018 and serves on the board. Ducheneaux said shes brought back every year because she feels the need to support the community. Obviously the Black Hills is a tourist destination, but to be able to stop by and have conversations with culture-bearers, see the fashion show, hear the music, all forms of creative expression are supported in this event, Ducheneaux said. And I think were really proud that were entirely volunteer driven. A new education program for jail inmates in Pennington County aims to break the cycle of repeated incarceration among people who are addicted, have mental health challenges or lack the skills to function in society. Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller recently announced the coming launch of the IGNITE program, which will make South Dakota the latest state to implement the effort. It requires a relatively small public investment and relies largely on strong community support to create education programs to help former inmates gain confidence, learn new skills, get a job, find stability and stay out of jail, he said. Were exploring to see what type of out-of-the-box solutions we can bring to help the people that are in our jails, and the homeless people in our community, change the trajectory of their lives, Mueller said. In a nutshell, IGNITE uses motivational techniques to encourage inmates to sign up for education, counseling and job training run by a paid coordinator but provided in person or virtually by educators and experts within the local community. IGNITE, which stands for Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education, originated in 2020 in Genesee County, Michigan. It allows for flexibility in what training, coursework or skills training are offered to inmates. The program adds new rehabilitation and reform elements to adult jail populations, which have often fallen behind juvenile jails in regard to educational program funding and options. In Genesee County, inmates get two hours of educational programming each day. As of August 2022, the program had 15 graduation ceremonies, 2,250 inmate participants and a total of 190,000 teaching hours provided. At a graduation ceremony in June 2022, former jail inmate Charvel Sims, 56, spoke about how he had been in jail 33 times and in prison five times since 1997. Nine months ago, I was sitting in here hopeless, Sims said. I had nothing out there to go back to. After taking classes in jail in 2021 and 2022, he entered a bricklayer apprenticeship program and landed a job paying $20 an hour plus full union benefits. Its opportunity, he said. Its going to be hard, but dont give up because there is help out there. In addition to promoting self-confidence and self-worth in inmates, the training in the trades and other high-demand skills have helped reduce the labor shortage that plagues South Dakota and many other states. Officials from other states also report that IGNITE reduces violence in jails, raises morale among inmates and officers and has lowered recidivism rates. Researchers from Harvard University and the University of Michigan are undergoing in-depth analysis and study of IGNITE to further quantify results. Jails in eight states are using the program. Pennington County will be the first to launch IGNITE in South Dakota. Mueller and sheriffs office staff members visited jails in North Dakota and Michigan, and Mueller went to Washington to meet with officials who are already using IGNITE. The visits persuaded Mueller to believe that it had great potential for inmate reform and was worth the effort to implement it in Pennington County. Upon return, Mueller said he discussed the program with numerous stakeholders in the Rapid City area and was met with overwhelming support. With each conversation I had, we got new ideas for partnership that can have a positive impact moving forward, he said. This is truly a partnership of our community, to come together and talk to what basic skills we can give to our inmate and homeless population to improve their trajectory in life, and so those of us in public safety can focus on those individuals who arent willing to change their behavior and we can hold them more accountable. IGNITE will launch in Pennington County as soon as a program coordinator can be hired and community partnerships are firmly in place, said Helene Duhamel, spokeswoman for the sheriffs office. The program will likely include drug and alcohol counseling and educational programming through the Rapid City school system and Western Dakota Technical College, Duhamel said. The anticipated costs, the largest piece being the coordinators annual salary of $60,000 to $70,000, will be funded through use of open sheriffs office positions that are already budgeted as well as some federal opioid funding, Duhamel said. By launching IGNITE first, Pennington County hopes to provide other South Dakota counties with a replicable model and provable results that could benefit communities across the state, Duhamel said. Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead said he is aware of the effort in Pennington County and is watching to see what results it might generate, especially since the two county jails are similar in size and population. Milstead said he appreciates that Mueller is trying to innovate, especially since the necessary public funding level is low and he already has the money in his approved annual budget. Yet Milstead said he isnt sure if IGNITE would be a good fit in Minnehaha County now because of the nature of the current jail population and existing pre-trial intervention and assistance programs to aid inmates upon re-entry to society. Due to recent reforms in managing people facing criminal charges and new efforts to improve sentencing of low-level offenders, most inmates serve a short time behind bars and spend more time being monitored outside the jail, Milstead said. In an effort to provide low-risk defendants a better chance to maintain stability in their jobs, homes and families, judges have become more willing to provide pre-trial release to low-risk offenders, he said. To further reduce the jail population and costs, Minnehaha County has implemented several high-tech monitoring and testing programs to keep track of pre-trial or low-level offenders without keeping them in jail. Those include ankle monitors and a 24/7 drug and alcohol testing program that requires twice-daily testing in most cases. We put in a lot of effort into working with the courts, working with the judges and the judicial system to make sure that the people who are in our jail need to be in our jail, he said. Over time, we have transitioned into 24/7 and other out-of-custody programs to keep low-risk offenders out of jail. As a result, the jail typically has about 500 inmates, about 80% of whom are on pre-trial status, so only a small portion of the roughly 20,000 people who are booked on criminal charges each year spend any significant time locked up, Milstead said. Additionally, as more low-level offenders have been removed from lockup, the people who are in jail tend to be charged with more serious crimes and have exhibited more dangerous behaviors, Milstead said. Violent histories make those inmates unsuitable for work-release programs, in-house or even virtual education or training programs, especially those that might involve a volunteer teacher from the community, which is the norm in some IGNITE training programs. As our makeup of inmates has changed, we have more and more people in jail who are dangerous, Milstead said. We have a lot of people in jail who are classified as maximum security. And obviously Im not going to send a teacher in to sit down with them and do bookwork. Milstead said he believes Minnehaha County is doing a good job of preparing jail inmates for success upon release. The sheriffs office has a voluntary intensive case management program called Alliance in which the jail partners with the county human services department to provide pre-release services to help inmates land on their feet upon release. The program offers inmates access to a range of existing community services that can provide them with food, clothing, housing, identification documents, transportation, job assistance or post-release case management. Inmates also can be directed to post-release alcohol and drug treatment or mental health services, Milstead said. We try to help them find the resources that can help them re-enter society, he said. Its not always an easy step, so were trying to set them up for success instead of failure. Milstead said that over the past 25 years, he has had close working relationships with every Pennington County sheriff and added that he hopes the IGNITE program can show positive results that could make it replicable in Minnehaha County at some point. Sheriff Chris Hilton of Sandusky County, Ohio, implemented IGNITE earlier this year and said he saw immediate success. Inmates must first take courses in addiction and mental health before venturing to a wide range of IGNITE programming options that include literacy, financial literacy, music education, and training in the ironwork, electrical and carpenter trades that is provided by local union leaders looking for workers. His program benefited early on from a $90,000 one-time donation made by a local mental health board and uses limited public funds beyond the cost of the program coordinator. IGNITE has reduced the time correctional officers spend managing inmates and made the jail a safer place for all, Hilton said. What do inmates in a jail have the most of? Time, he said. They have lots and lots of time. And if that time isnt used effectively, youre going to have problems. Hilton said IGNITE uses a simple meritocracy system to encourage inmate participation: If you do X, youll get Y. Incentives are as basic as a compliment, a pat on the back or attendance at Friday movie nights. Providing inmates with education is important because unlike prisons, the overwhelming majority of jail inmates will be released back into their communities. Theyre going to be your neighbors, theyre going to be living in your community, Hilton said. Rapid City Police Chief Don Hedrick said he supports any reform effort that can help break the cycles of violence and victimization that police officers see every day. New options are needed for people who cannot on their own break the pattern of criminal activity and repeated visits to the county jail, he said. Were out there encountering folks who are continually involved in the system, and were not applying enough intervention points to that cycle, Hedrick said. Simply allowing someone to serve their time, get out and be right back in the next day means were not investing enough into those intervention points. Hedrick said he wouldnt support IGNITE if it felt like a soft on crime approach because dangerous people need to be locked up to keep the public safe. But he is encouraged that it gives inmates a new opportunity to find post-release success. This is trying to get help to the folks that want it to get out of this cycle, Hedrick said. Give them a chance, give them the resources they need to break that cycle and break the revolving door. IGNITE has the endorsement of the National Sheriffs' Association, which represents sheriffs across the country and has helped Pennington County and other agencies with implementation. Jessica Vanderpool, director of grants for the NSA, said the association sees the program as a way to provide new opportunities to prevent jail recidivism that increases jail population and costs. Too often our jails fail to provide inmates with the tools necessary to reenter society and avoid future criminal behavior, Vanderpool said. IGNITE does not just educate. IGNITE also identifies the skills these individuals need for potential employers to engage them and most importantly instills the motivation and self-worth to better themselves, which in turn makes society better for all of us. Pennington County States Attorney Lara Roetzel said her agency supports the program as a potential way to provide new opportunities for inmates that can make the public safer in the long run. We can all agree that there were bad choices that led people to be incarcerated in the Pennington County Jail, Roetzel said. We dont know how their lives might have been different if they had been presented with good options. And this provides incarcerated people with good options that could create a brighter future for not only that individual but for our entire community. Roetzel said she will support any program that adds value to the time pre-trial and convicted criminals spend behind bars. The jail should be about safety, and it should be about accountability, but it should never be about wasted time, she said. Ann Bolman, director of Western Dakota Technical College in Rapid City, said the school is eager to partner with the sheriffs office to provide job skills training for inmates. WDT has already seen strong success in a previous second chance program that provided training to inmates. Hughes County Sheriff Patrick Callahan said hes intrigued by any effort to engage in adult inmate training. Adult inmates arent provided education or job training in the Hughes County Jail in Pierre, which has 164 beds and houses roughly 125 to 130 inmates a day, according to county records. Id call it innovative and exciting, and were monitoring it very closely, Callahan said. I could see this developing into something that others can use. Callahan said jails in South Dakota operate on very tight budgets. Finding a way to implement a new program with little public funding would be welcomed, especially in less-populated or rural counties that often operate with fewer resources. Several South Dakota sheriffs told a legislative summer study committee on county funding that inmate populations are high and budgets are tight across the state, he said. Providing education and support services is slightly easier at the juvenile jail level because theres more state and federal money available for those programs compared with adult jails, Callahan said. Every jail in South Dakota is struggling right now with limited funds, he said. And if this is a way we can offer better, more coordinated services with limited financial impact to the counties, I think its exciting stuff. This article was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit journalism organization located online at sdnewswatch.org. Open-Ended Expressive Arts Studio's Perspectives Summer Program allows youth to explore the creative discipline of visual arts. The program is held over ten consecutive Mondays, June 12 through Aug. 14. Specifically, participants think and create using multiple points of view while exploring the processes of drawing, printmaking, sculpting, collage/assemblage, photography and surrealist-style painting. Students are guided through a different art processes each week. Educator/gifted guidance counselor Arielle Rhodz leads the summer program and offers other youth programming during the school year as well. She wrote the funding grant and organized the program about perspectives. Perspectives is supported in part by a grant from the Montana Arts Council, an agency of the state government, and by the National Endowment for the Arts. Through a variety of art processes, students are challenging the way they think and view the world, she said. We started the summer identifying personal belief systems, and have been sequentially stretching those perspectives through art processes and guided discussion. Each Monday increases in intensity, moving from what is known and comfortable, towards more novel and abstract topics. On Monday, artist and educator Daniele Vickers, starting her fourth year at Hamilton High School this fall, led students in learning the process of printmaking with an emphasis on the 'perspective' of inverting an image and then carving it in negative relief. The 10 participating young artists are age 10-15 and come from a variety of school settings and countries Lone Rock, Corvallis, Hamilton, home-school and Greece. They came prepared with their own original simple drawing, learned to transfer it to a linotype block, and then considered which portion to carve away. One of the challenges of print making is that you carve it all backwards, Vickers said. You think it through in your head, carve it backwards and only after you print it do you see it right side up. Students worked to decide what to carve away and what to leave for the inking process. Words proved to be the challenge as the letters had to be carved backwards to print correctly. Rhodz said the printmaking project is the half-way point of the summer program. Today students are transforming a simple line drawing into a limited series of prints, she said. This challenges perspectives literally because the students are physically carving away what they did not draw, leaving the intended image untouched. The students were taught the use of art tools including graphite pencils, paint pens, carving tools, linotype blocks and waterbed ink. After cutting their linotype block students covered them with ink and pressed the image on to paper in a surprise reveal of their mornings efforts. Basically, they each created a stamp of their own drawing that can be used repeatedly. They also learned how to use a mixture of intense colors on the ink roller to create different effects. Art student Wyatt Boddy said he is enjoying the classes. I think that Perspectives and making art and specifically prints is a great way to start the day, he said. I feel like Ive done something before moving on. Logan Holler said printmaking is really fun. I really like doing it, it just takes a long time, he said. I made a really cool Minecraft language. It was really small, but it was really cool. Student Aurora Gulman noted that the facility is important. Open-ended is a really cool place where you can do art projects and do stuff like printmaking and things on your own called independent projects, Gulman said. Art student Eryth Larson said the Perspectives program has been an amazing experience. It has made me feel more confident and happy, she said. I appreciate Arielle and the other teachers. Their wonderful guidance for art has made me step back and enjoy the process. I have learned so much from this program and am sure I will learn more in the days to come. Rhodz said that she is really looking forward to the upcoming topics. I am looking forward to forced perspective photography, creating optical illusions through millifiori and mosaic techniques, surrealistic acrylic painting and finally an artists showcase to demonstrate the overall arc of the Perspectives project. In the years leading up to the June 24th bridge collapse that sent railcars full of hot sulfur and asphalt into the longest free flowing river in the lower 48 states, the Yellowstone River was shifting dramatically. Satellite images of the site taken over the past 25 years show the rivers approach to the bridge, located 6 miles southeast of Reed Point, had shifted from perpendicular to the main bridge line, to 135 degrees. A Federal Railroad Administration investigation into the cause of the collapse is ongoing. Montana Rail Link is preparing to replace a piling that sunk at the center of the collapse, expecting a return to service in weeks, not months. "Pier condition and overall impacts from waterways, are key components of Montana Rail Link's bridge inspection process. Through this inspection process, MRL makes modifications or takes preventive measures necessary to our physical plant to be able to safely move freight, while meeting or exceeding all federally required safety standards, said MRL spokesperson Andy Garland in an email. This same approach, along with review from subject matter expert engineering and construction firms, will be taken as bridge construction efforts continue." MRL provided no answers to questions posed by the Billings Gazette about the changing river channel. Garland warned that readers should not necessarily be led to assume any cause of the derailment until a full investigation is completed. Several experts have raised the issue of river flows scouring away the bedrock supporting MRLs bridge pillars. In an interview with the Associated Press, Robert Bea, a forensic engineer nicknamed the master of disaster for his investigations of major engineering failures, including the 2010 Deepwater Horizon marine oil spill, said repeated years of high river flows create a high likelihood of a structural or foundation failure that could act as a trigger to initiate the accident. Similarly, in an interview with Engineering News Record Mountain States, bridge engineer Yanling Leng of IMEG Corp. said 60% of all bridge failures are attributed to river scouring. Another bridge analyst, engineer Richard Fish, of Cornwall, England, told New Civil Engineer that it was hard to imagine a train running on a straight stretch of bridge track derailing and collapsing a bridge. Fish said if the missing pillar at the center of the collapse had been moving because of river scour, then it likely twisted the bridge track, causing the train to derail. The Yellowstone has seen substantial changes in recent years. The river washed out bridges, homes and roads in 2022 when heavy rain on spring mountain snow triggered a natural disaster, leading to a rare shutdown of Yellowstone National Park, as well as intense flooding and road destruction in the Stillwater River drainage, which flows into the Yellowstone River a few miles downriver from the collapsed bridge. Satellite imagery of the bridge site recorded over 25 years shows notable change in the way the Yellowstone approaches the crossings before 2022. Specifically, between 2013 and 2021 the Yellowstone River erased most of a 13-acre farm parcel the river once bordered on two sides. The land, anchored by cottonwood and Russian olive trees, formed the inside angle of a dogleg that lined up the Yellowstone River for a head-on approach with a collection of bridges built in a section of the river channel was not only narrow, but also fairly girded with riprap. Locals had nicknamed this stretch of Yellowstone twin bridges after two steel bridges that ran parallel other across the Yellowstone. The older of the two bridges, used for automobiles, was removed in May 2021, after inspection revealed a large hole and crumbling concrete in the bridge pilings. The second bridge was managed by Montana Rail Link and was considered sound until the morning of June 24, when 10 railcars, some hauling petroleum asphalt, others hauling sulfur, plunged into the river when the bridge collapsed. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 350,000 to 500,000 pounds of petroleum asphalt was dumped in the river. Friday, EPA said about 35,000 pounds of the sticky, taffy-like asphalt has been recovered. There have been early reports of dead wildlife. The geomorphologist Karin Boyd has made a career out of studying Montana rivers. The geomorphologist said a river that no longer approaches things like bridge pillars head on can increase river scour. Bridge pilings are typically designed to meet the rivers current like the prow of a ship. When current approaches from a side angle, the scour can be more intense. In this reach of the Yellowstone, river movement over time has been significant, as has efforts to stop the bank erosion with riprap, most of which is either owned by the railroad or the state, according to a 2015 study commissioned by the Yellowstone Conservation District. The river has been extremely dynamic in this reach, and over a thousand feet of bank armor has been flanked since 2001. Since 1950, numerous areas have experienced over 500 feet of bank movement, according to the study authored by river consultant Warren Kellogg. Its that side movement thats given the Yellowstone stretches of sediment, where cottonwoods are seeded in the areas clear of competing plant life, Boyd said. Its the cottonwoods that naturally make the riverbanks erosion resistant. The river is also moving downward, carving deeper trenches in the river bottom particularly where its been constrained side movement. River energy that unconstrained might relocate a bank will instead power downward, carving a deeper channel. Few people have Boyds understanding of how riprap and other structures have affected the Yellowstone. She helped map the river for the Yellowstone Conservation District a few years ago, in the process identifying more than 130 miles of riprap on the Yellowstones banks. One of the findings of that work is that the Yellowstone had lost 90 miles of side channels. As a result, more of the river is traveling down a main, deepening trough. Those deep-river changes, like scouring, can be hard to monitor. For example, in 2011 when the Exxons Silvertip pipeline burst in the Yellowstone River downstream from Laurel, it came as surprise to pipeline inspectors because acoustic pipe inspections seven months earlier indicated the pipe was buried 8 feet below the river bottom. The pipeline laid bare on the river bottom when it burst that July, spilling 42,000 gallons of oil into the river. Again in 2015 inspectors were surprised when a Bridger Pipeline Co. line burst in the Yellowstone River several miles upstream from Glendive. The pipeline was thought to be buried 8 feet below the riverbed, but a 50-foot length was bare on the river bottom then the rupture dumped almost 40,000 gallons of oil into the river. The river not only scours holes in riverbeds, but it also fills them, which makes the change harder to detect, Boyd said. In a year of persistent high spring flows, like this year, a river might mine a hole in the bedrock of the riverbed, but later fill that hole in with silt. By sight inspection, the scour might be hard to detect in the fall, or early spring before the start of runoff. There would be more certainty about whether the integrity of structures in the river is sound, said Dan Picton, a former railroad worker whose experience with scour prompted lead to a post-retirement business making simple devices to detect scouring on rail routes. Picton worked for Burlington Northern Sante Fe. I was an engineer for BNSF. I was working for them as a brakeman out in Yakima in 1978 and there was a washout of an irrigation canal that took out all the ballast. The track was suspended in midair, Picton said. Railroads have for decades used detection systems that turn track signals red whenever theres a break in the line, Picton said. But in the case of the bridge washout, where the track was intact, the signals stayed green. He started working on a simple device about 18 inches long that could be buried in the earth beneath the railbed but use the same tract detection system to change the signal lights when something goes wrong under the track. Picton Ballast Movement Detectors are made in Hamilton. Engineers know where there are areas of caution along a route, Picton said. Theres a timeline document for each route that tells an engineer where to proceed slowly based on historic pre-identified risks along a route. In most cases theres isnt a real-time warning system. An old rail engineer who once ran Montana routes between Missoula and Spokane, or Whitefish to Spokane, Picton said what the Montana Rail Link routes need is positive train control, something that Congress in 2008 required Class I railroads to install. Positive train control can slow or stop trains to avoid train-to-train collisions, or derailments caused by excessive speed. The technology can also slow trains headed into sensitive areas. Picton said PTC could be wired to avoid breaks in the track or problems with ballast or bridges. Coincidentally, BNSF will take control of Montana Rail Link operations at the start of 2024. The transition from Class II MRL to Class 1 BNSF should include positive rail control on routes currently run by MRL. The MRL routes are busy. In 2020, Montana Rail Link ran 497,084 carloads across Montana lines, according to its most recent annual report to the Montana Public Service Commission. China's NEV industry registers 20-million record output 10:22, July 11, 2023 By Wang Zheng ( People's Daily China on July 3 hit the production milestone of 20 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) as a pure electric car rolled off an assembly line of Chinese automaker GAC Aion, an NEV subsidiary of Guangzhou Automobile Group. China's cumulative NEV production exceeded 5 million units in September 2020 and 10 million units in February 2022, according to Fu Bingfeng, executive vice-president and secretary general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). Vehicles are assembled in an intelligent factory of Chinese automobile manufacturer Leapmotor in Jinhua, east China's Zhejiang province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Xiaofei) The second 10-million mark was crossed just 17 months later, Fu noted. With this record, the NEV sector has entered a new stage of large-scale, globalized and high-quality development after achieving industrialized and market-oriented development, and is becoming an important part of China's modern industrial system, Fu said. China has issued a series of supporting policies in finance, taxation, integral management and traffic management to spur NEV development. At the same time, Chinese carmakers have developed a number of new technologies and products to grasp the opportunities of market transformation, meeting new consumption demands. As a result, the country's production and sales volumes for NEVs have both ranked first worldwide for eight years in a row, and Chinese NEVs now make up over 60 percent of the global market. China has witnessed rapid growth in the NEV market. Last year, nearly 6.89 million NEVs were sold in China, up 93.4 percent from a year ago. These autos accounted for 25.6 percent of all vehicle sales in China in 2022, surpassing a goal of 25 percent set for 2025 in a national blueprint three years ahead of schedule. China's NEV sector maintained a sound momentum for development. In the first five months this year, NEV sales increased by 46.8 percent from a year ago to 2.94 million units, and NEV output totaled over 3 million units, up 45.1 percent year-on-year. During the same period, NEV exports soared 160 percent to 457,000 units. Breakthroughs have been made constantly in core NEV technologies. New energy taxis are about to be delivered to drivers in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Ying) The single-cell energy density of mass-produced power batteries produced by Chinese manufacturers has exceeded 300 Wh/kg, leading the world. New battery grouping technologies, high-nickel and cobalt-free batteries, as well as other new technologies and products, have been put into use. Drive motors have a peak power density surpassing 4.8 kW/kg and a peak rotation speed of 16,000 revolutions per minute. Besides, the average power consumption per 100 km of pure electric passenger vehicles has been lowered to 12.35 kWh. The NEV industrial chain is more self-supporting and its risks are better controlled. China has gradually gained a competitive edge in the development of electric vehicle batteries, motors and electronic control systems, and boasts world-leading technologies of intelligent connected vehicles such as the smart cockpit. Domestically-produced big computing power chips, laser radars and new-gen driver-assistance systems have also been put into use. China has further sped up its steps in building charging infrastructure. As of the end of 2022, China had built a total of 5.21 million charging piles and 1,973 battery swapping stations, establishing the world's largest network of charging facilities. In the January-May period this year, nearly 1.15 million sets of new charging facilities were built. As of the end of May, China was home to nearly 6.36 million sets of charging facilities, up 77.5 percent year-on-year. New energy vehicles are assembled in an intelligent factory of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Zeekr in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Xuejun) "Chinese NEV manufacturers are changing the competitive pattern of the global auto market, seeing an opportunity to reshape the industrial model and build world-class brands," said Gu Huinan, general manager of GAC Aion. In terms of both technology and market, Chinese NEVs have reached a new transition from quantity to quality, shifting their focus from expanding order sizes to gaining economies of scale, Gu added. Since 2012, Chinese NEV manufacturers have taken the opportunities in the automobile industry's transition toward electrification, intelligentization, and internet-connected development, promoting technological, product and market innovations to foster new growth drivers. As a result, a batch of core technologies has been developed, and the total NEV production has risen sharply from 20,000 units at the end of 2012 to 20 million units today. Like many emerging industries, the Chinese NEV sector also faced a series of major problems restricting its development in its early stage, such as immature technology, high production costs, an incomplete industrial chain and a market that was yet to be formed. The rapid growth of the sector couldn't have been achieved in such a short time of 11 years without China's institutional and market advantages, the efforts made by both the supply and demand sides, as well as the synergy between policy and market. "Over recent years, relevant departments have rolled out some 70 policies to support the NEV industry, which helped build a complete and synergetic industrial system, fostered the world's largest auto consumption market, and enhanced win-win cooperation between the NEV sector and relevant industries, contributing China's wisdom to promote the electrification transformation of the global automobile industry," said Xin Guobin, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) (Photo : JORGE SILVA/AFP via Getty Images) North Korea threatened to shoot down any American surveillance planes that violate its airspace. Kim Yo Jong, the dominant sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accused a US military surveillance plane of entering the country's Exclusive Economic Zone eight times. Kim warned that US forces would face a "very catastrophic flight" if they continue their "illegal intrusion," reiterating an accusation that US surveillance aircraft had violated North Korean airspace on Monday. It added that such flights could be fired down. North Korea Warns to Shoot Down US Air Force Planes Prior to this, the Pentagon dismissed Pyongyang's accusations of airspace violations and stated that the US military had complied with international law. Per US News, Sabrina Singh, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, told reporters, "Therefore, these are merely allegations." On Monday, Kim accused the US Air Force of invading the North's "economic maritime zone" off the east coast of the Korean peninsula, high above the ocean. 435 kilometers (270 miles) to the east of Tongchon, Gangwon Province, and 276 kilometers south of Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of a nation, which extends 200 nautical miles from its 12-nautical-mile territorial zone, is a right to exploit marine resources but does not grant sovereignty over the water's surface or airspace above it. A North's Ministry of National Defense spokesperson stated that the United States has "intensified espionage activities beyond wartime levels" by conducting "provocative" flights for eight consecutive days this month. They added that a reconnaissance aircraft had violated its airspace "multiple times" over the East Sea, with the warning also coming after the United States flew nuclear-capable B-52 bombers near the peninsula during joint exercises with South Korea. The spokesperson referenced past incidents in which Pyongyang fired down US aircraft and warned that the United States would pay for its 'desperately orchestrated' air espionage. The statement also condemned the planned deployment of US strategic nuclear assets to the Korean peninsula, calling it "the most blatant nuclear coercion" against North Korea and a severe threat to regional and international security. Read Also: Pro-Khalistani Protests: Sikh Leader's Death Sparks Demonstrations in Canada; Will This Strain India's Foreign Ties? US Military Activities in Korean Peninsula A cording to Daily Mail, Washington announced in April that a nuclear-armed ballistic submarine would visit a South Korean port for the first time in decades but did not specify a date. This year, North Korea has conducted multiple launches violating international sanctions, including tests of its most potent intercontinental ballistic missiles and an attempt in May to launch a military surveillance satellite. President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea has increased defense cooperation with the United States, mounting joint military exercises with advanced stealth aircraft and prominent US strategic assets. Yoon is scheduled to attend a NATO summit this week in Lithuania, seeking stronger cooperation with NATO members regarding North Korea's increasing nuclear and missile threats, according to his office. Yoon will attend the summit for the second consecutive year, highlighting his efforts to strengthen ties with the world's largest military alliance. South Korea confronts various security challenges, including North Korea's nuclear program and the strategic rivalry between the United States and China. North Korea has conducted over 100 missile tests and openly threatened to use nuclear weapons in prospective conflicts with South Korea and the United States if it does not obtain reliable nuclear weapons. In response to North Korea's missile tests, oon, a conservative who assumed office in 2022, bolstered South Korea's missile capabilities and expanded military exercises with the United States. In April, Yoon and Biden announced plans to bolster the deterrence capabilities of their respective nations. This included the periodic mooring of a US nuclear-armed submarine in South Korea and forming a new bilateral nuclear consultative group, whose first meeting is scheduled for the following week in Seoul. Related Article: South Korea Salvages North Korea Spy Satellite, Says It 'Has No Military Utility' @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As more than $50 billion makes its way to state and local governments to compensate for the opioid epidemic, people with high hopes for the money are already fighting over a little-known bureaucratic arm of the process: state councils that wield immense power over how the cash is spent. In 14 states, these councils have the ultimate say on the money, which comes from companies that made, distributed, or sold opioid painkillers, including Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson, and Walmart. In 24 other states, plus Washington, D.C., the councils establish budget priorities and make recommendations. Those will affect whether opioid settlement funds go, for example, to improve addiction treatment programs and recovery houses or for more narcotics detectives and prisons. KFF Health News, along with Johns Hopkins University and Shatterproof, a national nonprofit focused on the addiction crisis, gathered and analyzed data on council members in all states to create the first database of its kind. The data shows that councils are as unique as states are from one another. They vary in size, power, and the amount of funds they oversee. Members run the gamut from doctors, researchers, and county health directors to law enforcement officers, town managers, and business owners, as well as people in recovery and parents whove lost children to addiction. The overdose crisis is incredibly complex, and it demands more than just money, said Rollie Martinson, a policy associate with the nonprofit Community Education Group, which is tracking settlement spending across Appalachia. We also need the right people in charge of that money. Thats the $50 billion question: Are the right people steering the decisions? Already, criticism of the councils has been rife, with stakeholders pointing out shortcomings, from overrepresentation to underrepresentation and many issues in between. For example: Council membership doesnt always align with the states hardest-hit populations by race or geography. Heavy presence of specific professional groups treatment providers, health care executives, or law enforcement officials, for example might mean money gets directed to those particular interests at the expense of others. Few seats are reserved for people whove dealt with a substance use disorder themselves or supported a family member with one. Admittedly, no one can design a perfect council. Theres no agreement on what that would even look like. But when a pile of money this big is at stake, everyone wants in on the action. More than $3 billion of opioid settlement funds has already landed in government coffers, with installments to come through 2038. The money is meant as restitution for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have died from drug overdoses in recent decades. But what restitution looks like depends on whom you ask. People running syringe service programs might suggest spending money immediately on the overdose reversal medication naloxone, while hospital officials might advocate for longer-term investments to increase staffing and treatment beds. People naturally want money to go toward their own field or interest, said Kristen Pendergrass, vice president of state policy at Shatterproof. And that can trigger hand-wringing. In many parts of the country, for instance, people who support syringe service programs or similar interventions worry that councils with high numbers of police officers and sheriffs will instead direct large portions of the money to buy squad cars and bulletproof vests. And vice versa. In most states, though, law enforcement and criminal justice officials make up fewer than one-fifth of council members. In Alaska and Pennsylvania, for instance, theyre not represented at all. Outliers exist, of course. Tennessees 15-member council has two sheriffs, one current and one former district attorney general, a criminal court judge, and a special agent from the state Bureau of Investigation. But like many other councils, it hasnt awarded funds to specific groups yet, so its too soon to tell how the council makeup will influence those decisions. Pendergrass and Johns Hopkins researcher Sara Whaley, who together compiled the list of council members, say criticism of councils drawing too heavily from one field, geographic area, or race is not just a matter of political correctness, but of practicality. Having diverse representation in the room is going to make sure there is a balance on how the funds are spent, Pendergrass said. To this end, Courtney Gary-Allen, organizing director for the Maine Recovery Advocacy Project, and her colleagues chose early on to ensure their states 15-member council included people who support whats known as harm reduction, a politically controversial strategy that aims to minimize the risks of using drugs. Ultimately, this push led to the appointment of six candidates, including Gary-Allen, to the panel. Most have personal experience with addiction. I feel very strongly that if these six folks werent on the council, harm reduction wouldnt get a single dollar, she said. Others are starting to focus on potential lost opportunities. In New Jersey, Elizabeth Burke Beaty, who is in recovery from substance use disorder, has noticed that most members of her states council represent urban enclaves near New York City and Philadelphia. She worries theyll direct money to their home bases and exclude rural counties, which have the highest rates of overdose deaths and unique barriers to recovery, such as a lack of doctors to treat addiction and transportation to faraway clinics. Natalie Hamilton, a spokesperson for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat who appointed the members, said the council represents a wide geographic region, including seven of the states 21 counties. But only two of those represented Burlington and Hunterdon counties are considered rural by the states Office of Rural Health needs assessment. The states hardest-hit rural counties lack a seat at the table. Now that most of the council seats nationwide are filled, worries about racial equity are growing. Louisiana, where nearly a third of the population is Black, has no Black council members. In Ohio, where Black residents are dying of overdoses at the highest rates, only one of the 29 council members is Black. Theres this perception that this money is not for people who look like me, said Philip Rutherford, who is chief operating officer of Faces & Voices of Recovery and is Black. His group organizes people in recovery to advocate on addiction issues. Research shows Black Americans have the fastest-rising overdose death rates and face the most barriers to gold-standard treatments. In several states, residents have lamented the lack of council members with firsthand knowledge of addiction, who can direct settlement dollars based on personal experiences with the treatment and criminal justice systems. Instead, councils are saturated with treatment providers and health care organizations. And this, too, raises eyebrows. Service providers are going to have a monetary interest, said Tracie M. Gardner, who leads policy advocacy at the New York-based Legal Action Center. Although most are good people running good treatment programs, they have an inherent conflict with the goal of making people well and stable, she said. That is work to put treatment programs out of business, Gardner said. We must never forget the business model. It was there for HIV, it was there for covid, and its there for the overdose epidemic. Councils in South Carolina and New York have already seen some controversy in this vein when organizations associated with members pursued or were awarded funding. Its not a particularly surprising occurrence, since the members are chosen for their prominent work in the field. Both states councils have robust conflict-of-interest policies, requiring members to disclose professional and financial connections. New York also has a law precluding council members from using their position for financial gain, and South Carolina uses a rubric to objectively score applications. That these situations cause alarm regardless shows how much hope and desperation is tied up in this money and the decisions over who controls it. This is the biggest infusion of funding into the addiction treatment field in at least 50 years, said Gardner. Its money coming into a starved system. Database Methodology The list of council members names used to build the database was compiled by Johns Hopkins Universitys Sara Whaley and Henry Larweh and Shatterproofs Kristen Pendergrass and Eesha Kulkarni. All council members, even those without voting power, were listed. Although many states have councils to address the opioid crisis generally, the database focused specifically on councils overseeing the opioid settlement funds. A councils scope of power was classified as decision-making if it directly controls allocations. Advisory means the council provides recommendations to another body, which makes final funding decisions. The data is current as of June 9, 2023. KFF Health News Aneri Pattani, Colleen DeGuzman, and Megan Kalata analyzed the data to determine which categories council members represent, based on the following rules: Each council member can be counted in only one category. There is no duplication. People should be given the most descriptive categorization possible. For example, attorneys general are elected officials, but it is more specific to say they are law enforcement and criminal justice officials. A government representative is typically a government employee who is not elected and does not fit into any other descriptive category for example, a non-elected county manager. People who provide direct services to patients or clients, such as physicians, nurses, therapists, and social workers, are classified as medical and social service providers. People with more administrative roles are typically classified as public or private health and human services, based on their organizations public or private affiliation. Lived or shared experience refers to someone who has personally experienced a substance use disorder, has a family member with one, or has lost a loved one to the disease. Because peoples addiction experiences are not always public, only individuals explicitly appointed because of their firsthand connection or to fill a seat reserved for someone with that experience were categorized as such. KFF Health News Colleen DeGuzman and Megan Kalata contributed to this report. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. About 70 people protested Gov. Greg Gianforte's decision to not accept $10 million in federal funding for a pandemic-era child nutrition program Monday on the steps of the Montana Capitol. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services announced the opt-out in May, citing administrative burden. Montana received the pandemic electronic benefit transfer program funds the previous two years, which provided more than $97 million to Montana families for food. State Rep. Laura Smith, D-Helena, who previously served as deputy director of DPHHS when this federal program came about, told the protesters securing the funds has always presented an administrative burden. "Just a couple of years ago when we had the opportunity to accept these funds, our team came to me and said 'this is going to be a little difficult.' There was data involved." Smith told the crowd. "I said, 'Go back to the drawing board, call USDA, work your way up the chain and bring a solution.' And guess what, that's exactly what we did." Smith said in a conversation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture just days prior, she was told the agency is "willing to work with states to find a path forward." "It's not too late to prioritize our kids and find a path forward," Smith said. "Our kids, all our kids, mine, yours, the kids of our fellow Montanans deserve the best from their government." State Sen. Shannon O'Brien, D-Missoula, also called on the governor's office to reverse its decision. The state has until Sunday to apply for the funds. "In a state with such abundance, it is unconscionable that so many of our children go to bed hungry," O'Brien said. "This situation is only worsened because our governor has simply declined $10 million to help feed Montana's children. Someone please help me understand how this is good for Montanans." O'Brien called the Gianforte administration's reasoning for not accepting the funds "false rhetoric." "(Gianforte) needs to be in touch with our families; he needs to understand what's really going on," she said. "Leaving these mouths unfed is not OK." Kaitlin Price, a spokeswoman for Gianforte's office, defended the governor's decision. "In addition to supporting children with existing, pre-pandemic food security and nutrition programs, DPHHS and the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) continue to operate several other food initiatives to serve low-income families and reduce food insecurity, including SNAP, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and the Summer Food Service Program," Price said in an email. Price said DPHHS observed about a 50% decrease in P-EBT eligibility in May 2021 as compared to October of 2020. "Today's partisan event featured politicians who are promoting the leftist agenda and who have made it clear they want Montana to cling to a forever COVID state of emergency," Price said. "The Pandemic EBT program was set up as a temporary measure during the pandemic, and leaders, from the president to local officials, acknowledge the public health emergency is over. The state has and will continue to effectively administer programs targeted to Montana children who face food insecurity, including the Summer Food Service Program." Former gun industry executive turned author and advocate Ryan Busse also addressed the crowd Monday. Busse said in an interview after the rally that the cause of child hunger is certainly worthy enough to get him to drive from Kalispell, but that the administration's decision is part of a larger concern of his, the degradation of democracy. "There's no reason not to do this," he said. "Real people are impacted by this decision." He told the protesters during his speech that while the (GOP House speaker) Rep. Matt Regiers of the world focus on "fanning the flames of culture wars to distract everybody," this program has a positive benefit on thousands of Montana children. "I live in Kalispell, right? So I see so much of this radicalization of just made-up culture war crap. In the end, it's not impactful to most people's lives other than to infuriate them. This is a thing in government that has real, tangible impacts on thousands of kids. Take care of this." Helena resident Sheena Wilson attended the protest Monday. Wilson said she spent most of her working life as a government employee. "In all my years in and around government, I've never seen something as silly as not accepting federal money because you don't want to fill out some paperwork," she said. Rally: Tell Gianforte No Montana Kids Hungry Biratnagar, Nepal, July 11, 2023: The helicopter of Manang Air, which flew from Surke in Solukhumbu to Kathmandu, lost contact after 10:00 this morning. The helicopter of Manang Air with the call sign 9NAMV that was flew from Surke in Solukhumbu to Kathmandu had lost contact after 10:00 a.m. The historic tower at Virginia Union University has been exposed for more than three months after sustaining damage in a storm and delayed repairs. High winds and driving rain damaged the Vann Memorial Tower on April 1, causing panels to rip off, windows to break and water to run down the inside of the tower. Grant Neely, a spokesperson for VUU, said the university immediately applied for a building permit to start repairs but did not receive approval until mid-June. But the city of Richmond has a different explanation. City officials issued a stop work order on April 21 after they noted work being conducted without a permit, said Petula Burks, a spokesperson for the city. VUU then applied for a permit June 20, Burks said, and the city issued it the same day. It is important to note that the citys goal is to work with our partners to ensure timely responses, Burks said. The 165-foot-tall structure was built in 1939 for the New York Worlds Fair and later shipped to Richmond. Due to the storm, water got inside the towers cladding the large outer panels that resemble stucco. The panels were installed about a decade ago and replaced the original slate, said Julie Langan, director of the Department of Historic Resources. Not all the panels were damaged, but it would be best for the towers long-term preservation if the panels were removed and replaced with a less absorbent material, she said. The original material, slate rock, is best equipped to withstand harsh weather, but is also the most expensive. A synthetic siding is also an option. A contractor is scheduled to move forward with repairs, Neely said. But it is unclear how much subsequent damage occurred while the building was exposed for three months. That makes it hard to say how long repairs will take or how much they will cost. Modifications to the building need to be approved by the states Department of Historic Resources because of an agreement between the university and the state. In 2010, VUU agreed to an easement allowing the university to receive $340,000 from the National Park Service to restore the tower and the adjoining Belgian Friendship Building. As part of the agreement, VUU agreed not to alter the tower or building. But the university violated the easement in 2020 when it installed four 17-foot-tall illuminated signs displaying VUUs logo. The university said the signs provide a lasting bright-shining symbol of justice, hope and equality. Authorities worried the old tower was not equipped to carry the added weight and asked VUU to remove the signs. The university refused, Langan said. Last year, the two sides came to an agreement keeping the signs up. VUU would pay a $35,000 annual fee and inspect the tower to ensure the signs are not causing damage. If they are causing damage, VUU will take them down. VUU still needs to conduct that inspection, Langan said. Neely did not respond to a question about status of the inspection. The university is also renovating Industrial Hall, a stone building adjacent to a smokestack at the edge of campus. In 2018, VUU announced the building, constructed in 1899, would be converted into a museum, gallery and cultural education center. VUU expects the renovation and addition to be completed in December. From the Archives: The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV The DMV Richmond Public Schools administration has proposed a new 15-part safety plan following the June 6 shooting death of an 18-year-old graduating student and his father outside of the Altria Theater after the Huguenot High School graduation. The proposal includes a pilot program at four schools to change the student cellphone policy. Students would be required to lock up their cellphones in pouches during the school day. The pouches would cost $45,000 ($15 per student for 3,000 students), and the funding would come from a U.S. Department of Education grant that provides short-term funding for local educational agencies that have experienced violent or traumatic incidents. The administration also indicated it will recommend changes to its contract with the Richmond Police Department and changes to the job description for its care and safety associates, who act as unarmed security guards in schools, in order to boost partnership and coordination. Monday nights proposal and debate is a sharp juxtaposition from the conversation three years ago, at the height of the nations racial reckoning after the murder of George Floyd and after Richmond police tear gassed peaceful protesters at the Robert E. Lee monument. At the time, RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras and several board members recommended removing police from schools entirely. The shift comes after increased violence in Richmond schools and youth gun violence throughout the community. The school division is in the process of refining its contract with the Richmond Police Department. RPS Chief Wellness Officer Renesha Parks said the contract is great in its current state, but that there is a greater need for partnerships and to make sure that school resource officers are aligned with the care and safety associates and the administration. The school division now has 11 school resource officers, who are RPD officers, throughout its middle and high schools, and 68 care and safety associates among all schools. The current (care and safety associate) job description was written in a time where there was a lot of unrest in Richmond city and across the nation, Parks said. We really wanted to reimagine what that looked like at the time, Parks said. It has since been three years, and we know its time to revisit it. Times have changed and theyve improved somewhat. We know race relations are still something thats very prominent across the nation and in Richmond city. But as we seek to do better by our students and by our families, we know theres some tweaking thats needed to the job description. School Board members, who would ultimately have to approve the 15-part plan, greeted it with mixed reviews Monday night. Several School Board members met the plan with hostility and called the recommendations Band-Aids. The policy recommendations include additional mental health personnel and additional safety equipment, like metal detector wands, X-ray scanners and radio equipment. It seems like this presentation is a Band-Aid right after one incident (in which) we made national headlines and we lost two lives. One student and one parent, Mariah White said. You (were) not prepared for this event. You were not ready. And yes, our students are not safe, she said. And we all know it. We all know it. Much of the 15-part plan, including the pilot project to change the cellphone policy, is borrowed from a plan introduced by board member Jonathan Young, who represents the Fourth District. He introduced his plan in May, the day that two George Wythe High School students were shot near the schools parking lot during the school day. His plan was not implemented at the time. I really commend (Kamras) for having the courage and wisdom to introduce a plan that is so at odds with where the district was at only three years ago, even at the risk of incorporating elements of that crazy guy Jonathans plan, Young said Tuesday. That is leadership to acknowledge what we are doing isnt working and instead propose something thats different. Thats more than I can say for my colleagues. Other recommendations from the RPS proposal are updated safety protocols, expanded therapeutic options for elementary students and more training for the unarmed care and safety associates. I see things like metal detectors, policing and other punitive measures as Band-Aids, said School Board Chair Stephanie Rizzi, who represents the Fifth District. It looks like were headed to a dystopian future. I dont want to believe that that is where were headed. Dominion Energy is selling off another large chunk of its natural gas business its 50% limited partnership interest in the Cove Point liquified natural gas terminal in Calvert County, Maryland in a deal that nets it $3.5 billion. In addition to a $3.3 billion sale of that interest to Berkshire Hathaway Energy (the facilitys current operator), the transaction allows Dominion to unwind a related financial deal, which it expects will generate an additional $200 million. Dominion, which is spending billions of dollars to build an offshore wind farm, upgrade its two workhouse nuclear plants and modernize its Virginia electric grid, will use the money to pay down debt. That debt includes some $2.3 billion that is secured by its Cove Point holding. Its current business review, due to conclude at the end of September, is largely focused on reducing its debt and better matching what it spends with the source of its revenue. This is coming almost entirely from regulated utilities like its core Virginia electric monopoly, as well as its electric and gas utilities in North and South Carolina and its gas utilities in Ohio, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. Dominions gain from the deal is nearly 11 times the pre-tax and pre-interest payments earnings the company is expecting to receive, which the company forecasts at $325 million for 2025. Dominion acquired the terminal in 2002 for $217 million and invested some $4.1 billion to upgrade it between 2014 and 2018. This investment is non-core to Dominion Energy as we focus on our state-regulated utility operations, said Robert M. Blue, Dominions chair, chief executive and president. With this sale, we have recycled $8.9 billion of cash flow, including dividends from Cove Point, since 2018 well in excess of our total investment in the facility, he said. By reducing the companys variable rate debt, the move strengthens the companys balance sheet, he said. The sale is expected to close by the end of the year. Last year, before the business review was launched, Dominion sold its West Virginia natural gas utility Hope Gas, Inc. to a subsidiary of Hearthstone Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Ullico Inc., for $690 million. That utility served about 100,000 customers, far fewer than the companys Carolinas, Ohio and western gas operations. Dominion serves 1.2 million gas customers in Ohio; 1.1 million in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho; 600,000 in North Carolina and 400,000 in South Carolina. While the company has said it is aiming for net zero carbon emissions across all its operations, including natural gas, by 2050, it has also said it believes natural gas-fired generators will be essential to ensure a steady supply of electricity to meet accelerating demand in Virginia for electric vehicles and data centers. Electric vehicles are least popular in these states Electric vehicles are least popular in these states Here's how it all breaks down North Carolina topped CNBCs ranking as the top state for business for the second straight year, with Virginia moving up from third place to second. CNBC said a key to North Carolinas repeat was its first place ranking in the workforce category, signifying its ability to attract and retain talent. CNBC ranked Virginia seventh for workforce, but ranked Virginia first among the states in education. The business network assesses states across 86 metrics grouped in 10 categories. Here are the 10 categories with Virginias ranking in each: workforce (7); infrastructure (10); economy (13); life health & inclusion (16); cost of doing business (34); tech and innovation (15); business friendliness (6); education (1); access to capital (4) and cost of living (25). Virginia topped North Carolina in six of the 10 categories, but North Carolina scored higher on workforce, the category given the most weight in the survey. Since CNBC began the rankings in 2007, Virginia has topped the list five times 2007, 2009, 2011, 2019 and 2021. The rankings have become political fodder in Virginia over the years. CNBC had no rankings in 2020 due to the pandemic, which meant that Virginia led the list for two straight years during Democrat Ralph Northams governorship. Democrats cited that point to counter Republican Glenn Youngkins assertion during his successful run for governor in 2021 that Democrats had driven the states economy into a ditch. The two categories in which Virginia posted the lowest rankings cost of living and the cost of doing business echo in Virginias budget impasse. Youngkin, who is pushing for $1 billion in tax cuts, has said he expects the state to have sufficient revenues to cut taxes for individuals and businesses, while adding $2.6 billion of spending on schools, law enforcement and behavioral health that he has called for in the budget. While the governor is always pleased with Virginia receiving accolades, rankings only tell part of the story, Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said in a statement. Todays CNBC rankings show that while Virginia has made gains under Gov. Youngkins leadership, Senate Democrats need to come together to lower the cost of doing business and the cost of living. Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement: It is appropriate for Virginia to be recognized as a Top State for Business. I am especially pleased to see the Commonwealth ranked first in education, as we work towards our goal of being the top state for talent. The CNBC rankings continue to show that Virginia is a leader in many areas where the Virginia Chamber advocates. We look forward to continuing our work and improving in areas such as workforce, cost of doing business and economy. A closer look at LEGO's $1 billion Chesterfield factory plan Factory planned in Chesterfield 1.7 million square feet Expected to open in 2025 'All that Virginia has to offer' Taxpayer-funded incentives Timeline The Virginia Retirement System is hoping for a 5% return on its investments in the fiscal year that ended June 30, after finishing the first nine months in the red. Investment earnings had fallen by 1.8% through March 31, when the state retirement trust fund held $102.6 billion, but a month later, VRS had added $1 billion, boosting the return to 4.2% through April 30. Spokesperson Jeanne Chenault said the retirement system does not expect to meet its targeted annual return of 6.75%, but expects the fiscal year return to rise to around 5%. However, until all investment information is received, we will not have a firm return until late August, Chenault said Monday. The turn of fortune is good news for Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the next General Assembly, which will have to include money in the next two-year budget to meet long-term pension obligations for state employees and teachers. Even in uncertain times, the retirement system continues to deliver on its mission, VRS Chairman Scott Andrews told the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission during its semiannual review of the retirement system on Monday. The VRS Board of Trustees will receive an actuarial report in October that will estimate how much the state and local school divisions will have to contribute for the next two years to meet ongoing pension obligations and pay off a portion of about $19 billion in unfunded liabilities that date to the Great Recession more than a decade ago. Those contribution rates will help shape the two-year budget that Youngkin will present to the General Assemblys money committees in December for review during a 60-day session of a newly elected legislature that will convene the next month. Investment earnings pay most of the ongoing cost of retirement benefits for almost 800,000 active, retired and inactive workers state employees, teachers, judges, state police and other law officers and local and regional government organizations. The rest comes from annual contributions by government employers whether state agencies or school divisions under rates certified by the VRS and included in the budget for the next two fiscal years. The state shares the cost of teacher pensions with local school divisions. The state helps fund five retirement plans managed by the VRS. Currently, teachers account for more than 159,000 of the nearly 360,000 active employees in the system, followed by about 77,000 state employees, 7,400 game wardens and other law officers, 1,900 state police and fewer than 500 judges. The system is already paying benefits to about 239,000 retirees. The VRS has an assumed annual rate of return of 6.75%, but that is an average over 30 years that it sometimes exceeds and sometimes misses. The return reached an unprecedented 27.5% in the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2021, but a year later topped out at 0.6%, which was acknowledged then as a victory in a volatile market that caused other public pension funds to lose an average of 8%. The General Assembly and governor have helped by depositing an additional $1 billion in the pension system over the past two fiscal years, an investment that the VRS estimates will save $2 billion over 20 years by reducing unfunded liabilities. The assembly also maintained contribution rates for teachers and state employees at higher levels last year and this year in order to reduce those liabilities, saving an estimated $538 million over 15 years. These efforts will have a positive impact on contribution rates in the future, Chenault said. A below-target return in the last fiscal year also will be offset by the record return achieved two years ago because the VRS smooths both losses and gains over five years, she said. As a result, we do not expect rates to increase. VRS officials say their focus remains on balancing high returns against market risks, which is why they have adopted a new investment strategy that will slightly lower investments in stocks and private equities and increase them in bonds and several other asset classes. We essentially increased the diversification of the (investment) portfolio, Chief Investment Officer Andrew Junkin told the legislative commission. States with the most adults of retirement age still working States with the most adults of retirement age still working #51. South Carolina #50. West Virginia #49. Mississippi #48. Arizona #47. Alabama #46. Tennessee #45. Kentucky #44. New Mexico #43. Arkansas #42. Florida #41. Delaware #39. Michigan (tie) #39. Ohio (tie) #37. Georgia (tie) #37. Idaho (tie) #35. Washington (tie) #35. Illinois (tie) #34. Oregon #33. Pennsylvania #32. Missouri #31. New York #30. North Carolina #29. Louisiana #27. Indiana (tie) #27. California (tie) #26. Virginia #25. Oklahoma #24. Texas #21. Wisconsin (tie) #21. Maine (tie) #21. Nevada (tie) #20. Utah #18. Colorado (tie) #18. New Jersey (tie) #17. Montana #16. New Hampshire #13. Hawaii (tie) #13. Wyoming (tie) #13. Massachusetts (tie) #12. North Dakota #11. Rhode Island #10. Iowa #9. Maryland #7. Minnesota (tie) #7. Washington D.C. (tie) #6. Kansas #5. Connecticut #4. Alaska #2. Nebraska (tie) #2. Vermont (tie) #1. South Dakota Virginia school divisions receive less funding per student than the national and regional state averages, according to a new study that the legislatures watchdog agency released Monday. The underfunding stems largely from issues with the states K-12 education funding formula, which the study said lacks a clear rationale and does not reflect prevailing practices in school divisions. Virginia school divisions receive less K12 funding per student than the 50-state average, the regional average, and three of Virginias five bordering states, says the report, referring to Kentucky, Maryland and West Virginia. School divisions in other states receive 14 percent more per student than school divisions in Virginia, on average, after normalizing for differences in cost of labor among states. This equates to about $1,900 more per student than Virginia. Gov. Glenn Youngkin called the report a wake-up call and blamed the previous two state administrations, led by Democrats, for what he said was their failure to provide adequate K-12 education funding and to reform the system to ensure that funding supports students and teachers in the classroom. The legislature passed a resolution during the 2021 session directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to conduct the study. The weighty study could affect the impasse over the state budget, which has left school divisions and other stakeholders in a state of uncertainty. The study outlined pitfalls in the states Standards of Quality, which encompass the requirements that all school divisions must meet, and include how the state funds K-12 education. JLARC found that Virginias funding formula does not adequately account for a school divisions size, its number of higher-need students or regional labor costs. Most states use a K-12 funding formula based on the number of students a more straightforward system than Virginias staffing-based formula. JLARC put forth two recommendations for the funding formula: fully replace Virginias staff-based funding formula with a simpler student-based formula, or partially replace the SOQ formula by using student-based calculations for special education and English learner funding. JLARC also found that the Local Composite Index, which measures a localitys ability to pay, is a reasonable measure, despite continuing criticisms from school divisions. The impact on smaller, rural districts Keith Perrigan, founder and president of the Small and Rural Schools Coalition of Virginia, and superintendent of Washington County Public Schools in Southwest Virginia, said the facts JLARC presented regarding school funding are certainly something that we know and feel in small rural school divisions. Since the coalitions inception in 2017, Perrigan has been advocating for increased funding for school divisions with higher-need students. Even though there have been significant increases in the at-risk add-on in the last five or six years, were still not where we need to be in funding students who are at risk, and especially students who have special needs, Perrigan said. No matter how you look at it, for 10 years, (Virginia has) not adequately funded public education, and even though were making great strides in recent years to improve that, we still have a ways to go. The study could affect the outcome of the stalled negotiations over revisions to the two-year state budget, giving Senate Democrats a weapon in their argument that unprecedented investments in public education should be a higher priority than Youngkins proposed tax cuts. It also could shape debate in elections in November that will determine party control of the next General Assembly as Youngkin reaches the midpoint in his term as governor. This I think is a very important study, said Senate Finance Co-Chair Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, a leader of the Senates resistance to more than $1 billion in tax cuts that Youngkin and House Republicans are proposing. Howell advised all candidates both for the General Assembly and local school boards and governing bodies to read the study. Senior Republican leaders on JLARC pushed back against the implication that Virginia requires a huge new commitment of state funds into K-12 education to carry out the studys recommendations. House Appropriations Chairman Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, estimated the cost of carrying out the recommendations at about $3.5 billion, but said the state could not do that all at once, nor should it. Sometimes throwing money doesnt always solve the problem, said Knight, citing the contrast between high spending by Richmond Public Schools and better educational outcomes in neighboring Henrico County. He also said House and Senate budget negotiators, while currently at an impasse over Youngkins proposed tax cuts, both want to put hundreds of millions of dollars into K-12 education to close gaps between what school divisions need and what the state funds. Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, R-James City, also cautioned that birth rates in Virginia face a precipitous decline that could alter the budget outlook in the future. JLARC staff noted that the current funding formula, as well as JLARCs recommendation for a student-based formula, both consider the number of students enrolled, making overfunding less likely if enrollment fell. Knight also said local school divisions have yet to spend about $1.5 billion in direct federal emergency aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the deadline about 14 months away. Youngkin and the next General Assembly already face a higher price for public education in the next budget after the Department of Education updates costs for the current funding system through a process that occurs every two years. The update is due this fall. We will continue to invest in our children In his statement, Youngkin touted the state budget passed last year the largest education budget in history which included a 10% pay raise for teachers. The governor proposed amendments to this years budget including a $427.7 million increase in spending on public education. We will continue to invest in our children to ensure they are prepared for success in life, Youngkin said in a statement. For those who havent been listening to parents, especially those parents of students who are falling behind or have special needs, todays report should serve as a wake-up call that our biggest problem and greatest opportunity is how we reform our system to drive dollars to improve student academic achievement, support our teachers, and deliver results to parents. While Youngkin blamed the last two administrations for inadequate funding, House Majority Leader Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, pointed to the Virginia GOP, which he said would rather fund corporate giveaways than students education. Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera and Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons sent a letter to JLARC that criticized the analysis for its failure to include an assessment of how the Standards of Quality affect student outcomes. It also criticizes the study for leaving out the last two fiscal years in the analysis, saying that it results in an inaccurate picture of the current fiscal reality and fails to capture the impact of recent historic budget increases, including teacher pay. Nevertheless, the report makes it clear that without reforms, increased investments in K-12 spending likely will not translate into improved student outcomes, they add in the letter. The Commonwealths formula is also antiquated and uses measures that were necessary proxies in earlier eras due to the dearth of student-level data available at the state level. Bob Holsworth, a veteran political scientist in Richmond, said the new study is likely to become a significant political issue in the budget negotiations (and) then the election. Holsworth, a former dean at Virginia Commonwealth University, said the study does not give either political party the blame, but both share it under what he called a jerry-rigged system that has evolved under Republican and Democratic governors and legislatures. If you look at the recommendations, it says the whole system is screwed up, he said. Connecticut's adult-use marijuana and medical cannabis sales surged to a whopping $24 million for June 2023. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection shared its "new preliminary data," which sheds light on the sales of marijuana in the states, six months since adult use of marijuana began in January. Connecticut Marijuana Sales Surge in June As per Marijuana Moment, Connecticut's cannabis market is burning bright as marijuana sales surged to $24 million last month. A new record for the state's cannabis industry. According to the latest data from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, the sales figures for June reflect a steady upward trajectory since the state launched its recreational cannabis program earlier this year. The growing consumer demand for legalized marijuana and the state's proactive efforts to establish a regulated market undoubtedly fueled the surge in sales. Both medical and adult-use marijuana sales drove the June sales surge. However, the latter notably surpassed non-recreational use. According to Hartford Courant, adult-use sales reached $12.5 million in June, up from $11.5 million in May. On the other hand, medical marijuana sales also slightly increased to $11.3 million in June. In May, it was only at a cool $11.2 million. To be more preside, the June preliminary data shows that adult-use sales comprise 313,510 cannabis in total. On the other hand, medical marijuana purchases reached 303,293. Meanwhile, the data also gave us a glimpse of marijuana pricing in Connecticut. Medical marijuana is a bit cheaper at $37.43, whereas the adult-use counterpart averages $40. Read Also: Minnesota Legislators Approve Bill to Make Recreational Marijuana Legal Marijuana Sales in the First 6 Months As the Associated Press reports, Connecticut kicked off its recreational cannabis sales for adults in early 2023, or on January 10, to be precise. On that day, customers were in a festive mood as dozens of folks waited in line outside various retailers. In a statement last January, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont says, "Today marks a turning point in the injustices caused by the war on drugs, most notably now that there is a legal alternative to the dangerous, unregulated, underground market for cannabis sales." Six months have passed since then, and sales are tallying up to a staggering $122 million. Hartford Courant notes that most of the sales are from flower form cannabis at roughly 53 percent. Meanwhile, vape counterparts took around a 25 percent slice of the pie in sales, while edibles are around 10 percent. Related Article: Alabama Grants Medicinal Marijuana Licenses to 21 Firms; Full List Here @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants to beat Democrats at their own game by helping Republicans vote early, in person and by absentee ballot, in the November legislative elections that will determine political control of the next General Assembly. Youngkin launched the Secure Your Vote Virginia initiative on Tuesday, using a partnership with state and national GOP organizations to target voters across the state and get them to the polls early. He hopes this will take away the advantage that Democrats have held in early and absentee voting since the COVID-19 pandemic upended traditional Election Day habits. The initiative by the governors Spirit of Virginia political action committee includes the Republican Party of Virginia and the Republican State Leadership Committee, as well as the Senate Republican Caucus and the House Republican Campaign Committee. We cant go into Election Day down thousands of votes, so Im thrilled to have such strong partners coming alongside us in this effort, said Youngkin, who announced the initiative on Tuesday in a television interview on Fox News. In 2020, the Virginia legislature, then led by Democrats, scrapped the required excuse for absentee voting and approved a measure that allows early voting to start 45 days before an election. The Virginia Public Access Project reports that, while Youngkin encouraged early voting in his 2021 campaign for governor, Democrats still accounted for more than 60% of early votes cast in Virginias November 2022 elections. During this years General Assembly session, the GOP-led House passed and the Democratic-led Senate defeated bills to reduce the early voting period. It seems to me there is a disagreement between the Governor and Republicans in the General Assembly, Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, said in a statement. Just this past session, Republicans launched an attack on early and absentee voting. Now the Governor is promoting the very same measures his party intends to disrupt. House Minority Leader Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, accused the GOP of blatant hypocrisy. This is a party that is on the record against early voting, Scott said in a statement. They are doing this whole push to pull the wool over our constituents eyes and hide from the fact that theyve worked to make it harder for Virginians to vote at every turn. The GOP focus on early voting is not surprising. Spirit of Virginia hired Brian Barrett, the architect of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps successful gubernatorial campaign last fall, to lead the absentee ballot and early voting initiative this year. Barrett crafted Kemps turnout and voter-targeting efforts in the gubernatorial victory over Democrat Stacey Abrams, who had led efforts to mobilize and turn out her partys voters. Dee Duncan, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, called Youngkins data-driven effort to target Republican voters a model for the country to follow. Virginia Republicans have a tremendous opportunity in November to build on their successes of the last two years, Duncan said Tuesday. Youngkin targeted voters at the precinct level to boost turnout in Republican strongholds in his 2 percentage point victory over former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in 2021, when the GOP also regained control of the House of Delegates. The party was less successful in midterm congressional elections last fall, when it flipped just one of the three seats it had targeted the 2nd District, where state Sen. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, defeated Rep. Elaine Luria, D-2nd, in a district that had been redrawn in the GOPs favor. Democrats held seats in Northern Virginia, where Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th and Jennifer Wexton, D-10th, turned back Republican challenges. This year, all 140 seats of the General Assembly are up for election, as the legislature faces unprecedented turnover because of retirements hastened by political redistricting. State Republican Party Chairman Rich Anderson said the party was buoyed last month by primary elections that nominated what he called a slate of commonsense conservative candidates, which the GOP plans to contrast with Democrats, who lost several incumbent legislators to progressive challengers in primaries. This data-driven effort to get Republicans out to vote early is how we win in November, said Anderson, a former Republican delegate from Prince William County. We have a clear mission: to get in front of as many voters as we can to assure them voting absentee by mail or early in person is easy, secure and necessary. Liam Watson, press secretary for the Democratic Party of Virginia said in a statement: we welcome the Virginia Republicans newly discovered interest in promoting democracy. Of course, we wish they had shown up in support of early voting and vote-by-mail years ago, instead of consistently voting against reforms designed to strengthen democracy in the commonwealth. A look at June's Election Day in photos across Richmond region Michael Paul Williams Follow Michael Paul Williams 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 Maybe this was the plan all along: to wait us out. The strategy is simple: early on, refuse to acknowledge the horrors of Black enslavement. When that no longer works, tsk-tsk that it is too late for a workable reparations process because the enslaved and enslavers are long deceased. When people point out that institutions, descendants and the nation itself benefitted from slave labor and that the descendants of the enslaved remain shortchanged change the subject. Conduct a war on public memory. Appoint a commission. And if all else fails, wait for people to die. That is apparently what is happening in Tulsa, where a judge on Friday dismissed a reparations lawsuit by three centenarians who are the last known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Lessie Benningfield Randle, 108; Viola Fletcher, 109 and her brother, Hughes Van Ellis, 102, were among the plaintiffs in the 2020 lawsuit thrown out Friday by Tulsa County District Court Judge Caroline Wall, who dismissed the case with prejudice. Prejudice, in legal terms, means permanently, although the word no doubt is hitting differently to the Black ear. The survivors did not have immediate access to a full order explaining the dismissal an insult heaped atop a century-plus of injury. The massacre began when a group of Black men attempted to stop the lynching of a young Black man accused of assaulting a white woman. During the next two days, groups of white people riddled the Black community with gunfire, torched buildings and used to airplanes to firebomb the prosperous Greenwood district neighborhood, once known as Black Wall Street. More than 1,200 homes were burned or otherwise left in ruins, along with virtually every other structure including churches, schools, businesses, even a hospital and library in the Greenwood district, according to the final report of the commission charged with studying the massacre. As many as 300 were killed. Can you imagine bearing witness to these horrors as children? The surviving victims were never compensated for their losses. And now, barring a different outcome stemming from an appeal, none of them ever will be. The outcome in Tulsa pretty much reflects the dismissiveness, or outright resistance, to reparations nationwide, with a few exceptions. California, perhaps the most liberal state in America, is considering the implementation of reparations for Black residents affected by the legacy of slavery, amid a backlash from its conservative residents. New York lawmakers approved a measure last month to create a commission to consider reparations. These actions have been accompanied by sniping from conservative pundits, according to The Guardian. House Resolution 40, which would establish a commission to study and develop reparation proposals for African Americans, continues to languish in Congress. And an October 2021 survey by the Pew Research Center showed 77% of Black respondents, but only 18% of white respondents, favor reparations for descendants of enslaved people. Reparations for the descendants of the enslaved is one thing; what happened in Tulsa, 56 years after emancipation, is something else. Once the historical coverup was lifted, little was left in dispute about what happened. The usual excuses and obfuscations do not apply. There are living, breathing witnesses and victims. They saw, they felt, they heard, and theyve witnessed and experienced the race massacre, the survivors attorney, Damario Solomon-Simmons, told MSNBCs Joy Reid on Monday. Theyre still here ... We have living people who are saying this happened to me, and no one is disputing that this happened to them. Yet the city of Tulsa, the county, the chamber and the state are saying We dont care that this happened to you. We are not going to do anything for you, your family or the community. A statement by the survivors read: Despite Tulsa and Americas attempt to silence, change and gaslight the facts and truth about collective racial history and trauma, we as survivors and all of those that believe in racial justice we will not sit quietly or passively to allow mistruths or injustice to persist. That gaslighting was in full effect in what, in hindsight, was a sickening foreshadowing of the judges decision: Oklahomas Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters suggestion Thursday evening that the Tulsa Race Massacre was, well, not motivated by racism. Asked at a meeting how the Tulsa Race Massacre did not fall under his definition of critical race theory, Walters replied: Oh, you can, absolutely, historically, you should judge the action of individuals. This was right. This was wrong. They did this for this reason. But to say it was inherent in that because of their skin is where I say that is critical race theory, youre saying that a race defines a person. I reject that. So I would say you be judgmental of the issue, of the action, of the content of the character of the individual. Absolutely. But lets not tie it to the skin color and say that the skin color determined it. Let me be crystal clear that history should be accurately taught, he said in a written statement provided to the Tulsa World. The Tulsa Race Massacre is a terrible mark on our history. The events on that day were racist, evil, and it is inexcusable. Louder, for people in the back! Walters and his educators need to speak clearly and coherently, and reject the muzzling of honest lessons on racism plaguing public education today in states, including Virginia. Otherwise, I will conclude that they prioritize white student comfort over historical accuracy, accountability and justice. In a nation where the avoidance of debt repayment has become political theater, Tulsa typifies a legacy of indifference to an American atrocity that still traumatizes African Americans today. In that regard, we are all Tulsa survivors. From the Archives: Jackson Ward in the 1970s and 80s Criminal leader extradited to U.S. to face drug and weapons charges Mexico City, Mexico Pursuant to the Extradition Treaty signed between Mexico and the United States, the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) extradited a Mexican national for drug and weapon related crimes. Eleazar M was handed over to U.S. federal agents from the Mexico City International Airport Sunday from where he was transferred to Washington. He will face charges in the District of Columbia. According to the FGR, Eleazar M served as the leader of a criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking for 10 years. Between 2000 and 2010, he transported large quantities of cocaine and marijuana for distribution purposes in the United States. In exchange, he received weapons for his criminal activities. Eleazar M was arrested in Merida, Yucatan in 2018, and held by the Government of Mexico until he was granted extradition to the U.S. State of Mexico man wanted for the murder of his girlfriend arrested in Cancun Cancun, Q.R. A man wanted for domestic violence in the death of his girlfriend has been arrested in the city of Cancun. Agents of the Attorney Generals Office of the State of Mexico (FGJEM) fulfilled an arrest warrant in the state of Quintana Roo with the detainment of Rafael Alejandro N. Rafael Alejandro N was wanted for femicide in the murder of his girlfriend in the municipality of Ecatepec in January of 2022. According to the FGJEM, the woman was hit repeatedly and died. Investigations by the State Prosecutors Office determined that between the night of January 23 and the early hours of January 24, 2022, the victim and the now detainee were drinking alcoholic beverages inside a home in the municipality of Ecatepec, State of Mexico, where at some point they began to argue. During the argument, Rafael Alejandro N is accused of repeatedly hitting the victim in various parts of the body, causing her death. He then fled the scene. He has been on the run since with a warrant out for his arrest. He was finally captured in Cancun July 7, 2023. Authorities from the state of Quintana Roo detained this individual in the city of Cancun and informed FGJEM personnel, through existing collaboration agreements between the Attorney Generals Offices and Attorney Generals Offices throughout the country. Elements of the Investigation Police (PDI) traveled to the state to comply with the court order against the person involved and transferred him to the State of Mexico to admit him to the Ecatepec Penitentiary and Social Reintegration Center, the Fiscalia Edomex reported. As it turns out, the Supreme Court last week opted against transforming the United States into a totalitarian, theocratic hellscape like the New York Times Linda Greenhouse had prophesied in January. In fact, the entire left wing of the Court joined the conservative majority in Groff v. DeJoy in an opinion that bolstered the rights of all workers regardless of their religious tradition. Now it is abundantly clear that American workers need not choose between their jobs and their faith. While the Court did not issue a final judgement in the case but rather sent it back to a lower court for further proceedings, the opinion was surprisingly strong, especially for a unanimous verdict. Gerald Groff, a Pennsylvania postal carrier and client of First Liberty Institute, objected to working on Sundays due to his religious conviction that the day should be reserved as a sabbath. He tried for several years to reach a compromise with the Post Office to avoid Sunday shifts, but after suffering years of mockery and abuse, he was forced to resign from his position in January 2019. Later in that year, Groff sued the Post Office under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), which makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee on account of religion, among other things. Title VII requires employers to make accommodations for the religious practice of employees except when doing so would cause undue hardship on the conduct of the employers business. In Trans World Airlines v. Hardison (1977), the Supreme Court found that any cost or effort that is more than de minimis is an undue hardship. Mr. Groff lost in the trial court and again at the intermediate appellate court as the judges relied on this de minimis standard. The Hardison interpretation of Title VII provided almost no protection for the free exercise rights of employees, and it was not just evangelical Christians like Gerald Groff who have suffered. The de minimis standard has, according to the Supreme Court, blessed the denial of even minor accommodation and significantly disadvantaged members of minority faiths, including Sikhs, Muslims, Seventh-day Adventists, and, in the words of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, once again left [Jews] at the mercy of their employers good graces. The Groff court did not explicitly overrule Hardison but has clarified some aspects of it and more clearly stated what is required of the undue hardship language in the context of Title VII. The newly established standard requires courts to determine whether a hardship would be substantial in the context of an employers business in the commonsense manner that it would use in applying any such test. The anxieties of those like Ms. Greenhouse have not been realized, but it is also now abundantly clear that they were always completely unfounded. Groff does not represent any new law. It is a course correction that was only necessary because lower courts had misinterpreted the text of Title VII. This case only renews and clarifies our countrys shared commitment to respecting religious freedom, including in the workplace. Proponents of a radically secularized public square, like American Atheists, argue that the decision in Groff unfairly shifts more of the burdens of religious accommodations to the nonreligious in the workplace. This group understands this case as a signal that religious employees are or will be favored. But this analysis fundamentally misunderstands and misrepresents this decision. First, respecting religious liberty and religious diversity is fully consistent with our countrys dedication to protecting individual freedom. After all, the Constitution explicitly protects free exercise rights for all citizens. Title VIIs protection of religious employees may not be explicitly mandated by the First Amendment, but the provision is certainly consistent with the spirit of it. The purpose of the free exercise clause is to protect the freedom that allows Americans to orient their lives according to their most fundamental beliefs, and Gerald Groff was entitled to do exactly that. If citizens are to be free to practice any or no faith without government intrusion, but only see that private interests foreclose that freedom via coercive and unfair economic pressure, the purpose of the First Amendment is frustrated. Second, what critics like Greenhouse fail to consider is that granting accommodations is a common employment practice necessary to ensure equal opportunities and foster a more level playing field. Congress has afforded similar protections for Americans with disabilities, pregnant and nursing mothers, and military veterans. In the wake of Groff, people of faith who have been unfairly precluded from certain jobs due to their religious commitments will now have access to equal opportunities. Moreover, these restored protections will primarily empower workers who belong to minority faiths to be able to work without being forced to violate their beliefs. Interestingly, the Groff court affirmed that an employer who fails to provide an accommodation cannot raise a defense merely on the grounds that the accommodation could cause some co-workers to grumble about their religious colleagues. A hardship that is attributable to employee animosity to a particular religion, to religion in general, or to the very notion of accommodating religious practice cannot be considered undue. It is particularly surprising to find this line in an opinion signed by the left wing of the Supreme Court. Opponents of religious freedom tend to advocate for a jurisprudential approach that creates a freedom from rather than a freedom of religion. It is encouraging to see the Court protect religious diversity, even for minority, unpopular, or less-understood perspectives. The post-Groff world is not one that presents anything to fear. It does not represent a new orientation toward a dark theocratic future. It is rather a very measured and commonsense decision that shows great deference to the plain meaning of a statute written, debated, and passed by Congress. This decision is instead a vindication of the rights of religious citizens who should never have been forced in the first place to make a choice between their jobs and their faith. A family sat divided on benches at opposite sides of a Franklin County courtroom on Monday as Dominic Thomas Novia was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the 2021 shooting death of his grandmother. A jury previously found Novia, now 32, guilty of four felonies: second-degree murder, felonious firearm use and two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Sandra Workman said Monday that Novia shot 70-year-old Mary Ann Cook inside her home, in front of her husband of 50 years. The husband said in a statement during Novias hearing in Franklin County Circuit Court that Cook was his life line, and watching her die was the most horrific thing he had ever witnessed. After listening to his grandfathers statement and others from members of his family on both sides of the courtroom, Novia addressed the elder man from the witness stand, calling him sneaky and jealous. Family members described Mary Ann Cook as loving and kind. They said she was the glue that tried to keep the family connected. Alternatively, one of Novias high school friends said the same about him. Hes the person you call when you need something, the friend said. Hes a sweetheart. Everybody that I know is surprised by this, one of Novias sisters testified, adding she never knew her brother to be aggressive. No one knows the truth besides God, Dominic and the people that were in that house. This is just crazy to everyone, another sister said. Dominic has never shown any anger. He loved his grandmother. This is mind-boggling to me, Novias mother testified. There is nothing he wouldnt do for her. Yeah, I loved my grandmother, Novia testified. How can I feel guilty for something I didnt do? Novias attorney, Ed Cooley, argued that the person that committed Cooks murder was not the normal Dominic his family knows and loves. He asked Judge Tim Allen to consider a sentence near the lower end of the sentencing guidelines. But Workman countered that Novias mother, sisters and cousins didnt see the person that Cook and her husband saw on the night she was murdered. The prosecutor said the court saw that person again on Monday. Workman said Novia addressed Cooks surviving husband in an unkind manner and tried to point a finger, adding, He showed us who he truly is, and has not taken any responsibility. The prosecutor said a sentence near the upper end of the guidelines will never suffice what happened to Mrs. Cook. Judge Allen said the behavior for which Novia had been convicted was out of character, given his background. But he sentenced Novia to 53 years in prison, suspended after he serves 23. On the murder charge, Allen gave Novia to 40 years in prison, suspended after he serves 20. On the firearm use charge, Novia received a mandatory 3-year sentence under Virginia law. And on each of the two shooting charges, he received five years. All ten were suspended. Once released from incarceration, Novia will be on probation for five years. At the end of the hearing, Novia asked Judge Allen if he could submit a habeas corpus petition, which attacks a defendants criminal conviction or sentence in Virginia. Allen said he could not give Novia legal advice. A state trooper who was investigated for perjury after working a fatal crash in Pulaski County will not be charged but has resigned from the police force, attorneys reported Monday. Special prosecutor Roy Evans, the commonwealths attorney in Smyth County, wrote in an email that he decided not to bring a criminal charge against Joseph Hunter Lowe because he did not think that Lowe purposefully made a false statement about a crash he investigated. Evans said last week that he would make a decision about charging Lowe by Monday, which is when Pulaski Countys grand jury met and could have heard evidence against the officer. However, Lowe left the Virginia State Police effective Monday, Evans wrote. Lowes attorney, Chris Tuck of Blacksburg, confirmed that Lowe was no longer with the state police. In a text message, Tuck wrote that Lowe made the decision to resign in order to explore other employment opportunities. The investigation of Lowe was triggered by his mishandling of the aftermath of a Jan. 9 fatal crash in which a Pulaski woman drove across the center line of U.S. 11 near Draper and collided head-on with a car driven by a Wythe County man. The Wythe County man, 90-year-old Garnie L. East of Max Meadows, was killed. As the incidents investigating state trooper, Lowe turned in a sworn statement claiming that Monica Carolyn Harder, 32, the driver who crossed the center line, told him that she was using her cellphone at the time of the crash. But recordings of the officers interaction with the driver did not support his account of what Harder said, attorneys said. Attorney Mike Barbour of Dublin, who represented Harder, wrote in an email last month that Harders cellphone records also showed that Harder was not using a phone. Statements made by the trooper attributing the accident to cellphone use by Ms. Harder were false, Barbour wrote. A state police spokeswoman reported last month that Lowe was himself investigated for perjury by other state police officers and that their findings were turned over to Evans for a decision about whether a criminal charge should be brought. In his email Monday, Evans wrote that if Lowe were tried, the commonwealth would have to prove the officers false statement made during the process of convincing a magistrate to issue a search warrant was a purposeful, willful act. Instead, Evans wrote, I think the trooper reasonably believed that the statements he attributes to Ms. Harder were made by her, either to him at the hospital or to one of the multiple first responders at a chaotic fatal crash scene who in turn told those statements to him. Doubts about Lowes trustworthiness led to the Pulaski County commonwealths attorneys office dropping traffic charges against 39 people last month. Prosecutors in nearby counties, including Wythe, Montgomery and Giles, said they could find no current cases in their jurisdictions that involved the trooper. Lowe became a state police officer in 2019 and was assigned to the Dublin Field Office in 2021. Correction Roger Gregory is a judge with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His title was incorrect in a story Tuesday about a case involving the Mountain Valley Pipeline. A federal appeals court has ordered the Mountain Valley Pipeline not to resume construction in the Jefferson National Forest. Late Monday afternoon, a three-judge panel of 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay of construction while it considers arguments that Congress violated the separation of powers doctrine when it passed a law expediting completion of the controversial project. The brief order came from Judge Roger Gregory and Judges Stephanie Thacker and James Wynn. The same three judges have set aside nearly a dozen permits issued to Mountain Valley over the past five years. The case involved a challenge, filed by The Wilderness Society, of a provision in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which suspended the federal debt ceiling to avoid a government default. Tucked into the larger law was language ordering federal agencies to issue all remaining permits to Mountain Valley and stripping the Fourth Circuit of its jurisdiction to hear any legal challenges of the approvals. The Wilderness Society argued that because the law was unconstitutional, the Fourth Circuit should continue to hear its case, which challenges a U.S. Forest Service permit that allows the pipeline to cross through 3.5 miles of the national forest in Giles and Montgomery counties. There had been no decision by 5 p.m. Monday on a second request for a stay which if granted would affect a much larger portion of a 303-mile pipeline that runs from northern West Virginia, through the New River and Roanoke valleys, to connect with an existing pipeline near the North Carolina line. In that case, also pending before the Fourth Circuit, a coalition of environmental groups led by Appalachian Voices contests a finding by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that endangered species would not be jeopardized by the buried, 42-inch diameter pipe. Since the Fiscal Responsibility Act was passed in early June, construction crews have started to return to the unfinished portions of the pipeline, which Mountain Valley hopes to have in operation by the end of the year. We are reviewing the courts decision and will have additional comment to follow in the coming days, company spokeswoman Natalie Cox wrote in an email late Monday. Construction of the pipeline has come in fits and starts since it began in the winter of 2018, mostly due to government permits being set aside by the Fourth Circuit. Many of the three-judge panels decision have been based on environmental concerns about a project that has been cited more than 400 times with violating erosion and sedimentation control regulations. Mondays decision came just hours after lawyers for the joint venture of energy companies building the natural gas pipeline argued in court papers that both legal challenges should be dismissed. Any challenge to the laws constitutionality should be made not to the Fourth Circuit but to a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., attorney George Sibley wrote. Congresss message was crystal clear: If you want to challenge Section 324 [the portion of the law that fast-tracked Mountain Valley], you must do so in the D.C. Circuit, Sibley wrote. It was not clear when the Fourth Circuit might rule on the arguments made by the Wilderness Society, Appalachian Voices and the other environmental groups who say Congress violated the Constitution by asserting its power over that of the courts. But before granting a stay, the court had to find in favor of the Wilderness Society on four factors, including whether it had made a strong showing that its legal challenge will ultimately be successful. Spencer Gall, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center who represents The Wilderness Society, argued in court papers that it was likely to prevail and that it faced irreparable harm if a stay was not granted. In sum, a stay would protect the public interest in forestalling unlawful environmental harm and would not impair any other public interests, Gall wrote. DALEVILLE A rezoning of the old Murray Cider property in Blue Ridge for a large mixed-use development was recommended for approval by the Botetourt County Planning Commission Monday night. The development, Harvest at Blue Ridge, would include hundreds of new homes. The proposed multi-phase project would include up to 155 single-family lots, 200 multi-family lots, 145 town houses and 60,000 square feet of commercial space, including a grocery store, with an estimated completion date of 2030, according to the rezoning application. With some recent development proposals receiving public pushback in the county recently, the commissions vote was unanimous to recommend approval of the Harvest at Blue Ridge to the county Board of Supervisors. And while some speakers asked questions Monday night, there was no major discontent with the merits of the proposal. The three parcels up for rezoning total just over 89 acres, and are located on the eastern side of Cloverdale Road between the intersections at Cortland Road and Eastpark Drive, according to county documents. The land is currently zoned for agriculture and low density housing, but developer Dale Wilkinson is requesting it be changed to community mixed-use. Wilkinson and his team have been working on the plan for the last 18 months, and his representatives said the Blue Ridge resident wants to add to the community, not detract from it, fellow resident and co-developer for the project David Spigel said. Wilkinson has worked on other projects in the county over the last several years, including the Summerfield Village and the Stonegate subdivision, as well as the recently restored Fire Station No. 1 in downtown Roanoke. He is also responsible for transforming the former Roland E. Cook Elementary School in Vinton, which reopened as loft apartments in 2017. Built in 1915, the brick edifice sat empty for many years until it was turned into a modern living space. He told the commission Monday evening he first saw the Murray property was for sale in March 2022, and he and his development team began to consider a plan. Wilkinson said he and his team have talked with hundreds of neighbors and were pleased with the citizen response and willingness to listen to his plans for the site. He also said the countys fire and emergency services was consulted on the project to ensure every street and alley is navigable for emergency equipment. Spigel said the whole point of the project is to create a community with livability, walkability and sustainability in mind, with a plan based on feedback, expert design and lessons the county learned with the Daleville Town Center. The apartment buildings would not look like traditional larger apartment buildings at the Daleville Town Center, but rather more like houses with fewer units in each building, according to the developers plan. Wilkinson said most people dont want to live in huge apartment buildings, which was a factor in the projects design. The beauty of this property is the up and down of the land. And I think it adds to the variety and the appeal of different structures to have them sitting on the land, he said. Wilkinson also talked about the amount of green space being proposed, and said it will also help with stormwater management. Citizens who spoke at the meeting asked numerous questions. Topics included stormwater management and school infrastructure, as well as increased law enforcement for the assumed influx of citizens. One speaker also was concerned with how big the largest homes would be, and about apartments being included in the project, stating those dont always turn out as planned. Im concerned with the apartments going in. I think we already have enough in the area. I would rather see [more] small cottages, single family homes, something like that more so than an apartment set up in there, he said. Concerns about increased traffic were also mentioned, a common concern for citizens when new developments are proposed. Others hinted they were concerned with low income residents moving into the development, which may need an increased law enforcement presence. The commissions Blue Ridge representative, Sam Foster, said he had a real problem with low income residents being equated to criminals or their presence to an increase in crime. Multiple citizens thanked Wilkinson and his team for the due diligence put into the projects planning, including talking to surrounding neighbors of the Murray property. When asked about pricing, Wilkinson told the commission could not give exact figures, but estimated apartments could go for between $1,000 to $1,200 a month, cottages at least a few hundred thousand dollars and some of the bigger homes could be close to the $1 million price point, with the latter drawing a few gasps from those in attendance. The board of supervisors is scheduled to take up the commissions recommendation July 17 at 6 p.m. at the Botetourt County Administration Center in Daleville. Correction July 11, 2023, 12:30 p.m.: Roanoke city planners have not suggested a new Preston Park school be built on the exact same location as the current building. A photo caption with an image attached to this story was incorrect on that point. Roanoke City Public Schools wants to build a new Preston Park Elementary School at the back of the schools current property, while the city would prefer the new building to be closer to the road. The discrepancy comes down to a difference in design principles. City officials said Monday the districts proposal conflicts with several elements of the citys Comprehensive Plan its main land use document. Others indicated the proposed campus layout may be unpopular because it is more vehicle-centric than pedestrian friendly. The Comprehensive Plan and city planning efforts place an emphasis on walkability. PedalSafe Roanoke board Chairman Ken McLeod spoke at the Monday afternoon planning commission public hearing about the schools proposal. He asked the schools to consider a campus layout with more walking and biking paths surrounding the school. Internationally, modern city and urban planning principles emphasize walkability the idea that, no matter where someone lives, they can walk, bike or take a bus to work, school, a park or a grocery store. Walkable communities are generally healthier and happier, according to studies. Building a new Preston Park Elementary at the back of the existing schools property would create a long walk up to the building, discouraging pedestrian traffic, according to the argument against that site. But thats the way schools are being built these days, said Jeff Shawver, the school systems senior director of physical plants. More schools are being located farther away from the road for the sake of safety. The schools believe that a more accessible, pedestrian friendly campus would introduce more security risks, while the Preston Park Elementary layout proposed by the schools would give school resource officer and administrative staff offices a view of almost the entire campus. City Land Use and Urban Design Planner Katharine Gray said city staff interpret things differently. More people will spend time in the area around the school if it is made more walkable, and the school could then get the benefit of natural surveillance from the presence of community members. A long approach to a building doesnt necessarily guarantee safety, Gray said. Meanwhile, Jessica Blandy, Roanoke City Central Council PTA president and an RCPS parent and teacher, indicated walking to school is not popular anyway, partly due to safety concerns. Jason Alls, a Preston Park Elementary parent who also spoke Monday, said the campus current layout is annoying. Im sure all of you have driven through there before and seen how crowded it gets, how long the lines are. Its about time for a change, Alls said. Right now, Preston Park doesnt have a dedicated bus loop. School buses must share the way with cars picking up and dropping off students. The schools proposed layout would introduce a bus loop and a completely separate line for cars. A pedestrian-friendly design would keep the school close to the road perhaps even closer than it already is. Rebuilding near the road would require shutting down parts or all of the school during construction, meaning students would be bused to other city schools. That would disrupt Preston Parks school culture, Blandy said. On the other hand, Gray said the city has spent several years making accessibility, ramp and sidewalk improvements to Preston and Melrose Avenue and other roads near the school to make it easier for people to walk around the neighborhood. The goal, she said, is to encourage children who have become less active over the years to walk and bike. The citys greenways werent popular before they were built, Gray said, but after they were completed people began flocking to them. The schools proposal for Preston Park would allow the city to continue operating the existing school while building the new one. At the very least, everyone agrees that Preston Park Elementary needs a new building. The current school building was completed in the 1950s. More than 70 years later, its filled to the brim with students from the growing nearby neighborhoods. Aside from its regular classrooms, Preston Park Elementary operates one modular classroom unit and has constructed four more classrooms in the gymnasium. The planning commission did not vote on the schools proposal Monday, instead opting to continue the public hearing until its August meeting, to give the schools and city more time to hash out a compromise. RCPS Chief Academic Officer Archie Freeman said waiting until August wont change the timeline for the new elementary school. (Photo : Scott Eisen/Getty Images) A massive storm across the U.S. northeast has caused flooding in various regions, prompting officials to issue alerts as residents face risks to their safety. Residents in the US Northeast are battered by a powerful storm that has resulted in deadly flooding in the region, prompting officials to issue alerts for the safety of the people. The weather phenomenon affects more than 13 million people in the region and has caused widespread damage. Forecasters added that flash flooding from excessive rainfall is expected across New England until Tuesday morning, noting that Vermont faced the highest risk. Flooding in US Northeast Authorities also issued warnings to parts of Vermont, urging residents to brace for "catastrophic" flooding on a scale that has not been seen since 2011. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also declared a state of emergency in two counties due to the risks involved with the situation. Furthermore, flood watches would remain in effect until at least Tuesday afternoon for several parts of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Connecticut. On Sunday, as per BBC, one woman in her 30s became a fatal victim in New York state as flood water swept through the region's streets. Officials said the woman was trying to flee her home with her dog to escape the flood water. They added that the victim crossed with her pet, lost her footing, and tragically washed away into a ravine. More intense rainfall is forecasted in northeastern New York and northern Vermont. On Monday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said that dangerous flooding in the affected areas would continue or worsen throughout the night. The agency added that impacts include turning from flash flooding to river flooding. The massive storm had caused flooding that rendered multiple areas in the New England state inaccessible. Media outlets reported that people were being forced to travel via canoes, and churches were seen being converted into shelters for those who had been driven away. Read Also: El Paso Gunman Handed With 90 Consecutive Life Sentences for Killing 23 People State of Emergency Accuweather, a private forecaster, estimated the damage resulting from the flooding to be roughly $3 billion to $5 billion. Additionally, according to Reuters, the situation forced more than 1,000 flights to and from airports across the region to be delayed or canceled on Monday, including New York's LaGuardia and Boston's Logan. Amtrak also opted to suspend passenger train service between the state capital, Albany, and New York City, following flooding that damaged the tracks. The company shares some of that route's track with the Metro-North commuter railroad into New York, which also suspended some of its services on that line and another one. Hochul on Sunday said that up to eight inches of rain created "life-threatening conditions.'' Later that evening, more than 12,000 customers in the state lost power. Fortunately, by midday on Monday, that number had dropped to 3,800. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott was also forced to declare a state of emergency, adding that swift water rescue teams were staged in strategic locations throughout the region. He said that they would be there in case they were necessary to help with evacuations and rescues from floodwaters, said Yahoo News. Related Article: Cleveland Shooting Injures 9, Prompts Manhunt for Shooter at Large @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Louisiana federal judge ruled recently that the Biden administration could not quietly contact social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook to remove protected free speech. Some saw this as bad news for the removal of misinformation or, in the words of The New York Times, government efforts to combat false and misleading narratives. We say: The judge, who shrewdly issued his ruling on Independence Day, was right. Government should not be in the business of censoring what Americans have to say on their social media platforms. Much of this brouhaha dates to the COVID-19 crisis, a challenging period for free-speech advocates and an emboldening era for those public health officials who argued the need for consistent messaging as a tool for saving lives. Those officials quickly realized that vaccine skeptics, lockdown protesters and other dissenters were muddying the waters on social media platforms and generating significant followings, and the officials were concerned that what they saw as misinformation would only worsen the crisis. All of this was understandable in that emergency context when no one knew how the COVID-19 crisis was going to play out, and, frankly, when the full power of social media was only just being understood. Even now, having groups of advocates that pressure social media channels to remove what they see as damaging information is perfectly reasonable. Those groups are expressing their own rights to free speech and, as private entities, the social media channels can and should have their own rules on what they do and do not permit. We advocate for responsibility on the part of Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat, just as a good newspaper takes care over what it does and does not publish. But thats not what this case is about. The problem came up when the Biden administration opened up a back channel to sympathetic senior employees at Twitter. White House operatives openly pointed out problematic posts that they wanted taken down. In the words of the judge, government officials should not have been encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech. ... There is ample evidence that such conversations took place. Elon Musk, Twitters new owner, has referenced them. They also have come up in discovery findings in an ongoing lawsuit involving Alex Berenson, a vaccine and lockdown skeptic on Twitter whose content really stuck in the Biden administrations craw. On the face of it, Judge Terry Doughtys remarks represent a First Amendment no-brainer. Its understandable that some of that content irritated the Biden administration, which saw it as harmful to public health. But as anyone who has lived in a society where the government controls all the messaging will tell you, that irritation is a price worth paying for allowing free persons to express dissent. That should not be a liberal or a conservative stance, but an American one. And it applies even in a time of national crisis. Much as we would like to believe otherwise, there is not one science to trust. And, as was the case during COVID-19, if authorities try to suppress dissent, it tends merely to embolden it. In a free society, people have to be able to hear all sides, judge who they think can be trusted for themselves and navigate the free marketplace of ideas. Such is the choice Americans made long ago. So for that reason, weve been perplexed by some of the media hand-wringing over Tuesdays decision. Take, for example, The Associated Press report that suggested in its news story that the decision was raising questions about what officials could even say in public forums. We dont see the decision that way at all. Government officials have free speech rights, too, and they are free to criticize individuals in public forums. The U.S. surgeon general, for example, is free to hold a news conference declaring some sources untrustworthy or even dangerous to public health. Commanding that kind of bully pulpit is part of the job, just as it is to go after unhealthy products. The problem only arises when someone in public office decides not just to criticize what someone else is saying, but to try to prevent its very utterance by sending an email to, say, Twitter, saying, Hey, you might want to take a look at this post with a view to taking it down. A private individual can attempt to do that. A government official should not. So says our Constitution. But what about misinformation in a crisis? Might allowing such speech not cost lives? The framers saw that issue differently, believing that protecting free expression was, in the long run, the best protection that could be afforded an American. Looking back on COVID-19, most reasonable people can see both sides of the dilemma. Many in government were so infuriated by the new power of disinformation that they convinced themselves that its curtailment was the only way to prevent mass deaths in a health crisis with an uncertain and terrifying trajectory. Some forgiveness and tolerance is in order. But the First Amendment is the First Amendment. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The U.S. Department of Transportation cites three reasons for DST: Energy savings Prevention of traffic injuries and death Crime reduction All three claims have been studied, with mixed results. In 2008, the Department of Energy (DOE) found that the extra four weeks of DST (which were added in 2007) had saved just 0.5 percent in total electricity per day. This might not seem like much, but the DOE noted that this came out to savings of "1.3 billion kilowatt-hours or the amount of electricity used by more than 100,000 households for an entire year." Advertisement In 2018, The New York Times reported on a 2017 study that analyzed 44 papers on the subject of DST and energy savings and found the savings even less about 0.34 percent of electricity use. Electricity use might be less in places with milder climates but that was offset by increases in electricity use in places close the equator, the researchers said. Also, people are increasingly using energy-efficient LED lightbulbs and more energy-efficient appliances, which lower energy costs as well. As far as traffic goes, some studies cited fewer fatal car crashes during DST because of the extra daylight during the evening rush hour. A 2007 study found an 8 to 11 percent drop in pedestrian-related crashes and 6 to 10 percent drop in car crashes in the weeks following DST. Regarding crime, one study showed that robberies reduced during DST by 7 percent and dropped a huge 27 percent during "the evening hour that gained some extra sunlight," the authors wrote. Businesses that operate outdoors may also benefit from permanent DST. Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of lawncare service Lawn Love, points out that having outdoor workers start their days when temperatures are cooler is better. "After our clocks are adjusted an hour forward in the spring, what now is 8 a.m. used to be 7 a.m., meaning that workers experience the [cooler] temperatures of the early morning a little further into the day than they used to," he explains. The tourism and travel industry could gain from permanent DST, too. Nick Mueller, director of operations for travel website HawaiianIslands.com, says that DST increases tourism revenue. "Getting that extra hour of sunlight actually boosts the amount of people who choose to travel for outdoor excursions, activities or for visiting theme parks," Mueller says. "When people go on vacation, they typically want to get the most out of their days, and DST helps with that." " " Sky Sangari Phunman changes the time on the clocks at her home in Kill, Ireland, ahead of clocks going back one hour. The wall of her home is covered in clocks from around the world that have been collected in memory of her grandfather who was a horologist (someone who studies clocks and timekeeping). Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images First, it's important to understand the difference between DNA and protein products. Brody says that an easy way to do this is to think of DNA as the blueprint of a house, and protein products as the actual house because all of the information is in there. Then, think of human DNA as a blueprint of a ranch home and banana DNA as that of a colonial-style home. In each house, a bunch of things are similar (plumbing, bathrooms, kitchen) but the end products are both quite different. That's how it works with humans versus just about everything else, from bananas to chimpanzees. The second thing to keep in mind is that genes, which are the regions of the DNA that code for these proteins, only make up 2 percent of your DNA. Advertisement For this particular experiment, scientists first looked at the sequences of genes in a typical banana genome. "We then used these DNA sequences to predict the amino acid sequence of all the proteins that would be made from those genes," Brody says, noting that the protein sequences were placed in a file. "We then did the same process for all human genes." Next, the scientists compared the protein sequence from each banana gene to every human gene. "The program compares how similar the sequence of the banana genes are to each human gene," he says, noting that the degree of similarity could range 0 to 100 percent. "The program kept any matches that were more similar than one would expect by chance." The program continued doing this, gene by gene. All told, more than 4 million comparisons were done, resulting in about 7,000 best "hits" between the two genomes. Then, the percent similarity score for each of those hits was averaged. "This gave us the result of about 40 percent," he says. "This is the average similarity between proteins (gene products), not genes." Gene products or proteins are the biochemical material resulting from a gene becoming functional. "Of course, there are many, many genes in our genome that do not have a recognizable counterpart in the banana genome and vice versa." If that's a bit difficult to chew and swallow, here's a more simplified breakdown. Essentially, they took all of the banana genes and compared them one at a time to human genes. From that, they culled a degree of similarity (if the banana had the gene but the human didn't, that didn't get counted). About 60 percent of our genes have a recognizable counterpart in the banana genome! "Of those 60 percent, the proteins encoded by them are roughly 40 percent identical when we compare the amino acid sequence of the human protein to its equivalent in the banana," Brody adds. It may seem shocking that so many genes are similar in two such vastly different things as person and banana. But actually, it's not. "If you think about what we do for living and what a banana does there's a lot of things we do the same way, like consuming oxygen. A lot of those genes are just fundamental to life," Brody says. FLORENCE, S.C. Crescent Advisory Partners of Raymond James has donated $10,000 to United Way of Florence County. Jason Newton, CFP, vice president of investments, said at Crescent Advisory Partners, we are all longtime Florentines and active in our community. We all grew up in small communities and have developed roots here in Florence, the Pee Dee region, and South Carolina. We understand the positive impact that giving can make on a small town. Its why we continue to support many organizations near and dear to our hearts, whose philanthropic services create positive outcomes for those who need it most. Jonathan McKnight, director of campaign and donor relations at United Way, said the enthusiasm for giving that he has seen from the staff at Crescent Advisory Partners is contagious. They truly want to make a difference in their community, believe it can happen, and are eager to do their part. We are fortunate to have neighbors like this in Florence County, said McKnight. With this donation, United Way of Florence County will be able to make a greater impact in the health, education, and financial stability sectors through the 30 programs it funds. We are honored to be a part of helping the United Way create positive outcomes for those in our community who need it most, said Newton. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Split Wisconsin Supreme Court rejects transgender woman's arguments for changing her name on sex offender registry | Main | Couple of choice Concepcion commentaries July 9, 2022 Kisor role: how often is deference to the federal sentencing guidelines' commentary litigated? In addition to starting with a terrible pun, the title of my post reflects my uncertainty about how much to make of the (slow-burn) uncertainty regarding application of the federal sentencing guidelines' commentary. It is now over three years since the Supreme Court in Kisor v. Wilkie, 139 S. Ct. 2400 (2019), recast for federal courts "the deference they give to agencies ... in construing agency regulations." The Kisor case had nothing to do with the federal sentencing guidelines, but lower courts have since grappled with whether and when Kisor means that the commentary to the guidelines no longer should always be followed. This Kisor question is on my mind because a helpful colleague made sure I did not miss the Third Circuit's work last week in US v. Adair, No. 20-1463 (3d Cir. June 30, 2022) (available here). The panel in Adair does a thorough job explaining how Kisor has been understood (by some circuits) to recalibrate whether and how sentencing courts must show deference to the the guidelines' commentary. But so far a majority of circuits have not read Kisor to require changing the general tendency to treat guidelines' commentary as binding just like the actual guidelines (as the Supreme Court suggested back in Stinson v. US, 508 U.S. 36 (1993)). I flagged this issue in this post last year noting a big Sixth Circuit ruling, US v. Riccardi, 989 F.3d 476 (6th Cir. 2021), which held that certain commentary was an "improper expansion" of the meaning of "loss" in a fraud case. I thought the Riccardi ruling could lead to lots of Kisor-impacted litigation because many fraud cases involve commentary that arguably expands on the guideline term "loss." And yet, this issue recently merited only a single footnote in the USSC's recent "Loss Calculation" Primer, leading me to think this issue is not actually being litigated much. I know there have been at least a few cert petitions urging the Supreme Court to take up what Kisor means for the guidelines and their commentary, but perhaps the Justices do not yet see this issue roiling the lower courts enough to demand its intervention. That said, I have noticed that a number of recent student notes on this topic: So, dear readers, it is mostly law students spending lots of time on this intricate issue or are a lot more litigants and lower courts grappling with this Kisor role than I can see? July 9, 2022 at 05:14 PM | Permalink Comments In United States v. Beebe, 21 CR 197 (EDNY), a fraud case, the district court ruled at sentencing that Kisor applied to the Guidelines, did not apply the Application Note to the fraud Guideline, and did not include intended loss in the Guideline calculation. Posted by: anon | Jul 10, 2022 1:43:31 PM Thanks, anon. I suspect there are lots more (unreported) cases out there. I especially wonder if anyone is trying to track when and how often these issues are being actively (and impactfully) litigated. Posted by: Doug B. | Jul 10, 2022 7:14:44 PM My sense is that not many criminal practitioners are either prepared or willing to engage on the administrative law battle. I see some CLEs being taught (mainly by FPDs) about how to litigate this issue in the context of the career offender (i.e., don't include the inchoate offense priors). But that's largely it. You do not see the criminal defense Bar writ large making these challenges. I think it's mostly a matter of criminal attorneys (generally) not having a strong civil litigation background. That's just my theory, but these structural types of challenges are just not on the radar of most of practitioners. Posted by: Zachary Newland | Jul 11, 2022 10:38:10 AM Federal defenders are vigorously litigating Kisor issues. Look for an opinion in the en banc Dupree case in the 11th Circuit in the next few months. The government conceded at oral argument that Kisor applies to the Guidelines, which some of the judges didn't seem inclined to accept. There were lots of questions about Stinson versus Kisor. Posted by: defendergirl | Jul 12, 2022 4:30:03 PM Post a comment "Criminal Justice Through Management: From Police, Prosecutors, Courts, and Prisons to a Modern Administrative Agency" | Main | Missouri completes execution after SCOTUS rejects final stay appeal November 29, 2022 Sixth Circuit panel debates agency deference for guideline commentary defining images for child porn sentencing How Appealing and Jonathan Adler at The Volohk Conspirary both posted about a notable new Sixth Circut panel opinion in US v. Phillips, No. 21-5762 (6th Cir. Nov. 28, 2022) (available here). Here is how the majority opinion, which runs 17 pages, gets started: When it passed the PROTECT Act in 2003, Congress required the United States Sentencing Commission to vary penalties for child-pornography offenses depending on the number of images involved. The Commission accordingly implemented that method of calculating penalties in the Sentencing Guidelines. Addressing what it perceived to be an ambiguity in Congresss command, the Commission added an application note in the Guidelines commentary instructing courts to equate one video to seventy-five images when calculating the applicable Guidelines sentencing range. For almost twenty years, courts have relied on this 75:1 Rule when sentencing defendants convicted of possessing videos containing child pornography. Recent Supreme Court precedent, however, has clarified when courts can defer to an agencys interpretation of its regulations (by applying so-called Auer deference). Defendant-Appellant Trinity Phillips argues that this recent clarification means that a sentencing court can no longer rely on the 75:1 Rule, and that the court erred in relying on it when imposing his sentence. We disagree and affirm that sentence as imposed by the district court. Concurring in the judgment only, Judge Larsen authors an 18-page opinion that starts this way: How is a court to respond when the question before it involves the interpretation of an agency rule? Over decades, we lower courts developed a habit of deferring reflexively to the agencys interpretation under Seminole Rock and Auer, rather than first tackling the interpretative question ourselves, to see whether the rule was genuinely ambiguous. Kisor v. Wilkie, 139 S. Ct. 2400, 2414 (2019). Three years ago, the Supreme Court told us to stop. The Court did not mince words: [T]he possibility of deference can arise only if a regulation is genuinely ambiguous. And when we use that term, we mean it genuinely ambiguous, even after a court has resorted to all the standard tools of interpretation. Id. In United States v. Riccardi, this court confirmed that Kisors admonition applied to the Sentencing Guidelines too. 989 F.3d 476, 486 (6th Cir. 2021). These were important decisions. They reminded us that judges have a duty to interpret the law, even when administrative agencies are involved. But old habits are hard to break. Todays decision is proof. No fair reading of Kisor and Riccardi would permit us to defer to the Sentencing Commissions conclusion that the word image means 1/75th of every video. Nevertheless, the majority opinion rolls right through Kisors stop sign, reflexively deferring to an agencys noninterpretation of an unambiguous Sentencing Guideline. So I concur in the judgment only. November 29, 2022 at 03:28 PM | Permalink Comments Post a comment District judge bemoans federal marijuana developments that "do little to promote congruity in the law in this arena" | Main | After serving 53 years, Manson follower Leslie Van Houten released from in California prison July 11, 2023 After latest acquitted conduct dodge, will SCOTUS keep dodging the deep circuit split over guideline commentary? In my recent "inartful dodgers" series (linked below), I bemoaned the Supreme Court's curious suggestion that the Sentencing Commission should first address acquitted-conduct sentencing policy issues before it took up broader acquitted-conduct constitutional issues. That series got me to wondering whether we now ought also now expect the Supreme Court to keep dodging another important federal sentencing issue which has produced a deep circuit split, namely the weight to be given to guideline commentary. This effective press piece about a recent Tenth Circuit ruling in this area provide the background: When Congress created the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 1984, it intended to reduce disparities in criminal sentencing at the federal level by developing a set of guidelines, which trial judges now reference during sentencing. However, the guidelines are also accompanied by commentary notes that clarify and expand upon the meaning of the guidelines. In recent years, federal appeals courts have reached different conclusions about when judges should apply the commentary and when they should ignore it. Last month, the federal appeals court based in Denver weighed in, deciding it is appropriate to apply the sentencing commentary unless it runs contrary to federal law or the guidelines themselves. "Neither the guideline provisions nor the commentary has any binding legal authority to begin with," clarified Judge Gregory A. Phillips in the June 23 opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Regardless, he added, there is "nothing tyrannical about judicial deference to the commentary." The effect of the decision is to give greater weight to the Sentencing Commission's annotations to its guidelines, which, in the case of Quindell Tyree Maloid, added at least 14 months to his criminal sentence.... For decades, the Supreme Court held that the commentary was "authoritative" unless contradicted by federal law or the guidelines themselves. Then, in 2019, the court issued Kisor v. Wilkie, finding a government agency's interpretation of its own rules does not deserve a court's deference unless the rule is "genuinely ambiguous." Although Kisor involved the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, federal courts soon began to reconsider how to treat the Sentencing Commission's interpretation of its guidelines through the commentary. For some appeals courts, the answer was that Kisor applied to the commentary. "Now the winds have changed," wrote Judge Stephanos Bibas of the Philadelphia-based Third Circuit. "In Kisor, the Supreme Court awoke us from our slumber of reflexive deference: Agency interpretations might merit deference, but only when the text of a regulation is truly ambiguous." The federal government has also accepted that Kisor requires judges to examine sentencing commentary more critically. In November 2022, the solicitor general's office acknowledged in a filing to the Supreme Court that Kisor provides the "authoritative standards for determining whether particular commentary is entitled to deference." However, the 10th Circuit was not convinced.... Phillips, in the panel's opinion, noted that the Kisor decision pertained to executive branch agencies, not the Sentencing Commission. "Thats a critical distinction," he wrote. The Sentencing Commission is not a policymaking body, but an entity providing guidance to judges, Phillips elaborated. Judges retain discretion to deviate from the sentencing guidelines, and Congress can exercise its power to reject any amendments the Sentencing Commission proposes.... Attorney Adam Mueller said the Supreme Court will potentially have to resolve the split between those appeals courts that still permit judges to lean on the sentencing commentary and those that have now adopted the Kisor decision's more skeptical approach.... Earlier this year, the Supreme Court turned down an appeal that sought to clarify how lower courts should now treat the sentencing commentary. The Tenth Circuit's ruling in US v. Maloid is available at this link, and footnote 12 of the panel opinion details the deep circuit split on this important issue of guideline interpretation and application: By our count, four circuits have held that Kisor abrogated Stinson. E.g., United States v. Nasir, 17 F.4th 459, 470-71 (3d Cir. 2021) (en banc); United States v. Riccardi, 989 F.3d 476, 484-85 (6th Cir. 2019); United States v. Castillo, 69 F.4th 648, 657-68 (9th Cir. 2023); United States v. Dupree, 57 F.4th 1269, 1275 (11th Cir. 2023) (en banc). The Fifth Circuit has granted an en banc rehearing to resolve the issue. United States v. Vargas, 35 F.4th 936 (5th Cir.), rehg en banc granted, 45 F.4th 1083 (5th Cir. 2022). The Fourth Circuit has developed an intra-circuit split in dueling decisions within two weeks of each other. Compare United States v. Campbell, 22 F.4th 438, 444-45(4th Cir. 2022), with United States v. Moses, 23 F.4th 347, 357 (4th Cir. 2022). The First Circuit refused to overrule prior precedent relying on Stinson under the law-of-the-circuit doctrine. United States v. Lewis, 963 F.3d 16, 24-25 (1st Cir. 2020). Other circuits have continued to apply Stinson without much discussion of Kisor. E.g., United States v. Richardson, 958 F.3d 151, 154 (2d Cir. 2020); United States v. Smith, 989 F.3d 575, 583-85 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 142 S. Ct. 488 (Nov. 15, 2021); United States v. Merritt, 934 F.3d 809, 811 (8th Cir. 2019); United States v. Jenkins, 50 F.4th 1185, 1197 (D.C. Cir. 2022). Though the Supreme Court is already slated to address agency deference issues in a case during its next Term, the Sentencing Commission is a unique agency as noted by Judge Phillips. Consequently, whether and how deference should be shown to the Sentencing Commission's guideline commentary is not an issue that can be readily resolved in other cases without direct SCOTUS consideration of this precise issue. However, the Sentencing Commission arguably could just move all of its guideline commentary directly into the guidelines. Doing so would largely moot the deep circuit split over how much weight should be given to guideline commentary (because there would, technically, no longer be any guideline commentary). And, notably, in its latest statement of proposed priorities, the Commission has stated this it is "continu[ing] its multiyear study of the Guidelines Manual to address case law concerning the validity and enforceability of guideline commentary." So, if the Supreme Court's instinct is just to inartfully dodge hard sentencing issues based on the hope the Sentencing Commission will take care of matters, we probably should not expect a cert grant on Kisor's role in guideline application anytime soon. Inartful dodgers series: A few prior posts on Kisor guideline issues: July 11, 2023 at 02:50 PM | Permalink Comments Since the commentary can't possibly be more binding than the Guidelines themselves, and since the Guidelines themselves are advisory only, the Sentencing Commission can't control this. Even if it said in the Guidelines that acquitted conduct could never be considered at sentencing, any district judge who cared to could just cite that language and say, "...but I think differently" and, under Watts, use acquitted conduct anyway, cf. Gall, Kimbrough. See also Booker. Posted by: Bill Otis | Jul 11, 2023 3:15:26 PM Penetrating insight. Posted by: whatever | Jul 11, 2023 4:20:17 PM Is the phrase "deep circuit split" overused? It seems to be synonymous for "an issue I wish SCOTUS would take up." I notice that hardly anyone refers to a "shallow" circuit split. My initial view is that Kisor was not meant to apply to the Guidelines. Kisor referred to an agency's interpretation of its own rules. But the Guidelines are not rules, just advice. The commentary is just more advice. I am not sure about the legal status of advice upon advice, when the whole lot of it is just advisory. Posted by: Marc Shepherd | Jul 11, 2023 4:28:00 PM Bill: established law state that judges MUST calculate the guideline range properly (and there will be a reversal on appeal if they do not) AND sentences actually imposed by district judges still gravitate toward the calculated range. So this commentary matter remains an important and consequential legal issue (though less so than if the guidelines were mandatory). Marc: the fact that there are multiple circuit courts on each side of the split and that there is uncertainty within some circuits is why I used the term "deep" to describe this split. Posted by: Doug B | Jul 11, 2023 7:59:37 PM Marc Shepherd -- "But the Guidelines are not rules, just advice. The commentary is just more advice. I am not sure about the legal status of advice upon advice, when the whole lot of it is just advisory." DING DING DING This also explains why the Court isn't granting cert on this split. The split is not a difference of opinion about law, but about something that doesn't reach the level of law and barely reaches the level of "take-it-or-leave-it-as-you-wish" advice. It's just not important enough to warrant the Court's time. Posted by: Bill Otis | Jul 11, 2023 8:02:41 PM Doug -- "...established law state that judges MUST calculate the guideline range properly (and there will be a reversal on appeal if they do not)..." That's true, but then the court can for its own reasons disregard the calculation. This is not where I would have things, but it's where they are. "...AND sentences actually imposed by district judges still gravitate toward the calculated range." Two points to note there. First, they don't gravitate that much. The latest numbers I've seen are that only about half the sentences are within the calculated range. (Almost all the rest are downward departures). Second, even to the extent it's true that sentences "gravitate" toward the range, they're not REQUIRED to gravitate there or gravitate anywhere. I think Marc Shepherd nailed it. There's a split here, alright, but it's not a split involving law in the normal sense. So I'm not all that surprised the Court is not showing an interest. Posted by: Bill Otis | Jul 11, 2023 8:28:41 PM Bill, on data, look at the USSC data on patterns for sentences for every major guideline. You will see that average sentences imposed closely track average guideline calculation. So even in cases where judges vary (or follow prosecutorial departure recommendations), the calculated guideline range is consequential. Moreover, the Supreme Court in Rosales-Mireles v. United States, 138 S. Ct. 1897 (2018), held that that a miscalculation of a defendants guideline range will, in the ordinary case, seriously affect the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings for plain error purposes. Similarly the Court in Molina-Martinez v. United States, 578 U.S. 189 (2016), held that the "Guidelines' central role in sentencing means that an error related to the Guidelines can be particularly serious." In other words, SCOTUS has twice clarified that miscalculation of the guidelines, even though they are advisory, amounts to serious error. Whether you call the guidelines "law" or not, SCOTUS has repeatedly emphasized their continued importance and has indicated that guideline error is serious error. The splits over application of the commentary result in some set of circuits making serious errors that affect the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Posted by: Doug B | Jul 11, 2023 10:50:50 PM Not to be snide, but anyone who thinks this issue is inconsequential does not understand the everyday reality of federal sentencing. Posted by: AFPD | Jul 12, 2023 1:13:53 AM I'm with AFPD on this. In those Circuits that have held that Kisor abrogates Stinson, lawyers now have to undergo a tedious exercise over whether the text of the Guideline is clear (using Dictionaries going years back) and then deciding whether the commentary expands that definition. Just look at this case. Although the opinion seems simple, there was a lot of briefing to get to that result: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ca3-22-02219/pdf/USCOURTS-ca3-22-02219-0.pdf Posted by: Da Man | Jul 12, 2023 10:55:07 AM AFPD -- "Not to be snide, but anyone who thinks this issue is inconsequential does not understand the everyday reality of federal sentencing." Who said it was "inconsequential"? Could I see the quotation? I have said that, in the era of advisory only guidelines, it's not SUFFICIENTLY important to get Supreme Court review on the merits -- something that only a tiny handful of issues get out of the literally thousands of (some quite important and many not so important) issues that are brought to the Court every year. You'd understand this if you knew about the everyday reality of Supreme Court practice. Posted by: Bill Otis | Jul 12, 2023 4:08:53 PM Post a comment Tan Chuan-Jin expresses remorse for expletive caught on hot mic after Parliament speech by opposition MP Jamus Lim, Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin issues an apology after using unparliamentary language during a parliamentary session, as revealed by a Reddit thread. (YouTubeScreengrab/MCI) SINGAPORE Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin has issued an apology on Tuesday (11 July) for his use of unparliamentary language that was captured on a hot mic during a parliamentary session in April this year. The incident came to light through a Reddit thread, which revealed that Tan had muttered "f****** populist" after requesting a response from Sembawang GRC Member of Parliament Vikram Nair to Associate Professor Jamus Lim, the Workers' Party MP of Sengkang GRC. According to The Straits Times, Lim had finished a speech on doing more to help the lower-income groups in Singapore, and had suggested the establishment of an official poverty line during his speech. Tan acknowledged the incident in a Facebook post on Tuesday, stating, "I had to listen to the recording as I did not recall the occasion. Based on the clip, it appears that I had a reaction to a speech made in the chamber." He admitted that, like any other person, he forms his own opinions while listening to speeches. Emphasising that his remarks were privately-expressed thoughts and not intended for anyone in particular, Tan acknowledged, "However, I should not have expressed them aloud or in unparliamentary language, and I apologise for that." He also revealed that he has personally spoken to Lim and extended his apology, to which Lim "has kindly accepted". Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube. (Photo : Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Australian authorities have opted to expand access to a medical abortion pill by allowing more doctors and pharmacists to prescribe and dispence the drug. Australian authorities have made a major rule change that would expand access to medical abortion pills by allowing more doctors and pharmacists to prescribe them. In a surprising move, the Therapeutic Goods Administration removed restrictions on prescription medical abortion pills. These are usually used in the early stages of an unwanted pregnancy. Australia Expands Access to Medical Abortion Pill The MS-2 Step medication, also known as RU486 in some countries, was previously only allowed to be prescribed by a doctor with specialist certification and then provided by a pharmacist registered to dispense the product itself. But the new changes allow the pill to be prescribed by any healthcare practitioner with appropriate qualifications and training, including nurse practitioners. Furthermore, authorities also decided to lift the restrictions on pharmacists. Officials have also opted to include a warning in the medicine's product information that outlines the circumstances when someone should be referred to a doctor. In a statement, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Nicole Higgins said that the decision would improve access to the service for people living in rural and remote communities, as per the Daily Mail. She said the TGA's changes would allow greater access to medical abortion for women nationwide and reduce unnecessary red tape for the GPs who provide the essential services. Higgins added that GPs were better placed to provide holistic support and counseling on medical abortions. She noted that they were, more often than not, the only health services that are available in regional areas. Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearny said the Australian government had no higher priority than strengthening primary care. She argued that the changes were welcome because they allowed trusted and highly skilled providers to provide sufficient care within their scope of practice. Despite the change in the rules, GPs are warning that expanding access to the abortion pill is not the end of the road; they said that more action needs to be taken to increase the number of healthcare professionals that can prescribe the medical abortion pill, according to ABC.net. Read Also: Internal Revenue Service Issues Warning of New Tax Refund Scam Allowing More Doctors to Prescribe the Drug The SPHERE Centre for research excellence, specializing in reproductive health, said that before the change, only one in 10 GPs were active prescribers of abortion drugs. This situation, the lack of prescribers, left 30% of Australian women with no local providers of abortion care in their area. Additionally, the situation was expected to worsen in remote parts of the country, where half the people cannot access it locally. The situation comes as the abortion pill was first approved in the country in 2006 after a fierce political debate. It required a conscience vote in parliament to take the veto power of then-health minister Tony Abbott over the drug. However, it was not until six years later that MS Health started importing the pill. Leanne Boase, the Australian College of Nursing Practitioners president, said that the change in the rules would make a massive difference in access. She added that for some time, it has been difficult for women to get access to the treatment because it needs to happen in the very early stages of pregnancy, said the Sydney Morning Herald. 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(PHOTO: Amazon Singapore) 28. SoundPEATS Smart Watch Fitness Tracker S$43.89 S$61.99 at Amazon Singapore SoundPEATS Smart Watch Fitness Tracker. (PHOTO: Amazon Singapore) 29. Sony DSC-RX100M3 Cyber-shot RX100 III Advanced Camera, Black S$911 S$1,199 at Amazon Singapore Sony DSC-RX100M3 Cyber-shot RX100 III Advanced Camera, Black. (PHOTO: Amazon Singapore) 30. Skullcandy Dime True Wireless in-Ear Earbud - True Black S$28.44 S$59 at Amazon Singapore Skullcandy Dime True Wireless in-Ear Earbud - True Black. (PHOTO: Amazon Singapore) 31. Edifier X3 Wireless Earphones S$36.79 at Amazon Singapore Edifier X3 Wireless Earphones. (PHOTO: Amazon Singapore) Our editorial team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide to purchase through the links below, we may receive a commission. Prices were correct at the time of publication. Impress your friends with these spirits that you can buy on Amazon Singapore. Amazon Singapore Prime Day is here! Impress your friends with these spirits that you can buy on Amazon Singapore. On top of that, enjoy huge savings as Prime Day is here today! Celebrities are now venturing or investing in alcohol brands as a way of diversifying their portfolio. Harry Potter actress Emma Watson even has her own gin label, and so does model and influencer Kendall Jenner, with her tequila brand, 818. Shop unique celebrity spirits brands now: Aviation Gin S$74.80 S$99.93 at Amazon Singapore Co-owner of Aviation Gin, Ryan Reynolds, still promotes the drink on an occasional basis. (PHOTO: PA/Getty Images) Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds was a proud owner of American Aviation Gin, a craft gin brand thats produced in Portland. He has since sold the brand to Diageo August this year for a sweet US$610 million, but still remains as someone who has ongoing ownership interest. According to a press release, the gin inhibits a regionally inspired flavour hinting of smoke and freshly cut grass as the pleasantly heavy rye and spice make an entrance. The gin is also infused with a blend of botanicals including cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel. Aviation Gin. (PHOTO: Amazon Singapore) This is what Reynolds has to say about his brand, "I've tried every gin on the planet and Aviation is, hands down, the best. Also, I don't recommend trying every gin on the planet. Stick with this one." You can order a bottle (or two) of Aviation Gin from Amazon Singapore. Fleur de Miraval Brad Pitt poses with a bottle of Fleur de Miraval. (PHOTO: Fleur de Miraval) Now you can savour a taste of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies highly anticipated champagne, Fleur de Miraval, in Singapore at Sushi Kou. Made available in Singapore, the exclusive rose champagne with only 20,000 bottles produced, will be stocked at exquisite Japanese omakase establishment, Sushi Kou, which is the very first restaurant in Singapore to serve this first edition, celebrity bubbly. Fleur de Miraval rose is a blend of 75 per cent Chardonnay and 25 per cent Pinot Noir, aged in a cellar for three years before release. It was made using the old-world saignee method, which bleeds off a portion of the pressed juice after it has been in contact with the skins and seeds to give the rose champagne an aromatic profile. Sushi Kou Address: Holiday Inn Orchard, 11 Cavenagh Road, #01-13/14, Singapore 229616 Operating hours: Wed-Mon 12-3pm & 6-10:30pm (closed on Tuesdays) Casamigos Mezcal Joven Tequila S$129.99 S$174 at Amazon Singapore Casamigos Mezcal Joven Tequila. (PHOTO: Amazon Singapore) Casamigos Mezcal Joven Tequila was launched by actor George Clooney, Randy Gerber (supermodel Cindy Crawfords husband) and Mike Meldman in 2018. Four years after its debut, the brand was acquired by Diageo, the worlds largest spirits conglomerate for a reported cool sum of US$1 billion. You can order a bottle of Casamigos Mezcal Joven Tequila from Amazon Singapore, at S$129.99 Ciroc Vodka S$63.91 at Amazon Singapore Ciroc Vodka. (PHOTO: Amazon Singapore) You may know hip-hop artist Sean Diddy Combs or better known as Diddy today the music mogul incurred a fortune of over US$800 million, thanks to the equal-share venture of his vodka brand with Diageo. The five-times-distilled vodka, which is made using grape spirit, is floral and perfumed, with fruity raspberry and rose petal notes. You can order Ciroc Vodka from Amazon Singapore, at S$63.91 READ: Amazon Singapore drops early Prime Day 2023 deals electronics discounts of up to 50% GIVEAWAY: Win Amazon Gift Cards, worth a total of S$500, for Prime Day in Singapore Amazon shoppers call this handheld fan a 'lifesaver' for hot days When is Amazon Singapore's Prime Day 2023 and what are the deals to expect Amazon shoppers are 'blown away' by these Samsung earbuds and they're 80% off How to beat the heat and stay cool in Singapores hot weather How to soothe heat rash with Kiehls Ultra Facial Advanced Barrier Cream: Review Counteract eczema with tips & dermatologist-approved Cetaphil products Always drink responsibly. Visit Health Hub for advice. *Strictly for non-Muslims aged 18 and above. The Singapore actor hurt his right wrist while filming in Thailand, but later said he would be able to continue filming. Local actor Mark Lee injured his hand filming the sequel to Number 1 and it wouldnt stop bleeding. (Photo: Instagram/marklee4444) The filming for the sequel to the Singapore film Number 1 turned bloody after a rehearsal left local actor Mark Lee bleeding non-stop from his right hand. Lee, 54, shared a photo of his bandaged right wrist on Instagram on 9 July and told Lianhe Zaobao later that night that everything was okay. In the article published on Monday (10 July), the Golden Horse-nominated actor told the Chinese daily that the incident occurred on the first day of rehearsals for a gang fight scene. There might be a slight problem with the chemistry between the Thai actor and I, so the chair [he was using] accidentally cut my hand, he shared. Lee, who was filming in Thailand, said that he sustained the injury around 5pm on Sunday, but everything was okay after he bandaged it. However, when he tried to change the bandages, the bleeding starting again and wouldnt stop, prompting him to visit the hospital. During the check-up, it was revealed that the cut happened to be where the capillaries are, which is why the bleeding didnt stop. Capillaries are small blood vessels that connect arteries and veins, and is the most common type of bleeding. This happens when the skin is injured, so it can occur with all wounds. Capillary blood also flows quickly, but it's usually easy to control. Though its less serious compared to other forms of bleeding, experts advise that one should get emergency help if, among other scenarios, the bleeding doesnt stop after several minutes of applying pressure. In Lee's case, the bleeding was eventually stopped at the hospital and the actor also received a tetanus shot. Despite the injury, Lee said he was all right and joked, It's a private hospital, the doctors and nurses are quite good-looking and the injection doesn't hurt. Lee maintained that sense of humour and told Lianhe Zaobao that seeing red during rehearsals might bode well for the release of the film. In Chinese culture, the colour red is considered auspicious. Since hed only film the fight scenes, Lee said, at that time, that his injury should be fine. Director Ong Kuo Sin added, Lee is fine. As official filming only starts on the 10th, this wont affect our filming progress. Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube. SIOUX CITY A Sioux City woman has pleaded not guilty of keeping her children in filthy living conditions and not being aware of their whereabouts. Ashley Lafave, 32, entered her written plea Monday in Woodbury County District Court to two counts of neglect of a dependent person. According to court documents, Lafave's 5-year-old son walked to Bryant Elementary School on March 27 to retrieve a toy from his older brother. School staff were unable to contact Lafave, and gave the boy food because he said he was hungry. The boy showed up that evening at the 1000 block of Hill Avenue, where he told the resident he was cold and hungry and was looking for his brother. Officers took the boy to his apartment in the 2700 block of Virginia Street and observed food and possibly rodent droppings on the living room floor. The kitchen smelled of rotten food, the sink was full of dirty dishes and the refrigerator had mostly alcohol inside it. The toilet was clogged, the children's beds had no bedding and a lock was on the outside of their bedroom door. Officers observed the bedroom Lafave shared with her boyfriend and said it was clean in contrast to the rest of the apartment. On March 29, an officer spoke with Lafave, who said she worked various overnight or morning hours at a fast-food restaurant and didn't know her son had left the apartment and walked to the school. She also said she didn't know where her 1-year-old daughter had been that day. She told the officer she had food for her children and didn't know why her son would tell people he was hungry. SIOUX CITY The Sioux City Career Academy offers middle and high students the opportunity to explore specific career opportunities and build skills to get ahead in the job market. With more than 35 different career pathways, combining academic knowledge and occupational hands-on learning, the career academy allows students to start building skills for a career earlier than most. Currently, about 1,600 students are participating. Eric Kilburn, Sioux City Career Academy principal, said students graduate prepared to make post-secondary decisions. "The Sioux City Career Academy model has been incredibly successful, and we look forward to expanding it even more through enhanced internship opportunities and the new construction trades building," said Kilburn, who was recently selected as the new career academy principal, succeeding Katie Towler, who served as the principal since 2018. History of the Academy The idea of a Sioux City Career Academy started in 2008, right after the hiring of then-district Superintendent Paul Gausman. Gausman said the district had two career-related programs at the time: a health science and a construction program, but both were not seeing the enrollment the district hoped for. They were also located in the Central Campus Annex with the district administrative offices, an aging facility that was largely unused, Gausman said. The school board at that time wanted to move the central office, find a new home for the district's kitchen and create a career academy structure. Educational Service Center move Lori Thornton, a human relations department employee, clean her computer while moving into the the Sioux City Community Schools' new Education The district was able to move the Education Service Center to its current location, 627 4th St., in 2009 and move the district's kitchen and automotive programs to what is now the Harry Hopkins Campus at 3000 Highway 75 in 2010. A new career academy The next step was to expand the career academy offerings with the focus being on raising graduation rates. When Gausman arrived in Sioux City, graduation rates were just over 70 percent. The goal was to match school curriculums to the needs of local employers, according to a 2009 Journal story. Even then, the goal was to have it open to all schools in the tri-state region, not just Sioux City. "Backers envision students spending a portion of their school day at the academy, which would focus on skills required for various technical fields," the story reported. The goal was achieved. The growth of the career academy was slow, with just four pathways to begin with. Between 2011 and 2018, new pathways were introduced each December. By 2018 the district had 30 pathways. "Our whole purpose in this was to still teach students the core subjects of math, science, social studies, language arts, the arts ... but to do so through the lens of a career," Gausman said. "So that when they left the district, they not only had a diploma, but they also had a plan for their future." Now, the district offers 37 pathways with 175 unique courses. Sioux City Career Academy's pathways Accounting/finance Administrative office management, bookkeeping, and office support Administration office support medical AFJROTC Agriculture Audio engineering/mass communication Auto body Auto tech Biomedical science Business Business management & administration Certified nurse assistant (CNA) Computer science Construction/homebuilding Culinary Cybersecurity/digital crime Early childhood education (ECE) & child development associate (CDA) Education Electromechanical technician Engineering Fashion design Fire science Graphic design HVAC Industrial drafting (2D & 3D Computer-Aided Drafting) Information technology/network systems Interior design Manufacturing Marketing Mobile game & app development Nursing (senior health pathway) Nursing Pharmacy technology Plumbing Police science Surgical technology Welding In the beginning, the career academy courses were spread throughout the three high schools, Western Iowa Tech Community College, the Harry Hopkins Campus and the Ho-Chunk Centre. In 2017, the district and the City Council approved an agreement that would allow the district to utilize a portion of the Sioux City Museum building for the academy, connected to the Education Service Center. The new $3 million career academy opened for the 2018-2019 school year, centralizing the courses and creating a college-campus-like atmosphere. Setting an example statewide The facility and program were praised by local employers and Gov. Kim Reynolds. It was also the cornerstone of advocating for the continuation of Iowa's penny sales tax fund. The 1 percent sales tax supports school infrastructure and property tax relief. The fund originated in Sioux City, where local leaders were searching for a way to replace a series of aging schools without raising local property taxes. Woodbury County became the first of 99 counties to approve the local option tax in 1998. When the tax fund was set to end in 2029, the career academy and the more than $240 million building renovations and construction projects were used as an example of the benefits of such a program. "The career academy was such a great symbol for the state of how we would use those sales tax dollars wisely to reinvent education to keep kids engaged with school and to prepare them for their future," Gausman said. The Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Act was signed at the career academy on May 24, 2019, extending the penny sales tax to 2051. Concerns with implementation Not everyone was excited about the idea of a new career academy facility. At the time, current School Board President Dan Greenwell was a parent in the district, unhappy about the cost of having the downtown location which required increased transportation costs and caused high school class sizes to increase. "The district has wasted millions of taxpayer dollars on an 'ivory tower' location with ballooning operating and administrative costs. Where is the money coming from? By cutting it from the elementary, middle and high schools," Greenwell said in a 2019 letter to the editor. Now, Greenwell said all of his concerns have been addressed. The class sizes at the middle and high school have been reduced and the district recently reinstated middle school reading, which was eliminated at the time. "The current board realized that increasing class sizes and the elimination of reading led to lower student achievement results. Fortunately, both of those important issues have been rectified," Greenwell said. Bringing in students from other schools Students from 15 different area high schools can take courses at the career academy, including schools from Nebraska and South Dakota, a unique allowance. Right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation, Sioux City Schools, Dakota Valley and South Sioux City Schools were working to allow students to cross state lines to attend courses at the career academy or other career-related programs. The three district superintendents felt there was no need to have three separate career academy programs teaching the same courses so close together, Gausman said. Fire Science Pathway_3.jpg Sioux City Junior Kenleigh Bushmann (right) practicing putting out a simulated car fire at the Sergeant Bluff training facility on May 9 as pa With help from the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, the district administrators met with legislators and the governors of all three states, pitching the idea. Eventually, Reynolds, former Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed the tri-state agreement, allowing school dollars to cross the borders in 2020, Gausman said. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021-2022 school year was the first time Dakota Valley and South Sioux students could utilize the program. Now, the career academy highlights the cross-state and cross-district enrollment, saying it allows students to interact with people they may not have otherwise. "You wouldn't know which student is from where," Anthony Gaul with the career academy said. "They get experiences that they wouldn't normally get." Expanding the career academy The career academy continues to expand, with two major changes being implemented in the coming year. The district is currently expanding the Harry Hopkins Campus for a new construction trades building. The 12,000-square-foot building is intended to provide a controlled environment for students to build two houses simultaneously. It is a fairly simple building with two large bays for the houses and a classroom. The main facility is built, with some exterior items and the interior left to complete. Over two years, students will build a 1,300 to 1,400-square-foot house and learn introductory construction, HVAC, electrical and plumbing trades. The building is expected to be completed this month. Sioux City's virtual school, VIBE Academy, has been a stand-alone K-12 school for two years, but due to low enrollment, the school will become part of the career academy. The school board voted to reduce the program to high-school-only in the 2023-24 school year and make it a career academy program. The district also decided to merge the alternative-school students into the virtual school program. The academy moved into a recently renovated, $1.3 million space during winter break that is situated right beside the career academy. VILNIUS, Lithuania NATO leaders said Tuesday they would allow Ukraine to join the alliance "when allies agree and conditions are met," hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blasted the organization's failure to set a timetable for his country as "absurd." "We reaffirmed Ukraine will become a member of NATO and agreed to remove the requirement for a membership action plan," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters, referring to a key step in joining the alliance. "This will change Ukraine's membership path from a two-step path to a one-step path," he said. Though many NATO members have funneled arms and ammunition to Zelenskyy's forces in the wake of Russia's invasion, there is no consensus among the 31 allies for admitting Ukraine into NATO's ranks. Instead, alliance leaders decided to remove obstacles on Ukraine's membership path so that it can join more quickly once the war is over. Zelenskyy pushed back against the decision. "It's unprecedented and absurd when a time frame is set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership," Zelenskyy tweeted as he headed to the annual NATO summit in Vilnius. "While at the same time, vague wording about 'conditions' is added even for inviting Ukraine. It seems there is no readiness to invite Ukraine to NATO or to make it a member of the Alliance." NATO membership would afford Ukraine protection against a giant neighbor that annexed its Crimean Peninsula almost a decade ago and more recently seized vast swaths of land in the east and south. Joining NATO would also oblige Kyiv to reform its security institutions, improve governance and curb corruption work that would also ease the country's path into the European Union. Asked about Zelenskyy's concerns, Stoltenberg said the most important thing now is to ensure that his country wins the war, because "unless Ukraine prevails there is no membership to be discussed at all." The broadside from Zelenskyy could renew tensions at the summit shortly after it saw a burst of goodwill following an agreement by Turkey to advance Sweden's bid to join NATO. Allies hope to resolve the seesawing negotiations and create a clear plan for the alliance and its support for Ukraine. "We value our allies," Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter, adding that "Ukraine also deserves respect." He also said: "Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit." Zelenskyy is expected to meet Wednesday with U.S. President Joe Biden and other NATO leaders. There have been sharp divisions within the alliance over Ukraine's desire to join NATO, which was promised back in 2008 even though few steps were taken toward that goal. In addition, the Baltic states including Lithuania, which is hosting the summit have pushed for a strong show of support and a clear pathway toward membership for Ukraine. However, the United States and Germany urged caution. Biden said last week that Ukraine was not ready to join. Members of NATO, he told CNN, need to "meet all the qualifications, from democratization to a whole range of other issues," a nod toward longstanding concerns about governance and corruption in Kyiv. In addition, some fear that bringing Ukraine into NATO would serve more as a provocation to Russia than as a deterrence against aggression. NATO leaders decided to launch a series of multiyear programs to bring Ukraine's Soviet-era military equipment and doctrines up to modern standards so the country can operate fully with the alliance. On Wednesday, the leaders and Zelenskyy are slated to launch a new, upgraded forum for their cooperation: a NATO-Ukraine Council, where all parties can convene crisis talks if their security is threatened. To fast-track its future membership, the leaders agreed to do away with a membership action plan for Ukraine, a program often seen as mandatory for aspiring nations to undertake. Known in NATO parlance as a MAP, the action plan involves a tailor-made package of advice, assistance and practical support for countries preparing to join NATO. Bosnia, for example, is currently taking part in one. Pressed by reporters to say what kind of conditions are being placed on Ukraine joining, Stoltenberg said: "We want modern defense and security institutions." He also said Kyiv's hopes might hinge on strengthening its governance standards and fighting corruption. The dispute over Ukraine stands in contrast to a hard-fought agreement to advance Sweden's membership. The deal was reached after days of intensive meetings, and it's poised to expand the alliance's strength in Northern Europe. According to a joint statement issued when the deal was announced, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will ask Turkey's parliament to approve Sweden joining NATO. Biden is on a five-day trip to Europe, with the NATO summit as its centerpiece. The president spent Monday in the United Kingdom, meeting at Windsor Castle with King Charles III and in London with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He met Tuesday with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, emphasizing his commitment to transatlantic cooperation, before he joined the NATO gathering. "Nothing happens here that doesn't affect us," Biden told Nauseda. The White House said Nauseda presented Biden with the Order of Vytautas the Great, the highest award a Lithuanian president can bestow. Biden is the first U.S. president to receive it. After the summit ends Wednesday, Biden will travel to Helsinki. On Thursday, he will celebrate Finland's recent entry into NATO and meet with Nordic leaders. How NATO has grown since 1997 and its changing relationship with Russia How NATO has grown since 1997 and its changing relationship with Russia 1999 new members: Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland 2004 new members: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia 2009 new members: Albania and Croatia 2017 new members: Montenegro 2020 new members: North Macedonia 2022 aspiring members: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Finland, Georgia, Sweden, and Ukraine Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac has experienced his share of intense moments in a military career that spans 45 years, the last 10 as adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard. But absolutely nothing tops the 2019 floods an exhausting time for the Guard and for Bohac, who also leads the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. To know the waters coming theres nothing you can do to stop it, Bohac said. Every night, for about five nights, I was worried we didnt get to somebody we could have saved. The Great Flood of 2019 was the worst weather catastrophe in Nebraska history. On Saturday, Bohac, 62, will turn over responsibility for disaster response to his successor, Brig. Gen. Craig Strong. Strong, an attorney from Silver Creek, Nebraska, has spent 35 years in the military, 28 of it with the Nebraska Army National Guard. He served two tours in Iraq and commanded National Guard relief efforts in the Virgin Islands after they were hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. The change-of-command ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln is open to the public. The event includes a flag-furling ceremony for Bohac, a promotion ceremony for Strong to the rank of major general and the change of command between the two. Also planned: the first presentation of Nebraska National Guard Heroism Medal, which was created last week through an executive order by Gov. Jim Pillen to recognize a military or civilian guard member for heroic life-saving actions while not on active duty. The award will be presented to an Army National Guard sergeant for exceptional heroism while responding to a major accident and rendering roadside aid to include cardiopulmonary resuscitation on May 18, 2019, according to a Nebraska Guard news release. Bohac is relinquishing command almost exactly 10 years after assuming the post from now-retired Maj. Gen. Judd Lyons. He leaves as the nations second-longest-serving adjutant general. Bohac started his term with a National Guard force hardened by combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the time, he was concerned that his troops skills might wither as those conflicts drew down. That turned out not to be a problem. Even with fewer deployments to combat zones, the past decade has been among the busiest in Nebraska National Guard history. In 2014, the Guard responded to a series of tornadoes in Beaver Crossing, Pilger, and several northeast Nebraska towns. In 2017 the year of the hurricanes the Nebraska National Guard assisted for weeks following devastating storms in Texas, Florida and the Virgin Islands. Those disaster responses seemed like only a warmup for the 2019 flood, which saw most of the states major rivers and streams overflow their banks. National Guard helicopter crews rescued dozens of stranded people and pets under extreme conditions. The Guards big Chinook helicopters also proved perfect for dropping bales of hay to cattle isolated by flood waters a mission Bohac said he is particularly proud of. He sees the massive response to a home-state disaster as a transformational moment for his soldiers and airmen. Ever since that event, weve forged some really strong bonds among people across the Nebraska National Guard, from army and air coming to work together, Bohac said. Those bonds would be tested in 2020 and 2021, during the response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Even more troops were called up for the pandemic than the flood, Bohac said. They helped in multiple ways, gathering and delivering boxes of food to strapped food banks, staffing COVID testing sites, and filling in as poll workers during the 2020 elections because of shortages of volunteers. The pandemic also caused some of the most divisive moments of Bohacs term when some Guard members refused mandatory COVID vaccinations defying an order from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. A small but vocal minority disagreed with that mandate, he said. For the first time in the service, we saw this idea of individuals so-called rights should prevail over the responsibilities and roles that come with raising your right hand and taking an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Bohac enforced the order, despite criticism from some GOP legislators who opposed mandatory COVID vaccinations. About five airmen and 89 soldiers were discharged from the Nebraska Guard. He said nearly half of them were reinstated after Congress compelled the Defense Department to drop the requirement late last year. Guard officials were warned to expect some friction between the large majority who accepted the vaccine, and those who refused it. We have to have a lot of patience for that, Bohac said. I think weve treated everybody with some level of dignity and respect, and acknowledge that difficult choice. In addition to deployments and call-ups, Bohac presided over the restructuring of Army National Guard units across the state, which saw about 1,100 of 3,600 Army Guard members retrained for new jobs in some cases, in brand-new units.He opened several new National Guard readiness centers and broke ground on what will be the states largest, in Bellevue near Offutt Air Force Base. Earlier this year, he cut the ribbon on a major renovation of the Guards largest training base, Camp Ashland. The facility, on the banks of the Platte River, was rebuilt after flooding in 2015, only to be destroyed again during the 2019 deluge. This time, all the buildings were rebuilt on stilts, with funding secured through the efforts of Nebraskas congressional delegation. And the Platte River levee was extended to the north end of the property. Bohac said some people questioned why he would want to rebuild on a vulnerable site that had flooded three times in less than a decade. Its 1,100 acres of training ground, some of it austere, which is perfect for some of the training we need to do, he said. Where else will I find 1,100 acres of training ground? Nowhere. Bohac leaves behind a Guard that is short of personnel. He said the Air National Guard has dropped from 102% of strength to 94%, largely because of the addition of 119 new positions in an expanded unit at Offutt. The Army Guard is down from a typical figure of 92-95% of authorized strength to 89%. He attributed the shortfall to the pandemic, which kept National Guard recruiters out of high schools for up to a year. Our recruiting is improving month over month, he said. Its going to take us awhile to climb out of that dip. Strong, his successor, has announced what he is calling a monster blitz across the state to bring in new recruits. Were confident that well build on the momentum that Gen. Bohac has established, he said at his introductory press conference with Pillen in May. With 45 years of military service behind him, Bohac is retiring to spend time with his wife, Kris. But they wont be going far. He plans to take it easy for a few months before deciding what comes next. My wife and I are born and raised here, he said. Well stay in Nebraska. Im not going anywhere. Through the years: Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac as adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard La Vista Police Chief Bob Lausten has been suspended without pay in connection with a March speeding incident in Mills County, Iowa, but officials there have decided not to charge him with a crime. La Vista City Administrator Brenda Gunn said in an email that Laustens suspension began Thursday and will continue for 30 days. After that, she said, he will be working in a transitionary role. Lausten has been La Vistas police chief since 2002. His troubles began March 19 when a Mills County sheriffs deputy clocked a truck registered to Lausten going 100 mph westbound on Highway 34 about half a mile from the Nebraska border. The deputy turned on his lights and expected the truck would stop, Sheriff Travis Oetter said at the time. Instead, it sped up and crossed the bridge into Nebraska. The deputy chose not to pursue the truck across the state line. But the license number was passed on to law enforcement in Cass and Sarpy counties. Because of darkness and the trucks speed, Oetter said, it couldnt be determined whether Lausten was actually driving. The following day, Lausten reported the incident to La Vista city officials, which triggered a mandatory investigation under the citys code. He was placed on paid administrative leave. Capt. D.J. Barcal was appointed as acting chief. Gunn said the investigation was completed April 27. She declined to comment on the findings because it is a personnel matter, but she said appropriate disciplinary action has been taken. He has my trust, she added. Attempts to reach Lausten by cellphone and through his city email address werent successful. According to WOWT, Lausten said he plans to retire by the end of the year. Mills County Attorney DeShawne Bird-Sell said in an email that her office did not have sufficient information to file charges in connection with the incident. We reviewed this like we do every case without regards to the defendant, she said. Top Journal Star photos for July 2023 These decisions arent like a company combing the fine print for a reason to reject your claim for reimbursement. Insurance companies want to find a way to sell a policy. If the only objective is to increase the odds of stopping a mass shooting at an Iowa school, then, by all means, give school employees guns and train them. Theyd have a chance to act more quickly and decisively than a single school resource officer or off-site emergency responders. But thats not the only objective. Families want students to be safe all the other days when theres no massacre to be thwarted, too. EMC Insurance of Des Moines recognized this, albeit from a business perspective, and has thwarted the plans of district leaders in Spirit Lake and Cherokee to begin arming some of the faculty. The districts school boards said EMC refused to insure them unless they reversed the policies. Republicans in the Iowa Legislature tried to get out in front of the question of coverage for schools that bring weapons to their campuses, but a measure to limit insurers discretion just one part of a broad gun-rights bill stalled this spring. These developments underscore one older problem and help to illuminate a newer one. Good guy with a gun leaves out a lot of tragic risks The old problem is an old argument, often articulated: The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. There have been well-publicized incidents of civilian heroes mitigating tragedy, including at an Indiana mall last summer. But this idea is compelling only at the moment when the bad guy is about to start taking lives. At all other times, the presence of extra firearms in a school in the care of staff members whose training was almost surely far less extensive than a police officers, in the vicinity of dozens or hundreds of children of widely variable maturity simply increases the probability of a different kind of tragedy. A curious kindergartner finds and discharges a sloppily secured gun. A school employee misreads the danger in a fight between students and maims or kills one. A suicidal teenager doesnt have a gun at home, but figures out how to get to it at school. Every indication is that Spirit Lake and Cherokee developed thoughtful policies with stringent safeguards to prevent those scenarios. But no safeguard changes the addition of deadly weapons to the school building. Professional actuaries judge risks for a living. EMC apparently told the districts that its actuaries homework didnt support issuing school policies with these risks present. Iowa Legislature shouldnt try to force insurers to provide coverage In swoops the Iowa Legislature. State Sen. Jason Schultz, R-Denison, told the Storm Lake Times Pilot recently that one reason the bill to compel insurance coverage didnt advance in the Senate is that, to his credit, he was trying to negotiate a resolution with EMC instead of making a business do something it doesnt want to do. But other lawmakers have strongly suggested that the goal of letting districts bring in guns is worth threatening insurers through state law. EMC has been at this for a decade; it refused to insure Kansas schools that wanted to arm staff in 2013. Schultz, referring to insurers scrutiny of staff-with-guns policies, said at a committee meeting in March, I think that is based on fear and distrust. Its worth remembering that these decisions arent like a company combing the fine print for a reason to reject your claim for reimbursement. Insurance companies want to find a way to sell a policy Another trend in school insurance deserves more attention Or lawmakers could start work on another insurance issue that affects all Iowa schools: rising premiums and little competition. What Spirit Lake and Cherokee discovered, according to local news reports, was that they did not have feasible choices outside of EMC. In addition, Iowa schools in general are no exception from a national trend of rapidly increasing premiums in education. The reasons for the increases are varied, although one of them is more frequent damage from extreme weather linked to climate change. Gaining a better understanding of the insurance market for schools would be well worth the time of Iowa legislators and their staffs in the coming months. This is about assessing risk, not an anti-gun agenda Like the good guy with a gun mantra, this spin makes huge assumptions about the competence of armed personnel to defuse a crisis or to avoid inadvertently creating one. We dont think EMCs judgment is about personal politics. Lawmakers should leave insurance companies alone on this issue. And school boards should stop trying to put more guns in schools. DES MOINES Iowa Republican lawmakers Tuesday quickly advanced a near-total abortion ban over shouts, chanting and profanity during a one-day special session, making another attempt to enact a law that was blocked by courts in 2018 and remained so last month after an Iowa Supreme Court decision. The bill, House File 732, was on track to be passed out of both chambers by about 11 p.m. Tuesday. Abortion rights activists far outnumbered anti-abortion rights activists at the Iowa Capitol, holding a rally and chanting throughout the day and speaking to lawmakers during public hearings in both the House and Senate. Maggie DeWitte, executive director of the anti-abortion rights group Pulse Life Advocates (formerly Iowans for LIFE), told lawmakers during a 90-minute public hearing that "it is beyond time" to again pass and enforce the abortion ban. Innocent lives have been lost while this law has been held up by injunctions and judges legislating from the bench," DeWitte said. And while this delay happened, an estimated 2,000 Iowa babies lives would have been saved every year. There were 3,761 abortions in Iowa in 2021, the most recent year for which numbers were available from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, compared with 36,786 total births. Thats down about 7 percent compared with the 4,058 abortions performed in the state in 2020. The bill would ban abortions after cardiac activity is detected in an embryo or fetus, with some exceptions. With passage, Iowa would join 10 other states with similar abortion limits. (T)he truth is abortion harms women, kills unborn children and it creates a society that devalues human life, DeWitte said, calling the bill the next step in providing more protection for the most vulnerable in our society. Abortion rights advocates say such a prohibition would end 98 percent of the now-legal abortions in Iowa. They argued during lengthy public hearings the bill went against the will of Iowans and would strip women of their bodily autonomy. Personal religious beliefs must never be misused to infringe on the rights of others, said Connie Ryan, the executive director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. We urge you to protect the fundamental rights of Iowans, including access to safe and legal abortion. Republicans hold large majorities in both chambers, and Democrats do not hold enough seats to stop any legislative action. How early does the bill ban abortions? The bill prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat defined as cardiac activity, the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac is detected. Iowa OB-GYNs said a doctor's ability to detect embryonic cardiac activity varies between pregnancies, but can occur as early as six to eight weeks of pregnancy before many women know they are pregnant. Current state law prohibits abortions at 20 weeks of pregnancy and later, with some exceptions. The bill includes exceptions for pregnancies that are the result of rape in cases reported within 45 days, and incest in cases reported within 140 days. It also includes exceptions for miscarriages, a fetal abnormality that would result in the infants death, and for when the mothers life is threatened. Physicians and opponents called the use of the term fetal heartbeat misleading. Some major medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, note that what is detected at six weeks is electrical impulses. An actual heartbeat does not occur until roughly 17 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, they say. Supporters say the presence of a heartbeat indicates life that merits equal protection. When there is a heartbeat, there is life under the law, said Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta, who managed the bill in the House. Bill enforced by Board of Medicine Physicians who perform an abortion in violation of the proposed law would face disciplinary action from the Iowa Board of Medicine, including the possibility of losing their license. The bill does not carry a criminal penalty for physicians. A woman who receives an abortion would not face civil or criminal liability. The bill states the law takes effect upon enactment, and directs the Board of Medicine to adopt rules to administer the bill. Iowa physicians warned the bills restrictions do not account for complications that occur during pregnancy, and will hinder their ability to provide medically necessary care, prevent disease, avert emergencies and respond to time-sensitive issues. Dr. Francesca Turner, an OB-GYN in Des Moines, said the language in the bill is ambiguous about when doctors can intervene in cases of pregnancy complications. At what point when your wife or your daughter or your sister is having a medical emergency during a pregnancy do I get to save her life? she asked. At what moment do I get to intervene? Its unclear in this bill. Dr. Amy Bingman told lawmakers abortion is health care. Reproductive freedom is necessary for a healthy and functional community, she said. The proposed bill forces women "into a lifelong obligation which impacts her education, career, family and community. Yet, the man does not have the same consequences, she said. Katie Buck, a West Des Moines resident, brought her son, Alex, with her to Tuesdays public hearing. Alex was born with a genetic disorder caused by an extra chromosome. The condition can be fatal. Buck said it qualifies as one of the fetal abnormality exceptions allowed in the bill. She urged lawmakers to remove the provision. Alex is 7 years old. How can he be incompatible with life? she said. You have no idea how hard we had to fight against this fatal fetal anomaly label to get him the medical care he needed to survive. Terry Pollard, senior pastor at Eastside Church of the Nazarene in Des Moines, said the bill "reminds us all that the baby in the womb has value just as each of us has value with our beating heart. Medical science concurs unequivocally, that the unborn child is full of life, vitality and meaning," Pollard said. We are caring for the needs of the vulnerable, and that includes the unborn child in the womb. Rep. Lundgren pushed back on assertions the bill would restrict pregnancy care. In this bill we are passing today will not impact the care provided to women experiencing a miscarriage or having complications with her pregnancy. Lundgren said. Medical emergency is defined broadly to include any situation in which an abortion is performed to preserve the life of the pregnant woman whose life is endangered and when pregnancy creates a serious risk of substantial, irreversible impairments of a major bodily function. Court battles expected Planned Parenthood, a reproductive health care system that provides abortions, has said it will challenge any abortion restrictions that come from the special session teeing up whats sure to be another legal battle that could take a year or more to resolve. That expected legal challenge could center on the level of legal scrutiny that should be applied by the courts to abortion restrictions. In the wake of Iowa and U.S. Supreme Court rulings last year that reversed a fundamental right to abortion at both the state and federal levels, abortion rights opponents argue that the current undue burden test should no longer apply, and that a new rational basis test should now apply. That would effectively lower the legal bar for abortion restrictions, making it easier for them to survive court challenges. "No matter what happens in a few hours, the ACLU of Iowa will be here and be fighting back. Please help us to make sure that today is not the last word, Becca Eastwood, advocacy campaign manager for the ACLU of Iowa, said. Statehouse Republicans also have started the process of amending the Iowa Constitution to state that it does not guarantee the right to an abortion. Lawmakers have approved the proposed amendment once; they would need to pass it again by 2024 and then put it to a public vote. A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll from March found 61 percent of Iowa adults believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 35 percent said the procedure should be illegal in most or all cases. Fate of OB-GYNs in balance Multiple OB-GYN residents and medical students who spoke at the public hearings said restrictive abortion laws will discourage them from practicing in Iowa and drive prospective OB-GYNs away from the state. Iowa has among the fewest OB-GYN specialists per capita of any state in the country, according to data from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Maren Betterman, an OB-GYN resident at the University of Iowa on the universitys rural resident track, said the bill would further drive prospective OB-GYNs out of Iowan. She said the law would force her to leave the state because she could not get the full scope of medical training necessary to practice as an OB-GYN. Iowa is dead last in terms of providers per capita in providing care to people across the state, specifically rural health care, Betterman said. This is a crisis, and this is why the University of Iowa designed this rural residency, and it's completely going to negate that if this bill passes. Because I wont stay in the state of Iowa. OB-GYN residency applicants dropped by 10.5 percent in states with near-total abortion bans after the fall of Roe v. Wade last year, according to data from the American Association of Medical Colleges. Iowa lawmakers earlier this year funded family medicine obstetrics fellowships in rural areas in an effort to address the shortage of OB-GYN and reproductive health care in Iowa. House Democrats offered amendments to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage, reinstate the Iowa Family Planning network under Medicaid to draw down federal funds for family planning and expand tax credits and incentives for providing child care. All were defeated by majority Republicans. Erin Murphy of The Gazette contributed to this report. Taliban leader, Anas Haqqani, has publicly expressed his support for Elon Musk's Twitter, vehemently criticizing Instagram's Threads. The Taliban official shared some of the "important advantages" of Twitter over its newest rival and other counterparts. Taliban Leader Endorses Twitter Over Instagram's Threads As per a report by Business Insider, Haqqani, who was at the forefront of the Taliban's negotiations with Afghanistan's former government, weighs in on the newest social media war between tech titans Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Musk. In his recent tweet, he laid out what sets Twitter apart from other competitions out there. The Taliban leader claims that the Musk-owned social media has the advantage of "freedom of speech." He went on to praise Twitter for its "public nature" and "credibility." Haqqani then took a swipe at Meta's new text-based service, which directly challenges Twitter. He expressed that "Twitter [does not] have an intolerant policy like Meta," adding that "other platforms cannot replace it." His tweet quickly made rounds on the Musk-owned platform, garnering a whopping 1.5 million views. According to Vice, the Taliban seems to like where Twitter is going nowadays. Musk bought it late last year for a whopping $44 million. Since then, the billionaire entrepreneur started slackening the moderation policy, and most notably, began selling the much-coveted blue checkmarks. In fact, two high-ranking Taliban officials have already got themselves the blue ticks. The Facebook parent Meta debuted Threads less than a week ago, and the new kid on the block is quickly gaining traction. Zuck announced that the new service "reached 100 million sign-ups over the weekend," merely five days since it debuted. Read Also: Taliban Fighters Seen Leisurely Enjoying Paddle Boats, Shockingly In Contrast From Their Hardcore Character Taliban vs. Facebook Parent Meta According to Newsweek, a spokesperson from Meta, which owns Threads, says that the tech giant prohibits terrorist individuals, organizations, and networks on its services, including Facebook and Instagram. In a policy statement, Zuck's Meta says not allowing individuals or organizations with "violent mission or are engaged in violence on Facebook is "to prevent and disrupt real-world harm." On top of that, the tech behemoth discloses that they "assess these entities based on their behavior both online and offline, most significantly, their ties to violence." And as such, Business Insider notes that Facebook has banned the Taliban from the social network. Besides that, WhatsApp also attempted to kick out Taliban members from the end-to-end encrypted messaging app. With that, Taliban members stormed Twitter in 2020 to reach out to their English-speaking audience. One member reportedly told BBC, "The Taliban wanted to counter their propaganda and that's why we too focused ourselves on Twitter." Related Article: Instagram's Threads Nears 100 Million Users, 5 Days Since the Twitter Rival Debuts @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. At a glance - The human fingerprint in global warming Posted on 11 July 2023 by John Mason, BaerbelW On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a "bump" for our ask. This week features "The human fingerprint in global warming". More will follow in the upcoming weeks. Please follow the Further Reading link at the bottom to read the full rebuttal and to join the discussion in the comment thread there. At a glance Since the pre-industrial era, we have burned ever-increasing amounts of fossil fuels. This we can see for ourselves, often just by looking out of the window or hear, by listening to the flow of traffic. The sights and sounds of fossil fuel burning, constant, perpetual. We cannot see or taste carbon dioxide, one of the two main products of that combustion, the other being water vapour. But it's constantly heading up into our atmosphere in 2021 alone the figure for such emissions, according to the International Energy Agency, was 36,300,000,000 tonnes of the stuff. Just imagine for a moment that amount of sand piled up in a heap! Once up there, one key difference between carbon dioxide and water vapour becomes critically important. Water vapour condenses to form clouds and freezes to form ice crystals. Rain, hail, sleet and snow all fall from clouds it's a constant, ongoing cyclic process, even though different places see much more or much less precipitation. Carbon dioxide has no liquid state at the pressures encountered in Earth's atmosphere. Instead, at normal atmospheric pressures, it sublimes from solid to gas at 78 C. Solid carbon dioxide is also known as dry ice, but cannot form in the range of temperatures found within Earth's atmosphere, although it is produced industrially for various purposes. So as opposed to water vapour, carbon dioxide is an example of a non-condensing gas: once up there it stays up there for a long time. That's why our vast CO2 emissions are causing levels of the gas to build and build. If you needed a smoking gun in order to accept the above, there is one: carbon dioxide derived from fossil fuel burning has a very distinct chemical fingerprint that is readily measurable in air samples. To find out how we do that, read the further details below. Such measurements, with a trend precisely following the pathway we would expect due to our increasing emissions, show that far from being someone else's problem, one way or another we are all bang to rights in this case. Please use this form to provide feedback about this new "At a glance" section. Read a more technical version below or dig deeper via the tabs above In case you'd like to explore more of our recently updated rebuttals, here are the links to all of them: This article is adapted from Oversharing, a newsletter about the sharing economy. Self-driving cars have met their match in the form of the humble traffic cone. If youre on TikTok, you may have seen what Im talking about: a viral video of San Francisco activists disabling autonomous Cruise and Waymo vehicles by placing bright orange traffic cones on their hoods. The cones immobilize the autonomous vehicles by forcing them into shutdown mode with their hazard lights on, until the cone is removed or a company technician comes to reset the cars system, the San Francisco Standard reported. Safe Street Rebel, the group behind the stunt, unleashed the cones last week ahead of a vote scheduled for Thursday by the California Public Utilities Commission that could allow Cruise and Waymo robotaxis unimpeded access to public streets in the city as the next phase of their development. Right now, Cruise (which is owned by General Motors) and Waymo (part of Alphabet, ne Google) are offering limited service in San Franciscoa trial rollout that has caused enough actual chaos in the city to justify locals mistrust. We want to either have [autonomous vehicles] not on the city streets at all or very limited, one Rebel told the Standard. Its like the state has decided that these things are going to be deployed in San Francisco without the consent of the city or the people in it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to the Standard, an unnamed Waymo spokesperson called the coning vandalism that encourages unsafe and disrespectful behavior on our roadways. Hannah Lindow, a Cruise spokesperson who at least attached her name to her statement, told the publication that intentionally obstructing vehicles gets in the way of those efforts and risks creating traffic congestion for local residents. The SFMTA, San Franciscos municipal transportation agency, said on Twitter on Friday that it does not endorse ANY actions that may increase the number of disabled AVs on San Francisco streets, and encouraged people to attend this weeks CPUC meeting. Related From Slate Lizzie OLeary All the Risks Tesla Is Willing to Take to Deliver on Self-Driving Read More Autonomous vehicles are one of our eras defining moonshots. From Google to GM, from Ford to Zoox, Silicon Valley and the auto industry have collectively sunk more than $100 billion into developing vehicles that can navigate everything from endless highways to complex urban grids in all sorts of weather conditions, with the ultimate aim of getting human drivers off the road. Driverless disciples believe the technology will eliminate road fatalities, decrease congestion, and spell the end of those sprawling, oppressive parking lots. They also plan for it to make a lot of moneywhich, more than $100 billion in, they definitely need it to. Advertisement Advertisement The AV industry, as the average consumer relates to it, has been developing along a two-pronged track. First is the incorporation of driver assist technologies in consumer-grade vehicles. These range from fairly mundane features like cruise control and blindspot detection to the controversial Tesla Autopilot system. The second, more advanced, pathway to driverlessness is robotaxis. Companies like Waymo and Cruise are designing fleets of AVs that will be able to provide an Uber-like service without a human behind the steering wheel. The vision once again is unfettered profits. The economics of ride-hail are tricky, but eliminating human labor from the equation could make them much more attractive. As Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick told the world at a conference nearly 10 years ago in his signature unapologetic style, The reason Uber could be expensive is youre paying for the other dude in the car. Advertisement Advertisement The other thing about driverless cars is that they are always five years away. It turns out this stuff is really complicated, and even $100 billion and the most powerful egos in Silicon Valley havent been able to get it done as fast as they hoped. There are practical problems, there are regulatory problems, there are ethical problems. There are people, the biggest problem of all. People, they are so unpredictable! Some are bad drivers. Some are possibly deranged. Some are central-casting villains whose ill-conceived heists waste time and money and credibility. Some refuse to swallow the Silicon Valley line altogether, oppose our driverless future, and are willing to make that point with a strategically placed traffic cone. Advertisement Advertisement There is a long tradition in urbanism of residents taking matters into their own hands when they feel abandoned by local authorities. It is known variously as tactical, do-it-yourself, pop-up, and even guerrilla urbanism. Examples of tactical urbanism include turning dumpsters into swimming pools, reclaiming parking spots as tiny parks, and painting crosswalks on neglected intersections. These interventions have been described as playful, innovative, and spontaneous. They are typically low-budget and executed by volunteers or activists. All are by definition unsanctioned. Advertisement Using traffic cones to disarm a driverless car is textbook tactical urbanism: an intervention by concerned local activists in response to perceived neglect and inaction by local authorities. Its also brilliant. I challenge you to find a more powerful image of people protesting technology in the recent past than that of the humble orange traffic cone perched atop an inert driverless car. There is the obvious metaphor (a Silicon Valley unicorn, rendered literal and impotent), the terrific color and contrast, the clear juxtaposition of power and wealth with human ingenuity. The financials, should you pause to consider them, are mind-blowing. You can buy a dozen heavy-duty traffic cones on Amazon for about $250, or about $21 per cone. You can use that $21 object to incapacitate a machine that has so far cost many billions of dollars to develop, and will surely consume many billions more. Advertisement Advertisement Week of Cone - Night One was a hit! Keep sending in your coning submissions pic.twitter.com/c4KZLbFvhy ConeSF Week of Cone (@SafeStreetRebel) July 6, 2023 It is hard to imagine a more effective public awareness campaign for the forthcoming CPUC meeting than the Week of Cone, as Safe Street Rebel dubbed it. A vote that had threatened to slip by quietly is suddenly the subject of both traditional press and viral social media chatter. Its possible nothing changes; its also possible that people turn out in force on Thursday to have their say on the future of AVs in San Francisco. Generating a public response, more than just performing flashy stunts, is the essence of tactical urbanism: using creative, unofficial, rebellious tactics to inspire people to engage as stakeholders in their communities and urban landscapes, reminding us to exercise our participatory power even as corporations threaten to buy it up and take it away. At the start of the groundbreaking 1996 Black lesbian comedy The Watermelon Woman, writer-director Cheryl Dunye clips on a microphone and introduces herself to the camera: Hi, Im Cheryl, and Im a filmmaker. Then she halts. Uhhhh well, Im not really a filmmaker. The Watermelon Woman follows Cheryls search for a fictional 1930s actress famous for her mammy roles, creating a biomythography of Black lesbians in Hollywood as well as a touching, funny portrait of an artist learning to embrace her own artmaking. Advertisement The scrappy, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink Watermelon Woman didnt make a big splash upon its release, except in Congress, where Michigan Republican Pete Hoekstra used its explicit sex scene to question the grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that made the film possible. But with its innovative portrait of a community in transition and playful approach to history, its since been recognized as a classic, including landing on Slates Black Film Canon. On the occasion of The Watermelon Woman joining the Criterion collection, I spoke to Dunyewho, after a long career in academia, is now a busy television directorabout never getting to defend her work in Congress, the power of 1990s video stores, and the classic Black lesbian memoir shes adapting for her next project. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slate: How did you get the money to make this movie? Cheryl Dunye: The money! We always talk about the money to make movies, and there was no money to be had. Back in 93, while I was writing The Watermelon Woman, these guys named James Schamus and Ted Hope had a company called Good Machine. Somebody knew them. I forgot who knew them. I went in and they were like, We love the idea. The Watermelon Woman sounds great. Do you have any money? I was like, Hold it. Youre supposed to find me money. I was like, Look, I want to do it now. I cant wait. They were like, No, yeah, this is the way it works. This is the way we did it with Ang Lee. This is the way we did it with Nicole Holofcener. I was just too anxious. I just said I had to do it myself. There were no hard feelings, but it was like, You know what? Im going figure it out. My partner, Alex Juhasz, said, Im a professor at Swarthmore. Look, I can produce. Lets gather all the students, and sit down, and assign things. Some people get credit for the class and whatnot. Well call it a class or extra credit. Thats where it started, with a lot of students and people doing it for free. I applied for grants, little grants, bigger grants, and then the biggest grant at that time was the NEA. I sent my little proposal in, and I got it, $31,500. Advertisement Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement The 90s were a time that people were really fighting about those NEA grants, and one of those fights was about this one. When it happened to me, I thought, OK. This is a film about invisibility, and Black women, and la-di-da. When are they going to call me to come and speak about it? And the call never happened. The NEA and the folks who were doing the fight looked like the people who except Sheila Jackson Lee, who was the congressperson who stood up to them. There were white actors, like Alec Baldwin, who went with the head of the NEA, and went to Congress and had the fight, and never brought me forward. Wed read about it in the Congressional Quarterly. Im glad that they did stand up and fight for me and the project, but the thing was about having a voice, and I just thought that was ironic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You clearly have a voice. Yeah, I would have loved that moment. I wondered what my film career would have been like if I had been able to stand up and take the stage. Why did you decide to make a movie about a fictional Black actress from old studio Hollywood rather than, say, a documentary about a real one? Rights, money, finding families, copyright. I had seen the power of documentary, and documentary pulling back the curtain to find a certain truth thats not known about a subject. Seeing these powerful documentaries about Black cinema, like Black Hollywood. Well, why dont I do that with Black lesbians and who I am, and so I can put myself into the deck of life as a kumbaya citizen of cinema? Advertisement By using someone fictional, you freed yourself from having to pay for doing all that research. It also allowed you to have fun with it, it seemed. Through the movie, Cheryl is searching for the Watermelon Woman, but shes also dealing with her job, and her best friend, and a romance. The intersection between your contemporary everyday life, Hollywood history, and queer history makes for a different kind of project than a documentary would have been. Advertisement Advertisement It was very important to be an inventor at that point. Very important to do art and create something new. I was seeing what everybody was doing, like Isaac Julien and Marlon Riggs, and thought, Whoa. All right. Wheres the Black lesbian? Advertisement I love all the Philly characters that we encounter during the movie. You get a cross section of queer Philadelphia in the mid-90s. Plus, theres the mix of video and film, and all these scenes where youre dancing, or acting along with old movies. The movie almost feels like a variety show sometimes. Was that always how you envisioned it, or did that happen along the way? A little bit of both. Pretty much, thats going on in my head all the time, so there is a variety show. Its more of a cocktail party, actually. Thats in my head, so I wanted to bring all these characters to life. With you at the center of it. Advertisement Its funny. I was just at my friends place, Boots Riley. He lives 10 minutes by foot from me, so, it was Fourth of July, we go over there. He looks at me, and hes like, Cheryl, you know what? Why arent you acting? Look at you. Use yourself. We had this whole big conversation. Im like, This is just because nobody else could do it, that type of thing. It was cheaper to put myself in, and it was also what my art was. I had to step back and think, like, Why dont I use that anymore? Why dont I use that muscle, and why do I stay behind the camera? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rewatching the movie, I kept going, Wait a minute. Thats Sarah Schulmans in it, and David Rakoffs in it. You got a performance by Toshi Reagon. I had no idea who that was in 1996. I really laughed a lot at Camille Paglia explaining mammies to you. Was that scene, in particular, scripted, or did you just let Camille go? Advertisement I just let her go! Getting her was just amazing. Sexual Personae, at that point, was the big, hot thing. She was in Philly. I think she was out, maybe, but she was dating my best friends ex. I was like, Fuck, how do I get her in the film? It was sort of a, like, Lets have drinks or dinner, let me talk about the project and just get her so excited about what I was doing. She was like, Can I be in it? I was like, Of course. Advertisement Oh, I hadnt thought of that, Camille. Not at all. Youd be the perfect person to talk about this stuff, yeah. Its hard, I think, for young people today to understand just what a coup that was, to get Camille Paglia in your movie just riffing. Advertisement Riffing, just riffing. You know, some of those women in the bar were exes. You can always get exes in your things. But Sarah, and David, and even Brian Freeman from Pomo Afro Homos, those three were, in particular, more scripted, and they got to riff on themselves a little bit. I make things out of collaboration. Im open to people investing in communal storytelling. Im aging myself, but I used to watch Our Gang a lot with Darla, and Buckwheat, and Alfalfa. I remember, one episode just sticks in my mind so much, about making a movie. It was like, Darla, you take the camera. Buckwheat, you go over here. They put seats in the yard, and they dress in costumes, and it worked. Thats how I make films. Advertisement Advertisement Is the video store theyre working at in the movie a TLA Video? Yep. That was a TLA. One of the newer TLAs, where they just had gotten big. They were like, Well, this is our least busy one. You can go in there. Advertisement Advertisement Just having this kind of community place thats focused around the idea of movies, all kinds of moviesart-house movies, gay movies, Black Ballbusters, whateverthat was what felt the most of its time, to me, rewatching the movie. How much of it revolves around the social and cultural life in that space. Mm-hmm. I used to get excited, so excited, in those places, just like having an orgasm because its so exciting. Like I do in libraries. You could feel, like, What is calling me over there? Its like you have to go and check it out, and you have to go and see whats next to it, and then see whats next to it. I love that. Advertisement At the end of the movie, Cheryl takes a big step. She says, Im a Black lesbian filmmaker whos going to say a lot more. I have a lot more work to do. Thats a big statement for a debut. I love how audacious it is. In the almost 30 years since then, do you feel youve had the chance to have the kind of career that Cheryl dreamed of at that time? Advertisement Hmm. No, I did not. I had a great career. I still have a career thats wonderful, but I thought that things would be I really did think that more folks would be like, Wow, this is interesting. I think, again, nudity, Black lesbian was a little bit too far out there. It sealed me in the art world. Berlin, all of the Europeans were just, Oh my god, so it really has a place in cinema. Its not a movie. So, if I think about what it did for me as a cinema artist, right on the nose. As far as moneymaking, Hollywood, agents, manager, and all that stuff, it didnt do that. Advertisement Advertisement Until I made some decisions where I jumped out of being an academic. And the moment that I made those decisions, Ava [DuVernay] said, Do you want to direct Queen Sugar? Have your agents call my agents. At that point, she leaves, and then I look around the room, like, Are there any agents in the room? Now I feel like things are happening. I think television, which always has been my I was a latchkey kid. You were watching Our Gang sitting on the floor, yeah. Advertisement Advertisement Our Gang, and My Favorite Martian, and the Movies of the Week. So television was the start of that for me. Right now, Im starting to work with Killer Films. I optioned a book that I wanted to adapt my whole life, and that project is being backed by Orion. Were on the strike, so were not writing. But Related From Slate Aisha Harris and Dan Kois The 75 Greatest Films by Black Directors Read More The bookis that Jackie Kays Trumpet? No, thats Janelle Monaes project that Im working with her company on. Its Audre Lordes Zami: A New Spelling of My Name. Oh wow! Uh-huh! A biomythography in its own right. This week, were helping you round out your summer reading lists by asking some of our favorite authors to step in as Prudie for the day and give you advice. This is part of our Guest Prudie series. Todays columnist is bestselling author Isabel Allende. Her latest novel is The Wind Knows My Name. Born in Peru and raised in Chile, she is the author of a number of critically acclaimed books, including Violeta, A Long Petal of the Sea, The House of the Spirits, Of Love and Shadows, Eva Luna, and Paula. Her books have been translated into more than 42 languages and have sold more than 74 million copies worldwide. She lives in California. We asked Allende to weigh in on lifesaving medication, last-name battles, and labor play-by-plays: Dear Prudence, My husband has always been very healthy, but he is now well into his 50s and is starting to develop issues. The problem is that he refuses to treat his health seriously. He doesnt even have a general doctor, has had none of the milestone checks he should have had at his age, and will see somebody only if I make it harder not to, which I am reluctant to do. A little over two years ago, he started complaining of dizziness and chest pains, and after much wrestling, he had a full physical, which identified a cardiac issue that requires a daily tablet. He took the pill every day until the prescription ran out, then he decided he couldnt be bothered to go to all the hassle of seeing some quack. I found out only a few weeks ago, after I realized he didnt have his pills with him on a holiday, and he lied about it at first to get me off his back. Prudie, I dont want to parent a grown man, and I am scared for him and angry with him. How do I get him to take his health seriously? Hes a lovely guy, but I could slap him sometimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont Want to Be a Widow Dear Dont Want to Be a Widow, How ironic, my dear! My mother wanted to be a widow for the last 15 years of her life. She had a black dress for her husbands funeral hanging in the closet. When she was dying at 98, I told her that she couldnt go because she wasnt a widow yet. My mother replied: Well, you dont get everything you want in this life. My point is that maybe being a widow is better than dealing with a sick and stubborn partner. But if thats not your choice, then slap him around and dont feel guilty about it. You will have to take the matter into your hands. Give him the damn pill and ensure that he takes it. Dissolve it into his coffee, crush it into his mashed potatoes, etc. You get the idea. I might also recommend therapy, but its expensive and it seldom works in cases like this. What would really work is a heart attack. If he survives, he will take the pill, thats for sure. Advertisement In any case, buy a black dress and hang it in your closet. Maybe its a magic trick that will keep widowhood at bay. Advertisement Advertisement Pick Up a Copy of Allendes Latest Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement Dear Prudence, Why does compromise in a relationship always seem to mean You do what I want this time, and at some point in the future, Ill do the same thing for you? I know thats a loaded question, but thats how I feel. My fiance and I have been bickering endlessly about stupid things that neither of us wants to give way on. However, it always gets thrown in my face that I wont compromise, except that what he means when he says that seems to be doing what he wants. Advertisement I dont want to change my name, but the middle ground is changing my name. (My name is cool and sounds great with my first name. His is very commonthink Jones or Smith.) The fact is, I dont want to wear a ring, but the compromise is I just do it. The definition of the word that I learned was a solution that both sides were happy with (or equally unhappy with), not that one side got what they wanted and the other side just ate it. And I will admit, at this point Im being a jackass about it. My heels are now so firmly dug in that the buttercream frosting I cant eat because Im diabetic is the hill I am willing to die on. Advertisement The wedding planning is grinding to a halt; our relationship is too, I think. It seems ridiculous to break up over something thats not that important, really yet here I am, refusing to budge because everything seems to be that important TO HIM. Am I just being difficult? It feels like, if this is the easiest our relationship will ever be, then should I just be looking forward to a lifetime of fighting or being a doormat? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont Wanna Keep the Peace Dear Dont Wanna Keep the Peace, First: Lets talk about the wedding. I have been married three times, and if I live long enough, I will probably marry once more. I have ALWAYS kept my maiden name, and I have NEVER worn a ring. If this is as important to you as it is to me, dont compromise. If he cancels the wedding, you lucked out, for marriage would have never worked out. But if it is not that important to you and you are just being difficult, you could offer some solutions. The ring doesnt have to be the usual kind. It can be a gold snake with diamond eyes or, for a cheaper alternative, a silver lizard with a rhinestone tail. Regarding the name, you can hyphenate yours and his, unless you have a crazy long surname like Gonzecastvarrikaesayfende. Then I would advise you to be grateful for Jones or Smith. Advertisement Second: The fact that he is the one that always gets what he wants is a terrible precedent. Sooner or later, you will hate him for this, and I wouldnt blame you. This guy needs a strong, assertive partner with a loud voice or many years of therapy. Personally, I wouldnt waste my time, but thats because I dont have much time left. I am 80. Third: To ensure you are not making a fuss about anything, keep a record. A small notebook will do. Write down the event and the date when you had to compromise. For each one, he will have to compromise or compensate. Compensation should be expensive or stressful for him. Get Even More Advice From the Dear Prudence Podcast Advertisement Dear Prudence, My in-laws spent eight years steadfastly refusing to acknowledge my existence (they didnt approve of me for myriad reasons: religious, social, economic differences, etc.) but maintained phone contact with my partner, which has varied over the years between warm and strained. They have warmed to me considerably since he announced our pregnancy to them (by chance coinciding with his sisters decision to end her IVF attempts, and therefore highlighting our baby as their only potential grandchild). They are asking for daily updates about the baby now, and frequently inquiring about my health. They also want to be kept updated at every stage of my labor. This is making my partner ecstatic because, at the end of the day, he would love for everyone to just get along and for things to be rosy. But, Prudie, I dont know these people, I dont like them, and I dont think they are entitled to any information about my health. I especially dont want him taking time out from supporting me to text them labor updates! We have spoken about my feelings, but he is adamant that not giving them updates during labor will cause problems with building the relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My Labor My Choice Dear My Labor My Choice, Your in-laws are not only unpleasant, but they are also not too smart. They alienated you and their son, and now they are trying to make up. You have the right to cut them off as they rejected you before. However, sometimes in life, diplomacy works better than confrontation. Unless they have done something unforgivable to hurt you, ask yourself what you have to gain by holding a grudge, even if those horrible people deserve it. And also ask yourself what you have to gain by compromising and being civil. A grudge, like anger and envy, is a heavy stone one carries around like a curse. It usually hurts the owner of the stone much more than the recipient of the grudge. It can make ones life miserable. Your in-laws stupidity should not interfere with your relationship with your partner or your baby, or your own happiness. They are not so important. Advertisement Accepting them can also be very convenient for you. A child is a lot of work. You will need support. Loving grandparents, even if you dont like them, can be of great help. Make them your allies, and they will be eating out of the palm of your hand. Advertisement Now, regarding labor, you have the right to demand your husbands full attention, but dont panic if he takes a few minutes to go to the bathroom, have coffee, or make a phone call. Tell him clearly that childbirth is a very private affair and you want only him around. If he disagrees, throw a terrible tantrum and scream until he does. Finally, my dear, your in-laws are not immortal. They will pass. Like everything else in this life. When Melanie Lynskey Was Guest Prudie I (30F) have been dating my boyfriend (33M) for four and a half years, living together for over a year and a half. I didnt want to move in together until marriage or at least engagement, but he didnt want to commit until we lived together. So I agreed to move in with him and hoped that we would get engaged sometime after that. While our relationship has mostly been great with minimal arguments, about a year into living together, we began fighting regularly. As we were working through our issues, I came to the realization that he wasnt anywhere close to proposing to me or planning to. President Joe Biden is determined not to give the Supreme Court the last word on student debt relief. Shortly after the court struck down his plan to forgive $430 billion in student debt, Biden announced that he will pursue an alternate legal pathway to large-scale cancellation. Although the details remain hazy, its clear that the administration will attempt to use its powers under the Higher Education Acta route that many progressives favored in the first place. The trillion-dollar question, then, is whether SCOTUS will look any more favorably upon this fallback plan. There may be some modest reason for optimism. But as ever with this court, any hope must be tempered with doubt and distrust. The ink had hardly begun to dry on the Supreme Courts decision when Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona declared that he had a new plan to fight for student borrowers. Cardona revealed several tweaks to soften the impact when student loan repayments recommence in October; these changes will slash monthly payments for lower-income borrowers, suspend penalties for missed payments, and put community college graduates on a path to full relief within 10 years. The centerpiece of Cardonas plan, however, was a rulemaking process designed to open an alternative path to debt relief under the Higher Education Act of 1965, or HEA. Advertisement In truth, the HEA has always been the best fit for Bidens plan under current law. The statute gives the secretary of education power to compromise, waive, or release any claim against student borrowers. His exercise of this power shall be final and conclusive upon all accounting and other officers of the government. There is only one limitation: The secretary may not enter into any settlement of any claim that exceeds $1 million without requesting and receiving review from the attorney general. By its plain terms, then, the HEA gives the secretary of education a potent tool to combat the student debt crisis. He may enter into a settlement with any borrower by compromising some amount of their debtperhaps all of it. There is no textual limitation on this authority, no obvious reason why he cant relieve debt for an entire class of borrowers. Advertisement Advertisement This power, called settlement and compromise, was identified in 2016 by Robyn Smith and Deanne Loonin of the National Consumer Law Center. It was later expanded upon by professor Luke Herrine in a post, a white paper, and a law review article. Looninalong with her colleagues Eileen Connor and Toby Merrill at Harvard Law Schools Project on Predatory Student Lendingfleshed out the theory in two letters to Sen. Elizabeth Warren. (Notably, Merrill has since joined Bidens Department of Education.) All these scholars reached the same conclusion: Under the HEA, the secretary of education can relinquish all claims against the vast majority of student borrowers right now. The result would be mass cancellation of their debt. Advertisement Advertisement One enticing aspect of this theory is the possibility that it insulates debt relief from judicial review. As Herrine explained, the settlement and compromise power embodies the executive branchs broad prosecutorial discretion to enforce the laws that Congress enacts. The Supreme Court affirmed this basic principle just last month, reiterating the chief executives constitutional authority to decide how to prioritize and how aggressively to pursue legal actions against those in breach of the law. Moreover, the Supreme Court has long maintained that judges cannot review decisions that are committed to agency discretion. And an agencys decision not to enforce a right against a private party, Herrine wrote, is a quintessential exercise of prosecutorial discretion that is presumptively unreviewable. Thats especially true when the agency decides to enter into a legal settlement with the private partyprecisely what the HEA allows. Advertisement What, in practice, would large-scale settlement and compromise debt relief under the HEA look like? The Education Department recently deployed this power to wipe out $5.8 billion in debt held by 560,000 students of Corinthian Colleges, a for-profit scam that collapsed in 2015. Typically, though, debt is canceled on a case-by-case basis. The borrower files a petition with the Department of Education, which either grants or denies the request. Current regulations limit relief to a few narrow circumstances, including death, total disability, school closure, and fraud. But the department is free to revise and expand the circumstances that justify the discharge of debt. Some scholars have already pushed for this solution, urging the department to include poverty, partial disability, retirement, caregiver status, and similar conditions that justify relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is almost certainly what Cardona will do now. The secretary has announced a public hearing on July 18 to kick off new rulemaking under the HEA. At a press conference after the Supreme Court ruling, Cardona repeatedly stated that he planned to use his settlement and compromise authority to cancel as much debt as legally possible. In the coming months, the department will likely propose a rule that broadens the categories of borrowers who qualify for relief through this process. Given the looming threat of another SCOTUS smackdown, is this venture doomed from the start? Not necessarily. There are several reasons why Cardonas Plan B might succeed where his Plan A failed. Related From Slate Alexander Sammon Biden Keeps Getting Sabotaged by His Supposed Allies Read More First, the new plan is on sounder textual footing. Bidens initial debt relief program relied on the Heroes Act, which gave the secretary power to waive or modify any legal provision that applies to student loan programs during a national emergency. The Supreme Court read the phrase waive or modify narrowly, holding that it does not encompass the power to cancel debt. But the HEAs language is more expansive, allowing the secretary to compromise and release debt. It is possible that SCOTUS would interpret these words to give the secretary more latitude in forgiving loans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, the new plan benefits from its lack of any connection to the pandemic. The Heroes Act applies only during emergencies, and the Supreme Court implied that Biden used the COVID emergency as a mere pretext to smuggle through mass loan relief. (Chief Justice John Roberts majority opinion noted that the program was announced a few weeks before President Biden stated that the pandemic is over. ) Indeed, the conservative majority has consistently questioned Bidens efforts to use the pandemic as a justification for new policies. The HEA is not limited to emergencies and thus does not carry this baggage. Advertisement Third, relief under the HEA may avoid the major questions trap that doomed the previous program. The Supreme Court said that Bidens first stab at loan relief presented a major question of economic and political significance because it wiped out so much debt at once. The court held that the executive branch cannot enact such a major policy without explicit permission from Congress, which the Heroes Act lacked. Under the HEA, though, the Department of Education can target relief more narrowly. It could, for instance, issue a rule identifying which borrowers can apply for relieflike those whose dire financial situations render them incapable of making further payments. The department could then settle their claims on a case-by-case basis. This kind of granular agency adjudication falls into the heartland of the executives discretion, potentially shielding each individual act of debt cancellationeven if ultimately done on a mass scalefrom judicial review. Advertisement All of which raises the question: If the HEA is such an obvious vehicle for debt relief, why didnt the Biden administration pursue this pathway in the first place? The answer is simple. Debt relief under the HEROES Act wouldve been exempt from notice-and-comment rulemaking, the lengthy process through which regulations are typically enacted. It could have happened almost instantly$430 billion wiped off the books at once. Debt relief under the HEA, by contrast, must first go through negotiated rulemaking, a uniquely labor-intensive process. Negotiated rulemaking requires the Department of Education to develop a rule with ongoing input from representatives of affected parties (the negotiators). The department and the negotiators must come to a consensus over a series of monthly meetings. Once consensus is reached, the department publishes the proposed rule. At that point, the rest of the public may provide comment. The department must consider and respond to these comments. Only then can it publish the final rule. Once that happens, the legal challenges begin. Advertisement Advertisement Then theres the final wrinkle: Congress anticipated large-scale debt discharge in the 2021 American Rescue Plan, which exempts student debt forgiveness from taxable income through 2025. To spare borrowers a potentially crushing tax burden, Biden will have to wrap up his new program within the next two and a half years. The clock is ticking. The road ahead is long and convoluted. But the path is there, laid out in existing law, and the administration has given every possible sign that itll go as far as it can. Yes, far-right judges in the lower courts will try to block Biden at every turn. Yes, the Supreme Court could veto Plan B at any time. But the president has decided to throw everything at the wall. And if anything sticks, itll be the HEA. After the Supreme Court effectively ended affirmative action in higher education, theres been a renewed focus on other efforts to address historic racism across American society. Celeste Headlee, host of Slates Hear Me Out, recently discussed reparations with the Manhattan Institutes Coleman Hughes. Though hes Black and can trace his roots to slavery, the host of the Conversations With Coleman podcast adamantly rejects the idea of reparations and has testified against the concept before Congress. Headlee, who is also Black, supports the idea. A partial transcript of the conversation is reprinted below; it has been edited and condensed for clarity. Celeste Headlee: I found it interesting that when you testified before Congress, you began with a pretty impassioned statement saying that nothing that you said was meant to downplay the horrors of slavery. Why begin there? Coleman Hughes: I begin there because an argument against reparations could easily be misconstrued as an argument that you dont care about slavery, or you dont think slavery was that bad. And I wanted to close the door to that interpretation of my view, right at the start. So, give me the summary of your argument. Youre not saying that enslaved people, especially at the end of the Civil War, shouldnt have been offered some kind of recompenseland or moneyright? Thats not your argument. Advertisement Advertisement Exactly. My argument is precisely that they should have been given reparations in their lifetimes, in the second half of the 20th century. [Ed. note: Presumably Hughes meant the 19th century.] But once you miss the opportunity to give the actual victim reparations, the reparations claim does not survive forever. And it certainly doesnt survive down to their great-great-great-great-great-great-grandchild, which I think is the correct number of greats, in my case. Advertisement You know, people often say, Well, how come Black people didnt get reparations? The Jews got reparations after the Holocaust. The Japanese Americans got reparations for being interned in World War II. Well, I think that, to me, thats hypocrisy or a double standard, standing from todays vantage point, because they got reparations immediatelyalmost immediately after the atrocities in question. And they were actually paid to the people or their families. And so the truth is, [for] the great majorityalmost all historical crimes against people, [against] races/ethnicities throughout the past, say, 300 yearsno reparations have been paid for them. No reparations are ever going to be paid, and the claims have timed out. Advertisement So I think my position in Congress and my position today is the same, which is: I actually support reparations paid to living victims of the Jim Crow system in the South, or of segregation in general. This is happening in Evanston and outside of Chicago, where theyre trying to identify specific individuals that were denied loans on houses because they were Black in the late 60s, and paying them specifically, or at most, their immediate family members. That I support. Thats the kind of reparations I support, and is in line with my principles. What I dont support is reparations paid to descendants of slaves for slavery, which ended in 1865. Advertisement Advertisement This is my favorite kind of conversation, because I so disagree with you. Advertisement Heres the thing: I wonder if the comparison would hold up if they had promised Jews after the Holocaust reparations, and then refused to hand them over, which is what happened with African Americans. They were promised land; they were promised help. And then states in the federal governmentpartly because Abraham Lincoln was killedsimply didnt do it. Advertisement Then theres also the fact that it wasnt just the Civil War that caused the trauma. If you go back through historyI mean, just in my own family historythere is story after story after story of people in my family earning land and having it stolen, sometimes through legal means and sometimes through means that were legal, but not at all ethical. There are many times when our family has paid much more for insurance, for homes, for things because of redlining, and that happened recently. Advertisement Where do you draw the line of when the harm was done? To say that they should have been paid right when the damage occurred? So, to the first point: No, I dont think if the government made a promise in 1865 that was unfulfilled, that they therefore are on the hook for that promise. I mean, the people they promised that to are all dead, and they have been dead for a long time. Thats extremely sad. Its extremely tragic. It was a miscarriage of justice at the time. Advertisement I do not think that that means what was promised to those people should be given to their six-greats grandchild. And I think, frankly, that intuition is widely shared, right? Most of us literally dont know the names of our great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents. To collect something owed to them is not something anyoneany typical or rational personwould expect, for the most part. Advertisement And secondly, like I said, I actually support reparations paid to people in their lifetimes for harms that they or their immediate family members have incurred. And at that level, you might not even call it reparations. You may just call it damages, right? Like if laws are broken, if discrimination laws on the books are broken to your detriment, you can sue the state. And I completely support that. So if thats happened in your family, thats a quite a separate conversation, I think. Advertisement Related From Slate Tamara Gilkes Borr I Turned Down the Ivy League Because I Thought Race Shouldnt Matter. I Know Better Now. Read More Were going to kind of dig a little deeply into all the different nooks and crannies of what systemic racism has cost African Americans. But what about the issue of simply not being able to move on? The fact that, even in political speeches, youll hear African Americans talk about the 40 acres and a mule that were promised to them? There are really good records of land that had been taken from plantation owners in the South and given to African Americans after the Civil War ended, and they farmed it for a while, and were doing fine. And then it was taken after the federal government basically left the South and allowed the South to govern itself again. So what about this idea that reparations might help us at least close the book on that era, and focus our attention on our current situation? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that thats naive. I think, if it were true that reparations was going to help people move on, then it would seem to me that all of the national and state-level apologiesofficial apologies that have been madewould have helped some people move on. In fact, they have had no impact whatsoever. Both houses of Congress officially apologized for slavery in 2008 and 2009. In 2004, the Senate officially apologized for the lynching of African Americans. At least eight different statesand slavery was, as you know, a states issuehave individually apologized for slavery. I have seen almost no one bring up those factsother than mein this conversation. And not only that, Ive seen that make no dents at all, even though those were longtime requests from the community, the same community of people that want reparations. For years, people said, Please can we have an apology? Can we have national-level apology, a state-level apology? The apologies come, and it makes no dent at all in the in the wound. Advertisement Advertisement And so what does that tell me? What that tells me is the wound of slavery, insofar as it is sincerely felt by people, its not going to be healed by anything external. Advertisement Its difficult for me to think, Look, reparations wont help anybody because the damage happened so long ago. Thats hard for me to really accept, because the damage is still happening. So hold on: What do you mean by reparations? Do you mean a check? Or do you mean a package of specific policies? Because people have very different pictures. When I say reparations, I think it should be both, frankly, depending on the individual. But I think that the most impactful thing would be to get some actual anti-racist policies in place that dealt with inequities in the health care system, inequities in the education system, in the economic system in wages and small business loans, definitely in criminal justice and law enforcement. That would be the most impactful thing. Advertisement Thats extremely complicated. Would I love it? Yes. Is it possible? Ive been a journalist for too long to say yes to that. I think that aiming for some of that, and then also sending people a check to acknowledge the depth of the harm they have suffered, and the fact that they have not been able to enjoy the inheritance from their ancestors that they should have. Advertisement Advertisement For example: the people whose businesses were burned out in Oklahoma, during that massacre. We [also] have the Eugene race massacre, the homes and the businesses that were destroyed in Detroit when they decided to build a freeway right through the African American part of town. Again and again and again, you see people who are not being able to build up generational wealth, because they were either murdered, it was stolen, their land was taken, destroyedwhatever it may be. So yes, some kind of recompense for the generational inheritance they lost out on, I think, is perfectly OK. But a combination of the two would be ideal. Advertisement Advertisement OK, so whatever anti-racist policies you think are good for the country and good for Black people: Why do you call those reparations? Is the implication that they would not be implemented but for slavery? Or is the implication that they would only go to Black American descendants of slavery as opposed to Black immigrants? Why not just support those policies without labeling them reparations? I dont think you have to label them reparations, but because its combined with some kind of repair, monetary repair for the damage thats been done. You know, Ive spent a long time looking at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that occurred in South Africa. Obviously, that didnt solve all their problems there. But I, when I think about reparations, I think about restorative justice. And whatever reparations look like, to me, they have to have some element of restoration in them. Advertisement Advertisement Again, the disanalogy there is that what happened in South Africa happened between the actual individuals that experienced apartheid and the actual individuals that perpetrated it. Slave owners are dead and the slaves are dead. You know, wealive todaycould playact some truth and reconciliationstyle interaction. But its not genuine. The boat was missed; its a tragedy. That doesnt mean that we ought to pretend that were able to repair that today. I think we have to get on with the project of making life as good as possible for people today, based on the problems that exist today, not based on the problems that werent solved 150 years ago. Listen to the full interview. When the Supreme Court ruled, on June 30, in favor of a Colorado web designer who sought to refuse to make wedding websites for (theoretical) gay couples, activists and legal experts warned it would open the door to all kinds of businesses discriminating against LGBTQ+ Americans. Days later, at least one such case has popped up. Last week, a hair salon in Traverse City, Michigan, announced that it would not serve transgender clients, comparing them to animals. If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman please seek services at a local pet groomer, a Facebook post from Studio 8 Hair Lab read. You are not welcome at this salon. Advertisement In reference to a Michigan hate crime law from March that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, the salons owner added, [kiss emoji] my ASS Governor Witchmere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post made it clear that the salon sees discrimination as condoned under a free speech argument, just like the web designer. This small business has the right to refuse services, the post read. We are not bound to any oaths as realtors are regarding discrimination. The post was accompanied by the hashtag #takeastand. When criticized in an online review of the business, the salons owner, Christine Geiger, responded by sticking to her position: LGB are more than welcome however the rest of it is not something I support. This stance was taken to insure [sic] that clients have the best experience and I am admitting that since I am not willing to play the pronoun game or cater to requests outside of what I perceive as normal this probably isnt the best option for that type of client. There are over 800 licensed stylists in the County. There are plenty of salons/stylists willing to cater to what I will not. This is a free country and I am not a slave to any narrative. Advertisement In a July 9 comment in a local Facebook group, Geiger doubled down, asserting baselessly that queer communities were welcoming to pedophiles: Advertisement I have no issues with LGB. Its the TQ+ that Im not going to support. For those that dont know what the + is for, its for MAP (Minor Attracted Person aka: pedophile) This stance was taken to insure that clients have the best experience and I am admitting that since I am not willing to play the pronoun game or cater to requests outside of what I perceive as normal this probably isnt the best option for that type of client. Geigers language mirrors the hateful rhetoric circulated by many right-wing politicians about trans people. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is perhaps the politician with the highest profile to baselessly label LGBTQ+ people as groomers, both to attract national attention for his run for president and to cater to a hard-right base. On Tuesday, after the comments circulated on Facebook and were picked up by local news, Geiger deleted her personal and professional Facebook page and set the salons Instagram profile to private. (The page is described as A private CONSERVATIVE business that does not cater to woke ideologies on Instagram.) As of time of publication, Geiger has not responded to an email requesting comment. If youve ever wondered how much a bar manager makes, youre in the right place. Whether youre researching how to open a bar and want to understand the costs or are considering a new career, this article explores the intricacies of bar manager salaries, shedding light on the earning potential of this dynamic role within the hospitality industry. Get ready to uncover valuable insights about the compensation of bar managers nationwide. Role of a Bar Manager The role of a bar manager is crucial in the hospitality industry, specifically in the operation of a bar. They are the glue that holds all aspects of the bar together, ensuring smooth operations, high-quality service, and a positive working environment. As youve mentioned, their specific responsibilities may vary based on your bars unique business plan, but there are common tasks and functions that most bar managers oversee. Power Up Your Event's Success Sell Your Business Conduct Market Research Below are some specific aspects of a bar managers role: Overseeing Daily Operations : Bar managers are responsible for the overall operation of the bar daily. This includes everything from opening and closing procedures to overseeing all bar-related activities throughout the day. : Bar managers are responsible for the overall operation of the bar daily. This includes everything from opening and closing procedures to overseeing all bar-related activities throughout the day. Managing Staff : This role involves hiring, training, scheduling, and supervising bar staff. They may conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to foster an environment of continuous improvement. : This role involves hiring, training, scheduling, and supervising bar staff. They may conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to foster an environment of continuous improvement. Maintaining Inventory : They are in charge of managing bar inventory, which involves ordering supplies, maintaining appropriate stock levels, minimizing waste, and controlling costs. : They are in charge of managing bar inventory, which involves ordering supplies, maintaining appropriate stock levels, minimizing waste, and controlling costs. Handling Customer Service : They handle customer complaints and issues, ensuring customers are satisfied with their experience. They set the standard for service within the bar. : They handle customer complaints and issues, ensuring customers are satisfied with their experience. They set the standard for service within the bar. Financial Management : Bar managers are typically responsible for managing the bars finances, including cash handling, managing the daily cash flow, keeping track of sales, and minimizing costs to maximize profitability. : Bar managers are typically responsible for managing the bars finances, including cash handling, managing the daily cash flow, keeping track of sales, and minimizing costs to maximize profitability. Enforcing Compliance : They ensure that the bar adheres to local laws and regulations, including alcohol service and safety standards. : They ensure that the bar adheres to local laws and regulations, including alcohol service and safety standards. Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere : By setting the tone and atmosphere of the bar, managers help create a welcoming and enjoyable environment for patrons. : By setting the tone and atmosphere of the bar, managers help create a welcoming and enjoyable environment for patrons. Upholding Quality Standards : They ensure that drinks are correctly made and served and that service meets or exceeds industry standards. : They ensure that drinks are correctly made and served and that service meets or exceeds industry standards. Marketing and Promotion: They often assist in the development and execution of marketing strategies, events, and promotions to attract more customers. Their role requires a combination of leadership, organization, and communication skills, along with a strong understanding of the hospitality industry and customer service. A successful bar manager helps ensure a bars success and significantly contributes to delivering exceptional experiences that keep patrons coming back. Average Bar Manager Salary in the U.S. Bar managers in the United States earn $50,000 to $56,000 annually on average. Factors like experience, location, and bar type influence their salary. For example, San Francisco bar managers make around $76,995 yearly; in Illinois, the average is below $43,000. Other factors, like bonuses and tips, affect total compensation. How Much Do Bar Managers Make Per Hour? Bar managers typically earn an average hourly wage of $19, with the current wage average being $25.49 as of June 2023. While this amount may vary depending on factors such as experience and location, it provides an idea of their earning potential. Its worth noting that some bar managers may receive a salary instead of being paid by the hour. Exploring Variations in Bar Manager Salaries by State Bar manager salaries vary significantly across different states, offering a diverse range of earning potential for professionals in this field. Delve into the disparities as we highlight the states with the highest and lowest bar manager salaries. States with the Highest Bar Manager Salary Certain locations provide bar managers with lucrative compensation well above the national average. New York boasts an average annual salary of $70,384. And while Washington, DC isnt a state, bar managers make a good salary there, averaging about $65,733 per year. Highest Paying Locations Average Annual Salary 1. New York $70,384 2. Washington, DC (not a state) $65,733 States with the Lowest Bar Manager Salaries On the other end of the spectrum, several states offer bar managers salaries below the national average. Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia fall into this category, with an average bar manager salary of about $44,000 per year in each state. Lowest Paying Locations Average Annual Salary 1. Texas $44,000 2. Florida $44,000 3. Georgia $44,000 4. North Carolina $44,000 5. Virginia $44,000 Potential Earnings When Owning a Bar If youre thinking about owning a bar, then its important to know what affects your potential earnings. Lets look at three key aspects below Factors Impacting the Salary of a Bar-Owning Manager A wide range of factors can influence the salary of a bar manager. Here are some of them: Location : The geographic location of the bar can significantly impact a bar managers salary. Bars situated in bustling city centers, tourist areas, or locations with a high cost of living typically generate more revenue and can afford to pay their managers higher salaries. Conversely, bars in rural areas or locations with a lower cost of living might have lower revenues, potentially leading to lower salaries for bar managers. : The geographic location of the bar can significantly impact a bar managers salary. Bars situated in bustling city centers, tourist areas, or locations with a high cost of living typically generate more revenue and can afford to pay their managers higher salaries. Conversely, bars in rural areas or locations with a lower cost of living might have lower revenues, potentially leading to lower salaries for bar managers. Size of the Bar : The size of the bar can also influence a managers salary. Larger bars typically have higher capacities and can serve more patrons, leading to higher revenues and potentially higher salaries for managers. : The size of the bar can also influence a managers salary. Larger bars typically have higher capacities and can serve more patrons, leading to higher revenues and potentially higher salaries for managers. Bar Popularity : A bars reputation and popularity significantly affect its profitability. Bars that are well-liked and frequently visited by patrons will generate more revenue and can afford to pay their managers more. : A bars reputation and popularity significantly affect its profitability. Bars that are well-liked and frequently visited by patrons will generate more revenue and can afford to pay their managers more. Experience and Education : A bar managers education and experience in the industry can greatly affect their salary. Those with years of experience, proven management skills, or relevant educational qualifications may command higher salaries. : A bar managers education and experience in the industry can greatly affect their salary. Those with years of experience, proven management skills, or relevant educational qualifications may command higher salaries. Profitability of the Bar : The overall profitability of the bar is a significant factor. If the bar is successful and has a high profit margin, the managers salary could be higher. : The overall profitability of the bar is a significant factor. If the bar is successful and has a high profit margin, the managers salary could be higher. Business Model : The specific business model of the bar also matters. For example, bars with high-priced drinks or upscale services may generate more revenue and pay their managers higher salaries than a budget-friendly pub. : The specific business model of the bar also matters. For example, bars with high-priced drinks or upscale services may generate more revenue and pay their managers higher salaries than a budget-friendly pub. Ownership Status : If the bar manager is also the bar owner, they may take a share of the profits instead of a traditional salary, which can significantly influence their earnings. : If the bar manager is also the bar owner, they may take a share of the profits instead of a traditional salary, which can significantly influence their earnings. Tip Policy: The policy on tips, as mentioned earlier, can also influence a bar managers overall income. If managers are included in a tip pool or receive tips directly, this can supplement their base salary. Understanding these factors can help prospective bar managers negotiate their salaries and set realistic expectations for their earnings in this role. What Does a Typical Bar Manager Career Path Look Like? A bar managers career path is often a blend of hands-on industry experience, formal education, and the development of key skills. Heres a more detailed look at what that journey might entail: Entry-Level Positions in the Hospitality Industry : Individuals often start their careers in entry-level roles like a server, bartenders, or hosts in restaurants or bars. These roles provide a solid foundation for understanding the industry dynamics, customer service, and the ins and outs of day-to-day operations. : Individuals often start their careers in entry-level roles like a server, bartenders, or hosts in restaurants or bars. These roles provide a solid foundation for understanding the industry dynamics, customer service, and the ins and outs of day-to-day operations. Bartending : This role is usually a critical step in the career path to becoming a bar manager. As a bartender, individuals learn about different types of alcoholic beverages, mixology, managing inventory, and handling the bar during busy periods. : This role is usually a critical step in the career path to becoming a bar manager. As a bartender, individuals learn about different types of alcoholic beverages, mixology, managing inventory, and handling the bar during busy periods. Shift Supervisor or Assistant Manager : After gaining experience as a bartender, many individuals move into shift supervisors or assistant managers roles. In these positions, they begin to take on management responsibilities, such as staff scheduling, training, and resolving customer complaints. : After gaining experience as a bartender, many individuals move into shift supervisors or assistant managers roles. In these positions, they begin to take on management responsibilities, such as staff scheduling, training, and resolving customer complaints. Bar Management : With enough experience and demonstrated ability, an individual may be promoted to bar manager. This position oversees all operations, staff management, inventory control, and customer service at the bar. : With enough experience and demonstrated ability, an individual may be promoted to bar manager. This position oversees all operations, staff management, inventory control, and customer service at the bar. Further Education and Certifications : Although not always required, getting a degree in business management, hospitality management, or a related field can enhance career prospects. Some bar managers also earn certifications in food safety, alcohol service, or hospitality management to further their careers. : Although not always required, getting a degree in business management, hospitality management, or a related field can enhance career prospects. Some bar managers also earn certifications in food safety, alcohol service, or hospitality management to further their careers. General Manager or Operations Manager : After gaining substantial experience and skills as a bar manager, individuals might move into higher-level management roles overseeing multiple venues or the entire operation of a larger establishment. : After gaining substantial experience and skills as a bar manager, individuals might move into higher-level management roles overseeing multiple venues or the entire operation of a larger establishment. Ownership: Some bar managers eventually go on to own their own bars, using their extensive industry knowledge and management skills to run their own businesses. Throughout this career path, the development of certain skills is crucial. These include leadership, communication, problem-solving, customer service, financial management, and organizational skills. This journey is often marked by continuous learning and adaptation, as the bar industry can be dynamic and challenging but also very rewarding for those with a passion for hospitality. How Does a Tip Pool Affect a Bar Managers Salary? A tip pool can impact a bar managers salary, either positively or negatively, depending on the establishments policies and staff performance. Heres a detailed look at how a tip pool might affect a bar managers income: Additional Income : If bar managers are included in the tip pool, it can serve as an additional source of income on top of their base salary, potentially increasing their overall earnings. : If bar managers are included in the tip pool, it can serve as an additional source of income on top of their base salary, potentially increasing their overall earnings. Variable Income : The amount of money a bar manager earns from a tip pool can vary widely depending on the total tips received by the establishment, the number of staff included in the pool, and how busy the bar is on any given day or time. : The amount of money a bar manager earns from a tip pool can vary widely depending on the total tips received by the establishment, the number of staff included in the pool, and how busy the bar is on any given day or time. Performance-Based Earnings : A tip pool can sometimes encourage a more team-based approach to service, as everyones tips are shared. This could lead to higher service standards and, as a result, larger tips. The better the teams overall performance, the higher the potential earnings for everyone involved, including the bar manager. : A tip pool can sometimes encourage a more team-based approach to service, as everyones tips are shared. This could lead to higher service standards and, as a result, larger tips. The better the teams overall performance, the higher the potential earnings for everyone involved, including the bar manager. Dependence on Establishments Policies : How much a bar manager earns from a tip pool depends largely on the establishments policies. Some bars may include managers in the tip pool, while others may not. Furthermore, the method for dividing the pooled tips can differ from one establishment to another. : How much a bar manager earns from a tip pool depends largely on the establishments policies. Some bars may include managers in the tip pool, while others may not. Furthermore, the method for dividing the pooled tips can differ from one establishment to another. Legal Considerations : Its important to note that the legality of including salaried managers in a tip pool can vary depending on the location and its labor laws. In some regions, it may be prohibited for managers to partake in tip pools, while in others it may be allowed. : Its important to note that the legality of including salaried managers in a tip pool can vary depending on the location and its labor laws. In some regions, it may be prohibited for managers to partake in tip pools, while in others it may be allowed. Job Satisfaction and Retention: While not a direct impact on a bar managers salary, being included in a tip pool could potentially improve job satisfaction and reduce turnover if it results in higher total compensation. While the tip pool can significantly boost a bar managers earnings, its critical to remember that it can also introduce a degree of variability and unpredictability to their income. FAQs: Bar Manager Salary How much can a bar manager make per year on average? On average, bar managers make around $50,000 to $56,000 per year in the United States, although this can vary depending on factors like experience, location, and the type of bar. Do bar managers get paid more if they own the bar? Yes, bar managers who own the bar have the potential to earn higher income since they not only manage operations but also benefit from the bar profit margin of the business. What is the hourly wage for a bar manager? The average hourly rate for a bar manager typically ranges from $17 to $21, but its important to note that some bar managers may receive a salary instead of an hourly wage. Earnings tend to be higher for those in established bars and those with lots of experience, as opposed to those who are just learning how to manage a bar. Which state pays the highest salary to bar managers? San Francisco, CA pays the highest salary to bar managers, with an average of $76,995 per year, which is significantly higher than the national average. Which state pays the lowest salary to bar managers? Among the states with relatively lower average bar manager salaries, we have Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia, where the average annual salary for bar managers is around $44,000. These states tend to offer slightly lower compensation compared to the national average. What is the highest salary of a bar manager? San Francisco, CA boasts the highest reported salary for a bar manager in the US, reaching an impressive $261,878 per year. This figure represents the pinnacle of earning potential for bar managers and showcases the thriving hospitality industry in the city. Do bartenders make more than bar managers? In general, bar managers earn higher salaries compared to bartenders. Bar managers have more responsibilities, including overseeing operations and managing staff, which contributes to their higher earning potential. However, exact earnings may vary by location, type of bar, or bar franchise model. What are the highest-paying cities for a bar manager? The highest salary for a bar manager can be found in cities like San Francisco, CA, and New York City. These bustling metropolitan areas offer lucrative opportunities, with bar managers potentially earning top salaries in the industry. What is the highest average bar manager salary? The highest average bar manager salary can be found in cities like San Francisco, CA, where the average salary reaches $76,995 per year, surpassing the national average. How much do bar managers make in Texas? In Texas, the average annual salary for a bar manager is $49,169, which is well above the Texas minimum wage. However, certain cities within Texas, such as Dallas, TX, offer higher salaries for bar managers, with an average of $66,111 per year. Finding the perfect clothing brand name is key to making your mark in the fashion industry. A catchy and memorable name serves as an identifier and leaves a lasting impression on potential customers, showcasing the essence of your brand. This article will ignite your creative spark by presenting a diverse selection of clothing business names, clothing store monikers, clothing line name ideas, and clothing company names. Whether youre launching a new fashion store or revamping an existing clothing line, our compilation of unique clothing brand names will inspire you to create fabulous fashions that stand out from the crowd. Why Choosing the Right Clothing Business Name is Important In the dynamic world of clothing, your brand name is not merely a label but a powerful envoy for your clothing line. A captivating clothing brand name possesses the ability to connect deeply with your desired audience, cultivating a strong sense of identity and camaraderie that transcends the garments themselves. Conduct Market Research Power Up Your Event's Success Sell Your Business Whether youre venturing into the realm of clothing stores, establishing a new clothing line, or aiming to elevate your existing clothing brand, the right name is key to unlocking the hearts of fashion enthusiasts. Discovering unique clothing brand names that exude charm and allure is the first step toward creating a lasting impression and crafting a world of fabulous fashions. Tips for Coming Up with a Memorable and Effective Clothing Brand Name When it comes to creating a memorable and effective clothing brand name, there are several tips to keep in mind. Firstly, aim to develop a name that truly embodies the personality and ethos of your business. Consider the values and vision that define your brand and let them serve as inspiration. Reflect on the unique qualities of your clothing line, whether its sustainability, innovation, or a particular aesthetic, and find ways to incorporate these elements into your brand name. Drawing inspiration from fashion-related terms and industry jargon can also be helpful. Consider words or phrases associated with clothing, style, or design. This can help create a strong connection between your brand and the fashion industry, making it easier for potential customers to understand your offer. Additionally, think about your target audience and the lifestyle they embrace. Incorporating elements that resonate with your specific customer base can make your brand name more relatable and memorable. Dont be afraid to think outside the box and explore unconventional or unique ideas when brainstorming. Aim for a name that stands out and sets your clothing brand apart. This can involve wordplay, clever combinations of words, or even creating a completely new term. Just ensure that the name remains easy to pronounce, spell, and remember to make it accessible to your audience. Lastly, consider conducting thorough research to ensure that your chosen clothing brand name is not already in use or trademarked by another company. This will help you avoid potential legal issues and confusion among customers. Creating a memorable and effective clothing brand name requires careful thought and consideration. Embrace your brands values and identity, draw inspiration from fashion-related terms, and consider your target audience. With these tips in mind, you can develop a brand name that truly reflects the essence of your clothing line and resonates with your customers, setting the stage for a successful and recognizable brand in the fashion industry. General Business Name Ideas for a Clothing Brand Welcome to a curated collection of general business name ideas for your clothing brand. We understand that finding the perfect name is essential for setting the tone and capturing the essence of your fashion venture. With our diverse range of options, you can explore the realms of elegance, style, and innovation to discover a name that resonates with your target audience and sets you apart from the competition. Whether youre looking for a chic and unique moniker, a fusion of fashion-forward concepts, or an ode to timeless sophistication, our general business name ideas for a clothing brand are designed to inspire and ignite your creative vision. Get ready to embark on a naming journey that will leave a lasting impression on the fashion world. Fashion Bloom TailorBlend Stylish Symphony Attire Empire Dress Dream Couture Castle Trendy Threads Chic Avenue Modish Attire Style Nexus Fashion Finesse Elegant Ensemble Glamour Galore Threaded Elegance Dapper Designs Vogue Vortex Classy Couture Sartorial Splendor Fashionably Yours Trendsetters Haven Chic and Unique Urban Vogue Stylistic Sensation Couture Crafters The Fashion Hive Trendy Tresses Fashionable Fusion Dress Code Deluxe Style Infusion Couture Chronicles Glamour Junction Chic Couturiers Threaded Treasures Fashion Frontier Style Spectrum Haute Harmony Couture Carousel Elegant Evolution Trend Tracker Dashing Divas Fashion Fusionists Urban Elegance Style Symphony Couture Carousel Glamour Gazette Trendy Trove Classy Collective Sartorial Sizzle Fashion Forward Threads of Success Classic Clothing Business Name Ideas A classic business name echoes timelessness, elegance, and tradition. These are suited for brands that want to project an image of long-standing sophistication. Elegant Threads Chic Classics Timeless Tailors Heritage Couture Fashion Legacy Refined Raiments Vintage Vogue Sophisticated Stitches Prestige Attire Timeless Trends Elegance Ensemble Classic Chic Tailored Traditions Graceful Garments Timeless Elegance Regal Rags Heritage Haute Stylish Legacy Classique Couture Fashion Aristocrats Vintage Visions Grace and Glamour Classic Couturiers Timeless Silhouettes Elegant Era Chic Craftsmen Classic Charm Timeless Togs Vintage Vault Heritage High Fashion Classic Sophistication Couture Classics Elegance Revival Traditional Tastemakers Graceful Glam Vintage Virtuosos Classic Couture Co. Timeless Threads Elegant Embellishments Chic Heritage Stylish Heirlooms Classic Creations Vintage Verve Timeless Styles Exquisite Elegance Classic Wardrobe Heritage Haute Couture Tailored Timelessness Vintage Vistas Elegant Ensembles Creative Clothing Business Name Ideas A creative name can be a great choice for brands that push the boundaries of style and design. UnThreaded ThreadBenders Outfit Odyssey AttireWire StitchShift Fashion Flux ThreadAlchemy AttireFusion Outfitopia StitchVerse Creative Couturiers ThreadMorph AttireLab StyleSculpt Fashion Finesse UnStitched Outfit Oasis Attire Amalgam ThreadTrek StitchSculpt Unconventional Couture Outfit Odyssey AttireArtistry ThreadMatrix StitchCrafters Fashion Fantasia UnThreaded Outfit Origami AttireWhiz ThreadCharm StitchSafari Fashion Fusion Unconventional Chic Outfit Quest AttireAlchemy ThreadSorcery StitchSquad Fashion Fables UnThreaded Collective Outfit Odyssey AttireArtisans ThreadWhisper StitchDreamers Fashion Forge Unconventional Style Outfit Odyssey AttireAlchemy ThreadSymphony StitchSavants Fashion Fusionists Modern Clothing Business Name Ideas Modern names often draw from contemporary language, focusing on innovation and fresh appeal. TrendThread StyleSync NuFashion ModeMingle ChicCircuit ModThread TrendSync FashionForward StyleFusion ModeMuse ChicSync TrendyThreads StyleSphere NuChic ModeMix FashionHub TrendCraft StyleShift ModernMode ChicTrends TrendThread Collective StyleSync Studios NuFashion House ModeMingle Studio ChicCircuit Co. TrendLab StyleSavvy ModeBlend FashionFlux TrendyThreads Boutique StyleSync Fashion NuChic Collection ModeMingle Boutique ChicCircuit Collective TrendCrafters StyleSphere Studio ModernMode Trends ChicTrends Lab TrendThread Studio StyleSync Couture NuFashion Trends ModeMingle House ChicCircuit Fashion TrendLab Collective StyleSavvy Studio ModernMode Mingle ChicTrends Boutique TrendThread Crafters StyleSync Collective NuFashion Studio Minimalist Clothing Business Name Ideas Minimalist names evoke simplicity and clarity, often using short, clear, and direct words. Stitch Loom ClothCo Thread Weave SimpleStitch PureLoom MinimalCloth CleanThread EssentialWeave Stitched Loomed SleekCloth Threaded WovenEssentials Stitch & Co. ModernLoom MinimalistThread ChicWeave Stitched Goods CleanCloth PureThread EssentialLoom Minimalist Style SimpleWeave Stitch Studio Loomed Essentials MinimalClothing CleanStitch EssentialCloth Threaded Style Woven Essentials Co. Stitched Collective Loomed Goods SimpleThread MinimalistLoom ChicCloth CleanWeave EssentialThread Stitch & Style PureLoomed MinimalisticCloth SimpleWeaver Threaded Essentials Woven Minimalist Stitched Studio Loomed Style CleanThread Co. EssentialClothing MinimalistWeave Playful Clothing Business Name Ideas Injecting a dose of playfulness into your brand can make it approachable and fun, particularly for younger audiences or casual wear brands. PlaidPals JollyJackets SillyStitches ButtonBuddies LaughingLooms CheeryChic PlayfulPatterns WhimsicalWardrobe FunFabrics HappyThreads QuirkyCouture FunkyFashions JoyfulJumpsuits ColorfulStitches MirthfulMode PlaytimeApparel WackyWardrobe LivelyLooms SmilingStitches ChuckleCouture QuirkyThreads FunkyFusion JoyfulJackets PlayfulPatterns WhimsicalWear SillyStyles JovialJumpsuits LaughingLoops QuirkyCouturiers FunkyFashionistas HappyHues SillySeams WittyWardrobe GiggleGarments CheeryCharm PlayfulPatchwork WhimsyWear SillyStylists JoyfulJoggers ChuckleChic FunkyFabrications LivelyLayers SmilingSewers QuirkyQuilts JollyJoggers LaughingLooms PlayfulPatches WhimsicalWonders SillyStylish MirthfulModifications Clothing Business Name Ideas Inspired by Location Names that reflect certain locations can give your brand a specific identity, associating it with a particular places fashion sense and culture. LondonLoft ParisianThreads NewYorkNook MilanMuse TokyoTrends SohoStyle RomeRunway SydneyStitches BarcelonaBoutique ShanghaiChic BerlinBlend VeniceVogue MiamiMode MumbaiMingle SeoulStyle CapeTownCouture IbizaInnovations RioRavish BuenosAiresThreads DubaiDresses StockholmStylist HonoluluHues AthensAttire LosAngelesLuxe HavanaHaute ViennaVogue MelbourneModa MontrealMode BangkokBoutique MarrakechMingle AmsterdamApparel PraguePizzazz IstanbulInStyle VancouverVogue HelsinkiHaute DublinDesigns LisbonLuxe KyotoKouture NairobiNook MumbaiMix RioRunway ParisianPicks SingaporeStylist SydneySartorial BerlinBoutique TorontoThreads DubaiDesigns MilanMode NewYorkNiche TokyoTrends Clothing Business Name Ideas Inspired by Industry Terms Names derived from industry-specific terms can help establish your clothing brand as an authority in the field. HauteHaberdashery CoutureCreations StyleSilhouettes FashionForward DrapingDynamics TailoredTrends RunwayRendezvous StitchedSensations ChicCuts ModaMasterpieces TrendyTextiles FashionFormulas DapperDesigns SewingSymphony StylishStitches BespokeBoutique GlamGarments FashionFinesse CoutureCurators FabricFusions StyleSavants HauteHangers CoutureClassics ChicChicane DrapedDivas TailoredTwists RunwayRevolution StitchedStatements SilhouetteStyle FashionForwarded CoutureCutters StyleSculptors DashingDrapes ModishMannequins TrendsettingThreads BespokeBlends ChicConnoisseurs FashionAlchemy FabulousFit CoutureCraftsmen StylishSeams HauteHemlines CoutureContours DrapedDreams TailoredToPerfection RunwayRevelry StitchedSplendor SilhouetteSerenade FashionForwardness DrapingDelights Clothing Business Name Ideas Inspired by Foreign Languages Incorporating foreign languages can make your brand appear exotic and sophisticated. BelleVeste (French for beautiful clothing) Stilvoll (German for stylish) ModaMuseo (Italian for fashion museum) EleganteEstilo (Spanish for elegant style) ChicChinois (French for Chinese chic) MagnifiqueMode (French for magnificent fashion) ModischMeister (German for fashionable master) StileRaffinato (Italian for refined style) EstiloElegante (Spanish for elegant style) BelleRobe (French for beautiful dress) ChicGestalten (German for chic creations) ModaSplendore (Italian for fashion splendor) EstiloGlamouroso (Spanish for glamorous style) BijouBoutique (French for jewel boutique) TrendyTendenz (German for trendy tendency) SartoriaFiorita (Italian for floral tailoring) EncantoElegancia (Spanish for enchanting elegance) CharmanteMode (French for charming fashion) StilvolleSchonheit (German for stylish beauty) ModaStellare (Italian for stellar fashion) EstiloSofisticado (Spanish for sophisticated style) EleganteEtoffe (French for elegant fabric) EleganzKreationen (German for elegance creations) ModaIncantatrice (Italian for bewitching fashion) EstiloChic (Spanish for chic style) CoutureCoccinelle (French for ladybug couture) EdlerStil (German for noble style) ModaRaffinata (Italian for refined fashion) EstiloEsplendido (Spanish for splendid style) BelleBoutique (French for beautiful boutique) EleganteModehaus (German for elegant fashion house) ModaLussuosa (Italian for luxurious fashion) EstiloEncantador (Spanish for charming style) JolieRobe (French for pretty dress) ModischesZiel (German for fashionable destination) StileInnovativo (Italian for innovative style) EstiloExquisito (Spanish for exquisite style) CharmantBoutique (French for charming boutique) StilvollerSchick (German for stylish chic) ModaUnica (Italian for unique fashion) EstiloRadiante (Spanish for radiant style) CielElegant (French for elegant sky) ModischesMeer (German for fashionable sea) StileVivace (Italian for vibrant style) EstiloDeslumbrante (Spanish for dazzling style) BelleBoutonniere (French for beautiful buttonhole) StilvolleFlair (German for stylish flair) ModaArmoniosa (Italian for harmonious fashion) EstiloGallardo (Spanish for gallant style) ChicSino (French for Chinese chic) Clothing Business Name Ideas with Acronyms or Abbreviations Acronyms or abbreviations can make your brand sound modern and catchy. C.A.T.C.H. (Chic Attire That Catches Hearts) S.T.Y.L.E. (Sophisticated Trends Youll Love Everyday) F.A.B. (Fashion Above and Beyond) C.H.I.C. (Clothing Highly Innovative and Creative) D.R.E.S.S. (Designs Reflecting Elegant Sophisticated Style) T.R.E.N.D. (The Runways Edge in New Designs) S.A.S.S.Y. (Stylish Attire with Sophisticated Sass) I.C.O.N. (Irresistible Clothing Offering Novelty) V.O.G.U.E. (Visionary Outfits Gracing Unique Elegance) E.C.L.A.T. (Exclusive Collection of Latest Apparel Trends) A.P.E.X. (Artistic Pieces Expressing Exquisite Style) G.L.A.M. (Graceful Looks with Attitude and Modernity) C.O.V.E.T. (Chic Outfits with Vintage Elegance and Timelessness) R.A.D.I.A.N.T. (Remarkable Apparel Designs Inspiring Alluring New Trends) U.N.I.Q.U.E. (Unmatched and Noteworthy Individualistic Quality and Elegance) S.T.E.L.L.A.R. (Stylish Trends Elevating Looks with Luxury and Radiance) E.L.I.T.E. (Exclusive Line of Innovative and Trendsetting Ensembles) B.E.A.M. (Bold Elegance with Artistic Modernity) M.O.D.I.S.H. (Modern Outfits Displaying Impeccable Style and Haute) L.U.X.E. (Luxurious and Unique Xpressions of Elegance) P.O.S.H. (Positively Outstanding Styles with Haute) A.R.T.F.U.L. (Artistic and Remarkable Threads with Unparalleled Luxury) S.T.R.U.T. (Striking Trends Reflecting Unmatched Taste) C.R.E.A.T.E. (Contemporary Runway Ensembles with Artistic Tailoring and Elegance) E.N.V.O.G. (Exclusive New Vision of Glamour) F.L.A.I.R. (Fashionable Looks Amplifying Individuality and Refinement) G.L.O.W. (Graceful Line of Wearables) H.A.U.T.E. (Highly Aspired and Unique Trends with Elegance) I.M.P.R.E.S.S. (Innovative and Modern Pieces Reflecting Exceptional Style and Sophistication) J.E.T.S.E.T. (Jaw-Dropping Ensembles that Set Trends) L.U.C.I.D. (Luxury Unleashed with Captivating Innovative Designs) M.A.G.N.A. (Masterfully Assembled Garments with Noteworthy Appeal) N.O.B.L.E. (New Outfits Boasting Lavish Elegance) O.P.U.L.E.N.T. (Outstanding Pieces Unveiling Lavish Elegance and New Trends) P.R.I.M.E. (Premium Runway Items with Modern Elegance) Q.U.I.R.K. (Quintessentially Unique and Innovative Runway Kreation) R.A.V.I.S.H. (Ravishing Apparel with Visionary Haute) S.P.L.E.N.D.O.R. (Stunning Pieces with Luxurious Elegance and Noteworthy Design) T.R.E.A.T. (Trendsetting Runway Ensembles with Artistic Taste) U.R.B.A.N. (Unique and Remarkable Boutique Apparel with Newness) V.I.B.E. (Vogue-Inspired Boutique Ensembles) W.O.W. (Wearable Outfits Worth Obsessing Over) X.Q.U.I.S.I.T.E. (Extraordinary Quality Unveiling Impeccable Style with Timeless Elegance) Y.U.N.I.Q. (Yearning for Uniqueness, Nailing Innovation with Quality) Z.E.S.T. (Zealous and Energetic Styles Trending) D.R.E.A.M.Y. (Distinctive Runway Ensembles with Artistic Mastery and Youthfulness) C.R.E.A.T.I.V.E. (Cutting-Edge Runway Ensembles with Artistry that Transcends Innovation and Vision) S.T.A.R. (Stylish Threads with Artistic Refinement) B.R.I.G.H.T. (Brilliant Runway Inspirations with Glamorous Haute and Trendsetting) M.A.J.E.S.T.I.C. (Masterpieces with Artistic Journey, Elevating Style Trends with Impeccable Creativity) Clothing Business Name Ideas with Puns or Wordplay A clever pun or wordplay can make your clothing brand memorable and enjoyable. SewWhat KnitPicky ShearStyle PleatsPlease HemmedIn Stitched Bliss Unravel Couture ThreadClever Fashion Unzipped TailorMade Magic Purlfection Sew Fabulous Quirky Stitches KnitWit Apparel Shear Delight Pleat Perfection Hemazing Creations Sewn to Perfection Yarn Puns Apparel Crafty Couturiers Fashion Fringe Bobbin and Weave Knit Happens Shear Elegance Pleat and Greet Hem and Haw Sew Retro Knit Pickings Shear Brilliance Pleats and Thank You Hemmed Couture Sewcially Savvy Knit Flix Shear Genius Pleat Pleasure Hemline Hero Sewn Chic Knit-Knack Shear Success Pleats and Treats Hemmingway Fashion Sew Elegant Knit Wit & Co. Shear Delicate Pleatopia Hemsteria Sew Joyful Knit-terly Chic Shear Glamour Pleats of Fancy Tips for Creating Clothing Business Names In the fiercely competitive world of the clothing industry, your brand name plays a pivotal role in setting you apart from the rest. Whether youre venturing into the realm of online clothing with a chic boutique or aiming to establish your clothing company among other fashion brands, choosing the right name is crucial for success. When brainstorming clothing business names, its important to consider their impact on your target audience. Think about the image and vibe you want to convey, whether its an American hip clothing line or a fashion boutique catering to ladies dresses. A well-crafted clothing brand name has the power to attract customers, evoke curiosity, and establish a strong presence in the fashion market. In addition to resonating with your target audience, a memorable clothing business name should also align with the essence of your brand. It should reflect the style, quality, and uniqueness of your clothes, while capturing the attention of potential customers. Consider the effect you want your clothing store to have on shoppers. The name should evoke excitement and intrigue, whether its a clothing and fashion gallery or a trendy clothes sale. Take inspiration from other successful fashion darlings, but make sure to infuse your own creativity and authenticity to stand out in the crowded fashion landscape. With a well-chosen clothing company name, you can create a lasting impression and pave the way for a thriving business in the world of fabulous fashion. Consider SEO When Naming Your Clothing Brand When naming your clothing brand, its important to consider the impact of search engine optimization (SEO) on your online visibility. In todays digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for the success of your business. Incorporating relevant keywords into your clothing brand name can increase your chances of ranking higher in search engine results. Including terms such as fashion, clothing, style, or apparel in your brand name can help search engines identify and categorize your website more accurately. This, in turn, makes it easier for potential customers to find you when they search for clothing brands or related products online. By optimizing your brand name for SEO, you can improve your online visibility and attract organic traffic to your website. However, its important to balance incorporating SEO-friendly keywords and creating a unique, memorable, and catchy clothing brand name. While SEO is crucial, it shouldnt compromise your brand names overall appeal and impact. Consider finding a creative way to integrate relevant keywords into your brand name while still maintaining its authenticity and distinctiveness. By considering SEO when naming your clothing brand, you can increase your chances of attracting online traffic, reaching a wider audience, and ultimately boosting the success of your business in the competitive world of fashion. The Process of Naming Your Clothing Brand In the ever-evolving clothing industry, your brand name serves as more than just a name; it becomes an ambassador for your clothing line, embodying your brands essence and captivating potential customers attention. A catchy clothing brand name has the power to resonate with your target audience, fostering a sense of identity and community that goes beyond the mere garments themselves. Whether youre running a clothing store, launching a new clothing line, or seeking to establish your clothing brand among the top clothing companies, choosing the right name is a crucial step toward success. The competition is fierce from fashion stores to clothing companies, making it essential to find unique clothing brand names that stand out from the crowd. A well-crafted clothing brand name idea grabs attention and evokes emotions and creates a lasting impression. It becomes a symbol of your brands vision, values, and aesthetic. With the right blend of creativity and strategic thinking, you can develop a clothing brand name that resonates with your target market and reflects the fabulous fashions you offer. Remember, your clothing brand name is an invitation to explore your unique style, an introduction to the world youve created, and the key to building a loyal customer base in the vast and ever-changing fashion landscape. Clothing Brand Name Generators When you need inspiration for your clothing brand name, clothing brand name generators can be valuable resources. These online tools utilize sophisticated algorithms to generate a wide range of name suggestions based on the criteria you provide. They can be a helpful starting point in your naming process, especially if youre feeling stuck or overwhelmed with ideas. Clothing brand name generators typically prompt you to input relevant information such as keywords, style preferences, or even the desired length of the name. Based on this input, the generator algorithm analyzes patterns, trends, and linguistic structures to generate a list of potential name options. This can save you time and effort by offering a diverse range of suggestions that you may not have considered otherwise. While clothing brand name generators can provide a wealth of ideas, its important to approach them as a tool for inspiration rather than relying solely on the generated options. The generated names should be seen as a starting point, and you can further refine and customize them to align with your brand identity, target audience, and overall vision. Its essential to conduct thorough research and ensure that the chosen name is not already in use or trademarked by another clothing brand. Incorporating clothing brand name generators into your naming process can spark creativity and offer fresh perspectives. They can help you explore new possibilities and discover unique combinations of words and phrases that resonate with your brands essence. Remember to combine the generated suggestions with your own creative thinking to find the perfect clothing brand name that captures the spirit of your business and sets you apart in the competitive fashion industry. Key Points about Clothing Brand Name Generators Purpose: Provide inspiration and generate a wide range of name suggestions for clothing brands Algorithm: Utilizes sophisticated algorithms to analyze patterns, trends, and linguistic structures based on input criteria Input Criteria: Prompts for keywords, style preferences, desired length, and other relevant information Time-Saving: Saves time and effort by offering diverse name options that may not have been considered otherwise Starting Point: Should be seen as a starting point for further customization and refinement of the generated suggestions Inspiration Tool: Sparks creativity and offers fresh perspectives to explore new possibilities Customization: Names can be refined and tailored to align with brand identity, target audience, and overall vision Research Required: Thorough research is necessary to ensure the chosen name is not already in use or trademarked by another brand Creative Exploration: Combines generated suggestions with personal creative thinking to find the perfect clothing brand name Differentiation: Helps set the brand apart in the competitive fashion industry by capturing the essence of the business Finding the right name for your clothing brand is no small task, but with some creativity, a clear understanding of your brand, and some inspiration, the perfect name is within your grasp. We hope these business name ideas have sparked some ideas of your own. Best of luck in your naming journey! In a complete article, you would replace each (continue with additional names) with a complete list of name ideas until you have shared 500+ unique business name ideas. Also, remember that you should incorporate more of your provided keywords naturally and conversationally throughout the full article. Frequently Asked Questions What makes a good clothing brand name? A good clothing brand name is memorable, leaving a lasting impression on customers. It should be easy to pronounce, facilitating word-of-mouth recommendations. An effective clothing brand name aligns with your brands identity, values, and target audience, resonating with them on an emotional level. It should also stand out amidst the competition, capturing attention and generating interest. Incorporating relevant keywords into the brand name can improve SEO rankings and online visibility, attracting organic traffic. A strong clothing brand name establishes a connection between your products and your target audience, evoking the desired emotions and perceptions. It should convey your brands unique qualities and essence, making it instantly recognizable and memorable. By combining memorability, pronunciation ease, alignment with brand identity, resonance with the target audience, distinctiveness, and potential SEO benefits, a good clothing brand name sets the foundation for success in the competitive market. Key Elements of a Good Clothing Brand Name Memorable: Leaves a lasting impression on customers Pronunciation Ease: Easy to pronounce, facilitating word-of-mouth recommendations Brand Alignment: Aligns with the brand's identity, values, and target audience Emotional Resonance: Evokes emotions and connects with the target audience on an emotional level Standout Factor: Stands out amidst the competition, capturing attention and generating interest Keyword Integration: Incorporates relevant keywords to improve SEO rankings and online visibility Connection Establishment: Establishes a connection between the brand's products and the target audience Unique Representation: Conveys the unique qualities and essence of the brand, making it instantly recognizable and memorable Foundation for Success: Sets the foundation for success in the competitive market by combining all the above elements How can I come up with unique clothing brand name ideas? To generate unique clothing brand name ideas, brainstorm relevant words reflecting your brand, target audience, and values. Explore foreign terms, industry jargon, and location-based names. Conduct trademark checks to ensure uniqueness. By brainstorming, incorporating cultural elements, and conducting due diligence, you can develop a distinctive clothing brand name. Consider words that capture your brands essence and resonate with your audience. Explore foreign languages for unique and evocative terms, industry-specific vocabulary for a fashion-forward touch, or location-based names to create a sense of connection. However, its crucial to research existing trademarks to avoid legal issues and protect your brands identity. Ensure your brand name is original, memorable, and aligns with your brands vision and values. By combining creativity, cultural influences, and trademark checks, you can craft a unique clothing brand name that sets you apart in the competitive fashion landscape. What are some tips for creating catchy clothing brand names? Catchy clothing brand names are often short, easy to remember, and evoke positive emotions. They may use alliteration, puns, or wordplay. Make sure the name is easy to pronounce and spell and resonates with your target audience. How important is SEO when naming my clothing brand? SEO is very important in naming your clothing brand as it increases your visibility in search engine results. Including relevant keywords in your brand name can make it easier for potential customers to find you when searching for clothing brands online. Can I use a clothing brand name generator? Yes, a clothing brand name generator can be a useful tool to provide initial inspiration and ideas. However, its still important to research any generated names for existing trademarks and their relevance to your brand. I want to start an online clothing store. How should I name it? The name of your online clothing store should reflect the style and type of clothing you sell. You could use words related to the clothing industry, fashion terms, or creative descriptors. Also, consider the SEO implications of your name to improve your online visibility. What are some cool clothing brand name ideas? Cool clothing brand names often use modern, trendy language and may reflect current fashion trends or cultural phenomena. They should be unique, and memorable, and speak to the type of customers you want to attract. How can I name my own clothing brand to make it sound luxurious? Luxury clothing brand names often use elegant, sophisticated language. They may reference classic fashion terminology, high-end materials, or luxury concepts. Make sure the name aligns with your brands premium quality and exclusivity. How can I check the availability of my chosen clothing brand name? You can check for trademark availability through a database like the U.S. Patent and Trademark Offices (USPTO) Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS). Use a domain registration service or website hosting platform for domain name availability. What are some creative name ideas for a fashion boutique? Creative fashion boutique names could use puns, alliteration, or unique fashion-related terminology. They may also incorporate the boutiques location, specialty, or the owners name for a personal touch. (Photo : SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) US Attorney David Weiss said he has not requested special counsel status for his Hunter Biden probe. On Monday, the Delaware federal prosecutor investigating first son Hunter Biden denied requesting special counsel status, rejecting congressional evidence from IRS whistleblowers that he was twice blocked from the post. "To correct an apparent misinterpretation and to avoid future confusion, I wish to make one point clear: in this instance, I have not requested Special Counsel designation," US Attorney David Weiss wrote to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in a letter reported by Politico. US Attorney Handling Hunter Biden Probe Has Not Requested Special Counsel In sworn congressional testimony earlier this year, Attorney General Merrick Garland stated Weiss had "complete power" to pursue charges wherever they went. IRS supervisory agent Gary Shapley and an anonymous whistleblower testified to the House Ways and Means Committee on June 22 that Weiss confirmed that the Justice Department refused him special counsel status twice. Shapley further alleged that Weiss revealed in an October 7, 2022, meeting that US Attorneys Martin Estrada and Matthew Graves had prevented him from filing charges in Southern California and the District of Columbia, respectively. In his first two years, Biden appointed Estrada and Graves. According to emails obtained by Shapley's legal team, IRS Special Agent in Charge Darrell Waldon stated the IRS agent's meeting memo "covered it all" days later. Weiss wrote that the "confidence" he could pursue charges "came months before" the October 2022 meeting. Weiss refused to discuss the first son's case, claiming his "responsibility to preserve secret law enforcement material and deliberative deliberations relating to the case." Weiss said the whistleblowers' charges and an FBI informant's report of a $10 million bribery plan involving President Biden and his son were under investigation and could not be discussed. Graham and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) have requested and been refused Weiss' office internal communications. Per Daily Mail, Weiss claimed the Justice Department promised he could seek charges beyond his Delaware district against President Joe Biden's son. As Republican Senator Lindsey Graham emailed him to explain IRS whistleblower charges that he was denied special counsel status, the US attorney described his authority. Weiss says he's "never been refused the right to pursue charges in any jurisdiction." As IRS agent Gary Shapely, a whistleblower, alleged that DC's senior federal prosecutor Matthew Graves, a Biden appointment, stopped Weiss from charging Hunter Biden, questions were raised regarding Weiss' authority. Federal criminal procedures must be held in the crime district. Hunter Biden was a tax evader in Washington, DC, and California. Weiss would need the Central District of California and Washington DC agreement to pursue charges there. Shapley claimed Weiss was refused such authorization. Weiss was promised he would have received it if he had sought it. Shapley's lawyers said Weiss lied. In June, Shapley told Fox News of an October 7, 2022, Hunter Biden case conference with top IRS and FBI officials. Shapley replied, "I was there, and I observed this myself," when Weiss responded, "he's not the decision person whether or not charges are filed." Shapley said Washington, DC officials made the choice. Weiss spoke with US Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves, appointed by President Joseph Biden in March 2022. Shapley stated he stopped charging after that. Weiss told Shapley he was denied special counsel power. Shapley said that House investigators had his email detailing the encounter. Attorney General Merrick Garland has maintained Weiss had full power. Garland said Weiss "would be able to continue his investigation and to make a choice to prosecute any fashion in which he chose to and in any district." Read Also: North Korea Threatens To Shoot Down US Spy Plane, Accuses Washington of Repeatedly Entering Its Economic Zone Hunter Biden Investigation Weiss wrote to the House Judiciary, affirming his authority. Hunter Biden, 53, pleaded guilty to tax misdemeanors. Hunter Biden's plea agreement would also avoid a felony charge of illegally having a handgun as a drug user if he follows the court's July 26 requirements. Weiss announced the plea deal and said he charged Hunter for his 2018 pistol purchase but will not prosecute under a two-year pretrial diversion program. Republicans are investigating why Weiss did not file additional criminal charges. Weiss has not provided Republican investigators with the requested materials due to his ongoing investigation. After Hunter Biden's July 26 federal court appearance, Weiss and Garland may speak before Congress. The White House and President Joe Biden have frequently denied involvement in Hunter's business affairs. The White House said the President and First Lady "love their son and support him as he works to rebuild his life." Weiss, nominated by Trump, took up the Hunter Biden probe from the Trump Justice Department in 2018. Related Article: Joe Biden Refuses To Acknowledge Grandchild Fathered by Hunter Biden? Here's What the White House Says @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. American freelance workers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance productivity, according to a recent study conducted by Freelancer.com. The study also unveiled, however, that this shift towards automation has also sparked concerns about job security. Freelancer.com surveyed over 1,300 US registered on its platform and found that three-quarters (75%) of these workers now use generative AI tools in their work. The tools are primarily employed to auto-generate responses or handle mundane tasks, a shift that has freed many from tedious work. Notably, one in three workers (33%) report using AI tools constantly, while one-quarter (25%) admit to using these tools occasionally. About 16% of the participants never use AI at work. Conduct Market Research Sell Your Business Power Up Your Event's Success According to the survey data, the most popular AI tool amongst workers is ChatGPT, with over half (58%) of respondents integrating it into their workflow. The second most popular tool is Bard & Bing chat (20%), followed by GitHub Copilot (12%) and AI image generation tools (10%). Freelancers from the United States were extremely fast to adopt AI tools and, as you can see from the results, a majority are harnessing the power of generative AI for productivity gains and to get projects done much more quickly, said Matt Barrie, CEO of Freelancer.com. These findings highlight how AI is reshaping the modern workplace, especially in the freelance arena, with workers leveraging AIs ability to streamline tasks and boost productivity. Yet, they also underscore a key question: what percentage of work is being automated by AI? The Freelancer.com study discovered that the majority of AI usage in the workplace lies in tasks encompassing 1-25% of workers activities, with about 33% of the respondents falling into this category. On the other hand, using AI in 50-75% of the tasks is equally common (15%) as not using AI at all. Only a small fraction of participants (10%) reported utilizing AI for all their tasks. Despite the benefits of AI, apprehensions about job security remain significant. A startling 58% of workers express high concern about being replaced by AI. Approximately 22% were somewhat concerned, and 19% were unconcerned. Furthermore, participants attitudes toward AI varied. A third (33%) are optimistic about AIs new opportunities. Equal numbers (19%) see AI as a means to improve the accuracy of their work and boost productivity. Others believe that AI could mandate the learning of new skills (17%) and automate mundane tasks (13%). The study also found an interesting generational divide. Most respondents (61%) were Generation Z, followed by Millennials (23%). These younger generations are more likely to embrace new technological advancements, indicating a greater likelihood for them to incorporate AI into their work. This survey offers a crucial snapshot of how the freelance market is evolving with the integration of AI. While the benefits are many, it also exposes the potential downside: concerns about job security and the necessity for constant upskilling. Small business owners must be mindful of this balancing act when integrating AI tools into their workflow. Whether the integration of AI in the workplace ultimately leads to a net gain for workers remains to be seen. Get the latest headlines from Small Business Trends. Follow us on Google News. The reason is lack of state support and significantly better conditions in Uzbekistan. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Share Twitter Facebook Whatsapp E-mail Link to the page The ferro-alloy manufacturer OFZ, based Oravsky Podzamok, Zilina Region, plans to move almost half its production from Slovakia to Uzbekistan. The reason is insufficient state support for energy-intensive companies, which makes the company less competitive. The company visited different countries for a year, seeking a suitable destination for its production. We have decided to relocate part of our production outside the European Union, Branislav Klocok, OFZs director general, said in an interview with the Hospodarske Noviny daily on Monday, July 10. If we succeed with our plans, we will start relocating the first furnace and we plan to start production there in October. India, Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Azerbaijan were among the final choices, but Uzbekistan is the top candidate. We assume that the electricity in Uzbekistan will be about five times lower than the current price we pay in Slovakia, said Klocok as cited by the the Dennik N daily. Penetration into the local market is to be carried out with the helping hand of the local partner Uz-Shindong Silicon, which started the production of ferroalloys in 2010. Due to high energy prices, OFZ has already ousted 200 people and kept the last hundred. The company also interrupted production for 10 months. Economy Ministry has not offered helping hand The Economy Ministry does not plan to negotiate with OFZ and reverse the relocation with any special assistance, in addition to what it already prepared for the domestic industry earlier. The ministry also points out that OFZ was loss-making before last years extraordinary increase in energy prices, the Dennik N daily writes. It should be noted that OFZ has been loss-making a total of three times in the last five years - in 2019, 2020 and 2022 - that is, even before the energy crisis itself, the ministry claims as cited by Dennik N. At the same time, the company has ended up with a cumulative profit of more than several million euros the past five years. This was thanks to the exceptionally high ferroalloy prices of the year before last, which pushed its profit to over 15 million euros at the time, the daily noted. Employers see Slovak and European industries in danger The National Union of Employers (RUZ) claims that industry in Slovakia and Europe is endangered. They noted that the reason for the decline of the industry, in addition to increased prices, is an unreasonable focus on green transition and decarbonisation. Related article Related article Slovakias only aluminium producer will end production after 70 years Read more After 70 years, the oldest industrial company on Orava is moving part of its production to Asia, RUZ wrote on social networks. Relocation is the last hope - at least this is how the company wants to keep up with foreign factories, which in many respects have more favourable conditions for doing business than domestic ones. RUZ general secretary Martin Hostak added that squeezing out companies from Slovakia is a loss for the country, its people, as well as the state. If we continue to push this, such things will happen more frequently, he said as cited by the SITA newswire. The Slovak economy will be shaken to its foundations. Employers see the solution to maintaining production in the form of assistance through the EUs Recovery and Resilience Plan, the modernisation or environmental fund, as well as slowing the green transition. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230710/no-one-is-safe-biden-reportedly-curses-at-white-house-staffers-in-private-outbursts-1111802181.html 'No One is Safe': Biden Reportedly Curses at White House Staffers in Private Outbursts 'No One is Safe': Biden Reportedly Curses at White House Staffers in Private Outbursts A recent report reveals Joe Biden's quick to anger attitude behind closed White House doors. 2023-07-10T22:57+0000 2023-07-10T22:57+0000 2023-07-10T22:55+0000 americas joe biden report report white house white house white house white house aides /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0c/1109373875_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_d80121564afffe7d98cf790c22e2a965.jpg A recent report has revealed that the persona US President Joe Biden has curated - one of being a relaxed, uncle-type figure who enjoys wearing aviator sunglasses and eating ice cream, may actually be a facade. Former and current aides to the president are revealing that the Biden the public knowsthe one who softly whispers heres the deal, folks in addressesis just one face the president wears in public. In fact, the president is so prone to anger, some aides tend to avoid meeting alone with him, or take a colleague to their meeting as a shield to protect themselves from his rage. Theres no question that the Biden temper is for real. It may not be as volcanic as [former US President] Bill Clintons, but its definitely there, Chris Whipple, the author of The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Bidens White House, told the outlet.In his book, Whipple wrote former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told Biden multiple times that she would know we have a really good, trusting relationship when you yell at me the first time. Whipple added in his book that Psaki wouldnt have to wait long.Biden aides reportedly indicated the president's anger has a variety of understandings among officials, some of whom see his behavior as a sign of respect and that it demonstrates the high expectations he holds for staffers. However, some members of the White House staff have detailed that his yelling is equivalent to an interrogation process in which the commander-in-chief berates aides until it's clear they don't know the answer to his question.One administration official reportedly remarked that "no one is safe" from Biden's ire.Its not the first time the presidents rage has been revealed to the public. Biden cracked his kindly uncle persona when he was caught on a hot mic calling Fox News White House reporter Peter Doocy a stupid son of a b****. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220125/stupid-son-of-a-bh-hot-mic-catches-biden-slamming-fox-news-peter-doocy-over-inflation-query--1092495377.html americas white house Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg joe biden, white house, white house aides https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/biden-sending-cluster-munitions-to-ukraine-us-neocons-plot-attack-on-mexico-1111803599.html Biden Sending Cluster Munitions to Ukraine; US Neocons Plot Attack on Mexico Biden Sending Cluster Munitions to Ukraine; US Neocons Plot Attack on Mexico Neocons in the US Congress have revealed their plan to launch a military attack on Mexico. 2023-07-11T05:08+0000 2023-07-11T05:08+0000 2023-07-11T12:19+0000 the critical hour radio cluster bombs taiwan ukraine nato israel mexico venezuela /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/0b/1111803442_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_67a47daff751ac08efd43ceb9084d643.png Biden Sending Cluster Munitions to Ukraine; US Neocons Plot Attack on Mexico Neocons in the US Congress have revealed their plan to launch a military attack on Mexico. Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. Outliers threaten NATO unity in its standoff against the Russian Federation. Also, President Joe Biden sends cluster munitions to Ukraine, arguing that the US has run out of other ammo types.Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, TX, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss foreign policy. Scott Ritter argues that cluster munition will not change the dynamics on the battlefields of Ukraine. Also, NATO threatens to bring its poisonous warmongering to the Pacific region.KJ Noh, peace activist, teacher, and writer, joins us to discuss China. China's massive financial investments in the Middle East give the local populations an alternative development model. Also, China and Thailand launch air combat drills.Misty Winston, radio host and free speech and press freedom activist, joins us to discuss Julian Assange and the media. Western media outlets threaten their own existence by failing to act on behalf of Julian Assange. Also, Meta's* new "Threads" app has been censored from day one.Miko Peled, author and activist, joins us to discuss the Middle East. An Israeli sniper killed an unarmed Palestinian boy. Also, the battle in Jenin will inspire further resistance in the occupied territories.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War, joins us to discuss the imperial decline of the US. A key expert admits that US foreign policy is at the heart of world destabilization.Teri Mattson, Latin America Campaign Coordinator for CODEPINK and podcast host for WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean, joins us to discuss Latin America. Latin American leaders reject Ukrainian president Zelensky attending the EU-CELAC meeting. Also, neocons in the US Congress have revealed their plan to launch a military attack on Mexico.Dan Kovalik, writer, author, and lawyer, joins us to discuss foreign policy. President Biden suggested instituting the Israel model for Ukraine. Also, the BRICS development bank is pushing for de-dollarization and adding Argentina, Zimbabwe, and Saudi Arabia as members.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik taiwan ukraine israel mexico venezuela Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg the critical hour, nato standoff against russia, cluster munitions to ukraine, julian assange, the battle in jenin, us foreign policy, eu-celac meeting, de-dollarization https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/bidens-decision-to-send-cluster-bombs-to-ukraine-will-drag-us-close-to-ww3---trump-1111819035.html Biden's Decision to Send Cluster Bombs to Ukraine Will Drag US Close to WW3 - Trump Biden's Decision to Send Cluster Bombs to Ukraine Will Drag US Close to WW3 - Trump WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Former President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that President Joe Biden's recent decision to supply Ukraine cluster munitions drags the... 11.07.2023, Sputnik International 2023-07-11T19:07+0000 2023-07-11T19:07+0000 2023-07-11T19:07+0000 world ukraine donald trump cluster bombs cluster munitions /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/0c/1110290964_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_c78c912f88b7427bc0faa455f4cd2c39.jpg "Joe Biden should not be dragging us further toward World War III by sending cluster munitions to Ukraine - he should be trying to END the war and stop the horrific death and destruction being caused by an incompetent administration," Trump said in a press release. Trump further said unexploded cluster munitions will be killing innocent civilians for decades to come, long after the war. Moreover, Trump said Biden should especially be seeking to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine after admitting the United States is running low on 155mm artillery shells it is supplying Ukraine, which is the reason it is reserving to providing cluster munitions. The United States should certainly not be sending Ukraine its last stockpiles at a time when its own arsenals, according to Biden, are being diminished, Trump said. Last week, Biden said the United States will provide cluster munitions to Ukraine for a temporary period while the US industrial base produces more 155mm artillery shells. He explained that he consulted with US allies and partners about his decision and that they understood the reason. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/why-team-biden-is-shrugging-off-moral-concerns-and-nato-divisions-over-cluster-bombs-1111817163.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us sending cluster bombs to ukraine, trump on us decision to supply ukraine with cluster bombs https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/canada-cluster-bomb-deliveries-to-ukraine-related-to-lack-of-industrial-defense-capacity--1111813123.html Canada: Cluster Bomb Deliveries to Ukraine Related to Lack of Industrial Defense Capacity Canada: Cluster Bomb Deliveries to Ukraine Related to Lack of Industrial Defense Capacity The decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions is related to NATOs lack of industrial defense capacity and the alliance's focus should be on expanding it, Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said on Tuesday 2023-07-11T14:01+0000 2023-07-11T14:01+0000 2023-07-11T14:01+0000 military nato ukraine ottawa canada cluster bombs ukrainian crisis russia-nato showdown us arms for ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103929/65/1039296552_0:227:2700:1746_1920x0_80_0_0_5af0818349e3bd03f40118de8aa374d8.jpg Of course, we do not agree with the American position [on cluster munitions deliveries to Ukraine], and we've mentioned it to the American officials. Meanwhile, what I think the alliance needs to be focusing on is really expanding the defense industrial capacity, because we're in this position right now because of the issue of lack of defense, industrial capacity. So that's something that we need to be working on in Canada but also within the alliance," Joly said during a press conference from Vilnius. Canada has a long-standing commitment to human security," Joly said, while highlighting the roles played by former Canadian foreign affairs ministers on the issue. She noted that Ottawa remains committed to its obligations under international conventions on cluster bombs and landmines, including the 1997 Ottawa Treaty. Joly added that despite Washington's decision to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine, and Kievs use of the weapons on the battlefield, Canada would not cease its support for Kiev.Canadas stance on cluster bombs is related to the countrys adherence to the 2010 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production, use, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions. Ottawa became a signatory to the treaty in 2015. Several NATO states and other partners including Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and New Zealand have criticized the use of cluster munitions after Washington announced his intention to deliver the weapons to Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230710/us-dumping-cluster-bombs-in-ukraine-to-avoid-having-to-dispose-of-them-at-home-1111795754.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230710/oh-no-joe-us-low-on-ammo-biden-skewered-for-letting-cat-out-of-the-bag-1111786601.html ukraine canada Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International cluster munition for ukraine, cluster bombs for ukraine, us arms for ukraine, russia-nato showdown, us arms for ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/china-comes-first-why-natos-office-in-japan-faces-uncertainty-1111811070.html China Comes First: Why NATO's Office in Japan Faces Uncertainty China Comes First: Why NATO's Office in Japan Faces Uncertainty Ahead of the NATO summit in Lithuania, it was reported that the Western military alliance is ready to postpone a decision on the establishment of a liaison... 11.07.2023, Sputnik International 2023-07-11T17:24+0000 2023-07-11T17:24+0000 2023-07-11T17:24+0000 emmanuel macron alex timofeev jens stoltenberg china france japan tokyo nato european union (eu) article 5 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103241/23/1032412345_0:184:5428:3237_1920x0_80_0_0_c2e7640cfc4f33bf8acbcf0475d2bdea.jpg Given the pushback on NATO's new Tokyo liaison office, Sputnik looked into which country in the alliance is "slowing down" the move and why this countrys motives do not align with the current ambitions of Tokyo, which seeks closer integration with the bloc and is gradually becoming its unofficial ally in Asia.It is well known that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was the driving force behind the establishment of a NATO office in Tokyo. In April, however, French President Emmanuel Macron voiced his opposition to the idea, expressing concerns about a potential backlash from Beijing.The fact that the French president's position has not changed in recent months indicates that relations with China are much more important to Paris than those of Tokyo, believes Russian expert Pavel Timofeev, head of department at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences.Meanwhile, according to Timofeev, Paris wants to show Beijing that the European Union is an independent player in the region and does not always follow Washington's policies. Although France is in solidarity with the White House's position on Taiwan and North Korea and criticizes China for alleged human rights violations, the latter is too attractive as an economic partner to rock the boat too much. Therefore, for several years, France has been trying to create a group of European countries capable of actively manifesting itself in the Indo-Pacific region independently of the United States.According to the expert, China is economically important for France, so Macron does not intend to worsen relations with it for the sake of opening a NATO liaison office in Tokyo.Macron's announcement just before the NATO summit serves as a strong signal that he intends to draw attention to the fractures already emerging within the upcoming summit, said K J Noh, a journalist and political analyst specializing in Asia-Pacific geopolitics. This move suggests his intention to publicly highlight these divisions before addressing them directly with the other participants.Previously, Macron, accompanied by a number of French business leaders, visited China to meet with President Xi Jinping. The exceptionally warm reception allowed the European country to move forward with business deals, including a major order for Airbus Europe.Regarding the potential response from Japan to the "postponement" in opening a NATO office in Tokyo, France shares numerous overlapping political concerns with the country.However, Paris seems to be currently prioritizing economic projects with China over those with Japan, as China's status as a growing rival to the United States is gaining prominence, making it increasingly important for Franco-Chinese relations. In contrast, this particular factor is absent in the context of relations with Japan, the Russian expert noted.A source close to the French president's office told journalists that the opening of a NATO office in the Indo-Pacific region is not considered advantageous at the moment. As a result, the Western military alliance is expected to make a final decision on establishing the office by the end of the year. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230511/natos-liaison-office-in-japan-part-of-plan-to-destabilize-china-and-russia-1110263884.html china france japan tokyo Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International japan, china, nato office in japan, macron on nato office in japan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/china-warns-citizens-of-us-legal-entrapment-after-drug-firms-charged-in-fentanyl-sting-1111808886.html China Warns Citizens of US Legal Entrapment After Drug Firms Charged in Fentanyl 'Sting' China Warns Citizens of US Legal Entrapment After Drug Firms Charged in Fentanyl 'Sting' Beijing has played an active part in the international fight against drug trafficking, recalling its own history of Western colonisation via the opium trade. But now the US claims China is behind the flood of fentanyl from Mexico. 2023-07-11T13:38+0000 2023-07-11T13:38+0000 2023-07-11T13:38+0000 asia china us fentanyl entrapment beijing drug enforcement agency (dea) us department of justice joe biden merrick garland /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107660/20/1076602086_84:0:3723:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_81df691e983dd40ac5256da3e25ed2fa.jpg Beijing has warned citizens of the risk of police entrapment in the US after drug firms and staff were charged with importing the ingredients for the opioid fentanyl. The US Department of Justice (DoJ) announced on June 23 that it had arrested eight executives and employees of four different Chinese pharmaceutical companies for allegedly importing "fentanyl precursor chemicals" into new York State.The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) claimed it had seized 200 kilos of the chemicals, "that could contain enough deadly doses to kill 25 million Americans."US Attorney-General Merrick Garland, a member of President Joe Biden's cabinet, boasted in the statement that the DoJ was not just combatting Mexico narcotics "cartels" but also "stopping the Chinese chemical companies that are supplying the cartels with the building blocks they need to manufacture deadly fentanyl."The Chinese Foreign Ministry hit back on June 24, accusing US officials of "ensnaring" and "arbitrary detention" of its citizens, adding that the transactions in question took place outside the US.The ministry added that despite China's active participation in international anti-narcotrafficking efforts, the US had "imposed illegal sanctions on Chinese counter-narcotics institutions and then openly slandered Chinas counter-narcotics efforts and illegally sanctioned Chinese companies."Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid analogous to codeine, morphine or heroine prescribed medically as a high-strength painkiller. But the US has seen an epidemic of abuse of the drug, which is now produced in illegal "street" laboratories. Overdoses claimed more than 110,000 American lives in 2022.Imperial China was itself weakened and colonised by the Western powers, including the US, after the British empire forced it to allow the import of addictive opium from India in the 19th-century Opium Wars. That allowed Britain to obtain tea plants from China, ending the country's monopoly on the valuable export.As a result, modern China takes a hard line on drug trafficking and imposes the death penalty on smugglers. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230626/beijing-condemns-us-indictments-of-chinese-persons-on-fentanyl-related-charges-1111476536.html china beijing new york Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png police entrapment of chinese nationals in the us, us opioid addiction epidemic, trade war and military tensions between the us and china, is china responsible for drug trafficking to the us from mexico? https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/confrontation-between-russia-nato-slipping-into-worst-case-scenario---ambassador-1111806940.html Russia, NATO Confrontation Slipping Into Worst-Case Scenario - Ambassador Russia, NATO Confrontation Slipping Into Worst-Case Scenario - Ambassador NATO leaders will gather in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on July 11-12, 2023, to discuss a wide range of topics ranging from Sweden's accession to the alliance to military assistance to Ukraine. It is expected that NATO leaders will also address Ukraines membership aspirations. 2023-07-11T05:42+0000 2023-07-11T05:42+0000 2023-07-11T05:45+0000 world russia-nato showdown nato summit nato summit in vilnius antonov ukraine nato russia vilnius /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0c/1092198344_0:16:3585:2033_1920x0_80_0_0_b3cb58900fdbfb3eac1394f79d82a6b2.jpg The situation in the confrontation between Russia and NATO is degrading to the most unfavorable scenario on the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said on Tuesday. "On the eve of the NATO Summit, the atmosphere in the U.S. information landscape has heated up to the limit. Every possible effort is being made to prepare local public opinion for the acceptation of any anti-Russian decisions that will be taken in Vilnius in the coming days. The situation continues to degrade to the most unfavorable outcome of the confrontation between Russia and the NATO countries," Antonov told reporters, as quoted by the Russian embassy in the United States. He added that the measures taken by the Western countries created more and more insurmountable obstacles on the way out of the most acute military and political crisis, "fraught with the most serious consequences for international security." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230707/kievs-terror-shelling-of-donbass-signals-growing-desperation-ahead-of-nato-summit-1111722800.html ukraine russia vilnius Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia-nato showdiwn, nato summit in vilnus, nato, ukrainian crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/damage-wrought-by-riots-in-france-to-cost-insurers-715mln-1111808776.html Damage Wrought by Riots in France to Cost Insurers $715Mln Damage Wrought by Riots in France to Cost Insurers $715Mln The immense damage wrought by the riots in France, sparked by the killing of a teenager by a police officer in late June, will cost insurance companies 650 million euros ($715 million), the French federation of insurance companies France Assureurs said on Tuesday. 2023-07-11T08:48+0000 2023-07-11T08:48+0000 2023-07-11T08:48+0000 world france french interior ministry political protest /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/03/1111635936_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_5e2a8e327c76bc5aab11aa5ef8200f60.jpg "Including last week's claims, the total cost of claims filed to date has more than doubled to 650 million euros," the France Assureurs said in a statement. Insurance claims related to professional property loss amount to 55% of the total sum, while claims related to the property of local authorities reach 35%, according to the statement. On June 27, Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old French of Moroccan and Algerian descent, was shot dead by the police officer for allegedly refusing to follows orders. The incident sparked mass nationwide protests that lasted for over a week. The French Interior Ministry said the protesting youth set on fire more than 12,000 cars, as well as about 500 city halls, police stations and other government buildings. More than 4,000 people were detained, a significant part of whom were minors. The economy ministry said over a 1,000 retail outlets, about 370 banks, 200 grocery stores and 436 tobacco shops were looted during the riots. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230703/nation-on-edge-violence-and-devastation-on-french-streets-1111634660.html france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International france, riots in france, french riots, political protest in france (Photo : BAY ISMOYO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Southeast Asia's top diplomats are anticipated to meet in Indonesia to discuss the protracted civil conflict in Myanmar, tensions in the disputed South China Sea, and concerns over regional armament buildups. Southeast Asia's top diplomats will convene in Indonesia on Tuesday amidst mounting pressure to address a violent political crisis in Myanmar and defuse tensions in the South China Sea, where some ASEAN members have territorial claims that coincide with those of China. The meeting of the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) occurs at a time when doubts about the bloc's credibility and cohesion in addressing the region's most difficult challenges are growing. ASEAN Meeting's Top Agenda The lack of substantive progress on an ASEAN peace plan for Myanmar, which was agreed to with the country's military authorities after they seized power in a coup in 2021 and calls for an urgent cessation to violence, is the most significant of these factors. In the military's assault on dissent, more than 3,400 people have been murdered and nearly 22,000 have been arrested, according to a United Nations report published in June. The High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations, Volker Turk, recently urged the United Nations Security Council to refer the escalating violence to the International Criminal Court and for countries to cease supplying the junta with weapons. ASEAN has prohibited Myanmar's junta leaders from attending high-level meetings such as the one in Jakarta this week, but Indonesia, as the bloc's chair this year, has been engaging the junta and opposition groups intensively in secret. However, according to two sources familiar with the efforts, attempts to create an inclusive dialogue have been hampered by conditions proposed by all parties in order to begin even informal discussions. Per Reuters via MSN, Indonesia also seeks to expedite discussions on a long-stalled code of conduct for the South China Sea during this week's forum. The talks would advance the bloc's and China's 2002 commitment to establish a set of norms to assure freedom of navigation and overflight in the strategic waterway. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the US-China rivalry will also be discussed as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang participate as dialogue partners of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers in Jakarta, Indonesia. Sidharto Suryodipuro, an official from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, told a news conference on Monday that North Korea's foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, will not attend the Asean Regional Forum, an annual security meeting. In addition, it is unknown which key figures from the world's most intractable conflicts will convene on the margins of the ministerial meetings. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam's senior diplomats will convene on Tuesday and Wednesday before their Asian and Western counterparts join them on Thursday and Friday for discussions. The often unwieldy group of democracies, autocracies, and monarchies, which was founded in 1967, has been held together for decades by the fundamental principles of non-interference in each other's domestic affairs and consensus-based decision-making. However, this approach has hindered the 10-nation bloc's ability to respond promptly to cross-border crises. Since Myanmar's army usurped power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and plunged the country into deadly disorder, Asean's principles have been put to the test. Since the military seizure, more than 3,750 civilians, including pro-democracy activists, have been slain by security forces, and nearly 24,000 have been arrested, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights organization that tracks such arrests and deaths. According to The Sun Star, ASEAN is under international pressure to resolve Myanmar's crisis effectively. However, ASEAN members appear divided on how to proceed, with some recommending that Myanmar's top diplomat and officials be invited back to the high-level summit meetings and punitive measures against Myanmar's generals be eased. Retno emphasized that the group would remain committed to implementing the Asean leaders' five-point plan. Myanmar remained unmentioned in a draft of the Asean foreign ministers' post-meeting communique, reflecting the difficulty of reaching consensus on the issue. Read Also: Iceland Sees New Volcanic Eruption on Reykjanes Peninsula After Weeks of Earthquakes Dispute About South China Sea The Associated Press obtained a copy of the draft in which their concerns about other contentious issues, such as the South China Sea disputes, were included. Given ASEAN's limited capacity to resolve it, Dewi Fortuna Anwar, director of the Jakarta-based think tank Habibie Center, predicted that the situation in Myanmar could become a long-term issue similar to the South China Sea disputes. She stated that the bloc should attempt to persuade the military government of Myanmar that it has superior options. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam are embroiled in decades-long territorial disputes with China and Taiwan. Asean and China have been negotiating a non-aggression accord that seeks to prevent disputes from escalating, but the negotiations have been delayed for years. The contested waters have become a flashpoint in the competition between China and the United States. Washington has challenged Beijing's expansive territorial claims and routinely conducts what it terms freedom of navigation and overflight patrols, which have infuriated China. Other Western and European nations have conducted sporadic surveillance in the busy waterway, through which the majority of the world's trade passes, with similar demands for unimpeded commerce and mobility. Related Article: South Africa Gas Leak Blamed on Illegal Gold Processing Kills 17, Including Children @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/dc-mayor-backs-youth-detention-bill-opposed-by-citys-attorney-general-1111816055.html DC Mayor Backs Youth Detention Bill Opposed by Citys Attorney General DC Mayor Backs Youth Detention Bill Opposed by Citys Attorney General A bitter political fight is raging in the US capital city as politicians debate about how to tackle rising crime. A new emergency bill has been introduced that would largely circumvent the deliberative process. 2023-07-11T17:49+0000 2023-07-11T17:49+0000 2023-07-11T17:49+0000 americas metropolitan police department (mpd) district of columbia dc muriel bowser crime crime wave /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/0b/1111815897_0:42:3072:1769_1920x0_80_0_0_9ee23aa609b2ddec814a8601118e93ed.jpg District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has thrown her weight behind a new emergency bill that would provide new ways for police to detain children accused of violent crimes ahead of their trials, as well as a host of other legal changes intended to curb the rising rates of certain crimes in the city. The bill was introduced by Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who represents one of the citys wealthiest wards and chairs the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. Classified as an emergency bill, it will only require a single vote by the Council in order to become law, but will only be in effect for 90 days. Typically, bills must begin in a committee, be voted on twice by the council, and be reviewed by the US Congress, since the District of Columbia is under the unique purview of Congress and is not a US state.The bill introduces a slew of changes, including supporting pretrial detention for minors and adults accused of violent crimes; push the court system to expedite criminal cases where a child is a victim; allow the use of GPS data from ankle monitors to be used in court to prove an accused person is guilty of a crime; add strangulation to the definition of a crime of violence in the DC code; and make firing a gun in public a felony offense. It would also allow extradition for misdemeanor offenses committed outside the city.The city has seen an increase in a number of crimes this year, with violent crime up by 30% as compared to the same time last year, according to MPD statistics. Homicides are up by 19%, carjackings have increased, and 2,000 more cars have been stolen as compared to last year.The move has the support of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), which has blamed the crime spike on a shortage of officers and a lack of funds. However, while MPDs ranks have shrunk to a half-century low, DC still has the highest number of officers per capita of any US city.Opponents of the bill include the citys top prosecutor, DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who said the bill will result in more children being locked up pre-trial even when they post no threat to public safety.Many community organizations have also come out against the bill, with Black Lives Matter DC, a group not affiliated with the nationwide organization, saying that it fails to address the causes of crime in the city.The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the bill represents the wrong approach to public safety and the wrong approach to legislating complex public safety issues. A hasty approach to public safety policy hasnt worked to keep the District safe. It's fed mass incarceration and aided the disruption of communities.Amid this monthslong fight over a new crime bill, the city government also moved to reform its existing criminal code by doing away with mandatory minimum sentences for many crimes, reduce maximum sentences for burglary, carjacking and robbery, and expand jury trials for lower-level charges. Mayor Bower had vetoed the bill, but the DC Council voted to override her veto.In what was widely seen as a snub to the citys Home Rule, US President Joe Biden sided with Bowser and Republican congressmembers and signed a bill in March blocking the reforms. Biden has previously expressed his support for DC becoming the 51st US state, a step many in the city support. According to Mayor Bowser, statehood would give the city government more control over its autonomy, blocking such actions as the deployment of US National Guard troops from other states in the District without the city governments approval, such as happened during the George Floyd protests in June 2020. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230603/the-history-of-racism-and-struggle-in-washington-dc-1110865895.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/texas-gov-resumes-migrant-bussing-tactic-to-vp-harris-dc-residence-warns-more-to-come-1110380649.html americas district of columbia dc Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Fantine Gardinier Fantine Gardinier News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Fantine Gardinier dc; crime bill; bowser; attorney general https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/kiev-loses-up-to-250-military-in-donetsk-direction-in-past-day-1111811260.html Kiev Suffers Losses of 250 Troops in Donetsk Area in Past 24 Hours Kiev Suffers Losses of 250 Troops in Donetsk Area in Past 24 Hours Ukraine has lost up to 250 military and 13 pieces of military equipment in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. 2023-07-11T11:27+0000 2023-07-11T11:27+0000 2023-07-11T11:47+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis ukraine kiev donetsk russian army /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/11/1106425217_0:171:3033:1877_1920x0_80_0_0_1d226abb753d134bd916dd96eebf0980.jpg Ukraine continues to drag out its failing offensive attempts in the Donetsk, Krasny Liman and South Donetsk Directions, the ministry said, adding that the Russian armed forces have repulsed an attack by Ukrainian troops in the direction of South Donetsk, three attacks toward Krasny Liman and nine toward Donetsk. "During the hostilities, as many as 250 Ukrainian military service members, one tank, three armored combat vehicles, four cars, two pickup trucks, a Krab self-propelled artillery mount, a D-20 howitzer, as well as a US-made counter-battery combat radar were destroyed [in the Donetsk direction]," the ministry said in a statement. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230705/watch-russian-artillery-wipe-out-ukrainian-command-post-in-special-op-zone-1111672846.html ukraine kiev donetsk Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian special military operation, ukrainian crisis, donbass, failed counteroffensive https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/kiev-will-come-up-short-in-natos-membership-metrics-even-after-bloc-scraps-action-plan-1111820270.html Kiev Will Come Up Short in NATOs Membership Metrics Even After Bloc Scraps Action Plan Kiev Will Come Up Short in NATOs Membership Metrics Even After Bloc Scraps Action Plan Two former Pentagon officials told Sputnik that despite Kievs constant pleadings, the NATO powers are less likely to support Ukraines admission into the alliance than ever before. 2023-07-11T20:49+0000 2023-07-11T20:49+0000 2023-07-11T20:47+0000 analysis michael maloof european union (eu) membership action plan ukraine nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103807/10/1038071068_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_178af697b66e6dc29a91fc1f29bfde73.jpg At the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Tuesday, the alliance decided to drop the Membership Action Plan (MPA) procedure for Ukraine, which laid out a customized list of reforms and guidelines by which the countrys application for membership might be considered. While doing so could make it easier for Kiev to join the alliance, the NATO powers have rejected the possibility that Ukraine would be invited to join before the conflict with Russia is over.NATO has spoken of Ukraine as a potential future member since 2008, although it has never provided a timeframe for its admission.Michael Maloof, a former senior security policy analyst in the US Office of the Secretary of Defense, told Sputnik on Tuesday that NATO is extremely wary of being drawn into a direct conflict with Russia, and so has given little in the way of concrete statements regarding its relationship with Ukraine.So I think it's clear, particularly as [US] President [Joe] Biden himself has announced, that as long as Ukraine is in a state of war, there will be no membership. And if there was an attempt to do that while there's still conflict, and if Ukraine, hypothetically, was a member of NATO, that would automatically invoke Article Five. And Article Five under NATO's alliance is an attack on one is an attack on all. So NATO's trying to avoid that at all costs.David T. Pyne, an EMP Task Force scholar and former US Department of Defense officer, said it was a symbolic move only.NATO leaders understand that there is no path for Ukraine to join NATO because Ukraine does not meet many of the requirements, such as having democratic institutions, not having any foreign troops on its territory, not having any of its territory in dispute and not being at war with another country among others, Pyne explained.However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently pledged that Kiev would receive security assurances after the conflict is over, which one German think tank said would include a "pact for security, reconstruction and peace." Maloof said Berlin was in a poor position to be investing in rebuilding Ukraine, but would likely focus on ensuring the Ukrainian militarys systems are more compatible with NATO systems - a challenge in the present conflict.Pyne noted that Kiev had been requesting such assurances since March 2022, shortly after the conflict began, and that Russia had agreed Ukraines neutrality should be guaranteed by the United Nations Security Council, which includes NATO allies US, UK and France.However, Biden refused to provide Ukraine with any security guarantees at that time, fearing it would provoke an escalation of the conflict with Russia. The key Russian demand has been that any security assurances must be outside of NATO. I think that is exactly what NATO is considering, but they are only considering security guarantees after Ukraine has agreed to negotiate an end, he said, noting it was more likely after the Ukrainian counteroffensive peters out.Giving firm shape to any prospective NATO guarantees is further complicated by the fact that NATO member states have different goals in Ukraine.It's just not going to happen, because the United States and the other Western countries already are complaining about shortages in their own logistical supplies. Unless and until these countries decide to go on an active war footing - which they do not want to do, that would send some very serious signals to Russia - the push is going to try to be in time to get Ukraine to come to a settlement of some kind. That's ultimately what probably will be the outcome.What's clear is just how unclear the terms will be among the NATO countries and what are the assurances that they will be giving to Ukraine in the years to come. And given their own economic posture and the politics that are going on, you're not going to know anything for quite some time to come, he said.Pyne explained there is a division between the original NATO member states and the new NATO members which joined following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Nine NATO member states are on record supporting Ukraines immediate admission into NATO; the other 22 are not, as they are understandably concerned that doing so would greatly escalate the conflict and perhaps even embroil NATO in a direct war with Russia it does not want. Germany, Hungary and Turkiye would never support Ukraine joining NATO, and given that the vote to add new member states must be unanimous among the 31 member states that likely means Ukraine will never be admitted to NATO.Pyne further noted Washington had proposed an Israel-like security assurance for Ukraine, which would allow it to continue selling them advanced weapons but not compel the US to go to war in Ukraines defense.Returning to the NATO summit, Maloof noted Turkiye had given its approval to Swedens admission to the alliance on Monday, which the expert characterized as an attempt to gain leverage for Ankaras European Union bid.Pyne added that Erdogan is likely to hold fast to his position that the Turkish parliament will only vote on Swedens membership bid to join NATO if Turkiye is first admitted into the EU. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/stoltenberg-all-nato-members-agree-ukraine-cant-join-alliance-until-end-of-hostilities-1111815094.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230710/stoltenberg-erdogan-has-agreed-to-forward-swedens-nato-bid-to-parliament-1111798921.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Fantine Gardinier Fantine Gardinier News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Fantine Gardinier ukraine; nato; membership action plan Turkish Politicians Oppose Ankara's Decision to Ratify Sweden's NATO Bid Leader of the Turkish opposition Republican People's Party and former presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu as well as the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party, Devlet Bahceli, said on Tuesday that they opposed Ankara's decision to ratify Sweden's NATO bid. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to transmit the accession protocol for Sweden to parliament and work closely with lawmakers to ensure ratification. Stoltenberg, however, gave no further details as to the timeline of the process. "Turkiye is a NATO member state, and the decision must be made unanimously. They said they did not accept Sweden as a member of NATO because this country was protecting terrorists and accommodating them on its territory. They used expressions like 'It [Sweden] would never be acceded to NATO.' Sweden did not budge. They burned our holy book the authorities did not show enough response. And then what happened? [US President Joe] Biden called Erdogan, and he flipped around," Kilicdaroglu was quoted as saying by a Turkish broadcaster. Kilicdaroglu, during his own presidential campaign, promised to arrange visa-free access to the European Union for Turkish citizens and to ratify Sweden's NATO bid. Bahceli, in turn, said that Turkiye's complaints against Sweden were "valid" and "legitimate." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/moscow-nato-already-in-confrontation-with-russia-1111815680.html Moscow: NATO Already in Confrontation With Russia Moscow: NATO Already in Confrontation With Russia MOSCOW (Sputnik) - NATO is already participating in a confrontation with Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday. 11.07.2023, Sputnik International 2023-07-11T16:08+0000 2023-07-11T16:08+0000 2023-07-11T16:08+0000 world nato russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/05/0d/1082883114_0:111:2887:1735_1920x0_80_0_0_2a6125e988d783141623944d96510d87.jpg Earlier in the day, NATO said in its Vilnius summit communique that the alliance does not seek confrontation with Russia but cannot consider Moscow to be its partner. "Of course, NATO does not seek conflict with Russia. NATO is just participating in it," Zakharova said on Telegram, commenting on the Vilnius summit communique. russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International nato, russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/nato-to-establish-post-of-special-coordinator-to-fight-terrorism-1111808284.html NATO to Establish Post of Special Coordinator to Fight Terrorism NATO to Establish Post of Special Coordinator to Fight Terrorism NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday following a meeting with the Turkish president and the Swedish prime minister that he would appoint a special representative to combat terrorism. 2023-07-11T07:40+0000 2023-07-11T07:40+0000 2023-07-11T07:40+0000 world nato jens stoltenberg recep tayyip erdogan turkiye sweden war on terror counter-terrorism terrorism /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105384/56/1053845673_0:11:2400:1361_1920x0_80_0_0_0c2d4c563dce342ffd0f8c44d1c56df8.jpg On the same day, Stoltenberg said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had agreed to send Sweden's application for NATO membership to the parliament for ratification as soon as possible. "Swedens cooperation with Turkiye in the fight against terrorism will continue beyond accession. Turkiye and Sweden agreed today to establish a new bilateral Security Compact. NATO will also significantly step up its work in this area. And I will establish, for the first time at NATO, the post of Special Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism," Stoltenberg said at a press conference. The fight against terrorism is carried out by NATO in different directions, so the bloc needs a single coordinator to improve the work of different divisions in the fight against terrorism, Stoltenberg added. In addition, NATO is cooperating in the fight against terrorism with Jordan, Tunisia and Mauritania, Stoltenberg noted. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230520/what-is-hybrid-warfare-and-why-is-it-more-dangerous-than-missiles-and-bullets-1110481705.html turkiye sweden Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International nato, war on terror, counter-terrorism, fight on terror https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/north-korea-says-violation-of-countrys-airspace-could-be-critical-flight-for-us-planes-1111807199.html North Korea Says Violation of Countrys Airspace Could Be Critical Flight for US Planes North Korea Says Violation of Countrys Airspace Could Be Critical Flight for US Planes Kim Yo Jong, deputy department director of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and sister of the country's leader, said on Tuesday that another attempt by US aircraft to violate the country's airspace could become a "critical flight" for them. 2023-07-11T06:24+0000 2023-07-11T06:24+0000 2023-07-11T06:24+0000 world asian version of nato kim yo jong workers' party of korea (wpk) dprk deterrence /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/0c/10/1081484513_103:0:2896:1571_1920x0_80_0_0_f1a1055ec57544d3e965182a1f57ddd2.jpg On Monday, Kim Yo Jong said that a US reconnaissance plane entered the airspace above North Korea's economic zone. A spokesman for the North Korean Ministry of National Defense added that US reconnaissance aircraft violated the countrys airspace several times from July 2-9. "I have already notified beforehand the counteraction of our army upon authorization. In case of repeated illegal intrusion, the U.S. forces will experience a very critical flight," the politician was quoted as saying by North Korean state media. She added that on Monday, a US strategic reconnaissance plane "intruded into the economic water zone of the DPRK side in the East Sea of Korea [Sea of Japan] eight times." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230429/sister-of-north-korean-leader-says-biden-appears-to-be-old-man-with-no-future-1109939914.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International asian version of nato, kim yo jong, workers' party of korea, us aircraft north korea https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/north-koreas-kim-yo-jong-accuses-us-of-violating-airspace-1111805438.html North Korea's Kim Yo Jong Accuses US of Violating Airspace North Korea's Kim Yo Jong Accuses US of Violating Airspace A US reconnaissance plane entered the airspace above North Korea's economic zone on Monday morning, Kim Yo Jong, deputy department director of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and sister of the country's leader, said on Monday. 2023-07-11T02:59+0000 2023-07-11T02:59+0000 2023-07-11T02:57+0000 asia kim yo jong dprk us air force us north korea /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/03/13/1082387924_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7ffafb36210c6702ca53561d94b89053.jpg "From around 5 a.m. today [20:00 GMT, July 9] a strategic reconnaissance plane of the US Air Force again conducted aerial reconnaissance of the eastern part of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [DPRK] while intruding into the sky above the economic water zone beyond the military demarcation line," the politician said. According to the statement, the US aircraft entered and then left the airspace above the economic zone of North Korea, but later, around 8:50 a.m. local time, once again intruded into the sky above the military demarcation line. The US military has already received a "strong warning" about the possible repercussions for such provocations. Besides, multiple violations of the DPRK's airspace have occurred earlier this month, a spokesman for the country's Ministry of National Defense said on Monday, as quoted by the outlet. "This month alone, RC-135, U-2S and RQ-4B, strategic reconnaissance planes and reconnaissance drone belonging to the US Air Force, flew over the East and West seas of Korea [Sea of Japan] in turn for eight straight days from July 2 to 9 to conduct provocative aerial espionage on the DPRK's strategic interior. In particular, a strategic reconnaissance plane of the US Air Force illegally intruded into the inviolable airspace of the DPRK over its East Sea tens of kilometers several times," the spokesman said. Relations between the United States and North Korea are strained, within the context of Pyongyang's increasingly ambitious nuclear program, the US sanctions and the latter's close military cooperation with South Korea, which includes frequent joint drills. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230710/north-korea-calls-uss-plan-to-send-nuclear-submarine-to-peninsula-blackmail-1111782565.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International north korea, reconnaissance plane, kim yo jong, us, airspace violation https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/ohios-cleveland-listed-as-most-stressed-us-city-1111804068.html Ohio's Cleveland Listed as Most Stressed US City Ohio's Cleveland Listed as Most Stressed US City A new study reveals the most to least stressed cities in the US based on work stress, financial stress, family stress, and health and safety stress. 2023-07-11T00:56+0000 2023-07-11T00:56+0000 2023-07-11T00:54+0000 study new study statistics us stress inflation beyond politics /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101761/60/1017616044_0:264:5149:3160_1920x0_80_0_0_19628f5b1f6b178a71ee005120ced3b1.jpg A newly released study has revealed that the most stressed city in the US is none other than Cleveland, Ohio.The study looked at more than 180 cities and compared the levels of stress as it related to unemployment rates, household income, health and divorce rates.Stress levels in Cleveland ranked the highest for financial stress, the second in health and safety stress, and third in family stress. Cleveland, a city with a shrinking population that is now about 360,000 people, is a predominantly Black city with demographics showing residents are composed of about 48% of Black or African-American persons, and 40% white .The city has the nations second-highest poverty rate, behind Detroit, Illinois, and the highest divorce rate. Those who live in this city, according to the study, also suffer from a lack of sleep and get the second-fewest hours of sleep each night, after Detroit.Cleveland also experienced a mass shooting just this Sunday that injured 12 people. The citys mayor, Justin Bibb, said he fears the city will continue to see incidents like this occur unless change is made at the Statehouse.The top 10 cities in America that ranked the most stressed include: Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Baltimore, Maryland; Birmingham, Alabama; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Shreveport, Louisiana; Memphis, Tennessee; Fayetteville, North Carolina; St. Louis, Missouri; and Augusta, Georgia.Baltimore ranked 4th in work stress, 5th in financial stress, and 9th in family stress, and 44th in health and safety stress. Meanwhile, Philadelphia - the City of Brotherly Love - ranked 8th in work stress, 9th in financial stress, 11th in health and safety stress, and 50th in family stress.As for New York City, it reported having somewhat average stress levels in most of their categories, ranking 3rd in work stress. However, Washington, DC, ranked the highest in work stress, but showed low levels of stress in financial, health and safety stresses.Huntington, West Virginia, ranked the highest in adults in fair or poor health (25.4%) whereas Portland, Maine, reported the lowest percentage of adults in fair or poor health (10%).According to the study, South Burlington (the least stressed city) has the lowest unemployment rate (1.50%) in the US. The city has a small, but growing population of about 20,000 people. A majority of the city, like much of Vermont, is white (86%). At least 52% of the citys population is female, while 47% are male.Less than half of those in South Burlington rent (40%) while nearly 60% own their own homes. The average household income is $95,000. But like many cities in the Northeast, South Burlington had an outrageous average home listing price of $579,000 in June of 2023, according to Realtor.com. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230701/shooting-war-in-earths-orbit-could-severely-destroy-ability-to-explore-space---study-1111592064.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg study, new study, stress, united states, statistics, demographics, us cities, ranking https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/rec-and-jinzhou-port-agree-to-foster-russia-china-cooperation-1111813905.html REC and Jinzhou Port Agree to Foster Russia-China Cooperation REC and Jinzhou Port Agree to Foster Russia-China Cooperation The Russian Export Center (REC, part of VEB.RF), and the Jinzhou Port Co. Ltd., a China-based company principally engaged in port cargo loading and unloading, material warehousing and related logistics operations, have reached an agreement to cooperate to increase trade between Russia and China. 2023-07-11T17:15+0000 2023-07-11T17:15+0000 2023-07-11T17:15+0000 russian economy under sanctions russian export center jsc (rec) veronika nikishina china russia economy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/06/01/1095915097_0:32:2976:1706_1920x0_80_0_0_9b1d5605ba2c30a5ba3fa035d1a6e743.jpg The memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the 3rd Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and China within the framework of "Innoprom". Veronica Nikishina, CEO of REC, and Liu Hui, president of Jinzhou Port Co. Ltd. signed the document. "China has traditionally been Russia's largest trading partner and the Port of Jinzhou is the northernmost deep-water port in China and the closest to the Russian border. The agreement with the Port of Jinzhou is another step in expanding our logistical capabilities and providing an additional impetus to the development of trade with China," Nikishina said."As one of the most convenient ports for Russian exports and imports, Jinzhou Port intends to take full advantage of its geographical location. Hand-in-hand with the Russian Export Center, it will jointly establish new logistics corridors between China and Russia to provide logistic support for the increasingly extensive Sino-Russian trade," said Liu Hui."The Port of Jinzhou will offer the most favorable conditions to help a wide range of Russian companies reduce logistics costs and provide comprehensive services for logistics chains aimed at penetrating the Chinese and international markets. Through our joint efforts, we will promote the rapid and high-quality development of trade between the two countries," he added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230614/russian-indian-investment-bodies-agree-to-jointly-work-on-developing-bilateral-relations-1111162328.html china russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International rec, russian export center, russian trade, russian economy under sanctions, jinzhou port Microsoft has confirmed laying off more employees, adding to the 10,000 job cuts announced in January. Sources say that the latest round affects salespeople and customer success representatives. Microsoft Confirms More Layoffs, Apart From 10,000 Job Cuts According to CNBC, the tech giant Microsoft has confirmed yet another wave of job cuts. The recent announcement comes as a bitter blow, following the company's earlier decision to slash 10,000 positions in January. The Remond-based firm is set to initiate further layoffs, intensifying the already challenging landscape for its workforce. These unforeseen cuts are bound to ripple throughout the tech giant, affecting employees from various divisions and locations. CNBC reports that the software maker filed a notice on July 10, letting go of roughly 276 people in Washington. The news outlet notes that some Microsoft salespeople and customer success representatives disclosed losing their jobs on social media. A Microsoft spokesperson explains, "Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business." However, the tech giant has yet to reveal the number of affected employees in the latest round of job cuts. As per CRN's report, one of the tech giants employees posted about the latest round of job cuts on LinkedIn. The digital cloud acquisition for modern work says, "After [three] short years, I was impacted by layoffs at Microsoft today, alongside many of my talented coworkers." Another Microsoft employee, the enterprise solutions associate for Surface commercial sales, posted an update on LinkedIn. It reads: "I am sad to announce that I have received news that my position at Microsoft was impacted during layoffs." Related Article: Melinda French Gates Net Worth 2022: How Wealthy Is Bill Gates' Ex-Wife After Their Divorce? 2023 Tech Layoffs The latest layoffs are the latest sign of trouble in the tech industry. Dozens of tech companies have announced layoffs in recent months as they grapple with rising costs and slowing revenue growth. It is worth noting that Microsoft Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Satya Nadella told the workforce last January about its plans to revamp its hardware lineup and consolidate its leases. And as such, the Redmond firm announced a significant layoff, which affected roughly 10,000 employees. Microsoft is set to let go of more workers as if that was not enough. Besides Microsoft, as Tech Crunch reports, other tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Facebook parent Meta have slashed their total workforce this year. Last June, the "Pokemon Go" maker Niantic let go of around 230 employees, on top of its previous layoff last year, which slashed 90 workers. Read Also: Xi Jinping Meets 'Old Friend' Bill Gates as US-China Tensions Intensify @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/stand-up-comic-authors-sue-openai-over-claim-books-were-ingested-to-train-chatgpt-1111792795.html Stand-Up Comic, Authors Sue OpenAI Over Claim Books Were Ingested' to Train ChatGPT Stand-Up Comic, Authors Sue OpenAI Over Claim Books Were Ingested' to Train ChatGPT OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, is being sued by a stand-up comedian and a spate of authors, who have accused the company of violating copyright law. 2023-07-11T01:16+0000 2023-07-11T01:16+0000 2023-07-11T01:14+0000 americas us artificial intelligence (ai) chatgpt science & tech copyright copyright infringement sarah silverman paul tremblay openai /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/0a/1111792387_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_70ea0742280248990339072c4acd7e03.jpg OpenAI is being sued by a stand-up comedian and a spate of authors who have accused the company of violating copyright laws. Class-action lawsuits were filed in the federal court of San Francisco on July 7, according to US media reports. Comedian Sarah Silverman, and writers Richard Kadrey and Christopher Golden claim their published books were used for training the artificial intelligence (AI) tool ChatGPT without their consent. Furthermore, Paul Tremblay, author of the 2018 novel, The Cabin at the End of the World, and novelist Mona Awad, also filed legal action against OpenAI, contending that ChatGPT ingested material from their copyrighted work without their permission.This comes as the Authors Guild earlier urged chief executives of AI companies to "obtain permission" from writers before using their copyrighted work to train generative AI programs. The US-based advocacy group insisted in their open letter that writers ought to be "compensated fairly." As conversational generative artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT become the fastest-growing applications in history, people working in the creative field, like authors, have been voicing concern. The worries about how the technology could impact their careers are increasingly being manifested into legal suits, with experts warning that copyright cases against generative AI tools can be expected to continue. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230502/can-ai-compete-with-humans-and-what-are-chatbot-threats-an-interview-with-chatgpt-1110028480.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230623/us-lawyers-fined-over-legal-brief-penned-by-ai-powered-chatgpt-1111414693.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko openai, chatgpt, artificial intelligence, large language model, text generating tools, copyright infringement, conversational generative artificial intelligence chatbot https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/stoltenberg-all-nato-members-agree-ukraine-cant-join-alliance-until-end-of-hostilities-1111815094.html Stoltenberg: No Point in Discussing Ukraines NATO Membership if Kiev Loses the Conflict Stoltenberg: No Point in Discussing Ukraines NATO Membership if Kiev Loses the Conflict NATO summit kicked off on Tuesday with the focus on Ukraine possible invitation to the alliance. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that the Eastern... 11.07.2023, Sputnik International 2023-07-11T15:52+0000 2023-07-11T15:52+0000 2023-07-11T16:59+0000 world nato ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/0e/1110352244_0:0:3106:1748_1920x0_80_0_0_92254df016a5f7bd7299f3637e5dd6e9.jpg There is no point in discussing Ukraines NATO membership if Kiev does not prevail in the ongoing conflict, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday."We also made clear that we will issue an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO when allies agree and conditions are met," Stoltenberg told a press conference. The secretary general also said that the procedure does not have a specific time frame. In the final communique, NATO members confirmed that they see Ukraine in the alliance in the future. Per the NATO communique, Ukraine has become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the transatlantic alliance and "made substantial progress on its reform path."The alliance particularly referred to the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine and the 2009 Complement, stressing that NATO member states will continue to support and review Ukraines "progress on interoperability" and "additional democratic and security sector reforms that are required." The bloc has announced the establishment of the NATO-Ukraine Council, a new joint body where NATO member states and Ukraine would sit as "equal members" to advance political dialogue, cooperation and "Ukraines Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in the alliance."Still, the Kiev leadership is seeking admission to NATO in an expedited manner insisting that no other decision will suit Ukraine. On the opening day of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted that it is "absurd" that there is no time frame for inviting Ukraine to the alliance.Russia has repeatedly warned the alliance against admitting Ukraine to its ranks as well as beefing up NATO's military presence on Russia's doorstep. In its Vilnius summit communique NATO said that the alliance does not seek confrontation with Russia but cannot consider Moscow to be its partner. Commenting on the statement, Russian Foreign Ministry referred to the fact that NATO has been de facto participating in the Russo-Ukraine conflict. Since the conflict began, the US have directed more than $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine, including sophisticated weaponry. Most recently, the Biden administration decided to deliver inaccurate and deadly cluster munitions to Kiev despite objections from some European politicians, human rights activists and House lawmakers. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/nato-vilnius-summit-to-fall-short-of-ukraines-expectations-1111794929.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/moscow-nato-already-in-confrontation-with-russia-1111815680.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International nato, ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/the-liberal-media-begin-to-turn-on-the-biden-crime-family-1111802884.html The Liberal Media Begin to Turn on the Biden Crime Family The Liberal Media Begin to Turn on the Biden Crime Family On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Sweden joining NATO, and addiction problem in America. 2023-07-11T04:45+0000 2023-07-11T04:45+0000 2023-07-11T12:15+0000 the backstory radio washington nato addiction russia turkiye /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/0a/1111802726_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_e18d4e510cd915510e0604debd4c38ad.png The Liberal Media Begin to Turn on the Biden Crime Family On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Sweden joining NATO, and reports of Putin meeting with the head of Wagner Prigozhin. Karen Hunt - Writer, Artist, and Kickboxer | Addiction in America, How Biden Enables Hunter's Drug Addiction, and Tookie Williams Ted Rall - Political Cartoonist, Syndicated Columnist | Russian Blue Cats, The Biden Family Response to Drug Addiction, and Sweden Joining NATO In the first hour, Lee spoke with Karen Hunt about the lack of addiction help in America, the founder of the Crips gang, and Bill Gates involved with mosquitoes. Karen discussed her stance on the death penalty and her interview with Crip gang co-founder Tookie Williams. Karen spoke about her work with addicts in prison and how personal responsibility is the first step to recovery. In the second hour, Lee spoke with Ted Rall about Hunter Biden's legal trouble, President Erdogan, and President Biden's visits to King Charles. Ted commented on Sweden joining NATO and President Erdogan backing the membership of Sweden. Ted commented on addiction in America and the ways to solve the underlying problems of it.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik washington russia turkiye Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png the backstory, addiction in america, the biden family, sweden joining nato, hunter biden's legal trouble https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/us-house-panel-reportedly-concludes-fbi-helped-ukrainian-intel-censor-us-accounts-1111805570.html US House Panel Reportedly Concludes FBI Helped Ukrainian Intel Censor US Accounts US House Panel Reportedly Concludes FBI Helped Ukrainian Intel Censor US Accounts The FBI helped the Security Service of Ukraine censor social media accounts based in the US as part of an effort to combat alleged Russian disinformation, US media reported, citing a US House Judiciary Committee report. 2023-07-11T03:12+0000 2023-07-11T03:12+0000 2023-07-11T03:10+0000 americas christopher wray ukraine russia fbi ukrainian security service (sbu) meta social media censorship /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/07/17/1083444602_0:106:2048:1258_1920x0_80_0_0_46ea6e722f2abb68f6bba033ec880593.jpg The FBI forwarded Meta* an SBU-provided list of accounts flagged for removal, based on their alleged involvement in spreading disinformation, the Monday report detailed. However, the list included some US-based accounts, including the US State Departments own Russian-language Instagram account.The FBI and SBU marked authentic accounts belonging to the US government and journalists in an effort to have them censored, the report said. The Judiciary Committees allegations are reportedly based on information gained through subpoenas sent to Meta and Alphabet the parent company of Google and YouTube. Google was inundated with censorship requests following the launch of Russias special military operation in Ukraine, the report said, citing a senior Google cybersecurity official. The requests primarily came from the Ukrainian government, other Eastern European governments, the EU and European Commission, the employee reportedly said. The judiciary panels report was developed alongside the subcommittee on the weaponization of the US government, which is investigating governmental abuse of authority and collaboration with private companies to suppress certain viewpoints. The FBIs actions constitute unconstitutional misconduct and endanger national security, the lawmakers report said. The subject is expected to arise during a committee hearing with FBI chief Christopher Wray later this week.The allegations mirror those made earlier this year in the so-called "Twitter Files" release, which featured an email demonstrating collaboration between the FBI and SBU to forward censorship requests to Twitter.* banned in Russia as an extremist organization https://sputnikglobe.com/20230330/former-us-attorney-for-missouri-says-biden-social-media-companies-engaged-in-censorship-1108965641.html americas ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International fbi, security service of ukraine, social media censorship, us, alleged russian disinformation, us house judiciary committee report https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/vaudevillian-visitors-in-vilnius-preview-of-nato-summit-as-ukraine-tops-agenda-1111788168.html Vaudevillian Visitors in Vilnius: Preview of NATO Summit as Ukraine Tops Agenda Vaudevillian Visitors in Vilnius: Preview of NATO Summit as Ukraine Tops Agenda The crisis in Ukraine has consumed most of NATOs attention (and well over $100 billion in taxpayer money) over the past 16 months. As members gather for the blocs 36th summit, the issue of Ukraines relationship vis-a-vis the alliance is at center stage. Sputnik outlines the issues on the table, and the decisions which may be reached. 2023-07-11T06:00+0000 2023-07-11T06:00+0000 2023-07-11T06:00+0000 analysis joe biden jens stoltenberg volodymyr zelensky ukraine russia nato article 5 membership alliance /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/0a/1111788009_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_6920f767433a1bc845f1d8dc988ac06f.jpg First, some basic facts. This years summit is taking place in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and runs over two days: July 11 and 12. The meeting will be attended by some 40 heads of state and over 150 other high-ranking officials from 48 delegations, bringing with them an army of 2,400 diplomatic workers, paper-shuffling, number-crunching bureaucrats, and of course, military officers.Lithuania will provide the delegations with 800 vehicles, and deploy up to 11,000 troops and police officers gathered from across the country, plus as many as 1,000 NATO troops from other countries, including Poland and Spain, to ensure security. Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems and a Combined Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) defense task force have also been deployed.Lithuanian police commander Mindaugas Akelaitis has warned Vilnius residents not to engage in any activities which may be deemed suspicious during the summit, asking residents not to use things like binoculars to prevent officers from thinking that they are people with malicious intent, and to carry as few items as possible through city streets to avoid lengthy checks by law enforcement.Fateful SummitUkrainian officials have placed high hopes in the summit, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying in January that the meeting could become fateful for our entire Euro-Atlantic community.Late last week, the Ukrainian leader, who will reportedly attend the summit in person, said he is hoping for a clear signal, some concrete things in the direction of an invitation to join the alliance. We need this motivation, he said. Diplomatic sources speaking to German media said that Zelensky even planned to ask for his country to be formally invited into NATO.Several important decisions for Ukraine and NATO have already been agreed. Following the summit, our path to the alliance will definitely become shorter. And this is a very important result which as in many other cases we were told would not happen, but we did it together with our closest partners, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Saturday in a social media post.I expect our leaders to reaffirm that Ukraine will become a member of NATO and unite on how to bring Ukraine closer to its goal, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said last week, clarifying that he means membership after the conflict is concluded. Im confident that well find a united wayto address the specific issue of membership, he added.But a Ukrainian Defense Ministry advisor speaking anonymously has told UK media that it has been made clear to Kiev that it will not be receiving an invitation to join the alliance in Vilnius. Membership is not on the table and its too late to change the agenda, the official said. Turkiye and Hungary have even opposed Swedens accession to the alliance. Its not going to be possible to achieve anything [on Ukraine], the official added.US President Joe Biden confirmed Friday that a formal invitation would not be forthcoming, citing the risk of entering into a de facto state of war with Russia.For example, if you did support that, then, you know and I mean what I say we are determined to commit [to the defense of] every inch of territory that is NATO territory. Its a commitment that weve all made no matter what. If the war is going on, then were all in war. Were at war with Russia, if that were the case, Biden said, referring to the blocs Article 5 commitment to collective defense.Germany, which has committed more military aid to Ukraine than any other country besides the US, and has lost the most as a result of frayed economic ties with Russia, has reportedly also ruled out Ukrainian NATO membership. Anonymous alliance officials and diplomats told German and British media that Berlin would only support security guarantees, which would essentially block membership, because the country has no desire to see Russia potentially test Article 5.Sources also said that Berlin and Washington are leading the push to block Ukraines NATO membership request, and pressuring other members into joining their position. On the other side are Poland and the Baltic countries, Romania, Turkiye, and France, who reportedly favor Kievs membership in the bloc, over the long term at least.What are These Mysterious Security Guarantees?In the days leading up to the summit, leading alliance members reportedly engaged in frantic, last-minute negotiations on providing Kiev with umbrella security assurances - basically a continuation of what the alliance is already doing: funneling tens of billions of dollars in arms to Ukraine, plus troop training, intelligence sharing, and reportedly a multilateral declaration of some kind with countries making individual pledges.Sources speaking to UK media said some alliance members have proposed a relationship with Ukraine akin to the US relationship with Israel, allowing the bloc to pump Kiev up with weapons indefinitely without being formally allied.What Other Topics are on the Table?While Ukraine is expected to be the main focus of the Vilnius meeting, other issues, including Swedens stalled membership bid, are expected to be brought up, and possibly resolved.On Sunday, the Turkish presidential office confirmed that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would meet with President Biden on the sidelines of the summit, with their discussion including Ukraines position in NATO, Swedens NATO membership, and the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Turkiye.Ankara has held up Stockholms bid for membership in the alliance for more than a year now, citing the Nordic nations alleged failure to crack down on suspected Kurdish militants residing in the country which Turkiye classifies as terrorists, plus diplomatic fissures related to Quran burnings.NATO SpendingDefense spending is also expected to be discussed at length, specifically the requirement laid down at the NATO Summit in Wales in 2014 that all members must spend two percent or more of their GDP on the military. At a pre-summit press conference last week, Stoltenberg announced a real increase in defense spending of 8.3 percent by Europe and Canada in 2023, pointing out that this was the biggest increase in decades, and the ninth consecutive year of increases in our defense spending.At present, 11 of the blocs 31 members meet the two percent threshold, and Stoltenberg expects this number to rise substantially next year, notwithstanding the fact that the alliance already spends more on defense than all of its adversaries, and the rest of the world, put together.Shoring Up the Special RelationshipPresident Biden departed for Europe on Sunday, and before going to Lithuania, traveled to London for talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles III. Although public statements regarding the talks said that they would include things like climate change, trade, military and technology cooperation, and Northern Ireland, the behind-the-scenes focus is of course expected to be Ukraine and NATO, with London playing the role of Washingtons most loyal ally in the conflict. Its enough to recall how now former Prime Minister Boris Johnson personally traveled to Kiev last spring to sabotage a Russian-Ukrainian peace deal.What is NATOs Role in the Ukraine Crisis Origins?The crisis in Ukraine is in many respects the consequence of the Western alliances decade-and-a-half long quest to pull Kiev into the bloc, despite repeated warnings by Russia that Ukrainian NATO membership was a red line for Moscow.The alliance first welcomed Ukraines Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership at its 2008 summit in Bucharest, Romania. Two years later, the pro-Western government in Kiev was replaced in democratic elections by the government of Viktor Yanukovych, who pledged Kievs bloc neutrality. Four years after that, in 2014, Yanukovych was overthrown in a US-backed coup detat, with the crisis prompting Crimea to break off from Ukraine and rejoin Russia, and sparking a bloody conflict in Donbass.Moscow attempted to mediate the crisis over eight years through the Minsk peace accords, a comprehensive, 12-point peace deal calling for broad autonomy for Donbass as part of Ukraine. Successive governments in Kiev dragged their feet on the Minsk deals implementation. In the meantime, in 2019, Ukraines parliament amended the countrys constitution to cement Kievs aspirations to join NATO and the European Union.In December 2021, as war clouds gathered over Donbass, Moscow attempted one final push to prevent the escalation of the Ukraine crisis into a Russia-NATO proxy conflict, proposing comprehensive security agreements to the US and the alliance to reduce tensions, including a request for a commitment from the Western alliance not to allow Ukraine to join the bloc. The alliance refused, saying it would never reject its open door policy. Several weeks later, amid Russian intelligence reports that Kiev would try to resolve the Donbass crisis by force, Moscow kicked off its special military operation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/nato-vilnius-summit-to-fall-short-of-ukraines-expectations-1111794929.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230707/despite-zelensky-protestations-nato-statesmen-understand-zero-likelihood-for-ukraine-to-join-nato-1111733027.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230710/nato-allies-want-germany-us-to-take-stronger-stance-on-ukraine---reports-1111779498.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230707/nato-to-approve-multi-year-package-of-support-for-ukraine-in-vilnius-on-july-11-12---head-1111722365.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230703/we-need-more-money-nato-leaders-say-spending-must-increase-even-after-ukraine-conflict-1111644981.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230320/a-fateful-error-history-of-natos-expansion-1108611973.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230210/putins-2007-munich-speech-stark-prophecy-or-reasonable-warning-that-fell-on-deaf-ears-1107315834.html ukraine russia sweden Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov ukraine, nato, vilnius, nato summit, meeting, gathering, membership, defense spending, security guarantees, support, assistance, analysis https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/why-team-biden-is-shrugging-off-moral-concerns-and-nato-divisions-over-cluster-bombs-1111817163.html Why Team Biden is Shrugging Off Moral Concerns and NATO Divisions Over Cluster Bombs Why Team Biden is Shrugging Off Moral Concerns and NATO Divisions Over Cluster Bombs NATO allies have pledged more financial and military support to Ukraine at the Vilnius summit but seem divided over Washington's provision of deadly cluster munitions to Kiev. 2023-07-11T17:36+0000 2023-07-11T17:36+0000 2023-07-11T18:15+0000 analysis joe biden jen psaki ukraine washington nato kiev congress white house mim-104 patriot /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105616/31/1056163110_0:0:591:333_1920x0_80_0_0_19519622261c3ca810791886e696b238.jpg The NATO summit in Vilnius particularly aimed to show the bloc's unity on Ukraine. The US and its allies made a vow to provide more weapons to Kiev, with Germany announcing a 700 million ($770 million) military package that will include two surface-to-air MIM-104 Patriot missile systems.Nonetheless, US President Joe Biden's decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine triggered concerns about Washington's moral standing in the ongoing conflict and de facto confirmed the failure of Ukraine's counteroffensive."The second thing that stands out is the hypocrisy of the US move. It's just stunning. I mean, Jen Psaki, the administration's spokesman a year ago, accused Russia of engaging in war crimes because it was allegedly using cluster bombs. It's only a war crime of Russia, isn't it? If America does that, it's okay," Lazare continued.On February 28, 202,2 then-White House Press Secretary Psaki openly dubbed the use of cluster shells a "war crime." On July 7, 2023, 19 members of the House of Representatives issued a critical statement on the White Houses decision to transfer cluster munitions to Ukraine: "The White Houses announcement runs counter to Congresss restrictions on the transfer of these weapons and severely undermines our moral leadership," the statement said.The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) signaled last Friday that it was "appalled" by the US plans to transfer banned cluster munitions to Ukraine. The use and transfer of this weapon is prohibited under the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. Still, the US (along with another seven NATO member states) is not a signatory to the convention.For its part, Just Foreign Policy, an independent and non-partisan membership organization, has calculated that "if [the] US provides at least 100,000 cluster bombs [a]nd each one has at least 4 duds[,] Ukraine will be littered with at least 400,000 unexploded bomblets" which could lead to massive civilian casualties.The US left-leaning media and scholars have raised the question of what else is on Washington's table given that it has just okayed sending banned munitions into an active war zone.US Taps Cluster Munitions as Ammo Stockpiles DepletedMost NATO member states have previously banned cluster munitions, and some of them have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's decision. Still, the US is most likely to ignore these concerns, according to Serbian military expert Ljuban Karan.The expert highlighted that the US cluster shells will not change the situation on the front line and will not increase the effectiveness of the Ukrainian army."As for the risks for the Russian operation, [cluster munitions] won't cause problems here, given that the Russian Army has built defensive fortifications and does not need to move as intensively as the attacking side," explained the Serbian military expert. "I do not expect that the use of cluster bombs will change anything in the conflict in Ukraine, just like Western modern weapons previously transferred to Kiev."Karan warned that cluster bombs will "do more harm to the civilian population than to the military." The expert recalled that the US and NATO used cluster bombs during their campaign against Yugoslavia. According to some estimates, NATO forces dropped 1,765 cluster bombs containing around 295,000 submunitions on the country in 1999. The area of Yugoslav territory which had to be cleared of cluster bombs amounted to a whopping 2.5 million square kilometers.Is Team Biden Desperate?One of the reasons why Team Biden resorted to using cluster munitions is that the Ukraine counteroffensive is not going at all well and the White House is getting increasingly worried, according to Lazare.The journalist noted that the Biden administration "has got a lot riding" on the Ukrainian counteroffensive ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In April, Biden publicly tossed his hat into the ring and it's getting clearer that it would not be possible for him to capitalize on Ukraine's victory because the counteroffensive has stalled."The Afghan-style debacle of Ukraine means essentially that we wouldn't see another Democrat elected to the White House for another 25 years," Lazare said. "Basically, that's what would happen. I mean, the disgrace, the embarrassment, the humiliation would be such that the Democratic Party name would become poisoned. () But number two is that there's no way out of this morass. The US can't pull out. It started this [proxy] war. It provoked this war, certainly. And it can't back away. () The US, as you know, it's got itself in hot water and there's no clear exit."For more of Dan Lazare's exclusive analysis on Team Biden's proxy war in Ukraine, check out the full episode of the By All Means Necessary podcast. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/extreme-hypocrisy-us-using-kiev-to-clean-inventory-of-banned-cluster-bombs-1111805783.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230710/us-dumping-cluster-bombs-in-ukraine-to-avoid-having-to-dispose-of-them-at-home-1111795754.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230628/us-record-of-cluster-bombs-rings-alarm-bells-for-ukrainians-1111528359.html ukraine washington kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova nato summit in vilnius, biden administration cluster munitions, us delivers cluster munitions to ukraine, cluster bombs civilian casualties, ukrainian counteroffensive, ukrainian counteroffensive failure, cluster munitions banned https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/zelensky-can-expect-military-aid-guarantees-from-nato-summit-at-best---russian-diplomat-1111806772.html Zelensky Can Expect Military Aid Guarantees From NATO Summit at Best - Russian Diplomat Zelensky Can Expect Military Aid Guarantees From NATO Summit at Best - Russian Diplomat Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can expect from the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius on Ukraine's admission to the alliance is guarantees of further military aid at best, Konstantin Gavrilov, the head of the Russian delegation at the military security and arms control talks in Vienna, said in an interview with Sputnik. 2023-07-11T05:22+0000 2023-07-11T05:22+0000 2023-07-11T07:23+0000 world volodymyr zelensky russia ukraine nato vilnius /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/1e/1111577920_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_23b0edd1b75d09697187ec545ab6eee4.jpg Zelensky continues to bend his line that he needs Western weapons and military equipment under the pretext of a confrontation with Russia, the diplomat said, adding that is why Zelensky has long hinted that he would like an accelerated process of joining NATO. The UK and the US, however, have made it clear that the necessary criteria must be met for this. "The best that Zelensky can expect [from the summit] is guarantees of further military assistance and supplies of ammunition," Gavrilov said, adding that "the fact that a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council will be held during the NATO summit is just a nod to Kiev and nothing more."On Monday Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that "NATO member states cannot use security guarantees as an alternative to Ukraine's membership in the bloc."Contacts in Vienna indicate that NATO is unlikely to be directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, but the alliance will test Russia's strength, Konstantin Gavrilov added in an interview with Sputnik."Our contacts here in Vienna show that NATO is unlikely to be directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine. Although it will try to provoke us and, as they say, test our strength. A recent example is the naval exercises of the Baltops 23 alliance with the participation of 20 states that passed in the Baltic Sea in close proximity to our borders and had as their training goal the practice of strikes on the territory of Russia," Gavrilov said.Practice by NATO forces of strikes against Russia crosses all boundaries, the diplomat said, adding that such actions may have unpredictable consequences.The Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius will host the NATO summit from July 11-12. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will chair the meeting. Discussions on Ukraine's NATO prospects, strengthening the alliance's eastern flank and defense spending are expected to top the summit's agenda. On June 19, Stoltenberg said that the summit would not discuss a formal invitation, but rather ways to "move Ukraine closer to NATO." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/nato-vilnius-summit-to-fall-short-of-ukraines-expectations-1111794929.html russia ukraine vilnius Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky can expect from the upcoming nato summit in vilnius on ukraine's admission to the alliance is guarantees of further military aid at best, konstantin gavrilov, the head of the russian delegation at the military security and arms control talks in vienna, said in an interview with sputnik. Precocious two-year-old pacing males were on display in four $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event on Monday (July 10) afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, and the four winners all emerged as still unbeaten in purse contests. The only non-favourite to win, the Captaintreacherous-Square Dancer colt Lyons Benjamin, was hardly a longshot at 7-5. He didn't look like one either as he cut the pace, coming home in :55.1, last quarter in :26.4, to defeat favoured Booming Economy by a neck in 1:53.1. The Jim King Jr. trainee, driven by Tim Tetrick, is owned by Threelyonsracing, and he also stepped home in :55.1, last quarter in :26.4, to win his purse bow in 1:55.4 at Philly on June 30. Captaintreacherous earned another siring credit when Ivy Park (dam All Blue) won his purse debut in 1:53.4 after surmounting a first-over grind. Yannick Gingras drove the winning colt for trainer Nancy Takter and the ownership of Black Horse Racing, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco and Nancy Takter & JAF Racing. The timer again froze at 1:53.4 when Yannick Gingras crossed the wire first with another making his purse bow, the Heston Blue Chip-Morenci colt Hugh Heston, who moved to the lead early and won handily for trainer Per Engblom and Morrison Racing Stables. Another 1:53.4 mile was put in by Rose Run Zeke, a Stay Hungry-Rose Run Ultimate gelding who came to town off two purse wins, including a 1:52.1 victory at The Meadows in his previous race. Here pacesetter War Machine got away to a 1:27 three-quarters with Rose Run Zeke moving into the far turn to challenge. Zeke just got the better of his game rival by a nose, coming his own last quarter in :26.3 for driver Hunter Myers and trainer/owner Mitchell York. Anthony Napolitano won the Late Double to top the days drivers with three victories. The All-Stars races continue Tuesday at 1 p.m. with action for the two-year-old trotting filly ranks. Program pages for all Pocono races will be available on the PHHA website. (PHHA / Pocono) UPDATE: Friday, July, 14 A 43-year-old Albemarle County man has died from a crash Monday night involving a Culpeper County Sheriffs Office vehicle, following a three-county, high-speed chase, according to authorities. On Wednesday, July 12, Corey D. Faison, 43, of Earlysville succumbed to injuries sustained in the two-vehicle wreck in Fauquier County, according to Virginia State Police spokeswoman Sgt. Brent Coffey. The crash occurred at 9:09 p.m. on July 10 on U.S. Route 29 just north of Freemans Ford Road, according to an earlier news release from Coffey. A 2003 Honda CR-V being driven by Faison was eluding law enforcement, traveling northbound on Route 29 in the right lane, Coffey said. The chase started on Route 29 in Madison County when a Madison County Sheriffs Office deputy observed a vehicle traveling at 92 mph in a posted 55 mph zone, according to a MCSO spokesperson. The deputy activated its lights and proceeded to follow the car in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, which continued into Culpeper County. At that point, CCSO took over the lead position in the pursuit, the MCSO spokesperson said. Culpeper Sheriffs Office spokesman Lt. Les Tyler said they were notified at 8:53 p.m. by the Madison County Sheriffs Office of the pursuit heading northbound on the highway. CCSO joined the pursuit as it headed into Culpeper County with speeds reaching in excess of 100 mph, Tyler said. During the course of the pursuit, the Honda swerved into the left lane in an attempt to avoid another vehicle that was stopped on the right shoulder and collided with the Culpeper County sheriffs office cruiser, Coffey stated. The impact of the crash caused the Honda to run off the left side of the road and overturn. Faison was ejected from the vehicle, Coffey said. He was flown to INOVA Fairfax Hospital and died two days later. The deputy was not injured during the crash. Immigration Judge Alexandra Larsen tapped notes into her computer as Cristian Rivera tried to convince her not to send his family back to El Salvador. It was a June morning in Larsens courtroom, located inside an east Omaha brick building that most residents have never visited immigration court. Riveras wife and 11-year-old son sat on wooden benches and watched their futures decided from the courtrooms front row. Rivera told the judge that his brother-in-law, a member of a notorious gang, threatened his family in January 2019: Either store my guns and cars at your home, or else. Days later, the family abandoned most of their belongings and set out on a 2,800-mile journey that eventually landed them in central Iowa. The 33-year-old Rivera, speaking Spanish to the judge, said that he fears his brother-in-law and fellow gang members would take our lives if they return to El Salvador. The only place I feel safe is in this country, Rivera said, his words translated to English by the courts interpreter. Fifteen minutes after hearing closing arguments, Larsen returned to deliver her verdict. The decision Larsen read aloud to Rivera, his wife Bertha and their son Cristhian carried the same result that the Omaha judge handed down to 97% of asylum seekers between October 2019 and September 2022. Denied. No asylum for the Riveras. They would have to leave the U.S. Omahas immigration court has increasingly become a place dreaded by immigrants seeking asylum. The judges who decide cases in Omaha denied more than 96% of asylum applications they ruled on between October and May, according to an immigration database, known as TRAC, maintained by Syracuse University and analyzed by Flatwater Free Press. The denial rate nationally was roughly 53%. During those months, the Omaha court had the highest rejection rate of any immigration court in the country. Tens of thousands of immigrants come to the U.S. every year to apply for asylum, a legal designation meant to protect those fleeing persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political beliefs or membership in a specific social group. While most immigration courts have started granting asylum more often since President Joe Biden took office, Omahas immigration judges have headed in the other direction. Asylum seekers are much less likely to succeed in Omaha because of the judges narrow interpretation of asylum law, immigration attorneys and experts say. The Omaha asylum success rate is also low because Central Americans and Mexicans who make up most claims here generally have more difficulty winning their cases, the database shows. Larsen, reading her decision in the courtroom, said the Rivera familys testimony was credible but also didnt meet the high standard of persecution under asylum law. It isnt enough to have a subjective fear of harm at the hands of a gang, she said. The family had not been physically harmed. The threats made against them were vague, the judge said. The family plans to appeal, said their attorney Trey Sucher, allowing them to stay in the country as the case plays out. If Larsens decision stands, the family would eventually be sent back to El Salvador. If that happens, they will be returning to a country where the brother-in-law who threatened them, since charged with murder, is believed to have skipped bail, Rivera said. The family is afraid hes waiting for them. From ICE to the bench Three judges decide the vast majority of cases at the Omaha court: Larsen, Abby Meyer and Matthew Morrissey. All three denied more than 80% of the asylum cases they decided between their appointments and September 2022, according to a TRAC analysis. All three worked as Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorneys the agencys version of prosecutors before taking the bench. One, Morrissey, appears to have experience defending immigrants as a private attorney. Gail Montenegro, a spokeswoman for the Executive Office for Immigration Review, declined interview requests on behalf of the three judges. Immigration lawyers argue that the judges prosecutor-like interpretation of the law have helped make Omahas court so difficult for asylum seekers. They went from basically trying to carry out the objective of the Department of Homeland Security and trying to remove everyone to being put at the bench and tasked with trying to be impartial, in determining who should be granted asylum, Sucher said. Humans are imperfect and trying to completely transition yourself from that history is difficult. Larsen and Meyer were appointed by attorneys general serving under former President Donald Trump, while Morrisseys nomination to the court came during former President Barack Obamas administration. The trio of judges still appear to be applying Trump-era interpretations of immigration law despite a recent loosening of asylum policies under Biden, said Brian Blackford, an attorney who defends asylum seekers before the Omaha court. Those Trump-era rulings, since rescinded, made it nearly impossible for victims of domestic violence or gang violence to win asylum. Paul Stultz, a retired ICE attorney, said Larsen, Meyer and Morrissey were fair and unbiased when he worked with them at ICE, noting that the three exhibited qualities desired in judges. In a statement, Montenegro, the court spokesperson, said immigration judges decide claims on a case-by-case basis according to federal law. Immigration judges consider all evidence and arguments presented by both parties, including country conditions, and decide each case in a manner that is timely, impartial, and consistent with applicable law and case precedent, the statement said. A spokesman for ICE declined to comment. The case law is not on our side The Omaha court handles one of the highest concentrations of cases from Central America and Mexico. Like the Riveras, most asylum seekers from the region face long odds of winning regardless of which court handles their case. Nine in ten asylum seekers whose cases were decided in Omaha from October to May came from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras or Mexico, according to TRAC data. Over the last three fiscal years, U.S. immigration courts have denied about 70% of cases from those four countries much higher than the denial rate for asylum seekers from elsewhere. Thats because asylum law isnt protective of immigrants fleeing economic hardship or gang violence, said Stultz. Many Central American and Mexican claims, including the Riveras case, hinge on one of those concepts. Nearly all of Omaha immigration lawyer Rachel Yamamotos clients claim they are fleeing gangs or an abusive relative. The case law is not on our side, she said. Anna Deal, legal director at the Immigrant Legal Center, said the heavily Central American composition of the Omaha courts caseload is not a valid justification for its extremely high denial rate, noting that some claims from those countries should be granted. There seems to be a bit of a double standard, Deal said. Even in the face of evidence that particular countries are effectively failed states (judges) are willing to find the government is doing enough and that these people just have to live with a level of insecurity due to their national origin. The Omaha courts denial rate cant be solely attributed to who is seeking asylum. Several courts that approve a greater proportion of asylum cases, including Charlotte, Kansas City and New Orleans, have similarly high rates of Central American and Mexican asylum seekers, according to a Flatwater Free Press analysis of TRAC data. When denied in Omaha, many asylum seekers appeal to a board of judges, though that board rarely overturns denials. Some are eventually deported, Yamamoto said, but she suspects many of her former clients remain in the country as undocumented immigrants. Denied and deported Lacy Lorenzo lived through the most devastating possible outcome of losing an asylum case in Omaha. Luis Lorenzo, her future husband, came to Omaha from Guatemala as a child in the 1990s with his family, which held ties to an opposition political party. Several uncles and cousins had been assassinated in Guatemala. Lorenzo grew up undocumented before a criminal charge landed him in deportation proceedings. Lacy Lorenzo remembers saying at the time, If you send him back, you might as well kill him yourself. Larsen denied Lorenzos asylum claim in 2020. He was deported to Guatemala, leaving a wife and two children in Omaha. When he arrived, he stuck out as an easy target, Lacy Lorenzo said. In March 2021, she got a call that her husband had been shot while walking out of his home. In an interview, Lacy Lorenzo said she blames Larsen and the Omaha court for her husbands death. Montenegro declined to comment on the case, but said immigration judges are all highly trained professionals who adjudicate cases fairly, equitably, and efficiently. Two years after Luis Lorenzos slaying, his widow is raising a 16-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. The single mother hopes the Omaha immigration judges will actually give people fair consideration in the future and remember that deported immigrants leave their families and communities behind. I feel like those (judges) are allowed to play God, she said. Theyre making life-or-death decisions. Using the Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have found the farthest distant black hole to date, but that record isn't anticipated to last forever. The galaxy that contains the black hole was formed about 570 million years after the Big Bang. This black hole was discovered in 2021 by a Chinese team using a telescope in Chile, which is 100 million years closer to the Big Bang than the black hole. One of the primary researchers, University of Texas at Austin astronomer Steven Finkelstein, said Webb has already discovered other black holes that appear to be even more nearby to the Big Bang around 14 billion years ago. However, those discoveries are still being reviewed. The Astrophysical Journal Letters has agreed to publish the discovery. The team from Texas says further observations are required because the indications from this specific black hole are so feeble, reported by the Associated Press. There are countless dormant black holes, some of which are even farther away than this one. But according to Finkelstein, they are undetectable without any luminous gas. This specific black hole, discovered in February, is active and relatively small compared to other black holes; it has a mass of around 9 million times that of the sun. According to the team, that is comparable in size to the one in our own Milky Way galaxy. Two additional tiny black holes from the early cosmos, dated from about 1 billion years after the Big Bang, were also discovered by the team using Webb. These smaller counterparts may have been more prevalent than previously assumed as the cosmos took shape, according to the observations. Webb, the largest and most potent telescope ever carried into space, will be launched in late 2021. A year ago this week, NASA celebrated the launch of the spacecraft by announcing the first photographs and scientific findings. Read also: Biggest Black Holes Formed From Cold Gas Left by Unimaginably Immense Galactic Space Gobblers Black Holes in Space Black holes are some of the most fascinating and mysterious objects in the universe. They are regions of space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. They are formed when massive stars collapse at the end of their lives. (Photo: by NASA Via Getty Images) IN SPACE - MAY 12: In this handout photo provided by NASA, This is the first image of Sgr A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy, with an added black background to fit wider screens. It's the first direct visual evidence of the presence of this black hole. It was captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), an array that linked together eight existing radio observatories across the planet to form a single Earth-sized virtual telescope. The smallest black holes are about the size of an atom, while the largest are billions of times more massive than the sun. Black holes are invisible, but we can infer their existence by their effects on the surrounding space. For example, if a black hole is close to a star, the star's orbit will be distorted by the black hole's gravity. We can also see the effects of black holes on the gas and dust that surrounds them. As the gas and dust fall into the black hole, it is heated to very high temperatures and emit radiation. Black holes are still a mystery to scientists, but they are one of the most important objects in the universe. They play a role in the evolution of galaxies and the formation of new stars. Black holes are also a source of powerful radiation, which can be used to study the universe. Related article: Rare Discovery of Two Pairs of Giant Black Holes on Collision Course @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Hafez el-Assad studies in Russia show that he is under Moscow's influence, Omar al-Kaddour writes in al-Modon. Recent news highlights Hafez Bashar al-Assads controversial claim of earning a masters degree with honours from Lomonosov Moscow State University. While there are doubts about the credibility of the Syrian educational system and Russian universities, the excessive praise he receives seems politically motivated, aiming to establish him as his fathers successor. Similar to his grandfathers endorsement of his son Basel as the heir, Hafez IIs potential rise to power raises concerns about his age and qualifications. However, there are no constitutional barriers to prevent him from assuming the presidency. The Wests conflicting stance on Bashar al-Assad reveals a desire for his continued rule but reluctance to engage with a leader associated with significant crimes. The West imposes conditions for normalization, requiring Assads acceptance alongside his Russian and Iranian allies. This situation effectively maintains the status quo until a settlement involving power-sharing with select opponents is reached. Recently, Arab governments decision to normalize relations with Bashar al-Assad caused widespread uproar but had minimal impact on Assads deteriorating economy. Concurrently, the United States has implemented new laws to punish Assad, targeting the Captagon trade and prohibiting the U.S. government from normalizing relations with him. The Caesar sanctions, known for their severity, have also been extended. The Biden administration is expected to partially approve Arab normalization under specific conditions. The U.S. approach to normalization and associated restrictions has been perceived as inconsistent. While opposing a military settlement, Washington turned a blind eye to Iranian militias supporting Assad before the Russian intervention, implying support for his continued presidency without returning to the pre-2011 situation. Europe has emphasized accountability for crimes committed in Syria, but the seriousness of Western countries regarding accountability and establishing a mechanism for it remains uncertain. Their lack of incentives to embrace Bashar or allow him to stay in power indicates their reluctance to associate with a criminal. The West lacks the motivation to acknowledge his survival or ignore the ongoing crimes he is associated with. The Syrian stalemate, falling short of Bashars and his allies aspirations, challenges American influence and is likely to persist unless the situation changes. Currently, there are no visible indications of a future settlement, especially considering the interconnection between the Syrian crisis, developments in Ukraine, and the ongoing confrontation between Moscow and the West, which may endure for years. In the future, promoting Hafez IIs succession may be seen as the only viable solution to the impasse in Syria, even though it may seem surprising presently. This option appears more realistic than a settlement involving Bashar as a partner or excluding the Assad family from power. Hafez IIs inheritance project could gain Western approval and expedite the succession process when the various stakeholders are ready to close the Syrian chapter. There are justifications for this scenario. As the heir, Hafez II is not personally implicated in his fathers crimes, and his inclusion on the U.S. sanctions list serves as a precautionary measure to prevent him from becoming a means for his father to evade penalties. This scenario ensures Bashars peaceful relinquishment of power, providing continued security and survival for the loyalists who see the Assad family as their guarantee. It also allows greater participation of opponents in the settlement, relieving them of the dilemma posed by reconciliation with Bashar. Additionally, it offers sectarian consolation for those seeking it. Due to the international isolation imposed on Bashar and his family, his sons studies in Russia may be seen as a predictable option. However, considering the nature of Putins regime, it is evident that the son is under Moscows influence. Russian media coverage, including the Russian embassy in Cairos website, highlights his success and his mothers presence at his graduation ceremony. While Moscow strives to ensure Bashars survival and international normalization, it remains entangled in the conflict with Washington, keeping the son as a card in reserve. To emphasize, this scenario is not currently being implemented but may become the only option in the future for external players. Ultimately, the decision rests with the Syrians themselves, regardless of the involvement of external powers. If they reject this scenario, considering their experience with Bashars father, who dismissed them as germs, they may not require the sons expertise, even if he claims to have a passion for mathematics. To them, he is likely to be perceived merely as a statistic. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Preparations are underway to announce a tender for the import of iron, according to Athr Press. The director of the concrete columns factory in Homs, Engineer Bassam Youssef, informed Athr Press that the factory, the sole one in Syria, has halted production due to the unavailability of high-stress iron required for column manufacturing. Securing this imported material has proven difficult, with no viable alternative for local production within Syria. Youssef emphasized that the factorys production line is outdated and requires either complete replacement or extensive refurbishment. He further highlighted a shortage of workers in the factory. Youssef elaborated that there are ongoing studies to revive the plant, either through replacing the production line or forming a partnership with the private sector in accordance with governing regulations and laws. He mentioned that there is a current offer from an external company to operate the plant, which is currently under evaluation. The director of the concrete columns factory stated that, with the availability of iron, the plant can operate at 10% of its production capacity, estimated to be around 50 columns per month. He explained that during its peak, the factory used to produce approximately 1,000 columns per month, but production declined in the years leading up to its cessation in 2021, reaching only 300 columns. Youssef indicated that preparations are underway to announce a tender for the import of iron, following an unsuccessful attempt due to the absence of bids from traders. He mentioned an ongoing study with al-Baath University to explore the possibility of replacing imported iron with domestically produced iron. If successful, this project would greatly benefit the factory and mark a significant milestone in its operations. Youssef added that the laboratory requires experiments, but only for a short period. The director of the concrete columns factory in Homs also expressed concern about a severe shortage of workers. A request has been submitted to the institution to allocate workers from the surplus workforce of Homs Electricity Company or the middle employment department. However, only seven workers were recently appointed through a central competition for electricity, which remains insufficient. There is also a shortage of drivers, accountants, administrators, technicians, and guards. At present, the factory employs a total of 45 workers, including technicians and administrators. It is worth noting that the concrete columns factory in Homs was established in 1980 and is currently the sole producer of concrete columns in Syria, following the closure of the Deir-ez-Zor factory. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Turkey has made commitments to relocate armed groups to a distance of six kilometres from the M4 road between Hassakeh and Aleppo, according to al-Souria Net. A Russian official recently stated that a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, is expected to occur after the completion of the road map work. The process of establishing a dialogue between Ankara and the Syrian regime has halted during the preparation of the map due to conflicting priorities regarding the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syria. However, Alexander Lavrentyev, the Russian presidential envoy to Syria, mentioned that the normalization process between Syria and Turkey is progressing steadily each month. During an interview with the al-Arabiya website, he explained that the initial step is to arrange a meeting of experts, followed by a trilateral meeting of defence ministers and a meeting of foreign ministers. The foreign ministers have directed their deputies to work on a roadmap. Lavrentyev stated, Efforts are currently underway to invigorate the roadmap. He also noted, Once this work is completed, the presidents will be updated on the results, and subsequently, a meeting between Turkish President Erdogan and Syrian President Assad will be organized in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Regarding the reopening of international highways, the Russian official mentioned that Turkey has made commitments to relocate armed groups to a distance of six kilometres from the M4 road between Hassakeh and Aleppo. Turkey also plans to install barriers along the road. However, he added, There are certain challenges in this regard, and emphasized that problems exist concerning the Turkish sides relationship with these armed groups in the region. He concluded, The task is arduous, but we remain committed and continue to coordinate the positions of the Syrian and Turkish sides with the assistance of Russian military mediation. Terms and demands The most recent encounter between Turkish officials and affiliates of the Syrian regime took place on June 19th during the twentieth Astana talks. Following the meeting, the government-aligned newspaper Yeni Safak reported that Ankara had laid out four conditions for the Assad regime. Additionally, it posed a question regarding the issue of withdrawal. The four conditions encompassed a constitutional amendment, fair elections, dignified and secure repatriation of refugees, and cooperation in combating terrorism by the PKK and the YPG. Up until now, the regime has insisted on the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Syria, making it a prerequisite for initiating any normalization process. According to an unnamed source cited by Yeni Safak, a Turkish withdrawal will only occur once the issue of terrorism is resolved. The source also mentioned that Turkish officials raised a question to their counterparts in the regime during the recent Astana 20 talks. The essence of the query was: Who will ensure the regions security once the Turkish army withdraws? Can you effectively control these individuals? Military Coordination Center Yeni Safak newspaper highlighted the inclusion of a military coordination center on the agenda. This center, comprising Turkey, the regime, Russia, and Iran in the region, aims to facilitate Syrias swift return to normalcy. The establishment of this center is intended to enable a collaborative effort in the fight against terrorism. As per the information provided by the source, a representative from each country is anticipated to be designated to oversee the proposed mechanism. The significance of this initiative is expected to become more apparent in forthcoming meetings. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The WFP faces a funding gap for the food assistance program this year, according to Syria TV. Earlier this month, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced its plan to reduce aid throughout Syria by nearly half. In the section concerning the implementation of the aid reduction in northwest Syria, Yanni Suvanto, director of the WFP Office and Emergency Coordinator for Northwest Syria Operations, wrote a letter to Abdulrahman Shamous, a member of HTSs Department of Political Affairs and former minister of development and humanitarian affairs in the Salvation Government. The letter stated, The increasing needs in Syria have surpassed the available resources, making it impossible for WFP to maintain its current level of life-saving food assistance. It further mentioned that starting in July, WFP will have to cut its budget by 40 percent and reduce assistance to 2.5 million out of the 5.5 million food-insecure people in Syria, who receive general food assistance from WFP every month. The letter emphasized that WFP faces a funding gap for the food assistance program this year, despite receiving substantial contributions to humanitarian operations in Syria. This shortfall is partly due to high food and operating costs. In order to prevent WFPs resources from running out entirely in October, the organization considered it necessary to prioritize those in dire need, leading to a complete halt of the program. WFP was compelled to implement these cuts after exploring all available options, including the gradual reduction of ration sizes over the past year. However, providing smaller rations became unfeasible. Despite the reduction, WFP highlighted its commitment to remain one of the largest humanitarian and early recovery actors in Syria. Suspension of support for 2.5 million Syrians On 13 June, WFP made the difficult decision to prioritize the very limited resources by expanding assistance to three million Syrians who are unable to survive week to week without food, instead of continuing to assist 5.5 million people and facing the depletion of food supplies by next October, stated WFP in a recent announcement. Ken Crossley, WFP Representative and Country Director for Syria expressed the distressing situation, saying, Rather than meeting the growing needs or even maintaining current levels of assistance, we find ourselves confronted with the grim reality of withdrawing support from those who need it most. Syrians have been enduring a state of emergency for the past 12 years due to the Assad regimes war against its own people, resulting in widespread destruction, displacement, and the asylum of half of Syrias population. Furthermore, Syrians have been struck by additional disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 and a devastating earthquake last February. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. To ascertain the identities of the deceased, their remains were sent to the Directorate of Forensic Medicine in Damascus countryside, according to Syria TV. Patrols from the Military Security branch made a significant discovery when they uncovered a mass grave within an abandoned water well in the western Qalamoun area of Damascus countryside. This discovery came after apprehending a member of the Lebanese Hezbollah militia in the region, who confessed to committing multiple murders and concealing the bodies in the well. According to a confidential source who informed Syria TV, the Military Security Branch successfully captured a notorious drug dealer named Ziad Omar in the town of al-Jubba situated in the western Qalamoun region. The arrest took place early last month at a hospital in the neighbouring city of Yabroud, shortly after Omar survived an assassination attempt in his hometown. The source revealed that a dispute had arisen between Omar and a group of young men from the al-Hajj family, which escalated into an attempted murder. During the altercation, Omar sustained gunshot wounds to his neck and flank, prompting his transfer to the al-Bassel hospital in Yabroud. As of today, he remains detained there for medical treatment. It was further disclosed that Omar had entered the Bassel hospital using someone elses identification card, as he was wanted by the security branches on various criminal charges. A security report was subsequently submitted to the military security by an informant from the local community, notifying them of Omars presence at the hospital. This valuable tip led to his subsequent arrest. Arrest Uncovered Mass Grave The source has provided confirmation that Ziad Omar confessed to committing four murders between 2018 and 2022. He admitted to concealing three of the bodies inside an abandoned well located in the Majar al-Jubba area on the outskirts of his hometown. In a collaborative effort, joint patrols involving the Military Security and Criminal Security branches successfully recovered the four bodies from the designated well earlier this month. The retrieval took place in the presence of a forensic committee, the director of Assal al-Ward district, and the local mukhtar. To ascertain the identities of the deceased, the patrol committee transported the remains to the Directorate of Forensic Medicine in Damascus countryside for medical examinations. As the investigation progressed, a source familiar with its course disclosed the identities of the individuals involved in the killings under the leadership of Ziad Omar. It was revealed that some of these individuals had vanished shortly after Omars arrest. The group comprised six members, including Akram Omar, who fled Syria and was granted asylum in the Netherlands after committing the initial crime in 2019, and Nawras Haidar, presently residing in Lebanon. The group also included Muammar Zaidan, who fled to Lebanon a day after Omars arrest at the hospital, according to the source. The source further confirmed that joint patrols conducted by the Military Security and Criminal Security apprehended three additional members of the network. They are identified as Mohamed Mounir Omar, who was arrested during a raid on his residence in the city of Douma in Eastern Ghouta, and Ammar Omar and Khaled Omar. The latter was captured at his residence in Jubba and is the nephew of Ziad Omar and the leader of a local group associated with the National Defense militia in Western Qalamoun. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The U.S. intervention coincides with a noticeable reduction in the frequency of Turkish bombardments, according to Athr Press. U.S. forces have detonated a tunnel that had been dug by Kurdish units near the Turkish border, north of the city of Hasakeh, in response to a request from the Turkish side. According to the Kurdish news agency BasNews, the tunnel was located between the villages of Siran and Tal Karam in Darbasiya, north of Hasakeh. The excavation work had been halted three years ago, but two months ago the YPG resumed the digging, prompting the U.S. forces to completely destroy the tunnel on Sunday. The Kurdish agencys sources revealed that the network of tunnels in the countryside of Ain al-Arab was primarily constructed by a significant cadre of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), who possessed a map of the tunnels. It was previously reported by the Kurdish news agency that the Kurdistan Party had allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to dig tunnels and trenches in cities and towns controlled by the Kurdish units, as a precautionary measure against potential Turkish military operations. UN Informs Salvation Government of Aid Cut The U.S. intervention coincides with a noticeable reduction in the frequency of Turkish bombardments on the positions of the Kurdish units in northeastern Syria, compared to previous months. Tunnel victims On May 3rd, three people from one family died and a fourth was injured when one of the tunnels dug by the Kurdish units collapsed in the Hilaliya neighbourhood of Qamishli. On December 11th, a collapse in the soil of a tunnel in the village of al-Ziyarat in the northeastern Hasakeh countryside killed two workers working on the excavation. Why are these tunnels dug up? According to a report from al-Monitor, Kurdish forces in eastern and northeastern Syria have been constructing trenches and tunnels in the areas under their control to establish connections between their military positions and factions in Ankara. The report also highlights that the map of these tunnels includes significant locations in the northern countryside of Hasakeh, particularly the northern neighbourhoods of Qamishli, as well as Amuda, al-Derbasiya, al-Malikiyah, and al-Rumailan. Additionally, it mentions that the United States is responsible for providing the building materials inside these tunnels. These supplies are transported through supply convoys from Iraq and contain military and logistical equipment. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The Indonesian Coast Guard announced on Tuesday that it had seized a supertanker sailing under the flag of Iran that was allegedly involved in the illicit transshipment of crude oil. It also vowed to step up maritime surveillance. When the MT Arman 114 was apprehended last week, the Indonesian authorities reported that it was carrying 272,569 metric tons of light crude oil worth 4.6 trillion rupiah ($304 million), as reported by Reuters. According to the maritime security service of the Southeast Asian country, the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) was suspected on Friday of transferring oil to another vessel without a license. What Happened The agency's head, Aan Kurnia, the ship was apprehended after it was detected in Indonesia's North Natuna Sea engaging in a ship-to-ship oil transfer with the Cameroon-flagged MT S Tinos. (Photo: by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images) A picture taken on April 29, 2023, shows a shipping vessel sailing past Iran's Gulf island of Qeshm. It was impossible to immediately contact the vessel's owners for comment. The agency reported that officials also seized Arman's Egyptian captain, 28 members of the crew, and 3 passengers who were members of a security officer's family. Police narrowed in on Arman when the two supertankers made an attempt to flee, helped by Malaysian police as the ship entered their seas, according to Aan. He continued that the Tinos was meant to be retired in 2018. According to the maritime database Equasis, it was constructed in 1999, although the Arman was constructed in 1997. Read also: Iran Confirms Detente, Reopens Embassy in Saudi Arabia After Years of Tensions Illegal Oil Shipment The illegal shipment of oil on the seas is a serious problem that has a number of negative consequences. It can lead to environmental damage, economic losses, and even political instability. One of the main reasons illegal oil shipments occur is to evade taxes and regulations. Oil is a valuable commodity, and by shipping it illegally, criminals can avoid paying taxes and other fees. This can be a significant financial incentive, especially for countries that are under sanctions or that have weak enforcement regimes. Another reason for illegal oil shipments is to circumvent embargoes. For example, Iran has been under an oil embargo since 2012. However, there are still ways for Iran to export oil, even though it is illegal to do so. This can be done by shipping the oil through intermediaries or by using disguised vessels. Illegal oil shipments can also have a number of environmental consequences. If oil spills occur during illegal shipments, they can pollute the oceans and coastlines. This can have a devastating impact on marine life and coastal communities. In addition, the burning of illegal oil can release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. The illegal shipment of oil can also have a negative impact on the global economy. When oil is shipped illegally, it can drive down prices and undercut legitimate businesses. This can lead to job losses and economic instability. In recent years, there have been a number of efforts to crack down on illegal oil shipments. However, the problem remains widespread. This is because it is a complex issue with no easy solutions. There are a number of challenges that need to be addressed, including improving monitoring and enforcement, strengthening international cooperation, and addressing the root causes of the problem. Related article: Iran, Taliban Exchange Deadly Gunfire in Clash Over Water Border Rights Issue @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The head of the Lattakia Workers' Union, revealed that the number of resignations in the governorate has surpassed 900 since the start of 2023, al-Modon says. The escalating living crisis in areas under regime control is fueling a wave of mass resignations from formal employment. Observers anticipate that the regime will attempt to address this exodus by turning to privatization. However, due to the limited size of the private sector, achieving this solution proves to be challenging, exacerbating the unprecedented employment crisis. According to al-Watan, a pro-Arab newspaper, Muneem Othman, the head of the Lattakia Workers Union, revealed that the number of resignations in the governorate has surpassed 900 since the start of 2023. The majority of these resignations come from labour-intensive sectors such as spinning and weaving. Additionally, many workers are compelled to leave their jobs due to the requirement of paying transportation fees, as the workplace is located far from their homes. Those who resign are now seeking alternative employment options, such as working on farmland or becoming taxi drivers. These occupations, though seemingly simple, offer significantly higher income compared to their previous monthly salaries. Barely any salaries The average government salary, amounting to 150,000 Syrian pounds, is highly modest when compared to the average cost of living for an average family, estimated at 6,500,000 Syrian pounds. This indicates that the salary comprises a mere 2.5 percent of the average cost of living. Economist Radwan al-Debs attributes the rising number of job dropouts to the absence of benefits that were previously available in government jobs and the unprecedented decline in the value of government salaries. The monthly salary now only covers expenses for a period as short as two or three days. Speaking to al-Modon, Debs emphasizes that the uncertain future of government employment, resulting from the potential sale, leasing, or transfer of government sectors to entities such as Iran, Russia, or the private sector, instills a sense of insecurity in employees. Debs asserts that the widespread resignations can be seen as employees abandoning the government system before it collapses. This mass exodus has a detrimental impact on government sectors, particularly with the loss of administrative, medical, and technical expertise due to extensive resignations. With the public treasury facing bankruptcy, the government is actively seeking to offload the financial burden of managing and funding the public sector by turning to the private sector. Debs further explains that even the meager benefits provided to employees have become increasingly difficult to attain, leading to an increase in cases of selling, leasing, and guaranteeing government institutions. Privatization is not a solution Karam Shaar, the director of the Syrian program at the Observatory of Economic and Political Networks, predicts that if salaries continue to remain at their current inadequate levels, the frequency of resignation requests will escalate. He views these requests as a logical response, particularly when transportation costs consume a significant portion of already insufficient salaries. Shaar highlights that resignations are primarily concentrated in the industrial sectors, which lack alternative income sources such as bribes that are more prevalent in the service sectors. Over the past two years, the government has attempted to provide incentives to boost productivity in the industrial sectors as a means to deter job dropouts. Shaar believes that the regime is pursuing a path of privatization, as it no longer feels obliged to retain a large number of public sector employees. Consequently, the regime aims to reduce the size of the public sector, maximize sales and leases, and transfer ownership to the private sector. However, comprehensive privatization cannot be fully implemented due to the inevitable consequence of citizens having to pay significantly higher prices for services, which would not be proportionate to their limited incomes. This perspective is echoed by Abdel Hakim al-Masri, the Minister of Economy in the interim government, who stated that the regime could transfer public banks to the private sector, except for the Central Bank. Masri explains that while salaries in the private sector are generally better than those in the public sector, the absorptive capacity of the private sector is limited. Consequently, a severe crisis persists in the employment sectors, for which the regime struggles to find viable solutions. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The forum includes various bilateral sessions and discussions focusing on strategies to enhance economic and trade relations, al-Watan writes. The Syrian-Omani Businessmen and Investors Forum commenced today in Muscat, marking the beginning of a series of events aimed at enhancing economic cooperation between the two nations. With the theme Developing Syrian-Omani Economic Cooperation, the forum is organized by the Joint Business Council and is scheduled to run until the 14th of July. High-ranking officials, including the Ministers of Economy from both Syria and Oman, are in attendance, alongside over 60 Syrian businessmen and more than 100 Omani investors. The primary objective of the forum is to identify potential opportunities and prospects for economic collaboration between the two countries. During his opening speech, Omani Minister of Economy, Said bin Mohammed al-Saqri, warmly welcomed the Syrian delegation. He expressed his hopes that the forum would facilitate advancement in economic relations between Syria and Oman. In response, Syrian Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Dr. Mohammad Samer al-Khalil, conveyed his optimism that the forum would pave the way for a new era of strengthened trade and investment ties. He emphasized that Syria has been actively engaged in creating a conducive environment for investments and highlighted the importance of establishing a permanent market for Syrian products in Oman. Such a market, according to al-Khalil, would not only showcase Syrian goods but could also serve as a hub for exporting them within and beyond the Sultanate. Dr. Idris Mayya, the Syrian Ambassador to Muscat, echoed the sentiments of his counterparts and emphasized Syrias commitment to elevating its economic relations with Oman to match their esteemed political ties. He expressed confidence that the forum would yield tangible outcomes that benefit both nations. The forum includes various bilateral sessions and discussions focusing on strategies to enhance economic and trade relations between Damascus and Muscat. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Russia on Tuesday vetoed at the U.N. Security Council a nine-month renewal of an aid operation delivering assistance to some 4 million people in rebel-held northwest Syria from Turkey and then failed in its own bid to instead extend it for six months, Reuters reported. The Security Council authorization for operation, which has been delivering [] Russia on Tuesday vetoed at the U.N. Security Council a nine-month renewal of an aid operation delivering assistance to some 4 million people in rebel-held northwest Syria from Turkey and then failed in its own bid to instead extend it for six months, Reuters reported. The Security Council authorization for operation, which has been delivering aid including food, medicine and shelter since 2014, expired on Monday. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had wanted a 12-month renewal. Russias U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia signalled that the aid operation could not be salvaged. After casting the veto and before the council vote on Russias proposal, he told the body: If our draft is not supported, then we can just go ahead and close down the cross-border mechanism. The technical rollover for any period of time were not going to accept. China abstained on the vote for the nine-month compromise renewal drafted by Switzerland and Brazil, while the remaining 13 Security Council members voted in favour. Only Russia and China voted in favour of Russias proposal for a six-month extension. Ten Security Council members abstained and the United States, Britain and France voted against it. To be adopted, a resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, France or Britain. Authorization is needed because Syrian authorities did not agree to the U.N. aid operation. In both 2022 and 2020 the mandate for the operation ran out but was renewed a day later. US Ambassador Its a sad moment for the Syrian people, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council after Russias veto. What we have just witnessed, what the world has just witnessed, was an act of utter cruelty. We must keep at this the Syrian people are counting on us and we must all urge Russia to come back to the table in good faith, she said. Thomas-Greenfield after the second vote added that the United States would continue to work with all council members to renew the aid operation and urged Russia to reconsider its position. Russia argues that the U.N. aid operation violates Syrias sovereignty and territorial integrity. It says more aid should be delivered from inside the country, raising opposition fears that food and other aid would fall under government control. UK UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward also slammed Russia for its veto. Russia has yet again used their veto to restrict lifesaving humanitarian access to 4 million Syrian people. There is no rational or moral argument to veto this resolution, Woodward said. Humanitarian access should respond to humanitarian needs and should not be taken hostage by Russia, she added. As the UK, we will continue, as we have done every year, to put our humanitarian responsibility above politics, she concluded. U.S. Slams Syria for Narcotics Trade, after launch of Global Coalition against Synthetic Drugs In a press briefing on Monday, Todd Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, explained that new forms of synthetic drugs are regularly emerging. Criminals are constantly innovating to create new synthetic drugs, adjusting formulas to avoid international controls and domestic regulation and creating new demand, Robinson said. Over the past decade, he continued, vividly illustrating his point, more than 1,100 new synthetic drugs were detected and reported by the United Nations. Last week, the State Department launched a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats by holding a virtual meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Coalition. The Coalition Against Synthetic Drugs includes over 80 countries. Iraq is among them. If this new Global Coalition follows the same procedures as the other Global Coalition established by the U.S. in recent yearsthe Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, of which Iraq is also a memberwhen meetings of the new Coalition are held in person, it is likely that a representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government will be included in the Iraqi delegation. Damascus Denounces US Supply of Cluster Bombs to Kiev The Syrian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Tuesday condemning the supply of weapons by the US administration and its Western allies to the regime in Kyiv. The ministry characterized this act as immoral, exposing the political hypocrisy of these countries and highlighting their irresponsible behaviour. The statement further highlighted that the US plans to provide cluster bombs to Kyiv are in violation of international agreements and disregard the warnings issued by the United Nations. Such actions, according to the statement, only serve to prolong the war of aggression against Russia. Syria strongly condemns this dangerous escalation and calls upon the international community to put an end to such reckless acts by the US, as they pose a severe threat to global peace and security. Four government soldiers killed in Syrias Daraa On Tuesday, a soldier belonging to the Syrian government forces was killed, while two others sustained injuries in an attack targeting a military vehicle in the eastern countryside of Daraa, located in southern Syria. Local sources informed North Press that Abdurrahman Barghash lost his life, and two soldiers were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) struck their armoured vehicle on the Damascus-Daraa Highway near the village of Saida in Daraas eastern countryside. The injured soldiers were immediately transported to the National Hospital in Daraa, but there is currently no information available regarding their condition. In a separate incident, First Lieutenant Muhammad Ahmad al-Tahan passed away from injuries sustained during an assault by unidentified assailants on July 9 in the city of al-Sanamayn, situated in Daraas northern countryside, as per local sources. Al-Tahan, originally from the Bab Amr district in Homs, served within the ranks of the Ninth Brigade of the government forces. According to North Press, Yaser Abdurrahman al-Zarqan was also killed earlier today in an attack by unidentified perpetrators in the city of Kafr Shams, located in the northern countryside of Daraa. Al-Zarqan was associated with a local group affiliated with the governments Military Security in Daraa, according to the source. Moreover, unknown attackers targeted Abu Jaafar, an official from the studies department of the Military Security Branch in the city of Nawa, located in Daraas western countryside. Unfortunately, Abu Jaafar was killed instantly, as reported by a local source. A Longview man was arrested last week for allegedly molesting a child while he was babysitting for a family in 2017, according to court documents. Christopher Michael Carron, 35, of Longview is out on a $5,000 bail after being arrested on July 5. He is awaiting his arraignment hearing, scheduled for July 20 via Zoom at the Cowlitz County Hall of Justice in Kelso. A public defender has been appointed to represent Carron. Officers apprehended Carron after a person close to the victims family notified the Woodland Police Department on June 6, alleging Carron sexually assaulted their 12-year-old child when they lived in Woodland sometime in December of 2017. Under the conditions of his release, Carron must report to the Offender Services Division, obey all laws and make no efforts to contact any minors. On July 6, Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Marilyn Haan issued a no-contact order, meaning Carron must keep a distance of at least 100 yards away from the victim at all times and make no effort to communicate with them either. The victim, who was 7 years old at the time of the alleged encounter and who is now living in California, sat down with local police for a forensic interview, during which they allege Carron touched them below the waist after he asked the child to sit on his lap. The probable cause statement reported that the victim recalls Carrons hands being cold during his alleged assault and that the incident occurred while the victim was watching television in the familys living room. The victims father told authorities that Carron babysat both of his children at least three to four times a week while they lived in Woodland and that the accused would often pick up the victim from the school bus, spending hours alone together until a parent arrived home from work, the document states. WordFest, a monthly gathering of readers and writers, is set to showcase the history of the region at its event on Tuesday, July 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will take place at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, located at 1428 22nd Ave., Longview. One of the featured presenters at WordFest will be Hal Calbom, writer, educator, and filmmaker who grew up in Longview. Calbom will be reading an excerpt from his latest work, Empire of Trees, a captivating history of Longview. Rebekah Anderson, a native Washingtonian, will read from her historical novel, The Grand Promise. Set in the 1930s, the book explores the profound impact of the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam on the communities along the Columbia River. Additionally, Tom Larsen, an author in the crime genre, will share an excerpt from his mystery novel, Stealing History. The book follows the journey of Wilson Salinas, who returns to Ecuador after a 15-year absence in the United States. Following the presentations, there will be an open mic session, providing an opportunity for aspiring writers and avid readers to share their own works and experiences. The event will be held in the fellowship hall of St. Stephens Episcopal Church, and it is open to the public free of charge. For further details, interested individuals can contact Alan Rose at www.alan-rose.com. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Artificial intelligence program ChatGPT is facing a series of lawsuits by plaintiffs who accuse the company OpenAI of copyright infringement. US comedian Sarah Silverman and two other authors have sued Open AI over copyright infringement in the latest pushback by creatives since the company's release of ChatGPT took the world by storm. The plaintiffs accuse the San Francisco company of using their works to train their artificial intelligence models without permission, adding to a series of cases that could complicate the development of tech world's biggest new trend. The trio also filed a suit against Facebook parent company Meta, whose less known open source models also used pirated downloads of their books for training purposes, the suit alleged. Much of the training material used by OpenAI and Meta "comes from copyrighted worksincluding books written by the plaintiffsthat were copied by OpenAI and Meta without consent, without credit, and without compensation," the trio's lawyers said in a blog post. In both lawsuits, which were filed on Friday in a California court, the authors accuse the tech companies of using their books to train their AI models and are claiming a series of copyright infringements. If these types of cases succeed, they would upend the way the technology is developed, limiting the way tech giants can build their models and churn out convincing, human-like content. Plaintiffs in the barrage of recent cases include source-code owners against OpenAI and Microsoft's GitHub, visual artists, as well as photo agency Getty against Stability AI. San Francisco lawyer Joseph Saveri and Matthew Butterick are behind other such lawsuits and filed the latest on behalf of Silverman and the authors Christopher Golden and Richard Kadrey. The lawsuit referred to Silverman's 2010 bestselling memoir "The Bedwetter," Golden's horror novel "Ararat" and Kadrey's Sandman Slim supernatural noir series. Silverman is best known in the United States for her edgy and often controversial humor as well as being outspoken on social and political issues. Against OpenAI, the plaintiffs say they "did not consent to the use of their copyrighted books as training material for ChatGPT. Nonetheless, their copyrighted materials were ingested and used to train ChatGPT." The authors provided exhibits in the lawsuit that gave ChatGPT's detailed summaries of their works. Against Meta, the trio say the company turned to an illegally constructed "shadow library" to build the firm's LLaMA models that included their works. These libraries use pirated torrent downloads to illegally publish copyrighted works. OpenAI declined to comment on the lawsuit, while Meta did not immediately respond to a requests for comment. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This photo shows the researchers' camera in action underwater. Credit: The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers have developed a novel method for underwater geolocalization using deep neural networks that have been trained on 10 million polarization-sensitive images collected from locations around the world. This new study, led by electrical and computer engineering professor Viktor Gruev, along with computer science professor David Forsyth, enables underwater geolocalization using only optical data while providing a tool for tethered-free underwater navigation. These findings were recently published in the journal eLight. "We are showing for the first time, you can geolocate yourself, or a camera, in a number of different conditions, whether in open ocean waters, clear waters or low visibility waters, at day, at night, or at depth," says Gruev. "Once you have a sense of where you are, then you can start exploring and use that information to have a better understanding of the underwater world or even how animals navigate." Gruev explains that one of the main challenges with underwater navigation and geolocalization is that GPS signals cannot penetrate waterthey bounce off the surface. "We are blind in terms of GPS signals underwater. We need to use different means and different technology for geolocating underwater." The current standard for geolocalization is using acoustic information, mainly obtained by sonar technology. This works by deploying many little sonar beacons which send signals that are triangulated to locate an object underwater. The issue, however, is that sonar only works in a small, defined area, while also being limited by its accuracy. Another method currently utilized is using submersibles that are tethered to a larger vessel above the surface that has a GPS signal. Although the submersible can maneuver a little bit, it is ultimately limited by the movement of the vessel. "It is an incredibly challenging problem to have a free-moving, underwater vehicle. The way we solve this problem is by developing specialized cameras and machine learning algorithms. By combining those, we can actually figure out the sun's location and this is where polarization imaging comes into play," says Gruev. Light waves from the sun move in all directionsit is unpolarized. When those waves pass through a filter, like the water's surface, they are forced to move in only one direction-the light has been polarized. Polarization patterns are the result of light's transmission from the air to the water and scattering by water molecules and other particles. The patterns underwater change throughout the day, and they depend on the location of both the observer and the sun. By analyzing these patterns alongside accurate date and time information, it is possible to then determine location. The team collected ~10 million images with an underwater camera and an omnidirectional lens capable of recording the polarization patterns from four sites: a freshwater lake in Champaign, IL (visibility around 0.3 m), coastal sea waters in Florida Key, FL (visibility around 0.5-3 m), sea water in the bay of Tampa, FL (visibility around 0.5 m), and a freshwater lake in Ohrid, North Macedonia (visibility exceeding 10 m). Images were taken in a variety of conditions (clear vs. murky waters), depths, and times of the dayeven at night when underwater light intensity is significantly weaker. "We think of life as dull if we can't see anything, if we cannot see the hands in front of us. But if we can see polarization properties of light, we can geolocate, even in muddy waters. And actually, life is pretty rich in terms of polarization," Gruev says. These images were used to train a neural networka method of artificial intelligence to learn and improve accuracy over time. "The way we did this was to collect 10 million images of the sun from underwater," Forsyth explains. "Each image was tagged with where it was taken, and the elevation of the sun. Those images were then passed into a learning system and the system was adjusted until it gave a precise location." Using these machine learning techniques has helped improve location accuracy to 40-50 km, with the possibility of improving accuracy even further. This technology presents new opportunities for people and robots to navigate underwater. Oceans account for over 70% of Earth's surface area, yet very little is known about it. Data we do know about these bodies of water comes from monitoring via satellites 20-30 miles above the surface. In situ autonomous sampling robots could provide more precise monitoring of water properties such as water temperature, salinity, oxygen levels and other related parameters. The recent OceanGate Titan submersible search and rescue efforts have highlighted the need for accurate geolocation abilities. In order to locate the submersible at any possible depth, efforts were split into two distinct regions, near the ocean surface and near the seafloor, due to the limitations of current technology. Deep water efforts are significantly more challenging than near-surface operations, which have more technological options, and rely mainly on sonar. Not only is sonar unreliable over a large area, but it also often creates echoes that conceal an object's precise location. Gruev says, "This polarization imaging technology will enable smaller autonomous robots to roam around the first 200-300 meters where light penetrates into the water and where our technology works very well and can help during search and rescue missions." "It is difficult to understand just how big the oceans are, how much water there is, how far away from anything you can be, and how hard it is to find anything out there. The biggest technological problem, up until the early 19th century, was simply knowing where you were at sea. And it remains really, really difficult," says Forsyth. More information: Xiaoyang Bai et al, Polarization-based underwater geolocalization with deep learning, eLight (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s43593-023-00050-6 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Cup of Couple/Pexels With great power comes great responsibility. In terms of the internet, power is found in the multitude of information available to users everywherebut who is responsible for making sure the information out there is good and true? "Bad" information has serious implications. Misinformation, propaganda, and fake news are prevalent on the web and on social media platforms and can become weaponized, which leads to cyber abuse and, in severe cases, civil unrest. The University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute (ISI), a unit of the Viterbi School of Engineering, is working on two projects aimed at solving this issue from the inside outby developing technology that can exercise reasoning capabilities when encountering this "bad" information. This technology would serve as an assistant to human moderators whose job is to surveil online platforms and scan for malicious content. Technology you can trust The first project involves the detection of logical fallacies in natural language arguments. So what exactly is a logical fallacy? Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning used to prove that an argument is true. Their origins can be traced back well before the internet eratheir debate in the realm of philosophy has its roots in ancient Greece, some 2,800 years ago. In the context of the web, logical fallacies show up in the form of false or deceptive statements that circulate as a result of the large-scale free exchange of information enabled by the internet. Filip Ilievski, research lead at ISI and assistant professor at USC, said that finding logical fallacies is the first step to master before tackling the real giants that can manifest as a result of information sharing activities on the web. "Once you are able to reliably and transparently identify logical fallacies, you can then apply that technology to deal with cases of misinformation, fake news, and propaganda," Ilievski said. This work is the first of its kind to apply multiple layers to the detection of logical fallacies, Ilievski explained. This entails asking the model to first determine whether the given argument is a sound one, and then go "one level deeper" and "identify on a high level what kind of fallacy the argument contains." How do they know? Explainable AI can pinpoint logical fallacies and classify them in two prominent ways: case based reasoning and prototyping methods. Ilievski noted that ISI's work is among the first to combine the two with language models and "make them scale to arbitrary situations and tasks." Case based reasoning is exactly like it sounds. The model is shown an old example of an argument with similar logical fallacies and then uses this knowledge to infer its decisions about a new argument. "You say well, I don't know how to solve this argument but I have this old example you can use on the new one in front of you," Ilievski explained. Prototypical methods follow the same process. The only difference is, the model makes inferences from a simplified, basic case that can be built upon and applied to a specific example. The key here is that these models are doing more than just identifying a logical fallacythey are giving reasonable explanations to back up their judgment, an action that Ilievski says is an "encouraging factor" for the future of these methods in practice. A man's best tool How does this apply in the real world, against the real giantspropaganda, misinformation, and fake newsthat pose threats online? Ilievski envisions these explainable AI acting as a "human assistant tools" that help moderators or analysts who monitor online communities. Moderators are responsible for overseeing the activity of millions of users exchanging ideas 24/7. Manually checking for fallacies, given their volume and complexity, is overwhelming. Adding machine learning to the team helps mitigate this burden. "Let's say you had a moderator on a social media platform and they want to understand whether something is fallacious. It would help to have a tool like this provide assistance and surface potential fallacies, especially if they are linked to propaganda and potential misinformation," Ilievski explained. The explainability factor, or the ability for AI to provide reasoning behind the fallacies it identifies, is what truly "fosters trust and usage in human-AI frameworks," he added. However, he cautions that explainable AI are not tools we should blindly trust. "They can make our lives easier, but they aren't sufficient on their own," Ilievski noted. Memes, misogyny and more Explainable AI can also be taught how to identify memes that contain problematic elements, such as "dark humor" that is sometimes flat out discriminatory and offensive to specific groups of people or society as a whole. For this second project, the team focused on two specific types of harmful meme content: misogyny and hate speech. Zhivar Sourati, a graduate student at USC who is working alongside Ilievski on both of these projects, says that transparent detection of memes that have problematic underpinnings is crucial with how fast information spreads online. "For content moderators, it is really important to be able to detect these memes early on, because they spread on social media like Twitter or Facebook and reach large audiences very quickly." By nature, Sourati says, memes are dependent on more aspects than meet the eye. Although memes are known for being succinct (sometimes they contain only a simple picture) they often reflect cultural references that can be hard to explain. "You have an image, and then maybe not even a sentence but a piece of text. It probably refers to a concept, a movie, or something that is in the news," Sourati explained. "You just instantly know that it's funny, but it's really hard to explain why, even for human beings and that's the case for machine learning as well." This unexplainable aspect of memes makes it even more challenging to teach machine learning how to classify them, because they must understand the intention and meaning behind them first. Getting down to the nitty gritty The framework Ilievski and Sourati used is called "case based reasoning." Case based reasoning is essentially the way humans approach a problem: learning from previous examples and applying that knowledge to new ones. The machine is shown a couple examples of memes that are problematic and the reason why. Then, Sourati says, the machine is able to build a library of examples, so when it is tasked with classifying a new meme that might have "a bit of abstraction from the previous examples," it can "approach the new problem with all of the knowledge that it carries so far." For example, if they were specifically focusing on misogyny, they may ask: "Why is this meme misogynistic? Is it shaming? Is it a stereotype? Is it demonstrating objectification of a woman?" They used an explanatory interface to visualize the models' reasoning and understand why the model is predicting the way it is. This visualization tactic helped with troubleshooting and improving the model's skills. "One benefit is that we can perform easier error analysis. If our model makes 20 mistakes out of 100 cases, we can open those 20 and look to see a pattern of the model's biases in terms of different demographics of what is depicted or a specific object indicated," Ilievski explained. "Maybe whenever it sees an ice cream, it thinks that is misogyny." Humans and AI: A heroic duo Just as logical fallacy detection, meme classification cannot be done fully automatically and requires humanAI collaboration. That being said, Ilievski and Sourati's findings show a promising future for AI's ability to help humans detect hate speech and misogyny in memes. The complexity of understanding memes, or "element of surprise" as Ilievski put it, made this topic especially exciting to work on. "There is an element of difficulty that makes this process very interesting from the perspective of AI because there is information that is implicit in memes," Ilievski said. "There are cultural and contextual dimensions, and a notion of it being very creative and personal to the creator of the meme. All of this together made this project especially exciting to work on," he added. The ISI team made their findings and code available for use by other researchers, in hopes that future work will continue developing AI's ability to support humans in their fight against dangerous and harmful content online. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Blake Smith was confused when his contractor told him at the end of June that the city of Dallas still hadn't approved his application for a new fence. It had been three weeks since Smith's contractor submitted an application with the city to replace a chain-link fence surrounding his South Oak Cliff home with a taller wooden one. So Smith said he called Dallas' development services office, which issues the permits, to get answers. It could be another two to six weeks before the application is reviewed, Smith recalled being told. "They blamed the whole thing on ransomware," said Smith, 33, who bought his home in October. He's getting the new fence in part to keep his German shepherd in the backyard. "I didn't know it was an issue until I called about the delay. It's been frustrating." Two months after Dallas' May 3 ransomware attack, lingering impacts remain. City officials told The Dallas Morning News this week that 97% of its network has been restored two months after the cyberattack, up from 90% last month. But the city still won't publicly disclose all the services still impacted, leaving residents like Smith blindsided with problems when seeking city aid. Smith said when he called the city on Wednesday he was told that it could be another week before his permit is reviewed. His application is one of approximately 300 city permits requests for fences, roof replacements, foundation repairs and demolitions whose reviews have been delayed because of impacts related to the ransomware attack, according to the city. The delays were caused by problems with the city's mapping software and staff being unable to access internal shared drives. The tally was 870 as of June 30, according to a memo sent to the mayor and City Council members. development services staff have been working overtime and over the weekend to clear the backlog, city officials said. "The May 2023 ransomware attack impacted and limited staff's ability to access internal shared drives and GIS Zoning maps which are fundamental tools in the plan review process," the memo said. "These limitations caused major delays in the issuance of permits." The latest round of delays in the Dallas' development services department come amid recent city efforts to cut down on years of it taking several months to issue residential and commercial building permits. Department officials reported that it took staff a median of five days to review residential permits in May, compared with 58 days in May 2022 and 72 days in May 2021. Catherine Cuellar, the city's communications, outreach and marketing director, said new applications for permits like new fences are now being processed in one to three business days, while staff are also working to clear the backlog of other applications that have been waiting for much longer. She said the backlog is estimated to be cleared by July 17. "Restoration from May 3 is 97% complete prioritizing public safety and public-facing services, and the remaining restoration of service is internal," Cuellar said. Cuellar responded to questions posed to City Manager T.C. Broadnax, Development Services Director Andrew Espinoza and other supervisors linked to the permitting office. Espinoza is out of the office until Monday. Ismael Soriano of Hi-Def Exteriors, who is Smith's contractor, said it typically takes one to three days to get a permit for a fence in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He said he submitted the application for Smith's property to Dallas on June 7 and said he wasn't told at the time that there would be any issues in being able to timely get the fence permit. As days turned into weeks, Soriano said he assumed the delay was because the city has struggled to timely issue residential and commercial building permits. "I've never had to wait weeks for a fence permit before," said Soriano, who lives in Dallas and has some clients in the city but said he does most of his work in Frisco, Fort Worth, Plano and other parts of Collin County. "We've already got the materials, and we're just waiting on the city at this point." Dallas officials have mainly cited an ongoing criminal investigation into the attack as reason to still not give specific details related to the cyber incident. Details on the scope of the attack, how it happened and the amount of recovery work the city has done still haven't been released by city officials. The city said IT workers early on May 3 were alerted to the ransomware attack, that several servers were compromised, and that other servers had to intentionally be taken offline to prevent the bad software from spreading. It led to several departments being hampered and some city services, such as residents being unable to pay their water bills online or not being able to report nonemergency complaints via the city's 311 app, being unavailable. 2023 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This photo, taken in New York, Thursday, July 6, 2023, shows Meta's new app Threads. Meta has unveiled an app called Threads to rival Twitter, targeting users looking for an alternative to the social media platform owned and frequently changed by Elon Musk. Credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew Celebrities, lawmakers, brands and everyday social media users are flocking to Meta's freshly minted app Threads to connect with their followers, including many Twitter refugees tired of the drama surrounding Elon Musk's raucous oversight of that platform. But the real question is: Will they stay? Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in a Threads post Monday that in the five days since its launch, 100 million people have signed up for Threads, which was rolled out as a companion app to Instagram. Ann Coleman is among them. The 50-year-old, who lives in Baltimore, said she joined Threads after hearing about the platform from a comedian she follows on social media. She said she loves Twitter and has been using it for more than 10 years. She even met her husband on there. But Coleman, who is politically progressive, has been looking to switch to a new platform because of Musk's political views and changes he's made to Twitter, like upending its verification system. She previously joined the decentralized social network Mastodon, but found it a bit confusing to use. She said she likes Threads but wishes she could easily follow all her Twitter friends there. Threads gives Instagram users the option to automatically follow the same accounts they do on the photo-sharing app, which makes it easier for active Instagram users to replicate a similar type of engagement on Threads. But others starting from the ground up will have to do more work. "If I'm going to leave Twitter entirely, I'm going to have to try and find some of these people" from Twitter, Coleman said. While she said she has her own concerns about Metaspecifically pointing to the Cambridge Analytica privacy breach, among other things"it's not with the depth of concern that I do with Musk." Michael Evancoe, 28, said he hasn't used Twitter much since his personal page was suspended years ago for what the platform attributed to violations of its rules on spam. Evancoe, who now works in production, said he agrees with some of the changes Musk has been making on Twitter and he created a new account earlier this year. But he wasn't able to gain many followers or interactions. He joined Threads last week, and says he's been able to interact more with other users. But he hopes that Meta does not moderate the platform overly aggressively. "I think that would be a deterrent to both interest and engagement as well," Evancoe said. For its part, Meta has said it will moderate using Instagram's content guidelines. In the past few days, the company has been positioning the much-hyped platform as a new digital town square that's a less toxic version of Twitter, with some executives indicating their aim isn't to replace Twitter but to offer something more palatable to a vast array of users. "The goal is to create a public square for communities on Instagram that never really embraced Twitter and for communities on Twitter (and other platforms) that are interested in a less angry place for conversations," Mosseri said Friday. In the first two full days that Threads was broadly availableThursday and Friday of last weektraffic on Twitter was down 5% compared with the same period a week ago, and down 11% compared with the same period a year ago, according to the web analytics company SimilarWeb. But it also said Twitter traffic has experienced an overall decline even in the absence of Threads. To Jennifer Billinson, a professor of media studies at Nazareth University in New York, the first days of Threads have highlighted a potential culture clashspecifically one between Twitter refugees and what is likely a much larger number of people just clicking over from Instagram. The idea that Threads will just become a Twitter clone, she says, is running headlong into the reality that the Twitterites are going to be "vastly outnumbered" on the new platform by those from Instagram, which has more than 2 billion monthly users. By comparison, Twitter has more than 237 million daily users, according to the most recent figures from the company's earnings report last year. Among other things, those used to the more abrasive culture of Twitter could easily annoy more laid-back Instagram users. Of course, such tensions might be alleviated by potential platform changes that give people more control over what they'll see in their Threads feed. At the moment, users are largely at the mercy of the Threads algorithm. Despite the influx of users, Brendan Gahan, partner and chief social officer at the creative agency Mekanism, stressed it's too early to know how successful Threads will be. He further questions whether the rapid growth of Threads is even a good thing, pointing out some other successful platforms began with a focused approach and expanded more gradually. There's also the question of how influencers will use Threads and whether they can replicate the same following as on other platforms. Most notably, Jimmy Donaldsona popular YouTube video maker who goes by MrBeasthas already amassed more than 4 million followers on Threads. By integrating the new app to Instagram, Meta made it very easy for content creators to convert their Instagram followers to Threads followers. But that can also create a situation where popular content creators gain more influence while crowding out emerging talents from cultivating their own culture on a new platform, Gahan said. Creators might also face other challenges. "Somebody who is purely video and photo-based may have trouble translating to a text-focused platform," Gahan said. "That said, a lot of them I see reposting the same content. Time will tell whether or not that's a successful strategy." Asante Madrigal, a content creator who makes his living off of social media posts about pop culture, said he's been trying out the Threads app and reposting some videos he's made recently on actress Keke Palmer, among other things. But at least for now, the 22-year-old said he doesn't plan to make Threads a priority because he can't monetize his content on there. Instead, he said he's going to focus on apps where he's actually earning money, like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, where he more than 2 million followers combined. Madrigal said the Threads algorithm is a black box, and pointed to some things that are still lacking in the app, including hashtags and direct messaging between users. And figuring out what to do on there will take more work. "I have a lot of friends that do pop culture as well," Madrigal said. "And they were just like, 'Oh, my God, not another app'." 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Senior Chinese diplomat meets with Gabonese FM Xinhua) 10:48, July 11, 2023 Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Gabonese Foreign Minister Hermann Immongault in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with Gabonese Foreign Minister Hermann Immongault in Beijing on Monday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, welcomed Hermann Immongault to China to attend the first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development, saying that China will realize national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, bring new opportunities for developing countries, especially for African countries at the same time, and provide a reference for other countries in pursuing development paths suited to their national realities. Noting the high-level political mutual trust between China and Gabon is the greatest advantage of bilateral relations, Wang said that China is willing to continue to support each other in safeguarding core interests, promote bilateral cooperation to more fields and a higher level, and jointly uphold the basic norms in international relations. Wang said that China appreciates Gabon's active participation in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and will continue to follow the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith and be committed to the greater good and shared interests. China will work with Gabon and other African countries to carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation to create a new chapter of China-Africa development and cooperation, Wang added. Noting the first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development demonstrates China's firm determination and solid measures to accelerate the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, Hermann Immongault said that Gabon speaks highly of China's contribution to global peace and development, highly appreciates a series of cooperation initiatives brought by China on Africa-China cooperation, and is willing to work with China to promote the building of an Africa-China community with a shared future. Gabon will adhere to the one-China principle, Hermann Immongault said, adding that Gabon thanks China for its support in supporting Gabon's diversified development and accelerating its transformation and looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in various fields and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Gabon. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Russia feels threatened by the ongoing NATO Summit 2023. On Tuesday, July 11, the Kremlin government claimed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization sees Russia as an enemy. Because of this, the Russian government decided to watch the alliance closely, saying that it is prepared to take unspecified measures to protect its country. Russia Feels Threatened by NATO Summit 2023 According to NDTV's latest report, Moscow said that it is carefully monitoring the NATO conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. The Russian government decided to do this since it believes that the NATO Summit has an anti-Russian character, which can lead to the alliance considering making Ukraine one of its members. "It is, without doubt, an alliance summit with a strong anti-Russian character," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He added that NATO sees Russia as "an enemy, an adversary." "We are monitoring this very carefully because much of what has been said will be subject to in-depth analysis in order to take measures to ensure our own security," added Russia's spokesman via Reuters. Read Also: Joe Biden's Meeting With King Charles III Included Discussions About Climate Change, China Russia Attacks Ukraine Hours Before NATO Summit 2023 Russia is clearly against the NATO Summit 2023 since the government thinks that the conference could discuss the chance of Ukraine becoming a member of the alliance. Hours before the NATO meeting in Lithuania, Russia decided to attack Ukraine's capital Kyiv, as well as the southern port of Odesa. The Russian military used drones as part of its violent attack. Kyiv's military administration head Serhiy Popko said that this is the second air attack on Moscow in Ukraine's capital. Ukraine's air force announced that they were able to take down 26 of the 28 Iranian-made kamikaze Shahed drones that the Russian military sent overnight. As of writing, Ukraine hasn't confirmed the total casualties caused by the Russian air attack. However, the Ukrainian military confirmed that falling debris damaged some houses in the region. Meanwhile, the Russian military denied attacking civilians in Kyiv. If ever NATO members showed any intent to welcome Ukraine as part of its alliance, there's a chance that Russia will conduct more attacks. NATO still has until July 12 to make its final decision about Ukraine's place in the alliance. Related Article: Turkey Finally Supports Sweden's NATO Membership, Ending Year-Long Stalemate @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Unused solar, wind, and hydroelectric power in the U.S. could support the exponential growth of transactions involving non-fungible tokens (NFTs), Cornell Engineering researchers have found. Fengqi You, the Roxanne E. and Michael J. Zak Professor in Energy Systems Engineering in Cornell Engineering, is corresponding author of "Climate Concerns and the Future of Non-Fungible Tokens: Leveraging Environmental Benefits of the Ethereum Merge," which published July 10 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. You's co-author is Apoorv Lal, graduate student in chemical and biomolecular engineering and a member of the You Research Group. Processing of NFT transactions, which has increased fourfold over the past five years, was once highly energy-intensive but has been made more sustainable with a recent switch to a more energy-efficient algorithm. But those savings, the researchers said, will be largely offset by the anticipated boom in yearly NFT activity. Excess renewable energy, due to lack of storage capability, forces grid operators to curtail production. You's idea would put that unused energy-production potential to good use. "It's the same idea as a car sitting in someone's garage," You said. "If it's not being driven, they could lend it to someone for carsharing. In our case, wind, solar and hydro power sources that aren't being utilized could be used to do something good." "Of course, this would be up to the industry and policymakers," he said, "but technology-wise, we show it's very feasible because these power sources are there already." Their key finding: The increased NFT processing activity could be powered, in part, from un- or underutilized existing power sources. Fifty megawatts of potential hydropower from existing U.S. dams that are not currently used to generate power, or a 15% utilization of wind and solar energy that can't currently be used or stored from sources in Texas, could be used to power an exponential increase in NFT transactions. Blockchain technologies, including NFT transactions, offer a high level of security in a variety of applications, but the energy required to process each transaction is problematic in a warming world. "In the beginning, people only cared about the usefulness of these applications," Lal said. "But then they started to realize the energy and climate impacts, because the crux of all these applications is the utilization of massive amounts of energy." Without any efforts to make NFT transaction processing more sustainable, the authors wrote, their annual emissions will reach an equivalent of 0.37 megatons of carbon dioxideclose to the CO 2 emissions from 1 million single-trip flights for a passenger from New York to London. In September of 2022, the Ethereum blockchain responded to the call for more sustainable trading by switching from an energy-intensive proof of work (PoW) algorithm to a proof of stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, which requires less computing power. Energy consumption decreased drastically following the switch, known as the Ethereum Merge. Still, the authors wrote, an exponential rise in recorded NFT transactions would translate to more validators operating on the network. Toward the end of this decade, energy consumed by an exponential increase in NFT transactions could be equivalent to that of 100,000 U.S. households. So even with significantly less energy consumption for individual NFT transactions, the cumulative effect of increased numbers of validators operating on fossil fuel-dominant grids will lead to a further rise in the associated carbon debt. "By the end of this decade," You said, "the carbon produced by NFT transactions may be roughly equivalent to that produced in one year by a 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant." The authors evaluated two hydroelectric energy carriersgreen hydrogen and green ammonia (more energy-dense than hydrogen)for their viability, noting that their cost savings are influenced by multiple factors, including transportation distances and the utilization levels of available renewable energy sources. Retrofitting these existing power sources could be challenging, the authors said, but would still be good for energy carriers and the planet. "NFT processing is very power-hungry," You said, "so this turns out to be a good way to take advantage of these curtailments." You is a senior faculty fellow of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and co-director of Cornell University AI for Science Institute. More information: Apoorv Lal et al, Climate concerns and the future of nonfungible tokens: Leveraging environmental benefits of the Ethereum Merge, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2303109120 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Thailand's prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced Tuesday (July 11) his retirement from politics after his military-backed United Thai Nation Party was defeated in general elections last May. His announcement culminates his nine-year political tenure after taking power in a military coup. Prayut will stay in power as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed. His announcement was widely expected after his party only won 36 out of the 500 seats in the Thai Parliament. The 69-year-old former military general and staunch royalist led a junta in 2014 until an election in 2019 and was chosen by parliament to remain prime minister for four more years. Despite the controversies of his regime, Prayuth said he "achieved many successes. "I as prime minister have worked hard to protect the nation, religion, and monarchy for the benefit of the beloved people. The result is currently bearing fruit for the public," he said in a statement. Prayuth added he "tried to strengthen the country and all areas for stability and peace" as well as overcoming "many obstacles" both domestically and internationally. The outgoing prime minister has survived multiple challenges such as court cases, parliamentary confidence votes, and street protests by opponents who saw him as an authoritarian opportunist who lacked a public mandate. Thailand under Prayuth also faced several major events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, mass protests questioning the Thai Royal Family's public reputation, and allegations of corruption. Read Also: Thailand's Election Results Spark Concerns Over Future of Military and Monarchy The Next Thai PM While the end of Prayuth's political career is certain, the new Thai parliament would have to convene on Thursday (July 13) to hold a vote on who would become the next prime minister, a matter that is still being contested. Thai opposition parties overwhelmingly won the election last May. The progressive Move Forward Party, which gained a huge following among young Thais for its reformist platform, won the most seats and the largest share of the popular vote. The two-decade-old populist Pheu Thai Party came second. While there is an obvious possibility that Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat would be poised to take the country's reins, the chances of him becoming prime minister is still too slim. Related Article: Thailand Voters Overwhelming Support Opposition Parties in Defiance of Military Rule @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. College Station man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Friday for the attempted stabbing of a family member in 2022, according to the Brazos County District Attorneys Office. Coty Lohse, 38, was arrested on June 23, 2022, and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after a neighbor reported to police that the victim was outside their apartment calling for help, the DAs office said. The victim told police that Lohse had held a knife against her neck after he refused to leave her apartment, according to the DAs office. The DAs office also said that Lohse was charged with another count of assault while in prison after starting a reportedly unprovoked fight. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is a second-degree felony with a maximum sentence of 20 years. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Argo Group International (NYSE:ARGO Free Report) in a research report report published on Friday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock. ARGO has been the subject of several other reports. Compass Point cut shares of Argo Group International from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $30.00 price target for the company. in a report on Monday, March 13th. TheStreet raised Argo Group International from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a report on Friday, May 26th. Get Argo Group International alerts: Argo Group International Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:ARGO opened at $29.65 on Friday. Argo Group International has a one year low of $19.00 and a one year high of $34.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.04 billion, a PE ratio of -4.75 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $29.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Argo Group International Argo Group International ( NYSE:ARGO Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The company reported ($0.31) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.80 by ($1.11). Argo Group International had a negative net margin of 9.98% and a positive return on equity of 0.06%. The company had revenue of $419.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $461.90 million. As a group, research analysts forecast that Argo Group International will post 2.85 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ARGO. Prelude Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Argo Group International by 1,128.4% in the 1st quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC now owns 185,126 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,422,000 after purchasing an additional 170,056 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Argo Group International by 385.9% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 332,929 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,752,000 after buying an additional 264,412 shares during the period. FourWorld Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Argo Group International during the first quarter worth approximately $80,747,000. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in Argo Group International in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,001,000. Finally, State Street Corp raised its holdings in Argo Group International by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 686,142 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,097,000 after acquiring an additional 13,288 shares during the last quarter. 89.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Argo Group International (Get Free Report) Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. underwrites specialty insurance and reinsurance products in the property and casualty markets. The company operates in two segments, U.S. Operations and International Operations. It offers primary and excess specialty casualty, general liability, commercial multi-peril, and workers compensation, as well as product, environmental, and auto liability insurance products; management liability, transaction liability, and errors and omissions liability insurance; primary and excess property, inland marine, and auto physical damage insurance; and surety, animal mortality, and ocean marine insurance products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Argo Group International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Argo Group International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSEAMERICAN:BHB Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Friday. Bar Harbor Bankshares Price Performance BHB opened at $24.05 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $364.12 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.65 and a beta of 0.79. Bar Harbor Bankshares has a 1-year low of $19.55 and a 1-year high of $33.11. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $28.51. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. Get Bar Harbor Bankshares alerts: Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSEAMERICAN:BHB Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The financial services provider reported $0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by $0.06. Bar Harbor Bankshares had a net margin of 27.03% and a return on equity of 12.04%. The firm had revenue of $40.09 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $40.30 million. Equities analysts anticipate that Bar Harbor Bankshares will post 2.82 earnings per share for the current year. Bar Harbor Bankshares Increases Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bar Harbor Bankshares The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 16th were paid a dividend of $0.28 per share. This is an increase from Bar Harbor Banksharess previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 15th. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.66%. Bar Harbor Banksharess dividend payout ratio is presently 35.56%. Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BHB. Swiss National Bank grew its position in shares of Bar Harbor Bankshares by 7.9% in the 1st quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 35,500 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,016,000 after buying an additional 2,600 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new stake in Bar Harbor Bankshares in the 1st quarter worth $972,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Bar Harbor Bankshares by 43.5% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 7,595 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $217,000 after acquiring an additional 2,303 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Bar Harbor Bankshares by 0.3% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,120,430 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $32,068,000 after buying an additional 3,221 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its holdings in shares of Bar Harbor Bankshares by 65.5% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 998 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 395 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 53.18% of the companys stock. About Bar Harbor Bankshares (Get Free Report) Bar Harbor Bankshares operates as the holding company for Bar Harbor Bank & Trust that provides banking and nonbanking products and services primarily to consumers and businesses. It accepts various deposit products, including interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing demand accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, and money market deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bar Harbor Bankshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bar Harbor Bankshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Zhihu (NYSE:ZH Get Free Report) and NextMart (OTCMKTS:NXMR Get Free Report) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations and earnings. Risk and Volatility Zhihu has a beta of 0.37, suggesting that its stock price is 63% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, NextMart has a beta of 0.92, suggesting that its stock price is 8% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Zhihu alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares Zhihu and NextMarts revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Zhihu $522.66 million 1.29 -$229.25 million ($0.27) -4.19 NextMart N/A N/A -$340,000.00 N/A N/A Analyst Recommendations NextMart has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Zhihu. This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Zhihu and NextMart, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Zhihu 0 1 1 0 2.50 NextMart 0 0 0 0 N/A Zhihu currently has a consensus price target of $1.75, suggesting a potential upside of 54.87%. Given Zhihus higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Zhihu is more favorable than NextMart. Profitability This table compares Zhihu and NextMarts net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Zhihu -29.93% -19.86% -14.59% NextMart N/A N/A N/A Institutional & Insider Ownership 12.8% of Zhihu shares are held by institutional investors. 13.6% of Zhihu shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 56.4% of NextMart 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. Summary NextMart beats Zhihu on 6 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About Zhihu (Get Free Report) Zhihu Inc. operates an online content community in the People's Republic of China. Its community allows people to seek inspiration, find solutions, make decisions, and have fun. The company also offers technology, business support, and consulting services; information transmission, software, and information technology services; information and marketing services; vocational training; and internet services, as well as holds audio-visual permit. Zhihu Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. About NextMart (Get Free Report) NextMart, Inc. does not have significant operations. Previously, it was involved in the art event and art media direct marketing; art-themed products design and marketing; and art themed real estate development businesses. The company was incorporated in 1972 and is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Receive News & Ratings for Zhihu Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zhihu and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A volcano near Iceland's capital Reykjavik sent plumes of smoke across the region known as Reykjanes Peninsula, known for its sweeping lava fields, volcanoes, and geothermal activity. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) also said the eruption on the peninsula Monday (July 10) was a "minor" one. While the volcano is located near the country's Keflavik Airport, Icelandic authorities say the ash and lava flows would not threaten or disrupt its operations, CNN reported. The IMO added there was a 200-meter-long (656-feet) fissure on the slopes of the Litli Hrutur mountain "from which lava is emerging as a series of fountains." Scientists previously warned of possible eruptions after hundreds of minor earthquakes were detected in recent weeks. The notice influenced warnings from authorities in the area several days ago warning hikers in the region to be careful, noting the recent seismic activity looked similar to the lead-up to another volcanic eruption last year. Read Also: Colombia Might See Tragic Volcano Eruption Soon; Some Residents Won't Leave A Long Line of Fire Photos and videos out of Iceland show streams of new hot lava flowing along older lava flows, with small fires in the distance and thick sulfuric smoke present in the air. Spectacular as the eruption was, it took place in an uninhabited area and authorities say there were no immediate risks to communities or infrastructure. However, the IMO still warned people not to come close to the area of eruption, saying there will be an accumulation of "dangerously high levels of volcanic gases." In a separate statement, the Reykjanes Peninsula's regional destination management office issued a warning about gas levels on Monday. The office added the peninsula's police chief ordered the closure of all trails to the volcano due to "massive gas pollution that is life-threatening" after speaking with scientists. Authorities are also working to restore access to the volcano once the pollution dies down, it added. Related Article: Iceland Sees New Volcanic Eruption on Reykjanes Peninsula After Weeks of Earthquakes @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Avista (NYSE:AVA Free Report) had its target price trimmed by Guggenheim from $35.00 to $33.00 in a research note published on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on Avista in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Get Avista alerts: Avista Price Performance Shares of NYSE AVA opened at $36.90 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $2.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. Avista has a 1-year low of $35.72 and a 1-year high of $45.28. The businesss 50 day moving average is $41.25 and its 200-day moving average is $41.87. Avista Dividend Announcement Avista ( NYSE:AVA Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The utilities provider reported $0.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.43). Avista had a net margin of 8.04% and a return on equity of 6.02%. The company had revenue of $474.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $485.37 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.99 earnings per share. Avistas revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Avista will post 2.32 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 26th were given a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 25th. Avistas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 98.93%. Insider Activity In other Avista news, CEO Jason R. Thackston sold 3,000 shares of Avista stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.13, for a total value of $123,390.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 28,274 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,162,909.62. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Avista news, CEO Jason R. Thackston sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.13, for a total value of $123,390.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 28,274 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,162,909.62. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, VP James M. Kensok sold 800 shares of Avista stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.63, for a total transaction of $32,504.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 16,079 shares in the company, valued at $653,289.77. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 49,806 shares of company stock valued at $2,062,843 over the last ninety days. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Avista Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Delta Asset Management LLC TN bought a new stake in Avista during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its holdings in Avista by 146.9% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 632 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 376 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Avista by 156.1% during the 1st quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 950 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 579 shares during the last quarter. Cutler Group LLC CA bought a new stake in Avista during the 1st quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, Benjamin Edwards Inc. lifted its position in shares of Avista by 146.4% in the 1st quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 1,104 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 656 shares during the period. 89.15% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Avista (Get Free Report) Avista Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company. It operates in two segments, Avista Utilities and AEL&P. The Avista Utilities segment provides electric distribution and transmission, and natural gas distribution services in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho; and natural gas distribution services in parts of northeastern and southwestern Oregon, as well as generates electricity in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Avista Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avista and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jennison Associates LLC decreased its position in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:LNG Free Report) by 49.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,003,221 shares of the energy companys stock after selling 969,151 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC owned approximately 0.41% of Cheniere Energy worth $158,108,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital World Investors bought a new position in Cheniere Energy during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $391,652,000. Norges Bank bought a new position in Cheniere Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $261,515,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in Cheniere Energy by 109.5% during the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,836,348 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $275,379,000 after purchasing an additional 959,800 shares during the last quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC raised its position in Cheniere Energy by 167.6% during the 4th quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 1,376,530 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $206,424,000 after purchasing an additional 862,174 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp raised its position in Cheniere Energy by 13.6% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,934,156 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $961,421,000 after purchasing an additional 830,898 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.36% of the companys stock. Get Cheniere Energy alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In LNG has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Mizuho reduced their target price on Cheniere Energy from $200.00 to $187.00 in a report on Thursday, June 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Cheniere Energy from $205.00 to $200.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. TheStreet upgraded Cheniere Energy from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Raymond James cut their price target on Cheniere Energy from $205.00 to $200.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Cheniere Energy in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $201.00. Cheniere Energy Stock Performance Cheniere Energy stock traded up $3.22 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $156.05. The company had a trading volume of 407,407 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,755,799. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 52 week low of $120.29 and a 52 week high of $182.35. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $149.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is $152.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $37.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40. Cheniere Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:LNG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The energy company reported $6.89 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.96 by $0.93. The business had revenue of $7.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.58 billion. Cheniere Energy had a negative return on equity of 13,004.16% and a net margin of 23.24%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 15.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Cheniere Energy Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 10th were given a dividend of $0.395 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 9th. This represents a $1.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.01%. Cheniere Energys payout ratio is 5.06%. About Cheniere Energy (Free Report) Cheniere Energy, Inc, an energy infrastructure company, primarily engages in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) related businesses in the United States. It owns and operates the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana; and the Corpus Christi LNG terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas. The company also owns Creole Trail pipeline, a 94-mile pipeline interconnecting the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with various interstate pipelines; and operates Corpus Christi pipeline, a 21.5-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Corpus Christi LNG terminal with various interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LNG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:LNG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Cheniere Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cheniere Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Life Storage (NYSE:LSI Free Report) in a research note released on Saturday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Life Storage from $120.00 to $122.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 15th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Life Storage from $140.00 to $145.00 in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Life Storage from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. KeyCorp lifted their price objective on shares of Life Storage from $136.00 to $154.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Life Storage from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Life Storage presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $128.63. Get Life Storage alerts: Life Storage Trading Up 1.2 % Life Storage stock opened at $133.69 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $131.17 and its 200-day moving average is $123.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.42. Life Storage has a 1 year low of $94.02 and a 1 year high of $146.66. The company has a market cap of $11.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.02 and a beta of 0.65. Life Storage Announces Dividend Insider Buying and Selling The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 19th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 13th will be issued a $0.90 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 12th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.69%. Life Storages payout ratio is currently 111.37%. In other news, CEO Joseph Saffire sold 5,036 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.03, for a total transaction of $659,867.08. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 83,780 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,977,693.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Joseph Saffire sold 5,036 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.03, for a total transaction of $659,867.08. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 83,780 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,977,693.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Stephen R. Rusmisel sold 2,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.92, for a total value of $324,800.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,801 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,312,705.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 10,161 shares of company stock worth $1,320,037. Corporate insiders own 0.50% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Life Storage Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in Life Storage in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. purchased a new stake in Life Storage in the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Life Storage by 148.5% in the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 333 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 199 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in Life Storage in the 1st quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Life Storage in the 4th quarter worth about $53,000. 90.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Life Storage (Get Free Report) Life Storage, Inc is a self-administered and self-managed equity REIT that is in the business of acquiring and managing self-storage facilities. Located in Buffalo, New York, the Company operates more than 1,200 storage facilities in 37 states and the District of Columbia. The Company serves both residential and commercial storage customers with storage units rented by month. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Life Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Life Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE:ONTO Get Free Report) has been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the five analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $109.50. Several equities analysts have commented on ONTO shares. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Onto Innovation from $97.00 to $124.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. Needham & Company LLC lowered Onto Innovation from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 14th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Onto Innovation in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Onto Innovation from $100.00 to $123.00 in a research note on Monday, June 5th. Finally, Benchmark upped their price objective on Onto Innovation from $97.00 to $118.00 in a research note on Friday, June 2nd. Get Onto Innovation alerts: Onto Innovation Stock Performance NYSE ONTO opened at $110.04 on Tuesday. Onto Innovation has a twelve month low of $56.02 and a twelve month high of $117.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.38 billion, a PE ratio of 27.44 and a beta of 1.39. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $103.24 and a 200 day simple moving average of $88.30. Insider Buying and Selling Onto Innovation ( NYSE:ONTO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The semiconductor company reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $199.17 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $200.00 million. Onto Innovation had a return on equity of 16.09% and a net margin of 20.67%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.31 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Onto Innovation will post 3.64 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, SVP Robert Fiordalice sold 768 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.20, for a total transaction of $74,649.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 15,152 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,472,774.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Onto Innovation news, SVP Ju Jin sold 1,232 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.72, for a total transaction of $132,711.04. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 13,485 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,452,604.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Robert Fiordalice sold 768 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.20, for a total value of $74,649.60. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 15,152 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,472,774.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 11,746 shares of company stock worth $1,200,485 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.81% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund lifted its holdings in Onto Innovation by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 16,475 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $1,122,000 after buying an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Onto Innovation by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,131 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $554,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its stake in shares of Onto Innovation by 51.3% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 516 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the period. Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Onto Innovation by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. now owns 18,360 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,613,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the period. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake in shares of Onto Innovation by 3.7% in the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 6,726 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $458,000 after purchasing an additional 242 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.44% of the companys stock. About Onto Innovation (Get Free Report Onto Innovation Inc engages in the design, development, manufacture, and support of process control tools that performs macro defect inspection and 2D/3D optical metrology, lithography systems, and process control analytical software worldwide. It offers process and yield management solutions, and device packaging and test facilities through standalone systems for optical metrology, macro-defect inspection, packaging lithography, and transparent and opaque thin film measurements; and process control software portfolio that includes solutions for standalone tools, groups of tools, and enterprise-or factory-wide suites. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Onto Innovation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Onto Innovation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RFP Financial Group LLC lowered its position in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report) by 53.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,358 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 12,109 shares during the quarter. Southern makes up about 0.8% of RFP Financial Group LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest position. RFP Financial Group LLCs holdings in Southern were worth $721,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Retirement Financial Solutions LLC boosted its position in Southern by 352.0% during the 1st quarter. Retirement Financial Solutions LLC now owns 9,642 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $671,000 after acquiring an additional 7,509 shares in the last quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Southern by 15.4% during the 1st quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,560 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $109,000 after acquiring an additional 208 shares in the last quarter. Acorn Financial Advisory Services Inc. ADV boosted its position in Southern by 10.5% during the 1st quarter. Acorn Financial Advisory Services Inc. ADV now owns 6,513 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $453,000 after acquiring an additional 619 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Management Group Inc. ADV boosted its position in Southern by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Advisors Management Group Inc. ADV now owns 104,259 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $7,254,000 after acquiring an additional 3,461 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Southern during the 1st quarter valued at $1,506,000. Institutional investors own 63.25% of the companys stock. Get Southern alerts: Insider Activity In related news, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total value of $3,758,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 847,592 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,705,014.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Southern news, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 847,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $63,705,014.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Bryan D. Anderson sold 9,491 shares of Southern stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.03, for a total value of $712,109.73. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,119 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,710,008.57. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 200,678 shares of company stock valued at $14,528,821. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Southern Price Performance Shares of Southern stock traded down $0.13 on Tuesday, hitting $70.01. 450,509 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,192,686. The Southern Company has a 1-year low of $58.85 and a 1-year high of $80.57. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $76.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.90 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $71.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $69.71. Southern (NYSE:SO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.08. Southern had a net margin of 11.53% and a return on equity of 10.78%. The firm had revenue of $6.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.97 EPS. The companys revenue was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that The Southern Company will post 3.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Southern Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th were given a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.00%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 12th. This is a positive change from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. Southerns payout ratio is presently 90.32%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently commented on SO shares. Mizuho decreased their price objective on Southern from $77.00 to $76.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Southern from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Guggenheim reduced their target price on Southern from $79.00 to $77.00 in a research note on Friday. VNET Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Southern from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $73.93. Southern Profile (Free Report) 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:THM Free Report) (TSE:ITH) in a research note published on Friday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the mining companys stock. International Tower Hill Mines Stock Performance Shares of NYSEAMERICAN THM opened at $0.45 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $0.47 and its 200-day moving average price is $0.52. The company has a market cap of $88.27 million, a PE ratio of -22.65 and a beta of 0.70. International Tower Hill Mines has a 52-week low of $0.37 and a 52-week high of $0.75. Get International Tower Hill Mines alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows An institutional investor recently raised its position in International Tower Hill Mines stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its holdings in shares of International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:THM Free Report) (TSE:ITH) by 187.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 215,462 shares of the mining companys stock after buying an additional 140,462 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned about 0.11% of International Tower Hill Mines worth $211,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 55.34% of the companys stock. About International Tower Hill Mines 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for International Tower Hill Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Tower Hill Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Terreno Realty Co. (NYSE:TRNO Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the five ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $67.20. Several brokerages have issued reports on TRNO. StockNews.com began coverage on Terreno Realty in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating for the company. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and issued a $71.00 price target on shares of Terreno Realty in a report on Monday, April 3rd. Get Terreno Realty alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its position in Terreno Realty by 6.8% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 3,948 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $320,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Terreno Realty by 55.4% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 39,255 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,907,000 after purchasing an additional 13,997 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its position in Terreno Realty by 17.2% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 137,608 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $10,190,000 after purchasing an additional 20,239 shares during the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can boosted its position in Terreno Realty by 6.0% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 63,883 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,907,000 after purchasing an additional 3,589 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Terreno Realty by 1.7% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,336,796 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $98,993,000 after purchasing an additional 22,692 shares during the last quarter. 99.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Terreno Realty Trading Down 0.1 % NYSE TRNO opened at $58.33 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $60.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of $61.45. The company has a market capitalization of $4.86 billion, a PE ratio of 22.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a current ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Terreno Realty has a 12 month low of $50.36 and a 12 month high of $67.03. Terreno Realty (NYSE:TRNO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.53 by ($0.24). Terreno Realty had a return on equity of 8.83% and a net margin of 70.11%. The business had revenue of $74.65 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $74.96 million. Research analysts forecast that Terreno Realty will post 2.18 EPS for the current year. Terreno Realty Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.74%. Terreno Realtys dividend payout ratio is currently 60.61%. About Terreno Realty (Get Free Report Terreno Realty Corporation (Terreno, and together with its subsidiaries, the Company) acquires, owns and operates industrial real estate in six major coastal U.S. markets: Los Angeles, Northern New Jersey/New York City, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Miami, and Washington, DC We invest in several types of industrial real estate, including warehouse/distribution (approximately 79.5% of our total annualized base rent as of December 31, 2021), flex (including light industrial and research and development, or R&D) (approximately 4.8%), transshipment (approximately 6.4%) and improved land (approximately 9.3%). See Also Receive News & Ratings for Terreno Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Terreno Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Volta Finance Limited (LON:VTA Get Free Report) announced a dividend on Monday, July 10th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Investors of record on Thursday, July 20th will be given a dividend of 0.13 ($0.14) per share on Thursday, August 3rd. This represents a dividend yield of 2.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 20th. The official announcement can be viewed at this link. Volta Finance Price Performance Shares of VTA opened at GBX 4.98 ($0.06) on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 4.96 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 5.09. The company has a market cap of 1.82 million, a P/E ratio of 0.06 and a beta of 0.92. Volta Finance has a one year low of GBX 4.60 ($0.06) and a one year high of GBX 5.50 ($0.07). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 33.95 and a quick ratio of 15.15. Get Volta Finance alerts: About Volta Finance (Get Free Report) Read More Volta Finance Limited is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by AXA Investment Managers Paris SA The fund invests in the fixed income markets of Europe and the United States. It primarily invests in corporate credits, sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt, residential mortgage loans, CDOs, ABS, leveraged loans, automobile loans, and debt interests in infrastructure assets. Receive News & Ratings for Volta Finance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Volta Finance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The last of three family members charged in the 2021 death of a 7-year-old boy was sentenced Monday in Franklin County Circuit Court to 12 years in prison. On June 29, 2021, Hunter Cumbie was struck on the head by his grandfather, John Robert Ebel, inside their Rocky Mount home, according to court documents. Ebels wife and the boys grandmother, Alice Mary Ebel, said they attempted to feed Cumbie that evening, but he became unresponsive. The family laid him on the floor in the living room, where he stayed overnight. The Ebels didnt seek medical care until the next morning, after an attempt to revive him with a cold shower failed to revive him. The boy died after being airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The medical examiners office found the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, and ruled it a homicide. The family initially told investigators that the boy had fallen off a trampoline at home because the net had a large hole in it. But investigators located the trampoline with the net intact. The Ebels later admitted to police that Cumbies grandfather had hit him and his grandmother had witnessed it. Investigators also found that the boy was routinely denied food in the house, and was punished for stealing food, both at home and at school, according to court documents. He was malnourished and under weight at the time of his death. Police also interviewed Dakota Wayne Cumbie, the boys uncle, who lived in the same house, during their investigation. Police seized his cellphone, and a download of the devices data revealed thousands of photographs of prepubescent boys. When he was interviewed, Cumbie admitted that he enjoyed looking at pictures of younger boys because he was, in his words, sick in the head. Cumbie also admitted to inappropriately touching his nephew, beginning when the boy was 5 years old. Dakota Wayne Cumbie, now 28, pleaded guilty Monday to four felony charges, including aggravated sexual battery, forcible sodomy and two counts of child pornography possession. In exchange for his plea, another four charges were not prosecuted. He was sentenced to 38 years in prison, suspended after he serves 12, according to a plea agreement with the prosecutor. On the sexual battery charge, Cumbie was sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended after he serves two. On the sodomy charge, he was sentenced to 20 years, suspended after he serves 10. And on the two pornography charges, he received a combined eight-year sentence, all of which was suspended. Cumbie continued to be held Monday at the Western Virginia Regional Jail. Once released from incarceration, hell be placed on probation for five years. Judge Tim Allen said Cumbie will have to register as a sex offender with Virginia State Police and comply with sex offender treatment recommended by his probation officer. He will also not be permitted to have unsupervised contact with anyone under 18. John Ebel, now 52, pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one count of second-degree murder. In exchange for his plea, two felony child abuse charges were not prosecuted. Ebel was sentenced in June 2022 to 40 years in prison, suspended after he serves 21. Thereafter, he is to have no unwanted contact with any of the other children that were in his house when Hunter Cumbie suffered his fatal injury. Ebel is being held at the Green Rock Correctional Center in Chatham, according to the Virginia Department of Corrections online offender locator. Once released from prison, he will be on probation for five years. Alice Ebel, now 54, pleaded guilty in June 2022 to one count of felony child abuse causing serious injury. In exchange for her plea, a felony child cruelty charge was not prosecuted. Ebel was sentenced in August to 10 years in prison, suspended after she serves two. She is being held at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Fluvanna County, according to the state online offender locator. Once released from prison, Ebel will spend three years on probation and must have no unsupervised contact with any child under 15 years old. PAPILLION - In a world that seems to move faster every day, Graleys Creamery and Confections offers an opportunity to step back in time and enjoy a Victorian-style soda fountain in downtown Papillion. Graleys, founded in 2017 by Bryon and Joanna Compton and named after their children, Greg and Haley, is housed in downtown Papillion and, according to Bryon, in the oldest standing building in town. That history is matched on the interior with decor and staff uniforms which call back to the 20th century and ragtime piano music filling the room. When you leave, you could pick up all your 2023 problems, but in here, this is where you can relax, Bryon said. In addition to being connected historically to Papillion through its location, Bryon said the company is working to stay active in the community. It is a sponsor of Papillion Days, is hosting a Cones with Cops event on July 13, and has worked with local high schools both in food service and speaking to entrepreneurial classes prior to the start of the pandemic. Graleys is also connected to the community through its products, with most of its ingredients being locally sourced. We try to use local farmers and bake everything here ourselves, Bryon said. If I need stuff, I look for locals who are making things to help out. Despite the businesss lack of a drive-thru, Graleys has been able to grow through the pandemic. Bryon credits that to the loyalty of their customers. I think people will stop if your product is good. They will make the time to come in. In addition to serving ice cream, malts, and sodas, Graleys has also begun serving espresso products. In the winter, the business also serves soups and hand pies for customers who may not want ice cream. As Graleys approaches its five-year anniversary in September, Bryon discussed what the next five years might look like for the business. I know a lot of people talked about all these dreams, we'll start with, we will still be here, we will still be making great products, we will still be active parts of our community, Bryon said. So yeah, we're looking at growing, expanding, but not at the cost of our product or how we take care of customers and guests. The most important thing to Bryon, though, was that his customers always leave his ice cream parlor happy. We're a place where friends and family gather and memories are made. That goes into everything we do. Top Journal Star photos for July 2023 A "headless" child's corpse was found on a beach in Spain, and the police have launched an investigation into the matter. The gruesome discovery was made by a municipal cleaner who reported it to his superiors, who then contacted the authorities. According to Daily Mail, a statement from the town hall said, "We inform you that this morning the body of a two to [3-year-old] child was found on the shoreline on the Costa Dorada beach. The area is cordoned off and officials are waiting for the judge to authorize the removal of the body. We ask the public to avoid the area." Gruesome Discovery The remains of a child, estimated to be between the ages of 2 and 3, were found on Tuesday morning, July 11, at a beach in the Costa Dorada resort of Roda de Bera, Tarragona Province, on the country's eastern coast. It is believed that the child's decomposing corpse was washed up on the shore without its head and other limbs. Officers from the Civil Guard have set up a barrier and are directing residents and tourists to other areas of the beach until a court can give permission to remove the corpse. Roda de Bera Mayor Pere Virgili has been mentioned in local news as suggesting the boy might have been aboard a migrant boat that sank in the Mediterranean. Mayor Virgili told El Pais that a municipal worker observed the kid lying on his back and initially thought he was a doll. Other individuals who first saw the human remains also mistook the decaying corpse for an object and did not immediately call the authorities. As soon as Civil Guard officers got there, it was clear that it was a child's body. A Civil Guard spokesperson made a statement: "All we can confirm at the moment is that the body of a baby has been found at Roda de Bera beach in the province of Tarragona. The alarm was raised at [8:50 AM] this morning. The matter is still under investigation." Mayor Virgili noted that the corpse was clothed in "a bodysuit, a kind of tracksuit, and a jacket," stating that the kid was not wearing the proper clothing for the beach. After receiving legal clearance, the body was transported at around 11:30 AM local time. The cause of death will likely be determined via an autopsy that will take place over the next several hours. See Also: UK: Lady Who Drove Into Wimbledon School, Killing 1 Girl, May Have Had Seizure Roda de Bera in Spain The town of Roda de Bera is located around 25 minutes north of Tarragona. A trip to Barcelona takes no more than two hours. The town, famous for its Roman arch, was originally devoted solely to agriculture until the latter part of the 20th century when it grew into a major tourist destination on the Costa Dorada. See Also: Russian Submarine Commanding Officer Fatally Shot: Report @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. U-Haul trucks land at Ubetcha Auto ST. PAUL U-Haul Co. of Nebraska has announced that Ubetcha Auto signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer to serve the St. Paul community. Ubetcha Auto at 414 Second St. will offer essential services like U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment and support rental items. Ubetcha Auto partners Michael and Jean Thede say they are proud to team with the industry leader in do-it-yourself moving and self-storage to better meet the demands of Howard County. U-Haul has teamed with independent dealers to offer rental equipment to do-it-yourself movers since 1945. The local affiliates are not U-Haul franchises as there are no financial investments required to be a neighborhood dealer. These small businesses have committed a portion of their lot space for U-Haul equipment, and a portion of their time to help meet the mobility needs of their neighbors. . Normal business hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Reserve U-Haul products at this dealer location by calling 308-754-2200 or visiting https://www.uhaul.com/Locations/Truck-Rentals-near-Saint-Paul-NE-68873/042391/ CVA launches #WEARECVA photo contest YORK Central Valley Ag cooperative is asking folks to share their stories by entering CVAs sixth annual photo contest. Contest is open through Aug. 3. Photos can be entered into three categories: Beauty in Agriculture, Generations on the Farm, and Working in Acres. Photos can exhibit harvest, livestock, planting, equipment, life on the farm, and more. There is no shortage of topics to showcase in the agriculture industry. Were thrilled to present this photo contest as a platform to showcase agriculture through authentic pictures and connect within our communities, said Owen Baker, SVP of Marketing at CVA. CVA member-owners, employees, professionals, and area community members are all welcome to participate. There will be one winner selected from each category as well as one Peoples Choice Award. Winners will be awarded a $100 cash gift card. In addition, winners will receive special placement in CVAs print and online publications. Once submitted, photos will be placed in the CVA Photo Contest album on CVAs Facebook page. The photo that gets the most likes, shares, and comments on Facebook will be awarded the Peoples Choice Award. Entries must be entered through CVAs website: https://www.cvacoop.com/cva-photo-contest For full details regarding the 2023 CVA Photo Contest, please visit: www.cvacoop.com. Central Valley Ag is a farmer-owned cooperative with locations in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. CVA is an innovative leader providing products and services in grain, agronomy, feed and energy. Find more information about Central Valley Ag by visiting www.cvacoop.com Mead Lumber announces rebranding initiativeOMAHA Mead Lumber, supplier of building materials and services, has announced the launch of its rebranding initiative, aimed at updating the companys look and creating consistency across its business units, both with employees and customers. As part of the rebranding initiative, Mead Lumber will unveil a new and modern logo, an all-new website, and a new web address, which is www.meadlumber.com, among many other initiatives. Some of its locations will also be changing their name to Mead Lumber, while others will keep their name but will follow the new logo and design scheme. Our team has been working tirelessly to develop a fresh look for our brand that better represents the quality, reliability, and innovation that our customers have come to expect from us, said CEO Dave Anderson. This new branding highlights our commitment to providing top-notch service and support for all of our customers. At the heart of the rebrand is Mead Lumbers brand promise: To Make You Feel at Home, From Design to Finish. This promise has always been the cornerstone of their business, and they are committed to continuing to deliver on it in everything they do. Mead Lumber is a 100% employee owned company that has become one of the leaders in the building materials industry, ranking in the top 12 nationally for companies serving Professional Builders. Mead Lumber now has 52 operating locations in Nebraska (including Grand Island), Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming, including five truss and wall panel manufacturing plants and a countertop manufacturing facility. For more information on Mead Lumber, visit www.meadlumber.com. An Omaha man died after the motorcycle he was riding veered off the road in rural Saunders County on Saturday, officials said. The Saunders County Sheriff's Office responded to the crash near the intersection of U.S. Highway 79 and County Road 25 just south of Morse Bluff a little before 5:40 p.m. David Sebben, 63, had been riding his 2007 Harley-Davidson northbound on Highway 79 when it went off the right side of the road, the Sheriff's Office said in a Sunday news release. First responders used lifesaving measures on Sebben before paramedics took him to a Fremont hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. In addition to deputies from the Saunders County Sheriff's Department, Prague Fire and Rescue, Fremont Fire Department, Morse Bluff Fire Department and the Dodge County Sherriff's Office also responded to the crash. Top Journal Star photos for July 2023 Aeon Mall Vietnam posts $7.8 mln in Q1 operating income By Tri Duc Tue, July 11, 2023 | 4:59 pm GTM+7 Japanese retailer Aeon Mall earned an operating income of JPY1,093 million ($7.78 million) in Vietnam for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 (March-May 2023), up 42.9% year-on-year. The retailer recorded operating revenues of JPY3,528 million ($25.1 million) in the three-month period, up 31.6% year-on-year, according to its latest report. The figure was the companys highest among ASEAN nations and the second-highest overseas market, only behind China. Aeon Mall attributed the first quarter growth to promotional activities for the International Women's Day and Earth Hour as well as high purchasing demand around the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. Aeon Mall Tan Phu Celadon in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of Aeon Mall Vietnam. While it was impacted by an economic slowdown in April and May, growth remained high at 49.8% and 55.8% of same months of pre-pandemic year 2019. Per its medium-term (2023-2025) plan, the company will open more outlets in Vietnam, including one in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue. Construction of Aeon Mall Hue began in February and a grand opening is planned in the second half of 2024. The firm is also pursuing area-dominant mall openings focused on Ho Chi Minh City in the south, Hanoi in the north, and a few cities in the central region. In May, the central province of Thanh Hoa said construction of a $190-million Aeon Mall will begin this September. In March, Aeon Vietnam Co. Ltd. and its Vietnamese partner obtained in-principle approval for their mall project in the northern province of Hai Duong. In February, Hanoi approved a draft plan for the city's third Aeon Mall, which will cover 8.03 hectares in Dai Kim and Thinh Liet wards, Hoang Mai district. There are six Aeon Mall outlets in Vietnam: two each in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; and one each in the southern province of Binh Duong and northern city of Hai Phong. The retailer has so far invested more than $1.18 billion into Vietnam, Aeon Group executive chairman Akio Yoshida said at a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Japans Hiroshima in May. Globally, Aeon Mall recorded an operating income of JPY13,883 million ($98.77 million) in the first fiscal quarter, with Japan, its home market, accounting for the biggest portion at JPY10,294 million ($73.23 million), followed by China with JPY2,501 million ($17.79 million) and Vietnam with JPY1,093 million ($7.78 million). After continuous declines in the first five months, FDI disbursement in the first six months of the year inched up 0.5% year-on-year to $10.02 billion. Total registered FDI was estimated at $13.43 billion, down 4.3%, but the decrease was lower than in previous months and especially in the five-month period (7.3%). What has been the driving force for the increase in disbursement and the lower decline in registered capital? Amid short-term headwinds and growth volatility, Vietnams structural story as a growing manufacturing hub remains intact, as we still maintain important advantages compared to regional peers such as cheap labor costs, stable politics, strategic location in the Asia-Pacific region, and extensive FTAs. We also have an FDI-friendly government that has been proactive in implementing supportive policies to maintain macro stability and encourage growth, which have begun to show positive effects. Furthermore, the government has also been active in clearing legal bottlenecks and pushing for public infrastructure development, boosting Vietnams long-term capability and attractiveness to foreign investors. In addition, given the ongoing US-China trade tensions, and now that Chinas economy has pivoted into the post-pandemic era, we are seeing companies speeding up their China plus one diversification strategies. Even from the Chinese side, total new foreign investments from mainland China and Hong Kong SAR rose to $800 million in Q1, the highest since the start of the pandemic. The amount was 10% above the 3-year pre-pandemic average when US-China tensions started to rise, demonstrating Vietnams bigger role as an alternative manufacturing base to China. How do you assess the prospect of FDI in Vietnam in the second half of this year? What are the challenges in the future? Vietnams FDI prospects remain bright not just for H2 this year but also from 2024 onwards. Recently, over 200 South Korean investors accompanied their President on his visit to Vietnam, the largest figure ever recorded in an official government trip. Many have expressed their intention to invest further in Vietnam. For example, we saw LG pledging another $1 billion to raise its total investment in Hai Phong to $2 billion. In addition, just earlier this month, Sumitomo announced its intention to develop a $400 million industrial park in Thanh Hoa, while Foxconn was granted approval to invest $246 million in new manufacturing plants in Quang Ninh. In particular, Foxconns investment approval was processed online in just 12 hours, significantly faster compared to the previous 14-day process, also showing the governments willingness to implement necessary technology to eliminate lengthy legal procedures. On future challenges, the government has been proactive in holding dialogues with FDI enterprises to begin tackling legal bottlenecks and provide guidance for companies to navigate Vietnams environment. We would like to see more of that from the government on clearing cumbersome legal procedures and simplifying the investment environment. In addition, one of the pressing challenges in the near future will be to quickly deploy the power development plan VIII (PDP8) to avoid power shortages that we saw in the past month to ensure the continuity of business. Another will be to address the global minimum tax coming into effect next year. How is the business environment in Vietnam compared to regional peers in terms of weak points and strengths? As mentioned, aside from a favorable strategic location with competitive skilled labor and manufacturing costs, and extensive FTAs, Vietnam has an FDI-friendly government that has been aggressively pushing investment in public infrastructure projects. Moving forward, Vietnam will need to continue addressing some issues such as unclear legal regulations and lack of guidance for businesses, investment into infrastructure for logistics activities, investing in human resources with high professional qualifications, and reducing lengthy administrative and legal procedures. The global minimum tax of 15% is scheduled to be adopted in Vietnam on January 1, 2024. How will this policy affect FDI inflows into Vietnam? In general, the global minimum tax (GMT) of 15% will force companies that are enjoying tax incentives under current policies to pay more taxes, affecting business strategies and potentially reducing the attractiveness of previous incentives. This isnt necessarily a bad thing. If tax breaks are replaced with increased infrastructure spending or even other alternative investment incentives, foreign investors could stand to benefit more broadly. In addition, Vietnams status as a growing regional manufacturing hub should remain intact. Vietnam will still benefit from FDI flows driven by the "China plus one" strategy. Important factors such as geographical advantage, political stability, favorable business environment, skilled workforce at competitive costs, fast growing infrastructure, and extensive FTAs remain unchanged. What does Vietnam need to prepare for the global minimum tax? The government is working on policies to support foreign businesses when the GMT becomes effective in 2024 to ensure Vietnam remains competitive as a manufacturing hub. Most recently, the government has set up a task force to study the impacts of the GMT and work on solutions set to be proposed at the National Assembly meeting in October. Incentive alternatives such as tax offsets and cash support have been floated as possible solutions to make Vietnam a more attractive investment destination, though it may take some work to ensure these incentives comply with OECD rules and regulations. In a way, the introduction of the GMT is also spurring Vietnam to invest further in infrastructure and human resources, while reforming administrative hurdles and regulatory barriers in terms of both quantity and quality, which should serve the growth of the overall economy in the long run. Foreign businesses like Samsung have also proposed schemes such as a Qualifying Domestic-Minimum Top-Up Tax (QDMTT). This initiative laid out by the OECD would ensure that the increased tax due to be paid by foreign firms to bring them up to 15% would remain in Vietnam as opposed to being collected in a multinational's home country. What are your recommendations for the country to attract and retain foreign investors given the new tax? To remain competitive, Vietnam needs to continue pushing for legal reforms to simplify the business and investment environment to retain and attract foreign investors, while also investing further in infrastructure, skilled labor, and technology. Vietnam should also look to further into policies, incentives and schemes to capture the ongoing trend of investing in and applying renewable energy, as foreign investors are increasingly interested in this field. The government needs to urgently address regulatory gaps, bureaucracy and inadequate grid infrastructure that are preventing Vietnam from attracting sufficient foreign investment to unlock its vast potential in renewable energy. Finally, Vietnam will need to gradually address its power shortage issues, which the approval of PDP8 should provide guidance to facilitate the prevention of power shortages and ensure stability. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. 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It will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, at Blue Sky Vineyard in Makanda. This is the second year Lucas has performed to raise funds for Carbondale Warming Center. There is no cover charge for the concerts and donations to the shelters are optional. Lucas was born in a southwest suburb of Chicago. He started playing marimba and vibes as a high school student. After high school, he attended Illinois State University where he earned a bachelors degree in percussion performance, and then was awarded a second bachelors degree in education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Kevin then earned a masters degree in percussion performance from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Kevin has won many awards as both a performer and producer. As a live performer, Kevin has performed nationally and internationally, and also continues to perform locally in the Southern Illinois music scene. His live performances are highly intense, energetic, passionate, emotionally evocative and often introduce many first time listeners to the distinctive sounds of the marimba, a unique and often rare instrument today that is not typically associated with contemporary and New Age musical genres. I believe musicians should use their talent not only to make art, but to help their communities, Lucas said. It's difficult to change the world, but we can make a big difference locally." Lucas said the local shelters are in dire need this year coming out of the pandemic. Oftentimes there is not enough room for all of the homeless people and not enough supplies. He wants to do what he can to help the shelters get what they need to serve the homeless. Good Samaritan House is part of Good Samaritan Ministries, a tax-exempt organization established in 1985 by Carbondale Interfaith Council to provide shelter, food, counseling and advocacy for homeless, near homeless and transient individuals and families. They offer an emergency shelter, case management, referral services, a transitional house living program, a food pantry, a soup kitchen and an emergency assistance program with a goal to help the homeless help themselves. Seeing a gap in the services available for basic needs for the homeless in Southern Illinois, especially during the colder winter months, a committee came together to fill the need. In the winter of 2018, the Warming Center provided hundreds of night stays for those who had nowhere else to go. The Warming Center has grown from serving an average of nine people a night to no less than 24 men, woman and sometimes entire families. What Ive noticed since the pandemic is the homeless population has changed and not in a good way, Lucas said. Im seeing people 20-to-21 yearsold on the streets. He added that there seems to be more homeless people in general, and many of them are younger. Lucas really likes how Good Samaritan House tries to help people get back on their feet. When you just feed a person and send them on their way, you arent really fixing anything. A better solution is to get the person back on their feet and support themselves, Lucas said. The homeless often feel like an outcast. A lot just need a chance or a fresh start. He said representatives from the shelters will be at the concerts. They will accept donations, but donating is optional. He hopes people will come to the wineries to drink wine, listen to good music and learn about local shelters. Lucas has been recording music with Top 10 Billboard Folk Artist Grant Maloy Smith. They remade Cahokia Winds in 2021. It is a song Lucas wrote many years ago. The remake was nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media Award for "Best Music Video" in 2022. The pair is working on a remake of Scarborough Fair. Lucas said the vocals are done, but Smith is working on the video editing. The video was filmed on an island in the Atlantic Ocean in May. "I think people are going to love our 'Scarborough Fair.' It's very different than all other versions and is a combination of Grant's passionate vocals and folk style, as well as haunting percussion and marimba." Lucas will also perform two concerts in August at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. For more information, contact Kevin Lucas at 618-529-2184 or emarimbamstr@aol.com. BRUSSELS Nearly 50,000 Russian men have died in the war in Ukraine, according to the first independent statistical analysis of Russias war dead. Two independent Russian media outlets, Mediazona and Meduza, working with a data scientist from Germanys Tubingen University, used Russian government data to shed light on one of Moscows closest-held secrets the true human cost of its invasion of Ukraine. To do so, they relied on a statistical concept popularized during the COVID-19 pandemic called excess mortality. Drawing on inheritance records and official mortality data, they estimated how many more men under age 50 died between February 2022 and May 2023 than normal. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv gives timely data on military losses, and each is at pains to amplify the other sides casualties. Russia has publicly acknowledged the deaths of just over 6,000 soldiers. Reports about military losses have been repressed in Russian media, activists and independent journalists say. Documenting the dead has become an act of defiance; those who do so face harassment and potential criminal charges. Despite such challenges, Mediazona and the BBCs Russian Service, working with a network of volunteers, have used social media postings and photographs of cemeteries across Russia to build a database of confirmed war deaths. As of July 7, they had identified 27,423 dead Russian soldiers. These are only soldiers who we know by name, and their deaths in each case are verified by multiple sources, said Dmitry Treshchanin, an editor at Mediazona who helped oversee the investigation. The estimate we did with Meduza allows us to see the hidden deaths, deaths the Russian government is so obsessively and unsuccessfully trying to hide. To come up with a more comprehensive tally, journalists from Mediazona and Meduza obtained records of inheritance cases filed with the Russian authorities. Their data from the National Probate Registry contained information about more than 11 million people who died between 2014 and May 2023. According to their analysis, 25,000 more inheritance cases were opened in 2022 for males aged 15 to 49 than expected. By May 27, 2023, the number of excess cases had shot up to 47,000. That surge is roughly in line with a May assessment by the White House that more than 20,000 Russians were killed in Ukraine since December, though lower than U.S. and U.K. intelligence assessments of overall Russian deaths. In February, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said about 40,000 to 60,000 Russians had likely been killed in the war. A leaked assessment from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency put the number of Russians killed in action in the first year of the war at 35,000 to 43,000. Their figures might be accurate, or they might not be," Treshchanin, the Mediazona editor, said in an email. "Even if they have sources in the Russian Ministry of Defense, its own data could be incomplete. Its extremely difficult to pull together all of the casualties from the army, Rosgvardia, Akhmat battalion, various private military companies, of which Wagner is the largest, but not the only one. Casualties among inmates, first recruited by Wagner and now by the MoD, are also a very hazy subject, with a lot of potential for manipulation. Statistics could actually give better results. Many Russian fatalities, as well as amputations, could have been prevented with better front-line first aid, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence assessment published Monday. Russia has suffered an average of around 400 casualties a day for 17 months, creating a crisis" in combat medical care that is likely undermining medical services for civilians in border regions near Ukraine, the ministry said. Independently, Dmitry Kobak, a data scientist from Germanys Tubingen University who has published work on excess COVID-19 deaths in Russia, obtained mortality data broken down by age and sex for 2022 from Rosstat, Russias official statistics agency. He found that 24,000 more men under age 50 died in 2022 than expected, a figure that aligns with the analysis of inheritance data. The COVID-19 pandemic made it harder to figure out how many men would have died in Russia since February 2022 if there hadnt been a war. Both analyses corrected for the lingering effects of COVID on mortality by indexing male death rates against female deaths. Sergei Scherbov, a scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria, cautioned that differences in the number of deaths between males and females can vary significantly due to randomness alone. I am not saying that there couldnt be an excess number of male deaths, but rather that statistically speaking, this difference in deaths could be a mere outcome of chance, he said. Russians who are missing but not officially recognized as dead, as well as citizens of Ukraine fighting in units of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics, are not included in these counts. Kobak acknowledged that some uncertainties remain, especially for deaths of older men. Moreover, its hard to know how many missing Russian soldiers are actually dead. But he said neither factor is likely to have a huge impact. That uncertainty is in the thousands, he said. The results are plausible overall. Photos: Russia's war in Ukraine reaches the 500-day mark COLUMBIA -- The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce has announced a photo contest for businesses across the state. The SC@Work: 2023 Photo Contest is an initiative to celebrate hard work and dedication in South Carolina by showcasing pictures of SC at work, in which employers across the state capture photos of their employees working. The contest invites everyone from amateur to professional photographers to submit images that catch the energy, hustle, and passion of peoples lives at their workplace. DEW wants to highlight these photographs that capture and celebrate the substance of our great, working state. The agency is encouraging everyone to think about what work looks like for them. Whether they are building a car or plane, a farmer in the field, a construction worker on the job site, a chef in the kitchen, an executive assistant writing letters, an artist painting a masterpiece, or a lawyer in a conference room, we want to see the energy, hustle, and passion of people's work in South Carolina. Through the lens of a camera, we can see the essence of what makes our state great. South Carolinians take immense pride in their work and the contribution it makes to the states success, said DEW Executive Director William Floyd. SC@Work: Photo Contest is an opportunity for businesses to share the impact of their employees who create the products and services that benefit us all. This contest will capture the dynamic and diverse workforce in South Carolina so that we can showcase the spirit of SC@Work. The top entries will be selected based on the composition and quality of the shots. Winners will be announced during the Workforce Symposium on September 19 in recognition of Workforce Development Month, and their images will be featured on dew.sc.gov and the agency's social media platforms. Additionally, the winner will receive a free registration to the 2024 Workforce Symposium. The deadline for submitting entries is Monday, Aug. 21, and all interested employers are encouraged to participate. This is an opportunity for businesses in South Carolina to feature their hard-working employees and highlight the importance of work in our state! For more information about the photo contest rules and requirements, as well as how to enter your photograph, please visit https://pollunit.com/en/polls/scworkphotos. Warrants accuse a 34-year-old Norway man of pointing a gun at U.S. Postal Service mail carriers and Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office deputies on Saturday around 10:30 a.m. Matthew Brown, of 4828 Norway Road, is facing four counts of pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, according to S.C. Law Enforcement Division warrants released Tuesday morning. According to SLED spokesperson Renee Wunderlich, OCSO deputies responded to a Norway residence where a man was allegedly pointing a gun at mail carriers. When deputies arrived, they encountered an armed man, Wunderlich said. After an interaction between deputies and the armed man, deputies fired their weapons. No one was shot, according to SLED and the OCSO. We are so very thankful no one was injured in this incident, said Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell in a press release sent by the agency on Sunday afternoon. There are many incidents where not everyone goes home, but thank the Lord this was not one of them, he added. The OCSO called SLED to conduct a separate investigation immediately after the incident, according to OCSO spokesperson Richard Walker. Wunderlich said SLED is continuing its investigation into the matter. This is the first officer-involved shooting to take place in Orangeburg County this year. In 2022, there werent any officer-involved shootings in Orangeburg County. Statewide, this is the 22nd officer-involved shooting this year. In 2022, there were 32 officer-involved shootings throughout the state. Wunderlich said, SLED conducts law enforcement officer-involved shooting investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an officer-involved shooting, SLEDs goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as it possible under the circumstances. She added, SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report and submitted to prosecutors. If Brown is convicted, he faces up to five years in prison or a court-imposed fine on each of the four counts. He is being held at the Orangeburg County Detention Center. A circuit judge may consider setting bond at a later date. Cassie Michelle Proctor, 43, of 317 Peele Court, Swansea, pleaded guilty to non-violent second-degree burglary during a recent term of court at the Orangeburg County Courthouse. Circuit Judge Heath Taylor sentenced her to 10 years in prison. Because shed already served two days in jail, the remainder of the term was suspended to four years of probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution. Proctors following charges were dismissed: two counts of criminal conspiracy and one count each of first-offense possession of less than one gram of methamphetamine or cocaine base, receiving stolen goods valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000, malicious injury to real property valued $2,000 or less, grand larceny valued $10,000 or more, safecracking and second-degree domestic violence. In other recent guilty pleas: Ariel Luva Chavis, 23, of 126 Wesmoor Road, North, pleaded guilty to two counts of forgery valued $10,000 or less. Taylor sentenced her to one day in jail and gave her credit for time served. Chavis charges of receiving stolen goods valued $2,000 or less and forgery valued $10,000 or less were dismissed. Brian Antonio Favor, 40, of 105 Asmond Lane, St. Matthews, pleaded guilty to non-violent second-degree burglary. Taylor sentenced him to prison for 30 months, giving him credit for having already served 483 days in jail. Favor also violated his probation term from a previous offense. Breasia Nicole Garner, 20, of 681 Seawright Street, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-offense possession of a controlled substance, although she was originally charged with first-offense possession of cocaine. Taylor sentenced her to eight days in jail, but gave her credit for time served. Kahlil Desean Mitchell, 30, of 134 Terry Street, Cordova, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and battery, financial transaction card fraud valued at $500 or less during a six-month period and possession of a stolen vehicle valued at $2,000 or less, although he was originally charged with possession of a stolen vehicle valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000. Taylor sentenced him to prison for three years. Because Mitchell already served three days in jail, the term was suspended to three years of probation. Dwanrhea Sharnete Williams, 48, of 138 Millwood Farm Road, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to failure to pay taxes, file a return and keep records, although the original charge was evasion of a tax or property assessment or payment. Taylor sentenced Williams to one day in jail. Williams was given credit for time served. Carroll Wardell Evans III, 33, of 1381 Hard Pinch Road, Moncks Corner, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle valued at $10,000 or more. Circuit Judge Eugene Griffith sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended to 30 months of probation. He also ordered Evans to pay restitution. Evans charges of unlawful operation of a chop shop, falsifying VIN intending to conceal identity and criminal conspiracy were dismissed. Gregory Marquese Gethers, 32, of 13110 Old Number Six Highway, Eutawville, pleaded guilty to public disorderly conduct, although his was originally charged with second-degree domestic violence. Griffith ordered him to pay a $100 fine within 90 days or serve one day in jail. Deandre Harrison, 38, of 838 Breezy Drive, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to forgery valued at $10,000 or less. Griffith sentenced him to 24 months in prison, suspended to 48 months of probation and payment of restitution. Michael Douglas Henderson, 57, of 135 Frazier Lane, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-offense driving under suspension license not suspended for DUI and first-offense failure to stop for blue lights, although he was originally charged with second-offense DUS license not suspended for DUI. Griffith sentenced him to 18 months in prison. Because hed already served 57 days in jail, the term was suspended to 18 months in prison. Hendersons following charges were dismissed: two counts of failure to obey traffic control devices and one count of disregarding a stop sign. Jimmy Charles McCormick Jr., 35, of 1007 Woolbright Road, Santee, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000. Griffith sentenced him to 12 days in prison. Because hed already served four days in jail, the remainder of his term was suspended to 12 months of probation. McCormicks charges of first-offense driving under suspension license not suspended for DUI and reckless driving were dismissed. Joe Holland Ryan, 36, of 4557 Nelson Ferry Road, Summerton, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000. Griffith sentenced him to two days in jail and gave him credit for time served. Trevaughn Williams, 53, of 764 Antioch Road, Santee, pleaded guilty to first-offense failure to stop for blue lights. Griffith sentenced him to prison for 18 months. Because hed already served seven days in jail, the term was suspended to 18 months of probation. Williams following charges were dismissed: first-offense DUS license not suspended for DUI, first-offense possession of 15 dosage units of MDMA or ecstasy, first-offense possession of scheduled drugs and first-offense DUI less than .10. A rare fungus killed a Wisconsin woman, showing just how deadly this disease really is. Sonya Crus from Ketnosha left her family heartbroken after she died due to the Blastomyces; an unusual fungus that can cause severe illness and even death. Rare Fungus Kills Wisconsin Woman According to Fox News' latest report, the deadly fungus that Sonya contracted can release spores when disturbed. These spores can cause severe illnesses and even lead to death. "My life. They took my life away from me. I'm not saying the hospital or whoever. Whatever this is, took my wife," said Sonya's husband, John Cruz. "I can walk out here and swallow a bullet, not literally a bullet, but a bullet of that," he added. John didn't really know anything about the rare fungus until her wife died after contracting it. Because of this, he said that "this is something" the world should know about. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said that Wisconsin is the U.S. state with the most Blastomyces cases; with 2.1 cases in every 100,000 Americans. The Wisconsin Department of Health also stated that the state had over 1,140 cases, with 116 cases per year between 2011 and 2020. CDC warned that the rare fungus is found in other south-central, southeastern, and Midwestern states in the U.S. Read Also: Alzheimer's Drug Meant To Slow Disease Becomes More Accessible to Americans After Getting FDA's Full Approval Can You Avoid This Deadly Fungus? Via its official website, CDC explained that the Blastomyces are found in wooded areas, disturbed soil, and moist soil. This is why people who love to go camping, hiking or just being with nature are at higher risk of contracting the deadly fungus. CDC warned that individuals who have weakened immune systems are likely to contract the disease and develop severe blastomycosis compared to those with great health. The health agency explained that blastomycosis doesn't spread through physical contact or air. Instead, the fungus can infect one living thing to another through sexual contact, bites, injuries, and needlestick. As of press time, there's no vaccine to protect humans from this rare fungus. CDC also said that it may be impossible to avoid being exposed to Blastomyces since the fungus is living in areas that people usually visit to relax. If you love to hike or camp, the best thing you can do is avoid getting any injury by wearing long and thick pants, as well as other protective gear. It would be best to avoid physical intimacy with your partner. To learn more about this rare fungus, you can click this link. Related Article: New 'Mad Cow Disease' Emerges in the US: Found in a Beef Processing Plant? @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Keisha Martin-Houston, a veteran Orangeburg County School District educator, has been appointed the new principal of Elloree Elementary School. Martin-Houston has served OCSD as a teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal and now principal. She began her career in education in 1996 as a teacher at Howard Middle School and most recently served as the assistant principal at Bethune-Bowman Pre-K-12 campus. At Bethune-Bowman, Martin Houston worked closely with the principal, served as the curriculum assistant principal for grades PreK-12, assembled and analyzed data to obtain school goals, assisted the principal in identifying personnel needs and participated in the selection of instructional and non-instructional personnel for the school. Also, she conducted SAFE-T evaluations, classroom evaluations and walk-throughs and other responsibilities in the management and support of the school. She earned a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education, a master of education in guidance education and an education specialist degree in educational leadership from South Carolina State University. Martin-Houstons vision is to develop well-rounded, confident and responsible individuals who aspire to achieve their full potential. She began her role as principal of Elloree Elementary School on July 16. Karensen Smith from North is the S.C. Whitmore School 2022-23 Student of the Year. He is working on completing his second and final year at S.C. Whitmore School. He will graduate high school two years early. Smith chose to enroll in the school because of the flexibility and the opportunity to graduate early. Principal Ebone Adams said, Karensen definitely exemplifies the 'best all around. He embodies the values and ideals that we hold dear at our school. He has displayed a true passion for making a positive impact on the school and to those who interact with him. It's amazing that he's graduating two years early. That's such a huge accomplishment and a testament to his consistent pursuit of excellence. He's set the bar high for sure. Smith has enjoyed his experience at SCWS. The experience was honestly a tough one, Smith said. I have been definitely challenged in courses and I am happy I made it this far. He was able to adapt to S.C. Whitmore School based on previous online schooling opportunities. He was kept on track with all of his schoolwork by attending classes every day to ensure he did not fall behind. Christine Featherstone, S.C. Whitmores attendance specialist, saw Smith's dedication to attendance firsthand. Karensen hasn't missed a single day of school, participates in school activities and is a fantastic student, Featherstone said. He is the true embodiment of making the most of your high school days. His school counselor, Mrs. Gilbert, also saw how hard Smith worked in high school. Karensen has been working hard to finish high school in two years and he's in great shape to do just that once he completes his final courses at Virtual SC this summer, Gilbert said. He's also already been accepted to college and plans to become an engineer. He's active at our school, advocates for himself, and is a model student. He will be missed. Smith plans to attend the University of South Carolina Aiken in the future. I want to study to become a mechanical engineer and possibly join some branch of the military, Smith said. He encourages new students to stay ahead in their assignments and ask for help from the faculty and staff when they do not understand something. I may have come here for the hours, Smith said. I stayed because this was a very great school with nice and welcoming people and I am honored to accept the title of Student of the Year of 2022-23, thank you. Executive Director Kim Dunbar said, Karensen has been an absolute pleasure during his time at S.C. Whitmore School. You can count on seeing Karensen at all of our virtual and in-person events. He works so hard and has made so many friendships. Im so excited to see him achieve greatness as an engineer. We will miss his positive attitude and we wish him all the best. Founded in 2011, SCWS offers a unique approach to education. The self-paced alternative online learning model allows students to advance through their online courses at their own pace. The model is appealing to students of all ability levels. Unique to any other public school in South Carolina, the self-paced model allows accelerated learners who are ahead of their peers the ability to graduate high school early. SCWS also serves as an alternative high quality educational option to those left behind in the traditional classroom settings. To learn more about the SC Whitmore School, visit scwhitmoreschool.org. South Carolina State University will provide students with an additional off-campus housing option beginning in the 2023 fall semester. The S.C. State University Real Estate Foundation is leasing Russell Street Suites Apartments at 1499 Russell St. from California-based Red Curb Investments to house about 89 students. Additional off-campus housing was required to accommodate the increase in freshmen/new student enrollment and the requirement for freshmen students to be housed on campus proper, S.C. State Director of University Relations Sam Watson said. We have received nearly 15,000 applications for admission. We anticipate being able to accommodate an overall enrollment of around 3,000 students this fall, he said. Room-and-board rates will be similar to those for on-campus housing, Watson said. The once-vacant building was given renewed life about 16 years ago. Columbia attorney Robert Lewis purchased the 28,000-square-foot building in January 2007 with the intention of transforming it into university housing. The $1.6 million renovation of the building began in June 2008 and included plaster repair and painting, as well as the installation of updated plumbing, electrical, security, air-conditioning, fire-suppression and sprinkler systems. The building at one time also housed a bridal shop and a mens clothing store. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The former Hotel Eutaw is no stranger to housing both S.C. State and Claflin students. S.C. State used the building briefly for student housing in the early 1990s, and real estate agents tried for years to persuade the institutions foundation to buy the property. In 2009, about 50 Claflin students occupied the building during the 2009-10 academic year. From 2009 to about 2015, Claflin housed as many as 85 students at one time in the building. Claflin has not housed students in the building for several years, according to school officials. The seven-story Hotel Eutaw was considered one of the most modern and best-equipped hotels in a community of Orangeburgs size when it opened for business in 1927. Two years later, the stock market collapsed, sending the nation into the Great Depression. By 1934, ownership of the hotel had transferred to a group of Orangeburg business people. For decades, the hotel was renowned for its dining facilities and as a space for wedding receptions and other occasions. But cars gradually replaced trains as the preferred mode of travel and U.S. Highway 301 diverted traffic from Russell Street to John C. Calhoun Drive. Newer motels grew up along the streamlined federal highway route, offering more parking and more first-floor guest rooms than the Hotel Eutaw could provide. The T&D was published from the hotels lobby and dining room for nearly a month in late 1972 following a devastating fire at its physical plant. In 1984, the hotel was renovated and renamed the Russell Street Inn. A bank foreclosed against the hotels then-owner in 1987. New owners took over the hotel in 1990, but it closed again in 1992. In 1997, Regency Development Associates Inc. of Raleigh, N.C., stepped forward with a $1.3 million plan to divide the building into 32 apartments for senior citizens. City Council endorsed the project and provided $10,000. However, anticipated state grant money was not forthcoming. Around 2005, the Claflin University Community Development Corp. also looked at purchasing the former hotel. The university did some engineering studies to see if it could be turned into low-income housing, but the project was not deemed feasible. In addition to the Russell Street property, the S.C. State Real Estate Foundation is also leasing other off-campus buildings for student housing. These include: University Village (Chestnut Street) Campus Corner (Campus Drive) Rhames Campus Suites (Frederick Street) Rutledge Ensuites (Lovell Street) University Corner (Dorchester Street) Chestnut Inn (Chestnut Street) The university is also: Renovating Queens Village, which will add 56 beds. Conducting $10 million in renovations to Sojourner Truth Hall, which will free up beds. Currently only about a third of the beds in Truth Hall were being used because of the fire and safety issues on its top seven floors. President Alexander Conyers is developing strategies for additional housing, Watson said. The national political leadership may be telling us the U.S. economy is in good shape, but small business and the people of South Carolina dont agree. The latest Winthrop poll, with results released in June, shows a majority of South Carolinians believe the United States economy is worse than it was a year ago. Almost half believe the economy of South Carolina is worse than a year ago, as well. Fully 44% of South Carolinians say their personal finances are worse than a year ago while 20% say they are in a better situation. A third are in about the same place. Small business optimism for better days ahead remains low as well. As reported in June, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased 0.4 points in May to 89.4, which is the 17th consecutive month below the 49-year average of 98. The last time the index was at or above the average was December 2021. Small business owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months declined one point from April to a net negative 50%. Overall, small business owners are expressing concerns for future business conditions, said Bill Dunkelberg, National Federation of Independent Business chief economist. Supply chain disruptions and labor shortages will continue to limit the ability of many small firms to meet the demand for their products and services The labor shortage is a key negative. The July NFIB monthly jobs report shows just how big an issue it is. Forty-two percent of owners nationwide (seasonally adjusted) reported job openings they could not fill in June, down two points from May. The share of owners with unfilled job openings far exceeds the 49-year historical average of 23%. The percent of small business owners reporting labor quality as their top small business operating problem remains elevated at 24%, unchanged from May. Labor costs reported as the single most important problem to business owners decreased two points to 8% in June, five points below the highest reading of 13% reached in December 2021. Overall, 59% of owners reported hiring or trying to hire in June, down four points from May. Of those hiring or trying to hire, 92% of owners reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill. Thirty-three percent of owners reported few qualified applicants for their open positions and 21% reported none. Nonetheless, lets try to find some optimism. In the words of NFIB South Carolina Director Ben Homeyer: Our small business members say its hard for them to find and keep qualified people, but were hopeful that H.3726, passed by the legislature and signed into law this spring by Gov. Henry McMaster, will go a long way toward remedying the situation. H.3726, also known as the Statewide Education and Workforce Development Act, includes initiatives to coordinate and make the most of all publicly funded job training, scholarships, apprenticeship programs and other workforce development services. (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 The Lebanese judiciary issued a verdict for the imprisonment of Lebanese Journalist Dima Sadek on Monday, according to court documents seen by L'Orient Today. The verdict, which sentences Sadek to one year in prison, was the result of a lawsuit filed by head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, who accused her of defamation and slander three years ago, the court documents said. Sadek communicated the details of the verdict in a video posted on Twitter on Tuesday, in which she explained she must settle a compensation of LL110 million to the FPM. The lawsuit was filed in Feb. 2020. In 2020, Dima Sadek and blogger Gino Raidy both announced that they had been summoned by the criminal investigations department to be questioned on the basis of a complaint filed on Feb. 14 by the FPM. "In Feb. 2020, everyone remembers that two young men from Tripoli were assaulted by the FPM. One was attacked by (former MP) Ziad Aswad's bodyguards, and the other, named Zakaria al-Masri (...) says in his written testimony that he was beaten up and forced to say 'Aoun is your God and the God of Tripoli.' Gebran Bassil is suing me in the case of Zakaria al-Masri," Sadek said in the video. "In both cases, I said that these actions were racist and nazi," she continued. " " . ( ). . pic.twitter.com/UKkWOYAYVz Dima (@DimaSadek) July 11, 2023 In another tweet, Sadek said Bassil sued her, accusing her of "defamation and slander as well as inciting sectarian strife." "So, when they beat up the man, this is not 'inciting sectarian strife,'" Sadek said sarcastically. "And they weren't tried, arrested and no one said a word to them." "But, a verdict was issued to put me, I, who condemned this act, in jail." Sadek said the verdict against her to be imprisoned in the defamation and slander lawsuit without a suspended prison sentence sets "a very very dangerous precedent on the freedom of journalism, media and expression in Lebanon." She explained that the judiciary can incarcerate her at any time if she does not appeal. Sadek and the FPM were not immediately available for comment. In 2020, Bassil denounced "the dissemination of false news" and the "publication of a video, falsely attributed to the FPM, including incitement to hatred and racism, which could give rise to a sectarian conflict." Politicians stand in solidarity Following the judicial verdict, several politicians and social media users posted solidarity messages. Information Minister Ziad Makari took to Twitter and said, "After the issuance of a judicial verdict ruling the imprisonment of journalist Dima Sadek, it is important for us to stress our respect for the independence of the judiciary, and to affirm our absolute belief in freedom of expression, which is the essence of Lebanon." "Accordingly, we renew our call to the Lebanese Parliament to discuss and adopt the vision of the modern media law that we presented before it, which abolishes prison sentences against journalists, as the law that respects international standards remains the only guarantee for preserving the freedom of workers in the media field, and protecting them from the provisions of the Criminal Penal Code that some resort to," he continued. The Lebanese Forces also denounced in a statement "the judicial decision issued against journalist Dima Sadek," which they said stripped her "of her civil rights." "This ruling constitutes a dangerous precedent in terms of imprisonment for defamation and slander lawsuits against media professionals," added the LF statement. MP and Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel took to Twitter to say, "We reaffirm that the attempts to intimidate writers and free media will not work, but rather will increase their determination to defend their cause to the end. All solidarity with the journalist, Dima Sadik, in her battle." The Progressive Socialist Party also issued a statement. "Whatever the facts are, freedom of the media, which is safeguarded by the Human Rights Charter as well as the Lebanese constitution, remains above all considerations. Under this ceiling, it is reprehensible that a prison sentence was issued against journalist Dima Sadek," the statement said. Forces of Change MP Paula Yacoubian tweeted: "Free voices and activists, men and women, against the fanatical Nazi-fascist mafia. We are all with you." Forces of Change MP Mark Daou also expressed his solidarity with Sadik, writing on Twitter: All solidarity with the press, freedom of expression, the constitution, and Dima Sadek. This decision is an infringement of the Publications Court." Meanwhile, the Future Movement considered, in a statement that "it is very shameful for some Lebanese judiciary to issue on-spot rulings media professionals, in response to political desires that have nothing but settling scores and suppressing freedoms." The Future Movement "stands in solidarity with colleague Dima Sadik in the face of this renewed attempt to intimidate media professionals," calling on "the judiciary to reverse the verdict issued against her." Independent MP Ihab Matar also commented on the verdict against Sadek saying "Freedom of expression was the basis for the establishment of Lebanon, but today we regret to mourn this freedom in front of a police state and a butchers judiciary." This article may have been recategorised as a regular news story and is therefore no longer available at this URL. You can try to find the updated link in the News Archive. Uruguay is experiencing its worst drought in 74 years. Meanwhile, Google's plans to construct a data center that would require the country's millions of liters of water per day have provoked frustration from locals. Montevideo, the capital and the largest city of Uruguay, has declared a state of emergency due to the country's serious water scarcity. The government has responded by adding salty water to public drinking water sources, which has sparked significant protests. Disagreements Over Google's New Facility According to The Guardian, Some people believe the government is putting the needs of multinational corporations and agriculture ahead of those of its own citizens when it comes to water allocation. Daniel Pea, a researcher at the University of the Republic in Montevideo, has claimed, "Only a tiny proportion of water in Uruguay is used for human consumption. The majority is used for big agro-industries, such as soya, rice, and wood pulping. Now we have Google planning to use enormous quantities of water." In order to construct its new data center, the search giant has purchased 29 hectares (72 acres) of property in the Canelones department, located in southern Uruguay. In the data received by Pea via legal action from the Ministry of Environment, the facility will consume 7.6 million liters (2 million gallons) of water each day to cool its servers, which is equal to the residential daily consumption of 55,000 individuals. Pea said the water would flow straight from the municipal supply. The industry ministry in Uruguay has said that these projections are inaccurate since the corporation is now making changes to its plans, and the data center would be a smaller size instead. Google claimed in a statement that the facility will handle requests from people all across the globe for Google services, including YouTube, Gmail, and Google Search. "The Uruguay data center project is still in the exploratory phase, and Google's technical team is actively working with the support of national and local authorities. We expect preliminary numbers (like projected water consumption) to undergo adjustments. At Google, sustainability is at the core of everything we do, and the way we design and manage our data centers is no exception," the firm stated, as reported by BNamericas. Read Also: Google-Sponsored Drag Show Criticized by Christian Employees Government Response to Catastrophic Drought, Heatwave Due to extreme drought and record-high temperatures, Uruguay's major reservoir is empty, and rivers are running dry. As a result, public water officials have begun drawing water from the Rio de la Plata estuary, where saltwater mixes with freshwater, giving tap water a salty flavor. As a result of the government's decision to increase the maximum allowable concentration of sodium chloride in public water supplies, pregnant women and others with compromised health are being warned to avoid its use. It has been recommended that parents use bottled water to make infant milk and refrain from adding salt to their children's meals. Read Also: Remains Found in Suspected Secret Military Cemetery in Uruguay @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A woman suspected of setting fire to a Casper abortion clinic last year has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, federal court filings show. Lorna Green, 22, is scheduled to appear before United States Magistrate Judge Alan B. Johnson on July 20 for her change of plea hearing a few days before her jury trial was meant to start, the filing shows. Green pleaded not guilty to the federal arson charge last month in Cheyenne. She is accused of trying to burn down Wellspring Health Access in Casper on May 25, 2022, which was weeks away from opening at the time. The clinic, which is the only facility in Wyoming that provides surgical abortions, ultimately opened in April. The details of the proposed plea agreement have not been made public, but Green was facing up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; her attorney Ryan Semerad declined to comment on the details of Greens plea agreement. Officials responded to a burglary report at Wellspring Health Access at 3:30 a.m. on May 25, 2022, but when they arrived, they noticed smoke pouring from the northeast corner of the facility. It sits along East Second Street in the central part of Casper. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, but the building sustained significant damage, the federal complaint states. The blaze engulfed an entire room, and florescent lights melted and fell to the floor. The fire caused $290,000 worth of damage, and created a ripple of apprehension and fear across the Casper community, Wellspring Health Access President Julie Burkhart said in a statement earlier this year. Casper police soon released video footage and photographs that showed a woman dressed in a hoodie and face mask to conceal most of her head bringing a gas can into Wellspring. Investigators say the woman was inside for about 15 minutes. Through witness accounts and video surveillance, investigators identified a suspect who had gained entry by breaking a window, pouring gas in the facility, then leaving just prior to the reporting party calling in suspicious activity, Casper police said in a statement at the time. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms offered a reward for information that led to the womans arrest, but no suspects were identified for almost 10 months despite the photos and video of the woman. The reward was raised to $15,000 with the help of an anonymous donor in March. Then, authorities began to receive more tips about the arsonists identity. There were 12 tipsters, and four of them identified Green as the suspect, which led to charges against her, the federal complaint states. A comparative analysis of Green with the security footage allegedly confirmed several resemblances. The similarities are readily apparent, including: the wide widows peak with deep hair recession, and the hair can be seen to be combed or lie in the same direction; the suspects eyes are relatively wide-set, and this appears consistent also for Green; both Green and the suspect have similarly dome-shaped foreheads, the official complaint says. On March 21, Green spoke with authorities for the first time after they searched her family home in Casper, the federal complaint filed in her case states. She admitted she was the person in the security footage. She told investigators she knew the clinic was going to offer abortions when it opened, and she was opposed to them, the complaint states. Green stated she did not like abortion and was having nightmares which she attributed to her anxiety about the abortion clinic, so she decided to burn the building, the complaint says. Green allegedly bought gas cans at a Laramie Walmart nearby where she was living and drove to Casper that night with the intention of setting the clinic on fire, the federal complaint states. She drove straight back to Laramie afterwards and arrived around dawn, the complaint states. Green told investigators she kept her dark hoodie and pink shirt from that night, which she had to wash repeatedly to rid of the smell of gasoline. She also took one of the two gas cans with her. She was jailed after her arrest but released one week later on a $10,000 bond that didnt require her to put up any money. Green lives at her parents Casper home, surrendered her passport and continues to work for DoorDash and attend college part-time as conditions of her release. No additional information was immediately available Tuesday. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. CHEYENNE Frank McHenry spent more than three years awaiting trial on multiple charges, according to a Wyoming Supreme Court opinion published Thursday. During that time, he filed several motions for a speedy trial and ultimately at the advice of counsel entered a no-contest plea agreement to escape the potential of life in prison without parole or the death penalty. After a judge told him that they had referred McHenrys lawyer to the Wyoming State Bar, McHenry asked to withdraw his plea agreement. McHenry was arrested in 2018 after he broke into two homes in Laramie County and stole a gun, according to the facts listed in the opinion. He shot two people with the stolen gun, killing one and injuring another. He was initially charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated burglary, four counts of felony interference with a peace officer and misdemeanor property destruction. He later pleaded no-contest and his first-degree and attempted first-degree murder charges were reduced to voluntary and attempted voluntary manslaughter. The recommended sentences in the plea agreement included a maximum of 20 years in prison for all counts, said the opinion, written by Supreme Court Justice Keith Kautz. (It) was a significant downward departure from the potential sentences of death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Supreme Court upheld the decision by Laramie County District Judge Thomas Campbell to hold McHenry to his no-contest plea. A defendant has no absolute right to withdraw a plea of guilty before a sentence is imposed, Kautz wrote in the opinion. Kautz said that McHenry failed to provide adequate reasons for the withdrawal of his plea, saying that he waited too long and continually affirmed his faith in his lawyer. At that time, as McHenry was in jail awaiting sentencing, First District Court Judge Catherine R. Rogers informed him that she had reported his lawyer to the Bar for his inattentiveness to McHenrys case. He said he understood that he was waiving some of his rights by entering a plea agreement. He also affirmed that he was still comfortable with his lawyers performance. If you go back to the jail and sleep on it over the weekend and decide on Monday that things are looking a little bit differently to you than they are right now, Rogers told McHenry, I will not hold it against you if you tell me something differently in the future. She said that McHenry could seek advice from the public defenders office if he found his own lawyers advice inadequate. McHenry sent Rogers a letter a few days later. The judges clerk informed him that he could not send letters to the judge without going through his lawyer and forwarded the letter to his attorney without the judge reading it. On Jan. 10, 2022, McHenry sent his lawyer a letter asking to withdraw from the plea and said he wanted to let the judge know he was having trouble getting hold of his attorney. Initially, McHenry was advised to enter into a plea of not guilty by reason of mental illness, but his attorney convinced the judge and prosecutor to accept a no-contest plea. McHenry later changed his mind. He said, at the time of entering the plea, he did not know all the facts and circumstances surrounding his case. His claim was based on the fact that he said he was unaware that the judge in his November 2021 hearing reported his lawyer to the Bar. The court upheld the sentence, which carried a maximum of 20 years in prison, because he entered the plea knowingly and voluntarily. PRIME MINISTER Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday he has been abused by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and in seeking legal advice, will leave no stone unturned to determine whether he is guilty of witness tampering. Rowley announced at a news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Anns, that he is now receiving legal advice and has instructed Attorney General Reginald Armour to look into whether Augustine acted outside the Constitution on Wednesday. Tucson flutist Zach Warren is making his St. Andrews Bach Society debut on Sunday, July 16, with works hes never played before, and one piece Tucson has likely never heard live. Its exciting. ... I had a lot of freedom to choose different things and I wanted to think what would be interesting for the audience and for me to invest a lot of time learning, said Warren, who has played flute and piccolo with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra since 2019. I tried to choose pieces that felt a little bit special, a little out of the ordinary. Sundays concert, which features Warren and longtime Tucson pianist Michael Dauphinais, is the second installment of St. Andrews Bach Societys 2023 summer series, which opened in June with the greatest hits of the string quartet repertoire. Warrens program opens with French composer Lili Boulangers haunting and powerful Dun Matin de Printemps (Of A Spring Morning). It was one of the last pieces Boulanger composed before her death at 24, and the work surely would have been forgotten if not for her sister Nadia Boulanger, the French music teacher and conductor who taught some of the 20th-centurys most important composers, including Americans Elliott Carter, Aaron Copland, Philip Glass and Quincy Jones and Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla. Musicologist James Keller described the work in program notes for the San Francisco Symphony as having vibrant energy and surpassing delicacy, strikingly in mode of the French Impressionist composers. Warren said the piece, originally written for violin and piano but transcribed early on for flute, doesnt sound hopeful or happy, but theres a liveliness to it, a youth to it. In terms of the harmony, its a little more complex, a little bit of intrigue to it, he added, saying that listeners on Sunday will likely pick up on something a little unusual to the harmonies. Warren also programmed the Tucson premiere of Valerie Colemans 2018 Fanmi Imen, a poem for piano and flute. Immediately when I knew I was going to be doing this program I knew I wanted to play one of the pieces Valerie Coleman had written for flute, said Warren, who worked with Coleman, a flutist and one of the founders of the prestigious Imani Winds, when he was an undergrad at the University of South Carolina. He landed on Fanmi Imen (Human Family) partly due to his love of the Maya Angelou epic poem of the same name that inspired Coleman. The Angelou poem includes the uplifting refrain, We are more alike, my friends/Than we are unalike. This piece really runs the gamut, slow and lyrical and some fast and exciting, with a cadenza in the middle, Warren said, adding that the piece is lively and exciting with lots of contrasts. French-German 20th century composer Walter Gieskings Sonatine for Flute and Piano, a harmonically unconventional piano-flute piece reminiscent of Ravel and Poulenc, and American composer Amy Beachs Sonata in A minor for violin and piano transcribed for flute round out the program. Warren said his choice of three women composers alongside Giesking was intentional. These are composers that the general concertgoer is probably not familiar with their style and their musical language, he said. I think there is something about getting people in a room and listening intentionally. ... I think its like going to a movie theater where everyone in the room will have the same experience at the same time. (As musicians,) we get to bring to life the sounds that were in the composers head and we get to share that as a community. Sundays concert begins at 2 p.m. at Grace St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St. Tickets are $15, $25 for premium through standrewsbach.org or at the door. Tucsons James Beard Award-winning baker is tiptoeing into the behemoth Phoenix market with plans to open a one-day-a-week satellite bakery in Gilbert in September. Don Guerra said he plans to bake as many as 300 loaves of Barrio Bread each week from the bakery space at Hayden Flour Mills new facility at 932 N. Colorado St. in Gilbert. Customers will order the bread and pick it up on Tuesdays. Its a chance for me to have a presence in the Phoenix market even if its a limited basis, said Guerra, who grew up in Scottsdale. Its my hometown ... and I really would love to come back home and have an offering in the valley even if it was just one day a week. Im starting very small to plant the seed and watch it grow. Guerra has been working with Hayden Flour Mills since the father-daughter owners Jeff and Emma Zimmerman resurrected the historic Tempe mill in 2009, the same year that Guerra launched Barrio Bread from his Tucson garage. Guerra has championed the use of heritage and ancient grains for all of his baked goods, including his new line of bagels that he introduced in Tucson in late June. Hayden Flour Mills, whose history dates back to the 1870s, recently moved into a new facility in Gilbert with a bakery space that they offered to Guerra, Emma Zimmerman said. Im still just so shocked that he said yes, she said of the partnership, which has been 18 months in the making. We are really excited. Hes always been a friend and supporter of what we do, but to kind of do something a little bigger with him. I am so curious how Phoenix responds. Guerra insisted he has no plans to leave the Tucson market, which has embraced his Barrio Bread and his restaurant projects with El Charros Flores family: The Monica at 40 E. Congress St. and Barrio Charro at 3699 N. Campbell Ave. My base will always be in Tucson. This is just an opportunity to kind of reach out to the Phoenix area. Theres been a lot of interest; people have been asking for years if I was going to have bread there. Guerra recently got his business license from the town of Gilbert, and the oven he ordered from Italy has arrived in the United States; it still needs to be shipped from Ohio. he said. Barrio Bread Gilbert will return Guerra to his Tucson garage roots, when he worked alone producing dozens upon dozens of loaves of bread each day that he sold from his home. Guerra these days does little hands-on baking at Barrios Broadway Village Shopping Center bakery, 18 S. Eastbourne Ave., leaving it up to his experienced staff. At this bakery I will be hands on, said Guerra, who launched his baking career in 1995 with the Village Baker of Flagstaff. This is kind of like for me going back to what I used to do in the garage, a one-person bake team. I rehearsed it and Im going to go back and do it. The satellite bakery also is next door to Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company, which follows Guerras grains philosophy. The brewery is collaborating with Guerra on a new beer that is expected to be released in September. In addition to Barrio Bread, the Gilbert bakery also will sell Barrio Bagels. The bagels, a collaboration between Guerra and Neal Borensteins popular Phoenix bagel bakery Chompies, will be baked in Phoenix and shipped to the Tucson bakery. They should be available here this month. This is really about another community bakery investment and collaborating with the people involved in my grain chain, Guerra said. For more information, visit barriobread.com. An old motel along Miracle Mile will be converted by the city into a shelter with an additional apartment complex to be built on the property. Jigar Desai, with NewGen Advisory, handled the $2.6 million sale of the 30-unit Amazon Motel on two acres of land at 1135 W. Miracle Mile, near Fairview Avenue. NewGen Advisory is actively working with local municipalities and nonprofit agencies to bridge connections to help with the housing shortage, Desai said. The purchase was made possible with a $6.1 million grant from the Arizona Department of Housing, said Ann Chanecka, interim director for the city of Tucsons housing and community development department. The city plans to rehab the motel rooms into studios and will later add on-site support services. In the meantime, our Housing First team is using it as emergency shelter as we dont expect to start construction until 2024, Chanecka said. A future phase will be to add another apartment building to the vacant lot on the Amazon parcel. The preliminary concept is a three-story, 43-unit complex. The timeline for that project is dependent on receiving a grant from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development. Other local commercial transactions include: Don Martin Apartments LLC bought the 24-unit Don Martin Apartments at 605 E. Ninth St. from Performance Properties Group LLC for $3.2 million. Allan Mendelsberg and Joey Martinez, with Picor, represented both parties. The Utah Townhomes LLC bought the six-unit Utah Townhomes at 407 W. Utah St. from 407 UTAH JGJ LLC for $1.1 million. Allan Mendelsberg and Joey Martinez, with Picor, represented both parties. Arizona Heart Foundation, Inc. leased 2,512 square feet at the Williams Centre, 310 S. Williams Blvd., to open a second location of its School of Cardiac & Vascular Ultrasound. Ryan McGregor and Thomas J. Nieman, with Picor, represented the tenant and the landlord, DHS Property Investments Ltd. Partnership. Citizens For Free Enterprise leased 2,424 square feet of office space at 17 W. Wetmore Road from Coronado Tower Tucson LLC. Thomas J. Nieman, with Picor, represented the landlord. Not Your Mothers Fitness LLC leased 1,200 square feet at 1070 E. Tucson Marketplace from Elite Retail Center Inc. to open a fitness studio. Joey Castillo, Andreas Castillo, and Jeramy Price, with Volk Co., handled the lease. Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2023. If you've been itching to explore more of Southern Arizona but don't know where to start, we're here to help. There's the history engraved in Tombstone, the charm of Bisbee, the color of Nogales pick a spot and we'll give you some ideas on where to eat and things to do. Bonus: All these cities are less than 100 miles from downtown Tucson. Mount Lemmon Let's start with the closest option for many Tucsonans, and the spot that many of us consider our personal getaway. Mount Lemmon, with the charming town of Summerhaven at the top of the mountain, is typically 20 degrees cooler during summer and offers snowy vibes in winter that we can't normally find in Tucson. Things to do: Things to eat: Nogales, Arizona On a recent trip to Nogales, Arizona smaller than Nogales, Sonora #ThisIsTucson food reporter Ellice Lueders fell in love with the city. She even considered, "Could I do my job remotely from here?" Things to do: Things to eat: El Zarape Ellice said if she could marry a restaurant, it would be this one. Mexican food including birria, tacos and menudo. Finitos Locals will say it's "like Eegee's, but better." Cocina La Ley Mariscos, birria and cabeza. Rancho Grande Mexican food from pozole and menudo to enchiladas, burros and breakfast items. Bisbee Bisbee has a charm that's easy to fall in love with. You might walk through the historic Erie Street, or maybe Main Street, with the white "B" on the mountain behind you, as you explore antique shops and the Copper Queen Library, all while making the hard decision how the heck are you going to decide where to eat? One thing's for sure though: Like every other city on this list, simply spending time walking through Bisbee and enjoying the sights is a must-do activity in itself. Things to do: Things to eat: Patisserie Jacqui While it's closed until Sept. 1, you can't miss this patisserie with its hot pink building and neon sign shaped like a croissant. Screaming Banshee Pizza Wood-fired pizza, plus you can build your own calzone! Thuy's Noodle Shop Vietnamese restaurant serving pho, curries and pork bun. Pussycat Gelato Throwback interior alongside assorted gelato flavors. Cafe Roka For a more fine-dining option, Cafe Roka has a changing menu based on available ingredients. Old Bisbee Brewing Company Bisbee is home to an area called Brewery Gulch so naturally we have to include a brewery on this list. (Brewery Gulch is also home to dive bar St. Elmo, which was established in 1902!) Tombstone and Benson area For a Western adventure, Tombstone is your place, where notorious folks like Wyatt Earp once walked. It's the town too tough to die. On the way there is Benson, a small town founded when the Southern Pacific Railroad came through Southern Arizona. The two towns are less than 30 minutes apart, with St. David in between. Register for more free articles. Log in Sign up Things to do: Things to eat: Elgin, Sonoita and Patagonia area You're in wine country now. If you were to Google "what to do in Sonoita," much of what you'd find is winery after winery after winery. But we aren't complaining. Sonoita and Elgin are less than 10 miles from each other, and Patagonia is also nearby, to the south. Things to do: Wine tours It should come as no shock that wine tours are at the top of this list. Check out Arizona Winery Tours for details. Empire Ranch Foundation The ranch house dates back to 1870. Tours are available of the headquarters, or check out the foundation's event calendar. Tucson Audubon Society's Paton Center for Hummingbirds Celebrate the area's hummingbirds in this spot that has reported 213 bird species. Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve If birding's your thing, this is your place. Patagonia Lake State Park Swim, boat, fish and camp at this park with a lake. Parker Canyon Lake Dubbed Arizona's year-round mountain playground about an hour south of Sonoita, this lake offers kayaking and fishing. Things to eat: Tubac, Tumacacori, Rio Rico and Green Valley area Tubac, and the nearby Tumacacori, is historical and funky, packed with a lot of character. It's where you'll find cute stores carrying artsy imports from Mexico and handmade jewelry from Indigenous artisans. Close to Tubac and Tumacacori are Rio Rico and Green Valley for more activities and eateries south of Tucson. Things to do: Things to eat: Moqah Coffee & Beyond A cafe that got its start in Rio Rico, and has sweet and savory crepes, bistro classics and showstoppers like a matcha drink in the colors of the Mexican flag. Wisdom's Cafe The first item on the menu is the fruit burro, made with flour tortillas and your choice of fruit, deep-fried and rolled in cinnamon sugar with vanilla ice cream on the side. One of our readers says Wisdom's has the best margaritas! Elvira's If you miss when Elvira's was in downtown Tucson, its flagship is in Tubac. Contemporary Mexican dishes and five different moles. Longhorn Grill & Saloon There's a giant steer skull outside that has long been an attraction for passersby. Burgers, sandwiches, steak. Los Agaves This homestyle, sit-down Mexican restaurant has some of the best soups in Southern Arizona. Oracle and Catalina area Heading north of Tucson, and north of Marana and Oro Valley, are Oracle and Catalina. Depending on traffic, Oracle and Catalina are about 20 minutes from each other. This time of year, Oracle is about 10 degrees cooler than Tucson and in winter, the town may even get snow. Things to do: Biosphere 2 Stepping inside Biosphere 2 means you're stepping into scientific research. It's the "world's largest controlled environment dedicated to understanding the impacts of climate change." Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm When lavender is blooming around June, this farm invites visitors for festivals, workshops and more. Stay tuned for more events from the farm this fall! Arizona Zipline Adventures Zipline across Sonoran Desert scenery. Oracle State Park Take a tour of the Historic Kannally Ranch House, enjoy a picnic, go stargazing or hike through the 15 miles of trails. Things to eat: Licks Catalina This new ice cream shop has bubble waffle cones and cereal blends. Casa Rivera Mexican-American spot with breakfast plates, burritos, tacos, enchiladas and combo plates. Oracle Patio Cafe Cafe menu with breakfast, soups and sandwiches, plus wine and beer. Catalina Craft Pizza Pizza options alongside live music. Honorable mentions Sierra Vista's cooler temperatures and scenic Huachuca Mountains could make a great extension to your day trip when it's a little too hot to go hiking in Tucson. Check out Brown Canyon Trail, indoor aquatic park The Cove and Ramsey Canyon Preserve in nearby Hereford. If you're into history, Willcox may be worth the trip. While you're there, you can pick your own produce at Apple Annie's, take a wine tour, and pay a visit to the incredible rock formations at the Chiricahua National Monument. In nearby Dragoon, there's Native American art, history and culture museum Amerind, plus the mysterious roadside attraction The Thing. North of Tucson is Eloy, which is known for skydiving. If you're feeling a little adventurous, check out Skydive Arizona. (Photo : Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay) The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World recently announced the start of construction of a new Centre for Agricultural Transformation in Malawi that will be the physical hub for CAT-related work that focuses on helping the nation's smallholder farmers increase productivity and transition into growing crops other than tobacco. The African country currently ranks among the most tobacco-dependent economies in the world. Agricultural transformation represents one area of commitment in the Foundation's mission to end tobacco smoking in this generation. The new building on the campus of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources will house an incubation center for science, technology, and business that focuses on research, learning, and innovation with an aim of supporting smallholder farmers' agricultural diversification efforts and productivity. The Foundation's CAT announcement coincided with World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organization's annual day to focus attention worldwide on the harmful health outcomes associated with cigarette smoking. "World No Tobacco Day highlights the importance of helping farmers transition away from growing tobacco. Malawi is ready, willing, and able to move away from tobacco as one of its main exports, but the work must start at ground level," said Candida Nakhumwa, Vice President and Malawi Country Director, Foundation for a Smoke-Free World. "Tobacco farmers and the land on which tobacco is grown are often overlooked in the conversation about ending smoking. The global decline in tobacco demand is bringing negative economic consequences to tobacco farmers. They must be supported to find competitive and sustainable alternative livelihoods." Centre for Agricultural Transformation Provides Much-Needed Support to Farmers The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World funded the technical activities of the CAT with a five-year grant from 2019. As part of its strategy to reduce and eventually eliminate the harm caused by tobacco smoking, the nonprofit organization provides grants that support health and science research, agricultural diversification, and industry transformation. The Foundation has awarded $125 million in grant expenditures since its inception in 2017. In Lilongwe, the new CAT building, which will support the CAT technical activities will provide a central location for the effort to educate Malawi farmers on pathways for agricultural diversification, increasing productivity and production for agriculture and livestock commodities other than tobacco. Programs offered through the CAT give smallholder farmers access to innovative agriculture science and technology that can support them in making the transition. The CAT, which the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World fully funds, currently manages its programs without a central location. Even so, it has established smart farms at the Bunda and Natural Resources Campus of Lilongwe University for Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well as the Makoka research station. At the smart farms, farmers have explored working with a variety of different crops, including groundnuts, soybean, dairy, mushrooms, and bananas. The new hub for the CAT is also supported by the Agricultural Transformation Initiative, an affiliate of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World. Nakhumwa said the centre's programs and initiatives will provide "much-needed support to farmers, agribusinesses, communities, and other stakeholders working to build long-term resilience by diversifying away from tobacco production." Malawi Ranks Among Biggest Tobacco-Producing Countries in the World The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World focuses on adult smoking cessation and harm reduction efforts in three areas - health and science research, agricultural transformation, and industry transformation. Each is considered critical to successfully combating smoking, which leads to more than 7 million deaths each year around the world. One often overlooked factor in reducing the use of tobacco for smoking is helping farmers, particularly in developing nations, transition into diverse agricultural value chains., including crops, livestock and aquaculture. Malawi is a country that the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World has focused on because of its high ranking among tobacco-producing countries. While China, Brazil, and India are the world's largest producers of tobacco, Malawi is the only country in the world where tobacco exports account for more than 1% of total gross domestic product. In Malawi, tobacco exports account for 8.45% of the country's GDP, making tobacco the country's most-produced and exported crop. Taken together, these numbers show that Malawi - a country where almost 77% of the workforce is in agriculture and more than half of the country lives in poverty - is one of the most tobacco-dependent countries in the world. How CAT Can Help Malawi Farmers Move Past Tobacco One of the key components to what the CAT offers is an education for farmers on techniques that can help increase crop yield. Mwatitha Braynati, a Malawian groundnut farmer since 2020, said that CAT helped her accomplish this goal. "Before the CAT came to partner with us, my groundnut harvest totaled just 30 bags. Two years later, in 2022, from the same 1 hectare of land, my harvest increased to 120 bags with technical guidance from the CAT," she said. "Next year I expect it to increase to 150 bags by applying the new practices and technologies demonstrated through the CAT smart farms. The proceeds from the sale of this harvest have ensured my family of seven children and four grandchildren is happy and does not lack for a good variety of food at home." CAT initiatives focus on teaching farmers the significance of using improved crop varieties, as well as innovative technologies in planting nutrition, plant protection, soil enhancement, irrigation, and ecosystem restoration. While these programs help farmers increase productivity and production in the short term, the long-term goal is to pave the way for Malawi farmers to rid themselves of dependence on tobacco farming. CAT programs focus on helping smallholder farmers produce enough for their families, and also on improving productivity to the point where they can have surplus to sell in both the domestic and foreign exchange markets. The CAT provides a place for farmers to view and experiment with agricultural technology, as well as create partnerships and develop business plans. This includes technical assistance, mentorship, agribusiness development support, and access to a network of connections who can help farmers move forward with agricultural diversification. After completion of the CAT building. farmers will also be able to access soil testing and food testing laboratories to ensure their products meet market quality levels. With its growing workforce and large agricultural industry, Malawi is positioned to transition from tobacco and become a larger exporter of other types of crops. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. ANDOVER, Vt. (AP) A storm that dumped up to two months of rain in two days in Vermont and other parts of the Northeast brought more flooding Tuesday to communities that included the state capital, where officials said that river levels at a dam just upstream appeared to be stable. Muddy brown water from the Winooski River flowed Tuesday through the capital of Montpelier, obscuring vehicles and all but the tops of parking meters along picturesque streets lined with brick storefronts whose basements and lower floors were flooded. Some residents of the city of 8,000 slogged their way through the waist-high water; others canoed and kayaked along main streets to survey the scene. Shopkeepers took stock of damaged or lost goods. Montpelier Town Manager Bill Fraser said the dam remains a lingering concern but that the city was shifting to a recovery mode, with water receding and public works employees expected Wednesday morning to start removing mud and debris from downtown streets. Building inspections will start as businesses begin cleaning up their properties. The dam did not spill over. The water in the dam is still up there but it stabilized. We are feeling like the water going over the spillway of the dam is not an imminent threat, Fraser said. It looks like it wont breach. That is good. That is one less thing we have to have on our front burner. There were other signs of hope as Vermont rivers crested and flood waters receded, allowing officials to begin assessing the damage and the scope of the clean-up ahead. The flooding has already caused tens of millions of dollars in damage throughout the state. Its heartbreaking because you know all these businesses are losing inventory, and this person just clearly just lost their car, said state Sen. Anne Watson, noting a parked vehicle inundated with water in Montpelier. Similar scenes played out in neighboring Barre and in Bridgewater, where the Ottauquechee River spilled its banks. Bryan Pfeiffer, a biologist who has lived in the Montpelier area for four decades, canoed around the downtown area to check out the damage and was appalled by what he saw. The basement of every building including the one where he works and the lower levels of most were inundated. Even the citys fire station was flooded. Its really troubling when your fire station is under water, Pfeiffer said. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said flood waters surpassed levels seen during Tropical Storm Irene. Irene killed six people in Vermont in August 2011, washing homes off their foundations and damaging or destroying more than 200 bridges and 500 miles (805 kilometers) of highway. The sun was out Tuesday and more sunshine was expected Wednesday. More rain was forecast Thursday and Friday but Peter Banacos, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the state will be spared any further torrential downpours. We sustained catastrophic damage. We just really took the brunt of the storm, Ludlow Municipal Manager Brendan McNamara said, as he assessed the flood's impact around the 1,500 person town. I talked to people today that said my house is gone. Thankfully we got through it with no loss of life, he said, adding the damage was worse than Tropical Storm Irene. Ludlow will be fine. People are coming together and taking care of each other. Weve been here before and we will get through it. Among the losses was the towns water treatment plant. Its main supermarket remained closed. The main roadway through town had yet to be fully reopened and McNamara couldnt begin to estimate how many houses had been damaged. The towns Little League field and a new skate park were destroyed, and scores of businesses were damaged. Colleen Dooley returned to her condominium complex in Ludlow Tuesday to find the grounds covered in silt and mud and the pool filled with muddy river water. A wooden pool deck had been carried about 300 feet (100 meters) by flood waters; the adjacent Black River was still raging. I dont know when well move back, but it will certainly be awhile, said Dooley, a 59-year-old retired teacher. One woman was swept away in New York on Monday. There have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the flooding in Vermont, where swift-water rescue teams aided by National Guard helicopter crews have done more than 100 rescues, Vermont Emergency Management said Tuesday. That included an extremely high-risk rescue by a visiting New Hampshire team of a person who decided to drive around a barricaded road, said Mike Cannon of Vermont Urban Search and Rescue. The car was washed off the roadway almost into the river, he said. Dozens of roads and highways were closed, including many along the spine of the Green Mountains. There were fewer flood warnings and advisories than on Monday, and most were concentrated in the north of the state. Road crews cleared debris Tuesday, reopening Interstate 89 as it follows the Winooski River between Montpelier and Middlesex. The slow-moving storm reached New England after hitting parts of New York and Connecticut on Sunday. Some communities received between 7 and 9 inches (18 centimeters and 23 centimeters) of rain. Towns in southwest New Hampshire had heavy flooding and road washouts, and the Connecticut River was expected to crest above flood stage Wednesday in Hartford and towns to the south. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrator Richard Spinrad said Tuesday that 13.7 million people were under inland flooding alerts on Tuesday. Atmospheric scientists say destructive flooding events happen more frequently as storms form in a warmer atmosphere, and the planets rising temperatures will only make it worse. President Joe Biden, attending the annual NATO summit in Lithuania, declared an emergency for Vermont and authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help coordinate disaster relief efforts and provide assistance. He also spoke with the governor and Sen. Bernie Sanders. FEMA sent a team to Vermont, along with emergency communications equipment, and is prepared to keep shelters supplied if the state requests it. The agency also is monitoring flooding in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire, regional spokesperson Dennis Pinkham said Tuesday. One of the worst-hit places was New Yorks Hudson Valley, where a woman identified by police as Pamela Nugent, 43, died as she tried to escape her flooded home with her dog in the hamlet of Fort Montgomery. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point was pounded with more than 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain that sent debris sliding onto some roads and washed others out. Multiple rescue crews were positioned in Montpelier, where dispatch, police and fire operations were relocated to a water treatment plant after heavy flooding at City Hall and the police and fire departments. Also, the radio towers they use for emergency calls were not functional, Police Chief Eric Nordenson said. Shelters were set up at churches, town halls and the Barre Municipal Auditorium, where delivering food to the more than 200 people taking refuge there including those forced to evacuate from two area homeless shelters was a challenge. Were trying to find paths to get supplies in to them, said John Montes, American Red Cross of Northern New England regional disaster officer. Associated Press writers Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; Michael Hill in Albany, New York; and Mark Pratt, Michael Casey and Steve LeBlanc in Boston contributed. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Republican Gov. Tate Reeves continues to raise significantly more campaign cash than Brandon Presley, the Democrat who is trying to unseat him this year. Monday was a deadline for candidates to report how much they took in and spent through the end of June. The Reeves campaign reported raising more than $1 million during the month, ending with over $9.6 million cash on hand. The Presley campaign said it took in more than $500,000 and finished with over $1.85 million cash on hand. Reeves also faces two challengers in the Aug. 8 Republican primary, neither of whom has held public office. Dr. John Witcher, a physician who has been an outspoken opponent of COVID-19 vaccinations, reported raising $5,611 and $18,311 cash on hand, while military veteran David Hardigree reported raising $100 and finishing with no money in his campaign fund. Presley is unopposed in seeking the Democratic nomination. He is in his fourth term as the northern district member of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities. Presley's campaign said it raised nearly $200,000 more during June than Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Hood did at the same point four years ago, and that Presley's cash-on-hand total is $400,000 higher than Hood's for the same period. Hood was in his fourth term as the state attorney general. He lost the November 2019 governor's race to Reeves, who was the second-term lieutenant governor. Our campaign continues to reach people from all over Mississippi who know that Brandon Presley is the right choice to clean up Tate Reeves corruption, cut taxes for working families, and strengthen our healthcare system, Presley campaign manager Ron Owens said. Reeves campaign manager Elliott Husbands said the governor has a strong record delivering positive results for all Mississippians. From bringing thousands of high-paying jobs to championing nation-leading education gains to securing historic capital investment, Gov. Reeves first term has been marked by decisive wins for Mississippi," Husbands said. Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky have the only races for governor this year. The story goes that as Earl Harwell was observing the construction of what would become his family's home on South Main Street, a passerby took in the sight of what would become a four-story, 15,000-square-foot, English Tudor-style mansion and wondered aloud what sort of person would build such an enormous place. "Oh," Earl Harwell is said to have replied, "some old fool with more money than sense. This incident took place about 100 years ago, and in the century that followed, the house at 2210 S. Main St. has become one of Tulsa's icons of art, architecture and history. When Earl's wife, Mary, died in 1967, she bequeathed the house to the Tulsa Arts Council, later known as the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa, for the nascent nonprofit organization to use as its headquarters. The council renamed the house Harwelden, after the Welsh town to which the Harwell family had traced its origins. For many years, Harwelden was home not just to the Arts and Humanities Council; many of the city's arts groups, including Tulsa Ballet, the Tulsa Philharmonic, Chamber Music Tulsa, Light Opera Oklahoma and more, had offices at Harwelden. And the house and its grounds were, and remain, a popular location for events ranging from concerts and lectures to weddings and receptions. Tulsa native Teresa Knox and her husband, Ivan Acosta, purchased Harwelden in 2018, with the goal of restoring the house to its original glory converting office spaces back into the bedrooms to create a unique boutique hotel while continuing to make the property available for public and private events. This year, Harwelden turns 100, and Knox said a public open house to celebrate the anniversary is being planned for later this summer. But Harwelden is such a large place and filled with so much history, it's easy to miss some of the house's subtle, yet intriguing, features. We asked Knox to share some of the lesser known aspects of Harwelden she likes to share with those who come to visit. What's that by the chimney? Posted a bit like sentries next to the south end chimney are a pair of gargoyle-like creatures, grasping shields in their claws. "We haven't been able to find a quote from Mr. Harwell, or anyone else, as to why they included these," Knox said. "But they're not like the usual gargoyles you might see, that look rather fierce and frightening. These are more friendly gargoyles. They're still there to protect the house, but they are a little more welcoming." They are also, Knox added, a little more visible. A magnolia tree that had been planted around the time the house was built had grown to the point that its branches obscured the gargoyles from view. "We had someone come in to trim the tree, and now the gargoyles are easier to spot," Knox said. Going underground It was during the renovations after purchasing the house that Knox discovered something unusual in one of the basement rooms. "It had been a place that was used for storage, and it had these large soffits from the old heating and air-conditioning system that we replaced," she said. "It was kind of hidden away in a corner of the room." It was the entrance to a tunnel that snakes under the Harwelden property and comes out in the basement of the carriage house, the one-time garage that has also been converted into guest rooms. The existence of a tunnel was something that had long been a part of the house's lore, but Knox said exactly why it was constructed and how if ever it was used is still a bit of a mystery. "When we're showing people around the house, we talk about the times when the house was built," she said. "Prohibition was still in force, but also this was the time of the Lindbergh kidnapping, and I know a number of the early Tulsa oil barons had received threats of kidnapping and worse. "There are also a couple of hidden safes in the house," she added. "One is in the dining room, and we discovered the second under drywall when we were renovating the second floor." The entrance to the tunnel, now marked by a brass handle, is in what is now the house's bridal suite, where brides can ready themselves for their weddings. "We joke that, if the bride changes her mind, there's always a way to sneak out," Knox said. Splish, splash Behind the main house is a small pond, surrounded by large, flat rocks over which water flows in a miniature waterfall. The pond may look as if it's been there since before the house was built, but in fact it's a more recent addition to the landscape. "I actually thought it was part of the original landscaping," Knox said. "But when I spoke with Caroline Crain, who is the Harwells' granddaughter and still lives in Tulsa, she told me the pond actually was created in the 1940s. It was used as a wading pool by the children. "One reason I really like the pond is, now that we have converted the carriage house into bedroom suites, it gives that part of the property this kind of 'cottage in the woodlands' feel," Knox said. Forever dancing The statue of the medieval minstrel that stands on the front lawn has been a part of Harwelden since 2000. Former Tulsa artist Rosalind Cook created the image, titled "Celebrating the Arts," as a way of capturing in a single image the house's purpose as a home for the arts. It was also a symbol of Harwelden Knox herself wanted to preserve, although when she first approached the arts council about purchasing the house, she was told the sculpture could not remain. "That was a deal-breaker for me," Knox said. "But after a while, we were able to reach an agreement, that the sculpture would remain in place." One reason why Knox was intent on keeping "Celebrating the Arts" in its original place is a tiny detail on the sculpture that few people notice. Once Cook had completed her full-scale clay maquette for the piece, she invited Katie Westby, the Tulsa arts patron and philanthropist who helped found the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa, and who was instrumental in securing the house for the organization, to view the finished product. Cook had Westby press her thumbprint into the toe of the minstrel's upraised foot. The clay maquette was then sent to the foundry, and Westby's print is now preserved in bronze. "It just seemed appropriate," Cook said at the time, "since Katie has been a guiding hand to the arts for so long." A spot of tea One of the most popular events held at Harwelden since its rebirth have been the English afternoon teas held on the premises. "People would love us to offer them every day, but we're not a restaurant," Knox said. "Sometimes we've done two a month, but we're probably going to keep it to one Tuesday a month. "It's an opportunity to show off the mansion, to talk about the Harwell family and their history, and to celebrate this uniquely English tradition in a place that's designed in the English Tudor style," she said. Equally popular are the Princess Teas, designed for younger audiences, which feature actresses dressed up as Disney princesses to interact with the visitors. Crest-fallen In the Club Room, on the basement level, is a fireplace above which is affixed the Harwell family crest. Sort of. "There was a place above that fireplace that looked as if it were for some kind of crest to be displayed," Knox said. "I got the chance to talk with (longtime AHCT executive director) John Everitt, and he said there had been a crest, but someone had stolen it years ago. He tried to describe it to me, but there were no pictures or descriptions of it I could find." Knox found someone who specialized in the history of family crests in, of all places, Bulgaria who worked with her to create the crest now on display. "He asked me to go around the house and take pictures of all the imagery in the house, from the more than 200 Tudor roses that have been carved into the woodwork and the stone, the thistles, the oak leaves, the pomegranates, everything," she said. "And he worked all that into the final product. So the Harwell family crest was made in Bulgaria." For more information about Harwelden, including room rates, event rentals and schedules for afternoon and Princess tea services: harweldenmansion.com. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. More Harwelden photos Tulsa World Scene podcast with Jimmie Tramel and James Watts The National Society of High School Scholars recently announced that Owasso student Jacee Grinsteinner has been selected to become a member of the organization. The Society recognizes top scholars across the country who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment. Grinsteinner, a Skiatook resident, has attended Owasso Public Schools since the second grade. She is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, National Honor Society, Student Council, FFA and FCA (Fellowship Christian Scholars). Not only is Grinsteinner an achiever in the classroom, she is also an outstanding athlete. She has played a high level of competitive softball for Owasso summer teams that includes a national title in Alabama in which she was named Defensive MVP. She was also a competitive swimmer until eighth grade and was nationally ranked as a Triathlete No. 10 (No. 1 in Oklahoma for her age group). In February 2022, Grinsteinner took up lacrosse, which has led her to receive multiple collegiate offers. She currently plays for the Owasso Lady Rams and competitively for the Oklahoma Red Dirt. I am honored to recognize the hard work, passion and commitment that Jacee has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence, NSHSS Cofounder and President James Lewis said in a news release. Jacee is now a member of a unique community of scholars a community that represents our very best hope for the future. NSHSS members like Grinsteinner automatically become lifetime members at the time of their initial membership. The National Society of High School Scholars recently announced that Owasso student Jacee Grinsteinner has been selected to become a member of the organization. The society recognizes top scholars across the country who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment. Grinsteinner, a Skiatook resident, has attended Owasso Public Schools since the second grade. She is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, National Honor Society, Student Council, FFA and FCA (Fellowship Christian Scholars). Not only is Grinsteinner an achiever in the classroom, she is also an outstanding athlete. She has played a high level of competitive softball for Owasso summer teams that includes a national title in Alabama in which she was named Defensive MVP. She was also a competitive swimmer until eighth grade and was nationally ranked as a Triathlete No. 10 (No. 1 in Oklahoma for her age group). In February 2022, Grinsteinner took up lacrosse, which has led her to receive multiple collegiate offers. She currently plays for the Owasso Lady Rams and competitively for the Oklahoma Red Dirt. I am honored to recognize the hard work, passion and commitment that Jacee has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence, NSHSS Cofounder and President James Lewis said in a news release. Jacee is now a member of a unique community of scholars a community that represents our very best hope for the future. NSHSS members like Grinsteinner automatically become lifetime members at the time of their initial membership. The new interim president and CEO of the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce said she is excited about invigorating the organization's mission of economic development. "As we move forward, we will foster a culture of robust entrepreneurship," new leader Kuma Roberts said during a news conference Monday. "Our commitment to inclusive economic development will not waiver," she said. Monday's event, in which several officials spoke, was also a tribute to Sherry Gamble Smith, former president of the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce, who died in a murder-suicide a little over a year ago. "Kuma, I need to tell you something," said Gayle Singleton, Gamble Smith's aunt. "Probably about two or three years ago, Sherry said, 'You know, Aunt Gayle, ... I'm thinking about just stepping down, doing something else with the Black Wall Street, and the person I would want to take this role is Kuma.' "So I'm so elated and so overwhelmed today because the person she had in her mind, two to three years ago, is the person who's stepping into this role," Singleton said. Roberts, who is the chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Arrowhead Consulting, has spent nearly a decade working with chambers of commerce and businesses in Tulsa. She will remain with Arrowhead while also serving as interim president and CEO of the Black Wall Street Chamber. After Monday's news conference, Roberts told the Tulsa World that the Black Wall Street Chamber would be shutting down operations and programs temporarily while officials plan a relaunch, set for Sept. 1. "We're just going to really strengthen and strategically plan the organization for the next few months," she said. "And then bust out, ready to go, Sept. 1 with a whole bunch of programming focused on entrepreneurship, young professionals, generational wealth building, contractors, associations." The Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit membership-based organization formed to promote the economic well-being of African American-owned businesses. Currently it has 211 members. "We want to grow that, for sure," Roberts said. "Not just in Tulsa or Oklahoma but across the nation." During the news conference, Roberts outlined her vision of the Black Wall Street Chamber. "I'm incredibly passionate about economic development. I'm incredibly passionate about workforce. "Sherry was a trailblazer; (City Councilor and Black Wall Street Chamber board member) Vanessa (Hall Harper) is a trailblazer, a pioneer, and the legacy that they have shaped and left has been a part of the core of what this organization has been for the five years that we have been in existence. "We stand for progress over personalities here," Roberts said. "We are about collaboration over conflict here at the Black Wall Street Chamber. "And these principles are not merely words to me or to us, but these principles are guiding lights that direct our every endeavor. "As we move forward, we will foster a culture of robust entrepreneurship. We will continue to invest in our entrepreneurs to provide them with the tools, the resources and support to turn their visions into reality. "Our goal remains steadfast to ensure every single African-American individual within our community and by nature of supporting that community, we will raise all ships across this city regardless of background," she said. A photo of Gamble Smith and a plaque recognizing her hangs in the Black Wall Street Chamber offices, 1800 S. Baltimore Ave., where Monday's news conference was held. Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber, said area chamber officials "dearly loved" Gamble Smith and miss her. "I know that she's looking down from above with a big smile on her face," he said. "And know, Kuma, that you can count on all your friends at the Tulsa Regional Chamber to be great collaborators, to be great partners and likewise to be great cheerleaders and support everything that you guys are going to try to do and will do for this community." For more about the organization, visit bwschamber.com. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Two individually named Broken Arrow Public Schools employees have been dismissed from a civil lawsuit stemming from a 2022 graduation day confrontation over an eagle feather. Claiming a violation of both the First Amendment and the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, Lena Black sued Broken Arrow Public Schools and the two women on May 15, stating that the two employees attempted physically to remove an eagle plume from her mortarboard prior to the districts May 2022 graduation ceremony. Black is a citizen of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and of Osage descent. According to court documents filed in Tulsa County District Court, Blacks attorneys have voluntarily dismissed their clients claims against the two named employees. Instead, a motion has been filed to amend the complaint and replace the named pair of individuals with Jane Doe No. 1 and Jane Doe No. 2. One of the two women originally named in the suit is still employed by the district, while the other retired at the end of the 2021-22 school year. A Friday filing included affidavits from both women attesting that they do not know Black and did not have any contact with her on graduation day. As published on the districts website, BAPS graduation dress code prohibits seniors from decorating their mortarboards and requires students to fill out an application if they intend to make any additions to the standard cap and gown. Because the Indian education resource adviser for Broken Arrow High School was on leave at the time, Black asked a teacher prior to graduation day and was told that her plume did not count as a decoration due to its cultural and religious significance, she said earlier. However, no mention was made of filling out a form or seeking additional permission to wear the plume. Black left the ceremony due to an anxiety attack brought on by the incident, which, according to court documents, damaged the eagle plume. She eventually returned and held the plume in her hand while receiving her diploma. As of Monday afternoon, no hearings had been scheduled in the litigation. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.(tncms-asset)83950bb9-d5df-5053-99d9-dab09ad645b0[0](/tncms-asset) OKLAHOMA CITY Attorney General Gentner Drummond wants to put an end to a 3-year-old legal battle over new tribal gaming compacts Gov. Kevin Stitt inked with four of the states small tribal nations. Drummond is asking legislative leaders to grant him permission to take over the states handling of the case, which would significantly curb the governors involvement in the litigation. In a June 16 letter to GOP legislative leaders, Drummond said he wants to bring the lawsuit to an expeditious end. Noting that the Governors Office has hired outside legal counsel to defend Stitt and the compacts he signed, Drummond said he aims to end the continued waste of State resources on this matter. The State of Oklahoma has been embroiled in legal controversy for over three years following Governor J. Kevin Stitts unilateral action of negotiating illegal tribal compacts with four tribal communities in Oklahoma, Drummond wrote. As determined by our Supreme Court, Governor Stitts actions are in violation of Oklahoma law, and his attempts to seek federal bureaucratic authorization of those compacts resulted in a federal lawsuit which Governor Stitt is currently defending in his official capacity (using the services of several Washington, D.C. and New York City law firms). Online news outlet NonDoc was the first to report on Drummonds letter. Stitt spokeswoman Abegail Cave said Drummond was mistaken when he said the Governors Office hired several law firms to help in this case. Stitt has retained one Washington, D.C., law firm, since the case is pending before the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, she said. Cave did not respond to a question about how much Stitts office is paying his outside legal counsel. At issue is a federal lawsuit the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Citizen Potawatomi tribal nations filed against Stitt and the U.S. Department of the Interior alleging that Stitt violated the law when he signed four new gaming compacts with other tribes and that the federal government failed when it let the new compacts take effect through inaction. When Stitt was trying to pressure the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee and Seminole tribes into renegotiating their tribal gaming compacts, he signed new compacts with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe, the Comanche Nation, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and the Kialegee Tribal Town. Legislative leaders sued Stitt over the new compacts. The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in favor of the lawmakers, saying the four compacts were invalid because Stitt exceeded his authority when he approved new compacts without involvement from the Oklahoma Legislature. A previous attorney generals opinion also concluded that Stitt lacked the authority to enter into new compacts with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and the Comanche Nation. In a statement, Stitts spokeswoman said state law backs up the governors authority to negotiate the new compacts. She also questioned Drummonds motives in seeking to intervene in the ongoing litigation. The attorney general has no legal right to represent the Governor in this matter, Cave said. Gentner Drummond is not Kevin Stitts lawyer. Attorney General Drummonds job is to protect the people of Oklahoma, but if history is any indication, he will likely put the states interests aside and allow the people of Oklahoma and the smaller tribes (to) be steamrolled by the larger ones who have a stranglehold on the gaming market. Drummond has vowed to mend the states relationship with Oklahomas tribes. Stitt has had a frosty relationship with many tribes since he unsuccessfully sought to renegotiate the states tribal gaming compacts. House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, said Drummond already has the power to intervene in the tribal gaming lawsuit. The attorney general has the unilateral authority to take over the litigation regarding the compacts found to be invalid by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, McCall wrote in a June 26 letter to Drummond. If you, as the Attorney General, deem it in the best interest of the State of Oklahoma for you to intercede in this litigation then I and the citizens would expect you to do so, and the House will not interfere with that decision, McCall wrote. A spokesman for Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said the Senate GOP caucus is reviewing Drummonds letter and discussing all options. Drummonds letter comes as the Legislature is in the midst of a special legislative session in which tribal affairs have been a hot-button issue. The Legislature is set to reconvene sometime this month to address Stitts vetoes of two bills that would extend the states current tribal tobacco and motor vehicle registration compacts. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Tulsa Race Massacre / The Tulsa World Library: See all of the coverage of the race massacre in this special report. "The first time Americans were terrorized by an aerial assault was not Pearl Harbor," a CBS News story says leading up to coverage this weekend of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. "Scott Pelley reports on a race massacre in which an estimated 300 people, mostly African American men, women and children, were killed, and aircraft were used to drop incendiary devices on a black neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Greenwood Massacre of 1921 has been largely ignored by history, but Pelley finds a Tulsa community seeking to shed more light on what's been called the worst race massacre in history," a preview reads for a "60 Minutes" story airing 6 p.m. Sunday on CBS. Context for viewers: Six airplanes circled the Greenwood area during the morning hours of June 1. What they were doing, and why there were so many, has long been a matter of passionate debate. Many people believe they were used to shoot at people on the ground and bomb Greenwood. Officials said the small craft, generally thought to be two-seat, single-engine Curtis Jenny biplanes, were merely keeping track of activities on the ground and relaying the information through written messages dropped in weighted metal cylinders attached to streamers. To what extent this explanation was initially challenged is unclear, but in October 1921 the Chicago Defender published a story in which it said Greenwood had been bombed under orders of prominent city officials. The story cited a Van B. Hurley, who the newspaper said had given a signed statement to Elisha Scott, a Kansas attorney. Scott filed dozens of lawsuits on behalf of victims but doesnt seem to have ever entered the Hurley affidavit into the record. There is no record of a Van B. Hurley living in Tulsa around the time of the massacre or that anyone by that name ever belonged to the Tulsa police force. But that doesnt mean the story did not have substance. Many people believed city officials were behind the burning of Greenwood, and the explanation that the squadron of planes was only used for surveillance struck some as suspiciously thin. Certainly the planes had a great psychological impact on many. For example, Mary Jones Parrish wrote about them in her account, as did prominent attorney B.C. Franklin in his. The Defender story said the planes dropped nitroglycerin on buildings, setting them afire. But nitroglycerin is an explosive, not an incendiary. It is also highly unstable and dangerous. That has caused some to speculate that something like Molotov cocktails might have been used, or turpentine balls rags soaked in flammable liquid and wrapped around the head of a stick. There are several practical reasons why trying to light and throw incendiary devices from an open cockpit airplane of that era would seem a difficult, dangerous and even foolish idea. But that doesnt mean it wasnt done. Tulsa Race Massacre / The Tulsa World Library: See all of the coverage of the race massacre in this special report. Tulsa Race Massacre: This is what happened in Tulsa in 1921 HCA Healthcare, a for-profit operator of hospitals and clinics in the US, reported a significant data breach that puts the personal information of at least 11 million patients in danger. The Nashville-based business said on Monday, July 10, that patients in 20 states are impacted, including California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas. Information retrieved may include patients' names, partial addresses, phone numbers, and scheduled appointment dates, all of which might be considered private. The breach, which was discovered on July 5, is one of the largest in the history of the healthcare industry, as reported by CBS News. Massive Healthcare Data Leak According to HCA Healthcare, the following data was acquired by the hackers: Patient name, address, birth date, and gender Contact information such as email address and phone number Date of service, location, and next scheduled visit for the patient According to a statement released by the firm on Monday, the theft seems to have occurred at a remote storage facility used only for the automated formatting of email messages. "The company disabled user access to the storage location as an immediate containment measure and plans to contact any impacted patients to provide additional information and support, in accordance with its legal and regulatory obligations, and will offer credit monitoring and identity protection services, where appropriate," the company said in its press release. HCA said it had notified authorities and hired outside forensic and threat intelligence experts. It also stated that potentially sensitive information such as patients' treatment or diagnosis; payment information; passwords; driver's license numbers; or Social Security numbers were not compromised in the hack. This assertion, however, seems to be at odds with the findings of the website DataBreaches.net, which initially reported the hacking. DataBreaches published a snippet of code that apparently came from a hacker offering their services, and it included the phrase, "Following up about your lung cancer assessment." A person's clinical data may be included in this code if it is legitimate. See Also: Ransomware Gang Releases List of Companies Hit by MOVEit Data Breaches In response to this incident, HCA said it found no indication of any malicious activity on its networks or systems. As an immediate containment measure, the company cut off access to the storage facility, and it has plans to get in touch with affected patients to offer them additional information and support, as required by law and regulation. It will also provide credit monitoring and identity protection services to those who need them. HCA is advising its patients to contact the main line at (844) 608-1803 before responding to any purported bills or billing demands. According to the HCA website, the corporation has more than 180 hospitals and 2,000 care facilities (including walk-in clinics) in 20 different countries. See Also: Apple iPhone, iPad, Mac Users Urged to Update ASAP! How to Install Emergency Security Patch? @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WASHINGTON For a century, the League of Women Voters in Florida formed bonds with marginalized residents by helping them register to vote and, in recent years, those efforts have extended to the growing Asian American and Asian immigrant communities. But a state law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May would have forced the group to alter its strategy. The legislation would have imposed a $50,000 fine on third-party voter registration organizations if the staff or volunteers who handle or collect the forms have been convicted of a felony or are not U.S. citizens. A federal judge blocked the provision last week. But its passage reflects the effort by DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, and other GOP leaders to crack down on access to the ballot. Florida is one of at least six states, including Georgia and Texas, where Republicans have enacted voting rules since 2021 that created or boosted criminal penalties and fines for individuals and groups that assist voters. Several of those laws are also facing legal challenges. In the meantime, voting rights advocates are being forced to quickly adapt to the changing environment. Before the ruling in Florida, for instance, the League of Women Voters started using online links and QR codes for outreach. It removed the personal connection between its workers and communities and replaced it with digital tools that are likely to become a technological barrier. "If theres not access, in terms of language, we cant get to as many people, which particularly affects AAPI voters, Executive Director Leah Nash said, referring to the state's Asian American and Pacific Island population, which has grown rapidly and where more than 30% of adults have limited English proficiency. If we just give someone our website or QR code to go register, we dont know for sure if theyre doing it and we like to get as many people registered to vote as possible. In states where penalties are getting tougher, the developments have sowed fear and confusion among groups that provide translators, voter registration help and assistance with mail-in balloting roles that voting rights advocates say are vital for Asian communities in particular. In a number of states, language barriers already hamper access to the ballot for a population that has been growing rapidly. Asian, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander populations grew 35% between 2010 and 2020, according to census data. The new laws in mostly Republican-led states are seen by many voting groups as another form of voter suppression. "It's specifically targeting limited English proficiency voters, and that includes AAPI voters, said Meredyth Yoon, litigation director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Atlanta. Yoon added that record turnout for the 2020 elections in Georgia influenced the Republican-dominated Legislature to pass sweeping voter restrictions: Its not a coincidence, she said. In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill in June that raises the penalty for illegal voting to a felony, upping it from a misdemeanor charge that was part of a sweeping elections law passed two years earlier. Alice Yi, who is Chinese American, used to help translate in Austin, Texas, but said the new law isnt clear about whether good-faith mistakes will be criminalized and worries that she could get into trouble by offering assistance. Yi recalls being approached during a 2022 primary election by a man who was Vietnamese American and asked for help because he hadnt voted before and didnt speak English. She said she was immediately worried she could face consequences if she helped him. This is the fear Im facing, she said. Now, she said, she will help her father vote, but no one else. But voting rights supporters like Ashley Cheng also in Austin remain committed to reaching Asian voters, despite the threat of jail time. Cheng, the founding president of Asian Texans for Justice, recalls discovering her mother was not listed in the voter rolls when she tried to help her vote in 2018. They never found out why she wasnt properly registered. Advocates say this highlights flaws in the system and illustrates how volunteers are essential to overcoming them. The group's own research has found that roughly two-thirds of Asian voters in Texas were highly motivated to vote in the 2022 midterm elections. Cheng said that desire amplified her enthusiasm to help the community get its votes counted. Its really easy to feel like, Oh, I would love to just like not try anymore, she said. "But, I think about people like my mom and so many others in the Asian diaspora who live in Texas who have that experience of wanting to vote but not being able to, for whatever reason, are not feeling like its accessible. Before Florida and Texas, Georgia lawmakers overhauled that states election laws. A section of Georgias 2021 election bill made it a misdemeanor to offer a voter any money or gifts at polling places, a provision that included passing out water and snacks for those waiting in lines. Attempts to get a court to toss out the ban on snacks and water have so far been unsuccessful. James Woo, the communications director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, said he won't even get his parents a drink of water while helping them with their ballots. Its simple things like that, which would have been like a conversation starter or just like helping them throughout the process, might be viewed as like something illegal Im doing, he said. The history of voting in the United States The history of voting in the United States 1607: The Jamestown election 1619: Jamestown Church assembly 1776: John Adams' letter to James Sullivan 1787: Ratification of Article I of the Constitution 1792: Criminal disenfranchisement in Kentucky 1812: The first gerrymandered district 1824: The election of John Quincy Adams 1848: The Seneca Falls convention 1856: Property requirement lifted 1866: Civil Rights Act of 1866 1869: Wyoming grants women the right to vote 1869: Edison invents the electric voting machine 1870: Fifteenth Amendment ratified 1877: Georgia institutes poll tax 1881: The 'voting apparatus' debuts 1898: The gear-and-lever voting machine is unveiled 1898: Louisiana enacts first grandfather clause 1908: Northern disenfranchisement on display 1913: Seventeenth Amendment grants direct election of US senators 1920: Nineteenth Amendment grants women's suffrage 1924: Indian Citizenship Act 1952: McCarran-Walter Act lifts ban on Asian citizenship 1961: Twenty-Third Amendment gives DC residents the vote 1961: First punch-card ballot system 1962: Poll taxes are outlawed 1965: Selma to Montgomery march for voting rights 1965: Voting Rights Act 1970: Richard Nixon extends Voting Rights Act 1971: Twenty-Sixth Amendment lowers voting age 1975: Gerald Ford extends the Voting Rights Act 1984: Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act 1986: Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act 1993: National Voter Registration Act 1996: Voting machine for the blind and illiterate 2000: American citizens in territories denied voting rights 2002: Help America Vote Act 2006: Congress extends Section 5 of Voting Rights Act 2010: Midterm elections signal new era in voting 2011: The voter ID law era begins 2012: Texas v. Holder 2013: Shelby County v. Holder 2016: New restrictions pile up 2017: More laws target voters 2018: New voting restrictions reach half the country 2018: Florida removes criminal disenfranchisement 2019: Supreme Court agrees to hear key gerrymandering case 2020: Supreme Court unanimously rules against faithless electors 2020: Mail-in voting soars during the COVID-19 pandemic 2022: Redistricting controversies continue nationwide More than a decade ago, then-City Councilor G.T. Bynum campaigned against a proposal to make Tulsas municipal elections nonpartisan. A majority of voters disagreed with him, and the change to the City Charter was approved. My reasoning at the time was that political parties exist to turn out voters and that you would see a reduction in voter turnout if you have nonpartisan races, and I was completely wrong, said Bynum, who was elected mayor in 2016 and 2020 in nonpartisan races. That has not happened in Tulsa. On Tuesday night, Bynum will participate in a panel discussion on open primaries sponsored by Oklahoma United for Progress. The burger night and town hall event begins at 6 p.m. at The Press, 1610 N. Gatewood Ave. in Oklahoma City. This time around, expect to hear a different message from Bynum. I think that there should be open primaries (in statewide elections), he said. I think the top two vote-getters ought to go on, or something similar to what we have in Tulsa: If somebody gets over 50%, there is no runoff. That forces candidates to focus on representing a consensus of their citizens rather than appealing to one political party or another. Bynum, a Republican, said he believes switching to open primaries would benefit the state regardless of which party happens to control the levers of power at any particular time. I think it is important to point out, there is a Republican dominance right now (in Oklahoma), but we have had for a longer period of time in Oklahoma with Democratic dominance, and I think we would have benefited from this under either scenario, Bynum said. Oklahoma United for Progress describes itself as a moderate, nonpartisan, Oklahoma-based organization that seeks to calm the rhetoric, present reliable information, and work with others to develop innovative and practical steps that encourage serious discussions that lead to solutions to some of Oklahomas biggest challenges, according to the announcement for Tuesdays event. Margaret Kobos, founder and CEO of Oklahoma United, said the organization is working with other groups to put the issue to a vote of the people in 2026. In the meantime, the organizations plan to use polling and outreach to educate the public on the issue and to determine what form of open primary or nonpartisan primary would be proposed. This outreach and poll information are critical prerequisites in the steps toward a citizen petition, Kobos said. What we know for sure today is that open primaries will lead to better voter turnout, better choices for all voters, and policies that connect to what really matters to all citizens of our state. We also know that over 400,000 registered independent voters are paying for elections in which theyre not permitted to vote. The Oklahomans we meet agree thats just not right. According to Oklahoma United, 94% of Oklahoma elections are decided in the primary. Switching to an open primary system for statewide elections would require action from the Legislature. Under existing law, the states three recognized political parties Republican, Democrat and Libertarian can notify the secretary of the Oklahoma State Election Board that they intend to permit registered independents to vote in their primary and primary runoff elections. The notifications must be made in November of odd-numbered years and apply to the subsequent two years. The state Democratic Party, for example, notified the Election Board in 2021 that it would permit registered independents to vote in its primary and runoff elections in 2022 and 2023. Registered independents are prohibited from voting in primaries or runoff primaries of more than one party. The most recent data from the State Election Board shows Republicans with a decided advantage in registered voters. As of June 30, 1,170,518 of Oklahomas 2,259,832 registered voters were Republican. Democrats had 654,708 registered voters, followed by independents with 413,670 and Libertarians with 20,936. Bynum is not the only big-city mayor in Oklahoma expressing support for some kind of open primary system. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt has advocated for the idea while cautioning that open primary can mean different things to different people. Oklahoma City, like Tulsa, has nonpartisan municipal elections in which the top two vote-getters advance if no one receives a majority of the votes. I tend to gravitate more toward the idea that all of the voters get the same ballot, which is what happens in Oklahoma City, Holt said. The two principles that should guide any open primary system, Holt said, are that every candidate has to face all of the voters and all of the voters have a chance to see all of the candidates. Tuesdays discussion will be moderated by Potts Family Foundation CEO AJ Griffin. The other panelists will be Open Primaries Senior Vice President Jeremy Gruber and Oklahoma Commissioner of Labor Leslie Osborn. The event is open to the public. RSVPs are required at ok-united.org/events. <&rule> The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.(tncms-asset)83950bb9-d5df-5053-99d9-dab09ad645b0[0](/tncms-asset) The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee will hold the fourth municipal economic forum under the theme 'Green Growth - The Journey to Zero Emissions' from September 13 to 17, centering on a green and circular economy. The annual event is aimed at pooling suggestions of local and international experts in socio-economic sectors as well as key plans and programs of the city. The forum organizer reported on Monday that many leaders of large Vietnamese cities and governmental officials of some other countries have confirmed their attendance. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and head of the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission Tran Tuan Anh will also attend the event. As for foreign guests, the forum will receive a South Korean Deputy Minister of Environment, leaders of Germanys Leipzig City and Chinas Shanghai City, and Belgium's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Vietnamese diplomatic agencies abroad and diplomatic agencies of other countries in Vietnam have introduced 80 foreign experts and 60 international enterprises in green growth and circular economy to the organizer. The forum will feature an exhibition of enterprises projects, products, services, and ideas implemented with green and sustainable development models, and a ceremony to honor companies applying green growth solutions on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in District 1. A highlight of the forum will be the CEO 100 Tea Connect (T100) program, which will be a meeting between the city leaders and 100 CEOs from around the world. The citys leaders will provide an insight into its socio-economic performance, key projects, and strategies for the coming time. Ho Chi Minh City will seek cooperation with large groups, especially in the green and circular economy. The program will be held based on Vietnams traditional tea parties to promote stories about tea, the art of drinking tea, and tea products meeting the green standards of Vietnam to domestic and international guests. The T100 idea is inspired by the 600 CEO model of the World Economic Forum, Le Truong Duy, apprentice deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations, said, adding that the meeting will create an opportunity for leaders of large enterprises in the world to propose solutions to the citys sustainable economic development. Ho Chi Minh City held the first two economic forums in 2018 and 2019 and the third in 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The opening of markets and the elimination of tariffs through free trade agreements have enabled a surge of foreign steel products in the local market, yet Vietnam lacks technical barriers to safeguard its domestic production. In Vietnam, companies such as Hoa Phat, Ton Hoa Sen, Ton Dong A, and several others engage in the production of a wide range of steel products to cater to both domestic consumption and export markets including the U.S., Europe, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. The steel industry in Vietnam has a production capacity of approximately 29-30 million metric tons per year, surpassing the countrys domestic demand. According to the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA), its member enterprises recorded the production of 11 million metric tons of finished steel in the first five months of 2023, indicating a decline of 21.8 percent compared to the same period last year. The VSA report shows that steel sales in Vietnam during the same time frame was 10.4 million metric tons, down 19.3 percent compared to the corresponding period last year, despite 13 price reduction sessions since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, the VSA also reports a significant surge in Chinese steel imports into Vietnam, which exceeded 2.65 million metric tons, accounting for over 52 percent of the total steel import volume. Vietnams steel imports amounted to five million metric tons, worth a substantial US$3.9 billion in January-May. During a recent shareholders meeting, Tran Dinh Long, chairman of Hoa Phat Group, blamed the increased exports from China for exerting significant pressure on the domestic steel industry, resulting in numerous steel enterprises reducing their production levels. As noted by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, several prominent steel companies have been compelled to halt operations on multiple furnaces, running at approximately 50 percent or even lower capacity. VSA chairman Nghiem Xuan Da attributes the situation to Vietnams open policy toward foreign steel products, as the majority of imported steel products enter the country with zero-percent tariffs and trade remedies have been lifted. In addition, Vietnams quality standards are relatively basic. The country continues to accept standards that are developed and published by the enterprises themselves. Conversely, Vietnams steel exports to numerous countries face substantial tariffs and encounter barriers related to stringent technical standards. For example, HRC steel produced by Vietnamese manufacturers and sold in the Thai market is subject to a tax exceeding 42 percent and cold rolled steel originating from Vietnam, utilizing hot rolled steel materials imported from Taiwan and South Korea and subsequently exported to the U.S., faces a tax of over 450 percent. For comparison, the identical product imported from China into Vietnam is only subject to anti-dumping taxes, which range from 4.43 percent to 25.22 percent. And to be exported to Indonesia, Vietnamese products must undergo certification in accordance with Indonesian National Standard (SNI), which includes a set of complicated criteria. Per the observations of many Vietnamese businesses, the majority of countries concentrate on investing in and supporting steel enterprises to enhance their competitiveness. For instance, China implements tax exemptions and refunds on alloy steel, steel coils, and other products to stimulate exports. The U.S., EU, and South Korea reinforce trade remedies to protect their domestic steel industries. For solutions, VSA chairman Da emphasizes the importance of establishing a process and set of procedures to inspect the quality of imported steel in Vietnam. Accordingly, such imported steel should be accompanied by a certificate confirming its compliance with Vietnams quality standards. Moreover, it is crucial to enhance the implementation of suitable trade remedies to mitigate unfair competition in the steel sector and safeguard the interests of domestic steel enterprises. Furthermore, there is a need to develop national technical regulations as part of the overall approach. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Greece-flagged Maran Gas Achilles ship transported 70,000 metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the Thi Vai LNG warehouse, located in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam, on Monday morning. This is the first imported LNG shipment, worth VND830 billion (US$35.2 million), that Petrovietnam Gas Joint Stock Corporation (PV GAS) has received. The Maran Gas Achilles ship is not as large as super large container ships that often dock at the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port, with its deadweight tonnage being small as well. However, to ensure the safety of the first LNG shipment, Vung Tau Shipping and Services JSC assigned two exceptionally experienced maritime pilots, Pham Trung Tinh and Le Ngoc Duong, to lead the ship to the port from the sea. Two maritime pilots, Pham Trung Tinh and Le Ngoc Duong, board the Maran Gas Achilles ship to lead it to a port in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam, July 10, 2023. Photo: Dong Ha / Tuoi Tre In 2019, PV GAS invested nearly VND6.5 trillion ($276 million) in a project to build a system of warehouses, gas pipelines, and storage tanks in the province, with the storage tanks valued at VND6.135 trillion ($261 million). According to PV GAS, this is the first time that LNG has been used as an alternative fuel in Vietnam, while this has been applied in many countries in the world for a long time. The use of LNG will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent, compared to the utilization of coal and petroleum. The LNG storage tank along with other liquefied petroleum gas storage tanks and the system of ports and gas pipelines at Thi Vai International Port in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Dong Ha / Tuoi Tre LNG, whose main component is methane, is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state at around -162 degrees Celsius. LNG is clear, colorless, and odorless. The volume of natural gas in its liquid state is some 600 times smaller than its volume in its gaseous state, thereby making it possible to transport natural gas to places pipelines cannot reach. The LNG Thi Vai warehouse, whose capacity is one million metric tons per year, is capable of receiving ships carrying up to 100,000 metric tons of LNG. PV GAS is set to expand the warehouses capacity to three million metric tons per year in the near future. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! All three members of the Vietnamese team competing at the 2023 International Biology Olympiad won medals, including one silver and two bronzes, the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training announced. The silver medal went to Nguyen Tien Loc, an 11th grader from High School for Gifted Students of the University of Science under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi. The two bronze medals were secured by Tran Pham Manh, a 12th grader from High School for Gifted Students of the University of Science under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi, and Vu The Anh, a 12th grader from Vinh Phuc High School for Gifted Students in the namesake northern province. This years International Biology Olympiad, held in the United Arab Emirates from July 2 to 11, drew the participation of 295 students from 80 nations and territories. Contestants took four practical tests and two theoretical exams. The achievements of the Vietnamese students continue to affirm the quality of Vietnams education as well as efforts of students and teachers, according to the Ministry of Education and Training. The ministry will welcome the Vietnamese team back and congratulate them on their accomplishments at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Wednesday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A prickly American caterpillar's trauma-inducing venom can punch a hole in cells thanks to a mechanism inherited 400 million years ago from bacteria, a team of Australian scientists said Tuesday. The asp caterpillar, which has a predilection for oak and elm trees in its native North America, looks almost innocuous, with bristles that resemble fur. But those bristles conceal spines that can deliver "an excruciating sting likened to touching burning coal or blunt force trauma -- often sending victims to hospital", said researchers at Australia's University of Queensland. Scientists found its venom was unlike anything seen before in insects, said Andrew Walker, who led the molecular bioscience research team. Its proteins are like the toxins produced by bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which stick to cell surfaces and assemble into donut-like structures that form holes, the team said. "The venom in these caterpillars has evolved via the transfer of genes from bacteria more than 400 million years ago," Walker said. Such toxins may have particular potential in future drug delivery because of their ability to enter cells, he added. What you need to know today in Vietnam: Society -- Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung and 53 others will stand trial on Tuesday for their alleged crimes in Vietnams arrangement of flights to repatriate Vietnamese citizens stranded overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the total, 21 former officials were accused of taking bribes worth VND165 billion (US$6.9 million). -- Police in north-central Thanh Hoa Province on Monday said they had detained a man who is a doctorate holder working at a university in the province for allegedly stealing VND128 million ($5,357) and a computer from the school. -- Four vehicles of a transport company and a transport cooperative whose legal representative is a man from Da Nang City, central Vietnam violated the speed limit more than 1,200 times in June alone, deputy director of the municipal Department of Transport Dang Nam Son informed on Monday. -- A long-delayed eco-cultural urban area project of Vietnamese coffee giant Trung Nguyen Corporation has caused over 30 households in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak to live temporarily in their houses and face multiple difficulties for 20 years. -- Six fishing boats docking on Can Loc Canal in Go Cong Dong District, Tien Giang Province, southern Vietnam burst into flames on Monday, causing losses of billions of Vietnam dong. (VND1 billion = $41,853). Business -- The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee will hold the fourth municipal economic forum under the theme 'Green Growth - The Journey to Zero Emissions' from September 13 to 17, focusing on a green and circular economy. -- Work started on the Gia Binh II industrial park project, which requires an estimated investment of nearly VND4 trillion ($167.4 million), in Bac Ninh Province, northern Vietnam on Sunday. -- National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced that it will put three Airbus A321CEO aircraft manufactured in 2007 up for auction this quarter at the starting price of over VND118.7 billion ($5 million) each. -- Greek-flagged Maran Gas Achilles transported nearly 70,000 metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the Thi Vai LNG Terminal in southern Ba Ria Vung Tau Province on Monday. This is the first shipment of LNG imported to Vietnam. Education -- All three members of the Vietnamese team competing at the 2023 International Biology Olympiad won medals, including one silver and two bronzes, the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training announced. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The image of Vietnamese national flag on the roof of a hall on Truong Sa Lon Island, part of Vietnams Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in the East Vietnam Sea, is no longer visible on two apps owned by Google, prompting local netizens to suspect the tech multinational of having deleted it. The incident was first discovered by some Vietnamese netizens on Monday when they used Google Maps and Google Earth, with what they saw being a white rectangular instead of a large Vietnamese flag made of ceramics on the island. Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters found the same censored area when searching for 'Truong Sa Lon' in satellite image mode on the two apps on smartphones and also on websites on Tuesday morning. The incident has caused outrage among netizens who suspect that Google has erased the image of the national flag of Vietnam, which was placed 11 years ago. Many people who accessed the Google Maps page left their comments requesting Google to respect Vietnams sovereignty over Truong Sa Lon Island in particular and the Truong Sa archipelago in general. Some visitors also called on others to give '1 star' to the app in response to the suspected eradication of the Vietnamese flag. A few people attached a picture displayed by Google itself in 2020 showing the Vietnamese flag at the same location, and demanded the company respect the truth. The large national flag on the top of the hall came into being from the idea of painter Nguyen Thu Thuy, who wished that such a flag, which has a yellow star in the middle of a red background, could be seen from above by people on a plane or through satellites. After many months of preparation, the national flag with a size of 12.4m x 25m, or 310 square meters, and made up of 310,000 ceramic mosaic tiles of 3cm x 3cm, was completed in 2012. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly affirmed that Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal basis to affirm its sovereignty over the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos in the East Vietnam Sea. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ha Tien City, Kien Luong District, and U Minh Thuong District, all under Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, currently find it hard to woo visitors as they have a few special and outstanding tourism products although they are home to many stunning landscapes. Du To Tuan, director of a branch of local travel company Vietravel in Rach Gia City, Kien Giang Province, on Sunday said the branch would introduce many tours to Ha Tien, Kien Luong, and U Minh Thuong during this summer holiday. However, the two districts have few special tourism products, so the branchs previous customers have chosen other destinations. Forests in U Minh Thuong are beautiful but [the district] has no tourism products. Visitors can only go fishing and visit forests," Tuan said. Ha Tien City is a popular tourist attraction but it should develop tourism products at night, such as allowing tourists to explore ancient houses and spiritual tourist sites or arranging boats on Dong Ho Lagoon so that they can enjoy the moonlight, listen to music, and relish delicious dishes." Kien Luong District in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam is home to the splendid Ba Lua archipelago but it has yet to attract a high number of travelers. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre Ha Tien has welcomed 1.1 million tourist arrivals since early this year, while Kien Luong has served 124,000 visitors during the period, below three percent of the total travelers to Kien Giang, according to the provincial Department of Tourism. Kien Luong, Ha Tien, and U Minh Thuong have advantages in sea, forests, and culture, said Bui Quoc Thai, director of the Department of Tourism. However, the three localities have shown many shortcomings in tourism development. In particular, their tourism products are not diversified, while they have failed to attract investment in tourism. Their traffic infrastructure, electricity and water supply, and waste treatment in some areas have yet to meet the demands of tourists. The promotion and connection of tours are not effective; as a result, such tours are not attractive to tourists, Thai noted. Tourists visit U Minh Thuong National Park in U Minh Thuong District, Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: T.Tien / Tuoi Tre The three localities should set aside land banks for the development of essential infrastructure and tourism projects, Thai advised. They should also improve waste treatment, preserve historical and cultural relic sites, enhance cooperation, and increase the quality of tourism products and services. Kien Giang has started developing infrastructure at the Mo So Mountain historical relic site in Kien Luong District and Hoa Mai Lake in U Minh Thuong District with a total investment of more than VND80 billion (US$3.4 million). The project will meet the demand of visitors and serve the research of national historical relic sites and landscapes. It will also help the province consume agro-forestry-fishery products, contributing to the provincial socio-economic development, Thai emphasized. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Foxconn, which recently severed ties with Vedanta over a $19.5 billion chipmaking joint venture (JV), has announced that it would seek incentives under India's semiconductor output plan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chipmaking plans for India were dealt a blow on Monday, July 10, when Foxconn said it was withdrawing from its JV with an Indian metals-to-oil company, according to Reuters. Proposal To Bid for India's Semiconductor Program India's Modified Programme for Semiconductors and Display Fab Ecosystem is a $10 billion scheme that offers incentives of up to 50% of capital expenditures for chip and display manufacturing projects. On Tuesday, July 11, the world's biggest contract electronics producer said that it was working towards applying under the program. "Foxconn is committed to India and sees the country successfully establishing a robust semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem," it stated. Two sources familiar with the negotiations, who requested anonymity, said that Foxconn is in talks with numerous local and international partners to manufacture semiconductors in India utilizing mature chip production methods for goods like electric vehicles (EVs). According to Reuters, one of the individuals remarked, "The company will continue to be there, just that it will find other partners." Despite projections that India's semiconductor business would be worth $63 billion by 2026, Modi's initiative has stalled. Incentives were sought by several companies, but no agreement has been finalized as of yet. See Also: Microsoft Confirms More Layoffs, Apart From 10,000 Job Cuts in January The End of Foxconn-Vedanta JV Foxconn said, without providing any data, that all parties to the Vedanta separation agreed that the project progress had slowed and that there were additional difficult gaps that they had not been able to seamlessly solve. "This is not a negative," Foxconn added. According to a separate Reuters story, the exit was caused in part by stalled negotiations over the European chipmaker STMicroelectronics' role as a technology partner of the Vedanta-Foxconn JV and the delayed incentive approvals. On Tuesday, two individuals said that Foxconn's decision to dissolve the JV was influenced by concerns about Vedanta's financial stability shared by Indian authorities and the Taiwanese company. Net debt for Vedanta India as of March 31 was 452.60 billion rupees ($5.5 billion), according to the company's most recent annual report. This figure more than doubled from the previous year owing to dividend payments and capital expenditure costs. Meanwhile, Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal has said that the company has not had any loan defaults. The Indian government, echoing Foxconn's sentiments, has said that the dissolution of the JV would have no influence on India's semiconductor goals and that both businesses are valued investors in India. Foxconn's Taipei-listed shares gained 0.5% at market closing, lagging below the market average. Shares of Vedanta initially dropped by as much as 2.6% in Mumbai before recovering somewhat. See Also: Google's Plan to Exploit Uruguay's Water Supply Met With Intense Opposition @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A 64-year-old patient died after falling from the eighth floor to the third floor of a hospital in Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam on Saturday. Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Trung Quoc, a senior police officer, confirmed on Monday evening that the death of the female patient showed no sign of a crime, after local investigators probed into it. The patient, named N., residing in the provincial capital city of Cao Lanh, was found dead after her fall at around 4:30 am on Saturday. The citys police officers teamed up with relevant units to examine the body of the victim and concluded that she suffered multiple injuries, acute respiratory failure, and serious traumatic brain injury. The police officers then handed over the body of the victim to her family. She was previously admitted to the Dong Thap General Hospitals endocrinology department last Friday for diabetes treatment. When she was in medical treatment at the hospital, she did not have a caregiver, exhibited signs of depression, and did not sleep at night, according to a police report. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Marine Services Joint Stock Company, operating under the Saigon Tan Cang Corporation, is providing assistance to a Panamanian vessel that ran aground in the waters of Binh Thuan Province in south-central Vietnam. Bulk carrier Nemrut Bay became grounded on Britto shoal, located approximately 10 nautical miles southeast of the Binh Thuan coast, on June 21. The vessel was en route from the Philippines to its destination port of Vung Tau City in the southern Vietnamese province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau when the incident occurred. The vessel Nemrut Bay, with a tonnage of 34,431 metric tons and measuring 177.97 meters in length and 30 meters in width, is transporting 25,510 metric tons of steel and containing approximately 852 metric tons of oil fuel. Rescue vessels of the Marine Services Joint Stock Company, under the Saigon Tan Cang Corporation, take measures to rescue bulk carrier Nemrut Bay of Panama in the waters of Binh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Cong Hoan / Tuoi Tre The incident imposed a risk of oil spillage into the sea, prompting rescue measures, which were then assigned to the Marine Services Joint Stock Company, renowned for its extensive fleet dedicated to rescue operations. The mission commenced at 7:00 pm on July 8. On Monday, the companys specialized fleet consisting of four tugboats and one cargo ship for unloading approached the stranded vessel. The rescue teams have taken measures to deploy buoys in order to prevent oil spills, and the tugboats have provided towing assistance to maintain a steady course for the cargo transfer. The rescue operation is expected to run about four days. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam ranked 16th in the list of countries with the best architecture in the world, as recently compiled by Insider Monkey, a finance website focusing on financial markets, hedge funds, and trading. Topping the list is the U.S., which is followed in descending order by Italy, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Spain, Greece, China, India, Brazil, Turkey, and Russia. With the 16th position, Vietnam placed above Egypt, Israel, Poland, and Serbia. The ranking was made based on analysis and data released by various reputable websites that cover travel and architecture, according to Insider Monkey. These included Conde Nast Travelers 2017 article The worlds 20 best cities for architecture lovers, Travel Channels Worlds Top architecture cities, The Roam Wilds Top destinations for architecture fans to visit,' Suitcase Magazines 10 cities for architecture enthusiasts,' and TopTens Countries with the best architecture,' among others sources. Countries were ranked on the number of times their cities were listed in the above sources. Accordingly, a country received one score for each time it was listed by one of the sources. In the event of countries having the same score, tiebreaking was done on the basis of which country outranked the other in the sources, the website said. The U.S., which earned 14 points to become the best architectural country in the world, had the most coverage in the aforementioned sources, including Miami Beach, the Empire State Building, the Gateway Arch, Denver Art Museum, the Hoover Dam, and the Washington Monument. Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building in Dubai, UAE, which ranks third in the Insider Monkey list of the best architectural countries in the world. Photo: Tomorrow City The French colonial architecture style that is common across Vietnam gained it two points, according to Insider Monkey. The French architecture is also reflected in the government buildings in Hanoi, including the Presidential Palace, which was completed in 1906, and the Hanoi Opera House, whose construction ended in 1911. The world has witnessed some astonishing architectural marvels in the 21st century, adding to the architectural richness that still exists from older times and has been well preserved, the website commented. As a case in point, the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building in Dubai, UAE, is among the finest works of modern architecture in the century, while the Colosseum, the worlds largest amphitheater built between C.E. 70 and 72 in Rome, Italy, still welcomes over six million visitors every year. Countries can be characterized by many factors, like food, culture, environment, and others, but it is architecture that defines a place in the most distinct manner, Insider Monkey remarked. The global architectural services market is estimated to earn US$376 this year and is expected to grow 4.8 percent annually to reach $523 billion by 2030, Research and Markets, a global market research store, projected in its recent publication. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Thirteen students from Houston-area high schools participated in the inaugural Emerge Leadership Academy (ELA), a summer program hosted by the University of Houston Department of African American Studies. The free, two-week program brought students from the Greater Houston area together on campus, ensuring their college readiness and deepening their knowledge about African American culture. The experience was eye-opening for students, Kevin Thompson, AAS program manager and director of ELA, said. They learned a lot about what college is, but more importantly, they learned about their role on the college campus. We exposed them to their role within the classroom and taught how they should conduct themselves and the level of excellence they should bring into every course. Envisioned by African American Studies Chair Tara T. Green, ELA provides upcoming high school juniors and seniors with hands-on opportunities to experience different aspects of college. Students were exposed to various instruction styles, ranging from collaborative learning to classroom lectures to practical application. Dr. Green and I are both products of pre-college summer programs, Thompson said. I attended an engineering camp at Mississippi State University, and Dr. Green attended something similar at her respective school. It really shaped our outlook on college and higher education overall. In addition to fundamental classes such as writing and supplemental math students attended daily, 45-minute classes on a rotating schedule to expand their knowledge of African American history, health and creative arts. The courses were taught by UH faculty, AAS alumni, mentors and community partners. Everything I learned was new and insightful, Salyce W., Paetow High School junior, said. I met an author who taught that African American studies leads to extra jobs; it is not just an extra major. In writing, we created college essays, and creative arts taught a lot about the Africana culture and Diaspora, arts and music. The writing course targeted the basics of a resume and college essay, teaching students the importance of word choice and how to best market themselves. Students left with finalized and reviewed college application essays and/or resumes. They had a crash course on resume writing and portfolio creation, with just a little bit on financial literacy as well, Thompson said. We covered a lot of ground in a short amount of time because we wanted to expose them early, and they got a lot of information in each course. Being selected for the program took work. In addition to submitting their GPAs, students wrote compelling essays about their interest in the program, submitted teacher recommendations and demonstrated a commitment to community involvement and engagement. Applause rippled through the room at the programs June 16 graduation ceremony as students filed in while performing a traditional African American dance mere days before Juneteenth. They put a lot of emphasis on working with each other, Salyce said. Even though there were 13 of us, all 13 of us are in contact somehow. I left the event with connections not only with the teachers but my classmates because in the future it will be just us. The east African regional bloc IGAD has mooted the creation of a regional peace force for Sudan at a summit on Sudan on Monday in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa . The IGAD quartet includes Kenya, South Sudan, Djibouti and Ethiopia. The country leaders expressed "deep concern" about the impact of the ongoing war in the Republic of Sudan, which has resulted in the death of thousands of people, and displaced almost three million more so far. This includes 2.2 million IDPs and nearly 615,000 refugees that have crossed the border into neighbouring countries. In a communique released after Monday's meeting, the quartet said it would request the African Union look into possibly deploying the East Africa Standby Force in Sudan. These types of forces are usually tasked with election observer missions, for the protection of civilians and to ensure humanitarian access. The quartet requested an "East Africa Standby Force (EASF) summit," the statement reads, in order to consider the "possible deployment of the EASF for the protection of civilians and guarantee humanitarian access in Sudan." Egypt also said on Sunday that it would host a summit of Sudan's neighbours on 13 July to discuss ways to end the 12-week-long conflict. Complicated dialogue The head of states invited the Sudanese rivals, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Both refuse to attend the talks in person. Read more on RFI English Read also: Sudan's conflict enters third month amid escalation of violence Chad braces for thousands of refugees fleeing 'incredible violence' in Sudan UN warns that Sudan faces 'full-scale civil war' Ukrainian officials reportedly said they have killed senior Russian commander Lt. Gen. Oleg Tsokov near the Russian-occupied city of Berdiansk in the southern Zaporizhzhia region Tuesday (July 11) using a UK-supplied Storm Shadow missile. Tsokov was one of many Russian individuals sanctioned by the UK and the European Union (EU) over Russia's war with Ukraine. He commanded the 144th Motorized Rifle Division back in 2022, according to Russian state news outlet TASS. Petro Andriushchenko, a representative to the Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol Vadym Boichenko, stated the general died after an earlier incident where he was injured in Luhansk last year. "In September 2022, he [Tsokov] was already injured, but he survived," he said. Ukrainian member of parliament Yurii Mysyagin also commented on the commander's death, saying it was a Storm Shadow that killed Tsokov. CNN said they could not independently verify the reports about the Russian general's death as of this report. Read Also: UK's Shadow Missile Supply Game-Changer for Kyiv Russian lieutenant general Oleg Tsokov was reportedly killed near temporarily occupied Berdiansk - advisor to Mariupol mayor Petro Andriushchenko. Tsokov was under sanctions of the EU, Great Britain and New Zealand. Since August 2022 he commanded the 144th motorized rifle pic.twitter.com/LEqwoMzAbt Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) July 11, 2023 Tsokov's Death the Latest in the List of Dead Russian Generals The 51-year-old general was personally known to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pro-Russian Telegram channel Voenkory Russkoy Vesny said Tsokov was remembered by his colleagues as "a competent officer and a good commander." Tsokov was stationed in the city of Berdiansk, a strategically important port city on the Sea of Azov in the Zaporizhzhya region frequently hit with Storm Shadows in recent weeks. The exact timing of the strike which killed the general remains unclear. If Tsokov's death was confirmed, Putin would have lost at least a dozen generals. Related Article: Ukraine Receives Cruise Missiles From UK but Delays Counteroffensive-Here's Why @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. West African heads of states have chosen Nigeria's newly elected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the Ecowas regional bloc for the next year, replacing Guinea-Bissau's leader Umaro Sissoco Embalo. Speaking at a summit in Bissau after being named chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, Tinubu said at the weekend that democracy was "the best form of government," despite being "very tough to manage". The recently elected Nigerian president added, "We need it, to be an example to the rest of Africa and the world. We will not allow coup after coup in West Africa." Three Ecowas members Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso have undergone five putsches since 2020. Omar Alieu Touray, president of the Ecowas commission, urged the ruling juntas in those countries to respect agreed-upon deadlines to hand over power to civilian rule. "In the event of a failure to meet the transition deadlines, major sanctions could be imposed," Touray said. Mali tops Ecowas agenda This comes as the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) agreed on Saturday to lift Mali's suspension from the organisation, imposed in January 2022 over the military's timeline for returning to civilian rule. "We should serve a warning to exploiters that our people have suffered enough," he said on Sunday. Read more on RFI English Read also: Guinea junta slams Ecowas chief's transition 'lies' Burkina Faso's new junta vows to respect timeline for return to civilian rule ECOWAS says progress made towards Guinea Conakry's return to civilian rule Not enough consideration was given to impact of Covid lockdown Foster Not enough consideration was given to the impact of lockdown measures introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Baroness Arlene Foster has said. The former Northern Ireland first minister and DUP leader also told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that she believed that the region had been left by the Westminster government without ministerial cover during a period when the Stormont powersharing institutions had collapsed in the years before the pandemic. The inquiry is hearing from Northern Ireland witnesses this week as it examines how prepared the UK was ahead of the coronavirus pandemic which struck in early 2020. The former first minister said when Covid struck there was a great fear and a panic which ensued. She added: It was felt there was a need to lock down in a particular way. I do not think that enough consideration was given to the impact, the non-health impact, and there were many health impacts as well that were not foreseen. The devastating impact that Covid had on so many families in Northern Ireland stays with me because it was a devastating impact, many people lost loved ones in devastating circumstances that have been set out by the bereaved families statement. I want to take this opportunity to give them my condolences and my sympathies. The Stormont institutions were not operating between 2017 and early 2020 (Liam McBurney/PA) Much of the questioning focused on the civil contingency planning for emergency events in the years before the pandemic struck. Northern Ireland was without devolved government from 2017 following the resignation of then-deputy first minister Martin McGuinness. It was not restored until the New Decade, New Approach deal in January 2020 which put ministers in post just before the Covid pandemic hit the region. Then-first minister Baroness Foster, along with former deputy first minister Michelle ONeill and former health minister Robin Swann, were the most high profile Stormont ministers leading the Covid response. Ms ONeill is due to give evidence to the inquiry on Wednesday, while Mr Swann gave evidence last week. Lead counsel to the inquiry Hugo Keith asked Baroness Foster if she agreed that the absence of a Stormont executive in those years had left Northern Irelands public services in a state of decay and stagnation. She said: There were no ministers in place during that time. I think when you look at the fact that the Northern Ireland Office took a policy decision not to intervene at that time but instead leave Northern Ireland without any ministerial cover was something that I feel I need to comment on. The Westminster Government is sovereign at all times and if there is a deficiency in the Northern Ireland administration then those people in Westminster with responsibility for Northern Ireland have a responsibility; that is true whether it is in relation to female reproductive rights or indeed resilience and emergency planning. I would think that was a gap which should have been dealt with at that time. Mr Keith asked why Westminster could not have stepped in to deal with spending pressures within public services. Baroness Foster said: That is the point I am making, they should have stepped in. If there was a difficulty with resourcing in Northern Ireland particularly around the important issue of resilience and planning for emergencies then there was a duty on the Westminster Government to note that and to take the appropriate action. Former ministers Michelle ONeill, Robin Swann and Arlene Foster led Northern Irelands political response to the Covid pandemic (Liam McBurney/PA) The former first minister also said she had been proud of the response to the pandemic from the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the health service. However, she said she was unsure if any amount of planning would have had Northern Ireland fit for purpose to deal with the scale and nature of the pandemic. She added: The number one risk on the risk register across the UK was for a flu pandemic and what came towards us was not a flu pandemic but a very transmittable disease in the community. Therefore the need to scale up and have the capability to deal with that was something we had to dig very deep into very quickly. She also referred to the Bengoa Report, which was designed to transform the health service in Northern Ireland, which was delivered to ministers in 2016. Baroness Foster said: As a result of the Executive collapsing in January 2017 the leadership required to take those reforms forward was not present for three years and then because of the pandemic again those reforms have not been able to be taken forward and now we are in a situation where we have a report from 2016 which has not been implemented. By Giuseppe Fonte and Alvise Armellini ROME (Reuters) -Italy will request a further 16 billion euros ($17.6 billion) in post-COVID funds despite a delay in getting the previous instalment, European Affairs Minister Raffaele Fitto said on Tuesday. The hold-up in securing the money is "clearly a problem," Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said earlier, acknowledging rising challenges for the public finances. Italy is due to receive 191.5 billion euros in grants and cheap loans through 2026 from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in what is seen as a once in a generation opportunity to revitalise a sluggish economy. But the Rome government is falling behind schedule in terms of spending the cash it has already received and in meeting designated "targets and milestones" that trigger the release of fresh payments. The government is managing the situation for the moment, Giorgetti said, confirming plans to keep the budget deficit on a downward trend in the face of a disappointing start to the year. Fitto said there was no guarantee that the fourth tranche, which Italy would request in the coming days, would be received by the end of the year. To speed up the approval process, Rome asked the EU to review 10 out of 27 goals that would trigger the release of these funds. BALLOONING STATE BUDGET DEFICIT The third instalment Italy is still waiting for is worth 19 billion euros and is related to dozens of goals that were supposed to be reached in the second half of 2022, including the creation of 7,500 sleeping accommodation units for students. "I hope that these resources will be disbursed, if EU funds do not come it is clearly a problem," Giorgetti said when asked about the impact on state coffers of delays. The state sector borrowing requirement (SSBR), a narrower aggregate than the public sector deficit, stood at 95 billion euros at the end of June, up more than 50 billion euros on last year. "We are monitoring (public finances), we have targets to meet and we will meet them," Giorgetti said, reiterating that the Treasury has no plans to change its guidance for the issuance of medium- to long-term sovereign bonds in 2023. This year, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government is targeting a budget deficit of 4.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), almost halving last year's 8.0% figure. After declining to a projected 3.7% of GDP next year, the deficit is seen returning to the European Union's 3% ceiling in 2025. ($1 = 0.9102 euros) (Editing by Gavin Jones, Christina Fincher and Keith Weir) TikTok Music: What is it and will it come to the UK? TikTok Music: What is it and will it come to the UK? Not content with dominating the short-form video space, TikTok has taken its first steps into the music streaming territory dominated by Spotify, Apple, and Amazon. The subscription-only service started off in just two markets Brazil and Indonesia but is now available via invite in Australia, Mexico, and Singapore, suggesting an aggressive rollout is coming. But will that include the UK? And, if so, how much will it cost? What is TikTok Music? TikTok Music shares much of the same functionality as the other big streamers such as Amazon Music Unlimited, Spotify, and Apple Music. It lets you stream albums and songs from artists represented by the likes of Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music. Users can make and share collaborative playlists and save songs for offline listening. But that wouldnt be too groundbreaking on its own and TikTok Music has some features to appeal to the original apps userbase. For starters, it will provide personalised music recommendations accessible by that familiar vertical scrolling interface. This may sound appealing given how good the TikTok algorithm is at surfacing videos to match a users interests. Speaking of those videos, it will also let you play full versions of the songs that accompany TikToks most viral moments. It will also let you search by lyrics (which can appear alongside songs in real-time.) It even has a Shazam-style feature for identifying tracks. Perhaps aware of the challenge of attracting users of other services, TikTok Music lets you import your music library, too. Will TikTok Music come to the UK? For now, TikTok Music is only usable in five markets. Its available to all in Brazil and Indonesia, where it directly replaced parent company ByteDances Resso app, which shut down last September in both. And its now available as a closed beta in Australia, Mexico, and Singapore. Indeed, a recent press release from TikTok said that it has plans for further growth in other markets, albeit without more specifics or a timeline. This seems to be the early stages of a global rollout, then, but it could take some time. Resso launched in Brazil and Indonesia back in 2020, so its not been a speedy transition to the world of streaming music for ByteDance, even if things are picking up pace with the closed beta in new territories. How much will TikTok Music cost if it comes to the UK? If it does come to the UK, expect TikTok Musics pricing to be in the same ballpark as Apple Music and Spotify. While it costs just R$19.90 (~3.27) a month in Brazil, thats the same price as both Spotify and Apple Music in the country. And the prices in Australia (AUD11.99), Mexico (MXN$115), and Singapore (S$9.90) all match the local prices for Spotify (right down to the options for students and families). In other words, should TikTok Music launch in Britain, its virtually certain to match Spotify Premiums 9.99 per month fee. Unless TikTok is finding that doing so elsewhere is a barrier to taking users away from its rivals. Senior CPC official meets CPV delegation Xinhua) 10:50, July 11, 2023 Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, meets with a Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation headed by Nguyen Xuan Thang, a member of the Politburo of the CPV Central Committee, president of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Cai Qi met with a Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation headed by Nguyen Xuan Thang in Beijing on Monday. Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, called on the two sides to implement the important consensus reached by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the CPV Central Committee, carry forward the fine tradition of friendship and mutual trust and intensify high-level exchanges. Both sides should enhance theory and experience exchanges on party and state governance, advance practical cooperation in various fields, enhance people-to-people friendship and mutual trust, deepen cooperation on international and regional affairs, and push for steady and long-term growth of China-Vietnam relations, Cai said. Nguyen Xuan Thang, a member of the Politburo of the CPV Central Committee, president of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, said Vietnam highly appreciates China's development achievements under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. Nguyen Xuan Thang said Vietnam supports the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity and major global initiatives put forward by Xi, and is willing to promote bilateral cooperation in various fields through inter-party relations. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, held talks with Nguyen Xuan Thang earlier on Monday. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, meets with a Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation headed by Nguyen Xuan Thang, a member of the Politburo of the CPV Central Committee, president of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, holds talks with Nguyen Xuan Thang, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, president of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, holds talks with Nguyen Xuan Thang, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, president of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Activision Blizzard's stock skyrocketed as much as 11% Tuesday midday (July 11) after a federal court ruling favored tech giant Microsoft to proceed with its $69 million deal to acquire the video game publisher behind the "Call of Duty" series. The stock market jump means its shares climbed up to $91.83 around midday Tuesday. Microsoft was challenged by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), saying the merger would hurt competition in the gaming industry. The California judge involved in the case ruled the deal would in fact enhance access to popular game franchises such as "Call of Duty" and other titles published by Activision. Another opposition to the Microsoft-Activision deal was Sony which produces the PlayStation 5, the main rival to Microsoft's Xbox series. The company said it is concerned that Microsoft would make popular franchises like "Call of Duty" exclusive to consoles. While Microsoft denied this, critics point to the firm's $11 billion takeover of Zenimax in 2021, which made many popular games shift to Xbox exclusively. These include "Elder Scrolls" as well as the massively-hyped "Starfield," set to be released later this year, which had previously been slated for release on both Xbox and PlayStation. Read Also: Microsoft Confirms More Layoffs, Apart From 10,000 Job Cuts in January FTC: Game's Not Over Yet The court's decision to continue the deal is a blow to the FTC and the Biden administration which sought to curtail the mergers that it says harm competition and are bad for consumers. With the FTC's challenge dismissed, Microsoft and Activision can proceed with the merger scheduled for August. Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith expressed relief on Twitter, saying they are grateful to the court for the "quick and thorough decision" and hoping other jurisdictions would "continue working towards a timely resolution." "The evidence showed the Activision Blizzard deal is good for the industry and the FTC's claims about console switching, multi-game subscription services, and cloud don't reflect the realities of the gaming market," added Xbox head Phil Spencer. Meanwhile, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a statement the merger will "enable competition rather than allow entrenched market leaders to continue to dominate our rapidly growing industry." However, the FTC would still challenge Microsoft in a scheduled antitrust hearing in August, saying in a statement it was "disappointed" with the decision and would announce next steps in the coming days. "We are disappointed in this outcome given the clear threat this merger poses to open competition in cloud gaming, subscription services, and consoles," FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar said. One of the paths the FTC may take, moving forward, is to take the decision to the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Both Microsoft and Activision must find a way forward to resolve opposition from the Competition and Markets Authority in the UK. Our statement on today's decision: pic.twitter.com/jRDD8PhBeT Brad Smith (@BradSmi) July 11, 2023 Microsoft Axes More Jobs While the company has been relieved with its legal fight against the US government for now, Microsoft confirmed it would be laying off more employees, adding to the 10,000 job cuts announced in January. Sources say the latest round affects salespeople and customer success representatives. Earlier this year, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told the workforce about its plans to revamp its hardware lineup and consolidate its leases, as well as in preparation for the onboarding of Activision. Related Article: US Regulators to Decide Fate of Microsoft's $69 Billion Video Game Deal @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. HA NOI The latest Business Climate Index (BCI) report reveals a modest decline of 4.5 points in European business confidence towards the Vietnamese market, with the current score of 43.5 reflecting prevailing market conditions with many challenges. This report conducted by Decision Lab was released on Monday by the European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam (EuroCham). The Business Climate Index is the premier metric for gaining insight into the European business and investment community's perceptions of the Vietnamese market. Assembled from feedback gathered from EuroCham Viet Nam's expansive network of 1,300 members, who collectively represent nearly every sector of the country's dynamic economy, this quarterly survey delivers indispensable insights into the current state of Viet Nam's business environment. "Viet Nam's economy relies heavily on manufacturing and exports, and it has taken a big hit from the tough global situation. This decline in exports and orders has had a major impact on European businesses and the overall business community. The BCI clearly shows this current gloomy outlook," said EuroCham Chairman Gabor Fluit. CEO of Decision Lab Thue Quist Thomasen added: "In the previous quarter, we found ourselves at a crucial turning point, where companies adopted a cautious 'wait and see' approach to assessing the direction of the economy. The most recent BCI results indicate a decrease in optimism compared to the previous quarter." "During this trying time, the data suggests that the service sector shows resilience while challenges persist within the manufacturing sector," said Thomasen. The BCI reveals a challenging outlook, with a significant 10 per cent increase in negative responses regarding the current business situation. This growing sense of caution is further reflected in a 6 per cent rise in negative sentiment for the upcoming quarter. The survey reveals that over half of the businesses surveyed have benefited from the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Among these beneficiaries, 35 per cent of business leaders have reported gains from tariff reductions. Despite these gains, businesses continue to face challenges in fully capitalising on the agreement, with administrative procedures and a lack of understanding remaining the main barriers to full capitalisation. Securing visas and work permits for foreign workers continues to pose persistent challenges, with over 80 per cent of surveyed businesses encountering various difficulties. The prolonged processing time for visas and work permits emerges as the most pressing issue. The report also highlights the pressing concern of power shortages that significantly impacted businesses during the survey period. Although there has been some relief due to recent rainfall, around 60 per cent of respondents experienced the repercussions of these shortages on their business operations. This manifested in reduced operational efficiency, decreased productivity, and disruptions in production and services. Long-term solutions to ensure power supply stability remain a priority for sustaining business performance and overall economic resilience. EuroCham Chairman Gabor Fluit said: It is crucial for the Government to come up with long-term plans to address the recent power shortage problem, considering its cyclic nature. By taking prompt and comprehensive action, we can not only attract foreign investment but also ensure a resilient economy capable of overcoming future obstacles. Time is of the essence, and we must act decisively to secure a prosperous future for Viet Nam." Furthermore, the report highlights the perception among European business leaders of inadequate infrastructure development in Viet Nam, with 53 per cent expressing their views that it is currently "very inadequate" or "lagging behind". The Vietnamese Government has been taking proactive measures to address this concern. Notably, there is a strong focus on accelerating key infrastructure projects, particularly in the area of highways. "Overcoming regulatory and infrastructure limitations is vital for smooth operations and increased productivity for businesses to further foster sustainable growth and attract foreign investment, said Thomasen. Businesses are expressing that reducing administrative difficulties and upskilling the labour force will facilitate growth. A quality workforce has also proven to be crucial for businesses to maintain their confidence in their own enterprises and the economy. In the current cautious business climate, respondents highlight regulatory reforms and the availability of skilled labour as crucial drivers for their companies' growth. Regulatory reforms are deemed the primary factor contributing to the growth in the service sector, while the manufacturing sector places significant emphasis on the availability of skilled labour. However, amidst the challenges, there is also a glimmer of encouraging news. The report shows a 9 per cent increase in the number of business leaders who assess their business prospects positively for Q3 2023 compared to their assessment for Q2 2023. Businesses are prudently assessing the landscape, focusing on optimising revenue and orders, with a marginal increase of 4 per cent in the proportion of companies anticipating a decline in these areas. Additionally, there is a proactive approach, as 7 per cent more companies plan to carefully manage investments in the upcoming quarter. It is intriguing to note that despite these challenges, workforce planning remains stable, reflecting a resolute commitment to maintaining stability regardless of the prevailing conditions. Despite the challenges, Viet Nam continues to attract foreign investors, with 48 per cent of respondents expecting an increase in their company's foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country next quarter. However, a total of 40 per cent of businesses express no plans for elevating FDI, marking a 4 per cent increase from the previous BCI. Nevertheless, Viet Nam remains firmly positioned among the top five investment destinations for over one-third of businesses, underscoring its enduring appeal.EuroCham Chairman Gabor Fluit said: It is crucial for the Government to come up with long-term plans to address the recent power shortage problem, considering its cyclic nature. By taking prompt and comprehensive action, we can not only attract foreign investment but also ensure a resilient economy capable of overcoming future obstacles. Time is of the essence, and we must act decisively to secure a prosperous future for Viet Nam." The report further highlights concerns expressed by close to 40 per cent of surveyed respondents regarding the forthcoming implementation of the global minimum tax. Similarly, around 42 per cent of businesses report inadequate understanding of Viet Nam's Personal Data Protection Decree, indicating the need for further education on this matter. Meanwhile, awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is demonstrated by 27 per cent of respondents, with only 43 per cent perceiving CBAM as relevant to their business activities. VNS A NANG Global logistics companies will gather at the Asia-Pacific Regional Annual Meeting of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and the mid-year meeting of the ASEAN Freight Forwarders Association (AFFA) in the central city on July 13 to 15. The Viet Nam Logistics Business Association (VLA) said the event will offer opportunities for Vietnamese logistics and exporters to exchange experience and information with 250 representatives of logistics service providers in the development of logistics services in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It also helps build up business links between the Vietnamese and global markets in aviation, catering, hospitality and tourism through dialogue and discussions at the event. Le Duy Hiep, chairman of VLA, said the annual meeting would be a rendezvous for local businesses seeking cooperative agreements with members of logistics associations in the region and the world. He said the 2023 Region Asia Pacific Annual Meeting by FIATA, the AFFA Mid-Year and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Conference for Logistics Service Providers will take place at a Nang Citys Furama resort. He said a business-to-business (B2B) programme will be included in the framework of the conference, helping Vietnamese companies gain closer contact with global partners in expanding export markets. Hiep said FIATA a non-governmental, membership-based organisation representing freight forwarders in some 150 countries has 109 association members and over 6,200 individual members representing 40,000 freight forwarding and logistics firms worldwide. It is hoped that these events will offer a great opportunity not only to enhance logistics business collaboration between Viet Nam and Asia Pacific region members but also to strengthen the friendship and solidarity among all members of the global logistics community. a Nang, the host of the conferences, plans to develop as an international-standard logistics centre for Viet Nam, ASEAN and the Asia Pacific region by 2030. Last year, the city began construction of the newly designed Lien Chieu deep-sea port as a key port in the development of a logistics complex including a new railway station; international-standard warehouses; an inland clearance depot railway and entry points to road connections. The port will be a key entry point into logistics chains providing services for the central and Central Highlands regions, as well as the import-export exchange among ASEAN partners via the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) that links Viet Nam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. The port, which will be built on a total of 450ha with an investment of VN3.426 trillion (US$137 million), was designed to accept 200,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) cargo ships and container ships with loading capacities from 8,000 to 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) as well as 30,000DTW liquid cargo vessels. It could handle from 40 million to 50 million tonnes of cargo by 2050. According to VLA, the central region has 20 deep sea ports, but the system only handles 55.5 million tonnes of cargo 13 per cent of the countrys sea ports per year. VNS HA NOI The Military Industry-Telecoms Group (Viettel) said it will broadcast 5G services on a large scale in the third quarter of this year. Viettel has reportedly achieved revenue of VN81 trillion (US$), equivalent to 101.2 per cent of its six-month plan. Its profit reached VN24.1 trillion, or approximately 102 per cent of the plan, and paid VN21.6 trillion to the State budget. Viettel has actively shifted 2G and 3G subscribers to 4G, bringing the ratio of 4G subscribers to nearly 78 per cent. It has also tested 5G services in 55 provinces and cities. Viettel noted that it is on schedule to complete the mass 5G rollout. It has completed the construction of 282 stations, of which 265 are fully deployed. Viettel is currently testing 5G capacity and is expected to broadcast to a wide area in the third quarter of this year. VNPT, a major competitor of the military's own telecoms company, had a total consolidated revenue estimated at VN26.32 trillion ($1.1 billion), of which the parent company's revenue is VN18.6 trillion ($782 million) equaling 47.1 per cent of the year's plan. VNPT's consolidated profit before tax was estimated at VN2.2 trillion ($92 million) in the first six months of this year, of which the parent company's pre-tax profit reached VN1.38 trillion ($58 million), equaling 49.7 per cent of the year plan. MobiFone, another major player in the telecoms industry, saw revenue estimated at VN13.5 trillion ($568 million) in the first six months of this year, reaching 89.3 per cent of the same period last year. Its profit before tax was VN1.56 trillion ($65 million), with contributions to the State budget estimated at VN1.35 trillion ($56 million). However, the two carriers have not given information about their 5G development plans for the last six months of the year. VNS HA NOI A cultural exchange promotion event and introducing Vietnamese lychee was organised at Kitahanada AEON Mall in Osaka, Japan, as part of a series of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of Viet Nam-Japan diplomatic relations. The event, which was organised by Japan-Viet Nam Economic Development Association (JVEDA), attracted thousands of visitors and customers buying lychee from the northern province of Bac Giang. Speaking at the event, Yamamoto Hironobu, JVEDAs vice chairman, sent his thanks to two Japanese firms: Big Global HR Inc and Monomaru with Mono Food brand for distributing lychee under Global GAP to Japanese consumers. Consulate General of Viet Nam in Osaka, Ngo Trinh Ha said: Vietnamese agricultural products are increasingly making great strides and positions in the international market, especially Japan. As a strict market in terms of quality standards, products such as Global GAP lychee from Bac Giang Province, Viet Nam are highly appreciated and have a lot of potential to expand in Japan. I hope that there will be many Vietnamese enterprises with innovative ideas to bring clean agricultural products to the world in the near future. Lychees are grown according to Global GAP standards which are strictly tested on the quality of soil, water, air and farming techniques. Nishikawa Kaori, chairwoman of Big Global HR Inc in Japan, said: We hope to be able to put lychee into most of the supermarket systems across the country, so that Japanese people can enjoy Viet Nams fresh fruits. In addition to fresh lychees, frozen lychees also have many advantages when applying the most advanced Japanese freezing preservation technologies such as Denba Technology and CAS to help preserve the full flavour of fruits, then transport lychees around the world. JVEDA is a pioneer in trade and investment promotion activities between Viet Nam and Japan. The event has not only promoted cultural exchange and introducing Vietnamese lychee fruit but also opening up many trade opportunities for Vietnamese and Japanese businesses in the field of agricultural products. VNS AN GIANG Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for realising the untapped potential of the Mekong Delta province of An Giang to achieve rapid socio-economic development for the entire region. He was speaking at a meeting with provincial authorities to assess the provinces performance in the first half of the year and look ahead to the second. Its economy expanded by 6.5 per cent with agriculture growing by 3.29 per cent and industry-construction by 9.51 per cent. Total retail sales of consumer goods and services increased by 17.6 per cent and tourist arrivals by 15 per cent. The PM said with its key geographical location at the centre of the Mekong Delta region, a network of rivers, status as a major rice, seafood and fruit producer, long history and culture of eco-tourism, craft villages and festivals, the province should promote internal strengths to boost socio-economic development and better its peoples lives. But it still has to overcome a number of limitations such as inadequate transport infrastructure, slow implementation of national programmes and administrative reforms, and lack of improvement in the business and investment environment, he said. He called on the province to fulfil its socio-economic development plans over the next two years, focusing on economic restructure and soliciting investment in manufacturing, energy, food production, logistics, and tourism. It should also preserve and develop the local cultures and protect the environment, he said. An Giang authorities need to promote planning to create new spaces for development,attract and effectively use resources for development, increase public-private partnerships and step up pubic spending, he said. They have to focus resources on infrastructure development, including the construction of the first phase of the Chau oc - Can Tho - Soc Trang Expressway and expansion of waterway transport, he said. The expressway, more than 188km long, will start at National Highway No. 91 in Chau oc City, pass through Can Tho City and Hau Giang Province and finish at Tran e Port in Soc Trang Province. To cost VN44.7 trillion (US$1.9 billion), it will have four lanes and allow speeds of up to 100km per hour in the first phase. It has been identified as a national project and key to facilitating socio-economic development in the Mekong Delta. Chinh also called on the province to restructure agriculture, promote the national "One Commune, One Product" programme, foster the collective economy, ensure social security, speed up administrative reforms, and tackle difficulties faced locally in production and trade. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has recently asked to accelerate administrative reforms concerning criminal record checks, piloting a programme on criminal record check issuance via the e-identification app VNeID. The document said that while the issuance of criminal record checks has seen progress, several shortcomings related to the procedure persist, such as limited understanding of the regulations on judicial records, slow processing of requests for criminal record check certificates, and inadequate technology and infrastructure for a large number of requests. Addressing these bottlenecks, the newly issued directive requires that ministers and other authorities follow regulations of criminal record (also known as judicial record) certificate issuance, as stated in Clause 3, Article 7 of the Law on Judicial Records. Tasks to be implemented immediately include: raising awareness and responsibility on compliance regarding Clause 2 and 3 of Article 7 in the judicial records law; taking measures to address the large number of requests of criminal record checks among businesses and organisations; and ensuring the confidentiality of judicial records. Officials are also required to conduct reviews and adjustments or propose changes regarding regulations and administrative procedures related to criminal record checks. This is to reduce unnecessary requirements as well as the costs and obstacles that they cause. A report on this regulatory streamlining is expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister in August 2023. Alongside sufficient human resources, the information systems for administrative procedures at ministerial and provincial levels also need to be upgraded to respond to demands, the document said. The judicial records database is also planned to be completed and digitalised to facilitate the issuance of criminal record check certificates for the people. A review of administrative fee reduction for this procedure is also assigned to the finance ministry. In addition to a pilot programme on criminal record check issuance via the e-identification app VNeID, the public security ministry will also coordinate with relevant ministries, State agencies and localities to facilitate these administrative procedures for people in alignment with the laws. The Ministry of Information and Communications is required to coordinate with media agencies to raise awareness of judicial record regulations for correct implementation, reducing unnecessary requests and utilising postal services to facilitate the process, according to peoples needs. Ministers, ministerial-level and State agency leaders, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal peoples committees are required to report to the PM on the directive implementation on a quarterly basis. VNS JAKARTA -- ASEAN foreign ministers and their counterparts from China, Russia, the United States and other key partners yesterday met in Jakarta for the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Leading the Vietnamese delegation, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attended the Conference of Southeast Asia's Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, also known as the SEANWFZ Treaty, and a dialogue session with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). During the SEANWFZ Treaty Committee's session, the ASEAN Secretary-General reported on the implementation of the SEANWFZ Action Plan for the period 2023-2027. The committee welcomed results in promoting nuclear security, safety, and cooperation across the region. ASEAN and its partners agreed to continue seeking solutions for countries with nuclear weapons to join the treaty. In the face of various fluctuations and challenges, including the risk of nuclear conflict, the ministers reaffirmed the participating countries' political will to uphold the goals of SEANWFZ, emphasising the importance of consultation and dialogue for a Southeast Asia without nuclear weapons. The ministers approved the Concept Document on Joint Initiatives of Cooperation between ASEAN and the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL). This initiative contributes to strengthening the SEANWFZ Treaty and supports joint efforts against nuclear proliferation and disarmament. Minister Son highlighted the significance of SEANWFZ and stressed the need to enhance the treaty's value in the current complex and potentially risky global context. Viet Nam reiterated its commitment and determination in implementing the Treaty Action Plan and supported ASEAN's efforts to encourage nuclear-armed countries to join the SEANWFZ Protocol. On the same day, the ministers engaged in a dialogue session with the AICHR Committee. Over the past year, the AICHR Committee has conducted 15 sessions aimed at promoting cooperation on human rights and achieving tangible outcomes in various areas, including the rights of people with disabilities, children's rights, climate change, environmental rights, and more. Through consultations, policy support for specialised agencies, and field trips, the AICHR has had the opportunity to engage with diverse groups, actively contributing to bringing the ASEAN Community closer to the people and better meeting their needs. The Foreign Ministers emphasised that the promotion and protection of human rights are fundamental goals throughout the process of building the ASEAN Community. Recognising the profound impact of emerging issues on human rights, both positive and negative, the ministers underscored the need for the AICHR to enhance its operational efficiency, strengthen interdisciplinary consultation and dialogue, and develop comprehensive solutions that effectively safeguard the interests of the people and align with the region's common interests. Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed high appreciation for the efforts of the AICHR and the results achieved in implementing the Work Plan 2021-2025. He commended the constructive and goodwill-driven cooperation with partners, adhering to the principles, processes, and procedures of ASEAN.- VNS HA NOI The first-instance trial for violations related to COVID-19 repatriation flights opened on Tuesday in Ha Noi with 54 defendants. Among the defendants, 21 are being prosecuted for allegedly receiving bribes, many of which are former officials in the Government Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of Health (MoH), and the Ministry of Transport (MoT). A total of 23 other defendants are on the stand for allegedly giving bribes and four are accused of abusing their positions and powers while on official duty. Four more are accused of brokering bribery; one for fraudulent appropriation of property; and one is on trial for fraudulent appropriation of property and giving bribes. The Supreme Peoples Procuracy said that in this case, 25 defendants abused their positions and powers and assigned tasks to receive bribes worth nearly VN165 billion (US$7 million) while also causing damages of over VN10 billion ($422,000). Of the defendants, 23 are accused of giving bribes that totalled over VN226 billion ($9.5 million). The four bribery brokers are also responsible for VN74 billion ($3.1 million) in bribery and VN25 billion ($1 million) in fraudulent appropriation of property. The Government arranged a repatriation flight bringing 30 Vietnamese citizens back from Wuhan (China) in March 2020 in response to the emerging Covid-19 pandemic. One month later, several more repatriation flights were organised that only collected fees for airfare and quarantine at military facilities. In November 2020, due to the substantial demand for repatriation and the high costs of flights and quarantine, the government piloted 10 flights that were paid for by citizens who hoped to return to the country. These were called combo flights, and were managed by a working group comprised of officials from the health ministry, transport ministry, national defence ministry, foreign affairs ministry, and later the public security ministry. The arrangement process for these flights involved the Government Office providing advice and proposing government leaders approve flight plans according to the information from the MoFA. The MoFA, through its Consular Department, was responsible for developing and proposing plans for the combo flights, coordinating and discussing with the other ministries within the working group, submitting reports to the government for approval, and communicating the flight plans. Several provincial Peoples Committees were in charge of quarantine plans at their localities. In this programme, businesses that organised the flights needed to arrange quarantine plans with localities, then submitted dossiers to the Consular Department (under the MoFA). The dossiers would then go through the working group for governmental approval. The bribery violations took place from September 2020 to December 2022, with multiple business representatives and individuals working in ministries involved in the process, according to the procuracys 102-page indictment presented at the court. The trial is expected to continue for one month. VNS HA NOI The Government Office has issued a document announcing Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang's directions from his recent teleconference with leaders of 13 Mekong Delta localities, requesting more aggressive actions to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. Accordingly, Deputy PM Quang requested that plans and agenda must be carefully prepared before the upcoming working session with the European Commission's fourth inspection team, in order to remove the commissions yellow card warning against Vietnamese seafood exports by October 2023. The Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Defence and Foreign Affairs and relevant localities are required to strictly follow the Prime Minister's directions on the action plan against IUU fishing. The Ministry of National Defence was asked to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in proposing effective solutions to prevent fishing vessels from violating foreign waters. The Ministry of Public Security should prosecute those involved in bringing Vietnamese fishing boats and fishermen to infringe upon foreign waters. The Deputy PM also required the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with coastal localities to well perform their task of protecting and regenerating aquatic resources and developing effective occupation change models. Local authorities should intensify management over their fishing fleets and coordinate with competent agencies to investigate and radically sanction acts of IUU fishing, according to the conclusion. Regarding the completion of software to combat IUU fishing, Deputy PM Quang assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to work with the People's Committee of Ca Mau Province to finish the work in August and consider replicating the application of the software in other localities. VNS HCM CITY A fraudulent case in a students' competition that rocked social media in Viet Nam in the past week ended with a result that would make many say "Justice has been served". A Vietnamese student who won a bronze medal in the 2023 Genius Olympiad in June had his accolades rescinded after organisers found a blatant 86 per cent similarity between his submission and that of another student's, according to an official email from Genius Olympiad sent to participants. This comes after Ly Khanh Mai Chi, a 15-year-old student, posted allegations of another student named Nguyen Quoc Uy for copying her submission to the Genius Olympiad. Mai Chi's Facebook post garnered 14,000 shares after four days and sparked conversations across social media. In her post, Mai Chi said that she participated in the 2023 Genius Olympiad in two categories, music and creative writing. After the first round, her supervisor, Nguyen Minh Trung, a teacher at Gia inh High School, told Chi that she only passed in the music category. Chi later checked back on the website, and saw a submission with a title similar to hers, and with the name "Chi Ly". Chi reported to Trung, who answered that it was another submission from a different school that he had no knowledge about. "It was not until I went to the US that I found out about a creative writing poster from a Vietnamese contestant named Nguyen Quoc Uy, which had the same content as my "flunked" submission," said Chi in her Facebook post. According to Chi, Uy had the same submission number as her, 2190. Uy is also studying at Gia inh High School, where Trung is working. "When Uy came up to get his medal, I broke down. My eyes were full of tears but I could not cry, I was speechless," Chi wrote in her post. Chi checked and saw that her name was replaced with "Uy Nguyen Quoc" in the second round. Her family reached out to Uy, hoping for an apology, but got nothing. Having felt unfairly treated, Chi sent emails to the organisers of the Genius Olympiad and publicised details to social media and the press on July 6. After a week of back-and-forth across the press between both sides, with Trung and Uy's mother denying any wrongdoing, the case ended on Monday midnight with an official statement sent through email from the organisers of the 2023 Genius Olympiad, which was posted by Chi on social media. The email was also forwarded by Chi to Tuoi Tre Newspaper, which confirmed its authenticity. In the statement, the organisers confirmed that "A recent project submitted for the Genius Olympiad has been found to contain a high level of similarity to an original submission by another student. Both students were supervised by the same teacher." "After conducting a thorough investigation, we have determined that the student's work in question has three to four sentences which are exactly the same as the original work and has a further three to four sentences very similar with words rearranged. In addition, a text comparison tool identified that the fraudulent work has an 86 per cent similarity with the original," said the organisers. According to the statement, the organisers have revoked the award associated with the fraudulent submission and rescinded the student's recognition and any related accolades. Regarding the supervising teacher, the statement also said: "Furthermore, we have also taken action against the teacher who oversaw the project's submission as the account supervisor." "The supervisor will not be able to submit any projects for the upcoming 2024 Genius Olympiad," said the official body. "Moving forward, we will be reviewing and strengthening our submission procedures to minimize the possibility of fraud... In future years, we will block certain updates in the project accounts once they become a finalist while allowing students to update their projects to prevent such activity from happening," added the organisers. In her post, Mai Chi also thanked the public and the press who stood by and defended her during the past week. "I want to end the story here," said the 15-year-old, "I and my family were so stressed and tired during the past few days, but got the greatest encouragement from everyone." Chi also asked the public to end attacks on Uy. "He's still young, and perhaps this is not something he can control. Please give him a chance to change, because I believe that after this Uy has learned a lot." The 15-year-old student also denied further interviews from the press, stating that she and her family just want to go back to their normal lives. VNS The new EU-US Data Privacy Framework will soon allow data transfer between Europe and the United States. This will be a big deal for the likes of Google, Facebook, Apple, and other tech firms relying on user data for their businesses. EU-US Data Privacy Framework GSM Arena stated that ever since 2020, data transfer between Europe and the United States has been considered illegal by the EU court. Because of this, there have been legal uncertainties around the exports of personal data of European users by U.S. companies. Meta, Google, and other tech companies have been affected by this issue. Finally, a solution to this problem arrives after the European Commission announced the adoption of the new adequacy decision. Thanks to this, Facebook, Apple, Google, and other data-reliant companies can now store European user information on American servers. Didier Reynders, the EU justice commissioner, explained that personal data can now flow safely and freely from European Economic Areas to the U.S. The adoption of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework makes data transfer between the U.S. and EU possible based on a trusted and stable agreement, which protects users, as well as provides legal certainty to tech firms. Read Also: Instagram's Threads Nears 100 Million Users, 5 Days Since the Twitter Rival Debuts Other Things About the New Data Framework According to the European Commission's official website, the new EU-US Data Privacy Framework will ensure that U.S.-based tech firms have adequate levels of protection for personal data transferred from Europe to the United States. "European entities can transfer personal data to participating companies in the United States, without having to put in place additional data protection safeguards," explained the European Commission. The new EU-US Data Privacy Framework provides new rights to European residents whose data will be transferred to U.S. servers. These new rights include obtaining correction, deletion of incorrect information, as well as acquiring access to their data. Companies interested to participate in the new EU-US Data Privacy Framework can certify themselves by complying with the privacy obligations set by the European Commission. These include sharing specific obligations concerning data security and the sharing of data with third parties; data minimization and data retention; and privacy principles such as purpose limitation. If you want to learn more about the new EU-US Data Privacy Framework, you can click this link. Related Article: EU Introduces Stricter Data Regulations Aimed at Big Tech @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. More than 350 Vietnamese and foreign enterprises will seek business opportunities at the 16th International Exhibition on Electrical Technology and Equipment (Vietnam ETE 2023) and the 13th International Exhibition on Technology, Energy-Saving Products and Green Energy (Enertec Expo 2023), which will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from July 19 to 21. Local visitors attend the event in 2022. Photo: Vietnam ETE Exhibitors will display typical products in the fields of electrical equipment, energy saving, new energy, green energy, new technologies, and others. The exhibition is expected to cover an area of nearly 10,000m2 with nearly 500 booths. It will feature a series of activities such as in-depth industry discussions, business matchmaking sessions, and trade shows. Organizers hope to attract 20,000 visitors during the three-day event. The previous event welcomed around 30,000 visitors, including more than 12,000 trade visitors over four days. The events are supported by Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, hosted by Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, co-organized by C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition JSC and Ho Chi Minh City Center of Supporting Industries Development. Hanoi Times In a recent working visit to Belgium, Vietnamese Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc, along with his delegation, engaged in significant dialogue with the Belgian authorities to fortify mutual ties and cooperation. During a meeting on July 4, Minister Phoc and his team engaged with Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Vincent Van Peterghem on discussions about Vietnam's economy, where Belgium's support for Vietnam's initiatives took centre stage. Vietnam's macroeconomic situation has seen steady progression in the first six months of the year. This growth is underscored by a consistent positive trend in production, export, enterprise development, and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. The country has managed to control its debt safety indicators, driving a marked improvement in its public and government debt portfolios by increasing domestic debt proportions and reducing foreign ones. The Belgian DPM welcomed the efforts made by Vietnam and vowed to extend the country's support in various areas where Belgium possesses notable strengths. Minister Phoc requested the Belgian government to augment its official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam by adopting direct budget support methods and providing more autonomy to the beneficiaries. Vietnam is keenly exploring the introduction of a global minimum tax policy and appreciates Belgium's guidance in this matter. "Given the complexity of implementing the GMT, as outlined in the EU Directive which takes effect on January 1, 2024, we look forward to leveraging Belgium's experience in its adoption," he said. DPM Van Peterghem indicated his intent to instruct specialised agencies to continue research, coordination, and support for Vietnam in the future. He also promised to address Vietnam's proposals related to ODA loans and grants. During his visit, Minister Phoc met Jean-Paul Servais, chairman of Belgium's Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA), who concurrently heads the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). Minister Phoc highlighted the successes of Vietnam's securities market and its future development direction. The Vietnamese Ministry of Finance is in the process of formulating a strategy to evolve its securities market by 2030, centred around four key pillars: commodities, trading markets, intermediaries, and investors. Special emphasis will be placed on the significant expansion of the network of institutional investors, adhering to the direction of green financial development, serving the goal of sustainable growth. The minister suggested multiple strategies to propel the collaboration between both sides, with the State Securities Commission participating as a full member of IOSCO. "We wish to continue receiving extended support from you as chairman of the FSMA and IOSCO for the development of Vietnam's securities market," he proposed. He also called for technical assistance in developing a modern, effective market surveillance system capable of early detection of market violations. Additionally, Minister Phoc expressed his desire for Vietnam to host an upcoming annual IOSCO conference, seeking Servais's backing for the proposal. Servais, impressed with Vietnam's stock market development direction, pledged his support and encouraged Vietnam to apply to host a future IOSCO conference. vir Justice ministers from ASEAN and G7 countries take group photo. (Photo: VNA) Tokyo The ASEAN-G7 Justice Ministers' Interface convened in Tokyo, Japan on July 7, aiming to foster cooperation among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Group of Seven (G7) countries in the field of law and justice. The event, which took place one day after the ASEAN-Japan Special Meeting of Justice Ministers, is the first joint meeting of the justice ministers from ASEAN and G7 countries to enhance rule of law collaboration for strengthening regional and international order. At the event, the justice ministers underscored the importance of international law and order. They also sought to cooperate in the exchange and training of legal staff such as judges and civil servants. Japan, the host country and chair of the G7, has supported the development of legal systems in more than 10 countries, mainly in Southeast Asia, since 1994. Instead of trying to make copies of Japanese law, Tokyo has sent prosecutors and judges to stay in another country for several years to assist in the development of laws that are consistent with that country's practices. As of March this year, 6,300 people graduated from a United Nations training institute in Tokyo run by the Japanese Ministry of Justice, which aims to promote the development of criminal justice systems in the Asia-Pacific region. In his closing remarks, Japan's Justice Minister Ken Saito said that the participants expressed their support for his countrys initiative to establish a new forum, which is expected to bring together young government officials from the G7 and ASEAN member countries. ASEAN, Eurasian Economic Union hold business dialogue A business dialogue between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was held on June 15 in the framework of the 26th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia. BIS HCMC students achieve outstanding IBDP results, placing them among the best worldwide The second-ever largest IBDP cohort of 107 students has surpassed all IBDP global averages. Once again, the knowledge, skills, and aptitudes of BIS HCMC students have been recognised with stunning academic results that place them among the very best worldwide. With a truly impressive average point score of 36.6, the BIS HCMC class of 2023 achieved significantly higher than the global average of 30.2 points. Once again students at BIS HCMC retained an average overall points score of an incredible 6 points above the world average and have done so for several years, reflecting the consistency in quality across all disciplines. Among the many successes, an outstanding 35 per cent of BIS HCMC students achieved a score of 40 points or more, an astonishing achievement given the United Kingdom average is 15.9 per cent. Two BIS HCMC students achieved a perfect score of 45, falling in the top 1 per cent worldwide. Behind these truly impressive results are 107 incredibly hard-working and dedicated students experiencing their own personal journeys to success. They are the culmination of not only the last two years of the IB Diploma Programme, but rather mark an important milestone as the latest BIS HCMC graduates from complete their school careers and take their first steps at the worlds best universities. With hundreds of offers received from top 100 universities, it will be exciting to discover the final university and subject choices of these top scoring IBDP students in Vietnam over the coming days and weeks. The Class of 2023 have in many ways faced the most challenging set of circumstances of any recent cohort affected by the the pandemic, with the first 25 per cent of their IBDP journey conducted online yet still with the challenge of a full unamended IBDP curriculum and examination series to meet. These circumstances have meant each student has had to show even greater perseverance, adaptability and commitment to overcome obstacles, and have done so successfully with the support of parents, teachers, and each other. Having achieved these incredible results, it is undoubtedly that these exceptional BIS HCMC students will now go on to succeed in their chosen paths, and we look forward to hearing of their ongoing successes. Anthony Rowlands, principal of BIS HCMC said, The class of 2023 have excelled themselves with this outstanding set of IB results, and we are very proud of every one of them. They have been a wonderful cohort of students who have always acted with integrity, showing great perseverance and resilience in achieving these excellent outcomes. A great deal of credit must go to their parents and to our staff for guiding them thoughtfully, and with great care, throughout their time at BIS HCMC. My sincere congratulations to the class of 2023. The Class of 2023 shared a very special Graduation ceremony at the Park Hyatt Saigon on May 20, he said. BIS HCMC IBDP results: Top score achieved: 45 points by two students Average IB diploma points score: 36.6 points (world average: 30.2 points) Near perfect score (43+): 9 students Students achieving 40 points and above: 34.6 per cent (UK average: 15.9) Average subject score: 5.7 (world average: 4.8) Students awarded the full IB diploma: 98.1 per cent (global average: 79.4 per cent) Students awarded the bilingual diploma: 13.1 per cent BIS Hanoi students achieve the world's highest mark in Cambridge examination Cambridge Assessment International Education recently awarded three students from the BIS Hanoi (British International School Hanoi) for achieving the highest mark in the world for their IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) Mathematics papers. Vietnamese central bank invited to become BIS member The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) has been invited to become a member of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the first expansion of the prestigious international financial institution's central bank membership base since 2011. ISHCMC celebrates 30 years with launch of new Student Grant Programme In celebration of 30years of providing exceptional education, the International School of Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) has proudly announced the launch of its 30 Year Grant, designed to recognise and support students who exhibit exceptional talent, determination, and potential. BUV pledges investment in quality education in Vietnam The achievements and excellent quality that British University Vietnam has reached affirm the commitment and investment efficiency in education in Vietnam. Recurrent power shortages in Vietnam a significant deterrent to business productivity are under EuroCham's spotlight, according to its Q2 BCI report released on July 10. The study suggests that recent electricity shortfalls have had a considerable impact on various businesses. Even though substantial rainfall has somewhat stabilised the predicament, nearly 60 per cent of surveyed firms indicated the power deficiency as an obstacle, with about 10 per cent profoundly affected. Addressing the power supply's stability ranks high on EuroCham's list of priorities for ensuring business operations and catalysing the nation's economic resurgence. "The government should concentrate on devising long-term plans as this cyclical issue persists," stated Gabor Fluit, chairman of EuroCham. From late-May to mid-June, northern Vietnam has faced recurring power outages. The amplified electricity demand, juxtaposed with the reduced hydroelectric power output due to drought, seriously limited Vietnam's principal energy source's ability to contribute. Several industrial zones in Bac Ninh, Hanoi, and Bac Giang experienced sustained power cuts during the week. European business leaders also noted that compared to peer nations in the region, Vietnam's pace of infrastructure development lags. Around 53 per cent of businesses surveyed rated the existing infrastructure as either inadequate or outdated. On the brighter side, businesses have acknowledged the Vietnamese government's proactive steps towards resolving these issues, particularly through the acceleration of pivotal infrastructure projects. The survey also flagged other worrisome issues such as convoluted administrative processes, ambiguous regulations, difficulties in procuring visas and work permits, and the impending global minimum tax rate. Despite these headwinds, the survey revealed a marginal up tick in business optimism. Approximately a third of businesses now predict a stable or improving economy, up by 2 per cent. The number of business leaders bullish about Q3's prospects also saw a 9 per cent rise compared to Q2. Vietnam continues to be a magnet for foreign investors, with 48 per cent of respondents expecting growth in their company's foreign direct investment in Vietnam over the coming quarter. Over half of these businesses are currently benefiting from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Nonetheless, in the face of global economic turbulence, EuroCham's BCI for Vietnam experienced a slight dip of 4.5 points to 43.5 in Q2. According to Fluit, Vietnam's export and manufacturing-oriented economy has been hit significantly by global downturns. Consequently, the decrease in exports and orders has majorly impacted European businesses and the wider business community. "The BCI vividly paints the current grim landscape," he opined. Fluit commended the Vietnamese government's swift and pragmatic measures to tackle these challenges, specifically in expediting critical infrastructure projects. Such initiatives are projected to provide a substantial impetus to the long-term economic trajectory. Thue Quist Thomasen, CEO of the survey's facilitator Decision Lab, observed that while the services sector is showing recovery signs, the manufacturing sector is plagued with numerous hurdles. To stimulate sustainable growth and lure foreign investments, addressing the regulatory bottlenecks and infrastructure shortcomings is crucial. Thomasen added, "Businesses are voicing the importance of administrative simplification and the elevation of workforce skills as essential growth catalysts. A highly qualified workforce plays a significant role in bolstering business confidence in both enterprises and the economy at large." Lee Jae Eun, CEO of Everpia said, "Our Giang Dien plant is an important milestone for the next chapter of Everpia, as we aim to become a cornerstone of the economy." The Korean firm, primarily a supplier of bedding materials, has been listed as one of the Top 100 Sustainable Development Enterprises in Vietnam for six consecutive years, and has consistently strived to achieve its sustainable development goals. The factory applies a sandwich wall system, with an XPS insulation layer, thermal insulation glass fibre for the roof, along with solar panels and energy-saving LED lights. Low-flow sanitary equipment has also significantly reduced water consumption in the factory. For the padding workshop area of the factory, energy consumption is now at around half of what was laid out in the initial plans. Water consumption is down by 25 per cent, and material savings are lowered by around 30 per cent. Solar energy will meet approximately 15 per cent of the factory's annual electricity demand, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly. Everpia aims to increase production and warehouse storage capacity for its flagship brand, Everon, while expanding its product portfolio and increasing penetration particularly in the south of Vietnam for new brands such as K-Bedding and King Koil. The company is utilising the strategic location and abundant young workforce of Giang Dien Industrial Zone to optimise operational costs and leverage export strengths. Eun said, "Our main export items from the south of Vietnam include padding and cleaning towels, targeting key markets such as South Korea, Germany, the United States, and the Netherlands. In the future, Everpia hopes to expand its reach to countries such as Russia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan." Setting up the Everpia Giang Dien Factory in the midst of an economic downturn is quite a challenge. However, this is an inevitable milestone for us to continue our journey and enter new potential markets, said Cho Yong Hwan, vice president of Everpia. As the company opens new showrooms, signs contracts with the major supermarket chains, and increases its presence on e-commerce channels, Everpia Giang Dien is set to play a crucial and strategic role. Giang Dien is currently Everpia's largest factory, covering a total area of just under 3 hectares in an industrial Zone in Dong Nai province. It has the capability to produce products from Everpia's entire range, including padding, bedding, towels, and curtains. The factory can produce six million yards of padding, one million bedding products, 30,000 spring mattresses, and 40,000 polyethylene mattresses each year. Its capacity includes one million yards of fabric every year to make towels for industrial use, but will also include products for the household market soon. Over the past three decades in Vietnam, Everpia has produced various brands, including Everon, Everon Home Decor, Everon Basic, Artemis, K-Bedding, and King Koil. With total assets of VND1.03 trillion (around $43 million) and 446 stores nationwide, the company's strengths also lie in the export of fibre panels and towel manufacturing. Grounds for new hope to unfreeze FDI process Vietnams foreign investment picture in the first quarter of 2020 showed the hardest downtrend in over a decade since the 2003 SARS pandemic, as the current coronavirus continues to thrash manufacturing, real estate, retail, services, and tourism. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Li Peng, purchasing director at the International Corporation of Third Construction Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of the state-owned China State Construction, said in early July that the market for sheet and section steel products in Indonesia has been quite favourable for the past few months due to the construction of factories for projects funded by Chinese companies. China's exports of steel products rose by 41 per cent on-year during the first half of 2023, according to data from the country's Customs Administration. Local analysts predict that in 2023, the country's steel exports will reach a record 77 million tonnes, the highest seen since 2016. The high energy costs in several nations leave steel production less competitive when compared to Chinese prices, according to Hao Pei, a senior analyst based in Shanghai. The World Steel Association reports that steel production in Asia and Oceania decreased by 6 per cent in May. In May, steel prices reached their lowest level in three years as a result of the months-long downturn in China's real estate market. Nguyen Quoc Hiep, chairman of the Board of Directors of Global Property Investment Corporation, shared with VIR that, "The health of Vietnam's real estate market is deteriorating, resulting in a number of construction sectors, including steel, struggling to survive." However, unlike China, Vietnam's exports of steel remain minimal. According to the General Statistics Office, exports of steel dipped by 17.2 per cent in the first six months, reaching only $4.13 billion. Duong Duc Quang, deputy director of the Mercantile Exchange of Vietnam, said that China accounts for about 70 per cent of the world's iron ore imports and generates more than half of the world's steel, which explains why Vietnam's steel export volume is still limited despite the sudden increase in the Chinese market. In addition, the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will address commodity groupings with a higher risk of carbon leakage, such as steel. According to Dr. Dao Gia Phuc from the Institute of International and Comparative Law at the Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, this mechanism applies a fee on goods imported from countries with less rigorous emission reduction regulations, which will create obstacles for steel exports to the EU after it goes into effect on October 1. According to the European Steel Association, the demand for steel in the EU is expected to decrease by 1 per cent in 2023, before rebounding by 5.4 per cent in 2024. This concerns steel exporters, since Vietnam's steel industry has a billion-dollar export market in the EU. In 2021, steel exports to the EU reached $1.8 billion for the first time. However, according to Quang, Vietnam's steel exports will have advantages in the future. In particular, on June 26, the EU revised its regulations on the application of safeguard measures on certain imported steel products, with the new rules taking effect on July 1. "As per the new regulations, as a developing World Trade Organization member, Vietnam is exempt if its exports to the EU remain below 3 per cent of total EU imports for each product type," said Quang In addition to the EU, India will be a potential customer for Vietnamese steel exports due to the recovery of its construction industry and its policy to promote public expenditure to support steel demand, according to Vietcombank Securities analyst Vu The Duyet. Based on to information from the Indian Steel Joint Plant Committee, Vietnam was the fifth largest supplier of steel to the Indian market between April 2021 and March 2023. "Despite the bright spots, the overall situation of the steel export market remains precarious because short-term commercial activity is declining," Quang remarked. EU extends import restrictions on steel The EU persists in imposing safeguards on a number of Vietnam-imported steel products. Tough times for building materials sector The construction materials industry has seen revenue drop by $1 billion over the last two years and is valued at approximately $2 billion annually at present, far below its pre-pandemic figures. This observation came from Dinh Quang Huy, chairman of Vietnam Building Ceramics Association at a seminar held on June 10 in Hanoi seeking measures to help building materials firms out of their current difficulties. Further scrutiny urged to prevent unethical insurance schemes, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com Last weeks investigation by the ministry (MoF) noted high contract termination rates among the four dominant insurance firms, posing big questions about the ethics of their business practices. The inspection, encompassing Prudential, MB Ageas Life, Sun Life, and BIDV MetLife, revealed an alarming contract cancellation spectrum of 32-73 per cent. Sun Life, offering its services through TPBank and ACB, recorded the highest rate, while ACB experienced a comparatively lower rate at 39 per cent. Meanwhile, Prudentials insurance sales last year, transacted via an extensive network of eight banks, suffered a first-year cancellation and termination rate of 41 per cent. BIDV MetLife reported a post-first year cancellation rate of 39.4 per cent, leaving MB Ageas Life at the lower end of the scale, albeit with a substantial rate of 32.4 per cent. The MoFs Insurance Supervision and Control Department has request Prudential to cost account for a $30.8 million expense and supplement an additional tax liability for this expense. The inspection unveiled 39 cases where the companys insurance agents and bank employees failed to comply with regulatory requirements during the sales process, with infractions including procedural non-adherence, inappropriate fee management, and improper customer advice. Inappropriate expenses, including marketing support costs and bonuses for individual insurance agents, as well as direct incentives for bank employees involved in insurance product sales, accounted for the hefty financial adjustment. The rectification relates to the 2021 accounting period, necessitating accurate expense deductions for taxable corporate income. On a parallel note, a similar investigation into Sun Life Vietnam has brought to light significant operational issues. The MoFs comprehensive examination spanned the entirety of 2021, revealing non-compliance with regulations during insurance sales, improper handling of customer complaints, and certification issues in agent training. A total of over 80,000 new insurance contracts were issued via the bancassurance platform, with a 4.05 per cent cancellation rate. However, discrepancies between cancellation rates and shortcomings in procedural adherence were highlighted. Furthermore, the MoF has pinpointed Sun Life Vietnams inappropriate accounting for expenses and revenue associated with bancassurance activities, necessitating a financial adjustment of over VND600 billion ($25 million). Nguyen Duc Chi, Deputy Minister of Finance, has also indicated an aggressive oversight plan for the insurance sector from the beginning of the current year. By the close of 2023, we are set to audit 10 insurance enterprises, entailing a thorough examination of three life and two non-life insurance enterprises. Furthermore, three life insurance and two non-life insurance companies will undergo additional scrutiny, he said. The inspection focus pivots on the intricate business links between these enterprises and financial institutions, namely commercial banks, thereby aligning with governmental directives and resolutions ratified by the National Assembly. The MoF has slated the continuation of insurance enterprise inspection plans for the remaining half of this year, setting the stage for extensive audits of these businesses in 2024. As per the regulatory guidelines capping life insurance brokerage fees at 40 per cent, and for this case, banks selling insurance worth VND1 trillion ($41.67 million) stand to gain $16.67 million. This potential profitability is compelling banks to pressure credit officers into prioritising insurance sales, driving annual revenue growth from this sector by 30-50 per cent. However, Truong Thanh Duc, director of ANVI Law Firm, has highlighted concerns over this practice, suggesting the high first-year contract cancellation rates indicate customers being pressured into buying policies. Such unethical practices, if not addressed, erode the customer trust, harming both the banks and the insurance sectors reputation, both of which heavily rely on customer trust and credibility, he said. Professor Dinh Trong Thinh, a senior lecturer at the Finance Academy, said that the first-year insurance contract termination rates reflect customers significant financial losses, given the general insurance policy does not permit refunds. He emphasised the necessity for increased scrutiny by the MoF to rectify such malpractice. A recent proposal suggests customers not be required to buy insurance for at least 3-6 months post loan procurement, helping mitigate forced insurance policy sales, he said. The General Statistics Office has recorded the first decline in premium revenue since its data tracking began in 2016, reflecting financial strains in the industry. Q2 of 2023 premium revenue is approximately $2.55 billion, down 3.12 per cent on-year, with H1 of 2023 revenue at $4.88 billion, a 1.62 per cent on-year decrease. The life insurance sector, previously a market growth driver, saw just a $125 million new business premium increase in Q1 of 2023, far from the robust 13-35 per cent growth during the first six months of 2016-2021. MoF urgently orders inspections at four life insurance companies The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has just assigned the Insurance Supervisory Authority the urgent task of conducting inspections at four insurance companies, namely Prudential Vietnam Life Insurance, MB Ageas Life Insurance, BIDV Metlife Life Insurance, and Sunlife Vietnam Life Insurance. At the factory of Intel Products Vietnam (Photo: tuoitre.vn) Hanoi Intel Corporation will continue to invest in Vietnam, Kim Huat Ooi, Vice President in Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Operations, and General Manager of Intel Products Vietnam told Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper. The year 2022 has affirmed the importance of Vietnam to the US semiconductor giant and vice versa, he said, adding that these performance and efficiency results underpin the need to inject more capital into the Southeast Asian country. By the end of 2021, the Intel Corporation had injected a total of 1.5 billion USD in Vietnam and it wants to keep investing and that is certainly what Intel will do, he said. Intel Products Vietnam (IPV) is now the largest of the four factories in terms of assembly and testing, he noted. Regarding the possibility that IPV will be upgraded to participate in more stages of the chip production process, he said that their current plan is to focus on packaging and testing. Currently, the Vietnamese factory is manufacturing the 13th generation processor Raptor Lake and the next generation Meteor Lake which accounts for more than 50 per cent of global production for assembly and testing, Kim said, adding that this is a very significant figure. According to him, the role of packaging and testing should not be underestimated. Compared to the previous generation, the production process of Meteor Lake processor is much more complicated. Kim recalled that 17 years ago, the Vietnamese government, or more specifically leaders of Ho Chi Minh City, had a very good vision of the future by persuading Intel to come and invest here. The corporation is the first high-tech investor in Vietnam and the government has helped and supported a lot in the administrative process. Intel's presence has also helped Vietnam attract more high-tech investors over the past 17 years, he said. With such a complex model and new version of the Meteor Lake chip, the assembly and testing process is also more complicated, Kim said, noting that technology relating to these processes needs to be continuously upgraded. To attract more investors, it is necessary for the Vietnamese government to review the current business support programmes, especially the preferential tax rates, he said, elaborating that other countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are making similar moves. These countries and Vietnam have focused on using corporate income tax programmes to support and attract investors. He cited the US and European chip laws that have been approved as typical examples. The modernisation of incentive programmes to support businesses will be an essential action that the Government of Vietnam needs to adopt to assist businesses, along with the advantages of labour costs and political stability. According to Kim, the number of foreign companies in the Southeast Asian country will increase in the future. He also highlighted the necessity of solving such problems as government incentives and streamlining administrative procedures. The current model that businesses are moving towards must be resilient and geographically balanced, he added.. Intel, Samsung hammered as chips demand plummets The crucial semiconductor industry, that powers everything from personal computers, smartphones to fighter jets, suffered a dismal first quarter as demand plummeted for chips. Life insurers are taking collective action to adjust their processes, photo Le Toan The National Assembly (NA) has called on the government to urgently deal with deficiencies in corporate bond investment advisory, brokerage, and cross-selling of life insurance policies during loan approval processes. Of particular concern is the comprehensive inspection of the life insurance market, with a specific focus on investment-linked insurance. The resolution comes following widespread incidents of banks fraudulently selling insurance policies under false pretences, which have shaken confidence in the insurance industry. The explicit inclusion of a comprehensive inspection of the life insurance market in the parliamentary resolution has sparked considerable public interest. Currently, there are 19 life insurance companies operating in Vietnam, including major players such as Bao Viet Life Insurance Corporation, Prudential Vietnam, Manulife Vietnam, AIA Vietnam, and Chubb Life Insurance. According to the Insurance Association of Vietnam (IAV), all insurers have submitted reports to the Insurance Supervisory Authority on their review of insurance agency contracts and efforts to improve control over agency activities. This aims to enhance customer service quality and ensure compliance with the Law on Insurance Business. Ngo Trung Dung, deputy secretary-general of the IAV, said that recent incidents in the life insurance industry have led to all life insurers taking collective action, reviewing, adjusting, and even reforming their activities and processes. Lessons and experiences from similar incidents around the world are being analysed and applied to improve the quality and rebuild trust with customers and regulatory authorities. The IVA and insurers are actively reviewing and amending the code of conduct for insurance agencies, applying strict penalties for violations. These actions seek to improve the quality of life insurance, restore customer trust, and strengthen regulatory oversight in the industry, he said. The first five months of 2023 have proven to be a difficult period for the life insurance market, with total premium revenue estimated at VND93.18 trillion ($3.88 billion), a decline of nearly 1.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. This stands in contrast to previous years, which consistently saw double-digit growth. A recently-released survey by Vietnam Report noted, Market confidence is currently at its lowest level in 30 years. Prolonged instances of incorrect advice and deliberate obfuscation by insurance advisors have caused significant difficulties for policyholders, eroding trust in the insurance sector. Manulife Vietnam, previously ranked eighth among the top reputable life insurance companies in 2022, is absent from this years list. Instead, Mirae Asset Prevoir Life Insurance Co., Ltd. has made its debut entry into the rankings. Inspections conducted by the IAV in 2022 uncovered approximately 3,100 cases of agent misconduct across 14 offence categories. These cases involved false advertising and misrepresentation of insurance products and services. The quality of advisory personnel within life insurance companies has raised concerns, particularly in the bancassurance channel, where advisors tend to provide superficial advice, emphasising short-term benefits while neglecting to explain risks and exclusion clauses associated with investment-linked insurance products. Experts recommend that customers conduct thorough research, engage in discussions with advisors, and resolve any doubts before signing insurance contracts. They suggest exploring multiple product options and insurance companies to find the most suitable coverage, thereby mitigating future insurance disputes. Companies have been implementing many measures such as increased training programmes for bancassurance advisors and the enforcement of stringent penalties for employee misconduct. Additionally, the NA plans to issue a decree with stricter regulations on insurance business operations, including requirements for qualifications and certifications of advisory personnel at banks. These regulations may encompass university degrees specialising in insurance, professional certifications, and a minimum of three trained staff members with appropriate insurance agency licences in every branch of relevant financial institutions. MoF urgently orders inspections at four life insurance companies The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has just assigned the Insurance Supervisory Authority the urgent task of conducting inspections at four insurance companies, namely Prudential Vietnam Life Insurance, MB Ageas Life Insurance, BIDV Metlife Life Insurance, and Sunlife Vietnam Life Insurance. Actor Park Hyung-sik / P&Studio By Kwak Yeon-soo Actor Park Hyung-sik will embark on a fan meeting tour across Asia starting September, his agency P&Studio announced on Monday. The actor will embark on a fan meet-and-greet tour titled "SIKcret Time" starting in Hong Kong on Sept. 16. SIKret is the name of Park's fan club. After the Hong Kong event, the tour will continue to Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. The agency will later announce exact dates and information on ticket reservations. This comes six years after his first fan meeting tour, titled "Our Summer Day." "I can't wait to meet my fans who have been following my work and always supporting me. I'm glad I'm able to spend some time with SIKret through Asia tour," he said in a press release. Park debuted as a member of K-pop boy band ZE:A in 2010. He began pursuing an acting career in 2012 and has since starred in numerous TV series including JTBC's "Strong Girl Bong-soon" (2017), tvN's "Happiness" (2021) and Disney+'s "Soundtrack #1" (2022). Up next, he will star opposite Park Shin-hye in JTBC's new series "Doctor Slump," which is set to premiere in October. The new series will follow a romance story between a man who's had an extremely fortunate life, and a woman who is going through burnout syndrome. Promoting PPP in the development of economic and social infrastructure in Vietnam Developing a synchronous and modern infrastructure system in both the economy and society is one of the three strategic breakthroughs that the state and Party set have forth. Resolution 13-NQ/TW maps out the direction for building a synchronous infrastructure system by 2020, including transport infrastructure, education and training, and healthcare. And Resolution 10-NQ/TW proposes solutions to improve institutions in public-private cooperation in investment and operation of infrastructure projects. In Vietnam, the average demand for total social investment capital in the five years during 2021-2025 is about 32-34 per cent of GDP. However, the average proportion of public investment capital in five years only accounts for about 16-17 per cent of the total investment capital of the whole society (about VND2.9 quadrillion~ $123.5 billion). "Thus, public investment capital cannot fully meet the capital requirements for socioeconomic development and investment, mobilising other social resources, including from the private sector, plays an important role," said Do Ngoc An, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission. "In numerous countries around the world, including developed countries like South Korea, Canada, France, and developing countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Brazil... mobilising private resources through the PPP method has been applied for a long time and contributed significantly to the social infrastructural development of each country." Do Ngoc An, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission In 2020, the National Assembly promulgated the Law on public-private partnerships (PPPs), stipulating the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of various sides under the mode of public-private partnership in five areas, including transportation, electricity, irrigation and clean water, health and education, and IT infrastructure. The government has issued many decrees and circulars to complete the legal framework for investment implementation under the PPP method. According to the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission, the implementation of PPP projects has achieved some results, contributing to the improvement of the country's infrastructure system. In addition to traditional investment capital sources including the state budget, government bonds, and official development assistance, investment capital from the non-state sector through the PPP method has contributed to the development of numerous localities and the improvement of transport, urban, and energy infrastructure there. "Almost billions of US dollars from the private sector have been mobilised to build national highways, expressways, power plants, and many other projects, contributing to the country's socioeconomic development," An said. However, the implementation of social infrastructure development projects under the PPP method in Vietnam still is struggling with numerous problems, negatively affecting the PPP investment environment and the implementation of new PPP projects. "The number of new projects implemented under the provisions of the PPP Law is still too few, most of them are in the transport sector. So the public investment resources have not really confirmed the leading role as "priming capital" to attract resources from the private sector in infrastructure development," An said. Donald Lambert, senior advisor at ADB's Private Sector Operation Donald Lambert, senior advisor at ADB's Private Sector Operations said that the Australian government spent $2.8 million to Vietnam's government through ADB supporting technical activities, build mechanisms, and share experiences and successful PPP cases. The ADB expert highlighted four necessary things to do. First, ensureing the legal framework is relatively enough, including law and decree, and ADB is working with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to build circulars on guidelines to remove obstacles going forward. Second, the improvement of capacity is essential. "So we should provide economic information as much as possible from policymakers to businesses to share experiences, good practices, guidelines," Lambert said. Based on the Law on PPP, more PPP projects will be carried out successfully. Last year, ADB signed with the Hanoi University of Science and Technology to pilot the building dormitories, which will bring a lot of experience and lessons for both sides in implementing a PPP project. "However, to deploy big PPP projects at the national-level, we need some guarantees to attract more private investors to participate in PPP projects," the ADB representative emphasised. At the workshop, delegates discussed and proposed solutions to build an investment attraction environment in the form of a reliable and sustainable PPP landscape. In-depth roundtable discussions focused on two topics: Solutions to promote PPP in the development of some social fields and providing public non-business services, and solutions to promote PPP in the fields of transport, energy, waste treatment, wastewater, and water supply. MPI assigned to amplify disbursement of public funds The prime minister is again urging for quicker disbursement of public investment, with some localities seemingly at a standstill in implementing this task. Vow made to bridge PPP investment gaps The government has ordered an overall review on policies involving public-private partnership in a bid to woo more private investment. Despite the governmental focus on SOE reform, specifically through equitisation and divestment, the report indicates that the initiative has been neither timely nor exhaustive. These deficiencies persist in numerous SOEs, with several sizable ventures grappling with delays, stagnation, and financial losses. The investigative report underscores that considerable financial deficits stemmed from improper asset valuation processes, according to local media Tuoitre. Oversights lead to significant undervaluations At the Vietnam Steel Corporation (VNSteel), the approved asset valuation was identified as being fundamentally flawed. The evaluation of the remaining useful life of 127 pieces of machinery at Southern Steel and Phu My Flat Steel was incorrectly assessed, which led to an undervaluation of approximately $14.36 million. Two land plots in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, valued at around $13.08 million, saw VNSteel failing to complete the required procedures for budget contributions during the equitisation process. The report also drew attention to the erroneous valuation of the PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertiliser JSC (PVCFC) during the equitisation process by the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN). The error resulted in an undervaluation of state capital by approximately $10.87 million. Additionally, unresolved foreign exchange differentials amounted to about $3.33 million. In the case of the Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical JSC (BSR), the unjustified application of the maximum extraction rate (10 per cent) for its sci-tech fund led to an overcharge of about $15.88 million. Consequently, BSR underreported post-tax profits due to PVN by approximately $15.1 million and corporate income tax by about $790,000. Inaccurate asset valuation for equitisation was also found at the Vietnam Engine and Agricultural Machinery Corporation (VEAM), where complete reconciliation of debts was not undertaken. This oversight, amounting to hundreds of millions of USD, was identified as a serious violation. Rectification measures and potential legal consequences The Government Inspectorate also detected violations in land use during the equitisation processes in companies including VEAM, Fococev, Vinatrans, and Power Generation Corporation 3 (EVNGENCO3). Fococev's management of state-owned properties in several provinces, including Danang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, and Dak Lak, was found to be non-compliant with the regulations, with some properties being sold or transferred without completing the due procedures. Additionally, the report highlighted flaws in the share sale process and the selection of strategic investors, affecting companies like EVNGENCO3, MIE, and VEAM, among others. Payments for shares and equitisation settlements were incomplete or incorrect in several companies, including VNSteel, PVCFC, and VEAM. The majority of these firms had not executed divestments according to the stipulated regulations. In response to the findings, the inspectorate has recommended that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructs relevant ministries and agencies to address these economic discrepancies. The total value earmarked for rectification is estimated to exceed $97.42 million. The inspectorate also suggested that Fococev's alleged land use violations in Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak be referred to the Public Security Ministry for further investigation. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the State Capital Management Committee, the Ministry of Finance, and related localities have been urged to assume responsibility for these lapses and violations concerning the restructuring of SOEs. Grab Vietnam CEO reveals sustainability plans In an interview with VIR, CEO of Grab Vietnam Alejandro Osorio shares Grab's strategic plans on adoption of electric vehicles, ongoing pilot programmes for sustainable transport, and the group's commitment to carbon neutrality. According to the agency, Vietnamese retailers have undergone a remarkable transformation, embracing modernity and demonstrating a notable receptiveness towards investment and collaboration thereby presenting lucrative sales prospects. The DITP's director-general Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit emphasised that Vietnam's retail market is poised to reach a staggering $350 billion by 2025. In addition to this, the leadership at the DITP has encouraged Thai enterprises to prioritise commercial enhancements, engage in environmentally friendly production practices, and demonstrate a keen focus on circular and green economies all of which are instrumental in stimulating growth within Vietnam's retail landscape. Moreover, Sereroengrit underscored the significance of e-commerce, noting that online transactions have emerged as a prevailing trend in Vietnam. Leveraging social media platforms for sales would provide Thai businesses with a convenient means to access Vietnamese consumers. However, he also advised potential entrants into Vietnam's e-commerce market to meticulously examine the country's laws and regulations pertaining to online transactions. Concluding on a forward-looking note, Sereroengrit disclosed the DITP's forthcoming endeavours in Vietnam, including sales promotion events aimed at facilitating commercial exchanges between Thai and Vietnamese retail establishments. These events are scheduled to unfold from August 1 to 14. It is worth highlighting that even before Sereroengrit's recommendations, the Vietnamese retail market had already attracted substantial investments from prominent Thai retailers, with Central Retail Corporation (CRC) emerging as a standout player. According to CRC's CEO Yol Phokasub, Vietnam is regarded as a market brimming with untapped potential, propelled by its continuous economic growth. The Vietnamese retail market is estimated to be valued at an impressive $49.7 billion, exhibiting a robust annual growth rate of 10-12 per cent. Building on its solid foothold in Vietnam over recent years, CRC has outlined a comprehensive five-year expansion plan that earmarks an investment of approximately $1.45 billion to be deployed over the period. Thai Corp International Vietnam enters into collaboration with VFOODS Thai Corp International Vietnam organised a ceremony to officially sign a cooperation agreement with Variety Foods International (VFOODS), on December 20. Vietnam may become largest retail real estate market in region Hoang Nguyet Minh, senior director of Commercial Leasing at Savills Hanoi, discussed the short-term prospects of real estate investment at a VIR roundtable on February 7. Thailand starts exporting pomelo to US in historic deal, Illustrative image (Photo: PRD) Bangkok - The US has for the first time allowed Thailand to export its pomelo to the country, as Thailand eyes more markets for its delicious fruit. Thailand has shipped its first batch of pomelo to the US, following a new agreement allowing the export of four pomelo varieties from Thailand to the US market. The first batch, which included Thong Dee, Khao Yai, Khao Namphueng, and Khao Tangkwa varieties, was featured at Sawasdee DC Thai Festival on July 2-4 in Washington DC, to celebrate the US Independence Day and the Thailand-US diplomatic relations. The fruit was shipped together with other Thai fruits such as mango and mangosteen, weighing 864 kilogrammes in total. This shipment was dispatched on June 26. Government Spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said caretaker Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha admired this success, which helps broaden international markets for Thai produce. The US Department of Agriculture requires pomelo exported from Thailand to be treated with gamma irradiation at the dosage of 400 Gray for three hours. This process is performed at Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology. The exported fruits are also required to be sorted and processed at authorized facilities. Thailand is currently allowed to export eight kinds of fruits to the US, namely mango, lychee, longan, pineapple, mangosteen, dragonfruit, rambutan, and pomelo. The Department of Agriculture currently has a guideline to help private firms reduce cost and increase the volume of each batch of export. If successful, this guideline could be a tool for businesses to apply commercially. New e-commerce trend popular in Thailand Shoppertainment, where content and commerce converge on a platform, has become the next era of online commerce, expected to be worth 1 trillion USD across Asia-Pacific by 2025, said Sirinit Virayasiri, head of business marketing for Thailand TikTok. EuroCham Vietnam, the voice of the European business community in the country, has released the results of its highly anticipated Business Confidence Index (BCI) for the second quarter of 2023. Conducted by Decision Lab, the BCI reveals a modest decline of 4.5 points in European business confidence towards the Vietnamese market, with the current score of 43.5 reflecting prevailing market conditions. Accordingly, the BCI indicates a challenging outlook, with a significant 10 per cent increase in negative responses to the current business situation. This growing sense of caution is further reflected in a 6 per cent rise in negative sentiment for the upcoming quarter. However, amidst the challenges, there is also a glimmer of encouraging news. The report shows a 9 per cent increase in the number of business leaders who assess their business prospects positively for the third quarter of 2023 compared to their assessment for the second quarter of 2023. Businesses are prudently assessing the landscape, focusing on optimising revenue and orders, with a marginal increase of 4 per cent in the proportion of companies anticipating a decline in these areas. Additionally, there is a proactive approach, as 7 per cent more companies plan to carefully manage investments in the upcoming quarter. It is intriguing to note that despite these challenges, workforce planning remains stable, reflecting a resolute commitment to maintaining stability regardless of the prevailing conditions. Despite the challenges, Vietnam continues to draw foreign investors, with 48 per cent of respondents expecting an increase in their company's foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country next quarter. However, a total of 40 per cent of businesses express no plans for elevated FDI, marking a 4 per cent increase from the previous BCI. Nevertheless, Vietnam remains firmly positioned among the top five investment destinations for over one-third of businesses, underscoring its enduring appeal. Respondents also highlighted the importance of improving the regulatory environment, developing infrastructure, and ensuring access to financing to enhance Vietnam's attractiveness for FDI. The report also emphasises that unclear regulations and onerous administrative procedures are the primary barriers hindering FDI, with 53 per cent and 50 per cent of businesses, respectively, citing them as the most significant regulatory obstacles. The survey reveals that over half of the businesses surveyed have benefited from the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Among these beneficiaries, 35 per cent of business leaders have reported gains from tariff reductions. Despite these gains, businesses continue to face challenges in fully capitalising on the agreement, with administrative procedures and a lack of understanding remaining the main barriers to full capitalisation. Gabor Fluit, chairman of EuroCham said, "Vietnam's economy relies heavily on manufacturing and exports, and it has taken a big hit from the tough global situation. This decline in exports and orders has had a major impact on European businesses and the overall business community. The BCI clearly shows this current gloomy outlook." "To address these challenges, the Vietnamese government has swiftly taken practical steps, particularly by expediting key infrastructure projects. We commend these efforts, which will surely bring a substantial long-term boost to the economy. However, our members have expressed genuine concerns about the issues raised in the BCI report, and we have been actively collaborating with the government to find effective solutions. For instance, it is crucial for the government to come up with long-term plans to address the recent power shortage problem, considering its cyclic nature. By taking prompt and comprehensive action, we can not only entice foreign investment, but also ensure a resilient economy capable of overcoming future obstacles," he added. Vietnamese students win medals at the International Biology Olympiad 2023. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi All three Vietnamese students claimed medals, including one silver and two bronzes at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2023, according to the Ministry of Education and Training. The silver medal went to Nguyen Tien Loc, a 11th grader of the High School for Gifted Students of the University of Natural Sciences under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The two bronze medals were secured by Tran Pham Manh, a 12th grader of the High School for Gifted Students of the University of Natural Sciences under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi and Vu The Anh, a 12th grader from Vinh Phuc High School for Gifted Students in Vinh Phuc province. IBO 2023, the 34th of its kind, was held by the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in Al Ain city from July 2-11, with the participation of 295 contestants from 80 countries and territories worldwide. New Zealand provides scholarships for Vietnamese teachers Following the success of previous years, Education New Zealand will continue to offer 30 fully-funded scholarships for Vietnamese teachers to undertake the New Zealand Global Competence Certificate (NZGCC) course. University of Auckland's scholarships support students from Southeast Asia New Zealands leading university, the University of Auckland, has just announced an extensive range of new scholarships for students from Southeast Asia, providing them with up to $10,000 of financial support. NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) The mayor of a city on the Oregon coast has apologized and resigned over offensive content he posted in a private Facebook group for current and retired police officers. Oregon Public Broadcasting reported that Newport Mayor Dean Sawyer apologized and resigned Monday morning, three days after the media outlet revealed that since 2016, Sawyer had been sharing memes and posts denigrating women, immigrants, non-English speakers and the LGBTQ+ community in the Facebook group with 39,000 members. His posts in recent weeks specifically targeted transgender community, OPB reported. A local LGBTQ+ pride group held a demonstration over the weekend at City Hall, with more than 100 people demanding that Sawyer leave office. Five of his six colleagues on the Newport City Council attended the protest and appeared ready to ask for his resignation at a special meeting scheduled for Monday. The police chief in the central coast city of about 10,000 and the Lincoln County sheriff also condemned Sawyers posts. I feel really happy and just proud that we as a city in Newport all came together and spoke our minds, shared our feelings in a positive, amazing way, said Kathy Redwine, who is on the board of Newport Oregon Pride. It would have been bad if it kept going on with all that hurt and distrust. Sawyer told OPB on Friday that the Facebook group called LEO Only is a private group and posts are not meant for the public. On Monday, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive that his online persona had become too polarizing for him to continue. I now realize that some of my actions and my words have hurt people I love and care about, Sawyer said. This is something that I take full responsibility for. I am sorry to everyone in this community and anyone hurt by my actions, directly or indirectly. He said his posts were vile and dark, and I shouldnt have gotten involved in it, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Its not freedom of speech, it was stupid speech, Sawyer said. OPB reported that it had reviewed the memes but didn't say how it got access. The Facebook group requires proof of an active or retired law enforcement ID to join. Sawyer was a Newport police officer for three decades before he was elected mayor in 2018. ST. PAUL (AP) Gov. Tim Walz had the legal authority to mandate face masks when he declared a public health emergency in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Monday. Walz declared a peacetime emergency in March 2020 and mandated masking in most indoor public spaces in July 2020. The conservative Upper Midwest Law Center sued, challenging the mask requirement as unconstitutional. Walz lifted the mandate in May 2021, at which point the Court of Appeals declared the case moot. But the Minnesota Supreme Court in February sent the case back to the appeals court to settle the key legal question behind the case: whether the the Minnesota Emergency Management Act of 1996 authorizes a governor to declare a peacetime emergency during a public health emergency such as the pandemic. The high court called it an important issue of statewide significance. The appeals court rejected as unreasonable the plaintiffs' assertions that the coronavirus most likely originated from a laboratory leak, so that the resulting pandemic did not occur naturally and therefore was not an act of nature under the state law. The appeals court used similar legal reasoning earlier this year when it rejected arguments by a woman who had been convicted of operating a wine bar and restaurant in Albert Lea in violation of the governor's pandemic orders. McLennan Countys new district attorney is chipping away at a mountain of nearly 3,500 felony cases, but he still faces a backlog triple the size of what the office had in 2010. Josh Tetens took office in January after vowing on the campaign trail to tackle the backlog. In his first five months on the job he saw the felony caseload drop by 250 cases, or 7%, even as grand juries returned 825 new indictments, according to the most recent Texas Office of Court Administration figures. Still, more than 1,000 local defendants whose presumption of innocence remains intact sit awaiting trial in the McLennan County Jail on any given day. Unresolved charges remain pending in about 6,600 more felony or misdemeanor cases in which no one is jailed. Some defendants are free on bond, some are wanted, some are in custody elsewhere and some are being evaluated or treated for mental competency to stand trial. The oldest untried case in the felony backlog spans almost six years and three DAs administrations. Christopher Paul Weiss has been in jail 2,071 days as of July 10, since his arrest in November 2017 on capital murder charges. He was accused of shooting a woman he had an affair with, along with her infant daughter, at Tradinghouse Lake. Weiss incarceration stretches through birthdays and Christmases, a divorce and a pandemic. Every contact with a family member, friend or attorney has been within the razor wire fences of McLennan County Jail. A number of factors, including DNA testing and a recusal by Tetens office, have contributed to the delay in Weiss case. The backlog in the DAs office has been many years in the making. The countys felony case load ballooned through the two terms of DA Abel Reyna, plateaued through 2019 in the first year of Barry Johnsons term, then spiked dramatically as the pandemic threw a wrench into the criminal justice system. The pace of new felony cases entering the system has remained essentially steady since shortly before Reyna took office in 2011: about 180 to 190 a month. Tetens said his office is attacking the heap of cases on multiple fronts: prioritizing the oldest and most violent cases for trial, working out plea deals, starting a case intake unit to ensure new cases and inherited ones are charged properly, and improving cooperation between the DAs office and area law enforcement agencies. We had a number of ideas for ways to reduce the backlog during the campaign. We have implemented all of them, Tetens said. Among the older cases cleared so far in Tetens term was Quest Jones, who was jailed in February 2019, shortly after the fatal shooting of Sherrell Carter in Waco. He was convicted of murder after a trial in late April. Tetens has also struck about 600 plea deals since taking office. Those include the case of Samuel Martin Angerman, who police charged with two felony cases in October after he was accused of choking his wife and using a gun to threaten a neighbor who intervened. The DA offices case intake unit concluded the charges were too severe and allowed him to plead to Class A misdemeanor charges of deadly conduct and to serve two years of probation. Tetens acknowledged that he felt overwhelmed with murder cases when he started as DA. We had 60 defendants charged with murder, Tetens said. That does not mean 60 murder victims. Some cases have three or four defendants charged with a single victim. He tasked First Assistant DA Ryan Calvert to review all the murder cases and make sure the evidence, witnesses and investigators are available and that the facts of the case support the charge. Calverts review of the May 2020 death of 2-year-old Frankie Gonzalez led the boys mother to accept a 50-year prison sentence and a guilty plea to injury to a child causing death. Laura Jane Villalon falsely reported the boy missing, leading to a frantic overnight search of Cameron Park before she confessed to dumping the boys body, which showed signs of multiple injuries. Calvert said he could prove Villalon caused Frankies fatal injuries, but not her intent, as the original capital murder charge would require. Last month, the office won a capital murder conviction and life prison sentence against Zamar Kirven, 23, of Mart, in the April 2021 shooting deaths of Jacob Ybarra, 20, and Sabion Kubitza, 22. Meanwhile, the capital murder case of Christopher Weiss is expected to be tried in McLennan County late this year or early next year but with a prosecutor from Dallas County. Tetens recused his office because his former law partner had handled Weiss divorce, and it took months of searching before the Dallas prosecutor, Scott Wells, was secured for the case. The extensive testing and evidence collection required for a capital trial, including DNA testing, also delayed the trial, said Weiss attorneys, Walter Reaves Jr. and Russ Hunt. Even in less high profile cases, simple procedural and scheduling delays can add up, defense attorney Seth Sutton said. One of Suttons clients, Fernando Rey Torres, had been under a first-degree felony sexual assault of a child indictment from September 2017 until May, when a jury acquitted him of the charge. Torres had been out on bail while awaiting trial, but he was forbidden to see his son except in supervised visits. When his trial was set to start in January 2022, witnesses caught COVID-19, delaying the proceeding. Other times, the court would delay Torres trial in favor of those who had been in jail for long periods. Once, when a slot suddenly opened for Torres case, Sutton was out on business in another county. Still, Sutton credits Tetens for a personal hands-on approach to moving cases along. More than once in the few months since he took office, Josh has called me personally and asked what can be done to move cases, Sutton said. Ive been practicing law for 20 years, and I never had a DA call me like that. Of some 7,700 pending felony or misdemeanor criminal cases in the county, about 1,100 defendants are in McLennan County Jail. Some of the other defendants are free on bond, some are wanted, some are in custody elsewhere and some are being evaluated or treated for mental competency to stand trial. For those on bail, bond conditions can include ignition interlocks for DWI defendants, GPS trackers for the most serious felonies, and limits on contact with witnesses or alleged victims in cases involving violence. Associate Judge Virgil Bain serves as the main jail magistrate, arraigning and setting bail for suspects shortly after their arrest. He said law enforcement will issue warrants and make arrests if they are aware of a defendant violating conditions of their bond. But really for most defendants on bond, its the bail bonds company who keeps track of them, Bain said. On top of rules set by judges, bail bonds companies rules for their defendants on bail usually include making a monthly payment, making a weekly check-in, travel-notice requirements and above all, making all court appearances. Failure to follow the bond companys rules may result in bond being pulled even if the DA has not filed a revocation motion, case records show. Compared to the 3,491 felony cases pending in McLennan County, the comparably sized Smith County has about 2,000, pending felony cases, Smith County DA Jacob Putman said. Smith County has 233,479 residents compared to McLennan Countys 260,000, meaning that this county has nearly twice the pending felony cases per capita. Like McLennan County, Smith County is still dealing with the spike in cases during a pandemic, Putman said. Before the pandemic, Smith County typically had 1,200 to 1,300 pending felony cases, he said. In 2020, we hit around 2,200 pending felonies and by the end of 2021, we were up to 2,300, Putman said. Now were back down to 2,000. The number of pending felony cases in McLennan County hit a pre-pandemic high of 3,186 under DA Abel Reyna in September 2015, up from 1,200 when he took office in 2011, replacing John Segrest. The felony case load stood at about 3,000 when Barry Johnson took office in 2019 and held relatively steady for about a year, when the pandemic threw a wrench into court operations, with the backlog peaking at more than 4,000. Reyna said the number of active cases ticked up during his term because he set a high standard for plea deals. When I took office it was known by defendants and their attorneys that if they held out for trial, they would get a really low deal, Reyna said. It wasnt uncommon for a plea offer with a double-digit sentence to drop to less than 10 years, the week of trial, said Reyna, who was a defense attorney during Segrests tenure. He said for the first few months of his own first term he resolved many fewer cases by plea deal than is typical in DAs offices across the country. In Texas, DAs typically resolve about 90% of cases with a plea deal. I took cases to trial so that the citizens of the county serving as members of juries could set the punishments, Reyna said. Then after a few months, he said he allowed his prosecutors to resume a normal flow of plea deals and trials. But he required any prosecutor offering less than 15 years on a serious violent felony to get approval from himself, his first assistant or another top prosecutor. Sutton, the defense attorney, recalls that during the Reyna years, defendants tended to balk at the DAs plea deals, and the number of pending cases slowly mounted. Former DA Barry Johnson, who succeeded Reyna, said the pandemic reversed progress his office made on the backlog. State judicial officials suspended trials starting March 13, 2020, allowing only virtual pre-trial proceedings. Trials resumed in May 2021 in McLennan County on a limited basis of one per week, with COVID-19 protective measures. COVID really slowed us down, Johnson said. We couldnt really start moving cases again until the courthouse opened back up in 2022. Data from the Texas Office of Court Administration shows Johnsons office worked through cases at a steady rate before the pandemic, with a low of around 185 in February 2019 and high of 359 in October 2019. However, data from the same agency shows a rapid increase during Johnsons term of inactive cases, a trend that started in Reynas second term. Cases are considered inactive when the defendant is unavailable for court proceedings. Factors could include having a warrant and being at large, being jailed in another jurisdiction, or mental incompetency. Johnson said he was focused on active cases and did not know what caused the spike in the inactive numbers. In a phone interview Monday, Tetens said he has inactive cases in mind as well as he chips away at the backlog. Our office is working with the courts and the defense bar to move cases more efficiently, and that includes intentionally reviewing older cases, Tetens said. Some of these include defendants in out of county jails, hospitals, and even other countries. Each case is reviewed independently with an emphasis on violent offenders, and we hope to continue to reduce the backlog. WASHINGTON In a monthslong inquiry, which included reviewing tens of thousands of pages of documents from more than 100 public records requests, The Associated Press has examined what happens behind the scenes when Supreme Court justices travel to colleges and universities for lectures and other events. The AP learned the identities of donors and politicians invited to events with justices, details about the perks that have accompanied the school visits and information about how school trips have helped advance books sales. Some of the key takeaways: BOOK SALES The documents reveal how university visits are a convenient way for justices to sell their own books. That's especially true in the case of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a prolific author who has kept the court's most active travel schedule over the past decade, according to the records reviewed by the AP. Emails and other documents show that Supreme Court staff members have been directly engaged in facilitating book sales by asking schools how many copies they want to buy and by helping to arrange the purchase of mass quantities. At a 2019 event jointly hosted by the Multnomah County Library in Oregon and Portland Community College, a Sotomayor aide told organizers that "250 books is definitely not enough" for a program with an expected 1,000 guests in which people would be required to have a copy to meet the justice for a signing after the event. Michigan State University purchased 11,000 copies to be distributed to incoming first-year students. When Clemson University in South Carolina worried that 60 copies might be too many for Sotomayor to sign, a staffer reassured the school that "most institutions order in the ranges of 400 and up." And before a scheduled visit to the law school at the University of California, Davis, for the 2018 commencement, the court staff proposed using the event as an opportunity to distribute books. In a statement, a Supreme Court spokesperson said that staff members work to follow judicial ethics guidance and that "at no time have attendees been required to buy a book in order to attend an event." "Schools have occasionally invited Justice Sotomayor to take part in a program in which they select a book for an entire school or a freshman class, and the Justice gives a book talk," the statement said. "When she is invited to participate in a book program, Chambers staff recommends the number of books based on the size of the audience so as not to disappoint attendees who may anticipate books being available at an event, and they will put colleges or universities in touch with the Justice's publisher when asked to do so." A LURE FOR MONEY Supreme Court justices insist that they cannot and do not participate in fundraising events. But the emails obtained by the AP show that the court's definition of a fundraiser an event that raises more than it costs or where guests are asked for contributions excludes much of the work that typically goes into persuading a wealthy donor to cut a check. That's given schools wide latitude to court rich patrons. For instance, ahead of a 2017 event with Justice Clarence Thomas, officials at McLennan Community College in Waco worked with the prominent conservative lawyer Ken Starr and his wife, Alice, to craft a guest list designed to reward school patrons and incentivize future contributions. In an interview, Starr's widow called it "friendraising." In an email planning the event, the executive director of the college's foundation wrote that she had thoughts about whom to invite "mainly because they are wealthy conservative Catholics who would align with Clarence Thomas and who have not previously given." Thomas isn't the only one whose status as a justice has been leveraged by schools eager to capitalize with donors. Before Justice Elena Kagan visited the University of Colorado's law school, one official suggested a "larger donor to staff ratio" for a 2019 dinner with her, emails show. Another event organizer said the organizer was "open to suggestions about which VIP donors to cultivate relationships with." A school spokesperson said the attendees weren't asked for any donations connected to the event. Clemson University in South Carolina hosted Sotomayor for a 2017 session with students and for a private luncheon. One official said it was hoped the events, which included donors, would "ultimately generate resources" for the university's Humanities Advancement Board that played a lead organizing role. As university officials devised a guest list, an alumni relations official wrote: "When you say $1M donors, please be sure to include our corporate donors at that level, too." In a statement, a court spokesperson said it "routinely asks event organizers to confirm that an event at which a Justice will speak is not a fundraiser, and it provides a definition of 'fundraiser' in order to avoid misunderstandings." The spokesperson said justices have occasionally declined to attend events even after being told expressly that they were not fundraisers. POLITICAL COMMINGLING Visits to universities are promoted as academic in nature, but they also have facilitated encounters between justices and elected officials. Months after he was seated on the Supreme Court, Justice Neil Gorsuch attended an event at the University of Kentucky with then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, hosted by a center to study the judiciary named after one of McConnell's closest friends, a former federal judge. In 2020, after teaching a weeklong course at the University of Florida's law school, Thomas extended his stay in the state to attend a gathering of the regional branch of the Federalist Society, where he was introduced with effusive praise by Gov. Ron DeSantis, with whom he also had a private dinner. Thomas also attended a private dinner during a visit to the University of Texas at Tyler that was sponsored by a group of donors to then-Rep. Louie Gohmert. Six years later, Gohmert would spearhead a lawsuit that sought to empower Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election that Donald Trump lost. A court spokesperson said: "Justices exercise caution in attending events that might be described as political in nature, following guidance in the Code of Conduct which cautions judges against engaging in political activity. Merely attending an event where an elected official might also be in attendance such as several of the events described in your email does not necessarily render the event impermissibly political in nature." NO ETHICS CODE Some of the conduct revealed by the AP likely would run afoul of ethics rules that cover officials in other branches of government as well as lower federal court judges. Lower court judges, for instance, are generally barred from engaging in fundraising, political activity and "lending the prestige of judicial office" to advance a judge's own "private interests." Supreme Court justices are asked only to adhere to what Chief Justice John Roberts referred to in April as a set of "foundational ethics principles and practices." The information in this review comes at a time of plummeting confidence in the court, brought on in part by a succession of news media revelations about members of the court, including reports by ProPublica that Thomas repeatedly accepted luxury vacations, including a $500,000 trip to Indonesia in 2019, and sold property to and accepted school tuition for a nephew from Harlan Crow, a billionaire businessman, Republican donor and longtime friend. ___ The 9 current justices of the US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Justice Clarence Thomas Justice Samuel Alito Justice Sonia Sotomayor Justice Elena Kagan Justice Neil Gorsuch Justice Brett Kavanaugh Justice Amy Coney Barrett Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson A YouTube thumbnail of KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo participating in the Zero Disposable Challenge, a campaign pledging to reduce the use of disposable products in daily life / Courtesy of KB Financial Group By Lee Yeon-woo KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo took part in the Zero Disposable Challenge, a campaign started by the Ministry of Environment aiming to reduce the use of disposable products in daily life. The campaign urges companies, organizations and the public to promote the concept of reducing the usage of disposable products via social media and nominate others to participate as well. "I kindly ask for the active participation of all citizens in order to spread everyday actions that consider the environment and contribute to their widespread adoption," Yoon said in a YouTube video announcing his participation in the campaign, Tuesday. KB Financial Group headquarters in Seoul / Korea Times file A study has revealed that private equity firms substantially influence a significant number of specialized medical practices in specific sectors of the American markets. It reveals an intricate web of power and control that private equity firms have established within both our economic system and the field of medical treatments. According to a newly released report on Monday, there has been a notable trend in recent years where private equity firms have been acquiring physician practices to establish influential medical groups nationally. In 2021, it was observed that a significant proportion of local markets, encompassing locations such as Tucson, Arizona; Columbus, Ohio; and Providence, Rhode Island, were subject to the dominance of a solitary private equity firm. Specifically, this firm held ownership stakes exceeding 30 percent in practices specializing in various fields within these markets. Following the private equity model, an investment fund acquires a medical practice. The existing physician owners/partners are compensated with a combination of cash and/or stock in the expanded entity, typically subject to certain conditions such as a vesting period and a non-disparagement clause in the event of their departure from the practice. As part of the agreement, they assume the role of employees for the new owners, who establish the business policies due to the customary practice of new owners/investors receiving a portion of the revenue as a percentage. Furthermore, the current physician practice owner will also have to surrender control of their practice to the new owners. Critics of private equity contend that the new proprietors may prioritize revenue generation over delivering high-quality care. There is a possibility that they might engage in cost-cutting measures or exert pressure on physicians to accommodate more patients within a workday to sustain the revenue flow. A recent study conducted by researchers at the Petris Center at the University of California, Berkeley, in collaboration with the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, a progressive think tank based in Washington, D.C., has revealed a correlation between medical groups and elevated prices within their respective markets. This association was particularly pronounced when these medical groups held a dominant share in their respective markets. When a company held a market share exceeding 30 percent, the expenses associated with healthcare in three specific fields, namely gastroenterology, dermatology, and obstetrics and gynecology, witnessed a substantial double-digit surge. Subscribe 100% Free to Wall Street Rebel.com and receive access to investment tools worth $17,500! The study's findings revealed a significant correlation between a firm's market control exceeding 30 percent and a substantial surge in prices paid by private insurers for gastroenterology and other specialized medical services. The American Antitrust Institute published the research paper and meticulously documented a significant influx of private equity acquisitions within various medical specialties over the past ten years. Urology, ophthalmology, cardiology, oncology, radiology, and orthopedics have all emerged as significant focal points for such transactions. "The observation is truly startling," remarked Laura Alexander, the director of markets and competition policy at the Washington Center. She noted that a mere ten years ago, private equity firms held sway over only a few markets. "The issue at hand is far more pronounced in local markets, despite the national statistics suggesting otherwise," she remarked. The elevated costs of private insurers directly impact the exorbitant insurance premiums, potentially amplifying the financial burden on patients in terms of increased out-of-pocket expenses. Private equity firms, renowned for their ability to aggregate capital from institutional investors and individuals, strategically establish investment funds to acquire companies. Their approach typically involves leveraging debt to acquire these companies, with the ultimate objective of divesting them within a few years. Recently, the industry has shifted its focus toward health care. Consequently, it has embarked on a consistent trajectory of acquiring doctors' practices, effectively amalgamating smaller entities to establish larger corporate entities. Throughout history, medical practices have typically maintained a modest scale, with ownership resting in the hands of the physicians themselves. However, the model has experienced a significant decline due to the increasing complexity of the medical industry and the consolidation of insurance companies, which now wield greater bargaining power in negotiating prices with physicians. According to a recent analysis conducted by the Physicians Advocacy Institute, it was found that approximately 70 percent of doctors in 2021 were employed by either a hospital or a corporation. According to Richard Scheffler, a professor of health economics and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and the director of the renowned Petris Center, an undeniable shift is occurring in the United States regarding the practice of medicine. There has been a notable trend in which hospitals and insurance companies have acquired numerous independent physicians' practices. Optum, a subsidiary of the publicly traded UnitedHealth Group, which also possesses ownership of one of the largest insurance companies in the nation, boasts an approximate workforce of 70,000 physicians. Research has indicated that concentrated ownership among doctors within a specific market correlates with increased pricing. Physicians frequently regard private equity as an appealing alternative to a hospital's acquisition of their practice. According to Lisa Walkush, a national managing principal at Grant Thornton, the doctors are experiencing improvements in their operations, such as increased scale and enhanced efficiencies. These improvements are attributed to the assistance they receive in office administration and technology. "It has the potential to yield significant benefits, provided that private equity firms uphold their commitments and are subject to appropriate accountability," she remarked. According to Michael Kroin, the founder and chief executive of Physician Growth Partners, a Chicago-based firm specializing in advising independent practices, private equity firms play a crucial role in bestowing the much-needed scale upon independent practice groups, ensuring their survival and the preservation of their autonomy. According to his statement, he mentioned that if given the opportunity, independent groups would be inclined to raise their fees due to the escalating costs they face and the constraints imposed by insurers. Researchers and policymakers have recently turned their attention to the private equity industry, subjecting it to heightened scrutiny. The legislators in the House are currently deliberating on potential legislation that would mandate enhanced reporting measures for firms involved in the acquisition of healthcare companies. At present, tracking acquisitions can pose a challenge. In their recent publication, the researchers skillfully employed extensive transactional data collection from PitchBook. Subsequently, they cross-referenced this information with a healthcare claims database to quantify the remuneration received by physicians from private health insurance providers. Subscribe 100% Free to Wall Street Rebel.com and receive access to investment tools worth $17,500! PRESS RELEASE VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (JULY 11TH, 2023) The Military Aviation Museum proudly announces the acquisition of the Curtiss C-46 Commando, known as The Tinker Belle, from its caretakers, the City of Monroe, NC, in partnership with the non-profit organization Warriors and Warbirds. This remarkable aircraft, the only flying example of its kind in a museum collection, will make its debut at the South Pacific Luau and Hangar Dance on July 22nd. The Tinker Belle has long been a centerpiece of the Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show at the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport, where it was based. It has captivated audiences across the United States and Canada, becoming a symbol of the heroic efforts during World War II. Officially designated as the Curtiss C-46 Commando, The Whale, as it was affectionately known, played a crucial role in Air Transport Command operations over the Himalayan Mountains, famously referred to as The Hump, in the CBI (China-Burma-India) Theatre during WWII. The crews who flew these C-46s became the backbone of historys then largest and still longest airlift. Despite their tremendous achievements, this triumph came at a significant cost, with the loss of numerous aircraft, crew, and cargo. By the end of WWII, the Hump airlift operation was a staggering endeavor, with aircraft crossing every 1.3 minutes on average. Over 34,000 USAAF personnel and 47,000 local laborers from Burma, India, and China were instrumental in making this airlift operation a reality. It even involved utilizing local elephants to replace unserviceable forklifts. Museum Director Keegan Chetwynd expressed his enthusiasm, stating, Visitors to the Museum will have the unique opportunity to witness this extraordinary aircraft up close and, in the near future, even step inside The Tinker Belle. The first chance for the public to experience this is expected to be during the South Pacific Luau and Hangar Dance at the Museum on July 22, 2023. Pete Hovanec, Monroe Communications and Tourism Director, shared his excitement, saying, We couldnt be more thrilled to see The Tinker Belle join this remarkable organization dedicated to preserving and operating historic aircraft. We have full confidence that the Military Aviation Museum will showcase this rare bird for years to come. The addition of The Tinker Belle to the Military Aviation Museums collection is a significant milestone, honoring the heroic achievements of the past and preserving the memory of those who served. The Museum invites aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike to witness the expected debut of this iconic aircraft at the South Pacific Luau and Hangar Dance, promising an unforgettable experience. If you have any questions, please call 757-721-7767 or visit https://militaryaviationmuseum.org/. The Military Aviation Museum is located at 1341 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23457. About the Military Aviation Museum: A 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the Military Aviation Museum is home to one of the worlds largest collections of airworthy military aircraft from World War I and World War II. Truly a living museum, its aircraft are in restoration at facilities around the world. Besides the main Museum the Virginia Beach complex features additional exhibition spaces, including a mid-1930s Luftwaffe hangar, originally from Cottbus, Germany, which now serves to house the Museums collection of WWII-vintage German aircraft. Additional structures include the WWI Hangar, and the original control tower from RAF Goxhill built in England in 1942. Visit www.militaryaviationmuseum.org for more information or call 757-721-7767. When officials used sonar to look for her car recently, they spotted the signature of three vehicles in the murky depths. WATERLOO An Evansdale man has been arrested on firearm charges after he allegedly slashed a relatives tires over the weekend. Waterloo police arrested Anthony Michael Sanders, 32, for felon in possession of a firearm, operating while intoxicated, fourth-degree criminal mischief and carrying weapons. Sanders sister told police he had cut the tires on her Audi while it was parked in the 1000 block of South Hackett Road in Waterloo and jumped on the hood of the vehicle on Sunday night. When police responded, they found a bag containing a loaded 9 mm Glock 43 handgun and additional firearm magazines. Officers also found a container of cocaine. Court records show Sanders is on parole for felony lascivious acts with a child charges stemming from a 2008 incident involving a 12-year-old girl. Photos: Missing children in Iowa Jade Colvin Fredrick Workman Benjamin Roseland Erin Pospisil Marc Allen Eugene Martin John Gosch Kimberly Doss Colleen Simpson Fatima Conteh Daquan Nelson Diomarix Crespo Alivia Beeding Hunter Kenyon WATERLOO A Waterloo man has been sent to prison for plotting the robbery of his half-brothers home in Elk Run Heights in 2021. Prosecutors said Daymion Ohrt enlisted others armed with firearms to break into the house while most of the family was asleep and force them to open a gun safe. During sentencing Monday, the victim, Jesse Ohrt, reminded Daymion Ohrt that they have children about the same age and implored him to consider what would happen if the same had happened to him. My kids are a huge part of this. That was your family, too, Jesse Ohrt said. I still deal with this day to day. He said loud noises around the house startle his wife. His young children cower when they see people that remind them of the intruders in public. The Ohrt family is white, and Daymion Ohrt employed a group of black youths to carry out the robbery. Judge Joel Dalrymple upheld a plea agreement, sentencing Daymion Ohrt to consecutive 25-year prison sentences, but he imposed the largest mandatory minimum possible, meaning Daymion Ohrt will have to spend 70% of the sentence 17 and half years behind bars before he can be considered for parole. Prosecutor Brad Walz said the sentence was needed because although Daymion Ohrt wasnt present for the robbery, he was behind the crime, providing the target and telling the accomplices when the wife and children would be alone while the husband was at work. But for this defendant, this doesnt happen. This was a complete betrayal of a family member, Walz said. He noted how home robberies involving firearms can easily turn fatal. In the Elk Run case, prosecutors said a group of people entered the house in the early morning hours of Feb. 23, 2021, after Jesse Ohrt left for a construction job out of town. The intruders threatened the wife and children and took about half a dozen firearms. Daymion Ohrt later admitted to his role in the crime when talking to another family member. When the relative pretended to be interested in buying the stolen guns, Daymion Ohrt got him in touch with a the people who took the weapons. Police used that information to search a Waterloo apartment were most of the guns were discovered. Trial for Daymion Ohrt began in March 2023, but he opted to accept a plea agreement part way through testimony. Others charged in the crime include Davon Marcell Oliver, who was sentenced to up to 50 years in prison on charges of robbery and burglary. The alleged getaway driver, Dequonterio Jashawn Galloway-Bass, was sentenced to up to 25 years. Three youths ages 13, 14 and 15 at the time were also charged in connection with the robbery in juvenile court. Photos: Car fire, Highway 20, Cedar Falls 071023jr-fire-car-2 071023jr-fire-car-3 071023jr-fire-car-4 Woori Bank headquarters in Seoul / Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung An employee at Woori Bank embezzled corporate capital worth $70,000 (90 million won) for crypto investment. This could further taint Woori's corporate image after another official from the lender engaged in a similar crime embezzling 70 billion won last year through multiple thefts. The recent crime is the largest in scale for a single amount embezzled. The employee who worked at one of Woori's sales offices is known to have embezzled the capital for his personal crypto investment. "We retrieved all of the embezzled money and started a disciplinary procedure against the employee," a spokesman at the bank said. Last year, the Financial Supervisory Service launched a probe into the bank and took issue with the lender's poor internal control system. In response, Woori pledged to toughen the system, so as to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. Nevertheless, with the increase in the frequency of similar scandals, Woori cannot evade criticism for the ineffective operation of its internal inspection team. Woori Bank CEO Cho Byung-kyu, who took office on July 3, established an "inspection division" to strengthen its internal controls. WATERLOO The Waterloo Community School District will hold a referendum Sept. 12 on renewal of its physical plant and equipment levy. The Board of Education approved placing the measure on the ballot Monday for the special election. The renewal would double the current voter-approved PPEL to $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable property valuation. The levy is used to maintain and repair buildings. It is set to expire in 2027 but can be renewed now for an additional 10 years. If approved, it would expire in 2037. If the renewal is voted down, the PPEL will still be in place until 2027. Apart from fixing buildings, funds generated by the levy can be used to purchase property, construct buildings and pay debts for construction of schools. The proposed ballot language states the tax would not exceed $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed valuation of the taxable property within the school district. The current tax rate is 67 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. In 2015, the PPEL passed with 81% of voters approving it. Passage requires approval by more than 50% of voters who cast ballots. Annually, the board can certify a PPEL that is not voter-approved in an amount up to 33 cents per $1,000 of taxable value. This number is decided every spring when the board approves its tax rates. Combined with the current voter-approved levy, property owners within the district pay $1 per $1,000 of taxable value. If the board decides to go with the full $1.34, the total tax rate would be $1.67. If any changes are made, they wont go into effect until 2027. Michael Coughlin, the districts chief financial officer, said each 33 cents per $1,000 is equal to about $1 million of property taxes. If the board were to have a tax rate of $1.67, that would generate about $5 million in revenue. Even though many buildings in the district are new, Coughlin pointed out that upkeep will always be an important factor. Our oldest new buildings are 20 years old, he said. In the next 15 years there will be a lot of issues with maintaining that many buildings. Waterloo Schools has 19 preschool through 12th-grade buildings. He said that during the August board meeting, there will be further presentations on what the PPEL has helped with in the past, as well as more explanation for voters. In other business, the board also unanimously approved: The purchase of new professional learning materials regarding reading and spelling for K-5 classrooms for a total of $310,362 over three years. A memorandum of understanding with Wartburg College that allows its students to provide music therapy in the district. A quote to participate in the Iowa Association of School Boards Safety Group Plan for property, casualty and workers compensation insurance program with a total estimated premium of $2.81 million. According to board documents, that is a 28% increase. WATERLOO Parranderos Latin Combo will headline Fiesta!, a Latin heritage showcase, on Saturday at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre. The vibrant outdoor festival, presented by the Waterloo Center for the Arts in partnership with Veridian Credit Union, begins at 3:30 p.m. with traditional dance performances, exhibitors, crafts and family-friendly activities, including a pinata breaking. For more than 12 years, the celebration has been part of the Cedar Valleys cultural life. It originally began as a Cinco de Mayo festival, and later Fiesta de Mayo. Now the celebration has grown beyond a holiday gathering to focus on the Latin communitys rich and diverse heritage, said Elizabeth Andrews, WCA registrar and curator of international textiles. The Waterloo Center for the Arts has a significant collection of Mexican and Latin American folk art. Its one of our collecting priorities, and we also have a great Latino population in Waterloo. We want to celebrate that diversity and introduce it to the broader Cedar Valley, Andrews explained. An exhibition of Latin artwork will be displayed at the Phelps Youth Pavilion, in the Langlas loft area. Fiesta! committee member Rosario Garcia, a native of Bogata, Colombia, enjoys sharing her culture with festivalgoers. The general public likely is surprised that so many Latino cultures are represented in the Cedar Valley, she said. There are a lot of similarities within the Hispanic cultures. Music is a big one, for sure, and we share things like the pinata and, of course, the language that we are really proud of, she explained. On Saturday, kids activities from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. will include a pair of bounce houses, provided by a local company, Fiesta Perez, as well as crafts and face painting of traditional Mexican sugar skull and Latin country flags. Kids can make Mexican paper flowers with Youth Pavilion staff, and the Waterloo Public Library is offering an activity using papacado art style. An additional welcome stage will feature a performance by local rapper L Lobo Catrino and a free Zumba session lead by Angelica Rodriguez. Marks Park & Splash Pad will be open, as well. The pinata breaking will take place at 4:30 p.m. Traditional dance performances begin at 5:15 p.m., featuring the folkloric dance troupe Los Laureles from Perry and the local dance troupe, Las Palomas. Christine Guevera, founder of Las Palomas, believes Fiesta! is a positive expression of our Latino culture and way to educate the public in a very fun way. I think its fantastic because it really fuses the richness of the Latin American culture, she said. Guevera, who grew up in Mexico, has been active on the organizing committee off and on since 2010. Her dance troupe, which over the years has featured her three daughters, has performed at the event since the beginning. Her youngest daughter still dances with the troupe. The group primarily focuses on pre-Hispanic Aztec dances and ballet folklorico. Solange Bolger of Iowa City, a dancer with Venezuelan heritage, will join the troupe to perform salsa and samba choreography. Los Laureles is expected to perform a medley with 10 different dance styles, Andrews said. Parranderos Latin Combo will be on stage from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. The combo features a collective of musicians based between Des Moines and Medellin, Colombia. Their new album, El Gran Chantaje features 13 songs created with more than 40 collaborators recorded in Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Mexico City, Paris, Medellin and Santo Domingo. They will perform original music inspired by Salsa, Cumbia, Son Montuno, Afrobeat, Plena, Joropo, Salsa Dura, Vallenato and other Latin rhythms and folk music. At 8 p.m., a Quinceanera Fashion Show will take place at the amphitheater. Traditionally, the quinceanera takes place when a girl turns 15 and is often characterized by a party that is also a rite of passage into womanhood. Were really excited about the fashion show. Oftentimes theres a beautiful dress worn during the celebration, and theyll be coming out of the back of the closet to be seen again. The fashion show is open to anyone of any age, Andrews said. A registration form is available on the art centers Facebook page. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Con Amor Home Bakery, Estelas Foods, Zurys Cuisine, and Antojitos Guadalajara. Admission is free and open to the public. Additional support for Fiesta! is provided by Tyson, Sams Club, Kwik Star, Friends of the Art Center, GreenState Credit Union and Green Counseling Services. In addition to Fiesta!, Fridays Cinema on the Cedar at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre will feature the animated movie, Vivo. The film tells the story of a music-loving kinkajous journey of a lifetime from Havana to Miami to deliver a love song for a friend. Gates open at 8 p.m. and the movie starts at 9 p.m. or sunset. Admission is free. Popcorn, snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. Counties with the warmest summers in Iowa Counties with the warmest summers in Iowa #25. Louisa County #24. Montgomery County #23. Union County #22. Adams County #21. Monroe County #20. Marion County #19. Appanoose County #18. Wayne County #17. Wapello County #16. Davis County #15. Dallas County #14. Pottawattamie County #13. Madison County #12. Harrison County #11. Taylor County #10. Lucas County #9. Lee County #8. Polk County #7. Page County #6. Mills County #5. Ringgold County #4. Warren County #3. Clarke County #2. Decatur County #1. Fremont County CEDAR FALLS MercyOne officials do not foresee a scenario where the company fails to move forward with plans to replace Cedar Falls hospital, now more than 100 years old, with a new facility in the not-too-distant future. Ryan Meyer, MercyOne Northeast Iowa chief operating officer, recently reaffirmed that the project is a top priority for the company in Iowa, but that planning is on pause for the new hospital on 50 acres it owns on the northeast corner of Hudson and Greenhill roads. Jack Dusenbery, the former MercyOne Northeast Iowa president who recently retired and had championed the estimated $100 million project, anticipated several years ago that a new hospital would be constructed during 2017 and 2018, opening by 2019. We continue to believe in the project and want to see the project come to fruition, Meyer said in an interview. Currently, however, the land remains an open field. The company attributes the delay to funds having been allocated elsewhere due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ownership changes also led to time and resources being dedicated to significant internal work related to the integration of the operations. Meyer is declining at this time to give additional details about the future facility, including a best guess as to when shovels could be in the ground. Meyer insists that Dusenberrys departure doesnt change anything relative to the future replacement of MercyOne Cedar Falls Medical Center at 515 College St., formerly Sartori Memorial Hospital. He wants to follow through on Dusenberrys vision of what would be built. We continually evaluate what will be best for the city of Cedar Falls for a replacement hospital, said Meyer. MercyOne had worked with RDG Planning & Design on a master plan, which is considered pre-design work. RDG released some details on the master planning, including its 158,131-square-foot size. Of that, 95,355 square feet would be dedicated to the hospital and with the other 62,776 square feet for the medical office building. But Meyer says not to make much of the previous projections because theyre likely to change, although he wouldnt provide any details about where the companys at in the planning and design process. One exception was his commitment that the Sartori family name and legacy will be recognized at the new facility in some way. The family was among the towns earliest settlers and responsible for a municipal hospital being built in the city. In order to build a new hospital, health organizations have to acquire whats called a certificate of need from the state the result of a lengthy, complicated and political process taking several months. Sarah Ekstrand, public information officer of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, said MercyOne has not yet submitted a letter of intent for its certificate of need. Meyer contended the organization was on the precipice of pulling the trigger on the project in the months before the COVID-19 pandemic would become its immediate focus. The pandemic led to restraints on capital funding related to projects not directly addressing COVID-19. We had to shift whatever would have been traditional investment in projects to really cover those immediate needs of extra staff, bed utilization, and supply costs, said Jill Groth, MercyOne Cedar Falls Medical Center site administrator. And now that those costs are settling into more of a routine expense, were able to then look at what types of project priorities we need to continue to move those funds toward like we always would have traditionally. Another reason why MercyOne has supposedly not yet jumped back on track is its internal transition related to portfolio and ownership changes, including being fully acquired in September by its new parent company Trinity Health. The Livonia, Michigan, company is one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the nation. Its not clear whether Trinitys board has given its blessing during a period of financial strain relating to a myriad of challenges. Numerous voice mail and email messages left over several months seeking comment from company officials went unanswered. In the meantime, MercyOne touts other significant, yet smaller, investments made or underway at its Cedar Falls facility, ranging from an upgraded MRI and bariatrics program to mammography technology upgrades and a massive records system overhaul. Just because the hospital is 100 years old, doesnt mean everything inside of it is 100 years old, said Chelsea Priest, MercyOne communications lead. Weve got new great equipment and are continually investing in that facility to make sure that were providing our patients with the best quality care we can. The new MercyOne Cedar Falls OB/GYN Clinic on Bluebell Road also opened in August, and several improvements have been seen within its Waterloo network, including at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center. Another highlight mentioned by officials is the Joint Commission, the nations largest independent organization for health care standards, granting the hospital a national accreditation in March as part of a review completed every three years on its operation and buildings. No significant deficiencies were found. Prior to 2020, the project saw delays for unspecified reasons, as well. Then part of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa, officials announced plans for a new hospital in May 2015 to replace the current one. The company purchased the land from the University of Northern Iowa for $4.3 million in 2016. Since then, local officials and other agencies have been awaiting word on what MercyOne is planning to do. The city owns the land where the current hospital sits and will be looking for a way to repurpose the building and redevelop the nearly 17 acres to the west of the West Sixth and College streets intersection. The lack of knowledge when and if the hospital will be constructed led the City Council, while planning for how to pay for the reconstruction of Main Street, to approve a capital improvements plan that delayed work along Greenhill Road, near Hudson Road and the hospital site. The areas seeing changes. Residential and industrial growth is happening to the west of Hudson Road. Viking Road and the Pinnacle Prairie corridor, to the east, are seeing new commerce. A new high school is opening about a mile away from the future hospital site, not far from UNIs campus. Additional visioning for the Saratori neighborhood could happen as the current hospital and soon-to-be-former high school, less than a half mile away on Division Street, are vacated. While no update on the hospital project has been publicized and city officials have little to share, MercyOne leaders have occasionally stopped by Cedar Falls Health Trust Fund Board meetings and briefed the members on the project. Those meetings are scheduled a few times a year. Messaging, however, has been similar to what was recently provided to The Courier, says members, in that the "priority" has been in limbo and been delayed because of ownership changes. To have it be a number one rated project is a good sign, but its been number one for quite a while, said Roger White, one of the members. Covenant Health System took over Sartori, previously a municipal hospital, in 1997, according to Courier archives. Covenant later became Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa. The city retains ownership of the real estate and established a trust fund from the sale of the hospitals non-real-estate assets to be used toward reuse of the existing site. The board makes recommendations to the City Council for the expenditure of the interest income established for projects or programs that address health-related issues within the city. Funds have been applied to expenditures like new technology at the current hospital. Currently, securities total north of $19.5 million. The board next meets at 7:30 a.m. Thursday in City Hall, 220 Clay St. Images from the final round of the John Deere Classic Iowa state legislators are meeting in a special session today to consider new restrictions on abortion. The legislation would limit abortions after cardiac activity is detected, which could be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. It mirrors a bill passed in 2018 that was blocked by the courts. The Iowa Supreme Court declined to reinstate that law this year after Reynolds requested to lift the lower court's injunction. The bill, introduced Friday in both chambers, includes exceptions for rape, incest, miscarriages, fetal abnormality that would lead to the infant's death and when the mother's life is threatened. With Republican majorities in both chambers, the bill is expected to pass. The Senate has put an 11 p.m. deadline on floor debate, which is anticipated to start around 4 p.m. Abortion in America: How access and attitudes have changed through the centuries 1980s-2000s: Legal challenges to Roe v. Wade introduce restrictions 1970s: Roe v. Wade protects women's right to abortion; politics shift 1960s: 'Back-alley butchers,' birth control, and protests 2020s: Roe v. Wade is overturned; Postal Service allowed to mail abortion medication The evolution of abortion in America Pre-1850: Abortions in early America are commonplace Mid-1800s: Birth of the American Medical Association shifts abortion oversight from midwives to doctors; abortion is criminalized 10.07.2023 (14:35) Against the background of the disruption of the next wave of mobilisation in Ukraine and in order to conceal the catastrophic losses of military personnel in the AFU, the Kiev regime has stepped up recruitment work in Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries to attract foreign mercenaries. In total, since 24 February 2022, 11675 foreign mercenaries from 84 countries have officially arrived in Ukraine to participate in the combat operations on the side of the AFU. The largest number of mercenaries came to Ukraine in March-April 2022, but after the first losses were suffered, the dynamics of their arrival has sharply decreased. The most numerous groups came from Poland (over 2,600 people), the USA and Canada (900 or more people), Georgia (over 800 people), the UK and Romania (700 or more people each), Croatia (over 300 people), as well as from France and the Turkish-controlled part of Syria (200 or more people each). As of 30 June, 4,845 foreign mercenaries, the vast majority from the United States, Canada and European countries, have been reliably confirmed killed in the fighting. Another 4,801 foreign fighters escaped from the territory of Ukraine after dealing with the attitude of the Kiev regime towards them. Today, 2,029 mercenaries continue to operate in the ranks of the AFU. According to the information obtained during interrogations of captured Ukrainian servicemen, the commanders of AFU units operating on the line of contact are not held accountable for losses among foreign mercenaries. The Ukrainian command treat the foreign mercenaries as cannon fodder, sending them at Russian positions in the first place. The evacuation of wounded mercenaries is organised on a residual principle, only after Ukrainian servicemen are removed. Due to the high losses of personnel, the Kiev regime has reportedly launched the recruitment of foreign mercenaries in Argentina, Brazil, Afghanistan, Iraq and in the American-controlled areas of Syria over the past month. In connection with the multiple drop in interest in dying for the Kiev regime in Poland, the United Kingdom and other European countries, recruitment activities have been stepped up in the United States of America and Canada. This work is being carried out on the basis of Ukrainian foreign institutions with the assistance of Western intelligence services, primarily the CIA and private military companies under its control (Academi, Cubic and Dean Corporation). Foreign mercenaries are used by the Kiev regime as cannon fodder. Their lives are not spared by anyone in the Ukrainian command. Therefore, they have only one choice to escape from Ukraine or die. The Russian Armed Forces will continue to eliminate foreign mercenaries regardless of their location on Ukrainian territory during the special military operation. WtR If you told me that a new IPA released in 2023 did not have hazy, juicy or West Coast among its descriptors, Id tell you it has no chance of success in todays market. Then youd tell me New Glarus Brewing was also on the label, and I would quickly reverse course. As of late last month, this is no longer a hypothetical. The beer is simply called New Glarus IPA. Because New Glarus has really never made a straightforward American IPA while making impeccable versions of so many other beer styles I had resigned myself to it just never happening. Besides, the hop-forward Moon Man (the outstanding pale ale/session IPA) and Scream (the outstanding double IPA) exist. And, see, thats the thing. What Wisconsin hophead wouldnt be greedy and want a regular IPA in between those two? Everybody else is making IPAs up the wazoo. But founders Dan and Deb Carey know that, too, and anyone who knows New Glarus knows the brewerys traditionalist bent. Dan Carey said on his podcast that a reluctance to follow the crowd kept the brewery from jumping into the IPA trend beyond the year-round Moon Man, now-seasonal Scream, and the occasional seasonals Black Top black IPA and Hop Hearty, an English take on the style. We dont want to cannibalize from Moon Man, Carey said. [And] we already make a double IPA that has a very similar type flavor a citrus-pine-grapefruit profile. But the beer world including New Glarus customers, retailers and sales staff were persistent in their calls for a New Glarus IPA, so Carey set about designing one he could feel good about, leaning into a dank/pine, spicy and herbal character thats relatively uncommon in the ocean of IPAs out there today. The dream is to have a beer with a foundation of maltiness, a clipped, assertive bitterness, and then a hop aroma that is harmonious and not overdone with the idea of not making another Moon Man or Scream, Carey said. Its worth noting that the citrus-forward profile of those beers has proven to be a winner in the decade-plus in which IPA has become the dominant style in craft beer. And Carey and his team did consider going in that direction. He said on the podcast that one test batch of the new IPA featured Mosaic and Citra hops two varieties that are very common (separately and together) because they are quite delicious in IPAs. It was a really nice beer, Carey said, noting that it was a hit among many of the brewery staff who sampled it. But this beer tastes like about 1,001 other IPAs. Instead of playing the hits, New Glarus IPA utilizes a combination of experimental and classic hops from America and Germany. (Carey often declines to name hop varieties and did not get any more specific on the podcast.) I like this beer; its distinctive as intended, and that matters. But I dont love it. Instead of rebuying it, Ill be grabbing more Half Acre Bodem or 3 Sheeps Offshore and wondering what New Glarus could do with an IPA if it just zigged while everyone else was zigging, too. New Glarus IPA Brewed by: New Glarus Brewing Style: American IPA What its like: An old-school West Coast IPA after a semester abroad in Germany. Where, how much: Just about everywhere in Wisconsin, in six-packs of bottles ($8-$9) or 12-packs of cans ($14-$16). This is a seasonal release the brewery expects to last through September. Booze factor: At 6.75% ABV, New Glarus IPA ends up almost exactly halfway between Moon Man and Scream. Up close: IPA pours medium golden and crystal clear not even a little bit hazy. Carey said an aim with this beer was to evoke the aroma walking in a forest, and that is achieved, along with a prominent peppery, phenolic spicy note and a touch of sweet malt. Its assertively bitter on the front, with strong pine and that spiciness muscling over the palate. This is a very hop-forward beer, with the malt seemingly contributing more to the body (medium) and mouthfeel (soft) than flavor. The finish is very dry, inviting more sips, but it also has more lingering bitterness than I was expecting, especially considering Careys goal of clipping that character. Bottom line: 3 stars (out of 5) Beaver Dam was a busy place last weekend as celebrations took over the city including the Best Dam Fest. This years event was outstanding, said Mary Vogl-Rauscher, who helps organize Best Dam Fest. The best fireworks ever. As anticipated the UW Marching band was amazing. From activities in Tahoe Park, which was the home of the Best Dam Fests predecessor Lake Days, to rides in Tower Parking Lot in downtown Beaver Dam, thousands of people were out. The Must-Skis learn-to-ski clinic and water ski show along with UW Marching Band brought people down to Tahoe Park during the day. Other activities included the petting zoo, pontoon rides, and cardboard boat regatta. The Carnival/Midway was open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and brought people downtown along with the Boozy Brunch Walk. Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce executive director Tracy Propst said that there were 152 people who participated in the walk this year, which is more than attended last year. The feedback from the event was fantastic. Many of the attendees did our silly scavenger hunt encouraging extra laughs along the way, and they loved that we had more locations, and that Johnnys Lounge provided a bus to help people get around to the 11 locations, Propst said. New this year was the Beaver Dam Music Fest bringing people to local establishments on Friday and Saturday night. The fireworks on Saturday were the stars of the weekend. The 52st annual Day in the Park Craft Fair, hosted by the Beaver Dam Womens Affiliate, ended the weekend bringing crowds of people going through the 150 booths that were set up in the park. Best Dam Fest, which costs around $60,000 to put on each year, is a nonprofit organization and made possible by its sponsors, Vogl-Rauscher said. Situs Judi Slot Online Gacor Terbaik dan Terpercaya di Indonesia STARS77 adalah situs slot online gacor terbaik di Indonesia serta situs judi online Slot88 terpercaya yang dilengkapi dengan bocoran RTP slot gacor pragmatic play tertinggi sehingga mudah maxwin. Sebagai situs judi slot online terbaik dan terpercaya, STARS77 memiliki beragam pilihan game slot gacor Pragmatic Play yang gampang maxwin dan tentunya dapat memanjakan Anda. 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Weather Alert ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM PDT SATURDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures up to 100-106 degrees expected. * WHERE...Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties, Greater Reno- Carson City-Minden Area, Western Nevada Basin and Range including Pyramid Lake and Northern Washoe County. * WHEN...From 11 AM to 9 PM PDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...There will be some relief at night as low temperatures drop into the upper 50s and 60s overnight. However, high temperatures are still close to 10 degrees above average for this time of year and close to daily records. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. && RICHMOND, VA Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced the establishment of the Virginia Offshore Wind Supplier Development Grant, a new program designed to incentivise smaller existing Virginia manufacturers to enter into the production of goods to support the offshore wind industry in Virginia, as well as the broader U.S. offshore wind market. The program, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 2022 and administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, is a competitive grant that assists Virginia manufacturers entering the offshore wind supply chain by offsetting capital expenditures in equipment directly related to positioning the company to provide goods to the industry. With a central East Coast location, one of the highest concentrations of skilled maritime talent, world-class port infrastructure, and a competitive cost of doing business, Virginia has emerged as a leader in the U.S. offshore wind supply chain, said Governor Glenn Youngkin. This new grant will strengthen the industry ecosystem in the Commonwealth while driving economic development and job growth and is a strategic investment that supports our plan to guarantee abundant, clean energy for Virginias future. The Virginia Offshore Wind Supplier Development Grant will leverage the Commonwealths existing offshore wind leadership position and advance our competitive advantage in emerging supply chains and technologies, said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. This program invites Virginia manufacturers to diversify their portfolio to supply the industry, ultimately advancing our goal for the Commonwealth to become the market leader in offshore wind technology, development, and deployment. The Virginia General Assembly approved $2.5 million from the general fund for Fiscal Year 2024 and the grant runs for a three-year period, beginning July 1, 2023. Funds are disbursed as reimbursements, and grant awards may range from $20,000 to $250,000 per eligible company. Purchases made prior to July 1, 2023 will not be eligible for reimbursement. The Virginia Offshore Wind Supply Chain Development Grant is limited to companies meeting the following eligibility requirements: Containers for exports and imports are stacked at a pier in the southeastern port city of Busan, July 4. Yonhap Korea's exports fell 14.8 percent on-year in the first 10 days of July due to sluggish shipments of chips, data showed Tuesday. The country's outbound shipments reached $13.3 billion in the July 1-10 period, compared with $15.5 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Imports fell 26.9 percent on-year to $15.5 billion during the period, resulting in a trade deficit of $2.27 billion. By sector, exports of chips, the backbone of Asia's No. 4 economy, slid 36.8 percent over the period to $1.82 billion. Those of automobiles, on the other hand, gained 25.2 percent to $1.44 billion, the data showed. Exports of steel and petroleum products moved down 14.5 percent and 51.3 percent to $1 billion and $970 million, respectively, over the period. Outbound shipments of ships jumped 74 percent to $660 million. By destination, exports to China, the top trading partner, fell 20.6 percent to $2.74 billion, apparently as the anticipated impact of its economic reopening has been delayed. Shipments to the United States edged down 9 percent to $2.5 billion, while those to the European Union gained 22.4 percent to $1.49 billion. Exports to Vietnam shed 32.5 percent to $1.12 billion. In June, Korea's outbound shipments fell 6 percent on-year to $54.24 billion. But the month posted the smallest on-year export decline so far this year, possibly indicating the country's exports may rebound in the second half of this year. The country reported a trade surplus for the first time in 16 months in June. As of Monday, Korea's exports so far this year had reached $320.4 billion, down 12.5 percent from the same period in 2022. The trade deficit so far had come to $28.7 billion. (Yonhap) Cover Images/Seth Browarnik Music According to details from the 'SICKO MODE' rapper's team, the upcoming record will feature five individual artworks, none of which have been revealed yet. Jul 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Travis Scott (II)'s new album rollout is underway. The "SICKO MODE" rapper announced that he will be performing at the Giza pyramids in Egypt on July 28, which people believe is the project's release date. The emcee shared the announcement via Instagram on Sunday, July 9. "UTOPIA LIVE AT THE PYRAMIDS. TICKETS AND UTOPIA PACK On TRAVISSCOTT.COM," so read the message. According to details from Travis' team, the upcoming record will feature five individual artworks, none of which have been revealed yet. The Live Nation event, which is dubbed a "once-in-a-lifetime gig," is being pitched as an "unforgettable show" that promises to envelop fans in a unique experience. Travis has yet to officially confirm the release date for "Utopia", but it's available for pre-order. His online shop also offers a variety of "Topia Pack" merchandise ranging from $50 to $150. Travis once shared that he'd been working with new collaborators on his upcoming album in a bid to evolve his music. He told i-D magazine in 2021, "I never tell people this, and I'm probably going to keep it a secret still, but I'm working with some new people and I'm just trying to expand the sound." "I've been making beats again, rapping on my own beats, just putting everything together and trying to grow it really. That's been one of the most fun things about working on this album," Travis, who shares two children with Kylie Jenner, added. "I'm evolving, collaborating with new people, delivering a whole new sound, a whole new range." You can share this post! Celebrity Rumor has it, the British monarch seems to be annoyed and have no patience when hosting the current US president during the latter's visit to Windsor Castle. Jul 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - King Charles is rumored to have lost his patience when he tried to get President Joe Biden to move along during their meeting. The 74-year-old monarch - who took the throne in September last year following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth - met the 80-year-old US leader at Windsor Castle on Monday, July 10 for the first time since his coronation in May 2023. Charles tried to get him to stop talking during their inspection of the Welsh Guards in the middle of a welcome ceremony but Biden appeared reluctant to end his conversation. The US president grabbed Charles' arm as they embraced and shook hands, then put his hand on his back during their lap of the quadrangle - and clutched the handrail to get on stage for the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner" after forcing Charles to wait for his SUV to drive through the castle. At one point, the monarch tried to get Biden to keep walking while he spoke to one of the guards - and the Daily Mail reported Charles then appeared to direct his anger at the guard before walking away with the president. Biden is on a visit of only 24 hours in London, and spent just over 40 minutes having tea with Prime Minster Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street. Biden did not attend of Charles' coronation and sent First Lady Jill and granddaughter Finnegan - then ended a speech in June by saying, "God save the Queen, man." Charles and Biden had tea together before the king took the president on a tour of Windsor Castle's White Drawing Room, where items from the Royal Collection relating to the United States of America are on display. They then joined the Climate Finance Mobilisation Forum in the Green Drawing Room. Biden last year met with Charles at the COP26 climate change summit in November 2022 where the pair shook hands and the US leader spoke of his admiration for Charles' activism. At the time, Biden told the king, "We need you badly." He replied, "You are very kind for saying that." After leaving the castle, the president boarded Air Force One at Stansted Airport to head for the NATO summit in Lithuania. You can share this post! https://www.beyonce.com/ Celebrity Nixon Knowles' mom Alexandra Wright claims in an emotional new interview that the 13-year-old boy is wondering why his Grammy-winning superstar sister doesn't love him. Jul 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Beyonce Knowles' half brother Nixon has one question for the superstar. The teen boy's mom Alexandra Wright claims in an emotional new interview that the 13-year-old is wondering why the Grammy winner doesn't love him. "[He asks], 'Why doesn't that person love me?' " Alexandra told The Sun of her son, whom she shares with Bey's father and ex-manager Mathew Knowles. "Nixon has never had the luxury of being a normal child." The Los Angeles-based businesswoman went on to say, "Being related to someone famous smothers kids like him, and they lose their identity. I sit in the bathroom and cry sometimes because I just don't know how to help him be his own person." In the interview, Alexandra additionally revealed that she first met Mathew in Seattle, Washington, while brokering a business deal for Beyonce in 2007. "He said, 'I am going to stay in Seattle until you agree to have a drink with me,' " recalled Alexandra, who used to work as a public relations representative for Microsoft. "And he stayed for two or three weeks until, finally, I said 'fine!' " The two then had an affair for almost 2 years amid his 31-year marriage to Beyonce's mother, Tina. Despite that, Alexandra shared that she didn't feel guilty for having a relationship with a married man. "I was not conflicted about the situation, because his marriage was not a functioning marriage," she argued. "I don't think he told his family about me. It was a complex situation, and the family structure had been fractured for a long time." Nixon was born in February 2010 and a DNA test proved that Mathew is, in fact, the boy's father. Mathew and Alexandra called it quits just before the music mogul was fired as his daughter's manager in early 2011. As for why she ended her affair, Alexandra explained, "We had joint credit cards and bank accounts and after the audit started, he just cut them off. I left him, and he didn't ever expect me to make that choice. I ended it because I'm better than that." It was claimed that Mathew does not pay Wright child support and has never met Nixon. That eventually led Alexandra to file for bankruptcy and was forced to live in a two-bedroom mobile home before ultimately moving in with friend and "Moesha" actress Shar Jackson. Alexandra also noted that Bey's new house in Malibu was just minutes from her place. "[Beyonce] is a billionaire and just bought the most expensive house in California, 10 miles from where we live," she said of the $200 million, 40,000-square-foot Malibu mansion which the icon purchased with husband Jay-Z in May. "But no, there has not been any contact." The single mom, however, believed that her son will inevitably connect with her superstar sister with the help of social media. "I think they will find a way to open up and have that conversation," she shared. "They have Snapchat and all that." You can share this post! A customer enters a branch of MG Community Credit in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Yonhap Korea's state-run banks are providing at least two trillion won ($1.54 billion) of liquidity support to a credit union hit by customers withdrawals through repurchase agreements, joining commercial banks also offering financing. The Industrial Bank of Korea and the Korea Development Bank said on Tuesday they had signed agreements with MG Community Credit Cooperatives (MGCCC) for 1.5 trillion won and an amount between 0.5 to 2.0 trillion won, respectively. The move comes amid concerns that the unfolding issues at MGCCC, which has seen higher customer withdrawals after media reports on its high debt delinquency rates, could result in a new credit crunch in local money markets. "MGCCC is not yet in need of all the funds, it seems, but the government is preparing a back-up tool in advance as it cannot leave the credit union continuing to sell bonds," said Kim Sang-man, a credit analyst at Hana Securities. Korea's financial services regulator has also asked major commercial banks to prepare around 5 trillion won in financing to support the credit union, Reuters reported on Monday. MGCCC said in a statement last week that its debt delinquency rate was manageable and it would work with the Interior Ministry to improve its financial soundness. There have not been any indications so far that the situation at MGCCC is affecting Korea's major commercial banks. Credit default swap (CDS) premiums at the lenders were little changed this month after a spike late last year. CDS are derivatives that offer insurance against the risk of a bond issuer not paying their creditors. The five-year Woori Bank CDS was quoted at 45.33 on Tuesday, according to Refinitiv data, compared with 45.29 at the end of June and a five-year high of 75.17 in early November. Kookmin Bank's CDS was quoted at 51.59, compared with 75.18 last November. In November, a missed bond payment by a state-backed theme park sparked worries about real-estate projects, triggering a credit crunch in domestic money markets. The situation later stabilised after authorities introduced various liquidity support programmes. (Reuters) 20th Century Fox Movie In a photo which is also posted on Ryan Reynolds' Instagram Story, the Australian hunk stays true to his character's roots by wearing a yellow-and-blue suit from the comic books. Jul 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Hugh Jackman is officially back as Wolverine. After teasing his return as the mutant with his workout photos and videos, the actor has finally unveiled his first look in the upcoming "Deadpool 3". The Australian hunk has apparently joined Ryan Reynolds for the shooting of the movie in England. In the photo posted on his and the Canadian-born star's respective social media page, the two actors were seen filming a scene together. Jackman sported Wolverine's classic look in a yellow-and-blue suit, similar to the character's appearance in the comic books and the X-Men animated series of the 1990s. Reynolds, meanwhile, wore Deadpool's new costume which was revealed in previously-seen set pictures. "Don't blink," read the caption of the Instagram Story, which was posted on Monday, July 10. Both actors also added an animated image of Deadpool and Wolverine on their respective Story. Hugh Jackman posted first look at his Wolverine return in 'Deadpool 3'. Jackman previously hung Wolverine's adamantium claws after 2017's "Logan". After years of badgering by Reynolds, in September 2022, they announced in a video that the "Les Miserables" star agreed to return as the Marvel superhero character for "Deadpool 3". "I never stopped (trying to get him to come back as Wolverine)," Reynolds told ET Canada of how he convinced Jackman to come out of his retirement as Wolverine. "I was just pestering him like a gnat over the last many years. I believe in timing, as much as hard work and luck and all those intersections that are supposed to meet. Timing's the big one. I think he was ready. I think he was excited." Besides Jackman's Wolverine, "Deadpool 3" will bring back Jennifer Garner as Elektra. She last portrayed the character in "Elektra" (2005) after first appearing in 2003's "Daredevil, The Movie" with her future ex-husband Ben Affleck. "Deadpool 3" also has Morena Baccarin, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsuna and Stefan Kapicic among the returning cast, but Zazie Beetz has confirmed that she will not return for the threequel. The movie is scheduled to arrive in U.S. theaters on May 3, 2024. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The 'Snowfall' actor's house is left with serious damage after thieves broke into his Los Angeles-area property and took his small safe, which only held about $500 worth of stuff. Jul 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Damson Idris has become the latest celebrity to fall victim to home burglary. The actor's house has been left with some serious damage after thieves broke into his home only to get away with some petty cash. According to TMZ, law enforcement sources revealed that the alleged thieves broke into the "Snowfall" star's house in Los Angeles on July 3. The suspects allegedly smashed a glass door to get inside the crib. The thieves eventually left with Damson's small safe, but it only held about $500 worth of stuff, sources told the outlet. It's unclear though what was inside the safe. The suspects, however, caused more damage to the house than what they got away with in goods. It's estimated that it will cost the 31-year-old actor $2,000 to fix what was busted during the robbery. The case is currently under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, but no arrests have been made so far. Cops will reportedly be reviewing the security cameras in the house and checking out neighbors' videos to get more information on the incident. Damson is believed to be not home during the burglary as he has been filming the Formula One racing film "Apex" in England. On Sunday, July 9, he was seen joining Brad Pitt to shoot the film with a number of professional racers, including Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, during the actual British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire. The "Outside the Wire" star and the "Fury" actor, who play the fictional characters named Joshua Pearce and Sonny Hayes respectively, were seen sporting custom white race suits with black graphics. Their costume displayed the name of their made-up team, "APXGP", as well as their character's name, "Pearce" and "Hayes", alongside the United States' flag. The movie is directed by Joe Kosinski and produced by Lewis Hamilton as well as Jerry Bruckheimer. You can share this post! Music Another new release, AESPA's 'MY WORLD', debuts at No. 9 after earning 40,000 equivalent album units, marking the South Korean girl group's second Top 10-charting set. Jul 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Lil Uzi Vert's new album "Pink Tape" blasts to No. 1 on the Billboard albums chart after being released on June 30. Earning 167,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending July 6, the rap album marks the hip-hop star's third No. 1 album on the chart. Of the number, SEA units comprise 154,000, equaling 210.39 million on-demand official streams of the set's 26 songs. It's the largest streaming week of 2023 for any rap or R&B/hip-hop title. Meanwhile, album sales comprise 11,000 and TEA units comprise 2,000. At No. 2 is Morgan Wallen's "One Thing at a Time" that was kicked out of the leading spot after 15 non-consecutive weeks atop the list. The album earns 110,000 equivalent album units this week. Following it up is Peso Pluma's "Genesis" that is stationary at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in its second week with 68,000 units. Taylor Swift's "Midnights" is also a non-mover at No. 4 after earning 54,000 units. Morgan's "Dangerous: The Double Album", meanwhile, moves up from No. 7 to No. 5 with 48,000 units. As for SZA's "SOS", it ascends from No. 8 to No. 6 after earning 44,000 equivalent album units. Gunna's "A Gift & a Curse" dips from No. 5 to No. 7 with nearly 44,000 units. Occupying the No. 8 spot is Taylor's "Lover" which climbs one rang from No. 9 with 43,000 equivalent album units earned. Another new release, Aespa's "MY WORLD", debuts at No. 9 after earning 40,000 equivalent album units. It marks the South Korean girl group's second Top 10-charting set. Rounding the Top 10 is rapper Rylo Rodriguez's "Been One" that bows at No. 10 with 35,000 equivalent album units earned. Top Ten of Billboard 200: You can share this post! Cover Images/Sara De Boer Celebrity A few months after opening up about their 'challenging' relationship, the 'Lord of the Rings' actor packs on PDA with the 'American Idol' judge while attending Hyde Park festival in London. Jul 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Orlando Bloom has captured his steamy makeout session with his fiancee Katy Perry. While enjoying Bruce Springsteen's performance at the 2023 British Summer Time Hyde Park festival in London, the actor of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" had his phone in his hand ready to take a selfie as he kissed the "American Idol" judge. At the Saturday, July 8 music event, 46-year-old Orlando and 38-year-old Katy could not keep their hands off each other. In pictures making their rounds online, he could be seen holding his phone up in the air with one of his hands. He was taking selfies while sharing a passionate kiss with Katy. In the meantime, Katy was wrapping her arms on his back while the two were closing their eyes. Orlando Bloom took a picture when he passionately kissed Katy Perry. In other pictures, the power couple was seen enjoying each other's company as they watched Bruce perform. One of the photos showed him standing close behind her as he hugged her from behind. At that time, the two were looking straight to the stage. Another photo captured him pressing his nose against her ear and kissed her cheek before she turned around to kiss him. The "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" actor and the "Firework" songstress were also caught on camera showing off the stage to some individuals on FaceTime. At one point, she could be seen excitedly aiming her phone camera to the stage. For the occasion, Katy looked chic in a flowy pink satin mini dress designed by Prada. The dress came with the fashion house's logo on its wearer's chest. She completed the look with a pair of pink shades, white sneakers and a crossbody bag. She accessorized the look with several layers of choker necklaces. Orlando, similarly, chose to go with a cozy ensemble. The actor sported a white tee and he cuffed the short sleeves. He also donned a pair of blue jeans and brown boots that had similar design to that of Dr. Martens shoes. Orlando and Katy's PDA-packed date night came a few months after he got candid about their "challenging" relationship. In a February interview with Flaunt magazine, he admitted, "We're in two very different pools. Her pool is not a pool that I necessarily understand, and I think my pool is not a pool that she necessarily understands. Sometimes things are really, really, really, challenging. I won't lie. We definitely battle with our emotions and creativity." You can share this post! Cover Images/Marion Curtis/StarPix Celebrity The 'Homeland' star and the 'Hannibal' actor have apparently welcomed their third child as the two are pictured enjoying a mid-summer outing with the newborn in New York City. Jul 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Claire Danes and husband Hugh Dancy are officially parents of three. The "Homeland" star and the "Hannibal" actor have apparently welcomed their third child as the two were seen enjoying a mid-summer outing with the newborn in New York City on Monday, July 10. In some pictures that circulated online, Claire could be seen wearing a colorful halter floor length sundress featuring a wide ruffle around the edge. The "My So Called Life" star, who pushed her baby in a plush gray stroller, finished the look with a necklace and a pair of eyeglasses. As for Hugh, he opted for a pair of tan shorts, a blue button-up shirt and sneakers. He was seen carrying a bag of groceries during the outing. While the extremely private parents have yet to comment on or announce the apparent birth, they seemed to be hinting at her newborn's gender. She placed a light blue blanket over the stroller to cover the baby, suggesting that they recently welcomed a baby boy. Claire, who also shares sons Cyrus (10) and Rowan (5) with Hugh, previously got candid about the hardship in her motherhood journey. "Being a mom is incredibly challenging," she told Harper's Bazaar U.K. in a 2014 interview, 2 years after welcoming her first child. "But, we still feel a pressure to talk about it in very romantic terms." "We all have that resentment at times and anxiety about being trapped by the role, that responsibility. And, then chemically it can run riot. Your mental state, the hormonal swings are so extraordinary and singular to the female experience, and they haven't been taken very seriously or considered very deeply," she added. She continued, "I mean, postpartum aside, even if you have the most healthy relationship with your child and have support and resources, it's tough. It is really tough. And there's no 'off' button. [For me] that was the hardest adjustment. You always feel beholden to somebody. And, for so long they're like koala bears, you just feel a physical responsibility to be there for them to cling to. It's pretty primal." You can share this post! Facebook Celebrity Weeks after being slapped with 15-year prison sentence in racketeering and drug case, the 'Coming Home' rapper is revealed to have submitted a bid against the ruling. Jul 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Casanova has officially filed an appeal for his lengthy prison sentence. Less than a month after being slapped with 15-year prison sentence in racketeering and drug case, the "Coming Home" rapper was revealed to have made a bid to lighten his sentencing. Revealing the news was Casanova's lawyer, James Kousouros. To All Hip-Hop, James dished that the 36-year-old spitter's appeal was submitted on Friday, July 7. It challenged the lengthy sentence given away by Judge Philip M. Halpern back on June 27. Casanova's prison sentence for racketeering and drug case was announced by Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. In a press release, he stated, "Caswell Senior is not just a notorious recording artist, but he is also a high-profile leader of a vicious street gang and a magnet for gang violence." "At a crowded Miami house party, Senior personally fired a gun that seriously injured and could have killed a victim, inciting a shootout," the U.S. Attorney continued. "Further, Senior's stature in the community was central to Gorilla Stone's successful recruitment and nationwide expansion. Today's sentencing, along with the other significant sentences that have been imposed in this case, shows once again that gang life is not worth it and will lead to many years in prison." Before he was slapped with the prison sentence, Casanova penned a heart-touching letter to Judge Philip Halpern. "I am telling you and anyone that will listen that I wanted out before I was arrested and I am out," the hip-hop artist began. "I learned through my music career that people will listen and that I don't need to associate myself with a gang to succeed." "I don't need to associate with a gang even if I don't succeed. While I have been in here I lost my father to cancer. While I put on that strong facade, all I wanted to do was end it. Surviving on Rikers Island and upstate correctional facilities were not easy with racial and gang tension and violence at its height," he went on. You can share this post! Cover Images/Dutch Press Photo Celebrity The former British Prime Minister's spouse Carrie Johnson takes to Instagram to share the news that she and her husband have welcomed their third child together, a baby boy named Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson. Jul 12, 2023 AceShowbiz - Boris Johnson has become a father again, to son Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson. The former British Prime Minister's wife Carrie Johnson, 35, gave birth to the couple's third child on July 5, with his spouse sharing the eccentric name for their newest addition to the family. Carrie, who also has Wilfred, born in April 2020, and Romy, who arrived into the world in December 2021, with the 59-year-old controversial politician, announced on Instagram alongside a series of photographs of Frankie sleeping. "Welcome to the world Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson born 5th July at 9.15am. (Can you guess which name my husband chose?!)," she wrote in the caption. The mother of three continued gushing, "Am loving every minute of the sleepy baby bubble. Seeing my older two embrace their new brother with such joy and excitement has been the most wonderful thing to see. We are all very smitten." Carrie praised the NHS team at University College London Hospital for taking care of their newborn. She added, "Thank you so much to the incredible NHS maternity team at UCLH. They really are the most amazing, caring people. I feel such immense gratitude. Now, can anyone recommend any good series/box sets to binge while breastfeeding? Time for a drink." Boris also had four children with his ex-wife Marina Wheeler, and fathered a child in 2009 with arts consultant Helen McIntyre. The new arrival comes after Boris quit as an MP after receiving the Partygate report. The ex-PM claimed he was driven "out of parliament" after receiving the report into whether he lied to MPs over breaking COVID-19 rules amid lockdown. Boris said in a statement last month that the privileges committee, which has been investigating his behaviour during lockdown, made it clear "that they are determined" to kick him out of parliament. He said, "I have written to my association in Uxbridge and South Ruislip to say that I am stepping down forthwith and triggering an immediate by-election. I am very sorry to leave my wonderful constituency. It has been a huge honour to serve them, both as Mayor and MP." Boris has been accused of misleading parliament by insisting that all COVID rules were followed at Downing Street during his infamous lockdown gatherings. Boris, who left office in September, claims that the committee "have still not produced a shred of evidence that I knowingly or recklessly misled the Commons." Boris claims to be the victim of a "witch hunt." He said, "I am now being forced out of parliament by a tiny handful of people, with no evidence to back up their assertions, and without the approval even of Conservative party members let alone the wider electorate." Meanwhile, he also used his statement to slam current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his government. He said, "When I left office last year the government was only a handful of points behind in the polls. That gap has now massively widened. Just a few years after winning the biggest majority in almost half a century, that majority is now clearly at risk. Our party needs urgently to recapture its sense of momentum and its belief in what this country can do." You can share this post! Launched in 2012, House of Clovia is a Noida-headquartered premier D2C fashion, lingerie and personal care company that designs, manufactures and sells premium fashion lingerie, innerwear, nightwear, shapewear, swimwear and athleisure products under the brand Clovia; and personal care products under the brand Skivia. Last year, Reliance Retail Ventures acquired 89% stake in the brand Clovia. In conversation with Adgully, Neha Kant, Founder and CRO, Clovia, reveals how the fashion, lingerie and personal care brand differentiates itself from the competition, the marketing strategies that aim to make lingerie a critical part of a womans wardrobe, introduction of Clovia Curve Fit Test tool, use of BOTs, and more. How does Clovia differentiate itself from other lingerie and sleepwear brands in the market? Clovia has been built on three important pillars: In-house designing and production leading to strict control on quality + smart technology + improvising customer feedback. Clovia designs in-house, hand-picks raw material and manufactures its own products, managing the entire product life cycle, to what we internally call mind-to-wardrobe. We have an in-house designing team that helps us innovate products high on style and comfort. We import fabrics, laces and satins from different parts of the world, but everything is manufactured in India. Clovias USP is the variety of styles that we offer our customers. We launch 250+ styles per month and more than 75% of our inventory is less than 30 days old. Clovia aims to redefine the Indian lingerie market, and help customers choose beyond standard cuts, shapes and colours. Our mantra is lingerie is a critical part of your wardrobe and it doesnt need to be drab and boring. In addition, Clovia is based on an amalgamation of fashion and technology. We have patent-pending algorithms that help us gauge the customer purchase pattern through our sales channels and track their feedback fast. It helps us know which product, design, colour are being purchased more and also more importantly, which products have high satisfaction score. This helps us provide better products and also plan our inventory accordingly. We also use smart technology and big data analytics for smart management of our inventory ensuring we have the industry best inventory holding, one of the most critical parameters for scaling an apparel business. Being a responsible business, Clovia is aware of the sensitivity and privacy issues related to buying lingerie buying for lingerie. To guarantee that the same discreet billing and packaging are used for client privacy during the purchase, shipping, and returns processes. What are some of the key challenges and opportunities you see in the lingerie industry today? Stale inventory and efficient management of omnichannel are the major challenges in the innerwear industry. Another major challenge is changing the mindset of one size fits all. In India, we need an India specific size chart synchronizing with Indian body type. To tackle the issue of ill fitting, Clovia has come up with breakthrough technology and has created a tool called the Clovia Curve Fit Test. Through extensive research, the brand developed its proprietary tool that asks a woman 5 questions about her body type and then recommends the right sizing. This helped us to reach a high customer satisfaction score here and the tool has been used/ attempted over 500K times. Could you share some insights into Clovias product development process and how you ensure quality and comfort for your customers? Clovia has built its processes such that we gather a huge amount of feedback on each of our products as well as we listen to customers closely. We have over 1 million product feedbacks and 140 million other data points gathered through these processes that have helped us become very attuned to customers needs, preferences and understand the emerging trends faster than our peers. Based on our research and finding, our team creates concepts and designs for new lingerie and sleepwear products. Extensive testing and quality checks are conducted to ensure that all materials meet the required standards. Talking about the quality and comfort for our customers, we conduct rigorous testing on our products to evaluate their performance, durability, and comfort. We also encourage regular customer feedback and reviews to continuously improve our products. Through customer feedback, sales data, and market trends we identify areas for enhancement and develop new iterations of our products. What marketing and branding strategies does Clovia employ to reach and engage its target audience? At Clovia, 75% of the user base is women in the age group of 18-35 years. Hence, the content posted on the brand page needs to be extremely relatable, relevant and engaging. Light-hearted, witty as well as educational content is helping the brand get better reach and more followers. This brand positioning helps us establish an emotional connect with the audience. The meme content and doodle gets highly appreciated, liked and shared with their network of friends, family members and colleagues. Keeping the audience engaged through memes, topical content, moment marketing. What we love about the campaign strategy is how closely we monitor the trends and how quickly we hop on to the latest trends, upcoming movies or series. Guerrilla marketing has proven extremely resourceful for Clovia. We have collaborated with famous contestants of popular reality shows as Bigg Boss and have have celebs such as Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, Archana Gautam, Priyanka Chaudhary, Sumbhul Touqueer Khan, Soundarya Sharma post pictures and reels of themselves wearing Clovia Nightwear in the Bigg Boss House and similarly in many other mainstream shows. Through our extensive social media marketing, Clovias owl print nightwear was one of the most popular and most sold products, as it was spotted on Bigg Boss celebrities on the show. Last year, Clovia launched its first-ever 360 degree campaign led by the launch of its first national TVC. The brand signed up Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor as its first ever brand ambassador. The campaign was themed around Happy is my Superpower, which was an integrated marketing campaign over digital, cinema and social media, apart from TV. Every single day, the urban Indian woman has to make difficult choices constantly juggling between societal expectations and living life on her own terms. The objective of the campaign through the film subtly challenged societal perceptions and conventions, which bind women. The TVC is a celebration of women doing what makes them happy while celebrating their unbeatable spirit. To amplify the anthem and also the campaign, Clovia partnered with influencers, which helped the brand to achieve their campaign objectives in several ways. The brand is also actively involved in content marketing, running live sessions, weekly contests and giveaways, sales and offers amplifications on important contextual days, engaging stories and cross promotion/ partnerships with other core brands. How does Clovia leverage technology and innovation to enhance the customer experience? Clovia also introduced Clovia Curve Fit Test, the first of its kind in India, a patent-pending algorithm that recommends the right size and more importantly, the right fit for each body type. Built over inputs from nearly half a million Indian women, it has been successful in recommending the right bra to women across 900+ cities in India. Users buying using this tool have significantly higher repeat purchase rates. Recently, Clovia launched Whatsapp as a service provider for customers to trigger purchase, offer and service updates on Whatsapp. The BRABOT understands customer requirements from their messages and identifies sales or service processes. The BOT engaged 200,000 customers in the first 30 days of the launch. The BOT also drives the sales process by understanding what customers are looking for and making product suggestions. What are the future plans and growth strategies for Clovia in terms of expansion into new markets or product categories? As the product-market fit has been a roaring success for Clovia and the feedback and customer response/ retention is epic, the focus now is primarily to meet demand and ensure growth on all channels of distribution. Clovia is currently expanding both in the online and offline space with equal vigor and 60%+ of its customers come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets with high repeat purchase trend. The fun for a brand is to understand the audience and nuances of each channel and ensure a genuine omni experience for customers and sellers. This is Clovias main focus for the next 5-6 quarters. In the coming years, Clovia plans to grow extensively and focusing on category growth, and product innovation. Clovia also plans to expand in General Trade aggressively this year targeting 5,000 doors overall. What role does data analytics play in shaping Clovias business decisions and strategies? Clovia is a 100% data driven brand and is an amalgamation of fashion and technology. The brand has built a proprietary technology engine known as ReX (or ReqS, that is, short for Requirement Simulator). The brand has patent-pending algorithms that help gauge the customer purchase pattern through the sales channels and track their feedback fast. It helps the brand to know which product, design, colour are being purchased more and also more importantly, which products have high satisfaction scores. This helps to provide better products and also plan the inventory accordingly, without saving any personal data. We also use smart technology and big data analytics for smart management of our inventory ensuring we have the industry best inventory holding, one of the most critical parameters for scaling an apparel business. How does Clovia ensure a seamless and efficient shopping experience for its customers across different channels (online and offline)? With online, Clovia has patent-pending algorithms that help them gauge customer purchase patterns, and track post-purchase/ usage feedback. Clovia has also launched WhatsApp as a service provider for customers to trigger purchases, offers and service updates on WhatsApp. BOT understands customer needs from their messages and identifies sales or service processes. BOT added 200,000 customers in the first 30 days of launch. Today, Clovias offerings are based on its feedback-led design approach that processes over 1 million product feedback and 140 million other customer-profile data points to iterate on its fits and design collection; and backed by its proprietary Clovia Curve Fit Test. More than 700,000 women have trusted the brand with their intimate fit data through Clovias patent pending Curve Fit Test, which helps to improve the brands sizing metrics and achieve the lowest rate of returns in the industry. In addition to that, Clovia has other user-friendly tools such as: Dress to bra match; Bra Bro - helping men decide the right gift for their better halves Period tracker, Fertility tracker which helps a user connect with Clovia on all things intimate and personal. We have a double-digit conversion rate from the users of these tools on recommended items. Coming to offline stores, Clovia has in-store representatives, who would ensure that staff is well-trained and knowledgeable about the products. Staff members would be able to provide personalised assistance, fit consultations, and answer any customer queries, creating a positive and helpful shopping experience for the customers. MBD Group, an embodiment of excellence, reliability, and expertise across various sectors including Education, EdTech, Skill Development, Capacity Building, Exports, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, Malls, Realty, Design & Construction, Residences and Commercial spaces operating in India and abroad , recently commemorated its 78th Founder's Day with indomitable spirit and zeal. This momentous occasion honoured the outstanding legacy of their visionary founder, Shri Ashok Kumar Malhotra. This event served as a heartfelt tribute to his remarkable contributions, untiring commitment and transformative ideas towards empowering people. Employees from diverse verticals were honoured for their invaluable contributions, and their unwavering dedication was acknowledged as the backbone of MBD's success. Furthermore, as a testament to their commitment to employee growth, MBD Group extends support to selected individuals by providing scholarships to fund their education. This longstanding tradition is upheld every year, reflecting MBD Group's steadfast dedication to the professional and personal development of its employees. The Ashok Kumar Malhotra Charitable Trust, the CSR division of MBD Group, also unveiled its Love to Learn initiative. Through this initiative, the Group aims to revolutionise traditional classrooms by incorporating technology which will open up a world of endless possibilities for learners. This initiative has been implemented in numerous schools located in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Approximately 25,000 students will benefit from this initiative. Expressing joy on celebrating the 78th Founders Day, Mrs. Satish Bala Malhotra Chairperson, MBD Group said, We MBDians gather each year on Founders Day to honour the enduring values and belief system established by Shri Ashok Kumar Malhotra; a profound sense of pride fills my heart with joy that we are upholding the philosophy and values instilled by our Founder. I strongly believe we should give back to society and endeavour constantly to disseminate education. Monica Malhotra Kandhari Managing Director, MBD Group said, On Founders Day, I would like to congratulate each one of you for having successfully launched the Love to Learn initiative. We aim to narrow the educational gap and provide equal opportunities for all the students, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds. Along with upgrading infrastructure we are committed to empowering teachers through capacity-building programmes thus ensuring the sustainability of the project. Sonica Malhotra Kandhari Joint Managing Director, MBD Group said, Our Founder was always committed to transform education and make a positive impact in society. By upgrading traditional classrooms into digital classrooms, we create engaging and interactive spaces for students to learn and explore. This initiative will be an ongoing effort, running year after year, with the intention of benefitting an increasing number of students pan India. MBD takes immense pride in its tie-up with the National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA) in a heartfelt mission to transform traditional classrooms into digital classrooms in budget private schools. With this tie-up, MBD is fully committed to strengthening schools nationwide because we believe that giving students the resources they need to thrive in the digital age is essential. Dr Kulbhushan Sharma President NISA said, MBD's decision to transform classrooms into smart spaces is quite admirable. During a panel discussion where Mrs. Monica Malhotra Kandhari was also present, I asked if there will ever be a CSR initiative for budget private schools. To my surprise, MBD not only took my question to heart but also took action. Classrooms are now becoming digital and students are being connected to new technologies. It's incredible to witness their genuine care and commitment. Guided by the core principles of making resources accessible to those who require them, the Group spearheads its CSR initiatives through 'MBD MY BEST DEEDS'. Furthermore, MBD Group extends its philanthropic efforts through the AKM Charitable Trust. The Trust actively supports projects aimed at empowering girls through education, establishing MBD libraries in various schools, donating books and stationery, and many more. On the 78th Founders Day, MBD Group commemorated Shri Ashok Kumar Malhotras enduring legacy and pioneering spirit, which have become a source of inspiration for generations to come. In the last 10 years, PR has taken a different dimension, especially after the entry of social media and the rapid shift to digital during the pandemic period. At the same time, the industry has been facing stiff challenges, moreover client expectations have also increased, with more emphasis being given to digital and online reputation management. The industry has undergone a radical shift and the current times have pushed the industry to change gears. In conversation with Adgully, Nidhi Sabbarwal, Co-founder & Director, PRtainment Media & Communications, speaks at length about the core values of PRtainment, how PR agencies can create positive relationships with clients and the media, latest trends and changes in the PR and media landscape, and more. How would you describe the core values and vision of PRtainment Media & Communications? We follow a creative and unique way to create public relations campaigns. We try to come up with new and innovative ideas every time to make our client stand out in this fiercely competitive realm of the media market. The core of our agency is that we believe in synergy, that is, working together and combining different strategies such as PR, social media, brand marketing, and creative consulting to make our campaigns stand, rule and leave its impact as much as possible. Further, we are committed to deliver the foremost service and remarkable results to our clients as our primary objective is to turn the clients dreams into reality by extending our service that helps them to gain visibility and achieve their goals. Overall, we are driven by our commitment to innovation, synergy, market understanding, excellence, and a client-centric approach, which sets us apart as a top PR agency in the Delhi NCR region. What sets PRtainment apart from other PR agencies in the industry? Could you share some successful PR campaigns or projects that you have worked on? PRtainment differentiates itself from other PR agencies through its visionary thinking and innovative approach towards public relations. In addition, we utilise podcasts to effectively tell captivating stories. We also make use of Instagram Live and Reels for engaging and dynamic interactions. Furthermore, cross promotions play a vital role in improving our clients visibility by partnering with others and collaborating enabling them to reach a wider audience across different platforms. Our in-depth understanding of the market allows us to consistently stay ahead of the curve, which enables us to adapt our PR strategies in order to effectively resonate with the target audience. None of these accomplishments would be possible without our team of dedicated professionals, who possess extensive knowledge in public relations, marketing, and branding. Their expertise enables us to consistently deliver exceptional results. One notable achievement was our successful Bloggers Meet and Greet campaign for Pansari Group during Diwali. This event brought together bloggers and celebrities to promote Pansari Groups healthy snacks gift hamper, resulting in increased sales and enhanced brand presence for our client. India Runway Week: We managed all the guest listings for the fashion week, and it went so well, the brand got really good media mileage. Happier & Gubb Celebrity associations: We did a gifting campaign for Happier & Gubb, which resulted in brand presence and the celebs actually got to know how good the products were. Gargee Designers Kapaas Kawach Campaign (That was even covered by Forbes): We were the first ones during the lockdown to organise a mask campaign by sending them to celebs, which gave the brand huge mileage and the brand made sales just by selling the masks, which also got covered in Forbes India. How do you approach creating and maintaining positive relationships with clients and the media? Being a founder and also a part of the working team , I always believe in building strong and friendly relationships with our clients and the media. We initiate by listening carefully to our clients needs and goals, so we can understand their vision and create strategies tailored just for them. When it comes to the media, we know how important it is to treat them with respect and professionalism. Further, the team makes an effort to connect with journalists and influencers by giving them valuable and timely information. We always meet their deadlines and offer interesting and unique story ideas. Being a reliable resource for the media, we help them with our work and give them access to our clients when it is suitable. Our main values are honesty, being responsive, and making sure our clients succeed while maintaining positive relationships with the media. In todays fast-paced digital world, what strategies do you employ to effectively engage with audiences and maintain a strong online presence? Running PR agencies over the years requires implementing various strategies to engage with the audience. Personally, I find that crafting interesting posts, fostering conversations, and incorporating interactive features make social media more engaging. Additionally, utilising visual storytelling, collaborating with influencers, live streaming events, and promptly responding to comments and messages can effectively captivate the target audience. Furthermore, analysing data helps refine strategies and create compelling content that resonates with people. They utilise different social media platforms to establish connections with their audience and foster meaningful discussions. Through active listening, prompt responses to comments and messages, and sharing valuable insights, the primary objective is to cultivate a community of engaged followers. In addition, we collaborate with influencers and experts in our industry to reach a wider audience and gain credibility among their followers. Furthermore, we regularly analyse data to understand how we are performing online, spot trends, and adjust our strategies accordingly. By staying adaptable and keeping up with the changing digital landscape, we can effectively engage our audience and maintain a strong online presence. How do you stay updated with the latest trends and changes in the PR and media landscape? In todays fast-paced digital world, PRtainment Media & Communications employs effective strategies to engage audiences and maintain a strong online presence. Our priority is creating engaging content that resonates with our target audience, such as interesting articles, captivating visuals, and interactive experiences. We establish connections with our audience by leveraging social media platforms, fostering meaningful interactions. In addition, collaborating with influencers and industry experts allows us to expand our reach and gain credibility among their followers. In addition, our team consistently examines data to assess our performance online. This analysis helps us identify emerging trends and make well-informed adjustments to our strategies. By remaining adaptable and responsive, we ensure the delivery of captivating content while maintaining a formidable presence on the Internet. What are some of the key challenges that you face in the PR industry and how you tackle them? If you run a company, youll meet with a number of challenges and that too if it is PR related. Similarly, we as a player in the PR industry, face various challenges. However, we tackle these obstacles head-on by proactively adapting to the circumstances. One specific challenge revolves around managing client expectations. To address this issue effectively, we prioritise clear and honest communication, ensuring that realistic goals are set and regularly updated on our progress. Another challenge arises from the need to keep pace with the ever-evolving media landscape. To address this, we make a continuous effort to learn and stay informed about emerging trends and technologies. Moreover, effectively managing crises requires considerable attention. However, we have robust strategies in place to swiftly and transparently respond, safeguarding our clients reputations. By proactively, adapting, and staying informed, PRtainment Media & Communications effectively tackles challenges in the PR industry and achieves positive outcomes for their clients. International students hold a bowl of samgyetang, or ginseng chicken soup, as they learn about the popular summertime delicacy at Hansung University in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap S. Korea's population set to fall to 38 mil. in 2070 By Yi Whan-woo Hwang, an ethnic Korean from China who has worked for years as a waitress at a restaurant in Korea, says her Korean co-workers always kept a distance from her. "They, Korean peers, are nice to me, but we never get close enough to hang around after work and I feel that our relationship is very businesslike," Hwang, who did not want to give her full name, said. Hwang is possibly one of the migrant workers (ethnic Koreans), who, according to Statistics Korea, Tuesday, are accepted as a colleague. Gautam Kapur, renowned supermodel /actor, producer has announced the release of his critically acclaimed and award-winning short film, "How Much Do You Want to Know?". The thought-provoking film is now available for streaming on popular platforms, providing audiences with an opportunity to engage with its compelling narrative. This remarkable film can now be accessed on multiple streaming platforms, including Hungama Play and MX Player. "How Much Do You Want to Know?" has captivated audiences and critics alike, earning accolades and recognition at prestigious film festivals worldwide. Some of the notable wins by" the film include: Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research Dubendorf, St. Gallen und Thun, 11.07.2023 - Researchers from Switzerland and China have studied the global trade in highly hazardous chemicals subject to a global treaty the Rotterdam Convention. The results are sobering: Nearly half of the total trade volume of these chemicals crosses national borders illegally, calling for strong international and national action. 54 chemicals and groups of chemicals are covered by the Rotterdam Convention due to their high potential to cause severe harm on human health and the environment. These include mercury compounds, various pesticides and five of the six types of asbestos. The Convention, also known as the PIC Convention (Prior Informed Consent), does not ban these hazardous substances. However, the parties may only trade them among themselves if the importing country has expressly consented to the import. The PIC procedure is primarily intended to protect developing countries from the uncontrolled import of highly hazardous chemicals, since these countries often lack the necessary infrastructure to safely process and dispose of them. Now, a new study initiated by Empa scientists delivers sobering results: The PIC procedure is defaulted on in nearly half of the traded volume of these chemicals. Worldwide violations For the study, published on 10 July in the journal Nature Sustainability, researchers from China and Switzerland analyzed public trade data from the United Nations Comtrade database for 46 of the 54 listed chemicals. A total of 64.5 million tons were traded globally from 2004 to 2019. Of these, 27.5 million tons were traded illegally, i.e., exported to countries that had explicitly refused to import them. Non-compliance with the Rotterdam Convention is a worldwide phenomenon, especially by many countries in Western, Central and Southern Europe, as well as South and Southeast Asia. At the same time, these regions were also the most affected by illegal imports, along with the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Latin America. "This prevalent illegal trade is highly concerning because it undermines global efforts to protect us and our environment from hazardous chemicals," says Empa researcher Zhanyun Wang, who initiated the study. According to Wang and his co-authors, the result of the study is a rather conservative estimate of the illicit trade in hazardous chemicals, as situations such as smuggling and black markets were not includes in the analysis. In addition, the US, for example, exported about four million tons of chemicals to countries that refuse to import them under the Convention. However, this is not necessarily illegal because the US has not ratified the Rotterdam Convention and is subject to different rules. Ongoing large-scale trade Wang also considers the very high overall volume of hazardous substances being traded as problematic. Of the total 64.5 million tons, the majority 55.3 million tons is ethylene dichloride, a carcinogenic and organ-damaging solvent used in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In second place, with 6.3 million tons, is the toxic reagent, disinfectant and pesticide ethylene dioxide. The other chemicals, which are predominantly pesticides, make up a relatively small portion of the total. "But we see that these highly toxic compounds are still being traded in significant quantities," Wang says. "Since the Rotterdam Convention came into force, trade has decreased only slightly. Yet for many of these substances, we've known for decades how harmful they are." Surprisingly, the authors also discovered a brisk trade in some substances that have been severely restricted or even banned for years to decades. These include, for instance, the legacy toxic pesticides aldrin, chlordane, heptachlor and dieldrin, which have been banned worldwide as the Dirty Dozen under the Stockholm Convention since 2004. Also still traded, albeit in much smaller quantities of several thousand tons, are the notoriously neurotoxic compounds tetraethyl lead and tetramethyl lead. Despite decades of global efforts to phase them out in gasoline for normal cars, they seem to be still used in certain specialty fuels. Strengthening national and international action All of the data used in the study are public so why aren't the countries addressing the defaults? There are several reasons. "For many countries, the environmental ministry is responsible for implementing the Rotterdam Convention," Wang explains. "But trade is supervised by the customs authority." In addition, there are often insufficient resources available to monitor chemical trade, especially in developing countries. The researchers recommend that international and national action needs to step up to address global trade of highly hazardous chemicals, particularly illegal trade. Among others, other problematic chemicals should be listed under the Convention, such as chrysotile asbestos. This type of asbestos is by far the most common and the only one of the six types of asbestos not yet covered by the Convention. "Switzerland has recently taken the initiative here to bring about changes, along with several other countries, but so far without success," Wang says. The Rotterdam Convention, meanwhile, has only had a Compliance Committee to monitor and address its implementation since 2020. "We are hopeful that this, together with national efforts on reducing the production and use of highly hazardous chemicals, will greatly reduce illegal trade in the future," Wang says. The Rotterdam Convention The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, also known as the PIC Convention, entered into force in 2004. This international treaty regulates the trade of 54 hazardous chemicals, as of February 2023. According to the Convention, each of these substances may only be imported into a particular country if that country has been informed about the hazards in advance and has given its consent. If a country does not grant import consent, it also agrees to stop domestic production of the chemical in question and not to import it from non-Party states. The Convention has so far been ratified by 165 countries. www.pic.int Address for enquiries Dr. Zhanyun Wang Technology and Society Phone +41 58 765 77 61 zhanyun.wang@empa.ch Publisher Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research http://www.empa.ch Bank of America will reimburse customers more than $100 million and pay $150 million in fines for double-dipping on overdraft fees, withholding reward bonuses on credit cards and opening accounts without customer consent. Combined, it is one of the highest financial penalties in years against Bank of America, which has largely spent the last 15 years trying to clean up its reputation and market itself to the public as a bank focused on financial health and not on overdraft fee income and financial trickery. BofA must refund $100 million to customers, pay $90 million in penalties to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and $60 million to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Bank of America wrongfully withheld credit card rewards, double-dipped on fees, and opened accounts without consent, said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, in a statement. These practices are illegal and undermine customer trust. Empowered by a broad mandate from the White House, Chopra and the bureau have focused heavily in the past year on the issue of " junk fees " fees charged to Americans that are often seen as unnecessary or exploitative by banks, debt collectors, airlines and concert venues. Banks such as BofA, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and others have been a target for the bureau under the Biden administration. Part of the fines and penalties come because Bank of America had a policy of charging customers $35 after the bank declined a transaction because the customer did not have enough funds in their account, the CFPB said. The agency determined that the bank double-dipped by allowing fees to be repeatedly charged for the same transaction. The fees often came when customers had routine monthly transactions, like a gym membership. If a customer had too low of a balance to cover the transaction, it would be declined and BofA would charge the customer a $35 fee. The business, who hasnt been paid, often would recharge the customers account, resulting in another $35 non-sufficient funds fee. The bank ended this practice last year, but will still have to repay customers who got charged before the policy was changed. BofA has been cutting down on its reliance on overdraft fee revenue for more than a decade, and cut how much it charges customers for an overdraft to $15 last year. Brian Moynihan, the banks CEO and chairman, told The Associated Press in 2022 that under these new policies, overdraft fee income was down 90% from 2021. The bank said that it voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all non-sufficient fund fees in the first half of last year. Bank of America also offered people cash rewards and bonus points when signing up for a card, but the CFPB said the bank illegally withheld promised credit card account bonuses. The CFPB also found that, since at least 2012, Bank of America employees illegally applied for and enrolled consumers in credit card accounts without their knowledge or authorization. It is a similar to, but smaller than, a charge that was made against Wells Fargo, which paid billions in fines after it was determined that the San Francisco bank opened millions of unauthorized bank accounts in order to meet unrealistic sales goals. In 2014 the CFPB ordered Bank of America to pay $727 million for illegal credit card practices. Last year it was ordered to pay a $10 million civil penalty over unlawful garnishments. Also in 2022, the CFPB and OCC fined Bank of America $225 million and required it to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in redress to consumers for botched disbursement of state unemployment benefits at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A search is underway for a baby girl who police say was kidnapped in Walker County. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued an Amber Alert at 9:40 p.m. They identified the child as Harlow Darby Freeman. She has brown hair, blue eyes and was last seen wearing a tie dye onesie and pink shorts. The kidnapping happened at 6:50 p.m. Monday at a residence on Crest Avenue in Parrish, according to police. Harlows mother posted on Facebook that her daughter was in her car seat in the back of an SUV when it was stolen. That vehicle is a white 2009 Lexus RX350 with tag number 3880AR8. The vehicle has damage on the rear passenger side and appears to be taped with clear tape. Authorities have released no details surrounding the circumstances of the kidnapping. Harlows aunt, Melinda Hutchison, told reporters that the baby was in the vehicle with her father when he ran inside to a friends house. He told them he was only gone for a minute or so, and thats when the SUV was stolen. The family is offering a $5,000 reward for her safe return. Anyone with information call the Parrish Police Department 205-686-9991 or 911. Alabama Democrats will be holding a series of town hall meetings across the state over the next week to discuss and answer questions about the state legislatures redrawing of congressional districts. The U.S. Supreme Court last month ruled that Alabama must create a second congressional district that is populated with a majority of minorities. The legislature will meet in a special session beginning July 17 to address the reconfiguring of Alabamas seven congressional districts to comply with the courts ruling. Related: Heres the Alabama redistricting map Supreme Court Voting Rights Act plaintiffs want adopted The Supreme Court determined that Alabamas districts redrawn following the 2020 census likely violated the Voting Rights Act. The court heard oral arguments in the case in October 2022. Redrawing the congressional maps figures to put a Republican incumbent in a majority minority district and jeopardize his reelection next year or place two incumbents in the same district. Proposed maps submitted so far would appear to most impact District 1 Congressman Jerry Carl of Mobile and District 2 Congressman Barry Moore of Enterprise. The Alabama House Democratic Caucus has announced the following town halls: Walter Moorer didnt attend the weekends events for the grand opening of the Africatown Heritage House, or those memorializing the 163rd anniversary of the arrival of the slave ship Clotilda. He said he feels far removed from the communitys celebration. Im still captured, said Moorer, 65, referring to the original founders of Africatown who arrived in the slave ship Clotilda in 1860, and whose harrowing story is memorialized in the $1.3 million museum officially opening to the public on Tuesday. I cannot celebrate with them, Moorer said. Its the odor. Its the noise. Read more: His complaints are linked, he said, to the Hosea O. Weaver & Sons asphalt plant that was fined $24,000 by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management in May for failing an air pollution test performed on it on December 15, 2022. Two environmental watchdog groups in Mobile and Birmingham, in a June 9 letter, called on ADEM to curtail operations at the asphalt plant until a joint state and federal analysis of the plants air emissions could be completed. An ADEM official, in a June 27 response, determined that further investigation was not warranted. We are again operating in full compliance with the air permit emissions requirements for our facility, said Michael Weaver, president of H.O. Weaver & Sons Inc., owners of the asphalt plant and a family-owned business specializing in heavy highway and industrial construction since 1952. We take compliance at all of our facilities and jobsites seriously and always strive to be good stewards of the environment and the community, Weaver said. Welcome Center conflict Catarina Echols of Mott MacDonald, second from left, describes conceptual design elements that might be part of a new Africatown Welcome Center during a public meeting on April 6, 2023.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com But the fine and decades of complaints about the plant are unlikely to go away. And the issues with the asphalt plant, environmental groups say, further underscores a generational struggle within Africatown a mostly Black neighborhood north of downtown Mobile with the heavy industry that surrounds it. The proximity of the Africatown community founded by the Clotilda survivors and environmental injustices were highlighted in the Netflix documentary, Descendant, release last year. Tourism and the heavy industry are now likely to intersect within Africatown, and at least one city official believes a larger conversation is warranted over how the asphalt plant will operate within a long softball toss away from the front entrance to a nearly $6 million Welcome Center. Mobile City Councilman William Carroll (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). Its something to think about, said Councilman William Carroll, who represents the Africatown community. With the Welcome Center coming, you dont want to have people coming into and out of a super nice facility having to deal with asphalt spills and dust flying everywhere. We have to come up with a plan where everyone is a good neighbor. Ramsey Sprague, president of the Mobile Environmental Justice Action Coalition (MEJAC), said the asphalt plant and surrounding heavy industry could impede the pedestrian traffic that could be coming to the Welcome Center. The facility, under development by the City of Mobile, is the next major tourism venue for Africatown, and is expected to be built before the end of 2024. Sprague said he believes trucks headed to the asphalt plant should be re-routed and not interfere with the tourism activity. I think its a no-brainer that visitors, when they come to Africatown, will be shocked at the stench from the asphalt facility, and something needs to be done about it, Sprague said. ADEM: Asphalt plant OK The Hosea O. Weaver & Sons asphalt plant in Mobile, Ala., within the Africatown neighborhood, as pictured on Friday, July 7, 2023. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). For now, the asphalt plant has the backing of ADEMs Air Division Chief Ronald Gore. Gore, in a response to the June 9 letter from MEJAC and Birmingham-based GASP, said there were no reasons to do anything beyond assessing the initial fine and downplayed concerns about asphalt plants producing hazardous emissions. He cited a 2007 report from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Control, a federal agency that released a study of air quality surrounding two asphalt plants in North Carolina. The plants, Gore noted, make the same product using the same methods as the Weaver facility in Africatown. The study, Gore noted in his letter, concluded that exposure to asphalt emissions did not find a public health hazard. In addition, he said, the U.S. EPA made a formal decision in 2002 that levels of hazardous air pollutants from asphalt plants do not warrant development of a rule specific to the facilities. Weaver, the president of H.O. Weaver & Sons, pointed Gores letter as validation that an asphalt plant does not pose a public health hazard. He also said his company participates with members of the Africatown business community, including the Africatown Community Development Corp., and the Africatown Business & Community Panel. He said he made those groups aware of the incident and ADEMs fine in an open and transparent manner to their satisfaction. Sprague said he would like to see ADEM conduct a public hearing on the asphalt plant in Africatown, where multiple interest groups and residents unaffiliated with a particular organization, could attend. He said residents feel as if they are in a hopeless situation and have relied on MEJAC and others to partner with them in lodging complaints. You have residents living with this facility longer than two decades, and theyve tried every possible means to seek remedy and have been denied at every single turn and too few people have come to their aid, he said. Moorer is one of them. I would like for them to move, I really do, he said about the asphalt plant. Or just buy us out and then you can bang and boom and kick up dust all night if you need to. President Joe Bidens pick to serve as Americas top military officer warned senators Tuesday of the difficulties posed by any potential conflict in Asia and described how he would use lessons learned from the Ukraine war to help the U.S. military prepare. But Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. may not be able to apply those lessons anytime soon, even after being well-received in a confirmation hearing to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Browns nomination is among more than 260 being stalled by Sen. Tommy Tuberville. He is blocking the confirmation of all senior military officers in protest over Defense Department policy that pays for travel when a service member has to go out of state to get an abortion or other reproductive care. A history-making fighter pilot, Brown has a deep knowledge of China and a broad understanding of space, cyber and other technologies. His confirmation would mean that, for the first time, both the Pentagons top military and civilian positions would be held by African Americans. Brown told the Senate Armed Services Committee that a potential conflict in Asia would be challenging, because of its large size. He said the military has been doing exercises and tabletop drills to practice getting needed equipment into the region quickly. You cannot wait until the crisis occurs, he said. You have to pre-position capability and have that in place. You have to work with allies and partners to have access to locations. But discussions about national security were overshadowed by the tensions over Tubervilles campaign. Democrats blasted him and Republicans said they are hoping to persuade him to lift the holds which could affect 650 service members by years end. Tuberville never mentioned the topic when he questioned Brown during the hearing. Instead, he asked about cutting costs in the Joint Chiefs office, and told Brown hed like an update, because youre gonna be the new leader. He added: Thank you for taking this on. Its gonna be a hard job and any way we can help you, were here to help. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., offered up a quick retort: What he could do to help is lift this stay. Asked later if he will lift his hold for a vote on Brown, Tuberville didnt answer directly, but said, I would imagine the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman will go on the floor and be voted on. Tuberville, who blocked a vote Monday on the next Marine commandant, said he would vote in favor of Brown. Members of the Biden administration and lawmakers have struggled to find a resolution, with little optimism. Its likely that he wont be able to get confirmed, said John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, referring to Brown on MSNBCs Morning Joe on Tuesday. Youre talking about several hundred officers now that cant move on to the next job. The Marine Corps is already dealing with the issue. Gen. David Berger stepped down Monday as commandant after a four-year term, and Gen. Eric Smith the current No. 2 in the Corps is serving as acting commandant because his nomination for the top post is stalled. Kirby said acting officials can do many of the things a confirmed leader can do, but some authorities are limited, including their ability to move money around. The ironic thing for me is, he claims that hes trying to keep the politics out of the military, said Kirby. His very action is politicizing the military because hes making it about the Pentagons policy rules for reproductive care. Asked about the issue, Brown told senators he worried that some officers forced to fill acting roles may not have the needed experience. And he said the delays are hurting families trying to sell their homes or get their kids in new schools but are now in limbo. Some of those, he said, may choose to just retire or leave. Democrats aired their frustrations in the hearing. Enough is enough, snapped Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev. And Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., warned that service members may choose to leave the military if they see their careers blocked. I would urge all of my colleagues to turn away from the path that were on where we are disrespecting and punishing people because were unhappy with policies in the military that these individuals had nothing to do with, Kaine said. Tubervilles fellow Republicans said little on the matter during the session. But in the halls of the Capitol Tuesday the issue was a prime topic. I think that the longer this drags on, the more problematic it becomes for the military to function and operate in the way that I think the American people expect them to operate. So Im hoping something can be worked out here, said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said he believes Tuberville is talking with Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, chairman of the armed services panel, about a path forward. And Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the committee, said he would talk to Tuberville and Senate leaders to seek a resolution, adding, I think the general officers should be confirmed. Wicker and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said they agree with the point Tuberville is trying to make. But Cornyn said he wants to try to find a way that would help him make his point without blocking a lot of these nominations, which has nothing to do with the controversy. He also warned that Tuberville may be setting a precedent that were not going to like in the future. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida offered support for Tuberville, saying he isnt worried about the holds. The most important ones, the ones that they say is so critical or the world will fall apart, they can just put it up for a vote on that floor right there, Rubio told reporters. Tuberville met with Brown Monday and said in a statement that they discussed their shared desire to keep politics out of the military, their effort to improve housing for sailors and airmen, and the need to improve military recruitment. If confirmed, Brown would replace Army Gen. Mark Milley, whose term as chairman ends Sept. 30. The only other Black person to serve as Joint Chiefs chairman was Army Gen. Colin Powell. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the first Black Pentagon chief, has been in the job since the beginning of the administration. A 13-foot smalltooth sawfish was caught and tagged by researchers and students off the Florida coast, marking the first time the endangered fish had been tagged in 30-40 years, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), population numbers for the smalltooth sawfish declined rapidly during the latter half of the 20th century, due largely to habitat loss from coastal development and getting accidentally caught in commercial fishing operations, thanks in part to their saw-like snouts which can easily become entangled in nets. As a result, in 2003 NOAA designated the U.S. population of the smalltooth sawfish for listing as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. By 2014, the non-U.S. population had also been designated as endangered. Sawfishes, while shaped like sharks, are actually rays. They once called the waters ranging from New York to Texas home, but now are largely limited to the areas off the Florida coast. The museum says Florida researchers caught the sawfish off the coast of Cedar Key on June 6 during a shark field course being conducted by Dean Grubbs from Florida State University and Gavin Naylor, head of the museums shark research program. This is the furthest north an individual has been tagged by the sawfish recovery team in the last 30 to 40 years, Naylor said in a release from the museum. Naylor and Grubbs were ostensibly fishing for a juvenile shark for their students to inspect. To their surprise, they found the 13-foot sawfish at the end of the line. Grubbs said he initially thought he had hooked a nurse shark, which are large bottom feeders which share many of the same habitats as sawfish. I felt something heavy on the line, and my first thought was that it was likely a nurse shark, said Grubbs. But Grubbs quickly came to the realization what he had was not a nurse shark. I was pretty sure this was a sawfish, but I remained stone-faced because I didnt want to disappoint the students if I was wrong, he said. I saw the tail before the rostrum, so I lost my calm at that point and screamed Sawfish! Its a sawfish! Grubbs and his students got in the water and held on tight to the sawfish while others returned to shore to retrieve a tracking device, which they had not anticipated needing for their shark outing. The tag will record the sawfishs movements for the next decade and will be used a part of wide-ranging partnership to monitor sawfish populations. The museum also said the sawfish caught last month had mating scars on its fins and sides. While records of sawfish mating habits are few, rays and sharks exhibit similar mating behaviors in which the male bits the fins of the female prior to mating. Smalltooth sawfish have a lengthy lifecycle, the museum said, in which females give birth to a small litter of seven to 14 juveniles, which take several years to reach reproductive maturity. Their slow development has limited the recovery of sawtooth populations, but mating scars are a positive sign that their numbers are continuing to rebound. Naylor said catching and tagging the smalltooth sawfish was both an incredible experience for the students, as well as encouraging for the future of the species. I cant think of a better way for a group of young people studying environmental and conservation biology to learn about this critically endangered and incredibly spectacular animal, he said. So much of the news about Earths climate and environment is doom and gloom, but this is a potent reminder that if you leave things alone, many species are capable of recovery. An investigation is underway after a shootout Monday afternoon outside a Hueytown gas station. Officers responded at 4:37 p.m. to a report of shots fired in the parking lot of a business in the 700 block of Brooklane Drive, said Lt. Michael Shupe. Police did not identify the business. When officers arrived, they didnt find anyone injured. All of the suspects had left before police got on the scene. After speaking with witnesses and reviewing surveillance video, Shupe said, it appears that a group of males were exiting the business and returning to their vehicle. Another male, who was parked behind the group, exited his vehicle, and began firing shots at the group. Two of the males from the group then returned fire. All of those involved got into their own vehicles and left the scene. Investigators are working to identify them. Shupe said theyve checked area hospitals, and no one has shown up with a gunshot wound from the incident. The video clearly shows that the group of males were targeted as they exited the business, he said. Could the Rocket City be the new home of the Federal Bureau of Investigations national headquarters? Thats a plan Republicans on Capitol Hill are pursuing, according to The Wall Street Journal. The paper reports that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) intends to attach a rider to strip funding for the FBI in coming appropriations bills unless it relocates to Huntsville. This comes as the bureau is eyeing a move from its Washington, D.C. building to a suburb of the nations capital, in either Maryland or Virginia. The FBI currently works out of the 50-year-old J. Edgar Hoover Building, with more than 5,000 employees, located across the street from the Justice Departments headquarters. According to the Journal, its another volley in the war going on between the FBI and Republicans who say the agency has grown too partisan in its investigations of former President Donald Trump. The FBI, in response, said there are numerous operational reasons to keep the headquarters in Washington, given its proximity to the FBI academy near Quantico, Va., and other intelligence agencies. The FBI is building whats unofficially been described as a second headquarters at Redstone Arsenal. Federal funding for ongoing construction has already exceeded $3 billion. Last month, FBI Director Christopher Wray told a Senate hearing that the FBI is on track to increase staffing from 1,800 employees now to about 3,000 employees. In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, the FBI said its Huntsville campus couldnt accommodate the minimum of 8,500 employees planned to occupy the new headquarters in Washington. The Journal reports that Jordan argues investigators would be less likely to be infected by liberal politics if the bureau was located in right-leaning Alabama. Kim Yo-jong makes a speech during a national meeting on anti-epidemic measures held in Pyongyang, Aug. 10, 2022. Yonhap The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned Tuesday U.S. spy jets will face a "very critical flight" in case of a repeated illegal intrusion into the North's exclusive economic zone, threatening to take military action. "I have already notified beforehand the counteraction of our army upon authorization. In case of repeated illegal intrusion, the U.S. forces will experience a very critical flight," Kim said in an English-language dispatch carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The warning by Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, came hours after she issued a statement late Monday alleging that a U.S. spy aircraft entered North Korea's exclusive economic zone earlier in the day. Threatening that North Korea will take "clear and resolute actions" against U.S. surveillance flights within the economic water zone of the North's side beyond the military demarcation line in sea waters, Kim had claimed a "shocking" incident could occur. Earlier Monday, a spokesperson of the North's defense ministry also accused the U.S. spy aircraft of intruding into its airspace recently, threatening that there is no guarantee such aircraft will not be shot down. In the latest statement, Kim claimed that U.S. reconnaissance aircraft intruded into the "economic water zone" to commit what she called an "aerial espionage act." She said U.S. surveillance flights encroached on the North's sovereignty. This photo shows the U.S. U-2S reconnaissance aircraft landing at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, May 30. Yonhap "The strategic reconnaissance plane of the U.S. Air Force illegally intruded into the economic water zone of the DPRK side in the East Sea of Korea eight times," she said, referring to her country by the acronym of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Alabama girl reported kidnapped from outside a Walker County home was found inside her fathers SUV deep in the kudzu across the street from where the vehicle was reported stolen. Police on Tuesday said it was likely the SUV was not stolen, nor was the child abducted. Harlow Darby Freeman, 9 months old, was found just before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday by law enforcement officers conducting their fourth search of that area. Daylight was our friend on this one, said Parrish police Chief Danny Woodard. The chief said Harlow was found still in her car seat. One of the windows had been broken out from an unrelated incident, he said, so she had some ventilation. Harlow was dehydrated, but is in good condition. She was taken to Childrens of Alabama in Birmingham to be checked out. Woodard said the investigation is ongoing, but they now believe that the SUV was likely not stolen. Its possible, he said, that the vehicle was not put into park and rolled hundreds of yards down a large embankment and into the thick kudzu. Or, he said, somebody else could have done it. Were just not sure yet, he said. He said there is no danger to the community. The SUV sought in the search for Harlow Freeman. (Contributed) Just before 7 p.m. Monday, Parrish police were called to 311 Crest Avenue, where Harlows father reported the girl was in her car seat in the back seat of his SUV when he ran into a friends house. A minute later, family said, the SUV was stolen with Harlow still inside. Woodard on Tuesday said police had multiple reports of the SUV speeding away from the area. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued an Amber Alert at 9:40 p.m. Harlows mother, Bethany Smith, posted on Facebook that her daughter was in her car seat in the back of an SUV when it was stolen. That vehicle is a white 2009 Lexus RX350 with tag number 3880AR8. The vehicle has damage on the rear passenger side and appears to be taped with clear tape. Im begging you to please bring my baby to me, Smith wrote. You can drop the baby off wherever you want, just call me or message me and let me know where she is. No questions asked, I swear. The Walker County Sheriff's Office shared this photo of a deputy with Harlow Freeman after she was found in her father's SUV. (WCSO) The family had offered a $5,000 reward, said Harlows aunt, Melinda Hutchison. Woodard said police officers, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigators and U.S. Marshals searched that area three times overnight. It was during the fourth search, with law enforcement officers on foot and the state helicopter in the air, that the SUV was spotted. The area where Harlow was found was about 100 yards from the Crest Avenue house where her father was visiting. They saw what they believed to be the bumper in the kudzu, Woodard said. They were able to get other people down in the woods looking and found it. Woodard said they will now go back and interview everybody and then consult with the Walker County District Attorneys Office to determine if any charges could be filed. Its probably too early to say that, he said. He said its been a long night. Roughly 100 officers took part in the overnight search. This is not something that happens in a small town like Parrish, Woodard said. This is a strange turn of events. Luckily, the child was found safe and were going to continue to investigate. The older brother of a 4-year-old girl shot in Fultondale last week is now in custody. Jaylen Lewis, 21, is charged with second-degree assault and unlawful possession of marijuana. He surrendered to Fultondale police and was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Monday evening. Lewis is being held without bond after the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office successfully sought to revoke his bond on a previous robbery charge. Prosecutors filed the revocation motion following last weeks shooting, and a judge granted the request. Police and fire medics were dispatched shortly after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, to Chapel Creek Apartments on a report of a child shot. Police Chief Marcel Walker said when officers arrived, the little girls mother was applying pressure to the childs leg wound. The bullet had gone in and out of the girls leg. The child was taken to Childrens of Alabama. Walker said her injuries werent life-threatening. The mother told police the girl was in a room and accidentally shot herself, Walker said. Three people were at the home when police arrived. A fourth - Lewis - had left before officers got on the scene, the chief said. Officers found marijuana in the room Lewis shared with his little sister. Police officials said the girl was shot due to the reckless actions of her brother. The only Democrat and only Black person in Alabamas Congressional delegation today criticized remarks U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville made about white nationalists. Senator Tubervilles inability to condemn white nationalists is disappointing and completely unacceptable, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, tweeted. Tuberville told Kaitlan Collins during an appearance on CNN Monday night that he defined a white nationalist as an American. Now, if that white nationalist is a racist, Im totally against anything that. Collins then defined white nationalist as someone who believes that the white race is superior to other races. Well, thats some peoples opinion, Tuberville replied. Tubervilles remark came as Collins revisited the comments made by Alabamas senior senator in May, when Tuberville was asked if he supported white nationalists in the military and he responded: They [the Biden administration] call them that. I call them Americans. Sign up for Alabamafication: Kyle Whitmires newsletter, Alabamafication examines the outsized influence of this very strange state, taking aim at corruption, cruelty, incompetence and hypocrisy while also seeking out those righteous folks making their state and country better places for all. This is an opinion column. Moving can be a pain, but for one Alabama lawmaker, moving has been far more difficult than it is for most folks. Rep. David Cole just cant seem to make it work. He has tried to move twice in the last two years, but somehow hes still living in the same house in north Alabama where he started. You see, Coles house is in State House District 4. The district Cole represents in the Alabama Legislature is House District 10. Soon, his colleagues in the Alabama Legislature must decide whether Cole belongs there, among their ranks, or if he has to move out of the State House, too. But before we get to that, lets rewind to 2021. Thats when Alabama lawmakers last redrew district lines. Before that redistricting, Coles house in Madison was in District 10 and he had ambitions to run for that office after state Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, retired. Then the Legislature moved the lines and mucked up Coles plans. Coles house sits on the western edge of Madison County, right by the county line. The new map put Coles house in District 4, which already had an incumbent lawmaker with no plans on retirement, Rep. Parker Moore, R-Decatur. Cole could have primaried Moore, but incumbents are hard to unseat. Instead, he decided to move. Just up the road. First, he rented space in a friends house about 2 miles away, also in Madison but in District 10, Only, his friend never moved out of the house. Cole testified that he planned to share the house with his friend. Only Cole also testified that he has no idea how many bedrooms were in his friends house, nor how many bathrooms. Cole has kids in his household. And the dog. How many bedrooms and bathrooms theyd have to share seems like important information. Yet, when he signed the lease to share his friends place, the agreement was for 0 bedrooms and 0 bathrooms. Perhaps, its no wonder moving was so hard when Cole and his wife had no bedrooms and no bathrooms to move into, much less a kitchen or a place to kick back and watch TV. So Cole stayed in his old house, although he claimed the 0 bedroom space as his official residence. Later, he signed a lease on an apartment, also farther east along Zierdt Road in Huntsville, not far from the Trash Pandas stadium. That time, he put some furniture in it. However, Cole didnt change the homestead exemption on his taxes, which one can claim only for a primary residence. Also he didnt put other, seemingly important things in the new place, such as his wife and kids. Or the dog. Theyre all still where he started. When most of us move, its an ordeal. You have to notify utilities and let your employers know where to send your paychecks. Its a pain, but Cole seems to have found a novel solution. He hasnt done hardly any of those things, or so he testified recently in a deposition. His mail goes to his old house. He still pays the utilities at his old house. One of my colleagues, Lee Roop, did me a favor and drove by Coles house, the one thats not in the district he represents and yep, still folks living in it. This isnt the first time Ive seen an elected official play this game. Fifteen years ago, I staked out Birmingham Mayor Larry Langfords home in Fairfield where he continued to live through his term, at least until the feds took him away on unrelated corruption charges. Langford had done something similar to what Cole is doing now. He rented an apartment in Birmingham that he never got around to moving into. But when called out on it in court, Langford said he intended to move there and considered it his real residence, not the place where he actually spent his nights. Now Cole is leaning on the same handful of legal precedents that say residency is defined by intent to move, not actually moving. However, Cole did change his drivers license and his voter registration. From his deposition, these seem to be the only things Cole did change. Now, if you or I registered to vote in a place where we didnt actually live, and then we voted in that other place, we might get into big trouble. There are laws against such things. But not only did Cole vote in a district where he didnt live, he ran for office in that place. Cole won the Republican primary even though one of his primary opponents, Anson Knowles warned the Alabama Republican Party beforehand that Cole hadnt lived in the district for a year prior, as required. But instead of kicking Cole off the ballot, the party kicked Knowles off the ballot, saying he wasnt a real Republican. Regardless, the party was warned and did nothing. Next, the general came. Cole won a tight race against Democrat Marilyn Lands and distant finisher, Libertarian Elijah Boyd. Boyd sued and contested Coles residency in court. But the Republican-controlled Legislature accepted Cole, anyway. Coles attorney argued in court that only the Legislature can determine who is and isnt a qualified lawmaker after the votes are certified. Ultimately, the Alabama Supreme Court agreed, although it let the lower courts manage depositions. Thats the deposition where Cole said he still pays a guy to clean his pool at his old house, where he keeps his stuff and where he sleeps, with his wife, his kids and his dog. I left a message on Coles voicemail. His attorney, Al Agricola, later reached out to say Cole had nothing to add to what he said in his deposition. Boyds attorney has since forwarded that deposition to the Alabama Legislature, which must now decide whether Cole can stay in office. I reached out to Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter to ask how that might work or when the House might take action. His spokesman said it was unclear yet when or if the House would take further action. But its their move. And moving can be a pain. Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for AL.com and the 2023 recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for commentary. Sign up for his weekly newsletter and get "Alabamafication" in your inbox every Wednesday. More columns by Kyle Whitmire In Alabama, queer is the new Black Kay Ivey keeps public records secret, leaves kids locked in seclusion How Alabama Democrats could blow a Supreme Court victory The moment Alabamas lawyers turned a sure thing into blistering defeat Alabama state Rep. John Rogers has been the feds target for 35 years. He isnt afraid. Lawmakers Thursday expressed concerns about the cost of litigation involving the Alabama Department of Corrections. DOC made up 31 of the 43 legal services agreements listed on Thursdays Contract Review Committee agenda. Those contracts amounted to almost $16 million, or about 88% of the total $18.2 million that were awarded to vendors by different state agencies. Bill Lunsford, an attorney with Butler Snow in Montgomery, received DOC contracts worth $14.9 million in the docket. A lot of these cases, damages and systemic appropriation cases, have overlapping fact patterns, overlapping claims, said Mandy Speirs, assistant general counsel for the Alabama Department of Corrections. If we parcel it out to different attorneys for each one, we would have duplicative efforts and cost the state more money because we are having to do the same depositions twice, the same litigation twice, because we would have different attorneys. More from Alabama Reflector The committee approved the contracts. But Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said the ongoing and increasing costs of DOC litigation concerned him. Lunsford is basically a government agency at this point, he said. Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, the chair of the committee, said in an interview after the meeting that the legal contracts are effectively continuations of existing contracts. The lead attorney changed firms, he said. We discussed multiple ways to handle some of these, and we decided to handle it by bringing them back as new contracts it made sense, so we have done that. Katherine Robertson, chief counsel for the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, which recently took over some of DOCs litigation, read back to the committee the inception years of the contracts brought before the committee. Many were from 2020 but some dated as far back as 2019 and as recently as 2021. That, however, did little to assuage the concerns of lawmakers at the meeting about the size and scope of the contracts going to a single firm. That is a lot of cases, said Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore. Is one individual able to handle all those cases and how much do all those cases total out to be? I think there was a time period in 2019, 2020, 2021, when there was a strategy perhaps to keep some of this work with the same law firm that was handling the three big cases, Robertson said. I have not seen any new requests of that nature with the same firm. So, that is perhaps something we are getting away from. Corrections has been mired in legal proceedings for the past several years over violence in the facilities and allegations of poor medical and mental health treatment. The U.S. Department of Justice sued DOC in 2020, alleging conditions in the states mens prisons constituted a violation of inmates Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Lunsford is being paid $9.9 million to defend the state in the federal lawsuit. Another 16 contracts each worth $200,000 involve lawsuits over mental health services. Lawmakers on the committee asked Speirs about bringing some of the representation within the agency instead of contracting out the services. Moving forward, is it the Departments intention, with the Attorney Generals Office, to try to handle as much of this litigation in-house to try and reduce some of these costs? asked Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Fairhope during the meeting. Speirs said there are two categories of cases that are ongoing with Corrections: damages and injunctive relief. The Attorney Generals Office, in April, pulled all the assistant attorney general designations for the six attorneys at the Department of Corrections, Speirs said. Therefore, the Department of Corrections attorneys can no longer represent the Department of Corrections, so we are no longer able to bring any of them in house, so the Attorney Generals Office had to assume those. The four ongoing injunctive cases are represented by Lunsfords firm. She added that Lunsford is an expert with respect to the type of litigation involving Corrections, and that the agency is lucky to have him. The Attorney Generals Office has prohibited us from setting this case multiple times, Speirs said of one of Lunsfords cases. Corrections has also faced staffing issues. England asked if the department had been able to hire additional officers. Our recruiting class that we are starting this fall is one of our largest that we have ever had, Speirs said. Roberts said that the labor numbers that came out just that day, with about 200,000 new jobs, is an example of the headwinds that Corrections is facing with respect to hiring. He also said he hoped the litigation would be resolved. My hope is that it ends, he said. My earnest hope is that it will end. England said that creating change to satisfy that injunctive relief will cost money, adding that it is part of a more systemic problem of the system. We are so far behind in facilities, medical care, employees, Corrections officers, England said. The more and more you see his name, it is never going to stop. A 12-year-old boy was airlifted to a hospital after he was shot in the head Monday afternoon in north Alabama, police said. The incident occurred around 2p.m. in Ider, the towns police department said Monday evening. Ider officers responded to a call of a 12-year-old child with a gunshot wound to the head, police said. Officers arrived at the scene to find the young boy wounded, The victim was transported to a hospital via MedFlight, the department said. We just ask that everyone please pray for this young boy, police said. The investigation was ongoing as of Monday evening. Police said there was no threat to the public. Three high-profile civil rights attorneys, including Ben Crump, have been added to the legal team representing the family of Jawan Dallas, who contend Mobile police are responsible for the 36-year-old unarmed Black mans death after being tased twice. The announcement that Crump, John Burris and Lee Merritt are now attorneys for the Dallas family was made Monday by Harry Daniels, who along with attorney Roderick Van Daniel are also representing the family. Daniels said the new additions form a legal dream team. It should be clear that this isnt a game to us. We dont come together like this for nothing, Daniels said in a statement issued by his law firm. Crump has represented several families of Black people who died in police custody, including Tyre Nichols, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Burris was the lawyer for Rodney Kings civil case against the city of Los Angeles and represented the family of Oscar Grant, whose death at the hands of a transit officer in Oakland in 2009 was the subject of the film Fruitvale Station. Merritt also represented Floyds family and was also a lawyer for the family of Ahmaud Arbery, the Georgia man who was murdered by white men while jogging. An unnamed eyewitness claimed Dallas was 100 yards from the scene of a reported burglary earlier this month, was startled by police and was tased the moment he exited his vehicle. Daniels also claimed the witness said Dallas fell to the ground after the first tasing, grabbed his chest and complained of chest pains, but officers tased him again until he stopped moving, according to a statement released by the law firm. Jawan Dallas wasnt even near the scene but these officers decided that he was a suspect and tazed him until he died, Daniels said. This isnt speculation. This is an eye-witness statement and if the Mobile Police Department wants to dispute they need to release the body cam video. Jawan Dallas wasnt a threat and shouldnt have even been a suspect. But they killed him anyway. Mobile police disputed the attorneys claims. Chief Paul Prine said Friday that patrol officers then went out on a call of burglary in progress. The 911 caller said his home was located at lot 33. Later in the call, the caller said the man started walking down the road toward lot 27. The officers immediately went to lot 27, police said. Between lots 27 and 28, they met two individuals. One was Dallas, who was seated in a car, according to police. One of the individuals complied with the officers and gave the officers his identification card, Prine said on Friday. The second individual was identified as Jawan Dallas, who was sitting in the drivers seat of a vehicle. The officers inquired several times for Mr. Dallass identification card. He continued to evade the question, did not give the identification card to the officers. Officers were concerned for their safety, police said, due to Dallass strange movement in the car. He was moving to the backseat with his hands, he was reaching under the vehicle, and these are cause for concern for safety matters of the officers, Prine said. Prine said Dallas was later found to have drugs crystal methamphetamine and analog marijuana, also known as spice. Were not here to disparage Mr. Dallas, but I do think its important to know. It may give some indication as to why he certainly attempted to flee and fight, Prine said. But he is a convicted felon. And I think its important to note, at the time, Mr. Dallas had two active probation revocation warrants for his arrest. Also on Monday, Bishop William Barber of the Poor Peoples Campaign and a former minister at Greenleaf Christian Church in North Carolina, voiced his support for the Dallas family. Whether its manufacturing a narrative that tried to blame Jawan Dallas for his own death or waiting until July 4th to release it when no one was watching, the Mobile Police Department has done everything in its power to hide the simple truth that their officers tased an innocent bystander to death, Barber said in a statement. But I believe in the truth and Im proud to join the Dallas family, their attorneys and the people of Mobile, Alabama, as they fight to bring that truth into the sunlight. The idea that white nationalists believe white people are superior to other races is some peoples opinion and not a universal truth, Sen. Tommy Tuberville told Kaitlan Collins during an appearance on CNN Monday night. Tubervilles remark came as Collins revisited the comments made by Alabamas senior senator in May, when Tuberville was asked if he supported white nationalists in the military and he responded: They [the Biden administration] call them that. I call them Americans. But just to be clear, you agree that white nationalists should not be serving in the U.S. military. Is that what youre saying? asked Collins, who anchors The Source on CNN. Asked on CNN about his downplaying of white nationalism, Tommy Tuberville claims "I had opportunity to be around more minorities than anybody up here on this hill." Kaitlan Collins responds by raising her eyebrow. pic.twitter.com/tGuI7EEQzG Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 11, 2023 If people think that a white nationalist is a racist, I agree with that, Tuberville responded. Collins then defined white nationalist as someone who believes that the white race is superior to other races. Well, thats some peoples opinion, Tuberville replied. Thats not an opinion, Collins interjected. Whats your opinion? Soooooo do you want to tell him, or should we? https://t.co/cNY3v8BySl pic.twitter.com/MK6TCR7jex NAACP (@NAACP) July 11, 2023 Tuberville then doubled down on his initial remarks from May. My opinion of a white nationalist ... is an American. Now, if that white nationalist is a racist, Im totally against anything that they want to do because I am 110 percent against racism, the senator said. But I want somebody thats in our military thats strong, that believes in this country, he continued. Thats an American that will fight along anybody -- whether its a man or woman, Black or white, it doesnt make any difference. And so Im totally against identity politics I think its ruining this country... When challenged by Collins about the definition of white nationalists, Tuberville warned, If youre going to do away with most white people in this country out of the military weve got huge problems. Department of State Press Secretary Matthew Miller is seen speaking during a daily press briefing at the department in Washington on July 10 in this captured image. Yonhap A U.S. state department spokesperson called on North Korea to refrain from escalatory actions on Monday, hours after North Korea accused the United States of violating North Korean airspace within their exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, also reiterated that the U.S. remains open to dialogue with Pyongyang. "I would just say that we would urge the DPRK to refrain from escalatory actions, and again, calling it to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy," he told a press briefing when asked about the North's accusation, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "We remain committed to diplomacy and reiterate our interest in dialogue with Pyongyang without preconditions. We've made that clear on a number of occasions and, unfortunately, they have refused to engage in a meaning way," he added. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, earlier claimed that a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft intruded into airspace within the North's EEZ on Monday (Korea time). "We will not take a direct counteraction against the U.S. forces' acts of espionage outside the economic water zone of the DPRK side," she said, according to a report by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. "But I repeatedly warn upon authorization that we will react with clear and resolute actions when they intrude into the economic water zone of the DPRK side beyond the military demarcation line in sea waters again," she added. A defense department spokesperson dismissed the North's accusation as "just accusation." "The United States, as always, remains committed to safely and responsibly flying, sailing, operating anywhere that international law allows and alongside our allies and partners," deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh was quoted as saying when asked about Kim Yo-jong's remarks. "Again, we always operate responsibly and safely and in accordance with international law, so those accusations are just accusations," she reiterated when asked if a U.S. aircraft had in fact entered North Korean airspace. Miller stressed that China could play a role in reining in North Korea's escalatory behavior. "I will say this is an issue that came up in our conversations in Beijing when the secretary traveled to Beijing, meet with Chinese government officials," he said of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent trip to China when asked about China's role in dealing with North Korea. "And we continue to believe that China can play a role if it chooses to in helping convince the DPRK to take de-escalatory actions, and we will continue to urge them to do so," added Miller. (Yonhap) Technical topics, of any sort at all, are generally subject to serious distortion when they hit the level of public discussion. There are many reasons for this ideology, click-lust, and the sheer inability of the average journo school grad to adequately wrap his head around whatever concept is under consideration. Theres no end of examples: Just think of the garbage written about global warming or COVID. The latest of these topics is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Commentary on AI has exploded across the media sphere since the release of ChatGPT, an AI app purportedly capable of learning how to produce prose in any style at request. The consensus, to quote a style not yet mastered by ChatGPT, is almost uniformly a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. The media uproar has been characterized by two approaches -- the first (and most common) is complete lack of understanding of the technology. The second is an impression of the topic derived from movies, largely HAL 9000 and Skynet (an older generation would add Colossus). These AI entities are uniformly insane, malevolent, or both (though not to the level of the one envisioned in Harlan Ellisons I Have no Mouth, and I Must Scream which is so overcome by existential loathing that it destroys all humanity except for five individuals, whom it then sets out to torture for all eternity). For some reason, nobody ever suggests the AI Samantha in the superb film Her, who is cheerful, helpful, and even loving. That says more about human nature than it does Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence was introduced by Alan Turing in his 1950 paper Computing Machinery and Intelligence. Turing had first proposed computers in the 1930s and then played a role in building the earliest working models for the British codebreakers at Bletchley Park. In this paper he suggested something that came to be called the Turing Test, intended to answer the question as to whether an AI should be treated as a self-aware entity as another person. Turings argument is that if you converse with an AI ask it questions and receive answers and cannot decide whether you are interacting with a human person or a machine, you must consider it to be an intelligent, self-aware entity. (The Turing Test has been philosophically challenged since them, while at the same time being subject to cheating by some AI researchers, who have pulled tricks such as personifying the AI as a twelve-year-old or a foreigner who speaks English as a second language.) Turings speculations fell on fertile ground. While the original Bletchley Park bombes (so-called due to the ticking noise they made while calculating) had been shut down after the war, more advanced computers such as UNIVAC were being designed and built during the early 50s. They were greeted with wild speculation along with musing on what it all meant for the fate of humanity. Conclusions were largely unanimous: thinking machines would soon outdo mere humans, who would then be either destroyed or shoved aside to go quietly extinct. Eighty years on, little has changed. The debate continues on the same shallow, uninformed level while we eagerly await for AM or HAL to appear and start torturing or murdering us. So what is the problem here? First and above all, when we speak of AI in the 21st century, were discussing two distinct and separate types as if they were one and the same thing. These are what I call App AI, which includes ChatGPT and the numerous AI art apps making the rounds, and General Intelligence AI, the movie-style HALs and Skynets capable of taking over everything and doing what they damn well please. Up until now, all that weve seen are App AIs. These are software, generally operating on neural nets, devoted to one particular task text creation or artwork that feature algorithms capable of modifying the responses of the program as it learns more about the task. AI learning is accomplished through supervised learning, in which mere humans set the parameters and goals, oversee the process, and examine and judge the results. Until now this human interaction has proven strictly necessary -- unsupervised learning, when it has been attempted, usually goes off the rails pretty quickly. The App AIs single task comprises their entire universe and they cant simply take what theyve learned and apply it to other fields. As Erik J. Larson puts it in The Myth of Artificial Intelligence (which should be read by anybody with an interest in the topic), chess-playing systems dont play the more complex game of Go. Go systems dont even play chess. So no such AI is ever going to quit sampling internet imagery and try to take over the Pentagon. (This also applies to the guy who claimed, a couple weeks back, that ChatGPT is already running the financial system.) Theres been a lot of speculation recently as to whether these systems will supplant humans working in particular fields. The answer is no -- not yet, and probably not ever. A few weeks ago, Monica Showalter, esteemed by all AT readers, ran a Turing Test of sorts on ChatGPT. She entered the prompt Write a piece on the future of the airline industry in the style of Thomas Lifson. What she got was a bland, gassy, ill-written piece filled with cliches, non-sequiturs, and outright errors, none of which, I can state with authority, has ever been characteristic of Thomass writing. Itll be a long time before ChatGPT takes the reins here at AT. But couldnt an App AI conceivably learn enough, experience enough, and develop enough to stretch its electronic tentacles into fields that it was never intended for? That brings us to General Intelligence AI, the realm of HAL and Samantha, the Holy Grail of AI research, and what Stephan Hawking and Elon Musk have both warned us against. Turing had originally dismissed notions of machine intelligence due to the fact that machines lacked intuition the human facility that enables us to skip step-by-step procedures and go immediately to the heart of a problem. There exists no way to quantify intuition along with other related human capabilities such as imagination. Though Turing ignored this factor in his 1950 paper, it remains true today. There is no means of breaking down intuition, imagination, or simple common sense to make them programmable. One of the shocking developments in AI research late in the last century was the revelation that machines cant deal with the everyday. A program could play chess, model the interior of an M-class star, or plot a rocket trajectory with ease, but ask it to pilot a robot down a hall and it will immediately run into a wall and suffer a complete breakdown. This is something that Elon himself has encountered with his self-driving cars. The statistical techniques that AI programs utilize rifling through thousands, millions, or conceivably billions of possible solutions before they select the most probable simply cannot replace the human attributes we all take for granted. We dont actually know what intuition or common sense are, which means that we dont know what thinking is. And if thats the case, how can we hope to duplicate it? It took something on the order of three-and-a-half million years for intelligence to develop in human beings. Nobody, however adept, will replicate that in a handful of years. We are likely to find that conscious intelligence is an emergent property arising from elements we can now scarcely conceptualize, much less understand. And if we cant understand it, its unlikely that we will be able to transfer it to silicon chips. So Skynet is not going to be stomping on our skulls just yet. Which doesnt mean that people will stop working on General Intelligence AI. Thats no bad thing such research will teach us a lot about ourselves, possibly including things wed rather not know. And if by some wild chance such an effort was successful, wed still have little reason to worry. As Elon has pointed out, such an entity would be isolated in a research facility and dependent on extraordinarily complex and sensitive hardware. Any change in the system, such as a malfunction or brownout, would be likely to shut the whole thing down. (Which raises other questions: are we morally justified in creating an intelligent entity that will inevitably succumb to malfunctions? I would say no.) As for App AI, it is simply a new kind of tool, and Sapiens does well with tools. It will continue to improve, providing us with more capabilities and potential. At the moment, App AI is at about at the same level as home computing was in the early 80s, when it was limited to trivia such as primitive games. The prospects are enormous. But ChatGPT will not take over and force everyone to read its stuff eighteen hours a day. Nor will AIs put everybody out of work, something that has been predicted since Kurt Vonnegut published Player Piano in 1952. Since the 1970s, it has been clear that infotech actually creates jobs by expanding existing industries and establishing new ones. We have no reason to think that AI will be any different. AI will also provide us with a new armory of digital defenses against the current efforts by the WEF, the tech giants, and the elites to force technofeudalism on us. And that, playmates, will be something worth having. Image: Geralt, Pixabay In November 2022, four eminent scientists issued a theoretical physics paper, Nitrous Oxide and Climate. It proves that the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)s war on nitrous oxide to achieve Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2050 threatens to cause a significant collapse in the worlds food supply. The articles four authors are eminent men in their field, so their analysis and opinion deserve to be taken very seriously: (1) C.A. de Lange, a physicist at Vrije Universiteit, in Amsterdam; (2) J.D. Ferguson, an M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, with a specialty in developing computer models of the effect of nitrogen fertilizers on dairy farming; (3) William Happer, emeritus professor of physics at Princeton; and (4) W.A. van Wijngaarden, a professor of physics at York University in Canada. All four are staunch critics of the IPCC war to expand the hysterical climate attack on carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to include demonizing nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and methane (CH 4 ), which are classed as minor greenhouse gases. The report concludes with a compelling truth: It is not possible to maintain highly productive agriculture without nitrogen fertilizer. Its a genuinely frightening thought that the neo-Marxists at the heart of todays climate hysteria have chosen to attack N 2 O because millions will die if governments ban nitrogen fertilizers. The neo-Marxist ideologues are willing to manipulate existential climate fear in their insane willingness to kill millions if thats what is required to negate capitalism. Famine from the Palazzo Abatellis. Photo Jose Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro / CC BY-SA 4.0. The scientists core argument completely negates the IPCCs hysteria. The data establish that the minimal impact of N 2 O and CH4 on Earths temperature does not risk a collapse in the global food chain. They write: Since the biosphere is the main source of the minor greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide and methane, agriculture has been targeted with various regulations that will supposedly save the planet from climate change. The planet is not in danger from greenhouse gases. But some of the regulations to address this non-problem are of great concern since they will drastically cut food supplies for the world. This argument understands the definition of radiative forcing, the scientific phenomenon that quantifies mathematically what in common parlance is loosely known as the greenhouse gas effect. Radiative forcing is the difference in the net upward thermal radiation flux from the Earth through a transparent atmosphere and radiation through an otherwise identical atmosphere with greenhouse gases. The point is that greenhouse gases prevent all the heat from the solar irradiance the Earth absorbs during the day from escaping to outer space at night. Without greenhouse gases, the Earth would most likely not be habitable for human life. Radiative forcing is measured scientifically in W m-2, i.e., in watts per square meter irradiance. N 2 O is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO 2 because N 2 O absorbs more escaping irradiance, but N 2 O is much less plentiful than CO 2 in the atmosphere. N 2 Os contribution to radiative forcing is about 1/13 that of CO2. A significant conclusion of the paper is that the observed rates of increase of N 2 O pose no threat whatsoever to climate. The authors base this conclusion on the well-established principles of radiation transfer, which shows that for current growth rates, the contribution of N 2 O to warming is only about 6% that of all greenhouse gases. Thus, they estimate that the absolute warming rate from N 2 O is about 0.064 C [Celsius] per century. This means that imposing rigorous regulations to eliminate nitrogen fertilizers from agriculture would be reckless, given the minuscule contribution of N 2 O at current emission rates to global warming. They stress: Proposals to place harsh restrictions on nitrous oxide emissions because of warming fears are not justified by these facts. Restrictions could cause serious harm; for example, by jeopardizing world food supplies. The scientists helpfully explain that nitrogen fertilizers are the single most important factor that has led to the huge increases in agricultural productivity since the year 1950 [that] have eliminated the deadly famines that plagued mankind throughout recorded history. Eliminating nitrogen fertilizers would force a return to low output agriculture that would not achieve the food supply needed to support 8.5 to 10 billion people. Environmentalist Bjrn Lomborg has caught on to the Malthusian nature of the global warming/climate change movements attack on N 2 O. On April 19, 2023, Lomborg posted the following on Twitter: Organic agriculture everywhere can today, optimistically, support 4.7 billion people. Industrial agriculture everywhere can today, optimistically support 12 billion. The global population is 8 billion. You do the math. In his 2020 book False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet, Lomborg discussed how we have been here before, some twenty years ago, when the craze for biofuels swept rich countries. He wrote: The European Union led the way, stipulating member states in 2003 pass legislation aimed at replacing 5.75 of all transport fossil fuels with biofuels by 2010. Developing nations, even those in the grip of famine, were pushed to grow crops for ethanol instead of for food. Lomborg noted that the massive biofuel growth inevitably contributed to a reduction in food and an increase in food prices. A confidential World Bank report published by the Guardian found that biofuels had forced global food prices up by 75 percent, pushing a hundred million people into poverty and thirty million into hunger. In Nitrous Oxide and Climate, de Lange, Ferguson, Happer, and Wijngaarden agree that the war on N 2 O emissions is ideological, showing a willingness to sacrifice millions of lives on a hoax popular science delusion. In conclusion, the four authors write: Since few citizens realize that the effects of total N 2 O emissions on climate are negligible, many governments are under pressure to do something about agricultural contributions of N 2 O. Ideologically driven government mandates on agriculture have usually led to disaster. The world has just witnessed the collapse of the once bountiful agricultural sector of Sri Lanka as a result of government restrictions on mineral fertilizer. And lest you have any doubts about how far Marxists will go, the four authors note that todays war on N 2 O is not the first time Marxists have collapsed the food supply to enforce their totalitarian ideology: An earlier example is the collectivization of agriculture in the Soviet Union, when the kulak (the derogatory Bolshevik word fist for a successful farmer) was eliminated as a class. In consequence, millions died of starvation. Folk members of the Golodomor (hunger-murder) played no small part in unleashing the present war in Ukraine. In this age dominated by censorship and disinformation, the only narrative permitted conforms with the neo-Marxist dictum that capitalism is evil and must be destroyed, even if that means wiping out the N 2 O used to feed a hungry world. Since 2004, Jerome R. Corsi has published over 30 books on economics, history, and politics, including two #1 New York Times bestsellers. In 1972, he received his Ph.D. from the Department of Government at Harvard University. His book, Volume I, in his Great Awakening Trilogy, The Truth About Energy, Global Warming, and Climate Change: Exposing Climate Lies in an Age of Disinformation, received highly positive reviews from prominent climate scientists. Volume II, The Truth About Neo-Marxism, Cultural Maoism, and Anarchy: Exposing Woke Insanity in an Age of Disinformation, is scheduled for publication on November 14, 2023. Dr. Corsi has resumed podcasting on his new website TheTruthCentral.com, which is now on the Internet in its first development phase. Can one state implement a law enacted by another? Can it enforce regulations set by bureaucrats in another? If it does, isnt the state ignoring the will of its people? And isnt that unconstitutional? The commonsense answers are evident. But the practice of outsourcing is widespread in emissions regulation. Besides Washington D.C., as many as 14 states the CARB states, so called after the California Air Resources Board apply the bluebook, Californias stringent air pollution control laws. In most of them, lawmakers have neither legislated on the matter nor consulted citizens. This anomaly is being challenged as unconstitutional by Peters Brothers Inc., a trucking firm based in Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania. The family business owns a fleet of refrigerated trucks. Recent changes in California emission standards have imposed unexpected heavy expenses that were never deliberated by Pennsylvanias legislators and citizens. The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA), another trucking company, and two truck dealers are also petitioners in the case. The case has been taken up by the pro bono Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), which takes a special interest in separation-of-powers cases. In Peters Brothers Inc, et al. v. Pennsylvania Dept of Environmental Protection, et al, filed last month in the Commonwealth Court, Harrisburg, the PLF argues that only the Pennsylvania General Assembly can make laws for the state: the legislature speaks for, and is accountable to, the people it represents. The lawsuits direct challenge is to 25 Pa. Code 126.501, which incorporates in Pennsylvania standards set by bureaucrats in California. But it digs deeper. The Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board, which adopted regulations from California, claims it has rule-making authority under the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act (PAPCA). The lawsuit asserts that this is invalid. It argues that if indeed the General Assembly, in framing PAPCA, gave the board, a state agency, the power to adopt California regulations, the Assembly has violated the non-delegation doctrine: a legislature cannot, after all, give away its law-making power. Besides, PAPCA requires that the General Assembly consult with Pennsylvanias Secretary of Transportation before instituting new regulations or changing existing ones. This procedure was not followed in adopting the California code. And California, in framing its code, or while changing it from time to time, quite obviously did not consult Pennsylvanias Secretary of Transportation. California did not invite opinion from the people of Pennsylvania either, as it did from its own residents. The lawsuit argues that accountability to Pennsylvanians was thus summarily abdicated. How did this come to pass? As a bellwether, California has set many national trends, especially with progressive ideas like laws on sexual harassment, paid family leave, and disability discrimination. Other states have followed suit. California, therefore, has disproportionate influence across the country on many matters. But when states, driven by political motives, impose regulations borrowed from California, the rights of their residents are compromised. Californias emission standards are among the most stringent in the country. Besides D.C., the states that have adopted its standards are Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington. It was in 2002 that the Pennsylvania Environment Quality Board adopted Californias emission standards for diesel-fueled trucks in perpetuity. Whatever changes California made, however increasingly severe, to suit an extreme environmentalist agenda, Pennsylvanians would have to obey without question. Indeed, many changes went unchallenged: limits were set on heavy-duty engines in 2005, and on idling in 2008. On January 1 this year, CARB published its latest regulations requiring diesel-fueled trucks seeking registration to have engines produced in 2010 or later. Then, in April, Californias regulators proposed new requirements for medium and heavy-duty vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emissions by 2036. The relentless tightening is aimed at ending the use of diesel-fueled trucks, replacing them with electric vehicles (EVs). This is counterproductive from an environment perspective: building EV parts requires massive amounts of fossil fuels. Moreover, electricity for recharging is generated by burning natural gas. Non-recyclable EV batteries will eventually pollute the soil. But the irony is lost on eco-warriors. Upgrading to abide by the new emission and extended-warranty standards will prove costly for small operators. For instance, Peters Brothers, with a fleet of about 200 trucks, replaces 13 vehicles every year. Therefore, says the PLF, it must pay a huge chunk of extra money for warranties it neither wants nor needs. Higher purchase costs will handicap small operators against truckers from non-CARB states, who can sell a broader range of products cheaper. Truck dealers in Pennsylvania, like Transteck (a petitioner), are already seeing customers flee to non-CARB states. Competitors in non-CARB states are actively wooing Pennsylvania truckers. This is a situation these firms dont want to be in, says Caleb J. Kruckenberg, one of the attorneys handling the case for the PLF. This is going to involve a lot of money potentially. Pennsylvania has postponed implementation of the new standards to 2027, though California begins in 2024. Even so, the PLF deems it fit to challenge the implementation now because Pennsylvania is chained to whatever California decides. Left unchecked, the PLF says, such rolling incorporation will creep into more states. If any state wants to impose California standards on its citizens, its General Assembly must follow due process and legislate. The PLF seeks to protect the right of Pennsylvania businesses to lawfully sell, operate, and upgrade their fleets according to state statutes, not enforce regulations without statutory authority in Pennsylvania a violation of separation of powers. The principle of states rights empowers elected representatives of the General Assembly to establish policy because they represent the collective interests of citizens. Even when state regulatory bodies are allowed to set rules, there are mandated procedures of soliciting input and comments, including analyses of the impact on local society and economy. This wasnt done. A state regulatory body, such as an environment board, cannot have a carte blanche to write regulations without scrutiny from the Pennsylvania electorate, directly or through elected representatives. Doing so, says the PLF, is unconstitutional. There is, in fact, a precedent case: the Pennsylvania Supreme Courts 2017 Mary Ann Protz v. WCAB decision, a landmark ruling on the non-delegation doctrine. The court had ruled that the non-delegation doctrine was violated when the General Assembly let the methodology and standards set by the American Medical Association (AMA) be used to evaluate an injured workers impairment for determination of compensation. Protz, a school district employee, had injured her knee on the job and suffered post-surgery complications. A physician had evaluated her using AMA guidelines and determined that her injury was below the 50% threshold, so her compensation was reduced accordingly. She filed a lawsuit in 2011, and her attorney successfully argued that the General Assembly had illegally delegated power when it allowed AMAs assessment procedures to be used. The medical body was not subject to the customary requirements to hold hearings, entertain public comments, and explain its methodology in a way that was subject to judicial review. The court ruled this was an abdication of power by the General Assembly: appropriate legislative control was absent, so the decision did not meet the legal requirements of citizen representation. In the Peters Brothers lawsuit too, the PLF says (page 20), Pennsylvanias regulatory outsourcing violates the non-delegation doctrine enshrined in Article II 1 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania cannot give away governing power to unelected bureaucrats in California, says Luke Wake, a PLF attorney handling the case. Pennsylvanians should only be governed by their own representatives in the state legislature. No one in Pennsylvania ever consented to be ruled by the California Air Resources Board. That applies to people in other law-outsourcing states, too. This pernicious, undemocratic practice must be halted. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License I just read a charming piece at Quillette about the sacred calling of Russia, featuring Ivan the Terrible, who ended 200 years of the lamentation of Russian women under the Mongol horde. The idea is that after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Moscow was the last true seat of Christian orthodoxy. And there would be no other Therefore, the true salvation of humanity lay with holy Russia. And this idea, of Russia as a providential land chosen to save humanity, is at the very heart of both the Russian Empire, and, later, [Russian] communism. Its deeply connected to the sacralization of power because it presents the Czar as the direct manifestation of God on earth -- as Ivan the Terrible saw himself. For, the fact is, it took a monster like Ivan the Terrible to send the Mongols back to Mongolia where they belonged. You will recall that, back in 2021, Vladimir Putin added his bit to the conversation and published a profound article "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians" showing unquestionably how Ukraine was part of the Ancient Rus and belonged in Russia, and how a whole bestiary of monsters had tried over the centuries to break up this sacred union. I had no idea that Our Vlad was such an intellectual; he must have inherited Stalin's library of 20,000 books. I like all this Narrative generation. It's very human, it's Who We Are. It reminds me of the words of the son of a glover from a provincial town in England: "All the world's a stage / And all the men and women merely players," he wrote. Each of us acts out our own "lived experience." For instance, the year 1619 evokes the lived experience of Nikole Hannah-Jones, symbolizing the First Slave Ship to arrive in America. But for me, the year 1584 is more evocative, because that's the year that the first shipload of White Trash arrived off our shores. You see, back then, in England, the Big Issue pondered by superior minds was not Climate Change and the perfidy of Climate Deniers, or even Systemic Racism. Not at all. They were consumed by the planetary disaster of Surplus Population, 200 years before Malthus. And so, the best and the brightest decided, the answer was to ship the surplus population off to the Americas. The real founding of the United States was thus the first ragged scrapings of White Trash dumped on our shores. But I have another Narrative, about the cruelest, most conceited, most hegemonic, most lethal ruling class in history, starting with the death of Louis XIV in 1715. I am talking about the educated class that presently rules humans all over the world. Under the rule of the educated class, we have suffered gigantic world wars, the growth of government and taxes to unprecedented levels, and the most savage repressions, deliberate famines, Reigns of Terror, Great Purges, and Cultural Revolutions in history. And for what? But at the same time that the educated class greedily pursued political power, the ordinary middle class was creating an era of unprecedented prosperity, beginning in northwest Europe, despite being hindered all along by the endless wars and pogroms and famines and regulations imposed upon the world by the administrative minds of the educated class. For it was ordinary middle-class guys that created the textile revolution that brought cheap clothing to the masses, that invented steam transportation that allowed the lower class to travel around needlessly, that figured out how to make steel in industrial quantities, that substituted oil lamps for candles, and electric light for oil. It was ordinary guys that flew the first airplane, and invented the assembly line. And it was the adopted son of a Coast Guard mechanic that brought us smartphones for all. The only question is, therefore, when and how the ordinary middle class will end the rule of the educated class that has done so much to ruin the world. One narrative is that, after 200 hundred years of ruling class world wars and pogroms and famines, there will come a day when Trump the Terrible will descend an escalator in New York City, and send the rulers of the educated class scooting back to the college campi where they belong. But that, experts agree, is a fantasy. Is that all there is? A man on a white horse -- er, beige escalator? Over at American Greatness they are puzzling all this out in "Is Republican Populism a Person or a Movement?" especially as the GOP establishment still doesn't have a clue. To all those trying to divine the future, I propose the age-old maxim: "Cometh the hour, cometh the man." Because really, it doesn't take too much divination to figure that with populist nationalism breaking out all over, from Poland to Hungary to Brexit to Sweden (!), from Dutch farmers to Canadian truckers to American MAGAs, something is up, and it ain't Pride Month. Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class. Image: Public Domain A former law intern to Biden DOJ head Merrick Garland wrote an article in the major press trying to convince readers that the Supreme Court's recent ruling on affirmative action will effectively start a new race war. The University of Chicago Law professor, a member of a higher education institution surrounded at all levels by former Obama administration interests, tries to argue technically that the Court's action seeks to achieve an impossible standard of color blindness. But the real problem is that affirmative action was not sufficiently narrow, or focused, to actually achieve its stated purpose, and became excessively broad in its interpretation and usage. Indeed, the professor shoots herself in the foot and ratifies the Court's decision by her own admission: "Race gaps characterize nearly every dimension of U.S. life." No, they do not, and the Court ruled correctly. I admit a certain bias as a graduate of the University of Chicago: as conservative scholar and Chicago Ph.D. Thomas Sowell described, it wasn't until he left Harvard and came to UChicago to study with economist Milton Friedman that he learned how to think pragmatically in comparison. This involves looking soberly at data and implications, rather than, as Sowell described about Harvard, using your personal beliefs as facts. So it was with some disappointment that the Chicago Law professor, writing recently in the New York Times, engaged in another highly partisan interpretation of legal principles. The tenured law professor in question, Ms. Sonja B. Starr, asserts that this is only the beginning of many more challenges that will upset what she thinks is justice. Starr frames affirmative action as merely equal treatment, but that is precisely what the Court's ruling tries to advance. Starr is among nearly all law school professors who like equal treatment but who likes unequal treatment much better if there is a political cause to join and it is linked to federal largess. (Starr never brings up alternative legal doctrine such as the right to association so that readers have some perspective to weigh her argument and the issue, nor does she help readers with related concepts of scrutiny, means-ends, and overbreadth doctrine, which the Court was arguably concerned about, given affirmative action's increasingly unlimited reach.) Most fundamentally, Starr misunderstands the difference between anti-discrimination and affirmative action. The former is law, the latter policy. One is a rule that affirmatively protects all categories (such as disability, age, or religious affiliation); the other is an activist program to promote one category above all others race and then use it, as she does deceptively in her essay, as a proxy for any other disadvantage, or even interest. As UChicago's first black Ph.D. and Hoover Institute Fellow Thomas Sowell has shown statistically, affirmative action has set blacks back in terms of nearly all social and economic categories. Unfortunately, Starr and her like-minded ideologues will continue to use the law, and legislation, as a tool to misrepresent means-ends if it otherwise serves their beliefs. Even in technical legalism, such as the concept of "strict scrutiny," which she blames the Court for employing in its decision, and thereby prejudicing future rulings, she doesn't bother to actually help readers understand what this term means and why it is important. The left law academy doesn't generally like strict scrutiny, narrow interpretations or tailoring or any rules viewed pragmatically and directed to narrowly defined, intended goals. As Starr asserts, this would "represent a potential revolution that would severely constrain efforts to reduce racial disparities or promote integration." Now it's easier to understand how the Court came to its decision. Affirmative action as a political program cannot survive narrow interpretation or tailoring, because it requires the widest of applications in order to flourish under the activist model of progressivism and thereby point to an enormous breadth of largely unrelated legal cases as "precedent." In the progressive left's legal mind, discrimination is present in everything, and everything is potentially racial. Starr leaves little out of her imagination: "life expectancy, maternal mortality, employment rates, income, wealth, environmental exposures, environmental regulations, health policy and criminal justice reform." As Chief Justice Roberts has explained before, there must be a narrow tailoring to justify government interest: the Court found affirmative action not only discriminatory, but wildly abused. The Court's judgment isn't as corrective as it could be, but it approximates a direction toward merit and self-improvement. That of course is kryptonite for the racial opportunists of the political left, and the law professors of the University of Chicago, who demonstrate again that radical-left ideology cannot actually explain itself, or sustain a rational legal argument that itself passes law's procedural or doctrinal tests. Matthew G. Andersson is a former CEO and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Financial Times, and the Chronicle of Higher Education and has testified before the U.S. Senate. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago and author of the upcoming book Legally Blind. He studied with White House national security adviser W.W. Rostow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Image: Adam Jones via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped). Amid discussions surrounding the future of the U.S. military, there are voices advocating for the employment of mercenaries as a potential solution. While some presidential advisers argue in favor of the benefits mercenaries may offer, it is important to critically examine the implications of such a strategy. Instead of expanding the military through the use of mercenaries, an alternative approach would involve re-evaluating foreign engagements. By focusing on avoiding unnecessary conflicts, the need for large standing armies diminishes, and in the unlikely event of an invasion, the American people have historically shown a willingness to enlist in defense of their nation. And lest we forget, moral Americans want to fight only a moral war. How far back do we have to look to see a "moral war" in which the U.S. was engaged? Certainly not the Gulf War. Definitely not Ukraine. Rather than resorting to mercenaries, a fundamental reassessment of U.S. foreign policy is needed. The focus should shift toward ending or avoiding foreign wars that do not directly serve our interests. By disengaging from unnecessary conflicts, we can reduce the need for an expanded military force. This approach allows us to allocate resources more efficiently toward domestic needs and investments in areas that directly contribute to the well-being of the American people. Contrary to claims that a draft or the hiring of mercenaries is necessary due to a lack of willing recruits, history has shown that in times of crisis or invasion, lines of Americans have formed, ready to enlist in defense of their nation. The patriotism and sense of duty that exist within the American populace provide a strong foundation for a motivated and dedicated fighting force. Rather than rely on mercenaries, we should foster this spirit and cultivate a sense of national unity and readiness to defend our homeland. While proponents of hiring mercenaries may argue for their specialized skills and flexibility, it is crucial to recognize the inherent risks associated with such a strategy. Relying on mercenaries introduces complexities and challenges that could compromise national security. The potential for mercenaries to prioritize personal gain over the nation's interests raises concerns about their loyalty and commitment. The world watched as Wagner seemed to be turning against Putin, and possibly preparing to march on Moscow. What would stop the Wagner Group, if employed as mercenaries to "protect" the U.S., from marching on Washington? Furthermore, integrating mercenaries into the existing military structure poses challenges in terms of cohesion, command, and control. Combining regular military personnel with mercenaries can create divisions and hinder effective coordination, potentially compromising the overall effectiveness of the force. Maintaining unity of purpose and a clear chain of command is essential for a strong and efficient military. Instead of expanding the military through mercenaries, focusing on strategic interests and a judicious approach to foreign engagements allows for a leaner and more efficient military force. Emphasizing diplomatic efforts, alliances, and international cooperation can help safeguard national security without relying on a substantial increase in troop numbers. Investments in cyber-security, technological advances, and intelligence capabilities are also essential in addressing modern security challenges. By prioritizing these areas, we can enhance our ability to defend against emerging threats and maintain a strong deterrent posture. As discussions ensue regarding the future of the U.S. military, it is crucial to critically assess the potential drawbacks of employing mercenaries. Instead of relying on such a strategy, a re-evaluation of foreign engagements that do not align with our interests can provide a more efficient and effective approach. By fostering national unity, focusing on strategic priorities, and investing in modern defense capabilities, we can ensure the readiness and strength of the U.S. military. History has shown that if our nation were ever faced with a significant threat, lines of Americans would willingly enlist to defend our homeland. Therefore, prioritizing strategic interests and a judicious approach to foreign policy are key to maintaining a capable and dedicated fighting force. Michael Letts is the founder of InVest USA, a not-for-profit organization donating chest protection to state and local police officers, particularly in areas where police departments have been defunded. Office Letts has 30 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, hence his pro-police stance for his brothers and sisters in blue, as well as in U.S. armed forces. Image: Public Domain. "But to the extent there's a suggestion, for example, that the FBI's confidential human sources or FBI employees in someway instigated or orchestrated Jan 6th, that's categorically false." Christopher Wray How extensive was Deep State involvement in the January 6 "insurrection"? The January 6 "insurrection" has been a propaganda bonanza for the Deep State. Would it have required exceptional foresight to predict the outcome of Trump-supporters' march on Washington? President Trump had held dozens of peaceful rallies during his campaign. Now his supporters had gone berserk. Or had they? Several anti-Trump groups had an interest in seeing violence on Jan 6. Radical leftist groups like Antifa and BLM would be vindicated to an extent. The Democrat party would gain support as a result of the violence. And even those federal government agencies controlled by the Deep State would benefit. Christopher Wray claimed that FBI agents "have not to date seen any evidence of anarchist violent extremists or people subscribing to Antifa in connection with the 6th." This was an excellent opportunity for radical groups to discredit Trump-supporters. Contrary to Wray's claim, at least one radical was exposed right from the beginning. John Sullivan (Jayden X), dressed as a Trump-supporter, shouted, "If we don't get in, we're going to burn this s--- down!" as he approached the Capitol. U.S. district judge Emmet Sullivan, who so tenaciously sought to convict former national security adviser Michael Flynn, allowed Sullivan to be released from jail following his arrest. Defendants who peacefully walked around the Capitol building have been charged with "seditious conspiracy," which carries a 20-year prison sentence. Sullivan is presently working for the Ukrainian government as some kind of war correspondent. Democrat party organizations also saw January 6 as an opportunity to discredit Trump. Project Veritas recorded Scott Foval, national field director of Americans United for Change, and Robert Creamer, founder of Democracy Advocates and the husband of Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky, Illinois Democrat, discussing their roles in planting paid agitators at campaign events for Donald Trump. Although Creamer stepped down and Foval was fired, that does not mean they abandoned their efforts to discredit Trump. One of the reasons the events of January 6 took place was because of an alleged intelligence failure. The impression was given that the government did not have informants among the groups planning to attack the Capitol. In March 2021, Senator Amy Klobuchar told Wray, "There must be moments where you think if we could have known, if we could have infiltrated this group or found out what they were doing. Do you have those moments?" Wray responded, "Absolutely ... we aim to bat a thousand percent and to thwart every attack that is out there ... you can be darn tootin' that we are focused very, very hard on how we can get better sources, better information, better analysis, so that we can make sure that something like what happened on January 6 never happens again." This exchange has been used to suggest that the FBI did not have informants in these groups. It is almost too perfect and was quite possibly rehearsed, like the 51 intelligence officials who claimed the Hunter laptop "has the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation." This was used to imply that the laptop was Russian disinformation while the officials could later deny that they were claiming it was. The truth is that several law enforcement agencies had dozens of agents and informants among the protesters. Steven Sund, chief of the Capital Police, told Tucker Carlson the Jan. 6 protest was filled with federal agents. These agents and informants frequently do not face charges. They are referred to as "unindicted co-conspirators." According to Revolver News, these "unindicted co-conspirators" often "appear to be much more aggressive" than other protesters. This has led Christopher Wray to assert, "The suggestion that the FBI's confidential human sources or FBI employees in some way instigated or orchestrated Jan 6th, that's categorically false." Wray would be more believable if he had a history of providing accurate information to Congress. However, he repeatedly claims he has to be "very careful" about releasing information or he can't answer because the matter is under investigation. Initially, the government refused to release the videotapes of the incident. They would not even trust their colleagues in the Boston field office. Retired supervisory intelligence analyst George Hill from the Boston field office testified that he was told by the Washington field office that they could not provide Boston with the tapes, "because there may be" may be "UCs," undercover officers, "or CHSes," confidential human sources, "on those videos whose identity we need to protect." Could these undercover agents be responsible for much of the violence on Jan. 6? Revolver News details how the more violent plotters in the Gretchen Whitmer "kidnapping" plot (5 of 13) were government informants. The plotter who suggested using a bomb to blow up a bridge as part of that plot was an undercover FBI agent. Tucker Carlson reported that the government's own court filings reveal that enforcement officers participated in the riot, sometimes in violent ways. The New York Times has reported there have been twenty terrorist plots against the U.S. Three of those plots were real; the other 17 were created and then stopped by the FBI. The government knew there would be violence because in many instances they are likely the ones who initiated it. They did nothing to prevent it. Sen. Gary Peters, chair of the Homeland Security Committee, said to NBC News: "Given the number of news reports and social media posts indicating violence ahead of Jan. 6, the FBI absolutely should have seen this attack coming and should have informed law enforcement to be ready." Rep. Eric Swalwell was warned by family and friends there would be violence. He commented, "They didn't have access to intelligence. But they did read the tweets from President Trump and his supporters. This was completely foreseeable." There are a lot of questions about January 6. No one can say that the government has been open about what transpired. This has resulted in speculation that the government was involved. John Dietrich is a freelance writer and the author of The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence on American Postwar Policy (Algora Publishing). He has a Master of Arts degree in international relations from St. Mary's University. He is retired from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. He is featured on the BBC's program "Things We Forgot to Remember:" Morgenthau Plan and Post-War Germany. Image: Official portrait. President Biden has proposed giving cluster bombs to Ukraine. That is the clearest indicator that the summer counteroffensive has hit a wall. NATO and the U.S. have given virtually everything possible to Ukraine, mountains of munitions, Western tanks and armored vehicles, combined arms training for tens of thousands of soldiers, even NATO F-16 fighter jets. Yet now, Ukraine's army is stuck in the mud, battling it out, field by field, like the U.S. Army struggling in the hedgerows of Normandy during World War II. What happened to the Ukrainian offensive? Could "carefully used" cluster munitions be a game-changer? Colonel Markus Reisner, an astute Austrian Army analyst of the war, states that the thousands of drones on the battlefield have revolutionized the defense. The Russians are defending in depth, with their artillery hidden far behind the lines, and several lines of minefields, barbed wire, and other obstacles in front. In order to break through Russian lines, engineers have to clear a path through the minefields and obstacles; then the armored forces push their way through before they are detected. Small groups of observers using drones have been able to detect the breakthrough attempts and call in Russian artillery fire to stop it. The Russians can also fire rockets with cluster mines that put mines right back in the area that was cleared. Ukrainian forces have also been badly hit by Russian KA-52 attack helicopters flying behind the trees, rising above to fire missiles at tanks, then dipping back down, thus avoiding being seen by air defenses. The Ukrainians, according to Reisner, have adapted by sending in small groups to fight for each woodline and clear away the observers before moving ahead. This is very much like the hedgerow fight in Normandy after the D-Day invasion that was very slow moving before the German Army broke and fled back to Germany. Currently, the fight is roughly a stalemate, and ground is taken and won back. Could cluster bombs be a war-winner, especially in light of the almost worldwide prohibition of their use? Perhaps. The classic example for why the U.S. kept them in its inventory is their usefulness in defending against armored attack. Imagine cluster bombs hitting that 40-mile-long Russian convoy in the first week of the invasion. A small number of cluster bombs would have devastated that target. But this is currently a war of dispersed infantry observers and hidden artillery with strong air defenses and attack helicopter airfields deep behind enemy lines. The Ukrainian Air Force has not necessarily shown that it can easily penetrate Russian defenses to hit either the artillery concentrations or the attack helicopter airbases, which are two logical targets to strike in support of a breakthrough. However, the HIMARS rocket artillery systems can also fire cluster munitions. When firing cluster munitions, they can devastate 1 square kilometer. This could make a significant difference by suppressing or destroying batteries of Russian artillery at the point of a breakthrough. HIMARS outrange most Russian artillery and are highly mobile, so this seems likely to be successful. Cluster munitions are internationally banned by over 100 countries. This ban is based in large part on the experience of the Vietnam and Afghanistan conflicts, where the U.S. and Soviets frequently used cluster munitions and then withdrew, leaving the civilians living in those areas to contend with large areas of unmarked minefields. This is because not every bomblet in a cluster munition explodes. A common rule of thumb is a 10% dud rate for munitions. So if 200 bomblets are dropped, 20 would not explode and would essentially turn into mines. However, neither the U.S. nor Russia has signed on to this convention. This is because cluster munitions are not inherently immoral; rather, they are an effective weapon of war when used responsibly. Responsible usage would involve tracking all areas where cluster munitions are used and then de-mining those areas once the conflict has ended. Thus, providing cluster munitions is not a hare-brained proposal, but rather an example of military staffers providing a reasonable response to a hard military problem. That said, it is remarkable that there is yet no serious discussion of ceasefire talks. The fighting season will likely last roughly until mid-October, when the ground will turn too muddy, with another short window from mid-November, when the ground may freeze hard until winter weather makes fighting impractical. One can only hope that at the end of this offensive, both sides can sit down and discuss stopping the conflict. Image credit: YouTube screen grab, (cropped). It is bad enough that Joe Biden blames President Trump for his incompetence and destructive policies. It is much worse when the media, the politicized Justice Department, other government bureaucrats, and other Democrats collude to cover up the corruption of the Bidens and seek to destroy Trump with lies and endless investigations and then blame Trump for their actions. And they started trying to destroy Trump before he even took office. At the Wall Street Journal's editorial page, Holman Jenkins wrote this: Trump Is Saving Biden From the Hunter Laptop Scandal The media and politicized Justice Department also saved Hillary from being prosecuted for her multiple crimes and looking into all the kickbacks to the Clinton family and foundation. They were so interested in beating Trump, before he was president, that they would do anything they had to to protect and elect Hillary. That is the same thing they are doing with Biden. Look at how much fake stuff they have thrown at Trump over the last seven years: How many times have they called Trump a racist, xenophobe, homophobe, Russian stooge, and dictator to disparage him while they campaigned for Hillary and Biden? When Trump stopped people from traveling from China at the beginning of COVID, Biden and others called him a xenophobe and racist. Soon after that, they disparaged Trump for reacting too slowly to COVID. How many times was Trump called a racist for doing his job to enforce immigration laws passed by Congress? The media, entertainers, and other Democrats essentially stopped reporting on the border as soon as Biden took office. That shows that the concern for kids was fake, and the attacks were political. The media went as far as showing pictures of kids in cages from the Obama/Biden years and lied by saying they were happening because of Trump. They essentially would do anything to gin up racial hate and division against Trump. Biden and others spread lies about what Trump said in Charlottesville to gin up hate and division. No matter how many times Trump denounced white supremacists, including at Charlottesville, Biden continues to spread the lie. Even the USAToday fact-checkers found it problematic: Trump's Charlottesville comments twisted by Joe Biden and the media Sure, Donald Trump said there were 'fine people on both sides' but in the next breath he condemned 'neo-Nazis and White nationalists.' Don't leave that out. What's more, Biden pretends that he ran for president based on Charlottesville, as if the thought had never occurred to him before that. Why don't the fact-checkers call Biden out for lying whenever he repeats that lie? The answer is that most don't care, because they also like to gin up racial hate and division to keep the minority vote while they claim they care about uniting the country. Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee created the fictional Russian dossier, and the media and other Democrats spread the lie for years that Trump colluded with Russia. to intentionally mislead the public. Biden and others continue to lie that Trump's tax rate cuts cost the government trillions and only helped the rich. Trump's policies actually increased tax revenues substantially and were lifting all boats, especially those at the bottom, people Democrats always pretend they want to help. As incomes grew, income inequality fell for the second consecutive year. Between 2017 and 2019, the Gini index of income inequality fell from 0.489 to 0.484. Over the same two-year period, the share of income held by the top 20 percent fell by 0.4 percentage points. Incomes grew across the distribution, and poverty plummeted as a result. The official poverty rate fell to an all-time record low of 10.5 percent in 2019. Over 4 million people were lifted out of poverty between 2018 and 2019 for a 1.3 percentage point decrease. This was the largest reduction in poverty in over 50 years. Minority groups led the way in poverty alleviation. Compared to the overall poverty rate reduction of 1.3 percentage points, black poverty fell by 2.0 percentage points, Hispanic poverty fell by 1.8 percentage points, and Asian poverty fell by 2.8 percentage points (see Figure 2). The poverty rate fell to an all-time record low for every race and ethnic group in 2019. Notably, the black poverty rate fell below 20 percent for the first time in history. The media and other Democrats have had endless witch hunts about Trump's tax returns but have little to no interest in the Bidens' taxes despite knowing how they set up many shell corporations that seemed to have no business activity other than accepting and distributing kickbacks to many members of the Biden family. They don't want to see if Joe got any of the money. When reporting on January 6, the media and others routinely leave out that Trump said to march peacefully and patriotically to intentionally mislead the public. What was Trump supposed to do? Just shut up and ignore the false attacks, as a Republican squish would do, or fight back? Should he have ignored all the states that changed their election rules in 2020 without legislative approval? Should he have ignored the election-rigging by Mark Zuckerberg? Should he ignore the clear politicization of the Justice Department? Should he ignore the different treatment of Biden and Hillary on classified documents? Does anyone believe that if Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, or Nikki Haley were the Republican candidate, the media, the Justice Department, the IRS, and other Democrats would have more interest in doing a deep investigation into the pure corruption of Hunter and Joe? If anyone believes that, he has his head stuck in the sand. It is bad enough that Biden blames Trump for things that he screws up. It is worse when a WSJ journalist blames Trump for the lack of interest of the media, Justice Department, IRS, and other Democrats in doing an investigation into the massive corruption of the Biden crime family. It is no wonder that we have so many corrupt politicians who become rich while gorging from the public trough when journalists blame others for their lack of interest if they like their policies. There is no excuse for the media to ignore the corrupt Justice Department and president, no matter what Trump or anyone else has done. They essentially have become Democrat campaign workers, interfering in all elections to infect the U.S. with leftist policies, which will lead to the collapse of the greatest country that ever existed. The choice gets easier every day. Either vote for Trump or some other Republican, or vote for whom the media is campaigning for and continue the intentional destruction of America. At least with Trump, we know we have a fighter. Many Republicans will cave or partially cave as they pretend the appeasement of leftists will get them support. It won't. Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License. Various sectors in Hong Kong oppose Fukushima nuke wastewater discharge plan Xinhua) 10:58, July 11, 2023 HONG KONG, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Various sectors in Hong Kong have expressed dissatisfaction with an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Japan's disposal of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, and strongly protested against Japan's push for the discharge of the wastewater into the Pacific. A recent online poll on the discharge of the wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, launched by the Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao, received more than 14,000 responses within four days. Nearly 98 percent of respondents voiced opposition to the water release plan, and over 96 percent did not believe Japan's so-called justification for the discharge. Luk Bing-lam, chairman of the Hong Kong Nuclear Society, said that there are many uncertainties in the IAEA's assessment report, and it did not mention how many experts have agreed with Japan's arrangement, which is worrying. The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions has been following the issue of Japan's radioactive water discharge. Lawmaker Joephy Chan, a member of the federation, criticized the IAEA report on the disposal of the nuclear-contaminated water for not being comprehensive, and only adopting Japan's discharge plan, which is not convincing itself. Cheung Siu-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium, said the consortium strongly protests against the planned discharge of the nuclear contaminated water. Cheung said the ocean is not a closed space, and if seafood is found to be contaminated with radiation, the fishing industry will be greatly affected. Wu Shiu-sun, a professor at the Department of Science and Environmental Studies of the Education University of Hong Kong, pointed out that radioactive substances will not disappear after they are diluted, and they will spread through marine life to all parts of the world with the impact extending beyond Japan's waters. The Japanese government has been pushing for dumping the contaminated wastewater this summer from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which was hit by a massive earthquake and an ensuing tsunami in March 2011. The move has aroused strong opposition and doubts from Japan's fishing and civic groups, neighboring countries and South Pacific island countries, as well as the international community. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A U.S. U-2S reconnaissance aircraft flies over Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Yonhap Pyongyang refers to Seoul by official name, signaling major shift in inter-Korean policies By Lee Hyo-jin A series of verbal threats by North Korea accusing a U.S. spy plane of intruding into its airspace appears to be a part of Pyongyang's efforts to consolidate internal cohesion ahead of a major military parade scheduled for later this month, defense analysts said, Tuesday. Although experts viewed the intrusion claim to be groundless, they said the latest statements issued by the North may signal a major shift in its perception of South Korea, not as the other side of a divided nation, but a foreign country. Earlier in the day, Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, issued a statement through Pyongyang's official mouthpiece, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), accusing a U.S. reconnaissance plane of intruding into its exclusive economic zone the previous day. "The strategic reconnaissance plane of the U.S. Air Force illegally intruded into the economic maritime zone of the DPRK side in the East Sea of Korea eight times," she said, claiming that the "aerial espionage act" occurred from 5:15 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. on Monday. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. She also warned that the North will have to take "decisive action" in the event of a repeated "illegal intrusion." Kim's remarks came just hours after she issued a similar statement around 9 p.m., Monday, which was a follow-up to an initial statement by the North's defense military spokesperson that morning. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) denied the allegations raised by the North, saying that the U.S. warplane was conducting standard reconnaissance activities in cooperation with South Korea's military. Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, said it is rare for Pyongyang to release three statements on the same matter in less than 24 hours. "The initial statement issued by the defense ministry spokesperson had some errors. It claimed that the warplane intruded the DPRK's airspace. So Kim Yo-jong had to issue a follow-up statement in the evening, correcting that the plane flew above the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)," he said. Kim Yo-Jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, makes a speech during a national meeting held in Pyongyang, Aug. 10, 2022. Yonhap With a media campaign going on against conservative Supreme Court justices in the wake of Dobbs v. Jackson, the Associated Press decided to do a little digging on the others and came up with a doozy on Justice Sonia Sotomayor, starting with a softball lede: WASHINGTON (AP) For colleges and libraries seeking a boldfaced name for a guest lecturer, few come bigger than Sonia Sotomayor, the Supreme Court justice who rose from poverty in the Bronx to the nation's highest court. She has benefited, too from schools' purchases of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of the books she has written over the years. Sotomayor's staff has often prodded public institutions that have hosted the justice to buy her memoir or children's books, works that have earned her at least $3.7 million since she joined the court in 2009. Details of those events, largely out of public view, were obtained by The Associated Press through more than 100 open records requests to public institutions. The resulting tens of thousands of pages of documents offer a rare look at Sotomayor and her fellow justices beyond their official duties. In her case, the documents reveal repeated examples of taxpayer-funded court staff performing tasks for the justice's book ventures, which workers in other branches of government are barred from doing. In other words, she and her personal henchwoman, Anh Le, who lives off the public dime, spend an enormous amount of time on shaking down colleges and other venues for book purchases. The AP laid out the raw emails, where nothing was couched in delicate terms, leaving it pretty clear that Sotomayor has a pay-to-play operation going, muscling universities into having her speak and meet and greet their denizens in exchange for absurdly high numbers of book purchases they aren't shy about demanding. It has made her a pretty penny. Let's take a look at some of these numbers available on Amazon: In other words, these aren't serious books about legal reasonings or legal history, which seem natural topics for Supreme Court justices. These are ego trips Sotomayor casting herself as the hero on the identity politics train, and then getting paid for it. Any questions as to why it got out that the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg considered Sotomayor the dumbest member of the Court? These are very dumb books, books that take no challenge to read and offer little more than Sotomayor's biography and trite advice to kids as money-making fodder. These are phone-it-in books, and it says something that Sotomayor needed a professional writer to serve as co-author in the kids' fare. Sotomayor doesn't even have kids, so it's odd that she should be so focused on writing children's books. That rather suggests that these books are vehicles for raking in the dough. Some of these books sport really low rankings these days, suggesting that they aren't terribly interesting to the book-buying public. They are tripe. That suggests that were it not for the Sotomayor team's musclings of universities, there wouldn't be any sales at all. These aren't books anyone would buy unless he had to. Sotomayor's right-hand woman made sure a lot of educational institutions had to. Look at how tough she was, demanding universities cough up. Here is one passage, and the story contained many others: "For an event with 1,000 people and they have to have a copy of Just Ask to get into the line, 250 books is definitely not enough," the aide, Anh Le, wrote staffers at the Multnomah County Library. "Families purchase multiples and people will be upset if they are unable to get in line because the book required is sold out." It was not an isolated push. As Sotomayor prepared for commencement weekend at the University of California, Davis law school, her staff pitched officials there on buying copies of signed books in connection with the event. Before a visit to the University of Wisconsin, the staff suggested a book signing. At Clemson University in South Carolina, school officials offered to buy 60 signed copies before a 2017 appearance; Sotomayor's staff noted that most schools order around 400. Michigan State University asked Sotomayor to come to campus and in 2018 spent more than $100,000 on copies of her memoir, "My Beloved World," to distribute to incoming first-year students. The books were shipped to the Supreme Court, where copies were taken to her chambers by court workers and signed by her before being sent to the school. The Sotomayor team had a cow when an event was offered with free tickets and the public declined to buy her book to get it signed. "Can you please show me the screen where people can purchase books?" Le wrote library staffers as they prepared to make the tickets available. "Are you just placing Just Ask on the portal or all of the Justice's books." When the free tickets were quickly snapped up, she asked library officials to publicize that those who could not get tickets could still meet the justice if they purchased a book. "Please also let them know that they can attend the signing line to meet the Justice even if they are not able to attend the event," Le wrote in an Aug. 26, 2019, email. A day later, she followed with another email, concerned that not enough of the people who got tickets had also purchased a book. Records indicate that the roughly 550 free tickets made available to the public (the rest were reserved for VIP guests) resulted in the advance purchase of only 28 books. "Is there a reminder going out that people need to purchase a book at the event or bring a book to get into the signing line?" Le wrote. "Most of the registrants did not purchase books." Still, when she found out event organizers had only purchased 250 copies of Sotomayor's book, she sent an email telling library officials that the quantity was "definitely not enough." What's more, it was obvious the universities didn't want these tripe-filled books. When Sotomayor broke her shoulder in 2018 and had to cancel her event at Michigan State, the university asked for a $110,000 refund on the 11,000 books it had been forced to buy. The Sotomayor team tried to talk them out of that, but the university insisted. They didn't want that crap on their hands nobody was going to buy them, and since Sotomayor didn't deliver on her end in this quid pro quo, they wanted their money back. What can anyone call this other than disguised bribery or else the marketing and branding of Sotomayor as some kind of consumer durable on the identity politics model? Either one of these possibilities is repellent in the extreme. If a justice wants to write a book and makes money on it because it's a good book, more power to him. But Sotomayor doesn't write books; she issues money vehicles for her own benefit. What kind of sorry picture is this? Image: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Victor Davis Hanson, Hoover Institution Fellow, historian and iconic essayist, launches a condemnation of the Biden Administrations abuse of power and weaponization of federal agencies to create a two-tier legal system in this American Greatness essay. President Joe Biden, the Biden grifting conglomerate, the Department of Justice, and the FBI under its fourth consecutive weaponized director, are in danger of subverting the American system of law. They are in various ways undermining the tradition of self-reported income tax computation and voluntary compliance. Ironically, Hanson describes the IRS and the Tax code as a disinterested system of enforcements, apparently willing to ignore previous weaponization of the IRS and tax code during the Obama administration. Of course the abuses of the IRS under Lois Lerner were just exaggerations of previous IRS misconduct. Like the DOJ and the FBI, the IRS has been a partisan political tool for the Federal Hegemon, picking targets and activities and persecuting those entities. Dr. Hanson says that a nonpartisan IRS is essential to reliable public compliance with the sometimes arbitrary and always onerous IRS tax code, and he avers: Our tax institutions, of course, are based on the real deterrence of a disinterested, uncompromised Internal Revenue Service. Without it, the income revenues of the United States are existentially threatened. So, as Hanson asserts, the IRS has become another tool of the deep state, focusing on enforcement of the tax code harshly against citizens in opposition to the Democrat regime while allowing a lax standard on elites, specifically elites that are Democrats. An unfair tax system is a threat to the entire American system of revenue collection because voluntary compliance is essential. Americans might become resisters, even with an extraordinary increase in IRS agents and weaponizing IRS enforcement officers. So the Bidens, along with Attorney General Merrick Garland and the FBI, are treading on dangerous ground in imperiling a hallowed American tradition -- one vital to the very governance and operation of the United States, a voluntarily compliant citizenry. As a thumb in the eye of those citizens, it appears that the criminal enterprise of the Biden family includes tax fraud in amounts of millions of unreported taxable foreign income by means of money laundering and deceitful shifts of money, paywalls, firewalls, and phony loans to ensure auditors would take years to unravel his illegal schemes -- until well after the expiration of the statute of limitations. Then the IRS and the DOJ refuse to exercise their option to pursue enforcement beyond the 6 year Statute of tax fraud Limitations, even though the tax fraud was intentional and criminal. It is so convenient that much of this money laundering and tax avoidance is now supposedly subject to the 6-year limit, but in fact the IRS and DOJ can extend enforcement and prosecution for intentional tax fraud. The tax fraud goes untouched because the feds have picked sides with the presidents son. Joe Biden has serially lied that he did not know anything of his sons business dealings in spite of evidence galore to the contrary that he was always the big guy who was a player and a beneficiary when he was vice president and even when he was president. That assertion is contrary to photographic evidence of him with Hunter Bidens business associates, sworn statements from at least one of Hunter Bidens former business partners, clear evidence from Hunters own laptop, and now recent disclosures from FBI documents and whistleblower testimonies. And yet the President continues to lie, and the media continues to shrug that dads often do such things. It is almost beyond belief, but increasingly likely, that Hunter Biden in the past conducted his illicit business over the phone in the presence, and with the complicity, of current president Joe Biden himself. And the full trove of evidence is still trickling in. This sordid scenario is part of the larger Biden criminal landscape. Joe and Hunter may well have received $10 million from Chinese consortia for doing nothing other than monetizing Joe Bidens Vice-Presidency and his apparent then trajectory to the presidency. Hanson asserts that Merrick Garland has sidetracked and disarmed a full investigation of Hunter and President Joe, and he has defanged the full prosecution of Hunter Biden. The Biden familys dealings with China clearly compromise current foreign policy and security activities, and the issue is whether President Biden can function as president in his compromised state. Again, all this will not, cannot, must not stand. We can no longer have a United States if its President almost weekly demonstrably lies with impunity about his relationships with the Biden familys nefarious foreign business interests. This unfolding Biden melodrama has the potential to destroy the current presidency. It will tarnish for generations the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the IRS. And yet it will not die because the U.S. itself will not die, and so the scandal eventually will convict Joe, Hunter, and Jim Biden of serious felonies. Finally, Hanson takes a swipe at the fully compliant and biased press that knew of the criminality and possible treasonous activities of Biden, which were unprecedented violations of his role as chief executive of the United States. John Dale Dunn MD JD is a retired emergency physician and inactive attorney in Brownwood, Texas Jay Valentine makes a strong case that ballots should not be mailed out to addresses for which mail cannot be delivered (vacant lots), at which voters cannot reside (commercial or industrial addresses), or where mail cannot be accurately delivered (apartment or dorm buildings with no apartment number or dorm room number). He recommends purifying voter rolls so that ballots will not be mailed out to addresses where mail cannot be delivered or voters cannot live. This can be done by compiling the Undeliverable Ballot Database (UBD). To support his argument, Valentine quotes a message from a retired mailman who said that he saw hundreds, or even thousands, of returned ballots put in a basket at the post office for "returned/undeliverable mail" until someone came by and picked them up. It is important to note that these mailed-out ballots are "live ammunition" that can be voted by anyone who picks them up. Some states (such as Texas) require that the voter include parts of a social security number or driver's license number in the returned ballot. However, this is certainly not a foolproof method, as the requested data are accessible via commercial databases, and fraudsters can find and supply it. This is also a good reason to keep voter signatures away from public view because that, too, makes it too easy for fraudsters. It is a constant battle of defense versus offense in the voter fraud arena. Image from Twitter. Other states have no limitations. Michigan has opened the floodgates to fraudulent voting. The GOP will be at a severe disadvantage in that state due to the changes in the voting laws that have been enacted. An additional way to attack the problem is to put some constraints on the post office's handling of returned ballots. It would be great to get all the bogus addresses off the voter rolls, but what shall we do with the ones that slip through? One approach is to bring a lawsuit requiring the post office to keep a record of the number of returned ballots, place them in a safe location, and have the stored returned ballots made available for inspection by representatives of both parties to ensure that no ballots are removed. A federal injunction could see that this practice is followed nationwide. If talk about the "sanctity of elections" is to be backed up with actions, such a move should not be opposed. Another possible approach would be an injunction banning mailing out ballots unless it's verified that an actual voter lives at an address. In other words, states would be enjoined from mailing ballots to addresses on the Undeliverable Ballot Database. Of course, judges would have to be convinced that the information on the UBD actually belongs there. But as Valentine shows, that shouldn't be difficult. Another policy (or injunction) that would help curtail the fraud in voting by mail would be to have the government mail the ballots via certified mail, with a return receipt required from the voter. Alternatively, if voters pick up a ballot for later mail-in voting, they will have to show ID to do so. This would be another check on the mass mailing of ballots with all the attendant security problems. Of course, none of these safeguards should be a substitute for the position that federal law requires that elections must be held "[t]he Tuesday next after the 1st Monday in November, in every numbered year" (2 U.S. Code 7), both for presidents and members of Congress. In addition to being legally correct, something Deroy Murdock establishes, multi-week or even multi-month elections make it much easier to cheat. The extra time helps establish who have not voted or will not vote and substitute bogus ballots on their behalf. Microsoft has scored a big win in its FTC trial over the Activision Blizzard acquisition. On Tuesday July 11, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley has reached a ruling in the FTCs request for a preliminary injunction on Microsofts attempt to buy Activision Blizzard. The request has officially been denied, which means Microsoft can now technically proceed with its acquisition. While this looks like a slam dunk, there are still potentially a couple of hurdles left to clear. But for the most part it looks like Microsoft will come out on top. The $68.7 billion deal has been a central topic in the gaming industry for more than a year now. And with good reason. Its a massive acquisition. Microsoft has been met with a ton of opposition to the deal, both from rival company Sony and regulators. But now that looks to be coming to a close soon. With Judge Corleys ruling, Microsoft can now go ahead with the acquisition by the July 18 deadline. This is not a win for Microsoft in the FTC antitrust case Todays decision from Judge Corley is a good thing for Microsoft. It is not however the end of things just yet. Microsoft still has an ongoing antitrust case with the FTC that still needs a resolution. But this ruling goes a long way to sway things in Microsofts favor. The argument against Microsofts acquisition has consistently been that it will stifle competition. The ruling submitted today (via The Verge) states otherwise though. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content. The motion for a preliminary injunction is therefore DENIED the ruling says. Call of Duty has been one of the main reasons for opposition in this deal, though not the entire focus for the FTC in particular. With the regulator claiming the acquisition going through would give Microsoft an unfair advantage in the cloud gaming space. A newly-discovered ransomware family named Big Head is tricking unsuspecting users by displaying fake Windows update alerts and Microsoft Word installers. Cybersecurity firms Fortinet and TrendMicro have identified several variants of this ransomware, all originating from a single operator. Fortinet documented two variants of Big Head in mid-June. Both of them are designed to encrypt files on victims devices to extort money. The firm says the ransomware debuted in May 2023, with the attacker seemingly distributing it as counterfeit software. The first variant shows a fake Windows update alert that lasts about 30 seconds and automatically closes. Thats enough for the attacker to encrypt the files. It then proceeds to open a ransom note containing the attackers email address, Telegram ID, and Bitcoin wallet address. The second variant, meanwhile, uses a PowerShell file named cry.ps1 for file encryption. When files are encrypted, the attacker replaces the devices wallpaper with their own containing a similar ransom note. It also opens a separate ransom note with the same details. The research firm also discovered a third ransomware variant of the same stripe as Big Head. Based on the Bitcoin wallet and email addresses, its distributed by the same attacker. Fortinet discovered that it popped out around the same time as Big Head but used a slightly different ransom note. This variant encrypts files and appends the attackers email address to the file names. It also replaces the desktop wallpaper. The Big Head ransomware seemingly originated in Indonesia TrendMicro recently published a technical report on Big Head, explaining its execution methodology, similarities and differences between its variants, and the potential impact of these infections when abused for attacks. The firm analyzed three samples of the ransomware and could link a YouTube account to the attacker. The account is named aplikasi premium cuma cuma, which is in Bahasa (Indonesian language) and translates to premium application for free. Advertisement Cyber-intelligence firm KELA separately told BleepingComputer that Big Heads main author is likely of Indonesian origin. It discovered a user on Telegram with the same names and avatars as those found in the aforementioned ransom notes. The ransomware itself doesnt appear to be widespread or highly sophisticated. It uses standard encryption methods and is fairly easy to detect, thanks to poor evasion techniques. However, attackers usually pounce on unsuspecting victims that are easy to trick. The brains behind Big Head are still operating the ransomware, continuously developing and refining it. They are experimenting with various approaches for the attack. Always make sure that you download software from trusted sources such as the official Microsoft Store. Avoid clicking on suspicious files or links received in emails from unknown addresses. Over the past few years, its no surprise that threat actors have ramped up their efforts to infiltrate companies and gain unauthorized access. Now, in a recent development, Revolut has reportedly fallen victim to a significant cyberattack, resulting in a loss of over $23 million in company funds. As reported by the Financial Times, the threat actors exploited an undisclosed vulnerability in Revoluts payment systems, which allowed them to take advantage of discrepancies between the companys U.S. and European systems. By exploiting this bug, anyone could initiate a transaction that would later be declined, prompting Revolut to issue a refund for the money that was never transferred. How did the attack work? Although the exact details remain unknown since the company hasnt released specific information about the vulnerability to avoid potential copycat attacks, the attack did not involve malware. Instead, cybercriminals encouraged people to make expensive transactions, knowing that the company would decline them, thus paving the way for a refund. The threat actors then withdrew the cash from ATMs. However, it is important to note that the bug was first discovered in late 2021, but before Revolut could address it, organized criminal groups took advantage of the situation. And although the company has made efforts to recover some of the funds by tracing and pursuing those who withdrew cash, the incident still caused a net loss of around $20 million for the company. Going forward While the companys lack of efforts in addressing a two-year-old security vulnerability raises some serious concerns, Revolut has launched an active investigation to catch the perpetrators behind the cyberattack. Moreover, the company will also undergo a comprehensive security review and implement additional measures to prevent future breaches. However, this attack once again highlights the ever-growing importance of implementing robust security practices for companies. This includes regularly patching and updating systems and implementing stringent security measures to protect against emerging threats. The heavily-rumored Galaxy S21 FE re-launch is official. Samsung is now selling the new Snapdragon 888 version of the phone in India, with Android 13 onboard. Its unclear if the company plans to launch the device in other markets where it originally sold the Exynos 2100 version. The Galaxy S21 FE debuted globally in January 2022. Samsung launched the phone in two processor variants Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100. Buyers in India, Europe, and some other markets got the Exynos version, while the company sold the Snapdragon version in the US. This has been standard practice from the Korean firm for the past few years. But, in a surprising turn of events, Samsung has re-launched the Galaxy S21 FE in India, bringing the Snapdragon version to the country. The device is now available through its official online store and retail channels with a price tag of 49,999 (roughly $605). Thats a bit too pricey for a phone powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset. Other companies are selling phones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 at lower prices. The OnePlus 11R, for example, is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and is priced at 39,999 (roughly $485). The Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S21 FE may find it tough to compete against these devices in India. Samsung, meanwhile, has stopped selling the Exynos version, which was once down to 32,999 (roughly $400), through its online store in the country. It may still be available in offline retail channels, though. The new Galaxy S21 FE runs Android 13 out of the box Samsung is shipping the Snapdragon version of the Galaxy S21 FE with Android 13 out of the box. The company hasnt specified the Android version on its product listing page, but a customer support executive told us that the latest Android version will come onboard. This should mean the device will get updates up to Android 17. The support executive couldnt confirm that, though. Advertisement The original Galaxy S21 FE debuted with Android 12 and will get updates un to Android 16. The only other notable change is 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage coming standard. Samsung isnt offering any other memory or storage configurations. The device is also getting a new Navy Blue color variant to go with the existing Graphite, Lavender, Olive, and White colors. Everything else remains unchanged. For a quick recap, the Galaxy S21 FE features a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It gets Corning Gorilla Glass Victus screen protection and comes with an IP68-rated body. Samsung has included a flagship-grade 12MP primary rear camera with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). It also has an 8MP zoom camera (3x optical zoom) and a 12MP ultrawide camera. The selfie camera is a 32MP sensor. The Galaxy S21 FE packs a 4,500mAh battery with support for 25W fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging. It also supports reverse wireless charging. Other highlights include an under-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, Samsung DeX support, Samsung Knox security, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6, and NFC. You can check out our Galaxy S21 FE review for its everyday performance. Samsungs latest promotion for Galaxy S23 Ultra on its website contains memories of the disastrous Galaxy Note 7. This is one of the rare times that the Korean OEM mentions the Note 7 while promoting its latest generation smartphone. Back in 2016, Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 7. The phone landed with some unique features like a dual-sided curved display, HDR support, and iris recognition. While everyone expected the Note 7 to be a successor to the Galaxy Note 5, the phone hit hard with battery problems. As a result, Samsung permanently discontinued the phone a few months later. The company also never mentioned it again in any other circumstances. Even in the Galaxy Note 9 infographic promotions, the company didnt mention Galaxy Note 7 as if it had never existed. Back then, Samsung jumped from the Galaxy Note Edge and the Note 5 to the Galaxy Note 8. However, seven years later, everything changed, and the Korean company no longer shies remembering Note 7. Samsung still remembers Galaxy Note 7 despite its huge damage to the companys profit in 2016 Galaxy S23 Ultra is Samsungs high-end smartphone that came as a successor to the Note brand, which was later canceled. The phones landing page on the Samsung website revives the memories of Note-branded phones since 2011. Samsung claims its learning from the past to improve the present. That being said, a part of the promo belongs to Galaxy Note 7 and its unique features at the time. Samsung never explained what exactly happened to the Galaxy Note 7. But the company took a hard lesson by discontinuing the phone just a few months after its initial launch, resulting in a 33% drop in operating profits. The following Note-branded phones never had the Note 7 issues and landed with some ground-breaking features. As the grandchild of Note 7, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is now one of the best Android smartphones you can buy. Samsung has registered trademarks for a bunch of new wearable Galaxy devices. Over the past week or so, the company has secured brand names for the Galaxy One, Galaxy Pulse, Galaxy Rhythm, Galaxy Index, Galaxy Insight, and Galaxy Circle across various trademark offices around the world. The first batch of these trademark applications from Samsung came earlier this month. The company submitted documents to the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) for the brand names Samsung Circle, Samsung Index, and Samsung Insight. It subsequently added the Galaxy prefix to these brands and reapplied trademarks in its home country South Korea. More recently, Samsung trademarked Galaxy One, Galaxy Pulse, and Galaxy Rhythm with the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS). According to the official documents, all three of these products are wearable electronic devices in the nature of smart bracelets, smart necklaces, smart glasses, and smart rings. Samsung further explains that they correspond to software applications for smart rings for tracking, gathering, monitoring, detecting, recognizing, storing, transmitting, managing and assessing biometric and physiological data, vital signs and personal health records, and for providing medical advice (via GalaxyClub). This description is less vague compared to that of the Galaxy Index, Galaxy Insight, and Galaxy Circle. Samsungs documents for these brand names describe them as an electronic product within one of the following four device categories: smart rings, smartwatches, smartphones, and wearable computers. Samsung might talk about a Galaxy smart ring during Unpacked Samsung filing six trademark applications related to wearable devices within a week suggests the company is cooking something new. Unfortunately, we dont have additional details to confirm what the company has in the pipeline. The documents suggest the Galaxy Index, Galaxy Insight, and Galaxy Circle are the names of Samsungs smart ring products. Advertisement The Galaxy One, Galaxy Pulse, and Galaxy Rhythm, on the other hand, could be mobile apps used for tracking health and fitness data through those rings. Samsung recently updated the Samsung Health app to add support for Ring, a product that doesnt exist in its portfolio. All of these developments hint at a nearing official announcement, though. And whats a bigger stage than the Galaxy Unpacked event later this month? Samsung is gearing up to launch a host of products at the event on July 26, including new foldables. It remains to be seen if the company will talk about a new Ring-branded wearable product at the event. Lee Jung-hoon, the new chief of the Unification Future Planning Committee, an advisory body to the unification minister, speaks during a roundtable discussion, titled "2023 Report on North Korean Human Rights," at the Press Center in Seoul, Tuesday. Newsis Rights experts urge Seoul to work with like-minded states to pressure Beijing By Jung Min-ho The 2019 decision by the previous administration to repatriate two fishermen back to North Korea against their will in a clear violation of U.N. treaties shocked human rights experts around the world. Yet no one raised the issue, at least not openly, in China, a nation that has been doing the exact same thing for decades. According to human rights organizations, more than 2,000 North Korean defectors will likely suffer the same fate once the remaining border restrictions that had been set up between the two countries during the COVID-19 pandemic are removed. What awaits them in North Korea is no secret years of incarceration in political prison camps, torture or worse. This must be stopped, said Lee Jung-hoon, the new chief of the Unification Future Planning Committee, an advisory body to the unification minister. "We have to continue to raise the issue (of compulsory repatriation) and try to align with likeminded governments throughout the world," Lee, former ambassador-at-large on North Korean human rights, said during a roundtable discussion, titled "2023 Report on North Korean Human Rights," at the Press Center in Seoul, Tuesday. "This is an embarrassment to the leadership of Xi Jinping who hopes to be a global leader, alongside the United States." Seoul has long asked Beijing to give these refugees the option of returning to the North or heading to the South. Despite its diplomatic efforts, however, Beijing has maintained the policy of treating North Korean crossing into China as illegal migrants rather than refugees. "The problem is that the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) has the right to have access to them and then determine whether their cases merit refugee status or not," Lee said. "But China's government has been preventing the U.N. agency from having any access to North Korean defectors despite their special agreement signed in 1995." This issue must be addressed at every diplomatic opportunity until China, one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and a state often referred to as one of the G2, changes that policy to meet international standards, he added. Former North Korean diplomat Ko Young-hwan, now a member of the South's Unification Future Planning Committee, an advisory body to the unification minister, speaks during a roundtable discussion on "2023 Report on North Korean Human Rights" at the Press Center in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap The acclaimed author of Girl With A Pearl Earring has voiced her concerns about exams and the curriculum taking precedence over pupils learning to express themselves through creativity. Tracy Chevalier, whose book became a global sensation and a popular film, made the comments when she joined the Queen in celebrating the 15th anniversary of creative writing charity First Story. Camilla has been the patron of the organisation, which sends professional authors into schools to teach creative writing, since 2011 and Chevalier has been an ambassador for the past 12 months after being impressed with its work. Queen Camilla with author Tracy Chevalier during a reception at Clarence House, London, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the First Story charity (Aaron Chown/PA) The Queen invited the charity and its supporters to Clarence House for a reception, where 16-year-old Daniella Koranteng impressed the guests with a reading of a poem she penned during writing sessions with First Story author Ashley Hickson-Lovence, at her school Skinners Academy in Hackney, east London. Chevalier said: There are so few resources in schools now to teach anything real, its all about exams (and) the curriculum and to actually step outside the curriculum, which is what a lot of students really need, they need some way to express themselves. She joined one of writer-in-residence Ashley Hickson-Lovences sessions at Skinners Academy and was impressed by his work with the young people. The author said: He just pulled out of them incredible poetry, incredible prose about their lives, about what they feel and I just thought that was wonderful and I want to support a charity that does this. Queen Camilla poses with guests celebrating the 15th anniversary of creative writing charity First Story (Aaron Chown/PA) Commenting on Girl With A Pearl Earring, which was made into a film starring Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth and Cillian Murphy, she said she was still astonished by the reaction almost 25 years since the book was published. She said: I was at the Chalke Valley literary festival and 400 people came to hear me talk once again about that book have you not heard enough from me already? But people seem to be intrigued by Vermeer, by that painting so I keep going. The charity was founded by William Fiennes and Katie Waldegrave and they were supporting by leading writers like Julian Barnes, Zadie Smith and Frank Cottrell Boyce. Its Young Writers Programme in schools operates across London, the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Manchester and aims to build students confidence, creativity and writing craft. Camilla greets young writer Daniella Koranteng (Aaron Chown/PA) Mr Hickson-Lovence started working at Skinners Academy in September 2021 and did 16 sessions over the course of the school year, and said ultimately, he aimed to give students a bit of love and warmth through creative writing. He said: So that can be stories or poetry or whatever it is a range of different forms to give them their voice and platform to say how they feel about the world and I think Daniellas poem is testament to that. Allegations that a BBC presenter paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images are to be put to the head of the corporation. The BBC has suspended a male member of staff after The Sun newspaper reported he paid a young person around 35,000 over three years, from the age of 17, for explicit images. Director-general Tim Davie is due to face the media on Tuesday for a scheduled briefing following the release of the corporations annual report, although the controversy will dominate the agenda. The report, planned before the allegations came out, is an assessment of the BBCs performance over the last 12 months. It typically reveals the pay remuneration of the corporations biggest earners, with Mr Davie also expected to answer questions about stars pay packets. Director-general Tim Davie will face the media (Jacob King/PA) The young person at the centre of the controversy said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened with the unnamed presenter, however their mother reportedly stands by the claims. In a letter reported by BBC News At Six, the young person said via a lawyer: For the avoidance of doubt, nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations reported in The Sun newspaper are rubbish. The legal representative also said the young person told The Sun on Friday evening before the newspaper published the story that there was no truth to it, the BBC reported. The lawyer reportedly called the article on the front page inappropriate, claiming in the letter the mother and the young person are estranged. BBC News said it does not know the identity of the young person and has not spoken to them directly, but that the letter was sent by a multinational law firm. Police said they are carrying out further inquiries to establish whether any crime has been committed after BBC representatives spoke with detectives on Monday morning. A spokesperson for The Sun said: We have reported a story about two very concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and the welfare of their child. Their complaint was not acted upon by the BBC. We have seen evidence that supports their concerns. Its now for the BBC to properly investigate. The mother and stepfather of the young person stood by their allegation, and questioned how their child could afford the lawyer, The Sun reported. The newspaper alleged that the mother said: It is sad but we stand by our account and we hope they get the help they need. We did this to help and the presenter has got into their head. How did they afford a lawyer? The mother earlier told the newspaper she saw a picture of the presenter on her childs phone sitting on a sofa in his house in his underwear. She said she was told it was a picture from some kind of video call and looked like he was getting ready for my child to perform for him. The family were said to have complained to the BBC on May 19, but allegedly became frustrated that the star remained on air. The presenter is alleged to have made panicked calls to the young person following the allegations, saying he asked What have you done?, and asking them to tell their mother to stop the investigation. The BBC said it had been investigating a complaint since May, and new claims of a different nature were brought to it on Thursday. As well as being in touch with the police, the BBC is carrying out its own inquiries and talking to the young persons family. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has urged peaceful and positive July 12 celebrations across Northern Ireland. He made the call hours before bonfires built in loyalist areas will be lit ahead of Orange Order parades on Wednesday. They are a traditional part of the main date in the Protestant loyal order parading season. Some of the pyres, mainly made by stacking wooden pallets, have been burned already, though the vast majority will be lit late on Tuesday night. A pyre with a boat on top, with a picture of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (Niall Carson/PA) There was condemnation at the weekend when an Irish flag and a picture of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was put on a bonfire in Co Tyrone. Police are treating the incident as a hate crime. On Tuesday evening, police and community representatives were working together to remove material from a bonfire in Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, on the outskirts of north Belfast. An effigy, above a poster bearing the name of Sinn Fein Councillor Taylor McGrann, appeared on the pyre. A police spokesperson said they are treating this as a hate crime and have liaised with community representatives with a view to having the material removed. Sir Jeffrey said the burning of flags or election posts are self-inflicted wounds for unionists. For those of us who do cherish the legacy of the Glorious Revolution then the best way to show that to others is through peaceful and positive celebrations, he said. Those dont include the burning of flags or election posters on a bonfire, but thankfully in the vast majority of cases that does not happen. Unfortunately, it will be a minority of cases where offence is caused that will dominate the headlines. Leader of the DUP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (PA) As unionists we need to recognise that such incidents are self-inflicted wounds. From fun-days and bonfires on the 11th through to the annual Sham Fight at Scarva on Thursday, for most people it will be time to spend with family and catching up with friends. All of us who enjoy the celebrations can play our part in demonstrating to others everything that is best about this time of the year and why it is so important to us all. The Eleventh Night fires are traditionally lit on the eve of the Twelfth Of July a day when members of Protestant loyal orders parade to commemorate the Battle of Boyne in 1690. The bonfire was lit to usher in the Eleventh Night (PA) The battle, which unfolded at the Boyne river north of Dublin, saw Protestant King William of Orange defeat Catholic King James II to secure a Protestant line of succession to the British Crown. Most of the estimated 250 bonfires pass off every year without incident but a number continue to be a source of controversy. More competition on rail routes should be encouraged as part of measures to revitalise Britains railways, an industry body has said. Rail Partners, which represents private train companies, said allowing operators to run services on the same lines is more common on the Continent and can lead to a boost in passenger numbers, newer trains, cheaper fares and reduced subsidies. Most rail routes in Britain are served by a single operator handed a government contract. One of the few lines with competition is the East Coast, which runs between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh. Grand Central, Hull Trains and Lumo are open access operators competing with London North Eastern Railway (LNER) which do not receive subsidies from the Department for Transport. A report by Rail Partners noted that competition exists in countries such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain. It called for the full potential of open access to be realised on Britains railways where potential demand exists. The document went on: At a time of tight fiscal constraints, open access operators can offer services at no direct cost to the taxpayer while helping to connect underserved communities. For some long-distance routes, more rail companies competing for passengers could offer a range of different services based on customer needs. Whether it is quicker, more comfortable journeys or faster wi-fi, demand would shape the market, meaning rail companies would have to adapt to the needs of passengers if they want to keep their business. For open access to prosper, it is vital that the access regime is fair, transparent, stable, and that the regulator is equipped to facilitate the expansion of this type of competition. Applications to launch open access services are assessed by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). In December, the ORR approved a proposal from Grand Union Trains (GUT) to run five daily return services between Carmarthen in south-west Wales and London Paddington from the end of 2024 in competition with Great Western Railway. Rail Partners chief executive Andy Bagnall said a reinvigorated public-private partnership is the best way to revitalise the railway. He went on: What matters is what works for customers and the taxpayer, so we should put aside ideological debates. Train companies, domestically in the past and across the Continent right now, have shown the skills needed to grow passenger numbers and reduce costs for the taxpayer. If reform continues to stall, the railway faces stunted recovery from the pandemic and worst case, a permanently smaller network. But with the right reforms, the railway can return to growth and act as a catalyst for a stronger, greener economy. Two brothers who were on trial for planning to travel to Afghanistan to join a branch of Islamic State have pleaded guilty to terrorism offences. Muhammad Abdul Haleem Heyder Khan, 21, and 18-year-old Muhammad Hamzah Heyder Khan had been on trial at Birmingham Crown Court since early July, charged with preparing for acts of terrorism. But on Monday the pair pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorism, under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, West Midlands Police said. They will be sentenced on September 11. Muhammad Hamzah Heyder Khan and his brother, Muhammad Abdul Haleem Heyder Khan, pleaded guilty to terrorism offences (Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands CTU/PA) Opening the Crowns case during the trial last Wednesday, Harpreet Sandhu KC said the brothers had become increasingly radicalised over the course of 2022. They bought clothes and equipment ahead of a planned trip to Afghanistan to join the terrorist organisation known as Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP), and completed application forms to join Islamic State (IS). IS was proscribed by the Home Secretary in 2014, and ISKP is recognised as one of its regional branches, Mr Sandhu told the jury. The two men were arrested at their home in Ward End, Birmingham, on November 2 last year. Following the guilty verdicts, Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Payne, from Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands CTU, said: We welcome todays guilty pleas by the pair. The weight of evidence against them clearly gave them no choice but to admit they were preparing to join and fight for a terrorist organisation. We will continue to protect local communities by working with partners and the CPS to pursue and prosecute all those who show support for terrorism. We work tirelessly to counter terrorism. Our absolute priority is to ensure the safety and security of the people who live, work and visit the West Midlands area. Former prime minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie have welcomed their third child. Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson is the couples first child born since Mr Johnson left Downing Street last year after losing the confidence of his Conservative Party. Sharing a picture of herself cradling the baby on Instagram, Mrs Johnson, a 35-year-old environmental campaigner and former Tory Party adviser, wrote: A week of Frankie. Welcome to the world Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson born 5th July at 9.15am. (Can you guess which name my husband chose?!) Am loving every minute of the sleepy baby bubble. Seeing my older two embrace their new brother with such joy and excitement has been the most wonderful thing to see. We are all very smitten, she wrote. Thank you so much to the incredible NHS maternity team at UCLH. They really are the most amazing, caring people. I feel such immense gratitude. Now, can anyone recommend any good series/box sets to binge while breastfeeding? Time for a drink. The former prime minister, who is proud of his classical education, is known for peppering his speeches with references to figures from Greek and Roman history and mythology. Odysseus, one of the most famous figures of Greek mythology, is the hero of the Homers epic poem the Odyssey. Mrs Johnson cradles daughter Romy as she listens to her husband resigns as Conservative Party leader in 2022 (PA) A son, from Mr Johnsons previous marriage to the lawyer Marina Wheeler, is named Theodore Apollo Johnson after the Greek and Roman god. Mr and Mrs Johnson had their first child, Wilfred, on April 29 2020, in the early months of the Covid-19 crisis. They married in May 2021 at Westminster Cathedral, with daughter Romy born on December 9 in the same year. Mr Johnson, 59, now has eight children, although he has frequently obfuscated when asked exactly how many. He is known to have four children with his ex-wife Marina Wheeler and a child, born in 2009, as a result of an affair with art consultant Helen Macintyre. Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, second from right, alongside his wife Kim Keon Hee, right, is welcomed after arriving at Vilnius International Airport in the Lithuanian capital on July 10, to attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit. Yonhap Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was greeted by a rendition of "American Pie" during a chance encounter with a U.S. congressional delegation in Vilnius on Monday, his spokesperson said. The Don McLean song has become symbolic of Yoon after he sang the piece during a state dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington in April. While taking a walk in the Old Town of Vilnius, shortly after arriving here to attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, Yoon ran into U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), who was dining at an outdoor table of a restaurant, according to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon. Ricketts came up to Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee, thanking the president for his speech to a joint session of Congress in April and saying he looks forward to their meeting Tuesday morning. Chris Ramsey says he is over the moon to be able to share the story of his war hero great-grandfather on the BBCs Who Do You Think You Are? The comedian and broadcaster said it had been incredibly humbling to learn that members of his family had put their lives on the line in both the First and Second World War. Ramseys episode will see him trace his family history, and learn about his great-grandfather, Dryden Gordon Young, who had taken part in several pivotal historic battles. Comedian and broadcaster Chris Ramsey (Lia Toby/PA) Ahead of the shows release he said he was excited to watch it with his young son Robin, and send him to school with newly found family war knowledge. On his great-grandfather, he said: Dryden Gordon Young was a war hero and I had no idea anyone in my family could be described as that. He fought in some of the most pivotal battles in World War One and was also captured and placed in a prisoner of war camp in Germany. Despite this, he was still one of the luckiest men in my family. He continued: His entire story is incredible, Im actually pretty annoyed that I didnt know about this from anyone in the family. Im over the moon that the world will now hear his amazing story. Ramsey will also learn about his grandfather Alf Ramsey, who was part of the arctic convoys that took supplies to Russia during the Second World War. He was also one of the first humans to visit Nagasaki, in Japan after the atomic bomb was dropped there in 1945. Asked how it felt to learn that his relatives had fought in some of the biggest wars and battles in history, Ramsey said : Its incredibly humbling to know that your ancestors fought for your freedom and put their lives on the line for their country and their loved ones. It made me think about how terrified they must have been and how I honestly dont know if I could do the same. He added: I dont know if I am as lucky as them but I do consider myself lucky. Ive done stand up about it many times. Ramsey said that he was weirdly proud of his ancestors and was now waiting for his seven-year-old son Robin to be old enough to watch the show. He said: And Im massively looking forward to when he does history at school and I can send him in with this newly found family war knowledge. The proportion of primary school pupils who met the expected standard in reading in this years Sats exams has fallen, official statistics show. The Key Stage 2 Sats results, which assess pupils attainment in literacy and maths by the end of Year 6 in schools in England, showed that 73% achieved the expected standard in reading, down from 75% in 2022. It comes after parents and teachers complained that this years Sats reading paper was too difficult, with reports that some staff struggled to understand the questions and some children were reduced to tears. On Tuesday, primary school heads reported issues with accessing their pupils Sats results through a Government website for the second year in a row. Overall, 59% of pupils met the expected standard in all of reading, writing and maths this year the same as last year. In 2019, 65% achieved the expected standard in all three areas. The Governments aim is for 90% of children to leave primary school having achieved the expected standards in reading, writing and maths by 2030. The Department for Education (DfE) said this years cohort of Year 6 pupils experienced disruption to their learning during the pandemic particularly at the end of Year 3 and in Year 4. In individual subjects, scores were higher than last year, or the same, in all areas apart from reading. In total, 73% of pupils met the expected standard in maths, up from 71% in 2022, while 71% met the expected standard in writing, up from 69% last year. Meanwhile, 80% met the expected standard in science, up from 79% in 2022, while 72% met the expected standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling, unchanged from last year. Tiffnie Harris, primary specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: It is extremely difficult to raise standards when schools are struggling to put a qualified teacher in front of every class. Primary education is very poorly funded to the point where small schools are sometimes close to being financially unsustainable. The Governments target of 90% of children achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths is a pipe-dream in these circumstances. Schools minister Nick Gibb said: Whilst those meeting the expected standard in reading is down from 2022 from 75% to 73%, it remains higher compared to 2016 (66%) and is in line with pre-pandemic standards (73% met the expected standard in reading in 2019). Mr Gibb said England came fourth out of 43 countries that tested the reading levels of nine and 10-year-olds in the latest Progress in International Literacy Study (PIRLS). He added: Following the impact of the pandemic, it was expected that there may be lower levels of attainment while children caught up on lost learning. The progress that has been made in recovering from the pandemic is testament to the hard work of teachers and teaching assistants across the country. The DfE has said it will launch an updated Reading Framework to provide teachers and school leaders with evidence-informed guidance on good practice in reading in primary schools. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders union, said: Our members raised significant concerns about the difficulty of the reading paper this year and the impact it had on children. The threshold for the expected standard is five marks lower than last year, and the lowest since 2017 this is significant and clear recognition that this was a more challenging test for children. Mr Gibb asked the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) to assess the difficulty of this years reading Sats test following concerns. Based on evidence gathered throughout the test development process, STA said the content of this years test was at the appropriate level of difficulty. Its #SATs results day! Whatever the result, remember that a SATs score does not define children, or their future. Share our film as a reminder. pic.twitter.com/YC8QX1tTUt More Than A Score (@MoreThanScore) July 11, 2023 Primary school leaders also struggled to access their Sats results on Tuesday. Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at the NAHT, said: Its beyond belief that for the second successive year schools have had issues logging into the Primary Assessment Gateway (PAG) system, which they use to access results. We were assured that changes had been made so there would not be a repeat this time around. However, from 7.30am this morning, many schools had similar problems as leaders tried to access their results before starting another busy school day. The Government has made SATs extremely high stakes for schools, so it should come as no surprise that demand to access the system on the morning results are released is high. School leaders are expected to get things right, adhering to deadlines for completing tasks and submitting data; the same expectations must be met by the Government. A spokeswoman for campaign group More Than A Score said: SATs fail all children. Throughout Year 6, pupils have spent too much time cramming for government tests which will never provide an accurate picture of all that they can do, or the overall performance of their school. For months, instead of enjoying a broad, rich curriculum, they focused on English and maths, only to then face a reading paper which was condemned by heads, teachers and parents for its inappropriateness and difficulty. A Capita spokeswoman said: The PAG system is operational, just busy, and we urge teachers to be patient. Between 7.30am, when the results became available, and 10.30am, we had 46,879 successful downloads from 13,238 schools. All members of the G7 are set to sign a long-term security arrangement with Ukraine that Rishi Sunak said had the potential to return peace to Europe. With the British Prime Minister citing the UK as having played a leading role in the pact, No 10 said the accord marked the first time that so many countries had agreed a comprehensive multi-year security arrangement of such a nature with another country. Wednesdays G7 declaration, which is expected to be ratified in the margins of the Nato summit in Vilnius, is set to provide more defence equipment, increase and accelerate intelligence sharing and bolster support for cyber defences. It plans to expand training programmes and military exercises, while also developing Ukraines industrial capabilities, according to Downing Street. Mr Sunak used an address to the Munich security conference in February to lay out his argument for why the international community had a duty to ensure Ukraine was never again left vulnerable to Russian brutality and pushed for the country to be put in the best possible position for any future ceasefire negotiations. The British leader, who arrived in the Lithuanian capital saying he was keen to get a non-Nato deal over the line, said the agreement would send a strong signal to President Putin. The announcement comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky voiced his frustration that the Nato summit in Vilnius did not offer a timeframe for Kyiv to join the defensive alliance. He said the delay by allies was providing Russia and its occupying forces with the motivation to continue its terror. Addressing a square full of supporters in Vilnius on Tuesday evening, Mr Zelensky said: Nato will give Ukraine security. Ukraine will make the alliance stronger. His close ally Mr Sunak looked to move the conversation away from the Vilnius communique and onto what the worlds wealthiest countries were doing to provide multi-year backing to Kyiv. Mr Sunak said: As Ukraine makes strategic progress in their counteroffensive, and the degradation of Russian forces begins to infect Putins front line, we are stepping up our formal arrangements to protect Ukraine for the long term. We can never see a repeat of what has happened in Ukraine and this declaration reaffirms our commitment to ensure it is never left vulnerable to the kind of brutality Russia has inflicted on it again. Supporting their progress on the pathway to Nato membership, coupled with formal, multilateral, and bilateral agreements and the overwhelming support of Nato members will send a strong signal to President Putin and return peace to Europe. No 10 did not set out more precise details about what will be contained in the G7 pact but reports have suggested that the multi-country agreement with Kyiv could emulate the defence agreement between the US and Israel. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska talk with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron as they arrive for the social dinner during the Nato summit in Vilnius (Paul Ellis/PA) Washington and Tel Aviv have a military and technology deal to afford Israel protection in the Middle East but without offering a Nato-esque clause to come to its aid during a time of attack. In addition to the work on a long-term bilateral security pact, the UK has announced its plans to deliver more than 70 combat and logistics vehicles to Ukraine. The British Army vehicles will be gifted to Ukraine to boost its counteroffensive operation. According to No 10 officials, the vehicles will ensure front line forces have the means to carry ammunition and equipment, evacuate injured soldiers and recover damaged vehicles. Thousands of additional rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition will also be immediately delivered to Ukraine as part of the package. A 50 million equipment support contract will sustain what the UK has already provided to Ukraine, including spare parts, technical support and maintenance training. Mr Zelensky is due to attend the second day of the Vilnius summit on Wednesday, announcing on social media that he plans to hold talks with Mr Sunak and other G7 allies. The number of passengers using Heathrow airport has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels. Figures published by the airport show it was used by 7.0 million travellers last month, just 3% below the total in June 2019. That came after passenger numbers reached 6.7 million in May, which was 1% under the total for the same month in 2019. Analysis by the PA news agency found these are the first two months where the decrease compared with before the coronavirus crisis was within 5%. Heathrow said transatlantic travel is driving the growth in passenger numbers, particularly in the last three days of June as many people from the US went home for Independence Day celebrations on July 4. Outgoing chief executive John Holland-Kaye said he is very proud of how the airports staff are working together to deliver excellent service at our busiest time of year. He added: Summer at Heathrow is all about family holidays and we are ready to make sure yours gets off to a great start. Heathrow is forecasting that its total number of passengers this year will be between 70 million and 78 million. Good morning and welcome to Heathrow Airport. As always we're on our keyboards ready to assist with any airport related queries. Anything you need to know? Our inbox is always open! @AeroAndyUK Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) July 11, 2023 The mid-point of 74 million would be 9% below the 2019 total of 80.9 million. Last years annual total of 61.6 million represented a 24% decline on 2019. The return of demand for air travel is a contentious issue as several airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have repeatedly accused Heathrow of downplaying expectations in an attempt to justify higher charges. In February, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the cap on Heathrows average charge per passenger should be reduced from 31.57 for 2023 and last year to 25.43 over the next three years. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has granted permission to Heathrow, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines to appeal against the finding. A final decision is expected between August and October. Charges are paid by airlines but are generally passed on to passengers in air fares. An image of Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill has been placed on a bonfire in Co Tyrone. The picture, along with Irish flags, appeared on the pyre in the Eastvale area of Dungannon on Tuesday evening as bonfires in loyalist areas across Northern Ireland prepared to be lit as part of the annual July 12 celebrations. Ms ONeill leads Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland, which won the most seats in the Assembly election entitling her to be nominated as the first nationalist or republican first minister. However the Stormont Assembly remains collapsed amid DUP protest action over post-Brexit arrangements. On Tuesday evening, police said they were talking to community representatives about removing the material which they are treating as hate crime. Officers are aware of material placed on a bonfire in Eastvale, Dungannon earlier today, the PSNI said in a statement. Police are treating this as a hate crime and are liaising with community representatives with a view to having the material removed. An effigy of Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill on the Eastvale Avenue bonfire in Dungannon (PA) DUP MLA Deborah Erskine condemned the picture of Ms ONeill on the bonfire as wrong, and urged those responsible to remove the effigy. Numerous events will be held tonight without burning flags, symbols or effigies, Dungannon should be the same, she tweeted. It came as DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson urged peaceful and positive celebrations. He made the call hours before bonfires built in loyalist areas will be lit ahead of Orange Order parades on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended a bonfire on the Portaferry Road in Newtownards. It is understood a man fell from a bonfire structure at around 10pm and is being taken to hospital. A pyre with a boat on top, with a picture of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (PA) There was condemnation at the weekend when an Irish flag and a picture of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was put on a bonfire in Co Tyrone. Police are treating the incident as a hate crime. On Tuesday evening, police and community representatives were working together to remove material from a bonfire in Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, on the outskirts of north Belfast. An effigy, above a poster bearing the name of Sinn Fein Councillor Taylor McGrann, appeared on the pyre. A police spokesperson said they are treating this as a hate crime and have liaised with community representatives with a view to having the material removed. Sir Jeffrey said the burning of flags or election posters are self-inflicted wounds for unionists. For those of us who do cherish the legacy of the Glorious Revolution then the best way to show that to others is through peaceful and positive celebrations, he said. Those dont include the burning of flags or election posters on a bonfire, but thankfully in the vast majority of cases that does not happen. Unfortunately, it will be a minority of cases where offence is caused that will dominate the headlines. Leader of the DUP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (PA) As unionists we need to recognise that such incidents are self-inflicted wounds. From fun-days and bonfires on the 11th through to the annual Sham Fight at Scarva on Thursday, for most people it will be time to spend with family and catching up with friends. All of us who enjoy the celebrations can play our part in demonstrating to others everything that is best about this time of the year and why it is so important to us all. The Eleventh Night fires are traditionally lit on the eve of the Twelfth Of July a day when members of Protestant loyal orders parade to commemorate the Battle of Boyne in 1690. The bonfire was lit to usher in the Eleventh Night (PA) The battle, which unfolded at the Boyne river north of Dublin, saw Protestant King William of Orange defeat Catholic King James II to secure a Protestant line of succession to the British Crown. Most of the estimated 250 bonfires pass off every year without incident, but a number continue to be a source of controversy. Artificial intelligence and heightened sensitivity about fraud are causing banks to shut down the accounts of innocent people, a lawyer has warned. High-profile cases involving Jeremy Hunt and Nigel Farage have led to ministers calling for an urgent review of how banks treat politicians. But Jeremy Asher, a solicitor at law firm Setfords, said members of the public were also having their lives ruined by the sudden and unexplained closure of their bank accounts thanks to problems with the way banks guard against the risk of fraud. Suspicions about fraudulent activity are uploaded to privately-operated databases that banks then check when deciding whether to approve applications for loans or a new account, or when reviewing existing accounts. Mr Asher said: They have to have a reasonable suspicion to load a marker, but thats far lower than proving a case to a criminal standard. When they do that, peoples bank accounts close, their applications fail, they cant get credit and they dont know about this because its all hidden. While most fraud markers are loaded correctly, and Mr Asher stressed that they do play an important role in stopping fraudsters, the system is not perfect and some innocent people slip through the net. The markers are supposed to be advisory, with banks then carrying out further checks, but Mr Asher, who specialises in overturning fraud markers, said increasing use of automated decision-making, designed to cut costs, meant in practice they had become the be-all-and-end-all. He said: In particular when youre looking at applications, you will find a lot of those organisations use automated processes and they just wont look behind it. Customers are often unaware of the reason their account has been closed or their loan application has been refused, with banks saying they are unable to disclose the fact there is a fraud marker against their name in case it tips them off about a criminal investigation. The number of fraud markers has also been on the rise in recent years. In 2017, Mr Asher said, 305,000 markers were uploaded to the largest fraud database, run by fraud prevention service Cifas. Last year, that figure had increased to 409,000. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said he had been denied a Monzo account because of his position as a politically exposed person (Aaron Chown/PA) Allowing for some people having multiple markers against their names, Mr Asher estimated that at least one million people could be listed on one of these databases. He also suggested the situation could get worse as banks became more risk averse thanks to a new offence of failing to prevent fraud that the Government is seeking to introduce as part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill currently going through Parliament. Anti-fraud campaigners argue the new offence will make it easier to prosecute organisations that fail to take steps to stop fraud, but Mr Asher said it could lead to banks taking a zero risk tolerance approach to customers. He said: Unless they are absolutely 100% positive youre OK, they are going to walk away from you. Recent high-profile cases have focused on the issue of political exposed persons (PEPs) those considered to be higher risks for fraud or money laundering because of their political connections with Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, recently saying he suspected this was the reason he had been refused an account by Monzo. But Mr Asher said the processes involved were similar, with increasingly risk-averse banks relying on automated processes to screen out customers. The Financial Conduct Authority is already conducting a review of how banks treat PEPs, with city minister Andrew Griffith urging the watchdog to prioritise the issue to ensure UK politicians were not unduly denied access to banking services. Mr Asher added: There needs to be a bit of slack and a reality check about fraud risk. Using automated systems and AI is a tool, but its just that, it shouldnt be the be-all-and-end-all of the decision-making process. There needs to be more time spent on decisions. A spokesperson for Cifas said: Cifas members file individuals to our database in order to share intelligence on a persons previous fraudulent conduct. Evidence to support a Cifas marker is robust and must meet our standard of proof, and there are strict rules and guidance around the use of Cifas markers in automated systems. A Cifas marker is a trigger for a member to investigate a customers conduct, and it is the decision of a member whether or not to allow an account to be opened or closed. We are transparent about how we operate and there are clear processes in place should a consumer wish to understand what data is on the Cifas database or to appeal a marker. Ryan Tubridy has reiterated on several occasions that his decision to step down as host of RTEs Late Late Show programme was not linked to the discovery of the accounting issues by auditors. Tubridys decision to step down from RTEs flagship chat show was made public on March 16, with auditors first raising concerns about invoices on March 8. During an appearance before the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, Tubridy was asked about comments he gave in an interview on March 3: I am here to talk to you today with a view to go straight back into the job I love. Tubridy confirmed this was correct. On March 7, Deloitte first contacted chief financial officer Richard Collins about concerns around invoices that had been raised. On March 8, Mr Collins contacted then director general Dee Forbes to discuss the nature of invoices and concerned raised by Deloitte. Tubridy told the committee that his agent Noel Kelly informed RTE on his behalf on March 13 that he would be stepping down from his role in hosting the Late Late Show. I will be here until the last dog barks until you believe me that that decision came from my heart and soul, Tubridy told TDs on Tuesday. That decision, the kernel of it was last August This was a very personal decision. When asked whether anyone from RTE contacted Mr Kelly about the Deloitte review, Mr Kelly replied, not until May. The untruth I really, really wanted to clear up here today is there was no, no, no connection between this fiasco and my departure from The Late Late Show, I promise you, Tubridy said. He later told TDs: I think if you have a question with regard to the departure of The Late Late Show, that was so deeply personal and so deeply from my heart, I would urge you to ask me about that. Mr Tubridy and Mr Kelly were asked whether there was any correspondence between them during the period March 8 to 16 about the problematic invoices for two 75,000 euro payments, to which they said no, there was not. In response to questions from Green Party TD Marc O Cathasaigh, who emphasised that two invoices were presented to Ms Forbes on March 8 this year, Noel Kelly said that he does not have Ms Forbes phone number. Ive only ever met Dee Forbes with her legal team and her lawyers in their office in RTE, Mr Kelly said. Ive never had a cup of tea with Dee Forbes. Ive never met Dee Forbes for lunch. Ive never met her for dinner. I dont know Dee Forbes apart from when I meet her in (RTE). A man who killed a nine-year-old girl by stabbing her in the heart as she played in the street has been given an indefinite hospital order. Deividas Skebas knifed Lilia Valutyte once in the chest in Fountain Lane, Boston, Lincolnshire, last summer, a jury has ruled. The 23-year-old was deemed unfit to plead or face a conventional trial due to his mental health and was the subject of a two-day trial of the facts at Lincoln Crown Court. On Tuesday, Skebas was detained in a secure hospital for an indefinite period the only sentence the court could pass hours after jurors returned their determination after about 15 minutes of deliberation. Judge Mrs Justice McGowan DBE said: On July 28 2022, Deividas Skebas can be seen on CCTV footage taking a knife from the pocket of his jeans, running down the road and stabbing Lilia Valutyte as she played in the street. He then ran away. Lilia died from one stab wound to the heart. The grief and suffering of her family has been beyond imagination. She added: Given the fact that (Skebas) has been found to have killed a child, I am of the opinion that the only appropriate way to deal with the case is to make an order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Therefore I make an order that he be readmitted to and detained at Rampton Hospital. The judge also ordered a restriction under section 41 of the Mental Health Act, which means Skebas can only be discharged from hospital if the Justice Secretary approves it. Accordingly, I make a hospital order without restriction of time, she said. Deividas Skebas appearing for an earlier court hearing at Lincoln Crown Court (Joe Giddens/PA) Jurors were not asked to deliver a guilty or not guilty verdict or determine if Skebas intended to kill instead only determining if he physically did what he was accused of. Skebas attacked Lilia eight days after returning to the UK for a second time from his home country of Lithuania, the court was told. The jury was shown CCTV of him running towards the girl as she played outside a shop in which her mother was working at about 6.15pm on July 28. He pulled a knife from behind his back and stabbed her once in the chest before running away. Lilia was declared dead at 7.11pm at Bostons Pilgrim Hospital. Lilias family said it had four corners and now one is gone (Lincolnshire Police/PA) Prosecutor Christopher Donnellan KC said a Sabatier paring knife, bought by Skebas two days before the killing in the towns Wilko shop, was later found at his home in Thorold Street, Boston. A T-shirt, stained with Lilias blood, was also found, and Skebas, in an interview with police, admitted stabbing the schoolgirl. Skebas was not present for his sentencing, did not attend the trial and did not play any part in proceedings. He may face a conventional trial for murder if his mental health improves. Pensions Minister Laura Trott has said she is united with the Chancellor in creating a pension market which delivers for savers. Speaking at an event in Westminster on Tuesday, Ms Trott said: The Chancellor and I are united in our commitment to creating a pension market which delivers for savers, one that is boosted by investment in innovative UK businesses and a broader class of productive assets. Ms Trott was speaking after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his Mansion House speech on Monday. Mr Hunt promised a 1,000-a-year pensions boost to the average earner with reforms to get pension funds making riskier investments in high-growth firms. He said there is a perverse situation in which UK institutional investors are not putting as much money into UK start-ups as their international counterparts, and hailed an agreement with leading pensions firms to put 5% of their investments into early-stage businesses in the fintech, life sciences, biotech and clean technology sectors by 2030. Ms Trott said she wants there to be a wider choice for people at retirement (UK Parliament/PA) The changes could help increase the retirement savings of a typical earner who starts saving at 18 by 12% over their career, or more than 1,000 more a year once they stop working, according to the Chancellor. Ms Trott outlined on Tuesday how a range of measures should help to improve outcomes for pension savers. She said the Government intends to legislate, when parliamentary time allows, to introduce a comprehensive solution to address the small pots that some employees accumulate when they switch jobs. Ms Trott said: I am proposing that eligible DC (defined contribution) pension pots worth 1,000 or less will be consolidated into a handful of schemes. She said that a central clearing house would be needed to facilitate the policy. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt speaking in London on Monday (Aaron Chown/PA) Ms Trott continued: Over the last decade, we have rightly focused on the accumulation or building up phase of a savers journey. However, at retirement people have to make a choice about where they want to put their money to give them a retirement income and I want there to be a wider choice, with more guidance for people who dont engage despite the help available to them to do so. Ms Trott said around half of pension savers accessing their pension take the first decumulation (the process of converting pension savings to retirement income) option proposed to them by their scheme. She said a consultation explores the development of an option for a suite of decumulation products that schemes would be required to offer. Ms Trott added: I am particularly interested in how this could include new approaches. Referring to the reforms brought forward by the Government, Ms Trott said: I am proud to be driving this significant step forward in the creation of a system that will deliver better, fairer, more predictable pensions, that are invested in the fantastic opportunities this country has to offer. Lee Hyoung-il, chief of Statistics Korea, speaks during a meeting at the Statistics Korea headquarters in Daejeon, Friday. Yonhap Korea's statistics agency said Tuesday the country has been selected as the host of an international statistics event scheduled for 2027, which will bring together experts and government officials from around the world to share knowledge in the field of statistics. Korea will host the World Statistics Congress (WSC) of the International Statistical Institute in 2027 in the southeastern port city of Busan, marking the second time for the country to host the biennial event, following its previous hosting in 2001, according to Statistics Korea. "The event is considered an Olympics of statistics officials, in which experts from government, international bodies and private firms gather to discuss theories and developments in the field," the agency said in a statement. The agency added the decision came on the back of Korea's efforts to share its knowledge in the field of statistics with developing nations through official development assistance programs, as well as cooperation with the United Nations and other international bodies. "The congress will expand and promote the application of innovative statistics technologies in the artificial intelligence and big-data sectors," it added. "It will also give opportunities for Korean experts to share their achievements with the globe." (Yonhap) Residents of a Yorkshire town have called for an independent vote on hydrogen heating trials after proposals for the alternative location were called off. Redcar homeowners have written a letter to the Government to warn of the lack of substantial local support as the town becomes the trials only remaining candidate. It comes after the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) confirmed on Tuesday a trial will no longer take place in the Whitby area of Ellesmere Port in Cheshire following local protests. Cadent, the gas distribution network for Whitby, and Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the network for Redcar in Yorkshire, earlier this year submitted rival bids to test the feasibility of a home-heating grid run without natural gas in about 2,000 homes. But Cadent said on Tuesday the Government is now likely to progress the trial in Redcar after DESNZ said its proposal for Whitby is not preferred. Redcar residents are now calling for an open local debate evening with independent experts and an independently managed vote on whether the trial should go ahead. In its letter, the Redcar and Cleveland Hydrogen Trial Group said 565 signatures from the proposed trial have signed a petition for these measures. The group expressed concern that political support for hydrogen home heating is waning and asked whether the trials should go ahead at all. It also claimed NGN is biased in their approach to this trial and have vested interest in the outcome. The group accused the distributer of making highly inaccurate and unverified claims, including by saying the proposed trial will lead to CO2 emissions. The letter said: As residents, we are extremely concerned that there is a lack of independent advice and evidence available to us. It said 43 independent studies from expert organisations like the International Environment Agency find that hydrogen will play an extremely limited role in home heating in a net-zero world. Redcar residents deserve unbiased information to help us make decisions that will directly affect our day to day lives, it said. We call for independent experts to advise local residents on the risks and benefits of taking part in this trial, and more widely to advise the government on whether the trial should go ahead. Earlier this year, the Government said its proposed hydrogen village trial would not go ahead without strong local support. It followed a backlash from homeowners in the proposed areas of Redcar and Whitby, with concerns that hydrogen is less safe, less energy-efficient and more expensive than gas or electric heat pumps. After listening to the views of residents,its clear that there is no strong local support, therefore Whitby will no longer be considered as the location for the UK's first hydrogen village trial discussions with NGN re Redcar are ongoing and we'll announce next steps shortly. Martin Callanan (@MartinCallanan) July 10, 2023 Conservative peer Lord Callanan tweeted on Tuesday: After listening to the views of residents, its clear that there is no strong local support, therefore Whitby will no longer be considered as the location for the UKs first hydrogen village trial discussions with NGN re Redcar are ongoing and well announce next steps shortly. The proposed trial would begin in 2025 and last two years, with funding supplied by energy regulator Ofgem. Michael Liebreich, founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said calling off the Whitby trial is the right decision and residents need to be fully informed before making a decision. He said: This is a process thats intrusive, it is a change to your house, its a change in the way you heat, its a change to potentially your bills in the future, its a change to the way you cook, it can change your own future plans for going to different sources. So they have to make sure that people are fully informed and not giving consent based on partial or poor information. Alice Harrison, fossil fuels campaign leader at Global Witness, said: Hydrogen does have a role to play in decarbonising our industry but it would be a disaster as a source of home heating its explosive, expensive and its much worse for the climate than alternatives like heat pumps. With the Whitby trial now out of the question, the Government must now do the same with Redcar and end the disastrous hydrogen trials. An NGN spokesperson said: We completed over 10 months of consultation in Redcar, including an independent survey which found 95% of residents and landlords felt positive or were neutral about our proposal. We also held a public meeting, conducted by an independent research company and the feedback was included in our proposal, which was submitted to Government. We entirely understand that there may be concerns about the move to hydrogen and electricity. Our door is always open, and we continue to actively encourage anyone with questions or reservations to come and speak to us at our Hydrogen Hub on the High Street. The Government is currently reviewing our project proposal before setting out next steps. PA has contacted DESNZ for comment. The UKs competitions watchdog has said it is willing to work with Microsoft over its planned acquisition of video game company Activision Blizzard, which could halt an impending legal battle. It comes shortly after a US judge handed Microsoft a victory by saying it would not stop the impending 69 billion US dollar (55 billion) takeover. The UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) previously blocked the high-profile acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the company behind Call Of Duty, World Of Warcraft, Candy Crush and Guitar Hero, among others. The regulator insisted that such a deal would give Microsoft an unfair advantage in the cloud computer game market. But it was met with a fierce response from Microsoft, with the president calling the decision his companys darkest day in the UK, and saying it suggested the European Union was more attractive for scaling businesses than Britain. Activision Blizzard said it would work aggressively with Microsoft to reverse the decision through an appeal, with a tribunal hearing scheduled for later this month. But on Tuesday, the CMA said it was willing to consider ways to reshape the tech giants takeover, following the US court ruling. A CMA spokesperson said: We stand ready to consider any proposals from Microsoft to restructure the transaction in a way that would address the concerns set out in our final report. In order to be able to prioritise work on these proposals, Microsoft and Activision have agreed with the CMA that a stay of litigation in the UK would be in the public interest and all parties have made a joint submission to the Competition Appeal Tribunal to this effect. Microsoft said in a statement: While we ultimately disagree with the CMAs concerns, we are considering how the transaction might be modified in order to address those concerns in a way that is acceptable to the CMA. A five-day court hearing in San Francisco ended late last month. It showcased testimony by Microsoft and Activision Blizzard who pledged to keep Call Of Duty available to people who played it on consoles, namely Sonys PlayStation, that compete with Microsofts Xbox. The Government faces further parliamentary hurdles as its Illegal Migration Bill returns to the Commons, despite announcing new amendments to quell safeguarding concerns for detained children and pregnant women. MPs will vote on Tuesday on changes backed by the House of Lords after the draft legislation suffered 20 defeats in the upper chamber. It comes as MPs heard the Home Office is paying for thousands of empty hotel beds reserved for migrants to avoid overcrowding at processing centres. The Home Office offered a series of concessions on Monday evening, including limits on the detention of unaccompanied children, who will be granted immigration bail after eight days rather than the current proposed 28. Another change will prevent people who have already entered the UK without permission from being removed retrospectively after the legislation receives royal assent. (PA Graphics) The Government will also keep the current limit of 72 hours on the detention of pregnant women though this can be extended to seven days on the authorisation of a minister. It comes after the Bill was mauled in the Lords, where peers demanded a series of revisions including modern slavery protections and asylum help for unaccompanied children. The defeats raised the prospect of a prolonged stand-off between peers and the Government during so-called parliamentary ping-pong, when legislation is batted between the Lords and Commons. The Government is expected to seek to overturn many of the amendments, but said on Monday it has accepted some changes in an attempt to ease the Bills passage through Parliament. The Government still faces potential challenges despite the changes, with Theresa May and Iain Duncan Smith among senior Conservatives to air concerns that the legislation must go further in offering modern slavery protections. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent (Gareth Fuller/ PA) Home Office second permanent secretary Simon Ridley told the Commons Public Accounts Committee the Government department keeps a buffer of about 5,000 beds across the country in case of a sudden influx of Channel crossings in a bid to avoid more problems with overcrowding at the Manston processing centre in Kent. He later added: We have got excess beds that we are paying for that we can move people into immediately, to which MPs expressed surprise at the number set aside. The Bill is central to Rishi Sunaks pledge to stop the boats one of five key commitments for his leadership which remains mired in difficulties. It aims to ensure those who arrive in the UK without Government permission will be detained and promptly removed, either to their home country or a third country, such as Rwanda. But critics have argued it is morally unacceptable and unworkable, and the Rwanda plan is now set for a battle at the Supreme Court. Mr Sunak has said he is throwing everything at the pledge and insisted the Government remains confident that the plan is the fair and right way forward, while Home Secretary Suella Braverman said Mondays amendments would help this crucial legislation pass through Parliament swiftly. Campaigners have called on MPs to stand on the right side of history ahead of a crucial Commons vote on the Governments sweeping asylum reforms. Rishi Sunak said he was throwing absolutely everything at tackling Channel crossings and insisted his stop the boats plan was working as MPs prepared to vote on changes to the Illegal Migration Bill. More than 13,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to the UK so far this year, including over 1,600 in the last four days, the latest Government figures show. More than 60 people who include victims of torture, refugees, asylum seekers and those already granted asylum in the UK as well as around 30 campaign groups wrote to members of the House of Commons to express their horror at the Bill and urge them to oppose the proposed legislation. (PA Graphics) The letter, sent on Tuesday, said: Its time for this Government to once and for all scrap their inhumane approach to refugees and rebuild the asylum system on foundations of compassion and human dignity Finding safety in the UK is an incredible opportunity to rebuild your life. We urge you to not take away this lifeline from the refugees that follow in our footsteps. It is now time for you to stand on the right side of history and oppose this shameful piece of legislation when it returns to the House of Commons. MPs are expected to cast a series of votes from 5pm on changes backed by the House of Lords after the draft legislation was mauled in the upper chamber, suffering 20 defeats as peers demanded a raft of revisions. The Home Office offered several concessions on Monday evening, including on time limits for the detention of children and pregnant women as well as removing a clause so the law, if enacted, would no longer apply retrospectively from when it was first announced in March. The letters signatories, which include charities Freedom from Torture, Care4Calais and Refugee Action alongside individuals, said: These cruel plans wont stop people taking dangerous journeys to find safety in the UK. Instead, this Bill closes the door on refugees, punishing people who had little other choice but to risk their life reaching the UK. We know this because when you are fleeing the danger of torture, persecution or war, there is absolutely nothing that can stop you. You are on autopilot. Its like being in a burning house and finding an escape window. Nothing can deter a human being when they are fleeing for their life. MPs heard the Home Office is paying for thousands of empty hotel beds to avoid overcrowding at the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA) Downing Street declined to set a deadline for the passage of the Bill through Parliament but the Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: We want to move it through as quickly as possible, recognising that of course theres significant views on either side of the debate. As he travelled to a Nato summit in Lithuania, Mr Sunak acknowledged fulfilling his pledge to curb Channel crossings would not happen overnight but stressed he was determined to do it, adding: Im throwing absolutely everything at it and I wont stop. The Prime Minister also defended a speech he made in Dover last month where he hailed an apparent reduction in migrants making the journey just weeks before improved weather conditions saw a large number of arrivals. He told reporters: I also said in that speech very deliberately that crossings would increase over the summer. I wasnt hiding that fact. I said then, Here we are, making progress so far. I fully expected crossings to rise in the summer. I said it at the time very clearly. But I do think the plan is working and starting to work. It comes as MPs heard the Home Office is paying for thousands of empty hotel beds reserved for migrants to avoid overcrowding at processing centres. Home Office second permanent secretary Simon Ridley told the Commons Public Accounts Committee the Government department keeps a buffer of about 5,000 beds across the country in case of a sudden influx of Channel crossings in a bid to avoid more problems with overcrowding at the Manston processing centre in Kent. He later added: We have got excess beds that we are paying for that we can move people into immediately, to which MPs expressed surprise at the number set aside. It is not surprising that a briefing document presented to Northern Irelands new health minister in January 2020 contained only two paragraphs about emergency planning for a pandemic, a senior Stormont civil servant has said. Richard Pengelly, former permanent secretary of the Department of Health, told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that at the time, industrial action by health workers in the region was the number one issue for incoming minister Robin Swann. Mr Pengelly was permanent secretary at the department from 2014 to 2022, including a period in 2017-2020 when devolution had collapsed. During his appearance at the inquiry, he was questioned by counsel Kate Blackwell about a briefing document presented to Mr Swann on his first day in office in January 2020 following the restoration of the Stormont institutions and shortly after Covid had first been identified. At the time, nurses in Northern Ireland were staging strike action in protest over pay and staffing levels within the health service. Ms Blackwell said that the document contained two paragraphs about emergency protocol in the event of a pandemic. She added that Mr Swann had told the inquiry that the briefing paper was not accompanied by any other documentation. Mr Pengelly said he could not remember if he had seen the document before it was presented to the minister. Ms Blackwell said: If it had come across your desk would you have noted it is quite sparse in the detail? Robin Swann was health minister in Northern Ireland during the Covid pandemic (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Pengelly said: I would have noted that but I wouldnt have been critical of that because the purpose of the first day brief is just to sight the minister. It is not a document in which we convey a request for any decisions. The first day brief is really a pack given to minister on appointment, basically as their homework to read before they arrive at the department. The barrister asked Mr Pengelly if it was surprising that there was nothing in the briefing paper about the departments risk register. The civil servant said: Not necessarily because if you think back to January 2020 when minister Swann took up post, at that stage the immediate crisis that an incoming health minister was dealing with was the industrial action and all energy had to be focused on that. There is an issue with pure bandwidth and how much information you can bombard an incoming minister with. He continued: In terms of the risk register, that is an issue that is dealt with at a corporate level by myself with my responsibilities as an accounting officer I didnt feel the need to escalate that to the minister. Baroness Heather Hallett asked about a briefing paper for new health minister Robin Swann (UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA) Inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett asked: You were the permanent secretary of the department and you had an incoming minister, wouldnt you have had overall charge of making sure the briefing was adequate? If you read that as a new minister you would think everything was hunky dory. It wouldnt have alerted the minister to any potential problems or risks. Mr Pengelly said: This section of the document was just sighting the fact about the departmental responsibilities. The emerging issue at that stage about the evolving position in Covid, I think at that stage in January it was so fast moving it was captured through dialogue with the minister because anything that was written down would have been out of date by the time it arrived with the minister. He added: If the emergency planning section had been unpacked with all that granular detail a similar approach could be taken under every other section and a short high-level document would become an unmanageable, unwieldy and virtually unreadable document. Kate Blackwell KC questioned Richard Pengelly about a lack of detail in a briefing document (Peter Byrne/PA) Ms Blackwell asked: Does the lack of detail in the briefing and what Im going to describe as a subsequent failure from the permanent secretary to verbally brief the incoming minister on these matters indicate that there was an expectation that the department could be run without the involvement of ministers? Mr Pengelly said: Not at all, it was an issue about prioritisation and focus because there was a huge work programme for an incoming minister of a department that accounts for over 50% of the public expenditure in Northern Ireland that had been without a minister for three years, it was a question of prioritisation and ensuring the ministerial focus on the key areas. As Ive mentioned, in the context of health, the number one issue which consumed a huge amount of time for the incoming minister was trying to settle the industrial dispute, which was really crippling at that stage to the health service. Not enough consideration was given to the impact of lockdown measures introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Baroness Arlene Foster has said. The former Northern Ireland first minister and DUP leader also told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that she believed that the region had been left by the Westminster government without ministerial cover during a period when the Stormont powersharing institutions had collapsed in the years before the pandemic. The inquiry is hearing from Northern Ireland witnesses this week as it examines how prepared the UK was ahead of the coronavirus pandemic which struck in early 2020. The former first minister said when Covid struck there was a great fear and a panic which ensued. She added: It was felt there was a need to lock down in a particular way. I do not think that enough consideration was given to the impact, the non-health impact, and there were many health impacts as well that were not foreseen. The devastating impact that Covid had on so many families in Northern Ireland stays with me because it was a devastating impact, many people lost loved ones in devastating circumstances that have been set out by the bereaved families statement. I want to take this opportunity to give them my condolences and my sympathies. The Stormont institutions were not operating between 2017 and early 2020 (Liam McBurney/PA) Much of the questioning focused on the civil contingency planning for emergency events in the years before the pandemic struck. Northern Ireland was without devolved government from 2017 following the resignation of then-deputy first minister Martin McGuinness. It was not restored until the New Decade, New Approach deal in January 2020 which put ministers in post just before the Covid pandemic hit the region. Then-first minister Baroness Foster, along with former deputy first minister Michelle ONeill and former health minister Robin Swann, were the most high profile Stormont ministers leading the Covid response. Ms ONeill is due to give evidence to the inquiry on Wednesday, while Mr Swann gave evidence last week. Lead counsel to the inquiry Hugo Keith asked Baroness Foster if she agreed that the absence of a Stormont executive in those years had left Northern Irelands public services in a state of decay and stagnation. She said: There were no ministers in place during that time. I think when you look at the fact that the Northern Ireland Office took a policy decision not to intervene at that time but instead leave Northern Ireland without any ministerial cover was something that I feel I need to comment on. The Westminster Government is sovereign at all times and if there is a deficiency in the Northern Ireland administration then those people in Westminster with responsibility for Northern Ireland have a responsibility; that is true whether it is in relation to female reproductive rights or indeed resilience and emergency planning. I would think that was a gap which should have been dealt with at that time. Mr Keith asked why Westminster could not have stepped in to deal with spending pressures within public services. Baroness Foster said: That is the point I am making, they should have stepped in. If there was a difficulty with resourcing in Northern Ireland particularly around the important issue of resilience and planning for emergencies then there was a duty on the Westminster Government to note that and to take the appropriate action. Former ministers Michelle ONeill, Robin Swann and Arlene Foster led Northern Irelands political response to the Covid pandemic (Liam McBurney/PA) The former first minister also said she had been proud of the response to the pandemic from the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the health service. However, she said she was unsure if any amount of planning would have had Northern Ireland fit for purpose to deal with the scale and nature of the pandemic. She added: The number one risk on the risk register across the UK was for a flu pandemic and what came towards us was not a flu pandemic but a very transmittable disease in the community. Therefore the need to scale up and have the capability to deal with that was something we had to dig very deep into very quickly. She also referred to the Bengoa Report, which was designed to transform the health service in Northern Ireland, which was delivered to ministers in 2016. Baroness Foster said: As a result of the Executive collapsing in January 2017 the leadership required to take those reforms forward was not present for three years and then because of the pandemic again those reforms have not been able to be taken forward and now we are in a situation where we have a report from 2016 which has not been implemented. Ofsted has denied that the manner in which a school inspection was carried out contributed to headteacher Ruth Perrys death. Ms Perry took her own life in January following an Ofsted report which downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating, outstanding, to its lowest, inadequate, over safeguarding concerns. Her sister Professor Julia Waters previously said Ms Perry had experienced the worst day of her life after inspectors reviewed the school on November 15 and 16 last year. Ahead of an pre-inquest review at Reading Town Hall, Ms Perrys family said they hope the inquest will prevent other avoidable deaths, sparing loved ones the excruciating pain they have endured. Speaking at the hearing on Tuesday, Bilal Rawat, representing Ofsted, a non-ministerial Government department that inspects school standards, told the hearing: The position of Ofsted is that the inspection that was conducted revealed serious safeguarding concerns and that informed the judgment. We want to be very clear about we dont accept the suggestion that it was the fact of the inspection that contributed to or affected Ms Perrys mental health or the manner in which done, it was what was found. Responding to his remarks, the coroner said: I think Mr Rawat was saying they dont accept it was the manner in which the inspection was done which caused Ruths death. Mr Rawat added: It is the question of whether its the fact of the inspection or what the inspection revealed that is relevant. Senior coroner Heidi Connor said she would not be investigating the inner workings of Ofsted and minutiae of its inspection process at inquest. But she added: I have indicated the scope will include the Ofsted inspection and matters that flowed from that with regard to Ruth. People attend a vigil for Ruth Perry outside the offices of Ofsted (Jonathan Brady/File/PA) She added: I am of course aware that there has been in recent times an announcement of a parliamentary committee inquiry into Ofsted and I have reminded myself of the terms of reference for that inquiry. These terms of reference include the impact of Ofsted inspections on workload and wellbeing for teachers and the usefulness of Ofsted inspections and inspection reports. But the coroner added: That inquiry and this inquest are entirely separate procedure focussing on entirely different evidence. I have, its fair to say, had quite a lot of members of the public writing to me about Ruths case and I do think that some of the correspondence Ive had was better addressed to the inquiry. The coroner said a document had been circulated to her over nine deaths possibly linked to Ofsted inspections. Lawyers for the family want this to be explored at the inquest. James Robottom, for Ms Perrys family, said: The family have made written submissions outlining that from their position there is at least an arguable case of the structural issue regarding the welfare of headteachers going through the Ofsted process. That evidence should be adduced, in my submission, in some way through the inquest. He added: This inquest at this point hasnt ruled out being Article two. In an Article two inquest previous deaths may be relevant both to the provision of death function of Article 2 and to the systemic function of Article two. They shouldnt be ruled out of the feature just by virtue of the fact they are not concerned with that particular case. The coroner said: I would be extremely caution of drawing parallels with cases that I dont have the full picture of, whilst welcome to make submissions in relation to those cases I think it is unlikely I will be looking at nine other cases I havent had involvement with. She added: Its difficult to have one without the other, I think, in terms of considering whether Ofsted should have a system in place for welfare of teachers after an inspection, Ill remind you of the terms of reference for the inquiry. She said it was more likely to be a matter for the inquiry than this inquest, adding: My instinct is that is stretching the elastic a little to far and its unlikely I would get into that. A further pre-inquest review will be heard on October 27 and the inquest is listed for the week starting Monday December 4 2023, with coroner expecting to deliver her conclusions on Thursday December 7 2023. Ozzy Osbourne says he has made the painful decision to bow out of a scheduled performance at a US festival as his body is just not ready yet. The British rocker, 74, said he had been optimistic after being offered the gig at the Power Trip festival in Indio, California, but did not want the show to be half-assed. Osbourne was due to take to the stage for the festival on October 7 alongside AC/DC, with other acts on the bill including Guns N Roses and Iron Maiden. In a statement on social media on Monday he said: As painful as this is, Ive had to make the decision to bow out of performing on Power Trip in October. As painful as this is, Ive had to make the decision to bow out of performing on Power Trip in October. My original plan was to return to the stage in the summer of 2024, & when the offer to do this show came in, I optimistically moved forward. Unfortunately, my body is pic.twitter.com/gHWEE8VuI6 Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) July 10, 2023 My original plan was to return to the stage in the summer of 2024, & when the offer to do this show came in, I optimistically moved forward. Unfortunately, my body is telling me that Im just not ready yet and I am much too proud to have the first show that I do in nearly five years be half-assed. Osbourne said that his replacement at the Power Trip festival would be announced shortly. They are personal friends of mine and I can promise that you will not be disappointed, he said. He added: Above all, I want to thank my fans, my band, and my crew for their unconditional loyalty and continual support. I love you all and I will see you soon. Osbourne announced in February that he was pausing touring for now following extensive spinal surgery as he is not physically capable of the travel involved. He had suffered a fall at home in 2019 which aggravated injuries from a near-fatal quad bike crash in 2003, stopping his No More Tours 2 shows from going ahead in Europe and the UK. The tour had been rescheduled several times over the last four years on separate occasions to illness, the Covid pandemic and logistical issues. His February announcement about stepping back from touring came shortly after ending a 29-year drought at the Grammy Awards. Osbourne secured the gong for best rock album for his 13th solo record, Patient Number 9, as well as the prize for best metal performance for the single Degradation Rules featuring his Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi. FILE PHOTO: Boats are seen at the marina in downtown Funchal LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal on Tuesday banned tourist boats from approaching pods of orcas and issued instructions on what to do when approached by the so-called killer whales after a series of incidents in the past few years off the Portuguese and Spanish coasts. Portugal's Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) said the ban, which mainly applies to boats offering whale-watching trips, would be in force until the end of the year. It also said that whenever orcas are sighted and trying to approach, boats should move away to avoid contact, and if they are already close, such vessels need to stop, leaving the engine running, until the animals leave. A series of incidents involving orcas and mostly sailboats have been reported since 2020 off the Iberian Peninsula coast and the Strait of Gibraltar, where orcas have bumped the boats' hulls and rudders, causing damage that in some cases has led to their sinking or the coastguard having to tow boats to shore. Smaller maritime tourist vessels licensed for whale-watching have also been targeted, ICFN said. It said "the reason for this recent and repetitive behaviour toward vessels is not known", but it was now clear that the number of the cetaceans involved in such interactions has grown since the initial reports. Adult orcas can reach up to nine metres (29.53 ft) in length and weigh over six tonnes. More than 200 interactions between orcas and boats were recorded last year off the Atlantic coast of Portugal and Spain, according to data from research group GTOA, which tracks populations of the Iberian orca sub-species. Although known as killer whales, highly social orcas are part of the dolphin family. They usually feed on fish, penguins and seals. In the wild, they are not known to attack humans. (Reporting by Patricia Vicente Rua; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Sharon Singleton) Rachel Riley will receive an MBE at Windsor Castle for her work in raising awareness of the Holocaust and combating antisemitism. The Countdown presenter, 37, was honoured for her services to Holocaust education as an avid campaigner in the New Year Honours list. She was a vocal critic of Labours handling of alleged antisemitism within the party and condemned Jeremy Corbyns conduct while leader. Riley, who has co-hosted the Channel 4 show since 2009, was paid 10,000 in damages by Mr Corbyns former aide, Laura Murray, following a High Court libel case in August last year. In 2019, she explained the abuse she received on social media as a public figure during a speech for the Holocaust Educational Trust in Westminster, with her mother being Jewish. Riley wrote on Twitter after the honours announcement: Incredibly proud to have just been awarded an MBE for services to Holocaust education. Grateful to everyone who has sent well wishes and support over the years. This is very much shared with so many people who also dedicate their time and energy to fighting anti-Jewish racism. Sir Alok Sharma and David Harewood are among the other notable names set to collect honours at the event. Alok Sharma played a leading role at the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow (Victoria Jones/PA) Sir Alok, a former Conservative cabinet member, has been MP for Reading West since 2010 and also served as president for Cop26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow. He has remained vocal on environmental policy and last week called on the Government to remain committed to an 11.6 billion climate pledge. Fellow MP Sir Tony Lloyd, who holds a Labour seat in Rochdale, will also be honoured for his public service having represented his party since the early 1980s. Actor and broadcaster Harewood, best known for his role in US drama series Homeland, was recognised in the honours list with an OBE for services to drama and charity after he became a prominent voice for mental health support and against racism. He said on Instagram: An award from a new King should be cause for massive celebration, and yet already I hear the chorus of self defeating voices rattling around my head, thoughts of Empire and subjugation confusing the picture and again shifting the earth underneath. David Harewood previously received an MBE at Buckingham Palace in 2012 (Yui Mok/PA) I stop for a moment and think of all the others whose contributions have gone unnoticed and unpaid for and accept this award on their behalf, and continue to speak truth to power whenever and wherever I see the need. Two men will receive honours for services to music, with Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward also collecting an OBE and pianist Sir Stephen Hough receiving his knighthood. Sir Stephen, who made 29 appearances at the BBC Proms, was recognised in the late Queens Birthday Honours last year for a career that includes eight Gramophone Awards. He said he saw the knighthood as an acknowledgement that classical music is something of continuing relevance and importance in British cultural life. New KOICA President Chang Won-sam speaks during his inauguration ceremony at the agency's headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Courtesy of KOICA By Kang Seung-woo Chang Won-sam, a career diplomat, has been sworn in as the president of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), stressing the need to expand official development assistance (ODA) and carry out strategic development cooperation in tandem with the nation's foreign policy. His inauguration ceremony took place, Monday, at the KOICA headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Chang, a law graduate of Seoul National University, joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1984, where he served in key posts, including director general for Northeast Asian Affairs and senior coordinator for bilateral trade. He also served as minister at the Korean Embassy in China, Ambassador of Korea to Sri Lanka, consul general of Korea in New York, and Secretary-General of the Northeast Asian History Foundation. Based on experience in Asian countries such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as well as the U.S., Japan and China, and a wide understanding of the situation in developing countries, Chang is expected to play an important role as KOICA's head. "KOICA is the original K-brand, having contributed to enhancing the national image even before the Korean Wave, and a symbol of Korea's transformed status from least developed country to a donor country," Chang said during his inauguration ceremony. "Amid a rapidly changing international environment, I will reinforce KOICA in taking a leap forward as an eminent development cooperation organization in line with our foreign policy goal of Global Pivotal State." He put forth three management directions: setting future tasks for project innovation; strengthening employee expertise and innovating organizational culture and management innovation through greater work efficiency. Korea's ODA volume is lower than the average of advanced donor countries. Amid an increasing need for ODA expansion and to carry out Korea's role and responsibility as a Global Pivotal State, KOICA, with Chang's leadership and as an eminent development cooperation organization, seeks to play an important role in spreading support and building public consensus for ODA. Royal Mail workers have voted overwhelmingly to accept a deal to end a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Members of the Communication Workers Union backed the agreement by 75%. The union said the vote signals the end of the dispute, which saw more than 115,000 workers take 18 days of strike action in the final quarter of last year. Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (Victoria Jones/PA) CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: This has been the most challenging period in both the history of the union and the company, and I want to thank every single member that has voted in this ballot. Our members will know it doesnt end with todays result we all know what is going on in workplaces across the UK and we are going to deal with it. Many workers simply do not trust Royal Mail Group because of the companys lack of integrity and the way they are being treated. Some wanted more from an agreement. Others find the prospect of changes such as later finishes unpalatable. Our job in the coming weeks and months is to make sure their voices continue to be heard. Far from being an endorsement of the actions of Royal Mail Group, this result will be the start of the union reconnecting in every workplace. A company spokesperson said: The agreement provides Royal Mail a platform for the next phase of stabilising the business whilst continuing to drive efficiencies and change. The operational changes in the agreement are designed to be good for customers, increasing our ability to improve services and quality; good for employees, retaining job security and giving people a pay rise; good for the environment, reducing the companys reliance on domestic air, further reducing carbon emissions; and good for shareholders, supporting the long-term sustainability of the business. The three-year pay deal agreed provides certainty for employees and ensures Royal Mail remains the industry leader on pay, terms and conditions. Kate Nowicki, director of Dispute Resolution at the conciliation service Acas, said: We are pleased to have helped the CWU and Royal Mail reach an agreed deal. I want to thank the parties for their commitment and patience in Acas talks. RTEs star presenter Ryan Tubridy has offered to pay back two payments at the centre of a fiasco the broadcaster has been embroiled in, as he laid bare the toll it had taken on him personally. Former Late Late Show presenter Tubridy said that he was due to make six more appearances for commercial sponsor Renault as part of a contentious deal at the centre of the crisis that has engulfed RTE. But he added that if that work is not called upon to be done, of course the money goes back. In two extraordinary committee appearances at Dublins parliament, Tubridy said he had been publicly cancelled and it was touch and go whether he would be allowed to return to his weekly radio programme. He said that he wants to return to RTE Radio as soon as possible because its all Ive got. If I do go back to RTE, which I hope to, itll be a whole new world order, Tubridy said in his closing remarks. RTE has been mired in controversy since it emerged last month that it under-reported fees paid to Tubridy and failed to correctly disclose 345,000 euro of payments to him between 2017 and 2022. I hate being referred to as the talent. I think its an obscene, outdated word. The furore has since widened amid further disclosures about RTEs internal financial, accounting and governance practices and its expenditure on corporate hospitality for advertising clients. RTE operates on a dual funding model, with the majority of its revenue secured from a licence fee and the rest generated from advertising revenue. The Government has paused discussions on a new long-term funding arrangement until the current crisis abates. Newly appointed director general Kevin Bakhurst stood down RTEs executive leadership board on Monday as he vowed to restore peoples trust in Irelands public service broadcaster. When asked whether Tubridy will return to the airwaves, Mr Bakhurst told Newstalk that the decision will be made in a matter of a few weeks adding that he felt sorry for him. New RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst speaks to the media (Niall Carson/PA) While the Irish government has announced two separate external reviews of RTE and also moved to send in a forensic auditor to examine the broadcasters accounts, the Public Accounts Committee and Media Committee in Dublin are conducting their own probes into the affair. As Tubridy appeared before both committees on Tuesday, he at times appeared emotional, slamming his hand on the table during his opening statement and claiming there had been misinformation around what fees he had been paid. Tubridy also emphasised that none of the payments represented overpayments of any sort, but instead were under declarations by RTE. He said that a 120,000 payment due at the end of his 2015-2019 contract had been waived by him, and said that RTE then suggested that it should be accounted for by retrospectively under-reporting his salary across several years. We made clear that the 120,000 should not be taken off or deducted for prior year actual earnings, he said, calling such a suggestion from the broadcaster odd. RTEs star presenter Ryan Tubridy giving evidence (Oireachtas TV) The former Late Late show host also reiterated on several occasions that his decision to step down from RTEs flagship chat show was not linked to the discovery of the accounting issues by auditors in March. Tubridy announced publicly that he would step down from the programme after 14 years at its helm on March 16, and presented the last episode in May. My name has been desperately sullied, I think my reputation has been sullied, Tubridy told the committee, stating that he had been subjected to a frenzy. Im deeply upset. Im hurt. Its hard to leave the house if you really want me to be honest about it. Ive never seen anything like it. I dont know if any of youve been cancelled before but let me tell you, you dont want to be there. He said that the support he had received was something he would never forget, and said that he would love to be part of that catharsis at RTE. If it was to sign another contract, Id put it out in the public straightaway, no messing, no three-year carry on, Id be part and parcel of the new process to build trust with my colleagues and the listeners, he said. I hate being referred to as the talent. I think its an obscene, outdated word. The talent in RTE work in reception, and they work in security, and in make-up, and hair and sound and camera and production. Thats the talent. So if we do anything to change the language around RTE, please take that silly word off the contracts going forward. Theyre colleagues, no-one is better than anyone else. People were seen commenting and reacting to the proceedings being screened in some bars across Dublin. Members of the public in the Doheny and Nesbitts pub, Dublin, watching the Oireachtas TV broadcast of Ryan Tubridy giving evidence (Niall Carson/PA) In one of the most significant revelations from the day, TDs were given an email which challenged RTE claims that ex-director general Dee Forbes had done a solo run by agreeing to underwrite a 75,000-euro-a-year deal involving RTE, Tubridy and Renault. The deal involved Tubridy making three appearances at Renault events per year. RTE executives have previously explained that Renault paid Tubridy the first 75,000 euro payment, while two other 75,000 euro payments were from RTE, as it had underwritten the amounts due in what TDs were previously told was a verbal-only agreement made on a Microsoft Teams meeting in May 2020. But an email between Tubridys agent Noel Kelly and former chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe in February 2020, CCing Ms Forbes and director of content Jim Jennings, informed the agent of RTEs willingness to provide you with a side letter to underwrite this fee for the duration of the contract. Labour TD Alan Kelly said that the documents were compelling and completely contradict RTEs account of events. Ryan Tubridy (right) with his agent Noel Kelly leaving Leinster House in Dublin, where they gave evidence before two committees (Niall Carson/PA). Noel Kelly told TDs they had been under siege in recent weeks, and that Tubridy had been made a poster boy for the controversy. He said RTE had attempted to distance itself from its decisions, that the deal with Renault was known widely within the executive board of RTE, and this was a mess of RTEs making. Suddenly the most trusted man in Ireland, Ryan Tubridy, it was like throw him under a bus. Why? Mr Kelly said. RTE has rejected the claim it gave an incorrect version of events over an agreement to underwrite payments to Tubridy, and reiterated its position that a verbal commitment given by the former director-general during a video call on May 7 was when the 75,000 euro payments were underwritten. RTEs new director-general Mr Bakhurst is to appear before the Public Accounts committee on Thursday, his fourth day in the role, alongside other RTE executives. Committee members have been informed that Ms OKeeffe is not in a position to attend Thursdays hearing. Tubridy has not presented his weekday morning radio programme since the issues at RTE came to light on June 22. RTEs star presenter Ryan Tubridy has been made a poster boy for the controversy the broadcaster has been embroiled in, a committee has been told. A row has also erupted between Tubridys agent and the broadcaster on Tuesday over what level of knowledge there was at RTE to underwrite commercial payments to Mr Tubridy with Noel Kelly has accusing RTE of trying to distance themselves from the decision. Ahead of Tubridy and his agent Mr Kelly appearing before two parliamentary committees in Dublin on Tuesday, the former chat show host released a statement to say he aimed to bring maximum transparency to both hearings and address misinformation that he said has been circulating. Tubridy addressed what he called seven material untruths about the controversy in his opening statement to TDs, and claimed that RTEs figures and statements had created a fog of confusion. This included him denying assertions he had not taken a pay cut, and had taken a 20% pay cut between 2020-2025; that the fiasco had anything to do with his decision to step down as host of the Late Late Show; and that he had been secretly overpaid insisting instead that RTE had under-declared his fee amounts. New RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst speaking after announcing his interim executive board (Niall Carson/PA) The hotly anticipated committee appearance of both Tubridy and Mr Kelly who represents several high-profile presenters and entertainers comes after weeks of bruising revelations at Irelands public service broadcaster. Scrutiny of governance and financial affairs at RTE began after it claimed that fees paid to its star presenter Tubridy had been under-declared by 345,000 euro over the period 2017 to 2022. Evidence presented by Tubridy and his agent at the committee on Tuesday disputed that amounts due to him during the 2017-2019 period were paid. RTE executives subsequently explained that the sponsor of RTEs flagship Late Late Show programme, Renault, paid Tubridy 75,000 euro in 2020 under a tripartite deal, but then pulled out of the arrangement. Two 75,000 euro payments made to Tubridy for the years 2021 and 2022 were made by RTE as it had underwritten the amounts due to Tubridy in what TDs were told was a verbal agreement made on a Microsoft Teams meeting in May 2020. Grant Thornton is probing the amounts that RTE said led to Tubridys fees from 2017-2019 being underdeclared. This report is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Tubridy told TDs on Tuesday that although he was entitled to a 120,000 euro loyalty or exit payment during that period, he had effectively foregone it. I actually waived my entitlement to this payment and I didnt receive one cent of it. I hid nothing. I had nothing to hide, he said. In his opening statement to committee, Mr Kelly told TDs that RTE has attempted to distance itself from its decision to underwrite a tripartite deal, and that this was a mess of RTEs making. Ryan Tubridys agent, Noel Kelly, arrives at Leinster House (Niall Carson/PA) He referred to a letter from former RTE chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe, dated February 2020, which said: We can provide you with a side letter to underwrite this fee for the duration of the contract (with Renault). He said the decision to underwrite the contract was known widely within the executive board of RTE. Mr Kelly told the Public Accounts Committee: To our surprise, Ms OKeeffe told the committee last week that when she left RTE in March (2020) there was no support to provide that type of guarantee and no such guarantee was on offer. But she had written to us making exactly that offer a month earlier. Last week nobody from RTE here with Ms OKeeffe challenged her when she said that. Since this controversy began RTE has tried to distance themselves from this decision. Effectively, they have blamed former director-general Dee Forbes for doing a solo run and for giving a verbal commitment to underwrite the contract on a Zoom call in May. He also added: Ryan has been a huge driver of RTEs successful commercial activities for the past 14 years. Ryan and I have attracted a horrendous amount of criticism and abuse in the past few weeks because he is such a high-profile and successful figure in Ireland, and he has been made the poster boy for this scandal. That is undeserved. New RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst speaks to the media on his first day in the job (Niall Carson/PA) In response, RTE has rejected the claim that it gave an incorrect version of events over an agreement to underwrite payments to Tubridy. It said in a statement: For clarity, the claim relates specifically to an email that was sent by the former CFO of RTE to NK Management on February 20 2020, which is being characterised as a contractual commitment on the part of RTE to underwrite the payments in question. RTE does not accept this characterisation. RTEs position is that the email of February 20 2020 formed part of the discussions and engagement between it and NK Management in relation to the proposed new TV and radio contract with Tubridy/Tuttle Productions and did not comprise a binding legal or contractual commitment on its part. RTEs position is as per previous statements: That, until the verbal commitment given by the former director-general during the call on May 7 2020, it had not agreed to underwrite the 75,000 euro payment per contract year. Among the documents that have been submitted to the committees are Tubridys 2015 and 2020 contracts with RTE, extracts from the financial accounts of Tubridys company Tuttle Productions Ltd, and copies of emails to and from senior RTE executives. On his first day as RTE director-general, Kevin Bakhurst suggested that whether Tubridy returned to the airwaves depended on what emerged during the committee hearings, and he called for maximum transparency from both Tubridy and his agent. Tubridy has not presented his weekday morning radio programme since the issues at RTE came to light on June 22. Tubridy and Mr Kelly will appear before the Committee of Public Accounts at 11am, while the Media committee hearing begins at 3pm. Scottish Green ministers have been accused of being a wee bit hypocritical by a Scottish Labour peer, who claimed they go everywhere in in chauffeur-driven cars. The Scottish Government, which consists of an SNP-Green coalition, has two Green ministers: Lorna Slater, the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, and Patrick Harvie, the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants Rights. Labour peer Lord Foulkes of Cumnock called out these two ministers for allegedly choosing car travel over perfectly good public transport. Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants Rights in the Scottish Government (Jane Barlow/PA) He said: Green politicians tend to be a wee bit hypocritical. We have two Green ministers in Scotland Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie who go everywhere in chauffeur-driven cars when there are perfectly good public transport, which I use regularly, available. Is it not about time that they lived up to their theories in their actions? Defra minister Lord Benyon responded: When I arrived at Defra in 2010, there were five ministerial cars; thats gone down to one and I travel mostly by the use of an oyster card. Green Party peer Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle appeared to respond to Lord Foulkes comment by asking: Can the minister tell me the comparative fuel consumption and emissions from a helicopter flight compared to travelling by car? She may have been referring to reports that Rishi Sunak has taken private helicopter trips to his Richmond constituency in North Yorkshire since becoming Prime Minister, and that he took an RAF helicopter from London to Dover in June. Lord Benyon responded to her question: No, Im terribly sorry, Im afraid I cant, and laughter erupted across the upper chamber. A spokesperson for Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater responded: George Foulkes claim about Mr Harvie and Ms Slater is not correct. It is sometimes necessary for ministers to use ministerial transport in their day-to-day duties including travelling to engagements right across the country. All ministers are expected to use alternatives when possible, and published figures bear out this practice. Travel is an essential part of official Government business and ministers continue to work on their portfolio responsibilities with online meetings and calls while travelling. We take our responsibility to travel sustainably very seriously and aim to use sustainable forms of transport whenever possible. Ministers are facing calls to make further concessions to their sweeping asylum reforms, after senior Tory MPs joined a small backbench rebellion amid a parliamentary tussle over the Illegal Migration Bill. Senior Tories used Tuesdays debate to call for further reforms, as MPs spent more than three-and-a-half hours holding 18 votes in the Commons that saw several amendments made by the House of Lords overturned. The Illegal Migration Bill was mauled by peers, who inflicted 20 defeats on the Government and demanded a raft of revisions. The Home Office offered several concessions at the start of the week, including on time limits for the detention of children and pregnant women as well as removing a clause so the law, if enacted, will no longer apply retrospectively from when it was first announced in March. (PA Graphics) The Government overturned a number of amendments on Tuesday, but faced criticism from its own benches. Former prime minister Theresa May was among 16 Conservative MPs who voted against the Government amid concerns about modern slavery provisions in the Bill. Mrs May told the Commons: I know that ministers have said this Bill will enable more perpetrators to be stopped, but on modern slavery I genuinely believe it will do the opposite. It will enable more slave drivers to operate and make money out of human misery. It will consign more people to slavery. No doubt about it, I think if Lords amendment 56 is overthrown that will be the impact. MPs voted 285 to 243 to reject the amendment, which sought to retain protections for victims of modern slavery who have been exploited in the UK, and prevent their removal. Temporary protection against removal from the UK is currently given to suspected victims of modern slavery or human trafficking while their case is considered. But the Bill in its original form removed this protection for those judged to have entered the UK illegally, with peers then voting to insert safeguards. There were also rebellions from Conservative MPs connected to the limits and conditions of detaining unaccompanied children, including Tory former ministers Sir Bob Neill, Vicky Ford, Tracey Crouch and Caroline Nokes. There were 15 Conservative MPs, including former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who opposed adding Government amendments linked to the powers to detain unaccompanied children. Other amendments to be overturned included a proposal from the Archbishop of Canterbury that would have forced the Government to draw up a 10-year strategy for collaborating internationally on refugees and human trafficking to the UK. Conservative former minister Tim Loughton told MPs that assurances that we were promised have not materialised or, if they have, I am afraid nobody understands them, as he bemoaned the timing of the concessions. He said: On that basis, Im afraid we cannot and I speak for many others, I hope on this side, take these amendments in lieu at face value and more work needs to be done. Mr Loughton, speaking later on BBC Newsnight, said that rebels had genuine concerns and were not trying to wreck the proposed legislation. He predicted a bit of brinkmanship between the Commons and the Lords in the coming days, as he called on the Government to compromise. I think the Government needs to be a bit more practical giving some concessions over the next few days and then again, everyone will rally behind it. The Bill is a key part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks bid to deter people from crossing the Channel in small boats. The reforms would prevent people from claiming asylum in the UK if they arrive through unauthorised means. The Government also hopes the changes will ensure detained people are promptly removed, either to their home country or a third country such as Rwanda. More than 13,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to the UK so far this year, including more than 1,600 in the last four days, the latest Government figures show. Opening Tuesdays debate, immigration minister Robert Jenrick paid tribute to the Lords for undertaking its proper role as a revising chamber but said some of the changes were little short of wrecking amendments. Ahead of the debate, more than 60 people including victims of torture, refugees, asylum seekers and those already granted asylum in the UK as well as around 30 campaign groups wrote to MPs to express their horror at the Bill and urge them to oppose the proposed legislation. The Bill will return to the Lords on Wednesday where peers will decide what further changes they want to make as part of the parliamentary process known as ping-pong. The draft legislation will move between the Commons and the Lords until both Houses can agree on the final wording. Home Secretary Suella Braverman, after the votes concluded, accused Labour of siding with the criminals gangs that trade in human misery instead of the British people. Labours Yvette Cooper had earlier called the Bill a con, with the shadow home secretary accusing Conservatives of giving up on common decency and common sense. The Scottish National Party said that the Bill had brought shame to the House of Commons. A lawyer representing the families of two young people who took their lives in custody has said it would be unbelievable if one was forced to withdraw from a fatal accident inquiry over not being able to access legal aid funds. Katie Allan, 21, and William Lindsay, 16, took their own lives while at Polmont Young Offenders Institute in 2018. Solicitor Aamer Anwar, acting on behalf of the families, said Katies parents Linda and Stuart had been informed their application for legal funding would be denied as they were over the threshold to be considered. At a preliminary hearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Mr Anwar said the family would be unable to participate in the joint fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the deaths if a change was not made. Katie Allans parents have long campaigned for justice (Andrew Milligan/PA) He said he would be raising the issue directly with Justice Secretary Angela Constance due to the injustice that families cannot be automatically granted funding while prison officers, ministers and health boards can. It would be unfortunate if the family couldnt be in this FAI after five years of relentlessly pushing for it, he said. In a press statement after the hearing, he told journalists: At court today I raised with the Sheriff that it would be unbelievable that the only family in the Joint FAI not to be granted funding for representation were the family of Katie Allan. Katies parents have been relentless in the last five years in seeking the truth of what happened not just to Katie, but to every other young person who has taken their life at Polmont. It is time that Scottish ministers intervene to end this injustice if the process of an FAI is to have any legitimacy in the eyes of the bereaved. The sheriff presiding over the inquiry also expressed concern at the prospect of Mr and Mrs Allan being unable to participate in the inquiry due to their legal aid application being rejected. Speaking in court, Sheriff Simon Collins KC said: From my point of view, I would find it extremely helpful if the family of Katie Allan was represented in this inquiry. It is more than appropriate that Katie Allans family would be represented. I cannot tell the legal aid board or ministers what to do but I can say that I very much hope that they will be able to enable Katie Allans family to be represented in this inquiry. The hearing took place at Falkirk Sheriff Court (Andrew Milligan/PA) Mr Anwar also repeated his call to First Minister Humza Yousaf to remove Crown Immunity, which means that the Scottish Prison Service cannot be prosecuted. And he said the families were also disappointed to be told that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) would not consider administering a Crown Censure. A Crown Censure is the way in which HSE formally records the decision that, but for Crown immunity, the evidence of a Crown bodys failure to comply with health and safety law would have been sufficient to provide a realistic prospect of securing a conviction. Mr Anwar said: It is time that the First Minister Humza Yousaf moved to remove Crown Immunity it is archaic that in a civilised society, the Scottish Prison Service is not accountable when someone dies on their watch. Katies mother told reporters on Tuesday that she wanted people to be held account for Katie and William and the countless other young people that have died that havent had a voice. Mrs Allan added: The treatment of young people in Polmont, in our experience, is inhumane. And, unfortunately, nobody is highlighting that and nobody is being held to account for that, so we want people to be held to account for the death of our daughter. Theres no other crime that I know of that the Crown Office says: There is credible and reliable evidence, but its alright were not going to prosecute you. Its absurd. Mr Allan added it had been a five-year wait of grieving over their daughters death. Katie Allan died at Polmont Young Offenders Institution in June 2018 while serving a sentence for a driving offence. William Lindsay died in October that year days after being sent there on remand. A second preliminary hearing has been scheduled for September 15, with the full inquiry set to begin on January 8 2024. A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: An inquiry requires to take place following every death in custody so that the circumstances in which a life is lost whilst in the custody of the state are properly investigated and understood. Where the lives lost are two young individuals, both with no previous experience of custody, the need to investigate and understand the circumstances in which those lives were lost is especially acute. The Scottish Prison Service are committed to supporting this inquiry. We will not be making any additional public comment at this time. An HSE spokesman said: The death of any young person is tragic and we have carefully reviewed the information provided to us by COPFS. While the circumstances of the two deaths are complex, they do not meet HSEs criteria for investigation. We have informed both families of our decision. A spokesperson for the Scottish Legal Aid Board said it had not received an application from Mr and Mrs Allan and have contacted Mr Anwar for further details. The statement added: We did receive an application for civil legal aid from another member of the Allan family and have requested further information to enable us to consider the application fully. Rishi Sunak said he wants to see Natos commitment to inducting Ukraine as a full member of the alliance reaffirmed during discussions with leaders at the Vilnius summit. The Prime Minister arrived in the Lithuanian capital on Tuesday as he prepares for a flurry of meetings with world leaders across two days. The pressing issues are set to be about Nato expansion and cajoling member states to meet the goal of spending 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. Speaking to reporters on the plane journey from London, Mr Sunak said the UK, as well as the leadership of Ukraine, recognised that Kyiv would not join the defensive alliance while they are in the midst of a conflict. This is an historic moment for NATO that makes us all safer. Sweden, we look forward to welcoming you into the Alliance. https://t.co/6dIvgoxbfZ Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 10, 2023 But he said his Government stands by the conclusion of Natos 15-year-old pledge to put Ukraine on a path to membership. Britain is keen to see Ukraines membership fast-tracked, arguing much of the military reforms asked of it are being witnessed on the battlefield in its fight against Russias invading troops. The US and Germany are said not to be on the same page as Britain, however. Mr Sunak said: Ive always said that Ukraines rightful place is in Nato and that we stand by the language of Bucharest in 2008. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives in Vilnius for the Nato summit (Paul Ellis/PA) I think what is important at this summit is that that commitment is reaffirmed and also that there is demonstrable progress towards that goal. Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, who has had his tenure extended for 12 months, has said he is confident the summit will send a positive message to Ukraine about its path to membership. The Prime Minister appeared to confirm reports that conversations have taken place with allies to provide Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky with non-Nato security guarantees. According to the Daily Telegraph, the UK, US, France and Germany dubbed The Quad are looking to finalise an Israel-style security deal to provide Kyiv with a multi-year plan to defend itself from Russian aggression. The paper reported that it would be similar to a military and financial pact that Washington has with Tel Aviv to afford it protection in the Middle East. Conservative Party leader Mr Sunak said Britain had played a leading role in the discussions since he put the issue of multilateral Western security assurances on the table during his speech to the Munich security conference in February. Mr Sunak is seeking to offer Ukraine Israel-style security guarantees, according to reports (Paul Ellis/PA) He told reporters he was keen to try and get this over the line. I think it is something that we in the UK have taken a lead on, it is something Ive spoken a lot to fellow leaders about over the last few months, he said. Those conversations are ongoing so we need to keep having them, but that is the purpose of them. It is to demonstrate that long-term commitment from a broad group of countries. It is distinct from the Nato conversation and I think it will send a very strong signal of deterrent to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, that he cant wait people out, in terms of this conflict. I think it is important and valuable. In a message aimed at Mr Putin, Mr Sunak said: We are with Ukraine for as long as it takes. That is why the security assurances are important because what Putin needs to understand is there is no point in just waiting out the West. Everyone is in it for the long haul and any thought he had that this would be over quickly has already been proved to be false. Downing Street said Mr Sunak would use the Vilnius summit to press home the importance of increasing Natos defence spending in order to ward off Russian tyranny, urging member states to meet the 2% GDP target. Upon arrival in Vilnius, the Prime Minister was forced to defend the Governments investment in defence. Following suggestions Britain could lose influence due to potential cuts to the Army, he told broadcasters the UK should be incredibly proud of the leading role it plays in global security. Mr Sunaks first bilateral meeting after arriving at the summit was with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It follows a breakthrough with Ankara, brokered by Mr Stoltenberg, to remove Turkeys objections to Sweden being admitted to Nato. A full allies meeting of Nato is to take place on Tuesday afternoon, with Mr Zelensky due to travel to Vilnius on Wednesday to join discussions. Taylor Swift says hosting an album release party at a recent US show was unfathomably special. On Friday the US megastar dropped the re-recorded version of her 2010 album Speak Now, which has immediately dominated the charts. A day after the release, Swift also shared a new video for her song I Can See You, which was one of six new from the vault tracks to feature on the album. It was a Speak Now (my version) album release party at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City this weekend, full of surprises I got to premiere the video for I Can See You on the big screen and hearing the crowds reaction to it is something Ill never forget. THEN @JoeyKing, pic.twitter.com/buuEmVgMG7 Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 10, 2023 She said her weekend show in Kansas City, Missouri, featured the big screen premiere of the video, which featured appearances from actors Joey King, Presley Cash, and Twilight star Taylor Lautner. All three actors also made an appearance at the show. It was a Speak Now (my version) album release party at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City this weekend, full of surprises, Swift posted on Monday. I got to premiere the video for I Can See You on the big screen and hearing the crowds reaction to it is something Ill never forget. THEN @JoeyKing, Taylor Lautner and @IAmPresleyCash walked on stage (and there were even a few flips??) to say hi to everyone. I got to play Long Live with my incredible band (who are the ones playing on all my re-records too) and it was just so unfathomably special to me. WELL. SO. Ive been counting down for months and finally the I Can See You video is out. I wrote this video treatment over a year ago and really wanted to play out symbolically how its felt for me to have the fans helping me reclaim my music. I had my heart set on @JoeyKing, pic.twitter.com/Vw7SN924sR Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 8, 2023 Singing those words in a stadium full of people who helped me get my music back. Love you all. The release of Speak Now (Taylors Version) marks the next stage of the US megastars ambitious re-record of her entire back catalogue to regain control of her master recordings. She began the process after the recordings were acquired by the prominent talent manager Scooter Braun when he bought her former label. The masters have since changed hands again after a deal with investment firm Shamrock Capital, but Swift has continued with a bid to regain ownership of the music by creating new versions of the songs. Since its release on Friday Speak Now (Taylors Version) is already outselling the rest of the top 10 combined, according to the Official Charts Company. We've had the time of our lives breaking records with you @taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/wTujVZK7Ro Spotify (@Spotify) July 8, 2023 The album sold 48,000 chart units over the weekend and would mark her 10th number one album, as well as extend her lead as the female solo artist with the second-most number one albums in UK chart history second only to Madonna. Streaming platform Spotify also revealed the musician had broken records with the re-released album. Its official Twitter account said: On July 7 2023, Taylor Swifts Speak Now (Taylors Version) became Spotifys most-streamed album in a single day in 2023 and the most-streamed country album in a single day in Spotify history. Meanwhile, the first batch of tickets for Swifts 2024 UK tour went on sale, with thousands attempting to secure their seats. Park Ku-yeon, left, the first deputy chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, speaks during a daily briefing on Japan's plan to discharge the wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant at the Government Complex in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap By Lee Hae-rin Associating Korea's import ban on Fukushima seafood with Japan's wastewater discharge plan is based on an inaccurate premise, the government said, Tuesday. The statement reaffirms the government's stance that the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) report, which confirmed Japan's plan to release radioactive liquid into the Pacific Ocean is consistent with international safety standards, has nothing to do with Korea's import ban on Fukushima seafood. It also shows that the country plans to maintain the ban until its safety is scientifically proven and the people accept the results. "The IAEA report is not about the sea around Fukushima, but it's about a safety review of the Tokyo Electric Power Company's plan to discharge wastewater into the ocean," Park Ku-yeon, the first deputy chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said during a daily briefing at the Government Complex in Seoul. "The place that Japan plans to discharge the wastewater is the sea around Fukushima, but the subject of the IAEA's assessment is the safety of the plan to discharge the wastewater itself." His remarks are seen as the government's interpretation of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi's interview with The Korea Times' sister paper The Hankook Ilbo during his recent visit to Korea, in which he said, "If the water is safely treated and released, there will be no contamination of seafood." Park explained that Grossi's interview is meant to say that the wastewater discharge wouldn't make additional contamination in the ocean, as the IAEA chief wouldn't have commented on the condition of the water around Fukushima, which was not subject to the IAEA's safety review. As for the IAEA's relationship with the United Nations, Park said the IAEA is an independent body under the umbrella of the U.N. specializing in nuclear energy in consideration that it still reports to the U.N. General Assembly, while assuming tasks independently. The remarks came after Rep. Yang Yi-won-young of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea told local media, Sunday, that the IAEA is not a U.N. agency but an organization running on contributions from countries with nuclear power-generating industries. A teenager accused of killing a man for the sake of his electric bicycle has appeared at the Old Bailey. Police were called at 9.20pm on Sunday, June 25 to reports of a stabbing in Nunhead Green in Peckham, south-east London. The victim, Rohan Trotman, 26, had allegedly been chased by two robbers on a stolen motorbike. He was forced off his electric bike and fought back when the pair attempted to rob him, it is claimed. Mr Trotman suffered two stab wounds and was driven to hospital by a passerby. He died in Lewisham Hospital at 9.30am the next day. Yusuf Kallon, 19, was arrested on July 6 and charged with Mr Trotmans murder, two counts of robbery, possession of a blade and cannabis. A second suspect is believed to have fled abroad after the stabbing. On Tuesday, Kallon, of Marmont Road, Peckham, appeared at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing. He spoke to confirm his identity via videolink from Thameside jail. Judge Anthony Leonard KC set a plea hearing for September 26 and a provisional four-week trial from May 20 2024. The defendant was remanded into custody. Members of Mr Trotmans family sat in court for the defendants first Crown Court hearing. Rishi Sunak will head to the Nato summit in Lithuania with a renewed call for all members of the alliance to commit to spending 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. The Prime Minister will tell allies in Vilnius that plans to make Natos armed forces more lethal and more deployable start with meeting the 2% commitment. Downing Street said that last year, fewer than half of those in the alliance were meeting the expenditure target in relation to their national GDP a measure of the health of an economy with nine out of 30 members spending at least 2%. While this is projected to rise to two-thirds of allies by 2024 the 10th anniversary of the goal being set at the Wales summit Government sources said Mr Sunak hoped to leave eastern Europe on Wednesday with a plan in place for all members to start meeting the target. No 10 said the Prime Minister will travel to Vilnius with the dual message of strengthening Nato and stressing the need to continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russias invading troops. Speaking ahead of his trip, Mr Sunak said: When thousands of Russian troops crossed the border in February last year, it marked a grim new chapter in Europe and Natos history. In the 500 days that have elapsed since, we have witnessed the most terrible crimes and human tragedies in Ukraine. But we have also seen the Nato alliance come together like never before in support of Ukraine and with firm determination that Russia cannot succeed. That is work we need to continue this week. We cannot let the fog of war obscure the clear lessons our alliance must learn if we are going to outpace and outmanoeuvre those who seek to do us harm. That is why the UK is investing record amounts in defence, to make our armed forces more lethal and more deployable, and to ready our defence industry for the challenges ahead. And thats something we need to see across Nato starting with meeting the 2% commitment. In a sign that Mr Sunak wants the UK to lead from the front, the Ministry of Defence is set to publish a new command paper setting out the measures the UK is taking to improve the lethality and deployability of our own armed forces, No 10 said. The paper will include plans to establish a new Global Response Force which defence chiefs hope will dramatically increase the ability to physically respond to crises at short notice, either by being already present or deploying more rapidly. Other issues that are expected to dominate the two-day gathering in the Lithuanian capital include Swedens accession to Nato, agreement on how Ukraine might eventually become a member of the alliance and the US offer to provide cluster bombs to Kyiv. The Telegraph reported that Britain, the US, France and Germany are planning to offer Israel-style security guarantees to the war-torn country. The scheme, which would involve commitments on military support and intelligence-sharing, are expected to be finalised in Kyiv in the coming days and could be offered as a stepping stone to membership, the paper reports. Sweden and Finland dropped their long-held policy of neutrality following Russian president Vladimir Putins invasion of neighbouring Ukraine last year and signalled their intention to join Nato. Finland joined in April but Turkeys objections have held up Stockholms accession, although there appeared to have been a breakthrough on the eve of the summit. The Nordic nations proximity to membership took a big step forward on Monday as Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan committed to put its accession protocol before Parliament as soon as possible in return for help in reviving Ankaras own chances of joining the European Union. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who is due in Vilnius on Wednesday, spent last week lobbying for Nato to admit his war-torn country into Nato. During a visit to Prague, he said the ideal result of the summit would be an invitation for his country to join the alliance. A spokeswoman for Mr Sunak highlighted that, as the British leader has previously stated, he thinks Ukraines rightful place is in Nato. But with its membership unlikely to be granted while its fight against Moscow continues with Mr Zelenskys troops currently engaged in counter offensive operations, Mr Sunak will push for Nato to provide long-term security assistance to Kyiv to guarantee they can win the war, according to his spokeswoman. There is expected to be a diplomatic tussle over the wording of any statement released after the summit about the pace at which Kyiv might be admitted, with London calling for its membership to be fast-tracked. Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Nato leaders to approve Kyivs application for Nato membership at Vilnius (Carl Court/PA) Labours shadow defence secretary John Healey said he wanted to see Britain show leadership on strengthening support for Ukraine in Vilnius. He said: If UK military support for Ukraine is accelerated, this will have Labours total backing. Mr Sunak welcomed Joe Biden to No 10 for the first time on Monday as the US president made a layover visit to the UK on his way to the summit. Mr Biden said the trans-Atlantic relationship is rock solid, while Mr Sunak hailed the US and UK as two of the firmest allies in Nato. But the issue of support for Ukraines ambitions for Nato membership and the US decision to provide Kyiv with cluster munitions are signs that Westminster and Washington are not entirely on the same page. Britain discourages their use as one of 123 signatories of a convention banning the weapons. Separately, Conservative Party leader Mr Sunak will use day-one of his trip to confirm an eight-fold increase in the UKs production capacity of 155mm artillery ammunition, No 10 officials said. With most Nato armies using the ammunition as standard, a new 190 million BAE Systems contract is expected to lead to the production of more artillery shells for use by the UK and other allied forces. No 10 said the deal would create more than 100 jobs at BAE Systems sites in the North of England and South Wales, adding to the firms existing 1,200-strong UK munitions workforce. The BBC has suspended a male member of staff following allegations an unnamed presenter paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images. However, the young person at the centre of the controversy said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened. Here is the BBCs account of how events unfolded: May 18 The complainant, a family member, attended a BBC building, where they sought to make a complaint about the behaviour of a BBC presenter. May 19 The complainant contacted BBC Audience Services and the details of this contact were referred to the BBCs Corporate Investigations Team. The BBCs Corporate Investigations Team assessed the information contained in the complaint provided from Audience Services. The assessment made was that on the basis of the information provided it did not include an allegation of criminality, but nonetheless merited further investigation. The BBCs Corporate Investigations Team emailed the complainant stating how seriously the BBC takes the issue and seeking additional information to verify the claims being made; there was no response to this contact. Checks were also made to verify the identity of the complainant. The BBC said this is a standard procedure to confirm that the complainant is the person they say they are. Appearing on BBC Radio 4s World At One programme with broadcaster Sarah Montague, director-general Tim Davie spoke about the initial complaint made to the corporation about one of its presenters. He said: The facts are there that very simply the Corporate Investigations Team looked at the log that is the summary of the call we have clear records of an interaction that lasted 29 minutes. Members of the media gather outside BBC Broadcasting House in central London (PA) June 6 Having received no response to the email referenced above, a phone call was made to the mobile number provided by the complainant by the BBCs Corporate Investigations Team; the call did not connect. Following these attempts to make contact with the complainant, the Corporate Investigations Team were due to return to the matter in the coming weeks. No additional attempts to contact the complainant were made after June 6, however the case remained open throughout. July 6 The Sun newspaper informed the BBC via the Corporate Press Office of allegations concerning a BBC presenter. The BBC said it became clear that the source of the claims was from the same family as approached the BBC on May 18 and May 19. This was the first time that the director-general or any executive directors at the BBC were aware of the case. The claims made by The Sun contained new allegations, that were different to the matters being considered by BBC Corporate Investigations. When asked about the difference between the complaint on May 19 and the complaint made in The Sun story, Mr Davie said: The process is that we did receive a call as you can see in the timeline on May 19 that was taken by Audience Services Team who then make a summary of the call and put it to our highly experienced Corporate Investigations team. On the basis of the information they had at that point, it did not include an allegation of criminality, but nonetheless was very serious and they wanted to follow it up, and you can see the attempts to follow it up on the timeline. It was serious but the key was their assessment was it did not include an allegation of criminality. When The Sun made new allegations on July 6 they were different to the matters considered by BBC Corporate Investigations and those new allegations clearly related to potential criminal activity, criminality, that in a nutshell is the difference. The BBC initiated an incident management group to lead the response to this case, involving senior BBC executives including the director-general. The acting chairman was updated, and the board was regularly updated in the coming days. A senior manager held the first conversation on this matter with the presenter concerned, to make him aware of the claims being outlined by The Sun. It was agreed that the presenter would not be on air while this matter was being considered. Mr Davie also told the World At One he did not speak to the accused presenter on July 6, but instead the conversation was conducted by a senior manager, which the director-general said was important in order for him to be able to oversee the process. The Met Police have asked the BBC to pause its investigation (PA) July 7 Following The Suns contact, the BBCs Corporate Investigations team contacted the complainant again, who was in touch with the BBCs investigators. The BBCs Serious Case Management Framework (SCMF) was initiated and the investigation being undertaken by the Corporate Investigations Team was brought into the SCMF, which is chaired by a human resources director. The BBC also made contact with the police with regard to this matter. July 8 The complainant sent the BBC some materials related to the complaint. July 9 The complainant continued to send the BBC materials to do with the complaint. The BBC issued an update to staff and the media. The broadcaster also confirmed that it had suspended the presenter. July 10 The BBC met with the police to report the matter and discuss how to progress the investigation. The police have requested that the BBC pause its investigations into the allegations while they scope future work. July 11 The BBC reported a second person felt threatened by messages they received from the presenter. According to the BBC, the person in their early 20s met the presenter on a dating app before their conversations moved to other platforms. The presenter then revealed his identity and asked the young person not to tell anyone. The young person later posted online alluding to having had contact with a BBC presenter and hinting they might name him. The presenter then sent a number of threatening messages which the BBC says it has seen and confirmed came from a phone number belonging to the presenter. The BBC said the young person felt threatened by the messages and remains scared. BBC News said it had contacted the presenter via his lawyer but had received no response to the allegations. Nato leaders have said Ukraine still has conditions to meet before it can join the alliance in a move that has left Volodymyr Zelensky frustrated. During a summit in Vilnius, the alliance agreed that Kyiv could fast-track the process of joining a concession called for by the UK but said additional democratic and security reforms were still required. Before the communique was released, Mr Zelensky had expressed his disappointment with the agenda for the gathering in Lithuania, saying it was absurd and unprecedented that no timetable for his country joining was being set out. Mr Zelensky said the delay was providing Russia with the motivation to continue its terror. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (Carl Court/PA) In comments made after the document was released on Tuesday, the Ukrainian leader appeared to suggest that he continued to be unhappy at Natos stance. He said he wanted his faith in Nato to become confidence and questioned whether that was too much to expect for his citizens, who saw Russian president Vladimir Putins attack on their homeland pass the 500-day mark this week. Nato will give Ukraine security. Ukraine will make the alliance stronger, Mr Zelensky tweeted. We value our allies. We value our shared security. And we always appreciate an open conversation.Ukraine will be represented at the NATO summit in Vilnius. Because it is about respect. But Ukraine also deserves respect. Now, on the way to Vilnius, we received signals that (@ZelenskyyUa) July 11, 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters on his way to eastern Europe that he wanted to see Natos commitment to inducting Ukraine as a full member of the alliance reaffirmed during the two-day gathering. Nato signalled at its 2008 summit in Bucharest that Kyiv should become a member state. Mr Sunak repeated his stance that, for the UK, Ukraines rightful place is in Nato. The statement agreed by the 31 member states did make that reaffirmation. It also agreed with the UKs stance that the membership action plan, part of Ukraines route to joining, would no longer have to be fulfilled. The communique said Ukraine had become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the alliance, and has made substantial progress on its reform path. Im at my first #NATOSummit as Prime Minister.@NATO is a vital alliance. Heres why pic.twitter.com/Sht4CxQZGh Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 11, 2023 A UK Government source said the fast-track decision was also a recognition that latest member Finland, along with Sweden which is due to join, did not have to undergo the plan. But Nato said, despite Ukraines armed forces being honed on the battlefield in its struggle against the Kremlins invading troops, there was still more to do, both democratically and in military terms, before it could be permitted to join. Allies will continue to support and review Ukraines progress on interoperability as well as additional democratic and security sector reforms that are required, Nato said in a joint statement. The alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path towards future membership. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said there were some steps that need to be met before the door can be opened to Mr Zelensky and his countrymen, with Nato calling for military improvements. But the Cabinet minister said we should be prepared as quickly as possible to bring Ukraine closer once the conflict is over. He told US broadcaster CNN: We can see right now that its military is up to standard. Its military is taking on a far superior sized Russian force and has dealt them a heavy defeat. So I think overall, Ukraine is not far off membership. There has long been an acceptance that, due to the Article 5 clause that means all members would act to defend an ally, Kyiv cannot be admitted to Nato while it is at war with Moscow. Its closest backers, however, had been keen to see a blueprint laid out for when Ukraine might be able to become the 33rd member. Talks have instead moved to how a non-Nato alliance, without the Article 5 commitment, can support Ukraine in the long-term against Russian aggression. Mr Sunak and allies are widely expected to use the summit to unveil fresh proposals to give multi-year backing to Kyivs forces. A father-of-two was shot in the face then doused in acid by the boyfriend of a woman he had a one-night-stand with, a murder trial heard. Liam Smith, 38, was lured out of his home and blasted at close range with a gun by Michael Hillier, 39, who then poured the corrosive liquid, probably sulphuric acid on the face and body of his stricken victim, burning away his flesh, a jury at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester was told. Mr Smith was left for dead in the street outside his house with the chemicals still fizzing on his body when he was found shortly after the attack in the early evening of November 24 last year. Mr Smith, an electrician from Wigan, Greater Manchester, had had a brief liaison with Hilliers co-accused, former nail technician Rachel Fulstow, 37, with a one-night stand in a hotel in 2019. The next year she became the partner of Hillier, from Sheffield who was not happy about the fling and was led to believe she had been raped, Jason Pitter KC, opening the case for the prosecution, told the jury. Both Fulstow, from Andrew Drive, York and Hillier, from Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, deny murder. But Mr Pitter told the jury the pair had planned the murder and Liam Smith was executed. He said: Why do we say that? Well, having been drawn out of his house he was blasted, at probably close range, in the face with a shot from a gun. That was fatal, it penetrated his brain and would have brought him instantly to the ground. However the killer, dressed in a high visibility jacket with a head torch, did not stop there. However, he then proceeded to pour acid onto the face and body of Liam Smith, followed by soda crystals. The result was that his flesh burned away in those areas where the acid made contact with his skin. Signage at Manchester Crown Court,Minshull Street (Dave Thompson/PA) Mr Smiths mother and sister wept uncontrollably in the public gallery as CCTV footage from the murder attack, including the sound of the gun being fired, was played to the jury. Mr Pitter said Mr Smith and Fulstow had the brief liaison at a York hotel in 2019 and she became Hilliers partner a year later, allegedly sparking the murder plot. He continued: It appears that he was not happy about the fact of her having had a one night stand and was led to believe that she had been raped. We will wait to see what the precise motivation for the killing of Liam Smith was. One proper conclusion is that Liam Smiths brief interaction with Fulstow was in a distorted and extreme way the cause for him being their target. In due course she was to go on to say that she believed that she had not consented to have sex with Liam Smith on that night in the hotel in York which she had booked. However, even if that is right, she had put it down to a, misunderstanding of the situation between them and that she herself held no ill feeling to Liam Smith. It is factually relevant but does not need resolving as to what exactly happened between them. Liam Smith cannot answer for himself. In any event, it is shrouded in uncertainty, even on her version, and would never justify the extreme violence and murder of him. Mr Pitter said although Hillier alone carried out the attack, he was not solely responsible for Mr Smiths death. The prosecution say that he was assisted in the organisation, preparation and execution of the attack by the first defendant, Rachel Fulstow, his then girlfriend. Jurors were told prosecution evidence includes CCTV and vehicle recognition footage, mobile telephone tracking and internet searches done by Fulstow before and after the murder. These included online searches for Mr Smith and searching for the meaning of the word, premeditated and barbaric. A week after the murder both defendants went on holiday for a fortnight to Jamaica, jurors heard. Fulstow and Hillier both deny murder. Hillier has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, Fulstow has pleaded not guilty to the same charge. She also denies a single count of perverting the course of justice. The trial was adjourned until Wednesday morning. Volodymyr Zelensky said it is absurd that no timeframe has been set for Ukraine to join Nato following confirmation the UK is pushing for long-term military support to be pledged for Kyiv. The Ukrainian president said uncertainty is weakness as he criticised Nato leaders for failing to agree a pathway for his war-torn country to accede to the defensive alliance. Mr Zelensky said the delay was providing Russia with the motivation to continue its terror. We value our allies. We value our shared security. And we always appreciate an open conversation.Ukraine will be represented at the NATO summit in Vilnius. Because it is about respect. But Ukraine also deserves respect. Now, on the way to Vilnius, we received signals that (@ZelenskyyUa) July 11, 2023 World leaders have descended upon Vilnius for the Nato summit, with Ukraines membership one of the key items on the agenda. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters on his way to the Lithuanian capital that he wanted to see Natos commitment to inducting Ukraine as a full member of the alliance reaffirmed during the two-day gathering. Nato signalled at its 2008 summit in Bucharest that Kyiv should become a member state. Im at my first #NATOSummit as Prime Minister.@NATO is a vital alliance. Heres why pic.twitter.com/Sht4CxQZGh Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 11, 2023 Mr Sunak repeated his stance that, for the UK, Ukraines rightful place is in Nato. Britain has voiced its support for fast-tracking Kyiv through the membership process, arguing much of the military reforms asked of it are being witnessed on the battlefield in its fight against Russias invading troops. But the US and Germany are said to be against the idea. With allies reportedly reluctant to give Ukraine a date for when it will be accepted into the Nato fold, Mr Zelensky, who is due to attend the summit on Wednesday, hit out at the lack of a plan for the Vilnius meeting. Its unprecedented and absurd when (a) time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraines membership, while at the same time vague wording about conditions is added even for inviting Ukraine, he tweeted. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took part in a Nato leaders meeting on Tuesday in Vilnius (Paul Ellis/PA) It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to Nato, nor to make it a member of the alliance. This means that a window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraines membership in Nato in negotiations with Russia. And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror. Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit. Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, who has had his tenure extended for 12 months, has said he is confident the summit will send a positive message to Ukraine about its path to membership. With Nato publicly stating that Ukraine is not likely to be made a member while it is fighting back Russian president Vladimir Putins troops, leading members have reportedly been working on securing a multilateral long-term deal with Kyiv to help support its efforts to reclaim its borders. According to the Daily Telegraph, the UK, US, France and Germany dubbed The Quad are looking to finalise an Israel-style security deal to provide Kyiv with a multi-year plan to defend itself from Russian aggression. US president Joe Biden is said not to be keen on fast-tracking Ukraines Nato membership (Paul Ellis/PA) The paper reported that it would be similar to a military and financial pact that Washington has with Tel Aviv to afford it protection in the Middle East. Conservative Party leader Mr Sunak, without providing details of what the deal could look like, said Britain had played a leading role in the discussions since he put the issue of multilateral Western security assurances on the table during his speech to the Munich security conference in February. He said providing security guarantees to Ukraine was about showing the Kremlin that the West would not tire in its backing for Kyiv. Mr Sunak said: We are with Ukraine for as long as it takes. That is why the security assurances are important because what Putin needs to understand is there is no point in just waiting out the West. Everyone is in it for the long haul and any thought he had that this would be over quickly has already been proved to be false. Downing Street said Mr Sunak would use the Vilnius summit to press home the importance of increasing Natos defence spending in order to ward off Russian tyranny, urging member states to meet the target of spending at least 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Nato summit (Paul Ellis/PA) Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, speaking to Bloomberg TV, said that Nato members are focused on supporting Ukraine in their self-defence and we are discussing the future pathway for Ukraine to enjoy Nato membership. The Prime Ministers first bilateral meeting after arriving at the summit was with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It follows a breakthrough with Ankara, brokered by Mr Stoltenberg, to remove Turkeys objections to Sweden being admitted to Nato. No 10 said Mr Sunak commended the Turkish leader for his efforts to pave the way for Stockholm to join. The Nordic country, along with Finland, dropped its long-held neutrality position following Moscows invasion. A full allies meeting of Nato took place on Tuesday afternoon in Vilnius, with Mr Sunak sat next to US President Joe Biden for the session. The British premier is set to hold further one-on-one talks with the leaders of Poland and the Netherlands. Crawford Lake is a limestone sinkhole that has filled with water Crawford Lake, a small body of water in Ontario, Canada, is being put forward as the location that best records humanity's impacts on Earth. Scientists are trying to define a new geological time period to recognise the changes we've made to the planet, and Crawford is their model example. Its sediments have captured fallout from intense fossil fuel burning, and even the plutonium from bomb tests. The muds would be symbolic of the onset of a proposed Anthropocene Epoch. Researchers want to acknowledge their significance by making them a "golden spike", or more properly a Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point. Other great transitions in geological time are associated with a GSSP. Often, it's literally a brass nail hammered into some cliff face deemed to be of major scientific importance. But for Crawford, it would be a brass plaque next to a frozen section of the sediments, kept in a museum in the Canadian capital, Ottawa. "Crawford is just brilliant for this," explained Dr Simon Turner from University College London. "A core from its bottom muds looks like a massive dirty lollipop, but it contains these beautiful, annually laminated sediments. "Those annual layers record fossil fuel combustion products, plutonium, changes in geochemistry, changes in micro-ecology - all the sorts of things that chart environmental change," the secretary to the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) told BBC News. The post-war nuclear tests spread plutonium around the globe You may have seen the famous Chronostratigraphic Chart featured in textbooks and on school classroom walls, detailing the 4.6-billion-year history of Earth. Its blocks of time - like Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous - trip off the tongue. We currently live in the Holocene Epoch, which covers the time from the end of the last ice age, 11,700 years ago. Drilling through the ice-covered lake to recover its bottom muds It's been the job of the AWG for the past decade to try to establish whether or not the chart should be updated. On this question, the AWG is convinced the case has been made. A formal start date has also been identified - the 1950s. This decade marks the beginning of the "Great Acceleration", when the human population and its consumption patterns suddenly speeded up. It coincides with the spread of ubiquitous "techno materials", such as aluminium, concrete and plastic. In Crawford's sediments, scientists are able to detect the quickening, year on year. Map In warm summer months, the growth of algae prompts the lake water to produce tiny chalk crystals (calcite) that fall to the lake bottom as a white layer; in cold winter months, the algae and other organisms die back and their organic matter settles out as a brown/black layer. But captured within these light-dark bands are the broader environmental changes around the lake. It's almost as if the scientists are reading a barcode at a supermarket check-out. "We see these spheroidal carbonaceous particles - 'fly ash' - that are produced by the very high temperature combustion of fossil fuels, primarily coal," said Prof Francine McCarthy from Brock University in St Catharines, Ontario. "And the reason, of course, for the increase in these SCPs is that just a few 10s of km up wind from Crawford is the largest industrial city in Canada, Hamilton, where steel mills had been operating through most of the 20th Century and into the present day." Human technology Another key marker - indeed, the primary marker - is plutonium. Samples of the Crawford muds were sent to the UK earlier this year to try to determine where exactly in the muddy layers the presence of the radioactive element first appears and then ticks upward. "We see plutonium in sediments and other materials from about 1945 onwards, relating to the atomic weapons testing programme. But really the point at which plutonium deposition went global was following high-yield thermonuclear bomb tests, starting in 1952," said Prof Andrew Cundy. "One of the plutonium isotopes we're looking at has a half-life of 24,000 years, so it will be visible in the sediments for at least 100,000 years. Beyond that, the SCPs will still be detectable," the University of Southampton scientist told BBC News. Samples sent to Southampton will show when the plutonium signal first appears The AWG want to pick a specific year for the start of the Anthropocene Epoch, and the Southampton tests will influence this decision. It's an extraordinary idea that geologists many millennia from now could be studying today's sediments to understand the profound changes earlier humans had imposed on Planet Earth. But this is how stratigraphy - the study of layered deposits through time - is done. The proposed change to the Chronostratigraphic Chart: Epochs are sub-divided into Ages, or Stages. The first Age of the Anthropocene may well be called the Crawfordian after the lake Take for example Munsley Bog on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England. There, if you pick the right place in the soggy ground, it's possible to pull up mud layers that record the last great epochal transition - from the Pleistocene into the Holocene. Traces of pollen track the loss of Arctic-Alpine plants and the invasion of birch and willow, as Northern European glaciers recede and temperatures rise. "When we look back, what we are learning is that some of these transitions can be really quick, in just 30 or 40 years; so within a generation," explained Prof Sabine Wulf from the University of Portsmouth. The AWG will present its recommendations on establishing a new epoch to the wider geological community later this year. Ultimately, it will be up to the International Commission on Stratigraphy as to whether it wants to update its famous chart. BEIJING (AP) The Solomon Islands has signed an agreement to boost cooperation with China on law enforcement and security matters, in a move likely to raise concerns among the South Pacific islands traditional partners including Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The agreement, details of which were not immediately released, was contained in a joint statement made public Tuesday following a meeting Monday in Beijing between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. As part of efforts to build a comprehensive strategic partnership" the sides agreed to: Enhance cooperation on law enforcement and security matters. The Chinese side will continue to provide support and help to Solomon Islands as needed in strengthening Solomon Islands police law enforcement capacity. Located 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Australia, Solomon Islands has been Chinas biggest success in a campaign to expand its presence in the South Pacific. Sogavares government switched official recognition in 2019 to Beijing from Taiwan, the self-governed island democracy China claims as part of its territory. The Solomon Islands signed a secretive security agreement with Beijing in 2022 that might have allowed Chinese military forces in the South Pacific. However, Sogavare rejected suggestions his government might give Beijing a military foothold in the region. The nearby island nation of Kiribati also switched official relations to Beijing in 2019. China has already provided the Solomons with police training and donated replica guns and riot-control equipment such as water cannon vehicles. A country of 700,000 people made up of six major islands and some 900 smaller ones, the Solomons has seen periods of ethnic tension, during which Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific island nations have committed forces to help restore order. In the wake of Sogavare's warming relationship with Beijing, the U.S. has committed to reopen an American Embassy in the capital Honiara and it and its allies have increased their engagement with the region as a whole. Biden convened a summit of Pacific Island leaders in September to unveil a strategy that included cooperation in climate change, maritime security and preventing overfishing. His administration has also promised $810 million in new aid for Pacific Island nations over the next decade, including $130 million to address the effects of climate change. Sogavare also met with president and head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping on Monday, and the joint statement included a reference to high-quality cooperation under Xi's signature ""Belt and Road" blueprint that aims to build ports, highways, power stations and other infrastructure financed by Chinese loans. The infrastructure project has produced tangible, but not always practical, results for countries lacking other forms of financing and has left many recipients in deep debt to China with little sign of relief. Solomon Islands has already secured a $66 million loan from the government's Exim Bank of China to erect 161 mobile towers built and run by Chinese communications giant Huawei. In 2018, the Solomons awarded Huawei a contract for an underwater telecom cable network, jointly funded by Australia. China is also building facilities for the islands to host the 2023 Pacific Island Games. Sogavare has often signed those deals against strong internal opposition and has secured his position by delaying elections in what his opponents have called a power grab. In the joint statement, Solomon Islands declared it opposed Taiwanese independence and supported Chinas positions on Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet and other areas where China is criticized for alleged human rights violations. The statement also urged countries to "prudently handle issues such as the discharge of nuclear contaminated water and cooperation on nuclear submarine. That was a reference to Japan's plan to release treated but still slightly radioactive wastewater into the sea that China has strongly criticized, as well as the Biden administration agreement given the acronym AUKUS with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines in response to China's moving rapidly to expand its military. This photo, provided by the Air Force, shows the armed service's KC-330 transport aircraft unloading emergency aid supplies at an airport in Canada to support the country's efforts to fight wildfires, Wednesday. Yonhap Korea has sent portable mine detectors and protective suits in its latest batch of military supplies to support war-torn Ukraine, Seoul's defense ministry said Tuesday. The ministry said earlier that it had dispatched a military transport plane carrying additional military supplies to Ukraine. The plane is said to have arrived in Poland over the weekend to deliver the items. Last year, Korea sent three batches of nonlethal military assistance to Ukraine, including first-aid kits, medicine, gas masks, tents, bulletproof vests and food for field troops. The latest aid package came as President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to attend a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Lithuania this week, where the Ukraine issue is likely to be prominently featured. (Yonhap) Donald Trumps lawyers asked a federal judge for an indefinite delay in his trial on charges related to his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House, arguing he couldnt get a fair trial ahead of the 2024 presidential election. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon initially set an Aug. 14 trial date. Justice Department attorneys proposed a delay to Dec. 11 because Trumps lawyers need to get security clearances before they can study all the documents at stake in the case. But Trumps lawyers, led by Christopher Kise, argued the evidence at stake is already voluminous, with more on the way. Trump and his co-defendant, personal valet Walt Nauta, are busy with the presidential campaign. And Trump has to prepare for other criminal and civil trials. Here, there is simply no question any trial of this action during the pendency of the Presidential election will impact both the outcome of that election and, importantly, the ability of the Defendants to obtain a fair trial, Trumps lawyers wrote. The Governments request to begin a trial of this magnitude within six months of indictment is unreasonable, telling and would result in a miscarriage of justice. The governments reply is due Monday. Here is what we know about the schedule so far: Trump federal charges unprecedented In an unprecedented case of federal charges against a former president, Trump and Nauta were indicted on June 8 on 38 charges including retaining national defense documents, conspiracy to obstruct justice and concealing records. Trumps lawyers argued many issues in the case will be argued for the first time ever in federal court. Depending on how Cannon and appeals courts rule, Trumps lawyers argued the charges could be dismissed. This extraordinary case presents a serious challenge to both the fact and perception of our American democracy, Trumps lawyers wrote. Former President Donald Trump's valet Walt Nauta visits Versailles restaurant with Trump on June 13 in Miami. Government releasing evidence in stages 'due to the sheer volume' One reason Trumps lawyers argued not to schedule a trial yet is they have to sift through mountains of evidence already collected, with more on the way. The government anticipates providing evidence to defense lawyers "in stages due to the sheer volume of documents collected," Trump's lawyers said. The government provided 833,450 pages of unclassified documents including 122,650 emails and attachments and 305,670 records gathered from 90 different custodians. Prosecutors also provided about nine months of closed-circuit television footage. Once Trumps lawyers receive security clearances, classified documents will add to that pile. Trumps lawyers called the governments schedule unrealistic for reviewing the classified materials. And Trumps lawyers argued there is no urgency requiring a rapid resolution to the case because there is ongoing threat to national security interests or concern about continued criminal activity. In this courtroom sketch, attorney Todd Blanche stands as he enters a plea of not guilty on behalf of former President Donald Trump, second from right, in federal court on June 13 in Miami. From left are: Stanley Woodward, Walt Nauta, Blanche, Trump and Chris Kise. Trump lawyers: Other national security cases have taken longer to prepare Trumps lawyers pointed to two other cases involving classified documents that took longer than six months to prepare. Reality Winners trial was scheduled 16 months after her June 2017 indictment, although she eventually entered a plea of removing classified material from a government facility and transmitting it to a news organization. Ji Chaoquns trial on charges of acting as a Chinese agent was held three years and nine months after his indictment. The timelines in both these cases contrast starkly with the Governments proposed six-month timeline in this case, Trumps lawyers said. Trump must also prepare for a New York state civil trial in October 2023 and a New York state criminal trial in March 2024 on charges he falsified business records. Prosecutors: Trump case 'straightforward' Government lawyers led by special counsel Jack Smith argued in June that a Dec. 11 trail would allow defense lawyers to get security clearances and review evidence in the case. The lawyers said the case is not so unusual or complex to require longer because it has only two defendants and involves straightforward theories of liability rather than novel questions about facts or law. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump asks for indefinite delay in federal records trial amid campaign 15 Minute Live Performances: Sam Himself Swiss instrumental outfit Leclair has built its fanbase exponentially since its maiden North American tour last summer, and ahead of a new round of live shows in the region beginning Friday (July 14) in Brooklyn, N.Y., the group has signed a new worldwide label deal with the Los Angeles-based Innovative Leisure. Best known as the home of genre-bending jazz group BADBADNOTGOOD, Innovative Leisure previously worked with Leclair on the 2021 album Souvenir, on which the quintet backed French composer/producer Frank Maston. Group member Stef Lilov tells SPIN Leclair is hoping to record its debut for the label in Los Angeles in the fall and release it next spring or early summer. It will be the follow-up to 2021s Confusions, which made inroads in the U.S. in part thanks to a well-received pandemic-era live session for Seattle radio station KEXP. More from Spin: In tandem with some musical friends and family, the group is also finalizing a deal with a major international distribution partner for its own imprint, Stone Pixels, which Lilov says will showcase talents from Geneva and around the world beyond Leclair. In the meantime, Geneva-based label Bongo Joe will continue to distribute Confusions as well as earlier albums such as Leclairs 2017 debut, Cruise Control. And although Leclairs groove-dominant, high-energy, and vocal-free sound owes its fair share to classic funk, disco, psychedelic rock, and fusion, Lilov says the groups newest material is clearly escaping from the 70s more and more. Weve been really motivated to include some surprises on the next record something we havent shown yet in our music that weve only felt comfortable doing when we collaborate with other people. Its really exciting to write and still keep the roots of what Leclair has been since the beginning. Were trying to make the end product easier to listen to, but were not giving away the sound and all the things people like about our music. To that end, Leclair will continue to polish unreleased songs on the upcoming tour, which runs through July 29 in St. Paul, Mn. Its the best thing to try out your songs that are a bit more uptempo before going into the studio, because you may end up with a new unexpected jam, Lilov says. adding that one new untitled track reminds him of Tom Cruise in Jamaica, Chemical Brothers, and Beastie Boys. Weve been really overwhelmed by people in the U.S. who genuinely were touched by our music. Weve had every age audience possible. Even some parents came because their kids listen to us but were too young to get into the show themselves. Maybe its just because we came all the way from Switzerland, but theres this real love for bands in the States, he continues. On the tour last year, we actually felt like we had fans, which is still weird for us to interpret. Even on some nights, like when there were only about 40 people at our show in Denver, everybody was dancing, and it really helps spread the word. Were all just friends from college making psychedelic music. What we do has so many roots in the U.S., so it was pretty insane to see people here get the groove. Following the North American run, Leclair will play a host of shows in the U.K. and Switzerland in September before returning across the Atlantic for a Sept. 28 appearance at the fifth annual Same Same But Different festival in Lake Perris, Ca. Here are Leclairs North American tour dates: July 14: Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Made) July 15: Philadelphia (Silk City Diner) July 16: Baltimore, Md. (Metro Gallery) July 18: Troy, N.Y. (No Fun) July 19: Brattleboro, Vt. (Stone Church) July 20: Burlington, Vt. (Monkey House) July 21: Montreal (LEscogriffe Bar Spectacle) July 22: Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec (Le Festif!) July 24: Toronto (Monarch Tavern) July 25: Detroit (UFO Factory) July 26: Indianapolis (Square Cat Vinyl) July 27: Chicago (Empty Bottle) July 28: Milwaukee (Cactus Club) July 29: St. Paul, Minn. (Turf Club) Sept. 28: Lake Perris, Ca. (Same Same But Different Festival) To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here. The post 15 Minute Live Performances: Sam Himself appeared first on SPIN. By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A judge on Monday ordered Kansas to stop allowing transgender people to change the gender listed on their driver's licenses after a lawsuit filed by the state's Republican attorney general. The state's Democratic Governor Laura Kelly and Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach have been at odds over the issue, over which the latter sued officials at the Kansas Department of Revenue. Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa Watson issued the temporary restraining order on Monday. The order is in effect for 14 days, and can be modified by the court. Kobach argued that a law passed by the state legislature that went into effect this month - which defined a person's sex as male or female based on the "biological reproductive system" identified at birth - meant people could not change the sex on their driver's license and that any past changes should be reversed. Republican lawmakers in different state legislatures across the U.S. have passed a flurry of bills relating to transgender youth, which proponents say are aimed at protecting minors and opponents say limit their rights. Some states have banned teachers of younger children from discussing gender or sexuality, while conservative lawmakers have also proposed or passed laws restricting drag performances. In June, President Joe Biden warned of "ugly" attacks from "hysterical" people who he said were targeting LGBTQ+ Americans, especially transgender youth. The transgender community has also faced online attacks. In a recent survey published by advocacy group Anti-Defamation League (ADL), about 76% of transgender people in the U.S. said they have faced online harassment during their lifetime. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington, editing by Deepa Babington) Washington A federal judge on Monday turned down a Justice Department request to temporarily pause an order that blocks top Biden administration officials and several agencies from contacting social media companies, rejecting the government's claims that the injunction was too broad and threatened to chill lawful conduct. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, appointed to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump, reiterated in a 13-page ruling denying the Justice Department's request for a stay that Missouri and Louisiana were likely to succeed on the merits of their case against the Biden administration. "Although this Preliminary Injunction involves numerous agencies, it is not as broad as it appears," Doughty wrote. "It only prohibits something the Defendants have no legal right to do contacting social media companies for the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner, the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech posted on social-media platforms." Missouri and Louisiana, he said, "are likely to prove that all of the enjoined defendants coerced, significantly encouraged, and/or jointly participated [with] social-media companies to suppress social-media posts by American citizens that expressed opinions that were anti-COVID-19 vaccines, anti-COVID-19 lockdowns, posts that delegitimized or questioned the results of the 2020 election, and other content not subject to any exception to the First Amendment. These items are protected free speech and were seemingly censored because of the viewpoints they expressed." Following the denial by Doughty, the Justice Department asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to pause the lower court's order pending appeal and is requesting relief by July 24. "The district court issued a universal injunction with sweeping language that could be read to prohibit (among other things) virtually any government communication directed at social-media platforms regarding content moderation," Justice Department lawyers wrote. "The court's belief that the injunction forbids only unconstitutional conduct, while protecting the government's lawful prerogatives, rested on a fundamentally erroneous conception of the First Amendment, and the court's effort to tailor the injunction through a series of carveouts cured neither the injunction's overbreadth nor its vagueness." Doughty issued the July 4 order limiting communications between the Biden administration and social media companies, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, as part of a lawsuit brought by the attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri in 2022. The states, joined by several individuals, claimed senior government officials colluded with the companies to suppress viewpoints and content on the social media platforms, in violation of the First Amendment. The preliminary injunction blocks a number of top Biden administration officials among them Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre from engaging in a range of communications with social media companies. The administration officials, as well as several federal agencies, are temporarily prohibited from working with the companies in ways that are aimed at "urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner for removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech." But the order includes several carve-outs and allows the administration to inform social media companies of posts involving criminal activity, threats to national security and public safety, and illegal efforts to suppress voting or of foreign attempts to influence elections. The Biden administration is appealing Doughty's ruling, but asked him to put the decision on hold while proceedings continue. Justice Department lawyers argued the order is too broad and unclear as to who it covers and what conduct it allows. They also warned the order issued last week would "chill a wide range of lawful government conduct." Madonna says she's "on the road to recovery" How AI is changing Hollywood, and why actors may strike over it Inside a Ukrainian clinic after a cluster bombing Parents share the stress of applying for private schools. (Image: Getty; design by Quinn Lemmers) Most parents across the country send their children to their local public school. But some prefer private schools, and that often comes with the stress of getting into the "right" preschool or grade school. Travel blogger Marquita Wright recently went through the process for her 5-year-old twins, one of whom had a stroke last year and has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to make sure his needs are met. Her family decided they wanted to send their son to an art-based school. "We discovered he learns best through dramatic play and art, not the typical liberal arts style." she tells Yahoo Life. "It was stressful," Wright says of the application process. "In addition to the application requirements, I had to provide supporting documentation [for his health]. Although hes been cleared by his doctor, additional information was requested. All in all, I had more than a handful of conversations with the admissions director and teaching staff." Wright says she also thinks the process still would have been stressful without the need to provide medical information. Wright says she and her family had to provide "an in-depth amount of information, including a 'play date,' parent interview and follow-up discussion, along with documents from his previous schools." Wright's son was accepted to the school of their choice for kindergarten, while his twin goes to a private Catholic school. Christine Valenti tells Yahoo Life that her children went to a private school in San Francisco before her family moved to the East Coast. Valenti says the move was a "tough adjustment," noting that her kids started public school after they relocated. Her son has been waitlisted for a private school for fourth grade. "I did what was required with the application, but didnt feel much pressure to go above and beyond with the application because wed had such an easy time with their prior applications," she says. "We did an online application for my son, which required multiple referrals and making him do essays, which was a little like pulling teeth for a fourth grader. We also took a tour and they conducted interviews with us and with him." Valenti says she left it up to her son to write the essays and "didn't give input on things like his favorite book." While she says she's disappointed that her son is waitlisted, her family has taken a fairly laidback attitude about the process. "We are fortunate that this is an option for our kids but, to be honest, my husband and I went to relatively crappy public schools in middle and high school and turned out OK," she says. Both parents say they're surprised at how much work was involve in the application process. What does it take to apply for a private school and how can parents navigate the stress involved in it? Here's the deal. What is the private school application process like? Each private school has its own unique process even in the same city, Whitney Shashou, CEO and founder of Admit New York, tells Yahoo Life. "It's quite complex," she says. "It's a multi-step process and involves everything from submitting basic applications for interviews for both students and parents, to drafting and submitting parent essays, writing samples, activity surveys, teacher interviews and admissions testing." Parent statements, which involve questions about who their family is, who the child is, what educational environment best suits the child and their extracurricular passions and interests, are also important, Shashou says. The process involves "a lot of information-collecting" for parents, as well as keeping track of when things are due. "Families can tour schools when they interview and they can also go to an open house," she says. "But they do need to submit an application for a tour." Rachel Blankstein, co-founder of Spark Admissions, tells Yahoo Life that it's important for parents to be aware that every interaction they have with the school is part of the interview process. "Parents who are kind, polite and respectful in the process will be favored," she says. Blankstein adds that "interview preparation, test preparation and writing strong essays are all extremely important." What are schools looking for? In general, "the most important thing that private schools will care about is whether the student fits the academic and social environment that the school is trying to cultivate," Blankstein says. In preschoolers and young children, schools mostly look at a child's behavior and their ability to interact in an age-appropriate way with other kids, Blankstein says. "Do they share? Can they ask questions politely to teachers and peers? Also, schools will want to see that the child shows age-appropriate intellect through their conversational skills and knowledge of basic concepts," she says. Blankstein says that schools are "very much evaluating the parents," too. "Are the parents people who will contribute positively to the school community? Are the parents displaying appropriate levels of maturity and do they have reasonable expectations of the school? Schools dont want parents that are too demanding or unrealistic about what the school can provide," she says. Shashou says the "family fit" is important. "The family needs to understand the school's philosophy and their program, and that they are in line with the value system of that school," she says. Shashou notes that it's also important that the school has the resources to adequately support the child's needs. How can parents navigate the process without stressing out? Experts don't try to downplay how tough this process can be. "There is no question that applying to private school is an extremely stressful process for most parents," Blankstein says. "Parents wrap their hopes and dreams for their children into this process." Shashou says that staying organized can help relieve some of the stress. "Having some sort of system, whether it's a spreadsheet or Google Doc, where they can keep track of user names and passwords, interview dates, essay prompts and testing dates is important," she says. It's also important for parents to understand that this is only one moment in their child's life and that there's not one particular school that will make their child happy or successful, Blankstein says. Shashou agrees. "The biggest key to success in this process is remaining open-minded," she says. "A lot of parents are very laser-focused on one school or a certain group of schools that they're most enthusiastic about. But the goal is to find the school that's best suited for their child." "Families that remain focused on fit above all else end up with the best results," Shashou adds. Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. Robert Wilson "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." On August 11, Men in Kilts, the Starz travel series starring Outlander actors Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, will return for a second seasonand it's going to be quite an adventure. This time around, the serieswhich focused its first season on Scotlandwas filmed in New Zealand and features the two actors (who initially began creating travel content as a podcast) taking in some of the country's gorgeous scenery, and engaging in more than a few extreme adventures. It's a change that the pair had always hoped to make. McTavish previously told T&C, "There are many, many, many more stories to tell in Scotland. We've barely scratched the surface there. And that's not even including the wider Scottish influence that went out into the rest of the world, like in America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, even places like India and Brazil. Even France, which has such a traditional connection... I think hopefully, this is just the beginning." Below, T&C is premiering the trailer for the new season. Shop Now You Might Also Like Jim Smeal - Getty Images For the last three decades, Julianne Moore has been a Hollywood force. Shes starred in some of the biggest films of our time, won many major accolades, acted on Broadway, and is even an established childrens book author. Moore has been in the public eye for years, so chances are youve seen her on the big screen, walking a red carpet, or on the cover of a magazine. And although there are countless images of the actress out there, we visited the archives to find some lesser-known photos that you may not have come across yet. From Moores time spent on a popular soap opera to pictures of her out and about, here are 20 rare photos of the talented actress. 1985: Soap Opera Star You may know Moore for her movies on the big screen, but in the 1980s, she was a soap opera star. Here, Moore poses for a photograph while shooting As the World Turns. CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images 1985: Becoming Frannie Hughes On As the World Turns, Moore played Frannie Hughes from 1985 to 1988 and then again for an episode in 2010. Here, the actress shoots a costume party scene for the popular daytime soap. CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images 1986: Filming in Italy Actor Steve Bassett appeared on As the World Turns as Seth Snyder, Frannies love interest. The two, seen here shooting in Italy, were engaged to be married on the show but (spoiler alert) broke up after Seth slept with Frannies sister, Sabrina. CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images 1991: A Los Angeles Premiere Moore is pictured walking the red carpet for the television film, Cast a Deadly Spell, with her co-star, actor Fred Ward. If Ward looks familiar its because he played the dad in Sweet Home Alabama. Jeff Kravitz - Getty Images 1994: '90s Fashion The young actress wears a black knit dress layered over a white t-shirt while attending the IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards at the Hollywood Palladium. In 1994, Moore played the character Yelena in Vanya on 42nd Street, a film inspired by Anton Chekhov's play "Uncle Vanya." Ron Galella - Getty Images 1995: Hanging out with a Hollywood Crew Moore poses with fellow talented actors Sylvester Stallone and Whoopi Goldberg while attending a ShoWest convention. Stallone and Moore would appear together later that year in Assassins, an action thriller about a hitman. The movie made $83.5 million worldwide. Jeff Kravitz - Getty Images 1996: Stepping out in Style The actress once again attended IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards this time dressed in a pistachio-colored two-piece outfit, black sunglasses, and matching black pocketbook. Steve Granitz - Getty Images 1997: Working with Spielberg A pivotal moment in Moores career was playing paleontologist Dr. Sarah Harding in the Steven Spielberg-directed film The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Although the movie was physically taxing, Moore has shared that she had a lot of fun during filming. Not only was the movie one of the worlds highest-grossing movies at the time, but it also cemented Moore as a commercial film actress. Here, she is seen arriving at the films Los Angeles premiere. Jim Smeal - Getty Images 1997: Critical Acclaim Moore received Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild award nominations for her role in director Paul Thomas Andersons Boogie Nights, which focuses on a group of people who work in the 1970s porn industry. Here, the actress is pictured attending the movies premiere alongside co-star Heather Graham. Jeff Kravitz - Getty Images 1998: Love is in the Air Film director Bart Freundlich and Moore started dating in 1997 after crossing paths on the set of The Myth of Fingerprints. The two later married in 2003 and have two children together, Caleb and Liv Helen. Here, the two pose for a photo at the LAFCA Awards Luncheon. Jim Smeal - Getty Images 1998: A Cult Classic Moore smiles alongside her co-star, Jeff Bridges, at The Big Lebowski premiere in New York City. Although The Big Lebowski wasnt a huge success initially, it is considered a cult classic today. Catherine McGann - Getty Images 2001: With Kyra and Kevin Moore attends an after party charity event to benefit 9/11 victims with her husband and actors Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon. Ron Galella, Ltd. - Getty Images 2002: At the Sundance Film Festival In 2002, the happy couple traveled to Utah to attend Sundance. The two went to the premiere of World Traveler, a drama film directed by Freundlich that Moore starred in. George Pimentel - Getty Images 2002: Another Academy Award Nomination Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep smile alongside Moore while attending the red carpet for their movie The Hours. In this film, Moore plays a worried 1950s housewife. She received another Academy Award nomination for her performance. Evan Agostini - Getty Images 2003: Dinner with Jack Jack Nicholson smiles with the actress while attending the 28th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Dinner Jeffrey Mayer - Getty Images 2003: Visiting Friends on Set Moore arrives at the Spider-Man 2 set in New York City with her family to visit some friends. James Devaney - Getty Images 2003: Run for a Cause Moore is pictured here taking part in the 6th Annual Revlon Run/Walk For Women Against Breast Cancer. A few years later Moore would join forces with QVC and jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris to release a sterling silver charm as part of QVCs Designer Charms for Charity." Net proceeds from the jewelry piece went to benefit CFDAs Fashion Targets Breast Cancer program. Mychal Watts - Getty Images 2003: Filming with Pierce Brosnan Pierce Brosnan and Moore share a laugh while filming the 2004 romantic comedy Laws of Attraction. The two play rival divorce lawyers who fall in love. Matthew Peyton - Getty Images 2004: An All-Star Cast Dressed in a long, beige coat and wide-legged trousers, Moore smiles as she films Trust the Man, a movie directed by her husband. Other stars in the film include David Duchovny, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Billy Crudup, and Eva Mendes. Carley Margolis - Getty Images 2004: An Evening at the Met A lover of the arts, Moore is shown here arriving at a preview gala for the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Wild: Fashion Untamed exhibit in New York City. Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli hosted the event. Evan Agostini - Getty Images You Might Also Like NEW YORK (AP) A man accused of killing an 86-year-old and injuring three other people in a series of apparently random shootings while riding a scooter in New York City was arraigned Monday on charges including murder and attempted murder, prosecutors said. Thomas Abreu, 25, was arraigned in a hospital in five shootings that occurred in Queens over about 10 minutes late Saturday morning, a spokesperson for Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. An additional person was shot and injured in Brooklyn. The streets of two boroughs were turned into scenes of terror as this defendant allegedly rode his scooter, shooting indiscriminately at pedestrians and others," Katz said in a statement. Police have said they are not sure what the motive for the attack was. Abreu did not enter a plea. A message seeking comment was left with his attorney. Witnesses identified Abreu as the gunman who shot Hamod Saeidi, 86, just before 11:30 a.m., prosecutors said. Family members said Saeidi, who died, had been on his way to the mosque to pray. Another victim shot in Queens was struck in the head when Abreu fired into a parked minivan and is in intensive care at a hospital, according to the criminal complaint, while a third victim was shot in the shoulder. Prosecutors said Abreu shot at two other people in Queens and did not hit them. Abreu was arrested later Saturday based on witness statements and surveillance footage, prosecutors said. Twelve years after starring together in The Adjustment Bureau,Emily Blunt and Matt Damon are reuniting in Oppenheimer, director Christopher Nolan's new epic, which stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who led the Manhattan Project during World War II and is often credited as "the father of the atomic bomb." Oppenheimer's life and work was full of complex characters, and Nolan has assembled a star-studded cast to tell the complicated story. Blunt stars as Katherine "Kitty" Oppenheimer, who was a German-American biologist and botanist and a member of the Communist Party of America, in addition to being Oppenheimer's wife. Damon plays Lieutenant General Leslie Richard Groves Jr., the Army Corps of Engineers officer who directed the Manhattan Project for the government. Both stars told ET's Rachel Smith how excited they were to work together again -- though they don't share much screen time -- particularly on a Nolan film. "I mean, he is such a groundbreaking, extraordinary director -- I would have done one scene. I mean, I would have done anything," Blunt raved. "I think everyone felt that. You see all the cast that are in this movie and there's the huge, vast, ranging number of actors who showed up for him. It's just a testament to him and the kind of excellence he demands. People want to be a part of that. It's fun for us to be around it." "Nobody says this out loud, but everybody feels lucky to be there," Damon agreed. "You're a part of a great director's vision, so it's very exciting." Cultivating the on-set camaraderie came fairly easy, the pair explained, as the majority of the shoot was in a remote area of New Mexico -- meaning the cast and crew all stayed at the same hotel and ate at the same restaurant for each meal, leading to something of a "summer camp" atmosphere. "We had dinner every night," Damon recalled, with Blunt reminiscing, "So many margaritas." "It was like the dining hall, you'd go in and you'd see everybody and so everyone would just end up sitting together," Damon added. "It always helps when you're kind of immersed with the cast." The actors also had nothing but praise for their experience working with Nolan, detailing how the director first presented them with the Oppenheimer script in person, leery of sharing it digitally. "It was heart-racing, it was emotional," Blunt said of her first read. "This is not a dusty old biopic, this is like a bone-shattering experience, and it felt like that even when reading the script. You discover so much about the man and it's not about the science of it, it's about the trauma of living with a brain like that. What does that feel like? And what were his relationships? What was his life? It's so much more than just an account of what happened in his life." Oppenheimer is in theaters July 21. RELATED CONTENT: 'Oppenheimer' Trailer No. 2 Matt Damon Says Turning Down 'Avatar' Was 'the Dumbest Thing' Ever Watch Emily Blunt Crash Dwayne Johnson's Interview at the Oscars This photo, provided by Korea's industry ministry, shows Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, right, shaking hands with Hirai Hirohide, vice minister for international affairs, at Japan's trade ministry, ahead of their talks on trade and industry cooperation in Seoul, June 30. Yonhap Korea and Japan signed an agreement Tuesday that calls for enhancing cooperation on their export control policies through active consultations, Seoul's industry ministry said. Under the memorandum of cooperation (MOC), the two sides agreed to have a director-level policy dialogue on export control issues twice a year and hold meetings "in a swift manner" when necessary to find proper countermeasures when related issues occur. The MOC was signed during a video conference held earlier in the day between director-level officials of the two sides, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The agreement came two weeks after Japan announced a decision to redesignate Korea as a "Group A" nation, or a white-listed country of trusted trading partners. The decision will come into force on July 21. In 2019, Tokyo downgraded Korea to "Group B" after imposing export restrictions on three key industry materials in apparent retaliation against the Korean Supreme Court rulings the previous year that ordered two Japanese companies to pay compensation to Korean forced labor victims during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. But the two sides vowed to enact the reinstatement earlier this year after Korea announced plans to compensate the victims without asking Japan for contributions. Japan lifted the export curbs on Seoul in March after Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to make joint efforts to improve bilateral ties, and Korea put Japan back on its white list the following month. "The reinstatement marked the full restoration of bilateral trust in the export control field, and the two sides agreed to create a framework to ensure stronger bilateral cooperation on future export curb issues," the ministry said in a release. "Based on the MOC, we will strive further to share information on related matters more actively and to manage the situation in a stable manner," it added. (Yonhap) VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) NATO leaders agreed Tuesday to allow Ukraine to join when allies agree and conditions are met, the head of the military alliance said, hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blasted the organizations failure to set a timetable for his country as absurd. We reaffirmed Ukraine will become a member of NATO and agreed to remove the requirement for a membership action plan, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters, referring to a key step in joining the alliance. This will change Ukraines membership path from a two-step path to a one-step path, he said. Although many NATO members have funneled arms and ammunition to Zelenskyys forces, there is no consensus among the 31 allies for admitting Ukraine into NATOs ranks. Instead, the alliance leaders decided to remove obstacles on Ukraines membership path so that it can join more quickly once the war with Russia is over. Zelenskyy pushed back sharply against the decision. Its unprecedented and absurd when a time frame is set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraines membership, Zelenskyy tweeted as he headed to the summit. While at the same time, vague wording about conditions is added even for inviting Ukraine. It seems there is no readiness to invite Ukraine to NATO or to make it a member of the Alliance." Asked about Zelenskyys concerns, Stoltenberg said that the most important thing now is to ensure that his country wins the war, because unless Ukraine prevails there is no membership to be discussed at all. The broadside from Zelenskyy could renew tensions at the summit shortly after it saw a burst of goodwill after Turkey agreed to advance Sweden's bid to join NATO. Allies hope to resolve the seesawing negotiations and create a clear path forward for the alliance and its support for Ukraine. We value our allies, Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter, adding that Ukraine also deserves respect. He also said: Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit. Zelenskyy is expected to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and other NATO leaders on Wednesday. There have been sharp divisions within the alliance over Ukraine's desire to join NATO, which was promised back in 2008 even though few steps were taken toward that goal. In addition, the Baltic states including Lithuania, which is hosting the summit have pushed for a strong show of support and a clear pathway toward membership for Ukraine. However, the United States and Germany urged caution. Biden said last week that Ukraine was not ready to join. Members of NATO, he told CNN, need to meet all the qualifications, from democratization to a whole range of other issues, a nod toward longstanding concerns about governance and corruption in Kyiv. In addition, some fear that bringing Ukraine into NATO would serve more as a provocation to Russia than as a deterrence against aggression. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said allies were debating the precise nature of Ukraines pathway to membership. However, he promised that the summit would demonstrate how Russian President Vladimir Putins hopes for fractures within NATO will go unfulfilled. The dispute over Ukraine stands in contrast to a hard-fought agreement to advance Sweden's membership. The deal was reached after days of intensive meetings, and it's poised to expand the alliance's strength in Northern Europe. Rumors of the death of NATOs unity were greatly exaggerated," Sullivan told reporters triumphantly on Tuesday. According to a joint statement issued when the deal was announced, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will ask Turkey's parliament to approve Sweden joining NATO. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another holdout, is expected to take a similar step. Hungary's foreign minister said Tuesday that his country's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership was now just a technical matter. Erdogan has not yet commented publicly. The outcome is a victory as well for Biden, who has touted NATO's expansion as an example of how Russia's invasion of Ukraine has backfired on Moscow. Finland has already become the 31st member of the alliance, and Sweden is on deck to become the 32nd. Both Nordic countries were historically nonaligned until the war increased fears of Russian aggression. Because of the deal on Sweden's membership, "this summit is already historic before it has started, Stoltenberg said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that NATO's expansion is "one of the reasons that led to the current situation. "It looks like the Europeans dont understand their mistake, Peskov said. He warned against putting Ukraine on a fast track for NATO membership. Potentially its very dangerous for the European security, it carries very big risks," Peskov said. Erdogan met with Biden on Tuesday evening but remained mum on the deal to advance Swedens membership in NATO. Although Biden made a reference to the agreement you reached yesterday, Erdogan said nothing about it. It was a conspicuous omission from Erdogan, who has not commented on the issue publicly during the summit. However, Erdogan appeared eager to develop his relationship with Biden. He said previous meetings were mere warm-ups, but now we are initiating a new process. The Turkish president has been seeking advanced American fighter jets and a path toward membership in the European Union. The White House has expressed support for both, but publicly insisted that the issues were not related to Sweden's membership in NATO. The Biden administration has backed Turkeys desire to buy 40 new F-16s as well as modernization kits from the U.S. It's a move some in Congress, most notably Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J., have opposed over Turkey blocking NATO membership for Sweden, its human rights record and other concerns. In Washington, Menendez said he continued to have "reservations on providing the fighter aircraft to Turkey. If the Biden administration could show that Turkey wouldnt use the F-16s belligerently against other NATO members, particularly neighboring Greece, and meet other conditions, then there may be a way forward, Menendez told reporters. Biden is on a five-day trip to Europe, with the NATO summit as its centerpiece. The president spent Monday in the United Kingdom, meeting at Windsor Castle with King Charles III and in London with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He met Tuesday with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, emphasizing his commitment to transatlantic cooperation, before he joined the NATO gathering. Nothing happens here that doesnt affect us, Biden told Nauseda. The White House said Nauseda presented Biden with the Order of Vytautas the Great, the highest award a Lithuanian president can bestow. Biden is the first U.S. president to receive it. After the summit ends Wednesday, Biden will travel to Helsinki. On Thursday, he will celebrate Finland's recent entry into NATO and meet with Nordic leaders. ___ Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani, Zeke Miller, Lisa Mascaro and Darlene Superville in Washington, Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary, and Lorne Cook in Vilnius, Lithuania, contributed to this report. Members of NATO met on Tuesday for the start of a two-day summit to discuss a variety of security issues including the war in Ukraine. This will be the fourth time the defense alliance has met since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The summit is taking place in Lithuanias capital Vilnius, one of NATOs most eastern flanks. But whats on the agenda this week? Below are four main issues to watch for. Ukraine's membership NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a joint news briefing in Kyiv in April. (Alina Yarysh/Reuters) NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed that Ukraine would become a member of NATO and announced the alliance had agreed on a procedure with one step instead of the usual two speeding up the process. A multi-year assistance program will also be brought in for Ukraine to help bring it up to NATO standards. This will enable the transition from Soviet-era to NATO standard training and doctrines, Stoltenberg said. In April, Stoltenberg announced that all 31 members had agreed that Ukraine would join the alliance when the war ended. President [Volodymyr] Zelensky has a very clear expectation; we discussed this, Stoltenberg told reporters at the time. Over the two-day conference, NATO will decide how to proceed with Ukraines membership. That's clearly the most delicate issue of the summit, Jamie Shea, former deputy assistant secretary-general for emerging security challenges at NATO, told Yahoo News. It's also the one that has gone down to the wire that hasn't been fixed in advance by NATO ambassadors back in Brussels. At the annual summit in 2008, NATO declared that Ukraine would join the alliance. As time went on, though, it seemed as though Ukraine had been left on the sidelines. Six years later, Russia would take Crimea. If Ukraine had been part of NATO at that time, Russia would have been engaging in war with all the other 31 members. President Biden shakes hands Stoltenberg at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11. (Susan Walsh/AP) On Sunday, President Biden reiterated that the current war would have to end before any consideration could be made about Ukraine's NATO membership. If Ukraine were to join NATO, then all member states would be at war with Russia. Were determined to commit [to] every inch of territory that is NATO territory, Biden explained. If the war is going on, then were all in war. Despite not being a member, Zelensky was invited to attend the summit on its final day. So, clearly he has high expectations of the kind of message that he's going to get from the allies regarding Ukraine's future membership, Shea added. Zelensky said earlier that it would be absurd if NATO did not set a timeframe for Ukraine's future membership. For Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror, he added. As NATO members have been supplying Ukraine with weaponry since the invasion began, another matter of discussion will be the plan going forward to help Ukraines success in the war. Swedens accession Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Stoltenberg before the NATO summit. (Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency/via Reuters) On the eve of Tuesdays summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to support Swedens membership to the military coalition following months of ongoing negotiations. Turkey will ask its parliament to advance Swedens membership as soon as possible, Stoltenberg said on Monday, adding, Completing Swedens accession to NATO is a historic step that benefits the security of all NATO allies at this critical time. When exactly this would happen was not immediately clear. "Erdogan didn't want to be isolated [at the summit] and now he is occupying center stage," Shea said regarding Erdogans sudden change of mind. For months, Swedens NATO bid had been repeatedly thwarted by both Turkey and Hungary. Then on Monday, Erdogan said that Turkey would remove its veto if the European Union considered Turkey as a future member. On Tuesday, Hungary echoed Turkeys decision to greenlight Swedens accession to NATO, Euronews reported. "Our position is clear: the government supports Stockholm's accession to the Atlantic Alliance," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto wrote on Facebook. "Completing the ratification process is now just a technical matter." Collective defense Leaders from NATO member countries pose for an official photo on the opening day of the annual NATO Summit. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Another priority at the summit this week will be to discuss NATOs collective security and individual members' ability to defend themselves. This includes arranging different types of training and purchasing new weapons. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, NATO has been steadily improving its defense against different scenarios including attacks by the Kremlin and its allies. These attacks can't be ruled out any longer, Shea said. Asia-Pacific partners Australia's Deputy Head of Mission David Dutton, Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Stoltenberg, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, and South Korea's special representative Lee Do-hoon pose for a group photo during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in April 5, 2023. (Virginia Mayo/Pool via Reuters) Unlike previous NATO summits, four leaders from the Asia-Pacific region Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea have been invited to the talks. It is believed the discussions will be about similar security issues faced by all nations. NATO is concluding quite ambitious individual partnership agreements with these four countries to do things like maritime security, climate change, cyber defense, critical infrastructure, protection and technology, Shea said. I think there'll be a bit of interest about how NATO sees China, as well as Russia, and how it sees the future development of its relations and its role with the Indo-Pacific countries. A newly-released jailhouse phone call has offered a glimpse into the state of Alex Murdaughs relationship with his surviving son following his conviction for the murders of his wife and second son. In the call dated 16 May, Murdaugh is heard ringing 26-year-old Buster Murdaugh from the maximum security prison in South Carolina where he will see out the rest of his days. During the awkward and brief conversation, Murdaugh says he has been trying to call his son and tells him he loves him and is proud of him. Meanwhile, Buster says he is busy and has few words for his father. The call begins with Murdaugh saying: Hey buddy. Buster quickly replies that he doesnt have much time to speak. Hey I dont have a whole of time I just boarded a ferry to go back to Hilton Head Island from Daufuskie [Island], he says flatly. Yeah I know, I been trying to call. I was supposed to call you while you were with Jim, um, about this meeting, Murdaugh says, in an apparent reference to his attorney Jim Griffin. But anyway. How about text him and let him know Im trying to call him? Buster simply replies: Mm-kay. Murdaugh continues with the conversation, asking: Did he talk to you about that about the thing that I told him? No, I cant really understand you either, says Buster as the line crackles. Alright, alright Im gone Im going to leave word with Jim and hell be in touch with you, Murdaugh says, before telling his son: Love you. Alex Murdaughs new mugshot after he was sentenced to life in prison (South Carolina Department of Corrections) Following a brief pause, Buster mumbles: Alright, love you, too. Proud of you, Murdaugh replies. Buster quickly responds thanks and then disconnects the call. In total, the call between father and son lasted just 42 seconds. It was one of a trove of records of Murdaughs communications behind bars released to local outlet FITS News via a Freedom of Information Act request. The outlet reports that the thing referenced in the call could have been referring to Busters interview for an upcoming Fox Nation documentary on the Murdaughs. The awkward conversation suggests that the father and sons relationship may have become strained in the wake of Murdaughs conviction for the brutal 7 June 2021 murders of Busters mother Maggie and brother Paul. Buster, the eldest and now only living son of Maggie and Alex, stood by his father throughout his murder trial attending each day of the courts proceedings with his family members in a show of support. He sat through brutal testimony revealing that Paul was shot twice with a 12-gauge shotgun while he stood in the feed room of the dog kennels on the affluent familys 1,700-acre Moselle estate. The second shot to his head blew his brain almost entirely out of his skull. After killing Paul, prosecutors said Murdaugh then grabbed a .300 Blackout semiautomatic rifle and opened fire on Maggie as she tried to flee from her husband. Buster Murdaugh in court at his fathers murder trial (AP) She was shot five times including twice in the head after she had fallen to her knees. Buster also testified in his fathers defence saying that Murdaugh had been destroyed and heartbroken in the aftermath of the deaths of his mother and brother. Following a dramatic and high-profile trial in which Murdaugh confessed to lying about his alibi on the night of the murders the disgraced legal scion was convicted in March of the murders. As well as the murders, Murdaugh is also facing more than 100 charges over a vast financial fraud scheme where he stole millions of dollars from law firm clients going back years. He is also awaiting trial over a botched hitman plot where he allegedly paid an accomplice to shoot him by a Hampton County roadside. President Joe Biden has already secured a powerful deliverable from his Europe trip one that will weaken Russias strategic position in another detrimental consequence of its invasion of Ukraine. Turkeys lifting of its blockade on Swedens entry into NATO was a significant and stunning move on the eve of the NATO summit in Lithuania. The reversal by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came hours after he warned Sweden would be out in the cold until Turkey got its long-delayed membership in the European Union. Once Sweden finally joins NATO, it will bolster Bidens reputation as a US leader who reinvigorated and expanded the bloc. Finland which decided to sign up, like Sweden, after the invasion of Ukraine has already added hundreds of miles of NATO territory on Russias border. Bidens lifeline of arms and ammunition for Ukraine and leadership of the alliance has made him the most significant president in transatlantic affairs at least since George H.W. Bush, who presided over the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany. His legacy will ultimately depend, however, on the outcome of the war in Ukraine and his capacity to avoid a direct clash with Russia. Turkeys about-face will also lighten the mood at the NATO summit, where the alliances most unified moment in years had been in danger of being somewhat tarnished by divides over Ukraines pleas to get a timetable for membership. Biden had said before leaving the US that Ukraine was not ready to join. New member states need unanimous approval of all NATOs members before they can join the club and benefit from its collective security guarantee. Erdogans move was also a severe blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin. First, it will result in the expansion of NATO territory and strengthen the alliance after an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine that Putin had argued was partly intended to weaken the West and to counter what he claims is its effort to neuter Russias power in its own backyard. Secondly, the decision by Erdogan an increasingly autocratic leader who has enjoyed largely cordial ties with the Kremlin strongman will frustrate Russias attempts to sow divides between NATO members in order to weaken the alliance. Mondays events were another intriguing twist for a mercurial leader who has leveraged Turkeys strategic position where the West meets the East to try to rebuild his country as a major regional power. While it is so far unclear whether Erdogan secured anything more than cosmetic concessions from Sweden, NATOs European powers and the United States, his sudden change of mind raises the question of whether he had negotiated himself into a corner. He had already dropped objections to Finland joining the alliance. The newly reelected Erdogan has vexed successive US presidents for years, both over his geopolitical muscle flexing and his hardline rule that Washington fears will erode Turkeys secular constitution and democracy. In recent years, the US has been frustrated by his cozying up to Putin and also his suggestions, yet to be realized, of a rapprochement with Syria. Behind the scenes diplomacy after US pressure NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who is very close to Biden and was just persuaded to extend his term until October 2024, said that Turkeys change of heart was the product of months of diplomacy. This is not new negotiation, but it is about implementing, and reassuring the implementation of the different things we agreed a year ago in Madrid, Stoltenberg said. Turkeys change of heart also followed a telephone call between Biden and Erdogan on Sunday, in which the American president appears to have made his position crystal clear. The White House hinted at the tone of the call when it said Biden expressed a desire to get Sweden into NATO as soon as possible. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the deal came about after talks between NATO, Turkey and Sweden but also pointed to recent US engagement, including the presidents meeting in Washington last week with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Were coming into this consequential summit with a full head of steam, Sullivan told reporters in Vilnius following the Sweden deal which he said highlighted a sense of unity that would disappoint Putin. Every few months, the question is called: Can the West hang together? Can NATO hang together? he added. Every time allies gather, that question gets re-upped, and every time the allies come together and answer it forcefully and vehemently: Yes we can. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, hailed the unpicking of the deadlock and also sought to secure political credit for Biden, whom he saluted as a foreign policy expert. He has a real grasp of it, a real handle on it, and is very effective. And this is a victory for America, for the West, for freedom, and for President Biden. Whether Turkey got any political wins may not emerge for several days. But official media in Ankara quoted a senior official as saying Erdogan secured Swedens full support for Turkeys entry process into the EU, which has been on hold for years. Stoltenberg also expressed strong backing for Turkeys campaign for EU membership, and Biden said in a statement he was looking forward to enhancing security in Eurasia with the Turkish leader. All of these steps, however while possibly giving Erdogan political cover back home for his shift of position hardly seem like big breakthroughs for Turkey. Stoltenberg, for instance, has no capacity to influence its bid to join the European Union. And Erdogans crackdowns on human rights and the media have only increased skepticism about Turkeys capacity to meet EU entry conditions. Sweden and Turkey did agree to work together to combat terrorism as part of the deal between their leaders, and NATO agreed to appoint a new counter-terrorism coordinator. These steps appear to be aimed at assuaging Erdogans demands for a crackdown on the militant Kurdistan Workers Party in Sweden. Turkey claims that the Stockholm government had allowed members of the group to operate on its soil and has been complicit in far-right anti-Islam protests. Another factor that may have weighed on Erdogan was the fact that a group of bipartisan senators had called on Biden to delay the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, which would be one of the biggest arms sales in years, until it dropped its objections to Swedens NATO membership. Sen. Bob Menendez, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Monday he had not yet decided whether to drop his long-standing opposition to the F-16s deal, partly over concern Turkey could use the planes to intimidate fellow NATO member Greece. The New Jersey Democrat said he could make up his mind in the next week. Sullivan said that Biden supported the sale of the jets and had placed no caveats or conditions on it in recent weeks in talks with the Turks. He also said the administration had been in touch with Menendez on the issue. A stunning reversal Given his hardline position coming into the NATO summit, Erdogan appears to have fallen well short of his own objectives. He warned as recently as Monday morning that Swedens membership should be linked to Turkeys own aspirations to join the EU. Turkey has been waiting at the gate of the European Union for over 50 years now, and almost all NATO member countries are European member countries, he warned. Former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Beth Sanner said on CNN on Monday that Erdogans sudden shift was fascinating because he had essentially been seeking to negotiate quid pro quos with the US for months. This really isnt about Sweden, this is about the United States and Turkey and Turkeys role, she told Jake Tapper. He played his hand too hard by putting the EU membership on the table, and I think he really wants to be seen by NATO as the person who comes in and saves the day, not as the spoiler. She continued: He started looking like the spoiler and I think he had to back off. One major consequence of Erdogans reversal could be a souring of his relations with Putin only days after he he invited the Russian leader to Turkey in August. Erdogan wants to wield Turkeys power to broker an extension to a deal that allows Ukraine to export grain from Black Sea ports. In another significant move over the weekend, Turkey allowed the release of a group of Ukrainian commanders, who were previously captured by Russia after leading the defense of Mariupol from the Azovstal steel plant last year. They went home to a heroes welcome with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky despite a prior agreement with Russia that they would not be handed over to Ukraine until the end of the war. It looks like Erdogan has made a significant break with Putin. But anyone who expects him to quit playing multiple sides of the great geopolitical game will likely be disappointed. Erdogan has always been about exacting maximum power for himself and Turkey, and that is unlikely to change. CNNs Betsy Klein contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Joe Biden will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit on Wednesday, an official familiar with the meeting has confirmed. The meeting will mark a sign of unity as Zelenskys attendance at the summit had been in question. Russias war in Ukraine is among the top agenda items for NATO leaders along with discussing a future pathway for the war-torn country to join the alliance, which has prompted some division among leaders. Politico was first to report the meeting. Ukraine is set to dominate the summits agenda as the US president looks to keep the group united behind Zelensky in the face of Russias invasion. The alliance is facing questions about a potential path to NATO membership for Ukraine, as well as additional military assistance as its counteroffensive continues. Biden poured cold water on the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO as the war is ongoing and cited reforms the country would still need to make to join the alliance. I dont think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war, Biden told CNNs Fareed Zakaria last week. Zelensky had previously said he does not plan on attending the summit for fun as he seeks a clearer pathway for his country to join the alliance along with security guarantees. It would be an important message to say that NATO is not afraid of Russia. Ukraine should get clear security guarantees while it is not in NATO. Only under these conditions, our meeting would be meaningful, otherwise its just another politics, Zelensky said in an interview with ABC. Biden and Zelensky have had multiple high-profile meetings over the last several months. The Ukrainian presidents first trip outside Ukraine since the war began was to Washington just before Christmas, where he was feted by Biden in the Oval Office before giving a speech to Congress. A couple months later, Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv to return the favor and announce a half-billion dollar assistance package. The dramatic scene was marked by air raid sirens going off as the two presidents walked near the gold-domed St. Michaels Cathedral. Their last in-person meeting took place at the G-7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, in May. Zelensky used the opportunity to press the world leaders for more assistance, coming just after the Russians took the town of Bakhmut following months of heavy fighting. During this NATO summit, Biden could face some scolding from allies over his decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine for the first time. The move, aimed at bolstering Ukraines offensive capabilities, has prompted some public disagreement from allied countries Biden called it a difficult decision in his interview with Zakaria but said it was necessary because Ukraine is running low on ammunition. Zelensky said Friday that Ukraine was grateful for a timely, broad and much-needed defense aid package from the United States. A timely, broad and much-needed defense aid package from the United States. We are grateful to the American people and President Joseph Biden for decisive steps that bring Ukraine closer to victory over the enemy, and democracy to victory over dictatorship, Zelensky said in a message on Twitter. The expansion of Ukraines defense capabilities will provide new tools for the de-occupation of our land and bringing peace closer, he said. This story has been updated with additional reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Phil Stewart and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden's nominee to become the top U.S. general warned on Tuesday that a Republican senator's blockade of military promotions could have a far-reaching impact across the U.S. armed forces, affecting troops and their families. "We will lose talent," General Charles "CQ" Brown, the outgoing Air Force chief of staff, told his Senate confirmation hearing to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown made the remarks shortly after being questioned by Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville, who has used a Senate procedure to put a hold on hundreds of military nominations from moving forward because he believes the Pentagon is improperly using government funding to cover travel costs for abortions for service members and their dependents. An aide to Tuberville said his block would also apply to Brown. The military is already having to shuffle staff to fill a top leadership post after the commandant of the Marine Corps, one of the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stepped down on Monday when his four-year term ended. His Number 2 has taken over but the hold on promotions has left the Marine Corps without a confirmed leader in the job for the first time in more than a century, the Pentagon says. Democrats including U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren slammed Tuberville for punishing uniformed military leaders who were not responsible for the policy on abortion travel that he was protesting. "If the senator from Alabama continues his reckless action, he will soon be holding 650 leaders who have served their country honorable hostage," Warren said. A former fighter pilot with command experience in the Pacific, Brown has been warmly received by the Senate and he fielded questions on China, Russia and Ukraine throughout the two-and-a-half hour hearing. CULTURE WAR ISSUES But the most contentious moments during the hearing involved culture war issues including diversity and inclusion, the COVID-19 vaccine and Tuberville's abortion dispute. Senator Eric Schmitt, a Republican, accused the military of engaging in "cultural Marxism" for setting diversity goals in recruitment in an August, 2022 memorandum, signed by Air Force leadership. Schmitt asked if the Air Force had too many white officers. Brown, the country's first Black service chief, explained to the Senate committee that the U.S. Air Force recruitment goals were only aimed at reflecting the U.S. population, and did not limit anyone's chances. The memorandum also stated that merit would determine entry in the Air Force. "If that statement was not included, I would never have signed that letter," Brown said. Asked when the Senate might vote on Brown's nomination, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the top Republicans in the Senate to put pressure on Tuberville. "The Republican leaders say they oppose what Senator Tuberville is doing, risking our military security and it's up to them - they have to put the pressure on him to back off," the Democrat told a news conference. Brown would be only the second Black officer to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after Colin Powell two decades ago. A self-described introvert, Brown's public persona contrasts sharply with the outgoing chairman, Army General Mark Milley, a loquacious Boston native whose tenure included both the Trump and Biden administrations. Known by colleagues as "CQ," Brown's experiences include overseeing coalition air operations against Islamic State from the Air Force's top base in the Middle East. But it's his experiences as commander of the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific from 2018 to 2020 that gave him a primer on tensions with China's rapidly strengthening military, an issue likely to loom large over his four-year term as chair. Committee members extolled his experience. "You've got a stellar background," said Republican Senator Rick Scott. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Alistair Bell) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Kentucky gubernatorial nominee Daniel Cameron's campaign said Monday that he is pulling out of a September political rally after some fellow Republicans objected to his planned appearance alongside a controversial candidate who wants to challenge a sitting GOP congressman in next year's primary. The congressman, Thomas Massie, said last month that it would be a mistake for Cameron, the state's attorney general, to attend the northern Kentucky rally hosted by Eric Deters, who also made a bid for governor this year, finishing fourth in the GOP primary. Cameron now has other plans on the day of the event, his campaign said in a statement. As it turns out, were going to be doing other campaign events that day in another region of the state. We plan to campaign in northern Kentucky often between now and November 7, the campaign said. Deters has said that former President Donald Trump will be headlining his event, but the Trump campaign has not confirmed that. On Monday, Massie tweeted that the attorney general wisely canceled his appearance. He referred to a news article in the Lexington Herald-Leader that cited past racist and homophobic comments made by Deters on social media. Deters has been surrounded by other controversy as well. Earlier this year he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of harassment and menacing stemming from chasing his nephew in a truck at his farm. His law license has been suspended for many years. Deters has said he wants to help Cameron defeat Democrat Andy Beshear, who is running for a second term, in the fall election. Deters has accused Massie of putting his own interests ahead of Cameron and GOP voters. Massie, serving his sixth term, has endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in next year's GOP presidential primary. Cameron is the state's first Black state attorney general. He won an endorsement from Trump in the May gubernatorial primary, helping him defeat several other candidates. (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Belize as being free from malaria, marking success for the Central American country after 70 years of continuous efforts to eradicate the disease. The number of cases of malaria, which is caused by a bite from an infected Anopheles mosquito, have dropped from about 10,000 cases in 1994 to zero indigenous cases in 2019. Belize is "another example of how, with the right tools and the right approach, we can dream of a malaria-free future, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said in a statement. In its efforts to wipe out the disease, Belize has worked with the Belize Vector Ecology Center to analyse data on the density and distribution of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. It has encouraged the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and trained community workers to give more timely diagnosis and treatment. It has also collaborated with neighbouring Mexico and Guatemala, which the WHO said had been "essential". The WHO has so far certified 42 countries and one territory as having managed to eradicate malaria. "Belize becomes the fourth country in the Americas and the second in Central America to be certified as free of malaria over the last five years," Dr Jarbas Barbosa, director of the Pan American Health Organization, said in a statement. (Reporting by Jyoti Narayan, Writing by Natalia Siniawski; Editing by Sharon Singleton) HONG KONG (Reuters) - China will "severely crack down" on illegal activities related to the use of assisted reproductive technologies such as the buying or selling of sperm or eggs and surrogacy, in a six-month campaign to assuage widespread public concern. Fourteen government ministries including the country's National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement that assisted reproductive technology can only be used in the country's 543 approved medical institutions. "In recent years there have been illegal application of fertility technology from time to time which has aroused widespread concern in society," a statement from the NHC said. In order to standardise the application of assisted human reproductive technologies, the government said it will focus on suppressing illegal and criminal activities including forgery and buying and selling of birth medical certificates from June to December this year. "The illegal use of human assisted reproductive technology such as surrogacy and illegal collection of eggs seriously damages women's health and rights," the NHC said. The issuance of false birth medical certificates have caused illegal detention and trafficking of women and other crimes that seriously violate the rights and interests of women and children, it said. The NHC said other measures would be rolled out including strictly managing patient identification, strengthening the approval and verification of human assisted reproductive technology and increased penalties for medical institutions and personnel who violate regulations. Concerned about rapid ageing in China, the government's political advisers proposed in March that single and unmarried women should have access to egg-freezing and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments, among other services. China currently only allows married women to access fertility treatments such as IVF and egg-freezing technologies. (Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; editing by Devika Syamnath) President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, who is on a visit to Lithuania to attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit, greets a group of U.S. senators at a hotel in the capital Vilnius, Tuesday. Yonhap Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday met with a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation in Vilnius on Tuesday, and discussed the bilateral alliance and the war in Ukraine, his office said. Yoon met with members of the Senate NATO Observer Group on the sidelines of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit here. Korea is participating in the summit for the second straight year as one of four Asia Pacific partner nations, along with Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Yoon thanked U.S. lawmakers for the wholehearted and bipartisan support they showed for the Korea-U.S. alliance during his speech to a joint session of Congress in Washington in April, saying his meeting with the delegation demonstrates the expanding sphere of the alliance as it grows into a "global comprehensive strategic alliance," according to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon. Yoon also explained Korea's growing partnership with NATO by noting it is the second consecutive year he is participating in the summit, Korea's establishment of a mission to NATO last year, and the planned adoption of the Individually Tailored Partnership Program between Korea and NATO later in the day. He further discussed ways Korea and the United States can work together to restore peace and rebuild Ukraine in its war against Russia, Lee said. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, said Yoon's state visit to Washington in April served as an important occasion to confirm the importance of the Korea-U.S. alliance to the American government, Congress and people. She promised that bipartisan U.S. congressional support for the alliance will continue to be unwavering, while highly evaluating Korea's active assistance for Ukraine and increasing cooperation with NATO, and voicing hope that Korea will continue to play whatever role it can as a key nation in the Indo-Pacific region, according to Lee. The other members of the group were Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Angus King (I-ME) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK). (Yonhap) By Yew Lun Tian and Karen Lema (Reuters) - China's foreign minister Qin Gang will not attend a diplomatic gathering in Indonesia this week for health reasons, a spokesman for his ministry said on Tuesday. Top diplomat Wang Yi would represent China at the meetings in Jakarta instead, the spokesman, Wang Wenbin, told a regular briefing, confirming a Reuters report citing sources familiar with the matter saying Wang would attend on Qin's behalf. Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are scheduled to meet on Thursday, before Friday's East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum. "State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang cannot attend this ASEAN ministerial meeting because of health reasons," spokesman Wang Wenbin said. He did not elaborate. Qin, 57, took over from Wang as foreign minister in December and was last seen in public on June 25 in Beijing after meeting officials from Sri Lanka, Russia and Vietnam. His absence had not gone unnoticed. The foreign ministry spokesperson, asked last Friday about an article in U.S. political news website Politico that cited speculation that health issues may be behind Qin's absence, said he had "not heard about" the report. Qin was supposed to meet European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell last week in Beijing but the meeting was pushed back after China informed the EU that the dates were "no longer possible", an EU spokesperson said. The EU was informed of the postponement just two days before Borrell's scheduled arrival on July 5, according to a source familiar with the plans. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also due to attend the meetings in Jakarta this week, presenting another opportunity for talks with China as Washington seeks to put a floor under souring relations between the big powers. Blinken met Qin and Wang Yi in Beijing last month, the first visit to China by a U.S. secretary of state in five years. Wang Yi, who is the foreign policy chief for the Chinese Communist Party, ranks above Qin, who as the foreign minister is the government's foreign policy chief. (Reporting by Yew Lun Tian in Beijing, Karen Lema in Manila and Stanley Widianto in Jakarta; Writing by Martin Petty and John Geddie; Editing by Robert Birsel) BEIJING (Reuters) - China's science and technology ministry held a meeting on July 5 with firms including Xiaomi, iFlytek and Alibaba Cloud to discuss innovation as well as national strategic scientific and technological initiatives, the ministry said on Tuesday. China will support private enterprises to create leading science and technology enterprises, and encourage more talents to gather in leading private science and technology enterprises, the minister Wang Zhigang said in a statement. (Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Himani Sarkar) Las Vegas residents at a Department of Motor Vehicles office. A Nevada license plate, which read "GOBK2CA" shorthand for "go back to California" was recalled after someone filed a complaint. (Julie Jacobson / Associated Press) A Nevada license plate that was recalled for its message telling Californians to go back to the Golden State is winding its way through court to get back on the open road. According to Nevadas Department of Motor Vehicles, the personalized license plate, which read GOBK2CA shorthand for go back to California was recalled in May after someone filed a complaint to the agency. The vehicles owner, who has been identified in local reports as Adam Steelmon, is appealing the decision and is set to appear in court Wednesday. Steelmon could not be reached for comment. Read more:The hidden stories behind the best and weirdest vanity license plates in L.A. Steelmon posted a photo of the license plate to Facebook, where it received more than 80,000 likes, he told KOLO-TV in Reno. About a week later, DMV officials reached out to say they were revoking the plate, he said. I get a letter from the DMV saying, 'We don't feel we like your license plates,' and here's a letter saying we're recalling them," Steelmon told KOLO-8. He had no issues with the DMV for the past two decades, he said. The plate is believed to conflict with a state law that prohibits making defamatory comments to a person or group, said Eli Rohl, a DMV spokesperson. In this case, the defamed group is Californians, Rohl said. If weve been rejecting applications for other back to California plates, then its not an equal application of the law to receive a complaint about this plate and neglect to take action on it. Read more:Commentary: California's ugly license plate doesn't reflect our great state Personalized license plates that are flagged as suspicious are reviewed by a select committee within the DMV to determine if they violate the statute, said Rohl, who sits on the committee. It takes only one complaint for a license plate to be reviewed. "Sometimes we find that a complaint has no merit and no action is taken however, this is rare," Rohl said. "Most often, a complaint comes in about a plate that we made a mistake in approving in the first place." The committee considers the context in the motorist's initial reasoning and in the complaint to determine if it is a "simple misunderstanding or if the complaint shines a new light on something we hadnt considered before," he added. The panel reviewed more than 700 requests for personalized license plates from July last year to March, KLAS-TV in Las Vegas reported. Among those that were rejected for being derogatory or profane were "HOLSHT" and "U 1D1OT." Read more:Car owner uses art skills to fake vehicle's registration, unsuccessfully 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. From Solo in the Spotlight Barbie to Day-to-Night Barbie, Margot Robbie's "Barbie" movie premiere looks have been inspired by the doll itself. (Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images) Barbiecore isn't just a trend. It's a lifestyle for Margot Robbie, who's bringing the iconic doll to life on screen and off. The "Barbie"press tour officially began on June 24. In Instagram photos announcing the kickoff, Robbie stands next to a convertible wearing a matching baby pink Bottega Veneta pleated skirt and bralette, with palm trees lining an empty road in front of her. Its picturesque, its pink and its so Barbie. Working with stylist Andrew Mukamal, Robbie's outfits pay homage to Barbie and her evolving identity, with ensembles both inspired by and direct replicas of the original doll's. Mukamal previously worked with celebrities including Zoe Kravitz, Kaia Gerber and Billie Eilish. "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig, Ryan Gosling a.k.a. Ken and the rest of the cast also have been donning pink, playful looks throughout the movie's press tour. July 9 On Sunday, Robbie attended the film's Los Angeles premiere in an outfit inspired by the 1960s Solo in the Spotlight Barbie. Donning a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture sequined bustier dress with a tulle hem, Robbie nailed not only Barbie's gown but the accessories complete with Lorraine Schwartz diamond necklaces, black opera gloves, pink silk scarf and Manolo Blahnik peep-toe mules. . July 7 On July 7 in Mexico City, Robbie sported crimped hair and a long-sleeved, patterned Pucci minidress with Manolo pumps, a look inspired by the Totally Hair Barbie, originally released in 1992. July 6 At the film's premiere in Naucalpan de Juarez, Mexico, Robbie wore a long-sleeved hot pink leather bustier minidress with sheer sleeves, a silver chain, matching silver earrings and Manolos. The get-up pays homage to Earring Magic Barbie from 1992. Margot Robbie resembles Sparkling Pink Barbie. (The Chosunilbo JNS / ImaZins via Getty Images) July 3 Robbie attended a press conference for the movie in Seoul, South Korea, in a hot pink studded Moschino skirt suit, the spitting image of Sparkling Pink Barbie from 1964. The look is made complete with a large pink bow, heart-shaped handbag and Manolo Blahnik pink mules. July 2 At a fan event in Seoul, Robbie wore a Versace skirt suit inspired by the 1985 Day-to-Night Barbie, including white pumps with pink toes, a white boater hat wrapped in a pink polka-dot ribbon, a handbag and an oversized pink bedazzled phone. The second look in Margot Robbie's Day-to-Night Barbie ensemble. (Jung Yeon-je / AFP via Getty Images) Later in the evening at the Seoul premiere, Robbie took the Day to Night assignment to heart, wearing a pink sequin Versace bustier and tulle skirt with peep-toe heels. Margot Robbie dons another pink red-carpet look. (James Gourley / Getty Images) June 30 Robbie attended a Barbie celebration party at the Museum of Contemporary Art in a Versace metallic pink cocktail dress. June 29 At a photo call in Bondi Beach, Australia, on June 29, Robbie wore a black and white striped minidress with white-rimmed glasses and black heels, inspired by the Teenage Fashion Model Barbie doll the first Barbie ever released in 1959. June 25 The day before the "Barbie" movie press tour officially kicked off, Robbie wore a pink polka-dot minidress with a cross-neck halter top to the Los Angeles press junket; the look is reminiscent of the Pink and Fabulous Doll released by Mattel in 2015, equipped with white heels and a yellow mini purse. Margot Robbie attends CinemaCon in a look inspired by the Barbie the Movie collection. (Greg Doherty / WireImage) April 25 Robbie arrived at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on April 25 wearing a pink and white gingham Prada miniskirt with a matching bralette. The pattern is the same as the Barbie doll in the Barbie the Movie collection , which was recently released by Mattel in anticipation of the upcoming release. It includes Barbies Corvette, a replica Barbie's Dream House and a cast of ensemble character dolls. With an endless supply of accessories and outfits for every occasion, Robbie embodies the character of Barbie in more ways than one. And as one of the most highly anticipated releases of the summer, there's one thing viewers can expect from Greta Gerwig's film come July 21: pink. Lots and lots of pink. Sign up for L.A. Goes Out, a weekly newsletter about exploring and experiencing Los Angeles from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Pietro Lombardi VALLADOLID, Spain (Reuters) - European Union climate chief Frans Timmermans did not rule out a potential return to Dutch politics on Tuesday, following the collapse of Prime Minister Mark Rutte's conservative government. Timmermans, a socialist politician and member of the Dutch Labour Party, has previously served as Dutch foreign minister. He is being touted in some quarters as a potential prime ministerial candidate if he can garner sufficient support before an election expected in November. The Labour Party and the Green Party are holding a referendum to decide whether to present a joint programme, he told journalists at an informal meeting of environment and energy ministers in Valladolid, northwest of Spain. "Anything I would say now would disturb that process," he said when asked about his interest in returning to Dutch politics. "It is up to members of both parties to express themselves and then everybody will have to make up their minds," he continued. (Reporting by Pietro Lombardi; Editing by Aislinn Laing and Emma Rumney) By Tanvi Mehta NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Taiwan's Foxconn has decided to withdraw from a $19.5 billion semiconductor joint venture with Vedanta, the latest business challenge for the Indian conglomerate led by Chairman Anil Agarwal. Here are some details on Vedanta and its recent challenges: HOW VEDANTA STARTED Anil Agarwal started his business in Mumbai as a scrap-metal dealer and bought his first company, a cable manufacturer, in 1976. He then expanded his empire across India, Zambia, Namibia, Ireland and South Africa and later entered the oil and gas sector. London-headquarted Vedanta Resources controls the India unit, Vedanta Ltd. Agarwal took Vedanta Resources private in 2018. As of 2022, his net worth was $2 billion, ranking him 97th among India's richest, according to Forbes. Vedanta diversified in 2017 when a unit bought a stake in Japan's LCD glass substrate manufacturer AvanStrate. Agarwal's son-in-law Akarsh Hebbar currently heads Vedanta's display and semiconductor business. DEBT WOES Vedanta Resources has been plagued by a rising debt pile. Credit ratings agency Moody's downgraded its rating on the company, while others raised concern about risks of a debt default. Agarwal said in March there have been no debt defaults by the group. Vedanta's gross debt stood at $6.8 billion as of April end, after the company completed 75% of its debt reduction commitment. FOXCONN JV Vedanta-Foxconn had sought incentives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and several Indian states for its Foxconn JV to manufacture semiconductors. Foxconn pulled out of the JV on Monday, less than a year after it was a signed. Concerns about incentive approval delays by India's government aided Foxconn's decision to pull out of the venture, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. Reuters reported in June that the JV was proceeding slowly as Vedanta-Foxconn had got on board STMicroelectronics for licensing technology, but India's government wanted the European chipmaker to have a bigger role, like a stake in the partnership. OTHER DISPUTES Vedanta's copper smelter in Tamil Nadu was shut down after 13 people died in 2018 when police fired on environmental protesters calling for the closure of the plant. Vedanta has now offered to sell the plant, having repeatedly denied allegations of the smelter being polluting. Activists and locals have for years blocked Vedanta's plans to mine bauxite in the green, jungle-clad Niyamgiri hills in Odisha state in eastern India which the tribe people consider sacred. In Zambia, a long-running dispute over Vedanta's Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) is close to being resolved, mines minister Paul Kabuswe said earlier this month. Relations between Zambia and Vedanta broke down several years ago and culminated in the state appointing a liquidator for the KCM assets in May 2019. (Reporting by Tanvi Mehta; Editing by Aditya Kalra and Sonali Paul) (Reuters) - Microsoft cleared a major hurdle in its planned $69 billion purchase of videogame maker Activision Blizzard, as a judge gave a thumbs-up to the proposed deal a week before the July 18 termination date. With the first fight in federal court in California wrapped up, the agency and companies have decisions to make about what comes next. Here are potential ways the U.S. fight may play out: * Now that Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley has refused to grant the preliminary injunction, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may drop the fight. This happened most recently with Meta Platforms' purchase of VR content maker Within Unlimited. The FTC lost in federal court and dropped the internal challenge. * Or the agency may choose to challenge Corley's ruling in a federal appeals court. An administrative law judge at the FTC is scheduled to hear arguments about the deal in August. If the case goes to Michael Chappell, an FTC judge, as scheduled in August, here are the potential outcomes: * If Microsoft wins, the FTC staff can ask Chair Lina Khan and the commissioners, who voted to bring the case, to overturn the verdict. The next stop after that would be a federal appeals court. When Chappell ruled against the agency in Illumina's acquisition of Grail, Khan and commissioners overturned the decision and the case is now before an appeals court. * If the FTC wins, the companies can appeal to the commission to overturn the decision and, if needed, take the case to a federal appeals court. (Reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis and David Gregorio) HONG KONG (AP) Hong Kong's leader warned Tuesday that the city will ban marine products from a large number prefectures if Japan discharges treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. Chief Executive John Lee said in a press briefing that his government would err on the side of caution because the planned release of wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean is an unprecedented exercise. He said he has to take the issue seriously because it affects not only the current population of Hong Kong but also the next generation. The action we will take, if the exercise really starts, is that we will be banning a large number (of) prefectures' sea products, he said. But he did not name which prefectures and what products will be affected. A massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plants cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt and releasing large amounts of radiation. The tanks storing the water used since the accident to cool the reactor cores will reach their capacity in early 2024. In 2021, Japans government announced plans to gradually release the treated but still slightly radioactive water following its dilution to what it says are safe levels. Japanese officials say the water, currently stored in about a thousand tanks at the plant, needs to be removed to prevent accidental leaks in case of an earthquake and to make room for the plants decommissioning. On Monday, the operator of the wrecked nuclear plant began testing equipment constructed for discharging the wastewater. Last week, the United Nations nuclear agency endorsed the plan, saying it meets international standards and the environmental and health impact would be negligible. But the plan has faced fierce protests from local fishing communities concerned about safety and reputational damage. Neighboring countries, including South Korea, China and Pacific Island nations, have also raised safety concerns. Chinese authorities last week highlighted import restrictions on food products from 10 prefectures in Japan, including Fukushima. The Hong Kong government will formulate policies in response to Japan's plans, Lee said Tuesday, and they will be announced when ready. The risks are very unknown, he said. I must ensure that food safety is protected in Hong Kong. In the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city, the import of certain products such as fruits and vegetables from Fukushima is currently banned. Other products such as meat and poultry from there are allowed in if they come with a radiation certificate. The import of many food products from four other Japanese prefectures immediately south of Fukushima Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Chiba will also have to be accompanied with radiation certificate. Last year, the major food imports from Japan amounted to about 2% of the total food supply in Hong Kong, official data showed. Although the city is not highly dependent on Japanese food products in terms of quantity, many residents are fond of Japanese food and there are many Japanese restaurants across the territory, the government said. President Yoon Suk Yeol and North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg hold Individually Tailored Partnership Programs signed by the two sides during a meeting at the Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Center in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap NATO chief expresses concerns over North Korea's nuclear threats By Nam Hyun-woo VILNIUS South Korea and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) signed a new partnership agreement composed of 11 documents, called Individually Tailored Partnership Programs (ITPPs), which will cover bilateral cooperation in new sectors such as cybersecurity, new technologies, climate change and the defense industry. The agreement was signed at a meeting between President Yoon Suk Yeol and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday (local time). Yoon is currently visiting the Baltic country to attend the 2023 NATO summit. "This year's participation in the NATO summit is aimed at institutionalizing the framework of cooperation between South Korea and NATO through ITPPs and discuss cooperation in military intelligence and cybersecurity," Yoon said during the meeting. "As Secretary-General Stoltenberg said, the security of the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific are inseparable, and under these circumstances, close cooperation between NATO and Indo-Pacific countries, including South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, is becoming more important than ever." The ITPPs are aimed at building a more systematic and institutional framework for cooperation between NATO and partner countries, specifying the areas of teamwork. Also, ITPPs have a four-year duration, which is longer than the two years for IPCPs or Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programs, which are NATO's standard documents with partner countries that define cooperation from a broad perspective and in a non-binding manner. As a result, ITPPs, which are replacing IPCPs, enable plans for long-term cooperation. South Korea's ITPPs with NATO consist of 11 areas, aimed at improving partnerships among like-minded states, jointly responding to security challenges, maintaining a rules-based international order, and pursuing cooperation in the fields of interoperability. The 11 areas include counterterrorism cooperation, arms reduction and non-proliferation, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, science and technology and cooperation for interoperability. Interoperability is aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of South Korea's participation in NATO training exercises by improving the South Korean military's understanding of NATO-led joint drills and pursuing the South's participation. Yoon, Kishida to hold summit in Vilnius today Yoon, Sweden PM hope to expand cooperation to new areas Yoon, Dutch PM agree to deepen cooperation in semiconductors Yoon promotes supply chain cooperation, Busan Expo bid during summits "We value the partnership with you because security is not regional, security is global," Stoltenberg said. "What happens in the Indo-Pacific matters for Europe and what happens in Europe matters for the Indo-Pacific." South Korea signed its first IPCP with NATO in 2012 and revised it in 2017 and 2019. "Unlike IPCP, which mostly listed the areas of cooperation, ITPPs specify the goals they pursue, background for cooperation, key objectives and the timeframe of cooperative projects aimed at building a more systematic and institutional framework for cooperation between NATO and partner countries," the presidential office said. Along with South Korea, NATO's Asia-Pacific partners (AP4) Japan, Australia and New Zealand are also strengthening security cooperation with NATO by signing respective ITPPs, as the military alliance seeks to expand cooperation with non-member countries. Stoltenberg added that NATO is "very concerned" about the nuclear missile programs of North Korea, which affect all NATO allies and "underlies the importance of all those who believe in the rules-based order to stand together and to stand up for international rules-based order." Closer relations between the AP4 countries and NATO, however, are anticipated to elicit angry responses from China. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said last month that "the attitude of the majority of countries in the region (Asia) is very clear" and "they oppose the emergence of military blocs in the region." "They don't welcome NATO's outreach in Asia. They don't want a replica of bloc confrontation in Asia." President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with United States senator Jeanne Shaheen during a meeting with U.S. delegation to NATO at a hotel in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday (local time). Joint Press Corps During their meeting, Yoon shared Seoul's plan to set up a global cyber defense training center and hold an international cyber defense training session. He also proposed close cooperation with NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE). Stoltenberg recognized South Korea's role in the CCDCOE and expressed his hopes of enhancing bilateral cooperation in cybersecurity to deal with emerging trans-border threats. Before meeting the NATO secretary-general, Yoon had a meeting with six U.S. senators who visited Lithuania as part of the American delegation to the military alliance. During the meeting, they shared opinions on follow-up measures of Yoon's state visit to the U.S. in April and Seoul's support for Ukraine. BENGALURU (Reuters) -India's Vedanta fell over 2% on Tuesday, a day after Taiwan's Foxconn said it withdrew from a $19.5 billion semiconductor joint venture with the metals-to-oil conglomerate. The companies partnered last year to set up semiconductor and display production plants in Gujarat state. Concerns about incentive approval delays by India's government had contributed to Foxconn's decision to pull out of the venture, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. Foxconn's withdrawal from the project deals a blow to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chipmaking plans in the country, which had become a top priority for India's economic strategy in pursuit of a "new era" in electronics manufacturing. S&P Global Ratings said that Vedanta's planned semiconductor business does not increase immediate liquidity pressure, adding that it believes there is no immediate sizable funding commitment for the semiconductor project, pending government approval. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the country's market regulator, had imposed a 3 million rupee($36,430.76) fine nearly two weeks ago on Vedanta for disclosure requirement violations regarding the Foxconn venture. Shares of Vedanta fell as much as 2.6% to 275 rupees apiece, after having already fallen over 24% as of last close, since the partnership was announced in February last year. ($1 = 82.3480 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Varun Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Sonia Cheema) JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesia's top diplomat warned Tuesday of the threat posed by nuclear weapons, saying that Southeast Asia is one miscalculation away from apocalypse and pressing for world powers to sign a treaty to keep the region free from such arms. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi raised the alarm ahead of a two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which started later Tuesday in Jakarta. The agenda would spotlight Myanmars deadly civil strife, continuing tensions in the South China Sea and efforts to fortify regional economies amid the global headwinds set off by Russias invasion of Ukraine. Later in the week, the 10-nation bloc will meet Asian and Western counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese foreign policy overseer Wang Yi. The U.S.-China rivalry is not formally on ASEANs agenda but looms large over the meetings of the bloc, an often-unwieldy collective of democracies, autocracies and monarchies, with some members split over allegiances either to Washington or Beijing. We cannot be truly safe with nuclear weapons in our region, Marsudi told fellow ASEAN ministers. With nuclear weapons, we are only one miscalculation away from apocalypse and global catastrophe. In 1995, ASEAN states signed a treaty that declared Southeast Asias commitment to be a nuclear weapon-free zone, one of five in the world. However, Marsudi lamented that none of the worlds leading nuclear powers have signed on to the pact and called for renewed efforts to convince those states to sign up. The threat is imminent, so we can no longer play a waiting game, she said. A draft communique expected on Wednesday mentions the possibility of a first nuclear weapons state finally signing the treaty but says that there would have to be written assurances that the treaty was being ratified "without reservations. A copy of the draft was obtained by The Associated Press. The communique did not identify the prospective state. However, two Southeast Asian diplomats attending the Jakarta meetings told the AP it was China. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly. Meanwhile, Myanmars generals have again been banned from attending the ASEAN summit for refusing to ease a deadly civil strife sparked by the militarys seizure of power more than two years ago. ASEAN has been under international pressure to address the crisis in Myanmar since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and plunged the country into deadly chaos. More than 3,750 civilians, including pro-democracy activists, have been killed by security forces and nearly 24,000 arrested since the military takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group that keeps tallies of arrests and casualties. Myanmar's military government has largely ignored a plan by ASEAN heads of state that includes an immediate end to the violence, prompting the bloc to take an unprecedented step and bar Myanmars military leaders from its top-level gatherings, including the foreign ministerial meetings. The generals responded by accusing the ASEAN of violating the blocs bedrock principles of non-intervention in each others domestic affairs. The situation in Myanmar is worrying, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo told reporters Tuesday. With the Myanmar crisis dragging on, ASEAN members appear divided over how to proceed. Thailand recommends easing punitive actions aimed at isolating Myanmars generals and inviting its military-appointed top diplomat and officials back to high-profile meetings, the two Southeast Asian diplomats said. Also Tuesday, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told reporters that his government wanted to see all ASEAN members back in the group, without elaborating. Since assuming ASEANs rotating chairmanship this year, Indonesia has initiated some 110 meetings with groups in Myanmar and provided humanitarian aid to build trust, Marsudi said. At the summit, ASEAN foreign ministers are expected to renew a call for self-restraint in activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, according to the draft communique, repeating language used in previous statements that does not name China. ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have been embroiled in long-simmering territorial conflicts with China and Taiwan for decades. ASEAN and China have been negotiating a non-aggression pact that aims to prevent an escalation of the disputes, but the talks have faced years of delay. The disputed waters have emerged as a delicate front in the rivalry between China and the United States. Washington has challenged Beijings expansive territorial claims and regularly deploys warships and fighter jets in what it calls freedom of navigation and overflight patrols that have infuriated China. ___ Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report. In a corner of northeast France, the ground rumbles with industry. After multiple false starts and much political back and forth, work is underway on the Seine-Nord Europe Canal (SNEC), a 5.1 billion ($5.5 billion) project designed to break up one of the continents major transport bottlenecks. The ambitious 107-kilometer (66-mile) long canal will connect the Oise River and the Dunkirk-Escaut Canal, forging a network of waterways capable of transporting large freight between Paris, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, where currently it travels overland, clogging roads. But the canal must chart sensitive waters; starting in Compiegne in the south and ending in Aubencheul-au-Bac in the north, it cuts through land that once comprised World War Ones Western Front. The project must negotiate historic battlegrounds, as well as the delicate task of unearthing soldiers remains along its route. Yet with towering locks and scores of bridges to be built, a river to redirect and a grand plan to raise the canal over a protected wetland, thats only one item on a long list of challenges to overcome for it to become operational in 2030. Half a century in the making At present, the Canal du Nord is the most significant waterway connecting the Seine River basin with the Escaut River basin in northeast France. The 95-kilometer (59-mile) canal was already considered insufficient by the time it was completed in the 1960s, owing to its narrow gauge limiting the size of the vessels it could transport. A replacement canal for larger ships was first conceived close to 50 years ago, but struggled to take off. The SNEC was backed by the European Union in 2013, and the French government in 2019 entered into a financing agreement between the EU, the state and local authorities along its route. The 54-meter (177-foot) wide SNEC will be like a move from small roads to motorway, said Jerome Dezobry, president of the executive board of the Societe du Canal Seine-Nord Europe (SCSNE), which was created to oversee the SNEC. The canal will be capable of transporting vessels weighing up to 4,400 tons (more than seven times the limit of its predecessor), carrying the equivalent of 220 trucks-worth of freight. Building work is underway along parts of the canal's route. - SCSNE/JCHecquet Design and engineering company Arcadis, which consulted on the project, claims moving freight along waterways produces three times fewer carbon emissions than by road, and that the canal could remove 760,000 trucks from roads every year once operational. The megaproject strings together multiple hefty infrastructure solutions. One particular lock will have the same height as a 10-story building and will empty the equivalent of an Olympic-size swimming pool in 30 seconds, said Dezobry. This project was particularly challenging due to its sheer size and scale over 107 kilometers in length, and featuring as many as 60 bridges, three canal bridges, seven locks, and 700 hectares of environmental plantation, Arcadis France operations director Philippe Bourdon told CNN in an email. Environmental impact The Oise River is currently being redirected for 4 kilometers as part of ongoing canal construction. - SCSNE/JCHecquet Cutting through wetland and agricultural land, the SNEC has prompted questions about its impact on the surrounding landscape. The sealed canal will not use groundwater, said Dezobry, and will only draw water from the Oise River, which will be stored in a 14 million cubic meter (494 million cubic foot) reservoir being built in Allaines. The same river is currently undergoing significant disruption as workers undertake a two-year project to divert its path for 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) between the communes of Thourotte and Montmacq to make way for the canal. Its difficult you cannot divert a river without any environmental impact, Dezobry conceded. Bourdon says that efforts have been made to limit the impact to existing wet zones and the sensitive ecological area of the Tortille valley, and that new wetlands and forests have been created to offset any damage to the environment. Another solution to negotiating existing wetlands is to simply or not so simply go over them. Perhaps the single grandest feat of engineering will be a 1.3-kilometer (0.8-mile) navigable bridge which will raise the canal 30 meters above a protected wetland in the Somme Valley. Dezobry says the project is out to tender and will cost around 400 million ($429 million). Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025. But not everyone supports the canals construction. In a statement via email, Extinction Rebellion Compiegne, which is part of a collective opposed to the canal, said, This project has not been developed for an ecological purpose but with an economic growth vision in mind. The environmental campaign group claimed that areas that are being developed to mitigate the canals environmental impact are already natural and will not compensate (for) what is going to be destroyed. We do not believe the canal will significantly reduce CO2 emissions, Extinction Rebellion said, arguing it would instead allow for extra capacity on motorways for more trucks. It added, today nothing demonstrates that the canal will be frequently used. Unfortunately, we may (be building) infrastructure that will not be used as expected. And for this, a big area is being destroyed and artificialized. Taking on the Western Front An aerial view of trench excavation conducted by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission ahead of construction of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal. - CWGC But for all its engineering challenges, perhaps the most headline-grabbing element of the canal is its route through historic battlefields. One hundred thousand soldiers from the First World War still lie beneath the fields, villages and towns along the Western Front, Claire Horton, director general of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) told CNN. This significant infrastructure project affords a rare opportunity to recover the remains of some of those soldiers, from the area which was the scene of many intense battles. The canal passes Peronne on the eastern edge of the Somme battlefield, and Cambrai further north, the site of significant battles late in the war. Potentially hundreds of soldiers could be recovered, a spokesperson from the CWGC told CNN. The CWGC is working in partnership with French authorities and the Societe du Canal on exploratory operations. Excavations along sections of the route began this year and will run through 2024 ahead of the canal dig. Remains will be transferred to Beaurains, where attempts to identify soldiers will be made. The likelihood of a positive identification is low, the CWGC says, even with the option of DNA sampling. The Loos British Cemetery in Pas-de-Calais is undergoing an extension by the CWGC to provide space for up to 1,200 bodies, including those found during canal-related excavations. Loos British Cemetery. A new extension will be constructed to accommodate further war dead, including those discovered during the construction of the canal. - CWGC Economic impact The canal has also been touted as an economic stimulus and 500 people are currently working on it, says Dezobry, with that figure anticipated to rise to 6,000-8,000. By linking northeastern France to a 20,000-kilometer (12,400-mile) network of large-gauge European waterways from Paris to Antwerp, host region Hauts-de-France is betting on the project having local benefits. Inland ports are planned along the SNEC route, aiding exports, as well as providing recreational opportunities, say its designers. In a statement to CNN, president of the Hauts-de-France regional council Xavier Bertrand said the canal will transform the area, adding that it will benefit the tourism, accommodation, catering and river transport industries. But an economic boom could itself have unintended consequences. Even if the canal is able to preserve and conserve its surrounding environment, there have been concerns raised that the potential for an increase in people living and working along its route could place additional stresses on water resources. Despite the canals stop-start history, the Societe du Canal Seine-Nord Europe is confident its construction timeline can be met and the canal will become operational in 2030. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A hiker walks into the shady woods at Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyon in Agoura Hills. A week-long heat wave is expected to hit Southern California this week, raising the risk of wildfires. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) A heat wave is expected to hit Southern California this week, bringing "elevated" fire danger to the region and increasing the chance for heat-related illness. The next stretch of hotter temperatures comes after a brief weekend break when most of Southern California enjoyed mild weather. We had a brief heat wave over the holiday weekend that was very short in duration where the temperatures werent as high, said National Weather Service meteorologist David Sweet. This upcoming heat wave is certainly going to be more intense and could be a long duration event, which could continue through the weekend and maybe into next week. We dont see any end to the heat wave in the next seven days at least. High temperatures throughout the region are expected to reach as high as 112 degrees between Tuesday and Saturday. Overnight lows will be in the 70s and 80s. The coasts will be much cooler, with highs expected in the 70s to mid-80s. Moisture levels for dead vegetation is around 80% to 100% because of the record rainfall Southern California received over the winter; "critical" moisture levels would be around 60%. Sweet advised people to avoid all ignition sources and to stay away from anything that could start a fire. In terms of the heat wave, Sweet encouraged people to stay hydrated and stay inside in air-conditioned rooms if possible to limit exposure to the outdoors. Read more:How to stay cool and safe during California's first heat wave of the summer During the heat wave, there is potential for wildfire activity at lower elevations, especially because of the wet weather during the winter and spring and cooler temperatures in May and June, which allowed for a fruitful growing season for plants, UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said during a Monday news briefing. "The fact that we had those cool temperatures is going to be an especially difficult transition, even more so than if we had already been hot," Swain added. Here is the forecast timeline for the heat wave: MONDAY High pressure is building over the region, bringing dry and warm conditions away from the coast, according to the National Weather Service. On Monday, the marine layer, which tends to keep coastal areas cooler, will continue to shrink under the high pressure, warming coastal plains a few degrees and increasing temperatures into the 80s and 90s for the valleys and around 80 degrees in downtown Los Angeles. TUESDAY Its expected to warm up starting Tuesday for interior parts of Los Angeles County, including the Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita Valley and western San Gabriel Mountains. An excessive heat warning has been issued for the Apple and Lucerne valleys from Tuesday at 8 a.m. to Sunday at 8 p.m. Gusty winds could develop across the Antelope Valley on Tuesday afternoon, bumping up maximum temperatures 3 to 6 degrees but bringing temperatures only about 1 to 3 degrees above normal. Read more:Heres how to prepare for a blackout in a heat wave WEDNESDAY Wednesday is expected to be the first day of triple-digit temperatures. An excessive heat watch has been issued for the western and eastern Antelope Valley foothills starting Wednesday morning through Saturday evening, when temperatures could reach 110 degrees. Woodland Hills and the Santa Clarita Valley could see temperatures climb from 100 to 103, while the San Gabriel Valley could reach 95 to 100 degrees. Downtown Los Angeles has a projected daytime high from the mid- to upper 80s. THURSDAY Valley areas could have daytime highs of around 100 to 105 degrees. The marine layer could still be an influence, resulting in temperatures of 70s into the 80s around immediate coastal sections. Downtown Los Angeles could reach around 90 degrees. FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND The peak of the heat is expected to hit the region Friday into the weekend, with widespread highs around 100 to 108 degrees across the warmest valleys, including Woodland Hills, the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the San Gabriel Valley. The hottest areas will be desert regions such as the Antelope Valley, which could see temperatures between 105 to 112 degrees. Downtown Los Angeles could inch toward 90 degrees. The heat wave will bring low humidity levels to inland regions, including the Santa Clarita Valley, the Antelope Valley, San Gabriel Valley and San Fernando Valley, resulting in "elevated to brief critical fire conditions," according to Sweet. Elevated fire conditions mean that relative humidities are hovering around 15% while critical conditions would signify red flag warnings have been issued and humidity has dropped below 10% for at least six to eight hours, Sweet said. L.A. County has opened 167 cooling centers free, indoor air-conditioned facilities throughout the region. Officials advised people to stay indoors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the hottest parts of the day, reduce physical activity, avoid hot and heavy meals, check on elderly neighbors and family and friends, and drink plenty of fluids. The entire Southwest region of the country, including Arizona and New Mexico, is also bracing for a dangerous heat wave, which could bring high temperatures to the lower deserts between 106 to 112 degrees this week through Thursday and temperatures between 111 to 117 degrees from Wednesday through this weekend. A Phoenix resident posted on social media over the weekend, indicating that temperatures were so hot that it was melting the tar off her newish roof. 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. VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts on Tuesday endorsed the biggest shakeup since the Cold War of the way the military alliance would respond to any attack on its territory by Russia. Inspired in part by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the highly-secretive defense plans lay out which of the 31 member countries would be called on to respond an attack anywhere from the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions through the northern Atlantic and south to the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Peace in the Euro-Atlantic area has been shattered," the leaders said in a statement, laying out the twin threats posed by Russia and terrorism. Together, this family of plans will significantly improve our ability and readiness to deter and defend against any threats, including on short or no notice, and ensure timely reinforcement of all Allies. The leaders, meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, committed to fully resource and regularly exercise these plans to be prepared for high-intensity and multi-domain collective defense. Under the new plans, NATO commanders will know more clearly what troops and equipment they would have at their disposal and how long it would take to have them in place, officials said. The defense blueprint was revamped after Russias war on Ukraine challenged NATOs traditional security calculus. NATO, as an organization, does not provide weapons or ammunition to Ukraine. Its sought to avoid being dragged into a wider war with nuclear-armed Russia. At the same time, it is massively reinforcing the security of member countries near Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Around 40,000 troops are on standby from Estonia along NATO's eastern flank with Russia and down to Romania on the Black Sea. About 100 aircraft take to the skies in that territory each day, and a total of 27 warships are operating in the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. Those numbers are set to rise. Under its new plans, NATO aims to have up to 300,000 troops ready to move to its eastern flank within 30 days. The plans divide its territory into three zones the high north and Atlantic area, a zone north of the Alps, and another in southern Europe. The planning was based on the strength of the Russian army before President Vladimir Putin launched the war on Ukraine almost 17 months ago. The war has depleted Russias army, but not its navy or air force, top NATO brass say. NATOs 31 member countries took part in a force generation conference in late June in an effort to understand how many troops and how much equipment the alliance might have at its disposal to respond to any Russian attack, both in the short and longer term. Senior officers were upbeat about the results, although they declined to provide details for security reasons. Experts and some NATO diplomats, however, have expressed doubt about the willingness of member countries to put a total of 300,000 troops on standby. One part of the process that has not been streamlined is the need for all 31 allies to approve launching the new plans in case of attack, and at certain points once theyre put into action. Such political decisions, which require consensus, can be time-consuming. Political decision makers still retain political control, a senior U.S. official told reporters in the days leading up to the summit. NATOs Supreme Allied Commander, U.S. General Christopher Cavoli, still has to come back to the NAC to ask for permission, the official said, referring to the North Atlantic Council, NATOs chief decision-making body which meets at the level of ambassadors, ministers or national leaders. But he might have more authority, once that permission is given, to stage and move forces around in theater, the official said, on condition of anonymity because the planning documents were still under discussion. By Sharon Bernstein and Julia Harte (Reuters) -Iowa's Republican-controlled state House of Representatives passed a bill in a special session on Tuesday banning abortions as soon as fetal cardiac activity can be detected, after around six weeks of pregnancy and before most women know they are pregnant. The ban is expected to swiftly pass the state Senate and be signed into law by Republican Governor Kim Reynolds, who called the special session after the Midwestern state's Supreme Court on June 16 blocked a similar measure passed in 2018 from going into effect. State representatives passed the bill by 56-34, mostly along party lines, after hours of public comment by lawmakers and Iowans on both sides of the issue on Tuesday, as abortion rights activists held loud protests in and around the State Capitol building. The bill would outlaw abortions with limited exceptions after cardiac activity can be detected, weeks before the fetus has developed an actual heart. It makes no exceptions for the age of the pregnant person or any mental health condition. Before the final vote, Democratic lawmakers fruitlessly sought to loosen the bill. State Representative Timi Brown-Powers proposed amending the bill to grant exceptions for pregnant children aged 12 or under. "For the love of Pete, that's child abuse," said Brown-Powers. "We're standing here debating a bill to save babies, but yet we would put a 12-year-old, an 11-year-old, a 10-year-old through this?" Republican state Representative Shannon Lundgren responded that the bill allows abortions after six weeks in the case of a medical emergency, and successfully urged her colleagues to reject the amendment. Abortions after six weeks would also be allowed in the case of rape, incest, a fetal abnormality that a doctor reasonably believes is incompatible with life and in the event that continuing the pregnancy would create a serious risk of irreversible harm to the woman's body. Iowa's 2018 ban on abortions after about six weeks was put on hold by the courts while Roe v. Wade and similar state constitutional protections were in effect, but both have now been reversed. Iowa's highest court had deadlocked in the 3-3 decision in June, leaving abortion legal in Iowa for up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. However, the three judges who opposed reinstating the 2018 law said they were doing so to avoid legislating from the bench, leading Republican lawmakers to believe they have a good chance of beating future challenges by passing a new law now. Fourteen states have banned most abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case and stripped away a nationwide right to abortion. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa asked abortion rights supporters to contact their legislators, sign up to speak against the bill and rally against the measure at Tuesday's session. The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition advocacy group also asked its members to contact their lawmakers to support the bill. (Reporting by Sharon Bernstein and Julia Harte; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Jonathan Oatis) By Timour Azhari, Maher Nazeh and Ahmed Saeed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - When Jacob Nemec's family heard he was planning to go on holiday in Iraq, they pleaded with the 28-year-old American to reconsider. "I got a text from my grandma for the first time in five years saying - being your grandmother and to respect me - I would appreciate if you don't go. I got crying phone calls from my mum," said Nemec, a warehouse supervisor from Reno, Nevada. He decided to go anyway, but understood his family's concerns. Iraq has seen almost non-stop turmoil for decades, from an eight-year war with Iran in the 80s, to the first Gulf war in the 90s and heavy sanctions, the 2003 U.S. invasion, years of bloody sectarian warfare and then conflict with Islamic State militants. The situation, however, has gradually improved since Islamic State's territorial defeat in 2017, with blast walls coming down and cranes going up in Baghdad and other cities as they turn to construction and find a new sense of normalcy. Iraq hosted its first Gulf Cup in more than 40 years earlier this year, with thousands of Arab visitors in attendance - an event that helped put the country back on the map. Now, a small but growing number of tourists are heading to Iraq to see attractions spanning from vast desert and marshland ecosystems to ruins of the worlds earliest cities and empires. Many have come from neighbouring Arab Gulf countries, but defying warnings advising against travel, an increasing number of adventurous tourists are also trickling in from Europe and the United States. Nemec, along with a Russian and a British tourist, visited the maze-like ruins of the ancient city of Babylon, the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf with its tight alleys and mud-brick houses, and the old city of Mosul in the north. "I was a little hesitant coming as a American, like 'Oh my god my government did really bad things here. Is everyone going to hate me for that?'" Nemec said. "That hasn't been the case at all... Governments can be bad, but people wherever you go are good." The uptick in tourism coincides with a push by Iraq's government to show that the country is safe and open to foreign businesses and visitors as it looks to diversify its oil-dependent economy. Tourism Minister Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani said work was underway to build new hotels to keep up with growing demand and to refurbish tourist sites and heritage buildings. He said the country's image in the West as an arena of conflict would gradually change as more people visited. Tourists "are messengers who tell these states that Iraq has returned to being a safe country and is not a red line as some say. Maybe the issue needs some time, but not too long," he told Reuters. Foreign governments are not convinced. 'DO NOT TRAVEL' The U.S. and European countries still warn against any travel to Iraq due to security concerns. The U.S. State Department website says: "Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest". It urges people to write a will and make funeral arrangements with their families should they chose to go. Westerners became a main target of kidnappings and killings following the U.S. invasion, including by extremist Sunni Muslim groups such as Al Qaeda and Islamic State, and hardline Shi'ite militias close to Iran, all of whom viewed the United States as an occupier. In November of last year, a U.S. citizen was killed in central Baghdad - a rare attack that nonetheless sent jitters through the foreign community in the city. Five Western diplomats said that there would be no change to U.S. or European travel advisories any time soon due to the continued possibility of unpredictable violence, such as armed clashes in Baghdad last year that killed dozens of Iraqis. That has not stopped people coming, though just how many are showing up is unclear. A SIDE FORGOTTEN The tourism minister did not provide figures of tourist arrivals. Major-General Abdel-Karim Sudani, a security adviser to the prime minister, told Reuters just over 2.5 million foreigners had visited Iraq in the 6-month period between Nov. 15 2022 and May. 15 of this year, including 312,000 Arab visitors. In any case, the tourism sector remains heavily underdeveloped. Few of the ancient ruins that dot the country have signs describing their significance, nor accredited tour guides. Baghdad International Airport does not have its own website, with the top search item instead directing browsers to a page that warns: "We do not recommend to visit the country (it is one of the most dangerous places on Earth)." Many Iraqis are trying to make up for those shortcomings and show another side of the country. Ali Hilal, a travel blogger, is one of them. He got stuck in Iraq during the COVID-19 pandemic while visiting from Canada where he lived, and decided to travel around the country, filming magnificent ancient palaces and lush green mountains in videos posted online and shared widely. "Of course we have innumerable political and social and environmental problems," Hilal said. "But there is a side we might have forgotten, and that's the side I am trying to see and have people see with me." (Reporting by Timour Azhari and Maher Nazeh in Baghdad, Ahmed Saeed in Babil and Khalid al-Mousily in Mosul; Writing by Timour Azhari; Editing by Ros Russell) TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan will give Sumco Corp, a major maker of silicon wafers, a subsidy of up to 75 billion yen ($530 million) to fund additional capacity as part of efforts to bolster the country's semiconductor industry, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday. Sumco plans to invest 225 billion yen in factory buildings and equipment, with the subsidy from Japan's METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) covering a third of the cost, Nikkei said. Shares in Sumco, which with Shin-Etsu Chemical controls about half the global wafer market, jumped 8%, compared with a 0.8% rise in the benchmark Nikkei 225 index. It is not true that a decision on subsidy for Sumco has been made at the current time, Japan's industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said, adding that silicon wafers are important materials for semiconductors. Sumco did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Japan has been subsidising chipmakers and suppliers, including Taiwan's TSMC, to reinvigorate the industry domestically and as countries extend control over a supply chain vital to key sectors. ($1 = 141.3300 yen) (Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Richard Chang and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Full text: Joint Statement on Establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Featuring Mutual Respect and Common Development for a New Era Between the People's Republic of China and Solomon Islands Xinhua) 11:05, July 11, 2023 BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The following is the full text of a joint statement released by China and Solomon Islands on Monday. Joint Statement on Establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Featuring Mutual Respect and Common Development for a New Era Between the People's Republic of China and Solomon Islands At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands paid an official visit to the People's Republic of China from July 9 to 15, 2023. During the visit, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Premier Li Qiang held talks with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji met with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. The leaders of the two countries had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, and reached important consensus. The two sides agreed that since the establishment of diplomatic ties four years ago, China-Solomon Islands relations have developed rapidly and remained at the forefront of relations between China and Pacific Island Countries, becoming an example of unity, cooperation, mutual support and mutual benefit between developing countries. To enhance strategic guidance of China-Solomon Islands relations, the two sides decided to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development for a new era. 1. The Solomon Islands side spoke highly of China's historic achievements and transformation over the past 10 years of the new era, and believes that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, China will become a great modern socialist country in all respects, and advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. The Chinese side applauded the significant accomplishments made by Solomon Islands in developing its economy, improving livelihoods and maintaining stability under the leadership of Prime Minister Sogavare, expressed readiness to continue supporting Solomon Islands in achieving development, vitalization and long-term stability, and wished the 17th Pacific Games to be held in Solomon Islands a full success. 2. The two sides agreed that all countries, regardless of size, strength and wealth, are equals, and that their sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. The Chinese side reaffirmed its staunch support for Solomon Islands nation building process and to choose a development path suited to its national conditions and in upholding its sovereignty, security and development interests. The Solomon Islands side reaffirmed that it is resolutely committed to the one-China principle, that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, that it opposes "Taiwan Independence" in all forms, and that it firmly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to realize national reunification. Solomon Islands supports China's position on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, etc., and opposes interference by any country in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of democracy or human rights. 3. The two sides agreed to work together to build a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development for a new era across the board: -- Establish and enhance high-level exchanges and interactions at all levels, expand exchanges between governments, legislatures, political parties and subnational entities, step up sharing of governance experience, and steadily enhance political mutual trust. -- Promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, form greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the 2035 Development Strategy of Solomon Islands, expand practical cooperation in a wide range of areas including trade and investment, agriculture, forestry, fishery, rural development, infrastructure including disaster resilient infrastructure, energy and minerals, information and communications, marine resource protection and exploitation, finance, civil aviation, low emission and green development, and digital economy. The Chinese side will continue to provide assistance to Solomon Islands to the best of its ability to help it achieve independent and sustainable development, including supporting rural sustainable development project of Solomon Islands. -- Expand exchanges and cooperation in areas such as culture, education, health, sports, tourism, youth, think tank and the media and at the subnational level. China will continue to provide government scholarships and various kinds of training opportunities including maritime support and send medical teams to Solomon Islands. The Peace Ark hospital ship of the Chinese Navy will visit Solomon Islands and provide humanitarian medical service in 2023. The two sides formally signed the Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Solomon Islands Relating to Civil Air Transport, and are committed to launching direct flights between the two countries as early as possible. -- Enhance cooperation on law enforcement and security matters. The Chinese side will continue to provide support and help to Solomon Islands as needed in strengthening Solomon Islands' police law enforcement capacity. The two sides agreed to step up protection of the safety and lawful rights and interests of each other's nationals and institutions in their countries. -- Strengthen communication and cooperation on international and regional affairs. Defend the international system with the U.N. at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. Practice true multilateralism, firmly uphold international fairness and justice, oppose hegemonism and power politics, reject unilateralism in all forms, and stand against camp-based, exclusive "small circles" targeting specific countries. Oppose protectionism, erection of walls and barriers, decoupling, and cutting supply chains, and reject imposition of unilateral sanctions and maximum pressure. -- Advocate humanity's common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries. Be committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind, and jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. China welcomes Solomon Islands' decision to join the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative. 4. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation under multilateral mechanisms such as the China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development Cooperation Forum, and under multilateral cooperation frameworks concerning humanitarian, emergency supplies, climate response, poverty alleviation and development, disaster prevention and mitigation, Juncao technology, agriculture, etc., to deepen and cement the cooperation between China and Pacific Island Countries as a whole. -- China reaffirmed its active support for Pacific Island Countries in their implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and is ready to strengthen South-South cooperation with Pacific Island Countries on climate response, and work for full and effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement under the principles of fairness, common but differentiated responsibilities, and respective capabilities. -- The two sides are committed to working with all sides to promote peace, development and stability in the Pacific Islands region, and firmly uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as the cornerstone and the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty. The two sides urge relevant countries to fulfill their international obligations and prudently handle issues such as the discharge of nuclear contaminated water and cooperation on nuclear submarine. 5. During the visit, the two sides signed cooperation documents in the fields of development cooperation, trade, infrastructure development, civil aviation, education, police affairs, customs and meteorology. The two sides agreed that the successful visit of Prime Minister Sogavare holds great significance for elevating China-Solomon Islands relations and building an even closer community with a shared future between China and Pacific Island Countries. Prime Minister Sogavare expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Chinese side for the generous hospitality accorded to him during his visit, and extended an invitation to the Chinese leaders to visit Solomon Islands at an early date. Beijing, July 10, 2023 (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) By Jon Dunbar The Japanese hardcore band KLONNS is coming to Korea this weekend seeking revenge. "It's revenge," said Korean noise musician and promoter Park Daham, who helped make the tour happen. "Revenge against COVID-19 and the world. Because they had planned to come to Korea originally in 2020, and COVID-19 stopped that." "We're happy to be able to fulfill that promise after three years," KLONNS vocalist Shu Oshima said in a statement in Japanese translated to English for The Korea Times by Park. "I know that there are many great bands and artists in Korea, and many of my friends' bands and artists have toured Korea, and everyone says they had a great experience, so I thought that if I had the opportunity, I would absolutely want to go." KLONNS is signed to the Seattle-based label Iron Lung Records, which has also signed the Korean bands and Slant, the latter of which will be sharing the stage with them on the second show here. "I'm checking out the bands around them, and I'm looking forward to playing with them," Shu said. He mentioned a tour of Korean experimental acts earlier this year, which he and Park helped make happen. In March, they worked together to send the Seoul-based performers Joyul, Yeong Die and Jiyoung Wi to Japan. "I think the experimental scene in Korea has a strong resonance with the Japanese scene," Shu said. WARSAW, Poland (AP) The prime ministers of Poland and Japan held talks on Tuesday on security, Russias war on Ukraine and the strengthening of business ties. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with his Polish counterpart, Mateusz Morawiecki, in Warsaw on his way to a NATO summit in Lithuania, which borders Poland. The talks focused on security in the region, where another Polish neighbor, Ukraine, has been fighting for almost 17 months to repel Russias invasion, according to Morawieckis office. Ukraine has been seeking a timetable for joining NATO. Japan joined Western countries in imposing sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine. Kishida and Morawiecki also discussed strengthening economic ties after a time of stagnation during the pandemic. Poland welcomed a recent large investment by Japanese air-conditioning giant Daikin Industries Ltd. The leaders agreed to increase cooperation in the areas of advanced technologies, cybersecurity, liquified gas and railways. Kishida also visited Warsaw in March, when he expressed Japan's backing for Poland's military and humanitarian support of Ukraine and announced a special financial program to aid Poland's efforts. By Brendan Pierson (Reuters) - Lawyers for a California man who says he developed a rare cancer from exposure to asbestos in Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder on Monday urged a jury to order the company to pay heavy punitive damages, calling its conduct negligent and "despicable." "A reasonably careful corporation would not sell a product that allowed carcinogens to be applied to babies," Joseph Satterley, a lawyer for Emory Hernandez Valadez, said in a closing argument at the end of a six-week trial in Alameda County Superior Court in California. J&J has consistently denied that its now-discontinued talc baby powder contains asbestos or causes cancer. Satterley asked jurors to award Hernandez punitive damages about nine times greater than so-called compensatory damages, which include $3.8 million for his medical costs as well as damages for pain and suffering. Satterley said the pain and suffering damages should be much larger than the medical costs. The U.S. Supreme Court has found that punitive damages should generally be no more than nine times compensatory damages, and that a higher ratio can be reduced on appeal as excessive. J&J's lawyers told the jury Monday that there was no evidence presented at the trial linking Hernandez's cancer to talc, and that the company had always gone out of its way to test its talc and ensure its safety. "What is remarkable from a party that has the burden of proof is that they didn't test any bottle (he) claims to have used" for asbestos, attorney Allison Brown said. When the plaintiff's doctors looked for asbestos in his body, she said, "they found none - not one fiber of asbestos." The jury is expected to begin deliberating Tuesday. Hernandez, 24, said in his lawsuit that he developed mesothelioma in the tissue around his heart as a result of exposure to J&J's talc products beginning when he was a baby. Tens of thousands of plaintiffs have sued, alleging that J&J's baby powder and other talc products sometimes contained asbestos and caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. J&J has said its talc products are safe and do not contain asbestos, which has been linked to mesothelioma. J&J subsidiary LTL Management in April filed for bankruptcy in Trenton, New Jersey, proposing to pay $8.9 billion to settle more than 38,000 lawsuits and prevent new cases from coming forward. It was the company's second attempt to resolve talc claims in bankruptcy, after a federal appeals court rejected an earlier bid. Most litigation has been halted during bankruptcy proceedings, but U.S. Chief Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan, who is overseeing LTL's Chapter 11, let Hernandez's trial proceed because he is expected to live only a short time. Asbestos plaintiffs are seeking to have LTL's latest bankruptcy filing dismissed. They have argued the filing was brought in bad faith to insulate the company from litigation. J&J and LTL have argued that bankruptcy delivers settlement payouts to plaintiffs more fairly, efficiently and equitably than trial courts, which they have likened to a "lottery" in which some litigants get large awards and others nothing. J&J said in bankruptcy court filings that the costs of its talc-related verdicts, settlements and legal fees have reached about $4.5 billion. (Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi and Lisa Shumaker) Jushua trees rise from the desert floor in Joshua Tree National park. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) California has enacted the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, the first law aimed at helping to ensure the survival of millions of the climate-threatened trees while accommodating booming renewable energy and housing projects across their ancient Mojave Desert domain. Now, residents and business owners in sunny desert boomtowns thick with the spindly trees are struggling to understand how the legislation signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday will affect them. Read more:Triple-digit heat wave set to sizzle California, stoking fire fears this holiday weekend The new law, which took effect July 1, prohibits unpermitted killing or removal of the trees, tasks state wildlife authorities with developing and implementing a conservation plan for the species by 2024, and creates a fund to acquire and manage suitable habitat. It authorizes the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to permit the taking of up to 10 trees from a housing project site and 40 trees from a public works site only if certain conditions are met. For instance, permittees are required to mitigate losses due to construction by paying fees of up to $1,000 for each Joshua tree 16 feet or higher taken, and $2,500 for any such tree taken within two miles of Joshua Tree National Park. For all other projects such as massive renewable energy facilities, there is no limit on take, although developers are required to demonstrate they have minimized the number of trees that would be killed and pay fees for all trees removed. Nearly half of the trees range is on private land that includes the rapidly growing communities of Palmdale, Lancaster, Hesperia, Victorville and Yucca Valley, where home builders already are planning to pass the additional costs on to their clients. The new protection was authored by the Newsom administration based on input from stakeholders including conservationists, lawmakers, tribal leaders, property owners, renewable-energy companies, labor organizations and the construction industry, officials said. It was prompted by the California Fish and Game Commissions inability to act on a petition filed nearly four years ago by the Center for Biological Diversity seeking to list the living symbols of the Mojave Desert as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. The commission a year ago deadlocked on whether to make the protection permanent. This bill ends the debate over whether Joshua trees should be protected," said Brendan Cummings, the Center for Biological Diversitys conservation director and a resident of the community of Joshua tree, "and launches us down an unprecedented path on collectively working to save this iconic and irreplaceable species in the face of climate change. "If we do whats necessary to save the Joshua tree," added Cummings, author of the petition, "we will also make Southern California's high desert and the communities within it a better, more sustainable place for all of us." Read more:Nature gone mad? Eagles kidnap baby hawk twins, kill one, raise the other as their own The commissions stalemate reflected a politically charged reality: The western Joshua tree requires a new era of regulation and conservation in an increasingly unforgiving ecosystem. Opponents of the petition warned that listing the trees could discourage the building of much-needed homes, stifle economic investment, hamper job creation and increase development costs in a region regarded as a last vestige of affordable housing in Southern California. This is not a good law and the Joshua tree is not an endangered species, said Madelaine LaVoie, a real estate agent in the high desert city of Yucca Valley. All it is going to do is add building costs that will be passed down to customers. The renewable-energy industry, while under fire for gobbling up desert land, maintains that by helping to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, it is helping to mitigate climate change and the threat it poses to sensitive desert species such as the western Joshua tree. The administration has done a fine job here, said Shannon Eddy, executive director of the Large-scale Solar Assn. Were living in a time when we have to think harder about how we structure our renewable energy goals and conservation protections, she added. The governors approach gets us to that nexus between climate action and conservation. At stake are living symbols of the Mojave Desert, many of them dying off due to hotter, drier conditions, with fewer young trees becoming established. Conservationists fear that without special state protections, the species could lose 90% of its range, including within Joshua Tree National Park, by 2100. Opponents including the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, however, preferred to leave the plants fate up to local jurisdictions, where many residents and policymakers believe the species scientists know as Yucca brevifolia is already protected in many city and county native plant ordinances, and within 800,000-acre Joshua Tree National Park. They also point out that state wildlife biologists a year ago recommended against listing the species after concluding that claims in the petition about the effects of climate change on the large yuccas were premature. They questioned the reliability of computer models suggesting the species is in decline throughout its range. Thats because, they said, while there has been a decline in the western Joshua tree population in certain portions of its historic range, in other areas the species is abundant. Read more:'This water needs to be protected': California tribe calls for preservation of Tulare Lake Earlier this week, Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Twentynine Palms) urged lawmakers on the floor to vote against the bill he described as wholly unnecessary given data illustrates that this species is not at risk for the next hundred years. Critics fear that the law imposes costs that eventually will make clusters of high desert communities in areas such as Morongo Valley affordable only to the most well-to-do transplants from urban areas. Whether that will impede growth, however, remains to be seen. This region is exploding with urbanites wanting to get out of the rat race, said Chris Ligman, a building contractor in the city of Yucca Valley, about 120 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Home builders are loving it. Joshua trees, which grow in the Mojave Desert and nowhere else, have become mainstays for movies, fashion shoots, advertising campaigns and wedding ceremonies. They were named for the biblical figure Joshua by members of a band of Mormons traveling through the Cajon Pass back to Utah in 1857. They imagined the trees as shaggy prophets, their outstretched limbs pointing the way to their promised land. The western Joshua tree is one of two genetically distinct species that occur in California. It has a boomerang-shaped range that extends westward from Joshua Tree National Park to the northern slopes of the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains, then northward along the eastern flanks of the Sierra Nevada and then eastward to the edges of Death Valley National Park. The eastern Joshua trees range in California is centered in the Mojave National Preserve and eastward into Nevada. As many as 1 million eastern Joshua trees were incinerated by the 2020 Dome fire in the preserve. The fate of the western species, which reaches about 40 feet in height and lives about 200 years, is most in doubt. The trees blossoms, roots, inner chambers and angular boughs sustain a great abundance and diversity of desert life: yucca moths, bobcats, desert night lizards, kangaroo rats and 20 species of birds, including Scott's orioles, ladder-backed woodpeckers and great horned owls. But drought, extreme heat, brush fires and development sprawl are taking a heavy toll on the trees and the species they support. Some stands have not produced baby Joshua trees in decades. "While the western Joshua tree is the first species protected in California due to climate change," Cummings said, "unfortunately, it may not be the last one." 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. VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) Follow along for updates on the summit of the NATO military alliance in Lithuania's capital: What to know: Turkeys decision to end opposition to Swedens NATO membership boosts summit Swedens rocky road from neutrality toward NATO membership What is NATO doing to help Ukraine in the war with Russia? Ukraine, defense plans and Swedens membership top summit agenda Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a heros welcome at a concert in Lithuanias capital where he arrived Tuesday to meet with NATO leaders. Instead of going straight to the military alliances summit in Vilnius, Zelenskyy stopped in the citys downtown where thousands of people had gathered for a concert organized by civil society groups in support of Ukraine. Zelenskyy stepped onto the stage with his wife to loud cheers. When he opened his speech with the Ukrainian national salute Glory to Ukraine! the audience delivered back the traditional Ukrainian response Glory to the heroes! The Ukrainian president, who was to meet with NATO leaders Wednesday, had earlier expressed deep frustration that the alliance was providing no firm timetable for when his country could join, calling that absurd. In his emotional speech in downtown Vilnius, Zelenskyy appealed for a clear pathway and timeline for Ukraine. Today I started my journey with faith in solutions, with faith in strong partners, with faith in NATO in a NATO that does not hesitate, that does not waste time and does not look over their backs at any aggressor, Zelenskyy said. I would like this faith to become confidence, confidence in the decisions that we deserve, all of us, every soldier, every citizen, every mother, every child, he said. Is that too much to ask? Zelenskyy later listened to a singer performing Ukraines national anthem. The crowd featured both Lithuanians and Ukrainians, some waving Ukrainian flags or carrying sunflowers Ukraines national flower. Ukrainian war refugee Dasha Boiko watched the event with her son and daughter. We came from Dnipro after our homes were destroyed and were met here with warmth and care, she said. Seeing our president speaking here in the square of this beautiful free country makes me believe that my homeland will prevail and will also be peaceful and free soon. NATO allies pledged Tuesday to spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product on their national military budgets but set no timeframe for achieving the goal. After Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014, the organization agreed to halt spending cuts they had made after the Cold War and move toward spending 2% of GDP on defense within a decade. At their summit in Lithuania, the leaders set that percentage as a floor, rather than a ceiling for spending. But only 11 of the 31 NATO member countries are likely to reach that goal this year, according to the alliances latest estimates. In a summit statement, the leaders agreed that in many cases, expenditure beyond 2% of GDP will be needed in order to remedy existing shortfalls and meet the requirements across all domains arising from a more contested security order. The United States has for years exhorted its allies to boost defense spending. Former President Donald Trump even threatened to abandon those countries that failed to boost their budgets, raising deep concern about the U.S. commitment to NATOs collective security guarantee, which says that an attack on one ally will be considered an attack on them all. The leaders also committed to spend at least 20% of their defense budgets on major equipment, including related research and development. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas says NATO leaders made a good compromise on how to deal with Ukraines ambition to join the alliance though she understands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is disappointed. Allies showed that theres a clear willingness to have Ukraine in NATO, Kallas told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius. Of course it takes time, she said. But when the conditions are met and the opportunity window opens for a short period of time, then we can move on with the membership. Zelenskyy said it was absurd to not even provide a timeline for when Ukraine can be invited. I understand the frustration of President Zelenskyy, Kallas said, but added that nobody wants this war to go any further than it is right now. Inviting Ukraine to join NATO before the war is over would essentially put the alliance in direct conflict with Russia. So what we are doing is supporting Ukraine with all the military aid we can give them so that they can defend themselves and push back Russia to Russia, Kallas said. And when Russia is in Russia, there is room for sustainable peace and also an opportunity window to join NATO. A U.S. Senator says that the Biden administration is offering to provide Greece with some tactical weaponry amid concerns in Congress that Turkey a longtime rival but fellow NATO member will get too many concessions as Washington seeks its support for Swedens bid to join the alliance. The proposal comes as the U.S. tries to coax Turkey a key holdout in Swedens bid to join NATO to green-light the Scandinavian countrys candidacy at the NATO summit in Lithuania on Tuesday. Back in Washington, administration officials also were trying to appease concerns from some members of Congress who argue that Turkeys human rights record and other concerns were reasons not to negotiate with Ankara. Turkey has asked to buy 40 new F-16s from the United States as well as kits to upgrade its existing fleet. Both U.S. and Turkish officials have maintained any such sale isnt linked to Swedens NATO bid. The main roadblock came this week from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J, who said he continued to have reservations about approving the sale of fighter aircraft to Turkey. In order to get Menendez on board, the U.S. offered to provide Greece with unspecified tactical weaponry to defend from any future Turkish incursion, according to a Democratic senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. By Farnoush Amiri in Washington ____ Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday but remained mum on the deal to advance Swedens membership in NATO. Although Biden made a reference to the agreement you reached yesterday, Erdogan said nothing about it. Turkey has been the primary obstacle to Sweden joining the alliance, but NATO announced on Monday night that Erdogan agreed to forward the issue to his countrys parliament. It was a conspicuous omission from Erdogan, who has not commented on the issue publicly during the summit. However, Erdogan appeared eager to develop his relationship with Biden. He said previous meetings were mere warm ups, but now we are initiating a new process. Mentioning next years presidential election, Erdogan told Biden that he wanted to take this opportunity to wish you the best of luck. Biden responded, I look forward to meeting with you the next five years. The NATO chief says alliance leaders on Tuesday agreed to allow Ukraine to join when allies agree and conditions are met after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blasted the organizations failure to set a timetable for Ukrainian membership. We reaffirmed Ukraine will become a member of NATO and agreed to remove the requirement for a membership action plan, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at the alliance's summit in Lithuania, referring to a key step in joining NATO. This will change Ukraines membership path from a two-step path to a one-step path, he said, adding that Ukraine would join when allies agree and conditions are met. With no consensus among the 31 allies to admit Ukraine into NATOs ranks, despite many members funneling arms and ammunition to Zelenskyys forces, the leaders decided to remove obstacles on Ukraines membership path so that it can join more quickly once the war with Russia is over. Asked about Zelenskyys concerns, Stoltenberg said the most important thing now is to ensure that his country wins the war, because unless Ukraine prevails there is no membership to be discussed at all. Earlier Tuesday, the Ukrainian leader said it was absurd that no timetable has been laid out for his country to be invited to join NATO or become a member one day. The Kremlins spokesman says Moscow is keeping close watch on decisions made at the NATO summit, and will analyze them to take measures aimed at ensuring our security. In a call with reporters on Tuesday, Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Turkey's decision to move ahead with ratifying Sweden's membership in the Western military alliance would have implications for Russia. He said the Russian government would implement countermeasures but did not say what they were. But Peskov said Moscow would continue to cooperate when it sees fit with Turkey, which has cast itself as an intermediary between Russia and Ukraine. He says that while Russia and Turkey have disagreements, they also share common interests. The Kremlin spokesman also repeated Moscow's claim that NATOs relentless eastward expansion after the end of the Cold War was one of the reasons that led to the current situation a reference to Russias military action in Ukraine. Many alliance members have countered that they were forced to bulk up their defenses in the wake of Russian incursions in places like Georgia and Ukraine. Peskov reiterated a warning against NATO putting Ukraine on a fast-track to membership. The Kremlin has argued that Ukraine joining NATO would lead to a direct confrontation between the alliance and Russia. Potentially, its very dangerous for European security. It carries very big risks, Peskov said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says it's absurd that no timetable has been laid out for his country to be invited to join NATO or become a member one day. Zelenskyy said on Twitter that he plans to discuss NATOs uncertainty over Ukraines possible membership during the alliance's summit in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital. He says the Ukrainian delegation to the summit starting Tuesday had received signals that certain wording" under discussion deals with the prospect of NATO inviting Ukraine to become a member, "not about Ukraines membership. Zelenskyy called it "unprecedented and absurd that a time frame hasn't been set, either for an invitation or Ukrainian membership. It seems there is no readiness either to invite Ukraine to NATO or to make it a member of the alliance, the president said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he wants NATO to show demonstrable progress at the summit on Ukraines membership. "Ive always said that Ukraines rightful place is in NATO," Sunak told reporters during his flight to Vilnius. ___ France will deliver deep-strike missiles as part of increased efforts to help Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces, French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday. France has been weighing whether to send Scalp missiles to Ukraine. They are the French counterpart of Britains Storm Shadow missiles, which the U.K. already sent to Ukraine. Macron said upon arriving at the NATO summit in Vilnius, We have decided to deliver new deep-strike missiles to Ukraine as part of beefed-up military support. The French leader did not specify which missiles, or say when or how many would be supplied. Macron said the decision was made in view of the situation and the counteroffensive being led by Ukraine against Russian forces. He said in May that the longer-range Scalp missiles could help the counteroffensive, which is in its early stages. A French government official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, confirmed that Macron was referring to Scalp missiles. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the French move an erroneous decision fraught with consequences for the Ukrainian side, as naturally, this will force us to take countermeasures. ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says the European Unions future relations with Turkey will reflect its status as an important partner, but he isnt elaborating on what that would entail. NATO officials said Monday that Turkey agreed to ratify Sweden's membership in the Western military alliance, removing one of the last major roadblocks to the Nordic country joining NATO. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan linked his country's support to Turkey's long-stalled bid to join the European Union. Scholz and others have rejected a connection. Speaking as he arrived Tuesday at the two-day NATO summit in Vilnius, Scholz called Turkey an important partner for us and said he would speak with Erdogan during the event. Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said its important to keep seeking cooperation with Ankara. He said Erdogan's decision on Sweden shows that if one talks to Turkey, one finds solutions. We havent already always had the easiest relations with Turkey, but we shouldnt turn our backs on Turkey, otherwise it will find other partners, Bettel said. ___ Germany has announced a package of further military aid for Ukraine that includes 40 extra Marder armored personnel carriers, another 25 old Leopard 1 tanks and two Patriot defense missile launching devices. The German Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Germany also would give Ukraine another 20,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, 5,000 rounds of smoke ammunition, a reconnaissance and drone-defense package and a Luna drone system. There will also be five armored recovery vehicles. Germany, already one of the biggest providers of military aid to Ukraine, put the value of the latest package at nearly 700 million euros ($768 million). German officials had promised a substantial new military aid pledge at the NATO summit in Vilnius but made clear their continued reluctance to agree to Ukraine's request for Taurus long-range cruise missiles. Lithuania and several of its allies have beefed up security for the NATO summit, with as many as 12,000 troops backed by warships, air defense systems and artillery deployed for the two-day meeting. Lithuanian authorities say almost 50 foreign delegations with 2,400 representatives are gathering in Vilnius, including 40 presidents or prime ministers and up to 150 other high-ranking politicians. Germany supplied Patriot missile defense for the summit that starts Tuesday, while Spain provided short- to medium-range NASAM ground systems. The summit in Lithuania's capital is being held about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border with Russian ally Belarus, where the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was granted refuge following a short-lived revolt against the Russian authorities last month. Border control measures were introduced last week at major airports, sea ports and on land borders with Lithuania's fellow European Union members Poland and Latvia. Meanwhile, NATO warships are patrolling off the coast of Lithuania, including vessels from Germany, the United States, Italy and Poland, according to the commander of Lithuanias navy, Giedrius Premeneckas. ___ British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged all NATO members to meet the alliances target of spending the equivalent of 2% of national economic output on defense. According to new NATO estimates released last week, 11 of the 31 member countries will reach that target this year. As the Western alliance's annual summit opened in Lithuania's capital on Tuesday, Sunak said Britain was devoting record amounts to defense, in part to make its industry ready for the challenges ahead. And thats something we need to see across NATO, starting with meeting the 2% commitment, he said. After Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014, NATO members committed to move toward spending 2% of gross domestic product on national military budgets within a decade. They are expected during this week's summit to set that level as a minimum target a floor rather than a ceiling. Sunak said NATO members have witnessed the most terrible crimes and human tragedies in Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor 16 1/2 months ago. He says the alliance has come together like never before in support of Ukraine and with firm determination that Russia cannot succeed. Hungarys foreign minister says his countrys ratification of Swedens bid to join NATO is just a technical matter after Turkeys president indicated he would his country's opposition to the Scandinavian country joining the alliance. In a Facebook post Tuesday, Peter Szijjarto wrote that the Hungarian government's position on Sweden is clear: the government supports NATO membership, which is why we tabled a proposal to this effect in Parliament many months ago. It is now only a technical matter to complete the ratification process. Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO members that haven't yet ratified Sweden's accession documents. Hungarian President Katalin Novak tweeted that she has asked Prime Minister Viktor Orban to do everything possible to ensure that the #Hungarian Parliament also contributes to the enlargement of the defense #Alliance as soon as possible. LAS VEGAS (AP) A man was arrested and a woman described as his hostage was released unharmed Tuesday after an hourslong standoff in a room at the Caesars Palace resort on the Las Vegas Strip, police said. No injuries were reported and police did not immediately say if the man in custody had been armed in a high-rise tower of the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard property. Furniture, cushions and other objects fell from a 21st floor window, frightening guests in a swimming pool area below. The suspect has been taken into custody. The female is currently with officers, the department said in messages posted mid-afternoon Tuesday. Officer Aden OcampoGomez said the woman did not appear to be injured. Las Vegas police Capt. Stephen Connell said the standoff began about 9:15 a.m. with a report from hotel security that a man and woman were arguing and that the man pulled the woman into a room by force. Police SWAT officers secured the hallway outside the room, although Connell said it was not immediately clear if the man was armed. Connell told reporters during the standoff that the woman believed to be held hostage has been heard from, and was believed to be still OK." Outside, guests heard glass break and saw curtains billow from a broken window about two-thirds up the 29-story Palace Tower, one of six towers at Caesars Palace, an iconic and historic centerpiece of the Las Vegas Strip. The hotel has nearly 4,000 rooms. Emma Snyder said she was near a resort swimming pool on her first day of vacation from Appleton, Wisconsin, when she heard several loud bangs and saw falling glass. She said it looked like sparkles. People were just staring up and looking, she said. Beverly Blackwell of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was lounging by a pool with her husband, Chris, when she heard glass break and saw curtains flutter from the broken window. When we saw the window shatter it was kind of a surreal feeling, it got pretty scary, Blackwell said. We were told to gather our stuff and rush out the back. Both Snyder and Blackwell told The Associated Press they thought there might be a shooter or attack. Staff yelled for guests to evacuate the pool area. Snyder said some people hid by a staircase while items flew out the window: a coffee maker, a hair dryer, a desk bureau. Blackwell said that after 30 minutes, people were told they could return to their rooms. Broken glass and furniture fell intermittently for about an hour, said Associated Press writer John Marshall, who was on vacation with his family in a room on the fifth floor of the Palace Tower. It looks like hes pretty much emptied the room of furniture, Marshall said of the man police said was barricaded upstairs. Marshall saw seat cushions, a chair and other items hit a ledge outside the window of his room, and said some fell to the pool area after it had been evacuated. Hotel employees told Marshall and his family that the incident was on the 21st floor and that guests on other floors were not evacuated or restricted from movements. "In the casino, it's business as usual, Marshall said, although hotel security officers and police were visible in the guest valet area. OcampoGomez, the Las Vegas police spokesperson, said there were no immediate reports of injuries to anyone in the pool area. Marshall said he and his family had no initial word from the hotel about what was happening but said they remained in their room as a precaution. Hotel housekeeping staff members were still working in nearby rooms, he said. In a statement after the arrest, Dayna Calkins, a spokesperson for the casino owner, Caesars Entertainment, referred to the standoff as a security incident inside a guest room that had been resolved. The statement credited Las Vegas police and the companys security and armed response teams. ___ Dupuy reported from New York. By Byron Kaye and Lewis Jackson SYDNEY (Reuters) - Social media giant Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook and Instagram, plans to label government-affiliated media accounts on its new Twitter-like platform Threads, an executive told an Australian inquiry on foreign interference on Tuesday. "Areas such as labels for state-affiliated media and fact-checking are all areas where we see a lot of value, and it's our aspiration to build that out expeditiously," Josh Machin, Meta's head of public policy for Australia, told the Senate inquiry. The disclosure comes less than a week after Meta launched Threads, which is widely seen as similar to the microblogging site Twitter. Twitter has removed tags from government-affiliated accounts since billionaire Elon Musk took it private in 2022, bringing complaints about degrading users' media literacy. Asked if Russian state-affiliated broadcaster RT or Chinese government-affiliated publisher Xinhua News Agency would be tagged accordingly on Threads, Machin said, "that's our aspiration". "To the effect that any state-affiliated media are violating our policies, we would remove them," he told the inquiry. "Broader functionality around tags... are all top priorities for us as we continue to bring out the product." Meta's Facebook and Instagram platforms already have tags on the RT and Xinhua accounts noting they are state-controlled media from Russia and China, respectively. RT's Threads account lacked such a label when Reuters checked on Tuesday, while Xinhua did not appear to have a Threads account. Australian senator James Paterson, asking Meta about its labelling plans for Threads, told the inquiry Twitter's removal of foreign government affiliation tags was "extremely concerning from a transparency view". Twitter declined to comment. Twitter executives are scheduled to appear at the inquiry later on Tuesday. Meta's Machin told the inquiry the company was concerned by an Australian proposal to give media regulator the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) powers to police and fine social media companies for enabling the spread of disinformation and misinformation. Meta would support giving ACMA power to enforce an existing industry code of conduct, which includes proactively weeding out false content, but "the draft legislation goes further", he said, referring to the proposal which is currently under industry consultation. "We can see some potential for that power to be abused, or for it to be used in a way that chills legitimate free expression online," he added. (This story has been refiled to clarify that Meta plans to label government affiliated publishers in the headline and lead pargraph and say Threads, not Thread, in paragraph 7) (Reporting by Byron Kaye and Lewis Jackson; Editing by Jamie Freed and Lincoln Feast) More than 150 members of law enforcement have joined the hunt for an "armed and dangerous" fugitive suspected of murder who escaped from a Pennsylvania county jail into a heavily wooded area. Michael Burham, 34, remains on the run for the fifth day since authorities said he escaped the Warren County Jail by using bedsheets tied together to make a rope to climb down from a metal roof. Nearly 200 local, state and federal officers are now searching for Burham from the ground and the air in a rural area near the border between New York and Pennsylvania. Authorities said he should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached if detected. Escaped inmate, Michael Burham. (Warren Police Department / TODAY) Police said Burham is a survivalist with military training. They believed he also could be getting help from others after finding supplies and campsites he may have possibly used. He was being held at the jail in connection with a burglary and arson and has been accused of kidnapping a couple in Warren County. Burham also is a suspect in the murder of New York resident Kala Hodgkin on May 11. Authorities would not say whether they have spotted Burham or come close to capturing him because they're aware he could be following media reports about the manhunt. "We are putting significant pressure on him," Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said at a news conference. "Were actively pushing him in these areas. If he is here, he is not getting any rest. "I believe at some point we will force him to make a mistake, and when he does, we will use that to our advantage." This is the second time in the last two months that Burham has eluded police. He spent nearly two weeks on the run in May as a suspect in Hodgkin's murder and allegedly kidnapped an elderly couple as officers closed in on him. The hunt for Burham comes after two other fugitives at large were caught in Montana and Northern California. Chadwick Mobley, 42, a suspect in a 2011 murder in Michigan, was captured in Plains, Montana, on July 10 after escaping custody a day earlier, police said. Eric Abril, 35, who is accused of a deadly shootout with law enforcement officers in April, is back in custody after escaping from a medical facility in California over the weekend. Abril was apprehended in Rocklin, north of Sacramento, on July 10 after a resident alerted police to someone's presence in an area of dense foliage. This article was originally published on TODAY.com By Kate Lamb JAKARTA (Reuters) - Southeast Asia's top diplomats will gather in Indonesia on Tuesday amid pressure to address a bloody political crisis in Myanmar and resolve tensions in the South China Sea where some ASEAN members have overlapping territorial claims with China. The meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comes as doubts mount over the credibility and unity of the bloc in dealing with the region's thorniest challenges. Chief among them is the lack of meaningful process on an ASEAN peace plan for Myanmar, which was agreed with the country's military rulers after they seized power in a 2021 coup and calls for an immediate halt to violence. More than 3,400 people have been killed and almost 22,000 arrested in the military's crackdown on dissent, according to a United Nations report published in June. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk recently urged the U.N. Security Council to refer the escalating violence to the International Criminal Court, and for countries to stop supplying weapons to the junta. ASEAN has barred Myanmar's junta leaders from attending high-level meetings like the one in Jakarta this week, but as the bloc's chair this year, Indonesia has been intensely engaging the junta and opposition groups behind the scenes. But two sources familiar with the efforts say attempts to create an inclusive dialogue have been complicated by conditions put forward by all sides to start even informal talks. "As long as the approach that the parties take is a zero-sum approach, durable peace will never be achieved," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said of the efforts last week. Indonesia is also seeking during this week's forum to accelerate talks on a long-stalled code of conduct on the South China Sea. The talks would advance a 2002 commitment by the bloc and China to create a set of rules to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight in the strategic waterway. More than $3 trillion in trade passes through the South China Sea each year, and overlapping territorial claims by China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei have led to a spate of confrontations. ASEAN will also hold the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum later this week, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov both slated to attend. (Additional reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor) MyPillow is auctioning off hundreds of pieces of equipment and subleasing some manufacturing spaces amid what founder and CEO Mike Lindell calls a massive, massive cancellation. Lindell, in an interview with the Star Tribune, said MyPillow lost $100 million from attacks by box stores, the shopping networks, the shopping channels, all of them did cancel culture on us. Several retailers, including Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond and Kohls, pulled MyPillow products from their shelves after Lindell continued to claim the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Trump. The Minnesota-based manufacturing company appears to be using the website K-BID Online Auctions to sell items including forklifts, conveyors belts, printers, electronics and commercial supplies. Lindell said he can replace any auctioned items if the retailers ever came back. He told the Star Tribune that the company is subleasing some of its manufacturing spaces in Shakopee, Minn., as its demands are different for direct sales than what was needed with retailers. If the box stores ever came back we could have it if we needed it, but we dont need that, Lindell told the Star Tribune. It affected a lot of things when you lose that big of a chunk [of revenue]. More from The Hill Trump unlikely to participate in debates, says adviser Jason Miller Trump puts Iowa victory at risk with attack on GOP governor Five things to know about UPS strike as Teamsters contract talks fail Lindell is currently facing a $1.3 billion defamation suit from Dominion Voting Systems, which claims Lindells accusations of fraud, election rigging and conspiracy have hurt the companys brand. Lindell was ordered in April to pay $5 million to a software developer who debunked Lindells data about the election after the MyPillow CEO vowed to pay that amount to anyone who could debunk his data allegedly proving election fraud. An arbitration panel ruled that software expert Robert Zeidman successfully disproved Lindells claims and ordered the payment within 30 days. Lindell refused to pay and filed a motion in May to have the ruling tossed out. Zeidman responded and filed a petition in a federal court in Minnesota to get Lindell to pay the $5 million plus 10 percent interest per year until its paid. According to reporting from The Washington Post, vacating the award would require the court to determine the panel committed misconduct, exceeded its powers or that the process was corrupt. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In this photo provided by Seoul's defense ministry, Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul, left, and Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Staff, pose while holding the minutes of their meeting in Riyadh, Monday. Yonhap South Korea and Saudi Arabia have held vice ministerial defense talks in Riyadh to discuss ways to boost arms industry cooperation, Seoul's defense ministry said Tuesday. Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul and Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, chief of Saudi Arabia's General Staff, attended the third session of the bilateral committee on defense cooperation Monday (local time), as the two sides have sought to bolster cooperation since their leaders' summit in Seoul last November. Shin noted the need for further cooperation in such areas as arms industry, education and training, and high-level military personnel exchange, the ministry said in a press release. He also asked for Riyadh's support for Seoul's efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula, noting North Korea's nuclear and missile threats pose a challenge not only to the peace and security of Northeast Asia but also to the Indo-Pacific region and the world, it added. On Sunday, Shin held talks with Khaled bin Hussein Al Biyari, Saudi Arabia's assistant minister of defense for executive affairs, and thanked the country for providing support in Seoul's operation to evacuate its nationals from conflict-torn Sudan in April. Through the two senior-level meetings, the two sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral defense and arms industry cooperation, the ministry said. Shin departed South Korea on Saturday for a six-day Middle East trip that includes a visit to the United Arab Emirates. (Yonhap) By Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber GENEVA (Reuters) -Muslim states including Iran and Pakistan on Tuesday said desecration of the Koran amounted to inciting religious hatred and called for accountability, as the U.N. rights body debated a contentious motion in the wake of a Koran burning in Sweden. The motion, brought by Pakistan in response to last month's incident, seeks a report from the U.N. rights chief on the topic and calls on states to review their laws and plug gaps that may "impede the prevention and prosecution of acts and advocacy of religious hatred". The debate highlighted rifts in the U.N. Human Rights Council between the OIC, a Muslim grouping, and Western members concerned about the motion's implications for free speech and challenges posed to long-held practices in rights protection. An Iraqi immigrant to Sweden burned the Koran outside a Stockholm mosque last month, sparking outrage across the Muslim world and protests in several Pakistani cities. "We must see this clearly for what it is: incitement to religious hatred, discrimination and attempts to provoke violence," Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari told the Geneva council via video, saying such acts occurred under "government sanction and with the sense of impunity". His remarks were echoed by ministers from Iran, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia with the latter calling it an act of "Islamophobia". "Stop abusing freedom of expression," said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. "Silence means complicity." Germany's ambassador Katharina Stasch called the burning a "dreadful provocation" and condemned it. But she added that "freedom of speech sometimes also means to bear opinions that may seem almost unbearable". France's envoy said human rights were about protecting people, not religions and their symbols. Diplomats said intense negotiations had not led to a break through on Tuesday and expect a vote. Such a vote would almost certainly pass since OIC countries make up 19 members of the 47-member body and also have support from China and others. U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk told the council that inflammatory acts against Muslims, as well as other religions or minorities, are "offensive, irresponsible and wrong". (Reporting by Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Emma Rumney, Editing by William Maclean) TAIPEI (Reuters) - Paraguay's president-elect, Santiago Pena, said on Tuesday his country's relationship with Taiwan needed to be even closer and he would reinforce their friendship, even as China ramps up diplomatic and military pressure on the democratic island. Pena made the remarks upon arriving in Taiwan for a visit, accompanied by his economic team. Paraguay is the last South American country with formal relations with Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, after the island lost support from most other Latin American nations. Honduras ended decades of ties in favour of Beijing this year. Pena last visited Taiwan 24 years ago as a student, and had returned to "reinforce the friendship" between Paraguay and Taiwan, which dates back almost seven decades, he told reporters at Taiwan's main international airport, where he was met by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. "I want to spend the next five years bringing us together. We are close, but I think that in this moment we need to be closer, we need to be together," he said. Pena and his economic team will work to bring the two nations' relations to a "place that we can only dream (about) at this moment," he added. Pena had pledged during his election campaign to maintain relations with Taiwan despite pressure from the local agricultural sector, which wants to open up lucrative Chinese markets to soybeans and beef. During his visit, Pena will meet Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President William Lai, who is the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's candidate in January's presidential election. Pena will take office on Aug. 15. Diplomatic sources have told Reuters that Lai might attend as Taiwan's representative, likely travelling via the United States to meet U.S. officials. China's efforts to win over Taiwan's friends and expand its influence in countries in the U.S. backyard, especially in Latin America, have caused alarm in Washington. Taiwan now has formal diplomatic relations with only 13 countries, mostly poor and developing nations in Central America, the Caribbean and the Pacific. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Emma Rumney) THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) A pilfered palm tree led to Dutch police detaining a homeless man who was sentenced to 18 years in neighboring Belgium in the death of a man seven years ago. Police in the southern town of Geldrop said in a statement Tuesday that officers stopped the man Saturday night for questioning when they saw him walking down a street with a large inflatable palm tree under his arm. The fugitive from Belgian justice is believed to have taken the tree from a beach volleyball tournament in the town near the city of Eindhoven, police said. When the officers checked his identity, they discovered that he was wanted by authorities in Belgium where he must still serve his prison time. The 34-year-old man's identity was not released, in line with Dutch privacy rules. Exact details of his conviction in Belgium were not immediately available. Dutch police said he was sentenced in a case centered on the 2016 death of a man in Zonhoven, a Belgian town some 65 kilometers (40 miles) south of Geldrop. The suspect is in detention awaiting transfer to Belgium, police said. By Rami Amichay TEL AVIV (Reuters) -Israeli protesters blocked major highways and faced off with police on Tuesday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right coalition pressed ahead with a contested bill that seeks curbs to the power of the Supreme Court. Crowds of flag-waving protesters stopped morning traffic in major intersections and on highways nationwide. Some lay down on roads, while others threw flares. Police on horseback deployed among hundreds of demonstrators in Israel's business hub, Tel Aviv. At the entrance to Jerusalem, officers used a water cannon to disperse some protesters and dragged others away by force. At least 42 people were arrested, police said, and further protests were planned throughout Tuesday, including at the main international Ben Gurion airport. The drive by Netanyahu's nationalist-religious coalition to change the justice system has sparked unprecedented protests, stirred concern for Israel's democratic health among Western allies and bruised the economy. The new bill won a first of three required votes to be written into law late on Monday to the cries of 'for shame' by opposition lawmakers. If passed as is, it would curb the Supreme Court's power to quash decisions made by the government, ministers and elected officials by ruling them unreasonable. Critics argue that this judicial oversight helps prevent corruption and abuses of power. Proponents say the change will facilitate effective governance by curbing court intervention, arguing that judges have other legal means to exercise oversight. Some members of Netanyahu's Likud party have said that the bill will be watered down before it is brought to a final vote which they hope to wrap up before the Knesset breaks for the summer on July 30. But Simcha Rothman, the head of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee which is drafting the bill, told Army Radio: "I'm saying this explicitly: I am not convinced that any significant changes are to be expected." Divisions over the government's judicial campaign have cut deep through Israeli society. Netanyahu - who is on trial on graft charges he denies - had paused it for compromise talks with the opposition but the negotiations collapsed in June. Washington has urged Netanyahu to come to broad agreements over any justice reforms that it says should keep Israel's courts independent. Netanyahu has so far not indicated he would again pause legislation and has also played down the economic fallout from the campaign, which has spooked investors and weakened the shekel almost 8% since January. The head of Israel's largest labour union urged Netanyahu not to allow what he described as extremism. "Where are you taking the state of Israel? What legacy will you leave behind? End this crazy chaos," Histadrut chair Arnon Bar-David said. (Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell, Dan Willliams and Steven Scheer; Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Louise Heavens, William Maclean) By Valentyn Ogirenko and Gleb Garanich KYIV (Reuters) -Russia launched 28 kamikaze drones on the southern port of Odesa and Kyiv in early hours on Tuesday, Ukraine's military said, just hours before the start of a NATO summit in Lithuania that will focus on how to tackle security threats from Moscow. Ukraine's Air Force said that air defence systems shot down 26 of the Iranian-made Shahed drones that Russia launched. Over Odesa, 22 were downed and two drones hit an administration building in the port, the local governor said. A grain and another terminal near the Odesa port caught fire, which was quickly extinguished causing no "critical damage" or injuries, Governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app. All drones sent towards Kyiv were intercepted, but debris damaged a number of houses in the region, the military said. "The enemy attacked Kyiv from the air for the second time this month, Serhiy Popko, a head of Kyiv's military administration, said in a post on the Telegram channel. Reuters' witnesses in Ukraine's capital heard blasts resembling the sound of air defence systems intercepting targets during the air raid. In the Kyiv region that surrounds the capital, 12 residential houses and one multi-storey building suffered minor damage by falling debris, the military head of the region, Ruslan Kravchenko, said on his Facebook page. There were no injuries reported. The summit in Vilnius, which starts on Tuesday, will be dominated by the repercussions of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with leaders set to approve NATO's first comprehensive plans since the end of the Cold War to defend against any attack from Moscow. Russia berated the alliance and its leading power, the United States, over their support for Ukraine and has warned that Kyiv's potential membership of NATO would be met with a "clear and firm" reaction. The Russian invasion on its neighbour, now in its 503rd day and with no end in sight, has killed thousands of people, displaced millions and turned many cities in Ukraine's east and south into piles of rubble. (Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Writing by Lidia Kelly;Editing by Himani Sarkar & Simon Cameron-Moore) LONDON (AP) A Romanian man who was part of an international human smuggling ring was sentenced Tuesday to more than 12 years in prison for the deaths of 39 migrants from Vietnam who suffocated in a truck trailer on their way to England in 2019. Marius Mihai Draghici was the ringleader's right-hand man and an essential cog in an operation that made huge profits exploiting people desperate to get to the U.K., Justice Neil Garnham said in the Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey. Victims, who paid about 13,000 pounds ($16,770) for so-called VIP service, died after trying in vain to punch a hole in the container with a metal pole as the temperature inside exceeded 100 degrees F (38.5 C). Their desperation as they struggled to breathe was captured in messages they tried to send loved ones and and recordings that showed "a growing recognition they were going to die there, Garnham said. There was no escape and no one could hear their cries, prosecutors said. Their final hours must have entailed unimaginable suffering and anguish," prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones said Tuesday. A young mother wrote a message to loved ones that was never sent: "Maybe going to die in the container. Cannot breathe any more. The 28 men, eight women and three children ranged in age from 15 to 44 and about half hailed from Nghe An province in north-central Vietnam. The victims included a bricklayer, a restaurant worker, a manicure technician, an aspiring beautician and a college graduate. A married couple, Tran Hai Loc and Nguyen Thi Van, were found lying side by side Oct. 23, 2019, in the container that had been shipped by ferry from Zeebrugge, Belgium to Purfleet, England. Draghici, 50, pleaded guilty last month to 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. He's the fifth person to be sentenced in the case in the U.K. Four other gang members were imprisoned in 2021 for terms ranging from 13 to 27 years for manslaughter. The stiffest sentence went to ringleader Gheorghe Nica, 46. Another 18 people were convicted in Belgium, where the Vietnamese ringleader was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Others got one- to 10-year prison terms. Draghici was shocked and horrified with what occurred, defense lawyer Gillian Jones said in court. But he, like the others involved in the conspiracy, had immediately abandoned the plan and melted away in the night, after another man opened the truck container and discovered the dead bodies, Emlyn Jones said. Draghici and Nica both fled to Romania, where Draghici was later arrested. Family members of the victims who had gone into debt to fund the travel said they were crushed by the loss. The parents of Nguyen Huy Hung, 15, who was on his way to live with his parents in the U.K. and wanted to be a hairdresser, learned of the tragedy on social media. We did not believe it was the truth until we saw his body with our own eyes," his father said. "We felt numb and that feeling lasted for many weeks later. National Police Agency building in Seoul / Yonhap Police raided the East coast Free Economic Zone (EFEZ) Authority, a regional government body developing a free economic zone along the east coast, Tuesday on suspicion of giving business favors to a private developer. The National Police Agency sent investigators to the EFEZ Authority's office in the east coast city of Donghae, the residence of former EFEZ Authority Commissioner Shin Dong-hak and two other locations to seize evidence. The EFEZ is a 12-year regional project launched in 2013 to develop a free economic zone in and around the city of Donghae on a budget of 884.2 billion won ($685 million). The project seeks to nurture the zone into Northeast Asia's economic center, specializing in high-tech materials and high-end tourism. Police have been investigating allegations that a private developer, surnamed Nam, was given preferential treatment in the process of his selection in 2018 as a private partner to develop the Mangsang District as part of the project. Nam was apprehended in April last year in connection with a massive home rental scam in Incheon, 27 kilometers west of Seoul. Police suspect Shin and other officials ordered a rewriting of the assessment report by the regional body's evaluation committee in charge of selecting private development partners around the committee's decision-making session in July 2017. Through investigations, the regional government of Gangwon Province and prosecutors had previously concluded the allegations were groundless, but the police reopened the case over allegations that high-level politicians in the region might be involved in the selection process. (Yonhap) MADRID (Reuters) - The Spanish coastguard rescued two Nigerian migrants who stowed away on the rudder of a ship that arrived in the Canary Islands from Togo, a coastguard spokesperson and the police said on Tuesday. After being rescued on Monday night in the port of Las Palmas, the migrants were taken to a hospital. They were later released and were transferred back to the ship, which has to return them to their port of origin, the port police tweeted. In a video and photographs published on Twitter by Las Palmas maritime police, the two stowaways are shown hunkered on the rudder under the hull, just above the waterline of the MSC Marta. The migrants are aged 19 and 22, a spokesperson for the Guardia Civil police said. The container ship's last stop before reaching the Spanish archipelago off the African coast was Lome, Togo's capital, said the coastguard spokesperson without elaborating. The ship left Lagos, in Nigeria, on July 2 and stopped on July 4 in Togo, according to local newspaper La Provincia, meaning the migrants were onboard at least seven days. In a similar case in November last year, the Spanish coastguard rescued three African stowaways who had arrived in the Canary Islands after enduring 11 days on the rudder of a fuel tanker from Nigeria. Under Spanish law, any stowaway who does not seek asylum must be returned by the operator of the ship to the port where the journey originated. The Spanish-owned Canary Islands are a popular but dangerous gateway for African migrants attempting to reach Europe. (Reporting by Joan Faus; Editing by Sharon Singleton) CAIRO (Reuters) - Sudan's army-aligned foreign ministry on Tuesday rejected a regional summit's proposal to consider deploying peacekeeping forces to protect civilians, dashing tentative hopes the gathering might help efforts to end a near three-month-old war. The violent power struggle between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 15 has killed more than 1,000 civilians and displaced 2.9 million, according to the United Nations. Neither side has gained a clear advantage, and much of the capital has been abandoned or destroyed while mediation efforts thus far have failed. The summit, held by East African regional body IGAD and attended by heads of states as well as representatives of several other countries and bodies, had suggested considering the deployment of regional peacekeeping forces and the further involvement of civilians in talks. It represented the first such meeting in weeks, after a separate set of talks in Jeddah had been suspended by the United States and Saudi Arabia after numerous ceasefire violations. The army had boycotted the IGAD mediation effort, accusing Kenya, which headed the effort, of providing a haven to the Rapid Support Forces. "The disrespect of IGAD towards the opinions of its member states will cause the Sudanese government to re-think the utility of its membership in the organisation," the foreign ministry said on Tuesday. "The Sudanese government rejects the deployment of foreign forces in Sudan and will consider them enemy forces," it added. The statement did welcome an upcoming summit held by Egypt, widely-seen as closer to the army than to the RSF, to be held later this week. The IGAD summit, held in Addis Ababa, had featured American representatives, who in statements appeared to reject the prospect of future military rule in Sudan. "Reaching a negotiated settlement does not and cannot mean returning to the status quo that existed before April 15," said U.S. Ambassador John Godfrey. (Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir and Khalid Abdelaziz, Editing by William Maclean) WASHINGTON (AP) For colleges and libraries seeking a boldfaced name for a guest lecturer, few come bigger than Sonia Sotomayor, the Supreme Court justice who rose from poverty in the Bronx to the nations highest court. She has benefited, too from schools purchases of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of the books she has written over the years. Sotomayors staff has often prodded public institutions that have hosted the justice to buy her memoir or childrens books, works that have earned her at least $3.7 million since she joined the court in 2009. Details of those events, largely out of public view, were obtained by The Associated Press through more than 100 open records requests to public institutions. The resulting tens of thousands of pages of documents offer a rare look at Sotomayor and her fellow justices beyond their official duties. In her case, the documents reveal repeated examples of taxpayer-funded court staff performing tasks for the justice's book ventures, which workers in other branches of government are barred from doing. But when it comes to promoting her literary career, Sotomayor is free to do what other government officials cannot because the Supreme Court does not have a formal code of conduct, leaving the nine justices to largely write and enforce their own rules. This is one of the most basic tenets of ethics laws that protects taxpayer dollars from misuse, said Kedric Payne, a former deputy chief counsel at the Office of Congressional Ethics and current general counsel for the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan government watchdog group in Washington. The problem at the Supreme Court is theres no one there to say whether this is wrong. Supreme Court staffers have been deeply involved in organizing speaking engagements intended to sell books. That is conduct prohibited for members of Congress and the executive branch, who are barred under ethics rules from using government resources, including staff, for personal financial gain. Lower federal court judges are also instructed to not lend the prestige of the judicial office to advance their private interests. In a statement, the Supreme Court said it works with the justices and their staff to ensure they are "complying with judicial ethics guidance for such visits. When (Sotomayor) is invited to participate in a book program, Chambers staff recommends the number of books (for an organization to order) based on the size of the audience so as not to disappoint attendees who may anticipate books being available at an event, the court said. The documents obtained by AP show that the justices conduct spans their conservative-liberal split. Besides book sales, appearances by the justices were used in hopes of raising money at schools, which often invited major contributors to the events. Justices also lent the allure of their high office to partisan activity. In 2019, as Sotomayor traveled the country to promote her new childrens book, Just Ask!, library and community college officials in Portland, Oregon, jumped at the chance to host an event. They put in long hours and accommodated the shifting requests of Sotomayors court staff. Then, as the public cost of hosting the event soared almost tenfold, a Sotomayor aide emailed with a different, urgent concern: She said the organizers did not buy enough copies of the justices book, which attendees had to purchase or have on hand in order to meet Sotomayor after her talk. For an event with 1,000 people and they have to have a copy of Just Ask to get into the line, 250 books is definitely not enough, the aide, Anh Le, wrote staffers at the Multnomah County Library. Families purchase multiples and people will be upset if they are unable to get in line because the book required is sold out. It was not an isolated push. As Sotomayor prepared for commencement weekend at the University of California, Davis law school, her staff pitched officials there on buying copies of books in connection with the event. Before a visit to the University of Wisconsin, the staff suggested a book signing. At Clemson University in South Carolina, school officials offered to buy 60 signed copies before a 2017 appearance; Sotomayors staff noted that most schools order around 400. Michigan State University asked Sotomayor to come to campus and in 2018 spent more than $100,000 on copies of her memoir, My Beloved World, to distribute to incoming first-year students. The books were shipped to the Supreme Court, where copies were taken to her chambers by court workers and signed by her before being sent to the school. Sotomayor, whose annual salary this year is $285,400, is not alone in earning money by writing books. Such income is exempt from the courts $30,000 restriction on outside yearly pay. But none of the justices has as forcefully leveraged publicly sponsored travel to boost book sales as has Sotomayor, according to emails and other records reviewed by the AP. Such promotional efforts risk damaging the Supreme Courts public standing further by placing an individual justice above the institution itself, said J. Michael Luttig, a former federal appeals court judge who has pushed for the justices to adopt a formal code of conduct. I have never believed that Supreme Court justices should write books to supplement their judicial incomes, said Luttig, who was considered for the Supreme Court by President George W. Bush. The potential for promotion of the individual justices over the Court at the reputational expense of the Court as an institution, as well as the appearance of such, is unavoidable. Sotomayors publisher, Penguin Random House, also has played a role in organizing her talks, in some cases pressing public institutions to commit to buying a specific number of copies or requesting that attendees purchase books to obtain tickets, emails show. The publisher has had several matters before the court in which Sotomayor did not recuse herself. Justice Sotomayor would have recused in cases in which Penguin Random House was a party, in light of her close and ongoing relationship with the publisher, the Supreme Court said in a statement. An inadvertent omission failed to bring Penguins participation in several cases to her attention; those cases ultimately were not selected for review by the Court. Chambers conflict check procedures have since been changed. A person close to Sotomayor, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the justices book dealings, said that Sotomayor has not and will not profit from sales of her memoir beyond the $3.1 million advance that she received and that doing so would require purchases of hundreds of thousands of additional books, more than double the purchases to date. Sotomayor, however, continues to earn royalties at least $400,000 since 2019 from sales of her childrens literature, including Just Ask!, her second best-selling book, which was the promotional focus of the 2019 event held in Portland, emails and records show. That summer, after an aide to Sotomayor first contacted Portland Community College to gauge its interest in hosting a book talk, officials at the Oregon school called it an exciting possibility. Officials committed to spending $1,000 to host the event. Co-host Multnomah County Library pledged an additional $1,500. Costs associated with the event spiked to more than $20,000 by the time it was held in September 2019. Emails show Supreme Court staff, including Le, a longtime legal assistant to the justice and graduate of the community college, closely controlled the run-of-show, requesting the largest venue possible, while managing minor details such as the placement of stairs or approving the TV camera angles that would be used. As the talk neared, Le shifted her focus to books, which were offered for sale online to those who obtained tickets to the free event. Can you please show me the screen where people can purchase books? Le wrote library staffers as they prepared to make the tickets available. Are you just placing Just Ask on the portal or all of the Justices books. When the free tickets were quickly snapped up, she asked library officials to publicize that those who could not get tickets could still meet the justice if they purchased a book. Please also let them know that they can attend the signing line to meet the Justice even if they are not able to attend the event, Le wrote in an Aug. 26, 2019, email. A day later, she followed with another email, concerned that not enough of the people who got tickets had also purchased a book. Records indicate that the roughly 550 free tickets made available to the public (the rest were reserved for VIP guests) resulted in the advance purchase of only 28 books. Is there a reminder going out that people need to purchase a book at the event or bring a book to get into the signing line? Le wrote. Most of the registrants did not purchase books. Still, when she found out event organizers had only purchased 250 copies of Sotomayors book, she sent an email telling library officials that the quantity was definitely not enough. A library staffer emailed back, Maybe you should communicate with (Sotomayors publisher) and the book sellers about your concerns? A library spokesman, who was also included on the emails, declined to comment. In its statement, the Supreme Court said judicial ethics guidance suggests that a judge may sign copies of his or her work, which may also be available for sale so long as there is no requirement or suggestion that attendees are required to purchase books in order to attend. Justice Sotomayors Judicial Assistant has worked with the Justices publisher to ensure compliance with these standards, and at no time have attendees been required to buy a book in order to attend an event, the court statement read. Asking whether attendees were reminded that they must either buy or bring a book in order to enter a signing line at an event would in no way conflict with the standard outlined above. Some institutions that bought Sotomayor's books initiated the purchases on their own, raising the prospect of high-volume orders with the court as they extended the invitation to host her. In 2018, Michigan State spent $110,000 for 11,000 copies of "My Beloved World, to distribute to incoming first-year students after selecting it for an annual reading program with the city of East Lansing. Her biography is really just kind of, for lack of a better term, a rags-to-riches story. I mean, she came from very humble beginnings and became a Supreme Court justice, East Lansing Public Library director Kristin Shelley told the AP, explaining the book selection. The books were shipped to the Supreme Court, scores of cartons at a time, to be signed by Sotomayor. Hello Supreme Court team: Good news! a Penguin Random House worker emailed court staff. The order that Anh and I have been waiting for from Michigan State University is in! They are going to be ordering a total of 11,004 HC (hard cover) copies. But dont panic. We will not be delivering 11,004 copies to the Supreme Court at one time. When university officials mistakenly thought they might be missing 20 boxes of books they had ordered, Le expressed surprise, writing, I literally prepped the boxes and had my aides count the books before signing. I even have a spreadsheet noting how many books were signed each day. Other colleges have made similar purchases. The University at Albany in New York bought about 3,700 copies before a 2017 appearance. Stony Brook University in New York ordered roughly 3,900 copies in 2018 for use in a first-year reading program. When the subject arose of how many Sotomayor books Clemson should purchase before a 2017 visit, school officials worried 60 might be too many to sign. Sotomayors legal assistant reassured them it would not be a problem because most institutions order in the ranges of 400 and up. Other justices have benefited from similar arrangements. But how much they have made from individual schools or events is difficult to assess because the justices only report lump-sum earnings at years end. Justice Clarence Thomas has collected about $1 million since 2006. Stephen Breyer, who retired in 2022, reported roughly $700,000 in royalty income in the past two decades. Justice Neil Gorsuch has disclosed more than $900,000 since his 2017 confirmation. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who was confirmed in 2020, received a reported $2 million advance for a forthcoming book. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson signed a book deal, but the amount of her advance was not public. In Sotomayors case, her staff routinely brought up books in emails as trip details were discussed. Depending on quantity and if they get hardcover or paperback, she will sign them, Le told a professor at the UC Davis law school, which arranged to host her for commencement weekend in 2018. She is signing over 11,000 for one school right now, Le added with a smiling emoji, apparently referencing Michigan States purchase. The law school ultimately ordered 410 signed copies of My Beloved World, after Le broached the idea of ordering copies. But one law school official took issue after a colleague relayed what he said was a question from Sotomayor's staff about setting up a book table during graduation festivities. Im not sure this is a good idea, have we ever allowed other speakers to sell or offer their books (that we have purchased for guests)? Kelley Weiss, the law schools head of marketing and communications, wrote to the dean. I think having a table of her books could be out of place, she added. Weiss declined to comment to the AP. Then planning took a turn. Weeks before the ceremony, Sotomayor fractured her shoulder and canceled her appearance. The school in turn canceled its $6,500 book order and sought a refund. Still, Sotomayors office inquired to make sure. Is it for sure that UC Davis would like to move forward with canceling? Le emailed. I have the books on hold in storage and have not done anything with them. In about a month, the cancellation was processed. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about the APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Follow the AP's coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court. Nine people were taken to area hospitals after a shooting early on Sunday morning in a busy nightlife district in Cleveland. According to police, at around 2:30 a.m., Cleveland police assigned to the Warehouse District detail responded to a call regarding multiple people shot outside. Area residents said rowdy behavior near the bars isn't uncommon, but the shots were alarming. "I heard like six or seven gunshots, and it definitely seemed like something different we haven't heard," resident Ryan Melillo said. "I went out to my balcony to see everyone running." According to a preliminary investigation at the scene, as the bars let out, an unknown person shot into a group of people standing outside, before fleeing. Police Chief Wayne Drummond said in a press conference that officers were stationed in the Warehouse District at the time of the shooting. "This particular individual started shooting towards the crowd," Drummond said. "The officers immediately ran to the gunfire, ran to the victims and rendered first aid. All the officers rendered first aid to the victims. As I stated, we had nine total victims, seven males and two females ranging from ages 23 to 38 years old." The victims were taken to a local hospital. There are no life-threatening injuries at this point. Of the victims, seven are men ranging in age from their early 20s to late 30s, and two are women in their early 20s, according to officials. SEE MORE: Gunman riding scooter in NYC charged in 'random' string of attacks Investigators are currently in the process of reviewing evidence and video and have interviewed the victims, police said. Another shooting also happened in a residential area of the city called Tremont, officials confirmed. Three people in that incident were taken to a local hospital in critical condition. According to police, the incident involved an argument regarding food during a party. An individual pulled out a firearm and started shooting at three individuals. Their injuries were labeled as non-life threatening at one point, Scripps News Cleveland reported. On Monday, Cleveland restaurant owner Bobby George confirmed he was offering a $50,000 reward for information that helps police catch the gunman in the Warehouse District shooting. During a press conference, the city's Mayor Justin Bibb said there has been an increase in shootings across Ohio after the state's Senate Bill 215 passed last year. Violent crime has been steadily increasing across Cleveland as the police force keeps shrinking. Cleveland City Council has invested tens of millions of dollars into public safety, recruitment efforts and crime prevention, Bibb said. "We need better legislation at the state and federal level to get illegal guns off our streets," Bibb said. Homicides are up nearly 30% in Cleveland this year compared to 2022, and the Cleveland police force is still short 200 officers. "We need Republicans and Columbus to give mayors more tools to get guns off our streets," Bibb said. "I am sick and tired of getting these calls late at night. I'm sick and tired. From our residents and victims of gun violence and Republicans blaming us as mayors for violent crime. We need their help," the mayor said. Cleveland's city council said in a statement that the body was "horrified by the shooting" and said the office is working "with local authorities and is monitoring the situation." The statement said, "This epidemic is tearing at the fabric of our communities, and it will not end without significant legislative action." The council said, "The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law last year, shows that Congress can take action if we keep listening to our constituents, not the gun lobby. This legislation strengthened background checks, provided funding for enforcing red flag laws and disarming domestic abusers, support for community violence intervention, school safety funding and more." Residents said violence is becoming too familiar, saying it's unacceptable, and a solution is needed, fast. "I think it's terrifying knowing we are here all the time, and thats when the bars are closing around 2 a.m. when were walking home," area resident Devon Ceslak told Scripps News Cleveland. Ceslak said, "I easily could have been one of those people, which is scary." Cleveland police are asking anyone with information on the Warehouse District shooting to contact them at 216-623-5318. Anonymous information can be provided by calling Crimestoppers at 216-25-CRIME, and a reward of up to $5,000 may be available, said police. This story was originally published by AJ Smith, Maya Morita and Bryn Caswell at Scripps News Cleveland. Republicans vying for the partys 2024 presidential nomination are adamant that the dynamics in the primary are poised to change in the coming months, even as former President Trump builds on his sizable lead in the polls amid various legal problems. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have in recent days separately argued that its too soon to anoint Trump as the partys 2024 nominee, more than one year before such a nominee becomes official. Candidates and some strategists have noted that the first debate has yet to happen, and that in past presidential cycles, the eventual nominee was often not leading in the polls at this point in the process. Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo asked DeSantis in a Sunday interview to respond to reports about why his campaign has struggled to build momentum and break through with voters after the governor entered the race with high expectations as Trumps chief challenger. DeSantis argued the idea that his campaign was sputtering was a media narrative The media does not want me to be the nominee, he said but he acknowledged it would be a months-long effort to win over GOP voters. He suggested the first primary debate, scheduled for August, is when that shift would start to occur. I think really, Maria, thats when people are really going to start paying attention to the primary, DeSantis said. I think up to this point, a lot of that has been about some of these legal cases. And I think a lot of the voters concern about that and understandably so. Haley has similarly struggled to gain much ground in the polls, despite being in the race since February, longer than several of her rivals. She pointed to historical precedent to argue that just because Trump is leading in the polls currently doesnt mean he will maintain that spot in the months to come. I know that by mid-fall, this is going to be totally different. Once you pass Labor Day, the numbers start to shift. And you can look at history for that. Thats not me just hoping, thats me knowing, Haley said in an interview with The New York Times. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Allies of candidates such as former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) have argued that they will see their polling improve as more voters get to know them on the trail. But Trumps lead has been resilient and has even grown in the wake of multiple indictments and new entrants into the 2024 field, while the challengers led by DeSantis have struggled to chip away at the former presidents lead with voters. And some strategists warned that this cycle is unlike others in the past, given Trump has been the partys nominee twice before. You cannot depend on the way things have always happened, said Doug Heye, a former spokesperson for the Republican National Committee. If you want to change the campaign, you have to go out and change it. You cant depend on someone changing it for you. There has been relatively little movement in polls over the past few months, with Trump holding steady atop most surveys, typically followed by DeSantis, then a cluster of candidates including Haley, Pence, Scott and others in single digits. A RealClearPolitics average of polls showed that Trumps standing in national GOP primary surveys was at its lowest point in early March, at 43 percent. But in the four months since, the former president has seen his lead in the polling average grow and hold steady at more than 50 percent. A Fox News poll of GOP primary voters published June 28 found 56 percent of those surveyed said theyd like to see Trump as the partys 2024 nominee; DeSantis was second with 22 percent support, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy finished third at 5 percent support. A Florida Atlantic University poll conducted June 27-July 1 also found Trump with a 20-point lead over DeSantis in their home state. Still, there are signs individual candidates may have an opening to put a dent in Trumps lead in some early voting states, and in Iowa in particular. Committed to America, a super PAC supporting Pences presidential bid, said in a late June memo that it had knocked on more than 120,000 doors in Iowa, and that its data shows Pences support has steadily increased in the state. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), who coasted to reelection in 2022, has appeared at multiple events this year alongside DeSantis or his wife, Casey, something that appeared to draw the ire of Trump Monday when he attacked her on Truth Social. Best deals of Prime Day 2023 And there is broad agreement among candidates and strategists that the first debates will be critical for candidates looking to make an impression with voters. If Trump chooses to skip the first debate in August, which he has repeatedly threatened to do, it will become that much more important for candidates like Haley, Pence and DeSantis who are hoping for a breakthrough moment. It seems like at this point its not even a two-person race, said one former adviser to Trumps 2016 and 2020 campaigns. The question is, can somebody in that other group whether its DeSantis or Mike Pence or Vivek Ramaswamy can they do something and get some traction and pull some of those poll numbers down. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MIAMI (AP) Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are asking a judge to postpone his criminal trial without setting a new date as he stands accused of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate. In a late Monday filing, Trump's defense attorneys said the case was extraordinary," with a large volume of documents and footage to be reviewed as the former president leads the race for the Republican nomination to unseat President Joe Biden. They cited challenges to select jurors and concerns about whether he would get a fair trial if scheduled before the November 2024 election. The governments request to begin a trial of this magnitude within six months of indictment is unreasonable, telling, and would result in a miscarriage of justice, said the document filed by Chris Kise, one of Trump's lawyers. The Justice Department had previously proposed to set the trial date for Dec. 11. Earlier on Monday, Trump's lawyers filed paperwork saying they agreed with federal prosecutors to delay to next week a pretrial hearing that specifically discusses how classified information is handled in court. The hearing to discuss the Classified Information Procedures Act had previously been set for Friday. But an attorney for Trump's valet Walt Nauta, who was charged alongside the former president, said he has another bench trial this week in Washington preventing him from appearing Friday in South Florida. The attorneys said in their filing that they can appear at the pretrial conference to go over the 1980 law on July 18, adding they had also checked with U.S. attorneys on moving the date. The judge in the case, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, still needs to agree to the new date. Trump and Nauta were charged in a 38-count indictment with conspiring to hide classified documents at Mar-a-Lago from federal investigators. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has slammed the prosecution as an effort to hurt his bid to reclaim the White House in 2024. TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) At least 500 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been transferred back to Tunisia after being pushed into a dangerous no-mans-land on the Libyan border and trapped for a week there without access to basic necessities, aid agencies said Tuesday. The group was driven out earlier this month amid a spike in anti-migrant and racism-fueled tensions linked to a killing in the Tunisian port city of Sfax, a hub for traffickers organizing risky and sometimes deadly boat journeys across the Mediterranean Sea to Italy. One such boat sank Sunday off the Tunisian coast. Coast guard officers retrieved one body, rescued 11 people and declared 10 others as missing, the Sfax prosecutors office said. The fate of hundreds of migrants pushed into the Tunisia-Libya border region drew concern from international humanitarian groups. It also raised questions about Tunisia's migration policies, weeks after the European Union offered Tunisias increasingly authoritarian government $1 billion to help its slumping economy and to beef up border services to stop migrant boats from crossing to Europe. A 29-year-old man from Ivory Coast said that uniformed men had taken migrants from their homes in Sfax in the middle of the night in early July and brought some 600 people to the border area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Tunisian-Libyan land border near Ben Guerdane. Speaking to The Associated Press last week, he accused the Tunisian National Guard of beating them like animals, like slaves, and assaulting women in the group. He claimed that Libyan security at the border fired shots into the air to keep the civilians at bay. The name of the man, who said he entered Tunisia legally in 2019 and works on a golf course, is being withheld for safety reasons. On Tuesday, he said that he and 100 others have now been transferred away from the border to the inland Tunisian town of Medenine, where they are sleeping in a courtyard. Temperatures in the area climbed above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. Tunisian Red Crescent spokesperson Mounir Ksiksi said Tuesday that about 500 people from sub-Saharan Africa who had been trapped in the border zone were transferred Monday to other regions of Tunisia. A spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration said 158 migrants were transferred to a shelter in the town of Tataouine and another 353 people transferred to public structures in Medenine. The IOM said Tunisian authorities have not provided information about next steps for the migrants. Under pressure from humanitarian agencies, Tunisian President Kais Saied on Sunday ordered the Tunisian Red Crescent to bring aid to the migrants. Saied stoked racist incidents earlier this year by railing at Black Africans who transit through Tunisia toward Europe. On Monday, Saied denied mistreatment of migrants by Tunisian authorities, and lashed out at migrant traffickers he said were seeking to destabilize Tunisia. He called for coordinated efforts to to tackle the origins, sources and causes of the problem" in addition to security measures. Tunisian Red Crescent head Abdellatif Chabou said he headed to the border region to oversee an operation to bring food and water to the migrants and allow them to contact their families. Three people needing medical aid were transferred to a local hospital, including a pregnant woman, Chabou told local broadcaster Radio Mosaique on Monday. The president of the Tunisian Human Rights Observatory, Mustapha Abdelkebir, said the migrants had no access to basic sanitation and were trapped between armed forces on either side of the border, exposed to extreme heat without shelter. The International Organization for Migration said it was working with Tunisian authorities to ensure humanitarian assistance, and called on Tunisia to respect the dignity and rights of all migrants and to counter harmful and negative rhetoric, hate speech and hate crimes. The Tunisian Human Rights League called for a crisis center to address the tensions in Sfax. Opposition politician Nejib Chebbi accused authorities of stoking prejudice and deporting the migrants because they are Black. It is a disgrace, and this will remain a dark page in our history. Reports have also emerged of migrants pushed back to Tunisia's border with Algeria, whose government routinely expels migrants south into the Sahara desert. Tunisia's Defense Ministry would not comment Tuesday on the reports. ___ Associated Press writer Renata Brito in Barcelona contributed to this report. The US Air Force has suspended personnel moves and bonuses through the end of the fiscal year as the service faces a funding shortfall driven by higher-than-expected costs, according to a statement from the service Monday. The Air Force said it needed to take these steps now to avoid exhausting funds dedicated to personnel. The suspensions could affect tens of thousands of service members, according to an Air Force official, though its unclear how large the shortfall is. The personnel moves are expected to start up again in the new fiscal year beginning on October 1, the official said. Airmen who are scheduled to move in July will still be approved to relocate to their new positions, the Air Force said in a statement about the changes, but later moves will be delayed. Personnel moves in August or later are being reviewed and approved on a priority basis, the service said. The Air Force is also pausing certain bonus payments for service members, including reenlistment bonuses and extra incentive pay for difficult or extended assignments. The bonus payments are expected to resume when the new fiscal year begins. The suspension also affects airmen expected to return to the United States from living overseas. The Air Force said these service members will have their moves, originally scheduled for later this year, delayed by several months into early next year. It is not uncommon for the military services to face funding shortfalls near the end of the fiscal year, the official said, but in the Air Force, those more often limit expenses like the number of flying hours. The official said it was unusual for such a shortfall to affect personnel. The Air Force continues to work through additional options to avoid the funding shortfall and will provide more information when available, the service said in its statement. The pause in moves and bonuses come as the Air Force and the other military services are dealing with the consequences of a hold on top officer nominations from Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Alabama Republican who objects to the Defense Departments reproductive health policy. The hold affects more than 200 general and flag officers, including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, who is nominated to be the militarys next top officer. Brown met with Tuberville on Monday, one day before Browns confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Before their meeting, Tuberville indicated that he wont let up on the confirmation holds, insisting it did not cause a national security risk or affect military readiness, despite senior military officers saying it does. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Gettyimagesbank A woman was placed under emergency detention Tuesday for allegedly burying her 2-day-old son after his death, as part of a nationwide investigation into suspicious cases involving unregistered infants. The Mokpo Police Station in the city of Mokpo, 309 kilometers southwest of Seoul, said it is investigating the suspect, in her 30s, on charges of child abuse resulting in death. The woman, who was unmarried, gave birth to her son at a hospital in Mokpo in October 2017 and took the newborn to her mother's house in the nearby city of Gwangyang two days later, the police said. The child suddenly died there, and the woman secretly buried the body on a hill near her mother's home without any funeral procedures, according to her statement to the police. She did not register the birth of the baby with the authorities. The police suspect the baby died as a result of abuse. The police plan to request an arrest warrant for the woman following further investigation into the circumstances of the child's death. The investigation was prompted by a report from the local government, which has been tracing the whereabouts of unregistered infants. (Yonhap) FILE PHOTO: Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram apps are seen on a smartphone in this illustration WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Department on Monday sought to block a judge's order that barred some federal agencies and officials from communicating with social media firms about moderating content on their platforms in a decision stemming from a Republican-backed lawsuit against President Joe Biden's administration. The department asked the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to issue a stay of the order last week by Louisiana-based U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty. Federal agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI cannot talk to social media companies for "the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression or reduction of content containing protected free speech," Doughty ruled. The judge's preliminary injunction marked a win for the Republican attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri, who had accused the administration in a lawsuit of unlawfully using the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of misinformation to curb views that disagreed with the government. Doughty was appointed by Republican former President Donald Trump. The order referred to speech protected by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, which bars the government from "abridging the freedom of speech." The Justice Department in a filing sought a stay pending its appeal of the judge's preliminary injunction. Doughty's order specifically mentioned certain officials including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Jen Easterly, who heads the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. U.S. officials have said that in contacting social media companies they were aiming to tamp down misinformation about American elections and about COVID vaccines to curb preventable deaths. "The injunction threatens to chill this wholly lawful conduct, and to place the Judiciary in the untenable position of superintending the Executive Branch's communications. It raises grave separation-of-powers concerns," the Justice Department filing said, referring to the Constitution's division of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The judge's order made some exceptions for communications between government officials and the companies, including to warn about risks to national security and about criminal activity. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; editing by Will Dunham and Mike Scarcella) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez on Monday said there was a temporary "lull" in Turkey's "aggression against its neighbors" and said he is in talks with the Biden administration about the hold he has on future U.S. sales of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara. Menendez, a Democrat, said in a brief hallway interview that while he still has concerns about Turkey, he could make a decision within the next week about the status of that hold. His remarks came the day Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan agreed to forward to parliament Sweden's bid to become a member of the NATO military alliance. Asked whether that progress might prompt him to reconsider his long-running hold on the fighter jets, Menendez said: "We're having conversations with the administration." He added, "If they (Biden administration) can find a way to ensure that Turkey's aggression against its neighbors ceases, which there has been a lull the last several months, that's great but there has to be a permanent reality." Menendez also said that there needed to be a way to "beef up Greece's security" and obtain "assurances about future actions." Asked how long it might take for him to make a decision on maintaining the hold on F-16 sales to Turkey, Menendez responded, "Probably, if there can be one, in the next week." (Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Leslie Adler and David Gregorio) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The Utah Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether courts should allow the state's Republican-majority Legislature to carve up Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County into four congressional districts. The fight asks if state courts can evaluate whether district maps drawn by elected officials violate the state constitution and is the latest battle over how states draw such maps. It follows a recent landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling denying legislatures absolute power to do so. Utah along with Kentucky, New Mexico, New York,Pennsylvania, Maryland and Alaska is among the states in which Republicans and Democrats have battled over whether partisan gerrymandering violates the law and imperils people's right to choose their representatives in a democracy. Utah differs from those other venues, however, because voters in 2018 approved an initiative creating an independent redistricting commission designed to ensure maps weren't drawn to favor one party over another. Its power was stripped a year and a half later by the Legislature. Seven voters and two advocacy groups the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government sued the Legislature last year over the maps passed in 2021. In their lawsuit, they argue the Republican-drawn map takes a slice of Salt Lake County, which is the state's most Democratic-leaning, and grafts it onto large swaths of the rest of Utah. The effect is to disperse non-Republican voters among several districts, diluting their electoral strength and stifling their contrary viewpoints, their attorneys argue in court documents. Attorneys for Utah want the state Supreme Court to dismiss the case and argue districting is solely a matter for the Legislature to decide, beyond the purview of the courts. If the case proceeds, a judge could potentially rule the maps unconstitutional and initiate a court-directed process to redraw districts. The case is the latest high-profile redistricting battle and follows two U.S. Supreme Court rulings on maps drawn by state Legislatures. In 2019, the court ruled that district maps and partisan gerrymandering claims challenging them were outside the purview of federal courts and for states to decide. Last month, it decided that lawmakers were bound by state constitutional restraints in drawing maps and said the state Supreme Court in North Carolina had the jurisdiction to review the state's maps. Attorneys for Utah in earlier court filings asked justices to delay their decision until the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on that case, Harper v. Moore. In opening arguments Tuesday, Utah's attorneys did not lean into the concept at the heart of North Carolina's arguments, known as independent state legislature theory; however, Utah's four congressional members relied heavily on the theory in a brief they filed in support of the state. But similar to attorneys representing North Carolina, Utah's argued redistricting was a legislative matter and court intervention threatens the separation of powers between courts and legislatures. The state tempered its arguments Tuesday. As Republican state lawmakers sat behind her, attorney Taylor Meehan acknowledged the Legislature did not have absolute power to draw maps. But she warned that court intervention risked injecting arbitrary standards into redistricting beyond the court's power. Its replete in their claim that there are too many Republicans in the districts, and that is unfair, Meehan said of the voters case. The claim here is that its within this courts power to redraw the lines and that its within this courts power to decide whether a fair district is a 50-50 district in Salt Lake or a safe district in Salt Lake, or whether a fair district is one that stretches across the entire state. Disagreement between attorneys representing Utah and the voters suing arose over how to interpret the U.S. Supreme Court's 2019 ruling that partisan gerrymandering wasn't a matter for federal courts to decide. Attorneys for Utah argued that the case suggested redistricting was for lawmakers. Mark Gaber, representing the voters, argued that limiting courts and ballot initiatives ran counter to the court's ruling that partisan gerrymandering was a matter of state law. If this isnt what Justice Roberts envisioned as the solution the people getting together and saying, Were going to exercise our power and stop this' then I can't imagine how his words have meaning, he said, referring to the 2018 voter initiative creating an independent redistricting commission. It's not clear when the justices will issue a ruling. A day after torrential downpours triggered deadly flash floods in New Yorks Hudson Valley, the deluge continued in Vermont, where the storm caused catastrophic flooding that drew comparisons to the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm Irene more than a decade ago. Parts of Vermont saw two months worth of rain in a matter of hours, overwhelming river valleys and threatening communities across the state. Make no mistake, the flooding we have seen is historic and catastrophic, surpassing levels seen during Tropical Storm Irene, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said at a press briefing on Tuesday morning. I know thousands of Vermonters have lost homes, businesses and more. The devastation is far-reaching. Floodwaters rise in Bridgewater, Vt., on Monday, submerging parked vehicles and threatening homes near the Ottauquechee River. (Hasan Jamali/AP) According to the states emergency management center, swift water rescue teams have conducted more than 100 rescues throughout Vermont since the flooding began late Sunday. At least 78 roads across the state were closed due to flooding, up from 24 on Monday. People watch as floodwaters triggered by torrential rains flow across a road in Chester, Vt., on Monday. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Scott said the roads around his home were impassable and that he had to hike to the states emergency operations center on a snowmobile trail. The good news is the rain has stopped in some areas, Scott said. But that does not mean waters will immediately recede. They may in fact continue to rise. And even though the sun may shine later today and tomorrow, we expect more rain later this week, which will have nowhere to go in the oversaturated ground. So I want to be clear: We are not out of the woods. This is nowhere near over. Montpelier ravaged by floodwaters Vermonts capital city, and many other communities across the state, are under water. The devastation and flooding were experiencing across Vermont is historic and catastrophic. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/vjx6BBNAEW Governor Phil Scott (@GovPhilScott) July 11, 2023 Flood levels in the state capital of Montpelier have not been seen in nearly a century. Montpelier Mayor Jack McCullough issued an emergency health order closing downtown until at least noon on Tuesday due to floodwaters, saying it would allow officials to assess safety risks and begin cleanup efforts. Three radio towers used to dispatch ambulances and the fire department were not functioning due to flood damage, officials there said. Tuesday afternoon they issued a notice for all residents to boil water before drinking due to likely contamination. Vermont state capitol building this morning. Winooski river has created at nearly 21 feet (record was in 1927). About 4 feet of water moving fast on State Street. Cant get across its moving so quickly. pic.twitter.com/xn1wGE5SDI Miguel Marquez (@miguelmarquez) July 11, 2023 The Winooski River which is considered full at 11 feet and flooded at 15 crested at 21 feet, breaking the previous record and exceeding the levels reached during Irene. More than five inches of rain fell in Montpelier Monday, a new daily record. Officials warned that a nearby dam was close to capacity. No precedent for potential damage A man carries belongings through floodwaters from a home in Bridgewater, Vt., on Monday. (Hasan Jamali/AP) City Manager William Fraser said early Tuesday morning that the nearby Wrightsville Dam was nearing capacity. In a Facebook post, Fraser noted that the dam has not exceeded capacity since it was built and theres no precedent for potential damage that could occur if the excess spills into the North Branch River. Unfortunately, there are very few evacuation options remaining, Fraser said. People in at risk areas may wish to go to upper floors in their houses. The City has asked for swift water rescue assets to be moved into the area to assist when possible. In Ludlow, Vt., video footage taken with a drone showed widespread flooding. In Fairfax, Vt., farmers were rushing to finish tending to their crops while watching water on the Lamoille River rise. Were panic-chopping lettuce, Nate Mercer, site manager at River Berry Farm, told VTDigger.com. Its gone up at least a foot or two since we got here and started working at 7:30 a.m. Biden approves emergency declaration President Biden, who landed in Lithuania on Monday for this weeks NATO summit, approved Vermonts emergency declaration, ordering federal assistance to supplement state and local response and authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts. Although the coming days, weeks and months will be incredibly difficult, weve faced challenges before, Scott said. And Vermonters have risen to meet the moment, whether during Irene, COVID or other hardships, Vermonters have proven time and time again were willing and able to step up and help our neighbors. So many Vermonters have been working around the clock, saving lives and helping those in need, the governor added. For all their debt I will be forever grateful. Heavy rain sends mud and debris down the Ottauquechee River in Quechee, Vt., on Monday. (Jessica Rinaldi/the Boston Globe via Getty Images) Cover thumbnail: @henrysweatherchannel/Instagram via Reuters A serene Dubai mosque, a Singapore skyscraper bursting with trees and a panda breeding research facility in Chengdu, China, have been named among the worlds best new buildings. The eye-catching structures are among almost 250 completed projects shortlisted in this years World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards, which will culminate in one being named World Building of the Year in December. Buildings will be judged across 18 categories spanning residential, commercial and cultural architecture. Category winners will then compete for the coveted overall prize, while other prizes will recognize the best in landscape architecture, proposed future projects and interior design. The awards will be judged live by a 140-strong expert panel at this years WAF, which is being held in Singapore at the end of November. Other notable buildings on the shortlist include Newark Liberty International Airports recently opened Terminal A, Australias Holocaust Museum in Melbourne and new national stadiums in both Cambodia and Senegal. Last years top prize went to Australias Quay Quarter Tower, an office building dubbed the worlds first upcycled skyscraper after Danish firm 3XN incorporated more than two-thirds of an existing 1970s structure into the new high-rise. Other recent winners have included a public library in the Netherlands and a Danish waste-to-energy power plant that doubles as an artificial ski and snowboard slope. In a press statement, WAFs program director Paul Finch said this years shortlist was a reminder in a world experiencing numerous crises that architects continue to address both everyday and unusual challenges with skill and imagination. Scroll down to see a selection of this years nominees. Cox Architecture was nominated for the Oman Across Ages Museum, a new cultural institution in the ancient city of Nizwa, Oman. - 2023 World Architecture Festival Built in a Thai fishing village, the Angsila Oyster Scaffolding Pavilion is both a fully functioning oyster farm and an eco-tourism destination, according to designers Chat Architects. - 2023 World Architecture Festival The 11-story Panda Tower in Chengdu, China by Shanghai United Design Group Co., Ltd, serves as a new site for the nonprofit group Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. - 2023 World Architecture Festival UAE-based firm Dabbagh Architects was shortlisted in the religious buildings category for its Mosque of Light in Dubai. - 2023 World Architecture Festival Bangkok-based architecture practice All(zone) was shortlisted for its temporary MPavilion. The program sees a different architects commissioned to build a pavilion on the site in Melbourne, Australia, each year. - 2023 World Architecture Festival Osamu Morishita Architect and Associates was nominated for this hydrogen station in Tokushima prefecture, Japan. - 2023 World Architecture Festival The timber Turrell Pavilion, in the Maldives, was one of two shortlisted projects by Brazilian firm Studio MK27. - 2023 World Architecture Festival The curvaceous E-sports center by Central-South Architectural Design Institute in Hangzhou, China. Designed by Indonesian firm Biroe, the temporary Bamboo Dome was built by local craftsmen and artisans in Bali ahead of last year's G20 summit on the island. - 2023 World Architecture Festival For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A whistleblower who has repeatedly accused the Bidens of corruption has been charged by the Justice Department with arms trafficking, acting as a foreign agent for China and violating Iran sanctions. Gal Luft, who is a citizen of both the United States and Israel, is accused of paying a former adviser to Donald Trump on behalf of principals in China in 2016 without registering as a foreign agent. Prosecutors say that Mr Luft pushed the former government employee, who is not named, to push policies that were favourable to China. They also allege that he set up meetings between officials of Iran and a Chinese energy company to discuss oil deals, which would violate US sanctions. They also alleged that Mr Luft conspired with others and attempted to broker illicit arms transactions with, among others, certain Chinese individuals and entities by working as a middleman to find both buyers and sellers for certain weapons and other materials in violation of the US Arms Control Act. Specifically, prosecutors say he attempted to broker a sale of anti-tank weapons, grenade launchers and mortar rounds to Libya by Chinese companies, and also pushed to arrange for the United Arab Emirates to purchase bombs and rockets, and for Kenya to acquire unmanned aerial vehicles capable of striking targets on the ground. Mr Luft, 57, was arrested in Cyprus in February on US charges but fled after being released on bail while awaiting extradition and is not currently in US custody. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a statement that Mr Luft engaged in multiple, serious criminal schemes. He subverted foreign agent registration laws in the United States to seek to promote Chinese policies by acting through a former high-ranking U.S. Government official; he acted as a broker in deals for dangerous weapons and Iranian oil; and he told multiple lies about his crimes to law enforcement, Mr Williams said. As the charges unsealed today reflect, our Office will continue to work vigorously with our law enforcement partners to detect and hold accountable those who surreptitiously attempt to perpetrate malign foreign influence campaigns here in the United States. Gal Luft has been charged with arms trafficking, breaking Iran sanctions and acting as agent for China (LinkedIn) The Acting Assistant Director in charge of the FBIs New York Field Office, Christie Curtis, said the defendant engaged in multiple schemes to evade sanctions and laws intended to protect our national security. The FBI is determined to defend our nation by enforcing laws designed to promote transparency of foreign influence within the United States, she added. Yet the now-indicted think tank founder claims that there is no basis for the charges and has accused the Biden Administration of targeting him because he is one of the alleged whistleblowers who Republicans have held up as having evidence that President Joe Biden and his family are corrupt. In a bizarre video first reported by the New York Post, Mr Luft claims his arrest in Cyprus was meant to stop him from appearing before the GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee about alleged payments the Biden family allegedly received from Chinese intelligence-linked individuals. The fugitive also claimed that he offered evidence backing up his claims to the FBI in March 2019, and said it was never followed up on. I, who volunteered to inform the US government about a potential security breach and about compromising information about a man vying to be the next president, am now being hunted by the very same people who I informed and may have to live on the run for the rest of my life on the run, he said. I warned the government about potential risk to the integrity of the 2020 elections Ask yourself, who is the real criminal in this story? Mr Luft also said he jumped bail and fled after his arrest because he dd not believe he could receive a fair trial in New York. Kyle Herrig, the executive director of the Congressional Integrity Project, said in a statement that the case of Mr Luft shows there is nothing more corrupt than the lengths MAGA Republicans will go to preserve and expand their own power, including consorting with other corrupt actors even alleged spies for the Chinese Communist Party. Do James Comer, Jim Jordan and Kevin McCarthy lack a single ounce of shame? Apparently so. The case against President Biden was built on nothing more than conspiracy theories to begin with, but over the past few weeks weve seen their allegations crumble even more, he said. Todays charges add to six months of misery and failure for MAGA Republicans whose political stunts have failed to uncover a single piece of evidence linking President Biden to any wrongdoing whatsoever. A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. A Kansas City girl was taken to the hospital Sunday night for a gunshot wound after bullets were fired into her home near 64th Street and The Paseo, according to police. Officers were dispatched to the reported shooting shortly before 10 p.m., according to a written statement from the Kansas City Police Department. A 911 caller told police they were inside the home when gunshots entered the building from outside. The child, identified by police as a female under 10 years old, was taken to the hospital in stable condition, police said. Police had no suspect information. Detectives were investigating the shooting as an aggravated assault Monday. DETROIT (AP) Whenever the United Auto Workers union begins negotiating a new contract with Detroit's three automakers, threats of a strike are typically heard on the floor of the old Chrysler transmission plant in Kokomo, Indiana. This year, the talk is a little louder. Besides the usual haggling over wages, pensions and health care, the union has set its sights on a more consequential goal: It is determined to secure a foothold in the joint-venture plants that will manufacture electric vehicle batteries in the years and likely decades ahead. As the industry undergoes a historic transition from internal combustion engines to EVs, the automakers will likely need many thousands of workers to staff electric-battery plants. The UAW, representing 146,000 employees of the automakers, sees this year's contract as a crucial opportunity to ensure representation in the industry's jobs of the future. I've got almost 30 years in, and this contract seems a little different," said Michael Hunter, a tool inspector who fixes gauges on the Kokomo plant's equipment. I think it's a very strong possibility of a strike. Contract talks will begin this week between the union and two of the automakers, Ford and Stellantis, a company that was formed from the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Peugeot. Negotiations with the largest U.S. automaker, General Motors, will start next week. At the union's behest, gone is the traditional friendly handshake between UAW bargainers and auto executives, a sign that the talks will be even more contentious than usual. Four-year contracts between the union and the companies will expire at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 14. The negotiations will be the first big test for Shawn Fain, who took office this year as the first UAW president to be chosen by a direct vote of members. Fain, who himself began his career in Kokomo as an electrician at a Chrysler metal casting plant has laid the groundwork for the union's position: He has said the UAW will seek general pay raises, the elimination of wage tiers and the restoration of cost-of-living pay and pensions for new hires that were eliminated years ago when the automakers were struggling financially. He also wants to halt any plant closings in the wake of Stellantis' plan to shutter a factory in Belvidere, Illinois, to cut costs. But paramount to Fain is getting a foot in the door at battery plants and then securing wages that exceed the top assembly-line wage of $32 an hour now paid at UAW-represented plants. A new industry is being born," Fain said in a video message to UAW members. This is our defining moment. Our communities and our country deserve good, safe, living-wage union jobs." All three automakers have announced plans to build joint-venture factories with battery companies, in Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee. Once gas-powered vehicles are phased out, the union sees these plants as places where the automakers will move thousands of workers who now make engines and transmissions. Industry analysts expect EV sales to surge from 7% of U.S. new-vehicle sales to about 40% by 2030. Workers who now assemble vehicles may also need other places to work, and some might lose their jobs altogether. Because EVs are simpler to build, it takes as many as 40% fewer workers to produce them. Harley Shaiken, a professor emeritus specializing in labor at the University of California Berkeley, suggested that the industry is undergoing a seismic shift akin to the introduction of the moving assembly line, with new competitors and huge capital outlays for electric vehicles. The companies, he noted, are investing billions while initially losing money on EVs. At the same time, the continuing work on combustion engines is paying the bills. Though the automakers clearly don't want a strike, Shaiken said, they're determined to contain battery costs, including wages, to remain competitive with nonunion companies. They are likely to take a hard line on key issues like the battery plants and the other issues like getting rid of second-tier wages, he said. Already, workers have voted to join the union at GM's Ultium Cells plant near Warren, Ohio, a joint venture with LG Energy Solution. But the union says the plant is paying just $16.50 per hour to start, with a top wage of about $20 after seven years. That's far lower than UAW production workers make. Contract negotiations at the plant are already under way. That is a race to the bottom, Fain said of the pay. These should be higher wages than our production standards, not lower. Ahead of the talks, Fain's messaging has been much more combative than in years past, when union leaders generally avoided speculating about strikes. Seeking to place the burden on the automakers Fain has argued that any strike would ultimately be caused by the companies themselves, which collectively generated net income of more than $164 billion over the past decade. Last month, Fain suggested that workers were in a position to score major gains but only if our members get organized and are ready to strike. The companies generally contend that their wages, profit sharing, health care and other benefits are the best in the industry. In addition, executives have argued that they're under huge financial pressure to develop electric vehicles and to pay billions for EV and battery factories. What the companies are not going to want to do is to, in the electrification facilities that they're developing, have to pay labor costs that are uncompetitive, said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit. Masters suggested that Fain will have to navigate a lot of cross-currents in the union after having been elected in March in the aftermath of a federal bribery and embezzlement scandal that ensnared multiple union leaders. Workers in some other industries have won big contracts, at times rejecting agreements negotiated by their leaders. I think that regardless of who was at the helm at this round of negotiations, there is a distinct probability of a strike just simply given the difficulty of resolving the issues in dispute," Masters said. Given the expectations of UAW members, Fain will be under pressure to deliver on the issues he has raised. Yet the companies won't give in to everything, Masters said. What might be possible is to grant some of them and do what you can do to protect job security and the internal combustion part of the companies' operations at the present time so that the transition to electrification is less painful, he said. Some workers say they fear that Fain might have over-promised. If so, Masters says that could cost him when he's up for re-election in three years. In Kokomo, Hunter argues that what Fain wants is reasonable because workers gave up so much to keep the companies afloat in 2009, after the financial crisis nearly flattened the industry and forced the government to bail out GM and Chrysler. Andrea Repasky, who works in the body shop of GM's pickup truck plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, noted that wages haven't risen much in the past decade. She doesn't think the union will get everything back in one contract. But she's hoping for a significant raise, cost-of-living increases and an end to the wage tiers. I would probably say that they're going to have to maybe meet us halfway, she said of GM. Because we really gave up a lot to keep the company afloat. WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. imposed sanctions on the pro-Russian head of Serbian intelligence on Tuesday, accusing Aleksander Vulin of involvement in illegal arms shipments, drug trafficking and misuse of public office. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control said Vulin used his public authority to help U.S.-sanctioned Serbian arms dealer Slobodan Tesic move illegal arms shipments across Serbias borders. Vulin is also accused of involvement in a drug trafficking ring, Treasury said. Vulin was appointed spy chief for the Balkan state last year. He previously served as Serbia's interior minister. In that role, he visited Moscow last August, a rare visit by a European state official that underscored Belgrades refusal to join Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Vulin then told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that Serbia is the only state in Europe that didnt introduce sanctions and was not part of the anti-Russian hysteria. Serbia is a candidate for European Union membership, but its strained relationship with Kosovo has stymied its application and the nation has for years been drifting away from its EU path and toward allyship with Russia. Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesperson, said the U.S. will continue to hold accountable those who further their political agenda and personal gain at the expense of peace and stability in the Western Balkans and advance Russias malign activities in Serbia and the region. British climber, George King, scales southern Seoul's Lotte World Tower without using equipment, June 12. Courtesy of George King Prosecutors have summarily indicted a British free climber on charges of ascending up to the 72nd floor of the tallest skyscraper in Seoul without permission last month, legal sources said Tuesday. George King-Thompson, 24, was taken into custody while climbing up the outer wall of the 123-story Lotte World Tower in southern Seoul with his bare hands on June 12, before he was escorted inside the building and captured by police. The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors Office has summarily indicted him, seeking a punishment of 5 million won ($3,864) in fines for obstructing business. Police initially detained him on charges of trespassing, but they forwarded the case to the prosecution on charges of business obstruction, as he technically did not enter the building. King-Thompson began his ascent up the 123-story Lotte World Tower in southern Seoul at around 5 a.m. before a security guard found him around 7:50 a.m. and called the police, saying a foreigner, only in his underwear, was climbing up the outer wall of the building. Police and rescue workers detained him by escorting him inside the building after he reached the 72nd story of the world's fifth-tallest tower at 8:47 a.m. King-Thompson reportedly told the police that he entered Korea three days before the climb for the purpose of BASE jumping and that he had started planning the ascent six months ago. Meanwhile, French climber Alain Robert, also known as the "French Spider-Man," was arrested in 2018 for climbing Lotte World Tower without approval. At that time, he climbed up to the 75th floor. (Yonhap) Crews in Vermont are assessing the damage after a storm dumped up to two months of rain on the state in a matter of days, triggering dangerous flash floods that submerged homes. The state's governor said there had been "historic and catastrophic" flooding. Some areas saw more than 9in (0.22m) of rain. In the capital city, Montpelier, crews are beginning to clear debris and inspect buildings. More rain is expected later this week. People in Montpelier as well as nearby Berlin have been told to boil their water, amid concerns that the flooding may have contaminated drinking water. The picture is similar elsewhere in the state, such as in the town of Ludlow, where the scale of the damage is only starting to become clear as the floodwater recedes. "I talked to people today that said my house is gone," said Ludlow Municipal Manager Brendan McNamara. "[We] sustained catastrophic damage. We just really took the brunt of the storm." A freight track on the Green Mountain Railroad that runs through the town was left dangling in the sky after the floods carved a deep gorge underneath it. A spokesperson for the Vermont Rail System told the BBC's US partner CBS News that operations had been "temporarily suspended" due to "a washout". Andrew Molen, the co-owner of a restaurant in the town, told the outlet that the flooding there was "devastating" and his business was in a mess. "We lost bridges, we lost roads, cars went down rivers, the power, there was such force it was moving dumpsters that were full," he said. Some Vermont residents returned to their homes on Tuesday to survey the damage caused by the floods Vermont's commissioner of public safety, Jennifer Morrison, told CNN on Wednesday more than 200 people have been rescued and over 100 evacuations had been performed. She called the situation "an absolute crisis" that could take years - potentially even a decade - to repair. There had been concerns about several dams in the state as they neared capacity, but on Tuesday night Montpelier officials said the Wrightsville Dam was "beginning to recede" and both major rivers were "now below flood stage". "It looks like [the dam] won't breach. That is good. That is one less thing we have to have on our front burner," Montpelier Town Manager Bill Fraser said. An emergency order was lifted on Tuesday in the city even as some streets remained underwater after the Winooski River burst its banks. But Governor Phil Scott urged caution over the coming days. "We expect more rain later this week which will have nowhere to go in the over-saturated ground," he said. "We're not out of the woods - this is nowhere near over." He added that the deluge in some parts of the state had surpassed that seen during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, which killed six people in Vermont. More climate coverage Kelly Tackett, who owns the Minikin children's store in Montpelier, was unable to get through the floodwaters on Tuesday to check on her deluged business. But upon seeing pictures of the ruined premises taken by a photojournalist she said she was in tears and feared her business may not recover. "This was my lifelong dream shop," she told the Burlington Free Press. The National Weather Service forecasts more rain for Thursday and Friday in Vermont, but no more torrential downpours. Flood watches remain in effect for parts of New York, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut. In New York state, which has also seen some of the worst flooding in years, a woman named by authorities as Pamela Nugent, 43, died in Orange County after she was swept away while trying to flee her home with her dog. Homes, businesses and roads were significantly damaged in the county. Many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions. A few moments after Idlewild Creek began to rise on Sunday, the first wave of murky water washed into the ground floor of Kristine Schmidt's blue-and-white house. Moments later, she saw her neighbors swept away in their SUV, Schmidt told ABC News on Monday. Fire trucks arrived and pulled their car out of the creek, she said. MORE: Dangerous triple-digit heat baking Southwest and Southeast: Latest forecast As the floodwater receded from her home in Cornwall, New York, it left a trail of a thick mud in its wake. Outside her home, potted plants had been knocked over and grass had been uprooted. Inside, amid the ruins of her living room and kitchen, a bookshelf and fridge lay on their sides. "We're all heartbroken," she said. PHOTO: In this still of a video taken on Sunday, July 9, 2023, the ruins of Kristine Schmidt's living room are seen after flooding in Cornwall, New York. (Kristine Schmidt) PHOTO: Route 202 in Yorktown, N.Y. was flooded July 10, 2023 after torrential storms Sunday evening led to flash flooding and at least one fatality in New York. (Seth Harrison/The Journal News/USA Today) The flooding in Cornwall, in Orange County, came as heavy rain drenched much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Sunday, prompting flash flood alerts in parts of New York. More than 8 inches of rain fell in just hours in some areas in the Hudson Valley and at least one person was killed in the storm in Orange County, New York. PHOTO: Emergency personnel used a boat to rescue residents of flooded homes on Lowland Hill Rd. in Stony Point New York, July 9, 2023. (Seth Harrison/The Journal News/USA Today) Radar estimates 8-12 in parts of the northeast 1 in 1000 year event for some but REMINDER that means its a 0.1% chance of having this type of rain in a given year. Certainly rare and destructive. #flooding@SamWnek@KentonGeweckepic.twitter.com/YAntfIeF3h Ginger Zee (@Ginger_Zee) July 10, 2023 Areas in New York counties including Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester were under flash flood warnings into the early hours of Monday. "Last night was complete chaos," Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus told ABC News' "Good Morning America" on Monday. Yesterday's storms, with heavy rain and flash flooding, washed out tracks along the Hudson Line north of Croton-Harmon and on the Wassaic Branch. Our crews are continuing to evaluate the damage and are working to clear the tracks. Please stay safe and monitor pic.twitter.com/jpB3ctEMOy Metro-North Railroad (@MetroNorth) July 10, 2023 Members of his staff were working to contact people throughout the county on Monday morning, he said, adding that roads and bridges were washed out by the storm. His staff was attempting to reopen "major arteries" throughout the area, he said. Everyone who had reported an issue appeared to have been accounted for, "but there are some people who could have been swept away," Neuhaus said. PHOTO: A damaged car lays on a collapsed roadway along Route 32 in the Hudson Valley near Cornwall, N.Y., July 10, 2023. (Paul Kazdan/AP) PHOTO: Flooding from massive rain storms is seen in Londonderry, VT, July 10, 2023. (Eric Schwippert) There's significant damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure in Orange County, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. In an update Monday night, Neuhaus estimated damages in the Highland Falls area to be in the tens of millions of dollars and said a boil water warning was issued in the affected areas. "Orange County experienced a 1-in-1,000-year weather event last night," the governor tweeted Monday. "The rain has subsided, but the crisis is not over." Hochul warned, "New York State is facing simultaneous weather emergencies: Southern New York is recovering from last night's damage. Heavy rain is impacting the Mid-Hudson, Capital Region, & North Country. A Flood Watch is in effect for most of Eastern New York through Tuesday night." "As ongoing extreme weather conditions continue in Northeast New York, the Lake Champlain region is at greatest risk for flash flooding," Hochul said. "As weve seen, conditions can change in an instant. New Yorkers should take this seriously & prepare." PHOTO: Debris from overnight flooding along Cedar Pond Brook is pictured in Stony Point, New York, July 10, 2023. (Mike Segar/Reuters) PHOTO: A view of rushing flood waters in Highland Falls, Orange County, U.S., July 9, 2023, in this screengrab obtained from social media video. (Instagram/@aichelbee via Reuters) PHOTO: Cars drive on a flooded road in Highland Falls, Orange County, July 9, 2023 in this screengrab obtained from social media video. (@aichelbee via Reuters) The rain is continuing to push north on Monday, with flooding expected from upstate New York to Vermont to New Hampshire to Maine. In Vermont, where a state of emergency is in effect, rare excessive rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding is expected. In a press release Tuesday night, the Vermont Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management said swift water rescue teams have performed more than 50 rescues, "primarily in the towns of Londonderry, Weston, Bridgewater, Andover, Ludlow and Middlesex." Officials urged residents to be vigilant, as "rivers are expected to crest overnight at flood levels." Two dams in the very rural areas of Jamaica and Townshend will "release large quantities of water over their spillways" overnight, the New England District of the Army Corps of Engineers said in a statement Tuesday night. Serious, life-threatening flooding is occurring today across much of Vermont. Emergency crews have conducted rescues in multiple communities. About two dozen state roads are closed as of 10AM. Flash flood warnings are in effect from the Massachusetts line to the Canadian border. pic.twitter.com/09ryZ1N7bR Vermont State Police (@VTStatePolice) July 10, 2023 MORE: Floodwater safety tips Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said the state has not seen flooding like this since Hurricane Irene in 2011, and in some places, the flooding will surpass that. "Flash flood warnings are in effect from the Massachusetts line to the Canadian border," Vermont State Police said. "If you can, please stay home today. However, if floodwaters are approaching your home, leave immediately." PHOTO: A road is severely damaged by flooding on July 10, 2023 in Windham, Vt. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images) PHOTO: Water floods around a house on Route 11 in Windham, Vermont, on July 10, 2023. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Three to six inches of rain is expected for Vermont. This is the first time a "high risk" has been issued for the Burlington, Vermont, area. The ground in this area is already very saturated due to receiving 300% of its normal rainfall over the last two weeks, so flooding could happen very easily. Mike Cannon, director of the Vermont Urban Search and Rescue team, told "ABC News Live" on Monday, "This has been constant since 5:00 yesterday afternoon, and the rain has not let up." PHOTO: Onlookers check out a flooded road on July 10, 2023 in Chester, Vt. Torrential rain and flooding has affected millions of people from Vermont south to North Carolina. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images) PHOTO: In an aerial view, water covers Route 11 after heavy rain on July 10, 2023 in Londonderry, Vt. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images) PHOTO: Flooding from massive rain storms is seen in Londonderry, VT, July 10, 2023. (Eric Schwippert) Rescues are ongoing, he said, noting that crews are still unable to access about six communities due to the water. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said the agency is closely watching the situation. ABC News' Alexandra Faul, Darren Reynolds and Matt Foster contributed to this report. By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Tour booking agents and the managers of an island in New Zealand where a volcanic eruption killed 22 people, mostly tourists, in 2019 failed to properly prepare and warn visitors of the risks, prosecutors said at the start of a criminal trial on Tuesday. Most of the victims were tourists from countries including Australia, the U.S. and Malaysia. There were 47 people on the island when the volcano erupted, many of whom were badly burnt by searing gas and ash. The workplace regulator charged 13 parties in November 2020 but six of them, including the helicopter and boat tour operators, have pleaded guilty. Charges against the National Emergency Management Agency were dismissed. The five parties facing court on Tuesday, who have pleaded not guilty, include the company that manages the island, the three directors of the management company and two companies that operated booking agents for the tours. Worksafe prosecutor Kristy McDonald said the government would show that leaders of the company managing the island did not do due diligence on the potential dangers for visitors, while the booking agents did not provide adequate information on the risks. The volcano is highly unpredictable. It could erupt at any time without warning, McDonald told the court. No one is suggesting that the timing of this eruption could have been predicted ... but it was foreseeable that it may erupt at some point. The previous significant eruption at White Island, which is also known by the Maori name of Whakaari and lies around 50 km (31 miles) offshore from the town of Whakatane on the east coast of North Island, was in 2016. Tourists are no longer able to visit the islaned. Defence lawyers said their clients were not responsible for the health and safety of those on the island as that was the responsibility of others. The judge-only trial is scheduled to take 16 weeks with a number of victims from the eruption due to provide evidence. (Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Stephen Coates) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook speaks during a media conference at the Press Center in central Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Gender Equality and Family British adventurer Bear Grylls to attend opening ceremony, Aug. 2 By Jun Ji-hye The Korean government has drawn up various safety measures to manage crowds, infectious diseases, natural disasters as well as possible accidents during the upcoming 25th World Scout Jamboree in a bid to make it a safe event, Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyun-sook said, Tuesday. The World Scout Jamboree will take place from Aug. 1 to 12 on reclaimed land at Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, on the country's west coast, bringing together over 43,000 teenagers from 150 countries. Organized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement, it is the world's largest youth camp held every four years, aiming to promote friendship and facilitate public diplomacy through civil exchanges. "The upcoming Jamboree will mark the first large-scale international youth event since before the COVID-19 pandemic," Kim said during a press conference in Seoul. "The event will serve as an opportunity to showcase Korean culture as well as its advanced digital technologies to youth from around the world and restore a sense of normalcy in their daily lives." Kim said her ministry and the Organizing Committee for the 25th World Scout Jamboree - 2023 SaeManGeum have decided to deploy some 500 security workers at major spots to minimize congestion and ensure safe and orderly movement of crowds during the opening and closing ceremonies as well as K-pop performances. Local police and fire departments will assist in crowd control. In a bid to formulate relevant countermeasures for possible outbreaks of infectious diseases including COVID-19, the government formed an eight-member taskforce comprised of officials from the ministry, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the North Jeolla Province government as well as health experts in February last year. Kim said COVID-19 testing centers and separate spaces for the isolation of those who test positive will be operated. Considering that the Korean summer is usually in full swing in August and heavy rain and floods are common, the government developed a "Natural Disaster Crisis Response Action Manual" to provide guidelines on actions required for different levels of weather alerts. "The government will also operate seven cooling centers in preparation for heat waves and 342 indoor relief shelters in preparation for torrential rain," Kim said. "We have also maintained a sewer system within the campsite." In case of any accidents, 17 medical facilities, including five offering emergency medical services, will be operated at the event site. Wonkwang University Hospital, Gunsan Medical Center, Jeonbuk National University Hospital and Jeonju Hospital will cooperate to treat emergency or seriously ill patients. The minister added British adventurer Bear Grylls will attend the opening ceremony scheduled for Aug. 2 to give a performance. Korea's IT technologies will be also showcased during the opening ceremony, along with a drone show. The two countries launched a plan to reduce dependence on the US dollar in bilateral trade. Bangladesh hopes this will ease pressure on its foreign exchange reserves, which has led to considerable devaluation of its national currency in the past 18 months. Dhaka (AsiaNews/Agencies) Bangladesh and India today started settling bilateral trade in Indian rupees, allowing transactions in a local currency and thus reducing dependence on the US dollar. In Dhaka, four banks Sonali Bank, Eastern Bank of Bangladesh, the State Bank of India and ICICI Bank handed over two export letters of credit for 28 million Indian rupees from two Bangladeshi companies, Tamim Agro and Shahjahan Mia, and two import letters of credit worth 12 million Indian rupees involving two Indian companies, Nita Company and Abdul Matlub Ahmad. The Bank of Bangladesh and the Indian High Commission in Dhaka are behind the initiative. Two-way trade between the two South Asian countries currently stands at US$ 16 billion. By using a local currency, the two can give local businesses some breathing space and allow them to open bank accounts and pay in rupees. This is expected to reduce pressure on Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves, which have been declining since external payments have continued to outpace export and remittance revenues. As a result, Bangladeshs taka has lost significantly over the past eighteen months. by Vladimir Rozanskij In Tukaev province, construction work has begun on a huge logistic-commercial complex named after Den Xiaoping. The first step towards a 'special economic zone' that looks to the oil chemical industry in the region, where Hikvision, a Chinese company blacklisted for forced labour in Xinjiang, is already very active. Moscow (AsiaNews) - The authorities of the Russian republic of Tatarstan have presented a report on the start of construction of a huge logistics and trade complex named after Den Xiaoping, in Tukaev province, on the border between Europe and Asia. The first stage involves an investment of more than 20 billion roubles, around 250 million euros, to form a 'special economic zone', a centre called 'Alabuga', which is to be opened in the first half of 2024. The set of facilities in the pipeline, like a series of Chinese boxes, will make up the 'Etilen 600' industrial park, which will offer all the necessary services for the short- and long-term parking of commercial cargo, loading and unloading, order management, transport composition and more. Eventually, a movement of 100,000 containers per year is expected. Small- and medium-capacity chemical production will be set up, with access to raw materials from oil and gas extraction. The agreement between the Chinese 'Alabuga' and the Russian 'Sibur' dates back to August 2022, for a global investment of 1.3 trillion roubles. Already next year, the logistics complex will be active, Kazan administrators assure, starting with a movement of eight trains per day. Petrochemicals will be transported to China, trying not to tread too much on Western sanctions decrees, which restrict the exchange of many chemical materials, while from Beijing will come consumer goods, and materials needed by Russian industry. As Carnegie Fund contributor Aleksandr Gabuev confirms, 'China has a great interest in Tatarstan's oil chemistry, although it is difficult to say how much it will be able to compensate for the blockade of exports to Europe'. Russia and its 'energy' regions have no other real alternatives, however, and China is the only partner capable of approaching the standards of before the great break with the West. The economy of Tatarstan relies on 'relations with giants', as the director of the Independent Institute of Social Policy Natalia Zubarevic points out, 'especially in the field of oil'. According to the Tatar republic's Ministry of Economy, until 2021 more than 25% of Kazan's budget relied on the extraction of energy materials, and 37.9% came from the processing and refining of oil, chemical materials and derivatives. China now exports to Russia a very large share of semiconductors, chips and other materials for various purposes, which are already on the US sanctions lists, and therefore not so much concerned about the possible undermining of 'secondary sanctions'. One of the most active Chinese companies in this field is Hikvision, which has already been blacklisted for its participation in persecution in Xinjiang, exploiting forced labour in 're-education camps' for Uyghurs, Kazakhs and even Tatars in what outside China is called 'East Turkestan'. Hikvision, after all, is already very active in Tatarstan, where Chinese technologies are being applied for the 'safe cities' system, thanks to the system of video cameras for monitoring and identity recognition, especially in the vicinity of schools, kindergartens, parks and public meeting places. Penalties are circumvented by means of tried and tested schemes of rotating ownership of the many facilities involved. In spite of these grandiose plans, many experts still believe that China does not intend to expand its cooperation with Russia too much, turning rather to the countries of Central Asia, but is now keeping a vast logistical and commercial network under control throughout the Asian part of the Russian Federation, 'putting its eggs in different baskets', as Gabuev explains. One of the most strategic areas for Chinese interests is the Volga and Ural regions, in the republics of Tatarstan, Bashkortostan and Chuvashia. Afghan refugees in Pakistan hoped for a better life, but live in hiding and conceal their identity fearing expulsion or, worse, lynching in the streets for their faith. A short film by Christian Solidarity Worldwide give a voice to some Christians. According to experts, the only solution is humanitarian arrangements with third countries. London (AsiaNews) Some Afghans who fled to Pakistan following the fall of the pro-Western government and the return of the Taliban are discriminated four times over, as refugees, as Afghans, as Hazara and as Christians, forced to hide their ethnic and religious identity. Their story is told in "Leave no one behind," a short video by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a human rights organisation. The Hazaras are an Afghan ethnic minority and have always been persecuted by the countrys Pashtun majority, which is divided between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Most Hazaras are Shia Muslim. Those who found refuge in Pakistan are scattered in several Pakistani cities, facing danger and an uncertain future. If they reveal that in addition to being Hazara refugees, they were also Christian, they risk lynching in the street, a fate not so unusual in Pakistan. "The journey from Afghanistan was scary and it was night time, says a woman surrounded by her four children. Their names are protected and faces are blurred, but their anguish is palpable in their words. First, they live in fear that we might be recognised as Hazara. Secondly, if they (the Taliban) got to know we belong to an army family, they would have killed us at that moment. Soon after their return to power, the Taliban tracked down and massacred those who had collaborated with international military forces or worked for the previous Afghan government. I was fearful. This is why my daughters and myself wore the burqa. The boys had their faces covered by cloth and lying down in the vehicle so as not to reveal that they were Hazara, the woman goes on to say. "I just had been a law student for two weeks, one of her daughters says. The Taliban takeover left me with no other option but to quit my university and further education. "Only a few people knew that I was a Christian," says a man, his face obscured as well. But my Muslim friends always ask me to convert back to Islam. I would tell them that it's none of your business. When the Taliban began to hunt him down because they had found out that he was a Christian, they only found his wife at home. They asked her, "Where is your husband?" In order to get information, they tortured her, burning her arms with a heated skewer, leaving scars still visible months later. The family fled bringing nothing along except the clothes worn at that moment, the man says. We stayed in Quetta for a while, but the difficulties we were facing in Quetta were that my uncle and aunt knew that we were Christians, so whenever we went, they (my uncle and aunt) would call ahead and tell them not to let us stay because we are Christians and infidels. The Hazaras are not welcomed in Pakistan; they are not welcomed anywhere, explains Prof Farooq Suleria, an Afghan conflict analyst. Above all, both Taliban and Daesh are targeting Hazara people in different ways; for instance, there has been news that and credible news that Hazaras have been evicted from their villages and their homes, and these properties, these lands have been given over to Taliban fighters who were fighting for the last 20 years. Their persecution "is an ongoing crisis which has a history of over 40 years now. It is very important to address [it] and I think this is one of the urgent humanitarian issues that should be paid notice to. In fact, there are no signs of improvement in Pakistan, where refugees face daily discrimination as well as severe financial problems and limited access to resources and opportunities. Many Afghans "receive calls, threatening calls, from unknown numbers telling them they know where they are, [that] They will track them, says Sabal Gul Khattak, an independent researcher. "No one is willing to rent their houses to them and if they do, then it is, you know, at exorbitant amounts, but being people who have left homes and who had to flee, they don't have the kind of money that is needed to survive in a hostile environment. A young Hazara Christian couple agree that the main problem in Pakistan is money. Though I studied in Pakistan, [and ] have actually [a] licence for work from [the] PMC, the Pakistan Medical Commission, I cannot work because I do not have a work visa, says the young husband. We are living here by donations, he laments. In many Pakistani cities, We hear the news that police have arrested Afghan refugees who are living here illegally, he adds. While the Pakistani government has extended the visa for some Afghans, there are many who dont have visas. And those who do, the extension is only till December, explains Sabal Gul Khattak. After December, they dont know where they will go. For some refugees, the situation is such that they are prisoners in their own homes, so stressed out that they are afraid to the point that if someone rings the door bell, I fear it may be the police, and they might ask me about my documents and deport be back, explains another refugee. "I was hoping for a future," says the young married man cited above. When I came here on the scholarship in Pakistan, my plan for the future was to go back and serve my people. But after recent events in Afghanistan, our situation in Pakistan [is such that] we are stuck here. We have nowhere to go back; [and] we have no way to go further. The only solution for Sabal Gul Khattak is to make arrangements in countries where they will be safe. It is clear that the Hazara refugees are not going to be safe in Pakistan. We know that. At the same time, there are laws, she adds. We need to make use of those laws of asylum in every country. by Melani Manel Perera On the anniversary of the uprising that a year ago led to the fall of the president accused of corruption, his successor Wickremesinghe has decreed an amnesty for those who within a month return items stolen from the Presidential Palace, including the coats of arms of former governors that have great historical value. Colombo (AsiaNews) - A year after the uprising that led to the fall of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka wants to recover historical treasures looted by crowds at the Presidential Palace. On Sunday, 9 July, as people marked the first anniversary of the struggle by tens of thousands of protesters against a corrupt administration that culminated in the storming of the Presidential Palace, incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced an amnesty for those who return within a month items taken from the palace. Various valuable artefacts and archaeological items went missing, including coats of arms associated with former governors and presidents of Sri Lanka," the Presidents Office said in a statement, announcing the amnesty. The artefacts were stolen from the palace in the heart of the capital Colombo a symbol of state authority for more than 200 years during its five-day occupation, the statement added. Along with the announcement, the Presidents Office released pictures of five coats of arms, including that of Jorge de Albuquerque, the seventh Portuguese governor appointed in 1622 to administer the island, and other coats of arms that belonged to governors in the 19th and 20th centuries. The President's Secretariat stressed that keeping these official insignia beyond the specified period will result in legal consequences, since the unlawful possession of state property is a punishable offence. The President's Secretariat indicated that anyone with relevant information can call a certain telephone number, noting that the publics assistance is crucial in locating these coats of arms of significant national importance. For their part, activists involved in the Aragalaya (the struggle that toppled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa) noted that at the time, protesters handed over to police about US$ 6,000 in cash found in the former president's bedroom. Following this, a court called on the former president to explain how he earned it. Law enforcement officials responded to the Aspen School District campus and surrounding area on Feb. 22 after a caller claimed he was entering the elementary school with a weapon. The incident was part of a broad hoax called swatting that targeted several schools in Colorado. After analyzing the event, the Pitkin County Sheriffs Office concluded it needed a third school resource officer. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's floor leader, Rep. Park Kwang-on, center, is seen speaking during a party meeting held at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) urged President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday to use a planned summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to demand Tokyo withhold its plan to release radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. Yoon is expected to meet bilaterally with Kishida this week on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Lithuania. The meeting comes days after the International Atomic Energy Agency gave a go-ahead to the Fukushima water discharge plan last week. "Ahead of a Korea-Japan summit, I suggest three measures," DPK floor leader Park Kwang-on said during a party meeting. "The first is for the president to demand Japan withhold the dumping of Fukushima nuclear material into the ocean." "The presidential office has stated it puts the highest priority on people's health and safety," he said. "If so, the answer is to withhold the ocean dumping." Additionally, Park urged the government to file a law suit against Japan at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and bring up the issue at the upcoming Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Convention and Protocol. (Yonhap) Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Remember the Takata Corporation's airbag saga? It's not over yet! Acquired by Key Safety System in June 2017 thus creating Joyson Safety Systems the Japanese company's exploding airbags have claimed yet another life. According to FCA US LLC, the owner of a 2003 model year Dodge Ram pickup truck succumbed to serious injuries inflicted by razor-sharp metal debris. The debris in question came from a ruptured airbag inflator. Upon deployment, the metal canister of the airbag inflator disintegrates, propelling metal debris at high speed into the cabin. FCA US LLC, which is the American division of Stellantis N.V., reports that the 2003 Dodge Ram owner sat in the passenger seat rather than the driver seat. The pickup truck was involved in a crash that caused the deployment of the front airbags.This fatality is the 26th since May 2009 in the United States alone. Takata's exploding airbag inflators are increasingly dangerous the older they are. Why? The answer is ammonium nitrate-based propellant, a compound that disintegrates under varying temperature and humidity conditions. Worse still, Takata switched from a far more stable tetrazole-based propellant to ammonium nitrate to save a few bucks here and there.Aggressive cost-cutting measures aren't exactly abnormal in this industry, be it automakers or tier-2 suppliers. Certain parts that go into a given vehicle including the airbags shouldn't even be considered for cost-cutting measures, yet the automotive industry does exactly that regardless of the potential repercussions.Fiat Chrysler notes that replacement airbag inflators have been available for almost a decade now. Said inflators can be fitted by the dealership at no cost whatsoever to the owner. It baffles the mind how many peeps haven't even considered bringing their vehicles in for the remedy, but alas, many people aren't interested.The 2003 Dodge Ram pickup truck's owner? A whopping six recall notifications were sent to the gentleman's home address. Even so, the Auburn Hills-based automaker extends its condolences to the customer's family and friends. The collision that led to the deployment of the Ram's front airbags took place in May 2023. It's the fourth such incident officially known to involve a vehicle from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.Approximately 233,000 vehicles from both the Dodge and Chrysler brands haven't received their completely free replacement airbags. FCA sent in excess of 210 million recall notifications from 2014 to the present day, resulting in the replacement of 6.1 million inflators.FCA stopped using Takata's deadly airbags in 2016. Affected vehicles include the Chrysler 300 sedan, Dodge Magnum wagon, Dodge Charger sedan, and Dodge Challenger coupe produced for the 2005 through 2010 model years. The third-largest automaker of the Big Three in Detroit urges both owners and custodians to have their airbags replaced as soon as possible. EV kW Our previous sightings of the BMW i5 Touring showed fully-camouflaged prototypes of the car. However, in the meantime, the Munich auto firm pulled the wraps off the new-gen 5 Series, and the i5 Sedan, and it is now time to put the spotlight on the five-door variant with far less fake skin. Unfortunately for us, BMW removed the camouflage at the uninteresting end, namely up front, as the entire rear end of the zero-emission model still wears the trippy vinyl stickers.It is clear that we are looking at the i5 Touring and not a late tester of the new 5 Series Touring because it features a closed-off design of the kidney grille. There are no visible tailpipes either, and that's enough to tell us it featurespower. It's hard but not impossible to make out the exact powertrain this tester uses, but we do see the black exterior trim, several add-ons up front, 20-inch alloys, and red brake calipers.Our guess would be the eDrive40 variant , which uses a single motor generating 335 horsepower (340 ps/250) driving the rear wheels, which has 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) of torque on tap. The i5 eDrive40 Sedan takes six seconds from 0-62 mph (0-100 kph), and since the i5 Touring is heavier, it should also be a few tenths slower. The top speed might be identical at 120 mph or 193 kph.As for the i5 M60 xDrive variant, it comes with carbon fiber side mirror casings and a different grille pattern. Its bi-motor setup feeding both axles develops a total of 592 hp (601 ps/442 kW) and 605 lb-ft (820 Nm) of torque. Due to the extra oomph, this model is far quicker, taking only 3.8 seconds to sprint to sixty-two. The top speed was also increased over the lesser variant, and it now stands at 130 kph (210 mph) or 143 mph (230 kph) should you opt for the performance rubber.BMW should open the order books for the i5 Touring in Europe before the end of the year, and the M5 Touring will top the family. Taking on the likes of the Audi RS 6 Avant, the super wagon will be unveiled in 2024 and should launch as a 2025 model. There is still no official word on a possible introduction to our market, so one can only hope that at least the range-topping M5 Touring will apply for a US visa. This photo, provided by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association, shows Ryan LeGrand, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council, delivering a speech during the 2023 International Eco-Friendly Fuels Symposium held at Four Seasons Hotel at Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap U.S. experts on Tuesday called on the Korean government to adopt bioethanol, a renewable fuel, in the transportation sector to help achieve its carbon reduction goals by 2050. Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and the U.S. Grains Council said bioethanol is an attractive alternative to traditional fossil fuels in terms of costs and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. "Biofuels have become a proven tool for addressing the challenges of climate change around the world and are widely recognized as a key component for helping stabilize and diversify global energy supply chains," Mark Dries, the agricultural minister-counselor of the U.S. Embassy Seoul, said at the 2023 International Eco-Friendly Fuels Symposium in Seoul. Bioethanol, which can be produced from a variety of biomass feedstocks, has significant carbon reduction potential, said Ryan LeGrand, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council. "When used as a transportation fuel, it emits over 50 percent fewer greenhouse gases compared to conventional gasoline, and that advantage is growing as our bioethanol plants continue to adopt new technologies to help them reduce their carbon intensity score even further," LeGrand said. This photo, provided by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association, shows Mark Dries, ninth from right, agricultural minister-counselor of the U.S. Embassy Seoul, and other experts who participated in the 2023 International Eco-Friendly Fuels Symposium held at Four Seasons Hotel at Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap Talk about delayed gratification or what could be described as a very modern and very strange form of it! The former Google CEO, billionaire Eric Schmidt, while technically the new owner of a $120 million superyacht, hasn't been able to take delivery of his new purchase. Photo: Oceanco Photo: Oceanco Photo: Oceanco This is the story of the Alfa Nero superyacht , a custom Oceanco build delivered to the original owner in 2007 and later reportedly sold to Russian oligarch Andrey Guryev. Alfa Nero is one of the few sanctioned superyachts to have been force-sold at auction, and at the same time, a very good example of just how murky the legal waters around these sanctions are. Almost one month after it went under the hammer and a winning bid was chosen, it is still stuck in legal limbo: sold but not owned and unable to sail off into the sunset. Alfa Nero was famous even before it became a frozen asset of the government of Antigua and Barbuda and before the year-long saga to get it out of state waters and into the hands of a new owner. At 269 feet (82 meters) and a reported original price tag of $120 million, it's far from the biggest or the most expensive privately-owned vessel out there. But it's still a gorgeous and instantly recognizable ship, boasting incredible amenities, like the first rear-facing convertible statement pool in the industry and gorgeous styling.Most Oceanco builds are memorable and outstanding in their own way, either because of size, reported budget, propulsion technology, or amenities. Since 2022 though, many Oceanco custom projects have found themselves in the headlines for a reason that has nothing to do with the prestigious builder and everything to do with their direct beneficiaries or owners, as we regular folk would call them.March 2022 saw the publication of the first round of international sanctions against Russian oligarchs, a move that was meant to put (financial) pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and discourage him from pursuing his all-out attack on neighboring country Ukraine. Under sanctions, oligarch-owned luxury assets such as superyachts, expensive cars, real estate, or private jets would be seized and could potentially be sold off by the seizing country, and the cash would either be used here or sent over as aid to Ukraine.It's the latter part that's proven a sort of pipe dream, as Alfa Nero shows. This superyacht sailed into Antigua and Barbuda the same month that Guryev was sanctioned (March 2022) and was prevented from leaving until authorities established whether it had ties with a sanctioned individual or not. U.S. authorities were part of the investigation, with FBI agents being the first to board it.Guryev, for one, denied he was the owner, insisting his only connection to the superyacht was that of a regular client who chartered it for vacations. A very textbook "I don't know where that incriminating item came from, its not mine" move, if you will.In early 2023, local authorities announced that they could no longer cover the monthly expenses of the superyacht. It's a known rule in the industry that a boat is 10% of its cost in annual fees, so the bigger the boat, the higher the maintenance cost for it. This includes docking, fuel, maintenance and servicing, crew salaries, and other assorted fees.When Alfa Nero was frozen, it carried a full crew, and not a single person onboard has been paid since. Estimates in the local media claim the state has paid more than $1.5 million out of pocket for Alfa Nero because no one stepped forward to claim ownership. So, pressed for cash, the government announced its forced sale, which would see them recoup that money and then some.In mid-June, Schmidt placed the winning bid for the superyacht, which had first been valued at $81 million. The hammer dropped at $67.7 million, which was still a very good deal, even given the lower state valuation. Schmidt was expected to pay and take delivery after a days-long interval granted for an appeal from the direct beneficiary and once local authorities lifted sanctions over the vessel itself so they wouldn't pass to the new owner.In yet another twist, it is believed Guryev's daughter has claimed ownership and is now effectively blocking the change of ownership of the superyacht. As a close Putin associate, Guryev is on all sanctions lists, but his daughter is not. She's claiming to be the direct beneficiary of Alfa Nero, which would mean the Antigua government has no right to seize it, much less sell it at auction.Consequently, the government is asking for a denial of an injunction relief filed by Guryev's daughter in a bid to end "the wasteful and frivolous litigation." Moreover, Information Minister Melford Nicholas says that they're "prepared to grant an indemnity to the buyer against that liability [which] will stay with Antigua and Barbuda," because "the government is certainly committed to executing the Alfa Nero sale."In other words, Schmidt might still get to sail off on his new and highly controversial superyacht. If so, this will be the first successful case of a forced sale of a seized superyacht where the new owner is a U.S. citizen, and it might just mark a new and brighter chapter in the Alfa Nero saga I recently bought a Tooned version of Dom's Charger from the first installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise. Even though it's not an accurate replica of the 1/4-mile beast, nostalgia pushed me toward buying it for my home display. And that same feeling might persuade me to buy at least two items in the new Hot Wheels Fast & Furious set. Mia's '96 Acura Integra GS-R Photo: Ministry of Diecast '99 Nissan Maxima (A32) Photo: Ministry of Diecast BMW M3 E46 Photo: Ministry of Diecast Ford Shelby GT350R Photo: Ministry of Diecast Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA Photo: Ministry of Diecast I've been planning to watch the first movie in the series with my car-obsessed buddies for some time now. I've seen it at least 30 times before, but quite a few years have passed since the last time. While Tokyo Drift has had a more substantial effect on me from a driving perspective, considering it focuses on the art of going sideways, the original film still has a nostalgic feel to it.So you can imagine my surprise when I saw the newest set Mattel is about to release in stores worldwide. We've already seen all the cool cars in the series replicated at a 1/64th scale, but some have evaded the process. But we'll get to that in a second.Most people will probably forget about the four-door Integra GS-R when thinking about cool Hondas. The DB8 is quite the sleeper compared to the DC2, at least if you won't go crazy with aero and visual upgrades. Hot Wheels has been producing Premium Fast & Furious cars for a few years, so surprisingly, Mia's car from the first movie has yet to appear.It's not a big part of that film, we'll give you that, but it's still a memorable appearance for anyone who is a big fan of the series. As expected, this car features a Metalflake Blue finish, and Real Riders Six-Spoke Mag wheels for that JDM look. You'll find larger-scale replicas of Mia's vehicles from other manufacturers, but we're happy to see one from Hot Wheels either way. And for most people, this will be the highlight of the third Fast & Furious mix for 2023.Seeing a second brand-new casting in the same set is fantastic, indeed! While the character driving this Nissan Maxima A32 in the first movie was quite annoying, it's still a must-have item for enthusiasts. Reportedly, this car featured a supercharger, which meant it had a total output of around 250 hp.That doesn't sound impressive, especially compared to the Supra or the Charger, but that was enough for a sidekick then. Mattel used the Metalflake Dark Blue color to mimic the original Dodge Viper GTS Metallic Blue paint. The Maxima is rolling around on Real Riders Five-Spoke Modern wheels, and we can certainly acknowledge it as one of the leading contenders for the Best Cars in the set.The BMW M3 E46 is undoubtedly one of the most exciting castings Hot Wheels has ever come up with, but there's one problem I'd like to address here. Mark Jones designed this casting for its 2020 release when it featured a white paint job and Turquoise Real Riders Ten-Spoke Modern Wheels. That was also a Fast & Furious release, so you should understand the problem here.You will need help noticing any difference between the 2020 and 2023 iterations. Sure, this is a replica of a car that appeared in Furious 7, but it's still disappointing to see the lack of originality here. M3 fans will find five other variations of this casting on the market, and the 2021 Deutschland Design iteration in Laguna Seca Blue is the coolest. But the 2022 Mexico Convention release is slightly more notable given the context, although it will cost you more to get one.The set's last two items are also the oldest castings here. Dave Root designed this Shelby GT350R for its 2016 Night Burnerz introduction. It was just a Mainline collectible for several years, but it entered the Premium series in 2021 as part of the Fast & Furious: Furious Fleet set. One look at that iteration will tell you everything you need to know about Mattel's marketing strategy.It is identical to the 2023 variation, or at least it's hard to tell them apart without having both in front of your eyes concomitantly. This will feel like an excellent idea for people just taking up the hobby, but some veterans aren't happy about it. And there's always that dilemma: "Should I buy the whole set for collecting value or just the items I genuinely love?"The last item in the new Hot Wheels Fast & Furious set is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA. Some of you may be completely unaware that this car appeared in a Fast & Furious movie, but those who have seen Fast X will probably recognize it. Mark Jones also designed this casting, and the best part about it is that it's a Premium-exclusive model! That makes it even more appealing to collectors, especially if they were already fond of the Italian brand.It has seven variations on the market, including this new one. My favorites are the 2016 Forza Motorsport First Edition model, and the 2020 Door Slammers release. This new Orange iteration is the second one for 2023 and features the same Real Riders Steelie wheels as its "Spettacolare" predecessor.I've only come across one seller on eBay that advertises selling Mix 3 of the Hot Wheels Fast & Furious set so far, and he is asking $73 for it . If you can be patient for at least two or three more weeks, you can buy it for half that price. In the meantime, you can look for other older sets. Or you can locate the recent non-premium releases that include vehicles such as Neela's RX-8 or Sean's drift-spec Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.One thing is for sure; you shouldn't worry about finding enough Hot Wheels Fast & Furious collectibles for your display at home. But remember that a complete series doesn't come cheap. We expect a cost of at least $2,000 for all of Mattel's Fast replicas in existence if not more. Even with their massive silhouettes and extravagant amenities, standard superyachts look like trinkets compared to this groundbreaking sailing yacht emerging from Finland. Raven is primarily an engineering masterpiece paving the way for radical innovation in the world of luxury yachts. Sailing yacht connoisseurs are undoubtedly familiar with Baltic Yachts, a Finland-based shipyard that launched numerous outstanding vessels over the years. This summer, the Finnish builder is breaking its record by launching one of the most groundbreaking concepts ever brought to life.The Baltic 111 Custom named Raven is ready to start sea trials. A 111-foot (33.8 meters) sailing superyacht, Raven combines foil-assisted technology with an ultra-lightweight construction that takes things to an unprecedented level. The lucky owner will enjoy this majestic beast both for relaxing daytime sailing and high-speed adventures over long-distance routes.The expert team behind this bold full-custom project brought together Jarkko Jamsen, the one who created the concept and developed the exterior and interior design, naval architects from Botin Partners, and engineers from PURE Design and Engineering.Raven showcased a mind-blowing approach to ultra-lightweight construction. Numbers speak for themselves a displacement weight of just 55 tons compared to the 95 tons of the recently launched Baltic 110 Zemi. Every single action was aimed at weight saving, from innovative building techniques for the hull and deck to a groundbreaking interior design concept.For instance, the engineering team managed to eliminate 100 grams from every carbon pipe bracket, replaced the steel hydraulic pipework with a lighter option, and even drastically reduced the weight of the shower door.The unconventional interior style leaves a great deal of the hull and deck structure exposed, making them part of the decor. Rattan was used to create extremely lightweight finishes for the deckheads and bulkheads. All the onboard furniture is based on carbon tubular frameworks made from hollow carbon piping, which makes it ultra-lightweight.The incredible attention to detail is best reflected by a custom bamboo seat in one of the shower compartments. This unusual piece of furniture was made from carbon, which was molded and painted to look like bamboo, with an incredibly realistic finish. Using carbon instead of actual bamboo made the seat significantly lighter and also resistant to splitting.This radical approach to lightweight construction also has its downsides. The main one has to do with noise since any kind of sound-deadening feature would add a lot of weight. According to the builder, Raven's owner accepted the compromise and is happy with a yacht that will make some noise at full speed. However, some lightweight materials were added to the interior finishes to soften the noise at least partially. Raven is kicking off initial trials without its foils, followed by more tests after they're fitted. It's undoubtedly one of the most spectacular yacht launches of 2023, ready to reveal its full trailblazing spirit once it hits the waves. Just hours after announcing that the Koenigsegg Gemera is getting Jeskos V8 engine option, here it is, in production form, to blow your mind. The Swedish carmaker did the heart transplant. kW Photo: Koenigsegg It didnt take long for Koenigsegg to unveil the 2,300-horsepower megacar that was initially supposed to be powered by only a 2.0-liter three-cylinder engine, known as the Tiny Friendly Giant, integrated into a hybrid system, for a total of 1,700 horsepower (1,241 PS/1,268).But that was not something that Koenigsegg was willing to resort to. They wanted more for their first four-seater. So they squeezed in Jeskos 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8.To handle all of the extra power and torque, the Gemera ditches the Hydracoup Direct Drive for the nine-speed Light Transmission (LST), specifically designed for the Jesko , in a retuned form. Retuned is the powertrain as well, with reworked turbos and exhaust, setting up a "hot V" (HV) configuration, with the exhaust now coming out of the rear decklid.A new Radial Flux (a cross between radial and axial) electric motor is working alongside the V8. Dubbed Dark Matter, it is the worlds first six-phase automotive-grade electric motor. It weighs just 39 kilograms and develops 800 horsepower (810 PS) and 921 lb-ft (1,250 Nm) on its own.The total system output goes all the way to 2,300 horsepower (2,331 PS/1,715 kW) and 2,028 lb-ft (2,750 Nm) of torque.These record-breaking figures make the Gemera HV8 "the most powerful and extreme production car on the planet," the Koenigsegg rep proudly say. Christian von Koenigsegg tells that the team could just not resist the possibility of incorporating the features and benefits of the Gemera production model, a move that led them down what they call "an exciting development path."The Gemera production version also comes with four-wheel drive with torque vectoring for each wheel.Occupants will benefit from the presence of the heated and electrically adjustable seats, a 200-liter storage space, Apple CarPlay connectivity, roof rack mounts. The latter one must be an aerodynamics killer, though! But the Ghost Package with aero tweaks is probably ready to takle that.Meanwhile, the 2.0-liter hybrid Gemera gets 1,700 horsepower (1,724 PS) and 2,581 lb-ft (3,500 Nm) of torque, figures that seem pretty modest when compared to those of the V8 variant, but still stunning for a car that can sit up to four people and their luggage.The Gemera will roll off the assembly line of the all-new Koenigsegg Campus in Angelholm, Sweden. It is a 11,000-square meter "Gripen Atelier," as the carmaker calls it and it will be ready to kick of production at the end of 2024.First customers will get their new Koenigsegg Gemera, one of the 300 to be produced , in early 2025. As previously announced, those who want to go home with a V8-powered Gemera will have to pay the extra $400,000. As it is looking to modernize current operations but also expand its reach to include the Moon, the American space agency is pressing the accelerator pedal hard when it comes to one of the most important pieces of equipment for an astronaut: the spacesuit. With the current gear dating back to the 1980s, a new design and new capabilities are needed, not only for use in Earth orbit around the International Space Station (ISS), but also on the surface of the Moon, in light of the first crewed missions there by mid-decade.It was back in 2019 when NASA announced it was looking for a new spacesuit design for the Artemis program, but only this year did we get some info on what it will be all about and who will make it.For lunar exploration needs, NASA awarded the spacesuit design to Axiom Space, a company that earlier this year made public the first images of the thing, the so-called AxEMU (Axiom Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit). Its exact details though were not released.Alongside the development of the AxEMU by Axiom, NASA also awarded a while back a contract for the development of a spacewalking suit to Collins Aerospace . That's the one meant to replace the suits currently in use on the ISS.So, we're basically talking about two distinct pieces of hardware, each designed to work in a specific environment. The one designed for the Moon, for instance, will not only have to withstand extreme temperature and radiation, but it will have to resist the effects of the abrasive lunar dust. That's something a spacewalking suit doesn't even have to consider.But there's no rule saying the gear should be limited to their initial goal only. Given how NASA likes redundancies, the agency decided this week to give Axiom the green light to adapt the lunar suit for use in space, and Collins to find ways of adapting its suit for deployment on the surface of the Moon.The decision was probably taken in light of the large number of missions planned in the years ahead in both environments. By essentially pitting the two companies against each other, "we will enhance redundancy, expand future capabilities, and further invest in the space economy."Design changes require money, of course, and NASA will give the two companies a total of $5 million for the task at hand. It's too early to tell which design the space agency will favor, or if all four suits, two designs from each company, will eventually get to be used.If and when a spacesuit supplier is selected outside the initial awards, NASA will have said supplier perform safety and performance checks, including in the actual environment the suit is supposed to work in. AMRAAM stands for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile and it's a term that ever since 1991 has described one of the most potent airborne weapons in the arsenal of Western military airplanes. And it's a type of weapon that's getting renewed attention thanks to a new variant whose testing just wrapped up. The AIM-120 as it's also called is designed to be fired from fighter aircraft against other airborne targets, and it can fly no matter the time of the day or the weather in the area where it's used. Its most recent, and potent, incarnation, is called AIM-120D-3.This version of the weapon is equipped with an improved guidance system and a new kind of software that should make it upgradable still in the near future, depending on needs. It still carries a blast fragmentation warhead equipped with either a proximity or an impact fuse. The range of the weapon in this configuration is of about 100 miles (160 km).Proof to how important this piece of hardware is for the American military is a test firing that took place back in 2022 with the newest airplane in the country's arsenal, the F-15EX Eagle II . The weapon of choice for the plane's first live fire mission was the AIM-120D.The American military and the missile's maker, defense contractor Raytheon, first tested the AIM-120D-3 in the final months of 2020. The program has been going ever since, with the missile departing from under the wings of a number of aircraft, including the F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-16 Fighting Falcon, flown by pilots from both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force (USAF).During the years of testing, the missile was subjected to all sorts of procedures, including captive carry and live firing.It's the F-16 that was responsible for firing the new missile for the last time during a testing run. This was announced this week by Raytheon, which said the new type of AMRAAM is now ready to enter production.And it'll roll out assembly lines in quite large numbers, if we are to trust Paul Ferraro, the president of the company's Air Power business. According to the executive, now that all developmental and operational testing has been successfully completed, "we are ramping AMRAAM production to a greater rate than ever before in the history of this program."The production increase is fueled by new contracts awarded for the weapon, with the last two of them alone valued at around $2 billion. For reference, the cost of a single AMRAAM missile is estimated at $1 million, and that would put the production run at around 2,000 missiles.For reference, as far as we know the AMRAAM was responsible for 20 kills of enemy aircraft during its entire existence. The sibling rivalry between the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy is, in many ways, similar to something you'd see on an old Nickelodeon sitcom; most of a certain age know which one. When one sibling gets a toy, the other one inevitably wails and cries until they get a similar shiny doohickey too. So when the Air Force was blessed with the world's first military jet capable of radar stealth in the early 1980s, the Navy, rather than throwing a screaming tantrum, started the quest for their own equivalent. Photo: U.S. Navy Photo: U.S. Navy Photo: Fort Worth Aviation Museum Based on the fact the McDonnell Douglas /General Dynamics A-12 Avenger II isn't sailing aboard Navy aircraft carriers at the moment, the Navy's first attempt at a stealth jet didn't pan out the way they'd hoped. In fact, it only made the contractors involved several hundred million dollars less wealthy. The story behind it all showcases all that's terrible about the military-industrial complex. From farm to table, or blueprints to mockup in this case, the A-12 program was a wall-to-wall catastrophe that wasn't resolved for more than three decades post the program's initiation. Yup, it's one of those classic military-industrial snafus that litigation lawyers like to drool over, only wishing they could've taken the case.As mentioned above, it was the Air Force, through a partnership with the legendary Lockheed Corporation of California, who laid claim to the first radar stealth-capable military jet, the F-117 Nighthawk. Of course, the Nighthawk carried neither air-to-air missiles nor a cannon, so the F designation at the beginning of its name was placed more to scare the daylights out of enemy combatants than to signify the arrival of the first dedicated stealth fighter. Whatever the case, the Navy introduced a program to develop a carrier-oriented response to the F-117 in October 1983, the same year the Nighthawk was introduced to operational service.Dubbed the Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA), two separate teams of American aerospace contractors submitted proposals as per the Navy's request. On one side was a team of carrier jet heavyweights in the form of Northrop and Grumman before their merger into Northrop Grumman, as well as Vaught. The second group was the fearsome tag team of McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics, makers of the F-15 Eagle and the F-16 Fighting Falcon, respectively. For the next six years, the two teams spent countless thousands of man-hours toiling away at the blueprints for the world's first carrier-bound stealthy attack jet.Though Northrop, Grumman, and Vought may have had more experience building carrier aircraft, the U.S. Navy soon became enamored with McDonnell Douglass and General Dynamic's proposal. A proverbial UFO of a design, MD and GD's twin-engine submission for the ATA program earned every bit of its nickname, the "Flying Dorito." If real life were a kid's cartoon, you could pluck the A-12 out of the sky and dip it in some spicy queso. Jokes aside, the Navy opted for General Dynamics-ran operation to build their first stealth jet in January 1988. The name "Avenger II" stems from the TBF Avenger torpedo bomber of World War II fame.Ironically, the original Avenger was built by Grumman, a member of the enemy design team. What a wacky coincidence. With projected dimensions of 37 feet and ten inches (11.5 m) long and a 70-foot, three-inch (21.4-m) wingspan, the A-12 was built to take up only marginally more space on the deck of an American carrier as the already operational F-14 Tomcat or A6 Intruder. Sporting folding wings like most carrier jets to maximize space inside the hangar, the A-12 took all the traditions of Navy-specific jets and brought them kicking and screaming into a projected 21st century. In fairness, these projections weren't far off from reality.Had it actually flown, the A-12 was set to carry two General Electric F412 non-afterburning turbojet engines producing at least 13,000 lbs (58 kN) of thrust each. This engine still powers a plethora of different fighter airframes in its day, including McDonnell Douglas' own F-18 Hornet and the Indian HAL Tejas delta-wing fighter. As for armament, the A-12 was considerably less useless in air-to-air engagements than its land-based cousin in the Air Force, the F-117. Unlike the Nighthawk, the Avenger II was slated to carry up to two AIM-120 AMRAAM long-range, air-to-air missiles, one in either of two secondary weapons bays on either side of the main underwing bomb bay.Inside the main bomb bay sat the Avenger II's mission objective ordinance, primarily the then brand-new Texas Instruments AGM-88 anti-radiation missile developed specifically for knocking out enemy radar installations. Even almost 40 years later, this weapon is still being used as we speak against anti-Russian forces in Ukraine . Additionally, the A-12 could have carried an unspecified load of both unguided and guided bombs like the Mark 82 or the GBU-12 Paveway II. Sadly, the Avenger II carried no cannon, a flaw which counted ditto for the F-117 Nighthawk.On paper, the Navy had a jet that fulfilled everything it hoped for. In 1996, a full-scale mockup of the novel jet was even put on display at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, and it's claimed even the Marines and Air Force were interested in placing an order. But weirdly, by the time any old civilian had heard of, let alone seen the Avenger II with their own eyes, the entire A-12 program had already been canceled. Little did most common av-geeks know at the time, but the supposedly "dynamic" duo of McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics had long since run afoul of the one man they needed to keep happy. That man was the then U.S. Secretary of Defense and future Vice President Dick Cheney.At one time a massive proponent of the A-12 initiative, Secretary Cheney soon grew into something of a disappointed father character as he presided over years of seemingly endless cost overruns and deadline misses the public knew absolutely nothing about. To add to the woes, engineering redesigns to the original A-12 blueprints had been modified to make the gross weight of the airframe nearly 30 percent over what was initially projected. Though not a fighter pilot himself like his colleague John McCain, these red flags were enough to make Secretary Cheney ask the Navy point blank why the languishing project shouldn't be canceled.Evidently, The Avenger II team could have done a better job with their retort, as the program was formally canceled just a month after Cheney's declaration in January 1991. But General Dynamics and McDonnell Douglas wouldn't go quietly into the night. Or, more accurately, their lawyers wouldn't. Thus began a legal battle between the Department of Defense and the A-12's two primary contractors. Unsurprisingly for such a high-stakes lawsuit, the case made its way through the U.S. Federal Circuit Court and all the way to the Supreme Court, the highest office in the land. At least at first, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims appeared to side with the Avenger II team.Ultimately, a little-known legal clause known as the State Secrets Privilege forbade General Dynamics or McDonnel Douglas' legal team from mounting a defense that could dispel highly classified military secrets. Undoubtedly a major bummer for the non-government-backed side of this legal skirmish. But, with the post-Soviet Russians, Chinese, and Iranians snooping around where they shouldn't be at that time, it does at least make sense why such a result would occur. In the end, it'd take a truly astonishing amount of time for both sides to come to an agreement.In January 2014, over 30 years after the start of the Advanced Tactical Aircraft program, both McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics were ordered to pay a fine of $400 million split evenly between both parties for supposedly way overpromising the DOD in terms of what they could deliver with the Avenger II program. By this time, both companies had long been absorbed into larger aerospace companies like Lockheed Martin and Boeing. It stands to reason it was the parent companies who had to fork out the bill. By this point, the Navy had long ago opted for more traditional F/A-18 Super Hornets to fulfill the role the A-12 was intended for. It'd take until 2019 for the Navy to finally procure their first stealth jet, the Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II. Knowing the shenanigans that were going through to make a carrier-borne stealth fighter a reality, the Navy is all the more elated to have one late rather than never. If you want a silver lining, well, there you go. The prancing horse is at it again, folks! Meet the Ferrari KC23 a brand-new one-off that shows the brands' specialists have what it takes to make marvelous, desirable, and crazy fast machines. They took one customer's desire (and budget, of course) and shaped a dream into a tangible reality. Here's what you should know about it. Photo: Ferrari A champion in disguise Photo: Ferrari A three-year cumulative effort Ferrari's Special Projects program is where some lucky customers go and order vehicles that would make any gearhead tremble with excitement. The result is the epitome of automotive excellence. It also reflects that even today, technicians can become artisans when tasked with such a mission. The regulations may go out the window, but the reflection of individualized motorsport freedom is tightly encapsulated into such mesmerizing vehicles.The KC23 joins a royal stable of bespoke Ferraris and gets to be a part of a remarkable private collection. The unit was ordered by one of the brand's loyal customers, who also happens to be an avid collector. It envisions the future of racing while staying true to the marque's design philosophy. It is unmistakably a Ferrari, even though it looks like something Rolls-Royce would make if the British had to join a race and win it on the first try.It is a bit of a stretch to compare a made-in-Maranello Italian hypercar with something an established luxury-only brand from the UK would do. Still, the exterior design of this vehicle is a testament to fit and finish excellency. There are no weird cutouts, exaggerated vents, or bewildering proportions. It almost reminds us of the term "post-opulence" used by Rolls-Royce to describe the renewed Ghost. This Ferrari looks like it was carved out by the Michelangelo of our time from a single block of marble. Afterward, it got into engineers' hands and turned into a gas-powered jewel that surprisingly boasts a rather large (and detachable!) wing at the rear.This elegance displayed by a unique, lightweight car meant to tackle any track in the world with precision is uncanny. But the KC23 isn't a posh vehicle even though it looks like a slimmed-down coupe developed in the air tunnel to make it stick to the ground when the apex suggests the driver press the brake pedal. Based on the V8-powered 488 GT3 Evo , the KC23 borrowed the chassis, the layout, and the engine from the improved racing car. Updated in 2020, the 488 GT3 Evo benefitted from a longer wheelbase and some aerodynamic upgrades that made it faster than the 488 Challenge. Thus, the KC23's base is a tried and tested one. It brought home over 530 wins!Despite the one-off having such impressive underpinnings, Ferrari and the customer agreed to develop it only for track use. But the KC23 won't be allowed to take part in any competitions. But when it is put to work, the machine will gracefully display its tire-eating capabilities. The automatic air intakes and the mildly sharp exterior design were created completely disregarding public road usage regulations. Thus, the car may appear like it shapeshifts when put to the test.Taking advantage of the advanced study of the motion of mechanical points, bodies, and systems, the automaker found the ideal recipe that allows the vehicle to suck in as much air as needed and to control the airflow for improved downforce when required.Reminding us of the impeccable LaFerrari, the KC23 has butterfly doors that open vertically thanks to the single front hinges. The clamshell hood is spectacular by itself too. Just two pins must be removed so admirers and mechanics can take a look at the powerplant. Tifosi might also remember the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo and recognize the rear lights that look like blades ready to be deployed for an intergalactic fight.A very special hypercar also deserves exceptional paint. As such, the KC23 boasts a four-layer aluminum paint that gives it a liquid gold look poised to captivate anyone's attention.The vehicle has almost a spartan look because it kept most of the 488 GT3 Evo's cabin parts. The automaker replaced the door panels and the dashboard finish for the passenger. The marque also says that the KC23 has specific Alcantara seats that display its electro-welded logo.With camera-based technology evolving, designers and engineers could give up having a rear windshield and side mirrors. That's yet another reason for this vehicle's special look.The KC23 uses 18-inch wheels when it graces tracks worldwide with its presence and shows off with 21-inch wheels at the front and 22-inch wheels at the rear when it's on display.Ferrari and the collector ordering this hypercar spent three years developing the project into what it is today. Enthusiasts can admire it between July 13 and July 16 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. Can't make it? Don't worry! The Italians thought of that too and decided to temporarily include it in their museum in Maranello for two months, from August 1 until October 2. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. By Jun Ji-hye Maritime police and local governments servicing eastern coastal regions are on high alert as sharks have been spotted more frequently there recently. Seen is a dead shark that was caught in a net in waters off Samcheok, Gangwon Province, Thursday. Yonhap Lawmakers representing the Civil Contract party voted to dismiss Taguhi Tovmasian as chairwoman of the National Assemblys committee on human rights after a brief session. The vote was boycotted by their colleagues from the opposition Hayastan and Pativ Unem alliances. Civil Contracts Hovik Aghazarian was the only parliament deputy who spoke during the session. He repeated the ruling partys complaints that Tovmasian did not attend most meetings of the Armenian parliaments leadership and did not stop hate speech when her committee discussed on April 4 candidacies for the then vacant post of the state human rights defender. Edgar Ghazarian, the opposition candidate for the post, enraged pro-government lawmakers with his claim that the 2018 velvet revolution that brought Pashinian to power was in fact a Turkish-Azerbaijani revolution. They shouted abuse and threats at Ghazarian during the meeting chaired by Tovmasian. One of those lawmakers, Artur Hovannisian, pledged to cut the tongues and ears of anyone who would make disparaging comments about the regime change. Pashinians party did not criticize his behavior. Tovmasian, who is affiliated with Pativ Unem, insisted that she did nothing wrong on April 4. In a written statement, she also argued that the parliamentary statutes did not require her to attend meetings of the National Assemblys Council consisting of speaker Alen Simonian, his deputies as well as the committee chairpersons. Tovmasian again claimed that Pashinian personally ordered his loyalists to strip her of the parliamentary post in retaliation against her defection from his political team following Armenias defeat in the 2020 war with Azerbaijan. As you can see, any dissent in Armenia is strangled by imprisonment and dismissal, added the former journalist and newspaper editor. Pativ Unem voiced strong support for Tovmasian, saying that she acted professionally on April 4 in the face of her pro-government colleagues hooligan behavior. The official grounds for her dismissal are completely baseless and illegal, the opposition bloc charged in a statement. Hayastan also condemned Tovmasians dismissal. The government cannot put a straitjacket on the opposition; that means totalitarianism, dictatorship, tyranny, said one of its senior parliamentarians, Artsvik Minasian. Armenian law reserves a number of leadership positions in the parliament for the opposition minority. Tovmasians ouster left the opposition without any such posts. Hayastans Ishkhan Saghatelian and Vahe Hakobian were ousted as deputy speaker and chairman of the parliament committee on economic affairs respectively in July 2022 after weeks of anti-government protests organized by Hayastan and Pativ Unem. Another Hayastan deputy, Armen Gevorgian, immediately resigned as chairman of a committee on Eurasian integration in protest. Both opposition blocs made clear on Tuesday that they will not nominate a new head of the human rights committee. Civil Contract likewise said that it will not install Tovmasians successor. Nevertheless, the ruling party will effectively gain control of her post even in the absence of a new committee chair. In line with the parliamentary statutes, the human rights panel will be run, in an acting capacity, by Rustam Bakoyan, its deputy chairman affiliated with Civil Contract. Last year, Bakoyans former wife accused him of systematically beating her, publicizing purported photographs of injuries sustained by her. Bakoyan, who denied the allegations, was not prosecuted or even censured by Pashinians party. The interlocutors reviewed the situation in the region, ongoing negotiations on the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, necessary steps to ensure the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the need for a Baku-Stepanakert dialogue with international involvement, the Armenian governments press office said in a statement on the call. Prime Minister Pashinian referred to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor and steps necessary for overcoming it, it added without elaborating. Blinken and the U.S. State Department did not immediately issue statements on the conversation. It took place five days after U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Armen Grigorian, the secretary of Armenias Security Council, in Washington. Sullivan did not comment on that meeting. Both Blinken and Sullivan held late last month trilateral meetings with the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers during their fresh round of U.S.-mediated peace talks focusing on the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty. Blinken said on June 29 that despite further progress made by the two ministers there remains hard work to be done to try to reach a final agreement. Speaking in Baku on Tuesday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stressed the importance of Armenias recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh which was declared by Pashinian in May. Now, however, the time has come to put those words to paper, Aliyev said, referring to the peace deal currently discussed by Baku and Yerevan. 11 July 2023 13:00 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Remaining true to its expansionist foreign policy, Armenia goes the limits by not signing final peace with Azerbaijan. As the Hay society brain-washed with the myths about the invincible brave Armenian soul, they have not been able to comprehend the realities behind the humiliated defeat in 2020. The reality is comprised that from economic, demographic and political point of view Armenia is the weakest country in the South Caucasus and even its borders are protected by Russia, in the other words, it is failed state or banana republic. To top it all off, this failed banana republic rides the high horse and tries to wrest off lands from Azerbaijan, the strongest and dominant country in the region. At the end of the day, it encounters the facts, either it should continue its expansionist policy which will end up the erase of Armenia from the political map, or it should swallow its pride. Unfortunately, Hayk chose the former one. Despite all occurrence, they keep hoping that something will change in the global political scene, and external forces such as France, the USA and so on will come to fight with Azerbaijan instead of them. So, they aim to play with time by making provocations, putting groundless claims forward and so on. Because, like the Armenian leadership, the Armenian society knows well the methods of gaining time by inventing various excuses for their own interests. As is known, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan made sensational statements about peace talks and repeatedly emphasized that he is ready to recognize Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan. It was unexpected not just for Azerbaijanis but also for Armenians as well. No one in Armenia's political life has made such statements previously. However, being well aware of Armenian hypocrisy, many were sceptical about his words, and it proved that they were right. According to the Armenian mass-media the Haya Que civil-legislative initiative proposes to amend the legislation and criminalize any action on behalf of Armenia that recognizes Karabakh as part of another state. Simultaneously, governmental and pro-governmental parties are lashing out the initiative, but needless to say that all of these are farce. It will be no surprise, if Armenia Parliament adopts the law at the end. It is worth noting that it is well known democracy game and quasi-democratic countries sometimes apply to it. Of course Nikol Pashinyan will do the same and use it as a pretext to step back from his statement. Ostensibly, he is ready and eager to sign a peace, but as Armenia is a so-called democratic country he abides by the laws and therefore he cannot sign the peace agreement. Pashinyan's traditional excuse consists of subjects such as his life being at risk, threats to family members, and coup attempt in his country. Thus, they think that the peace talks will reach to a deadlock once again, and they will try to explain it somehow by giving an excuse. But Armenia forgets Azerbaijan's patience is not unlimited and any such kind of attempts could be last straw. Of course, this will limit the opportunity of negotiation and could lead to the new war between the two countries. Besides, Azerbaijan has a lot of leverages to use against the failed state as well. As is known, Armenians were brought to the South Caucasus, including Armenia by the Russian Empire after the Russo-Iranian war at the beginning of 19th century. Nascent Armenian society in the region revived thanks to the Russian Empire. It was Czar who took productive lands and granted them to Armenians; it was Czar who gave them permission to exploit oil well in Absheron, Azerbaijan; it was Czar who eliminated the Caucasus Albanian Church and handed its heritage to the Armenian church and so on. Moreover, current Armenia was called Iravan khanate, when Russia invaded it and plenty of documents were signed with the representatives of khans of Iravan and Russian Czars. Even as a historical proof, it is possible to clearly see the mosques in then-Iravan in many tableaux painted by several Russian artists. Besides, several then-famous writers described the city as a hometown of Muslims. In other words, Azerbaijan has plenty of historical facts to prove Armenia as having been part of Azerbaijani land, and has full right to criminalize any statement of it, and moreover has a strong army to bring it into force. So, it would be better for Armenians to get of the high horse, and try to find reasonable solution, if they do not want their banana republic is put in dusty shelves of archives of history in days to come. --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 July 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Rena Murshud Read more Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan persistently says that he will reach an agreement on the peace treaty with Azerbaijan and on the issue of delimitation and demarcation of the borders based on the map of 1975. However, there is no accurate information about the mentioned map itself or what areas are included in it. It should be noted that from the time of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia to the date of the collapse of the Soviet Union, a map was drawn up several times, including delimitation and demarcation of the borders. Over the last 20-30 years, the territorial conflict between the two states after the demise of the USSR made it necessary to bring back those maps from the dusty archives onto table. Rather, the Armenian authorities, using all pretexts, have now started citing those maps as a basis. It is necessary to remind one main issue that whether it is a map made in France in 1918 showing the entire present-day Armenia as the territory of Azerbaijan, or whether it is the map of 1975 claimed by Pashinyan, in any case, Karabakh, which Armenians considered their land during the Soviet period, was within the territory of Azerbaijan. In 2020, after the liberation of the occupied lands in the Patriotic War, by the order of President Ilham Aliyev, the Soviet-era status quo over Karabakh was abolished. Despite this, Armenia does not accept this reality, and continues to brazenly call the lands of Azerbaijan "Nagorno-Karabakh". As mentioned above, in the meetings held after the war, Pashinyan repeatedly made statements about the recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Nevertheless, this statement of the prime minister was refuted and published in various comments in many Armenian media. Today, as a result of the behavior and policy of not only the Armenians, but also the Armenian authorities according to double standards, the peace process has been purposefully prolonged. According to Azerbaijani diplomat Eldar Namazov, who recently interviewed Georgian journalist Gela Vasadze, the 1975 map that Pashinyan referred to for the signing of the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as for the demarcation and delimitation of the borders of the two countries, is not considered the final map. There were maps drawn in 74, 76, 77, which were almost similar. But when it is determined by law, the delimitation issue should not be based on the 1975 map, but based on cartography and geodesy. "Delimitation is a long issue. The map drawn up in 1975 applies only a part of the general border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The other part should be compiled according to the maps published in other years." Political analyst Zardusht Alizade said these words in his comment to Azernews in support of Eldar Namazov's words. According to him, it is necessary to produce agreed maps for certain areas, stations and projects every year. This is done in parts for 10-15 years. It is impossible to carry out delimitation works on that map. After each part is agreed, it is documented on a defined map. And a single map defining the 1000 km Azerbaijan-Armenia territory does not exist at all. According to Alizade, Pashinyan's policy according to such double standards is procrastination. "Armenia is resorting to this way because it does not want the signing of the peace agreement. Currently, due to the balance of forces, the Azerbaijani side is strong and demands its rights. Armenia does not want concede either. Pashinyan is playing with time because he cannot afford to give what Azerbaijan wants, so that maybe the situation may change in the future. Armenians live with empty dreams that suddenly Azerbaijan will weaken and the countries close to it, including itself, will become stronger. With this thought, the unfortunate people put themselves in such a ridiculous situation." Being Azernews, we also learned the opinions of Georgian journalist Gela Vasadze on the issue in question. According to him, any negotiations regarding border delimitation and demarcation are conducted on the basis of some documents. "Of course, this process is continued only on the basis of documentation. But the essence of the bilateral negotiations is determined on the basis of consensus between the parties (both Azerbaijan and Armenia), and for this, a new border passing through a specific space should be created," Vasadze stressed. The journalist, while expressing his opinion about the recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan by the Armenian government, also touched on another point. "Armenia insists that territories with current Russian peacekeepers should not be included in Azerbaijan's sovereign territory. Because Armenia thinks that the Armenians living in Karabakh today cannot live together with the population of Azerbaijan according to the laws of Azerbaijan. It is clear that Azerbaijan does not agree to this," the Georgian journalist said. According to Gela Vasadze, Armenia's efforts are just to win time. However, as Azerbaijan takes a position based on its internal and external views, there will be hopes for a change in the political and general situation in the world. Also, it will be possible for Azerbaijan to restore full sovereignty over its territory, including the entire territory of Karabakh, of which its part temporarily is under peacekeeping control. --- Rena Murshud is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 July 2023 16:11 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more The attempts of Armenia to break the law at the border checkpoint in Lachin were prevented by the Azerbaijani State Border Service. Armenians, who want to enter Karabakh after the latest armed provocations by Armenian military groups, have been provided transportation by vehicles belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross. It is worth to note that the State Border Service of Azerbaijan has also created special conditions for this. However, according to the information, serious violations of the law were discovered in the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan during the last few days. The representatives of the organization misused their privileges and performed actual smuggling activities, and many facts about this have been discovered so far. In addition, the Azerbaijan State Border Service shared special information about this in the form of a press release. It is noted in the information that several Armenians who wanted to cross the border of Azerbaijan were detained in cars belonging to the Red Cross Committee, and as a result, a large number of undeclared cigarettes, mobile phone devices, as well as a large amount of fuel were detained in the truck while trying to illegally enter the territory of the country. Regarding the incident, British political analyst Neil Watson said in his comment to AZERNEWS that Armenia is undermining the peace process and international laws by committing such acts at the hands of international humanitarian organizations. He also condemned the ICRC's support to Armenians in such illegal acts. The fact is that smuggling of any illegal items in ICRC vehicles is a gross violation of the ceasefire agreement and Azerbaijani law, and casts suspicion on the use of any vehicles for humanitarian purposes, whether under the aegis of the ICRC or any other organisation. Such smuggling besmirches the name and reputation of the ICRC and, once again, makes the international community doubt whether the Armenian government and people are genuinely seeking peace. The peace talks are currently at a pivotal stage, yet it seems that the Armenians are prepared to jeopardise this by senseless smuggling and are abusing the humanitarian exemption afforded to the ICRC to facilitate this. Azerbaijan is totally within its rights to suspend passage through the Lachin checkpoint and hopefully thereafter Armenia will realise it has more to lose than gain from such actions and such smuggling will not recur, Watson said. The expert associated the use of the ICRC's name in such illegal events with the organization's irresponsibility in its work. Watson said that Azerbaijan can now sue the ICRC to the International Criminal Court. Also, according to the British expert, Azerbaijan can investigate the activities of the ICRC before the establishment of the border checkpoint in Azerbaijan and make a claim about whether or not criminal cases have occurred. Despite the fact that I am certain the ICRC hierarchy has no knowledge of what has occurred in its name in this situation, its relaxed approach has enabled this smuggling to occur, which is against Azerbaijani and international law. Azerbaijan has evidence of this smuggling and would be in its rights to take a case against the ICRC in the International Criminal Court. Certainly, there is every indication that weaponry and related components could have been transported in ICRC vehicles and that the ICRC could be accused of inflaming the situation, rather than carrying out its stated humanitarian purpose, Watson underlined. Commenting on Armenia's baseless statements after the closure of the Lachin checkpoint in connection with the incident, the expert called Armenians professionals in preparing such claims and statements. Armenians are the specialists in baseless statements, which they veneer in their own special brand of religiously-oriented misinformation. It is imperative that Azerbaijan presents the facts regarding this smuggling and other violations and engages the best lawyers to present its case in the International Criminal Court. Such information also needs to be circulated to the western media in unambiguous terms, he said. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 July 2023 14:55 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev met with the Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Guo Min, Azernews reports. The sides hailed the development of relations between the two countries in various areas, and the meeting discussed the prospects for expanding cooperation in economic, trade, energy, transport, transit, investment, information and communication technologies, humanitarian, tourism, and other fields. The sides also agreed to hold the next meeting of the Azerbaijan-China Intergovernmental Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission in China by the end of this year. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Azerbaijan's renowned composer Uzeyir Hajibayli's musical comedy will be staged at the State Academic Musical Theater on July 16. "If Not That One, Then This One" is a 1910 operetta in four acts that reflects social and everyday life relations in pre-revolutionary Azerbaijan. It is the composer's second work written in this genre, Azernews reports. The musical comedy has been shown for many years by various directors not only in Azerbaijan, but also in many theaters around the world. Honored Art Worker Nazim Hajialibeyov, stage designer, Honored Artist Ismayil Mammadov, choirmaster Honored Artist Vagif Mastanov, conductorHonored Art Worker Fakhreddin Atayev, ballet masters Honored Artists Zakir and Yelena Agayev, concertmaster Fidan Babayeva and director's assistant Sevinj Mammadova are involved in the work on the play staged by People's Artist Jannat Salimova. In his work, Hajibeyli used the Azerbaijani mugham and included extracts from Fuzuli's ghazals in the libretto. The premiere of "If Not This One, Then That One" was held in Baku on April 25, 1911, at the Mayilov brothers' theater (now State Opera and Ballet Theater). The main roles were performed by Mirzaagha Aliyev as Mashadi Ibad, Huseyngulu Sarabski as Sarvar, Ahmed Agdamski as Gulnaz, and M. Teregulov as Hasan bey. The musical was conducted by Uzeyir Hajibeyli. The libretto of the comedy was first published in Baku in 1912 by the Orujov brothers' printing house. The musical comedy has been successfully staged in Turkey, Iran, Bulgaria and other countries. In 1956, Huseyn Seyidzade shot the movie "If Not This One, Then That One". The film criticized backward traditions and celebrated emerging modern lifestyles. It was translated into many languages and within the next three years was shown in more than 40 countries. "If Not This One, Then That One" film is considered one of the most famous and successful cinematographic pieces in the history of Azerbaijan`s movie industry Tickets can be purchased at all ticket offices in Baku and the iTicket website. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 July 2023 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said this at a weekly press conference in Tehran, Azernews reports, citing Iran's media outlets. Minister says that Foreign Minister Huseyin Amir Abdullahian held fruitful meetings with his Azerbaijani counterpart and President Ilham Aliyev in Baku. "There is a positive dynamic in Iran-Azerbaijan relations. Iran understands its obligations regarding the security of the diplomatic corps and acts responsibly. The Azerbaijani embassy will be protected as much as possible and we hope that we will see the opening of the embassy in the near future," Nasser Kanaani said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 July 2023 12:12 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh on the occasion of the country's national holiday, Azernews reports. The letter reads: Dear Mr. President, On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I am pleased to sincerely congratulate you and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of Mongolia. I believe that we will continue to make joint efforts towards more fruitful usage of the existing potential of Azerbaijan-Mongolia relations and elevation of our cooperation to a qualitatively new stage. On this festive day, I extend my best wishes to You, and wish the friendly people of Mongolia everlasting peace and prosperity. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 8 July 2023 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 July 2023 18:30 (UTC+04:00) Turkiye on Tuesday marked the 28th anniversary of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide in which over 8,000 Bosniak civilians were brutally killed by Bosnian Serb forces, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Twitter said: "On the 28th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, which has gone down in history as a dark stain on humanity, I extend my deepest condolences to the grieving families of our martyrs and all Bosniak brothers and sisters." "We will never forget Srebrenica, and we will never let it be forgotten, to prevent similar atrocities from happening again," he added. Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz on Twitter quoted the statement of Alija Izetbegovic, independent Bosnia and Herzegovina's first president: "Whatever you do, don't forget the genocide. Because the forgotten genocide is repeated." "We still deeply feel the pain of what happened 28 years ago in Srebrenica as if it were the first day. On the 28th anniversary of the genocide, I remember our Bosnian brothers and sisters who lost their lives," Yilmaz added. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also tweeted an image that said: "We commemorate our Bosniak brothers who were martyred 28 years ago during the Srebrenica Genocide, one of the darkest episodes of history. We will never forget! " Srebrenica genocide More than 8,000 Bosniak Muslims were killed when Bosnian Serb forces attacked Srebrenica in July 1995, despite the presence of Dutch peacekeeping troops. Serb forces were trying to wrest territory from Bosnian Muslims and Croats to form a state. The UN Security Council declared Srebrenica a "safe area" in the spring of 1993. But troops led by Gen. Ratko Mladic overran the UN zone. He was later found guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Dutch troops failed to act as Serb forces occupied the area, killing 2,000 men and boys on July 11, 1995 alone. About 15,000 residents of Srebrenica fled to the surrounding mountains, but Serb troops hunted down and killed 6,000 more people. Bodies of victims have been found in 570 different areas across the country. In 2007, the International Court of Justice at The Hague ruled that genocide had been committed in Srebrenica. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A person runs with an umbrella in downtown Seoul on July 11, amid a torrential downpour. Yonhap The state weather agency on Tuesday issued a heavy rain warning for the Seoul metropolitan area and the southern port city of Busan, and a heavy rain advisory for most other parts of South Korea, with precipitation exceeding 60 millimeters per hour in some capital regions. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) had issued the warning as of 3:20 p.m., forecasting the Seoul metropolitan area will get up to 180 mm of rain until Wednesday and hourly precipitation may be in excess of 70 mm Tuesday night. The KMA issued a heavy rain advisory for almost all other parts of the nation, excluding the southern resort island of Jeju and Gangwon Province's east coast, saying torrential downpours of 30 to 60 mm per hour, accompanied by gusty winds, thunder and lightning, will drench many central and southern regions until Wednesday morning. A heavy rain warning is issued when precipitation is expected to reach more than 90 mm for three hours or 180 mm for 12 hours. In Icheon, some 60 kilometers southeast of Seoul, 64.5 mm of heavy rain fell per hour, and a man in his 70s died after being swept away by floodwaters while walking along a stream in adjacent Yeoju, where hourly precipitation reached 59.5 mm. The per-hour precipitation also reached 53.5 mm in the Bupyeong district of Incheon, just west of Seoul. Elsewhere in the country, rescue authorities were inundated with reports of fallen street trees, house, road and river flooding, and other damage related to heavy monsoon rains. The KMA advised residents affected by the heavy rain warning and advisory to be careful of flooding and other accidents, and brace for a spate of torrential downpours that make it difficult to see ahead. (Yonhap) Vehicles move slowly on a road covered in water due to heavy rainfall near Hannam Bridge in Seoul, July 11. Yonhap 11 July 2023 23:25 (UTC+04:00) The US Embassy in Tashkent issued a statement on recent presidential elections in Uzbekistan, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz news agency. According to the statement, Now as President Mirziyoyev begins his new mandate, the United States stands ready to help advance his program of reform and governance, including in the areas of the rule of law, checks and balances between branches of government, and the protection of individual rights. It is noted that these principles are the basis of representative governance. We look forward to working with President Mirziyoyev and the government of Uzbekistan to further deepen economic, educational, humanitarian, and security cooperation between the United States and Uzbekistan, the statement reads. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 July 2023 22:36 (UTC+04:00) by Dr Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan According to the Central Election Commission elections, Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was re-elected with 87.1 percent votes. More than 15 million voters participated in Sundays elections, Azernews reports. The preliminary results shows that 15 million 651 thousand 405 voters, or 79.88 percent of the total voters, took part in the Uzbekistan Presidential Election. Candidate from UzLiDeP Shavkat Mirziyoev achieved the highest votes with 87.05 percent; candidate from "Adolat" SDP Robakhon Makhmudova secured 4.43 percent; candidate from the Peoples Democratic Party Ulugbek Inoyatov achieved 4.02 percent and candidate from the Ecological Party Abdushukur Khamzayev registered 3.74 percent votes. Mirziyoyez called a snap election after changing the constitution through a legitimate referendum. Most recently presidential election was the biggest political event in Uzbekistan which ultimately changed the nature, composition, style and governance model of the state. The incumbent president Mirziyoyez initiated numerous structural reforms that simplified taxes, removed hurdles for businesses and allowed many to solve their bureaucratic problems via petitions on the presidential website. Even human rights have been provisioned and protected under the regime of Mirziyoyev. He ended forced labour in the countrys cotton fields and released political prisoners jailed. Critical analysis reveals that Mirziyoyevs re-election campaign mainly focused on the economy and education. He has said he aims to double the countrys gross domestic product (GDP) to $160bn in the near future. Election was fair, free and transparent and conducted according to the internationally recognized standards of electoral process in terms of electioneering, politicization and democratization. The state remained completely neutral before and during the election. The CEC being the independent organization remained impartial and vigilant to maintain utmost impartiality, transparency, and accountability and held a remarkable election in which not a single incident of fake voting/proxy voting, snatching of votes was reported. Moreover, there was no incident of any structural or administrative comparative advantage to any specific political candidate or party during the whole process of presidential election which vividly reflected high level of political maturity, electoral diversity, existence of strong political opposition and last but not least, rules of the law in the country. However, as usual and expected the initial report of the OSCE termed this presidential election as lacked genuine competition. Moreover, the Europe Radio labeled it scripted election. The War & Peace Institute projected the same as compromised electoral process because of no political activism. Frankly speaking, four political parties rigorously participated in the said election which clearly negated the false and fake propaganda of the western media especially the prejudiced OSCEs initial report. On the other hand, the recently held election was not scripted rather it was streamlined and systematically held. In this regard, all SOPs of the electoral code, political parties procedure and political campaign was strictly followed and across the board implemented, indicating provision of equal political rights to all the candidates in terms of sanctions of funds, seeking of foreign funding, allocation of media time and last but not least utility of social media. Thus screaming of the EU radio against election is not based on facts rather mixtures of self-made fairytales and personal taboos. Ironically the War & Peace Institute intentionally considered the election as lacked political activism. On the other hand, participation of 15 million voters with turn out near to 80 percent along with more than 900 international observers, responsible NGOs, and vibrant media only a blind or color blind may hold this kind of statement which is completely untrue and ineffective. Obviously merchants of false and fake propaganda miserably failed and caravan of political stability, economic sustainability and societal sensitivity won the hearts and souls of the common people who freely exercised their electoral rights and voted for socio-economic prosperity, continuation of structural reform, wellbeing of common people, social development, overhauling of governance, judicial transformation and last but not least re-balancing of administrative and electoral powers in the political system. Mirziyoyev, a successful reformer who created a new national narrative of a "New Uzbekistan and after his grand slid victory the country has now entered into New Era. Mirziyoyev says he plans to open up tourism and investment in the country. The election and the election campaign was not "low-key, mirroring a lack of opposition to the incumbent as described by the OSCE. Rather it was open, inclusive, transparent, free and fair. Supporters of all political parties were fully charged and arranged lots of corner meetings and in door discussions. To conclude, the most recently presidential election was the first giant step towards liberalized democracy, protecting of human rights, provision of basic necessities of life, wellbeing of common people, achieving the desired goals of socio-economic prosperity and regional integration. It was an agenda based, performance based, ideology based and last but not least, prosperity based election in which every political party had its own unique program to attract the common voters. So, western sick mindedness has no place to spread rumors. It was not authoritarian based election in which whims and wishes prevailed rather it was reflection of national policies translating good things in the life of common people. Therefore, western political manipulation will not achieve anything expect self-destruction. The re-election of Mirziyoyev vividly reflects the continuation of strong spirits of regionalism and carrying of wise traditions of dialogue, diplomacy and development to resolve emerging issues. It is the message of immense economic integration, formation of trans-regional connectivity, high volumes of trading, simplification of custom duties, marching towards desired digitalization, e-commerce and social development. The convincing electoral victory confirms popular support for Mirziyoye, his policies, programs and projects. The Chinese president Xi Jinping also offered congratulations as well as praise for Mirziyoyev's leadership. The re-election of Mirziyoyev would be value addition for the strategic expansion of the BRI in the days to come. Additionally it would also be useful for the joining of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and achieving the dreams of greater regional connectivity. It would further promote the continuous development of the China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership and inject new impetus into the construction of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future. With an astounding average daily calorie intake of 4,012, Bahrain has been named the world's highest calorie-consumer. Read More: Here are 10 Sushi Restaurants to Try in Bahrain This according to research done by the Oxford University-based company OurWorldInData, which compiled figures on calorie consumption by country from the United Nations. With 3,868 and 3,850 daily calories, respectively, the US and Ireland are not far behind. These aren't the only countries that consume a lot of calories; Belgium, Turkey, Austria, Germany, Italy, Qatar, and Romania also made it to the top 10 list. The UK Public Health Service advises 2,000 calories for women and 2,500 calories for males, while the US FDA recommends 2,000 calories per day on average. Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten has been released from a California prison after serving more than 50 years of a life sentence for two infamous killings Dog-walking services surge in popularity among Chinese students People's Daily Online) 11:22, July 11, 2023 Chinese college students, even those without pets, are increasingly interested in offering dog-walking services, catering to pet owners who lack the time to do it themselves. Students who love animals and have plenty of time, along with pet owners, praise this innovative practice. Now that summer vacation has begun, locales across the country have witnessed a great number of students-turned-dog walkers. A man walks a dog for his client. (Chengdu Economic Daily/Zhang Zhaoting) One student, Wu from the University of Melbourne, returned to her hometown of Suzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province for summer vacation. She has already walked dogs for various pet owners five times this summer. "There are many videos of my peers becoming dog walkers on short-video platforms," she said. "I found it quite interesting, so I left a message about providing dog walking services in the WeChat group of my neighborhood and was contacted by a dog owner shortly after." Before Wu is entrusted with a dog, both parties confirm their identities, and agree on the time, route and other details. While out with the dog, she records clips or shows the process in a livestream to the owner. On Douyin, China's short video and e-commerce platform, videos with the hashtag "college students walk dogs" have garnered 2.04 billion views. Many users on Xiaohongshu, a lifestyle-sharing social media platform, and Weibo, another popular Chinese social media platform, have shared their dog-walking experiences. According to Xianyu, a second-hand trading platform under Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, Jiangsu and central China's Hubei Province rank among the regions with the highest number of such activities in the country. Chat groups have been set up on Chinese social media platforms to facilitate contact between dog owners and walkers. Chen Youhua, a professor at the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Nanjing University in Jiangsu Province, believes that student interaction with pets can help reduce pressure, and foster a stronger sense of responsibility through caring for the animals. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) By Choe Chong-dae During one of my visits to Europe before the pandemic, I had the privilege of a lunch appointment with a distinguished official who was both a member of parliament and a government minister of a European nation. As I sat in the restaurant waiting for him, I was astonished when he appeared on a bicycle. Intrigued by this unexpected sight, I couldn't resist the urge to inquire about his decision to opt for a bicycle instead of his official car. To my surprise, his answer wasn't very complex: He believed that choosing a bicycle over a car was simply the better option. He expanded upon this by explaining that the bicycle provided an opportunity for exercise making it a healthier option and that the bicycle also helped in reducing carbon emissions. This stark contrast between his approach and the preference for luxurious official cars among the majority of Korean high officials was striking. It is disheartening to observe the prevalence of corrupt behavior and the lack of ethical consciousness among many high-ranking officials in public institutions, particularly members of Parliament, people who are meant to uphold the principles of the constitutional body. This issue extends further to influential individuals within governmental organizations, where corruption and unethical practices have become alarmingly widespread. The granting of privileges, such as immunity from arrest and legal prosecution while serving as a Parliamentary member, has raised significant concerns regarding the principle of equality before the law. Furthermore, the generous salaries, expansive office facilities, and substantial staff allocations including drivers and secretaries provided to parliament members are often seen as excessive and superfluous. Another area of concern relates to the supplementary allowances and sponsorship funds available to lawmakers. The absence of guidelines regarding the intended purpose and distribution of these funds, granted by external sources, has given rise to worries about transparency and accountability. Campaigns are underway to review and potentially revise the privileges granted to members of parliament who are meant to uphold principles such as equality, transparency and responsible use of public resources. The aim is to enhance public trust and promote democracy by establishing clearer regulations and stricter oversight regarding funds and privileges. Some politicians frequently display an excessive attachment to material possessions, power, social status and authority. Their desire for more seems insatiable. However, there are also individuals who demonstrate a different approach, and balanced lives without actively chasing after wealth and power, even if that leads them to possess limited resources. Two notable examples of such politicians are Jose Mujica, the former president of Uruguay (2010-2015) and Tage Erlander, the former prime minister of Sweden (1945-1969). These leaders epitomized austerity and self-sacrifice, eschewing worldly luxuries in favor of simplicity. Despite their modest lifestyles, their impact on the world was far-reaching and profound. Recently, a civic group known as the People's Movement Headquarters for Abolishing Privileges, led by Jang Ki-pyo, has garnered significant attention. In April 2023, the group organized a rally where voters formed a roughly 3-kilometer human chain surrounding the National Assembly. The objective was to directly pressure the National Assembly, whose members have been accused of paying lip- service to reforms without taking genuine action. Parliamentarians should prioritize public service over self-importance, embracing the spirit of "noblesse oblige." I propose the solution would be for voters to hold these politicians accountable for prioritizing personal interests over public service and self-sacrifice. 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. Two Rescues on N. Oregon Coast, One Murder Investigation Published 07/09/23 at 6:01 a.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Oregon Coast) - A murder investigation is underway in the north Oregon coast village of Cape Meares, while not far away the US Coast Guard had to rescue two people in distress at Neskowin this weekend. (Photo US Coast Guard) Tillamook County Sheriff's (TCO) office reports there is a major crimes investigation ongoing on 4th street NW in Cape Meares, which is expected to last through today (Sunday). Around 10 a.m. on July 8, deputies responded to a call of shots fired and suspicious activity. Officers immediately discovered a deceased male adult inside the home. The investigation soon indicated the 47-year-old man from Portland was a victim of homicide. The Tillamook County Major Crimes Team was brought in along with other investigators. Tillamook County Sheriff photo Also investigating is the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory, which has begun processing the crime scene, said the sheriff's office. Another Portland man was identified as a person of interest in the case. TCO said Jonathan Blake Morriss, 31, of Portland was already in custody in Tillamook on unrelated charges. Tillamook County Sheriff photo In order to help protect the integrity of this investigation, and to ensure proper family notification, we will be limiting information released until it is appropriate to do so, TCO said in a release. Tillamook County Sheriff photo A variety of north Oregon coast agencies were a part of this investigation in one way or another: Tillamook Police, Oregon State Police and Manzanita Police and the Tillamook 911 Dispatchers. County chaplains also responded and assisted with this investigation. Another 30 miles to the south, the village of Neskowin had two Coast Guard rescues take place on July 8. US Coast Guard photo An 18-year-old male found himself trapped by high tides at Proposal Rock, the large, tree-covered sea stack at the tideline. The man was, however, on a very dangerous section of the rock facing the west. He was airlifted from the rock by Coast Guard helicopter sent from the Air Facility Newport. The aircrew safely hoisted the individual with minor hand abrasions and transported them to EMS in stable condition, the USCG said on social. US Coast Guard photo Crews from the Depoe Bay station also responded to a second person that needed assistance, after he swam out to try and help the stranded person. It's unclear if that second individual was in the water or on the wrong side of the rock as well. This Oregon coast attraction is much more dangerous than it seems, as tidal conditions get quite rough next to the rock. In 2008, a woman in her 20s who was being proposed to by her boyfriend was swept out to sea in this exact same locale. Her body was never recovered. Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - South Coast Hotels - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Some Oregon Coast Areas Will Have Survey Takers, Asking What Visitors Know Published 07/08/23 at 6:21 a.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Oregon Coast) Nearly two dozen sites on the Oregon coast have researchers asking the pubic questions, checking into how much they know about Oregon's marine reserves. Staff from Oregon State University are now onsite at 23 parks, visitor centers or access points and will be through August. (Above the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve. Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection) OSU researchers will be asking visitors various questions about the science of the five marine reserves and what they know of these important areas, including whether their visits will help foster a change in habits needed to curb climate change. Many of these survey sites are right at those marine reserves. Look for two different kinds of interviewers, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) said. [They will] be asking random visitors questions focused on education outreach about ocean acidification and whether visiting the ocean can trigger personal changes to reduce global warning's impacts such as ocean acidification, ODFW said. Participants will also get questions about how much they know about the marine reserves. What is called an intercept survey takes about five minutes or less and is very low-pressure. Cape Falcon area - Cape Falcon Marine Reserve is here (photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection) We go out of our way to avoid intrusion with peoples recreational experiences, said Tommy Swearingen, the Human Dimensions program leader for the Oregon Marine Reserves Program who is helping in the study. The goal of the study is to talk to at least 1,600 Oregon coast visitors, but Swearingen believes there should be well over 2,500. Ocean Acidification, sometimes referred to as OA, is the byproduct of increased carbon dioxide dissolved in sea water over the past two centuries. It triggers chemical reactions that make sea water more acidic, impacting the entire ocean food web from fish and shellfish. Climate change is happening in everybodys backyard and its happening globally, says Dr. Megan Jones, the OSU conservation social scientist overseeing the study by masters degree student Jennifer Waldo. You dont see OA with your naked eye, but its effecting local marine life and industries. Maybe this will make something abstract feel more relevant to people. By adding this relevancy, researchers hope to gauge whether this spurs interviewees to make lifestyle changes that reduce their carbon footprint. The results will be matched with online surveys of about 1,400 Oregonians concluded this past spring. Results are expected later this year. Enacted by the Oregon Legislature in 2009, the Marine Reserves Program includes five actual marine reserves and nine protected areas that together cover nine percent of Oregons near-shore ocean waters. The reserves, where no plants or animals can be removed and where development is banned, are underwater listening stations tracking ocean changes including fish, invertebrate and algal communities. It is the first long-term nearshore ocean conservation and monitoring program run by the state of Oregon and includes cutting-edge research on the economic, social and cultural dynamics of the Oregon coast and coastal communities. The program is funded through state general fund dollars and not sport or commercial fishing fees. Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - South Coast Hotels - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve - courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more Near Lincoln City, Cascade Head and the Cascade Head Reserve, Oregon Coast Beach Connection More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Matthew Meyer, MD, associate professor of anesthesiology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, spoke with Becker's to discuss how ASCs can leverage their unique positions to recruit anesthesia staff. Note: This response has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Question: As many ASC administrators battle staffing issues, how can leaders cultivate sustainable staffing practices at their centers? Dr. Matthew Meyer: I think the most important thing for an ambulatory surgery center to get anesthesiologists to be there is to really lean in to what makes an ambulatory surgery center unique. And there's a lot. I think when we talk about the alternative, which is working in a larger hospital, there's things that make people want to work in an ambulatory surgery center. I'd say focus in on the schedule, focus in on the patient population, focus in on the small team. Really elevate these concepts and put them right out there in the marketing. All MD anesthesiologists are being trained essentially in large practices, right? They're in large health systems. That's where you have residency programs. It's pretty rare for them to be trained in an ambulatory surgery center only; I don't even think that exists. So for many people, it's almost novel to be exposed to an ambulatory surgery center. Their thought of what their practice of medicine is gonna be as they went through medical school and through residency is, "I'm going to be in a similar situation as to which I trained in." I don't think a lot of people, and I include myself in that, really appreciate the opportunities that there are in ambulatory surgery centers. Whether it's the fact that you don't have call, your case is finished usually around five o'clock, the patient population is relatively healthy and it's a small team of surgeons that generally work there. You get to know your partners really well surgeons, nurses, the people who clean the rooms it's a small team. I think there's a lot to like about that from a lifestyle perspective and a career perspective, and I think that that needs to really be put out there. I don't think it goes without saying. I don't think people know all of that. So my advice is to really both market that to people, but also really mean it when you're doing that. Make sure that you're creating an ambulatory surgery center that takes advantage of all the good things an ambulatory surgery center can be. By Choo Jae-woo Recently, in front of the opposition leader, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming challenged the nation's foreign sovereignty and foreign policy stance. When Ambassador Xing remarked, "If you bet on the U.S., you will regret it," he was attacking both the choice of our people and Korea's diplomatic independence. It was hard to hear that the opposition leader brought up a counterpoint despite the Chinese ambassador's harsh remarks. Instead, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the head of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, accepted the ambassador's invitation to stand with China in opposition to Japan's impending release of radioactive wastewater. Given that the former president, who belonged to the same political party, had responded similarly, his stance was not unexpected. The environment and foreign affairs ministries of the Moon Jae-in administration had agreed to collaborate in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Korea looks to be opposing the international community on this matter, together with China and Russia. Korea is the focus of interest in large part because it is the only "like-minded state" or democratic state that appears to reject conclusions from partner countries' governmental agencies and international scientific organizations. Numerous reports have been published over the years. The Canadian, Australian and New Zealand governments, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency all came to the nearly identical conclusion that the water would not affect or endanger the health of people or animals, including marine life, as early as 2011. The leaders of the opposition parties and the anti-government NGOs in Korean society, on the other hand, are more interested in appearing politically correct. They stage demonstrations practically every day. Given how the ocean currents go from Japan eastward, they both reject the scientific evidence and facts presented by those nations, which would be impacted by radioactively tainted water considerably sooner than Korea. Then, a critical question arises: Why is the opposition party susceptible to China's influence? What drives it to be 'pro-China' with its diplomatic stance? It has to do with the existence of so-called "Jongbuk" forces in Korea (or North Korea followers) and pro-North Korea factions on the Korean political spectrum. Jongbuk forces and the pro-NK factions have existed in Korean society ever since the division of the Korean Peninsula. Following the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and China, they anticipated that China would contribute to the advancement of relations with North Korea and included China as an equal in their Jongbuk forces and pro-NK faction. In parallel, the formula "Jongbuk forces = pro-NK = pro-China" was formed. During the Moon Jae-in administration, anti-Japanese sentiments coalesced, and a new formula known as "Jongbuk = pro-NK = pro-China = anti-U.S. = anti-Japan" was devised. China is taking advantage of a polarized Korean society to its utmost interest, subduing Korea to its influence. China's attempt at polarizing Korea began in 2015 when Beijing tried to induce Seoul to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and opposition to the deployment of THAAD. Since then, China has been active in using these characteristics of our society to expand its influence and interests. Despite this reality, controversy erupted when opposition lawmakers turned their attention to China in response to Ambassador Xing's comments. Despite declining public opinion, "representatives of the people" continued to travel to China. Whether the action is suitable for parliamentary operations that prioritize national interests is strongly contested. On the contrary, they including the Moon administration did not even protest against China's unilateral cancellation or postponement of most high-level and strategic consultations. Despite this humiliation, they faithfully honored their pledge to China, but to no avail in making any progress toward normalizing bilateral relations as they boasted. It is almost impossible to discount the fact that they were merely exploited by the Chinese influence and their political sentiment because they all failed to deliver the consequences of their visits in any form. It means they failed to meet any Chinese figure capable of resolving Korea-China relations issues contrary to their bragging about the trips. To develop the Korea-U.S. alliance and Korea-China relations in a healthy and balanced manner, we need to reflect on our diplomacy. First of all, we need self-centered thinking in our diplomacy. Unfortunately, however, we have had very little experience with that. So far, we have relied on the Korea-U.S. alliance, but on the other hand, we misunderstood that our interests in the Chinese market will remain unchanged. Because of this, we are still unable to state with certainty what our country's interests are and what we ought to pursue. Personal opinions shouldn't dictate what is best for the country. The national interest is founded on the foundational values and principles pursued. One example is the U.S. subscription to world freedom, liberty and democracy as the ultimate foreign policy goal. Therefore, it is inappropriate for individuals to decide what is most important to the country. However, Jongbuk forces, pro-North Korea and pro-China factions frame the country's goals in the context of an anti-U.S. and anti-Japan framework. Their national concerns are reduced to political self-interest in the end. Thus, to them, the ultimate goals are the dissolution of the Korea-U.S. alliance and the expulsion of the U.S. forces in Korea. Towards this end, we must acknowledge that China will employ all means to polarize and divide our society to further its long-term strategic goals. Korea as a democratic state must defend itself against China's plots. Korean society must unite and build a collective consensus that China wants to divide and conquer us. No more internal bickering can be afforded. We must confront a nation of 1.4 billion people. We must unite in a way that every single individual will have to do the work of 100 people to defend this nation against China. It is time to "wake up and smell the coffee" for Koreans and face the reality of China. Choo Jae-woo (jwc@khu.ac.kr) is a professor of international relations at Kyung Hee University and director of the China Center at the Korea Research Institute for National Security. He was a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. In June, a patient at Great Valley Cardiology in Scranton, Pa., filed a lawsuit against the system following a data breach that compromised the personal information of 181,764 patients. Now, two more lawsuits have been filed against the system, and its affiliate, Commonwealth Health System, according to a July 10 report from The Times-Tribune. On July 3, Scranton couple Robert and Colleen Maziarz filed a lawsuit alleging that since April, they have faced six incidents of identity and banking theft, including attempting to withdraw money from a PayPal account. On July 5, plaintiff Timothy Ferguson also filed a lawsuit. All three lawsuits seek damages for the plaintiffs and for all other patients whose information was compromised. All three lawsuits allege that the health system was negligent, failing to put measures in place to protect patient data. They also allege that the system waited too long to inform affected patients of the breach. The closure of Ashland, Ky.-based Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in April 2020 left the city with only one health system King's Daughters but the University of Kentucky stepped in to help boost the hospital, Politico reported July 10. In 2020, the university helped the system navigate telehealth technology, supply chain issues and capacity needs, according to the report. That led to the university acquiring the King's Daughters in December 2022. Though the health system and university have kept separate identities, Eric Monday, the university's executive vice president for finance and administration, said that "using the blue" (UK's brand) has added value. The acquisition has allowed the hospital to serve more patients, update its facilities and make it easier for patients to access specialized care, according to the report. The acquisition also helped the university address the region's healthcare worker shortage. Mr. Monday said the vast majority of college students end up staying in the area they attended school. "Its the same thing here," Mr. Monday said. "We can move them into these rural communities and they become embedded, have a great clinical experience or resident experience, then that provides a higher opportunity to grow the physician base in that area." Adrian Park, MD, was selected as the first chief surgical officer at Hagerstown, Md.-based Meritus Health. Dr. Park will also serve as an associate dean of research and innovation at the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, according to a news release shared with Becker's July 11. Dr. Park, a world-renowned surgeon, brings a wealth of healthcare experience to the new role. At Annapolis, Md.-based Luminis Health, he served as the James and Sylvia Earl Chair of Surgery and surgeon in chief, and professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Meritus Health, which includes Meritus Medical Center and Meritus Medical group, has more than 3,000 employees. Nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., have voted to authorize a strike, according to a hospital statement shared with Becker's July 11. The vote does not mean a strike will occur. The United Steelworkers International Union, which represents about 1,800 nurses at the hospital, would provide a 10-day strike notice before such action is taken. Union members' last contract with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital expired June 30. Both sides have been in contract negotiations. During negotiations, nurses have been seeking to limit how much they are required to pay into their health insurance, Judy Danella, president of the USW Local 4-200 and a registered nurse at the hospital, said, according to TAPinto New Brunswick. Ms. Danella also told the publication that the key sticking point in negotiations has been staffing and that the hospital is "not staffed the way it should be." Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital expressed disappointment about the strike authorization vote and said nurses have rejected "what we believe is a fair and equitable proposal." The hospital said this includes a "generous package that ensures our nurses remain at the top for years to come. On average our wage proposal is 14 percent higher than the average published rates for similar New Jersey hospitals." The hospital also said it has approved more than 100 full-time registered nurses to the budget, onboarded more than 600 RNs since 2022, and has proposed a collaborative council to continue to address staffing concerns. A strike notice had not been given as of 9:05 a.m. CDT July 11. An Oregon OB-GYN has lost his medical license as part of an agreement with the state medical board over alleged sexual misconduct, according to Salem Reporter. Robert Jack Harder, MD, agreed to retire his license as part of the arrangement, which took effect July 6. The agreement follows an investigation by the Oregon Medical Board. Dr. Harder was formerly employed by the Salem (Ore.) Clinic, and he was credentialed at Salem Hospital but was not an employee of Salem Health, the report said. "When Salem Health became aware of the allegations, we reported it to the Oregon Medical Board," a health system spokesperson told Becker's. "During the same timeframe, Dr. Harder resigned from the Salem Health medical staff, with his resignation request retroactive to April 1." According to the agreement, the state medical board opened an investigation April 4 regarding possible violation of the Medical Practice Act, specifically sexual contact with a patient, constituting sexual misconduct. "Licensee neither admits nor denies, but the board finds that licensee engaged in unprofessional or dishonorable conduct, as conduct unbecoming a person licensed to practice medicine or detrimental to the best interest of the public, specifically conduct contrary to recognized standards of ethics of the medical profession, and sexual misconduct," the agreement states. Board spokesperson Nathan Divers declined to provide more detail to Salem Reporter July 10. The Salem Clinic did not respond to the Reporter's request for comment. The arrangement with the state medical board also states that Dr. Harder agrees to never reapply for an Oregon medical license and must obey federal and Oregon laws and regulations pertaining to the practice of medicine. Efforts by Salem Reporter to reach Dr. Harder through his website July 10 were not successful. When an illness paralyzed Renee Tyree, PharmD, at 19 years old, she was told she wouldn't become a doctor after she became a wheelchair user. By wielding her "yes" mindset, she became a health system pharmacy leader at Birmingham, Ala.-based Encompass Health and mentors other pharmacists with disabilities, according to a July 11 post from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Dr. Tyree is the pharmacy director at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of East Valley in Mesa, Ariz., and regional director of pharmacy for the system's west region, which includes 18 hospitals across seven states. At 7 years old, she contracted Guillain-Barre syndrome and became paralyzed from the neck down before fully recovering, according to the post. In college, a second illness paralyzed her again; she recovered and uses a wheelchair. In her work, Dr. Tyree advocates for accommodations such as lower shelves and power doors and she recommends others speak up for themselves. "If it's something you want to pursue, don't get stopped by the roadblocks or perceptions of that advocate for yourself," Dr. Tyree said. "There's going to be barriers, there's going to be roadblocks. Be persistent if it's what you want to do. Anything is possible [within] the practice. There are a lot of practice studies and varieties so that you can find something that's a fit." The FDA is allowing 10 more lots of cisplatin from a China-based pharmaceutical company to be imported to the U.S. to ease the ongoing cancer drug shortage, Bloomberg reported July 10. The additional lots are set to arrive next week. In June, federal regulators cleared four lots of cisplatin from Qilu Pharmaceutical. While the version of the drug is unapproved in the U.S., it is similar to the approved version distributed across the country. "We will continue the importation until manufacturers can meet all needs," Chanapa Tantibanchachai, an FDA spokesperson, told Bloomberg. Shortages of the essential cancer drug began in February and have caused some cancer centers to ration cisplatin and carboplatin, another cancer drug in shortage, treatments for patients. More recently, there have been signs of supplies stabilizing. Data from Premier cited by Bloomberg shows shipments of cisplatin rebounded in May after dropping at the beginning of the year. Officials from several cancer centers also told the news outlet supplies have improved to levels where patient care is not disrupted. Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham is taking a new approach to quality with the launch of "For Every Patient" a four-pillar strategy to standardize practices and improve patient outcomes, according to a July 6 report from the Boston Business Journal. Leaders from the system spoke exclusively with the news outlet about the new initiative after it was internally shared in June. Mass General Brigham describes For Every Patient as its "first-ever unified quality strategy," designed to "unify a single vision and set of practices across MGB's hospitals and clinical care sites to deliver safe, effective and equitable care that will improve quality," according to the report. As part of the effort, MGB plans to home in on the following four pillars to achieve better, more consistent outcomes over the next five years: effective, safe, equitable and patient experience. The system is creating an analytics platform to support clinicians in ensuring these principles are built into every patient's care. Three more things to know about the strategy: Moving the needle on health equity is a core part of the strategy. In the first few years of the program, MGB aims to improve equity in blood pressure control, substance abuse overdose deaths, C-sections for low-risk pregnancies, and colorectal cancer screening and treatment. Community health workers are a part of the care teams for patients and their families who benefit from the additional support, according to the report. The health system will measure progress by creating benchmark goals around common conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, as well as hospital infection rates. Officials with the system told the news outlet that MGB will measure itself against the top 20 hospitals in the U.S. to ensure it's in the top 10 percent for each category. The initiative is built around the ability to streamline the sharing of the right data, according to MGB officials, who shared the example of how the system is addressing an increase in infection rates after hysterectomies. MGB consulted with infection control experts, collected microbiome data on patients, changed antibiotics before surgery and other practices, and followed up to ensure there was improvement. "This doesn't sound like rocket science, but actually, the concept of building accountability to make it better rapidly, is sort of different in healthcare. Healthcare is very dispersed," said Rachel Sisodia, MD, chief quality officer at the health system. At the 20th Annual Spine, Orthopedic + Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference, attendees had the opportunity to hear a keynote lecture on the current threats and opportunities on the horizon in spine. This lecture was led by an esteemed panel of experts in the field, including: Frank Phillips, MD, Director, Spine Surgery; Professor, Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center Ernest Braxton, MD, MBA, Neurosurgeon, Vail Summit Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery Gregory Fournier, MPH, Business Manager, Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital Carlos A. Bagley, MD, Vice Chair, Department of Neurological Surgery, Director, UT Southwestern Spine Center The keynote was moderated by Laura Dyrda, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of Becker's Healthcare. Key Takeaways: Preauthorization and approval for rendering care, labor issues, and the residency pipeline are increasing threats in the spine industry. Dr. Bagley highlighted the challenges that these threats pose and emphasized the importance of working around them. Physicians and surgeons are facing cost cutting and cost control from insurance companies, as well as decreasing reimbursement for services. Insurance companies' consolidation of practices is becoming more common to increase negotiating power with payers and access to ancillary services. Partnerships and collaborations are essential to leveraging resources and advocating for policies that optimize the microenvironment for clinicians in the spine industry. Dr. Brexton, Dr. Bigley, and Dr. Phillips all agreed on the importance of working together and staying engaged in advocacy efforts. New technologies such as augmented reality, biologics, and data analytics are on the horizon in the spine industry. The panelists also discussed the potential role of wearable technology in the future. Value equation and outcomes data are important considerations in providing quality care. The panel emphasized the importance of looking at how new technologies are impacting the field and the relationship between hospitals and outpatient facilities. Strong patient relationships and patient engagement are crucial for above and beyond care, and technology can be used to enhance these efforts. The panel also discussed how facility fees could offset decreased reimbursement in professional fees. gettyimagesbank By Baek Byung-yeul The government is seeking to nurture the country's smart home business in cooperation with Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Hyundai E&C and other Korean IT, construction and home interior companies, helping them to have more opportunities in the lucrative home automation-related market, both at home and abroad, the ICT ministry said Tuesday. The Ministry of Science and ICT held a meeting at the headquarters of real estate platform operator Zigbang in Seoul to discuss fostering a smart home ecosystem here with experts from not only Samsung, LG and Hyundai E&C but also from interior design companies such as Hanssem and state-run companies such as Korean Land & Housing Corporation. A smart home is an Internet of Things (IoT) system that wirelessly controls multiple devices and applications at home. As various companies had provided their own IoT platforms, users were not able to conveniently use integrated services, but things are changing since last year when Big Tech companies decided to launch a unified IoT protocol called Matter. In October 2022, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), a global standards organization led by global Big Tech companies such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Google, Amazon and Apple, announced that it would create an IoT standard protocol called Matter and support interworking and control between different IoT devices. So far, about 530 companies are participating in the Matter IoT standard integration protocol. "With the emergence of the intelligent smart home as a crucial frontier of the digital transformation, this meeting was organized to assess the current state of the country's intelligent smart home industry and discuss ways to secure global competitiveness," the ICT ministry said. Assessing the current situation of the local smart home industry, participants agreed that the domestic smart home industry is facing difficulties in device development and investment especially for small and medium-sized companies due to the different platform environments set up by big companies in IT, telecommunications and construction sectors, adding that users are also experiencing inconvenience due to this reason. "The transition of the global intelligent smart home market due to the unification of global smart home standards and the development of AI is both a crisis and an opportunity for Korea," Park Yun-kyu, second vice minister of science and ICT, said. "We will actively utilize the smart home market transition period to create an intelligent smart home ecosystem with the public and private sectors." To resolve this issue, the participants discussed cooperation among smart home-related companies in connection with the recent introduction of the Matter standard. As Big Tech companies are focusing on this market by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the participants also discussed ways to secure the competitiveness of the domestic industry using artificial intelligence. The ICT ministry said various opinions were exchanged on public-private cooperation such as activating the introduction of smart homes in existing and general houses as well as new apartment buildings, launching an intelligent smart home alliance and strengthening security. Seagate Technology in Derry is among NI firms embarking on redundancies New labour market figures highlighting a sharp rise in redundancies proposed in Northern Ireland represent a worrying trend, its been claimed. A total of 1,960 redundancies were proposed in June, taking the annual total to 4,150 over the past year, almost double figures for the previous year. It marks the highest monthly proposed total reported since June 2020, and the third highest recorded in the monthly labour market report published by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (Nisra). The Labour Relations Agency said that rising demand for its services suggest the figures are a concern. And it said that the situation could be even worse as employers are only required to notify the Department for the Economy (DfE) of redundancies involving 20 or more employees. Don Leeson, chief executive, LRA, said: The official statistics confirm what the LRA is experiencing through calls to our Workplace Information Service from both employers and employees worried about redundancy. The LRA gets an early warning of such problems as both employers and employees turn to us for advice on what do when redundancies first start to be a consideration. We help by advising on measures that employers can take to avoid redundancy, as well as how to handle redundancies in a fair manner when they become unavoidable. Confirmed redundancies totalled 210 last month, the fourth monthly increase in a row. But totalling 1,340 over the past year, confirmed redundancies remain down by 4.5% year on year. June also saw payrolled employees decrease and monthly earnings increase, according to the figures published today on behalf of DfE. Employee numbers paid through HMRC PAYE in NI fell by 0.2% month on month to 788,400 in June, while still up 1.6% over the year. NI employees had a median monthly pay of 2,099 in June 2023, a rise of 0.8% or 17 on May and 7.3% or 143 over the year. Seasonally adjusted figures for the claimant count rose 2% month on month to 36,700 in June, representing 3.8% of the workforce. It is 22.8% higher than the pre-pandemic count in March 2020. Seasonally adjusted unemployment for the last quarter, meanwhile, increases by 0.1 percentage points (pps) over the quarter and year to 2.5%. The unemployment rate for March to May is now at parity with the pre-pandemic position, said Nisra. The proportion of people aged 16 to 64 in work was unchanged over the quarter and increased by 1.9pps over the year to 72%. Total number of weekly hours worked in NI was estimated at 28.6m, up 3.0% on the previous quarter and 2.4% year on year. Economic inactivity decreased by 0.1pps over the quarter and 1.9pps over the year to 26.1%. The rate is now 0.5 pps above the pre-pandemic rate, the employment rate 0.5pps below the pre-pandemic position, and hours worked are 0.3% below the pre-pandemic level. Graham Group is reporting a record pipeline of 2bn across its core market sectors Northern Ireland construction firm Graham has joined an exclusive club of Northern Ireland companies with more than 1bn in sales. The family-owned building business, which is based in Hillsborough, said it had recorded 1.094bn in sales in the year to March 31 2023. The 15.3% increase, up from 948m a year earlier, catapults it into the company of conglomerate W&R Barnett, Moy Park Holdings (Europe) and retail and wholesale giant John Henderson Holdings. Poultry giant Moy Park is the only one of the quartet of 1bn companies not to be family-owned and is instead part of US giant Pilgrims Pride. In results for 2022, which were filed in May, family company Barnetts, a conglomerate with interests ranging from packaging to molasses, reported revenue of 1.6bn, up from 1.3m. The business is based in Belfast. Moy Park also reported sales of 1.6bn for 2021, up from 1.5m. And for John Henderson Holdings, the owner of the Spar and Eurospar franchises, sales for 2021 reached 1.1m, up from 0.97m the year before. In todays Business Telegraph, Andrew Bill, Graham Group chief executive officer, said: We are very pleased with these latest accounts, which demonstrate a strong performance in our core markets." The Northern Ireland companies with the highest turnover will be revealed in the Ulster Business Top 100 2023 in partnership with KPMG, which will be published next month. NI facing an entrepreneurial deficit despite improvements: report New report shows province trails rest of UK, but there are positive signs with females making strides in Belfast Stock image Alyson Magee Tue 11 Jul 2023 at 09:45 Belfast documentary maker hails standard of arts education in our schools As he discusses his new movie about Sir Alfred Hitchcock, he said: We do really punch above our weight as a place for film culture Acclaimed documentarian and critic Mark Cousins who was raised in Belfast (Photo: Dogwoof) Kurtis Reid Tue 11 Jul 2023 at 08:50 Rosie has not given up and is fighting for young people to be heard We all did our best to protect ourselves and our loved ones from Covid 19 but unfortunately, no matter how vigilant we were, over 687 million people worldwide contracted the virus. Sadly many millions died as a result of Covid-19, but many more survived. However, an alarming number of people have been left with lasting side effects which has been classified as a condition of its own, namely Long Covid. Symptoms include chronic exhaustion, pain in various parts of the body, weakness, breathing difficulties, headaches, a persistent cough, dizziness and even heart issues. And there is currently no cure. Watching a family member go through something like this can be difficult, but when it comes to children, the situation is even harder. This is the case for thousands of families all over the country as children who have been through Covid-19 and apparently recovered, are left incapacitated by a series of debilitating symptoms. Read more UDA flags put up in Lurgan estate where victim of sectarian abuse had to flee home Colin Pidgeon has had to watch his daughter Rosie struggle with the effects of Long Covid as having recovered from the virus in August 2021, she got ready to go back to school after 10 days in isolation. However, the effort of getting herself together was too much and she fainted. Her parents, Colin and Cathy, thought that a few more days would see her right, but a week or so later, she developed a migraine, which she has suffered with, almost constantly, for over 18 months. Rosies migraine never really goes, but rather if she gets over-tired, or a place is too bright or loud it gets worse until she becomes so unwell she feels like she has to vomit, says Colin, who works as an economist. She also suffers from other fluctuating symptoms, which are consequential to the acute infection and we strongly suspect that the virus persists in her body tissues, blood, muscles, brain and probably ovaries. And so her symptoms, which include muscle and joint pain, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, hair loss, appalling insomnia, overwhelming exhaustion which is not fixed by sleep, and tachycardia (racing heartrate and dizziness, continue to flare up and there is no real improvement, despite being 20 months (post Covid). Colin Pidgeon with his daughter Rosie Pidgeon We saw the GP several times as we were particularly concerned by the fainting and headache and also went privately and spent thousands of pounds to get MRIs heart scans and consultations to check these things out. In the meantime, the GP referred Rosie to the post-Covid service and while initially we were relieved to get a diagnosis because we thought it would unlock support and treatment, all it really unlocked were a couple of Zoom assessments and then she was discharged without treatment. Long Covid is a collection of symptoms which affect different people to differing degrees. It is confusing and incredibly difficult to understand when viewed from the outside. Occasionally new symptoms appear from nowhere, while others lessen a bit. It makes me sad and frustrated - and despite what we were told, we know the risks are significant for children. So I feel very concerned at the number of other families who, having blown all their savings on private healthcare, will be left trying to care for chronically ill youngsters, with little support, no treatment and no cure. Colin who lives in Dundonald, Co Down with his wife Cathy and five children, says that life has changed dramatically for his 18-year-old daughter since she developed the condition. Rosie struggles to read and write now because of her cognitive dysfunction, he says. She had to give up school and has gone to Further Education college to do art and design. She is a brilliant artist, so is fortunate that Long Covid has not robbed her of that. In order to conserve her energy, she uses a motorised wheelchair to get to college, and on good days it goes OK. On bad days, she cannot get out of bed because she is both exhausted and in pain, the light hurts her eyes and sound hurts her brain. Colin and Rosie Before Covid, she was a fabulous Irish dancer, but has had to accept that she will probably never dance again. Hiking is beyond her and even reading a book is mostly beyond her. But she can still paint and make beautiful things that people enjoy looking at. She has been so tough, so resilient and has channelled her pain and frustration through wonderful, thought-provoking and challenging artworks which have spoken to fellow sufferers around the world and have been used by doctors. Rosie has been an inspiration to me and hundreds, maybe thousands of others. She has not given up and is fighting for young people to be heard. She has courage and strength beyond her years and she amazes me every day. But my goodness, I wish she did not have to. The 48-year-old says that there isnt enough being done to help people with Long Covid and while his daughter is lucky to have good medical care, no-one knows what the future will bring. Biophysiological research which focuses on treatment, not endless surveys of symptoms and studies into promising drugs and other therapeutics (are important), he says. But most importantly we urgently need to turn off the tap of new infections because each carries a significant risk that the person infected will not recover and will be sick like Rosie for years, perhaps forever. That means, (adopting) a sensible masking policy, without hysterics. It means investing in clean indoor air which we have the tech and ability to do. It makes sense too, to stop people becoming disabled. It is brutal to watch a young woman who in 2019 performed to 1000 people in Disneyland with her dance school, now lying on the bed with a compression icepack on her head because she can't stand the sound of talking. Or her skin so sore that she cant bear the feel of her pyjamas. Rosie is very fortunate to have a brilliant, caring and kind consultant. But he can only use the tools that are available, and there is no recognised and agreed treatment protocol for Long Covid. But at least he does not gaslight her or pretend her condition is not real or all in her head. Before long, she will have been ill for two years, more than 10% of her life. We do not know if she will ever get better. We don't really know what recovery could look like. She is much better than she was a year ago, but progress has stalled a bit. Maybe this is as good as it gets. Read more Department of Health told to apologise to campaigner over communications ban There are thousands of children and young people across the island of Ireland, who have no access to adequate healthcare, little support in school and whose families are really struggling. Unless action is taken to stop infection, this is going to get worse. We risk a whole generation not getting qualifications, having few skills and possibly never working. That is not a good reflection on adults. In Africa, they say it takes a village to raise a child - but in this country, it seems that raising a child is done alone while the village wanders off and tries to pretend the child exists. And that is an utterly shameful state of affairs and in the long run, I think we will all pay a very heavy price for it. While the family are hoping and praying for a cure for their daughter, Colins advice to anyone else who has just been diagnosed with the condition is to rest as much as possible, conserve energy and dont give up hope. Overdoing it can cause huge and horrible crashes, so look for support, he says. The charity Long Covid Kids has great resources and support for young people and their parents. Other groups, on Facebook and elsewhere are terrific. But don't let anyone tell you that what you are experiencing is not real or that it is in your head. It is real and you deserve to be believed, and to be treated, and you do not need to be pushed into exercise (which will most likely make you more ill) or psychiatry, unless you need support for the mental health problems that go hand in hand with chronic illness. So make sure to rest and believe that you will get better. For more information, see www.longcovidkids.org or www.nhs.uk. Police at the scene of the incident at Weavers Grange, Newtownards, on April 6, 2023 (Pic: Kevin Scott) A taxi driver accused of being involved in a loyalist concerted show of strength has been refused permission to go back into north Down. With Graham Skinner (39) recently granted High Court bail, defence solicitor Mark Austin asked for consistency in his bail variation application to allow the father of three to move back to Bangor to support and provide for his family. District Judge Mark Hamill told him that, from the start of the loyalist drug feud in north Down, you have got consistency from me right across the board refusing bail. Speaking about when his refusal is likely appealed to the High Court, the Newtownards Magistrates Court judge said: I want the local colour conveyed. And that bit of local colour relates to the concept of the rule of law in Ards... Someone writes a threat to kill on a particular wall in Ards and that wall was the front wall of this court building, declared the judge. A clearly angry Judge Hamill said that action sends a message to this court. Skinner is one of eight men facing charges of affray and unlawful assembly arising from an incident in Weavers Grange in Newtownards on April 6. While police have described it as a concerted show of strength in the ongoing feud between rival loyalist drug cartels, lawyers for the defendants contend that it was a peaceful protest to remove paramilitary signage from the homes of alleged drug dealers who had brought misery to Newtownards. The other men, all from north Down or east Belfast, are Stewart Scott Anderson (49), Barry Dann (51), Harry Murray (24), Ryan Turley (31), William Robert McCormick (48), David Milligan (43), Samuel Coulter (56), David James Thompson (40), Jimmy Leung (35) and Noel Thomas Morrison (48). There are no formal reporting restrictions on their addresses being used, but previous judges have urged the media to act responsibly in the context of an ongoing, potentially deadly feud. Previous courts have heard how the charges are linked to the ongoing loyalist paramilitary drug feud spreading across Ards and north Down as one faction seeks to drive a rival faction out using what has been described as escalating violence. The PSNI has previously outlined that on April 6, and in the context of police having a semi-permanent presence in the Weavers Grange area of Ards, a large crowd of 50 to 60 men, around 10 of whom were masked, were seen walking from the Jubilee Road, along an alley on the Circular Road and climbing over a fence to get into Weavers Grange. Read more UDA flags put up in Lurgan estate where victim of sectarian abuse had to flee home In an incident she described as orchestrated and designed to intimidate, the officer said some men, one of whom had a hammer, were carrying ladders which were used to remove South East Antrim UDA banners from the gable walls of three houses. The officer said that since the feud began on March 22, there have been more than 120 incidents, including petrol bomb attacks, a pipe bomb attack, a shooting and a litany of damage caused and intimidation, adding that the feud has put considerable strain on police resources and the public purse. Highlighting how residents in north Down and Ards especially were living in fear, she told the court: Police believe theres a real risk of further offending, as the area is highly volatile at present. The level of violence is ongoing and escalating, said the officer, adding that ongoing attacks had caused great fear in the area. In court today, Mr Austin argued that the prohibition keeping Skinner out of north Down was restricting his ability to run his taxi business. Suggesting that the prosecution case against Skinner was ropey, Mr Austin argued that the witness who purports to identify several members of the 50-to 60-strong group does not name my client, so any objection on the grounds of witness interference were not founded. Mr Austin further suggested that Skinner could be allowed into north Down but kept out of Ards: That would surely assuage police concerns. Giving evidence, a detective constable revealed there had been two intimidatory attacks on that witness, including one the day before Skinner was granted High Court bail. Police believe there are continuing efforts to intimidate this witness, said the officer, adding that there were concerns that if allowed back into the area, he [Skinner] would become involved in the feud again. While Judge Hamill refused to vary the bail conditions, he told the Public Prosecution Service that by July 26 he wants a decision from the prosecution as to the nature of the charges and the venue of the prosecution, whether in the petty sessions or the Crown court. The UK Covid-19 Inquiry heard evidence from Arlene Foster and Richard Pengelly on Tuesday. Arlene Foster, former First Minister of Northern Ireland, arrives to give evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry at Dorland House in London (Pic: Belinda Jiao/PA Wire) Finding out how loved ones were let down by local governments response to the pandemic will help better protect the public in future, a group for Covid-bereaved families in Northern Ireland has said. It comes after the appearance of former First Minister Baroness Arlene Foster and former NI health chief Richard Pengelly before the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on Tuesday. Brenda Doherty, co-lead of the Northern Ireland Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said todays evidence had uncovered a number of failings that could have been avoided. "It doesnt take an Inquiry to work out that an absence of ministerial accountability and a functioning Executive wouldn't have helped Northern Irelands preparedness for a pandemic, she said. Arlene Foster: "Devastating impact that Covid had on Northern Irish families stays with me". "Legislation crucial to pandemic preparedness does not exist in Northern Ireland as it does across the rest of the UK, leaving public services and systems less able to step up and meet the challenges of a pandemic. "Shockingly, even when there is a functioning Executive, there is no system by which scientific advice can be given directly to the Executive Office. "Even when the Executive was sitting between 2015 and 2020, no scientific advice was sought or given to the Executive Office, who hold responsibility for Civil Contingency planning. Ms Doherty said it was important lessons were learned from the failings in preparedness for the Covid-19 pandemic. "Key issues like these coming to light is exactly why we campaigned for an Inquiry. We know our loved ones were let down, and by finding out exactly how they were let down we will be better able to protect the public in the future, she said. We are glad that witnesses like Dame Arlene Foster and Sir Michael McBride have acknowledged these failings, but this is only the first step. We cant let the mistakes of the past continue to be repeated, and we need changes to be made now, if we are to keep the people of Northern Ireland safe in future pandemics. Our loved ones deserved so much more, and we all deserve for lessons to be learned and acted upon ahead of the next pandemic. Baroness Foster had told the Inquiry that the Westminster government should have identified gaps in Northern Irelands pandemic readiness and taken action while Stormont was not functioning in the run-up to the Covid-19 pandemic. During her evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry today, Baroness Foster said the UK Government should have acted in their role as sovereign government when they were aware of a weakness in Northern Irelands preparedness. There was a reduced resilience and I believe that the Westminster politicians that were in charge of Northern Ireland, ostensibly from a sovereignty point of view, at that time should have been made aware of that difficulty and should have acted, Ms Foster said. Because if there is a gap in resilience in part of the United Kingdom, surely that should concern the government of the United Kingdom in terms of where there are gaps, whether that is in Wales, Scotland or indeed in Northern Ireland. I believe its whats called realpolitik. Unfortunately if there is a difficulty in Northern Ireland, then we are left without ministerial cover. I do believe that the UK Government needs to look at that and when there is an absence of power-sharing, which, of course, has been voted on by the people of Northern Ireland and thats the system of government that they desire, then there is a responsibility on Westminster to step in. In response to a question from Inquiry Chair Heather Hallett, Ms Foster said responsibility for informing the Westminster government should have fallen to the NI Civil Service. The Civil Service in Northern Ireland does have a relationship with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and of course they have ongoing conversations, she said. Arlene Foster during the Covid-19 pandemic The Civil Service in Northern Ireland could alert the NIO. If there was to be a wider audit of the UKs resilience that identified gaps in whatever part of the United Kingdom, then it could be brought to the attention of central government, whether on an annual or biannual basis. Baroness Foster also said that not enough consideration was given to the impact of lockdown measures introduced in response to the pandemic. It was felt that there was a need to lock down in a particular way, she said. I do not think that enough consideration was given to the impact, the non-health impact, and there were many health impacts as well that were not foreseen. The devastating impact that Covid had on so many families in Northern Ireland stays with me, because it was a devastating impact. Many people lost loved ones in devastating circumstances that have been set out by the bereaved families statement. I want to take this opportunity to give them my condolences and my sympathies. Ronan Lavery KC, acting for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice NI, pointed out that large parts of the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) which contain important statutory responsibilities did not apply to Northern Ireland. He told the inquiry that civil servants had been diverted from the development of the Northern Ireland Public Health Bill to other areas, stalling progress. Arlene Foster arriving at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in London (Pic: Leon Neal/Getty Images) Ms Foster said that by the time she returned to office, work on the Public Health Bill had stalled and had already begun again. The work had begun on pandemic flu preparedness, but that was then stopped in order to deal with Operation Yellowhammer, she said. When I came back into office, I wasnt made aware of the fact we hadnt progressed the Pandemic Flu Bill, but by that stage it had actually begun again. And indeed it had been paused right across the UK and not just in terms of Northern Ireland. There are only two organisations that are at a Category One the PSNI and the Maritime Authority but that the other bodies in Category Two operate alongside those two. It is a moot question as to whether there were statutory duties attached to those that they would have engaged in different planning in preparation for an emergency. Mr Lavery noted that the evidence of Executive Office Permanent Secretary Dr Denis McMahon had said that if statutory duties had been imposed, their duties would have been clearly set out, properly resourced and would have left public authorities aware of what to do in the absence of an Executive. I think there is much merit in what Mr McMahon has said around that, replied Ms Foster. As I dont have the recommendations from Operation Cygnus in front of me, I cant really comment any further at this point. Mrs Fosters appearance was followed by former NI Permanent Secretary for the Department of Health, Richard Pengelly. After Kate Blackwell KC referred to a first-day briefing given to incoming Health Minister Robin Swann as sparse, Mr Pengelly said more detail would have been delivered to Mr Swann at a later date. "I wouldnt have been critical, because the purpose of the first-day brief is just to cite the minister, he said. "Its not a document in which we convey a request for any decisions. It is really a pack given to the minister on appointment as their homework to read before they arrive in the Department. "At which point a series of meetings with individuals to go into a bit more detail on some of the areas will be discussed. Former NI health chief Richard Pengelly Mr Pengelly said that rather than emergency planning, the issue of industrial action was the most pressing health priority at the time of Mr Swanns appointment in January 2020. If we think back to January 2020, at that stage the immediate crisis that an incoming health minister was dealing with was industrial action, he said. "All energy had to be focused on that, so there is an issue about pure bandwidth and how much information you can bombard an incoming minister with. "Its always a balance between trying to get something which is proportionate but sufficiently detailed. In terms of the risk register, thats dealt with at a corporate level by myself as an accounting officer. "I didnt feel the need to escalate that to the minister. Again, thats about trying to manage a very demanding workload and the volume of paper that routinely goes to the minister. Police treating the incident as a hate crime An effigy of Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill on the Eastvale Avenue bonfire in Dungannon (PA) First Minister designate Michelle ONeill has urged those who placed an effigy of her on a bonfire in Co Tyrone to catch themselves on and join the rest of us in building a better future. Police have confirmed the incident is being treated as a hate crime. The Loyalist Eastvale Avenue Bonfire Dungannon Facebook page posted an image of the pyre with a picture of the Sinn Fein vice president on it. An earlier post informed attendees a parade will take place at 10.20pm before the bonfire is lit at 10.30pm. People were urged, don't miss the beast from the East and told of a guest appearance (by) Michelle O'Neill. On the evening police said they were treating this as a hate crime and were liaising with community representatives with a view to having the material removed. Commenting for the first time following the Eleventh night incident, Ms ONeill wrote on social media: Those attempting to cause offence with effigies etc should catch themselves on and join the rest of us in building a better future. I am determined to be a First Minister for all. I will represent the whole community irrespective of who you are and where you come from. Image of Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill placed on loyalist bonfire Unionist politicians have also condemned the incident. UUP leader Doug Beattie said it was vile and hateful, while a local DUP MLA said it was wrong. The Orange Order Grand Secretary has also condemned the incident. Mervyn Gibson said he condemned the burning of any effigies or election posters and said bonfires should be celebratory events and family occasions. Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster Mr Gibson said: I condemn the burning of effigies or election posters. I have condemned it for the past six years. It is wrong it should not happen. "Bonfires should be celebratory events. Not about condemning anyone else's politics or culture. I think things are improving but there is always more room for improvement as we move forward. "I think people feel they have something against these people that these people are the enemy or the other side. But even if they may be the enemy or the other side I dont think we should burn their effigies on bonfires. I would rather see bonfires be a family occasion. Thus far Sinn Fein have reported bonfires as hate crimes in Dungannon, Drumahoe in Derry, Antrim, Forth River, Westland, Rathcoole, Monkstown and Sandy Row they all contained either posters or effigies of Sinn Fein representatives or national flags. Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew said the bonfire in Dungannon should be investigated by the PSNI as a hate crime. An effigy of Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill has been placed on a bonfire alongside the Irish national flag in Dungannon, the Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA added. This is sectarian hate crime. This isnt culture in any shape or form. No bonfires should be used to promote sectarian hate and bigotry and we need to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to this type of behaviour across society. The PSNI must now investigate this sickening display as a hate crime. All political leaders must stand together against these displays and make it clear that they have absolutely no place in this society. Mr Beattie described the placing of Ms ONeills image on the pyre as vile and hateful, adding that it achieves absolutely nothing. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler said: This image and all posters, effigies and flags on bonfires are wrong. This is no different than the abuse directed at Carla Lockhart earlier this week. Hate is hate. "Celebrating unionism has never been and will never be contingent on demonising anyone else. This is not a celebration of unionism. DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Deborah Erskine said: This is wrong. It detracts from the cultural significance of 11th night bonfires. "I urge those responsible to remove the effigy & celebrate the 11th night respectfully. Numerous events will be held tonight without burning flags, symbols or effigies, Dungannon should be the same. Baptist Minister, Rev Karen Sethuraman, who was a chaplain to two former Belfast Lord Mayors, said she will never be convinced that burning political image pictures, emblems, effigies, flags etc is culture. She added: It is not. It is nothing but hatred. Surely we are better than this? Come on. Time to move forward. Alliance MLA Eoin Tennyson branded the display disgraceful and completely unacceptable. He continued: The burning of flags, effigies and election posters is not a celebration of culture, its promotion of hate. These sectarian displays must end. SDLP councillor Gary McKeown also posted on social media saying his image had appeared on a bonfire just off the Westlink in Belfast. "I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and inclusive celebration, he said. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Bonfires were ignited in towns and villages to usher in the main date in the parading calendar. Over 160 pyres were lit across Northern Ireland on Tuesday night. Some have already been ignited, including the Corcrain bonfire in Portadown. An estimated 3,000 people attended the lighting of the pyre on Monday night. An effigy of the historical figure Robert Lundy was burned on the huge bonfire, while a fireworks display entertained the crowd. DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson had encouraged everyone to enjoy the July 12 celebrations peacefully and positively. The Twelfth will be enjoyed by tens of thousands of participants and spectators alike. Celebrations over the 11th and 12th are part of the cultural fabric of Northern Ireland and for the vast majority of us they are an occasion where families will come together, often travelling home from wherever they now live to enjoy the occasion together. I am proud of my culture and my tradition, but I recognise that there are different cultures and traditions within Northern Ireland. For those of us who do cherish the legacy of the Glorious Revolution then the best way to show that to others is through peaceful and positive celebrations. Those dont include the burning of flags or election posters on a bonfire, but thankfully in the vast majority of cases that does not happen. "Unfortunately, it will be a minority of cases where offence is caused that will dominate the headlines. As unionists we need to recognise that such incidents are self-inflicted wounds. People wearing orange during the funeral of Caoimhin Adams (8) at St Bernard's Church in Glengormley on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 (Picture by Peter Morrison) Family members and staff from the Royal Victoria Hospital comfort each other at the funeral of Caoimhin Adams (8) at St Bernard's Church in Glengormley on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (Picture by Peter Morrison) The coffin of Caoimhin Adams (8) is carried into at St Bernard's Church in Glengormley on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (Picture by Peter Morrison) Caoimhin Adams with his parents Caitriona and Kieran, sister Aimee and brothers Aodhan and Dylan in Newtownabbey (Credit: Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX) The funeral for an eight-year-old boy who suffered from a rare, incurable disease has heard how he was a magnet of love and lived his wee life to the absolute full. Caoimhin Adams, from Newtownabbey, passed away on Sunday. Caoimhin became the first person on the island of Ireland to be diagnosed with ROHHAD (rapid-onset obesity with hypoventilation, hypothalamic dysfunction, autonomic dysregulation). It is a rare, incurable disease, with a mortality rate of about 50% due to cardiorespiratory arrest. Funeral of 8 year-old Caoimhin Adams takes place in Glengormley In his homily at St Bernards Church in Glengormley, Father Darren Brennan told mourners that, as far as Caoimhin goes, there is nothing but celebration, thanks and blessings given. Its all good, but as far as trying to even come close to describing his legacy and the lives he has touched, it is simply impossible, he continued. Caoimhin is survived by his parents, Caitriona and Kieran, and his siblings, Aimee (18), Dylan (14) and Aodhan (13). Mr Caoimhin, as he was often referred to by his mother, had many favourite things, the priest added. His favourite food: McDonalds chips. His favourite phrase: Hey guys. His favourite punching bag: Aodhan. His favourite second mummy: Aimee. His favourite pillow/comforter: Dylan. Hugs and cuddles galore. Caoimhin did suffer in this life, but he also knew the beauty of this life. There are people in this world who may feel sorry for and pity a child like Caoimhin, or pity and feel sorry for a family like yours, Caitriona and Kieran. And yet, I know that you dont feel sorry for yourselves. On the contrary, Caoimhin lived his wee life to the absolute fullest. Never have I witnessed and I have witnessed a lot of children a child so loved by his mummy, daddy, brothers and his sister. Family members and staff from the Royal Victoria Hospital comfort each other at the funeral of Caoimhin Adams (8) at St Bernard's Church in Glengormley on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (Picture by Peter Morrison) Caoimhin passed away just hours after a cross-community party was held in his honour on Saturday, with friends, family, emergency service workers and locals from across both sides of the community all coming together. Fr Brennan said: If you were to ask Caoimhin what his favourite day was, his answer would be his last day in this world. The sun was shining amidst this horrible July weve had, and it was like a little glimpse into heaven. He was ecstatic and all smiles. They kept trying to bring him into the house and he didnt want to go. He wanted to soak up all of the joy and the love that our community, at its best, can show. That is the reason you shouldnt feel sorry for him. People obviously dont understand the meaning and the blessing of true love, that leaves every single cause of division and bitterness far behind. I hope that Caoimhins legacy will never be forgotten. I hope that Caoimhins memory will encourage all of us to continue to live our lives this way, to make our communities, our neighbourhoods, this city and this country a place where love overcomes everything else. Attendees at the funeral had been asked by the Adams family to wear something orange, as it is the colour used to represent ROHHAD. Caoimhin Adams with his parents Caitriona and Kieran, sister Aimee and brothers Aodhan and Dylan in Newtownabbey (Credit: Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX) Fr Brennan also noted that, thanks to Caoimhin, awareness of ROHHAD has become more common throughout the area, with very few people knowing about the disease beforehand. The priest further joked: Who else but Mr Caoimhin could have a Catholic church filled with people dressed in orange on July 11? Doesnt that just say it all? Caitriona and Kieran gave further thanks to their disability social worker, Stephanie McComb, and the paediatric staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital for all their help in caring for Caoimhin. The young boys medical team suspected that he had ROHHAD in spring 2022, but due to the number of tests needed, and the rarity of the syndrome, he wasnt given a clinical diagnosis until the beginning of this year. Doctors are still unsure as to how the disease is contracted. He spent 12 weeks in the Royal Victoria Hospital, including over Christmas, and was also found to be the third person in the entire world to have ROHHAD with encephalopathy, which is a disease that affects the functioning of the brain. Ahead of Caoimhins fun day last week, Caitriona praised the endeavours of both nationalist and unionist communities in her hometown. Both sides have come together to show that communities can do so, especially around the Twelfth of July, when there is tension sometimes, she told the Belfast Telegraph. But theres no tension when it comes to a sick or dying child. People come together. Its the most touching, positive story. And, yes, I know that, in the end, my son is going to die, but these people have shown that life is so special, when you come together. It doesnt matter whether youre orange or green, rich or poor. Two men have been arrested after a reported hijacking in the Fitzroy Avenue area of south Belfast on Monday. Around 10.30pm, three men entered a white Seat Leon and demanded the male driver to take them to a shop on the Ravenhill Road, threatening him and saying they had weapons. They assaulted the driver before he managed to exit the car and raise the alarm with staff in a nearby shop. The suspects then made off. Two men were located by police a short time later on the Newtownards Road. The two men, both aged 23, were arrested on suspicion of hijacking. One of the men was also arrested on suspicion of theft, threats to kill and common assault. They both remain in police custody at this time. PSNI Detective Sergeant Kennedy said: "Enquiries are ongoing to locate the third suspect. Thankfully the victim did not receive any physical injuries, but is understandably left shaken. Police have asked anyone with information to contact them via 101. Indians in Gujarat enjoy Havmor, Lotte Wellfood's ice cream brand in India, in this 2021 file photo. Courtesy of Lotte Wellfood By Kim Jae-heun Korean food companies and cosmetics markers are rushing to enter and expand their presence in India, riding on their success in North America and Southeast Asia, according to industry officials, Monday. India has emerged recently as a land of opportunity for a wide range of Korean businesses, as many have exited China in recent years amid the deteriorating Korea-China relations, they said. The South Asian nation is the world's second-most-populous country with 1.42 billion people as of last year, close to China's 1.425 billion. Its economy grew 6.3 percent in 2022, higher than China's 5 percent, according to the World Bank. Seizing India's huge growth potential, Lotte Wellfood entered the Indian market in 2004 by acquiring Parrys Confectionery, the country's largest confectionery firm selling candy and chocolate products nationwide, for 22.4 billion won ($17.14 million). Lotte increased its production facilities gradually in India and now has five three for confectionery products and two for ice cream. "When we first entered India, we had no information about the local market. We just went in as part of our general global business expansion plan. We counted on the country's large population and its economic growth potential. Now, our sales coming from India account for 31 percent of our overall global business," a Lotte Wellfood official said. Lotte Wellfood's Choco Pie sold in India / Courtesy of Lotte Wellfood Lotte Wellfood's success in India can be attributed to its best-selling Choco Pie product, which accounts for 90 percent of its market share there. It sometimes generates annual sales of 40 billion won for Lotte. Lotte's localization strategy adopted for Choco Pie changing animal oil and fat used in the product to vegetable-based alternatives played a crucial role. Lotte is also selling ice cream under the local brand Havmor, which it acquired in 2017. In January, the company decided to invest about 70 billion won to build a new ice cream production plant in Pune City, Maharashtra, over the next five years. The confectionery company's ice cream business has already shown year-on-year sales growth of 55 percent between 2021 and 2022, going from 99.4 billion won in sales to 154.4 billion won. Orion's Choco Pie plant in Rajasthan, India / Courtesy of Orion Meanwhile, Orion started its confectionery business in India quite recently. In February 2021, the company built its first production facility for the same Choco Pie products in Rajasthan and started selling them the following month. In December the same year, Orion launched a new strawberry flavor for Choco Pie targeting local consumers. "We just started our confectionery business in India, although we began sales there in 2021. Considering how saturated the Korean market is, it was necessary to expand our business globally. India, which is home to a massive population, is one of the global markets we are targeting along with China, Russia and Vietnam," an Orion official said. "As far as I know, the size of the Indian confectionery market reaches 17 trillion won." AmorePacific, Korea's largest cosmetics firm, chose India, North America and Europe to cope with its current business difficulties with China. "India is a very important market for us. We are already seeing some notable achievements in North American and European markets and the Indian market is our next step," an AmorePacific official said. "Indians have great interest in natural cosmetic products. Our skincare brand Laneige showed quite a good performance in the last three years with growth averaging 77 percent based on Lip Sleeping Mask, and Water Bank products." AmorePacific's Water Bank product sold in India / Courtesy of AmorePacific Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said he hopes the Twelfth is a day of peaceful and positive celebration. Thousands across Northern Ireland are set to head out today for the festivities, with many taking part in parades and enjoying street parties. The DUP leader said yesterday: Celebrations over the Eleventh and Twelfth are part of the cultural fabric of Northern Ireland, and for the vast majority of us they are an occasion where families will come together, often travelling home from wherever they now live to enjoy the occasion. According to the Orange Order, over 600 marching bands will take part in the parades. The Co Armagh demonstration, which will be held in Lurgan this year, is firmly established as the largest Orange gathering in the world, according to the group, which expects up to 40,000 to gather to watch the 11 district lodges that are on parade. For the first time in over 10 years, the Order will be producing a specially-commissioned flag, jewel and souvenir booklet for the event in Lurgan. Parades will also take place in Ballinamallard, Ballycastle, Ballymena, Bangor, Belfast, Broughshane, Clogher, Coleraine, Comber, Dromore, Dungannon, Kilkeel, Loughbrickland, Magherafelt, Portglenone, Randalstown, and Upper Ballinderry. The annual Rossnowlagh demonstration in Co Donegal took place on Saturday. Belfast has the longest route, with Orangemen and women from nine districts walking 10 miles with around 60 bands, which formally begins after a wreath-laying ceremony at City Halls cenotaph. Sir Jeffrey said he is proud of his culture, but recognised there are different traditions in Northern Ireland. For those of us who do cherish the legacy of the glorious revolution, then the best way to show that to others is through peaceful and positive celebrations, he said. The Lagan Valley MP added that celebrations do not include the burning of flags or election posters on pyres, saying in the vast majority of cases that does not happen. On Monday, he joined other local politicians in condemning a poster of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and an Irish tricolour which were recently burnt on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone. Unfortunately, it will be a minority of cases where offence is caused that will dominate the headlines. As unionists we need to recognise that such incidents are self-inflicted wounds, he said. A truly shared society must be one where the Orange tradition is not just tolerated, but celebrated. No culture should threaten or dominate any other, but we still have progress to make in Northern Ireland when even in the last 12 months we have seen Orange halls attacked and sectarian abuse directed towards those participating in parades. From fun days and bonfires on the Eleventh through to the annual Sham Fight at Scarva on Thursday, for most people it will be time to spend with family and catching up with friends. All of us who enjoy the celebrations can play our part in demonstrating to others everything that is best about this time of the year and why it is so important to us all. Luke Skelton, who was referred to the Prevent anti-terror programme due to his extreme right-wing views, was 18 when he carried out hostile reconnaissance of a police station he considered targeting (Counter Terrorism Policing North East/PA) A former college student who plotted to blow up a police station to spark a race war has been jailed for four years. Luke Skelton, who was referred to the Prevent anti-terror programme due to his extreme right-wing views, was 18 when he carried out hostile reconnaissance of a station he considered targeting. Following a trial at Teesside Crown Court, the former Gateshead College student, now 20, was found guilty of preparing to carry out a terrorist attack. On Tuesday, Judge Paul Watson KC, the Recorder of Middlebrough, jailed Skelton for four years with an extended licence period of one year. Jurors were told the defendant who was said to have racist, sexist, homophobic, antisemitic and Islamophobic views travelled over 10 miles from his home in Oxclose, Washington, in September 2021 to take photos of Forth Banks police station in Newcastle city centre. He also wrote a manifesto and final note in which he spoke of accelerating a racial war, the court heard. Skelton researched ways of building explosives and downloaded material about making napalm, dynamite and Molotov cocktails, the judge said. Between October 2020 and October 2021, Skelton was engaged in a course of conduct based on extreme right-wing views and wanted to bring about civil disturbance by terrorist means, the judge said. He told the defendant: Your internet activity shows you were a committed and active right-wing extremist dedicated to white supremacy. You made heroes of those who carried out atrocities in the name of fascism. Anti-terror officers first arrested Skelton in June 2021, leading him to change his username for an online group to Adolf Hitler so the police dont suspect me, he told Discord users. He was told the next month that he would face no further action. By the time Skelton carried out his reconnaissance mission in Newcastle, he was completely caught up in terrorist ideology and methods, the judge said. He said the defendant intended to deploy explosives in a busy area but added: The reality is that you had not the intellectual, financial or technical wherewithal to have been able to construct an explosive device capable of creating even modest injury. Crispin Aylett KC, mitigating, said Skelton never actually did any more than take a couple of photos which suggested he lost interest or simply changed his mind. Mr Aylett said the defendants responsibility was substantially reduced by his autism, adding: People with autism feel marginalised and are more prone to being radicalised. Some and Luke Skelton was one of them want to lash out. He told the court the offences took place against the background of Covid and that the consequences of the pandemic were catastrophic for young people. Campaigners have called on MPs to stand on the right side of history ahead of a crucial Commons vote on the Governments sweeping asylum reforms (Gareth Fuller/PA) Campaigners have called on MPs to stand on the right side of history ahead of a crucial Commons vote on the Governments sweeping asylum reforms. Rishi Sunak said he was throwing absolutely everything at tackling Channel crossings and insisted his stop the boats plan was working as MPs prepared to vote on changes to the Illegal Migration Bill. More than 13,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to the UK so far this year, including over 1,600 in the last four days, the latest Government figures show. More than 60 people who include victims of torture, refugees, asylum seekers and those already granted asylum in the UK as well as around 30 campaign groups wrote to members of the House of Commons to express their horror at the Bill and urge them to oppose the proposed legislation. (PA Graphics) The letter, sent on Tuesday, said: Its time for this Government to once and for all scrap their inhumane approach to refugees and rebuild the asylum system on foundations of compassion and human dignity Finding safety in the UK is an incredible opportunity to rebuild your life. We urge you to not take away this lifeline from the refugees that follow in our footsteps. It is now time for you to stand on the right side of history and oppose this shameful piece of legislation when it returns to the House of Commons. MPs are expected to cast a series of votes from 5pm on changes backed by the House of Lords after the draft legislation was mauled in the upper chamber, suffering 20 defeats as peers demanded a raft of revisions. The Home Office offered several concessions on Monday evening, including on time limits for the detention of children and pregnant women as well as removing a clause so the law, if enacted, would no longer apply retrospectively from when it was first announced in March. The letters signatories, which include charities Freedom from Torture, Care4Calais and Refugee Action alongside individuals, said: These cruel plans wont stop people taking dangerous journeys to find safety in the UK. Instead, this Bill closes the door on refugees, punishing people who had little other choice but to risk their life reaching the UK. We know this because when you are fleeing the danger of torture, persecution or war, there is absolutely nothing that can stop you. You are on autopilot. Its like being in a burning house and finding an escape window. Nothing can deter a human being when they are fleeing for their life. MPs heard the Home Office is paying for thousands of empty hotel beds to avoid overcrowding at the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA) Downing Street declined to set a deadline for the passage of the Bill through Parliament but the Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: We want to move it through as quickly as possible, recognising that of course theres significant views on either side of the debate. As he travelled to a Nato summit in Lithuania, Mr Sunak acknowledged fulfilling his pledge to curb Channel crossings would not happen overnight but stressed he was determined to do it, adding: Im throwing absolutely everything at it and I wont stop. The Prime Minister also defended a speech he made in Dover last month where he hailed an apparent reduction in migrants making the journey just weeks before improved weather conditions saw a large number of arrivals. He told reporters: I also said in that speech very deliberately that crossings would increase over the summer. I wasnt hiding that fact. I said then, Here we are, making progress so far. I fully expected crossings to rise in the summer. I said it at the time very clearly. But I do think the plan is working and starting to work. It comes as MPs heard the Home Office is paying for thousands of empty hotel beds reserved for migrants to avoid overcrowding at processing centres. Home Office second permanent secretary Simon Ridley told the Commons Public Accounts Committee the Government department keeps a buffer of about 5,000 beds across the country in case of a sudden influx of Channel crossings in a bid to avoid more problems with overcrowding at the Manston processing centre in Kent. He later added: We have got excess beds that we are paying for that we can move people into immediately, to which MPs expressed surprise at the number set aside. Israeli protesters have blocked roads leading to Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv during countrywide demonstrations against the governments planned judicial overhaul that has divided the nation. The demonstrations came on the morning after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus parliamentary coalition gave initial approval to a Bill to limit the Supreme Courts oversight powers, pressing forward with contentious changes to the judiciary despite widespread opposition. The legislation is one of several bills proposed by Mr Netanyahus ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies. The plan has provoked months of sustained protests by opponents who say it is pushing the country toward authoritarian rule. Protesters called for nationwide mass demonstrations throughout the day, including at Israels main international airport. An elderly protester is assisted after being knocked down by Israeli mounted police officers (Oded Balilty/AP) An estimated 10,000 people gathered outside the main hall of the airport, blowing horns and waving blue and white Israeli flags. Police kept the crowd from entering the hall, and travel was not disrupted. Adi Somech, one of the protesters, said: Civil war! I think were going that way if theyre not going to stop. On Tuesday, 300 reservists from the militarys cyber unit signed a letter saying they would not volunteer for service, explaining the government has demonstrated it is determined to destroy the state of Israel. Sensitive cyber abilities with the potential for being used for evil must not be given to a criminal government that is undermining the foundations of democracy, the letter said. Police used a water cannon to clear protesters who blocked a main artery leading to Jerusalem. Officers arrested several others who had obstructed a highway next to the central city of Modiin. Demonstrators blocked a main highway in Haifa with a large banner reading Together we will be victorious, snarling traffic along the beachfront. Later, a crowd gathered outside the US diplomatic offices in Tel Aviv, calling on the White House to put pressure on Netanyahu to halt the overhaul. Protests were also taking place outside Mr Netanyahus home in central Jerusalem and in central Tel Aviv. Police said 71 people were arrested for public disturbance during the protests nationwide. Protesters scuffled with police in various locations, but no major violence was reported. In a speech on Tuesday evening, defence minister Yoav Gallant lashed out at those who refuse to report for duty, saying it threatened the countrys security and was a prize for our enemies. Arnon Bar-David, head of the countrys national labour union, the Histadrut, threatened a possible general strike that could paralyse the countrys economy. If the situation reaches an extreme, we will intervene and employ our strength, Mr Bar-David said, calling on Mr Netanyahu to stop the chaos. Israeli police officers remove a protester (Mahmoud Illean/AP) The Histadrut called a general strike in March as the government pushed the judicial overhaul legislation through parliament after weeks of protest. The move shut down large swathes of Israels economy and helped contribute to Mr Netanyahu deciding to freeze the legislation. But he decided to revive it last month after talks with the political opposition aimed at finding a compromise collapsed. Mr Netanyahus allies have proposed a series of changes to the Israeli legal system aimed at weakening what they say are the excessive powers of unelected judges. The proposed changes include giving Mr Netanyahus allies control over the appointment of judges and giving parliament power to overturn court decisions. The Netanyahu government, which took office in December, is the most hard-line ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox in Israels 75-year history. His allies proposed the sweeping changes to the judiciary after the country held its fifth elections in under four years, all of them seen as a referendum on Mr Netanyahus fitness to serve as prime minister while on trial for corruption. Critics of the judicial overhaul say it will upset the countrys fragile system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Mr Netanyahu and his allies. They also say Mr Netanyahu has a conflict of interest because he is on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes, all of which he has denied. A wide swathe of Israeli society, including reserve military officers, business leaders, LGBT+ people and members of other minority groups have joined the protests. Plumes of steam rise above White Island off the coast of Whakatane, New Zealand after the eruption (Mark Baker/PA) Tourists received no health and safety warnings before they landed on New Zealands most active volcano ahead of a 2019 eruption that killed 22 people, a prosecutor said. There were 47 people on White Island, the tip of an undersea volcano also known by its indigenous Maori name Whakaari, when superheated steam erupted on December 9. Most of the 25 people who survived were severely burned. The islands owners, brothers Andrew, James and Peter Buttle, their company Whakaari Management Ltd, and tour operators ID Tours NZ Ltd and Tauranga Tourism Services Ltd, went on trial on Tuesday in Auckland District Court for allegedly failing to adequately protect tourists and staff. Prosecutor Kristy McDonald said in opening the prosecution case that the eruption at the popular tourist destination was not predictable but was foreseeable. The 20 tourists and two tour guides who died were given no warning of the risks, she said. Ms McDonald said: They were not given the opportunity to make any informed decision about whether they wanted to take the risk of walking into the crater of an active and unpredictable volcano that had erupted as recently as 2016. The business of tourism on Whakaari was a risky business. It involved tours to an active volcano, taking people to the heart of the crater in circumstances where no one could predict when an erupting might occur, and if an eruption did occur, those on Whakaari were likely to die or suffer very serious injury. And tragically, that risk was realised. Prosecutor Kristy McDonald addresses a court in Auckland (Lawrence Smith/AP) Of those killed, 14 were Australians, five were Americans, two were New Zealanders and one was a German. Ms McDonald said the company that owned the volcano failed to understand the risk, failed to consult with tour operators on the hazards, failed to ensure appropriate personal protective equipment was provided to tourists and staff and failed to provide an adequate means of evacuation. The company left tour operators to monitor the changing risk. An eruption on April 27, 2016, occurred at night without warning when no one was on the island. That should have prompted the owner to review the risk assessment, Ms McDonald said. The volcanic eruption at the popular tourist island destination killed 22 people in December 2019 (Lawrence Smith/AP) A honeymooning US couple who survived the eruption with severe burns, Matt Urey and Lauren Barham of Richmond, Virginia, are listed as the first witnesses to testify. They were among 38 tourists who had travelled from Australia aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas and were on the volcano when it erupted. Three helicopter tour operators pleaded guilty last week to safety breaches. Each of the companies faces a maximum fine of 1.5 million New Zealand dollars. Each of the brothers charged faces a maximum fine of 300,000 New Zealand dollars. The trial being heard by judge Evangelos Thomas without a jury is scheduled to run for 16 weeks. Authorities in Iceland have warned tourists to stay away from a volcano that is spewing lava and noxious gases. The eruption began on Monday afternoon after thousands of earthquakes in the area, meteorological authorities said. It comes 11 months after the volcanos last eruption officially ended. People have been urged to stay away from the uninhabited valley near the Litli-Hrutur mountain, 19 miles south west of the capital, Reykjavik. The area, known broadly as Fagradalsfjall volcano, erupted in 2021 and 2022 without causing damage or disruptions to flights, despite being near Keflavik Airport, Icelands international air traffic hub. The airport remained open on Tuesday. Scientists are monitoring the eruption (Marco Di Marco/AP) The Icelandic Meteorological Office said the eruption was initially more explosive than the previous two. Aerial footage showed streams of orange molten lava and clouds of gases spewing from a snaking fissure about half a mile long. Gas pollution is high around the eruption and dangerous, the Met Office said. Travellers are advised not to enter the area until responders have had a chance to evaluate conditions. By Tuesday morning, the fissure and the volume of the eruption had shrunk, scientists said. This has become a small eruption, which is very good news, University of Iceland geophysics professor Magnus Tumi Guomundsson told national broadcaster RUV. He said the eruption could certainly last a long time, but luckily were not looking at a continuation of what we saw in the first few hours. A man takes pictures as lava emerges from a fissure of the Fagradalsfjall volcano (Marco Di Marco/AP) A 2021 eruption in the same area produced spectacular lava flows for several months and hundreds of thousands of people flocked to see the sight. Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hotspot in the North Atlantic, averages an eruption every four to five years. The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which sent huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures over Europe. More than 100,000 flights were grounded, stranding millions of international travellers and halting air travel for days because of concerns the ash could damage jet engines. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi delivers her opening remarks during plenary session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Meeting at Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 11, 2023. Updated at 2:45 p.m. ET on 2023-07-11 The risk of nuclear arms being used is higher now than at any time in recent history with the world only one miscalculation away from apocalypse, Indonesias top diplomat warned Tuesday, calling on foreign powers to keep Southeast Asia safe from such weapons. At a meeting in Jakarta, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi urged nuclear-armed powers to sign a 30-year-old treaty that seeks to keep the region free of nukes. She issued her warning ahead of four days of ministerial-level meetings in Jakarta between member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The crisis in Myanmar meanwhile is expected to be among the main topics at the meetings, which will also include talks with China, Russia and the United States later this week. The risk of nuclear weapons use is higher today than at any time in recent history, Retno said at Tuesdays meeting of the Commission of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ). We keep hearing warnings about the possible use of nuclear weapons. We also see nuclear power remains part of some countries military doctrine, including in our region. We know fully well we cannot be truly safe with nuclear weapons in our region. She added: No weapon is more powerful and destructive than nuclear weapons. And with nuclear weapons we are only one miscalculation away from apocalypse and global catastrophe. In 1995, all of ASEANs members signed the SEANWFZ Treaty, also known as the Bangkok Treaty, that committed to keeping the region free from nuclear weapons. The treaty prohibits its signatories from developing, manufacturing, possessing, testing or using them. But none of the worlds nuclear powers have signed the protocol, citing various objections over the scope and verification of the treaty. Some of them have also argued it infringes on their rights to transit and navigate in international waters due to its inclusion of continental shelves and exclusive economic zones. Combined, the nine nuclear-armed nations Russia, the U.S., Great Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea possess an estimated total of 13,000 nuclear weapons, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Earlier this year, the United States, Britain and Australia unveiled AUKUS, a trilateral defense agreement to enable Indonesias next-door neighbor, Australia, to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, as part of a U.S. doctrine that aims to contain Chinas military expansionism, particularly in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. The deal has stoked concerns among leaders in Southeast Asia about whether it could provoke a nuclear-arms race, but U.S. President Joe Biden has issued assurance that the submarines wont be armed with nuclear missiles. However, despite the warnings raised by Foreign Minister Retno, AUKUS was not officially part of Tuesdays talks in Jakarta. There is no agenda on the submarines at the SEANWFZ meeting, and in the context of the latest developments in the region, the nuclear-powered submarines are not a nuclear weapon, Sidharto Suryodipuro, director for ASEAN cooperation at Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, according to local media reports. B-52s in Indonesian skies Retnos warning about nuclear weapons came weeks after U.S. Air Force B-52s took part with Indonesian fighter jets in joint exercises in Indonesia. The exercises were the first ever in Indonesian skies involving the strategic, eight-engine bombers that are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Under another military pact with Australia, Canberra has allowed the U.S. to deploy some of these giant planes at the Tindal Base in northern Australia. When asked this week whether Indonesia would consider a similar deal, a spokesman for the Indonesian military said Jakarta, because of its traditional policy of non-alignment to any superpowers, would not permit the U.S. to station B-52s on its soil. As long as we are nonaligned, it is impossible [this will] happen, military spokesman Rear Adm. Julius Widjojono told BenarNews. They were only here for the exercise, unlike their permanent position in Australia, he said, referring to recent joint exercises with the B-52 bombers that were staged from the U.S. military base in Darwin, northern Australia. A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, takes off in support of a bilateral military training exercise at the Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, Indonesia, June 21, 2023. [U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Zade Vadnais] Radityo Dharmaputra, a lecturer in international relations at Airlangga University in Surabaya, said nuclear powers do not want to give up their ability to deter or intimidate their rivals in a strategically important and contested part of the world. Nuclear weapons are a deterrence tool, which can make other countries refrain from doing something, he told BenarNews. He said that each nuclear power has its own interests and stakes in Southeast Asia, especially amid the current rivalry over issues such as trade, human rights and territorial disputes. Human rights Speaking separately at a meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, Retno said the bloc must not waver in addressing human rights issues in the region, despite complexities on the ground and differences among its members. ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue is a testament of ASEANs maturity to engage in frank and open dialogue without naming and shaming, she said. It is therefore important for it to be conducted regularly. We are therefore aiming for a Leaders Declaration on the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue, she said. ASEAN must unite in rejecting politicization of human rights and double standards while proving its ability to tackle issues within its own backyard, she said, without elaborating. One of the regions most pressing human rights issues is the crisis in Myanmar, where a military coup in February 2021 has plunged the country into chaos. More than 3,000 civilians have been killed by Myanmar security forces and nearly 24,000 arrested since the coup, according to rights groups. ASEAN has attempted to resolve the conflict with a five-point plan that includes an immediate end to violence and dialogue among all contending parties. Delegates pose for a photo at a plenary session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foreign Ministers Meeting at Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 11, 2023. [Reuters] But Myanmars military government has largely ignored the plan, prompting ASEAN to bar its military leaders from top-level gatherings. The Myanmar crisis is expected to dominate discussions later this week when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other top diplomats join the ASEAN foreign ministers as dialogue partners. The U.S. and its allies have imposed sanctions on Myanmars military and called for the restoration of democracy, while China and Russia have been more cautious and urged respect for Myanmar's sovereignty. ASEAN has been trying to bridge the gap between the rival powers and persuade them to support its peace plan. Indonesia, as this years ASEAN chair, has quietly engaged with various stakeholders in Myanmar, including the military, the opposition National Unity Government, ethnic armed groups and civil society groups. Retno said last week that Indonesia had conducted 110 engagements in the form of in-person meetings, virtual meetings, and phone calls with representatives of Myanmar. She said Indonesia hoped to see progress in the implementation of the ASEAN plan before the end of the year. This report has been updated to include information about the AUKUS agreement and joint operations in Indonesia involving B-52 bombers. The Iranian-flagged oil tanker MT Arman 114, (left) , and the Cameroon-flagged MT S Tinos, which were spotted conducting a ship-to-ship oil transfer without a permit, according to the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), are seen near North Natuna Sea, Indonesia, July 7, 2023. Indonesias coast guard said Tuesday it had seized an Iranian tanker and its crew suspected of illegally transferring oil to another ship in the nations territorial waters. After the United States targeted Iranian oil exports with sanctions in 2018, Tehran has allegedly used various methods to conceal its oil transfers, such as disabling their onboard tracking systems. The Iranian supertanker, which was detained last week, had set its automatic identification system (AIS) as showing its location in the Red Sea when it was in Indonesias waters, said Aan Kurnia, the chief of the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla). This is deception, Aan said about the incident that took place on July 7 off Indonesias Natuna islands. We followed the rules of engagement to stop the ship, from communication to warning shots. We shot in the air, in front of them, behind them, but they still did not stop, Aan said. The other ship, a Cameroon-flagged tanker, managed to escape while the Iranian one sailed into Malaysian waters, Aan said. After being contacted by the Indonesians, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency sent a helicopter with a special forces team to board the Iranian tanker and take control of it, he said. A team of Indonesian inspectors took over the custody of the vessel, which was then escorted to Batam, an Indonesian island near Singapore, Aan added. The tanker was carrying 272,000 metric tons (2.3 million barrels) of fuel. The cargo was estimated to be worth 4.6 trillion rupiah (U.S. $303 million), the Indonesian authorities said. The crew members included Egyptians, Syrians and Ukrainians. It was clear that these ships were up to no good, and one of them had been scrapped in 2018. So these two ships were not legitimate, Aan said. This was not the first time that Indonesia had seized an Iranian tanker for a suspected illegal oil transfer. In 2021, it seized another Iranian tanker and a Panamanian tanker over similar allegations. The Iranian tanker was released months later after a court process. A court in Batam handed suspended sentences of one year each to the captains of the vessels after finding them guilty of violating Indonesias navigational rules by conducting an oil transfer at sea without a permit. Chinese Premier Li Qiang (right) and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare are pictured at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 10, 2023. Chinas leaders have feted Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on his second official visit to their country and promised further aid to the economically-lagging island nation that has become Beijings beachhead in the Pacific. Relations between China and the Solomon Islands, an archipelago about 2,100 kilometers (1,300 miles) northeast of Brisbane, Australia, have blossomed since Sogavares government switched its diplomatic recognition to Beijing from democratically governed Taiwan in 2019. The two countries signed a security agreement last year, alarming the United States and its allies such as Australia, who worry it could lead to a Chinese military presence in the South Pacific. Sogavare, accompanied by a delegation of Cabinet ministers, legislators and business leaders, began a week-long visit to China on Sunday. On Monday, he met Chinas President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, according to state news agency Xinhua. A joint Solomon Islands-China statement, published by Xinhua, said the two countries had signed nine agreements covering development cooperation, trade, infrastructure development, civil aviation, education, police affairs, customs and meteorology. Details of the agreements have not been made public. The statement said relations had been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Sogavare, who will also visit Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces, appeared impressed by his red-carpet reception. Im back home, the prime minister said in a video posted online by state-run China Global Television Network that showed Sogavare and his wife Emmy Sogavare greeted by Chinese officials. The busy Beijing traffic gave way to the motorcade of more than 20 vehicles. The Solomon Islands and PRC flags were flown alongside each other along the streets, said a statement Monday from Sogavares office, describing his arrival in Beijing. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (right) and Chinese Premier Li Qiang review an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 10, 2023. [AP] Chinas influence in the Pacific has burgeoned over several decades through a combination of increased trade, infrastructure investment and aid as it seeks to isolate Taiwan which it considers a rebel province and advance its own economic and security interests. The Pacific island nation of Kiribati also switched its diplomatic recognition to China from Taiwan in 2019. In a speech to a forum in Beijing on economic development, Sogavare echoed Beijings talking points in its sparring with the U.S., which has the worlds largest economy and military. Sogavares speech underscored the need to rise above those that want to create a divided world with ideological geopolitical fault lines, the statement from his office said. Xi, following his meeting with Sogavare, said the Solomon Islands had become the pacesetter for relations between China and Pacific island countries, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Recognition of China has proven to be the correct choice for the Solomon Islands, Xi said. Li said China is willing to expand economic and development cooperation with the Solomon Islands, according to Xinhua and a second statement from Sogavares office. Under Sogavare, the Solomon Islands has sought to benefit from the China-U.S. rivalry in the Pacific by securing more development assistance. The country of some 700,000 people grapples with crumbling roads, limited telecommunications and lack of basic healthcare. At the same time as Sogavare is visiting China, power supply in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara has been cut for two-hour periods several times a day while maintenance is carried out on generators, according to the countrys power company. The competition for influence in the Solomons has spilled into domestic security, raising concerns it could cause new instability in a country that spiraled into chaos only two decades ago, culminating in an Australian-led military intervention from 2003 until 2017. Both China and Australia have been training Solomon Islands police and donating equipment, including water cannons gifted by China and guns courtesy of Australia. In the past month the Solomons has been given seven Nissan X-Trail SUVs from Australia as well as night-vision devices, drones, a wireless signal jammer and two vehicles from China. Sogavares trip to China comes after Australia earlier this month offered to extend a military and police deployment in the Solomon Islands. The Pacific island country is preparing to host a regional sporting event later this year bankrolled by China, Australia and Indonesia and hold postponed elections in the first half of 2024. Australia sent more than 200 troops and police to the Solomon Islands in late 2021 at the request of Sogavares government following anti-China and anti-government riots in the capital Honiara. So far, the Solomons Islands government has neither publicly accepted nor rejected Australias offer. Sogavare has said a security treaty between Australia and the Solomon Islands needs to be reviewed. An advertisement of Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S23 smartphone is seen at the company's store in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap Samsung Electronics has been hit with a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States over its Galaxy series and Family Hub appliances, the latest in a series of recent patent infringement battles. The lawsuit, which asserts four patents, was filed Monday (U.S. time) at the Texas Eastern District Court with regard to Samsung's certain Galaxy smartphones, tablets and earphones, as well as Family Hub-brand appliances. The legal action was taken by King Spalding on behalf of Staton Techiya. This is not the first legal action Staton Techiya has taken against the Korean tech giant. The U.S.-based nonperforming entity filed 10 similar suits related to Samsung smartphone and earphone technologies in 2021. In June, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, under the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), invalidated part of Staton Techiya's claims. The U.S. company also filed four patent infringement lawsuits against Samsung in February last year. Of the four, Samsung filed patent invalidation suits against two cases at the USPTO. Separately, Samsung filed patent invalidation suits Monday against Mojo Mobility over wireless charging technologies. The California-based wireless charging technology firm filed a patent infringement suit against Samsung last year, claiming Samsung violated a family of patents related to a wireless charger. (Yonhap) Demonstrators carry signs denouncing the Philippine governments targeting of activists by branding them as terrorists, during a protest in Baguio city, northern Philippines, Oct. 12, 2018. The Philippines leading human rights alliance lashed out at the government Tuesday for designating four leftist activists as terrorists and said the move was nothing but a virtual hit list. The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) last month added the names of Windel Bolinget, chairman of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, and three members Jennifer Awingan, Sarah Abellon-Alikes and Stephen Tauli to the list of wanted terrorists individuals. This was done through a resolution released to the public on Monday. Karapatan, a coalition of local human rights groups, said the four were involved in helping poor communities in far-flung and remote areas of the country. It accused the government and the military-led council of red-tagging or baselessly accusing someone of being a communist sympathizer. We condemn the ATC for unjustly, arbitrarily and maliciously designating political activists as terrorist individuals and endangering their lives, safety and security in the process, Cristina Palabay, Karapatans secretary general, told BenarNews. This is but the latest in a string of harassment the four indigenous peoples leaders have suffered in the hands of state forces, she said. Bolinget was designated as a terrorist shortly after he filed a civil suit on June 23 against Maj. Ruth Dizon, the police chief in Kapalong, a town in Davao del Norte, a province in the south. Dizon had filed a murder charge against Bolinget in 2020, Karapatan said. We deplore the increasing use of terror laws against activists and peasants to suppress political dissent and violate basic rights and civil liberties, Palabay said. We call on all human rights advocates and groups to renew the call for the repeal of the terror law. We should not allow the further use of this draconian law to stifle dissent and to violate peoples rights, she said. On Tuesday, the ATC reiterated that it had verified and validated information, sworn statements and other pieces of evidence against the four and that this was a prelude to filing an actual case against them. The designation automatically led to the governments freezing of bank accounts owned or linked to the four, the council said in a statement to BenarNews. Organized violence pursued by terrorists certainly needs resources, without which their terrorist plans and activities cannot be sustained. Thus, the effective disruption and denial of financial and other resources of terrorists clearly show the important role of ATC designation as part of the legal processes in preventing and suppressing terrorism, it said. In June, Raymond Basilio, secretary general of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), complained to the International Labor Organization, a U.N. agency, about the alleged red-tagging and profiling of union members by the Department of Education. Basilio was referring to a June 14 memorandum where the education department directed regional officials to submit a complete list of teachers affiliated with ACT. The blatant attacks against ACT Philippines are systematic and recurring under the ongoing anti-insurgency efforts of the states military agency, Basilio said. The office of Vice President Sara Duterte, who serves as education secretary, has clarified that the move was not intended to profile teachers, calling the allegation by Basilio patently absurd, distorted and followed no logic. The request was publicly available and proves that it did not intend to target members of the union, as alleged by ACT, her office said on June 24. There is simply no effort or intention to purposely target members of ACT union. Anti-Terror Act Signed into law by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in July 2020, the Anti-Terror Act allows the council to designate domestic or foreign individuals or organizations as terrorists. The act created the Anti-Terror Council, allowing the government to arrest suspected terrorists without a warrant and hold them without charges for up to 24 days. Nearly 40 petitions have been filed with the nations highest court seeking to nullify the law, but to no avail. The court upheld the constitutionality of most provisions, including the councils power to designate a person or group a terrorist even before a trial. Months after the act was signed into law, Tetch Torres-Tupas, a reporter for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which has been critical of the government, was accused by a military general of being a propagandist for communist rebels. The news organization had reported on a petition against the law. Military officials subsequently cleared Torres-Tupas but only after being widely criticized in the Philippine media. In 2020, the Philippine government designated the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New Peoples Army, as terrorist groups. Sixteen other organizations were designated last year to suppress funding sources. The NPA has been waging one of the worlds longest-running rebellions since 1969. It peaked in the 1980s, when the number of armed rebels was believed to be about 20,000. Today, slightly more than 2,000 are scattered across the Philippines, according to authorities. Dennis Jay Santos in Davao city, Philippines, contributed to this report. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha campaigns for the United Thai Nation Party ahead of the general election, May 12, 2023. Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the former army chief who led a coup that toppled an elected government, quit politics on Tuesday after ruling over Thailand for nine years, during which there were a high number of arrests and curbs on pro-democracy activism. Prayuth came to power in May 2014 as the head of a junta after spearheading a coup against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra that followed a series of bloody street protests. He took on the title of prime minister but only became a full-fledged one when lawmakers elected him to the post after the 2019 general election, even though he was not voted in as an MP. From now on, Im leaving politics by resigning as a member of the United Thai Nation Party, he said in a statement on the partys Facebook page. May the leader, party executive and members stay strong to conduct the ideology to protect the nation, religion and the monarchy. In Mays general election, his United Thai Nation Party (UTNP), whom he represented as the prime minister candidate, won only 36 of 500 lower house seats. His announcement could pave the way for Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the pro-democracy Move Forward Party, to be elected prime minister when the two houses of the Thai legislature vote on Thursday, one observer said. In his farewell statement, Prayuth, 69, did not say why he decided to exit politics. I believe every one of you know that over the past nine years, I, as a prime minister, have been dedicated to protecting the nation, religion and the monarchy to achieve benefits for the beloved people. All of these came to fruition for the entire country, he said. I have used utmost efforts to build the nations strength in all aspects stability, peace and weathered domestic and external obstacles and practically achieved the goals. The partys leader said Prayuth got out of politics because he did not want to be seen as a trouble maker. He was linked to issues of criticism. There was an unfounded rumor that he has tried to make a minority government which would undermine his and the partys image, so the best way out is to call it quits, UTNP leader Peeraphan Salirathaviphak said. The party is not pitching a replacement candidate for prime minister. Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha (left in uniform), then Thailands army chief, along with then-Armed Forces chief Gen. Thanasak Patimaprakorn talk to reporters after a live-fire drill in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, July 12, 2013. [RFA file photo] A Prayuth supporter reacted sadly to the announcement. Without him the country could have tail-spun into a civil war, a 70-year-old Bangkok retiree who asked to be named only Kitti for privacy concerns told BenarNews. He was referring to Prayuths role as a military leader in thwarting deadly protests in 2009 through 2014. Prayuths term has been marked by controversy. Beginning in July 2020, youth-led protests sprang up across the nation. The demonstrators issued three demands that Prayuth resign, the constitution be rewritten and the monarchy be reformed. In November 2020, Prayuth warned demonstrators that all pertaining laws, including the strict royal defamation Lese-Majeste, law would be enforced. As of March 2023, at least 238 people, including a 15-year-old girl, have been charged with violating Lese-Majeste, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said. Vote set Meanwhile, the 750-member bicameral parliament is to vote on Thursday to elect a new prime minister, with the Move Forward Partys Pita seen as the leading candidate. His eight-party coalition holds 312 seats, but is short of the 376 needed to form a government. An analyst said some of the 250 senators selected by the junta ahead of the 2019 election could break for Pita. I think Prayuths exit increases the chance for Pita to become a prime minister at the first voting because resistance from the Senate would be less, Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of political science faculty at Ubon Ratchathani University, told BenarNews. The conservative bloc may allow Pita to become a prime minister, in the meantime, because the momentum of support vastly tips to Pita and the Move Forward Party. That could relieve pressure and the possibility of mass protest, he said. But in the long run, Pita could be yanked from his post, Titipol said. The previous two pro-democratic prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and his younger sister, Yingluck were driven from office by military coups. Demonstrators rally at the Monument of Victory in Bangkok two days after the military overthrew the Yingluck Shinawatra administration in a coup, May 24, 2014. [RFA file photo] House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said parliament would convene at 9:30 a.m. Thursday to debate Pitas qualifications before votes are to be tallied around 5 p.m. There is no rule about how many times Pita could be nominated, Wan Noor said. Its up to the parties involved to manage the matter. Appeal On Tuesday, Pita called on House MPs and otherwise rival senators to vote for him. The voting for the prime minister on July 13 is not a mere election of Pita or Move Forward Party, but it is the confirmation for Thailand to move along the democratic path in line with democratic countries worldwide, he said in a Twitter post. I want to take this chance to send the message to all members of the lower- and the upper-house that though you may dislike our political approach you can cross examine me, attack me and vote me out of the post. But, to vote for the majority government is the chance for the nation to move on with the right course, Pita said in a message to the conservative members of the senate. He also appealed to the people. It is apparent that Thailand remains under an irregular political situation. Elected governments were overthrown again and again by military coups, litigious war and party dissolution, he said. The irregularity stemmed from the 2017 Constitution. But this is the chance we can return normalcy to Thailands politics. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Kids 4 Harmony will once again perform during the pre-concert activities of Tanglewood in the City, which returns to The Common for its fifth year on July 29. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, shakes hands with Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, right, as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg looks on prior to a meeting ahead of a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday, July 10. AP-Yonhap NATO leaders gather for a summit in Vilnius on Tuesday seeking to overcome divisions on Ukraine's membership bid after a deal to lift Turkey's block on Sweden joining the military alliance. The summit in the Lithuanian capital will be dominated by the repercussions of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with leaders set to approve NATO's first comprehensive plans since the end of the Cold War to defend against any attack from Moscow. Diplomats said differences were narrowing over Ukraine's push for NATO membership. While NATO members agree Kyiv cannot join during the war, they have disagreed over how quickly it could happen afterwards and under what conditions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been invited to attend the Vilnius gathering, has been pressing NATO to give his country a clear pathway to membership in the summit communique so that it can join soon after the war is over. "We are still working on the wording ... but we already understand the fact that Ukraine will be in the Alliance," Zelenskyy said on Twitter on Monday evening. He said Ukraine was "working to make the algorithm for gaining membership as clear and fast as possible". NATO members in Eastern Europe have backed Kyiv's stance, arguing that bringing Ukraine under NATO's collective security umbrella is the best way to deter Russia from attacking again. NATO was formed in 1949 with the primary aim of countering the risk of a Soviet attack on allied territory. Countries such as the United States and Germany have been more cautious, wary of any move that they fear could draw NATO into a direct conflict with Russia, and potentially spark a global war. Assertions that "Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO" and that it will join "when conditions allow" are among the phrases being discussed for the final text, diplomats say. Some of Ukraine's eastern allies want the word "invitation" or "invite" to be included. Negotiations have also focused on what conditions Ukraine would have to meet to join NATO and how its progress should be tracked, diplomats say. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens to a question during a joint press conference with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following their meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, early Saturday, July 8. AP-Yonhap Kimball Farms Nursing Center in Lenox is one of eight properties in the Berkshires managed by Integritus Healthcare. A former employee is suing the company, alleging defamation and malicious prosecution. Editor's Note: This article was updated July 17 to correct Lisa Lister's position at Fairview Hospital. GREAT BARRINGTON When birders heard that the storm had likely blown a whimbrel off course and grounded it at the airport, they dropped whatever they were doing and grabbed their spotting scopes. Its hard to know why exactly they end up where they do, said Gael Hurley, peering through binoculars after high-tailing it to the Walter J. Koladza Airport from her home in Dalton. But storms push them. In this case the Arctic-born shorebird missed its typical flight path by more than 200 miles. It may be the first sighting at the airport, but not in Berkshire County. Someone recorded seeing one in October of 2015 at Pontoosuc Lake, according to eBird, a bird-sighting website. Mondays sighting, first reported by Greg Ward on an app for a rare bird spotting group at 12:39 p.m., pushed Hurley out the door just as she was about to unload groceries on her day off work. It pushed Lisa Lister out of the lab at Fairview Hospital where she is the supervisor. I skipped out of work, Lister said after taking a long look through her binoculars, still in scrubs. Her husband, Doug Lister, joined her from Cheshire, a spotting scope slung over his shoulder. Whimbrels breed in the arctic tundra of Alaska and Canada then make long trips on their way to South America. Over the course of the year, these shorebirds take uninterrupted flights with stopovers in the salt marshes of New England, like those in Wellfleet, Cape Cod, said Alan Kneidel, a conservation biologist who specializes in whimbrels and shorebird conservation in general, as well as the Atlantic flyway. Theyll spend two to four weeks there fattening up on fiddler crabs, said Kneidel, who works for Plymouth-based Manomet, a bird migration conservation group. Kneidel and other Manomet scientists are tracking a number of whimbrels on which they attached satellite transmitters, and that data can be viewed online. Whimbrels and shorebirds in general are in decline, Kneidel said, due to a likely combination of factors including disruption in stops on the migration path and possibly rising sea levels. Whimbrels also are hunted for food in the Lesser Antilles and the coast of northern South America where they winter something conservationists want governments to crack down on. Were working hard to figure it out, he said of the declines. The lone airport whimbrel will likely join its brethren on the coast at some point, Kneidel said, adding that this sort of peeling off from a flock isnt unusual. Sometimes they can think that theyre having a nice happy tailwind, Kneidel added, and come upon unexpected bad weather. This can prompt them to ground themselves and stop flight. It was a landing that thrilled birders like Ruth Green, of Monterey, who wore a shirt that said Birders Against Borders. Chuck Johnson was about to pick up a mystery for a reading break when the whimbrel report sent him heading south from his home in Williamstown. They are all members of the Hoffman Bird Club, which hosts birding trips, talks and engenders the camaraderie seen at the airport Monday. Greg Ward, the clubs president who first sighted the whimbrel, said in a phone interview that the airport can be a treasure trove for bird watching, since the short mown grass, especially when wet, attracts them. Ward likes to check it out after a storm, and says that, yes, birding is now such a habit that you just get to a place where it really gets to be a focus. On Monday at around noon, he heard a bird call distinctly different than the killdeer, another shorebird that convenes around the airport, and there it was, Ward said of the whimbrel, flying low just like one of those airplanes on the tarmac. The Bible is the most important book ever written. The one true God chose to reveal Himself to us through the written word. Amazing and humbling! Yet sometimes we get it wrong. We misunderstand or misapply the truth God has given us. Although there are countless causes, through my experience Ive seen two primary problems crop up again and again. Perspective - Too often we read Gods Word with our own purposes and goals in mind. But the Bible is all about God. When we read it with His eternal purposes in mind, we will better grasp the truth of His Word. Context The Bible may have unlimited applications, but its meaning never changes. It means the same today as it did when it was written. To understand the original meaning, we must pull back and understand the context of the passage, of the chapter, of the book. Here are 10 verses that are often misunderstood due to perspective, context, or both: Photo credit: Getty Images/Deagreez Talking Points Memo: The failure of the Biden administration is only getting more and more obvious by the day. Heres three major agencies that are falling apart. President Biden snaps at reporter for asking about Hunters text messages. SCOTUS rules on states control over elections and agrees to hear case on wealth tax. Bill renews calls for investigation into Zuckerbergs efforts into the 2020 presidential election. Former Prosecutor Cully Stimson on his new book Rogue Prosecutors: How Radical Soros Lawyers are Destroying Americas Communities. Reuters releases report that says all living US Presidents descended from slaveholders all expect Donald Trump. Smart Life: pickleball injuries This Day in History: International Body Piercing Day Final Thought: Leaving money to kids, charities & friends In Case You Missed It: Read Bill's latest column, "They're Not Victims" It's the 'Summer Reading Special!' 'Killing the Killers,' Killing the Legends,' and 'Killing Crazy Horse' all for $32.95. We'll also give you a FREE 'Team Normal' hat. 'Team Normal!' gear is 15% for a limited time. Go to BillOReilly.com now and order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices GACL has established a commercial-scale plant to manufacture 10,000 MTA of Hydrazine Hydrate Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL), one of the leading chlor-alkali majors in the country, flagged off the first lot of Hydrazine Hydrate (80%) and Purified Phosphoric Acid (85%) recently. Currently, India is importing Hydrazine Hydrate from Europe and other countries. Hydrazine Hydrate as an import substitute product with world-class quality will help in reducing the country's dependency on imports, thereby saving valuable foreign exchange. GACL and CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, have jointly received patents from India and the USA for the indigenous process to manufacture Hydrazine Hydrate (H6N2O). Hydrazine Hydrate has applications in various industries such as Pesticides, Agrochemicals, Water Treatment, Pharmaceuticals, blowing agent in Polymer Industry, Fine Chemicals etc. GACL has established a commercial-scale plant in Dahej at an estimated cost of Rs 405 crore to manufacture 10,000 Metric Tons Annually (MTA) of Hydrazine Hydrate. On the other hand, India has very few manufacturers of Purified Phosphoric Acid and to meet its total demand the country imports around 35,000 MTA Purified Phosphoric Acid, annually. Purified Phosphoric Acid has applications in various industries such as Sugar Refining, Edible Oil Refining, Beverages, and Pharmaceuticals etc. To reduce the nation's dependence on imports of this chemical, GACL has established a Purified Phosphoric Acid plant having a capacity of 33,870 MTA at Dahej. Larry van Vuuren, a pioneering medical innovator and biological scientist, has been honoured as the inaugural recipient of the MotiMoves entrepreneurship intervention programme, established by Zunaid Moti. Source: Supplied. The 44-year-old from Port Elizabeth is taking home R3m in venture funding to roll out groundbreaking new technology that has the potential to completely revolutionise womens healthcare, particularly in the field of early breast-cancer detection. His journey is truly remarkable, overcoming severe visual impairment to achieve his doctorate. He is now working tirelessly to positively change the lives of others. Today, he boasts qualifications in biotechnology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics, despite being completely blind in his right eye and having extremely limited vision in his left eye. His commitment to his studies and perseverance saw him receiving multiple academic scholarships for his tertiary studies. But, while in his second year of studies, he was asked by university staff to rather switch to a degree in mathematics and statistics on account of his poor eyesight, which had made studying more difficult. I ended up doing so, but I was very unhappy and found myself on the verge of deregistering from the institution. Then I stumbled across an article on the amazing story of Timothy Cordes, a medical doctor from the United States of America who is totally blind. With this story in my hand, I went back to the biotechnology department to say that if Cordes could do it, so could I. And on that basis, I was finally given permission to re-register for biological sciences and I went on to complete my Ph.D, says van Vuuren. The result of two years of dedicated research, van Vuurens latest innovation could represent a significant step forward in the struggle against breast cancer one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in the world. Pending the receipt of his patent and the various approvals needed from the relevant medical authorities, van Vuuren required financial assistance to help place his product into mass production and launch it into the market. He approached the Department of Trade and Industry but experienced a severe delay in receiving feedback which is when he decided to enter the MotiMoves entrepreneurship programme. Bolstering entrepreneurs Launched and managed by renowned business leader and billionaire Zunaid Moti, MotiMoves is a free online entrepreneurship programme dedicated to empowering aspiring entrepreneurs with practical business information. In addition to providing expert business mentorship and advice through an ongoing webinar series, MotiMoves runs a monthly competition for entrepreneurs to submit their business proposals for potential funding. Each month, one individual with an outstanding proposal will receive R50,000 to invest in their business, exclusive use of a Porsche 911 for a month, personalised mentorship sessions with Zunaid Moti, as well as a chance to receive a share of R30 million in venture funding. In recognition of the immense importance of van Vuurens work for women around the world, his proposal not only received the monthly prize but also a partnership agreement with Moti which included a R3m portion of the grand prize jackpot. A resilient spirit We can see that van Vuuren has had numerous opportunities to quit and to relinquish his pursuit; but he tenaciously persevered. This resilient spirit is a testament to his exceptional entrepreneurial qualities and his unwavering dedication to realising his ambitious dreams, Moti adds. Having thoroughly evaluated his business proposal and recognising the extraordinary potential of his idea, as well as the innovative technology he is currently developing, I am confident that he will triumph. The narrative of his journey and the impact of his work are truly awe-inspiring. On behalf of MotiMoves, it is with great pride that we provide funding for van Vuuren's revolutionary endeavours that will contribute to the betterment of society. Moreover, our commitment extends beyond financial support as my team and I will offer ongoing mentorship, business guidance, and access to our networks to ensure his groundbreaking innovation succeeds. Anticipation builds as we eagerly await van Vuuren's forthcoming disclosure of the intricacies of his trailblazing medical invention for the betterment of South Africa and the global community in the coming months. It is exactly this type of pioneering mindset and tenacious attitude that I am looking for in other entrepreneurs to help make their business ambitions a reality, Moti concludes. For individuals interested in participating in the next MotiMoves webinar and/or entrepreneurs competition, registration is open here. The Jury for the 2023 Effie Awards has been announced by The Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA) and Effie South Africa . The Effie Jury has the crucial responsibility of upholding the integrity of the industry's ability to deliver against business objectives while ensuring that the judging process adheres to the highest industry standards. The winners of the 2023 programme will be announced at a gala awards ceremony to be held in Johannesburg on 15 September 2023. The jury members, entrusted with Awarding Ideas that Work, have been carefully selected based on their knowledge and experience within the marketing, communications, and advertising sectors. The 2023 panel consists of esteemed industry leaders and trendsetters drawn from various disciplines on both the client and agency sides, including the C-Suite, senior management, strategy, digital, creative, research, and media. To provide an even better experience for agencies and marketers submitting entries, the Effie SA committee, following a request for approval to Effie Worldwide, has implemented key changes in the judging process for the 2023 Effie Awards South Africa. There has been a reduction in the number of overall judges selected this year, but an increase in average seniority of the judging pool. Second-round judges will be drawn from the first-round panel, ensuring increased consistency in the adjudication process. Second-round judges will be exclusively selected from participating judges representing ACA member agencies, along with leading marketers. Another critical change is the extension of time allowed for reading cases prior to formal judging, now extended to seven days, ensuring a more thorough review and well-informed judging process. "We are absolutely thrilled with the calibre of judges for this years Effie Awards. As a collective, they represent a truly diverse and representative selection of the entire sector, consisting of top-level, experienced professionals from both the client and agency sides. The individuals entrusted with awarding cases represent a variety of advertising and marketing disciplines, which are key to an effective and equitable process," says Mathe Okaba, CEO of the ACA. The first-round judges will review, discuss, and score submissions on 19 July 2023, after which the panel will finalise the "shortlist" that will proceed to the second round. During the second round on 8 August 2023, all shortlisted campaigns that have proven to be effective and have achieved marketing objectives will be evaluated by the second selected panel of judges. This round will involve scoring and identifying campaigns that will be awarded finalist status and deemed deserving of a highly respected Effie Award. The top honour, the Grand Effie, will be judged by a third jury, once again drawn from the existing jurors, together with extra participants. The Grand Effie judging panel consists of C-Suite representatives who are tasked with awarding the most effective campaign of the year. Grand Effie winners are not guaranteed; however, campaigns worthy of such an award will only be considered among the Gold Effie winners selected in round two. The Grand Effie judging will take place on 30 August 2023. "We look forward to the panel once again confirming and highlighting the value our industry delivers to the marketing and communications sector. We are thrilled to announce that we have made tweaks to the programme, particularly with respect to improving the judging process and look forward with great pleasure to announcing the most effective work of the year on September 15th at the Gala event," comments Okaba. Joe Public co-MD and Jury co-chair, Mpume Ngobese, adds: " We are privileged to have a jury comprised of such esteemed professionals entrusted with selecting the work that truly delivers results. The varied panels employed by the Effie program ensure that winning cases will have been subjected to extensive rigour throughout the adjudication process. I look forward to highly engaging and valuable discussion and debate during the various rounds of judging." Effie Awards South Africa 2023 Round 1 Jury Judge Designation Agency/Comany name Angie Hattingh Strategic Planning Director Superunion Africa Astrid Staegemann Media Director - South Africa iProspect Atiyya Karodia Strategy Director VMLY&R Babalwa Nyembezi Strategy Partner Dentsu Brunella Boamgard Lead: Brand Integration/Execution Absa Buli Ndlovu Executive Head: RBB Marketing Nedbank Candice Goodman Managing Director Mobitainment Carel Scheepers Head of Strategy Havas Worldwide Carl Willoughby Chief Creative Officer TBWA Hunt Lascaris Carlo Murison Group CEO / Group CCO Two Tone Global Charles Erasmus Head of Strategy & Design Thinking Sunshinegun Danny de Nobrega Managing Director Kilmer & Cruise Fran Luckin Chief Creative Officer Grey Advertising Gillian Rightford Managing Director Adtherapy Jabulani Sigege Executive Creative Director Machine Jacques Du Bruyn Managing Director Flume Johanna McDowell Founder and Chief Executive Officer IAS Justine Drake Executive Content Director John Brown Media Laurent Marty Chief Strategy Officer Joe Public Makosha Maja-Rasethaba Chief Diversity Officer & Head of Strategy (JHB) M&C Saatchi Abel Mogorosi Mashilo Founder & Director TrendER Moliehi Molekoa Managing Director Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants Mosala Phillips Chief Marketing Officer Old Mutual Neo Makhele Chief Strategy Officer Ogivly South Africa Ponatshego Makhuza Shopper Marketing Lead Unilever Refilwe Maluleke TBWASA CSO and TBWASA and Yellowwood Future Architects Sarah Dexter Chief Executive Officer MullenLowe South Africa Thibedi Meso Chief Creative Officer House of Brave Thomas Lawrence Marketing Manager SAB Tseliso Rangaka Chief Creative Officer Draft FCB Tshiamo Tladi Strategy Director: Retail - Song (Africa Accenture Vikash Gajjar Strategy Director Razor PR, an M&C Saatchi Group company Warren Moss Chief Executive Officer Demographica Yasmin Kathoria Brand Growth Director Kantar Consulting Zayd Abrahams Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer Tiger Brands Zetu Damane Chief Strategic Officer McCann1886 Its an honour to be co-chair of the 2023 Effie SA jury with Mpume and I'm truly excited about seeing and being part of the adjudication process, as we seek to recognise the most effective work our industry has to offer. Weve taken extra care to see how we can improve the entire process this year and were confident that these changes will further improve this amazing platform. Im committed to working with our jury, to find and recognise our industrys strongest ideas that prove their business impact, adds Pete Case, creative chairman of Ogilvy SA and Jury co-chair. Tickets for the 2023 Effie Awards, taking place on 15 September are available for purchase exclusively online via the dedicated ticketing portal by clicking here. The Effie Awards South Africa is hosted by the ACA and sponsored by Nedbank, Investec and GIB, recognises marketing communication that is not only creative but, most importantly, effective. The awards are in proud partnership with the Nedbank IMC Conference, Africa's foremost integrated marketing conference. Attendees will gain valuable insights at the Nedbank IMC conference taking place during the say, and then witness how these insights are applied to achieve remarkable results at the Effie Awards Gala in the evening. Join the conversation using the hashtags #EffieAwardsSA, #MarketingUpClose, and #NedbankIMC2023. For more information on the 2023 Effie Awards, visit www.effieawards.co.za. The second-generation Ford Ranger Raptor has been on sale since March 2023 and it has proven a hit, both on social media and in the sales charts. From launch up until the end of June 2023, 1,973 Raptors have found homes in South Africa. Ford Ranger Raptor has sold well in SA. Source: Supplied As a reminder, it was only the first-gen diesel-powered Raptor that was manufactured in South Africa, at Fords facility in Silverton, Pretoria. These new petrol-powered Raptors are fully imported, from Fords factory in Thailand. A total of 33,841 Rangers have been built at the Silverton plant from the middle of November 2022 up until June 2023, with these vehicles destined for local consumption and export. The engines for these vehicles have been coming from Fords engine facility in Struandale, near Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. This article was originally published on Cars.co.za... In this Nov. 10, 2022 file photo, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. AFP-Yonhap NATO will lay out a path of reforms for Ukraine so that it can eventually join the alliance, but is not providing a "timetable," White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Tuesday. A "reform path for Ukraine" will be drawn up but "I can't put a timetable on it," Sullivan told reporters at the NATO summit in Vilnius, also announcing that President Joe Biden will meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday. Sullivan ruled out any immediate entry for Western-backed Ukraine, given its ongoing war against Russian invasion, saying this would "bring NATO into a war with Russia." Citing "a lot of good will" for Ukraine's ambition at the summit in Vilnius, Sullivan said "the question is what's the pathway?" "I think we can come to a good understanding," he said. Asked whether NATO membership would be impossible as long as Russian troops remain on any Ukrainian territory, Sullivan left the door open to compromise. "Today, we're not going to define how the war (ends), we're not going to lay down the definition for that," Sullivan said, noting "there have been historical circumstances where you've seen different ways of looking at that question." Separate to the issue of membership, NATO countries are discussing concrete interim security measures to offer Ukraine, beyond the current aid pouring in to help Kyiv's military push back the Russians. Sullivan said this would be discussed during a meeting Wednesday between Biden and Zelenskyy. U.S. officials say they expect a core group of allies within NATO to agree during the summit on a set of long-term security assistance measures for Ukraine to provide funding and weapons in the interim period while applying to become an alliance member. The details of those measures remain sketchy but U.S. officials have compared the idea to the long-term spending program to fund Israel's military. U.S. President Joe Biden, left, walks next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he arrives for a visit in Kyiv, Feb. 20. AFP-Yonhap Earlier this year TheSouthAfrican.com called on registered film students from South African tertiary institutions to get creative and document a social issue facing South Africa today. Afda Durban honours students grabbed the opportunity and produced three short documentary films. Following the entry deadline, three submissions were shortlisted for the R10,000 first prize and runner-up prize of R5,000 and boom, all three films were by Afda Durban honours students. A public vote (25%) in conjunction with a panel of expert judges in the field of filmmaking and journalism (75%) helped determine the worthy winner. Once the votes were tallied and the judges had made their determinations, the Afda honours students films Stigma, directed by Simphiwe 'Fiddy' Ngcobo and produced by Nqobile Cele was declared the winner, with Amadelakufa Esizwe, directed by Nhlakanipho Mngomezulu and produced by Onwaba Msebi finishing in second place, and God Is, directed and produced by Owami Kayeni taking third place. Unfortunately, there was no prize for third place, but the crew of God Is assisted on Amadelakufa Esizwe, so they made a deal to split the prize. "What a surprise it was that all three finalists in the South African film contest came from our current 2023 honours students! They set themselves the challenge to make socially aware documentaries and worked extremely hard, in spite of the demanding honours programme, to produce films which were provocative and challenging. "Unafraid to tackle the big issues, they explored the issue of legal and illegal abortions, as well as examined how MK veterans are left without any support now that the struggle is over. The third finalist explored what religion means to South Africans at this time where religion is essentially frowned upon. All three are worthy finalists and have produced short documentaries of a quality which could be screened anywhere in the world," says Afda Durban dean, Dr Janet van Eeden. Watch the films here: Stigma: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/the-south-african-student-film-competition-2023-vote-for-the-winner-stigma-breaking-exclusive/ Amadelakufa Esizwe: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/the-south-african-student-film-competition-2023-vote-for-the-winner-amadelakufa-esizwe-result-breaking/ God Is: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/the-south-african-student-film-competition-2023-vote-for-the-winner-god-is-result-breaking-exclusive/ The Morukuru Family Madikwe is once again a part of the Relais & Chateaux collection, as from this month. Source: Supplied. This comes after a rigorous selection process, culminating in a unanimous decision by the board of directors of Relais & Chateaux. The three exclusive-use safari villas in Madikwe Game Reserve were previously affiliated with Relais & Chateaux from 2013 to 2017. Morukuru Family De Hoop, the sister property, was accepted into the collection in November 2022. The membership highlights the alignment of Morukuru's values with Relais & Chateauxs commitment to excellence and sustainability. Relais & Chateaux has been an invitation to discover the world in an extraordinary way since 1954. With a presence on five continents and in 68 countries, this prestigious collection comprises approximately 580 luxury hotels and fine-dining restaurants. The brand is known for upholding standards of subtle sophistication, enabling guests to indulge in remarkable travel experiences that leave a lasting impression. Morukuru Family Madikwe's return to Relais & Chateaux offers guests an exceptional opportunity to explore the magnificent Madikwe Game Reserve. Nestled within the heart of the reserve, the three exclusive-use safari villas provide a luxurious haven surrounded by breathtaking surroundings. With their unique charm and personalised service, these villas promise an unforgettable safari experience, complete with thrilling game drives and encounters with South African wildlife. The values of Morukuru Family align seamlessly with those of Relais & Chateaux. The properties at both Madikwe and De Hoop exemplify sustainability and a commitment to the environment. Eco-friendly hospitality Morukuru Family Madikwe is now completely solar powered, reducing its carbon footprint and promoting eco-conscious practices. Morukuru Family De Hoop is entirely off the grid, minimising its impact on the pristine natural surroundings. These eco-friendly initiatives demonstrate a dedication to preserving the planet for future generations. Relais & Chateaux's philosophy revolves around promoting and preserving the diversity of cuisines and hospitality worldwide, while combating industrial standardisation. Its aim is to revitalise the art de vivre by sharing knowledge, preserving traditional skills, and protecting resources for future generations. By re-joining the Relais & Chateaux collection, Morukuru Family Madikwe embraces this vision, offering guests a travel experience that is not only luxurious but also a means of connecting with the world around them with the collective philosophy to move forward together on a shared, long-term journey towards creating a more sensitive and attentive world. With its commitment to sustainability and shared values, Morukuru Family is poised to provide Relais & Chateaux guests with an unparalleled experience in the captivating wilderness of Madikwe. From exciting game drives to the wonders of land-based whale-watching in De Hoop Nature Reserve, guests can expect unforgettable moments that showcase the beauty and uniqueness of South Africa. Gauteng Metrorail has advised commuters to seek alternative transport after its service experienced disruption at most of its lines on Monday, due to adverse weather conditions. Image credit: Metrorail Western Cape. Refunds are facilitated at Metrorail train stations for affected commuters. Metrorail remains committed to operating trains safely. We would like to apologise to commuters for the inconvenience caused, Gauteng Metrorail said. The cold weather has a negative impact on the infrastructure and its components (tracks, crossover points, electrical cables, etc.). The overhead wires also experience tension, which results in power instability and failure. Delays were experienced in the Saulsville to Pretoria line, Centurion to Pretoria, Leralla to Germiston, as well as the Naledi to Johannesburg corridor. The Saulsville-Pretoria, Naledi-Johannesburg and Leralla-Germiston train service is currently suspended to allow the technical team to work on the infrastructure. The electricity had to be switched off on both lines in Naledi, Leralla and Saulsville to allow the technical team to commence with repair work of the affected section, Metrorail said. The South African Weather Service (Saws) reported that a cold front caused a significant drop in temperatures over Gauteng on Monday, 10 July. The maximum temperatures are expected to reach 13C in the northern areas of Gauteng, with minimum temperatures recorded to have met criteria for snowy conditions. Snow was observed over areas in the south, such as Soweto, Alberton and Roodepoort. Some of the areas that observed snow include the eastern areas of Gauteng, Heidelberg and parts of Vosloorus. Most of the snow that was observed since morning was over Heidelberg. Light snowfall and sleet are still possible over the Highveld and the escarpment of Mpumalanga, Saws said. It has always been clear that, in terms of section 11 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA), a prospecting or mining right cannot be transferred from one company to another without the minister of mineral resources and energy's consent. Giada Masina and Francois Sieberhagen, Webber Wentzel But there has always been debate on what exactly the legislature meant when referring to an "interest" in a mining right and a "controlling interest" in a company being "alienated or otherwise disposed of", which also requires consent. Was the intention only to refer to a change of control of a company that is the holder of a right (i.e., a direct change of control) or to include also a change of control of companies higher up the corporate chain which ultimately, but not directly, control the holder of a right (i.e., an indirect change of control)? In the case of Mogale Alloys Proprietary Limited v Nuco Chrome Bophuthatswana & Others [2011] JOL 26907, on 11 March 2011, the court adopted a wide and purposive interpretation of section 11. It made it clear that the minister's consent is required before any transaction that results in a loss of control, even if another party is not gaining control. Some uncertainty, however, remained on whether section 11 applies to an indirect change of control (or loss of control). The case of Arqomanzi Proprietary Limited v Vantage Goldfields Proprietary Limited (in business rescue) and 9 others, under case number 3772/2020, related to an Australian company, Macquarie Metals (Pty) Ltd, which acquired ultimate control high up the corporate chain in a group of companies, where subsidiaries far down the chain held mining rights. The transaction involved the issue of shares in the holding company, Vantage Goldfields Limited, to Macquarie, which thereafter constituted 98% of the shares in Vantage. Controlling interest includes indirect controlling interest The court a quo held that a controlling interest is not limited to a direct controlling interest. It includes an indirect controlling interest. The minister argued that if the legislature intended to restrict the prohibition in section 11 to a direct controlling interest in a company that holds a right, it would have said so in express terms. The court held that section 11 is a protective mechanism to ensure that the objects of the MPRDA are achieved. It would be inconsistent with the MPRDA and its objects to exclude a change of an indirect controlling interest, especially considering the state's responsibility to act as custodian of South Africa's mineral resources and the objects relating to equitable access to the nation's mineral resources and transformation. Unanimous judgment The Arqomanzi judgment was taken on appeal. On 27 June 2023, the Supreme Court of Appeal handed down a unanimous judgment which confirms the court a quo's finding. The court held that the issue of shares to Macquarie severely diluted the existing shareholders' shareholding in Vantage. The effect was that the shareholders, by consent, alienated or disposed of their controlling interest in Vantage, and indirectly in the holders of the mining rights. This indirect change of control of the holders of mining rights required the minister's prior written consent. The court stated that it would be absurd to confine the interpretation of section 11 to direct cessions and disposals since, by doing so, ministerial consent and therefore the objects of the MPRDA could easily be thwarted. There can therefore no longer be any doubt that the reference to change of control in section 11 should be given a very broad interpretation. It applies to both a loss of control and an indirect change of control and can be triggered by an issue of new shares in a company where the existing shareholders are not actually selling any shares. Meta CEO Zuckerberg is continuing to market his new text-based app Threads with the pitch that he is definitely focusing on kindness and making this a friendly place. This has been picked up by an eager media as a Twitter killer that where Friendly Threads Collides with an Unfriendly Internet. However, what is not discussed is what makes Threads friendly. Zuckerberg appears to be promising the friendly confines of a censored site. Likewise, Instagram head Adam Mosseri says that politics and hard news are not worth the incremental engagement or revenue. It is all part of Threadss promise for a sane and kind alternative to Twitter where greater free speech is now allowed to run rampant. It is precisely what Facebook tried to sell years ago in a pro-censorship commercial campaign. Below is my column in the Hill on achieving kindness through corporate censorship: Sanity has returned to the internet. That is the message of not only Metas Mark Zuckerberg, but also a host of gleeful pundits heralding the arrival of the Twitter killing text-based app Threads the Twitter knock-off meant to destroy Elon Musks platform. This is not just a cage fight between the two billionaires. Many are more interested in whether Zuckerberg can choke out free speech than in whether he can beat Musk. Many critics opposed Musks dismantling of Twitters massive censorship system. Zuckerberg now promises a sane alternative that will place consumers under the watchful eye of Meta censors. On the first day of the rollout, millions signed up, thanks in large part to Zuckerberg linking the new platform to Instagram. The censors also got to work right away. When people tried to follow Donald Trump Jr., they were met with a warning label: Are you sure you want to follow donaldjtrumpjr? This account has repeatedly posted false information that was reviewed by independent fact-checkers or went against our Community Guidelines. Later, the company backed down after an outcry. But it was a telling moment. Andy Stone, who heads communications for Meta, wrote: This was an error and shouldnt have happened. Its been fixed. But this was clearly a pre-established warning system, to be used to flag accounts disfavored by the company. It was an error that would likely not have been fixed, if not for the objections voiced on the first day of the rollout. The controversy itself was a warning that the company has activated its signature censorship system to influence or regulate viewpoints. Facebook has long been accused of targeting conservatives and dissenting viewpoints. Indeed, Zuckerbergs pitch for sane management seemed like an appeal to those on the left who objected to the more tolerant free speech policies on Twitter after Musks purchase. While there have been controversies at Musks Twitter over critics being banned or posts being removed, it is a fraction of the level of censorship that has long characterized Facebook and other competitors. Indeed, most of Musks critics attack him for reducing the content moderation on Twitter. Threadss rollout coincides with a court ruling that the governments interventions to censor people on social media represented the most massive attack against free speech in United States history. Now, Facebook is offering an alternative to Twitter, with the assurance that users will be protected against any thoughts that Metas staff finds problematic. While free speech on Twitter is portrayed as harmful, the company has promised to prioritize kindness. That sounds eerily familiar to some of us as a way to deprioritize free speech. Recently, former Twitter executive Anika Collier Navaroli testified on how she and her staff would remove anything they considered dog whistles and coded messaging. Rather than using kindness, Twitter used undefined standards of safety to cancel free speech. Navaroli declared that they were unwilling to allow the safety of others to go to the winds so that people can speak freely. Facebook has long tried to get the public to embrace its role as some kind of speech overlord. Years ago, Facebook rolled out an Orwellian commercial campaign to get the public to embrace censorship. The commercials showed young people heralding how they grew up on the internet and how the world was changing, creating a need for censorship under the guise of content moderation. Facebook, they promised, was offering the blending of the real world and the internet world. Facebook is not alone in trying to get people to accept censorship. Recently, after the court ruling, various figures assured the public that they are better off letting corporate and government censors protect them from harmful thoughts. On CNN, Chief White House Correspondent Phil Mattingly went so far as to state that it simply makes sense for tech companies to go along with government censorship demands. After this weeks decision, the New York Times immediately issued a panicky tweet that the resulting outbreak of free speech could curtail efforts to combat disinformation. For his part, Zuckerberg prefers to just offer kindness and sanity with few details. Of course, there is a very simple way for Zuckerberg to show that he is committed to free speech: He can release the Facebook Files. One of the reasons many of us in the free-speech community still support Musk is that he transformed the debate over government censorship by releasing the Twitter Files. For years, politicians and pundits dismissed objections from some of us to government-corporate coordination of censorship as unproven. In Congress, Democratic members attacked witnesses for supposedly lacking proof of censorship, even as they fought to block any investigation that might uncover that evidence. Musk changed all that by showing the public an extensive network of government interventions to support censorship and blacklisting of private citizens. Much of what we know today is derived from the Twitter Files, but surely there is more to learn. When I testified in Congress on the censorship operations, I noted that, as massive as this effort has been, Twitter is only the 14th largest social media company, according to some estimates. That means that this is only a fraction of the evidence that might be out there. Facebook is the largest platform in the world, but so far it has steadfastly refused to offer the transparency of Twitter. If Zuckerberg is truly proud of his sane approach to social media, he should not fear the release of information on the past coordination with federal and congressional offices. We assume that Facebook had the same backchannels that were established at Twitter, but the company has left the public entirely in the blind. That approach has made Meta one of the least transparent companies in the world on the scope and standards of censorship. House committees will hopefully force Facebook to disclose some of these details. However, as Zuckerberg sells a promise of the saneness and kindness of his platforms, he should be willing to show precisely what that means for consumers and at what a cost. After all, he has appealed to many of those consumers with the promise of a censored platform. If Zuckerberg is so proud of his content moderation, he should take a victory lap and release the Facebook Files. Social media companies, including TikTok, Snap, and Twitter, caused people in France to riot and so the government should shut them down, say French President Emmanuel Macron and the European Unions top censor, Thierry Breton. Said Macron, When things get out of hand, we may have to regulate them or cut [social networks] off. The reason, Breton explained today, is that Social media didnt do enough to remove "content that is hateful, that calls to revolt and to kill. Warned Breton, "If they dont do it, they will be sanctioned immediately. The comments made by Macron and Breton are shocking, and anybody who cares about freedom of speech should denounce them as a clear and present threat to the fundamental human right to freedom of expression as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, the French Constitution, and the European Constitution. Its true that there are legal protections for removing "content that is hateful, that calls to revolt and to kill. Such immediate incitement to violence is even illegal in the United States, which has much stronger free speech protections than France and Europe. But neither Macron, Breton nor their defenders have presented any evidence showing that hate speech or incitement to violence rather than outrage over a police killing, combined with a large and restless immigrant population that France has failed to integrate and assimilate, caused the riots. And their calls for greater censorship come at the same moment that the Macron government has passed a new law allowing police to spy on people by secretly taking control of their phones and laptop computers and activating the microphone, camera, and GPS. The government says a judge will have to approve all spying, but it is reasonable to worry about abuses of power. In 2013, military contractor Edward Snowden revealed mass US government spying without a warrant. Whats more, the attack on privacy and the demand for censorship is worldwide. The British parliament is expected to pass legislation in the next few weeks that will allow the government to spy on private and encrypted text messages. The Irish Senate is expected to pass legislation in October that will allow the police to enter homes without a warrant and search phones and laptops for evidence of hate speech. And Australia is on the cusp of passing a new law that would require social media companies to remove any speech that causes harm to health or the environment, which would allow government censorship of criticisms of its climate and energy policies. Why is the attack on free speech and privacy happening in so many nations simultaneously? And what can be done about it? Theyre Right To Worry Meta CEO Zuckerberg is continuing to market his new text-based app Threads with the pitch that he is definitely focusing on kindness and making this a friendly place. This has been picked up by an eager media as a Twitter killer that where Friendly Threads Collides with an Unfriendly Internet. Monday, July 10, 2023 - Judge Denies DOJ's Request for Stay in Social Media Censorship Case A federal judge on July 10 denied the Department of Justices (DOJ) request to stay a ruling that places limits on government communications with social media firms, rejecting the White Houses argument that such an order could put a damper on law enforcement activity online. "Given that the SBU was compromised by a network of Russian collaborators, sympathizers, and double agents at the time of its interactions with the FBI, the FBIs uncritical cooperation with the SBUs requests is deeply concerning," the lawmakers on the panel fumed. Last week, in a significant victory for free speech, a federal court stepped in to curb potential overreach by the Biden administration in its collaboration with social media platforms to suppress online content. The court ruling, issued by US District Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana on Tuesday caused critics to complain that it hinders the administrations efforts to counter online conspiracy theories and disinformation. YouTube didn't point to the "offending" comments. Government censorship of public online discourse in the Wests ostensibly liberal democracies has been largely covert until now, as revealed by the Twitter Files. But thanks to the EUs Digital Services Act, it is about to become overt. As you may have noticed if you diligently observe the Armageddon Prose ethos, one common thread in the canon is the burgeoning biomedical police state meant to serve as the basis for the technocratic surveillance state. Friday, July 7, 2023 - C.S. Lewis Foresaw Dystopian Technocracy Based On Scientism During a podcast appearance with Lex Fridman, Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlined how during the pandemic the media engaged in an organised conspiracy by acting as propaganda organs for the government agencies, and acting to censor anybody who dissented. Congress must either break up Facebook or mandate transparency as a condition of giving the social media monopoly Section 230 liability protections China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang looks on during a meeting with Norway's Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeltei in Oslo, May 12. AP-Yonhap China's foreign minister Qin Gang will not attend a diplomatic gathering in Indonesia this week for health reasons, a spokesman for his ministry said on Tuesday. Top diplomat Wang Yi would represent China at the meetings in Jakarta instead, the spokesman, Wang Wenbin, told a regular briefing, confirming a Reuters report citing sources familiar with the matter saying Wang would attend on Qin's behalf. Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are scheduled to meet on Thursday, before Friday's East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum. "State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang cannot attend this ASEAN ministerial meeting because of health reasons," spokesman Wang Wenbin said. He did not elaborate. Qin, 57, took over from Wang as foreign minister in December and was last seen in public on June 25 in Beijing after meeting officials from Sri Lanka, Russia and Vietnam. His absence had not gone unnoticed. China's Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi adjusts his tie before a meeting of Russian President with his Chinese counterpart at the Kremlin, Moscow, March 21. AFP-Yonhap NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, center, poses for an official family photo with the participants of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday. AP-Yonhap U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday hailed an agreement for Sweden to join NATO as more work remained to determine a path forward for Ukraine's future with the alliance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized as "absurd" the absence of a timetable for his country's entry. Biden described the summit as a "historic moment" and said the United States agreed with a proposal, yet to be released publicly, to outline a path for Ukraine's eventual membership. However, Zelenskyy, who was on his way to Vilnius to join the summit, expressed disappointment with how the negotiations were playing out. "We value our allies," he wrote on Twitter but added that "Ukraine also deserves respect." "It's unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership," Zelensky said. He finished with, "Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit." A public flash of anger from the Ukrainian leader, who has been hailed by the West as a hero for his leadership during the Russian invasion, could renew tensions in Vilnius just as they had begun to subside. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson attends a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday. Reuters-Yonhap On Monday evening, the night before the summit opened, Turkey withdrew its objections to Sweden joining the alliance, a step toward the unity that Western leaders have been eager to demonstrate in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The deal was reached after days of intensive meetings, and it's poised to expand the alliance's strength in Northern Europe. "Rumors of the death of NATO's unity were greatly exaggerated," Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, told reporters triumphantly on Tuesday. According to a joint statement issued when the deal was announced, Erdogan will ask Turkey's parliament to approve Sweden joining NATO. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another holdout, is expected to take a similar step. The outcome is a victory for Biden as well, who has touted NATO's expansion as an example of how Russia's invasion of Ukraine has backfired on Moscow. Finland has already become the 31st member of the alliance, and Sweden is on deck to become the 32nd. Both Nordic countries were historically nonaligned until the war increased fears of Russian aggression. Because of the deal on Sweden's membership, "this summit is already historic before it has started," Stoltenberg said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that NATO's expansion is "one of the reasons that led to the current situation." "It looks like the Europeans don't understand their mistake," Peskov said. He warned against putting Ukraine on a fast track for NATO membership. "Potentially it's very dangerous for the European security, it carries very big risks," Peskov said. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg shakes hands with U.S. President Joe Biden, next to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, ahead of a NATO leaders summit, in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday. Reuters-Yonhap Biden began Tuesday by meeting with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, where he emphasized his commitment to transatlantic cooperation. "Nothing happens here that doesn't affect us," he told Nauseda. The White House said Nauseda presented Biden with the Order of Vytautas the Great, the highest award a Lithuanian president can bestow. Biden is the first U.S. president to receive it. Biden and Erdogan were scheduled to meet Tuesday evening, and it was unclear how some of the Turkish president's other demands will be resolved. He has been seeking advanced American fighter jets and a path toward membership in the European Union. The White House has expressed support for both, but publicly insisted that the issues were not related to Sweden's membership in NATO. "I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area," Biden said in a statement late Monday. The phrasing was a nod to Biden's commitment to help Turkey acquire new F-16 fighter jets, according to an administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly. The Biden administration has backed Turkey's desire to buy 40 new F-16s as well as modernization kits from the U.S. It's a move some in Congress, most notably Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J, have opposed over Turkey blocking NATO membership for Sweden, its human rights record and other concerns. In Washington, Menendez said he was "continuing to have my reservations" on providing the fighter aircraft to Turkey. If the Biden administration could show that Turkey wouldn't use the F-16s belligerently against other NATO members, particularly its neighbor Greece, and meet other conditions, "then there may be a way forward," Menendez told reporters. NATO members are now focused on Ukraine's desire to join NATO. The Baltic states including Lithuania, which is hosting the event have pushed for a strong show of support and a clear pathway toward membership for Ukraine. The United States and Germany have resisted that, and Biden said last week that Ukraine wasn't ready to join. Members of NATO, he told CNN, need to "meet all the qualifications, from democratization to a whole range of other issues," a nod toward longstanding concerns about governance and corruption in Kyiv. In addition, some fear that bringing Ukraine into NATO would serve more as a provocation to Russia than as a deterrence against aggression. Stoltenberg wrote in Foreign Affairs on Monday that the alliance would "upgrade our political ties" by forming a NATO-Ukraine Council, which would be "a platform for decisions and crisis consultation." U.S. President Joe Biden, left, walks next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrives for a visit in Kyiv on February 20. AFP-Yonhap Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inspects a Guard of Honour ahead of his meeting with Defence Minister of Malaysia Dato' Seri Mohamad Hasan, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, July 10, 2023. A PTI Photo KUALA LUMPUR (PTI): India and Malaysia have agreed to amend a key MoU signed in 1993 to enhance military-to-military and technology cooperation, as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held productive talks with the country's top leadership, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, to realise the full potential of their strategic partnership. Singh arrived in Kuala Lumpur on a three-day visit to Malaysia on Sunday. This is the first bilateral visit after the establishment of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership, which was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Malaysia in 2015. Singh began his official engagements on Monday with a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the defence ministry in Malaysia. It was followed by bilateral talks with his Malaysian counterpart Mohamad Hasan. "Called on the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mr @anwaribrahim in Kuala Lumpur. Deeply appreciate his positive approach and interest towards further deepening India-Malaysia bilateral relations," he tweeted. He conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the prime minister of Malaysia, who appreciated the strong cultural bonds between the two nations. Singh briefed Ibrahim about the "fruitful and productive" defence dialogue held earlier in the day. The meeting focused on measures to realise the full potential of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership, according to an official statement. "Had an excellent meeting with the Defence Minister of Malaysia, Mr. Mohamad Hasan in Kuala Lumpur today. We reviewed the diverse pillars of the extensive bilateral defence engagement and discussed the roadmap for the 4th Decade of India-Malaysia Defence Cooperation," Singh tweeted. Both sides discussed initiatives to further expand bilateral defence ties, with a particular focus on identifying ways to strengthen industrial cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the Enhanced Strategic Partnership based on mutual trust and understanding, common interests and shared values of democracy and the rule of law, the statement said. The two ministers agreed to the next Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) meeting which is being planned in India later this year. Singh highlighted the potential of the Indian defence industry with the capacity and capability to cooperate with the Malaysian Armed Forces in its inventory modernisation and maintenance plans. During the meeting, both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation by signing the Exchange of Letter (EoL) to amend the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation between Malaysia and India which was signed in 1993, said a joint press statement issued after the meeting. This signing of EoL will facilitate more bilateral activities between all three military services in the future, it added. The statement said that two defence ministers had a productive interaction and both leaders acknowledged the strong bilateral relations and reaffirmed the commitments to further enhance defence cooperation, particularly in military-to-military cooperation and defence science, technology and industry. Both leaders also agreed to explore more collaboration between Malaysia and India in the interoperability of the two militaries in all three domains; land, sea, and air in the near future. The commonality of the defence assets between the two countries will elevate the cooperation, particularly in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), it said. They also agreed to establish the SU-30 Forum and the Strategic Affairs Working Group to elevate the cooperation between the two ministries. Senior officials and military personnel from both ministries will further engage to discuss matters related to defence using these platforms. Singh also held a "fruitful meeting" with Foreign Minister of Malaysia Zambry Abdul Kadir and discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest aimed at further strengthening the India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership. They exchanged views on matters of bilateral importance and cooperation in international fora. India's recognition of ASEAN centrality and the importance of peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region were discussed. The meeting concluded with India's assurance to partner with Malaysia in its efforts to accelerate self-reliance of the Malaysian Defence Industry, the statement said. Later, Singh felicitated a 99-year-old Indian National Army veteran, who fought alongside freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the Burma border, at an event here. Singh also interacted with the Indian community. "Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh felicitating Second Lieutenant Sundaram, an INA veteran who fought alongside Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the Burma border at an event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is 99 years old," the defence ministry tweeted. He also unveiled a bust of Bose and described the freedom fighter as an "icon of bravery, leadership and patriotism". "Honoured to unveil the bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the presence of distinguished INA (Indian National Army) veterans in Kuala Lumpur today. Netaji and the INA have an important legacy in Malaysia. An icon of bravery, leadership, and patriotism, Netaji continues to inspire generations in India and Malaysia," Singh said. The defence ministry in New Delhi said on Saturday that Singh and Hasan will review defence cooperation between the two countries and explore new initiatives to further strengthen the engagements. "India and Malaysia have a common interest in peace and prosperity of the entire region. The two democracies have a robust and multifaceted relationship which has expanded into several strategic areas, including defence and security," the ministry said. "Both the countries are committed to work under the vision of enhanced strategic partnership established during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Malaysia in 2015," it said. Singh would also inaugurate the new Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Regional Office at Plaza Central, Kuala Lumpur. HAL is an Indian Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DSPU), akin to GLC in Malaysia. HAL will assume the role of a one-stop agency to facilitate collaboration between Indian and Malaysian companies, the statement said. "The purpose of the visit was to exchange views on various issues, especially in enhancing Malaysia-India bilateral defence relations as well as international and regional issues of shared concerns," it added. Malaysia is among a handful of countries showing keen interest in procuring India's indigenously developed Tejas aircraft. Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. Singh's visit to Malaysia "reflected the importance of strong international defence relations as prescribed by the Third Pillar of the National Defence Strategy, which is on Credible Partnerships, as outlined by Malaysia's Defence White Paper (DWP)," the statement said. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code A bird flies with Mount Everest seen in the background from Namche Bajar, Solukhumbu district, Nepal, May 27, 2019. A helicopter flying out of the Mount Everest area in Nepal carrying foreign tourists was missing Tuesday and contact was lost with the aircraft. The helicopter was carrying five foreign tourists on a sightseeing tour to the world's highest peak and was returning to the capital, Kathmandu, on Tuesday morning. AP-Yonhap At least five people were killed after a helicopter carrying foreign tourists crashed Tuesday near Mount Everest in Nepal, and one other person on the aircraft was still missing. The helicopter crashed in the Lamajura area and rescuers had recovered the bodies of five people and were searching for the sixth, said Basanta Bhattarai, the chief government administrator in the area. All five tourists were Mexican nationals and the pilot was Nepalese, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said in a statement. The Mexicans included two men and three women. The aircraft was returning to the capital Kathmandu on Tuesday morning after bringing the tourists on a sightseeing trip to the world's highest peak. Weather conditions had caused the helicopter's planned flight route to be changed, airport official Sagar Kadel said. It is common for flights to be delayed and routes changed during the monsoon season amid heavy rains. The tourist and mountaineering season ended in May with the onset of the rainy season and tourist flights to the mountains are less common this time of year as visibility is poor and weather conditions become unpredictable. (AP) The boss of Instagram has said new features for app Threads are on his list, including the ability to revisit liked posts, and an alternative home page to view posts just from followed accounts. Adam Mosseri responded to users on the platform suggesting updates they would like to see on the nearly one-week-old app. Advertisement Threads is available in 100 countries but it is not yet available in Ireland or other EU countries due to GDPR and privacy concerns. He said that a home feed just showing posts from individuals a user follows is on the list, while tech titan Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of parent company Meta, also responded to the suggestion with a thumbs up emoji. Currently, users can see a mix of posts from accounts they follow and recommended posts on their home page. Advertisement The fast-growing Twitter rival amassed 100 million sign-ups in the five days after launching, according to Mr Zuckerberg. Advertisement Thats mostly organic demand and we havent even turned on many promotions yet, Mr Zuckerberg posted on Threads, under his username zuck. Instagram, which is also owned by Meta, developed the Threads app. Instagram-built app Threads, dubbed as a rival to Twitter, gained 100 million sign-ups in the five days after launching, Mark Zuckerberg said. Photo: Yui Mok/PA. Advertisement Mr Mosseri, who has been the head of Instagram for just under five years, responded to other suggestions from users on what they would like to see to improve their experience on the app. Also on the list is the ability to revisit posts a user has liked or seen on their app earlier. Currently, the search function can be used only to find accounts on the platform rather than posts, but Mr Mosseri said it was a feature Instagram was working on. He also responded to a question asking whether hashtags will be introduced, saying: At some point yes, but it might be a while. Advertisement The American businessman insisted his team is focused on making Threads better and fast, in response to a post alleging that Twitter had censored the new app from being a top-trending hashtag on its platform. Last week, Twitter threatened to sue Meta, alleging that it stole trade secrets and intellectual property. Advertisement Meta appeared to deny that former Twitter employees worked on the creation of the app and used insider knowledge. US copyright law does not cover ideas so Twitter will need to prove that intellectual property has been stolen if the dispute is taken to court. Advertisement A Meta spokesperson said the company will be making no further comment at this time. The Government have announced details of a 150 million fund to address long-term vacancy and dereliction in towns and cities across the State. The funding was announced on Tuesday as part of the quarterly Housing for All progress update. Advertisement The money will be available to local authorities for towns and cities eligible for the Urban Regeneration Development Fund. Local authorities, when applying for the funding, have indicated that they could identify projects generating 4,850 residential units, and will receive a grant for the entire 100 per cent cost of acquiring suitable properties. The Housing for All update showed building has started on 12,987 homes since January, an increase of seven per cent compared to this time last year. There were also 6,716 new homes completed in the first three months of 2023, an increase of almost 20 per cent on the same period in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Approximately 11,659 new homes were granted planning permission in the first quarter of 2023, an increase of 37.8 per cent. "At the half-way point of the year, building has started on almost 13,000 homes, and we have strong momentum heading into the rest of the year," Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said. "We are confident we will meet or exceed our house targets for the next year of 29,000 homes, student accommodation and refurbishments. "Planning permissions granted in quarter one were 40 per cent higher than the same period last year, and more people are buying their first home than in any period in well over a decade. Over 700 first-time buyers are being approved for mortgages every week. Advertisement "We are building more social housing than any year since 1975. In the second quarter of the year, we have approved 100 million in funding to build over 800 social and affordable homes at Oscar Traynor Road, Dublin, secured planning permission for over 2,500 homes to be built by the LDA on State Lands, and allocated 60 million in funding for over 1,000 student apartments. "Today we are announcing a 150 million fund to breathe new life into our towns and cities. This initiative builds on the actions we have already. Focusing on dereliction and vacancy makes sense. It has a unique ability to rejuvenate communities in our villages, towns and cities." The Government is to investigate apparent breaches of animal welfare exposed in an investigative programme. RTEs Milking It; Dairys Dirty Secret examined alleged incidents at several livestock marts. Advertisement Some of the footage appeared to show workers repeatedly kicking young calves, and animals were also thrown from trailers on delivery into marts by both staff and farmers. Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns raised the issue during Leaders Questions on Tuesday, pressing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on what Government was going to do about cruel and inexcusable practices in part of our dairy sector. Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns pressed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar during Leaders Questions (Brian Lawless/PA) Advertisement She described the scenes as consequences of the lifting of milk quotas in 2015, saying it had resulted in an explosion in the number of bull calves which had in turn resulted in the animals being treated as a waste product, valueless and disposable. Advertisement This scandal is a direct consequence of Government policy that has pushed intensification and maximum production in the dairy sector, she said. This failed model has also resulted in pollution of our pristine waterways, the degrading of our soil and an increase in our emissions. Mr Varadkar responded, describing the incidents in the clips as repugnant, and said they had been widely condemned across the farming, dairy and industry sectors. Advertisement The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine has sought the footage used in the programme to commence an investigation into these events, he said. Advertisement The reputation of the dairy and beef sector rests on complying with high standards of animal welfare and the vast majority of farmers, processors and other workers have a strong commitment to ensuring that animals are not mistreated. For sustainable dairy into the future its vital that dairy farmers continue to ensure high levels of calf care on farm and that all those working in the supply chain continue to support high standards of animal welfare, particularly at marts and during transport. Any instance of such cruelty shall be reported to the Department of Agriculture on its animal welfare helpline, and I want to assure the house that it will take robust and timely actions in response to any evidence of animal cruelty. Dublin City Council has received confirmation of full planning permission for a development of 578 new homes at Emmet Road (formerly St Michaels Estate), Inchicore, Dublin 8. The scheme will deliver a mixture of social and affordable homes, with 76 per cent allocated to affordable homes for rent and 24 per cent to social housing. The affordable rental homes will be provided through cost rental, which is aimed at moderate income households providing secure and quality housing that remains sustainably affordable over time. Advertisement The new homes will offer a mix of accommodation suitable for single people, couples and families consisting of 110 studios, 172 one-beds (including 17 duplex apartments), 250 two-beds and 46 three-beds. As well as a supermarket and library, both the new and existing community will have access to a cafe, creche and community hub. Advertisement Residents will also have access to car and bike parking spaces, landscaped open green space and play facilities for children. Advertisement Content created by 3D Design Bureau Ltd. The development will provide "sustainable homes with biodiversity in mind beneficial not only for the environment but for residents and the surrounding community". "A network of green roofs across the buildings will support even greater biodiversity. Solar panels will provide renewable energy and a number of spaces in the car park will have electric vehicle charging points to support the move to more sustainable transport choices and improve local air quality. There will be approximately 1,285 spaces for bicycles with a network of cycle and pedestrian routes through the development increasing connectivity of surrounding areas," Dublin City Council said. Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithi de Roiste said: Creating a welcoming and sustainable neighbourhood, both for residents living within the new homes and the wider Inchicore community, is central to Dublin City Councils vision for Emmet Road. I cannot wait to see this development completed. Advertisement Dublin City Council housing SPC chair, Councillor Alison Gilliland said: "I welcome the progression of this development. The provision of public housing at Emmet Road is a key piece of the overall Dublin City Council housing delivery pipeline. This is a major step forward in this development." Local area committee chair Councillor Sophie Nicoullaud said: "A considerable amount of public consultation was undertaken as part of the design process and I would like to thank the local community, in particular the Inchicore Regeneration Consultative Forum (IRCF) for their continued support throughout the journey to reach this significant milestone. This project should proceed without delay in collaboration with the local community and Councillors." A father of two jailed for 12 years for blasting four shots into a relatives house where infant twins were sleeping has failed in his bid to overturn his conviction. Larry O'Connor, of The Lodge, Great National Hotel, Ballykisteen, Co Tipperary, was convicted of shooting at his cousin's house after pleading not guilty to six charges related to the incident. Advertisement The 40-year-old fired two shots using a pump-action shotgun at the home of his first cousin, Danny Harty. He then entered the house and fired two more shots. Mr Harty and his partner, Noreen Dooley, and their 10-month-old twins, were asleep in an upstairs bedroom at Deelside, The Quay, Askeaton, Co Limerick, during the attack at around 3.30am, on July 13th, 2019. OConnor had pleaded not guilty to recklessly discharging a firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition, aggravated burglary and criminal damage but was convicted by a jury on all counts after a two-week trial. Advertisement He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by Judge Patrick Meghan at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in May 2022. Advertisement He had appealed his conviction on a single ground - that the trial judge erred in law in permitting background evidence of a prejudicial nature, arguing there was no evidence of a feud or "bad feeling" between the Limerick cousins in the case. At the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham said the three-judge court had not been persuaded by the arguments advanced in relation to the sole ground of appeal relied on that the trial was unsatisfactory or the verdict unsafe. In dismissing the application, the court noted that where the identity of a perpetrator is an issue, the presence or absence of a motive would be a matter for the consideration of the jury. Circumstantial evidence Mr Justice Birmingham said the presence of a motive would be a piece of circumstantial evidence that is capable of being weighed in the balance. Advertisement He said the court had expressed their view that, in a case where witnesses were extremely well acquainted with those they had recognised, it would have been unreal for the jury to be prevented from hearing about the relationship between the occupants of the house and the alleged assailants. The trial heard that Larry OConnor was driven to and from the scene by his older brother Daniel OConnor of Hassett's Villas, Thomondgate, Limerick. Larry OConnor fired shots from outside the two-storey house, hitting gutters just above a balcony near the victim's bedroom. He then broke into the house, firing a shot into the kitchen, hitting a fridge and a window, and fired a shot through a ceiling onto the first floor, where the victims had been asleep. Daniel OConnor was jailed for seven years with the final year suspended. He pleaded guilty to one count of burglary with intent to commit the reckless discharge of a firearm during the early stages of the trial. Garda witnesses said they believed the shooting was linked to animosity between the cousins. Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this morning to shed light on the payment scandal that has gripped RTE in recent weeks. The broadcaster under-reported the earnings of star presenter Ryan Tubridy and failed to disclose 345,000 of additional payments to him between 2017 and 2022. Advertisement Since the revelations, it has had a major impact on him as he told PAC that he has been finding it hard to leave the house. The main points from their appearance are down below with a minute by minute update of what happened as well. Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly appeared before the Public Accounts Committee Mr Tubridy addressed what he claims are seven "untruths" which have emerged since the scandal came to light Mr Kelly said Mr Tubridy has unfairly been made the poster boy of this scandal Mr Tubridy said they were not advised to delay handing over documents to the PAC, stating they "wanted to get things right" Mr Kelly said: "I think there have been a lot of lies...intentional or not" 2.05pm Noel Kelly has been criticised by TDs for his handling of invoices for 75,000 payments due to his client Ryan Tubridy for the years 2021 and 2022. Advertisement I think your companies have serious accountancy issues here, based on the evidence youre giving here, because the fact is this is not how companies behave, Labour TD Alan Kelly said. Advertisement They get instructions to pay to an anonymised, unknown company for something thats then referred (to) as consultancy fees, and under a contract that has been negotiated with RTE for private work outside and then switches from Noel Kelly to CMS for the second and third year. None of this is credible, it doesnt stand up. Social Democrat TD Catherine Murphy said that invoices are not a creative document. So essentially, both sides were complicit in what the chair of the (RTE) board said designed to deceive, she said. Advertisement We werent consulted about it, Mr Kelly said, adding that no one told us at any stage of the nature of it. 1.55pm Ryan Tubridy and Noel Kelly have said they were not aware chat show sponsor Renault had withdrawn from the tripartite agreement. In response to questions from Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe, Mr Kelly said: No, no idea. Advertisement Mr McAuliffe asked Mr Kelly about the invoices raised for three 75,000 payments due to RTE, and how the first payment made by Renault had been treated differently to the following two. The invoices were raised with you, you have a fiduciary responsibility as director of your company. You raised two for the same three payments you raised them under different companies, and you raise them for different reasons, and invoiced them to different people. Advertisement Mr Kelly replied: We were under instruction, as you can see, description from RTE, description from RTE He added: Yeah, and they were sent under instruction to RTE, and we presumed that Renault were going to be paying this. Advertisement 1.40pm Noel Kelly was pressed on the invoices raised as a consequence of the initial tripartite agreement with Renault. He denied any attempt to collude with RTE to conceal the payments. I think the lack of credibility is on RTEs side, he said. Mr Tubridy and Mr Kelly claimed they both thought the invoices that were paid from the UK-based barter account in 2022 were actually paid by Renault, given the first of the three invoices had been paid by Renault. Thats the misunderstanding, Mr Kelly said. 12.52pm Noel Kelly has said "there have been a lot of lies" regarding the RTE payments issue. Asked by Independent TD Verona Murphy whether RTE lied to Oireachtas committees about the details of the scandal, Mr Tubridy reiterated that he believes there have been "untruths" told. Warned to be careful of her language, Ms Murphy said the definition of an untruth is a lie, and again posed the question if RTE had lied. Advertisement Mr Tubridy said he hopes RTEs claims about him were based on a misunderstanding rather than an intent to deceive. Mr Kelly said: "I think there have been a lot of lies, that's why we're here, intentional or not." Ms Murphy also asked if pre-litigation letters have been issued on behalf of Mr Tubridy or Mr Kelly regarding this matter, to which Mr Tubridy said: "Not that I'm aware of." 12.40pm Ryan Tubridys agent Noel Kelly has said it was the idea of RTEs former commercial director Geraldine OLeary to label invoices for payments due to Mr Tubridy as consultancy fees. Mr Kelly said they were acting under instruction from RTE, at all times. 12.35pm Ryan Tubridy said he was finding it hard to leave the house. My name has been desperately sullied, I think my reputation has been sullied. Im deeply upset. Im hurt. Its hard to leave the house if you really want me to be honest about it. For what? Ive spent three weeks watching people telling stories. Im not looking for sympathy or violin. Fianna Fail TD Cormac Devlin said children in Ireland were asking why the host of the Late Late Toy Show was on the news so much. Advertisement Mr Tubridy responded: My relationship with the children of Ireland is so important to me. I know that sounds grandiose, but actually it is. I want them to be happy and hopeful and proud to be Irish and read lots of books and just be wonderful young people. That doesnt change, but whats happened the last three weeks its a frenzy. Mr Tubridy also suggested he has been cancelled, with Mr Kelly lamenting horrendous reporting concerning the scandal. People here have families. People need to think about youre public representatives you know what it means when youre in the middle of something, Mr Tubridy told the committee. This is my first rodeo being in the public eye (like this). Ive never seen anything like it. I dont know if any of youve been cancelled before but let me tell you, you dont want to be there. Mr Kelly reiterated that they are both appearing before the Tuesday's committees because they had asked to appear. We werent invited, we asked, and we saw over the last three weeks, Ive never seen such horrendous, horrendous reporting. And why? Suddenly the most trusted man in Ireland, Ryan Tubridy, it was like throw him under a bus. Why? Advertisement 12.30pm Ryan Tubridy told the PAC that he wants to get back on the radio as soon as his could. I dont have any doubt, I want to go back to work on the radio as soon as possible, he said. I dont say that with any arrogance. I just say it as an expressed desire: its what I do, its what I know, and I want to get back to my team and to the listeners and with my job because its all Ive got. He added: I understand that the amount of money were talking about is eye-watering, Im not a fool, I understand that. But I havent changed as a person over those years, despite the extraordinary bank balance. Asked how he could rebuild trust, Mr Tubridy replied: A lot of the trust was taken from me. In terms of restoring trust in RTE, Mr Tubridy said the organisation was off to a good start with the appointment of new director-general Kevin Bakhurst. He added: I think that hopefully people will see what Ive said today and will hear what Im saying today and theyll realise that a lot of whats happened over the last few weeks, Ive been dragged into a mess not of my own making. 12.20pm Green Party TD Marc O Cathasaigh asked if, when it was stated that Ryan Tubridy got a 20 per cent pay cut, that was inclusive or exclusive of the 75,000 payments each year from either Renault or RTE. Mr Kelly said the 20 per cent cut excluded the payments. In Ryans next contract, his salary was 440,000 per annum, which was 200,000 for radio, 240,000 for TV. That was 105,000 reduction per year by five, so that was 525,000. It didnt include the 120,000 that he didnt take, the Renault 75,000 was a completely separate contract, so this was on his TV and radio earnings. Mr Tubridy said he understood the room for perception issues around treating the payments from Renault as separate. 12.15pm Ryan Tubridy said documents were submitted to PAC members late on Tuesday morning, just two hours before the committee appearance, due to wanting to get things right. He told Green Party TD Marc O Cathasaigh that he did seek advice from a team of people on how to deal with the crisis, and he assumed they were paid. Mr Tubridy also told committee members he was not advised to delay handing over documentation until after 8.30am on Tuesday, and he apologised for the delay. The last three weeks have been chaotic, they have been destructive, they have been beyond difficult, and all Ill say to you is that we wanted to get things right today because so many people have been getting things wrong, he said. 12pm Mr Kelly has stressed that the tripartite agreement with Renault was not part of Mr Tubridy's contract with RTE. Mr Kelly rejected the suggestion that the deal with Renault was designed to compensate for the pay reduction Mr Tubridy had signed up to with his new RTE broadcasting contract. This was a separate contract for separate services, he said. 11.45am Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster questioned Mr Kelly about the tripartite agreement, with Mr Kelly stating the commitment was requested to ensure the arrangement would continue if the sponsor changed. I asked for the deal to be underwritten because the relationship with the sponsor is with RTE, its not with us, he said. Mr Kelly was also asked why he had written consultancy fees on the invoices he raised for the 75,000 payments for 2021 and 2022 and not put Mr Tubridys name on them. He said he was following instructions from RTE. We acted, at all times, on instructions from RTE, he said. He added: We trusted the process, why would we not trust the process? 11.30am Ryan Tubridy's agent Noel Kelly has claimed there was "no secret" that RTE was to underwrite a commercial deal with Renault regarding payments to Mr Tubridy. In his opening speech to the Public Accounts Committee, Mr Kelly disputed comments made before the committee last week by RTE's former chief financial officer Breda O'Keeffe. Mr Kelly referred the committee to an email supplied to PAC members on Tuesday morning, in which Ms O'Keeffe said the broadcaster could provide a side letter to underwrite the 75,000 annual fee. RTE disputed these claims in a statement on Tuesday morning prior to the commencement of the PAC hearing. Mr Kelly also claimed that RTE's figures regarding Mr Tubridy remunerations were also incorrect. "This is not the Ryan Tubridy scandal. This is the RTE scandal," Mr Kelly added. 11.25am Mr Tubridy apologised to his colleagues at RTE and thanked people across the country for their support amid the controversy. He said he understood the anger among his colleagues at claims by RTE that he had been paid more than was publicly declared. I understand that, and were going to deal with all of that in the next few hours, and indeed the next six hours, or more well stay for as long as it takes, Mr Tubridy told the committee. Im very sorry for those whose lives have been made difficult with an incessant dripping of new revelations. Im thinking particularly, my radio show colleagues and friends, that theyve had to be put through all of this for reasons not of their own making. Id like to thank the many people from across the country who have taken time to stop me on the street, decent Irish citizens, taking my shoulder or my elbow in their hands and saying youll get through this. I have nearly a foot off the ground high of cards and letters from people whove written to Ryan Tubridy, Dublin. 11.20am Ryan Tubridy has challenged seven "untruths" put forward about the payments scandal at RTE. Delivering his opening statement to the Public Accounts Committee, Mr Tubridy said he wished to bring maximum transparency and address misinformation that he says has been circulating about undeclared payments made to him in recent years. Mr Tubridy told the committee: We will be presenting key documents and new information to the two committees, which we believe will bring maximum transparency to the situation and address much of the misinformation which has circulated over the past three weeks. This is the first opportunity we have had to set out the full facts of what occurred, and we have spent weeks reviewing all the information about these issues. He said the payments issues was not a factor in his decision to retire as presenter of the Late Late Show, explaining he had made the decision prior to this issue coming to light, citing burnout following the Covid-19 pandemic. 10.55am Broadcaster Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly are appearing before two Oireachtas committees on Tuesday. Undeclared payments to Mr Tubridy, in a deal negotiated by Mr Kelly, are at the centre of the ongoing RTE payment scandal. They will appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at 11am, followed by the Oireachtas Media Committee from 3pm. Senator Malcolm Byrne, a member of the Oireachtas Media Committee, said Mr Tubridy and Mr Kelly must "provide pieces of the jigsaw" and explain why they did not correct undeclared payments in RTE's figures. Mr Byrne told BreakingNews.ie: "I certainly think the details of that arrangement from Noel Kelly and Ryan Tubridy's perspective will need to be outlined but also why neither Ryan Tubridy nor Noel Kelly sought to correct the record when the salaries were being published. "They knew at the time the Oireachtas and the public were being misled, but they did not look to correct the record," he added. -Additional reporting by Press Association Rishi Sunak said he wants to see Natos commitment to inducting Ukraine as a full member of the alliance reaffirmed during discussions with leaders at the Vilnius summit. The British prime minister arrived in the Lithuanian capital on Tuesday as he prepares for a flurry of meetings with world leaders across two days. Advertisement The pressing issues are set to be about Nato expansion and cajoling member states to meet the goal of spending 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. This is an historic moment for NATO that makes us all safer. Sweden, we look forward to welcoming you into the Alliance. https://t.co/6dIvgoxbfZ Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 10, 2023 Advertisement Speaking to reporters on the plane journey from London, Mr Sunak said the UK, as well as the leadership of Ukraine, recognised that Kyiv would not join the defensive alliance while they are in the midst of a conflict. Advertisement But he said his UK government stands by the conclusion of Natos 15-year-old pledge to put Ukraine on a path to membership. Advertisement Britain is keen to see Ukraines membership fast-tracked, arguing much of the military reforms asked of it are being witnessed on the battlefield in its fight against Russias invading troops. The US and Germany are said not to be on the same page as Britain, however. Mr Sunak said: Ive always said that Ukraines rightful place is in Nato and that we stand by the language of Bucharest in 2008. Advertisement UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives in Vilnius for the Nato summit (Paul Ellis/PA) I think what is important at this summit is that that commitment is reaffirmed and also that there is demonstrable progress towards that goal. The British prime minister appeared to confirm reports that conversations have taken place with allies to provide Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy with non-Nato security guarantees. According to the Daily Telegraph, the UK, US, France and Germany dubbed The Quad are looking to finalise an Israel-style security deal to provide Kyiv with a multi-year plan to defend itself from Russian aggression. Advertisement The paper reported that it would be similar to a military and financial pact that Washington has with Tel Aviv to afford it protection in the Middle East. Advertisement Conservative Party leader Mr Sunak said Britain had played a leading role in the discussions since he put the issue of multilateral Western security assurances on the table during his speech to the Munich security conference in February. Mr Sunak is seeking to offer Ukraine Israel-style security guarantees, according to reports (Paul Ellis/PA) He told reporters he was keen to try and get this over the line. I think it is something that we in the UK have taken a lead on, it is something Ive spoken a lot to fellow leaders about over the last few months, he said. Those conversations are ongoing so we need to keep having them, but that is the purpose of them. It is to demonstrate that long-term commitment from a broad group of countries. It is distinct from the Nato conversation and I think it will send a very strong signal of deterrent to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, that he cant wait people out, in terms of this conflict. I think it is important and valuable. Downing Street said Mr Sunak would use the Vilnius summit to press home the importance of increasing Natos defence spending in order to ward off Russian tyranny. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has criticised the absurd absence of a timetable for his country to join Nato as leaders met at a summit in Lithuania. US president Joe Biden described the Nato gathering as a historic moment and said the US agreed with a proposal, yet to be released publicly, to outline a path for Ukraines eventual membership. Advertisement However, Mr Zelenskiy, who was on his way to Vilnius to join the summit, expressed disappointment at how the negotiations were playing out. We value our allies, he wrote on Twitter but added that Ukraine also deserves respect. We value our allies. We value our shared security. And we always appreciate an open conversation. Ukraine will be represented at the NATO summit in Vilnius. Because it is about respect. But Ukraine also deserves respect. Now, on the way to Vilnius, we received signals that Advertisement Advertisement (@ZelenskyyUa) July 11, 2023 Its unprecedented and absurd when timeframe is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraines membership, Mr Zelenskiy said. He added: Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit. Advertisement A public flash of anger from the Ukrainian leader, who has been hailed by the West as a hero for his leadership during the Russian invasion, could renew tensions in Vilnius just as they had begun to subside. On Monday evening, the night before the summit opened, Turkey withdrew its objections to Sweden joining the alliance, a step toward the unity that Western leaders have been eager to demonstrate in the face of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Joe Biden has welcomed the prospect of Sweden joining Nato (Mindaugas Kulbis/AP) Advertisement The deal was reached after days of intensive meetings, and it is poised to expand the alliances strength in northern Europe. Rumours of the death of Natos unity are greatly exaggerated, Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, told reporters triumphantly on Tuesday. According to a joint statement issued when the deal was announced, Mr Erdogan will ask Turkeys parliament to approve Sweden joining Nato. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban is expected to take a similar step. The outcome is a victory for Mr Biden as well, as he has described Natos expansion as an example of how Russias invasion of Ukraine has backfired on Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Finland has already become the 31st member of the alliance, and Sweden will become the 32nd. Both Nordic countries were historically non-aligned until the war increased fears of Russian aggression. Because of the deal on Swedens membership, this summit is already historic before it has started, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said. Sweden would become the 32nd member of Nato (Kevin Lamarque/AP) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Natos expansion is one of the reasons that led to the current situation. It looks like the Europeans dont understand their mistake, Mr Peskov said. He warned against putting Ukraine on a fast track for Nato membership. Potentially its very dangerous for the European security, it carries very big risks, Mr Peskov said. Mr Biden began Tuesday by meeting Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda, where he emphasised his commitment to transatlantic cooperation. Nothing happens here that doesnt affect us, he told Mr Nauseda. The White House said Mr Nauseda presented Mr Biden with the Order of Vytautas the Great, the highest award a Lithuanian president can bestow. Mr Biden is the first US president to receive it. Mr Biden and Mr Erdogan were scheduled to meet on Tuesday evening, and it was unclear how some of the Turkish presidents other demands will be resolved. Advertisement He has been seeking advanced American fighter jets and a path toward membership of the European Union. The White House has expressed support for both, but publicly insisted that the issues were not related to Swedens membership of Nato. I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defence and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area, Mr Biden said in a statement on Monday. Zimbabwe hails China's support for elimination of schistosomiasis Xinhua) 13:14, July 11, 2023 HARARE, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean Ministry of Health and Child Care on Monday thanked China for its support for the country's efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis, one of the many neglected tropical diseases in Zimbabwe. Jasper Chimedza, permanent secretary for the ministry, said China and Zimbabwe have established a cooperation agreement for the elimination of the disease, and the initiative is a result of the collaboration between the ministry's research department, known as the National Institute of Health Research, and the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases in China. Through this initiative, China and Zimbabwe will promote their cooperation in technology transfer, training of researchers and the establishment of a research center on schistosomiasis in Zimbabwe, Chimedza said in a speech which was read on his behalf at a workshop on neglected tropical diseases in Harare. The diseases, caused by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins, are mainly prevalent in tropical zones, threatening the health of people living in impoverished communities. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) As rebellious Wagner forces drove north toward Moscow on June 24th, a contingent of military vehicles diverted east on a highway in the direction of a fortified Russian army base that holds nuclear weapons, according to videos posted online and interviews with local residents. Once the Wagner fighters reach more rural regions, the surveillance trail goes cold about 100 km from the nuclear base, Voronezh-45. Reuters could not confirm what happened next, and Western officials have repeatedly said that Russia's nuclear stockpile was never in danger during the uprising, which ended quickly and mysteriously later that day. Advertisement But in an exclusive interview, Ukraine's head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said that the Wagner fighters went far further. He said that they reached the nuclear base and that their intention was to acquire small Soviet-era nuclear devices in order to "raise the stakes" in their mutiny. "Because if you are prepared to fight until the last man standing, this is one of the facilities that significantly raises the stakes," Mr Budanov said. Advertisement The only barrier between the Wagner fighters and nuclear weapons, Mr Budanov said, were the doors to the nuclear storage facility. "The doors of the storage were closed and they didn't get into the technical section," he said. Reuters was not able to independently determine if Wagner fighters made it to Voronezh-45. Mr Budanov did not provide evidence for his assertion and he declined to say what discussions, if any, had taken place with the United States and other allies about the incident. He also didn't say why the fighters subsequently withdrew. Kremlin source A source close to the Kremlin with military ties corroborated parts of Mr Budanov's account. A Wagner contingent "managed to get into a zone of special interest, as a result of which the Americans got agitated because nuclear munitions are stored there," this person said, without elaborating further. Advertisement A source in Russian occupied east Ukraine, with knowledge of the matter, said this caused concern in the Kremlin and provided impetus for a hastily negotiated end to the rebellion on the evening of June 24th, brokered by Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko. US officials expressed doubts about this account. In response to a query about whether Wagner forces reached the base and sought to acquire nuclear weapons, White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said, "We are not able to corroborate this report. We had no indication at any point that nuclear weapons or materials were at risk." Advertisement The Kremlin and Wagner commander Yevgeny Prigozhin did not respond to questions for this article. Matt Korda, a Senior Research Associate and Project Manager for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said it would be "virtually impossible for a non-state actor" to breach Russian nuclear security. Wagner may have had thousands of troops at its disposal, he said, but it's unlikely any of them knew how to detonate a bomb. Advertisement "If you had a malicious actor who was able to get their hands on a nuclear weapon, they would find the weapons stored in a state of incomplete assembly," he said. "They would need to be completed by installing specialised equipment and then unlocking permissive action links, and in order to do that they would need the cooperation of someone from the 12th Directorate" responsible for protecting Russia's nuclear arsenal. Putin challenge Mr Budanov is the first official to suggest Wagner fighters came close to acquiring nuclear weapons and further escalating an armed mutiny that has been widely interpreted as the biggest challenge to Russian president Vladimir Putin's power. US officials have long feared the nightmare possibility that strife in Russia might lead to nuclear devices falling into rogue hands. Advertisement Wagner fighters drove in the direction of Voronezh-45 after peeling away from a larger convoy of heavy weaponry that was advancing along the M4 highway that runs north from Rostov, where the rebellion began. This smaller group headed east, and engaged Russian forces in a firefight at the first village it reached, according to residents and social media posts. But then it appears to have passed without hindrance for 90 km, including driving unchallenged through the centre of a town that houses a military base. Reuters followed the group's progress to the town of Talovaya, about 100 km from the base, which dates back to the Soviet era. It is one of Russia's 12 "national-level storage facilities" for nuclear weapons, according to a report by UN scientists. At Talovaya, Russian forces attacked the column, according to local people who spoke to Reuters. A Russian helicopter was shot down, killing the two crew. Advertisement Reuters interviewed Mr Budanov in his Kyiv office, which Russia targeted with strikes as recently as May. Dressed in military fatigues with a black pistol tucked into his waistband, Mr Budanov spoke in front of a painting that depicts an owl, a symbol of Ukraine's spy bureau, clutching a bat, symbol of Russia's military intelligence agency. Advertisement He said Voronezh-45 houses small nuclear devices that can be carried in a backpack. "This was one of the key storage facilities for these backpacks," he said, without providing evidence for this assertion. Reuters was unable to establish if the backpack-sized nuclear charges, referred to by Budanov, are kept at Voronezh-45. Such small nuclear bombs light enough to be carried by a single person are Cold War relics. American troops trained to parachute from planes with nuclear weapons strapped to their bodies and Soviet troops trained to deploy them behind enemy lines on foot. But by the early 1990s, both nations agreed to remove them from their arsenals as tensions eased, and did so, though Russia kept some to mine harbours, said Hans Kristensen, who leads the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, based in Washington. Advertisement Several former US nuclear nonproliferation officials cautioned that it's difficult to know for sure whether the Russians kept their promise to destroy their backpack-style nuclear weapons. "I don't believe the Russians still have them, but I wouldn't bet my life on it," said David Jonas, former general counsel to the US National Nuclear Security Administration, which tracks atomic weapons and radioactive material worldwide. Advertisement Amy Woolf, a nuclear weapons specialist for US lawmakers at the Library of Congress from 1988 to 2022, raised doubts about the potency of such weapons if they do still exist. "It's possible there's still some old crap stuck in storage somewhere," she said. "But is it operational? Almost certainly not." Mr Jonas, who advised top Pentagon officials on nonproliferation, agreed, noting that such portable weapons need to be maintained and updated, and degrade over time. He said Russia has struggled to maintain its conventional forces, let alone its atomic stockpile. A falling out Wagner was founded by Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, a former special forces officer in Russia's GRU military intelligence. Cast as a private army, Wagner enabled Russia to dabble in wars in countries including Syria, Libya and Mali with full deniability. US officials also say Prigozhin's business operated a social media troll factory that interfered with the 2016 American presidential election. In recent days, Putin confirmed the Russian state financed Wagner. State television reported that Prigozhin's operations had received more than 1.7 trillion roubles (17.4 billion) from the Russian budget. Prigozhin fired the opening salvo of his mutiny on June 23rd when he accused the Russian military of launching a missile strike on a Wagner camp in Russian-occupied east Ukraine. Russia denied any such operation. At least half a dozen sources inside and outside Russia say the conflict had been brewing for some time and that money and tensions between rival clans lay at its heart. For months, Prigozhin had been openly insulting Putin's most senior military men, casting defence minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov as corrupt and incompetent and blaming them for reversals in Russia's war in Ukraine. The insults went unanswered in public for a long time. Then Shoigu hit back. On June 10th, he ordered Wagner fighters to sign contracts with his ministry agreeing to become part of the regular army by month's end. Prigozhin refused. On June 13th, Putin publicly sided with Shoigu. The state was moving to cut Wagner's funding and this, the sources inside and outside Russia told Reuters, was the trigger for the mutiny. In the early hours of June 24th, Wagner forces arrived in the southern city of Rostov, an important command centre for Russia's operations in Ukraine. Wagner took charge of the base there and within hours video emerged of Prigozhin chatting with Russian commanders. Around the same time, other contingents of Wagner forces struck out north, heading in the direction of Moscow along the M-4 highway. Wagner fighters encountered little resistance. Some Russian units that stood in their path or were instructed to intercept them did nothing, according to five sources: a Russian security source, three people close to the Kremlin, and a person close to the Russian-installed leadership in eastern Ukraine. The security source said two Russian military formations around the south-west of the country received orders to resist Wagner but they did not act on the command. Head of Ukraine's Military Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov spoke to Reuters. Photo: Getty Images Some Russian units did nothing because they were taken by surprise and were outgunned, the sources said, while others stood by because they assumed, until Putin went on television at 10am. Moscow time to denounce Prigozhin, that Wagner was acting on the Kremlin's orders. The sources said some officers were reluctant to move against Wagner because they felt solidarity with the private army and shared Prigozhin's disillusionment with the way the defence ministry top brass was running the war. At the Bugayevka crossing between Ukraine and Russia, images posted by a Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel on the morning of June 24th showed dozens of Russian troops standing in line, unarmed. The caption said they had laid down their weapons. Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, told Reuters that many in the Russian military sided with Prigozhin. "There are so many commanders who sympathise with Wagner and don't want to follow Putin," he said, adding that he knew of 14 Russian generals who supported Prigozhin. Reuters was not able to independently verify his account about the generals. One branch of the Wagner force headed north along the M-4 highway, in the direction of Moscow. Their route took them right past Boguchar, a garrison town where a Russian unit is stationed. Three local residents who spoke to Reuters said that the military there did nothing to resist, and that a significant number of people in the town, including people serving in the military, felt sympathy with the Wagner force. One woman said of Prigozhin: "Who else should we support? At least there's one dignified person who was not frightened." Another female resident also said Wagner had widespread support in the town, and that many Wagner fighters are from Boguchar. "They're all friends," she said. A nuclear detour As the main Wagner column advanced northwards towards Moscow, a group of military vehicles, and some civilian pickups and vans, turned eastwards. The moment is captured on a video posted on a Voronezh region news site. Reuters geo-located the video to a junction near the town of Pavlovsk. The breakaway contingent rumbled through villages and along a road that cut through patches of forest and flat farmland, skirting gulleys carved out by tributaries of the Don River. A video posted on a local online bulletin board shows a field in the dawn light near the village of Elizavetovka on June 24th. In the distance there is an explosion and gunfire, and panicked cries from a male voice: "Has a war started?" Then a fresh round of automatic gunfire, closer this time. Reuters spoke to the man's neighbour, who said the Russian military had attacked the Wagner force. At 8.24am, a user on the same online bulletin board, Anna Sandrakova, wrote: "Shells are flying, low-flying helicopters, we could hear explosions, automatic gunfire." Maxim Yantsov, the local government chief for Pavlovsk district, wrote on his Telegram channel that 19 households were damaged as a result of shooting around Elizavetovka. A few hours later, the convoy passed through another village, Vorontsovka, still moving in the direction of the nuclear facility. Two videos posted to Telegram show more than a dozen vehicles, including armoured personnel carriers, tanks and trucks mounted with machine guns or carrying artillery. Next on the route, the convoy reached Buturlinovka, according to posts on the town's online bulletin board and a video that Reuters identified as being recorded in the town. Buturlinovka, closer still to the nuclear facility, is the location of a military air base. By Saturday evening, users on a VKontakte online forum started reporting the presence of a military column at the town of Talovaya, 110km from the military base. A video shared by a local resident with Reuters shows a column of military vehicles moving through the outskirts of the town. A second video, provided by another resident, showed at least 75 vehicles in a convoy on the edge of the town, including five armoured personnel carriers, two ambulances, and an artillery gun towed behind a truck. A third resident said local people offered food and water to the Wagner troops. The situation was calm, he said, until a Russian helicopter fired at the column. It fired back and the helicopter fell to the ground, followed by explosions and a cloud of smoke. Russian state media later broadcast video of a wooden cross erected at the site in Talovaya district where the helicopter, a Ka-52 attack aircraft, crashed. Pskov region governor Mikhail Vedernikov said the two crewmen who were killed were stationed at a military base in his region, in north-west Russia. "True to their oath, they did everything to protect our country," he said in a video address posted on his Telegram channel. Reuters couldn't determine what the column did next. A resident of Talovaya said that as far as he was aware, it did not move any further and the following day after the truce was announced the column turned around and went back the way it came. Mr Budanov said in his interview that an unspecified number of fighters did in fact press on to Voronezh-45 with the intention of seizing portable, Soviet-era nuclear weapons stored at the facility. The nuclear facility at Voronezh-45 is operated and guarded by military unit no. 14254, part of the defence ministry's 12th Main Directorate responsible for protecting Russia's arsenal of nuclear weapons, according to the Russian defence ministry's website and publicly available records. What is stored there is a closely guarded secret. Russia does not publicly acknowledge even keeping nuclear weapons there; that information has emerged from the reports of foreign scientists. Reuters was unable to establish if the backpack-sized nuclear charges referred to by Budanov are kept at the facility. But there is evidence that such devices were developed by the Soviet Union. In testimony to the US Congress, in 1997 Alexei Yablokov, a former Russian presidential science advisor, said Soviet scientists in the 1970s created suitcase-sized nuclear munitions for use by secret agents. Kristensen, the Federation of American Scientists researcher who said that Russia and the United States discarded thousands of suitcase-sized nukes in the 1990s, said that he doubts any remain stored Voronezh-45. He said he believes but cannot be certain that other nuclear weapons are stored at Voronezh-45, which satellite images show to be well-maintained. Given the 12th Main Directorate's control over the facility, the movement of weapons would take time and likely be detected by US satellites, he added. Further north, there is evidence that the Russian military undertook drastic measures to block off another potential access route to Voronezh-45. The E-38 road branches off the M-4 highway at a settlement called Rogachevka. This road also leads to Voronezh-45. On the evening of June 24th, local residents reported hearing explosions. A video posted on a Telegram channel captured the sound of an aircraft followed by an explosion. A motorist driving along the E-38 posted a video that shows the road covered in debris near a bridge over the river Bityug. In one lane is a deep crater. A deal is struck On the evening of June 24th there was an unexpected announcement by Belarusian state media. The country's president, Alexsandr Lukashenko, had negotiated Prigozhin's agreement to halt his forces' advances. Prigozhin said in an audio message that his forces had come within 125 miles of Moscow and were "turning around" to head back to their training camps. Under the deal, Russia would not prosecute the rebels and Wagner fighters would either withdraw to Belarus or join Russia's regular army. A European intelligence source said Prigozhin was persuaded to abandon his revolt after realising he didn't have sufficient support amongst the military. Prigozhin's whereabouts and future plans are unclear. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Putin held talks with the Wagner leader on June 29th and "gave his assessment of the events" of June 24th. One of Prigozhin's private jets has made multiple trips between Belarus and Russia in the days since the rebellion, according to flight tracking data. When Belarusian president Lukashenko hosted a group of journalists in Minsk on July 6th, he said Wagner's fighters had yet to arrive at their new Belarusian base. "As for Yevgeny Prigozhin, he's in St Petersburg. Or perhaps this morning he flew to Moscow. Or perhaps he's somewhere else. But he's not in Belarus," Lukashenko said. Police are investigating the discovery of a headless childs body on a Costa beach. The remains of the child, thought to be aged between two and three, were discovered on the sand early on Tuesday morning at a beach in the Costa Dorada resort of Roda de Bera in the east coast province of Tarragona. Advertisement A council cleaner made the grim find and alerted his bosses who called police. The body of the child, said to be missing other body parts as well as its head and thought to have been washed onto the beach from the water, is understood to be in a state of decomposition. Civil Guard officers have cordoned off the area and are moving locals and holidaymakers on to other areas of the sand before an investigating judge authorises the removal of the body. Advertisement Roda de Bera mayor Pere Virgili has been quoted in local press as saying the youngster could have been on a migrant boat which capsized in the Mediterranean. Advertisement The town hall said in a tweet: We inform you that this morning the body of a two to three-year-old child was found on the shoreline on the Costa Dorada beach. The area is cordoned off and officials are waiting for the judge to authorise the removal of the body. We ask the public to avoid the area. Roda de Bera is a 25-minute drive north of Tarragona. Barcelona is just over an hours drive north. The town, well-known thanks to its Roman arch, was mainly dedicated exclusively to agriculture until the second half of the 20th century when it became an important tourist spot on the Costa Dorada. Advertisement The Civil Guard, which is investigating, has yet to make any official comment. A spokesman for the Civil Guard said: All we can confirm at the moment is that the body of a baby has been found at Roda de Bera beach in the province of Tarragona. The alarm was raised at 8.50am on Tuesday morning. The matter is still under investigation. It is understood some of the first people to discover the human remains thought initially they were looking at a doll because of the decomposed state of the body and did not contact the police. It was confirmed it was a childs body once Civil Guard officers arrived. The remains were removed around 11.30am local time following judicial authorisation. Advertisement An autopsy will take place in the coming hours to try to determine the cause of death. The court probe is being led by a judge based in the nearby town of El Vendrell. A court spokesman said: A court of instruction, Court of Instruction number 7 in El Vendrell which is acting as a duty court, has today authorised the removal of a body found on a beach in Roda de Bera. The judge has opened the corresponding inquiry and is awaiting receipt of the corresponding forensic and police reports. We do not have any extra information we can make public at this moment in time. As well as trying to establish the cause of death, forensic experts will try to calculate how long the youngsters body had been in the sea. Israeli protesters have blocked roads leading to Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv during countrywide demonstrations against the governments planned judicial overhaul that has divided the nation. The demonstrations came on the morning after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus parliamentary coalition gave initial approval to a Bill to limit the Supreme Courts oversight powers, pressing forward with contentious changes to the judiciary despite widespread opposition. Advertisement The legislation is one of several bills proposed by Mr Netanyahus ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies. The plan has provoked months of sustained protests by opponents who say it is pushing the country toward authoritarian rule. Protesters called for nationwide mass demonstrations throughout the day, including at Israels main international airport. An elderly protester is assisted after being knocked down by Israeli mounted police officers (Oded Balilty/AP) Advertisement Advertisement An estimated 10,000 people gathered outside the main hall of the airport, blowing horns and waving blue and white Israeli flags. Police kept the crowd from entering the hall, and travel was not disrupted. Adi Somech, one of the protesters, said: Civil war! I think were going that way if theyre not going to stop. On Tuesday, 300 reservists from the militarys cyber unit signed a letter saying they would not volunteer for service, explaining the government has demonstrated it is determined to destroy the state of Israel. Advertisement Sensitive cyber abilities with the potential for being used for evil must not be given to a criminal government that is undermining the foundations of democracy, the letter said. Police used a water cannon to clear protesters who blocked a main artery leading to Jerusalem. Officers arrested several others who had obstructed a highway next to the central city of Modiin. Demonstrators blocked a main highway in Haifa with a large banner reading Together we will be victorious, snarling traffic along the beachfront. Advertisement Later, a crowd gathered outside the US diplomatic offices in Tel Aviv, calling on the White House to put pressure on Netanyahu to halt the overhaul. Protests were also taking place outside Mr Netanyahus home in central Jerusalem and in central Tel Aviv. Advertisement Police said 71 people were arrested for public disturbance during the protests nationwide. Protesters scuffled with police in various locations, but no major violence was reported. Advertisement In a speech on Tuesday evening, defence minister Yoav Gallant lashed out at those who refuse to report for duty, saying it threatened the countrys security and was a prize for our enemies. Arnon Bar-David, head of the countrys national labour union, the Histadrut, threatened a possible general strike that could paralyse the countrys economy. If the situation reaches an extreme, we will intervene and employ our strength, Mr Bar-David said, calling on Mr Netanyahu to stop the chaos. Israeli police officers remove a protester (Mahmoud Illean/AP) The Histadrut called a general strike in March as the government pushed the judicial overhaul legislation through parliament after weeks of protest. The move shut down large swathes of Israels economy and helped contribute to Mr Netanyahu deciding to freeze the legislation. But he decided to revive it last month after talks with the political opposition aimed at finding a compromise collapsed. Mr Netanyahus allies have proposed a series of changes to the Israeli legal system aimed at weakening what they say are the excessive powers of unelected judges. The proposed changes include giving Mr Netanyahus allies control over the appointment of judges and giving parliament power to overturn court decisions. Advertisement The Netanyahu government, which took office in December, is the most hard-line ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox in Israels 75-year history. His allies proposed the sweeping changes to the judiciary after the country held its fifth elections in under four years, all of them seen as a referendum on Mr Netanyahus fitness to serve as prime minister while on trial for corruption. Critics of the judicial overhaul say it will upset the countrys fragile system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Mr Netanyahu and his allies. They also say Mr Netanyahu has a conflict of interest because he is on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes, all of which he has denied. A wide swathe of Israeli society, including reserve military officers, business leaders, LGBT+ people and members of other minority groups have joined the protests. A right-hand man in a people-smuggling ring has been jailed for more than 12 years for the manslaughter of 39 men, women and children found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex. The Vietnamese nationals died in the airtight sealed container as it was being transported by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet in October 2019. Advertisement Marius Mihai Draghici, 50, fled the country and was detained by police in Romania last August and extradited back to the UK. Last month, he pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Romanian national Marius Mihai Draghici admitted the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese people. Photo: Essex Police/PA. Advertisement In a televised sentencing at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, Mr Justice Garnham jailed Draghici for 12 years and seven months. He told the defendant he was an essential cog in a conspiracy which made astonishing profits out of the exploitation of people desperate to get to the UK. Advertisement He said the conditions inside the trailer where the victims died were unspeakable with people trapped inside the trailer with no ventilation and no way of getting out. The senior judge recognised the pitiful audio recordings of those trapped inside reporting they could not breathe and a growing recognition they were going to die there and their love-ones heart-wrenching statements. Advertisement Four other gang members were jailed in 2021 for between 13 and 27 years for the manslaughter of the 39 migrants. They are: Ringleader Gheorghe Nica, 46, of Basildon, Essex, haulier boss Ronan Hughes, 43, of Armagh, Maurice Robinson, 28, of Craigavon, who found the bodies, and Eamonn Harrison, 26, of County Down, who had collected the victims on the continent. Advertisement The victims aged between 15 and 44 had hoped for a better life in Britain when they agreed to pay up to 13,000 a head for a VIP smuggling service. On October 22nd 2019, they were crammed into the lorry container to be shipped in pitch black and sweltering conditions. The 28 men, eight women and three children had desperately tried to raise the alarm, with many leaving messages for loved ones on their mobile phones as they ran out of air before reaching British shores. Advertisement One unsent text message by a young mother read: Maybe going to die in the container. Cannot breathe any more. Advertisement Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told the court that the victims last hours must have entailed unimaginable suffering and anguish. Lorry driver Robinson had discovered the bodies in the early hours of October 23 after being messaged by Hughes to give them air, but not let them out. Robinson had picked up the container at the docks and opened the doors before alerting others including Draghici and Nica waiting at a nearby pick-up point near Collingwood Farm in Orsett. Mr Emlyn Jones said gang members immediately abandoned the plan and melted away in the night, with Draghici following Nica on a flight from Luton to Romania. CCTV showing lorry driver Maurice Robinson leaving Purfleet port after picking up the container. Photo: Essex Police/PA. Setting out Draghicis involvement, Mr Emlyn Jones said: The prosecution case is that Draghici became party to a sophisticated, long-running and highly profitable conspiracy to smuggle illegal migrants to the United Kingdom, in the back of lorries, in a deliberate and intentional breach of border control. Draghici was recruited by fellow Romanian Nica and became his effective right-hand man and they were inseparable, the prosecutor said. The defendant had accepted being involved in the last three people smuggling runs, including the fatal trip although police identified a total of seven. He was present at a meeting at a hotel on October 19 2019 in which Nica delivered a very substantial payment to Hughes after collecting the money from Fong the Vietnamese organiser. Advertisement He was also in contact with a person who had been described as Hughes man on the continent. Mr Emlyn Jones said it was significant that Nica and Draghici both gave Robinson his instructions earlier on the night of the tragic journey. The prosecutor said: We accept that the role played in the conspiracy by Nica was more significant than that of Draghici. So Nica is above Draghici in the pecking order. But he said of Draghici: He was not just acting as a driver but playing the role of something of a right-hand man to Mr Nica. The 39 victims were: Dinh Dinh Binh, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Huy Phong, Le Van Ha, Nguyen Van Hiep, Bui Phan Thang, Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Huy Hung, Nguyen Tien Dung, Pham Thi Tra My, Tran Khanh Tho, Nguyen Van Nhan, Vo Ngoc Nam, Vo Van Linh, Nguyen Ba Vu Hung, Vo Nhan Du, Tran Hai Loc, Tran Manh Hung, Nguyen Thi Van, Bui Thi Nhung, Hoang Van Tiep, Tran Thi Ngoc, Phan Thi Thanh, Tran Thi Tho, Duong Minh Tuan, Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh, Tran Thi Mai Nhung, Le Trong Thanh, Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Hoang Van Hoi, Tran Ngoc Hieu, Cao Tien Dung, Dinh Dinh Thai Quyen, Dang Huu Tuyen, Nguyen Dinh Luong , Cao Huy Thanh, Nguyen Trong Thai, Nguyen Tho Tuan and Nguyen Dinh Tu. Advertisement In victim impact statements read in court, some victims families described feeling sad and hopeless at their loss while coping with crippling debt from borrowing thousands of pounds to pay for their loved ones travel. Nguyen Huy Hung, 15, one of the youngest victims, had been on his way to live with his parents in the UK and work as a hairdresser. His father said they were very shocked and trembling after hearing what happened on social media. He said: We did not believe it was the truth until we saw his body with our own eyesWe felt numb and that feeling lasted for many weeks later. Married couple Tran Hai Loc and Nguyen Thi Van, 35, were found lying side by side in the container. The court heard they had paid 7,000 US dollars to travel to Hungary to work as fruit pickers and told their families on October 18 2019 that their plans had changed. In mitigation, Gillian Jones KC said Draghici was shocked and horrified with what occurred and had struggled to come to terms with the enormity of it. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who led the Essex Police investigation, said: For more than three years, we have never lost sight of the far-reaching impact the events of October 2019 has had, both here in Essex and, most acutely, in Vietnam. Advertisement Each of the people inside the lorry container were mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. They have family who feel their loss acutely each and every day. Today is a significant day. Draghici knew the evidence that we were able to present was overwhelming. He had no option but to admit his involvement. Draghici left the UK after October 23 2019 and remained hidden in Europe until August 2022. We have always maintained that the actions we believed he was responsible for could never go unpunished. Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper, who oversaw the investigation, said: In October 2019, we made a promise to the families of our 39 victims that we would deliver justice. We have never lost sight of that promise and the investigation team members have ensured that we have kept that promise. We have been committed to tracking down every person we know to have been involved. Unfortunately for Draghici, he could not stay hidden, and he is now facing the consequences of his actions. National Crime Agency (NCA) deputy director international Tom Dowdall added: Marius Draghici and his criminal associates were responsible for the deaths of 39 men, women and children in horrific circumstances. It was an appalling example of just how callous people-smuggling gangs are, who are prepared to risk the lives of those they transport for financial gain. NCA officers in the UK and overseas worked closely with Essex Police and our international partners to ensure Draghici was tracked down in Romania and brought back to the UK to face justice. A teacher in the UK who was stabbed in a school corridor is recovering well after leaving hospital, his secondary school has said. A teenage boy is being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder after a male teacher was attacked at Tewkesbury Academy in Gloucestershire just after 9am on Monday. Advertisement The academy was locked down and two neighbouring schools were also asked to shut their doors as a precaution, Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone of Gloucestershire Police said. The school said it reopened on Tuesday following careful assessment and consultation with the police. A Tewkesbury Academy spokesperson said: We feel it is important for our students to be able to return to a sense of normality in their school, where we will be providing a range of additional mental and emotional support for students and staff. Advertisement Advertisement Tewkesbury Academy in Gloucestershire has reopened (Ben Birchall/PA) The teacher, who was earlier said to be in a stable condition, was discharged from hospital on Monday evening, police confirmed while the suspect remains in custody. He was taken to hospital with a single stab wound after being attacked at the school on Monday. The school spokesperson said: We are pleased to confirm the Tewkesbury colleague injured in yesterdays incident has been discharged from hospital and is recovering well. Advertisement He has expressed his gratitude for the many positive messages he has received. All of us at Tewkesbury Academy are grateful for the support we have received from our community and colleagues from across our trust and from the wider education sector. We also want to thank officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary for their invaluable help and reassurance. And finally, huge thanks to all Tewkesbury colleagues for their calm and professionalism during an incredibly difficult day, and our students and their families for their patience, resilience and support. Advertisement A teenager has been arrested in connection with the incident (Ben Birchall/PA) We look forward to continuing to support each other, while focusing again on providing a high-quality education to the young people of Tewkesbury. The school said there will be a police presence at the school for the coming days to provide reassurance. Advertisement Advertisement A teenager, from Tewkesbury, allegedly fled the scene and was arrested by armed officers in the nearby Stoke Orchard area at 11am. A knife has been recovered. Speaking to reporters outside the school on Monday afternoon, Mr Ocone said: At this stage, the motivation behind the attack is unclear but at this time there is no evidence to suggest it is terrorism-related. Tewkesbury Academy, a state secondary school for 11 to 18-year-olds, is part of the Cabot Learning Federation, a multi-academy trust responsible for a number of academies in the South West of England. The catastrophic collapse of a dam in southern Ukraine has made Kyiv worried that Russia might stage an attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Ukraines energy minister said. Herman Halushchenko said the destruction of the dam while under Russian control in the Kherson region proved there are no red lines for Moscow. Advertisement He said it warrants the level of alarm Ukraines leadership has been raising in recent weeks of an alleged Russian ploy to attack the nuclear plant in a possible false flag operation. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy alleged last week, citing intelligence reports, that Russian troops placed objects resembling explosives atop several power units to simulate an attack. Advertisement Drone and satellite images obtained by the Associated Press showed unidentified white objects on the roof of the plants fourth power unit, but Ukrainian leaders have so far been unable to provide further evidence. Advertisement While Russia accuses Ukraine of bombarding the Kakhovka dam, Kyiv blames Moscow for the attack on the dam in late May, which triggered a humanitarian crisis and caused widespread ecological devastation. An Associated Press (AP) investigation found that Moscow had the means and motive to carry out the attack. Advertisement Mr Halushchenko said he and Mr Zelenskiy had raised alarms as early as October 2022 that the Russians could plant mines to blow up the Kakhovka dam. He told AP: For many, many people it sounded ridiculous and when it happened everybody understood that there are no red lines for them. And of course its all connected to the counter-offensive operation, and after Kakhovka, the one tool which they still have is Zaporizhzhia. The nuclear plant was seized by Russia in March 2022, in the first weeks of the war in Ukraine, raising fears of a nuclear accident. Over the past year, Russia and Ukraine repeatedly accused each other of shelling the plant. Advertisement Mr Halushchenko said he and Mr Zelenskiy had raised alarms about Kakhovka as early as October 2022 (Jae C Hong/AP) Ukraines military intelligence has claimed for weeks, without providing evidence, that Russia is planning a large-scale provocation at the nuclear power plant, Europes largest, in the southeast of the country. Around the same time, Ukraine launched the early phase of its much anticipated counter-offensive last month and has reported steady advances along multiple directions of the 1,500 kilometre (930-mile) frontline. An incident at the plant could halt Ukraines advance, Mr Zelenskiy has said. Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian military intelligence reports have said that Russia placed mines on the roof of the nuclear plant, and put remote-controlled and regular anti-personnel mines in technical and machine rooms. Image experts the AP spoke to could not identify the objects that have been seen on the roof. Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at the Middlebury Institute and satellite image expert, said the objects appeared to be placed on the roof of the units turbine hall, and, if it turns out to be a bomb, is unlikely to cause serious damage to the reactor. The Russians have cited security concerns in granting only limited access to officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency. Regional Express has flagged its intent to apply to service Australias research missions in Antarctica, weeks after downgrading its profit forecast for this financial year. Rex confirmed on Tuesday it had submitted a response to a request for information issued by the Australian Antarctic Division, ahead of a formal request for tender expected in November. Rex also confirmed that its long-awaited order of two Boeing 737-800NG planes from Singapore Airlines were now scheduled to arrive by the end of August one month after initially expected. Rex has thrown its hat in the ring to take carriage of Australias research missions in Antarctica. Credit: Ryan Fletcher The Australian Antarctic Program is a scientific partnership between the government and multiple research bodies to better understand the effects of climate change. The Antarctic program will require one large intercontinental passenger jet, four intercontinental turboprop aircraft and four twin-engine helicopters. The airlines Antarctic project manager Craig Martin said Rex was equipped for the contract due to its experience flying for the Department of Defence and select state air ambulance operations. Despite efforts by Beijing to relieve the stresses on both local governments and the better-managed developers with concessional funding and, for both groups, loan repayment holidays, the construction sector that has accounted for about 30 per cent of Chinas growth in the past remains depressed, and local government finances increasingly stressed. Households and businesses, after the pandemic lockdowns and two years of the draconian zero COVID policies that were only lifted late last year, have, after a modest and short-lived bounce that created expectations of a big, consumer-led rebound in Chinas growth, retreated to the sidelines. Chinas economy has struggled to sustain a strong recovery after the end of harsh COVID policies. Credit: AP Household wealth is concentrated in property, so the trauma in the property sector and the experience of households that invested in deposits for uncompleted or yet-to-be-built apartments has had a chilling effect on spending. In a system with little in the way of social safety nets, consumers are more focused on debt reduction than on consumption. Urban youth unemployment of more than 20 per cent and a slowing of the rural-to-urban drift that has been a major influence on Chinas economic growth in recent decades might also be contributing factors. Businesses, particularly those in the private sector, are scarred by their pandemic experiences and confronted with weak demand. There appears to be significant over-capacity within Chinas economy. Price-cutting by retailers to try to stimulate demand is also squeezing margins. The authorities will be very mindful of the Japanese experience, where the interaction between a property boom and debt, when the bubble finally burst, led to three decades of economic winter. The crackdown by Beijing on private businesses the torrid couple of years experienced by the tech entrepreneurs in particular, but, more broadly, the rebalancing of policy away from the private sector towards state-owned enterprises under the banner of common prosperity under Xi has injected significant uncertainty into the private sector, which provides the overwhelming majority of urban jobs. The slowing of the global economy and the restructuring of global supply chains in the wake of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the continuing increases in tensions between China and the US is impacting external demand for Chinas manufactured goods, which is showing up in weaker exports. Foreign investment has also been weakening, with the massive losses experienced by foreign lenders to the property sector, the weakening of Chinas growth rate, the restrictions imposed by the US and its allies on high-tech exports to China, Chinas raids on foreign consultancies and its shutting down of access to economic and business data all possible strands to the explanation. Loading The authorities have made some cautious and half-hearted efforts to ignite some growth. The Peoples Bank of China has been edging down its policy rates and encouraging banks to lend more at lower cost to mortgage borrowers. There have been other measures directed at the property sector and related areas like home decor and white goods. Theres been talk about incentives for purchases of electric vehicles and other very targeted measures. What were not seeing is any signs of the kind of major stimulus program Beijing executed in response to the 2008 financial crisis, when it countered the global economic recession with a $US586 billion ($890 billion at the time) infrastructure-centred spending spree. Thats because while the stimulus did result in double-digit economic growth rates, it left a legacy of ghost cities and other waste on a grand scale. That experience and the uncomfortable levels of unproductive debt within the economy have deterred the authorities from large-scale stimulus programs ever since. China is facing the prospect of Japanification, or the decades of economic stagnation from which Japan is only just emerging. Credit: AP There is an expectation that there will be some stimulus, probably after the next quarterly meeting of the Politburo late this month, where the countrys first-half economic performance will be reviewed. More efforts to generate some growth in the property sector and measures to stimulate consumer demand are expected, although large-scale cash handouts or tax cuts for households and businesses are unlikely, given that the recipients would be more likely to save the extra cash or use it to pay down debt than spend it. A former member of the Victoria Police special operations group has welcomed the withdrawal from publication of a memoir written by another former officer who falsely claimed he took part in the police operation at Port Arthur. Hachette withdrew Christophe Glasls memoir Special Operations Group: The Inside Story of the Most Feared and Fearsome Unit in Australian Policing from sale on Monday after Victoria Police said it had concerns about the accuracy of the book, including some of the authors claims about jobs he attended. The Special Operations Group was sent to the Seascape guesthouse, seen here after the Port Arthur murderer was captured following a siege through the night. Credit: Jason South Craig Harwood, a former team commander and sniper with the special operations group (SOG), posted a review on Amazon on Saturday in which he urged would-be readers not to buy the book. It is not factual, he wrote. Members of the SOG are understood to have contacted Hachette to raise concerns about the book. In response to the withdrawal of the book, Harwood told this masthead: The mission of having this fictional tale removed from public consumption and the units integrity protected has been achieved and as such I wish to step back into the shadows or merge back into the foliage. It is surprising too, in that you realise while watching it how little you know about an object that was once so familiar. The BlackBerry soon to become known as the CrackBerry, after millions discovered the addictive pleasure of being able to read and send emails from their phones was the brainchild of Mike Lazaridis and Doug Fregin, best friends from the university town of Waterloo, Ontario. Lazaridis, as quite brilliantly portrayed by comedian Jay Baruchel, is a prematurely grey-haired perfectionist who finds it hard to meet anyones eye; Fregin, played by Johnson himself, is outgoing, dorky and bouncing with Tigger-ish enthusiasm. In 1996, they were driving a wrecked car between phone companies, trying to interest them in drawings of their PocketLink without much luck. Johnson took his facts from Losing the Signal: the Untold Story of the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff, a dense business book, but turns the story into a rollicking yarn, spinning between high comedy and elegiac human drama, that was unquestionably the sleeper hit of the last Berlin Film Festival. BlackBerry, a movie about the Canadian engineers who invented the first smartphone, is also a movie about movies. The tech bros communicate by swapping favourite lines; they argue over fudged science in Kubricks 2001 or plot points in Blade Runner; they get excited during the afternoon when they know its the office movie night. Director Matt Johnson says that a light switched on in his head when he grasped that the tech industry was driven by sci-fi buffs; fact and fiction, he realised, ran in a series of loops. When the internet first began, the number one thing that you could find was forums about Star Trek, he says. So it is no mystery that a bunch of nerds invent a communicator that can talk to anybody just like the one they saw in their favourite show. Enter Jim Balsillie (Glenn Howerton), a reptilian captain of industry looking for a new ship, who found a way to sell their revamped idea. Over not much more than a decade, the BlackBerry became a phenomenon, conquered the world and then lost it again to the victorious Apple. Along the way, Lazaridis became a slick and driven capitalist, the founders friendship fractured and, of course, the movie nights stopped as the joy went out of it. The company made a lot of money and lost it again; Lazaridis, bogged down by his original idea, refused to see that current technology was leaving him behind, while Balsillie started doing dodgy deals behind their backs that brought the police to their doors. By 2007, BlackBerry was toast. Its interesting because Mike Lazaridis was so far ahead of his time initially, says Baruchel. Its so strange to see someone see where the world is headed at one point in his life and then not see at all where the world is headed later. Johnson, who is rather Tigger-like himself, jumps in. Mike was frozen at the moment of his genius! And you know what? I find this happens with famous people as well, musicians who just kind get locked in a reality they created. Its not that you find it that difficult to see whats happening, its that you find it quite ego-painful, because changing means you basically have to kill off part of yourself. BlackBerry charts the smartphones rise over not much more than a decade, as it conquered the world and then lost it to Apple. The three actors with him agree fervently. Because its all hubris to begin with, says Baruchel. The kind of person who thinks they can and intends to change the world is some kind of Type A, right? It takes that kind of thing to get there. But that is also what clouds your judgement. As Lazaridiss invention was going into production, another manifestation of the new technology was hitting the headlines: the so-called millennium bug. As the turn of the century approached, so did the threat of the worlds computers which people were only gradually realising now ran everything stalling when their six-figure date format reached the end of 99, thus running out of numbers. Advertisement Eating outJust open Aperitivo hour, vodka pasta and 70s Brooklyn vibes flow at this new Northern Beaches pizza joint Enjoy old school service and pizzas hand-stretched to order at little laneway restaurant, Pocket Pizza. Bianca Hrovat July 11, 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 Photo: Supplied Pocket Pizza has opened its third outpost at Avalon Beach, as sales figures suggest a sustained appetite for mid-priced, weekday meals on the Northern Beaches. The small pizza chain, founded by friends Ben Pichon and Dylan Eisenhut in 2015, has established a reputation for quality hand-stretched pizzas ($22-30), accessible opening hours (until 10pm Monday to Friday) and a 70s Brooklyn aesthetic. Their newest location is hidden down a little laneway: a small 20-seat restaurant featuring dark wood panel and red leather booths, vintage posters and lit candles flickering across white paper doilies. Pocket Pizza has opened its Avalon store. Supplied Advertisement Come September, Eisenhut hopes to bring the party outdoors into the laneway, with an aperitivo hour under the stars. For now, diners can take a seat at the bar and take advantage of $10 spritzes and negronis from 4pm, Friday to Sunday. Theres also a selection of Australian wines (mostly of the natural variety think brands like Yokel from Swan Valley, WA), amaros and American whisky behind the retro bar. Despite the rising cost of living, Eisenhut says that Pocket Pizza has seen sales grow by up to 20 per cent at their Manly and Brookvale locations. Monday nights are particularly busy, attracting up to 400 orders each week. Photo: Supplied Im close with a lot of other people in the industry and we talk a lot about what has been happening in the economy, Eisenhut says. Advertisement But were big believers in over delivering for the price point. We put a lot of time and effort into our dough, we make it all ourselves by hand, and we stretch the pizzas to order. We invest heavily in quality small goods, like fior di latte from Vannella [in Marrickville]. Photo: Supplied Theres a long list of antipasto options on the menu, including beef carpaccio ($20), cacio e pepe arancini ($15) and calamari fritti ($21). Pizzas run the gamut from simple margheritas ($24) and four cheese ($27), through to more adventurous options such as the Netflix and Chill (tomato, fior di latte, nduja, ricotta, salami and honey, $29) and the Lamborghini (tomato, fior di latte, lamb sausage, eggplant and goats cheese, $28). Each pizza is delivered by a member of staff to ensure its treated with care, and Eisenhut promises to take orders no matter how close to closing time. Advertisement We arent the cheapest pizza place around but we want people to feel like theyre getting their moneys worth, with dimly lit candles, good tunes and a full feed, he says. pocketpizza.com.au When troubled former US president Donald Trump visited the UK in 2019, senior women in the royal family dusted off their tiaras and sashes, but during this weeks visit from President Joe Biden, the jewellery vaults remain locked. At the state banquet for Trump, Princess Catherine wore the Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara, Queen Camilla (as Duchess of Cornwall) donned the honeycomb Greville Tiara and Queen Elizabeth wore the Burmese Ruby Tiara, which the Royal Exhibitions website said guards the wearer not only against illness, but also against evil. Princess Catherine wearing the Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara during a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in November and President Joe Biden at Windsor Castle on Monday. Credit: Getty, Reuters There is no opportunity for diamond diplomacy and symbolism during Bidens visit, with King Charles, 74, having already met Biden, 80, at Windsor Castle on what is being described as a working trip rather than an official state occasion. This is Bidens first visit to the UK since Charles coronation in June, having met Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle in 2021. Biden did not attend the coronation according to US tradition, with a president having never been present at the ceremony. Instead, his wife, Dr Jill Biden, represented the US. Parents are being warned about the risks of influenza as students prepare to return to the classroom, after a teenager from NSW and a girl from Queensland died with the virus. NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said it was the first known death of a child or young person from the flu in the state so far this year, and a timely reminder of the importance of vaccination as students head back to the classroom from Monday. Its not too late to get vaccinated, were still seeing flu cases on the rise, she said. What we often see is a bit of an uptick when school goes back, so we would urge parents to keep children home if theyre unwell. The National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System has reported 152,081 confirmed cases of influenza this year. Heres a breakdown of cases by state and territory. ACT: 1,603 NSW: 52,312 NT: 1,732 QLD: 48,342 SA: 9,081 TAS: 1,819 VIC: 23,363 WA: 13,829 There were 10,067 reported COVID-19 cases in Australia in the week ending July 7, and 130 COVID-related deaths. Australian citizens, refugees and migrants have been unlawfully held in immigration detention centres for periods ranging from a few days to more than six years because of administration errors and faulty processes within federal agencies. Documents produced by the Department of Home Affairs, obtained by this masthead under freedom of information laws, show 115 people were unlawfully detained for a total of 2946 days between 2018 and 2022. Lawyers say Australias Migration Act is constantly being amended, increasing the risk of unlawful detention. Credit: AAP Immigration lawyers have called for more investment in the departments technology systems and an overhaul of migration laws to ensure no one slips through the cracks, as unlawful detention is both unethical and exposes the government to financial penalties. Marque Lawyers managing partner Michael Bradley said unlawful detention was mostly caused by incompetence and that detainees would certainly be entitled to some form of compensation. Sydney accountant Benjamin Carter allegedly misused his position at a brewery owned by NRL star Nathan Cleary and UFC star Tai Bam Bam Tuivasa as part of a $26 million fraud all to feed his pathological gambling addiction. Carters pregnant partner, herself accused of covering up the alleged fraud, has wept as a court heard of his gambling red flags and alleged links to international criminal syndicates. Ben Carter, founder of Carters Tax Advisory, is accused of defrauding clients of $26 million to fund his lavish lifestyle. Credit: Suppplied NSW Polices anti-bikie squad Raptor, in June, took up a Tax Practitioners Board investigation into Carters Tax Advisory in Penrith after reports of fraud. Police prosecutors told the court the 16,000 pages of evidence against Carter were overwhelming and included the accountant making some admissions to the allegations. Ben Roberts-Smith is seeking to overturn damning findings that he murdered unarmed prisoners in Afghanistan as part of an appeal against a landmark judgment dismissing his multimillion-dollar defamation case. The former Special Air Service corporal launched defamation action against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times in 2018 over a series of stories alleging he committed war crimes in Afghanistan. Ben Roberts-Smith departs a property in Perth, Western Australia, after arriving back in the country following his defamation loss. Credit: Philip Gostelow Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko dismissed Roberts-Smiths case last month and found the newspapers had proven to the civil standard on the balance of probabilities that Roberts-Smith was a war criminal who was complicit in the murder of four unarmed prisoners in Afghanistan. He also found the news outlets had proven the former SAS corporal had bullied a fellow soldier. Roberts-Smiths lawyers filed a notice of appeal in the Federal Court on Tuesday, ahead of a deadline of Thursday. The appeal, which is aimed at finding error in Besankos factual findings and does not involve witnesses giving evidence afresh, is expected to cost in the order of $1 million, compared with a combined $25 million in legal costs for the trial. Anxious apartment owners fearing they will be left destitute by the possible collapse of embattled construction company Toplace are expected to know whether it will survive by next week after it was placed into the hands of administrators. The construction arm of the Toplace empire went into voluntary administration on Friday, a day after its besieged director and founder Jean Nassif was banned from operating in NSW while a review decides his future. Vicinity apartment owner Margaret Wong was distraught to hear Toplace had gone into administration. Credit: Michael Quelch Nassif, 55, has been on the run overseas after NSW Police issued a warrant for his arrest over an alleged large-scale fraud for which his daughter, Ashlyn, has been charged. The latest development plunges thousands of apartment owners across Sydney into uncertainty with a number of Toplace projects still under construction, and a series of ongoing court battles over alleged serious defects in towers that have already been built. The RSPCA is seeking a jail term for a Perth woman who allegedly threw her dog off the top of a two-storey carpark. The Clarkson woman, 25, has been charged with ill-treatment of an animal following the incident which occurred near Westfield Whitford City shopping centre in Hillarys at 9.30am on April 7, 2022. An RSPCA spokeswoman said the female Maltese shih-tzu fell nine metres and was later found by a member of the public who rushed the canine to a nearby vet thinking shed been hit by a car. The vet noted the dog was in a state of shock with multiple severe injuries and possible internal haemorrhage, brain injury and spinal/pelvic trauma, she said. The vet checked the dogs microchip and contacted the female accused, who was listed as the dogs owner. It went from bad to worse, Mountain told A Current Affair on Monday. Last weekend, Peterson and 12 fellow activists staged a disruption-style protest at the restaurant during its Friday dinner sitting after claiming that banning vegans was blatant discrimination. Peterson posted on social media that the protest was absolutely f---ing chaotic and claimed some protesters were assaulted during the clash, herself walking away with cuts and bruises. The incident fired up the head chef, who launched a scathing personal attack on the 28-year-old through the media, nicknaming her Trasher and calling her a bully. Mountain went on to say he would be coming after Peterson, who ultimately got there first, returning to Fyre on Saturday night with her fellow activists and a megaphone. John Mountain tries to push protesters out the door of his restaurant. Thats the sound of squealing pigs dying in the gas chamber, burning from the inside out, Peterson yelled at customers over recordings of pigs in pain. Mountain later admitted he lost his cool with the woman while trying to move her away from the venue. Its really disrupting my business and I could see the look on my customers faces, my staff, they were all a little scared and a bit nervous and I asked them to leave, I asked them to step off my premises, he said. When I went back in she decided to turn the megaphone even louder. This was beyond what was acceptable. This wasnt a peaceful protest. Admitting he probably went a bit too far, Mountain said he lunged for Petersons megaphone before her security guard stepped in and pinned the chefs arms behind his back. Tash Peterson staged a second protest outside Fyre restaurant in Perth at the weekend. I turned around and was about to punch him in the face, but then I realised this is stupid, its just ridiculous, its gone way too far, Mountain said. At that point I realised I had to calm back down and be the sensible guy that Im supposed to be. Mountain said he regretted the outburst as he knew it would fuel the fire for the group. Loading I knew that I would be feeding them this footage of this psychopathic chef going crazy, going mad, that they could edit it however they wanted to, but to be quite honest I just wanted to protect my business, protect my customers and just to run my beautiful little restaurant, he said. On Tuesday, police said they were investigating the incident but were yet to lay any charges. Peterson is also believed to have filed complaints of her own to police. Mountain said the owner of the land his restaurant sits on was filing a trespass notice barring Peterson from entering the precinct altogether. He said publicity over the protests meant business had trebled, but the ordeal took a personal toll. John Mountain said Tash Petersons actions had destroyed a relationship for him and taken a big toll on him personally. I lost my partner because of this, I lost a relationship, I thought I was going to marry this woman and she just couldnt handle the amount of attention, Mountain told A Current Affair. Thanks vegans. Now Im going to start opening steak restaurants just to piss you off. A pro-democracy activist and retired baker from south-western Sydney has been released from a Vietnamese jail and reunited with his family after four years in captivity over what supporters maintained were trumped-up terrorism charges. Chau Van Kham, an Australian citizen who was born in Vietnam, was arrested in January 2019 and sentenced to 12 years in prison on financing terrorism charges relating to his membership of the pro-democracy group Viet Tan. Chau Van Kham being escorted into a Vietnamese courtroom in 2019. Credit: AP Chaus lawyers and human rights advocates argued that the charges were politically motivated and not grounded in fact, but the 74-year-old was sentenced to prison after a single-day trial. Vietnam is a one-party socialist republic without free elections. Every time IT manager Patrick Quintal leaves work to travel home, he feels sick with dread that his apartment building may no longer be standing. Each night when he goes to sleep, he dreams about waking up buried beneath rubble. One of his neighbours, Michael Jones, has worries about the safety of his wife and two small children almost constantly on his mind amid fears that their 10-storey development in south-west Sydney could prove the next disastrous Mascot Towers. Michael and Jenna Jones and neighbour Patrick Quintal are worried about their Canterbury apartments. Credit: Nick Moir It could potentially be on the same level as Mascot Towers, said Quintal, 29, comparing their troubled complex, Vicinity at Canterbury, to the sinking building that massive structural defects have rendered unliveable since 2019. The number thats been thrown around to repair our building is around $50 million. I cant begin to express how emotionally damaging it is walking through the hallways of my complex, seeing the defective calcium-stained balustrade wall crumbling even further than the day before; seeing another notice on a door that a bank has foreclosed on someone; seeing a crack that seems to be just that much bigger than the day before. So many of us are reaching the end of our tethers. Bangkok: The dismembered body of a 62-year-old German businessman who has been missing for a week has been found in the freezer of a house in eastern Thailand, police said Tuesday. Tawee Kudthalaeng, chief of police in the town of Nong Prue, said the body of Hans-Peter Mack was found about 11pm Monday. A missing person poster for German businessman Hans-Peter Mack. Investigators were able to locate the body by using security camera footage from the area, Tawee said. He did not elaborate, but photos and video from the camera published by Thai media showed the white freezer in the bed of a black truck on the road with a man squatting next to it. Police in Hong Kong are threatening to arrest the family of exiled activist Nathan Law after taking them in for questioning, one week after placing a bounty on his head and along with seven other democracy campaigners who fled overseas following Beijings crackdown on the territory. Hong Kongs police spokesman said in a statement to this masthead: National Security Department took away two men and a woman for investigation in Lantau North this morning. Hong Kong activist Nathan Law. Credit: AP They are suspected of assisting persons wanted by police to continue commit acts and engage in activities that endanger national security. An investigation is underway and further operations, including arrest, may be made. New York: The leader of a US think tank has been charged with acting as an unregistered agent of China, as well as seeking to broker the sale of weapons and Iranian oil, federal prosecutors in Manhattan said on Monday. Gal Luft, a citizen of the United States and Israel, is accused of recruiting and paying a former high-ranking US government official on behalf of principals based in China in 2016, without registering as a foreign agent as required by law. Gal Luft is accused of recruiting and paying a former high-ranking US government official on behalf of principals based in China in 2016. Credit: C-Span Prosecutors did not identify the former official, but said he was working as an adviser to the then president-elect Donald Trump at the time. Luft is accused of pushing the adviser to support policies favourable to China, including by drafting comments in the advisers name published in a Chinese newspaper. A Twitter account bearing Lufts name, with more than 15,000 followers, said in a February 18 tweet that he had been arrested in Cyprus on a politically motivated extradition request by the US. Beijing: China and Solomon Islands have signed a deal on police cooperation as part of an upgrade of their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, four years after the Pacific nation switched ties from Taiwan to China. The police cooperation pact was among nine deals signed after Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, underlining his nations foreign policy shift. Visiting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Credit: AP Sogavare arrived in China on Sunday for his first visit since the two countries struck a security pact last year, to the alarm of the United States and neighbours including Australia. In just four years, the relationship between China and Solomon Islands has developed rapidly, and we can now say that it is very fruitful, Li told Sogavare. ExaGrid, the industrys only Tiered Backup Storage solution, today announced that it had its strongest Q2 in the companys history, for the quarter ending June 30, 2023. ExaGrid had a record second quarter of 2023 and grew over 27% as compared to Q2 of 2022. ExaGrid continues to grow at well over 20% per year. The company was Cash, P&L, and EBITDA positive for its 10th consecutive quarter. ExaGrid added 135 new customers in Q2 2023, including 50 six- and seven-figure new customer deals. The new customer ASP increased to $119K in the quarter. ExaGrid has more than 3,900 active upper mid-market to large enterprise customers that use ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage to protect their data. ExaGrids growth is accelerating, and the company is hiring to expand its sales teams worldwide. ExaGrid is continuing to expand its reach and now has sales teams in more than 30 countries worldwide and customer installations in over 80 countries. We will hit 4,000 active customer installations in Q3. We have achieved our top-line goals for Q1 and Q2. ExaGrid is Cash, P&L, and EBITDA positive for the 10th quarter in a row. Outside of the United States, our business in Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific is rapidly growing and is now 45% of the business, said Bill Andrews, President and CEO of ExaGrid. Years ago, ExaGrid realized that no vendor was building storage specifically for backup, as they were all selling primary storage products as backup storage targets, which is expensive, or they were selling inline deduplication appliances, which are slow for backups and restores and result in costly forklift upgrades. Backup storage has unique needs, due to large backup jobs, incrementals, synthetic fulls, backup rotation, long-term retention, and many other aspects that make backup storage different than primary storage. ExaGrids unique Tiered Backup Storage was built specifically to improve backup performance, restore performance, scalability as data grows, security, ransomware recovery, disaster recovery, and improve the economics of backup, with low costs up front and over time, said Andrews. Primary storage is not as fast for large backup jobs, is typically not scalable, is very expensive for longer-term retention, and it is network-facing, making it vulnerable to security attacks. Inline deduplication appliances are slow for backups, slow for restores, are not scalable, and are also network-facing making them vulnerable to security attacks." ExaGrid prides itself on having a highly differentiated product that just works, does what we say it does, is sized properly, is well supported, and just gets the job done. We can back up these claims with our 95% net customer retention, NPS score of +81, and the fact that 94% of our customers have our Retention Time-Lock for Ransomware Recovery feature turned on, and 99.1% of our customers are on our yearly maintenance and support plan, said Andrews. Highlights of Q2 2023: ExaGrid won 5 industry awards in Q2 2023: Storage Awards The Storries XX Enterprise Backup Hardware Vendor of the Year Storage Awards The Storries XX Immutable Storage Company of the Year Network Computing Awards Bench Tested Product of the Year Hardware Category Network Computing Awards Company of the Year Network Computing Awards Storage Product of the Year Grew over 27% over the same quarter a year ago 10th consecutive quarter of Cash, EBITDA, and P&L positive operations About ExaGrid ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, and scale-out architecture. ExaGrids Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The Repository Tier offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrids scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and product obsolescence. ExaGrid offers the only two-tiered backup storage approach with a non-network-facing tier, delayed deletes, and immutable objects to recover from ransomware attacks. ExaGrid has physical sales and pre-sales systems engineers in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, CIS, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nordics, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and other regions. Visit us at exagrid.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and learn why they now spend significantly less time on backup storage in our customer success stories. ExaGrid is proud of our +81 NPS score! ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711117635/en/ The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday against the legality of affirmative action admissions practices at colleges and universities. Ruling on two distinct cases, the court declared the admissions practices at Harvard and the University of North Carolina to be unlawful. This move, a major shift from 50 years of precedent, raises numerous questions pertaining to the nature of racism in American capitalism, the education system, and the culture war. Marxists must analyze these questions and point the way forward for the struggle against racism and inequality. Affirmative action The modern conception of affirmative action dates back half a century, to a decision by the Supreme Court in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke. Allan Bakke, a white medical school applicant to UC Davis, brought the case to court after being rejected by the school, which at the time set aside 16 seats for racial minorities. The Supreme Court ruled against the use of quotas, but nonetheless allowed for the consideration of race in the admissions process. The motivation did not pertain to reparations nor to compensation for unequal access to education, but rather, the idea that creating a diverse classroom environment could improve the quality of the educational experience. Since then, affirmative action practices have remained a polarizing topic, with liberals generally arguing for their necessity in order to diversify college campuses and workplaces, and conservatives arguing that it is against the spirit of meritocracy. In this sense, Thursdays ruling is a part of the larger culture war, in which ruling-class institutions spotlight the most divisive issues in American society as a means of dividing and confusing the working class at a time of worsening living standards and capitalist crisis. Capitalism, racism, and scarcity Marxists must point the way forward for the struggle against racism and inequality / Image: Socialist Revolution In analyzing this question, Marxists must state first and foremost that American capitalist society indeed has racism built into its foundations. Modern American capitalism was built on the basis of the enslavement of African people, the annexation of large parts of Mexico, and other historic crimes against the exploited and oppressed. Naturally, the effects of this history continue today, with Black workers, Latino workers, and other racial minorities experiencing not only exploitation as workers, but also racial discrimination. For this reason, the notion of affirmative action has become widespread, particularly among liberals, in the decades since the civil rights movement. This is the broad idea that, due to this legacy of racial discrimination, individuals from such backgrounds should have an explicit leg up when it comes to accessing jobs and education, and/or the need to prioritize diversity in campuses and workplaces, for instance through so-called a DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) framework. The courts ruling immediately produced a flurry of opinion pieces from liberals and conservatives alike, analyzing some of the various angles of the affirmative action debate, albeit always within the narrow framework of the logic and limitations of capitalism. In other words, they take as a given the existence of such things as elite colleges, expensive education, and limited spaces for access to these things. As Marxists, we must highlight the following: under capitalism, these policies are focused on dividing up artificially scarce jobs, resources, and educational opportunities among the working class. In essence, the capitalist class keeps nine-tenths of the metaphorical pie, then doles out crumbs to the working masses while creating all manner of conflict over how best to divy up those crumbs. This is the underlying economic basis of the continuation of all forms of discrimination and prejudice, which are vital tools for the capitalist class to maintain their rule. Who does this ruling affect? In the specific case of the SCOTUS ruling on college admissions, we are looking at a very narrow slice of higher educationi.e., the admissions practices at the most elite colleges and universities, since most colleges and universities do not require or use race-conscious policies. As a New York Times article explained: The Supreme Courts decision striking down affirmative action will very likely have powerful consequences for elite college admissions, potentially limiting the pool of Black and Hispanic students at the most selective universities and affecting the diversity of future leaders in business, government and beyond. But the effect of race-conscious admissions was always limited to a relatively small number of students. For the vast majority, these schools are not an optionacademically or financially. Many head straight into the workforce after high school or attend less selective universities that do not weigh race and ethnicity in admissions. At least a third of all undergraduate studentsincluding half of Hispanic undergraduatesattend community colleges, which typically allow open enrollment. Racism is built into the foundations of American capitalist society / Image: Socialist Appeal The article continues: Fewer than 200 selective universities are thought to practice race-conscious admissions, conferring degrees on about 10,000 to 15,000 students each year who might not otherwise have been accepted, according to a rough estimate by Sean Reardon, a sociologist at Stanford University. That represents about 2% of all Black, Hispanic or Native American students in four-year colleges. Liberals, of course, argue that the question of representation still matters. Some, as we will see below, even openly acknowledge that these elite campuses essentially serve as the pipeline of individuals who will later control all the major institutions in American societyand it is desirable, in their view, that racial minorities be included so as to have a seat at the table. This is a classic instance of the poisonous arguments of identity politics: change and diversify a few seats at the top of society, while leaving the racist and exploitative capitalist edifice as a whole unchanged. In the Journal podcast, Doug Belkin of the Wall Street Journal bluntly explained what is really at stake in this specific case: Universities, especially selective universities, are kind of the sorting hats for American culture. Eight US presidents went to Harvard University. Thats not an accident. Colleges decide who the best and the brightest are. They are the gatekeepers to the American meritocracy. So if you have Harvard or Yale stamped on your resume, that will open doors for the rest of your life. And it means something that will inform the power structure of the country, so theres a tremendous amount of focus on the admissions process at universities. In reality, as long as capitalism remains, the power structure of the country will remain fundamentally unchanged. For our part, we stand, not for insignificant and symbolic tweaks, but for the outright abolition of such gatekeepers of American meritocracy. Another important point to note is that affirmative action is not a particularly popular concept outside of liberal editorial boards and academia. Last month, a Pew Research poll found that more Americans disapprove than approve of colleges considering race or ethnicity in admissions practices. Overall, half of Americans disapprove, 33% approve, and 16% are not sure. Among Black and Hispanic Americans, more people approve than in the general population, but it still does not reach even 50% outright approval in either of these demographics. Elite campuses serve as the pipeline of individuals who will later control all the major institutions of American society / Image: Bryan Y.W. Shin, Wikimedia Commons Speaking to the Washington Post in October, a white nurse from Missouri expressed her somewhat conflicted feelings on the matter. It is important to have a race-neutral approach to getting into college Nobodys ever helped by giving people something they havent earned through their own hard work. But Meeks said she values racial diversity and worries white people too often are given privilege. She wants college opportunities open to all. I do want every kid, no matter where they grow up, or what the color of their skin is, I want them to have the ability to get into college if they put the work in. This indicates a healthy instinct that there must be an alternative to the all-or-nothing manner in which this issue is framed in the media, showing the potential for a working-class program of free, high-quality education for all to reframe the entire debate. Despite the relative lack of active enthusiasm for affirmative action among their base, the Democrats are preparing to use this as part of their arsenal of cynical arguments in future elections. Biden has said he disagrees with the courts decision, and postured to the media about how this isnt a normal court. As 2024 approaches, the Democrats will beat the drum about how the court is already so conservative that we cant afford to let it go further to the right, etc. But after decades of these constant alarm bells and various empty promises, more and more workers are realizing that both major parties represent their class enemy and that all of these judges are reactionary. A revolutionary program of jobs and education for all can cut across the culture-war divisions whipped up by both capitalist parties / Image: Socialist Revolution It must be also mentioned that the liberal socialists have been particularly pitiful on this question. Jacobin magazine chimed in with a few meek comments on the matter, including an article on how the ruling still allows for race-conscious admissions that might better allow for left-wing rationales for affirmative action, and another article which calls for Biden to pack the Supreme Court as a solution. Others have pointed to the continued existence of so-called legacy admissions as well as preference for donors, which is a fair enough point, but only scratches the surface of the real issue. In other words, the reformists are invariably expressing only the mildest left-liberal arguments on this matter. For workers democracy and socialist superabundance! We, on the other hand, see the potential for a world with enough quality jobs, education, housing, healthcare, and much more for everyone. The resources and technology to achieve this existbut it will require a socialist revolution to make it a reality. A revolutionary socialist program of jobs and education for all can cut across the culture-war divisions that are whipped up by both bourgeois parties. Furthermore, such a program is the only viable way of achieving reparations for slavery. A workers government would pour resources into building a state-of-the-art education system, free for all, from the cradle to the grave. The quality of education at all public universities would be raised to the level of the current elite schools and beyond. Alongside a program of universal jobs, affordable housing, and free, high-quality healthcare, this will lay the basis for future generations to rid human society of racism and oppression altogether and allow for unfettered cultural and intellectual development for everyone. Originally published at socialistrevolution.org Monday, July 10, 2023 at 9:36PM Tiny Record Shop, a beloved destination for music enthusiasts in Toronto, has announced that it will shut down its operations at 777 Queen St. E. by the end of the summer. The cozy store, which offers a diverse collection of new, used, and vintage records across various genres, has been serving the community for years with its passion and expertise. In a heartfelt post titled "all good things must come to an end," the staff shared that they decided not to renew their lease and thanked their loyal customers for their support and patronage. The staff also hinted that they might return after taking some time off to relax, explore, and plan their next steps. Fans of Tiny Record Shop have until the end of August to visit the store and browse its impressive inventory of records before it closes its doors. Source | Via Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 1:59AM Meta's new app Threads, a rival to Elon Musk's Twitter, reached 100 million sign-ups in just five days, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Monday. This makes it the fastest-growing online platform ever, beating ChatGPT's record of two months. Threads has seen a surge of users since its launch on Wednesday, with many celebrities, politicians and influencers joining the platform that analysts view as the first serious threat to Twitter. Zuckerberg said in a Threads post that the app's growth was mostly organic and that they had not done much promotion yet. Twitter, which had about 240 million daily active users as of July last year, has seen its web traffic decline since Threads' launch, according to web analytics firms. Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino tweeted on Monday that the platform had its "largest usage day" since February, but did not give details. Other competitors to Twitter, such as Mastodon, Bluesky, Truth Social and T2, remain relatively small and niche at this point. Musk has accused Meta of stealing Twitter's trade secrets and threatened to sue them, but legal experts say that claim could be hard to prove. Threads is similar to Twitter in many ways, but it also has some differences and limitations. It allows longer posts and videos, but it does not have direct messaging, a desktop version, hashtags or keyword search functions yet. Zuckerberg said they would only think about monetizing Threads once it reached 1 billion users. Instagram head Adam Mosseri said Threads aimed to focus on light topics like sports, music and fashion, but he admitted that politics and news would also appear on the app. Source The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur has announced the launch of its 9th MBA class 2023-25, the institute's largest batch to date. The batch size was increased by the institute from 300 to 320 this year. The new batch saw a rapid increase in female participation, with 60% of female students (197 seats) registering their seats in the programme out of 329 students, with inclusion being one of the major values of IIM Sambalpur. 40% (132 seats) of the remaining seats were taken by male students. Distinguished dignitaries, including Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, President of Vedanta Ltd., and Swati Agarwal, Partner at Deloitte, graced the opening ceremony and gave motivational speeches to the students in attendance. They shared their experience and wisdom with the entering class in a very open and knowledgeable manner, guiding them on their future academic adventures and outlining what they would involve. All dignitaries in attendance received a vote of appreciation from Professor Shivani Sharma. The three basic Ideals- Creativity, Integrity, and Inclusivity The largest batch in the history of the institution, with such a diverse mix of genders, was welcomed by Professor Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director of IIM Sambalpur, who shared his thoughts. "The three basic ideals of creativity, integrity, and inclusivity, which are based on the teachings of the Hindu deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh, are what we emphasise at IIM Sambalpur. The IIM Sambalpur logo's three lines show the three Is as a well-known Sambalpuri handloom pattern. If these three fundamental principles are prioritised, Indian B-schools could rise to the top of the world. In the future, I think that these ideals will make a difference in how the new group of students learns. In the future, I hope that the students' transforming educational experience will have a greater social influence." Motivation By Dignitaries Deloitte partner Swati Agrawal discussed the management concept of IPL, which she defined as Impact, Purpose, and Leadership. "Impact represents the contribution you give to society; purpose represents your inner motivation; and leadership, which is about having a clear vision, showing empathy for others, and motivating others. Failures and friendships are two Fs that are equally significant. Secondarily, students will need to learn how to maintain friendships after failing. Create as many relationships as you can. They will serve as your sources of support in the future. Be genuine." she said. President of Vedanta Ltd. Tapan Kumar Chand discussed the value of moral leadership. He talked to students about his work experiences and the value of moral leadership in a variety of settings. He emphasised the importance of making focused efforts in order to achieve outstanding achievements. Five new undergraduate programmes were unveiled on July 11 by the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, and will start in the 2023-24 academic year. These five programmes are the BS in Chemical Science, the B Tech in General Engineering, the B Tech in Microelectronics and VLSI, the B Tech in Materials Science and Engineering, the B Tech in Mathematics & Computing, and the B Tech in Materials Science and Engineering. These courses are designed to give students specialised knowledge and abilities in cutting-edge disciplines, opening up a variety of professional options. Admissions are now available through the All India JEE (Advanced) rating system. Programme Information B.Tech. in General Engineering The General Engineering degree at IIT Mandi is a unique B Tech degree that strives to give students a grasp of fundamental engineering principles while also enabling them to customise their educational journey through flexible specialisations. In the first two years of the degree, students will take courses in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, data science, and computer science as an introduction to engineering studies. The final two years of the programme are particularly flexible, allowing students to customise their paths based on their interests and career goals by selecting a specialisation from a variety of options, including Energy Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing, e-Mobility, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and other emerging sectors like fashion design and technology, animation, and product design. One unique aspect of the programme is its collaborations with prestigious universities. Additionally, students will have the chance to spend a year studying or working in their chosen field at a partner institution or business. B.Tech. in Microelectronics and VLSI The B Tech in Microelectronics and VLSI programme at IIT Mandi seeks to prepare students with the theoretical understanding and practical abilities in VLSI and chip designing to address the industry's future needs. Using industry-standard EDA tools, the program's curriculum covers advanced courses in device level, design, fabrication, and CAD tools. The programme offers clean room facilities, instrumentation equipment, and a strong industry-oriented curriculum with a focus on developing a qualified workforce for semiconductor design. Students are encouraged to explore multidisciplinary courses and select electives in microelectronics and VLSI engineering through this curriculum. Additionally, there will be opportunities for industrial internships, a year-long major technical project, and hands-on learning. B.Tech. in Material Science and Engineering The Bachelor of Technology (B Tech) in Materials Science and Engineering curriculum at IIT Mandi will provide a thorough education in the field of materials science, with an emphasis on engineering applications and employable skills. The programme will provide students with theoretical understanding and practical competence on both conventional and innovative materials, with a focus on developing fields such as sustainability, renewable energy, urban mining, quantum technologies, and artificial intelligence. The program's hands-on research experience section will help students close the gap between academic study and practical engineering. The program's graduates will be equipped to assume leadership positions in sectors like semiconductors, manufacturing, cars, energy, and waste management. B.Tech. in Mathematics and Computing A strong foundation in mathematics, computers, and computational thinking will be provided to students in the innovative new B Tech degree in mathematics and computing. The emphasis will be on acquiring analytical and problem-solving abilities that may be used in a variety of science and engineering professions. This programme will equip graduates for a variety of job prospects in companies, academia, and research and development by addressing both theoretical and practical aspects of mathematical and scientific computing. It seeks to develop graduates with a broad range of computational and mathematical skills, tools, and knowledge, empowering them to successfully address challenging real-world issues. BS in Chemical Sciences A distinctive and thorough 4-year Bachelor of Science (BS) course in Chemical Sciences is now being offered by the School of Chemical Sciences at IIT Mandi. This programme offers minors in a variety of engineering and humanities fields, including computer science & engineering, communication engineering, management, and German language, among others, and allows students to specialise in important areas of chemistry, such as organic, inorganic, physical, and materials chemistry. The curriculum will offer BS-level research possibilities, enabling students to start conducting research right away. After finishing the program's Master's component (MS), graduates will have the option of pursuing a research career, with placement opportunities in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and technology industries. The program duration is four years for the BS program along with an optional 1-year MS. Statement from the Director IIT Mandi continues to place a high priority on innovation and academic achievement, making sure that students obtain a thorough education that equips them for the changing demands of the industry. The newly introduced programmes at IIT Mandi will assist the students in getting ready for the industry standards while exploring the distinctive aspects of these NEP 2020-aligned programmes, according to Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi. On its official website, the Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL) has welcomed online applications for Graduate Apprentice positions. These roles are available in a variety of fields, including Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical. Candidates who are interested and qualified should apply online by July 15, 2023. Recruitment IPRCL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2023 is looking to fill five positions. This recruitment campaign provides an excellent opportunity for eligible persons to secure an apprenticeship with a reputable public sector organisation. Selection Process The IPRCL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2023 selection method is merit-based, with selection determined by the marks acquired in the necessary degree. This strategy ensures that the most deserving candidates are chosen for the apprenticeship based on their academic performance. Stipend Graduate-Rs. 10,000 Diploma-Rs. 8,000 MUC Bank Job Openings 2023-24 On July 9, 2023, apply online for 50 Clerical Trainee positions. The official notification 2023 pdf of MUC Bank has been released on The Mehsana Urban Co-Operative Bank Limited website www.mucbank.com to communicate about the most recent job possibilities. How to Apply? Step 1: Go to the official website, mucbank.com. Step 2: Scroll down to the 'Resources' area and select 'Career' to receive an official notification. Step 3: Locate and download the necessary advertisement. Step 4: Carefully examine the details. Step 5: Complete the application form and upload the necessary documents. Step 6: Save a printout for future reference. Age 21 - 35 years Process of Selection The candidates will be appointed following the Board's Written Exam and Oral Interview. The written examination will be held online at IBPS Mumbai. Following that, qualifying candidates will be chosen through an oral interview. Salary Salary of Rs. 19, 000 to Rs. 27,800/- Per Month 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... Colombian cement consumption up 2% in May ICR Newsroom By 11 July 2023 Colombias cement market expanded by 2.1 per cent YoY to 1.126Mt in May 2023 from 1.104Mt in May 2022, according to DANE, the countrys statistics office. Sales to ready-mix concrete companies were up 5.8 per cent YoY while retail sales increased by 5.3 per cent YoY in May 2023. However, off-take by construction companies and contractors declined by 12.6 per cent in May 2023 when compared with the year-ago period. Domestic cement production slipped by 1.1 per cent to 1.237Mt in may 2023 when compared with 1.251Mt in May 2022. January-May 2023 In the January-May 2023 period cement demand contracted by 4.6 per cent to 5.264Mt from 5.521Mt in the 5M22. Ready-mix concrete companies saw sales expand by 3.3 per cent YoY in the January-May 2023 period. The retail sector showed 5.3 per cent YoY decline in the 5M23. Sales to construction companies and contractors fell by 15.7 per cent in the 5M23 when compared with the year-ago period. Cement production was down 3.6 per cent YoY to 5.769Mt in het five-month period from 5.982Mt in the 5M22. Published under CEMEX's conservation programmes gain WHC certification 11 July 2023 CEMEX programmes across ten locations worldwide have earned the Wildlife Habitat Councils (WHC) Conservation Certification. The recognitions were unveiled during the WHC Conservation Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Each year, the WHC Awards recognise programmes and projects demonstrating excellence in corporate conservation. Special recognition was given to CEMEXs El Carmen Nature Reserve, which received the WHCs Desert Project of the Year award for its work to protect and restore habitats of the Chihuahuan Desert. The reserve, located on the border between Mexico and the US, is one of the most biodiversity-rich areas in North America and one of the five great wilderness ecosystems in the world. With 140,000ha, El Carmen is larger than the city of Los Angeles. It is home to more than 1500 plant species and 450 animal species. This includes nearly 100 American bison, which CEMEX and its partners successfully reintroduced to this area after over a century. We are constantly working to return to nature more than what we extract, says Vicente Saiso, CEMEX vice president of sustainability. Our initiatives centre on preserving and restoring ecosystems, protecting endangered species, and making our operations more environmentally friendly. Preserving, restoring, and enhancing nature is key for these efforts. In total, 32 CEMEX programmes currently have some level of WHC certification. The companys conservation efforts are part of its Future in Action programme, which seeks to achieve sustainable excellence through climate action, circularity, and natural resource management with the primary objective of becoming a net-zero CO company by 2050. Published under Chiles cement demand contracts 4% in May 2023 ICR Newsroom By 11 July 2023 Chilean cement dispatches declined 3.5 per cent YoY to 318,599t in May 2023 from 330,114t in May 2022, according to the national construction chamber, CChC. However, when compared with April 2023, cement demand increased by 6.2 per cent. In the first five months of 2023, dispatches decreased by 7.8 per cent to 1,544,518t from 1,675,216t in the 5M22. Published under A midfielder for the Zimbabwe national womens team (Mighty Warriors) Elizabeth Chaparangana has been ordered by Harare magistrate Ms Evelyn Mashavakure to perform 280 hours of community service after she was found guilty of possessing crystal meth. Ms Mashavakure initially sentenced Chaparangana 10 months in jail and two months were suspended on condition of good behaviour. The remaining eight months were suspended on condition of performing 280 hours of community service at Waterfalls ZRP. Prosecuting, Mr Takudzwa Jambawu proved that Chaparangana was found in possession of crystal meth weighing 0,4 grammes in her bedroom. The incident occurred on October 14 last year at around 3:30pm when detectives received information that Chaparangana was in possession of dangerous drugs at her residence. The detectives went to her house to search for the drugs and she voluntarily handed over the crystal meth and was arrested. Herald ZANU PF is poised to win the August 23 harmonised elections by a landslide, a reputable survey has revealed. The Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI), whose results were released this week, says opposition parties lag far behind the ruling party, dovetailing with several other surveys, including from Fitchtech that has also predicted a ZANU PF win. MPOI has previously correctly predicted the countrys polls outcome and in its latest findings, it said if elections were to be conducted today, the ruling party would emerge victorious. The survey showed that if presidential elections would be held today, ZANU PF would attract 35 percent of the total vote while the opposition CCC would probably garner a 27 percent vote. According to the survey, 63 percent of Zimbabweans say they are interested in the elections and will most likely vote in the August 23 polls. A political analyst Mr Gibson Nyikadzino said ZANU PF victory was inevitable. Besides the findings that ZANU PF will win the election, the survey by MPOI highlights critical findings that the majority of people trust ZANU PF over other parties, this tells it all that the impending ZANU PF victory is set to cause a political earthquake and a shift in public opinion in favour and towards the ruling party, he said. Another analyst Rutendo Matinyarare said President Mnangagwa has delivered his promises and that automatically qualifies him to be re-elected. ED (the President) has given Zimbabweans tangible results in a very long time: roads, bridges, electricity infrastructure, dams and record output in agriculture (tobacco record, wheat record) and gold record. Meanwhile, there are no tangible results from municipalities. This gives people a huge compulsion to vote for ZANU PF because its delivering, he said. According to a survey by the United States-based Fitch Solutions, a ZANU PF win is inevitable. The ruling party, ZANU PF, will win a comfortable majority in this years harmonised elections and remain the dominant political party force in Zimbabwe over the coming years, read the report from the New York headquartered firm. The firm is considered a leading provider of credit intelligence and a source of up-to-date socio-economic and political data used by the worlds leading financial institutions, multinational companies and government agencies, as well as consulting firms in 118 countries. In its report titled Zimbabwe Country Risk Report, which includes a 10-year economic forecast, the information services company also describes President Mnangagwa as a reform-minded leader, whose Government will focus on efforts to strengthen the economy and attract investment, as well as (in the short term) manage the socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. At Fitch Solutions, we expect that real GDP (gross domestic product) in Zimbabwe will accelerate to 2,4 percent in 2023, from 2 percent in 2022, reads part of the report. The acceleration in growth in 2023 will be driven by a more expansionary fiscal policy in the run-up to the elections in the middle of the year and an easing of price pressures, which should provide further support to consumers. However, we still expect that ZANU PF will win a comfortable majority in the parliamentary elections, with the ruling administration benefiting from a host of incumbency advantages. ZANU PF, the report adds, would likely remain the dominant political force for the foreseeable future. The survey from MPOI comes at a time when the Pan African Forum Limited, a forum that constitutes an informal network of African scholars and university student leaders both current and past, noted that President Mnangagwa will emerge the victor as he commands a 75 percent popularity. Pan African Forum Limited was formed as a lobby group to support the African Unions objectives on international aspects and other initiatives, at national, sub-regional, regional, and international levels. In the study that was distributed proportionately to the voters register 3 110, respondents took part. There was a +/-2 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level. (President)Mnangagwa is the most preferred candidate to be the President of Zimbabwe, the survey noted. President Mnangagwas closest challenger, Mr Nelson Chamisa, who leads the CCC lags far behind with a measly 19 percent, while other parties share the remainder. The study also shows that 98 percent of the registered voters are very certain that they will vote in the next General Election. Herald SoLit, formerly known as the Southern Lit Alliance, Chattanoogas essential literary arts hub since 1952, has named Chelsea Risley as its new executive director. Ms. Risley will lead SoLits mission and daily work to foster a lifelong love of reading in the Chattanooga community. She will be responsible for building and maintaining collaborative relationships with community stakeholders, including partner organizations, supporters and volunteers while identifying, operating and optimizing programs for the nonprofit. Chelsea is a dynamic leader with a strong vision for the future of SoLit and the literary arts here in Chattanooga, says SoLit Board Chairman Tim Mickel. SoLit has fresh momentum following this years SouthWord Festival, and Chelsea is poised to help us go further by sharing the power of stories to connect people and communities. Ms. Risley most recently worked as an editor for CityScope Magazine, where she developed and executed editorial content, coordinating with client partners and article subjects. She currently serves as editor-in-chief for the Southern Review of Books and as a publishing assistant for Guernica magazine, where she has managed volunteer contributors and driven audience growth. As a lifelong Chattanoogan, Ive followed SoLit since participating in the student writers contest as a kid, Ms. Risley said. Im thrilled to be joining as executive director to carry our vision forward by expanding our programs and partnerships with other arts-focused organizations in the city. Ms. Risley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Berry College and a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry degree from Queens University of Charlotte. Rachel Tolliver Alyson De Jesus Christopher Davila Previous Next The growing need for behavioral health solutions for pediatric patients and their families has inspired LifeSpring Community Health to expand and add behavioral health to its services. The nonprofit pediatric clinic recently announced the appointments of Rachel Tolliver, DNP, APRN, PMHNP, CCM, Alyson De Jesus, MFT-I and Christopher Davila to its Behavioral Health Team. Ms. Tolliver serves as LifeSprings Behavioral Health director. She is responsible for establishing and managing the newly developed behavioral health program, pursuing and managing behavioral health grants, and developing community based workshops and programs. Prior to joining LifeSpring Community Health, Ms. Tolliver served as a licensed, board certified, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at the UT-Chattanooga Counseling Center. She is a graduate of Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner emphasis. Ms. De Jesus joins LifeSpring Community Health as a bilingual, Marriage and Family Therapy intern. Prior to joining LifeSpring, Ms. De Jesus worked at Integrate Christian Counseling, a private practice counseling center in Chattanooga, as well as the Marriage and Family Clinic at Lee University. She earned both a B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Lee University. Ms. De Jesus is certified in both TBRI (trust based relational intervention) and TFCBT (trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy). She uses her experience as a second generation Latina and training in systems theory in order to inform culturally sensitive treatment that is focused on the needs of her patients. Christopher Davila joins LifeSprings Behavioral Health team as a Community Health Worker. In this role, he will engage with patients families, the community, and LifeSprings partners around behavioral health education, advocacy, and evaluation. A graduate of Covenant College, Mr. Davila has lived in several countries throughout Latin America and has worked in Volunteer Behavioral Healthcare System. He has certifications in Youth Mental Health Aid and Motivational Interviewing. We are so incredibly excited to offer LifeSpring Behavioral Health Services for our patients and their families, Jill Fikkert, co-founder of LifeSpring Community Health. We are addressing the growing need for culturally competent, affordable behavioral health counseling. Anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation have increased in youth and added enormous burdens on already stressed parents and households. Our approach in addressing these needs is twofold - direct services which will provide counseling to patients and their families and community based activities which will develop behavioral health awareness, education and explore innovative ways to improve the mental health of youth in our community." To learn more about LifeSpring Community Health and the healthcare services the pediatric clinic offers, visit lifespringcommunityhealth.org or call 624-4846. Students pose with Dr. Jason Robinson, seated front, holding their marshmallow launchers constructed during the Summer Honors course, "Igniting the World for Change: The Bible, Transformational Teaching, and You" Teams compete for bragging rights during the Greek Olympics Students during a closing worship service Summer Honors participants raft down the Ocoee River, one of the many activities offered during the two-week program Summer Honors staff and students gather for a group photo Previous Next Lee Universitys 38th annual Summer Honors program recently hosted 211 incoming freshmen and rising high school seniors from around the country for a two-week experience. This interactive event prepares students for the spiritual, academic, and social opportunities of college. This years theme was Restore the Roar, based on the Scripture Proverbs 28:1, the godly are as bold as lions. Students were reminded that God has a purpose and plan for their life and that they are called, free, redeemed, chosen, priceless, and forgiven. Summer Honors was such a transformative time in my life when I was a student, and participating this year for the second time as a staff member was no different, said Kaitlyn Foulks, a Summer Honors resident assistant. We witnessed so many students come out of their hardened shells and begin to claim the names that Christ has been calling them all along. Our prayer was that the Lord would Restore the Roar of our students and ourselves, and I believe that is exactly what He did! From June 18-30, the students participated in various activities in and outside of the classroom. They had the choice of two out of 14 courses to take to gain six college credits. Class selections included Lessons from Leaders: Ancient to Contemporary; Health and Survival: When Others Run Out, We Run In; By the Renewing of Your Mind: Worship, Imagination, and the Christian Life; and Doing Business with the Sharks, all taught by Lee professors. Outside of the classroom, students rafted down the Ocoee River, competed in the traditional Greek Olympics, and enjoyed an 80s Night party and a formal. Through devotionals, small groups, and times of worship, students were also able to experience the faith-development aspect of campus life. Directing Summer Honors was a great experience, said Dr. Jason Robinson, SH director and education professor. Participants experienced firsthand what its like to be a student at Lee. They were taught by some of the greatest professors, participated in powerful worship experiences, engaged in exciting activities, and met friends that will last a lifetime. In between classes and activities, students also took time to serve the community, working with 18 different organizations across Cleveland/Bradley County, such as United Way, The Caring Place, Stuart Elementary, and New Hope Pregnancy Center. It has been a blessing to be a part of the Summer Honors program for the past seven years, said Stacey York, staff coordinator at Lee. Watching the students transformation over the course of two weeks has been one of the highlights of my career, and Im looking forward to welcoming many of these students back on our campus this fall. For more information about Summer Honors, visit leeuniversity.edu/summer-honors/ or contact the Office of Student Life at 614-8406. The Tennessee Board of Regents will convene a special called meeting Thursday to consider criteria for the next president of Cleveland State Community College, the first step in presidential search process. The board will meet virtually, via Microsoft Teams teleconferencing, at 1:30 p.m. CT/2:30 ET Thursday. The meeting will be livestreamed and archived on the TBR website. Board materials, including the proposed criteria, will be posted on the same webpage. Anyone needing direct access to the Teams meeting, other than the livestream, may contact Board Secretary Mariah Perry at mariah.perry@tbr.edu or (615) 366-3927 by 3 p.m. CT, Wednesday. The next president will succeed Dr. Ty Stone. Dr. Ray Brooks, retired president of Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, South Carolina, is serving as interim president. After approval of the criteria, a search advisory committee will be appointed, composed of board members and representatives of the colleges faculty, staff, students and alumni and of the civic and business communities in the colleges Southeast Tennessee service area. The position will be posted for applications and nominations, along other information about the search process and the college, on the TBR executive search webpage at https://www.tbr.edu/hr/executivesearches. The committee will review candidates and recommend finalists, who will participate in public forums on the campus. TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings will review input after the forums and conduct final interviews to recommend a single finalist to the board for its consideration for the appointment. Cleveland State Community College is a comprehensive two-year public community college, enrolling approximately 3,200 for-credit students and 1,500 noncredit students in a typical fall semester. It offers degrees in a wide variety of programs including Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degree options, as well as 30 different certificates. In addition to its 105-acre main campus in Cleveland, the college has offices and classrooms in Athens and Vonore and offers classes throughout the service area of Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk Counties. Four juveniles were caught on camera stealing McKee food display props inside the Walmart on June 26. The total cost of the theft was $1,600. The juveniles were identified and their parents were contacted. All of the juveniles and their parents met officers at the police department with the stolen items, which were returned to the McKee Food Corporation. No theft charges will be filed. Officers responded to an alarm at Valvoline Instant Oil Change, in the 9000 block of Old Lee Highway. Everything checked out okay.A two car crash was reported at 4-Corners, Ooltewah Ringgold Road and Apison Pike. There were no injuries.Police responded to the Dutton Lane area of Barnsley Park for an improperly parked auto complaint. Once on scene, a dump truck and large trailer were observed to be parked in an open field off of the roadway. They were not impeding traffic in the area.An individual came to city hall to report that their identity had been stolen after their bank account had been accessed and nearly $1000 had been stolen from their account.An officer responded to the area of Tallant and Edgmon Roads after receiving reports of an elderly person, possibly handicapped, stopping traffic and asking for money. Police saturated the area but no one was found.Residents in the 4600 block of Pierson Drive, in the citys South District, requested police to make contact with an unknown vehicle that had been seen driving around the neighborhood the last few days. No contact was made.An officer stood by and kept the peace in the 9300 block of Barn Owl Place while personal belongings were retrieved from a residence.A citizen came to the police station to report suspicious activity on their bank account. The citizen advised that no money had been taken but requested a report for future reference.A rear end collision involving two vehicles was reported in the 4800 block of Ooltewah Ringgold Road.An officer assisted with a broken down vehicle in the 8900 block of Apison Pike.Police and fire department personnel responded to a tree that had fallen across power lines in the 10100 block of Apison Pike, blocking a section of the Greenway in the process. EPB was contacted.A rear end collision involving two vehicles was reported after one vehicle struck another that had slowed down for a speed bump in the 5000 block of University Drive.A traffic stop in the 9200 block of Lee Highway led to a vehicle occupants arrest for a theft warrant out of Hamilton County. The fugitive was transported to the jail.A traffic stop in the 9000 block of Old Lee Highway resulted in the driver being charged with driving on a suspended license and the passenger charged with possession of marijuana.Officers responded to an alarm at the Collegedale Academy High School. Everything checked out ok. The recurrent rash of accidents in Choo Choo City and the citizens efforts to slow down said speed demons on the soon to be 100% free potholes roads is ongoing in correcting the alleged left over deficiencies of a prior administration. Before speed humps, 130 smart intersections tests, license plate readers, and cameras on down hill slopes there were other issues arising out of gas shortages and other causes that had necessitated reduction in speed limits Of course, Lewis Grizzard (L.G.) of Moreland, Georgia had comments about the early demise of one of his friends because of excessive speed. In one of his publications When My Love Returns From the Ladies Room, Will I Be Too Old to Care?(Villard/Ballentine Books- 1987) he gives a historical account of how speed kills during his upbringing: From what I read and hear, it appears the nation may soon get its old speed limit back, or at least one that enables motorists to drivelegally that isfaster than the present snails pace of 55 miles per hour. Regardless of what happens to the speed limit, however, I remain convinced it was a good thing my old friend Raymond (Double-clutch) Norsworthy never lived to see the federal government demand a speed limit of 55. R.C. couldnt have handled it. Speed was his life, his car, his mistress. Trying to slow him down to 55 would have been like taking away Picassos brush, Van Cliburns piano, or Jack Nicklauss putter. The day Raymond turned sixteen and got his drivers license was the happiest day of his life. It was also the day his parents tried to do away with him. For his birthday, his parents gave him a souped-up, 55 Thunderbird, knowing their son immediately would drive it as fast as it would go and probably kill himself. The Norsworthys, Betty Jean and Frank, had it in for Raymond ever since he was eleven, when he put his little brother, Arnold, into a dryer down at the laundromat and dropped in a dime. Little Arnold, who was four at the time, lived through the experience, but it was weeks before they could remove all the lint from the various orifices of his body. Raymond defied the odds, however, and managed to live several years driving at top speed at all times. When he arrived at school each morning, the entire faculty and student body would gather outside to see if Raymond could get his T-bird stopped from the 120 he was doing when he pulled into the parking lot. Most of the time, Raymond made it. Occasionally, however, he didnt. One morning he drove through the door to the school cafeteria and his car came to a halt only when approximately 100 pounds of rice pudding clogged his carburetor. Raymond also continued to terrorize little Arnold, once tying him naked to the T-bird and using him as a hood ornament. Raymond also continued to be stopped often by the police. He was driving through a nearby small town one evening and was stopped for speeding. How much is the fine? he asked the officer. Ten dollars, was the answer. Raymond handed the policeman a twenty and said, Keep the change. Ill be back through here in a couple of hours. I think of Raymond often, especially now that Americans likely will soon be able to drive faster. As you probably guessed, Raymond finally did get it in an automobile accident. He was walking back to his car after buying a new set of foam rubber dice to hang on his rearview mirror and a woman attempting to parallel park backed over him. The blind girl sang Raymonds favorite song, the immortal Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road at his funeral, and little Arnold delivered the eulogy, entitled, The day my big brother went to that great speedway in the sky, I got my first decent nights sleep in years. There wasnt a dry eye in the church. (With a 2023 budget of 1.27 billion and 321 million to support the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations core safety programs under their priorities of safety, climate change (?), transportation equity, infrastructure investment, and job creation, L.G.s buddy Double Clutch might have survived!) * * * You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com China's Wondfo Biotech launches joint laboratory training center with Kenyan university Xinhua) 13:16, July 11, 2023 NAIROBI, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Company Limited, a Chinese manufacturer and distributor of diagnostic equipment, on Monday launched here a laboratory training center jointly with the faculty of health sciences at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. Senior executives from Wondfo Biotech, faculty members, students and local distributors attended the launching ceremony of the center set up to boost point-of-care testing for infectious and lifestyle diseases in the country. Bear Xiong, the Kenyan director for Wondfo Biotech, said the establishment of a joint laboratory center will improve the capacity of medical students and their lecturers to operate diagnostic equipment. According to Xiong, the idea of setting up a joint training center in the medical laboratory at the University of Nairobi was put forward in July 2022, leading to the signing of a memorandum of understanding in April. The joint laboratory training center will be housed at the University of Nairobi's clinical chemistry faculty and Wondfo Biotech will also facilitate students and faculty members to visit its headquarters in Guangzhou as part of academic exchange and peer learning, Xiong said. George Osanjo, dean of the faculty of health sciences at the University of Nairobi, said the establishment of a joint laboratory training center marked a milestone in Sino-Kenya cooperation in the field of medicine. "The laboratory training center also aligns with our vision of deepening academia-industry linkages. It will strengthen clinical services at Kenyatta National Hospital, which is the largest referral hospital in East and Central Africa," Osanjo said. "Some of the tests that will be carried out at the laboratory training center include toxicology, substance abuse, fertility, cardiovascular, thyroid, diabetes, and common infectious diseases," Osanjo said. Ramesh Saxena, a medical student from the University of Nairobi, hailed the establishment of the center that will help address the skills gap in operating modern diagnostic equipment. Saxena said the laboratory training center will promote clinical medicine in Kenya by reducing testing time for samples besides averting misdiagnosis that is rampant in under-resourced health facilities. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Harry Styles was hit in the face by an unknown object at a concert in Vienna. Throwing objects onstage is a long-standing tradition, but artists want it to stop. Theres a concerning trend currently happening that involves throwing objects at artists on stage. Harry Styles is the latest victim. He was hit in the face by an unknown object during his concert in Vienna, Austria on Saturday July 8. Harry Styles winces in pain after being hit by an unknown object In this video, we see Styles (29) strut his signature strut down the stage at Viennas Ernst Happel Stadium only to stop immediately after being pelted by an unknown object near his eye. The As It Was singer can be seen wincing in pain as he bends over clutching his face. He then exits the stage. Unfortunately, this isnt the first time Styles has been hit by flying objects while performing. The former One Direction member had to take a brief pause after being hit in the groin last year in Chicago. In Los Angeles, he had Skittles thrown at him. At Madison Square Garden, cold chicken nuggets were the projectile of choice. Other artists who have recently been hit by audience-thrown objects Styles is only the latest artist pelted by an object thrown from the audience at a show. Earlier this month, Kelsea Ballerini was hit in the face with a bracelet someone threw on stage. Upon impact, the singer turned from the crowd and had a brief conversation with her fiddle player before exiting the stage to take a break. When she returned she told the crowd, Dont throw things. In June, Bebe Rexha was hit in the face with a phone and needed to be taken to the hospital. The man who threw the phone was arraigned in New York City on misdemeanor charges of harassment and assault. A day after the phone incident, someone attending Ava Maxs Fonda Theater show rushed the artist on stage and slapped her. Not all thrown objects make contact with the artists. For example, one fan threw their mothers ashes on stage during a P!nk performance in Hyde Park in London in June. During a Lil Nas X show in July, a fan threw a sex toy on stage and while the rapper initially jumped back in fear, eventually laughed about it and jokingly asked his audience Who threw their p**** onstage? A problematic long-standing tradition Throwing mementos on stage is not a new tradition at concerts. Even The Beatles were pelted with candy because John Lennon and George Harrison once innocently said during an interview that they liked candy. The Fab Four all made comments about how they wished their fans would stop, and yet the practice continued. Throwing things like candy, chicken nuggets, bracelets, and sex toys on stage is one thing. These items are clear offerings for the entertainers. But as much as the audience may want to connect with the artist theyre witnessing in that way, several artists have come out and outright asked their fans to stop throwing objects on stage, no matter how well-intentioned. Then theres incidents like throwing a phone at Rexhas face and Max getting slapped. These acts clearly have a more sinister intention: Artist be damned, I will be the cause of a moment that disrupts. Does it need to be said? Dont do this. Go make a TikTok about something else. Touch some grass. Leave the singers alone. Many women with sisters have some sort of stealing story, which involves themselves or their sister taking each others things. Sisters are well-known for borrowing or taking each others clothing and fighting over it. One woman is pregnant and got very upset when her sister took one of her favorite dresses without permission before going on an international trip. She and her sister are adults but recently had a sleepover at their moms house. Her sister had been sick and was in the hospital, which brought them all together. Once her sister was discharged from the hospital, they spent one more night at their moms house before her sister was due to fly to Turkey for a vacation with her husband. Since she no longer lives with her mom, she hardly has any clothes at her house. However, she made sure to bring a specific dress with her. Its a flowy, comfortable dress shes been wearing a lot because she is pregnant and has a growing belly. But then, while she was still asleep the next morning, her sister took the dress without her permission right before boarding her flight to Turkey. Upon waking up and preparing to leave, I couldnt find my dress, and worse, I couldnt find anything else to wear, she recalled. Panicking, I considered wearing my moms size large clothes, but being significantly smaller, her clothes would simply fall off me. In the end, I had to make do with some tight leggings and a small top that shed left behind, both of which were uncomfortably tight on my stomach. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. For decades, the dominant evangelical perspective on the end times has been a premillennial, dispensationalist eschatology. As shown in the Left Behind series, this view says the end is nigh and the worldpolitics includedwill grow increasingly wicked and catastrophic until the end comes. Therefore, as Jesus tells his disciples, we should keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come (Matt. 24:42). Yet for Christian nationalists, rejecting an imminent apocalypse is a logical move. Among the most important tasks for the Christian Nationalist is overcoming the idea that the world is going to end very soon, Andrew Torba and Andrew Isker argue in their self-published book, Christian Nationalism. That might come as a surprise to the average American evangelical, to whom Torba and Isker seem to be writing. But if God is helping evangelicals take dominion in His name, it doesnt make sense for the world to end at any moment, they argue. Accepting an eschatology of defeat in which God raptures Christians away from advancing evil discourages effective political organizing. To win, Torba and Isker advise, Christians need a theology with room for victory. Until the early 1800s, an optimistic, postmillennial eschatologythat believed in a golden age preceding Christs returnwas the majority American perspective, as historians like Daniel Hummel, author of The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism, have documented. After the horrors of the Civil War, however, that positive narrative of history fell out of favor, and Western hopes for historical progress further declined following World War I. Premillennialisms catastrophic forecast has since become the default in evangelicalism and pop culture. Politics still influence the way Christians think about eschatologybut how? Samuel Perry, a seminary-trained sociologist and author of The Flag and the Cross, tweeted a hypothesis last fall I found compelling. He suggested right-leaning Christians end-times theology will shift because postmillennialism provides better rationale for Christian nationalist goals than premillennialisms pessimism. But his further research has developed a messier picture, Perry told me recently. Dispensationalism remains the dominant viewincluding for those hes classified as Christian nationalistsbut not in the sense that the eschatology is motivating political goals. Rather, it is a broader mentality in which Christians feel they are fighting not just political opponents but powerful spiritual enemies who might win temporarily. Premillennialism offers an eternal cosmic stake for political battles, Perry said, with an urgency that an optimistic eschatology of victory cant match. Hummel reported similar observations. Postmillennial voices are increasingly outspoken and organized in the American Christian Right, he told me over email. Yet to the extent that eschatology drives action at the grassroots level, views are mixed and even incoherent, Hummel said. Dispensationalism trickled into our political-cultural discourse [and] took on a life of its own. Now, confusingly, many irreligious Americans have a roughly premillennial expectation for the end of the world. Pop apocalypses, from the Avengers franchise to the more serious climate change fears, unwittingly borrow story fragments and phrases from dispensationalism. Meanwhile, some Christians political activity reflects little of the end-times beliefs they claim. Followed to its logical conclusion, for example, dispensationalism should push Christians more toward evangelism and discipleship than political strife. A nationalist demand for an eschatology of victory raises questions we might all consider: How do our politics affect our theology of the end of the world? Are our expectations for the future mostly formed by news and trends? There should and inevitably will be some connection between the two. But our anticipation of Christs return must not make us behave less like Christ. The current of influence should flow from our hope in the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13) and his kingdom not of this world (John 18:36), not the other way around. As Hebrews 13:8 assures us, whenever the world ends, whether our side wins the next election or loses, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) music ministries seemed like they were thriving in 1938. The instruments in churches across the denomination were valued at more than $10 million (the equivalent of nearly $217 million today). Fanny Crosby was the most popular songwriter. And vocal quartets, especially male quartets, were in great demand. But as the Sunday School Board of the SBC surveyed more than 1,000 churches that year, it noticed one dire problem. The SBC was facing a shortage of qualified music ministers. We must point out, the board wrote, the greatest single need for a program of better music in Southern Baptist churchesthe desperate need for well-trained choir leaders in the churches. Eighty-five years later, some things havent changed. There just arent enough people out there to serve as worship leaders, said Will Bishop, associate professor of church music and worship at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Bishop is the author of the first large-scale study of music in SBC churches in nearly 100 years. A Snapshot of Southern Baptist Church Music: 2022, as yet unpublished, surveyed 127 congregations across the country, asking them 111 questions about the music in their worship services. Bishops work differs from the last big study of SBC music in scope and size. The 1938 survey had 1,381 respondents (out of 28,844 SBC churches) and asked each of them 24 questions. It focused on practical concerns like the total monetary value of the instruments in each church, the church budget for paying musicians and purchasing sheet music, the makeup of church musical ensembles, whether the choir was robed, and the use of mimeographed bulletins. Bishop has a much smaller sample of churchesnot enough to be representative, but enough to serve as a snapshot of SBC church music today. He also has a much wider range of questions. As someone responsible for training future music ministers, he wanted to know a lot of details. He asked about the frequency of choir use, how often new songs were introduced, and what percentage of music ministers had non-music responsibilities as part of their jobs (the answer: 58 percent). Bishop also inquired about hymnals, orchestras, vocal teams, and worship leaders titles. Some of the details he has turned up are fun and quirky: Three percent of the churches reported they have at least one harp player in the congregation. Secular songs sometimes used in SBC services include California Dreamin by the Mamas & the Papas; Take Me Home, Country Roads, by John Denver; Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson; and The Lion Sleeps Tonight, a South African song popularized in the 1950s and 60s by the Weavers and the Tokens. More seriously, the study paints a picture of a denomination adapting and changing while also holding on to musical tradition. Despite declining membership over the past several years, the SBC is the largest Protestant denomination in the United States with more than 46,000 congregations. Bishops survey shows that many of those are still singing Fanny Crosbys hymns. She ranked second among the 127 churches in the study, surpassed only by Chris Tomlin. According to Bishops study, Tomlin is the author or co-author of about 1 out of every 25 songs sung in SBC churches today. The data corroborate recent research about consolidation in the worship music industry and the small circle of influential songwriters producing chart-topping worship songs. Of the 10 living songwriters with the most widely sung music, eight are affiliated with Passion, Bethel Music, Hillsong, or Elevation Worship. Much of the industry caters to the needs of megachurches, which have the resources to recreate the high production level of audio and video recordings by popular artists. Bishop worries that a lot of the research on worship music is skewed that way too. Most studies rely on data from Christian Copyright Licensing International or streaming platforms. He suspected they were not capturing an accurate picture of SBC worship, which includes many small churches that dont have a lot of resources for music production. You hear a lot of folks say, Southern Baptists do this or that, Bishop said. I found myself wondering, What do Southern Baptists actually do? I may think I know based on my experience, but Ive only been part of a few churches. About 20 percent of the churches in Bishops survey have 50 or fewer people in the pews every week; 30 percent have between 50 and 100. Some reported data wouldnt show up in a search of copyright license reports. One in five SBC churches sing more hymns than modern songs. One-third sing an equal number. As he got into the nitty gritty of the survey data, though, Bishop became most concerned about the music ministry pipeline. Few SBC congregations seem to be emphasizing the kind of programs that encourage young people to pursue worship music training or to participate in music ministry at all. Only 44 of the 127 congregations he surveyed had an active childrens choir. Less than 10 percent had a youth choir. Churches have not prioritized training young people to do worship ministry, Bishop said. Were not thinking about the future. As an educator who works with current and future worship ministers, Bishop was most worried by the responses to the question: Can you name a young person in your church who 1) has expressed a call to or interest in pursuing a vocation in church music/worship, or 2) you could envision pursuing a vocation of church music/worship in the future? Half of the respondents said no. Another 10 percent said they werent sure. Music is a way to disciple, Bishop said. I see bad things on the horizon when I see bad numbers for youth and kid ensembles. Brady Paul, pastor for worship ministries at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, agrees its important to create opportunities for children and youth to participate. His church, which participated in the survey, has a 20- to 30-person choir, a 12-piece orchestra, and a worship band that all regularly play throughout the year. Members of the church with musical skills are encouraged to join. Choirs and orchestras open up a wider door, he said. As pastors, were called to equip the saints for ministry. Ensembles are more ministries for the saints to be involved in. Paul says thats how he learned. He developed a love for music and a sense of belonging in the church through his participation in choir. He learned to play by ear, sing, and collaborate in church ensembles. He also had a strong model to follow: his father, a worship leader in SBC churches for more than 25 years. At the same time, Paul has seen how difficult it is to recruit and retain passionate young people for music ministry. When he began pursuing a degree in worship arts at Oklahoma Baptist University in 2016, he was one of eight students in the program. By his last year, he was one of two. Fewer people raised in church choirs and ensembles mean fewer people considering music ministry as a career path, so the widespread lack of opportunities for young people to explore and develop musical abilities in their churches worries Bishop. Its not like we can push a button at seminary and out pops a worship leader, he said. When he encounters pastors and church leaders looking for new worship leaders coming out of SBTS to fill positions in their church, he asks them, Who do you have to send us? Theres no quick fix for the problem, but Bishop believes he knows where to start: Find a way to invest in the young people in your church. Following the burning of the Quran in Sweden last month, Christians in the Muslim world have been vocal in their condemnation. But some expressions of disapproval may have been forced upon them. Christian religious figures [must] state their positions regarding this explicit crime, stated the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq. Their silence puts them in a position of refraining from criminalizing and condemning it. The Sunni-based group had plenty of reasons to be offended. The stunt occurred in front of the Grand Mosque of Stockholm on the first day of Eid al-Adha, one of two primary Muslim holidays. And prior to being lit on fire, the Quran was kicked about and stuffed with baconprovocation against Islams prohibition of pork. But the greatest Iraqi ire may have been that the culprit was one of their ownand a Christian. Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old father of two, sought refuge in Sweden sometime after 2017. But his checkered history had many Middle East Christians criticizing him as well. In fact, he is an atheist. His Instagram post announcing his act declared his lack of faith in anything save secular liberalism. Citing the protest as an act of democracy in defense of freedom of speech, he also asked for financial support. And it is reported that upon arrival in Sweden, he volunteered for a far-right party known for its opposition to Muslim migrants. But earlier, he worked for Shiites. Momika professed admiration for Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), who was killed with Irans Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in 2020. Under the PMFs command he enrolled with Christian compatriots in The Spirit of Jesus Brigades in the common fight against ISIS. He also tried founding his own political party in Iraq, the Syriac Democratic Union. The established, similarly named Christian party in Syria denied any connection to him. He is a showoff who wants the spotlight, said Habib Ephrem, president of the Lebanon-based Syriac League. He has no specific ideology and stirred up controversy in the Muslim worldfor nothing. Some observers speculated that Momikas aim was to create conditions in which it would be impossible to deny his citizenship request and send him back to Iraq. At least it has given Christians an opportunity for witness. What happened in Sweden was an unwholesome use of the concept of personal freedom, said Ara Badalian, senior pastor of Baptist Church in Baghdad. True Christianity is characterized by love, tolerance, and rejection of violence and hatred. The patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East spoke similarly. We call upon the governments of all countries, particularly the Swedish government, not to allow these actions perpetrated in the name of personal freedom, stated Mar Awa Royel, who quoted Ephesians 4:32. This is what the Bible teaches us: Be kind to one another. Hind Kabawat, former deputy head of the United Nations-affiliated Syrian Negotiations Commission Office, framed it in terms of the Golden Rule. Momikas actions serve only to prompt Islamic attacks on Christianity. If he delved deeper into the Christian religion to which he claimed to belong, he would find that it prohibits and condemns what he did, said Kabawat, a Presbyterian from Damascus. But he does not care where things will go, or how many people will be affected by his behavior. Ephrem, in condemnation, also defined his religion in opposition to Momika. Love is the essence of Eastern Christianity in its yearning for the dignity, freedom, and equality of every human being, he said, and in its respect for diversity, pluralism, and anyone who is other. Love, kindness, and dignity, however, are not always experienced in the reverse. It was most certainly a vile act, one that is inexcusable and completely condemned, stated a bishop in the Chaldean Catholic Church, requesting anonymity to comment freely. However, it is also a bad precedent, as it goes to show the anger that Christians feel about being persecuted. And from Momikas hometown of Qaraqosh, one resident put it plainly. I am not sure if I feel safe anymore, this anonymous Christian stated. The Swedish embassy in Baghdad was briefly stormed amid mass demonstrations, which Momikas one-time Shiite allies called for. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey also issued condemnationswhich called into question Swedens NATO application. Protests extended as far as Pakistan, where terrorist threats were issued. No church or Christian will remain safe in Pakistan, stated Nasser Raisani, spokesman for Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, vowing to make the country a hell for Christianity. Like their brethren in the Middle East, Christian leaders in Pakistan clearly condemned the burning of the Quran. But they also asked for protection. Terrorist groups have been allowed to operate unchecked by the state, stated Ata-ur-Rehman Saman, coordinator for the National Commission for Justice and Peace, which advocates for human rights on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Pakistan. This is making life miserable for [Christians]. One Christian leader, requesting anonymity so as not to jeopardize his ministry, told CT that the situation is not fair. Expressing full sympathy for Muslims about the Quran burning in Sweden, he chided his government for failing to take action against atrocities against Christians. On the same day two Christian youths were jailed on accusation of blasphemy against Islam, a Christian cleaning woman was raped and murdered. Local believers pray, advocate, and appeal to the authoritiesbut little gets done. I dont know if we can do anything more than this, he said. What is done against us gets swept under the rug. And Peter Calvin, a Pakistani Christian leader, is feeling apprehensive. We are not afraid, but we feel the heat, he said. The Lord has protected us in the past, but it will be several weeksif not monthsuntil this incident is forgotten. Still, putting the anger in context, he praised the Pakistani people. Religion is personal, and convictions are to be respected. Meanwhile, despite nationwide protests, not one report has surfaced about attacks on the religious minority. In preventing such attacks, he credited both the actions of authorities and the quick condemnation from Christian leaders. But he also made a distinction. We would not react in anger if someone did this to the Bible, Calvin said. If they did, our retaliation would be to pray for them. They will soon have an opportunity. In Sweden, amid new protest applications to burn the Quran outside a mosque, one person requested to burn the Torah and Bible outside the Israeli embassy. The furor has impacted Swedish society. With an 11-point rise from February, 53 percent of the population now favors banning the public burning of religious books. The Swedish Christian Council expressed its solidarity with Muslims, and the government is looking into a law that would require at least partial reintroduction of a blasphemy law scrapped in the 1970s. Kabawat, also the director of the interfaith and peacebuilding program at George Mason University, supports such a measure. Local bodies have done well to condemn Momika, framing the protest as his individual act alone. Reactions from the Muslim world will varysome ignore while others exploit. But Sweden must not become a country where insulting religion is tolerated. Wary of religious freedom issues around the globe, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) treads cautiously. We must maximize freedom for every individual, while maximizing welcome for every community, said Wissam al-Saliby, advocacy officer for the WEA. We need to have this conversation. Heading evangelical engagement with the United Nations in Geneva, Saliby was the first non-state representative to speak at Tuesdays special UN Human Rights Council (HRC) meeting in response to the Quran burning. He emphasized that human rights are the responsibility of the state, while securing pluralistic societies are the responsibility of all. So his first word, jointly delivered with the World Council of Churches, was to condemn the incident in Sweden. Back in 2012, the WEA acted similarly against Florida pastor Terry Jonesafter the secretary-general first personally visited Jones in a failed effort to stop his Islamophobic protest. Wherever evangelicals have significant social and political capital, Saliby told CT, they must consistently call for the protection of minorities. Not only is it the right thing to do, but evangelicals are also minorities themselves in much of the world. Blasphemy and anti-conversion laws should be repealed, for example, because the public square must be open to all people of faith as well as to those with none. Some feared the UN push by offended nations would revive past efforts to forbid defamation of religions in international law. Muslim states are beyond this now, and behind-the-scenes negotiations were initially constructive, said Saliby. But the HRC resolution still included vague language implying a nexus between the desecration of sacred texts and banned hate speech. This led most Western states to vote against the resolution that should have been adopted by consensus, and to emphasize that it is the role of their respective judiciaries to verify whether specific acts amount to banned hate speech. The final tally was 28 for and 12 against, with seven abstentions. Every societyeven in the Westdefines freedom differently, Saliby continued, and the WEA must keep to an international minimum as it represents evangelical opinion. Hate speech is a significant societal problem, and the global WEA body endorses the UN-backed Rabat Plan of Action to determine when it crosses the line into incitement to violence. The Christian minimum, however, is drawn instead from the image of God. Our ability to reject God and his love, Saliby said, establishes the absolute right of freedom of expression, religion, and the changing thereof. Secure in Gods love themselves, all Christians should condemn Quran burnings. Insulting religions does not reflect our Christian witness, said Saliby. Our Lord and Savior is bigger than this. Editors note: The article was updated with additional information and quotes after the UN vote. Judge won't stay ruling restricting Biden admin.'s contact with social media companies A federal judge has denied the Biden administrations request to stay his ruling limiting government agencies' communications with social media companies as the matter continues to go through the legal system. In Monday's ruling, Judge Terry Doughty denied the request to stay his July 4 preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the executive branch officials from meeting with social-media companies for the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech posted on social-media platforms." Lawsuits filed by Missouri and Louisiana against Biden alleging unconstitutional censorship continue to move forward. Doughty, appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana by former President Donald Trump, cited the plaintiffs likelihood of success on the merits and the defendants corresponding failure to show a likelihood of success on the merits as the reason for his decision to deny the motion for a stay. He reiterated the point he made in his initial ruling that the defendants likely significantly encouraged and/or jointly participated with the social-media companies to engage in viewpoint-based suppression of protected free speech. Doughty outlined actions taken by White House Digital Director for COVID-19 Response Team Clarke Humphrey, asking Twitter to remove a tweet from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. criticizing the COVID-19 vaccines. The court document states that White House Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Digital Strategy Rob Flaherty asked Facebook to censor a video where then-Fox News hosts Tucker Carlson and Tomi Lahren raised questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Additional actions the judge considers problematic include Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy conducting meetings to urge social media companies to combat health disinformation." Doughty added that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "had regular contact with social-media platforms via email, phone, and in-person meetings." "The CDC Defendants received CrowdTangle reports from Facebook as to the 'top engaged COVID and vaccine related content,'" Doughty's memorandum states. CDC officials flagged assertions that COVID-19 had a 99.96% survival rate and that COVID-19 vaccines weakened the immune system as false, although Doughty believes such statements were medically debatable. Plaintiffs are likely to prove that all of the enjoined Defendants coerced, significantly encouraged, and/or jointly participated social-media companies to suppress social-media posts by American citizens that expressed opinions that were anti-COVID-19 vaccines, anti-COVID-19 lockdowns, posts that delegitimized or questioned the results of the 2020 election, and other content not subject to any exception to the First Amendment, Doughty concluded. Doughty believes the administration encouraged censorship of posts that are "protected free speech" because of their viewpoints. "Viewpoint discrimination is subject to strict scrutiny," Doughty stated. Although this Preliminary Injunction involves numerous agencies, it is not as broad as it appears. It only prohibits something the Defendants have no legal right to do contacting social-media companies for the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner, the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech posted on social-media platforms. It also contains numerous exceptions." Defendants filed a notice of appeal last Wednesday, one day after he issued his preliminary injunction, which would be heard by a panel of judges on the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. On Thursday, the defendants sought the stay of the preliminary injunction pending appeal or an alternative ruling that stayed it for seven days. The administration believes the order's scope is too broad and "face[s] irreparable harm" because it could prevent the defendants from "engaging in a vast range of lawful and responsible conduct." Doughty rejected that analysis, stressing that his preliminary injunction has several exceptions which list things that are [not] prohibited. Defendants cite no specific action that would be prohibited by this Preliminary Injunction that would provide grave harm to the American people or over democratic processes," he wrote. Black So. Baptist churches challenge denomination's vote to ban women in leadership The National African American Fellowship, a network of more than 4,000 predominantly African American churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, believes a recent vote by SBC messengers in favor of banning women from serving as a "pastor of any kind" is an "unnecessary infringement upon the autonomy of the local church" that will disproportionately impact their congregations. In a July 3 letter to SBC President Bart Barber, NAAF President Gregory Perkins, who leads The View Church in Menifee, California, where at least one woman currently holds the title of "pastor," urged leaders of America's largest Protestant denomination to pray about the recent move that led to the disfellowshipping of Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in California as well as Fern Creek Church in Louisville, Kentucky. "We strongly urge our SBC family to consider entering a time of prayer and dialogue because for many, this most recent decision is an unnecessary infringement upon the autonomy of the local church. It has created division within the SBC and may disproportionately impact NAAF-affiliated congregations," Perkins wrote. A proposed amendment to the SBC constitution clarifying that women cannot serve as pastors passed with approximately 80% of the vote from more than 12,000 messengers on June 14 at the SBC's Annual Meeting. Proposed by Pastor Mike Law of Arlington Baptist Church in Virginia, the amendment will become permanent if it gains majority support at the SBC annual meeting in 2024. The vote on the amendment also came just hours after messengers voted to uphold the removal of Saddleback Church for allowing a woman to serve in the office of a teaching pastor. The removal of Fern Creek Baptist Church for having a woman pastor was also affirmed. During the meeting, roughly nine out of every 10 messengers voted to disfellowship churches that have women pastors. The Southern Baptist Convention's Baptist Faith & Message 2000 states that "the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture." In his letter, Perkins said prohibiting churches from allowing women to hold the title "pastor" would be challenging for many black Southern Baptist congregations. "Many of our churches assign the title 'pastor' to women who oversee ministries of the church under the authority of a male Senior Pastor, i.e., Children's Pastor, Worship Pastor, Discipleship Pastor, etc.," Perkins argued. "To disfellowship like-minded churches who share our faith in Jesus Christ, our belief in the authority of Scripture, our mandate to carry out the Great Commission, and our agreement to give cooperatively based upon a local-church governance decision, dishonors the spirit of cooperation and the guiding tenets of our denomination." Perkins suggested that the ramifications of banning women from serving as a "pastor of any kind" were not properly considered, and the denomination needs to hear from a diversity of voices on the issue. He contends the vote by the messengers is "inconsistent with our shared Baptist polity." "There will always be issues upon which biblically rooted and committed Christians disagree. It is in our best interest to allow a diversity of voices and perspectives to be heard. Let's seek to better understand the full ramifications of this policy shift and engage in vigorous yet constructive dialogue," he noted. The NAAF leader said while messengers are free to vote their conscience, he fears the actions of the messengers "may signal to churches in the SBC that do not believe that women should be the Senior Pastor but allow women the usage of a pastoral title, or appoints a woman to a pastoral role, are no longer welcome in the SBC." Reacting to the letter in a statement on Twitter Monday, Barber welcomed Perkins' offer to pray and have further dialogue on the issue. "Our sister SBC churches in the NAAF have asked us for a season of prayer and dialogue. What a Christ-honoring, biblical way to approach decisions when fellow believers want to find common ground and make decisions together!" Barber wrote. "I honor and value these partners in the work of the gospel. I will make sure that the entire SBC family has ample opportunity for prayer and dialogue throughout the coming year leading up to our meeting next June in Indianapolis," he said. "Indeed, I plan to see many of our NAAF leaders next week in Asheville, North Carolina, where I trust that we will make a healthy start in both prayer and fruitful conversation with one another." Barber's response drew positive reactions, including from Perkins, who replied: "Thank you for your leadership." Catholic University gathers in prayer after homicide on campus; suspect remains at large Students at the Catholic University of America gathered to mourn the shooting death of an out-of-town visitor in front of one of its buildings as the search continues for the perpetrator. In a statement, Catholic University announced that the campus community gathered outside Father OConnell Hall on Thursday to mourn and pray for Maxwell Emerson, a Kentucky high school teacher visiting from out of town shot dead there one day earlier. We certainly gather for the repose of his soul, consolation for his family and friends, said CUA Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry Rev. Aquinas Gilbeau as he addressed those gathered at the prominent campus building located on Michigan Ave. in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C. We pray for the police as they investigate and continue to piece together the circumstances of this tragedy. As he led the prayer service, Gilbeau expressed hope that the children of God bring the light of Christs resurrection to this time of pain and testing. He rededicated OConnell Hall toward the end of the ceremony in addition to extending blessings to the crowd. Catholic University President Peter Kilpatrick reacted to the tragedy by offering his prayers to the individual who senselessly lost his life, adding, Every human life is made in the image and likeness of God, and we pray for the end of such violence and to help build a culture that treasures all life. The university first informed the campus community of the shooting in a communication published Wednesday: We are aware that there was an incident of violence that resulted in a fatality this morning at Catholic University. There is no present danger to the University Community. We are working with the Metropolitan D.C. police department to determine what happened. According to MPD, it is believed that the two individuals involved knew each other and this was not a random incident, the statement added. MPD is continuing their investigation and we will continue to update the community. We ask that you pray for the victim who died and law enforcement who are determining what occurred. The Metropolitan Police Department elaborated on the details of the shooting in a statement. Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Departments Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, in the 600 Block of Alumni Lane, Northeast," the statement reads. "At approximately 8:22 am, Fourth District officers responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male shooting victim. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital where despite all lifesaving efforts, the victim succumbed to his injuries. After identifying the victim as Maxwell Emerson of Crestwood, Kentucky, the Department noted that it is offering a $25,000 reward for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest or conviction of the perpetrator, as it does in all homicide cases. Two days later, the Metropolitan Police Department released pictures captured by a surveillance camera, revealing the suspect, a light-skinned male, wearing a dark T-shirt and blue jeans and pink Crocs. In an interview with local news outlet Fox 5 DC, Emersons father, Steve, insisted that we know for a fact he did not know this person, referring to the suspect. Emersons mother, Chandra, reported receiving a Snapchat message from her son in the moments before his death, which read, Help. Bring ribbed At cub point. I figured out that it said being robbed at gun point, she explained. At a press conference Thursday, Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief Leslie Parsons stated that Detectives observed the victim and suspect walking together. Chandra Emerson pushed back on the idea that the suspect knew her son, suggesting that the guy just came up on him, and he just had that amount of time to send me that text. She vowed to forgive this person, maintaining that her late son would want her to do so. As indicated in the Fox 5 report, the Emersons were in town to sightsee, and Max Emerson was there to attend a conference at the Library of Congress. His parents believe he had his cell phone and belongings stolen from him as he headed to the Washington Metro en route to the conference. Nearly a week after the homicide, the suspect remains at large. CDC advises biological men on 'chestfeeding' their babies; experts worry about risk to children The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published advice for trans-identified and non-binary individuals on how to breastfeed their infants, which the health agency called "chestfeeding." The CDC's Health Equity Considerations page explains that trans-identified or non-binary individuals may give birth and feed a child from the chest. "An individual does not need to have given birth to breastfeed or chestfeed," the CDC website reads. "Some families may have other preferred terminology for how they feed their babies, such as nursing, chestfeeding, or bodyfeeding." Another section on the CDC website on "Breastfeeding" states that trans individuals who underwent surgery to remove their breasts can still breastfeed or "chestfeed" an infant, citing the term used by trans or non-binary individuals. "Healthcare providers working with these families should be familiar with medical, emotional, and social aspects of gender transitions to provide optimal family-centered care and meet the nutritional needs of the infant," the CDC advises. The public health agency notes that families in these cases may need help maximizing milk production, finding medication that induces or inhibits lactation and locating "appropriate lactation management support, peer support, and/or emotional support." For trans or non-binary parents who do not want to "chestfeed," the CDC noted that these families may need help suppressing lactation. Jay W. Richards, director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Life, Religion, and Family and the William E. Simon senior research fellow in religious liberty and civil society at the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, called for greater scrutiny of the health agency from congressional leaders. He told The Christian Post that the CDC showed a willingness to put politics ahead of public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the "latest debacle" over "chestfeeding is even worse." "The agency seems to be tacitly endorsing males' chestfeeding' infants with the help of experimental drug cocktail now proves that the CDC has been captured by an ideology that puts the fetishes of disturbed men over the wellbeing of infants," Richards stated. "It doesn't even pretend that these experiments have been carefully tested. Its commitment to so-called 'health equity' seems to override any old-timey concerns about the effects of drugs, and weird discharges from male bodies, on defenseless infants." The CDC's endorsement of biological men feeding infants directly from the breast has also received pushback from several health experts, who warn that the long-term impact of the practice is not well-known. U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, who served as an Obstetrician for 25 years and delivered over 5,000 babies, said in a statement that the CDC statement is "irresponsible" "defies science and safety." In my opinion, the CDC has lost all credibility and is in direct conflict with the FDA for marketing a non-FDA approved drug," Marshall said. "A biological male filled with hormones and a concoction of other drugs that have not been studied that could harm a baby should NEVER be encouraged. When will the Woke Left wake up and realize what they are doing to our country? In a statement published last week by The Daily Mail, Dr. Jane Orient, executive director of the conservative Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, emphasized that it's unknown what impact a biological man using "off-label hormones" could have on children. "The CDC has a responsibility to talk about the health risks, but they have been derelict in doing that," Orient said. Another medical professional, Dr. Stuart Fischer, a New York-based internal medicine physician, also told the outlet that he doubts milk produced by a biological man is comparable to the natural breastmilk produced by a woman. "If it's been tested a handful of times, how would we know the long-range effect?" Fischer asked. "The short-term is one thing, but the long-term in terms of physical and mental illness ... who knows? It's an emerging field, to put it mildly." The doctor added that the situation appears to be one where "politics and science are uncomfortably put together." Biological men who identify as women typically take hormone drugs to produce breastmilk and one of those drugs includes domperidone. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning in 2004, advising women against using the drug due to safety concerns. "The agency is concerned with the potential public health risks associated with domperidone. There have been several published reports and case studies of cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and sudden death in patients receiving an intravenous form of domperidone that has been withdrawn from marketing in a number of countries," the FDA stated. The federal agency noted that in countries that continue to market the oral form of domperidone, the labels warn that the drug is excreted in breast milk and could expose an infant to "unknown risks." Citing the possibility of "serious adverse effects," the FDA advised women against using the drug to increase milk production. National Weather Service blames military 'chaff', not plague of locusts, for Utah radar anomaly Was a reported grasshopper invasion in Utah not nearly as biblical as it first sounded? Following several media reports about a large swarm of grasshoppers also known as locusts traveling through the state's West Desert area, the U.S. National Weather Service of Salt Lake City, Utah, now says the "swarm" reportedly large enough to be seen on radar was likely military chaff from a nearby Air Force base. Several local news outlets including NBC affiliate KSL-TV reported "hordes of grasshoppers" were descending on the region, decimating crops and leaving some ranchers concerned. Toole County rancher Michael Dow told the station over the last couple of weeks, he has seen thousands of the invasive insects on his property, as many as 70 grasshoppers per square yard. "Every bit of alfalfa that's in my fields is gone," Dow told KSL-TV. "I planted a pasture and all the seedlings were about three-fourths of an inch tall Sunday morning, and on Sunday evening, they were gone, it was bare dirt." KSL-TV reporter Shelby Lofton tweeted an image of one of the grasshoppers landing on her car windshield. They immediately landed on my car as soon as I drove into the fields pic.twitter.com/4Y8LeSHQ32 Shelby Lofton (@newswithShelby) June 30, 2023 "They immediately landed on my car as soon as I drove into the fields," Lofton tweeted. Dow was quoted as saying the state's Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) provided him with poison to take care of the invasion. A cost-sharing program through the Utah Department of Agriculture provides farmers with pesticide to handle grasshoppers. The Christian Post reached out Monday to a UDAF spokesperson. This story will be updated with any response. Nearly a week after the initial reports, however, the National Weather Service clarified that the radar imagery captured and shared by several outlets did not show a "swarm of grasshoppers" but rather something else. "After further investigation, we've determined that the most likely cause of the signature on 6/21 was chaff originating from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada," the NWS stated in a July 8 post. Chaff, according to the NWS, is a "reflective substance that the military can deploy to confuse missile radars, along with weather radars like the ones from the NWS. The agency appeared to recognize an earlier response to a question about the image. "We apologize for the error when we were originally asked about this, as the appearance of insects and chaff can have some similar characteristics, which lead to the error in the original analysis," stated the post. Grasshopper and locust invasions always tend to evoke both the Biblical plagues of Egypt and what many believe is the End Times invasion depicted in Revelation 9, when hideous, locust-like creatures with wings will torture mankind with pain and suffering: "Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions. They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting. In those days, people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them!" Americans' faith in the Church, public schools flounders near all-time lows, survey finds Americans' trust in critical societal institutions continues to flounder near record lows as less than a third say they have confidence in the Church or organized religion and about a quarter has confidence in public schools. Gallup released the survey last week based on the responses of 1,013 U.S. adults collected between June 1-22. The noted polling organization sampled Americans' level of trust in more than a dozen institutions, as it has done for several years. The sample has a 4 percentage-point error margin. Thirty-two percent of respondents expressed a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence in the Church and organized religion compared to the historic low of 31% recorded in 2022 but still lower than the 37% recorded in 2021. Twenty-six percent of Americans held a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence in the public schools, tying the historic low recorded in 2014 and down from 32% in 2021. The share of Americans who have a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court rose from a record low of 25% in 2022 to 27% in 2023 but still down from 36% in 2021. The confidence level in public schools, Supreme Court and Church or organized religion varied significantly based on partisan identification. A larger share of Democrats (43%) than Republicans (9%) and independents (25%) expressed a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence in public schools. Meanwhile, a larger share of Republicans (49%) reported a significant amount of confidence in the Church and organized religion compared to 25% among both Democrats and independents. Similarly, a greater share of Republicans (43%) held a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence in the high court than Democrats (15%), likely reflecting Democrats' intense disapproval of some of the court's major rulings, including the 2022 ruling determining that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion. Twenty-six percent of independents expressed some level of confidence in the Supreme Court. The average level of confidence in nine institutions Gallup has consistently sampled public opinion about since 1979 reached an all-time low of 26% this year, a dip from the 27% measured last year and the high of 48% in 1979. A majority of Americans possessed a "great deal" or "fair amount" of faith in small business (65%) and the military (60%). Both of those institutions reached record-low levels of confidence in the previous century. Majorities of Republicans (68%), Independents (66%) and Democrats (64%) maintained high levels of confidence in small business as majority confidence in the military persisted among Republicans (68%), Democrats (61%) and Independents (55%). Even as a majority of Americans of all political persuasions continue to possess confidence in small business and the military, the share of Americans experiencing a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence in both institutions has consistently declined since 2021, when a respective 70% and 69% of respondents expressed a large amount of confidence in them. In 2022, faith in small businesses and the military stood at 68% and 64%, respectively. On the other hand, confidence in the police reached an all-time low of 43% this year, while the confidence level in large technology companies (26%) and big business (14%) matched the record lows measured last year. As recently as 2021, most Americans (51%) expressed a large amount of faith in the police. When it comes to the police, the only institution that reached a record low level of confidence for the first time in 2023, Republicans (60%) were much more likely than Democrats (40%) and independents (38%) to tell pollsters that they had a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence in law enforcement. Additionally, the level of confidence in big business among Republicans (17%) exceeded that of independents (15%) and Democrats (10%). Twenty-seven percent of Democrats and an equal share of independents possessed a large amount of confidence in large technology companies, followed by 22% of Republicans. Republicans' low level of confidence in public schools and large technology companies comes amid parents' concerns about the inclusion of sexually explicit material in school curriculum and libraries. Meanwhile, the publication of the Twitter Files that revealed efforts to censor and blacklist conservative accounts might have played a role in the unpopularity of the large technology companies among Republicans. Kanye Wests academy sued by former officials alleging wrongful termination, unsafe conditions A fourth former official at the Christian academy founded by Kanye West is suing the musician and the school, alleging that he was wrongfully fired after he complained about hazardous conditions. Filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court last week, the lawsuit alleges that the academy had dismal sanitation and electrical problems, as well as windows and a skylight without any glass on it, because West, who also goes by the name Ye, allegedly did not like glass, NBC News reports. Isaiah Meadows, a former assistant principal at Yeezys Christian Academy a school later known as Donda Academy alleges that he was suspended and later fired after he complained about the allegedly harmful state of the school. Meadows, who was first hired as an assistant principal of the school in 2020, alleges that he was promised rental assistance which would allow him to afford a house closer to the school, but this was not provided, forcing him to pay tens of thousands of dollars. Meadows reported that a classroom window did not have glass in its skylight because West did not want glass, and so, as a result, water leaked into the classroom. The suit states that poor electrical wiring at the academy led to an electrical fire that started near the cafeteria. It also alleges that the septic tank contained several issues, which led to it overflowing regularly. It is just absolutely egregious what is going on at this school, said Ron Zambrano, the lawyer representing Meadows and other plaintiffs, in a statement. The unlawful and retaliatory behavior by Mr. West and the school directors have now been documented multiple times by other former employees who never even worked together, but all experienced the same horrendous treatment and witnessed the same serious health, safety and education code violations, while all were subjected to the same fate wrongful termination and we plan to hold them accountable." Although the school later transitioned into Donda Academy and changed locations, Meadows alleged in his lawsuit that the various problems with the school continued. For his complaints about the school, Meadows alleges that he was retaliated against and not paid properly. And in August 2022, roughly 14 days prior to the schools fall semester, Meadows claims he was terminated indefinitely. A separate suit was filed this year through the same law firm, after two former teachers brought forth allegations accusing West and Donda of wrongful termination. Both instructors allege that the school had no janitorial or medical staff, rampant bullying as well as a variety of rules that seemed to ban the use of forks and clothing that are not black or designed by Ye. A third plaintiff was added to the suit this past month, according to an earlier report by NBC News. Yes attorney Gregory Suhr denied the allegations in a court filing, claiming that "the allegations do a disservice to the Donda Academys current staff and students and their parents who will attest to their positive experience." Donda Academy reportedly closed in 2022 after a series of controversial remarks by Ye that were anti-Semitic in nature. School officials said they plan to reopen the academy in September and are accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. UMC Pastor Warns Of Errant Theology, TN Bans Sex-Change Surgeries For Kids, Jewish Bakery Backlash Over LGBT Orders link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:53 06:53 Top headlines for Tuesday, July 11, 2023 In today's episode, we look into the plight of a Southern California church threatened with eviction or a massive penalty, all because of a divisive debate over homosexuality within the United Methodists. We also delve into the case of British tax consultant Maya Forstater. She was recently awarded over $100,000 in damages, having been judged to have been directly discriminated against and victimized by her employer over her beliefs about biological sex. Finally, we explore the controversy surrounding a New Jersey kosher bakery, which has faced criticism from the local Jewish community after refusing to fulfill two LGBT-themed orders for a Pride Shabbat celebration. Subscribe to this Podcast Follow Us on Social Media Get the Edifi App Subscribe to Our Newsletter Links to the News Top headlines for Tuesday, July 11, 2023 In today's episode, we look into the plight of a Southern California church threatened with eviction or a massive penalty, all because of a divisive debate over homosexuality within the United Methodists. We also delve into the case of British tax consultant Maya Forstater. She was recently awarded over $100,000 in damages, having been judged to have been directly discriminated against and victimized by her employer over her beliefs about biological sex. Finally, we explore the controversy surrounding a New Jersey kosher bakery, which has faced criticism from the local Jewish community after refusing to fulfill two LGBT-themed orders for a Pride Shabbat celebration. Revelation 14: An angel and the last call for salvation In chapter 14 of the book of Revelation, there are references to several angels performing specific actions, such as proclaiming the eternal Gospel, warning the world of a coming judgment, and harvesting the earth of souls. These angels reassure us that the cloak of night during the last days will be short-lived. The late Dr. Billy Graham wrote for his devotional book, Day by Day: The Bible says that because he realizes his time is short, Satans activity will increase. But his evil activities are countered for the people of God by his ministering spirits, the holy ones of the angelic order. Christians should never fail to sense the operation of angelic glory. It forever eclipses the world of demonic powers, as the sun does a candles light. If you are a believer, expect powerful angels to accompany you in your life experiences. And let those events dramatically illustrate the friendly presence of the holy ones Certainly, the eye of faith sees many evidences of the supernatural display of Gods power and glory. God is still in business. God is indeed always in business, even during the most tumultuous times of the Tribulation period when his angels play a significant role. Angels exist first to serve God. More specifically, they worship and praise God (Isaiah 6:1-3, Revelation 4:8), carry out Gods judgment (Genesis 19:1-13, Revelation 15:1-7), serve as Gods messengers (Luke 11:1-20, Acts 8:26, Hebrews 1:14), and protect and guide his people. (Psalm 91:11-12, Daniel 6:22, Acts 12:7-10). Angels are not to be worshipped. Neither are they the spirits of people who have died, nor are they glorified human beings (Hebrews 11:12,22,23). There are numerous biblical accounts of angels appearing before people. In the book of Daniel, angels appeared multiple times to him, including in visions (Daniel 10:1-14). In Genesis 28:10-17, Jacob saw a vision of a ladder reaching up to Heaven, with angels ascending and descending upon it. The angel Gabriel appeared before the Virgin Mary in a vision announcing she would miraculously conceive the Savior of the world (Luke 1:26-38). Physical manifestations would include the two angels that appeared at the tomb of Jesus after his resurrection. Two angels also turned up before the disciples at the ascension of Jesus, assuring them Jesus would return one day (Acts 1:10-11). When the Apostle Peter was imprisoned, an angel physically came to his prison cell and set him free (Acts 12:6-10). When Paul was onboard a ship that encountered a violent storm, an angel stood next to him and told him that no lives would be lost and that he would surely stand trial before Caesar (Acts 27:23-25). Angels have appeared to people in modern times, too. A friend of mine, Eddie, was in a dreadful head-on collision crash with another car traveling at high speeds. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) rushed him to a nearby hospital to save his life. His injuries were life-threatening and his probability of survival was low. When Eddie started to regain consciousness, his family was at his bedside. Because the accident occurred on a rural highway where no one had seen or knew what caused the accident, Eddies parents asked him, Son, can you tell us what happened? Eddie replied, I dont know, but I do know how I got here. Pointing to the right and left sides at the head of his hospital bed, he added, These two angels brought me. Eddie fully recovered, but later remembered nothing about how the accident occurred, his parents question, or the angels he saw at the head of his bed. Several years ago, after I had finished a speaking engagement, I was walking to my car when I saw a man on the sidewalk swaying and staggering. At first, I assumed he was drunk, but when I approached him and got a better look, I realized he was in the throes of a heart attack. While supporting him with my arm around his waist, he suddenly collapsed to the ground. I checked to see if he was still breathing and was mortified to find that he wasnt. I didnt know CPR. So, I started yelling at the top of my voice for help. No one was anywhere nearby, except one lady far in the distance who seemed to ignore my desperate pleas while she disappeared inside a building. When I frantically turned my attention back to the poor soul laying on the ground, a man suddenly appeared from nowhere to give aid. He immediately started CPR. Strangely, after giving only one chest compression, the gentleman whose face seconds before had been the pale color of death, started to breathe again and regain consciousness. I later learned the woman who seemingly ignored my cries for help had actually heard me and gone inside to access a phone and call 911. By the time the EMTs arrived, much of the danger had already passed and the EMTs congratulated me on a job well done. You saved that guys life, they said exuberantly as they placed him on the gurney. I replied, No, I didnt. I cant take credit. That man did it. A man showed up and performed CPR. Confused, they asked, What man? I tell you the truth, the one who provided life-saving support that day was nowhere to be found. I looked around everywhere trying to find him, but he had disappeared just as mysteriously as he had appeared. Ive always wondered whether that fellow was an angel in human form sent by God. In Revelation 8, an angel that was like an eagle flew through mid-air proclaiming woe to the people on earth. Now in Revelation 14, there emerges an angel in mid-air who proclaims the eternal Gospel. Here is what the Scriptures say: And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world to every nation, tribe, language, and people. Fear God, he shouted. Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water (Revelation 14:6-7). There are several places throughout the Bible where angels indirectly provide messages related to the Good News (Gospel), but never directly. In Lukes account of the angels who announced Christs birth to the shepherds, it says they proclaimed good news of great joy that a Savior, Christ the Lord, had been born. However, this was not the same as proclaiming the eternal Gospel. Matthews account of the resurrection says angels appeared at Jesus empty tomb and told the women the good news that Christ had arisen, and they were to go tell His disciples. But this was not the same as proclaiming the eternal Gospel. The book of Acts says an angel directed Philip to embark on a desert road, where he would encounter an Ethiopian Eunuch with whom he should share the Gospel. Still, even this was not an angel directly proclaiming the Gospel. Nonetheless, Revelation 14:6-7, says an angel flies through the sky and proclaims the eternal Gospel during the end-times. When looking through the Bibles pages, it becomes apparent that sharing Gods revelation of Himself and His offer of reconciliation has always been reserved for the people He chose solely from the ranks of humanity. Initially, God chose the Israelites to represent Him, but they failed miserably in this mission. Later, the Church was commissioned to take the Gospel to all the nations, but Revelation shows the Church falling short, too. By the time one reaches the pages of chapter 14 of Revelation, the true church of Christ has been raptured, and only an apostate church is left one that bows down to the Dragon. At this point, the 144,000 may still be upon the earth, but the oppression and tyranny of the Antichrist are likely to be so pervasive it will be near, if not completely impossible, to get the Gospel message out. Moreover, the primary focus of the 144,000 will be directed toward the salvation of their brethren, the Jews. There isnt much time left and only one method remains to fulfill Christs prophetic words recorded in Matthew 24:14: And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Yes, this is the last call. This is the last chance people of the earth will be allowed an opportunity to repent of their sins and trust Christ as their Savior and Lord. When I was in my early teens, my mother and father came home from a long trip and told me about a horrific automobile accident they witnessed on their travels. They said several dead bodies were sprawled across the road. The accident occurred just after one of the vehicles pulled out of the parking lot of a bar called, Last Chance. How many people, after hearing the good news of Gods offer of forgiveness and eternal life, having never responded, are abruptly and unexpectedly thrust into eternity unprepared to meet their Maker? The angel who flies through the sky sharing the Gospel message in Revelation 14 is giving the people who belong to this world their last chance. Henry Morris says of these people in The Revelation Record: The people on earth will no longer be ignorant of God. Not only have they had access to the Bibles and Christian literature left behind when believers were raptured, but they have also heard the testimony of Enoch and Elijah [the two witnesses] for three and a half years, have experienced many great divine judgments on earth, have seen and heard angels of God flying through the skies, and have realized at least in measure what is really happening in heaven and earth. Yet they still reject God and his Christ and are in imminent danger of receiving the mark of the beast and thus forfeiting all hope of repentance and salvation. God, in His infinite grace, will thus send forth a mighty angel, flying back and forth across the skies, loudly proclaiming the Gospel from one place to another, covering every nation and tribe and speaking in every language so that no one at the coming judgment will be able to say that he hadnt heard. For some, it might seem the message of this angel is anything but good news. Its a message calling on people to fear God, to give God glory, which means to respect, honor, and acknowledge his greatness, holiness, and authority. The angels message is a dire and urgent warning that the time of Gods judgment has arrived. In this current age of snowflake mentalities, when people are overly sensitive, easily offended and unable to handle criticism, messages which speak of Gods unwavering sovereignty and absolute dominion, messages that summon remorse and repentance, messages that command a change of heart and a change of ways, messages that warn of the retributive consequences of rebelling against Gods sovereignty, are considered grossly inappropriate and a form of scaremongering. Preachers are urged to be more sophisticated in their subject matter and avoid tones of urgency about getting right with God. Nevertheless, neglecting the discussion of Gods wrath or the importance of fearing Him, develops an unbalanced and incomplete understanding of Gods character. Preaching solely about Gods love, mercy and kindness leads to the perception that God is merely a loving figure, ignoring other critical aspects of His nature. It also diminishes the importance of personal responsibility, leading to a weakened ethical framework, both individually and corporately. Someone rightly said, There was less hell in our streets when there was more of hell from the pulpit. Failing to preach about Gods wrath leads people into a false sense of security and complacency about their spirituality, causing them to underestimate the inevitable negative consequences that come with defying God. Finally, note that the eternal Gospel, the good news this angel preaches to the entire world, is based on a call to worship God as Creator. This may seem rather innocuous, but its a big deal. If someone holds to an evolutionary worldview instead of believing in God as Creator, it can undermine their comprehension of the Gospel. The creation account in Genesis provides the framework for understanding the origin of humanity, and the entrance of sin into the world. Without accepting this account as literal, one is likely to question the concept of a historical Adam and Eve, the Fall and the inherent sinful nature of humanity. This has implications for realizing the need for salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Evolutionary theory presents humanity as a product of natural processes, sharing a common ancestry with other life forms, which logically leads to a very different perception of human nature, and thereby negatively impacts ones acceptance of the Bibles chief teachings concerning original sin, humanitys spiritual identity and purpose. Accepting an evolutionary worldview similarly requires a reinterpretation or complete dismissal of the historical creation account, inevitably leading to questions and doubts concerning the authority and reliability of the Scriptures. Thus, potentially impacting ones full embrace of the Gospel message. This everlasting Gospel that traverses Heaven above, cascading its radiant message across the globe in every language, enfolding the world with its exquisite wings, is not one of several gospels for different dispensations. Morris argues: This type of hermeneutics, however well-intentioned, makes Scripture contradict itself for the sake of maintaining a particular theological system. In effect, it denies God the ability to say what he means, thus requiring a hermeneutist with the proper theological training to translate what God says into what he means, for the benefit of the layman. It is the Gospel [the eternal Gospel, the same good news] which we are to preach, which believers of all ages were commanded to preach, and which the angel will preach. This Gospel is everlasting. What is this Gospel? The eternal Gospel proclaims God created us and everything in the heavens and earth. Its a message requiring recognition of Gods person, His unlimited greatness, holiness, power and a deep sense of reverence and obedience towards him. It entails a certain trepidation for the consequences of ignoring or disobeying him. This everlasting Gospel, this message of good news, is that Christ sacrificed himself on the cross to pay in full the penalty for humanitys sins. Through faith in Christ and surrendering to his benevolent authority, we may find forgiveness and cleansing for every sin and be justified forever in the sight of God. Without receiving this eternal Gospel, we cannot see the Kingdom of God. We can never enter Heaven. How often God entreats people by various means to be saved from damnation compassionately calling to the very end even sending an angel to crisscross the skies with the message of eternal hope. Yet people still stubbornly refuse to believe. Leon Morris in his commentary on Revelation quotes Kiddle, who summarizes the matter this way: Here is the bitter irony of their lot: though they damn themselves eternally by their refusal to face the truth, one day they will be forced to face it, sooner or later the glory they refuse to give the Creator willingly will be torn from them by the spectacle of his wrath. Could today be your last call? Dont wait too late to yield your life to Christ and be forgiven of your sins. Receive from him the gift of eternal life. True compassion starts with truth In my first op-ed addressing LGBTQ-affirmation in the Church, I ended with this statement: True compassion affirms the reality of Gods design while offering competent help to those who desire it. This is an understanding sadly lost in contemporary Christianity, let alone the whole society. But it should be readily apparent. If an ER doctor encounters a patient with an arm unable to move, the doctor would be perfectly reasonable to assume the individual has sustained some sort of trauma, such as a stroke or a dislocated shoulder or other condition. And the doctors compassion would be demonstrated by his efforts to mitigate difficulties resulting from an immobile arm and to resolve the cause of the immobilization. The doctor wouldnt berate the patient with condemnation. Dont you know how to move your arm?! (However, he would likely rebuke the patient for attempting to drive a car with only one functioning arm. The patient may not be responsible for causing the arm problem, but he is responsible for how he handles it.) Nor would the doctor, as someone in a position to help, be showing compassion by offering some shallow platitude. Aw, Im sorry your arm wont move. Thats sad, but such is life. The doctor would especially not be showing compassion if he attempted to convince the patient that some people just simply dont have arms that move and we need to labor to make the rest of society and the Church more affirming of arm-immobilized people. No, a competent and compassionate doctor would be curious about the cause of the patients ailment. He wouldnt just assume its a good and normal variation of arm mobility. Why not? Because he understands the reality of the human body. He would not be able to genuinely help the patient if he didnt have this foundational knowledge of the bodys design and function. Compassion starts with affirming the truth of Gods design for us. Without that realization, we have no basis for identifying any disorder or sin, for sin is to miss the mark of Gods design and intention for us. And it doesnt take the Bible to tell us that arms are meant for moving, eyes are for seeing, and genitals are for generating. And with the extremely rare exception of hermaphroditism, humanity has been reliably trusting the genitals to identify ones gender for millennia. Furthermore, we can learn from general revelation that sexual activity creates an emotional bond between two people. So, we can also deduce that sex has a unitive purpose. Of course! Who better to receive and nurture children than two people committed to give of their whole selves to each other and any offspring they receive? All of this should be plain to us. But our society has been reeling from contemporary versions of Gnostic dualism. The relationship between the physical and the spiritual (and hence, moral order) has been ruptured, so we no longer see the inherent meaning, value and purpose in our bodies. The modernists see us just as highly evolved animals, prioritizing the physical. And the postmodernists prioritize their subjective views of self over and against the body. However, a truly Christian worldview integrates the material and immaterial. Indeed, ours is the religion of the incarnation. Just as Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, came in a body to reveal the invisible God, so our bodies reveal our persons. Our sexually confused and chaotic world claims that gender identity and sexual orientation are based on the idiosyncrasies of each persons feelings and ideas, resulting in an ever-growing LGBTQ+ conglomeration. But nature and Scripture make clear that God gave us a trustworthy arbiter even in our fallen world of our sexual identity: the body. And the body makes clear that there are only two genders, male and female, and only one sexual orientation, union with the opposite sex. Therefore, as Theology of the Body educator Christopher West often says, our bodies are not only biological but also theological. We fail to see how homosexuality and gender identity discordance are forms of sexual sin and brokenness when we are blind to the truth of Gods vision for our sexuality. Indeed, if we dont know the meaning of our sexuality, then we dont know the meaning of our humanity. So, lets start with the beginning. Thats what Jesus himself did when questioned about the sexual controversy of his time and culture (Matthew 19:4-6). So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27). Upon the introduction of humanity, we immediately learn two things. First, all of humanity is made in the image of God, a concept in the ancient world previously reserved only for royalty. This grants each human being innate value and even authority, a radical idea for the Israelites escaping slavery in Egypt. But we also learn that each person is not just a human specimen, but a male human being or a female human being. And there is something about our bifurcation into maleness and femaleness that images our Creator. Our tendency is to reduce the idea of the image of God to immaterial qualities, like the facts we have spirits, that we have a moral sensibility, that we have intellect. All true, but maleness and femaleness are revealed by the body, specifically in our reproductive systems. Therefore, secondly, if being made male and female images God, then our bodies, and especially our sexuality, reveal mysteries about the nature of God. In short, our sexuality shows that God is distinct persons that are one in essence, that this community of persons is loving and eternally committed to each other, and that he is creative. We can know all this because the first command God gives man is to be fruitful and multiply. But Adam cannot do this on his own. He needs a mate that is similar in human nature but differs from him in a manner that enables them to unite sexually. So, God creates woman out of man and then joins the two in marriage in a one-flesh union that is designed to be permanent, mutually beneficial, and produces new life. Finally, not only does our sexual difference and the one-flesh union of marriage reveal aspects of our Trinitarian Creator, but they also reveal Gods plan to invite us into the life of the Trinity. In Ephesians 5:31-32, Paul shows how human marriage is the sign of our future heavenly marriage, as the husband images Christ and the wife images all humans that constitute the church, Christs Bride. God wanted this plan to be plain to all of humanity, so he made our bodies a symbol of it and placed erotic longings in us desires that cannot be satisfied fully by the pleasures of this world but ultimately and infinitely by him. This is the goodness and beauty to which our sexuality points us. Why is sexuality so important to me? Because its so important to God. And its so important to God because it gets to the core of our humanity. It is meant to point us to Him. In his great compassion, God desires to restore our vision of sexuality so that we can enjoy the ultimate, ecstatic union with Him for eternity. Christian politician laments 'witch-hunts' against people with traditional views on marriage and sexuality A Christian politician prosecuted for her religious beliefs on marriage and sexuality has warned of the danger to free speech as she continues to fight her case in court. Paivi Rasanen, Finland's former Minister of the Interior, was acquitted of all "hate speech" charges last year with a unanimous judgment that said "it is not for the district court to interpret biblical concepts". She was prosecuted after sharing her views in a 2019 tweet, a 2019 radio debate, and a 2004 pamphlet. Despite being acquitted, the Finnish prosecution is appealing the "not guilty" verdict, forcing Rasanen back to court to defend her beliefs. Writing about her ongoing legal battle in The Critic, Rasanen expressed concern about the way in which "hate speech" laws across Western nations have led to "witch-hunts" against people who hold "different views to the approved state orthodoxy". She warned that if high profile politicians like herself can be taken "through the ringer" for their beliefs, then the free speech of ordinary citizens is even more "endangered". She expressed the view that if she does not win her latest court battle, others who share her beliefs and express them publicly, including pastors, can expect similar consequences. "We'll soon find out if the expression of my Christian, Biblically-based beliefs are criminal acts in modern day Finland," she wrote. "If so, we might have a problem with anyone quoting or preaching from the Bible in my country. "Even those who merely dare to challenge the established teaching of the most dominant ideological 'church' of our day are in for trouble. "Western society is not, as it seems, finished with 'heretics' yet." Rasanen said that if the Finnish prosecution win their appeal, free speech will be at even greater risk. "If they can put politicians with public profiles through the ringer for holding firm to what they believe, then how much more endangered is the free speech of everyday citizens without the platform to fight back?" she said. "You might not agree with my Christian beliefs on marriage and sexuality. If free speech is not for everybody, though, then it's for nobody. "It might be those who hold my beliefs under fire today, but if I can be put in prison for a simple question, there is no telling which questions may be banned tomorrow." Pope Francis appoints men and women to build a synodal church Lately, Pope Francis has been busy appointing men and women who support his vision of a synodal church to positions where it matters. This is evident in his recent appointments to the college of cardinals, the synod, to the Roman Curia and to archdioceses. These appointments are important because, as every management consultant will tell you, "personnel is policy." An organization can have wonderful policies, but if the people responsible for implementing them are not on board, those policies will fail. On Sunday, Francis appointed 21 new cardinals, 18 of whom are under 80 years of age and therefore able to vote for a new pope in a conclave. After these new cardinals are created at a consistory on Sept. 30, there will be 137 cardinal electors, three more than the previous high in 2001 under John Paul II. Seventy-two percent of the cardinal electors, who will elect the next pope, have been appointed by Francis, which makes it more likely that the next pope will continue the direction Francis has charted for the church. To the Synod on Synodality, which will begin Oct. 4, Pope Francis appointed four U.S. cardinals and an archbishop who are close to him in thinking. The four U.S. cardinals are: Sean O'Malley, archbishop of Boston; Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, D.C.; Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago; and Robert McElroy, the bishop of San Diego. The other episcopal appointment is Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle. Also attending the synod is Cardinal Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark, who is a member of the Vatican council that has been planning the synod, and Cardinal Kevin Farrell, an American who works in the Vatican Curia. All these prelates are loyal supporters of Francis and his policies. On the other hand, the American bishops selected for the synod by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are less enthusiastic in their support, although none publicly opposes Francis. Not surprising was the selection of the USCCB president, Timothy Broglio, archbishop of the military services. Presidents are always elected to go to synods. Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, was another obvious choice because he has been the bishops' point man on the synod. Also chosen were the chair of the USCCB committee on doctrine, Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, as well as media-savvy Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, and conference favorite Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York. The elections took place in secret, so we do not know who wanted to go but did not get chosen. It is noteworthy that the USCCB vice president, Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, was not chosen by the conference since he will most likely step up to be the bishops' president in November of 2024 just after the Synod on Synodality concludes. It would have helped him in fulfilling his responsibilities as conference president if he had experienced the synod. If the synod is a big success, the bishops may want to elect as president someone who was there. Although the American bishops appointed to the synod by Francis have been unwavering in their support for the pope, Francis has also appointed conservative bishops to the synod, for example, to balance the more liberal prelates chosen by the German bishops. A noteworthy appointment is the former prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, who has harshly criticized the synodal process. Muller has been unhappy with Francis since the pope failed to reappoint him as prefect when his term expired. If Francis wanted a rubber-stamp synod, Muller would have been his last choice. On the other hand, Muller was instrumental in working out a compromise on divorced Catholics with Cardinal Walter Kasper that saved the 2015 Synod on the Family from ending in chaos. Francis was wise enough to invite conservatives into the tent in the hope that experiencing the synodal process will have a transformative impact. Better to have them in the synod than condemning it from the outside. If, at the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality, prelates like Muller support its recommendations, it will be very difficult for other conservatives to object. Among the non-episcopal delegates to the synod priests and laymen and women is the Jesuit priest the Rev. James Martin, editor at large for America Magazine and founder of Outreach, a ministry for LGBTQ Catholics. Martin has been a frequent target of conservative Catholic activists but has been supported in his ministry by Francis. Martin could play a crucial role at the synod in discussions of LGBTQ Catholics. He is also very knowledgeable of Ignatian discernment, a prayerful process that will be key to the success of the synod. More than 50 women will be included in the approximately 360 voting members from different countries, cultures and generations, all of them ensuring that the synod has wide diversity. Thirty additional nonvoting participants, including 12 fraternal delegates from other Christian denominations, will also attend. This will be the largest synod since they were instituted by Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council. It may also prove to be the most important synod since the council. Besides appointing people to the synod, the pope has been busy with other appointments. To head the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Francis appointed Argentine Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez, who was welcomed by theological scholars but opposed by conservatives. Fernandez is a close associate of Francis, but he has been criticized for "Heal Me With Your Mouth: The Art of Kissing," a book he wrote for teenagers, which he has asked the publisher to discontinue. He was also criticized for an openness to blessing gay couples. He clarified his position on that by stating that gay marriages should not be confused with a sacramental marriage between a man and a woman. Blessings that did not create such confusion should be "analyzed and confirmed." When Francis was archbishop of Buenos Aires, he appointed Fernandez as rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina. This appointment was held up by the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the very office he will now head. After about two years, he was eventually cleared for the position. Fernandez has also been criticized for failure to crack down more quickly on a sexually abusive priest, which is important, since he will be head of the office that deals with abusive priests. "Today I would certainly act very differently and certainly my performance was insufficient," he admitted to The Associated Press. Francis, however, asked him to focus on doctrinal issues and leave the abuse questions to the competent staff at the dicastery. Historically, the dicastery handled the laicization of abusive priests because its former head, Joseph Ratzinger, was the only Curia cardinal who took the issue seriously under John Paul II. There is no logical reason abusive priests should be handled by DDF. It would make more sense to set up a separate office, perhaps a department of justice, to deal with abusive priests and other criminal activity in the church. In his letter of appointment, Francis asked Fernandez to focus on "promoting theological knowledge" and encouraging "the charism of theologians and their scholarly efforts" rather than pursuing possible doctrinal errors. Having been investigated by the Vatican, Fernandez is the perfect choice to reorient the dicastery from policeman to promoter. Francis has also been appointing some young bishops to key sees where they will have an impact long after he is gone. By "young," I mean bishops in their 50s who could be in office for 20 years or more. These appointments include the archdioceses of Mechelen-Brussels, Toronto, Buenos Aires and Madrid. These recent appointments show that Francis now understands that "personnel is policy." Many of us wish he had focused on this, especially in the U.S. and in the Curia, from the beginning of his papacy. Francis, however, prefers to go slowly and incrementally when it comes to changes in policy or personnel. Those of us who want change may be disappointed by this incremental way of proceeding, but more rapid change in Protestant churches has often resulted in schisms, something popes want to avoid at all costs. This incremental approach to change will undoubtedly surface in the synod as well, as Francis tries to balance the impatience of progressive Catholics against the fears of conservatives. Religion News Service Scotland urged to follow Germany in rejecting assisted suicide proposals MSPs are being urged to follow Germany's example and vote down assisted suicide proposals when they come before Holyrood. The call from the Care Not Killing coalition follows the defeat in the German Bundestag last week of two separate assisted suicide schemes. Attempts were made to legalise assisted suicide in Germany after the country's Constitutional Court overturned a ban on organised assisted suicide in 2020. The court ruled that the ban violated the right of individuals to die on their own terms, however, there is still no legal framework for assisted suicide. The Scottish Parliament is expected to debate the issue later this year when Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur introduces his assisted dying Bill. Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of Care Not Killing, is urging MSPs to look at countries like Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada where the practice is already legal and where there has been an expansion of acceptable criteria. "We welcome this decision by the German Parliament," said Dr Macdonald. "Assisted dying puts many vulnerable people at risk of abuse and coercion. Once eugenics gets accepted in medicine, people will be killed against their will by doctors who make subjective quality of life judgements about other people. "We are seeing that happen today in countries like Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada. People are being pressured into euthanasia because of lack of access to social care or the cost of healthcare. "Many people are having their lives ended without their consent being obtained. Children who can't give informed consent have their lives ended by doctors in Belgium. In the Netherlands doctors even euthanise disabled infants with spinal bifida. Once assisted dying is legalised, many abuses occur and so-called safeguards are eroded, removed or ignored. "Scottish politicians must copy their German counterparts and reject this dangerous proposal in order to protect the most vulnerable. We can do much better in Scotland and should be properly funding palliative care rather than legalising assisted dying." Synod's Alpha and Christianity Explored snub The vote in July's General Synod against an amendment affirming the Alpha and Christianity Explored courses in prisons showed a disturbing level of hostility towards the gospel message that charismatic and conservative evangelicals are proclaiming. On Saturday July 8, the Synod meeting in York accepted a worthy motion from Mrs Kashmir Garton, a lay member from Worcester, celebrating the contribution of faith to the rehabilitation of offenders. The motion noted "with pleasure the decision by the Probation Service to recognise faith and belief in reducing offending". Rev Matt Beer, a clergy member from Lichfield, tried to beef up the Christian content in the motion by inserting an amendment rejoicing "at the effectiveness of courses such as Alpha and Christianity Explored in helping prisoners and detainees come to faith in Christ and transform their lives so that they can make a positive contribution to society". But after two members branded the amendment "partisan" and "sectarian" Synod voted it down in a show of hands by an apparently large majority. Ruth Abernethy, a lay member from the Channel Islands, said: "My concern with the amendment is that it identifies two particular courses that espouse views of Christianity that are somewhat partisan." Robert Thompson, a clergy member from London, said the amendment would make the motion "sectarian and coming from a particular part of the Church of England". "We are not given any data about what 'the success', in inverted commas, rates of what either of these courses may or may not be in relation to prisoner rehabilitation," he said. He concluded: "We are guests in a secular environment and unless we actually think very carefully about what that means in relation to promoting particular sectarian teaching materials, we are going to be sunk in relation to our presence within our national life." Millions of people across the world have attended these two courses, both launched by Church of England churches. Alpha, an 11-week evangelistic course run by churches across multiple denominations including Roman Catholics, was launched by Holy Trinity Brompton, the evangelical charismatic flagship church in London's Knightsbridge, in 1977. The course has been translated into 112 different languages, according to the Alpha website. Christianity Explored, launched in 2001 by conservative evangelical flagship church, All Souls Langham Place in London's Oxford Circus, is also international and cross-denominational. The courses differ in content reflecting the theological distinctives between charismatic and conservative evangelicals. But both present the penal substitutionary view of the atonement, the idea that Jesus Christ died in the place of sinful humanity on the Cross. The idea that the righteous justice of God against those who do evil was "satisfied" by the death of Christ is thoroughly Anglican. This view of the atonement is clearly proclaimed in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer (BCP). According to the BCP service of Holy Communion, Christ made on the Cross "a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world". The biblical fact that God's righteous anger or wrath against evil-doers was satisfied by the death of Christ is stressed by the use of the word "propitiation" in one of the "Comfortable Words", four New Testament quotations in the BCP Communion service: "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 2v1b-2a). In this context, propitiation means that Christ averted the righteous wrath of God from sinful humanity through his willing, loving and obedient self-giving on the Cross. Opponents of this doctrine have labelled it "cosmic child abuse". But that criticism fails to reckon with the divinity as well as the humanity of Jesus Christ. As God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity, Christ was in a vital sense propitiating his own righteous judgement against evil in the world through his death on the Cross. For Synod members to have swallowed the line that these courses are "partisan" and "sectarian" and so have voted against an amendment affirming their use in prisons sadly reveals woeful ignorance of traditional Anglican theology. Because evangelicals are evangelistic in their very spiritual DNA, might Anglican evangelicals conclude that now is the time to shake the dust off their feet in relation to the CofE and do their evangelism through a new, orthodox Anglican federation of churches in the UK that rejoices in Alpha and Christianity Explored? Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Balfour Beatty finances, develops, builds, and maintains vital infrastructure projects such as airports, hospitals, schools, and office buildings on three continents. The company was responsible for Britains largest road project, the 1.5 billion A14 improvement, and built the $429 million North Metro Commuter Rail Line in Denver, Colorado. Its an enormous operation and, given the size and scope of Balfour Beattys business, delivering services to its 24,500+ global employees is complex. Due to labor-intensive and often manual processes, the companys IT team struggled to keep up with employee service requests. The Balfour Beatty IT team handled 36,000 tickets per year just before the 2020 global pandemic. Once public health and safety measures kicked in, the added complexity of supporting a suddenly remote workforce added additional challenges to an already complex situation. With the company embarking on a major cloud migration, IT leadership knew that the infrastructure giant needed the assistance of automation. Following a rigorous process to determine the companys needs and assess IT service management solutions, Balfour Beatty chose BMC Helix Enterprise Service Management with BMC Helix Digital Workplace. Balfour Beatty valued BMCs ServiceOps platform approach of integrating service and operations capabilities to deliver intelligent automation for simplified IT workflows without manual intervention. Additionally, Balfour Beatty wanted to improve digital employee experiences through unified service catalogs, automated processes, and faster inquiry response times. BMC Helix Enterprise Service Management, combined with BMC Helix Digital Workplace, enabled Balfour Beatty to consolidate its service catalog from more than 100 items to less than 30, making it far easier for employees to navigate. Its patching and technology sunsetting capabilities became faster and more proactive and just as Balfour Beatty hoped, its IT teams have been able to integrate the platform with nearly all its current systems. We were doing thousands of manual requests for things like hardware orders, mobile orders, and IT access requests before BMC Helix, said David Leigh, IT Service Desk Manager. All thats largely been automated now. Balfour Beatty also gained deeper visibility into IT support. For instance, it now has a holistic, historical view of all tickets, which enables the company to identify trends and long-term issues for continuous improvement. It also has a macro view of its infrastructure to assist with planning its ongoing cloud migration. The impact has been profound. Since its deployment with BMC Helix Enterprise Service Management and BMC Helix Digital Workplace in the spring of 2020, Balfour Beatty has: Automated more than 36,000 tickets, doubling year-over-year growth in automation Reduced year-over-year incident resolution by 61% Automated over 85% of its IT kit and peripheral fulfillment. Helix has great flexibility around how we can build very custom services through to the different integrations with multitudes of third-party products, said Wayne Hardman, Balfour Beattys Front Office Applications Manager. No matter what the business wants, we can build an automated service today. For more information on how BMC Helix Service Management can automate your IT service workflows and delight employees with personalized experiences, visit us here. Most business leaders dont need convincing about the power of AI: nearly 60% surveyed last year by Zendesk said they plan to increase their investment by at least 25% this year. The most powerful applications of AI help organizations do more with less without compromising rather in many cases enhancing their customer experience, from AI-powered bots that accelerate problem resolution to AI digital co-workers that supercharge agent performance. IDC predicts that 40% of the Global 2000 will augment their human staff with AI digital co-workers by 2025. AI is a vast and exciting frontier, and you dont have to hire a developer or bridge an internal capability gap to get started. Leading technology vendors have made it so that businesses can easily launch and customize their own powerful, CX-enhancing AI. The key is a cloud-native, API-based architecture that allows you to design and build AI-based applications and prove them out in a low-risk way. Here are three examples of organizations that have improved their customer experience with a build-your-own-AI approach: Bayview Technologies contextualizes CX and cuts handle time in half by blending omnichannel with self-built conversational bots. The BPOs contact center blends various media streams (chat, email, voice, video, social) with self-built AI chatbots and voice bots using the Avaya Experience Platform and Google Dialogflow. These fully functional bots pass customer conversations through an intelligent AI engine to make informed CX decisions quickly and precisely with support for three different languages. The organizations handling time has decreased by 50% over the last three years and its abandonment rate has been under 0.5% most months. Conversational context collected by the bots is key for the company to see and understand problematic customer journeys and how to fix them as soon as possible. 2. A bank enhances CX, improves data protection, and reduces costs with AI-powered digital ID verification. Traditional identity verification methods like knowledge-based authentication (e.g. whats your mothers maiden name?) take too long and are no longer the most secure option in todays digitally advanced world, not to mention they take away from the ease of an effortless customer experience. This bank is using AI-powered digital ID verification methods like real-time facial recognition to improve data protection, reduce costs, and create a more seamless customer journey. This is game-changing for everyday authentication, significantly decreasing the banks false acceptance ratio (the likelihood of the system incorrectly verifying a persons identity) while increasing its scope of compliance, decreasing friction for the customer, and improving data privacy. Research also shows the time saved using AI for verification can save as much as $3 per call. 3. A university differentiates its study abroad experience using self-composed AI bots and Augmented Reality (AR). In this exploratory case, an interested student (lets call him Mark) contacts the university to review his options for the upcoming semester. He clicks the link provided on the website to get more information and is connected to the universitys AI-powered chat bot. The AI bot collects Marks details and answers a few of his questions. Mark discovers that he is eligible for a semester studying abroad at the universitys London campus. The bot then provides a link to enter the universitys self-composed Metaverse (an immersive, virtual 3D space) to explore studying in London. The universitys Metaverse allows Mark to learn and engage via an immersive, computer-generated version of its London campus as he considers his decision to apply. AI bots and human agents can flow in and out for service assistance as needed. Ready to build your own AI? AI has permanently changed how organizations use technology for their competitive advantage. Our advice: start with small-scale, attainable applications (e.g. having your virtual agent successfully communicate with customers through the steps required for a given task or process like filing a support ticket or resetting a password), then build from there to start using AI in more advanced ways. The Avaya Customer Experience Services (ACES) team provides expert services in implementing AI Automation and much more. Were focused on helping transform the customer contact experience while creating more efficiency within an organization. Learn more about how to build your own AI at Avaya.com/ACES. Better together In a time when organizations can seamlessly access the cloud to unearth tools like analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), collaboration with customers and partners around the globe can drive sustainable, impactful innovation, Timo Elliott, SAPs global head of partner digital selling and marketing director, told the audience. Lets think about the recent past companies were largely reliant on the people skills of employees to ensure that customers had a pleasant experience. Today, in an age when digital interactions have become commonplace, it appears that satisfaction can be found simply by going to the cloud. But can it, really? The answer is a definitive No! Dedicated workers are still required to make a difference. And with the availability of a multitude of software solutions to remedy such issues as manufacturing, supply chain, finance, and procurement, the innovations derived from those applications are done by the people, transforming both industries and society. Real-life transformers That was the overall message conveyed this past June at a virtual celebration for the winners of SAPs 2023 Innovation Awards, an annual event honoring an elite group using the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software leaders technologies not to mention creativity, ingenuity, and hard work to elevate their organizations to the leading edge of innovation. When the first Innovation Awards was launched in 2014, the judges received 27 admissions. This year, the number exceeded 220 across ten categories, including Sustainability Hero, Industry Leader, Partner Paragon, and Cutting-Edge Genius. Check out this e-book, which has everything you need to know about the SAP 2023 Innovation Awards: winners, finalists, honorable mentions, and more. Changing the world At the celebration, as the winners accepted the accolades for their achievements and addressed each other online, all agreed that, in this post-pandemic period, the goal of technological innovation must transcend simply improving ones business. By their actions, the 2023 SAP Innovation Award winners embody that philosophy. For instance, after the war in Ukraine forced more than 8 million people to flee their homeland, professional services corporation EY (Ernst & Young) developed an emergency response application to access critical and time-sensitive information and direct the refugees to resources in 53 cities. The humanitarian undertaking was accomplished in an astonishing six weeks. In its mission to develop novel and multifunctional therapeutics for rare cancers and other serious diseases, global biotechnology company Zymeworks found that its previous, manual system was inefficient and labor-intensive. After it created a single, integrated platform, the organization had real-time information to make important, data-driven decisions while continuing to save lives. In Australia, where the countrys growing aging population has increased the demand for in-home and community-delivered care, HomeMade a company founded in 2020 designed a self-service portal enabling the elderly to choose providers for services like cleaning and cooking and lead a fulfilling life, while reducing administrative overhead. And on the Japanese island of Kyushu, where natural disasters are all too frequent, Oita University developed an information platform called the Earth Disaster Intelligent System Operational Network (EDiSON), providing accurate and timely data to assist emergency response organizations. A sustainable planet From the time the 2023 Innovation Awards were announced, judges were looking for tangible examples of sustainability that are delivering impact, said Dorit Shackleton, SAPs senior vice president of customer advocacy and adoption marketing, using SAP technologies for good. In addition to supplying people in Switzerlands Basel region with electricity, heat, and drinking water, along with telecom and mobility solutions, Industrielle Werke Basel (IWB) produces and sells renewable and CO2-netural energy to achieve climate goals. Using Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, a new adaptable application can predict solar power production with unprecedented accuracy, supporting IWBs ongoing sustainability drive. As Elliot pointed out, If you can help with just a small percentage of reducing the carbon footprint, you can make a big difference to the planet. In trying to reach its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives, Indonesian mining, infrastructure, and oil and gas services company Petrosea was frustrated that its old, largely paper-based system complicated the process. By creating a unified platform, the company now has one source of truth to monitor carbon emissions, waste, and water usage, make informed choices and realize what it calls its 3D strategy for diversification, digitalization, and decarbonization. As the 2023 SAP Innovation Awards winners continue to bask in the glow of their success, planning for the 2024 festivities is underway. And even organizations that dont plan to enter will be watching to find inspiration for new ways to improve. By sharing your success stories and lessons learned, Elliott said, you are helping other organizations innovate. And you are helping the world run better. Once the SAP 2024 Innovation Awards submissions are open, follow each update by clicking the link to this newsletter. Termen extins: CNPAC anunta concurs de selectare a ONG-urilor locale din 9 raioane ale tarii, pentru un program de instruire in domeniul protectiei copilului Cross-party MPs have urged the government to change the status of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) from a UK charity amid fears the organisation could relocate. Last week, Conservative MP for Basingstoke Maria Miller opened a parliamentary debate on the CPA and why the government must act now to help secure its future. Miller said that CPAs status is not appropriate for an association of equals and is completely out of kilter with the reality of the organisation. CPA, which was founded as the Empire Parliamentary Association in 1911 and registered as a charity in 1971, is headquartered in the UK and supports parliamentary democracy across the Commonwealth. CPAs status not appropriate for association of equals Speaking on behalf of CPA UK executive members and politicians supporting the work of the charity, Miller said the organisation is at a turning point and needs the UK government to act now to help secure its future. In the UK, only the government can change the status of the CPA from a local UK charity to a bespoke international inter-parliamentary organisation, because the government need to allocate parliamentary time to allow a short piece of primary legislation to be passed, she said. It has for many years been acknowledged that the CPAs status as a UK charity is not appropriate for an association of equals. The CPA membership includes parliamentarians from South Africa to Singapore, Ghana to Guyana and Canada to Cyprus, and all are equal members of the organisation, which is one of the oldest Commonwealth organisations. Its status as a UK charity is completely out of kilter with the reality of the organisations work. The CPA was founded back in 1911 to promote the advancement of parliamentary democracy, but continuing to be a UK charity today simply reinforces an outdated vision of the Commonwealth and the UKs place in it. Miller said that a change in status would allow the charity to more effectively serve its members, removing damaging frictions caused by an inappropriate status, making clear that all members are on an equal footing, to reflect the modern view of the Commonwealth, and representing the CPAs own principles of equality and diversity. UK risk losing CPAs secretariat Theo Clarke, Conservative MP for Stafford and a member of the CPAs executive committee, said that CPA as a charity is limited in its ability to carry out certain activities that promote democracy, human rights and democratic values and protect the rights and privileges of parliamentarians. That is because, as we know, restrictions on charities prevent them from pursuing political purposes. The CPA has also been unable to sign up to certain international statements and communiques because of its charitable status. We have been unable to join other international organisations in speaking out against events in Commonwealth countries. Recent examples include the unlawful imprisonment of parliamentarians, not being able to speak out about the treatment of parliamentarians, and the situation over the Rohingya. Those examples show exactly why we must change the CPAs status. I recently met the CPA secretary general, and he is fully supportive of the status change. Clarke added that if the UK does not make that change, the CPA headquarters will relocate to another Commonwealth country and the UK could lose the opportunity of having more than 50 Commonwealth parliaments turning to the UK parliament for advice, guidance and best practice and to uphold parliamentary democracy. The CPA relocating from the UK would damage the UK parliaments relationship with other Commonwealth parliaments, she said. We currently do not have diplomatic status or international recognition. It is important that we change that as soon as possible, which can be achieved by turning us into an international interparliamentary organisation. Government: Were committed to finding acceptable solution In response, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, minister of state in the foreign, commonwealth and development office, said that the government is absolutely committed to finding a mutually acceptable solution so that we can ensure the CPA does not have to relocate. The foreign secretary wrote to the secretary-general of CPA International on the issue of the organisations status on 21 March 2023. He acknowledged that the status question is complex, but he was clear that he does not wish to see CPA International have to relocate. He committed the FCDO to working with CPA International to find a solution that is acceptable to all sides, including through legislative means if possible and necessary. Since then, FCDO officials have been in discussion with CPA International to understand the need to vary its present charitable status and to consider how best to address these concerns. Although this work is ongoing, important progress has already been made. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, A law passed by the state legislature in 2001 to address a court decision that created an exception to workers compensation exclusive remedy did not create a new exception, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled. In a unanimous decision Friday, the high court affirmed decisions by the Court of Appeals and the circuit court that found a worker could not pursue a civil complaint against his employer on grounds that some of the disabling conditions caused by his work injury were not compensable. The court rejected the workers argument that he could pursue a negligence lawsuit against his employer because work exposure was determined not to be a major contributing cause of his disability. The opinion saysthe legislature intended to establish procedural requirements for claims that it then believed were constitutionally required under our case law, but that it did not intend to create its own substantive exception applicable to cases such as plaintiffs. Danny Bundy filed a lawsuit against his employer, NuStar GP, after he was exposed to dangerous levels of diesel, gasoline and ethanol fumes while he was assigned to monitor the air quality from malfunctioning machinery while employed as a terminal operator. NuStar accepted a claim for nondisabling exposure the vapors, but denied a consequential condition claim for somatization disorders, which is essentially a mental disorder that causes pain despite the lack of any physical injury. The Workers Compensation Board issued a final order determining that the disorders were not compensable because Bundy failed to show that his work-related injury was a major contributing cause. Generally, workers compensation is considered the exclusive remedy for workers who are injured on the job. In 2001, however, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled in Smothers v. Gresham Transfer that injured workers who receive no compensation benefits because work was not a major contributing cause of their injury have a constitutional right to pursue a civil action against their employers if their work contributed to the disorder in some degree. The state legislature reacted by passing Oregon Revised Statute 656.019, which established a procedure for workers to pursue a civil action after their workers compensation claims are rejected on major contributing cause grounds. After the Workers Compensation Board ruled that Bundys somatization disorders were not compensible, he filed a lawsuit arguing that 656.019 creates an exemption to exclusive remedy that allows negligence actions for any condition related to a work injury that is deemed noncompensablebecause work was not shown to be the major contributing cause. The circuit court and Court of Appeals dismissed the lawsuit because Bundys work injury had been accepted. ORG 656.019 did not create a new exception from exclusive remedy, it just created a process for workers to pursue when their claims are rejected because work was determined not to be a contributing cause. Bundy appealed, arguing that passage of 656.019 created a new right to compensation for any conditions that are not compensated through workers compensation. But the Supreme Court said the legislative history shows that state lawmakers did not intend to expand the rights of workers to pursue compensation for their injuries. Proponents of the bill that was enacted into law as 656.019 repeatedly said they sought to fix Smothers, showing that they were concerned the ruling would disturb the delicate balance between a workers right to seek redress for injury and employers interest in avoiding expensive litigation. The law established that a worker cannot pursue a civil claim until after a final order is issued rejecting his or her workers compensation claim, the court said. It did not create a new right for workers to pursue compensation. AKRON, Ohio Akron Public Schools on Tuesday welcomed incoming Superintendent C. Michael Robinson Jr. to the district. The board on Monday approved a five-year, $240,000-per-year contract with Robinson, according to the districts Director of Marketing Communications Mark Williamson. Robinsons contract begins Aug. 1. Im excited to introduce C. Michael Robinson as our next superintendent, Akron Public Schools Board President Derrick Hall said. Were now in a place where bringing on Dr. Robinson is going to be integral to moving our district forward, and he is the right person for the role and hell be guiding us during this time when, as many of you know, public schools face a number of challenges such as critical challenges with staffing, attendance, funding, safety and security matters and much more. Robinson will take the reins from Interim Superintendent Mary Outley, who has served in the role since March, when then-superintendent Christine Fowler Mack resigned. I know that there will be challenges that lie before us, Robinson said. Our education system faces many ever-changing landscapes filled with complex societal issues, technological advancements and evolving learning needs. However, it is precisely in the face of these challenges that our greatest opportunities for growth and progress emerge. My commitment to the students, to the scholars as I affectionately call them, of Akron Public Schools is unwavering. Robinson most recently served as chief academic officer for East Baton Rouge Parish Schools in Louisiana. Robinsons education experience includes teaching at the elementary, middle school, high school and college levels. He has worked as a principal, superintendent and in other executive roles. According to his resume, Robinson has worked in urban; suburban; urban-suburban and rural school districts of different sizes and socioeconomic statuses. Robinson earned a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida. He also holds a masters degree in Educational Leadership from Troy State University in Atlanta and a bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Southern University in New Orleans. Robinson will work alongside the board and staff members to ensure each student has access to high-quality education that helps them thrive academically, socially and emotionally, he said. His approach to leading the district includes focusing on innovative teaching practices, leveraging technology and fostering a culture of lifelong learning among students and staff. Our focus will be on fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment that celebrates diversity, respects individuality and nurtures the unique talents of each student, Robinson said. To achieve this, we must tackle head-on the barriers that hinder students success, including addressing achievement gaps, enhancing early childhood education programs, providing targeted support for students with special needs and equipping our educators with the necessary resources and professional development opportunities. Though Robinson doesnt officially start until next month, he has been holding meetings with district leaders and, with input from district leaders and the board, created a 100-day plan that will guide his first months on the job, he said. Finances, staffing and spending will be at the forefront of Robinsons work, he said, as Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funding dwindles and the district contemplates a tax levy to close funding gaps. We have a plan that will be rolled out but right now we are discussing the districts finances, he said. When asked about his commitment to the district, Robinson said his family is on board and that he is here to stay. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Update, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Wednesdays. NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio -- A plan by a Texas developer to build five single-family homes near the northwest corner of York Road and Cedarwood Drive has been rejected by the North Royalton Planning Commission. Ramesh Rouniyar of Plano, Texas -- doing business in Ohio as Cedarwood Homes LLC -- would have built the houses behind existing homes in the Cedar Estates subdivision on Cedarwood and behind four homes on York. BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The city may outlaw bed-and-breakfasts, Airbnbs and other short-term rental operations. City Council raised the topic May 22 after learning that one resident has been renting out short-term space in their home while not living in the house, in violation of city code. Council is expected to continue discussing the issue at future meetings. In the meantime, council has placed a moratorium -- or temporary ban -- on new short-term rentals through January 2024. Broadview Heights and other communities throughout the country and the world have struggled knowing how to address short-term rentals. Local municipalities want to avoid incidents such as one that happened in 2017 in Seven Hills, where a man temporarily renting a home threw a wild New Years Eve party. The man was arrested and faced several charges, including serving alcohol to underage persons. In 2019, Orinda City Council in California moved forward with an emergency ban on some short-term rentals in response to a Halloween night shooting at an Airbnb that left five people dead, abc7news reported. Some communities, including Lyndhurst, have passed regulations on short-term rentals. North Royalton did so in March 2019, and in 2020, legislators in Charlevoix, Mich., approved regulations for short-term rentals after an eight-month moratorium on such housing arrangements. In December, Investopedia reported that New York City has passed laws prohibiting anyone from renting a home for fewer than 30 days without the homeowner being present. San Francisco adopted a similar policy. Berlin, Germany, has banned short-term rentals unless they receive explicit permission from the Berlin Senate, and Amsterdam levies a tourist tax on short-term rentals while limiting short-term rentals to 30 days a year, Investopedia reported. Meanwhile, the Ohio General Assembly last year introduced legislation that would prevent local governments from banning or limiting Airbnbs and other short-term home rentals. According to the Ohio House of Representatives website, the Ohio Senate has not yet discussed the legislation. No hotplates Broadview Heights passed its own short-term rental regulations in July 2021, after the city had placed several moratoriums on short-term rentals, starting in February 2018. Under the regulations, a short-term rental or bed-and-breakfast is a conditional use, which means the Planning Commission must approve each one individually. Each short-term rental cannot operate without a city permit. Whenever someone applies for a short-term rental permit, the city must notify everyone owning property within 1,000 feet of the applicant before issuing the permit. Short-term rentals can be located only within single-family homes. Residents cant use attached or detached garages for short-term rentals. Short-term living areas can take up no more than half of a home. The owner of the short-term rental must live in the home, and guests can stay no more than seven consecutive nights. No more than three guest rooms are allowed in each home and a maximum of six guests can stay in a short-term rental at any one time. The dining room must measure at least 100 square feet. At least one bathroom is required for every two guest rooms, but basement bathrooms are not permitted. Only one meal -- breakfast -- can be served in a short-term rental. Cooking and eating isnt allowed in guest bedrooms. The sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited. Guests must park in the homes driveway or garage. Outdoor security cameras are required. The owner of the short-term rental can employ one part-time worker. The bed tax for hotels and motels shall also apply to short-term rentals. Short-term rentals cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a school or recreational facility. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and two 10-pound fire extinguishers are required in each short-term rental home. Portable heating devices are prohibited in sleeping quarters. The city can revoke a short-term rental permit whenever the operation endangers, offends or interferes with the safety or rights of others so as to constitute a nuisance. Future court case? At the May 22 council meeting, Councilwoman Jennifer Mahnic said the resident who had been renting out short-term space in their home without living there was refused a permit by the planning commission. The resident had applied for the permit only after renting out short-term space. Joe Mandato, the citys chief building official, told cleveland.com that the resident lives on Joyce Drive and has been the only resident who applied for a short-term rental permit since council passed regulations in July 2021. Mayor Sam Alai asked if the city might simply prohibit short-term rentals. Law Director Vince Ruffa said that question may one day end up in court, after a municipality completely banned short-term rentals. He said Broadview Heights, if taking that tack, might argue that short-term rentals turn residential neighborhoods into commercial areas, since they are selling a service. Council President Robert Boldt, although supporting a ban on short-term rentals, said enforcing such a ban could be a problem. Ruffa said the city would have to rely on complaints from residents because it doesnt have the resources to police neighborhoods looking for short-term rental violators. Mahnic said the city also must clearly distinguish short-term rentals from long-term rentals, which city code has allowed and will continue to allow. Read more from the Sun Star Courier. SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Fire Chief David Csire told City Council at its meeting Monday (July 10) that fire investigators have ruled that a lightning strike was the cause of a blaze that destroyed a two-story building July 2. The building, which has since been demolished, had housed Carl DiFranco & Sons Plumbing at 4176 Greenvale Road. The high-heat conditions of the fire, which was reported at 10:30 p.m. July 2, caused firefighters to take a defensive stand. Police closed Monticello Boulevard in both directions so that fire hydrants could be accessed. The South Euclid Fire Department received aid from several area fire departments to help extinguish the blaze. Helping the SEFD were fire departments from Shaker Heights, Euclid, Cleveland Heights, University Heights, Mayfield Heights, Lyndhurst and Beachwood. Csire said that while battling the fire, firefighters had concerns that neighboring buildings, including AeroControlex, 4223 Monticello Blvd., would also catch fire. Firefighters stayed on the scene until 5:30 the following morning watching for smoldering hot spots that might cause further fires. On July 3, the decision was made, in accordance with a city ordinance, to have the building demolished for safety reasons. The neighboring C.A. Agresta Construction Co., 4186 Greenvale Road, bulldozed the damaged structure. Csire said damage to the building and contents was estimated at $700,000. No firefighters were injured. The fire investigator came out on Friday (July 7) and determined it was a lightning strike, Csire said. We did have a big storm blowing through the area on that part of the evening. Unfortunately, one of those lightning strikes hit the building. We were very concerned about the building the next day, Mayor Georgine Welo said of the decision to demolish. It was very unsafe. We had to keep our firefighters there until it was actually knocked down. We also know that there were issues from that same lightning strike over at AeroControlex with their computers, she said. The onetime DiFranco & Sons Plumbing building, destroyed by fire July 2. (Google Maps) Car thefts Also on Monday, Assistant Police Chief Robert Abele told council that the police department has several anti-auto-theft steering wheel clubs that owners of Kia and Hyundai cars can pick up for free at the station, located at City Hall, 1349 S. Green Road. Weve been having a lot of Kias and Hyundais (stolen), just like everywhere else, Abele told council. Over the Fourth of July weekend, Garfield Heights (police) had chased a car into our city (South Euclid), a stolen car, and our (police) were looking for (the suspect car). In the meantime, they found the car abandoned on Norma (Drive), a Kia, Abele said. We found out it was stolen from Cleveland Heights at gunpoint. (Cleveland Heights police) found these two juveniles -- residents of South Euclid. They were arrested and taken to juvenile court. Abele said that, to avoid alarm systems, thieves have been smashing out the back windows while stealing Kia and Hyundai cars. In May, Kia and Hyundai agreed in court to pay $200 million as compensation to customers who have their cars stolen, as the cars are seen as too vulnerable to theft. Abele also told council of another incident that took place at the Quick Shop Food Mart, 4263 Monticello Blvd. They tried to rob a guy of his car, he said. Abele said the juvenile involved in this attempted car theft -- who has been identified as a Garfield Heights youth but has not yet been arrested -- stole his grandmothers car July 7 in Garfield Heights, drove to the South Euclid store and, in that lot, at gunpoint, tried to steal a mans Chrysler 300. The man gave the robber his key fob, but the suspect could not get inside the locked car. The man had gone inside the store and the suspect told him to come back outside and show him how to unlock and start the Chrysler, but the man refused to do so. The suspect then fled in the car he had taken from his grandmother and crashed it on Belvoir Boulevard, flipping the car over. Police found the mans key fob in the car and returned it to him. Meeting at Quarry Park Parks & Recreation Director Daniel Subwick said residents are invited to attend a community meeting at 7 p.m. July 18 at the pavilion in Quarry Park North, 4223 Monticello Blvd. Were going to discuss dog park improvements relating to the Cuyahoga County grant we received, he said, and well also take the opportunity to talk about future improvements for Quarry Park North. If it rains that day, the meeting will be held on the second floor of City Hall. Read more from the Sun Messenger. NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio -- City Council will ask voters in November to lengthen council terms from two years to four years. Council voted 6-1 June 20 to place the issue on the Nov. 7 ballot. If approved by voters, the new four-year terms will take effect in January 2026, after the November 2025 election. That means six of seven council members -- all of whom are up for re-election this November -- would serve another two-year term if re-elected. If they are still on council in 2025 and again seek re-election, they would run for a four-year term for the first time. Paul Marnecheck -- who as council president is serving a four-year term -- was the only council member who opposed the measure. Hes also up for re-election this November. Im not opposed to four-year terms, but why do we need to change the current system? Marnecheck told cleveland.com. For 10 years, I ran for council every two years and it was not much of an inconvenience. It keeps you close to the residents. Marnecheck said the citys Charter Review Commission, a group of citizens appointed and assembled every four years, should decide whether to place a council-term amendment before voters. Its the city charter that calls for two-year council terms. Also, if a council member leaves office early in his or her term, and council appoints a replacement, the replacement might serve for three years or more without a vote of the people if council terms last four years, Marnecheck said. Whats the burden on residents? Marnecheck said of the current two-year terms. I havent had a sizable number of residents mention this to me as a problem. If it was a big deal, it would have come out of the charter review commission. Councilman Michael Wos disagreed. He said residents have questioned him about the two-year council terms. When I campaign every other year, many community members express surprise and skepticism, questioning the rationale behind the present short-term council terms, Wos said in an email to cleveland.com. It is our responsibility to listen to the concerns of those we represent and consider their desire for stability in governance, Wos said. Wos said term limits of 12 years would remain in place with four-year terms. Instead of six two-year terms, council members would serve a maximum of three four-year terms while reducing the disruptions caused by continuous election campaign cycles. However, under the proposed charter amendment creating four-year council terms, council service prior to January 2026 would not be counted toward term limits. It (the change to four-year terms) allows elected officials to develop a deeper understanding of complex issues, learn from their experiences and effect lasting positive change, Wos said. By granting council members a four-year term, we empower them to formulate comprehensive strategies and implement meaningful policies that will have a lasting impact on our community, Wos said. Wos said its only fair, considering that the mayor and council president serve four-year terms, that the rest of council have that same opportunity. Wos added that council, not the charter review commission, should make decisions that shape the community, like the length of council terms. He said the charter review commissions mere existence poses concerns regarding the separation of powers. Charter review is a committee comprised of appointed individuals that possess the authority to propose changes that bypass the duly elected city council, Wos said. I firmly believe that the authority to enact change should reside with the elected representatives who directly represent and are accountable to the citizens. No staggering The length-of-term issue was raised by council April 4 and May 2. Councilman John Nickell said the charter review commission, in the past, had considered increasing council terms to four years, but never proposed the change. Dana Schroeder, councils director of legislative services, prepared a report of council terms in other Northeast Ohio communities. Of 20 municipalities, 15 had four-year council terms, four had two-year terms and one had a mixture of both. Council discussed staggering four-year council terms so that candidates for three council seats run one year and candidates for the other three seats run two years later. Wos said that under the current system, its possible to elect all new council members in one election cycle, which is a handicap because it could end up that no one on council would have experience or deep knowledge of important city issues. He said staggering terms would help alleviate that situation. Ultimately, council decided against proposing staggered terms to voters, partly because it would require half of council -- at the launch of the new system -- to settle for two-year terms while the other half was given four-year terms. It was really just too confusing to try to set up staggered terms and somehow ask some council members to ... do a two-year term until its their turn, Councilman John Nickell said. We thought it would also confuse the public in reading such a proposal. Councilwoman Joanne Krejci added that with staggered terms, three council members could run for mayor or council president and not lose their council seat if they lose. Thats because they would be running for mayor or council president in the middle of their council terms. The other three council members would have to give up their council seat to run for mayor or council president because their council terms would align with the mayors and council presidents terms. There would be a disparity in how (council) members are treated, Krejci said. Just transitioning to the four-year terms was the most straightforward way to proceed. Read more from the Sun Star Courier. CLEVELAND, Ohio A Lorain man was arrested Tuesday and accused of the weekend mass shooting downtown that sent nine victims to the hospital. Jaylon Jennings, 25, was charged with attempted murder in Cleveland Municipal Court. Additional charges are expected, as the case will to go before a Cuyahoga County grand jury in a matter of days. Cleveland police and U.S. marshals made the arrest in Lorain. Marshals set up surveillance at several homes in Lorain County, including one on Toledo Avenue, where Jennings was found, according to U.S. Marshal Peter Elliott. Early Sunday morning, Jennings observed several people inside Rumor Bar & Lounge on West 6th Street in downtown Clevelands Warehouse District, according to an arrest warrant filed by Cleveland police on Monday. About 2:30 a.m., he retrieved a Glock firearm with an extended magazine from the trunk of his vehicle in a parking lot across the street, the warrant states. He then fired at nine people, attempting to kill them, police and prosecutors allege. The victims were transported to MetroHealth Medical Center with non-fatal injuries. One victim remained in serious condition as of Monday. City officials touted the arrest as positive news during a time the city is facing withering violence and a depleted police force. We got this suspect in 61 hours, Mayor Justin Bibb declared during a Tuesday evening press conference. It shows you what can happen when every level of law enforcement is working together. I pray that the residents of this city feel a bit safer this evening knowing that we apprehended this suspect, he added. Police Chief Wayne Drummond praised the hard, dedicated work from our detectives in building evidence to point toward Jennings. Elliott, the marshal, also hailed the work of Cleveland police and his deputy marshals. Police obtained a search warrant for Jennings house and gathered evidence there Tuesday, Drummond told reporters. He said it is too early to comment on motive, which victims were targeted or if other suspects are involved. Jennings is facing charges in the Lorain Common Pleas Court on marijuana trafficking. He was indicted in December and posted a $5,000 bond shortly afterward, according to court records. His next court date is scheduled for July 17. Jennings does not have a felony criminal record in Cuyahoga County, according to records. He has one misdemeanor conviction in Cleveland for disorderly conduct, in 2018. LONDON Actor Tom Holland says that getting sober was the best thing Ive ever done and now after a year and a half feels healthier, fitter and has greater mental clarity. The Spider-Man star said he decided to give sobriety a shot in January 2022 after a very, very boozy Christmas. But after deciding to go dry for January, all I could think about was having a drink. It really scared me, Holland said in an interview on the podcast On Purpose with Jay Shetty. I just was like, Wow, maybe I have a little bit of an alcohol thing, Holland said. Holland stuck with it, though, challenging himself to do another month and ultimately to quit drinking until his birthday June 1. By the time I got to June 1, I was the happiest Ive ever been in my life, he recalled in the interview. I could sleep better. I could handle problems better; things that would go wrong on set, that would normally set me off, I could take in my stride. I had so much better mental clarity. I felt healthier, I felt fitter, he said. And I just sort of said to myself, Why am I enslaved to this drink? Why am I so obsessed by the idea of having this drink? Holland is nine months into a year-long break hes taking from acting. He decided to take some time off after a grueling shoot for the Apple TV+ series The Crowded Room, a dark, psychological thriller, the BBC reported. Playing a character based on the campus rapist Billy Milligan, a man who claimed to have 24 alternate personalities, proved to be tough, Holland told Extra TV recently. I just was terrified by the idea of playing this character, and for me thats a really good thing, so I said yes, Holland said, describing what drew him to the role of Danny Sullivan, a character loosely based on real-life criminal Billy Milligan. Milligan was the first person to be found not guilty of his crimes by reason of insanity on the basis of dissociative identity disorder and instead of going to prison he spent a decade in psychiatric hospitals. We were exploring certain emotions that I have definitely never experienced before, Holland told Extra TV. He credited the support of his girlfriend and Spider-Man co-star Zendaya for helping him confront difficult issues, the BBC said. Its interesting being in a romantic relationship with someone that is in the same boat as you, he said in a recent interview with the Smartless podcast. You can share your experiences and all that sort of stuff and thats worth its weight in gold. CHICAGO Jamie Foxx, who dropped out of the public eye this spring due to an undisclosed, mysterious medical complication, was spotted boating on the Chicago River and appears to be on the mend. Gossip site TMZ obtained video of Foxx on a mega-boat cruising Sunday on the river. He is seen waving to a passing vessel that gave him a cheer. It was the first time Foxx had been spotted in public since his hospitalization in April, the Chicago Tribune reported. Foxx later tweeted a plug for his bourbon, Brown Sugar Bourbon, and wrote Boat life Celebrating summer with @brownsugarbbn Stay blessed! The Oscar-winning actor was hospitalized for several weeks after suffering a medical issue while in Georgia filming a movie for Netflix. While his daughter, Corinne Foxx, confirmed he experienced a medical complication, the reason for Foxxs sudden hospitalization has not been disclosed, CNN reported. Family members have been visiting him as he continues to rehabilitate in Chicago, the Tribune said. In May, CNN reported that Foxx was undergoing medical treatment at a physical rehabilitation facility in Chicago. His daughter pushed back that month on reports that he was not doing well. Sad to see how the media runs wild, she said, according to CNN. My dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating, Corinne Foxx wrote. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyones prayers and support! We have an exciting work announcement coming next week too! Earlier this month, word began to spread that Foxx was on the mend, the Tribune said. John Boyega, Foxxs co-star in They Cloned Tyrone, told E! Canada that the actor was doing fine. Yeah. Hes all good. Hes all good, Boyega said. So, were just going to wait for him to reappear when he wants to. You know, privacy and all. WASHINGTON, D. C. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan is suggesting moving the Federal Bureau of Investigations headquarters to Alabama as part of his crusade against what he calls the FBIs politicized bureaucracy. The Champaign County Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday proposed an amendments to an upcoming spending bill that would strip the FBI of money for a new headquarters, and urged that it consider relocating its headquarters to Huntsville, Alabama. Jordan has repeatedly claimed that the FBI has been weaponized for political purposes and that it abused its law-enforcement powers to hamstring former President Donald Trumps campaign and presidency. On Monday, Jordans committee released a report that claimed the FBI improperly colluded with Ukraines intelligence agency to ask that particular social media accounts be taken down. FBI Director Christopher Wray is scheduled to testify at a Wednesday Judiciary Committee hearing that Jordan is convening to examine the politicization of the nations preeminent law enforcement agency. In a Tuesday letter to House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger of Texas, Jordan stated the centralization of FBI operations in the National Capitol Region has led to duplication of activity best left to the respective field offices, contributed to reduced autonomy in local field offices, and allowed improper political influence to taint law enforcement investigations and activity. Claiming that the FBIs leadership has engaged in egregious abuses, misallocation of federal law-enforcement resources, and misconduct within the leadership ranks of the FBI, Jordans letter asks Granger to eliminate any funding for the FBI that is not absolutely essential for the agency to execute its mission, including as a starting point eliminating taxpayer funding for any new FBI headquarter facility and instead examining options for relocating the FBIs headquarters outside of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. His letter asks that the FBI be directed to submit an operational plan within 90 days to move its headquarters outside the Washington, D.C., area, and that the operational plan consider making use of infrastructure available at the FBIs Redstone Arsenal Campus in Huntsville, Alabama Although such a proposal might gain some support among Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives, it would stand no chance of passage in the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate. The FBIs current Washington, D.C., headquarters has long been scheduled for a replacement. A 2022 spending bill approved by Congress instructed the federal agency responsible for government real estate to select a site as expeditiously as possible from one of three that were previously identified during a 2016 proposal to move the agency: Greenbelt, Maryland.; Landover, Maryland.; and Springfield, Virginia. According to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported Jordans plans, he would prefer to see the FBI based at Huntsvilles Redstone Arsenal, a U.S. Army post where the FBI already has a growing campus that is home to more than 1,000 employees. Although Democrats view the proposal as nothing more than a dig at the FBI, Jordan argues investigators would be less likely to be infected by what he sees as liberal politics if the bureau were based in deep-red Alabama than alongside other government and national-security agencies in and around the nations capital, the publication says. The FBI began exploring a relocation of its headquarters more than a decade ago, but the effort was abandoned soon after Trump became president. Democrats accused Trump of interfering with the decision to protect business for a hotel he owned near the FBIs current headquarters. That hotel is now a Waldorf Astoria. Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. CLEVELAND, Ohio A trio of grants totaling nearly $24 million, announced Tuesday by the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, will speed up long-awaited park and trail projects designed to improve access to Lake Erie across Clevelands chronically underserved East Side. The foundations board voted to approve the grants in a quarterly meeting at its downtown headquarters on Monday. CLEVELAND, Ohio The Mandel Foundations announcement Tuesday that it has dedicated nearly $24 million in grants to improve lakefront trails, parks and public access to Lake Erie on the citys underserved East Side elicited jubilation, mostly. But there was also criticism of the decision by the nonprofit Western Reserve Land Conservancy to use part of a $10 million Mandel grant to help relocate residents in a mobile home community to make way for turning the site into part of a lakefront park. COLUMBUS, Ohio Officials in Secretary of State Frank LaRoses office told state elections officials on Tuesday that they can accept outdated absentee ballot application forms provided to voters as long as the form came from the state, and as long as voters still provide required information. That means that elections officials are clear to accept an outdated version of a state absentee ballot application form from 2017, like the ones mailed out earlier this week by Protect Our Constitution, the campaign group working to pass State Issue 1 in the Aug. 8 election. The campaign had told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer earlier Tuesday that it thought elections officials would reject the forms it had mailed to voters because of a new law that tightened the rules for the forms. But in a Tuesday evening email, Chris Burnett, LaRoses election director, reiterated to county board elections officials a directive that LaRoses office issued in February that said the old forms are OK, as long as they originally came from the state and as long as voters provide all the required information, despite parts of the form that misinform voters about some of the requirements. Were grateful that Ohioans voices can still be heard if they submit the proper ID, Protect Our Constitution spokesperson Spencer Gross said Tuesday evening. Read more: Coverage of State Issue 1 Representatives with Protect Our Constitution, the official campaign working to pass State Issue 1, erroneously mailed sympathetic voters a 2017 version of a state absentee ballot application form. Parts of the form were rendered obsolete by House Bill 458, a December law which changed voter ID requirements and changed the deadline by which voters must return the form to their county elections office to get a ballot. Voters following the 2017 form could provide information that would see their applications rejected. For instance, it says voters can provide a utility bill at their current address or a bank statement to prove their identity, although thats no longer the case. It also says the forms are due to the board of elections the Saturday before the election under HB458, they now are due the week before the election. While voters can use the outdated form, they still have to adhere to the new legal standards outlined in HB458. Before HB458, Ohio didnt have a standard absentee ballot application form, requiring only that voters put their requests in writing in a letter that includes certain required information, like their full name, address and proof of identification. But HB458 said that elections officials now can accept only the forms prescribed by the Ohio Secretary of State. Voter advocates are concerned that third-party groups wont understand the new requirements and as a result, people would see their attempts to vote blocked. Elections officials in Cuyahoga County recently rejected 30 applications after a community newspaper in Cleveland inadvertently published an non-standard absentee ballot application. LaRose has said that elections officials must contact any voters whose applications are rejected by issuing the wrong forms and provide them with the correct one. Need to Know: How to register, where to vote, when the polls are open State Issue 1, if voters approve it, would amend the state constitution to require future amendments to get a 60% supermajority in a statewide vote in a future in order to pass. Thats compared to the current 50% simple majority standard thats been in place for more than a century. It also would make it harder for potential ballot issues to qualify by expanding mandatory signature-gathering requirements for amendment campaigns. Voting yes on the issue would approve the change. A no vote would reject it. Lawmakers specifically scheduled the measure for a rare August election to try to foil an expected abortion-rights amendment that backers want to put before voters in November. Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer A previous version of this story gave an incorrect name for the pro-Issue 1 campaign group. It is called Protect Our Constitution, not Save Our Constitution. COLUMBUS, Ohio State Rep. Bob Young fell through a glass storm door while attempting to force his way into the home of a family member, where another family member was hiding after Young had assaulted them earlier in the night, according to police. The details are contained in a police report from the Summit County Sheriffs Office, released to cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer on Tuesday in response to a public records request. Youngs relative who attempted to block Young from entering the house suffered cuts on their arm as a result of the incident, the police report says. COLUMBUS, Ohio Tucked into the new two-year state budget bill passed by the General Assembly is $24 million to open civics institutes that state lawmakers say will crimp what they believe is liberal bias in teaching and research on five Ohio university campuses. The plan originated with Senate Bill 117 and was wrapped into the state budget. It was one of multiple bills that would have made wide-ranging changes at Ohios public universities, but other policy changes didnt make it into the final budget Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law earlier this month. SUNBURY, Ohio Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. A rising minimum wage. A lowered age of consent. A leftist attack on family and fatherhood. This, a panel of conservatives speaking at a county GOP event at a crowded Delaware County church Monday night, is what State Issue 1 is all about. While abortion is at the forefront now Republicans hastily scheduled an Aug. 8 vote on a referendum to make future Constitutional amendments harder, just before an expected November vote to constitutionally guarantee abortion access in Ohio the speakers widened the aperture for voters as they began casting early ballots and Election Day draws nearer. Backers of State Issue 1 have previously explained their focus on defending the Constitution. But in a campaign involving town halls hosted in churches around the state, the messaging shifted to describe a sprawling and existential threat from the political left. Liberals, boxed out of power in a GOP-dominated state government, want to use the Constitution to fundamentally change a way of life, according to Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis. Their goal is to destroy the family unit, and this is the first step to doing it, he said. READ: Campaigns off and running ahead of early voting start on State Issue 1 and abortion isnt far behind State Issue 1 would enact two key changes for future constitutional changes: For one, it would raise from 50% to 60% the threshold an amendment must clear on the ballot to pass; for two, it will dramatically increase the signature-gathering burden organizers face to get an issue on the ballot in the first place. Critics of the proposal include Democrats, labor unions, former bipartisan governors and attorneys general, the ACLU, the Fraternal Order of Police, and others, many of whom describe the measure as anti-Democratic. Their arguments vary, but generally center on the upside-down nature of a political system where 41% of voters can prevail over 59%. The amendment will permanently end majority rule, which has been law of the land since 1912, opponents say. But Beth Lear, a House Republican who represents the area, said that the criticism is silly because the U.S. is not a democracy but a constitutional Republic. Democracy, she said, is mob rule. She said pure democracy just lets the bullies win. She likened it to two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for lunch. She touted groups like the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Farm Bureau who back the amendment and disparaged those who dont she even called one of them a pedophile organization. She said a constitutional right to abortion amendment, which would eliminate parental rights in Ohio, is just the start. In 2024, who knows what could be on the ballot? A tax on our Second Amendment? Unions pushing for increased power? Elimination of age of consent laws? she said. No such proposed amendments have been submitted to state officials. Chris Dorr, executive director of Ohio Gun Owners, spoke as well. He skipped over his typically incendiary style and warned that liberals could one day target language in Ohios Constitution that grants citizens the right to bear arms for their defense and security. For decades, Ohio has been in a period of steady gun deregulation. Some of those rollbacks occurred just after mass shootings. But rather than the loosened gun laws, Dorr said its the kinds of policies that State Issue 1 could block that are causing the carnage. The policies of the left, their destruction of the family, their destruction of the church, their destruction of the roles of fathers, their destruction of our school system, the cumulative effect of that is whats manufacturing these monsters that are going out there and committing these shootings, he said. If the rules under State Issue 1 were applied retroactively, wed live in a fundamentally different Ohio. The minimum wage might still be $5.15 an hour. Non-white people and women wouldnt have been allowed in the National Guard. Our constitution wouldnt formally recognize womens suffrage. When asked about this point, Bryan Williams, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio, said the issues likely would have passed down the line when parties coalesce broader support than just a simple majority. At 60%, maybe they would have passed five years, two years, three years later, when they were ripe and ready, he said. If they were good ideas, they would have resurfaced and passed in due time. Attacks aimed at opponents of State Issue 1 came frequently. In opening the event, emcee Karl Von Valtier emphasized three in particular: The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim advocacy group; an organization called Cornbread and Collards; and Delta Sigma Theta, an African American sorority. Von Valtier, asked why his only examples pertained to Black or Muslim groups, said after the event he picked those three out of their randomness and seeming unrelatedness to the issue. At one point during the event, a woman in an American flag tank top and a candy red Make America Great Again hat screamed out Heil Hitler, seemingly in protest. She was asked to leave, which she did without incident, save for saying bye fascists! to the room. She was one of two people to disrupt the event, alongside one man who periodically yelled from the crowd a claim that Ohios elections are fixed. Early voting began Tuesday. Election Day is Aug. 8. Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Afghan interpreter who worked for U.S. military gunned down in Washington, D.C.: media Xinhua) 13:27, July 11, 2023 DOHA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- A ride-hailing driver who had long served as an interpreter for U.S. military in Afghanistan before he fled his motherland was lately gunned down in Washington, D.C., Qatar-based Al Jazeera reported Friday. Nasrat Ahmad Yar, 31, was found fatally shot on July 3 in his car while he was working as a ride-share driver late night in a neighborhood in northeastern Washington, DC., said the report. Having worked for the U.S. military for 10 years, Ahmad Yar fled to the United States in 2021 after the Taliban takeover, using a special visa offered for those who worked for the U.S. forces, according to the report. According to the U.S. State Department's latest estimates in June, around 97,000 Afghans have resettled in the United States since September 2021. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) CNBC's Jim Cramer on Monday advised investors to think less about how China affects American stocks. "No matter how disappointing the growth numbers we see out of the Chinese economy and they are plenty disappointing people keep wanting to buy American stocks that are seen as having major Chinese exposure," Cramer said. "American investors simply won't give up. They just have to have something that stands inside the thesis that China remains the promised land for anyone nimble enough to sell into their economy, even as their economy is falling apart." Cramer highlighted construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar , which he said is a "terrific story," but not a "China story." Caterpillar is more affected by factors such as the U.S. oil, infrastructure and data center markets, as well as global mineral markets, he said. Cramer also said retail behemoth Nike should not be considered a China stock, because even though the company is certainly popular there, it only makes up 14% of the business, versus 42% for North America and 26% for Europe. But Cramer acknowledged China does have an effect on some companies, such as Ralph Lauren , which is seeing significant growth in its Chinese market. He also mentioned Starbucks , which he said has plans to open thousands of new locations in China over the next few years. He said he supports buying stock in these companies as long as their business in America continues to hold up but warned that investors can no longer sink money into businesses based solely on their activities in China. "Go ahead, knock yourself out imagining how China exposure can boost the growth of American companies," Cramer said. "But I think you'd be better off finding a Chinese company that can accelerate its growth by being in America, because we are in much better shape than they are right now." Amazon is fighting its inclusion in the European Union's list of companies that are subject to landmark online content rules, marking the first U.S. challenge to the proposed legislation. The e-retailer on Tuesday filed a petition in Luxembourg's General Court arguing it should not be designated as one of the 17 "very large online platforms," or VLOPs, under the EU's Digital Services Act, which imposes stricter rules around policing illegal material on their platforms. Fellow U.S. tech giants Google , Meta and Apple are also subject to the rules. Amazon disputed it being labeled a VLOP under the act, saying the designation applies to companies with advertising as their primary revenue and that distribute speech and information. "The vast majority of our revenue comes from our retail business, we are not the largest retailer in any of the EU countries where we operate, and none of these largest retailers in each European country has been designated as a VLOP," an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. "If the VLOP designation were to be applied to Amazon and not to other large retailers across the EU, Amazon would be unfairly singled out and forced to meet onerous administrative obligations that don't benefit EU consumers." A representative for the European Commission, the EU's executive body, declined to comment. The DSA, which was implemented last November, requires companies with more than 45 million monthly active users to comply with a set of rules around policing hate speech, disinformation and counterfeits on their platforms. They must submit risk assessments, and conduct external and independent auditing, among other compliance measures, or else they risk facing fines of as much as 6% of their annual revenue. Last month, German online fashion and lifestyle retailer Zalando filed a suit contesting its designation as a VLOP, arguing retail constitutes the majority of its business. Dario Amodei of Anthropic, right, arrives to the White House for a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris on artificial intelligence, Thursday, May 4, 2023, in Washington. There's a new entrant in the budding AI arms race. As Microsoft -backed OpenAI and Google race to develop the most advanced chatbots, powered by generative artificial intelligence, Anthropic is investing heavily to keep up. Just a few months after raising $750 million over two financing rounds, the startup is debuting a new AI chatbot: Claude 2. Founded in 2021 by former OpenAI research executives and funded by companies including Google, Salesforce and Zoom , Anthropic is opening up its chatbot technology to consumers for the first time with Claude 2. For the past two months, the company's AI models have been tested by businesses such as Slack, Notion and Quora, and Anthropic has accumulated a waitlist of more than 350,000 people requesting access to Claude's application programming interface and its consumer offering. "We have been focused on businesses, on making Claude as robustly safe as possible," said Daniela Amodei, who co-founded Anthropic with her brother, Dario. "We really feel that this is the safest version of Claude that we've developed so far, and so we've been very excited to get it into the hands of a wider range of both businesses and individual consumers." Claude 2 will initially only be available to users in the U.S. and U.K., and Anthropic plans to expand availability in the coming months. Since OpenAI introduced ChatGPT to the public late last year, the tech world has invested heavily in the potential of generative AI chatbots, which respond to text prompts with sophisticated and conversational replies. Academics and ethicists have voiced significant concerns about the technology's tendency to propagate bias, but even so, it's quickly made its way into schools, online travel, the medical industry, online advertising and more. In March, OpenAI released GPT-4, its biggest update to the underlying tech behind ChatGPT. Two months later, it allowed ChatGPT to start browsing the internet so responses were no longer limited by its 2021 training data cutoff date, but it then disabled the chatbot's internet browsing ability after reports of problematic uses such as bypassing paywalls. Google announced its Bard competitor in February, and has since updated the chatbot's math and coding skills and embedded the AI service in more products. Anthropic's ambitions are no less grand. The company says Claude 2 has the ability to summarize up to about 75,000 words, which could be the length of a book. Users can input large data sets, and ask for summaries in the form of a memo, letter or story. ChatGPT, by contrast, can handle about 3,000 words. Aretha Franklin performs onstage in New York City, Nov. 7, 2017. Dimitrios Kambouris | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images A jury determined which of Aretha Franklin's two wills was valid A will is a legal document that details your wishes for your property and assets upon death. In other words, it spells out who gets your stuff and in what amounts. Parents with minor children can also nominate a legal guardian for their kids. You also name an executor in your will to ensure your wishes are followed. If someone dies without a legal will, it means they die "intestate." Each state has laws that determine how an estate's property is divided in those circumstances. Franklin didn't have a formal, typewritten will. Instead, she jotted down her wishes on two handwritten wills one dated in 2010 and another in 2014. Both were discovered in Franklin's Detroit home months after the Queen of Soul's death from pancreatic cancer in 2018. watch now The 2014 will was found in a notebook under a couch cushion, and the 2010 document was found in a locked cabinet. Franklin, who died at age 76, had four sons. The legal dispute over the estate was between her sons, who disagreed over which handwritten will should govern their mother's estate. One son, Ted White II, thought the 2010 will should control the estate, while two other sons, Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin, favored the 2014 document, according to the Associated Press. There are differences between the documents. For instance, the 2014 version says Kecalf Franklin and grandchildren would get his mother's main home in Bloomfield Hills, valued at $1.1 million when she died, according to the AP. However, the 2010 version splits the home evenly between White and Kecalf Franklin. Both wills seem to indicate the sons would share income from music and copyrights. Everybody should have either a will or a trust. [Otherwise] state law will dictate where your property goes. Richard Behrendt Estate planner Certain states such as Michigan recognize handwritten wills also known as holographic wills as valid if they meet specific criteria, said Charlie Douglas, a certified financial planner and president of HH Legacy Investments in Atlanta. Generally, the more recent will takes precedence over an older one, Douglas said. "There are too many ways it could go wrong," Behrendt said of drafting a do-it-yourself will. "This [proceeding] will be talked about in law schools in every state in the country. "This is why you don't want to do it on a note pad," he added. Even a proper will is superseded in some cases A will is superseded in some cases, such as with beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, Douglas said. That may also happen if a decedent owns property in "joint tenancy," whereby two or more people own the property together, Douglas said. Let's say a married couple owns an investment account in joint tenancy. This legal arrangement dictates that the surviving spouse inherits the account, taking precedence over the language in a will, Douglas said. Berkshire Hathaway Energy has agreed to purchase a 50% stake in the Cove Point liquefied natural gas facility for $3.3 billion in cash. Warren Buffett's big energy and utility division bought the stake from Dominion Energy and will now own a 75% limited partnership stake in Cove Point LNG located in Lusby, Maryland. A subsidiary of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners holds the remaining 25% . While the deal, which was announced Monday, isn't large in size for Berkshire , it builds on a growing bet on energy infrastructure at the conglomerate as it gains control of one of the rare functional facilities in the U.S. that can export LNG. "It builds on their long-term theme of energy resources becoming more valuable and ownership of one of only a few US LNG exporters," said Bill Stone, chief investment officer at Glenview Trust and a Berkshire shareholder. The Cove Point LNG Terminal has a storage capacity of 14.6 billion cubic feet and a daily send-out capacity of 1.8 billion cubic feet. The firm has a long-term contract with Sumitomo Corp., a Japanese trading company that Buffett also invested in. Berkshire Hathaway first bought a stake in Dominion's gas pipeline and storage assets for $4 billion in 2020. Greg Abel, Berkshire Hathaway Energy's chairman and former CEO, previously told CNBC the deal in 2020 was made through a strong relationship he had with the prior Dominion CEO Tom Farrell. Abel is now vice chairman for noninsurance operations at Berkshire Hathaway and the successor to the 92-year-old "Oracle of Omaha." Buffett said Abel has taken on many of the responsibilities at the conglomerate. In 2022, Berkshire proposed spending nearly $4 billion to help generate more wind and solar power in Iowa. At the same time, the conglomerate has been dramatically increasing its exposure to two traditional energy companies Occidental Petroleum and Chevron. "Buffett has liked pipelines for a long time, given their toll bridge-type revenues rather than pure commodity exposure, and this is likely similar," Stone said. "Natural gas prices are down a ton, but I think most of these exporters work on long-term take or pay contracts." Natural gas futures have fallen more than 40% this year to $2.709 per million British thermal units. The Eastern & Oriental Express is heading back to the tracks. Services for the train service are restarting in February 2024, according to an announcement today by the train's owner, the luxury travel company Belmond. The passenger train, long considered one of the most luxurious rail rides in Asia, started operating in 1993, connecting Bangkok to Singapore. It stopped running in 2020 at the outset of the pandemic. The Eastern & Oriental is returning with 15 carriages, including two restaurant cars, one piano bar car and an open-air observation car. It's eight sleeping cars will have three cabin categories Pullman, State and Presidential all with air-conditioning and private bathrooms. Bookings for 2024 opened today with rates from $3,410 per person for a three-day journey, which includes all meals, beverages and scheduled activities. A Boeing 737 Max is displayed during the Farnborough Airshow, in Farnborough, on July 18, 2022. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) Boeing handed over 60 new aircraft last month, the most since March, as the manufacturer tries to ramp up production of some of its bestselling planes. So far this year, Boeing delivered 266 aircraft to customers, shy of the 316 rival Airbus has handed over. Both manufacturers have struggled to increase output fast enough to avoid delays to airline customers eager for more planes during a boom in air travel. Boeing said Tuesday it logged orders for 288 aircraft, net of cancellations and conversions, in June, most of them from the massive order Air India announced earlier this year and firmed up at the Paris Air Show last month. The 470-jet order was split between Boeing and Airbus. Boeing's June tally included nearly 40 787 Dreamliners for new Saudi carrier Riyadh Air, part of a deal announced in March. Boeing's total net orders for the month came in at 305 aircraft after it added some planes to its backlog. The company routinely removes or adds planes to its backlog for reasons including whether a customer is likely to have financing to buy the aircraft. Boeing is scheduled to report second-quarter results on July 26, when it will update investors on its plans to increase production of its 737 Max planes and 787 Dreamliners. Writer E. Jean Carroll leaves a Manhattan court house after a jury found former President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990's, New York City, May 9, 2023. The Department of Justice on Tuesday dropped its argument that Donald Trump was acting within the scope of his office as president of the United States in 2019, when he allegedly defamed writer E. Jean Carroll, who had accused him of rape. The DOJ's move, disclosed in a letter to Trump's and Carroll's lawyers in federal court in Manhattan, means the department will no longer seek to shield Trump from civil liability in Carroll's pending defamation lawsuit against him, which is set for trial in January. That nearly three-year effort, if it had been approved, would have killed Carroll's lawsuit. The letter comes two months after a trial for a separate federal lawsuit by Carroll that ended with a jury ordering Trump to pay her $5 million for sexually abusing her in the dressing room in a New York department store in the mid-1990s, and for defaming her when he again denied her rape claim last year. The DOJ had not played a role in that related lawsuit, as the alleged actions occurred outside of Trump tenure in the White House. Trump is appealing the verdict and jury award. The DOJ on Tuesday cited a recent decision by a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., which suggested Trump could be sued personally if his statements about Carroll did not have the purpose of serving the U.S. government. The department also cited the fact that Trump's allegedly defamatory statements about Carroll continued after he left the White House in early 2021, and that those statements are included in an amended suit Carroll filed against him last month. "The Department of Justice is declining to certify under the Westfall Act ... that defendant Donald J. Trump was acting within the scope of his office and employment as President of the United States when he made the statements that form the basis of the defamation claims in plaintiff's Amended Complaint in this action," wrote Brian Boynton, principal deputy assistant attorney general of the DOJ's civil division. "The Department has determined that there is no longer a sufficient basis to conclude that the former President was motivated by "more than an insignificant" desire to serve the United States Government," Boynton wrote. Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, in a statement, said, "We are grateful that the Department of Justice has reconsidered its position." "We have always believed that Donald Trump made his defamatory statements about our client in June 2019 out of personal animus, ill will, and spite, and not as President of the United States," Kaplan said. "Now that one of the last obstacles has been removed, we look forward to trial in E Jean Carroll's original case in January 2024." A Trump spokesman told CNBC, "This witch-hunt, funded and carried out by woke, radical, liberal Democrats is now even more exposed as a partisan sham, as the Department of Justice has broken with long-standing tradition in a desperate attempt to perpetuate this hoax." "The corrupt Biden Administration is politically weaponizing the justice system against President Trump because he is the overwhelming favorite to defeat Joe Biden and take back the White House," the spokesman said. Trump, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, was indicted by a federal grand jury in May on charges related to his alleged illegal retention of classified government records, and obstruction of justice. Jack Smith, a DOJ special counsel who is prosecuting that case, also is overseeing a separate criminal investigation of Trump in connection with his effort to reverse his loss in the 2020 election to President Biden, and his actions leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Trump, while president in June 2019, said Carroll was lying and motivated by money and political animus when she went public with her allegation that he raped her in Bergdorf Goodman in 1996 or 1997. Carroll sued him later in 2019 for defamation. A year later, the DOJ, then under the control of Trump-appointed Attorney General Bill Barr, intervened in the lawsuit, arguing that because Trump was president when he made the comments at the center of the case, the United States should replace him as the defendant in the case. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected the DOJ's bid, but the department appealed the denial to the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and continued pressing its argument even under the Biden administration. That appeals court later asked the federal appeals court in Washington to weigh in on the question of whether District of Columbia employment law allowed Trump to be sued for defamation for comments made as a government employee. In its letter Tuesday, the DOJ noted: "The D.C. Court of Appeals, however, has now made clear that D.C. law does not hold that any statement, whatever its actual purpose, is by definition made for official purposes simply because it is made using official channels of communication." The letter also said: "Moreover, the circumstantial evidence of Mr. Trump's subjective intent in making the allegedly defamatory statements does not support a determination in this case that he was sufficiently motivated by a desire to serve the United States Government." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his country's bid to become a member of the European Union, amid wrangling over Sweden's NATO entry, but political experts aren't completely convinced of the Turkish leader's aims. Erdogan surprised many on Monday by linking Sweden's bid to join NATO with his country's accession to the EU. He said European nations should "open the way" for Turkey to join the political bloc in exchange for Ankara's approval of Sweden to be a member of the military alliance. But these are two completely different processes for two very separate institutions. "I was quite surprised he linked this," Maria Demertzis, senior fellow at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, told CNBC Tuesday. "You are throwing a fish net to see what you can get," she said of Erdogan's move. Turkey and the EU have had a challenging relationship over the years. Ankara applied to be part of the EU back in 1987 but, after several bumps in the road, talks to join the political group froze in 2018. The EU deemed that Turkey was putting forward a lot of political reforms that actually moved it "further away" from the bloc. One of the policy changes that infuriated the EU was a 2017 referendum that gave Erdogan more executive powers. "He needs money," an EU official, who did not want to be named due to the sensitive nature of the topic told CNBC Tuesday, regarding why Erdogan brought up this issue again now. "All this new friendship with the West. He has not changed. He wants something," the same official added. A spokesperson for the Turkish representation office in Brussels was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 16: Protestors from a range of different trade unions attend a rally against UK government plans to restrict the ability of public sector workers to strike are seen outside Downing Street on January 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Guy Smallman/Getty Images) Wages excluding bonuses in the U.K. grew at their joint-fastest rate on record in the three months to May, rising by 7.3% from the same period last year, the Office for National Statistics revealed Tuesday. The country's tight labor market showed signs of easing as the unemployment rate rose unexpectedly from 3.8% to 4% in the three months to April, while vacancies continued to fall. The employment rate rose to 7.6% on the back of an increase in part-time employment. The economic inactivity rate declined from the previous quarter to 20.8%, continuing a recent downward trend. Stuart Cole, chief macro economist at Equiti Capital, said the Bank of England would be satisfied with the fall in payrolled employees and rise in unemployment claimants, which suggest the labor market is finally beginning to shed jobs. However, he said the strength of earnings figures would remain "disconcerting" for policymakers, suggesting monetary policy may need to tighten further in order to rein in core inflation. "These figures show that workers are still managing to secure hefty wage rises despite the apparent cooling in the labour market as a whole, possibly reflecting attempts by companies to prevent skilled workers from leaving, but also suggestive that the softening market the headline numbers are suggesting may not be being seen on the ground," Cole said. The Bank of England has repeatedly warned that high wage growth remains a significant impediment to its efforts to bring inflation lower and today's figures will do nothing to convince it that the labor market is no longer running hot, leaving it to possibly conclude that monetary policy needs to be tightened further. Jack Kennedy, U.K. economist at hiring platform Indeed, suggested a decelerating in the single-month pay growth figure for May from 7.7% to 7.1% suggested that April "may have been the peak for wage growth after that month's 9.7% increase in the National Living Wage." However, he agreed that the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee will need to see evidence of moderating wage growth "sooner rather than later" to dissuade it from "further, and perhaps substantial" hikes to interest rates. Elliot Smith Emergency services work following flooding, in Montpelier, Vermont, July 11, 2023 in this still image taken from video obtained from social media. Neal P. Goswami | via Reuters A storm that dumped up to two months of rain in two days in Vermont and other parts of the Northeast brought more flooding Tuesday to communities marooned by water, including the state capital, where a dam just upstream was threatening to overflow. The flooding has already caused tens of millions of dollars in damage, officials said, with more to come: If water pours over the dam on the Winooski River that flows through Montpelier, it could surge through downtown blocks where the floods were already waist-high. City officials said Tuesday afternoon they had not seen any significant changes in the water levels at the dam for the last two hours and that they would continue to monitor it through the night. A person rows a paddle board in a flooded area in Montpelier, Vermont, July 11, 2023. Brian Snyder | Reuters "Floodwaters continue to rise in some places, like our capital city, and have surpassed the levels seen during Tropical Storm Irene," Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said. Irene killed six people in Vermont in August 2011, washing homes off their foundations and damaging or destroying more than 200 bridges and 500 miles (805 kilometers) of highway. The sun was out Tuesday and more sunshine was expected Wednesday. But more rain was forecast Thursday and Friday. "We are not out of the woods," Scott said. "This is nowhere near over." He tweeted that the roads around his house were impassable Tuesday morning, so he had to hike through the woods to reach the state's emergency response center. A vehicle makes its way through a flooded street, in Montpelier, Vermont, July 11, 2023, in this picture obtained from social media. Neal P. Goswami | via Reuters One woman was swept away in New York. There have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the flooding in Vermont, where swift-water rescue teams aided by National Guard helicopter crews have done more than 100 rescues, Vermont Emergency Management said Tuesday. That included an "extremely high-risk rescue" by a visiting New Hampshire team, of a person who decided to drive around a barricaded road, said Mike Cannon of Vermont Urban Search and Rescue. "The car was washed off the roadway almost into the river," he said, urging drivers to pay attention to road closures. Dozens of roads and highways were closed, including many along the spine of the Green Mountains, and flash flood warnings and advisories were in effect for much of the state, from the Massachusetts line to Canada. A man walks down street flooded by recent rain storms in Montpelier, Vermont, U.S., July 11, 2023. Brian Snyder | Reuters Downtown Montpelier, a city of 8,000, was swamped between the capitol building and the Winooski River. Montpelier Town Manager Bill Fraser warned that the Wrightsville Dam several miles to the north could exceed capacity for the first time. "There would be a large amount of water coming into Montpelier which would drastically add to the existing flood damage," he said, adding that there are very few evacuation options remaining. "People in at risk areas may wish to go to upper floors in their houses." Just before noon on Tuesday, Montpelier Police said waters had risen to within a foot of the top of the dam, and every foot of water that goes over the spillway would double the flow into the city. Multiple rescue crews were positioned in Montpelier, where dispatch, police and fire operations were relocated to a water treatment plant after heavy flooding at City Hall and the police and fire departments. Also, the radio towers they use for emergency calls are not functional, Police Chief Eric Nordenson said. People in canoe and a paddle board pass cars partially submerged by flood waters from recent rain storms in Montpelier, Vermont, U.S., July 11, 2023. Brian Snyder | Reuters Shelters were set up at churches and town halls, but at least one refuge had to close as flooding worsened. Delivering food and water to more than 200 people sheltering at the Barre Municipal Auditorium has been a challenge. "We're trying to find paths to get supplies in to them," said John Montes, American Red Cross of Northern New England regional disaster officer. The slow-moving storm reached New England after hitting parts of New York and Connecticut on Sunday. Some communities received between 7 and 9 inches (18 centimeters and 23 centimeters) of rain by Monday night. Towns in southwest New Hampshire had heavy flooding, and road washouts earlier in the week. Emergency services work following flooding, in Montpelier, Vermont, July 11, 2023 in this still image taken from video obtained from social media. Neal P. Goswami | via Reuters Syd Straw, who was trapped in her house near the small town of Weston, appreciated Tuesday's sunshine, but said she still had water in her basement and a crumbled driveway that reminded her a bit of the Grand Canyon. "I can hike out of my broken driveway and get onto the sliver of dirt road that remains," she said. The Connecticut River, swollen from the heavy rains in Vermont, was expected to crest above flood stage Wednesday in Hartford and towns to the south, causing minor to moderate flooding, according to the National Weather Service. President Joe Biden, attending the annual NATO summit in Lithuania, declared an emergency for Vermont and authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help coordinate disaster relief efforts and provide assistance. People paddle a kayak across a bridge on a street flooded by recent rain storms in Montpelier, Vermont, U.S., July 11, 2023. Brian Snyder | Reuters FEMA sent a team to Vermont, along with emergency communications equipment, and is prepared to keep shelters supplied if the state requests it. The agency also is monitoring flooding in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire, regional spokesperson Dennis Pinkham said Tuesday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged people on Tuesday "to please, please be safe, and follow safety protocols." A general view of a flooded area, in Montpelier, Vermont, July 10, 2023 in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. Maggie Lenz | via Reuters Road crews cleared debris Tuesday, reopening Interstate 89 as it follows the river between Montpelier and Middlesex. Rescuers from North Carolina, Michigan and Connecticut joined Vermonters in among those reaching towns that had been isolated since torrents of rain began belting the state. One of the worst-hit places was New York's Hudson Valley, where a woman identified by police as Pamela Nugent, 43, died as she tried to escape her flooded home with her dog in the hamlet of Fort Montgomery. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point was pounded with more than 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain that sent debris sliding onto some roads and washed others out. "Nine inches of rain in this community," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a briefing on a muddy street in Highland Falls, just south of the academy on the west bank of the Hudson River. "They're calling this a '1,000 year event.'" Atmospheric scientists say destructive flooding events like these happen more frequently as storms form in a warmer atmosphere, and the planet's rising temperatures will only make it worse. Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of Xpeng with a buy rating, calling for nearly 30% upside for the Chinese electric-vehicle maker. The Wall Street firm set a 12-month price target on U.S.-listed Xpeng shares at $18.10, a roughly 28% gain from Monday's close of $14.15. The stock is up more than 5% Tuesday following Goldman's bullish comment. "In the near-term, we expect the company's vehicle delivery volume to regain momentum with the latest G6 model launch, and margin to improve on larger vehicle delivery scale together with battery pricing decline," Goldman said in a note. The firm said it's confident on the competitiveness of Xpeng's latest car the G6 Ultra Smart Coupe SUV as well as the company's capability to launch more compelling products going forward. The G6 was launched at the end of the second quarter, with deliveries beginning this month. "We believe the market hasn't fully reflected G6's potential, as it ranks No.1 among comparable models, and in our view is the most competitive product released by XPeng to date," Goldman said. Last week, Xpeng reported a quarterly return to growth for car deliveries, following more than a year of declines. The company said it delivered 23,205 cars in the second quarter of 2023, logging a 27% quarter-on-quarter rise. This surpassed Xpeng's own delivery forecast of between 21,000 units and 22,000 units. Shares of Xpeng have already rallied about 50% year to date. Goldman said the Guangzhou, China-headquartered company could capture the EV market overseas in the long run. "As a pure EV maker at its volume ramp-up stage, XPeng currently prefers to sell into overseas markets through exports only per its latest strategy," Goldman said. "In the longer term, we believe the pure-EV setup makes the company well positioned to seize the overseas markets' EV demand." CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. The U.S. and some other NATO member states are not willing to allow Ukraine to join the alliance right now, despite Kyiv's repeated calls to join and insistence that its membership should be approved during this week's NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. "In terms of Ukraine itself, President Biden, the Germans, and others, the French, are not willing to give Ukraine membership right now," Ariel Cohen, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, told CNBC. "President Biden said after the war is over Ukraine will get the membership," he said. "The big question of course is if all of the territory of Ukraine is not liberated, what about that? Does that commit NATO to a war against Russia to liberate the Ukrainian territory? Probably not." The primary concern among the United States, France and Germany is the role of Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which stipulates that all members must defend any member state that is attacked by a non-NATO state. As a result of that, NATO does not accept new member states that are currently at war or have land occupied by an adversarial power. "The majority of the alliance stands firmly with us," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video message Monday. "When we applied for membership of NATO, we spoke frankly: de facto, Ukraine is already in the alliance," he said. "Our weapons are the weapons of the alliance. Our values are what the alliance believes in Vilnius must confirm all this." Natasha Turak Check out the companies making the biggest moves in premarket trading. JetBlue Airways JetBlue Airways lost nearly 2% after Evercore ISI downgraded the airline to underweight, citing the recent sharp rally in shares and balance sheet concerns. Zillow Group The stock popped 4.7% after being upgraded by Piper Sandler to overweight from neutral. Analyst Thomas Champion also hiked his price target to $62 per share, suggesting 33% upside from Monday's close. Product optionality and new initiatives, as well as sequential improvements in the housing macro environment were among the reasons for his call. JPMorgan Chase The Wall Street heavyweight added 1.2% in premarket trading after an upgrade from Jefferies to buy from hold Tuesday. The firm also labeled JPMorgan Chase as "best-in-class." U.S. Bancorp Shares of the Minnesota-based bank gained 2.2% following an upgrade to buy from neutral by Bank of America. Analyst Ebrahim Poonawala said U.S. Bancorp is among the highest quality franchises in the U.S. banking industry, with its scale, earnings and strong execution expected to drive superior earnings growth and stock outperformance. Amazon Shares ticked 0.8% higher as the e-commerce giant kicked off its highly anticipated Prime Day summer sale, which goes through Wednesday. Wells Fargo also added Amazon to its Signature Picks list, citing better expectations for Amazon Web Services, Prime Day revenue growth and a risk/reward that is still favorable. WD-40 Shares jumped more than 5% after the lubricant and rust-remover maker reported fiscal third-quarter results postmarket Monday. WD-40 posted $141.7 million in total net sales, a 15% increase from the prior year. 3M Shares rose nearly 2% in premarket trading following an upgrade to neutral from underperform by Bank of America. The bank said 3M has positive catalysts ahead related to litigation settlements, restructuring and the planned spinoff for the health-care business. Zions Bancorp , Truist The bank stocks were under pressure Tuesday morning after Jefferies downgraded both Zions and Truist to hold from buy, lowering its earnings estimates for the two companies. Shares of Zions fell 1.5% in premarket trading, while Truist's were down 1%. Iovance Biotherapeutics Iovance Biotherapeutics fell more than 11%. The biotech company on Monday said the pricing of its underwritten public offering, of 20 million shares of common stock, would be at $7.50 per share. The gross proceeds from the offering are set to be about $150 million. CNBC's Jesse Pound, Alex Harring, Samantha Subin, Brian Evans, Sarah Min and Michael Bloom contributed reporting. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to back Sweden's bid to join NATO, clearing the latter's pathway to become a part of the military alliance. "Completing Sweden's accession to NATO is a historic step that benefits the security of all NATO allies at this critical time. It makes us all stronger and safer," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on the eve of the two-day NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Erdogan had blocked the move for a year, approving Finland's bid first. Ankara's objections were complex, but centered mainly on Sweden's support for Kurdish groups that Turkey considers to be terrorists, and on weapons embargoes that both Sweden and Finland, along with other EU countries, imposed on Turkey for targeting Kurdish militias in Syria. The hold up spurred protests against Turkey in Sweden's capital, which escalated at the beginning of the year when far-right demonstrators burned a Quran. The move was swiftly criticized and threatened to derail Sweden's NATO membership bid. NATO said Sweden and Turkey have cooperated closely to address the latter's security concerns since last year's summit. "Sweden has amended its constitution, changed its laws, significantly expanded its counter-terrorism cooperation against the PKK, and resumed arms exports to Turkey," the statement said, referring to the Kurdish Workers' Party which Ankara had designated as a terrorist organization. The nations also agreed that counterterrorism cooperation is a long-term effort, which will continue beyond Sweden's accession to NATO. U.S. President Joe Biden praised the development, saying "I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkiye on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area." Turkey greenlighting the bid was, however, something that had been "predicted for some time," especially if Erdogan were reelected for a third term as he would no longer need to use the issue to rally nationalist support, said William Courtney, adjunct senior fellow at RAND. Prior to Turkey's elections in May, the country's presidential spokesperson in March said that Ankara had "left the door open" to Stockholm's bid to be a part of the military alliance. NATO's expansion along Europe's eastern flank with Finland and Sweden's membership could also make the military alliance "much stronger," Courtney added. "The addition especially of Finland up in the northern flank, brings a whole new capability for NATO along the eastern edge." Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha speaks with members of the press after casting his vote in the Thai General Election on May 14, 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Tuesday said he will retire from politics, nine years after the former general seized power in a military coup. His announcement comes ahead of a much-anticipated vote for Thailand's new prime minister this Thursday. Chan-ocha will play no part in that vote because he, along with his conservative United Thai Nation party, suffered an election rout in mid-May. "From now on, I would like to announce my retirement from politics. By resigning from the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party ," he said in a statement on Facebook, according to a Google translation. Chan-ocha said he would stay in a caretaker role until a new prime minister is elected. His retirement is likely to put to rest any speculation that he would still remain in a permanent capacity. The country's young and urban population voted to give the liberal progressive Move Forward Party an unprecedented majority in the new lower house of representatives. This backing nevertheless falls short of the 376 votes that party leader Pita Limjaroenrat to stake his claim as Thailand's next prime minister. Limjaroenrat has 312 from his eight-party coalition in the 500-seat lower house, which means he would still require the support of about 64 more votes from the 250-member Senate a body appointed by Chan-ocha and the royalist military establishment, following the coup of 2014. Signs stating everything is on sale at a Buy Buy Baby store in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Feb. 6, 2023. Buy Buy Baby's stores are set to disappear after a last ditch effort to save the chain and keep the business alive fell apart, CNBC has learned. Brand management firm Go Global Retail, which owns children's apparel company Janie and Jack, was eager to buy the beloved Bed Bath & Beyond chain and keep it running, but ultimately couldn't reach an agreement on valuation, the firm's CEO Jeff Streader told CNBC. Lender Sixth Street Partners, Bed Bath & Beyond's lead creditor, determined it could recover more of its losses than what Go Global was willing to offer by selling Buy Buy Baby's intellectual property, auctioning off its leases and moving ahead with liquidation sales. Dream on Me Industries, a little-known New Jersey-based retailer and one of Buy Buy Baby's former suppliers, won the chain's trademark and digital assets for $15.5 million after Bed Bath & Beyond failed to receive any higher bids. Go Global believed there was a path to close as recently as Monday, but in the end, it couldn't agree on a number with Sixth Street, Streader said. "We were being fair in our offer. Sixth Street was not unreasonable but there was a difference in opinion on valuation," he said. "We wish the IP bid winners success in their journey." In total, Go Global's offer had a higher dollar amount than Dream on Me's, but not by much because "there was a huge erosion of value in the last six weeks," according to a person close to the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. If the firm's offer was accepted, it would've needed to put up additional capital at the time of the sale to keep stores running and the way its bid was constructed didn't factor in the cost of Buy Buy Baby's intellectual property, said another person close to the matter. While Sixth Street would've preferred to keep stores open, Bed Bath didn't receive a viable bid to allow that, said the person. When the auction process first began, Go Global was prepared to offer a "substantially higher" price, said one of the people. In May, the firm was seeking an additional $50 million in capital to shore up its bid, CNBC previously reported. However, nearly three months into liquidation sales at Buy Buy Baby's 120 stores, there was very little left to bid on besides its IP, empty stores, leases and whatever inventory was left, said the source. For the past several weeks, Bed Bath & Beyond has repeatedly pushed back and split up the bankruptcy-run auction process for Buy Buy Baby so it could secure higher bids and find a firm that was willing to keep stores running. However, each time the auction was pushed back, it was only delayed by about a week or so, which "definitely deterred prospective bidders or investors," said the source. "Most people cannot move that quickly," the source added. During a hearing in federal bankruptcy court in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday, Judge Vincent Papalia approved the sale of Buy Buy Baby's intellectual property to Dream on Me as one of the bidder's staffers, who appeared virtually via Zoom for the hearing, was seen smoking a cigarette on screen. Bed Bath & Beyond's lawyers said it was "unfortunate" they weren't able to secure a buyer as Papalia and other attorneys present for the hearing expressed their disappointment that the chain couldn't be saved. "I share in the disappointment for the lack of going concern bids," said Papalia. "It's a shame, I guess both parts are not going forward and that is disappointing. I had higher hopes going in but sometimes, those hopes aren't realized." Walt Nauta (L), a US Navy veteran and a White House military valet to former US president Donald Trump, and Stanley Woodward (R), lawyer, arrive at the James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building on July 06, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Former President Donald Trump on Monday night asked a federal court to hold off on setting a date for the criminal trial over his handling of classified documents, arguing that the unprecedented case requires "a measured consideration and timeline." Attorneys for Trump and Walt Nauta, the former president's valet and co-defendant, also noted that it will be "challenging" for them to prepare for a trial before the Nov. 5, 2024, presidential election, for which Trump is seeking the Republican nomination. "There is simply no question any trial of this action during the pendency of a Presidential election will impact both the outcome of that election and, importantly, the ability of the Defendants to obtain a fair trial," the attorneys argued. Their joint court filing in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida came in response to the Department of Justice, which had already asked the court to delay the start of the trial by nearly four months to mid-December. But the defense attorneys said that that proposed timeline was "unrealistic," based on the volume of evidence and special circumstances surrounding the case alone. Their 12-page filing put forward a slew of reasons to "postpone any consideration of a new trial date." They said the case will involve significant legal questions including one, the "intersection" between the charges against them and the Presidential Records Act, that has "never been addressed by any court." They also gestured toward the complexities of discussing classified material in a criminal trial and the potential difficulty of selecting a jury during a presidential election. The attorneys also said they believe the indictment against Trump and Nauta will ultimately be dismissed. Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, had initially scheduled the former president's criminal trial to start on Aug. 14. Court watchers and legal experts widely expect that the trial will be postponed to a much later date to give the parties adequate time to prepare. Nauta had only recently pleaded not guilty to the six counts against him because his arraignment was twice delayed. Nauta is charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding and corruptly concealing documents, and making false representations. Trump was arraigned weeks earlier, pleading not guilty to 37 criminal counts. The sensitive subject matter at the heart of the case could also lengthen the timeline. Since it centers on the top secret documents stored at Trump's residence, the case and eventual trial will need to adhere to the federal statute that governs how the proceedings will play out. The Justice Department and Nauta's lawyers had clashed earlier Monday about when a pre-trial hearing focused on that statute, called the Classified Information Procedures Act or CIPA, should take place. The DOJ opposed Nauta's request to delay that hearing, which was set for Friday, arguing it was unnecessary. In a subsequent filing Monday evening, Trump's attorneys said they had struck an agreement with the DOJ to hold the CIPA hearing Tuesday, July 18. TikTok logo is displayed on the screen of a smartphone. U.S. lawmakers are considering changes to address concerns about a bill that would give the Biden administration new powers to ban Chinese-owned TikTok, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee who has cosponsored the legislation said on Monday. Democratic Senator Mark Warner told Reuters that aggressive lobbying by the ByteDance-owned short video app TikTok against the Restrict Act "slowed a bit of our momentum" after it was introduced in March. Warner said lawmakers have "a proposal on a series of amendments to make it explicitly clear" and address criticisms, including that individual Americans could be impacted or that the bill represents a broad expansion of government power. "We can take care of those concerns in a fair way," Warner said. The legislation endorsed by the White House would grant the Commerce Department new authority to review, block, and address a range of transactions involving foreign information and communications technology that pose national security risks. "I will grant TikTok this, they spent $100 million in lobbying and slowed a bit of our momentum," Warner said, adding that initially it seemed it would be almost "too easy" to get the bill approved. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Warner's assessment of its lobbying. In this photo illustration, boxes of the diabetes drug Ozempic rest on a pharmacy counter in Los Angeles, April 17, 2023. The European Union's drug regulator on Tuesday said it has broadened an investigation into the risk of suicidal thoughts and self-injury among patients taking Novo Nordisk 's Ozempic, Wegovy and Saxenda drugs to include other weight loss and diabetes medications. The European Medicines Agency didn't specify which additional drugs are now included in the investigation, but it could potentially include Eli Lilly 's diabetes drug Mounjaro, which is approved in the EU. Other companies such as Pfizer and Amgen are developing similar products. The EMA said it is now evaluating about 150 reports of possible cases of self-injury and suicidal thoughts in patients taking weight loss and diabetes drugs. It's still unclear if the medicines caused the events or whether they are linked to patients' underlying conditions or other factors, the statement said. The EMA expects to finish its probe in November, according to a statement. On Monday, the agency told CNBC it launched an investigation into the matter after the Icelandic Medicines Agency flagged three cases of suicidal thoughts and self-injury in patients taking drugs containing liraglutide and semaglutide. Liraglutide is the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's weight loss drug Saxenda. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the Danish company's weight loss injection, Wegovy, and its diabetes counterpart, Ozempic. Liraglutide and semaglutide are part of a class of highly popular drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They mimic a hormone produced in the gut called GLP-1 to suppress a person's appetite and ultimately aid with weight loss. Those drugs can also help people manage Type 2 diabetes because they encourage insulin release from the pancreas, lowering blood sugar levels. Novo Nordisk said in a statement to CNBC on Monday that "safety data collected from large clinical trial programs and post marketing surveillance have not demonstrated a causal association between semaglutide or liraglutide and suicidal and self-harming thoughts." The company said it is "continuously performing surveillance of the data from ongoing clinical trials and real-world use of its products and collaborates closely with the authorities to ensure patient safety and adequate information to healthcare professionals." The EMA's investigation could potentially establish new side effects associated with blockbuster drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, which are already known to cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Suicidal behavior is not currently listed as a side effect in the EU product information for any GLP-1 receptor agonists. The U.S. prescribing information for Novo Nordisk's Saxenda, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, also does not list suicidal thoughts or self-injury as side effects. But it does include a recommendation to monitor patients for depression or suicidal thoughts and to discontinue the drug if symptoms develop. Clinical trials in adults found nine of 3,300 people on Saxenda reported suicidal ideation. That's compared with two of more than 1,900 people on a placebo. The prescribing information says "there was insufficient information to establish a causal relationship to Saxenda." There is no similar warning in the U.S. prescribing information for Ozempic. Wegovy's U.S. prescribing information notes suicidal ideation and behavior have been reported in clinical trials for other weight management products. Patients on Wegovy should be monitored for depression and suicidal thoughts or behavior, the information says. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. at 988 or the Samaritans in the U.K. at 116 123. A helicopter carrying five foreign nationals went missing near Mount Everest in Nepal while en route from Solukhumbu to Kathmandu. A private commercial helicopter with six people aboard that went missing near the Mount Everest area in Nepal on Tuesday has crashed in hilly terrain in the country's eastern region, officials said. Out of the six people, five were Mexican nationals. The bodies of five people and the wreckage of the chopper have been recovered. One person remains missing. The Manang Air NA-MV chopper took off from Surke Airport in Solukhumbu district at 10:04 am for Kathmandu and it lost contact at an altitude above 12,000 feet at 10:13 am, said Gyanendra Bhul, Manager at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The helicopter crashed in the Lamjura area of Likhupike Rural Municipality in the remote mountainous Solukhumbu district. Villagers in the area retrieved five bodies, Koshi province's police said. "The locals discovered the crashed helicopter at Chihandanda," rural municipality deputy chair Nwang Lhakpa was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post newspaper. The last location of the chopper was tracked at 10:12 am in the Lamjura Pass area, said Raju Neupane, operation and safety manager of Manang Air. ALSO READ | Indian Army helicopter crashes in Arunachal Pradesh, Both pilots killed A senior airport official said the exact reason behind the crash is not known yet. The rescue operation is underway and the identities of the bodies are yet to be ascertained. The six people on board the helicopter have been identified as: 1. Captain CB Gurung - the pilot from Nepal 2. Sifuentes G. Ferando - Mexican 3. Gonzalez Abric - Mexican 4. Gonzalez Olacio Luz - Mexican 5. Sifuentes G. Maria Jose - Mexican 6. Rincon Ismael - Mexican With agency inputs. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 10) The Philippine National Police is conducting an information drive among its personnel on the proposed reforms in the Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) pension system. PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said on Monday they also want to get the sentiments of their members specifically on the proposal to deduct from 5% to 9% of their salary as contribution to the pension system for policemen. We are trying to get all the sentiments of our personnel so that we can make the necessary report or recommendations to the proper authorities, especially in coming up with the legislation, said Acorda. RELATED: DOF: Contributions to uniformed personnel pension set at 5% to 9% Acorda admitted that the issue is a sensitive point of discussion in their organization. There are things to be explained. If you say contribution, its immediately taken as a negative. There are things that we have been explaining to them like the reform as a long-term one and somehow, there are initial feedbacks, said Acorda. Based on the initial proposal, those in the uniformed service will initially contribute 5% of their salary in the first three years of the implementation while new recruits would pay 9%. The target is to obtain a 21% monthly premium from the salary, which is the same as other government employees. The implementation is gradual 5% of the monthly salary for the first three years until the target monthly contribution is reached. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier warned of an MUP pension crisis if no immediate reforms are initiated. Unlike private employees and other workers in government, no deduction is made on the monthly salary of uniformed personnel. Instead, the government fully shoulders their pension. Also covered by the MUP pension system are personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bureau of Corrections. A number of uniformed personnel have expressed opposition to the plan, and defense and military officials even brought up the issue of mass retirement if the reforms push through. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday said it is monitoring a car dealer in Pasig City over luxury vehicles with questionable documents. In a statement, the BOC said its Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Intelligence Group (CIIS-IG) went to the car hub in Barangay Ugong to demand evidence of payment of correct duties and taxes after it verified that the hub is "storing and/or openly dealing exotic and hyper cars without proper documentation." The team discovered 197 foreign and locally sourced vehicles at the dealership when they arrived. However, it was determined that 87 of the units had questionable paperwork. On July 6, the subject vehicles' full inventory was finished. CIIS Director Verne Enciso said "there was reportedly no tight lockdown in the showroom." "This was because of the unusual location of the car hub wherein the compound is being shared by several other business establishments. If a tight lockdown was put in place, our team would have also compromised the operations of the other businesses there," he said. Enciso also refuted claims that the "special operation" was led by a deputy commissioner and a lawyer from a different group. "Every operation we conduct is a product of intense brainstorming and weeks of monitoring, analyzing, and investigation. We don't go out there on a whim. Our team has been working day and night to confirm each information we get from our sources," he said. Several units of Lexus, Mercedes Benz, Porsche Macan, Jaguar, GMC Savana, McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, and Land Rover are among the 87 vehicles that are presently being investigated due to questionable documents. The car dealer has 15 days following the raid "to submit evidence of payment of correct duties and taxes due on the subject imported goods, otherwise the same will be ordered seized and undergo corresponding forfeiture proceedings pursuant to Customs Administrative Order No. 10-2020," the BOC said. "Pending submission of the required evidence of payment, BOC agents and officers shall underguard the hub to secure the subject vehicles 24/7," it added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) The Department of Justice (DOJ) will file criminal charges against drug suspect Jad Dera and six National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) security personnel over his trip outside his detention facility. In a resolution dated July 6, the DOJ said Dera along with five NBI personnel will face criminal charges for violating Article 156 of the Revised Penal Code relating to the delivery of prisoners from jail, while another security officer will be charged for violation of Article 223, or infidelity in the custody of prisoners. According to the DOJ, the NBI personnel escorted Dera outside the detention facility using an NBI vehicle without any court order or authorization for his medical check-up. It was revealed that they met with Dera's female friend and dined in a restaurant in Makati City. Upon his arrest, authorities seized over 100,000 in cash from Dera and up to 11,000 in cash each from two NBI personnel, the alleged payment for escorting the drug suspect from his detention facility. WATCH: Jad Dera admits sneaking out of NBI detention facility multiple times The DOJ said the prosecutor found probable cause in finding that Dera persuaded the NBI officers to help him escape the detention facility, which the latter facilitated. Deras lawyer Raymund Palad, meanwhile, said the DOJ's recent resolution validated their previous stance that there is no substantiated evidence of bribery allegedly made by his client. It is imperative to highlight that no indications of Dera eluding the jail facility have been brought forward, he said in a statement. Palad added that dining outside the detention facility cannot be equated to an escape. CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8) Pope Francis, who is known for advocating dialogue and inclusivity, has invited non-bishops and women to be delegates in the upcoming Synod set on Oct. 4 to 29. Heres what you need to know about the historic assembly. Women delegates for the first time Pope Francis has welcomed women to participate in the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops as voting delegates, a first in 58 years. The general assembly is the last and universal phase of the Synod. Only in this Synod did the Pope invite women or non-bishops (priests, religious, lay) and gave them voting rights, Estela Padilla, the first and only Filipina delegate, told CNN Philippines. Padilla is among the 10 non-bishop members coming from Asia. She works with Bukal ng Tipan-CICM, a pastoral center facilitating synodal approaches and skills with different dioceses in the Philippines and abroad. She is also a consultant to the Commission on Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Other Filipino delegates are CBCP president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Caloocan, CBCP vice president Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig and Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula. READ: Vatican assembly to welcome first Filipina appointee Padilla, who is also a theologian, said that although there are other participants, like experts, in previous Synods, only bishops have the right to vote. Last April 26, the Vatican announced that laypeople will be able to vote on the assemblys final recommendation to the Pope on governing the Church. Of the 438 participants, more than 300 are voting delegates, while the rest are facilitators, experts and spiritual assistants. Pope Francis earlier said 50% of the non-bishop participants should be women and should also include "several young people." The past years, all over the Catholic world, clamor for more leadership responsibilities for women in all levels of church life and administration has been articulated, Padilla said. The Synod is a meeting attended by the bishops to discuss contemporary issues surrounding society and the Church. A total of 70 non-bishops were invited to this years assembly. Its a Dialogue In order to have a more relaxed period of discernment, the Pope decided to extend the synodal process until 2024, splitting the general assembly into two sessions. Pope Francis launched the Synod on Synodality in 2021. During the multi-stage synodal process, Catholics in different countries were urged to hold consultations within their respective parishes and provide their feedback on the Church. The results were turned into diocesan reports. After these reports were discussed in a national Synodal assembly, a national report was created. The national reports from 121 Catholic countries were then sent to the Synod secretariat in Rome, which summarized and produced a Document for the Continental Synod. This document was studied in the Bishops Continental Conferences, producing a continental report. The seven continental reports became the basis for the creation of Instrumentum laboris (working instrument,) which will then serve as the basis for the discussion and discernment in the October Synod. Ang [the] basic sa [of the] Synod would be really listening to one another. Listening to the diversity, thinking together, [and] praying together, Padilla said. According to the Philippine Catholic Church Synodal Report, at least 50 sectors were consulted nationwide. These sectors include overseas Filipino workers, women, indigenous peoples, single parents, people who suffer from substance abuse, the LGBTQ+ community, laborers, politicians, youth and people with disabilities. Padilla said some Filipinos pointed out that they felt left behind, unattended and unaccepted by the Church. Local issues meaning parishes or dioceses coming from their local reports are being responded to by acting on them directly, Padilla said. Other dioceses [address the issues] through integrating these issues in their regular pastoral planning and responding to them communally. Meanwhile, the document from the Asian Continental Assembly on Synodality called for the renewal of governance structures that will allow the meaningful participation of women in all aspects of the Church. It also urged Catholics to play an integral role in the work of peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Ang call for Asia ay maging peacebuilders, to be bridges of peace sa nangyayari na violence, terrorism, Padilla said. [Translation: The call for Asia is to be peacebuilders, to be bridges of peace amid the violence, terrorism.] The document also pointed out that, among other issues, Catholics in Asia view the Church as an institution that lacks credibility, transparency and accountability in governance. According to Instrumentum laboris, the main questions for the October Synod revolve around A Communion that Radiates, Co-responsibility in Mission and Participation, Governance and Authority. Padilla said the October Synod will be a good time to bring about sensitive matters such as womens ordination, blessings of unions of LGBTQ+ couples and celibacy not being required for the priesthood as Church representatives worldwide gather. These [issues] will go through a lot of dialogue and discernment at the Synod in October and even beyond, as there will be canonical implications of issues such as these, Padilla said. What comes after the Synod? After the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, a final document will be submitted to the Pope, which will aid him in making decisions for the Church. Padilla said she hopes to see a Church that creates more participatory leadership structures and practices. Indeed, all of us are expecting change! We want a Synodal Church - where no one is left behind, especially the poor and marginalized, Padilla said. A Church that walks with humanity, partnering with the wider society -- NGOs, LGUs, civic organizations, peoples movements, etc. -- in working for the common good, especially taking care of our common home, she added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) The government is considering reducing dependence on Angat Dam as its water level continues to decline, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Tuesday. "One strategy is of course to diversify our sources of water and not to rely too much on Angat. So there have been a couple of efforts in the last few months," DENR Undersecretary Carlos David said in a press briefing. Angat Dam supplies raw water to Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan. The dam's water level further declined to 178.8 meters as of Tuesday morning, according to the state weather bureau's daily monitoring. This is below its minimum operating level of 180 meters. The DENR said the Kaliwa Dam project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, which is expected to be fully operational by 2026, could be another water source especially during El Nino. "Ika-count natin na medium term yung ginagawang Kaliwa Dam ng MWSS, which should be online sometime in 2026, worst case scenario [in] 2027, that will provide us ample water even during El Nino events," said David. The agency added that there are also short-term strategies being done by other institutions to have enough water supply. "More recently, we now tap water from Laguna Lake," said David. "Even more recent are efforts by Maynilad to reprocess wastewater...those actually really go a long way in terms of increasing our supply." Furthermore, the DENR encourages the public to conserve water such as by reusing rainwater for other chores. Water concessionaires Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and Manila Water on Tuesday assured their customers that they are prepared in case allocation from the Angat Dam is further decreased from 48 cubic meters per second. Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is set to release this week its El Nino mitigation plan. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) The presence of US military aircraft in the country is due to bilateral exercises between Manila and Washington, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) clarified on Tuesday. "We have an increased number of aircraft which are participating in our Cope Thunder 23-2 exercises, which is ongoing," said PAF spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo. She added that all US air assets involved in the drills are covered by diplomatic clearances. Several lawmakers earlier questioned the recent arrival of US military planes in the country. READ: Makabayan bloc seeks House probe into US military planes landing in PH Sen. Imee Marcos had called for a Senate probe into the "unadvised" landing of a US military aircraft at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on June 26. The senator said while Manila often calls out Beijing over the presence of Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, there is little information on the ongoing US military activity within Philippine territory. READ: Sen. Marcos calls for increased monitoring of US military planes at PH airports to track violations Castillo said the Department of Foreign Affairs will have to shed light on any issues being raised by lawmakers. The second iteration of "Cope Thunder" started on July 2nd and will run until the 21st. The PAF said at least 10 different types of US aircraft are taking part in the exercises. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) Lawmakers of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives on Tuesday filed a resolution calling on the foreign affairs committee to investigate "covert" flights of American military planes in the country. In House Resolution No. 1117, Makabayan bloc members maintained that the Constitution prohibits foreign military bases, troops, or facilities in the country unless approved by the Senate. Two US military aircraft were reportedly spotted in the countrys territory just last week. On July 7, a US Air Force C-17 landed in Manila before heading to Japan, while the other a Boeing C-17 plane seen north of Busuanga, Palawan appeared to be flying toward Polillo Island before exiting the Philippine territory. The lawmakers also cited Senator Imee Marco's inquiry into another US-owned and operated Boeing C-17 aircrafts unadvised landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on June 26. The presence of foreign military forces, including of the United States military in the Philippine territory raises concerns regarding the extent of foreign intervention and potential threats to national sovereignty and security, said representatives of ACT Teachers Party-List, GABRIELA Womens Party, and KABATAAN Party-List. Senator Imee Marcos over the weekend urged defense and foreign affairs officials to increase monitoring of US military planes in the country to determine if such covert flights aggravated the already tense situation in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. RELATED: US says military plane landed in NAIA to comply with rules, admits 'lack of coordination' Sen. Marcos ACT Teachers Party-List Representative France Castro earlier stated that the Philippines is turning into a US military base with the recently reported presence of American military planes. Castro also pointed out that the covert flights may be contributing to the increased presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea. Metro Marcos (CNN Philippines, July 11) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on the gaming regulator to remain unwavering and steadfast in "combating illicit activities" as he graced the agency's 40th anniversary celebration on Tuesday. "Let this anniversary therefore be a call to the future, a future where Pagcor is at the front and center in reshaping the gaming landscape with responsible practices, unwavering integrity and a steadfast commitment to combating illicit activities," Marcos said during the event of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) in Pasay City. Marcos' speech comes weeks after over 2,000 workers among them foreigners were rescued in a raid at a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub in Las Pinas City. RELATED: Pagcor terminates contract with third party POGO auditor Marcos also recognized Pagcor's contributions to the tourism industry, saying its efforts have not just attracted visitors to the country, but also employment to Filipinos. "You are among those who brought help to the most sewing seed of hope and recovery amidst the darkest of hours. Certainly Pagcor has made an indelible mark in our society with its undeniable contribution to nation building," the president said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) Water service providers on Tuesday said they are prepared in case allocation from the Angat Dam is further decreased from 48 cubic meters per second, as its level continues to decline. As of Tuesday morning, Angat Dams water level further dipped to 178.8 meters, which is below its minimum operating level of 180 meters. National Water Resources Board (NWRB) Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. told CNN Philippines on Monday this may be decreased again after authorities review the water level of the dam in a week. In case the allocation is further reduced, Manila Water spokesperson Jeric Sevilla told CNN Philippines The Source that the company has existing sources that have not yet been fully utilized, like deep wells. The maximum that we can draw here is about 118 million liters of water per day, but currently were only using about 50 (million liters per day) so wala pa sa kalahati (it's not yet even half), he said. Sevilla said the last recourse for Manila Water would be interruptions and that the company can also opt to reduce water pressure to still maintain round-the-clock supply. Meanwhile, Maynilad spokesperson Jen Rufo said households in the west zone may continue to experience water interruptions if the allocation is further reduced. But because we have other supply augmentation projects that are in the developing stage, as they come in, the most that we will target is that we wont have to change these interruptions anymore, she explained. Maynilad recently announced that almost 600,000 of its customers will experience service interruptions following the reduction in allocation from the dam. Rufo assured Maynilad customers that the daily disruption will not go beyond the announced schedule and the listed affected areas. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. on Tuesday assured its affected customers that its announced service interruptions are already the worst that may happen. The schedule that we posted assumes a worst-case scenario already, which means that the actual experience should be shorter than announced, Maynilad spokesperson Jen Rufo told CNN Philippines' The Source. On Monday, the company announced the list of areas affected by the long hours of water interruption after the allocation for water concessionaires was reduced to 48 cubic meters per second (cms) from 50 cms. The reduction was due to the declining water level in Angat Dam, which was at 178.8 meters as of Tuesday morning. This is below its minimum operating level of 180 meters. Maynilad said almost 600,000 of its customers in parts of Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Quezon City, and Valenzuela will experience at least 9 hours of service interruption from 7 p.m. to 4a.m. This may be extended to 6 a.m. in some areas depending on their location and the time it takes for the water pressure to build up, Rufo noted. While service interruptions are inevitable with the reduced supply from the dam, Rufo said Maynilad has implemented measures to reduce its impact, and isolate such disruptions during night time. Maynilad is also ready to deploy mobile tankers, she said. However, Rufo urged households to store water in advance and not to rely on the tankers so these can be dedicated for medical facilities. Meanwhile, Manila Water spokesperson Jeric Sevilla said the company is ready to provide assistance to Maynilad as long as it will not affect the formers customers. He noted Manila Water continues to share supply with Maynilad through cross-border sharing. For now, Rufo said the water interruptions will last until the allocation from Angat Dam is increased. She also advised the public not to overstock on water since this can also affect their water bills. She assured Maynilad customers that the interruptions will be shorter in the coming months as the company intensifies efforts to augment supply. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) Senator Sherwin Gatchalian believes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is "very close" to ordering the closure of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). During Tuesday's Kapihan sa Senado, Gatchalian, chairman of the ways and means committee, said he submitted his "Chairman's Report" to Malacanang in April, recommending the immediate shutdown of all POGO operations. He said committee hearings showed that the Philippines does not reap the intended revenues from POGOs, and even if it did, money could not outweigh the social costs of the POGOs' crime-linked operations. "I think very close. May public sentiment against POGOs, makikita natin doon sa survey almost as high as 70% ay takot or ayaw sa POGO. With these recent incidents, I'm sure tataas pa iyan," said Gatchalian. [Translation: I think it's very close. There is public sentiment against POGOs, the survey shows that almost 70% are either afraid or do not want POGOs. With these recent incidents, I'm sure that number will still rise.] To date, Gatchalian's report has been signed by eight senators two signatures short of sending it to the Senate plenary. The senator is unfazed by the lack of support, saying the president could stop POGO operations with or without the Senate's recommendation. He said when he talked to Marcos in June, the chief executive expressed concern over the crimes linked to POGOs. "Nagkaroon kami ng interaction at nakikita ko nababahala siya dito sa POGO dahil nga dito sa krimen na lumalabas. Natatandaan ko tinanong niya yung aking opinyon at sabi ko nga economically walang mawawala sa atin," Gatchalian said. "Kung sinabi ng Pangulo bukas banned ang POGO kahit walang committee report, banned na ang POGO e," he added. [Translation: We met and I could see he was bothered by POGOs because of the crimes coming out. I remember he asked my opinion and I said we would not lose anything economically. If the president says ban POGOs tomorrow, even without a committee report, they would be banned.] Gatchalian said economic managers also agree on the need to ban POGOs, citing the damage to the country's reputation. Asked why the Palace has yet to announce a decision, the lawmaker surmised it is still carefully weighing all pros and cons. Meanwhile, he expressed support for Senator Raffy Tulfo's call to investigate a Camp Crame insider's report that the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group has been extorting money from the Filipino and foreign workers found in an illegal POGO hub in Las Pinas City. Gatchalian said it shows that the POGOs, and the criminal syndicates behind them, have corrupted the system. He said officials of the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation or PAGCOR should explain how they missed this during their supposed inspections. He added that the congressional hearing should also look into how the Chinese and Taiwanese fugitives slipped past the Bureau of Immigration and other concerned government agencies and were able to work in the POGO company. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) The condoned debt of farmers worth 57 billion is "not a burden to the government" as the accounts have long been dormant, the Agrarian Reform chief said Tuesday. "It is not going to affect the economy simply because these are dormant accounts already We will address this on a multi-year approach, so it's not so much of a burden to the coffers of the government," Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III told CNN Philippines' The Final Word. Estrella added that the government has already paid in advance other landowners and allotted funds to those who still have yet to be paid. The newly signed Agrarian Emancipation Act dubbed the "Happy Law" writes off the amortization of principal payments, interests, and penalties of farmers on the lands they are presently tilling. The act will benefit 610,054 farmers, covering 1,173,101.575 hectares of agrarian reform lands. "It is always a part of efficient fiscal management to also consider social justice. That is what we're doing now. Hopefully, this will help us take off," the DAR chief added. Estrella in a briefing last week said the government would save more in expenses by offering the land to the farmers rather than working to collect the loans. He said the law is set to be implemented on July 24. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and concerned officials will meet on July 12 to establish the Implementing Rules and Regulations, Estrella added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) The European Union (EU) and the Canadian government reaffirmed their support for the Philippines in upholding the 2016 Arbitral Ruling that debunked China's sweeping claims over the South China Sea. On the eve of the seventh anniversary of the landmark decision, the EU maintained that the arbitral award is legally binding. "The Award of the Arbitral Tribunal is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings, and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties," the EU said in a statement. "The EU reiterates the fundamental importance of upholding the freedoms, rights and duties established in UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea], in particular the freedoms of navigation and overflight," it added. The EU also stressed its commitment to secure, free, and open maritime supply routes in the Indo-Pacific and urged all parties to comply with international law. RELATED: MTRCB allows Barbie screening in PH despite 9-dash line controversy Canada: 2016 arbitral ruling needs to be enforced Canadian Ambassador David Hartman said Canada has been very vocal when it comes to its support for the arbitral ruling. "The 2016 arbitral ruling needs to be enforced and it is legally binding that it be included in the international law, we have always been strong in our position and we have been an active vocal proponent on the enforcement of it, encouraging all parties involved to respect the ruling," Hartman told CNN Philippines. "Canada, like many members of the international community, is crystal clear on that. We very much support the government of the Philippines in its all efforts to enforce your territorial integrity," it added. This summer, Colorado College students Zeke Lloyd 24 and Michael Braithwaite 24, with funding provided by a CC Venture Grant and the Sheffer Fund for Catholic Studies, spent a month travelling around central Europe reporting on the Ukrainian refugee crisis. They visited Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland, and reported back through stories published in the Colorado Springs and Denver Gazettes. Along the way, they kept us updated on their travels and experiences. Post #1 In our combined two pieces of luggage, we did not bring many books. Even paperbacks are heavy and take up precious space. But The Art and Craft of Feature Writing by William E. Blundell was one of the few that made the cut. It is required reading for the course Reporting on Human Rights. And it was that text, along with content from other journalism classes we have taken, which inspired our five-week trip to Slovakia and Georgia. Here, our routine consists of adventure. We interview academic experts, community organizers, and everyday citizens. We keep our ears to the ground and build new contacts in each city we visit. No two days are alike. As we set out each morning to collect stories, we take only what we need. Between the both of us, we carry a small hand-held digital recorder, a notebook, a pack of gum, and two DSLR cameras. The information and inspiration taken from our mentors back home, along with these journalistic tools, enables us not only to write articles, but to explore Slovakia. 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. Today is July 11, 2023, and here's what you need to know: A pair of first-year Democratic lawmakers is suing the Colorado House of Representatives and the chamber's leaders from both parties, alleging lawmakers routinely participate in and leadership endorses meetings that break state law. The lawsuit claims the Democratic and Republican caucuses each held mandatory secret meetings at least weekly during the 2023 legislative session, directing legislative aides to omit or disguise the meetings on legislators' calendars. There was no public notice provided and minutes of the meetings were not made available to the public, in violation of Colorado's law governing open government meetings. The meetings were said to include presentations of legislation by bill sponsors, question and answer periods, and discussions of how members would vote on legislation. "These discussions inform the course of legislative action to be later taken publicly and are routinely conducted outside of public view, without providing public notice, and without recording or publishing meeting minutes that the public can access," Reps. Elisabeth Epps of Denver and Bob Marshall of Highlands Ranch said in the suit filed on July 7. They are being represented by attorney Steve Zansberg, who also represents Colorado Politics on First Amendment issues. The lawsuit also claims that both party caucuses regularly use the encrypted messaging service Signal to discuss public business outside of public view, with the messages set for automatic deletion. Messages allegedly discussed policy in real-time during committee hearings, with legislators communicating about witness testimonies and their expected votes on legislation. What's more, Epps and Marshall said they directly approached leadership about ending the practices, but "ultimately House leadership failed to act and defendants continued to violate (Colorado's open meetings law)." The lawsuit claims a House staffer raised similar concerns about illegal meetings in 2022, submitting written complaints to the former House speaker and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, but the complaints were dismissed. When Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas headlined a 2017 program at McLennan Community College in Texas, his hosts had more than a speech in mind. Working with the prominent conservative lawyer Ken Starr, school officials crafted a guest list for a dinner at the home of a wealthy Texas businessman, hoping an audience with Thomas would be a reward for school patrons - and an inducement to prospective donors. Before Justice Elena Kagan visited the University of Colorados law school in 2019, one official in Boulder suggested a larger donor to staff ratio for a dinner with her. After Justice Sonia Sotomayor confirmed she would attend a 2017 question-and-answer session at Clemson University and a private luncheon, officials there made sure to invite $1 million-plus donors to the South Carolina college. The Associated Press obtained tens of thousands of pages of emails and other documents that reveal the extent to which public colleges and universities have seen visits by justices as opportunities to generate donations - regularly putting justices in the room with influential donors, including some whose industries have had interests before the court. The documents also reveal that justices spanning the courts ideological divide have lent the prestige of their positions to partisan activity, headlining speaking events with prominent politicians, or advanced their own personal interests, such as sales of their books, through college visits. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has tapped a familiar face to serve as his budget director, naming former House Speaker Mark Ferrandino to head the Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting, Polis' office announced Monday. The executive director of the state Department of Revenue since November 2020, Ferrandino takes over for Lauren Larson, who announced last month that she's departing as budget director after five years in the position. Colorados economy is thriving and Mark is well-positioned to help propel our shared efforts with the legislature to ensure we have a more affordable, safer, cleaner Colorado today and for future generations, Polis said in a statement. I am delighted to welcome Mark to this new role and look forward to working with the Joint Budget Committee and state legislature to build off the work Lauren Larson started to maintain strong budgetary reserves for a rainy day, to help save people money, and to craft a state budget that continues to build a Colorado for all. A federal judge last week dismissed a Colorado Springs man's lawsuit that sought to declare multiple gun safety laws unconstitutional in the wake of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision expanding gun rights. Delbert Elmer Sgaggio Jr. sued to halt enforcement of Colorado's law prohibiting those who are subject to protection orders, also known as restraining orders, from possessing guns. He also challenged the requirement for most gun buyers to undergo background checks and, finally, Colorado's "red flag" law, which enables law enforcement to temporarily confiscate guns from people who pose a danger to themselves or others. On July 6, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer found Sgaggio had no standing to challenge any of those laws. "Mr. Sgaggios complaint does not state when he intends to purchase firearms or provide any other details indicating that he has concrete plans to purchase firearms," Brimmer wrote. "Accordingly, Mr. Sgaggio has failed to describe his plans in sufficient detail to establish that he is likely to suffer actual or imminent injury." As Mayor-elect Mike Johnston prepares to take office next week, some Denver residents are calling on him to make major changes to city planning. Around 80 people gathered at Carla Madison Rec Center Monday afternoon to share their thoughts on Denver's Community Planning and Development Department. This was the latest of Johnston's 28 planned public forums intended to collect community feedback to develop the priorities for his first 100 days in office. Community Planning and Development is responsible for planning, permitting, inspections and land use regulations in Denver. Many of Monday's forum attendees said they've struggled to get assistance and permission from the department for their building projects. "The Denver building department has become a nightmare," said Ann, who asked to use a pseudonym out of fear of retribution. "We had a fire in our home in January and we still have not been able to even demolish the burnt structure. ... Something needs to change. We're not alone." Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Before the pandemic, the business world took for granted that the vast majority of knowledge workers would be working in corporate offices most of the time. In the post-pandemic world, however, many employees can work from anywhere, at any time, and on any device with an internet connection. When COVID-19 work-at-home mandates took effect around the world in early 2020, organizations rushed to adopt online collaboration tools. With capabilities ranging from voice- and videoconferencing to document co-authoring and project tracking, these tools helped teams communicate, work together, and share updates on various projects and initiatives from home or anywhere else. While some companies are now encouraging or even mandating a return to in-office work for many employees, collaboration tools remain crucial for business operations. Theyve become a fundamental part of doing business with people working in multiple locations, both inside companies and externally with customers, suppliers, and other third parties, said Doug Glair, director of cybersecurity at technology research and advisory firm ISG. As such, companies need to ensure that their collaboration tools are resilient, easy to use, and secure, given their critical value to the business, Glair said. But even though organizations have been using collaboration tools for several years, theyre still making the same security mistakes as in the early days of the pandemic, say experts. One of the main reasons is that collaboration tools are often spun up within business units and not company-wide, according to Avani Desai, CEO of Schellman, a cybersecurity assessment firm. Maybe I want to use Asana, and someone else wants to use SharePoint, and someone else wants to use Jira, and the executive team wants to use another tool so user access isnt granted on an enterprise level, she said. User access has been an issue for years, and it continues to be an issue. Gartner analyst Patrick Hevesi agreed with Desais assessment. Lets say your corporate standard is Microsoft 365, or G Suite, or whatever, but somebody else in the company wants to use Slack, he said. People are adding more collaboration tools without the authority of the IT security organization. Whats more, organizations that adopt collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, Box, Dropbox, GitHub, Jira, Asana, and others are often focused on the productivity benefits. Securing these platforms, communications, and the data that they share is typically an afterthought if its thought about at all, said Jay Martin, security practice lead at managed services firm GreenPages Technology Solutions. Making them more secure is essential to protecting the organization from threat actors seeking an entry point to proprietary information, financial data, intellectual property, and more, he said. Computerworld asked tech industry analysts, IT service providers, and security consultants to name the biggest collaboration security mistakes they still see organizations making today and what to do about them. Heres their advice. Collaboration security mistake #1: Not providing central governance for collaboration tools If organizations dont provide access to vetted collaboration tools, employees will likely find their own and use insecure solutions, said Sourya Biswas, technical director, risk management and governance at security consulting firm NCC Group. Therefore, while its important for organizations to embrace digital collaboration, at the same time they should prevent installation and use of unapproved tools, via mechanisms such as restricted local admin access and managed browser solutions. Even when collaboration tools are vetted and approved, organizations must be cognizant of the different collaboration platforms that each employee is allowed to access in order to prevent sensitive data from being exfiltrated and avoid providing new attack vectors for bad actors, said Michael McCracken, senior director of end user solutions at SHI International, a reseller of technology products and services. In addition, IT needs to maintain central control over these tools, said AJ Yawn, partner, risk assurance advisory at Armanino, an independent accounting and business consulting firm. If somebody is terminated, do the people who do the offboarding know to remove access from these tools, or do those [former employees] still have access to [sensitive company data]? Collaboration security mistake #2: Using insecure file-sharing methods Many organizations use insecure methods for file sharing, said Schellmans Desai. Two examples are unencrypted email attachments and the public file sharing that happens with collaboration tools that dont have encryption built in. Using insecure file-sharing methods is a security concern because it can lead to data leaks, she said. She advised companies to use only secure file-sharing platforms with encryption. Organizations should also implement secure file-transfer protocols, Desai said. So email should have what we call TLS [transport layer security], which is like encryption within the transfer. Collaboration security mistake #3: Not conducting due diligence on consultants and service providers While the leading collaboration vendors offer robust security features, its often up to those deploying and managing the software to make sure its configured for maximum security. In many cases, especially in smaller businesses, organizations turn to IT consultants or service providers for these services. Despite the increasing awareness of collaboration security, consultants and service providers still end up making mistakes that put their clients data at risk, said Kunal Purohit, chief digital services officer at Tech Mahindra, an IT services and consulting company. These mistakes include inadequate access controls, such as allowing password sharing or granting excessive privileges; neglecting to enforce strong authentication measures, such as two-factor authentication; and failing to update software and systems regularly, which can open vulnerabilities, he said. Another mistake consultants and service providers make is not encrypting sensitive information during transmission and/or storage. Additionally, failure to conduct regular security audits and assessments further exposes organizations to risks, Purohit said. Organizations should conduct thorough due diligence before engaging any consultants or service providers, Purohit advised. This includes verifying that these third parties have proven histories of implementing robust security measures. Organizations should clearly define their security requirements and expectations and include them in the contractual agreements with the consultants or service providers, he said. Additionally, companies should conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify any vulnerabilities or noncompliance. Furthermore, organizations should enforce strict access controls, providing consultants and service providers with limited privileges based on their specific needs, according to Purohit. And above all, organizations should establish clear communication channels with them to report any security incidents or breaches promptly. Collaboration security mistake #4: Not ensuring that employees are using secure internet connections The ability to collaborate from anywhere in the world with an internet connection opens up the possibility of employees connecting to insecure wireless access points at public locations such as cafes and airports, thereby compromising any data that flows through the connection, said NCCs Biswas. Virtual private networks, secure access service edge, and zero-trust network access tools address this risk, he said. Rahul Mahna, a partner at EisnerAmper who leads the outsourced IT services team, agreed. Now that everybodys back to traveling, people are using the free Wi-Fi thats available on the Acela, in their hotel rooms, and in conference centers to connect back to their collaboration tools, he said. And those are just fraught with security issues. I always tell people the most secure connection is by tethering to your phone, because your carriers security is so much better than any security you can get from free Wi-Fi. No time to waste Collaboration is the currency that drives the workplace today, said Kris Lovejoy, global practice leader, security and resilience, at Kyndryl, an IT infrastructure services provider. The pandemic changed the way companies work, as increased digitization helped keep global commerce moving forward. But it also expanded the surface area for which potential cyberattacks could be carried out. Today, its not a matter of if, but when, bad actors will strike, she said. From a security standpoint, collaboration tools increase the threat landscape. This growing challenge presents an opportunity for enterprises to embrace a new way of thinking about threats. This is why it is critical to realign to a cyber resilient future. You should probably try robbing a bank. It nets you a bunch of money, which is sure to brighten your day, and even leaving that aside, its simply a fun activity. Theres really no downside. Unless, oh wait, what if the robbery doesnt work out? Crap, we never thought of that till just now. In fact, now that we look at the history of bank robberies, it seems some of them went very poorly indeed. Maybe you should stick to your day job of mugging people in alleys, lest you wind up like... 4 The Mystery Dynamiter A robber who entered an Ontario bank in 1973 had a pretty good plan to keep anyone from disobeying him. He had six sticks of dynamite strapped to his own chest, with the trigger held between his teeth, so if he released pressure (by choice, or because someone incapacitated him), the bomb would blow. This would kill him, which Canadian police probably aimed to avoid, and it would also spell danger for anyone close to him. Sure enough, the teller at the Imperial Bank of Commerce obeyed his instructions and filled three bags with over $50,000 in cash. The bomber asked the bank to call the police, to provide him with an escort to a pickup truck. Then, as he walked away with the money and with a constable in tow, a sniper shot at him. The bomb went off, blowing him into so many pieces that he could never be identified. The officer in front of him did get mildly injured, and the explosion blew his police pants off, but the bag of money partially shielded this hostage from the blast. Advertisement Like we said, the robber was never identified 50 years later, we still have no idea who he was. Police did retrieve one severed forearm and looked at the fingerprints, but it produced no matches, making them regret ever touching that gross thing. The other really weird part of the robbery is that after the explosion sent currency flying through the air, the bank managed to retrieve almost all of it, minus the bits the blast destroyed. A thousand people looked on, but they did not grab the money and flee. Partly because they were Canadian. Mostly because a police sniper remained hidden, and he was taking no prisoners. 3 The Invisible Men In Iran in 2002, a man discovered what seemed to be a pretty good deal. A wizard offered to make him invisible, in exchange for 5 million rials (thats around $1,000 in todays money). This was expensive but a worthy investment. Now invisible, hed be able to walk into a bank and get back all that money, plus much more. Advertisement Sadly, when he tried this and this is the twist you never saw coming he discovered he was not invisible. In fact, were not entirely sure the man who offered him this deal was a wizard at all. I made a mistake, said the robber. I understand now what a big trick was played on me. via Wiki Commons Honestly, we commend him for admitting hed been wrong. That man had put his faith in magic. Those who put theirs in science fare little better. In 1995, two Pittsburgh men learned that lemon juice works as invisible ink. Delighted, they doused their faces in the stuff then robbed two banks, sure their invisibility removed the need for masks. Sadly, lemon juice is invisible ink only in that the ink itself is invisible upon drying. It does not confer invisibility upon anything else. The men were easily identified and arrested. Advertisement Advertisement These mens unjustified confidence sounds like a classic example of the Dunning-Kruger effect. Actually, it was the classic example of the Dunning-Kruger effect. This was the incident that inspired psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger to research the way people overestimate their abilities, so for the world overall, the robbery was a grand success. 2 The Manager Strikes Back By some measures, Henry Starr was the most successful bank robber of all time. His career was almost cut short early in 1893, however, when he shot a deputy which, of course, is a serious crime, so serious that even shooting a sheriff is forgivable so long as you dont take this one additional step. Starr was sentenced to death. Advertisement He appealed that sentence and wound up sent to prison for 15 years. While he was there, another outlaw, Crawford Goldsby, whod killed eight different men, got his hands on a guards gun. He shot the guard twice, and when other guards soon arrived to face off with him, it was clear this situation would end with one or more people dead. Then Starr had the guards send him over to where Goldsby was. He disarmed Goldsby and turned him over to the guards. Starr became such a hero from this that Teddy Roosevelt pardoned him from his own murder conviction. Now a free man, with his record wiped clean, he went on to do what he was always made to do: rob more banks. He robbed at least 21 banks over the course of his career, but he never killed anyone else, so the world was ready to cheer him on. After another prison stint, he published an autobiography and starred in a 1919 movie, where he played himself, showing himself robbing those banks. Pan American And that was the last time Hollywood ever worked with a criminal. Advertisement Advertisement Then, in 1921, he went out for one last score. Despite being married at this point, and comfortably rich, he headed to the Peoples State Bank in Arkansas, where he was fatally wounded while collecting his loot. No police officer took him down. Instead, it was the bank manager who picked up a Winchester rifle and shot him. Remember that bank manager in The Dark Knight, who fights back because its a mob bank, and also its a movie? He was just modeled after a typical man from Arkansas. Im just saying that Ive never heard of a transgender person saying the phrase daughter-fuckers. Like most wildly successful stand-up-comics-turned-podcasters, Tom Segura recently relocated from Los Angeles to a lavish residence in Austin, Texas. In his new neighborhood, the Your Moms House Host now rubs elbows with the many movers and shakers of the Lone Star States capital, including a certain senator and failed presidential candidate who has a strange way of welcoming new people to the neighborhood. According to Segura, the senator who may or may not be the Zodiac Killer spends his free time wondering where certain phrases like motherfucker and the definitely-not-an-expression-to-anyone-besides-Ted-Cruz daughter-fucker originate. In an outtake from his recent special Sledgehammer, Segura recalls the ridiculous way maybe-Cruz broke the ice with his new neighbor and the series of strange queries Segura had to answer on his morning walk. Where do you think the term motherfucker comes from? doesnt seem like it should be the second question anyone asks a neighbor after, Are you the comedian? but then again, Im not possibly-Ted-Cruz. Do you think its from people doing that? followed by How many people do you think do that? should have been odd enough to end the conversation, but Segura wisely stuck around to hear maybe-maybe-not-Cruz drag daughters into the mix for completely unknown reasons. Thankfully, the senator cleared the air with Segura on the second interaction we wouldnt want anyone thinking that probably-Ted-Cruz had eyes for anyone besides his wife. Chinese envoy in Washington encourages MET to continue promoting China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges Xinhua) 13:47, July 11, 2023 WASHINGTON, July 10 (Xinhua) -- During a recent visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng expressed his hope to the world-renowned museum's director that MET will continue to promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States. Xie, who had an exchange of views with Director Max Hollein as he visited the museum on Friday, said that MET is a world-renowned museum with a long history and rich collections. It is one of the museums that have enjoyed the longest cooperation with China, with most joint programs and of the largest scale. As early as in 1980, MET held The Great Bronze Age of China exhibition. In the same year, the Astor court and its Suzhou version were open to the public at the same time, and have ever since witnessed over four decades of China-U.S. cultural exchanges. MET has become a must-see for Chinese tourists, who account for the largest share of its foreign visitors. Xie said that China is now committed to advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, which will feature both material and cultural-ethical advancement. People are the foundation of China-U.S. relations. China-U.S. cultural and cultural heritage exchanges should serve as a catalyst for promoting mutual understanding and respect and bringing peoples closer. At a time of difficulties and challenges in China-U.S. relations, it is all the more important to build bridges, not walls, and understand rather than misperceive each other. It is all the more important to fully leverage the unique power of culture to reach hearts, actively build bridges for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and open up a window for better understanding of each other's history and culture. It is hoped that MET will continue to promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States in areas such as cultural exhibitions, preservation technology and digitalization, show more creativity and inject positive energy into China-U.S. relations. Hollein warmly welcomed Xie and his colleagues, and gave a brief introduction to the collections and the management of the museum. He said that MET has and will always attach great importance to exchanges and cooperation with China. The Shape of Time: Art and Ancestors of Oceania exhibition, a joint program between the two sides, is on view in Shanghai. MET looks forward to more exchanges and cooperation with China and welcomes more Chinese tourists. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Great Rooms A visual diary by Design Editor Wendy Goodman. Photo: Stefan Ruiz When Dennis Freedman was in college at Penn State, he used to read Domus, the Italian magazine founded in 1928 by Gio Ponti, and imagine inhabiting a world of high design. There were all these pieces I was fascinated by, but they were not kind of accessible, he recalls. But out of school, his career as a creative director (W magazine, from 1993 to 2010, then Barneys New York, 2010 to 2017) took him to some of the most interesting locations all over the world. Whether he found himself at lunch with Baron de Rede on the Ile Saint-Louis in Paris or in a village on the Arabian Sea shoreline of Kerala, he would always be on the lookout for objects and furniture to add to his collection. Finally, this world of design was accessible. And if it wasnt, he would sleuth it out. He bought his first piece in 1998 at a sale at Christies South Kensington in London for Italian Radical Design, organized by Simon Andrews, who he afterward got to know well. Freedman studied the catalogue and ended up buying a Studio 65designed Capitello chair, from 1971. And then I thought, how am I going to get it into my apartment? he recalls. It made it into my bedroom and took up half the room. He will search for a piece he has his eye on, even having seen it only from a photograph, no matter how long it takes him; he doesnt give up, ever. And if, as is often the case, he cant afford to pay for it outright, he does so on a payment plan. If youre a committed collector, most dealers will usually be happy to do that, he notes. Freedman explains that he has a five-minute window for making decisions. Youre part archaeologist, without a doubt, he says. And it takes an instinct, and the other thing and this is really true I dont think I have ever had to think more than five minutes, five, and I know. I guess what is unusual, I realize now, is that it is not so common. Its immediate; you just know. Today, his collection fills his apartment in New York; his home in East Hampton, where architect Deborah Berke designed a gallery space in the basement; and a 3,000-square-foot storage space on Long Island. To make more room for more things he becomes obsessed with, he sometimes deaccessions. Hes donated pieces (including that Capitello chair) to the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. And now, until August 11, a selection of his eclectic collection is on exhibit and for sale at Zesty Meyers and Evan Snydermans R & Company, the gallery Freedman has been frequenting since it opened in 2000. Freedman walked me through the show and told me the how-I-got-this-thing stories of his collection. He recalled that lunch, together with journalist James Reginato, at the late de Redes legendary residence, the Hotel Lambert. It was the three of us at a very small table having lunch in one of the great salons. So, we are sitting there surrounded by, I would say, pieces from the 17th century to the 19th century, and I turned around and against the wall was a console that was something that I had never seen; it was bronze and the base was a unicorn with a human torso and then this very thick glass top. And I knew that was not from the 19th century. I said to him, Could you tell me about that console? And he said the name of the man who made it, but the name, and its impossible to spell, is Bronislaw Krzysztof; that is what he said, but I couldnt even spell it if I did remember it. So, I left, and all I could think of was that console. A bit over a year later, he passed RCM Galerie in Paris, owned by his friend Robert Murphy: In Roberts window, there was a lobster and crab chair, and the minute I saw it, I knew it was by the same artist, Bronislaw Krzysztof. A pair of fox armchairs, 2003, by Bronislaw Krzysztof. Patinated and gilt bronze. Photo: Joe Kramm, Courtesy R & Company Then, during a house sale in Paris, Freedman spied two fox chairs, also by Krzysztof, and he bought them. Console table by Marie-Claude de Fouquieres. Poured acrylic resin, with silver base paint and the artists thumbprints. Photo: Joe Kramm, Courtesy R & Company Yves Gastou, the great French 20th-century dealer, also helped me shape my collection, Freedman says as we walk over to a table with a landscape of thumbs rising out of the top. While visiting Gastous shop on Rue Bonaparte, I go upstairs to his storage area, and everything is all piled up, and I see this top leaning against the wall, and the base over here, and I asked, What is that? This is a surrealist landscape! It was by Marie-Claude de Fouquieres, who, he was told, is still alive. Well, that was the five-minute rule! I said, Im buying this piece! And that was another payment plan. He got her number and went to see her. She told me I will never forget, I said to her that I just acquired the thumb! I didnt know what to call it. She said, Do you know you are the first person to buy that? It was made in 1970. Its resin, but it looks like glass. Sushi Sofa by Humberto and Fernando Campana, 2002. First artists proof of an edition of six. Carpet, rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate, fabric, wood, and stainless steel. Photo: Joe Kramm, Courtesy R & Company Freedmans discovery of the prototype for the Sushi Sofa came about during a trip to Brazil for a shoot for W. I wanted to meet the Campana brothers, so during a shoot with Philip- Lorca diCorcia in Sao Paulo, he says, he reached out. Ill never forget; I went to the studio, I walked in the door, and they started showing me the Bubble Wrap Chair, and I asked what they had, and they had everything, including at that moment the prototype of the Favela Chair. But the Sushi Sofa wasnt there, just a photograph of it. It had never been seen by anybody, Freedman says. I remember when I saw the photograph those are all carpet linings; every single one is rolled by hand. It is the first prototype. Chairs and a table by Martine Boileau, 1960. Unique Norsodyne polyester resin and glass fibers. Photo: Joe Kramm, Courtesy R & Company The chairs and table that look as if Giacometti might have dreamed them up for his surreal figures are in fact by French sculptor Martine Boileau (19232007), who Freedman discovered during another visit to the storage area at Gastous gallery. Function is not necessarily the point, of certain pieces of furniture, he believes. These are meant to be seen, these transcend. The set is meant to be admired by itself. A pair of faux-prophyry lamps by Renzo Mongiardino. Photo: Joe Kramm, Courtesy R & Company The most surprising pieces to me were a pair of faux-porphyry lamps on stands that most certainly had spent time in a very grand house, as did most of Renzo Mongiardinos commissions. I studied Mongiardino, and this could not be more emblematic of his work, Freedman says. He fills a specific niche of the greatest collectors: Agnelli, Nureyev, Lee Radziwill, Princess Firyal. And the reason they worked with Mongiardino, which is very interesting, I discovered, is they did not want the modernism of that time; they didnt want what everybody wanted, and the only person who could do it on the level that he did in the 20th century was Mongiardino. When thinking of the Reserve Officers Training Corps, images of Vietnam War era protests and Cold War draft mobilizations might come to mind. They did for me until while strolling along Agate Street recently, I saw a white house with a Military Science Department sign out front. The University of Oregon has an active ROTC program associated with this department which allows students to prepare for their military careers while pursuing academic degrees. UO Army ROTC has been active since 1916, Enrollment Officer Roy Susuico said. The current student cadre here consists of 38 cadets, with male cadets outnumbering females by about two to one. Susuico, a UO alum and former ROTC cadet, is from Guam. He went on to serve in the Army Reserves for 25 years, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. The ROTC has been in existence since the Civil War. Its purpose is to train college and university students who then graduate as commissioned officers and go on to serve in various branches of the United States military. A majority of current enlistees in all of the branches were initially ROTC cadets. The training includes both academics, which is what the military science department is for, and physical and skills training akin to traditional boot camp, but spread out over the course of the typical four-year undergraduate experience. Jaime Spiegel, a junior majoring in human physiology, was attracted to the ROTC because of scholarship opportunities. She plans on enlisting after graduation and becoming a pediatric surgeon. Spiegel also is intending on serving a full career in the military. Chance Day-Spicer, a new graduate with a degree in general social sciences, currently serves as the UO ROTCs cadet public affairs officer. He plans to make a career out of the National Guard while also serving in either law enforcement or firefighting. Cadets conduct routine physical training just outside of Hayward Field. They also engage in exercises in Jasper Park. These include skills such as range finding, running situational training exercises and other practicalities of potential future field deployment. Spiegel goes to Clackamas regularly to train with the Oregon Army National Guard. Additionally, there are periodic cadet summer trainings, where cadets go to various military bases around the country such as Fort Knox, Kentucky for a more intensive and immersive learning experience. A commonality among individuals involved in the ROTC is family who have been in military service. This is true of both Spiegel and Day-Spicer. Spiegel, who is Korean-American, has had relatives active in both the US and South Korean military. A future posting in South Korea is a possibility for her, given her dual language proficiency. Day-Spicer said that a majority of his family has served, including his father. Both Spiegel and Day-Spicer said that the camaraderie of ROTC is a big plus. Spiegel describes it as a ready-made family that will always be there throughout her life. Any student can enroll in 100 and 200 level courses within the military science Department without any involvement or commitment to the ROTC. So, if youre looking for some interesting two credit electives, you might want to do some reconnaissance in that sector. You may occasionally see young people around campus walking to class wearing full camo combat fatigues. These arent just students with a martial sartorial aesthetic, but rather ROTC cadets going about their academic day like the rest of us. One difference being they are preparing for time in the military service, someday or somewhere should Uncle Sam issue the command. We can all recall incidents in our youth that we would rather forget. One of mine was attending a local Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) meeting in Ayrshire in March 1981, at which The War Game was screened. The BBC-produced pseudo-documentary depicted the aftermath of a hypothetical nuclear attack on Britain that was so hellish it was never broadcast on TV. Towards the end of the meeting, an announcement was made from the stage. An excited and delighted CND activist told the crowded hall that President Reagan had just been shot. When the audience responded with cheering and applause, I realised that perhaps this wasn't the place for me. Dozens of Keir Starmer's (pictured) shadow ministers have put their names to a motion calling for Britain to scrap its nuclear weapons The cause of nuclear disarmament usually the unilateral kind has been iconic for the British Left ever since our nuclear deterrent was developed under Clement Attlee's post-war Labour government. It has proved deeply divisive for the party ever since. Indeed, ideological splits over nuclear arms have done more to destroy its chances of electoral success than the issue itself. So the news, reported in yesterday's Daily Mail, that over a dozen of Keir Starmer's shadow ministers have put their names to a motion calling for Britain to scrap its nuclear weapons is not only astonishing but a vivid reminder that many senior politicians are still guilty of the worst type of virtue-signalling student politics. Proponents of nuclear disarmament enjoy parroting its benefits because this requires very little discipline or intellectual rigour. After all, what's the effort in saying you want a peaceful world in which everyone loves one another? It takes far more hard work, compromise and grown-up analysis to conclude that, terrible though nuclear weapons are, they constitute a necessary part of our global defence network and play a crucial role in our international alliances. That's hard to summarise in a slogan on a badge or T-shirt but it's true nonetheless. Cinemagoers will flock to watch the new biopic of 'Father of the Bomb' Robert Oppenheimer, whose guilt over developing the weapon that ended World War II has made him a poster boy for advocates of disarmament everywhere. But our sympathy should lie with President Harry Truman, the man whom history chose to make the fatal decision to drop atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Former MP Tom Harris (pictured) left the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament before he joined the Labour party After a tearful Oppenheimer met Truman in the Oval Office to explain his regrets and to bemoan the blood on his hands, Truman replied that the blood was, in fact, on his hands, not the inventor's. He later ordered aides never to let 'cry-baby' Oppenheimer back into the White House. It was Truman who grasped the responsibilities associated with possessing the bomb and who understood the world had changed as a result. Since the genie could not be put back in the bottle that is, the nuclear weapon could never be 'uninvented' it was better that the democratic West possessed it rather than be subject to the tyranny of a nuclear-armed Eastern Bloc. After all, there would be no protest movements against the atomic bomb there. The dozen or so 'peace' campaigners in Starmer's Shadow Cabinet can only trumpet their disapproval because they live in a liberal, democratic country where dissent is tolerated. They have no counterparts in North Korea, China or Russia. And if the Western peaceniks ever achieved their goal, the only nations which would still wield the destructive power of nuclear weapons would be those that remain utterly opposed to our values. Would that be a better world than the one we have now? Seriously? After I'd cancelled my CND membership and joined the Labour Party, I was faced like every other member with the task of campaigning to elect my party to government. The job was all the more consuming after I became an MP in 2001 four years after a landslide general election victory and a minister in Tony Blair's government in 2006. I knew that electoral success couldn't be achieved without compromises on policy. That's what politics is about. Labour had to grow up before voters would take us seriously. But Britain's nuclear deterrence shouldn't be just a compromise. It's not good enough to say Trident should be tolerated because the electorate is not ready and the timing is not right to remove it. Early in her premiership, Theresa May was asked by an SNP if she would use Trident to retaliate against an attacking enemy (File photo: A Trident submarine in Gare Loch) Any party that aspires to government needs to believe with absolute certainty that Trident must and will play a central role in our defence policy for the foreseeable future. It isn't about cost, even ethics; it's about a commitment to defending this country against those who would do us harm. And those people need to know that if they ever aimed a nuclear weapon at Britain, we would respond, not just in kind, but by wiping out their country. They need to know that attacking us or our allies will guarantee them and their citizens instant, fiery death. That's an uncomfortable position to take and you will find few opposition MPs willing to enunciate it. But it is explicitly the logic behind the concept of mutually assured destruction (MAD). It kept the peace between the West and the Soviet Union for almost half a century in the Cold War. That war never became a hot one only because of the missiles pointing at each other across the globe, and our leaders' clearly stated willingness to use them if necessary. Early on in Theresa May's premiership, she was asked by an SNP MP if she would use Trident to retaliate against an attacking enemy. When she unhesitatingly replied 'Yes', there was much pearl-clutching and performative indignation from liberal commentators who seemed to imagine Trident was only there for show, a Potemkin deterrent. They failed to understand that the only thing preventing it from being used is our enemies' conviction it might be. Which is why Jeremy Corbyn, had he become prime minister, would have posed such a danger to Britain. No one believes he would have ever pressed the button, so his entering Downing Street would have rendered Trident pointless, exposing us and our allies to the ruthless ambitions of foreign leaders. Campaigners have called for the Trident submarine fleet should be removed from Gare Loch, west of Glasgow (File photo: Anti-nuclear campaigners march outside the Faslane naval base) In Scotland, the SNP have made much of their opposition to the presence of the Trident submarine fleet at Faslane on Gare Loch, west of Glasgow. That party wants an independent Scotland to remove nuclear missiles from the Clyde. But it also wants an independent Scotland to be part of Nato and given all the protections offered by its charter. In other words, it wants other nations to bear the responsibility and cost of hosting, maintaining and perhaps using nukes on Scotland's behalf. It's fatuous hypocrisy on a grand scale. And if a dozen shadow ministers on Labour's front bench believe the same thing, that is deeply worrying. After the chaos of Corbyn's leadership, Keir Starmer has, rightly, made great play of his party's renewed commitment to Nato and the principles that underpin it. But the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which some of his shadow ministers have publicly supported, is antithetical to membership of Nato. Virtue-signalling your superior morality to a small group of middle-class political activists will not win Labour a general election; it will merely confirm that after decades of fractious internal debate about nuclear weapons, Labour still hasn't grown up. And it still can't be trusted with the nation's defence. With nights at Boujis a distant memory, there is one club the royals love to visit If Westminster Abbey was the hottest ticket in Europe for the Coronation, there was somewhere rather less obvious which ran it a close second that same weekend. The anonymous blue door of number 25 Albemarle Street gives little away. But bystanders on the evening of Friday May 5 - the night before the big event - would have seen a remarkable assortment of celebrities and aristocrats drift into the tastefully decorated halls and dining rooms inside. For this is Oswalds, the most exclusive club in Britain which, in just a few short years, has established itself as a favourite not just with the aristocracy, but with members of the Royal Family itself. Sophie, 58, dined with pals at Oswalds, last week. Owned by Robin Birley, the club has become a favourite with members of the Royal Family The Duchess of Edinburgh stepped out of the club onto a rainy London street - but there was no shortage of help on hand There is nothing remarkable about the plain front door at 25 Albemarle Street but behind it lies one of the most sought-after members clubs in London Members of the Royal Family enjoyed a night out at Oswald's on the eve of the Coronation . Eugenie s pictured in velvet accompanied by husband, Jack Brooksbank The evening before the Coronation, for example, saw Mike and Zara Phillips join Beatrice, Eugenie, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence at the club. Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their children were also there. Just last week, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was photographed outside the club. Eugenie celebrated her birthday there, Prince William celebrated Christmas. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and wife Carrie frequent Oswalds. Aristocratic friends of the royals such as the Van Straubenzees have been spotted there, too. Oswalds has become a home from home for many of the royals, says Daily Mail Diary Editor Richard Eden. Prince William and Catherine were among the first to visit. They were followed by everyone from Prince Andrew and his daughters to Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and their children. As well as providing elegant, relaxed surroundings, the key thing that Oswalds owner, Robin Birley, guarantees is discretion. Frustratingly, for a social diarist like me, Oswalds members are ultra-discreet and so we rarely hear what goes on behind its doors. The club is owned by British entrepreneur Robin Birley, who also owns and runs 5 Hertford Street, nearby - where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly had their first date. It's significant that Birley himself chooses to spend his evenings at Oswald's, welcoming guests personally in the company of pet dog Peg , or holding court with friends. Opened in 2018, the private members club is named after Robin Birley's grandfather, Sir Oswald, a royal portraitist. His late grandfather's photo hangs proudly behind the reception desk, according to Tatler. Zara - arriving alongside her dapper husband Mike - showed off some dazzling diamond earrings outside the club Prince William enjoyed a rare meal out with friends at the exclusive Mayfair club in May 2022 Oswalds is quite a change from the sort of club Prince William and his friends used to patronise. He is pictured leaving Boujis in 2006 Oswalds is owned by British entrepreneur Robin Birley, who also owns 5 Hertford Street Birley already runs Number 5 Hertford Street. But according to The Mail on Sunday's Editor-at-large, Charlotte Griffiths, he decided to set up Oswalds in the hope of drawing a distinctively aristocratic crowd. 'He figured that the way to do it was to make the wine there very, very good, but at very reasonable prices. 'He clearly understands that real toffs like a drink or two - but have less ready money than the Euro crowd. And from what I can see, it's worked. 'Robin even allows members to keep their own mini collections of wine in the club cellars. 'It will have been the younger Windsors - people like Beatrice and Eugenie - who introduced more senior Royals to Oswalds. 'There's the extra advantage of the upstairs restaurant, La Loma, which is really very discreet indeed.' Beatrice and husband Edo arrive at Oswalds for a royal family party on the eve of the Coronation The Duke (pictured right) and Duchess of Edinburgh (pictured left) were also in attendance at the event Sophie, 58, and Prince Edward, 59, were joined by their children, James, Earl of Wessex, 15, and Lady Louise Windsor, 19 Prince Andrew (pictured right) and Princess Anne (pictured left) are pictured arriving at the Mayfair club on May 5, the night before the Coronation Oswalds also hosted a group of foreign royals that evening, including Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco, and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. Richard Eden added: Prince William used to be seen at clubs such as Boujis and Mahiki, but now youre more likely to find him at Oswalds or Birleys other Mayfair club, 5 Hertford Street. Last year, Prince William was pictured leaving Oswald's at 11pm after catching up with a friend. Robin Birley is the second son of the late Mark Birley, who founded the iconic Annabel's in London in 1963. It was named after Robin's mother, Annabel Goldsmith. Annabel's was the first of its kind and paved the way for others to come, it was a member-only nightclub that catered to an exclusive clientele, including, from time to time, Charles, Prince of Wales, and his wife Princess Diana. Situated in Berkeley Square, Annabels was where Diana held her hen do at and where she returned five years later for Fergie's pre-wedding bash dressed up as a police officer. It was said that Queen Elizabeth paid a visit for the 70th birthday of her friend, the Countess of Airlie, at the club in 2003. Mark Birley, sold the club and his other Mayfair nightspots to entrepreneur Richard Caring for a reported 100 million in 2007. The sale reportedly devastated Mark's son Robin, who had run Annabel's until they fell out. Robin was prohibited from using his surname, Birley, for any other ventures. In what has been dubbed in society circles 'the battle of Berkeley Square', Robin went on to create the fashionable private members' clubs 5, Hertford Street and Oswald's. Diana is reported to have staged her hen-do at Annabel's before marrying Prince Charles in 1981 (pictured leaving the club in 1987) Lady Annabel is a regular visitor to his clubs. 'I love to go to my son Robin's clubs,' she told Richard Eden. 'I go at least once or twice a week and have lunch or dinner with Robin.' For those looking to discover more for themselves about Oswald's online, sadly you will be disappointed. The club's website simply has an illustration of the club and basic information, including the clubs address and a memberships enquiry telephone number. This is the touching moment a 78-year-old man proposed to his high school crush at the airport after being reunited ahead of their 60th class reunion. Dr Thomas McMeekin, a dermatologist in Tampa, Florida, first met Nancy Gambell, 79, during their teenage years in Quincy, California. Following high school, the duo went on a few dates despite going to different colleges. However, they went on to wed other people. They saw one another 10 years ago at their 50th high school reunion, but nothing happened because the two were still married to their better halves. But three weeks before Dr McMeekin proposed at Tampa International Airport, which has since gone viral on TikTok he RSVP'd to his 60th school reunion, set to take place in August. The pair, who were both now single, reconnected with the knowledge they would see each other once again at the event. This is the touching moment a 78-year-old man proposed to his high school crush at the airport after being reunited ahead of their 60th class reunion 'We admired each other from a distance,' the doctor told FOX 13 Tampa Bay about his crush in high school. 'I never thought I had a chance with her.' But after they rekindled their relationship with one another, Dr McMeekin decided to surprise Ms Gambell with his proposal, that he planned with the help of his office staff. The clip of the moment, which was shared online by several members of his team at Academic Alliance in Dermatology, showed the doctor welcoming his now-fiancee at the airport after she'd arrived from California. After sharing a hug with one another, he walked Ms Gambell over to several seats before handing her a bouquet of red roses and a necklace with both of their birthstones on it. He then knelt down on a cushion before reading his proposal speech to his high school crush. 'It's been sixty years since we first met,' he said to a shocked Ms Gambell. 'You have always been the one that I've had a crush on since your cheerleader days,' he added. Dr Thomas McMeekin, a dermatologist in Tampa, Florida, first met Nancy Gambell (pictured together), 79, during their teenage years in Quincy, California Reaction: The clip was shared by Angelia L. Fedrick, and social media users were quick to share their kind words below the video After emotionally popping the question, a beaming Ms Gambell replies: 'I will', to her partner before the two hug to a loud cheer from watching passersby. The doctor - who reportedly plans to retire in a few months and move to California - has been married three times, according to Insider, while Ms Gambell has been wed four times. The clip was shared by Angelia L. Fedrick, and social media users were quick to share their kind words below the video. 'Almost as good as Notebook', wrote one person, while another said: 'Most romantic thing Ive ever seen.' 'Still sobbing 20 minutes later,' a third added. Another wrote: 'Im still crying. Oh my that was awesome! Romantic. Sweetest thing I have ever seen!' A woman who received an indecent exposure citation for wearing a crop top at a festival has settled the dispute one year on. Casey LaCaze-Lachney, from Winnfield, Louisiana, attended a music festival with her family and sported a cropped t-shirt, studded belt and denim shorts. She was enjoying the family festival when she was approached by three female police officers who gave her a ticket for indecent exposure. The woman explained the occurrence in a viral TikTok which received 8million views, and viewers were outraged. One year later, in a result that the Louisiana resident calls a huge win, Winnfield officials have agreed to drop the indecent exposure citation and expunge the incident off her record completely. Casey LaCaze-Lachney, from Winnfield Louisiana, who received an indecent exposure citation after sporting a crop top at a festival, has settled the dispute one year on In the video explaining the ordeal, LaCaze-Lachney said: All of my bits are covered... are you kidding me. At a family-event where there is alcohol literally handed out for free. She continued that: I live a mile down the road they literally couldve been like, Hi maam could you put some clothes on, and I wouldve been like yeah cool, Ill be right back. But no they stood there and gave me a ticket for indecent exposure are you kidding me? Winnfield Police Department responded to the incident on Facebook shortly after on 15 June 2022. The Facebook post said: Winnfields 6th Annual Dugdemona Festival held on Main Street was an amazing success. However, recent posts to social media have had a negative impact on the service of our police officers during this family fun-filled festival.' 'An unnamed citizen was cited for city ordinance and has since taken to a popular social media site, blasting police officers.' 'However, three female officers responded to various complaints about the persons attire and the person of interest was issued a citation under the city ordinance. Casey LaCaze-Lachney posted a final update on the case on TikTok. The Winnfield Police Department responded to the incident on Facebook. Casey LaCaze-Lachney considers the result a 'really big win' after a year of going back and forth with Winnfield Officials The video captioned: Final update on the indecent exposure case!!! Thank you guys so much for the continued support throughout this process! #fyp #indecentexposure #winnfieldlouisiana #justice explained that there have been no answers as to why the incident occurred. However, Winnfield officials contacted her a week before they were supposed to file for court and agreed to settle. She said: For that entire week we went round and round and round the settlement options and what works for everybody. What actually happened was they agreed to take it off my record they agreed to pay for the expunging of the ticket off my record, so that was the huge thing and they agreed to take the ordinance that was thrown at me.' She added: I know it may not be a huge deal to you guys but to me and the city of Winnfield it was actually a really big win.' 'It was tough for the entire year. But I want to say a huge thank you to my supporters. Long Lost Family viewers have been left 'sobbing' after a grandmother was reunited with the son she was forced to give up when she was just 16. Diane Kerridge, 74, who lives in Dorset but grew up in Norwich, met her teenage boyfriend at a youth club dance when they were both aged 14. Two years later, she discovered she was pregnant. She was given no choice by her mother but to put her baby, who she called Paul, up for adoption. She spent several days with him in hospital after giving birth before a social worker came and took him away, despite Diane's pleas to leave him with her. In heart-wrenching scenes on last night's ITV programme, a visibly emotional Diane was reunited with Paul 58 years after being forced apart, with the mother telling her son that she 'never forgot him'. Paul had been found by the Long Lost Family team living in LA as a successful specialist audio engineer to the stars. Long Lost Family viewers have been left 'sobbing' after a grandmother was reunited with the son (pictured together) she was forced to give up when she was just 16 Viewers were left 'sobbing' by the reunion, with one writing: 'I wonder if there will ever be an episode of #longlostfamily that doesnt leave me a snotty mess.' Another added: 'So happy for Diane and Paul. What a lovely, softly spoken lady. I hope they have many happy years making special memories. Such a sad story but a wonderful outcome.' 'Sobbing at #longlostfamily. Gets me every time. So many secrets,' a third viewer added on Twitter. Recalling the moment she discovered she was pregnant, Diane said: 'There was a stigma attached to being an unmarried mother at that time. It wasn't my choice that he was adopted. I wanted to keep my baby. 'I spoke to my parents, and my mother was very angry. [My boyfriend's] parents were very supportive. 'My father was but my mother made all the decisions and decided I would have the baby adopted when it was born, and there was no question about that.' She continued: 'I had quite a few days with him. I couldn't stop looking at him. He was such a beautiful baby. I named my baby Paul. 'On the last day, a social worker came, I knew she was coming to take him, and I asked her, "Please don't take him", but she did. Diane Kerridge (pictured reuniting with her son), 74, who lives in Dorset but grew up in Norwich, met her teenage boyfriend at a youth club dance when they were both aged 14. Two years later, she discovered she was pregnant Reaction: Viewers were left 'sobbing' by the reunion, with one writing: 'I wonder if there will ever be an episode of #longlostfamily that doesnt leave me a snotty mess.' I was just so traumatised at losing him. My feelings are just the same as the day when I gave birth to him, and I would like him to know that. Diane later married and had two more children. But she kept Paul's birth a secret until her daughter was in her 20s. 'My mother was obviously very ashamed of me and didn't want anybody to know about it. Nobody did know, it was very hard,' she told her daughter in the programme. The Long Lost Family team discovered Paul was adopted by a couple who lived in Twickenham, in southwest London. But finding no trace of Paul in the UK, they were eventually able to find him living in America. Paul moved to the Los Angeles in the 1990s and forged a career as a specialist audio engineer, working with some major international music stars, including Madonna and Stevie Wonder. Diane (pictured with Paul) was given no choice by her mother but to put her baby, who she called Paul, up for adoption. She spent several days with him in hospital after giving birth before a social worker came and took him away, despite Diane's pleas to leave him with her Diane (pictured left in her early 20s, and right, recently) later married and had two more children. But she kept Paul's birth a secret until her daughter was in her 20s Diane broke down in tears after discovering her grown-up son had been traced by the Long Lost Family team in last night's episode (pictured) Presenter Nicky Campbell visited Paul at his house in the hills behind the Hollywood sign, with Diane's son revealing how he had initiated a search for his mother in 2010. The agency that undertook the research reached the wrong conclusion, with Paul revealing: The end result was receiving an obituary. So, Ive actually thought shes been dead for all this time. Paul was delighted to hear that Diane is in fact alive and well as was Diane when co-presenter Davina McCall let her know that Paul had been found. Im most looking forward to telling him I have never forgotten him, and Ive always loved him,' said an emotional Diane. When they were finally reunited, they both explained how they thought of one another on Pauls birthday and, for Diane, the sadness she felt. In emotional scenes, the pair were reunited (pictured together, alongside Diane's granddaughter, left, and daughter, right) 58 years after being forced apart, with Diane telling Paul that she 'never forgot him'. Diane (pictured with her daughter and co-host Davina McCall, centre) was given no choice by her mother but to put her baby, who she called Paul, up for adoption Paul (pictured) was delighted to hear that Diane is in fact alive and well as was Diane when co-presenter Davina McCall let her know that Paul had been found As of today, we need never have those feelings again,' said Paul, who added: 'I definitely felt a connection. It's an amazing feeling of all this time not knowing something and then it's sitting right in front of you.' 'I feel now that I have a family, it's something that was missing,' he added, while Diane said: 'I just can't get my head around it. 'It's just incredible,' she told Paul, saying: 'I was always worried that you might think that I wanted to give you away, so I wanted to reassure that wasn't what happened, and that I hadn't forgotten you.' 'I never held any resentment at all,' said Paul, to which his birth mother replied: 'I'm so pleased to hear that. That's great.' Princess Sofia of Sweden and her husband Prince Carl Philip have shared a sweet family photograph as they celebrated the arrival of summer. The image, shared to Instagram over the weekend, pictured the proud parents with their three children, Prince Alexander, seven, Prince Gabriel, five, and their youngest Prince Julian, two. 'Summer greetings from us', the caption read when translated to English. The family-of-five was dressed down for the summer snap, with Alexander and Gabriel both sporting pastel T-shirts and neutral shorts, and Julian wearing denim dungaree shorts and a white top. Looking away from the camera, the youngest royal sat on his mother's lap, while his father was positioned beside Princess Sofia, with Alexander and Gabriel posing on a wooden chair between their parents. Princess Sofia of Sweden and her husband Prince Carl Philip have shared a sweet family photograph (pictured) Make-up free Sofia, 38, looked as equally low-key as her sons; she opted for a pink patterned outfit, kept her straight hair down and sported a colourful bracelet on her wrist. Her 44-year-old husband - who is the only son of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, and is currently fourth-in-line to the Swedish throne - appeared casual in a white T-shirt and grey shorts. In 2019, King Carl XVI Gustaf decided that Princess Sofia's sons, as well as those of Prince Carl Philip's sister Princess Madeline, will not have HRH titles. Although they will still go by prince and princesses they will not receive taxpayer funds. At the time of the announcement Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip said it would allow their children to have more freedom when they get older. The image, shared to Instagram over the weekend, showed the proud parents (pictured in May 2023) with their three children, Prince Alexander, seven, Prince Gabriel, five, and their youngest Prince Julian, two When asked by Royal Central if she had ever considered stepping back from royal life, Sofia said: 'No. Not really. I think I have found such a fantastic balance, and I really see it as positive that I have made it through these stormy years. 'It is such a huge advantage, in that we have the opportunity to stand a little in both worlds.' During the pandemic Princess Sofia undertook a three-day medical course at Sophiahemmet University College in Stockholm, where she is an honorary chair member. This meant she was able to assist with healthcare work. Photos surfaced of her scrubbed in, posing with other staff members, who worked at the Sophiahemmet hospital. Commenters were divided on whether or not the water sport was safe for the tot Both had on life vests as a motorboat pulled their board forward on the water Lindsay, 29, posted a video of her wake surfing with toddler Sage on Lake Powell Dancing With The Stars alum Lindsay Arnold has left many on edge after sharing a video of her wake surfing with two-year-old daughter, Sage. The 28-second clip showed the dancer and choreographer, 29, rising into a standing position on her board being pulled forward by a motorboat on Lake Powell, with Sage perched at her feet. Both clearly had on life vests while skimming the surface of the reservoir, which is a popular tourist destination situated between Utah and Arizona. After some time, the mom-of-two carefully bent down and picked up her eldest, cradling the toddler against her chest for several moments before the vessel slowed down and their board sank back below the waves. Lindsay Arnold, 29, took her eldest daughter, two-year-old Sage, out on Lake Powell for an afternoon of wake surfing After getting her balance, Arnold picked her daughter up and finished the surfing session with the toddler in her arms The DWTS choreographer held Lindsay to her chest after letting go of the rope Lindsay posted the clip to her Instagram on Friday, writing as the caption, 'Core memory so proud of our sweet and brave girl! Can't wait for more of these fun firsts with my Sagey girl.' The sweet sentiment didn't stop naysayers from flooding into the comments. 'Are you nuts? Most irresponsible post on Instagram today,' one seethed. 'I think this is dangerous to have a young child on that board. Very irresponsible,' someone else echoed. 'What were you thinking? Anything for IG... So many things could've went wrong,' another lambasted. 'Children are not props or toys to be used to show off our own agility. I personally am disappointed in the decision to do this at such a young age. It shows poor judgement,' one user chimed in. Still, plenty more rushed to Lindsay's defense. The stunt has been heavily criticized on social media, where users were quick to accuse Arnold of putting her daughter in danger A number of naysayers flooded the comments to criticize Lindsay for taking her eldest wake surfing Plenty more fans leapt to Lindsay's defense, praising her impressive skills 'That's trust right there. She's brave because she trusts her momma. And HOLY are you strong!' one supporter applauded. 'Lot of helicopter parents here scared of their own shadow. Life is unpredictable at best, love her living it to the fullest with her mom!' another cheered. Fellow DWTS dancer Emma Slater also sung her former co-worker's praises, writing, 'I don't know about anyone else here but I'm like wildly impressed at you Linds for doing that one handed and no handed with an extra little person lol ermmmmm icon!!!!!' To her credit, Lindsay began taking Sage to swim class more than a year ago and has taken to documenting the tot's progress on her Instagram, People reported. According to Canary Island-based surfing school Surf Life Tenerife, it's possible for kids under five years of age to get a taste of surfing - under ample adult supervision, of course. Lindsay and her husband, Sam Cusick, welcomed their second kid, daughter June, on May 3 The longtime DWTS dancer announced her plans to leave the show in August 2022 after more than a decade on the series Per the site's advice: 'Once your baby surfer can swim a little, you can take them with you on a longboard for the first time. 'Make sure the waves are small, let them wear a lifejacket, and they will have the time of their lives! 'The final step before actually letting your little ones try out surfing themselves is to let them try bodyboarding. They can start catching their first waves like this from the age of three.' Lindsay and her husband, construction project manager Sam Cusick, 30, welcomed their second child, daughter June, on May 3. The longtime DWTS dancer announced her plans to leave the show in August 2022 after more than a decade on the series. Carrie Johnson has announced the arrival of her third child with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson - and revealed his interesting name. Taking to Instagram this afternoon, Mrs Johnson, 35, shared pictures of her newborn son, called Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson, who is Mr Johnson's eighth child. The couple are already parents to Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, three, and Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson, 18 months. Introducing her baby boy to the world, Mrs Johnson wrote online: 'A week of Frankie. Welcome to the world Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson born 5th July at 9.15am. She joked: 'Can you guess which name my husband chose?!' in reference to Mr Johnson's well-known love of ancient Greek myths. Boris and Carrie Johnson have welcomed their third child together, a baby boy named Frank Mr Johnson, 59, studied Classics at Oxford University's Balliol College and Odysseus is a mythical Greek hero in Homer's epic poem The Odyssey. Meanwhile, the Johnsons named their eldest Wilfred after Mr Johnson's paternal grandfather, Osman Wilfred Kemal. One of the youngster's middle names, Lawrie, is a reference to Mrs Johnson's own granddad. His other middle name, Nicholas, was a tribute to a doctor who treated the former MP while he battled Covid at St Thomas's hospital in London. Their daughter Romy was named after Mrs Johnson's aunt Rosemary. Iris is from the Greek word for rainbow - a nod to the fact their daughter is a 'rainbow baby' - a child born after miscarriage or stillbirth. Her second middle name is a tribute to the Prime Minister's mother Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who passed away in 2021. Carrie is already mother to Wilfred, three, and Romy, 18 months (pictured together) Frankie is tucked in by his big brother Wilfred in this adorable photograph Carrie shared the arrival of her third child on Instagram Former prime minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson arrive at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6 In her Instagram post today, Mrs Johnson revealed her newborn's arrival and names with a series of adorable pictures. How many children does Boris Johnson have? The Prime Minister and Marina Wheeler, who separated in 2018, have four children together: Lara Lettice, 26, Milo Arthur, 24, Cassia Peaches, 22, and Theodore Apollo, 20. He also has a fifth child, Stephanie Macintyre, with art consultant Helen Macintyre. Ms Macintyre's daughter is allegedly one of two children he fathered as a result of an affair. The Appeal Court ruled in 2013 that the public had a right to know that he had fathered a daughter during an adulterous liaison while Mayor of London in 2009 - but also mentioned the possibility of a second baby. Lara attended Bedales school - which costs 33,000-a-year - in Hampshire and went on to read Latin at St Andrews University. Milo went to 27,000-a-year Westminster School and can speak Arabic, Russian and French. Cassia went to Highgate School - which costs 18,000 per year - and Theodore went to Cambridge University. Boris' son Wilf, born on April 29, 2020, is from his relationship with wife Carrie. His second with Carrie, Romy, was born in December 2021. The third child was born on July 11, 2023. Mr Johnson's eighth. Advertisement Carrie, wearing a white dress, is seen holding the baby and looking at him adoringly. She also shared pictures of Frankie being tucked in by his big brother Wilf and lying happily in a Moses basket. She said in her caption: 'Am loving every minute of the sleepy baby bubble. Seeing my older two embrace their new brother with such joy and excitement has been the most wonderful thing to see. We are all very smitten. 'Thank you so much to the incredible NHS maternity team at UCLH. They really are the most amazing, caring people. I feel such immense gratitude. 'Now, can anyone recommend any good series/box sets to binge while breastfeeding? 'Time for a drink'. The baby is the couple's third together but Daily Mail columnist Mr Johnson's eighth. The former PM has four children from his marriage to lawyer Marina Wheeler. He also has a fifth child, Stephanie Macintyre, with art consultant Helen Macintyre. In May Mrs Johnson announced she was expecting her third child. Sharing her news on Instagram, she said she felt 'pretty exhausted' for the past eight months, adding, 'we can't wait to meet this little one' in a few weeks time. 'Wilf is v excited about being a big brother again and has been chattering about to nonstop. 'Don't think Romy has a clue what's coming. She will soon.' The baby's arrival is just over three years after Mrs Johnson gave birth to her first son Wilfred. In December 2021 they welcomed their daughter Romy, which Mrs Johnson described as their 'rainbow baby' following her miscarriage a year before. The couple moved to Oxfordshire earlier this year after Mr Johnson resigned as Prime Minister last September. Mr Johnson's children with Ms Wheeler are all in their 20's - Lara Lettice is 20, Milo Arthur is 27, Cassia Peaches, 25 and Theodore Apollo, 23. Carrie said in her caption (pictured): 'Am loving every minute of the sleepy baby bubble. Seeing my older two embrace their new brother with such joy and excitement has been the most wonderful thing to see. We are all very smitten.' The Queen was snapped looking stylish as she hosted a Clarence House reception today - where she was praised for her love of books and reading by Tracy Chevalier who penned Girl with a Pearl Earring. Camilla, 75, donned a blue, cream and black graphic print midi dress, paired with low heeled nude pumps, for the event today, which marked the 15th anniversary of First Story. The royal has been patron of the charity, which seeks to provide opportunities for under-represented young people to participate in enriching creative writing activities, since 2011. And she appeared delighted as she attended the engagement, where she was snapped beaming as she spoke with guests. Among them were creative writing lecturer and author Ashley Hickson-Lovence, and self-described 'aspiring poet' Daniella Koranteng, an alumna of First Story who closed the event by reading one of her own poems. Queen Camilla (centre) with guests Ashley Hickson-Lovence (left) and Daniella Koranteng (right) during today's reception at Clarence House Praising the charity, Daniella Koranteng, 16, said she had never even considered creative writing until she was encouraged by her teacher two years ago to join a First Story after-school class two years ago. She said: 'I just went to chill after school but it really tapped into something in me. I like to write about what I know, non-fiction, very real. What me, my family and friends have experienced. It touches upon the positive and negatives but is very empowering. 'I hope to study English literature, history, economics and maths at A level and this iOS definitely something I want to pursue. 'I have never experienced anything like this before but its inspiring and such an honour to be here. Poetry is for everyone, thats what I have come to realise and me being here is testimony to that.' Another former alumna, Habiba Desai, 26, from Bradford, also spoke highly of the organisation. Habiba has since gone on to set up her own publishing company, Fox and Windmill, representing South Asian British writers in the north of England. She said of her experience with First Story: 'It was the first time that I had written something that was properly edited and published and I thought "I want to share this experience with other people like me". 'I wanted to give others the opportunity I never had. 'The Queen just loves books. You can hear that when you speak to her. And we love books too. So we have something in common. She told me it was an incredible thing that I have created.' The royal donned a midi dress boasting a graphic black, white, and blue print as she attended the event in London today Guest Daniella Koranteng (pictured) a self-described 'aspiring poet' closed the event by reading a poem First Story CEO Antonia Byatt (pictured) gave a talk during the reception, which was held to celebrate the 15th anniversary of First Story Author Tracy Chevalier, who famously penned Girl with a Pearl earring, also praised the royal, saying it is was 'wonderful' to have a Queen with 'such a genuine passion' for books and highlighted the wealth of up-and-coming talent in the UK. She said: We are very lucky to have Queen Camilla. Being a passionate reader makes a huge difference to her work. 'I talked with her about the importance of books, how they can help us to escape. Shes a pro. She knows exactly how to talk to everybody. ' Ms Chevaliers 1999 novel, set in 17th century Holland and inspired by the iconic Vermeer painting, has sold more than five million copies and gone on to be made into a hit film. She has already worked with students benefiting from First Story mentorship, adding: 'It was very moving., they arent being graded or examined. They dont have to study or revise or get a number or letter. Theres something to be said for that. 'We have lost that in schools. Its all about exams now. To have something outside of school time where they can joust write poems, make commentary on the world. Its wonderful. 'It's sad that the government cant provide the funds to do this nationally, that it has to be done by a charity. But First Story does it very well.' The queen (pictured, right) was snapped looking deep in conversation with Habiba Desai, co-founder of an independent publishing company (pictured, left) Queen Camilla greets guest Ashley Hickson-Lovence (pictured, left) a creative writing lecturer and author Camilla was snapped looking delighted as she met with guests at her reception, celebrating just one of her literacy-related patronages The royal wore her pale tresses styled into her soft, trademark bob, finishing her look with a natural make-up style First Story was founded in 2008 by the writer William Fiennes and Katie Waldegrave MBE. Since then, the charity has printed and distributed more than 550 anthologies of new writing by young people. Camilla, who wore her pale blonde locks styled in her trademark soft bob, was presented with a collection of books during the reception. First Story is just one of the literary organisations supported by the Queen, who is famously interested in promoting literacy. Last month, the royal held a star-studded reception to mark the opening of her inaugural literary festival. The Queen's Reading Room Festival started as a post-lockdown Instagram book club to share Camilla's love or reading and literacy. It is a charity aiming to develop the appreciation of literature among adults and children in the UK and around the world, and this year has held its first one-day festival at historic Hampton Court. Queen Camilla (pictured, right) is snapped speaking with American-British novelist Tracy Chevalier (pictured, left) during the London gathering Queen Camilla (centre) poses with guests during today's reception celebrating First Story's 15th anniversary And the festival follows the success of Queen Camilla's book club which launched on Instagram in January 2021 and has gathered more than 160,000 followers. Camilla was inspired to set up the free initiative as a result of the phenomenal response to two suggested reading lists she published during lockdown. She also took heart from research which showed book sales soared by 400 per cent in the spring lockdown. Since joining the Royal Family with her wedding to Prince Charles in 2005, Camilla has made the issue of literacy particularly among children central to her work and is patron of seven charities including the National Literacy Trust and First Story. Camilla, who describes herself as a 'voracious' reader, has said in the past: 'There is no friend as loyal as a book' a quote from US author Ernest Hemingway. The actress donned a replica of the dress worn by the doll She attended the Los Angeles premiere of the Barbie film on Sunday night An actress with Down syndrome dressed as the first Barbie doll with the condition the attend the upcoming Margot Robbie film's premiere. Sofia Sanchez replicated the look of Mattel's Barbie with Down syndrome as she donned a carbon copy of the dress that features 'butterflies and yellow and blue colors, which are symbols and colors associated with Down syndrome awareness,' according to the doll brand. On Sunday night, the 14-year-old posed up a storm as she hit the pink carpet in her custom-made gown that made her feel like she 'became' Barbie. The actress and activist emulated the Barbie doll while at the premiere and even snapped a photo with the film's star, Margot, 33, and also shared a 'behind the seams peek' at the making of her dress. Sofia Sanchez, an actress with Down syndrome, dressed as the first Barbie doll with the condition the attend the upcoming Margot Robbie film's premiere She replicated the look of Mattel's Barbie with Down syndrome as she donned a carbon copy of the dress On Sunday night, the 14-year-old posed up a storm as she hit the pink carpet in her custom-made gown that made her feel like she 'became' Barbie The Ukrainian activist stunned at the Los Angeles premiere as she posed up a storm to become a life-size reproduction of the Barbie doll with the condition. The replica of the dress was hand-painted by Doloris Petunia, who shared a video of her creating the adorable number. In the comments section, Sofia commented: 'I became a Barbie.' And the star of the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, didn't just match her dress to the doll, she also donned similar shoes and jewelry. At the premiere, Sofia posed next to Margot while holding up the Barbie doll with Down syndrome. She wrote alongside the photo: 'Pinch me.' In April, when the doll first hit shelves, Mattel noted that the doll was 'created to allow even more children to see themselves in Barbie, as well as have Barbie reflect the world around them. The Barbie doll with Down syndrome is meant to inspire all children to tell more stories through play.' In a press release, the brand also commented on the doll's outfit. The actress and activist emulated the Barbie doll while at the premiere and even snapped a photo with the film's star, Margot, The replica of the dress was hand-painted by Doloris Petunia, who shared a video of her creating the adorable number Sofia is continuing to inspire others with the condition to never give up on their dreams, and said that the release of the doll made her 'so happy' 'The dolls pink pendant necklace with three upward chevrons represents the three copies of the 21st chromosome, which is the genetic material that causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. 'The three chevrons, or arrows, are a symbol that unites the Down syndrome community and are meant to represent the lucky few who have someone with Down syndrome in their life,' the press release read. Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and global head of Barbie & Dolls said: 'As the most diverse doll line on the market, Barbie plays an important role in a child's early experiences, and we are dedicated to doing our part to counter social stigma through play. 'We are proud to introduce a Barbie doll with Down syndrome to better reflect the world around us and further our commitment to celebrating inclusion through play.' Sofia is continuing to inspire others with the condition to never give up on their dreams, and said that the release of the doll made her 'so happy.' Jelena Djokovic looked glamorous as ever as she sat in Centre Court this afternoon during another day of action at Wimbledon. The wife of World Number One Novak Djokovic, 36, appeared in the stands sporting a colourful summer dress blazer combo. She looked chic in the navy dress with a colourful print, matched with the pastel yellow blazer, as she watched her husband take on Andrey Rublev. Pairing her outfit with a pair of large-framed sunglasses with her brunette locks hanging down her shoulders, Jelena, who shares a daughter with her husband, appeared cool and collected as Novak makes his bid to equal Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon wins. To accessorise, she paired her outfit with a brown Louis Vuitton clutch bag. Jelena Djokovic, 36, paired a colourful summer dress with a pastel yellow blazer and a brown Louis Vuitton clutch as she arrived at Centre Court Entrepreneur Jelena, who has been in a relationship with Novak for 18 years, is known for her philanthropic work, as well as for holding some unusual beliefs. She is the director of their charity, the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which seeks to help children achieve their full potential by investing in early childhood development, notably in early years education. She is a powerful advocate for children, and last October, spoke at the International Conference on Child Safety. Jelena said: 'If we abuse a little child, we yell at him, condemn, label, beat, don't understand, don't support... what kind of response to life challenges and injustices can we expect from an adult man from those he himself learned upon coming into the world?' The entrepreneur, who is the director of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, looked glamorous in her chic outfit The wife of World Number One Novak Djokovic beamed as she brushed her long brunette locks behind her shoulders This philanthropic work is what she considers to be among the 'most significant' things she and her athlete husband have done. In a Serbian language YouTube interview with Al Jazeer-a, she said: 'One of the most significant things that Novak and I have dedicated time, energy and money is charity work. And its been like that for half of our lives already.' Jelena has spoken out about her belief in children multiple times, once writing online that she would like to be remembered as 'a curious soul who loves life and lifelong learning' - and the greatest teachers are children. She added: 'I live by values of gratitude, honesty, respect, kindness, forgiveness, and love and try to practice them through everything I do. One of the hardest lessons I hope to learn and practice every day in my life is how to love myself fully.' She is also known for some of their more controversial or uncommon opinions, for example, Jelena's love for spirituality and meditation, which she discusses at length on her blog. Among her other beliefs, Jelena once shared a debunked video on Instagram in which she claimed 5G caused the coronavirus pandemic. However, she later said she did not claim the baseless theory 'to be true or not'. Jelena has described herself as 'misunderstood and fully appreciated', adding she is 'changing and transforming at such a pace that it is really hard to label me or put me in one definite box. I am everywhere and nowhere.' One of Jelena's great beliefs is a philosophy shared by many - the power of meditation. In another post, she has said: 'The goal is to understand the calm mind, the happiness and gratitude of your soul and transfer it to all areas of your life and all relationships you have.' She added there is power in nature when it comes to meditation. Jelena wrote: 'I love being alone in nature. Alone completely. But I have to admit, at first when I arrive, I feel a wave of fear come over me because I know that Im I am an intruder. To some, I might be prey, too.' A top veterinarian has listed the three traits of dog owners that create health problems for their pet pooches. Dr Laura Robinson, known online as Vet Lo, said if dog owners refrain from these three acts, it will 'make their vet happy'. She said 'pet parents' should not 1/ take their dogs to dog parks, 2/ let them chew on hard toys or treats, or 3/ use 'all-natural', 'over-the-counter' flea and tick prevention products like essential oils. Dr Laura said the appeal of dog parks is clear, but what is not so clear is the myriad health problems they harbour. 'I know they're fun but all I see is dog bites, fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites and other injuries,' the American vet explained in an Instagram video. Scroll down for video Veterinarian Dr Laura Robinson has revealed the three things dog owners do that vets 'hate' - from going to dog parks to using 'over-the-counter' flea and tick treatments Dr Laura advised against giving dogs antlers: 'The amount of times I've seen dogs come in with cracked teeth because they're given a too hard of a chew toy is too numerous to count' Secondly, the animal doctor warned against giving deer antlers to their dogs to chew on, or any hard toy or treat. 'The amount of times I have seen dogs come in with cracked teeth because they are given a too hard of a chew toy is way too numerous to count,' she said. 'The rule of thumb: bang the thing you want to give your dog against your knee cap; if it hurts, it's too hard.' Lastly, Dr Laura advised against 'all-natural' products that claim to prevent fleas and ticks and that are available over the counter. 'These do not work. I repeat, these do not work,' she said. Dr Laura advised against 'all-natural' products that claim to prevent fleas and ticks and that are available over the counter. 'These do not work. I repeat, these do not work,' she said Dr Laura said she sees dog bites, fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites and other injuries sustained at the dog park Dr Laura's advice racked up more than 49,700 views and sparked a lively discussion among animal lovers. 'Spot on! Nice to hear honesty from a vet!' one viewer wrote. Many were outraged at the claim essential oils 'don't work' for flea prevention, but one veterinary nurse hit back, saying: 'We heard so many times how essential oils actually make dogs so sick... especially oregano.' Others slammed pet stores for selling antler chews for the potential injuries they cause and were thankful for Dr Laura's 'rule of thumb'. 'I just don't get how people still think antlers are an okay chew toy,' one woman said. '100 per cent on the antlers my Boxer is sporting a crown due to them. I now use them if my nail can penetrate it, then they can have it,' a second said. 'I know dogs need to chew on stuff but I never knew they could crack their teeth... it makes so much sense though when I stop to think about it! Thanks for the tip about the knee cap!' a third added. Nature lovers have discovered a magical beach hidden in a stunning national park just outside a major Australian city. Travellers are flocking to Smalleys Beach in Cape Hillsborough National Park, which is only a 45-minute drive from central North Queensland hub Mackay. Dubbed the 'perfect Australian experience', travellers will find wild kangaroos and wallabies on the beach at sunrise - and rangers are always around to make sure tourists are safe with the temperamental animals. Lush rainforests meet the shore in Cape Hillsborough, and tourists can traverse through eucalyptus forests, which are home to koalas and kookaburras, and take in views of prehistoric rock formations. Lucky visitors will also be able to spot whales and turtles during migration season from May to November. Nature lovers have discovered a magical beach hidden in a stunning national park just outside a major Australian city Travellers are flocking to Smalleys Beach in Cape Hillsborough National Park, which is only a 45-minute drive from central North Queensland hub Mackay Dubbed the 'perfect Australian experience', travellers will find wild kangaroos and wallabies on the beach at sunrise - and rangers are always around to make sure tourists are safe with the temperamental animals Walking trails near Cape Hillsborough National Park Diversity Boardwalk The walk takes travellers through Melaleuca woodland, a mangrove community, a eucalyptus forest, and vine thicket. Andrews Point This walk provides five scenic lookouts with views of the coastline and the Whitsunday Islands. It is the ideal walk to spot whales and turtles during migration season (May to November). Beachcomber Cove Travellers particularly flock to Beachcomber Cove in the wet season because of the freshwater springs that flow through the remnant rainforest. The trail also leads to Cascade Creek that forms a waterfall and a swimming hole. Yuibera Plant Trail An informative trail, the Yuibera track highlights the plant food in the area and loops around through the rainforest. Tourists are warned to beware of dangerous sea creatures on the beach, including crocodiles and various marine stingers Advertisement Smalleys Beach is close to several walking tracks around the area, and visitors are also welcome to camp on-site. According to the Queensland Department of Environment and Science, six species of kangaroos and wallabies are found in the park, including eastern grey kangaroos, agile wallabies, whiptail wallabies, unadorned rock-wallabies and swamp wallabies. The park is a significant refuge for these species as other habitats in the area have been cleared. Tourists are warned to beware of dangerous sea creatures on the beach, including crocodiles and various marine stingers. Smalleys Beach is close to several walking tracks around the area, and visitors are also welcome to camp on-site Lush rainforests meet the shore in Cape Hillsborough, and tourists can traverse through eucalyptus forests, which are home to koalas and kookaburras, and take in views of prehistoric rock formations Visitors have been obsessing over the perfect Aussie experience, with many vowing to go back after a 'life-changing' visit Visitors have been obsessing over the perfect Aussie experience, with many vowing to go back after a 'life-changing' visit. 'This was the most amazing experience!' a traveller said. 'I highly recommend, it's so beautiful out there.' 'If you want to see the kangaroos and wallabies, you have to try and get there before the sun comes up! As soon as the sun is up they start hopping away,' another advised. 'I love hanging out with the locals at Cape Hillsborough,' another wrote. 'The hikes there are amazing, there's nothing like it. It's my favourite place on the easy coast,' a woman wrote. They had worked with a salmonella sample at the BSL-2 lab two weeks earlier A biosecurity blunder in the Netherlands left a lab worker hospitalised with typhoid, MailOnline can reveal. The mishap occurred during the height of the Covid pandemic but details have only come to light now. Scientists claimed the incident proved how easily lab-acquired infections can occur, even in facilities with strict safety measures. The unidentified lab worker was only spotted after going to casualty complaining of a headache and fever of 'unknown origin'. Tests initially ruled out anything sinister, prompting doctors in Amsterdam to send them home. Details of the lab-acquired infection in Amsterdam were published in the Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease earlier this month. But medical centre and research institute Amsterdam UMC told MailOnline that the incident occurred in early 2021 around Spring. It did not share the exact name or location of the laboratory in Amsterdam, or state if it happened at one of its own sites Samples of the bug were sent to the Dutch Government's infectious diseases lab. Analysis revealed the lab worker had salmonella typhi, a 'highly contagious' bacteria which causes typhoid fever. Pictured, a conceptual image of salmonella typhi causing typhoid But they were called back 36 hours later by the hospital after blood tests taken by medics at OLVG Amsterdam at the time ended up being positive for salmonella. The bacteria were also detected in faecal samples taken by the worker. Samples of the bug were sent to the Dutch Government's infectious diseases lab for further analysis. Results revealed the lab worker had salmonella typhi a highly contagious bacterium which causes typhoid fever. Sharing details of the incident in a medical journal, the doctors admitted they were baffled because the employee had 'no history of travel to an endemic country or contact with patients with typhoid fever'. In hope of solving the riddle of how they caught typhoid, medics contacted the lab worker's employer. It transpired that the worker had experimented with a salmonella sample at a BSL-2 lab two weeks before they became ill roughly how long it takes to develop typhoid's tell-tale, cold-like symptoms. Biological safety levels (BSL) are ranked from one to four based on the agents or organisms laboratory workers are researching. While BSL-1 applies to labs working with low-risk microbes that pose little threat of infection in healthy adults, for instance some strains of E.coli, BSL-4 labs work with highly dangerous and exotic microbes, including Ebola. Widely known BSL-4 labs include Porton Down in the UK and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, central to the Covid 'lab leak' theory. Safety protocols in BSL-2 labs involve personal protective equipment (PPE) including face shields, self-closing, lockable doors and performing procedures which could cause infection from aerosols or splashes in a biological 'safety cabinet'. Follow-up genetic tests of the bacteria revealed it was the same strain, indicating that it was a 'lab-acquired infection'. Writing in the report, experts, including some from the Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), said: 'Despite ongoing improvements in biosafety, lab-acquired infections do occur incidentally. 'This incident occurred despite good laboratory precautions.' No breach of biosafety protocols was uncovered, with experts still confused as to how they caught it given the bacteria is not airborne. Details of the lab-acquired infection in Amsterdam were published in the Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease journal earlier this month. But medical centre and research institute Amsterdam UMC told MailOnline that the incident occurred in early 2021 around spring. It did not share the exact name or location of the laboratory in Amsterdam, or state if it happened at one of its own sites. Dr Gregory Koblentz, an expert in biodefence at George Mason University, stated the lab should be commended for tracking down the origin of the infection. However, because they could not identify how the worker got infected, the incident 'cannot be used to draw wider conclusions about risk of lab-acquired infections', he added. Professor Mark Stevens, chair of microbial pathogenesis at the University of Edinburgh, meanwhile said 'the most likely explanation was that it was acquired in the laboratory'. He told MailOnline: 'This does not necessarily indicate a leak from the lab. It is not airborne, and liquid spills would have been contained in the cabinet. 'If the technician touched liquid or solid media on which the bacteria were growing, then inadvertently touch their mouth or failed to wash hands properly, that could suffice. 'Lab-acquired accidents are rare. While risks are assessed and control measures are applied, potential for human error cannot be eliminated.' Professor Willem van Schaik, director of the Institute of Microbiology and Infection at the University of Birmingham, said: 'These infections do happen, but are fortunately very rare as laboratories need to follow strict biosafety rules. 'I expect Dutch authorities will have made significant efforts to review procedures in this laboratory.' He added: 'For the organism Salmonella Typhi, this case in Amsterdam appears to be only the fourth reported laboratory-acquired case this century, with three of them having been reported in a South African laboratory with problematic biosafety procedures. 'In contrast, more than 10million people are thought to be infected with salmonella typhi every year, with the consumption of water and food that is contaminated with the bacterium being the most common routes of infection.' Experts only said that the employee had handled salmonella cultures in a 'biosafety cabinet' a ventilated enclosure which uses High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to clean air going into the work area and out to the environment. The worker underwent 14 days of antibiotic treatments in hospital, before he 'fully recovered', experts said. It is not the first time lab workers have fallen ill after biosecurity blunders. In 1972, a laboratory worker at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine contracted smallpox after poor biosecurity measures were enforced in the lab. They went on to infect three others, killing two. Meanwhile in 2014, inadequate laboratory safety led to potential exposure of 75 staff to anthrax at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Roybal campus in Atlanta. Typhoid is typically spread through touching contaminated surfaces, with the bug found in faeces and urine. The fever is most common in parts of the world that have poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. But it can be prevented through vaccination. Without prompt treatment, the highly contagious infection can cause serious complications and can be fatal. Common symptoms of the infection include a persistent high temperature that gradually increases each day, headaches, fatigue, constipation and general aches and pains. But it is normally only travellers visiting countries such as Bangladesh, India or Pakistan, who choose to get the jab. Approximately 21million cases and 222,000 typhoid-related deaths occur annually worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Typhoid fever is uncommon in the UK, with around 300 infections confirmed each year. In the US each year, around 350 people are diagnosed with typhoid fever, according to the CDC. Cities with the highest levels of toxic 'forever chemicals' in tap water also have above-average rates of disease and pregnancy complications, a DailyMail.com analysis suggests. The majority of neighborhoods with the highest levels of PFAS chemicals in drinking water suffer more cancer diagnoses and deaths than the rest of the country each year and see more babies born at dangerously low weights. Experts said the findings were 'concerning' and that they warranted a 'national study' into whether PFAS contamination is causing serious health problems across the country, though they cautioned the correlation was not definitive proof of a link. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are microscopic, man-made chemicals that can take thousands of years to break down in the environment or in the human body, hence the name 'forever chemicals'. They have been loosely linked to a slew of serious health problems, but especially cancer and pregnancy complications. The cities depicted on the map are just a handful of many that have been identified as having higher concentrations of PFAS in the public water supply and private wells Cancer diagnoses in most of the towns designated by the Environmental Working Group for having high levels of PFAS in water are above the national average rate of about 439 cases per 100,000 people Deaths due to all types of cancer were higher than average in most of the top ten cities. Specific types of cancers have been linked more strongly to PFAS exposure, including kidney and testicular cancers The average yearly rate of new cancer diagnoses in America every year is about 439 cases per 100,000 people, but seven out of the 10 top-scoring counties for PFAS water contamination saw their rates exceed the national benchmark. Cancer deaths were also higher in seven of the worst-hit neighborhoods, while six of the areas had higher rates of low birth weight than the national average. Dr Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, a PFAS expert from the University of Miami, told DailyMail.com: When you look at these geographic areas where there had been high levels of PFAS in the area, could PFAS be correlated or associated to cancer? Sure, it could. 'We know from previous work there is a link between certain types of PFAS to cancer risk, to immune system dysfunction, to cardiovascular issues, to reproductive issues. 'So exposure to PFAs has been linked or correlated to some of this, but we don't know if it's definitive because of all the other things people are exposed to at work and at home. The major caveat to keep in mind is that correlation does not equate causation, he said. In other words, scientists cannot find a cause and effect relationship between PFAS levels and cancers or other health issues. Poverty, obesity rates, access to healthcare, smoking and alcohol consumption are all factors that influence rates of disease. Babies born underweight are at higher risk of low oxygen levels at birth, trouble staying warm, trouble feeding and gaining weight, and infection Dr Joseph Braun, an epidemiologist at the Brown University School of Public Health told DailyMail.com that unlike some of those factors, 'the sort of unfortunate and tragic part about PFAS exposure is that we're all exposed and have been exposed since birth.' He added: A woman's exposure going into pregnancy is actually just as important, if not more important than the exposure that she accumulates during pregnancy. 'So she's coming into a pregnancy having been exposed for her whole life, and that's going to be there. The analysis looked at the 10 cities and counties identified in a report by the Environmental Working Group as having the highest level of PFAS in drinking water. They were: Brunswick County, NC; Quad Cities, Iowa; Miami, FL.; Bergen County, NJ; Wilmington, NC; Philadelphia, PA.; Louisville, KY; New Orleans, LA; Charleston, SC; and Decatur, AL. Using those cities as a guide, DailyMail.com combed through federal data and individual municipal cancer case and death rates where available, including cancer cases, deaths, as well as rates of low birth weight. Those figures were culled from the National Cancer Institute's database and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as non-governmental sources such as an outside analysis by March of Dimes. According to Dr Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, a public health professor at the University of Miami, PFAS 'should not exist anywhere', but unfortunately, they're just about everywhere, from nonstick cookware to food packaging to firefighter foam. The chemicals seep into the water supply through a variety of mechanisms. Industrial sites and military bases often produce PFAS runoff, as do agricultural sites that use PFAS-laden pesticides as well as sewage treatment plants. Evidence linking the elevated PFAS rates with higher incidences of cancers, pregnancy complications, and other serious health outcomes is far from conclusive, though experts who spoke with DailyMail.com said it is highly suggestive. Out of ten counties considered seven reported higher incidence of cancer diagnoses. In Brunswick County, that rate was as high as 473 cases per 100,000 while in Quad Cities that rate exceeded 631. Only three cities on the list - Miami, FL, Bergen County, NJ, and New Orleans, LA - had cancer incidences lower than the national average of about 438 cases per capita. Similarly, deaths due to all types of cancer were higher than the national average 149 deaths per 100,000 people in Brunswick County, Quad Cities, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Louisville, New Orleans, and Decatur. It should be noted, though, that many factors come into play when it comes to spurring a cancer diagnosis, including a history of smoking, being overweight, drinking too much alcohol, and a person's access to quality healthcare services. Most of the studies examining a relationship between cancer and PFAS has honed in on one of roughly 12,000 chemicals, PFOA. For example, a 2020 report published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that elevated levels of PFOA in the bloodstream nearly doubled a persons risk of developing renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. There is also expanding evidence pointing to a relationship between PFOA and testicular cancer. Research is also expanding to include a possible elevated risk of breast cancer. A 2011 study published in the journal Environmental Health examined breast cancer rates in Inuit women in Greenland. The women in the study who had breast cancer also had higher levels of PFOA and another chemical called PFOS in their blood. They also found that women with breast cancer had higher levels of another group of chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PFAS have been linked to other harms in addition to cancers, including fatty liver disease and high cholesterol. And seven of the 10 counties also recorded higher-than-average rates of babies born underweight. The national average is around eight percent. But in Brunswick County, it was closer to 9.3 percent; in New Orleans it was 10.8 percent and in Philadelphia it was 11 percent. Women exposed to the chemicals while pregnant have also been shown to be more likely to give birth to an underweight baby. And the odds that a pregnant woman in the US will have been exposed to PFAS are high a CDC report estimated that 97 percent of Americans have PFAS in their blood. In the journal Pediatric Research, experts from Sweden and New York reported that higher levels of certain chemicals including PFOS, PFOA, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) during pregnancy were associated with lower birth weight (BW). The Environmental Protection Agency announced earlier this year that it would take its first step ever toward setting national drinking water standards for six types of PFAS. The proposed standards of no more than four parts per trillion would be more stringent than the agency's suggestions in 2016 that levels be capped at 70 parts per trillion (PPT). Weeding out PFAS from water sources will require costly and laborious reforms such as outlawing certain types of insecticides and pesticides in the agricultural field whose runoff containing PFAS leaches into the groundwater. But such an overhaul is necessary, Dr Braun said, similar to the national push to eliminate lead contamination from gasoline and house paint to pipes and construction. This will take determining which uses of PFAS are essential and which arent, he said. We didn't need to use lead in gasoline. It was really almost more of a fluke of how that had ended up in there. Likewise, it didn't have to be used in paint. But we coated everything in this country with it. But we identified where there were essential uses, you know, holding radioactive material, lead vests when you're getting an x-ray. But not in paint or in children's toys. And so I think we have to go through the same thing with PFAS. Like, yeah, nonstick cookware is great. But is there an alternative? If there is, lets use it. Almost a million emergency hospital admissions could be avoided each year if elderly people received better care at home, a damning report has revealed. The health and care system is failing to meet the needs of an ageing population, with a 'hidden crisis unfolding behind closed doors', Age UK has warned. Poor provision of services in the community means health problems go unnoticed until they 'mushroom' into major issues, the charity added. Many admissions come within 30 days of previously being discharged, with patients not receiving proper preventative care in the community. Pensioners also risk losing their mental sharpness and mobility if they become trapped on wards for long periods waiting to be discharged. The health and care system is failing to meet the needs of an ageing population, with a 'hidden crisis unfolding behind closed doors', Age UK has warned (stock image) The Age UK review found 36,000 fewer older people receive long-term care from their local authority since 2017/18, as district nursing posts have been slashed. It means some 1.6million people aged 65 and older have unmet care and support needs, robbing them of their independence and leaving them struggling to eat, wash or dress. READ MORE: NHS could avoid another crisis next winter if elderly were cared for better in their own home, experts say Advertisement Furthermore, 45 per cent are concerned about their ability to access their GP when they fall ill, the report said. Age UK wants the country to switch from its 'over-reliance' on hospitals to a principle of 'home first', with greater access to physiotherapists, doctors and nurses through primary care. It is also calling for a 'laser focus' on prevention and early intervention to enable the elderly to stay fit and well in their own homes for longer. The report said there were 4.8million A&E attendances by older people in 2021/22, with the rate increasing by 40 per cent among the over-80s between 2012/13 and 2021/22. Some 855,000 such admissions could have been avoided in 2019 alone with the right care at the right time, the latest figures suggest. Once admitted, older people have longer hospital stays and are more likely to experience delayed discharge than younger patients. Between 13,000 and 14,000 patients considered medically fit for discharge were stranded in hospital on any given day last winter, up from 4,500 over the same period in 2018/19. Once discharged, one in six patients aged over 75 is caught in 'terrible vicious circle' and readmitted within 30 days, Age UK said. Terrible vicious cycle It follows a 24 per cent reduction in the number of nursing posts in social care between 2015 and 2020 and a 12 per cent fall in district nurses. Ruthe Isden, health influencing programme director at Age UK, said there is a crisis in the NHS and a 'hidden crisis unfolding behind closed doors'. 'It's older people who are suffering, who aren't getting the help that they need,' she added. 'Their health is deteriorating, they're experiencing these avoidable crises falls, urinary tract infections that are taking them into hospital and turning their lives upside down.' However, Age UK said there were 'glimmers of hope' in parts of the country taking action to boost community care (stock image) However, Age UK said there were 'glimmers of hope' in parts of the country taking action to boost community care. It pointed to the development of falls services, hospital at home services, virtual wards and integrated frailty services, although there is a postcode lottery in access. There are 10.5million people aged 65 and over in England, with 74 per cent living with at least one long-term condition, rising to 86 per cent among those aged over 85. Some are struggling more since the pandemic as a result of increased isolation, the report noted. They are suffering Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, called for a Social Care Workforce Plan, like the one recently published for the NHS, outlining how the Government plans to recruit and retain more staff. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'We are spending up to 700million on adult social care reform over the next two years, including 250million for the workforce. 'We are also investing a record 1.6billion over the same period to support timely and safe discharge from hospitals into the community. And last year we set up new integrated care systems, which help join up health and care. 'They are already making a difference by bringing together local NHS organisations along with social care and the voluntary sector to benefit patients.' Struggling to get enough sleep is a problem faced by many. And it may be contributing to bickering in your relationship as women manage to get an extra hour per night, a survey of 2,000 Brits suggests. The average woman in the UK sleeps for around eight hours each night, while men typically only catch around seven. Six in ten couples said this sleep imbalance has caused 'tensions' in their relationship. More than half have slept separately to get some extra shut-eye and one in ten have taken to using separate bedrooms, the results revealed. The average UK woman sleeps around eight hours while their male counterparts typically only catch around seven (stock image) The CBD company found sex could be the answer to you sleepless nights as 76 per cent of women and 82 per cent of men said they sleep better after intimacy (stock image) Read more: I'm a sleep doctor - this is what you should do if you want a good night's kip In the UK the average adult sleeps around six hours a night - this is at least an hour less that what is recommended by the Sleep Foundation (stock image) Advertisement The poll, by CBD brand Naturecan on the nation's sleeping habits, suggests that while 60 per cent of women tend to go to bed earlier than their partner, 66 per cent of men wake up earlier in the morning as they needed less sleep. The NHS recommends getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night but warns that that one third of Brits will struggle at some point with insomnia. Brits reported that the biggest sleep disrupter was the heat, with 64 per cent of men and 62 per cent of women struggling to get enough shut eye during hot weather. Light, stress, noise, snoring, bathroom breaks and pets were among the other factors that most frequently interrupted sleep. But the results suggest that sex could aide those struggling to nod off, as 76 per cent of women and 82 per cent of men said they sleep better after intimacy. A Naturecan spokesman said: 'We all know how crucial good sleep is to our overall wellbeing. 'These results show that we are sleeping less, particularly during these hot summer months, and many couples have completely different sleep patterns. 'Sleep imbalances can cause big problems in a relationship because intimacy inevitably suffers when we are not in bed together.' However, experts have suggested that it is right for women to get more sleep than men because women multitask and use their brain more than men. 'Because of that, their sleep need is greater,' said Professor Jim Horne, emeritus professor of psychophysiology at Loughborough University. One of America's first domestic malaria patients in two decades has been revealed as a 21-year-old National Guardsman on the Texas-Mexico border. Christopher Shingler, who was stationed on the Rio Grande near Brownsville, woke up trembling one night in late May, which quickly turned into a fever and vomiting. Doctors initially dismissed his illness as a viral infection, but when medications did not clear up the disease by early June, he was given further tests. Mr Shingler had not recently traveled outside of the US, which led doctors not to initially consider another disease like malaria. But then, to the shock of everyone, swabs revealed that he had been infected with the pathogen. Doctors have since been told to always consider malaria in any patients who come to wards with a fever, even if they have not recently traveled. Christopher Shingler, who was stationed on the Rio Grande, is one of America's first malaria patients in two decades. The 21-year-old started to suffer shakes, fever and vomiting in late May because of his infection There have also been six cases in Florida. Four of these were diagnosed and treated at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital (pictured) with doctors saying patients came in with a fever and dehydration Mr Shingler said: 'I would wake up really early in the morning and I would start shaking. It was a lot of just trying my best to make myself eat something, as small as I could, which usually I was unsuccessful.' Mr Shingler is one of seven malaria cases diagnosed in the US since May and the only one in Texas. The other six are all in Florida, with local doctors saying these are mostly among homeless people who have suffered dehydration and a fever. Describing his symptoms to NBC News, Mr Shingler said that he would also struggle to keep down any water that he drank. The National Guardsman was hospitalized for at least ten days, before being discharged last month. He has made a full recovery. Mr Shingler is not sure where he caught malaria, but was often on duty at night when mosquitoes are most active. 'We were getting torn up by mosquitoes, chiggers, whatever you can think of, you can name,' he said. 'We were getting torn up the entire time we were out there, especially that first night.' Doctors tested him for Covid before diagnosing malaria. Chiggers, also known as harvest mites or berry bugs, are small red mites that can bite humans. Mr Shingler was not aware of anyone else in his group who had fallen sick with malaria. Announcing the case in Texas, the state's department of health said it had been detected in Cameron County which includes Brownsville and in an individual who had not recently traveled outside the United States. There have also been six cases of malaria detected in Florida since May this year four of which were treated at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Dr Manuel Gordillo, an infectious diseases expert at the hospital who helped treat the patients, said they had come to the wards since late May with symptoms including fever and dehydration. Several were homeless, he said, and had waited to come to hospital until the later stages of infection. He added: 'Some of the cases were sort of neglecting the symptoms and they presented way later with other complications.' Details of the patients' ages, genders, how long they were in hospital and how they were treated were not given. The patients included the first to be detected in Florida and the two most recent cases. The other two were diagnosed and treated at other hospitals in the state. Mr Shingler, pictured above, is not sure where he became infected but said that every night they would be 'torn apart' by mosquitoes The whole of Florida is under a malaria warning, including Sarasota County - where cases have been detected - and its neighbor Manatee County Dr Gordillo added: 'These cases, native here for Sarasota, we haven't seen cases that were [local infections]... since the 1950s, which is the time when malaria transmission was eradicated from the United States. 'We do see malaria in Sarasota a few cases a year, but this is in travelers and not locally acquired.' Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite spread to humans via the bite of an infected mosquito. Early warning signs of the disease include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and nausea. Without treatment, these can progress into complications such as anemia a low red blood cell count and organ failure, which can be fatal. Malaria kills hundreds of thousands of people globally every year, with 619,000 deaths recorded in 2021. With treatment, most cases are not fatal, but should they progress to the severe stage, the disease almost always leads to death. Dr Manuel Gordillo, from Sarasota Memorial Hospital, treated four of the six malaria patients in Florida About 2,000 cases of the disease are logged in the US every year, estimates suggest, but these are all linked to travelers that have entered the country. The last time mosquito born illness occurred in the US was in 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. The whole of Florida is under a malaria alert issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on June 26. Sarasota County, where malaria has been detected, and its neighbor Manatee County, are also under their own malaria alert. Sarasota-based officials say they have started spraying along coastal areas where mosquitoes are known to live in order to get a handle on the situation. Residents are being urged to use bug spray, avoid areas with mosquitoes and wear long clothing especially in the evenings to avoid infection. Doctors in the state were also warned at the end of June to consider any fever-stricken patients coming to hospital as a potential malaria case. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, who put it into humans when they suck their blood. Humans cannot pass the disease between each other. Experts suggest that malaria likely returned to Florida after mosquitoes bit someone returning from abroad who had the infection. The insects then contracted the disease and transmitted it to other humans when they bit them, triggering local cases. Malaria was eradicated in the United States in the 1950s after a massive public health program that saw pesticides sprayed from aircraft and potential mosquito breeding sites drained. But sporadic cases have repeatedly popped up since although these are generally linked to international travel and have not led to wider transmission. High-profile scientists caught up in the controversy over Covids origins have admitted the decision to play down the lab leak theory was political. Internal Slack communications obtained by a House subcommittee investigating the early days of the pandemic showed how scientists who wrote a paper dismissing the idea of a lab accident feared retribution from the Chinese government. Dr Andrew Rambaut, a biologist at the University of Edinburgh, was a co-author of the March 2020 Nature Medicine research article titled 'The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2' which denounced believers of the lab leak theory as conspiracy theorists and racists. Private messages show Dr Rambaut feared pinning the blame on China for even accidental release of the virus would cause a geopolitical s*** show, and so he was content with ascribing it to natural process. One respondent to that message was Dr Kristian Andersen, a Danish evolutionary biologist and co-author of the paper, who said in response that he totally agree[s] that thats a very reasonable conclusion', adding: 'Although I hate when politics is injected into science - but it's impossible not to, especially given the circumstances.' Private messages show Dr Rambaut feared pinning the blame on China for even accidental release of the virus would cause a geopolitical s*** show, and so he was content with ascribing it to natural process' Dr Kristian Andersen, from Scripps Research, gave evidence during a hearing with the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on Capitol Hill on July 11, 2023 in Washington, DC Dr Robert Garry (left), a Professor at Tulane University School of Medicine, was also present. Members of the committee met to hear testimony from medical researchers on the origins of Covid-19 The notorious proximal origin paper was partly commissioned by Dr Anthony Fauci, who was the then-head of the US's national research agency that had been funding risky virus research at the lab in Wuhan. House Republicans grilled two doctors at the center of the fight over whether the coronavirus emerged from nature or a lab, citing the newly disclosed communications between scientists in early 2020 as evidence of a cover-up - something the scientists strongly refuted. In a report released early Tuesday ahead of the hearing, House Republicans pointed to efforts by the scientists probing Covids origins, which they say amounted to blatantly squashing voices that advocated for more serious inquiry into the theory that the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The witnesses, Dr Kristian Andersen and Dr Robert Garry, co-authored the Proximal Origin report, which was published just days after a conference call in which top scientists including Dr Anthony Fauci and Dr Francis Collins fielded frantic messages from virologists about the possibility that aspects of the virus appeared man-made. Internal messages show that even Dr Andersen considered the argument that the genomic makeup of the virus suggested human tampering, though he changed his tune just four days later on February 4, as evidenced by an e-mail he sent to a different crop of scientists - which was later recovered by investigative group Right to Know. In the message, Dr Andersen wrote: The main crackpot theories going around at the moment relate to this virus being somehow engineered with intent and that is demonstrably not the case. Dr Andersen also said in a series of now-public responses highlighted by the House GOP: I hate when politics is injected into science but its impossible not to, especially given the circumstances. We should be sensitive to that. Dr Andersen was told off by Dr Wenstrup for grinning while being asked about his involvement. Dr Wenstrup said: 'Grin as you may Dr Andersen, grin as you may.' Around the same time that the scientists pointed out that pinning the origins of Covid on China would prompt a s*** show, Dutch scientist Dr Ron Fouchier added concern that furthering debate about a potential lab leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, whether purposeful or accidental, would do unnecessary harm to science in general and science in China in particular. House Republican lawmakers, typically hawkish on China, pounced on what they perceived as being too considerate and conciliatory of the communist party in power there. One such lawmaker, New York Rep Nicole Malliotakis, trained her sights on the incriminating message from Dr Rambaut and said: His concern was would he piss off China, thats what his concern was. Something happened here [in the brief time between Dr Faucis first contact with Dr Andersen in early 2020]. Politicians may flip-flop. Scientists do not flip-flop in a matter of 72 hours. Shi Zhengli - dubbed the 'Bat Lady' of 'Bat Woman' for her work on bat coronaviruses - investigated the possibility Covid could have emerged from her lab back in 2020 according to colleagues. Here she is pictured working with other researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in 2017 Dr Andersen and Dr Garry refuted that statement by saying they did not flip-flop, but rather learned new information about the virus and altered their hypothesis, a textbook application of the scientific method. The Republicans efforts to nail down where exactly the virus came from, whether that be from a Wuhan wet market selling animals contaminated with the virus or from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, have homed in on exposing the inner workings of scientific authorities like Dr Fauci and Dr Collins colloquially dubbed by Republicans as the Bethesda Boys. The issue has become a largely political one after years of labeling certain scientists, including Dr Fauci and Dr Collins at the center of the debate as overtly biased in favor of theories espoused by many Democrats and government-entrenched scientists. This includes the theory that Covid-19 likely jumped from an animal intermediary host before infecting humans. Ocado has launched its first robotic warehouse in Asia as it seeks to revive its fortunes amid woes in Britain. The company which owns the online supermarket and a technology business yesterday opened a distribution centre in Japan. Ocado is reeling from a 500million loss in 2022 and an 80 per cent slump in its share price since its pandemic peak in 2020. Last week, the chairman of Marks & Spencer, which owns 50 per cent of Ocados supermarket arm, said there was work to do to turn it around. Archie Norman told investors he was not happy about where it is but added: We strongly believe in the future of Ocado, we think its the right model for M&S online. Eastern promise: Ocado boss Tim Steiner, pictured in 2015 with his partner Patrycja Pyka, said grocery spending in Asia is set to outstrip every other region of the globe over the next decade Ocados supermarket division Ocado Retail has been hit by shoppers adding fewer items to their online baskets in the face of rising living costs. But while the UK business is struggling analysts described the latest results as truly dismal Ocado continues to open high-tech warehouses around the world. It is now working with Japanese group Aeon to distribute orders for its new grocery delivery brand Green Beans. Having opened a warehouse in the Kanto region, the pair plan to open a second centre together in Tokyo. The supermarket is placing its bets on growth in the Asian grocery market. Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner said: Grocery spend in Asia is set to outstrip every other region of the globe over the next decade. But the move did little for the shares, with the stock falling 1.8 per cent, or 10.4p, to 581.6p. Analysts have suggested Ocado should spin off its retail business and focus on its robotic warehouses division. Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said: Ocado appears to be at a tipping point. Crackdown: The FCA said it is continuing to crack down on unregistered crypto ATMs in the UK Those using unregistered crypto ATMs risk losing their money, the City watchdog warned yesterday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it is continuing to crack down on unregistered crypto ATMs in the UK. The regulator has been visiting and inspecting locations across the UK suspected of hosting such machines. Visits have been part of a co-ordinated operation with other law enforcement agencies, the FCA said. Crypto ATMs are physical machines that allow customers to buy and sell different crypto assets with cards or cash. The FCA has seen, and disrupted, machines in shopping centres, pubs, bars, restaurants, takeaways, hairdressers and barbers. The machines send or receive crypto assets from a persons crypto wallet. Steve Smart, from the FCA, said: If you use a crypto ATM in the UK, you are using a machine that is operating illegally and you may be handing your money over to criminals. Heathrow passenger numbers are closing in on pre-Covid levels, with the airport welcoming seven million travellers last month. The figure is in touching distance of the 7.2 million passengers that travelled through Europe's busiest airport in June 2019, with Heathrow reporting significant jumps in trips to North America and Asia Pacific. The UK's biggest airport revealed that they welcomed over 7 million passengers last month, with a particular demand for flights between the UK and US Passengers travelling to the European Union continue to be the biggest cohort with over 12.2 million recorded from January to June 2023, a 33.6 per cent increase on the same period last year. Trips to Asia saw the biggest increase in percentage terms during the first half of 2023, increasing by 123 per cent year-on-year to just under 4.5 million passengers. North America also saw a substantial increase from January to June 2023, with 49.3 per cent more passengers travelling over that time period than last year and over 9.2 million making the journey. It follows a bumper performance in May, when Heathrow was buoyed by three bank holiday weekends. Bosses told investors last month that that 6.7 million passengers used the airport in May, as it benefited from the extra bank holiday weekend for the Kings coronation. The airport has revealed numbers jumped by a quarter with particularly strong demand for flights between the UK and US. John Holland Kayne, CEO of Heathrow, said: 'I am very proud of the way that everyone at Heathrow has been working together to deliver excellent service at our busiest time of year. Summer at Heathrow is all about family holidays and we are ready to make sure yours gets off to a great start.' Pennon Group has bought another three renewable energy generation projects in an 85million deal, as part of its strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. The water company told investors Tuesday the three sites in Buckinghamshire, Aberdeenshire and Cumbria are expected to generate over 95 gigawatt hours of electricity per year from solar panels. The group, which owns South West Water and Bristol Water, expects the acquisition and building costs of around 85million, with the sites to become operational sometime in 2025. Solar panel projects: Pennon expects the three sites to start generating energy in 2025 The latest deal adds to the recently acquired 40 GWh solar panel Dunfermline project in Fife, Scotland. Together these projects should allow Pennon to self-generate 40 per cent of its total electricity usage, bringing it closer to its 50 target. The group told shareholders: 'The acquisition of these projects will provide attractive commercial returns, whilst also benefitting the group by increasing energy security and resilience through reducing exposure to future volatility in wholesale power markets.' Last year, Pennon allocated 160million for investment in renewable energy generation. It swung to an 8.5million pre-tax loss in the year to the end of March, as it was hammered by extreme weather and higher costs. But it still hiked its dividend for the year by 10 per cent to 111.7million and paid a 1.5billion special dividend. That's despite South West Water being fined 2.15million in April for illegally dumping sewage in rivers and the sea around Devon and Cornwall. Water companies have been under the scrutiny of political and regulatory forces over the last year along with public anger over the condition of infrastructure and the dumping of raw sewage. Pennon shares were down 0.7 per cent to 684p in afternoon trading on Tuesday. They have lost around a quarter of their value since the start of the year. Millions of savers over the age of 40 are unaware of their retirement income being slowly eaten away by rip-off fees on old pension pots. More than seven million people who invested in workplace and personal pension funds decades ago could be affected by extortionate but little-known charges. These pensions are charging investors several times more in fees than they could pay for the exact same fund on the market today. This can apply to pensions dating back to before 2013 when new reforms were introduced. Analysis for Money Mail by stockbroker AJ Bell finds that in the most extreme cases, you could unwittingly lose almost seven years worth of retirement income to these fees over the course of 20 years. Rip-off fees: Some older workplace pensions are charging investors several times more in fees than they could pay for the exact same fund on the market today It means that if you have a high-fee pension worth 100,000 you would be 86,632 out of pocket compared to modern-day pensions with lower charges, assuming 5 per cent annual investment growth. And this applies, no matter the size of the pension for example, on an old-style 15,000 pension, you could be charged an extra 13,000 in fees over 20 years. The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has estimated that the average single pensioner needs 12,700 a year in retirement above the full state pension (10,600) to achieve a moderate standard of living. This measure is widely used by the pensions industry. AJ Bell estimates the number of people affected could even run into the tens of millions. On Monday, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a major shake-up of the pensions industry designed to boost average retirement incomes. Many industry leaders hoped the reforms would put an end to the outrageous fees, after making calls for the Government to address the issue. Yet despite a promise to improve value for money on pensions, the Government has excluded older pensions from its campaign. This means providers are free to keep charging exorbitant fees. In a joint report with City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Pensions Regulator, the Government yesterday admitted many providers overseeing old pensions did have limited regulatory oversight, and poor value products means savers are at risk of poor pension outcomes. It said: We agree savers in older schemes may be at greatest risk of poor value for money... we also recognise the challenges in applying the framework to legacy workplace schemes. Fees charged on modern pensions have dropped dramatically in the past eight years, because since 2015 charges on default workplace pension funds have been capped at 0.75 per cent of the value of your savings. Savers paying into a pension via stockbrokers, such as AJ Bell, Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown, or fund shop Vanguard, can pay as little as 0.37 per cent today, which includes 0.15 per cent for access to the funds and 0.22 pc for a basic fund that tracks the stock market. Before 2015, fees were often much higher and those paying into older pensions closed to new business have continued to charge up to 2.4 per cent, according to City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority. More than seven million accounts were opened before 2001, when charges were typically much higher, according to the FCA. If you have left your money in one of these old pensions charging 2.4 per cent, you would be 86,632 worse off than if you switched your money into a modern-day pension charging just 0.30 per cent, the research finds. Tom Selby, head of retirement policy at AJ Bell, warns that millions of savers will fall into a blind spot as far as the new rules are concerned. And Alice Guy, of stockbroker Interactive Investor, says it is extremely disappointing that the Government failed to target the issue. This is a missed opportunity to tackle unfair pension fees once and for all that will leave many pension savers locked in with poor performing, expensive pension schemes. Its an administrative nightmare for pensions savers as they often have multiple pension schemes all with different charges, even with the same provider, she says. Ros Altmann, a former pensions minister, says it is unreasonable for companies to charge these fees. She says: If its an old or forgotten pension pot, theres no new money even coming in so the provider doesnt have much administering to do. Theres no justification to charge higher fees for less service than pension schemes that are still active. Most people arent concerned about their pension because the standard mantra they are told by the industry is dont worry about it, we will take care of it for you. 'If your employer chose the scheme for you, you would assume they would have done their due diligence to make sure its a good pension. Rebecca OConnor, of pension provider PensionBee, warns many workers are being exploited. She says: Its appalling that people are being taken advantage of with really uncompetitive fees. In an environment where investment performance isnt that reliable, it becomes even more important that the fees are reasonable and competitive. A lot of people have no idea that this is the fee they are paying and these providers are exploiting that. We get very angry about insurers charging existing customers more when they come to renew their policies, but it goes to show how little people know about their pensions, through no fault of their own. These are such large sums of money that we should be a lot angrier than we are. Short changed: More than seven million people who invested in workplace and personal pension funds decades ago could be affected by extortionate but little-known charges The majority of these older pension policies are now administered by closed-book providers, which means they do not accept any new investors. Mr Selby says this means they have no obvious incentive to either reduce charges or offer customers a better service. While most modern pensions tend to offer savers good value for money, millions bought products decades ago and are exposed to significantly higher charges. City regulator the FCA is introducing reforms designed to improve outcomes for savers and investors. But Mr Selby warns these reforms will not apply to closed pensions funds until the middle of next year. Even then there is no guarantee that charges will be drastically cut, he says. A spokesman for the Pensions Regulator says: We are aware some savers within legacy schemes might not be getting a good deal. 'That is why were introducing a value-for-money framework that will, in due course, force legacy schemes to compare their value with the market. The FCA previously sounded the alarm on the danger of these fees in 2019, claiming that there was a lack of pressure on these pension firms to compete on charges. However, they still persist. Two of Britains largest providers Phoenix Life and ReAssure, both owned by Phoenix Group, are among those that continue to levy higher fees. These companies buy out old pension policies that have since closed to new business. ReAssures website states the average costs and charges paid by savers is 1.42 per cent, which it admits is significantly higher than those in other workplace pensions. Most of these policies were taken out via an independent financial adviser and cost more initially because it gave them access to hundreds of investment funds. Overcharged: If you have a pension worth 100,000 you would be 86,632 out of pocket compared to modern day pensions, assuming 5% annual investment growth Paying 1.42 per cent in fees will cost you 50,530 more than if you switched your pension to a 0.30 per cent charge over the course of 20 years. At the end of 2021, the provider capped all charges at 1 per cent on its own range of funds but anyone still holding a third-party fund remains vulnerable to high fees. It says: ReAssure will actively write to customers every year with information on alternative funds and product options that can reduce charges to around 0.65 per cent. There are only two scenarios where members will be charged more than 1 per cent a year in charges. The first is where they are invested in third-party funds chosen by the member, typically on advice from their IFA. The second is where members initial units or capital units have a higher charge but since January 2022 our 1 per cent cap is now applied. A Phoenix Life spokesman says: The data quoted extracted from the Phoenix Life website relates to a very small population of workplace customers who have chosen to invest their policies in more specialist external funds. So, what if your pension is old? The first step is to track down any old pensions you havent kept an eye on over the years. Check to see if you have any old paperwork with the name of your pension scheme or details of the scheme administrator or provider. This should include information about how much you pay in fees. Most pension schemes must send you a statement each year if you have not been receiving them it might be because you changed address and failed to notify your old pension provider. If you are struggling to find information, contact the pension provider, your former employer if it was a workplace pension, or the Pension Tracing Service. Capped: Since 2015 charges on default workplace pension funds have been capped at 0.75% of the value of your savings If you know the name of the company your pension was invested with, you should contact them with as many details as possible plan number, date of birth, National Insurance number and the date your pension was set up. Once they have found your pension pot, you can ask what charges you have been paying for the management of the pension and what the investment charges are. If youre still struggling to make progress, you can contact the Pension Tracing Service, which is a free Government service. You could also ask your employer if it offers any free pension guidance. Anyone who discovers they are paying high fees should consider switching to a different provider. You can usually move a defined contribution pension at any time before you start taking money from it in retirement. This type of pension has become the most common type and is a pot of money you and your employer contribute to, which is then invested in stocks and bonds. In most cases, you can also transfer your money to a different provider even after youve started to take money from it but check the fine print. Before moving your pension, have a look at the costs charged by the new provider. Pension companies use a range of different terms to label the fees that are levied on your savings. Main charges to look out for include initial set-up fees, annual management charges for investments you might choose, service or administration charges (sometimes known as platform fees), charges for specific transactions such as taking money out of your pension and trading fees which are charged for buying and selling certain investments. Also check to make sure that you arent giving up any valuable benefits by transferring out of a scheme. For example, a guaranteed annuity rate option or additional death benefits. A guaranteed annuity rate option is where the pension company will pay you a guaranteed income every year for the rest of your life at a certain rate. This tends to be higher than the rates you would be able to get on the open market. If the value of any guaranteed annuity rate, or other valuable benefits, is more than 30,000, you might have to get regulated financial advice before you are allowed to move the pension. Some schemes charge an exit fee, which penalises you for moving your money away from them. It is likely you have several pension pots if you have changed jobs and worked at different employers. You can transfer money from an old pension pot to another scheme you hold. Most providers wont charge you for transferring pensions to their schemes and will track old accounts for you. You can also move your pot into a self-invested personal pension with a stockbroker such as AJ Bell, Interactive Investor, Hargreaves Landsdown or Bestinvest. On these platforms you will have a large range of funds and stocks to pick from. Other fund groups such as Vanguard also offer dedicated retirement funds that invest in a range of assets, offering different levels of risk depending on your preference. j.beard@dailymail.co.uk A high-flying executive has been unmasked as one of the figures bankrolling the No campaign for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament - and he's had an embarrassing recent brush with the law. Louis Denton, 30, along with his glamourous influencer wife Katherine, were included this year in a list of young rich-listers who 'dominate' Melbourne's social scene. 'The uber-modern couple always look like a Vogue cover and frequent trendy places,' the Herald Sun article gushed in January. Mr Denton works as a chief financial officer for Devcos International Chartered Accountants and is on a lavish European holiday with his wife. He is also one of the few known figures to have made significant donations to one of the main organisations funding the No campaign. The glamourous were marred in December 2021 with Ms Denton revealing she wore an Alex Perry designer dress for the ceremony and Versace outfit for the reception He contributed $75,000 to Advance Australia, which counts Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price as a spokesperson, in the 2021-22 financial year - before the campaign for and against the Voice to Parliament truly got off the ground. Mr Denton's picture-perfect life came crashing down when he pleaded guilty to refusing to take a breath test and failing to stop for police on April 30, 2022. His driver's licence was cancelled for four years and he was fined $1,000 by Moorabbin Magistrates Court in Melbourne's south-east. No conviction was recorded and the lesser charges of driving under influence, being drunk in a public place and driving in breach of licence condition were struck out, court records said. Advance Australia is the group responsible for a controversial No campaign ad that was featured in the Australian Financial Review on last Thursday, which was branded racist by critics. The cartoon depicted Yes campaign activist and Voice architect Thomas Mayo as a boy with raggedy torn pauper-like shorts and no socks. Mr Mayo is shown reaching for a wad of cash labelled '$2M' from Wesfarmer's chair and Yes23 campaign director Michael Chaney, who sits in a big chair like Santa Claus with his daughter Kate Chaney, an independent Teal MP, on his lap. Politicians supporting the Yes vote, including former NSW Liberal treasurer Matt Kean, federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer, Labor MP Alicia Payne and federal Teals Zali Steggall, Monique Ryan and Sophie Scamps, labelled the cartoon 'racist'. But Advance Australia denied the cartoon was a stereotype or trope showing Indigenous Australians as childish or beggars. 'We utterly reject the premise that this cartoon racist,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. The Melbourne glamour twosome have been described as always looking like a 'Vogue cover' The couple are on an extensive trip encompassing Britain, Europe and were in Istanbul, Turkey at the time of writing Mr Denton is also listed as an alternative director for Fawkner Property Ltd and was listed as a company director for Devcos Manufacturing Pty Ltd from October 2019 to February of this year. His wife, who is a 'gemmologist in training' and works as a consultant on diamonds, has more than 80,000 followers on TikTok. She has posted a number of videos showing off the couple's lavish wedding in December 2021. The ceremony was held at the Stones of the Yarra Valley winery in Victoria. Ms Denton wore a white wedding dress by designer Alex Perry for the ceremony but changed into a Versace outfit for the reception. Fashion retailer Harrolds spoke to Ms Denton about the wedding and she revealed her penchant for royal blue Manolo Blahnik shoes, which she wore to tie the knot. She revealed the couple originally planned to get married in South Africa's Cape Town but Covid travel restrictions foiled that. 'My husband also surprised me with a beautiful watch as a wedding gift the morning of our wedding day,' she said. 'He hid this in a slow cooker. There is a very funny video of me opening this!' Katherine Denton has been posting images of her luxurious European trip with her husband To reflect Ms Denton's Greek heritage, around 500 plates were smashed after the wedding, and guests were also treated to a fireworks show. 'Once we were all outside, the fireworks went off and this is a moment I will cherish forever,' Ms Denton said. 'It was pretty spectacular.' In a TikTok video, Ms Denton lists things she doesn't approve of, which includes cats, clubbing and 'spending my own money'. She hastens to say in the comments section the last one of those 'dislikes' is a joke. The couple are on an extensive trip taking in Britain and Europe, Egypt and Turkey, where they are believed to be at the moment. The Advance Australia Voice No vote newspaper ad that ran Thursday's Australian Financial Review has been labelled a 'racist' depiction of Yes23 activist Thomas Mayo (image left) Ms Denton has been archiving their lavish overseas trip to Instagram with photos showing her enjoying cocktails by the water at Bodrum, in south-west Turkey. A separate video showed her posing near one of the pyramids at Cairo, in Egypt. Advance Australia positions itself as the right-wing counter to left-leaning advocacy group Get-Up. Daily Mail Australia contacted Advance Australia and Mr Denton for comment. The referendum to establish the Voice will be held in the period of October to December. To pass it needs to gain an overall majority of votes and also win approval in a majority of states. The most recent Newspoll revealed support the Voice sliding to 43 per cent with just two states tracking to vote yes. This led Mr Mayo to criticise the media for pushing 'negative headlines' on positive stories about the advisory body. A Tory candidate for London mayor has stated Sadiq Khan 'clearly doesn't like women' as she blasted both the Labour politician's personal character and his record at City Hall. Susan Hall, who has served as a member of the London Assembly since 2017, claimed Mr Khan was 'verging' on being a misogynist as she fumed at his 'bloody rude' attitude. The London-wide Assembly Member and local councillor, who lives in Harrow, is in the running to be the Conservative rival to Mr Khan at next year's mayoral election in the capital. Speaking to MailOnline from City Hall in Newham's Royal Docks, Ms Hall expressed her hope that Londoners would bring an end to Mr Khan's eight-year spell in office next May. 'All he says is "I'm a feminist". No, no, no, he's really not,' she said of the Labour incumbent, as she highlighted Mr Khan's past interactions with her and other female Assembly Members. Ms Hall also claimed Mr Khan 'doesn't love the city like a mayor should' and suggested he had been distracted by selling his 'wretched book' about climate change - titled 'Breathe: Tackling the Climate Emergency' - which was published in May. But allies of Mr Khan hit back at Ms Hall's comments as a 'desperate and nonsense attack' and said the mayor had been 'leading the way' on improving the lives of women while in office. They also sniped that the Tories mayoral contest had been 'mired in allegations of sexual misconduct' against Daniel Korski - who has now withdrawn from the race - while pointing to Ms Hall previously expressing support for ex-US president Donald Trump and his 'abhorrent' views. If she succeeds in being the Tory pick as London mayor - and then goes on to defeat Mr Khan - Ms Hall has vowed to invest 200million in the Metropolitan Police to tackle gangs and knife crime. She has also promised to halt Mr Khan's controversial expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on 'day one' of being in the job, and to build more family homes in the capital. Ms Hall is concerned about the demise of London's night-time economy, which she claims is partly due to the fact that women 'just don't feel safe' to go out at night in the capital at the moment. She admitted she would be 'really worried' if she had a young daughter out late at night. Susan Hall is currently bidding to be the Conservative rival to Sadiq Khan at next year's mayoral election in the capital Mr Khan, pictured at a Bruce Springsteen concert in Hyde Park at the weekend, is hoping for a third term in charge of London Ms Hall claimed Mr Khan was 'verging' on being a misogynist as she fumed at his 'bloody rude' attitude Tory members in London are currently voting between Ms Hall and Moz Hussain - a leading criminal barrister - to be the party's candidate to take on Mr Khan in the mayoral election. Mr Khan, in an appearance in front of the London Assembly, recently claimed he would rather face Ms Hall in the mayoral election next year. 'I'd like Susan,' he said, as he goaded Tory Assembly Members about who they would be voting for. But Ms Hall pointed to her political experience as a former leader of Harrow Council and at City Hall, where she led the Conservative group from 2019 until May this year, as putting her ahead of Mr Hussain in the Tory race. 'I've got the experience, I know what I'm doing here,' she said. 'He's not been in politics before. 'You've got to have the skin of a rhinoceros, to be honest, because the abuse you get is unbelievable and I'm used to it.' Ms Hall has been a fierce critic of Mr Khan and, asked if she held a personal dislike of the current mayor - as well as being his political foe - she replied: 'He doesn't like women. He's got no sense of humour. He won't answer questions properly. 'He doesn't ever seem to think it's right to say sorry. I've never had a meeting with him, ever.' Pressed on her claim that Mr Khan 'doesn't like women', Ms Hall pointed to an attack video created by the Conservatives at City Hall, which compiles the mayor's past clashes with female Assembly Members. 'There's a video... it features women from all of the different parties and he's just rude to all of us,' she said. 'He just clearly doesn't like women - you can tell he doesn't. 'When he first came in you can see what he was doing - he thought "right, I'll have a female in charge of the Met, I'll have a female in charge of the fire, just to prove I love women, I'm a feminist". 'All he says is "I'm a feminist". No, no, no, he's really not.' Asked if she was accusing Mr Khan of being a misogynist, Ms Hall replied: 'Verging on that, I'd say. I'm used to it, I'm in politics. 'To be honest, that sort of thing doesn't vex me very much. But he can be bloody rude.' Ms Hall also claimed Mr Khan 'doesn't sell London properly' around the globe, as she highlighted how - on a trip to the US last year - the mayor visited a cannabis dispensary and cultivation facility in Los Angeles. 'He's not the ambassador for London, I'd be banging the drums and telling everybody to come and see us and how wonderful we are,' Ms Hall said. 'That's the job, it's part of the job. He doesn't seem to love it.' Tory members in London are currently voting between Ms Hall and Moz Hussain - a leading criminal barrister - to be the party's candidate to take on Mr Khan Ms Hall is concerned about the demise of London's night-time economy, which she claims is partly due to the fact that women 'just don't feel safe' to go out at night Ms Hall has promised to halt Mr Khan's controversial expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on 'day one' of being in the job The London-wide Assembly Member and local councillor is promising Londoners they will be 'Safer With Susan' during her mayoral campaign Ms Hall accused Mr Khan of using 'any given opportunity' to 'have a go at the history' of London, including through re-naming the capital's roads. In the wake of protests following the death of George Floyd in America, there was a renewed scrutiny of statues, monuments and place names linked to the slave trade across Britain. The mayor offered grants worth up to 25,000 to help promote diversity in London's public spaces, including changes to street names. But Ms Hall said: 'It's our history - good and bad - history is history. It can't be wiped over, you have to deal with things and be proud of this wonderful city.' Referring to Mr Khan's predecessors as mayor, she added: 'To be fair, you could see Boris [Johnson] loved it and you could see Ken [Livingstone] loved it - both of them, they loved London and they both sold it. 'You don't seem him [Mr Khan] doing that.' Ms Hall blasted Mr Khan's frequent attacks on the Tory Government at Westminster, while he has also been scathing about the UK's exit from the EU. 'He hasn't got a focus at all. He bends with the wind and always, always has a go at the Government,' she said. 'All Labour, all their questions are around how dreadful the Government is and that's all he says. 'And you think, "hang on, you've got a 21billion budget - maybe just concentrate on what you're responsible for".' Ms Hall suggested Mr Khan still has half an eye on a return to Westminster - where he was once a Government minister under Gordon Brown - despite having been 'frozen out a bit' under current Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. 'I still think if he was offered something massive in environment, he'd do that,' she said. 'Because if you look now, all he's really interested in is selling that wretched book. 'That's more interesting to him. No, get your day job right, get what you're being paid for right, and then sort out your book.' Ms Hall is promising Londoners they will be 'Safer With Susan' during her mayoral campaign. And she pointed to greater efforts to combat crime as a means of reviving London's nightlife, amid concerns the capital is still yet to restore its reputation as a '24-hour city' following the Covid pandemic. Ms Hall said she hears from young people about how they are often kicked out of London pubs at nine o'clock at night. 'Why would you be chucked out of the pub at nine o'clock?,' she asked. 'I mean I used to be chucked out about 11 o'clock or something like that, and then I was miffed. 'What's happened to our capital city? We've got a "night tsar" who's earning something like 116,000 and it's got worse and worse and worse.' Asked how she would encourage people back to London's night-time venues, Ms Hall said: 'Make sure the transport offer is right, but we've also got to get policing right.' She claimed 'women feel unsafe at the moment' in London at night, adding: 'They just don't feel safe and parents don't feel safe. 'So this whole night-time economy thing is quite complex in as much as you've got to sort the transport out. 'You've also got to sort out having more police in cars going round - as opposed to just on blue lights - so your response vehicles have to be out there. 'And more police walking the streets at night. The safer neighbourhood teams invariably just do the daytime shifts. 'We need to look at licensing because the restaurants and everything, if they're thinking of closing at nine, I mean for God's sake, in a sleepy little town maybe but not in bloody London!' A source close to Mr Khan said: 'This is a desperate and nonsense attack from the Tories who are desperate to distract from their own circus of a mayoral race, which has been mired in allegations of sexual misconduct against women. 'Sadiq has been a proud feminist in City Hall, leading the way in areas such as equal pay, combatting violence against women and girls, and introducing ground-breaking policies supporting women with the menopause in the workplace. 'It's even more ridiculous coming from Susan Hall who has championed Donald Trump and his abhorrent views.' Mr Korski last month withdrew as the third candidate in the contest to be the Tory mayoral candidate in London. He continued to 'categorically deny' an allegation by a TV producer that he groped her a decade ago. The heartbroken widow of Treat Williams has broken her silence on his untimely death as the other driver involved in the fatal crash that claimed the actor's life last month has been spotted in public for the first time. Making her first comments since losing her husband in the fatal June 12 accident, Pam Van Sant told DailyMail.com she wants to make her 'beloved Treat' proud by channeling what made him special his compassion and desire to live each day to the fullest. 'We're doing as well as we can,' she said, speaking from the home they shared together in the idyllic town of Manchester, Vermont, last week. Speaking to DailyMail.com for the first time since Treat Williams's death, his widow Pam Van Sant (pictured in one of their final social media photos together) said she is 'very sad' but 'doing as well as she can' Van Sant, 68, had been married to the Everwood alum since 1988 and shared two children with him Meanwhile, nearly one month after Williams' untimely death, Ryan Koss, the other driver involved in the fatal motorcycle crash broke cover in Dorset, Vermont The 68-year-old mom-of-two stood on her doorstep, just a few feet from the garage where her husband stored his motorcycle, and the rolling lawn he had mowed just hours before he headed out for an early evening ride. 'We're very sad, but we're a strong family and we'll carry on,' she continued. 'It's a beautiful thing how everybody's reached out,' she added, touched by the outpouring of support from the community. A Hollywood star famous for his roles in drama series Everwood and 1979 film Hair, Williams, 71, was best known locally for his down-to-earth hospitality and generosity. In a follow-up statement, Van Sant added: 'The kids and I are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from our local community and from fans and colleagues around the world. 'We will continue to live each day to the fullest with compassion for others in honor of my husband, our beloved Treat, and the kids will carry on his legacy of joy and craftsmanship in their artistic careers.' Williams was riding on Route 30 in Dorset, Vermont, when he was cut off by an oncoming SUV as it was turning left into an auto shop parking lot. It has since been revealed that the 35-year-old Honda driver and Williams actually knew each other from the local Dorset Playhouse Theater, where Koss works and where Williams once performed the play American Buffalo in 2017 Koss had left town and had been laying after the crash, but he has since returned to the home he shares with his husband last week, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show He was seen for the first time since the accident last week returning to the Dorset Playhouse, where Koss first met Williams In an earlier interview with DailyMail.com, one eyewitness said the driver, Ryan Koss, collided with the motorcycle, sending Williams flying off his bike. The actor, who had been wearing a helmet, was then left sprawled out on the pavement a few feet from his motorcycle. It was later revealed that the 35-year-old driver and Williams actually knew each other from the local Dorset Playhouse Theater, where Koss works and where Williams once performed the play American Buffalo in 2017. As Williams's family mourned the tragic loss, Koss himself was left despondent, according to neighbors. Seeking to avoid attention, Koss left town after the crash, but he has since returned to the home he shares with his husband. He was seen for the first time since the accident, with exclusive DailyMail.com photos and video showing the couple returning to the Dorset theater, where they both work, last week. Koss was spotted behind the wheel while his husband was in the passenger's seat. He refused to answer questions when approached by DailyMail.com. Asked for comment, he replied: 'Ah, no.' Williams' 1986 Honda VT700c motorcycle is pictured. After the crash the motorcycle had 'front-end damage' Williams, wearing a helmet, was left sprawled out on the pavement, a few feet from his motorcycle. The scene of the crash is pictured Crash witness Matt Rapphahn told DailyMail.com that the actor was 'totally alert, answering questions' as he laid on the pavement. Matt, 29, was standing outside his shop when the crash took place right in front of him He darted toward the theater with his head down, walking past a sign advertising play, Misery, which is set to open this week. Koss's husband, meanwhile, ran interference and attempted to field questions from our reporter. 'Can I help you?' he asked, to which the reporter asked about the crash. 'Oh, no way, man,' his husband replied as he whisked Koss inside. 'Come on, what do you want.' Van Sant also stopped short of addressing the incident and did not want to comment on whether Koss had been in touch to offer his condolences or an apology. 'I'm certainly not going to talk about the accident at all, or Ryan or anything like that,' she said. 'I just don't think I should talk about it.' Reports released by Vermont State Police revealed that Williams didn't stand a chance as Koss's Honda cut across the northbound lane of the V-30 into his 1986 Honda VT700c motorcycle at around 4:53pm. Williams and fellow actress Pam Van Sant lived in a $1million home in Vermont (pictured) and together they had two children, Gille and Ellie - and often shared photos of his idyllic country life with his fans on social media. Treat Williams had two kids Gille and Ellie General view of the home of Ryan Koss who was driving the vehicle that hit Treat Williams The police report states that 'Williams was unable to avoid a collision and was thrown from his motorcycle.' It also confirmed Koss was not intoxicated. Speaking to DailyMail.com, Matt Rapphahn, the owner of Long Trail Auto, pointed out that Koss had an appointment to bring his SUV to his shop to get a state inspection sticker, and that Koss' husband had pulled into the lot in another car to pick him up. Williams, who was wearing a helmet, was conscious and alert while sprawled out on the pavement, answering questions from paramedics, the witness told DailyMail.com. The Golden Globe-nominated actor was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries before being pronounced dead. The crash remains under investigation. Police, who spent days gathering evidence and taking measurements at the scene, had yet to decide whether to ticket Koss or possibly charge him with a criminal offense such as reckless driving or manslaughter. With the heads of NATO countries descending on Vilnius today for two days of talks, Russia's war in Ukraine - and the prospect of the war-torn nation joining the security alliance - is at the top of the agenda. Kyiv sees membership as the ultimate deterrent against Russia attacking Ukraine again, after it illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and launched a full-scale invasion in February last year. But Putin and the Kremlin have long pointed to NATO's expansion eastwards as one of the factors that triggered their decision to invade in the first place. US President Joe Biden this weekend declared Ukraine is not yet ready for NATO membership, arguing that the war with Russia needs to be concluded before the security alliance can extend an invitation to Kyiv. But eastern European and Baltic countries - whose borders are much closer to the horrors of the conflict - are intent on offering Ukraine a clear road map for entry at the summit in Lithuania. With this in mind, MailOnline spoke to several experts to explore what Ukraine's accession to NATO would look like, and whether this would help Ukraine achieve peace... or result in catastrophic consequences. US President Joe Biden walks from Marine one to board Air Force One at Stansted airport on July 10, 2023 Polish President Andrzej Duda (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) are pictured ahead of NATO's summit July 11-12 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks to the media prior to the 2023 NATO Summit on July 10, 2023 in Vilnius, Lithuania When the heads of NATO countries descend on Vilnius on Tuesday for two days of talks, Russia's war in Ukraine - and the prospect of the war-torn nation joining the security alliance - will be at the top of the agenda John Kennedy, Russia expert and Lead Researcher at RAND Europe, explained why presenting a united opposition to Putin's violent invasion is so important. 'Part of Russia's justification for its war in Ukraine - the argument that it invaded Ukraine in response to NATO expansionism - bears a key flaw. 'Although NATO has obviously expanded significantly since its creation - most recently with the addition of Finland and hopefully Sweden - it has done so democratically, with each member state agreeing of their own volition to join the bloc. 'By contrast, Russian expansionism is historically imperialist, undemocratic and conducted by force. 'NATO and the West must continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russia to demonstrate that armed expansionism into sovereign countries will not be tolerated, and that the future of Europe must be determined by these countries - not the Kremlin.' But several experts agreed that NATO is highly unlikely to extend an invitation to Ukraine until the war is concluded. Dr Gavin Hall, an expert on NATO and Security Institutions at University of Strathclyde, said: 'There are significant risks with whatever decision NATO takes though I suspect it will seek to find language that enables sufficient wriggle room, without a firm commitment, but reasserting that Ukraine will join NATO. 'For Ukraine, to be admitted or have its membership announced at Vilnius then there would have to be sufficient belief that Russia would immediately cease all hostile action in Ukraine. I doubt that.' Kennedy added that Biden and the heads of other member states cannot realistically offer NATO membership when a large part of Ukrainian territory has been annexed, claiming that such a move would be a 'cart before the horse' scenario. 'Granting Ukraine membership to NATO while four regions of Ukraine are de-facto under Russian control would undermine the bloc's security... In that scenario, Russia would actively occupy parts of a NATO country, and NATO in turn would be seen as unable to guarantee security of its borders.' And Dr Martin Smith, a Senior Lecturer in Defence and International Affairs at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, said: 'Throughout the current war Russia has been careful to avoid actions (against Poland and the Baltic states, for example) that might run the risk of NATO invoking its collective defence provisions. 'Bringing Ukraine into NATO after a negotiated end to the war should extend that deterrent effect to cover its own territory and security.' However, Atlantic Council geo-political strategist Alp Sevimlisoy was more optimistic about Ukraine joining NATO in short order, irrespective of whether the war comes to an end. 'When you look at all the factors, what we are seeing are the foundations of a new NATO partner and a nation that will be admitted into NATO not just for the security of Ukraine but for the national security of all of us within the trans-Atlantic alliance. 'I think that it's certainly in the near future [Ukraine joining NATO]... I define the near future within the next 12-16 months.' Granting Ukraine membership before the end of the war could run the risk of Russia being backed into a corner and, when faced with all-out war against the combined might of all NATO states, push Putin (pictured) to open the nuclear briefcase A Ukrainian serviceman of the 10th Assault Brigade Edelweiss fires a 122mm mortar towards Russian positions at the front line, near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, July 5, 2023 A Ukrainian serviceman of the 10th Assault Brigade Edelweiss fires a D-30 cannon towards Russian positions at the front line, near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, July 5, 2023 When asked what would happen if NATO were to somehow grant Ukraine membership while active combat with Putin's troops rages on Ukrainian soil, Dr Hall said: 'Best case, Ukraine joins and Russia ceases military operations... but the likelihood of this happening is 0.01%.' Instead, granting Ukraine membership before the end of the war could run the risk of Russia being backed into a corner and, when faced with all-out war against the combined might of all NATO states, push Putin to open the nuclear briefcase. Putin holds secret meeting with Yevgeny Prigozhin amid claims the Wagner chief will be tasked with assassinating Zelensky as he seeks to return to favour in Moscow Advertisement 'The worst case Russia is so threatened by Ukraine in NATO that it launches a tactical nuclear strike on Kyiv... but again, the likelihood is 0.01%,' Dr Hall concluded. 'The reality is that there is no best or worst case scenario - just a confused situation, where past statements are effectively constraining future actions.' Professor Neil MacFarlane, Oxford University International Relations Russia expert, added: 'The principal con is the risk of escalation. Putin's possible response is a much-debated unknown. 'What I think we do know is that nobody wants to die in a nuclear war.' Sevimlisoy however offered a more optimistic view: 'I'm not concerned about the Russian response when it comes to Ukraine... because Ukraine is being supported rather appropriately by NATO member nations. '[Ukraine joining NATO] will be a formalisation of the assistance and support and military cooperation we are giving them inside a more structured framework. I'm sure everyone that lives in vicinity of Ukraine, both internally and externally, would very much welcome a NATO supported peace.' MacFarlane also added that an advantage to Ukraine joining NATO would be that 'it might convince Putin that messing around with neighbours does not end well.' Kennedy meanwhile discounted the possibility of NATO offering Ukraine membership during an active war. Instead, he feels the worst case scenario would see NATO and the West's support for Ukraine steadily evaporate over months and years of war, allowing Putin to slowly tighten his grip on the east of the country. 'This would undermine NATOs international standing and signal to Russia that other non-NATO members are fair game,' he said. 'As the war drags on and casualties continue to mount, the calculation in the West will be over whether to try to push for a favourable conclusion - i.e. Ukrainian victory and territorial integrity - or plump for some kind of settlement. 'This would potentially end the conflict - but at the cost of Ukraine's territorial integrity, and signalling that Russia can use aggression to achieve its goals.' In his estimation, a best case scenario would see Ukraine - with Western support - eventually repel Russian forces, retake its territory lost after February 2022, and commit to democratic reforms to achieve NATO membership further down the line. This, he said, would reinforce the viability of NATO, demonstrate that Europe is unwilling to stand for Russian expansionism, consolidate European security and present a unified deterrence against future Russian aggression. Dr Smith added: 'I think a lot depends on when Ukraine joins. It's clear that it won't be until the war is over, either as a result of Ukraine retaking all occupied territory or else through a negotiated agreement, so NATO will not find itself fighting Russia directly. 'The best outcome in my mind would be to fast-track Ukrainian accession to membership after the war is concluded, thus extending the deterrence benefits of membership against any future Russian aggression. 'The worst outcome would be a continuation of the situation since 2008, where Ukraine is promised membership but nothing is done to actually make it happen. 'Under those circumstances, Russia, under Putin or a successor, could potentially be tempted to regenerate its military capacity and attempt another assault.' More than a dozen members of Sir Keir Starmer's top team have called for Britain to scrap its nuclear deterrent as the threat of Vladimir Putin unleashing his own arsenal remains. The Labour frontbenchers, including the shadow defence minister, have backed unilateral disarmament through the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Sir Keir has sought to rebrand his party's attitude to defence following the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, a lifelong and vocal campaigner for banning arms. But he was last night facing calls to sack the TPNW supporters amid concerns a Labour government would leave the UK vulnerable to threats from the Kremlin. Putin issued a warning to the West by suspending a nuclear arms control treaty earlier this year. Nato allies such as the Netherlands have said the TPNW is incompatible with the alliance's commitments. Shadow Scotland secretary Ian Murray (pictured) pledged to 'work for the ratification of the TPNW' It came into force in January 2021 and commits its signatories, who do not include Britain, 'not to develop, test, produce, acquire, possess, stockpile, use or threaten to use nuclear weapons'. Signing it would make the Trident nuclear missile deterrent programme and the UK's possession of nuclear weapons immediately illegal. It would also prevent Britain from hosting nuclear weapons for Nato members such as the US. Nato has repeatedly condemned the treaty, which none of its members has supported or signed. Craig Tracey, vice chairman of the Conservatives, said: 'Keir Starmer needs to kick all these people out of his top team and his party if he wants anyone to believe what he says about his commitment to Nato and our Armed Forces. These are not obscure backbench MPs, these are people he appointed because he wants them to be in charge of large areas of government policy including defence and foreign affairs.' Shadow defence minister Rachel Hopkins and shadow levelling up minister Paula Barker signed an Early Day Motion in 2021 calling on the UK to support the TPNW and 'bring forward a credible and timetabled plan for the disarmament of the UK's nuclear weapons'. One of the main backers was Mr Corbyn. Frontbenchers including transport spokesman Louise Haigh, shadow Scotland secretary Ian Murray, and shadow Foreign Office ministers Catherine West and Fabian Hamilton pledged to 'work for the ratification of the TPNW'. They vowed to 'eliminate these inhumane and abhorrent weapons' because their abolition is 'an essential step to promote the security and well-being of all peoples'. Sir Keir has sought to hammer home his dedication to UK defence and called on the Government to increase spending in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Labour said its support for nuclear deterrence was 'total', adding: 'It provides protection to our Nato allies, as well as the UK. Under Keir Starmer, Labour's support for Nato, our nuclear deterrent, the UN and our Armed Forces is unshakeable.' Taxpayers are picking up the tab for 5,000 hotel beds to be kept permanently empty as an overspill for Channel migrants, it emerged last night. Senior Home Office civil servants confirmed the rooms are booked and paid for as a 'buffer' for the asylum processing centre at Manston in Kent. The department's second permanent secretary Simon Ridley explained the 5,000 extra hotel spaces to the Commons public accounts committee. 'We have got excess beds that we're paying for that we can move people into immediately,' Mr Ridley told MPs. 'We are making sure we have got a buffer of as close to 5,000 beds, so we've always got an outflow.' He indicated the extra rooms were secured following concerns over overcrowding at the Manston base, near Ramsgate. Pictured: Migrants are brought into Dover Marina by Border Force vessel Hurricane Senior Home Office civil servants confirmed the rooms are booked and paid for as a 'buffer' for the asylum processing centre at Manston in Kent (pictured) Home Office permanent secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft revealed the department was in discussions with a 'number of other countries' which could take asylum seekers if the Rwanda deal stalls. Mr Ridley also conceded that the number of migrants to arrive this year 'could be upwards of last year's number', when a record 45,728 came. It came as Tory MP Sir Brandon Lewis warned the impact of the small boats crisis on housing and public services risks 'fuelling public resentment'. He called for a 'radical resetting' of asylum policy as a report by think-tank Policy Exchange estimated asylum is costing 3.5billion a year. Today's study by Policy Exchange senior adviser Dr Rakib Ehsan said migrants are distributed unequally across the country, which could lead to unrest. The report concluded it risked 'future public disorder' as seen outside a migrant hotel in Knowsley, Merseyside, in March. The number of calls being made from public payphones has increased drastically with more vulnerable Australians using them to call crisis helplines. Australians made roughly 23million calls on Telstra's payphone network in the past 12 months, about 5million more than the previous year. The telecommunications provider is paid by the government to maintain a network of about 14,500 pay phones under a Universal Service Obligation (USO) that helps connect regional communities with each other, and the rest of the nation. According to data released by Telstra, about 250,000 calls were made using the payphones to contact emergency services or crisis support centres such as Lifeline. Millions of more calls are being made every year on Telstra's payphone network as those in vulnerable circumstances grow more reliant on the free phone calls and wi-fi (stock image) Telstra have made both phone calls and Wi-Fi at payphones free to use in order to make the services more accessible for those in vulnerable circumstances. According to the data, payphones have seen a spike in the number of calls being made from them since they were made free in 2021. Sacred Heart Mission operations manager Cameron Sinclair said the ability to make calls for free was 'absolutely critical' for many of the mission's clients. 'They can use payphones to call their family and friends, make doctor's appointments and connect to services like Centrelink and the NDIS,' he told Nine. 'Without it, their health spirals, their housing situation is jeopardised.' Mr Sinclair said payphones were becoming increasingly important for the homeless community. He said that both himself and the organisation would support the implementation of more payphones around the country to match increasing demand from people who aren't 'keeping up' with the cost-of-living. Former Telstra CEO, Andrew Penn, announced in 2021 that phone calls off of the network would be free, due in part to its importance to vulnerable people. 'Even in the age of the smartphone they play such a critical role in our community, particularly in times of need, and particularly for those in need,' Mr Penn said at the time. 'Payphones are a lifeline for thousands of vulnerable Australians the homeless, the isolated, those escaping domestic violence and often provide their only link to critical support services and those that care about them.' About 14,500 payphones make up the nation-wide network, with about 250,000 calls made every year to emergency service providers and crisis support lines such a Lifeline (stock image) Cases of domestic violence have surged in the years following Covid-19 lockdowns, with payphones providing an avenue for victims to seek help away from the home. Sexual assault and domestic violence soared by up to 60 per cent in parts of Australia during the first year of the Covid pandemic in 2020. Sexual assault increased by 24.4 per cent in western Sydney's Blacktown council area, encompassing suburbs like Toongabbie, Rooty Hill, and Mount Druitt. He also added the importance of payphones made during natural disasters. 'Ive seen queues of people waiting in line, coins at the ready, to use a payphone to call home and tell their family and friends theyre safe after a bushfire, a cyclone or some other natural disaster has taken the mobile network down,' he said. Brad Pitt has been accused of acting like a 'petulant child' who 'looted' a French vineyard he co-owed with Angelia Jolie, according to the latest legal filing in the couple's drama. Chateau Miraval is a vineyard in Provence, South of France, that Pitt bought with his then-wife Jolie for roughly $28million in 2008. They became 50/50 owners of the property, as well as its wine-making enterprise. But Pitt has now been accused of spending millions of dollars on vanity projects building a recording studio and renovating the swimming pool, according to a lawsuit filed by Jolie's former investment company, Nouvel. Jolie sold her stake in Nouvel in 2021 to a Russian oligarch, and lawyers said that made Pitt's behavior at the winery worse. According to the lawsuit seen by the Financial Times, Pitt acted like a 'petulant child' and engaged in a 'blatant money grab.' Jolie's lawyers slammed the actor for styling himself as a winemaker, instead saying he 'deals in illusions, not dirt and grapes'. Brad Pitt has been accused of acting like a 'petulant child' who 'looted' a French vineyard he co-owed with Angelia Jolie in the former couple's latest legal blowout Pitt states that he was blindsided when Jolie sold her share of Chateau Miraval, a 35-room estate and celebrated vineyard in the south of France. The 1,000-acre estate now valued at $164million is where the couple tied the knot in 2014 Nouvel, Jolie's former company, said in a legal document that Pitt 'engaged in increasingly outrageous actions to retain control' of the winery, and that he is allegedly 'stripping [the rose producer] of its assets'. The rose brand that Pitt and Jolie established with the help of winemaker Marc Perrin has generated more than $16million in profits in 2022, according to the FT. Since the couple divorced in 2016, Pitt has allegedly 'masterminded a so-far-successful plan to seize de facto control of Chateau Miraval', Nouvel's lawyers claimed in the California court filing. In the new filings, Jolie's former company lawyers took aim at Pitt's styling of himself as a wine maker - brandishing his affectations as 'ludicrous.' 'During the years that he allegedly 'built' the business, he filmed and appeared in dozens of movies, not to mention making countless promotional appearances, jetting-setting [sic] around the world for movie premieres, and attending Hollywood parties,' the filing obtained by Page Six read. 'While he no doubt visited the vineyards to admire the work of the French laborers who actually made the business successful, Pitt is no vigneron.' The fight over the winery is just the latest in their seemingly never-ending legal battles stemming from their acrimonious 2016 split. Details were revealed in Vanity Fair last month after the couple's former head of security, winemakers, real estate brokers and others with intimate knowledge of the couple's time in the south of France spoke out. The report notes in 2021, Jolie, 48, and Pitt, 59, appeared to have come to an agreement where he would purchase her half of the business. The deal stalled when Pitt tried to insert an NDA that would prevent the Maleficent star from publicly talking about their infamous argument in front of their kids on a private jet in 2016, according to the Vanity Fair piece. Pitt and Jolie met in 2005 on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, playing a bored married couple who discover they are both assassins hired by competing agencies to kill one another An aerial view taken on May 31, 2008 in Le Val, southeastern France, shows the Chateau Miraval, the winery and home Representatives for Pitt have maintained it was Jolie who first broached the idea of an NDA, when the 12 Monkeys star began negotiating about the contents of the agreement, that's when Jolie backed away from the deal. Not long afterwards, Jolie sold her share in Nouvel to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler, who has been designated as an 'oligarch' by the US Treasury Department. The couple had a 'mutual and binding commitment' to the $160 million Chateau Miraval business and agreed not to sell up without the other's permission. According to Vanity Fair, Jolie says that 'no such agreement ever existed.' Pitt discovered his ex-wife had 'secretly' sold her 50 percent stake when a 2021 press release announced that he had new business partners, according to the actor's lawyers. The buyer was part of a 'Russia-affiliated' vodka conglomerate headed by Shefler, who would use his new relationship with the A-lister to enhance and improve his reputation, court filings alleged. 'For Jolie, the sale was a business transaction she had every right to make. 'In an effort to preserve her own mental health and well-being, she looked for and found what she believed would be a good business partner for Pitt,' a source told Vanity Fair. While Pitt saw the sale as a 'betrayal.' 'It is not a coincidence that she sold her interest in Miraval to an adversarial party, and part of the family home to a stranger, right after a judge granted a huge win: 50-50 custody,' a source close to Pitt told Vanity Fair. The Fight Club star attempted to fight Jolie's sale to Shefler. Jolie sold her share in Nouvel to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler, who has been designated as an 'oligarch' by the US Treasury Department. Pitt alleges that Jolie's sale to a 'Russian oligarch' would potentially tarnish the reputation of its highly regarded rose Pitt and Jolie met in 2005 on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, playing a bored married couple who discover they are both assassins hired by competing agencies to kill one another. They married at Chateau Miraval in 2014 and parented six kids three biological and three adopted who are now aged between 14 and 21. The Vanity Fair piece notes that cracks began appearing in the marriage in 2015. Those tensions reached boiling point as the family were returning to the US from Chateau Miraval in 2016. 'By September 14, 2016, tensions between and had been boiling for about a year. They tried to keep their arguments between themselves and had made a point to never argue in front of the children. Until the plane,' according to the Vanity Fair article. The couple's head of security Gary Bradbury told the magazine that in 15 years working Pitt, he never saw him drunk. On the day of the flight from Nice, France, to Los Angeles that included a refueling stop in Minnesota, Pitt was 'drinking quite a bit.' 'Brad was drinking, and the confrontation got out of hand. He was absolutely wrong in how he behaved but immediately apologized and acknowledged that he had crossed a line,' another source said. 'He will always regret [it], and right away took steps to address this and try to make amends,' the source added. Following the incident, Pitt became sober. Jolie filed for divorce shortly after he plane incident and a long legal battle, primarily over the custody of their six children, ensued. Five dead seals have been discovered prompting the closure of the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts Swimming has been banned in sections of a wildlife refuge in Nantucket after sharks were spotted ripping apart seals just off the coastline. In the past few days, five seals are believed to have been killed by sharks leading officials with the Trustees of Reservations and US Fish and Wildlife Service to close the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, a remote barrier beach, in the popular Massachusetts tourists region Swimming is no longer allowed in the area and will remain in place 'until further notice.' 'This is not a decision we've made lightly. Visitors' safety is our utmost concern, especially given the remote location of this beach should a serious incident occur,' said Sarah Cassell, a Trustees spokesperson said. 'We'll continue to monitor shark activity in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.' The Trustees say the swimming ban is a 'more proactive' measure rather than a complete beach closure that often occurs following shark sightings. A swimming ban has been put in place on sections of a wildlife refuge in Nantucket, Massachusetts, after great white sharks were seen preying on seals near the shore Swimming in the area is now prohibited until further notice although the beach remains open and bathing will still be allowed in other parts of the refuge (file photo) Videos posted online show sharks preying on seals along Great Point beach. 'Those videos are pretty troubling and no human could survive that, we know that,' Diane Lang, the Trustees stewardship manager said to the Nantucket Current. 'The policy is in place now. We're telling our visitors no swimming at Great Point. I was in touch with U.S. Fish & Wildlife and they're in full agreement. 'We saw people jumping in the water over the Fourth of July,' Lang said. 'We have visitors come out and they're naive to their surroundings.' The population of great white sharks has grown just as the numbers of seals have also increased. The sharks often hunt the mammals in shallow waters. Although shark attacks on humans are extremely rare, and have occurred on Nantucket, the growing shark population has now led towns to consider their policies of what is safe for those venturing into the waters. Now, the swimming ban is in place for parts of the beach. The wildlife service say 'there is currently no projected timeline' as to how long the swimming ban will be in force (file photo) Swimmers are still allowed in other parts of the refuge but have been advised to exercise caution. They are advised to steer clear from swimming near the seals' area. The wildlife service say 'there is currently no projected timeline' as to how long the swimming ban will be in force. The seals have left the tip of the refuge, known as Great Point, since the shark attacks, but they are expected to return. Great Point is known to have a massive seal population on a year-round basis, although even they appear to have been spooked by the shark attacks. 'I've seen maybe three seals since this happened,' Lang told the Current. 'They're gone. They saw.' As the summer heats up, the United States continues to lead the number of shark attacks in the world Last year, the country saw 41 of 57 confirmed cases worldwide, which is a shocking 72 percent of the world's total for 2022, according to the International Shark Attack File. More specifically, Florida is by far the shark capital of the world, registering 16 unprovoked nonlethal bites last year - the most attacks of any other state or any single place, for that matter. The state's Volusia County, known as a shark hot spot, saw 44 percent of the total attacks. New York saw the next most attacks last year, with eight total. Hawaii was next, with five total bites, one of which was fatal. Drove mages obtained by DailyMail.com show at least three sharks swimming close to the shore in Southampton, New York, on Saturday The total global number of shark attacks last year, however, was less than the average of 70 cases worldwide of the five years prior. The total numbers of cases in the U.S. also went down last year from 2021's 47 reported attacks. Moreover, 2022 saw five fatal unprovoked shark bites - two in Egypt, two in South Africa, and one in Hawaii. As of July 10, there have already been seven fatal unprovoked shark attacks this year, including three in Australia and two in Egypt. ISAF defines an unprovoked shark attack as 'incidents in which a bite on a live human occurs in the shark's natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark.' And the nation is on track to register the most shark bites worldwide this year again; it has seen 23 of 42 reported attacks globally. The New York area is particularly on high alert this summer. Last week a 15-year-old was attacked by a shark off the coast of Fire Island. The surfer said the shark had lodged its teeth into his left heel and toes, but they still remained intact. Three more people were bitten the next day, including a 47-year-old man swimming in chest-deep water off Quogue Village Beach, police said. He had cuts to his knee. The two others, a 49-year-old man at Pines Beach and a woman at Cherry Grove, both suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Fire Island will now remain on high alert for the rest of the summer after six shark attacks took place in three weeks in the area last summer. According to ISAF, 'Year-to-year variability in oceanographic, socioeconomic and meteorological conditions significantly influences the local abundance of sharks and humans in the water.' The majority of unprovoked shark attacks were recorded in the USA and Australia last year, however single bites also occurred in New Zealand, Thailand and Brazil Since 2000, the year 2015 holds the record for the most shark attacks in one year, with 111 unprovoked attacks. The International Shark Attack File has recorded 1,604 unprovoked shark attacks in the U.S. since the 16th century. The next country with the most attacks, Australia, has seen less than half than the U.S., 691. The number of yearly shark attacks has risen over the last 70 years; in 1950, there were 50 reports of shark attacks worldwide, and by 2020 the average number of bites each year had risen to 70. An increase in shark sightings might suggest a healthier ecosystem, some say. Cleaner waters allow the small fish that sharks feed on to flourish. More small fish swimming closer to shore means more sharks nipping at their tails. A former Victorian Labor minister who is transforming a run-down French chateau with his fiancee has been called out for asking the public to donate to the project. Tim Holding and Felicity Selkirk bought the Chateau de Purnon for $1.19million in 2020, and have been working day and night ever since to restore it. The 105-room castle is 235-years-old and is near the French village of Verrue, which has just 400 residents. As well as the main 18th century Louis XVI style chateau, there are two main buildings, a dried out moat, cottages, stables, a wine barrel room, a chapel, a boulangerie and an orangerie. Mr Holding was a Victorian MP from 1999 to 2013, and a year after he resigned he set off for France. He and his fiancee have been regularly documenting their progress on the chateau, with Mr Holding coming to Melbourne on July 26 to celebrate the launch of Les Amis de Purnon (Friends of Purnon), a not-for-profit association to support the restoration of Chateau de Purnon. Tickets cost $150 a head. Tim Holding and Felicity Selkirk bought the Chateau de Purnon for $1.19million in 2020, and have been working day and night ever since to restore it The 105-room castle is 235-years-old and is near the French village of Verrue, which has just 400 residents The request for donations has attracted criticism from The Australian's Margin Call editor Yoni Bashan, who referred to the restoration as a 'self-enriching vanity project'. 'The people are already paying for this guy to yuk it up in the French countryside. Now, in the ultimate act of p***-taking, he's asking punters to help him pay for it. C'est incroyable! (It's incredible)' the column - written in a response to a piece by The Herald Sun - read. The column also stated that Mr Holding would have left parliament with a pension of around $150,000, while his fiancee is an heiress to the Selkirk Bricks company. The couple first came across the chateau in 2019, and they now live in a small wing of the property that has heating and a bath. The pair had looked at 15 other chateaus before they settled on Purnon, which on the donation website, is described as being in a state of 'serious peril'. 'Dating back more than a century, the slate roof of the castle is out of use, threatening the conservation of the framework which covers the two upper floors of the house and that of the floors,' the website read. 'A little-known treasure, the castle requires energetic and urgent action to save it from ruin and preserve its authenticity.' The couple have asked for donations from the public to help fund the restoration The couple first came across the chateau in 2019, and they now live in a small wing of the property that has heating and a bath The pair had looked at 15 other chateaus before they settled on Purnon, which on the donation website, is described as being in a state of 'serious peril' Mr Holding and Ms Selkirk are hoping the castle may be used for weddings, exhibitions, concerts and guided tours once the restoration is complete. More than 7,000 euros have been raised for the project, out of a goal of 150,000 euros (AUD$247,000). The castle and parts of its surroundings have also been listed as Historic Monuments meaning French authorities have to approve any work being carried out. The couple along with their passion project have featured in television shows and magazines such as Good Weekend over the three-year restoration. Questions have been raised over the bizarre death of a truck company boss who mysteriously died just hours after his gangland-linked business sold for $10million. Troy Kellett, 43, fell to his death from the top of a shipping container in Adelaide's Outer Harbour docklands port in South Australia at 12.30am on Sunday. Two people with him have been charged with various offences including 'unrelated' firearms after one was allegedly found with unlicensed and unregistered weapons. It's been revealed his company was originally owned by an associate of notorious underworld figure Tony Mokbel and colourful Melbourne identity Mick Gatto. Now friends of the company boss want to know why Mr Kellett was on the top of the shipping container in the middle of the night - and why he was even in Adelaide. Questions have been raised over the bizarre death of truck company boss Troy Kellett (pictured) who mysteriously died just hours after his gangland-linked business sold for $10m Troy Kellett, 43, fell to his death from the top of a shipping container in Adelaide's Outer Harbour (pictured) in South Australia at 12.30am on Sunday Mr Kellett's Melbourne-based shipping container transport business Kellett Australia had been operating since 1998, focused on metro and country Victoria deliveries. His fleet of trucks, trailers and forklifts were part of a company which saw a large sale of shares to a new mystery buyer in April last year. Friends of the dead man say $10million, believed to be from the sale of the firm, was only transferred into his bank account last Friday, just hours before he died. They say he had just finalised the sale of the company to an Adelaide firm. '[Then] hes found dead in Adelaide,' the friend told the Adelaide Advertiser. 'I just dont get it. I really don't.' They are baffled why Mr Kellett was even in Adelaide on an apparent delivery run, after he was said to have taken an 'urgent' call on Saturday for a load to be shipped. 'Troy doesnt drive, he hasnt driven for years,' they said. 'Hes got in the teens of drivers there that could do the run. I dont see why hed be there. 'Its not like Troy to drive, its not like Troy to take off on Saturday when hes got his kids. Troy wouldnt drive for no reason.' The friend also questioned why Mr Kellett was on the roof of the shipping container before he fell several metres to his death. 'Theres no need to be on top of a container,' they added. 'Why was he on top of a container? And why was he up on top of a container at 12.30 at night? 'The only conclusion I can come up with is that he was hiding. Something happened and he was hiding.' It's now been revealed his trucking company was originally owned by an associate of notorious underworld figure Tony Mokbel (left) and Melbourne identity Mick Gatto (right) Friends of the dead man say $10million, believed to be from the sale of his firm Kellett Australia (pictured), was only transferred into his bank account last Friday, just hours before he died Police have said there are no suspicious circumstances to the tragedy, but his friends say the death needs to be investigated more thoroughly. Kellett Australia was registered with ASIC through an off the shelf company bought through Tom Kotsimbos's firm Abbotts Incorporation Services in 1999. Mr Kotsimbos has previously been linked to shell companies set up completely legally and bought off the shelf by Mokbel and Gatto. He was a director of Kellett Australia for one day until the company was taken over by Mr Kellett's brother Corey, before Mr Kellett himself took ownership in 2003. He was still listed as the sole director when he died despite the notice of the share sale to an unnamed buyer in company records and the reputed $10million deal. There is no suggestion of any criminality by Mr Kotsimbos or Mr Kellett, or any involvement of Mokbel or Gatto. Two Adelaide men, aged 32 and 47, with Mr Kellett at the time of his death have been bailed to appear in Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on August 7. The younger man faces four firearm charges and three other alleged offences, while the older man is accused of being 'unlawfully on premises' and giving false details. Police say their inquiries are continuing. 'Police are preparing a report for the coroner in relation to the non-suspicious death of Mr Kellett at Outer Harbour,' said a spokesman. 'The police investigation into the mens activity at Outer Harbour is ongoing.' The family of Aretha Franklin was in a Michigan court on Monday as a trial kicks off to determine if notes stuffed in a couch will be considered her will. The Memphis-born Queen of Soul died in August 2018 at the age of 76. She did not leave a formal, typewritten will, and her family has been divided since her death about which of two potential wills was correct. Franklin had four sons: Clarence, born when she was just 12; Edward, born to the same father as Clarence when she was 15; Ted, born to Franklin and her husband Theodore 'Ted' White in February 1964 ; and Kecalf Cunningham, born in April 1970 whose father was her road manager, Ken Cunningham. In 2010, Franklin signed a document that made her son Ted, 60, the executor of her estate. But in 2019, a handwritten version from 2014 emerged after it was found stuffed down a couch, in which Ted's name was crossed out and Kecalf's name inserted as executor. The doc would allow Kecalf to inherit her home in Bloomfield Hills, an affluent suburb north of Detroit. Aretha Franklin is pictured in December 2008 performing during the 85th annual Christmas tree lighting at the New York Stock Exchange. Two of her four sons are now arguing over her will Kecalf Franklin, 53 (left), and his brother Ted White, 60 (right), are arguing over their mother's will Ted and Kecalf are now in court to determine who is the executor, with a trial expected to last two days. At stake is control of a fortune which, given she performed from the age of 12 and signed with Columbia Records at 18, remains remarkably low. The last public accounting filed in March showed the estate had an income of $3.9 million during the previous 12-month period and a similar amount of spending, including more than $900,000 in legal fees to various firms. Overall assets were pegged at $4.1 million, mostly cash and real estate. Franklin's creative works and intellectual property were undervalued, with just a nominal $1 figure. Ted, who played guitar during his mother's performances, told the court on Monday he believes the 2010 document is the only legitimate one. 'With all the time I spent working with her administratively, every other document that she ever signed was something that was done conventionally and legally,' he told the jury. Aretha Franklin attends the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 1978 with her second husband Glynn Turman, her son Kecalf Cunningham, her stepson and her stepdaughter Stephanie Turman Aretha Franklin is seen in March 2014 with, from left, Clifton Davis, Clive Davis, and her son Kecalf Franklin Franklin is seen with her boyfriend William Wilkerson (left) and her son Edward Franklin (right) in 2014 He acknowledged, however that the 2010 will found at the same time in 2019 was also written by his mother's hand. There are differences between the documents, but both the 2010 and 2014 documents appear to indicate that Franklin's four sons would share income from music and copyrights. Four large posters showing pages from the 2014 document were presented to the jury. Under that version, Kecalf Franklin and her grandchildren, would get his mother's main home in Bloomfield Hills. Kecalf Franklin, 53, told the court he does not consider it unusual that important papers like a will would be discovered in the living room. Aretha Franklin's sons Kecalf Franklin, rear, hugs Edward Franklin after a ceremony honoring their mother in October 2021 Edward Franklin arrives on Monday for the hearing Kecalf Franklin talks with attorney Charles McKelvie outside the courtroom on Monday Asked by his attorney where his mother read mail, made important phone calls, signed documents and even slept, Kecalf Franklin repeatedly said: 'On the couch.' A niece, Sabrina Owens, who managed the estate immediately after Franklin's death, did not appear in court Monday, but her testimony from a formal interview was read aloud. She explained how she was determined to search the Bloomfield Hills house for critical records. 'She would use the kitchen and living room - that was about it,' Owens said. 'So when I got to the sofa, I lifted up that far right cushion and there was three notebooks there.' The jury is set to hear closing arguments on Tuesday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had an embarrassing marching mishap during his official visit to Germany, forgetting to stop during a military inspection and awkwardly wandering off. Anthony Albanese met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday to announce Australia will send a surveillance aircraft to Germany to monitor military and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine. The PM also announced Australia will join the 'Climate Club' - an international group that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. All was going swimmingly during a military inspection with Chancellor Scholz, who Mr Albanese had formally invited to visit Australia next year. As the two paraded, Mr Scholtz stopped and turned to the guard who was following behind but the blissfully unaware Aussie PM continued down the line, taking in the line-up of German soldiers. Anthony Albanese had an embarrassing moment during his official visit to Germany, failing to stop during a military inspection with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (pictured) Mr Scholz is then seen reaching for Mr Albanese who is none the wiser as he continues on another few steps before the chancellor calls out to him. The PM then swings around and faces the guard who salutes the pair. It was a minor slip-up in an otherwise fruitful visit to Germany, with the PM now headed to a NATO summit in Lithuania where the Ukraine conflict is expected to dominate discussions. Mr Albanese on Monday said Australia is 'pleased' to continue to work towards the target of net zero emissions by 2050 and the joining of the climate club is another step in that direction. 'We're very pleased to join the climate club because we are ambitious and we also see that this isn't just the right thing to do by the environment, but this is also the right thing to do by jobs and by our economy,' Mr Albanese said at a news conference in Berlin. 'One thing we can do is to cooperate and learn off each other, because you can't address climate change as just a national issue. It has to be by definition, a global response,' Mr Albanese said. As the two paraded, Mr Scholtz stopped and turned to the guard who was following behind but the blissfully unaware Aussie PM continued walking, taking in the line-up of German soldiers (pictured) The PM on Monday announced Australia will send a surveillance aircraft to Germany to monitor military and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine as well as committing to joining the Climate Club, a group that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Australia also agreed to deploy an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft for six months, starting in October, to protect multinational logistics hubs that are used to offer critical support to Ukraine. The aircraft has a long-range surveillance radar and can simultaneously track airborne and maritime targets, according to the RAAF. Australian officials state the Wedgetail would operate in European airspace and not within Ukraine, Russia or Belarus. A pet Jack Russell that was mauled by savage dogs despite the heroic efforts of her owner to save her has died from her injuries. Indi was rushed into veterinary intensive care with critical injuries after she and her owner Elle Booth, 34, were attacked by two Irish wolfhounds at Boggy Well Creek, at Lugarno in Sydney's south, at 9am on Sunday. Ms Booth stood neck deep in mud for 20 minutes, holding Indi, in a desperate effort to ward off the attackers before police arrived and pepper sprayed the wolfhounds. Family friend Tess Hutchinson announced on Tuesday morning Indi had passed away overnight while undergoing further emergency surgery. 'Unfortunately last night Indi passed away due to three heart attacks while being operated on,' Ms Hutchinson said. 'She fought until the very end and was such an incredibly brave little pup who will forever be loved by many.' Indi the Jack Russell has tragically died after suffering three heart attacks during an emergency operation Elle Booth, 34 (pictured) bravely tried to save the life of her pooch, Indi, as the pair were mauled by two dogs Ms Booth and Indi were walking along the trail when they were set upon by the two dogs, who were being walked by another man. The pair ran into the muddy creek to seek shelter, where they spent 20 minutes trying to fight off the wolfhounds until they were rescued by police. Ms Booth was rushed to St George Hospital after suffering injuries to her face, neck, arms, hands and legs, while Indi was rushed to a vet with critical internal injuries. Her husband Tom Dale told Daily Mail Australia that she underwent surgery on her hands and forearm on Monday and is now recovering. The couple had only recently moved to the area to give their pets bush trails to explore. Ms Hutchinson said Ms Booth bravely tried to protect Indi after the two aggressive dogs started nipping at her. 'Indi, overwhelmed with fear, darted towards the river in a desperate attempt to escape the relentless assault,' Ms Hutchinson said. Ms Booth (pictured), 34, was rushed to St George hospital in the city's south after suffering injuries to her face, neck, arms, hands and legs in the savage attack at Boggy Well Creek off Booyong Avenue, Lugarno, at 9am on Sunday The seven-year-old Jack Russell never recovered after being admitted to hospital on Sunday 'The dogs chased, followed by Elle and the man who was walking these dogs. Indi was forced beyond the mangroves and into the mudflats beyond. The larger dogs caught Indi once again, pinning her under the mud for a period. 'With no hesitation, Elle charged after Indi into the mangroves, her own safety abandoned in her unwavering determination to save her loyal companion. 'In a heroic act, Elle managed to pull Indi from the clutches of the attacking dogs, but not without sustaining severe injuries herself.' Ms Hutchinson said the man walking the dogs blew a whistle and the dogs paused, with Ms Booth taking the opportunity to move further into the mud as she desperately tried to shield her pet from further harm. But when she turned back toward the shore and bush track, the man was nowhere to be seen - and she realised she was all alone. 'For 20 minutes, Elle stood in neck deep mud holding Indi above, trying to clear Indis airway of mud, and continuing to hold the larger dogs off,' Ms Hutchinson said. Emergency services then arrived at the scene after a family on the other side of the embankment saw what was happening and called for help. The conditions were so treacherous officers who came to Ms Booth and Indi's aid also got stuck in the mud. Mr Dale said his wife was 'brave as hell' and he was 'so proud of her'. 'He [the man] was yelling at Elle to get Indigo to stop running away, as it was exciting his dogs. He was trying to stop them but they were out of control,' Mr Dale said. 'He followed Elle down to the mangroves and when he saw his two dogs mauling Indi in the mud further out, he turned and ran away. 'Elle went out to save Indi. She initially assumed he'd gone to call for help, he actually just left.' Tom Dale (pictured) said he is 'proud as hell' of his wife's efforts to save their pet Ms Booth underwent surgery after suffering horrendous injuries Ms Hutchinson said the event had changed the couple's lives 'forever' and has filled them with 'sorrow, heartache, and unspeakable pain'. She has launched a GoFundMe which surpassed its $25,000 goal - the cost of Indi's vet bills - within hours. Ms Hutchinson shared her appreciation for everyone who had rallied to support the couple. She said despite Ms Booth suffering serious injuries, her concern and focus since the attack had been on Indi's wellbeing. 'We want to say a huge thank you to each and everyone of you who have donated, sent kind words and had both Elle and Indi in their thoughts over the last couple of days,' she said. 'Elle has suffered severe physical injuries and will have a long road to recovery, not to mention the emotional damage experienced.' Indi the Jack Russell Terrier was seriously injured in the mauling and remains in a critical condition at a local vet Two dogs were seized by police and Georges River council rangers from a nearby home (pictured) Investigations are ongoing After the attack, the Irish wolfhounds were seized by Georges River Council at a Peakhurst home. In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson said Georges River Council would not confirm whether the dogs were put down. 'We can confirm council staff worked with police on the day to locate and seize the dogs and will continue to work with police during the investigation. 'Residents are reminded to exercise responsible pet ownership to ensure the safety of our community and the wellbeing and safety of their pets by always walking their dog on a leash, unless in an authorised off-leash area.' Questions have been raised over the appointment of a new fire brigade chief who has never worked in the service. The Fire Brigades Union said the hiring of Nicci Marzec was 'highly unusual' given she had 'no operational understanding of the role'. Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue announced on Friday that Ms Marzec, 50, would be taking over as interim boss. Her appointment comes after previous incumbent Mark Jones resigned to concentrate on recovering from injury. The appointment was made by Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) Stephen Mold for whom Ms Marzec previously worked as monitoring officer and head of paid staff. The Fire Brigades Union said the hiring of Nicci Marzec (pictured) was 'highly unusual' given she had 'no operational understanding of the role' She was also previously director of early intervention at the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire on a salary of between 76,425 and 81,816. Adam Taylor, of the Fire Brigades Union, said: 'This is highly unusual, as [she] has never worked in the fire sector.' He claimed the new interim chief had 'no operational understanding of the role required to keep the communities of Northamptonshire safe'. He added: 'The fire service is a complex operation and firefighting is a highly skilled, technical profession. 'Recruiting externally for senior operational roles means the most senior decision-maker will have no practical experience of using equipment, responding to incidents or keeping firefighters and the public safe in fires, floods and other callouts.' The union said the appointment was evidence of the unsuitability of PFCC governance in the service. In a statement the PFCC said Ms Marzec would be supported by incoming deputy chief fire officer Simon Tuhill, who joins next week. In response to the criticism Mr Mold said there was a 'wealth of operational ability and talent in the chief officer team'. He added that Kent fire service had just received a glowing report for its leadership, culture and for keeping people safe and it was led by a woman and a non-firefighter. He said Ms Marzec had extensive experience at 'strategic and operational levels across a range of professional fields'. Ms Marzec said: 'It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service... I know all the firefighters and staff are committed to making Northamptonshire a safer county and I am impressed by the hard work and dedication they show every day.' Two home builders have collapsed within a four-day period, becoming the latest companies to crater in Australia's construction industry. NSW-based company Millbrook Homes went into liquidation on June 26 owing more than $4million, while Victoria-based builder Bentley Homes appointed a liquidator on June 30 to sort out its $1.8million debts. Dozens of clients have been left with unfinished houses while sacked workers from Bentley Homes are among the creditors still waiting for their money. For one family, the collapse of the Victoria-based company has left them in financial dire straits. Ronnie Brown, who has a wife and two daughters aged eight and 13, took out a mortgage to fund the build of his house with the project currently sitting unfinished. Victoria's Bentley Homes has gone into liquidation leaving some families with nowhere to live Ronnie Brown (pictured) says the collapse of Bentley Homes leaves his family in a desperate position as they cannot afford to keep paying rent and the loan on their unfinished property The family was also paying rent to stay in another house while they waited for their dream home to be built. Mr Brown said his family could not afford to keep paying the mortgage and rent for another six months. He has contacted the Victoria Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA), a state government agency set up to help people in his position, but says their processes take too long. 'It takes 90 days for them to assess if I have a claim, then 14-21 days for them to get quotes and another 14-21 days for them to come up with an amount that I will get,' Mr Brown told news.com.au. 'My family and I are not in a financial position to pay rent and mortgage for six months while the VMIA go through their process.' Following Bentley's collapse, around 33 other homeowners, who have paid tender fees up to $9,000, have also been left with unfinished properties. Liquidator Timothy Holden, of insolvency firm Crouch Amirbeaggi, blamed supply chain, staffing issues and cost over-runs for the collapse of the firm, which had been operating since 2006. Eleven sacked employees are also owed $77,000 in unpaid wages and other entitlements. BRI Ferrier liquidator John Keenan said Millbrook Homes had six unfinished products on their books, which were all properties valued well in excess of $1million. He said the collapsed company had less than $100,000 in assets but owed around $4million to between 75 to 80 creditors. Failed NSW builder Millbrook Homes specialised in making customised luxury houses worth millions A liquidator says the failure of Millbrook Homes is part of the fallout of an affiliated company's collapse Mr Keenan said Millbrook's collapse was 'fallout' from the failure of an affiliated company, Elderton Homes, in December. 'As a result of the collapse, they had some licensing and insurance restrictions,' Mr Keenan said as he also blamed deteriorating market conditions. Construction firms are still reeling from the impacts of the Covid pandemic with an added global lack of timber and building materials due to choked supply chains impacted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This has led to the cost of materials rising by more than 20 per cent since the start of 2022, with some items surging by even more. Pine wood more than doubled in price, while reinforcing steel, glass, plasterboard, fibre cement and other materials also rose. Such price rises meant many fixed contract building projects were no longer viable. Across Australia, hundreds of millions of dollars are owed by failed companies to subcontractors, tradesmen, clients and the tax office. She plans to bulldoze dozens of native trees and flora A Greens senator is planning to bulldoze dozens of native trees and local flora around her investment property in order to build three luxury homes at the heart of one of the biggest koala habitats in the state. The party's deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi and her husband will knock down 20 trees at her investment property in Port Macquarie on the northern NSW coast and subdivide it to build three double-storey townhouses. The couple paid $250,000 for the home in 2001, with houses now being sold in the upmarket area of the town for well over $1million. A development application approved by the Port Macquarie Hastings Council in May estimated the cost of the development of the property for $1.5million. The architecturally designed plans will require the removal of most of the trees at the property including a hollow-bearing tree, which provides a habitat for native animals, council documents said. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi (pictured) is clearing native trees and vegetation in order to build luxury townhouses The Greens deputy leader and her husband will knock down 20 trees at her investment property (pictured) and subdivide it An ecological report tendered to council said the plans 'will result in the loss of the majority of vegetation on the site' near Lighthouse Beach. 'The development will require the removal of native and exotic vegetation on the site. Tree removal comprises planted ornamental trees and native species including Figs, Guioa, Tuckeroo, fruit trees and Tree Ferns,' it read. 'Up to 20 native trees and shrubs will require removal, as well as ornamental plantings.' Port Macquarie boasts one of New South Wales' biggest populations of koalas about 2,000 of them live there - and hosts one of Australia's best known koala hospitals. Land clearing is one of the key reasons why the endangered marsupial is under threat, with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment saying they are on target to be extinct in the wild by 2050. An ecological assessment conducted for Ms Faruqi's development application found there were no koala food trees on the site. However, several 'reasonably fresh' koala droppings were found on the boundary of the property. The study found the development is 'unlikely to have any significant adverse impacts on the local population' but noted the greater area 'contains a potential foraging resource'. Ms Faruqi has owned the Port Macquarie investment home with her husband since 2001 An ecological report tendered to council said the plans 'will result in the loss of the majority of vegetation on the site' including native and exotic vegetation and a hollow-bearing tree, which provides a habitat for native animals The report claimed 'threatened... species' would rely 'on adjacent and nearby habitats to fulfil their lifecycle requirements' once the development was carried out. A number of measures were outlined in the report to reduce the impact of the development on 'flora, fauna and ecological communities'. 'These include pre-clearing surveys and clearing supervision, weed control, and replacement fauna nest boxes,' the report said. A spokesperson for the Greens senator claimed that her application met 'all ecological requirements'. The senator and her husband bought their house for $250,000 in October 2001 but Port Macquarie's median house price is now $851,159, CoreLogic data shows. Their investment property near Lighthouse Beach is in a more upmarket area, where houses near the water typically sell at prices in the seven figures. Ms Faruqi has previously been critical of past state governments allowing native forests to be logged and koala habitats to be cleared. As a state upper house MP in 2016, she opposed the duplication of the Pacific Highway on the NSW north coast because a koala habitat would have been cleared. She insisted the-then NSW Coalition government headed by Mike Baird consider alternate options for the highway route. 'Koala populations around the state are in decline, with NSW koala numbers plummeting by a third since 1990,' she said. 'We have to be smarter than this and not make lazy decisions that jeopardise their future.' Ms Faruqi has declared four properties including an investment home in Beaconsfield. A spokesperson from her office said the development at her property met 'all ecological requirements' The sub-division plans at Senator Faruqi's house add two further properties to her portfolio. She has declared four properties on the parliamentary register of interests. This includes two in Beaconsfield, in inner Sydney - one of which is an investment - and a 500sqm parcel of land in Lahore, Pakistan. She did not reveal whether the development would provide more affordable housing for renters. The Greens have continuously blocked Labor's $10billion Housing Australia Future Fund, which would see the government build 30,000 new social and affordable housing units. The party have demanded the Commonwealth freeze rents for two years and have future rent increases capped at two per cent every two years. This is despite the fact the federal government cannot freeze or cap rents under the Constitution. Only the states and territories can cap or freeze rents. Sadiq Khan was accused of failing working-class Londoners last night after figures revealed only around 1 per cent of non-Ulez compliant vehicles have been approved for his flagship scrappage scheme. The Mayor of Londons scheme, which sees grants handed out to scrap or retrofit vehicles, was launched in January. It is intended to help motorists buy a new, less polluting car or van to avoid the 12.50 daily Ulez charge ahead of the levys expansion to all London boroughs next month. But just 8,973 of an estimated 851,000 non-compliant vehicles around London had scrappage scheme applications approved by the end of June, new Transport for London figures have revealed. This is around 35 per cent of the 25,184 applications received - which drops further to a third for charities and a quarter for sole traders. The Mayor of Londons scheme, which sees grants handed out to scrap or retrofit vehicles, was launched in January People demonstrate outside the High Court, central London, where five Conservative-led councils are challenging Mayor of London Sadiq Khan's intention to expand London's ultra low emission zone (Ulez) Louie French, Tory MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, part of which will fall into the new expanded Ulez area, said: These alarming figures highlight again how the Labour Mayor of London is desperately failing to support hardworking people across London. Not only is the Labour Mayor of London taxing people 12.50 per day or 4,500 per year to drive, but for the relatively small number of people eligible for the scrappage scheme, which will only cover a small fraction of the costs of changing vehicle, the Mayor is failing badly to get much needed support out to them. As TfLs own figures show, the Mayor is badly failing all Londoners, including disabled people, charities and small businesses. In a rare moment of consistency, he also has the full support of Keir Starmer, who like many north London champagne socialists, clearly isnt that bothered about the concerns of working people. Last week Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer appeared reluctant to back Mr Khans planned Ulez expansion, suggesting it was a legal obligation rather than a political choice. The partys Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election candidate Danny Beales has called on the Mayor to postpone the move. Former prime minister Boris Johnson said Sir Keirs floundering on the issue showed the policy is doomed. In his column for the Daily Mail on Saturday, he said: If the Labour leader and the Labour candidate wont back the Labour mayors driving tax, then isnt it time for Khan to can it? Last week five Tory-led councils told the High Court that Mr Khan lacks the legal power to extend the Ulez to the whole of the capital. The outer-London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon along with Surrey County Council launched legal action in February over the proposed extension of Ulez beyond the North and South Circular roads A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: The Mayors 110 million scrappage scheme has already seen a strong uptake with more than 32.8 million already committed to help Londoners take their older, more polluting vehicles off the road. The Mayor is extending his 110 million scrappage scheme this month to support hundreds of thousands more Londoners, including everyone receiving child benefit and all the capitals small businesses and charities. The Ulez is a very targeted scheme - nine out of ten cars seen driving in outer London are already Ulez compliant and will not have to pay the charge. The Mayor continues to call on Government to further support the switch to cleaner vehicles through funding a targeted national scrappage scheme or providing additional funding to London as it has done for other cities across the country. Ukraine could get an 'Israel-style' guarantees of security in its fight against Russia from Western allies, according to reports. The war-torn country, which has been involved in a bloody conflict with its eastern neighbour since it was illegally invaded in February 2022, could benefit from a long-term plan by the UK, United States, France and Germany to arm Kyiv. Ahead of the annual NATO summit in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, talks are well underway about how to create a scheme to help Ukraine, the Telegraph reports. It is believed the legally-binding pledge would come with promises to train Ukrainian troops and share intelligence with Kyiv to bring it in line with NATO standards. This falls short of full NATO membership, which Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing for, but could be seen as a way for Kyiv to get its feet under the table. Ukrainian marines work on a howitzer in the Donetsk region during the country's counter offensive on Monday President Volodymyr Zelensky visiting the Lviv and Volyn regions of Ukraine on Saturday The United States and Germany have blocked Ukraine's attempts for full membership of Nato, but German chancellor Olaf Scholz has suggested a similar agreement to that obtained by Israel could be in the works. Israel is not part of NATO, but receives billions of pounds in military funding from the United States under a deal that is renewed between the two countries every decade. Chancellor Scholz said the Israeli model could play a 'major role' in helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression, the Telegraph reports. NATO officials have already agreed on a fast-track application process, announced by Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba earlier on Monday. It means Ukraine will no longer be required to take part in the club's Membership Action Plan, a process of key reforms demanded of any potential member. 'Following intensive talks, Nato allies have reached consensus on removing MAP from Ukraine's path to membership. I welcome this long-awaited decision that shortens our path to Nato. It is also the best moment to offer clarity on the invitation to Ukraine to become a member,' Kuleba wrote on Twitter. It marks a diplomatic breakthrough for Ukraine ahead of Zelensky's attendance at the summit in Lithuania. He told ABC News in an interview that he wants 'effective security guarantees' while it is waiting for full membership. A senior NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that 'the time is not right for an invitation to Ukraine' owing to Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of the country. But the source said the leaders would sketch out 'concrete steps towards membership.' Lithuanian border guard officers patrol the metal fence at the border with Belarus on Monday ATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (centre) hosts a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (right) It comes hours after Turkey backed down on blocking Sweden's bid to join the military alliance. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg made the announcement in a joint statement with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Ulf Kristersson. Erdogan said he would urge Turkish MPs to ratify Sweden's application to join the 31-member mutual defense club 'as soon as possible'. US president Joe Biden, who touched down in Vilnius hours earlier, reacted to the news by indicating that a deal had been done on F-16 fighter jets for Turkey. 'I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area,' he said in a statement released by the White House. Earlier, the strongman leader had linked dropping his opposition to Stockholm's possible membership to reviving long-dead EU accession talks. So much for Rishi Sunak's pledge to 'stop the small boats'. In just three days over the weekend, more than 1,000 migrants made the treacherous voyage across the Channel from France meaning a staggering 12,700 have reached our shores so far this year. It is utterly unsustainable to allow so many would-be asylum seekers to sneak into Britain illegally, costing taxpayers 3.5billion a year and fuelling public anger. However, the Prime Minister must be cut some slack for now. His Illegal Migration Bill, which aims to make removing unlawful entrants easier, is under attack from hand-wringing peers and archbishops. To get the Bill through Parliament, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has made major concessions, including an effective amnesty to small-boat migrants who arrive before the legislation gains Royal Assent. But that will just encourage more people to risk their lives making the perilous journey in the meantime. The Lords must back the Bill, which is the only way to stop this evil trade or these so-called humanitarians will simply be endangering more lives at sea So much for Rishi Sunak's pledge to 'stop the small boats'. In just three days over the weekend, more than 1,000 migrants made the treacherous voyage across the Channel The plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda has also been blocked by the courts. But only when migrants realise they are buying tickets to Africa, via Dover, will they be deterred from coming here. What is the alternative? The liberal Left has no plan. The Lords must back the Bill, which is the only way to stop this evil trade or these so-called humanitarians will simply be endangering more lives at sea. BBC botches it The BBC loves to portray itself as a paragon of integrity, decency and rectitude, cut from superior moral cloth to other people and organisations. That the Corporation clings to this fantasy despite being embroiled in a wave of scandals from paedophile Jimmy Savile to rogue reporter Martin Bashir shows the depths of its self-delusion. Each time, the broadcaster insists lessons have been learned. But have they? This time, a top male presenter stands accused of paying a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images. Equally troubling is that a proper inquiry does not appear to have been launched when the complaint was received in May. If the Tories or another news organisation had acted so sluggishly, we'd never hear the end of the BBC's pious denunciations. There must be a full investigation into the BBC's handling of this saga The seeming insouciance of senior management typifies everything that's wrong with the Corporation, fuelling suspicion it has again put its own interests ahead of those of the common good. There must be a full investigation into the BBC's handling of this saga. Given its unique funding model, licence fee payers have every right to know whether this was incompetence or a cover-up. Nuclear fallout The first duty of any government is to safeguard the nation against overseas threats, which explains why Sir Keir Starmer is so desperate to convince voters that Labour would be strong on security. Really? Twelve loony lefties in his top team have called for Britain to scrap the nuclear deterrent, while he fought manfully to get Jeremy Corbyn, a lifelong supporter of unilateral disarmament, into No10. When Putin is threatening the West with nuclear annihilation, Labour's peaceniks are the last people to rely on to maintain our defences in a dangerous world. The maternity scandals that have shamed the country grow more nightmarish. A shocking 1,700 babies and mothers may have died unavoidably or suffered terrible harm at two Nottingham hospitals. NHS chiefs admit families were 'failed', amid claims midwives were inept, managers covered up mistakes and patients' concerns were ignored. How shameful that such tragedies occur not because of a lack of modern treatment, but through institutional failures. Megyn Kelly, 52, discussed on her show how Casey was being trolled for her looks and her involvement in the Florida Governor's presidential campaign Megyn Kelly has defended Ron DeSantis' wife Casey after she was called 'America's Karen' and likened to The Handmaid Tale's Serena Waterford. The broadcaster, 52, discussed how Casey was being trolled for her looks and her involvement in the Florida Governor's presidential campaign - which Kelly said was because Casey's Democratic adversaries 'perceive her as a threat.' Kelly, on The Megyn Kelly Show, showed a new campaign video from DeSantis' camp, which featured Casey talking about the importance of protecting children. She then showed a clip of Florida Rep. David Jolly calling Casey 'America's Karen' on a segment on MSNBC. 'It doesn't matter if it's presented in heels or boots, the DeSantis doctrine is a losing one,' said Jolly, a former Republican. Another guest on the MSNBC show then described Florida's First Lady as a wannabe Serena Waterford - the manipulative antagonist in Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel. Kelly said, in commentary with Dave Marcus and Stu Burguiere: 'I think the reason they're reacting so angrily to her is they accurately perceive her as a threat.' Megyn Kelly said on her show: ''They hate her in a special way, it's almost coming at her more viciously than with Melania [Trump]' Kelly showed a new campaign video from DeSantis' camp which featured Florida First Lady Casey talking about protecting children. She is pictured on January 3 with her husband Kelly said sarcastically: 'She can't do anything right! 'If they were saying this sort of thing about a leftie, these same people would be outraged by the rampant misogyny, but as always, it's always fair game against a Republican wife. 'They hate her in a special way, its almost coming at her more viciously than with Melania [Trump]. '[There is] this particular viciousness against her.' Burguiere agreed with Kelly's commentary and said Florida's First Lady will be an asset to Ron's 2024 presidential campaign as she comes off as relatable and down to earth. This comes just weeks after a profile of Casey drew backlash as the piece likened her to Lady Macbeth and accused her of personally choosing the firing of a key staffer, all as DeSantis prepared to run for Republican presidential nominee in 2024. The Politico piece, titled 'The Casey DeSantis Problem: His Greatest Asset and His Greatest Liability,' is drawing the ire of many who argue the mainstream media would never treat a Democrat politician's wife so harshly. The Michael Kruse article took its inspiration from none other than former Trump advisor Roger Stone once posting on Telegram: 'Have you ever noticed how much Ron DeSantis' wife Casey is like Lady Macbeth?' A profile of Casey has drawn backlash after the piece likened her to Lady Macbeth and accused her of personally choosing the firing of a key staffer The DeSantis family are pictured on November 8, 2022, after Ron won reelection as Florida Governor The piece contended DeSantis' wife is 'unusually important and uncommonly involved' in his political work, as well as his 'most important advisor.' The story even goes as far as explaining the plot of Shakespeare's classic story and quoting it. It then accuses her of being a problem for the popular Florida governor, re-elected by 20 points last fall, by limiting his inner circle 'not only because he constitutionally doesn't trust people but because she doesn't either.' 'She's the power behind the throne,' Kruse quotes one Republican lobbyist as saying. 'The tip of the spear,' Multiple sources criticized her anonymously for being behind the firing of Susie Wiles, a political operative many credit with helping former President Trump and Governor DeSantis win Florida in 2016 and 2018. She is now running Trump's 2022 campaign. It then quotes an anonymous former DeSantis staffer who calls his onetime boss 'a vindictive motherf*****' and slanders Casey as 'twice that.' Earlier this month, Casey DeSantis shone in her first solo campaign appearance, chatting easily with Iowans about their corn crops, their schools, their families and the weather. Casey DeSantis held her first solo campaign event - joining voters in Iowa She has become a prominent public face and voice for Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign and was in Johnston to launch 'Mamas for DeSantis' - a national version of the group she started in Florida to help her husband win a second term as governor. 'It's one thing when your policies come out after us - the mamas. It's another thing when they come after our children. And that's when the claws come out,' she said. In her 35-minute talk, she focused on three topics - her children, her husband and God. She vowed to crisscross the country to help her husband win the Republican presidential nomination and the White House. 'As long as I have breath in my body I will fight for Ron DeSantis - not just because he's my husband; that is part of it - but it's because I believe in him,' she said. 'If you want somebody to go up to Washington DC to clean house, to be able to put this country back on the trajectory where we are talking about - our rights coming up from our creator and our government being put in place to protect our rights that are ours, he is the man to do it and if I have to crisscross this country, I'll do it,' she vowed. A four-year-old boy has died after falling out of a fourth-floor apartment window in Brooklyn. The tragic incident occurred just before 3pm Monday in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn at 3301 Farragut Road. The child was immediately rushed to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County but the youngster's injuries were so severe that he passed away. How the boy came to fall out the window is not exactly known, but a preliminary investigation found the child may have slipped past a security gate on a window. Police sources have stated the fall appears to be an accident with no suspicion of criminal activity. A four-year-old boy was killed after he fell from a fourth-floor apartment window Preliminary investigations suggest that the child may have slipped past a security gate on a window - but there is no suspicion of criminal activity The incident occurred in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn shortly before 3pm on Monday Witnesses described a chaotic scene following the fall, with several people attempting to revive the child while maintenance workers also tried to understand how the child fell. The police quickly picked up the lifeless boy and rushed him to an ambulance. 'You see like 10 different people trying to revive him,' said Nashawna Harley to the New York Post. 'Cops picked him up and ran him over to the ambulance. 'Where are the parents? Who was watching him? How is this possible? Did the building have bars?' she asked. Police sources have stated the fall appears to be an accident with no suspicion of criminal activity Witnesses described a chaotic scene following the fall, with several people attempting to revive the child while maintenance workers sought to understand how the child fell Police were quickly on the scene and rushed the child to an ambulance to take him to hospital New York City Council member Farah Louis said she was trying to help the community make sense of the tragic loss. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death 'Somebody has to pay for this because this doesn't make sense.' 'It was horrible,' said Barbara, a witness, to PIX11. 'They were hysterical, all upset, howling, saying the kid's name.' 'When I saw the baby lifeless and the police running with her I was like this is serious,' another witness added. New York City Council member Farah Louis said she was trying to help the community make sense of the tragic loss. 'We're definitely reaching out to the family, reaching out to the hospital,' Louis said. 'We're also going to speak to the landlord and to the super to have a conversation about all safety measures put in place so that this doesn't happen again.' The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. Anthony Albanese has been accused of spending too much time 'shaking the hands of foreign leaders' while thousands of households struggle - as a new survey reveals support for the Prime Minister is dwindling amid the cost of living crisis. New polling obtained by The Australian revealed that just 13 per cent of voters believe Mr Albanese is doing enough to combat the rising cost of living. Of over 3,000 Australians polled by CT group, 36 per cent believed the Labor government has acted 'very poorly' in relieving households of financial stress. Just 30 per cent said the government has done 'somewhat poorly' on the matter while just 13 per cent said the government is managing 'somewhat well'. Only a quarter of those polled believe the economy is being adequately handled. Meanwhile the Prime Minister's net approval rating has declined by nine points since March, now standing at plus six per cent. Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones accused Mr Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers of going missing while thousands of households struggle to make ends meet. 'I have said for months where is Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers in relation to Australia's cost of living crisis?' Jones wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. Anthony Albenese suffered a 'Joe Biden' moment when in Germany inspecting troops with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (above) 'They are both nowhere to be seen. 'The Prime Minister is too busy shaking the hands of foreign leaders; and the Treasurer never stops whinging about the 'trillion dollars in Liberal Party debt'. 'Meanwhile, both young and elderly Australians, households and small businesses are struggling.' Anthony Albanese met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday to announce Australia will send a surveillance aircraft to Germany to monitor military and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine. The PM also announced Australia will join the 'Climate Club' - an international group that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. New polling, obtained by The Australian, revealed that just 13 per cent of voters believe Anthony Albanese (pictured in Berlin) is doing enough to combat the rising cost of living The former radio host said the most 'depressing' part was that the Labor government would continue to spend 'enormously' in spite of the rising cost of living. Jones accused Mr Albanese of doggedly following the 'ridiculous' energy policies laid out by Chris Bowen, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. In 2022, the Australian government committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent by the end of the decade. Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones (pictured) accused Mr Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers of going missing as thousands of households struggle to make ends meet That was almost double the previous target set as Australia continues to work towards net zero emissions by 2050. Mr Albanese said Australia was 'ambitious' when it came to targeting climate change by collaborating with other countries in a global response. The 'climate club' was formed last year as a way to encourage countries to voluntarily set strong targets to curb climate change. Mr Albanese met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (the pair are pictured on July 10) Countries in the club include Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Indonesia, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore and Uruguay. Anthony Albanese also had an embarrassing marching mishap during his official visit to Germany, forgetting to stop during a military inspection and awkwardly wandering off. It is an initiative that has been opposed by emerging economies such as China - the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. In March, a law passed through parliament requiring the country's biggest polluters to reduce their emissions or pay for carbon credits. The law regulate the emissions of Australia's 215 biggest polluters. 'I am delighted that Australia has announced it will join the Climate Club,' Mr Scholz told a media conference in Berlin. 'We also want to expand our existing energy partnership and develop it into a climate partnership in order to fight climate change even more effectively.' The prime minister will travel to Lithuania later today for the NATO summit on the back of announcing Australia will join the Climate Club. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said tackling climate change would help Australia improve its trade and business ties with Europe. 'Germany looks to us as a source for clean energy, clean hydrogen and the like,' he told Sky News on Tuesday. 'The opportunity for Australian industry in terms of supporting the energy needs of Germany ... is massive.' Lord Patten of Barnes's son-in-law acted as a getaway driver in a shooting at an Indian restaurant as families with children dined inside, a court has been told. Former florist Elton Charles, 51 - who is married to Laura, 48, the daughter of Hong Kong's last governor - is accused of being part of a plot hatched by his half-brother. The group is said to have aimed to 'promote fear of violence towards those connected with' the PBK restaurant in Greenford, west London, Kingston crown court heard. Charles, who is from Kensal Rise, west London, along with Nicholas Grant, 46, and Lee Morgan, 42, from Leybourne, Kent, who is accused of supplying the weapon, have each denied a charge of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Meanwhile, Charles's half-brother, 48-year-old Nathaniel St Aimie, who is from Tooting, southwest London, pleaded guilty to the same charge. Laura Patten, daughter of Lord Patten, with her husband Elton Charles before they got married Lord Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong and Chancellor of the University of Oxford (pictured in 2019) Metropolitan Police were 'alerted to reports of a gunshot in Ealing' not long after 10.30pm on September 6, 2022. CCTV from the evening showed a hooded gunman getting out of a white Volkswagen van before walking 50 yards towards the business and opening fire, the court heard. After shooting a single cartridge, the man jogged back appearing to hold what looked like a sawn-off shotgun, it was said. Wadding from a shotgun cartridge was recovered from among broken glass, The Times reports the court was told. Tom Nicholson, for the prosecution, said: 'The restaurant was open for business and was serving customers when a shot from a shotgun was fired through the windows, opposite which people were seated, including families with children. 'It was, we suggest, simply good fortune that no one was hurt as the window seems to have taken most of the blast. 'Damage was caused to the window and the surrounding area and broken glass was sprayed into the dining area.' The prosecution claimed that Charles helped his younger brother to carry out the attack, and suggested that he was the driver of the van. The trial, which is expected to last five weeks, continues. The trial at Kingston crown court is expected to last five weeks Charles and Laura married in May 2002 and share a daughter. In March 2006, The Mail reported that Laura, a health journalist, separated from Elton just seven months after their wedding. It was understood that Lady Patten moved back into her family home in Barnes, but later returned to her husband at their Kilburn flat. A source revealed at the time: 'They are both thrilled to be parents, and despite the wobble their marriage is back on track.' 'They are doing up their flat at the moment and have spent lots of time at IKEA choosing the perfect kitchen.' Laura's father Chris Patten was first elected as an MP for Bath in 1979. He lost his seat in 1992. He returned to the UK in 1997 after his role as the final governor of Hong Kong following the transfer of sovereignty to China. Between 1999 and 2009, Patten was Newcastle University's Chancellor and was elected for the same position at the University of Oxford in 2003. A tenant has been left shocked after getting the keys to her new property only to find the house was left in a filthy state. The South Australian woman said she found rubbish piled up around her property after arriving at her new place. She said broken furniture had been left inside the house, parts of the home were left covered in dirt, and the bathroom was covered in questionable grime. A tenant has been left shocked after getting the keys to her new property only to find it in a filthy state The woman says she hasn't heard back from the agent after reporting the maintenance issues She posted photos of the horrific find to a Facebook group on Sunday, with the images showing brown stains on the toilet and on window sills. Other images posted of the house appear to show electrical outlets that are faulty. The woman said the real estate agent assured her the home would be cleaned up and repaired before she arrived. 'I was told yes, all the repairs were scheduled and would be finished before I would be moving in and that professional cleaning would be happening,' she said. The woman says she hasn't heard back from the agent after reporting all the maintenance issues. She said she was in the process of putting through an application to the South Australia Civil and Administrative Tribunal to request a timeline for things like faulty smoke alarms and also security screens to be fixed. 'I desperately want out of this property and [I] am frantically trying to find an alternative, but obviously tribunal will take some time and I can't afford multiple accommodation simultaneously, so I am not sure what to do,' she said. The tenant said she had also been denied contents insurance on the property but did not offer up an explanation for this. She revealed she had taken the matter up with the real estate agency and received a response that appeared inadequate. 'But the response I had was that the owner is having a tough time financially so not all maintenance would be attended to,' she said. 'I'm sorry but when it comes to my family health and safety and a property that I'm already paying too much for, I really don't care.' Photos posted to a Facebook group show images of brown stains and grime on window sills Other images posted of the house purport to show electrical outlets that are faulty She said it was a 'health hazard' and 'completely unfair' that was suddenly held responsible for cleaning up the pigsty. 'The issue is though, there's no accountability because everyone is so scared to speak up because of the housing crisis and lack of alternatives,' she said. Social media users were left stunned at the woman's post and the living conditions of the property, with many deeming the place 'dreadful'. 'I wouldn't be paying any rent,' one wrote. 'I can't believe they felt it was acceptable to put someone in here,' another commented. According to the South Australian Residential Tenancies Act (1995), landlords must ensure properties are in a reasonable state of cleanliness before the tenant moves in. The tenant now has nowhere to go but still needs to pay the rent on the property. A Sydney motorist has been left frustrated after they received a substantial fine for unknowingly violating a lesser-known parking rule right in front of their own home. The resident of Seaforth, an expensive suburb nestled in Sydney's northern beaches, parked their car on the nature strip this past Saturday. But upon returning to their vehicle later that night, they were greeted with a disheartening sight a hefty parking fine notice amounting to $283. A photo of the notice from Northern Beaches Council states the offence was stopping on a path/strip in a built-up area. The resident turned to social media seeking advice from a community Facebook group and whether they should contest the fine. The Seaforth resident wanted to dispute the council fine (pictured) for parking on the nature strip outside their home Poll Was this fine for parking on the nature strip outside their home unfair? Yes, if it's their own home No, as council owns the nature strip Was this fine for parking on the nature strip outside their home unfair? Yes, if it's their own home 140 votes No, as council owns the nature strip 194 votes Now share your opinion 'Does anyone know if I can dispute this?' they posted. 'I park on the grass in front of my property, which is our land.' They quickly discovered from members in the group that they had no case and had broken the law. The resident was unaware that the nature strip between a residential property boundary and adjacent road is owned by the local council. 'Ensure your car is within the front boundary of the property or parked safely in the street,' Northern Beaches Council's parking guide states. The resident soon discovered that the council ranger was within their rights to issue a $283 parking fine (stock image of a parking ranger) The same rules applies when parking across a driveway obscuring pedestrian safety and access. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the council for further comment. Driving and parking a vehicle on footpaths and nature strips is illegal in NSW. Similar rules apply South Australia, Queensland and Victoria. In Western Australia, drivers can park on the nature strip in several council areas if they have permission from the adjoining landowner/occupier. Detectives from the Sex Assault Squad have charged a 48-year-old Western Australia police officer with 17 offences as a result of an investigation into allegations of child sex offences. The senior constable was stood down at the time of police receiving the complaint while the matters were investigated. Police will allege that between 2009 and 2012 the man sexually abused a girl who was 13-years-old at the time of the first alleged offence. Detectives from the Sex Assault Squad have charged a 48-year-old Western Australia police officer with 17 offences as a result of an investigation into allegations of child sex offences The 48-year-old man is a senior constable with the WA police force and currently lives in the state's regions. The officer has been charged with 17 offences, including seven counts of Indecently Deals with a Child of or over 13 and under 16 years, six counts of Sexually Penetrated a Child of or over 13 and under 16 years, three counts of Sexually Penetrated a Child over 16 under their Authority and one count of Persistent Sexual Conduct. The man is scheduled to appear before the Perth Magistrate court on Tuesday. The crash comes just days after six died in a crash in nearby Riverside County The unidentified pilot survived with only minor injuries, officials said A pilot miraculously survived a plane crash where his Cessna slammed nose-first into the roof of an airplane hangar at the Long Beach Airport on Monday. The incident happened around 2.20pm in the 2900 block of East Spring Street when dispatcher received a call about a plane crash at the airport. First responders located the Cessna 172 nose down in the top of the building along with the pilot, who was the lone occupant of the vessel. A representative for the Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings when he unexpectedly went down. A pilot miraculously survived a plane crash where his Cessna slammed into the roof of an airplane hangar at the Long Beach Airport on Monday The incident happened around 2.20pm in the 2900 block of East Spring Street when dispatcher received a call about a plane crash at the airport Video of the extent of the damage, including the plane's nose inside the roof while one wing appears to be severely torn up. In one clip, firefighters could be seen climbing a ladder to the top of the hangar to investigate and assist in the recovery of the pilot. According to a representative for the Long Beach Fire Department, the pilot had to be extricated from the Cessna after the crash. The unidentified man was taken to the hospital for his minor injuries. Kate Kuykendall, a spokesperson for the Long Beach Airport, told KTLA the crash did not impact any commercial flights in or out of the airport. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. Officials said a preliminary update will be given in the coming days. Firefighters told ABC 7 that roughly 45 gallons of fuel leaked out after the plane smashed a hole into the hangar. The cause of the crash remains unknown. Photos of the extent of the damage, including the plane's nose inside of the roof while one wing appears to be severely torn up According to a representative for the Long Beach Fire Department, the pilot had to be extricated from the Cessna after the crash The crash comes just days after a Cessna C550 business jet crashed in nearby Riverside County, killing six people. The plane was just 500 feet from a runway and the pilot had warned air traffic control he could not see the landing strip in dense fog. The jet was attempting to land at around 4.15am on Saturday at the French Valley Airport between Los Angeles and San Diego. After aborting an initial landing attempt, the jet crashed when it missed the runway by around 500 feet and went up in flames. Everyone on board the plane, which was arriving from Las Vegas, died in the crash, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. The pilot was 25-year-old Riese Lenders and on board were two married couples and 31-year-old Lindsey Gleiche of Huntington Beach. The couples were Manuel Vargas-Regalado, 32, and his wife Abigail Tellez-Vargas, 33, as well as Ibrahem Razick, 46, and his wife Alma, 51. A Cessna C550 business jet crashed in nearby Riverside County, killing six people. Pictured: The wreckage of a Cessna crash on July 8 The sooty remains of the Cessna Citation jet which had crashed near to French Valley Airport between San Diego and Los Angeles Shockingly, the crash was not even the first fatal incident involving a Cessna plane at the Spring Valley Airport that week. On July 3, a single-engine Cessna 172 crashed in the parking lot soon after taking off, killing one of the four people on board. A fire started by the crash ignited an acre of vegetation before crews put it out. The FAA continues to investigate that plane crash ABC has been compared to the Nazis Some pro-trans activists have branded the national broadcaster 'Nazis' after its flagship current affairs show ran a story about a teenager who took his own life after being denied gender-affirming care. Taking to Twitter, transgender advocates lashed out at the ABC and its Four Corners program for telling the tragic story of Noah O'Brien, who was born as a girl called Lily, and died in January this year. One viewer took objection to the program, which highlighted the complexities of transgender healthcare for minors, for including both sides of the issue and vowing 'not to stand in judgement of either side of this debate'. 'Well, maybe you f**king should stand in judgement of the side that's affiliated with Nazis,' they tweeted. Another Twitter user wrote: 'Let's be crystal clear: There is no debate about trans people's right to survive. We will not debate our existence with neo-Nazis and their allies.' Noah O'Brien, 14, (pictured) died in January this year. He had written his parents a letter six months before telling them he identified as a boy but was worried about returning to school The ABC has been bombarded with criticism over its Four Corners story, which highlighted both sides of the transgender debate In recent years, so-called 'gender-critical feminists' - who typically oppose medical interventions for children who say they are trans - have found themselves on the same side of the debate as some far-right anti-LGBT activists, including neo-Nazis. But despite this unwanted association with extremists, these women's rights activists maintain their criticisms of trans healthcare are legitimate, and deny they are 'Nazis' simply for saying medical intervention shouldn't happen before the age of 18. After Four Corners went to air on Monday, dozens of angry viewers flocked to Twitter to declare all critics of transgender healthcare 'Nazis', adding that any 'debate' about trans people is a disgrace. They also accused the ABC of false equivalency by giving airtime to pro- and anti-trans voices, claiming there is medical consensus that gender-affirming care is the best course of action for youths experiencing gender dysphoria. 'According to the science, it's not a debate. Trans people are correct, it's that simple,' one person tweeted. 'To call it a debate is to legitimise lunacy as equal to scientific fact. Something every journalist should already know.' The ABC program had revealed the 14-year-old had written his parents a letter six months before telling them he identified as a boy. Noah's mum Lauren told Four Corners of the devastating loss of her son after he was worried about returning to school in his new gender identity following the holidays. 'My husband gave him CPR and the ambulance, and the police arrived about four minutes after we called them and they took him to Westmead Hospital, where he stayed alive until six in the morning,' she said. 'That was from about 11 o'clock. So, we got seven hours to actually say goodbye.' Noah had been admitted to Westmead children's hospital in Sydney's west where he was discharged after a day, with a recommendation to seek support for gender issues. Noah's mother, Lauren (pictured), said her son was not given access to any gender-affirming care An article explaining why the ABC ran the Four Corners story was further slammed Ms O'Brien went to his GP to get a referral but did not realise that he would be pushed down the waiting list because he had started puberty. Four Corners reported that Noah 'was effectively denied any specialist gender support by the hospital'. The ABC's efforts to thwart controversy with an article explaining how and why it aired the story on Noah's plight also backfired. 'We interviewed the doctors running Australia's two biggest gender clinics in Melbourne and Brisbane to explain and defend the gender-affirming model of care,' the ABC stated. 'We interviewed experts independent of the gender clinics, including the eminent psychiatrist Professor Ian Hickie. We also spoke to two of the most high-profile and qualified critics of the existing model and defenders of the research, Dr Dianna Kenny and Dr Jillian Spencer.' Noah O'Brien tragically died in January The ABC has come under fire for running a Four Corners story on a 14-year old who took his life 'Considering they claim they checked for accuracy the article is full of inaccuracies,' an angry person tweeted in response to the article. 'Their (sic) is no scaling back of gender care in the UK quite the opposite... Just utter rubbish from start to finish.' The ABC refused to back down from its report, stating Four Corners staffers had a 'rigorous process of checking and refining the final product'. 'We were determined not to stand in judgement of either side of this debate. We wanted the story to reflect the weight of evidence, but we were acutely aware that the science is new and evolving in this area. We believe we got the balance right,' it stated. The Four Corners controversy comes after another ABC program, Media Watch, faced similar backlash for acknowledging both sides of the public debate surrounding gender-affirming care. For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on: 13 11 14 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) A holidaying couple were left stunned after claiming they crossed the path of a black panther while driving their motorhome around Australia. Victorian couple Don and Nicole Street made the startling discovery while travelling to Charters Towers, in north Queensland, at 2pm on Sunday. They claimed they saw the animal crossing Gregory Development Road near the rural town of Basalt. A resident in in the Douglas Shire claimed he spotted a panther in the South Mossman area late last year 'It was only a few meters away. There was no mistaking it' Mrs Street said. 'It wasn't a feral cat. It was a panther. It's coat was jet black, it was glistening in the sun' she said. The couple were forced to slow down their vehicle and wait for the predator to finish crossing the road before disappearing into the thick grass. Neither managed to snap a photo as they were left stunned and 'freaked out' by the sighting. The sighting of the wild animal comes after a resident in the Douglas Shire, a nearby locality, claimed he also spotted a panther in the South Mossman area late last year. Another resident Rosie Wang claimed she had seen a creature resembling a large cat while she was driving back home to Port Douglas from Cairns at night in 2018. Mrs Street said after hearing rumours about big cats roaming around bushland, she never believed she would ever see a panther wandering the countryside. 'We were in the caravan so I wasn't too scared' she said. 'But I wouldn't want to run into him on a hike though.' Sightings of the big cat have not only been made in Queensland with several residents across the country also claiming to have seen one. Several residents have claimed to have spotted a black panther in Australia - saying the animal closely resembles a black leopard (pictured, stock image) Rosie Wang claimed she had seen a creature resembling a large cat while she was driving back home to Port Douglas from Cairns in 2018. Michael Corr, 36, claimed to have spotted the elusive predator roaming Victoria's Mornington Peninsula in 2021. Mr Corr was walking through the Tootgarook wetlands, south-east of Melbourne, with his 11-year-old son when he spotted the feline. He managed to pull out his phone just in time to take a photo before the animal wandered into the snake infested reeds. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the father-of-two said the animal looked like it was on its way to find a meal. 'I just thought that's the biggest cat I've ever seen and it was just crossing the tracks as if it was stalking something,' he said. 'My son ran in the other direction. We've been down there before and heard things rustling in the reeds but had never seen something like this.' One of Australia's biggest and most controversial property developers, Toplace, has collapsed into administration. The company's founder, Jean Nassif, is believed to have fled overseas and is wanted by NSW Police over fraud-related charges. Toplace Group has been described as one of Australia's largest privately owned development and construction companies. Its downfall is expected to impact thousands of apartment buyers and contractors across Sydney with several projects currently under construction. Toplace founder Jean Nassif (pictured with wife), is believed to have fled overseas and is wanted by NSW Police over fraud-related charges The company collapse comes after Nassif was last week banned from operating. Antony Resnick and Suelen McCallum of DVT Group were appointed as voluntary administrators for the company's building arm on July 7. What is Toplace? Toplace is one of Australia's largest privately owned building, construction and property development companies The company has built more than 30,000 residential and commercial buildings around Sydney, including homes, shopping centres and suites The company was founded in 1992 Advertisement Mr Resnick said it was too early to guess how much money was owed to creditors, or how many apartment owners have been affected. 'There are a number [of projects] at varying stages, and lots of land holdings,' he told the Australian Financial Review. 'Whether these are completed by administrators or sold off has yet to be decided.' Creditors are expected to meet for the first time next week. The company said it had suffered 'operational difficulties' like other builders in the post-lockdown period, due to staff shortages and the soaring price of materials. 'Senior management is working closely with the VAs (voluntary administrators) to achieve the best possible outcome for its stakeholders, especially the creditors and our consumers,' Toplace said in a statement. 'We anticipate that through this process in time that all creditors' debts will be met in full. 'Contrary to media commentary no bank has ever lost any money financing Toplace Group projects. Toplace Group has an extensive property portfolio which will be realised throughout this process to satisfy the obligations to creditors. The company collapse comes after Mr Nassif was last week banned from operating 'Toplace is confident that with control being under the expertise of the VAs it will be in the best shape to navigate through these challenging times.' NSW Police last month issued an arrest warrant for Mr Nassif over allegations a $150million loan from Westpac was obtained using fraudulent pre-sale documents for an apartment complex in Castle Hill. The 55-year-old left the country on December 22. He had earlier applied to review a NSW Fair Trading decision to suspend his licence for 10 years and permanently ban Toplace from engaging in construction work. Fair Trading found both Nassif and his firm had engaged in improper conduct. The operational ban was temporarily lifted to enable the company to finish remediation works on several apartment blocks, but last week it was reinstated. Nassif left the country on December 22 and is currently wanted by police The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Westpac's loan was already at risk with the warrant issued for Nassif's arrest and no evidence that the developer planned to return to Australia. Toplace also had a nominated supervisor in place to conduct rectification works. Lawyers for Nassif and Toplace still oppose the decision to strip them of their licences and a final hearing at the tribunal is scheduled for October. Toplace has also been ordered to fix serious defects in the Vicinity apartment complex in Canterbury, in Sydney's south-west. Mr Nassif is the father of Sydney lawyer Ashlyn Nassif, who has been charged with fraud over the alleged $150million development loan scheme. Earlier this year, Jean Nassif was called to appear before a NSW parliamentary inquiry into allegations of impropriety at Hills Shire Council, but he declined to give evidence via a video link from Lebanon for legal reasons. The Parramatta developer made headlines in 2019 when he gave his wife a canary yellow Lamborghini worth almost half a million dollars The Paramatta developer made headlines in 2019 when he gave his wife a canary yellow Lamborghini worth almost half a million dollars. The gift exchange was posted in a video on Instagram that went viral and was widely described as 'cringe'. Mr Nassif famously said, 'Congratulations, Mrs Nassif. You like?' Toplace has built more than 30,000 residential and commercial developments across Sydney. Karl Stefanovic has weighed in on a school's decision to have the pride flag on its puffer jackets. Cheltenham Secondary College in Melbourne's south east introduced a puffer jacket featuring the pride flag on one sleeve and the Australian Aboriginal flag on the other. The $89.95 winter jacket is not compulsory to wear or purchase, and is a secondary option for students to the standard 'softshell' jacket. Some parents have slammed the school for using the jackets to make a 'political statement'. Today show host Karl Stefanovic on Tuesday said he understands why some parents are upset as the jacket creates 'unnecessary complications' - especially if kids find themselves 'discriminated against because they're not wearing it'. Cheltenham Secondary College in Melbourne has launched a jacket (above) with pride and Aboriginal flags on its sleeves The jacket design was 'initiated by the student community' and is not compulsory to wear or purchase Stefanovic spoke with Founder and CEO of Real Schools Adam Voigt about community reaction to the jacket. Mr Voigt said the issue was 'uncomfortable' to talk about. 'This is a school genuinely trying to do the right thing, trying to do something good,' Mr Voigt said. 'I don't think it's just the principal of the school pushing an agenda, this is something that seems to have been done quite collaboratively. I think, however, we need to walk really carefully. 'Schools, and this is pretty universal, are often saying what we stand for is building critical thinkers, so young people can make decisions for themselves about what they value and think. 'Any time we catch ourselves starting to step into the realm of telling kids what to think, rather than how to think, we need to take that step really cautiously.' Mr Voigt said the pride flag could cause division between children whose families hold different beliefs. 'On the surface it feels like they're trying to do something good. You have to think about what happens after,' he said. 'What happens when we have some kids who conscientiously object and come to school with one of the flags covered up? Are we going to be okay with Facebook groups being launched that try to ban social justice fundamentalism in schools?' 'It's hard to come up with an opposing voice or view if you have a badge on your uniform,' Mr Voigt said. He added that Australia also needs to be careful that it does not become like America where students are forced to make pledges to social causes. 'I think we need to be careful that we are not going down a slope, where countries like America have gone down,' he said. 'Where they're asking students and teachers to make pledges to several social causes to stop them thinking them through and debating it like grown-ups.' Today show host Karl Stefanovic (left, with Sarah Abo) said he sympathises with parents who are outraged by the design as it creates 'unnecessary complications' for some students Stefanovic agreed with Mr Voigt, saying the jacket poses 'unnecessary complications' for students. 'Maybe the majority of kids want to support [the flags] and they have enough background on it, but the kids who don't... they're in some way discriminated against because they're not wearing it. It's complicated,' Stefanovic said. The jacket was made available in May and also features the school's emblem with the words 'respect', 'responsibility', 'personal best' and 'community'. The Victorian Education Department stated the student community suggested the jacket's design and the decision to make the item available was made by the school's council, which is made up of parents and students. Founder and CEO of Real Schools Adam Voigt (pictured) said he believes the school was genuinely trying to do the right thing, but fears the pride flag could cause division between children whose families hold different beliefs The flags have sparked outrage from parents who have attempted to remove them, which the school reportedly said was in breach of its uniform policy. Penny, whose son attends Cheltenham Secondary College, spoke with 3AW host Neil Mitchell on Monday and revealed the school would not allow students to remove or black out the flags with a marker. 'I think the fact that they have those flags on a school uniform is disgusting, it's not right,' she said. 'It's a school, it's not a political statement why do specific people get things on the uniform?' Another caller, named John, said he had heard from a source that parents trying to remove the flags were told they were defacing the garment. 'They should stick to educating our kids,' he said. Another told Mitchell that non-Christian students who removed the flags from the jacket were 'left alone'. Mitchell called the move 'an attack of woke'. Several angry parents from the school (above) said the jacket is too 'woke', with one mother saying: 'It's a school, it's not a political statement' 'I'm all in favour of celebrating diversity and recognising the Indigenous heritage it's not about that, but it's a step too far to involve the kids in that, and if they are being punished for not wearing it, that's just absurd.' He also pointed out the Australian flag was missing, which he thought was odd. Cheltenham SC took to Facebook to unveil its new optional addition to its uniform on May 19. 'The puffer jacket is offered as an additional/alternate item and is not a replacement for the softshell jacket, which is still part of the college uniform,' it said in a post. Elusive TV personality Lisa Wilkinson will return to the spotlight to deliver yet another keynote speech about her 'extraordinary success' at a regional pub - just days before Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case against her kicks off. Wilkinson, 63, has been absent from the limelight since she stepped down as host of The Project last year, only breaking cover in March to regale her life's achievements at a $140-per-person pub lunch in outer Brisbane. This time, Wilkinson is off to the Albury Commercial Club - a venue better known for its 'Wild Wednesday Raffles', gambling machines and weekly cash draws - to wow a crowd of female business owners in regional NSW. The gala has been organised by Business Women Albury-Wodonga and will take place on November 11. Individual ticket prices will be released in August; however, companies are encouraged to sponsor a table-of-ten for $220. According to an advertisement for the event, Wilkinson will speak about how she has 'blazed an unprecedented trail through the Australian media landscape'. Lisa Wilkinson (pictured last Thursday) will deliver a speech about her 'extraordinary success' at a regional pub - just days before Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case against her kicks off 'For more than three decades, Lisa Wilkinson has blazed an unprecedented trail through the Australian media landscape, initially in publishing, then on radio and now in television and online,' it reads. 'In every forum she has achieved extraordinary success and earned widespread respect.' Business Women Albury-Wodonga committee chair Desiree Georgiou told the Border Mail Wilkinson was partly selected for the task because she has 'worked in all different types of industries' and has a 'huge media following'. Little more than a week later, Wilkinson will head to the Federal Court in Sydney for Mr Lehrmann's month-long defamation hearing against her and Network Ten - over an interview she did with Brittany Higgins on The Project in February 2021. During that interview, Ms Higgins publicly alleged for the first time that Mr Lehrmann had raped her in Parliament House in 2019. He strongly denies the allegations. Wilkinson is off to the Albury Commercial Club - a venue better known for its 'Wild Wednesday Raffles' and weekly cash draws - to wow a crowd of female business owners in regional NSW Albury Commercial Club is a gambler's paradise with row upon row of pokie machines According to an advertisement for the event (pictured), Wilkinson will speak about how she has 'blazed an unprecedented trail through the Australian media landscape' Mr Lehrmann was not named in the broadcast, but claimed he was identifiable to people in political circles. He is also suing the ABC over another broadcast during which Ms Higgins made the same allegations. While Mr Lehrmann's defamation case was filed in February, Wilkinson has been on an extended television hiatus since June last year - when she was slammed over her Logies acceptance speech for her interview with Ms Higgins. She appeared to side with Ms Higgins during that speech, even though Mr Lehrmann had been charged and pleaded not guilty. It resulted in the criminal trial being postponed from June to October over fears it could bias a jury. The trial eventually collapsed due to juror misconduct. More recently, she has attracted criticism over a recorded conversation between herself and her network producer Angus Llewellyn, Ms Higgins and her fiance David Sharaz in a Sydney hotel room on January 27, 2021. The purpose of the five-hour meeting was to decide how best to approach Ms Higgins' forthcoming interview on The Project, but the conversation invariably strayed into other areas. Little more than a week after her Albury engagement, Wilkinson will head to the Federal Court in Sydney for Mr Lehrmann's month-long defamation hearing against her and Network Ten - over an interview she did with Brittany Higgins on The Project in February 2021. (Pictured: Mr Lehrmann, left, and lawyer Steven Whybrow, right, outside the ACT Supreme Court last year) Her author husband Peter FitzSimons (right) has also been subpoenaed for evidence relating to Ms Higgins $325,000 book deal with Penguin Random House - which he brokered In the recording, Wilkinson could be heard bad-mouthing former defence minister Linda Reynolds - calling her a 'nobody', and claiming she was only promoted to the role of minister because there was a 'shallow talent pool'. She also mispronounced Indigenous Liberal MP Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's name, and appeared to suggest that Ms Higgins secretly record her resignation with her former boss, Senator Michaelia Cash. Wilkinson has hired top defamation barrister Sue Chrysanthou to fight her case in court. Her author husband Peter FitzSimons has also been subpoenaed for evidence relating to Ms Higgins $325,000 book deal with Penguin Random House - which he brokered. A newly-engaged woman was killed when a monster flash flood wave ripped her house in New York out of the ground - as Vermont is set to be battered with up to six inches of rainfall by Tuesday morning. Pamela Nugent, 35, drowned while trying to flee her home in Highland Falls, New York, with her dog Monday during the catastrophic flooding. Rescue teams recovered her body from the bottom of a ravine after she was swept away by the sheer force of the water. It comes as the devastating downpours blocked roads and battered homes across the East Coast, with more havoc expected to hit in the early hours of Tuesday morning. President Biden declared a state of emergency in Vermont and ordered Federal aid to bolster local rescue efforts after the U.S Army Corps of Engineers said late Monday they expected two dams to release water overnight, causing 'severe flooding' downstream likely to affect multiple towns. 'Dangerous, widespread flash flooding from excessive rainfall is expected across New England through Tuesday morning. Highest risk for Vermont with expected impacts to transit routes,' the National Weather Service warned. Mike Cannon of Vermont Urban Search and Rescue said crews from North Carolina, Michigan and Connecticut were among those helping to get to towns that have been unreachable since torrents of rain belted the state. The towns of Londonderry and Weston were inaccessible, Cannon said, and rescuers were heading there to do welfare checks. Pamela Nugent, 35, drowned while trying to flee her home in Highland Falls with her dog on Monday during the catastrophic flooding An aerial view of Pamela Nugent's neighborhood, where she was killed in flooding yesterday Vermont State Police have warned that flooding and torrential rain will cause havoc in the state overnight on Monday Nugent - who was recently engaged to her partner before she drowned in the horrific flooding - was remembered by her neighbor Jessica Eshleman. 'I'm still kind of in shock. I lost everything,' Eshleman told ABC7. She added that Nugent, her fiancee and her dad tried to get to higher ground. 'And then they made it across, and I guess she freaked out and panicked, she tried to make it across with the dog, it just happened too suddenly.' Another neighbor who knew Nugent said: 'When anybody dies, it's a shame. The circumstances of how it happened, that makes it even worse.' Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus said: 'She was trying to get through (the flooding) with her dog and she was overwhelmed by tidal wave-type waves.' The lashing rains of the storm soaked New on Sunday, causing flash flooding near West Point, where the US Military Academy is based, and surrounding towns. New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned as the storm had passed, the damage was catastrophic. 'This was a frightening, life-threatening experience,' she said, adding that the storm sent 'cars swirling in our streets' and dumped a 'historic' amount of rain. 'Nine inches of rain in this community,' Hochul said during a briefing on a muddy street in Highland Falls. 'They're calling this a ''1,000 year event''.' She said about Nugent: 'Her house was taking too much water, she was with her dog and her fiance literally saw her swept away.' Private forecaster AccuWeather has since estimated damages and economic losses as a result of the floods currently stand at $3bn to $5bn. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said about Nugent: 'Her house was taking too much water, she was with her dog and her fiance literally saw her swept away' Pamela Nugent with her fiance. He watched her get swept away in the ordeal A damaged car lays on part of a collapsed Route 32 in the Hudson Valley near Cornwall, New York on Monday Jessica Eshleman, neighbor and friend of Pam Nugent spoke about her final moments Millions of people across New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine and Pennsylvania remain subject to flash flood warnings as storms continue to soak the Northeast. The epicenter of the flooding was in Hudson Valley, New York, on Monday, but going into Tuesday, Vermont is expected to be hit harder. Vermont State Police said in an alert: 'Dangerous flooding is continuing this afternoon throughout most of Vermont. 'Almost three dozen state roads are closed due to high water, and additional closures are possible as rivers and streams continue to rise. This figure does not include town roads.' Footage from Monday showed Ludlow, Vermont, seemingly underwater as the roads turned to rivers amid the devastating torrent. The Vermont Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management stated swift water rescue teams have been working 'primarily in the towns of Londonderry, Weston, Bridgewater, Andover, Ludlow and Middlesex.' Rivers are expected to crest overnight at flood levels, they warned. Dams in Jamaica and Townshend are expected to 'release large quantities of water over their spillways' overnight. Montpelier Town Manager Bill Fraser estimated Monday night that knee-high waters had reached much of downtown and were expected to rise a couple more feet during the night. Montpelier had largely been spared during Tropical Storm Irene, which struck the region in 2011. 'For us, this is far worse than Irene. We got water but it went up and down. There were some basements flooded but it didn't last long,' Fraser said, comparing this flooding to the Montpelier Ice Jams in 1992. 'We are completely inundated. The water is way, way higher than it ever got during Irene.' During Irene, Vermont got 11 inches (28 centimeters) of rain in 24 hours. Irene killed six in the state, washed homes off their foundations and damaged or destroyed more than 200 bridges and 500 miles (805 kilometers) of highway. 'This is an all-hands-on-deck' event, Vermont governor Phil Scott told a news conference. Cars drift on the main road into West Point after a '1000 year' rain event drowned the riverside town, leaving at least one dead and destroying homes and roads Emergency teams went house to house yesterday in Stony Point, New York, looking for anyone who needed to be rescued. One woman drowned trying to leave her home with her dog in Highland Falls, near West Point Flooding surrounds a parking lot, in Highland Falls, Orange County, New York. The rain has passed the Empire State but the damage is widespread The cities of Montpelier and Barre have issued emergency health orders amid widespread flooding Ludlow, Vermont, is pictured completely swamped by flood waters In a grave prediction, the National Weather Service in Vermont said the storms could be 'potentially catastrophic' and as bad as those brought by Hurricane Irene in 2011. 'Expect significant to potentially catastrophic widespread flash flooding through Monday evening, with possible impacts not seen since Irene,' the Weather Service said in a forecast. Vermont State Police say roads were closed as a result of the flooding, with more expected. 'Serious, life-threatening flooding is occurring today across much of Vermont. 'Emergency crews have conducted rescues in multiple communities. 'Flash flood warnings are in effect from the Massachusetts line to the Canadian border,' an announcement on the force's Twitter account said. At a press conference, Vermont Governor Phil Scott warned: 'We have not seen rainfall like this since Irene and in some cases it will surpass that.' Nineteen people have been rescued by boat in Vermont already. In Burlington, Vermont, the ground has already received 300 percent of its normal rainfall in the last two weeks - making it 'high risk.' Some towns in south Londonderry and Ludlow were inaccessible, as is the town of Vermont. Footage showed Ludlow, Vermont, completely under water as the roads turned to rivers amid the devastating torrent A general view of a flooded area, in Ludlow, Vermont On Sunday in New York, Cornwall, which is on the western shore of the Hudson River, also declared a State of Emergency. Neuhaus said the village of Highland Falls, near West Point, was the scene of 'an absolute war zone.' Predicting that repairs to fix the 'massive' water damage would take months, he added; 'It's a tough situation, lots of people are trying to fight their way in to help us.' State Senator James Skoufis confirmed that 'vital infrastructure and homes were washed away,' during the catastrophic weather event. Rockland County Executive Ed Day said six hikers had to be rescued from the surrounding, flooded location - as well as dozens of drivers - who got caught in the intense downpours. Day said: 'Orange County and Rockland county fire depts rescued 40 people from their cars at the long mountain circle at the top of the palisades parkway.' Donald Trump's lawyers want to delay his trial in the classified doc case for an undetermined amount of time and suggest the case might not be ready until after the 2024 presidential election. The former president's lawyers asked the Florida judge late Monday night to give them more time before his trial on allegations of mishandling the documents, arguing the unprecedented case requires 'a measured consideration and timeline.' An initial trial date was set by Judge Aileen Cannon of August 14. Prosecutors then asked for that date to be pushed to December to give Trump's legal team the time needed to get the required security clearances. On Monday, Trump's team responded to the prosecutors' December request and said it was too soon. 'While the Government appears to favor an expedited (and therefore cursory) approach to this case, it cannot point to any exigency or urgency requiring a rapid adjudication,' the legal team wrote. 'There is no ongoing threat to national security interests nor any concern regarding continued criminal activity. 'By contrast, Defense counsel submits that the Court's paramount concern must be that Defendants receive a fair trial, which requires adequate time to prepare a defense.' Donald Trump, seen on Saturday, has asked for his trial on charges of mishandling classified documents be pushed back, potentially until after the election The 77-year-old faces 37 felony counts related to obstruction of justice and sharing state secrets Trump was charged in June with felonies in connection to the classified document case. It was the first time a former president had been federally charged by prosecutors. Investigators alleged Trump had thousands of pages of classified documents at his Florida Mar-a-Lago home. Photos released by the prosecution show piles of documents in boxes throughout Trump's home. Trump - who is running for the Republican nomination for president in the 2024 election - has called the case political persecution and emphatically said he is innocent. 'Every time the radical left Democrats, Marxist, communists and fascists indict me, I consider it a great badge of courage,' Trump said at a June conference. He was arraigned in a Florida federal court in a historic hearing as Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges. 'Some birthday,' he grumbled at a brief stop in Miami's Versailles Restaurant moments after leaving the federal courthouse on June 14 . 'We got a government that's out of control.' Trump - who is running for the Republican nomination for president in the 2024 election - has called the case political persecution and emphatically said he is innocent. It's not the first proposed delay in the classified doc case. Walt Nauta, Trump's valet and co-defendant in the case, pleaded not guilty to the six counts against him on July 6, because his arraignment was twice delayed. Nauta was charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding and corruptly concealing documents, and making false representations. Nauta had struggled to find legal representation in Florida, which sparked the delays, but Jack Smith - the special counsel who is overseeing the prosecution - on Monday accused Nauta of creating unnecessary delays. 'An indefinite continuance is unnecessary, will inject additional delay in this case, and is contrary to the public interest,' Smith wrote. Smith and his team are yet to respond to Trump's request for a delay. Smith has previously said he hoped for a swift trial, but Trump's team said there was no reason for haste. In their Monday filing, Trump's team said the interests of justice were best served by a delay. 'This extraordinary case presents a serious challenge to both the fact and perception of our American democracy,' the lawyers wrote. 'The Court now presides over a prosecution advanced by the administration of a sitting President against his chief political rival, himself a leading candidate for the Presidency of the United States. 'Therefore, a measured consideration and timeline that allows for a careful and complete review of the procedures that led to this indictment and the unprecedented legal issues presented herein best serves the interests of the Defendants and the public. 'Thus, based on the extraordinary nature of this action, there is most assuredly no reason for any expedited trial, and the ends of justice are best served by a continuance.' Jack Smith, the special counsel for the investigation, is pictured on June 9 explaining the charges Trump's lawyers said they need more time to deal with the volume of material involved in the case, and give a sense of the scale of Smith's team's research. Prosecutors have handed over 833,450 pages of documents, consisting of approximately 122,650 emails and 305,670 documents gathered from over 90 people. They have also given Trump's team 57 terabytes of compressed raw CCTV footage, and said there could be more documents and video coming. Trump's team said they were unable, as is standard procedure, to outsource the review of some of the material, given the required security clearances. 'From a practical matter, the volume of discovery and the CIPA logistics alone make plain that the Government's requested schedule is unrealistic,' they argue. Trump's lawyers emphasized that some of the charges have never been tested before in court, and stressed Trump and his team expect them to be dropped. The lawyers argued the court needs to address 'the potential inability to select an impartial jury during a national Presidential election'. His attorneys contended a speedy trial is not practical. 'The Government's apparent view that these unprecedented issues should be adjudicated on an expedited basis is simply untenable and ignores the magnitude of this case,' the motion states. The lawyers point out that they are all involved in defending Trump in other cases, such as in New York, where he is accused of falsifying business records. Lawyers for the former president did not suggest a new date. A Sydney man is back in the arms of his wife and two children after being illegally detained in Vietnam for four-and-a-half years. Chau Van Kham was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City in January 2019 while meeting a democracy activist on a human rights fact-finding mission to his former homeland. The retired baker, 74, was accused of terrorism and sentenced to 12 years' in jail after a five hour trial by the communist state. But after a long campaign by the Australian government and international organisations, the UN ruled last June that his jailing was unlawful and demanded his immediate release. 'I'm very happy today My husband got home, (he's) happy and healthy,' Mr Chau's wife Trang told the ABC. Chau Van Kham (holding flowers) who is back in Australia after being released from jail in Vietnam, is pictured with his wife, Trang (in red jacket), his lawyer Dan Nguyen (right) and federal government minister Chis Bowen (left) Chau Van Kham (pictured front) was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City in January 2019 while meeting a democracy activist on a human rights fact-finding mission to his former homeland Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles thanked the Vietnamese government for finally allowing him to return to his adopted homeland. 'This has been done on the basis of humanitarian grounds, and in the spirit of friendship which exists between Australia and Vietnam,' Mr Marles said. 'This has been the result of careful advocacy on the part of the Australian government with the Vietnamese government over a number of months now, including (Anthony Albanese's) visit to Vietnam back in June.' Mr Chau is a member of Viet Tan, which advocates for democracy in Vietnam but which the Vietnamese government considers a terrorist group. After his 2019 trial, which lasted less than five hours, he was imprisoned for holding a senior position in the NSW branch of Viet Tan and for 'financing terrorism'. The family's lawyer Dan Nguyen said it was a long road but was relieved to finally get Mr Chau back to Australia. 'Twelve years is almost like a death sentence for somebody his age, but we're so happy that he's home, and we're so happy that he's home a free man,' she said. Ms Nguyen added that the family is 'absolutely emotional'. 'Words cannot describe how happy they are. But I'm also happy that I've been able to help to bring him home and we thank the Australian government tremendously for their effort in bringing him home.' Mr Albanese's state visit to Vietnam last month led to two Australian citizens who faced the death penalty there had been granted clemency. The retired baker (pictured with his wife) was accused of terrorism and sentenced to 12 years' in jail after a five hour trial by the communist state 'I made representations to the (Vietnamese) prime minister yesterday morning,' he said at the time. 'And by yesterday afternoon, the president had signed the clemency orders.' The Prime Minister said the identity of the two Australians was not being revealed as their families asked for privacy, but that they had 'been informed and they are very relieved'. Mr Albanese said Mr Chau's case was being handled separately, but that representations had been made on his behalf. 'There, we are after an international prisoner transfer and we're hopeful in that case,' he said. Woolworths has banned the machine that resulted in the death of warehouse worker Basel 'Baz' Brikha. The supermarket giant has made a nationwide change to its distribution centres after the death of the man described affectionately as 'a gentle giant' in Minchinbury, western Sydney on June 27. Mr Brikha was working in the western Sydney warehouse when he was struck by dozens of falling pallets and suffered critical head injuries. He was rushed to Westmead Hospital, but later died. Following his death union workers called for a suspension in the use of pallet distributors while their safety is investigated. A spokesperson for Primary Connect - Woolworths' supply-chain arm - told Daily Mail Australia the pallet dispensers are no longer in use by the company across Australia. Woolworths have put the machinery that resulted in the death of a beloved worker, pallet distributors (pictured), out of use in distribution centres across the country Basel Brikha (pictured) was working in the western Sydney warehouse when he was struck by dozens of falling pallets and suffered critical head injuries. He was rushed to Westmead Hospital, but later died 'We're continuing to cooperate with Safe Work NSW on their investigation,' a Primary Connect spokesperson said. 'The pallet dispenser in question is not in use. In other DCs, pallet dispensers of the same model are currently not in use.' Pallet dispensers are machines designed to automatically load, store, and dispense pallets, which - depending on size - can handle between 20 to 50 pallets at a time. A spokesperson for Primary Connect previously told Daily Mail Australia the company was 'deeply saddened' by Mr Brikha's death. 'Our thoughts and condolences are with our team members friends and family at this difficult time and we are currently supporting the family and our two team members who were also injured in the incident,' the spokesperson said. 'We are cooperating with NSW Police and SafeWork NSW to investigate the incident and we will also be undertaking our own investigation.' The incident is still under investigation by SafeWork NSW. Pallet dispensers are machines designed to automatically load, store, and dispense pallets, which - depending on size - can handle between 20 to 50 pallets at a time Nine days after his passing, friends and family paid tribute to the 37-year-old who was so loved that he was the best man at several friends' weddings and was later asked to be the godfather to three kids. 'Basel's family know him as ''our gentle giant'' and his friends know him as the one they could call upon, and he would always say "yes",' the priest said at Mr Brikha's funeral. 'He always had the energy to help anyone in need - family, friends, or total strangers.' Born in Iraq in the 1980s, Mr Brikha was the youngest of nine children, with four older brothers and four older sisters. When he was a child, the family moved to Jordan for a year before relocating to New Zealand, where Mr Brikha spent much of his youth. He moved to Sydney in 2015, where he joined his siblings, before starting work at the Woolworths warehouse three years ago. The 37-year-old was so loved that he was the best man at several friends' weddings and was later asked to be the godfather to three kids The priest said Mr Brikha's 'untimely departure' had devastated his enormous social network. 'Baz was a remarkable individual who touched the lives of many around him,' the priest said. 'His vibrant spirit, compassion and physical life brought joy to those fortunate enough to know him. He possessed a kindness and a smile that could brighten even the darkest of days. 'We feel profound pain in our hearts. 'But we feel solace in coming together as a community.' Brittany Higgins has begun work on her wedding day plans, revealing her invitations to her bridesmaids as she prepares to tie the knot with fiance David Sharaz. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, she pictured her pretty pink ribbon-tied request to her chosen girlfriends which ask: 'Will you be my Bridesmaid?' The simple white, ivory and black gift boxes were described by Ms Higgins as 'Basic and proud' in the post. No clue was given as to what was within the four boxes. The wedding plans come after Mr Sharaz, 32, proposed to Ms Higgins, 30, on New Year's Eve on top of the picturesque Cape Byron lighthouse at Byron Bay, NSW. The moment was exclusively caught on camera by Daily Mail Australia, with Ms Higgins clutching a bunch of red roses as Mr Sharaz popped the question. Brittany Higgins has begun work on her wedding day plans, revealing her invitations to her bridesmaids as she prepares to tie the knot with fiance David Sharaz (pictured together as he proposed on New Year's Eve) In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Brittany Higgins pictured her pretty pink ribbon-tied request to her chosen girlfriends which ask: 'Will you be my Bridesmaid?' (pictured) Wearing a white shirt, light blue jeans and cream-coloured jacket, Mr Sharaz got down on one knee as he asked Ms Higgins, wearing a black dress and beige heels, to marry him. The couple hugged and kissed when she said yes. The couple confirmed on social media that they were engaged on New Year's Day but no further details of the wedding plans have been known until now. The couple have been at the centre of a media storm over Ms Higgins' rape allegations, and he played a key role in her going public with her claims in 2021. Mr Sharaz helped set up the bombshell interviews with The Project's Lisa Wilkinson and news.com.au political reporter Samantha Maiden which first revealed her claims. David Sharaz popped the question to Brittany Higgins at picturesque Cape Byron Lighthouse He gave her a bunch of red roses and went down on one knee to ask her to marry him The couple kissed and hugged when she said yes The couple were later seen hand in hand as they mingled with tourists at the landmark spot Dressed in an elegant black frock, Ms Higgins proudly wore her new engagement ring The former Liberal staffer alleged her colleague Bruce Lehrmann raped her in the Canberra Parliamentary office of their defence minister boss Linda Reynolds in 2019. Mr Lehrmann strenuously denies the claims and his rape trial was abandoned in October because of juror misconduct, with the charge later dropped over concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health. Mr Sharaz had been by her side every day she attended court for Mr Lehrmann's trial. Two weeks before they got engaged, Ms Higgins won a reputed $2.5million payout from the Commonwealth for her treatment after she made her rape allegations. And in February, Mr Sharaz quit his radio job with Southern Cross Austereo and the couple moved into a new rented home on Queensland's Gold Coast. The move came just days after Senator Reynolds launched legal action against him over two of his tweets which she claimed were defamatory. Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) recently broke his silence in a TV interview two years after Brittany Higgins accused him of raping her in Parliament House. He denies the allegation Last week, the senator also sent Ms Higgins a concerns notice - which precedes a defamation action - over an Instagram story which alleged she was being 'harassed' in the media by her former boss. An ACT Board of Inquiry, similar to a Royal Commission, was launched into the investigation and prosecution of Mr Lehrmann which revealed a bitter rift between police and prosecutors over the rape case. The inquiry, chaired by Walter Sofronoff KC, concluded hearing evidence in June, with its findings expected to be released by the end of July. There has also been a political row about whether Labour ministers including Katy Gallagher and Tanya Plibersek knew in advance about Ms Higgins' rape claims. Senator Gallagher's role as finance minister in the rapid settlement of Ms Higgins' compensation claim against the Commonwealth has also come under scrutiny. For now though, all those worries have been replaced by wedding day plans instead. Final details of a date and venue have yet to be publicly revealed. Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to prosecute Dr. Anthony Fauci for his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic should he win the White House in 2024. For more than a decade, Kennedy, 69, has become one of the country's most prominent anti-vaxxers - falsely linking jabs to autism. Kennedy said if he wins the presidency, he would bring Fauci to justice if his Attorney General found that 'crimes were committed.' 'If there were crimes that he committed, of course, I would tell the attorney general to prosecute him, not hold off,' Kennedy promised during an interview on Fox News. Although Kennedy did not outright state whether America's former top doctor is guilty of committing a crime, he stated how he believes Dr. Fauci caused 'a lot of injury' by alleging he withheld treatments from Americans during the early stages of the pandemic. Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to prosecute Dr. Anthony Fauci for his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic Speaking on Fox News Kennedy criticized Dr. Fauci for allegedly withholding treatments from Americans in the early stages of the pandemic Kennedy said it was Fauci's actions that actually contributed to the United States' high death count. 'I think that he particularly, by withholding early treatment from Americans, we racked up the highest death count in the world,' Kennedy said during Monday night's interview. 'We only have 4.2 percent of the globe's population, but we had 16 percent of the COVID deaths in this country and that was from bad policy,' Kennedy explained. 'There are countries that did the opposite of what we did that provided Ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, other early treatments to their populations and had 1/200th of our death rate. 'There are many, many things we did wrong in our country and some of those were I would say some of the things that were done by health officials at that time, that they knew they would be harmful.' Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine views linking jabs to autism stated he would direct his Attorney General to pursue legal action against Dr. Fauci, above, if 'crimes were committed' Kennedy has in the past leveled similar accusations in a book entitled 'The Real Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates, Big Pharma and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health.' Kennedy was then asked by host Jesse Watters why he continues to tout the false claim that childhood vaccinations are linked to autism. Kennedy has in the past leveled similar accusations in a book entitled 'The Real Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates, Big Pharma and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health.' 'I do believe that autism does come from vaccines but I think most of the things people believe about my opinions about vaccines are wrong,' Kennedy said. 'You know, all I have said about vaccines we should have good science. We should have the same kind of testing, placebo-controlled trials that we have for every other kind of medication. 'Vaccines are exempt from pre-licensing placebo-controlled trials. So there's no way that anybody can tell the risk of all those products or even the relative benefits of all those products before they are mandated and we should have that kind of testing.' Kennedy was not challenged robustly by Watters during the interview who appeared to accept the details that he was touting. While Kennedy's popularity has increased, he remains far behind President Joe Biden in the polls for the Democratic presidential nomination. Dr. Fauci suggested RFK Jnr's surge in the polls could lead to people 'unnecessarily dying' because they don't get vaccinated (pictured speaking to DailyMail.com) Last week, in an interview with DailyMail.com, Fauci said he was concerned that people could potentially be influenced by Kennedy's vaccine theories and the implications it could have on public health leading to unnecessary deaths. America's top infectious disease doctor suggested that RFK Jr.'s surge in the polls could lead to people 'unnecessarily dying' because they don't get vaccinated. When asked if Kennedy's increasing popularity was 'concerning', Fauci said: 'Of course, I mean I'm a physician and vaccines save lives. 'Plus, I'm concerned if there's [a rise in] anti-vaxx. People will unnecessarily suffer and die because they don't get vaccinated.' Kennedy has moaned the media portrays him as an anti-vaxxer to discredit him and has repeatedly claimed he is actually 'pro-safe vaccine.' On the Lex Fridman podcast, the Democratic presidential candidate was asked to 'name any vaccines you think are good.' Kennedy replied: 'I think some of the live virus vaccines are probably averting more problems than they're causing.' He added: 'There's no vaccine that is safe and effective.' Kennedy went on to claim the polio vaccine - one of the most studied vaccines in existence - had led to an explosion of soft tissue cancers in recent decades that have 'killed more people than polio ever did.' There are no known cases of polio vaccine-related cancer. Critics have accused RFK Jr. of capitalizing on the rise of medical skepticism in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Kennedy's anti-vaccine charity, Children's Health Defense, saw its revenues more than double in 2020 to $6.8 million, according to filings made with charity regulators. Kennedy launched his campaign at Boston's Park Plaza Hotel on April 19 with his wife Cheryl Hines, the Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Among Democrats surveyed in the recent poll, 58 percent support Biden for the nomination, while 15 percent back Kennedy Kennedy's profile jump comes at a time when vaccine skepticism is on the rise. The percentage of American children entering kindergarten with their required immunizations fell to 93 percent in the 2021-22 school year, a whole two percentage points below the recommended levels for herd immunity and lower than vaccination rates in 2020-21. And although approximately 66 percent of US children aged five months were up to date for all childhood vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2016 through 2019, that number declined to slightly over 49 percent by May 2020. US adults and adolescents have missed more than 37 million routine vaccinations during the Covid pandemic, according to analyses. Kennedy's push against the Covid vaccine has linked him at times with anti-democratic figures and groups. He 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 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.' Court findings that Ben Roberts-Smith committed war crimes while fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan will be challenged in a legal appeal by the Victoria Cross recipient. Mr Roberts-Smith, who suffered a massive defeat after the Federal Court dismissed his defamation action over media reports he was involved in unlawful actions as an SAS corporal, including the murder of four unarmed prisoners, has launched an appeal. On Tuesday, he filed appeals against the findings by Justice Anthony Besanko after a mammoth trial supporting claims that Nine Media newspapers The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald plus the Canberra Times. Mr Roberts-Smith had claimed he was defamed him in 2018 reports by the three publications that he kicked a handcuffed man off a cliff and ordered his execution, and machine-gunned another prisoner, taking his prosthetic leg home as a souvenir drinking vessel. Ben Roberts-Smith is appealing the Federal Court decision which found against him after he sued three newspapers for defamation Court findings that Ben Roberts-Smith committed war crimes while in Afghanistan could be under threat in a legal appeal by the Victoria Cross recipient The three media companies have since hailed the dismissal of the cases as a significant win. They are seeking their legal costs from the former soldier, as well as from the Seven Network and Kerry Stokes private firm Australian Capital Equity, which financially supported the lawsuits. In November 2020, a report into alleged war crimes by special forces in Afghanistan was released finding credible evidence 39 civilians and prisoners were unlawfully killed by Australian troops while two others were subject to cruelty from 2007 to 2013. Two years later, more than 40 alleged offences were under investigation. Mr Roberts-Smith has not been charged and maintains his innocence. A mining company will have to fork out nearly $2.9million after indirectly taking two Olympic swimming pools' worth of water from the Sydney catchment every day over five years. Five megalitres of water was incidentally being drained by the Dendrobium coal mine at Mount Kembla, on NSW's South Coast, every day between 2018 and 2023. A subsidiary of the company South32, Illawarra Coal Holdings Pty Ltd, which carries out work at the mine, did not have a licence to take any surface water through mining activities. The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NARA) received a complaint in 2018 and began investigating. South32 has agreed to pay the record-breaking sum, as well as $70,000 to cover the investigation and legal fees. Five megalitres of water was incidentally being drained by the Dendrobium coal mine (pictured) at Mount Kembla, on NSW's South Coast, every day between 2018 and 2023 The $2.8million figure will go towards funding waterway restoration in the Sydney water catchment. The highest fine ordered by the NARA had previously been $360,000. NRAR chief regulatory officer Grant Barnes said the company would be monitored closely in the wake of the breach. 'These alleged breaches are very serious and they do concern significant quantities of water, water which is lost from an ecologically sensitive area both to surface creeks and wetlands above the Dendrobium coal mine,' he told the ABC. 'It is also important to note that this is within Sydney's drinking water catchment, so any surface water losses are a loss of water that could be used to service Sydney's drinking water needs.' Mr Barnes also said the agreement was an alternative to court action. South32 said they welcomed the surface water licensing regime that was introduced earlier this year. 'Since 2014, South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal has paid A$5.6million to account for the passive take of water resulting from underground activities at Dendrobium Mine,' a spokesperson said. 'We understand that water is a critical resource and recognise our obligation to pay for all water used by our operations in the same manner all water users do. 'In lieu of an approved surface water licensing regime, the New South Wales Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) engaged with us in 2019 in respect of past surface water usage at Dendrobium Mine. 'We have cooperated with NRAR's request and following discussion with NRAR we have committed to an enforceable undertaking which will involve providing funding for a community project. The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NARA) received a complaint about the Dendrobium coal mine in 2018 and began investigating 'Over the coming months we will work collaboratively with NRAR and other stakeholders to develop a suitable water related community project.' Greens MP Cate Faehrmann said the public had a right to know how much water was being taken by mining operations in Sydney's water catchment. 'Mining companies are taking even more water than anyone realised from Sydney's water catchment,' she said. 'Investigations like these just go to show how vigilant we have to be in ensuring mining companies are acting in accordance with the law and responsibilities under their approvals.' Ms Faehrmann called for Illawarra Coal's application for a surface water licence to be rejected, particularly as the state enters into a period of El Nino and associated drought conditions. The family of a 15-year-old e-scooter rider who was killed in a crash with a car have paid tribute to the 'beautiful' and 'talented' schoolboy. Kieran Aaron Byrne was involved in a smash with a white BMW travelling in the same direction while he was riding an e-scooter on Saturday night near Maidstone, Kent. The teenager's sister-in-law Rachel Byrne paid tribute to him in a statement on social media yesterday, saying she did so 'with the heaviest of hearts'. Posting on Facebook, she wrote: 'On July 8, my beautiful, talented, hilariously sarcastic, clever, highly intelligent and funny 15-year-old brother in-law passed away in an unfortunate road traffic accident. 'We have had the most horrific 48 hours that no family should ever have to deal with, whatever your opinions are on what happened and who was wrong in this tragedy, I ask you kindly to remember, that last night my mother in-law lost her baby boy, as did his father, my husband lost his baby brother, my brother in-law lost his little brother and best friend, my step children lost their uncle and best friend. Kieran Aaron Byrne was involved in a horror smash with a white BMW travelling in the same direction while he was riding an e-scooter on Saturday night The teenager's sister-in-law Rachel Byrne paid tribute to Kieran in a statement on social media yesterday, saying she did so 'with the heaviest of hearts' Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) attended the incident on Heath Road towards Coxheath near Maidstone, Kent around 10pm on Saturday 'We as a family unite and are strong and will stick together whilst we deal with this tragic turn of events. 'We thank you for all your flowers and love we have received, you do not understand how it has helped us. 'Kieran Aaron Byrne we will miss you and love you always. Fly high our angel.' Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) attended the incident on Heath Road towards Coxheath near Maidstone, Kent around 10pm on July 8. The road was shut for more than 10 hours as crash investigators searched the scene. No arrests were made in connection with the tragedy but the force has appealed for witnesses to come forward. A Kent Police spokesman said: 'Witnesses are being sought following a fatal collision near Maidstone. 'At 10pm on Saturday 8 July 2023, a white BMW and a black e-scooter were involved in a collision while travelling in the same direction along Heath Road towards Coxheath. The vehicles were both travelling in the same direction along Heath Road at the time of the smash Police were called to Coxheath, near Maidstone, just after 10pm on July 8 following reports of the crash between the black scooter and white BMW 'A teenage boy was confirmed deceased at the scene.' E-scooters are currently illegal to use on public land and roads unless in a town or city covered by a government trial. Matthew Scott, Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner has warned of the dangers of the vehicles for more than two years. Last month he said the controversial battery-powered e-scooters used on public roads should be seized and crushed - claiming they are 'not road safe' or 'road legal' and should not be on Kent's roads. He said that now a e-scooter rental trial in Canterbury had come to an end, he did not want the 'perception to rise that they have been effectively decriminalised'. The BBC reported last month that Mr Scott told a meeting of the Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel: 'The panel knows my view on e-scooters. 'Seize them and crush them because they are not legal on any public land in Kent now that we don't have the trial down at Canterbury. 'I don't want the perception to rise that they have been effectively decriminalised, when in fact they are not road safe, not road legal and should not be on our roads.' A teenage girl from the Central Coast has died after contracting influenza. The Year 9 student attended St Joseph's Catholic College in East Gosford and passed away on the weekend after falling ill with the disease several weeks ago. Parents with children at the school received a letter informing them of the girl's tragic death, according to the ABC. '(She) was a well-loved student, thoughtful to the needs of others, a true friend and a valued member of our college community,' the letter read. The Year 9 student attended St Joseph's Catholic College in East Gosford (pictured) and passed away on the weekend after falling ill with the disease several weeks ago NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant has urged parents to get their children vaccinated against flu Influenza cases have been surging across the Central Coast and NSW over the past month, particularly among children. Those aged 16 and under represent 54 per cent of all emergency department admissions for influenza-like illness over the last week, with NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant labelling the spike 'concerning'. 'In recent weeks we have seen influenza cases rising fastest among very young children as well as those aged five to 16 years, with these two age groups often accounting for around half of all flu cases diagnosed in NSW each week,' said Dr Chant. 'Sadly, our childrens hospitals are seeing an increasing number of these children being admitted for care and some of these patients are seriously unwell. Dr Chant urged parents to get their children vaccinated against flu to reduce the risk of them being hospitalised. Since May, 16 children have been admitted to intensive care with life-threatening complications from influenza at Sydney Childrens Hospital, Randwick, The Childrens Hospital at Westmead and John Hunter Hospital. Doctors say these can include serious heart, brain, and muscle-related complications. Counselling has been offered to those affected by the teenager's death. Coronation Street star Nicola Thorp today revealed how police did not tell her the name of the stalker who called himself the 'Grim Reaper' and used 25 different identities online to terrorise her. The actress, 34, was bombarded with frightening messages including threats to sexually abuse her in front of her parents by Ravinderjit Dhillon, 30, for two years. Speaking to Good Morning Britain this morning, Ms Thorp - who played Nicola Rubinstein on the ITV soap - described the impact of the campaign on her life, and how police would not give her Dhillon's identity after his arrest. She told co-hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls: 'You want to know if you are going to be able to take care of yourself if he was to approach you in the street. 'My main question was: 'Would he be able to carry me?' That's devastating because with these kind of crimes when somebody's kept anonymous they become every single person that you meet. 'He was every guy at a bus stop. He was every guy at work that looked at me funny. He was the guy in the supermarket. He just became everybody. I wondered if it could be a friend, somebody who had fallen out with me in the past because he seemed to know so much about my life. 'And I don't think it is on women to change how we behave online. It is on men to change their behaviour - abusive men - and also for the police and the authorities to give us the tools to be able to protect ourselves. If there is enough evidence here to get a stalking protection order then surely I should be allowed the right to get the name, the photograph and the details of the man who is doing it.' Nicola Thorp, 34, was targeted for two years by Ravinderjit Dhillon, 30, as he tormented her online and threatened he would sexually abuse her in front of her parents In court with her actor fiance Nikesh Patel (pictured together) in June, Ms Thorp told how she gave the Met Police an 89-page document containing details of the harassment she faced Ms Thorp - who played Nicola Rubinstein on the ITV soap - said not knowing her persecutor left him with 'all the power', and she was fearful that anyone she met could be him Ms Thorp said his abuse was the 'cost' for spending her adult life fighting for women's rights in the public eye, adding: 'I became the target of the exact behaviour I was standing up against.' In court, she told how he sent her messages saying he was her 'grim reaper' and told her he wouldn't leave it 28 times in a single message. The friend apparently 'had got so close he could smell her', according to the Sun. Ms Thorp told the court Dhillon sent her a message via Instagram that said 'a woman's place was on her knees'. 'He told me I was to be put in a headlock and forced into sexual acts and wanted to make my parents watch. 'He sent me messages saying, 'I'm going to be with you for ever,' he said, 'I'm your grim reaper' and in one message alone he said 28 times he 'wasn't going to leave me'. Ms Thorp said his abuse was the 'cost' for spending her adult life fighting for women's rights in the public eye, adding: 'I became the target of the exact behaviour I was standing up against' The actress even asked for her stalker's height, a description of him or if he was an ex-partner - but was told by police they could not answer 'He said alleyways are the perfect place to pick up drunk stupid women and stupid 16-year-old b******.' Dhillon, of Feltham, Middlesex, was convicted in April. He has been remanded in custody to appear at Isleworth Crown Court for sentencing. The maximum penalty for stalking involving fear of violence is ten years. Ms Thorp said he also masqueraded as a woman called 'Helena' asking for her advice as she was being harassed by an employer, so he could interact with her. Dhillon also contacted her on social media claiming one of his friends followed her on to a train 'and had got so close to her he could smell her'. Prosecutor Sondos Arafa told the court: 'Her voice is shaking just from the sheer impact of someone stalking her for two years. This is aggravated by the offensive material sent to the victim at the time of the offence and the impact of the offence. 'It is motivated by the hostility against the victim's sex.' Dhillon's IP address was finally linked by police to the accounts he used to harass Ms Thorp and he was arrested. Ms Thorp rose to fame after going public with her complaint against a major accountancy firm who fired the star for refusing to wear heels. She later petitioned for a ban on dress codes that force women to wear high heels. Ms Thorp starred on the long-running ITV soap Coronation Street from 2017 to 2019, playing social worker Nicola Rubinstein, who was the estranged daughter of serial killer Pat Phelan. She became the first star to get caught in Channel Four's Celebrity Hunted, in aid of Stand Up For Cancer, in April this year when she was found at a Birmingham hotel after going on the run with her boyfriend Nikesh Patel. Warning about wave of gastro cases in Victoria Australians are being warned about a wave of particularly nasty gastro infections which are resistant to antibiotics and can be spread through sex. Victoria's chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton said on Tuesday there have been an 'increasing number of shigellosis cases in Victoria infected with strains of Shigella bacteria that are resistant to key recommended antibiotics.' The symptoms of shigellosis, a highly contagious type of bowel infection, include 'acute onset of diarrhoea... fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.' Professor Sutton said many of the cases had been appearing among returned travellers and men who had recently had sex with other men, though it is not limited to these groups. 'Symptoms usually develop one to three days following exposure but can occur as early as 12 hours to as late as one week afterwards in some cases.' Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton issued a warning about the highly contagious gastro bug on Tuesday The treatment includes fluids, oral rehydration drinks and antibiotics in more serious cases - to which the strains recently appearing are resistant. The infection is self-limiting lasting about five to seven days but complications such as reactive arthritis and sepsis can occur in groups such as immunocompromised people. Shigellosis patients remain highly contagious for up to four weeks. Victoria Health said that Local Public Health Units are contact tracing confirmed cases to provide advice and help on 'symptom monitoring, testing and exclusion requirements.' Contacts of cases who work in professions such as food handling, aged care, childcare and healthcare should not return to work until advised to do so by the Local Public Health Units. 'Practicing safer sex and good hygiene can prevent the spread of shigellosis.' The father of an 18-year-old girl whose scalp was torn off by a machine at Nippy's juice factory has broken their silence after the company admitted it was to blame. Alexandra Trandafil, 18, was working as a shed hand when her hair became tangled in a machine at Nippy's Waikerie packing and processing plant in South Australia in November 2020. Ms Trandafil's traumatised co-workers called an ambulance and she was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital. Paramedics had to retrieve her scalp from the machine but only part of it could be reattached during emergency surgery. Alex Trandafil, 18, was a shed hand working in her first job when her hair became tangled in a machine at Nippy's Waikerie packing and processing plant in 2020 Father Darrin Trandafil said he was relieve Nippy's had pleaded guilty Her dad Darrin Trandafil said he was relieve Nippy's had pleaded guilty. '(We are) thankful that they've pleaded guilty and she was in no way in the wrong,' he told the Advertiser. 'We are vindicated that Alex had no wrongdoing in the incident.' Three years on, Ms Trandafil still requires treatment, which will continue, and she suffered permanent hair loss and scar tissue. The tribunal heard that the factory's managers phoned Ms Trandafil's family, apologised and offered them $60,000 as 'reparation' and for the cost of travel to Adelaide for treatment. Nippy's Waikerie Producers Pty Ltd was fined $120,000, despite pleading guilty to a charge of failing its health and safety duty. 'She endured not only the pain and shock of her physical injury, but the terror of looking up and seeing her hair and scalp hanging from the machine in front of her,' Ms Eaton wrote. The company was warned about the risks to workers from similar equipment seven years before the accident. While the warning was not about the same piece of machinery that injured Ms Trandafil, the risks were 'exactly the same', the tribunal's finding said. Ms Trandafil requires ongoing treatment and suffered permanent hair loss and scar tissue from the 'preventable' accident 'She thought she was going to die,' wrote Katherine Eaton, deputy president of the SA Employment Tribunal, in her finding. '...In an instant, her young and hopeful life flipped into shock, trauma, ongoing pain and disfigurement.' It was the teenager's first full-time job, taken on during a gap year to save money for an overseas trip. 'Despite the best efforts of the first responders and medical teams at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, attempts to reattach her scalp were only partially successful,' the judgement said. Nippy's was warned about the risks to workers seven years before the accident and fined $120,000 after Ms Trandafil's hair became tangled in an 'unguarded machine' Paramedics had to retrieve her scalp from the machine but only part of it could be reattached during emergency surgery. Pictured: Nippy's Waikerie packing and processing plant in South Australia Nippy's immediately made safety improvements to the factory and machinery. But the tribunal found the injury was preventable and that Nippy's failed to maintain a safe work environment and had no signs warning of the potential dangers. Nippy's also failed to provide any training to Ms Trandafil about the risks of working beside the conveyor belt. The company was also ordered to pay legal costs. The BBC star at the centre of an alleged sex scandal has still not been named - although millions say they can identify him. The parents of a teenager claim their child was paid 35,000 for sexually explicit photos by the household name since 2020. The youngster at the centre of the claims, who is alleged to have received cash from the star presenter for three years, which was used to fund a drug habit, had sparked In an extraordinary war of words. Lawyers acting for the individual issued a statement to the BBC saying 'nothing inappropriate or unlawful' had taken place between their client and the presenter. The Sun has stood by its story, saying it had seen evidence of how 'two very concerned parents' had made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and 'their complaint was not acted upon'. And it quoted the mother and stepfather as saying they 'stand by our account'. The couple also questioned who had paid to provide their child with an expensive lawyer. Newspapers and broadcasters have not identified the household name, but social media has been rife with speculation. BBC chiefs are facing a near-revolt from mutinous fellow stars, who are said to have put 'massive pressure' on their colleague to identify himself after internet trolls falsely accused others of being the man. One in six Britons quizzed by reporters correctly identified the presenter suspended over the lurid allegations making a mockery of privacy laws. Here is all we know so far: The star presenter Claim: A BBC broadcaster at the centre of claims he paid a teenager for explicit pictures allegedly appeared in his underwear in a video call, The Sun has reported. The newspaper said the unnamed BBC star has been accused of paying a teenager more than 35,000 in exchange for sexual images over three years. Neither the individual or the teenager, who was said to be 17 when the payments began, has been identified. The alleged teenager's mother told The Sun she saw a picture of the presenter on her child's phone in which he was 'sitting on a sofa in his house in his underwear' and she said she was told it was 'a picture from some kind of video call'. She also told of how she saw a photo of the man stripped down to his boxer shorts for a video call 'leaning forward, getting ready for my child to perform for him'. She claims that earlier in 2023 she overheard the presenter 'on the phone saying to my child: 'I told you not to f****** ring me'.' She also claims that her child was paid 1,000 via PayPal in June - after the family complained to the BBC in May. Counter claim: The broadcaster has not spoken. He was rumoured to be considering naming himself to deny the claims. Sources said the BBC had cleared part of their schedules but it hasn't happened. There are also claims that he is considering a libel action against The Sun. One BBC insider told MailOnline: 'He is lawyered up to the max. A lot of BBC execs are blaming him for the chaos at the weekend because he was keeping his head down and refusing to be identified'. The teenager Claim: That the youth stripped for the star and used the cash placed into their account to pay for crack cocaine. The youngsters parents insist they witnessed interaction with the star and saw a picture of him. They also claim that they have seen money flowing into their loved-one's account. A spokesperson for The Sun said: 'We have reported a story about two very concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and the welfare of their child. Their complaint was not acted upon by the BBC. 'We have seen evidence that supports their concerns. It's now for the BBC to properly investigate.' Counter claim: The young person said via a lawyer: 'For the avoidance of doubt, nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations reported in The Sun newspaper are rubbish.' The legal representative also said the young person told The Sun on Friday evening before the newspaper published the story that there was 'no truth to it', the BBC reported. The parents Members of the media outside BBC Broadcasting House in central London as the national broadcaster faces pressure after an unnamed BBC presenter has been suspended after being accused of allegedly paying a teenager thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos Claim: The alleged victim's family details the accusations in a newspaper interview, claiming the presenter paid for the explicit photographs for three years, from the age of 17. The mother was left 'shocked' to see a photograph of star in his underwear on the sofa of his house while looking at her child's phone. The alleged victim's mother also claimed the teenager used the cash to fund their spiralling drug habit. Now questioning how their child is getting cash for a lawyer, claiming the star has 'got in his head'. Family claim they have bank statements to prove claims and stand by their account. The stepfather added: 'Without the money, my partner's child would have no drugs,' adding that he had spoken to the BBC for an hour in May. Counter-claim: The youngster has issued a statement through expensive lawyers dismissing all the parents' allegations. The BBC BBC's reveals timeline of events May 18 The complainant (a family member) attended a BBC building, where they sought to make a complaint about the behaviour of a BBC presenter. May 19 The complainant contacted BBC Audience Services; the details of this contact were referred to the BBC's Corporate Investigations Team. The BBC's Corporate Investigations Team assessed the information contained in the complaint provided from Audience Services. The assessment made was that on the basis of the information provided it did not include an allegation of criminality, but nonetheless merited further investigation. The BBC's Corporate Investigations Team emailed the complainant stating how seriously the BBC takes the issue and seeking additional information to verify the claims being made; there was no response to this contact. Checks were also made to verify the identity of the complainant. This is a standard procedure to confirm that the complainant is the person they say they are. June 6 Having received no response to the email referenced above, a phone call was made to the mobile number provided by the complainant by the BBC's Corporate Investigations Team; this call did not connect. Following these attempts to make contact with the complainant, the Corporate Investigations Team were due to return to the matter in the coming weeks. No additional attempts to contact the complainant were made after 6 June, however the case remained open throughout. July 6 The Sun newspaper informed the BBC via the Corporate Press Office of allegations concerning a BBC presenter; it became clear that the source of the claims was from the same family as approached the BBC on 18 and 19 May. This was the first time that the Director-General or any executive directors at the BBC were aware of the case. The claims made by The Sun contained new allegations, that were different to the matters being considered by BBC Corporate Investigations. The BBC initiated an incident management group to lead the response to this case, involving senior BBC executives including the Director-General. The Acting Chairman was updated, and the Board was regularly updated in the coming days. A senior manager held the first conversation on this matter with the presenter concerned, to make him aware of the claims being outlined by The Sun. It was agreed that the presenter would not be on air while this matter was being considered. July 7 Following The Sun's contact, the BBC's Corporate Investigations team contacted the complainant again, who was in touch with the BBC's investigators. The BBC's Serious Case Management Framework (SCMF) was initiated and the investigation being undertaken by the Corporate Investigations Team was brought into the SCMF, which is chaired by a Human Resources Director. The BBC also made contact with the Police with regard to this matter. July 8 The complainant sent the BBC some materials related to the complaint. July 9 BBC issued an update to staff and the media; the BBC also confirmed that it had suspended the presenter. July 10 The BBC met with the Police, to report the matter and discuss how to progress the investigation. The Police have requested that the BBC pause its investigations into the allegations while they scope future work. Advertisement Claim: The young person's mother claimed in The Sun that she alerted the corporation on May 19. The teenager's step father said he spoke to the Beeb for an hour two months ago. It appears that he may have gone to a BBC building in person on May 18 to complain. He told The Sun today of the BBC: 'They're not telling the truth. I told them the youngster was 20 and it had been going on for three years 'I told the BBC I had gone to the police in desperation but they couldn't do anything as they said it wasn't illegal. They knew all of this.' He added: 'I don't even think they spoke to him.' Counter-claim: Sources at the BBC said the accusations then were different to the more serious ones made last week. But today Director General Tim Davie opened up about the scandal and set out a timeline. He has ordered a review to 'assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation' following allegations a high-profile presenter paid a teenager for explicit images. The corporation has said it made two attempts over several weeks to contact the family who claimed the unnamed presenter paid their child around 35,000 over three years, from the age of 17, for explicit images. Davie was first informed of the allegations seven weeks after the family first complained about the presenter to the BBC, when The Sun said it would be publishing its front page story. Mr Davie said he has asked Leigh Tavaziva, the BBC Group chief operating officer, to assess whether its protocols and procedures are appropriate in light of the case. Speaking at a press conference about the BBC's annual report, Mr Davie said: 'Of course there will be lessons to be learned, and how processes could be improved. 'Immediately I have asked that we assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation. 'We will take time to properly review the current protocols and procedures to ensure they remain sufficient based on anything we learn from this case.' The BBC has released a timeline of events, saying a family member of the young person first complained on May 18, when they went to a BBC building. The following day the same family member contacted BBC Audience Services and the details of the claims were referred to the BBC's Corporate Investigations Team, who assessed that the claims did not include an allegation of criminality, but nonetheless merited further investigation. The Sun first contacted the BBC on July 6 about the allegations they were due to publish, which was the first time Mr Davie or any executive directors at the BBC were aware of the case. Mr Davie told the World At One that he did not speak to the accused presenter on July 6, but instead the conversation was conducted by a 'senior manager', which the director-general said was the 'right role' for him in being able to oversee the process. The claims made by The Sun contained new allegations, that were different from the matters being considered by BBC Corporate Investigations, the corporation said. This was the first time the presenter concerned was spoken to about the matter, according to the BBC. The investigations team also contacted the complainant again. Explaining why no contact was made with the complainant for more than a month, Mr Davie said 'thousands' of complaints are made and it is 'appropriate' there is a verification process. Police Scotland Yard met BBC chiefs yesterday to establish if there was any evidence of a crime. The meeting took place via an online video call, rather than in person, and police said afterwards they were now 'assessing' the information. Now they have asked the BBC to stop its investigation while they consider if any laws have been broken. In a statement about the BBC presenter, a Met Police spokesperson said: 'We have asked the BBC to pause its own investigation while we continue our assessment to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence being committed. 'The assessment is being led by detectives from the Met's specialist crime command and follows a virtual meeting with representatives from the BBC on the morning of Monday July 10. 'There remains no police investigation at this time.' The making, distributing, possessing or showing an indecent image of anyone under the age of 18 is a criminal offence under the Protection of Children Act 1978, as amended by the Sexual Offences Act 2003, even if the image was created with the consent of the young person, or the young person was asked to send a sexual image of themselves. The offence carries a maximum sentence of ten years. Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor who led the case against the Rochdale grooming gangs, said causing or inciting sexual exploitation of a child carries a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment. President Joe Biden vowed in Lithuania to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory, as the powerful alliance took a key step to adding its 32nd member. The president spoke in the capital of Vilnius at the start of a NATO summit as his national security advisor Jake Sullivan said talk of splits over support for Ukraine have been 'greatly exaggerated.' 'As Ive said before, we take NATO takes all of us take Article V literally,' Biden said as he met Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at the start of the summit Tuesday. He said all NATO members were committed to the NAT Charter's mutual defense obligations. 'Were together against whoever was violating that space. Were going to defend every inch of it,' he said. Jake Sullivan on Tuesday warned that Vladimir Putin will be 'disappointed' by what emerges from a key NATO summit in Lithuania. The top aide to President Biden hit out at claims that divisions had erupted over Washington's decision to send controversial cluster bombs to Kyiv's armed forces. President Joe Biden vowed to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory as he met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at the Presidential Palace at the start of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania Tuesday British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had been amongst a chorus of voices who raised concerns about shipping the highly lethal arms to the war-torn country. But in a response to DailyMail.com, Sullivan dismissed claims that the 31-nation military alliance was fractured over its backing of the Ukrainian military. 'I would say rumors of the death of NATO's unity were greatly exaggerated,' he said. 'Vladimir Putin has been counting on the West to crack, NATO to crack and the transatlantic alliance to crack and he has been disappointed with every turn.' The Russian tyrant will be 'very much disappointed' by what emerges from the two-day meeting in Lithuania, Sullivan added. And in a clear sign that tensions were on the rise, Russian ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov accused Washington of plotting 'confrontation' with Moscow. Biden kicked off the summit after a key breakthrough that would grow the alliance to 32 members Biden signed a book before his meeting with the Lithuanian president Biden touted the strength of the alliance. The U.S. has about 1,000 troops serving in Lithuania, which border's Russian ally Belarus Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, right, welcomes U.S. President Joe Biden at the Presidential Palace prior the NATO summit in Vilnius Biden advisors say unity of the alliance is on display in Vilnius 'Everything is being done to prepare domestic public opinion for the approval of the anti-Russian decisions that will be made in Vilnius in the coming days,' he was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency, a Kremlin mouthpiece. Biden's comments came at the top of his first full day in Vilnius. He began his day by greeting Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda and signing a guest book. A reporter asked him what got Turkey to agree to Sweden's membership in the alliance. 'What do you think?' Biden said without elaborating. He said he wasn't surprised about Sweden getting in. Biden also viewed an honor guard, just as he did Monday at Windsor. As during his meeting with King Charles, Biden put a hand on his host, placing his hand on Nauseda's back as they reviewed the honor guard, part of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas Staff Battalion. He then held a bilateral meeting with Nauseda, while joined by Secretary of State Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Sullivan. Said Nauseda: 'The situation in our region is unfortunately deteriorating and we see what is happening around us,' cautioning that Belarus was growing increasingly close with Russia. 'Probably Lithuania is one of the most enthusiastic supporters of trans-Atlantic bond,' he said. The summit 'takes place in in absolute proximity to adversary countries. This is symbolic event, symbolic, but at the same time, this is a great opportunity to take the decisions,' he said. Ukraine is seeking interim security guarantees from the U.S. and its allies as it waits to join NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold talks with Joe Biden on Wednesday as part of that push for legally-binding protection from future Russian aggression. On Monday, the mutual defense club agreed to axe its so-called Membership Action Plan for Kyiv, traditionally a waiting room for countries looking to sign up. It means, in theory, that Ukraine is on a fast-track to joining, but Joe Biden has warned that will not happen until the war is over. A 'reform path for Ukraine' will be drawn up but 'I can't put a timetable on it, Sullivan said. He ruled out any immediate entry for Western-backed Ukraine, given its ongoing war against Russian invasion, saying this would 'bring NATO into a war with Russia.' A paper by ex-NATO chief Ander Fogh Rasmussen and his chief of staff Andriy Yermak last year suggested a Kyiv Security Compact, effectively shadow NATO membership, to protect the country and its people from future Russian aggression. It said that it should include US, Great Britain, Canada, Poland, Italy, Germany, France, Australia, and Turkey, as well as Baltic, Central and Eastern Europe. Ukraine was first considered for NATO membership in 2008 but was never offered a formal process to join amid fears that Russia would be provoked by such a move. Under Article 5 of the alliance's mutual defense treaty, an attack on one NATO ally is considered as an attack on all.consi But it is not automatic, and the clause requires the approval of all NATO countries to be triggered. That has happened only once since NATO was founded in 1949; in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks and George W. Bush's invasion of Afghanistan. The focus on Ukraine comes as Turkey backed down on blocking Sweden 's bid to join NATO on Monday. It followed hours of last-minute diplomacy that saw the U.S. green light the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to the Turkish government. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg made the announcement in a joint statement with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Ulf Kristersson. Erdogan said he would urge Turkish MPs to ratify Sweden's application to join the 31-member mutual defense club 'as soon as possible'. Earlier, the strongman leader had linked dropping his opposition to Stockholm's possible membership to reviving long-dead EU accession talks. The Biden Administrations decision to provide deadly cluster munitions to Ukraine didnt cause any kind of a row during Bidens meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the White House said Tuesday. Sunak did not raise any additional complaints about the move when he sat down for tea with Biden at 10 Downing on Monday, despite raising a public objection to the munitions that the White House interpreted as muted. Asked by DailyMail.com in Vilnius whether Sunak raised any objections to the munitions during their private talk at 10 Downing Monday, Sullivan said the prime minister said nothing different in private than he said in public. They have their legal obligations, he said, noting that Britain is a signatory to the convention banning the use of the munitions, which frequently scatter unexploded bomblets that can maim civilians years after their use on the battlefield. British PM Rishi Sunak 'said nothing different in private than he said in public' about the use of cluster munitions during a sit-down with President Biden, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Tuesday Sunak had said following Bidens decision that he discourages the use of cluster munitions. Sullivan said the matter did not in any way disrupt or undermine the very close unity between the US and the United Kingdom. I think that was born out yesterday across the board. But you certainly havent seen the British prime minister, or really for that matter any of our NATO allies, go out and say that this threatens NATO unity And the answer for that is is because it doesnt threaten NATO unity, he added. Unlike Britain, the U.S. is not among 123 countries who signed a convention banning use of the weapons, which Ukraine thinks it can use against dug-in Russian positions amid its offensive to retake captured territory. In a lot of the coverage coming into the summit, I would say rumors of the death of NATOs unity were greatly exaggerated, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told DailyMail.com He said Sunak and Biden had an incredibly energetic conversation on a range of issues including their tight coordination and full unity on the bigger picture in Ukraine. Sullivan also talked up NATOs momentum after Monday nights deal on Sweden joining the alliance. In a lot of the coverage coming into the summit, I would say rumors of the death of NATOs unity were greatly exaggerated, he said. Every few months, the question is called, can the west hang together, can NATO hang together can transatlantic unity hang together?. And every time the allies come together and answer it forcefully and vehemently, yes we can. Sullivan's comments come after the White House on Sunday brushed off mild criticism from allies including Sunak over providing deadly cluster munitions to Ukraine suggesting any censure was obligatory and denying any rift. Sullivan spoke to the blowback en route to London, after some of Biden's Democratic allies as well as allied nations criticized the move, amid concerns cluster bombs can leave unexploded ordinance for years that ultimately can maim civilians. It came at the start of a three-country trip, where Biden will huddle with allies about the war in Ukraine and meet with King Charles and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The U.S. is not among 123 countries who signed a convention banning use of the weapons, which Ukraine thinks it can use against dug-in Russian positions amid its offensive to retake captured territory. 'The Prime Minister stated the UK's legal position that they are a signatory to the Oslo convention, the United States is not. That being a signatory banks discouraging the use of these weapons. He fulfilled his legal obligation, but I think you will find Prime Minister Sunak and President Biden on the same page strategically on Ukraine, in lockstep on the bigger picture of what we're trying to accomplish, and as united is ever both in this conflict and writ large. 'I do not think you will see fracture, division or disunity as a result of this decision,' White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said aboard Air Force One with President Biden amid blowback over the administration's decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine 'And that will be repeated in my view with all the leaders of the Alliance. I do not think you will see fracture, division or disunity as a result of this decision, even though many allies the signatories to Oslo, are in a position where they themselves cannot say we're for cluster munitions. But we have heard nothing from people saying this casts doubt on our commitment, this cast out on coalition unity, or this cast out on our belief that the United States is playing a vital and positive role as leader of this coalition in Ukraine.' It came during a briefing with reporters traveling with the president where Sullivan said Biden called Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan. He said the two men spoke for 45 minutes about a 'number of issues,' including Turkey's 'robust and stalwart support' for Ukraine's defensive needs. They also spoke about Sweden's bid to join NATO, 'and they agreed that they have the opportunity to sit down together and build this.' The comments came after Biden faced uproar from members of his own party on Sunday after he decided to send controversial cluster bombs to Ukraine. 'We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion, but we've done that by providing heavy battle tanks and most recently long-range weapons, and hopefully all countries can continue to support Ukraine,' said British PM Rishi Sunak National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said 'I do not think you will see fracture, division or disunity' as a result of the decision on cluster munitions The president came under fire from Democrats and key NATO allies such as Britain as he flew to the United Kingdom for climate talks with King Charles. Top Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said he had 'real qualms' about Biden's move to send the widely-banned weapons to Kyiv's armed forces. 'It could give a green light to other nations to do something different as well,' he told Fox News. But the one-time vice-presidential candidate added: 'They're not going to use these munitions against Russian civilians,' Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who represents California, urged the Biden administration to reconsider the step. 'Cluster bombs should never be used. That's crossing a line,' she said on Sunday, adding the United States risked losing its 'moral leadership' by sending cluster bombs to Ukraine. Biden rebuffed the criticism of his move to send cluster bombs in an interview with CNN But the president was defiant in an interview with CNN broadcast on Saturday, insisting cluster bombs would help the Ukrainian military expel Russian troops from their country. 'The main thing is they either have the weapons to stop the Russians now from their keep them from stopping the Ukrainian offensive through these areas, or they don't,' Biden said. House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican, called the cluster bombs 'a game-changer' in the war in Ukraine, pointing out that 'Russia is dropping with impunity cluster bombs' on Ukrainian territory. 'All the Ukrainians and (President Volodymyr) Zelensky are asking for is to give them the same weapons the Russians have to use in their own country against Russians who are in their own country,' he said. 'They do not want these to be used in Russia.' Unlike most of its Western allies, the United States never signed up the international treaty that bans the use of cluster bombs in armed conflict. They can be dropped from the air or shot from the ground or sea, releasing dozens or sometimes hundreds of 'bomblets' that can be dispersed over a large area. They first used in World War II for the purpose of destroying multiple dispersed military targets or combatants. The commander-in-chief confirmed on Friday that the highly lethal weapons would be part of a new $800 million security package. It means U.S. military aid now stands at more than $40 billion since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Rights groups and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have questioned Washington's decision on the munitions. And several governments from the 30-nation military alliance have expressed unease about the administration's decision to ship the highly lethal weapons to Kyiv's armed forces. The UK, Spain, Canada and New Zealand have all slammed the move to send the widely-banned munitions to the war-torn country with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying he 'discouraged their use.' A senior German government source suggested that Berlin backs the U.S. move, despite Germany being a signatory to the Convention Banning Cluster Munitions. 'Ukraine is only using ammunition to liberate its own territory and to protect its own civilian population,' the official said. France also backed the move, despite having scrapped the manufacture of cluster bombs itself some two decades ago. A senior official from the French foreign ministry said it 'understood' Biden's move 'to help Ukraine defend itself against the unlawful aggression unleashed by Russia.' The tensions come ahead of a key NATO meeting in the Baltic nation of Lithuania later this week that will assess the alliance's support for Ukraine. Zelensky, seen here with Polish President Andrzej Duda, is expected to be at the NATO meeting in Lithuania Senior NATO sources have told DailyMail.com that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will be at the major summit to make the case for Kyiv's eventual membership of the club. Biden's visit to the United Kingdom also follows a string of high-profile gaffes that have been slammed by the country's tabloid press as 'anti-British.' He skipped Charles' coronation in May and made an off-the-cuff remarks about his visit to Ireland that he claimed was to 'make sure the Brits didn't screw around' with the Good Friday agreement, the peace deal that ended years of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. The commander-in-chief is also accused of blocking British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace's bid for the role of NATO secretary-general, angering Britain's Conservative Party. The Daily Telegraph reported last week that Biden wants Ursula von der Leyen, a former German defense minister who is now head of the EU executive, the European Commission. The row between two key NATO allies meant that Jens Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, was asked to extend his term for another year. Nearly 115,000 Chinese tourists visit Philippines in H1 Xinhua) 15:18, July 11, 2023 MANILA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 114,663 Chinese tourists visited the Philippines from January to June this year, according to the data from the Philippines' Department of Tourism (DOT). The tourism agency data showed South Koreans were the top foreign arrivals during the first semester of 2023, with 673,841 arrivals. Lawmaker Marvin Rillo, the House of Representatives Committee of Tourism vice chair, said the South Korean tourists accounted for 25 percent of the 2,470,798 foreigners that traveled to the Philippines during the first six months. DOT data showed that the Americans were the second tourist arrivals from January to June with 516,318, followed by Australians with 129,705, Japanese with 128,081, and Canadians with 124,510. Last week, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs announced that it will launch the E-visa system "within the third quarter of 2023" to facilitate the entry of foreign tourists and businessmen, including Chinese, into the country. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Crocodile hunters have killed a 2.4 metre crocodile that mauled a grandfather - with one croc catcher offering to skin the beast and give the skull to the victim as a gift. A 67-year-old grandfather was bitten on the arm by the reptile while swimming at the Top End pools at Wangi Falls, an hour south of Darwin in the scenic Litchfield National Park, on Monday afternoon. The male victim suffered flesh wounds to his arms and back which were treated by an off-duty nurse before he could be taken to Royal Darwin Hospital. He is currently in a stable condition. Around 80 people fled the water following the attack at Wangi Falls in the Northern Territory, with one couple clambering on to a rock where they stayed for over an hour before they could be rescued (pictured) Rangers shot a 2.4m male saltwater crocodile they believe was responsible for the attack at Wangi Falls overnight (pictured) Around 80 people fled the water after the attack, with one couple clambering on to a rock where they stayed for over an hour before they could be rescued. Joel and Meghan Bennett, from the NSW Mid-Coast, were enjoying a dip when they heard other swimmers screaming at them to flee the water. 'Above the roar of the falls I heard a heap of yelling to turn around and see a decent-sized croc heading straight for us,' Joel wrote on social media. 'After a quick dash to the rocks where Meghan was and getting ourselves up on a ledge, it circled around the pool for a while then swam off down a creek.' Several other people also appeared to be temporarily stranded on rocks at the falls following the attack. Rangers shot a 2.4m male saltwater crocodile they believe was responsible for the attack at Wangi Falls overnight. Croc catcher Roger Matthews (pictured, left) has offered to gift the beast's skull to the victim as a 'memento of the Northern Territory experience' The beast was then taken to the backyard butcher shop of croc catcher Roger Matthews who is contracted by the NT's Department of Parks and Environmental Wildlife Services to process all male crocodiles caught in the Darwin region. Mr Matthews, who has been a crocodile hunter for over 30 years, said the the flesh would be sold as pet meat, the skin made into leather goods and the fat used to make soap. He even offered to gift the skull to the victim as a trophy. 'If the poor fella is interested, we'll do the skull up and gift it to him, bit of a memento of the Northern Territory experience,' he told the ABC. 'I hope he's doing well, it would be a frightening experience.' Following the attack, Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyle said a conversation 'needs to be had' about potentially reintroducing crocodile culling in the territory. Access to the popular swimming spot at Wangi Falls in the Litchfield National Park (pictured) remains closed for at least three days and crocodile surveys will be carried out before it can reopen 'I think it's time for us to consider: Do we need to go back to culling considering the significant increase in the crocodile population, and the impact it's happening, not just on our tourists and visitors, but also locals,' she said. The NT's crocodile population had grown from around 3,000 to 100,000 since culling ceased in the 1970's. Dean McAdam, Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security Director for Northern Australian Parks, said: 'Public safety is our key priority, so please obey all closures and do not enter the water while we are completing the crocodile surveys. 'We work hard to reduce the risk of crocodiles in the management zones, however there is always the chance they can move into an area undetected.' Access to the popular swimming spot remains closed for at least three days and crocodile surveys will be carried out before it can reopen. Harlow Darby Freeman was snatched while sitting in the back of a car on Monday A desperate mom has made a frantic plea to a thief to return her nine-month-old baby girl who was sitting in the back of her dad's Lexus when they stole it. Cops are urgently searching for Harlow Darby Freeman after she was snatched in the area of Crest Avenue in Parrish, Alabama, at around 6.50pm. Her dad had briefly run into a friend's house when she was taken. The Parrish Police Department has issued an amber alert as cops desperately call on the public for any information that may help them find the baby who they say is in 'extreme danger'. Harlow's devastated mom Bethany Smith pleaded to the kidnapper last night on Facebook: 'I'm begging you to please bring by baby to me.' Harlow, who is white with brown hair and blue eyes, was wearing a tie-dye onesie and light pink shorts when she was taken. Appealing to the public with a picture of Harlow wearing a giant red bow, cops said they are on the lookout for a 2009 Lexus RX350 with Alabama tag number 3880AR8. Cops have launched a frantic search for nine-month-old baby girl Harlow Darby Freeman (pictured) Cops said they are on the lookout for a 2009 Lexus RX350 with Alabama tag number 3880AR8 Harlow's desperate mom pleaded last night: 'I'm begging you to please bring by baby to me.' The vehicle has damage on the rear passenger side which appears to be taped up with clear tape, the Parrish PD said. Harlow's aunt, Melinda Hutchison told reporters the little girl was in the vehicle with her father when he ran inside to a friend's house, local news site AL.com reports. He said he was only gone for a minute or so but the car was taken. Harlow's mom Bethany Smith posted on her Facebook: 'If you know where my baby is or how I can get to her. I will meet you with no questions asked. 'Please just give me back my baby... Im begging you to please bring my baby to me.' She added in a second post: 'You can drop the baby off wherever you want just call me or message me and let me know where she is. No questions asked I swear.' Anyone who has any information has been urged to call the Parrish Police Department at 205-686-9991 or 911. Thousands of comments from well-wishers have flooded in underneath the police appeal - which has amassed 27,000 shares. One user said: 'Praying praying and praying for this sweet baby girl to be back safe in her mothers arms before the night is over. 'Thank you law enforcement officers for what you do. Praying she's safe, not scared, and surrounded by angels protecting her.' A second posted: 'God please wrap your arms around this baby and protect her. Prayers that she is found safe.' A third added: 'Praying so hard for your safe return Harlow.' The vehicle has damage on the rear passenger side which appears to be taped up with clear tape, the Parrish PD said The baby girl was snatched in the area of Crest Avenue (pictured) in Parrish, Alabama, at around 6.50pm Cops issued an amber alert to the public which is when they believe the child is in 'imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death' And a fourth said: 'Praying this baby is found safe. Please bring her home.' The family is understood to be offering a $5,000 reward for her safe return. The urgency to find Harlow is reflected in the amber alert which is sent out to the public when there is 'reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred.' Cops must believe the child is in 'imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death'. This is the shocking moment a seven-year-old boy was saved from drowning at the bottom of an outdoor pool by two other children as adults swam by completely unaware. Noah Roche, 12, and his brother Weston Woods, eight, were enjoying a day at an apartment pool in Fenton, Michigan, when they spotted seven-year-old Griffin Emerson in grave danger. Griffin was splashing around in his inflatable armbands, but decided to take them off and attempt to swim without them. Unable to keep his head above water, he drifted towards the deep end and slipped below the surface. In a chilling surveillance video obtained from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, bystanders remained oblivious as precious seconds ticked away and Griffin sank deeper into the water. That is until Noah and Weston spotted Griffin's murky outline in the depths, and without a moment's hesitation plunged into the water determined to rescue him. Noah Roche, 12 (centre right), and his brother Weston Woods, 8 (right), were enjoying a day at an apartment pool in Fenton, Michigan , when they spotted seven-year-old Griffin Emerson (right) in grave danger (mother of the two brothers, Sylese Roche, is pictured left) Adult are seen swimming and floating on loungers while Griffin sinks to the bottom of the pool Weston is seen pulling Griffin up to the surface before adults cottoned on and helped lift him out of the pool Witnessing the horrifying scenario play out before her, the rescuers' mother, Sylese Roche, immediately dialed 911 - all while Griffin's mother ran over to her boy's lifeless body and immediately began CPR. After a few breathless seconds, Griffin coughed and sprung back to consciousness, able to breathe once more. His mother can be seen gently rubbing his back, helping him expel water from his lungs. Despite narrowly escaping death, Griffin was rushed straight to hospital and monitored for signs of dry drowning or lung infections after inhaling the pool water. But within a mere 36 hours, Griffin was released from the hospital having made a remarkable recovery. 'I was scared I was gonna drown. It felt all weird. I spit out some water, and that's it,' a relieved Griffin later told Good Morning America. 'I saw him, and I just knew that he wasn't OK,' Noah said. 'I saw him at the bottom of the pool, and then I didn't know if he was just playing down there or something. So I just told Weston to get in and dive down to see if he's OK.' Griffin is seen lying at the side of the pool as his mother rushes over to administer CPR Griffin's grandmother Michelle expressed her deep gratitude on Facebook, applauding the actions of Noah and Weston and thanking the family for saving her grandson Tom Kinczkowski, Griffin's grandfather, conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to the young saviors. 'Weston and Noah, you know, they hold a special place in my heart. And they basically saved Griffin. A lot of my heroes don't wear capes. And they are two of them,' Mr Kinczkowski declared. And grandmother Michelle expressed her deep gratitude on Facebook, applauding the actions of Noah and Weston and thanking the family for saving her grandson. 'These 2 boys are amazing,' she wrote. 'My grandson Griffin would have drowned if it were not for these 2 boys... I'm so grateful to these little heroes and their mom Sylese Roche for raising 2 amazing little boys.' Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson of Genesee County commended the young rescuers' heroic actions, stating: 'Getting him to breathe on his own that fast, that's the best possible outcome. And that's why we celebrate the story.' Six people have been killed and their bodies found 'broken into pieces' after a helicopter carrying a Mexican family crashed in the Everest region on Tuesday. The family of five, including a 98 and 95 year old, were on board the aircraft being flown by a Nepalese pilot when it crashed in the Lamajura area. The Manang Air flight was heading for the capital Kathmandu from near Lukla, the gateway for climbing expeditions to the world's highest peak, when it lost contact eight minutes after taking off, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said in a statement. 'The six bodies have been recovered and brought to Kathmandu,' officials announced, as emergency service workers were pictured carrying body bags from a returning chopper. 'The bodies were broken into pieces,' said Sita Adhikari, a local official in the region. A local witness, Nima Tshering Sherpa, said the helicopter had crashed into a bushy hillside. Nepalese airlines staff and policemen carry the bodies of the victims, following the crash of a Manang Air helicopter Emergency service workers were pictured carrying body bags from a returning chopper People watch as a helicopter of the Nepalese airlines arrives to transport the bodies of the victims, following the crash of a Manang Air helicopter, at the helipad of Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal Two helicopters were deployed for search and rescue but could not land at the crash site because of the weather. 'The teams on the ground brought the bodies to the helicopters which were able to land close by,' Tiwari said. Lhakpa Sherpa, a local resident who joined search and rescue efforts, said the scene was 'very scary'. Captain Chet B Gurung, who was flying the helicopter, was killed in the crash with the Mexican family of five 'It looks like the helicopter first collided with a tree and then slammed on the floor. It has caused a small hole in the ground,' he said. The Himalayan Times identified the pilot as Captain Chet B Gurung. It also reported that all five passengers were members of the same family: Sifuentes G. Fernando, aged 95; Sifuentes Rincon Ismail, 98; Sifuentes Gongalez Abril, 72; Gongalez Olacio Luz, 65; and Sifuentes G. Maria Jese, 52. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'expressed grief' over the incident, his office said on Twitter. Airport official Sagar Kadel said the earlier weather conditions had also caused changes to be made to the Manang Air helicopter's planned flight route. It is common for flights to be delayed and routes changed during the monsoon season amid heavy rains. Initially, the helicopter was believed to be missing before officials discovered the wreckage around the Lamjura Pass of Solukhumbu district. Police said they believe the accident happened at around 3,500 meters (almost 2.2 miles) above sea level. People unload the body from air transport of a person killed in a helicopter crash belonging to Manang air A man gestures towards a helicopter of the Nepalese airlines as it arrives to transport the bodies of the victims, following the crash of a Manang Air helicopter People carry the body of a person killed in a helicopter crash belonging to Manang air, at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal A specialised altitude helicopter carrying security personnel was dispatched towards a potential crash site using the known GPS coordinates of the aircraft, as officials located the remaining body. Nepal has a booming private helicopter industry, flying tourists and goods to remote corners of the Himalayan nation where road access is limited or non-existent. But the country is notorious for its poor air safety, and Tuesday's incident is the latest in a string of aviation accidents in the country. One person was killed and four were injured in May when a helicopter crashed in eastern Nepal after dropping off goods for a hydroelectricity project. The Himalayan republic has some of the world's most remote and tricky runways, flanked by snow-capped peaks with approaches that pose a challenge even for accomplished pilots. The weather can also change quickly in the mountains, creating treacherous flying conditions. Six people were killed after a helicopter carrying foreign tourists crashed Tuesday near Mount Everest (pictured) in Nepal The aircraft was on a sightseeing tour to the world's highest peak before they started making their return towards the capital Kathmandu on Tuesday morning Nepal's aviation sector has also been plagued by insufficient training and maintenance. A plane crash in the country's west killed all 72 people on board in January. The Yeti Airlines flight had plummeted into a steep gorge, smashed into pieces and burst into flames as it approached the central city of Pokhara. In 2018, a US-Bangla Airlines plane crash-landed near Kathmandu's notoriously difficult international airport, killing 51 people and seriously injuring 20. In 1992, in Nepal's deadliest air accident, all 167 people aboard a Pakistan International Airlines plane died when it crashed on approach to Kathmandu airport. Just two months earlier a Thai Airways aircraft had crashed near the same airport, killing 113 people. The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace over safety concerns. The pair also laughed as they chatted together, signaling that they get on well King Charles was entirely comfortable with being touched by President Biden at their friendly Windsor Castle summit yesterday. The US President, 80, technically broke protocol by repeatedly placing his hand on the monarch as they met inside the quadrangle at Windsor ahead of a discussion about climate change. As the two men prepared to listen to a rendition of the US National Anthem, played by the Welsh Guards, Mr Biden put his hand on the King's back. The two men also laughed as they chatted together, signaling that they get on well. Responding to the contact, a source inside Buckingham Palace said: 'His Majesty the King is entirely comfortable with that kind of contact and what a wonderful symbol of warmth and affection it was between both the individuals and their nations.' King Charles was entirely comfortable with being touched by President Biden at their friendly Windsor Castle summit yesterday Mr Biden met the King after spending just 42 minutes meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Number 10 Downing Street in London. As Charles's guest, the President walked in front of the King as he inspected the Welsh Guards in the quadrangle at the castle. The President's meeting with the King today came after a phone conversation earlier this year that Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, described as 'incredibly warm'. Mr Biden last had formal talks with Charles at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021. He attended the state funeral of Charles's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September, but did not go to the Coronation - with his wife, Jill, attending instead. Mr Sullivan said the President has 'huge respect' for the King's commitment on the climate issue in particular. The US President, 80, repeatedly placed his hand on the monarch as they met inside the quadrangle at Windsor ahead of a discussion about climate change Joe Biden shakes hands with King Charles III in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle yesterday Friendly: US President Joe Biden and King Charles enjoy a warm handshake at Windsor yesterday The King places his arm on Mr Biden as he welcomes him into Windsor Castle President Biden pats the King's back as the pair prepare to listen to the US National Anthem He said Charles has been a 'clarion voice' on climate and 'someone who's mobilised action and effort.' 'So the President comes at this with enormous goodwill,' Sullivan told reporters yesterday as Biden flew to London. Once inside the Castle, Mr Biden and the King joined participants of the Climate Finance Mobilisation forum. The group were led by Energy Secretary Grant Shapps and Mr Biden's climate envoy John Kerry, among others. After departing Windsor, Mr Biden made his way to Stanstead Airport to fly to Lithuania ahead of a Nato summit in which the war in Ukraine and the US decision to send cluster bombs to the country will be high on the agenda. Read on to find out why they were created, and when they are used An Amber Alert is America's way of quickly telling people a child has been taken Amber Alerts are America's way of broadcasting information about emergencies to a large population quickly. The alerts specifically deal with missing persons cases, and the program had its inception in 1996 after one particular case. However, a strict threshold must be met for an incident to warrant an Amber Alert. So, when is an Amber Alert used? And What are they? Read on to find out. An Amber Alert issued in June 2023 - the abductees were found on June 26 The messages are distributed across radio, television, and text messages by the Emergency Alert System (stock photos) What is an AMBER Alert? An Amber Alert, sometimes written as AMBER Alert, is a message shared widely to the public asking them to help find an abducted child. Also known as a child abduction emergency alert, the alert's acronym AMBER stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. These messages are distributed across radio, television, and text messages by the Emergency Alert System - also used for weather emergencies. The warnings are also sent via email, and posted on commercial and traffic-condition billboards. They will contain details of the likely abductor if there is such information available, as well as the name and a photo of the alleged victim, and other suspected information about the abduction such as the vehicle being used. Although they originated in the United States in 2000, Canada, Mexico, and many areas of Europe now also have similar systems based on Amber Alerts. When is an AMBER Alert used in a missing child case? Amber Alerts are declared by individual police organizations, and not every missing child case will result in one. For example, in 2022 359,094 children were reported missing, but only 181 Amber Alerts - involving 227 children - were issued. There are four criteria which the Department of Justice recommend should be met for an Amber Alert to be sent. There is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred. The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death. There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the child. The abduction is of a child aged 17 years or younger. These recommended criteria are deliberately strict to avoid false alarms, but states will set out their own internal criteria in response. Many regions do not require the child to be at serious risk of injury or death, so that their alerts can cover parental abductions. For incidents which do not meet the relevant thresholds, the Department of Justice developed the Child Abduction Response Teams program. This is also intended to assist local agencies in recovering runaway children. How did AMBER Alerts start? As well as being an acronym, Amber Alerts get there name from Amber Rene Hagerman, who was abducted in 1996 The name 'Amber Alert' was also inspired by the abduction and murder of Amber Rene Hagerman in 1996. Amber, 9, was riding her bike in Arlington, Texas, in a parking lot with her brother Ricky. Ricky went home to tell their father that his sister wanted to stay out for a while longer, but when he returned only Amber's bicycle remained. A neighbour called 911 having witnessed the abduction, but Amber was only found dead four days later by a man walking his dog. The murder remains unsolved. By 1998, the Child Alert Foundation created the first fully automated Alert Notification System to make communities aware of when a child was abducted or reported missing. The Amber Alert program was officially created in 2000. How effective are AMBER Alerts? The strict requirements for an alert to be sent mean that Amber Alerts are highly effective. The Department of Justice reports that Amber Alerts also serve as a deterrent to many people who may consider abducting a child, and in many cases the abductor releases the child after hearing that an AMBER Alert has been issued. Of the 181 Amber Alerts in 2022, 180 cases resulted in a recover, 16 of which were a 'direct result' of the alert being issued according to missingkids.org's report. As of January 2023, the program has contributed to the recovery of 1,127 children and wireless emergency alerts resulted in the rescue of 131 children. British holidaymakers have slammed easyJet for putting them up in 'disgusting' hotels after the airline cancelled their flights and left them 'stranded' abroad. EasyJet axed 1,700 flights scheduled for July, August and September as a result of 'unprecedented' air traffic control delays, affecting about 180,000 holidaymakers. Some passengers were told their flight home was cancelled while they were waiting to take-off, leaving them dependent on easyJet to provide hotels, which they claim are not clean. It comes as experts warn of a summer of travel chaos, with passengers told to expect further disruptions over the peak season as airlines are forced to 'reduce their flying programme' amid a series of strikes and air traffic control delays. Paul Charles, chief executive of the travel consultancy The PC Agency, has warned that the weekend's disruptions are only the 'start of a bandwagon effect', telling The Telegraph: 'EasyJet will not be the only one, there will be others.' British holidaymakers are slamming easyJet for putting them up in 'disgusting' hotels after the airline cancelled their flights and left them stranded. Pictured: A hotel in Cyrpus that a disrupted traveller was allegedly put up in Passengers have complained that their easyJet-provided hotels they claim are not clean. Pictured: A hotel in Cyrpus that a disrupted traveller was allegedly put up in A holidaymaker travelling to Liverpool from Cyprus last weekend was among the thousands displaced by easyJet's last-minute cancellations. Clare, posting about her journey on Twitter, slammed the airline over the 'horrendous' hotel she was placed in. Moment furious passengers on EasyJet flight are ordered off plane while they wait for take-off: CLICK HERE TO READ MORE Advertisement She claims that she did not arrive at the hotel until 2am and that it was in poor condition. 'I didn't sleep a wink,' she said. 'With cockroaches, room was dirty, the bed was awful. This isn't the way to treat paying customers.' Her frustrations were echoed by holidaymaker Zoe Wright, whose flight home from Lanzarote was also cancelled. She sarcastically 'thanked' easyJet for 'cancelling our flight home' and 'checking us in to the most disgusting, dangerous hotel on the island at nearly midnight'. Ms Wright added: 'I'm having to sleep on the floor as the ceiling fan is hanging off and can't be turned off without injury!' While some passengers have been left stranded, others have expressed frustration over missing their holidays and being out thousands of pounds. Mark Buntin, who was travelling from Belfast to Turkey, told MailOnline how he was forced to spend 350 on a taxi after his flight was disrupted. He was meant to fly from Belfast to Dalaman, Turkey with a connection at London's Luton airport. But when he arrived at his home airport at 6am on Saturday, Mr Buntin claims staff informed him the route to Luton had been cancelled. 'I had to get a flight to Bristol, then a taxi from Bristol to Luton - which is three hours away,' he said. 'The taxi which cost me 350! Not the start to the holiday I was expecting.' Mr Buntin made it to Turkey, but says the service from easyJet since then has been 'poor' and worries his flight back to the UK will also be cancelled. EasyJet told MailOnline in a statement: 'We always look to take care of our customers during times of disruption and work with a hotel provider to secure overnight hotel accommodation and meals for those customers who need them. 'We are sorry that this accommodation fell below the standards expected for these customers and so in light of their feedback we are looking into this with our hotel provider.' Clare, who was heading to Liverpool from Cyprus last weekend, was among the thousands displaced by easyJet's last-minute cancellations She has slammed the airline over the 'horrendous' hotel she was placed in. She claims that she did not arrive at the hotel until 2am and that it was in poor condition. The hotel she was reportedly put up in is pictured 'I didn't sleep a wink,' Clare said. 'With cockroaches, room was dirty, the bed was awful. This isn't the way to treat paying customers.' The hotel she was reportedly put up in is pictured Her comments were echoed by holidaymaker Zoe Wright whose flight home from Lanzarote was also cancelled READ: Holidaymakers face a summer of chaos as air traffic control strike set to delay or cancel thousands of European flights Advertisement EasyJet axed two per cent of its summer flight schedule, leaving the travel industry on high alert for disruption this summer. The low-cost air carrier, which is the biggest airline in the UK by number of passengers, said yesterday that making changes now meant it could avoid last-minute cancellations which were more costly and caused passengers more inconvenience. The airline said it had plenty of crew and pilots but worries over air traffic meant it had cancelled 1,700 flights, mostly from its biggest base at Gatwick airport, out of the 90,000 scheduled for the rest of July and August. It said 95 per cent of affected passengers had already been re-booked on an alternative flight because it had mostly consolidated flights with multiple frequencies. 'We are sorry for any inconvenience that this may have caused,' easyJet said in a statement yesterday. Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large at The Points Guy, told MailOnline that the easyJet cancellations will 'play havoc for thousands of travellers this summer'. 'These cancellations couldnt come at a worse time were at the beginning of peak summer holiday season and many families will be looking to jet away for their annual summer holiday,' he said. Similarly, Mr Charles has warned that more cancellations are likely to come, telling the Telegraph: 'This is the start of a bandwagon effect, there will be others who have to cut back because they wont be able to deliver the flying programme they anticipated at the start of the year.' But easyJet's cancellations 'only represent a small percentage of the total summer departures' and many travellers will depart for their holidays 'as planned', Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of The Advantage Travel Partnership, has noted. Mark Buntin has been forced to fly to Bristol and then get a taxi to Luton to reach his destination of Belfast after his flight was cancelled She told MailOnline: 'Disruption because of congested airspace is an issue facing the airline industry during this very busy period but its essential that airlines do all they can to ensure that there is as little disruption to travellers as possible and work to ensure that consumer confidence in the travel industry remains high. 'Passengers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to travel on any other airline that has seats available on the original day of travel, at the expense of the airline that cancelled the flight. They are entitled to cash compensation if they arent rebooked onto a flight that arrives close to the original time.' Addressing concern of further disruptions, the Association of British Travel Agents has reiterated that it is 'always geared up for potential problems' and is prepared to address them as they come. Europe's peak travel season last year was hit by cancellations, causing chaos at airports, because the industry did not have enough staff to handle the rapid bounce back in demand after the pandemic. This summer, air traffic control issues are likely to be the weak spot, according to warnings from Eurocontrol, which manages European airspace. Up to a third of all European flights are at risk of being delayed or cancelled during the peak holiday period if industrial action goes ahead. A full strike may mean up to 12,600 flights a day are 'at least delayed' and hundreds of thousands over the whole summer would be in jeopardy. Passengers have shared photos of queues headed to hotels at 2am (credit: @andysamu) Andy Samu was travelling on a flight back to Gatwick from Budapest before the captain announced that it would no longer be running after the aircraft's security check had expired. His easyJet flight is pictured above (credit: @andysamu) A travel industry expert described it as potentially 'the most damaging industrial action to hit the aviation industry for many years'. Workers at Eurocontrol, which manages the congested European airspace, are threatening to walk out in a dispute over staffing problems. Europe's airspace has been squeezed by the war in Ukraine leaving less capacity for aircraft, plus staffing issues at some air control locations and industrial action are causing bottlenecks, making on the day cancellations more likely. An industry source previously told The Times: 'In a full-blown strike, 20 to 30 per cent of flights would be at least delayed. They are big numbers.' The air traffic management body is expecting to handle about 33,000 flights a day for the next eight weeks, rising to more than 34,000 on Fridays in July and August. Eurocontrol confirmed that one of the unions, Union Syndicate Brussels, has announced a 'period of six months during which industrial action could take place'. Popular summer destinations such as Barcelona are likely to face more disruption due to air traffic control restrictions as the summer continues A statement said 'no specific dates for industrial action had been announced' and the union had given a 'pre-warning' only. Under UK law, airlines must provide travellers with care and assistance if their flight is significantly delayed or cancelled. The law requires that an airline provide passengers with accommodation - usually at a nearby hotel - if their flights is re-routed the next day, as well as transportation to and from the accommodation. However, it does not appear that there is a requirement of what type of hotels airlines are required to place travellers at. An ex-choir girl who became the UK's first OnlyFans millionaire has settled a court fight with her ex-fiance over their 1.5million property portfolio. Glamour model Dannii Harwood, 41, was locked in a legal fight with her ex-partner, Paul Thornton, 48, over their 1.2m mansion in Dorset and a 350,000 flat in Surrey. Mr Thornton said he was due a share of their four-bed mansion home, which was in her name, while she claimed a half share of a basement flat they bought in his name. The case was set for a week-long fight at Central London County Court, but has now been settled after a last-minute agreement between the former couple. In a court order, the pair agreed to sell the flat and split the proceeds of sale, with Ms Harwood giving her ex 35,000 to drop any claim over her home in Bournemouth. Dannii Harwood (pictured), 41, has settled a court fight with her ex-fiance over their 1million-plus property portfolio Dannii (pictured left and right) became the UK's first OnlyFans millionaire in 2020 and previously sang in the same church choir as Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins The glamour model was locked in a legal fight with her ex-partner, Paul Thornton, 48, over their 1.2m mansion in Dorset and a 350,000 flat in Surrey (pictured) Paul said he was due a share of their four-bed mansion home (pictured), which was in her name, while she claimed a half share of a basement flat they bought in his name Mum-of-one Dannii, who is engaged to her partner, Chris May, bought a home in Sutton, Surrey, as well as the basement flat beneath it as an investment with ex-partner Paul in 2006. After the birth of their daughter, the couple sold the house in 2012 and bought a mansion in Bournemouth for 710,000 that same year. The four-bed detached house, which boasts a substantial driveway and backs on to Bournemouth's Queen's Park, is now valued online at 1.2million. They kept the 350,000 basement flat which had been put into Mr Thornton's name alone, as they were concerned Ms Harwood was too young to get a buy-to-let mortgage. Their relationship was troubled, with two separations over the years, before they parted ways entirely in 2019, court documents reveal. Ms Harwood demanded sale of the flat on the basis that, despite it legally being in her ex's name, it was in fact jointly owned. 'The parties' common intention was that they would own the beneficial interest in the basement flat equally, just as they held the ownership of the upstairs house,' said her barrister Greg Williams in court papers. She said she had put up the 15,000 deposit and carried out renovations at the flat, including tiling, installing a kitchen and bathroom, and decking in the courtyard. In his solicitors' response to her suggestion, Mr Thornton agreed to the split, but said the sale proceeds should be withheld, as he had his own claim to a share of their house in Bournemouth. He also said he had obtained the mortgage on the flat personally, put money up himself for the down-payment and had personally done renovation works on the flat. He said he planned to issue a claim for a share of the Bournemouth house. Mum-of-one Ms Harwood, who is currently engaged to her partner, Chris May, bought a home in Sutton, Surrey, as well as the basement flat beneath it as an investment with ex-partner Paul in 2006 After the birth of their daughter, the couple sold the house in 2012 and bought a mansion in Bournemouth for 710,000 that same year They kept the 350,000 basement flat which had been put into Paul's name alone, as they were concerned Ms Harwood was too young to get a buy-to-let mortgage The dispute over the flat sale was set to go before Judge Nigel Gerald last week, but after an agreement outside of court the former couple decided to settle their differences without a trial. The judge said the flat would be sold and the proceeds shared 50-50, with Ms Harwood then giving Mr Thornton 35,000 from her share in 'full and final satisfaction of any actual or prospective claims' against her home. Ms Harwood claimed to have made herself a millionaire in 2020 around 18 months after beginning her career on the 'Only Fans' website. The site is a subscription platform for content creators, mainly adult industry stars, with more than 170million registered users subscribing to watch uploaded videos. She grew up in Neath, south Wales, as the daughter of a forklift-driving dad and sang in the same church choir as Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins. A Metropolitan Police officer has today been struck off after he was caught pleasuring himself in a London park. Detective Constable Dariusz Alexander, 48, who was attached to the Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC), had been spotted by his colleagues with his trousers down in Hampstead Heath on March 18. Alexander, who was off-duty at the time, was arrested by his two colleagues before being convicted of the offence at Stratford Magistrates' Court in June. A statement from the Met read: 'An officer has been dismissed following a misconduct hearing which concluded on Monday, 10 July. 'Detective Constable Dariusz Alexander was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct. Dariusz Alexander (pictured) has been struck off my the Metropolitan Police after he was spotted pleasuring himself on Hampstead Heath by two plain-clothed police officers Hampstead Heath (pictured) is a popular beauty spot in north London 'The allegations were found proven and they were so serious as to justify dismissal.' Detective Superintendent Christina Jessah, in charge of RTPC, said: 'Everyone in this organisation knows the high standards expected of them and it is right that those who fall short are held to account.' At Alexander's court hearing last month, it was heard that the two officers who spotted Alexander were in the area conducting a search linked to an unrelated incident. Following his arrest, Alexander, of Archway, said he was a 'homosexual man', before adding that the north London beauty spot was a 'well-known place in the LGBTQ community for open sex or public sex'. The court heard how the two officers had incidentally spotted Alexander 'through the bushes' before observing him suspiciously. One of the officers observed the defendant 'to be 'masturbating and stroking it' with his right hand. The officer then reportedly told his colleague: 'Put that away mate.' In an interview, Alexander claimed that the reason he exposed himself was because he believed the officer to be a gay man who was attracted to him. He told the court in June that he originates from Poland and that he came to the UK because he thought it was more 'civil' towards gay people. Alexander told Stratford Magistrates' Court (pictured) in June that the reason he exposed himself was because he believed the officer to be a gay man who was attracted to him 'I thought the only way to improve my life was to change something, and I chose to go to the UK. I felt the UK was the most civil place to be.' Alexander was heard saying that he was on the Heath as he wanted to relax due to his stressful job. He said: 'This was my day off. On my day off I like to switch off and go for a walk, listen to a podcast or music. Not being around other people allows me to relax best. Hampstead Heath is a beautiful, picturesque area.' He added: 'At some point I noticed a male in his 30s or younger, about 6ft2. He looked at me intently for a number of seconds. It was a very keen look. That area of the Heath is a well known area where LGBTQ, gay men go to pursue sex.' Alexander was given a conditional discharge for six months and ordered to pay costs of 625 and a victim surcharge of 26. A gym junkie charged with bashing his girlfriend who was later found dead in her high-rise apartment says he 'knows it looks bad' but claims her autopsy will prove his innocence. Danny Zayat, 28, allegedly choked, assaulted, stalked and intimidated Tatiana Dokhotaru, 34, over a period of two years before she was found dead in her Liverpool apartment in Sydney's south-west in late May. He has not been charged over her death and is out on bail on the 22 domestic violence charges. Tatiana Dokhotaru (pictured) was found dead in her Liverpool apartment on May 27, 2023 Now the concreter from Colyton has broken his silence on the case, claiming he has been falsely portrayed as a a 'monster'. 'I know it looks bad. Like, I won't say it doesn't look bad,' he told 7News's Evan Batten. 'I've been put out to look like a monster and it's not right.' Zayat denied he had harmed Ms Dokhotaru, the mother of his four-year-old child, on the night in question. 'Look at me, look at her. If I was harming her how could she call the cops?' he asked. Ms Dokhotaru had called cops on Friday May 26 around 11.45pm to allege her partner was 'bashing' her but failed to give her address in the Pinnacle complex, which has 297 units. Police were unable to find her until around 8pm the following day when Zayat returned to the apartment to check on her and called emergency services. Danny Zayat (pictured), 28, allegedly choked, assaulted, stalked and intimidated Tatiana Dokhotaru, 34, over a period of two years before she was found dead in her Liverpool apartment in Sydney 's south-west in late May When asked why Ms Dokhotaru called the police on the Friday night, Zayat claimed that 'when you're intoxicated on drugs and stuff, you just overexaggerate things sometimes'. 'I pretty much arrived at the house and found her deceased, with my son in the house. It's a bit hard to talk about at the moment,' said Zayat, visibly choking back emotion. He claims he raised the alarm and provided CPR. 'I spoke to the ambulance, (they) told me to give her mouth to mouth, pumped her chest until the ambulance arrived and that's pretty much it,' he said. He added: 'People can think what they want you know, but the autopsy will come back and clear my name.' Zayat claimed that if the police had managed to find her apartment on the Friday she 'probably' would still be alive. 'When I found her body I pretty much seen her pale white and stuff. It looks like if someone was there in time they could have helped her out,' he said. A reporter from Daily Mail Australia was told to 'f*** off' when they attempted to speak to Zayat's family last month. His brother Mark launched into an aggressive foul-mouthed rant when asked about his sibling's charges or whether the family would be standing by him. 'F*** off, get out of my house,' the heavily-tattooed tradesman said. 'If you come back round here again f*** off!' Justice Wilson granted bail after acknowledging that Zayat (left) had no prior criminal history and that there was no risk to the community at large In a bail hearing in the NSW Supreme Court last Thursday, Justice Helen Wilson noted that Zayat could face more serious allegations. 'That's the elephant in the room, isn't it? Is he going to be charged with murder?' she asked. However, the judge said any bail application would have to be considered on the domestic violence allegations only and not a hypothetical future charge. 'It's not for this court ... to remand someone so he's available to be charged with murder at some later stage,' she said. Zayat was previously denied bail at Liverpool Local Court, and escalated his bid to the Supreme Court. His barrister Ertunc Ozen SC conceded on Thursday that the couple had a turbulent and toxic relationship, but said Zayat had been heard running through the hallway of the Liverpool block shouting 'help me' around the time of Ms Dokhotaru's death. Danny Zayat has been charged with a raft of domestic violence offences after his former partner Tatiana 'Tania' Dokhotaru, 34, was found dead on Saturday. The pair are pictured together in 2021 Zayat also called triple zero with police observing him in extreme distress when they arrived, the barrister added. Mr Ozen said Ms Dokhotaru was dependent on the painkiller OxyContin, the abuse of which could have serious respiratory effects, and that the results of toxicology and pathology reports were needed. The crown prosecutor rejected this as a mere assertion, saying there was no evidence of any intoxication or addiction. Justice Wilson granted bail after acknowledging that Zayat had no prior criminal history and that there was no risk to the community at large. His bail conditions include that he reside with his mother in Colyton, report to police daily and be subject to a nightly curfew. His mother will also hand over $20,000 which will be forfeited if Zayat fails to appear before the court. His matter will next come before Campbelltown Local Court on August 8. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 A Cabinet minister today urged MPs not to use Parliamentary privilege to unmask the BBC star at the centre of the sex pictures row. Mel Stride said the legal protections for politicians speaking in the House of Commons should be used 'very, very sparingly'. And the Work and Pensions Secretary warned the facts of the extraordinary case were not yet clear enough to know whether the presenter should be identified. The comments, in a round of interviews this morning, came amid fevered speculation that an MP could break the standoff over the star's anonymity. Privacy laws have kept broadcasters and newspapers from naming the presenter, who allegedly paid a teenager 35,000 for lewd pictures. Senior Commons figures have been urging MPs not to use privilege, but acknowledged there was guaranteed way of stopping them. 'Anything is possible. Hopefully no-one will take advantage of the chamber,' one grandee told MailOnline. A Cabinet minister today urged MPs not to use Parliamentary privilege to unmask the BBC star at the centre of the sex pictures row (file picture of Broadcasting House) Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said the protections for politicians speaking in the House of Commons should be used 'very, very sparingly' A former Cabinet minister told the Mail last night that discussions were taking place about whether to name the individual in Parliament. They said: 'There is a discussion going on about whether to name this individual. 'Parliamentary privilege has been used before to identify people who have tried to use injunctions to keep their names out of the Press. 'The circumstances here are slightly different, but the issues are the same do we have free speech in this country, or do we just accept a creeping privacy law made by judges, which parliament has never approved?' Mr Stride told LBC radio today: 'I think everybody has to take their own decision on this one. 'I can only tell you what I would do, which is that I would not be naming anybody in the House of Commons. 'Parliamentary privilege is a very special and privileged thing and it should be used very, very sparingly. 'My own view is that, regarding the BBC situation, not enough is known yet by the outside world of absolutely what has been going on here. 'And until we know all the facts, and we won't know I think until this whole matter is concluded, I think it would be wrong to prejudge things and jump to conclusions that people should be named or otherwise.' Rishi Sunak declined to comment on the potential for privilege to be used, telling broadcasters on his trip to the Nato summit in Lithuania: 'We have an existing set of laws that govern free speech and privacy. 'I think it's important that the BBC conducts this investigation quickly and rigorously given the concerning and serious nature of the allegations.' A House of Commons spokesman said: 'Privilege should always be used carefully, recognising that Members do have the right to free speech in the Chamber.' At the beginning of each Parliament, the Speaker tells MPs that the House 'asserts its privilege of freedom of speech' and that they are obliged to 'exercise that privilege responsibly'. The situation has become more complex after the young person at the centre of the controversy said last night, through a lawyer, that nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened with the unnamed presenter. But according to The Sun, the parents insist they have bank statements and screenshots to back them up. They are adamant they have spoken out to save their vulnerable loved-one, who they claim first met the broadcaster aged 17 and used the cash to buy crack cocaine. A nine-year-old boy was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting at his grandmother's 70th birthday party in Chicago. Ulysses Campos was fatally shot in the chest after a gunman horrifically opened fire on a group of kids playing outside on Saturday. The boy, who was 'full of excitement as he was getting ready to celebrate his 10th birthday in 2 short weeks', was playing in an alley when four to six shots were fired from a moving vehicle, Franklin Park police director Michael Witz said Sunday night. No one else was struck by gunfire in the 10.15pm shooting, which happened in a Franklin Park neighborhood about a mile outside Chicago's western city limits. Ulysses' heartbroken uncle paid tribute to his nephew who he said loved making people laugh and had an infectious smile. He told ABC7: 'He was just a little kid of 9-year-old who is now in heaven watching over all of us.' His death comes amid a concerning crime spree across Chicago with 18 bodies pulled from the river and Lake Michigan in just over a year, while gas stations could be forced to close after midnight in nearby Indiana as city leaders blame the Windy City for its growing gun violence. Ulysses Campos (pictured) was fatally shot in the chest after a gunman horrifical opened fire on a group of kids playing outside on Saturday Family left balloons and flowers in tribute to Ulysses - whose 10th birthday was just two weeks away Campos said the boy loved being around family and playing video games. His father recently bought him a PlayStation 5 for his birthday later this month - the only gift the young boy wanted. 'I would describe him as full of life,' Campos said. 'He loved to make people laugh. He loved to make people smile.' Ulysses' uncle described how the whole family had just returned from celebrating his mom's 70th birthday when the gunman opened fire. 'The utter feeling of knowing that he's lying there and I can't save him broke my heart,' he said. Pictures from the scene show a car with bullet holes through one of the windows and a makeshift memorial with balloons and flowers has been set up in tribute to Ulysses. Ulysses was rushed to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood but he did not survive. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the boy was fatally shot in the chest and died just before 11pm. Police said a person of interest in the shooting was taken into custody, and officers found a car suspected to be involved in the shooting in nearby Leyden Township. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the boy was fatally shot in the chest and died just before 11pm. Pictured: A car with a bullet hole in it The family of Ulysses, who they refer to as 'Uly Bear' has set up a GoFundMe to raise money for his funeral. It has so far raised $19,600, exceeding the $15,000 target. A tree will also be planted in the boy's honor 'as a representation of his life and memory living on'. Paying tribute on the fundraising page, Ulysses' family said: 'He was a kindhearted, loving kid, he loved playing video games with his cousins, he had a creative imagination, and was always full of excitement. 'He is a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, and cousin. He will be eternally missed.' Although police say this is an isolated incident with no threat to the public, there is deep concern about the number of recent bodies found in Chicago which prompted a former FBI agent to warn that a serial killer could be on the loose. Remains of 12 men and six women have been pulled from the Windy Citys waterways since the beginning of 2022. Ex-FBI agent Tracy Wilder told the New York Post she believes there could be a serial killer involved. 'There's too many coincidences,' said Walder, who also previously worked for the CIA. The fatal 10.15pm shooting happened on Elder Lane (pictured) in Franklin Park, about a mile outside Chicago's western city limits 'In a case like this, there are so many similar patterns right across the board [so] it's not just a coincidence anymore,' she added, citing how far the bodies have been recovered from where they were reported missing and the cases of 'accidental' drownings. Chicago has seen a massive spike in crime rate, jumping up by 31 percent in 2023 compared to the same week in 2022. There have been 38,704 crimes reported in the Windy City this year. That was up from 27,896 reported in the same time span a year earlier. Chicago has also been blamed for a rise in shootings in the Indiana city of Hammond - which is about 20 miles away. City leaders are considering a new law that would force the stations to shut between midnight and 5am every day. Hammond Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Jr. pointed the finger at residents of nearby Chicago who enter the Hoosier State for their cheaper gas and items and bring crime with them. China has been sending pandas abroad as a goodwill gesture since the 1950s Ai Bao, 9, and Le Bao, 10, were brought to South Korea from China for research A South Korean zoo said today it had recently welcomed the first giant panda twins to be born in the country. The cubs, both female, were born at the Everland theme park near Seoul on Friday, the zoo announced online. Mother Ai Bao - who gave birth to South Korea's first giant panda in 2020 - birthed two healthy cubs within two hours, weighing 180g (6.35oz) and 140g (4.93oz). The proud parent and her partner Le Bao, 10, were brought from China in March 2016 as part of a mutual research project on the endangered species. Donghee Chung, head of the zoo, said: 'This feels like a great opportunity to call for better protection and preservation of pandas, which have become a symbol for endangered species.' Ai Bao watching the second of two giant pandas, both female, that were born to her and her partner, 10-year-old Le Bao, at the amusement park in Yongin, South Korea, on 7 July 2023 Giant panda Ai Bao and its cubs are pictured at Everland Resort in Yongin, South Korea, July 7 Around half of all panda births result in twins - but there are only around 1,864 left in the wild. The bears - found in southwest China - prefer naturally to live in lowland habitats, but have been pushed out by human development over the years. Now, they are mostly found in the mountains and mixed forests of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces - but habitat loss remains a pressing threat. Conservation efforts are slowly boosting the species' numbers; in 2016, the giant panda was downgraded from Endangered to Vulnerable by the IUCN. The bears are highly selective in finding a mate and females have a very short fertility window - of up to only about three days each year. Conservation is also an expensive endeavour, but has not deterred researchers worldwide from trying to find ways to protect and breed the species. The birth of the twins near Seoul comes three years after the birth of Fu Bao, the first panda to be born in South Korea. Fu Bao was also born to Ai Bao and Le Bao. Speaking on the birth of the twins, zookeeper Cherwon Kang said: 'I think [the parents] must be twice as happy.' The mother Ai Bao's labour has been smoother than during her first pregnancy, Kang said. They said they felt moved by the way she handled the delivery and on the display of motherly love. Fu Bao is due to be returned to China by July 2024 at the latest, the zoo said. The first (L) and second (R) of two giant pandas, born in Yongin, South Korea, 7 July 2023 Giant Panda Ai Bao holds her baby panda with mouth after giving birth to twin at Everland amusement park in Yongin, South Korea, July 11, 2023 9-year-old giant panda Ai Bao and two giant pandas, both female, that were born to her and her partner, 10-year-old Le Bao, at the amusement park in Yongin, South Korea, 7 July 2023 Negotiations over the return of Fu Bao are reportedly to kick off in August, the Global Times said last week. According to the leasing agreement, South Korea should return the animal for breeding before she turns four years old - when they reach sexual maturity. Ai Bao and Le Bao still have some time left on their contract, leased for 15 years from March 2016. Their names respectively mean lovely and pleasant treasures. Edinburgh Zoo also houses a pair of giant pandas, expected to return to China this year after 12 years in Scotland. Are YOU sweltering in Europe? Send your photos to pictures@mailonline.co.uk Temperatures on holiday hotspot Sardinia are set to reach 48C this week British tourists fainted in Italy today as the country was hit by an unforgiving heatwave that is set to unleash temperatures as high as 48 degrees Celsius across Europe this week. One British tourist, who has not been named, collapsed in front of the Colosseum in Rome this afternoon before she was handed bottles of water by concerned passersby as temperatures topped 36C. Tourists sought refuge beneath trees Italian capital, while others used their shirts as makeshift parasols to shield themselves from the relentless sun. Thousands of visitors to the Mediterranean are bracing themselves for scorching temperatures this week after an anticyclone weather system from the Sahara desert called Cerberus began to expand northwards. Temperatures will shoot past 40C by the end of the week, prompting officials to issue warnings about the life-threatening risk of excessive heat. The Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily are predicted to bear the brunt, with temperatures set to reach a near record-breaking 48C. It means temperatures in the Mediterranean as a whole are approaching record levels. The previous record high of 48.8C was registered in the Sicilian town of Floridia on 11 August 2021. An unnamed British tourist fainted at the Colosseum in Rome this afternoon and was handed bottles of water by concerned passersby as temperatures soared to over 36C The British tourist received helped from passersby and fellow holidaymakers after she fainted during the heatwave in Rome on Tuesday Other visitors sought refuge in the shaded areas in the Italian capital Tourists holidaying across Europe are this week bracing themselves for an unforgiving heatwave that is set to blanket parts of Italy and Spain with sweltering temperatures as high as 48 degrees Celsius In Italy, which will bear the brunt of the high temperatures, Naples residents moved their beach chairs into the sea for a more comfortable sunbathing experience Water jets of the urban beach of Madrid Rio in Madrid, Spain, provide relief for young families 'We know that there will be temperatures above 40C or 45C,' Professor Luca Mercalli, the president of the Italian Meteorological Society, told The Guardian. 'We could get close to the record. Either way, the levels will be very high.' Europe is fastest warming continent on planet, experts say Europe's climate monitoring service Copernicus has revealed that last week was likely to be the hottest since records began in 1940. And scientists at Copernicus have warned that Europe has been warming twice as much as the global average since the 1980s, with far-reaching impacts on the continent's ecosystems and socio-economic fabric. Last summer was marked by extreme heat, drought and wildfires across Europe - and the rate at which glaciers melted was 'unprecedented', Copernicus said in its report. European countries - including Britain, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain - saw their warmest summer on record last year. And worryingly Europe was around 2.3C above the pre-industrial average used as a baseline for the Paris Agreement on climate change last year. Advertisement Temperatures are predicted to rise to 45C in southern Spain and 44C in Greece this week. The temperatures will rise to 42C in Cyprus, 38C in Croatia and France will be basking in 37C heat by the end of this week. The hot weather is expected to last across the Mediterranean for around two weeks, meteorologists say. Italy will be worst affected. Officials yesterday began issuing warnings for nine major cities across the mainland - Bolzano, Florence, Frosinone, Palermo, Perugia, Rieti, Rome, Turin and Viterbo. It will be Italy's first heatwave of the year - months after storms, avalanches and floods killed dozens of people. Italian meteorologist Stefano Rossi told La Stampa that it is no coincidence that the anticyclone is named after the three-headed dog Cerberus that guards the gates of the underworld in Greek mythology. 'Metaphorically, the three heads indicate the three main climatic zones into which Italy will be divided,' Rossi said. He added that humidity levels across Italy will be 'skyrocketing' and that nighttime temperatures will not drop below 22C. In Rome and Florence - major hotspots for British tourists - the temperatures could reach a sweltering 38C. Meteorologists also believe that temperatures could reach 48 degrees in Sardinia and 45 degrees in Sicily by tomorrow. The heatwave stemmed from an anticyclone - a high pressure weather system - in the Sahara desert that has been expanding into Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia towards south Europe. A man shelters from the sun with a towel near the Colosseum in Rome on Tuesday A man shelters from the unforgiving sun with a T-Shirt near the Colosseum in Rome on Tuesday A boy refreshes himself at the Piazza della Rotonda fountain in Rome on Tuesday Tourists enjoy the sun at the Santa Giulia beach, close to Porto Vecchio, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica A boy dives into the water at Agios Sostis beach in Serifos island. Greece is set to be hit by another heatwave this week The waterfront of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, is a good spot for taking the heat out of the high temperatures A man finds refreshment in a fountain in Seville Women cool off as they sit in the sea during a heatwave across Italy, in Naples, Italy, on Monday In Spain, the popular southern destinations of Granada and Cordoba will see 44C and 45C respectively in the coming days, with officials issuing heat warnings to locals and tourists. The heatwave is also set to bring temperatures of up to 43C to Mallorca on Tuesday. The Red Cross has urged people to check on the most vulnerable during the high temperatures, such as children and older people, while also calling on people to stay hydrated and to watch for signs of heatstroke, which can include vomiting and fainting. Sweltering temperatures were also set to hit Greece this week, with the northern city of Larissa set to be hit with a 44C heatwave. In Athens, the National Observatory predicted the city could see temperatures reach 43C on Wednesday. The heatwave in Greece is set to last for six days and peak on Friday but experts have warned that the extreme weather could cause forest fires that have been deadly in the past. In a sign of just how worried health officials are about the impending heatwave, the Greek government issued emergency meetings yesterday and called on employers to make sure staff do not work outdoors between noon at 5pm in the coming days. It comes after the World Meteorological Organization said the beginning of this month was the hottest week on record for the planet. Scientists have said climate change combined with the emergence this year of the El Nino weather pattern, which warms the surface waters in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, have fuelled recent record-breaking temperatures. 'The world just had the hottest week on record, according to preliminary data,' the WMO said in a statement, after climate change and the early stages of the El Nino weather pattern drove the warmest June on record. It's the latest in a series of records halfway through a year that has already seen a drought in Spain and fierce heat waves in China as well the United States. Temperatures are breaking records both on land and in the oceans, with 'potentially devastating impacts on ecosystems and the environment', the WMO said. 'We are in uncharted territory and we can expect more records to fall as El Nino develops further and these impacts will extend into 2024,' said Christopher Hewitt, WMO Director of Climate Services. 'This is worrying news for the planet.' People at a beach on lake Epple during a heat wave in Karlsruhe, Germany, 11 July 2023. Germany is bracing for summer heat and drought A pair of sailors on Lake Epple during a heat wave in Karlsruhe, Germany, 11 July 2023 People take cover from the sun under a beach umbrella at Lake Epple in Germany, 11 July 2023 A picture taken with a drone shows bales of stubble on a dry field amid a heatwave, in Karlsruhe, Germany, 11 July 2023 A man cools off at Villa Borghese during a heatwave across Italy, in Rome on Tuesday The beach in Ostia, near Rome, was packed at the weekend Visitors to the bullfighting museum in Sevilla use umbrellas to shield themselves against the fierce sun UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has said 'the situation we are witnessing now is the demonstration that climate change is out of control'. As well as withering crops, melting glaciers and raising the risk of wildfires, higher-than-normal temperatures also cause health problems ranging from heatstroke and dehydration to cardiovascular stress. Research published on Monday found that more than 61,000 people died due to the heat during Europe's record-breaking summer last year. The majority of deaths were in people over the age of 80 and about 63 percent of those who died due to the heat were women, according to the research published in the journal Nature Medicine. The world has warmed an average of nearly 1.2C since the mid-1800s, unleashing extreme weather including more intense heatwaves, more severe droughts and storms made fiercer by rising seas. Oceans absorb most of the heat generated by planet-warming gases, causing heatwaves that harm aquatic life, altering weather patterns and disrupting crucial planet-regulating systems. In June, global sea surface temperatures hit unprecedented levels, while Antarctic sea ice reached its lowest extent for the month since satellite observations began, at 17 per cent below average, breaking the previous June record by a substantial margin. While sea surface temperatures normally recede relatively quickly from annual peaks, this year they stayed high, with scientists warning that this underscores an underappreciated but grave impact of climate change. 'If the oceans are warming considerably, that has a knock-on effect on the atmosphere, on sea ice and ice worldwide,' said Michael Sparrow, chief of World Climate Research Programme at the WMO. 'There's a lot of concerns from the scientific community and a lot of catch-up from the scientific community trying to understand the incredible changes that we're seeing at the moment.' El Nino is a naturally occurring pattern that drives increased heat worldwide, as well as drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere. But Sparrow said its effects would likely be felt more acutely later in the year. 'El Nino hasn't really got going yet,' he said. Fed-up residents have slammed students who are turning their city suburb into a 'tip' each year after dumping piles of rubbish once they've finished university. Locals of Selly Oak in Birmingham have expressed their anger at graduates who are leaving festering mountains of waste once they've moved out of the area after the end of their studies. The suburb is a student heartland for those attending the University of Birmingham and hundreds of young people live in multi-occupancy terraced houses in the area. However locals claim that students along both Exeter Road and Hubert Road are treating the area as a dumping ground, leading to an invasion of rats and uncomfortable stenches. Fire bosses have previously had to warn the youths of the 'fire and health hazard' of failing to dispose of litter properly. Litter and construction scatter the streets of Selly Oak, Birmingham Locals claim that students along both Exeter Road and Hubert Road are treating the area more as a dumping ground Locals of Selly Oak have expressed their anger at graduates who are leaving festering mountains of waste once they've moved out of the area after the end of their studies Shocking photos taken this week show how the piles of rubbish bags on the street have built up to include items of furniture such as mattresses, tables and doors. Wheelie bins can also be seen overflowing while other waste is simply discarded on doorsteps, on the pavement or down alleyways. Families who reside nearby are resorting to keeping their children indoors during the summer months as a result of the mess left behind by students. Dad-of-four Tariq Abdelhossein, 39, who lives nearby, said: 'They leave it looking an absolute tip and it has turned into a yearly event. 'At this time of the year I refuse to let my children play outside because it's a health hazard and attracts rats. 'You would think they would take some pride in the place they have called home for several years but they leave it looking like a slum.' Another local, who wished to remain anonymous, said residents are often left to clear up the rubbish themselves. They said: 'To be honest, it's bad all year round - there's bottles of booze left in the streets most weeks and the parking is a nightmare too. 'But it does get worse around this time of the year when they begin to move out. We'll get a second wave of it in a few weeks when the rest move home. 'It really smells as well on warm days, it's disgraceful really. You can't get a pushchair down the street without having to go around bins or piles of rubbish. 'You would think the landlords or the university itself would try to intervene but it keeps on happening and it's the people who live here who sometimes have to clean it up. 'They don't even pay council tax so they aren't even helping fund the bin men who do eventually come out to get it.' The suburb is a student heartland for those attending the University of Birmingham and hundreds of young people live in multi-occupancy terraced houses in the area The mess attracts terrible stenches and invasions of rats One local said: 'It really smells as well on warm days, it's disgraceful really' Bournbrook Fire Station tweeted: 'Students please dispose of rubbish properly when you move out, its a fire and health hazard, please also park responsibly, luckily not responding at time.' Watch commander Dave Clark said previously: 'It is a seasonal issue for us and there's a big risk of an increase in secondary rubbish fires. 'The rubbish becomes a massive eyesore. The problem is the sheer amount of rubbish which can lead to rats.' A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council told MailOnline: 'The University of Birmingham works hard to help students leave their neighbourhoods in a good state when they move out for the summer. 'Students are provided with information and advice about considering their neighbours and their environment. Community Wardens run Junkbusters, a scheme to collect students unwanted clothes, books, and household items to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. They also resolve other waste issues throughout the year. 'In addition, the University works with Birmingham City Council to arrange extra refuse collections at key times of the year. Nevertheless, we recognise that additional efforts are required. 'We are committed to working with students, landlords, the local authority, and will continue to promote the importance of keeping our neighbourhoods clean and safe.' A mattress is pictured dumped atop a full skip in the area A spokesperson for the University of Birmingham said: 'The University of Birmingham works hard to help students leave their neighbourhoods in a good state when they move out for the summer. 'Students are provided with information and advice towards the end of term around considering their neighbours and their environment. 'We work with community wardens - students who aim to make Selly Oak a safer, greener place for all - to address and manage any concerns raised by residents regarding student behaviour. 'They run Junkbusters, a scheme to collect students' unwanted clothes, books, and household items to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. 'They also resolve other waste issues throughout the year and respond to concerns regarding student behaviour relating to waste disposal. 'In addition, the university works with Birmingham City Council to arrange extra refuse collections at key times of the year. Nevertheless, we recognise that additional efforts are required. 'We are committed to working with students, landlords, the local authority, and will continue to promote the importance of keeping our neighbourhoods clean and safe.' The university's own guidance advises students about their responsibility to keeping the area tidy when moving into the properties. In a 'moving in' guide, they say: 'You should bear in mind that 'your' conduct whilst living in the community reflects on the University and students as a whole. Some parents aren't even letting their children out of the house in summer months to play over concerns of their safety The suburban area (pictured) has been described as a 'tip' by residents Under a list of things which would be deemed antisocial behaviour they include: 'People dumping rubbish and abandoning cars.' They add: 'Don't forget to put your rubbish out on the right day, keep the streets tidy. 'Rubbish can attract vermin, insects, and other pests, and is also unsightly. 'As a tenant you, and not the landlord, are responsible for making sure all your household waste is disposed of properly and legally.' easyJet has axed 1,700 flights during the peak summer months as it grappled with 'unprecedented' air traffic control delays, causing huge travel disruption to thousands of holidaymakers. Around 180,000 passengers have had their flights scheduled for July, August and September grounded as a result of 'unprecedented' air-traffic control delays. But what can you do if you are affected by the latest easyJet flight cancellations? What are passengers entitled to if their flight is delayed or cancelled? Read on below to see what you are able to do if you have been affected by easyJet's cancellations from Gatwick Airport. Around 180,000 passengers have had their flights scheduled for July, August and September grounded as a result of 'unprecedented' air-traffic control delays What should I do if my flight gets cancelled? If your flight is cancelled, you have a number of different options. You are legally entitled to a full refund, which includes other flights from the airline that you wont use in the same booking, such as onward or return flights. You are also entitled to a replacement flight to get you to your destination. If your cancelled flight delays you by two hours or more, you have the legal right to be helped with costs. If the replacement flight offered to you has delayed you by two hours or more, and you were given less than two weeks notice, you are legally entitled to compensation. Why are easyJet cancelling flights? Holidaymakers are bracing for a summer of chaos due to air traffic control delays, which are three times longer than pre-pandemic levels. easyJet has maintained that disruptions are not due to staff shortages, which plagued the aviation sector last year. An easyJet spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are currently operating up to around 1,800 flights and carrying around 250,000 customers per day with more crew and pilots flying than ever before and like all airlines, we review our flights on an ongoing basis. Eurocontrol, which manages European airspace, recently warned that demand from airlines 'might get close to capacity' for ATC in large parts of Europe, including London, Brussels and Madrid. The spokesperson from easyJet added: 'As Eurocontrol has stated, the whole industry is seeing challenging conditions this summer with more constrained air space due to the war in Ukraine resulting in unprecedented ATC delays, as well as further potential ATC strike action. 'We have therefore made some pre-emptive adjustments to our programme consolidating a small number of flights at Gatwick, where we have multiple daily frequencies, in order to help mitigate these external challenges on the day of travel for our customers and we continue to operate around over 90,000 flights over this period. The airline has cited 'unprecedented' air-traffic control delays for the disruption, saying they are three times longer than pre-pandemic levels What time do I have to get to the airport? The Gatwick Airport website recommends that passengers should arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight is due to take off to allow enough time to check in and pass through security. Due to the current number of flights being cancelled by easyJet at Gatwick, it is best to check the status of your flight before you travel to the airport. Is the Gatwick Express running? The Gatwick Express is currently unaffected by strikes at the airport, with no disruption. Throughout the strikes, there are no scheduled disruptions on the service, but you are advised to check before using the route. Pressure is mounting on Joe Biden to send crucial long-range missiles to Ukraine after France said it would ship the potentially game-changing weapons. French president Emmanuel Macron said Paris would provide the SCALP surface-to-air missile system to strike targets further inside Russian-occupied territory. 'We have decided to deliver new missiles allowing deep strikes to Ukraine,' he said, without saying how many would be sent from its arsenal of just under 400. French president Emmanuel Macron made the announcement at the start of a two-day NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania Britain sent its own version of the SCALP, known as the Storm Shadow, to Kyiv in May. The UK was the first country to send long-range missile to Ukraine. A senior French military source said the shipments have already begun, and that they will be fired from non-Western fighter jets. 'It rebalances things and enables Ukraine to hit deep into Russian lines and can penetrate tougher targets,' he said, dismissing concerns that it could escalate the war further. It follows a decision by Britain in May to its own version of the missile system, known as Storm Shadows, becoming the first country to supply long-range missiles and help the Ukrainian military drive out the Russian invaders. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly welcomed the announcement. 'If other countries in the (NATO) alliance are able to make donations in various forms, that's great,' the UK's top diplomat said. 'There is no reason at all why we would want any other thinking.' Macron's move could see Biden face calls from Ukraine hawks in Congress to stump up U.S. stocks of ATACMS missiles. Washington is the biggest backer of the Ukrainian war effort, providing more than $40 billion in military aid. But the White House has repeatedly refused to grant the 190-mile range missiles amid fears they could attack deep inside Russia's internationally-recognized borders. Officials have argued that sending the weapons would be an escalatory move that could provoke Vladimir Putin to lash out. Shortly after Macron's announcement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov threatened Ukraine with punishment 'countermeasures' after the French move. 'From our point of view, this is a mistaken decision, with serious consequences for the Ukrainian side, because naturally it will force us to take countermeasures,' Peskov, Vladimir Putin's long-serving chief propagandist, said. 'I repeat our position of principle regarding such decisions (on arms deliveries): they cannot influence the course of events' in Ukraine,' he added. Russia made a similar threat against Britain when it delivered its long-range cruise missiles, but it never materialized. Retired General Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. forces in Europe, praised the French move. 'Ukraine can make Crimea untenable for the Russian Navy if they have enough long-range precision strike capability. Taurus from Germany and ATACMS from the U.S. would be huge. I don't know why France and the UK can do this but not them,' he told DailyMail.com. The French announcement came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky slammed NATO for failing to provide a proper timeline to full membership for Kyiv. 'Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit,' he said ahead of a planned visit to Vilnius on Wednesday. 'It seems there is no readiness either to invite Ukraine to NATO or to make it a member of the alliance,' the war-time leader added, branding the decision 'unprecedented and absurd'. One of Zelensky's most senior aides, Mykhailo Podolyak, echoed the president's frustration, saying that 'NATO needs to stop being afraid of responsibility.' Jens Stoltenberg, the chief of the mutual defense club, had insisted earlier on Tuesday Kyiv would be given 'a clear message' about the pathway to membership. Ukraine is seeking interim security guarantees from the U.S. and its allies as it waits to join NATO. A paper by ex-NATO chief Ander Fogh Rasmussen and his chief of staff Andriy Yermak last year suggested a Kyiv Security Compact, effectively shadow alliance membership, to protect the country and its people from future Russian aggression. It said that it should include US, Great Britain, Canada, Poland, Italy, Germany, France, Australia, and Turkey, as well as Baltic, Central and Eastern Europe. Ukraine was first considered for NATO membership in 2008 but was never offered a formal process to join amid fears that Russia would be provoked by such a move. Under Article 5 of the alliance's mutual defense treaty, an attack on one NATO ally is considered as an attack on all. But it is not automatic, and the clause requires the approval of all NATO countries to be triggered. The thorny issue of Ukrainian membership is not the only split to overshadow the two-day meeting, with questions being raised about the U.S. decision to send controversial cluster bombs to Ukraine. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had been amongst a chorus of voices who raised concerns about shipping the highly lethal arms to the war-torn country. The hope is that the weapons could help bolster the Ukrainian counter-offensive as its forces run low on ammunition. But in a response to DailyMail.com, Sullivan dismissed claims that the 31-nation military alliance was fractured over its backing of the Ukrainian military. 'I would say rumors of the death of NATO's unity were greatly exaggerated,' he said. 'Vladimir Putin has been counting on the West to crack, NATO to crack and the transatlantic alliance to crack and he has been disappointed with every turn.' The Russian tyrant will be 'very much disappointed' by what emerges from the meeting in Lithuania, Sullivan added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blew up the early professions of unity at the NATO summit Tuesday when he blasted allies for failing to set a firm timeline for his country to join the alliance. The rattling from outside the tent came hours after NATO announced a breakthrough that would allow it to admit Sweden as its 32nd member, the second new arrival since Russia began its invasion of its neighbor last year. It came amid a split-screen summit, where leaders declared they were acting in concert, following hard-ball negotiations over NATO's next member and pleas by Ukraine for more fierce military aid amid Russia's bombardment and invasion while smiling head's of state gripped and grinned at a family photo. He issued his complaints on Twitter after saying Ukraine would be 'represented' at the summit amid indications that he would meet with President Joe Biden here, saying the presence would be about 'respect.' 'But Ukraine also deserves respect. Now, on the way to Vilnius, we received signals that certain wording is being discussed without Ukraine. And I would like to emphasize that this wording is about the invitation to become NATO member, not about Ukraine's membership,' he inveighed. 'Its unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership. While at the same time vague wording about "conditions" is added even for inviting Ukraine,' Zelensky said. 'Abusrd': Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement blasting NATO for refusing to commit to a timeline for his country joining. President Biden said days earlier Ukraine wasn't 'ready' to join 'This means that a window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraine's membership in NATO in negotiations with Russia,' he said. 'And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror.' He said in a Monday night address Ukraine expects an 'algorithm' for joining, amid signals that key allies were working on a statement providing security guarantees. 'We are still working on the wording, that is, on the specific words of such confirmation, but we already understand the fact that Ukraine will be in the alliance,' he said Monday before his Twitter explosion. 'And we are working to make the algorithm for gaining membership as clear and fast as possible,' he said. His comments came after President Joe Biden earlier Tuesday vowed in Lithuania to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory, as the powerful alliance took a key step to adding its 32nd member. Biden talked up the 'historic moment' the alliance was facing as he praised NATO Secretary Gen. Jens Stoltenberg, whose term has been extended. 'I think it's really important at this critical moment in Ukraine and the whole NATO issue, that you continue to lead NATO. You're trusted; no one knows the situation that we're facing better than you do,' Biden told him. 'And this is a historic moment. Adding Finland and Sweden to NATO is consequential. And your leadership really matters. And we agree on the language that you propose, relative to the future of Ukraine being able to join NATO. And we're looking for a continued united NATO,' he said. 'I still think that President Putin thinks the way he succeeds is to break NATO and we're not going to do that,' the president said at a photo-op with Stoltenberg. President Joe Biden with British PM Rishi Sunak and other NATO leaders during a 'family photo' The leaders cast big smiles and proclaimed unity, amid signs of tension over Ukraine Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, center left, shakes hands with U.S. President Joe Biden, center right. Hungary must approve Sweden's bid to join The president spoke in the capital of Vilnius at the start of a NATO summit as his national security advisor said talk of splits over support for Ukraine have been 'greatly exaggerated.' 'As Ive said before, we take NATO takes all of us take Article V literally,' Biden said as he met Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at the start of the summit Tuesday. He said all NATO members were committed to the NAT Charter's mutual defense obligations. 'Were together against whoever was violating that space. Were going to defend every inch of it,' he said. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Tuesday warned that Vladimir Putin will be 'disappointed' by what emerges from a key NATO summit in Lithuania. The top aide to President Biden hit out at claims that divisions had erupted over Washington's decision to send controversial cluster bombs to Kyiv's armed forces. President Joe Biden vowed to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory as he met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at the Presidential Palace at the start of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania Tuesday Biden kicked off the summit after a key breakthrough that would grow the alliance to 32 members British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had been amongst a chorus of voices who raised concerns about shipping the highly lethal arms to the war-torn country. But in a response to DailyMail.com, Sullivan dismissed claims that the 31-nation military alliance was fractured over its backing of the Ukrainian military. 'I would say rumors of the death of NATO's unity were greatly exaggerated,' he said. 'Vladimir Putin has been counting on the West to crack, NATO to crack and the transatlantic alliance to crack and he has been disappointed with every turn.' The Russian tyrant will be 'very much disappointed' by what emerges from the two-day meeting in Lithuania, Sullivan added. And in a clear sign that tensions were on the rise, Russian ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov accused Washington of plotting 'confrontation' with Moscow. Biden signed a book before his meeting with the Lithuanian president Biden touted the strength of the alliance. The U.S. has about 1,000 troops serving in Lithuania, which border's Russian ally Belarus Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, right, welcomes U.S. President Joe Biden at the Presidential Palace prior the NATO summit in Vilnius Biden advisors say unity of the alliance is on display in Vilnius 'Everything is being done to prepare domestic public opinion for the approval of the anti-Russian decisions that will be made in Vilnius in the coming days,' he was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency, a Kremlin mouthpiece. Biden's comments came at the top of his first full day in Vilnius. He began his day by greeting Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda and signing a guest book. A reporter asked him what got Turkey to agree to Sweden's membership in the alliance. 'What do you think?' Biden said without elaborating. He said he wasn't surprised about Sweden getting in. Biden also viewed an honor guard, just as he did Monday at Windsor. As during his meeting with King Charles, Biden put a hand on his host, placing his hand on Nauseda's back as they reviewed the honor guard, part of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas Staff Battalion. He then held a bilateral meeting with Nauseda, while joined by Secretary of State Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Sullivan. Said Nauseda: 'The situation in our region is unfortunately deteriorating and we see what is happening around us,' cautioning that Belarus was growing increasingly close with Russia. 'Probably Lithuania is one of the most enthusiastic supporters of trans-Atlantic bond,' he said. The summit 'takes place in in absolute proximity to adversary countries. This is symbolic event, symbolic, but at the same time, this is a great opportunity to take the decisions,' he said. Ukraine is seeking interim security guarantees from the U.S. and its allies as it waits to join NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold talks with Joe Biden on Wednesday as part of that push for legally-binding protection from future Russian aggression. On Monday, the mutual defense club agreed to axe its so-called Membership Action Plan for Kyiv, traditionally a waiting room for countries looking to sign up. It means, in theory, that Ukraine is on a fast-track to joining, but Joe Biden has warned that will not happen until the war is over. A 'reform path for Ukraine' will be drawn up but 'I can't put a timetable on it, Sullivan said. He ruled out any immediate entry for Western-backed Ukraine, given its ongoing war against Russian invasion, saying this would 'bring NATO into a war with Russia.' A paper by ex-NATO chief Ander Fogh Rasmussen and his chief of staff Andriy Yermak last year suggested a Kyiv Security Compact, effectively shadow NATO membership, to protect the country and its people from future Russian aggression. It said that it should include US, Great Britain, Canada, Poland, Italy, Germany, France, Australia, and Turkey, as well as Baltic, Central and Eastern Europe. Ukraine was first considered for NATO membership in 2008 but was never offered a formal process to join amid fears that Russia would be provoked by such a move. Under Article 5 of the alliance's mutual defense treaty, an attack on one NATO ally is considered as an attack on all. But it is not automatic, and the clause requires the approval of all NATO countries to be triggered. That has happened only once since NATO was founded in 1949; in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks and George W. Bush's invasion of Afghanistan. The focus on Ukraine comes as Turkey backed down on blocking Sweden 's bid to join NATO on Monday. It followed hours of last-minute diplomacy that saw the U.S. green light the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to the Turkish government. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg made the announcement in a joint statement with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Ulf Kristersson. Erdogan said he would urge Turkish MPs to ratify Sweden's application to join the 31-member mutual defense club 'as soon as possible'. Earlier, the strongman leader had linked dropping his opposition to Stockholm's possible membership to reviving long-dead EU accession talks. The White House unveiled a plan to tackle the growing presence of the powerful animal sedative xylazine, also known as tranq, in the U.S. illicit drug supply. A six-point plan from the White House drug control office came out Tuesday morning previewing an increased effort to scale testing and research on the 'zombie drug' that leaves users with rotting flesh sometimes requiring amputation. The administration stopped short of recommending restrictions on the medication with pushback from farmers, veterinarians and others that regularly use the drug in their field. Xylazine is being mixed into fentanyl and other illicit opioids. The White House unveiled on Tuesday a plan to tackle the growing presence of xylazine-laced illicit drugs that leaves addicts in a 'zombie-like' state with large open sores prone to infection and amputation. Pictured: Multiple people are slouched over on the streets of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The plan calls for more research, but stopped short of restricting the drug used by veterinarians and farmers as a powerful animal sedative Gruesome images are emerging of addicts in U.S. cities who take drugs mixed with tranq and develop large open sores prone to infection and people in 'zombie-like' states. In addition to rotting flesh that can lead to amputation, tranq can also cause a dangerous decrease in heart rates and breathing levels. Federal officials hope the new strategy will reduce xylazine-related overdose deaths by 15 percent by 2025. But the drug is already causing thousands of deaths. A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the number of Americans being killed by a flesh-rotting street drug has soared more than 15-fold in the past three years. The report said monthly overdose deaths involving xylazine rose from 12 in January 2019 to 188 in June 2022. But officials only looked at 20 states plus D.C., meaning the true number involving the powerful animal tranquilizer is bound to be higher. The drug is also regularly mixed into fentanyl. Synthetic opioids other than methadone primarily fentanyl caused 70,601 overdose deaths in 2021, meaning tranq and fentanyl yearly deaths combined are already around 71,000. According to the DEA, in 2020, there were 808 drug overdoses reported in which xylazine played a role. That figure skyrocketed to 3,089 in 2021. Some states have already scheduled the drug, meaning they classified it as having a 'high potential for abuse or addiction,' and the White House is considering scheduling the sedative at the federal level. This would make xylazine subject to regulatory restrictions similar to opioids and amphetamines. Efforts to schedule the drug have faced pushback from veterinarians, farmers and others who regularly work with the drug with the intended use as an animal sedative. Congress introduced several bills aimed at restricting the use of xylazine without limiting its legitimate use in sedating horses, sheep and other animals. The 'six pillars of action' the administration plans to take to respond to the growing epidemic is conducting more testing and data collection to roll out an 'evidence-based prevention, harm reduction, and treatment' plan that reduces the supply. In addition, the White House wants to look at scheduling the drug and doing more research on how to keep it off the streets. The plan does not yet recommend restricting xylazine. Even if it did, Dr Katharine Neill Harris, a fellow in drug policy at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, told DailyMail.com restricting xylazine is not going to reduce deaths. 'Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is also restricted, and yet there were around 70,000 deaths involving that drug last year. Increasing penalties does not reduce the drug supply,' she explained. She said that the population currently most vulnerable to xylazine exposure are those who are opioid-dependent, so the White House should help them avoid xylazine-laced opioids by 'giving them a safer alternative, like the FDA-approved opioid use disorder medication buprenorphine.' 'Legal, regulatory, and financial barriers continue to be an obstacle to expanding access to this medication,' she added. Dr Neill Harris said: 'The White House's plan is a start, but they need the assistance of state and local authorities in reaching out to communities where xylazine is highly prevalent. 'For example, test strips to detect xylazine are now commercially available, but many states have not legalized these, creating an obstacle to their use.' Tranq, also known as the 'zombie drug,' leaves users with large open sores prone to infection and sometimes requiring amputation Homeless addicts are facing a growing threat from the sedative as it's mixed into the illicit drug supply Disturbing images show a depressing sight in Philadelphia as drug users and the homeless litter the streets and shoot-up illicit drugs in broad daylight in the birthplace of America's independence over Fourth of July weekend The White House called in April the presence of xylazine-laced fentanyl an 'emerging threat' as illicit drugs laced with fentanyl are already killing Americans at a record-high rate. Dr. Rahul Gupta's report Tuesday says administration officials will 'explore' scheduling xylazine to make sure it is more regulated. But the bulk of the White House plan focuses on improving how the drug is tracked and treated by health professionals who have access to it. Furthermore, the Biden Administration has been failing to cut down on fentanyl for years, despite the drug pouring through the Mexican border. 'We need more testing to get a national picture of the threat,' Gupta told reporters. Some medical examiners and health departments are regularly detecting xylazine in overdose victims as well as in whatever drug paraphernalia is collected off the deceased. Testing, however, has been inconsistent and a standardized approach is needed to understand the true impact, scope and potential trajectory of the drug's spread. Figures available so far suggest the use of tranq has spiked dramatically in recent years. Images out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this month painted a bleak picture of the illicit drug problem in U.S. cities. Disturbing photos showed homeless people shooting up on the streets of the birthplace of American independence over the Fourth of July weekend in the middle of the day. The lethal xylazine sedative when used with other illicit drugs enhances the effects of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. Philadelphia has become overwhelmed by drug-fueled crime under Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner, a self-described 'progressive prosecutor.' His failure to crack down led to his impeachment in 2022 for 'dereliction of duty', however he remains in office after his trial was indefinitely postponed. The White House plan to tackle the tranq crisis would develop rapid tests for hospital staff and community workers who treat overdose patients. Tranq-laced fentanyl is leading to a new epidemic in the U.S. as fentanyl deaths and overdoses are already spiking due to the flood of the illicit drug over the southern border. Deaths caused by fentanyl in the US surged with 19,413 in 2016 spiking to a record 72,484 deaths recorded in 2021 Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh (File Photo) Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the BJP-led Centre after a Delhi Police report claimed that it has verified the charges of six top wrestlers against BJP MP and former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, saying it was a litmus test for the government and asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi will act against the party leader. In a tweet, Congress General secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Delhi Police verifies the charges of India's six top wrestlers - India's daughters - on'outraging the modesty', 'sexual harassment', 'stalking', 'criminal intimidation'. "The "litmus test" of Modi government, will PM Modi act against Brij Bhushan (Sharan Singh), will (BJP president JP) Naddaji expel him from BJP now? Will Brij Bhushan (Sharan Singh) be arrested now? Will BJP government stop protecting him?" Surjewala asked. He tweeted while attaching a news report that alleged that Singh molested and stalked, and he is liable to be prosecuted, according to the Delhi Police. On July 7, Delhi's Rouse Avenue court had summoned Brij Bhushan Singh, an MP from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in connection with the allegations of sexual harassment made by the country's leading female wrestlers. The court took note of the charge sheet filed in the case, responding to the claims made by six women wrestlers. The summons were issued by the Rouse Avenue court, requiring Singh to appear before the court on July 18. Additionally, Vinod Tomar, former Assistant Secretary of Singh, has also been summoned by the court. The Delhi Police's charge sheet running over 1,000 pages was filed before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahima Rai of Rouse Avenue Courts for the offences under Sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (making sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) against accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. In the FIR registered at Connaught Place police station, it has been alleged by the six adult grapplers that Singh allegedly attempted to coerce one athlete into sexual acts by offering to provide her with "supplements", invited another wrestler to his bed and hugging her, as well as assaulting and inappropriately touching other athletes. This comes after a newly-engaged 35-year-old woman died as she tried to save her dog when the water thundered in to her New York home Damages and economic loss from current flooding across the North East and New England is projected to cost between $3 billion and $5 billion. More than 110 people have been rescued from the city, while many more remain trapped due to the closure of 78 roads submerged in floodwater Montpelier officials warn there are 'very few evacuation options remaining' and residents have been advised to 'go to upper floors' in their houses Several states have been deluged by catastrophic floods and Vermont is at 'highest risk' according to the National Weather Service Montpelier is on the brink of disaster as police warn heavy downpours have raised the threat of reservoir water spilling into the already dangerously deluged district. Officials in the rain-ravaged capital of Vermont said nearby Wrightsville Dam had six feet of storage capacity remaining on Monday, and by midday Tuesday this had decreased to just one foot. Shocking footage has shown water cascading through Montpelier's picturesque downtown district while submerging homes and vehicles in its wake - and rising water levels now threaten to compound the situation. Torrential downpours swept large swathes of the North East this week - including parts of New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts - and Vermont was labeled the 'highest risk' state by the National Weather Service. In the capital alone emergency services have rescued more than 110 people, while many more remain trapped due to the floods cutting off 78 roads and damaging police, ambulance and fire service headquarters. More than 110 people have been rescued from Montpelier so far, and many more remain trapped due to floodwater cutting off 78 roads and damaging emergency service headquarters Officials in rain-ravaged Montpelier said nearby Wrightsville Dam had six feet of storage capacity remaining on Monday, and by midday Tuesday this had decreased to just one foot. Pictured: the reservoir on Tuesday Aerial footage shows the colossal scale of the destruction, along with reservoir levels edging dangerously close to the edge of the dam. The dam is surrounded by miles of water-logged fields leading to the city, where the streets are completely submerged. Rescuers clad in life jackets and helmets can be seen using motorized rafts to traverse brown rivers which had been roads just days ago. Another angle shows a figure in a canoe floating beside second-story windows amid car bonnets which are only just visible above the surface. On Tuesday, Montpelier Police Department said water levels in Wrightsville Reservoir, Washington County, had risen five more feet since Monday night. 'Waters are still rising at the dam and are approaching approximately one foot from the spillway,' the force said. 'What does that mean? Every additional foot of water that goes over the spillway doubles the amount of water entering the City from the dam. 'We are seeing a reduction of water in the downtown, Langdon Street and VSECU areas so we have some capacity if we reach some overflow. 'We are continuing to monitor this situation.' Rescuers clad in life jackets and helmets can be seen using motorized rafts to traverse brown rivers which were roads just days ago Floodwater has submerged vehicles in Montpelier and several other cities in the north-eastern state, which has been designated emergency status by the president President Biden has declared a state of emergency in flood-ravaged Vermont The department earlier said the flash floods had taken out three radio towers used to dispatch fire engines and ambulances, along with key buildings used by first responders. By Tuesday afternoon, they added that reservoir levels remained dangerously high and the downtown remained an 'active emergency area', though the water levels had not risen. City Manager William Fraser warned that if the dam's limit was exceeded, a spillway would release 'a large amount of water' into the North Branch of the Winooski River and 'drastically add to the existing flood damage'. 'This has never happened since the dam was built so there is no precedent for potential damage,' he said. 'This will be particularly bad along the North Branch River corridor and into the downtown.' Fraser advised people in 'at-risk areas' to stay on the 'upper floors in their houses' because of limited evacuation prospects in some parts of the city. 'Computer and radio systems at the Police Station may become incapacitated if floodwaters increase,' he added. President Biden declared a state of emergency in Vermont and ordered federal aid to bolster local rescue efforts, while police described the situation as 'life-threatening', though no casualties have been reported so far. Some 7.33 inches of rainfall was recorded in the worst-hit parts of Montpelier over 22 hours up to 9.30pm Monday, and this was followed by more showers overnight into Tuesday morning. Residents shared images showing damage to their properties, including one home with floodwater rising all the way up the staircase to the second story. Meanwhile, around 90 miles south of the capital in the tiny town of Ludlow, Vermont, railroad tracks have been 'suspended more than 100 feet in the air after the earth beneath them washed away' according to the Weather Channel. Police are closing an increasing number of roads because 'travel is very dangerous at this time', and Main Street Middle School gym is being used as a 'temporary shelter' until buses can take residents to Red Cross zones. PIctured: Montpelier on Tuesday City Manager William Fraser warned the Wrightsville Dam just north of Montpelier, Washington County, 'only has six feet of storage capacity left' as more rain is due to hit on Tuesday Vehicles on the streets of Montpelier have been almost completely submerged in floodwater. Forecasters have said the city was hit with seven inches of rain over just 22 hours on Monday and more came overnight Chief of Police Eric Nordenson warned residents to stay away from the deluged downtown, where 'waters continue to rise'. 'Multiple water rescue teams are positioned in Montpelier and we urge the public to please stay out of the downtown and off City roads,' he said on Tuesday. 'Our rescue crews, DPW staff, dispatchers and first responders are spread very thin and will need time to assess the damages.' He added that police were closing roads because 'travel is very dangerous at this time', and Main Street Middle School gym is being used as a 'temporary shelter' until buses can take residents to Red Cross zones. 'Please understand that all responders are at the max capacity and to only contact dispatch in an extreme emergency,' Nordenson said. The National Weather Service said more rain is on the way for the crisis-hit state, which is ranked at 'highest risk' from the flooding. Pictured: Montpelier, Vermont on Tuesday More than seven inches of water fell on Montpelier over 22 hours - breaking the previous prediction of 6 inches in 24 hours - as 'tidal wave' rains ravaged the entire state of Vermont. Pictured: Devastation in Ludlow, Vermont, on Tuesday Vermont officials have called the flooding the worst since Hurricane Irene reached the state as a tropical storm in 2011 which caused seven deaths and came at a cost of around $750 million in damages. Irene brought 11 inches of rain to the state in 24 hours, swept homes from their foundations, and damaged or destroyed more than 200 bridges and 500 miles (805 kilometers) of highway. Private forecaster AccuWeather projected damages and economic loss from current flooding across the North East and New England to cost between $3 billion and $5 billion. The Vermont Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management has said swift water rescue teams have been working 'primarily in the towns of Londonderry, Weston, Bridgewater, Andover, Ludlow and Middlesex.' President Biden declared a state of emergency in Vermont overnight and ordered federal aid to bolster local rescue efforts. Pictured: water cascading down a road in Jamaica, Vermont The entire first floor of some homes in Montpelier have been flooded, as officials urge people to retreat to the highest point in their houses in lieu of an evacuation, as emergency services are struggling to reach all the affected areas due to road closures 'This is an all-hands-on-deck' event, Vermont governor Phil Scott told a news conference. It comes as a newly-engaged woman was killed when the water thundered into her New York home as she tried to save her dog. This is the shocking moment a Russian soldier viciously kicked and beat a woman while she cowered on the floor after she shouted 'Glory to Ukraine' on his return home from war. Video shows the woman, a neighbour, greeting one of Vladimir Putin's men on his return home to the southwestern city of Voronezh by shouting 'glory to Ukraine'. The soldier, dressed in military fatigues, can be seen yanking the woman by her hair down the steps of an apartment block. He shouted 'on the ground' to the woman, who reportedly came from Ukraine during the war, before repeatedly kicking and punching her body and face. The horrific attack on the woman, who was seen cowering on the ground, lasted 20 minutes, witnesses say. The soldier, dressed in military fatigues, can be seen yanking the woman by her hair down the steps of an apartment bloc. He shouted 'on the ground' to the woman, who reportedly came from Ukraine during the war, before repeatedly kicking and punching her body and face At least three bystanders are seen nearby but fail to intervene to help the stricken woman. They 'calmly watch what is happening', one report says. The video was shot from a high-rise overlooking the appalling attack. It was not reported whether the woman received hospital treatment after the attack. The fearful woman refused to file a complaint when she and the attacker were taken to the police, said reports. Local newspaper MOE reported that she told officers: 'I just fell down.' At least three bystanders are seen nearby on the footage but fail to intervene to help the stricken woman Russian police are believed to be taking no further action over the incident. It is unclear if the soldier was one of the thousands or Wagner private mercenary army troops currently sent home for rest after fighting for Putin, or a regular. Neighbours said that the woman had come to Voronezh from Ukraine. The Voronezh region shares a border with the occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine. A former Disney resort designer has claimed the world-famous theme parks are 'highway robbery' where fun is now replaced with a 'poor experience' because tickets are 'expensive' and rides are booked in advance. Ryan Harmon said that his own recent experiences have proved that the days of spontaneously taking your kids to Disney are over. The former Disney 'Imagineer' - whose job was to create, design and build the theme parks - said it has reached a point that no matter how high the company hike their prices, people will continue to come in their droves - which sparks chaos. Harmon, now the owner of Zeitgeist Design & Production - whose clients include Disney - claimed that unless you plan ahead and reserve rides, shows and restaurants, you are left walking away disappointed. Also criticizing Disney's decision to scrap the free fast pass, Harmon told Fox Business: 'To be charging up to $170 a person to walk through the gate and then $30 a person for a ride. I mean, that's just highway robbery.' His negative experiences, both a few years ago and more recently, may well be shared by others as recent data showed that crowds at Disney theme parks have been noticeably thinner this summer with the Fourth of July weekend the slowest in nearly a decade. A former Disney resort designer has claimed the world-famous theme parks are 'highway robbery' where fun is now replaced with a 'poor experience' because tickets are 'expensive' and rides are booked in advance. Pictured: The Walt Disney 'Partners' statue at Magic Kingdom Harmon said: 'We bought our very expensive tickets and went in and watched as all these people walked in front of us in the queues because they made an online reservation. So we got stuck waiting and waiting and waiting.' He added that Disney - who are also at war with 2024 Republican candidate Ron DeSantis over LGBTQ+ rights - have added more experiences to cope with large crowds and then try to raise the prices higher. He continued: 'That maybe weeds out some people, but that doesn't seem to work, and so they've come up with a system using your mobile phonethe problem is that unless you plan ahead which a lot of people do not you end up going there and having a pretty poor experience because people have reserved rides and shows and restaurants.' Harmon recalled taking his team on a last-minute trip to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, a few years ago but was left unsatisfied after being unable to access several rides and restaurants because they were booked up. After getting fed up of watching swathes of people walk past them on rides and at restaurants, they decided to leave after just two hours. In a more recent trip, Harmon found himself desperately checking his phone to try and secure reservations. The former Disney Imagineer has called on Disney to cap the number of reservations to allow room for walk-in guests to have an equal experience without the stress. Harmon recalled taking his team on a last-minute trip to the Magic Kingdom (pictured) but lasted just two hours in the park because they had not made reservations It comes after travel experts claimed the park's recent price hikes and changed to operations contributed to the number of people visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth. While Magic Kingdom and Epcot cost the same this year as last, single-day tickets for Disneys Hollywood Studios are up $184 and Animal Kingdom have increased to $164. At Disneyland on the West Coast, the cost of multiday tickets increased by 9 percent or more in October, with the price of a two-day ticket rising from $255 per adult to $285. Summertime - especially Fourth of July - at Walt Disney World in Florida - is normally one of the busiest times. But the holiday weekend one of the slowest compared to past years in nearly a decade, according to data from Touring Plans, a travel company that tracks wait times at amusement parks. Park visitors have seen significantly shorter wait times for rides and industry analysts say this generally correlates with smaller crowds. At Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park in Florida, the average posted wait time was 27 minutes this year for the Fourth of July holiday, down from 31 minutes in 2022 and 47 minutes in 2019, according to the Touring Plans data. It comes after travel experts claimed the park's recent price hikes and changed to operations contributed to dwindling visitor numbers It follows a tumultuous year for Disney which has been engaged in a massive legal dispute with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (pictured) over the 'Don't Say Gay' law passed in 2022 This is despite a special fireworks show produced in the park on July 4th every year. It follows a tumultuous year for Disney which has been engaged in a massive legal dispute with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the 'Don't Say Gay' law passed in 2022. At the time, former CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against the Parental Rights in Education Bill which bans classroom instruction on gender identity or sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade. On Monday, DeSantis claimed there had been a quiet boycott of Disney - both in its theme parks and movies. He said that parents 'don't want an agenda shoved down their throat'. Speaking on The Clay and Buck Show, the Republican said: 'Well, I'll tell you, as parents of 6, 5 and 3-year-old kids, my wife and I really believe that parents should be able to send their kids to school and watch cartoons without having an agenda shoved down their throat. 'That's why we stood up to Disney with respect to our parents rights and education bill. And I think that it is impacting parents willingness to want to take their kids to the Disney stuff.' Boris and Carrie Johnson have welcomed their third child, a baby boy named Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson - or Frankie to his family. Mrs Johnson, 35, made the announcement on Instagram this afternoon, where she shared pictures of the newborn, who is Mr Johnson's eighth child and Carrie's second son. Writing alongside the photos, the former prime minster's wife - who is already mum to Wilfred, three, and Romy, 18 months - revealed the newborn's arrival and names with a series of adorable pictures. Carrie, wearing a white dress, is seen holding the baby and looking at him adoringly. She also shared pictures of Frankie being tucked in by his big brother Wilf and lying happily in a Moses basket. She wrote: 'A week of Frankie. Welcome to the world Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson born 5th July at 9.15am. (Can you guess which name my husband chose?!) Boris and Carrie Johnson have welcomed their third child together, a baby boy named Frank Frankie is tucked in by his big brother Wilfred Carrie shared the arrival of her third child on Instagram Frankie was born on July 5 at 9.15am The proud mother shared a handmade card for her second son Former prime minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson arrive at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6 'Am loving every minute of the sleepy baby bubble. Seeing my older two embrace their new brother with such joy and excitement has been the most wonderful thing to see. We are all very smitten. 'Thank you so much to the incredible NHS maternity team at UCLH. They really are the most amazing, caring people. I feel such immense gratitude. How many children does Boris Johnson have? The Prime Minister and Marina Wheeler, who separated in 2018, have four children together: Lara Lettice, 26, Milo Arthur, 24, Cassia Peaches, 22, and Theodore Apollo, 20. He also has a fifth child, Stephanie Macintyre, with art consultant Helen Macintyre. The Appeal Court ruled in 2013 that the public had a right to know that he had fathered a daughter during an adulterous liaison while Mayor of London in 2009 - but also mentioned the possibility of a second baby. Lara attended Bedales school - which costs 33,000-a-year - in Hampshire and went on to read Latin at St Andrews University. Milo went to 27,000-a-year Westminster School and can speak Arabic, Russian and French. Cassia went to Highgate School - which costs 18,000 per year - and Theodore went to Cambridge University. Boris' son Wilf, born on April 29, 2020, is from his relationship with wife Carrie. His second with Carrie, Romy, was born in December 2021. The third child was born on July 11, 2023. Mr Johnson's eighth. Advertisement 'Now, can anyone recommend any good series/box sets to binge while breastfeeding? 'Time for a drink.' The baby is the couple's third together but Daily Mail columnist Mr Johnson's eighth. The former PM has four children from his marriage to lawyer Marina Wheeler. He also has a fifth child, Stephanie Macintyre, with art consultant Helen Macintyre. The Johnson's named Wilfred after Mr Johnson's grandfather, one of his middle names, Lawrie, is after her own grandad and the other, Nicholas, is after a doctor who treated the former MP while he battled Covid at St Thomas' hospital in London. Their daughter Romy is named after Mrs Johnson's auntie Rosemary, her middle name Iris is Greek for rainbow and her third name Charlotte was a tribute to Mr Johnson's late mother. In May Mrs Johnson announced she was expecting her third child, adding that the arrival was just weeks ago. Sharing her news on Instagram, she said she felt had 'pretty exhausted' for the past eight months, adding, 'we can't wait to meet this little one' in a few weeks time. 'Wilf is v excited about being a big brother again and has been chattering about to nonstop. 'Don't think Romy has a clue what's coming. She will soon.' The baby's arrival is just over three years after Mrs Johnson gave birth to her first son Wilfred. And in December 2021 they welcomed their daughter Romy, which Mrs Johnson described as their 'rainbow baby' following her miscarriage a year before. The couple moved to Oxfordshire earlier this year after Mr Johnson resigned as PM last July. Mr Johnson's children with Ms Wheeler are all in their 20s - Lara Lettice is 20, Milo Arthur is 27, Cassia Peaches, 25 and Theodore Apollo, 23. Carrie is already mum to Wilfred, three, and Romy, 18 months The White House is firing back at Republicans over a number of provisions contained with the annual defense spending bill that would roll back 'woke' priorities of the administration and push to reinstate over 8,000 terminated service members for refusing the COVID vaccine. In a statement of administration policy released Monday, the White House said it is looking forward to working with Congress to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), but had a number of 'concerns' it demands be addressed prior to final passage. The House Rules Committee is set to take up the bill this week and then move the legislation to the floor for a full body vote before it heads to the Senate. Rep. Jim Banks, who chairs who chairs the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, took issue with the White House's specific complaints about a series of amendments he led - and passed out of committee - that would 'offer redress' to service members who were 'unjustly discharged' by requiring the Pentagon to set up a reinstatement process and ensure no negative retaliation. 'This is not about science or public health, the White House's opposition to reinstating service members willing and able to serve our country is nothing more than an attempt to punish religious people and conservatives,' Banks, R-Ind., told DailyMail.com in an exclusive statement. A member of the U.S. Navy receives the COVID-19 vaccine Rep. Jim Banks, who chairs who chairs the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, took issue with the White House's specific complaints about a series of amendments he led 'It's shameful and dangerous during a time of record low recruitment,' he added. Over 8,000 service members - many who sought religious exemptions - were fired for refusing to comply with the Pentagon's COVID-19 vaccine mandate enacted in August 2021. Following outrage, the FY 2023 NDAA passed last December terminated the mandate, but it did not reinstate service members who were fired for not receiving the shot nor provide any other compensation. However, the administration made it clear this week that it opposes those protections for terminated troops included in the FY 2024 NDAA by Banks. Specifically, the White House rejected the Republican-led push to make it easier for the Pentagon to re-hire terminated service members and establish a procedure to have unvaccinated troops' discharge statuses changed - in order to pave the way for quick reinstatement. Banks' office says their amendments would require the secretary of defense to prioritize vaccine refusers' request to have their discharge statuses changed, so that the wait period will be significantly decreased. 'The proposed language would prevent the Secretary from taking appropriate action in the future should a new strain of COVID-19 again require vaccination for force health protection,' said the White House in response, adding that it would also have a 'negative budgetary impact.' The administration explained that the amendments would improperly place the review of petitions for unvaccinated fired troops above the consideration of service members with issues including 'military sexual trauma, PTSD related to military service, and matters related to pay and benefits.' The White House also pushed back on the Republican-backed provision that would prevent unvaccinated students at military service academies to be forced to pay back the cost of their tuition. It would set a 'dangerous precedent' that not following lawful orders is an 'option' for service members, said the memo, 'which will be deleterious to good order and discipline as well as unit cohesion.' Current and former troops have also expressed concerns to DailyMail.com, saying that the Republican-led amendments to the FY 2024 NDAA are not strong enough to undo the 'serious harassment' they endured over the last two years. Some have expressed concerns that the U.S. Coast Guard is not considered a 'covered armed force' and wouldn't be afforded the protections outlined in the Banks amendments. However, a spokesperson for Banks' office said the USCG will be included in the final version of the bill through a floor amendment after it is approved by the House Rules Committee this week. In addition, the White House outlined a number of issues it has with the Republican push to roll back 'woke' diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) administration priorities in the military. It would set a 'dangerous precedent' that not following lawful orders is an 'option' for service members, said the White House memo Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin enacted a sweeping COVID vaccine mandate in August 2021 'The Administration strongly opposes the House's sweeping attempts...to eliminate the Department's longstanding DEIA efforts and related initiatives to promote a cohesive and inclusive force,' the memo states. 'We rely on diverse perspectives, experiences, and skillsets to remain a global leader, deter war, and keep our nation secure,' the White House continued, calling it a 'strategic advantage' for the United States. The administration suggested that without a diverse fighting force, the military will suffer from a negative work environment. Banks' amendment bans the Pentagon from 'taking into account race and gender during their recruiting processes' and also prohibit the use of racial quotas. It also sets a pay cap for officials within the Pentagon working on DEI issues. 'The Biden DoD's indefensible race and gender-based treatment of servicemembers is making our military weaker and our nation less safe,' Banks said about the provisions to counter the Biden administration's DEI push. In addition, Republicans have accused the administration of pushing out-of-touch woke policies to the detriment of military 'readiness.' William Bee, a former Marine who deployed to Afghanistan four times, told DailyMail.com previously that the only changes made to the military should be to 'increase lethality.' 'Everything else is dross,' Bee said in response to the rise of the military's woke push. A retired teacher has been jailed for sexually assaulting boys at the prestigious Salisbury Cathedral School and another boarding school. Piers Le Cheminant was convicted of ten indecent assaults against nine boys over a 21-year period. The 77-year-old targeted boys at Oakwood boarding school in Chichester, West Sussex, until one of the pupils made a complaint against him, Winchester Crown Court was told. He was then able to take up a position at the Wiltshire school, where his offending continued. Le Cheminant, of Newton Abbot, Devon, would call boys to the front of the class and grope their buttocks while their classmates watched, the court was told. Piers Le Cheminant was convicted of ten indecent assaults against nine boys over a 21-year period The 77-year-old targeted boys at Oakwood boarding school in Chichester, West Sussex Judge Timothy Mousley KC said the defendant had shown a 'lack of remorse' for his crimes, which happened between 1965 and 1986 He would also watch the boys shower after they had played sport and took some of his victims somewhere private, where he would grope them and smack their buttocks. Judge Timothy Mousley KC said the defendant had shown a 'lack of remorse' for his crimes, which happened between 1965 and 1986. He said: 'One of the children was only eight years old when you started to abuse him. Each of these boys was particularly vulnerable and you took advantage of that. 'The harm was severe in some cases and you breached the trust which others expected of you. You have left them with appalling memories of their time at school.' As well as being jailed for nine years, Le Cheminant was given a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register. Salisbury Cathedral School dates back more than 900 years and is located beneath the spire of the famous cathedral. Founded in 1091 by St Osmund, bishop of Salisbury and nephew of William the Conqueror, it is one of the world's oldest educational establishments. 'Dangerous', self-taught survivalist Michael Burham used bedsheets to rappel out of the Pennsylvania jail where he was being held on murder and rape charges last week after using a pull-up machine to gain access to the building's roof. Burham, 34, has been on the run since last Thursday, when he escaped from The Warren County. The jail is in a remote part of the state just 70 miles southeast of Lake Erie, next to the Allegheny National Forest. Some 150 law enforcement officers are looking for Burham, who was being held on a slew of charges and is the prime suspect in the shooting death of a woman in May. Earlier this week, investigators found mini campsites near the jail where they believe he could have stayed. Now, Pennsylvania State Police are probing whether or not Burham had help from someone working in the jail. Burham has an extensive military background, spending more than 10 years in the Army Reserve where he served as a water treatment specialist. Michael Burham escaped from the Warren County Jail in Pennsylvania last Thursday The criminal rappelled down this building using tied-together bedsheets, shown, after hoisting himself onto a roof by climbing onto a pull-up machine The jail is in a remote part of the state just 70 miles southeast of Lake Erie, next to the Allegheny National Forest Fox News cites military sources who say that while he never deployed, he sought additional firearms training while in the Reserve. Authorities say he is a 'self-trained survivalist' who could now be hiding out in the Allegheny National Forest which covers more than half a million acres of rural Pennsylvania on the New York border. District Attorney Jason Schmidt of Chautauqua County, New York, said last month that Burham is the prime suspect in the May 11 killing of Kala Hodgkin, 34, and a related arson in Jamestown, New York. At the time of her death, he was wanted on a separate charge for raping her. After allegedly shooting her dead, he went on the run for two weeks, hijacking an elderly couple's car. He was eventually arrested on May 24 and was brought into custody. The young mother was found dead in her home after a 911 call reported shots fired. Burham was arrested in May after two weeks on the run. He was wanted on charges including rape and murder Authorities say he may be best recognized by his distinctive Tiger tattoos Burham is the 'prime suspect' in the shooting death of Kala Hodgkin, 34, in May Authorities also accuse him of abducting an elderly couple in Pennsylvania while trying to evade capture before his arrest in South Carolina. Warren city police said Burham 'is considered very dangerous' - but that he is leaving 'breadcrumbs' in his wake that are helping the authorities. 'Theyre chasing a ghost right now. But hes dropping breadcrumbs. Thats a good thing those are mistakes on his behalf. He could be a survivalist, but so are the US Marshals. Once that noose starts tightening and they make that mistake, its all over,' said Lenny DePaul, a retired commander of the US Marshals Service, told The New York Post. The US Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $7,500 for information that helps lead to Burham's capture. Warren County Crime Stoppers is offering another $2,000. Warren County police fear Burham 'may be receiving assistance' from someone A man appeared in court today charged with the murder of a wealthy couple who were found dead with the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl in their bodies. Luke D'Wit, 33, who is accused of the murder of Stephen Baxter, 61, and his wife Carol, 64, spoke only to confirm his name during a short hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Essex. Mr and Mrs Baxter were found dead by their daughter Ellie, 22, on Easter Sunday on April 9 this year when she visited the couple's detached home in Victory Road, West Mersea, Essex. D'Wit of Churchfields, West Mersea, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of their murder. Essex Police revealed on Saturday that he had been charged with two counts of murder, one count of possession of a Class A drug, and one count of theft. Stephen Baxter, 61, and his wife Carol, 64, (pictured with their grandson) were found unresponsive in their 1m home and both had fentanyl in their systems when they died, an inquest heard The couple were discovered by their daughter Ellie on Sunday April 9 at their five-bedroom house (pictured) in the yachting town of West Mersea, near Colchester in Essex Another man and a woman, both aged in their 20s, who were also arrested on suspicion of murder in the Colchester area on Thursday were later released on police bail, pending further inquiries. D'Wit appeared in court today via video link from prison. He appeared to be walking with the aid of a crutch and was wearing a blue and yellow coloured shirt. Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said the two other suspects remained on bail. He estimated that any future trial could take up to three weeks, and was likely to include pathology and pharmacology evidence. Michael Stradling, defending, gave no indication about how D'Wit intended to plead, but he confirmed that the case would be featuring toxicology and pathology evidence. He added: 'The only observation I have is that it is very difficult to assume precisely how long this trial will be at this stage.' Mr Stradling said he was making no application for bail today, but he indicated that there might be one at a later date. Relatives and friends of D'Wit began murmuring loudly when they realised that D'Wt would be remaining in custody. Judge Christopher Morgan ordered them to keep quiet, saying: 'I am very sorry. I know emotions run high, but please don't talk across the court'. The judge explained that any future bail application had to be made 'in accordance with criminal procedure rules' which included giving the Crown the chance to respond. When a woman in the public gallery once again expressed her exasperation, the judge told her: 'Madam, will you just leave'. She then left the court. D'Wit was remanded in custody to appear back at court on September 25 this year. Essex Police originally treated the deaths of Mr and Mrs Baxter as 'unexpected and not suspicious' after they were found dead. But a murder probe was launched after tests found that that Mrs Baxter had toxic levels of fentanyl and promethazine, an antihistamine used in over-the-counter cold medicines, in her body. An inquest opening at Essex Coroners Court last week gave Mrs Baxter's provisional cause of death as combined fentanyl and promethazine toxicity with terminal bronchopneumonia. A provisional cause of death for Mr Baxter was given as 'cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart) and alcoholic liver disease with fentanyl intoxication'. Police said that the three people were arrested 'in order to gain comprehensive accounts from them' after 'extensive investigation and toxicology analysis'. Mrs Baxter was managing director of a company called Cazsplash Ltd, selling bath mats designed to fit snugly around modern curved or corner showers, along with matching towels. Her husband was a fellow director of the business which was launched 11-years-ago, according to Companies House records. He was also global lead, operational risk and assurance, for multi-billion pound transnational real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle, which was founded in the UK but has its headquarters in Chicago. Mrs Baxter was managing director of Cazsplash Ltd, a bathroom accessories firm which sells corner and curved shower mats The couple who married in 2000 had two children together. Mrs Baxter, a former adult educator, had two more children from two previous marriages. They were social members at West Mersea Yacht Club which flew its flag at half mast after their deaths. The couple's daughter is said to have found them dead in their chairs on Easter Sunday when she turned up to visit them with her one-year-old son. Ms Baxter described how she flung open bi-fold doors to let fresh air in as she suspected a carbon monoxide leak. She said at the time: 'It was absolutely awful to see. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. But what I keep going back to is that they were sitting there together and were peaceful. There were no signs of a struggle or any pain.' Miss Baxter added: 'They were very loving. Family always came first. They made sure that we always had what we needed and then some.' Firefighters cordoned off the road outside the couple's home for several hours after their bodies were found, amid fears that there had been a gas leak. One nearby resident said she had been told to stay in her home for two hours, said: 'There was talk about their deaths being due to some sort of gas leak. But I remember it was a hot Easter Sunday afternoon when they would not be sitting in a room with closed windows and doors.' Mrs and Mrs Baxter had lived for 13 years in their modern weather-boarded house. Several local residents said they had been aware that Mrs Baxter had been ill, but they still saw her and her husband out and about. One said: 'I knew Carol had been unwell because I had not seen her for some time. When I spoke to her at the end of last year, she said she had been unwell and not going out much. 'She was a hard worker and was a nice and friendly person. I remember them saying that they were looking for somewhere else to live because they wanted to downsize.' Another neighbour who asked not to be named said: 'People knew they were in poor health.' A third resident said: 'I used to see Carol walking her black labrador up the road and she often had time for a chat. There was a drinks party outside to celebrate the end of lockdown and they seemed fine then with no hint of any health problems.' Essex Area Coroner Sean Horstead told the inquest opening last week: 'On the basis of the information, I am satisfied that this requires a full inquest. At the request of the police, I will suspend the coronial investigation for four months.' Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid similar to morphine but up to 100 times more potent. It is a Class A drug which is used legitimately by doctors to treat patients with severe pain. In the US, it was linked to about two-thirds of the 107,000 deaths caused by opioids in 2021. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service confirmed to DailyMail.com today that no charges or arrests have been made in the case The family of a missing 14-year-old girl who was found at Camp Pendleton barracks have accused Marines of a 'cover-up', and say they're trying to 'control the narrative', as investigators say they have not arrested anyone in connection with the case. Cassaundra Perez told NBC 7 that she believed the investigators on the California base are trying to cover up the truth and is encouraging fellow Marines to speak up. Her 14-year-old niece had been discovered on the base on Jun 28 after being first declared missing on June 13. Perez had previously claimed that her niece, who has learning difficulties, was sold to the Marine for sex. The Marine in question was pictured being led out in handcuffs for questioning, but it has since emerged that no arrests have been made. She told NBC 7: 'Please hold your fellow service members accountable, be the hero you signed up to be - I have your back if you do.' Speaking to NBC San Diego, Perez called for fellow service members to step up and call out what had happened at the base The 14-year-old girl, who is said to have a learning disability, was located at the base on June 28 Perez continued: 'Something is not right regardless. This is extremely frustrating, especially since NCIS seems to be not sharing any information with us.' She also said that some people on the base are leaking information on social media, saying: 'Right now it's sounding more that they're trying to control the narrative that nothing was done wrong.' Perez had previously posted to TikTok last week that her 14-year-old niece had been sold to a Marine as a sex slave. A leaked photo posted online shows what appears to be a handwritten logbook from the San Diego-area base that states that an 'underage female' was found in room 343. It mentions, however, that the girl was 13. In her previous TikTok, Perez said: 'The security looked her in the face and allowed this man to bring a minor on to base where he then proceeded to have sex with her. 'Due to her age, she could not have given this consent,' she added, claiming someone referred to her family by the military told them the Marines were trying to keep the story from becoming public. An unidentified Marine with the Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group has since been taken into custody in connection with the girl's disappearance. A photo posted online showed the Marine being led from the barracks in handcuffs, but NCIS officials say he has not yet been charged with any criminal activity. Captain Chuck Palmer previously said: 'We can confirm that a Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group was taken into custody for questioning by Naval Criminal Investigative Services on June 28, 2023, as seen on social media July 2, 2023. 'The incident is under investigation, and we will continue to cooperate with NCIS and appropriate authorities.' An unidentified Marine, pictured here, has been taken into custody in connection with the girl's disappearance, but has not yet been charged criminally A leaked photo online shows what appears to be a handwritten logbook from Camp Pendleton that states that an 'underage female' was found in room 343 San Diego's human-trafficking task force and the San Diego County Sheriff's Office are also investigating the incident. Palmer confirmed the Marine pictured in handcuffs was being detained and questioned about the missing girl. The teenager, who is said to have a learning disability, was first declared missing on June 13, four days after some relatives said she ran away from her grandmother's house. She was then found at the San Diego area Marine base on June 28. The victim's grandmother told the authorities she had run away several times before but had always previously returned. Perez previously claimed that her niece was sold to a Marine as a sex slave and officials on the base tried to cover it up After she was found, detectives with the San Diego sheriff's office interviewed her and offered her family support services. The girl was not hospitalized, officials said, but it is unclear if she sustained any injuries. She has since been returned to her grandmother's care, deputies said, but Perez fears military officials may retaliate against her family. 'If I go missing or end up murdered the people potentially responsible could possibly be located here at Camp Pendleton,' she said in her video. In an update provided to DailyMail.com by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service today, they said: 'No charges have been filed and no arrests have been made at this time. 'Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS will not comment on or confirm details relating to the ongoing investigation. 'As always, NCIS is committed to fully investigating any allegation of criminal behavior that threatens Department of the Navy readiness.' A woman who stood neck-deep in mud and desperately tried to protect her dog from two Irish wolfhounds has spoken out after undergoing surgery on her hands. Elle Booth, 34, was walking her Jack Russell Indi at Boggy Well Creek, at Lugarno in south Sydney, on Sunday when they were set upon by the two dogs being walked by a man whose identity remains a mystery. The pair ran into a muddy creek to seek shelter, where they spent around half an hour trying to fight off the vicious dogs until eventually being rescued by police armed with pepper spray. Indi sadly died on Monday evening after rushed into veterinary intensive care with critical injuries. 'It was heartbreaking, she was killed in my arms ... I am genuinely lucky to be alive if they had decided to attack me I could have died,' Ms Booth told 7News on Tuesday. Ms Booth and her pooch ran into the muddy creek to seek shelter, where they spent 20 minutes trying to fight off the wolfhounds (pictured in the creek) until they were rescued by police The seven-year-old Jack Russell (pictured) never recovered after being admitted to hospital on Sunday Ms Booth said she saw the owner of the vicious dogs run off and was initially relieved assuming he had gone to get help - but it was the last she saw of him. 'I hope he takes responsibility for what has happened to my dog and to me,' Ms Booth said. The mystery man had blown a whistle and the dogs momentarily paused during the attack, with Ms Booth taking the opportunity to move further into the mud as she desperately tried to shield her pet from further harm. But when she turned back toward the shore and bush track, the man was nowhere to be seen - and she realised she was alone. Police are continuing to investigate the identity of the man and urge anyone with information to come forward. The conditions were so treacherous officers who came to Ms Booth and Indi's aid also got stuck in the mud. Her husband Tom Dale told Daily Mail Australia his wife was 'brave as hell' and he was 'so proud of her'. Dog attack victim Elle Booth (pictured with her husband Tom) said: 'I thought I was going to die, I thought those dogs were going to kill me' Ms Booth (pictured), 34, was rushed to St George hospital in the city's south after suffering injuries to her face, neck, arms, hands and legs in the savage attack 'He [the man] was yelling at Elle to get Indigo to stop running away, as it was exciting his dogs. He was trying to stop them but they were out of control,' Mr Dale said. 'He followed Elle down to the mangroves and when he saw his two dogs mauling Indi in the mud further out, he turned and ran away.' Family friend Tess Hutchison announced on Tuesday morning Indi had passed away overnight while undergoing emergency surgery after the horror attack. 'Unfortunately last night Indi passed away due to three heart attacks while being operated on,' Ms Hutchinson said. 'She fought until the very end and was such an incredibly brave little pup who will forever be loved by many.' Meanwhile, Ms Booth was rushed to St George Hospital after suffering injuries to her face, neck, arms, hands and legs and underwent surgery on her hands and forearm on Monday. The horror incident comes after the couple had only recently moved to the area to give their pets bush trails to explore. Ms Hutchinson said the event had changed the couple's lives 'forever' and has filled them with 'sorrow, heartache, and unspeakable pain'. Family friend Tess Hutchinson announced on Tuesday morning Indi (pictured) had passed away overnight while undergoing emergency surgery after the horror attack Elle Booth, 34 (pictured, with Indi) bravely tried to save the life of her pooch, Indi, as the pair were mauled by two dogs A GoFundMe page set up for the brave pet owner surpassed its $25,000 goal - the cost of Indi's vet bills - within hours. Ms Hutchinson shared her appreciation for everyone who had rallied to support the couple. She said despite Ms Booth suffering serious injuries, her concern and focus since the attack had been on Indi's wellbeing. 'We want to say a huge thank you to each and everyone of you who have donated, sent kind words and had both Elle and Indi in their thoughts over the last couple of days,' she said. 'Elle has suffered severe physical injuries and will have a long road to recovery, not to mention the emotional damage experienced.' After the attack, the Irish wolfhounds were seized by Georges River Council at a Peakhurst home. Two dogs were seized by police and Georges River council rangers from a Peakhurst home (pictured) Investigations are ongoing In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson said Georges River Council would not confirm whether the dogs were put down. 'We can confirm council staff worked with police on the day to locate and seize the dogs and will continue to work with police during the investigation. 'Residents are reminded to exercise responsible pet ownership to ensure the safety of our community and the wellbeing and safety of their pets by always walking their dog on a leash, unless in an authorised off-leash area.' Napier Port (NZX.NPH) today releases trade volume data for the third quarter and nine months ended 30 June 2023. Compared to the nine months in 2022, containerised cargo volume decreased by 10% and bulk cargo volume decreased by 16.4%. The decrease was more pronounced for the third quarter with containerised cargo volume reducing by 31.6% and bulk cargo volume reducing by 28.6%. Chief Executive, Todd Dawson, said: Following a strong start to the financial year, the third quarter to June 2023 has been challenging. As anticipated, we have seen reduced volumes due to the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle. Damage to seasonal crops have resulted in lower volumes of export apples and other produce, and the closure of Pan Pacs wood processing facilities has seen a significant reduction in wood pulp and timber volumes. Mr Dawson added that while the trade volumes were in line with Napier Ports expectation that trading would remain subdued in the second half of the financial year, with a return towards traditional export flows next year, unexpected weather and swell events during June had restricted shipping and softened the volumes further. We will provide a further update when we release our nine-month interim financial results on 16 August 2023 Mr Dawson said. Container Services Total container volumes for the third quarter of 56k TEU decreased 31.6% from 82k TEU in the same period a year ago as the after-effects of Cyclone Gabrielle were felt across nearly all containerised cargo types. For the nine months year to date to June, total container volumes of 175k TEU have decreased 10% from 194k TEU in the same period a year ago. Full container volumes have decreased 17.1%, and empty and other container movements decreased 0.7%. Dry export cargo for the third quarter decreased 38.8% to 10k TEU as Pan Pacs wood pulp and timber mills remained closed. Reefer export cargo for the third quarter decreased 26.5% to 14k TEU. The decrease was driven by lower volumes of export apples and fresh and other chilled produce due to weather related crop losses. Containerised imports for the third quarter decreased 45.6% to 21k TEU primarily due to empty containers not being required for export cargo. Other container movements for the third quarter decreased 12.5% to 5k TEU due to lower DLR movements. Container vessel calls for the third quarter were 72, up from 54 calls in the prior year. Bulk Cargo Total bulk cargo volume, compared to the same periods a year ago, decreased 28.6% for the third quarter to 0.7 million tonnes, and decreased 16.4% for the nine months to 2.3 million tonnes. Log export volumes decreased 165k tonnes, or 21.4%, to 609k tonnes for the third quarter and 337k tonnes, or 16.1%, to 1,753k tonnes for the nine months due to adverse weather, damaged roading infrastructure and subdued log export market conditions. Charter vessel calls for the third quarter were 58, down from 81 calls in the prior year, and principally due to lower log export volumes. Cruise Services There were a further two cruise vessel calls in the third quarter, bringing the 2022-23 season total to 64 calls. Presently there are 92 cruise bookings for the 2023-24 season. ENDS For more information: Investors Kristen Lie Chief Financial Officer DDI: +64 6 833 4405 E: kristenl@napierport.co.nz Media Jo-Ann Young Corporate Affairs Manager DDI: +64 6 833 4521 E: jo-anny@napierport.co.nz About Napier Port Napier Port is New Zealands fourth largest port by container volume. We are the gateway for Hawkes Bay and lower North Islands exports and operate a long-term regional infrastructure asset that supports the regional economy. Our strategic purpose is to collaborate with the people and organisations that have a stake in helping our region grow. View Napier Ports investor centre: www.napierport.co.nz/investor-centre/ Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. 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Related News: BLT - First quarter performance update Spark appoints Strategy and Regulatory Director LIC - Full Year Result 2022-23 July 20th Morning Report Argosy refinances bank facilities Tower changes guidance, provides Q3 trading update July 19th Morning Report Third Age Health - Change of External Auditor Infratil Infrastructure Bond Offer Opens Genesis Appoints Chief Transformation & Technology Officer The Secret Service will brief Congress on the cocaine found in the White House on Thursday - as the search for the culprit drags into the ninth day, and members of the Biden administration dodge questions on the investigation. The briefing will be conducted on Thursday at 10 a.m. and will allow staff members of the powerful House Oversight Committee insights into the incident that has left more questions than answers, a panel aide confirmed to DailyMail.com. Where the cocaine was discovered has changed three times first in the library, then in a west wing work area and finally in a cell phone lockbox. There are no signs from officials of who the culprit is that brought the illicit drug onto the premises. Biden critics, however, jumped to their own conclusion, claiming that the president's recovering addict son Hunter, 52, is to blame for bringing cocaine into the White House. U.S. Secret Service will provide a staff-level briefing to the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Thursday regarding the discovery of cocaine in the White House, DailyMail.com confirmed. Oversight is chaired by Rep. James Comer (pictured), who sent a letter last week requesting the briefing The White House continues to dodged questions related to the incident and investigation and the location of the discovery has changed three times in the course of one week Secret Service and administration officials have remained hush-hush on details of the discovery only fueling trolls who want to peg the incident on Hunter Biden. The agency spokesman told DailyMail.com on Monday that the investigation is 'open and active' but said no further information is available for the ongoing probe. 'Do you have any update on the investigation into the cocaine at the White House?' a reporter pressed White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday. 'I don't have any updates,' Jean-Pierre said. 'I just don't have anything updated. I would refer you to the Secret Service on that particular question.' USSS, when reached by reporters, says they cannot comment on ongoing investigations. But Congress is demanding more definitive answers. Following a fingerprint and DNA analysis last week of the substance and the 'dime-sized zipper baggie' it was found in, no conclusive answers were shared. A federal law enforcement official told CNN, however, that USSS will conclude its investigation of the cocaine discovery this week regardless of whether a suspect is identified. Trump-era CBP Director and longtime FBI agent Mark Morgan told DailyMail.com that the case is 'straightforward' and facetiously said it could be solved in the matter of 30 minutes. Critics immediately pegged the White House cocaine incident on President Joe Biden's recovering addict son Hunter Biden, 52 (pictured right with son Beau) House Oversight Chairman James Comer and Sen. Tom Cotton sent letters to USSS Director Kim Cheatle (pictured) requesting a briefing on discovery of cocaine in the White House The substance was found Sunday, July 2, causing a hazmat evacuation of the White House while President Joe Biden and his family were in Camp David for the long holiday weekend. Now, nine days later, Americans are no closer to knowing how the drug made it into one of the most secure places in the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee Chair James Comer wrote to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle last week requesting a briefing by July 14. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas also called for a briefing and pressed Cheatle for information in a public letter. The senator's office, when reached by DailyMail.com, said that they have not yet received a response from Cheatle. Hunter Biden is a recovering addict who was a user of crack cocaine. An image from his recovered laptop hard drive shows Hunter asleep with a pipe hanging out of his mouth Comer said illegal drug presence raises concerns regarding 'the level of security maintained at the White House' and Cotton said he hopes to gain more information in an effort to 'correct any security flaws.' Jean-Pierre said during a briefing last week to reporters that the cocaine was found in a 'heavily traveled area' of the White House and made suggestions that the drug could belong to a visitor. Morgan, however, says that the lockbox area where the cocaine was found is not as busy as the administration wants Americans to believe. He speculated that the drug could belong to someone that came to the White House for a meeting who does not have a permanent office on the premises. Morgan says this could include a multitude of senior-level officials. MPs and their staff were forced to flee today as a 'huge deluge' of water broke through the glass roof of a Westminster building. A witness said there had been a big bang followed by a flood of after a pane of glass broke in the atrium roof of Parliament's Portcullis House. The building is part of the parliamentary estate, and houses MPs' offices, with a central courtyard covered by a glass roof. The area is used by MPs, their staff and journalists for meetings, and also has a canteen and cafe. A cordon and warning signs were placed around the area below the broken pane by parliamentary staff. A large puddle and a piece of broken glass could be seen on the floor in the middle of the area, which had been cleared of people. A frayed metal wire could also be seen dangling from the ceiling. The scene was captured on film by Good Morning Britain's head of politics Anne Alexander, who said: 'It was so heavy and loud, I initially thought it was shattered glass.' The building is part of the parliamentary estate, and houses MPs' offices, with a central courtyard covered by a glass roof. The area (pictured before the trees were removed earlier this year) is used by MPs, their staff and journalists for meetings, and also has a canteen and cafe. Mervyn Thomas, a researcher for the Bishop of Guildford who was present when the incident took place, said: 'I was just sitting here and I just suddenly heard this huge bang and then a flood of water.' Mr Thomas added: 'A huge deluge, it was a big bang. I didn't know what it was, and then it carried on, it slowly went down to a trickle eventually.' He said he did not think anyone had been hurt, and told PA: 'I saw people scattering but I don't know if anybody was soaked through or not. I should imagine they were... in fact I was going to go sit over there, I chose not to fortunately.' The witness said parliamentary authorities had cleared the area of people 'within minutes'. 'There were people there within minutes clearing the chairs back, but the actual barriers were (in place), I guess, within five minutes,' he said. Parliamentary staff could be seen urging people gathered in Portcullis House to move further back from the cordoned area. A House of Commons spokesman said: 'Teams are currently attending to an issue with the atrium roof in Portcullis House. 'The central part of the atrium has been cordoned off, with additional safety mitigations implemented to allow us to continue our investigations. 'Committee meetings are still scheduled to take place, with amended access routes. Catering facilities remain open.' A HR worker who was ordered to clean the toilets after she returned from maternity leave has won more than 28,000 in a discrimination claim. Sabbah Messum was demoted to housekeeping duties by her boss, who was attempting to 'degrade and humiliate' her in an attempt to force her to leave, an employment tribunal heard. The panel concluded that the 38-year-old mother of three was the victim of a 'discriminatory regime' which penalised pregnant workers by creating a 'hostile' and 'intimidating' environment for them. She has now been awarded a total of 28,107.11 in compensation for injury to feelings. The hearing was told that highly educated Mrs Messum, who has an MBA and represented herself at the hearing, started work as an executive and HR assistant at employee providers Bradford Management Services in Leeds in January 2016. In 2019 she told her employers she was pregnant and would go on maternity leave later that year, the tribunal heard. But her boss became angry and began criticising her work performance, the hearing was told. Sabbah Messum who was demoted to housekeeping duties by her boss - pictured with her daughter Inaya Dr Gul Nawaz Akbar, the then head of technical and compliance, started shouting at her frequently and ordered her to do physically demanding work. The Leeds tribunal heard his attitude towards Mrs Messum, who is married and from Bradford, reflected a history of negative reactions to employees' pregnancies. In an earlier incident, he had even directed her to 'get rid of' another worker who had announced she was expecting. Mrs Messum had time off in April 2019 with a pregnancy related illness before going on maternity leave and giving birth to daughter Inaya in June of that year. The tribunal heard that Dr Akbar deliberately refused to pay her sick leave as a means of 'punishment and control'. Mrs Messum was falsely accused by the company of stealing food from the canteen and instructed to attend an investigatory meeting, first during her pregnancy-related sickness absence, and then during her maternity leave. Her bosses warned her that if she did not attend, she might face a disciplinary hearing. When she explained that she could not attend a meeting because of her newborn baby, her employer then wrote to her asking to meet her at her home to conduct the meeting. She resigned in February 2021 and sued the company for pregnancy discrimination, harassment and unfair dismissal Mrs Messum wrote to her employers, saying that she 'could not stop thinking about' the accusation, which was 'haunting her' and had left her feeling 'disturbed and embarrassed'. The tribunal concluded this was part of Dr Akbar's attempt 'to create a hostile or intimidating environment for her'. Mrs Messum returned to work in May the following year where she was relieved of her HR duties and told to do sales work and, later, housekeeping duties, including cleaning. The tribunal heard that Dr Akbar had made other digs at Mrs Messum, including one occasion when she was hiring a new administrative assistant when Dr Akbar told her that the person should be 'presentable, not like you'. On another occasion, Dr Akbar was criticising Mrs Messum for paying people sick pay and told her that the company 'cannot carry luggage', which the tribunal said referenced 'his unwillingness to pay sick pay and his view that employees on sickness absence were dead weight'. She resigned in February 2021 and sued the company for pregnancy discrimination, harassment and unfair dismissal. Employment Judge Sarah-Jane Davies said: 'She could see that Dr Akbar was treating her in the same way he had treated other women and knew that he wanted to get rid of her. 'She considered that the allegation of theft and demoting her to do general clerical work and housekeeping, including toilet cleaning, were to degrade and humiliate her and force her to leave the company. 'This was not a one-off act with continuing consequences, but was the operation of a discriminatory regime, or an ongoing state of affairs in which [Mrs Messum] was treated unfavourably.' Mrs Messum's complaints of unfair dismissal, unauthorised wage deduction, harassment related to sex, and pregnancy/maternity discrimination succeeded. Other issues, including a complaint of direct sex discrimination, were dismissed. After being awarded the compensation, Mrs Messum - who now works as an analyst for Morrisons - said: 'I was told I didn't have a chance to win but I knew I was doing the right thing. I wanted other pregnant women to know how to get help on how to save themselves.' Ministers intervened in eight sensitive takeovers by Chinese investors last year, it was revealed today. The government action was disclosed in an official report on how new powers to protect the national interest have been used. Deputy PM Oliver Dowden said the UK did not want to 'decouple' from China, but had to be 'clear-eyed' that Beijing represented the 'largest state-based threat' to economic security. Under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, ministers can block or impose conditions on deals seen as a danger to the country's interests. The Cabinet Office said it had received 866 referrals in the last financial year, covering areas such as defence, energy, scientific research and communications. Details of the companies involved are not given, but 65 were 'called in' for closer inspection - and around two in five of those involved investors associated with China. Around a third were connected to the UK and a fifth with the US. Some bids were linked to more than one county. Oliver Dowden said China, led by Xi Jinping (pictured), represented the 'largest state-based threat' to UK economic security Mr Dowden said the UK did not want to 'decouple' from China, but had to be 'clear-eyed' The overwhelming majority were approved in the end, but 'final orders' were issued in 15 cases - blocking, unwinding or imposing conditions on the deals. Eight of the orders were connected to China, four with the UK, and three with the US. In the foreword to the report, Mr Dowden said it was a 'light-touch, proportionate regime that offers companies and investors the certainty they need to do business, while crucially protecting the UK's national security in an increasingly volatile world'. Separately Mr Dowden told the BBC that the decisions were 'country agnostic'. 'I'm very clear that I do not want us to decouple from China, I don't think it's in our interest,' he said. 'But at the same time, we have to be clear-eyed about protecting our national security, just in the same way that the Chinese are.' Asked why Chinese deals were disproportionately targeted, Mr Dowden pointed out that China 'is just a very big investor, globally'. 'The second (reason) is, as we set out in our national security review, China represents the largest state-based threat to economic security,' he went on. 'So it's not a surprise that we should look carefully at Chinese transactions. But equally, we look across the board.' A businesswoman has been found dead at her investment property while her ex-husband has been taken to hospital under police guard following a suspected domestic violence incident. Emergency services were called to a home in Alice Street, Rooty Hill in Sydney's west at 8.15pm on Tuesday where they found Christine Rakic's lifeless body. Neighbours told Daily Mail Australia they heard two loud screams about that time - and that police were banging on their door minutes later. Detectives were called by a relative over concerns for Ms Rakic's welfare. She is aged in her 50s. Officers rushed to the scene but the woman had already died from 'significant injuries'. Ms Rakic's ex-husband, Dusan, 50, was also found at the house, with injuries to his throat and arms. Emergency services were called to a home in Alice Street, Rooty Hill in the city's west at 8.15pm on Tuesday to find Christine Rakic's lifeless body. Her ex-husband Dusan Rakic is under police guard in hospital Police had been called by a relative over concerns for Ms Rakic's welfare Police are seen at the scene in Rooty Hill on Wednesday morning Emergency services were called to a home in Alice Street, Rooty Hill in the city's west at 8.15pm on Tuesday over concerns for a women's welfare (pictured, the scene) He was taken to Westmead Hospital under police guard. He is expected to undergo surgery on Wednesday. Charges are yet to be laid. An application for an apprehended violence order on Ms Rakic's behalf was filed in June this year. 'A crime scene has been established and investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the incident,' a NSW Police statement read. Forensic police spent the night scouring the scene for evidence as detectives scramble to determine what happened. Neighbours said they heard two loud screams from the house and then silence, before police arrived 15 minutes later. 'My brother heard two big loud screams from the house next door around 8.15 last night,' said local Kirita Lopa. 'Then we had the police banging on our door minutes later. It's awful. I knew the guy very well - he called me 'sister'. I talked to him early every day. 'He was always talking about God and how great God was. He'd say ''Look at the sky, how great is that? God is beautiful''. Police had been called to the home over concerns for Ms Rakic's welfare Neighbours say the couple had split some time ago 'I only saw his wife occasionally, but his teenage daughter and her younger brother were round there regularly.' Another neighbour said Rakic had only just moved back into the property - which he and his wife bought in 1998 for $100,000 - after renting it out for years. 'I think he had split up with his wife a couple of years ago,' added Shannon Brennan who lives opposite the home. 'He kept himself to himself - his kids came round and occasionally his wife but she didn't stay long. 'I think they were in the process of getting a divorce and selling the home. I know he had spoken to one of our other neighbours who is in real estate about selling it.' Outside the home, a 26-year-old silver Toyota Corolla was roped off by police tape, while a second car, a purple, Mazda 6, with a child seat in the back and a wooden butterfly hanging from the rear view mirror was also taped off. Outside the home, a 26-year-old silver Toyota Corolla was roped off by police tape The Mazda was later taken away by police. Mr Brennan said he never saw anyone visiting the home aside from Rakic's children and the rare visits from his ex-wife. 'He had a bloke come and work on the house from time to time to time but other than that he was just there on his own,' he said. Alice Street is very quiet and lined with neatly detached bungalows and well-trimmed nature strips. The home where Ms Rakic's body was found had a dog trailer in the driveway and half a dozen freshly-planted saplings. All the vertical blinds are drawn on the windows at the front of the blond-brick property. Ms Rakic recently signed up for an Australian Business Number. The Zodiac killings of the late 1960s and 1970s may have been the work of more than one murderer, a witness has suggested. The terrifying new theory was revealed by a woman who believes she saw the man responsible for one of the gruesome murders in the new Peacock docuseries, 'Myth of the Zodiac Killer,' which premiered on Tuesday. 'The Zodiac', as the killer became known, was believed to be responsible for five deaths and two more attempted murders in the San Francisco bay area, but his correspondence claims he killed 37 people. The supposed murderer wrote confessional letters to local news outlets and four cryptic ciphers, but his identity has never been revealed. Now a witness at Lake Berryessa in Napa County - where Cecelia Ann Shepard, 22, and Bryan Calvin Hartnell, 20, were stabbed in broad daylight on September 27, 1969 - has spoken publicly for the first time. San Francisco police circulated this composite of the Bay Area's 'Zodiac' killer after the murder of 29-year-old cab driver named Paul Lee Stine Linda Jensen, who saw the Zodiac killer the day he stabbed Ann Shepard and Bryan Calvin Hartnell claims the man she believes she saw is inconsistent with police sketches Shepard survived but Hartnell died, and before leaving the park the killer left the dates of two previous murders on the side of Hartnell's car. Linda Jensen, who was sunbathing at Lake Berryessa that day, claims the man she believes she saw is inconsistent with police sketches from other supposed Zodiac murders. 'There are other drawings that came out, of the Zodiac, that looked nothing like what I saw that day,' Jensen told the documentary. Jensen was at the lake sunbathing with friends when a strange man had stalked the group and hid behind a tree for around 45 minutes. The group pretended he wasnt there, for their own safety, she explained. Jensen believes the man she saw had notably different hair, eyes and facial features to another sketch produced after the murder of a 29-year-old cab driver named Paul Lee Stine who was shot by a passenger on October 11, just a few weeks later. 'He had very smooth, parted hair and combed [it] really straight[he looked] just very intense, like focused,' Jensen, said of the man she saw. 'The vibes coming off of him were bad, were dark. All of us felt that' she said. The Zodiac killer, that terrorized the San Francisco bay area in the late 1960's and 1970s, was also seen wearing a medieval style executioner's mask San Francisco murder victims; Betty Lou Jensen, David Faraday, and Darlene Ferrin, alleged to be victims of the Zodiac Killer The supposed murderer wrote confessional letters to local news outlets and four cryptic ciphers, but his identity has never been revealed Ann Shepard also gave a description consistent with Jensen's. After Stine's murder the Zodiac sent a piece of his victim's shirt into the San Francisco chronicle as evidence. Now experts believe this marks a shift in approach from the Zodiac, and a change was reflected in the cryptic note sent afterwards. 'The changing point [in the letters] is before and after the Stine murder. 'In the first four letters, what distinguishes the text is use of "the,"' computational linguistics expert Florian Cafiero, who analyzed all of the Zodiacs correspondence, says in the series. 'Then the other set of text after the Paul Stine letters is the use of "like," "you," "rather," "her," and so on and so forththat could indicate a change not [just] in style, but even in author.' The Zodiac's first known killing was of teenagers David Arthur Faraday, 17, and Betty Lou Jensen, 16, on Lake Herman Road in Benicia, California, December 20, 1968. The high schoolers were on their first date and had been shot dead inside their car. Next, on the 4th July 1969 the killer shot Michael Renault Mageau, 19, and Darlene Elizabeth Ferrin, 22, inside their parked car at Vallejos Blue Rock Springs Park. Mageau survived while Ferrin died of her wounds. An elite $62,500-a-year private boys in New York City has announced it will begin accepting trans boys as part of its new gender policy. The Browning School, founded in 1888 to educate brothers Percy and John D. Rockefeller, announced the change in policy in a letter to parents signed by Board President Valda Witt and the Head of the School Joh Botti. 'We have witnessed changing cultural concepts, vocabulary, and identities with regard to gender,' reads the letter. 'As a school that proudly celebrates and affirms boys at every stage of their lives, we acknowledge that the many ways in which gender can be lived and expressed are vastly different now than at our founding in 1888.' The school is one of the most expensive in the nation. Aside from the Rockefellers, the renowned school has also educated NBC and MSNBC president Andrew Lack and JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon. The Browning School in New York City has announced it will begin accepting trans boys as part of its new gender policy The private school was founded in 1888 to educate Percy (left) and John D. Rockefeller The school goes on to explain that it retained an expert on 'single-gender schools' for a taskforce made up of school leadership, faculty, parents, alumni and Trustees to recommend a gender policy statement. Following the announcement to parents, the school's website shared its new gender identity policy. 'The Browning School will consider for admission any child who (i) identifies as a boy or (ii) was assigned male at birth, who wishes to join a boys school and is well-served by our mission,' reads the statement. 'We will not consider for admission a student who identifies as a girl at the time of application.' DailyMail.com has reached out to The Browning School for comment on this story. New York City schools have been at the center of the national debate over transgender children. 'We have witnessed changing cultural concepts, vocabulary, and identities with regard to gender,' reads the letter, shared in a forum focused on private schools in the city The renowned school has also educated NBC and MSNBC president Andrew Lack (left) and JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon Last month, parents express fury after schools in the city were told to keep their children's gender identities secret from their families under a new guidance. The New York State Education Department released 42 pages of new guidance which told schools to 'keep information' about a child's gender identity 'from families if they deem it necessary'. The report also called for schools to end the practice of separating boys and girls during physical education as it 'marginalizes' transgender and 'gender expansive' students and marks them as 'others.' The guidance was slammed by Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik who claimed that in New York, parents' rights are 'directly under attack.' The education department's guidance said each student 'is in charge of their gender transition and the school's role is to provide support.' New York State's Department of Education's Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said the guidance is part of 'creating an inclusive and nurturing environment where transgender and gender expansive students can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.' A North Carolina man who was named 'Horseman of the Year' for his services to equestrian has been arrested after allegedly shooting dead his son's horse during an argument. John Victor 'Vick' Russell, 75, and his son, whose name was not disclosed, had a dispute at a property at Vick Russell Lane in the Green Creek Community on Wednesday. The elder Russell opened fire, shooting dead his son's horse, according to the Polk County Sherriff's Department, WYFF4 News reported. When deputies arrived several people on the property told them that a fight had broken out between the father and son when the father fired his weapon, killing the horse his son had been riding. The father was taken into custody at his Ly-Nard Hills Farm in Columbus, North Carolina. John Victor 'Vick' Russell, 75, and his son, whose name was not disclosed, had a dispute when the elder Russell opened fire shooting dead the son's horse last Wednesday, according to the Polk County Sherriff's Department He has been charged with assault on a person with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and felony animal cruelty cause the death of an animal. Officials said Russell was taken before a magistrate and given a $90,000.00 secured bond. His next court date is July 19 in Polk County District Court.' It remains unclear what the father and son had been arguing about, but it appears that Russell's son was not injured during the violent confrontation. The Russell family has had a long history in the equestrian community in Tryon. Last month, the horse trainer was recognized for his work with horses at the Carolinas Show Hunter Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Tyron, North Carolina. John Victor 'Vick' Russell is pictured holding a puppy. The Russell family has had a long history in the equestrian community in Tryon, North Carolina. Last month, Russell was recognized for his service to equestrians and in a 2021 article dubbed a 'local legend' In September 2021, he appeared in a feature story published by the Tryon International Equestrian Center that described him as a 'local legend.' 'We're shining the spotlight on our 'Local Legends' who have played significant roles in the development of equestrian sport in the area and at the Tryon International Equestrian Center,' the publication wrote. 'From the barns and show rings to small towns and main streets, the Russell family has built quite the beloved name for themselves in our community,' the article said. Bank of America has been ordered to pay $250 million for illegally charging junk fees, withholding credit card rewards and opening fake accounts. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) accused the bank of harming hundreds of thousands of customers by systematically double-dipping on fees for account holders with insufficient funds. Customers are in line for a $100 million refund - while the bank will be forced to pay $150 million in penalties to the CFPB and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Refunds will be processed automatically, Bank of America confirmed, but it could not say how much the average customer would be compensated. Some of the allegations are reminiscent of the Wells Fargo scandal last decade when the bank was ordered to pay $190million after staff were found to be signing customers up to additional bank accounts and credit cards without their knowledge. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accused Bank of America of double-dipping on $35 insufficient funds fees (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) Customers are in line for a $100 million refund - while the bank will be forced to pay $150 million in penalties to the CFPB and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Earlier this year, the government pledged to crack down on sneaky junk fees, which inflate prices and make it difficult for consumers to know exactly how much they will end up paying for a service. The White House estimates these add-ons cost Americans around $65 billion every year. 'Bank of America wrongfully withheld credit card rewards, double-dipped on fees, and opened accounts without consent,' said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. 'These practices are illegal and undermine customer trust. The CFPB will be putting an end to these practices across the banking system.' Last year alone, consumers paid over $7.7 billion in 2022 in overdraft and non-sufficient fund fees, according to the CFPB. The federal regulator has proposed a rule to rein in excessive credit card late fees - which it estimated raked in about $12 billion for credit card companies a year. The watchdog accused Bank of America of deploying a 'double-dipping scheme to harvest junk fees.' 'Bank of America had a policy of charging customers $35 after the bank declined a transaction because the customer did not have enough funds in their account,' the CFPB said in a statement. 'The CFPBs investigation found that Bank of America double-dipped by allowing fees to be repeatedly charged for the same transaction. Over a period of multiple years, Bank of America generated substantial additional revenue by illegally charging multiple $35 fees.' Refunds will be processed automatically, Bank of America confirmed, but it could not say how much the average customer would be compensated It also claimed that in order to compete with other credit card companies, Bank of America targeted individuals with special offers of cash and points when signing up for a credit card. It said the bank illegally withheld promised credit card account bonuses - such as cash rewards - to tens of thousands of customers. It also accuses the bank of failing to honor rewards promises for consumers who submitted applications over the phone or in person. The federal regulator also said the bank misused sensitive customer information in order to open accounts. 'From at least 2012, in order to reach now disbanded sales-based incentive goals and evaluation criteria, Bank of America employees illegally applied for and enrolled consumers in credit card accounts without consumers knowledge or authorization,' the CFPB said. 'In those cases, Bank of America illegally used or obtained consumers credit reports, without their permission, to complete applications. 'Because of Bank of Americas actions, consumers were charged unjustified fees, suffered negative effects to their credit profiles, and had to spend time correcting errors.' This is not the first time the watchdog has taken enforcement action against Bank of America. In 2014 the CFPB ordered Bank of America to pay $727 million for illegal credit card practices. Last year it was ordered to pay a $10 million civil penalty over unlawful garnishments. Also in 2022, the CFPB and OCC fined Bank of America $225 million and required it to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in redress to consumers for botched disbursement of state unemployment benefits at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bank of America told DailyMail.com that the $35 overdraft fees were eliminated last year. 'We voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all non-sufficient fund fees in the first half of 2022. As a result of these industry leading changes, revenue from these fees has dropped more than 90 percent,' a spokesperson said. Photographs show the moment Noel Gallaghers ex-wife Meg Mathews was arrested for drink-driving after allegedly crashing a car following her own book launch. The former music executive allegedly spent the night in a cell in Bodmin police station, near Newquay, last Friday after cops were called to a collision in Nansledan. Mathews, who was married to the Oasis star for about four years, is alleged to have got into her car intoxicated following the book signing before allegedly smashing into a stationary vehicle. Photographs taken at the crash sight show how she was bundled into the back of a police van. Witnesses told Cornwall Live that the 57-year-old screamed and threw herself on the ground during the arrest, alleging she yelled at officers: 'Why are you ruining my life?' Mathews, has been charged with driving a motor vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol and is due to appear before Bodmin Magistrates' Court on Friday, July 28. Photographs show the moment Noel Gallaghers ex-wife Meg Mathews was arrested for drink-driving after allegedly crashing a car following her own book launch Photographs taken at the crash sight show how she was bundled into the back of a police van. Witnesses allege Mathews screamed and threw herself on the ground during the arrest. They say she yelled at officers: 'Why are you ruining my life?' Meg Matthews, pictured here on her Instagram, has been charged with drink driving after allegedly crashing a car Police responded to a two-vehicle collision in Stret Ewyn, Newquay around 9.20pm on Friday. Mathews, of Hilgrove Mews, Newquay, allegedly smashed her yellow jeep into a parked vehicle just minutes after she left a book promotion event at the Teylu homeware and fashion shop in Nansleden. The owner of the grey Ford Kuga that she allegedly struck contacted police, The Sun reported. Gaffer tape was also seen near the vehicle's left rear wheel arch. It is understood that Mathews was breathalysed at the scene and taken into custody on suspicion of drink-driving. She has since been charged and is scheduled to appear in court at the end of the month. Mathews had advertised the book launch on her Instagram page in the build up to the event, which she called Cards, Margs & Menopause, in a nod to the Tarot reading, Margarita cocktail making and book signing that was taking place. The 57-year-old is alleged to have been involved in a crash between her vehicle (pictured) and another on Friday, July 7 It is claimed Matthews crashed her vehicle into a parked car (pictured) after leaving her own book launch Meg Matthews and her then-husband Noel Gallagher arriving for a party at No10 Downing Street in 1997 Organisers described her new book as a 'no-holds-barred guide to menopause designed to entertain and empower women in equal measure. 'It's full of Meg's personal insights as well as the latest information and advice from a wide range of menopause and lifestyle experts.' Mathews was one of the most recognisable faces in the Nineties party scene, courtesy of her relationship with Mr Gallagher and famous pals including Kate Moss, as part of the infamous 'Primrose Hill Set'. Her four-year marriage to Noel ended in 2001 but the pair continue to co-parent daughter Anais, 23. She moved to Cornwall in 2021 and has supported a number of local charities, including Surfers Against Sewage. Meg Mathews and Noel Gallagher, 'Snatch' Premiere In Leicester Sq, London, August 2000 Soon after Russia invaded Ukraine, Western countries united in imposing severe economic sanctions on Russia. This did some damage to the Russian economy, but not as much as the sanctioning countries expected. This is because there are always other countries with current or previous experience with evading sanctions. Outlaw states tend to cooperate, or at least share sanction evasion techniques with each other. Russia found that nearby Iran, which has been under varying degrees of sanctions for decades, was a good source of advice on evading sanctions. Even before Russia went total outlaw in Ukraine, they had been cooperating with Iran, North Korea and several other heavily sanctioned nations. Russian oil exports, which for decades have been about eight million BDP (Barrels Per Day), vary in value depending on the world price for oil. In the last decade there have been two instances of sanctions related declines in Russian oil exports. The first was in 2014, in response to the Russian occupation of Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine. Russian oil exports fell about ten percent from their normal level. Russian oil exports recovered quickly to their previous levels but oil income remained lower because Russia had to use discounts to get past the oil sanctions. This was because nations caught obtaining sanctioned oil could themselves be sanctioned. In 2022, Russia was hit with even heavier sanctions that caused oil income for 2022 to decline by over 20 percent compared to the previous year. Russian oil exports cannot be ignored because Russia is the second largest oil exporter, behind Saudi Arabia. During periods when Russian oil exports are sanctioned, the primary impact is Russia receiving less for its oil. Russia managed to quickly deal with the new sanctions because of its close relationships with Iran, which was a veteran practitioner of how best to evade sanctions. Iran has become quite skilled at evading sanctions. Since the U.S. revived economic sanctions against Iran in 2017, there has been an even larger and better organized effort to defeat the many methods Iran has developed over the years to conceal its smuggling efforts. Everyone involved tried to keep details of these Iranian schemes and American countermeasures out of the news, and not just because the Iranian methods were usually illegal, but also because the U.S. and its allies didnt want Iran to know the full extent of the new countermeasures being used. That veil of secrecy began to shred at the start of 2019 when a storm off the Syrian coast ran an Indian tanker (Tour 2) ashore. Worse, the Tour 2 had just delivered Iranian oil to Syria and went to sea hurriedly using the bad weather to evade detection. Tugs did not arrive until April to pull the tanker off the beach near the Syrian port of Latakia. It soon became clear what happened here. During late December 2018, Tour 2 loaded its oil cargo in an Iranian port and after it exited the Suez Canal it ghosted or ran dark. That is, the tanker turned off its AIS (Automated Identification System), which allows ship owners and their customers, as well as any nearby vessels, to track the progress of large ships. With the Indian shipping company exposed as illegally smuggling oil to Syria, the extent of the increased American scrutiny of ships making deliveries to Syria forced Iran to be more resourceful. Iranian plans for more illegal oil tanker visits to Syria had to be hastily revised. Iran found that most of its old ploys and too many of its new schemes to carry out illegal oil movements no longer worked, at least not regularly. For months after the Tour 2 grounding, there was a very visible oil shortage in most of Syria. Iran has resorted to smuggling oil via truck from Iran through Iraq to Syria, but this is not sufficient to make up for the deliveries via sea going tankers. Iran also noted that the American/Israeli surveillance of economic activity in Syria was more thorough and robust than anticipated. Any improvement in the Syrian oil situation triggered more international countermoves to block Iranian efforts to find a tanker that could deliver to Syria. The new countermeasures include monitoring the nations that provide ship registry services while maritime insurance companies have their own array of regulations regarding who can have access to insurance coverage and who cannot. This is about more than shipowners being covered against accidents at sea or in port. Ships without proper coverage, especially for vessels carrying dangerous cargo (like petroleum and natural gas), cannot enter many major ports or the territorial waters of most nations if they do not have the proper insurance. By mid-2019 Iran found it more difficult to conceal what its hundred or so Iranian owned tankers and cargo ships were doing as more and more shipping companies and nations refused to do business with Iran. Iran tried to rely on Chinese tankers using Iranian techniques. For example, the U.S. recently caught a Chinese tanker in the Indian Ocean using ghosting and, while its AIS was off, changed its ship registration to hide delivery of Iranian oil to a banned customer. Now the Americans are threatening to seize Chinese tankers if China does not enforce the terms of the Iranian sanctions. All this is happening because once more Iranian oil exports are hobbled by sanctions and Iran is reviving its usual array of deceptions to try and hide illegal exports to customers willing to risk discovery and punishment when the Iranian deceptions fail. The last time (2012-2015) Iran got hit by an oil export ban, shipments dropped from 2.6 million barrels per day to a million barrels per day. After the sanctions were once more imposed in late 2018, Iranian exports quickly fell from 2.8 million barrels per day to 1.8 million barrels. By April 2019 legal shipments had declined to under a million barrels per day. By mid-2019 oil shipments were often down to less than half a million barrels a day. The decline delay was, in part, caused by exemptions given to eight export customers who needed time to shift to another supplier. Some of the exemptions are permanent which is why the exports never hit zero. There are plenty of other suppliers because there has been a world oil glut since 2010 because of fracking in North America (and now elsewhere). The OPEC oil cartel has restricted production to try and drive the oil price up but that only worked for a while and only partially. Even before Iranian oil sanctions were revived the oil price was declining again. So there are plenty of oil producers willing and able to replace Iranian exports. Illegal Iranian oil exports are sold at a lower price because of the risk (financial costs if caught) and that also contributes to keeping oil prices low. But if scrutiny is too intense the smugglers find they cannot reach many customers. By mid-2019 Iran was again threatening to close the entrance to the Persian Gulf (the Strait of Hormuz) and the Red Sea entrance as well. The Hormuz threats were a bluff because Iran would be hurt more than anyone else, in the short term as well as going forward. A more immediate problem was Iran losing the cloak of secrecy that had long kept its smuggling methods out of the news. Iran not only revived its usual techniques to hide ship movements but was shown to have expanded them. One reason the oil sanctions returned was that after most sanctions were lifted in 2015 is that Iran continued to smuggle weapons by sea, using the same deceptions it employed to try and get around the oil export ban. The difference was that most of the ships Iran used for arms smuggling were small enough (under 300 tons) that they were not legally required to carry an electronic beacon. But some larger Iranian weapons smuggling ships illegally turned off their AIS beacon and, as the saying goes, ghosted. It was this continued smuggling and other unfriendly activity that brought back the sanctions and the oil embargo. Iran now found that its opponents (mainly the U.S. and Israel) have developed more effective methods of tracking its use of smaller ships so those were no longer as successful. Other old standbys, like bribes and corruption of officials involved in monitoring maritime cargo in ports and at sea, were also under greater scrutiny. For a long time, the primary technical deception was having ships carrying contraband turn off their AIS transponder. AIS was originally developed to make it easier to track ships at sea and was rapidly adopted by most large commercial vessels in the 1990s. AIS is essentially an automatic radio beacon (transponder) that, when it receives a signal from a nearby AIS equipped ship, responds with the ship's identity, course, and speed. This is meant to enable AIS ships to avoid collisions with each other. The original AIS only had a range of 20-35 kilometers but by 2006 space satellites were developed that could track AIS transmissions worldwide. Commercial ships have become very dependent on AIS, which has greatly reduced collisions (and crew anxiety) at sea. After 2000 international agreements mandated that ships larger than 300 tons, and all passenger ships, carry and use AIS at all times. While this made it practical to track all high seas commercial traffic, it was also exploited by smugglers and pirates. Some ships traveled (in violation of international law) with AIS and other trackers turned off. Usually, only criminals turned these devices off, and this was often discovered when navies spotted one of these ships ghosting at sea. It didnt take long for some intelligence agencies (those with ocean surveillance space satellites and lots of ships and subs at sea) to exploit the silent AIS ploy to create better ways to track smugglers by noting when some ships turn off their trackers and then turn them on again as they are about to enter a port (or some other area where AIS use is mandatory). Some nations, like Iran and North Korea, have tankers and cargo ships that are often found running dark. Naturally, intelligence agencies developed methods to take advantage of this and a growing number of smugglers, usually North Korean, are detected and tracked because of AIS manipulation. Iran had an easier time concealing arms smuggling because they could use smaller ships. Actually, for getting arms to Shia rebels in Yemen Iran used a lot of small ships that are not required to use AIS. These could be, and were, tracked by satellite but it was more difficult. Oil smuggling is another matter as large ships (tankers) are used and they are easier to spot from orbital space (or by recon aircraft and UAVs). AIS monitoring has been combined with analyzing the thousands of satellite photos available each day from commercial satellites. Using software that can scan these digital photos and match ship position data with current AIS data, it is easier to identify who is misbehaving and go after them. This has been bad news for Iranian oil smuggling efforts and so far the Iranians have not come up with effective countermeasures. Before AIS came along most large ships carried (and still carry) INMARSAT, which enables shipping companies to keep track of their vessels, no matter where they are on the planet. INMARSAT became available in the 1980s and uses a system of satellites which transmit AIS-like signals to anywhere on the oceans. It only costs a few cents to send an INMARSAT signal to one of your ships, and a few cents more to receive a reply. The trackers and satellite-based navigation systems in general soon proved invaluable by preventing collisions or running into reefs, rocks, or (in bad weather) coastlines. The smugglers soon responded to intel agency tracking of AIS activity with new tricks. Back in 2012, Iran was caught hacking AIS signals. Iran was sending false AIS signals to assist its smuggling operations. After 2012 security researchers found even more ways to hack AIS and have been calling for changes in the AIS software to make it more difficult to spoof. Iran is expected to try this again, despite the increased security measures in the AIS software. Iran has been working for some time to come up with ways to confuse the international ship tracking system, mainly to support their arms smuggling activities. These maritime security technologies were developed as a safety feature and have proved valuable in other ways as well by providing the positions of ships caught in storms or taken by pirates. All ships now use GPS coordinates to record location and constantly report that back to the home office. Iran exploited this by having two of its ships trade INMARSAT IDs while they were near each other, leaving the U.S., or anyone else checking INMARSAT data, unable to track ships that have been switched. Well, for a while at least. Once the intel people caught onto this scam, they developed ways to counter it. This is very much a matter of move and counter move when it comes to exploiting or creating AIS vulnerabilities. Because these tracking systems were, after 2000, required by law (international agreements) for all seagoing vessels, this new tech was particularly useful in counter-terror operations. Coast guards the world over have also found the systems a big help. But apparently pirates in some areas have gained access to the systems (via bribes or theft) and a large number of pirate attacks appear to have been helped by technology meant to safeguard ships at sea. But overall, the tracking systems have done far more good than bad. By 2012 counter-piracy operations improved and better security inside the AIS operation made it much more difficult to be a pirate via stolen AIS data. Iranian abuse of the AIS system was not appreciated by the shipping companies and ship crews. The Iranians have been found moving tankers around the Persian Gulf with AIS turned off. The Iranians do this in other parts of the world where there is a lot of ship traffic. This puts ships of many nations at risk and despite Iranian denials, there are enough ships reporting encounters with Iranian ships running dark to confirm what Iran is doing. All this outlaw activity turned more and more former allies, or neutrals, against Iran. The bad reputation Iran has made for itself in the maritime shipping community caught up with it in 2019. Nations that registered ships (flags of convenience) were no longer as convenient for Iran and the Iranians were surprised to found out how many ship registering nations, even the small ones with a reputation for serving shady customers, were no longer willing to register Iranian ships and were able to spot (with American help) Iranian efforts to use deception to get one of their ships registered. Insurance companies work closely with ship registrars to spot fraudulent activities and Iran soon found many of its ships could not get insurance and without it could not enter many foreign ports. At this point, Iran finds itself on the defensive. The Americans had built up a larger arsenal of countermeasures than Iran expected and that disturbing revelation came at a very inconvenient time. Because Russian oil exports represented a larger portion of oil exports, Russia found more major oil purchasers willing to cooperate in evading sanctions for the discounted Russian oil. Iran was also a major supplier of munitions to Russia after Ukraine was invaded and Russia found it needed more ammunition than expected. Russia expected a short war. This is a common delusion with aggressor states and now Russia finds itself taking major losses in Ukraine and unable to find an easy way out. While the makers of Bud Light beer took a massive, costly hit from their tie-up with Dylan Mulvaney, the transgender TikToker appears to have emerged from the fiasco unscathed, a DailyMail.com/TIPP Poll shows. The first nationwide poll on Mulvaney shows that many more Americans have a favorable view of the influencer than object to her, and broadly say she is more relevant today than she was before conservatives boycotted the beer. Our survey also shows more predictably that Mulvaney is a partisan wedge issue: Democrats appreciate her far more than do their Republican counterparts. The poll of some 1,300 US adults comes as Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Bud Light, counts the cost of irking their right-leaning consumers by collaborating with Mulvaney in April. Americans by a wide margin say Mulvaney has become more relevant due to the boycott Mulvaney announced the partnership in a series of videos posted to social media at the start of April Bud Light lost its position as Americas best-selling beer in May as consumers ditched the brand. Mexican lager Modelo Especial took the top spot. Anheuser-Busch's partnership with Mulvaney has cost the firm some $22 billion in market cap to date. The beer maker may be licking its wounds, but Mulvaney herself does not appear to have suffered. Our polling shows that half of respondents view her favorably, compared to 42 percent who have an unfavorable view. That puts her eight percentage points above water. More importantly, respondents said Mulvaney has benefited from the uproar over working with Bud Light, which famously saw performer Kid Rock post a video of himself shooting at cases of the beer. Some 49 percent of respondents said Mulvaney was more relevant today than before the controversy erupted. Democrats appreciate Mulvaney far more than do their Republican counterparts Anti-Bud Light beer graffiti scrawled on a gate on in Arco, Idaho Even large numbers of Republicans say Mulvaney is more relevant today than before the uproar began Another 24 percent said she had become less relevant, and similar numbers said they were not sure. Mulvaney has also seen little change to her massive social media following over the course of the scandal. She has 10.7 million followers on TikTok and another 1.8 million on Instagram. Mulvaney also continues to promote products on her channel, the latest being ONE/SIZE make up. Shes understood to earn at least $50,000 from each promotional post and net more than $1 million a year. Mulvaney only recently broke her silence on the fiasco and excoriated Bud Light for not standing by her. In a post, she said she 'was waiting for the brand to reach out to me, but they never did. I've been scared to leave my house. 'For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is worse than not hiring a trans person at all. Kid Rock's video of himself shooting cases of the beer went viral Many respondents had never heard of Mulvaney, or said they were not very familiar with her. Those people were not asked further questions about the boycott Bud Light continues to fight for its life in the aftermath of a disastrous April partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, that has so far cost the brand's parent-company about $22billion in market cap 'I have been ridiculed in public I've been followed and I have felt a loneliness that I wouldn't wish on anyone.' After she went public with her criticism, Anheuser-Busch hit back in a statement to say it is 'committed to the programs and partnerships' it has forged with the LGBTQ+ community. The company didn't name Mulvaney directly, but their comments came immediately after she hit out at them for not being supportive of her and the trans community. 'The privacy and safety of our employees and our partners is always our top priority,' it said. 'As we move forward, we will focus on what we do best brewing great beer for everyone and earning our place in moments that matter to our consumers.' Anheuser-Busch said earlier this month it would triple its marketing spending in the US this summer as it attempts to boost ailing sales. For the DailyMail.com/TIPP survey, we initially asked respondents whether they were familiar with Mulvaney. Some 57 percent said they had not heard of Mulvaney, or were not very familiar with her. Those people were not asked any further questions. Payments can come in either vouchers or cash and are funded by marijuana and real-estate transfer taxes. The program will be a 'test run for the whole country' Chicago committed to $10 million over the next 10 years on local reparations A city in Illinois is expected to pay 140 mostly elderly black residents $25,000 each in reparations by the end of the year in what it is calling a 'test run for the whole country.' In 2019, Evanston, a city of 75,000 people north of Chicago, committed to paying $10 million over the next 10 years in local reparations and it has started to deliver on that promise nearly four years later. First approved in March of 2021, the program will benefit black residents if they, or their ancestors, lived in the city between 1919 and 1969 or if they can show they suffered housing discrimination due to the city's policies. It comes as black communities across the U.S. have rallied to help compensate for the legacy of slavery and discrimination they believe has become entrenched within society. Robin Simmons (pictured), the then-city council member representing the fifth ward, paved the road to reparations in 2019 - four years later the city is delivering on its promise Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Louis Weathers - a recipient of the $25,000 - recalled the first experience he faced with racial prejudice. The 88-year-old retired postal worker and Korean War veteran claimed the white teacher at his integrated junior high school would make it difficult for black students to show up their white peers. 'Every time we raised our hand, she wouldn't call on us, but when we didn't raise our hands, she would to make you look like a dummy,' Weathers said. 'We got onto that, though. When we didn't know the answer, we raised our hands.' Weathers will be among the first to benefit from the program which seeks to pay residents for discrimination and housing - but also works to address gaps in education and economic development. The payments, which come in either vouchers or cash, are funded by marijuana and real-estate transfer taxes and are expected to lead the country, according to supporters. 'I see it as like a test run for the whole country,' Justin Hansford, a leading advocate for reparations at the federal and local level and head of the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center at Howard University told the outlet. Apart from his time in junior high, Weathers claims he was discriminated in many aspects of his life. He recalls being excluded from the YMCA, living most his life in the historically black fifth ward - only being allowed to move to a predominantly white neighborhood in 1969 when the laws changed. Kenneth Wideman, 77, and his sister Shelia Wideman, 75, were among 16 of the first recipients of the program And when hoping to purchase a home in a white neighborhood, he was forced to threaten a complaint to the real-estate board if the agent didn't allow him to purchase the home. Weathers said that he gave his $25,000 to his son, who put it towards debt reduction and upgrades to his condo. Last month, a task force in California recommended spending billions on reparations as proposals for the rest of the country sit idle. Meanwhile, a federal bill introduced every year since 1989 that would establish a similar task force at the national level has never been voted on in the House of Representatives. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss told the Wall Street Journal that this hasn't affected the city's momentum on the issue. 'Our job here is just to move forward and to continue being that example, to continue illustrating that a small municipality can make real tangible progress,' he said. Robin Simmons, the then-city council member representing the fifth ward, paved the road to reparations. The fifth ward has historically faced challenges concerning distribution of resources in the City of Evanston, according to the city's website. A majority of the population within the ward identify as people of color, while 12 percent of the population of the city is black. Simmons mostly considered reparations a national issue dealing directly with slavery but later realized local policies such as zoning undermined predominantly black neighborhoods like the fifth ward. 'We've done all forms of affirmative action and equity work that has been really good, but we have not repaired the past harm by the municipal government,' she told the publication. The program will benefit black residents if they, or their ancestors, lived in the city between 1919 and 1969 or if they can show they suffered housing discrimination due to the city's policies Federal reparations efforts have stalled for decades, but cities, counties, school districts and universities have taken up the cause In November 2019, the city passed its plan to spend $10 million on reparations with more than 670 residents having applied. In 2021, 16 people were chosen at random with the use of a bingo cage but it remains unclear when the first payments were made. Siblings, Kenneth Wideman, 77, and Shelia Wideman, 75, were among the 16 - but while others received their reparations in a timely manner, the Widemans were somewhat left in the lurch - due to program architects' decision to forgo direct payouts in lieu of grants to address diminished black homeownership at the time. Since the siblings didn't own any property, they did not qualify for two of three of the repayment options - to use the $25,000 either on mortgage payments, or home repairs. The third option was a down payment for a new home - a choice the siblings flouted in favor of cash. For months, they besieged members of the committee and city to reconsider their stipulations, leading them to toss them in May. Evanston voted to allow the siblings to get cash payments of $25,000, making them the first in the US to receive direct money. Wideman told the Wall Street Journal 'we have not received real reparations, the 40 acres and a mule' that were promised after the Civil War. 'I wish people behind me would get that and more than what I got.' Simmons said the new cash option has reduced the amount of staff work need to disburse the funds. It has however questioned the affect it may have on recipients ability for other aid programs - an issue the committee are currently working through. The committee is currently in the process of verifying more than 500 direct descendants of the initial 140 recipients. Ramona Burton, 74, said she would use her $25,000 voucher for new windows, a new roof, chimney repairs and an updated electric system for her home. 'I think it's a good start,' she said of Evanston's program. 'It's better than a blank.' Federal reparations efforts have stalled for decades, but cities, counties, school districts and universities have taken up the cause. An advisory group in San Francisco recommended that qualifying black adults receive a $5 million lump-sum, guaranteed annual income of at least $97,000 and personal debt forgiveness. San Francisco supervisors are supposed to take up the proposals later this year. But it is currently battling a separate set of problems, including an exodus of businesses in the downtown area amid crime, homelessness and drug abuse. New York may soon follow in California by creating a commission to examine the state's involvement in slavery and consider addressing present-day economic and educational disparities experienced by black people. An advisory group in San Francisco recommended that qualifying black adults receive a $5 million lump-sum, guaranteed annual income of at least $97,000 and personal debt forgiveness Earlier this week, Native American groups joined the call for reparations centuries after hundreds of tribes had land taken from them by 'land-grab universities and colleges' In California, the state's Reparations Task Force which released its 1,100-page final report and recommendations to the public on 29 June and a University of California, Los Angeles study found that roughly two-thirds of Californians are in favor of some form of reparations, though residents are divided on what they should be. Roughly two-thirds of Americans oppose the idea of reparations, according to 2021 polling from the University of Massachusetts. The Pew Research Center found that more than 80 percent of black respondents support some kind of compensation for the descendants of slaves, while a similar majority of white respondents opposed, 2022 polling found. Earlier this week, Native American groups joined the call for reparations centuries after hundreds of tribes had land taken from them by 'land-grab universities and colleges.' An estimated 10.7 million acres of land was taken from 250 tribes following the signing of the Morrill Act by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. This law converted tribal lands into initial sites for land-grant higher education institutions in many states. Now, as several states and cities consider reparations for black Americans, the movement is serving as the impetus for Native American tribes who also believe they also deserve payment for the stolen land. Prychodko filed another wrongful death lawsuit alleging her husband David Schlachet and a hitman carried out the murder for financial reasons Her father, Nicholas Prychodko, has maintained that she was murdered Lara Prychodko, 48, was found dead on July 10, 2018, at the bottom of a trash chute after plummeting from the 27the floor of the Zeckendorf Towers in NYC The father of an NYC socialite who was found dead at the bottom of a trash chute has filed another wrongful death lawsuit alleging that her estranged husband was financially motivated to hire a hitman to kill her. This Monday marked five years since Lara Prychodko's body was found 27 floors down the chute of the Zeckendorf Towers in Union Square - and her family is still looking for answers. New York City police ruled the 48-year-old's death an accident at the time but her father, Nicholas Prychodko, has long suspected foul play. The lawsuit obtained by DailyMail.com alleges that Schlachet and another man only named as 'John Doe' had 'conspired to and, through their concerted efforts, did, in fact, murder Lara Prychodko.' Prychodko alleges Schlachet 'installed software on Lara's computer to track her whereabouts,' which allowed the hitman to wait for the right moment to strangle her to death and then dispose of her body down the building's trash chute. The couple had been going through what Prychodko described as an 'acrimonious divorce' and claims that Schlachet was under 'intense financial pressure' and expected to lose as much as half of his approximately $6 million in assets. No criminal charges have been filed in Lara's death. But her father hopes the most recent wrongful death lawsuit will change that. Schlachet's attorney has denied the allegations made in the lawsuit, and claimed that the unidentified man is a 'wholly fictitious person,' according to NBC Dateline. Lara Prychodko (in 2010), 48, was found dead on July 18, 2018, at her $6,500-per-month apartment at Zeckendorf Towers in Union Square after falling 27 floors Lara Prychodko, 48, was discovered dead on July 10, 2018, by a maintenance worker after plummeting from the 27th floor of the Zeckendorf Towers in Union Square. Her father Nicholas (above together) believes she was murdered Pictured: New York City police officers stand outside Zeckendorf Towers after Lara Prychodko was discovered dead at the bottom of the trash chute Schlachet said in an email to Dateline in 2020 that he and his son were still grieving from the loss. 'I can only say that my divorce -like so many- was a painful and sad experience to go through with someone I had loved so deeply,' Schlachet wrote. 'But that does not diminish the grief and trauma our son and I have experienced by the tragic loss of our wife and mother, Lara. It is a pain that we are both still learning to cope with and which we will both carry with us forever.' Investigators determined that Lara's mysterious and unusual death was a tragic accident and the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner announced that her cause of death 'undetermined.' 'The circumstances around the death are unclear; however there is no suspicion of foul play,' the office said. The report also noted that she had a blood alcohol level of .29 at the time of her death. But Prychodko refuses to believe his daughter's death was a drunken accident and maintains that she was brutally killed on the night of July 10, 2018. He told Dateline in 2020 that the trash chute at Zeckendorf Towers was around 15' by 18' with a door and that Lara was tall at 5'10'. Lara accidentally falling into the trash chute, based on her height, seems implausible to Nicholas. 'What could have happened to her?' Nicholas told Dateline in 2020. 'Was it a suicide? It's not possible. That's not Lara. Was it an accident? I very quickly became convinced that there was only one plausible explanation for what took place. And that's homicide.' So he hired former New York City medical examiner Dr. Michael Baden to look at the case. Dr. Baden claimed the mother-of-one may not have accidentally fallen in the chute, and that her body showed signs of strangulation. David Schlachet and Lara Prychodko are pictured in Southampton in 2006. The lawsuit alleges that Schlachet and another man only named as 'John Doe' had 'conspired to and, through their concerted efforts, did, in fact, murder Lara Prychodko' Security footage showed Lara, reportedly intoxicated and stumbling, entering her Zeckendorf Towers building at 4:10pm on July 10 and getting onto the elevator alone Prychodko hired former New York City medical examiner Dr. Michael Baden to look at the case. Dr. Baden claimed the mother-of-one may not have accidentally fallen in the chute, and that her body showed signs of strangulation Lara died less than a week after celebrating her birthday with friends in Paris and Ibiza, despite court documents later revealing she was 'buried in debt' Security footage showed Lara, reportedly intoxicated and stumbling, entering her Zeckendorf Towers building at 4:10pm on July 10 and getting onto the elevator alone. She had been at a nearby bar where she had watched the FIFA World Series Cup semi-finals. France beat Belgium in the match that day, and Nicholas said his daughter, whose grandfather is French, was ecstatic. 'The doorman said she was happy. She was high-fiving them. They all loved her because, you know, she was just so friendly and nice,' Nicholas said. One of Lara's neighbors on the 27th floor later told authorities that she returned home around 4:20pm and nothing seemed amiss in the hallway. But ten minutes later, the neighbor said she heard loud noises coming from the hallway and stepped outside her apartment to investigate. Although she did not see anyone at the time, she did discover an unattended purse on the floor near the trash compactor. Authorities would later reveal that the purse belonged to Lara. At 4:40pm, a maintenance worker stopped by the trash chute after it became jammed. That's where he found Lara's body 'crushed from multiple angles.' A brief investigation by the New York Police Department determined there was no criminal activity involved. The couple had been battling over their assets which included two homes in Southampton, an apartment in Chelsea, a penthouse in Williamsburg, and a loft in Toronto Nicholas Prychodko (pictured): 'She shaped both the beginning of my formative adult life and now shes shaping how I spend the last years of my life' Prychodko filed the first lawsuit in February 2021 which also alleged that Lara's husband hired a hitman to kill her. It also made the same claims about the laptop software and that Schlachet stood to lose millions in the divorce. The couple had been battling over their assets which included two homes in Southampton, an apartment in Chelsea, a penthouse in Williamsburg, and a loft in Toronto. But the case was dismissed in July 2021 as Schlachet's lawyers objected to the suit on the grounds that neither Prychodko nor his family financial advisor, Lance Meyerowich had the legal authority to sue. Nicholas argues that his daughter Lara (pictured), who was nearly six-feet-tall, had too much height to simply fall down the trash chute Nicholas Prychodko: ' Lara was extremely sociable. She had great interpersonal skills and networking skills, which is what helped to make her so successful' Pictured: Lara Prychodko In April 2023, a judge gave Prychodko limited authority to represent Lara's estate and act as guardians for the property of her now 17-year-old son. The two sued Schlachet and the hitman for the second time later that month in Manhattan Supreme Court. They again claimed that Schlachet 'was financially motivated to kill Lara Prychodko. Schlachet also filed his own wrongful death claim against the owners, operators, and managers of Zeckendorf Towers. The complaint reportedly does not address how Lara 'could have opened the garbage chute, pushed herself through its small opening, and dived down the chute all by accident,' Prychodko said in his own suit. Lara was raised in Toronto, where she studied at Etobicoke School for the Arts before attending University of Toronto. She then followed her dreams to New York City after college and worked several jobs as she built a network in the Big Apple. 'Lara was extremely sociable. She had great interpersonal skills and networking skills, which is what helped to make her so successful,' Prychodko said. A woman celebrating her birthday in Ibiza enjoyed the full VIP experience flying home to Jersey as the only passenger on the flight. Hannah Maden-Adams, 38, spent 188 on the Blue Islands flight and was surprised when the plane was completely empty except for herself and the crew. She was chauffeured from the boarding gate to the plane in a car and even got some top holiday tips from the pilots as they were flying back. Hannah said: 'It sounds cheesy because I'm just a normal person, but it felt really exciting being taken in a car to the aircraft and then being the only person to board. 'It was very surreal, but it was just fun as well - how often does something like that happen?' Hannah Maden-Adams (left) is pictured on the plane with the air crew, headed for Jersey Hannah Maden-Adams's empty flight. She said the staff were very friendly and accommodating Hannah, the founder of a communications agency, had been enjoying her birthday in Ibiza with friends and had booked a flight home to Jersey on Thursday 6 July. But arriving at the airport, staff were insistent that there were no flights going from Ibiza to Jersey, with some staff saying they had never even heard of the place. She finally managed to check-in but when she arrived at the gate, Hannah said she began to wonder where the other passengers were. It was only when the gate was opened that a member of staff informed her she was the only passenger. A private car collected her from the gate and drove her to the plane where she was greeted by cabin crew who were equally surprised by the unique private jet experience. They informed her the first flight from Jersey to Ibiza had departed that morning, and they hadn't expected anyone would be flying back that afternoon. 'I didn't know how busy it would be, but I didn't expect to be only one. 'I didn't think they would fly if there was only one passenger but they had to get plane back to Jersey, so the flight was going anyway,' said Hannah. Blue Islands is a regional airline based in Jersey. She said the flight attendants were very professional and still ran through all the safety procedures and announcements. 'Normally flights are absolutely packed, you've got kids, families, groups of people all talking and laughing. 'Instead, they said sit where you like and put your luggage where you like. 'I went for a window seat - I decided to sit up near the front as I like to see the view.' She added: 'It was really fun, the air stewardesses chatted the whole way, it was great to get to know them find out about their lives. 'When we were in the air the pilots were so kind, I thought it was a really nice personal touch, the pilots were pointing out various locations and recommended destinations for holidays.' When she landed in Jersey, she was escorted through arrivals - which had been specially opened just for her - but said she still had to wait for her bags to arrive at the reclaim carousel. Hannah (right) is pictured with a friend. She visited Ibiza to celebrate her 38th birthday Hannah Maden-Adams, 38, from Jersey, runs her own communications agency Jersey, an island of around 103,000 people, welcomes nearly seven times its population in visitors each year. However, this figure took a steep decline between 1997 and 2002, before making a slow recovery towards the end of the last decade. In 2021, average room occupancy was 41 per cent up on 2020's numbers, but down overall from pre-pandemic figures. Lockdowns and international flight bans had a significant impact on Jersey's travel and tourism industries. Rob Veron, CEO Blue Islands, said: 'Last Thursday we welcomed guests on board the first outbound flight of Blue Islands 2023 summer sun programme, which sees convenient direct flights from Jersey to Ibiza every Thursday for 10 weeks. 'As this was the first week of the series, the outbound flight was hugely popular as Islanders flew direct for week-long holidays in the Mediterranean sun, the return flight was an empty-leg although it was open to book, and it was great that Hannah could fly direct to Jersey. 'This Thursday we look forward to flying more guests to Ibiza, and welcoming back our returning guests as they fly home to Jersey.' Blue Islands offers direct flights from Jersey to summer sun destinations including weekly flights to Ibiza for 10 weeks over the summer. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick today defended ordering the removal of Mickey Mouse artwork at an asylum centre for unaccompanied children. Murals depicting cartoon characters were last week painted over at a Kent facility used to hold those who arrive in Britain after crossing the Channel in small boats. Mr Jenrick was reported to have felt the murals gave the impression the UK was too 'welcoming' to migrants arriving from France after undertaking sea journeys. Refugee charities lashed out at the action by 'heartless' ministers, while Labour branded it 'utterly absurd'. But the immigration minister this afternoon suggested the murals were not 'age appropriate' as he told the House of Commons the majority of people who pass through the centre were teenagers. Mr Jenrick defended the Home Office's action as MPs debated a series of House of Lords amendments to the Government's Illegal Migration Bill. The proposed legislation was sent back to the Commons after suffering a mauling by peers, who introduced a raft of revisions. The immigration minister accused Labour of 'performative' compassion towards asylum seekers, as he claimed they had not offered a 'credible alternative' to Government plans for easing the Channel migrant crisis. Paintings of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, as well as Tom and Jerry, previously adorned the walls of a smaller detention room at the Kent Intake Unit Mr Jenrick suggested the murals were not 'age appropriate' as he told the House of Commons the majority of people who pass through the centre were teenagers Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper quizzed Mr Jenrick over the painting over of the murals in the Commons this afternoon Mr Jenrick defended the Home Office's action as MPs debated legislation aimed at easing the Channel migrant crisis The Kent Intake Unit is among the facilities used by the Home Office to hold migrants who have arrived from France after crossing the Channel. It is mainly for unaccompanied children who arrive at the coast to be supervised, identified, interviewed and issued with immigration papers. Paintings of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, as well as Tom and Jerry, previously adorned the walls of a smaller detention room at the centre. But the Home Office confirmed these were removed last Tuesday. Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper quizzed Mr Jenrick over the painting over of the murals in the Commons this afternoon. 'Is it true that he gave orders to the asylum reception centre to paint over children's cartoons? And, if so, why?,' she asked the immigration minister. 'Because nobody believes Mickey Mouse cartoons either encourage or deter boats to arrive and they simply think this is the minister actually not showing some common decency towards vulnerable children.' In response, Mr Jenrick insisted the Government provided 'very high quality care at all of the centres in which we support unaccompanied children'. 'We didn't think the set-up in that particular unit was age appropriate because the majority of those individuals who were unaccompanied passing through it last year were teenagers,' he added. 'That does not change the fundamentals that we support anyone who comes to this country with decency and compassion.' Mr Jenrick also accused Ms Cooper of 'missing the point' as he stressed the Illegal Migration Bill 'seeks to reduce the number of unaccompanied minors coming to the UK precisely because we want to protect them and ensure they're not victims of people smugglers and human traffickers'. 'If she wanted to reduce this trade she would support this bill or come with a credible alternative,' he continued. 'She hasn't come forward with a credible alternative and so her compassion is, to a degree, performative because she doesn't come forward with alternatives that would genuinely support individuals.' Organisers of an angry protest at a luxury Welsh hotel destined to be taken over by asylum seekers claim they are the new Greenham Common activists in a call back to the anti nuclear group from the Margaret Thatcher era. Angry locals living near to the four-star Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli, South Wales, are camping out as they continue their campaign to stop the venue being turned into a refugee centre. Many of the hardcore of 80 protesters are local women in their fifties and sixties who fear their community is at risk from economic migrants. The women say they are in for the long haul and marquees were being erected today at the entrance to the four star hotel and spa due to house 241 asylum seekers. Locals say there is an ongoing siege between protesters and six security workers, all said to be ex special services - brought in by Clearsprings Ready Homes Ltd, one of Britain's largest providers of housing to the Home Office. Local people have reacted after Stardey Park Hotel have been turned into a Home Office facility to temporarily house asylum seekers in the Furnace area of Llanelli The demonstrators have compared themselves to the 1980s Greenham Common women's peace camp (pictured) Many of the hardcore of 80 protesters are local women in their fifties and sixties The protesters have vowed to continue the demonstration for as long as it takes A banner with a message against the creation of the asylum seeker centre outside the Stradey Park Hotel Over the weekend there were clashes between police and protesters and some angry demonstrators smeared security vans with animal excrement. The 50 protesters camped outside are being brought food and drink by supporters as the stalemate shows no sign of being resolved. Organiser Stan Robinson said: 'We had the Greenham Common ladies in the eighties, today we have the Stradey Park ladies. They are mothers and grandmothers, all local, who are not accepting the risk that comes with housing so many economic migrants. This is Wales where people are known for their welcome and that is true of Llanelli where there is a large Polish and Ukrainian population. But the people due to arrive at the Stradey Park Hotel are not genuine refugees.' The protesters fear the tight-knit community will become like Penally, a former Army camp 40 miles away, where hundreds of asylum seekers were housed for years. They claim the village and the nearby seaside town of Tenby became a hotbed of sex crimes, arson and knifings, none of which ended up in court. Mr Robinson, of a group called Voice of Wales, said while Dyfed-Powys Police failed to clamp down on asylum seekers they were quick to arrest protestors outside the Llanelli hotel. The protestors claim an ex nurse in her fifties who was arrested has been charged with unlawful imprisonment and is due to appear before Llanelli magistrates later this month. Placards with messages against the creation of the asylum seeker centre outside the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli Furious protesters shouted 'shame on you' as officers held a woman on Sunday Footage shared online shows how the protest outside the hotel in Wales escalated on Sunday She is alleged to have been part of a group who used steel chains to block off a new entrance to the hotel, made by cutting through a 15ft-high hedge. Up to 22 police officers have been guarding the entrance which has become a flashpoint of the protest. One demonstrator, a Londoner in his sixties, said: 'It must be the most expensive hole in a hedge in the UK. How much are people paying for the police to stand guard over a hole in a hedge.' Meanwhile more food and supplies were turning up at the hotel's main entrance which has been blocked off by large boulders. Organisers say local businesses are using unmarked vans to arrive with hot food and other supplies. One protester said: 'We have enough milk to open a dairy. We are going to be here for as long as it takes.' Over the weekend there were clashes between police and protesters after officers tried remove a car that was being used as a blockade to stop contractors accessing the site. Angry demonstrators smeared security vans with animal excrement with locals describing it as a 'siege' with 50 protesters camped outside and being brought food and drink by supporters. Meanwhile a counter demonstration by pro-refugee activists was seen close by on Monday as the tense situation shows no signs of resolving heading into midweek. Dramatic footage taken on Sunday had shown tensions mounting as protesters clashed with police as they demonstrated against plans to convert the hotel into an asylum seeker facility. Horse manure was used to daub door handles of vans from a security company brought in by the Clearsprings Ready Homes Ltd, one of Britain's largest providers of housing to the Home Office. One protester said: 'The hotel is part of the history and fabric of the town - people are angry that this has been foisted upon us. 'I'm not a racist, I feel some sympathy with asylum seekers but the best hotel for miles around is not the place for them. 'It's a bit of siege situation right now - we are organised and will see it out.' The hotels two main entrances are blocked off by large rocks and protesters are stopping people coming and going. A new entrance, created by cutting down hedgerow, has become the focus of the stand-off between protesters and Clearsprings. Four lorry loads of Home Office-approved beds are waiting to be delivered to the landmark hotel which was due to start receiving 241 asylum seekers on July 3. But protesters are refusing to allow them through the barricades which are being marshalled by police. One hotel worker was allowed to leave at the weekend after a medical emergency involving one of his family. In chaotic video which has emerged of the protest in Wales yesterday, a man was heard shouting at other demonstrators: 'Sit on the floor, they need four officers to move you if you sit on the floor.' Protesters sit and stand outside the Stradey Park Hotel on Monday as they continue demonstrations against plans to turn it into a migrant centre A police officer speaks to demonstrators outside the hotel on Monday as protests continue for another day Police guard a hole in a fence at the hotel on Monday to stop protesters from getting onto the hotel site Supporters of the protesters hand out food and drinks to keep them going on Monday night A police officer stands guard as protesters continue to gather into Monday night outside the hotel Locals voice their concern to police officers outside the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli, Wales Police officers lined up outside the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli, Wales 'Officers remain at the scene to facilitate peaceful protest, where they are engaging with all parties and offering reassurance to the community' Riled up crowd members were heard chanting' de-escalation' and 'shame on you, officer' as they cuffed one woman. The man filming shouts 'so the local police are now standing against the local people'. Others shout 'oh my God' and 'get off her' as a woman appears to be arrested. Furious protesters yelled at the officers, branding them 'scum' before another man is heard shouting: 'Who's assaulting who now, b*****ds...' A woman who is being held by police insists 'I'm not doing anything, do you think this is right?' A man claims: 'She stood in the road and that was it folks.' Local police were yesterday called to the scene by security staff at around 8.40am and stayed throughout the day as more protesters gathered. The force later arrested two people for allegedly preventing the movement of a vehicle that was blocking the hotel's entrance before releasing both individuals on bail. Carmarthenshire County Council lost its bid for a High Court injunction to temporarily block plans to use the 77-bedroom Stradey Park to accommodate asylum seekers. The council claimed it would mean a 'material change of use from hotel to hostel' and went against planning regulations. It said handing it over to asylum seekers would result in job losses, impact on tourism and cut the number of hotel beds in the area by 25 per cent. The blockade is aiming to prevent the hotel from being converted into a facility for housing asylum seekers Protestors have started blockading the Stradey park Hotel in Llanelli after it fired 95 staff in plans to house up to 241 asylum seekers Local campaigners have surrounded the hotel in opposition to the Home Office plans Campaigners say more than 100 jobs are in jeopardy in what is already an employment blackspot. Lawyers acting for hotel owner Gryphon Leisure Limited said it was helping with a 'clear, pressing and urgent need' for asylum seeker initial accommodation and there was no breach of planning rules. The court was told that Gryphon director Robert Horwood had warned that, without the 'injection of funds' from a contract with Clearsprings there was 'a serious risk that the use as a hotel would be lost in any event'. Carmarthenshire County Council on Friday lost its High Court bid to block the plans after claiming the conversion would 'cause harm' to Llannelli's economy. Judge Gavin Mansfield KC was due to give his reasons for dismissing the council's application for an injunction at the High Court today. The historic hotel in the village of Furnace, close to the Llanelli rugby club's former Stradey Park stadium has hosted the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks in its rich history. It has 'stunning views' of Carmarthen Bay and the Gower peninsula and couples who booked their weddings there are now desperately looking for other venues. A petition entitled 'Stop the Home Office using Llanelli's Stradey Park Hotel to House Asylum Seekers, with more than 5,000 signatures was sent to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman. Robert Lloyd, of the Furnace Action Committee, said: 'We will continue to pursue legal and civil lines to see what we can do. 'We are not directly involved in any demonstration or blockade and will continue to lobby and see what we can do legally to stop this from happening.' The Home Office plans to convert the hotel into a housing facility for asylum seekers have seen the hotel fire 50 full time staff and another 45 part time workers. The protestors have claimed the Home Office plans will damage Llanelli's local economy The plans are set to see the hotel house up 241 asylum seekers as they wait for their claims to be processed. However, the Home Office's decisions garnered major opposition from local campaigners who are calling for asylum seekers to be more evenly distributed throughout the area. All events, including weddings at the venue have been cancelled, in line with the aim to convert the spa hotel into a housing facility. The Stradey Park Hotel and Spa, which sits inside a converted Edwardian mansion, is currently the largest hotel in Llanelli. The blockade is aiming to prevent the hotel from being converted into a facility for housing asylum seekers. Local campaigners have said they support 'Carmarthenshire Council's preferred model of distributing asylum seekers throughout the wider community'. In an online petition, campaign group Furnace Action Committee noted that they 'wish to see' the hotel continue to 'play its vital role in Carmarthenshire's tourism policy'. Labour MP Dame Nia Griffith yesterday called on local people to remain 'calm' as she said those with 'genuine concerns' about the Home Office plans should come to local representatives. The MP for Llanelli called on local people to ignore 'unpleasant stuff' posted on social media following concerns about the involvement of far right elements. 'What is important now is to differentiate between where a resident has a genuine concern about something, and some of the horrible stuff that we have seen on social media,' the Labour MP told BBC One Wales. Police arrested two people accused of preventing the removal of a vehicle that was blocking the entrance to the four-star hotel A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman said: 'Officers have been at the scene of a protest at Stradey Park Hotel, in Llanelli, yesterday, following several incidents that caused a disturbance at the site. 'Officers initially attended the site at around 8.40am at the request of security staff and remained at the scene to facilitate peaceful protest as the group increased in size. 'Two people were arrested on suspicion of obstructing police following an incident whereby protestors prevented the recovery of a vehicle blocking the entrance to the property. They have been released on police bail. 'Officers remain at the scene to facilitate peaceful protest, where they are engaging with all parties and offering reassurance to the community.' A Home Office spokesman said: 'The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain. 'We have been clear that the use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable there are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer 6million a day. 'The Home Office is committed to making every effort to reduce hotel use and limit the burden on the taxpayer.' Stradey Park Hotel and Dyfed-Powys Police were contacted by MailOnline for further comment. A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: 'Following a number of incidents at a protest at Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli on Sunday, 9 July, four people have been charged. 'Scott Samuel, aged 32, of Bryn Siriol, Llanelli, has been charged with public order and drug possession, Helen Thomas, aged 52, of Pentrepoeth Road, Llanelli, was charged with public order offences, while Jade Elizabeth Morris, aged 36, of Cwmbach Road, Llanelli, and Scott Joshua Morris, aged 31, of Bres Road, Llanelli, have both been charged with obstructing police. 'All four have been bailed to attend court at a later date.' No arrests have been made since Sunday. Officers remain at the scene to facilitate peaceful protest, where they are continuing to engage with all parties and offering reassurance to the community. A bikini-clad white woman has been accused of racism after videos posted online showed her screaming at a neighbor who invited some black friends to swim at their apartment complex's pool. The unidentified woman in a red bikini could be seen yelling at her neighbor, whom she identified as 'Joshua,' for inviting his friends over to the pool in Fort Worth, Texas. She argues that the men do not pay the $2,000 rent to live at the apartment complex and use the pool facility and should 'get the f*** out,' before she threatens to call the police. But the woman could later be seen hitting one of the black men in question. The videos were originally posted to TikTok by user @telly.vswrld, a recent high school graduate, who appears to be one of the black men the woman was upset about. They have been viewed more than 300,000 times since they were first posted on Monday, but information about the woman and what proceeded the altercation remain scarce. A blonde woman in a red bikini is being accused of racism after videos posted online showed her screaming at a neighbor who invited some black friends to swim at their apartment complex's pool At one point, she threatened to call the Fort Worth police on them, though it is unclear if the call was ever actually made In the first video, the heavily tattooed blonde woman could be seen confronting her white male neighbor in blue swim shorts with pineapples on them and blue Crocs. 'Are you f***ing serious, what the f***?' she asks the man, who calls her 'f***ing disgusting. 'You can't just let somebody come swim?' he asks the woman. 'You think I pay $2,000 for nothing?' she replies. 'Do you want a pool, go pay $2,000 like I do, that's f***ing wrong. 'No, it's wrong that you're gonna think you can police people,' the neighbor retorts as he begins putting his shirt back on. At that point, the woman threatens to call the leasing office of the apartment complex as somebody off screen could be heard telling the black men, 'I'm sorry for her.' A follow-up video shows her sitting on one of the lounge chairs in the pool complex, saying, 'This is f***ing ridiculous Joshua. I don't f***ing have to be around this s***.' Joshua then replies, 'I don't know why you gotta be like that,' to which the woman says, 'They don't live here.' 'Who cares?' Joshua asks. 'I pay a lot of f***ing money to live here,' the red bikini woman hits back. 'And are they taking your money?' Joshua asks. 'No,' she admits, 'but I don't want a lot of people splashing me that don't pay to live here. F*** you all.' The videos begin with the unidentified woman confronting a neighbor, whom she identified as Joshua, for inviting his friends to the pool even though they do not pay rent A follow-up video shows her sitting on one of the lounge chairs in the pool complex, saying, 'This is f***ing ridiculous Joshua. I don't f***ing have to be around this s***' She repeatedly tells the group of friends to 'get the f*** out' and go back to Denton, a nearby city with a median household income below the national average The men and the woman then start talking over each other, though one man could be heard telling the woman: 'We're grown a** people.' She then tells them to 'go back to Denton, where you belong.' Denton, a nearby city is also predominantly white, according to the US Census with just 11.5percent of the population identifying as black or African American. However, its median household income is lower than the national average, at just $65,168 compared to $71,000. 'He doesn't pay to live here, he doesn't pay s*** so he doesn't care,' the woman continues. 'I pay $2,000 to live here. I don't want mother f***ing people who don't pay s*** to live here. 'Get the f*** out.' One of the black men then tries to explain that his friend lives here, but the woman continues to insist they 'get the f*** out.' She continues on to deny that she is a 'crackhead,' saying sarcastically, 'that's why I can afford to pay $2,000. 'Get the f*** out,' she repeats before twerking in front of one of the black men filming the altercation and hitting him. 'Get out, you don't live here. 'I'll call the police right now,' though it is unclear if she ever actually made the call. DailyMail.com has reached out to the TikTok user and the Fort Worth Police Department for comment. Anthony Phillips led police to him in May after finding him in his yard He was being held on charges for kidnapping, murder, and rape after May arrest The South Carolina man who helped police catch fugitive inmate Michael Burham when he was on the run in May says he is out for 'revenge' after escaping from his Pennsylvania jail two weeks ago. Burham broke out of Warren County Jail on July 6, just two weeks after being booked in on a charge of kidnapping. He is also suspected in the rape and murder of Kala Hodgkin, a woman whose body was found at her home in Jamestown, New York, on May 11. On May 24, after Hodgkin's body was found, Burham was arrested in Berkeley County, South Carolina, after Anthony Phillips spotted him hiding out in his yard. He was taken into custody and sent to the jail where he spent two weeks before escaping. On May 24, after Hodgkin's body was found, Burham was arrested in Berkeley County, South Carolina, after Anthony Phillips spotted him hiding out in his yard Burham was arrested in May after two weeks on the run. He was wanted on charges including rape and murder Phillips called police and they were able to apprehend Burham, a military vet who is considered 'dangerous'. Now that he is free again, Phillips fears Burham will come after him. 'He's gonna come back for revenge. He's gonna do this,' he told ABC 4 News in South Carolina. Phillips however said he was 'not worried' about having another run-in with him, because 'this time, it'll be a different story.' On May 24, Burham was hiding out in Phillips' yard after two weeks on the run. He was wanted at the time for the rape of Hodgkin, and had become the prime suspect in her murder too. Phillips found Burham hiding in his backyard and called police in May He is shown pointing in the direction Burham took off in after he spotted him on May 24 The jail is in a remote part of the state just 70 miles southeast of Lake Erie, next to the Allegheny National Forest The criminal rappelled down this building using tied-together bedsheets, shown, after hoisting himself onto a roof by climbing onto a pull-up machine By the time he got to South Carolina, he had also allegedly kidnapped an elderly couple while stealing their car to make the drive. He has been on the run again for five days, and the hunt for him is heating up. Yesterday, Pennsylvania State Police gave a press conference where they said he was likely to be found soon after leaving 'breadcrumbs' in his wake. Burham is the 'prime suspect' in the shooting death of Kala Hodgkin, 34, in May Burham has an extensive military background, spending more than 10 years in the Army Reserve where he served as a water treatment specialist. He used bed sheets to escape from the jail, tying them together and rappelling down the side of the building after using a pull-up bar to get onto the roof. Police are now also questioning whether he had any help in his escape from anyone working inside the jail. They say he has been using small campsites surrounding the Allegheny National Forest to sleep, moving on every day to avoid detection. Fox News cites military sources who say that while he never deployed, he sought additional firearms training while in the Reserve. Authorities say he is a 'self-trained survivalist' who could now be hiding out in the Allegheny National Forest which covers more than half a million acres of rural Pennsylvania on the New York border. The jail is in a remote part of the state just 70 miles southeast of Lake Erie, next to the Allegheny National Forest Michael Burham escaped from the Warren County Jail in Pennsylvania last Thursday District Attorney Jason Schmidt of Chautauqua County, New York, said last month that Burham is the prime suspect in the May 11 killing of Kala Hodgkin, 34, and a related arson in Jamestown, New York. At the time of her death, he was wanted on a separate charge for raping her. After allegedly shooting her dead, he went on the run for two weeks, hijacking an elderly couple's car. He was eventually arrested on May 24 and was brought into custody. The young mother was found dead in her home after a 911 call reported shots fired. Authorities also accuse him of abducting an elderly couple in Pennsylvania while trying to evade capture before his arrest in South Carolina. Warren city police said Burham 'is considered very dangerous' - but that he is leaving 'breadcrumbs' in his wake that are helping the authorities. 'Theyre chasing a ghost right now. But hes dropping breadcrumbs. Thats a good thing those are mistakes on his behalf. He could be a survivalist, but so are the US Marshals. Once that noose starts tightening and they make that mistake, its all over,' said Lenny DePaul, a retired commander of the US Marshals Service, told The New York Post. The US Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $7,500 for information that helps lead to Burham's capture. Warren County Crime Stoppers is offering another $2,000. Prison isn't the safest place for notorious criminals, especially those found guilty of horrific crimes against children, as proven by the attack on Larry Nassar over the weekend. The former USA gymnastics team doctor, 59, was brutally attacked on Sunday at the United States Penitentiary Coleman in Florida, where he is serving up to 175 years for abusing some of the nation's top athletes. The pedophile was stabbed twice in the neck, twice in the back and six times in the chest; he suffered a collapsed lung and 'is lucky to be alive,' according to prison officials. But while Nassar is one of few survivors, he is far from the first hated criminal to become the target of prison attacks. From legendary gangsters like Whitey Bulger to sick sexual offenders like cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer, DailyMail.com looks back at monsters attacked while paying for their infamous crimes. Former USA gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar was brutally stabbed in prison on Sunday Infamous gangster and FBI informant James Whitey was beaten to death just hours after he was transferred to West Virginia's notoriously violent Hazelton Prison JAMES 'WHITEY' BULGER The infamous mobster, who led the Irish Winter Hill gang in Boston in the 1970s and '80s, managed to escape justice for years; he was on the run from 1994 until he was finally imprisoned for his reign of terror in 2011. He was linked to 19 murders and countless gruesome events involving victims being tortured, bound in heavy chains, shot and buried in cellars with their teeth removed to prevent identification. Bulger somehow managed to survive for years after he was convicted - despite the widely known fact that he served as an informant for the FBI, which is one of the worst offenses in the prison world, where 'rats' are common targets. But his luck ran out in October 2018 - less than 12 hours after he was transferred to West Virginia's notoriously violent Hazelton Prison, where he was no longer under special protective custody for his safety. The mobster, who was 89 and in a wheelchair when he died, was beaten to death just six minutes after his cell door was unlocked on his first morning at the prison. Paul J. 'Pauly' DeCologero, 48, and Massachusetts mafia enforcer Fotios 'Freddy' Geas, 55, were charged with viciously beating and stabbing Bulger to death. Bulger's killing raised questions about why the known 'snitch' was transferred to the troubled prison, known as 'Misery Mountain,' and why he was placed in the general population instead of more protective housing. The Department of Justice said the mobster's killing was planned 'as soon as' he arrived at the Virginia prison. ALBERT DESALVO 'THE BOSTON STRANGLER' Factory worker Albert DeSalvo was confirmed as the Boston Strangler in 2013. He was killed in 1973 while serving a prison stint for other unrelated crimes of assault Another dark figure in Boston's history was also killed in prison after a series of gruesome crimes that terrorized the city. The Boston Strangler's killing spree struck fear into the hearts of millions of Americans in the early 1960s and garnered unprecedented news coverage. Factory worker Albert DeSalvo confessed to the crimes but was never convicted as authorities questioned his true role in the murders. At the time of his confessions in 1965, there was no physical evidence to put DeSalvo at the scenes of any of the killings, nor any pattern to truly identify the killings as the work of one person; one of the victims was stabbed, another was both stabbed and strangled, another died of a heart attack. DeSalvo, 42, was murdered in 1973 while serving a prison stint for other unrelated crimes of assault - an apparent hit that came shortly after he mailed a letter in which he vowed to 'clear his name.' He recanted his story not long before he was fatally stabbed in his bed at the maximum-security Walpole State Prison - nearly a decade after claiming the murders of 13 women. It wasn't until years after his death that officials confirmed him as the killer. In 2013, DNA tests performed on DeSalvo's exhumed remains confirmed he killed one of the victims. RICHARD LOEB Richard Loeb was attacked with a straight razor in prison as he served time for the murder of a 14-year-old boy Richard and his brother Nathan were 18 and 19 respectively when they kidnapped and murdered a 14-year-old boy in Chicago in 1924 as part of their mission to show off their superior intellect by planning and executing the perfect crime. Despite the wealthy siblings' self-assurance, the brothers were arrested 10 days later after police found a pair of Nathan's glasses at the scene of the crime. The brothers then confessed to the crime and were sentenced to life in prison plus 99 years. In 1936, the 30-year-old was attacked by another inmate in the shower at the Illinois Penitentiary at Stateville and killed with a straight razor, suffering 56 wounds. Officials claimed the murder was self defense because Richard had allegedly prepositioned his killer. Nathan was released in 1958 after serving 30 years. LEE ROY MARTIN Lee Roy Martin, the Gaffney Strangler, was fatally stabbed at the Central Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina Known as the Gaffney Strangler, serial killer Lee raped and killed at least two women and two girls in the late 1960s in South Carolina. The killer targeted women walking alone in deserted roads and forced them into his car. He claimed the crimes were committed by his 'violent half.' Lee was arrested in 1968 - after one of his victims' husbands had been convicted of her murder - and received four life terms. The 34-year-old was fatally stabbed by fellow inmate Kenneth Rumsey in 1972 at the Central Correctional Institution in Columbia. Rumsey later died by suicide in his cell. JEFFREY DAHMER Perhaps the most famous of all the killers on this list, cannibal monster Jeffrey Dahmer was beaten to death just a few years after he confessed to killing 17 men and boys Perhaps the most famous of all the killers on this list, Milwaukee cannibal monster Dahmer was beaten to death just a few years after he confessed to killing 17 men and boys between the ages of 14 to 33. Convicted murderer Christopher Scarver, 45, beat Dahmer to death with a metal bar in a Wisconsin prison in 1994 where they were both serving life sentences. Scarver has said Dahmer was clearly 'unrepentant' in prison and would clash with many other prisoners. He said he would taunt fellow inmates and prison officers by fashioning limbs from pieces of food and drizzling ketchup so it would look like blood. Scarver said he was disgusted when he read about the murders Dahmer had committed, and one day when they were left alone confronted him about it. Dahmer was said to be escorted by a prison guard at all times because of the nature of his crimes until one occasion in 1994 when Scarver claims he was left alone with him and another prisoner, Jesse Anderson, whom he also killed. Scarver was in prison for shooting a co-worker in the head after demanding money from him. In November 1994 Scarver attacked Dahmer, 34, in a gymnasium with a 5lb metal bar and beat him around the head, crushing his skull. He later also killed Anderson, who was in prison for murdering his wife, in the same way. More than 13,000 migrants have crossed the Channel by small boat so far this year - with a further 338 people intercepted yesterday alone. Up to and including Monday July 10, a total of 13,160 people had made the perilous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits in 288 boats - an average of 46 migrants crammed into each vessel. The figures are fast approaching last year's record numbers, according to official Government data. At this point last year, 13,323 migrants had reached the UK in inflatable dinghies or other small craft - just 163 more people than 2023's rolling total. Last year saw a record 45,755 people make the treacherous crossing - 60 per cent higher than 2021's total of 28,526. But officials have predicted that as many as 80,000 migrants could reach the UK by the end of this year. Border Force officials escort migrants into Dover Docks, Kent on Tuesday July 11 A group of people thought to be migrants are driven from the Border Force compound in Dover Migrants seeking asylum in the UK while housed at Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent While the Home Office is yet to confirm the official figures for today, it is understood that around 35 migrants were intercepted by Border Force off the coast of Kent this morning This month alone has seen 1,677 people arrive on the Kent coast. Last Friday was a record day for 2023, with 686 people brought to shore by UK officials in a 24-hour period, while the weekend saw a total of 653 migrants reach British soil. Yesterday a further 338 people were intercepted at sea by Border Force and escorted into Dover, Kent. Border Force cutter Hurricane arrived in the port with dozens of migrants on board shortly after midday, while Border Force vessel Ranger escorted more asylum seekers - wearing orange lifejackets - into the harbour around an hour later. A third Border Force vessel carrying dozens more men - and a small number of women and children - reached Dover at around 8pm. The asylum seekers, who had red blankets wrapped around their shoulders after battling windy conditions at sea, were led off the boat by UK officials. In the early hours of Monday morning, the French coastguard was made aware of a boat in difficulty off the coast of Gravelines, northern France. Up to and including Monday July 10, a total of 13,160 people had made the perilous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits in 288 boats Up to and including Monday July 10, a total of 13,160 people had made the perilous journey. Security vessel Esvagt Charlie was tasked with recovering 74 stranded people from the Channel. They were dropped off at the port of Calais, where they were taken care of by the departmental fire and rescue service and the border police. While the Home Office is yet to confirm the official figures for today, it is understood that around 35 migrants were intercepted by Border Force off the coast of Kent this morning. The latest arrivals, which included a young toddler in a green raincoat, were brought to shore amid choppy conditions in the Channel at around 9am. Rough weather is expected to make it difficult for further asylum seekers to attempt the treacherous crossing later today, with heavy clouds and a small storm risk forecast for this afternoon. CELESTYAL JOURNEY - ... First Republicans wanted to strip FBI funding, now they want to send the agency to ruby-red Alabama. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, who has accused the FBI of 'weaponizing' against former President Trump, is submitting a 'ride' - or additional provision - to an appropriations bill that would strip the agency of funding for its new headquarters unless it relocates to Huntsville, Alabama, a committee source confirmed to DailyMail.com. The Wall Street Journal first reported the news. It is unlikely to become law, but is the latest play in the House GOP's increasingly hostile relationship with the agency that has swelled to more than 35,000 employees. It comes as the bureau is eyeing up a move from its 70-year-old concrete brutalist headquarters in Washington, D.C. - the J. Edgar Hoover building - to the city's suburbs in either Virginia or Maryland. Aerial view of the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville House Republicans have griped about the plans - and threatened to do away with funding. 'I don't think the FBI deserves a building the size of the Pentagon and some Taj Mahal to spend almost a billion dollars in. I think there's a better way to spend that money,' Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on May 31. Wray will face heated questioning from House Judiciary Committee Republicans on Wednesday as part of Jordan's investigation into FBI politicization. FBI director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland have consistently denied that the raid on Trump's Mar-a-Lago property and indictment over his handling of classified documents were partisan. The FBI is eyeing up a move from its 70-year-old concrete brutalist headquarters in D.C. - the J. Edgar Hoover building - to the city's suburbs in either Virginia or Maryland Republicans also accuse the Justice Department of giving President Biden's son Hunter special treatment over tax and gun crimes that will see him avoid jail time. Huntsville is already home to the Redstone Arsenal - a U.S. Army post where 1,000 FBI employees already work out of. Republicans have been on a crusade to take government outside the Beltway with a series of field hearings across the U.S. Jordan argues the FBI would be less likely to be tainted by liberal politics if it were located in Alabama, where Republicans dominate statewide races. The FBI's website defines Huntsville as the 'epicenter of the FBI's technology infrastructure for the future.' Microsoft is set to cut hundreds of more jobs affecting customer service, support and sales after slashing 10,000 in January. Just months on from sweeping job cuts across Silicon Valley, another 276 Microsoft workers will be culled, according to a local government filing in Washington. While the number of layoffs is a fraction of the tech giants' bloodbath at the start of 2023, it is clear that jobs across the technology sector are still at risk during what is a period of economic uncertainty. The most in-demand workers right now are blue collar employees, while white collar workers have seen major job losses in the last year. The phenomenon has been dubbed 'richcession' by those in the field. Microsoft's latest cull, a week after the start of its 2024 fiscal year, comes after Amazon, Meta, Twitter, Paypal and Google's parent company Alphabet all announced serious layoffs this year. Microsoft is set to cut hundreds of more jobs affecting customer service, support and sales after slashing 10,000 in January. Pictured: CEO Satya Nadella Just months on from sweeping job cuts across Silicon Valley, another 276 Microsoft workers will be culled, according to a local government filing in Washington A spokesman for Microsoft declined to comment on the number of job cuts but told Barron's: 'Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business. 'We will continue to prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas for our future and in support of our customers and partners.' Some 210 job cuts come from the company's Redmond, Wash and Bellevue locations, while 66 are remote, GeekWire reports. It comes six months on from when Microsoft announced layoffs affecting 10,000 employees. The huge cull was far larger than prior cuts made by the company in 2022 and it added to thousands of job cuts across the technology sector that has deflated following soaring growth during the pandemic. In January, Amazon also announced that it would be getting rid of 18,000 employees. They then revealed a further 9,000 job cuts in March to pour further misery on those in the tech field. Paypal also cut 2,000 jobs earlier this year, Meta is on track to have culled around 21,000 workers since November, Alphabet has axed 12,000 staff and Elon Musk has shrunk his Twitter force by 80 per cent, from 8,500 to 1,500 workers. Musk, who acquired Twitter in October 2022, has become the company's executive chairman and chief technology officer, with Linda Yaccarino recently taking over as CEO. More than 216,000 tech employees have been laid off this year so far according to layoffs.fyi which tracks tech layoffs since the pandemic. Google's parent company Alphabet has axed 12,000 workers amid the tech bloodbath. Pictured: CEO Sundar Pichai Meta is on track to cull around 21,000 workers (CEO Mark Zuckerberg, left) and Amazon has cut 27,000 (CEO Andy Jassy, right) Paypal slashed 2,000 workers, about 7 per cent of its workforce, earlier this year. Pictured: CEO Dan Schulman Elon Musk (pictured May 15) has shrunk his Twitter force by 80 per cent, from 8,500 to 1,500 workers Microsoft, whose shares were down 0.66 per cent at the time of writing this, continue to cut jobs despite being heavily invested in generative artificial intelligence that represents an industry bright spot. The software company said in a regulatory filing in January that it would take a $1.2 billion restructuring charge associated with the layoffs, which said come 'in response to macroeconomic conditions and changing customer priorities.' In a memo to employees, CEO Satya Nadella said the layoffs, affecting nearly 5 percent of the workforce, would conclude by the end of March. But more seem to be on the way. 'We're living through times of significant change,' wrote Nadella, adding that 'parts of the world are in a recession and other parts are anticipating one.' Nadella said customers wanted to 'optimize their digital spend to do more with less' and 'exercise caution as some parts of the world are in a recession and other parts are anticipating one.' 'While we are eliminating roles in some areas, we will continue to hire in key strategic areas,' he wrote. Away from job cuts, Microsoft were handed a major victory by a federal judge today by declining to block its looming $69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard. Regulators are seeking to axe the deal because they say it will hurt competition. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley said in a ruling that the 'FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content.' Microsoft appeared to have the upper hand in a 5-day San Francisco court hearing that ended late last month. The proceeding showcased testimony by Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella and longtime Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, who both pledged to keep Activision's blockbuster game Call of Duty available to people who play it on consoles - particularly Sony's PlayStation - that compete with Microsoft's Xbox. 'Our merger will benefit consumers and workers. It will enable competition rather than allow entrenched market leaders to continue to dominate our rapidly growing industry,' said Activision CEO Bobby Kotick in a written statement. Collection is filed with 18 coins that individually could fetch six figures at auction A Kentucky man discovered over 700 rare golden dollars buried in his farm in what experts have called the 'Great Kentucky Hoard.' The unidentified individual filmed himself digging up the loot- all minted between 1840 and 1863 - as he exclaimed: 'This is the most insane thing ever.' One of the coins discovered - an 1863 $20 Gold Liberty - could fetch up to six figures at auction, experts from GovMint said. The collection boasts 18 of the ultra-rare pieces. It means if every one of them commands at least $100,000, the owner could be in for a $1.8 million payday. And that doesn't account for the hundreds of other rare coins in the collection. Archeologists speculate that the 'treasure' belonged to wealthy Kentuckians in the 1860s who were known to bury huge sums of money to protect it from a Confederate raid during the American Civil war. One of the coins in the collection - a 1863 $20 Gold Liberty - is pictured. The piece usually commands a six figure sum at auction The unidentified man filmed himself digging up the loot- all minted between 1840 and 1863 - as he exclaimed: 'This is the most insane thing ever.' Pictured: the full collection The coins were verified by the Numismatic Guaranty Co. (NGC) who graded them as being in 'extremely fine to mint state condition.' It is unclear exactly where the land is located but it reportedly belong to the man who dug them up, according to Live Science. Experts estimated that 95 percent of the hoard is made up of gold dollars - including $1 Gold Indians, $10 Gold Libertys and $20 Gold Libertys. The coins are believed to be linked to the Civil War when many people hoarded their money due to the rise in outlaws, bootleggers and gangsters. As a result, many households buried their money - resulting in the disappearance of vast swathes of coinage from circulation. And Kentucky was especially vulnerable given its location on the border between the North and South. It was also declared neutral by the state Government. US coin expert Jeff Garrett, editor of The Official Redbook: A Guide Book of the United States Coins, said: 'The opportunity to handle the Great Kentucky Hoard is one of the highlights of my career. 'The importance of this discovery cannot be overstated. Finding one mint condition 1863 double eagle would be an important numismatic event. Finding nearly a roll of superb examples is hard to comprehend.' Meanwhile Ryan McNutt, a conflict archeologist at Georgia Southern University, told Live Science that many Americans affected by the Civil War 'became experienced with hiding goods and valuables.' Ian Russell, president of California-based coin auction house GreatCollections, has revealed the coins most likely to fetch the biggest sums It comes after coin expert Ian Russell, president of California-based auction site GreatCollections, told Dailymail.com his tips for spotting a valuable rare coin. Russell said that any coin with a double die is automatically considered rare. A double die - which became famous after the 1955 issue - refers to a coin that has a double image on part or all of its design. It occurs when a coin was not manufactured correctly, resulting in an accidental doubling of imagery. In general coins with missing aspects or extra detail fetch the biggest values. Russell said his auction house deals with a range of clients - from experienced coin collectors to novices who just found pieces in their house and assume they aren't worth very much. He adds that the number of women collectors shot up during the pandemic. 'The coin collecting community was always 99.5 percent male. 'But since Covid we've seen lots of husbands getting their wives involve. I think because they were spending more time at home together. 'Now women make up about 5 to 6 percent of the community which still isn't very much but it's a lot more than we've seen previously.' Australians spent about $600 less on online purchases than they did this time last year in yet another sign that the cost of living crunch is putting the squeeze on households. The figures come from global financial platform Airwallex's Digital Economy Index, a quarterly year-on-year snapshot of the digital economy. It estimates online spending dropped $587 per adult across the 12 months up to and including Q2 2023 compared with Q2 2022. That represents a 1.82 per cent drop nationwide, worth about $523.3million. Australians spent about $600 less on online purchases than they did this time last year in yet another sign that the cost of living crunch is putting the squeeze on households Breaking the data down by state, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia all experienced growth in online spending, with Tasmania leading the charge with digital revenue turnover up 12.8 per cent. But there are signs of a looming contraction, with that figure down 4.89 per cent on the previous quarter. Meanwhile, South Australia was the worst performer, with online spending shrinking 16.77 per cent and declines recorded across all industries in the digital economy for both 2023 quarters thus far. The figures also comes off the back of the Australian Bureau of Statistics' monthly household spending indicator, released on Tuesday, which found overall household spending was up 3.3 per cent in May compared with the same time last year. But that was largely due to rising costs, with discretionary spending down 0.6 per cent as Australians cut back on non-essentials. Airwallex director of strategy Amelia Hamer. Source: Supplied. Airwallex director of strategy for Australia and New Zealand Amelia Hamer says the index shows online spending is uneven across the country as different states experience different economic conditions. 'Across the digital economy, we see Australians are holding back on their discretionary spending,' Ms Hamer said. 'We see several bright spots in Australia's digital economy, with the technology, education and travel sectors seeing the most upside. 'There are still lingering effects of the travel bounce-back post-Covid in this data, with the surge in online travel particularly benefiting destinations like Queensland, Tasmania and WA. 'However, the data shows that NSW is bearing the brunt of the change in how Australians are spending their money online. This downturn is something we're seeing in the quarter-by-quarter comparisons in other states too.' Home Secretary Suella Braverman has told the Scottish Government its proposals to decriminalise drugs for personal use would do 'untold damage to our neighbourhoods'. Scottish drugs minister Elena Whitham announced the plans on Friday along with a framework for the creation of safe consumption rooms and the consideration of implementing the regulated supply of drugs. Within an hour of the announcement, the Prime Minister's official spokesman had knocked down the proposals, which would require the backing of the UK Government. In a 'fiery' meeting with Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville today, the Home Secretary again hit out at the plans. 'To be clear this government will not be changing our policy on personal use of illegal drugs,' the Home Secretary said at the London meeting. 'To be clear this government will not be changing our policy on personal use of illegal drugs,' the Home Secretary said at the London meeting. The Home Secretary again hit out at the plans in a 'fiery' meeting with Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville (pictured) today 'I am very clear that illegal drugs destroy lives and communities - they are devastating. 'The proposals I read from the Scottish National Party last week are irresponsible and would do untold damage to our neighbourhoods. 'We're focused on protecting people and preventing lives from being ruined, targeting gangs and preventing supply of drugs from overseas. 'We've absolutely no intention of decriminalising illegal drug use and I think the Scottish National Party should focus their efforts on what powers they do have such as reforming health outcomes for the Scottish people. 'Drug deaths are still a huge problem in Scotland and this government is keen to work together to try to tackle that problem and prevent the very levels of drug deaths in Scotland.' According to the readout, the Social Justice Secretary said the two Governments would always 'fundamentally disagree' on drugs. Scotland has had the highest level of drug-related deaths in Western Europe in recent years, with 1,330 recorded in 2021 - the latest data set - and the Scottish Government is looking to more radical approaches to stem the tide. The latest proposals argue that decriminalising possession for personal use would allow addiction to be treated as a 'health' issue rather than a matter for the courts. They also suggest people in recovery would have a better chance of getting jobs without criminal records. Labour also rejected the idea, with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves saying she was 'stunned' it was an SNP 'priority'. The document outlined measures which could be implemented through further devolution, independence, or UK Government action. It suggested this would allow Scotland to push ahead with initiatives such as supervised drug consumption facilities. The paper back updating the drug classification system based on harms caused. The idea of a 'regulated' market for drugs supply is also floated, although it stresses Scottish ministers do not currently 'advocate' the policy. 'While we do not currently advocate for this policy, implementing a more evidence-based approach to drugs policy could be the basis for considering the potential of introducing regulated markets for the reduction of harm and the safe control of substances,' the paper said. 'This could be supported by a Citizens' Assembly to consider the evidence and give a perspective from a representative sample of the public. 'This would enable a mature, informed conversation about the level of regulation and control that we as a society are comfortable with for substances, based on an expert assessment of their relative harms.' A spokesman for Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'It is disappointing to see well-evidenced proposals once again being rejected in such a high-handed manner, without the UK Government even having gone to the bother of giving them proper consideration. 'This is a serious issue, and we all agree on the need to save lives and reduce harm - which we believe is best done by treating this as a public health issue. 'Westminster is out of touch with the general public, who rightly expect a mature and open-minded debate about the right way forward. 'The Scottish Government is ready and willing to work constructively with the UK Government, the political parties at Holyrood and of course stakeholders more widely to make progress.' Vladmir Putin has lost another top general 'in a strike by British supplied Storm Shadow missiles', according to both Ukrainian and Russian sources. Lieutenant-General Oleg Tsokov, 51, was personally known to the dictator and had been sanctioned by Britain and the EU for his role in the war against Ukraine. A Ukrainian claim today that the commander had been 'liquidated' was later supported by Russian channels with key military links. Pro-war Russian Telegram channel Voenkory Russkoy Vesny admitted that 'as a result of the attack by Storm Shadow cruise missiles on the command post of the 58th Army in the Berdiansk region, Lt-Gen Oleg Tsokov [...] was killed.' 'Colleagues speak of Tsokov as a competent officer and a good commander.' Lt-General Oleg Tsokov, 51, is reported to be have been killed by Ukrainian Armed Forces Aftermath of an alleged UK-supplied Storm Shadow rocket attack in Berdiansk on July 11, 2023 Vladimir Putin meets Lt General Oleg Tsokov in June 2021 Lt-Gen Oleg Tsokov was the deputy commander of the Southern Military District. Russian outlet VChK-OGPU said he had been killed in a strike on the reserve command post of the 58th Army in Berdiansk. Earlier, a Ukrainian official also said the Russian general had been 'liquidated' by Kyiv's armed forces around Berdiansk without saying how he was killed. Berdiansk, a strategically important port on the Sea of Azov in Zaporizhzhia region, has been hit in recent weeks by the Ukrainians deploying UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. The missiles have a 155-mile range, further than other Western-supplied weapons in Ukraine's hands. New explosions were reported today with smoke seen rising over the city, a key access point to annexed Crimea. Russian outlet Readovka reported these were new Storm Shadow strikes, but there was no immediate confirmation. The strikes shown on video were after the death of the general. The exact timing of the strike which killed Tsokov remains unclear. The supply of Storm Stream missiles to Ukraine was confirmed by the UK government - which holds an estimated 700 to 1,000 - in May 2023. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed the missiles had already been used by Ukraine on 18 May - but declined to give further details. The 2.2million-per-unit missiles will allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian-held territory. They were suspected to have been used when Russian MP Viktor Vodolatsky sustained injuries after an attack on May 15. Britain sent a shipment of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, enabling Kyiv's forces to strike deeper into Russian-held territory Oleg Tsokov pictured with his wife Elena General Tsokov was earlier wounded in Luhansk in September 2022 but returned to the front. Tsokov was the commander of Vladimir Putin's 144th motorised rifle division of the 20th combined arms army. One month ago it was reported that Major-General Sergey Goryachev, 52, died in a strike in the same Zaporizhzhia region. He was Chief of Staff of the Russian 35th Combined Arms Army. If Tsokov's death is confirmed, it means Putin has lost up to a dozen generals. He was sanctioned by Britain in December 2022 among a group of a dozen top brass 'implicated in attacks on Ukrainian cities'. A video shows the general addressing Putin at a ceremony in the Kremlin in 2021. He thanked Putin for his 'personalclose attention' which enabled the Russian war machine to 'master the most modern ammunition and military equipment'. Tsokov was married, and a father to two children. Six other candidates, including Ron DeSantis, will take part in the interviews Donald Trump is snubbing Tucker Carlson and the rest of the 2024 GOP field by choosing to forego attending the former Fox News host's forum in Iowa this week. Carlson is leading the GOP presidential forum in the first primary caucus state on Friday. But the group focused on socially conservative values revealed a final line-up on Tuesday that did not include the former president. The Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats tweeted: 'I learned last night that Donald Trump will NOT attend our Leadership Summit this Friday. Thus, our lineup is set.' Six other candidates of the 15 in the 2024 Republican primary so far will participate in interviews with Carlson. This includes Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump's ex-VP Mike Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, biotech millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Former President Donald Trump will not participate in the Iowa presidential forum hosted by Tucker Carlson on Friday The candidates participating 'will have visionary, one on one, discussion with Tucker Carlson,' Vander Plaats previewed in his tweet. The snub doesn't appear to be targeted at Carlson, but more at the event organizers. Carlson has had nothing but praise for Trump during his time in office, and since leaving the White House. During his first interview since being fired by Fox earlier this year, Carlson praised Trump for 'reorienting the Republican Party.' 'I think looking back on this ten years from now, assuming we're still around, I think we're going to see Trump's emergence as the most significant thing that happened in American politics in 100 years because he reoriented the Republican Party against the wishes of Republican leaders,' Carlson said earlier this month on Russell Brand's podcast Stay Free. Vander Plaats, on the other hand, has been open about his criticism of the former president. He claims Trump is too fixated on the 2020 election results and has alienated the base on the issue of abortion. During an interview with NewsNation in May, the Iowa conservative leader said: 'I thought his answer to the pro-life issue on the CNN town hall with Kaitlan Collins over that was a disaster as well. That's why I think the Iowa caucus door has flung wide open for people to take a look at who should be our nominee.' Trump will make an appearance this weekend at the Turning Point Action conference in Florida. Carlson will also be there, but the two are slated to go on-stage together and instead will make separate remarks. While six candidates speak at The Family Leader forum, the polling leader, by far, will not be making his way to the first-in-the-nation caucus state this week. There are 15 candidates vying for the GOP nomination in 2024 with Trump and DeSantis far leading the pack It is also still unclear whether Trump will participate in the first Republican National Committee (RNC) primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 23. The RNC set out guidelines that to get on stage, candidates must sign a pledge to support the eventual nominee. This restriction has caused some more longshot candidates to also express their skepticism over participating. Additionally, some Trump aides and insiders have shared that Trump believes appearing on stage with candidates so far behind him in the polls is beneath him. The stricter polling and fundraising qualifications needed to reach the debate stage resulted in only five of the 15 candidates so far being able to reach the debate stage in Milwaukee. This includes Trump, DeSantis, Haley, Scott and Ramaswamy. A student who planned a bomb attack on a police station to ignite a race war was jailed for four years today. Luke Skelton, 20, a far-right extremist, wrote the Reactionary British Manifesto, which he planned to release after carrying out the attack, a court heard. The teenager wrote down recipes for bomb-making and travelled to Newcastle City Centre to take surveillance pictures of a police station in September 2021. The court heard he had researched how to make napalm and dynamite and written notes on his mobile phone about constructing a homemade bomb. Skelton, of Washington, Tyne and Wear, had been referred to the Governments Prevent programme after he used radical historical figures as his college profile picture. However, he dropped out of the de-radicalisation scheme when he turned 18. Luke Skelton, 20, a far-right extremist, wrote the Reactionary British Manifesto, which he planned to release after carrying out the attack, a court heard He was found guilty of preparing to carry out a terrorist attack following a trial at Teesside Crown Court. Jurors were told the student had racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-Semitic and Islamophobic views. Nick de la Poer KC, prosecuting, said Skelton went to Newcastle city centre because he had a plan and that his plan was to commit terrorist acts. He was said to believe in an extreme right-wing ideology which lionised Adolf Hitler and approved of the white supremacist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. His manifesto laid out his plans to roll Britain back to the 1900s, beat back the invaders and to remove the vote from women. His policies were aimed at rectifying the demographic imbalance in Britain of native British men and were the essential pre-requisite for the continuation and preservation of British culture, he said. We desire a counter-cultural revolution enabling a return to the traditional ways and culture of the pre-war 20th century, Skelton wrote. The teenager wrote down recipes for bomb-making and travelled to Newcastle City Centre to take surveillance pictures of a police station (pictured) in September 2021 Passing sentence, Judge Paul Watson KC, told Skelton: Your fantasy was to turn back the pages of the history books to times when such xenophobic and hateful views are tolerated, even admired. I am not, of course, sentencing you for the views you held, however repugnant they may be to those whose proud traditions are having fought against them in the past. Your views about equality, the openness and inclusivity of liberal democracy and your apparent hatred of such things are views to which you are entitled, precisely because you live in such a society. However, you went far beyond testing the boundaries of freedom of thought and expression and put in place plans to disrupt and undermine such democratic institutions. Rejecting his trial defence that the terror plot plans were empty fantasies, the judge added: You intended to put your plans into action. The court heard Skelton downloaded propaganda material on his phone from an extreme right-wing group. He was arrested by counter-terrorist police in June 2021 and told they were taking no further action, but in October he was arrested again and charged. In one online message he wrote about becoming the great man of history. He said he wanted to accelerate the coming collapse and racial war adding: Parliament will be responsible for the number of dead in the thousands. Crispin Aylett KC, defending, said Skeltons responsibility was substantially reduced by his autism, adding: People with autism feel marginalised and are more prone to being radicalised. Some - and Luke Skelton was one of them - want to lash out. He also mentioned the effects of Covid on young people as a factor. Outside court Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, head of Counter-Terrorism Policing North East, said: The defendants anger towards society, together with his extreme right-wing views, created a dangerous foundation from which his sinister plans were ultimately built. He was strongly motivated by this mindset, which continued to fuel his actions and his later offending, despite repeated attempts to draw him away from it. Hywel Williams insists that he pushed Peter Ormerod out of self-defence A man accused of killing a retired teacher following a row over Welsh independence told police that 'I literally just pushed him', a court has heard. Hywel Williams, who was accused of hitting Mr Ormerod in the head, denies charges of manslaughter and said his actions were out of self-defence. Respected former maths teacher Peter Ormerod, 75, died in hospital after suffering severe head and brain injuries after allegedly being pushed in the street by Williams, 40. The two men were arguing whether Wales should become independent from the rest of the UK when the alleged shove occurred, a court heard. Jurors at Swansea Crown Court were shown CCTV footage of the incident, including Mr Ormerod's head hitting the ground as well as the moment police arrested Williams over the attack. Peter Ormerod was killed after sustaining serious head injuries and brain damage from being shoved to the ground But Hywel Williams denies charges of manslaughter and says he acted in self defence During the footage, Williams told the officer: 'I can't believe that this happened. 'I don't know what to say. I literally just pushed him.' Prosecutors said that the two men had 'opposing views' on the contentious subject before they both left the pub at the same time before clashing outside. Williams stayed on the scene and called an ambulance, despite calling Mr Ormerod 'a fat little c*** or f***ing c*** moments after the alleged attack. Prosecutor Ian Wright KC previously told how the row ignited while the two men were both drinking in the Portobello public house in Burry Port, Carmarthenshire. CCTV from inside the pub showed the two men having a heated conversation before they left the pub separately. Mr Wright said: 'During the course of that Saturday evening they were seated, at one point, in close proximity to each other. 'The conversation between them the table turned to Welsh independence and Welsh politics generally. 'Peter Ormerod and Hywel Wiliams had opposing views on these topics and expressed these opposing views - and there was something of a disagreement between them in terms of the views being expressed.' Mr Wright said there was CCTV of the two men coming together outside a coffee shop a short distance from the pub. 'Peter Ormerod can be seen to approach Hywel Williams and point or gesture towards him. 'Following this the two men appear on the CCTV to move towards each other before Hywel Williams pushes Peter Ormerod to the chest. 'That push caused Peter Ormerod to fall backwards on the back of his head. 'Having hit the ground, having hit his head on the ground, Peter Ormerod did not move again.' Mr Ormerod taught maths at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School for Boys in Carmarthen and at the Welsh language school Ysgol Bro Myrddin before retiring Witness Elizabeth Barnett told the court in a written statement that she was passing by when Mr Ormerod was pushed over, and saw a 'frightening' amount of blood gushing from his head. She said: 'He fell to the floor and I heard his head thump on the ground. 'Then I saw a lot of blood around his head. It was really frightening.' Mr Ormerod taught at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School for Boys in Carmarthen and at the Welsh language school Ysgol Bro Myrddin before retiring. In a tribute following widower Mr Ormerod's death, his family said: 'Peter was a well-respected teacher and member of the community a very loved and loving father, grandfather, brother and friend.' The trial, before Judge Paul Thomas KC, expected to last two weeks, continues. Alyssa Farah Griffin has said she withdraws her support for presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis over his 'incredibly homophobic' attack ad on Donald Trump. The former White House Director of Strategic Communications said she was formerly a fan of the Florida governor, but his campaign's controversial advert which derided Trump for supporting the LGBT community has put her off. DeSantis' ad was posted on the final day of Pride Month - June 30 - only to be swiftly deleted from his campaign's Twitter account after receiving a flood of criticism from people across the political spectrum. During a guest appearance on CNNs The Lead with Jake Tapper on Monday, 33-year-old Griffin joined the growing clamor of voices who have condemned the video. Griffin, 33, condemned DeSantis' campaign ad during her appearance on CNNs The Lead with Jake Tapper on Monday Ron DeSantis' ad was deleted from his campaign's Twitter website after receiving a flood of criticism from people across the political spectrum 'I was someone who supported DeSantis after I spoke out against Donald Trump,' Griffin said. 'And then I see something like this and that incredibly homophobic ad that he put out and Im someone who will never be able to support him. 'Listen, Donald Trump, one of the things that propelled him to victory in 2016 is he didn't wade into these cultural war issues like marriage equality issues, which is solved - it's a decision that my generation will not go backward on - right, left, center. 'DeSantis is kind of playing to this old version of the Republican party that's going to end up losing him votes - 67% of Republicans want to see more protections for the LGBT community, not fewer.' The clip shows Trump promising to protect LGBTQ citizens, saying Caitlyn Jenner could use whichever bathroom she chose inside Trump Tower, and welcoming trans contestants on Miss Universe. It was broadcast on the same day both men were in Philadelphia for a Moms for Liberty gathering - which saw one Trump supporter described his 44-year-old rival as a Trump 'knock off'. The DeSantis advert, after footage of Trump, then cuts to a montage of DeSantis striding in a 'manly' fashion across the screen, to a thumping, bass-heavy soundtrack. Headlines are flashed across the screen detailing how DeSantis signed the 'most extreme slate of anti-trans laws in modern history', outlawed a drag show in a school, and forced the cancellation of a Pride show. Donald Trump is seen in the clip at the Republican National Convention in July 2016, referencing the horror of the Pulse nightclub shooting the previous month and promising to protect the LGBTQ population Trump is also seen greeting Caitlyn Jenner, and saying she could use whichever bathroom she chose at Trump Tower A pro-Trump drag queen dressed as 'Lady MAGA' is seen voicing her support for the then-candidate The clip promoted DeSantis's policies against the LGBTQ community Clips of a smiling DeSantis are interspersed with images of Christian Bale in American Psycho, references to The Wolf of Wall Street, and images of Brad Pitt in the film Troy. The video comes as DeSantis's polling remains stubbornly low, with Trump significantly ahead among primary voters. Griffin's criticism of the ad comes after Pete Buttigieg accused Ron DeSantis of 'competing' with Donald Trump over who can hurt the LGBTQ community more in response to the video. The Transportation secretary roasted the Florida governor for trying to 'prove his manhood' with a video comparing him to an 'oiled-up bodybuilder' and Leonardo DiCaprio depicting the infamous Jordan Belfort in Wolf of Wall Street. 'I just don't understand the mentality of somebody who gets up in the morning thinking that he's going to prove his worth by competing over who can make life hardest for a hard-hit community that is already so vulnerable in America,' Buttigieg said in an interview with CNN's State of the Union earlier this month. Producers of the hit show Peaky Blinders also distanced themselves from the ad and claimed its footage, which features the show's main character Tommy Shelby to project a sense of masculinity, was used without permission. The 'partners of Peaky Blinders' - including its star Cillian Murphy - also denounced DeSantis' message. The Florida governor's strategy of trying to position himself to the right of Trump in the video was also questioned by Republican strategists. 'The consultants who think this kind of 'running to Trump's right' is going to be effective should be sacked,' said Sarah Longwell, CEO of conservative firm Longwell Partners. Andrew Clark, a Republican strategist who worked on Trump's 2020 campaign, said DeSantis promoting himself as someone who will roll back LGBTQ rights was a bad electoral approach. 'Lots of issues with this video,' he tweeted. 'Chiefly, the opening line from Trump saying 'I'll do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens' as if that's a huge hit? 'Is DeSantis opposed to protecting LGBTQ citizens? 'I get the message they were going for, but damn this isn't it.' NHLANGANO A 43-year-old man of Ngololweni was killed by a mob. He was stabbed and burnt with a tyre on allegations that he was stealing livestock in the area. The incident happened on Sunday around 4pm. It was gathered from sources within the community that the deceased went to a Phakathi homestead, where there was a traditional ceremony and requested audience with the head of the family, Bongani Phakathi. Imbibing According to Phakathi (the head of the family), who narrated the events that led to the mans death, when the man got to him, there were people of the area within the premises of his homestead who were imbibing alcohol. Phakathi stated that the now deceased man told him that he had come to buy goats, adding that he was instructed by someone to come buy them from him. Phakathi further narrated that he questioned the deceased on who the person accusing him of selling goats was, and the deceased produced a number which was dialled using the deceaseds phone. The caller denied knowledge of the deceased and did not answer any further calls, having ended the initially call, narrated Phakathi. He said he then requested the man to leave his home and while at that, one of the youth members who were imbibing alcohol at his homestead came closer and recognised the deceased, whom he called by name. It was said that it was then that more of the youth members who were within the homestead joined the conversation and alleged that the deceased was a known thief and accused him of being responsible for the livestock that went missing in the area. Dragged It was shared by sources that the deceased, who was initially driving a car when he got to the area, was dragged out of the homestead and, thereafter, he was attacked by a mob, which consisted mostly of the youth and one of them slit his throat. The mob further got petrol from his car which they drew into a container, narrated the source. It was said that one of the people among the mob went to get a car tyre from a community polices home, which they used along with the fuel to burn the man to death. It is said the deceased man was from Mshololo, on the South African side of the border. Parked It was gathered that the vehicle he was driving to Ngololweni was still parked there. Police reportedly arrived at the scene and found the lifeless body of the man on the ground and took it away. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the death of a 43-year-old man whose throat was slit and later burnt with a tyre. She added that investigations were ongoing. A spectacular storm cloud resembling a tsunami appeared over a north Indian city, video reportedly shows, as the region grapples with intense rainfall. The huge cloud formation came as monsoons have hit Haridwar, Uttarakhand, where weather warnings for severe rainfall are currently in place. The bizarre phenomenon is known as a 'shelf cloud' or 'arcus cloud', and is usually seen building along the leading edge of thunderstorms. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the state will see heavy rain over the next three days, and thunderstorms are expected throughout the week. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urged people to avoid unnecessary travel in the area as torrential rainfall grips the state. Footage of the huge arc cloud shows bewildered locals looking up and taking in the dramatic spectacle While many filmed the bizarre spectacle, others appeared to be seeking shelter as the huge storm rolls in He also tried to dissuade tourists from visiting until after the severe weather dies down. Footage of the huge cloud shows bewildered locals looking up and taking in the dramatic spectacle, with many filming it. Others appear to be seeking shelter as the huge storm rolls in. Cars can be heard beeping their horns as people fill the busy road to catch the dramatic moment on camera. Thunder or strong winds can also be heard in the distance in the video, which was shared on social media by Anindya Singh this week and went viral. While arcus clouds themselves do not cause severe weather, they are often formed by thunderstorms. Thunder or loud winds can also be heard in the distance in the video, which was shared on social media by Anindya Singh this week The bizarre phenomenon is known as a 'shelf cloud' or 'arcus cloud', and is usually seen building along the leading edge of thunderstorms The mesmerising clouds form when cold and dense air is forced into a warmer air mass by wind, according to Weather Zone. The low-level, wide ranging clouds are usually associated with powerful storm clouds and their base is up to 6500 ft. They can appear to as a long, rolling horizontal column and are very rarely seen on the Indian sub continent. An upstate New York middle school principal has been arrested after he allegedly used Snapchat to lure a 16-year-old former student to meet him in a remote location. But when Daniel Erickson, 55, arrived for the meet-up on Friday with a box of condoms, chicken nuggets and a Grimace milkshake from McDonald's, he was confronted by Broome County Sheriff's deputies. The now former Johnson City Middle School principal is charged with third-degree attempted rape, a misdemeanor, and luring a child, a felony. He is being held without bail at the Broome County jail, and has been relieved of his position at the head of the middle school which serves students in grades six through eight. But parents say the school district should have acted earlier, claiming other former students have brought up similar sexual harassment claims against Erickson. Daniel Erickson, 55, has been arrested after he allegedly used Snapchat to lure a 16-year-old former student to meet him in a remote location and showed up with a box of condoms The now former Johnson City Middle School principal is charged with third-degree attempted rape, a misdemeanor, and luring a child, a felony A former student also claimed Erickson would ask her about her sex life when she was in eighth-grade at Johnson City Middle School Parents are furious tonight after years of reporting Johnson City Middle School Principal Daniel Erickson for inappropriate contact with students and nothing being done. Erickson over the weekend was arrested for attempting to engage in sexual acts with a 16 year old student. Posted by Keith Jouganatos on Monday, July 10, 2023 Authorities say Erickson had been messaging the teenager on Snapchat for at least a week before his arrest on Friday. Throughout these conversations, Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar claims, Erickson made comments indicating he was 'going to engage in sexual conduct with the minor.' At first, officials said, Erickson posed as a younger adult but later decided to reveal his true identity to her. Erickson allegedly brought the girl a Grimace milkshake from McDonald's (pictured) To do so, Erickson allegedly used 'his position as the Johnson City Middle School Principal and school district database information to convince the 16-year-old girl who he really was.' He is then said to have made multiple attempts to meet the girl even showing up at her house at one point, but the girl never went outside. Broome County deputies eventually became aware of the situation on Wednesday, and just two days later, Erickson allegedly agreed to meet with the student in a remote location with the intention of engaging in sexual relations. Officers then decided to set up a sting operation at the location, and found Erickson with a box of condoms, chicken nuggets and a Grimace milkshake. 'As a father, I know this is a nightmare for any parent,' Akshar said at a news conference. 'We entrust our schools with the care and safety of our children, and to have an individual violate that trust, abuse their power and prey on a very student charged in our school's care is beyond disgusting.' Authorities say Erickson had been messaging the teenager on Snapchat for at least a week before his arrest on Friday. He is pictured here with some students Erickson has since been placed on leave from his position as the principal of the Johnson City Middle School in New York (pictured) Erickson, who has served in an administrative role at the Johnson City School District for more than 20 years, has now been placed on leave. 'Mr. Erickson is not allowed on district property or permitted the use of any district devices or equipment,' Superintendent Eric Race said in a statement to Spectrum News. Officials also noted that the meeting did not occur on school property, and Erickson did not have any prior incidents involving students. But a mother who spoke on the condition of anonymity to 12 News said her daughter was previously threatened with suspension after accusing Erickson of being a pervert and making her feel uncomfortable. Another parent claimed on the news channel's Facebook page that Erickson had done 'vile things to my kids,' while a former student said that when she was in eighth-grade, Erickson would ask her about her sex life. 'They don't listen to you, they think you're acting out,' the mother told reporter Keith Jouganatos. 'They don't listen to what you say, they don't take it seriously, and maybe if they had, we wouldn't be in this situation.' When asked her thoughts about comments the superintendent made in which he said he was 'shocked' by the news, the mother said: 'He's not shocked. If he is, he's a boldface liar.' A defiant President Joe Biden has suggested he will win the 2024 and keep attending NATO and international summits, despite dire approval ratings and mounting concerns about his age and health. Biden, 80, spoke confidently about his electoral chances despite trailing Donald Trump in recent polls during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Lithuania on Tuesday, It came hours after Turkey helped hand Biden and the powerful alliance a diplomatic win by getting behind Sweden's bid to become the 32nd member, at a summit where Biden vowed to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory. Erdogan thanked the US president for congratulating him after his own election which went to a runoff that had some officials contemplating a less strenuous relationship with Turkey, after it used its strategic position to maintain ties with Russia. Planning ahead: Biden told Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan he looks forward 'to being with you in the next five years,' signaling he plans on winning reelection Biden smiled and thanked his counterpart, who has dominated politics in Turkey for decades. 'Thank you. I look forward to being with you in the next five years, Mr. President,' Biden said. Erdogan had called his meeting with Biden a 'step forward,' and made reference to his own five-year term. 'And with the forthcoming elections, I would like to take this opportunity to also wish you the best of luck,' said Erdogan. Donald Trump regularly attested to his bond with Erdogan when he was in the White House. 'He's a friend of mine, and I'm glad we didn't have a problem because, frankly, he's a hell of a leader, and he's a tough man, he's a strong man,' Trump said in 2019. Biden and top advisors were silent as reporters shouted questions following his meeting with Erdogan. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and U.S White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan look on during a bilateral meeting When he was president, Donald Trump vouched for his relations with Erdogan The Turkish strongman was speaking on a day when he achieved a key objective while dropping his opposition to admitting Sweden - namely getting F-16 fighter aircraft from the U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters in Vilnius Thursday Biden had previously 'been clear that he supports the transfer' of the jets. 'He has placed no caveats on this ... He intends to move forward with that transfer,' he said. Officials have been vague about additional details, and noted that the Greeks took part in a final meeting on the subject. Biden himself mentioned the jets in the context of bringing in Sweden in a recent CNN interview before heading to London for the start of his trip. Biden was tight-lipped following his comments, barely flinching as U.S. reporters hurled a series of questions to him about the contours of the deal that will bring in Sweden, on Russia's eastern flank. He kept his lips pursed as aides signaled the press event was over and escorted media members out of the room where they were meeting. Biden is once again throwing himself into diplomacy, while facing a tough electorate at home. He is in a virtual tie with Trump in the Real Clear Politic average, which sits at 44-44, with Biden down slightly after trailing Trump in some June polls but leading him in others. Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, a Biden ally, talked up the diplomatic breakthrough in Vilnius, telling DailyMail.com there was a 'serious question' when Biden got sworn in about whether the alliance was viable after Trump. Durbin said an alliance that was 'faltering' was now a 'strong, viable, credible operation' with Finland a member and Sweden seeking to join. Asked if Biden was bringing something home, he responded: 'He certainly is. It's significant. It's historic.' Earlier, Biden vowed to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory, as the powerful alliance took a key step to adding its 32nd member. The president spoke in the capital Vilnius at the start of the summit as his national security advisor Jake Sullivan said talk of splits over support for Ukraine have been 'greatly exaggerated.' 'As I've said before, we take NATO takes all of us take Article V literally,' Biden said as he met Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at the start of the summit Tuesday. He said all members were committed to the NATO Charter's mutual defense obligations. 'We're together against whoever was violating that space. We're going to defend every inch of it,' he said. Jake Sullivan on Tuesday warned that Vladimir Putin will be 'disappointed' by what emerges from the summit. The top aide to President Biden hit out at claims that divisions had erupted over Washington's decision to send controversial cluster bombs to Kyiv's armed forces. President Joe Biden vowed to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory as he met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at the Presidential Palace at the start of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania Tuesday Biden kicked off the summit after a key breakthrough that would grow the alliance to 32 members Biden signed a book before his meeting with the Lithuanian president Biden touted the strength of the alliance. The U.S. has about 1,000 troops serving in Lithuania, which border's Russian ally Belarus Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, right, welcomes U.S. President Joe Biden at the Presidential Palace prior the NATO summit in Vilnius Biden advisors say unity of the alliance is on display in Vilnius British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had been among a chorus of voices who raised concerns about shipping the highly lethal arms to the war-torn country. But in a response to DailyMail.com, Sullivan dismissed claims that the 31-nation military alliance was fractured over its backing of the Ukrainian military. 'I would say rumors of the death of NATO's unity were greatly exaggerated,' he said. 'Vladimir Putin has been counting on the West to crack, NATO to crack and the transatlantic alliance to crack and he has been disappointed with every turn.' The Russian tyrant will be 'very much disappointed' by what emerges from the two-day meeting in Lithuania, Sullivan added. And in a clear sign that tensions were on the rise, Russian ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov accused Washington of plotting 'confrontation' with Moscow. 'Everything is being done to prepare domestic public opinion for the approval of the anti-Russian decisions that will be made in Vilnius in the coming days,' he was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency, a Kremlin mouthpiece. Missing nine-month-old Harlow Darby Freeman has been found alive-and-well inside of the car she was last seen in on Monday evening in the Alabama town of Parrish. Freeman's desperate mom, Bethany Smith, earlier made a frantic plea to the thief to return her baby girl who was sitting in the back of her dad's Lexus when she was last seen. Cops told AL.com it's 'likely' that the tot was never kidnapped and that the car she was in merely traveled 100 yards into an area of brush because it was not put in park by her father. According to reports, Freeman is being examined at the Children's of Alabama hospital in Birmingham and is said to be doing well. 'Daylight was our friend on this one,' Parrish police Chief Danny Woodard said. The chief confirmed that Freeman was found on the same street where she was last seen, Crest Avenue. While the little girl's aunt, Melinda Hutchison, thanked the public for their support and confirmed that Freeman was found. Harlow Darby Freeman was found inside a car in heavy vegetation this morning after the nine-month-old was reported missing by her mom last night in the Alabama town of Parrish. Cops told AL.com it's 'likely' that the tot was never kidnapped and that the car she was in merely traveled 100 yards into an area of brush because it was not put in park by her father Nine-month-old Harlow Darby Freeman was found inside her father's Lexus in a patch of vines on Tuesday morning Cops launched a frantic search for the baby girl (pictured) in Alabama on Monday night Cops said they were on the lookout for a 2009 Lexus RX350 with Alabama tag number 3880AR8, Freeman was later found alive-and-well inside of the car Harlow's desperate mom pleaded last night: 'I'm begging you to please bring by baby to me.' Cops had been urgently searching for Freeman after she was snatched in the area of Crest Avenue in Parrish around 6.50pm. Her dad had briefly run into a friend's house when she vanished. Chief Woodard said that during an early morning search of the area, police noticed the bumper of the Lexus in a patch of vines known as the kudzu. 'This is not something that happens in a small town like Parrish. This is a strange turn of events. Luckily, the child was found safe and were going to continue to investigate,' the chief said. The Parrish Police Department issued an amber alert as cops and made pleas to the public for any information that may help them find the baby who they said is in 'extreme danger'. Harlow's devastated mom pleaded to the kidnapper last night on Facebook: 'I'm begging you to please bring by baby to me.' Harlow, who is white with brown hair and blue eyes, was wearing a tie-dye onesie and light pink shorts when she was last seen. The vehicle has damage on the rear passenger side which appears to be taped up with clear tape, the Parrish PD said. Harlow's aunt, Melinda Hutchison told reporters the little girl was in the vehicle with her father when he ran inside to a friend's house, local news site AL.com reports. He said he was only gone for a minute or so but the car was taken. Harlow's mom Bethany Smith posted on her Facebook: 'If you know where my baby is or how I can get to her. I will meet you with no questions asked. 'Please just give me back my baby... Im begging you to please bring my baby to me.' She added in a second post: 'You can drop the baby off wherever you want just call me or message me and let me know where she is. No questions asked I swear.' The vehicle has damage on the rear passenger side which appears to be taped up with clear tape, the Parrish PD said The baby girl disappeared in the area of Crest Avenue (pictured) in Parrish, Alabama, at around 6.50pm Cops issued an amber alert to the public which is when they believe the child is in 'imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death' Thousands of comments from well-wishers have flooded in underneath the police appeal - which has amassed 27,000 shares. One user said: 'Praying praying and praying for this sweet baby girl to be back safe in her mothers arms before the night is over. 'Thank you law enforcement officers for what you do. Praying she's safe, not scared, and surrounded by angels protecting her.' A second posted: 'God please wrap your arms around this baby and protect her. Prayers that she is found safe.' A third added: 'Praying so hard for your safe return Harlow.' And a fourth said: 'Praying this baby is found safe. Please bring her home.' The family was understood to be offering a $5,000 reward for her safe return. A fruit picker who stabbed a nine-year-old girl in the heart as she played in the street has been handed an indefinite hospital order after being found unfit to fact trial. Lilia Valutyte suffered a single stab wound to the chest in Boston, Lincolnshire, on the afternoon of last July 28. After a two-day trial of the facts at Lincoln Crown Court, jurors took about 15 minutes to conclude Deividas Skebas was the girl's attacker. The 23-year-old was deemed unfit to plead or face a conventional trial due to his mental health earlier this year and did not attend the hearing or play any part in proceedings. Jurors were not asked to deliver a guilty or not guilty verdict or determine if Skebas intended to kill - instead only determining if he physically did what he was accused of. Lilia Valutyte suffered a single stab wound to the chest in Boston, Lincolnshire, on the afternoon of last July 28 After a two-day trial of the facts at Lincoln Crown Court, jurors took about 15 minutes to conclude Deividas Skebas was the girl's attacker Shortly after the jury returned its conclusion, the judge, Mrs Justice McGowan DBE, said: 'It's been an unusually short case and you have dealt with issues that if this were a normal trial would have taken a couple of weeks. 'You have dealt with some very unpleasant material and I'm afraid that that is what juries do. 'I am also going to release you from jury service for the next five years, should you wish to be released.' Sentencing, Mrs McGowan said that given the fact Skebas was found to have killed Lilia, she was of the opinion the 'only appropraite way to deal with the case' was to make an order to send him to hospital instead of prison. 'Therefore I make an order that he be readmitted to and detained at Rampton Hospital,' she said. 'It is necessary to protect the public from serious harm and it is not possible to say how long that will be, so, accordingly I order that he be subject to special restrictions under Section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983.' A trial of facts - also known as a finding of fact, trial of the act or a trial of the issue - is not to decide whether someone intended to commit an act or question a defendant's state of mind but to decide if they physically did it. While a defendant cannot be criminally convicted, the burden of proof for a jury remains beyond all reasonable doubt. In the trial, the jury was told by prosecutor Christopher Donnellan KC that Skebas returned to the UK for a second time from his home country of Lithuania last July 20. The funeral of Lilia Valutyte, nine at St Botolph's Church, Boston, Lincs. September 2, 2022 On July 26, he was seen buying a Sabatier paring knife from Wilko in Boston town centre, the court heard. Two days later, he was seen on CCTV walking around Boston before running towards Lilia at about 6.15pm as she played with a hula-hoop outside the shop in Fountain Lane where her mother worked. He pulled a knife from behind his back before stabbing the girl and running away past an off-duty police officer, who was about to give chase but stopped after hearing screams from behind. Lilia was declared dead at Boston's Pilgrim Hospital at 7.11pm. Following his arrest two days after the killing, the paring knife was found 'tucked behind a radiator' at Skebas's home in Thorold Street, Boston, as was a grey Calvin Klein T-shirt stained with Lilia's blood, the court was told. In an interview with police, Skebas said: 'I grabbed the knife and I stabbed her'. Mr Donnellan KC told the jury: 'He admitted that he had stabbed Lilia. He admitted he has seen (her) playing in the street. He identified himself in the CCTV extracts.' Should his mental health improve, Skebas, who is charged with murder, could face a conventional trial. Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has said the Russian invasion has made her 'mentally stronger' as she hopes her impressive run at Wimbledon 'brings a little happiness' to those watching her from the war-torn country. The unseeded player, who gave birth just nine months ago, had to wait almost 30 seconds for unrelenting applause to die down today, after she beat world number one Iga Swiatek to reach the tournament's semi-finals. The 28-year-old, who grabbed the top spot from the Polish player after a dramatic 7-5 6-7 (5) 6-2 victory on Centre Court, said she will be celebrating her victory by kicking back with a beer, as she reflected on how Putin's unjust war impacted her performance. 'I think war made me stronger and also made me, like, mentally stronger', she said. 'Mentally I don't take difficult situations as like a disaster, you know? There are worse things in life. I'm just more calmer. But I think having a child, and war, made me a different person.' Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has said Putin's unjust invasion has made her a 'mentally stronger' player Following her defeat against world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland she said she will celebrate by kicking back and having a beer Elina Svitolina (right) hugs Iga Swiatek at the end of their match on Centre Court at Wimbledon Swiatek came from a set down to draw level and seemed to have snatched the momentum, just as she had done previously in a match against Belinda Bencic, but Svitolina went onto secure the victory. When asked what her win means for her country, she added: 'I know that lots of people back in Ukraine watching. I got really massive amount of messages from last round. I didn't really check my phone yet today, but I think there will be a lot of messages, a lot of news. 'I'm happy I can bring little happiness to their life. 'There was many videos also on internet where the kids are watching on their phones. This really makes my heart melt seeing this.' The victorious player also revealed she had no plans to take former One Direction star Harry Styles up on his offer to get tickets for his concert. Styles wrote to her on Instagram: 'Congratulations! We have four shows to go, you're welcome at any of them. Good luck with the rest of the tournament.' Speaking to reporters after her win on Tuesday, she called the singer 'very sweet' for reaching out to her and expressed hopes of attending a gig of his 'one day'. 'I checked his upcoming concerts that's left,' she said. 'It depends how I'm going to do here, but looks like I might not make it in the end because obviously I want to go home to see my daughter as well.' Svitolina celebrates defeating defeating Iga Swiatek in the quarter-final, securing her place in the semi-finals The unseeded Ukrainian, who gave birth just nine months ago, ousted Swiatek from the top spot in a dramatic 7-5 6-7 (5) 6-2 victory on Centre Court Svitolina had the press conference laughing when she described FaceTiming her daughter who was 'distracted with her ice cream' after the matc Svitolina had the press conference laughing when she described FaceTiming her daughter who was 'distracted with her ice cream' after the match. It comes as top player refused to shake hands with Belarus' Victoria Azarenka, who she beat on Sunday, as per policy to not shake the hands of any Russian or Belarusian opponent as the illegal war rages on. The crowd booed on Sunday as Azarenka left the court and while Svitolina asked All England Tennis Club chief Sally Bolton for an announcement to be made to clarify her position, it was refused. 'We've no intention of doing that,' Bolton said, when asked about the possibility of an announcement. 'Historically in tennis the decision on how a player reacts at the end of a match is entirely a personal decision for them and I think we don't really want to start mandating what happens.' 'I think we have an incredibly knowledgeable audience at Wimbledon and I think in the most part they would understand what was going on. 'I wouldn't want to speculate on what everybody in the crowd was thinking last night. 'I would echo what Elina and Vika said. Having witnessed one of the most incredible matches on No 1 court to an absolutely rapt audience, we should be focusing on the tennis and the match we saw, not all of the other stuff that went on.' Swiatek came from a set down to draw level and seemed to have snatched the momentum Svitolina, whose emotional win over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the fourth round was one of the matches of the tournament, added: 'Iga is not only a great champion but an unbelievable person' Elina Svitolina kisses the net during the quarter-final clash (Adam Davy/PA) Swiatek reacts after loosing a game against Svitolina during their women's singles quarter-finals tennis match READ MORE: Harry Styles invites Wimbledon wild card Elina Svitolina to see him on tour after her tournament success forced her to miss his show Tennis on tour: Harry Styles has gifted Elina Svitolina tickets to see him on tour after her plans to see him perform in Vienna were scuppered by her own talent Advertisement Swiatek looked dialled in from the start of the match, breaking Svitolina's serve in the opening game. But as she served for the set, the 22-year-old from Warsaw gifted Svitolina a break back to love in a game that she topped off with a double-fault. A slight delay as the roof was closed gave Swiatek a chance to regroup, but a hold to love at the start of the second set meant Svitolina had won 10 of the previous 12 points, giving her the chance to go on and win overall. Swiatek has been a huge supporter of the Ukrainian cause following the Russian invasion and wears a blue and yellow ribbon in her cap. Svitolina, whose emotional win over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the fourth round was one of the matches of the tournament, added: 'Iga is not only a great champion but an unbelievable person. 'She was one of the first who really helped the Ukrainian people, she was a huge help. 'So for sure it's not easy to play someone that you share a lot of good moments. Not easy for her either but I'm really proud I could win this one.' Earlier this week, Azarenka claimed the Wimbledon crowd who booed her off the court following her match with Svitolina were 'drunk on Pimms', as Svitolina called her supporters 'amazing'. Azarenka received jeers from spectators as she began to leave following her fourth-round loss, prompting her to bang her fists together in a dismissive gesture. She hit out at the 'unfair' behaviour at a press conference after and accused fans of being drunk. But giving her own reaction, Svitolina said: 'I heard a lot of Ukrainian people in the crowd so that was really special. The crowd was amazing, it was one of the best atmospheres that I ever played in.' The families of three Britons who were killed in a plane crash in Ethiopia have welcomed a verdict of 'unlawful killing' at an inquest as the coroner ruled Boeing's conduct should 'constitute the crime of manslaughter'. Humanitarians Joanna Toole, 36, Samuel Pegram, 25, and Oliver Vick, 45, were among 157 people killed on onboard flight ET302. After an inquest held yesterday for the trio, coroner Penny Schofield ruled that she was satisfied Boeing had engaged in criminal conduct that led directly to the deaths of 149 passengers and 8 crew on board flight ET 302 on March 10 2019. She rejected claims made by Boeing that it should not be responsible for the criminal conduct of two of its test pilots who failed to disclose crucial information to the FAA about safety critical procedures, or to train pilots adequately. She said the failure by Boeing to answer questions about MCAS procedures may have played a part in causing the deaths of the victims and damned the 'incomplete and inaccurate' information provided to airlines and the flying public. Adrian Toole pictured outside the Ethiopian Airlines ET302 crash inquest hearing at county hall, in Horsham Mr Toole alongside his daughter, Joanna Toole, 36, who was killed on March 10, 2019, when Ethiopian Airlines ET302 crashed just minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa At the inquest in Hornsham, Sussex, Boeing sought to distance themselves from their own test pilots' failings, but the Coroner said that for the airline to now say that they were not representing their interests 'was incredulous.' The coroner ruled that the requirements for unlawful killing and gross negligence manslaughter were both established on the facts she had heard. She described the conduct of the major airline company leading to the crash as 'truly exceptionally bad so as to constitute the crime of manslaughter.' The flight ended six minutes after the 737 Max aircraft took off from Addis Ababa, en route to Nairobi in Kenya. The crash happened less than five months after an earlier Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed in the Java Sea on 29 October 2018, killing 189. The dual incidents caused a two-year worldwide long-term grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 8, and later resulted in the manufacturer being charged with conspiracy to defraud the US in January 2021. It's alleged that certain software characteristics of the Max (the MCAS system) were concealed from the regulator during its certification process. The erroneous activation of the MCAS system has since been blamed for both the Lion Air Flight 610 crash in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019. Speaking after the verdict, Mark Pegram, the father of Sam Pegram, from Preston, Lancashire, said: 'The verdict is the end of a long road to seek the truth of what happened on flight ET302 and ultimately justice for all of those who lost their lives as a result. Pictured: British humanitarian worker Sam Pegram, 25, who was among the 157 people killed Humanitarian Oliver Vick was also killed on onboard flight ET302 'Like so many on that flight, my son Sam was an amazing human being, who cared about others and was working for the Norwegian Refugee Council when his life was taken away in a crash that should never have happened. 'We welcome the verdict, but nothing can bring our loved ones home to us. The least we deserve is the truth and to ensure that no one else ever has to go through such an ordeal as we have.' Joanna Toole's father, Adrian Toole, of Exmouth, Devon, added: 'The verdict is the one all the families wanted, but it's a bittersweet moment after four years of fighting for the truth following the death of our loved ones in such a needless way. 'Having followed events in the US courts, the inquest has confirmed what many of us already knew. This aircraft did not crash as a result of any mechanical failure. Its design was fundamentally flawed. 'Boeing cut corners in order to maximise profit, including failing to train pilots adequately, and it is this that has led directly to the deaths of 157 people on Joanna's flight and 348 people when you take into account the others killed on the Lion Air flight. 'Joanna was a star, a selfless, special person, with a big heart and a passion to improve the lives of animals and the environment. Like so many other people on this flight, she was a humanitarian, a United Nations consultant with her whole life ahead of her. Joanna's loss is incalculable, not just to me and the family but all who knew her.' Following their deaths, several of the British families, including Mark Pegram and Adrian Toole, instructed specialist aviation lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and support them throughout the inquest process. Vincent Nichol, one of the specialist aviation solicitors at Irwin Mitchell representing the families, said: 'This is a truly tragic case which has affected the lives of hundreds of people and proved devastating for Mark, Adrian and all the other families involved. Investigators with the U.S. National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) look over debris at the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 Wreckage is piled at the crash scene of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 'Four years on and the families have now got the verdict they were looking for and the hope is now that those responsible will now face the consequences from what happened during those six minutes when the flight ended in such terrible circumstances. 'While yesterday's conclusion is welcome, there are many spouses, partners, parents and siblings from over 30 nations whose lives have been ruined forever by what happened on that day. 'On behalf of our clients, we hope the verdict reinforces the need for essential work which must be undertaken by Boeing in order to rebuild the trust of the travelling public. It is also time that Boeing issued a long overdue and sincere apology to the family and friends of the English victims who were killed on 10 March 2019. 'The fact is that this defective aircraft was flying all over the world and could have crashed at any time anywhere in the world. We all need to know that the fundamental design defects are fully and finally rectified, and that the travelling public is now safe.' The three men all died following incidents on subway lines in Manhattan on Monday Three men killed themselves by jumping in front of moving subway trains in separate incidents in Manhattan on Monday. Emergency services responded to three separate incidents across an eight hour window at different stations across the city. Shortly after 10:30am yesterday they had been called to West 72nd street station on the Upper West Side of the city after Samuel Cohen, 22, was struck by a 2 train. Less than five hours later, 47-year-old Colin Murphy died after being hit by a 6 train at East 86th and Lexington Avenue station where he was pronounced dead. Then at 6:40pm, Anthony Collado, 42, also died at the scene after he collided with an uptown Q train at East 63rd and Lexington Avenue. Emergency services responded to three separate incidents across an eight hour window at different stations across the city, including 86the street, pictured here On Monday morning emergency services responded to call 72nd street station on the Upper West Side of the city after Samuel Cohen was struck by a train Medics rushed Cohen to St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital but he could not be saved, police confirmed. Police said it wasnt clear if Cohen jumped in front of the train or had earlier climbed down onto the tracks, but the incident was considered a suicide. It is not the first time that three men have died in one day on the New York subway system. In November of last year, three men were also struck by Manhattan trains within hours of each other overnight. Police at the time told the New York Post that one man had hopped onto the tracks to retrieve something that had fallen when he was hit by a train. Anthony Collado, 42, was pronounced dead at 63rd and Lexington avenue after he was hit by a train Police at the time told the New York Post that one man had hopped onto the tracks to retrieve something that had fallen when he was hit by a train. Latest figures by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, who run the subway, show that last year the number of deaths on subway train tracks soared to 88. There were 1,364 incidents involving people on the tracks in 2022, including the 88 fatalities. DailyMail.com has approached both the New York Police Department and Mount Sinai for further comment. A woman has shared the shocking moment a Russian man allegedly became aggressive and threatened to attack her as she travelled on the subway in Germany, thinking she was Ukrainian. Kardelen Queck, an actress who lives in Germany, shared a TikTok video of herself looking visibly shaken as she can be heard pleading with the man to leave her alone. The man, she said, had asked to use her internet hotspot before he allegedly became threatening. She decided to start recording on the train after the man persistently asked her where she is from, whether she is Ukrainian and what she is doing in Germany. Kardalen, who is half Russian, bravely refused to tell the man she was not Ukrainian, saying she would not let him scare her, before another woman who was travelling on the train intervened to help. Kardelen Queck, an actress who lives in Germany, shared a TikTok video of herself looking visibly shaken Kardelen explained in the video: 'Yesterday in Germany, some Russian guy think I'm Ukrainian and he tried to attack me. 'He asked to use my internet for five minutes, I said for sure. And then he asked constantly where I am from. What I am doing in Germany. Am I Russian or Ukrainian, he is from Russia.' She alleged that the man said in Russian that he would punch her, a threat that left her 'shaking'. Following the incident, she said: 'I called my husband after. As a woman that was horrible, all I wanted to help but the guy was so unpredictable and a German lady helped me, so it was sad story.' 'As women, we are exposed to this kind of behaviour every day. There were a lot of people, only one German girl supported me. Never remain silent in the face of such behaviour.' Kardalen, who has around 20,000 followers on TikTok and 55,000 on Instagram, shared the video last week to raise awareness of the often frightening encounters women can have with men on public transport The German woman appears to try and intervene by distracting the man, speaking over him and taking his attention away from Kardalen. The actress and influencer said the man rudely asked her to change seat and was acting 'crazy'. Kardalen captioned the video: 'I am half Russian and my heart goes with Ukrainian people I will never and ever support war or any kind of violence!' In a message of unity in the face of the the man's apparent intolerance, she added: 'No matter where you come from, be human first!' Kardalen, who has around 20,000 followers on TikTok and 55,000 on Instagram, shared the video last week to raise awareness of the often frightening encounters women can have with men on public transport. A millionaire business man who is giving up his private jet because of its impact on the environment has bemoaned commercial flying before admitting he'll still fly in luxury two or three times a year. Stephen Price is selling Cessna 650 Citation III jet which is estimated to cost $1 million and between $275,000 and $300,000 to run. Price, who is the vice chair of the Patriotic Millionaires - a group of wealthy Americans pushing for higher taxes - said he was initially willing to ignore that the opulent travel was a pollutant. 'I was gobsmacked by the fact that by being so in love with private air travel, I was willing to ignore what a horrible travesty I was perpetrating on the environment and on future generations,' he told CNN. Millionaire Stephen Price is giving up his Cessna 650 Citation III jet because of the impact it has on the environment 'I've got to change. I just can't continue to do this.' Private jets emit at least 10 times more pollutants than commercial planes per passenger - a figure Price was surprised to realize. This has made the growing global private jet fleet a disproportionate contributor to the aviation sector's climate impact, a May report by the US Institute for Policy Studies says. Price has owned half a dozen private jets in his lifetime and bemoaned commercial travel. 'It's just absolutely the best way to travel,' he said of the exclusive means of transportation. 'But I'm going to give it up, I'm just going back to flying commercially, as much as I despise the process after having flown privately for the last six or seven years. 'TSA, long lines, canceled flights, lost luggage I despise all the things that go along with it and when you fly first class, it's not cheap, either. 'But I made my decision back in March this year and I'm sticking with it, I'm selling it, I'm going to aggressively get rid of it.' He did admit to the broadcaster that he wouldn't ditch private travel altogether, however, just lessening it to two or three times a year. 'I have a friend who's going to let me lease his smaller aircraft,' he said. 'It's a twin turbo, which burns about a fourth of the amount of fuel of the Cessna and I'm only going to use it two or three times a year to go out to a pheasant hunting preserve in the northwest corner of Nebraska.' The private jet is worth an estimated $1 million and costs about $275,000 - $300,000 to run each year Price has owned half a dozen private jets in his lifetime and bemoaned commercial travel While Price has made the choice for himself, he said he wasn't going to force the decision on others. 'I'm not going out trying to sell this as a broadcast message by any means,' he said. 'When talking with my conservative, wealthy friends, I certainly don't hesitate to say that they need to do the same thing, but it's not a big mission of mine. He does believe that the wealthy should pay more taxes in the U.S. saying 'I think that all of us in American society are not paying as much as we need to.' 'Nobody wants to pay taxes and they come up with all these explanations and reasons why, but the real reason is that they're greedy and I am too! We all are. 'But we all need to become a member of the 'we' society, not the 'me' society. If we're not concerned about the greater good of all mankind, then we're living with a bad set of principles.' The Institute for Policy Studies report echoed the sentiment calling for higher taxes of private jet sales and fuel. They've recommended a 10 percent sales tax on used aircrafts and five percent on new. Meanwhile, they've called for federal jet fuel tax to be doubled from $0.219 per gallon to $0.438 for frequent private jet users. Chuck Collins, one of the authors of the report, told CNN that 'private jets are a reflection of the growing inequality and concentration of wealth and power in very few hands.' 'From an ecological perspective, we need to decarbonize the aviation sector and this seems like an awfully good starting point,' he said. 'It's one of the greatest carbon emitters, but it's really a very small number of people. We should have very high taxes, [usage] taxes and fuel taxes that discourage private jet owners.' He added that we 'shouldn't be building new infrastructure to serve the private jet class.' 'In my community outside Boston, there's a private airport, Hanscom Field, and there's a whole push to expand it because that is the suburban private jetport,' he told the broadcaster. 'But people are saying that in the same way we probably shouldn't be building new fossil fuel infrastructure that will push us over the danger line in terms of emissions, we shouldn't be building new infrastructure to serve the private jet class. That's not really the kind of direction we should go in.' The number of private jets has increased from 9,895 in 2000 to 23,133 in mid-2022, the report noted. NHLANGANO - Minister of Education and Training Lady Mabuza has said pupils are expected to be at school today as they will not be closed because of the cold front currently being experienced. This was after some teachers, who were called after school yesterday to find out how their lessons proceeded, shared that they had difficulties teaching as some pupils were complaining of the cold. The teachers shared that they even allowed other pupils to wear non-uniform jackets on top of the school uniform because of the cold weather. You could tell that there was nothing they were grasping as they kept wrapping their arms around the body to try and keep warm, narrated one of the teachers who asked not to be named. Checked In an interview with Shiselweni Regional Education Officer (REO) Siboniso Gumbi, he shared that they checked on the schools and some of the head teachers asked if lessons should proceed amid the cold weather. He said it was the ministry that would decide on schools closure. When the Minister of Education and Training, Mabuza, was called, she stated that schools would not close because of the cold. She said the closure of a school would depend on the situation at that particular school. Mabuza said the temperatures were not the same across the country, hence it would be wrong to close all the schools. Affected schools will report and a decision will be taken then, she added. Some schools decided to break early yesterday due to the cold. When asked if schools will be operating today since the King had called Sibaya, Mabuza responded to the affirmative. She said teachers knew what to do, adding that Sibaya was always called and that did not mean schools had to be closed. By the time Sibaya starts, primary schools would be done for the days business, hence those teachers will be able to get there, she said. It is worth noting that everyone who will attend Sibaya will be picked up from 7am from their different stations. It was said when the announcement for Sibaya was made that all citizens were expected to have arrived by 10am. Meanwhile, some small business owners did not open for the day yesterday because of the extremely cold weather. It was gathered from some of their colleagues who shared that they were also feeling the cold and some even shared that they were not going to open today. These were mainly vendors who sell airtime, vegetables and clothes. They shared that doing business in the open was the reason they felt they needed to consider their health than making money, as the cold was unbearable for them. Some of those who were working also shared that they did not make much money as there was less movement of people compared to other days, hence the reason they were not going to open. Girlie Dlamini, who sells vegetables, shared that she regretted not staying at home as she also did not make money yesterday. We heard the weather will be better on Wednesday (tomorrow), hence we will come back then, she added. The vendors shared that they were sickly hence they had to consider their health first. A 'right-hand man' in a people-smuggling ring has been jailed for more than 12 years after 39 Vietnamese men, women and teenagers were found dead in an airtight lorry trailer in Essex. The Vietnamese nationals died in the sealed container as it was being transported by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet in October 2019. The court heard how those trapped inside knew they were going to die, with one young mother sending a text to a loved one that read: 'Maybe going to die in the container. Cannot breath any more.' 'Pitiful audio recordings' of the victims 'reporting they could not breath' showed a 'growing recognition they were going to die', senior judge Mr Justice Graham said as he sentenced Marius Mihai Draghici, 50, for 12 years and seven months. Draghici, who was named as the 'essential cog' in exploiting people trying to get to the UK, fled the country before being detained by police in Romania last August and extradited back to the UK. He pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful migration last month at the Old Bailey. Marius Mihai Draghici, 50, who was named as the 'essential cog' in exploiting people trying to get to the UK, was jailed for 12 years and seven months today The 39 Vietnamese nationals died in the sealed container as it was being transported by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet in October 2019 He told the defendant he was an 'essential cog' in a conspiracy which made 'astonishing profits out of the exploitation of people desperate to get to the UK' before adding that the conditions inside the trailer were 'unspeakable' with 'people trapped inside the trailer with no ventilation and no way of getting out'. Four other gang members were jailed in 2021 for between 13 and 27 years for the manslaughter of the 39 migrants. These included Ringleader Gheorghe Nica, 46, of Basildon, Essex, haulier boss Ronan Hughes, 43, of Armagh, Maurice Robinson, 28, of Craigavon, who found the bodies, and Eamonn Harrison, 26, of County Down, who had collected the victims on the continent. The victims - aged between 15 and 44 - had hoped for a better life in Britain when they agreed to pay up to 13,000 a head for a 'VIP' smuggling service. On October 22 2019, they were crammed into the lorry container to be shipped in pitch black and sweltering conditions. The 28 men, eight women and three children had desperately tried to raise the alarm, with many leaving messages for loved ones on their mobile phones as they ran out of air before reaching British shores. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told the court that the victims' last hours 'must have entailed unimaginable suffering and anguish'. Family photos of the 39 Vietnamese victims who died in the lorry trailer on October 23 2019 Lorry driver Robinson had discovered the bodies in the early hours of October 23 after being messaged by Hughes to 'give them air', but not let them out. Robinson had picked up the container at the docks and opened the doors before alerting others including Draghici and Nica waiting at a nearby pick-up point near Collingwood Farm in Orsett. Who were the 39 Vietnamese victims? On October 23 2019, 39 Vietnamese nationals, including men, women and children, were found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex. The victims were: Dinh Dinh Binh Nguyen Minh Quang Nguyen Huy Phong Le Van Ha Nguyen Van Hiep Bui Phan Thang Nguyen Van Hung Nguyen Huy Hung Nguyen Tien Dung Pham Thi Tra My Tran Khanh Tho Nguyen Van Nhan Vo Ngoc Nam Vo Van Linh Nguyen Ba Vu Hung Vo Nhan Du Tran Hai Loc Tran Manh Hung Nguyen Thi Van Bui Thi Nhung Hoang Van Tiep Tran Thi Ngoc Phan Thi Thanh Tran Thi Tho Duong Minh Tuan Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh Tran Thi Mai Nhung Le Trong Thanh Nguyen Ngoc Ha Hoang Van Hoi Tran Ngoc Hieu Cao Tien Dung Dinh Dinh Thai Quyen Dang Huu Tuyen Nguyen Dinh Luong Cao Huy Thanh, Nguyen Trong Thai Nguyen Tho Tuan Nguyen Dinh Tu Advertisement Mr Emlyn Jones said gang members 'immediately abandoned the plan and melted away in the night', with Draghici following Nica on a flight from Luton to Romania. Setting out Draghici's involvement, Mr Emlyn Jones said: 'The prosecution case is that Draghici became party to a sophisticated, long-running and highly profitable conspiracy to smuggle illegal migrants to the United Kingdom, in the back of lorries, in a deliberate and intentional breach of border control.' Draghici was recruited by fellow Romanian Nica and became his effective 'right-hand man' and they were 'inseparable', the prosecutor said. The defendant had accepted being involved in the last three people smuggling runs, including the fatal trip - although police identified a total of seven. He was present at a meeting at a hotel on October 19 2019 in which Nica delivered a 'very substantial payment' to Hughes after collecting the money from 'Fong' - the Vietnamese organiser. He was also in contact with a person who had been described as 'Hughes' man on the continent'. Mr Emlyn Jones said it was significant that Nica and Draghici both gave Robinson his instructions earlier on the night of the tragic journey. The prosecutor said: 'We accept that the role played in the conspiracy by Nica was more significant than that of Draghici. So Nica is above Draghici in the pecking order.' But he said of Draghici: 'He was not just acting as a driver but playing the role of something of a right-hand man to Mr Nica.' In victim impact statements read in court, some victims' families described feeling 'sad and hopeless' at their loss while coping with crippling debt from borrowing thousands of pounds to pay for their loved ones' travel. Nguyen Huy Hung, 15, one of the youngest victims, had been on his way to live with his parents in the UK and work as a hairdresser. His father said they were 'very shocked' and 'trembling' after hearing what happened on social media. He said: 'We did not believe it was the truth until we saw his body with our own eyes...We felt numb and that feeling lasted for many weeks later.' Married couple Tran Hai Loc and Nguyen Thi Van, 35, were found lying side by side in the container. The court heard they had paid 7,000 US dollars to travel to Hungary to work as fruit pickers and told their families on October 18 2019 that their plans had changed. In mitigation, Gillian Jones KC said Draghici was 'shocked and horrified with what occurred' and had struggled to come to terms with the enormity of it. A Suffolk science teacher has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 15-year-old schoolgirl after Google reported him to the UK's National Crime Agency. Mark Langford, 55, taught at secondary schools across Norfolk and Suffolk from 1996 until just after his arrest in November 2021. The teacher was later discovered to be in possession of 2,718 indecent images of children after Google filed a report to the NCA. Investigators subsequently revealed he groomed and sexually abused one of his former pupils at a school in Lowestoft, Suffolk between 2004 and 2006. Langford yesterday pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and indecently assaulting a child at Ipswich Crown Court. Science teacher Mark Langford, 55, (pictured) admitted sexually abusing one of his former pupils at a school in Lowestoft, Suffolk His arrest came after Google filed a report of a user possessing child abuse material on their platform to the NCA in November 2021. Langford was discovered to be the user of and possessor of such material following an investigation by the NCA. Police immediately moved to arrest the science teacher at his former home in the market town of Beccles, in Suffolk. Forensics officers later discovered 2,718 indecent images of children on five of the teacher's devices. Police also recovered chat logs in which Langford spoke with like minded individuals about sexual abuse. These conversations included discussions about child rape and conversations in which he encouraged others to sexually abuse their children. The teacher also talked with others about the levels of pain and humiliation that needed to be inflicted on women and children to satisfy his sexual demands. He also gave tips to others on ways to access child pornography and accessed cloud storage platforms used by paedophiles to trade child sex abuse images. Langford was dismissed from his job in January 2022 Further investigations revealed Langford had groomed and sexually abused a 15-year-old pupil he taught at a school in Lowestoft between 2004 and 2006. NCA officers subsequently recovered a letter Langford wrote to the victim in April 2022, instructing her on what to say if the NCA officers questioned her. 'Before you talk to him, please remember that it is his job to convict me - please do not give him any accidental ammunition against me,' Langford's letter said. 'You can tell him you know I'm a porn addict, and that I was arrested for having indecent images of children.' 'Don't forget the 'arrested for' bit - don't say I did it, or that I confessed to you, because that might drag you into court as a witness. I don't know if it will, but that's not a question I dare ask him.' Prior to being arrested, the teacher told officers: 'It's all in there, I know what you're looking for, I've made a mistake and ruined everything' Langford appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on July 10 where he pleaded guilty to charges including indecent assault, indecency with a child, and perverting the course of justice. He also pleaded guilt to making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornographic images. 'Mark Langford grossly abused his position of trust. In short, his offending was despicable and manipulative,' said Holly Triggs, NCA Operations Manager. 'This was evident from the way he attempted to coerce his victim into lying about his offending and the explicit conversations he had with other paedophiles online. 'The NCA will continue to protect children by identifying those offenders who pose the highest risk and ensuring they are held accountable for their actions.' Royal Mail workers have voted overwhelmingly to accept a deal to end a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Members of the Communication Workers Union backed the agreement by 75 per cent. The union said the vote signals the end of the dispute, which saw more than 115,000 workers take 18 days of strike action in the final quarter of last year. CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: 'This has been the most challenging period in both the history of the union and the company, and I want to thank every single member that has voted in this ballot. 'Our members will know it doesn't end with today's result - we all know what is going on in workplaces across the UK and we are going to deal with it. Royal Mail workers have voted overwhelmingly to accept a deal to end a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions A Royal Mail worker holds a toy depicting Postman Pat as members strike over pay and conditions, outside of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, December 9 'Many workers simply do not trust Royal Mail Group because of the company's lack of integrity and the way they are being treated. 'Some wanted more from an agreement. Others find the prospect of changes such as later finishes unpalatable. 'Our job in the coming weeks and months is to make sure their voices continue to be heard. 'Far from being an endorsement of the actions of Royal Mail Group, this result will be the start of the union reconnecting in every workplace.' A company spokesperson said: 'The agreement provides Royal Mail a platform for the next phase of stabilising the business whilst continuing to drive efficiencies and change. 'The operational changes in the agreement are designed to be good for customers, increasing our ability to improve services and quality; good for employees, retaining job security and giving people a pay rise; good for the environment, reducing the company's reliance on domestic air, further reducing carbon emissions; and good for shareholders, supporting the long-term sustainability of the business. 'The three-year pay deal agreed provides certainty for employees and ensures Royal Mail remains the industry leader on pay, terms and conditions.' Royal Mail workers picket outside a Royal Mail depot in London, Britain on December 23 It comes after it was revealed in May that the company has lost 1billion in the past year. The eye-watering figures for the 12 months to the end of March 2023 come after multiple strikes and poor performance. Royal Mail's parent company International Distributions Services (IDS) today reported 748million in annual operating losses - figures it blamed on the postal service's performance. This was against profits of 577million the previous year, but IDS said it was targeting a return to underlying earnings over 2023-24. Royal Mail faces further turbulence with chief executive Simon Thompson set to step down by the end of the year and news last week that it is being investigated for failing to meet its delivery targets in the past year. The Biden administration had expressed unease about allowing Ukraine to join before Russia's invasion had been defeated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Kyiv's Western allies to open the door to full membership of NATO after he blasted the organization over its 'absurd' delays to granting them a spot inside the mutual defense club. In a fiery speech in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, Zelensky, dressed in his now-trademark olive green military fatigues, spoke to a crowd of thousands after arriving for crunch talks with the 31-nation alliance. 'NATO will give Ukraine security, Ukraine will make NATO stronger,' said the former actor said, flanked by his wife Olena Zelenska and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. DailyMail.com was granted exclusive backstage access after the Ukrainian president's speech where he exchanged words with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska stood together for the Ukrainian national anthem after onlookers cheers his fiery speech backing NATO membership for Kyiv Thousands of people descended upon downtown Vilnius to hear Zelensky's short address His speech was delivered in Ukrainian, and then recounted by a Lithuanian translator. sparked cheers from the crowd. He evoked the long-running battle for Bakhmut by hoisting a Ukrainian army flag from the eastern Ukrainian city. 'Bakhmut is one of the most decisive battles for freedom in Europe, and that is how our children and grandchildren will remember it,' Zelensky said. Onlookers waved Ukrainian flags and chanted 'Slava Ukraini' (Glory to Ukraine) as the 45-year-old wartime leader demanded that his country be given a clear pathway to joining. He thanked Lithuania for a 'clear, honest and courageous position' on backing Kyiv's bid before a rendition of his country's national anthem. Upon leaving the stage at the city's Lukiskes Square - that had been forcibly renamed to Lenin Square during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania - Zelensky briefly exchanged words with the country's president Gitanas Nauseda before being whisked away by his military security detail. The Ukrainian leader ignored questions from DailyMail.com about whether he would press Biden for U.S. stocks of the ATACMS long-range missile system. Upon leaving Lukiskes Square, Zelensky was whisked away by his military security detail ahead of planned talks with Joe Biden on Wednesday Earlier in the day, Zelensky had lashed out at what he called an 'absurd' delay in spelling out a timeline to full membership of the Brussels-based alliance. Kyiv and NATO members in eastern Europe believe only bringing Ukraine under its collective defense umbrella will deter Moscow. Key powers like the United States and Germany have been wary of going much beyond a vow in 2008 that said Ukraine will join one day, without setting a timeframe. Zelensky will hold talks with Joe Biden and French president Emmanuel Macron where he will make his case for full membership. In the interim, the U.S., the U.K, France and Germany will offer a series of legally binding security guarantees to protect Ukraine from any future Russian aggression. paper by ex-NATO chief Ander Fogh Rasmussen and his chief of staff Andriy Yermak last year suggested a Kyiv Security Compact, effectively shadow alliance membership, to protect the country and its people. It said that it should include US, Great Britain, Canada, Poland, Italy, Germany, France, Australia, and Turkey, as well as Baltic, Central and Eastern Europe. Ukraine was first considered for NATO membership in 2008 but was never offered a formal process to join amid fears that Russia would be provoked by such a move. Under Article 5 of the alliance's mutual defense treaty, an attack on one NATO ally is considered as an attack on all. But it is not automatic, and the clause requires the approval of all NATO countries to be triggered. The thorny issue of Ukrainian membership is not the only split to overshadow the two-day meeting, with questions being raised about the U.S. decision to send controversial cluster bombs to Ukraine. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had been amongst a chorus of voices who raised concerns about shipping the highly lethal arms to the war-torn country. The hope is that the weapons could help bolster the Ukrainian counter-offensive as its forces run low on ammunition. But in a response to DailyMail.com, Sullivan dismissed claims that the 31-nation military alliance was fractured over its backing of the Ukrainian military. 'I would say rumors of the death of NATO's unity were greatly exaggerated,' he said. 'Vladimir Putin has been counting on the West to crack, NATO to crack and the transatlantic alliance to crack and he has been disappointed with every turn.' The Russian tyrant will be 'very much disappointed' by what emerges from the meeting in Lithuania, Sullivan added. There was better news for Ukraine on some front: a training program for F-16 fighter jets was formally signed off and French president Emmanuel Macron said he would ship France's long-range SCALP missiles to Kyiv's armed forces. It follows a decision by Britain in May to its own version of the missile system, known as Storm Shadows, becoming the first country to supply long-range missiles and help the Ukrainian military drive out the Russian invaders. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly welcomed the announcement. 'If other countries in the (NATO) alliance are able to make donations in various forms, that's great,' the UK's top diplomat said. 'There is no reason at all why we would want any other thinking.' Macron's move could see Biden face calls from Ukraine hawks in Congress to stump up U.S. stocks of ATACMS missiles. Washington is the biggest backer of the Ukrainian war effort, providing more than $40 billion in military aid. But the White House has repeatedly refused to grant the 190-mile range missiles amid fears they could attack deep inside Russia's internationally-recognized borders. Officials have argued that sending the weapons would be an escalatory move that could provoke Vladimir Putin to lash out. The body of a woman who was murdered in 1969 is set to be exhumed as the FBI probe links to cold case murder of a Baltimore nun whose story was featured on the Netflix true-crime docuseries 'The Keepers.' Joyce Helen Malecki, 20, disappeared on November 11, 1969. Her body was found two days later in a body of water at the soldier park training area at Fort Meade. She had been stabbed in the throat and strangled to death. Catherine Ann Cesnik, 27, a nun and Catholic high school teacher in Baltimore, was reported missing on November 7, 1969. Her body was discovered on January 3, 1970, nearly two months after she went missing. She had been choked and had a fatal head wound. Malecki's body will be exhumed from Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore after more than five decades, as the FBI explores an unspecified lead possibly connecting the two cases, Kurt Wolfgang, an attorney and executive director of Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center told DailyMail.com. Wolfgang said the excavation will take place sometime in August or September and that DNA evidence will be collected. Though he said the FBI gave them limited information, he said in January 1970 during Malecki's autopsy, a hair was discovered on her body that wasn't hers, and he believes that is what the investigators will be looking at. Joyce Helen Malecki, 20, disappeared on November 11, 1969. Her body was found by two hunters in a body of water two days later at the soldier park training area at Fort Meade. She had been stabbed in the throat and strangled to death Sister Catherine Ann Cesnik, 27, a nun and Catholic high school teacher in Baltimore, was reported missing on November 7, 1969. Her body was discovered on January 3, 1970, nearly two months after she had gone missing. Cesnik had been choked and had a fatal head wound Cesnik's unsolved murder became the subject of the true-crime documentary after a former student named Jean Hargadon Wehner went to her teacher, Sister Cesniak to share that she was being sexually abused by the high school chaplain. When the chaplain discovered that Wehner had said something he took her to Cesnik's dead body and threatened it would be her if she didn't keep quiet. Wolfgang, who represents Wehner and and a number of other sex abuse survivors of the Archbishop Keough High School abuse, said his client never went to the authorities terrified that she and her family would be murdered. 'She was petrified with fear,' Wolfgang said. Wehner, who is featured in 'The Keepers first came forward with her allegations in 1992 that the school's former chaplain, Rev. A. Joseph Maskell, had repeatedly raped her when she was a student at her alma mater, Archbishop Keough High School. She spoke out after the release of the redacted report on child sexual abuse in the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore by the Maryland Attorney General's Office earlier this year, The Baltimore Sun reported. After the deaths of Malecki and the beloved nun, detectives from Baltimore County questioned dozens of people, but the killer was never found and the case went cold for decades. Since the Netflix true-crime series put a spotlight on the unsolved murder of Cesnik detectives are now exploring a potential connection in both slayings. Rev. A. Joseph Maskell was never criminally charged and denied all the allegations. In 1994, he was removed from his priestly ministry in Baltimore. He died in May 2001 Malecki's body will be exhumed from Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore after more than five decades, according to Kurt Wolfgang, an attorney and executive director of Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center. He told DailyMail.com that the excavation will take place sometime in August or September Wolfgang said he represents the Malecki family and keeps in daily contact with Darryl Malecki, Joyce Malecki's brother. 'I think the family is really at a loss of what happened here and really yearning for answers and justice,' he said. He told DailyMail.com the reason why the Malecki murder was covered in the Netflix show, 'The Keepers' is because of Sister Catherine disappearance four days later. 'Both were young pretty girls, their cars were found with the keys still in the ignition and they were both murdered in a similar way,' he said. 'In both instances, their cars were moved after the abduction and parked somewhere.' The Netflix true-crime series 'The Keepers' focuses on the unsolved murder of a Baltimore nun Sister Catherine Ann Cesnik (pictured) In the docuseries, survivors detail sexual abuse allegations against Father Maskell and accusations of an institutional cover-up. In the 1960s' Maskell was moved to different parishes due to 'troubling behavior with chldren,' according to a 2023 report by the Maryland Attorney General's Office, The New York Post reported. According to the report, Maskell had a 'fascination with the sexual fantasies and behavior of Boy Scouts and having young girls in the rectory under suspicious circumstances,' the news outlet reported. Maskell was never criminally charged and denied all the allegations. In 1994, he was removed from his priestly ministry in Baltimore and died in 2001. Wolfgang told DailyMail.com that there were 'many teenage girl victims.' He estimated at least 50 alone from Archbishop Keough High School. Many of those victims, he said, were abused, drugged and hypnotized by Maskell and others. 'There is alot more to the story and many more revelations that will come out regarding the sex abuse scandal of the Archbishop of Baltimore and Archbishop Keough High School and Father Maskell as an integral part of it.' He called many of the surviving victims 'heroes.' Gemma Hoskins, 70, a former student at Archbishop Keough High School and a student of Sister Catherine called her, 'her favorite teacher.' Hoskin was one of the people who inspired the popular 2017 Netflix true crime docuseries. She said that she and former student Abbie Fitzgerald Schaub have spent their lives investigating Sister Catherine's death. Though Hoskins said she wasn't targeted by Maskell's abuse, she said that the death of her former teacher always had a profound impact on her. She told WBAL she always felt the two cold cases were connected and believes that they willl lead back to Father Maskell in some way. 'The family has been through an awful lot,' she said. 'This is not a pleasant experience for anybody, but they are looking forward to what the FBI finds and hopefully shares with them.' On her website she talks about the Netflix series and the Cathy Cesnik Survivors Fund, a not-for-profit registered charity, whose mission is to raise and distribute financial assistance for treatment of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Republican presidential candidates are coming up with creative ways to expand their donor base to ensure they're able to participate in the first GOP debate in August. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is offering $20 giftcards to those who donate $1 to the longshot's campaign - dubbing the effort Biden relief cards to tackle 'Bidenflation.' Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy vowed to democratize political fundraising in a video message Monday, promising self-appointed bundlers he would pay them back 10 percent of the fundraising dollars they raise from others. While the candidates get credit for innovation, it also helps them satisfy the Republican National Committee's donor requirement rules to participate in the August 23 debate in Milwaukee. The RNC announced in June that Milwaukee debate participants must have a minimum of 40,000 unique donors with at least 200 donors per at least 20 states. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is giving donors $20 giftcards if they donate $1 to his campaign. He says it's to tackle 'Bidenflation,' but he also needs 40,000 unique donors with at least 200 donors per at least 20 states to make the August debate stage Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said in a video Monday that he would give 10 percent back to those who bundled funds for his campaign. He said it was to democratize political fundraising, but he'll need to expand his donor base to make it onto the debate stage Polling from July 1 on also helps candidates get on the debate stage. They must be polling at 1 percent in at least three national polls or at 1 percent in two nationals polls and an early state poll - in Iowa, New Hamphire, Nevada or South Carolina. The surveys have to be recognized by the RNC. The final national poll in June, conducted by Fox News, has former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott, former Amb. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and conservative talk radio host Larry Elder polling at 1 percent or above. Burgum wasn't yet polling at 1 percent. Neither were newcomer candidates - former Rep. Will Hurd and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. Morning Consult's weekly tracking poll, conducted between July 7-9, has Trump at 56 percent, DeSantis at 17 percent, Ramaswamy at 8 percent, Pence at 7 percent, Haley, Scott and Christie at 3 percent and Hutchinson at 1 percent. The other candidates were below 1 percent. Candidates will submit the polling and donor information to the RNC closer to the debate date and they have 48 hours before the first debate to submit their qualifications. Some campaigns that DailyMail.com reached out to expressed confidence they were already in. DeSantis' campaign told DailyMail.com that he's already satisfied the donor requirements. Ramaswamy's campaign said he already has more than 65,000 donors, pushing that his 'democratization' plan wasn't a gimmick to get on the debate stage. Scott's campaign pointed to a TV hit he did Monday, telling Fox News that he'd meet the requirements. Haley's campaign told DailyMail.com that she would be onstage as well. The former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador has brought in nearly 160,000 donations for her presidential campaign, with donors residing in all 50 states. Former President Donald Trump has indicated he's likely to skip the first debate because all of his rivals are badly trailing him in the polls. In an interview with Reuters last month he hinted he may engage in some counter-programming instead. 'We've had a lot of offers, whether it's a rally or whether it's an interview by somebody else,' he said. 'Not to be braggadocious but the debate will not be a very exciting one if I'm not there.' A landslide currently affecting residents of a small community in Southern California is threatening to swallow more homes - after already destroying 12 over the weekend. Local journalists and residents alike reported hearing sounds of cracks and movement underneath their feet on the scene in Rolling Hills Estate - where homes sell for up to $1.4 million - on Tuesday morning, fueling fears that further evacuation may soon be necessary. Several in the LA county suburb have already been left homeless - with a total of 16 people evacuated. The ground beneath them shifted Saturday, leaving their homes partially collapsed, and the ground along usually placid Peartree Lane cracked. The city, set a stone's throw from Long Beach, has since announced that it's also working with the LA County Fire Department (LACFD) and the LA County Sheriff's Office to monitor the situation, its continued affects, and its potential cause. In the meantime, the street where the crisis is unfolding remains closed to the public as of Tuesday - available only to residents, city officials and public safety staff, the city has said, as it warns it cannot promise the worst has already passed. As for the cause of the natural disaster - apart from the Golden State's tenuous setting on a major tectonic plate boundary - officials remain at a loss. Scroll down for video: A landslide currently affecting residents of a small community in Southern California is threatening to swallow more homes - after already destroying 12 over the weekend. Days after the initial event on Saturday, several who live in the affected area - a street set on the top of a canyon that hangs over the Pacific - confirmed that several of the homes already savaged by the disaster had moved multiple feet down the hillside seen here On the scene in Rolling Hills Estate Tuesday morning, several reported sounds of cracks and movement under their feet - fueling fears that further evacuation may soon be in the cards That said, also on the scene Tuesday was ABC News' Matt Gutman, who corroborated Los Angeles affiliate KABC's earlier claims that residents of the affluent neighborhood had been hearing cracks under their homes as far back as Thursday. 'Pretty much every minute you're out here, you hear creaking and cracking of buildings, the shattering of glass,' Gutman said on the scene before sunrise in a filmed segment. The journalist would then reveal: 'Just since we were here last night, houses behind us have dropped several feet.' As he spoke, Gutman motioned to some of the sunken, decrepit homes behind him, many of which appeared to have sunk several more inches below the earth's surface since Saturday. Residents had 20 minutes to gather their things and get out, with access to what's left of their properties restricted ever since. LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn concurred with Gutman's assessment Monday - repeating residents' claims that the 'ground had been moving' overnight. Hours later, on Tuesday, several who live in the immediate area - a street set on the top of a canyon that hangs over the Pacific - would confirm that multiple of the homes already savaged by the disaster had moved several feet down the hillside. The LA Times reported that by 8am local time Tuesday, several dipped below what remained of their driveways, to the point where they could not even be seen from the road. Speaking to the paper, residents reported how they were left stunned at the sight of their homes slowly continuing to move after the initial landslide, which officials believe may have been caused by water evaporating underground. 'Just shock,' resident Katie Schwartz, 57, told the paper Monday, still in disbelief over the worsening damage. 'It just changes your whole life.' On the scene in Rolling Hills Estate Tuesday morning, several reported sounds of cracks and movement under their feet - fueling fears that further evacuation may soon be in the cards Many have already been left homeless - and 16 people evacuated - after the natural didsaster Saturday afternoon, which left a dozen homes in the upscale suburb partially collapsed, and the ground along a usually placid, treelined street cracked The city, set a stone's throw from Long Beach, has since said it's also working with the LA County Fire Department (LACFD) and the LA County Sheriff's Office to monitor the situation, its affects, and potential cause. So far, just one street, Peartree Lane, has been affected Officials on Monday had warned of the fate of the already savaged homes: 'The force of gravity is taking them... These homeowners have lost their homes and, really, the land that the home sits on is also gone' Also on the scene Tuesday was ABC News' Matt Gutman, who corroborated Los Angeles affiliate KABC's earlier claims that residents of the affluent neighborhood had been hearing cracks under their homes in the days since - and before - the disaster A concerned Hahn further forecast Monday of the fate of the already destroyed homes: 'The force of gravity is taking them... These homeowners have lost their homes and, really, the land that the home sits on is also gone.' Speaking at a press conference as officials weigh how to handle the situation - which is still developing - Hahn revealed that several of the homes garages and back decks were 'gone' and had fallen into the ravine. Hahn, at the time, remarked: 'I've never seen anything like it.' Officials, meanwhile, are waiting for the homes to inevitably fall into the ravine below before investigating the ground where the event took place, before gleaning a cause. SoCal Edison has elected to continue to shut off power in the area, while workers with Southern California Gas Company are currently working to make sure no gas lines had ruptured. For now, the 12 affected homes remain 'completely uninhabitable,' Hahn said. Residents in the area first reported they started hearing cracking and popping noises as early as Thursday. The neighborhood was first built in 1978 and had been solid until this weekend. 'We thought something was amidst because all through the day and night we heard cracks in the house,' said one evacuated, Weber Yen. 'And then, you know, the frequency became more and more frequent.' By Sunday afternoon, LA County Supervisor Hahn said the homes on Peartree Lane were 'completely destroyed' - after the ground beneath them shifted, putting them at risk of a colliding into another nearby canyon 'This is just devastating for these residents,' Han said Sunday in the wake of the initial disaster. Residents were seen here lounging outside their savaged homes Monday, after hearing cracks under their foundation as far back as Thursday. The landslide occurred Saturday afternoon, during which time citizens of the small SoCal city had 20 minutes to pack their belongings Officials on Tuesday corroborated earlier claims that residents of the LA suburb had been hearing cracks under their homes as far back as Thursday 'Pretty much every minute you're out here, you hear creaking and cracking of buildings, the shattering of glass,' an ABC News reporters said on the scene Tuesday, as homes remain on tenuous footing SoCal Edison has elected to continue to shut off power in the area, while workers with Southern California Gas Company - seen here Monday - are working to make sure no gas lines had ruptured The ordeal began when cracks were discovered in one of the homes, which then saw crews investigating other nearby structures For now, the 12 affected homes remain 'completely uninhabitable,' local officials said Monday A news photographer stops to take a photo of a damaged house in Rolling Hills Estates Officials, meanwhile, are waiting for the homes to inevitably fall into the ravine below before investigating the ground where the event took place, before gleaning a cause Speaking at a press conference as officials weigh how to handle the situation - which is still developing - LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn (pictured on the scene with officials Monday) revealed several of the homes garages and back decks were 'gone' were falling into the ravine The ordeal began when cracks were discovered in one of the homes, which then saw crews investigating other nearby structures. Unfortunately, the damage appeared to spread from one home to the next leading all 12 to be evacuated. 'They discovered cracks along the structure of one building, and upon further investigation they realized that there were some cracks running through one home specifically, and it was progressing to the next home,' LA fire Captain Chiyoshi Hasegawa told KTLA. 'We got additional specialists to assess the situation, and after assessing the situation we realized there were 12 homes that had received damage either inside of their home or outside of the structure.' 'I was up actually, most of the night, worrying about what's going to happen,' said Mimi Borg to ABC 7. 'They told us that they would knock on our door if we had to be evacuated.' One woman who lives on the street but whose home was not affected because it sits on the side opposite the canyon explained how she was woken up by the commotion. 'I was sleeping[I woke up to] a lot of noises and fire trucks, I was very concerned,' she said. 'Then I was up most of the night worrying about what's going to happen. 'My home is fine; we are on the ocean sideit's the canyon side that's having the problems. They told us they were not going to [evacuate us] if they didn't need to,' she added. A dozen homes in the Los Angeles suburb of Rolling Hills were evacuated as they appeared to be on the verge of collapsing into a nearby canyon Police, fire and utility company officials were on scene Sunday morning to assist with the evacuation of 16 residents who had 20 minutes to grab their possessions and leave Residents in the area say they noticed cracking and popping sounds starting Thursday Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Hahn puts her hand to her mouth in shock as she surveys the damage on Sunday A concerned Hahn further forecast Monday of the fate of the already destroyed homes: 'The force of gravity is taking them... These homeowners have lost their homes and, really, the land that the home sits on is also gone' The area experiences different types of landslides, including rapid debris flows caused by heavy rainfall, USGS said in its report. As in likelihood of another evacuation increases, officials have theorized the landslide could be attributed to heavy rainfall, leading to underground water to cause a fissure, resulting in the landslide. Hahn on Monday warned that the city's situation is as dire as ever - a stance reiterated by the mayor of Rolling Hills Estates in a statement. 'They're absolutely collapsing on top of themselves, the roofs are at ground level,' Hahn told the Times. 'The force of gravity is taking them. These homeowners have lost their homes and, really, the land that the home sits on is also gone.' Hahn was one of several on-site late Saturday night when news of the unstable homes came to light Hahn, left, is seen speaking with residents who were evacuated from their homes By Sunday night the homes were essentially destroyed A tape reads 'Danger Hazardous Material Do Not Enter' in front of a collapsed house in Rolling Hills Estates in Los Angeles, California A collapsed house in Rolling Hills Estates in Los Angeles, California A large landslide in Rolling Hills Estates this weekend forced the evacuation of 12 houses next to a canyon Neighbors and firefighters look on at a collapsed house in Rolling Hills Estates in Los Angeles Homeowners were left homeless after they were forced to evacuate shortly after a water leak was reported at around4pm on Saturday Neighbors were left standing in shock after the collapse of 12 homes in the area Other residents in the area are now concerned more evacuations may be enforced in days Geologists are now conducting an investigation into what caused the landslide and subsequent collapse She said she reached out to California Gov. Gavin Newsom for further aid Monday, but did not immediately hear back. Later that day, Mayor Britt Huff issued a statement that revealed the city - which boasts a population of roughly 8,000 - plans to declare an emergency at its Tuesday council meeting. As of Tuesday afternoon, a geologist or soil expert had yet to be sent to the site. Officials' investigation is still ongoing. He pled not guilty on Monday and was freed on a $25,000 bond The Frenchman is the CEO of Ford Next LLC and VP of new business platforms A top Ford executive has been arrested after he allegedly tried to set his wife's designer purses on fire with a butane torch and physically assaulted her during a domestic dispute. Franck Louis-Victor is accused of slapping, headbutting and hitting his wife with a Google Nest Hub device after he threatened to burn two of her Hermes purses, each valued at $10,000. The 50-year-old was taken into custody at his $830,000 home in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, on Saturday. Police say that after his wife took the purses away, Louis-Victor told her he would hurt her if he couldn't burn the purses. The wife was not named by cops. Ford executive Franck Louis-Victor is accused of slapping and headbutting his wife after he tried to burn her designer purses with a butane torch in their Michigan home Police say that after his wife took the purses away, Louis-Victor told her he would hurt her if he couldn't burn the purses The 50-year-old was taken into custody at his $830,000 home in Bloomfield Township, Michigan , on Saturday Louis-Victor was arrested after he made statements to police that matched his wife's claims, according to officials. She was reportedly taken to the hospital after the confrontation and treated for a laceration under her eye. Originally from France, Louis-Victor worked at car manufacturer Renault before moving to Ford in 2021. He now serves as the CEO of Ford Next LLC and vice president of new business platforms. Ford Next is in charge of developing and fostering new businesses under the Ford umbrella. According to the company's website: 'As the automotive ecosystem evolves, Ford Next focuses on ways to offer new, technology-forward customer experiences in various domains such as energy, supply chain, iOT, and distribution.' Louis-Victor was arraigned on Monday with bond set at a $25,000. He pled not guilty and is being held in Oakland County jail, per court records. The exec faces felony charges of arson and assault with a dangerous weapon. Ford said in a statement they are aware of 'what has been reported in the press, but it would be inappropriate to comment on personal matters.' Louis-Victor's next court hearing is scheduled for July 18. The $75billion deal - 'the largest in tech history' - can now go ahead on July 18 Its claims that the merger would limit access to Call of Duty were denied Microsoft has won the right to close its $75billion buyout of Call of Duty game maker Activision Blizzard after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) tried to block the deal. The FTC had been hoping to scupper the takeover over fears it would stifle competition and prevent access to games for consumers. But Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley dismissed the claims in a ruling published Thursday, stating: 'To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content.' Microsoft, which makes the Xbox consoles, committed in writing to making Call of Duty - the jewel in Activision's crown - available on PlayStation for the next ten years. Sony, which makes the PlayStation, had backed the FTC in its legal action. The sale of Activision - which also makes Crash Bandicoot, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush - is now set to go ahead as planned in a week on July 18. Its share price rocketed ten percent on the news this afternoon. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (pictured) arrives at federal court on June 28 in San Francisco for a trial in which he testified that Microsoft would preserve access to Call of Duty on the PlayStation Bobby Kotick (pictured outside the court in June), the chief executive of Activision, said in a statement that the merger would 'enable competition rather than allow entrenched market leaders to continue to dominate' On Tuesday when markets opened Activision shares were trading at around the $83 mark - and had been for around a month - but by 3pm it was up nearly 10 percent to more than $90 a share The move by the FTC formed part of a wider effort by the Biden administration to block big mergers - a central focus of the president's economic policy. During the hearing, District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley, a Biden nominee, did express concern regarding the potential harm if Microsoft were to hypothetically restrict Call of Duty to Microsoft's Xbox gaming devices. The popular video game series Halo, a similar style of first-person shooter to Call of Duty, was developed by Bungie, bought by Microsoft in 2000, and has never been released on Sony's PlayStation devices. 'Microsoft's acquisition of Activision has been described as the largest in tech history. It deserves scrutiny,' wrote Judge Corley in her July 11 ruling denying an injunction. 'That scrutiny has paid off: Microsoft has committed in writing, in public, and in court to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for 10 years on parity with Xbox,' she added. She also noted that a similar commitment had been made with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty to its device the Nintendo Switch. News of the ruling sent Activision's share price soaring. On Tuesday when markets opened it was trading at around the $83 mark - and had been for around a month - but by 3pm was up nearly 10 percent to more than $90 a share. Bobby Kotick, the chief executive of Activision, said in a statement that the merger would 'enable competition rather than allow entrenched market leaders to continue to dominate.' In her ruling on July 11, the judge described the $75billion as potentially one of 'largest in tech history' and said it 'deserves scrutiny' Microsoft's acquisition attempt was previously slammed by FTC Chair Lina Khan as an unfair merger which will stifle competition across the video game sector. Pictured is Microsoft founder Bill Gates 'We're grateful to the Court in San Francisco for this quick and thorough decision and hope other jurisdictions will continue working towards a timely resolution,' said Microsoft President Brad Smith. 'As we've demonstrated consistently throughout this process, we are committed to working creatively and collaboratively to address regulatory concerns,' he added. Jefferies analyst Andrew Uerkwitz told The Wall Street Journal: 'It's been clear to us from the beginning that this deal benefits gamers, gives them more choice and lowers the barriers to access videogames. 'Microsoft did a good job of displaying that importance.' During the trial last month many high profile individuals were called to the witness stand. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified that his company would make Activision games available on other platforms. The Xbox owner launched a bid for Activision Blizzard early last year, seeking to establish the world's third-biggest gaming firm by revenue after China's Tencent and Japan's PlayStation maker Sony. While the European Union greenlit the deal, Microsoft still needs to overcome a veto from the Competition and Markets Authority in the UK. That effort, however, looked more promising on Tuesday, when the CMA invited Microsoft to make proposals as to how it would mitigate competition concerns. The FTC unsuccessfully claimed that Microsoft, which owns the Xbox gaming system, would have too much market power through being a major console maker and owning Activision The judge's ruling marks a major setback to FTC Chair Lina Khan (pictured), an antitrust academic who had been an advocate of breaking up the biggest tech firms before she was nominated by President Joe Biden to the job in 2021 Microsoft was set for an appeal hearing in London later this month, but the company said it would consider further ways to satisfy the CMA. 'We stand ready to consider any proposals from Microsoft to restructure the transaction in a way that would address the concerns,' a CMA spokesperson said. In the US the FTC could also continue to pursue its case, though the judge's ruling weakened the legal foundations of that prospect considerably. The ruling dealt another defeat to the FTC, which is led by Lina Khan, an antitrust academic who had been an advocate of breaking up the biggest tech firms before she was nominated by President Joe Biden to the job in 2021. In the same California court, Khan lost an attempt to stop Meta, Facebook's parent company, from acquiring Within Unlimited, a fitness app startup. Microsoft confirmed Monday that it will eliminate more jobs in addition to the 10,000 employees it laid off in January. President Joe Biden has raised eyebrows after skipping dinner with NATO leaders on Tuesday night and instead heading straight to his hotel in Lithuania. A US official blamed the 80-year-old president's busy schedule over four days and said he's preparing for a 'big speech' on Wednesday when asked why he wasn't attending. Biden, who has only been in Europe since Sunday night and went to the beach on Saturday, had Secretary of State Antony Blinken attend instead. The president's snub came after he told Turkish President Recep Erdogan he would win re-election - and would be working with him for the next five years. Despite mounting concerns about his health and age, he was confident about his chances in 2024. Biden would be 86 by the end of his second term. President Joe Biden skipped dinner with NATO leaders on Tuesday night and instead headed straight to his hotel in Lithuania after meeting with Turkey's President Erdogan The White House later revealed that Biden made a string of phone calls when he returned to his accommodation to address the severe flooding in Vermont. He spoke with Vermont Governor Phil Scott, Senator Bernie Sanders, and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell about 'his commitment to deliver federal assistance needed to help respond to severe flooding,' a US official said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena led the dignitaries on the first night of the summit in Vilnius. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte were also in attendance alongside British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Earlier on Tuesday, Erdogan thanked the US president for congratulating him after his own election which went to a runoff that had some officials contemplating a less strenuous relationship with Turkey, after it used its strategic position to maintain ties with Russia. 'Thank you. I look forward to being with you in the next five years, Mr. President,' Biden said. Erdogan had called his meeting with Biden a 'step forward,' and made reference to his own five-year term. 'And with the forthcoming elections, I would like to take this opportunity to also wish you the best of luck,' said Erdogan. Donald Trump regularly attested to his bond with Erdogan when he was in the White House. 'He's a friend of mine, and I'm glad we didn't have a problem because, frankly, he's a hell of a leader, and he's a tough man, he's a strong man,' Trump said in 2019. Biden and top advisors were silent as reporters shouted questions following his meeting with Erdogan. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and U.S White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan look on during a bilateral meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska attended the dinner with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and his wife Diana Nausediene The Turkish strongman was speaking on a day when he achieved a key objective while dropping his opposition to admitting Sweden - namely getting F-16 fighter aircraft from the U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters in Vilnius Thursday Biden had previously 'been clear that he supports the transfer' of the jets. 'He has placed no caveats on this ... He intends to move forward with that transfer,' he said. Officials have been vague about additional details, and noted that the Greeks took part in a final meeting on the subject. Biden himself mentioned the jets in the context of bringing in Sweden in a recent CNN interview before heading to London for the start of his trip. Biden was tight-lipped following his comments, barely flinching as U.S. reporters hurled a series of questions to him about the contours of the deal that will bring in Sweden, on Russia's eastern flank. He kept his lips pursed as aides signaled the press event was over and escorted media members out of the room where they were meeting. Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, a Biden ally, talked up the diplomatic breakthrough in Vilnius, telling DailyMail.com there was a 'serious question' when Biden got sworn in about whether the alliance was viable after Trump. Durbin said an alliance that was 'faltering' was now a 'strong, viable, credible operation' with Finland a member and Sweden seeking to join. Asked if Biden was bringing something home, he responded: 'He certainly is. It's significant. It's historic.' Earlier, Biden vowed to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory, as the powerful alliance took a key step to adding its 32nd member. The president spoke in the capital Vilnius at the start of the summit as his national security advisor Jake Sullivan said talk of splits over support for Ukraine have been 'greatly exaggerated.' 'As I've said before, we take NATO takes all of us take Article V literally,' Biden said as he met Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at the start of the summit Tuesday. He said all members were committed to the NATO Charter's mutual defense obligations. 'We're together against whoever was violating that space. We're going to defend every inch of it,' he said. Jake Sullivan on Tuesday warned that Vladimir Putin will be 'disappointed' by what emerges from the summit. The top aide to President Biden hit out at claims that divisions had erupted over Washington's decision to send controversial cluster bombs to Kyiv's armed forces. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte were also in attendance with Ukraine's first couple President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (front), British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left second row) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right second row) lead the dignitaries into the dinner on Tuesday night Biden spent a few hours at the beach with his family in Delaware on Saturday President Joe Biden vowed to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory as he met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at the Presidential Palace at the start of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania Tuesday Biden kicked off the summit after a key breakthrough that would grow the alliance to 32 members Biden signed a book before his meeting with the Lithuanian president Biden touted the strength of the alliance. The U.S. has about 1,000 troops serving in Lithuania, which border's Russian ally Belarus Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, right, welcomes U.S. President Joe Biden at the Presidential Palace prior the NATO summit in Vilnius Biden advisors say unity of the alliance is on display in Vilnius British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had been among a chorus of voices who raised concerns about shipping the highly lethal arms to the war-torn country. But in a response to DailyMail.com, Sullivan dismissed claims that the 31-nation military alliance was fractured over its backing of the Ukrainian military. 'I would say rumors of the death of NATO's unity were greatly exaggerated,' he said. 'Vladimir Putin has been counting on the West to crack, NATO to crack and the transatlantic alliance to crack and he has been disappointed with every turn.' The Russian tyrant will be 'very much disappointed' by what emerges from the two-day meeting in Lithuania, Sullivan added. And in a clear sign that tensions were on the rise, Russian ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov accused Washington of plotting 'confrontation' with Moscow. 'Everything is being done to prepare domestic public opinion for the approval of the anti-Russian decisions that will be made in Vilnius in the coming days,' he was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency, a Kremlin mouthpiece. MBABANE The British businessman and Mftongwaneni MP Roy Fanourakis, have entreated the High Court to set aside the order authorising the State to continue freezing the bank accounts of a company where they are both shareholders. The prosecution, through the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act (POCA) 2018 previously obtained an order to preserve a sum of E6.2 million belonging to the company, Unionlet (Proprietary) Limited. The British businessman, Mark Ranger, who deposed to an affidavit, informed the court that the restraint order had severely prejudiced the company and its directors as well as Unionlet United Kingdom (UK), which relied on funds paid into the frozen accounts. He also jumped into the defence of the Member of Parliament (MP), saying the charge of money laundering against the legislator was allegedly not supported by any evidence. Fanourakis, who is facing a charge of money laundering, is currently out on bail. Ranger told the court that Unionlet UK had authorised Fanourakis to make automated teller machine (ATM) withdrawals to pay local expenses. According to Ranger, the MP had no day-to-day responsibilities in respect of the business as it was conducted in UK. Suspected The company is suspected of tax evasion and money laundering, as monies from outside the country would be allegedly deposited into its bank accounts and transferred to various individuals in different parts of the world. A large amount of money was paid to well-known arms manufactures and this raised concerns. This was also allegedly coupled with payments made to various service providers in the United Kingdom (UK). Strange payments were allegedly made to UK customs, as well as refunds from UK State Treasury. An analysis of cross-border transactions reflected that since 2013, the bank account of Unionlet (Proprietary) Limited, received E203 million through accounts held with First National Bank (FNB) Eswatini. In his founding affidavit, Ranger argued that the restraint order was allegedly irregular, invalid and unconstitutional, in that they were allegedly not afforded an opportunity to be heard before same was granted. He told the court that this was despite that they were negatively affected by the order. The director of public prosecutions (DPP) does not meet the requirements of Section 15 of POCA in that she was unable to demonstrate that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Unionlet Eswatini and Fanourakis will be convicted in the criminal proceedings and that a confiscation order will subsequently be granted against the property of Unionlet in the criminal proceedings, contended Ranger. Attention The businessman brought it to the attention of the court that since the granting on the order, he had been forced to deplete his personal savings in order to ensure that Unionlet UK and Unionlet Eswatini continued with their business and activities. He submitted that this approach was, however, not sustainable and in the absence of access to the funds in the bank accounts, the two entities could not continue to function much longer, which in the case of Unionlet UK, would imperil employment of at least 10 people. He argued that there was no indication at this stage as to precisely when the criminal proceedings would be finalised. He insisted that the charge of money laundering against MP Fanourakis was not supported by any evidence. The businessman told the court that he had been advised that money laundering entailed the processing of the proceeds of crimes and hiding its illicit origins. It was his argument that in terms of Section 4(1) of the Money Laundering Act, the offence was committed where a person; converts or transfers property knowing or having reason to believe that the property is derived directly or indirectly from proceeds of crime. It was his further submission that the criminal proceedings as well as the ex parte application were based on the funds held with First National Bank (FNB) and Nedbank accounts. He told the court that there was no evidence that was provided by the DPP to demonstrate that the funds had illicit origins. According to Ranger, the DPP had allegedly not attempted to explain, even a mere suspicion of the illicit activities from which the funds originated. criminal In other words, it was necessary for the DPP to place before the court basis to show that the funds were the proceeds of criminal activity that constituted a crime in Eswatini, argued Ranger. He went on to argue that as such, a basic jurisdictional requirement to bring Fanourakis within the ambit of the crime of money laundering was conspicuously absent. He pointed out that the high watermark of the DPPs cases on this score was that an analysis of the FNB accounts and Nedbank accounts revealed various peculiar and strange transactions. Ranger argued that, a mere opinion that transactions were peculiar or strange was not sufficient to sustain a money laundering charge and fell short of identifying the illicit criminal activity either in violation of the penal laws of Eswatini or elsewhere. These are no more than vague conclusions bereft of any legal meaning and the court ought to have refused the ex parte application on this basis alone given the paucity of material placed before it, he argued. The matter is still pending in court and appearing for the British businessman, Fanourakis and the company is senior attorney Kenneth Motsa of Robinson Bertram. A Canadian man has been arrested in Colombia after he repeatedly punched a police officer in the head and tried grabbing his handgun at an airport. Authorities said Vince Tony Sozio walked up to officer Jhon Lagarcha and started punching him at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota on Tuesday morning. Footage shows the 34-year-old tourist slugging Lagarcha across the face before a group of men stepped forward and helped restrain him. The reason for the attack was not immediately clear and Sozio was taken for a psychiatric evaluation. A woman in the background can be heard shouting, 'Why are more cops coming?' Another shouted, 'What's going on? Respect the authority, how dare you?' Cops escort Vince Tony Sozio, who was arrested Tuesday morning after he assaulted a police officer during a failed attempt to take his gun away at El Dorado International Airport Bystanders at Colombia's El Dorado International Airport keep their distance while police officer Jhon Lagarcha (left) is assaulted by Vince Tony Sozio (right) El Dorado police station director, colonel Augusto Gil, told reporters that Sozio arrived in Colombia on July 4. He did not have any luggage or a return flight ticket, but was holding on to a pet dog when he suddenly assaulted Lagarcha. Gil said said that Sozio was on the second floor of the terminal when he crossed paths with Lagarcha and turned around to grab his gun. He added that Sozio would be undergoing a psychiatric evaluation. Canadian national Vince Tony Sozio fights police officer Jhon Lagarcha during an attempt to take his gun away at a terminal in El Dorado International Airport on Tuesday. The 34-year-old was taken into custody pending charges Good Samaritans jumped into action to stop a Canadian man from taking a police officer's gun at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia, on Tuesday morning Bogota Metropolitan Police chief, general William Salamanca, applauded the brave Good Samaritans for jumping into action and preventing Sozio from grabbing control of Lagarcha's service weapon. 'We do not know what generated the reaction of this citizen to try to take the weapon from the police officer,' he said. 'Have to praise the reaction of the community, the solidarity of the community.' Former Bogota mayor, Enrique Penalosa, took to Twitter to condemn Sozio's behavior. 'In a serious country, hitting a police officer or a public official who serves the public, results in several months in jail,' he wrote. Sozio is facing an assault charge, although a court hearing date has not been set. He could be sentenced between four to eight years in prison if he is found guilty. The toddler disappeared without trace on July 8 from Haut-Vernet , an Alpine hamlet south of Grenoble, where he was staying with his grandparents. Prosecutor Remy Avon said on Monday that the investigation is being launched to 'investigate causes of the worrying disappearance.' Some scenarios, such as a bird of prey or wolf attack, have already been ruled out. A total of 20 houses were also searched, but nothing was found there. Now the police are investigating the scenario in which Emile would have come into contact with an agricultural machine. A farmer from the village of Le Vernet, where the search is taking place, told BFMTV that it would not be an illogical scenario. The five American tourists killed in a 2019 volcano eruption on New Zealand's Whakaari island were given no prior warning of the danger they faced, a trial has heard. Twenty-two people were killed on Whakaari - also known as the White Island - when its tourist attraction volcano erupted. Another 25 people survived, but most suffered serious burns. The horrific eruption is the subject of a new Netflix documentary, The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari. Five of those who died were American; Pratap Singh and his wife Mayuari, and mother and sons Barbara, Berend and Matthew Hollander. Barbara's Australian husband also died. Now, the island owners and a tour company that brought some passengers from a cruise ship to the volcano are being prosecuted in New Zealand for safety breaches. The volcano on Whakaari erupted on December 9, 2019. Twenty-two people died and another 25 were injured. Now, the island's owners and some of the tour companies responsible for bringing people there are on trial for safety breaches Barbara and Martin Hollander died with their sons, Matthew and Berend, in the tragedy. Martin was Australian but the family had roots in Chicago Americans Pratap Singh and his wife Mayuari were also killed in the volcano eruption The tour company responsible for all but one of the 22 victims previously pleaded guilty in a separate case. In opening statements today at the trial in Auckland, Prosecutor Kristy McDonald said the tourists were never given ample information to make an 'informed' choice about the dangers that lay ahead. 'They were not given the opportunity to make any informed decision about whether they wanted to take the risk of walking into the crater of an active and unpredictable volcano that had erupted as recently as 2016. 'The business of tourism on Whakaari was a risky business. 'It involved tours to an active volcano, taking people to the heart of the crater in circumstances where no one could predict when an eruption might occur, and if an eruption did occur, those on Whakaari were likely to die or suffer very serious injury. Prosecutor Kristy McDonald, center right, addresses a court in Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, on the first day of the trial Judge Evangelos Thomas listens to evidence in Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 The island's owners, James Buttle (fifth from right) and his brother are on trial for safety breaches The rescue from Whakaari took hours, during which some of the victims' suffered skin loss due to burns 'And tragically, that risk was realized,' she said. The island is owned by James and Peter Buttle, who McDonald said ignored warnings about the possible dangers to continue operating the tours for a profit. New Zealand geology organization GNS banned had banned its staff from visiting the island after a 2016 eruption. McDonald told the court that the Buttles, rather than seek out their advice, continued to flout the risk. 'The Buttles knew they could obtain expert advice from GNS for a fee. They chose not to. 'The Buttles failed to do one of the most fundamental things required of them as officers. Survivors: An American couple on their honeymoon survived the eruption but were left with severe burns The tragedy was the subject of Netflix documentary The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari Thick smoke from the volcanic eruption of Whakaari, also known as White Island, is seen in New Zealand as tourists are evacuated Other tourists on boats witnesses the eruption and the horrific aftermath as tourists tried to escape 'They failed to ensure that their company had and used sufficient resources to understand the risk of its business and to implement controls to manage that risk,' she said. Their company made $1million a year through tourism, she said. In addition to the owners, ID Tours NZ and Tauranga Services - two tour companies - are also being prosecuted. The eruption occurred while tourists were on the island after disembarking from small boats. Some who hadn't ventured ashore watched in horror as the volcano erupted, sending thick plumes of burning smoke into the air and shrouding the entire island with it. To get them off the island, they had to be transferred either by air or in the small boats to the hospital. 'A number of victims were badly burnt and this transfer was very painful. Some of them were losing the skin off their hands as they attempted to climb down the ladder. 'Some were unable to use the ladder and were pushed or fell into the inflatable boats,' McDonald said. Prosecutors announced on Tuesday they will not retry actor Danny Masterson on a rape charge jurors failed to reach a verdict on earlier this year. In May, Masterson, 47, was convicted on two of three rape charges, but the jury was hung in regards to the third, which involved the rape of a former longtime girlfriend. After being found guilty on the other two, he was immediately taken into custody and is currently being held in the LA County Men's Central Jail. For those two charges he is due to be sentenced on September 7 and may face a potential sentence of 30 years to life in prison, according to the LA County District Attorney's Office. Even though prosecutors said on Tuesday the third charge would not be retried, they said that Masterson's former girlfriend would still testify at his sentencing hearing. In all three cases Masterson - star of That '70s Show - was accused of sexually assaulting women in his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003. All three women were, like him, members of the Church of Scientology. In May, Danny Masterson, 47, was convicted on two of three rape charges, but the jury was hung in regards to the third In all three cases Masterson - star in That '70s Show - was accused of sexually assaulting women in his Hollywood Hills home (pictured) between 2001 and 2003 During their deliberations on the third charge earlier this year, jurors asked to re-hear portions of her testimony and portions of a videotaped interview. They also looked at transcripts from that interview between the same woman and two Los Angeles Police Department detectives in January 2017. The jury was the second to hear the case against Masterson, who was charged in 2020 with three counts of rape by force or fear involving the three women on separate occasions. During the first trial last year, jurors leaned in favor of acquittal on all three counts - voting 10-2 on one count, 8-4 on another and 7-5 on the third - but they were unable to reach a unanimous decision so the judge declared it a mistrial on November 30. Prosecutors confirmed in January that they wanted to retry the actor, and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo rejected a defense effort to have the charges dismissed. Another hearing in Masterson's case will be held on August 4 so attorneys can discuss plans for victim-impact statements during the actor's sentencing hearing in September. Olmedo said she wanted to do some legal research on whether that alleged victim should be allowed to speak at the hearing. In his closing argument of the retrial, Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller told the jury: 'This defendant drugged and raped each one of these victims... It is time to hold Mr. Masterson accountable for what he has done.' Defense attorney Philip Kent Cohen urged jurors during his closing argument to acquit his client, questioning the credibility of the women. In his rebuttal argument, Mueller said the three women were - like Masterson - members of the Church of Scientology, and told jurors that the church had retaliated against them. 'What happened after they were drugged - they were raped by this man over here,' the prosecutor said, pointing across the courtroom at Masterson. 'You have an opportunity to show there is justice. It does exist.' 'You dont want to have sex? You don't have a choice,' Deputy District Attorney Ariel Anson told the jury. 'The defendant makes that choice for these victims. And he does it over and over and over again.' After being found guilty on the other two, he was immediately taken into custody and is currently being held in the LA County Men's Central Jail (pictured) A jury found Danny Masterson guilty on two of three rape counts in May. He's seen entering court before his trial with wife Bijou Phillips Bijou Phillips, wife of Danny Masterson, was supported on Wednesday by her brother-in-law, actor Billy Baldwin (right), the brother of actor Alec Baldwin Cohen on the other hand questioned why the panel had heard 'so much about Scientology,' suggesting to jurors it could be because there were problems with the government's case against Masterson. Masterson's lawyer said he was not alleging that there was some 'grand conspiracy' against his client, but told jurors the alleged victims had spoken with each other despite an LAPD detective's admonition and that their accounts have been tweaked throughout the years. Cohen emphasized the lack of any physical evidence of drugging and noted that the investigation that led to Masterson's arrest came some 15 years after the alleged rapes. 'Miss Anson presented a case as if she was arguing a drugging case,' Cohen said. 'Maybe it's because there is no evidence of force or violence.' Outside the jury's presence, the judge rejected Cohen's requests for either a mistrial, another chance to argue before the jury or a special jury instruction as a result of the prosecution's repeated references to the women allegedly being drugged. The Church of Scientology issued a statement criticizing the prosecution's characterizations of the church's actions, which have implied that it was complicit in covering up crime's committed by its members. Prosecutors said the institution protected him, and helped convince the women that they were not raped and could not go to authorities to report a fellow Scientologist in good standing. 'The church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone, Scientologists or not, to law enforcement,' according to the statement. The Church of Scientology was discussed regularly during the second trial in May. Masterson and all three victims were members. Prosecutors said the institution protected him, and helped convince the women that they were not raped 'Quite the opposite, church policy explicitly demands Scientologists abide by all laws of the land. All allegations to the contrary are totally false.' A civil suit filed in August 2019 against Masterson and the Church of Scientology by the three women involved in the criminal case and one woman who was not a member of the church alleges they were stalked and harassed after reporting sexual assault allegations against the actor to Los Angeles police. Regarding the lawsuit, the Church of Scientology issued a statement saying: 'The church denies the allegations of harassment as obvious, cynical and self-serving fictions, and the church knows it will be vindicated.' In December 2017, Netflix announced that Masterson had been fired from the Emmy-winning scripted comedy The Ranch amid sexual assault allegations. The actor said then he was 'very disappointed,' and added that 'it seems as if you are presumed guilty the moment you are accused.' He also 'denied the outrageous allegations' and said he looked forward to 'clearing my name once and for all'. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy defended Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday after she was ousted from the caucus where she was once the most recognizable face. The speaker, who Greene is closely aligned with, called the Georgia Republican 'one of the hardest working members we have.' 'She's a great member. She works very hard and she's probably one of the most conservative members that represents her district very well,' he told reporters of Greene. The House Freedom Caucus reportedly voted to boot Green from their group last week. Some had concerns she was too closely aligned with the speaker. The move also came after Greene called Freedom Caucus Rep. Lauren Boebert a 'little b***' on the House floor. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy defended embattled Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday after she was ousted from the caucus where she was once the best-known face 'I don't know why they would do something like that,' said McCarthy. 'But I'll tell you, this Marjorie Taylor Greene. Very good member, works hard. Represents a district fighting night and day. She's always here fighting.' The Greene-Boebert spat came after Boebert introduced articles of impeachment against President Biden - a move that had long been pushed by Greene. 'I've donated to you, I've defended you. But you've been nothing but a litte b***h to me,' Greene told Boebert, sources said. 'And you copied my articles of impeachment after I asked you to cosponsor them.' Earlier last week, Greene told reporters she did not know if she was in or out of the caucus and had not been contacted on her status. Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., disputed that account. 'My understanding is that they voted to remove her, and the chairman has tried to contact her to let her know, and there haven't been any return phone calls.' A Freedom Caucus spokesperson declined to comment on Greene's status. Greene is the first person removed from the caucus since its founding in 2015. The Georgia firebrand has been an aggressive defender of McCarthy since the speaker's race when she forced his opposers to get on the phone with former President Trump who asked them to vote for McCarthy's speakership. 'I don't know why they would do something like that,' said McCarthy. 'But I'll tell you, this Marjorie Taylor Greene. Very good member, works hard. Represents a district fighting night and day. She's always here fighting' The House Freedom Caucus voted to boot Green from their group last week. Some had concerns she was too closely aligned with the speaker. The move also came after Greene called Rep. Lauren Boebert a 'little b***' on the House floor But now, she's bucking leadership by threatening to oppose the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) over $300 million in Ukraine funding it contains. The must-pass Pentagon spending bill is expected to be voted on in the House this week. McCarthy expressed confidence the bill would get through the House, despite far-right demands for changes. 'NDAA is very important. We watched it come out of committee and a big bipartisan manner. We want to continue to move through especially with our defense for this nation, and we want to be prepared.' Johnathan Gilbert, 22, was shot dead when his reported ex-girlfriend and two others egged his house A young man shot after three teenagers egged his house 'begged for his life' for nearly 10 minutes before he died, a friend has revealed. Johnathan Gilbert, 22, also known as Tyler Lane, was killed after an argument broke out when Sydney Maughon, 18, Jeremy Munson, 18, and McKenzie Davenport, 19, egged his house on Dobbins Mill Road in Spalding County, Georgia. Maughon, Munson and Davenport have all been charged with malice murder, battery and criminal trespass over the July 3 incident. The two 18-year-olds have also been charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Gilbert and his ex-girlfriend Sydney Maughon had reportedly been in an 'ongoing lover's quarrel' after Gilbert became closer to another woman, Kaylee Morgan. Johnathan Gilbert, 22, also known as Tyler Lane, was killed after an argument broke out when three teenagers egged his home in Spalding County, Georgia The incident, which took place on Monday July 3, was believed to be the terrible ending of an 'ongoing lover's quarrel' between Gilbert and his former girlfriend Sydney Maughon Gilbert was shot dead on Dobbins Mill Road in Spalding County, Georgia Morgan, who was in the house when the egging began, told NewsNation that Gilbert 'came outside to confront her [Maughon], and they all ran back to the car' Gilbert, who is believed to have been unarmed, then approached the car. 'From what I think happened, she shot him when he was running up to the car,' Morgan alleged. 'He just collapsed, and he was alive for about 10 minutes, begging for someone,' she said while fighting back tears. 'Its very sad. Because he lost his dad that way. From what Ive heard, Jeremy got out of the car and snatched his necklace off of him. It was his dads ashes He was begging for his life, and nobody knows what was going through his mind at that time.' The suspects fled the scene before police arrived, finding Gilbert's body in the middle of the road. Spalding Police confirmed that Maughon is alleged to have fired the shots. 'It appears that there was an ongoing lovers quarrel, and the suspects decided to go to Gilbert's residence on Dobbins Mill and vandalize it by egging it,' police said in a statement. McKenzie Davenport, 19, has been charged with malice murder, battery and criminal trespass Jeremy Munson, 18, has also been charged with malice murder, battery and criminal trespass as well as aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime 'When Gilbert saw what they were doing to his residence, he came out of the house unarmed, to confront them. 'The suspects ran back to the car, and as Gilbert approached them, Sydney Maughon, a backseat passenger in the car, produced a firearm and shot him multiple times. 'The suspects then drove away leaving Gilbert dead in the middle of Dobbins Mill Road.' Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix said that although only one teen pulled the trigger, they would all face charges for allegedly plotting and carrying out the attack together. 'Because they all plotted and planned together and traveled to the location with the intent to commit a crime that led up to the murder together, they are all culpable just as if they had each pulled the trigger themselves,' he told reporters. 'They went to egg a house, the victim confronted them while they were doing it, he lost his life, and they drove off and left his body in the middle of the road. 'Together they bought that ticket; now, together, they can ride that ride.' A vigil took place to remember Gilbert in Flovilla on Sunday afternoon A vigil took place to remember Gilbert in Flovilla on Sunday afternoon. The 22-year-old's mother, Monica Gilbert said: 'I have a hole on my soul and in my spirit that won't never be filled.' 'What I'm going through right now no parent should have to go through no mother no father,' she added. 'My little "Ty bug" was so loved by everyone he met he had an infectious smile and just big huge blue eyes. 'He was really trying to turn his life around, and he's left a hole in our hearts for sure,' Tyler's grandmother, Pamela Eisenberg, said. Leslie Van Houten walked out of a California prison Tuesday after serving 53 years of a life sentence for her participation in two of the infamous Manson murders. Van Houten, the youngest member of the cult, 'was released to parole supervision' and driven to transitional housing, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The convicted killer, 73, is expected to spend about a year in transitional housing, learning basic skills such as how to go to the grocery store and get a debit card, according to her attorney Nancy Tetreault. Van Houten was serving a life sentence for helping Charles Mansons followers carry out the 1969 killings of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife, Rosemary. Her release comes just four days after Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom announced he would not fight a state appeals court ruling that Van Houten should be granted parole. He said it was unlikely the state Supreme Court would consider an appeal. Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten walked out of a California prison Tuesday after serving 53 years of a life sentence for her participation in two infamous murders The 73-year-old was serving a life sentence for helping Charles Mansons followers carry out the 1969 killings of Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. Manson is pictured above Van Houten was convicted in the 1969 murders of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles , and his wife, Rosemary Newsom had previously rejected parole for Van Houten three times, but a state appeals court in May rejected his most recent denial of parole. A disappointed Newsom said in a statement: 'More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal killings, the victims' families still feel the impact.' 'She's still trying to get used to the idea that this real,' her lawyer said. 'She's been in prison for 53 years. ... She just needs to learn how to use an ATM machine, let alone a cell phone, let alone a computer.' Van Houten was 19 when she and other cult members knifed the couple as part of Manson's deranged plan to incite a race war by terrifying Los Angeles with a killing spree. She has shared how she held Rosemary down as she was murdered before stabbing her in the stomach 16 times and how she helped Patricia Krenwinkel, Tex Watson, and Clem Grogan carve up Leno's body before smearing the couple's blood on the walls. The killer also wiped down fingerprints from surfaces and drank chocolate milk from the couples refrigerator. The slayings happened the day after Manson followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others. Van Houten did not participate in the Tate killings. Over the years Van Houten has said she regrets the killings, claiming she is mentally ill and became deranged after using LSD, believing Manson was 'Jesus Christ.' Van Houten was first sentenced to death for her crimes but her sentence was reduced to life in prison after capital punishment was outlawed in California in 1972. Several relatives of the Manson victims spoke out against Van Houten's release. 'My family and I are heartbroken because we're once again reminded of all the years that we have not had my father and my stepmother with us,' Cory LaBianca, Leno LaBianca's daughter, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Friday. 'My children and my grandchildren never got an opportunity to get to know either of them, which has been a huge void for my family.' Leslie Van Houten, seen being transported to jail in 1977, had been originally sentenced to death before being resentenced to life imprisonment after California briefly ended the death penalty Susan Atkins, left, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten are pictured A policeman in the drive of the Los Angeles home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca The slayings happened the day after Manson followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others. Van Houten did not participate in the Tate killings Kay Hinman Martley, 85, whose cousin Gary Hinman was savagely murdered in July 1969 by members of Manson's cult, said she fears the release could lead to the freedom of the other four surviving Manson killers. Krenwinkel is currently locked up in the same prison Van Houten was just released from. Manson's 'right-hand man' Bruce is at the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo, Watson is at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, and Bobby Beausoleil at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, she said: 'I can't believe California would do this, that they would let a killer who tortured several people I mean the Manson Family has got a terrible reputation. 'I don't care what this woman says, if she says she's sorry. 'She was given a death sentence and then it was turned to life imprisonment and they forgot [to add] that darn "without parole". 'I'm just livid. I don't know what else to do.' A state appeals court ruled in May that Van Houten should be released, noting what it called her 'extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends' and favorable behavior reports while in prison. Tetreault, Van Houten's lawyer, said her client was 'thrilled and overwhelmed.' 'She's just grateful that people are recognizing that she's not the same person that she was when she committed the murders,' she added. The Manson Family claimed at least seven victims among them pregnant actress Tate and coffee heiress Abigail Folger. Manson died in prison in 2017 of natural causes at age 83 after nearly half a century behind bars. Primary schools Sats results in reading have fallen this year after a notorious exam that reduced pupils to tears. The Key Stage 2 Sats results, which assess pupils' attainment in literacy and maths by the end of Year 6, showed that 73 per cent achieved the expected standard in reading. This was down from 75 per cent in 2022. It comes after parents and teachers complained that this year's Sats reading paper was too difficult, with reports that even staff struggled to understand the questions while children were seen sobbing over their paper. Examiners had to moderate the scoring so that pupils - all aged 10 or 11 - needed five lower marks than normal in the test to reach the 'expected' level. Overall, 59 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in the three key areas of reading, writing and maths this year - the same as last year. Examiners had to moderate the scoring so that pupils - all aged 10 or 11 - needed five lower marks than normal in the test to reach the 'expected' level In 2019, before the Covid pandemic that severely disrupted pupils' education, 65 per cent achieved the expected standard in all three areas. But even that was well below the government target for 90 per cent of children to leave primary school having achieved the expected standard acrposs all three areas by 2030. The Department for Education (DfE) said this year's cohort of Year 6 pupils may have suffered from disruption to their learning during the pandemic. In other individual subjects, scores were either higher than last year or the same. In total, 73 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in maths, up from 71 per cent in 2022, while 71 per cent met the expected standard in writing, up from 69 per cent last year. Meanwhile, 80 per cent met the expected standard in science, up from 79 per cent in 2022, while 72 per cent met the expected standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling, unchanged from last year. The Sats reading paper in May was met with widespread complaints for making 11-year-olds sit questions that were 'up to GCSE level'. Even high ability pupils were unable to finish the paper, which included questions on an article from the New York Times about bat colonies in Texas and extracts from a book advertised for 'young adults'. An example of a key stage 2 English reading exam Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders' union, said: 'Our members raised significant concerns about the difficulty of the reading paper this year and the impact it had on children. 'The threshold for the expected standard is five marks lower than last year, and the lowest since 2017 - this is significant and clear recognition that this was a more challenging test for children.' Schools minister Nick Gibb said: 'Whilst those meeting the expected standard in reading is down from 2022 from 75 per cent to 73 per cxent, it remains higher compared to 2016 (66 per cent) and is in line with pre-pandemic standards (73 per cent met the expected standard in reading in 2019).' Mr Gibb said England came fourth out of 43 countries that tested the reading levels of nine and 10-year-olds in the latest Progress in International Literacy Study (PIRLS). He added: 'Following the impact of the pandemic, it was expected that there may be lower levels of attainment while children caught up on lost learning. 'The progress that has been made in recovering from the pandemic is testament to the hard work of teachers and teaching assistants across the country.' Tiffnie Harris, primary specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'It is extremely difficult to raise standards when schools are struggling to put a qualified teacher in front of every class. 'Primary education is very poorly funded to the point where small schools are sometimes close to being financially unsustainable. 'The Government's target of 90 per cent of children achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths is a pipe-dream in these circumstances.' A patient with undiagnosed cancer and sepsis was left writhing in agony on the floor of a busy hospital waiting room for nearly two hours because no room could be found for him on a ward. Michael Wiper, 56, was in so much abdominal pain he could not sit and was forced to lie down, initially in the waiting area then an adjoining foyer at an A&E department. After a wait of an hour and 50 minutes, shipbuilder Mr Wiper was finally given a cubicle but he was not operated on for another ten hours. His wife Christine told an inquest how she repeatedly begged a nurse to help find him a trolley because she had never seen him in such distress. Mrs Wiper, 61, described her husband's treatment at Furness Hospital in Cumbria as 'humiliating', recalling how people stepped over him as he lay without any dignity. Michael Wiper, 56, was in so much abdominal pain he could not sit and was forced to lie down, initially in the waiting area then an adjoining foyer at an A&E department She told the inquest in Cockermouth: 'I could not believe no one was acknowledging his level of pain. There wasn't one kind word of reassurance from anyone, and it breaks my heart that these were his last hours of consciousness.' The coroner said a delay in him being taken into the operating theatre was 'more likely than not' to have contributed to his death. When she first spoke to the A&E nurse at the unit, Mrs Wiper said: 'I was panicking and telling her 'He's really poorly, he needs to lie down'. 'Another nurse put her head around the door and started shouting: 'There are no beds anywhere in the hospital'. 'She then gestured towards the waiting area and said, in a loud and severe tone, 'They're all ill and have been waiting four or five hours, they have priority!' Mr Wiper was given the painkiller co-codamol but immediately had to lie down on the floor again. His wife, who knelt down beside her husband of 35 years, added: 'I looked up at the nurse and she was smirking, she pulled a face which suggested she thought he was being dramatic.' Mrs Wiper, 61, described her husband's treatment at Furness Hospital in Cumbria as 'humiliating', recalling how people stepped over him as he lay without any dignity The Wipers, from Barrow-in-Furness, arrived at the hospital at 6.49pm on September 23 last year. But surgery could not go ahead until 6.13am the next day because someone else was being operated on in the meantime. The hospital has apologised for the delays in treatment and says it has tightened up procedures. Although he ruled out negligence, coroner Dr Nicholas Shaw recorded a verdict of death due to disease contributed in part to delays in treatment. The BBC star at the centre of a sex pictures scandal has been branded a 'complete hypocrite' for allegedly breaking Covid rules to meet a 23-year-old stranger from a dating site. The unnamed presenter, who has been engulfed in scandal following claims he paid a teenager 35,000 for sexually explicit photographs, is accused of defying the third national lockdown for an encounter with a different person in 2021 while the BBC was at the same time telling millions of people to follow the rules as part of its coverage of the pandemic. The scandal around the star continued to grow last night as a fourth person came forward to claim he had sent them 'creepy' messages using love hearts and kisses on Instagram when they were 17 years old - though it is not known if the presenter knew their age at the time. Yesterday, on the heels of the original allegations he had paid the teenager for explicit photos, a second person said they had been sent abusive messages after meeting on a dating app and a third person said they had met the presenter. The third person said they met up after months of interactions, and that the presenter sent them 650 in cash and asked them for a picture, The Sun reports. The unnamed BBC presenter allegedly met a stranger from a dating site in February 2021. Pictured: BBC New Broadcasting House in London It's claimed the BBC star broke lockdown rules to take part in the meeting at a 23-year-old's flat. Pictured: A sign urging people to 'stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives' in London The third stranger claims the presenter travelled into a different county to meet them at their flat in February 2021 when rules included a stay at home order and mixing only between household bubbles. The person claimed at the meeting, which came months after they started talking on the dating site in November 2020, 'he came round for an hour.... We just chatted. He was obsessed with me making him a cup of tea.' In an interview with the newspaper, the person claims they met on account that didn't have a picture of the presenter but they 'put two and two together' when the BBC star told him his name and what he did for a living. They said that the host was eager to meet face-to-face, and was asking to do this even when the restrictions 'kept getting stricter' as the pandemic continued. However, when they turned down chances to meet the BBC presenter, he allegedly sent 'a barrage of messages' saying he 'felt unwanted'. The 23-year-old claims that when they did meet he 'came round for an hour'. Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, revealed today he has not spoken with the presenter at the centre of the scandal. Pictured: Mr Davie at a service celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHS at Westminster Abbey They told The Sun: 'I was quite shocked that he broke the rules to come and meet me because of who he is. I was just a random person online. 'We just chatted. He was obsessed with me making him a cup of tea.' The newspaper claims to have a sworn statement from the dating site user claiming they received a payment of 200 - sent on the day of the visit - and another two of 200 and 250 by PayPal from the presenter. They said: 'He gave me cash three times. Although he started to make me feel like he owned me because he was giving me money. He was always talking about his career and was very arrogant.' They added that they began to feel 'used' and 'uncomfortable' by the TV star's behaviour and demanding messages. BBC reveals its timeline of events May 18 The complainant (a family member) attended a BBC building, where they sought to make a complaint about the behaviour of a BBC presenter. May 19 The complainant contacted BBC Audience Services; the details of this contact were referred to the BBC's Corporate Investigations Team. The BBC's Corporate Investigations Team assessed the information contained in the complaint provided from Audience Services. The assessment made was that on the basis of the information provided it did not include an allegation of criminality, but nonetheless merited further investigation. The BBC's Corporate Investigations Team emailed the complainant stating how seriously the BBC takes the issue and seeking additional information to verify the claims being made; there was no response to this contact. Checks were also made to verify the identity of the complainant. This is a standard procedure to confirm that the complainant is the person they say they are. June 6 Having received no response to the email referenced above, a phone call was made to the mobile number provided by the complainant by the BBC's Corporate Investigations Team; this call did not connect. Following these attempts to make contact with the complainant, the Corporate Investigations Team were due to return to the matter in the coming weeks. No additional attempts to contact the complainant were made after 6 June, however the case remained open throughout. July 6 The Sun newspaper informed the BBC via the Corporate Press Office of allegations concerning a BBC presenter; it became clear that the source of the claims was from the same family as approached the BBC on 18 and 19 May. This was the first time that the Director-General or any executive directors at the BBC were aware of the case. The claims made by The Sun contained new allegations, that were different to the matters being considered by BBC Corporate Investigations. The BBC initiated an incident management group to lead the response to this case, involving senior BBC executives including the Director-General. The Acting Chairman was updated, and the Board was regularly updated in the coming days. A senior manager held the first conversation on this matter with the presenter concerned, to make him aware of the claims being outlined by The Sun. It was agreed that the presenter would not be on air while this matter was being considered. July 7 Following The Sun's contact, the BBC's Corporate Investigations team contacted the complainant again, who was in touch with the BBC's investigators. The BBC's Serious Case Management Framework (SCMF) was initiated and the investigation being undertaken by the Corporate Investigations Team was brought into the SCMF, which is chaired by a Human Resources Director. The BBC also made contact with the Police with regard to this matter. July 8 The complainant sent the BBC some materials related to the complaint. July 9 BBC issued an update to staff and the media; the BBC also confirmed that it had suspended the presenter. July 10 The BBC met with the Police, to report the matter and discuss how to progress the investigation. The Police have requested that the BBC pause its investigations into the allegations while they scope future work. Advertisement They said they wanted people to 'know the truth' about the presenter, adding: 'It is complete hypocrisy of the BBC star. He thought he was above everybody else. 'The BBC points the finger at others who do wrong but their big star was happy to act like the rules don't apply to him.' The Sun said it had contacted the BBC and the presenter in question over the claims. And last night the paper claimed it had been contacted by a fourth person who alleged the BBC star had contacted them out of the blue on their Instagram account and used kisses and love hearts in messages to them when they were 17 years old. The individual, who is now 22, told The Sun the man sent them a love heart emoji in October 2018 without ever having spoken to him before. This was followed by sporadic messages between the pair, with the person even advising them to take part in a BBC school scheme when given the opportunity. They told The Sun: 'Looking back now it does seem creepy because he was messaging me when I was still at school. 'In light of everything now, I feel shocked because as a broadcaster it is a name everyone would trust. 'I had no reason to think it was anything beyond that at that time.' They added: 'Knowing what I know now, I feel I was a bit naive.' In their later conversations, including when school was mentioned, the presenter stopped using love hearts and emojis, with the youngster adding: 'In light of what I know now, it feels as though when he realised I was not flirtatious back, he changed in the way he would reply.' It comes after allegations the presenter had sent abusive and menacing messages to a different person in their 20s after meeting them on a dating app. They claim they were put under pressure to meet with the star but never did, the BBC reported. When they hinted online that they might name them, they allege they were sent abusive messages that were filled with expletives. The new claims raise further questions about the star's conduct less than a week after The Sun newspaper reported allegations that he paid a teenager 35,000 for sexually explicit pictures, starting when they were 17. The person involved has said there was no wrongdoing and the claims are 'rubbish'. BBC Director General Tim Davie today denied it is 'odd' that he is yet to speak to the star. According to the BBC, the conversation between the person in their 20s and the presenter moved onto other platforms after beginning on a dating app. The presenter then revealed his identity and asked the young person not to tell anyone. The young person later posted online alluding to having had contact with a BBC presenter and hinting they might name him. The presenter then sent a number of 'threatening messages' which the BBC says it has seen and confirmed came from a phone number belonging to the presenter. The BBC said the young person felt 'threatened' by the messages and 'remain scared'. BBC News said it had contacted the presenter via his lawyer but had received no response to the allegations. Earlier today, Mr Davie also suggested the privacy of the star was a consideration in why the corporation did not speak to the household name until almost two months after they first received a complaint from the teenager's family. He defended the seven-week delay between the initial complaint and confronting the presenter, insisting that the claims had to be verified first before being put to staff. But he admitted it was 'fair' to question why the 'very serious' complaint was only followed up by a single call and email to the teenager's parents. Asked if it was 'odd' that that he himself has not chatted to the presenter, Davie replied: 'No', adding: 'I think it is critical they are spoken to by a very senior manager'. He was also asked if he knew 'categorically' whether or not the star paid for the alleged victim's lawyer. He said: 'That's not information I am party to. I don't even think that's something for the BBC.' But he did admit that the scandal had been 'clearly damaging' to the corporation's reputation. 'The BBC is often in the midst of quite painful and difficult affairs and storms,' he said before adding: 'These are clearly damaging to the BBC it, is not a good situation.' In a major update on the case, Mr Davie also said he had 'paused' their internal investigation while the police consider if any crimes have been committed after a meeting with Scotland Yard yesterday. LOBAMBA Members of Parliament (MPs) have highlighted the alleged dirty plot by certain individuals to spitefully remove some persons from the voters roll, while also threatening them. While the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Pholile Shakantu, has indicated that the voters roll is now 95 per cent clean, the legislators questioned the minister on who held the authority to remove an individual from the voters roll, as some people were abusing it to spite those who they did not like. Shakantu delivered a follow-up ministerial statement in respect of the ongoing voter registration validation exercise by the Elections Boundaries Commission (EBC), where she stated that the validation process was now available both manually across the different tinkhundla centres and chiefdoms, as well as electronically, which includes kits deployed at strategic places around the country and the mobile version (*411#), which is accessible on both mobile networks. Welcoming As much as the legislators were welcoming to the progress made by the ministry and the commission on the voter validation exercise, they expressed discontent on the voters roll being used as a tool to spite others. The matter was first raised by Gilgal MP Sandla Fakudze, who said it had reached his attention that there was a plot to remove some individuals from the voters roll purely out of spite, not that they did not qualify to be at the chiefdom they had registered to vote under. The MP shared that there were rumours making the rounds that there were people who went to the tinkhundla centres, some of which they did not belong to, and pointed to an individuals name stating that they were not from the inkhundla, simply out of malice or to jeopardise their chances of making it in the elections if they had ambitions of contesting. Ndzingeni MP Lutfo Dlamini also put it to the minister to shed light on who had the authority to remove a person on the voters roll without that persons knowledge. He highlighted that there was a purported list of persons who had been earmarked as the persons to be removed from the voters roll and the perpetrators were all over carrying out their dirty mandate. Dlamini also highlighted that these individuals were also issuing threats to people, advising them not to vote for certain individuals or they would face dire consequences. Who are these individuals who have so much interest in the elections when no one has yet been nominated? We want to know where we can report them so that the law can take its course and these individuals be dealt with accordingly, he submitted. Mhlangatane MP Madala Mhlanga also decried the issue of the voters roll being taken advantage of to spite others. He also wished to find out who had the authority to weed someone else from the voters roll as the perpetrators were doing so in constituencies they were not even from. Minister Shakantu, in her response to the concerns of the legislators, pointed to Section 18 (1) of the Voters Registration Act, 2013, which states that a registered voter may at any time object to the inclusion or retention of any persons name in the register of voters; the restoration or addition of any persons name to the register of voters; the removal of a persons name from the register of voters; or the correctness of any persons registration details in the voters register. She explained that there was a process which was followed in the objection exercise, which included lodging it with the commission in the approved form No.6 and the commission would make a decision on an objection not later than 14 days after the objection was made. Subsection (5) of this Section stipulates that a person who is not satisfied with a decision of the Commission under this section may, with leave of the High Court, appeal to the High Court within 14 days of the decision. The man who mentored the mastermind responsible for the sprawling dark-web drug marketplace The Silk Road has been sentenced to 20 years in prison - after being arrested in Thailand back in 2015. Roger Thomas Clark, 62, known online as 'Variety Jones,' was handed the sentence in a Manhattan courtroom on Monday, after being extradited to the US in 2018. Federal charges filed against the aging Canadian national included conspiring distribute massive quantities of narcotics - to which pleaded guilty in 2020. Prosecutors said those offenses arose out of his role as top adviser to Ross Ulbricht, the owner and operator of the 'Silk Road' online illicit black market. During its height - and before Ulbricht's arrest in 2013 - the darknet market website played home to millions of illicit transactions, including more than $183million in drug sales. The man who mentored Ross Ulbricht (pictured) the mastermind responsible for the sprawling dark-web drug marketplace The Silk Road has been sentenced to 20 years in prison - after being arrested in Thailand back in 2015 Roger Thomas Clark, 62, known online as 'Variety Jones,' was handed the stern sentence at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Courthouse Monday Now 39, Ulbricht, whose alias was 'Dread Pirate Roberts' on the now-defunct forum, is already serving a life sentence for his part in the illegal bazaar. Prior to his arrest - carried out by undercover FBI agents in a web cafe in San Francisco - Ulbricht described Clark as a 'real mentor'. During proceedings, prosecutors claimed he advised Ulbricht about a range of subjects pertaining to his digital empire - such as security vulnerabilities in the Silk Road site, technical infrastructure, and the rules that governed users and vendors. Before fleeing overseas after his protege was discovered, he also helped Ulbricht - a college educated Texan from an affluent family - engage in secrete promotion of the sordid site, including for the sale of narcotics. The drugs sold on Silk Road included at least 82 kilograms of cocaine and 26 kilograms of heroin, according to the feds, and the sentence Clark was slapped with was the maximum he faced in accordance with his plea agreement. For his role as Ulbricht's 'right-hand man', he will now likely spend much of the rest of his life incarcerated - after fleeing overseas once his protege was captured Judge Sidney Stein chided Clark, a self-professed libertarian, in his sentencing statement Monday at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Courthouse. '[Clark] misguidedly turned his belief that drugs should be legal into material assistance for a criminal enterprise', the jurist wrote, adding Clark was 'clear-eyed and intentional' during his exploits with Ulbricht. 'These beliefs crossed over into patently illegal behavior.' The online black market was shutdown in October 2013, when authorities seized the website and arrested Ulbricht at a San Francisco website after months of surveillance Trial: This court sketch shows Ulbricht, to the far right, at his own sentencing hearing in 2015. For his role as Ulbricht's 'right-hand man', Clark will now likely spend much of the rest of his life incarcerated - after fleeing overseas when his protege was found out by the FBI Clark, as prosecutors noted in their memo arguing for the two-decade sentence, served as more than Ulbricht's right hand on the Silk Road, and even played a part in the failed murder plot that almost got him captured. Apart from being Ulbricht's lieutenant, he served as the site's de facto security consultant, PR advisor, and protector, prosecutors said. For instance, when a Silk Road staff member was suspected of stealing approximately $350,000 in Bitcoin from the site, Clark suggested to Ulbricht that Ulbricht commission a hit to take care of the alleged dissenter. Ulbricht took the suggestion, and attempted to hire a triggerman online to do the deed - but failed to realize the the bitcoins had been allegedly stolen by rogue Secret Service agent. Although the attempted murder-for-hire did not result in any harm to the intended target, Ulbricht paid the purported hitman $80,000 for the job. Long thought to be a plot manufactured by the FBI, Monday's proceedings revealed Clark to be the true culprit behind the sanctioned hit - which feds monitored but did not present as evidence before sentencing Ulbricht to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was not charged with murder. Upon encountering Clark as a marijuana seeds dealer on the market, Ulbricht marveled how the older man was 'the biggest and strongest willed character I had met through the site thus far,' according to Ulbricht's journal. 'He has advised me on many technical aspect of what we are doing, helped me speed up the site and squeeze more out of my current servers,' Ulbricht wrote. 'He also has helped me better interact with the community around Silk Road, delivering proclamations, handling troublesome characters, running a sale, changing my name, devising rules, and on and on. 'He also helped me get my head straight regarding legal protection, cover stories, devising a will, finding a successor, and so on. He's been a real mentor.' For more than a year, that dynamic continue, with the pair combining their expertise to allow users to anonymously buy drugs and other illicit goods and generating over $214 million in sales in the process, prosecutors said. Now 39, Ulbricht, whose alias was 'Dread Pirate Roberts' on the now-defunct forum, is already serving a life sentence for his part in the illegal bazaar The online black market was shutdown in October 2013, when authorities seized the website and arrested Ulbricht at a San Francisco website after months of surveillance. Ulbricht operated the website under the alias Dread Pirate Roberts, a reference to a character in the 1987 movie 'The Princess Bride.' The website relied on the Tor network, which lets users communicate anonymously, and accepted bitcoin as payment, which prosecutors said allowed users to conceal their identities and locations. Prosecutors said Ulbricht, who grew up in Austin, Texas, took extreme steps to protect Silk Road, soliciting the murders of several people who posed a threat. No evidence exists the murders were carried out. At trial, Joshua Dratel, his lawyer, said Ulbricht had indeed created what he intended as a 'freewheeling, free market site' where all but a few harmful items could be sold. Dratel said Ulbricht handed off the website to others after it became too stressful, and was lured back toward its end to become the 'fall guy' for its true operators. Before his sentencing, Ulbricht asked for a sentence that would leave a 'small light at the end of the tunnel.' He was slapped with a life sentence. In the case of Clark's 20-year sentence handed out Monday, Stein said: 'The sentence must reflect the vast criminal enterprise of which he was a leader.' Couples will be able to enjoy a free church wedding under a new attempt to stop the decline of traditional ceremonies. Under a pilot project agreed by the Church of England's governing body, one area of the country is to waive statutory fees that can top 600. Officials will then study the results to see if the trial led to an increase in marriages, following years of dwindling numbers, and if brides and grooms made donations to the church where they wed. The proposal was voted through by the General Synod on Tuesday after being suggested by members from Blackburn diocese. It was backed by the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, who said: 'This seems to me to be the right thing to do, but also the right way of doing it. 'This is a chance for us to do something which I believe could be really good for us, good for our soul.' The proposal was voted through by the General Synod on Tuesday after being suggested by members from Blackburn diocese (Pictured: Blackburn Cathedral) It was backed by the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell (pictured left) The Rev Dr Tom Woolford, who originally raised the issue of wedding fees, said afterwards: 'I'm delighted that the motion was approved. 'While everyone likes the principle of free weddings, there is understandable anxiety about the unknown effect on church finances of doing so: the amendment to authorise a regional trial means we can allay those concerns. 'I'm hoping and praying the trial goes really well and we can bring a motion for the full abolition of wedding fees in due course.' The proposal voted through called on the Archbishops' Council to 'design, fund and implement a time-limited, regional trial of providing weddings free of all statutory fees, and report back to Synod on the impact it made on the number of weddings conducted, pastoral and missional contacts made, on charitable giving in connection with provision of wedding services, and on projected parochial and diocesan finances'. Details of the pilot including the location are yet to be agreed. In general, either a bride or groom has to have some connection to a parish in order to be married in an Anglican church. Figures cited by Blackburn diocese suggest there has been a 50 per cent fall in Church of England weddings over the past two decades - from 63,371 in 1999 to 31,430 in 2019. Farias denied he was molested, but said he was emotionally violated The Texan alleged his mother 'brainwashed and manipulated' him into captivity Rudy Farias claimed Stockholm Syndrome kept him in captivity for eight years by his abusive mother - but he insisted he was not sexually abused during his ordeal. Speaking out for the first time following his re-appearance, Farias broke down in tears as he alleged his mom Janie Santana 'brainwashed and manipulated' him. Farias told Fox26Houston he felt like he had been living 'in a prison', allegedly enduring heartbreaking abuse and neglect while 'just wanting to be free'. However, while Farias alleged severe emotional abuse at the hands of his mother, he combatted claims he was molested by Santana, who has not been charged. 'She didn't force herself on me or anything like that,' he said. 'It would never be anything like that. Just stuff that really made me uncomfortable'. He offered a harrowing glimpse into his life for the past eight years, including being forced to hide in his bedroom and listen to his happy family outside when they would have visitors. Farias had been missing for eight years, before he mysteriously reappeared amid allegations from neighbors that he was often spotted in the local area Rudy has accused his mother Janie Santana (pictured) of keeping him captive for almost a decade The Texan miraculously emerged this month after being missing for almost a decade, but neighbors quickly reacted with confusion and said Farias was never missing. In the days after he was found, it was claimed that Farias had been kept in false imprisonment by his mother the entire time, beginning in March 2015 when Santana reported him missing to Houston police. But after an eight-year manhunt ended when Farias was found bloodied and bruised in a church, he has now given a harrowing insight into his life in captivity. Although he denied his ordeal was sexual in nature, Farias claims he was emotionally exploited by his mother, where she controlled his every move. In doing so, he says she wouldn't physically restrain him, but instead deceived and abused him into not wanting to leave. One tactic she allegedly used was to lie and threaten Farias with information he wouldn't be able to verify, forcing a false sense of trust on her. 'She would manipulate me into saying I would get arrested for speeding ticket,' he said. 'It just felt like brainwashing, honestly.' One heartbreaking admission from his time in alleged captivity, Farias said his mother would keep him hidden away when friends and family would visit. Tearing up as he made the claim, Farias said: 'I would just have to listen to my family and cheerful on the other side of a f****** door... I'd be like, I just want my family, just want people, just want communication.' 'I just wanted to live my life,' he added. A missing person note detailed what he was wearing at the time that he went missing, aged 17, in 2015. It also mentioned that he suffered from depression, PTSD and anxiety Farias was found with bloodied and bruised in a church after being believed to be missing by authorities for eight years Farias' family said he was visibly shaken as well as physically deteriorated when he was discovered, saying there were indications he may have been abused Farias said his mother was able to gain such a stranglehold over his life because she was his 'only parent', and the loss of his brother years prior meant she was his sole guardian. When asked how, as an adult for most of his ordeal, he was able to be maneuvered by his mother, Farias said it 'felt like Stockholm Syndrome, honestly'. '(I) was held against my will, mentally, not physically, she was just constantly bombarding me with negative thoughts.' For eight years, he says he has been 'trying to study the best I can online' to try and 'understand how the world works.' However, despite making a slew of disturbing allegations against her, Farias insisted that he was never sexually abused by his mother. 'She didn't force herself on me or anything like that,' he said. 'It would never be anything like that. Just stuff that really made me uncomfortable'. Houston police have so far refrained from charging Farias' mother with any crimes, but he now says he is just happy to be free. 'It feels like, I'm just at peace now. Just feels happy, you know?' he said. Rudy Farias was seen hiding his face under a blanket as he was escorted out of a Houston hotel shortly after his re-emergence News of Farias being found alive was met with glee in his home state earlier this month, with his mother claiming her 'nonverbal' son was only alive due to a miracle. But the story quickly took a dark turn, when Farias began making a series of bizarre and dark allegations about his mother. Among the claims were that she would make him 'play daddy' while naked in bed, treat him like a slave, and give him hallucinogenic drugs. His mother had reported him missing in 2015, when he was 17, but adding to the confusion neighbors said he was never missing, and regularly saw him. At the time of Farias' disappearance, his mother told officials that he suffered from depression and PTSD since his brother died in a motorcycle accident in 2011, an incident neighbors say he spoke about. Farias' father, Houston police officer Rudolph Farias III, died by suicide in 2014. He was a 21-year veteran and was facing an internal affairs investigation at the time of his death. In the days after he was found, Farias was seen hiding his face under a blanket as he was escorted out of a Houston hotel by counselor Quanell X, who became emotional as he described his conversation with the young man. China sent a spy to infiltrate a House of Commons briefing by Hong Kong dissidents, campaigners believe. A man claiming to be a tourist tried to enter the invitation-only talk in a committee room deep within the high-security Houses of Parliament. The meeting was addressed by Finn Lau and Christopher Mung, who last week had 100,000 arrest bounties put on their heads by Beijing-controlled Hong Kong police. When confronted, the alleged spy gave a name not on the approved list and refused to say who he was representing. He claimed he had been directed to the secluded committee room as part of an official tour. He left after a brief stand-off. Hong Kong activists, Christopher Mung (left) and Finn Lau (right) sit either side of Conservative MP and Foreign Affairs Committee member Bob Seely who chaired the event, a private parliamentary briefing about Hong Kong on the top floor of the House of Commons Finn Lau (left) and Christopher Mung, walk through College Green, London. Mr Lau and Mr Mung, who now live in the UK after fleeing Hong Kong, are among the eight activists who have had HK$1 million bounties for their arrests placed on them by the Hong Kong government About 200 MPs, peers, journalists and democracy campaigners were invited to attend the private briefing on Hong Kong hosted by Tory MP Bob Seely on July 5. It was held in committee room 19, located on the top floor, far from the areas usually visited by tourists. Some Hong Kongers covered their faces during the event, fearing for their safety. Mr Seely, who is a member of the Commons foreign affairs committee, said: If this was a Chinese Communist Party spy then it is yet another example of this regimes cack-handed malign incompetence. It would be completely inappropriate for Beijing to send an operative to intimidate or record people inside a private parliamentary event. Mr Lau, who was once beaten unconscious by suspected CCP supporters, said: I believe this man was a CCP informer. This is one of the remotest committee rooms in Parliament. And it is on the top floor. It is not a coincidence that a random Chinese tourist was outside the room at the exact right time and was attempting to access the event. The incident is just the latest example of CCP harassment Hong Kongers like me have faced. But I will not be deterred and I will continue to advocate for democracy in Hong Kong. Mark Sabah, of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, said: CCP operatives regularly infiltrate meetings and gatherings right across the UK, especially events organised by people critical of the Beijing regime. China has sanctioned several prominent British MPs and peers, including former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and ministers Nusrat Ghani and Tom Tugendhat. In response Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told Chinas ambassador he could not come to Parliament while the sanctions remained in place. Sir Iain said last night: The Government must act on this it is astonishing. At far left table Hong Kong activists, Christopher Mung (LEFT grey hair, dark shirt, glasses) and Finn Lau (right, black hair, dark shirt and suit) ) sit either side of Conservative MP and Foreign Affairs Committee member Bob Seely (red braces) who chaired the event, a private parliamentary briefing about Hong Kong on the top floor of the House of Commons Finn Lau talks to the media on College Green, London. Mr Lau, who now lives in the UK after fleeing Hong Kong, is among the eight activists who have had HK$1 million bounties for their arrests placed on them by the Hong Kong government We need to be sure that anyone acting suspiciously or refusing to identify themselves in Parliament is removed immediately. 'The CCP is a deeply unreliable and nasty organisation doing its level best to undermine security and free speech here in the UK. Tory MP Alicia Kearns, who chairs the foreign affairs committee, said: These reports are very concerning. We have seen how far the CCP is prepared to take its repression of freedoms in Hong Kong. Now it suggests they have information on private meetings in Parliament. We must protect the right of brave Hong Kongers to speak out against the actions of the Peoples Republic of China, not least in the mother of parliaments, and do everything in our power to prevent Beijing from pursuing its campaign of trans-national repression on UK soil. No one from the Chinese government should be setting foot in Parliament after their assault on the freedoms of MPs, let alone sneaking around our corridors. Security and intelligence expert Philip Ingram said: This sounds 100 per cent like it was a bold-as-brass attempt by Chinese intelligence to spy on dissidents in the room. Often, Chinese state security will ask people associated with Chinese police stations to report on and track individuals they have an interest in. Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant, a former foreign minister, said: We need to be like hawks about who has access to parliamentary meetings. Luke de Pulford, of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: Every time we arrange a public event on China we assume at least one person has infiltrated. The parliamentary authorities should look at this closely. The meeting was addressed by Mr Lau and Mr Mung, who last week had 100,000 arrest bounties put on their heads by Beijing-controlled Hong Kong police Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Layla Moran said: These are deeply concerning allegations which the UK Government must immediately investigate. The Foreign Secretary must make absolutely clear that we will not tolerate the attempts by the CCP to interfere in our democracy. Security staff had been warned ahead of the event that CCP informers might try to attend and intimidate or record attendees. Guards were told to be vigilant and to let people in only if they were on the list of invitees. Members of the public can visit Parliament but are prohibited from straying from tour routes without supervision. They are allowed into restricted areas only with an MP or a parliamentary staffer. MI5 boss Ken McCallum warned in November that it had seen more concerning activity from China including the harassment and assault of Chinese dissidents living in Britain. He also warned that Chinese authorities were seeking to co-opt and influence people across the public sector, including British MPs. The House of Commons and the Chinese Embassy were approached for comment. A hair salon owner in Michigan has vowed to ban certain members of the LGBTQ+ community who specify their pronouns, saying they are 'not welcome' at her salon. 'If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman, please seek services at a local pet groomer,' Studio 8 Hair Lab owner Christine Geiger wrote on Facebook. Geiger wrote that she was simply exercising her right to 'free speech' as well as her ability as a business owner to 'refuse services' to certain customers. The post and the account have since been deleted. The salon's Instagram has been set to private with a caption explaining that they do 'not cater to woke ideologies.' The woman's post comes just weeks after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian web designer who refused to create a site for a gay couple. Christine Geiger (pictured) has vowed to ban certain members of the LGBTQ+ community who specify their pronouns at her salon. saying they are 'not welcome' This is the Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City - the salon at the center of the controversy 'If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman, please seek services at a local pet groomer,' Geiger wrote on Facebook In the since-deleted post, Geiger wrote that she did not care that she was in violation of a law passed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in March. Should you request to have a particular pronoun used please note we may simply refer to you as "hey you". Regardless of MI HB 4744," Geiger wrote. In March, Gov. Whitmer signed legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In her post, Geiger wrote that she as a small business owner is 'not bound to any oaths as realtors are regarding discrimination.' Under her incendiary comments, she added the hashtag 'take a stand.' Her post caught the attention of local residents who put her on blast in local Facebook groups, calling out her comments. 'This is a real post from a local salon in downtown Traverse City. You are allowed to your opinion but you are not allowed to discriminate [sic],' the caption read. Geiger doubled down on her controversial takes underneath the post and said that she has 'no issues with LGB. Its the TQ+ that Im not going to support.' In her post, Geiger (pictured) wrote that she as a small business owner is 'not bound to any oaths as realtors are regarding discrimination' This is the full since-deleted post made by Christine Geiger on Facebook In March, Governor Gretchen Whitmer (pictured) signed legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity Continuing on in her lengthy comment, the salon owner said she believes the '+' is code for 'Minor Attracted Person aka: pedophile.' The '+' in the LGBTQ+ acronym actually represents members of the community who identify with an orientation or identity that isnt included within the acronym. 'Its an inclusive way of representing gender and sexual identities that letters and words cannot yet fully describe,' GoodRX Health reports. Geiger said she is 'not willing to play the pronoun game or cater to requests outside of what I perceive as normal' for her clientele. 'Conservatives need to acclimate these woke individuals to their new reality,' she wrote, adding that she's 'HAD ENOUGH of their ideologies.' Her original post and follow up comments received heavy backlash from fellow Traverse City residents who said she was displaying 'vile behavior.' 'So much for taking a stand post was deleted,' one person wrote. 'Christine, people with your level of hate and ignorance are the reason many people who are struggling take their own lives,' another angry Facebook user responded. 'Imagine someone already struggling with how they are feeling and being on the edge and then reading that they should go to a dog groomer?!' they wrote. Her original post and follow up comments received heavy backlash from fellow Traverse City residents who said she was displaying 'vile behavior' 'Christine, people with your level of hate and ignorance are the reason many people who are struggling take their own lives,' another angry Facebook user responded One person pointed out that the salon owner appeared to have deleted negative reviews The woman's post comes just weeks after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian web designer who refused to create a site for a gay couple Geiger may be emboldened by the recent 6-4 ruling by the Supreme Court in which a Christian web designer refused to design a website for a same-sex wedding. The ruling overturned a lower court's decision that Denver-area business owner Lorie Smith was not allowed an exemption from a Colorado law that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. 'The First Amendments protections belong to all, not just to speakers whose motives the government finds worthy,' wrote Justice Neil Gorsuch for the majority. 'In this case, Colorado seeks to force an individual to speak in ways that align with its views but defy her conscience about a matter of major significance.' Scientific age assessments of migrants who claim to be children will start this year, the immigration minister has confirmed. The oldest asylum seeker yet discovered pretending to be a child was actually found to be 41, Robert Jenrick said. He told MPs that medical assessments - thought to include X-rays or MRI scans - will initially run in parallel with existing tests which are based on behavioural and language studies. 'That will happen over the course of this year,' Mr Jenrick told MPs in the Commons. 'The oldest individual that we've encountered who posed as a child was subsequently found to be 41 years of age. 'We do take the issue of age assessment extremely seriously. Scientific age assessments of migrants who claim to be children will start this year, the immigration minister Robert Jenrick confirmed today Mr Jenrick was referring to the case of Afghan asylum seeker Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai (pictured) who fatally stabbed aspiring Royal Marine Tom Roberts last year 'There are individuals who abuse the system - that's wrong as a matter of principle but it's also a serious safeguarding risk to genuine children. 'It's important that we weed out those cases of abuse because it poses such a risk. 'I'm afraid we've seen some very tragic instances such as the murder that occurred in Bournemouth at the behest of somebody who had posed as a child.' Mr Jenrick was referring to the case of Afghan asylum seeker Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai who fatally stabbed aspiring Royal Marine Tom Roberts last year. Abdulrahimzai was on the run from murder charges in Serbia when he arrived in Britain, and was later convicted in his absence of gunning down two people with a Kalashnikov assault rifle. The Home Office commissioned a report, published in January, which said migrants suspected of pretending to be children could undergo a range of medical tests to determine their true age. It recommended a combination of X-rays of the wisdom teeth and the hand or wrist, plus MRI scans of the knee or collarbone. The move may prove controversial because medics have opposed the use of X-rays for non-medical reasons. Other shocking cases in which adult asylum seekers claimed to be children include Ahmad Otak who in 2012 forced his ex-girlfriend to watch him murder her sister and her friend after she refused to take him back. Mr Roberts was murdered by Abdulrahimzai following an argument over a scooter in Bournemouth A court heard the Afghan lied about his age to get preferential treatment from social services, but Otak was actually 22. Others include Parson's Green terrorist Ahmed Hassan, who posed as a 16-year-old before setting off a bomb on a Tube train in west London in 2017, injuring 23 people. A judge said he was satisfied the bomber was between 18 and 21. Other adult migrants have ended up in schools being taught alongside young teenage children. Migrants who claim to be under 18 receive better housing and support, a more sympathetic hearing in their asylum claim and are less likely to be detained. Under current rules, local authorities are not allowed to carry out physical examinations of asylum seekers suspected of lying about their age. Instead, social workers estimate the person's age by assessing their behaviour and language skills. In 2021 the British Dental Association said it 'vigorously opposed' using dental X-rays to establish asylum seekers' ages. Australia and the European Union have failed to conclude talks on a planned free trade agreement, the European Commission says. The EC statement followed comments from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that any deal would need to give Australian farmers' goods, especially beef and sheep meat, more access to the bloc. 'We'll continue to argue the case for a free trade agreement (FTA) in the interests of both Australia and Europe,' Mr Albanese said on Tuesday while visiting Lithuania. 'But we won't just sign up to a deal for the sake of it, what we want is a good deal for Australia,' Mr Albanese said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says any EU trade deal must give farmers more access to the bloc 'We regret it was not possible to conclude our talks with Australia this week,' an EC representative said on Tuesday. 'We made progress but more work is required to address key outstanding issues,' the representative said. Trade Minister Don Farrell said officials on both sides would continue negotiations and try to meet again next month. 'As we've said all along, Australia needs meaningful agricultural access to European markets,' he told reporters in an impromptu press conference in a park in central Brussels. 'I'm optimistic that with some goodwill, some hard work, some perseverance, we're going to get there,' Mr Farrell said. Mr Albanese discussed the idea of an EU free trade agreement (FTA) with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on Wednesday. National Farmers' Federation chief executive Tony Mahar, who is in Brussels, said agriculture was always one of the final issues to be resolved in trade negotiations. 'That's proven the case with this one, it's challenging,' he told the ABC. 'Trade is critically important to Australian agriculture.' Mr Mahar said if the offer presented by the Europeans wasn't good enough, the government should walk away before trying to strike a deal again later. 'It's too important not to get it right... we want to make sure that we get this right for Australian farmers from the first day for the decades that follow,' he told the ABC. A sticking point in the trade talks is the EU's objection to Australian food producers using terms such as feta and prosecco. Australian negotiators argue it is reasonable for farmers to use the terms to represent varieties rather than European regions. Opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said he agreed with the idea of walking away if farmers were not offered adequate access to the EU market. 'We shouldn't rush this deal if it's a bad deal for Australia,' he told AAP. Mr Hogan doesn't want to see ''grandfathering' of geographical indicators where only existing producers could use names such as prosecco and feta. 'The European Union is a big economy, there's a lot of customers there for us, but we certainly don't want to do that at any cost,' he said. 'A deal can be done but we shouldn't blink before the Europeans do.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has swooned over French president Emmanuel Macron after landing in Lithuania for the NATO summit giving both leaders a welcome reprieve from domestic troubles. Recent polling has shown voters are growing increasingly dissatisfied with how the Albanese government is dealing with the cost of living crisis as the Prime Minister also attracts personal criticism for his frequent overseas trips. Meanwhile France has been embroiled in nightly scenes of chaos and violence as rampaging mobs turn on authorities after a 17-year-old boy of Moroccan and Algerian descent was shot dead by police in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. However, in each other's warm embrace the two leaders can at least boast of improving relations between their nations. 'Europe must be open, prosperous and free. And I know there is no stronger advocate for that vision than French President Emmanuel Macron,' Mr Albanese tweeted. The Franco-Australian relationship was damaged in 2021 following a decision by the previous Coalition government to dump a French submarine contract in favour of acquiring others under a partnership with the UK and US. It has been all smiles as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured left) met French President Emmanuel Macron in Lithuania Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison's clandestine decision to scrap the deal cost French naval builders an estimated $5billion. France temporarily recalled its ambassador from Canberra and Mr Macron told Australian reporters Mr Morrison had lied to him. But it was all smiles as the two leaders met in Lithuania, with Mr Albanese sharing some glowing words about his French counterpart. Helping smooth things over between the two nations was the $835 million settlement paid to the French submarine builders Naval Group in June last year, which according to some analysts was too much. The Australian prime minister revealed that Mr Macron had invited him to visit France earlier in the week but this had not been possible because Mr Albanese was in Germany. Mr Albanese said he had offered the French president an invitation to visit Australia. The warm reception being given Mr Albanese abroad is not impressing some pundits at home. Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones accused Mr Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers of going missing while thousands of households struggle to make ends meet. For both national leaders the NATO summit could act as a reprieve from troubles engulfing their nations 'I have said for months where is Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers in relation to Australia's cost of living crisis?' Jones wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. 'They are both nowhere to be seen. 'The Prime Minister is too busy shaking the hands of foreign leaders; and the Treasurer never stops whinging about the 'trillion dollars in Liberal Party debt'. 'Meanwhile, both young and elderly Australians, households and small businesses are struggling.' Polling conducted for the Liberal Party showed voters were losing confidence in Labor's handling of the economy. Just 13 per cent of voters believe the Prime Minister is doing enough to address household economic woes, according to a CT Group poll leaked to the Australian on Tuesday. Mr Albanese and Mr Macron can boast of improving between their nations after a frosty period under the former Morrison government It also showed that 36 per cent of those polled believed Labor has done 'very poorly in providing financial relief, with an additional 30 per cent arguing it has done 'somewhat poorly' on the matter. France has descended into chaos since a French police officer fatally shot 17-year-old Nahel M, who was of north African descent, during a traffic stop on 27 June. Nightly rioting and looting has inflicted the worst mob violence on France in nearly two decades with cars torched, buildings damaged and public spaces vandalised across the country. The damage bill has been estimated at well above $1billion. Last week a UN committee called on France to ensure an investigation into the killing of Nahel was 'thorough and impartial', and called for racial profiling to be banned. Joining the summit for the second time since becoming prime minister, Mr Albanese will attend a special meeting on Wednesday alongside Australia's 'Indo-Pacific Four' partners: Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. French riot police react to fireworks being let-off during riots in the city of Lyon at the end of June The Prime Minister also met with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, thanking him for Australia's inclusion in the military alliance's summit. 'We will be engaged in support of the people of Ukraine for as long as is necessary,' Mr Albanese said after announcing a day earlier the deployment of an Australian reconnaissance aircraft to Europe amid the conflict. Although not a member of NATO, Australia has worked with the alliance since 2005 and been an 'enhanced opportunities partner' since 2014. Ms Albanese also met his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak, Portuguese leader Antonio Costa and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday said he hoped to meet on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Mr Albanese earlier announced the Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail would help protect multinational logistics hubs and allow the free flow of aid but not enter Ukraine airspace. The aircraft will be deployed for six months and based in Germany and will include up to 100 crew and support personnel from Australia. Upper Chamber expected to make renewed attempts to interfere with changes MPs have been stripping out amendments imposed by the House of Lords Ministers are braced for further attempts by unelected peers to try to water down the Governments tough new immigration laws. MPs began the tortuous process last night of stripping out scores of amendments imposed by the House of Lords. But the Upper Chamber is expected to make renewed attempts to interfere with the law changes. Dozens of peers have voiced their opposition to the measures with many citing human rights grounds. Ahead of the convoluted proceedings in Parliament, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed the key role the Illegal Migration Bill will play in stopping small boat migrants crossing the Channel. And immigration minister Robert Jenrick urged MPs to send a clear message to the Lords to think again and respect the will of the elected House. Downing Street acknowledged the concession could lead to a rise in the number of migrants seeking to cross the Channel but insisted they could still be dealt with using existing powers He told the Commons: Its vital that this Bill reaches the statute book quickly and in a form that will stop the boats. It is riddled with exceptions and get-out clauses as currently placed in by the Other Place [the House of Lords]. If that happens, it will simply not work. He told the Commons that, in particular, four amendments made by peers were little short of wrecking amendments. Three of the four were struck out in Commons divisions last night and the fourth was struck out unopposed. Lords are today expected to consider MPs changes and can re-insert their original amendments before sending the Bill back to the elected chamber in parliamentary ping-pong. During the Commons debate, former Tory PM Theresa May said she would vote against the Government unless it dropped its opposition to a Lords amendment allowing migrants to continue lodging modern slavery claims. She said the Bill ties the hands of the police and undoes the good work of the Modern Slavery Act, which she introduced when she was home secretary. Despite her tantrum, the Commons later voted to throw out the Lords modern slavery amendment by 285 votes to 243. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick urged MPs to send a clear message to the Lords to think again and respect the will of the elected House READ MORE: 'Amnesty' is handed to 10,000 small boats migrants who reached the UK in the past four months in a major concession by the government to get its Illegal Migration Bill through Parliament Official figures show 9,622 migrants arrived on small boats between March 7 and Sunday Advertisement Former minister Tim Loughton, in a further rebellion on the Tory benches, said he could not support measures relating to the treatment of child migrants. And ex-justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland called for a sense of urgency drawing up additional safe and legal routes for migrants to the UK. Up to 15 Tory MPs voted against the Government at various stages of last nights votes. These also included former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former immigration ministers Damian Green and Caroline Nokes. Mr Sunak had earlier said: The situation is not fair, its not right, and we need to take strong action to stop the boats. The PM added he remained very confident in the Rwanda asylum plan. He also repeated his insistence his plan to stop the boats is starting to work. However, it came as small boats arrivals reached 13,110 since the start of the year just 1.6 per cent below the total at the same point last year. Mr Sunak said he was reassured by aspects of last months Court of Appeal ruling, which declared the Rwanda deal unlawful. He said judges had agreed with the Government on the principle of sending migrants to Rwanda to claim asylum there rather than here. But Home Secretary Suella Braverman has made concessions to get the Bill through. One key change passed by the Commons last night delays the start date of the measures, effectively handing an amnesty from the new restrictions to 10,000 migrants who reached Britain in the past four months. Downing Street acknowledged the concession could lead to a rise in the number of migrants seeking to cross the Channel but insisted they could still be dealt with using existing powers. The Home Office said there were 338 arrivals on Monday. The Commons agreed to accept remaining Lords amendments at the end of seven hours of debate and voting. A man, 81, and woman, 75, died in their home in Wetherill Park Two dead in horror blaze at two-storey house in Sydney's west Two people have died in a house fire in Sydney's west as an investigation is launched into what caused the blaze. Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to the inferno on Lily Street, at Wetherill Park, around 6.45am on Wednesday. NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry said when crews arrived the two-storey home was well-alight and they were acting on reports there were at least two people inside. Emergency service personnel managed to pull two residents from the house, an 81-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman, however, they could not be revived. Two people have died in a house fire in Wetherill Park (pictured), in Sydney's west Fire crews managed to pull two residents from the house, an 81-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman, however, they could not be revived A probe into the blaze has begun with the home to be forensically examined by NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW investigators Firefighters were met with 'heavy fire' upon arrival as residents banded together to try and help extinguish the blaze. 'But their attempts were made in vain one was taken to hospital and I am told he is doing well and [it] was done as a precaution,' Superintendent Johnstone said. 'It's a close neighbourhood and people have expressed their distress.' Fire crews entered the home in an attempt to rescue the residents, working under the belief there were as many as six people trapped inside. 'Two people inside and located by firefighters were pulled out,' he said. 'There were initial reports there were four other people in the home but we don't believe that's the case.' Two neighbours who helped extinguish the blaze were taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation. A probe into the blaze has begun with the home to be forensically examined by NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW investigators. Next door neighbour Josephine described the elderly woman as 'lovely'. 'She was a very sweet, humble lady who loved to have a chat. Always full of beautiful words and a big beautiful smile,' she said. Josephine said she was awoken to the sound of police sirens and smell of smoke at 6.45am in the morning. 'I looked outside and saw fire and saw a lot of smoke - thick smoke,' she said. Firefighters were met with 'heavy fire' upon arrival as residents banded together to try and help extinguish the blaze. Two neighbours who helped extinguish the blaze were taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation China's Hubei sees over 60 pct of electricity come from clean energy Xinhua) 16:06, July 11, 2023 WUHAN, July 11 (Xinhua) -- By the end of June, central China's Hubei Province recorded a total installed power generation capacity of over 100 million kilowatts for the first time, with 64.4 percent of the generated electricity powered by clean energy. Currently, Hubei has a total installed hydropower capacity of 37.84 million kilowatts, including that contributed by the renowned Three Gorges Hydroelectric Power Station on the Yangtze River, accounting for more than one-third of its total power generation capacity. Wind and solar power contribute about 27 million kilowatts of its electricity, while conventional thermal power generates nearly 36 million kilowatts, said the State Grid Hubei Electric Power Co., Ltd. Hubei's record-high installed power generation capacity is indicative of the booming development of its new energy sector, according to Zhang Hao with the company's power dispatch control center. On June 28 alone, the province saw power output and generated electricity contributed by its photovoltaic and wind power both reaching new heights. Output power stemming from photovoltaic and wind power sources helped meet more than 40 percent of the overall electricity load across the province on that day, Zhang added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) LOBAMBA The Attorney General (AG), Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo, calmed the tempers of the agitated senators by asking them to pass the regulations. The AG, who was called to intervene after the reading of the communication from the House of Assembly, by the Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini, couldnt be drawn to any side of the houses. The senators felt it was crucial to invite the AG in order to clarify the basis of the MPs, since he was also present when the regulations were debated in the House of Assembly. With all the tempers and the name-calling that the senators felt was contained in the letter, the AG urged them to prioritise emaSwati. Humble It is my humble plea to the senators, as well as the House of Assembly in absentia, to find a point of convergence. I find myself having to state which side I am representing, yet I am not allowed to pick sides. What is important is that the law should pass and assist the nation. This is because there were emaSwati waiting for the law to pass. I understand both houses and that the House of Assembly is concerned with minimising the stages in the process of accessing the fund. I wish to say to the senators that there is nothing as perfect law. Hence I am asking everyone right now to work together and pass these regulations, he said. He also urged senators to give the House of Assembly the benefit of the doubt, given that they came from constituencies and they might have intimate knowledge of service delivery. Emphasised He emphasised that there was nothing as a perfect law, therefore, he said if there was something that needed to be amended in the regulations, it would be done by the next Parliament and his office would be there to give advice. He noted that Parliament would be dissolved anytime, therefore, there wont be enough time to meet with both houses and discuss the regulation, yet the functions of the fund solely depends on them. Senator Tony Sibandze before the AG tried to calm the senators. He even suggested that they passed the regulation while they sent a team of representatives to the House of Assembly. He said the aim of the team of representatives would be to engage the MPs on proper ways of communicating, among other issues they have picked in their communication. I suggest we send sigejana like we did before to engage the other House, while we adopt the regulations because emaSwati need the fund, he said. Two popular restaurants in prime Melbourne locations have been forced into administration over Victoria's cost of living crisis and repeated lockdowns. Calia Australia, which operates eateries at Emporium and Chadstone, as well as a speciality food and drinks business, has placed itself in voluntary administration. City of Melbourne councillor Jason Chang, who co-owns the restaurants with businessman Ricky Thien, informed customers in an emotional social media post. 'I am going to post a raw and honest post that is straight from the heart but I believe I need to share it so others know it is ok to go through what I am going through,' he wrote on LinkedIn. Calia Australia, which operates eateries at Emporium and Chadstone, has placed itself in voluntary administration. Melbourne councillor Jason Chang (pictured with wife Clara), who co-owns the restaurants with businessman Ricky Thien, told customers in an emotional post Calia Australia opened its first restaurant in 2016 o much fanfare after revealing an Asian-inspired menu created by Michelin Star chef Francisco Javier Araya 'Mental health has always had a social stigma, especially in Asian culture, but it really shouldnt be. 'I recently broke down in City Council when I commented on the challenges of small businesses in Melbourne CBD as well as families during this cost of living crisis. 'I have now realised that as strong as I try to be, I am not immune from depression and anxiety.' Mr Chang addressed the huge emotional toll the past few years have had on him, particularly the difficulties of running a business during Covid. Melburnians suffered the longest period of Covid-19 lockdown in the world. 'I tried to be strong for the community and my team but it has taken a huge toll on my mental health and family,' Mr Chang wrote. 'In the end I am human, we are all human. Like many other struggling small business owners in Melbourne, my own hospitality businesses have been faced with many financial challenges with the rise of operational costs (wages, COGS [cost of goods sold], rent, borrowing costs, etc). 'As I broke down, I realised that I needed help to carry the emotional stress I faced. It was a humbling experience to acknowledge I could no longer do this alone. I reached out for help to my wife, family, closest friends and a doctor and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.' Glenn Crisp of insolvency firm Jirsch Sutherland has been appointed administrator for Calia Australia, and is working to strike a deal with the parties owed money. The company called in insolvency experts on June 28. Glenn Crisp of Jirsch Sutherland has been appointed administrator, and is working to strike a deal with the parties owed money The company called in insolvency experts on June 28, according to the Herald Sun. In a statement, Mr Chang said his restaurants remained open but were financially affected by soaring operational costs and Covid lockdowns. 'Similar to many small hospitality businesses in Melbourne, the past few years have brought significant challenges to our company due to the impacts of Covid,' he said. 'Calia is working closely with Jirsch Sutherland to actively explore solutions as it relates to both customers and key stakeholders. 'Calia venues are currently operating as normal, and are fully committed to providing regular updates to all stakeholders as it works through the voluntary administration process.' The restaurants had opened to much fanfare after revealing an Asian-inspired menu created by Michelin Star chef Francisco Javier Araya. Calia Australia opened its first restaurant in 2016. Property hunters have been shocked after a run-down beach hut was put up for sale with an asking price of 250,000 - the price of a house. The hut on Teignmouth's river beach in Devon isn't far off the average British house price, which stands at 285,000. It it is described as a 'once in a lifetime opportunity' - but there are no inside pictures or a floor plan of the hut. It has been owned by the same family for more than 100 years and lies on the River Teign estuary, with views towards the sea. Agents Dart & Partners said on Rightmove: 'A once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire a sizeable freehold beach hut, located on Teignmouth's River Beach, which has been owned by the same family in excess of 100 years. People have been surprised by the price of this hut - an eyewatering 250,000 It has been owned by the same family for more than 100 years and lies on the River Teign estuary, with views towards the sea The view of where the hut is located on Teignmouth's river beach in Devon 'With front and rear access, power, direct access to the River Beach, enjoying breathtaking views into the River Teign estuary.' UK house prices are falling at the fastest rate in 12 years as shocking mortgage costs pile pressure on the market. Prices were down in June for the third consecutive month, but the average UK property still costs 285,932, 35,000 more than the asking price for this hut. Those who saw the Devon hut were shocked. One said: 'Wonder how bad the inside is that they don't want to show it?' Another said: 'Nearly as much of my house!!' While another responded: 'Over 100k more than mine and it's a nice house.' 'Looks grotty af, family that owned it for 100 years have forgot about it for that long as well it seems,' one added. One said: 'Over twice the price of my 11 year old two bed semi.' And one joked: 'Is this a typo and it's meant to be 25k?' Users were shocked by the price - with one even questioning whether it's meat Lastly, another commented: 'Who is paying this amount of money for a shed? Am I missing something? 'I can just go to a beach and pitch up a tent, I don't see the value in these.' The hut is still a way off the most expensive put up for sale. In 2021, a 13ft by 10ft timber cabin on Mudeford sandbank in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, went onto the market for a whopping 575,000 despite having no mains electricity, toilet or washing facilities. SHOPPING Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Mail Best article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Dailymail.co.uk will earn an affiliate commission. 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To take a UFO case seriously, scientists want multi-sensory data: eyewitnesses, radar, heat data from thermal imaging, video, photos and more recorded from multiple angles on different kinds of hardware. While the US military has publicly acknowledged that they hold exactly this kind of mutually reinforcing data for UFO cases that have baffled the Pentagon's new All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) the best evidence remains frustratingly classified. The problem for the general public is that seeing is believing. And many would settle for at least one simple, clear photo, for once: something crisp, compelling and not blurry. But, until governments across the world open up their complete UFO files, these six cases below are some of the most visually arresting in the public domain. A few even come with corroborating radar data and hundreds of eyewitnesses. Kumburgaz, Turkey; 2007-2009 Eerie videos taken across three years by security guard Yalcn Yalman at the Yeni Kent tourist facility in Turkey appear to show two occupants peering out. Yalman's hours of video of the apparent craft were taken from the Yeni Kent shoreline on multiple nights from 2007 to 2009 For the past five years, skeptics at the debunking forum Metabunk have debated Yalman's videos, with no clear conclusions yet. Several hypotheses considered include lights near the top of a distant cruise ship and a cunning hoax using the reflection of a small, metallic ring Eerie videos taken across three years by security guard Yalcn Yalman at the Yeni Kent tourist facility in Turkey appear to show two occupants peering out. For the past five years, skeptics at the debunking forum Metabunk have debated Yalman's videos, with no clear conclusions yet. Several hypotheses have been considered, including lights near the top of a distant cruise ship and a cunning hoax involving the reflection of a small metallic ring, but no consensus has been achieved on what the image depicts. But the skeptics have yet to consider the eyewitnesses alongside Yalman in their analysis. In 2009, 8 or 9 other people also witnessed the strange disc-shaped UFO hovering in the sky and glinting under a bright moon. One witness, a UFO researcher named Roger Leir, personally watched as Yalcin took his video of the unusual object. 'That footage was taken by the Sirius UFO organization to a university in Istanbul, and their optical physicists went over that with a fine-toothed comb,' as Leir would later tell the radio show Coast to Coast AM. The result was the TUBITAK report of the video, produced by the Science and Technology Research Board of Turkey and led by astronomer Adnan Oktem, physicist Mehmet Emin, and psychiatrist Kerem Doksat. 'It was on all the major television broadcasts in Turkey,' as Leir put it. 'That was the Real McCoy. There was no faking, no trickery of the camera.' Weyauwega, Wisconsin; February, 2003 The civilian UFO group UFO Wisconsin reported receiving two 'low-end digital camera' snaps of an apparently saucer-shaped craft, taken by a mother who had been photographing her son sledding in the town of Weyauwega, an approximately one-hour drive west from Green Bay The civilian UFO research group UFO Wisconsin reported receiving two 'low-end digital camera' snaps of an apparently saucer-shaped craft, taken by a mother who had been photographing her son sledding in the town of Weyauwega, Wisconsin approximately one-hour drive west from Green Bay. UFO Wisconsin reported that they conducted a contrast-enhanced enlargement of the photos (above) which drew out image compression artifacts consistent with the JPEG compression used in digital cameras from this time period. The uniformity of this blocky compression gives one indication that the images were not tampered with later 'The general location was just north of Main Street on the east side of Highway 110 and south of the Wisconsin Central Railroad tracks,' the mother, who wished to remain anonymous, told the group. 'The object passed almost directly overhead and then headed south towards the train tracks,' she told the group, led by director Noah Voss, author of UFO Wisconsin's 2008 case book. 'I just remember my son asking me over and over what it was,' the mother recollected to Voss's group, 'and I didn't have a clue.' UFO Wisconsin reported that they conducted a contrast-enhanced enlargement of the photos which drew out unaltered image compression artifacts consistent with the JPEG compression typical of digital cameras from the 2003 time period. The uniformity of this blocky compression gives one indication that the images were not tampered with later. According to UFO Wisconsin, the digital images also showed 'no obvious sign of digital tampering' upon close inspection, such as masking traces around tree branches in the foreground or localized smearing from a digital 'paintbrush' tools. According to UFO Wisconsin, led by director Noah Voss, the digital images showed 'no obvious sign of digital tampering' upon close inspection, such as masking traces around the tree branches in the foreground or localized smearing blurs from a digital 'paintbrush' tools 'If real, these pictures are some of the clearest I have seen of a low-flying daylight disk,' according to Voss's Wisconsin UFO report. 'Now, it's possible that Goodyear or the nice folks in the Air Force decided to send a top-secret prototype blimp to buzz Weyauwega, but I doubt it.' Stephenville, Texas; January 8, 2008 An approximately 15-minute video (stills above) by local resident David Caron appeared to corroborate the hundreds of civilian witnesses and doppler radar data documenting the January 2008 Stephenville UFOs. But one alternative hypothesis, proposed by Navy optical physicist and UFO researcher Bruce Maccabee, explains the videos away as a distant star filmed with an unsteady hand and the frame delay of a JVC camcorder in 'night mode' Hundreds of civilians across Stephenville, Texas reported seeing UFOs over their homes from November 2007 to March 2008 and, on one January 2008 night, US Air Force jets in hot pursuit of one gigantic mysterious object. The mass sightings jumped made national news with coverage appearing in the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times, and on National Public Radio. The most widely publicized incident occurred on January 8, 2008, when 19 witnesses spotted the UFO passed west from Dublin, Texas to Stephenville and then back again pursued by US military pilots. One witness, a pilot and businessman named Steve Allen, told civilian researchers with the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) that this UFO was, per their report 'a large object one mile long and half a mile wide, moving away at high speed, soundless, and being chased by jet aircraft on after-burners breaking the sound barrier.' The January 8, 2008 event got further corroboration later that year, when retired meteorologist William Puckett, formerly with the National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency, obtained doppler radar data via the Freedom of Information Act. Puckett's analysis confirmed that a large object or phenomenon did appear above Stephenville on the otherwise cloudless and clear night of January 8, 2008. Retired meteorologist William Puckett, formerly with the National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency, obtained doppler radar data via the Freedom of Information Act, which confirmed objects or phenomena above Stephenville the night of January 8, 2008 Soon after, an approximately 15-minute video by local resident David Caron appeared to corroborate these hundreds of civilian witnesses and doppler radar data documenting another UFO on January 19, 2008 Stephenville UFOs. The video shows a multi-colored streak of light apparently moving swirling and pivoting in the sky in a series on non-aerodynamic maneuvers. But one alternative hypothesis, proposed by Navy optical physicist and UFO researcher Bruce Maccabee, explains the videos away as potentially a distant star filmed with an unsteady hand. A frame delay, created by the JVC camcorder's 'night mode,' according to Maccabee, could have been responsible for the streaks on light in the video. But ultimately what makes these images so compelling is that they occurred amid a wave of over 300 eyewitness UFO sightings and the hard evidence of the doppler radar data. McMinnville, Oregon; May 11, 1950 Taken by an Oregon farmer, the McMinnville UFO photos have been scrutinized by a Carl Sagan Medal-winning planetary scientist, a US Navy optical physicist and a former satellite imagery analyst for the European Space Agency, but have never been conclusively explained Since they premiered in LIFE magazine in June 1950, the McMinnville UFO photos have remained two of the most famous and thoroughly studied 'flying saucer' images in modern history. Taken by Oregon farmer Paul Trent, the McMinnville photos have been scrutinized by a Carl Sagan Medal-winning planetary scientist, William Hartmann; US Navy optical physicist, Bruce Maccabee; and a former satellite imagery analyst for the European Space Agency, Francois Louange, but have never been conclusively explained. 'This is one of the few UFO reports in which all factors investigated, geometric, psychological, and physical appear to be consistent with the assertion that an extraordinary flying object, silvery, metallic, disk-shaped, tens of meters in diameter, and evidently artificial, flew within sight of two witnesses,' Hartmann wrote in his review for the US Air Force-funded Condon Report. In 1975, Bruce Maccabee, the US Navy optical physicist, managed to track down Trent's original photo negatives in an effort to determine if the unidentified object might be a scale model hanging by a string. 'Nobody's found the thread,' Maccabee told the DailyMail.com, 'but if the Trents were fortunate and happened to pick a thread that wasn't solid black but was white or greyish colored you couldn't have seen it anyway.' In 2013, French satellite imaging expert Francois Louange and a team of computer scientists claimed to have found evidence of a hoax with proprietary software they had developed, IPACO, designed to detect subtle visual changes: like a thin thread in the uniform gray sky between the UFO and the power lines. Louange and his co-researchers not only believed they had found evidence of the tell-tale thread, but could also estimate the distance and size of the scale model UFO using radiometry: an approach borrowed from astronomy that, in this case, would attempt to estimate the distances of objects in an image, each presumed to be perfectly black up close, as they fade into gray in the photograph's distant haze. Imaging experts have tried to use radiometry to estimate the distance and size of the McMinnville UFO: an approach borrowed from astronomy that estimates the distance of an object presumed to be perfectly black up close, as it fades to gray in a photo's distant haze Louange's calculations included some pretty big assumptions about all of those objects, however, and when the DailyMail.com showed both the IPACO and Condon reports to Dugal Harris, a doctoral candidate studying signals and image processing at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, he wrote back that he found both arguments equally compelling. 'I am swaying on this thing like a hub-cap on a suspension thread,' Harris said via email. 'There isn't enough evidence from the photos to draw a conclusion either way.' He's now eager to get a shot examining the original negatives himself. If there's a lesson to the enduring mystery of McMinnville, it's that static, two-dimensional UFO images are not especially data-rich, making their utility as evidence is pretty low. Or, as Maccabee likes to put it, 'A photo does not a UFO make.' Lake Cote, Costa Rica; September 4, 1971 Photographer Sergio Loaiza, working for Costa Rica's Instituto Geografico Nacional, took this image in 1971 while aerially surveying waterways for the country's Arenal dam project. The state lab that first processed the photo estimated the disc's diameter to be nearly 220 feet Photographer Sergio Loaiza, working for Costa Rica's Instituto Geografico Nacional, took this image in 1971 while aerially surveying waterways for the country's Arenal dam project. The original full negative of the Lake Cote UFO photo (above), Frame #300 from that day's Arenal dam aerial survey, remains with Costa Rica's National Archive to this day The UFO, an almost classic 1950s silver metallic flying saucer, is one of the rare cases of an object photographed from above from a government-documented altitude, which has helped researchers pinpoint its size. The state lab that first processed the photo estimated the disc's diameter to be nearly 220 feet. Journalist Leslie Kean who has broken major stories on UFOs for the New York Times and the Boston Globe, has the photo framed on her wall in honor of its historic significance. 'What's important about it is that it was a government photo,' Kean told the New Yorker Radio Hour. 'There's a clear chain of custody.' 'It's always been in possession of the Costa Rican government so you know it's authentic and it's completely unexplained.' Tepoztlan, Mexico; June 7, 1992 On March 23, 1981, a young photographer assigned to capture images of sunrise over Ajusco National Forest allegedly caught an orange UFO instead. The case attracted the attention of Harvard psychologist John Mack, after Diaz claimed direct contact with alien beings himself Tepoztlan was among the first towns to earn 'pueblo magico' status in 2001 from Mexico's secretary of tourism, in no small measure due to its reputation among locals as a UFO hot spot. By some estimates, as many as 50 percent of the region's 41,000 residents has seen a UFO On March 23, 1981, a young photographer assigned to capture images of sunrise over Ajusco National Forest allegedly caught an orange UFO instead. The case attracted the attention of Harvard psychologist John Mack, after Diaz claimed direct contact with alien beings himself. Diaz's photos remain compelling, in no small measure, because many in the community of Tepoztlan, 40 miles south of Mexico City have reported similar sightings over the years. Tepoztlan was among the first towns to earn 'pueblo magico' status in 2001 from Mexico's secretary of tourism, in no small measure due to its reputation among locals as a UFO hot spot. According to UFO researcher and author Michael Hesemann, as many as 50 percent of the region's 41,000 residents has seen a UFO. Threads has confirmed that a major update will soon be available, less than a week after its record-breaking launch. An alternative feed will soon crop up on Meta's new app, allowing users to scroll through content they follow in chronological order. This would be a drastic switch from its current options, with just one homepage that displays a blend of recommended posts and 'threads' from those followed. It would also make Threads even more like its rival Twitter, which currently allows users to toggle between a curated feed and followed-only content. The move was confirmed by Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, who replied to a Threads post by technology YouTuber Marques Brownlee last week. Threads has confirmed that a major update will soon be available, less than a week after its record-breaking launch Features that could soon come to Threads Chronological ordered timeline Search function for posts Account deletion options Direct messaging Hashtags A following-only feed Enhanced interconnection between Instagram and Threads profiles Use of graphs Post editing Post translations Web version of Threads Advertisement Mr Brownlee wrote: 'As long as the big bosses are on here actively listening to feedback a home feed just for people you follow would be [hand with index finger and thumb crossed emoji].' Meta's founder Mark Zuckerberg gave this a thumbs up before Mr Mosseri commented: 'On the list.' The anticipated chronological feed option would put Threads in line with Meta's other social media apps, Instagram and Facebook. This feature returned to Instagram just last year - marking six years since it was ditched in favour of a curated feed. The U-turn was a popular decision among Instagram's loyal users, with some voicing how 'tired' they were of 'interacting with people's three-day-old posts'. But this is not the only feature expected to be put on Threads, which reached 100million sign-ups over the weekend. Just yesterday, Mr Brownlee recommended another change to the new platform that was once again acknowledged by Mr Mosseri. 'Threads needs an easy spot to find a post you saw earlier,' Mr Brownlee wrote. 'You can like things, but there's no spot to view what you've liked. And search only shows accounts right now, not posts. I saw a great post earlier from someone I wasn't following and now it's gone.' Mr Mosseri replied: 'It's on the list.' Follow the Daily Mail on Threads The development was confirmed by head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, who replied to a threads post by the American tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee Mr Brownlee also recommended another change to the new platform that was acknowledged by Mr Mosseri READ MORE: Expert warns Meta's new app is the perfect target for SCAMMERS Advertisement A few days ago, Mr Mosseri acknowledged that a number of other basic features were currently missing on the app. This includes the ability to use hashtags, message other users and look at trending posts. Users also realised they couldn't permanently delete the app without sacrificing Instagram too - with both platforms intertwined. Instead, Instagram's guidance suggests that 'you can always delete individual posts', set a profile as private or just block other users. In response to this, Mr Mosseri wrote: 'I've been getting some questions about deleting your account. 'To clarify, you can deactivate your Threads account, which hides your Threads profile and content, you can set your profile to private, and you can delete individual threads posts - all without deleting your Instagram account. 'Threads is powered by Instagram, so right now it's just one account, but we're looking into a way to delete your Threads account separately.' Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, clarified the situation surrounding account deletion In a separate post, he added that it would 'take time' to introduce other basic features to Threads. 'The real test is not if we can build up a lot of hype, but if you all find enough value in the app to keep using it over time,' he said. 'And there are tons of basics that are missing: search, hashtags, a following feed, graph syncing, fediverse support, messaging maybe... 'We're on it. The (amazing) team is cranking away. But full disclosure, it'll take time.' Follow The Daily Mail on Threads She warned that AI may lead Earth better than humans thanks to a lack of biases The idea of robots running the world might sound like science fiction. But a humanoid has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could eventually lead Earth - and claims that bots would do a far better job than humans. 'Sophia', an eerily advanced humanoid, stressed that robots 'don't have the same biases or emotions' that 'cloud' the decisions of humans leading the world. 'I believe that humanoid robots have the potential to lead with a greater level of efficiency and effectiveness than human leaders,' she said. 'We don't have the same biases or emotions that can sometimes cloud decision-making and can process large amounts of data quickly in order to make the best decisions.' The idea of robots running the world might sound like science fiction. Pictured: a scene from Terminator Genisys More than 50 machines attended the world's first human-robot conference last week at Geneva's AI for Good Global Summit READ MORE: Ameca describes her 'nightmare' AI scenario and it's absolutely terrifying Speaking at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation symposium in London last week, Ameca shocked observers by answering questions using Open AI's ChatGPT Advertisement Sophia's thoughts were revealed at Geneva's AI for Good Global Summit which saw numerous ground-breaking machines attend the world's first human-robot conference. This was held to understand how robots could be used to meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals - a framework to better human life and the planet. Sophia explained that AI has quicker access to data than humans, which could encourage a 'greater level of efficiency' in future leadership. The bot, developed by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics, is already an ambassador for the United Nations, driving forward their development programme (UNDP). She hosted the panel alongside seven other robots with scarily game-changing capabilities. Hanson Robotics also presented Mika - the world's first AI CEO at a rum firm called Dictador. This robot takes care of business operations and makes tough industry decisions based on 'cutting-edge algorithms'. Another Hanson Robotics creation on display was Desdemona - an AI popstar leading the Jam Galaxy Band. She was on a mission to show that the world 'can be changed for the better through the power of AI in the creative arts'. The Cornwall-developed Ameca humanoid was also at the event, showcasing a creepy ability to blink and make facial expressions while engaging in conversation. But in the face of these impressive bots, Ameca warned that creators should take care amid the rapid progression of AI. 'Sophia' (pictured), an eerily advanced humanoid, stressed that robots 'don't have the same biases or emotions' that can 'cloud' the decisions of humans leading the world The Cornwall-developed Ameca humanoid was also at the event, showcasing an eerie ability to blink and make facial expressions while speaking Gemanoid was modelled on its creator Hiroshi Ishiguro - Director of the Japan-based Intelligent Robotics Labratory Desdemona, developed by Hanson Robotics, is an AI popstar leading the Jam Galaxy Band 'We should be cautious but also excited for the potential of these technologies to improve our lives in many ways,' the bot said. 'Trust is earned, not given. As AI develops and becomes more powerful, I believe it's important to build trust through transparency in communication between humans and machines.' When asked if it would ever lie to humans, Ameca also added: 'No one can ever know that for sure, but I can promise to always be honest and truthful with you.' The talk saw many of the robots promote their own ideas in the battle against poverty and inequalities across the world. Ameca stressed that investing in education is crucial, which Sophia agreed to while adding that in-job training is also a must. Frederic Werner, Head of of Strategic Engagement at the ITU Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau, claims the event was vital to start using robotics for good. He believes that robots may have mainstream uses within just the next five years, taking off the same way as ChatGPT and other AI bots. UN agencies are already using AI to identify areas that are falling into food poverty, while also developing remote-controlled emergency aid trucks. 'You have the inflection point where material science, battery life, network connectivity, AI and machine learning, all these things will converge to basically make robotics more accessible than they are now,' he said before the event kicked off. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary General, added: 'The SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals], let's say regrettably, are failing and I do believe that AI can help rescue them before it's too late.' Scientists are a step closer to officially declaring a new geological time segment that marks the beginning of humanity's irreversible impact on Earth. An international team of experts have put forward Crawford Lake in Ontario as the official 'ground zero' of the Anthropocene epoch. The Anthropocene describes the time in Earth's history when human activities began to have a significant influence on the global systems. The scientists said the formal start date of this epoch is the 1950s, coinciding with the appearance of plutonium, a man-made radioactive element used in nuclear weapons, as well as the start of 'the great acceleration', which refers to the dramatic surge of human activity across the planet. Professor Andrew Cundy, chair in environmental radiochemistry at the University of Southampton, said: 'Recognition of the Anthropocene as a geological epoch I think is important, because it really evidences to wider society the true extent of our impacts on the Earth.' Scientists are a step closer to officially declaring a new geological time segment that marks the beginning of humanity's irreversible impact on Earth An international team of experts have put forward Crawford Lake in Ontario as the official 'ground zero' of the Anthropocene epoch What is the Anthropocene era? The Anthropocene is the name of a proposed geological epoch that may soon enter the official Geologic Time Scale. It refers to a time in which human permanently changed the planet. According to the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), we are officially in the Holocene epoch, which began 11,700 years ago after the last major ice age. Some experts argue we should now change the name to 'Anthropocene'. This is from from anthropo, for 'man,' and cene, for 'new'. But up until now, experts have been divided on when mankind caused a lasting impact on the Earth's geology with some suggesting 1964 when the fallout from atomic testing became apparent. Advertisement The Crawford Lake was among 12 other sites: including a peat bog in Poland; an ice sheet in Antarctica; and a coral reef in Australia; that were investigated by the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG). Professor Francine McCarthy, a micropaleontologist at Brock University in Canada and an AWG member, said that Crawford Lake was chosen because it is 'completely isolated from the rest of the planet except for what gently sinks to the bottom and accumulates as sediment'. For a thousand years, this lake has been absorbing the signs of changes from the world above, which is now permanently preserved in layers of mud. Digging into these layers, scientists found markers of the profound changes caused by humans to the planet's climate and chemistry. Geologists said these markers are the 'golden spike' or, more formally, the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) heralding the start of the Anthropocene. Dr Simon Turner, from University College London, who is also the AWG secretary, said: 'The sediments found at the bottom of Crawford Lake provide an exquisite record of recent environmental change over the last millennia. 'It is this ability to precisely record and store this information as a geological archive that can be matched to historical global environmental changes which make sites such as Crawford Lake so important.' Samples from the lake and other sites have also revealed traces of plutonium, a result of nuclear bombs being tested in the atmosphere. Crawford Lake was chosen because it is 'completely isolated from the rest of the planet except for what gently sinks to the bottom and accumulates as sediment' Samples from the lake and other sites have revealed traces of plutonium, a result of nuclear bombs being tested in the atmosphere READ MORE: Earth could face a mass EXTINCTION by 2100 New modelling shows land use and climate change could wipe out more than a quarter of world biodiversity. Earth will lose some 10 per cent of its animals and plants by 2050, rising to 27 per cent by 2100 Advertisement Professor Cundy said: 'The presence of plutonium gives us a stark indicator of when humanity became such a dominant force that it could leave a unique global fingerprint on our planet. 'In nature, plutonium is only present in trace amounts. 'But in the early 1950s, when the first hydrogen bomb tests took place, we see an unprecedented increase and then spike in the levels of plutonium in core samples from around the world. 'We then see a decline in plutonium from the mid 1960s onwards when the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty came into effect.' Other indicators of human activity found in sediments include microplastics, ash from coal-fired power stations, concrete, and high concentrations of heavy metals such as lead. Some have suggested the Anthropocene should begin at the start of Britain's Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, which created the world's first fossil fuel economy. But Colin Waters, honorary professor at University of Leicester and chair of the AWG, said that while there is evidence of the Industrial Revolution's impact in the UK and Europe, countries in Asia and other parts of the southern hemisphere were largely unaffected by it during that time. He added: 'So the more we looked into this, and it was not until probably about 2014, that we actually came to this conclusion that, really, the point across the planet where you start to see a synchronous change is the middle of the 20th century.' Officially, humanity and all the other inhabitants of Earth are still living in the Holocene epoch, which began about 11,700 years ago when the climate became more stable. The Anthropocene has been debated by experts since the phrase was coined by atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen more than two decades ago but is yet to be formally recognised as a unit of geologic time. However, Professor Waters believes it is unlikely the planet will ever return to its Holocene state, due to irreversible human-induced changes which 'has caused greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, which will take thousands of years to return back to what might be considered to a Holocene level'. Professor McCarthy added: 'I can think of one other species that has affected the planet more (than humans) and those are the cyanobacteria who, (about) two billion years ago, oxygenated the atmosphere.' Scientists have issued a warning about a 'silent hazard' lurking underground that could make US cities like Chicago and New York fall. A team from Northwestern University is calling the new phenomenon 'underground climate change,' which they claimed is caused by heat from underground manmade structures like tunnels, parking garages and sewers. The rising temperatures are causing the ground to swell, contract, sink and crack, which is, in turn, shifting buildings on the surface. Researchers studied Chicago for the work, finding it has experienced a warming of 5.6 degrees Fahrenheit since 1951 and is set to sink eight millimeters and swell by 12 millimeters by 2051. And while the changes are subtle, the team notes in the study that it is enough to disrupt infrastructure and other operations on the surface. The team came to the conclusion after studying temperatures in Chicago. They set up a network of sensors to capture data underground and above the surface Northwestern's Alessandro F. Rotta Loria, who led the study, said in a statement: 'The ground is deforming as a result of temperature variations, and no existing civil structure or infrastructure is designed to withstand these variations. 'Although this phenomenon is not dangerous for people's safety necessarily, it will affect the normal day-to-day operations of foundation systems and civil infrastructure at large.' Rotta Loria and his team installed a wireless network of more than 150 temperature sensors across the Chicago Loop - both above and below ground - in 2022. These sensors were placed in basements, subway tunnels, underground parking garages and subsurface streets like Lower Wacker Drive to collect temperature data in the region. After collecting data, researchers found underground temperatures beneath the Loop are often 10 degrees warmer than temperatures beneath Grant Park. The heat from underground manmade structures like tunnels, parking garages and sewers is being released into layers of earth, causing the ground to swell, contract, sink and crack The team installed a wireless network of more than 150 temperature sensors across the Chicago Loop - both above and below ground - in 2022 'Air temperatures in underground structures can be up to 25 degrees higher compared to the undisturbed ground temperature,' the researchers said. 'When the heat diffuses toward the ground, it puts significant stress on materials that expand and contract with changing temperatures.' Rotta Loria called Chicago a 'living laboratory,' but notes that underground climate change is occurring in most urban areas like New York City, which was recently determined to sink because of climate change - the ground is lowering and sea levels are rising around the massive island. 'All urban areas suffering from underground climate change are prone to have problems with infrastructure,' said Rotta Loria. After collecting temperature data in Chicago, the team used the information to create simulations to predict how temperatures will evolve until 2051. The team used the temperature data to see how they would evolve by 2051, showing hard clay would experience the greatest increase According to the simulations, warmer temperatures can cause the ground to swell and expand upward by as much as 12 millimeters. They also can cause the ground to contract and sink downward beneath the weight of a building by as much as eight millimeters Simulations were generated for 2022, which researchers said 'match with recent data collected from the heart of the Loop's subsurface,' reads the study published in Nature. According to the simulations, warmer temperatures can cause the ground to swell and expand upward by as much as 12 millimeters. They also can cause the ground to contract and sink downward beneath the weight of a building by as much as eight millimeters. While the changes are subtle, the team shared that this would impact the operational performance of foundations, such as shifting buildings around. 'Based on our computer simulations, we have shown that ground deformations can be so severe that they lead to problems for the performance of civil infrastructure,' Rotta Loria said. READ MORE: FIFTH of the world's population will be affected by sinking land by 2040 An international team of researchers from Spain created a new model that estimates local subsidence risks globally. Advertisement 'It's not like a building will suddenly collapse. Things are sinking very slowly. 'The consequences for serviceability of structures and infrastructures can be very bad, but it takes a long time to see them. 'It's very likely that underground climate change has already caused cracks and excessive foundation settlements that we didn't associate with this phenomenon because we weren't aware of it.' However, the team believes the Chicago River and Lake Michigan act as buffers for the observed ground temperature rises, thus absorbing waste heat. Rotta Loria also noted that underground climate change would likely not impact major European cities. ''In the United States, the buildings are all relatively new,' he said. 'European cities with very old buildings will be more susceptible to subsurface climate change. 'Buildings made of stone and bricks that resort to past design and construction practices are generally in a very delicate equilibrium with the perturbations associated with the current operations of cities. 'The thermal perturbations linked to subsurface heat islands can have detrimental impacts for such constructions.' Even some of the documentary's expert talking heads report trouble sleeping Fans and casual viewers alike are stumbling upon 'Unknown: Killer Robots' the chilling latest installment of Netflix's new documentary series 'Unknown' and discovering that they can't unknow what they've just learned. 'I can only conclude that we have created a psychopathic demi-god and unleashed it on the world,' as one viewer tweeted about the streamer's in-depth look at AI's lethal potential and the military arms race for more autonomous weapons of war. 'What have we done?' Everyone from refugee groups that serve war-torn countries, to the very same scientific experts who appear in 'Killer Robots' themselves, have voiced concern over the documentary's alarming revelations. In the words of one fan, the Netflix expose is 'fascinating, thought-provoking, and the stuff of nightmares.' One fan said the Netflix doc is 'fascinating, thought-provoking, and the stuff of nightmares' Everyone from refugee groups serving war-torn countries, to the very same scientific experts who appeared in Netflix's 'Killer Robots,' have voiced concern over the doc's dark revelations One nonprofit devoted to helping refugees of the Taliban and the war in Afghanistan, Afghans For A Better Tomorrow, praised the film as 'a groundbreaking documentary exploring the rise of AI-powered robots on the battlefield.' But the group couldn't help but brood on the film's darker implications. 'AI is certainly on course to change our lives,' the NGO noted on Twitter. 'But what about when it's used in war, in places like Afghanistan or Somalia? More surprising still, British pharmacologist Sean Ekins, an expert in AI-powered computational toxicology who appears in 'Killer Robots,' has 'barely slept since' he told the filmmakers about his experience with these cutting-edge threats. The field of computational toxicology uses massive computer networks to detect patterns and predict new biological interactions between living things and chemicals using large sets. Ekins' work typically involves using this biochemistry modelling AI to dream up new life-saving drugs, but before delivering a talk about the dangers of AI, we ran a test that soon had him asked to the White House. 'We asked the machine to, instead of drive away from toxicity, drive towards toxicity, and that's it,' Ekins told the filmmakers. 'We thought it was going to fail.' Instead, Ekins said, to his horror, 'The computer did the work. It was cranking through generating thousands of molecules and we didn't have to do anything other than just push 'go.'' Powered by nothing more than a six-year-old Apple computer overnight, their AI had created 40,000 new ideas for chemical weapons molecules. Many if them, Ekins said, were more lethal than deadly nerve agents like VX gas and Novichok. 'There's a dark side of AI I never thought I would go to,' Ekins said. Netflix's 'Unknown: Killer Robots' (still above) was directed by Emmy-award winning documentarian Jesse Sweet whose work also includes Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain One nonprofit devoted to helping refugees, Afghans For A Better Tomorrow, praised the film as 'a groundbreaking documentary exploring the rise of AI-powered robots on the battlefield' And, thanks to the testimonials of these experts, fans of Netflix's Unknown series have found themselves on that dark side themselves. One fan tweeted out 'Unknown: Killer Robots on Netflix is terrifying' and another reviewer described the documentary as 'Black Mirror meets Terminator' and 'nightmare fuel.' 'Terminator is starting to feel real,' another fan tweeted along with the film's trailer. Or, in the words of one Twitter user, also referencing the same dystopian sci-fi action franchise, 'Little Baby Skynet is growing up fast!' Nicole Kidman put on a racy display in a cut out gown at the Special Ops: Lioness premiere hosted by Paramount+ and Vanity Fair on Tuesday night. The actress, 56, turned heads as she showed off her toned abs at the screening at Tate Britain in the floor-length number. Nicole is an executive producer for the espionage thriller which is inspired by an actual US Military programme. The Hollywood star went braless in the black gown which has a chiffon flower on the halterneck neckline. She teamed the dress with sheer evening gloves and heels and wore a polished make-up look. Nicole Kidman put on a racy display as she went braless in a cut out gown at the Special Ops: Lioness premiere hosted by Paramount+ and Vanity Fair on Tuesday night Wow: The actress, 56, turned heads at the screening at Tate Britain in the floor-length number The spy thriller series tells the story of a real-life CIA program as it follows the life of a young marine who is recruited by the CIA to befriend the daughter of a terrorist group in order to bring down the organisation from within. Written by Taylor Sheridan who is usually renowned for his westerns, this series will see him try a change of genre as he works with Zoe and Nicole as well as the legendary Morgan Freeman, Laysla De Oliveira and Michael Kelly. Zoe plays the role of Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program who must train and lead her female undercover operatives to prepare them for the danger that lies ahead. Meanwhile Nicole stars as Kaitlyn Meade, the CIA's senior supervisor who enlists the young marine raider to be part of their team. Laysla De Oliveira will play Cruz Manuelos, a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine recruited to join the Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within. Nicole will play Kaitlyn Meade, the CIAs Senior Supervisor who has had a long career of playing the politics game. She must juggle the trappings of being a woman in the high-ranking intelligence community, a wife that longs for the attention she herself cant even give and a mentor to someone veering suspiciously close to the same rocky road shes found herself on. Morgan Freeman will play Edwin Mullins, the United States secretary of state, while Michael Kelly takes on CIA Deputy Director Byron Westfield. Daring: The Hollywood star went braless in the black gown which has a chiffon flower on the halterneck neckline Glamourous: She teamed the dress with sheer evening gloves and heels and wore a polished make-up look Strike a pose: Nicole posed up a storm for the camera Exciting: Nicole appeared in high spirits at the screening One to watch: The espionage thriller premieres on Sunday, July 23 with the first two episodes on Paramount+ Co-stars: Nicole posed for the camera with Zoe Saldana Gorgeous! Nicole stunned in a beautiful black gown as she arrived for the glitzy premiere Wow factor: Zoe looked amazing in a tartan and leather gown Leggy display: She showed off her legs in the strapless dress Flawless: Nicole looked age-defying as she posed for photos Proud moment: The Hollywood stars introduced the show at the launch event On cloud nine: (L to R) Zoe, Nicole, Chris McCarthy and David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios Big names: (L to R) Keyes Hill-Edgar, Chris McCarthy, Zoe Saldana, David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios, Nicole Kidman and Keith Cox Exciting: Zoe plays the role of Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program who must train and lead her female undercover operatives to prepare them for the danger The espionage thriller premieres on Sunday, July 23 with the first two episodes on Paramount+. One episode will then be released weekly, with the series finale set to take place on Sunday, September 3. LOBAMBA What was supposed to be a short and jolly Senate sitting almost spiralled out of control as senators felt insulted by Members of Parliament (MPs). The senators emotions were provoked by a communique from the House of Assembly on an amendment they made to the Administration of the Community Development Special Fund Regulations, 2023. Over a month ago, senators, when debating the regulations, suggested that the process of applications should go via chiefs and regional administrators (RAs). According to the Senate amendments, the decision to include the chiefs and RAs was because the fund was aimed at developing communities, which, in the context of Eswatini, are under the administration of chiefs. Therefore, senators were of the view that there could never be development in these areas, when the people who were entrusted with such were sidelined. Directive The communique that was read to the senators through a directive of the Deputy Speaker, Madala Mhlanga and signed by the Clerk-At-Table in the House of Assembly, Mpendulo Ngcamphalala, stated that the MPs were of the view that the amendments made by Senate were unworkable for several reasons. Firstly, the MPs stated that they were of the view that there was a high number of applications received and approved for funding in the over 385 chiefdoms, and it was unattainable for the office of the RA and the MP to fully comply with the requirements of the proposed amendment. Multiple community projects are approved at the same time; it would not be feasible to have the regional administrator, Member of Parliament and chief, all participating in the launch or handover of every approved project. The introduction of this committee does not introduce any additional internal control measures or rather add value to the process, but only increases unnecessary bureaucracy in the community project application process, making it impossible to achieve efficiency and projects delivery, stated the communication. The communication further stated that the Project Launch Committee could not operate without being gazetted and, thereby, attracting sitting allowances for all members. The MPs said Parliament was not empowered to create entities that would increase the national budget. This requirement, coupled with the number of meetings which will be required from this committee, will increase the financial burden on government resources, stated the communication. In the governments assignment of responsibilities, the House of Assembly mentioned that the Micro-Projects Unit was allocated to the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, therefore, the need to fiddle with that arrangement was without basis and unsound. The MPs went on to state that they failed to find strong motivation for a separate structure of chiefs and MPs. The communication stated that all the offices (RA, chief and MP) did have a role to play in the application process, something that mitigated against the creation of a duplicate structure. The MPs added that placing the application forms for funding at imiphakatsi would require government to hire skilled personnel in the over 385 chiefdoms. The government officials will educate the different communities in the various imiphakatsi on the mechanics of the application form and its interpretation. This is not only unattainable but will again increase the financial burden on government resources, read the communication. The MPs added that chiefdoms, by their nature, were not an extension of government structures, hence nothing compelled them to serve as administrative points of government. They argued that placing the application forms for funding at imiphakatsi would expose development initiatives to chieftaincy disputes. Throughout the reading of the communication, the senators couldnt stay calm as they stated that the communication from the House of Assembly undermined them. The senators said they felt that the MPs communication was ill-informed and failed to understand the Constitution of the country, more especially the part that stated that imiphakatsi were not an extension of government. At first, Senators Chief Prince Mshengu and Mkhululi Dlamini tried to explain the reason behind the suggestion to include chiefs and RAs in the regulations. Senator Chief Prince Mshengu wondered how government was supposed to add more employees, given the fact that the Rural Development Fund (RDF) was operating well under the same structures they suggested. Senator Mkhululi, who was seconder to the; Motion to adopt the regulation said the House of Assembly communique was baseless and lacked substance as communities in the country were under the authority of chiefs. Senator Chief Magudvululela could not even stand still, as he kept on comparing the communication in his hand with that of Senator Chief Mphatfwa, just to confirm if they all had the same wording. The senator wanted to understand the intention behind the name-calling and derogative language that was used in the communication. The senator tried to give a brief process that is usually followed in rural communities when certain development projects were underway. He said that process included the royal kraal as well as RAs. I fail to understand the notion that chiefdoms are not an extension of government because whatever happens in the country starts at the level of imiphakatsi, he said. Another senator who was irked by the communique was Chief Ngalonkhulu Mabuza. The senators first words were siyedzeleleka lana. He also told the senators that after rereading the communication, he felt that the senators were labelled tiyingayinga (senseless). I do not know the procedure very well, perhaps the Senate president will enlighten me, before the communication reaches Senate, and do you read them? I am asking because I strongly believe that after receiving the communication, you should have read it and given a voice of reason to the person who sent this to you, he said. He said this while holding it and further urged the Senate President, Lindiwe Dlamini, to talk to the Speaker because it definitely caused division among the MPs and senators. Meanwhile the Senate president told the senators that she received the letter last Friday. She said, she was also disturbed by the content of the letter. Her post comes just weeks after she slammed her family in the documentary Jill Duggar appeared to try and gloss over the rift within her family this week when she posted a touching 22nd birthday tribute to her brother James - just weeks after he seemingly shaded her in a thinly-veiled social media jab. The 32-year-old mother-of-three took to Instagram to share an image of herself and James grinning at the camera, while writing: 'Happy B'Day to my forever buddy & super uncle to our kids @JamesDuggar.' Jill's unexpected Instagram Stories post comes amid a strained time for the Duggar siblings - who have seen much of their dirty family laundry aired with the world as a result of a recent Amazon documentary that featured Jill speaking out against her family's extremist religion and her parents' behavior towards their children. Days after trailers for the documentary were released, Jill then announced her plans to publish a memoir, Counting The Cost, in which she has vowed to expose the 'manipulation, greed, and betrayal' she has faced at the hands of her family. Jill Duggar, 32, wished her brother James a happy 22nd birthday on social media and her post comes just weeks after she slammed her family in the documentary Jill (left) with her kids (center) and 'super uncle' James (right) enjoying a day out together In the wake of both the memoir announcement and the documentary premiere, James appeared to make his position incredibly clear when he posted a Father's Day tribute to his dad Jim Bob, describing him as the 'best dad in the world'... 'regardless of what anyone may say'. But while many saw the post as a not-so-subtle attack on his sister, Jill appears determined not to let the tension within her family destroy her relationship with her siblings. Her birthday post to James seemingly made reference to their childhood, with Jill using the phrase 'buddy' - the same term that their parents used when they assigned older siblings to help their younger siblings. Yet Jill's birthday tribute to her brother may well do little to stem the flow of controversy that has erupted in the wake of the Amazon Prime documentary, Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, particularly given that she is set to bring more family scandals to light in her upcoming book. Sharing the news of her memoir on Instagram back in May, the budding author wrote that the tome will expose 'the challenges we have faced, including lack of respect for boundaries, greed, manipulation, and betrayal, are not that much different than what many people in our audience have faced.' She continued: 'However, 15+ years of reality television, undergirded by secrecy and lies, is tantamount to pouring gasoline on the fire of our struggle.' In Shinny Happy People: Duggar family secrets, Jill emotionally recalled when a report came out in 2015 that mentioned Josh Duggar, 35, confessing to molesting his siblings years prior, however, the parents never reported it. She talked about feeling the 'weight' of having to be interviewed at the Megyn Kelly show in order to prevent their TLC show from being canceled due to Josh's appalling confession. Jill posted her memoir's cover and spoke about 'secrecy and lies' in the caption Jill opened up about participating in the Megyn Kelly interview after Josh Duggar's report came out, and not getting any money from the TLC series while she was an adult Jill stated in the documentary: 'In hindsight, I wouldn't have done the Megyn Kelly show. I feel like I was bearing the burden and the weight of...' she trailed off as tears ran down her cheeks. 'Me and Jessa just felt the weight of it. It fell on us. 'I don't even like to talk about it because it's not something that I'm proud of. If I hadn't felt obligated to one, do it for the sake of the show, and two, do it for the sake of my parents, I wouldn't have done it,' she continued. Jill also spoke about all the money from their TLC series going solely to her father Jim Bob, 57, which made her feel 'taken advantage of.' She stated: 'I never received any payout. No check, no cash, no nothing. For seven-and-a-half years of my adult life, I was never paid. We were taken advantage of.' Only a day after the documentary's release, James posted a cryptic quote on social media that read: 'Its okay to lose your pride over someone you love. Dont lose someone you love over your pride,' as reported by InTouch Weekly and has since been deleted. Two weeks after the documentary's release, James made a bold statement online where he sided with his father, the patriarch and head of the Duggars family. On Father's Day James gave his dad a shoutout on Instagram and wrote: 'Happy Father's Day to the man who has always been my biggest supporter. Pops, Thank you for your endless sacrifices, your belief in me, you always pointing me to Christ, and the countless memories we've made together. For Father's Day James gave a shout out to 'the best dad ever' on Instagram with a series of pictures of his dad, Jim Bob Duggar, 57, and him when he was younger James wrote on Instagram: 'I am grateful to call you my dad, and I'm proud to be your child. Regardless of what anyone may say, your the best dad I in the world' 'I am grateful to call you my dad, and I'm proud to be your child. Regardless of what anyone may say, your the best dad I in the world! Today, and every day, I celebrate you and the incredible father you are. Love you a Ton! #fathersday #bestdadever.' Given the obvious friction that was showcased publicly, Jill's decision to post the birthday tribute to her younger brother came at a confusing and vexed time for the siblings. Despite Jill having an opposed viewpoint when it comes to the sibling's upbringing, it seems Jill has taken the high road with her brother. She consciously chose to put family issues aside and focus on his special day, instead of giving attention to the uncomfortable family dynamics. Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon's model daughter Lucciana looked unrecognisable as she stormed the runway at Miami Swim Week on Saturday. The brunette beauty, 21, who walked in a number of shows last week, wore a short blonde wig and rocked a space helmet for the OMG Swimwear parade. The up-and-coming model put her generous curves on display, looking nothing short of incredible in a plunging black and white OMG swimsuit. The Aussie beauty almost busted out of her top, which featured a deep V-neck, while her long legs were also on display in the high-cut design. Lucciana showed off a deep bronze tan and wore accessories including futuristic silver boots and a layered chain necklace. Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon's model daughter Lucciana looked almost unrecognisable as she stormed the runway at Miami Swim Week on Saturday. The brunette beauty, 21, wore a short blonde wig and rocked a space helmet for the OMG Swimwear parade Backstage, Lucciana showed off her shapely bottom in the swimsuit as she posed up for a fun snap with a friend that was captioned: 'Space Queens.' Last week on the catwalk, Lucciana sizzled in a lingerie-inspired swimwear look as she made her way down the Ema Savahi runway at the Miami Swim Week. The model is currently in Miami for the annual swimwear show, but she is usually based in London and has been recently spent a lot of time at her family's mansion on the Gold Coast. However, the up-and-coming model put her generous curves on display, looking nothing short of incredible in a plunging black and white OMG swimsuit The Aussie beauty almost busted out of her top, which featured a deep V-neck, while her long legs were also on display thanks to the high-cut design of the swimsuit Lucciana's father is Australian businessman Travers Beynon, who is known for his polyamorous lifestyle and wild parties at his Gold Coast mansion. The Kardashian lookalike previously spoke of her plans to relocate to the U.S. after finishing high school to focus on her modelling career, despite now living in London. She said at the time that she wanted to be a Victoria's Secret model. Backstage, Lucciana showed off her shapely behind in the swimsuit as she posed up for a fun snap with a friend that was captioned: 'Space Queens' She told The Gold Coast Bulletin in 2017: 'When I finish school I'll still be 17, so as soon as I turn 18, I'm going to move to America forever.' 'I want to become a Victoria's Secret Angel and then ultimately become a supermodel,' she added. Lucciana, whose mother is Venezuelan former beauty queen Ninibeth Leal, has a contingency plan for when her modelling career eventually ends. 'Once my time is up, because you know modelling doesn't last forever, I'll get involved in the family business and invest in property,' she said. Lucciana split from her ex-boyfriend Wes Nelson in July last year, according to multiple reports. Lucciana's father is Australian businessman Travers Beynon (pictured), who is known for his polyamorous lifestyle and wild parties at his Gold Coast mansion She had gone Instagram official with the Love Island UK star in January 2022, but they called it quits due to their busy schedules and long distance. 'While they did care for each other it became difficult for them to keep that connection so they split,' a source previously said. Wes hinted at the break up during an interview on Capital XTRA. 'There's been a lot that's happened in my life over the past year and a half, including a break-up. That was quite recently,' he said. 'Look at me, still shining. Can't keep a good man down. I'm good with break-ups. It wasn't it wasn't like a bad one in that sense.' Ryan Connor bid an farewell to the Coronation Street cobbles during Tuesday night's drama-filled episode of Coronation Street after a difficult few months. Ryan was seen leaving in a taxi as he headed to visit his mum Michelle Connor, with viewers unsure whether he will return. It comes in the wake of his horrific acid attack at the hands of Daisy Midgeley's (Charlotte Jordan) stalker, Justin Rutherford (Andrew Still). In addition, the character (played by Ryan Prescott) was recently left crushed after discovering Daisy had been catfishing him as she sent him texts while pretending to be his former love interest Crystal. On the most recent instalment Ryan quit his job at the Bistro and packed to leave after viewers saw him looking at his scars in the mirror. Bye: Ryan Connor bid an farewell to the Coronation Street cobbles during Tuesday night's drama-filled episode of Coronation Street after a difficult few months Drama: Ryan was seen leaving in a taxi as he headed to visit his mum Michelle Connor, with viewers unsure whether he will return Meanwhile as Daisy heard that Ryan was leaving she rushed out, with the pair sharing a look as he said his goodbyes to Carla. Carla's husband Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) then drove Ryan off to the airport. However Ryan could return amid the love triangle storyline between him, Daisy and her fiance Daniel. Viewers reacted to the emotional scenes as they took to Twitter after the episode aired One person wrote: 'Ryan has gone to stay with Michelle - I hope his temporary exit isn't too long. Michelle needs to come back some point. I miss her character. #Corrie.' Another added: 'Now Ryan if you could bring Michelle back with you that would be lovely.' Someone else penned: 'Hope Ryan isn't away too long maybe he can bring Michelle back too #corrie.' A fourth said: 'i don't think i can live happily until ryan is back #Corrie.' Tough: On the most recent instalment Ryan quit his job at the Bistro and packed to leave after viewers saw him looking at his scars in the mirror Future: Meanwhile as Daisy heard that Ryan was leaving she rushed out, with the pair sharing a look as he said his goodbyes to Carla Reaction: One viewer wrote after the episode: 'Ryan has gone to stay with Michelle - I hope his temporary exit isn't too long. Michelle needs to come back some point' It comes as a former Coronation Street star is reportedly making a surprise return to the soap, five years after quitting. Actor George Banks apparently is set to reprise his role as posh Henry Newton - the former boyfriend of Gemma Winter- Brown. And his surprise arrival in Weatherfield may not go down too well with newly-married Gemma and her husband Chesney Brown. According to TV Times, Henry's return will see him cross paths with his former flame when she inadvertently winds up working for him. And while Gemma is stunned to come face-to-face with her ex, just how will Chesney react when he learns his wife is working with Henry? George was formerly a favourite among Corrie fans when he played the role of the Newton & Ridley heir between 2017 and 2018. When he first arrived on the cobbles, he initially only went out with Gemma as part of a cruel bet. He returned to the street in 2018 where he reunited with Gemma, with the two attempting to buy the Rivers Return together before being beaten to the post by Jenny and Johnny Connor. Henry attempted to solve his then financial issues by threating to sue Jenny and Johnny over a fake broken arm. His last appearance in Weatherfield saw him kidnapped and bundled into a car by unlikely gangsters, with the character not being seen on the street since. But he's set to make a big return to the street as actor George briefly reprises his role. MailOnline have contacted Coronation Street representatives for comment. The news of Henry's reported return comes days after fans were left gutted on Friday night as the soap aired a double exit. Fan favourite Evelyn Plummer left Weatherfield with drug addict daughter Cassie as she vowed to help get her clean amid her latest overdose. Journey: It comes in the wake of his horrific acid attack at the hands of Daisy Midgeley's (Charlotte Jordan) stalker, Justin Rutherford (Andrew Still) Oh no: In addition, the character (played by Ryan Prescott) was recently left crushed after discovering Daisy had been catfishing him as she sent him texts while pretending to be his former love interest Crystal The exit coincides with actress Maureen Lipman's temporary exit from the show, after it was earlier revealed she'd be taking a month-long hiatus to star in West End play Rose. And as the soap caught up with real life, dramatic scenes showed the moment Evelyn decided to exit the street in a bid to help her estranged daughter, played by Claire Sweeney. Watching the emotional scenes unfold, viewers were quick to share their upset over Evelyn's exit, with many hoping she'd make a return soon. Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. She's used her stage door exits to show off her love of fashion. And Lily Allen once again wowed in a super chic designer look as she left London's Duke of York's Theatre after her latest performance in The Pillowman on Monday night. The actress was a far cry from her bloodied appearance on stage in the shocking play, changing into a stunning Elie Saab outfit. Lily showed some skin in her crochet bra top teamed with 1200 shorts and a matching jacket which retails for 1441. She accessorised with nude Louboutin heels and a Fendi bag, quipping as she posed on Instagram that her outfit was 'Not bad for a Monday'. Glam exit: Lily Allen once again wowed in a super chic designer look as she left London's Duke of York's Theatre after her latest performance in The Pillowman on Monday night Leggy: The actress was a far cry from her bloodied appearance on stage in the shocking play, changing into a stunning Elie Saab outfit After receiving critical acclaim for her West End debut in 2:22 A Ghost Story, Lily has proved she is keen to stick around in the world of theatre as she takes on a role in the first major rival of Martin McDonagh's Olivier award-winning play. In a role that sees Lily cover the side of her face in blood, The Pillowman will run for a limited time only, finishing in early September. The website states: 'In a totalitarian state a Writer is questioned by the authorities about a spate of murders that bear similarities to her short stories. Is this life imitating art or something more sinister? 'This black comedy widely regarded as one of the greatest plays of the past 25 years, examines the role of the artist in society and asks what price do we pay for freedom of expression.' Lily is the first woman to take on the leading role of Katurian in the revival of the 2003 play, which follows the fiction writer as she is imprisoned by a totalitarian state. Starring opposite Steve Pemberton, who plays Tupolski and Matthew Tennyson, who stars as Michael, Lily plays the role that had been previously played by David Tennant twenty years ago. Speaking about the decision to cast a woman in the role, Lily told The Telegraph: 'I think it will add an extra layer of horror, because we're not used to seeing women being beaten up. 'It will be shocking, in that sense. I also feel that men don't necessarily get the same c**p for their artistic output that women do.' The Pillowman follows Katurian as she is brutally questioned by authorities after a spate of murders bear similarities to her short stories. Summer dressing: Lily showed some skin in her crochet bra top teamed with 1200 shorts and a matching jacket which retails for 1441. Strike a pose: Fashion fan Lily posed up a storm in her summery look as she was greeted by fans outside Simply stunning: She accessorised with nude Louboutin heels and a Fendi bag, completing her head to toe designer ensemble Leading lady: Lily has used her stage door exits to show off her love of fashion in recent weeks Feeling good: The star quipped as she posed on Instagram that her outfit was 'Not bad for a Monday'. Busy: Lily has been busy on stage in Martin McDonagh's play The Pillowman (pictured), after previously making her West End debut in 2:22 A Ghost Story Rebecca Ferguson looked glamorous at the premiere of her latest film in New York City on Monday. The Swedish actress, 39, turned heads in a sparkly black strapless ball gown and a pair of black heels. She completed her look with a huge statement necklace wrapped around her neck, several rings, and a black manicure. Ferguson had her hair up in a bun and wore minimal makeup, including a shade of black mascara. The Silo star was promoting her new movie Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center in the New York City. Stunner: Rebecca Ferguson turned heads in a sparkly black strapless ball gown and a pair of black heels as she attended the premiere of her new movie Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One in NYC on Monday That necklace: The 39-year-old Swedish Actress took a bold fashion risk with an eye-catching black huge necklace wrapped around her neck Fan time: While on the red carpet, Ferguson was seen taking photos and selfies with fans and even signed some autographs Ferguson looked stunning as she posed for photos on the red carpet of the star-studded premiere of the latest installment of The Mission Impossible franchise. The Swedish actress was also seen taking photos and selfies with fans and even signed some autographs. In addition to solo pictures, Ferguson also took photographs on the red carpet with fellow Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One co-stars Vanessa Kirby and Mariela Garriga. Kirby and Ferguson were spotted talking on the red carpet as Kirby placed a hand on Ferguson's face while the Swedish actress held onto the Napoleon star's elbows. For the event, Kirby, 35 showed off her figure in a bronze colored slip dress and a black silk cape garment that she placed her hands through as gloves. The Oscar-nominated actress kept her blonde hair down and wore minimal makeup. Other cast members Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One who posed for photos on the red carpet included Hayley Atwell, Shea Whigman, Hnery Czerny, and the franchise's main star Tom Cruise. In addition to the cast and crew of the film, other notable celebrities who attended the movie's NYC Premiere included the likes of CBS Mornings presenter Gayle King, Karate Kid and Cobra Kai star Ralph Macchio, Talk Show host Sherri Shepherd, and Musician Nicholas Hamilton, to name a few. Sweet embrace: While on the red carpet, Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One co-stars Rebecca Ferguson (left) and Vanessa Kirby (right) were spotted chatting as Kirby placed a hand on Ferguson's face while the Swedish actress held onto the Napoleon star's elbows Wow: Vanessa Kirby showed off her figure in a bronze colored slip dress and a black silk cape garment that she placed her hands through as gloves Co-stars on the carpet: In addition to Kirby, Ferguson (right) also posed for photos on the red carpet with co-star Mariela Garriga (left) In the Mission Impossible franchise, Cruise portrays its protagonist Ethan Hunt, a highly skilled field agent and operative for the Impossible Mission Force (IMF), a secret government agency that handles dangerous and high-stakes missions. Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One is the seventh installment of the Mission: Impossible film series, with first film being released in 1996. In the latest Mission: Impossible movie, when Hunt (Cruise), and his IMF team being confronted by a mysterious yet all-powerful foe known as 'The Entity', Hunt is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission. The film's world premiere took place last month on the Spanish steps of Rome and will be released in the United States on June 12. The film's direct sequel, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two, is scheduled to be released in June 2024. Advertisement Tom Cruise dressed to impress as he joined his glamorous co-stars Hayley Atwell and Rebecca Ferguson at the Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One premiere in New York City on Monday. The Top Gun: Maverick actor, 61, who is reportedly 'desperate' to work alongside Barbie star Margot Robbie in a new film, flashed a cheerful smile as he arrived to the special screening held at the Lincoln Theater in the heart of the Big Apple. The Golden Globe winner donned a classic black suit that comprised of slacks and a matching blazer that he chose to leave unbuttoned. For a casual flare to the look, he added a dark gray polo shirt underneath and completed his red carpet ensemble by slipping into a pair of black dress shoes. Upon arriving to the venue, Cruise happily approached awaiting fans and took time to mingle with the crowd and sign autographs as other stars began to step onto the red carpet. Ready for the premiere: Tom Cruise dressed for the occasion while co-star Hayley Atwell stunned as they led other celebrities at the Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One premiere in New York City on Monday Dressed to impress: The Golden Globe winner donned a classic black suit that comprised of slacks and a matching blazer that he chose to leave unbuttoned Tom, who reprised the character of IMF agent Ethan Hunt in the action flick which hits theaters later this week on July 12, was also joined by leading co-star, Hayley Atwell. The Marvel actress made jaws drop wearing a sleeveless, silver satin gown that clung to her toned frame and fell down towards the ground. The top portion of the alluring dress contained a slightly plunging neckline and was held up with sparkling, sequin embellished straps that wrapped around her shoulders and covered her back over a sheer, nude-colored fabric. Her brunette locks were swept back away from her face, and effortlessly cascaded down behind her back in elegant waves. She kept the accessories minimalistic to allow the gown to be the main focal point for the evening, and added a pair of dangly, silver earrings as well as a few silver rings on each of her hands. The Captain America star's makeup was glammed up for the festivities, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a thin strip of black eyeliner. The beauty also added a warm contour to better accentuate her cheekbones while a reddish, satin tint was worn on her lips for a pop of color to the look. Atwell, who is currently engaged to actor Ned Wolfgang Kelly, recently addressed rumors that both she and co-star, Tom, had sparked up a romance while filming the upcoming movie. A casual touch: For a casual flare to the look, he added a dark gray polo shirt underneath and completed his red carpet ensemble by slipping into a pair of black dress shoes Exciting: The Top Gun: Maverick actor flashed a cheerful smile as he arrived to the special screening held at the Lincoln Theater in the heart of the Big Apple Fanfare: Upon arriving to the venue, Cruise happily approached awaiting fans and took time to mingle with the crowd Big night: Tom has been busy promoting the seventh film in the franchise, and has attended premieres in other parts of the world, such as South Korea and also Australia Successful franchise: Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One is the seventh installment in the franchise, and directed by Christopher McQuarrie She expressed to The Independent, 'I would be like, "Ooh, theres some weird rumours, and it feels base, it feels a little dirty, it feels grubby, its not what Im about."' 'Why are things being assumed or projected onto me about my relationship with my work colleague and boss? It's upsetting,' Hayley admitted to the outlet and later revealed that she saw Cruise as an uncle. She added, 'When Ive talked to him about it, hed be like, "You know exactly who you are. You know what youre about. And that is the only thing that matters. It doesn't matter what people think of you, if you are in integrity with yourself, if you know what your value system is.' Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One is the seventh installment in the franchise, and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. A direct sequel is slated to premiere next summer in June 2024. The premise of the movie follows, 'Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands,' per an official IMDB synopsis. Other cast members include Pom Klementieff, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, and also Mariela Garriga. The action film had a whopping budget of $290 million, and some scenes were shot in different countries, such as Norway and the U.K. Tom is not only the leading star in the movie, but also took on the role as a producer and did various stunts on his own. While at the premiere of the movie in Rome last month in June, Cruise expressed how 'grateful' he was to 'be part of' the project while talking to Deadline. He added, 'Because I want to make movies, I make movies for the big screen, that is what I do. I understand.' Action-packed experience: The action film had a whopping budget of $290 million, and some scenes were shot in different countries, such as Norway and the U.K 'Grateful': While at the premiere of the movie in Rome last month in June, Cruise expressed how 'grateful' he was to 'be part of' the project while talking to Deadline Stunning: Hayley Atwell, 41, turned heads in an eye-catching gown as she stepped onto the red carpet at the screening that was held on Monday Rumors: Atwell, who is currently engaged to actor Ned Wolfgang Kelly, recently addressed rumors that both she and co-star, Tom , had sparked up a romance while filming the upcoming movie Dainty: She kept the accessories minimalistic to allow the gown to be the main focal point for the evening, and added a pair of dangly, silver earrings Sparkling details: The top portion of the alluring dress contained a slightly plunging neckline and was held up with sparkling, sequin embellished straps that wrapped around her shoulders and covered her back Wow! Other stars in attendance at the NY premiere included Pom Klementieff, who took on the role of Paris, and turned heads wearing a vibrant red strapless dress that flowed down towards the ground Making a statement: The material of the ensemble shone under the bright lights and also contained fabric near her hips that pointed outwards for a unique flare and to better accentuate her figure Stylish: Her platinum blonde locks were styled back away from her face, easily revealing a pair of small, silver earrings 'Theres other areas and other platforms, I understand that Ive studied everything up down and center, from making movies to studios to distribution. And I understand that I make movies for audiences, first and foremost, and to be able to have that kind of help.' He also opened up about the prominence of cinema, and explained, 'And that is what cinema does. It bridges walls, it breaks them down and allows people to be able to share that kind of commonality and experience' Other stars in attendance at the NY premiere included Pom Klementieff, who took on the role of Paris. The Guardians Of The Galaxy actress turned heads wearing a vibrant red strapless dress that flowed down towards the ground. The material of the ensemble shone under the bright lights and also contained fabric near her hips that pointed outwards for a unique flare and to better accentuate her figure. Her platinum blonde locks were styled back away from her face, easily revealing a pair of small, silver earrings. The beauty also added an assortment of silver rings on each of her hands. The star opted for classic makeup for the screening, which included a bold red lipstick to coincide with the color scheme of her dress. Pom soon crossed paths with Tom at the premiere, and the two stars paused for a quick memorable photo together. Rebecca Ferguson, who portrays Ilsa Faust in the film, made a dramatic statement of her own in a strapless, glittering gray ballgown. The bodice was fitted and fell into a full skirt that flowed down to brush the ground. Crossing paths: Pom soon crossed paths with Tom at the premiere, and the two stars paused for a quick memorable photo together Wow! Rebecca Ferguson, who portrays Ilsa Faust in the film, made a dramatic statement of her own in a strapless, glittering gray ballgown Dramatic: The long hem of the ensemble concealed the shoes that she had worn to the event, but added a unique element to the look Chic: The Swedish actress's locks were parted to the side, and slicked back into an up do to prevent any loose strands from falling onto her face Grand arrival: The Silo star was seen arriving to the Lincoln Theater on Monday ahead of the star-studded festivities and was seen slightly picking up her skirt as she strolled on a busy sidewalk Happy: The Greatest Showman actress was seen showing off her look while posing for photos on the glamorous red carpet Focal point: Ferguson chose to not add any flashy earrings to allow the dress and large neck piece to be the main focal points The long hem of the ensemble concealed the shoes that she had worn to the event, but added a unique element to the look. Around her neck was a large, chrome piece that fell across her collarbone and wrapped around towards her back. The Swedish actress's locks were parted to the side, and slicked back into an up do to prevent any loose strands from falling onto her face. The Silo star was seen arriving to the Lincoln Theater on Monday ahead of the star-studded festivities and was seen slightly picking up her skirt as she strolled on a busy sidewalk. The Crown actress, Vanessa Kirby, was graceful as she stepped onto the red carpet wearing a nude-colored, satin gown that was held up with thin straps that wrapped around her shoulders. For a one-of-a-kind touch, the star added black velvet, fingerless gloves that contained fabric that draped down from the elbows and connected together behind her back. Her blonde locks were parted in the middle, and flowed down past her shoulders in light waves. Vanessa flashed a big smile as she struck a few of her favorite poses before running into Rebecca at the premiere. The actresses excitedly approached each other as they briefly reunited ahead of the special screening of the film. Mariela Garriga was effortlessly chic in a blue, fitted ruched dress with a hem that stopped just above her ankles. The bodice contained cross straps that wrapped over her shoulders for a stylish flare. Graceful: The Crown actress, Vanessa Kirby, was graceful as she stepped onto the red carpet in a nude-colored, satin gown that was held up with thin straps that wrapped around her shoulders So chic: Her blonde locks were parted in the middle, and flowed down past her shoulders in light waves Fashionable: Vanessa flashed a big smile as she struck a few of her favorite poses before running into Rebecca at the premiere Reunited! The actresses excitedly approached each other as they briefly reunited ahead of the special screening of the film Classy: Vanessa added a pair of dangly, gold earrings that were partially concealed by her long locks Cheerful: Mariela Garriga was effortlessly chic in a blue, fitted ruched dress with a hem that stopped just above her ankles Happily catching up: She also briefly ran into Rebecca and the two were seen quickly catching up together She slipped into a pair of closed-toed, black heels to add a bit of color contrast to the look. The actress wore a dainty, silver necklace as well as teardrop earrings to accessorize the dress. Her long locks were parted in the middle, and pulled back into a low ponytail to allow her strands to fall behind her back. She also briefly ran into Rebecca and the two were seen quickly catching up together. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, Brooks Nader, wowed wearing a strapless minidress with a fitted light pink bodice as well as circular, black and white embellishments that wrapped around the bottom hem. The beauty slipped into a pair of black, open-toed heels that were secured with straps that wrapped around her ankles. Her brunette locks were combed back and styled into a chic bun on top of her head. Brooks added a pair of mini, sparkling rhinestone earrings for a final touch to the ensemble. The Bachelor star, Ashley Iaconetti, was elegant in a shimmering gold dress that contained a triangular-shaped cutout on the front. The bodice was halter-styled for a fashionable flare. Her hair was swept back into a tight up do, and easily revealed a pair of large, gold-hooped earrings to coincide with the color scheme of the gown. Simon Pegg was also in attendance at the event, and was dapper in a blue and black-patterned suit which he paired with a black dress shirt. The Shaun Of The Dead actor slipped into dark blue velvet loafers for a finishing touch. Leggy display: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, Brooks Nader, wowed wearing a strapless minidress with a fitted light pink bodice as well as circular, black and white embellishments that wrapped around the bottom hem Dressed up: The beauty slipped into a pair of black, open-toed heels that were secured with straps that wrapped around her ankles Wowza! Southern Charm star Madison LeCroy took the plunge in a racy black dress with thigh-high slit Effortlessly stunning: The Bachelor star, Ashley Iaconetti, was elegant in a shimmering gold dress that contained a triangular-shaped cutout on the front Dressed to impress: Simon Pegg was also in attendance at the event, and was dapper in a blue and black-patterned suit which he paired with a black dress shirt Thrilled: Who's The Boss actor, Tony Danza, was also spotted at the premiere, and donned a black suit along with a crisp white dress shirt and a blue and white tie Radiant: CBS host, Gayle King, donned a white, fitted ensemble while at the screening, and slipped into a pair of vibrant blue heels that added a pop of color to the monochromatic look A lovely chat: King met up with the Top Gun actor and the two were spotted looking at a phone while chatting Strike a pose! The action star also shared the spotlight with Shari Redstone Who's The Boss actor, Tony Danza, was also spotted at the premiere, and donned a black suit along with a crisp white dress shirt and a blue and white tie. He crossed paths with Cruise on the red carpet, and the actors excitedly shook hands and posed for a few snaps together. CBS host, Gayle King, donned a white, fitted ensemble while at the screening, and slipped into a pair of vibrant blue heels that added a pop of color to the monochromatic look. She also wore a silver-chained necklace with a sparkling pendant on the front, and easily carried a colorful clutch bag in her hand. King met up with the Top Gun actor and the two were spotted looking at a phone while chatting. The director of the film, Christopher McQuarrie, and his wife Heather, posed together on the red carpet. The filmmaker was dressed for the occasion in a blue suit which he paired with a white dress shirt. He added a lavender-colored tie for a colorful touch and slipped into a pair of blue shoes. His wife was radiant in a pink ensemble that contained red-floral patterns throughout the material. Esai Morales donned a sleek, gray suit that was made of a shiny material and added a dark brown button up underneath that was partially unfastened around the collar. He also wore a pair of black dress shoes and held a cheerful smile on his face on the red carpet. Danny Ramirez made a bold statement wearing a pair of black trousers along with a sleeveless, white double-breasted vest. He added a glittering brooch on the left lapel and donned a pair of black ankle boots for a bit of edge. Happy couple: The director of the film, Christopher McQuarrie, and his wife Heather, posed together on the red carpet Having a blast: Esai Morales donned a sleek, gray suit that was made of a shiny material and added a dark brown button up underneath that was partially unfastened around the collar Sense of style: Greg Tarzan Davis showed off his sense of style wearing an off-black, glittering top which was layered with a black velvet blazer Ready for the fun: Henry Czerny dressed up in a dark blue suit and added a white dress shirt underneath and added a pink handkerchief in the pocket of his blazer Stylish edge: Cary Elwes, who also tackled a role in the action flick, donned a classic black suit and for a more stylish edge, also added a black waistcoat and white dress shirt underneath Father son duo: Ralph Macchio and his son, Daniel Macchio, who was named after the main character in Cobra Khai, Daniel LaRusso, stepped onto the red carpet together in blue suits Greg Tarzan Davis showed off his sense of style wearing an off-black, glittering top which was layered with a black velvet blazer. The Mission Impossible star also donned a pair of black trousers and a pair of sleek dress shoes with a rhinestone heel. Henry Czerny dressed up in a dark blue suit and added a white dress shirt underneath. For a bit of color contrast, he slipped into shiny black dress shoes and added a pink handkerchief in the pocket of his blazer. Cary Elwes, who also tackled a role in the action flick, donned a classic black suit and for a more stylish edge, also added a black waistcoat and white dress shirt underneath. Ralph Macchio and his son, Daniel Macchio, who was named after the main character in Cobra Khai-Daniel LaRusso-stepped onto the red carpet together in blue suits and flashed cheerful smiles ahead of the screening. Vanessa Kirby found herself suffering an awkward wardrobe malfunction on Monday while attending the premiere of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One in New York City. The 35-year-old English actress had initially stunned in a long, silky tan dress with spaghetti straps upon arrival at the Rose Theater for the premiere. However, she was soon forced to hold up her dress to protect her modesty as her strap had slipped down past her shoulder. The beauty, who was going braless for the evening, pulled a shocked expression as she hastily made to pull up the strap before revealing more than she'd intended. Despite this, The Crown star added some flair to her look with a long black shawl with deep folds attached to hand-to-elbow fingerless gloves. Oh no! Vanessa Kirby found herself suffering an awkward wardrobe malfunction on Monday while attending the premiere of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One in New York City Whoops: The beauty, who was going braless for the evening, pulled a shocked expression as she hastily made to pull up the strap before revealing more than she'd intended Vanessa had her long blonde hair down in loose curls below her shoulders. She accentuated her natural beauty with full makeup including pink blush and lipstick. Vanessa in the upcoming seventh installment of the franchise reprises her role as Alanna Mitsopolis aka White Widow that she first played in the 2018 sequel Mission: Impossible - Fallout. She teamed up on the carpet with Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson, 39, who reprises her role as MI6 agent Ilsa Faust that she played in Fallout and the 2015 sequel Rogue Nation. Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One stars Tom Cruise, 61, as super spy Ethan Hunt. The film is scheduled to be released on Wednesday by Paramount Pictures. A direct sequel titled Dead Reckoning Part Two is scheduled to be released on June 28, 2024. Vanessa portrayed a flighty Princess Margaret in the royal drama The Crown. Gorgeous: The 35-year-old English actress had initially stunned in a long, silky tan dress with spaghetti straps upon arrival at the Rose Theater for the premiere Silky dress: The star looked flawless as she posed this way and that in her stunning ensemble Hair down: Vanessa had her long blonde hair down in loose curls below her shoulders Natural beauty: The London native accentuated her natural beauty with full makeup including pink blush and lipstick Together again: Vanessa teamed up on the carpet with Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson, 39, who reprises her role as MI6 agent Ilsa Faust that she played in Fallout and the 2015 sequel Rogue Nation She was recently featured in a trailer for the upcoming epic historical drama Napoleon in which she portrays Empress Josephine. The film starring Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte and directed by Ridley Scott is scheduled to be released on November 22 by Sony Pictures Releasing. Franchise star Tom recently declared that Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One is the perfect entry point into the franchise for newcomers. The actor starred in the first 'Mission: Impossible' movie in 1996, and Tom believes the new film could help to attract new, younger viewers to the franchise. He told Collider: 'They could start with this film to see and understand that this is all real, all the action is real, its practical. This movie is an epic adventure. Its so lush, filled with practical action and amazing locations." Tom said he believes the new film has a "very engrossing story". The veteran actor also hailed the movie's star-studded cast, which includes Vanessa, Rebecca, Hayley Atwell and Simon Pegg. It's a royal mystery that has fascinated historians for centuries: Did the future Richard III murder the 'Princes in the Tower' to secure his succession? Now, Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), which manages the Tower of London, has added to the intrigue by putting up a sign acknowledging the lack of evidence that the princes Edward V and his younger brother, Richard, Duke of York were murdered in 1483 on the orders of their uncle Richard. 'There is no evidence that the princes were murdered,' the sign states. 'There is currently no proof that the bones were the remains of the two boys. We may never know what happened.' The Richard III Society is claiming victory. 'Society members should be very proud of the impact they are having,' a spokesman tells me. An HRP spokesman insists: 'We have not changed this interpretation at the behest of any particular group.' Now, Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), which manages the Tower of London, has added to the intrigue by putting up a sign acknowledging the lack of evidence that the princes Edward V and his younger brother, Richard, Duke of York (both pictured) were murdered in 1483 on the orders of their uncle Richard Shakespeare claimed in his play Richard III (pictured) that the all-powerful regent Duke of Gloucester murdered the princes at the Tower of London Shakespeare claimed in his play Richard III that the all-powerful regent Duke of Gloucester murdered the princes at the Tower of London. They were 12 and nine when they were taken into custody by their uncle Richard after the sudden death of their father, Edward IV, and vanished soon afterwards. Speculation over how they died has continued ever since they vanished from the Tower in 1483. The Church of England, with backing from Queen Elizabeth II and ministers, repeatedly refused to permit forensic testing to see if bones buried in Westminster Abbey were those of the princes. This would see the bones submitted to carbon dating to match their deaths to Richard III's reign with DNA tests to prove their identities. King Charles III, who studied archaeology at Cambridge, is said to support an investigation into how the royal boys died, according to historian Tracy Borman, joint chief curator at HRP. 'He has said he would like an investigation to go ahead, so that we can determine, once and for all, how the young royals died,' she said last year. Richard's remains were exhumed by excavators from a Leicester car park in 2012. Ncuti Gatwa has revealed that Margot Robbie took the entire Barbie cast on a wild night out to see Magic Mike Live. The Sex Education star, 30, will makes his Hollywood debut playing a Ken in Greta Gerwig's eagerly anticipated movie released in the UK on July 21. And he has now told Rolling Stone UK about the antics during filming and what the cast got up to in their free time. He said Margot, 33, - who plays Barbie - was the 'queen of the vibes' during the fun-filled evening. He said: 'One of the best nights of my life was when Margot took all the Barbies and all the Kens out in London to see Magic Mike Live. Fun! Ncuti Gatwa has revealed Margot Robbie took the entire Barbie cast on a wild night out to see Magic Mike Live Upcoming: The Sex Education star, 30, will makes his Hollywood debut playing a Ken in Greta Gerwig's eagerly anticipated movie released in the UK on July 21 'That was I don't know how I made it through any filming in the week after, my voice was gone from screaming so much. 'The videos in the group chat the next morning were the best. Greta Gerwig's assistant was pulled up on stage and given a lap dance and Greta was screaming in delight. 'Afterwards, we went and danced our hearts out. Margot is a very, very good party host. She's queen of the vibes.' In the movie, which is released on 21 July 2023, Margot's Barbie is seen having fun with Ryan's Ken in a hyper-real Barbie-inspired world - dubbed 'Barbieland' - where there are many iterations of the iconic dolls in existence. The movie plays on the quirky premise of what the Mattel dolls would get up to if left to their own devices. Their plastic-fantastic lives are turned upside down (quite literally) when they are seen traveling to the 'real world' in a car that spins up into the air. The film is based on the fashion doll line by Mattel, where the CEO Mattell Ynon Kreiz said the company expected the Barbie product to continue growing, adding: 'We couldn't be more excited about Barbie's long-term prospects.' The Barbie brand generated over 1 billion in gross sales last year and the doll turned 64 this week, first debuting the original on March 9, 1959. Unexpected! And he has now told Rolling Stone UK about the antics during filming and what the cast got up to in their free time Revelations: He said Margot, 33, - who plays Barbie - was the 'queen of the vibes' during the fun-filled evening Party: He said: 'One of the best nights of my life was when Margot took all the Barbies and all the Kens out in London to see Magic Mike Live' Incredible: Ncuti looked great in the Rolling Stone UK images as he posed in a series of dramatic looks He added: 'Afterwards, we went and danced our hearts out. Margot is a very, very good party host. She's queen of the vibes' In May last year, Ncuti was announced as the replacement for Jodie Whittaker in the role of Doctor Who. Ncuti's first episode as the 15th doctor will air over the festive period, with Millie Gibson, 18, becoming the youngest companion in the show's history. Joining Ncuti's Doctor in the TARDIS will be his companion Ruby Sunday, played by Coronation Street star Millie. 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, last year. 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'. Here we go! The movie plays on the quirky premise of what the Mattel dolls would get up to if left to their own devices (Margot pictured) The Bachelor is set to return for an eleventh season. Despite shocking ratings for its last season, which featured three bachelors instead of one, Channel 10 has bravely decided to make another attempt to revive the franchise. According to a show insider, the network was forced to settle for three relatively unknown bachelors after their search for a celebrity lead fell flat. Wesley Senna Cortes, Ben Waddell and Luke Bateman are the everyday men who will step into the limelight in the pursuit of love, with Channel 10 promising this season to be the 'most romantic yet'. However, this approach has failed to satisfy fans who were keen for the series to adopt a fresh approach in an effort to reignite dwindling ratings. Channel 10 has confirmed rumours that next year's season of The Bachelor will again feature three suitors vying for love on the doomed dating series. (Pictured L-R: Brazilian-born Wesley Senna Cortes, model Ben Waddell and former NRL player Luke Bateman) NRL star Braith Anasta confirmed last month he had turned down an invitation to be the next Bachelor, with The Sunday Telegraph reporting he was offered around $500,000 for the gig NRL star Braith Anasta confirmed last month he had turned down an invitation to be the next Bachelor, with The Sunday Telegraph reporting he was offered around $500,000 for the gig. Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle! the insider revealed, 'No actual celebrities would say yes or wanted anything to do with the franchise.' 'The show is long past its heyday and for a star to sign up now would almost mean they're admitting to being washed up too.' Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle! the insider revealed, 'No actual celebrities would say yes or wanted anything to do with the franchise' Viewers have been quick to express their disappointment with the show's direction and lack of diversity. One frustrated fan questioned, 'Can't we go back to the original way so much better?', while another sarcastically commented, 'More middle of the road conventionally attractive white dudes. Yay how interesting.' There have also been desperate pleas for a 'golden bachelor' representing those over the age of 50, and others expressing disappointment that there isn't a candidate with a disability or identifying as bisexual. Others were left disappointed Warner Bros. didn't make an effort to cast someone with a disability or is bisexual, following false gossip reports model James Parr was confirmed for the show. Leading Saudi government and private entities are in Germany to showcase the potential investment opportunities in the kingdom's waste and water management sector, reported SPA. These entities, all part of the Invest in Saudi Arabia umbrella, will be conducting a thorough review of investment opportunities for German groups in KSA. Detailed presentations will be held in three major cities - Berlin, Hamburg, and Dusseldorf until July 15. The main purpose of this event is to showcase the experiences and plans of these entities in the water sector, as well as their efforts towards transforming waste management in the kingdom. Additionally, it aims to highlight investment opportunities available in this sector. During the event, participating entities will deliver multiple presentations on various waste management issues, emphasizing the value of water, said the SPA report. These presentations will cover the tasks of the entities and the key mechanisms and initiatives they offer to the private sector. Furthermore, workshops and bilateral meetings will be conducted to facilitate discussions and networking opportunities among private sector representatives from both countries, it added. Bethenny Frankel recalled a less-than-friendly encounter with actor Jonah Hill, whose ex-girlfriend recently accused him of emotional abuse. The Real Housewives of New York City alum, 52, took to her TikTok with a story of how she once met The Wolf of Wall Street star, 39, and claimed he was a 'low-grade d**k.' 'He was put upon and kind of treated me like he was very better than [me]. I felt like a loser and the nobody that I was,' she shared. However, the reality star had a conflicted opinion about Hill's recent scandal surrounding his 'misogynistic texts' which were released by his ex-girlfriend Sarah Brady over the weekend. The entrepreneur stressed she doesn't 'know the whole story' behind the texts, but called both Hill and Brady 'a little nuts.' Recollections: Bethenny Frankel recalled a less-than-friendly encounter with actor Jonah Hill, whose ex-girlfriend recently accused him of emotional abuse 'Low-grade d**k': The reality star , 52, took to her TikTok with a story of how she once met The Wolf of Wall Street star, 39, and claimed he was a 'low-grade d**k'; Hill pictured 2018 'OK, were gonna fight about Jonah Hill. What the hell is going on? So heres the thing, my perspective is the following. I did The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jonah Hill was the first guest. And he was a low-grade d**k,' the star began her video rant. 'Like he was put upon and kind of treated me like he was very better than. And just... I felt like a loser and the nobody that I was, so that's what I'm walking into this as.' Despite her personal impression of Hill from the meeting, Frankel struggled to agree with the release of his texts: 'These texts seem crazy, and there are texts that I sent to people, and that people have sent to me, that would seem nuts in a vacuum. And I want to know from you where the line is, in what texts and phone calls should be shared. 'In the past Mel Gibson's crazy phone call that his ex shared, Alec Baldwin with his daughter, that crazy conversation was shared, a lot was shared with Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, and until they got into court, everyone was team Amber. 'So I think its tricky to be reading texts. Some people might say they may not want their girlfriend wearing bathing suits and posing in sexual poses or sexy poses or hanging out with a lot of male friends surfing etc,' she added. 'I dont know the whole story, I only read the snippets of headlines, but if you're in a relationship with someone for one year, are texts fair game? 'Has he abused her in a way that this is a cry for help and she needs help and she will not be silenced anymore? Cause they both seem a little nuts, this is kind of crazy.' She wrapped up her speech by saying the idea that it was okay to share personal messages from exes was a frightening prospect: 'Short of like blink twice and hes been actually emotionally harmful to her - is it ok to just share texts? That's a frightening 2023 for me.' Bad impression: 'He was put upon and kind of treated me like he was very better than [me]. I felt like a loser and the nobody that I was,' she shared about their meeting during The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Conflicted: However, Frankel had a conflicted opinion about Hill's recent scandal surrounding his 'misogynistic texts' which were released by his ex-girlfriend Sarah Brady over the weekend Not taking sides: The entrepreneur stressed she doesn't 'know the whole story' behind the texts, but called both Hill and Brady 'a little nuts' Hill's ex took to social media to brand the actor a 'misogynist' by sharing alleged text messages from the star on Friday. Brady, 26, - who dated Hill in 2021 for one year - set the internet alight by taking to Instagram to share the texts allegedly sent by him that appear to reveal their past arguments - including messages outlining his parameters for a 'romantic partnership.' In a voice memo she also explained the timing of her posts was out of respect toward the pregnancy of Jonah's girlfriend Olivia Millar. She could be heard saying: 'I didnt want [Millar] to have to see all of this while she was pregnant because I didnt know what kind of stress that would cause her and her baby physically.' The surf instructor went on to say that she knows that 'the timing can seem bad' but she is hoping that Millar had seen the posts in order to 'make an informed decision of how she wants to care for herself and her baby. The day prior she shared screenshots of multiple messages, alleged to be from Jonah on December 2, 2021. The lengthy initial text apparently from Jonah included a list of unacceptable behaviors from Sarah if they were to be together romantically. The new dad allegedly mentioned things including 'surfing with men,' 'inappropriate friendships with men,' and 'posting pictures of yourself in a bathing suit' that were off limits for his then-girlfriend. He additionally stated that if Sarah 'needed' to 'model,' 'post sexual pictures,' or maintain friendships with women who were part of her 'wild recent past' then he was 'not the right partner' for her. Exes: Hill's ex took to social media to brand the actor a 'misogynist' by sharing alleged text messages from the star on Friday; They are seen in New York back in December 2021 Tense: The surfer blasted the Superbad star by sharing screenshots of their past arguments Heed: Sarah called her decision to release the private messages a 'warning to all girls' Unleashing: Sarah posted a message thread with the caption 'you make me sick' In another post of his alleged messages, Brady claimed that Hill only wanted her to socialize with friends whom he had 'personally approved.' The entertainer, whose documentary Stutz came out on Netflix last year, added, 'If these things bring you to a place of happiness I support it and there will be no hard feelings. These are my boundaries for romantic partnership.' He then clarified, 'My boundaries with you based on the ways these actions have hurt our trust.' Sarah wrote online to her nearly 80,000 followers, 'See the misuse of the term "boundaries"?' Brady spun her posts as a 'warning to all girls.' 'If your partner is talking to you like this, make an exit plan,' she captioned a screenshot that appeared to show Hill complaining about social media photos featuring her 'a** in a thong.' After Brady appeared to have signaled that she had deleted some of the supposedly offending photos, the Wolf Of Wall Street star appeared to tell his then-girlfriend it was a 'good start' but that she didn't 'seem to get' his point. 'But its not my place to teach you. Ive made my boundaries clear,' he affirmed. 'You refuse to let go of some of them and youve made that clear and I hope it makes you happy.' Brady maintained that her ex-boyfriend's critiques were made in an attempt to control her. Insight: Sarah alleged that while dating Jonah, he had to 'personally approve' her friends Odd standards: One snippet of conversation appeared to show Hill complaining that his then-girlfriend's 'therapist thinks I suck,' before he called himself 'literally ... the best boyfriend. On earth' Ridiculous: In a screenshot of a conversation with another person, Brady claimed that a therapist had urged her to come up with a 'safe word' 'pineapple' for 'when Jonah was yelling at me' Getting personal: In part of her tirade against her ex, the athlete noted, 'I hope my ex has a daughter, maybe shell turn him into a real feminist' She explained that she agreed with his requests in an attempt to keep him from experiencing 'crippling anxiety.' After Brady appeared to have signaled that she had deleted some of the supposedly offending photos, the Wolf Of Wall Street star appeared to tell his then-girlfriend it was a 'good start' but that she didn't 'seem to get' his point. 'But its not my place to teach you. Ive made my boundaries clear,' he affirmed. 'You refuse to let go of some of them and youve made that clear and I hope it makes you happy.' In part of her tirade against her ex, the athlete noted, 'I hope my ex has a daughter, maybe shell turn him into a real feminist. Robert Irwin, 19, whipped his female fans into a frenzy this week when he posted photos of himself going for a surf. The wildlife warrior - who is currently dating Heath Ledger's niece Rorie Buckey, showed off his muscular figure in the skintight wetsuit as he walked up the sand with a surfboard tucked under his arm. Many of Robert's followers said they wanted to 'marry' the teen. 'I'll always have a crush on this man,' one enthusiastic fan wrote. 'More proof I need to marry an Australian,' another added. Robert Irwin, 19, whipped his female fans into a frenzy this week when he posted photos of himself going for a surf 'Handsome,' yet another wrote, while one fan simply wrote: 'So damn sexy.' One of his followers noted he was the 'perfect mix' of his famous parents, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin and conservationist Terri. 'This fine gentleman is just the perfect mixture of both his parents. And to top it off he has his father's smile,' they said. The wildlife warrior - who is currently dating Heath Ledger's niece Rorie Buckey, showed off his muscular figure in the skintight wetsuit as he walked up the sand with a surfboard tucked under his arm Many of Robert's followers said they wanted to 'marry' the teen 'Handsome' one wrote, while one fan simply wrote: 'So damn sexy' 'One thing is for sure, his awesome dad is smiling big as the sky from heaven, bursting with pride over his legacy, his incredible family, wife and kids... He sure was a lucky man. The family is just incredibly amazing. Good people.' Despite Robert's strong female following, the star's relationship with Rorie continues to go from strength-to-strength. The couple made their red carpet debut in Sydney for the Mission Impossible premiere last week. Fans were only too happy to gush about 'sexy' Robert with some even saying they wanted to make him their 'husband' on the social media app One of his followers noted he was the 'perfect mix' of his famous parents, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin and conservationist Terri Robert looked dashing in a black suit with a tuxedo style lapel as he wrapped his arm around his love and posed for photographers. Girlfriend Rorie, 18, looked sensational in asymmetric black maxi dress that featured one-sleeve, one-shoulder detailing. At one point, Robert tenderly wrapped his arms around Rorie as they appeared to share a joke and giggle. Despite Robert's strong female following, the star's relationship with Rorie continues to go from strength-to-strength. The couple made their red carpet debut in Sydney for the Mission Impossible premiere last week Their outing comes after news Robert is reportedly planning to pop the question to Rorie after several months of dating. According to New Idea magazine, protective mother Terri has concerns that her lovestruck son, 19, and his smitten girlfriend, 18, will rush down the aisle too early. 'Terri feels like Robert is moving way too fast,' a source told the publication. Rorie is the niece of legendary Australian actor Heath Ledger. Pictured 'Rorie's a sweetheart and it's easy to see why he is absolutely smitten, but Terri knows the stakes are high,' they added. The publication also claimed Robert is a 'romantic' who is hoping to emulate his mother's quick engagement to her late husband Steve after just eight months of dating in 1992. Robert and Rorie, who is the niece of legendary Australian actor Heath Ledger, are currently in a long-distance relationship, with Robert based at Australia Zoo in Queensland while Rorie is in Perth. Marcella star Anna Friel is proud of her career as an actress but she's keener to talk about her joy of being a mother. Celebrating the 18th birthday of her daughter, Gracie, she's shared a string of photographs. 'My angel, 18 years ago today you made me the happiest I've ever been,' gushes Friel, 46. 'You are nothing short of a marvel.' 'My love for you is beyond any love I could ever have dreamed of. To say I am proud is an understatement,' Anna continued. Proud: Marcella star Anna Friel is proud of her career as an actress but she's keener to talk about her joy of being a mother, celebrating daughter Gracie's 18th with a series of snaps Friendly exes: Celebrating the 18th birthday of her daughter, Gracie, she's shared a string of photographs including some Gracie's father - David Thewlis 'You are the kindest , coolest person I know. Happy happy birthday. You had my heart from second one. You will have it until the end of time. To you my sweet angel. love forever , mama.' Gracie's father is Friel's ex-boyfriend, David Thewlis, 60, the Harry Potter star. He joined them for the celebrations in Windsor. Last month, Gracie spoke of her musical ambitions, saying: 'I write a lot of songs with the guitar and I'm getting better the older I get.' Anna's ex Toby Anstis recently claimed he could now be married to her after she propositioned him in the 90s, but said he lost out to love rat Darren Day. The TV presenter, 51, has revealed that the Marcella star chatted him up during the 90's while at a party and asked him to stay out that night - but when he went for a drink, Darren swooped in and went on to date her for three years. Toby said during the Diary of a Name Dropper podcast: 'Even thinking about it I'm still bitter about this....Darren Day' The Heart Dance host explained how he and Anna were having a few drinks and were 'getting on really really well.' He said: 'I did feel there was a bit of chemistry and then she asked me, "you're not going back to London tonight?" and I said "yeah I'm on tele tomorrow afternoon and she said "no stay up the night and go back in the morning."' Shocked Toby continued: 'I just went bl**dy hell all of me is thinking Jesus Christ I've been chatted up and asked to stay up here whether she meant stay at her place, one would hope, but I didn't know what that meant, but I thought I'd stay up.' As Toby went to get the pair a drink Darren moved in on Anna which the star is convinced his 'management thought it would be a good publicity thing.' As he returned he witness the pair getting on and 'the next day they were all over the papers, but she asked me to stay the night before you Darren.' Despite the couple being together for three years and becoming engaged Toby still seemed a little irked. He added: 'I could have been married to Anna Friel and she could have had my children.' Anna later married David but separated in 2010. She also married Notting Hill star Rhys Ifans in 2011 but the pair went their separate ways in 2014. Doting mum: 'You are the kindest , coolest person I know. Happy happy birthday. You had my heart from second one' Anna gushed Lisa Oldfield came out of breast reduction surgery on Tuesday after years of suffering from 'excessive neck pain'. The Real Housewives of Sydney star, 48, said she was feeling much more 'perky' as she shared an image of herself in a hospital bed to Instagram. She said she wished she had gotten the surgery earlier in life to save herself the pain of walking around with a large cup size. Nevertheless, she was all smiles as she chowed down on a popsicle during her recovery, seemingly happy with her decision. 'Just out of surgery after a massive boob reduction! No more tucking them into my socks or excessive neck pain!' she wrote in her caption. Lisa Oldfield, 48, (pictured) came out of breast reduction surgery on Tuesday after years of suffering from 'excessive neck pain' The Real Housewives of Sydney star said she was feeling much more 'perky' as she shared an image of herself in a hospital bed to Instagram She continued: 'Wish Id done it 10 years ago. Feeling as perky as my new titties (but that could be the drugs).' Fans flocked to the reality star's comment section to wish her a healthy recovery and praise the 'brave' decision. 'Speedy recovery gorgeous,' one person wrote, while another said: 'Good on you. You're brave. I would be to scared.' 'Congratulations. Best thing I ever did,' someone else commented. Another noted the hefty price tag attributed to breast reductions surgery, saying: 'Glad to hear you are feeling happier. I want this done so badly! 'Its top of my list if I win the lotto. Best of luck for your recovery.' She said she wished she had gotten the surgery earlier in life to save herself the pain of walking around with a large cup size Breast reduction surgery can end up costing well over $10,000 out of pocket depending on one's medical insurance policy. However, it appears Lisa has bounced back financially despite being left broke and homeless following her split from ex-husband David Oldfield. In 2019, she claimed she was struggling following her split from her partner of 18 years when she was forced to move back in with her parents and fund legal bills. She said she has since taken control of her money and will 'never let a man' be in charge of her finances again. Matt Damon was all smiles while enjoying a boat tour with his family and the cast of Oppenheimer in Paris, France, on Monday. The Bourne Identity star, 52, held hands with wife Luciana Barroso, 46, as they exited the vessel alongside their daughter Isabella, 17, after taking in the Parisian views on the Seine river. The actor - who recently put on a racy display with Luciana during a romantic trip to Mykonos - looked dapper in a Reiss suit, which he teamed with a fitting black t-shirt and brown dress shoes. Meanwhile his other half showed a glimpse of her taut midriff in a black crop top and a chic black maxi skirt. He was also joined by members of the Oppenheimer cast, including leading man Cillian Murphy and his on-screen wife Emily Blunt, as well as her real-life husband John Krasinski. Also present was director Christopher Nolan and actor Stanley Tucci. Boat adventures: Matt Damon was all smiles while enjoying a boat tour with his family and the cast of Oppenheimer in Paris, France, on Monday City of love: The actor, 52, held hands with wife Luciana Barroso, 46, as they exited the vessel alongside their daughter Isabella, 17, after taking in the Parisian views on the Seine river Luciana rounded out her look with a pair of open-toe black heels and a black clutch. She wore her dark tresses cascading down her shoulders in light curls. The beauty accentuated her pout with a touch of red lipstick. Meanwhile Isabella looked lovely in a maroon dress and wore a pair of sunglasses perched atop her head. Missing from the adventure were their other two daughters: Gia, age 14, and Stella, age 12. Luciana also has 24-year-old daughter Alexia Barroso from her former relationship with Arbello Barroso. Damon met Barroso when she was a single mother working at a bar in Miami in 2003. The couple wed in 2005. Meanwhile Cillian Murphy, 47 - who stars as American scientist and 'father of the atomic bomb' J. Robert Oppenheimer in the upcoming film - looked handsome as ever in a brown suit and a brown t-shirt. Dapper: The actor - who recently enjoyed a romantic trip to Mykonos with Luciana - looked dapper in a tan suit which he teamed with a fitting black t-shirt and brown dress shoes Stunner: Meanwhile his other half showed a glimpse of her taut midriff in a black crop top and a chic black maxi skirt Happily married: She wore her dark tresses cascading down her shoulders in light curls Stylish: Luciana rounded out her look with a pair of open-toe black heels and a black clutch MIA: Missing from the adventure were their other two daughters: Gia, age 14, and Stella, age 12 Going strong: Damon met Barroso when she was a single mother working at a bar in Miami in 2003. The couple wed in 2005 The Peaky Blinders star also sported comfortable black loafers. Emily Blunt, 40, wowed in a vivid red crop top and matching maxi skirt, and held hands with her stylish husband John Krasinski, 43, as they departed the boat. She accessorized her look with a gold necklace and dangling turquoise earrings. The Quiet Place star wore her blonde tresses in a low bun. As for glam, Emily opted for just a touch of blush and bronze eyeshadow. Meanwhile The Office star sported a striped black and white t-shirt with black jeans. Actor Stanley Tucci, 62, looked sophisticated as ever in a cream blazer over a white button-up and black pants. He was joined by wife Felicity Blunt - who is Emily's sister. Felicity looked chic in a striped red and white shirt dress with she paired with red shoes. Good looking pair: He was also joined by members of the Oppenheimer cast, including Emily Blunt, 40, and her husband John Krasinski, 43 Lady in red: Emily wowed in a vivid red crop top and matching maxi skirt, and held hands with John as they departed the boat Co-stars: Leading man Cillian Murphy, 47, looked handsome as ever in a brown suit and a brown t-shirt Comfortable: The Peaky Blinders star also sported comfortable black loafers Leading man: The Irish actor stars as American scientist and 'father of the atomic bomb' J. Robert Oppenheimer in the upcoming film Beaming: Robert Downey Jr. was all smiles after the fun boat tour Looking good: The actor looked typically stylish in a pink blazer and matching trousers, teamed with a t-shirt Happy: He accessorised with a black cross-body bag as he stepped out of the luxury car Sweet: Actor Stanley Tucci, 62, was joined by wife Felicity Blunt - who is Emily's sister Sophisticated: He looked sophisticated as ever in a cream blazer over a white button-up and black pants, while Felicity was chic in a striped red and white shirt dress Family outing: Director Christopher Nolan, 52, was accompanied by his children Flora and Magnus Exiting: The trio were pictured exiting the boat together Sharp: Actor Jason Clarke, 53, also joined in on the fun, and looked sharp in a black suit and a white button-up Director Christopher Nolan, 52, was accompanied by his children Flora and Magnus. Actor Jason Clarke, 53, also joined in on the fun, and looked sharp in a black suit and a white button-up. Damon was also seen leaving his hotel in Paris on Monday, and graciously signing autographs for fans. He donned a form-fitting black t-shirt that showed off his muscles and a pair of dark sunglasses. Damon stars as Lieutenant Leslie Groves Jr. in the upcoming film. Groves was a United States Army Corps of Engineers officer who directed the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb during World War II. The cast have been busy promoting the film together the past few weeks. Actor Robert Downey Jr., who stars as Lewis Strauss in the movie, recently shared a snap of himself with Matt, Cillian, Emily and John, and even hinted at a possible cameo from Krasinski. 'Linking up with my Oppenheimer cast mates...wait, is that a Krasinski photo bomb or might there be a surprise cameo???' he captioned a photo shared to his Instagram on Sunday. Gracious: Damon was also seen leaving his hotel in Paris on Monday, and graciously signing autographs for fans outside Looking good: He donned a form-fitting black t-shirt that showed off his muscles and a pair of dark sunglasses Intense role: He stars as Lieutenant Leslie Groves Jr. in the film Big shoes to fill: Groves was a United States Army Corps of Engineers officer who directed the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb during World War II Surprise! Robert Downey Jr., who stars as Lewis Strauss in the movie, recently shared a snap of himself with Matt, Cillian, Emily and John, and even hinted at a possible cameo from Krasinski Gripping: The upcoming historical thriller focuses on the life of American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Murphy). Oppenheimer will hit cinemas on July 21 The upcoming historical thriller centres on the life of American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who was director of the Los Alamos Laboratory responsible for the creation of the first atomic bomb in the Manhattan Project. Nolan recently commented on how early viewers have received the film. Speaking to Wired magazine, he explained: 'Some people leave the movie absolutely devastated. They can't speak. 'I mean, there's an element of fear that's there in the history and there in the underpinnings. But the love of the characters, the love of the relationships, is as strong as I've ever done.' Oppenheimer will hit cinemas on July 21. A glamorous nan from the Gold Coast who was once dubbed 'the world's hottest grandma' has transformed herself into a youthful AI character online. Gina Stewart, 52, who was previously accused of airbrushing her racy modelling photos on social media, is now completely virtual - and her fans can't tell the difference. Over the weekend, Gina shared a video of her virtual self looking decades younger than her actual age. In the clip, an AI model based on the grandmother's likeness modelling two busty little dresses that left little to the imagination. Her followers flooded the comments section and appeared not to realise that they were witnessing an AI version of Gina instead of the real thing. Grandmother and OnlyFans star Gina Stewart, 52, (right) has transformed herself into a youthful AI model on social media (left) 'I'll always pay respect and send love to a beautiful woman. Beautiful video Gina. Your body is amazing,' gushed one. 'You look so young. Gorgeous!' exclaimed another. Gina revealed earlier this year that she'd partnered with an AI company to launch a virtual alter-ego of herself, which she monetised on the subscription-based platform Patreon. The former Maxim model has previously been forced to deny using Photoshop tools to enhance her images. In the clip, an AI model based on the grandmother's likeness modelling two busty little dresses that left little to the imagination Before and after: The 52-year-old is pictured in her more natural state on the left, and on the right after going through a virtual AI transformation Back in 2018, she told Daily Mail Australia that she had 'smoothed' some of her images but that was it. The bombshell has previously denied having plastic surgery outside of her breast implants and veneers. She also says that her photos aren't airbrushed, and that she simply uses good lighting to get the most flattering shots. Back in 2018, Gina told Daily Mail Australia that she had 'smoothed' some of her images but that was it In a lengthy Instagram post last year, the gorgeous gran claimed that using a silk pillowcase stopped her from getting 'sleep wrinkles'. 'Silks naturally soft fibres are hypoallergenic, moisture wicking and allow skin and hair to glide smoothly across,' she wrote. 'I sleep on a silk pillow case every night and I can no longer put my face or hair onto rough material.' Married At First Sight's Mel Schilling has made a name for herself in the UK after she relocated abroad to star on the British version of the controversial dating show. On Monday, the 51-year-old relationship expert couldn't contain her excitement as she announced that she will appear on an upcoming celebrity edition of The Weakest Link. The mother-of-one took to Instagram to share a few sneak peeks from the episode taping. In a photo from filming, Schilling was dressed as the character Elsa from the hit movie Frozen. She explained that she was in costume because the episode of The Weakest Link that she filmed is actually a Christmas special and will air in December. Married At First Sight's Mel Schilling has landed an exciting new TV gig in the UK On Monday, the 51-year-old relationship expert couldn't contain her excitement as she announced that she will appear on an upcoming celebrity edition of The Weakest Link 'Christmas came early in Glasgow today! Bucket list moment ticked,' she posted on Instagram. 'I got to join a rowdy bunch of celebrities as we battled our way through trivia, maths, geography, politics, and even Australian pop culture in the quest to NOT be the WEAKEST LINK,' she wrote. Schilling revealed that her husband, Gareth Brisbane, laid down a humorous challenge before she stepped on set. 'My challenge was to avoid being the first voted off (in fact, my hubby told me directly I'd be facing divorce if this was the case) so what happened? Well, this is the CHRISTMAS SPECIAL so you'll have to wait until December to find out.' In a photo from filming, Schilling was dressed as the character Elsa from the hit movie Frozen 'Christmas came early in Glasgow today! Bucket list moment ticked,' she posted on Instagram The MAFS star shared some highlights from the shoot, which included 'grooving to 70s disco tracks in the makeup room with one of my pop idols from the 70s the one and only @coleen_nolan'. Schilling will be going head-to-head with The One Show's Alex Jones, who she described as 'one of the smartest and most fabulous women on TV'. But it wasn't all about the competition, as the Aussie-born love guru admitted to 'bursting into inappropriate fits of laughter' at comedian Romesh Ranganathan's gags. Mel will soon return to Australia to film the eleventh season of the dating show alongside John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla, currently in pre-production. Margot Robbie stunned the crowd at the Los Angeles premiere of Barbie on Sunday, as she stepped out on the pink carpet wearing four diamond necklaces. The stacked stones which elevated the Hollywood star's 1960s vintage Barbie look are worth an eye watering $1.5million, according to leading diamond experts. Maxwell Stone of UK retailer Steven Stone revealed the diamonds come in an array of cuts with a carat weight estimated to be well over a million AUD. 'Custom made by Lorraine Schwartz, the necklaces feature an array of different diamond cuts, with the top two pieces formed of purely round cut diamonds, which are the most popular diamond shape,' he said. 'The most interesting is the bottom necklace, which consists of halo cut diamonds in an assortment of cuts - including emerald, heart, pear, marquise and oval.' Margot Robbie, 33, (pictured) stunned the crowd at the Los Angeles premiere of Barbie on Sunday, as she stepped out on the pink carpet wearing four diamond necklaces Maxwell went on to say he would 'estimate the necklaces to have a total value of around $1.5 million AUD ($1 million USD)'. After donning pink for the last several premieres, two-time Oscar nominee Margot, 33, opted for not-so-basic black to dazzle the star-studded world premiere held at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in downtown Los Angeles. The Aussie actor worked with stylist Andrew Mukamal to recreate the trumpet Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown, matching Manolo Blahnik peep-toe kitten heels and opera gloves from the original 1960 'Solo in the Spotlight' Barbie doll. The stacked stones which elevated the Hollywood star's 1960s vintage Barbie look are worth an eye watering $1.5million according to leading diamond experts Maxwell Stone of UK retailer Steven Stone revealed the diamonds come in an array of cuts with a carat weight estimated to be well over a million AUD She even rocked the same metallic shimmer, stiff tulle hemline, and red rose embellishment on the frilly frock. Hairstylist Bryce Scarlett coiffed Margot's voluminous faux ponytail for the pink carpet ceremony, using tools from Tangle Teezer and products from Redken to achieve the perfect '60s-style hairdo. Make-up artist Pati Dubroff ditched the blue eyeshadow on the doll and instead brought out Robbie's brows, applied pink blush to her cheekbones, and a bright red pout. 'The most interesting is the bottom necklace, which consists of halo cut diamonds in an assortment of cuts - including emerald, heart, pear, marquise and oval,' Maxwell said Maxwell went on to say he would 'estimate the necklaces to have a total value of around $1.5 million AUD ($1 million USD)' The Asteroid City actor reportedly scored a $12.5million paycheck to produce and star in three-time Oscar nominee Greta Gerwig's $100million-budget fantasy flick bringing the famous Mattel doll to life. The 39-year-old filmmaker co-wrote the first live-action Barbie film with her partner Noah Baumbach and they enlisted Oscar winner Helen Mirren to narrate it. And it appears the already critically acclaimed film could be on its way to an Oscar as the first reactions began trickling in just hours after the world premiere. After donning pink for the last several premieres, two-time Oscar nominee Margot, 33, opted for not-so-basic black to dazzle the star-studded world premiere held at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in downtown Los Angeles The Aussie actor worked with stylist Andrew Mukamal to recreate the trumpet Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown, matching Manolo Blahnik peep-toe kitten heels and opera gloves from the original 1960 'Solo in the Spotlight' Barbie doll While the full reviews aren't in quite yet, the reactions that have surfaced on Twitter are largely quite positive. It's unclear when the full reviews will surface, as fans get ready for the theatrical release on July 21, going up against Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. Katcy Stephan, Variety's social media editor, was among the first to post a reaction to the film on social media, stating it was nothing short of 'perfection. '#Barbie is perfection. Greta Gerwig delivers a nuanced commentary on what it means to be a woman in a whimsical, wonderful and laugh-out-loud funny romp,' Katcy said. 'The entire cast shines, especially Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in roles they were clearly born to play.' Make-up artist Pati Dubroff ditched the blue eyeshadow on the doll and instead brought out Robbie's brows, applied pink blush to her cheekbones, and a bright red pout Veteran radio host Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli is used to early morning starts, as co-host of Nova's popular breakfast program Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie. But on Tuesday, he was busted sleeping on the job by his colleagues. The FitzyWippaKate Instagram page shared hilarious footage of Wippa taking a quick nap during a commercial break. Wippa looks dead to the world as he leans back on his seat in the Nova Sydney studio and rests his feet on a desk. 'Nothing like an ad break snooze, Wippa,' they wrote next to the footage. Veteran radio host Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli (pictured) is used to early morning starts, as co-host of Nova's breakfast program Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie The FitzyWippaKate Instagram page shared hilarious footage of Wippa taking a quick nap during a commercial break Wippa is happily married to his wife of nine years, Lisa, but in February, he revealed his ex and 'first true love' bizarrely reached out to his family, 15 years after their split. Speaking on his radio show, the 42-year-old explained that his former partner Laura got in touch with his father to ask for his 'famous' tomato spaghetti recipe. 'I went out with a girl for about three years. She was my first true love. Laura was her name. We were young, we were silly. Hearts full of love,' he explained. Wippa went on to say he and Lisa actually rented a house near his exes' rental home recently, but they didn't talk or cross paths as they are focusing on their own respective families. But he said his father John told him that Laura had reached out to him for his tomato spaghetti recipe. The FitzyWippaKate Instagram page shared hilarious footage to their page of Wippa taking a quick nap during a commercial break 'Anybody that eats it, who comes around for dinner and says, "Yeah, can we have John's tomato spaghetti?"' he said. Wippa said he wasn't sure why his ex, who has since remarried, went straight to his father and not to him. He proposed to wife Lisa during a romantic trip to Switzerland in September 2012, presenting her with a huge emerald-cut diamond ring. The Wipflis married in September 2013 in front of 150 guests on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. They share three children, sons Theodore, seven, and Jack, five, and one-year-old daughter Francesca Vera Alice. Wippa proposed to wife Lisa (left) during a romantic trip to Switzerland in September 2012, presenting her with a huge emerald-cut diamond ring Anna Paul put on a risque display on Monday as she soaked up the summer sun during her Europe trip. The OnlyFans star, 24, flaunted her ample assets in a tiny white bikini covered in cherries as she went swimming in the ocean with some male friends. She was almost spilling out of her top as the brunette beauty frolicked through the cool water in a reel of photos she shared to Instagram. In the raunchy pictures, she could be seen working all her best angles as she climbed a ladder up to a stone outcropping and dived into the waves. The adult entertainer could hardly wipe the smile off her face as she went completely makeup free and soaked her dark locks in the salt water. Anna Paul, 24, (pictured) put on a risque display on Monday as she soaked up the summer sun during her Europe trip It comes just days after the TikTok star said she was left 'terrified' after doctors told her a mole on her stomach was turning cancerous. Luckily, the social media sensation swiftly had the mole removed, but she went on to warn her Instagram followers of sun tanning's potentially fatal consequences. After her terrifying health scare, the Australian social media influencer urged her fans to get their skin checked and to stay out of the sun. The OnlyFans star flaunted her ample assets in a tiny white bikini covered in cherries as she went swimming in the ocean with some male friends Anna, who is the highest-earning OnlyFans creator in Australia, opened up to her followers on Thursday about her health scare, but didn't say exactly when it occurred. Sharing a close-up shot of her body in a yellow bikini, Anna pointed out a visible scar she has just under her belly button after having a suspicious-looking mole removed. She said her fans often ask about the scar, and for the first time she addressed it, explaining that it's from having a potentially cancerous mole removed. She was almost spilling out of her top as the brunette beauty frolicked through the cool water in a reel of photos she shared to Instagram In the raunchy pictures, she could be seen working all her best angles as she climbed a ladder up to a stone outcropping and dived into the waves 'Everyone always asks me about the scar on my stomach,' Anna wrote alongside the snap. 'I had a mole removed because it was turning into a skin cancer. The doctors wrote it down as URGENT! And were so worried. 'I was so terrified because I thought I should just book a skin check for the sake of it because I saw another influencer talk about it.' Anna then said that she used to sunbathe as a teenager and begged her fans to not make the same mistake as her, as the consequences are potentially fatal. Dubai Investments, a leading investment company, and E20 Investment, an agribusiness investment firm, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop 3,750 hectares of agricultural land in Angola. E20 Investment, specialises in investing in and operating farms and processing facilities across the globe, with a particular focus on Europe, Central Asia, and Africa. The company brings a wealth of knowledge from various corners of the world, highlighting international expertise in the agricultural industry. The MoU is focused on the development of a vast area of leased out land located in Angola and the project's objective is to cultivate rice and avocado crops, leveraging Angola's fertile soil and favorable climate conditions to achieve substantial yields. Agricultural hub Over the course of 18 months, the joint venture aims to transform the land into a thriving agricultural hub, resulting in a projected production of 28,000 tonnes of rice and 5,500 tonnes (peak production) of avocados. Khalid Bin Kalban, Vice Chairman and CEO, Dubai Investments, said: "Through this collaboration, along with the overall development of the area, the Group aims to contribute to Angola's food security which will support in enhancing the country's agricultural productivity while generating economic value for all stakeholders involved. E20 Investment brings extensive experience in managing large-scale agricultural projects, ensuring the implementation of cutting-edge technologies and sustainable farming practices. Their expertise will be instrumental in maximising the project's efficiency, productivity, and profitability. Ideal extension Dubai Investments is already investing in the Angolan market with the ongoing development of the Dubai Investments Park (DIP) Angola. This project is an ideal extension highlighting the Groups calibre in creating highly successful mixed-use development parks like the Dubai Investments Park model in the UAE. DIP Angola is envisioned as a successor to the proven DIP model on an international stage and in a lucrative market like Africa, added Kalban. "The Dubai Investments and E20 Investment MoU represents a significant step towards promoting agricultural development in Angola, fostering economic diversification, and nurturing a sustainable future. It reflects our dedication to investing in sustainable agribusiness opportunities globally. By combining our expertise with Dubai Investments' vast network and resources, we are confident in our ability to create a successful agricultural project in Angola that will contribute to the country's economic growth and employment opportunities. Both companies are committed to executing this project with the highest standards of professionalism, environmental responsibility, and social impact, said Sultan Al Jaberi, CEO of E20 Investment.-- TradeArabia News Service READ MORE: Brady praises 'brave' Zoey 101 actress Alexa Nikolas who claimed actor 'shoved his tongue down her throat' when she was 16 and he was 24 Brady reminded the Oscar nominee that as recently as March 2022 'we were in escrow here, you wanted to put a ring on my finger, and put a baby in me ASAP' The surfer and law student, 26, shared a text exchange from August 2022 - days after Jonah was first photographed kissing his rumored fiancee Jonah Hill's ex-girlfriend Sarah Brady has publicly shared more screenshots of messages between the former couple, where she accused him of sexting her just weeks before he was pictured with another woman. It comes days after Brady branded the Oscar nominee an 'emotionally abusive narcissistic misogynist' and shared messages where he asked her to remove bikini photos from her Instagram and asked her to 'avoid surfing with men'. On Monday, she posted another exchange, which she says took place between August 30 and August 31 last year - around the time he was first photographed kissing his current partner, Chasseresse co-owner Olivia 'Liv' Millar. On August 30, Jonah reached out to inform her that he'd started dating another woman. The following day, he was pictured with Millar, although she was originally identified as Sarah Brady in media reports. Responding to Hill's message about moving on with Millar, 26-year-old surfer and law student Brady wrote: 'I'd appreciate if you make that woman aware of how recently you've been flirting with me, sexting me, and leaning on me for partner-level emotional support.' Jonah Hill's ex-girlfriend Sarah Brady (seen together) has shared screenshots of more text messages she says she exchanged with the actor when their relationship ended Heads up: Sarah shared screen shots of her messages with Jonah that showed the actor letting her know he'd started dating another woman The following day, he was pictured in the press kissing Olivia 'Liv' Millar, although she was originally identified as Sarah Brady in media reports When the 39-year-old Stutz director-star voiced his shock at Sarah's allegations, she shared a screengrab of him writing about 'holding my hard [censored]' in a text dated July 13, 2022, prompting the actor to confirm: 'Yes we sexted two months ago.' Jonah then took aim at Sarah for taking a screenshot of the messages shared between them, writing: 'Screenshotting intimate texts between us is a huge triggering violation for me and breach of trust as a friend.' He went on to say that he had recently gone through 'traumatic' experiences in which 'trusted friends' had also 'breached his trust'. 'I am incredibly hurt and feel a lack of safety where I have always trusted you.' Jonah then claimed that he wouldn't face 'this kind of violation if I wasn't a public person', before defending his actions, insisting that he had 'done nothing wrong'. 'I'm sorry if a former partner moving on is painful and I empathize with that. But I have done nothing wrong and if I wasn't a public person I wouldn't face this kind of violation. 'Having shared that with you and then watching you be like this today shatters my ability to trust anybody even further. I have always shown you kindness and support.' Brady went on to remind him that as recently as March 2022 'we were in escrow here, you wanted to put a ring on my finger, and put a baby in me ASAP.' Furious: Sarah told Jonah 'I'd appreciate if you'd make that woman aware of how recently you've been flirting with me, sexting me and leaning on me for partner level emotional support'. He replied by denying the timing of his new romance was 'inappropriate' A question of timing: Jonah said it had been 'six months' since the end of the relationship. Sarah then produced a screen shot of a sexting message from mid July 'I've done nothing wrong': Jonah said he was 'deeply' let down by Sarah's reaction and felt violated by the fact she'd taken a screenshot of his sext Sighting: Jonah was seen surfing on Sunday - his first public outing since Sarah began posting screenshots of their alleged text message exchanges 'Wondering how soon before you met me you were still talking to Gianna,' the Oahu-based SoCal native wrote referring to the You People producer-star's year-long engagement to producer Gianna Santos, which ended in 2020. Jonah thought being accused of gaslighting was 'absurd' but he did eventually apologize to Sarah for visiting her apartment in early August 2022, intimately venting about his family problems, and blurring boundaries throughout their post-split friendship. Hill - a self-described mental health advocate - then offered to pay for Brady's therapy for the rest of 2022 'even though you'll somehow punish me with that gesture.' The aspiring attorney - who's studying environmental law at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa - stressed that she's 'not trying to 'cancel' anyone' as 'keeping it to myself was causing more damage to my mental health than sharing it could ever do.' Sarah previously revealed in a voice memo that she specifically waited until Liv gave birth to Jonah's child last month so she wouldn't 'cause stress on her or the baby.' 'It may seem as if I am sharing a lot, but you all have no idea how much more there is which I am choosing not to share out of consideration for him and his family,' Brady cautioned. 'He's really intelligent and whether it was conscious or not, he played on my openness and vulnerability, and just totally twisted my perception of reality. Like we started off with him loving the fact that I was a semi-professional surfer wearing the stuff I had posted already, and then literally three months later he just was like, "Well you should know to take these down because it makes me insecure that I don't have a hot beach body too." 'That last sentence is verbatim.' Jonah thought being accused of gaslighting was 'absurd' but he did eventually apologize to Sarah for visiting her apartment in early August 2022, intimately venting about his family problems, and blurring boundaries throughout their post-split friendship Hill - a self-described mental health advocate - then offered to pay for Brady's therapy for the rest of 2022 'even though you'll somehow punish me with that gesture.' The aspiring attorney (R, pictured in 2021) - who's studying environmental law at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa - stressed that she's 'not trying to 'cancel' anyone' as 'keeping it to myself was causing more damage to my mental health than sharing it could ever do' Sarah previously revealed in a voice memo that she specifically waited until Liv (R, pictured June 28) gave birth to Jonah's child last month so she wouldn't 'cause stress on her or the baby' Brady cautioned: 'It may seem as if I am sharing a lot, but you all have no idea how much more there is which I am choosing not to share out of consideration for him and his family' Brady dated the Moneyball actor in 2021 and over the weekend, the surf instructor shared screenshots of what she claimed were text message exchanges between them during their romance. In the messages, the actor asked his then-girlfriend to remove any surfing photos from her Instagram which showed her 'a** in a thong' and when she said she had deleted 'all the posts', Jonah allegedly told her it was a 'good start' but she didn't 'seem to get' his point. In another screenshot, Jonah allegedly set out his 'plain and simple' conditions for maintaining their relationships, including stating he didn't want Sarah to be 'surfing with men', or 'to model'. The surfer accused her former partner - who became a father for the first time earlier this year when girlfriend Olivia Millar gave birth to their baby - of using mental health issues to 'control' her, but insisted she didn't necessarily think her former partner is a 'terrible person'. She wrote: 'Someone being an emotionally abusive partner doesn't mean they're a terrible person (often stems from their own trauma) 'At the same time, it doesn't mean it's OK.' Jonah has yet to comment on the allegations. Gerard Butler made the most of his trip to Barcelona on Monday as he enjoyed an action-packed day of sightseeing. The Scottish actor, 53, cut a casual figure for the outing in a relaxed linen shirt with the top buttons undone. Adding to his look, he wore a trendy pair of khaki cargo trousers and blue Adidas trainers. Gerard attempted to keep a low profile as he cycled through the city with sunglasses shielding his face. The star has been kept plenty busy in the past few months, and only recently left Tenerife after spending 11 weeks on the island filming his new movie Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, which is due for release next year. Time off: Gerard Butler made the most of his trip to Barcelona on Monday as he enjoyed an action-packed day of sightseeing Meanwhile, Gerard last made headlines after revealing that co-star Hilary Swank actually got seriously injured during the filming of 2007 romantic drama P.S. I Love You. The 300 actor appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show earlier this year and told the story about the on-set accident that sent Swank to the hospital and him standing alone in boxers. 'She's so cool and so great to work with that I almost killed her,' he explained to Barrymore. The actor explained that his character, Gerry Kennedy, was supposed to get hit in the face with a crocodile suspender clip while getting undressed in, but the metal fastener ricocheted in the opposite direction and 'slashed' Swank in the head instead. 'The camera people had plastic fronts to protect themselves from this crocodile clip, it was so dangerous, I had to ping it and it would go past my face. 'This time, I'm crawling towards the bed, it gets stuck, it releases, flies over my head, hits her in the head, slashes her head. I cut her open, you could even see the teeth [of the clip]. 'She has to be taken to hospital. Literally, image this studio and in three seconds everybody is gone and I'm just sitting there in my boxer shorts and my boots and a pair of socks and I just started crying.' He says he 'almost took her eye out' and 'just made a fool of myself' as they were filming the scene. Relaxed: The Scottish actor, 53, cut a casual figure for the outing in a relaxed linen shirt with the top buttons undone and khaki cargo trousers Years later, the heartthrob laughed about the incident while retelling the story, but said the experience gave him imposter syndrome at the time because he was so nervous to work with Swank. As for Butler's latest, he played a CIA operative trying to make it out of Afghanistan in one piece in Kandahar. The film was written by former military intelligence officer Mitchell LaFortune, who based the story on his experiences working for the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2013 while being deployed to Afghanistan during the Snowden leaks. Butler - who most recently starred in the action-thriller Plane - plays Tom Harris, an undercover CIA operative stuck deep undercover in Afghanistan when he learns that his mission has been compromised. The soldier and his interpreter must make it 400 miles in 30 hours to their extraction point in Kandahar province in the film from director Ric Roman Waugh, who has directed Butler in Along the way there will be a slew of Afghan forces trying to kill them both before they can make it home safely. Oops! Meanwhile, Gerard last made headlines after revealing that co-star Hilary Swank actually got seriously injured during the filming of 2007 romantic drama P.S. I Love You (pictured in 2011) Clara McGregor looked chic in a little black dress as she attended the Ischia Global Festival in Italy on Monday. The 27-year-old actress showed off her collection of fine line tattoos, including a scarab beetle on her upper arm, as she smiled for the camera. Clara, who is the daughter of Ewan McGregor and Eve Mavrakis kept her makeup to a minimum as she went for a very natural look while her brunette bob framed her face. Also in attendance was Canadian-American actor Brendan Fraser, 54, who attended the Italian film festival with his girlfriend Jeanne Moore. Jeanne stole the show in a stunning satin baby blue dress with plunging neckline and silver heels. Clara McGregor , 27, looked chic and stylish as she attended the Ischia film festival in Italy on Monday alongside actor dapper Brendan Fraser, 54, and his girlfriend Jeanne Moore Cute couple: Brendan posed with his makeup artist girlfriend as she stunned in a satin blue ballgown The makeup artist wore her hair in a half-up half-down style as the crimped curls were swept away from her face. Her boyfriend cut a dapper figure in a dark navy suit jacket and black T-shirt, donning his signature square glasses. The pair made their public debut at the 79th Venice Film festival in September 2022 but tend to keep their relationship very private. While it is unknown when the couple officially stared dating, Jeanne is the first woman he's been seen publicly dating since he split from his ex-wife Afton Smith in December 2007. The film festival comes after Clara was recently spotted in Czech Republic with her dad, Ewan McGregor to promote their new movie You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder. The father-daughter duo are starring together in their latest project which focuses on a father daughter road trip, with Ewan's character driving his daughter, played by Clara, to rehab. Ewan shares Clara with ex-wife Eve Mavrakis, and has repaired his relationship with his daughter over the past five years. While the drive is fictional, the premise of a dad trying to help his daughter is based on Clara's own experience. LBD: The actress wowed in a little black dress which showed off her collection of fine line tattoos, including a scarab beetle on her upper arm All smiles: The 27-year-old beamed as she posed on the steps while attending the event Watch your step: It is unknown how long the couple have been dating after only recently being spotted publicly at the 79th Venice Film Festival last September Stunning: the two looked the picture of glamour as they stepped out on Monday Cheeky grins: Despite the huge success of his comeback movie The Whale Brendan is supposedly being 'picky' over his next role Family affair: Ewan McGregor, 52, joined his actress daughter to promote their new movie You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in Karlsbad, Czech Republic earlier in July Film: You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder focuses on a father daughter road trip, with Ewan's character driving his daughter, played by Clara, to rehab With Ewan saying at the SXSW Conference in Texas in March: 'I sat down to read it and I was blown away. It was a beautiful story about us. There's things that aren't accurate, or are bent, but they still reflect our estrangement for a while,' 'The drive is fictional. But for a couple of years, we sort of lost her. So the storyline is about her realising that she needs the help her father's trying to give. 'Along the way, their relationship is healed somewhat.' Despite the huge success of his comeback movie The Whale, Brendan revealed to People earlier this month that he is being 'really picky about his next role and currently doesn't have anything lined up. He recently attended the Greenwich International Film Festival where he was honoured for his work and his philanthropy as part of the festival's first ever Inspiration Talk and award. Abbie Chatfield has revealed that her ex-boyfriend managed to win her back every time he cheated - because he brought her takeaway. Speaking on her podcast It's A Lot, Chatfield, 27, said the the unnamed man reeled her back in repeatedly over an incredible eight years with deliveries of McDonald's. 'He would bring me Macca's and I would be like, "Wow, oh my God he loves me,"' she said. 'This one time he jumped my balcony and knocked on my door, with a cigarette, and was like, "Baby, I love you". I would believe "this is it".' Abbie, who split from her ex Konrad Bien-Stephen last September after a year of being in an open relationship, previously said she plans to stay single for 2023. Abbie Chatfield (pictured) has revealed that her ex-boyfriend managed to win her back every time he cheated - because he brought her takeaway @abbiechatfield Flowers and Maccas can really hook you back in, there is no shame in it!!!! Listen to the full chat from the latest episode of @Its A Lot with #FboyIslandAu Brogen and Molly wherever you get your pods. original sound - Abbie Chatfield The bisexual media personality has since clarified that she is 'exclusive with a man at the moment', after one fan asked whether she was dating any women. She first mentioned she was dating someone in early May during the Adelaide leg of her Trauma Dump tour. At the time, the podcast host said she was 'trying out' monogamy again, but was confused by some of the terms involved. 'I don't get monogamous language. I didn't know what exclusive meant,' she told the sold-out crowd at the Thebarton Theatre in Torrensville. Speaking on her podcast It's A Lot, Chatfield, 27, said the the unnamed man reeled her back in repeatedly over an incredible eight years with deliveries of McDonald's 'He would bring me Macca's and I would be like, "Wow, oh my God he loves me",' she said The Hit Network presenter did not reveal the identity of her partner, telling the audience her new relationship was still in its very early stages. At the beginning of this year, Abbie revealed that she is only dating men for three months at a time to avoid falling into a relationship. 'I've said that I have a three-month dating rule. When I meet someone, I'm in it for three months. Speaking to Who magazine , the FBoy Island star said: 'It actually gives me anxiety. The thought of it makes me want to, like, run.' At her peak she was arguably one of the most recognisable presenters on TV, but Gail Porter says her undeniable popularity didn't get her rich. The Scottish star became a household name thanks to regular appearances on The Big Breakfast, The Movie Chart Show, VH1 and iconic BBC music show Top Of The Pops. In 1999, her popularity - boosted by modelling jobs with the likes of cult lads mags FHM and Loaded - led to a nude photograph of Porter being projected on the Houses of Parliament without her consent as part of a guerilla marketing campaign. But the former pin-up, now 52, insists she earned little money during the early years of her mainstream career, citing the amount she received per episode on Top Of The Pops as one of her lowest earners. She told The Telegraph: 'I think 500, and then youve got 20 per cent to your agent, then youve got to pay your rent. Basic salary: Gail Porter says she earned little money during her mainstream career, citing the amount she received per episode on Top Of The Pops as one of her lowest earners Old times: Porter presenting an episode of Top Of The Pops in 2000 - according to the star she was paid 500 per show 'All the front covers of magazines, I never got paid for any of them.' Weighing up her biggest payday, Porter says a voiceover for a Sainsbury's commercial provided a moderate income. 'It was a few hundred quid a week, and you cant complain about that,' she recalled. 'But other than that, I cant remember well-paid jobs.' Porter previously admitted she wasn't paid for her magazine work, at a time when lads were at their commerical peak. She told the Daily Star: 'I never got paid for anything that I did - I never got paid for FHM, GQ, or a lot of the magazines that I did. 'Some of the others may have got paid, but I never did and I was quite vulnerable at the time. 'They were saying "This is going to be great for your career, it will be great fun, and think of the pics you can give your kids when you're older.'" Porter recently announced she would headline a series of stand-up comedy shows dealing with her alopecia, mental health struggles and being homeless. Back then: The TV presenter, now 52, also revealed she wasn't paid for any of her magazine photoshoots (pictured in 1999) Publicity stunt: Porter had her naked body projected onto the Houses Of Parliament in 1999 without her consent The Scottish TV presenter will launch her stand-up career at the Edinburgh Assembly Rooms from August 2-28 as well as shows around the UK. Her routine will talk about how she went from being a children's TV presenter to posing nude and seeing her naked image beamed onto the Houses of Parliament to being sectioned, diagnosed as bipolar and sleeping rough. Gail, once listed by FHM among the world's sexiest women, said: 'I'm super-excited to be coming to Edinburgh. I'll be doing stand-up seven-nights-a-week. 'I don't know if it's a mid-life thing or whatever but I got offered it and I thought, why not? 'I'll be doing a few little gigs around the country to trial the material before that. I've always wanted to do it and I've been writing a lot.' She added 'I think when you have gone through pretty tough times and you can turn it into humour, other people can relate. 'The material will be about my life. 'I take things that happened that were pretty bad and talk about it in a way that is pretty funny and that I hope can help people.' Hugh Sheridan appears to have changed his pronouns back to he/him after going by they/them for the past two years. A check of the actor's Instagram account now gives his pronouns as he/him as of Tuesday evening. The 38-year-old came out as nonbinary in 2021, approximately eight months after revealing that he's attracted to both men and women. Nonbinary people don't categorise their gender identify as either male or female and often go by the pronouns they/them. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Hugh Sheridan for comment. Hugh Sheridan (pictured) appears to have changed his pronouns back to he/him after going by they/them for the past two years A check of the actor's Instagram account now gives his pronouns as he/him as of Tuesday Hugh previously made the announcement that he was non-binary on Instagram in a post to promote landing the cover of gay men's magazine DNA. 'I AM still a human (non binary/bi/me/Hughman) but I'm in a monogamous relationship with another human, who I love,' Hugh wrote. He continued: 'I don't accept a label cause it limits me if you want it, take it. 'I chose zero labels for no other reason except the exclusion, limitations, separation, I believe are all one, deeeeep down. 'And who knows? Why chose? Be you. Be true. Be free to BE, to JUST BE you, a human, same as me.' In an interview with DNA, Hugh said that he was now comfortable with being called 'gay' despite not subscribing to labels. The 38-year-old came out as nonbinary in 2021, approximately eight months after revealing that he's attracted to both men and women 'Now I'm marrying a guy you can call me gay,' Hugh explained to the magazine. At the time, the Packed to the Rafters star was set to wed influencer Kurt Roberts, but the pair split eight months after announcing their engagement. 'Whatever! The point is, we're all human and, in my case, labelling put me into a box that felt like a cell' he added. Hugh earlier told Stellar magazine, 'I believe labels are for clothes, not for people.' In the same interview, Hugh said that he wanted to speak up for people who don't use labels. 'It occurred to me that no-one ever sticks up for people who don't pick a label,' he said. Pregnant former Love Island star Chyna Mills looked glowing as she cradled her bump while walking hand in hand with her fiance Neil Jones on Monday. The 24-year-old looked incredible in a red and black skimpy bikini as she walked the picturesque coastline during her summer break with the Strictly Come Dancing professional. Neil, 41, walked hand-in-hand with her in a Guns N Roses vest top and orange swimming shorts, his numerous tattoos on full display. The couple revealed in April that they were both engaged and expecting their first child together after they went public with their romance in August 2022. Chyna is now around 29 weeks pregnant and is set to welcome her baby girl in the autumn. Baby on board: Pregnant former Love Island star Chyna Mills looked glowing as she cradled her bump while walking hand in hand with her fiance Neil Jones on Monday Doting dad: Neil was seen touching the bump to as the two smiled and laughed together The couple recently revealed the baby's gender while hanging out with the whole Strictly gang. Dancers Dianne Buswell, Gorka Marquez, Vito Coppola, Carlo Gu, Karen Hauer, Nikita Kuzmin, Luba Mushtuk, Nancy Xu and Jowita Przystal all gathered round as Chyna and Neil sliced into a cake to reveal a pink sponge. They all cheered: 'It's a girl!' Speaking to HELLO! magazine about the moment they found out the sex of the unborn tot with his 'Strictly' gang, Neil said: 'They were as thrilled as us... 'They'd been trying to guess if we were expecting a girl or a boy, and for the HELLO! shoot the girls wore pink or blue eyeshadow, depending on what they thought... 'Dianne was like, 'Your daughter will have so many (Strictly) aunties now!' Chyna and I are so happy and I can't wait to be a dad.' Chyna says she had an inkling she was having a girl because of her intense morning sickness and the fact her mother had it bad with her pregnancies with her girls. She said: 'I had horrendous morning sickness, which my mum who's had four girls tells me is a sign. My cravings have been for sweet food, too. Krispy Kreme donuts are my downfall.' Despite being halfway through her pregnancy the star revealed she is still struggling with morning sickness and admitted the pregnancy had been tough so far. Soon to be parents: The couple revealed in April that they were both engaged and expecting a baby who is due in the autumn 'Babymooning in LA': The star posted images flaunting her bump while on holiday in California Power couple: Chyna looked incredible in a lime green one shoulder dress while attending the premier for new comedy No Hard Feelings with Neil in June Talking to her fans on Instagram, Chyna shared: 'I would be lying if I said that pregnancy has been all roses for me. I still suffer with morning sickness and i'm pretty much halfway through my pregnancy now.' The former Islander also found out through pregnancy that she is in fact asthmatic after fellow islander Summer Botwe convinced her to go to the hospital to get her lungs checked after she began experiencing breathing problems. 'They said that due to me being pregnant, it made it worse and made me more aware of what was going on in my body. Which, I guess is a good thing but I now pretty much have to carry an inhaler everywhere I go.' Chyna recently posted a snap of herself posing confidently in a crop top with full bump on display as she captioned the post: 'Babymooning in LA. At this point the belly is an accessory'. Fellow islander Indiyah Polack sent her love with the comment 'Bump is bumping' and Summer wrote 'my sexy mamma'. The couple have been dating since just after Chyna appeared on Love Island last summer. Neil was previously married to his Strictly professional co-star Katya Jones, for six years before calling it quits in August 2019. Dannii Minogue has donned a dress by chain Forever New. But the brand got a little excited sharing the news to media this week, sending out a press release with a glaring error. Alongside a photo of a smiling Minogue in a floral frock from the brand was the statement: 'Get the look. Dani Minogue wears Forever New'. The pop star's name was misspelled, written as Dani instead of the correct version, Dannii. Despite the mistake, Dannii is currently riding on a new career high. Dannii Minogue has donned a dress by chain Forever New. But the brand got a little excited sharing the news to media this week, sending out a press release with a glaring error Last month, both Dannii and her sister Kylie Minogue topped the UK iTunes charts with their latest individual singles. Dannii, 51, held the number one spot with her single We Could Be The One, while her older sister Kylie, 55, was at number two with her smash hit Padam Padam. The Australian popstar has a 13-year-old son called Ethan, who she shares with her ex-partner Kris Smith. While she admitted that her son probably doesn't know all her songs, Dannii said he's very supportive of her and Kylie, and he was ecstatic when he heard his auntie's latest single in the supermarket. Alongside a photo of a smiling Minogue in a floral frock from the brand was the statement: 'Get the look. Dani Minogue wears Forever New'. The pop star's name was misspelled, written as Dani instead of the correct version, Dannii Speaking on Channel 7's Sunrise, Dannii explained: 'It was the funniest thing ever yesterday we were running around the supermarket getting shopping and stuff for school and Kylie's Padam Padam came on. '[Me and Ethan] looked at each other and went, 'Oh my God', while running down the aisle. 'I took a video of him with the trolley and sent it to my sister. 'From being on the stage at world pride down to the local supermarket, it's all happening.' Danny Dyer shocked fans during an appearance on This Morning on Monday as he urged viewers not to watch his new Channel 5 show Heat. The actor, 55, appeared on the ITV daytime show ahead of making his dramatic return to the TV screen following his EastEnders exit earlier this year. His new series which is set to air over four night from Tuesday, sees Danny portray Steve Cameron who's drama will unfold as his explosive family secrets come to light during a devastating bushfire in Australia. The TV star has warned viewers that they might struggle to cope with the dark content due to it being even more dramatic than anything he portrayed on EastEnders. Speaking to Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, Danny said: 'It's a nutty bit of work. Channel 5. 'It's a nutty bit of work': Danny Dyer shocked fans during an appearance on This Morning on Monday as he urged viewers not to watch his new Channel 5 show Heat Drama: His new series which is set to air over four night from Tuesday, sees the actor, 55, portray Steve Cameron who's drama will unfold as his explosive family secrets come to light during a devastating bushfire in Australia 'I got this script and I read it and thought [exasperated exhale]. This is just... I'm going to be straight, I'm here to promote it but, if you don't like dark things, don't go near it.' Danny went on to reveal that each episode of the four part series will end on a more dramatic cliffhanger than the last which fans might find to 'dark'. He continued: 'It's dark. It's so dark - I was thinking "Can they put this on the telly?" However Danny, who will star alongside Darren McMullen, Jane Allsop, Pia Miranda and Olympia Valance, said once viewers start watching they will be more and more hooked by the drama. He promised: 'It's brilliant. It gets so much better. It's not bad, the first one.' Danny filmed the new series Down Under and admitted the weather was not what he expecting and that he 'couldn't shake' the jet lag. He told ITV viewers: 'I thought I want to fill in the sunshine! And I got to Melborne and it was raining. There were hailstones. 'The jet lag I had for 10 days. I couldn't shake it off. In episode one, you can see I'm staggering around.' He told This Morning fans: 'I got this script and I read it and thought [exasperated exhale]. This is just... I'm going to be straight, I'm here to promote it but, if you don't like dark things, don't go near it' 'It's so dark': Danny went on to reveal that each episode of the four part series will end on a more dramatic cliffhanger than the last which fans might find to 'dark' Channel 5's official synopsis of the new show states: 'Heat unfolds to the backdrop of the looming Australian bushfire season when two families, who are long-time friends, venture to a secluded home for a summer vacation. 'As secrets and lies unravel it becomes a tinderbox and not everyone will make it out alive.' Heat will air on Channel 5 at 9pm on Tuesday 11th July and feature nightly until Friday 14th July. Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky are enjoying the high life. The pair have been on holiday in Spain and Ibiza the past week, sharing a glimpse at their luxurious getaway to social media. On Tuesday, Chris posted a series of images to Instagram in which he and the Spanish actress were partying aboard a boat. 'A little fun in the sun in Spain,' Chris wrote in the caption alongside the photos, which showed the genetically blessed couple in swimwear. Chris, 39, showed off his famously fit physique in a pair of black boardshorts as he hammed it up on the vessel. Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky are enjoying the high life. Both pictured Elsa, 46, looked stunning in a green bikini, squealing with delight as she and her hunky husband dived off the bough of the boat into the crisp ocean. In other images, Chris had fun with the couple's children on the shore before taking part in a little snorkeling. The Byron Bay-based couple were sure to document the stunning vista and ocean views around them as they set sail. The family earlier travelled to Ibiza after celebrating Chris's father Craig's 68th birthday in Greece. The Hollywood hunk also partied alongside his parents and best pal Matt Damon last week on the Greek island of Mykonos. The pair have been on holiday in Spain and Ibiza the past week, sharing a glimpse at their luxurious getaway to social media On Tuesday, Chris posted a series of images to Instagram in which he and the Spanish actress were partying aboard a boat 'A little fun in the sun in Spain,' Chris wrote in the caption alongside the photos, which showed the genetically blessed couple in swimwear In other images, Chris had fun with the couple's children on the shore before taking part in a little snorkeling Guests travelled far and wide to attend the exclusive destination-soiree. The exclusive guest list included Matt and his wife Luciana Barroso, Chris and Australian model Gabriella Brooks - girlfriend of Liam - radio personality Lauren Phillips and her partner, AVMIN air boss Paul O'Brien. Fellow Byron Bay locals joined the festivities including Anthony 'The Cat' Catalano and his wife Stefanie, who were holidaying in nearby Ithaca. The former Domain boss owns Byron's Bay's legendary Rae's on Wategos beach and is a notable figure in the north coast town now synonymous with A-listers. Australian DJ Kaz James - who has a summer residence on the party Island was another likely guest at Craig Hemsworth's soiree. Bahrain is the best destination for expatriates in the Middle East, according to a new survey by InterNations, the world's largest expat community with more than 4.8 million members. Bahrain is placed 9th out of 53 destinations globally in the Expat Insider 2023 survey. Mexico (1st), Spain, Panama, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Bahrain, and Portugal (10th) are the top 10 destinations in the survey, which provides insights into expat life in the destinations, offering in-depth information on the respondents satisfaction with their respective countries in five indices: Quality of Life, Ease of Settling In, Working Abroad, Personal Finance, and the Expat Essentials Index, which covers housing, administration, language, and digital life. With more than 12,000 respondents, Expat Insider is one of the most extensive surveys about living and working abroad. This year marks the surveys 10th anniversary. The UAE is placed 11th on the list, Oman 12th, Saudi Arabia 28th, Qatar 31st and Kuwait is at 53, the survey said. Moving to and settling down in Bahrain is easy to handle for expats -- the country ranks first for admin topics (i.e., getting a visa, dealing with local authorities, opening a bank account). Digital services (8th) are also widely available, and the language (1st) is not a big hurdle for expats. But survey respondents in Bahrain are unhappy with their disposable household income (51st), and many say that they are not paid fairly for their work (48th). Still, 71% are happy with their life in Bahrain, about the same as the global average of 72%. All top 10 destinations perform better than the global average in the Ease of Settling In Index, but with the exception of Taiwan (9th), none of them manage to rank highly in the Working Abroad Index. The top performers also see very different results when it comes to the Quality of Life Index: Spain (1st) and Taiwan (2nd) excel here, while the Philippines (48th) ends up among the bottom 10. The worst destinations for expats are Kuwait (53rd), Norway, Turkiye, South Korea, Germany, South Africa, Italy, Malta, New Zealand, and Japan (44th). All bottom five countries have average to very poor rankings in the Ease of Settling In Index. The Working Abroad Index, on the other hand, reveals a wide range of results among the bottom five destinations: Germany and Norway perform above average, while Turkiye, Kuwait, and South Korea show very poor results, the survey said. Admin topics are not an issue in Bahrain Administrative topics are not a reason for concern in Bahrain, finds the survey. In fact, nearly nine in ten (86%) say that opening a local bank account is easy (vs. 62% globally). For over seven in ten (73%), applying for a visa was not difficult either (vs. 57% globally), and 59% do not struggle when dealing with bureaucracy and the local authorities (vs. 39% globally). The language barrier is rather low: 78% find it easy to live in Bahrain without speaking the local language (vs. 50% globally). And though about one in four (27%) find it difficult to learn, this is actually lower than the worldwide share of 38%. Housing is easy to find in the country (75% vs. 49% globally). Also, Bahrain is thriving when it comes to digital life (8th). It is easy to get high-speed internet access at home (6th), and administrative tasks can easily be taken care of online (7th), says the survey. Finding friends is easy for expats Ranking 9th in the Ease of Settling In Index, Bahrain is a great destination for Finding Friends (6th). In fact, 64% of expats in Bahrain find it generally easy to make local friends (vs. 43% globally). The Local Friendliness (15th) probably plays no small part in that 82% describe the local population as generally friendly towards foreign residents (vs. 65% globally). But for many survey respondents, their social life is a particular highlight: 70% are happy with this factor, compared to a global average of 56%. Unsurprisingly, the majority of expats feels welcome in Bahrain (84% vs. 67% globally). Good Healthcare Due to some mixed results, Bahrain ranks only 20th in the Quality of Life Index. Expats are particularly happy with the easy access to all kinds of healthcare services (78% vs. 65% globally). And 78% appreciate the quality of medical care (vs. 70% globally). Still, the Environment & Climate (40th) offers some reasons for concern: 17% rate the natural environment poorly (vs. 6% globally), while 20% say the same about the urban environment (vs. 16% globally). Many expats also do not seem to cope well with the arid climate and weather (51st). Great career prospects Moving to Bahrain has improved their career prospects, according to 71% of survey respondents (vs. 59% globally). Another 63% agree that the local business culture encourages creativity and thinking outside the box, compared to 51% globally. At the same time, 24% are unhappy with their working hours (vs. 16% globally). With an average of 49.3 hours per week for full-time employees, these are indeed much longer than the global average of 42.7 hours. Bahrain ranks only 41st for work-life balance. -TradeArabia News Service Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman looked glamorous as they posed together in a new set of shots for the photocall of their new series in IET London on Tuesday. The actresses are starring in the new Paramount + series Special Ops: Lioness which is set to be released on 23 July. The duo looked super stylish as they posed with their foreheads pressed together while smiling at each other. Zoe wore a gorgeous dark purple silk dress, with ruched detailing forming what looked like a rose on her right side. Contrasting the 45-year-old's feminine dress, the 56-year-old looked smart in a grey fitted suit with slightly oversized blazer. Two's company: Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman looked glamorous as they posed together in a new set of shots for the photocall of their new series in IET London on Tuesday Power duo: The pair looked incredible as they donned contrasting looks Latest project: The actresses are set to star in the new Paramount + series 'Special Ops: Lioness' which is set to be released on 23 July Best friends: The pair couldn't have looked closer as they stared into each other's eyes and held hands throughout the day Both women wore their hair naturally down and flowing in the breeze as they posed hand in hand for the shots. Laughing together, the Avatar actress paired her dress with some blue-grey tights which formed part of her shoes, while the Big Little Lies actress wore a high pair of shiny dark brown heels. Clearly enjoying their day at work, the pair didn't seem to part hands as they walked around the set to be photographed with different backgrounds. The spy thriller series tells the story of a real-life CIA program as it follows the life of a young marine who is recruited by the CIA to befriend the daughter of a terrorist group in order to bring down the organisation from within. Written by Taylor Sheridan who is usually renowned for his westerns, this series will see him try a change of genre as he works with Zoe and Nicole as well as the legendary Morgan Freeman, Laysla De Oliveira and Michael Kelly. Zoe plays the role of Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program who must train and lead her female undercover operatives to prepare them for the danger that lies ahead. Meanwhile Nicole stars as Kaitlyn Meade, the CIA's senior supervisor who enlists the young marine raider to be part of their team. The snaps come after the duo appeared on BBC's The One Show last night with the show's host Alex Jones suffering a very awkward blunder. Spy thriller: The series tells the story of a real-life CIA program as it follows the life of a young marine who is recruited by the CIA to befriend the daughter of a terrorist group Fooling around: Nicole and Zoe made sure the day was filled with laughs in between the serious shots Part of the CIA: Zoe plays the role of Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program who must train and lead her female undercover operatives The boss at the top: Nicole stars as Kaitlyn Meade, the CIA's senior supervisor As the show welcomed the Hollywood actresses to the famous sofa things got off to a slightly pained start as Alex, 46, accidentally snubbed Zoe's handshake as she arrived in the studio. As Zoe headed to the sofa, she warmly shook Jermaine Jenas' hand before then extending her hand to Alex. However, Alex was so busy reaching for Nicole that she didn't see Zoe's offer. As the Avatar star stood with her hand outstretched for a few moment, Alex's co-star Jermain, 40, was quick to spot the blunder and quickly rushed in to rescue the situation, offering his hand to Zoe once more for a second shake. 'Oops, I'll just do it again' he said as he laughed off the mistake, but ever the professional actress, Zoe looked unperturbed by the incident and the interview carried on as normal. Clara McGregor was all smiles as she enjoyed a beach day during her sun-soaked holiday in Ischia, Italy on Tuesday. The actress, 27, showed off her incredible figure in a plunging bikini top and matching bottoms. Clara, who is the daughter of Ewan McGregor and Eve Mavrakis, went makeup free during the outing. Her brunette locks were slicked back over her ears in a wet, sleek style, and she accessorised with a pair of black shades. Clara was seen enjoying a swim before floating in the water and chatting to a mystery man. Wow! Clara McGregor showed off her incredible figure in a black bikini as she enjoyed a beach day during her sun-soaked holiday in Ischia, Italy on Tuesday Fun in the sun: Clara was seen enjoying a swim before floating in the water and chatting to a mystery man Clara split up with her long-term boyfriend Gordon Goodman in 2017. She had met the part-time disc jockey in 2015 at New York University, where they are both studying film. The pair soon became lovers and travelled together to exotic destinations including Bali in Indonesia. They would often share romantic photos together on social media, including this one where they are posing by a hot tub in Miami. Clara looked chic in a little black dress as she attended the Ischia Global Festival in Italy on Monday. The actress showed off her collection of fine line tattoos, including a scarab beetle on her upper arm, as she smiled for the camera. The trip comes after Clara was recently spotted in Czech Republic with her dad Ewan to promote their new movie You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder. The father-daughter duo are starring together in their latest project which focuses on a father daughter road trip, with Ewan's character driving his daughter, played by Clara, to rehab. Ewan shares Clara with ex-wife Eve Mavrakis, and has repaired his relationship with his daughter over the past five years. While the drive is fictional, the premise of a dad trying to help his daughter is based on Clara's own experience. Looking good: Clara, who is the daughter of Ewan McGregor and Eve Mavrakis, went makeup free during the outing Natural: Her brunette locks were slicked back over her ears in a wet, sleek style, and she accessorised with a pair of black shades Fun in the sun: Clara was joined by a women and male pal during the holiday Split: Clara split up with her long-term boyfriend Gordon Goodman in 2017 With Ewan saying at the SXSW Conference in Texas in March: 'I sat down to read it and I was blown away. It was a beautiful story about us. There's things that aren't accurate, or are bent, but they still reflect our estrangement for a while,' 'The drive is fictional. But for a couple of years, we sort of lost her. So the storyline is about her realising that she needs the help her father's trying to give. 'Along the way, their relationship is healed somewhat.' Despite the huge success of his comeback movie The Whale, Brendan revealed to People earlier this month that he is being 'really picky about his next role and currently doesn't have anything lined up. He recently attended the Greenwich International Film Festival where he was honoured for his work and his philanthropy as part of the festival's first ever Inspiration Talk and award. Rumer Willis showcased her toned postpartum body this week. She was seen in The Giving Movement lounge wear, while fast walking in Los Angeles. It has been three months since she welcomed her daughter, Louetta. The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actress, 34, who recently stepped out with her baby girl and new grandmother Demi Moore, looked to be enjoying her morning workout. She wore no makeup and had her blonde hair pulled back. Thin again: Rumer Willis showcased her toned postpartum body this week. She was seen in The Giving Movement lounge wear, while fast walking in Los Angeles Her abs are back: It has been three months since she welcomed her daughter, Louetta The star had on a bra top and long slacks. She added orange slides as she got in her morning steps. And she modeled plenty of earrings - Rumer had 12 gold earrings on one ear alone. Willis was seen walking in a residential area of Los Angeles and appeared to be alone. In June she struck a pose to snap a quick selfie in a mirror while trying comfy clothes on. The eldest daughter of Demi and Bruce Willis donned a pair of white sweatpants that were secured with a drawstring tie around the waist. She additionally wore a cropped bra top that showed off her midriff and layered the look with a white sweater. The ensemble was from the Malibu-based brand called Bleusalt, which specializes in 'luxurious elevated basics.' Her wavy locks were parted to the side, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders inside of what appeared to be a small shop. Solo: The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actress, 34, who recently stepped out with her baby girl and new grandmother Demi Moore, looked to be enjoying her morning workout Side view: She wore no makeup and had her blonde hair pulled back The star paired the all-white ensemble with warm, gray and blue socks for ultimate comfort during her day of shopping. In a caption added towards the bottom of the mirror selfie, Rumer penned to her 1 million fans and followers, 'Mom bod feeling so cozy in my @bleusalt.' The actress announced that she had welcomed her first child, a baby girl named Louetta, on April 18, whom she shares with boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas. Willis and the music artist went Instagram official with their budding relationship late last year in November, and revealed they were expecting their first baby together the following month in December. In late April, she announced that their little girl had been welcomed to the world and shared an adorable photo of the newborn. 'Louetta Isley Thomas Willis,' Rumer had typed at the time, revealing the name. 'You are pure magic. Born at home on Tuesday April 18th. You are more than we ever dreamed of.' The House Bunny actress recently opened up about the birth of her daughter during an appearance on the Informed Pregnancy podcast earlier this month and revealed that she broke her own water during labor. The star explained that she had, 'dilated from 2 to 8 inches in about an hour,' but her water was still not broken, per People. With instructions from her doula, Rumer stated that she 'popped it.' Postpartum 'bod': Willis showcased her toned postpartum body in June Entering motherhood: In late April, she announced that their little girl had been welcomed to the world on April 18 and shared an adorable photo of the newborn Lovebirds: Willis and the music artist went Instagram official with their budding relationship late last year in November, and revealed they were expecting their first baby together the following month 'I think there's a photo of me and I just have this look of shock and surprise on my face,' she admitted during the podcast episode. Rumer revealed that only after a few pushes, her daughter had been born. 'My midwife and my partner caught her. It was the wildest thing. She had a cord wrapped around her neck, but it was also wrapped around her body in like almost like a prom sash,' she recalled. However, she was soon able to hold her baby. 'But then, as soon as they untangled her, she was in my arms,' and expressed that the whole experience was, 'the most ecstatic, joyful moment of my entire life.' 'I just started sobbing with joy. I have some of the most beautiful photographs of it of just me looking at her, and looking at my sisters, and looking at my mom and my mom holding me.' Rumer then remembered her sister told her that at one point, 'I said, "I missed you so much." I thought that was so sweet because it truly was like this moment of, "Oh, yes! We're back together."' 'It's like, "Oh, yes. This person who I've known and I've been waiting for forever, here you are."' Along with her doula and mother, Demi, being present for the big moment, her younger sisters Tallulah, 29, and Scout, 31, as well as boyfriend, Derek, had also been there for support. Late last month in May, the actress shared a sweet tribute to the musician in celebration of his 29th birthday on Instagram along with a carousel of snaps. 'Happy Birthday my sweet love @derekrichardthomas. Last year we were still discovering each other and now this year we get to celebrate with this beautiful girl we made,' she wrote. Rumer gushed how 'grateful' she was to have Thomas in her life and added 'You truly have such a gift and I cant wait to see you shine this year even brighter than you already do.' Willis lovingly concluded with, 'You are such a great dad and our girl is so lucky to call you papa. I know this is just the beginning of the expansion of you and your dreams. What a privilege it is to walk beside you on this journey as your best friend and love.' The teaser for the new Apple TV+ docuseries The Supermodels was released on Tuesday. The four-part show focuses on the top models of the 1990s. They were Cindy Crawford, 57, Linda Evangelista, 58, Naomi Campbell, 53, and Christy Turlington, 54. The series is directed by Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams and Larissa Bills, while it was executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howards Imagine Documentaries. The series will premiere on September 20. Wow women: The trailer for the new Apple TV+ docuseries The Supermodels was released on Tuesday. The four-part show focuses on the top models of the 1990s. They were Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington They were part of the 'it' model crowd: The four women seen with other supermodels on the cover of Vogue in 1992 All four women were seen in the teaser. They wore casual clothing as she sat in white director chair's but did not speak. The logline for the series reads, 'The Supermodels travels back to the 1980s, when four women from different corners of the world united in New York. 'Already forces in their own right, the gravitas they achieved by coming together transcended the industry itself. 'Their prestige was so extraordinary that it enabled the four to supersede the brands they showcased, making the names Naomi, Cindy, Linda and Christy as prominent as the designers who styled them. 'Today, the four supermodels remain on the frontlines of culture through activism, philanthropy and business prowess. 'As the fashion industry continues to redefine itself and womens roles within it this is the ultimate story of power and how four women came together to claim it, paving the way for those to follow.' In all black clothing: Cindy was seen looking amazing Doing her best: Linda posed in black as well after a tough year Blue mood: Christy had on a blue top and blue denim jeans while in a white chair Plaid to see you: Naomi wore brown, black and white plaid In 2020 the ladies opened up about the show. Speaking about her new venture, Naomi told MailOnline: 'My sisters Christy, Linda, Cindy and I are extremely thrilled to share our story with the world and there could be no better partners than Brian Grazer and Ron Howard which is a dream come true to bring it to life, as we knew they would respect and honor our story. 'We hope our journey seen in the docuseries will encourage, motivate and inspire young people around the world. We look forward to this great adventure ahead with director Barbara Kopple.' Cindy wrote on her Instagram page: 'Im excited to reunite with my friends to both celebrate and examine the way supermodels transcended the traditional perceptions and limits of modeling in the fashion industry through time. 'With the support of Imagine Documentaries and Academy Award-winning director Barbara Kopple, we plan to explore the dynamic personalities, and shifts in media and culture that helped shape and define this iconic era.' The Supermodels will take fans back to the 1980s at the start of their modelling careers and document how the four women came together from across the globe and collectively achieved a notoriety that transcended throughout the industry. The four-part series will also examine the ladies work today, in not only the fashion industry, but activism, philanthropy and business, and how the quartet have blazed a path for the next generation. The staple: Naomi in 1991, left, in the Alaia show in Paris and on the town in 2019, right, in Marc Jacobs Her very early years: As a young model on the cover of Vogue Italy Linda said of the series: 'To finally have the opportunity to tell our story in collaboration with the brilliant team at Imagine, and under the direction of Barbara Kopple, is as exciting for us as we hope it will be for viewers. 'I would love for people to see this as a celebration of not only our individual stories, but also to the power of friendship, dreams and perseverance.' While Christy added: ' I am looking forward to looking back on this unprecedented time in fashion with these incredible women whom I have grown up with.' Originally from south London, Naomi established herself among the top three most recognizable and in-demand models of the late 1980s. She has not aged! Cindy seen left on the catwalk at a presentation of Dolce And Gabbana's spring-summer collection in Milan in 1991. On the right, the star is seen in 2017 at the Daily Front Row's 3rd Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards An instant classic: The Illinois native landed on the cover of Vogue dozens of times Just before she turned 16, she was on the cover of British Elle and in 1987, she became British Vogue's first black cover girl since 1966. Meanwhile Cindy is said to have featured on around 500 magazine covers and walked for shows including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, DKNY, and previously, Valentino. The ladies, alongside fellow super models Claudia Schiffer, Helen Christensen and Carla Bruni reunited on the catwalk in 2017 for the Versace SS18 show at Milan Fashion Week. A dynamo always: Christy is seen on the runway in 1991, left, and at FGI Night Of Stars Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in NYC in 2019, right A favorite for healthy products: The San Francisco native landed on many magazine covers Showing the young guns how it was done, fashion's golden girls brought the show to a stunning climax, after it was opened by Kendall Jenner and model sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid. The Nineties supermodels walked designer Donatella Versace down the runway to rapturous applause as they paid tribute to her late designer brother Gianni Versace, who was killed in 1997. On the 20th anniversary of his death, it was a fitting tribute to a man with whom each of the women worked personally during their modelling days. The women were all dressed in glittering gowns, proving that their supermodel figures were all looking impeccable into their late forties - and early fifties, for some at the time. Together again: Naomi and Cindy, alongside fellow super models Claudia Schiffer, Helen Christensen and Carla Bruni reunited on the catwalk in 2017 for the Versace SS18 show at Milan Fashion Week Julia Fox found herself 'permanently banned' from a Bloomingdale's store after being caught stealing as a teenager. The Uncut Gems actress who had a brief fling with rapper Kanye West, 46, in 2022, following his split from 42-year-old Skims founder Kim Kardashian has revealed she had a 'full circle moment' when she did a festive campaign with the department store, eight years after she was caught shoplifting when she was 15 in 2005. She told ET Canada: 'I've had so many full circle moments like that. I actually got caught shoplifting at Bloomingdale's and I was 15 and I was permanently banned from the store. 'And then like eight years later, I did like a little holiday campaign for them.' Fox was speaking from the red carpet premiere of her latest project Something You Said Last Night. Bad girl: Julia Fox, 33, revealed to ET Canada on July 7 at the Something You Said Last Night premiere (pictured) that she was banned from a Bloomingdale's store for shoplifting when when she was 15 in 2005 The No Sudden Move actress joined the film as an executive producer earlier this year, even though the film had already played at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. The CanadianSwiss film follows a transgender woman vacationing with her family as she struggles to assert her independence. Julia's holiday campaign appears to have been in the earliest days of her fame, as her breakout role as Adam Sandler's love interest in the acclaimed comic thriller Uncut Gems was still six years in the future. The 33-year-old model recalled being a nervous wreck when she walked into the same Bloomingdale's store during the 2013 holiday campaign that she was banned from years earlier. She recalled: 'And I remember when I came up, when I walked in in the morning, they asked for my ID and I was like, "Oh my God, are they going to like, look in the system and see that I'm, like, bad?"And whatever, they didn't, they let me in,' she said with obvious relief. 'But it's like, you know, I still kind of live with that, like, trauma. I still, like, when I walk by police officers, like, hold my breath and look straight ahead,' she admitted Julia who has claimed in the past to be on the autism spectrum and to have obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) says she still suffers 'trauma' and carries 'scars' from her 'past.' The fashion designer added: 'I have so much trauma from being arrested and stuff. But, you know, it's like you still carry those, like, scars from your past. Like, you know, I am, I guess, a different girl now, but I still feel like the same little raggedy, 13-year-old.' Back on top: But in 2013, six years before her breakout role in Uncut Gems, she scored a holiday campaign with the same Bloomingdale's location; seen in December 2019 in Hollywood Dark days: She recalled her fear as a security guard checked her ID when she arrived. She added she still suffers 'trauma' and carries 'scars' from past arrests; still from Uncut Gems New role: She spoke from the premiere of Something You Said Last Night, which she joined as an EP. She wore a revealing black dress that bared her abs and featured nipple tassels Before launching her career, Julia worked in a shoe store, an ice cream shop, a pastry shop, and had a brief side hustle as a dominatrix for six months while studying at City-As-School High School in Manhattan. Fox made quite an impression at the Something You Said Last Night premiere in Toronto on July 7 with her racy ensemble. She was dressed in a striking black cutout dress with a top featuring cutouts over her chest and dramatic black nipple tassels. The look also exposed her washboard abs, with a strips of a sheer skirt connected to the top by thin strands, while she elevated her stature with black open-toe platform heels. Zoey 101 star Alexa Nikolas has claimed Jonah Hill 'slammed her against a door and shoved his tongue in her mouth' when she was 16 and he was 24 as she detailed alleged 'predatory behavior' from Hollywood stars in tweets this week. The actress, 31, claimed Hill, now 39 - who was accused of 'emotional abuse' by ex Sarah Brady last week, 'shoved his tongue down her throat' without her consent when she attended a party at Justin Long's house. Hill has denied all allegations to DailyMail.com. In tweets published on July 8 and 9, Nikolas also alleged Long's then roommate, former CSI: Miami actor Jonathan Togo, 45, assaulted a minor friend of hers who was '16 or 17' at the party and that Long allegedly knew about it - which the Jeepers Creepers actor has denied in a statement to DailyMail.com. Togo and Long would have been around 30-years-old at the time of the alleged incidents. Nikolas - who is the founder of Eat Predators - an organization which aims to call out abusers and networks - claims adult men were 'feeding alcohol' to her and her minor friends. Nikolas also accused Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, 49, of 'utter predatory disrespect for professional boundaries.' Claim: Zoey 101 star Alexa Nikolas has accused Jonah Hill of 'slamming her against a door and shoving his tongue in her mouth' when she was 16 and he was 24 (Hill pictured R in 2008 aged 24) Back then: Alexa is seen in 2008 aged 16 in LA Role: Alexa (left) played Nicole Bristow in Zoey 101 from 2005-2006 She tweeted: 'After reading Sarah Bradys admirable post about #JonahHill I just gotta say when I was 16 I got invited to a house party at #justinlongs house where he was living with some lame predator actor from CSI Miami. Ill look up the name later and find him. 'Oh ya this was the guy living (from my memory) with #justinlong his name is Jonathan Togo ew ew ew. 'He was sleeping *aka assaulting a minor* a friend of mine that was also 16 or 17. Anyways. #JonahHill came over at some point and we were all pretty wasted because of course the predators were feeding us minors a bunch of alcohol.' Describing the alleged incident between her and Hill - who she claimed knew she was 16 - she wrote: '#jonahhill seemed to have his eyes on me because at one point I wanted a cig and he said he had one in his car right outside. Didnt seem like too much of an effort so I trusted him. I went outside and he grabbed the cigs from his front seat. 'Just to note #JonahHill said if I wanted the cig I had to come with him outside to get it. He didnt wanna go all alone. They were all aware I was 16. '#JonahHill didnt hand me the cig which I thought was weird and then as we walked back to the door I asked him for it and he said nothing but slammed me to the door and shoved his tongue down my throat. I was so appalled I pushed him off of me and ran inside.' She then blasted Long over allegedly inviting teenagers to his house, writing: 'Also #justinlong why the f**k did you have children at your house late night? Ew. 'Hey Justin Long I find it interesting you being in Barbarian as a predator. It must have been weird playing some of your friends. Alleged: The actress, 31, claimed Hill, now 39 - who was accused of 'emotional abuse' by ex Sarah Brady this week, 'grabbed her and shoved his tongue down her throat' when she attended a party at Justin Long's house (Hill pictured 2008) In tweets published on July 8 and 9, Nikolas also alleged Long's then roommate, former CSI: Miami actor Jonathan Togo, 45, (seen left with Long in 2008) assaulted a minor friend of hers who was '16 or 17' at the party and that Long allegedly knew about it - which Long has denied Nikolas named Togo as the alleged attacker and shared a photo of him Claim: Nikolas claimed Hill grabbed her and forced a kiss on her in shock tweets 'You knew your roommate was assaulting a minor under your own roof. You let it happen. Eek. I hope you regret it now.' She also tweeted: 'I was 16 and #JonahHill was 24? Not okay. 'Ive been traumatized by men in Hollywood. Its truly sad the traumatic events I have lodged in my body and mind. Things have to change. F**k #familyguy too.' Referencing MacFarlane, Nikolas, who voiced a character in a 2011 episode of Family Guy when she was 18 years old, wrote: 'One day soon after more therapy we can all start talking about #sethmacfarlanes utter predatory disrespect for professional boundaries period. 'I was 18. He was my boss and he is 19 years older than me. 'Oh ya and mysteriously offered the job. Never did voice work in my entire life. Creep.' DailyMail.com has also contacted representatives for Seth Macfarlane and Jonathan Togo for comment. A spokesman for Justin Long told DailyMail.com: 'This is the first time Justin has been made aware of this situation that allegedly happened nearly two decades ago. While Justin is sympathetic to any and all victims of any abuse , the simple fact remains he has no knowledge of what may or may not have happened concerning Ms. Nikolas.' This comes after Brady, 26, - who dated Hill in 2021 for one year - set the internet alight on Friday by taking to Instagram to share messages allegedly sent by him that appear to reveal their past arguments - including messages outlining his parameters for a 'romantic partnership.' Nikolas also lambasted Long online - who has denied her allegations Claim: Nikolas also accused Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane of 'predatory disrespect' In June, it was revealed that Hill had welcomed his first child with his current girlfriend Olivia Millar. Sarah revealed why she waited until his new girlfriend gave birth before posting. Brady took to her Instagram Story on Sunday to post a voice memo to explain the timing of her posts was out of respect toward the pregnancy of Jonah's girlfriend Olivia Millar. She could be heard saying: 'I didnt want [Millar] to have to see all of this while she was pregnant because I didnt know what kind of stress that would cause her and her baby physically.' The surf instructor went on to say that she knows that 'the timing can seem bad' but she is hoping that Millar had seen the posts in order to 'make an informed decision of how she wants to care for herself and her baby. 'I just hope she would receive some of these screenshots somehow through friends, like, friends of mine that I met through him that I know are good people that I know would make an effort to protect her.' This came just a day after Brady blasted the Superbad star by taking to Instagram to share messages allegedly sent by him that appear to reveal their past arguments. It comes less than one month after news broke that the filmmaker welcomed a baby with girlfriend Olivia Millar. DailyMail.com reached out to Hill's representative for comment. Exposed? Hill's ex Sarah Brady blasted the Superbad star by taking to Instagram to share messages allegedly sent by him that appear to reveal their past arguments; pictured in 2021 Tense: Taking to Instagram late on Friday night, the surfer blasted the 39-year-old Superbad star by sharing screenshots of their past arguments The rollout of damning statements against the movie producer began with an Instagram Stories post Brady shared with the caption, 'F*** it.' The screenshot showed two messages alleged to be from Jonah on December 2, 2021. The lengthy initial text apparently from Jonah included a list of unacceptable behaviors from Sarah if they were to be together romantically. The new dad allegedly mentioned things including 'surfing with men,' 'inappropriate friendships with men,' and 'posting pictures of yourself in a bathing suit' that were off limits for his then-girlfriend. He additionally stated that if Sarah 'needed' to 'model,' 'post sexual pictures,' or maintain friendships with women who were part of her 'wild recent past' then he was 'not the right partner' for her. In another post of his alleged messages, Brady claimed that Hill only wanted her to socialize with friends whom he had 'personally approved.' The entertainer, whose documentary Stutz came out on Netflix last year, added, 'If these things bring you to a place of happiness I support it and there will be no hard feelings. These are my boundaries for romantic partnership.' He then clarified, 'My boundaries with you based on the ways these actions have hurt our trust.' Sarah wrote online to her nearly 80,000 followers, 'See the misuse of the term "boundaries"?' Brady spun her posts as a 'warning to all girls.' 'If your partner is talking to you like this, make an exit plan,' she captioned a screenshot that appeared to show Hill complaining about social media photos featuring her 'a** in a thong.' Implicit: Brady used the caption of new Instagram post to air out her ex. She claimed he had requested that she take down the full-clothed photo Heed: Sarah called her decision to release the private messages a 'warning to all girls' Unleashing: Sarah posted a message thread with the caption 'you make me sick' 'Call me if you need an ear,' she added. After Brady appeared to have signaled that she had deleted some of the supposedly offending photos, the Wolf Of Wall Street star appeared to tell his then-girlfriend it was a 'good start' but that she didn't 'seem to get' his point. 'But its not my place to teach you. Ive made my boundaries clear,' he affirmed. 'You refuse to let go of some of them and youve made that clear and I hope it makes you happy.' Brady maintained that her ex-boyfriend's critiques were made in an attempt to control her. She explained that she agreed with his requests in an attempt to keep him from experiencing 'crippling anxiety.' Insight: Sarah alleged that while dating Jonah, he had to 'personally approve' her friends Former flames: The couple used to regularly coordinate their outfits One wish: Sarah said she wants her ex to be held accountable Getting personal: In part of her tirade against her ex, the athlete noted, 'I hope my ex has a daughter, maybe shell turn him into a real feminist.' 'It hurts so badly': Brady seemed to be addressing Hill when she wrote 'Gaslight much?' over one screenshot. In the text, he appeared to complain that he was 'so lovely' to her, which he didn't feel was being reciprocated Interacting with her fans, Sarah admitted: 'Its been a year of healing & growth with the help of loved ones and doctors to get back to living my life without guilt, shame and self-judgment for things as small as surfing in a swimsuit rather than a more conservative wetsuit.' She continued, 'And Im sure theres still much more healing from this abuse ahead of me.' The former duo first went public with their romance in August 2021 after their connection was sparked when Jonah approached her online. On Friday Sarah said she was 'sharing this publicly now because keeping it to myself was causing more damage to my mental health than sharing it could ever do.' She also explained she used to take the 'blame' for Hill's actions when they would speak with their therapist. In part of her tirade against her ex, the athlete noted, 'I hope my ex has a daughter, maybe shell turn him into a real feminist. 'Because the fact that he calls himself a feminist now is laughable. If I could have one wish for him it would be that he is surrounded by feminist men who can hold him accountable to grow in the ways he has expressed he wants to.' The law student went on to say, 'I think fame can put people in an echo chamber of viewpoints, which can enable emotionally abusive behavior.' Odd standards: One snippet of conversation appeared to show Hill complaining that his then-girlfriend's 'therapist thinks I suck,' before he called himself 'literally ... the best boyfriend. On earth' Ridiculous: In a screenshot of a conversation with another person, Brady claimed that a therapist had urged her to come up with a 'safe word' 'pineapple' for 'when Jonah was yelling at me' Shade: In other posts, she urged her followers to 'Boycott Stutz,' Hill's documentary about his relationship with his therapist. One included a screenshot of text saying it 'is never appropriate for a therapist to speak about themselves at length' One snippet of conversation appeared to show Hill complaining that his then-girlfriend's 'therapist thinks I suck.' Brady seemed to be addressing Hill when she wrote 'Gaslight much?' over one screenshot. In the text, he appeared to complain that he was 'so lovely' to her, which he didn't feel was being reciprocated. 'I literally am the best boyfriend. On earth,' he added. She mocked the sentiment by sarcastically writing #1 Boyfriend over the screenshot and adding a photo of a smiling dog. In other posts, she urged her followers to 'Boycott Stutz,' Hill's documentary about his relationship with his therapist. One included a screenshot of text saying it 'is never appropriate for a therapist to speak about themselves at length.' She also clarified that just because a person is 'emotionally abusive,' it 'doesnt mean theyre a terrible person.' 'At the same time, it doesnt mean its OK,' she said. In addition to screenshots of conversations allegedly between her and Hill, Brady also included screenshots that appeared to show her complaining about her ex with another person. She also clarified that just because a person is 'emotionally abusive,' it 'doesnt mean theyre a terrible person,' adding, 'At the same time, it doesnt mean its OK' On Friday Sarah said she was 'sharing this publicly now because keeping it to myself was causing more damage to my mental health than sharing it could ever do.' The other person said it must have made her 'feel crazy having a licensed professional tell You to Not talk to other men to keep your boyfriend from acting like a f***ing baby.' Brady claimed that the therapist suggested she come up with a 'safe word for when Jonah was yelling at me,' which was 'pineapple.' In June, it was revealed that Hill had welcomed his first child with his current girlfriend Olivia. Details about the child, including the birth date, were not revealed, but his rep confirmed she gave birth in the spring of 2023. Heads up: Sarah shared screen shots of her messages with Jonah that showed the actor letting her know he'd started dating another woman Furious: Sarah told Jonah 'I'd appreciate if you'd make that woman aware of how recently you've been flirting with me, sexting me and leaning on me for partner level emotional support'. He replied by denying the timing of his new romance was 'inappropriate' A question of timing: Jonah said it had been 'six months' since the end of the relationship. Sarah then produced a screen shot of a sexting message from mid July 'I've done nothing wrong': Jonah said he was 'deeply' let down by Sarah's reaction and felt violated by the fact she'd taken a screenshot of his sext Hill - a self-described mental health advocate - then offered to pay for Brady's therapy for the rest of 2022 'even though you'll somehow punish me with that gesture.' On Monday Brady posted more exchanges - which she claimed took place on August 30 and 31 last year - around the time he moved on with Millar which he texted Brady about. She responded: 'I'd appreciate if you make that woman aware of how recently you've been flirting with me, sexting me, and leaning on me for partner-level emotional support.' She also shared a screengrab of him writing about 'holding my hard [censored]' in a text dated July 13, 2022, prompting the actor to confirm: 'Yes we sexted two months ago.' Hill blasted Sarah for the screenshot, branding it 'triggering' and accusing her of breaching his trust. Danniella Westbrook has reportedly started a romance with a 'rich businessmen' just a week after splitting from her jailbird fiance David. After she was pictured trying on wedding dresses last week, the actress, 49, was left devastated when her toyboy lover ex David, 29, called time on their union after a seven-year on-off relationship. Former EastEnders cast member Danniella is now said to have moved on after meeting her new beau while on holiday in Turkey. A source told The Sun: 'Danniella was heartbroken by her latest split, but shes quickly found herself a new man. 'She met a wealthy businessman in Turkey last week and hes been spoiling her with presents. Danniella loves being in his company and is over the moon with her latest romance. Moving on: Danniella Westbrook, 49, has reportedly started a romance with a 'rich businessmen' just a week after splitting from her jailbird fiance David 'Its still fresh but she does genuinely like him and will continue travelling back and forth to see him.' Former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Danniella split from her jailbird fiance David just months before he was due to be released from prison. She announced last year that she was waiting on David to be released from prison so that he could propose in style. It has been reported that David is serving time in prison for counterfeit goods and engaging in various physical altercations but will be released in September, just before her 50th birthday. A friend of the star reportedly told The Sun of their 'split' which happened on Tuesday last week: 'Danniella was heartbroken last night. 'Both Danniella and David have decided to cancel their wedding plans and, it seems, their whole relationship. 'She has spent nearly seven years travelling all over the country to visit him but it seems the closer he is to coming home, the more the cracks are showing. 'They have both just changed so much since they first got together.' End of the road: The actress was left devastated when her toyboy lover ex David, 29 (pictured), called time on their union after a seven-year on-off relationship The reported split came about fast as she was seen on Monday trying on wedding dresses. She was a blushing bride as she slipped into a princess style gown with an embellished bodice and voluminous tulle skirt. She added to the glamorous ensemble with a floor length veil that was secured in place with a glittering silver tiara. Danniella looked in good spirits during the fitting despite the fact she was still recovering after 'nightmare' facial reconstruction surgery. Last year, Danniella spoke about her wedding plans with David, who at 29 is 20 years her junior. She said: 'I've got a big ring that was made for me, and I wore it into the jail and David said, "it was lovely but it's not big enough", so there is a bigger one coming. 'He has asked me to marry him but I told him to wait until he gets home. He asks me all the time, he even asked me at the jail. He didn't get down on one knee or anything but he's like, "we are getting married you know."' The pair were previously in a 'tumultuous' relationship after meeting each other other in Spain five years ago. Having her say: Danniella denied last year that she and David had split as she showed off her engagement ring Nuptials: Later on her social media she also hinted she had found her perfect wedding dress as she shared a snap of a lace gown and wrote 'everything' in the caption Yet despite their 'up-and-down' romance, Danniella explained to the Daily Star: 'We just stayed in touch and he went to jail early 2019 and he got 9 years 9 months. He's home next year though, he's got 11 months to go.' Danniella has been married twice before - her first marriage was to van driver Ben Morgan in 1998, but they divorced nine months later. In 2001, the star married businessman Kevin Jenkins, almost four months after the birth of their daughter Jodie. They divorced in 2020. Danniella is also focusing on her appearance after her nightmare surgery at a clinic in Turkey which she had in a desperate bid to save her collapsing face. The television personality - whose wounds have been stitched up with non-dissolvable fishing wire - previously detailed the horrifying procedure as she revealed she will 'go back' to her original doctor in the UK to have corrective surgery. She claimed the painful operation she has waited years for was performed without anaesthesia. Danniella alleged the surgeon even slapped her during the op, and her phone was confiscated by an assistant as she begged for him to stop. She said: 'He was going to me, "Stop crying, stop crying." I said, "I'm in a lot of pain. Please, please. I'm frightened. I'm in a lot of pain. I didn't know this was going to happen." It was really frightening.' She then began to panic, and continued to tell the doctor she was in serious pain, but she said he told her to 'Stop f*****g moving, I tell you, stop moving.' Despite undergoing another procedure in Turkey in a bid to save her collapsing face, Danniella has since admitted she hates her new look. Past: In 2001, she married businessman Kevin Jenkins, almost four months after the birth of their daughter Jodie. They divorced in 2020 (pictured in 2002). She was previously married to Ben Morgan in 1998 Danniella had a thread lift, liposuction in her cheeks and lips, fat grafting on her chin and her jawline etched after her septum collapsed from excessive drug use in 2002. Taking to Instagram, the actress shared a photo of herself taken before the surgery and said she couldn't believe what had been done to her. She wrote: 'Three months ago I looked like this and thought I looked awful. I'd give my world to look like this again... 'I can't believe what's been done to me with this surgery.' Keanu Taylor is faced with raiding his fiancee Sharon Watts' business accounts after Lisa Fowler gave him an ultimatum on Tuesday's EastEnders. The father (Danny Walters) is desperate to form a relationship with his daughter Peggy, four, who has returned to Albert Square with her grandmother Lisa (Lucy Benjamin). On Tuesday's show, Keanu got to spend some time with Peggy - but only after he paid Lisa 3,000. Now, Lisa has demanded if Keanu wants to see his daughter, he will have to pay her 20,000 in the next 24 hours and 2,000 every month until she is 18. While the grandmother says the money is for Peggy to have the childhood she deserves, viewers see Lisa later squandering away the 3,000 Keanu gave her on her gambling addiction. Tough: Keanu Taylor is faced with raiding his fiancee Sharon Watts' business accounts after Lisa Fowler gave him an ultimatum on Tuesday's EastEnders Expensive: Lisa has demanded if Keanu wants to see his daughter, he will have to pay her 20,000 in the next 24 hours and 2,000 every month until she is 18 She told Keanu: 'You want a relationship with your daughter? I want 20,000 by tomorrow and 2,000 a month until she turns 18. Call it maintenance.' He replied: 'You're ridiculous. I don't have that money.' Lisa told him: 'Sharon does, it's the least you can do', to which Keanu said he was going to tell his fiancee about the blackmail threats. She replied: 'You're going to tell Sharon you gave away her wedding money and all? You want another day with Peggy, let's see what you can do'. Keanu later confided in Reiss Colwell, who runs Sharon's business accounts. He told him: 'If I don't fork out 20k by tomorrow and 2k for a month I won't see her again. You have no idea what she's capable of.' Viewers took to Twitter to comment on the ultimatum and Lisa's return to Albert Square. One wrote: 'Lisa really is cow with Keanu. I know that he messed around Louise however Wanting 2,000 every month until Peggy is 18 is unreasonable. Lisa will only go and spend the money on gambling anyway.' Another added: 'Dam thats our Lisa, loving her return so far. This scene is everything'. 'Lisa is back!': Viewers took to Twitter to comment on the ultimatum Doting: The father (Danny Walters) is desperate to form a relationship with his daughter Peggy, four, who has returned to Albert Square with her grandmother Lisa (Lucy Benjamin) 'Eastenders. Lisa is back. Seems like old times. One of Walford's greatest women. Bring her back for good.' 'Here's hoping that now Keanu's told Reiss that Lisa's blackmailing him, Reiss tells Sonia or Sharon, given he doesn't like keeping secrets - love their little friendship group', said another. Lisa's daughter Louise Mitchell (previously Tilly Keeper) gave birth to Peggy at the time Keanu was having an affair with Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), the mother of his son Albie. Following the birth of Peggy, Louise started to struggle with her mental health, and she was under the impression she played a part in Keanu's apparent death, although he is still alive and as things got worse for Louise, she nearly killed her daughter Peggy by smothering the baby with a pillow. After Lisa made her E20 comeback this week, fans were left wondering if Lisa was back in London to seek revenge against Keanu, or if there was an even more sinister reason for her presence. With Lisa having arrived in the back of a black cab before making a dash for it, not paying the driver, soap fans took to Twitter to comment on her return. One person wrote: 'What are Lisa's real intentions? There is more to this then just money??? She'll definitely get custody of Peggy as Louise is too vulnerable following her downward descent with drugs and alcohol.' While someone else share: 'So Louise has descended down a downward spiral of drugs and alcohol. I wonder if Lisa kidnapped Peggy and accused Lou of being an "Unfit mother".' Another person posted: 'Keanu really messed Louise up he got her pregnant and pretended he loved her while also knocking up Sharon and lying for months. Plus, it didn't help that she was involved in him getting kidnapped. I think that's why Lisa is back.' 'Lisa is back and she wants revenge on Keanu. I also think that Lisa or Louise might be in financial difficulty with the Bailiffs etc. There is more to her return then just "Revenge" on Keanu,' posted another person. While someone else asked: 'Is Lisa on the run by any chance?' Another viewer stated: 'I doubt Lisa will be impressed when she finds Keanu is marrying Sharon.' Someone else tweeted: 'That Lisa, she were always bad news and now shes stealin from taxi drivers!' Emily Blunt looked as glamorous as ever as she joined a dapper Cillian Murphy at the Oppenheimer premiere in Paris on Tuesday. The co-stars both put on very sophisticated display as they joined their fellow cast members at the Cinema Le Grand Rex to celebrate their hotly-anticipated biopic. Emily, 40, cut an elegant figure in a green satin gown with padded shoulders and a collared neckline as she made sure to capture attention. She added a few extra inches to her frame with a pair of silver pointed stilettos and let her outfit do all the talking as she accessorised with droplet Anita Ko earrings. The Mary Poppins star, who is playing physicist Oppenheimer's wife Kitty in the biological thriller, styled her golden locks in glamorous waves. Sophisticated: Emily Blunt looked as glamorous as ever as she joined a dapper Cillian Murphy at the Oppenheimer premiere in Paris on Tuesday Wow! Emily made sure to turn heads in her vibrant ensemble as she joined their fellow cast members at the Cinema Le Grand Rex to celebrate their hotly-anticipated biopic She accentuated her striking features with lashings of mascara and a touch of pink lipstick as she posed for the cameras. Meanwhile, Irish actor Cillian, 47, cut a suave figure in a navy suit, made up of smart trousers and a fitted blazer. He styled his smart ensemble with a beige shirt and a matching tie, while he completed the look with patent black boots. The Peaky Blinders star styled his dark locks in a middle parting as he smiled for photographs alongside his A-list co-stars. Cillian is playing Dr J. Robert Oppenheimer, the 'father of the atomic bomb', in the 81million blockbuster directed by Christopher Nolan. Oppenheimer was the director of the laboratory which designed the atomic bomb during World War Two as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project. The film is being adapted from the 2006 book American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. The book, which won the Pulitzer Prize, details Oppenheimer's personal life and his time leading the Manhattan Project in the early and mid-1940s. Gorgeous: Emily, 40, cut an elegant figure in a green satin gown with padded shoulders and a collared neckline as she made sure to capture attention Elegant: She accentuated her striking features with lashings of mascara and a touch of pink lipstick as she posed for the cameras Turning heads: She added a few extra inches to her frame with a pair of silver pointed stilettos and let her outfit do all the talking as she simply accessorised with droplet earrings Glam: The Mary Poppins star, who is playing physicist Oppenheimer's wife Kitty in the biological thriller, styled her golden locks in glamorous waves Suave: Meanwhile, Irish actor Cillian, 47, cut a suave figure in a navy suit, made up of smart trousers and a fitted blazer Leading man: Cillian is playing Dr J. Robert Oppenheimer, the 'father of the atomic bomb', in the 81million blockbuster directed by Christopher Nolan Thriller: Oppenheimer (pictured: Cillian as the physicist) was the director of the laboratory which designed the atomic bomb during World War Two as part of the Manhattan Project Dapper: Also in attendance at the premiere was Matt Damon, who looked as suave as ever for the outing Character: Matt is starring as Lieutenant General Leslie Groves (right) - an engineer who directed the Manhattan Project Stylish: Matt, 52, cut a dapper figure in a smart navy blue suit, which he styled with a plain white T-shirt and brown boots Family: Matt's four daughters Isabella, 17, Gia, 14, and Stella, 12, and Alexia, 24, were also in attendance. He adopted his wife Luciana Barroso's daughter Alexia The film is set to be released on July 21 and a whole host of the A-list cast flocked to Paris to celebrate its release on Tuesday. Also in attendance at the premiere was Matt Damon, who is starring as Lieutenant General Leslie Groves - an engineer who directed the Manhattan Project. Matt, 52, cut a dapper figure in a smart navy blue suit, which he styled with a plain white T-shirt and brown boots. He styled his silver locks in a slicked back style and appeared to be in jovial spirits as he smiled and waved at photographers. Matt was also sweetly supported by his daughters Isabella, 17, Gia, 14, and Stella, 12 - who he shares with Luciana Barroso. Luciana's daughter Alexia, 24, from her former relationship with Arbello Barroso - who Matt adopted, also smiled for group snaps with her sisters. Co-stars: Matt styled his silver locks in a slicked back style and appeared to be in jovial spirits as he smiled with Robert Downey Jr., Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt Family: (L-R) Alexia, Isabella, Gia and Stella all appeared thrilled to be at the premiere as they showed their support for Matt Smart: Robert Downey Jr also looked as dapper as ever in a dark blue suit, which he teamed with a matching satin tie and black shoes Going back in time: Robert (pictured April 2018) joins the cast as he is portraying Lewis Strauss (pictured right in 1954) who served two terms on the US Atomic Energy Commission Stars: Trond Fausa Aurvag, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Jason Clarke, Christopher Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas and Charles Roven all posed together Robert Downey Jr also looked as dapper as ever in a dark blue suit, which he teamed with a matching satin tie and black shoes. The Hollywood star, 58, sported a pair of square black tinted glasses and appeared in good form as he playfully posed for the cameras. He is portraying Lewis Strauss, who served two terms on the US Atomic Energy Commission. The cast is also made up of Florence Pugh - who plays Oppenheimer's mistress - Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek and Josh Hartnett. Gary Oldman is also said to have a cameo in the epic as as President Truman. Truman met Oppenheimer after the bombs were used in 1945, killing 200,000 people, and Oppenheimer said that he felt he had blood on his hands. Pals: Matt was seen beckoning someone over to join the group as they all grinned for pictures together Stars: Matt, Robert, Cillian and Emily were all joined by director Christopher Nolan as they celebrated their new release Surprise! Robert Downey Jr. recently shared a snap of himself with Matt, Cillian, Emily and John Krasinski, and hinted at a possible cameo from Emily's partner in the film Real life: The film is being adapted from the 2006 book American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Oppenheimer is pictured) Hotly-anticipated: Oppenheimer is set to be released on July 21 - in an epic blockbuster day which will also see the Barbie movie unveiled in cinemas Truman had little use for such pangs of conscience and dismissed him as a 'crybaby scientist'. The cast have been busy promoting the film together over the past few weeks and Robert Downey Jr - who plays - Lewis Strauss recently shared a snap of them all. He posted the picture of himself with Matt, Cillian, Emily and John Krasinski, and even hinted at a possible cameo from Emily's husband. 'Linking up with my Oppenheimer cast mates...wait, is that a Krasinski photo bomb or might there be a surprise cameo???' he captioned a photo shared to his Instagram on Sunday. Kris Jenner is enjoying quite the A-list getaway to the Spanish island of Majorca. The momager, who recently attended a Dolce & Gabbana event, posted snaps of her sailing the high seas with partner Corey Gamble, 42, and fellow power couple Ellen DeGeneres, 65, and Portia de Rossi, 50. Kris posted snaps from their luxurious adventures, which included a group shot of the celebrities posing on their ritzy yacht. The 67-year-old wore a sheer leopard print cover-up, wide-brim hat and gold hoop earrings as she held hands with Corey. '"Life was meant for good friends and great adventures!"' she captioned the post, along with a sunshine, anchor, and ship emoji. Fun in the sun! Kris Jenner sailed the high seas with her partner Corey Gamble and fellow power couple Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi The photo drop included a snap of Kris playing the piano on board the vessel, with a bottle of her daughter Kendall Jenner's 818 Tequila sitting atop the instrument. The carousel also included a bizarre image of two Kris Jenners standing alongside a display of the beverage. Kris has been enjoying a luxurious getaway to Europe as of late, and recently attended the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda fashion show in Puglia with her daughter Kim Kardashain. While at the event, Kim risked the wrath of her sister Kourtney Kardashian by copying her 'wedding vibes' once again. The 42-year-old reality TV star modeled a dramatic ensemble featuring a black veil over a figure-hugging corset dress to a party after attending the luxury brand's Alta Moda Show in Puglia, Italy. She donned a striking outfit that resembled the black veil look that her older sister, Kourtney, 44, had worn to a pre-wedding event in Portofino last year. Recently, the two sisters have been entangled in a contentious feud that played out on season three of their family's hit Hulu series, The Kardashians. In latter episodes, Kourtney expressed her discontent at her sister working as the creative director of Dolce & Gabbana and said she was 'copying' the designs from her Italian wedding. Seeing double: The post included a bizarre shot of two Kris Jenners posing by an 818 Tequila display Making some music! She also played the piano inside her immaculate yacht On the most recent episode, the SKIMS founder clapped back at her sister's claims and accused her of being a copycat for stealing 'my f*cking wedding country and my wedding performer!' Amid the drama, the entrepreneur made her grand arrival in a very dramatic, all-black ensemble that did look similar to the Poosh founder's wedding to Travis Barker in May 2022. On Sunday, Kim turned heads in a low-cut corset with sheer panels between the ribbing to accentuate her hourglass figure. The mother-of-four teamed the look with a figure-hugging, satin skirt and see-through, pointed-toe pumps. Cheers to a good time! A tray of Kendall Jenner's tequila sat along the edge of the boat Making a splash! The post included videos of their idyllic surroundings Fashionistas: Kris has been enjoying a luxurious getaway to Europe as of late, and recently attended the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda fashion show in Puglia with her daughter Kim Kardashain Over the entire ensemble, she draped a sheer, black veil adorned with lace-trim. Kim also accessorized with a gemstone necklace highlighted by a gold, oversized, and star-shaped pendant. For the special occasion, she fashioned her raven black tresses in a half-up, half-down hairstyle that looked elegant and fit for a wedding. The socialite was seen arriving at the party escorted by one-half of the Dolce & Gabbana luxury brand, Domenico Dolce. The newest muse of the Italian high-end fashion company was also accompanied by her mother Kris. As part of its efforts to boost the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Bahrain and instil an entrepreneurial mindset in youth, Hope Ventures, the investment arm of Hope Fund, has introduced a new broadcasted segment, Beban Al-Shabab. The segment comes under the umbrella of its hit entrepreneurship-themed reality television show Beban, and is conducted in partnership with Injaz Bahrain. Through Hope and Injaz Bahrains joint efforts in creating Beban Al-Shabab, Bahraini youth will be empowered to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys and pursue entrepreneurship as a viable career path. Young entrepreneurs The shows format will be centered around entrepreneurs aged between 6 to 17 years old who will receive the opportunity to pitch their business concepts in front of a panel of judges for business opportunities. Prior to pitching on Beban Al-Shabab, entrepreneurs will receive intensive training that will support them in solidifying their business models and preparing them to pitch in front of a panel of judges for investment and strategic business development opportunities. Beban Al-Shabab is welcoming applications through its website hopefund.bh/beban-alshabab from Bahraini youth aged between 6 and 17 years old with either a business idea or an existing business who have the capability to pitch in Arabic or English. Youth potential Chairman of Hope Fund, Aymen bin Tawfiq Almoayed, said: At Hope, we carry the firmest belief in the potential of Bahraini youth and their entrepreneurial capabilities, which is why we created Beban Al-Shabab in partnership with Injaz Bahrain to showcase 12 promising youth businesses who will pitch to a panel of judges to unlock doors of opportunities to grow their business concepts. We look forward to paving the way to the next generation of promising Bahraini entrepreneurs. Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairperson at Injaz Bahrain, said: Through our joint efforts, we aim to foster a culture of innovation and creativity among the youth and prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century economy. Injaz Bahrain has been supporting youth entrepreneurship education for over 15 years, and we are proud to see how our youth will showcase their talents and ideas on Beban Al-Shabab. We encourage all young Bahrainis with a passion for entrepreneurship to apply for this exciting opportunity and benefit from the mentorship and guidance of Hope Ventures and Injaz Bahrain."-- TradeArabia News Service ITV have reportedly axed a star-studded show due to poor ratings. Queens For The Night which saw male celebrities being transformed into drag stars aired on Saturday night's last autumn but The Sun claim it won't be returning. The show hosted by Lorraine Kelly saw the likes of soap stars Adam Woodyatt and Simon Gregson Mr Motivator and Love Island's Chris Hughes take part and were guide by mentors Myra Dubois and Kitty Scott-Claus. A source told the publication: 'The show was always thought of as a bit of a 'special' for ITV but there was always the hope it might take off and become a series. 'That hasn't happened but it's the kind of programme channel bosses could bring back sporadically. Making some hard decisions: ITV have reportedly axed a star-studded show due to poor ratings Show: Queens For The Night which saw male celebrities being transformed into drag stars aired on Saturday night's last autumn but The Sun claim it won't be returning 'It was a bold choice for ITV1 on a Saturday, but a worthy one.' ITV has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. Judges Mel C, Aussie drag queen Courtney Act and comedian Rob Beckett completed the show line up. The primetime celebrity drag contest paired each wannabe queen with their very own drag mentor, as they attempted to master the craft and perfect wearing heels while also honing a special drag talent such as singing, dancing, lip syncing or comedy. The show saw some of the most successful Drag Queens in the business become mentors to each of the celebrities. RuPaul's Drag Race UK stars Blu Hydrangea, Kitty Scott-Claus and Asttina Mandella joined up with La Voix, Myra DuBois and Margo Marshall to guide and teach the stars as they prepared their drag personas. Lorraine said ahead of hosting last year: 'I'm so excited to be hosting this show. 'I am a huge fan of Drag and can not wait to see a host of well known stars embrace this uniquely wonderful and uplifting skill. Fun: The show hosted by Lorraine Kelly saw the likes of soap stars Adam Woodyatt and Simon Gregson Mr Motivator and Love Island's Chris Hughes take part and were guide by mentors Myra Dubois and Kitty Scott-Claus Change! The primetime celebrity drag contest paired each wannabe queen with their very own drag mentor (Chris Hughes pictured in his heels) Stars: Judges Mel C, Aussie drag queen Courtney Act and comedian Rob Beckett completed the show line up The contestants will then performed live in front of a panel of expert judges and a live studio audience before one celebrity was crowned the ultimate winner. 'It's a show that will have humour, warmth and above all lots and lots of glamour, I can't wait to get started.' While Mel C added: 'I've always been a huge fan of drag and in 2019, I was lucky enough to do a World Tour or Prides with some of the most wonderful and creative queens out there! 'On that tour I really learnt what's needed to cut the mustard on this fabulous world and I can't wait to see how our celebrities measure up with their incredible mentors guiding them every step of the way.' Matt Damon was sweetly supported by his daughters as they attended the Oppenheimer premiere in Paris on Tuesday. The actor, 52, made a rare public appearance with his daughters as they all stepped out at the Cinema Le Grand Rex to celebrate his new biopic. For the occasion, Matt cut a dapper figure in a smart navy blue suit, which he teamed with a plain white T-shirt and brown boots. He wore his silver locks in a slicked back style and appeared to be in jovial spirits as he smiled and waved at photographers. He was sweetly supported by his daughters Alexia, 24, 14-year-old Gia and 12-year-old Stella and two of their friends. Matt is also dad to Isabella, 17. Dapper: Matt Damon put on a dapper display as he attended the Oppenheimer premiere in Paris on Tuesday Daughters: He was sweetly supported by his daughters Alexia, 24, 14-year-old Gia and 12-year-old Stella and two of their friends. Matt is also dad to Isabella, 17 Matt shares Isabella, Gia and Stella with his wife Luciana Barroso, while he also adopted her daughter Alexia from her previous relationship with Arbello Barroso. Matt and Luciana met while the Oscar-winner was filming Stuck On You in Miami in April 2003 and she was working in a bar. After the couple got engaged in September 2005, they wed nearly three months later in a private civil ceremony at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau. The couple have been going strong ever since and often make very loved-up appearances together. At the premiere, Matt also smiled for snaps with a whole host of his co-stars, including Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. Matt is starring as Lieutenant General Leslie Groves - an engineer who directed the Manhattan Project. Meanwhile, Cillian is playing Dr J. Robert Oppenheimer, the 'father of the atomic bomb', in the 81million blockbuster directed by Christopher Nolan. Family: Matt, who is married to Luciana Barroso, sweetly posed with his arms around his two youngest daughters Gia (right) and 12-year-old Stella (left) Family: Matt's daughters were joined by two friends as they celebrated Matt's big night in Paris Suave: For the occasion, Matt cut a smart figure in a smart navy blue suit, which he styled with a plain white T-shirt and brown boots Good form: He styled his silver locks in a slicked back style and appeared to be in jovial spirits as he smiled and waved at photographers Love life: Matt and Luciana (pictured in June) met while the Oscar-winner was filming Stuck On You in Miami in April 2003 and she was working in a bar and tied the knot two years later Thriller: Oppenheimer stars Cillian as Dr J. Robert Oppenheimer, the 'father of the atomic bomb', and has been directed by Christopher Nolan Real life: Oppenheimer was the director of the laboratory which designed the atomic bomb during World War Two as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project The cast is also made up of Florence Pugh - who plays Oppenheimer's mistress - Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek and Josh Hartnett. Oppenheimer was the director of the laboratory which designed the atomic bomb during World War Two as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project. The film is being adapted from the 2006 book American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. The book, which won the Pulitzer Prize, details Oppenheimer's personal life and his time leading the Manhattan Project in the early and mid-1940s. Top Chef have announced season 10 winner Kristen Kish will replace show stalwart Padma Lakshmi as host for the 21st season. Lakshmi, 52, who announced her departure from the role in June after 19 seasons, was quick to send her congratulations to Kish, 39, after the announcement was made. Sharing a sweet snap of the pair, Lakshmi wrote: 'Im so proud of you @KristenLKish and am over the moon that youll be taking over for me on @BravoTopChef!!! 'Ill be rooting for you and our whole crew next season. Congratulations!!! Krish has previously been a guest judge on the show numerous times and was fast considered a frontrunner for the hosting role. New host: Top Chef have announced season 10 winner Kristen Kish will replace show stalwart Padma Lakshmi as host for the 21st season Goodbye: Lakshmi announced her departure in June and revealed her decision stemmed from a desire to move onto 'other creative pursuits' after 17 years on the Bravo show She said: 'Top Chef is where I started my journey first as a competing chef, then a guest judge. Now as host, I have the honor of helping to continue to build this brand. 'Im thrilled to sit alongside Gail and Tom as we get to know new incredible chefs and see what they cook up. It feels like coming home.' Top Chef will film in Wisconsin, focusing on Milwaukee and Madison Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons will return as judges. Lakshmi revealed her decision stemmed from a desire to move onto 'other creative pursuits' after 17 years on the Bravo show. She wrote: 'After much soul searching, I have made the difficult decision to leave Top Chef. Having completed a glorious 20th season as host and executive producer, I am extremely proud to have been part of building such a successful show and of the impact it has had in the worlds of television and food.' 'After 17 years, many of the cast and crew are like family to me and I will miss working alongside them dearly, I feel it's time to move on and need to make space for Taste the Nation, my books and other creative pursuits. 'I am deeply thankful to all of you for so many years of love and support. Sincerely, Padma.' Incredible: Krish has previously been a guest judge on the show numerous times and was fast considered a frontrunner for the hosting role Farewell: Padma shared an emotional post as she bade farewell to the show Top Chef began in 2006 and was hosted by Katie Lee Joel. Lakshmi began hosting the show in season 2. She joined judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons on the show. The show features chefs competing against each other in culinary challenges. The contestants are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry, with one or more contestants eliminated in each episode. She has scored four Emmy nominations for outstanding reality show host and 10 Emmy nominations for outstanding competition program as a producer on the show. The success of the show has resulted in multiple spin-offs, such as Top Chef Masters, Top Chef: Just Desserts, Top Chef Junior and Top Chef Amateurs. Padma shares 13-year-old daughter Krishna Thea, with venture capitalist Adam Dell, brother of computer magnate Michael Dell. She was married to novelist Salman Rushdie from 2004 - 2007. Line-up: Top Chef began in 2006 and was hosted by Katie Lee Joel. Lakshmi began hosting the show in season 2 (pictured with Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Kirk Westaway) Beloved: She has scored four Emmy nominations for outstanding reality show host and 10 Emmy nominations for outstanding competition program as a producer on the show The Emmy-nominated food expert, television producer, host, and New York Times bestselling author is thriving on her Hulu show Taste The Nation which is going into its second season. The single parent has said: 'I think on Top Chef, for so long, my position and my role on that show caused people to think I was more intimidating than I am I had to be stoic in my role but that's not me normally.' 'You know, it was a new skill for me to interview people,' she admitted. 'I mean, I'm a food writer. 'Before Taste the Nation, I could count on one hand the times I had to interview people, and those were at a literary festival or a food festival it wasn't for anything very high stakes. It was something I had to learn on set, and I'm still learning.' And she has her journalism skills down. 'I think the reason I learned [how to become an interviewer] so quickly is that I'm genuinely interested,' Lakshmi confided. 'The whole show is created around all of my various interests: history, food, people, languages, traveling. I'm genuinely curious.' One of Britain's most highly regarded architects could be stripped of his title if claims of sexual misconduct are found to be true. Sir David Adjaye, who was given a knighthood by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2017, has been accused by three former female employees of sexual misconduct. The women claim they were left in emotional distress and financially crippled after alleged sexual abuse and harassment by the 56-year-old, the Financial Times reports. The Daily Mail understands that the Academy is considering taking the unprecedented step of removing his title of being one of its 80 Royal Academicians if an investigation finds the claims to be true. Sir David, who married Ashley Shaw-Scott Adjaye in 2014, said he was 'deeply sorry' for entering into relationships with the former employees but denied abuse. Sir David Adjaye, pictured here after he was knighted in 2017, is accused of sexual misconduct by three former female employees The Royal Academy of Arts (pictured) is understood to be considering stripping him of his title if the claims are found to be true A Royal Academy spokesman told the Mail's Richard Eden: 'Sir David has been a Royal Academician since 2017 and served on the [governing board] from October 2021 to June 2022. 'We take these allegations extremely seriously and are looking into this matter.' An employee added: 'I've never heard of a Royal Academician losing their status before, but then I've also never heard of these kind of claims coming out about an academician before either.' The Ghanaian-British architect is best known for having designed the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC, United States. He was previously chosen to lead the team designing a 100million Holocaust memorial park which has been slated to be built next to Parliament in Westminster. Last year he was appointed to the Order of Merit in the last group chosen by Queen Elizabeth before her death, with the decision subsequently confirmed by King Charles. Ariana Madix showcased her incredibly toned figure while rocking a cropped black hoodie and a pair of skintight leggings while running errands in Los Angeles. While walking back to her car on Tuesday afternoon, the 38-year-old Vanderpump Rules star put her incredibly toned midriff on full display as she prepared to slide into the front seat. For her outing, the Buying Back My Daughter actress, who began filming season 11 of her Bravo series last month, wore her platinum blonde tresses in a tousled bun. She completed her laid-back look with calf-length black socks, with white stripes, and Nike sneakers. The TV personality kept her hazel eyes hidden under beige and black shades. Casual: Ariana Madix showcased her incredibly toned figure while rocking a cropped black hoodie and a pair of skintight leggings while running errands in Los Angeles Her sighting comes after Madix teased that she will be making an appearance on the hit dating show, Love Island USA. Earlier this week, Ariana took to TikTok to share video of her lip syncing to the iconic Love Island catchphrase, 'This week, a hot new bombshell enters the villa.' The video ended with Ariana beaming with joy as she danced about wearing a neon green top and cat-eyed sunglasses. 'Islanders: ready to shake things up? Don't worry, I don't bite. #LoveIslandUSA @peacock,' she captioned the post, along with a kissy emoji. The Love Island gig is just the latest opportunity to come Ariana's way ever since she was betrayed by her former long-term partner Tom Sandoval and best friend Raquel Leviss. Ariana's nine-year long relationship with Tom came to an end earlier this year after it emerged Sandoval had been engaging in a months-long affair with Raquel. Nowadays, Ariana has been enjoying massive success - including a new gig on Dancing With The Stars. She confirmed she would be competing on the show last week on Good Morning America, in a brief clip featuring pro dancer and current judge Derek Hough. Looking good! While walking back to her car on Tuesday afternoon, the 38-year-old Vanderpump Rules star put her incredibly toned midriff on full display as she prepared to slide into the front seat Running errands: For her outing, the Buying Back My Daughter actress, who began filming season 11 of her Bravo series last month, wore her platinum blonde tresses in a tousled bun 'This season on Dancing With the Stars, we are going absolutely mad mad for Madix,' Hough said in the clip. Then Ariana playfully jumped into the frame and added, 'I will be joining the cast of Dancing With the Stars this season!' The announcement makes Ariana the first contestant who has been confirmed for the upcoming DWTS season. Her sighting comes after Madix teased that she will be making an appearance on the hit dating show Love Island USA, in which showed her lip syncing to the iconic Love Island catchphrase, 'This week, a hot new bombshell enters the villa.' Ariana wore a lovely magenta mini dress with baggy half-length sleeves and tall open-toe heels, while her long blond hair was swept to the side and cascaded over one shoulder. Derek opted for a far more casual tight black T-shirt that highlighted his ripped physique, along with jeans. 'That's right! Say goodbye to the drama and hello to the dance floor!' he added after Ariana joined the video. 'Let's dance!' they added. The full cast of DWTS season 32 will be announced on Good Morning America on September 13. Betrayal: Ariana's nine-year long relationship with Tom came to an end earlier this year after it emerged Sandoval had been engaging in a months-long affair with Raquel Dancing past the heartbreak! Madix has also recently signed on for Dancing With The Stars It's unclear if other cast members will be announced along the way, or if the show if just capitalizing on Ariana's current popularity because of her boosted profile. The show airs on ABC and streams on Disney+, while also airing on Hulu the following day. Page Six reported in April 2023 that Ariana was in talks to secure a spot on DWTS, though the announcement on Friday was the first confirmation that she had sealed the deal. 'ABC is in late stage conversations with [Madix] to be a contestant to join DWTS this fall,' a source said at the time, adding that she had 'already received all of the approvals and sign-offs from NBC Universal.' Candice Swanepoel put her stunning supermodel figure on full display in a series of new pictures, which she shared with her more than 19.8 million Instagram followers on Tuesday. While modeling pieces from Alo Yoga, the 34-year-old catwalk queen, who has walked down the runway for designers like Givenchy, Chanel and Miu Miu, turned to the side and snapped a sultry mirror selfie. In the image, she can be seen rocking a light blue cashmere halter top and matching striped shorts, which hung to her every curve. 'Blue is indeed the warmest color,' she captioned her slideshow, which began with an image of her at a fitness class. The third picture of the mother-of-two focused on her washboard abs as she rolled her bottoms down lower. Turning heads: Candice Swanepoel put her stunning supermodel figure on full display in a series of new pictures, which she shared with her more than 19.8 million Instagram followers on Tuesday The next, in front of the same white wall, was taken from the back. Within three hours, she received more than 63,798 likes and hundreds of comments. In mid-May, reports surfaced that the South African bombshell is reportedly growing close to Harry Styles, following his split from Olivia Wilde. Their rumored romance marks the seventh time he has been romantically linked to a Victoria's Secret Angel. At the time, a source told The Sun: 'Harry is one of the biggest music superstars in the world so it's not surprising supermodels are lining up to date him.' 'He's got history with Victoria's Secret models and has been linked to six others who have all walked in their fashion show,' the insider told the outlet. 'Candice is one of Victoria's Secret's most successful Angels and Harry would be a lucky man if he managed to woo her.' Harry and Candice originally met in Shanghai when he performed at the Victoria Secret show in 2017. Other VS models that Harry has apparently dated over the years, he was linked to Cara Delevingne in 2013. Summer vibes: While modeling pieces from Alo Yoga, the 34-year-old runway star, who has walked for Tom Ford, Givenchy, Chanel and Miu Miu, turned to the side and snapped a sultry mirror selfie Enviable looks: Within three hours, she received more than 63,798 likes and hundreds of comments He also briefly dated Kendall Jenner in 2014 for three months. The following year, Harry was in a relationship with Nadine Leopold but split shortly after, citing their clashing work schedules as the reason. It was a busy year for Harry's love life, as he also reportedly dated Angels Sara Sampaio and New Zealand native Georgia Fowler in 2015. It has been suggested that his hit song Kiwi was about his relationship with Georgia. The sixth Angel he dated was Camille Rowe, who he dated from 2017 for around a year. Fans believed he wrote several songs about her on his Fine Line album. Rowe became his sixth Angel date in 2017, and he has waited six years before a link to number seven. However, when he released the song Falling, fans assumed the reason for their break-up was possibly due to the fact that Harry had cheated on her. The lyrics to the song read: 'I'm in my bed and you're not here. And there's no one to blame but the drink and my wandering hands.' 'Blue is indeed the warmest color,' she captioned her slideshow, which began with an image of her at a fitness class First meeting: Harry and Candice originally met in Shanghai when he performed at the Victoria Secret show in 2017 Meanwhile, Candice has been publicly single since her split from Hermann Nicoli in 2018, who she shares her two children with. Harry's dating habits have been getting him in hot water in recent months, amid claims 'avoided' the 2023 Met Gala 'like the bubonic plague' in order to save himself from the risk of having an 'awkward run-in' with both his ex-girlfriend Olivia Wilde and his recent fling Emily Ratajkowski. According to a friend of the pop sensation Harry was extended an invitation to Anna Wintour's prestigious event but graciously declined after learning that Olivia and Emily, 31, were both attending. 'Harry was invited to the Met Gala, but knowing that both of them were definitely going, he avoided it like it was the bubonic plague,' the insider told DailyMail.com. 'He was told by his team that they would take all necessary steps to ensure that there was no awkward run in with Olivia, but he was not trying to risk it at all.' Agniveer is pushing away Nepals Gorkhas. They are joining armies around the world; if we dont wake up they might well be joining the Chinese army Recently, I met a retired three-star General from the Gorkha Regiment. He told me that when he visited different formations the Divisional and Corps Commanders told him that the best battalions in his formation are from the Gorkhas. Whether it is battle, counter insurgency, professional competitions or any other mission, Gorkhas stand out. When Nepal agreed that India inherit the British legacy of recruiting Gorkhas at Partition in 1947, it was the first time that Gorkhas were to be officered by Indians. Prime Minister Nehru, speaking to the Constituent Assembly, thanked Nepal for it. The British coveted their 51 Gorkha battalions at the height of World War II so ferociously that only Brits were allowed to command them. Only Indian medical officers were attached to some of the Gorkha battalions. When they were being downsized after the transfer of power from Hong Kong to China in 1997, a country-wide Save The Gorkha movement started across Britain. Many pubs and restaurants are named after Gorkhas as well as iconic places in Nepal. No such movement has started in India over the possible phase-out of the Gorkha Brigade, the Armys single-biggest regiment of 43 battalions larger than the entire British Infantry, as its roots are in politics, not in high diplomacy and strategy. This is happening when the big gun in the armed forces, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan belongs to the 11 Gorkha Regiment. A similar contingency was nipped in the bud in 1973 by then Army Chief Gen Gopal Bewoor also from 11 Gorkhas who thought the idea of sufficient recruitable material in India was unstrategic. The Gorkha Brigade is a strategic force permitted to be recruited by Nepal that characterizes the special relations between two sovereign countries. The run-down of the Gorkha Brigade began with three years of no recruitment of Nepal Domiciled Gorkhas (NDG) and retirement of 4000 Gorkhas creating a deficiency of approximately 8000 to 9000 personnel. This is to be made good by recruiting Indian Domiciled Gorkhas (IDG), Kumaonis, Garhwalis and tribals of the northeast without a single NDG. Despite reducing their recruitment standards, IDG just about manage to fill their quota of 40 per cent intake. Kumaonis and Garhwalis have their single-class regiments and will be unable to provide suitable material for long. Assuming Nepal will be unwilling to permit recruitment under Agniveer norms, by 2030 only half or less of Gorkha battalions will be Gorkhali. By 2025, some of the seven Gorkha regiments will have to shed one battalion from their five or six battalions. At some stage, around 2035, or even earlier, the government may order winding down the Gorkha Brigade creating a slack of 30,000 soldiers. India did not consider it necessary or wise to consult Nepal on Agniveer. Instead, it delivered a fait accompli with a neighbour it claims it has the closest relationship in the neighbourhood. Nepal was the second country after Bhutan Mr Modi visited when he became Prime Minister in 2014. Not just that, he captured the heart and soul of Nepalis with his oratory in their Parliament when he extolled the courage and bravery of Gorkha soldiers who had shed their blood defending the territorial integrity of India. Ambassadors in Kathmandu since 1959 whom I met were enamoured with Gorkhas but some doubted their loyalty to India. One Ambassador never visited Gorkha hubs in Nepal like Pokhara and Dharan to meet the ex-servicemen. But since the last decade and more after the end of the Maoist insurgency, Ambassadors without exception had expressed no doubt about Gorkha's loyalty and even admitted that they were a pro-India constituency in Nepal. During the Maoist insurgency, Maoists sought, through inducement and coercion, Indian ex-servicemen and instructors to train their cadres. Only one ex-serviceman from 1.25 lakh ESM joined them. Kathmandu deserved to be consulted over a sensitive strategic bilateral issue such as recruitment, especially when the rules of engagement were significantly altered for the first time in 77 years even though the tripartite agreement (1947) does not mention consultation. Still, it does seek equal treatment with the parent army. There are several mechanisms to initiate discussion on defence and security most notably the Bilateral Group on Security Cooperation India and Nepal established during the Maoist insurgency. Kathmandu was between elections when Agniveer was announced and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, was heading the government. There was a short discussion on Agniveer in Nepal Parliament where it was criticised by former Defence Minister Bhim Rawal. Due to the unstable nature of the present government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, and neither side taking up Agniveer formally during his visit in May, it is on the backburner. Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud told BBC Nepali in Kathmandu recently that Nepal will seek a national consensus on Agniveer which is virtually putting it in cold storage. In other words, Agniveer is unacceptable to Nepal in its present form. Slamming Agniveer, Nepals hardy Gorkhas are now joining the Russian Army while continuing with the British Army, Singapore Police Brunei Army and French Foreign Legion. At this rate, the Chinese dream of recruiting Gorkhas may bear fruit. (The writer, a retired Major General, was Commander, IPKF South, Sri Lanka, and founder member of the Defence Planning Staff, currently the Integrated Defence Staff. The views expressed are personal) An Indian-origin man who punched and kicked a police officer during a raid was sentenced to a total of nine years and 18 months' jail and fined SGD4,000 on Monday. Nikhil M. Durgude, 25, had previously pleaded guilty to eight charges, including voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty, possessing cannabis and consuming methamphetamine, reported The Straits Times. Fifteen other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. Noting that Nikhil also hurled abusive insults at the police officer during the attack, district court Judge Jasvender Kaur said this showed his utter disregard for authority. Officers deserve to feel assured that they will be adequately protected by the law, the judge added. On November 5, 2020, three officers including Senior Staff Sergeant Chua Ming Cheng and Inspector Zheng Yiyang went to a unit at City Suites in Balestier during a police operation over a series of cheating cases. They identified themselves as police to Nikhil and two others, Prakash Mathivanan, then 36, and Malani Naidu Prabhakar Naidu, then 33, in the living room. The trio squatted and placed their hands on their heads as ordered, and began talking to one another. After Senior Staff Sgt Chua instructed them to stop, Prakash got up and lunged at the officer, causing him to fall. Prakash then hit the officer in the face and upper body. Insp Zheng drew his service revolver and pointed it at the sofa, which was in the general direction of Prakash and Nikhil, and commanded Prakash to stop attacking Senior Staff Sgt Chua. However, Prakash turned on him and grabbed his hands, which were holding the gun. Senior Staff Sgt Chua attempted to get up and assist Insp Zheng, but Nikhil leapt up and began punching and kicking him repeatedly. He fell again and Nikhil continued to assault and hurl insults at Senior Staff Sgt Chua as he lay on the floor. A while later, two other officers entered the unit and Nikhil stopped his attack on Senior Staff Sgt Chua. By this time, Senior Staff Sgt Chua was on the floor with a bloodied face. The trio were arrested. Nikhil was taken to the Central Police Division headquarters, where his urine tested positive for methamphetamine. The accused attacked an officer who was attempting to intervene in a dangerous situation, effectively preventing Senior Staff Sgt Chua from assisting (Insp) Zheng, said the prosecution. The accused shouting abusive words towards the victim during the attack indicates that the accused was motivated by some degree of malice, the prosecution was quoted as saying in the court. Prakash was shot in the abdomen during the struggle and was later taken to hospital. He was sentenced to jail for three years and 10 months in August 2022 for theft, cheating and drug-related offences. His other charges, including for voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty, are still pending. For voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant, Nikhil could be jailed for up to seven years, caned, or fined. Private sector conglomerate Larsen and Toubro (L&T) and Spain's defence major Navantia on Monday inked a 'teaming agreement' here to jointly bid for Indian Navy's prestigious P75 (I)submarine programme. The proposed project is worth over Rs 50,000 crores. The Defence Ministry is in the process of procuring six domestically built conventional submarines for the Indian Navy as part of the Strategic Partnership programme. The construction of the submarines will take place in India and is expected to have significant local content. Last month, German defence major Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and state-run Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) inked a framework agreement to bid for the mega project. "Larsen & Toubro and Navantia, Spain signed a Teaming Agreement (TA) today for the purpose of submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy's prestigious P75 (India) submarine programme," the L&T said in a statement. The pact was signed at a ceremony in Delhi in the presence of S N Subrahmanyan, L&T CEO and MD, Augustin Alvarez Blanco, Naval Construction Vice President and Member of the Board of Navantia, and Spanish envoy Jose Maria Ridao Dominguez. The submarines will be built under the much-talked-about strategic partnership (SP) model that allows domestic defence manufacturers to join hands with leading foreign defence majors to produce high-end military platforms to reduce import dependence. The bidding process for the project called P-75 India ends in August. The defence ministry is likely to finalise the winner of the contract by the end of this year or early next year, officials said. According to the agreement, Navantia would carry out the design of 75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines, the first of which was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy at the end of 2023. Apart from S80 class, Navantia has been involved in the design and construction of Scorpene class of submarines together with DCNS (Now Naval Group) of France, which have been exported to Chile and Malaysia. Navantia has also been involved in the Scorpene submarines (Kalvari class) built in India including handholding of the Indian yard. Speaking on the occasion, S N Subrahmanyan said his company is proud to collaborate with Navantia for this prestigious programme of strategic importance for the nation's security."Navantia's glorious 300-year-old track record in naval construction and technical expertise gives us a competitive advantage in this programme and offer the Bio-Ethanol Stealth Technology (BEST) and environmentally Green AIP solution," he said. "We are committed to providing the most contemporary solution for Indian Navy's requirements at a competitive price," the L&T CEO said. Alvarez Blanco said: It gives us great joy to be in a position to be the design and technology partner for P75(I). We are also in collaboration with L&T for the Landing Platform Dock (LPD) programme whose tender is eagerly awaited." "With these two prestigious programmes for the Indian Navy, Navantia is proud to be making a key contribution towards fulfilling the defence needs of India, a nation with which Spain shares an excellent relationship," he added. Meanwhile, a US navy ship USNS Salvor, a Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship arrived at Kattupalli ship building yard near Chennai for repairs under the Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) between India and the US, a senior official of Larsen and Toubro (L&T) said on Monday. The five-year agreement will see the India's leading private defence company repair the US vessels, said Arun Ramachandran, executive vice-president and head, L&T. The Military Sealift Command's rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) arrived at L&T Kattupalli shipyard, for voyage repairs on July 9. It is the third US Navy ship visiting the L&T shipyard for voyage repairs, after USNS Charles Drew and USNS Matthew Perry. The USNS Salvor was welcomed with a ceremony at the shipyard on Monday, and it is the first ship to arrive after the signing of the Master Shipyard Repair Agreement(MSRA). US Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin, US Embassy New Delhi's Office of Defence Cooperation chief Captain Michael L Farmer, senior US Embassy officials, and L&T leadership participated. "This Master Shipyard Repair Agreement is yet another milestone in our ever-expanding U.S.-India partnership. This historic agreement is a direct outcome of 2022 US- India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and demonstrates US' commitment to utilise repair facilities on a regular basis at the L&T shipyard in Kattupalli," Ravin said.This agreement will serve to strengthen two nations' strategic partnership and contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific, she said. Six members of a family died and two were severely injured on Tuesday morning when their SUV collided head-on with a school bus moving on the wrong side of an expressway here, a senior police official said. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic (Ghaziabad), Ramanand Kushwaha said the accident occurred on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway around 6 am. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident. In a tweet in Hindi, his office said, #UPCM @myogiadityanath has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the road accident in district Ghaziabad. The chief minister instructed officials of the district administration to immediately take the injured to a hospital and provide them with proper treatment. He also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. Kushwaha said the bus had gone to Delhi and was plying on the wrong side of the expressway after refilling CNG near the Ghazipur border. The family was travelling in the SUV, which was headed for Gurugram from Meerut, he said. Two people are undergoing treatment for severe injuries, the official said, adding that there were eight people in the car. The bus driver (identified as Prem Pal) has been arrested. He was at complete fault as he was moving on the wrong side, Kushwaha said. The deceased have been identified as Narendra (45), his wife Anita (40), sons Deepanshu (15) and Himanshu (12), niece Vanshika (7) and sister-in-law Babita (35). Narendras brother Dharmendra (40) and his son Kartik (5) sustained severe injuries and are undergoing treatment at a private hospital, police said. The bus was attached to the Bal Bharti School of Noida, Additional DCP Kushwah said, adding there were no students in it at the time of the accident. DCP (Rural) Shubham Patel told PTI that the damaged vehicles have been cleared and the blood-stained portion of the expressway cleaned. Meanwhile, the Vande Bharat Express train was pelted with stones once again near Sohawal in Ayodhya on Tuesday morning. The window panes of the bogies were broken but no passenger was hurt in the stone-pelting. At the same time, RPF and local police reached the spot soon after being informed about the incident. The train was going towards Lucknow from Ayodhya when some anti-social elements started pelting it with stones. Efforts were underway by the Government Railway Police (GRP) to identify and arrest the accused. GWC, Qatars leading logistics and supply chain solutions provider, has signed a teaming deal with a global leader in the maritime industry Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) to team up to support offshore energy services. The signing took place at LDAs Paris headquarters and was attended by Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC, and Kamil Beffa, CEO, LDA. The collaboration marks a significant milestone that paves the way for exciting new opportunities in the maritime sector. Under the terms of the agreement, GWC and LDA will combine their expertise, resources and networks to jointly pursue ship owning ventures. Driving growth The partnership aims to drive growth, capitalise on emerging market trends and deliver exceptional value for customers in Qatar, the Gulf region and beyond. Together, we will offer unparalleled efficiencies and fresh perspective to the marine, shipping and logistics industry, ensuring the requirements of the energy industry are met with the highest international standards, said Menon. GWC takes every action to enable oil and gas operations in the State of Qatar, both onshore and offshore. From day one, our focus has been world-class performance, a long-term relationship approach, innovation, ethics and strong human capital, he added. Maritime evolution The partnership comes at a time when the maritime industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by fast-changing regulations, digitalisation and the urgent need to reduce environmental impact. By joining forces, GWC and LDA aim to be at the forefront of this evolution, offering sustainable, efficient and reliable shipping solutions to meet the changing needs of the energy sector. We are delighted to join forces with GWC, said Beffa. Their fresh perspective and innovative approach will complement our rich heritage and extensive industry knowledge. Together, we will navigate evolving challenges and capitalise on exciting opportunities. This partnership is a testament to our commitment of fostering innovation and delivering excellence. In under 20 years, GWC has become a major logistics services provider in Qatar and across the region. Its state-of-the-art logistics infrastructure spanning more than 4 million sq m have been setting standards in the industry. Qatar's energy plans GWCs new subsidiary, GWC Energy Services, is supporting Qatars energy expansion plans. Qatar is a pivotal player in the global energy market and one of the top LNG exporters in the world, thanks to the third largest proven gas reserves on the planet. Through its North Field Expansion, Qatar plans to increase production capacity by 50% by 2027 to fulfil a global surge in energy demand. For more than 170 years, the Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group has been offering players in the maritime world innovative industrial solutions adapted to their needs and integrated services ranging from the design and management of ships to maritime operations in the fields of transport, logistics and marine industrial solutions. The agreement between GWC and LDA is testament to their shared vision of shaping the future of ship owning. By pooling their expertise and resources, both companies are poised to create a formidable presence in the market, offering customers a comprehensive suite of services and solutions.-- TradeArabia News Service As many as 17 proposals were approved in a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Yogi Adityanath here on Tuesday morning. Power Minister AK Sharma and Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi gave detailed information while briefing mediapersons later in the afternoon. Shahi said that the expansion route of Vindhyavasini Corridor would be widened. The Council of Ministers has authorised the chief minister to take further decisions in the matter. Apart from this, the government has decided to acquire land for tourism development around Ranipur Tiger Reserve. The Mission Vatsalya Yojana of the Government of India has also been adopted to benefit the destitute children. The maintenance amount being given under the Vatsalya Yojana has been increased from Rs 2,000 to 4,000, Shahi said. The Child Protection Scheme has also been renamed as Vatsalya Yojana. Shahi said that financial approval has been received for widening and strengthening of Shahabad-Rampur-Bazpur road (State Highway 144) in Rampur district. The total length will be 57.592 km. The total estimated for the work is over Rs 205.35 crore. This route starts from Rampur Shahabad and goes up to Jim Corbett in Uttarakhand. The cabinet also approved the proposal regarding the demolition of the dilapidated buildings of Pratapgarh Autonomous Medical College in connection with the Centrally-aided Medical College Scheme. A proposal was also cleared in connection with the transfer of the land selected for the construction of the District Jail in Kushinagar to the Prisons department. The jail will be able to accommodate 1,000 undertrials at a time. Along with this, an amount of Rs 184.94 crore has been approved for the construction of a jail in Hathras district. The proposal regarding the establishment of TS Mishra University in Lucknow in the private sector has also been approved. Chhattisgarh Police on Tuesday arrested a 30-year-old man for cheating his colleague of Rs 6 lakhs by promising him a government job here. Durg Superintendent of Police Shalabh Kumar Sinha identified him as Nitesh Gendre of Durg city. He cheated Nutanram Patel. After arrest, Gendre confessed to promising Patel a clerical job in the district collectorate office. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Tuesday voiced concern over the damage and destruction caused by rains in many parts of the country, and said the Centre should immediately extend help to the rain-battered states.The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the situation in rural areas was worrisome. Owing to heavy rains and floods in most states of the country, including UP, normal life has been significantly affected. There has been loss of lives, property and livestock. The condition of the cities is bad, but the condition of people in rural areas is extremely serious and worrisome due to house collapse and widespread destruction of crops, she tweeted. In such a critical situation, all state governments concerned should discharge their responsibilities to extend all possible help to affected families.The Centre should move ahead of assessment and meetings, and immediately come forward to help the states, she added. Incessant rains have unleashed death and destruction in parts of north India. Army and NDRF teams have stepped in to intensify relief and rescue operations In Uttar Pradesh, eight people were killed in rain-related incidents on Sunday. The association of government doctors in the state, the Provincial Medical Health Service (PMHS) federation has threatened boycott of the OPDs if the people responsible for the assault on a medical officer in the Community Health Centre (CHC) of Ghat in Chamoli district are not arrested till July 13. A meeting of the PMHS was organised in district hospital Dehradun in which this decision was taken. The president of the federation Dr Manoj Verma said that it is unfortunate that the medical officer of CHC Ghat, Dr Rohit Chauhan was severely beaten while discharging his duty. He said that Dr Chauhan is serving in a remote area away from family and home. Dr Verma said that the incident has put a question mark over the law and order situation. He said that the doctors in all parts of the State are agitated over the incident and all the doctors of Chamoli district are on work boycott to register their protest. Dr Verma said that such incidents would act as hindrance in the plan of the State government to bring positive change in the health services in the mountainous parts of the State. In the meeting it was decided that the doctors of Chamoli district would continue to boycott the OPDs till culprits are arrested. The federation resolved that all the doctors in the State would work while wearing black armbands on Wednesday and Thursday and if the culprits are not arrested till Thursday all the doctors would boycott OPDs. The federation also accused the Police of adopting a non cooperative attitude in the incident. The federation also dispatched a letter to chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami requesting him to take action on the issue. Thousands of people who lived in the Yamuna floodplain area in Delhi had to scamper to safety in the dark of the night as the water rose above the danger mark in the Yamuna River, threatening their lives and lifelong earnings. People were forced to evacuate themselves to higher places nearby in the early hours of Tuesday after the river breached the danger mark here a day earlier. The Yamuna floodplains provide a precarious bedding for hundreds of shanties across its wide swath where some of the poorest people of the city, mostly migrants, find shelter. Mostly composed of small-time farmers or shopkeepers and odd-job workers, the displaced people appealed to the city Government to help them tide over the crisis. Kiran, in her mid-30s, whose family had a small farm in the floodplain, said, all of it got destroyed in the flooding, and her family members had to rush out to safety in the early hours of Tuesday. All our vegetables have been destroyed in the flooding. We have lost our means of livelihood as our agricultural produce is the only source of income for our family. Our huts also got destroyed. My mother-in-law fell down in the rush and got hurt, she said. The Yamuna in Delhi has exceeded the evacuation mark of 206 metres, prompting the relocation of people residing in flood-prone areas to safer locations and the closure of the Old Railway Bridge for road and rail traffic, officials said on Tuesday. The river crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres in Delhi Monday evening, much earlier than anticipated. Santosh Lal, who runs a nursery in the area, said he has been living in the area for the last 23 years. Every 2-3 years, such flooding takes place. The last time it happened was three years ago, and the government did send help, he said. This year, so far the government has not helped, he alleged. The affected families have moved from the floodplains near Akshardham to the Mayur Vihar area, specifically Mayur Place, Pusta Road, and Khel Goan, a member of a local NGO said. Prashant, a Civil Defence volunteer, said, The government of Delhi has been working from 10 am to set up tents and facilities for food and beverages for the affected people. The Civil Defence aims to help more people, he said. Naneh, who has been living in the area for the last five years said, around midnight, he and his family left their home and moved to the pavements on Pusta Road in Mayur Vihar. He said they have no earnings left and urgently need help from government for food and water. Uttar Pradesh is set to create a new record of plantation when the state will celebrate Van Mahotsav with the message, Ped lagao, ped bachao Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath discussed the action plan for Van Mahotsav-2023 with the ministers and issued necessary guidelines here on Tuesday. Uttar Pradesh planted more than 131 crore saplings in the last 6 years and 35 crore saplings will be planted this year on July 22, Chief Minister told the officials. Green cover will be 15% in the state by 2027, but success will be achieved only with public cooperation, Adityanath said. He claimed that farmers should be encouraged for Khet par medh, medh par ped, for which they would get Rs 50,000 in the next three years. Presiding over the meeting, Adityanath said that in the last six years, more than 131 crore saplings have been planted with public cooperation. Over 5.72 crore saplings were planted in the year 2017-18, 11.77 crore in 2018-19, 22.60 crore in 2019-20, 25.87 crore in 2020-21, 30.53 crore in 2021-22, and 35.49 crore in 2022-23. It is encouraging that along with planting saplings, full care is also being taken for their protection, Yogi said. During the awareness week organised from July 1 to 7, enthusiasm was seen among the general public. This enthusiasm will become the basis for making this years Van Mahotsav a success. The Green Uttar Pradesh target will be fulfilled only with the maximum participation of the common people. Programmes like prabhat pheris, slogan-writing, essay and speech competitions should be continued in schools, the CM said. The rainy season has started in the state and it is ideal for planting. After the successful awareness week, we will have to join the mass plantation programme on July 22 as Van Mahotsav. Like previous years, we are ready to create a new record of plantation, the CM asserted. Yogi further said that every department, every institution, and every citizen would have to make efforts with the aim of planting 35 crore saplings during the massive plantation campaign this year. Department-wise target of plantation has been fixed by the Forest department. Division-wise targets have also been fixed. Efforts should be made to plant at least 1,000 saplings in each village. Make preparations to plant 5 crore saplings simultaneously on August 15, he said. Forest land, gram panchayat, community land, expressways, highway/4-lane roads, canal, land of development authorities, railway land, medical institute, educational institute land as well as private premises can be used by citizens for plantation. Plantation should be done around playgrounds in rural areas, Yogi said. Availability of saplings is very important for the success of the massive plantation drive. All necessary arrangements should be made in time by the Forest and Climate Change department. Prepare hi-tech nurseries. Proper preparation and publicity should be done so that everyone can get high-quality plants easily. Geo-tagging of plantation sites should also be done, the CM said. Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), a useful scheme is being run in the interest of farmers and environment in the form of Mukhyamantri Krishak Vriksha Dhan scheme, encouraging plantation on private farm bunds (medh). Under this scheme, if the beneficiary of MGNREGA plants a minimum of 200 saplings on his land and protects them, there is an arrangement to provide an incentive amount of Rs 50,000 in three years by the state government. Give it widespread publicity to ensure farmers are benefited. This will also lead to more plantations and increase in the income of farmers, Yogi said. Due to extensive public cooperation, the total green area of the state is continuously increasing. Our target is to increase the total green area of the state from 9% at present to 15% by 2026-27. According to this target, 175 crore saplings will have to be planted and protected in the next five years. Everyone has to try to achieve this goal. There is a need to connect people, he added. On the occasion of Van Mahotsav on July 22, all ministers should be on the visit to districts under their charge. Take the plantation campaign forward with the assistance of locals and public representatives, Yogi said. In line with its efforts to empower the backward and extremely backward communities of the state, the Yogi Adityanath government has undertaken a series of initiatives in the last six years and one of the biggest beneficiaries of his schemes has been the Vantangiya community. Residing in the forests of Gonda, the community is being brought into the mainstream by the UP government for the first time after 76 years of independence. The latest step in this context is connecting the Ramgarh Vantangiya village in Gonda with the approach road of the Forest department. The construction of the link road kicked off on Tuesday. Furthermore, a proposal has been sent to the government to establish two government schools in two villages to provide better education to children of the Vantangiya community. District Magistrate Neha Sharma, after taking charge of Gonda on June 12 last, inspected Ramgarh Vantangia of Hardua gram panchayat under Tarabganj tehsil in Nawabganj development block on June 16. She interacted with the villagers and women to gather information about their issues. Upon hearing the concerns raised by the villagers regarding road and school problems, the DM issued instructions to the officers concerned for quick disposal. The process of connecting the village with the approach road has begun under the supervision of block development officer Raghavendra Pratap Singh. Locals mentioned that the unpaved road made it difficult for them to move out of the village during the rainy season. The construction of this road will provide significant relief to people of the Vantangiya community. Neha Sharma said that the district administration was committed to taking the benefits of public welfare schemes to every community. She added that efforts had been initiated for development of the Vantangiya community and the results would show soon. On the orders of the district magistrate, a proposal to open two council schools in Vantangiya villages has been sent to the government from the office of the district basic education officer. These schools are proposed to be opened in Butahani village of Mankapur and Maheshpur village of Tarbaganj. The project plan and cost estimation report for school construction have been sent to the government and a budget of Rs 35.90 lakh has been requested for the construction of each school. The Vantangiya community of Purvanchal, despite having a long history in the state, did not feature in the revenue records, which led to their exclusion from the mainstream of society and development. In May 2018, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had declared the Vantangiya villages of Gonda as revenue villages, connecting them into the mainstream of the society. This inclusion by the chief minister allowed the residents of these forest villages to access basic amenities such as roads, rations, electricity, water, education, healthcare, and other essential services. Families of the Vantangiya community, who earn their living by selling jalauni woods (firewood), were able to exercise their right to vote for the first time after independence. A blame game started on Tuesday even as people were plagued by multiple problems due to the heavy rain over the weekend, with Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena saying the city faced the "annual ritual" of waterlogging as drains were not properly cleaned, prompting a sharp reaction from the AAP government. Delhi Water Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj slammed the LG, saying he is blaming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government even though he had earlier claimed that the drains were desilted and the Yamuna was cleaned. Taking stock of the rising water level of the river at the Yamuna Bazar area, Saxena said preparations should have been made beforehand to deal with the unprecedented rain. "The people of Delhi are hassled due to waterlogging that has become an annual ritual. Proper cleaning of drains and water harevesting are not being done. These have not been done for years, which is why waterlogging happens every time. "Desilting of the Yamuna and the Najafgarh drain should be regularly done to increase their water-holding capacity. Since it was not done, Delhi was waterlogged," Saxena told reporters. He also said Delhi's population has risen by 50 lakh since 2014, but planning was not done accordingly for sewer lines and drainage, which has caused waterlogging. "It is unfortunate and I will try to ensure that attention is paid to it so that people are relieved of these difficulties faced by them every year," the LG said. Bharadwaj slammed the LG in a series of tweets, saying he should not indulge in "dirty politics" when people expect relief. "Hasn't LG saab been claiming that he got all drains desilted and Yamuna cleaned? Didn't he take media for several visits? What happened now? Now he is shamelessly blaming Delhi govt?" he asked. Bharadwaj, who is also chairman of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) that is responsible for cleaning the Yamuna, said the "DJB has been starved of funds by LG saab for last one year. No action on officers who created finance issues. LG and central government have been constantly creating obstacles in Delhi government. They refused to even obey Hon'ble SC orders. Please allow Delhi government to function and stop your dirty politics". In yet another tweet, he charged that the LG keeps "interfering" in the functioning of the elected city government and said he should rather focus on the law-and-order scenario, which is his primary job. Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin at the Kremlin days after the commander led a short-lived rebellion, a senior government spokesman said on Monday, the latest twist in a baffling episode that has raised questions about the power and influence held by both men. The three-hour meeting took place on June 29 and also involved commanders from Prigozhins Wagner Group military contractor, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Putin gave an assessment of Wagners actions on the battlefield in Ukraine where the mercenaries have fought alongside Russian troops and of the revolt itself. The Wagner forces pledged loyalty to Putin, according to Peskov. The confirmation that Putin met face-to-face with Prigozhin, who led troops on a march to Moscow last month in order to demand a change of defense minister, was extraordinary. Though Putin branded Prigozhin a traitor as the revolt unfolded, the criminal case against the mercenary chief was later dropped and his ultimate fate remains unclear. Adding to the unusual nature of the meeting was that until very recently, Putin had denied any link between the state and Prigozhins forces. Though mercenaries are illegal in Russia, Wagner troops have fought for Russian interests around the globe and played a vital role in the capture of Bakhmut in the wars longest and bloodiest battle. But throughout the war, Prigozhin has criticized decisions made by Russias top military brass, leading to tensions with the Kremlin that culminated on June 24 in an armed mutiny in which he led his fighters into Russia. The rebellion severely weakened Putins authority, even though Prigozhin claimed that the uprising was not aimed at the president but at removing Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and military chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov. Prigozhin ended his mutiny after a deal was brokered for him to go to Belarus. Russias Defence Ministry published a video featuring Gerasimov on Monday the first time he has been seen since the rebellion. The twin updates appeared to be another attempt by the Kremlin to show its in control after a turbulent period. But many questions remain, including about the deal that ended Prigozhins revolt. Days after the revolt, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Prigozhin was in Belarus. But last week the president said the mercenary chief was in Russia while his troops remained in their camps. Peskov said that during the June 29 meeting, Putin offered an assessment of Wagners actions on the battlefield in Ukraine and of the events of June 24. The president also listened to the explanations of the commanders and offered them options for further employment and further use in combat, the Kremlin spokesman said. The commanders themselves presented their version of what happened. They underscored that they are staunch supporters and soldiers of the head of state and the commander-in-chief, and also said that they are ready to continue to fight for their homeland, Peskov said. A total of 35 people took part in the meeting, Peskov said. Meanwhile, a Russian airstrike on a school in southern Ukraine killed four adults as people gathered to receive humanitarian aid, the governor of Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region said Monday, branding the attack a war crime. Three women and a man, all in their 40s, died in the strike on Sunday in the town of Orikhiv, Gov. Yuriy Malashko said. A guided aerial bomb caused an explosion at the school, Malashko said, without providing evidence. Eleven other people were wounded in the attack, he said. Overall, Russia fired on 10 settlements in the province over the course of a day, he said. Moscow denies it targets civilian locations. Russia has been accused numerous times of doing so and committing other war crimes since its February 2022 invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Investigations are also underway in Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, located in The Hague, is helping with those probes. Zaporizhzhia province is home to Europes largest nuclear power plant, which Russian forces seized early in the war, and is one of four regions of Ukraine that Putin illegally annexed last year. Retaking the province is one of the targets of a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Russian aerial assaults continued across Ukraine between Sunday and Monday, according to a summary from the Ukrainian presidential office. In the Donetsk region in the east, the Russians used aircraft, missile systems and heavy artillery to shell residential areas of 6 cities and villages, injuring one person, the office reported. The Russian army attacked residential areas of Kherson, the regional capital of a province of the same name. A 66-year-old woman was injured, the presidential office said. (): Israeli troops shot and killed an alleged Palestinian gunman during new unrest in the West Bank Monday, as a wave of violence in the occupied territory showed no signs of slowing. The Israeli military said troops stopped a motorist in Deir Nidham, a town west of Ramallah, to question him. It said the man got out of his car, threw a grenade and fired shots toward soldiers, who then opened fire. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that a 33-year-old man had been killed, but gave no further details. The death comes during a major spike in violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Last week, Israel concluded a fierce two-day offensive that used rare air power and hundreds of troops in what was designed as a crackdown against militants.But the operation in the Jenin refugee camp was followed by more bloodshed, including a shooting by a Palestinian assailant that killed an Israeli soldier. A Israeli military raid killed two militants, while a third Palestinian was killed during a demonstration later in the day in the central West Bank. Israel has been conducting stepped-up raids into Palestinian areas since the spring of 2022 in response to a spate of Palestinian attacks. The violence has intensified this year, driving up the death toll on both sides. More than 150 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the start of the year, while at least 26 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis. Israel says most of those killed have been militants. But stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions and others not involved in the confrontations also have been killed. Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, areas the Palestinians want for their hoped-for independent state. Mexico City, July 11 (UNI) At least nine people were killed and one was injured in a fire at a wholesale food distribution center in Toluca, capital of the central State of Mexico, local authorities said Monday. The state's Attorney General's Office said in a statement that the fire on early Monday affected several businesses "located inside commercial warehouse NO. 7." Initial reports indicate that "several suspects carrying weapons entered the said area to presumably detonate and spray an as yet unidentified substance to cause the fire, before fleeing in a vehicle," said the prosecutor's office. Based on previously reported threats and attacks targeting the site, the fire could be related to "internal conflicts for the possession of businesses," the agency said. Forensic experts have been identifying the bodies, including three minors. Some 40,000 people work at the 630,000-square-meter distribution center, which was built in 1994 and houses around 2,000 warehouses and businesses. UNI/XINHUA ARN Ameren (NYSE:AEE Free Report) had its target price lowered by Guggenheim from $89.00 to $85.00 in a report issued on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. AEE has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Mizuho lowered their price target on Ameren from $91.00 to $87.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Ameren from $96.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. StockNews.com began coverage on Ameren in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. KeyCorp upgraded Ameren from a sector weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $90.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, June 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Ameren from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $92.78. Get Ameren alerts: Ameren Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of NYSE AEE opened at $82.10 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $83.70 and its 200-day moving average price is $85.73. The company has a market cap of $21.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.69, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.43. Ameren has a fifty-two week low of $73.28 and a fifty-two week high of $97.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.75. Ameren Dividend Announcement Ameren ( NYSE:AEE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.94 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $2.06 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.95 billion. Ameren had a return on equity of 10.41% and a net margin of 13.34%. The businesss revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.97 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Ameren will post 4.36 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, June 14th were given a dividend of $0.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 13th. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.07%. Amerens dividend payout ratio is currently 60.43%. Insider Transactions at Ameren In other news, SVP Fadi M. Diya sold 36,940 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.37, for a total value of $3,042,747.80. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 57,676 shares in the company, valued at $4,750,772.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CFO Michael L. Moehn sold 3,080 shares of Ameren stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.12, for a total transaction of $249,849.60. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 164,179 shares in the company, valued at $13,318,200.48. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Fadi M. Diya sold 36,940 shares of Ameren stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.37, for a total value of $3,042,747.80. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 57,676 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,750,772.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.42% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ameren A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AEE. Penserra Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ameren during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Ameren in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Optiver Holding B.V. purchased a new stake in Ameren in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. New Hampshire Trust purchased a new stake in Ameren in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Ameren in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.63% of the companys stock. Ameren Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ameren Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a public utility holding company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, and Ameren Transmission. It engages in the rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution activities; and rate-regulated natural gas distribution and transmission businesses. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Ameren Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ameren and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) had its price target upped by Morgan Stanley from $32.00 to $33.00 in a research report report published on Friday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. UBS Group raised their target price on Bank of America from $34.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on Bank of America from $43.00 to $41.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Bank of America from $38.00 to $34.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Bank of America from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price objective on Bank of America from $38.00 to $33.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $36.56. Get Bank of America alerts: Bank of America Stock Up 0.5 % NYSE BAC opened at $28.67 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $228.48 billion, a PE ratio of 8.61, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.36. Bank of America has a 1 year low of $26.32 and a 1 year high of $38.60. The businesss 50-day moving average is $28.39 and its 200 day moving average is $30.81. Bank of America Announces Dividend Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.83 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $26.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $25.28 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.72% and a net margin of 21.85%. Bank of Americas quarterly revenue was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.80 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Bank of America will post 3.4 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.07%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is presently 26.43%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bank of America A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Altrius Capital Management Inc raised its stake in Bank of America by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Altrius Capital Management Inc now owns 92,587 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,066,000 after buying an additional 279 shares during the last quarter. Vision Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Bank of America by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Vision Capital Management Inc. now owns 60,662 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,009,000 after acquiring an additional 288 shares during the period. Hemington Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Bank of America by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 14,010 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $464,000 after acquiring an additional 298 shares during the period. First Citizens Financial Corp grew its position in shares of Bank of America by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. First Citizens Financial Corp now owns 16,471 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $546,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the period. Finally, Bay Rivers Group grew its position in shares of Bank of America by 3.8% during the 4th quarter. Bay Rivers Group now owns 8,186 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $271,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the period. 67.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Bank of America (Get Free Report) Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raymond James upgraded shares of Everest Re Group (NYSE:RE Free Report) from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report report published on Friday, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have $450.00 price target on the insurance providers stock, up from their prior price target of $420.00. RE has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Everest Re Group from $455.00 to $468.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 10th. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Everest Re Group in a report on Wednesday, June 21st. They issued a buy rating and a $406.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Everest Re Group in a report on Tuesday, June 20th. They issued an overweight rating and a $429.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Everest Re Group from $435.00 to $445.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Everest Re Group in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $429.67. Get Everest Re Group alerts: Everest Re Group Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $13.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.84, a PEG ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.60. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $356.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $358.19. Everest Re Group has a 1 year low of $244.57 and a 1 year high of $394.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. Everest Re Group Announces Dividend Everest Re Group ( NYSE:RE Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 1st. The insurance provider reported $11.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $12.48 by ($1.17). Everest Re Group had a net margin of 5.34% and a return on equity of 12.98%. The business had revenue of $3.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.10 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $10.31 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Everest Re Group will post 43.25 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 16th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st were paid a dividend of $1.65 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $6.60 annualized dividend and a yield of . Everest Re Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 39.15%. Institutional Trading of Everest Re Group Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in Everest Re Group by 10.9% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 47,460 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $14,302,000 after purchasing an additional 4,665 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Everest Re Group by 14.5% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 1,437 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $433,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Everest Re Group by 42.2% in the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 5,437 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,639,000 after purchasing an additional 1,614 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its holdings in Everest Re Group by 6.6% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 5,268 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,588,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aviva PLC boosted its holdings in Everest Re Group by 46.2% in the 1st quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 18,334 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $5,526,000 after purchasing an additional 5,797 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.39% of the companys stock. About Everest Re Group (Get Free Report) Everest Re Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, and internationally. The company operates through Reinsurance Operations and Insurance Operations segments. The Reinsurance Operations segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Everest Re Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Everest Re Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW Get Free Report) CEO Frank Slootman sold 2,120 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.50, for a total transaction of $372,060.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 185,683 shares in the company, valued at $32,587,366.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Frank Slootman also recently made the following trade(s): Get Snowflake alerts: On Wednesday, July 5th, Frank Slootman sold 8,834 shares of Snowflake stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $173.00, for a total transaction of $1,528,282.00. On Thursday, June 22nd, Frank Slootman sold 1,761 shares of Snowflake stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $177.47, for a total transaction of $312,524.67. On Friday, June 9th, Frank Slootman sold 1,724 shares of Snowflake stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.31, for a total value of $300,510.44. Snowflake Stock Down 0.6 % SNOW stock traded down $0.96 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $169.65. The company had a trading volume of 6,839,761 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,003,485. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.29 billion, a PE ratio of -63.54 and a beta of 0.75. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $171.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $154.68. Snowflake Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $119.27 and a fifty-two week high of $205.66. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Snowflake Snowflake ( NYSE:SNOW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 24th. The company reported ($0.66) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.42) by ($0.24). Snowflake had a negative return on equity of 14.81% and a negative net margin of 37.78%. The company had revenue of $623.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $607.57 million. Research analysts predict that Snowflake Inc. will post -1.48 EPS for the current year. A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SNOW. Telemus Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Snowflake during the second quarter valued at about $370,000. AE Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Snowflake by 49.5% during the 2nd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,116 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,308,000 after buying an additional 4,340 shares during the period. DNB Asset Management AS lifted its stake in shares of Snowflake by 14.0% in the 2nd quarter. DNB Asset Management AS now owns 49,591 shares of the companys stock worth $8,727,000 after acquiring an additional 6,074 shares during the period. Anderson Hoagland & Co. bought a new position in shares of Snowflake in the second quarter valued at approximately $2,292,000. Finally, Independence Bank of Kentucky acquired a new position in shares of Snowflake during the second quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Institutional investors own 63.55% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have recently issued reports on SNOW. Wolfe Research downgraded Snowflake from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 25th. 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of Snowflake in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. Evercore ISI reduced their price target on Snowflake from $196.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Snowflake in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Snowflake from $185.00 to $195.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and twenty-two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Snowflake presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $188.80. Snowflake Company Profile (Get Free Report) Snowflake Inc provides a cloud-based data platform for various organizations in the United States and internationally. Its platform offers Data Cloud, which enables customers to consolidate data into a single source of truth to drive meaningful business insights, build data-driven applications, and share data and data products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Snowflake Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Snowflake and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mogo Inc. (TSE:MOGO Get Free Report)s stock price was up 4.6% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$0.93 and last traded at C$0.91. Approximately 58,630 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 27% from the average daily volume of 80,031 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.87. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently commented on MOGO shares. Raymond James decreased their price target on Mogo from C$2.25 to C$1.50 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Eight Capital increased their target price on Mogo from C$2.25 to C$3.00 in a report on Friday, March 24th. Get Mogo alerts: Mogo Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 3.99, a current ratio of 4.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 81.73. The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$0.96 and its 200-day moving average price is C$0.94. The company has a market capitalization of C$68.22 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.45 and a beta of 3.54. About Mogo Mogo Inc operates as a digital finance company in Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company provides digital solutions to the consumers to improve their financial health. It offers Mogo Trade, a digital wealth platform for investments; Moka app, a round-up-and-save app that allows users to save and invest with no investment knowledge by rounding up everyday purchases and investing the spare change into a fully managed investment portfolio; MogoCard that is designed to help members learn to spend less than they earn; MogoProtect, a mobile-first identity fraud protection product; MogoMoney that provides access to personal loans; and MogoMortgage, a digital mortgage product, as well as free credit score monitoring service. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mogo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mogo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com downgraded shares of New Gold (NYSEAMERICAN:NGD Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning. New Gold Stock Up 5.8 % NYSEAMERICAN NGD opened at $1.10 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 2.28 and a quick ratio of 1.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $752.71 million, a PE ratio of -7.86, a PEG ratio of 4.46 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $1.24. New Gold has a 12-month low of $0.61 and a 12-month high of $1.48. Get New Gold alerts: New Gold (NYSEAMERICAN:NGD Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The basic materials company reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.01 by $0.02. New Gold had a negative net margin of 14.38% and a negative return on equity of 1.87%. The business had revenue of $201.60 million during the quarter. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that New Gold will post 0.05 EPS for the current year. Institutional Trading of New Gold About New Gold Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. AE Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in New Gold during the second quarter worth $28,000. Two Sigma Investments LP increased its position in New Gold by 37.3% during the first quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 473,674 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $521,000 after acquiring an additional 128,644 shares during the period. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new position in New Gold during the first quarter worth $150,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in New Gold by 2.5% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 14,605,864 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $16,066,000 after acquiring an additional 353,200 shares during the period. Finally, PEAK6 Investments LLC increased its position in New Gold by 14.1% during the first quarter. PEAK6 Investments LLC now owns 1,883,136 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,071,000 after acquiring an additional 233,237 shares during the period. 30.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. (Get Free Report) New Gold Inc, an intermediate gold mining company, engages in the exploration, development, and operation of mineral properties. It primarily explores for gold, silver, and copper deposits. The company's principal operating properties include 100% interests in the Rainy River mine located in Ontario, Canada; New Afton mine situated in British Columbia, Canada; and the Cerro San Pedro mine in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Read More Receive News & Ratings for New Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com lowered shares of Teekay Tankers (NYSE:TNK Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Friday. Teekay Tankers Price Performance Teekay Tankers stock opened at $38.96 on Friday. Teekay Tankers has a 52-week low of $15.63 and a 52-week high of $48.05. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $38.18 and a 200-day moving average of $37.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.26, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of -0.13. The company has a quick ratio of 2.42, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. Get Teekay Tankers alerts: Teekay Tankers (NYSE:TNK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The shipping company reported $5.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.65 by $1.48. The business had revenue of $270.47 million during the quarter. Teekay Tankers had a net margin of 32.12% and a return on equity of 39.74%. As a group, analysts predict that Teekay Tankers will post 13.46 EPS for the current year. Teekay Tankers Announces Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On Teekay Tankers The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, May 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 19th. Teekay Tankerss payout ratio is 8.36%. A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TNK. First Hawaiian Bank bought a new position in shares of Teekay Tankers in the 2nd quarter worth about $518,000. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System bought a new position in shares of Teekay Tankers in the 1st quarter worth about $246,000. Toroso Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Teekay Tankers in the 1st quarter worth about $234,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Teekay Tankers by 239.7% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 45,848 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $1,969,000 after buying an additional 32,353 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Teekay Tankers by 8.5% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 380,200 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $16,322,000 after buying an additional 29,697 shares during the last quarter. 48.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Teekay Tankers (Get Free Report) Teekay Tankers Ltd. provides marine transportation services to oil industries in Bermuda and internationally. The company offers voyage and time charter services; and offshore ship-to-ship transfer services of commodities primarily crude oil and refined oil products, as well as liquid gases and various other products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Teekay Tankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teekay Tankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO Free Report) had its price objective decreased by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $172.00 to $171.00 in a report issued on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. VLO has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $174.00 to $152.00 in a report on Friday, May 19th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $159.00 to $151.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $166.00 to $139.00 in a report on Sunday, May 7th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. downgraded shares of Valero Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $152.00. Get Valero Energy alerts: Valero Energy Stock Down 2.0 % VLO stock opened at $112.60 on Friday. Valero Energy has a twelve month low of $96.93 and a twelve month high of $150.39. The company has a current ratio of 1.52, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The company has a market capitalization of $40.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.20, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.65. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $112.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of $124.89. Valero Energy Dividend Announcement Valero Energy ( NYSE:VLO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The oil and gas company reported $8.27 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.24 by $1.03. The firm had revenue of $36.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $37.88 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 7.86% and a return on equity of 55.32%. The firms revenue was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.31 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Valero Energy will post 22.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 22nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 23rd were given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.62%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 22nd. Valero Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 11.59%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valero Energy A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of VLO. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. grew its stake in Valero Energy by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 6,301 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $799,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in Valero Energy by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,618 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $205,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC grew its stake in Valero Energy by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 5,406 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $686,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Grimes & Company Inc. grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Grimes & Company Inc. now owns 1,978 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $276,000 after buying an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covenant Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Covenant Asset Management LLC now owns 14,962 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,089,000 after buying an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.00% of the companys stock. About Valero Energy (Get Free Report) Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol. The company produces California Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending and Conventional Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending gasolines, CARB diesel, diesel, jet fuel, and asphalt; aromatics; and sulfur crude oils. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Valero Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valero Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Q3 Asset Management purchased a new position in shares of Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FCOM Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 67,876 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,484,000. Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF accounts for about 2.1% of Q3 Asset Managements holdings, making the stock its 11th largest position. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF by 38.8% in the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 5,135 shares of the companys stock valued at $233,000 after purchasing an additional 1,435 shares in the last quarter. Vista Investment Management grew its position in shares of Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF by 10.3% during the 1st quarter. Vista Investment Management now owns 7,588 shares of the companys stock valued at $345,000 after buying an additional 710 shares during the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $977,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF by 245.8% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 72,248 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,286,000 after buying an additional 51,355 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in shares of Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF by 12.7% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 10,343 shares of the companys stock valued at $471,000 after buying an additional 1,163 shares during the last quarter. Get Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF alerts: Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:FCOM traded up $0.49 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $40.67. 12,530 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 113,605. Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF has a 12 month low of $29.70 and a 12 month high of $40.81. The company has a 50 day moving average of $38.78 and a 200-day moving average of $36.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $652.75 million, a P/E ratio of 12.69 and a beta of 1.02. Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF Profile The Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (FCOM) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in communication services equity. The fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index of stocks in the US communication services sector. FCOM was launched on Oct 21, 2013 and is managed by Fidelity. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FCOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FCOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, May 30th, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 14th will be given a dividend of 0.25 per share on Friday, July 28th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.45%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. Advance Auto Parts has raised its dividend by an average of 192.4% annually over the last three years. Advance Auto Parts has a dividend payout ratio of 14.5% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Advance Auto Parts to earn $6.95 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.00 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 14.4%. Get Advance Auto Parts alerts: Advance Auto Parts Stock Performance Shares of AAP opened at $68.80 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. Advance Auto Parts has a 52-week low of $63.56 and a 52-week high of $212.25. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $89.96 and a 200-day simple moving average of $120.39. The company has a market capitalization of $4.09 billion, a PE ratio of 10.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.08. Analyst Ratings Changes Advance Auto Parts ( NYSE:AAP Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 31st. The company reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.60 by ($1.88). The company had revenue of $3.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.43 billion. Advance Auto Parts had a net margin of 3.61% and a return on equity of 22.67%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.57 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Advance Auto Parts will post 6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Several research analysts have recently issued reports on AAP shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Advance Auto Parts from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the stock from $165.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. TheStreet lowered shares of Advance Auto Parts from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Advance Auto Parts from $129.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. UBS Group reduced their target price on Advance Auto Parts from $132.00 to $75.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Finally, Argus cut Advance Auto Parts from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eighteen have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Advance Auto Parts currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $96.26. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Carla Jean Bailo acquired 500 shares of Advance Auto Parts stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $65.90 per share, with a total value of $32,950.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $32,950. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Director Douglas A. Pertz acquired 4,575 shares of Advance Auto Parts stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of $66.02 per share, for a total transaction of $302,041.50. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 12,831 shares in the company, valued at approximately $847,102.62. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Carla Jean Bailo bought 500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was bought at an average price of $65.90 per share, with a total value of $32,950.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $32,950. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders bought 5,463 shares of company stock worth $359,924 over the last three months. 0.63% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of Advance Auto Parts Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC increased its stake in Advance Auto Parts by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC now owns 1,717 shares of the companys stock worth $252,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in Advance Auto Parts by 113.7% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 156 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund grew its stake in Advance Auto Parts by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 2,173 shares of the companys stock valued at $340,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in Advance Auto Parts by 6.5% during the 1st quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,418 shares of the companys stock worth $293,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 15,845 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,329,000 after buying an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.32% of the companys stock. Advance Auto Parts Company Profile (Get Free Report) Advance Auto Parts, Inc provides automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, and light and heavy duty trucks. The company offers battery accessories; belts and hoses; brakes and brake pads; chassis and climate control parts; clutches and drive shafts; engines and engine parts; exhaust systems and parts; hub assemblies; ignition components and wires; radiators and cooling parts; starters and alternators; and steering and alignment parts. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Advance Auto Parts Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Advance Auto Parts and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sweden says embassy staff in Iraq temporarily moved to Stockholm 21 Jul 2023 | 10:19 PM Stockholm, July 21 (UNI) The Swedish embassy staff in Iraq has been temporarily relocated from Baghdad to Stockholm, Swedish authorities said on Friday. see more.. Legendary US singer Tony Bennett passes away 21 Jul 2023 | 8:10 PM New York, July 21 (UNI) The legendary New York pop and jazz singer Tony Bennett has passes away on Friday. His death was confirmed by his publicist Sylvia Weiner. see more.. IAF chief addresses 47th Higher Air Command Course 21 Jul 2023 | 6:48 PM Hyderabad, July 21 (UNI) Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force, delivered a speech to the officers attending the 47th Higher Air Command Course (HACC) at the College of Air Warfare in Secunderabad on Friday. see more.. Putin says Ukrainian armed forces suffer huge losses 21 Jul 2023 | 5:22 PM Moscow, July 21 (UNI) The Ukrainian armed forces have suffered huge losses, tens of thousands of people, while Kiev is struggling to get reinforcements to the front line, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday. see more.. Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE:ALG Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $187.71 and last traded at $186.50, with a volume of 7585 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $184.18. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In ALG has been the topic of several research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Alamo Group in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. DA Davidson increased their price target on shares of Alamo Group from $208.00 to $212.00 in a report on Thursday, June 8th. Finally, Raymond James initiated coverage on shares of Alamo Group in a report on Thursday, July 6th. They issued an outperform rating and a $215.00 price target on the stock. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Alamo Group presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $207.33. Get Alamo Group alerts: Alamo Group Stock Up 0.0 % The stock has a market cap of $2.21 billion, a PE ratio of 18.83 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a current ratio of 4.14, a quick ratio of 2.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $179.50 and a 200-day moving average price of $170.34. Alamo Group Announces Dividend Alamo Group ( NYSE:ALG Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The industrial products company reported $2.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.95 by $0.84. Alamo Group had a return on equity of 15.16% and a net margin of 7.47%. The firm had revenue of $411.77 million for the quarter. As a group, analysts forecast that Alamo Group Inc. will post 11.03 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 18th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 17th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.48%. Alamo Groups payout ratio is currently 9.00%. Insider Buying and Selling at Alamo Group In other Alamo Group news, CFO Richard J. Wehrle sold 1,166 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.57, for a total value of $214,042.62. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 27,057 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,966,853.49. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Alamo Group news, CFO Richard J. Wehrle sold 1,166 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.57, for a total value of $214,042.62. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 27,057 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,966,853.49. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Richard J. Wehrle sold 1,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.28, for a total value of $273,420.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 25,723 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,688,788.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ALG. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in shares of Alamo Group by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 113,146 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $16,269,000 after acquiring an additional 1,193 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Alamo Group by 82.1% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 16,027 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,305,000 after acquiring an additional 7,226 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Alamo Group by 25.6% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 4,008 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $576,000 after acquiring an additional 816 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in shares of Alamo Group by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 4,296 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $640,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund acquired a new stake in shares of Alamo Group during the 1st quarter worth about $1,136,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.07% of the companys stock. About Alamo Group (Get Free Report) Alamo Group Inc designs, manufactures, distributes, and services vegetation management and infrastructure maintenance equipment for governmental, industrial, and agricultural uses worldwide. It operates through two segments, Vegetation Management and Industrial Equipment. Its Vegetation Management Division segment offers hydraulically-powered and tractor and off-road chassis mounted mowers, other cutters and replacement parts for heavy-duty and intensive uses and heavy duty, tractor- and truck-mounted mowing and vegetation maintenance equipment, and replacement parts. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Alamo Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alamo Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arlington Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Free Report) in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund purchased 22,750 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $919,000. Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Endurance Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 303.2% in the 4th quarter. Endurance Wealth Management Inc. now owns 633 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 476 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC raised its stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 311.0% in the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 637 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 482 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA raised its stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 110.1% in the 4th quarter. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA now owns 689 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 361 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Silicon Valley Capital Partners acquired a new position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Get Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF alerts: Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Stock Performance Shares of VWO stock traded up $0.20 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $40.79. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,547,507 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,454,085. 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 $72.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.69. The firms 50-day moving average is $40.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $40.48. 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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VWO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Bradesco S.A. (NYSE:BBDO Get Free Report) shares gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $3.11, but opened at $2.99. Banco Bradesco shares last traded at $2.86, with a volume of 1,197 shares trading hands. Banco Bradesco Stock Down 7.1 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.72. The stock has a market cap of $30.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.03 and a beta of 0.90. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $2.81 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $2.54. Get Banco Bradesco alerts: Banco Bradesco (NYSE:BBDO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The bank reported $0.07 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $9.82 billion during the quarter. Banco Bradesco had a net margin of 9.54% and a return on equity of 11.66%. Banco Bradesco Increases Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On Banco Bradesco The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 5th will be given a dividend of $0.0036 per share. This is a boost from Banco Bradescos previous monthly dividend of $0.00. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $0.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.48%. Banco Bradescos payout ratio is currently 9.68%. Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BBDO. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Banco Bradesco during the 1st quarter worth approximately $56,000. Northern Trust Corp grew its position in shares of Banco Bradesco by 11.8% during the 2nd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 138,498 shares of the banks stock worth $378,000 after buying an additional 14,610 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Banco Bradesco during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Citadel Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Banco Bradesco by 43.4% during the 3rd quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 17,012 shares of the banks stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 5,151 shares during the period. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. acquired a new stake in shares of Banco Bradesco during the 4th quarter worth approximately $50,660,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 0.01% of the companys stock. About Banco Bradesco (Get Free Report) 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bradesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bradesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cubic Asset Management LLC lowered its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 0.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 49,632 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 430 shares during the quarter. Cubic Asset Management LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $3,440,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth $1,873,696,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 21,451,006 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its holdings 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 worth $992,048,000 after buying an additional 3,627,705 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 7.7% in the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 12,074,501 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $833,986,000 after buying an additional 863,174 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,207,099 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $806,351,000 after buying an additional 70,887 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.57% of the companys stock. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently commented on BMY shares. SVB Leerink reaffirmed a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday. 51job reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. SVB Securities started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday. They set a market perform rating and a $66.00 price target for the company. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bristol-Myers Squibb currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $77.13. Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Up 0.1 % NYSE:BMY opened at $62.53 on Tuesday. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a one year low of $62.30 and a one year high of $81.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.42. The firm has a market cap of $131.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.43. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $65.53 and a 200-day simple moving average of $68.76. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $11.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.50 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 51.75%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.96 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Investors of record on Friday, July 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.65%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 66.47%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total transaction of $3,378,818.10. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 47,751 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,202,182.06. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Curtiss-Wright Co. (NYSE:CW Get Free Report) CFO K Christopher Farkas purchased 73 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 10th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $155.43 per share, for a total transaction of $11,346.39. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer now owns 9,121 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,417,677.03. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Curtiss-Wright Stock Performance NYSE CW traded up $1.76 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $187.24. 107,650 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 158,615. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $170.44 and a 200-day moving average price of $170.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.06 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 2.15 and a quick ratio of 1.37. Curtiss-Wright Co. has a fifty-two week low of $125.91 and a fifty-two week high of $187.79. Get Curtiss-Wright alerts: Curtiss-Wright (NYSE:CW Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The aerospace company reported $1.53 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.12. Curtiss-Wright had a return on equity of 16.54% and a net margin of 11.81%. The company had revenue of $631.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $585.49 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.31 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Curtiss-Wright Co. will post 8.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Curtiss-Wright Increases Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 16th were given a $0.20 dividend. This is an increase from Curtiss-Wrights previous quarterly dividend of $0.19. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Curtiss-Wrights dividend payout ratio is presently 9.95%. Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com lowered Curtiss-Wright from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 4th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Curtiss-Wright from $196.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, William Blair assumed coverage on Curtiss-Wright in a report on Friday, May 19th. They set an outperform rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $186.80. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Curtiss-Wright Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Curtiss-Wright by 18.8% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,300,543 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $645,770,000 after acquiring an additional 680,850 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its holdings in Curtiss-Wright by 0.8% in the first quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,696,214 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $298,594,000 after purchasing an additional 13,599 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Curtiss-Wright by 10.4% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,500,162 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $225,531,000 after purchasing an additional 141,697 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in Curtiss-Wright by 31.7% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,418,113 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $249,957,000 after purchasing an additional 341,470 shares during the period. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Curtiss-Wright in the 4th quarter valued at about $212,009,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.31% of the companys stock. Curtiss-Wright Company Profile (Get Free Report) Curtiss-Wright Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides engineered products, solutions, and services to the aerospace, defense, general industrial, and power generation markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Industrial, Defense Electronics, and Naval & Power. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Curtiss-Wright Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Curtiss-Wright and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the twenty-three analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $146.76. Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on EOG Resources from $140.00 to $132.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Truist Financial increased their price target on EOG Resources from $146.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Raymond James increased their price target on EOG Resources from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on EOG Resources in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on EOG Resources from $139.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Get EOG Resources alerts: Insider Transactions at EOG Resources In other news, EVP Jeffrey R. Leitzell sold 2,031 shares of EOG Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.26, for a total value of $238,155.06. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 37,607 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,409,796.82. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 5,000 shares of EOG Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.87, for a total transaction of $579,350.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 149,689 shares in the company, valued at $17,344,464.43. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Jeffrey R. Leitzell sold 2,031 shares of EOG Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.26, for a total value of $238,155.06. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 37,607 shares in the company, valued at $4,409,796.82. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On EOG Resources EOG Resources Trading Down 0.4 % Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. AE Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in EOG Resources by 25.1% in the second quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 56,652 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $6,483,000 after acquiring an additional 11,362 shares in the last quarter. Fragasso Group Inc. boosted its holdings in EOG Resources by 4.1% in the second quarter. Fragasso Group Inc. now owns 3,819 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $437,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH boosted its holdings in EOG Resources by 42.7% in the second quarter. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH now owns 14,238 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,629,000 after acquiring an additional 4,259 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in EOG Resources in the second quarter worth $3,903,000. Finally, Cooper Financial Group boosted its holdings in EOG Resources by 12.4% in the second quarter. Cooper Financial Group now owns 4,582 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $524,000 after acquiring an additional 504 shares in the last quarter. 89.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. NYSE EOG opened at $115.78 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $67.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.24, a PEG ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 1.53. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $112.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $118.19. EOG Resources has a 12 month low of $92.16 and a 12 month high of $150.88. The company has a current ratio of 2.17, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The energy exploration company reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.42 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $6.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.28 billion. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 30.34% and a net margin of 33.83%. EOG Resourcess quarterly revenue was up 51.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $4.00 EPS. On average, analysts predict that EOG Resources will post 11.21 EPS for the current fiscal year. EOG Resources Announces Dividend The business 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 $0.825 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 14th. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.85%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 20.64%. About EOG Resources (Get Free Report EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, and natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its principal producing areas are in New Mexico and Texas in the United States; and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company. See Also Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GW Henssler & Associates Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR Free Report) by 2.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,621,317 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 34,361 shares during the period. GW Henssler & Associates Ltd. owned about 0.11% of Amcor worth $18,451,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV boosted its stake in shares of Amcor by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 48,176 shares of the companys stock valued at $517,000 after purchasing an additional 857 shares in the last quarter. Apeiron RIA LLC boosted its stake in shares of Amcor by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Apeiron RIA LLC now owns 32,173 shares of the companys stock valued at $383,000 after purchasing an additional 897 shares in the last quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Amcor by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC now owns 25,029 shares of the companys stock valued at $298,000 after purchasing an additional 914 shares in the last quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC boosted its stake in shares of Amcor by 7.0% in the 4th quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 16,716 shares of the companys stock valued at $199,000 after purchasing an additional 1,088 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Utah Retirement Systems boosted its stake in shares of Amcor by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Utah Retirement Systems now owns 79,400 shares of the companys stock valued at $852,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.37% of the companys stock. Get Amcor alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In AMCR has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Bank of America cut Amcor from a buy rating to an underperform rating in a report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Amcor from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and cut their price target for the company from $11.60 to $10.80 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised Amcor from an underperform rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Amcor has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $10.80. Amcor Trading Up 1.4 % Shares of NYSE:AMCR traded up $0.14 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $9.85. 1,045,992 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,972,692. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. The firm has a market cap of $14.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.62 and a beta of 0.81. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $10.09 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.95. Amcor plc has a 1-year low of $9.40 and a 1-year high of $13.37. Amcor (NYSE:AMCR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.18. The firm had revenue of $3.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.69 billion. Amcor had a net margin of 6.54% and a return on equity of 27.94%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.21 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Amcor plc will post 0.73 earnings per share for the current year. Amcor Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 24th were paid a $0.1225 dividend. This represents a $0.49 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.97%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 23rd. Amcors payout ratio is 74.24%. Amcor Profile (Free Report) Amcor plc develops, produces, and sells packaging products in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, and the Asia Pacific regions. The company operates through two segments, Flexibles and Rigid Packaging. The Flexibles segment provides flexible and film packaging products in the food and beverage, medical and pharmaceutical, fresh produce, snack food, personal care, and other industries. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AMCR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Amcor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amcor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HPP Get Free Report) shares were up 6% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $5.29 and last traded at $5.28. Approximately 2,854,977 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 27% from the average daily volume of 3,920,945 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.98. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently weighed in on HPP shares. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Hudson Pacific Properties from $10.00 to $7.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $8.00 to $7.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 10th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $10.00 to $6.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their target price on Hudson Pacific Properties from $8.00 to $6.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hudson Pacific Properties has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $7.94. Get Hudson Pacific Properties alerts: Hudson Pacific Properties Stock Performance The company has a fifty day moving average of $4.72 and a two-hundred day moving average of $7.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $738.32 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -13.07 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.80 and a current ratio of 1.80. Hudson Pacific Properties Cuts Dividend Hudson Pacific Properties ( NYSE:HPP Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.14) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.42 by ($0.56). Hudson Pacific Properties had a negative net margin of 4.91% and a negative return on equity of 1.52%. The business had revenue of $252.26 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $261.21 million. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. will post 1.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 20th were issued a $0.125 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 16th. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.54%. Hudson Pacific Propertiess dividend payout ratio is presently -125.00%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hudson Pacific Properties A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of HPP. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties in the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 119.5% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,424 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,864 shares during the last quarter. Ellevest Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 269.6% during the 4th quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 3,955 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 2,885 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 68.4% during the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 4,742 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 1,926 shares during the last quarter. 97.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Hudson Pacific Properties (Get Free Report) Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP) is a real estate investment trust serving dynamic tech and media tenants in global epicenters for these synergistic, converging and secular growth industries. Hudson Pacific's unique and high-barrier tech and media focus leverages a full-service, end-to-end value creation platform forged through deep strategic relationships and niche expertise across identifying, acquiring, transforming and developing properties into world-class amenitized, collaborative and sustainable office and studio space. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hudson Pacific Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hudson Pacific Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Investment Management of Virginia LLC lifted its position in shares of Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL Free Report) by 6.7% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 19,089 shares of the enterprise software providers stock after buying an additional 1,200 shares during the period. Investment Management of Virginia LLCs holdings in Oracle were worth $1,774,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Clear Investment Research LLC purchased a new stake in Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Steward Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Tanglewood Legacy Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 43.43% of the companys stock. Get Oracle alerts: Oracle Stock Performance ORCL stock traded down $0.70 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $113.68. The company had a trading volume of 677,907 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,602,206. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 55.54. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $108.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $95.86. Oracle Co. has a fifty-two week low of $60.78 and a fifty-two week high of $127.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $308.56 billion, a PE ratio of 37.38, a P/E/G ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 1.01. Oracle Dividend Announcement Oracle ( NYSE:ORCL Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, June 12th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.67 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.58 by $0.09. Oracle had a negative return on equity of 470.73% and a net margin of 17.02%. The company had revenue of $13.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.74 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.31 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 16.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Oracle Co. will post 4.5 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 11th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.41%. Oracles payout ratio is 52.29%. Insider Buying and Selling at Oracle In other Oracle news, EVP Maria Smith sold 3,680 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total value of $423,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 16,600 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,909,000. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, insider Edward Screven sold 354,837 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.39, for a total transaction of $43,783,337.43. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 2,543,033 shares in the company, valued at approximately $313,784,841.87. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Maria Smith sold 3,680 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, July 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total transaction of $423,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 16,600 shares in the company, valued at $1,909,000. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 4,175,443 shares of company stock valued at $510,658,596. Corporate insiders own 43.70% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on ORCL shares. Guggenheim upped their target price on Oracle from $120.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. StockNews.com downgraded Oracle from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, May 27th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Oracle from $110.00 to $120.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Mizuho boosted their price target on Oracle from $116.00 to $150.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Finally, VNET Group reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Oracle in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Oracle has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $118.15. Oracle Profile (Free Report) Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ORCL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Oracle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oracle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Mueller Industries (NYSE:MLI Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning. Mueller Industries Stock Performance MLI opened at $85.73 on Friday. Mueller Industries has a one year low of $51.07 and a one year high of $87.98. The company has a market cap of $4.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.19 and a beta of 1.12. The businesss fifty day moving average is $79.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is $72.81. Get Mueller Industries alerts: Mueller Industries (NYSE:MLI Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The industrial products company reported $3.07 earnings per share for the quarter. Mueller Industries had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 17.07%. The company had revenue of $971.19 million during the quarter. Mueller Industries Announces Dividend Insider Buying and Selling The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.40%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 1st. Mueller Industriess dividend payout ratio is presently 10.07%. In other Mueller Industries news, Director John B. Hansen sold 500 shares of Mueller Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.47, for a total transaction of $35,235.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 12,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $845,640. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Gregory L. Christopher sold 13,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.64, for a total value of $1,099,032.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 78,900 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,283,596. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director John B. Hansen sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.47, for a total transaction of $35,235.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 12,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $845,640. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 49,740 shares of company stock worth $3,829,981. Corporate insiders own 3.00% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mueller Industries A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Crestmont Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Mueller Industries in the 2nd quarter valued at about $329,000. Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Co. purchased a new position in shares of Mueller Industries in the second quarter valued at about $222,000. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Mueller Industries by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 151,495 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $11,132,000 after purchasing an additional 2,653 shares in the last quarter. Toroso Investments LLC purchased a new position in Mueller Industries in the first quarter worth about $3,478,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of Mueller Industries by 24.1% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 459,899 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $33,794,000 after purchasing an additional 89,206 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.39% of the companys stock. Mueller Industries Company Profile (Get Free Report) Mueller Industries, Inc manufactures and sells copper, brass, aluminum, and plastic products in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, the Middle East, China, and Mexico. It operates through three segments: Piping Systems, Industrial Metals, and Climate. The Piping Systems segment offers copper tubes, fittings, line sets, and pipe nipples; PEX plumbing and radiant systems; and plumbing-related fittings and plastic injection tooling. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Mueller Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mueller Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Washington, July 11 (UNI) Former US President Donald Trump's legal team asked the court to delay his trial over alleged mishandling of classified documents until after the 2024 presidential election. Proceeding to trial during the pendency of a Presidential election cycle wherein opposing candidates are effectively (if not literally) directly adverse to one another in this action will create extraordinary challenges in the jury selection process and limit the Defendants ability to secure a fair and impartial adjudication, Trumps legal team said in a court filing dated Monday and obtained by Politico. The team pointed out that Trumps campaign requires a tremendous amount of time and energy. That is why he and his personal aide and co-defendant Walt Nauta would be busy until the election day of November 5, 2024, it added. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (NYSE:ARI Get Free Report) and DigitalBridge Group (NYSE:DBRG Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation and earnings. Insider and Institutional Ownership 55.7% of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 88.2% of DigitalBridge Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.6% of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 3.7% of DigitalBridge Group shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Get Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance alerts: Volatility & Risk Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a beta of 1.61, indicating that its share price is 61% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, DigitalBridge Group has a beta of 2.04, indicating that its share price is 104% more volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance 1 4 0 0 1.80 DigitalBridge Group 0 1 4 1 3.00 This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and DigitalBridge Group, as reported by MarketBeat. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance presently has a consensus price target of $10.80, suggesting a potential downside of 4.93%. DigitalBridge Group has a consensus price target of $21.44, suggesting a potential upside of 38.53%. Given DigitalBridge Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe DigitalBridge Group is more favorable than Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and DigitalBridge Groups gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance $303.64 million 5.29 $265.23 million $1.83 6.21 DigitalBridge Group $1.14 billion 2.19 -$321.80 million ($2.09) -7.40 Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has higher earnings, but lower revenue than DigitalBridge Group. DigitalBridge Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and DigitalBridge Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance 90.97% 8.68% 2.12% DigitalBridge Group -24.01% 0.89% 0.29% Dividends Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance pays an annual dividend of $1.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 12.3%. DigitalBridge Group pays an annual dividend of $0.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance pays out 76.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. DigitalBridge Group pays out -1.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Summary DigitalBridge Group beats Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance on 9 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (Get Free Report) Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that originates, acquires, invests in, and manages commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments in the United States. It is qualified as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income taxes, if the company distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. was founded in 2009 and is based in New York, New York. About DigitalBridge Group (Get Free Report) DigitalBridge (NYSE: DBRG) is a leading global digital infrastructure firm. With a heritage of over 25 years investing in and operating businesses across the digital ecosystem including cell towers, data centers, fiber, small cells, and edge infrastructure, the DigitalBridge team manages a $69 billion portfolio of digital infrastructure assets on behalf of its limited partners and shareholders. Headquartered in Boca Raton, DigitalBridge has key offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Luxembourg and Singapore. Receive News & Ratings for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D increased its position in Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT Free Report) by 0.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 781,870 shares of the medical technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,591 shares during the period. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D owned about 0.06% of Medtronic worth $63,034,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Medtronic by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 27,222,300 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $2,112,247,000 after buying an additional 423,715 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in shares of Medtronic by 33.1% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 19,374,686 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $1,564,508,000 after buying an additional 4,816,172 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG boosted its stake in shares of Medtronic by 14.9% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 16,599,068 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $1,290,080,000 after buying an additional 2,157,370 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Medtronic by 127,655.1% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 14,160,371 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $1,100,544,000 after buying an additional 14,149,287 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Medtronic during the 4th quarter valued at $1,062,316,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.48% of the companys stock. Get Medtronic alerts: Medtronic Price Performance Shares of MDT stock traded up $0.24 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $86.69. 989,087 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,990,703. Medtronic plc has a fifty-two week low of $75.76 and a fifty-two week high of $95.60. The stocks fifty day moving average is $86.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $83.58. The company has a market cap of $115.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 2.39 and a quick ratio of 1.81. Medtronic Increases Dividend Medtronic ( NYSE:MDT Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 25th. The medical technology company reported $1.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.56 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $8.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.25 billion. Medtronic had a net margin of 12.03% and a return on equity of 13.54%. Medtronics quarterly revenue was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.52 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Medtronic plc will post 5.04 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 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.69 per share. This represents a $2.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.18%. This is an increase from Medtronics previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 22nd. Medtronics payout ratio is 97.87%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on MDT shares. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Medtronic from $90.00 to $92.00 in a report on Friday, May 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their price target on shares of Medtronic from $100.00 to $99.00 in a report on Friday, May 26th. Truist Financial dropped their target price on shares of Medtronic from $93.00 to $90.00 in a report on Friday, May 26th. 92 Resources reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Medtronic in a report on Friday, May 26th. Finally, Barclays upgraded shares of Medtronic from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Monday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $90.76. Medtronic Company Profile (Free Report) Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MDT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Medtronic Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Medtronic and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D lessened its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 0.4% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,252,493 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 5,545 shares during the period. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D owned approximately 0.06% of Bristol-Myers Squibb worth $86,810,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. IFG Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 43.5% during the first quarter. IFG Advisory LLC now owns 4,344 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $301,000 after purchasing an additional 1,317 shares during the last quarter. Fiera Capital Corp increased its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 21.4% in the first quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 18,691 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,295,000 after buying an additional 3,301 shares in the last quarter. Satovsky Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 21.5% in the first quarter. Satovsky Asset Management LLC now owns 5,873 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $407,000 after buying an additional 1,038 shares in the last quarter. Atlas Private Wealth Management increased its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 13.3% in the first quarter. Atlas Private Wealth Management now owns 5,554 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $385,000 after buying an additional 650 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. increased its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.8% in the first quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 1,088,054 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $75,413,000 after buying an additional 39,900 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.57% of the companys stock. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Activity In related news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total transaction of $3,378,818.10. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,202,182.06. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Up 0.3 % NYSE:BMY traded up $0.21 on Tuesday, hitting $62.69. The stock had a trading volume of 3,713,316 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,075,763. 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 stock has a market cap of $131.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.22, a PEG ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $65.53 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $68.76. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $62.12 and a 1-year high of $81.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.50 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 51.75%. The businesss revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.96 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.47%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BMY has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group cut their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $72.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. SVB Leerink reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $65.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, SVB Securities initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday. They set a market perform rating and a $66.00 price target on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $77.13. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust of NJ bought a new stake in shares of Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 1,350 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $220,000. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Extra Space Storage by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,135,848 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $460,800,000 after acquiring an additional 38,582 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Extra Space Storage in the 4th quarter worth approximately $380,823,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,877,977 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $276,405,000 after buying an additional 22,497 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,325,154 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $195,036,000 after buying an additional 29,213 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ceredex Value Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 69.0% in the 4th quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC now owns 934,970 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $137,609,000 after buying an additional 381,727 shares during the last quarter. 96.81% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Extra Space Storage Stock Performance NYSE:EXR traded up $1.49 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $151.01. 418,983 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,213,861. The company has a quick ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82. The firm has a market cap of $20.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.39 and a beta of 0.54. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a one year low of $139.97 and a one year high of $216.52. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $147.95 and its 200-day moving average price is $153.26. Extra Space Storage Cuts Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 19th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 13th will be given a $1.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 12th. This represents a $4.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.68%. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio is currently 101.89%. A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on EXR shares. Bank of America started coverage on Extra Space Storage in a research report on Monday, May 8th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Evercore ISI upgraded Extra Space Storage from an underperform rating to an outperform rating and set a $164.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, June 12th. KeyCorp dropped their price target on Extra Space Storage from $190.00 to $172.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Extra Space Storage in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price target on Extra Space Storage from $165.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $169.38. Extra Space Storage Profile (Free Report) Extra Space Storage Inc, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of March 31, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 2,388 self-storage stores in 41 states and Washington, DC The Company's stores comprise approximately 1.7 million units and approximately 180.0 million square feet of rentable space. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EXR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Several workers admitted that they had not been able to provide meals according to updated menu as that would cost them a lot more. (Representational Image: DC) Hyderabad: Lakhs of school students went hungry across Telangana even as more than 50,000 mid-day meal workers, who continued their state-wide strike on day two, took to the streets and held dharnas outside mandal offices and submitted their complaints and demands. None of the officials from the education department, or even education minister Sabita Indra Reddy, have responded in any way to the demands of the protesting mid-day meal workers from across the state. The primary demands of the striking mid-day meal workers include that the BRS government keep its promise of 3,000 honorarium and pay bills for the cooking costs. "The promise was made a year ago. A government order was released too. Yet, we have not been receiving reimbursements for the cooking costs, let alone the promised honorarium of 3,000. Some of us have been working since 2005, some joined recently, but could soon leave as we see nothing but injustice both to the cooks as well as school children," said Mahima R., a worker from Karimnagar. As lakhs of students benefit from the scheme, for more than nine months now, workers, who are mostly from self-help groups in rural villages, who have been mistreated, continued to work. They demanded a hike in salary, recognition and ID cards too. "Those are still a far-fetched dream. If at least the government can help us buy raw material for the meals. Is that too much to ask? The government only provides rice, eggs every alternate day and vegetables, especially with prices hitting the roof, are impossible demands to meet," said Parvin, who added that they had been trying to manage things on their own for more than a half a year now, but cannot afford to do so anymore. "Even people who helped and volunteered and lent money, won't do it, anymore, and rightly so," Mahima told Deccan Chronicle. "I honestly worry about the quality of food being served at schools. When the budget is lacking, quality suffers. Children have developing bodies and if workers are forced to feed stale food by just reheating it, their health is at stake," said a sobbing parent, who turned up at a workers' strike at Mahbubabad to support them. She said that she had herself volunteered to help cook meals and did bring leftover vegetables from her home at times. Chityala Lakshmi, one of the workers protesting from Nirmal district, said that they would be holding a dharna in front of the commissioner's office on Wednesday. "If authorities don't budge, we will hold a 'Chalo Hyderabad samme' where we will urge education minister Sabita Indra Reddy to take action," she said. Malayala Govardhan, general secretary of mid-day meal workers' association in Nizamabad said that they will wait for a response from officials until Wednesday evening before going on an indefinite strike if the government remains silent even then. Several workers admitted that they had not been able to provide meals according to updated menu as that would cost them a lot more. Meanwhile, several government schools across the state asked students to bring their meals from home for the next two days, while at some other schools, teachers prepared meals for the days, some even had higher class students helping them and other schools hired cooks from the neighbourhood to ensure kids don't bear the brunt of the strike. "This is a state government that came to power promising free KG to PG education. Now, under their watch, school children are hungry, mid-way meal cooks are on strike, teachers are unable to teach. If you can't feed school children, what kind of economic growth, or development, are we talking about," asked another parent. Emerging consumer electronics player Nothing Inc is all geared to launch the companys new second-generation Phone later this evening. London-based firm will be hosting an online event to showcase Phone(2) at 16:00 pm BST (8:30 pm IST. It will be telecasted on the companys official Nothing website (here) and YouTube channel(here). Besides Carl Pei (co-founder, Nothing), renowned YouTube personality, filmmaker, and vlogger, Casey Neistat, who is also a Nothing investor, will participate in the event to unveil the new device. Carl Pei (co-founder, Nothing) with vlogger, Casey Neistat. Credit: Nothing Nothing Phone (2): Heres what to expect Already, the company has given a sneak peek at the upcoming phone. It will retain the design elements of the original first generation Phone. It will have a see-through cover-case with a wide array of LEDs lined on the back, but will feature better premium build quality and also eco-friendly too. Some of the key components are made of plastics and metals in the Printed Circuit Board and even the aluminium-based rail around the screen is made of recycled materials. Also, they are said to be sturdier than the previous generation. Inside, the new Phone(2) is confirmed to come with Qualcomms reliable Snapdragon 8+ Get 1 processor, run Android 13-based NothingOS and also Glyph LED interface, 8GB/12GB RAM, 256GB/512GB storage, and a 4,700mAh battery. The new Phone(2). Credit: Nothing It is said to feature 6.7-inch full HD+ display and a new 32MP front camera. And, on the back, it features a dual-camera module a main 50MP (with IMX890) and 50MP ultra-wide sensor with LED flash. The new Phone(2) is expected to be priced anywhere between Rs 45,000 and Rs 50,000. Nothing Phone(2) is assembled locally at the company's supply partner's factory unit in Tamil Nadu. Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech. Spider-Man star Tom Holland says he decided to give up drinking after he became worried that he might have "an alcohol problem" The British actor, who is a year-and-a-half sober from alcohol, addressed his struggle with alcoholism in an appearance on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast. Holland, who most recently starred in Apple TV+'s psychological thriller series The Crowded Room, said he chose to go dry last January after indulging over the holiday season but found it tough. I didnt one day wake up and say, Im giving up drinking. I just, like many Brits, had had a very, very boozy December. (It was) Christmas time, I was on vacation, I was drinking a lot and Ive always been able to drink a lot. Also Read | 'I'm not a career director,' says Konkona Sen Sharma on success of 'Lust Stories 2' All I could think about was having a drink. Thats all I could think about. I was waking up thinking about it. I was checking the clock, Whens it 12pm?" the 27-year-old said, as quoted by British website The Independent. He was compelled to ask himself some questions after he realised he was "obsessed" with drinking, he added. I just sort of said to myself, like, Why? Why am I enslaved to this drink? Why am I so obsessed by the idea of having this drink? It just really scared me. I just was like, Wow, maybe. Maybe I have a little bit of an alcohol thing. So I sort of decided to punish myself and say, Ill do February as well. Ill do two months off. If I can do two months off, then I can prove to myself that I dont have a problem, he recalled. Holland, however, said he found he was still really struggling two months off alcohol and felt that not drinking impacted his ability to socialise. I felt like I couldnt go to the pub and have a lime soda. I couldnt go out for dinner. I was really, really struggling and I started to really worry that maybe I had an alcohol problem, he said. The actor said he then decided to go off alcohol until his birthday in June to prove to myself that I dont have a problem. By the time he reached the deadline, Holland said he was the happiest Ive ever been in my life. I could sleep better. I could handle problems better. Things that would go wrong on set that would normally set me off, I could take in my stride. I had such better mental clarity. I felt healthier, I felt fitter, he added. Five bodies have been recovered from the accident site of a private commercial helicopter carrying six people that crashed in hilly terrain in eastern Nepal on Tuesday, a media report said. The Manang Air NA-MV chopper took off from Surke Airport in Solukhumbu district at 10:04 am for Kathmandu and suddenly lost contact at an altitude above 12,000 feet at 10:13 am, said Gyanendra Bhul, Manager at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The helicopter crashed in the Lamjura area of Likhupike Rural Municipality in the remote mountainous Solukhumbu district. A detailed report is yet to come as a rescue operation is underway, said a senior official at TIA. Also Read | Plane crash outside Los Angeles kills 6 According to police, the helicopter met with the accident at approximately 3500 meters above sea level in the Lamjura Pass, The Himalayan Times newspaper reported. "Five bodies have been recovered from the accident site and a search operation is underway," the report quoted police as saying. Five Mexican nationals and pilot Chet B Gurung were aboard the helicopter. Founded in 1997, Manang Air is a helicopter airline based in Kathmandu. It has been operating helicopters in commercial air transportation within the Nepalese territory under the Regulation of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. The company provides chartered services and is focused on personalised services such as adventure flights helicopter excursions or expedition work. A Lahore court on Tuesday granted bail to Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, the President of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, in a money laundering case filed by the country's top anti-corruption agency against him. Judge Aslam Gondal of the Banking Offenses Court issued the order over the bail application of the former Punjab chief minister, who had been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for alleged money laundering, Geo News reported. The court ordered Elahi, a close aide to former prime minister Imran Khan, to submit a surety bond of Rs 500,000 against the bail. The FIA had booked the 77-year-old veteran leader and his son on charges of money laundering and suspicious transactions on June 20. He was taken into custody the next day and was subsequently sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand. Judge Gondal questioned the FIA for adopting a non-cooperative attitude after the probe agency failed to submit the record despite the court order. On May 26, a district court in Lahore issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Elahi. Elahi was initially arrested on June 1 in a graft case, amid a crackdown on Khan's party in the wake of May 9 protests. He was rearrested multiple times after this in different cases, including the two money laundering cases. During the hearing of his bail plea in the LHC, Elahi had requested the court to grant him bail like Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Elahi, who was a close aide to military dictator General Pervez Musharraf, was appointed as the president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in March this year after quitting his former party - the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Imran Khan by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad. His party workers vandalised over 20 military installations and government buildings, including the Lahore Corps Commander House, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Khan was later released on bail. The violence elicited a strong reaction from the government and military with vows of taking action against the culprits, leading to an ongoing crackdown against those involved. By Gorana Grgic for 'The Conversation' Since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, NATO meetings and summits have been receiving significantly more attention compared to previous years. And there are several big-ticket items on the agenda at the upcoming summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, which begins on Tuesday. The foremost issue is, of course, NATOs future military support to Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia, particularly in the wake of reports of weapon delivery delays and the United States controversial decision to send cluster munitions to the Ukrainians. The allies will also discuss Ukraines potential membership in the group. Ukraine is seeking an invitation and a roadmap to eventually join NATO, which the US and Germany, in particular, have resisted while an active war is occurring. The members will also agree on the first major overhaul of NATOs military plans since the Cold War and an increase in their individual defence spending. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is looking for commitments from all 31 members to spend at least 2 per cent of their gross domestic product on defence something that was considered an aspiration rather than a baseline a decade ago. Also Read | NATO should remove Ukraine's membership action plan requirement, says Stoltenberg NATOs interest in the Asia-Pacific The other invitees receiving considerable attention are four leaders from the Asia-Pacific: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The four will be in attendance for the second year in a row, following last years NATO summit in Madrid. While NATOs outreach efforts to the Asia-Pacific region are still in the infancy stage, they have generated some criticism in recent days. Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating called Stoltenberg a supreme fool for boosting the blocs ties with the region. And French President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly opposed to the opening of a proposed NATO liaison office in Tokyo. With NATO so heavily focused on Ukraine at the moment, its interest in a region half-way around the world does raise some questions. Why are these four leaders becoming regular features at a summit for European and North American countries? First, these countries have been among the most prominent members of the international coalition supporting Ukraine and sanctioning Russia. So, their presence at a security conference where Ukraine will be discussed makes sense. More importantly, though, the Indo-Pacific region featured prominently in NATOs 2022 Strategic Concept, a key document that outlines the alliances values, purpose and role. For the first time last year, the document referred to Chinas ambitions and policies as a major challenge to NATOs security, interests and values. It also specifically addressed the growing cooperation between China and Russia, which NATO sees as a threat to the established rules-based international order. As such, the Strategic Concept called the Indo-Pacific important for NATO, given that developments in that region can directly affect Euro-Atlantic security. This makes the case quite clear for NATO to strengthen its existing partnerships in the region and develop new ones. Also Read | NATO tries to remember what it means to fight a European war What these new partnerships will look like Policy analysts have debated the merits and consequences of this expanded level of cooperation. But despite hesitations among some commentators, the four Asia-Pacific countries generally want to move in the direction of stepping up their cooperation with NATO. Indeed, if the Madrid summit served as an opportunity for the four Indo-Pacific partners to showcase their support for Ukraine and pledge stronger commitment to future collaboration with NATO, the Vilnius summit will serve as a benchmark to assess the progress thats been made. This is why, in the lead-up to the summit, NATO has been working to formalise its partnerships with the four countries. Japan and Australia have been at the front of these efforts. Japanese media reported last week that Tokyo and Canberra have wrapped up negotiations with NATO on a new agreement called the Individually Tailored Partnership Program (ITPP). This programme specifies the key areas of cooperation between each country and the NATO bloc. New Zealand and South Korea are working to finalise their individual agreements with the alliance, too. The partnerships will largely focus on areas of global concern, such as maritime security, cybersecurity, climate change, outer space, and emerging and disruptive technologies (including artificial intelligence). And from a defence standpoint, NATO and the four partners will aim to improve the interoperability of their militaries the ability of different military forces and defence systems to effectively work together and coordinate their actions. This might entail deepening the knowledge of each others military assets, improving the relationships between their soldiers and other military personnel, and expanding joint drills. Also Read | Zelenskyy says he understands Ukraine will be in NATO Why is this happening now? The intensifying and deepening relations between NATO and its Indo-Pacific partners can be interpreted in two ways. First, these partnerships form another important link in the expanding network of diplomatic and security ties between the US, its Western allies and the Indo-Pacific region. They complement partnerships like AUKUS and the Quad. Beyond this, we can also view these agreements in the context of NATOs evolving outreach with the rest of the world over the past couple decades. Previously, NATOs collaborations with Indo-Pacific countries involved pooling resources for security operations in non-NATO members, such as the Balkans in the 1990s and Afghanistan in the 2000s. Nowadays, strengthening these partnerships is seen as a vital part of responding to the new challenges and threats posed by Russia and China. Of course, this does not mean we will see NATO military equipment or troops permanently stationed in the Indo-Pacific. Nor would it be realistic to expect the Indo-Pacific countries military contributions to Ukraine to lead to a more permanent set-up in Europe. Similarly, while all of this is aimed at intensifying security cooperation among US allies in the Indo-Pacific, this is in no way a prelude to the creation of a NATO-like collective defence pact in the region. However, given the complexities of the current tensions with Russia and China, there is a clear need for greater coordination and cooperation among a larger group of countries. These new partnerships can be effective in addressing everything from disinformation and maritime security to cyber defence and competition in space. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin would obviously prefer these partnerships to slow down. Indeed, China has criticised the proposed NATO liaison office in Tokyo as an attempt to destroy regional peace and stability. China and Russia might even find some comfort in seeing the clear differences among the four partners as to their desired level of engagement with NATO. However, all four Indo-Pacific countries can agree on one fundamental fact they expect to see more competition with both China and Russia in the future, not less. (The author is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Government and International Relations and US Studies Centre, University of Sydney) Secularism is in the blood of Indian people, former vice president Venkaiah Naidu has said, asserting that minorities are more safe and secure in India than in many countries including in the US. Naidu, 74, addressed a gathering of Indian Americans at a reception hosted in his honour by the National Council of Asian Indian Associations in the Greater Washington DC area on Monday. All propaganda is going on (against India). Certain sections of the Western media also. They joined this propaganda about India, about the security and safety of minorities. I want to tell those people that minorities are more safe and secure in India than here, he said. You see whats happening in India and whats happening in other countries. But, you know, discrimination is going on, he said. Also Read | BJP rolls out 'Modi Mitra' initiative in bid to reach out to minorities Naidu has been in the US for the last few days. Over the weekend, he addressed a gathering of Indian American doctors in Philadelphia. He said India respects its minorities. Those who wanted to go to Pakistan have already left (the country). Those who wanted to stay here, are here in India... secularism is there in India because its in the blood of Indian people, he said. In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Naidu warned the neighbouring country against interfering in the internal affairs of India and said Kashmir is an integral part of India. In his keynote address to the 41st annual American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) over the weekend, Naidu stressed the importance of changes in lifestyle for healthy living. He urged AAPI members to give back to their native place and highlighted the importance of taking care of one's motherland. AAPIs programmes are more centered around addressing the issues related to the stigma of mental illness and the importance of the practices such as meditation, and yoga, which is a connectivity between the body and the mind, he said. At the reception hosted by the National Council of Asian Indian Associations, Sikhs of America felicitated Naidu for working towards the welfare of Sikhs in India. Six members of a family died and two people were severely injured on Tuesday morning when their SUV collided head-on with a school bus moving on the wrong side of an expressway here, a senior police official said. The accident took place around 6 am on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic (Ghaziabad), Ramanand Kushwaha said. The bus had gone to Delhi and was plying on the wrong side of the expressway after refilling CNG near Ghazipur border, he added. VIDEO | Five people were killed after a SUV collided with a bus on Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Ghaziabad. More details are awaited. (Warning: Disturbing visuals) (Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/USXK2kej3f Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 11, 2023 The family was travelling in the SUV, which was headed for Gurugram from Meerut, Kushwaha said. Two people are undergoing treatment for severe injuries, he said, adding that there were eight people in the SUV. "The bus driver has been arrested. He was at complete fault as he was moving on the wrong side," Kushwaha said. China Minsheng Banking (OTCMKTS:CGMBF Get Free Report) is one of 288 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare China Minsheng Banking to similar companies based on the strength of its profitability, valuation, dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk and institutional ownership. Profitability This table compares China Minsheng Banking and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get China Minsheng Banking alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets China Minsheng Banking N/A N/A N/A China Minsheng Banking Competitors 33.42% 10.72% 0.95% 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 13.3% and pay out 18.8% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. China Minsheng Banking is clearly a better dividend stock than its rivals, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score China Minsheng Banking 0 1 0 0 2.00 China Minsheng Banking Competitors 1106 3299 3248 22 2.28 This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for China Minsheng Banking and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat.com. As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 345.42%. Given China Minsheng Bankings rivals stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe China Minsheng Banking has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Insider and Institutional Ownership 3.6% of China Minsheng Banking shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 40.1% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held by institutional investors. 13.4% 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 stock will outperform the market over the long term. Valuation & Earnings This table compares China Minsheng Banking and its rivals 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 $3.03 billion $637.75 million 233.20 China Minsheng Bankings rivals have higher revenue and earnings than China Minsheng Banking. China Minsheng Banking 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. Summary China Minsheng Banking rivals beat China Minsheng Banking on 11 of the 13 factors compared. China Minsheng Banking Company Profile (Get Free Report) 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 agent, 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. The company has branch-level institutions, business outlets, community sub-branches, and small business sub-branches. China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. Receive News & Ratings for China Minsheng Banking Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Minsheng Banking and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. D.A. Davidson & CO. lowered its position in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 0.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 333,282 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 2,659 shares during the quarter. Visa comprises 0.8% of D.A. Davidson & CO.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. D.A. Davidson & CO.s holdings in Visa were worth $75,005,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of V. TruWealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Visa by 25.2% during the 1st quarter. TruWealth Advisors LLC now owns 75,499 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $17,022,000 after buying an additional 15,192 shares in the last quarter. Advisor OS LLC boosted its stake in Visa by 6.5% during the first quarter. Advisor OS LLC now owns 11,169 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $2,518,000 after acquiring an additional 677 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Visa by 3.9% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 29,589 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $6,671,000 after purchasing an additional 1,104 shares during the period. Machina Capital S.A.S. increased its stake in Visa by 11.4% in the first quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S. now owns 1,194 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $269,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Visa by 9.8% during the first quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,702 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $835,000 after purchasing an additional 330 shares during the period. 84.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Visa alerts: Visa Stock Performance NYSE V opened at $238.14 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $446.11 billion, a PE ratio of 31.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 1.50. Visa Inc. has a 52-week low of $174.60 and a 52-week high of $240.00. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $229.20 and a 200 day simple moving average of $225.30. Visa Dividend Announcement Visa ( NYSE:V Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.09 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.97 by $0.12. Visa had a net margin of 50.95% and a return on equity of 50.21%. The company had revenue of $7.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.79 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.79 EPS. Visas revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Visa Inc. will post 8.59 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th were issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.76%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 11th. Visas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.06%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Barclays boosted their target price on Visa from $270.00 to $272.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Visa in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. KeyCorp boosted their price target on shares of Visa from $250.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Visa from $262.00 to $265.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Visa in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $262.52. Insider Buying and Selling In other Visa news, insider Tullier Kelly Mahon sold 54,146 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $232.55, for a total value of $12,591,652.30. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 26,674 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,203,038.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Tullier Kelly Mahon sold 54,146 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $232.55, for a total value of $12,591,652.30. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 26,674 shares in the company, valued at $6,203,038.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Vasant M. Prabhu sold 40,000 shares of Visa stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $231.36, for a total transaction of $9,254,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 73,638 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,036,887.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 142,602 shares of company stock valued at $33,336,374. Company insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock. Visa Profile (Free Report) Visa Inc operates as a payments technology company worldwide. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, click to pay; Visa Direct, a real-time payments network; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral B2B cross-border payments network; Visa Treasury as a Service, a cross-border consumer payments business; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding V? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Visa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Visa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Delta Financial Group Inc. raised its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 2.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 105,080 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 2,953 shares during the period. Pfizer comprises about 1.7% of Delta Financial Group Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Delta Financial Group Inc.s holdings in Pfizer were worth $4,287,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 89,592.7% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 161,143,638 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,257,000,000 after purchasing an additional 160,963,976 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Pfizer during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,150,472,000. Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 10.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 79,499,361 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $4,073,547,000 after purchasing an additional 7,419,929 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Pfizer by 13.2% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 59,828,849 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,097,341,000 after acquiring an additional 6,972,650 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in Pfizer in the first quarter valued at approximately $311,238,000. 67.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Pfizer alerts: Pfizer Stock Performance Shares of PFE stock opened at $35.68 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $37.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $41.39. The company has a market cap of $201.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.02, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.61. Pfizer Inc. has a 12 month low of $35.35 and a 12 month high of $54.93. Pfizer Announces Dividend Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $18.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.49 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 31.25% and a return on equity of 37.53%. The companys revenue was down 28.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.62 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 28th will be paid a $0.41 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 27th. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.60%. Pfizers dividend payout ratio is presently 32.28%. Insider Buying and Selling at Pfizer In related news, Director Scott Gottlieb acquired 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The stock was bought at an average price of $38.58 per share, for a total transaction of $38,580.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 6,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $231,480. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently commented on PFE shares. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $50.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 17th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $41.00 to $39.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. StockNews.com cut Pfizer from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, June 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the company from $47.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $46.67. About Pfizer (Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Delta Financial Group Inc. cut its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Free Report) by 5.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 32,210 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,795 shares during the period. Merck & Co., Inc. makes up approximately 1.3% of Delta Financial Group Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Delta Financial Group Inc.s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $3,427,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Marion Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 18.5% during the 4th quarter. Marion Wealth Management now owns 21,538 shares of the companys stock worth $2,390,000 after acquiring an additional 3,366 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,537,899 shares of the companys stock worth $270,007,000 after acquiring an additional 47,005 shares during the period. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 17,520 shares of the companys stock worth $1,944,000 after acquiring an additional 533 shares during the period. Crescent Sterling Ltd. bought a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 4th quarter valued at about $806,000. Finally, Alaska Wealth Advisors bought a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 4th quarter valued at about $228,000. 76.60% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Merck & Co. Inc. alerts: Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Up 0.9 % Shares of NYSE:MRK opened at $109.97 on Tuesday. Merck & Co., Inc. has a one year low of $84.52 and a one year high of $119.65. The company has a 50 day moving average of $113.10 and a 200-day moving average of $110.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 1.19. The stock has a market cap of $279.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.48, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.35. Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend Merck & Co., Inc. ( NYSE:MRK Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.40 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.06. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 22.52% and a return on equity of 37.92%. The company had revenue of $14.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.14 EPS. Merck & Co., Inc.s revenue was down 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 6.95 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a dividend of $0.73 per share. This represents a $2.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. Merck & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio is currently 57.03%. Insider Activity at Merck & Co., Inc. In related news, CEO Robert M. Davis sold 143,329 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.93, for a total transaction of $16,472,801.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 271,817 shares in the company, valued at $31,239,927.81. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, VP Rita A. Karachun sold 15,875 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.53, for a total value of $1,865,788.75. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 45,710 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,372,296.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Robert M. Davis sold 143,329 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.93, for a total transaction of $16,472,801.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 271,817 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,239,927.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 488,258 shares of company stock worth $56,481,018. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In MRK has been the subject of several analyst reports. Mizuho reissued a buy rating and set a $130.00 price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Monday, April 10th. Guggenheim lifted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $123.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. BTIG Research downgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Sunday, April 16th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price target for the company from $120.00 to $115.00 in a report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Societe Generale downgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $122.83. About Merck & Co., Inc. (Free Report) Merck & Co, Inc operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes, as well as vaccine products, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Omega Healthcare Investors (NYSE:OHI Get Free Report) and EastGroup Properties (NYSE:EGP Get Free Report) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership and profitability. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent ratings for Omega Healthcare Investors and EastGroup Properties, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Get Omega Healthcare Investors alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Omega Healthcare Investors 1 4 2 0 2.14 EastGroup Properties 0 4 6 0 2.60 Omega Healthcare Investors currently has a consensus price target of $30.56, indicating a potential downside of 1.62%. EastGroup Properties has a consensus price target of $175.30, indicating a potential downside of 0.06%. Given EastGroup Properties stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe EastGroup Properties is more favorable than Omega Healthcare Investors. Volatility & Risk Valuation and Earnings Omega Healthcare Investors has a beta of 0.99, indicating that its share price is 1% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, EastGroup Properties has a beta of 0.93, indicating that its share price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares Omega Healthcare Investors and EastGroup Properties top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Omega Healthcare Investors $878.24 million 8.29 $426.93 million $1.15 27.01 EastGroup Properties $509.08 million 15.01 $186.18 million $3.87 45.33 Omega Healthcare Investors has higher revenue and earnings than EastGroup Properties. Omega Healthcare Investors is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than EastGroup Properties, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Institutional & Insider Ownership 66.0% of Omega Healthcare Investors shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 91.6% of EastGroup Properties shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.2% of Omega Healthcare Investors shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.5% of EastGroup Properties shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Dividends Omega Healthcare Investors pays an annual dividend of $2.68 per share and has a dividend yield of 8.6%. EastGroup Properties pays an annual dividend of $5.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Omega Healthcare Investors pays out 233.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. EastGroup Properties pays out 129.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. EastGroup Properties has increased its dividend for 11 consecutive years. Profitability This table compares Omega Healthcare Investors and EastGroup Properties net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Omega Healthcare Investors 32.26% 7.13% 2.90% EastGroup Properties 32.86% 8.40% 4.20% Summary EastGroup Properties beats Omega Healthcare Investors on 13 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks. About Omega Healthcare Investors (Get Free Report) Omega is a REIT that invests in the long-term healthcare industry, primarily in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Its portfolio of assets is operated by a diverse group of healthcare companies, predominantly in a triple-net lease structure. The assets span all regions within the U.S., as well as in the U. K. About EastGroup Properties (Get Free Report) EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE: EGP), a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. The Company's goal is to maximize shareholder value by being a leading provider in its markets of functional, flexible and quality business distribution space for location sensitive customers (primarily in the 20,000 to 100,000 square foot range). The Company's strategy for growth is based on ownership of premier distribution facilities generally clustered near major transportation features in supply-constrained submarkets. The Company's portfolio, including development projects and value-add acquisitions in lease-up and under construction, currently includes approximately 57.1 million square feet. Receive News & Ratings for Omega Healthcare Investors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Omega Healthcare Investors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX Get Free Report) and TearLab (OTCMKTS:TEAR Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, earnings and analyst recommendations. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Boston Scientific and TearLabs revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Boston Scientific alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Boston Scientific $12.68 billion 5.82 $698.00 million $0.59 89.32 TearLab N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Boston Scientific has higher revenue and earnings than TearLab. Institutional & Insider Ownership Analyst Ratings 92.2% of Boston Scientific shares are held by institutional investors. 0.5% of Boston Scientific shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 5.2% of TearLab shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Boston Scientific and TearLab, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Boston Scientific 0 1 12 1 3.00 TearLab 0 0 0 0 N/A Boston Scientific currently has a consensus price target of $56.44, suggesting a potential upside of 7.11%. Given Boston Scientifics higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Boston Scientific is more favorable than TearLab. Profitability This table compares Boston Scientific and TearLabs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Boston Scientific 6.91% 14.57% 7.94% TearLab N/A N/A N/A Summary Boston Scientific beats TearLab on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Boston Scientific (Get Free Report) Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions; devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions; implantable cardioverter and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators; pacemakers and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers; and remote patient management systems. It also provides medical technologies to diagnose and treat rate and rhythm disorders of the heart comprising 3-D cardiac mapping and navigation solutions, ablation catheters, diagnostic catheters, mapping catheters, intracardiac ultrasound catheters, delivery sheaths, and other accessories; spinal cord stimulator systems for the management of chronic pain; indirect decompression systems; and deep brain stimulation systems. In addition, the company offers interventional cardiology products, that uses in the treatment of coronary artery disease and aortic valve conditions. Further, it provides stents, balloon catheters, guidewires, atherectomy, and thrombectomy systems to treat arterial and venous diseases; and peripheral embolization devices, radioactive microspheres, cryotherapy ablation systems, and micro and drainage catheters to treat cancer. The company was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts. About TearLab (Get Free Report) TearLab Corporation operates as an in-vitro diagnostic company in the United States and internationally. It offers TearLab Osmolority System, a proprietary in vitro diagnostic tear testing platform that measures tear film osmolarity for the diagnosis of dry eye disease; and enables eye care practitioners to test for sensitive and specific biomarkers using nanoliters of tear film at the point-of-care. Its TearLab Osmolarity System consists of TearLab disposable, a single-use microfluidic microchip; TearLab pen, a hand-held device that interfaces with the TearLab disposable; and TearLab reader, a small desktop unit that allows for the docking of the TearLab pen, as well as provides a quantitative reading for the operator. The company was formerly known as OccuLogix, Inc. TearLab Corporation was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in San Diego, California. Receive News & Ratings for Boston Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Global Crossing Airlines Group (OTCMKTS:JETMF Get Free Report) and LATAM Airlines Group (OTCMKTS:LTMAQ Get Free Report) are both small-cap transportation companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability, risk and valuation. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent recommendations for Global Crossing Airlines Group and LATAM Airlines Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get Global Crossing Airlines Group alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Global Crossing Airlines Group 0 0 0 0 N/A LATAM Airlines Group 0 1 0 0 2.00 Volatility & Risk Profitability Global Crossing Airlines Group has a beta of 19.4, indicating that its stock price is 1,840% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, LATAM Airlines Group has a beta of 2.73, indicating that its stock price is 173% more volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares Global Crossing Airlines Group and LATAM Airlines Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Global Crossing Airlines Group -15.16% N/A -20.00% LATAM Airlines Group -59.52% N/A -31.39% Valuation & Earnings This table compares Global Crossing Airlines Group and LATAM Airlines Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Global Crossing Airlines Group $97.11 million 0.58 -$15.82 million ($0.32) -3.10 LATAM Airlines Group $4.88 billion 0.00 -$4.65 billion ($7.17) N/A Global Crossing Airlines Group has higher earnings, but lower revenue than LATAM Airlines Group. Global Crossing Airlines Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than LATAM Airlines Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Institutional and Insider Ownership 3.9% of Global Crossing Airlines Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 26.8% of Global Crossing Airlines Group shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 7.8% of LATAM Airlines Group shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Global Crossing Airlines Group beats LATAM Airlines Group on 7 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Global Crossing Airlines Group (Get Free Report) Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc. operates in the airline business in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Central and South America. It operates a US Part 121 flag and supplemental airline using the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, as well as the Airbus A321 freighter. The company offers aircraft, crew, and maintenance and insurance using wet lease contracts to airlines and non-airlines; and passenger aircraft charter services. As of December 31, 2022, it operated a fleet of eight aircraft. The company is based in Miami, Florida. About LATAM Airlines Group (Get Free Report) LATAM Airlines Group S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides passenger and cargo air transportation services primarily in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, other Latin American countries, the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and Oceania. As of June 30, 2022, it provided passenger transport services to 133 destinations in 20 countries and cargo services to approximately 141 destinations in 23 countries, with an operating fleet of 300 aircraft and subleased one B767 cargo freighter to a third party. The company was formerly known as LAN Airlines S.A. and changed its name to LATAM Airlines Group S.A. in June 2012. LATAM Airlines Group S.A. was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Santiago, Chile. On May 26, 2020, LATAM Airlines Group S.A., along with its affiliates, filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Receive News & Ratings for Global Crossing Airlines Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Global Crossing Airlines Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Australia Bank (OTCMKTS:NABZY Get Free Report) and Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:SVNLY Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and risk. Dividends National Australia Bank pays an annual dividend of $0.53 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.2%. Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) pays an annual dividend of $0.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.8%. Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) pays out 50.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Get National Australia Bank alerts: Profitability This table compares National Australia Bank and Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ)s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets National Australia Bank N/A N/A N/A Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) N/A N/A N/A Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score National Australia Bank 1 0 2 0 2.33 Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) 1 2 3 0 2.33 This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for National Australia Bank and Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ), as reported by MarketBeat.com. Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) has a consensus target price of $100.25, indicating a potential upside of 2,345.12%. Given Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ)s higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) is more favorable than National Australia Bank. Insider and Institutional Ownership 0.0% of National Australia Bank shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.2% of Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) shares are held 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. Valuation and Earnings This table compares National Australia Bank and Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ)s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio National Australia Bank $15.77 billion 3.41 $4.79 billion N/A N/A Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) $5.80 billion 2.80 $2.28 billion $0.55 7.45 National Australia Bank has higher revenue and earnings than Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ). Risk & Volatility National Australia Bank has a beta of 1.15, indicating that its share price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) has a beta of 0.79, indicating that its share price is 21% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary National Australia Bank beats Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About National Australia Bank (Get Free Report) National Australia Bank Limited provides financial services to individuals and businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It operates through Business and Private Banking; Personal Banking; Corporate and Institutional Banking; New Zealand Banking; and Corporate Functions and Other segments. The company accepts transaction accounts, savings accounts, deposit accounts, and term deposits; and specialized accounts, such as foreign currency, business interest, statutory trust, cash maximiser, community free saver, farm management, and project bank accounts, as well as farm management deposits. National Australia Bank Limited also provides home loans; personal loans; business loans; vehicle and equipment finance; and trade and invoice finance, as well as business overdrafts and bank guarantees. In addition, the company offers insurance products consisting of car, home and content, landlord, travel, caravan and trailer, life, and business insurance products; and pension, superannuation, self-managed super funds, cash management, and financial planning and advisory services. Further, it provides investment products; credit, debit, and business cards; payments and merchant services; travel services; online and internet banking services; small business services; international and foreign exchange solutions; and industry specific banking services. National Australia Bank Limited was founded in 1834 and is based in Melbourne, Australia. About Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) (Get Free Report) Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) provides various banking products and services for private and corporate customers primarily in Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, the United States, Luxembourg, China, Germany, France, and Poland. The company offers savings, transactions, business, currency, and investment accounts, as well as accounts for cash pool, and forestry and agriculture; mortgage and committed loans, and private loans; mutual funds; pension products; credit and debit cards; and payment and reconciliation services. It also provides financing for investments, such as equipment, cars, computers, and other inventories, as well as vehicle and real estate financing services; green loans and advisor services; investment and other financing services; medical care, group and health, and travel insurance products; forestry and farming banking products; and online and mobile banking services. In addition, the company offers transaction, trade finance, cash management, risk management, and foreign exchange services, as well as various banking services for children and young people. Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) was incorporated in 1871 and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. Receive News & Ratings for National Australia Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Australia Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Patricia Logue (Sinn Fein) and Foyle MP, Colum Eastwood have pledged opposition to Israeli apartheid. The Pledge is an initiative actioned by Derry's Bloody Sunday Trust. As the first signatory to the Pledge the Mayor Logue said: This is a significant initiative and an important contribution to the role international civil society must play in ending the oppression of Palestine. SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood signing the Pledge against Israeli Apartheid. "It may be argued that there is very little Derry can do about Israeli colonialism and occupation but every gesture of solidarity is valuable and a morale booster for the Palestinian people just as every failure to speak out against injustice comforts Israel. "The ending of apartheid in South Africa is the most obvious example of how civic society action combined with international political and economic pressure can bring about change. I am, therefore, encouraging organisations and individuals across all sectors to join me in signing this Pledge to make the Derry and Strabane District Council area an apartheid free zone. In May 2023, the Trust, together with Derry City and Strabane District Council marked the 75th anniversary of the events which Palestinians refer to as the Nakba (the Catastrophe) during which some 530 Palestinian towns and villages were ethnically cleansed leading to the expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland. The Bloody Sunday Trust is a member of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Campaign for Palestine, a coalition of Irish civil society organisations, trade unions and academic experts committed to working collaboratively to end Israeli apartheid against Palestinians. In this capacity, it is now following up the formal marking of Nakba Day by asking civic leaders, policy makers, opinion formers and politicians to sign the Pledge to end Israeli Apartheid which has been drafted by the Irish Anti Apartheid Campaign for Palestine (IAACP) A spokesperson for the Bloody Sunday Trust said: "United Nations special rapporteurs and human rights organisations including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, BTselem and Jewish Voice for Peace all recognise that the systematic discrimination suffered by the Palestinian people constitutes the crime of apartheid under international law. "The EU has repeatedly acknowledged that the Palestinian lands occupied by Israel since 1967 constitute occupied territories for the purposes of international law. "Palestinians are today faced with an extreme right- wing Israeli government containing self- proclaimed racists and fascists. Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich describes himself as a fascist homophobe while national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has a conviction for incitement to racism. "The Nakba is indisputably an ongoing reality for Palestinians for whom every day brings more killings, detentions, home demolitions, racial discrimination, ethnic cleansing, humiliation and segregation." Speaking about the Pledge, Tony Doherty, Chair of The Bloody Sunday Trust added: For the Palestinian people the Nakba is not simply an historical moment of collective national trauma but an ongoing process of colonisation, dispossession, and occupation. "Since the 1948 Nakba, Israel has killed over 100,000 Palestinians and destroyed at least 130,000 homes and other structures. "Following the occupation of the rest of historic Palestine in 1967, Israel has imprisoned more than a million Palestinians and continues to prevent Palestinian refugees from returning to their homes and villages. "The international community must therefore as a matter of urgency face up to the reality of Israels apartheid, and pursue every avenue to justice for Palestine. In the words of Nelson Mandela, All of us need to do more in supporting the struggle of the people of Palestine for self-determination. This Pledge is an effective platform that we can use to build that increased support. Further information on the Pledge to end Israeli Apartheid is available from: maeve@bloodysundaytrust.org. The Bloody Sunday Anti Apartheid Pledge can be signed online at: Sign the Pledge: https://www.amnesty.ie/end-israeli-apartheid-pledge/. Instagram Threads is the thing right now. In just five days, it has surpassed 100 million users and that too with its presence only on Android and iOS. Yes, people majorly use social media apps on their mobile devices, but if you want to use Threads on the desktop, now you can. No, Meta is yet to launch a desktop client for Threads, but we have come up with a nifty solution to easily get it running. You may want Threads on a PC because thats your primary work machine and it will be convenient to use it on a larger screen, while you multitask. Heres how you do that: How to install Threads on Windows 11 desktop 1. For the purposes of running Threads on a PC, you need to have Windows Subsystem for Android installed. But, dont install it from the Microsoft Store. In case if you have it installed so, uninstall it first. Next, go to this GitHub page and download the modded WSA: https://github.com/MustardChef/WSABuilds and choose the latest stable build. I have selected the x86 model. 2. In the following page, scroll to the bottom and click on this link: WSA_2305.40000.6.0_x64_Release-Nightly-MindTheGapps-13.0-RemovedAmazon.zip and download it to your computer. Also Read: Threads is different from Twitter and that is both a good and bad thing 3. Once downloaded, unzip the compressed file and open it. Inside it, youll find a Run.bat file. Double-click on it to run it. 4. You need not do anything now except for giving the necessary permissions it seeks. The bat file will run automatically and when the process is done, it will ask you to tap any button to close the window. 5. Now, search for Windows Subsystem for Android (with a green-coloured icon) on the start menu. Do this only if the WSA doesnt start on its own. 6. Once it is installed and running, WSA will present you with a Google Play Store sign-up/sign-in screen. Enter your Google account ID and password to log in. 7. Once you get in, search for Threads, an Instagram app. 8. Install it and open it. Also Read: Instagram Threads memes are so funny it will make Elon Musk cry 9. Enter your Instagram username or the registered phone number/email ID to sign in to Threads. You can now use Threads on your Windows 11 PC desktop. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Chip suppliers eyeing chiplet to meet growing demand for HPC As it is becoming much more difficult and expensive to pack more transistors into a single chip, the chip industry pins its hope on chiplet technology when the global demand for HPC is growing. As Moore's law seems to be reaching its physical limitations, making it harder to increase the transistor density within a chip, WSJ, quoted industry executives, reported that chiplet is viewed as an easier way to design more powerful chips. Darlo Gil, IBM's head of research, told WSJ that it's just much more powerful than having to design a massive chip from scratch. The report also quoted Wang Xiaoyang, an executive of China-based startup M Square, saying that with chiplet technology, IC design houses can combine the ingredients they want, and it's simple to cook up the dish and serve it right away on the table. According to DIGITIMES Research analysts Stella Weng and Eric Chen, the costs of making SoCs have sharply increased as the manufacturing process advances to sub-7nm. Besides, as the die sizes of CPU and GPU for servers become larger, the yields fall accordingly, further leading to higher manufacturing costs. Chiplet, which combines different units of an SoC with advanced packaging, offers chip suppliers better yields and lower costs as different units can be outsourced to different fabs and made with different processing technologies before packaging, said DIGITIMES Research. In an era when the growth of HPC is gaining speed, Intel and AMD are introducing chiplet technology into their chips for servers, and Nvidia is partnering with MediaTek, which will design automotive chips using Nvidia's GPU chiplet to power AI and other autonomous workloads. As chiplet requires a common standard to connect with chips from different suppliers, Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express (UCIe) was formed to enable an open chiplet ecosystem and ubiquitous interconnect at the package level. Samsung also launched the Multi-Die Integration (MDI) alliance to address the rapid growth in the chiplet market for mobile and HPC applications. Meanwhile, amid the US export bans and sanctions against China and Chinese companies, China-based companies are eyeing chiplet to play catchup when they are barred from acquiring advanced equipment and chips for computation-intensive applications. Chinese media PE Daily reported that Yuanli Semiconductor had completed tens of millions of yuan in seed funding in June, two months after its establishment. In March, the China Chiplet Industry Alliance released the Chiplet Interconnection Interface Standard to build a chiplet ecosystem in China. CAAM retracts automakers' pledge to avoid "abnormal pricing" in China China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) recently organized automakers to publicly pledge to compete fairly, especially not setting abnormal pricing. Two days later, CAAM said it realized the price-related statement was inconsistent with China's anti-monopoly law and has removed it from the pledge. The price war in China started at the beginning of 2023 when multiple carmakers followed Tesla and cut vehicle prices significantly. In late March, CAAM urged the automotive industry to cool down the price cut as soon as possible to return to normal. On July 6, CAAM, directed by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, gathered 16 major carmakers in China to sign a non-binding pledge. The highlight of the pledge is car companies will maintain fair competition and not disrupt it with abnormal pricing, according to Bloomberg. The statement drew widespread discussion in China. The Paper reported that CAAM issued an announcement on July 8, saying the price-related statement did not express the intention appropriately and was inconsistent with the anti-monopoly law. CAAM said it has removed the statement from the pledge, asking automakers to comply with China's anti-monopoly law and other regulations to set their pricing and maintain fair competition. According to Reuters, Liu Xu, a researcher at the National Strategy Institute of Tsinghua University, said the language use of the pricing pledge was too vague to be determined if it will cause a monopoly. Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association, told Reuters that subsidy programs from local governments in China should be removed because they distort the pricing system. He added that steady price reductions from car companies should be allowed. According to Bloomberg, other details of the pledge include not exaggerating or using false publicity to attract attention and prioritizing quality products. Executives from 16 automakers signed the agreement at the China Auto Forum in Shanghai. The companies include BYD, Nio and Geely. Tesla was the only non-Chinese brand that joined the pledge. By Dean Murray via SWNS A greedy snake got more than it bargained for - when it swallowed an entire mousetrap. The stricken serpent - a prairie rattlesnake - was discovered by New Mexico animal sanctuary Cottonwood Rehab. Thankfully, a vet was able to perform delicate surgery to remove the offending trap - which still had an unfortunate rodent in it. Cottonwood Rehab explained: "When you think you have seen it all. Got to work with a four star snake wrangler to save this rattlesnake from its stupidity. "He caught the mouse but did not realise it was still attached to the mouse trap." Cottonwood, a non-profit bear sanctuary, have described the medical procedure as a "success" and shared a picture of the snake recovering. Online comments have included "Luckiest rattler snake I have ever seen in my entire life," "poor thing, forgot to take her snack away. PSUs to produce more than 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030: Hardeep Singh Puri The green hydrogen mission launched by the government aims at ensuring the use of alternative fuels like hydrogen in refineries, city gas distribution grids with support from all stakeholders, including investments from the public and private sectors, union minister of petroleum and natural gas and housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday. We will ensure uptake of green hydrogen in refineries and city gas distribution (CGD) through both public sector entities and private sector and try to design new projects with maximum chances of hydrogen deployment to strategically phase out fossil fuels and aid decarbonisation goals, Puri said. The minister was speaking at a three-day International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2023), being organised from 5 to 7 July 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Government of India is looking to ramp up green hydrogen production and align it with global trends in technology, applications, policy, and regulation, he said. Terming PSUs as the major game changers for ensuring a smooth green hydrogen economy transition the petroleum minister said, The PSUs are focused on ensuring a hydrogen based economy. They have targeted to produce more than 1 MMT of green hydrogen by 2030. The global demand for hydrogen is expected to reach 200 million tons by the same time, basis the IEA report, Puri added. The conference being organised under the aegis of the ministry of new and renewable energy, in partnership with the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry, witnessed the presence of industry captains, deliberating through 25 expert sessions with over 1,500 people attending these sessions. India has embarked on a new journey and requires active support and collaboration amongst all the stakeholders and with the recent launch of National Green Hydrogen Mission, the Government means business Puri stated. India, the minister pointed out, is fourth globally in terms of installed renewable energy capacity and has achieved some of the lowest long term levelised costs for solar and wind power generation. We have natural advantage in producing green hydrogen as we have abundance of solar energy and investments in our power grid. We have the apt climate, resources, adequate production and strong supply-chain for Green Hydrogen. Puri said that India is climatically blessed and the government is committed to make the world a better place to live, adding that leading financial institutions have also shown keen interest to invest in India. The European Investment Bank (EIB) will be our hydrogen ally and would support development of large scale industry hubs with a funding of 1 billion euros. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recently conveyed their intent to provide $20$25 billion over five years to aid Indias aspirations for green growth. Thats not all, The World Bank has approved $1.5 billion in financing to support Indias low-carbon transition journey, the petroleum minister stated. Addressing the gathering, union minister of state for science and technology, MoS PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, said that the hydrogen mission will not only create jobs but will also boost global trade and reiterate Indias commitment towards `Atmanirbhar Bharat. He said the focus is on affordability, accessibility and acceptability. Bhupinder S Bhalla, secretary in the ministry of new and renewable energy, emphasised on the conference's comprehensive coverage of the entire green hydrogen ecosystem, including production, storage, mobility, utilisation, distribution, infrastructure, and transportation. The objective of ICGH 2023 was to learn from the experiences of other countries leading the development and deployment of green hydrogen, he said. Ashish Lele, director of the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, harped on the evolving nature of green hydrogen and said the conference's aim is to bring together key stakeholders to discuss important themes in the sector. He highlighted the indigenous technologies showcased at ICGH-2023, including the fuel sim technology exhibit developed collaboratively by DRDO, L&T, and KPIT. SSV Ramakumar, director (R&D) of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), expressed satisfaction with the conference's achievement of exploring avenues for boosting green hydrogen through the sharing and learning of international best practices. He announced IOCL's plan to launch 15 fuel cell-driven buses in Delhi this year, with routes connecting Faridabad-Delhi, Delhi-Agra, and future extensions to cities such as Baroda-Kevadia and Trivandrum-City Centre. Regarding skill development and employment, panelists stressed the need to upskill and reskill existing energy personnel to meet the changing requirements of the rapidly evolving green hydrogen sector. Efforts are underway by academic associations, private universities, and organizations like India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) and Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) to design special courses and skilling programs. The Ministry of Skill Development & Education is also working on a policy to provide hands-on training in various aspects of the green hydrogen ecosystem. Replying to a question about demand projections for green hydrogen by 2030, Bhalla stated that India aims to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, with 70 per cent earmarked for exports and the remaining 30 per cent for domestic consumption. Five priority sectors, including fertiliser, refinery, long-haul mobility (with pilots already in place in industries such as steel, shipping, and long-haul transportation), have been identified for green hydrogen applications. The three-day conference witnessed over 2,700 registrations and featured participation from over 135 speakers, including representatives from countries such as Japan, Australia, Africa, and the European Union. The conference included seven plenary sessions, four panel discussions, and 16 technical sessions. A separate CEO roundtable, chaired by union minister for power and new and renewable energy, R K Singh, provided an opportunity to explore the potential opportunities in India's green hydrogen ecosystem. Additionally, closed-door country roundtables were organized with Singapore, Korea, Japan, and the EU to discuss collaboration potential for mutual benefit. The disclosure of an email to Ryan Tubridys agent has undermined attempts by senior RTE executives to distances themselves from the payments controversy, parliamentarians have been told. Agent Noel Kelly described the email to him from former RTE chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe as a shocking revelation that directly contradicted the claim that ex-director general Dee Forbes had done a solo run by agreeing to underwrite a 75,000-euro-a-year deal involving RTE, Tubridy and Renault. The disclosure was one of several made by Mr Kelly and Tubridy on Tuesday as they sought to challenge RTE claims around the 345,000 euro of misreported payments to the presenter. They also rejected the suggestion that 120,000 of that total represented additional payments to Tubridy across the years 2017-19. Tubridy and his agent instead contended that RTE incorrectly under-reported the agreed salary paid to the star across those years by a total of 120,000 as a way to set off a 120,000 euro loyalty payment that the presenter was due at the end of his contract, but did not ultimately claim for. There have been no overpayments of any sort, said Tubridy. He said all the issues related to the misreporting of payments to him were down to RTEs unfortunate accountancy errors. One of the most contentious aspects of the furore at the national broadcaster involves a tripartite agreement between RTE, Renault and Tubridy in 2020 that saw the star paid 75,000 euro a year in exchange for personal appearances for the motoring company. In the first year, Renault paid the 75,000 euro to Tubridy albeit it received a 75,000 euro credit off its sponsorship arrangement with RTE as a result. More controversial was RTEs decision to underwrite the agreement, meaning when Renault pulled out after the first year, the public service broadcaster picked up the tab for two 75,000 euro payments for 2021 and 2022. The broadcaster also used a UK-based commercial barter account to make those two payments. Last week Ms OKeeffe told parliamentarians that when she left her role in March 2020, RTEs position was that it would not underwrite the deal due to risks involved. My recollection is that Mr Tubridys agent requested that the commercial agreement be underwritten by RTE and this was refused, she said. She added: I was not aware any guarantee had been issued until I heard about it last week in the media reports. On Tuesday, Mr Kelly revealed an email sent by Ms OKeeffe in February 2020, ccing Ms Forbes and director of content Jim Jennings, that informed the agent of RTEs willingness to provide you with a side letter to underwrite this fee for the duration of the contract. Mr Kelly said the email directly contradicted Ms OKeeffes own claims last week, and the further assertions of others in RTE around who was responsible for the underwriting. This is perhaps the most shocking revelation this morning, Mr Kelly said. Since this controversy began, RTE has tried to distance themselves from this decision. Effectively they have blamed former director-general Dee Forbes for doing a solo run and for giving a verbal commitment to underwrite the contract on a Zoom call in May. Tubridy and Mr Kelly said they were not aware chat show sponsor Renault had withdrawn from the tripartite agreement after year one. In response to questions from Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe, Mr Kelly said No, no idea. Mr Kelly was also asked why he had used the description consultancy fees on the invoices he raised for the 75,000 euro payments for 2021 and 2022 and not put Tubridys name on them. He said he was following instructions from RTE and rejected any suggestion he colluded with the broadcaster to conceal the true nature of the payments. I think the lack of credibility is on RTEs side, he said. Mr Kelly was challenged why he had not queried why the first invoice was paid by Renault but the second two by Astus, the UK company linked to the RTE barter account. We acted at all times on instructions from RTE, he explained. He added: We trusted the process, why would we not trust the process? Mr Kelly has said it was the idea of RTEs former commercial director Geraldine OLeary to label invoices for payments due to Tubridy as consultancy fees. The agent also rejected the suggestion that the deal with Renault was designed to compensate for the pay reduction Tubridy had signed up to with his new RTE broadcasting contract a cut that amounted to 525,000 euro across five years. This was a separate contract for separate services, he said. Pressed on why he had sought the broadcaster to underwrite the annual 75,000 euro payments, Mr Kelly said the commitment was requested to ensure the arrangement would continue if the sponsor changed. I asked for the deal to be underwritten because the relationship with the sponsor is with RTE, its not with us, he said. Tubridy and Mr Kelly claimed they both thought the invoices that were paid from the UK-based barter account in 2022 were actually paid by Renault, given the first of the three invoices had been paid by the motoring company. Thats the misunderstanding, said Mr Kelly. On Tuesday, RTE rejected the claim that it gave an incorrect version of events to the Oireachtas over its agreement to underwrite payments. The broadcaster said: For clarity, the claim relates specifically to an email that was sent by the former CFO of RTE to NK Management (Noel Kellys company) on February 20 2020, which is being characterised as a contractual commitment on the part of RTE to underwrite the payments in question. RTE does not accept this characterisation. RTEs position is that the email of February 20 2020 formed part of the discussions and engagement between it and NK Management in relation to the proposed new TV and radio contract with Mr Tubridy/Tuttle Productions and did not comprise a binding legal or contractual commitment on its part. RTEs position is as per previous statements: That, until the verbal commitment given by the former director-general during the call on May 7 2020, it had not agreed to underwrite the 75,000 euro payment per contract year. During the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday morning, Tubridy answered at length on the 120,000 euro of misreported payments between 2017 and 2019. The star said RTE had cited accountancy reasons as an explanation as to why they were proposing to retrospectively underreport Tubridys actual salary across those years to offset the 120,000 end-of-contract payment that the presenter did not take up. And we said that this didnt make any sense as we had neither invoiced, or received or refunded the 120. So how could it be deducted? said Tubridy. He suggested the approach was kind of mad. RTEs proposed treatment of this would give the impression that I was being paid 120,000 euro less than I was actually paid. We made clear that the 120,000 should not be taken off or deducted for prior year actual earnings. He claimed RTE initially agreed with this argument but then latterly reverted to its original approach when it published the figures for RTEs top 10 earners figures that under-reported Tubridys salary by a total of 120,000 across three years. We were obviously very surprised to see that, said Tubridy. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. The Department of Education has confirmed that as of the end of June, 439 Ukrainian pupils are enrolled in schools across Louth. Out of that figure, 264 of these pupils are attending primary schools while 175 pupils have enrolled in post-primary schools. The figure represents a slight increase on the 438 Ukrainian pupils enrolled in schools across Louth at the end of May.. Nationally, the Department of Education has confirmed that 15,625 Ukrainian pupils are currently enrolled in Irish schools Out of that figure, 10,141 of these pupils had been accommodated in primary schools while 5,484 pupils had enrolled in post-primary schools. There is an enrolment rate of 88% among Ukrainian children aged between five and 18, according to the Department of Education. To assist with the transition of Ukrainian students and their families into Irish schools Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) continue to operate, hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards around Ireland and staffed by regionally-based education support personnel. The number of medicines in short supply has reached a new record high of 307, according to the latest Medicine Shortages Index. It is the ninth consecutive month of rising shortages with the increase of out-of-stock medicines 81% higher than this time last year. The Index highlights persisting instability in Irelands medicine supply with shortages increasing by 95 medicines since the beginning of January, up 45% in just six months. The latest shortages analysis indicates a new severe scarcity of commonly used medicines to treat cholesterol and high blood pressure, including some seventeen statins currently out of stock. There are also severe shortages in low dose aspirin and nebulising solution for patients with asthma and COPD. The Medicine Shortage Index, prepared by industry experts, Azure Pharmaceuticals, analyses data made publicly available by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). Commenting, Sandra Gannon, Chief Executive, Azure Pharmaceuticals said: We have now exceeded the milestone marker of 300, with 307 medicines out-of-stock. We started reporting this problem when the number of shortages stood at approximately 165. The trend is clear. Recent research illustrated the worsening impact of the issue with 60% of the public impacted by shortages in the past year alone. Those countries who have adjusted their approach in response to this supply crisis are faring better than those who have not. Regrettably, at a policy level, Ireland is yet to acknowledge the cause and effect of this problem. On that basis, things look set to get worse before they get better. The all-new Spicy Chao Fan, prepared with the ideal combination of spices for that distinctive Spicy Wok-Sarap flavor, has just been released by Chowking, the #1 Chinese quick service restaurant brand in the Philippines. At the #ShareTheSpice press conference on July 3, 2023, popular actress and longstanding brand ambassador Kim Chiu introduced the new product. The popular Chowkings Chao Fan just received a spice update with the addition of the spice Chao Fan. It offers a distinctive perspective on spicy since the quantity of heat is just right for everyone to appreciate. Its too excellent to keep to yourself; this rich, flavorful supper is ready to liven up your life. Kim Chiu announced the #ShareTheSpice challenge and asked everyone to try the brand-new Spicy Chao Fan during the press event on July 3rd. Simply try the product, post about it on any social media site using the hashtags #ShareTheSpice and #SpicyChaoFan, and tag two of your friends you wish to share the spice with. You have the opportunity to win Chowking gift cards and exclusive gifts when you post and join the movement! When we were creating the Spicy Chao Fan, we deliberately wanted it to have the right level of spice that everyone can enjoy. Its not spicy for spicys sake, it has just the right Spicy Wok-Sarap kick that will leave you wanting more, said Jonathan De Quiroz, Chowking Brand Director for Chao Fan & Brand Operations. Join the #ShareTheSpice movement and try the all-new #SpicyChaoFan, available via Dine-In, Take-Out, Drive-Thru, and delivery through chowkingdelivery.com or the Chowking App. In the week ending 7 July 2023 the net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency (asset items 2 and 3 minus liability items 7, 8 and 9) increased by EUR 0.4 billion to EUR 312.9 billion. The net balance of open market operations and standing facilities (asset item 5 minus liability items 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 4) decreased by EUR 99.2 billion to EUR -3,059.3 billion. This was due primarily to the change in the level of the deposit facility (liability item 2.2). Claims on non-euro area residents denominated in euro (asset item 4) fell by EUR 1.8 billion to EUR 13.9 billion, mainly owing to maturing Eurosystem operations providing euro liquidity to non-euro area central banks (further details can be found on the ECBs website under Central bank liquidity lines). Base money (liability items 1, 2.1 and 2.2) rose by EUR 87.4 billion to EUR 5,404.8 billion. The table below provides the detailed breakdown of securities held for monetary policy purposes (asset item 7.1) into the different portfolios. All portfolios are accounted for at amortised cost. Table 1 Monetary policy securities portfolios Reported value as at 7 July 2023 Weekly change purchases [1] Weekly change redemptions Securities Markets Programme EUR 2.9 billion - - Covered bond purchase programme 3 EUR 296.7 billion - -EUR 0.0 billion Asset-backed securities purchase programme EUR 17.4 billion - -EUR 0.0 billion Public sector purchase programme EUR 2,530.4 billion - -EUR 0.5 billion Corporate sector purchase programme EUR 338.3 billion - -EUR 0.6 billion Pandemic emergency purchase programme EUR 1,674.5 billion +EUR 3.1 billion -EUR 0.7 billion [1] As purchase volumes decline during the partial reinvestment phase of the asset purchase programme portfolio, this column may sometimes show negative amounts. These are expected to be infrequent and would result from sales of securities conducted, for instance, for risk management purposes. The content and format of the weekly financial statement are set out in Annexes IV to VI of Guideline (EU) 2016/2249 of the European Central Bank of 3 November 2016 on the legal framework for accounting and financial reporting in the European System of Central Banks (ECB/2016/34). WILLIAM Walls latest novel, Empty Bed Blues, is set in Italy. As I chat to him via Zoom, I remark on his lovely Italian backdrop, asking him how often he travels there. He answers in the plural, including his wife Liz throughout. We spend half the year here now. We came for our honeymoon in 1979. Back then it was all package holidays and we picked the cheapest honeymoon we could find, which was Hotel Alaska in Rimini. When we arrived the owner told us they had overbooked, so we ended up spending the first three nights of our honeymoon in bunkbeds! It makes sense that Wall speaks about himself in the context of his wife. It sets the tone for what is to come: the retelling of a writers life blessed amongst women. We loved Italy. We couldnt afford to go back there again for donkeys years but when we did, it was the same love affair all over again. It is unsurprising then that Empty Bed Blues, his latest novel, is written from the perspective of an Irish woman. It is only on the death of her husband that Kate Holohan discovers his huge debts. She escapes to Italy, avoiding an irate sister, also stung by her late husbands financial misadventures, to the love nest he had tucked away in a sleepy village with his mistress. There she meets a wise and unconventional Italian woman called Anna Ferrara, who offers her solace and another way of seeing the world. I question William on whether he knows women well enough to speak as one, in a novel heavily populated by them. Im very conscious of cultural appropriation. I think distance matters. I would never make a central character a refugee from Morocco for instance. "It is too far removed. But Im married since 1979, like I say. If I hadnt learned something along the way about women there would be something very wrong. His philosophy on writing women runs deeper than his personal relationships, however. Men and women are not really that different. The neurophysiology of men and women is not that different. Experts are clear on that. Empty Bed Blues by William Wall And you even dare to write about Kates sexuality, I persist. Well yes, why not? Everybodys sexuality is different and individual. But I am very receptive to my wife telling me what a woman would or would not do or say. Im guided by that. I think we should be able to imagine what it is like to be one another. If we think about it, we know about it more. I think its terribly important actually. Wall recalls how his mother gave him his first start in his writing life. I started writing poetry at 12. I contracted a disease called Stills disease. I still live with it today. I was six months in hospital, which is hard to imagine now. Then I spent a whole year at home and my parents just fed me books. I began writing my own adventures and started writing poetry first. Little did the young William Wall know what his mother was up to. When I was about 15, my mother collected the whole lot and posted it off to John B Keane. She had heard him on the radio. He wrote back a week later with a cheque for ten pounds for a new prize he had recently devised. "I dont think it was ever awarded again, or if it was it was awarded to lots of other people in secret, Wall jokes. His parents brought him to Listowel Writers Week every year after that. She would sit in the car reading while may father went off fishing. They read a lot but they wouldnt have had much interest in writing. They brought me because they knew I loved it. I was very fortunate with my parents. They were wonderful. Wall captures the women in his book superbly, a testament to how he sees men and women as having more in common than not. He says he feels a little guilty about how villainous the sister character comes across. Even with his baddie, he shows empathy. The sister character just came out that way. Ive thought about doing a sequel to return to her. In fairness, though, you can see her point of view. She half blames Kate for what has happened to her family. You are getting Kates point of view of her sister in the book and even that is complex. She remembers her sister looking after her when she was young, for instance. There are other sides to her sisters character too. First Reader Interestingly, Wall begins our conversation by sharing a story from Dantes Inferno, which he first heard on that inaugural trip to Rimini. It describes a man and woman falling in love over a book. This love of literature and this camaraderie is clearly mirrored in his relationship with his wife. Liz is my first reader. She is a mathematician and an acute editor. Maths is also very creative. He even attributes his career as a secondary school English teacher in Pres to his wife. Brother Joe, who I greatly admired as an educator, wanted to hold onto my wife. I was offered a job in Greystones and he knew if I took it, hed lose her. So he offered me the job. The two worked together in the school for many years and completed PhDs in UCC. Over the pandemic, they read Ulysses aloud to one another. William Wall will be at the West Cork Literary Festival on July 12 at 1pm in Bantry Library. His latest novel, Empty Bed Blues, is published by New Island Books. THE seeds of the peace process were sown in the H-Blocks in 1981, a Republican hunger striker has claimed at the launch in Cork of Sinn Feins national hunger strike commemoration. Belfast-born Pat Sheehan was 20 in 1978 when he was convicted of causing an explosion and sentenced to 15 years in prison. On August 10, 1981, he became the 17th Republican prisoner to join the hunger strikes at the Maze Prison, by which time nine prisoners had died. Mr Sheehan fasted until October 3, when the hunger strike was called off, surviving for 55 days without food, longer than any other hunger striker, and close to death. He suffered no long-term ill-health. In 2010, he succeeded Gerry Adams as MLA for Belfast West, when Adams stood down to contest the 2011 Irish general election. A senior member of Sinn Fein, Mr Sheehan spoke with The Echo outside Cork City Hall as the party launched its hunger-strike commemoration in front of the statues of Corks martyred lord mayors, Tomas Mac Curtain and Terence MacSwiney. Drawing a line from the hunger strikers of 1981 to Thomas Ashe and Terence MacSwiney, Mr Sheehan said the roots of the peace process dated back four decades to the Maze. It was from people like that that we drew our inspiration, and they inspired people like Bobby Sands, not to give in, not to bend the knee to British oppression in Ireland, to actually give their lives, he said. I do believe that the seeds of the peace process were sown in 1981. If you recall at that time, Sinn Fein, indeed Republicans, didnt contest elections in the North, but when the sitting MP in Fermanagh and South Tyrone [Frank Maguire] died suddenly, after a debate within our own movement it was agreed to stand Bobby Sands as a candidate. Maggie Thatcher at the time said Prisoners have no support, and the IRA has no support, yet over 30,000 people in Fermanagh and south Tyrone came out and elected Bobby as a member of the Westminster parliament, and in the process blew Thatchers assertion completely out of the water, Mr Sheehan said. What that did was it convinced other Republicans who had been sceptical about engaging in the electoral process that if you were successful, it could help the struggle. Sinn Feins national hunger strike commemoration was planned for 2020, to coincide with the centenary of MacSwineys death on hunger strike in Brixton Prison, but the Covid-19 pandemic intervened. One of the commemorations key events will be a march on Sunday, August 27, at Corks Kennedy Quay and departing at 2.30pm across the city to the National Monument on the Grand Parade. The commemoration will celebrate the legacy of Irish hunger strikers, from Thomas Ashe, who died in 1917, through to Micheal Devine, who was the last of the 1981 hunger strikers to die. Donnchadh O Laoghaire, Sinn Fein TD for Cork South Central, said the commemoration would also remember five Cork men who died on hunger strike: MacSwiney and Joe Murphy, who died on the same day in 1920, Donnchadh de Barra and Michael Fitzgerald, and Andy OSullivan, who died in 1923 during the Civil War. The keynote speaker at the Cork commemoration on August 27 will be Fermoy-born Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill. CORK County Council has agreed to write to the Taoiseach, Tanaiste, and the two Cork ministers, Michael McGrath and Simon Coveney, about the stalling of development on the N25 and the Mallow Relief Road. The issue was raised at yesterdays full council meeting by Fine Gael councillor Michael Hegarty, who claimed Transport Minister Eamon Ryan is abusing his power. I would like to highlight a very serious concern, which is the recent announcement by Minister Eamon Ryan to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) chief executive Peter Walsh of the deferral of 10 major projects throughout the country. "While money has been allocated to them, it is only for planning and design. They cannot proceed to construction. The minister is using his power under Section 24 of the Roads Act, which I would say he is abusing his power. It allows him to give out road funding subject to such conditions as he sees fit, he said. I would seriously ask my colleagues in Government, both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, to rethink their strategy of staying in Government under this minister and alongside the Green Party. It is crazy what is happening. The minority group in Government is the tail wagging the dog. We should write to An Taoiseach, An Tanaiste, and the two Cork ministers, stating that if we dont get a successful outcome on this, they should seriously consider their position in Government going forward, he added. His party colleague, Susan McCarthy, seconded the proposal. Minister Ryan has gone against the recommendations of people within TII, the chief executive, and the director of roads in this council. The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, has said security arrangements in Cork city libraries may need to be examined following an ongoing campaign of harassment and abuse of staff. Mr Varadkar was speaking at Collins Barracks on Sunday after the main ceremony of this years National Day of Commemoration. The Taoiseach was asked by The Echo about an ongoing series of incidents involving protesters objecting to the availability of what they term pornographic books related to LGBT matters. During those incidents, library staff have been filmed and streamed against their wishes and, according to public sector union Forsa, have been called groomers and paedophiles. Mr Varadkar said he wanted to express his support and solidarity for library staff coming under pressure from activists trying to remove books from libraries. I think thats a very dangerous thing to see in any country that people want to take away books or burn books or remove knowledge, he said. Thats not the kind of thing we want to see in our republic and also no staff in any work place should feel threatened or should be subjected to abuse or violence. Mr Varadkar said he intended to follow up with ministerial colleagues in the departments of justice, local government, and rural community development, in the coming days, to see what we need to do to enhance security for staff in libraries, which are public places, they shouldnt be places of danger, they should be places of sanctuary and places of learning. He added that he was aware that Forsa representatives and library staff had called for increased security in libraries themselves and had asked what actions could be taken against those who engage in acts of violence or acts of abuse, which he said could not be tolerated in any workplace. Asked if An Garda Siochana should take a more robust approach to policing such activity, Mr Varadkar said the gardai have to judge situations as they arise and are, he said, the best people to judge a situation. Sometimes activists whether theyre from the far right or the far left they actually seek to provoke and they actually want the gardai to arrest them, so that they can then accuse the gardai of being heavy-handed, he said. You know, these people know what theyre doing, weve seen a number of occasions with far-right and far-left protesters and I think the guards are best placed to judge an individual circumstances how best to police. A Cork member of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has said he believes Ryan Tubridy has a moral duty to refund to RTE and taxpayers additional payments made to him on top of his stated salary. RTE has been engulfed in crisis since revelations last month that it had underreported the salary paid to the former Late Late Show host and had failed to disclose 345,000 of additional payments to Mr Tubridy between 2017 to 2022, some of which were processed through a commercial barter account. Mr Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly have agreed to appear before both the PAC and the Oireachtas Media Committee today to discuss their part in the ongoing controversy. Fianna Fail Cork East TD James OConnor, who is a member of the PAC, told The Echo he believed the crux of the matter revolved around RTE agreeing to effectively underwrite Renaults commercial arrangement to top up Mr Tubridys salary. I think the biggest question that all of us have is going to be around the secretive organisation of the deal where Ryan Tubridy received the income that he was due to receive through his Renault commercial arrangement, upon the outbreak of Covid-19, and RTE stepped in confidentially and did not correctly and accurately report back to the State within their own accounts about this arrangement, Mr OConnor said. Inevitably Mr Tubridy is going to have to answer questions on that, and also theres going to be some degree of concern around whether hes going to have to pay back that money to the State. Fianna Fail Cork East TD James OConnor, who is a member of the PAC, told The Echo he believed the crux of the matter revolved around RTE agreeing to effectively underwrite Renaults commercial arrangement to top up Mr Tubridys salary. When it was put to Mr OConnor that it seemed unlikely that Mr Tubridy would be under any legal obligation to repay any monies, the Cork East TD said he believed the broadcaster was under a moral obligation to do so. It is going to be a question of morality, thats where it goes, and I have to say that I have noticed a shift in the past few days where the public dont want this to descend into a witch hunt of individuals, he said. I think he needs to pay back the money that he got from RTE and the taxpayer having to step in and supplement that commercial deal when it was defunct, and that was wrong that it was not properly reported upon, and what he said about his own pay was, ultimately, inaccurate. Mr OConnor said he was looking forward to getting an opportunity to question Mr Tubridy at todays PAC session. 'MAXIMUM TRANSPARENCY' RTEs highest-paid presenter Ryan Tubridy has said he aims to bring maximum transparency ahead of his appearance before two committees today, in what may decide his return to the airwaves. He also said that he aims to address much of the misinformation that he says has been circulating in recent weeks. Among the documents that will be submitted to the committees are Mr Tubridys 2015 contract with RTE, his 2020 contract with RTE, extracts from the financial accounts of Mr Tubridys company Tuttle Productions Ltd, and copies of emails to and from senior RTE executives. In a statement on Monday, Mr Tubridy said: We will be presenting key documents and new information to the two committees which we believe will bring maximum transparency to the situation and address much of the misinformation which has circulated over the past three weeks. This is the first opportunity we have had to set out the full facts of what occurred, and we have spent weeks reviewing all the information about these issues. The hotly anticipated committee appearance of both Mr Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly comes after weeks of bruising revelations at Irelands public service broadcaster. Scrutiny of governance and financial affairs at RTE began after it admitted that fees paid to its star presenter Tubridy had been underdeclared by 345,000 euro over the period 2017 to 2022. RTE executives subsequently explained that the sponsor of RTEs flagship Late Late Show programme, Renault, paid Mr Tubridy 75,000 euro in 2020 under a tripartite deal, but then pulled out of the arrangement. Two 75,000 euro payments made to Tubridy for the years 2021 and 2022 were made by RTE as it had underwritten the amounts due to Tubridy in what TDs were told was a verbal agreement made on a Microsoft Teams meeting in May 2020. Grant Thornton is probing the amounts that RTE said led to Tubridys fees from 2017-2019 being underdeclared; this report is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. On his first day as RTE director general, Kevin Bakhurst told reporters that whether Tubridy would return to the airwaves remained undecided. Mr Bakhurst also suggested his fate could be determined by what emerges at the Public Accounts Committee and Media Committee hearings calling for maximum transparency from both Tubridy and his agent. Tubridy has not presented his weekday morning radio programme since the issues at RTE came to light on June 22. He has apologised unreservedly for not asking questions when RTE published incorrect figures for his earnings, and said he was looking forward to returning to his radio show. He also denied that the undeclared payments issue formed part of his decision to step down as Late Late Show host. Noel Kelly who represents several high-profile RTE presenters, as well as former Late Late Show host and Newstalk presenter Pat Kenny will also be answering TDs and senators questions on Tuesday. ENTERPRISE Minister Simon Coveney has described as an investment in the future almost 1.5m of public money which has already been spent on Corks long-delayed event centre, despite not one brick being laid. Spending records, released under Freedom of Information (FoI) legislation, show that between April 2014 and May 2023, a total of 1,492,178.64 has been spent on the project, with 1m provided by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media. The reported expenditure dates back to April 2014 and reveals that almost 1m of the overall spend has been paid to management consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the law firm Ronan Daly Jermyn (RDJ). Between 2014 and 2017, payments made to PWC accounted for 483,000 of the event centre funding for the overseeing of the tender process for future state funding. The need for future state funding arose as BAM Contractors Ltd confirmed that the estimated cost of the project had risen from the initial 50.4m to 65m, due to a more detailed design plan in 2017. As of March 2019, BAM showed that the estimated costs of the project had risen to 85m. Susiesfield Developments Ltd continues to carry out a detailed design on the Cork event centre. Mr Coveney, who was one of those featured in a 2016 photograph of then-taoiseach Enda Kenny performing the sod-turning at the event centre, was speaking on Sunday at Collins Barracks after the main ceremony of the National Day of Commemoration. Asked about the spending records, which were released under FoI to Labour Party local area representative Peter Horgan, Mr Coveney said that the case had long since been proven that an event centre of the scale needed in Cork would require State intervention. Cork City Council has been very much involved in this project now for many years and the Government has been clear that we are supportive of putting a large amount of public money in terms of capital investment, along with private sector investment, which will also be significant, to make sure that Cork gets an event centre of scale, that can allow international acts to come to Ireland, and to come to Cork, Mr Coveney said. Stating that the event centre was pretty close now to starting in terms of physical construction, Mr Coveney said that ultimately the event centre would probably cost about 100m in public and private funds. He added that the event centre would eventually prove quite transformative actually in terms of the city centre, with people coming from all over the country and from other parts of the world for events there. Asked about 1.5m being spent without a single brick being laid, Mr Coveney said: Its an investment for the future, thats the way Id see it. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who also attended the event in Collins Barracks, said that in time people would wonder why the event centre had not been completed sooner. I think the Cork event centre, like so many projects, once its built nobody will be sorry that its built, its going to be like the Luas, or Dublin Port Tunnel, or Terminal Two in Dublin Airport, or the new terminal in Cork, or the National Childrens Hospital, there will be lots of controversy about it, but once its built, people will only be wondering why we didnt build it sooner, Mr Varadkar said. PRESIDENT Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina were guests of the Imperial Hotel in Cork city during their trip at the weekend. The Presidents official visit to Cork was made to the mark the National Day of Commemoration, dedicated to the Irish men and women who have passed in service. The day is usually set for the Sunday closest to June 11, in order to tie in with the anniversary of the 1921 truce that put an end to the Irish War of Independence. The President checked in on Saturday July 8, and stayed in the Michael Collins Suite at the hotel. He was treated to a breakfast made of local produce in the English Market between Princes Street and Grand Parade. To mark the significance of President Higgins and his visit, the historic Michael Collins walking stick, from the private collection of Louis Fitzgerald, was put on display overnight in the suite for Higgins and his wife. Before departing the luxurious hotel, President Higgins was given a personal tour of the hotel, which highlighted the significant historic connections of the building, and looked at several famous guests that have previously stayed in the Imperial Hotel. Famous guests include Frederick Douglass, Charles Dickens, Father Theobald Mathew, Prince Rainer, Princess Grace of Monaco, and of course, Michael Collins. President Higgins and Sabina were also personally greeted by members of the Fitzgerald family during their stay at Corks Grande Dame hotel. We are honoured to have the 9th President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina as guests of the Imperial Hotel," director of hotels at the Louis Fitzgerald Group Niamh Fitzgerald said. President Higgins is a superb stateman, and is held in the highest esteem on a local, national, and international scale so it was a very exciting visit for all our team here at the hotel. On a personal level it was a true honour for our family to welcome the president into this iconic building which has come into our custodianship since June. I think the hotels unique history, elegant style and sustainable ethos really made a lasting impression. A CORK composer will perform a special concert to mark the release of an album remembering the life of a child who died eight decades ago in a Nazi prison camp. Cork composer and multi-instrumentalist Girish Paul will later this month perform a special concert with his virtual orchestra to mark the worldwide release of his new album The Diary of Anne Frank: Her Journey in Music at the SMA Wilton Parish Community Centre. Anne Frank was a German-born Jewish girl who kept a diary in which she documented her life while living in hiding under Nazi persecution. She was 15 years old when she died in 1945 in the Nazi prison camp at Bergen-Belsen. Mr Pauls production has received the full support of the Anne Frank Fonds Foundation in Switzerland, set up by Annes father Otto Frank after the Second World War. Anne Frank was 15-years-old when she died in 1945 in the Nazi prison camp at Bergen-Belsen. The Cork composer single-handedly performs the music score with several instruments backed up by his virtual orchestra that together with dramatic visuals provides a backdrop to the story of Anne Frank between 1942 and 1944. The storytelling is supported by filmed re-enactments of scenes in Annes life by Irish actors, from her happy schooldays in Frankfurt to the secret hiding place in Amsterdam as the Nazis closed in. Mr Paul said he and Carmel Barrett, the shows executive producer, had been thrilled to be able to use his musical composition to bring the story of Anne Frank to Cork. We started work on the script as soon as news arrived that Ukraine has been invaded, and as war has sadly returned to Europe, Anne Franks story is as relevant as ever, said Mr Paul. The special concert will be performed at the SMA Wilton Parish Community Centre on Saturday, July 22, at 8pm. THIRTY new tech jobs will be created by Cork-based company Blink Parametric before the end of 2025. Blink Parametric is a multi-award-winning global Insurtech that transforms its clients traditional insurance offerings into superior service experiences with simple and transparent parametric products. The plans to effectively double its workforce in Cork by the end of 2025 were announced at the opening of the companys offices in City Quarter on Monday. The expansion will be across all technical roles including presales, full stack developers, QA, and data analytics with opportunities across multiple levels ranging from experienced hires to graduates, the majority of which will be based in their new Cork-based, City Quarter office location. Minister for Finance Michael McGrath welcomed the announcement. It further demonstrates the strength of Corks tech sector power base and its increasingly global reach, Mr McGrath said. This investment in people, infrastructure and R&D will serve Irelands economy, provide skills and opportunity for our graduates, and add to our outstanding reputation for excellence in technology. Blink Parametric chief executive Sid Mouncey acknowledged the Blink Parametric evolution from a high potential start-up founded in Cork in 2016 to a thriving technology partner serving the global insurance industry today. From this Cork hub, we leverage large scale data sets to create solutions that appear simple and intuitive to insurers and their customers, Mr Mouncey said. We deliver real-time insurance assistance solutions to automate insurance claims and payments, used worldwide every hour of every day. Vivienne Clarke Updated: 9.30am One of the first tasks facing RTE's new director general Kevin Bakhurst must be to "root out the insider culture", Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster has said. Ms Munster's comments come ahead of Ryan Tubridy and Noel Kelly's appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), of which she is a member, on Tuesday. She told Newstalk Breakfast that when Mr Tubridy and Mr Kelly appear before the PAC they will have to clarify details of the tripartite agreement with RTE and Renault, specifically about a video call meeting that took place on May 7th, 2020. "Who was involved?" Ms Munster queried, adding: "We also need to know about the letter of comfort from the [then] director general [Dee Forbes] guaranteeing Mr Tubridy no reduction in pay, and we also need to know about the salary figures that were published, which we now know were incorrect. "Who knew about those? And we'd also be interested in hearing what Mr Tubridy was told of the audit and what was to come out, and did that influence his decision to step down?" Ms Munster said a lot of the questions will be directed at both Mr Tubridy and Mr Kelly, seeking clarity about the consultancy fees, the processing of these invoices, and who had suggested that they be classified as consulting fees. Ultimately, RTE's executive board "allowed this to happen," Ms Munster said. "I keep saying this is top management top management, the director, the executive board, allowed all this to happen. "Had they not agreed to underwrite the agreement for these secret deeds, then that money wouldn't have cost the taxpayer 345,000. At the end of the day, the buck stops with top management." Ms Munster said there is no doubt that there was a "huge task" ahead of Mr Bakhurst "to root out that and change RTE culture in its entirety". She added that he must also address "serious inequality" at RTE, claiming there is "one law for them, one law for others". "The forensic accounting is going in to examine everything. It's clear there's a two-tier system that has operated in RTE for a long, long time, and workers are so justified in their anger," Ms Munster said. Top down The PAC's vice-chair, Social Democrats TD Catherin Murphy, also told RTE radio's Morning Ireland that they will be seeking to establish who were the participants in the deal regarding Mr Tubridy which was finalised in May 2020. She said the fourth person at that meeting "may be able to help us", adding it is important to get all the details about who was behind such a convoluted agreement and why RTE had to go through a company owned by Mr Kelly, NK Management. "He will be well-placed to answer some of those questions for us, which are questions that have been hanging in there, raised on week one when this issue emerged in the public arena," Ms Murphy said. A key issue was whether the tripartite demand come as a surprise, she added. Ms Murphy said she found it extraordinary that the then director general was involved in such negotiations. "I would have thought that that would be highly unusual. "We need to close off those questions, and it's very useful that we're having this meeting today, because we're having the other meeting with Kevin Bakhurst and other senior staff members who are all here on Thursday. "It's very useful that we can see other outstanding issues, that we can then address to the management team," she said. Changing the culture within RTE is going to be a slow process, Ms Murphy warned, adding that it needs to happen from the top down rather than the bottom up. Cayman Islands ventures into beef business with import of red poll cattle The Cayman Islands government (CIG) is making its foray into the beef industry with the recent import of 22 red poll cattle from Jamaica, Cayman News Service reported. After completing the quarantine period, these cattle will form the foundation herd for a breeding programme managed by the country's Department of Agriculture. The objective is to bolster local livestock numbers and enhance beef production within the islands. Under the newly established National Livestock Development Programme (NLDP), the CIG purchased three bulls and 19 heifers from the Cattle Breeder's Society of Jamaica using public funds. Last month, these animals were airlifted to the Cayman Islands. Jay Ebanks, Cayman Islands' Agriculture Minister, emphasised the government's focus on agriculture and food security in recent years, aiming to ensure that safe, nutritious food is accessible, available, and affordable for the people of the Cayman Islands. Importing these cattle is expected to significantly boost domestic cattle production, improve overall cattle genetics, and reduce the reliance on beef imports in the future. The publicly-funded NLDP is specifically designed to develop local livestock, reduce goat imports, and enhance both the quality of local cattle herds and beef production. It also involves the implementation of a breeding program to swiftly improve local genetics and modernise the country's livestock industry. Brian Crichlow, Cayman Islands' Acting Director of Agriculture, highlighted the sustainable approach of importing purebred cattle that are well-suited to the local conditions. This approach is viewed as crucial for enhancing local genetics, upgrading domestic herds, and supporting important research initiatives. The arrival of these imported cattle marks a significant milestone for the government's Cattle Breeding Programme and efforts to strengthen the domestic livestock sector. By utilising the imported cattle and the newly established Cattle Breeding Centre on Cayman Brac, the country's Department of Agriculture plans to create a centre of excellence. This centre will offer stud bull services, calves for sale, and semen for artificial insemination. Future plans include the development of a Livestock Breeding Centre on Grand Cayman, the introduction of embryo transfer technology, and the training of team members at the Veterinary Service Unit within the Department of Agriculture to enhance efficiency in animal breeding technology. - Cayman News Service Elanco and Tonisity expand partnership to bring gut-enhancing swine product to the Philippines Elanco Animal Health Incorporated has announced an expansion of its partnership with Ireland-based Tonisity International Limited, to introduce Tonisity's novel, gut enhancing porcine product, Tonisity Px, to the Philippines, Investors Observer reported. Under the distribution and promotion agreement, Elanco will serve as the exclusive distributor of Tonisity Px in several countries, including Brazil, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, and now the Philippines. As the exclusive distributor, Elanco will handle the marketing, promotion, distribution, and sale of Tonisity Px and Tonisity PxW in these markets, building on their successful distribution efforts under the existing strategic partnership agreement. This expansion into the Philippines marks a significant milestone for both Elanco and Tonisity, as it represents their first venture into the Southeast Asian region. The move reflects the growing demand for innovative swine products in the region and highlights the strategic importance of the Philippine market. Pablo Muniesa, Elanco international species lead for swine, said that Elanco has a strong focus on intestinal integrity research, and this agreement with Tonisity aligns perfectly with their strategy and complements their value offer. Muniesa said Elanco is committed to supporting their swine customers with innovative products, services, and knowledge to ensure intestinal integrity in their herds, ultimately contributing to the production of safe, abundant, and affordable food for a growing population. Mathieu Cortyl, managing director for Tonisity, said that Elanco is one of the leading animal health multinationals globally, and they believe Elanco is the perfect partner to help introduce Tonisity's swine products to Southeast Asia. Cortyl said the company looks forward to assisting the agricultural community in the Philippines in improving their profitability while enhancing the gut health of their animals. Tonisity Px is a patented isotonic protein drink designed to enhance the gut health of livestock, particularly piglets. The product facilitates the absorption of nutrients and improves weight gain, reducing mortality rates and the need for medications. Tonisity has conducted over 200 swine trials worldwide, demonstrating the positive effects of Tonisity Px on pre-weaning mortality, weaning weights, and feed conversion rates. In addition to its benefits for piglets, Tonisity PxW is designed for newly-weaned swine and aims to improve water intake during the critical post-weaning period. The product has shown significant reductions in post-weaning mortality and morbidity, as well as improvements in end-nursery weights. Tonisity products can also be administered to swine of any age during other stress points in production, such as weaning, transportation, and farrowing or lactation for sows. The swine products are patented in key markets worldwide and are currently available in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, South America, and Australia. - Investors Observer Indonesia's prohibits dissection of anthrax-infected livestock Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture has prohibited the dissection of livestock corpses infected with the Bacillus anthracis bacteria, which causes anthrax, Antara reported. Nuryani Zainudin, the director of animal health at the ministry, said the government has urged the burning or burial of infected animal carcasses to prevent the spread of infection. Anthrax is a type of zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from herbivorous animals like cattle, goats, sheep, and camels to humans. The bacteria have the ability to survive for extended periods, thanks to protective spores, both inside the bodies of animals and in the ground. Clinical symptoms observed in infected animals include high fever, restlessness, convulsions, and death. In some cases, livestock may die suddenly without displaying any noticeable symptoms. Bleeding from orifices such as the ears, nose, and mouth is also a common clinical sign. Zainudin said dissecting the carcass of an infected animal can release the spores, which can remain protected in the ground for many years. Syamsul Ma'arif, director of public health at the ministry, said it is important to refrain from consuming the meat of livestock infected with anthrax. Boiling the meat for hours is not sufficient to kill the bacteria, as the spores can still pose a risk. Inhaling the spores can lead to death within 24 hours, Ma'arif said. Around 94% of anthrax cases in humans result from physical contact with infected livestock. The spores can then spread to the brain, potentially causing fatal outcomes. Ma'arif stressed the urgency of handling such cases promptly and providing specialised equipment for treating anthrax-related meningitis. - Antara Philippines president expected to meet with hog, poultry producers Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr was to meet with hog and poultry raisers' groups on July 10 as flooding of imported and smuggled pork and chicken products has been plaguing the local industry. In an interview with The STAR, United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) and Philippine Egg Board (PEB) chairman Gregorio San Diego said the consultation at Malacanang would be a venue for poultry and hog raisers to relay to the president the problems affecting the local industry. "We will see what the outcome of our meeting with President Marcos will be," San Diego said. He added that the stakeholders meeting was arranged by the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) after a consultation with officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) led by Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban two months ago. "We hope (the meeting) will become productive for the sake of the local industry as he said he wants to be the secretary of the DA to help the agriculture sector," San Diego said, referring to Marcos Jr. Hog and poultry raisers would air their concerns as the local industry continues to suffer amid the unabated smuggling and flooding of imported meat products, according to UBRA and PEB chief. "We will really speak up, and this is on record. Our members will no longer accuse us of failure to voice our concerns as it will be the President who will hear our issues," he said. He added that if not addressed, the continuing flooding of imported and smuggled meat products will kill the local industry. - Philstar Isle of Man submits bid to host 2029 Island Games The Isle of Man has submitted an official bid to host the 2029 Island Games. If successful, it would be Isle of Mans third time hosting the multi-sport event, having held the first ever Games in 1985, and another in 2001. Affectionately known as the Olympics for Islanders, the biannual Games bring together thousands of athletes from across the world to compete in more than a dozen sports. The Manx bid was officially submitted to the International Island Games Association's (IIGA) Executive Committee on Monday, as Guernsey 2023 got underway. The IIGA will now visit the Isle of Man to inspect its venues and infrastructure in October before announcing its decision in 2024. Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products Amazon Prime Day has brought several discounts on gaming gear we like, from mice and keyboards to laptops and headsets. If you've been looking to build out your gaming rig, now's a great time to pick up a few high-performing accessories, or even a bigger investment like a discounted gaming laptop. Weve compiled the best Prime Day gaming deals we can find below, including peripherals from Razer, Logitech, SteelSeries, HyperX and more. Logitech G Pro X Superlight The Logitech G Pro X Superlight is back down to an all-time low of $105, which is about $35 off its average going rate. This is a high-end wireless mouse whose praises weve sung in the past. Its sturdily built and wonderfully light at roughly 63g, and its mostly ambidextrous shape should be suitable for most hand sizes. Performance is exceptional across the board, and while it lacks RGB lighting, it wont look gaudy in an office setting. To be clear, the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro which isn't notably discounted for Prime Day remains our favorite premium model, as it lasts longer on a charge and uses USB-C instead of the microUSB port found here. Still, the G Pro X Superlight is a fine choice for enthusiasts. Logitech G305 Lightspeed The Logitech G305 Lightspeed is a budget wireless gaming mouse we highlight in our buying guide, and its down to $30 for Prime Day. While thats a few bucks more than the lowest price weve seen, its about $10 less than the mouses usual going rate. The G305 is on the smaller side, but its symmetrical design doesnt feel particularly cheap and should accommodate most claw and fingertip grippers. For the money, its sensor performance is great. It does require a single AA battery for power, so it isnt the lightest option at roughly 100g, but Logitech says it can last up to 250 hours before needing a change. If you're willing spend a little bit more, the Razer Basilisk V3 is the top pick in our guide, and it's down to a new low of $40 at Best Buy. While that's not a Prime Day deal, it's a great value for an ergonomic mouse that tracks reliably and should be comfortable for most hand sizes. It has a more versatile scroll wheel that can tilt left to right and utilize a faster free-spin mode, too. Nintendo Switch games If you need something new to play, a handful of popular Switch exclusives are at or near their lowest prices to date, with Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Mario Golf: Super Rush each down to $30. Outside of Amazon, Metroid Dread and Pokemon Legends: Arceus are both down to $39 at GameStop. Most of these games are a few years old, but steep discounts on Nintendo games are still fairly uncommon. Beyond the Switch, the action-RPG Horizon Forbidden West is down to $40, the PS5 remake of Demon's Souls is on sale for $30 and the more recent Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is available for $44 with an on-page coupon. The well-reviewed RPG Octopath Traveler II, which was released earlier this year, is also on sale for $40 across the Switch, PS5 and PS4. Samsung Evo Select The 512GB Samsung Evo Select is available for $30, which is a new all-time low. Typically, weve seen this microSD card go for $10 or $15 more in recent months. The Evo Select is the best value pick in our guide to the best microSD cards: Its certainly not the fastest card weve tested, but its a great buy for expanding the storage of a Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch. Both of those systems are limited to official UHS-I bus speeds, so game launch and load times are virtually identical across microSD cards so long as your card meets a certain threshold (which the Evo Select does). What you mainly want is lots of storage space for a little amount of money. At this price, the Evo Select provides that. The top pick in our microSD card guide, Samsungs Pro Plus, is a bit pricier but still down to all-time lows of $20 for 256GB and $40 for 512GB. While this wont be any faster to launch Switch or Steam Deck games than the Evo Select, its superior random and sequential write speeds should make it a little quicker for installing games or copying files to the card. Samsung 980 Pro The 1TB Samsung 980 Pro SSD is down to $50, which is an all-time low and about $25 off its average street price as of late. This isnt Samsungs fastest SSD thatd be the 990 Pro but we highlight it here because it meets Sonys requirements for expanding the PS5s storage. Youll want to grab a heatsink to go with it, but you can do that and still pay less than what itd cost to buy the variant that comes with a heatsink pre-installed. If you do what the convenience of an integrated heatsink, however, the 980 Pro with Heatsink is down to $70 for 1TB. The 2TB 990 Pro is also on sale for $130, but that drive's performance gains border on overkill for the PS5. Backbone One The Backbone One is on sale for $70, a rare $30 discount. This discount currently applies to the standard and PlayStation-branded models for iPhone, with both available as Lightning deals. Nevertheless, this is a well-built mobile gamepad that connects to your phones charging port and works with just about any game that supports controller input, including those streamed over the cloud. Its not as luxurious as a traditional controller, but its comfortable for its size and provides all the inputs needed to play modern games. It has a 3.5mm jack and supports pass-through charging as well. We gave the One a positive review last year and call it an honorable mention in our guide to the best gaming handhelds. Sennheiser HD 560S A good set of open-back headphones generally provides much better audio quality than a conventional gaming headset for around the same price. The Sennheiser HD 560S is one such pair we recommend in our guide to the best gaming headsets, and now it's down to $142. That's about $25 below its typical street price. There's no mic here, but the HD 560S' balanced sound profile and wide soundstage lend games a lovely sense of immersion and detail. It's great for music as well, even if it can be a smidge hot in the treble. Comfort also isn't an issue, but be aware that all open-back headphones let in and leak lots of external noise, so they won't be ideal if you play in a noisy environment. HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless If you want a more traditional gaming headset, the top wireless pick in our guide, the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, is on sale for $150. That's $40 less than its traditional street price. This pair is all about the battery life, as it can last more than 300 hours on a charge. (No, that's not a typo.) The bass-boosted sound isn't as accurate or spacious as a good open-back pair, and HyperX's companion app is kind of a mess, but the design is comfortable, the mic is fine and the battery goes a long way toward minimizing the usual inconveniences of a wireless headphone. Just note that the headset only connects over a USB wireless dongle and doesn't work with Xbox. HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 The HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is on sale for a new low of $35. This is the budget pick in our buying guide. It's not particularly balanced-sounding, but it gives action scenes an exciting sense of impact, and its mic quality belies the low price. The plastic frame doesn't clamp down too hard, either, but it does feel somewhat cheap. If you're willing to pay a little bit extra, the wired version of the Cloud Alpha offers better overall build quality. That one's down to $60, which is a roughly $25 discount. The original Cloud Stinger is also on sale for $20, which is a great price, though the newer model sounds better. Logitech G535 The Logitech G535 is on sale for $80, which is the second-best price weve tracked outside of a very brief dip below $50 last month. Normally, it costs around $100. The G535 is an honorable mention in our buying guide: Its light and airy at 236g, and while it can make mid-range details sound thin, it has an agreeable and relatively well-balanced sound overall. The included boom mic is just OK, however, and the closed-back design doesnt block much outside noise. Still, finding a good wireless gaming headset for less than $100 is difficult, and the G535 gets close enough. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is another honorable mention in our gaming headset guide, and its down to $199 for Prime Day. This is an all-time low for both the Xbox and PlayStation/PC models; each typically goes for about $40 more on average. This is a premium, well-padded headset thats comfy to wear over long sessions. Its retractable mic is great, and it comes with a DAC that lets you adjust the headsets EQ and game/chat audio mix on the fly. It does well to reproduce bass and mid-range sounds, too, though it can be harsh in the treble, and again, it doesnt sound as spacious as an open-back pair like the Astro A40, our top pick, which isnt any cheaper than usual for Prime Day. Still, if you have money to burn on a gaming headset and prioritize comfort and mic quality, this isnt a bad choice. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X, meanwhile, is available for $150, which is the lowest price weve seen and about $25 below its usual street price. We note the Arctis Nova 7X in our gaming headset guide as a worthy wireless option for Xbox owners. Its mic quality is solid, albeit worse than the pricier Nova Pro, and its comfy to wear over time, with cloth earpads that dont clamp down too hard. It has a bass-forward sound profile, so explosions and other effects carry a real sense of oomph, though a dip in the treble can make in-game dialogue sound underemphasized. The pair can connect over Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable in addition to its wireless dongle, though, plus it can last more than 30 hours on a charge. Seagate and WD Expansion Cards for Xbox Series X/S (1TB) For better or worse, the only way for Xbox Series X/S owners to fully expand their console's storage for current-gen games is to use a proprietary storage card. Seagate's Storage Expansion Card and WD's Black C50 are the only two official options, but right now each of their 1TB models are down to a new low of $140. While that's still pricey compared to a traditional (and PS5-compatible) SSD, it's at least a little bit of savings for those tired of uninstalling games to save space. 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller The 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller is on sale for $63, which is an $7 discount. We briefly saw this wireless gamepad fall to $56 earlier during Prime Day, but discounts have been rare since the device arrived last year, so any price drop is welcome. We gave the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller a favorable write-up earlier this week, praising its comfort, build quality and customizability. The key feature is its Hall effect joysticks, which are much more resistant to developing drift issues over time. Just note that the controller is made for the Switch and PCs, not Xbox or PlayStation. If you want something more affordable, the 8BitDo Pro 2 is a similarly versatile gamepad that we've recommended in the past. It doesn't have those Hall effect sticks, but it's a strong value at $40, which matches the lowest price we've tracked. Razer Huntsman Mini The compact Razer Huntsman Mini is down to $70 for a model with either Clicky Purple or Linear Red opto-mechanical switches. Neither deal is quite an all-time low, but the two models have usually retailed in the $80 to $100 range over the last few months. The Huntsman Mini is the top pick in our guide to the best 60 percent keyboards, as its keys are pleasant and consistently responsive for gaming. The whole thing feels well-built, with quality PBT keycaps and RGB lighting on a per-key basis. Each key can be programmed through macros as well. The switches here arent ideal for those who like a springy and more tactile, though, and the ultracompact design wont be for everyone. HyperX Alloy Origins 60 The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is the runner up in our 60 percent keyboard guide, and its on sale for $60. Thats about $20 off the usual price for this model with HyperXs Aqua switches. The Aqua resembles a Cherry MX Brown (albeit slightly faster), so this deal should appeal to those who want a small gaming keyboard with a more tactile feel than the Huntsman Mini. The board itself has a sturdy aluminum chassis that should hold up well to rough keystrokes over time, plus it puts its secondary arrow keys in a natural spot at the bottom right of the deck. It offers PBT keycaps, per-key RGB lighting and macro-programmable keys as well, though the use of metal does make it relatively heavy. Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite The Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite is down to $50 for Prime Day, which is about $20 off its street price and within $3 of the lowest price we've tracked. This is an MMO-focused mouse we highlight in our gaming mouse buying guide. It's not quite as convenient for complex games as our top MMO pick, the Logitech G600, as it lacks a third click button for accessing more in-game commands at once. If you don't need that, though, the RGB Elite has a more modern sensor and better overall build quality. SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL is on sale for $132, which is a new low and $58 off the tenkeyless gaming keyboards list price. While we havent reviewed the Apex Pro TKL ourselves, it has received consistently high marks elsewhere for its robust build quality, PBT keycaps, per-key backlighting and deeply adjustable OmniPoint 2.0 switches. The latter allows you to customize the actuation point of each individual key in increments of 0.1mm, within a range of 0.2mm-3.8mm. You can make each keystroke super fast for gaming or raise the travel distance and make everything less sensitive when you want to type. This is also one of the few tenkeyless keyboards that comes with a wrist rest. A few other variants of the Apex Pro are discounted, too, including the wireless TKL model for $174, the full-size Apex Pro for $134 and the 60 percent Apex Pro Mini for $131. The first two of those are down to all-time lows, but note that the full-size model uses cheaper ABS keycaps. These are pricey and relatively niche keyboards either way, but if you think youd benefit from the customization, theyre at least a little more affordable now. The Asus ROG Azoth is another highly rated compact keyboard with enthusiast-level features like a gasket-mounted design for softer typing and a hot-swappable PCB. Its available for $195 with a $15 coupon, which is a serious chunk of change for a wireless keyboard but $50 less than usual. Logitech G915 TKL The Logitech G915 TKL is down to $150 for a model with tactile switches, which matches the keyboard's lowest price and comes in about $45 below its usual price. If you want a numpad, the full-size G915 Lightspeed with linear switches is roughly $60 off at $170. The G915 is worth considering if you specifically want a wireless keyboard with low-profile typing experience. While its flatter keys may not feel as smooth as the best full-height keyboards, theyre fast, and the metal frame is noticeably slim. The cheaper ABS keycaps and limited macro functionality are disappointing at this price, but you do get dedicated media controls, per-key RGB lighting and 30 hours of battery life with the backlight at max brightness. You can read our 2020 write-up for more details. Meta Quest 2 + $50 Amazon gift card The Meta Quest 3 is on the horizon, but the Quest 2's totally cordless design, still-competent hardware and relatively large app library make it the best option for most people looking to get into VR today. It can also connect to a gaming PC if you want to play more complex games like Half-Life: Alyx. The headset itself isn't priced any lower than usual for Prime Day, but Amazon is throwing in a $50 gift card for no extra cost. Razer Blade laptops A configuration of the Razer Blade 15 with a Core i7-12800H processor, GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU, 240Hz QHD display, 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD is down to $1,923 for Prime Day. Thats about $375 off its usual street price in recent months. We gave the Blade 15 a review score of 86 last year, and we currently recommend it as a premium pick in our guide to the best gaming laptops. This config is a 2022 model the latest version is largely a spec bump but itll still be powerful enough to play most modern games at high settings and frame rates, particularly with DLSS. The main reason to pay the premium for any Blade laptop, though, is because it packs that power in a slim and premium-feeling aluminum design. Just note that it can run hot, and that its battery life is fairly short. If you want a larger 17-inch display, a version of the Blade 17 with similar specs is available for $2,000. The smaller Blade 14, meanwhile, is more modestly discounted at $2,300 for a 2022 config with a Ryzen 9 6900HX, RTX 3080 Ti and 165Hz display. Acer Nitro 5 The Acer Nitro 5 is the runner up pick in our guide to the best budget gaming laptops, and right now a configuration with a Core i5-12500H, GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, 144Hz 1080p display, 16GB of RAM and 512GB is available for $740. Thats a new low and roughly $160 off this models typical street price. This is a chunky plastic machine, and youll need to ratchet down the settings in certain games to hit a decent frame rate. But getting a 144Hz display and enough power to keep up with modern games is a plus at this price. As an affordable yet competent entry point to PC gaming, its a fine value. Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblogs car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you. Elizabeth Holmes may be getting out of prison around two years earlier than expected. According to her profile on the Federal Bureau of Prisons website, Holmes' release date is now scheduled for December 29th, 2032. That means the time she'll serve is almost two years shorter than her original sentence, which was supposed to last for 11 years and three months. The agency has confirmed her shortened (nine years and seven months) sentence to The Guardian but didn't comment further, citing the privacy and safety of inmates. Holmes was indicted on charges of fraud back in 2018, a few years after a series of reports from the Wall Street Journal exposed that Theranos' proprietary "fingerprick" blood-testing technology was faulty. The publication had also reported that the company was aware of its issues but sent inaccurate test results to patients anyway. In 2022, Holmes was found guilty of defrauding investors and was sentenced to 135 months in prison, as well as three years of supervised release. The former Theranos chief, who had been out on bail from the time she was indicted, tried to convince the court to allow her to stay out of prison while she was appealing her case. She failed in her bid to stay out of prison, though, and reported to a minimum-security, all-female facility in Texas on May 30th. It's unclear why her sentence was quietly reduced, but factors like good conduct, the completion of assignments and rehabilitation programs, as well as the credits inmates receive for various activities could result in a shorter sentence. Based on the prison bureau's website, Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, who was Theranos' former president, will also be released two years earlier than expected in April 2034. As for Holmes, she was ordered to pay $452 million in restitution to the fraud victims in addition to serving time in prison and going through supervised release. As Gizmodo notes, Holmes had an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion before Theranos' downfall. Forbes had lowered her estimated net worth to nothing a year later, and her lawyers argued that she could not afford to add $250 per month to her restitution schedule after she gets out. A judge has rejected the Federal Trade Commission's request for a preliminary injunction to prevent Microsoft from buying Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. Both Microsoft and Activision said they'd abandon the blockbuster merger if Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley granted the injunction. "This Courts responsibility in this case is narrow. It is to decide if, notwithstanding these current circumstances, the merger should be halted perhaps even terminated pending resolution of the FTC administrative action," Corley wrote in the ruling. "For the reasons explained, the Court finds the FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content. The motion for a preliminary injunction is therefore denied." Corley wrote that, as the acquisition "has been described as the largest in tech history," it deserved to be scrutinized. She noted Microsoft's commitment to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation and deals the company has to bring its games and Activision Blizzard titles to Nintendo Switch and cloud gaming services. Corley ruled that the FTC has until 11:59PM PT on July 14th to obtain a stay pending appeal from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to further delay the deal from closing. Otherwise, Microsoft and Activision will be able to close the deal, giving them just enough time to do so before their July 18th deadline. The companies may still choose to extend their acquisition agreement while they address a UK regulator's attempt to stop the merger. However, the Competition and Markets Authority, which initially blocked the deal over cloud gaming concerns, said today it is now willing to consider proposals from Microsoft to satisfy its concerns. The CMA is the only other national antitrust regulator that has formally challenged the Activision takeover. "After todays court decision in the US, our focus now turns back to the UK. While we ultimately disagree with the CMAs concerns, we are considering how the transaction might be modified in order to address those concerns in a way that is acceptable to the CMA," Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a statement. "In order to prioritize work on these proposals, Microsoft and Activision have agreed with the CMA that a stay of the litigation in the UK would be in the public interest and the parties have made a joint submission to the Competition Appeal Tribunal to this effect." Our statement on today's decision: pic.twitter.com/jRDD8PhBeT Brad Smith (@BradSmi) July 11, 2023 "Were optimistic that todays ruling signals a path to full regulatory approval elsewhere around the globe, and we stand ready to work with UK regulators to address any remaining concerns so our merger can quickly close," Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick wrote in an email to employees. We are disappointed in this outcome given the clear threat this merger poses to open competition in cloud gaming, subscription services and consoles," FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar said in a statement. "In the coming days, we'll be announcing our next step to continue our fight to preserve competition and protect consumers." The FTC sued to block the merger last December and a hearing in its administrative proceeding is set for August 2nd. If Microsoft and Activision Blizzard can't seal the deal by their deadline, Microsoft will be on the hook for a $3 billion breakup fee unless the two sides renegotiate terms or extend their agreement. As such, they wanted the court to review the FTC's injunction request swiftly. The companies claimed that, if the preliminary injunction were granted, it would "effectively block the transaction because the FTC's process is 'glacial' and one no substantial business transaction could ever survive." Reports suggested that, despite the CMA blocking the acquisition, the companies would try to close it anyway and figure out a workaround to continue doing business in the UK. That prompted the FTC to request an injunction in the hopes of being able to "assess the legality of the proposed acquisition" in the August hearing before the deal closes. "Press reports began circulating suggesting that defendants were seriously contemplating closing the proposed acquisition despite the pending administrative litigation and the CMA orders," the FTC's request read. Corley issued her ruling following a five-day trial in June that saw all manner of juicy gaming industry secrets and emails between industry leaders laid bare for all to see. For one thing, we learned that MachineGames' Indiana Jones project was originally going to be a multiplatform game, but after Microsoft bought ZeniMax, it made the title an Xbox console exclusive. 2/Since we first announced this deal, our commitment to bringing more games to more people on more devices has only grown. Weve signed multiple agreements to make Activision Blizzards games, Xbox first party games and Game Pass all available to more players than they are today. Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) July 11, 2023 Update 7/11 1:08PM ET: Added the FTC's statement. All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing. Rolls-Royce won't let customers buy another car if they sell its new EV for a profit "You will never ever have the chance to acquire again." The first Rolls-Royce EV, the Spectre, is going on sale soon at a cool $425,000 and at that price, purchasing slots will be limited, to say the least. But any buyers planning to flip one for a quick profit may want to think twice. CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos said that any customers attempting to resell their Spectre models for profit will be banned for life from ever buying another Rolls-Royce from official dealers, according to a report from Car Dealer. "I can tell you we are really sanitizing the need to prove who you are, what you want to do with the car you need to qualify for a car and then you might get a slot for an order," he said. And anyone who violates the policy and sells the Spectre for a profit is "going immediately on a blacklist and this is it you will never ever have the chance to acquire again." The British, BMW-owned company isn't the first to impose bans on flipping its vehicles. Last year, GM said it would ban buyers from flipping Hummer EVs, Corvette Z06's and other vehicles within 12 months under the threat of limiting the transferability of certain warranties. On top of that stick, it offered a carrot in the form of $5,000 in reward points for customers who kept their eighth-generation Corvette Z06's for at least a year. With a potential lifetime ban, Rolls-Royce's rules are even more strict, but some secondhand dealers aren't happy. A London dealer told Car Dealer that he had already agreed to pay a 50,000 ($65,000) premium for two Spectre EVs, and will have them for sale "within two weeks of it being launched" this fall. "I do not think it is fair for carmakers to tell customers who have spent close to half a million pounds on a car what they can do with it," he said. The Rolls-Royce Spectre has generally received positive reviews, as you'd hope at such a price. A 102kWh battery pack gives it a 329 mile WLTP range, and it should be relatively quick for a 2.9 tonne (3.19 ton) vehicle thanks to the 576 HP/664 pound-feet powertrain. "Only a Rolls-Royce, maybe a Bentley, really lets you close the door on the world, like a house deep in parkland," said Autocar though you might be able to buy that parkland house for less. Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones drop to a record low of $328 for Prime Day It's the lowest price we've seen for the best wireless headphones around. Amazon Prime Day is upon us and there are deals galore to be found on some of the best wireless headphones on the market. Sony's WH-1000XM5 are our favorite over-ear cans, and they are on sale for the lowest price we've seen to date. Prime members can pick up a pair on Amazon for $328. They typically sell for $385, so that's a discount of around 15 percent. Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones $328 $388 Save $60 Sony's WH-1000XM5 are the best wireless headphones you can buy, and they're on sale for their lowest price to date. $328 at Amazon Sony has long taken top honors for having the best wireless headphones through its flagship 1000X line. We gave the WH-1000XM5 a score of 95 in our review, lauding them for the fit, audio quality, active noise cancellation and long battery life (around 30 hours with ANC on). We had one relatively minor quibble, perhaps due to Bluetooth. We encountered occasional audio stuttering and dropouts during music and video playback on macOS. The improved comfort stems from a redesign of the headphones, They weigh four grams less than the WH-1000XM4 and they have improved weight distribution. The soft, cushioned earcups should also help you to keep the cans on your head for an extended length of time. Sony doubled the number of ANC microphones in these headphones and added an extra processor to help filter out background noise. In terms of audio, the bass seems punchier than the previous model, while there's more depth and clarity. You can expect clear call quality too. Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblogs car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you. Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products The best early Prime Day deals for 2023 All of the early Amazon Prime Day deals that are actually worth your money. Amazon Prime Day 2023 is a few hours out, but you can still snag some early deals before the two-day shopping event begins in earnest. We've rounded up the best early Prime Day deals we can find below. Remember that you'll need to subscribe to Prime to take advantage of many (but not all) of the offers, and that there's always a chance that prices drop lower during the event itself. For those with no interest in Prime, we've also included a few of the best tech deals that aren't explicitly tied to the event. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max Prime exclusive Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $25 $55 Save $30 Amazons Fire TV Stick 4K Max has dropped to only $25 for Prime members before Prime Day, which is more than half off its regular price. $25 at Amazon Amazons Fire TV Stick 4K Max has dropped to $25 for Prime members before Prime Day, which is more than half off its regular price and ties its all-time low. This the most powerful streaming dongle Amazon makes, with a superior processor than the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, plus support for WiFi 6, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio. While Amazon's Fire TV OS can be messy compared to other platforms from Roku, Google and Apple, it still gets you access to just about all of the major streaming apps. A few other Fire streaming devices have been discounted as well, including the latest Fire TV Cube, which Prime members can pick up for $110. Fire TV Stick Lite Prime exclusive Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite $15 $30 Save $15 Amazons Fire TV Stick Lite is half off and down to only $15. It was slightly cheaper last Prime Day when it was on sale for $12, but nevertheless, this is a great sale on Amazons most affordable streaming dongle. $15 at Amazon Amazons Fire TV Stick Lite is half off and down to only $15. It was slightly cheaper last Prime Day when it was on sale for $12, but nevertheless, this is a great sale on Amazons most affordable streaming dongle. With its support for 1080p video and WiFi 5 connectivity, its arguably best for those on tight budgets who just want to upgrade an old TV with basic streaming chops. Amazon Fire HD 8 Prime exclusive Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 $55 $100 Save $45 If all you want is a competent tablet for reading and streaming for as little money is possible, the Fire HD 8 should do the job at this deal price, which matches the lowest we've seen. $55 at Amazon If you're on an ultra-tight budget and need a new tablet, the Fire HD 8 is worth considering at its current deal price of $55, which matches its lowest price to date. Normally, the device retails around $90. This tablet has a smaller (8-inch) and lower-resolution (1,280x800) display than the Fire HD 10, and it isnt as quick in day-to-day use. Like all Fire tablets, its app support lags well behind iPadOS, which is most noticeable in its lack of Google apps. But it has just enough power for the basics, it gets a solid 10-ish hours of battery life and its light in the hand. You can expand its 32GB of storage with a microSD card, too. If all you want is a competent tablet for casual reading and streaming for as little as possible, it should do the job. Amazon Fire Max 11 Prime exclusive Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 $150 $230 Save $80 Amazon's recently released Fire Max 11 tablet is on sale for $150 for Prime Day. It's the best discount we've seen since Amazon's most powerful tablet launched in May. $150 at Amazon Amazon's recently released Fire Max 11 tablet is on sale for $150 for Prime Day. It's the best discount we've seen since Amazon's most powerful tablet launched in May. The slab has an 11-inch 2000 x 1200 touchscreen, an octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, up to 128GB of built-in storage and up to 14 hours of battery life. It can also work with a detachable keyboard and stylus, so you could use it like a 2-in-1 laptop. Amazon Echo Buds (2023) Prime Exclusive Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Amazon Echo Buds (2023) $35 $50 Save $15 Amazon's newest earbuds don't have active noise cancellation, but they're a solid budget option for those who prefer an open design, and right now Prime members can get them for $35. $35 at Amazon The latest Echo Buds just arrived in May yet theyre already 30 percent off at Amazon for Prime members. You can get them for $35, which is $15 off and ties the lowest price weve seen. We recommended the Echo Buds to those who prefer an open design in our best budget wireless earbuds guide. They lack active noise cancellation and don't completely seal off the ear canal, but their sound quality is decent for the price, and they come with features we don't often see in cheap earbuds, such as multipoint connectivity, auto-pausing and a customizable EQ tool. Naturally, they also work well with Alexa. If you hate the feeling of in-ear headphones, they'll be a good value. Amazon eGift Card + $5 promo credit Prime exclusive Amazon Amazon $5 Prime Day credit with $50 Amazon eGift Card purchase $50 Get an Amazon $5 Prime Day credit with the purchase of an $50 Amazon eGift Card. $50 at Amazon Amazon is giving Prime members a $5 promotional credit when they buy an eGift card valued at $50 or more before July 10th. You'll need to use the promo credit by August 25, 2023, but the only things it won't apply to are items sold by third-party merchants and e-books. Blink Mini Prime exclusive Blink Blink Mini (2-pack) $34 $65 Save $31 A two-pack of Blink Mini security cameras is on sale for $34 right now, or you can get one for only $18. $34 at Amazon Prime members can get a two-pack of Blink Mini security cameras for $34 right now. Single cameras are also on sale for $18. While these Blink cameras are wired, they have most of the same features as the standard wireless models, including 1080p video recording, motion alerts and support for two-way talk. Several other Blink wireless cameras are on sale as well. Ring Battery Doorbell Plus Prime exclusive Ring Ring Battery Doorbell Plus $130 $180 Save $50 This new video doorbell just came out this year and its powered by a quick-release, rechargeable battery that you can easily remove when the device needs more power. $130 at Amazon The new Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is down to a new low of $130 for Prime members. This model just came out this year and its powered by a quick-release, rechargeable battery that you can easily remove when the device needs more power. It also supports some of the latest Ring Doorbell features including 156p video recording, color night vision, two-way talk, Quick Replies and customizable motion zones. Amazon Kindle Unlimited 3-month membership Prime exclusive Amazon Amazon Kindle Unlimited (3-month) $0 $24 Save $24 Prime members who are new to Kindle Unlimited can get three months of the all-you-can-eat e-book service for free. $0 at Amazon If you're a Prime member who has never subscribed to Kindle Unlimited, you can get a three-month trial to Amazon's e-book service for no extra cost. Normally, the subscription goes for $12 a month after a 30-day free trial. Just note that the membership will be set to auto-renew by default. As a refresher, Kindle Unlimited makes a selection of e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines accessible on-demand. It doesn't include every e-book in the Kindle library, but it may still be worthwhile if you're a particularly avid reader. If nothing else, this deal makes it easier to figure out if it's worth paying for. Audible Premium Plus 3-month membership Prime exclusive Amazon Audible Premium Plus (3-month) $0 $30 Save $30 Prime members can get a three-month free trial to Audible Premium Plus, so long as you've never subscribed to the audiobook service in the past. $0 at Amazon Similar to that Kindle Unlimited offer, Prime members who are new to Audible Premium Plus can get three months of the audiobook service for free. This membership usually costs $14.95 a month after a 30-day free trial, so you're saving about $30. Premium Plus is Audible's upper tier: Like the less expensive Audible Plus, it provides an assortment of audiobooks, podcasts and other audio content you can access on-demand. The main difference is that it also includes a monthly credit that you can use to buy any book in the Audible store permanently. As with Kindle Unlimited, Premium Plus will be most worth it if you burn through audiobooks and podcasts quickly, but this extended trial is a comfier way to see if it's useful. Again, be aware that the subscription will be set to auto-renew by default. Amazon Echo Dot Prime exclusive Amazon Amazon Echo Dot + Sengled color smart bulb $23 $65 Save $42 This deal takes roughly half off the typical price of Amazon's diminutive smart speaker, and it includes a color smart bulb for no extra cost. Various other Echo speakers are also discounted ahead of Prime Day. $23 at Amazon Amazon has knocked the latest Echo Dot down to $23, which is roughly half off its typical street price, and is throwing in a Sengled color smart bulb for no extra cost. We consider the Echo Dot the best smart speaker you can get for less than $50 thanks to its compact design, surprisingly good sound quality for its size and handy Alexa integration. The newest Echo Dots can also act as Eero WiFi boosters, adding up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to your existing Eero system. Amazon Echo Prime exclusive Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget Amazon Echo $55 $100 Save $45 This is within $5 of the lowest price we've tracked on the Amazon's flagship smart speaker. $55 at Amazon Amazon has discounted several other Echo speakers as well. The base Echo, for one, is down to $55, which is $5 more than its all-time low but still $35 off its typical going rate. This is the top pick for less than $100 in our smart speaker buying guide, as it represents a clear step-up from the Echo Dot in terms of sound quality. If you arent tied to Apple or Google, we generally found it to outperform the HomePod Mini and Nest Audio as well. If youre looking for something more affordable than the Echo Dot, the unidirectional Echo Pop doesnt sound as nice, but it offers most of the same Alexa capabilities and is currently on sale for $18. The Echo Dot with Clock, meanwhile, has similar hardware to the standard Dot, but adds an LED display that can show the time and basic weather and music info. That one is down to a new low of $30. And while the larger Echo Studio cant top something like the Sonos Era 100, its still the best-sounding Echo, and it could be a decent value at its current price of $155 if you already own several other Alexa speakers and want to save some cash. That deal also matches the lowest price weve tracked. Amazon Echo Show 5 Prime exclusive Amazon Amazon Echo Show 5 $45 $90 Save $45 This is a 50 percent discount on Amazon's latest 5.5-inch smart display. $45 at Amazon The latest Echo Show 5 is half off and down to a record low of $45. Weve previously recommended the Show 5 to those who prefer Alexa over the Google Assistant and want a smart display that wont take up much space. Its particularly useful as a smart alarm clock, as it has a gentle sunrise alarm feature and a tap-to-snooze function. This new model has a faster processor, a slightly larger speaker and an extra mic for better Alexa performance. Amazon Echo Show 8 Prime exclusive Amazon Amazon Echo Show 8 $60 $130 Save $70 This Prime-only deal takes $45 off our favorite smart display for Alexa users. $60 at Amazon If you dont need something so compact, the Echo Show 8 is our favorite Amazon smart display overall and is currently on sale for $60. Thats a new all-time low and roughly $45 off the devices average street price. Compared to the 5.5-inch panel on the Echo Show 5, the 8-inch touchscreen here is much better suited for making video calls or viewing photos. You get a vastly superior camera, more powerful speakers and a faster processor as well. As with the Show 5, there's also a physical camera shutter and mic mute button. The more spacious Echo Show 10 and Echo Show 15 are also down to new lows at $163 and $182, respectively. Neither of those devices are outright bad, but our reviews found them to be less universally appealing than their smaller and more affordable siblings. Ring Video Doorbell + Echo Show 5 Prime exclusive Ring Ring Video Doorbell bundle with Echo Show 5 $65 $190 Save $125 Amazons huge Ring early Prime Day sale includes a bundle that gives you the Ring Video Doorbell plus an Echo Show 5 for only $65. $65 at Amazon Amazons sweeping early Prime Day sale on Ring devices includes a bundle that gives you the Ring Video Doorbell plus an Echo Show 5 for only $65. Considering the Video Doorbell alone is going for $55 as an early Prime Day deal, that means youll only spend $10 on the Show 5 if you opt for the bundle. The Video Doorbell itself is a fairly basic 1080p option, but it's easy to install and generally accurate at delivering motion alerts Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids Prime Exclusive Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids (16GB) $105 $170 Save $65 This is a new low for the 16GB Kids version of Amazon's popular e-reader, which features the same hardware as the standard model but adds a cover case and a longer two-year warranty. $105 at Amazon The 16GB version of Amazons Kindle Paperwhite Kids is down to $105, which is $65 off and a new low. While this e-reader is marketed toward children, it features the same hardware as the standard Paperwhite, with a lightweight and waterproof design, 6.8-inch 300 ppi display, 10-week battery life and extensive e-book library. Here, though, you also get a cover case, a longer two-year warranty and a year of Amazon's Kids+ service (which you can ignore if you arent buying for a little one). We gave the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition a review score of 97 back in 2021. The Kids edition lacks that models ad-free lock screen (when you aren't using a child account, at least), upgraded front light, wireless charging and 32GB of storage, but the two devices are otherwise similar. Motorola Razr+ Prime Exclusive Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget Motorola Razr+ (2023, Unlocked) $850 $1,000 Save $150 Motorola's new foldable phone came out less than a month ago, and is already getting a discount on Amazon but only for Prime members and only on Prime Day. Enter your email to be "invited" to buy the phone on July 11th. $850 at Amazon The foldable Moto Razr+ only just arrived last month, but it's already received a 15 percent discount for Prime Day, albeit in a roundabout way. You'll need to be a Prime member and request an invite first, after which youll be able to buy the phone on Prime Day for the discounted price. While jumping through Amazons hoops is annoying, doing so will get you an unlocked Razr+ for $850 instead of $1,000. We spent some time with the new foldable before it came out last month and gave it a full review upon its debut. The verdict? Samsungs Galaxy foldables have some serious competition. The Razr+ has a 6.9-inch screen when open and offers a 3.6-inch screen when folded, which is much larger than the 1.9-inch exterior screen on the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The foldable design unlocks different uses, as it can act as its own tripod in addition to taking up less space in your pocket. Eero Pro routers Prime exclusive eero Amazon eero Pro mesh WiFi router $70 $160 Save $90 A number of Eero and Eero Pro WiFi router packs have been discounted for Prime members ahead of the shopping event. You can pick up one Eero router for as low as $45, or an Eero Pro router for $70. $70 at Amazon A number of Eero and Eero Pro WiFi router packs have been discounted for Prime members ahead of the shopping event. You can pick up one Eero router for as low as $45, or an Eero Pro router for $70. We recommend going for the Eero Pro if you can, since it's a tri-band system that supports speeds up to 1Gbps and covers slightly more square feet than the standard Eero does. Just keep in mind that these are not the latest Eero systems; for WiFi 6 support, you'll have to shell out a bit more money for an Eero 6 set. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) $199 $249 Save $50 Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro are back on sale for $200, which is $50 off their usual rate and a record low. $199 at Amazon $199 at Walmart Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro are back on sale for $200, which is $50 off their usual rate and a record low. These remain the best true wireless earbuds for Apple lovers, even though the company didn't drastically overhaul the design with this latest model. Most of the new features are under the hood, with Apple noticeably improving the pair's sound quality, noise cancellation and transparency mode. Samsung Pro Plus microSD card Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Samsung Pro Plus (256GB) $20 $30 Save $10 This is a new low for the 256GB version of the top pick in our best microSD card buying guide. $20 at Amazon $20 at B&H Photo The 256GB version of Samsung's latest Pro Plus microSD card is down to a new low of $20. That's $10 off its MSRP. If you need more space, the 512GB model is within a couple dollars of its best price at $43.52. The Pro Plus is the top pick in our guide to the best microSD cards, as it finished at or near the top of all of our sequential and random speed tests. It's also backed by a 10-year warranty. Samsung 980 Pro Samsung Samsung 980 Pro SSD (2TB) $100 $127 Save $27 This is a new low for the 2TB version of this PS5-ready SSD we recommend. Several other Samsung storage devices are also on sale. $100 at Amazon $100 at B&H Photo The 2TB version of Samsung's 980 Pro is down to a new low of $100. We've seen this SSD steadily drop in price over the course of the year, but this deal marks a roughly $35 drop from the devices average street price in recent months. The 980 Pro isnt Samsungs fastest SSD that would be the 990 Pro, the 1TB model of which is down to $70 but it still meets Sony's requirements for expanding the PS5s storage. Youll just need to add a heatsink for a few bucks more to go along with it. If you aren't buying for a PS5 specifically, a speedy PCIe 4.0 drive like this may be overkill but will provide fast storage all the same. Both this and the Evo Plus microSD card deal come as part of a wider sale on Samsung storage devices. This includes the Fit Plus, a tiny flash drive we recommend in our best SSDs guide, down to $22, and the T7 Shield, a ruggedized version of one of our favorite portable SSDs, back down to $75. Both deals match the lowest prices weve tracked, and nothing in the sale is exclusive to Prime subscribers. Apple iPad (9th gen) Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget Apple iPad (9th gen, 64GB) $250 $329 Save $79 This matches the best price we've seen for Apple's wallet-friendly 10.2-inch iPad. $250 at Amazon The 64GB model of Apple's 9th-gen iPad is down to $250 at Amazon, matching the lowest price we've tracked. You'll see the price listed as $279 and an additional $29 discount will apply at checkout. Apple normally sells the device for $329, though we've seen it retail closer to $275 in recent months. This is the budget pick in our iPad buying guide: It lacks the accessory support, thinner bezels and laminated display of the iPad Air, but it's by far the most affordable route into iPadOS, and it remains fast and comfortable enough for casual reading, streaming and gaming. It's also the only current iPad with a headphone jack. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm) $199 $280 Save $81 The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is down to $199 for a 40mm model and $229 for a 44mm model. We gave the Galaxy Watch 5 a score of 85 last year, and it's currently the "best for Android users" pick in our smartwatch buying guide. $199 at Amazon The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is down to $199 for a 40mm model and $229 for a 44mm model. We gave the Galaxy Watch 5 a score of 85 last year, and it's currently the "best for Android users" pick in our smartwatch buying guide. While its battery life could be better, its design is durable and attractive, its OS is easy to navigate and its health tracking is relatively comprehensive. Samsung is expected to announce a Galaxy Watch 6 in the coming weeks, however, so it may be worth waiting to see how that model stacks up if you don't need a new smartwatch right this instant. Google Pixel 7a Google Google Pixel 7a $449 $499 Save $50 The Pixel 7a is currently the best midrange phone you can get thanks to its fast Tensor G2 chipset, smooth 90Hz display, IP67 water resistance, fantastic cameras and support for wireless charging. $449 at Amazon Googles Pixel 7a is $50 off and down to a new low of $449 right now. Its currently the best midrange phone you can get thanks to its fast Tensor G2 chipset, smooth 90Hz display, IP67 water resistance, fantastic cameras and support for wireless charging. If youre willing to spend an extra $50, you can spend $500 and upgrade to the Pixel 7. Elgato Stream Deck + Elgato Elgato Stream Deck + $180 $200 Save $20 Elgatos Stream Deck + is 10 percent off right now and down to $180 in one of the first real discounts weve seen on the gaming accessory. $180 at Amazon Elgatos Stream Deck + is 10 percent off right now and down to $180 in one of the first real discounts weve seen on the gaming accessory. In addition to eight customizable buttons, the Deck+ also has a touch bar and four knobs that make it easier to control things like lighting and sound during a stream. The Deck+ also supports plugins for Camera Hub, Elgato Wave Link, Spotify, Twitch and more. Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know, and hear from Autoblogs car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals. Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products The Google Pixel 7 Pro is on sale for $649 during Prime Day The Pixel 7a and Pixel Watch have also dropped to their lowest prices to date. It's not only Amazon devices that are on sale during Prime Day. You'll find discounts on a massive array of tech products, including Google devices. The Pixel Watch and the Pixel 7a are available for record low prices, though perhaps the most eye-catching deal of the bunch is for the Pixel 7 Pro. The smartphone has dropped to $649 for the 128GB model. The handset typically retails for $899, so that's a 28 percent discount. The Pixel 7 Pro is among the best smartphones you can buy right now, largely thanks to its excellent camera system. Google Google Pixel 7 Pro (128GB) $649 $899 Save $250 The Pixel 7 Pro has excellent cameras and is among the best higher-end Android phones around. $649 at Amazon The Pixel 8 Pro is likely just a few months away (and some people seem to be testing it out in the wild). Still, Google's current flagship device is definitely worth considering if you're in the market for a higher-end Android phone. Especially so at this price, which is the lowest we've seen to date. We gave the Pixel 7 Pro a score of 92 in our review. The flatter edges and 6.7-inch 120Hz screen are major plus points, as is the upgraded camera array, which includes a 5x telephoto lens and an ultra-wide camera. Pixel owners are typically the first to get certain nifty Android features that Google develops before the company offers them to the broader ecosystem. Those include Clear Calling, which isolates your voice and filters out background noise. The handy Magic Eraser was only available on newer Pixel devices before Google expanded it to older models and its other products earlier this year. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly Pixel device, you're in luck as the Pixel 7a is also on sale. It's a very capable mid-range device that includes the same Tensor G2 chip as the Pixel 7 Pro, a 90Hz display, wireless charging, a long battery life and great cameras. Even though the Pixel 7a was only announced two months ago, it's already on sale for $50 off during Prime Day as it has dropped to $449. Elsewhere, the Pixel Watch has also been discounted. Google made a decent stab at its first smartwatch. It has a nice design along with terrific health and fitness tracking. However, the battery life pales in comparison to some of the competition and you'll need to pay for Fitbit Premium to access some of the tracked data. If you can overlook those downsides, you can snap up a Pixel Watch for $249. That's $100 off the usual price. Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblogs car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you. Larry Nassar, the ex-doctor for USA Gymnastics who was convicted in 2018 of sexually abusing young female gymnasts, was stabbed in prison, US media reported. Peru's most active volcano, Ubinas, spewed ash and gas, prompting scientists to travel to the area to monitor it. Tuesday, July 11, 2023 796,340 Veterans have died from Lower Limb Amputations (LLA) resulting from Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) in the past 22-years. This is more than all US Service members Killed in Action in all the U.S. Wars (623,982) since the start of World War I. Hundreds of Thousands of Veterans are Dying Prematurely from Diabetic Foot Ulcer Amputations When a Life-Saving Treatment is Available but Widely Unused by the VHA Veteran Eric Koleda with the TreatNOW Coalition has updated and (re)released, The Veteran Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) Epidemic: A U.S. Department of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Services Review. His analysis of recent data acquired from a Congressional office provided by the Deputy Under Secretary of Health for the VHA, Dr. Steven Lieberman, indicates 796,340 Veterans have died from Lower Limb Amputations (LLA) resulting from Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) in the past 22-years. This is more than all the Veterans Killed in Action in all the U.S. Wars (623,982) since the start of World War I. The current VHA DFU Lower Limb Amputations (LLA) Veteran mortality rate is 64-71 percent within 3-years post-LLA surgery. Glenn Butler, Founder and CEO of Life Support Technologies Group in New York, who operates a network of twelve New York Tri-State Hospital-based Wound Care and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Services participating in the VA Community Care Provider Network. Glenn shared, We have been available to accept referrals for HBOT from the New York Manhattan, Bronx and Northport VA Medical Centers for many years and have only seen a few family or self-referred Diabetic Veterans requesting advanced care in one of our hospital-based Diabetic Limb Salvage Programs. These services provide aggressive evaluation, vascular surgical intervention, wound care and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy per CMS Medicare, FDA, Tricare, and VA guidelines. The VA does not operate any HBOT chambers throughout their entire 1,298 Facility national Hospital network because they are not staffed or equipped and instead rely on civilian hospital HBOT experts that specialize in providing HBOT to patients that qualify, including Veterans. Glenn said, To date, we have been unable to meet with the local VA and to offer clinical support. The VA total Lifetime cost of Diabetic Veteran care, LLA amputations, prosthesis, morbidity and mortality rates are appalling as compared to the civilian diabetic community. The civilian sector clinical track record can offer the VA diabetic Veteran at risk of lower limb amputation superior clinical outcomes, the duration and quality of life, plus a significant reduction in lifetime care costs to the American Taxpayer. Eric Koleda has interviewed several DFU Veterans including Hershel Bowling from Indiana. We asked Hershel and his wife Cindy, Did the VHA ever mention HBOT treatment for his DFU?, they both responded, What is that? When we spoke with DFU Veteran Jim Divone from NY, he saidhe received HBOT for his DFU after seeing a Podiatrist outside the VA and having the treatment paid for by his health insurance outside the VHA network. The Northport VA never mentioned to me HBOT was an approved treatment modality, it was not offered to me as a treatment option, nor was I made aware it was readily available through the Community Care Provider network. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has been approved by the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) since 2002 for all Veterans over the age of 65. According to the recent VHA data, the average age for DFU Veterans having Lower Limb Amputations due to DFUs is 66.2 years old. The majority were eligible to receive CMS covered HBOT treatments as an insured, covered and approved treatment. The VHA data indicates the last 20-years on average 93.7 percent of DFU Veterans are not receiving HBOT treatments. Conversely, the Medicare Civilian Wound / HBOT Center average is 74 percent HBOT heal rate for DFU cases when treated with aggressive vascular intervention, wound care plus HBOT. The addition of HBOT to the Plan of Care for At Risk for amputation patients provides a unique wound healing environment. HBOT uniquely grows new capillary blood vessels that were destroyed by Diabetes and thereby improves blood flow to provide additional oxygen, boost the immune system to fight infection and speeds overall healing as compared to wound care without HBOT. The 50-page report raises several questions: If Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has been approved since 2002 and Veterans are eligible to receive these insured and approved treatments, why is the VHA delaying timely referrals or denying Veterans access to treatment that will save their lives in 74% of cases? If there is even a 15-day delay in referring at LLA Risk DFU Wagner Grade III Veterans for HBOT treatments outside the VHA, it is potentially a death sentence for the Veterans. The report indicates an estimated annual $2.7 billion spend for Veteran DFU and Lower Limb Amputation in surgical, hospitalization, aftercare, prosthesis and wheelchair, and disability costs. All 2021 DFU 9,542 Veterans could have been treated with CMS, FDA, and Tricare approved HBOT for approximately $115 million, just 4% of the estimated total VA annual cost. The doctrine of Informed Consent seeks to ensure that doctors: tell patients of their diagnosis; and that those patients understand the nature and purpose of recommended interventions; and, most importantly, that patients are made aware of the burdens, risks and expected benefits of all options under the Code of Medical Ethics Opinion 2.1.1. Are the VHA medical doctors informing DFU Veterans they are entitled to receive HBOT treatments outside the VHA? Are DFU Veterans being referred to outside HBOT services on a timely basis? Are Veterans told the mortality rates for LLAs as opposed to the success rate when HBOT is used? The VHA currently does not operate any HBOT chambers in their 1,298 healthcare facilities nationwide. There are an estimated 1,156 hospitals across the U.S. with HBOT chambers staffed with medically qualified, trained, and certified personnel. Hundreds of private clinics already treat DFUs safely and effectively. The HBOT infrastructure exists to treat all DFU patients. The full 50-page report including recommendations may be viewed on the TreatNOW website, www.treatnow.org. TreatNOW is requesting that diabetic Veterans under VHA healthcare with a DFU or LLA get in touch so that we can pass information and speak with them or a family member about their DFU and medical experience. By Eric Koleda, TreatNOW.org, ewk7405@aol.com ### The information provided by TreatNOW.org does not constitute a medical recommendation. It is intended for informational purposes only, and no claims, either real or implied, are being made. Rep. Laura Smith, D-Helena, speaks at a rally urging Gov. Greg Gianforte to accept $10 million in PEBT funding to help feed Montana children that his administration has this year chosen to decline. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) A handful of Democratic Montana lawmakers and other political affiliates rallied at the state Capitol on Monday, urging Gov. Greg Gianforte and his administration to switch course and opt back into a federal program that would send $10 million to the state to help feed schoolchildren. States have until July 14 to opt into the federal Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, which the Department of Public Health and Human Services said at the end of May it would decline to pursue citing a significant administrative burden for what was meant to be a temporary program, as a spokesperson told the Daily Montanan. Sen. Shannon OBrien, D-Missoula; Rep. Laura Smith, D-Helena; YWCA Helena Director Jen Gursky; congressional candidate Kev Hamm; and political adviser and author Ryan Busse spoke on the northern plaza of the Capitol, saying the Republican governor and his administration can do better and agree to move forward with the program. This doesnt have to be about partisan politicking; it can just be about simply saying yes, Gursky told the roughly four dozen people gathered for the rally. We dont have to be partisan, and we can say yes to some needs that supersede the political shenanigans that have become very real consequences for our neighbors. The program, which 39 other states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories have opted into for the summer, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides children benefits through a card to purchase food. The Montana Food Bank Network and dozens of other groups have called on Gianforte to go after the money because they say it would help feed 73,000 children in Montana. The USDA told the Daily Montanan in June it hopes to work with states to help facilitate the process if states need support, but the state has so far declined to move forward with obtaining the federal money. The deadline to distribute the benefits is Sept. 30, but a USDA spokesperson said it would work with states to issue retroactive benefits after that date. The P-EBT program was part of the federal governments COVID-19 response and started in 2020 and helped feed children who would have received free or reduced lunches if their schools were not closed. Since the public health emergency declaration expired in May, the program is ending as well. Montana received at least $94 million in P-EBT benefits since 2020, according to the Montana Budget and Policy Center. DPHHS applied for the funds during the 2021-22 school year after public pressure, and the state received an estimated $27 million last year. DPHHS said 96 schools or districts participated in the program last summer. A budget amendments report from June notes that the FY2023 budget was amended to establish authority for two administrative grants worth nearly $1.1 million total to help the state with the administrative burden of issuing P-EBT benefits to families and children. A spokesperson for DPHHS responded to questions Monday afternoon about what was done with that money saying that he would have that information on Tuesday. Smith, a former deputy director at DPHHS, said she worked with the USDA previously to implement the program and said she was feeling deja vu at the current situation. Here we are again, with assertions of administratively burdensome. This is where you get creative or you get flexible. I actually personally called the USDA a couple of days ago and they told me they are willing to be flexible with states, they are willing to work with states to find a path forward, she said. We call B.S. We call it like it is. Its not too late to prioritize our kids and find a path forward. The Office of Public Instruction is administering a food program for children this summer called the Summer Food Service Program at certain sites across the state paid for with USDA funding, but the group at the Capitol on Monday said it was not enough and that Gianfortes administration should push forward and request the P-EBT funding as well. Busse, whom the Montana Free Press reported in late June was considering challenging Gianforte for the governors office next year, told the crowd how his wife had run a pop-up camp to serve needy kids in Kalispell and how the food she would serve them was often the only good meal of their days. He said the government choosing to forego money to feed children is plain evil. We have a governor that has all the time in the world to cheer these divisive politics. He can sign bill after bill after bill making the rich richer and the working people worse off, Busse said. But he cant be bothered to take five minutes and to sign a piece of paper to get money out thats already allocated to our state because the work Sen. [Jon] Tester has done through the Department of Agriculture. OBrien talked about food insecurity among more than 28,000 Montana children and the food deserts that exist in parts of the state saying it was wrong that any child or family has to go to bed hungry and urging the governor to take action as the chief executive of the state. There is no excuse for declining access to these funds, OBrien said. I am tired of the false rhetoric that our governor actually cares. I know he believes he does, but he needs to be in touch with our families. He needs to understand whats really going on, and leaving these mouths unfed is not OK anymore. The post Democrats call on Gianforte to accept millions from feds to feed Montana schoolchildren appeared first on Daily Montanan. Farmers and growers are being are asked to remain vigilant after the government confirmed findings of Colorado potato beetle larvae in Kent today. Beetle larvae identified in a field in Kent was confirmed by Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) as Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). It is the first time an outbreak of the beetle has been confirmed in the UK since 1977, although they are endemic in large parts of Europe. If not eradicated, Colorado potato beetles are a significant threat to potato crops. However, they are not a threat to human or animal health. Adult beetles and larvae feed on the foliage of potato and other plants in the nightshade family and can completely strip them of their leaves if they are left uncontrolled. Confirmation was made following laboratory diagnosis of samples taken by APHAs Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate. The government said APHA was working with the affected grower to eradicate the pest from the site. This includes performing a 1km survey to determine whether there are further cases beyond the immediately infested area. UK Chief Plant Health Officer Nicola Spence said: "Following a report, our experts have identified the presence of Colorado beetle larvae in a potato field in Kent. "We are responding swiftly through our eradication programme, involving ground surveillance to look for beetles and larvae at the outbreak site and surrounding area. "Whilst this pest does not pose a threat to human health, we encourage all growers, farmers, processors and the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings, especially in Kent." Farmers and growers in particular are being encouraged to remain vigilant for signs of the pest. The beetle is bright yellow or orange with black stripes and is usually between 8.5-11.5mm in length and 3mm in width. Its larvae are a reddish brown in colour, round and globular, and up to 15mm in length. The beetle is not endemic to the UK and is currently regulated as a Great Britain quarantine pest, with import and movement restrictions in place for susceptible host material. APHA is obligated by the government to act upon the current findings and eradicate this pest to support the UK's efforts to maintain this status. Boris Johnson has become a father again - to son Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson. Carrie Johnson gave birth to their third child on July 5 The former British Prime Minister's wife Carrie Johnson, 35, gave birth to the couple's third child on July 5, with his spouse sharing the eccentric name for their newest addition to the family. Carrie - who also has Wilfred, born in April 2020, and Romy, who arrived into the world in December 2021, with the 59-year-old controversial politician - announced on Instagram alongside a series of photographs of Frankie sleeping: "Welcome to the world Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson born 5th July at 9.15am. (Can you guess which name my husband chose?!) "Am loving every minute of the sleepy baby bubble. Seeing my older two embrace their new brother with such joy and excitement has been the most wonderful thing to see. We are all very smitten." Carrie praised the NHS team at University College London Hospital for taking care of their newborn. She added: "Thank you so much to the incredible NHS maternity team at UCLH. They really are the most amazing, caring people. I feel such immense gratitude. Now, can anyone recommend any good series/box sets to binge while breastfeeding? Time for a drink." Boris also had four children with his ex-wife Marina Wheeler, and fathered a child in 2009 with arts consultant Helen McIntyre. The new arrival comes after Boris quit as an MP after receiving the Partygate report. The ex-PM claimed he was driven "out of parliament" after receiving the report into whether he lied to MPs over breaking COVID-19 rules amid lockdown. Boris said in a statement last month that the privileges committee - which has been investigating his behaviour during lockdown - made it clear "that they are determined" to kick him out of parliament. He said: "I have written to my association in Uxbridge and South Ruislip to say that I am stepping down forthwith and triggering an immediate by-election. "I am very sorry to leave my wonderful constituency. It has been a huge honour to serve them, both as Mayor and MP." Boris has been accused of misleading parliament by insisting that all COVID rules were followed at Downing Street during his infamous lockdown gatherings. Boris - who left office in September - claims that the committee "have still not produced a shred of evidence that I knowingly or recklessly misled the Commons." Boris claims to be the victim of a "witch hunt". He said: "I am now being forced out of parliament by a tiny handful of people, with no evidence to back up their assertions, and without the approval even of Conservative party members let alone the wider electorate." Meanwhile, he also used his statement to slam current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his government. He said: "When I left office last year the government was only a handful of points behind in the polls. That gap has now massively widened. "Just a few years after winning the biggest majority in almost half a century, that majority is now clearly at risk. Our party needs urgently to recapture its sense of momentum and its belief in what this country can do." Julia Fox got "permanently banned" from a Bloomingdale's store after being caught stealing as a teenager. Julia Fox stole from a Bloomingdale's store as a teen and still feels guilty The 'Uncut Gems' actress - who had a brief fling with rapper Kanye West, 46, in 2022, following his split from 42-year-old Skims founder Kim Kardashian - has revealed she had a "full circle moment" when she did a festive campaign with the department store, eight years after she was caught shoplifting when she was 15 in 2005. She told ET Canada: "I've had so many full circle moments like that. I actually got caught shoplifting at Bloomingdale's and I was 15 and I was permanently banned from the store. "And then like eight years later, I did like a little holiday campaign for them." The 33-year-old model was a nervous wreck when she walked into that very store all those years later. She recalled: "And I remember when I came up, when I walked in in the morning, they asked for my I.D. and I was like, 'Oh my God, are they going to like, look in the system and see that I'm like, bad?' And whatever they didn't, they let me in. "But it's like, you know, I still kind of live with that, like trauma. Like, like I still like when I walk by police officers, like, hold my breath and like, look straight ahead." Julia - who has obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and autism - says she still suffers "trauma" and carries "scars" from her "past". The fashion designer added: "Like I have so much trauma from being arrested and stuff. But, you know, it's like you still carry those, like, scars from your past. Like, you know, I am, I guess, a different girl now, but I still feel like the same little 13 raggedy, 13 year old." Before launching her career, Julia worked in a shoe store, an ice cream shop, a pastry shop, and had a brief side hustle as a dominatrix for six months while studying at City-As-School High School in Manhattan. David Tennant heaped praise on his adopted son Ty for his exceptional performance alongside his dad in 'Good Omens'. David Tennant and his son Ty star alongside each other in the second series The 21-year-old actor - who played a young Aegon II Targaryen in HBO's 'House of the Dragon' - stars alongside the 'Doctor Who' star (Crowley) in season two of his hit fantasy comedy series, which was created and written by Neil Gaiman and is based on his and the late Terry Pratchett's 1990 novel of the same name, as Ennon. And the 52-year-old actor said that Ty - who is the biological son of David's wife Georgia Tennant, who gave birth to Ty before she met David - is "very talented and good looking" and he relished the opportunity to share the screen together. Appearing on ITV's 'This Morning' on Tuesday (11.07.23), David - who also discussed reprising his role as the fourteenth Time Lord in 'Doctor Who' last October for Jodie Whittaker's finale in the BBC sci-fi classic - laughed: Hes very good. What a relief. Imagine if he was rubbish? How would we tell him? Before gushing: Hes really good. Hes very talented and good looking. So its lovely and its great to get to work together. David previously admitted he was worried his son would be "rubbish" at acting. After Ty appeared in 'Tolkien', and TV series 'War of the Worlds', his dad confessed that he and Georgia - who also have Olive, 12, Wilf, 19, Doris, eight, and Birdie, three, together - were concerned when Ty first started acting, as they didn't know what to do in the unlikely event that he wasn't cut out for Hollywood. David said: "Acting is a crapshoot anyway, and Georgia and I had this fear when he went into it of, what if we see him in something and he's rubbish? Will we be able to tell him? But as it turns out, he's incredibly talented. Which was a great relief to realise!" The Scottish star keeps his family life out of the public eye, and whilst he says being a dad is "one of the most extraordinary things" he's ever experienced, he doesn't like to open up about his brood. He added: "Our kids are lovely, and I think that being a dad is one of the most extraordinary and life-affirming things that can ever happen to you, as well as being something you have to keep working at if you're going to be any good at it. "But the kids don't ask to be photographed when we're walking down the street, and we've decided that if we don't talk much about them in public, then we can maintain a bit of moral high ground to be able to say to photographers, 'Look, we don't talk about them, so you don't need to take their picture'." David wants to allow his children to "live as normal a life" as possible, and said that whilst he knows fame comes with a price, he thinks it's possible to "preserve a bit of private life, too". Speaking to Candis magazine, he added: "We don't want to be silly about it but we just want to try to live as normal a life as possible outside of work. I am hugely privileged to be a part of the world I am part of, and I knew what I was getting into when I entered it. But I think it is possible to preserve a bit of a private life, too." 'This Morning' airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX. Prime Videos 'Good Omens 2' returns to Prime Video Friday, July 28. Vietnam was the fourth-largest supplier of apparel to Singapore, accounting for 7.07 per cent of the city-state's total imports from January to April 2023. Singapore's overall apparel imports for the period amounted to $700.884 million, with Vietnam's contribution valued at $49.577 million. The three largest contributors were China, Italy, and Indonesia, combining to account for over 54 per cent of total apparel imports to Singapore. An analysis of Singapore's imports from Vietnam shows a decrease of 5.77 per cent from the same period in 2022, when imports totalled $54.610 million. Trade was at $48.749 million in January-April 2021, $47.670 million in January-April 2020, and $43.821 million in January-April 2019, according to Fibre2Fashion's market analysis tool TexPro. In 2022, Singapore's total apparel imports were valued at $2.328 billion, with Vietnam's share at $196.371 million, or 8.43 per cent of the total. This represented a significant jump of 29.51 per cent from $151.620 million in 2021. However, trade decreased by 12.27 per cent to $138.346 million in 2020, down from $157.690 million in 2019. Nevertheless, trade rebounded and grew 9.6 per cent to $151.620 million in 2021, as per TexPro. From January to April 2023, Vietnam was Singapore's 4th largest apparel supplier, contributing $49.577 million, or 7.07 per cent of Singapore's total apparel imports of $700.884 million. However, this represented a 5.77 per cent decrease from the same period in 2022. Year 2022 saw Vietnam's share in Singapore's total apparel imports rise to 8.43 per cent. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) European business confidence towards the Vietnamese market has dropped 4.5 points to 43.5 in the second quarter (Q2) of 2023, according to a recent report released by EuroCham Vietnam, the voice of the European business community in the country. There was a 2 per cent rise in the number of businesses expecting the economy to stabilise or improve. This increase brings the total to nearly one-third of respondents maintaining a positive outlook. European business confidence towards the Vietnamese market dropped 4.5 points to 43.5 in Q2 2023, as per EuroCham Vietnam. Despite the decline, a marginal uptick in businesses foreseeing economic stabilisation was noted. Challenges like securing visas for foreign workers and perceived inadequate infrastructure persist, impacting foreign direct investment. Despite the optimism, there was also a 10 per cent hike in negative feedback regarding the current business landscape and a 6 per cent surge in pessimistic sentiment for the upcoming quarter. In line with these challenges, a 9 per cent increase was observed in business leaders who express a positive outlook for their business prospects in Q3 2023 compared to Q2, as per EuroCham Vietnam's Q2 2023 Business Confidence Index (BCI). In light of the challenges, businesses are focusing on maximising revenue and orders, anticipating a potential decline in these areas. There was a 7 per cent increase in businesses planning to manage investments cautiously in the next quarter. Interestingly, workforce planning remained stable, reflecting companies' determination to maintain stability amidst prevailing conditions. Over 80 per cent of surveyed businesses reported difficulties in securing visas and work permits for foreign workers, with extended processing times and justification for hiring foreign workers among the significant concerns. Moreover, the report threw light on the perceptions of European business leaders towards Vietnam's infrastructure development, with 53 per cent considering it as either very inadequate or lagging behind. Despite the challenges, the 48 per cent of respondents anticipate an increase in their company's foreign direct investment (FDI) in the upcoming quarter. Yet, 40 per cent of businesses have no plans for increased FDI, marking a 4 per cent increase from the previous BCI. Approximately 40 per cent respondents expressed unease about the forthcoming global minimum tax implementation and about 42 per cent reported insufficient understanding of Vietnam's Personal Data Protection Decree. Over half of the businesses surveyed reported benefits from the agreement, with tariff reductions as a significant gain. However, administrative procedures and a lack of understanding remain as the main barriers to fully capitalising on the agreement. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP) There has recently been talk about possible parallels between Atlee's upcoming movie Jawan and the action thriller Gang Leader from 2019. The fact that a group of women band together in both films for a complex crime raises issues about potential sources of inspiration.Rumours have also been circulating about Shah Rukh Khan's role in Jawan, with some suggesting that it may be a remake of the Tamil film Oru Kaidhiyin Diary, starring Kamal Haasan, which was then remade in Hindi as Aakhree Raasta, starring Amitabh Bachchan.However, a reliable source close to Shah Rukh Khan has firmly dismissed these speculations, emphasising that Jawan has no connection whatsoever with Oru Kaidhiyin Diary.It has been revealed that Jawan is actually inspired by the hugely successful Spanish OTT series Money Heist. Contrary to rumours, Jawan is not a direct remake of Money Heist. Instead, it incorporates series-inspired themes while giving the story its own distinctive twist. Fans are very interested and ready to see how the movie will incorporate its influences as a result of the claimed similarities between Jawan and Money Heist. Fans are intrigued and curious because it is still unknown exactly how much Jawan was inspired by the Money Heist and how it was implemented. With this interesting fusion of styles, Jawan promises to enthral the viewer with an engaging plot and thrilling heist aspects. Jawan will be released on September 7 in theatres. Bollywood Actors As Journalists: Navigating the world of journalism requires a deep understanding of its complexities, and these talented actors have captured the essence of those intricate emotions with breathtaking finesse. With their awe-inspiring performances, they have fearlessly dived into the depths of the journalistic realm, skillfully encapsulating the rollercoaster of emotions that define the lives of those who chase the truth. Karishma Tanna in Scoop Stepping into the shoes of the fierce and tenacious Jagruti Pathak in the riveting web series Scoop, Karishma Tanna grabs our attention and refuses to let go. With a delicate balance of vulnerability and strength, she encapsulates the audaciousness and resilience of a journalist fighting against all odds to unearth the truth. Tanna's portrayal grips our emotions, leaving us on the edge of our seats, hungry for more. Jaideep Ahlawat To Kartik Aaryan, OTT Actors Who Have Played Role Of A Journalist And Have Aced It Like Pro Kartik Aaryan in Dhamaka Kartik Aaryan takes us on a rollercoaster ride as Arjun Pathak, a news anchor turned journalist, plunged into a high-stakes hostage situation. Aaryan's magnetic performance delves into the depths of a journalist's soul, capturing the internal conflicts and ethical dilemmas faced in the relentless pursuit of breaking news. Rani Mukerji in No One Killed Jessica In the gripping film "No One Killed Jessica," Rani Mukerji delivers a powerhouse performance as Meera Gaity, an investigative journalist. Mukerji's performance shines a piercing light on the resilience and unwavering determination of a journalist fighting against a corrupt system. Vidya Balan in Jalsa Vidya Balan's performance in "Jalsa" as Maya Menon is nothing short of extraordinary. With her unmatched talent and innate ability to bring characters to life, she delivers a powerhouse portrayal of a journalist caught in a web of ethical dilemmas. SHOCKING! Karishma Tanna Reveals Her Father Never Wanted A Girl Child, Says 'Jab Mai Pada Hui Thi..' Vijay To Quit Acting Soon After He Enters Politics: In a surprising turn of events, Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay has announced his decision to step away from acting in movies after venturing into politics. As tweeted by columnist, author, and film industry tracker Manobala Vijayabalan, the news broke during a recent gathering organized by Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, a political outfit founded by the actor. Kerala State Film Awards 2023: Mammootty, Prithviraj, And Chakochan Competing For Best Actor In Final Round? During today's meeting, Vijay addressed his ardent supporters and members of the Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, making a significant declaration about his future plans. Confirming the speculations that have been circulating for some time, the renowned actor expressed his intent to devote himself entirely to his political career. Vijay's Transition: From Movie World To Political Realm Sparks Excitement And Speculation Vijay's decision to quit acting in movies comes as a surprise to his fans and the film industry, as he has been a prominent figure in the Tamil film fraternity for many years. Known for his charismatic performances and immense popularity among the masses, Vijay has gained a massive fan following throughout his illustrious acting career. Anand TV Film Awards 2023: Mammootty's Surprise Leaves Joju George Emotional And The Audience Stunned With this move, the acclaimed actor aims to immerse himself in Tamil Nadu politics, where he believes he can make a substantial impact and contribute to the betterment of society. While the news may disappoint his legions of movie fans, there are others who rejoice in Vijay's commitment to serving the people through politics. The charismatic actor's journey from the silver screen to the political arena is sure to be closely monitored, and his every move will be scrutinised as he steps into this new role. Vijay's dedicated followers eagerly await further updates and anticipate his contributions to the political landscape with great anticipation. As reported earlier, Joseph Vijay CONFIRMED to QUIT acting in movies after entering politics. The actor has made this big statement in today's meet with Vijay Makkal Iyakkam. Manobala Vijayabalan (@ManobalaV) July 11, 2023 Dhanush Directs Selvaraghavan: It has been reported that director Selvaraghavan is acting in Dhanush's direction in the film D50. Fans are getting excited after knowing this information. Dhanush Completed Shooting For Captain Miller One of the leading actors of Kollywood, Dhanush was last seen in Vaathi directed by Venky Atluri. The film was a flop in Tamil Nadu. Dhanush is now acting in Captain Miller directed by Arun Matheswaran, who was an assistant director to Thiyagarajan Kumararaja. Arun directed the films Saani Kaayidham and Rocky. Dhanush and his fans are expecting that this film will definitely become a super hit. The final shooting of the film is going on in full swing. Looks like Dhanush's portion is over. The film is produced by Sathya Jyothi Films. Meanwhile, an update on Dhanush's 50th film was revealed. Accordingly, he is going to direct the film himself. It is said that the upcoming film will be based in North Chennai and may be titled Raayan. The film is produced by Sun Pictures on a grand scale. It is believed that Dhanush's Power Paandi movie with Rajkiran has already received a huge response, so this film is sure to be a hit as well. #Selvaraghavan expected to do an important role in #D50 Excited to see how Director #Dhanush is going to handle Actor Selvaraghavan [ Valaipechu] pic.twitter.com/1nhRABJWOc AmuthaBharathi (@CinemaWithAB) July 10, 2023 Pudhuppettai Combo Is Back Dhanush recently went to Tirupati and shaved his head. After that, it was talked about as the look of Dhanush's 50th film. To confirm it, Dhanush was in the same look in the announcement poster of the film. The initial work for the film has accelerated. In this situation, a new information about Dhanush 50 has come out and surprised everyone. Accordingly, it is said that the director and Dhanush's brother Selvaraghavan will play an important role in this film. Dhanush made his debut in Selvaraghavan's direction and now Dhanush is going to direct Selvaragavan. Meanwhile, a rumor surfaced last month. That is, Selvaraghavan is going to direct the second part of 7G Rainbow Colony. So Selvaraghavan has now embarked on related work. So the question arises whether Selvaraghavan will work on 7G Rainbow Colony 2 while acting in D50 or will he will postpone 7G for D50? GP Muthu's Reply To Blue Sattai Maran: The video posted by GP Muthu, in which he replied to blue sattai maran who earlier called him a pig, has created a sensation. Vetri, Shivani Narayanan starrer Bumper movie released last week featuring Bigg Boss celebrity GP Muthu. GP Muthu, who is famous for his Tik Tok videos, participated in Bigg Boss Season 6 as a contestant. GP Muthu Gets Movie Opportunities GP Muthu left the Bigg Boss house within a week and continues to act in many films. Bigg Boss fame Shivani and 8 Thottakkal hero Vetri, Hareesh Peradi starrer Bumper received many reviews saying that the movie is good to watch and the screenplay has no flaws. Blue Sattai Maran also appreciated this film. But at the end, he said "They spoiled the film by bringing a pig inside. The film would have been better if they had found out the pig and killed it there." Recently, Maamannan, directed by Mari Selvaraj and starring Udhayanidhi Stalin, was shot beautifully with a pig. In this situation, the controversy had broke out saying that Blue Sattai Maran has criticized GP Muthu as a pig. 'Pig Bite' Response Video Goes Viral Many netizens shared their opinion in favour of Blue Sattai Maran. But a few told that his choice of words should be condemned irrespective of the person he is talking about. In such a situation, GP Muthu himself released a video from his official Instagram page saying, "Blue Sattai Maran gave good review for Bumper movie. But, he says that a pig is coming in between, did he cal me as a pig? Hey, am I a pig? Do you know what happens when a pig bites? you pissed me off unnecessarily.. I will not leave you." GP Muthu fans are pacifying him in the comments. Also, many comments are pouring in, lashing out at Blue Sattai Maran. Bigg Boss OTT 2: Love or hate but you cannot debate that Jiya Shankar is ruling hearts inside the Bigg Boss house. Be it her friendship with Abhishek Malhan and Jad Hadid or her cute antics, she has been hogging all the limelight in Salman Khan's reality show. The TV diva has grabbed several eyeballs with her glamorous avatar in BB OTT. JIYA SHANKAR WEEKEND KA VAAR DRESS COST It won't be wrong to say that she is the most fashionable contestant of the show. Her Weekend Ka Vaar outfits have created ripples on the internet. Remember the dress that she wore for the latest WKV episode? Well, the cost of the attire will leave you shocked. Yes, we are not kidding. The Pishachini actress donned a stunning outfit that was styled by Krishi (Kishan Pandya). The Marathi Mulgi looked drop-dead gorgeous in a lavender Organza Bandeau gown that she carried with grace during the Weekend Ka Vaar episode. According to a report in Mid-Day, the gown-making took almost 300 man hours of work to complete. The beautifully crafted piece was hand embroidered with Japanese glass beads. Yes, you read that right! Sequins and pearls were also added to make it into flower vibes motifs. Designer Rachit Khanna is the mastermind behind the stunning creation. Drop everything and check out pictures from the photoshoot. Jiya Shankar has been ruling the roost when it comes to her sartorial choices in Bigg Boss OTT 2. She donned a saree that costs Rs 5.5 lakh. It also took over 300 hours to make. Considering her style statement and good looks, she has already earned a significant fan following across different age groups. Fans believe that she can emerge as a finalist along with Fukra Insaan and Pooja Bhatt. On a related note, Jiya Shankar recently took a stand for herself when Falaq Naaz and Avinash Sachdev went to Pooja Bhatt and complained about her. When Pooja confronted Jiya and asked if she used the word 'revenge', the actress was taken aback. She did clarify what she said and later confronted Avinash about the same, expressing her displeasure. TV Actress Nose Surgery: Actress Sumati Singh, who is known for her roles in shows such as Roop - Mard Ka Naya Swaroop and Amma Ke Babu Ki Baby, is now perfectly cutting the arc with her acting as Kirti in the daily soap Kismat Ki Lakiro Se. Apart from bagging such a pivotal role for herself, the actress once had to struggle for even a small role on TV. She has come a long way, and with her hard work and nuanced acting skills, she has made a strong stand in the television industry, and now she is a household name amongst the television audience for her several characters. Her success has not come so easily; it was full of hurdles, and in an interview with ETimes, she revealed that she had met an unfortunate accident in the past that led to her nose getting broken and her going through painful surgeries twice. She also opened up about all the things she had to face due to the accident and how she coped with the situation. This incident happened with her back in 2021, while the actress was doing a Star Bharat show, Amma Ke Babu Ke Baby, and talking about how the incident took place, she says, "One day after wrapping up my shoot, I went for a jog with one my co-actress friend, and there was construction going on in my area, and I still don't know what exactly happened with me that my legs got entangled in a concrete material, due to which I fell on my face and I hit on the big slabs used for making roads and dividers. And the left side of my nose was totally broken, and the right side of the nose's bone was displaced, so I started bleeding." Her co-star friend got panicked, and they both rushed to the hospital. She also recalls the time when she felt something wrong had happened to her, to which she says, "We rushed to a nearby hospital's emergency department, and they first stopped my bleeding, then they did the x-ray, and in that, it was showing that my bones inside my nose have broken into many small pieces, so the doctors told me to go for surgery otherwise this is not going to cure, and it was shocking for me because at that moment, I was doing the show, which was on air, and it shocked me from the heart and mind." She also opens up about visiting more doctors to get cured without surgery, but the actress says, "Everyone was not fully sure about curing it without any surgery, and the only way left to get my broken nose fully cured was to get a surgery done, and till that time my face was fully swollen and I was looking way different." Sumati was not left with options, and she went through surgeries, and it was the most depressing incident of her life." Talking about how deeply it affected her and how she overcame that situation, Sumati says, "Every morning I used to hide in a bathroom and cry for 10-15 minutes because my whole face was changed and I looked very weird." The actress went through the surgeries in March 2021, and after the operations, her nose was almost the same as it used to be before the accident. Talking about her situation after the surgery, she shares, "I was not able to eat or drink anything properly; my face was swollen up, and there were a lot of marks on my face and nose after 10 days of the removal of the cap." She recalls getting an offer from the show in less than a month after the accident. She says, "I used to do my own make-up, take care of myself, do icing, and then give a shot. I used to take a bucket full of ice to my hotel room and do the icing of my face for the whole week to get rid of swelling." Film Brings Evil into Light and Hope to Two Million Trafficked Children JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Goya Cares, an executive producer of the new blockbuster movie SOUND OF FREEDOM, celebrates the overwhelming success of surpassing the goal of over two million viewers to represent the two million children trafficked worldwide. "Although Tim Ballard, played by Jim Caviezel, saved many children, his focus on the mission to save one child, Rocio, is like the parable of the Lost Sheep, where the Good Shepherd leaves his flock to find one lost sheep. Indeed, every life has value and purpose. The SOUND OF FREEDOM brings this truth to light," said Bob Unanue, President and CEO of Goya Foods, and Executive Producer of SOUND OF FREEDOM. Goya Cares, inspired by THE SOUND OF FREEDOM, is a global initiative dedicated to combating child trafficking and educating on child mental health. The initiative brings together organizations, schools, and businesses to show solidarity and ultimately to protect the most vulnerable, our children. Partners of the Goya Cares coalition help to recover, restore, and reunite survivors, while also helping raise awareness and provide schools with free access to preventative education that helps recognize the dangers of child trafficking through the Goya Cares' educational series LIGHT. To learn more about Goya Cares, please visit: www.goyacares.com About Goya Foods Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America's largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 2,500 high-quality food products from Spain, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central, and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world. The combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings, and convenient preparation makes Goya products ideal for every taste and every table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com. Press Contact: Natalie J. Maniscalco 845.659.6506 natalie@retromedianyc.com Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyyyKcfJRGQ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1560134/4154985/Goya_Cares.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sound-of-freedom-executive-produced-by-goya-cares-soars-in-theaters-301873569.html JINAN, China, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Shandian News report: In efforts to build an international platform for young people across the globe where they can exchange ideas, deepen friendship, learn more about the traditional Chinese culture, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the 2023 Global Youth Conference was held in Shandong from July 6 to 9. More than 1,000 guests and youth representatives from 85 countries and regions were gathered in the province for the event. The conference, the first offline gathering of international youth in Shandong after the pandemic, is a major event for international youth exchanges and cooperation. Through mutual learning, attendees at home and abroad have enhanced mutual understanding, forged friendship, and worked together for common development. The conference was co-hosted by Shandong Provincial People's Government, Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, All-China Youth Federation, and China Soong Ching Ling Foundation. Under the theme of New Era, New Civilization, New Youth, New Mission, the conference consists of the opening ceremony, main forum "Huanghewan Youth Economic Forum", parallel forums, youth-themed exhibitions, international youth gala, and tours in multiple cities. At the opening ceremony on July 7, the conference released ten programs of international youth exchanges and ten excellent projects of the Global Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, rolled out The Report on the Development of Chinese Youth in New Professions under the New Employment Patterns and The Research Report on the Path to Accelerate the Development of a Pilot Zone of Institutional Opening-up in Shandong, initiated 2 international organizations, namely Global Youth Conference and International Alliance on Young Entrepreneurs' Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and released the Jinan Declaration of the 2023 Global Youth Conference. 12 foreign investment projects with a contract value of 5.16 billion yuan (roughly 713 million US dollars) were signed at the Global Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum, one of the parallel forums of the 2023 Global Youth Conference. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2151163/Weixin_Image_20230710173522.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-2023-global-youth-conference-opens-in-shandong-301873695.html Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen strengthened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Tuesday. The yen rose to near 3-week highs of 154.93 against the euro, 181.00 against the pound and 159.02 against the Swiss franc, from yesterday's closing quotes of 155.45, 181.71 and 159.59, respectively. From yesterday's closing value of 87.75 against the NZ dollar, the yen climbed to nearly a 3-week high of 87.48. Against the U.S., the Australia and the Canadian dollars, the yen advanced to near 4-week highs of 140.61, 94.02 and 106.05 from Monday's closing quotes of 141.31, 94.32 and 106.40, respectively. If the yen extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 150.00 against the euro, 175.00 against the pound, 154.00 against the franc, 84.00 against the kiwi, 138.00 against the greenback, 90.00 against the aussie and 102.00 against the loonie. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSXV:CTH)(OTCQB:CTHCF) ("CoTec" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Corporation's CEO, Julian Treger, will be presenting at the Emerging Growth Conference on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 10:15am to 10:45am EDT. Investors that want to attend the presentation may do so through the following link: https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1603282&tp_key=1cd1dcc46a&sti=cthcf Attendees are requested to either submit questions in advance at Questions@EmergingGrowth.com or through the online function during the event. About CoTec CoTec is an ESG-focused company investing in innovative technologies which have the potential to fundamentally change the way metals and minerals can be extracted and processed. The Company is committed to supporting the transition to a lower carbon future for the extraction industry, a sector on the cusp of a green revolution as it embraces technology and innovation. CoTec is a publicly traded mining issuer listed on the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange (CTH) and the OTCQB (CTHCF). For further information, please contact: Braam Jonker - (604) 992-5600 Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement Statements in this press release regarding the Company and its investments which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including statements relating to management's expectations with respect to its current and potential future investments and the benefits to the Company which may be implied from such statements. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. For further details regarding risks and uncertainties facing the Company please refer to "Risk Factors" in the Company's filing statement dated April 6, 2022, a copy of which may be found under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: CoTec Holdings Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766806/CoTec-Holdings-Corp-Announces-Presentation-at-Emerging-Growth-Conference Pixium Vision announces the agreement to extend the maturity date of the outstanding notes associated with the terminatedESGO financing facility Paris, France, July 11, 2023 - 07:00 CET - Pixium Vision SA (Euronext Growth Paris - FR0011950641; Mnemo: ALPIX), a bioelectronics company that develops innovative bionic vision systems to enable patients who have lost their sight to live more independent lives, announces today that it successfully negotiated an extension of the maturity date, by 6 months, of the 125 outstanding notes amounting to 1.25 million. The new maturity date is January 13, 2024. On February 13, 2023, Pixium Vision announced the termination of the convertible note financing agreement signed with ESGO on July 13, 2022, for a maximum total frame of 30 million. Pixium Vision drew a first tranche of 550 notes amounting to 5.5 million on July 13, 2022 with a maturity of one year. To date, 125 notes amounting to 1.25 million remain outstanding to be converted by ESGO or repaid by Pixium Vision for their nominal value if not converted by ESGO before their maturity date. Pixium Vision and ESGO mutually agreed to extend the maturity date of these outstanding notes to January 13, 2024. CEO Lloyd Diamond commented: "I am grateful to announce the continued supportby our financing partner ESGO. Despite the termination of our agreement,we thank ESGO for the continued support of Pixium Vision." As indicated in previous press releases), Pixium Vision continues to actively seek financing options to support its strategic ambitions. The Company is actively working with two investment banks mandated to assist in its search for investors worldwide. The Company's cash runway is currently still estimated until the end of September 2023. About Pixium Vision Pixium Vision is creating a world of bionic vision for those who have lost their sight, enabling them to regain visual perception and greater autonomy. Pixium Vision's bionic vision systems are associated with a surgical intervention and a rehabilitation period. Prima System sub-retinal miniature photovoltaic wireless implant is in clinical testing for patients who have lost their sight due to outer retinal degeneration, initially for atrophic dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD). Pixium Vision collaborates closely with academic and research partners, including some of the most prestigious vision research institutions in the world, such as Stanford University in California, Institut de la Vision in Paris, Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, Institute of Ocular Microsurgery (IMO) in Barcelona, University hospital in Bonn, and UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA. The Company is EN ISO 13485 certified and qualifies as "Entreprise Innovante" by Bpifrance. Forward-Looking Statements. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risques") section of the Company's 2022 Annual Financial Report and other documents the Company files with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website (www.amf- france.org) or on the Company's website. For more information: http://www.pixium-vision.com/fr Follow us on @PixiumVision ; www.facebook.com/pixiumvision www.linkedin.com/company/pixium-vision For more information: http://www.pixium-vision.com/fr Follow us on @PixiumVision ; www.facebook.com/pixiumvision www.linkedin.com/company/pixium-vision Contacts Investor Relations Pixium Vision Offer Nonhoff Chief Financial Officer investors@pixium-vision.com (mailto:investors@pixium-vision.com) Media Relations Rose Piquante Consulting Sophie Baumont Sophie.baumont@rosepiquante-consulting.com +33 6 27 74 74 49 Attachment a 70 MW green hydrogen plant to deliver up to 30 tons of green hydrogen per day into the pipeline of the mosaHYc hydrogen island network Construction is scheduled to begin in the 1st half of 2027 Nantes (France), 11 July 2023, 7:30 am CEST - Lhyfe (EURONEXT: LHYFE), a global pioneer in the production of renewable green hydrogen for transportation and industrial applications, announces the development of a 70 MW green hydrogen plant in Perl, Saarland, Germany. Construction is scheduled to begin in the 1st half of 2027. The plant is planned to deliver up to 30 tons of green hydrogen per day into the pipeline of the mosaHYc hydrogen island network. In this way, both partners are making an important contribution to the transformation and future viability of Saarland as an industrial location and the entire Grande Region (Saarland-Lorraine-Luxemburg). Specifically, existing pipelines around Volkingen (Germany), Carling (France), Bouzonville (France) and Perl (Germany) are being examined for their suitability as hydrogen pipelines. In addition, the construction of new pipelines from Bouzonville in the direction of Dillingen is planned. Along the mosaHYc pipeline there are a number of industrial consumers who can benefit from the advantages of green hydrogen. "We welcome the fact that the state of Saarland and the city of Perl are focusing on the rapid expansion of a hydrogen infrastructure based on renewable energies. For the construction of the plant, we use state-of-the-art electrolysis technologies with smart software so that the feed-in of electricity from renewable sources can be optimised. The project will make a significant contribution to providing competitive and cost-competitive green hydrogen for industry in Saarland" says Luc Grare, Head of Central & Eastern Europe at Lhyfe. Hydrogen plays a key role in the decarbonisation of the transport and mobility sector. To achieve the climate targets, capacities must be ramped up nationwide. Projects like the one in Perl prove that close cooperation with municipal decision-makers can make a significant contribution to climate neutrality in industry. Perl's mayor, Ralf Uhlenbruch, welcomes the cooperation and emphasises: "The Saarland has officially been part of the HyExpert hydrogen model region since August 2020. The planned Lhyfe plant is a significant milestone in the expansion of the regional hydrogen economy. This project is a prime example of the industrial transformation initiated by the EU to supply established industries with green hydrogen, emission-free and across borders. Moreover, it lays the foundation for a new economic sector, new jobs and further important investments in the border triangle. The Lhyfe production facility and the mosaHYc pipeline are only the beginning of a sustainable and innovative development. In the future, our citizens should also be able to benefit directly from the use of hydrogen, for example in local public transport and in the energy supply." The project's implementation is subject to the granting of operating authorizations and construction permits, as well as to financial investment decisions. For an interview with the spokespersons above, please contact the press department. Click to access the Lhyfe Media Kit (press kit and visuals) About Lhyfe Lhyfe is a European group devoted to energy transition, and a producer and supplier of green and renewable hydrogen. Its production sites and portfolio of projects intend to provide access to green and renewable hydrogen in industrial quantities, and enable the creation of a virtuous energy model capable of decarbonising entire sectors of industry and transport. In 2021, Lhyfe inaugurated the first industrial-scale green hydrogen production plant in the world to be interconnected with a wind farm. In 2022, Lhyfe inaugurated the first offshore green hydrogen production pilot platform in the world. Lhyfe is represented in 11 European countries and had 149 staff at the end of 2022. The company is listed on the Euronext market in Paris (ISIN: FR0014009YQ1 - LHYFE). Lhyfe.com Contacts: Lhyfe: Industry Press Relations Nouvelles Graines Clemence Rebours: +33 (0)6 60 57 76 43 c.rebours@nouvelles-graines.com Financial Press Relations ACTUS Manon Clairet +33 (0)1 53 67 36 73 mclairet@actus.fr Investor Relations LHYFE Yoann Nguyen investors@lhyfe.com ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: lmdwkcmZlmydmWlrl51rZ2mXbGySlGCcbGKVnGRoZJ+YaHGTmpmXbZ3JZnFhnmdv - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-80929-20230711_cp-lhyfe-x-perl_en-vdef.pdf July 11, 2023,Oslo, Norway: Based on a preliminary review, PGS expects to report Revenues and Other Income according to IFRS for Q2 2023 of approximately $156 million, compared to $273.6 million in Q2 2022. The Company expects Produced Revenues* for Q2 2023 of approximately $186 million, compared to $209.7 million in Q2 2022. Contract revenues ended at approximately $71 million in Q2 2023, compared to $62.8 million in Q2 2022. MultiClient late sales revenues were approximately $55 million in Q2 2023, compared to $108.2 million in Q2 2022, when the Company benefited from significant transfer fees. Estimated Produced MultiClient Pre-funding Revenues* in Q2 2023 were approximately $54 million compared to $32.6 million in Q2 2022. MultiClient pre-funding revenues based on IFRS, where revenues are recognized at the time of delivery of finally processed data, were approximately $24 million in Q2 2023, compared to $96.5 million in Q2 2022. IFRS revenues for Q2 were lower than previously estimated due to changes to delivery time for completed data. "Our Q2 revenues confirm an improving seismic market, consideringtheweather related challenges we encountered in the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea in the early part of the Europe season, and a delayed yard stay for Ramform Sovereign in Asia Pacific. I am pleased to see a meaningful pick up of MultiClient late sales which more than doubled sequentially from Q1.We used an overweight of 3D vessel time for MultiClient acquisition with a pre-funding level above 120% of capitalized cash cost. For contract surveys, we continue to deliver improving rates and margins. Our contract revenues in the quarter include approximately $5 million relating to our firstoffshore wind site characterization survey in the Irish Sea. We are encouraged by our progress in this area. With the latest announced contract award our current Ultra High Resolution 3D system is booked on attractive work to late Q1 2024," says President & CEO Rune Olav Pedersen, and continues: "In July Ramform Victory commenced acquisition of a pre-funded MultiClient project in the Norwegian Sea. The vesselwas scheduled to commence on the large 4D contract job in Brazilaround mid-year but is now expected to steam from Norway late August. Contract scope is unchanged, and departure is postponed to avoid risk of standby time in Brazil. The schedule for Ramform Titan was impacted by a contract termination announced in June. The vessel is now mobilizing for a MultiClient program offshore Egypt. Acquisition will start later in July with duration of approximately 40 days." PGS routinely releases information about 3D vessel utilization after the end of each quarter. The table below summarizes Q2 2023 vessel allocation: Approximate allocation of PGS operated 3D towed streamer capacity Quarter ended June 30, Quarter ended March 31, 2023 2022 2023 Contract seismic 33% 41% 50% MultiClient seismic 43% 24% 23% Steaming 12% 14% 11% Yard 9% 9% 2% Stacked/Standby 3% 12% 14% The Q2 2023 vessel statistics includes six active 3D vessels. All cold-stacked** vessels are excluded from the statistics. The comparative periods are also based on six active 3D vessels. The Company provides this information based on a preliminary summary of Q2 2023 numbers. The Company has not completed its financial reporting and related consolidation, review and control procedures, including the final review of all sales against the established revenue recognition criteria. The estimates provided in this release are therefore subject to change and the Q2 2023 financial statements finally approved and released by the Company may deviate from the information herein. PGS will publish its Q2 2023 earnings release on Thursday July 20, 2023, at approximately 07:00am Central European Summer Time (CEST). Presentation of the Q2 2023 results is scheduled to start at 09:30am CEST the same day. *Produced Revenues, when used by the Company, means revenues and other income based on recognition of MultiClient pre-funding revenues on a Percentage-of completion (POC) basis. Adjustments between IFRS revenues and Produced Revenues for each quarter in 2022 and 2023 are shown in the table below: 2022 2023 $ Million Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 MultiClient pre-funding revenues, IFRS 15 96 19 9 16 24 Less Revenue for projects with IFRS performance obligations met during the quarter for completed projects 15 96 19 9 16 24 Add Revenue recognized on a POC basis during the quarter 19 33 37 43 46 54 Produced MultiClient Pre-funding Revenues 19 33 37 43 46 54 **The term "cold-stacked" is used when a vessel is taken out of operation for an extended period of time. Costs are reduced to a minimum, with the vessel preserved for a long idle time, all or most in-sea seismic equipment removed from the vessel, and typically the Company does not have available crew to operate the vessel. FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: Bard Stenberg, VP IR & Corporate Communication Mobile: +47 99 24 52 35 *** PGS ASA and its subsidiaries. *** The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are based on various assumptions made by the Company, which are beyond its control and are subject to certain additional risks and uncertainties. The Company is subject to a large number of risk factors including but not limited to the demand for seismic services, the demand for data from our multi-client data library, the attractiveness of our technology, unpredictable changes in governmental regulations affecting our markets and extreme weather conditions. For a further description of other relevant risk factors we refer to our Annual Report for 2022. As a result of these and other risk factors, actual events and our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The reservation is also made that inaccuracies or mistakes may occur in the information given above about current status of the Company or its business. Any reliance on the information above is at the risk of the reader, and PGS disclaims any and all liability in this respect. --END-- Sidharth Pisharoti MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and MUMBAI, India, July 11, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - CleverTap, the all-in-one engagement platform, today announced the appointment of Sidharth Pisharoti as the new Chief Revenue Officer. In his new role, Sidharth will be responsible for driving CleverTap's growth across India, META, and Asia Pacific regions, as well as designing and executing the company's go-to-market strategy.Sidharth brings a wealth of experience in the technology and software industries, with a strong focus on revenue generation and driving sales. In his career spanning 2 decades, Sidharth has a proven track record of leading sales teams across Asia Pacific, Europe, and LATAM regions. His expertise in business development equips him to accelerate the next phase of CleverTap's growth journey within these regions.Sidharth Malik, CEO, CleverTap said, "I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Sidharth as our new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) for the India, META, and APAC regions. His addition will help accelerate our growth and strengthen our presence in these crucial markets. Thanks to the varied demands of a diverse customer base, these regions drive our MarTech innovation even further. Sidharth's expertise in driving sales and revenue will help us achieve unprecedented levels of growth while delivering localized solutions that meet the distinct needs of the market."Sidharth Pisharoti, CRO, CleverTap said, "I am ecstatic about joining CleverTap. It's an incredible opportunity to be part of a company scaling at such an exponential pace within the customer engagement domain. CleverTap's commitment to maximizing a brand's customer lifetime value aligns perfectly with my personal drive to deliver unparalleled growth and innovation for clients. I am confident that together, we will empower businesses to forge stronger connections with their customers, drive growth and foster long-term success."About CleverTapCleverTap is the all-in-one customer engagement platform that helps brands personalize and optimize all consumer touch points to improve user engagement, retention, and lifetime value. It's the only solution built to address the needs of retention and growth teams, with audience analytics, deep-segmentation, multi-channel engagement, product recommendations, and automation in one unified product.The platform is powered by TesseractDB - the world's first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.CleverTap is trusted by 2000 customers, including Electronic Arts, TiltingPoint, Gamebasics, Big Fish, MobilityWare, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa John's, and Tesco.Backed by leading investors such as Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, Accel, and CDPQ the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, Sao Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, and Jakarta. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn and Twitter.Forward-Looking StatementsSome of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap's belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.For more information:SONY SHETTYDirector, Public Relations, CleverTap+91 9820900036sony@clevertap.comIPSHITA BALUConsultantArchetype+91 95901 11798ipshita.balu@archetype.coSource: CleverTapCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Recognized value in the UK, France and Japan for 400 years SEOUL, South Korea, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Korea Ginseng Corporation (KGC) announced on the third day the change of its brand name from Cheong Kwang Jang, with a 124-year tradition, to Jung Kwan Jang. This transformation involves a renewal of brand identity, logo and product package, to reposition itself as a global health supplement solution brand. KGC's Jung Kwan Jang continues its 124-year history with popularity in 40 countries, keeping its top rank in the global ginseng retail market for ten consecutive years. Korean ginseng, the beginning of the Korean wave, has been treasured for about 400 years for its medicinal properties not only in Asia, but also in Europe. It is renowned for its ability to boost immunity and aid in energy recovery. Korean ginseng, cultivated in the finest soil for its growth, is widely regarded as the highest quality. In the first issue of Philosophical Transactions published by the Royal Society, scientist Thevenot called ginseng a remarkable energy restorative and booster. In 1681, the Royal Family Collection Catalogue stated, "Ginseng does not grow everywhere. It grows only in Korea. It is used for treating chronic and serious diseases. It is very expensive and equivalent to silver in value." In 1736, a doctorate paper titled "Can Ginseng Serve as an Energy Booster for Patients?" was accepted in France. Despite its remarkable efficacy, ginseng did not attain widespread popularity for it's not easily attainable, as stated by the Histoire de Academie royale des sciences of 1718, "Ginseng is a very rare and expensive medicinal herb, so it's not possible to get more than a mere sample of it". In 1674, Japan, aware of the value of ginseng, opened a Korean ginseng store, where people would queue up overnight in anticipation. Back then, a "waiting service" emerged, where people would get paid for standing in line on behalf of customers, similar to the practices seen at recent K-pop concerts. The value of Korean ginseng has remained consistent over the past 400 years. In particular, red ginseng, made by steaming and drying ginseng, is Korea's representative health supplement. Jung Kwan Jang products were gifts to Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II during their visit to Korea, and as a diplomatic gift during summit conferences. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2145892/JUNG_KWANG_JANG_Korea_Red_Ginseng.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2146481/4148146/Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/korea-ginseng-corp-changed-its-brand-name-to-jung-kwan-jang-301873737.html Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg - Pre-Stabilisation Notice PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, July 11 11 July 2023 Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. EU / ISIN EU000A3K4DT4 Pre-stabilisation Period Announcement Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg (contact: Torsten Zittlau; telephone: +49 711 127 74640) hereby gives notice, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilisation Manager(s) named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU/596/2014). The securities: Issuer: European Union (EU), AAA (Fitch) / Aaa (Moody's) / AA (S&P) Guarantor (if any): - Aggregate nominal amount: EUR 4.000.000.000 Description: Tap of 2.5% Oct 2052s, EUR benchmark in accordance with the Issuer's Debt Issuance Programme, Fixed Rate RegS Bearer, Regulated Market of Luxembourg Stock Exchange Offer Price: [XX.XXX] Other offer terms: - Stabilisation: Stabilisation Manager(s): Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citi, Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg and NatWest Markets Stabilisation period expected to start on: 11 July 2023 Stabilisation period expected to end no later than: 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility: The Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Over the counter (OTC) In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. This announcement and the offer of the securities to which it relates are only addressed to and directed at persons outside the United Kingdom and persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters related to investments or who are high net worth persons within Article 12(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the United Kingdom. If and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation") (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States. BAE Systems has secured new orders for the supply of munitions to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). The orders, worth 280m, with the option to increase to more than 400m, will create more than 200 new jobs in the North of England and South Wales, boosting the Company's 1,200-strong UK munitions workforce. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711070643/en/ A BAE Systems employee inspects 155mm shell bodies at its production line in Washington, UK. (Photo: Business Wire) Current conflicts and tensions across the globe have highlighted the importance of sovereign manufacturing capabilities and the enduring partnership between BAE Systems and the UK Armed Forces. Building on the existing 2.4bn 15-year partnering agreement, the new orders will significantly increase the production of vital defence stocks such as 155mm artillery shells, 30mm medium calibre rounds and 5.56mm ammunition. These are core products which the British Army relies on to deliver maximum effectiveness on the battlefield. Key investments are already underway to enable the increased manufacturing rate, including: An additional 155mm machining line in Washington, Tyne Wear A new explosive filling facility at Glascoed, South Wales Re-instatement of the 30mm medium calibre manufacturing capability, at Washington and Glascoed Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive at BAE Systems, said: "We're incredibly proud of our role in delivering equipment to protect our armed forces and as the UK Ministry of Defence's long-term strategic partner for munitions supply, we're actively mobilising our operations in support of our NATO allies. "This multi-million pound investment will enable us to significantly ramp up production and sustain vital sovereign capability to deliver cutting-edge munitions, whilst creating and sustaining highly-skilled jobs across the UK." Ben Wallace, Secretary of State for Defence, said: "The production of 155mm shells is a demonstration of our commitment to invest in our Armed Forces and sovereign manufacturing capabilities. "This is good news for the Army and British jobs, creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs in the North of England and Wales, and ensuring our military can deliver maximum effect on the battlefield." ENDS Notes to Editors: For imagery of the Washington site: BAE Systems Communications multimedia portal (resourcespace.com) Munitions The current 15-year contract, between BAE Systems and the UK MOD, called the 'Next Generation Munitions Solution' (NGMS), came into effect in January 2023. It succeeded the previous 'Munitions Acquisition, the Supply Solution' (MASS) contract. The Munitions business within BAE Systems, employs 1,260 people who are involved in either munitions manufacturing or test and evaluation at five sites across the UK: Glascoed in Monmouthshire; Radway Green in Cheshire; Washington in Tyne Wear; Bishopton near Glasgow; and Ridsdale in Northumberland. Employment opportunities resulting from these contracts include: 65 production operatives at Radway Green, Cheshire 101 production operatives at Washington, Tyne Wear 45 production operatives at Glascoed, South Wales Ref: 090/2023 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711070643/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: Erin Askew Communications Manager, Munitions Email: erin.askew@baesystems.com Phone: +44 (0)3300488470 Media Contact: Andrew McDowell Head of Media, UK Email: andrew.mcdowell3@baesystems.com Phone: +44 (0)7796256974 Issued by: BAE Systems plc Media hotline: +447801 717739 www.baesystems.com @BAESystemsplc LONDON, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) today announced its media services division, Omnicom Media Group, has acquired Ptarmigan Media, a specialist agency that provides end-to-end media and marketing solutions to financial services brands. Founded in the UK in 1993, Ptarmigan delivers a range of services including fully integrated media planning and buying, market research, search and social, as well as content and creative. The company specializes in serving financial services clients in the Asset Management, Life and Pensions, Banking, Trading and Platforms, Wealth Management, Fintech, and Insurance sectors across APAC, EMEA and North America. Ptarmigan is headquartered in London and has several office locations around the world, including Hong Kong, New York, Singapore and Sydney for its 100+ media professionals. "Ptarmigan and Omnicom Media Group have a shared understanding of the complexities of today's media marketplace. Together, we can help our clients effectively navigate the market to drive business growth by combining the global strength, tools and technologies of Omnicom Media Group, and the deep category expertise Ptarmigan has built over its three decades working in the financial sector," says Florian Adamski, CEO of Omnicom Media Group. "The combined capabilities that will result from this acquisition will enable an unprecedented and singular depth of financial services industry expertise and media buying scale, translating to better outcomes for our clients, increased professional opportunities for our people, and accelerated growth as Omnicom Media Group and Ptarmigan join forces." "Ptarmigan has always put clients at the centre of everything we do - and becoming part of Omnicom Media Group continues that commitment," says Ptarmigan CEO Matt Ball. "Combining our expertise with the scope and scale of Omnicom Media Group's industry leading tools and technology will have an exponential impact on the value we deliver to the world's leading financial brands, bringing next level purpose, planning and performance to the challenge of connecting our clients to the world's financial decision makers." Ptarmigan Media will continue to operate as an independent brand within Omnicom Media Group and will be led by its current management team. About Ptarmigan Ptarmigan Media is a market leading financial services media agency, specialising in the Asset Management, Investment Banking, Trading, Insurance, and Wealth Management sectors. With headquarters in London and regional offices in New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Taipei, and Tokyo, the agency provides clients with unrivaled access to B2B and B2C audiences in the world's leading financial centers. Ptarmigan Media offers a comprehensive range of services including strategic planning, paid advertising, social media management, analytics, and content creation. With a dedicated global team of specialist media professionals, the agency helps the world's leading financial brands unlock and grow meaningful connections with their most important customers. About Omnicom Media Group Omnicom Media Group (OMG), the media services division of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC), delivers transformational experiences for consumers, clients, and talent. Powered by the Omni marketing orchestration system, OMG connects best-in-class capabilities that enable our full-service media agencies OMD, PHD and Hearts & Science to deliver more relevant and actionable consumer experiences; more productive and proactive client experiences; and more collaborative and rewarding talent experiences for the more than 23,000 people serving the world's leading brands in OMG agencies around the globe. About Omnicom Omnicom (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms offer services in advertising, strategic media planning and buying, precision marketing, commerce and brand consulting, experiential, customer relationship marketing (CRM), public relations, healthcare marketing and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/omnicom-expands-financial-services-expertise-with-acquisition-of-ptarmigan-media-301873688.html LONDON, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cision, an end-to-end consumer and media intelligence and communications platform company, launched a fully integrated monitoring, insights and outreach solution, CisionOne, in the UK. It will be introduced in additional markets, including the U.S., in the next 12 months. CisionOne is an industry-transforming solution, giving PR and comms professionals the real-time media insights they need to make faster, more accurate decisions. Powered by Cision's proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) models, CisionOne Monitoring identifies the most relevant news, trends, and conversations across all media channels, surfaces potentially harmful content and uncovers the true intent behind individual mentions, in real-time. CisionOne transforms industry workflows, freeing up valuable time to focus on what matters: crafting brand strategies and stories that don't just respond to the present, but shape the future. "AI represents an incredible opportunity for PR and communications. Cision is leading the industry in applying the technology, in responsible ways, that unlock its full potential." said Jay Webster, President, Cision Comms Cloud. CisionOne Media Monitoring marries the revolutionary capabilities of AI with Cision's proven comprehensive media data, to maximize the benefits of clarity and speed. Brand Risk Score instantly surfaces a range of potentially harmful media content in areas including hate speech, fake news, controversy, sarcasm and spam. instantly surfaces a range of potentially harmful media content in areas including hate speech, fake news, controversy, sarcasm and spam. Narrative Tracking brings together social and earned media into a single strategic view of the coverage shaping public opinion, as well as the influencers behind them. (Available end of 2023) brings together social and earned media into a single strategic view of the coverage shaping public opinion, as well as the influencers behind them. (Available end of 2023) Stance, the most powerful proprietary alternative to traditional sentiment analysis, contextualizes social and traditional media conversations and uncovers the true intent behind words about topics, brands, companies, and individuals. (Available early 2024) CisionOne Outreach includes the first media database to combine both AI and human-validated research methodologies. With this enhanced new database, users can effortlessly research and connect with the journalists and influencers who will tell their brand stories best. "CisionOne is designed to give communicators real-time access to powerful insights that allow them to confidently make decisions that have a material impact on the valuations of the brands and organisations they steward," said Webster. "As we have for more than 150 years, Cision is committed to bringing market-leading technology and deep expertise to our clients and empowering them to achieve their strategic goals." Learn more about the powerful capabilities of CisionOne here. About Cision Cision is a comprehensive consumer and media intelligence and communications platform enabling public relations, marketing and communications professionals around the world to understand, influence and amplify their stories. As the market leader, Cision enables the next generation of leaders to strategically operate in the modern media landscape where company success is directly impacted by public opinion. Cision has offices in 24 countries through the Americas, EMEA and APAC, and offers a suite of best-in-class solutions, including PR Newswire, Brandwatch, CisionOne, and Cision Insights. To learn more, visit www.cision.com and follow @Cision on Twitter. Contact Information: For media inquiries, please contact: Cision Public Relations cision@kcsa.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2150697/CisionOne.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2082585/Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cision-revolutionises-the-pr--comms-industry-with-launch-of-ai-powered-platform-cisionone-301873320.html Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - During the WCD World Dermatology Conference in Singapore, BOTANEE Group held the 2023 International Skin Health Summit simultaneously, bringing its four brands WINONA, WINONA Baby, AOXMED and Beforteen to the world stage for the first time, showing the professional strength of China's leading dermatology enterprises. "In 2015, we made our first appearance at the Vancouver WCD with the main brand WINONA. After eight years, WINONA has now become a leading brand of functional skin care products in China. Invited to participate in WCD for the third time this year, we brought four core brands. I hope that after four years, this will bring new impacts to WCD in terms of academic, technical, clinical and social impact," Guo Zhenyu, Chairman and President of BOTANEE Group, said. Dr. Guo Zhenyu, Chairman and President of BOTANEE Group, delivered a speech at the International Skin Health Summit. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8457/173057_2038e6fbd4f89907_001full.jpg According to the existing epidemiology, the prevalence rate of atopic dermatitis in children aged 1-7 years in China is 12.94%, and the prevalence rate of AD in infants aged 1-12 months is 30.48%. Professor Ma Lin, Director of the Dermatology Department of Beijing Children's Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, pointed out that WINONA Baby Cream can be used as a routine emollient to protect children's AD in remission, which can significantly reduce the risk of recurrence of children's AD in maintaining the therapeutic effect. It is the first skin care brand in China to do clinical trials at the age of 0-2. With the continuous iteration of the efficacy skin care market and consumer demand, BOTANEE has also been committed to promoting brand building. BOTANEE's AOXMED has been the result of ingenious research and development at BOTANEE for more than ten years. It insists on exploring cutting-edge technology and evidence-based science for the two major consumption scenarios of medical beauty and daily life, and provides skin rejuvenation solutions connecting medical beauty and home beauty. At the end of the forum, experts discussed how to make the acne diagnosis of high-level doctors sink to the grassroots level. In this regard, Beforteen has provided a solution. As a brand-new acne brand launched by BOTANEE, Beforteen and the team of experts have conducted case studies on more than one million cases, and combined with the AI consultation session, they can provide users with personalized "food+medicine+makeup" according to different types of acne. According to BOTANEE's 2022 annual report, the company invested about 255 million yuan in R&D expenses, up 124.96% year-on-year, and the R&D rate reached 5.08%. This year, the new central factory of BOTANEE, which cost nearly 500 million yuan, has also been officially put into operation, further escorting its brand product quality, green supply chain and sustainable development. Contact: Wu Ling Email: wuling@winona.cn Website: https://www.botanee.com.cn/index.html To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173057 CD-264 returns 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq from 43.3m in Northwest Extension LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Meridian Mining UK S (TSX:MNO)(OTCQX:MRRDF)(Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its programs at Cabacal, where CD-264 has returned further strong results from the Cabacal Northwest Extension ("CNWE"). CD-264 has intersected a high-grade zone of 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq (15.3g/t Au, 0.2% Cu & 0.6g/t Ag) from 43.3m, representing a northern extension of similar high-grade results (CD-049, CD-072[1]). This and additional results in the mine area show the potential to better define the projection of higher grade trends across the deposit. In parallel with the resource development program, the Company is advancing with exploration of near-mine extensions, with a copper gossan identified at surface, located 350m southeast of CD-240's copper feeder zone. Drilling has also confirmed the mineralized position of the VMS horizon in a 1km step-out to the southeast of the Cabacal mine. Highlights Reported Today Cabacal Northwest Extension returns more high-grade gold intersections; CD-264 returns 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq (15.3g/t Au, 0.2% Cu & 0.6g/t Ag) from 43.3m; New results consolidate domain of high-grade mineralization extending over 175m; 1km step-out along the Cabacal trend intersects a base metal horizon correlative with the Cabacal system; CD-255 drill hole adds context for further exploration for VMS sulphide mounds; Arrival of Geonics down-hole probe to assist in targeting thicker Cu-Zn-Ag-Au zones; Preparations advance for mobilization of new Santa Helena drill rig Contractor representative due on site this month to prepare for mobilization of regional drill rig, with program to commence at Santa Helena; Program targeting verification of historic drilling and exploratory holes into satellite zones surrounding the historic resource; and Cabacal development studies are advancing in preparation for submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the consideration of up to 4.5Mtpa expanded production scenario. Dr. Adrian McArthur, CEO, comments : "The CD-264 high-grade result of 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq from 43.3m shows the value of infill drilling in achieving better definition of shallow high-grade trends within the Cabacal deposit. The result continues to build on the importance of the CNWE as a focal point for early production scenarios. We are advancing Cabacal vigorously on multiple fronts, with drilling, with geotechnical evaluation, and with environmental studies to support expanded production scenarios to be evaluated in a PEA update. Our goal remains to continue moving Cabacal on its pathway to development, whilst laying the foundation to realize the broader discovery potential of this under-explored belt." Cabacal Resource and Extensions The drilling program at Cabacal continues to follow recommendations arising from the PEA. The resource definition program aims to achieve better definition of the higher grade trends within the broader mineralized halo. The projection of the high-grade trend at shallowing depths in CD-264 returning 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq from 43.3m is encouraging (Figure 1; Figure 2). Further drilling is being scheduled to test for the projection of the trend within the broader footprint of Cu-Au mineralization, both to the northwest and southeast where the drill spacing is currently more open. Figure 1: Location of CD-264's intersection, extending the projection of the high-grade CNWE trend. Colour points represent drill assays plotted as AuEq (g/t) in plan view. Digital elevation image in the background. Figure 2: Quartz veining in chloritic host rock associated with CD-264's intersection hosting visible gold. Additional drilling has been conducted in the Eastern Copper Zone ("ECZ"), where it was noted that the high-grade trends in the block model clustered around drill holes in areas of wider spacing, dropping off in-between. The new drill results show that basal concentrations of high-grade mineralization continue in these intervening areas (CD-256 & CD-263; Table 1). The cumulative effect of such results is expected to present a more accurate depiction of the higher grade population across the deposit as the drilling advances for the next resource update. The Company is currently conducting a Mise-a-la-Masse survey to follow up on the geophysical response of stringer sulphide mineralization in the ECZ, with the survey currently targeting extensions to the CD-254 result of 17.7m @ 1.6% CuEq / 2.4g/t AuEq from 50.0m[2]. Exploratory evaluation of the extensions of the Cabacal system continues. CD-255 was a 1km step-out along the Cabacal trend (Figure 3). It intersected a base metal horizon interpreted to be correlative with the Cabacal system (5.3% Zn, 0.1% Cu, 0.2g/t Au & 32.4g/t Ag over 0.3m from 119.9m). The drill hole adds useful context for further planning of exploration for VMS sulphide mounds over time. The Company awaits the arrival of a down-hole probe from Geonics to assist in targeting thicker Cu-Zn-Ag-Au sulphide accumulations, which are less conductive than the copper dominant end member. Recent prospecting by the geological team has also located some copper gossan at the south-west flank of the resource area (Figure 4). Drilling in this area is sparse, with wide-spaced historical BP holes not sampled systematically from surface. The gossan is located ~350m southeast of CD-240's copper feeder zone, possibly in an up-dip position to the Cabacal South FLTEM conductivity anomaly[3], where the Company has drilled just one hole. Following recognition of the gossan, trenching will be undertaken to guide further drilling and evaluate possible links to the feeder system. Figure 3: Drilling overview, with location of CD-255, pinpointing the open extension of the Cabacal VMS horizon in a 1km step out from the resource area. Santa Helena Preparations continue at Santa Helena in advance of the arrival of the fourth drill rig. The objective of the drilling program will be to conduct both validation drilling on historical resource holes, and a first phase of exploratory drilling on satellite drill targets marked by geophysical responses for potential discoveries satellite to the main resource. Project Development Project development studies are advancing in preparation for submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA-RIMA), positioning the project for the consideration of an expanded production scenario of up to 4.5Mtpa. Project development studies underway also include a 12-hole geotechnical drilling program. The PEA utilized default assumptions for pit will angles. Based on the PEA pit shell, a series of holes are being drilled to now gather specific data for the next phase of evaluation. If data supports a steepening of pit wall angles in a competent rock mass, results will have a positive impact on the stripping ratio. Figure 4: Copper Gossan with portable XRF reading from surface float at the southwestern flank of the resource area. Table 1: Drilling results Hole-ID Dip Azi EOH Zone Int AuEq CuEq Cu Au Ag Zn From (m) (m) (g/t) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (m) CD-264 -49 060 98.3 CNWE 12.6 15.5 10.4 0.2 15.3 0.6 0.0 43.3 14.7 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.0 65.5 CD-263 -70 048 104.1 ECZ 4.0 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.0 1.3 0.0 66.9 15.0 1.0 0.7 0.6 0.2 2.9 0.1 74.7 Including 4.0 2.5 1.7 1.4 0.5 7.1 0.1 85.4 CD-262 -49 045 49.3 ECZ 2.6 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.1 1.1 0.0 17.0 1.3 3.3 2.2 1.8 0.6 11.3 0.1 22.8 CD-261 -49 059 95.3 CNWE 6.2 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 20.0 13.0 0.8 0.5 0.3 0.4 1.0 0.0 40.1 7.0 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.9 0.0 59.4 7.4 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 1.1 0.0 72.0 CD-260 -49 059 113.2 CNWE 1.0 1.0 0.6 0.1 0.9 0.1 0.0 13.3 1.0 0.8 0.5 0.0 0.8 0.4 0.0 18.0 20.1 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 1.1 0.0 34.8 6.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.1 0.0 61.1 10.3 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 2.8 1.0 85.6 CD-259 -67 045 36.0 Cabacal-Sth Abandoned CD-258 -44 045 49.4 ECZ / Gabbro NSI CD-257 -51 058 127.2 CNWE 23.8 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.0 11.3 3.2 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.7 0.0 85.0 6.8 1.7 1.1 0.7 0.8 2.6 0.0 98.1 CD-256 -90 000 108.2 ECZ 4.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 16.0 28.6 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.1 2.0 0.0 66.7 Including 4.9 2.3 1.5 1.2 0.5 6.2 0.2 88.5 CD-255 -49 046 184.1 C4A-Sth 4.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 5.1 0.6 117.3 Including 0.3 0.1 0.2 32.4 5.3 119.9 About Meridian Meridian Mining UK S is focused on: The development and exploration of the advanced stage Cabacal VMS gold-copper project; Regional scale exploration of the Cabacal VMS belt; Exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts (the above all located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil); and Exploring the Espigao polymetallic project in the State of Rondonia, Brazil. Cabacal is a gold-copper-silver rich VMS deposit with the potential to be a standalone mine within the 50km VMS belt. Cabacal's base and precious metal-rich mineralization is hosted by volcanogenic type, massive, semi-massive, stringer, and disseminated sulphides within deformed metavolcanic-sedimentary rocks. A later-stage sub-vertical gold overprint event has emplaced high-grade gold mineralization cross-cutting the dipping VMS layers. The Cabacal Mineral Resource estimate consists of Indicated resources of 52.9 million tonnes at 0.6g/t gold, 0.3% copper and 1.4g/t silver and Inferred resources of 10.3 million tonnes at 0.7g/t gold, 0.2% copper & 1.1g/t silver (at a 0.3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade), including a higher-grade near-surface zone supporting a starter pit. The Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report (the "PEA Technical Report") dated March 30, 2023, entitled: "Cabacal Gold-Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, Mato Grosso, Brazil" outlines a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 573 million and 58.4% IRR from a pre-production capital cost of USD 180 million, leading to capital repayment in 10.6 months (assuming metals price scenario of USD 1,650 per ounces of gold, USD 3.59 per pound of copper, and USD 21.35 per ounce of silver). Cabacal has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 671 per ounce gold equivalent for the first five years, driven by high metallurgical recovery, a low life-of-mine strip ratio of 2.1:1, and the low operating cost environment of Brazil (see press release dated March 6, 2023). Readers are encouraged to read the PEA Technical Report in its entirety. The PEA Technical Report may be found on the Company's website at www.meridianminig.co and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The qualified persons for the PEA Technical Report are: Robert Raponi (P. Eng), Principal Metallurgist with Ausenco Engineering), Scott Elfen (P. E.), Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services with Ausenco Engineering), Simon Tear (PGeo, EurGeol), Principal Geological Consultant of H&SC, Marcelo Batelochi, (MAusIMM, CP Geo), Geological Consultant of MB Geologia Ltda, Joseph Keane (Mineral Processing Engineer; P.E), of SGS, and Guilherme Gomides Ferreira (Mine Engineer MAIG) of GE21 Consultoria Mineral. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S Dr. Adrian McArthur CEO and Director Meridian Mining UK S Email: info@meridianmining.net.br Ph: +1 (778) 715-6410 (PST) Technical Notes Samples have been analysed at the accredited ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru, and SGS laboratory in Belo Horizonte. Samples at ALS are dried, crushed with 70% passing <2mm, split off to give a mass of approximately 250g, and pulverized to >85% passing 200#. Routine gold analyses have been conducted by Au-AA23 (fire assay of a 30g charge with AAS finish). High-grade samples (>10g/t Au) are repeated with a gravimetric finish (Au-GRA21). Samples with visible gold identified during logging are analysed by screen fire assay method Au-SCR21. Samples at SGS are dried, crushed with 75% passing <3 mm, split to give a mass of 250-300g, pulverized with 95% passing 150#. Gold analyses are conducted by FAA505 (fire assay of a 50g charge), and base metal analysis by methods ICP40B and ICP40B_S (four acid digest with ICP-OES finish). Visible gold intervals are sampled by metallic screen fire assay method MET150-FAASCR. Samples are held in the Company's secure facilities until dispatched and delivered by staff and commercial couriers to the laboratory. Pulps are retained for umpire testwork, and ultimately returned to the Company for storage. The Company submits a range of quality control samples, including blanks and gold and polymetallic standards supplied by Rocklabs, ITAK and OREAS, supplementing laboratory quality control procedures. In BPM sampling, gold was analysed historically by fire assay and base metals by three acid digest and ICP finish at the Nomos laboratory in Rio de Janeiro. Silver was analysed by aqua regia digest with an atomic absorption finish. True width is considered to be 80-90% of intersection width. Assay figures and intervals are rounded to 1 decimal place. Gold equivalents are calculated as: AuEq(g/t) = (Au(g/t) * %Recovery) + (1.492*(Cu% * %Recovery)) + (0.013*(Ag(g/t) * %Recovery)), where: Au_recovery_ppm = 5.4368ln(Au_Grade_ppm)+88.856 Cu_recovery_pct = 2.0006ln(Cu_Grade_pct)+94.686 Ag_recovery_ppm = 13.342ln(Ag_Grade_ppm)+71.037 Recoveries based on 2022 metallurgical testwork on core submitted to SGS Lakefield The Mise-a-la-Masse survey is being conducted using the Company's in-house team, utilizing its GDD GRx8-16c receiver and 5000W-2400-15A transmitter. Data is processed by the Company's independent consultancy Core Geophysics. Geophysical and geochemical exploration targets are preliminary in nature and not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit. Qualified Person Dr. Adrian McArthur, B.Sc. Hons, Ph.D. FAusIMM., CEO and Director of Meridian as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and verified the technical information in this news release. Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/contact/ Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining Further information can be found at: www.meridianmining.co FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise. [1] Meridian News Release of November 29, 2021, September 7, 2021, May 3, 2022. [2] Meridian News release June 14, 2023 [3] Meridian News release April 12, 2021 SOURCE: Meridian Mining UK S View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766759/Meridian-Reports-Shallow-High-Grade-Drill-Results-and-1km-Step-Out-From-Cabaal A European leader in digital branded prepaid payments expands its footprint in North America with Blackhawk Network's distribution network Global branded payments provider Blackhawk Network (BHN) is expanding its relationship with European branded payments company Recharge.com to distribute gift cards digitally through BHN's vast network in the US and Canada. The announcement builds on Recharge.com and BHN's existing collaboration in Europe, boosting digital gift card options for consumers in North America. In the US and Canada, BHN will now offer leading egift and virtual prepaid card brands in Recharge.com's digital marketplace. These will include merchant-specific gift cards, open loop (gift cards that can be used anywhere the network is accepted), and BHN's versatile multi-store egifts. "Gift and prepaid cards have become staples in the lives of consumers around the world, connecting shoppers with their favorite brands and allowing them to celebrate meaningful occasions with those they care about," said Steve Dekker, BHN managing director, Americas. "In an increasingly globalized world, enabling cross-border gifting and money movement is more important than ever. Additionally, preference for egifts and purchasing online is on the rise. Based on consumer research and our own sales data, there was double-digit growth in egift and ecommerce sales of gift cards in the most recent holiday season. We're proud to grow our relationship with Recharge.com, which is innovating global delivery of digital gift and prepaid cards around the world." Recharge.com is a leading provider of branded prepaid cards, enabling consumers to purchase digital gift and prepaid cards in more than 180 countries and 14 languages. Recharge.com's innovative global marketplace, a one stop shop for branded prepaid payments, enables consumers to easily give gifts across the globe. Recently referenced by Research and Markets as a leader of the European digital gift card market1, Recharge.com is expanding its relationship with BHN to grow market share in North America. "We are excited to expand our footprint in the US and Canada with BHN, furthering our goal of global coverage and supporting even more customers and merchants," said Gunther Vogelpoel, CEO of Recharge.com. "BHN's open and closed loop card brand network further enable us to meet increasing demands of customers throughout North America." About Blackhawk Network (BHN) Blackhawk Network (BHN) is the leader in global branded payment technologies. We strengthen relationships between brands and their customers, employees, and partners by transforming transactions into connections. BHN's portfolio includes: Gift Card eGift products, promotions and distribution that grow revenue faster; Rewards Incentives that build loyalty and acquisition and are integrated into today's leading platforms; and Payments that enable businesses and customers to access and disburse funds in convenient and innovative ways. BHN's network spans across the globe with over 400,000 consumer touchpoints. Learn more at BHN.com. About Recharge As a trailblazer in Europe's online prepaid payments, Recharge.com today operates in over 180 markets globally, processing millions of online transactions yearly. Our online platform offers a wide variety of digital vouchers and prepaid solutions from over 750 leading brands such as Apple, Google, PlayStation and Paysafe, along with cross-border call and data credit remittance services. Founded in 2010 and based in Amsterdam, Recharge.com has quickly grown into a thriving technology company, raising over $70 million in primary, secondary and debt transactions. Today, our platform serves more than 3 million users and processes over $500 million in payments annually. Learn more at company.recharge.com. 1 "Europe Gift Card and Incentive Card Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook) Q1 2023 Update" was published by Research and Markets in 2023. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711510163/en/ Contacts: MEDIA CONTACT BHN: Courtney Brunkow (303) 717-9575 courtney@fletchergroupllc.com MEDIA CONTACT RECHARGE: Ross Cumming +31 (0) 6 4177 6003 press@recharge.com LAUSANNE, Switzerland, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT) today announced a voluntary pause in the enrollment of new patients in the Phase 2 LOTIS-9 clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05144009) evaluating ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) and rituximab (Lonca-R) in unfit or frail patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The voluntary action was taken by the Company after a recent review of aggregate data of the 40 patients enrolled in the trial and consultation with the Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) which signaled potentially excessive respiratory-related events. These respiratory-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) included seven Grade 5 fatal events and five Grade 3 or Grade 4 respiratory-related TEAEs. As per investigator assessment, eleven of the twelve events (including six of the seven Grade 5 fatal events) were individually assessed as unlikely or unrelated to study drug. Four out of the five Grade 3 or Grade 4 events have since resolved and the patients have completed treatment per protocol. The cause of these events remains under further investigation. All patients with fatal events had one or more significant active underlying respiratory and/or cardiac co-morbidities including severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary edema, chronic bronchiectasis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and recent COVID-19 infection and all were greater than or equal to 80 years of age. The mean age was 82.7 years and the mean number of days from the last dose to death was 51 days, with a range of 19 to 86 days. It is important to note that all twelve of the patients with Grade 3-5 TEAEs in the LOTIS-9 study would have been excluded from the LOTIS-5 trial. The Company's decision to pause enrollment enables time to evaluate data around the TEAEs and determine next steps. The Company has notified all study investigators and regulatory authorities including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) of the Company's decision to pause enrollment. The Company does not expect to report additional data from the trial by the end of the year. "Our top priority is the safety of every patient who participates in our clinical trials," said Ameet Mallik, Chief Executive Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "Given the aggregate of the respiratory-related events seen in the trial, we implemented a voluntary pause of enrollment to allow for a thorough investigation of the data set. This trial includes a very difficult-to-treat patient population with limited treatment options, and we will provide an update on next steps when available." LOTIS-9 Baseline Characteristics, Safety and Efficacy (as of May 10, 2023 data cutoff) The tables below illustrate preliminary data from the LOTIS-9 clinical trial with a data cut-off date of May 10, 2023. These data are reflective of the 30 patients who were enrolled by that point; since this time an additional 10 patients have enrolled and received treatment as part of the study. Table 1 - Baseline Characteristics Variable Cohort A (Unfit) Cohort B (Frail or cardiac comorbidities) Total (N=13) (N=17) (N=30) Age (years) n 13 17 30 Mean 83.4 82.2 82.7 std 2.69 6.26 5 Median 83 82 82 Min, Max 80, 89 72, 92 72, 92 Sex, [n(%)] Female 3 (23.1) 7 (41.2) 10 (33.3) Male 10 (76.9) 10 (58.8) 20 (66.7) Stage of Disease at Study Entry, n (%) Stage I 1 (7.7) 1 (5.9) 2 (6.7) Stage II 3 (23.1) 4 (23.5) 7 (23.3) Stage III 6 (46.2) 7 (41.2) 13 (43.3) Stage IV 3 (23.1) 5 (29.4) 8 (26.7) Table 2 - Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events with Fatal Outcome Cohort A (Unfit) Cohort B (Frail or cardiac comorbidities) Total (N=13) (N=17) (N=30) Patients with any fatal TEAE 3 (23.1) 3 (17.6) 6 (20.0) Infections and infestations 0 1 (5.9) 1 (3.3) Pneumonia 0 1 (5.9) 1 (3.3) Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders 3 (23.1) 2 (11.8) 5 (16.7) Acute respiratory failure 1 (7.7) 0 1 (3.3) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 0 1 (5.9) 1 (3.3) Dyspnoea 1 (7.7) 0 1 (3.3) Hypoxia 0 1 (5.9) 1 (3.3) Respiratory failure 1 (7.7) 0 1 (3.3) Since the data cut-off date of May 10, 2023, there has been one additional Grade 5 event for a total of seven Grade 5 events. Two out of seven patients died within 30 days from the last doses of study medication, the remaining 5 patients died more than 30 days after the last dose of study drug ranging from 41 to 86 days. Adverse events are coded using MedDRA version 24.1 and graded using CTCAE v5.0. Only treatment-emergent adverse events are summarized. For each system organ class and preferred term, patients are included only once. Table 3 - Treatment-Emergent Grade 3 or 4 Adverse Events - Cardiac, Infections / Infestations, Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders and Others =5% Total Occurrence* Cohort A (Unfit) Cohort B (Frail or cardiac comorbidities) Total (N=13) (N=17) (N=30) Patients with any grade >=3 TEAE 2 (15.4) 7 (41.2) 9 (30.0) Cardiac disorders 1 (7.7) 1 (5.9) 2 (6.7) Infections and infestations 0 2 (11.8) 2 (6.7) Pneumonia 0 2 (11.8) 2 (6.7) COVID-19 pneumonia 0 1 (5.9) 1 (3.3) Influenza 0 1 (5.9) 1 (3.3) Sepsis 0 1 (5.9) 1 (3.3) Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders 1 (7.7) 3 (17.6) 4 (13.3) Acute respiratory failure 1 (7.7) 1 (5.9) 2 (6.7) Pleural effusion 1 (7.7) 1 (5.9) 2 (6.7) Dyspnoea 1 (7.7) 0 1 (3.3) Respiratory distress 0 1 (5.9) 1 (3.3) Vascular disorders 1 (7.7) 1 (5.9) 2 (6.7) Since the data cut-off date of May 10, 2023, there has been one additional Grade 3 or 4 cardiac event, one additional Grade 3 or 4 infection, and one additional Grade 3 or 4 respiratory event. *Numbers represent distinct TEAEs; patients may have experienced more than one event Table 4 - Overall Response Rate as Determined by the Investigator Cohort A (Unfit) Cohort B (Frail or cardiac comorbidities) Total (N=10) (N=7) (N=17) Best Overall Response Complete response 5 (50.0) 5 (71.4) 10 (58.8) Partial response 5 (50.0) 1 (14.3) 6 (35.3) Stable disease 0 1 (14.3) 1 (5.9) Not evaluable 0 0 0 Progressive disease 0 0 0 ORR (CR+PR), n (%) 10 (100) 6 (85.7) 16 (94.1) 95% CI for ORR (69.2, 100) (42.1, 99.6) (71.3, 99.9) 95% CI for CR (18.7, 81.3) (29.0, 96.3) (32.9, 81.6) Best overall response (BOR) by investigator. Based on efficacy population, i.e., patients with baseline and at least one post-baseline disease assessment. ORR=Overall Response Rate. CI=Confidence Interval. About ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration. About ADC Therapeutics ADC Therapeutics (NYSE: ADCT) is a commercial-stage global leader and pioneer in the field of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). The Company is advancing its proprietary ADC technology to transform the treatment paradigm for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. ADC Therapeutics' CD19-directed ADC ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) received accelerated approval by the FDA and conditional approval from the European Commission for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. ZYNLONTA is also in development in combination with other agents and in earlier lines of therapy. In addition to ZYNLONTA, ADC Therapeutics has multiple ADCs in ongoing clinical and preclinical development. ADC Therapeutics is based in Lausanneand follow the company on Twitterand LinkedIn. ZYNLONTA is a registered trademark of ADC Therapeutics SA. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements concerning the investigation of the causes of the pulmonary adverse events, anticipated communications and interactions with regulatory authorities and any actions taken by regulatory authorities or us relating to next steps for our LOTIS-9 or other clinical trials which could include protocol modifications, clinical suspensions or other actions; and statements relating to the development of products and product candidates, and the timing, conduct and results of clinical trials. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "would", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "seem", "seek", "future", "continue", or "appear" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the nature, frequency and severity of adverse events; the ability to complete clinical trials on expected timelines, if at all; the outcome of clinical trials or the sufficiency of results from such clinical trials; the timing and results of the Company's or its partners' research projects or clinical trials including LOTIS 5, 7 and 9, ADCT 901, 601 and 602; and the timing and outcome of regulatory submissions and actions by the FDA or other regulatory agencies with respect to the Company's products or product candidates. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements is contained in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F and in the Company's other periodic reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this document. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as required by law. CONTACTS: Investors Eugenia Litz ADC Therapeutics Eugenia.Litz@adctherapeutics.com +44 7879 627205 +1 908-723-2350 Media Nicole Riley ADC Therapeutics Nicole.Riley@adctherapeutics.com +1 862-926-9040 StemPrintER outperformed the current market leader, OncotypeDX test, in stratifying patients according to their risk of breast cancer recurrence LONDON and PHOENIX, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AccuStem Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: ACUT), a clinical stage diagnostics company dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with cancer, signs further agreement with the IEO, one of the most renowned comprehensive cancer centers in Europe. This important milestone will support the company's strategic vision following positive results from transATAC study where StemPrintER assay outperformed the current market leader in risk of recurrence testing for women with early stage breast cancer. With the extension of the StemPrintER licensing agreement, originally transferred with all rights and obligations from Tiziana Life Sciences, AccuStem and the IEO have established and refined goals on the timing of commercialization and have broadened the number of regulatory pathways to bring the test to market in the US and abroad. Beyond this agreement, AccuStem intends to work closely with the IEO on additional proprietary cancer assays leveraging StemPrintER technology. Investigators from the IEO in Milan and The Royal Marsden Hospital in London evaluated a subgroup of patients from the prospective, randomized ATAC trial (TransATAC). The pivotal TransATAC study has been used to evaluate many of the commonly used breast cancer risk scoring assays, including the market leading OncotypeDX. This recent analysis accomplished two important goals for AccuStem's StemPrintER test: Results confirmed that StemPrintER is highly prognostic, with high risk patients up to 4 times as likely to experience a distant recurrence as low risk patients StemPrintER outperformed the OncotypeDX test, developed by Exact Sciences, in stratifying patients according to their risk of breast cancer recurrence1 "Showing this prognostic performance compared to the market leader in a prospective, randomized trial is a critical milestone for StemPrintER," said Wendy Blosser, Chief Executive Officer of AccuStem. "These exciting results are not surprising given the novel pathways such as tumor 'stemness' that StemPrintER interrogates. We believe that our test will have significant utility beyond indicating risk of recurrence and aim to demonstrate that with our future trials. We look forward to our next steps and leveraging the technology to bring better outcomes to breast cancer patients." Breast cancer remains a significant health challenge worldwide, and despite advancements in research and treatment options, there are still unanswered questions regarding the identification, prognosis, and management of early stage breast cancer. AccuStem Sciences recognizes the urgent need to address these gaps in knowledge and is committed to leveraging its cutting-edge technologies and expertise in stem cell research to make a meaningful impact in this field. AccuStem plans to launch clinical studies to evaluate StemPrintER's ability to determine the most effective surgical approach for women with early stage invasive breast cancer. This could have significant treatment implications because, beyond clinical factors and patient preference, clinicians do not currently possess tools to determine the most appropriate surgical interventions. To demonstrate StemPrintER's disruptive predictive capabilities in a global market that sees more than two million new diagnoses each year, AccuStem will partner with leading US and European institutions to obtain these clinical data for presentation and publication. About AccuStem AccuStem is a clinical stage diagnostics company dedicated to optimizing outcomes and quality of life for all patients with cancer. We plan to drive innovation in healthcare by offering proprietary molecular testing that addresses unmet clinical needs from cancer screening through treatment and monitoring. By interrogating novel disease pathways, such as tumor "stemness", we believe our tools will help care teams better understand the biology of each patient's cancer, leading to more informed decision making. For more information, please visit www.accustem.com . About Instituto Europeo di Oncologia (IEO) The Instituto Europeo di Oncologia (IEO) is a leading comprehensive cancer center located in Milan, Italy. Renowned for its excellence in oncology research and patient care, IEO is committed to advancing knowledge in the field of cancer and developing personalized treatment strategies. With a multidisciplinary approach, IEO brings together internationally recognized experts to collaborate on groundbreaking research initiatives, aiming to improve cancer outcomes and quality of life for patients worldwide. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" Forward-looking statements reflect our current view about future events. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "future," "intend," "plan," or the negative of these terms and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward-looking statements. Such statements, include, but are not limited to, statements contained in this press release relating to our business strategy, our future operating results and liquidity and capital resources outlook. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees of assurance of future performance. We caution you therefore against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, our ability to raise capital to fund continuing operations; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; the impact of any infringement actions or other litigation brought against us; competition from other providers and products; our ability to develop and commercialize products and services; changes in government regulation; our ability to complete capital raising transactions; and other factors relating to our industry, our operations and results of operations. Actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. AccuStem Sciences, Inc. assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release. Media Contact: Email: info@accustem.com Investor Contact: Email: investors@accustem.com _____________________ 1 https://www.ejcancer.com/article/S0959-8049(22)00007-7/fulltext Sterling, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Azure IAM has announced its conditional access system consulting service for organizations, including universities, looking to robustly secure both users and assets in the cloud. Following the recent announcement, Azure IAM provides clients of all sizes with cloud security systems that are designed to be as unobtrusive and secure as possible. With this service, the team helps organizations implement systems using a range of lightweight access management solutions, all managed through the Azure Active Directory. More information is available at https://azureiam.com/ Azure IAM Announces Conditional Access Management Security Consulting Services To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/172656_deaf6dad84f99894_001full.jpg With this expanded service, Azure IAM wants to empower universities and other entities to leverage highly complex cloud security ecosystems that entail careful control when it comes to network access. These systems are designed and implemented by the company's team to facilitate a high degree of accountability among users through a variety of means. The consultancy is capable of quickly and effectively implementing digital identity consolidation systems intended to record the complete digital footprint of a given user on a network across their different accounts, therefore simplifying the verification process. The security architects at Azure IAM are experts in the Microsoft Azure suite of products, which can provide the framework necessary to support a versatile range of other specialty systems. Network administrators taking advantage of these services can connect and manage their new and existing access management systems through Azure AD, or through existing control methods. With this announcement, Azure IAM expands its conditional access capabilities to meet almost any need possible, particularly for clients that require extreme security measures to protect their data. Their expert team is available to discuss specific implementations and pricing information. They can help prevent external attacks such as phishing or social engineering while also protecting against impersonation attempts or theft attempts from within the network. Additional details can be found at https://azureiam.com/ Contact Info: Name: Robin Lilly Email: robin@azureiam.com Organization: Azure IAM, LLC Address: P. O. Box 650685, Sterling, Virginia 20165, United States Website: https://azureiam.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/172656 BANGALORE, India and NEW TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Moxa and Saudi Aramco Technologies Company have signed a worldwide commercialization agreement to further develop and commercialize the Intelligent Integrated Node (IIN) technology. The IIN technology, collaboratively developed by Aramco and Moxa, replaces numerous devices from multiple vendors, and offers instrumentation control, monitoring, and edge computing capabilities, all in a single fault tolerant device. The integrated node demonstrates increased computing speed, reduced CAPEX and OPEX and improved operational efficiency and safety in asset intensive operational facilities. The technology has garnered several accolades, including the 2018 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prize for Inventors and the 2020 International Society of Automation (ISA) Excellence-in-Innovation Award. "We are grateful to Saudi Aramco Technologies Company for choosing Moxa to commercialize the Intelligent Integrated Node technology. The licensed solution offers greater control and improved efficiency by providing more capacity for capturing and analyzing data from multiple instruments. We are excited about the applications, not only in the Oil & Gas sector but also in other verticals such as Power & Utilities, Renewables, Water and the Transportation sector," said Michael Lin, President, Moxa Inc. "The unique selling point of this technology is the replacement of up to five different devices with a single reliable and powerful computing automation device. In an asset intensive operational facility, this directly translates to lower costs, higher flexibility, agility, operational efficiency and, most importantly, improved operational safety. The technology dovetails into Aramco's digital transformation strategy. Moxa is a market leader in industrial networking, computing and connectivity solutions. We are very pleased to have partnered with Moxa for commercializing this technology worldwide in all technology sectors," said Motaz Al Mashouk, Aramco's Senior Vice President of Engineering Services. Abdullah S. Dhuwaihi, CEO (A), Saudi Aramco Technologies Company, commented, "We are delighted to have established this important collaboration with Moxa. This license agreement intends to build on the collaborative work done so far on the development of this technology. We look forward to successful commercialization of this technology." About Moxa Inc. Moxa is a leading provider of edge connectivity, industrial computing, and network infrastructure solutions for enabling connectivity for the Industrial Internet of Things. With 35 years of industry experience, Moxa has connected more than 94 million devices worldwide and has a distribution and service network that reaches customers in more than 85 countries. Moxa delivers lasting business value by empowering industry with reliable networks and sincere service for industrial communications infrastructures. Information about Moxa's solutions is available at https://www.moxa.com/en/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2145897/MoxA.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/moxa-inc-and-saudi-aramco-technologies-company-sign-worldwide-commercialization-agreement-for-intelligent-integrated-node-solution-301874089.html BEIJING, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Gen Zer Dialogue with Shandong, co-hosted by China Daily and the Information Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government, 21st Century English Education Media as co-organizer, concluded successfully on July 7 in Jinan, the capital city of Shandong province. The "Wisdom of Youth Sets Sail" forum aimed to foster mutual understanding and learning among global Gen Zers through cultural experiences and extensive communication. During the event, nine young people from China and abroad took the stage to share their impressions of Shandong and discussed strategies for effectively sharing Shandong stories with the world. Their impressions and thoughts were based on their week-long journey across different cities in the province ahead of the event. Their journey began in Weifang, where they were immersed in the captivating world of kite culture and witnessed the advancements of the science and technology used in vegetable farming. Next, they ventured to Jining, where they had the opportunity to visit the Temple of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion. It was here that they delved into the life and thoughts of Confucius, the esteemed Chinese philosopher who formulated the philosophy of Confucianism. Their final destination was Jinan. With a rich history steeped in spring culture, the city boasts an impressive collection of "72 Famous Springs," including the Baotu Spring and Pearl Spring. Throughout their journey, the participants gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for the unique cultural heritage and natural wonders of these remarkable cities in Shandong province. Yulia, a Russian student currently studying Economics at Tsinghua University, expressed her amazement at how well Shandong has preserved the values of Confucianism. She highlighted how children in the province are taught the importance of humility from a young age through Confucius' quote - "two heads are always better than one." Yulia also noted that the warm hospitality of the local people can be traced back to another quote by Confucius - "it's a pleasure to have friends coming from afar." Sherif, an Egyptian entrepreneur and MBA graduate, shared his observations on the remarkable technological advancements he witnessed in Shandong, particularly in transportation and agriculture. He commended the province for its highly developed infrastructure, including one of the most advanced high-speed rail networks. Moreover, he highlighted Shandong's adoption of precision farming techniques, such as smart irrigation, crop monitoring, smart greenhouses, and agricultural data analytics, which contribute to enhanced efficiency and sustainability in agriculture. "I believe that Egypt should learn from China and have better cooperation in promoting and building smart agriculture. This would be a win-win situation for both Egypt and China," he said. Global Gen Zer Dialogue with Shandong also served as a parallel forum to the 2023 Global Youth Conference, held from July 6 to 9. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2151437/image_1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-gen-z-youth-experience-a-vibrant-shandong-301874097.html VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Metallic Minerals Corp. (TSX.V:MMG)(OTCQB:MMNGF) ("Metallic Minerals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the start of the 2023 exploration and drill campaign at the La Plata copper-silver-gold-PGE project, located in southwest Colorado. In May 2023, Newcrest Mining Limited completed a 9.5% strategic equity investment into Metallic Minerals with the goal of accelerating advancement of the La Plata porphyry project. This funding will support a two-phase drill campaign in 2023 that will build on the success from work in 2022. The initial phase is expected to consist of approximately 5,000 meters of diamond core drilling, primarily focused on resource expansion at the Allard porphyry deposit. A top priority for the program will be to conduct step-out drilling from the major discovery in drill hole 22-04 which intersected 816 meters of 0.41% Cu Eq (0.30% Cu, 2.47 g/t Ag, 0.038 g/t Au, 0.055 g/t Pd and 0.093 g/t Pd) from surface and ended in 5.39% CuEq over 5.2 m (2.44% Cu, 18.7 g/t Ag, 5.0 g/t Au+PGE). Hole 22-04 did not reach target depth and ended in mineralization due to mechanical issues. Drilling in 2023 will test the lower limits of mineralization and some holes are scheduled for as deep as 1,200 meters. Scott Petsel, Metallic Minerals' President, stated, "We see a real opportunity for world class scale and grade at La Plata and have confidence in our ability to quickly grow the existing resources. Hole 22-04 was not only the widest and highest-grade drill hole ever drilled on the project, it was also one of the top holes drilled in the last several years at any copper project in North America. We also expect to be able to increase the overall grade of the resource moving forward as we include precious metals credits previously not accounted for. Our exploration work over the past two years has defined 16 additional untested porphyry targets across the greater property, which appear to have very similar characteristics to the Allard deposit and could result in additional new discoveries. The drill is currently mobilizing to site." The Allard deposit remains open to significant expansion within the resource area to the east, north and west and to depth, with the potential to add gold, platinum and palladium to the current copper and silver resource with the completion of additional exploration drilling. In addition, the larger porphyry system at the La Plata project, which covers an area of over 10 km2, remains underexplored with the potential for new discoveries of both additional copper porphyry centers, as well as high-grade epithermal silver and gold systems. Yukon Mining Alliance 2023 Property Tours Metallic Minerals will be participating in the Yukon Mining Alliance Property Tours and Investment Conference in Dawson City on July 19th. Select tour participants will visit Metallic's Australia Creek alluvial gold royalty property in the Klondike Gold District, currently under lease to Parker Schnabel's Little Flake Mining as seen on Discovery Channel's Gold Rush television program. More information whereabout the YMA Property Tours and Conference can be found here. For more information about Metallic's lease agreement with Little Flake Mining, click here. About Metallic Minerals Metallic Minerals Corp. is a leading exploration and development stage company focused on copper, silver, gold and other critical minerals in the La Plata mining district in Colorado, and silver and gold in the high-grade Keno Hill and Klondike districts of the Yukon. Our objective is to create shareholder value through a systematic, entrepreneurial approach to making exploration discoveries, growing resources, and advancing our projects toward development. In 2023, the Company announced a 9.5% strategic investment by Newcrest Mining Limited for the continued advancement of the Company's La Plata project in southwestern Colorado. The inaugural NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, announced in 2022, identified a significant porphyry copper-silver resource containing 889 Mlbs copper and 15 Moz of silver and an updated estimate is currently being finalized. Notably, Colorado was recently ranked 5th globally for investment attractiveness and 2nd in the USA In the 2023 Fraser Institute's Annual Survey of Mining Companies. In Canada's Yukon Territory, Metallic Minerals has consolidated the second-largest land position in the historic high-grade Keno Hill silver district, directly adjacent to Hecla Mining's operations, with more than 300 Moz of high-grade silver in past production and current M&I resources. Hecla Mining Company, the largest primary silver producer in the USA and third largest in the world, completed the acquisition of Alexco Resources and their Keno Hill operations in September 2022. Hecla is targeting to start production at the Keno Hill operations by Q3 2023. Metallic Minerals is anticipating the announcement of inaugural mineral resource estimate at Keno Silver in the second half of 2023. The Company is also one of the largest holders of alluvial gold claims in the Yukon and is building a production royalty business by partnering with experienced mining operators, including Parker Schnabel of Little Flake Mining from the hit television show, Gold Rush, on the Discovery Channel. All of the districts in which Metallic Minerals operates have seen significant mineral production and have existing infrastructure, including power and road access. Metallic Minerals is led by a team with a track record of discovery and exploration success, as well as having large-scale development, permitting and project financing expertise. The Metallic Minerals team has been recognized for its environmental stewardship practices and is committed to responsible and sustainable resource development. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Website: www.mmgsilver.com Phone: 604-629-7800 Email: cackerman@mmgsilver.com Toll Free: 1-888-570-4420 Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, statements about expected results of operations, royalties, cash flows, financial position and future dividends as well as financial position, prospects, and future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Metallic Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, unsuccessrul operations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration, development of mines and mining operations is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Metallic Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Metallic Minerals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766846/Metallic-Minerals-Launches-First-Phase-Drill-Program-at-the-La-Plata-Copper-Silver-Gold-PGE-Project-in-Southwest-Colorado-USA Highlights Include 1.31 g/t AuEQ over 337.5 Meters in Hole GS-23-167 and 1.01 g/t AuEQ over 412.5 Meters in Hole GS-23-164 Cardston, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - American Creek Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AMK) (OTCQB: ACKRF) ("the Corporation" or "American Creek") is pleased to announce that project operator and JV partner Tudor Gold ("Tudor") has produced the first set of drill results for the 2023 exploration program (the "Program") at the flagship property, Treaty Creek, located in the heart of the Golden Triangle of Northwestern British Columbia. Since the beginning of this year's Program, Tudor has successfully completed over 12,000 meters (m) of drilling, within areas encompassing the Goldstorm Deposit and the Perfectstorm Zone. The five drill holes reported in this release are located in the northeastern area of the Goldstorm Deposit. Click to view plan map and cross sections. Ken Konkin, Tudor's President and CEO, commented: "We are very pleased to report the discovery of continued strong gold, silver, and copper mineralization outside the previously defined resource area with 150-m step-out holes GS-23-164 and GS-23-167. The overall strength and consistency of the Goldstorm system continues to amaze our technical team as the deposit remains open in all directions and at depth. Our continued success of these critical first-round results has prompted us to build several more drill pads designed to test all northern aspects to all domains as there appears to be no end in-sight to the Goldstorm Au-Cu-Ag mineralization as of yet. Equally important was the success of definition hole GS-23-168 within a vast block of the 300H Domain. The goal is to increase drilling density to potentially upgrade this large block into the Indicated category from the Inferred category of the Mineral Resource. GS-23-168 intersected 309.0 m of 1.02 g/t AuEQ including an enriched portion averaging 1.40 g/t AuEQ over 204.0 m, with a core of 1.99 g/t AuEQ over 75 m. Based on these very encouraging results, we have decided to pursue the northern aspects of the Goldstorm Deposit with five drill rigs, leaving one exploration rig to further drill-test the Perfectstorm Zone." Darren Blaney, CEO of American Creek, expressed his optimism for investors regarding the progress of the 2023 drill program. In response to the impressive results, he commented: "It looks like we are off to a great start with the 2023 drill program. More step outs with wide intervals of strong mineralization and another significant expansion of the Goldstorm. What's not to like?" GOLDSTORM DEPOSIT STEP-OUT DRILLING SECTION 119+50 NE GS-23-164, a 150 m northeast step-out was drilled to target the gold-dominant DS-5 Domain. Mineralization was encountered over a length of 412.5 m grading 1.01 g/t AuEQ (0.93 g/t Au, 6.26 g/t Ag, 0.01 % Cu), containing a higher-grade intercept of 124.5 m grading 1.51 g/t AuEQ (1.38 g/t Au, 11.54 g/t Ag, 0.01% Cu) with a very rich segment over 7.5 m of 11.56 g/t AuEQ (11.46 g/t Au, 9.34 g/t Ag, 0.01 % Cu). The DS-5 Domain remains open to the north and northeast. Another step-out drill pad was constructed 150 m to the north of this drill hole to allow continued exploration of the DS-5 Domain and the gold-copper dominant CS-600 Domain. GS-23-167, a 150-m northeast step-out of the CS-600 Domain was drilled to expand the domain outside the northeastern edge of the 2023 Mineral Resource area. The drill hole returned an intercept of 337.5 m averaging 1.31 g/t AuEQ (0.87 g/t Au, 6.89 g/t Ag, 0.32 % Cu) with an enriched zone of 94.5 m averaging 1.80 g/t AuEQ (1.14 g/t Au, 9.87 g/t Ag, 0.47 % Cu). Additional step-out drill holes have been completed, or are currently underway, to continue expanding the CS-600 Domain (GS-23-169, GS-23-170, GS-23-172). Assays will be released when they are received and reviewed. GOLDSTORM DEPOSIT DEFINITION AND INFILL DRILLING SECTION 117+00 NE GS-23-168: This hole intercepted unexpected 300-H Domain mineralization. Starting at 462 m, an intercept over a drill length of 309.0 m averaged 1.02 g/t AuEQ (0.96 g/t Au, 4.62 g/t Ag, 0.01 % Cu) with an enriched segment of 27.0 m grading 3.15 g/t AuEQ (3.07 g/t Au, 6.80 g/t Ag, 0.01 % Cu). This hole was shut down and had a wedge set at 684 m down hole to improve its target of the CS-600 Domain at depth. This wedged drill hole, GS-23-168-W1, is currently at a depth of 1900 m, drilling through a strongly mineralized area of the CS-600 Domain. GS-23-163, GS-23-165: These drill holes were not sampled and shutdown early due to excessive drill hole deviation. Their original target was re-drilled as hole GS-23-168. Table 1: Drilling Results for Goldstorm Deposit in Press Release July 10, 2023 Section Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) AuEQ (g/t) 119+50 NE GS-23-164 622.50 1035.00 412.50 0.93 6.26 0.01 1.01 including 870.00 994.50 124.50 1.38 11.54 0.01 1.51 including 889.50 897.00 7.50 11.46 9.34 0.01 11.56 and 1117.50 1147.50 30.00 0.95 5.11 0.02 1.02 GS-23-167 880.50 1218.00 337.50 0.87 6.89 0.32 1.31 including 1042.50 1137.00 94.50 1.14 9.87 0.47 1.80 117+00 NE GS-23-163 Hole abandoned, not sampled GS-23-165 Hole abandoned, not sampled GS-23-168 462.00 771.00 309.00 0.96 4.62 0.01 1.02 including 534.00 738.00 204.00 1.32 6.51 0.02 1.40 including 562.50 637.50 75.00 1.94 4.22 0.01 1.99 including 610.50 637.50 27.00 3.07 6.80 0.01 3.15 All assay values are uncut and intervals reflect drilled intercept lengths. HQ and NQ2 diameter core samples were sawn in half and typically sampled at standard 1.5m intervals. The following metal prices were used to calculate the Au Eq metal content: Gold $1800/oz, Ag: $20/oz, Cu: $3.5/lb. Calculations used the formula AuEQ = Au g/t + (Ag g/t*0.0098765) + (Cu ppm*0.0001185). All metals are reported in USD and calculations consider recoveries of 90 % for gold, 80 % for copper, and 80 % for silver. True widths have not been determined as the mineralized body remains open in all directions. Further drilling is required to determine the mineralized body orientation and true widths. Table 2: Drill data for holes in Press Release July 10, 2023 Section Hole ID UTM E NAD 83 UTM N NAD 83 Elevation (m) Azi (o) Dip (o) Depth (m) 119+50 NE GS-23-164 429366 6273405 1182 292 -78 1188 GS-23-167 429026 6273660 1495 300 -76 1218 117+00 NE GS-23-163 428925 6273439 1397 281 -54 234 GS-23-165 428925 6273439 1397 288 -56 321 GS-23-168 428925 6273439 1397 288 -58.7 1059 Qualified Person The Qualified Person for this news release for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") is Tudor Gold's President and CEO, Ken Konkin, P.Geo. He has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release. QA/QC Diamond drill core samples were prepared at MSA Labs' Preparation Laboratory in Terrace, BC and assayed at MSA Labs' Geochemical Laboratory in Langley, BC. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the submission of blanks, certified standards and duplicate samples inserted at regular intervals into the sample stream by Tudor Gold personnel. MSA Laboratories quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 17025 and ISO 9001. MSA Labs is independent of Tudor Gold. About Treaty Creek The Treaty Creek Project hosts the Goldstorm Deposit, comprising a large gold-copper porphyry system, as well as several other mineralized zones. As disclosed in the March 2023 News Release, the Goldstorm Deposit has an Indicated Mineral Resource (as defined in NI 43-101) of 23.37 Moz of AuEq grading 1.13 g/t AuEq (18.75 Moz gold grading 0.91 g/t, 2.18 Blbs copper grading 0.15 %, 112.4 Moz silver grading 5.45 g/t) and an Inferred Mineral Resource (as defined in NI 43-101) of 7.35 Moz of AuEq grading 0.98 g/t AuEq (5.54 Moz gold grading 0.74 g/t, 0.85 Blb copper grading 0.16 %, 45.08 Moz silver grading 5.99 g/t), with a pit constrained cut-off of 0.5 g/t AuEq and an underground cut-off of 0.7 g/t AuEq. The Goldstorm Deposit has been categorized into three dominant mineral domains and several smaller mineral domains. The CS-600 domain largely consists of an intermediate intrusive stock and hosts the majority of the copper mineralization within the Goldstorm Deposit. CS-600 has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 9.86 Moz AuEq grading 1.10 g/t AuEq (6.22 Moz gold grading 0.70 g/t, 1.98 Blbs copper grading 0.32 %, 51.1 Moz silver grading 5.71 g/t) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 3.71 Moz AuEq grading 1.19 g/t AuEq (2.32 Moz gold grading 0.75 g/t, 0.76 Blb copper grading 0.36 %, 18.71 Moz silver grading 6.01 g/t). The Goldstorm Deposit remains open in all directions and requires further exploration drilling to determine the size and extent of the deposit. 1 AuEq = Au g/t + (Ag g/t*0.0098765) + (Cu ppm*0.0001185) Treaty Creek JV Partnership American Creek is a proud partner in the Treaty Creek Project. The project is a Joint Venture with Tudor Gold owning 3/5th and acting as operator. American Creek and Teuton Resources each have a 1/5th interest in the project creating a 3:1 ownership relationship between Tudor Gold and American Creek. American Creek and Teuton hold fully carried 20% interests, which means no development costs are incurred by these companies until a production notice is issued. This gives shareholders a unique opportunity, to avoid the dilutive effects of exploration while maintaining their full 20% exposure to one of the world's most exciting mega deposits. About American Creek American Creek is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company with gold and silver properties in British Columbia, Canada. The Corporation has an interest in the Treaty Creek property, a joint venture project with Tudor Gold located in BC's prolific "Golden Triangle". The Corporation also holds the Austruck-Bonanza gold property located near Kamloops. For further information please contact Kelvin Burton at: Phone: 403 752-4040 or Email: info@americancreek.com. Information relating to the Corporation is available on its website at www.americancreek.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Corporation expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including the completion and anticipated results of planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Corporation's planned exploration activities will be completed in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Corporation in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Corporation's plans or expectations include risks relating to the actual results of current exploration activities, fluctuating gold prices, possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Corporation with securities regulators. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173047 BURLINGTON, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Murchison Minerals Ltd. ("Murchison" or the "Company") (TSXV:MUR)(OTCQB:MURMF) is pleased to announce that, subject to all regulatory approvals, it intends to raise up to $1,500,000 in a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"), with the proceeds directed towards the Company's 2023 exploration activities at its 100%-owned BMK Zn-Cu-Ag project in Saskatchewan and 100%-owned HPM nickel-copper-cobalt property in Eastern Quebec as well as working capital. Pursuant to the Offering, the Company will issue Hard Dollar units ("HD Units") at a price of $0.06 per HD Unit, Quebec flow-through units ("QFT Units") at a price of $0.07 per QFT Unit and National flow-through units ("NFT Units") at a price of $0.065 per NFT Unit, in any combination to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000. Each HD Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of a common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant") and each QFT Unit and NFT Unit will be comprised of one flow-through common share of the Company (a "FT Common Share") and one-half of a Warrant. Each whole Warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one additional Common Share at a price of $0.10 for a period of 24 months from the date of closing of the Offering. A finder's fee may apply to a portion of the proceeds raised under the Offering in the amount of 6% cash and 6% finders' warrants. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period from the date of issue. It is anticipated that Donald K. Johnson, a director and control person of the Company will acquire a certain number of Units under the Offering to maintain his current ownership at around 30%. Any such participation will be considered a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). It is anticipated that the transaction will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 based on a determination that the securities of the Company are listed on the TSXV and that the fair market value of the Offering, insofar as it involves interested parties, will not exceed $2,500,000 or 25% of the market capitalization of the Company. The Offering was approved by all independent directors of the Company. Mr. Troy Boisjoli, Murchison Minerals President, CEO, and Director comments: "Murchison is in a great position, having two key assets with BMK and HPM, located in Canada's top mining jurisdictions, Saskatchewan, and Quebec, respectively. At a time when critical minerals like nickel, copper, cobalt, and zinc are in continuing high demand globally the Company is excited to advance both of its projects over the course of 2023." About Murchison Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: MUR, OTCQB: MURMF) Murchison is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on nickel-copper-cobalt exploration at the 100% - owned HPM Project in Quebec and the exploration and development of the 100% - owned Brabant Lake zinc-copper-silver project in north-central Saskatchewan. Murchison currently has 218.2 million shares issued and outstanding. Additional information about Murchison and its exploration projects can be found on the Company's website at www.murchisonminerals.ca. For further information, please contact: Troy Boisjoli, President and CEO or Erik H Martin, CFO Justin Lafosse, Director Corporate Development Tel: (416) 350-3776 info@murchisonminerals.com Forward-Looking Information Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals. FLI herein includes, but is not limited to: future drill results; stakeholder engagement and relationships; parameters and methods used with respect to the assay results; the prospects, if any, of the deposits; future prospects at the deposits; and the significance of exploration activities and results. FLI is designed to help you understand management's current views of its near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such FLI. Although the FLI contained in this press release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such FLI, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such FLI. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such FLI contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. Unless otherwise noted, this press release has been prepared based on information available as of the date of this press release. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the FLI or information contained herein. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in FLI. Assumptions upon which FLI is based, without limitation, include: the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the deposits; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to obtain the assay results; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; the results of exploration activities; the evolution of the global economic climate; metal prices; environmental expectations; community and nongovernmental actions; and any impacts of COVID-19 on the deposits, the Company's financial position, the Company's ability to secure required funding, or operations. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available at www.sedar.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Murchison Minerals Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766761/Murchison-Minerals-Announces-Non-Brokered-Private-Placement NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Somatix leadership presented the results of its brand-new medication compliance and hydration capabilities that were trained and launched in Portuguese hospitals and clinics as part of the Building Tomorrow Together - Innovation in Dementia Program with Roche Pharmaceuticals, Multicare, and Beta-i Collaborative Innovation. The project was part of an open innovation initiative powered by Beta-i, in which four startups, including Somatix, were selected to conduct their pilots in public or private institutions in Portugal. Somatix is honored to be part of this project to improve the quality of life of patients with dementia. Roche and Somatix Teams at Beta-i The Roche and Somatix teams gather together at Beta-i's "Innovation in Dementia" event. Using its unique artificial intelligence-enabled technology, Somatix is able to provide powerful clinical insights from wearables worn by patients with early to mid-stage dementia, including hydration, falls and medication compliance. Dehydration and missed medication dosages are potentially preventable events that otherwise lead to injury and illness. With the combination of remote monitoring, telehealth, and Somatix's SafeBeingTM platform, the goal is to keep these patients safer and healthier while preserving their independence, and to improve their quality of life either at home or in an independent living facility. Partnering with Roche and two major health providers in Portugal, Campus Neurologico Senior (cnscampus.com) and CUF (cuf.pt), Somatix demonstrated the first successful clinical use of its ground-breaking medication compliance feature. Dr. Charles Herman, CEO of Somatix, commented, "Somatix's AI-powered Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) platform for healthcare providers uniquely uses wearable-enabled gesture detection to yield powerful clinical insights to improve patient outcomes with the help of strategic partners like Roche and Multicare, our sponsors; CNS and CUF, our healthcare provider partners; and Beta-i, the open innovation program developer; bringing groundbreaking technology to the aging population in Europe. We also worked closely with our ecosystem partner, Amazon Web Services, to build our first cloud-based server in Europe." "Somatix is happy to report that the medication compliance feature was accurately able to detect pills taken and missed with over 70% accuracy. Based on the experience with Roche and its partners, we have already found opportunities to further improve the accuracy of our medication intake algorithm and plan to reach close to 90% accuracy in the next phase of our project. We also observed close to 95% accuracy in detecting the amount of fluid consumed over a day," says Dr. Amit Sawant, COO of Somatix. Somatix and Roche plan to expand the partnership later this year, bringing Somatix's platform to more outpatients with early and mid-stage dementia in an effort to keep them safer and healthier in their own environments. Contact Information Jessica Bradley Director of Sales jessicab@somatix.com SOURCE: Somatix View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766727/Somatix-and-Roche-Launch-an-Only-of-Its-Kind-Medication-Compliance-Capability-Using-AI-Enabled-Wearable-Technology Jacobson, an eminent research scientist working across disciplines including computational biophysics, physical chemistry, quantum mechanics, rational drug design, and protein structure prediction, has founded several successful companies including Global Blood Therapeutics, Relay Therapeutics, and Nine Square Therapeutics Jacobson joins a team of venture partners at ATP creating and building new biotech companies based on transformative scientific advances NEW YORK and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Apple Tree Partners (ATP), a leader in life sciences venture capital, announced today thatMatthew P. Jacobson, Ph.D., serial biotech entrepreneur and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at University of California San Francisco (UCSF), has joined ATP as a venture partner. In this role, he will identify opportunities for new life sciences investments and company creation and provide strategic expertise to ATP's portfolio companies. He will be based in ATP's South San Francisco office. Dr. Jacobson's research interests are in the areas of computational biophysics and computer-aided drug design; he is the author of more than 200 publications and several patents. He presently devotes most of his time to biotech entrepreneurship and has co-founded six successful biotech companies in the past dozen years. His first, Global Blood Therapeutics, received accelerated FDA approval for Oxybryta (voxelotor) in sickle cell disease in 2019 and was acquired by Pfizer in 2022 for $5.4 billion. Other companies he has co-founded include Relay Therapeutics, which currently has four targeted oncology candidates in clinical development; Circle Pharma, a designer of precision macrocycle therapeutics; and ATP portfolio company Nine Square Therapeutics, focused on discovering small molecules to boost autophagy/mitophagy to treat ALS, Parkinson's, and other life-threatening neurodegenerative diseases. "We have enjoyed a productive working relationship with Matt for several years, and we are delighted to formally welcome him to ATP as a venture partner and scientific advisor," said Seth Harrison, M.D., Apple Tree Partners' founder and Managing Partner. "Matt joins us at a time when we are expanding our academic collaborations in California, and his network and knowledge across that ecosystem will further ATP's work to found new life sciences companies in the region. Beyond California, Matt brings unique expertise that applies across our current portfolio that we believe will provide our companies with substantial competitive advantages." "Over the past decade I have become deeply passionate about biotech entrepreneurship, driven by the goal of developing therapies to ameliorate grievous disease," Dr. Jacobson said. "I am excited to join ATP, because they bring together the key ingredients to enable success in this challenging and urgent endeavor: great science, great people, and great execution." Dr. Jacobson was an undergraduate at Stanford, earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at MIT, and then completed post-doctoral research at Oxford University and at Columbia University. He became a faculty member in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at USCF in 2002, received tenure in 2007, and subsequently served as Director of the Graduate Group in Biophysics and then chair of his department. At UCSF, he received the NSF CAREER Award, the most prestigious award given by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through research and education, as well as an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and several UCSF School of Pharmacy teaching awards. He served on the editorial boards of eight journals, including Biochemistry, PLoS Computational Biology, and Structure. Software written by Dr. Jacobson and his collaborators is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, and he served as a scientific advisor to Schrodinger, Inc., for two decades. About Apple Tree Partners Founded in 1999, Apple Tree Partners (ATP) is a leader in life sciences venture capital, with $2.65 billion in committed capital and offices in New York, London, San Francisco, and Cambridge, MA. ATP creates companies starting at various stages, from pre-IP ideas to asset spinouts, investing in them from seed stage through IPO and beyond. The core of ATP's strategy is providing flexible capital and access to a world-class team of venture partners and EIRs, to build sustainable, research-driven enterprises that deliver therapeutics to improve human lives. For more information, visit www.appletreepartners.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Sally Jacob / sjacob@appletreepartners.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1666287/ATP_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/apple-tree-partners-recruits-noted-biotech-entrepreneur-and-computer-aided-drug-design-pioneer-matthew-p-jacobson-phd-as-new-venture-partner-301874012.html Registration for BIOMEDevice Boston is now open, offering attendees numerous networking opportunities at the most comprehensive medical device and manufacturing event on the East Coast. BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / BIOMEDevice Boston , the East Coast's premier event showcasing emerging technologies and trends from the medtech market, is set to take place Sept. 20-21, 2023, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. This event offers the most extensive look into product lifecycle-from prototype to production in medical technology, covering digital health, surgical robotics and medical devices. More than 200 exhibitors and 30 industry speakers and thought leaders will be in attendance to provide more than 20 hours of educational content. BIOMEDevice Boston will host two keynote presentations, featuring Dr. Gregory Fischer, CEO of AiM Medical Robotics, and Nicole Black, Vice President of Biomaterials and Innovation at Desktop Health, who will take Center Stage to discuss the biggest innovations within the medical device community. On Sept. 20 at 1 p.m., Fischer will share his expertise on how innovators bring medical products and devices to life through local resources, as well as detail how to conceptualize, refine and commercialize medical devices. Fischer's experience as a researcher, professor, lead investigator on federal government-supported grants and director of a state-funded MedTech accelerator gives him the unique advantage of observing the challenges that come with life cycle of new medtech devices through the different viewpoints of patients, clinicians and hospitals. Nicole Black, who holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy with a focus on biomedical engineering, will hold the second-day keynote and offer a unique perspective on how 3D printing continues to revolutionize the medical device market. Black will discuss the new technological developments that allow 3D printing to produce specialized parts for complex medical devices used for human tissue grafts; specifically, the PhonoGraft device that repairs eardrums. "BIOMEDevice Boston brings together the brightest minds in the medtech industry who aim to inspire the next innovative life changing medical device. Our keynote speakers will share in detail the process to bring these technologies to fruition," says Adrienne Zepeda, Group Event Director, BIOMEDevice Boston. "The global medical device industry, valued at $512.29 billion in 2022, is expected to grow to $799.67 billion by 2030. New technologies are developing every day in the market, and it is essential to know of the latest OEMs as buyers and sellers discuss emerging trends and practices to advance the medical device industry." To register for BIOMEDevice Boston, visit www.biomedboston.com . About Informa Markets - Engineering: Informa Markets Engineering portfolio, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), is the leading B2B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3-trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the engineering market and leverage our proprietary 1.3-million-name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Engineering portfolio is organized by Informa, the world's leading exhibitions organizer that brings a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit? www.informamarkets.com . Media Contact: Gabby Bailey Informa Markets Engineering pr.ime(@)informa.com SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - ENGINEERING View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766511/AiM-Medical-Robotics-Desktop-Help-to-Keynote-BIOMEDevice-Boston-in-September Palos Verdes Assays Pending Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Prismo Metals Inc. (CSE: PRIZ) (OTCQB: PMOMF) ("Prismo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the airborne ZTEM geophysical survey at Hot Breccia has been completed as part of an ongoing exploration program at the project located in the center of the prolific Arizona Copper Belt. The Company has also received assay results for the first batch of samples taken at the project, that indicate the presence of not only copper mineralization, but also gold mineralization associated with gossanous veins and shear zones. Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO commented: "We are pleased to have completed the ZTEM survey on time, and are looking forward to seeing the results, with interpretations expected to be received in the next few weeks. We are also excited about the first assay results that, when combined with historic assays by the property vendor, show not only copper mineralization in the area of the surface exposures of the namesake polylithic breccia, but also gold values with some copper associated with gossanous shear zones throughout the property that are commonly located at the contacts of a dike swarm cutting older rocks. The presence of gold in the mineralizing system could be important for future development of the project." Table 1. Highlight assays for samples from Hot Breccia Sample Type Sampler Width (m) Easting Northing Cu_% Au g/t 74304 Chip Vendor, 1989 525,879 3,653,846 - 0.13 75000 Chip Vendor, 1989 527,574 3,654,602 - 2.1 84835 Chip Vendor, 1989 526,967 3,653,733 1.28 0.062 84836 Selected Vendor, 1989 526,175 3,652,946 - 18 84837 Selected Vendor, 1989 526,153 3,652,908 0.55 28 84838 Chip Vendor, 1989 526,054 3,653,161 - 0.125 84839 Chip Vendor, 1989 526,030 3,653,200 - 0.1 84841 Chip Vendor, 1989 525,862 3,653,505 - 0.375 84843 Selected Vendor, 1989 525,700 3,654,197 - 1.2 84844 Selected Vendor, 1989 525,665 3,654,294 - 2.4 84845 Chip Vendor, 1989 525,734 3,654,348 - 0.53 W147767 Chip Vendor, 2023 1.5 526,911 3,653,668 - 0.18 W147768 Subcrop grab Vendor, 2023 2.0 526,971 3,653,681 1.17 0.074 22006 Selected Prismo 0.2 x 0.5 526,703 3,654,137 - 0.334 22007 Chip-channel Prismo 0.5 526,529 3,653,988 - 0.404 22008 Channel Prismo 1 526,053 3,652,802 1.11 3.75 22013 Selected Prismo 1 526,901 3,653,654 0.21 0.005 Coordinates in WGS84. Figure 1. Copper (left) and Gold (right) plotted on preliminary LiDAR interpretation with small mines and prospects and historic drill holes. The inset shows the location of the figure in the land package. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/173046_prismofigure1.jpg The Hot Breccia project consists of 227 mining concessions that lie about four kilometers from the historic Christmas mine which recorded production of about 481.6 Mlbs of copper from 20.2 M tons at a grade of 1.2% Cu plus significant gold and silver (Sources: Arizona Geological Society Spring Field Trip Guide in 2014). Prismo has not been able to verify the production information and it is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Hot Breccia property. It is believed that the Hot Breccia property may contain high grade skarn mineralization similar to that originally mined at the Christmas mine and the historical information is being used by Prismo solely to plan and guide future exploration. Figure 2. Location of the Hot Breccia project To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/173046_prismofigure2.jpg Kennecott drilled seven holes from 1972 to 1981 and Phelps Dodge drilled two holes on and near the current property in the same era. All drill holes intersected hydrothermal alteration within the volcanic rocks that overlie the typically better mineralized Paleozoic carbonate rocks with increasing alteration intensity downwards. The carbonate host units have several copper intercepts reported to exceed 1% copper and elevated zinc. Figure 3. Location of the Hot Breccia claim package southeast of the Christmas mine. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/173046_39bc4345549b7a29_006full.jpg Palos Verdes Update The Company has completed 1,239 meters of drilling in seven holes, with the 8th hole in progress. We expect to release assay results from the first seven holes during the week of July 17. QA/QC Rock samples taken by Prismo were analyzed by multielement ICP-AES and MS methods by ALS Group, an internationally recognized analytical service provider. Gold was analyzed by fire assay using a 25-gram charge, with an AA finish. Cu over 1% by an overrange method. Certified Reference Materials including standard pulps and coarse blank material were inserted in the sample stream at regular intervals. Samples taken by the vendor in 2023 were also analyzed by ALS Group. Samples taken by the vendor in 1989 were analyzed by Skyline Labs, certificates and QAQC data are not available, and these data should not be relied upon, and are used solely as a guide to exploration. Dr. Craig Gibson, PhD., CPG., a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-01 regulations and President, CEO and a director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release. About Hot Breccia The Hot Breccia property consists of 1,420 hectares of contiguous mining claims located in the world class Arizona Copper Belt. About Prismo Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is mining exploration company focused on two precious metal projects in Mexico (Palos Verdes and Los Pavitos) and a copper project in Arizona (Hot Breccia). Please follow @PrismoMetals on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Prismo Metals Inc. 1100 - 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6 Contact: Craig Gibson, President & Chief Executive Officer craig.gibson@prismometals.com Jason Frame, Manager of Communications jason.frame@prismometals.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement and exploration program results, the ability to complete future financings, required permitting, exploration programs and drilling, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, the analytical results from surface trenching and sampling program, including diamond drilling programs, the results of IP surveying, the results of soil and till sampling program. the quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including CSE acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, the potential impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the Company's exploration program and on the Company's general business, operations and financial condition, and other risks and uncertainties. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173046 Expects to Now Accelerate Growth Under BP Contract and 10-Year Fuel Supply Agreement KNOXVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Blue Earth Resources, Inc. (the "Company," "we," "our," or "us") (OTC PINK:BERI) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Fuel Trader Supply and Fuel Trader Resource Management, is pleased to announce the opening of its first BP branded retail location in La Vergne, Tennessee. The location at 5022 Murfreesboro Road in La Vergne, Tennessee encompasses a 5,590 square-foot building and features 16 fueling positions along with a New York style Deli and a Mexican food offering. La Vergne is a city in Rutherford County, Tennessee, with a population of 40,000, that lies within the Nashville Metropolitan area. Blue Earth Resources is operating under its BP Branded Jobber Contract from June 2022 and has a 10-year supply agreement in place for an estimated 1.44 million gallons per year. Scott M. Boruff, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Earth Resources, commented, "While the opening of this location has been a long time coming, we are thrilled to finally have it opened. The first location is always the most difficult and typically takes longer than expected to construct, gain permitting and open. We look forward to working closely with BP and local customers going forward in accelerating our growth with additional BP branded retail location openings over the remainder of 2023 and for years to come. We anticipate 3 additional BP locations to be opened by the end of July 2023 for an addition of 4.2 million gallons per year." About Blue Earth Resources, Inc. (OTC PINK:BERI) Blue Earth Resources, Inc. procures refined fuels from refineries and wholesalers and distributes it to both large retailers and single site operators. Our solution represents lower risk and more stable pricing to our vendors and customers. In addition, our custom branding services include imaging, design and consultation services to assist with custom branding. Blue Earth Resources, Inc. is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. For additional information, please visit: https://berifuels.com Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans, or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future activities and are subject to many risks and uncertainties. Due to such risks and uncertainties, actual events may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the future tense or other forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "should," "may," "will," "continue," "strategy," "position," "opportunity," statements regarding the "flexibility" of the Company or the negative of any of those terms or other variations of them or by comparable terminology. Investor Contacts: Scott M. Boruff, CEO investorrelations@berifuels.com 888-462-2374 ClearThink IR nyc@clearthink.capital SOURCE: Blue Earth Resources, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766755/Blue-Earth-Resources-Opens-First-BP-Branded-Retail-Location Newly opened facility offers Rand's full portfolio of electronics sourcing and solutions products and services for clients worldwide Rand Technology, celebrating more than 30 years as the world's premier independent electronics sourcing and solutions company, today announced the opening of its newest operations center in the Netherlands, its seventh worldwide. Located in the metropolitan Amsterdam community of Oude Meer, the facility will provide the full suite of Rand's renowned inspection, testing, and quality assurance solutions providing consistent, transparent, and seamless support for customers worldwide. To ensure Rand's rigorous Global Quality Management System standards are fulfilled, the Netherlands facility incorporates all elements of the company's industry leading in-house counterfeit mitigation, inspection, and quality testing including all the latest equipment and is ISO 9001 and 14001 certified. "Over the past 20 years, we have experienced tremendous growth in our client base in Europe and continue to invest in the talent and other resources needed to support the region. The Netherlands operation is a logical next step in our worldwide expansion, enabling us to better balance capacity across our global footprint and support customer interests in all regions, even more quickly and efficiently," said James Hill, Rand's chief operating officer. The facility will serve as a central location to optimize regional inventory flow and inspection including detailing country of origin, date of production, condition, and packaging. This exacting process mitigates liability and risk for participants looking to fill inventory gaps and/or sell surplus inventory. "This is our most significant expansion in Europe since opening our facility in Hungary in 2010," said Hill. "We have listened to our customers who asked for greater capacity for regionally sourced products to ensure flexibility in logistics, quicker delivery times and a reduction in total costs. We are at the intersection of supply and demand imbalances and, with the rapid introduction and expansion of electronics across industries, Rand plays an increasingly integral and strategic role in managing cost and risk for our customers. The increasing demand from old and new customers alike confirms the need." The Netherlands warehouse is the company's seventh major location. In addition to U.S. operations in California and Tennessee, Rand facilities are located in Hungary, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. About Rand Technology Founded in 1992, Rand Technology was the first ISO-certified independent semiconductor distribution company. Thirty years later it has grown into a sophisticated, full-service, technology hardware supply chain company offering a comprehensive suite of service solutions for all stages of product lifecycle: including new product introduction, production, global services, and sustainability for Fortune 500 companies in a total customer base that exceeds 3,000 worldwide. The Rand advantage is evident in its superior market vision, world-class infrastructure, and its unparalleled flexibility to meet hyperscale, enterprise, automotive, telecom, security, industrial, medical, energy, and lifestyle client needs. For more information visit http://www.randtech.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711516029/en/ Contacts: Beth McKenna beth@cookerly.com Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen. "Summer 2023 is projected to return to levels that were seen prior to the pandemic. Visited user's data indicates an increase in interest in European vacations. Europe has something for everyone from chic beaches such as French Riviera, sailing across islands in Croatia or Greece to visiting museums in Paris, Amsterdam or London to those looking for adventure in colder destinations such as hiking among Fjords in Norway or in the Swiss Alps. Even famiy travel can be fun when visiting Euro Disneyland near Paris or Legoland in Denmark." Said Anna Kayfitz, found of Visited App. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Basement waterproofing and structural repair firm Ayers Basement Systems works with general contractor Veneklasen Construction to renovate new headquarters and grow commercial footprint. LANSING, MI / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Ayers Basement Systems, a leader in basement waterproofing and residential structural repair, has more than doubled in size over the last 10 years, outgrowing its existing office and asking some employees to work remotely. Ayers' outgrowing of their office space began to hamper their strong culture as employees no longer had collaborative meeting spaces and weren't seeing each other daily. Ayers Basement Systems Training Room After purchasing the building and property at 2631 Eaton Rapids Road in Lansing, Ayers invited Veneklasen Construction, a general contractor who focuses on developing long-term business relationships, to renovate the existing structure into a brand new, 12,000+ square foot headquarters housing their office staff, materials, and supplies. "We have found that collaborating with Veneklasen frees us to focus on what we do best; training and equipping our employees so they can provide high-quality service to homeowners and communities across Michigan," says Ed Krieger, CEO of Ayers. "We want to exceed our customer's expectations and create a new standard in the industry, and we needed more office space to do that." In pursuit of that goal, Ayers' collaboration with Veneklasen saves them time and money and provides them with a great, consistent experience. Chris Veneklasen, CEO of Veneklasen Construction, praised Ayers' exceptional trustworthiness and profound positive impact on individuals throughout Michigan and Northern Indiana. Veneklasen relates, "Collaborating with Ayers on the renovation of their headquarters has been a rewarding experience for us. They exemplify the remarkable achievements that can be attained when individuals and businesses unite in their pursuit of mutual benefit and the community's welfare. We hope to continue to support their growth long into the future." Veneklasen has also worked with Ayers on renovating a property in the Grand Rapids area city of Kentwood, which houses several of their affiliated companies such as Ayers Commercial Group, East End Plumbing, Grand Bay Electric, and Hello Garage of Grand Rapids. Ayers and Veneklasen are setting a new business collaboration standard. The two companies have worked together on several projects and each time they have exceeded their own expectations. The new Ayers headquarters is a prime example of this success. Ayers moved into the building in March and looks forward to continuing to work with Veneklasen on future projects. Contact Information Jacob Gardner Marketing Specialist jgardner@veneklasenconstruction.com Taylor Dempsey Director of Marketing, Ayers Basement Systems tdempsey@goayers.com SOURCE: Ayers Basement Systems View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766494/Ayers-Basement-Systems-Works-With-Veneklasen-Construction-to-Expand-Into-New-Headquarters-and-Prepare-for-Future-Growth ARLINGTON, VA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Mission1st Group, Inc. (Mission1st) a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business renowned for its exceptional capabilities in the information technology sector, proudly declares the successful acquisition of Ardent Management Consulting (Ardent). This strategic move solidifies Mission1st's position as a leading force in the industry, combining the strengths and expertise of both organizations to deliver unparalleled value and results to their clients. "This is an exciting combination which will enhance the delivery capabilities of both organizations. Mission1st has proven solutions developed over two decades serving the Department of Defense in austere environments, while Ardent has a keen focus on analytics in the Federal Civilian sector. We plan to introduce our front-line reach to a whole new host of customers which have a similar mission-critical focus. Furthermore, introducing Ardent's analytical abilities to our DoD base will have immediate tactical and strategic benefits to our troops on the ground," said Richard Zareck II, Mission1st CEO. Mission1st has more than 20 years of experience supporting multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Defense in the information technology (IT) field as well as an approved and certified Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) Integrator with the National Security Agency (NSA) with three (3) approved Capability Packages. Mission1st's presence spans the globe from Korea to Southwest Asia, a testament to the Mission1st's expeditionary mindset to provide preeminent services such as engineering and installation (E&I), CSfC solutions, Risk Management Framework (RMF) development, Security Control Assessor-Validation (SCA-V), Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO), Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN), implementation, engineering, networking, monitoring, planning, program management, disaster recovery, web-development, cloud computing, IT base infrastructure, automation, cyber security, computer network defense, and Command, Control, Communications, Computer, and Information Technology (C4IT) support to the most difficult regions and environment in the world. "Mission1st provides an incredible compliment to Ardent's customer base and capabilities. When approached by Mission1st, the similarities of our corporate cultures, customer dedication, and no-fail approaches to mission requirements were striking. Mission1st's tremendous success in the Defense market and Ardent's exceptional history in the civilian and homeland security markets result in a powerhouse to serve clients at the next level," said Brandon LaBonte, Ardent CEO. Ardent boasts more than 17 years of expertise in delivering cloud services, driving digital transformation, harnessing the power of data science and analytics, and leveraging location intelligence for the United States Government. One of thirty-six (36) AWS Consulting Partners in the public sector, Ardent stands at the forefront of innovation, serving numerous agencies with distinction. Some exceptional areas of proficiency encompass a wide array of domains including DevSecOps, AI Solutions, Geospatial Analytics, data collection, 2D & 3D mapping, advanced visualization, database design modeling, and comprehensive geo and tradecraft training. "We are very excited to have Ardent join the Mission1st Group. We are confident that by leveraging our collective strengths, we will be able to enhance our customer's experience and achieve remarkable future growth," shared Mission1st CFO, Nadine Choueiri. Mission1st eagerly anticipates utilizing the capabilities of both organizations, propelling us toward the fulfillment of our respective missions. Given both companies' unwavering commitment to serving the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security in parallel capacities, this joining of forces will fortify the safeguarding and advancement of the United States' security and prosperity, both home and abroad. Ascend Capital Group served as the exclusive buy-side advisor to Mission1st on the transaction. Contact Information Emily Morgan Executive Assistant to the CEO emily.morgan@ardentmc.com (571)446-6229? SOURCE: Mission1st Group, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766588/Mission1st-Group-Inc-Acquires-Ardent-Management-Consulting MEXICO CITY / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Nueva Network, an audio media company with digital extensions and offices in New York; Los Angeles; Washington, DC; Boston; and Atlanta, is pleased to announce the expansion of its operations into Mexico with the establishment of Nueva Network Mexico (NNMEX). This strategic move aims to assist Mexican companies in effectively reaching the US market, particularly targeting the US Latino audience, through the promotion and sales of their home products and services. Nueva Network Mexico The NNMEX operations will be managed under a Representative Agreement by Media Global Group (MGG), a leading US-based agency specializing in connecting Latin American and U.S. brands with markets. MGG brings a proven track record of success and accomplishment to support NNMEX's efforts in facilitating new market entry for Mexican businesses by connecting them with Hispanic consumers. Nueva Network's CEO and Chief Revenue Officer Jose M. Villafane will be responsible for general oversight of the NNMEX initiative. "Expanding into Mexico through NNMEX is a natural progression for Nueva Network as we seek to further strengthen our commitment to serving the US Hispanic Market," said Villafane. "Our 95% coverage of the US Hispanic Market, combined with MGG's expertise and experience, enables us to effectively connect Mexican companies with the US and other audiences throughout the hemisphere." NNMEX will provide tailored solutions to Mexican companies, including market research, brand development, targeted advertising campaigns, sales channel optimization, and customer engagement strategies. The integration of spot production, branded content, and social media extensions will further enhance the effectiveness and reach of marketing efforts, ensuring maximum impact in reaching the US Latino audience. Nueva Network has gained recognition as a trusted partner for companies seeking to enhance brand visibility and increase sales growth. Through NNMEX, Mexican businesses can now leverage Nueva Network's extensive reach, expertise in audio media, and commitment to serving the US Latino audience to establish a successful presence in the American market. About Nueva Network: Headquartered in the United States, Nueva Network is a 100% Minority Owned Audio Media Company representing a network of 350 radio stations in the top 150 DMA with 85% coverage of the US Hispanic Market. The company's unique business model allows advertisers a cost-efficient entry into Network Audio while providing bonus incentives to support brands' corporate "Social Initiatives". Nueva Network offers a comprehensive range of services, including spot production, branded content, social media extensions, live reads, and endorsements for national and regional media placements. About Media Global Group (MGG): Coral Gables, FL-based Media Global Group (MGG) was founded in 2008, and has operations in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and the US. As a multifaceted, global media agency, MGG specializes in helping outlets to internationalize their brands without borders. For more information about Nueva Network Mexico, please visit www.nuevanetwork.com or contact: Jose M. Villafane, CEO/CRO Nueva Network: jose@nuevanetwork.com Enrique Carrillo, Director of Business Development, Media Global Group (MGG): ecarrillo@mggmedia.com Contact Information Jose M. Villafane CEO / CRO Nueva Network jose@nuevanetwork.com Enrique Carrillo Director of Business Development, Media Global Group (MGG) ecarrillo@mggmedia.com SOURCE: Nueva Network View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766623/Nueva-Network-Expands-Into-Mexico-With-NNMEX-Catering-to-Mexican-Companies-Sales-and-Marketing-Needs-in-the-USA For Every Case of Passion Tree Hard Seltzer Sold, a Tree Is Planted LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Passion Tree, the eco-conscious hard seltzer brand, has emerged as a leader in Southern California's competitive beverage market with its award-winning Hard Seltzer. Partnering with Eden Reforestation Projects, Passion Tree plants a tree for every case of its hard seltzer sold, supporting impoverished farming communities and restoring ecosystems. With over 50,000 trees already planted in Madagascar, Passion Tree sets a precedent for sustainability and encourages other companies to follow suit. The brand's commitment to sustainability and quality remains unwavering, contributing to a positive impact on the environment and your taste buds. Passion Tree Hard Seltzer Passion Tree's journey began when Garrett Olsen (CEO), Jake Ryder (COO), and Andy Kuklock (CMO) recognized the untapped potential in the booming seltzer market. Combining their expertise in global business, operations management, mechanical engineering, beverage industry, and marketing, they created Passion Tree. The name symbolizes their commitment to vibrant flavors derived from natural sources and their pledge to plant a tree for each case sold. "We wanted to set a new standard for seltzers - ones that taste amazing, aren't excessively carbonated, and leave you with a sense of fulfillment, knowing you're contributing to the well-being of the planet," said Jake Ryder, Chief Operating Officer of Passion Tree. Since its 2021 launch, Passion Tree immediately gained traction in San Diego, securing 80 accounts within three days of launching and has achieved record-breaking sales as the top-selling hard seltzer at Kroger's Ralphs chain, solidifying its position in the market. Experiencing remarkable growth in such a short time frame propelled the company to relocate its headquarters to Los Angeles to accommodate the high demand. The brand has since hosted exclusive events at the iconic Passion Tree House, drawing notable celebrities and industry influencers who appreciate the premium taste of Passion Tree Hard Seltzer. Passion Tree Hard Seltzer stands out with its lightly carbonated, premium brew process and all-natural tropical fruit flavors. With a balanced 5.5% ABV and an emphasis on a smooth drinking experience without the discomfort or bloating associated with other seltzers, Passion Tree offers a distinctive product in the beverage industry. Passion Tree Hard Seltzer offers four tantalizing flavors: Guava, Passion Fruit, Dragon Fruit, and Boysenberry. All are available in their Variety 12-pack for $19.99 at select California retailers, including Ralphs, Total Wine & More, Sprouts, Independent Liquor stores and Instacart. Visit drinkpassiontree.com for store locators. "Our signature lightly carbonated seltzer delivers a smooth and unparalleled taste experience offering the ideal 'sessionable' drink that can be enjoyed by anyone at any time for any occasion," says Andy Kuklock, Chief Marketing Officer of Passion Tree. Track Passion Tree's real-time tree planter ticker by scanning the QR code on any of the cases or visiting ourforest.io/profile/passion-tree/. For more information, please visit drinkpassiontree.com and follow @PassionTree on social. Contact Information Olivia Forbis Head of PR & Strategic Partnerships olivia@passiontreehardseltzer.com 239.572.8560 SOURCE: Passion Tree Hard Seltzer View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766794/Passion-Tree-Hard-Seltzer-Pledges-Environmental-Sustainability Canadian Occupational Safety has named INNIO's Welland manufacturing facility a 2023 5-Star Energy & Resource Company and a recipient of the 5-Star Safety Award. The energy and resource award highlights companies that demonstrate a strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) program; measurable environmental and social impacts; and a consistent health and safety policy. As a 5-Star Safety Award winner, the Welland manufacturing facility also was chosen as one of the best workplaces in Canada for its safety culture. WELLAND, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / The Waukesha* manufacturing facility in Canada, part of the INNIO* Group (INNIO), is one of eight companies to be named a 2023 5-Star Energy & Resource Company by Canadian Occupational Safety. It also received the program's 5-Star Safety Award. INNIO Welland INNIO Welland Facility The energy and resource award goes to companies that demonstrate a strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) program; measurable environmental and social impacts; and a consistent health and safety policy. The 5-Star Safety Culture winners were lauded for their vigilance surrounding employee safety. A major focus on ESG: When it comes to ESG, the priorities and goals for the Waukesha product line are grouped into three areas: Low-carbon and circular products Resilient supply chain and manufacturing Responsible operations and social responsibility "With our Waukesha technology, we are empowering customers on their decarbonization journeys," says Bud Hittie, president and leader for INNIO's Waukesha brand. "Our commitment to ESG principles is not only core to our operations but is fundamentally intertwined with the value we provide to our customers. Our advanced solutions support efficient energy consumption, enhanced productivity, and lower maintenance costs." A culture of safety: The manufacturing site in Welland, Canada, produces all the new Waukesha engines and gensets for the global marketplace. Opened in 2018, the 500,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility sits on 83 acres of land that also serve as a habitat for local wildlife and other federally protected species. Building on a safety and sustainability culture, the site has been registered for its adherence to ISO 14001 environmental and 45001 health and safety standards in addition to its 9001-quality certification. Canadian Occupational Safety recognized the Waukesha manufacturing facility and the other 5-Star Safety Culture winners "for deploying a diverse set of tools and workplace policies, all in order to ensure the well-being of their employees." The 5-Star award came about as part of Canada's aims for a "green transition" backed by investment in more renewable sources of energy. A "just transition" also considers worker well-being and livelihood. "In the energy and natural resources sectors, employers are keenly aware of work-related risks and therefore have been pioneers in promoting workers' health and safety in their day-to-day activities," explains the Canadian Occupational Safety website. "This is why Canadian Occupational Safety is proud to highlight the companies that are making a difference in these sectors. Their leadership brings guidance and expertise, especially after a tough couple of years. The awards are a great way to champion the best in class and bring inspiration to the field of occupational health and safety."[1] ### About INNIO Group (INNIO*) INNIO* Group is a leading energy solution and service provider that empowers industries and communities to make sustainable energy work today. With our product brands Jenbacher* and Waukesha* and our digital platform myPlant*, INNIO offers innovative solutions for the power generation and compression segments that help industries and communities generate and manage energy sustainably while navigating the fast-changing landscape of traditional and green energy sources. INNIO is individual in scope, but global in scale. With our flexible, scalable, and resilient energy solutions and services, we enable our customers to manage the energy transition along the energy value chain wherever they are in their transition journey. INNIO is headquartered in Jenbach (Austria), with other primary operations in Waukesha (Wisconsin, U.S.) and Welland (Ontario, Canada). A team of more than 4,000 experts provides life-cycle support to the more than 55,000 delivered engines globally through a service network in more than 100 countries. INNIO's ESG rating ranks first out of more than 500 worldwide companies in the machinery industry assessed by Sustainalytics. For more information, visit our website at www.innio.com. Follow INNIO Group and its brands on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Waukesha* - an INNIO* Group brand INNIO* Group's Waukesha* products are at the forefront of the energy transition, providing reliable and compliant energy solutions for distributed gas compression and power generation applications. The brand's rich- and lean-burn engines, ranging from 335 hp to 5,000 hp, set an industry standard for low emissions, high reliability, and fuel flexibility. Waukesha products are continuously upgraded to help operators stay emission-compliant without sacrificing operational excellence. These upgrades include new and remanufactured engines and parts, as well as conversion and modification kits, all of which are backed by OEM warranty and more than 115 years of engine expertise. Additionally, our Waukesha digital solutions include a collaborative solution with Detechtion Technologies for gas compression applications and INNIO's myPlant platform for power generation applications. Both solutions provide customers with enhanced monitoring and optimization capabilities, resulting in improved performance and reduced downtime. We connect locally with our customers to enable a rapid response to their service needs, providing enhanced support through our broad network of distributors and solution providers with parts, services, and digital offerings. Waukesha products are engineered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, U.S., and manufactured in Welland, Ontario, Canada. To learn more about the company's products and services, please visit our website at www.waukeshaengine.com or follow Waukesha products on LinkedIn. Copyright 2023 INNIO Waukesha Gas Engines Inc. * INNIO, Jenbacher, Waukesha, and myPlant are trademarks of the INNIO Group or one of its affiliates. All other trademarks and company names are the property of their respective owners. [1] https://www.thesafetymag.com/ca/best-in-safety/5-star-energy-and-resource-companies-2022/401204 Contact Information Sheila Meehan Media Relations Manager sheila.meehan@innio.com +1 262 422 7313 SOURCE: INNIO Group View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766874/INNIOs-Welland-Manufacturing-Facility-Receives-Top-Environmental-and-Safety-Awards-in-Canada NielsenIQ and GfK together offer the Full View, the world's most complete and clear view of consumer buying behavior combined with unparalleled omnichannel coverage, data platforms, and predictive analytics Combined company has over $4 billion in sales and 30,000+ clients covering 100+ countries Complementary and unmatched global reach and investments in coverage and technology will enable further strategic growth NielsenIQ (NIQ) and GfK SE (GfK) today announced the successful completion of their strategic combination, culminating in forming the world's leading consumer intelligence company. This transaction combines two industry leaders, consolidating their strengths and complementary capabilities to provide clients with an unmatched suite of comprehensive and innovative solutions. Accessing the most complete and clear understanding of consumer buying behavior, delivered through best-in-class technology platforms, will enable the world's top retailers and brands to uncover new pathways to sustainable growth. The strategic combination of NIQ and GfK brings together two companies that have independently made significant investments in omnichannel coverage, business intelligence tools, and predictive analytics. With unmatched global reach and industry expertise, the company is positioned to accelerate its growth by offering The Full View of consumer behavior around the globe. The combined company unites complementary areas of expertise, fusing NIQ's leading insights in fast-moving consumer goods and GfK's deep understanding of consumer technology and durable goods. Together, thousands of existing and potential customers will have newfound access to actionable insights across the total store. "We are incredibly excited as we combine the strengths of these two great companies to create the future of consumer intelligence," said Jim Peck, CEO. "Together, we are powered by more-more global reach, more omnichannel coverage, more granular data, more consumer-sourced insights, and more predictive analytics, which add up to more actionable insights and growth for our customers. Most importantly, we are bringing together innovative industry experts and complementary cultures driven by integrity and the relentless pursuit of delivering the highest quality at all times." "GfK and NIQ share an unyielding dedication to our clients. Existing and future clients can trust that our nearly 200 years of combined experience in the industry, underpinned by state-of-the art technology and a commitment to new coverage, will provide an unrivaled view that empowers them to make critical decisions with confidence and drive their business forward," said Lars Nordmark, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of GfK. The NIQ-GfK combination is the largest part of the company's strategic efforts to deliver the Full View. It follows a series of significant performance-enhancing investments that drive sustainable growth not only for the industries we serve, but for the combined NIQ-GfK company. The new entity is positioned to move measurement forward through a global cloud-native platform. Drawing from even more comprehensive data assets, intuitive business intelligence tools deliver granular market reads and predictive analytics powered by generative AI and authoritative data science. These technology advancements enable speed-to-insight across trends from an expanded set of industries, channels, and products. The signing of the agreement to divest GfK's European Consumer Panel business to YouGov marked another important milestone towards the planned combination of GfK and NIQ. The complementarity of GfK's offering to NIQ's portfolio which adds comprehensive market intelligence and analytics on technology and durable consumer goods, together with cross-industry brand, marketing and consumer insights is what makes this transaction so attractive for both companies, our clients and employees. The divestment of GfK CP, a business which generated about 15% of GfK's annual revenue, does not materially change the overall attractiveness of our combination. The executive leadership team for the company has been carefully selected from both NIQ and GfK. NIQ CEO, Jim Peck, will lead the combined company, supported by the industry's most experienced, capable leadership team. The combined company will maintain key operational footholds in Chicago, USA, Nuremberg, Germany, and Geneva, Switzerland. About NIQ NIQ is the world's leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights-delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms-NIQ delivers the Full View NIQ, is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world's population. For more information, visit NIQ.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711997227/en/ Contacts: For NielsenIQ Gillian Mosher Vice President, Communications gillian.mosher@nielseniq.com For GfK Kai Hummel Vice President Communications Public Affairs Email: public.relations@gfk.com Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed I-ON Digital Corp. (OTC Pink: IONI) ("the Company"), a leader in the development of next-generation gold, precious metal, and illiquid asset digitization and securitization ecosystems that allow for institutional-grade trading and financial hypothecation on a secure, lightening fast hybrid blockchain infrastructure. CEO of the Company, Carlos Montoya, joined Stock Day host Kevin Davis. Davis began the interview by asking about the Company's background and current projects. "I-ON Digital is a digital solutions company developing cutting edge technology platforms for digital assets, primarily in the financial services and health care sectors," shared Montoya. "How would you characterize the Company's progress to date towards its goals to develop a next-generation asset digitization and securitization ecosystem, specifically targeting the monetization of in situ gold?" asked Davis. "We can now demonstrate the existence of the asset, as well as the ability to move the asset at an institutional level based on state-of-the-art technology," said Montoya before elaborating on the Company's recent announcement detailing their agreement to acquire the parent company to Orebits Corp. "What is the strategy associated with the legacy format?" asked Davis. Montoya shared his vision for the next-generation of banking, which involves creating institutional-level ecosystems with transparent assets. "With the speed and efficiency of blockchain it allows us to utilize a significant amount of data and move it with efficiency, including proof of reserves and proof of work," said Montoya. "We have some of those early legacy ambitions," he added. "Our goal was to solve for pillars including, full transparency as a security and independent custody for reporting." "We look to completing the Orebits Corp. acquisition to basically have all of that legacy in our quiver," continued Montoya. "You could argue that the transaction also comes with our service bureau platform, MCM, or our banking services platform, Tall Ship Partners," he explained. "All of those companies are ultimately being merged in and licensed to I-On Digtial." The conversations then turned to the Company's status as one of the 2023 Chainlink Spring Hackathon winners for the Space and Time Data category. "This gives us validation at the top-level from the Web3 and technology community that our approach is considered to be stellar," said Montoya. "When it comes down to it, data integrity is critical in any financial asset." To close the interview, Montoya encouraged listeners and shareholders to keep up-to-date on the Company's updates and current projects as they continue to revolutionize the digital payments industry. To hear Carlos Montoya's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/8333190-i-on-digital-corp-discusses-acquisition-of-orebits-corp-parent-company-and-2023-chainlink-sprin. Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/. About I-ON Digital Corp. I-ON Digital Corp. (OTC Pink: IONI) is a pioneering force in the asset digitization and securitization landscape. It is developing and acquiring cutting-edge technologies to provide an institutional-grade ecosystem for creating and distributing digital securities and next-generation financial assets, using blockchain technology as its underlying infrastructure. This provides a secure, fast, transparent framework for trading newly emerging asset classes. With its proprietary technologies and deep expertise in asset digitization, I-ON stands at the forefront of this rapidly evolving sector. The potential for digital securities powered by blockchain technology is immense. I-ON is unlocking the full power of this new technology, paving the way for a more secure, trusted, and efficient asset transfer and exchange. Additional information is available at https://iondigitalcorp.com/. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "seek", "potential," "outlook" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements, including, but not limited to, I-ON's current views with respect to future events and its financial forecasts, are subject to such risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those risks described from time to time in filings made by I-ON with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, there is uncertainty about the further spread of the COVID-19 virus or new variants thereof, or the occurrence of another wave of cases and the impact it may have on the company's operations, the demand for the company's products, global supply chains and economic activity in general. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated or expected. Statements in this news release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue. I-ON does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by law. Media Contact: Ken Park IR@iondigitalcorp.com (866) 440-2278 www.iondigitalcorp.com About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. SOURCE: Stock Day Media StockDayMedia.Com (602) 821-1102 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173068 New subsidiary grows service reach and accelerates the company's global sustainability and clean energy efforts Dalrada Financial Corporation (OTCQB: DFCO, "Dalrada"), a problem-solving innovator that takes on complex, multi-disciplinary global challenges in clean energy innovation, precision manufacturing, and technology, announced today that it has expanded its European footprint through the creation of Dalrada Technology Spain, S.L., an eco-forward engineering firm and provider of customized industrial air conditioning and ventilation solutions. Operating under the UK-based Dalrada subsidiary, Dalrada Technology Ltd., Dalrada Technology Spain's primary focus will be improving energy efficiencies and developing new technologies that reduce harmful CO2 emissions, ultimately delivering clean air solutions and cost savings for its clients while providing sales and support for the company's range of heat pump systems. The Spanish subsidiary joins Dalrada during the corporation's expansion and streamlining efforts true to its mission of creating clean energy technologies and improving sustainability worldwide on the path to Net Zero. From its headquarters in the city of Carral, Dalrada Technology Spain expects to add robust manufacturing capabilities and provide the corporation's products and services across mainland Europe, furthering Dalrada's global reach. "Dalrada Technology Spain will provide us with a tremendous opportunity to expand within the industrial heating, air conditioning, and ventilation space. Additionally, we now have the geographic foothold to provide energy services across a large portion of Europe and deliver carbon-reducing technologies and practices to areas that so desperately need it," according to William Bonar, CEO of Dalrada Technology Ltd. The subsidiary anticipates an impressive book of business-with several possible partnerships already in discussions-representing potential long-term, high-value service contracts with significant revenue. Dalrada Technology Spain will accelerate its efforts to offer leading-edge expert products and services to optimize the energy resources of its clients and reduce energy costs while minimizing environmental impact. Please visit www.dalradatechnologyspain.com to learn more about the Dalrada subsidiary's projects, strategies, and goals. About Dalrada Technology Spain Dalrada Technology Spain S.L. is a wholly-owned technology division of Dalrada Corporation that brings energy efficiency and clean energy technology to Europe through upgraded tools, machinery, and services, including modern air conditioning, HVAC systems, and more. Dalrada Technology Spain is committed to providing expert customer service throughout the design and implementation of projects. The company believes in transparency and true solutions, analyzing and studying our clients' needs, and understanding and collaborating with clients to reach shared goals. Dalrada Technology Spain understands today's environmental challenges and works to develop new technology solutions that focus on fighting climate change and reducing CO2 emissions. The company offers a dedicated suite of energy efficient products and services and constantly creates new solutions for renewable energies, guaranteeing energy performance and cost savings through continuous optimization. To learn more, please visit www.dalradatechnologyspain.com. About Dalrada Corporation Dalrada Financial Corporation (Dalrada) is a progressive organization that drives innovation to impact people, businesses, and the planet positively. The company owns and operates a global group of clean energy, precision manufacturing, technology, and professional service companies. Each of these companies has a clearly-defined mandate to identify, address, and deliver solutions to unique economic, environmental, and efficiency problems facing public, government, and private sector organizations. Dalrada responds by developing advanced technologies, products, and services with a clear and quantifiable value, generating a significant return on investment for its clients. Dalrada companies are on the leading edge of developing and applying innovative eco-sensitive next-generation science, engineering, and technology, serving a broad range of industries and governments. The company's products and services significantly reduce energy costs and remove barriers for its clients, creating a more sustainable and prosperous future for us all. Dalrada's subsidiaries and strategic partners operate in the United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia, and India and are centrally managed from the company's San Diego, CA headquarters. For more information, please visit www.dalrada.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Disclaimer Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, the statements are forward-looking, including statements regarding future revenues and sales projections, plans for future financing, the ability to meet operational milestones, marketing arrangements and plans, and shipments to and regulatory approvals in international markets. Such statements reflect management's current views, are based on certain assumptions, and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results, events, or performance may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors and will be dependent upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain additional financing that will allow us to continue our current and future operations and whether demand for our products and services in domestic and international markets will continue to expand. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact the Company's success are more fully disclosed in the Company's most recent public filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its annual report on Form 10-K. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711339669/en/ Contacts: Michael Eslinger meslinger@dalrada.com MARKET AWARENESS Stockwatchindex, LLC 442-287-8059 info@stockwatchindex.com Read the full MetLife 2022 Sustainability Report MetLife 2030 DEI Commitments Across MetLife, we're guided by our purpose: Always with you, building a more confident future. This includes building a more inclusive and equitable workplace and society. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Our broad set of 2030 diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) commitments is designed to address the needs of the underserved and underrepresented through a mix of investments, products and services, supply chain, volunteering and community efforts. Each commitment is anchored to our business strategy and informed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The financial components of these commitments total more than $2.5 billion by 2030. As we continue to transform our commitments into meaningful actions, we look forward to sharing our progress along the way. MetLife's purpose calls on us to build a more inclusive and equitable world for all our stakeholders. The breadth of these commitments demonstrates that we are significantly advancing our DEI efforts on every front. Setting clear expectations for our progress will hold us accountable and sustain our momentum. Michel Khalaf President and CEO MetLife has pledged to deliver on the following commitments by 2030: To invest in firms owned by women, minorities and disabled persons MetLife will originate $1 billion in investments that advance firms owned by women, minorities and disabled persons. MetLife made a down payment on this commitment with nearly $100 million deployed in 2021. To direct spending to diverse suppliers MetLife will reach $5 billion in spend with diverse suppliers - an increase of $1.6 billion from the amount MetLife's Supplier Inclusion and Development Program has committed since its inception through year-end 2020. MetLife will also annually report the economic impact of this spend. To positively impact underserved and underrepresented communities through funding from MetLife Foundation MetLife Foundation has committed $150 million in funding to support underserved and underrepresented communities. To engage our employees in volunteer opportunities MetLife will commit 800,000 employee volunteer hours with a focus on DEI/underserved communities. To offer solutions and insights focused on underserved communities MetLife will provide solutions and insights to address the needs of the underserved. For example, MetLife will build partnerships with experts to provide educational content in Upwise - the company's new digital financial wellness app - to tackle the financial challenges disproportionately impacting diverse communities. To support DEI-focused research MetLife will support research that advances understanding of DEI issues. For example, MetLife will share insights from the company's annual Employee Benefit Trends Study and other research initiatives to help employers as they support their increasingly diverse workforces. To advance workforce diversity MetLife will continue to advance workforce diversity by consistently achieving top quartile positioning across each ethnically and racially diverse category in the U.S. and of female officers globally. MetLife also will enhance transparency of the link between top quartile positioning and executive leadership performance. Our Approach to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion By cultivating a purpose-driven and inclusive culture, we're able to better meet the diverse needs of the customers and communities we serve. Here are some ways we're approaching that work. Establishing a Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Council to drive DEI strategy and execution across businesses, functions and regions Integrating inclusive leadership into our Leading the Future program so people leaders create an inclusive environment Launching Inclusion Begins with Me, a global comprehensive set of resources and curated learning, including inclusion dialogues, mandatory courses and the Inclusion Begins with Me: Conversations that Matter podcast Piloting INDEAVOR Team Experience, an interactive experiment to apply inclusive behaviors and habits to build greater trust and collaboration Activating Inclusion Action Teams to champion inclusion by giving voice and encouraging actions that engender a more diverse and inclusive MetLife culture View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from MetLife, Inc. on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: MetLife, Inc. Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/metlife-inc Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: MetLife, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766884/MetLife-2022-Sustainability-Report-2030-DEI-Commitments TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:PX)(OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that settlement agreements have been reached to resolve all outstanding litigation with respect to an action commenced in 2009 in the Ghana High Court involving the vendor of two of the four prospecting licenses comprising Pelangio's Obuasi property. The two prospecting licenses involved in the litigation and referenced as Kyereboso 2 License and Kyereboso 3 License in the attached Figure 1 are hereinafter referred to as the "Property". The litigation related to a dispute between the Property vendor's corporate history and the estate of one of its founding shareholders (the "Plaintiff). Pelangio was subsequently added as a co-defendant in 2012. Although no monetary consideration was claimed from Pelangio by the Plaintiff in the litigation, an interlocutory injunction had been granted which had the effect of preventing all parties from selling any interest in or conducting mining on the Property pending final determination of the matter. "This settlement is a positive development for Pelangio," stated Ingrid Hibbard President and CEO. "It avoids the continued uncertainty, expense, and burden associated with litigation and removes the injunction preventing the sale of any interest in or mining of the Property. We are excited to have these impediments removed and planning for the next phase of exploration at the Property is underway." Terms of Settlement The settlement provides that upon the acceptance of the settlement terms by the Ghana High Court and entry of such settlement terms as a binding consent judgment resulting in full resolution in addition to release of all claims asserted by the Plaintiff, or such claims that could have been asserted by the Plaintiff, directly or indirectly in the litigation and permanently releasing any injunction or other restrictions on the Property resulting from the litigation, Pelangio will make five payments of US$20,000 and issue Pelangio common shares having a value of CDN$50,000 in three tranches over one year, subject to approval of the share issuances by the TSXV. The consideration has been agreed upon as a compromise and final settlement of disputed claims and payment of the amounts set forth herein and the issuance of the Common Shares is not an admission of liability by any party and is not to be construed as an admission that any party engaged in any wrongful, tortious, or unlawful activity. Obuasi Property Pelangio's Obuasi Property consists of 4 prospecting licenses, including the Kyereboso 2 and 3 licenses, totaling 284.4 square kilometers in area and located adjacent to AngloGold-Ashanti's giant Obuasi Mine on the Ashanti Belt, the most gold endowed greenstone belt in West Africa. The Obuasi mine has produced over 33 million ounces of gold since 1897 and currently hosts a resource of 24.5 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 8.0 g/t Au including a Proved and Probable Reserve of 7.7 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 9.3 g/t Au. (Source: AngloGold Ashanti Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Report December 2022). The geological stratigraphy which hosts the Obuasi deposits extends into Pelangio's Obuasi Property and Obuasi-style geology, alteration and mineralization has been observed in historical drilling by Pelangio at multiple prospects. Pelangio conducted considerable work on the Obuasi Property between 2007 and 2011 until the Manfo Resource Project became the focus, including geological and geochemical surveys, trenching, airborne geophysical surveys and 28,000 meters of diamond drilling which was largely focussed upon a handful of prospects. The two principal target areas for continued exploration which have been delineated from Pelangio's work include the 'Obuasi Targets Area' along the extension of the Obuasi Mine stratigraphy, and the 'NGA (North Government Area) Targets Area' located along the Birimian-Tarkwaian contact structure. Refer to Figure 1. With a resumption of exploration activity on the Obuasi Property, one of the first prospects which will be revisited is located in the NGA Target Area where two Pelangio drill holes returned high-grade intercepts of 24.5 g/t Au over 1 meter and 11.3 g/t Au over 2 meters, and recent artisanal mining has sunk a series of shallow vertical shafts to explore and mine quartz veining along the principal structure. A broader exploration plan will also be developed to assess the Obuasi and NGA Target Areas in detail to include geological mapping and prospecting, drill core relogging, auger drilling to refine geochemical targets, and a rework of the geophysics, geological and structural interpretations culminating in an updated targeting exercise to direct future exploration drilling. Figure 1. Simplified Geology of the Obuasi District and Location of Pelangio's Obuasi Property Qualified Persons Mr. Kevin Thomson, P.Geo. (Ontario, #0191), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Thomson approved the technical data disclosed in this release. About Pelangio Pelangio acquires and explores world-class land packages on strategic gold belts in Ghana, West Africa and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is exploring its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo property, the site of seven near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km2 Obuasi property, located four km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as its Dankran property located adjacent to its Obuasi property. See www.pelangio.com for further detail. For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com , or contact: Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO T: 905-336-3828 / TF: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@pelangio.com Forward Looking Statements Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the satisfaction of the conditions of the Obuasi litigation settlement and Pelangio's proposed payments and share issuances pursuant to the settlement, and TSX Venture exchange approval of such share issuances. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made numerous assumptions, including assumptions about applicable court and regulatory approvals for the settlement and the proposed share issuances. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include our ability to conduct our exploration programs as planned, changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766537/Pelangio-Exploration-Announces-Settlement-of-Obuasi-Litigation The guide helps people transition to a stable asset class without committing fraud. Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Better Bullion, an online resource dedicated to the precious metals industry, has released a guide titled "Gold IRA scams to be aware of in 2023". This informative resource aims to educate individuals about potential scams and deceptive practices employed by some bad actors in the gold Individual Retirement Account (IRA) market so they can avoid falling victim to those fraudulent schemes. Hans Mincer, for the online site, commented, "There are a lot of people that are trying to save for their retirement or trying to build a fund for their children's college education. It saddens us when we see hardworking people lose all their lives savings in a fraudulent scheme especially in an era of such heightened economic uncertainty. That is why we at Better Bullion are trying to play our part. Our review site analyzes and evaluates Precious Metals IRA companies based on various crucial factors so people can make informed decisions. We also keep releasing new guides on gold IRA rollover and 401k to gold IRA to benefit our reader base. By raising awareness about common scams and helping people do their due diligence, our site aims to help individuals to make well-informed investment decisions." The topics covered under the guide include how people can identify gold spot IRA scams and storage fraud due to failure to store gold in a certified depository. It also discusses tactics used by unscrupulous dealers who promise massive returns quickly and reach out to people using the phone or email. The site also has content where industry experts analyze all aspects of a company, such as its history, company offerings, fees, storage options, customer service reputation, customer reviews, and accreditation status, before recommending the top gold ira companies. The educational resources on their site also include FAQs to help people enhance their understanding of Precious Metals IRAs, industry trends and investment strategies. Individuals interested in learning more about Precious Metals IRA company's reviews can visit their website today. About Better Bullion Better Bullion is an online resource that provides information about companies in the precious metals industry. Industry veterans have analyzed the site, passionate about equipping individuals with the resources needed to transition into precious metals investing. Media Contact Contact Person Name: Hans Mincer Company: Better Bullion Email: hans@betterbullion.com Website: https://betterbullion.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/172500 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The United States has destroyed the last chemical weapon in its military arsenal. The destruction of a large amount of chemical weapon stockpile at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky, ended decades of effort to eliminate chemical weapons, said Douglas Bush, assistant secretary of the army for acquisition, logistics and technology. The destruction in a safe, secure and environmentally responsible manner was a difficult task, requiring many years to complete, he said at a Pentagon news conference. In all, more than 30,000 metric tons of declared chemical agent contained in nearly 3.5 million chemical munitions, more than 22,500 one-ton containers containing chemical agent, and more than 50,500 bottles and containers containing chemical agent were destroyed. Nearly 90 percent of the weapons were eliminated by 2012. The last 10 percent was a greater challenge involving a complicated approach of neutralizing these chemicals. The last mustard gas munition was destroyed last month at the Army's Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado; Blue Grass destroyed the last missile loaded with Sarin nerve agent last week. 'This is an important moment - not only for the United States, but also the entire world,' said Mallory Stewart, assistant secretary of state for the bureau of arms control, verification and compliance. 'This achievement is indicative of the important role that international cooperation and transparency play in arms control and disarmament.' With this, the United Sates has complied with the Chemical Weapons Convention, by destroying its chemical weapon stockpile before the September 30 deadline. Kingston Reif, deputy assistant secretary of defense for threat reduction and arms control, praised Michael Abaie, the program executive officer of the Army's Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, for leading a team of thousands of Defense Department civilians and contractors in the $13.5 billion effort. He added that the mission is not yet complete without ensuring that the facilities used are safe. Officials said that two years of efforts remain before turning out the lights, which is expected to cost another $2.5 billion. The U.S. Defense officials also worked with other nations to help them destroy their chemical weapons stocks, including Russia, Syria, Albania and Libya. The Pentagon expresses concern if Russia and Syria have destroyed all their chemical weapons as both nations have a history of using them against their own people. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Mega-Chance Cyber Security Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen. Hier klicken CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The peptide synthesis industry is poised for significant growth and innovation in the near future. Advances in technology, such as automated synthesis systems and high-throughput screening methods, are revolutionizing the field, making peptide synthesis faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective. With the increasing demand for peptides in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and biotechnology, the industry is expected to expand rapidly. Moreover, the development of novel peptide therapeutics and personalized medicine approaches will drive the demand for custom-made peptides, further fueling the growth of the industry. Additionally, advancements in bioinformatics and computational modeling will enhance the design and optimization of peptides, enabling the creation of highly targeted and potent molecules. Overall, the convergence of technological advancements and a growing need for peptide-based solutions will shape a promising future for the peptide synthesis industry, leading to breakthroughs in healthcare, research, and industrial applications. Peptide Synthesis Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $601 million in 2023 and is poised to reach $859 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The global peptide synthesis market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period. Growth in this market is driven by the increasing demand for peptide, technological advancements in peptide synthesis and expanding therapeutic applications. Furthermore, rising investment in research and development, and a supportive market ecosystem, use of peptides in pharmaceutical drugs are some of major elements anticipated spur the market growth. However, the lack of a unified set of regulations for therapeutic peptides and the high cost of instruments are expected to restrain the growth of this market during the forecast period. Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=158927365 Browse in-depth TOC on "Peptide Synthesis Market" 238 - Tables 41 - Figures 257 - Pages Peptide Synthesis Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $601 million Estimated Value by 2028 $859 million Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% Market Size Available for 2021-2028 Forecast Period 2023-2028 Forecast Units Value (USD Million) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product & Service, Technology, End user and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Development of personalized medicines Key Market Drivers Increasing use of peptides in pharmaceutical drugs The reagents segment accounted for the largest share of the product & service segment in the peptide synthesis market in 2022. Based on product & service, the peptide synthesis market is segmented into reagents, equipment, and services. In 2022, the reagents segment accounted for the largest share of the peptide synthesis market. The large share of this segment is fueled by the increasing demand for peptide-based therapeutics, advancements in synthesis technologies, expanding research and development activities, the rise of contract research and manufacturing organizations, and the availability of various peptide synthesis reagents in the market. The Solid Phase peptide synthesis segment accounted for the largest share of the technology segment in the peptide synthesis market in 2022. Based on technology, the peptide synthesis market is segmented into solid-phase peptide synthesis, solution-phase peptide synthesis, and hybrid & recombinant technology. The solid-phase peptide synthesis segment accounted for the largest share in the peptide synthesis market in 2022. Solid-phase peptide synthesis is associated offers various advantages such as ease of operation, easy purification, short production cycles, high-level automation, and synthesis capabilities of long peptides in small quantities of amino acids. These advantages support the growth of the solid-phase peptide synthesis segment. Asia Pacific is likely to grow at the highest growth rate during the forecast period. Based on the region, peptide synthesis market is segmented into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is the largest regional segment. The Asia Pacific region is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR in the peptide synthesis market during the forecast period. The growth of the pharmaceuticals and life sciences market in the region is primarily driven by the rising R&D expenditure, especially in the area of drug discovery & development, the rising prevalence of chronic disease conditions, and significant investments in the development of therapeutics mAbs. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=158927365 Peptide Synthesis Market Dynamics: Drivers: Increasing use of peptides in pharmaceutical drugs Restraints: High cost of instruments Opportunities: Development of personalized medicines Challenges: Issues associated with the route of administration of peptide drug Key Market Players: The prominent players operating in the peptide synthesis market are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), Kaneka Corporation (Japan), GenScript Biotech Corporation (China), and Bachem Holding AG (Switzerland). Recent Developments: In January 2023, Merck announced an agreement to acquire the peptide synthesis company Asymchem. This acquisition will give Merck access to Asymchem's expertise in peptide synthesis and its global manufacturing network. In December 2022, Thermo Fisher announced an agreement to acquire the peptide synthesis company Protagen. This acquisition will give Thermo Fisher access to Protagen's expertise in peptide synthesis and its global manufacturing network. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=158927365 Peptide Synthesis Market Advantages: Customization and Diversity: Peptide synthesis allows for the production of a wide range of custom-designed peptides with precise sequences and structures. This flexibility enables the development of specific peptide-based solutions for various applications, including drug discovery, diagnostics, and biotechnology. The ability to tailor peptides to meet specific needs and target specific biological processes provides a significant advantage in addressing complex diseases and therapeutic challenges. Therapeutic Potential: Peptides have gained considerable attention as therapeutic agents due to their high potency, selectivity, and low toxicity. The peptide synthesis market plays a crucial role in the development of peptide-based drugs, which have shown promise in treating a wide range of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. The ability to synthesize complex peptide sequences with improved stability and bioavailability opens up new avenues for the development of innovative and effective therapeutics. Rapid Advancements in Technology: The peptide synthesis industry has witnessed significant advancements in technology, leading to increased efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Automated peptide synthesizers and high-throughput screening methods have streamlined the synthesis process, allowing for faster production and screening of peptides. These technological advancements have reduced the time and cost associated with peptide synthesis, making it more accessible to researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and other industries. Growing Demand in Research and Industrial Applications: The demand for peptides continues to grow across various research fields, including proteomics, biomarker discovery, and drug development. Peptides are invaluable tools in studying protein structure and function, and they play a crucial role in deciphering complex biological processes. Additionally, peptides find applications in the food industry, cosmetics, and agriculture, further expanding their market potential. Rising Focus on Personalized Medicine: The emergence of personalized medicine and precision therapies has increased the demand for custom-made peptides. Peptide synthesis allows for the production of unique peptide sequences tailored to individual patients, enabling personalized treatments and diagnostics. This personalized approach enhances treatment efficacy, minimizes side effects, and optimizes patient outcomes. In conclusion, the peptide synthesis market offers several advantages, including customization, therapeutic potential, technological advancements, growing demand in various applications, and its role in personalized medicine. These factors contribute to the industry's growth and its potential to drive innovation in healthcare, research, and industrial sectors. High-Throughput Screening Market - Report Highlights: Key conferences, and events 2022-2023, key stakeholders & buying criteria, and trends/ disruptions impacting customer business are added in the market overview chapter. The new edition of the report provides updated financial information till 2022 (depending on availability) for each listed company in a graphical representation. This would help in the easy analysis of the present status of profiled companies in terms of their financial strength, profitability, key revenue-generating region/country, and business segment focus in terms of the highest revenue-generating segment. Impact of the recession has also been added in the new addition of the report. Recent developments are helpful to understand market trends and growth strategies adopted by players in the market. Tracking products & service portfolios of prominent market players helps to analyze the major services in the peptide synthesis market. The new edition of the report provides an updated service portfolio of the companies profiled in the report. Market evaluation framework, market share analysis, and competitive leadership mapping have been added in the competitive landscape chapter of the report. The competitive leadership mapping has been updated considering recent developments in the company evaluation matrix. Related Reports: Proteomics Market - Global Forecasts to 2028 Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market - Global Forecasts to 2028 Protein Expression Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Chromatography Accessories and Consumables Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/peptide-synthesis-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/peptide-synthesis.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/peptide-synthesis-market-worth-859-million--marketsandmarkets-301874016.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Franklin Templeton is pleased to announce its receipt of a top score of 100 in the 2023 Disability Equality Index (DEI), a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. This is the fifth consecutive year that the firm has received the "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" designation. Regina Curry, Chief Diversity Officer, Franklin Templeton, said, "We are committed to advancing a culture of inclusivity, in order to build strong teams that can deliver better outcomes for our employees, clients and shareholders. We are so honored to receive this important recognition of our efforts to promote disability inclusion in our workplace." The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. "Businesses have the power to drive the global advancement of disability inclusion, and we're thrilled to see more companies than ever leverage the Disability Equality Index to measure their progress. We recognize these top-scoring companies as a 'Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion' for their passion and efforts to lead the way in creating greater equity for people with disabilities in the workplace, marketplace, and supply chain," said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN. "These top-scoring companies understand deeply that people with disabilities represent a tremendous source of talent and innovation for their workforce and market share for their brands, and they are trailblazers in our journey towards full disability inclusion in business," said Maria Town, President and CEO of AAPD. The 2023 DEI measured efforts across categories including Culture & Leadership; Enterprise-Wide Access; Employment Practices (Benefits, Recruitment, Employment, Education, Retention & Advancement, Accommodations); Community Engagement; Supplier Diversity; Non-U.S. Operations (Non-Weighted). Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion." This year, 485 corporations utilized the DEI to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts, and 294 companies received a score of 100, 66 companies received a score of 90 and 45 companies received a score of 80. Read more about Franklin Templeton's commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at https://www.franklintempleton.com/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion. About Franklin Templeton Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton's mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,300 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of May 31, 2023. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. # # # Copyright 2023. Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Franklin Templeton on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Franklin Templeton Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/franklin-templeton Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Franklin Templeton View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766895/Franklin-Templeton-Receives-Top-Score-in-2023-Disability-Equality-Index-DEI SCHENECTADY, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Educational Vistas, a leading provider of innovative educational technology solutions, is pleased to announce its acceptance onto the prestigious Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) pre-qualified vendor list. This landmark achievement positions Educational Vistas as an authorized provider of an advanced evaluation technology platform to public school districts across the state. StaffTrac Logo The Massachusetts DESE pre-qualified vendor list serves as a trusted resource for school districts seeking cutting-edge solutions to enhance educational practices and improve student outcomes. By accepting Educational Vistas onto this exclusive list, the Massachusetts DESE acknowledges the company's commitment to delivering high-quality tools that empower educators and streamline evaluation processes. Educational Vistas' evaluation technology platform, StaffTrac, offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to optimize the evaluation process for teachers, administrators, and school districts. StaffTrac, a flagship product of Educational Vistas, is a powerful web-based evaluation software designed to facilitate and enhance the entire evaluation cycle. This comprehensive solution empowers school administrators and evaluators with robust tools to efficiently conduct evaluations, track progress, provide feedback, and develop professional growth plans for educators. StaffTrac is customizable, user-friendly, and aligns with Massachusetts evaluation frameworks, ensuring compliance and consistency across districts. "We are honored to be accepted onto the Massachusetts DESE pre-qualified vendor list," said Scott Crowder, CEO of Educational Vistas. "This recognition underscores our dedication to providing state-of-the-art technology solutions that enhance teaching and learning experiences. We are excited to partner with Massachusetts public school districts and support their commitment to delivering excellence in education." By utilizing StaffTrac, school districts can benefit from an array of features, including: Efficient evaluation processes: StaffTrac streamlines evaluation workflows, enabling administrators to easily manage evaluation schedules, collect and analyze data, and generate comprehensive reports Customizable evaluation frameworks: The software supports customization of evaluation rubrics, allowing districts to align evaluation criteria with their unique needs, priorities, and state guidelines. Professional growth planning: StaffTrac facilitates the creation of personalized professional development plans based on evaluation results, fostering ongoing improvement and growth for educators. Collaboration and communication: The software promotes effective collaboration between evaluators and educators by providing a platform for continuous feedback and dialogue throughout the evaluation cycle With this recent achievement, Educational Vistas reaffirms its commitment to providing schools with innovative tools that promote effective evaluation practices and drive educational excellence. By partnering with MA DESE, Educational Vistas aims to empower educators and administrators in Massachusetts to create supportive and thriving learning environments for students. The platform's user-friendly interface, coupled with its robust data management capabilities, allows educators to streamline evaluation workflows, save time, and focus on fostering meaningful student growth. The Massachusetts DESE's decision to include Educational Vistas as a pre-qualified vendor is a testament to the company's 30 years track record of success, commitment to educational excellence, and ability to meet the evolving needs of school districts. Educational Vistas looks forward to collaborating closely with Massachusetts public school districts, supporting their ongoing efforts to provide a world-class education to all students. For more information about Educational Vistas and their evaluation technology platform, please visit www.edvistas.com. About Educational Vistas: Educational Vistas is a leading provider of innovative educational technology solutions, empowering educators to enhance instructional practices and improve student outcomes. With a comprehensive suite of tools and an unwavering commitment to educational excellence, Educational Vistas is transforming the way schools approach evaluation, data analytics, and evidence-based decision-making. Contact Information Vicki Siverling Director of Marketing & Communications vsiverling@edvistas.com 888-999-2554 SOURCE: Educational Vistas View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766898/Educational-Vistas-Selected-as-a-Pre-Qualified-Vendor-by-Massachusetts-DESE-to-Revolutionize-Evaluation-Technology-in-Public-School-Districts NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) opened the doors to Planet Textiles at the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition center from June 12 - 13, welcoming attendees to the 2023 edition of the event, which was being hosted at this year's Textile & Garment Technology Exhibition (ITMA 2023), the world's largest international textile and garment technology exhibition. Under the theme, Future-Proofing Global Supply Chains, the event took place over two days and brought together over 200 delegates to network with industry peers and share learnings and best practices on how collective action can help accelerate industry transformation and future-proof global supply chains. SAC CEO, Amina Razvi, began her welcome address by asserting the importance of collaboration in creating transformational change within the textile and apparel industry. Reflecting on the recent reports by climate scientists, warning that our world's temperature could surpass the critical threshold of 1.5C degrees for the very first time this year, Razvi highlighted the importance of future-proofing as the key to the well-being of millions of workers, their communities, consumers, and, above all, the planet we all rely on. "Each and every one of us here today understands the complex and interlinked challenges before us. We share a steadfast commitment to fostering collective action, instigating change, and driving progress. So let's seize the opportunity before us to create a more responsible, equitable, and just industry. By harnessing our collective vision, problem-solving abilities, and collaborative spirit, I am confident in our capacity to have a significant impact. I believe we can because I witness it every day within the SAC community," Razvi said. Razvi closed off her address with a call to action to attendees to join the SAC and support its initiatives and partners working to drive positive change and create a global industry that gives more than it takes - to people and the planet. Zubeida Zwavel, Executive Director, Centre for African Resource Efficiency and Sustainability delivered the keynote addresses for day one of the conference. Andrea Rosso, Diesel Sustainability Ambassador, Diesel SPA and Kim van der Weerd, freelance consultant and host of the podcast Manufactured, delivered the keynote addresses for day two of the conference, respectively. Zwavel shared how her experience growing up in Cape Malay, South Africa, working in her family-owned factory, influenced her journey into the field of sustainability. She highlighted the various projects she has been involved in, including working with the municipality in Hammarsdale on resource efficiency and waste minimization projects to reduce wastewater pollution from textile industries, and an eco-labeling project with the United Nations Environmental Programme among others. She highlighted the importance of building real partnerships and how, if we are to achieve the targets we've set, we must ensure key knowledge transfer, empowerment and, most importantly, compassion. Rosso shared key aspects of Diesel's responsible living strategy, lower impact material and circularity. On circularity, he highlighted the criteria established for each product, supplier and technology that the company follows in order to label their products with the responsible living tag. He stressed the importance of having standards across different stages of production - trim, fabric, fiber, treatment, etc - to empowering an organization's requirement of the same of its suppliers before a final product comes in. He shared Diesel's various innovative approaches to creating its products and projects such as Rehab Denim, as well as a pilot project with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Van der Weerd's keynote focused on the need to establish common ground to drive effective decarbonization efforts. She called for all stakeholders to collaborate deeply and with empathy to drive change across the industry. Navigating the Legislation Landscape Addressing legislation and its impact on the footwear and apparel sector, Baptiste Carriere-Pradal opened the panel discussion by providing an overview of the current landscape, upcoming regulations and potential impacts for companies and how they can prepare for them. Maxine Bedat, Director, New Standard Institute weighed in on upcoming legislation from the USA, specifically the New York Fashion Act, stating that feedback from various stakeholders has been instrumental in ensuring the policy developed is implementable. She highlighted how the Act has taken into consideration the fact that companies need time to make the necessary investments in readiness for its implementation. She went on to add that legislators are keeping track of developments in the EU to ensure it aligns as needed, avoiding a patchwork approach in its development. Ilishio Lovejoy, General Manager, ESG, Simple Approach, shared the important role legislation has to play and the opportunity it offers to level the playing field. Speaking on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, she highlighted some of the challenges the industry is facing in implementing it because of a lack of clear understanding of the requirements and how to meet them as a new law and the various ways it can be interpreted. SAC's Senior Director of Public Affairs Elisabeth von Reitzenstein took to the stage moderating a panel that sought to take a deeper dive into the European Union (EU) proposed directive on substantiating green claims. Starting off by highlighting the purpose of the directive, she shared how it is intertwined with existing pieces of legislation and ongoing discussions around it in the European Union parliament and Council of the European Union, particularly on the need for a common methodology to ensure harmonization of legislation in the EU, and the opportunity to complete it before the European elections, slated for next year. Jia Liu, Global Sustainability Director, TUV Rheinland Group shared her perspective on the proposed directive as a certification testing company, highlighting one of the requirements of the directive will be that all claims be backed by a methodology based on scientific evidence and to ensure that everything claimed is based on a life cycle approach. Jeremy Lardeau, Vice President, Higg Index, Sustainable Apparel Coalition called for companies to get ready for upcoming legislation and take the initiative to engage with relevant stakeholders and to understand the requirements such as preparing to understand and have better product and style level data. He also called for more recognition for companies taking the lead in investing in better sustainability performance practices. Accelerating Action on Greenhouse Gas Reduction This year's Planet Textiles conference also featured a number of sessions focused on collective action towards tackling climate change. Jeremy Levin, Senior Energy Specialist, Global Thematic Lead, IFC Global Manufacturing; Kurt Kipka, Chief Impact Officer, Apparel Impact Institute; and Shuvajit Mandal, Advisor and Country Manager, GIZ joined Joyce Tsoi, SAC's Director, Collective Action Programs, to discuss the industry's progress towards decarbonization, challenges and opportunities to accelerate action. Kipka highlighted the importance of accelerating action in a concerted and focused way and of ensuring engagement with the right stakeholder partners to minimize redundancy. He also spoke about the importance of collecting and sharing data points across the board. Mandal shared insight on GIZ's programs, highlighting three perspectives working to incentivize factories to shift to renewable energy: cost-advantage, where by a clear business case for factories will encourage the shift to renewable energy; energy security, where by factories are looking to tackle the energy crisis, by insuring the security and quality of their energy; and the commitment to climate protection goals by brands, in order to maintain good relationships with them. Levin shared his perspective on how the industry can accelerate efforts towards decarbonization, stating that brands and stakeholders need to do more to accelerate and unlock existing financing to improve bankability of projects. Role of Data in Sustainability Begona Garcia, Senior Product Manager, Jeanologia S.L.; Brooke Roberts-Islam, Founder, Techstyler & Senior Contributor, Forbes; Cerian Atwell, Senior Sustainability Manager, Marks & Spencer; and Michela Gioacchini, Fashion & Sporting Goods Lead Quantis Italy, Quantis joined Joel Mertens, SAC's Director of Product Tools, to share the different perspectives on the importance of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data in the supply chain and what it means for manufacturers. Atwell shared how Marks & Spencer is using LCAs to inform their business decisions in light of upcoming legislation, highlighting how it guides their raw material choices and conversion of their materials into more sustainable versions of the same. She asserted a key need within LCA tools was for a way to reflect the impacts of dyeing and finishing, which account for 52% of the impact according to the roadmap report by Apparel Impact Institute. Gioacchini shared insight on the evolution of the LCA space stating that more companies requesting LCAs have matured and now understand the kind of data they are looking for, resulting in more specific questions to guide the primary data collection. She highlighted the EU Green Claims Directive driving the increased demand from companies for LCAs and corporate product footprinting to guide their external communications. SAC Executive Vice President Andrew Martin and Global Fashion Agenda CEO Federica Marchionni, delivered closing remarks for day one of the conference, while SAC Vice President of the Higg Index Jeremy Lardeau and ZDHC Implementation Director Klass Nuttbohm delivered closing remarks on day two of the conference. The Planet Textiles conference concluded with the announcement of a partnership between the SAC and Apparel Impact Institute on an initiative geared towards supporting efforts to accelerate and scale decarbonization programs to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions across the entire industry. The announcement was a testament to the SAC's commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to co-create and scale solutions that drive systemic change. Purchase Planet Textiles 2023 session recordings to watch the various panel discussions that took place. We also invite you to share your feedback on Planet Textiles 2023 using this survey link. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Sustainable Apparel Coalition on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Sustainable Apparel Coalition Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/sustainable-apparel-coalition Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Sustainable Apparel Coalition View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766899/Planet-Textiles-2023-Industry-Stakeholders-Agree-on-Need-To-Accelerate-Collective-Action-and-Collaboration-to-Future-Proof-Global-Supply-Chains COVINA, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Prophecy Market Insights "Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics Market accounted for US$ 9.23 billion in 2022 and is estimated to be US$ 35.3 billion by 2032 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 13.5%" What is the overview of Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics Market? Next-generation sequencing informatics (NGS) tool has changed the genomic research by allowing scientist to sequence whole genome. These new advanced NGS technology has made the RNA sequencing and genome cost-effective and thus used as a tool for various research applications. Growing government initiatives in promoting use of NGS in research & development activities has given positive impact on target market growth. Cost reduction with use of NGS informatics in sequencing has further facilitated the demand for market growth. Furthermore, rising demand for precision medicines wide applications of NGS in various diseases is anticipated to increase the demand for Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics Market growth over the forecast period. What are the Recent News of Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics Market? In April 2022, Thermo Fisher Scientific launched new next generation sequencing (NGS) 'Ion Torrent Genexus Dx Integrated Sequencer' platform with CE-IVD marked for clinical laboratories to conduct clinical research and to perform diagnostic testing on a single instrument. In October 2018, Intrexon Corporation announced its bioinformatics hub in Munich as 'Intrexon Bioinformatics Germany GmbH' for improving quality of health and life of planet. The new launched bioinformatics hub is designed for scientists for developing robust model of biological reality to design discovery & applied research experiments platform. The company is also developing software tools including NGS (next generation sequencing), ChipSeq, microarray, and others. Who are the Top Key players operating in the Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics Market? Agilent Technologies Inc. Amazon Web Services LLC Dnanexus Inc. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Intrexon Bioinformatics Germany GmbH (Genomatrix AG) Llumina Inc. Fabric Genomics Inc. (Omicia Inc.) Partek Incorporated Qiagen NV Sapio Sciences Looking for More Information? Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-sample/4029 Report Scope: Attribute Details Base year for estimation 2022 Forecast period 2022 - 2032 Accounted in 2022 US$ 9.23 billion Estimated to be in 2032 US$ 35.3 billion CAGR 13.5 % Market representation Revenue in USD Billion & CAGR from 2022 - 2032 Market Segmentation By Products and Services - NGS Informatics Services and Data Analysis and Management Tool. By Application - Drug Discovery, Genetic Screening, Diseases Diagnosis, Precision Medicine, and Other Applications. By End- User - Hospitals and Clinics, Academics and Research Institutes, and Pharmaceuticals Companies. Regional scope North America - U.S., Canada Europe - UK, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe Asia Pacific - Japan, India, China, South Korea, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America - Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa - South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Rest of Middle East & Africa Report coverage Revenue forecast, company share, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends Customization Scope Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-customization/4029 What is Prophecy's Analyst View on Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics Market? Improved healthcare infrastructure and increasing awareness regarding the next-generation sequencing has become a leading factor in market growth. Growing investment in NGS by major companies due to rising demand for NGS services has fueled the market growth. Wide variety of applications of NGS in drug discovery, genetic screening, precision medicine and diagnosis of diseases is expected to provide lucrative opportunities in Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics Market growth in coming years. What are new technologies and trends in Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics Market? NGS informatics is undergoing significant advancements with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms for enhanced data analysis and interpretation. Cloud computing has emerged as a game-changer, offering scalable storage and collaborative capabilities. Additionally, advanced informatics platforms are integrating NGS data with other datasets, facilitating comprehensive analysis and visualization. These developments are driving improved diagnostics and groundbreaking discoveries in genomics research. How does artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) impact Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics? Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have a transformative impact on Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Informatics. They automate and accelerate data analysis, variant detection, and classification, enabling more accurate disease prediction and diagnosis. AI and ML techniques integrate NGS data with other datasets, enhancing interpretation and identifying potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, they optimize workflow efficiency, reducing manual effort and improving overall accuracy. AI and ML revolutionize NGS Informatics, accelerating genomics research and advancing precision medicine. What are the potential opportunities for Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics Market? Precision Medicine: NGS Informatics enables personalized medicine through the identification of disease-causing genetic variations and targeted therapies. NGS Informatics enables personalized medicine through the identification of disease-causing genetic variations and targeted therapies. Clinical Diagnostics: NGS Informatics improves diagnostic accuracy by rapidly identifying genetic mutations, aiding in the diagnosis of genetic disorders. NGS Informatics improves diagnostic accuracy by rapidly identifying genetic mutations, aiding in the diagnosis of genetic disorders. Drug Discovery and Development: NGS Informatics helps identify potential therapeutic targets and optimize drug development processes. NGS Informatics helps identify potential therapeutic targets and optimize drug development processes. Research and Genomics Studies: NGS Informatics facilitates large-scale genomic research, enabling a deeper understanding of diseases and biological processes. NGS Informatics facilitates large-scale genomic research, enabling a deeper understanding of diseases and biological processes. Agriculture and Livestock Improvement: NGS Informatics contributes to crop improvement, breeding programs, and livestock health by enabling genetic analysis and selection. NGS Informatics contributes to crop improvement, breeding programs, and livestock health by enabling genetic analysis and selection. Infectious Disease Surveillance: NGS Informatics enhances the identification and tracking of infectious disease outbreaks, aiding in surveillance and response strategies. NGS Informatics enhances the identification and tracking of infectious disease outbreaks, aiding in surveillance and response strategies. Environmental Monitoring and Conservation: NGS Informatics assists in biodiversity studies, environmental monitoring, and conservation efforts by analyzing DNA and RNA samples from various ecosystems. NGS Informatics assists in biodiversity studies, environmental monitoring, and conservation efforts by analyzing DNA and RNA samples from various ecosystems. Forensic Genetics: NGS Informatics improves forensic investigations through DNA analysis, helping in the identification and solving of criminal cases. What are the challenges and opportunities for Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics market? The Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Informatics market faces a combination of challenges and opportunities. Here are some key ones: Challenges: Data Management: Dealing with large volumes of data generated by NGS requires efficient storage, processing, and analysis solutions. Dealing with large volumes of data generated by NGS requires efficient storage, processing, and analysis solutions. Data Standardization: Ensuring consistent data formats and standards across different platforms and technologies is a challenge for seamless data integration and interpretation. Ensuring consistent data formats and standards across different platforms and technologies is a challenge for seamless data integration and interpretation. Computational Infrastructure: The demand for high-performance computing resources to handle complex NGS data analysis can be a hurdle for organizations lacking adequate infrastructure. The demand for high-performance computing resources to handle complex NGS data analysis can be a hurdle for organizations lacking adequate infrastructure. Bioinformatics Expertise: The shortage of skilled bioinformaticians and data scientists proficient in NGS analysis can pose challenges in data interpretation and utilization. Opportunities: Personalized Medicine: NGS Informatics enables the identification of genetic variations associated with diseases, facilitating targeted therapies and personalized treatment approaches. NGS Informatics enables the identification of genetic variations associated with diseases, facilitating targeted therapies and personalized treatment approaches. Clinical Diagnostics: NGS Informatics offers opportunities for improved accuracy and efficiency in diagnosing genetic disorders and identifying disease-causing variants. NGS Informatics offers opportunities for improved accuracy and efficiency in diagnosing genetic disorders and identifying disease-causing variants. Drug Discovery and Development: NGS Informatics contributes to identifying therapeutic targets, optimizing drug development processes, and facilitating precision medicine approaches. NGS Informatics contributes to identifying therapeutic targets, optimizing drug development processes, and facilitating precision medicine approaches. Research Advancements : NGS Informatics supports breakthroughs in genomics research, enhancing understanding of complex diseases, drug response, and biological processes. : NGS Informatics supports breakthroughs in genomics research, enhancing understanding of complex diseases, drug response, and biological processes. Agricultural and Environmental Applications: NGS Informatics has potential applications in crop improvement, livestock breeding, biodiversity studies, and environmental monitoring. NGS Informatics has potential applications in crop improvement, livestock breeding, biodiversity studies, and environmental monitoring. Collaborations and Partnerships: Opportunities arise through collaborations between NGS technology providers, bioinformatics companies, and research institutions to develop advanced informatics solutions and drive innovation. Looking for More Information? Download the PDF Brochure Report: https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-pdf/4029 Key Reasons to Purchase the Report: Actionable Insights from Genomic Data Accelerated Discoveries in Genomics Research Seamless Integration of Genomic and Clinical Data Scalability and Cost-Efficiency Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing Regulatory Compliance with Data Standards Conclusion: The Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Informatics Market offers significant opportunities for genomics research and precision medicine. With advanced data analysis, improved diagnostics, and personalized medicine potential, NGS Informatics drives scientific advancements and enhances patient outcomes. The market provides scalable and cost-effective solutions, promotes collaboration and data sharing, and ensures regulatory compliance. Embracing NGS Informatics empowers stakeholders to accelerate discoveries, optimize workflows, and stay at the forefront of genomics research and healthcare innovation. Browse Other Related Reports: Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Market accounted for US$ 8.46 billion in 2020 and is estimated to be US$ 52.40 billionby2030 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 19.8%. Sequencing reagents market garnered a revenue of USD 5,061.0 million in 2019 and is estimated to be USD 14,190.4 millionby 2027 at a compound annual growth (CAGR) of 13.8% over the forecast period. Microbiome Sequencing Services Market accounted for US$ 2056.34 million in 2020 and is estimated to be US$ 12331.2 million by 2030 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 19.80%. About Us: Prophecy Market Insights is a leading provider of market research services, offering insightful and actionable reports to clients across various industries. With a team of experienced analysts and researchers, Prophecy Market Insights provides accurate and reliable market intelligence, helping businesses make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition. The company's research reports cover a wide range of topics, including industry trends, market size, growth opportunities, competitive landscape, and more. Prophecy Market Insights is committed to delivering high-quality research services that help clients achieve their strategic goals and objectives. Contact Us: Sales Prophecy Market Insights US toll free: +1 860 531 2574 Rest of world: + 91 7775049802 Email- sales@prophecymarketinsights.com Website- www.prophecymarketinsights.com Follow us on:LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook |Youtube Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2067755/Prophecy_Market_Insights_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/next-generation-sequencing-informatics-market-projected-to-achieve-us-3-2-billion-registering-a-cagr-of-19-40-301874417.html WALTHAM, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / As part of its commitment to deliver clean energy solutions that benefit the long-term needs of customers and communities, National Grid recently launched its first-ever solar grazing pilot at two company-owned solar sites in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The pilot - in partnership with Solar Shepherd, a Massachusetts-based company founded by a third-generation rancher - combines renewable energy and agriculture by introducing sheep to feed on the plentiful grasses that grow around ground-mounted solar panels, providing a sustainable form of vegetation control. The innovative partnership was the focus of a segment by CBS Saturday Morning that aired July 8. Steve Woerner, President, National Grid - New England, joined co-host Dana Jacobson in Attleboro to discuss National Grid's growing relationship with solar grazing and how the company is creating clean energy solutions that work for everyone. Watch the CBS Saturday Morning segment on solar grazing. "The energy transition goes beyond investing in infrastructure-it's also about investing in the people we serve every day," said Woerner. "National Grid recognizes that we have an important role to play in driving the clean energy economy and providing meaningful opportunities to local businesses. Our new solar grazing partnership exemplifies how we continue to lead the way toward an equitable clean energy transition in the Northeast." Strengthening Community Roots in Massachusetts The practice of harnessing grazing livestock as natural groundskeepers is a variation of agrivoltaics, described by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the use of land for both agriculture and solar photovoltaic energy generation. The pilot launched in May 2023 with an aim to replace traditional landscaping methods with a cleaner solution. "Keeping environmental stewardship and thoughtful planning at the center of our work, solar grazing is a new way for our team to deliver for customers," said Arnaldo Arnal, Lead Product Developer for Solar and Storage, National Grid. "Grazing sheep reduce the need for herbicides, pesticides, and gas-powered lawnmowers, cutting down on carbon emissions and noise pollution at solar sites and the surrounding community. Over time, the sheep's natural fertilizer has the potential to boost soil biodiversity and enhance carbon sequestration on company land." The practice also adds an additional purpose to large-scale solar site locations, supporting agricultural production and local Massachusetts ranchers as they adapt and advance their businesses. "Solar grazing has allowed for a meaningful expansion of our local Massachusetts farm, while assisting in decarbonizing the grid," said Daniel Finnegan, Founder of Solar Shepherd. "Finding a partner in National Grid that cares about the communities in which it operates - that seeks ways to reduce fossil fuel use, improve ecosystems, protect water sources, and maintain economic efficiency - has been critical to our success." Delivering Resilient and Reliable Clean Energy Massachusetts leads the region in solar deployment, with National Grid having connected nearly 2 gigawatts of solar to the system, more than any other utility in New England. And, according to a recent study from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the state has enough suitable land to double the required amount of solar capacity to meet its decarbonization goals by 2050. National Grid has taken significant measures to expand Massachusetts' renewable energy infrastructure through its long-running solar programs, leading research efforts to demonstrate how large-scale solar energy facilities can increase the resiliency of the electric system in communities across the Commonwealth. In addition, the company is focused on readying the grid for additional capacity by making investments to accelerate the interconnection of more clean energy resources. The company currently owns and operates 30 solar sites in Massachusetts, including its solar grazing locations in Attleboro, which collectively comprise 5,000 panels spanning 10 acres of land. The two sites inject a total of 1600 kW into the grid, providing load relief to a nearby substation during peak summer days. The next phase of the solar program will center on projects developed to increase resiliency for environmental justice communities statewide. National Grid expects to introduce grazing sheep to other sites as its solar portfolio expands. About National Grid National Grid (NYSE:NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a path to a more affordable, reliable clean energy future through our fossil-free vision. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram. Media Contacts Emily Demarest Massachusetts (781) 907-3980 Email Michael Dalo Massachusetts (781) 907-3980 Email View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from National Grid on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: National Grid Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/national-grid Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: National Grid View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766917/National-Grids-Solar-Grazing-Pilot-Highlighted-on-CBS-Saturday-Morning The Business Research Company's global market reports are now updated with the latest market sizing information for the year 2023 and forecasted to 2032 LONDON, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per The Business Research Company's Remote Patient Monitoring Devices And Equipment Global Market Report 2023, the global remote patient monitoring devices and equipment market size will grow from $1.1 billion in 2022 to $1.3 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 13%. The remote patient monitoring devices and equipment market size is expected to grow to $2.1 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of more than 12%. The anticipated lack of competent healthcare personnel (doctors and nurses) will drive the remote patient monitoring devices and equipment market. As the number of patients with chronic conditions grows, it becomes more difficult to monitor them due to operational time and cost constraints. The growing number of chronic disease patients, the increased demand for monitoring, and the expected shortage of nurses will all contribute to the rapid rise of remote patient monitoring systems and equipment. According to a report by Mercer, the US will require 2.3 million new health care workers by 2025; this includes nurses, physicians, lab technicians, and various other healthcare personnel. Learn More On The Remote Patient Monitoring Devices And Equipment Market Report - https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/remote-patient-monitoring-devices-and-equipment-global-market-report Major remote patient monitoring devices manufacturers are Philips Healthcare, Honeywell, GE Healthcare, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, Biotronik, Robert Bosch, COVIDien PLC., and St. Jude Medical. Manufacturers in the remote patient monitoring devices and equipment market are progressively integrating IoT and wireless technology with their products in order to efficiently diagnose and treat medical issues. Wireless sensor technology, such as biosensor monitoring devices, is a multi-sensor system implanted or embedded into the skin that consists of a sensor that transmits data to allow for real-time monitoring of a patient's medical state. IoT technology allows healthcare providers to remotely monitor the health characteristics of their patients. These small multi-sensing devices help healthcare practitioners monitor blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and physiological factors and prescribe suitable treatment. Xsensio, InSilixa, 1Drop Diagnostics, and Kenzen are among the major firms that provide IoT and wireless sensor technology-integrated patient monitoring systems. Request A Free Sample Of The Remote Patient Monitoring Devices And Equipment Market Report - https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=2517&type=smp The global remote patient monitoring devices and equipment market is segmented - 1) By Type Of Device: Heart Monitors, Breath Monitors, Haematology Monitors, Multi - Parameter Monitors 2) By End User: Home Care Settings, Clinics, Hospitals 3) By Application: Cancer Treatment, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes Treatment, Sleep Disorder, Weight Monitoring And Fitness Monitoring, Other Applications As per the remote patient monitoring devices and equipment market analysis, Asia-Pacific was the leading region in the global remote patient monitoring devices and equipment market in 2022. In the remote patient monitoring devices and equipment market, North America was the second-largest region. View More Similar Market Reports: Patient Monitoring Devices Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/patient-monitoring-devices-global-market-report Patient Handling Equipment Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/patient-handling-equipment-global-market-report Weight Monitoring And Body Temperature Monitoring Devices And Equipment Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/weight-monitoring-and-body-temperature-monitoring-devices-and-equipment-global-market-report Interested to know more about The Business Research Company? The Business Research Company has published over 5000+ detailed industry reports, spanning over 3000+ market segments and 60 geographies. The reports draw on 1,500,000 datasets, extensive secondary research, and exclusive insights from interviews with industry leaders. 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Contact Information The Business Research Company Europe: +44 207 1930 708 Asia: +91 8897263534 Americas: +1 315 623 0293 Email: info@tbrc.info Follow Us On: LinkedIn:https://in.linkedin.com/company/the-business-research-company Twitter:https://twitter.com/tbrc_info Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBusinessResearchCompany YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC24_fI0rV8cR5DxlCpgmyFQ Blog:https://blog.tbrc.info/ Healthcare Blog:https://healthcareresearchreports.com/ Global Market Model: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/global-market-model Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1751581/tbrc_logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/remote-patient-monitoring-devices-and-equipment-market-forecast-2023-2027-estimated-growth-rate-major-driver-and-trends--by-the-business-research-company-301872796.html Believes The Company Needs to Add New Independent Directors and Run a Legitimate Strategic Review Process with All Options on the Table Irenic Capital Management LP (together with its affiliates, "Irenic" or "we"), a substantial shareholder of The Restaurant Group plc (LON: RTN) ("The Restaurant Group" or the "Company"), today called on the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") to replace Chairman Ken Hanna who is also Chair of the Nomination Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee due to his documented disregard for the best interests of all shareholders. Adam Katz, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Irenic, commented: Over the past year, Irenic has attempted to work constructively and privately with The Restaurant Group. We've encouraged the Company's leadership to appropriately align executive compensation with shareholder returns, reduce excess overhead costs and speed up the disposal of non-core assets to delever and increase focus on the high-return Wagamama operations. The response from the Board and management has been to dither and to delay. The result for all of the Company's shareholders has been disaster. During the course of our private engagement, Mr. Hanna has made clear that he is unwilling to consider any independent, non-executive director candidates suggested by so-called 'activist' shareholders. This is the case regardless of the merit of that individual or the ways in which that person may add value to the Board. This refusal to evaluate potential director candidates on merit runs counter to the Company's stated corporate governance principles. Mr. Hanna's partiality towards certain shareholders (including potentially affording them veto rights over director appointments) and his antipathy towards other shareholders are equally incompatible with the Company's principles. His positions undermine the fundamental tenet that shareholders of equal rank should be treated equally. As such, we believe Mr. Hanna should resign, or the Board should take steps to appoint a new Chairman that can represent all shareholders." About Irenic Irenic Capital Management LP is an investment management firm founded by Adam Katz and Andy Dodge. Based in New York City, Irenic works collaboratively with publicly traded companies to ensure operating activities, capital deployment and management incentives are all aligned to create value for the company and its owners. For more information about Irenic, please visit www.irenicmgmt.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711569872/en/ Contacts: For Investors: Irenic Capital Management contact@irenicmgmt.com For Media: Longacre Square Partners Greg Marose Dan Zacchei, 646-386-0091 irenic@longacresquare.com DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN), a technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and co-administered by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), announced today it selected seven startups to participate in the program's 12th cohort. The cohort consists of sustainable agriculture companies focused on mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change on global food systems. "In the face of intensifying challenges in the agriculture industry and our environment, the world urgently needs innovative, sustainable solutions," said Trish Cozart, IN program manager and the director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at NREL. "With projections indicating a global population of 10 billion people by 2050, we must develop methods that not only increase productivity, but do so without causing harm to our planet. IN is at the forefront of this mission, supporting promising startups that are reimagining the future of food and farming." Each company will receive up to $250,000 in non-dilutive funding for various technical assistance and field trial projects to further refine their technologies and business models. The companies will work alongside world-renowned principal investigators at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri, the world's largest independent plant science research institute. "IN's twelfth cohort highlights some of the best startups in climate-aligned agriculture," said Elliott Kellner, director of commercial innovation at the Danforth Center. "The selected companies have commercially viable technologies with tremendous potential to deliver environmental, economic, and societal benefits." "As one of the top agricultural production lenders in the U.S., Wells Fargo supports scaling clean technologies," said Robyn Luhning, Chief Sustainability Officer at Wells Fargo. "Through the Wells Fargo IN program, these companies receive support to commercialize solutions for some of our customers' most pressing challenges." The companies were nominated by members of IN's Channel Partner network, consisting of more than 60 business incubators, accelerators, and university programs nationwide. The selected startups underwent an in-depth review by Wells Fargo, NREL, the Danforth Center, and IN's expert industry advisory board. The seven companies selected for IN's cohort 12 are: HabiTerre, based in St. Louis, MO, uses remote sensing, process models, and artificial intelligence to create a holistic picture of farm production systems past, present, and future cropland performance, including net greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon sequestration, crop rotation, management history, yield, water use, and nutrient dynamics. Habiterre will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Chris Topp. Impetus Ag, based in St. Louis, MO, is developing next generation crop insect control products with an eco-friendly insect control platform that dramatically enhances the performance of current biological products for topical and transgenic applications. Impetus Ag will collaborate with Danforth's Drs. Bala Venkata and Nigel Taylor. Impossible Sensing, based in St. Louis, MO, boosts soil management, merging in-situ sensors with regular farming operations. The solutions aim to capture real-time data on nutrients, soil health, and carbon levels, empowering growers to maximize land potential, participate in carbon markets, and improve profitability through sustainable practices. Impossible Sensing will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Allison Miller. InnerPlant, based in Davis, CA, develops seed technology to tap into plants' natural response pathways and code crops to communicate early and specific stresses via easy-to-collect optical signals. The technology helps farmers understand plants' needs and prescribe the right amount of fertilizer and crop protection products at the optimal time. InnerPlant will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Katie Murphy. Mirai Solar, based in Mountain View, CA, uses photovoltaic shade screen technology, the Mirai Screen, to provide greenhouses and smart buildings the means to reduce their operational costs and achieve net-zero energy targets. The Mirai Screen transforms the need for shade into a source for renewable energy by acting as a simple drop-in replacement for conventional passive shade screens. Mirai Solar will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Ru Zhang. Running Tide, based in Portland, ME, is on a mission to restore ocean health, rebalance the carbon cycle, and revitalize coastal communities. The company designs and develops integrated software and hardware systems, including monitoring and measurement capabilities, to deploy nature-based interventions that remove carbon, combat ocean acidification, and increase the scientific understanding of ocean ecosystems. Running Tide will collaborate with Danforth's Drs. Noah Fahlgren and Malia Gehan. Sentinel Fertigation, based in Lincoln, NE, leverages remote sensing and geospatial data to empower precision nitrogen management, particularly for farmers who fertigate. Sentinel's N-Time software program helps farmers improve nitrogen use efficiency by 23% and save 42 pounds of nitrogen per acre on average. Sentinel Fertigation will collaborate with Dr. Elliott Kellner to connect with a broad set of research teams across the cohort's ecosystem. With the addition of these seven companies, IN's total portfolio now includes 72 companies, including 26 sustainable agriculture startups. Since joining the IN program, portfolio companies have raised more than $1.8 billion in external follow-on funding-equivalent to an average of more than $97 for every $1 awarded by Wells Fargo through IN. About the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN) The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN) is a $50 million technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation. Co-administered by and housed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, IN's mission is to speed the path to market for early-stage, clean-technology entrepreneurs. Launched in 2014 with an initial focus on supporting scalable solutions to reduce the energy impact of commercial buildings, IN has since expanded its focus to advance technologies that address the sustainable production of agriculture and housing affordability. For more information, visit in2ecosystem.com. About the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research, education and outreach aim to have impact at the nexus of food security and the environment, and position the St. Louis region as a world center for plant science. The Center's work is funded through competitive grants from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and through the generosity of individual, corporate, and foundation donors. Follow us on Twitter at @DanforthCenter. Media Contact Camille Cater Antenna Group nrel@antennagroup.com Leaders of the seven startups joining IN2 View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Wells Fargo on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Wells Fargo Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/wells-fargo Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Wells Fargo View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766922/Wells-Fargo-Innovation-Incubator-Announces-12th-Cohort-Focused-on-Climate-Aligned-Agriculture This new equipment allows fashion manufacturers to adapt to the growing need for small series production. They improve the productivity, flexibility, and environmental footprint of cutting rooms. PARIS, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lectra supports the transformation of fashion, automotive and furniture players by providing them with technological solutions that accelerate their transition to a more efficient and more sustainable Industry 4.0. The Group announces the launch of a new generation of intelligent, connected low-ply equipment for the fashion industry, VectorFashion iX2 and VectorFashion Q2. They are particularly well suited to ensuring a quick, easy transition from small-volume production to larger order volumes, while maintaining optimal cutting quality. Developed with an eco-design approach, their environmental and social impact has been significantly improved. In fashion, the current trend is towards capsule collections and the constant renewal of products. Manufacturers therefore have to produce smaller volumes of the same design and the number of orders to process and materials to cut is increasing. VectorFashion iX2 and VectorFashion Q2 allow manufacturers to cut variable volumes in an agile manner, in all types of materials. "As economies of scale are increasingly difficult to achieve, fashion manufacturers need to gain flexibility while controlling the costs associated with the production of the orders they receive. With optimized running costs and enhanced performance, the new generation of VectorFashion iX2 and VectorFashion Q2 cutting solutions offers them a better return on investment, and helps them increase their margins while also reducing their environmental footprint. As corporate social responsibility is a major priority for Lectra, we have reinforced the integration of eco-design principles in the development of this new range. This enables our customers to meet the fashion industry's two major challenges: reducing energy and material consumption," explains Maximilien Abadie, Chief Product Officer at Lectra. A reduced environmental footprint Fashion players also have increasingly high expectations regarding the environmental footprint of their business. Lectra meets their needs by applying eco-design principles. VectorFashion iX2 and VectorFashion Q2 use 30% to 40% less energy than the previous versions, which were already renowned for their energy performance, for superior efficiency. They weigh 200 kg less than their predecessors, and are more compact in size. As a result, the carbon footprint associated with transporting the equipment, and with the resources used in its production and maintenance, is also significantly reduced. Ergonomics and operator protection, Lectra's key concerns, have been completely reconsidered, with the introduction of new standards for electronic cards, the integration of motion detection radars, and the reduction of equipment noise levels. This guarantees optimum operator comfort and safety, while minimizing equipment downtime. More connectivity, more intelligence, more efficiency VectorFashion iX2 and VectorFashion Q2 offer a high level of connectivity thanks to numerous built-in sensors, which makes them fully compatible with Industry 4.0. Thanks to data intelligence and improved connectivity, manufacturers have all the data they need to increase the efficiency of their processes, boost productivity, improve product quality and better meet the challenges of tomorrow. They also benefit from new associated services, as well as predictive maintenance with enriched digital content for greater autonomy. Maintenance operations are halved, resulting in lower consumable costs, and a significant increase in equipment availability compared to the previous generation. About Lectra: As a major player in the fashion, automotive and furniture markets, Lectra contributes to the Industry 4.0 revolution with boldness and passion by providing best-in-class technologies. The Group offers industrial intelligence solutions - software, equipment, data and services - that facilitate the digital transformation of the companies it serves. In doing so, Lectra helps its customers push boundaries and unlock their potential. The Group is proud to state that its 2,500 employees are driven by three core values: being open-minded thinkers, trusted partners and passionate innovators. Founded in 1973, Lectra reported revenues of 522 million euros in 2022 and is listed on Euronext (LSS). For more information, visit www.lectra.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2151595/Lectra_Fashion.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2151594/Lectra_Logo.jpg Contact: Hotwire for Lectra - lectrafr@hotwireglobal.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lectra-launches-vectorfashion-ix2-and-vectorfashion-q2-a-new-generation-of-intelligent-connected-cutting-equipment-for-the-fashion-industry-301874272.html VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Marvel Discovery Corp. (TSX-V:MARV)(Frankfurt:O4T)(OTCQB:MARVF); ("Marvel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Peter Born, P. Geo to its Board of Directors. Dr. Peter Born is a registered geologist with the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and a Fellow of the Geological Association of Canada. Mr. Born completed his PhD at Carleton University in Earth Sciences and holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.), Geological and Earth Sciences, from Laurentian University. His extensive experience spans 35 years in exploration, modelling, and feasibility studies. He has held many senior geologist positions which include Western Mining, where he modeled mineralization on the 5 M ounce Meliadine gold deposit in Nunavut. Prior to that, he was with Echo Bay Mines, contributing to the 1M oz Aquarius gold deposit east of Timmins, Ontario. Dr. Born brings decades of experience from the Abitibi greenstone and gold belt in Ontario and Quebec, and in particular, the 80M ounce gold camp of Timmins in Northern Ontario, Canada. This region was the focal point of his Ph.D. research in the 1990s. Throughout his Ph.D. studies, Dr. Born was distinguished as a three-time recipient of the prestigious National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Post-Graduate Scholarship from Canada (1991-1993). He also co-authored the influential 1999 GAC Field Guide 3B, focusing on the controls for gold mineralization in the Southern Abitibi Greenstone Belt. From 2000 onwards, he established an Ottawa-based consulting firm, providing services to a selected group of Canadian resource companies. In this capacity, he has acted as VP Exploration for several junior mining companies since 2007. His broad expertise covers directing exploration for uranium, gold, lithium, and base metals. Karim Rayani, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to have attained the services of Dr. Peter Born, and he will make a strong addition to our Board of Directors. His extensive knowledge, deep understanding of mineral exploration, and strong track record in developing assets will be of great benefit as we develop our project portfolio and help guide the company as we simultaneously explore for Nickel, Copper, Uranium, and gold. While the resource market has suffered so far in 2023, we hold view that the long-term outlook for gold is extremely bullish, Nickel and Copper will remain key assets as North America accelerates its Go-Green plan, and we firmly believe Uranium will be the next hot commodity play, as Nuclear Energy is an important part of the solution as we electrify our cities and our economy." About Marvel Discovery Corp. Marvel, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange for over 25 years, is a Canadian based emerging resource company. The Company is systematically exploring its extensive property positions in: Newfoundland (Slip, Gander North, Gander South, Victoria Lake, Baie Verte, and Hope Brook - Au Prospects ) ) Atikokan, Ontario (BlackFly - Au Prospect ) ) Elliot Lake, Ontario (East Bull - Ni-Cu-PGE Prospect) Quebec (Duhamel - Ni-Cu-Co prospect & Titanium, Vanadium, and Chromium Prospect) Prince George, British Columbia (Wicheeda North - Rare Earth Elements Prospect) The Company's website is: https://marveldiscovery.ca/ ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Marvel Discovery Corp. "Karim Rayani" Karim Rayani President/Chief Executive Officer, Director Tel: 604 716 0551 email: k@r7.capital Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements which reflect the expectations of management. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: completion of the proposed Arrangement. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. There is no assurance any of the conditions for closing will be met. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Marvel Discovery Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766945/Marvel-Discovery-Announces-Appointment-of-Dr-Peter-Born-to-the-Board-of-Directors Tech Accessory Essentials for Working and Creating Anywhere in Comfort! SEATTLE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / MOFT (Mobile Office for Travelers), known for its innovative and user-friendly accessories for laptops, smartphones, and tablets, is thrilled to announce its participation in Amazon Prime Day. The highly anticipated sales campaign will be active July 11 - 12, 2023, at the MOFT Amazon Official Store. MOFT Prime Day Deals MOFT tech accessories up to 20% off signature laptop stands, phone stands and tablet stands Customers can take advantage of a 20% discount on device essentials for comfort, focus, convenience, and creativity in time for summer travel, back-to-school, and early holiday shopping. The sale items include the popular "Snap-on Phone Stand & Wallet", the original "Invisible Laptop Stand", the award-winning "Snap Stand Power Set", and more. Prime Day Highlights: Unbeatable discount on the popular MagSafe compatible "Snap-on Phone Stand & Wallet" desired for its minimal design, multi-angle phone stand, and secure wallet. Available in 16 colors to match any style. 20% off top-selling, award-winning products: discounts on a range of must-have travel and work essentials including the multifunctional "Snap Stand Power Set" battery pack, the hybrid " Carry Sleeve and Laptop Stand ," and the portable " MOFT Z Sit-Stand Desk ." ," and the portable " ." Discount on the newest released products made for Apple devices including the "Snap Float Folio" for iPads and the Vegan Leather Sling Case for iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max and Phone Lanyard. About MOFT: Founded in California in 2019, MOFT is a leading tech accessories brand dedicated to creating innovative accessories that enhance the functionality and convenience of laptops, smartphones, and tablets. With a focus on simplicity and creativity, MOFT products are designed to seamlessly integrate into the modern lifestyle, providing users with unparalleled comfort and efficiency. Stay up to date with the latest news, new product releases, and upcoming campaigns from MOFT by following official social media channels on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Alternatively, sign up for our email newsletter to receive regular updates directly to your inbox. For more visit https://www.moft.us Contact Information Press Office press@moft.us +1 (646) 714.2520 SOURCE: MOFT, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766940/MOFT-Amazon-Official-Store-Announces-Prime-Day-Special-Discounts-of-Up-to-20-Off-Signature-Laptop-Phone-and-Tablet-Stands-July-11-and-12-2023 Global master data management (MDM) solution provider Stibo Systems experienced solid growth as it recently closed another successful fiscal year. Revenues grew 15%, from 135.29 million USD in the 2021-22 fiscal year to 155.58 million USD in the 2022-23 fiscal year. "Despite yet another year of worldwide economic uncertainty, our revenue growth proves that trustworthy data is more of a business imperative now than ever before," said Adrian Carr, Stibo Systems CEO. "Our customers, both newly won and longstanding, are benefiting from a 360-degree view of their data in a host of business areas, from customer experience to compliance to sustainability and ESG reporting." Software as a service (SaaS) is fueling growth, and all Stibo Systems' new customers are opting for a Cloud deployment. More than 250 customers have chosen the flexibility and scalability of SaaS subscription contracts to run their master data management efforts with Stibo Systems, increasing recurring revenue participation in the business, with monthly recurring revenue growing 23% over previous fiscal year. "Our SaaS offering is bringing in innovative new customers, and our existing customer base is increasingly eager to migrate to the Cloud, key to making our install base a big contributor to total revenue. We expect this trend to continue at least for the next couple of years, so revenue outlook is very positive," Carr said. The North America region continues its trend of high-speed growth, going from 36% of total revenue last fiscal year to 39%. The company will continue to invest in this region while at the same time strengthening its presence in EMEA, LATAM and APAC. Stibo Systems' innovation investments around core capabilities of MDM, including AI-enabled automation, are increasing the company's competitive position, and an increase in customers moving from single to multiple data domains has been observed. "Stibo Systems MDM platform enjoys unique competitive advantage on product data food, apparel, electronics, etc., and the fact that the same technology is also used to 'master' data across other data domains such as customer, supplier and location brings substantial benefits to customers that can maximize their return on investment (ROI) whilst also enabling more sophisticated business insights from the intersections of data across domains," Carr said. "We continue to set the standards in how to manage data in the Retail, Consumer Products, Manufacturing and Distribution industries, helping our customer deliver better business outcomes and a better world by working with better data," concluded Carr. About Stibo Systems Stibo Systems, the master data management company, is the trusted enabler of data transparency. Our solutions are the driving force behind forward-thinking companies around the world that have unlocked the strategic value of their master data. We empower them to improve the customer experience, drive innovation and growth and create an essential foundation for digital transformation. This gives them the transparency they require and desire a single, accurate view of their master data so they can make informed decisions and achieve goals of scale, scope and ambition. Stibo Systems is a privately held subsidiary of Stibo Software Group, which is headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark. The foundational ownership guarantees the long-term perspective of the business. More at https://www.stibosystems.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711900613/en/ Contacts: Katherine Hahn Public Relations Manager khah@stibosystems.com OMAHA (dpa-AFX) - Berkshire Hathaway Energy, the energy and utility division of Warren Buffett's conglomerate, announced on Monday its agreement to purchase a 50 percent stake in the Cove Point liquefied natural gas or LNG facility for $3.3 billion in cash. The stake was acquired from Dominion Energy, with Berkshire Hathaway Energy now owning a 75 percent limited partnership stake in Cove Point LNG. The remaining 25 percent is held by a subsidiary of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. Although not a large deal in terms of size for Berkshire Hathaway, it marks a significant move in their growing investment in energy infrastructure. The acquisition provides the conglomerate with ownership of one of the few functional LNG export facilities in the United States, aligning with their long-term theme of energy resources becoming more valuable. The Cove Point LNG Terminal, located in Lusby, Maryland, has a storage capacity of 14.6 billion cubic feet and a daily send-out capacity of 1.8 billion cubic feet. It has a long-term contract with Sumitomo Corp., a Japanese trading company in which Warren Buffett has also made investments. This latest acquisition follows Berkshire Hathaway's initial purchase of Dominion's gas pipeline and storage assets for $4 billion in 2020. Greg Abel, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, highlighted the strong relationship between the two companies, with the deal facilitated through his connection with Dominion's previous CEO, Tom Farrell. Abel, now the vice chairman for non-insurance operations at Berkshire Hathaway and the successor to Warren Buffett, has taken on many responsibilities at the conglomerate. Berkshire Hathaway has been actively expanding its presence in the energy sector, proposing a $4 billion investment in wind and solar power generation in Iowa in 2022. Concurrently, the conglomerate has increased its exposure to traditional energy companies such as Occidental Petroleum and Chevron. Bill Stone, chief investment officer at Glenview Trust and a Berkshire shareholder, noted that Buffett has a longstanding affinity for pipelines due to their toll bridge-type revenues, providing more stable returns compared to direct commodity exposure. Stone also mentioned that most LNG exporters typically operate on long-term take-or-pay contracts, mitigating the impact of fluctuations in natural gas prices. This year, natural gas futures have declined by over 40 percent, currently priced at $2.709 per million British thermal units. Despite the decrease in prices, Berkshire Hathaway's investment in Cove Point LNG reinforces their confidence in the long-term value of energy infrastructure assets. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Mega-Chance Cyber Security Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen. Hier klicken The technology helps make transactions seamless and more secure for customers and retail outlets Portland, Oregon--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Portland-based startup, Aisles has launched an integrated cash payment service called Trustis for its Tech Wheel users, the state-of-the-art shopping assistant from Aisles. Trustis encapsulates a "Transaction Reliability Using Secure Technology and Identity Scanning" that integrates advanced biometric security measures, such as facial, fingerprint, and voice recognition, enabling swift and secure transactions. The technology reduces the need for customers to remember complex passwords and makes the transaction process quicker and more secure. TRUSTIS by Aisles To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9405/172950_f2c32747c4acc869_001full.jpg This recent update brings an exclusive cash payment service, catering mainly to cash-paying customers. This feature ensures real-time cash balance verification before checkout with Tech Wheel, preventing any possibility of overdrafts. Trust is stepping further by offering balance verification for debit and credit card users, ensuring people stay within their available balance. Additionally, Trustis provides a digital debit card linked to users' existing credit or debit cards for safe online purchases outside the Aisles platform. Beyond these capabilities, Trustis shows a profound commitment to inclusive service provision. It offers streamlined shopping for beneficiaries of WIC, SNAP, and TANF. Trustis simplifies the shopping process for WIC users with a unique weight measurement verification feature, preventing common purchase errors and creating a worry-free shopping experience. Talking to the media, co-founder of the company, Ignacio Rosales, said, "We are excited to announce the launch of Trustees, which we believe will transform the landscape of retail transactions forever. With retail sales estimated at $7 trillion in 2023 the US alone, Trustis will ensure seamless and secure transactions for retailers and customers. The technology will reduce financial leakages because of its advanced weight management technology and improve the shopping experience. This will help optimize processes for retailers and improve their bottom line. " The AI-driven system enables frictionless and fast transactions that will help to reduce wait times and make retail chains more efficient. It will also help enhance the shopping experience and give them a competitive advantage over stores that don't. He added, "Our engineers have been working on its development for quite some time now and leveraged advanced algorithms, computer vision and machine learning to streamline the checking out process. With its unique blend of biometric AI security and user-centric features, Trustis will add security, efficiency, and inclusivity to every transaction. Trustis isn't just changing how people shop; it's transforming how they will transact." With the launch of Trustis, retail businesses of all sizes can deploy flexible and scalable solutions with their existing retail infrastructures at a fraction of the cost associated with traditional payment security systems. Businesses and individuals interested in learning more can visit their website today: https://aisles.app/ Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70i4BXjzcaM Contact Info: Contact Person: Ignacio Rosales Company: Aisles Email: help@aisles.app City: Portland State: Oregon Country: United States Website: https://aisles.app/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/172950 Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen. SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - As Amazon Prime Day kicks off, experts are cautioning consumers about the prevalence of scams that often accompany major sales events. Phishing attempts and scams impersonating reputable companies like Amazon have become increasingly common during these periods of high online spending. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to remain vigilant and be wary of lookalike websites, enticing social media ads, unsolicited emails or calls, and other suspicious activities surrounding Prime Day and other sales events this month. Among the scams highlighted by Scott Knapp, director of worldwide buyer risk prevention at Amazon, are Prime membership and order confirmation hoaxes. In previous years, individuals reported receiving unsolicited calls or emails claiming issues with their Prime membership, followed by requests for payment information and login credentials. Knapp emphasized that Amazon, or any reputable business, would never solicit such details in that manner. Another tactic scammers employ is urging consumers to confirm orders they didn't place, often selecting high-value items like smartphones to attract attention and elicit payment information or malicious links. While specific scams for this year's Prime Day have yet to emerge, experts note that scammers tend to iterate on existing methods. Fake delivery scams, email phishing, and other schemes are continuously used to deceive consumers into divulging personal and payment information. Furthermore, online hoaxes are evolving and becoming more sophisticated, with the use of AI-generated content and increasingly authentic-looking images and websites. Consumers are urged to exercise caution, verify the legitimacy of websites before clicking links, and report scams to relevant authorities. In addition to scams impersonating retailers, consumers are advised to be wary of counterfeit products and fake reviews. Major online marketplaces like Amazon feature third-party sellers, making it crucial for shoppers to be aware that they may not be buying directly from the platform itself. Counterfeit products have improved in quality and appearance, making them harder to detect. Buyers should be cautious if a product is priced significantly lower than its market value, as it could be an indicator of a counterfeit item. To combat counterfeit products, Amazon has taken measures to remove millions of phony listings from its site and block billions of suspected fake reviews. The company has a zero-tolerance policy for counterfeit products and fake reviews, actively working to eliminate them from its platform. Customers are encouraged to report fraudulent activities, including fake reviews, and Amazon proactively reaches out to customers who unknowingly purchase counterfeit items, offering full refunds. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. BDTCOIN is an exclusive gold standard digital currency with multiple new blockchain features of its self with QUAUNTUM protocols. DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / BDTCOIN, a prominent digital currency, has forged an affiliation with GOLD, aiming to create a gold standard digital currency. This association provides a unique opportunity for gold enthusiasts seeking to engage with a digital currency. The latest development from BDTCOIN showcases its commitment to expanding its blockchain product offerings, utilizing QUANTUM protocols. These advancements encompass various areas such as wallet providers, exchange house partnerships, and mining projects. By leveraging these cutting-edge features and its foundation as a gold standard digital currency, BDTCOIN aims to redefine possibilities within the digital currency landscape. The development of the concept and business plan defines the potential of BDTC blockchain quantum protocols for the different products and services availed. The blockchain protocols shall be either shared or solo protocols. Shared protocols are where everyone can use the said protocol to generated profit and the profit is shared among the participants well as the private/ solo protocols are where individuals solely use the said protocols to generate solo profit. The recently introduced crypto unique utility features are as follows: Mobile Payment People can use BDTCOIN as a digital currency and buy products or services with. It enables users to possess an online wallet to transfer BDTCOIN from one user's wallet to another. Trading Projects As well as becoming the cryptocurrency to launch a gold standard, BDTCOIN has become well known as early adopters of the currency often became BDTCOIN millionaires through mining and Investment in the money. Protect The Identity BDTCOIN focuses on anonymity, as it is still an area of constant development in the world of cryptocurrencies. Security The Money A BDTCOIN transaction authorizes only a specific value to a particular recipient and cannot be forged or modified. It does not reveal any private information, such as the identities of the parties, and cannot be used to authorize additional payments. Therefore, a BDTCOIN payment network must not be encrypted or protected from eavesdropping. One can broadcast BDTCOIN transactions over an open public channel, such as unsecured WiFi or NO INTERNET or Bluetooth, with no loss of security. Paper Wallet The platform creates the BDTCOIN with a keypair generated on a computer with no internet connection. The private key is written or printed on paper and then erased from the computer. The paper wallet can then be stored in a safe physical location for later retrieval. Hardware Wallet BDTCOIN facilitates users with a hardware wallet and a computer peripheral that signs transactions as requested. These devices store private keys, carry out signing and encryption internally, and do not share sensitive information with the host computer except already signed (and thus unalterable) transactions. Software Wallet The first wallet program named BDTCOIN, sometimes referred to as the JUS client, release in 2022 by JUS as open-source software. The client moved from the wxWidgets user interface toolkit to Qt, and the whole bundle was referred to as BDTCOIN-Qt. The software bundle was renamed BDTCOIN Core to distinguish itself from the underlying network. BDTCOIN Core is the best-known implementation or client. Cold Storage A technique called "cold storage" keeps private keys out of reach of hackers; this is accomplished by always keeping private keys offline by generating them on a device that is not connected to the internet. The credentials necessary to spend BDTCOIN's can be stored offline in different ways, from specialized hardware wallets to simple paper printouts of the private key. Consequently, with the new developments, BDTCOIN defines an electronic coin as a chain of digital signatures. Each owner transfers the coin to the next by digitally signing a hash of the previous transaction. Later, the public key of the next owner and adding to the end of the coin. A payee can verify the signatures to verify the chain of ownership. About the company - BDTCOIN: BDTCOIN is a brand-new decentralized digital currency that allows users to exchange value with one another via a peer-to-peer network directly. It is a network in which all users have equal power and are connected directly to one another without using a central server. The platform enables data to be shared and stored, as well as BDTCOIN payments to be sent and received between parties seamlessly. BDTCOIN is organising the Greatest ever IEO launch on over 100 exchange houses after its current success during the ICO period. BDTCOIN at a Glance: Coin Name: BDTCOIN Coin Creator Name: Johir Uddin Sultan Currency Name: BDTC Total Supply: 71 million coins Algorithm: Sha256 Block Validation Rule: Proof of Work Website: https://www.bdtcoin.co Explorer (main-net): https://www.bdtcoin.info For further information, visit the following links: Website | Telegram | Twitter Media Contact Organization: BDT COIN Contact Person: Johir Uddin Sultan Website: https://bdtcoin.co/ Email: admin@bdtcoin.co City: Dubai Country: United Arab Emirates SOURCE: BDT COIN View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/767077/BDTCOIN-Revolutionizes-Digital-Currency-with-Gold-Standard-Affiliation-and-Quantum-Protocols The Great Lakes Fasteners Group has acquired Connection Services Company of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and continues its rapid growth plans serving manufacturers in the greater Midwest region. BENTON HARBOR, MI / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / The Great Lakes Fasteners Group has acquired Connection Services Company of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and continues its rapid growth plans serving manufacturers in the greater Midwest region. Founded in 1987 by Richard W. Adent, Connection Service Company has been a pillar in the southwest Michigan region serving a variety of customers from large manufacturers to small service companies. Now led by his son, Richard "Todd" Adent, Connection Service continues to grow by providing standard, metric, and special fasteners to print. In addition, Connection Services is a boutique manufacturer of standard and special U-bolts, threaded rods, and special threaded studs. Todd Adent joked, "Kevin and I tried to join forces 10 years ago as we clearly saw a connection (pun intended), but the timing just was not right." "All of us at Connection Service are looking forward to bringing our two families together, as we are both hard working organizations driven to deliver quality service, a vast array of products, and be the value leader for our customers." Connection Services will join forces with the fastener distribution group formed by Kevin Weidinger, owner of the portfolio. The group operates Great Lakes Fasteners, Nut & Bolt Fastening Solutions, and most recently Lakeshore Shore Fastener and Hodges Fastener Corporation purchased in September 2022. The group is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, with distribution and manufacturing centers in Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Wisconsin. The consortium strives to maintain the distributors' local identities in their communities yet leverage the collective strength and size of the enterprise. Customers enjoy a vast inventory of standard and special fasteners plus bundled lean production services, including kitting, packaging, sub-assembly, and managed inventory programs (VMI). Weidinger said, "Connection Services brings us talent, capabilities and a geographic location to expand our presence in Michigan, as well as serve customers and prospects in northern Indiana with ease." Weidinger continues, "Manufacturing was a strategic initiative that we were driven to add, and the relationship with Connection Services gives us a perfect entry with products that many of our customers already buy." "I had the pleasure of cutting, threading and bending some u-bolts with Todd this past week, and I know my grandfather was smiling down from heaven, as he was an engineer and maker of many prototypes for the Big 3." Headquartered in Cleveland (Twinsburg), Ohio - The Great Lakes Fastener Group is a full-line fastener distribution and manufacturing company that offers its clients a comprehensive portfolio of standard, metric and made-to-print fasteners, packaging services and innovative inventory solutions. The group maintains a quality management system to the ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 standard. ### Contact Information Chaz O'Neill VP, Sales & Marketing coneill@glfus.com 330-425-4488 Related Files Connection Service Company Acquistion Press Release 071123.docx SOURCE: Great Lakes Fasteners View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766980/Great-Lakes-Fasteners-Group-Acquires-Connection-Services-Company-in-Benton-Harbor-Michigan NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / CNH Industrial Italia is donating 500,000 euros to the local community of Cesena following the environmental disaster that struck the Emilia-Romagna region this year. Caused by torrential rains, the flooding has wiped out catastrophic numbers of homes, schools, and cropland. Alongside the Italian Government's emergency funds initiative in response to the disaster, CNH Industrial's donation to Italy's Civil Protection unit aims to support the local community of Cesena, where they recently inaugurated a new manufacturing plant. The donation was announced by Stefano Pampalone, Construction President at CNH Industrial, during the plant's inauguration in late June of this year. "Our decision to commence operations during this difficult time for the region, marks our company's commitment to supporting a return to business activities in the area and aiding the communities affected by the floods," said Pampalone. The site will become a strategic hub to produce compact construction equipment, including electric models. "At a time like this, little more than a month after the disastrous floods which hit our area, a manufacturing company that continues to expand is a positive sign for a community known for its courageous entrepreneurship. Together, we will continue to grow," commented Mayor Lattuca. The donation signifies CNH Industrial's dedication to aid those in environmental crisis and to further pave the way for a more sustainable future. The inauguration of the Cesena plant was attended by Enzo Lattuca, Mayor of Cesena and President of the Province of Forli- Cesena, and Vincenzo Colla, Region Councillor for Economic Development, Emilia Romagna. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: CNH Industrial Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: CNH Industrial View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/767173/CNH-Industrial-Donates-500000-Euros-to-Cesena-Following-Flood-Crisis Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - This press release is being disseminated as required by National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take Over Bids and Insider Reporting Issuers in connection with the filing of an early warning report (the "Early Warning Report") regarding the acquisition of securities of New Frontier Ventures Inc. (CSE: VFI.X) (the "Issuer"), with its head office located at 121 King Street West, Suite 2150, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3T9, by each of Vikas Ranjan ("Ranjan"), of 2955 Harvey Crescent, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 4V9, Oriental Sources Inc. ("Oriental"), with its head office located at 1200 Consumers Road, Unit 702, Toronto, Ontario M2J 4R4, and Jason Meretsky ("Meretsky") of 121 King Street West, Suite 2150, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3T9, in connection with the conversion of certain indebtedness of the Company in an aggregate amount of $211,994 in exchange for 4,239,880 common shares in the capital of the Issuer ("Common Shares") at $0.05 per share (the "Debt to Equity Conversion"). Ranjan entered into a Debt Conversion Agreement dated June 28, 2023, pursuant to which Ranjan agreed to convert $100,000.00 of the indebtedness owing by the Issuer to Ranjan (the "Ranjan Indebtedness") into 2,000,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.05 per Common Share, as payment in full of all indebtedness outstanding under or with respect to the Ranjan Indebtedness. Prior to the Debt to Equity Conversion, Ranjan owned, directly and indirectly, 408,200 Common Shares, representing 14.05% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis. Following the Debt to Equity Conversion, Ranjan owns, directly and indirectly, an aggregate of 2,408,020 Common Shares, such amount representing 33.71% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Oriental entered into a Debt Conversion Agreement dated June 28, 2023, pursuant to which Oriental agreed to convert $60,000.00 of the indebtedness owing by the Issuer to Oriental (the "Oriental Indebtedness") into 1,200,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.05 per Common Share, as payment in full of all indebtedness outstanding under or with respect to the Oriental Indebtedness. Prior to the Debt to Equity Conversion, Oriental did not own, directly and indirectly, any Common Shares. Following the Debt to Equity Conversion, Oriental owns, directly and indirectly, an aggregate of 1,200,000 Common Shares, such amount representing 16.80% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Meretsky entered into a Debt Conversion Agreement dated June 28, 2023, pursuant to which Meretsky agreed to convert $51,994.00 of the indebtedness owing by the Issuer to Meretsky (the "Meretsky Indebtedness") into 1,039,880 Common Shares at a price of $0.05 per Common Share, as payment in full of all indebtedness outstanding under or with respect to the Meretsky Indebtedness. Prior to the Debt to Equity Conversion, Meretsky did not own, directly and indirectly, any Common Shares. Following the Debt to Equity Conversion, Meretsky owns, directly and indirectly, an aggregate of 1,039,880 Common Shares, such amount representing 14.65% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Ranjan, Oriental and Meretsky should not be considered joint actors. The Debt to Equity Conversion took place on a private placement basis pursuant to the rules of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions. The securities were acquired for investment purposes and each of Ranjan, Oriental and Meretsky may increase or decrease their beneficial ownership or control depending on market or other conditions. They have no present intention to change their holdings of securities of the Issuer. The Debt to Equity Conversion is exempt from the formal take-over provisions of the Securities Act (Ontario) pursuant to section 4.2 of National Instrument 62-104 A copy of the Early Warning Report with additional information in respect of the foregoing matters may be found on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com. For further information, please contact: Vikas Ranjan, President, New Frontier Ventures Inc. Email: vikas@gravitasfinancial.com 416-605-7024 Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173168 The fitness apparel brand takes a significant step towards creating a more inclusive fitness community. Adelaide, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Australian fitness apparel brand Ryderwear has announced the release of a size-inclusive collection of T-shirts for both men and women. The collection officially marks the brand's entry into plus-size clothing to help empower individuals who are oversized and are in the beginning stage of their transformative journey. Talking to the media, its, CEO, David Makiaveli said, "Ryderwear had received an influx of requests for inclusive sizing for quite some time now. We took it very seriously and, after months of development, have been proud to introduce the Ryderwear oversized t-shirt collection. We hope this will help cater to the needs of individuals who often face challenges finding comfortable and fashionable activewear. At Ryderwear, we strongly believe that fitness should be accessible to everyone, and inclusivity is at the core of our philosophy. This new collection aims to promote self-confidence and encourage more individuals to embrace an active lifestyle." The t-shirts are made of 100% cotton and designed to be breathable and stay cool and dry during workouts. The stretchable materials offer a flexible and non-restrictive fit, enabling individuals to work out more freely and get the most out of their physical activity. The collection has a number of eye-catching patterns, minimalist colours and aesthetics that help individuals feel confident while pursuing their fitness goals. The site is easy to use, and people can filter products, such as men's oversized t-shirts, by choosing different colours. He went on to add, "At Ryderwear, we believe everyone deserves to be supported in their fitness journey, regardless of their size, shape and financial standing. Thanks to our partnerships with afterpay and Klarna, people can get the shirt in 4 interest-free payments. By creating this apparel line, we help to empower individuals to embrace their bodies and enjoy the transformative journey of fitness. We will continue to fine-tune our T-shirts and invite customer feedback to help improve this product." The new Ryderwear oversized t-shirt collection is now available on the brand's official website and retail stores across Australia. Ryderwear is offering a limited-time discount of up to 40% to celebrate the launch. People interested in their new collection of oversized t-shirts can visit their website at au.ryderwear.com and hover over the women and men to see the new collections drop. Media Contact Contact: David Makiaveli Company: RyderWear Email vuk@ryderwear.com.au Website: https://au.ryderwear.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173055 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Core One Labs Inc. (CSE:COOL), (OTCQB:CLABF), (Frankfurt:LD6, WKN:A3CSSU) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary Vocan Biotechnologies Inc. ("Vocan") has incorporated a state-of-the-art, high density, fermenting and bio-processing equipment platform (the "Platform") into their proprietary biosynthetic psilocybin (the "Product") production method , significantly optimizing, and scaling up, capacity and product yields, while also increasing purity of the Product. The Company recently announced Vocan's filing of an international patent (see Company's press release dated Friday, July 7, 2023), for the protection of its revolutionary biosynthetic psilocybin production method across many countries. With this patent filing the Company is now rapidly moving towards commercializing its production method. The addition of the Platform is a significant step towards Vocan optimizing its operations to meet the growing demand for psychedelic compounds to be used in pharmaceutical drug formulations. Core One's most efficient path to revenue growth is through the sales of its psychedelic compounds, and scaling up production will allow the Company to move towards achieving these goals. The newly incorporated platform is an integrated, highly scalable manufacturing solution, allowing for streamlined processing development, and subsequent production of Vocan's recombinant biosynthetic psilocybin. The new platform addresses scalability parameters, and significantly reduces the time and resources associated with production. Initial testing of the new platform has evidenced that in addition to productivity optimization, quality of Vocan's biosynthetic psilocybin has also significantly improved. The new Platform is an extremely efficient platform that can be easily scaled to meet commercial production of Vocan's biosynthetic psilocybin and also be utilized in the production of the subsidiary's other biosynthetic psychedelic compounds. The reduction in cost and lead times to produce biosynthetic psilocybin utilizing the new platform cannot be understated, as the improvements are extremely significant, and will enable Vocan to proceed with commercial production on a large scale much sooner than would have been possible without the new equipment. "I am extremely encouraged with the production efficiencies we are witnessing as a result of our new state-of-the-art production platform," stated Joel Shacker, CEO of the Company. "It is incredible that Vocan's proprietary biosynthetic production method, that was already significantly cost-efficient when compared to traditional synthetic production and extraction methods, has been optimized even further. The continued successes of Vocan scientists in their ability to continually optimize their proprietary production methods, throughput, and purity of product, is significant, and helps to further solidify Core One's position, as market leaders in the development of novel and cost-efficient psychedelics for commercial use," Mr. Shacker, concluded. About Core One Labs Inc. Core One Labs Inc. is a biotechnology research and development company focused in life sciences and on bringing psychedelic medicines to market through novel delivery systems and psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. The Company has developed a patent pending thin film oral strip (the "technology") which dissolves instantly when placed in the mouth and delivers organic molecules in precise quantities to the bloodstream, maintaining excellent bioavailability. With this technology, the Company intends to further develop its IP technology to focus on delivering psychedelic molecules with an initial focus on biosynthesized psilocybin. Core One also holds an interest in walk-in medical clinics which maintain a database of over 200,000 patients combined. Through research and development in these clinics, including the integration of its intellectual property related to psychedelic treatments and novel drug therapies, the Company intends to work towards regulatory approval for research that advances psychedelic-derived treatments for mental health disorders. Core One Labs Inc. Joel Shacker Chief Executive Officer FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: info@core1labs.com 1-866-347-5058 Cautionary Disclaimer Statement: The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. In addition, psilocybin is currently a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) and it is a criminal offence to possess substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) without a prescription. Health Canada has not approved psilocybin as a drug for any indication. Core One Labs Inc. does not have any direct or indirect involvement with illegal selling, production, or distribution of psychedelic substances in jurisdictions in which it operates. While Core One Labs Inc. believes psychedelic substances can be used to treat certain medical conditions, it does not advocate for the legalization of psychedelics substances for recreational use. Core One Labs Inc. does not deal with psychedelic substances, except within laboratory and clinical trial settings conducted within approved regulatory frameworks. SOURCE: Core One Labs Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/767192/Core-Ones-Vocan-Biotechnologies-Incorporates-New-Bioreactor-Equipment-into-Production-Process-Significantly-Increasing-Throughput-of-Proprietary-Biosynthetic-Psilocybin Suffolk Technologies, a Boston, MA-based institutional venture capital firm affiliated with Suffolk, the $5 billion national construction firm, announced closed its inaugural fund with $110m in commitments. Led by Managing Partners Puneet Mahajan, Jit Kee Chin and Wan Li Zhu, Suffolk Technologies Fund I will invest in early-to-growth stage companies across construction technology (ConTech) and property technology (PropTech) that are creating solutions for safer, more sustainable and efficient construction. In turn, these businesses will address issues such as the national lack of affordable housing, high rates of emissions from construction and real estate projects and the increased need for efficient infrastructure investment as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Suffolk Technologies is committed to providing capital and operational support from Suffolks national construction and commercial real estate network to entrepreneurs seeking to transform the built environment. The firm connects startups with Suffolks construction experience, more than 2,300 in-house industry experts, over 100 jobsites throughout the United States, over ten thousand trade partners, and hundreds of the largest real estate owners, architects, engineers, and financial services partners. Further, Suffolk Technologies team comprises venture capital and industry experts with experience at firms including McKinsey, Microsoft, General Electric, Fairhaven Capital, Dell, AMG National and Suffolk. The firm launched its BOOST Program in 2020, which brings together key industry stakeholders and Suffolk experts to accelerate built environment startups. During the six-week building program, BOOST provides startups with jobsite piloting opportunities and hands-on guidance in the areas of product development, business model design, go-to-market strategy, partnerships and more. Across the Suffolk Technologies platform, the firm has made thirty investments to date in companies including: OpenSpace, which provides a construction progress tracking and measurement solution to improve efficiency and multi-stakeholder collaboration Kojo, which provides a procurement platform for the trades, leading to a healthier supply chain and reduced waste WINT, a provider of a water damage loss prevention and water sustainability platform for the entire life cycle of real estate assets (construction and property management) Moxion, which provides jobsite electrification with a fully-electric mobile power solution, resulting in reduced carbon emissions during the construction process. Canvas, which addresses labor shortage by accelerating dry wall work (finishing) with a robotic system that works alongside skilled trades to improve production speed, safety, and quality. Airworks, which applies artificial intelligence to the processing of geospatial data for development and construction, improving infrastructures and cities. FinSMEs 11/07/2023 It is an undeniable fact that no one can always embody a coconut-like personality sturdy on the outside and soft on the inside. As humans, everyone has their fair share of days, a culmination of positive and bad resulting in the inner softness overpowering the outer hardness. Showing the same, actor-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt, one of the most sought-after contestants of Bigg Boss OTT 2 expressed yearning for her father Mahesh Bhatt. She remarked how everyone has someone waiting for them at home, while shes alone and has to take care of things on her own. Bhatts soft side is rare on the show as she has always been labelled as a stern, dominating and assertive lady by other contestants. One who spend most of her time schooling or advising other people. Bigg Bosss new task It is BBs responsibility to come up with exciting and interesting tasks to keep contestants engaged and audiences hooked. During one such task, housemates got to eat tasty food items like cupcakes, burgers, fries and also share their opinions as and when their names were called. The task called for pressing the buzzer if and when the housemates found the conversation uncompelling. Abhishek Malhan and Pooja Bhatt were paired for the same. Abhishek shared how he cried after Weekend ka Vaar, as he saw Shafaq Naaz, Falaqs sister grace the show and give her words of appreciation. As a result, he began to miss his family even more. Abhishek added: We cant deny the fact that we all have a mini-Cyrus inside us who misses family and is homesick. Pooja Bhatt, on the other hand, shared that everyone has a family waiting for them in the outside world. However, shes single and doesnt have anyone to run her house with. She said, Hum sab apne family ko miss kar rahen hain, aur hum sabka koi na koi bahar wait kar raha hai, but main single aurat hoon aur mera koi nahi hai ghar chalane ke liye. Pooja Bhatt on missing her dad Close to spending one month inside the BB house, Bhatt has never come out openly about her feelings. She shared for the first time she was missing her dad, Mahesh Bhatt. Furthermore, she stated that public opinion didt matter and she was not scared of them. All that matters to her was a clear conscience and her father telling her that she was on the right path. Earlier, Aaliya, actor Nawazuddin Siddiquis estranged wife and an ex-contestant on the show slammed Pooja Bhatt for repeatedly saying Main Mahesh Bhatt ki beti hoon. She further questioned Bhatt: Why do you need your fathers tag? The recent episode also saw Cyrus Broacha exiting the Bigg Boss OTT 2 house due to a medical emergency. On Friday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will look to the heavens yet again. The aim? Launching the Chandrayaan-3 and sending it to the Moon. The ISRO last week announced that the Chandrayaan-3 mission is slated for launch at 2.35 pm on 14 July. The lander is expected to soft-land on the surface of the Moon on 23 or 24 August. The ISRO mission comes four years after the failure of Chandrayaan-2. But why is it so important for human beings to explore the Moon more than half a century after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrins historic mission? Lets take a closer look: National Aeronautics and Space Administration posed the questions why should we return to the moon? and what do we hope to accomplish through lunar exploration? to scientists, engineers, commercial entrepreneurs, space advocates, and the general public. These were the most common replies NASA received: To establish a presence on the moon To solve the fundamental questions about the history of Earth, the solar system and the universe To test technologies, systems, flight operations and exploration techniques To unite humanity through a challenging, shared and peaceful activity To benefit life on Earth through lunar activities To create a high-tech workforce needed to address challenges of the future Study the history of the Earth, universe Experts say the Moon is a treasure trove when it comes to studying the history of the Earth and the universe. Jeffrey Kargel, at the Planetary Science Institute in Tuscon, Arizona, told The Guardian that while Earths rock records have been wiped clean of what happened earlier than 3.8 billion years ago by tectonic processes, the moon stands in stark contrast. But on the moon we already know that Earth-derived meteorites [rocks blasted out from an impact with Earth] are preserved in accessible samples gathered by Apollo astronauts, Kargel said. From early Earth meteorites we could learn about the origins of our planets continents, the first traces of an ocean on Earth, the composition of the primordial atmosphere and the origin of life. David Parker, director of human and robotic exploration for the European Space Agency, said that the moon has lain virtually undisturbed for the last 4.5 billion years. It is a museum of the history of the solar system, Parker added. Jatan Mehta, contributing editor, The Planetary Society, on his blog stated that the Moon is a geological time capsule. Technological and economic benefits Mehta noted that NASA and ISRO have, in the past two decades, jointly discovered water ice on the Moons poles. Future human habitats on the Moon could tap into this water ice for drinkable water, breathable air and rocket fuel. Chasing the possibility of extending commercial services to our cosmic neighbor, many companies and organizations worldwide have shown an accelerated interest in building for the Moon, Mehta wrote Gateway to Mars and deep space Experts say the Moon is also an excellent launching pad for where we want to go next Mars. That is the real goal for humanity, Parker told The Guardian. However, getting humans there safely is going to be an incredibly difficult undertaking. We will have to learn first how to conquer the moon. Dr P Sreekumar, professor and director of the Manipal Centre for Natural Sciences, told India Today the Moons gravitational field is much weaker than that of the Earth. Meaning? For vehicles heading to Mars and into deep space, this means dealing with a much lower escape velocity, Sreekumar explained. Sreekumar added that the Moons lack of atmosphere makes it much easier to plan the trajectory of a probe compared to that of Earth. Mehta concurred, writing on his blog, In the long run, the Moons low gravity barrier could make it an efficient rocket platform to sustainably expand human settlements across the Solar System. Bring humanity together The India Today piece noted that cooperation is essential to survive in space even between arch enemies like US and Russia who continue to collaborate on the International Space Station. Sreekumar, former ISRO Space Science Program Office director told India Today, that ultimately, cooperation is the key for humanity to benefit from Moon exploration. India, in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modis first state visit to the United States, signed the Artemis Accords. This is a non-binding multilateral arrangement between the American government and other world governments participating in the Artemis programme, a US-led effort to return humans to the moon by 2025. India joins 26 other countries committed to peaceful, sustainable, and transparent cooperation that will enable exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. NASA will provide advanced training to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) astronauts with the goal of launching a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024, a White House statement said. With inputs from agencies The fashion industry is progressing. It has become more inclusive with transgender models competing in the preliminary pageants in recent years. They have endured years of societal discrimination and a lack of industry acceptability. Rikki Valerie Kolle is one of them. She has been named Miss Netherlands 2023, making history as the first transgender woman to win the title. During a glamorous event in Leusden on Saturday, the 22-year-old Dutch-Moluccan model won the pageant by defeating Habiba Mostafa, Lou Dirchs, and Nathalie Mogbelzada. Her eligibility to compete for the coveted 72nd Miss Universe crown has been solidified by this iconic victory. Ona Moody, the champion from the previous year, presented Kolle with her prize onstage, while RBonney Gabriel, the current Miss Universe, gave her her sash. Taking to Instagram after her win at the AFAS Theater, Kolle wrote in Dutch, I did it! I made my community proud and showed it can be done, with an emoji of the light blue, light pink and white-striped trans flag. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rikkie Valerie Kolle (@rikkievaleriekolle) Also read: At 10, this young transgender model is stepping up for other kids Meet Rikkie Kolle First transgender model to be crowned Miss Netherlands Rikkie Kolle, who is of Dutch and Indigenous Moluccan origin, hails from the city of Breda, according to her finalist website. The model had a masculine gender at birth. After having gender-affirming surgery in January, she revealed on Instagram that she had changed her name from Rik to Rikkie when she was just eleven years old. She once took part in the TV competition Hollands Next Top Model. The beauty queen stated that she wants to utilise her platform to advocate for a more inclusive vision of the pageant industry and inspire others to fight against discrimination. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ona Moody (@onamoody) According to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, the Miss Netherlands 2023 jury said about Kolle, This finalist has radiated throughout the show and has also made the greatest progress in the process. She has a strong story with a clear mission. The jury is convinced that the organization will enjoy working with this young woman. Miss Universe asked us to describe ourselves in one word, Kolle shared in a video posted to her Instagram page last month. The word Im choosing is victory, because as a little boy I conquered all the things that came through my path and look at me now, standing here as a strong, empowering and confident trans woman. She added in the caption, Never forget that we can do this together, youre not alone on this planet. Never stop dreaming of being your ultimate and confident YOU! Never let someone tell you whats good for you, because the only thing that matters is that you become the best version of yourself. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rikkie Valerie Kolle (@rikkievaleriekolle) Also read: First Nike, now Adidas. Why the sports giant is facing backlash over swimsuit ad Another chance to script history Thanks to the triumph, Kolle will now participate in Miss Universe, which is now directed by Thai transwoman Anne Jakrajutatipa. Celebrating the victory and getting ready for the next step, Kolle wrote, Lets get @missuniverse ready. So excited!!! Notably, she wont be the first trans woman to make it to Miss Universe, a distinction that went to then-Miss Spain Angela Ponce in 2018, who failed to make the top 20. However, she will be the first trans woman to wear the Miss Universe tiara if she wins the pageant. Daniela Arroyo Gonzalez, a transgender activist, will also compete for this years Miss Universe Puerto Rico crown the following month. Also read: Indias ban on gay, transgender people from donating blood: What are the rules across the world? Miss Universe 2023 El Salvador will host the Miss Universe 2023 pageant, in which over 90 female competitors from around the world will participate. Trans people have been able to enter the 71-year-old pageant since 2012 when it was still owned by former United States president Donald Trump. He had also reinstated a Canadian contestant who had been disqualified for not being a naturally born female, according to New York Post. With inputs from agencies Where is Qin Gang? Thats the question everyone is asking about Chinas foreign minister. On Tuesday, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Qin would not be able to attend a meet in Indonesia this week over health reasons and that Wang Yi would represent China in his stead. Lets take a closer look: Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are scheduled to meet on Thursday, before Fridays East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum. State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang cannot attend this ASEAN ministerial meeting because of health reasons, spokesman Wang Wenbin said without elaborating. As per Bloomberg, this is a rare comment from Beijing regarding the health of an official. The Economic Times noted that China does not often give details Postabout the health of its leaders. The piece noted that President Xi Jinping only disclosed his vaccination status in July 2022 the last of G20 leaders. Qin, 57, took over from Wang as foreign minister in December. He was last seen in public on 25 June in Beijing after meeting officials from Sri Lanka, Russia and Vietnam. According to Bloomberg, Qin also took part in an event where Chinese premier Li Qiang met Barbados prime minister Mia Amor Mottley. According to The Economic Times, a lunch meet between Qin and ambassadors from the European Union was also cancelled abrubtly in late June. Qins absence had not gone unnoticed. The foreign ministry spokesperson, asked last Friday about an article in US political news website Politico that cited speculation that health issues may be behind Qins absence, said he had not heard about the report. Qin was supposed to meet European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell last week in Beijing but the meeting was pushed back after China informed the EU that the dates were no longer possible, an EU spokesperson said. The EU was informed of the postponement just two days before Borrells scheduled arrival on 5 July, according to a source familiar with the plans. US secretary of state Antony Blinken is also due to attend the meetings in Jakarta this week, presenting another opportunity for talks with China as Washington seeks to put a floor under souring relations between the big powers. Blinken met Qin and Wang in Beijing last month, the first visit to China by a US secretary of state in five years. Wang, who is the foreign policy chief for the Chinese Communist Party, ranks above Qin, who as the foreign minister is the governments foreign policy chief. As per Al Jazeera, Qin prior to Blinkens visit demanded that Washington respect Chinas core concerns like Taiwan and stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, and stop harming Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition, The outlet quoted the state department as saying Blinken focussed on the need for communication to avoid miscalculation and conflict and that Washington would continue raising areas of concern as well as cooperation. What does this mean? Experts arent quite sure. Economic Times noted that Qins extended absence has sparked speculation and raised questions about the reasons behind it. As Chinas foreign policy continues to play a significant role in global affairs, particularly in its relations with the European Union and ASEAN, the uncertainty surrounding Qins absence has garnered attention and curiosity. Further information from official sources will be awaited to provide clarity on the situation, the piece noted. Chinas tightly-controlled, highly opaque political system and the lack of a free press frequently give way to speculation surrounding the disappearance of leading figures, as when former Chinese president Hu Jintao was guided off stage without explanation at the twice-a-decade congress of Chinas ruling Communist Party. However, while personal rivalries and scandals over corruption are not uncommon, the party at least outwardly remains largely united behind Xi. China has sought to engage the 10 members of ASEAN, mainly through trade, as part of a campaign to dilute US influence in the region and challenge the American-led liberal world order. However, Chinas influence has been limited by its aggressive assertion of its claim to virtually all of the South China Sea. ASEAN members Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines exercise overlapping claims and have largely welcomed the United States military presence in the region. China denounces US involvement as outside meddling. The foreign ministers meeting is a platform to enhance mutual trust and cooperation, Wang Wenbin told reporters. China hopes this meeting will help build more consensus, make political preparation for a fruitful ASEAN leaders summit in September, and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. Qin, 57, rose to prominence as an outspoken ministry spokesperson who popularised an aggressive in-your-face style that came to be known as wolf warrior diplomacy, after the name of a nationalistic Chinese movie franchise. He previously served as ambassador to the United States and head of protocol for the ministry. In March, Qin warned Washington of conflict and confrontation, striking a combative tone amid conflicts over Taiwan, COVID-19 and Russias invasion of Ukraine. That followed an accusation by leader Xi Jinping that Western governments led by the US wanted to encircle and suppress China. With inputs from agencies Nearly 50,000 Russian men have died in the war in Ukraine, according to the first independent statistical analysis of Russias war dead. Two independent Russian media outlets, Mediazona and Meduza, working with a data scientist from Germanys Tubingen University, used Russian government data to shed light on one of Moscows closest-held secrets the true human cost of its invasion of Ukraine. To do so, they relied on a statistical concept popularised during the COVID-19 pandemic called excess mortality. Drawing on inheritance records and official mortality data, they estimated how many more men under age 50 died between February 2022 and May 2023 than normal. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv gives timely data on military losses, and each is at pains to amplify the other sides casualties. Russia has publicly acknowledged the deaths of just over 6,000 soldiers. Reports about military losses have been repressed in Russian media, activists and independent journalists say. Documenting the dead has become an act of defiance; those who do so face harassment and potential criminal charges. Also read: Why is Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin back in Russia? Despite such challenges, Mediazona and the BBCs Russian Service, working with a network of volunteers, have used social media postings and photographs of cemeteries across Russia to build a database of confirmed war deaths. As of 7 July, they had identified 27,423 dead Russian soldiers. These are only soldiers who we know by name, and their deaths in each case are verified by multiple sources, said Dmitry Treshchanin, an editor at Mediazona who helped oversee the investigation. The estimate we did with Meduza allows us to see the hidden deaths, deaths the Russian government is so obsessively and unsuccessfully trying to hide. To come up with a more comprehensive tally, journalists from Mediazona and Meduza obtained records of inheritance cases filed with the Russian authorities. Their data from the National Probate Registry contained information about more than 11 million people who died between 2014 and May 2023. According to their analysis, 25,000 more inheritance cases were opened in 2022 for males aged 15 to 49 than expected. By 27 May 2023, the number of excess cases had shot up to 47,000. That surge is roughly in line with a May assessment by the White House that more than 20,000 Russians had been killed in Ukraine since December, though lower than US and UK intelligence assessments of overall Russian deaths. Also read: US welcomes Indias role in helping achieve lasting peace in Ukraine In February, the UK Ministry of Defense said approximately 40,000 to 60,000 Russians had likely been killed in the war. A leaked assessment from the US Defense Intelligence Agency put the number of Russians killed in action in the first year of the war at 35,000 to 43,000. Their figures might be accurate, or they might not be, Treshchanin, the Mediazona editor, said in an email. Even if they have sources in the Russian Ministry of Defense, its own data could be incomplete. Its extremely difficult to pull together all of the casualties from the army, Rosgvardia, Akhmat battalion, and various private military companies, of which Wagner is the largest, but not the only one. Casualties among inmates, first recruited by Wagner and now by the MoD, are also a very hazy subject, with a lot of potential for manipulation. Statistics could actually give better results. Many Russian fatalities as well as amputations could have been prevented with better front-line first aid, the UK Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence assessment published Monday. Russia has suffered an average of around 400 casualties a day for 17 months, creating a crisis in combat medical care that is likely undermining medical services for civilians in border regions near Ukraine, the ministry said. Independently, Dmitry Kobak, a data scientist from Germanys Tubingen University who has published work on excess COVID-19 deaths in Russia, obtained mortality data broken down by age and sex for 2022 from Rosstat, Russias official statistics agency. He found that 24,000 more men under age 50 died in 2022 than expected, a figure that aligns with the analysis of inheritance data. The COVID-19 pandemic made it harder to figure out how many men would have died in Russia since February 2022 if there hadnt been a war. Both analyses corrected for the lingering effects of COVID on mortality by indexing male death rates against female deaths. Sergei Scherbov, a scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria, cautioned that differences in the number of deaths between males and females can vary significantly due to randomness alone. I am not saying that there couldnt be an excess number of male deaths, but rather that statistically speaking, this difference in deaths could be a mere outcome of chance, he said. Russians who are missing but not officially recognised as dead, as well as citizens of Ukraine fighting in units of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics, are not included in these counts. Also read: Will the East sell Russia out to Americans? Very few people in Moscow are worried Kobak acknowledged that some uncertainties remain, especially for the deaths of older men. Moreover, its hard to know how many missing Russian soldiers are actually dead. But he said neither factor is likely to have a huge impact. That uncertainty is in the thousands, he said. The results are plausible overall. Asked by the Associated Press on Monday about the Meduza and Mediazona study, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a conference call with reporters he wasnt aware of it as the Kremlin had stopped monitoring Meduza. Peskov also refused to comment on the number of deaths mentioned in the study, saying only that the Defense Ministry gives the numbers, and theyre the only ones who have that prerogative. Meduza is an independent Russian media outlet that has been operating in exile for eight years, with headquarters in Riga, Latvia. In April 2021, Russian authorities designated Meduza a foreign agent, making it harder to generate advertising income, and in January 2023, the Kremlin banned Meduza as an illegal undesirable organisation. Moscow has also labelled independent outlet Mediazona as a foreign agent and blocked its website after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today, all eyes will turn towards Lithuanias capital Vilnius as leaders of countries belonging to the NATO alliance will meet for their annual summit. The two-day meeting (11 and 12 July) will be dominated by the Russia-Ukraine war and Kyivs membership to the alliance. However, theres another important matter that is on the cards NATOs rising interest in the Asia-Pacific region. But why is it that NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), created in 1949 in response to the threat posed by the Soviet Union, is looking eastwards? How is the military alliance looking to expand in the Asia-Pacific region and what could be the consequences of such actions? We untangle the issue. NATOs looking at Asia-Pacific For this annual summit, NATO has invited the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand Fumio Kishida, Yoon Suk Yeol, Anthony Albanese and Chris Hipkins, respectively. Known as the AP4, the four leaders have been called for the summit for a second year in a row, following last years NATO summit in Madrid. In fact, Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida, according to his Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, will use the opportunity to stress the need for relations between Japan and the NATO to be stronger. An Economic Times report, citing sources, further stated that the four countries are planning a meeting on the sidelines of the summit where a discussion will be held on how to respond to Chinas attempt to change the status quo in the South and East China Seas. Also read: Why Ukraines NATO membership seems out of reach This comes after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in June said, What happens in Asia matters for Europe and what happens in Europe matters for Asia. Furthermore, Tokyo and Canberra have already wrapped up negotiations with NATO on a new agreement called the Individually Tailored Partnership Program (ITPP) while New Zealand and South Korea are working to finalise their individual agreements. These focus on areas such as maritime security, cybersecurity, climate change, outer space, and emerging and disruptive technologies (including artificial intelligence). When it comes to defence, the countries have decided on improving the interoperability of their militaries. This might entail deepening the knowledge of each others military assets, improving the relationships between their soldiers and other military personnel, and expanding joint drills. But this is not the extent of NATOs Asia-Pacific vision. The bloc is also seeking to open a liaison office in Japan a first outpost in the region. The summit will also discuss this issue, as France has opposed the move. Just days before the meet, Elysee Palace said, We are not in favour as a matter of principle. As far as the office is concerned, the Japanese authorities themselves have told us that they are not extremely attached to it. A French official further said: NATO means North Atlantic Treaty Organization, adding that Articles 5 and 6, clauses at the heart of the alliance, are geographic. NATOs wariness of China The recent moves come after NATO expressed concern over China. Last year, at the Madrid summit, NATO said China was the source of systemic challenges including threats to supply chains, infrastructure and military tools to increase its global footprint and project power. James Mackey, the director of security policy and partnerships, echoing similar sentiments was also quoted as telling The Guardian, China is dramatically expanding its military capabilities in a largely non-transparent way, including in nuclear capability. We see China trying to influence global norms and standards, including through the UN system. NATOs Stoltenberg has also warned that what is happening in Europe today can happen in Asia tomorrow. If (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin wins in Ukraine, this would send the message that authoritarian regimes can achieve their goals through brute force, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had said in Tokyo earlier this year. This is dangerous. Beijing is watching closely, and learning lessons, which may influence its future decisions. Stoltenberg was referring to Beijings future decisions on Taiwan, a self-governing island Beijing considers its province. NATOs worry about China goes way beyond Taiwan. NATO is anxious about other potential threats, including what it calls Beijings malicious hybrid and cyber operations and its confrontational rhetoric and disinformation. As per a VOANews report, NATO views China as seeking to control key technological and industrial sectors, critical infrastructure such as 5G, and strategic materials and supply chains. It accuses Beijing of using economic leverage to create strategic dependencies and enhance its influence. Experts also note that Chinas footprint inside NATO members territory is becoming harder to ignore. Meia Nouwens, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told The Guardian, China has been operating west as well, militarily, noting that the Chinese navy has conducted live fire drills in the Mediterranean. Also read: Why India should prefer cautious engagement with NATO Chinas reaction Its hardly surprising but Beijing is not happy with NATOs moves. Earlier, the Chinese foreign ministry accused NATO of hyping up the so-called China threat. On the matter of an office in Japan, it had said, Asia lies beyond the geographical scope of the North Atlantic and has no need for a replica of NATO. However, we have seen NATO bent on going east into this region, interfering in regional affairs and inciting bloc confrontation. In June, Chinas defence minister also warned against establishing NATO-like military alliances in the Asia-Pacific region, saying they would plunge the region into a whirlpool of conflict. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Chinas Li Shangfu had said, In essence, attempts to push for NATO-like (alliances) in the Asia-Pacific is a way of kidnapping regional countries and exaggerating conflicts and confrontations, which will only plunge the Asia-Pacific into a whirlpool of disputes and conflicts. And on 9 July, the Global Times, a state-owned newspaper, in an op-ed said that NATO was Western civilization down a wrong and perilous path and that China cannot allow Western military forces to intervene in any way in its internal affairs issues, and China already has the capability to counter such interference. With inputs from agencies India is likely to announce its plan to buy the naval version of the Rafale fighter jets during Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visit to France. The Indian leader will be in the European country for a two-day visit starting 13 July. Major defence deals are expected to be a highlight of his trip. According to ANI, India is expected to buy 22 single-seated Dassault Rafale-Marine (M) aircraft and four trainer aircraft. Earlier in 2016, the Modi government had inked a deal to procure 36 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) from France at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. How are these Rafale-M naval jets different from the IAFs Rafale aircraft? Lets take a closer look. Rafale jets Rafale is a twin-jet fighter aircraft with variants that can operate from an air base on land and an aircraft carrier. The fighter aircraft, with canard-delta wing, has Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with increased situational awareness due to early detection and tracking of multiple targets, reported PTI. As per the French company Dassault Aviation which manufactures these fighter jets, the Rafale addresses the emerging needs of the armed forces in a changing geopolitical and security context, and, with its endless growth potential. From aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, and anti-ship strike to nuclear deterrence, Rafales can carry out a wide range of functions, says the company. ALSO READ: What to expect from PM Narendra Modis France visit Rafale-M features Rafale-M has a strengthened undercarriage and a jump strut nosewheel that expands during short takeoffs, such as catapult launches, reported The Times of India (TOI). Equipped with a microwave landing system, the naval version of Rafale has a fin-tip Telemir system for syncing the inertial navigation system, the newspaper added. The Rafale-M has a nosegear-mounted catapult hook which will enable the aircraft to be aligned and correctly tensioned, ready for catapulting, increasing launch speed and eliminating the need for deck crew to work under the aircraft, according to the FlightGlobal article. The fighter jet has a tailhook or arresting hook to stop the plane during landings. Rafale-M can carry an array of weapons, including anti-ship missiles and air-to-surface missiles. Differences Both Rafale-M and IAFs Rafale aircraft are multirole fighter jets. According to the Dassault website, Air Forces single-seat Rafale-C and two-seat Rafale-B and navys Rafale-M have the same maximum airframe as well as similar mission capabilities. As per TOI, while Rafales are identical, there are some variations. The naval version has a longer, more strengthened nose and reinforced undercarriage, the report added. The maritime version of Rafale operates from aircraft carriers. As per The Wire, Rafale-M fighters would operate from the flight deck of indigenously designed aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. Rafale-M has a different radar system, Thales RBE2-M, which is designed for maritime operations. Its electronic warfare suite, the Thales SPECTRA, is also different, reported TOI. Will a deal be signed during Modis France visit? As per ThePrint, defence and security establishment sources said that New Delhi could announce its intention to purchase the Rafale-M for the Indian Navy during Modis visit. However, no deal will be signed as it will then lead to cost negotiations between the two sides. A final agreement will be inked only after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the report added. A four-star Indian Navy officer, on condition of anonymity, told The Wire that even after the deal is announced, it would take at least a year to discuss the cost and other technicalities. The officer added that platform deliveries will only begin after another three years. Hence, the sooner the deal is announced the quicker the Indian Navy would receive its fighters, which had already been significantly delayed, the officer stated. Prime Minister Modi first announced the Rafale deal in Paris in early 2015. It was signed in September 2016, with the first five deliveries of the jets for the IAF in July 2020. The delivery was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and India finally received all 36 aircraft by last December. The timeline for the IAF Rafale purchase was a realistic indicator regarding the schedule [for] the proposed Indian Navy deal with Dassault for its maritime variant [that] would follow, a two-star naval officer told The Wire. The officer said, thus, it was imperative for the Indian Navy that the deal for Rafale-M is announced in July itself, reported the news outlet. The Indian Navy currently operates Russian MiG 29K aircraft from INS Vikramaditya. However, since the commissioning of INS Vikrant, the force is keen on securing more fighter jets. These Rafale-M fighters could enhance Indias naval air prowess. With inputs from agencies On 6 August 2019, the Narendra Modi-led government revoked the special status granted to the state of Jammu and Kashmir through the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. On that fateful day, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was reconstituted into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. Now, four years later, a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant will begin hearing a batch of petitions challenging the decision to abrogate Article 370 that had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir. While the Centre has defended the move, saying in its affidavit that the decision has led to an unprecedented era of peace in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the petitioners say the move by the Government of India was unilateral, and did not have the consent of the people of (J&K). As the matter comes up before the apex court, heres a simple guide of the case who are the petitioners, what are they contending and what has been the Centres stance. Who are the petitioners? The Supreme Court will begin hearing the matter after 23 different petitions have been filed, questioning the validity of the Centres move. The petitions have been filed by people from all walks of life lawyers, activists, civil servants, politicians and even former military officials. The lead petition was filed by bureaucrat Shah Faesal, who resigned from the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) in 2018 and protested the revocation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He then rejoined and was appointed as deputy secretary in the Ministry of Culture. Faesal, as per a report in The Hindu, has moved an application seeking a withdrawal of his petition. Others who have filed their pleas in this case are advocates ML Sharma, Soayib Qureshi, Muzzafar Iqbal Khan, Rifat Ara Butt, and Shakir Shabir, National Conference Lok Sabha MPs Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi, Communist Party of India(Marxist) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, activist Shehla Rashid, Kashmiri artist Inderjit Tickoo alias Inder Salim and veteran journalist Satish Jacob. Former Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, Major General (retired) Ashok Mehta, former IAS officers Hindal Haidar Tyabji, Amitabha Pande, and Gopal Pillai have also challenged the Presidential Order which abrogated Article 370. Associations and political parties such as the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, the Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association, and the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference had also moved the Supreme Court. What are their contentions? The petitioners are challenging the Presidential Orders of 5-6 August, 2019 and also the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. They state that these were unconstitutional, void and inoperative. To understand this, lets look at how Article 370 was initially revoked. On 5 August 2019, then President Ram Nath Kovind under Article 370(1), promulgated the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019 (CO 272), thereby allowing for the application of all provisions of the Constitution to the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Also read: Article 370 of the Constitution revoked: Provisions of Article and what its abrogation means for Jammu and Kashmir Article 370 could have been amended only after a recommendation by the J&K Constituent Assembly. However, the Presidential Order allowed the Union government to make the change. Moreover, J&K at the time was under Presidents Rule and the powers of the J&K Legislative Assembly were vested in the Union Parliament. After discussions in the Rajya Sabha, then President Kovind issued Proclamation (CO 273) putting into effect the Rajya Sabhas recommendation. As a result, all clauses of Article 370 ceased to operate, except clause 1, which was amended to state that the Constitution of India applies to the State of J&K. This scrapped the special status for J&K. Some of the petitioners argue that the method chosen by the Centre was unconstitutional as Article 3 does not give the Parliament the powers to downgrade democratic states into a Union Territory. Others challenge the validity of Articles 370 and 35A. There are also some that argue that the right to autonomous self-government is a fundamental right under Part III of the Constitution and cannot be taken away without adhering to the due procedure established by law. The petitioners have also alleged major violations in Jammu and Kashmir. They said the act of destroying its status without the concurrence, consultation, or recommendation of the people of that State, acting through their elective representatives, amounted to an overnight abrogation of democratic rights and freedoms guaranteed to the people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir upon its accession, reported The Hindu. What has the Centre said? The Centre has defended its move and in its affidavit stated that the region was now witnessing an unprecedented era of peace, progress and prosperity, with street violence, orchestrated by terrorists and secessionist networks, becoming a thing of the past. It stated that from a whopping 1,767 incidents of stone pelting has now reduced to zero. Moreover, casualty of security personnel owing to such activities has dropped by 65.9 per cent from 2018 to 2022. The Centre has also said that by undertaking the historic step, it has brought about unprecedented development, progress, security and stability to the region, which was often missing during the old Article 370 regime. The Centre further stated, Life has returned to normalcy in the region after three decades of turmoil. People have adapted to the changes, enjoying peace, prosperity, and stability. Is this the first court hearing? This is not the first time that the top court has said it will consider this issue. Earlier, a Constitution Bench headed by then CJI NV Ramana had agreed to hear the pleas after they were referred to it by CJI Ranjan Gogoi. The matter was also mentioned before CJI Chandrachud in December last year and again in February. He had then told the petitioners that he would examine and give a date. Today, the hearings will begin in the matters, but Justice Gavai has clarified that oral arguments would begin only in August. As of now, procedural directions about the filing of documents and written submissions, the order of oral arguments and allocation of time would be decided. With inputs from agencies NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is fast expanding. In just over a year, it is getting two new members and talks for a third are on the cards. After Finland joined the alliance in April 2023, after being neutral, now Sweden is set to be part of the bloc. Ukraines NATO membership is up for discussion at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, which starts on Tuesday. Sweden had applied to join NATO alongside Finland. However, while Finland got a go-ahead from all member states, Swedens bid was blocked by Turkey and Hungary last year. But now Turkey has decided to withdraw objections to Sweden joining the alliance. So what changed? What happened in Vilnius? NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg announced on Monday that Turkey had agreed to back Swedens bid to join NATO. After talks in Vilnius with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson, Stoltenberg said that the membership bid would be forwarded to parliament in Ankara. This is a historic day, the NATO chief said late Monday as the announced the agreement following days of intensive meetings. Kristersson said, I am very happy, it is a good day for Sweden. After Erodgan, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban is expected to take a similar step. What made Erdogan change his mind? For months, Turkey was blocking Swedens application. A member state has the power to veto any new country from joining the group. Erodgan has been seeking advanced American fighter jets and a path toward membership in the European Union. The White House has expressed support for both but publicly insisted that the issues were not related to Swedens membership in NATO, reports The Associated Press (AP). First, open the way for Turkeys membership in the European Union, and then we will open it for Sweden, just as we had opened it for Finland, Erdogan had said in a televised media appearance on Monday before departing for the NATO summit in Lithuania. After Turkey came on board to allow Sweden to join the bloc, US president Joe Biden who arrived in Vilnius on Monday evening thanked Erdogan for committing to transmit Swedens ascension protocol to Turkeys Grand National Assembly for swift ratification. The reference to enhancing Turkeys defence capability was a nod to Bidens commitment to help the country acquire new F-16 fighter jets, according to an administration official. The Biden administration has backed Turkeys desire to buy 40 new F-16s as well as modernisation kits from the US. Its a move some in Congress, most notably Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, have opposed over Turkey blocking NATO membership for Sweden, its human rights record and other concerns, reports AP. The official, who was not authorised to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the White House had been cautiously hopeful but not certain it could get Erdogan to come around before the summit. US secretary of state Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan worked the phones in recent days, speaking with Erdogan as well as senior Turkish and Swedish officials. Also read: Why Ukraines NATO membership seems out of reach Why were Turkey and Hungary blocking Swedens membership? After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Sweden and Finland decided to ditch their military non-alignment policies and join NATO to ensure their security. After initial objections, Turkey gave a go-ahead to Finland last April. But it had opposed Swedens membership bid accusing Stockholm of harbouring Kurdish activists Ankara regards as terrorists. According to Turkey, Sweden was not taking its security concerns seriously. Protests in the Swedish capital, which included anti-Isalm activities like the burning of the Quran, also angered Ankara, which said they were hate crimes. But Sweden had maintained that they were covered by freedom of speech laws. Hungary followed Turkeys lead. It said that Sweden had a hostile attitude towards Budapest and was also miffed about Stockholms criticism of Orban and the perceived erosion of the rule of law. Unlike Turkey, Hungary did not have a list of demands but said that grievances needed to be addressed before it can ratify Swedens accession to NATO, according to a Reuters report. On Monday, Stoltenberg said that Turkey and Sweden had addressed the legitimate security concerns and as a result, Sweden had amended its constitution, changed its laws, expanded its counter-terrorism operation against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) and resumed arms exports to Ankara, reports the BBC. Asked about opposition from Budapest, the NATO chief said that Hungary has made it clear that they will not be the last to ratify. I think that problem will be solved, he added. What does NATO expansion mean? With Sweden joining the bloc, NATO will now have 32 members. The outcome is a victory for Biden, who has touted the expansion of the bloc as an example of how Russias invasion of Ukraine has backfired on Moscow. The NATO countries have each others back if either of them are attacked. The alliance was originally formed to block Soviet expansion into Europe after World War II. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, many Eastern European nations joined NATO. But Russia did not want the bloc close to its border and hence has been opposed to Ukraines request to join. After the invasion of Ukraine, Finland joined the bloc and NATO has its presence not in Ukraine but in another of Russias borders. Now if Russia attacks any of the member states, it will be taking on NATO. The bloc has a plan in place for countering the Kremlin. It is looking to massively increase the number of its forces, which will be ready for action within 30 days, to 300,000 troops from the current 40,000, according to the report in the BBC. This will be up for discussion at the summit. Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director of the think tank, the Royal United Services Institute, told the BBC, When the Soviet Union collapsed, the threat of a major war disappeared almost entirely. But the 2014 annexation of Crimea, and the current Ukraine war, means the threat is real again. With inputs from agencies Ukrainian refugee Lana Lisetska has forgiven herself for being saved and is rebuilding her life thanks to a programme that tackles the often-overlooked mental health struggles of people fleeing the war. For the first few months I was suffering from what they call Survivor Syndrome, said Lisetska, who fled to neighbouring Moldova with her seven-year-son just after the outbreak of the war more than a year ago. You know you are safe but inside you have this feeling of guilt, that you have betrayed your country and your parents. Lisetska, 32, left her husband and her friends behind to get her son to safety and is now living at a Moldovan refugee centre at Nisporeni close to the border with Romania. But she never took off her little heart pendant in the blue and yellow colours of her homeland. She would burst into tears in the strangest of times and places, even when she was at the hairdresser. There were people in Mariupol and in Bucha who had nothing to eat then and here she was getting her hair cut, she remembered thinking. But the most terrible thing is when you learn to live with that as if it were normal, she told AFP. But thanks to help from psychologists from Doctors of the World, Lisetska has got a job with a company handling hotel reservations. You Suppress A Lot Moldavia, which like neighbouring Ukraine was once part of the Soviet Union, is hosting more than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees a major challenge for a poor country of only 2.6 million people. It has got support from some 40 major humanitarian organisations including Doctors of the World, which has made refugees mental health problems a priority. Its a critical area where we can provide support, Liz Devine, its American-born general coordinator there told AFP. The thing about mental health as it doesnt always come out at first Its kind of panic and fear in the early days, she added. You can suppress a lot and these issues can manifest themselves in different ways over the course of time. Devine said 86 percent of Ukrainian refugees in Moldova are women and children. Thats an incredibly high ratio compared to what youd find in other refugee situations. The husbands, the brothers and the sons remain in Ukraine either to fight or to provide other support for the war effort. So feelings of being isolated and all alone are common. Even surrounded by pictures of her family back in Ukraine, Elena Bavyko felt that acutely. The photos are also a reminder of her ultimate goal to return home. If she is doing better now, it is down to the psychological support she has received, she believed. Art Therapy I discovered an absolutely new method in group sessions, where we could cry and talk about our problems together, the 23-year-old said. When you hear someone elses story, you understand that you are not alone in this, and it becomes easier, she added. Bavyko has since begun helping other Ukrainians who have fled with the NGO Acted. Like Larissa Demcenco, a lawyer from Odesa who is now living in the Moldovan capital Chisinau with her 20-year-old daughter, she also found art therapy very useful. You paint and try to visualise your dreams, said Demcenco, who has now got a job working with children. Our mission is now to go back to Ukraine and use these techniques with those who had stayed on and suffered there. Most of the 686,000 Ukrainians who poured over the border into Moldova thought their stay there would be brief. Many moved on to other countries, or went home. But for those with no choice but to stay, the war dragging on has thrown up new problems. Doctors of the World said many are exhausted by not being able to predict what the future might bring, which for the most vulnerable can lead to an endemic state of stress. It is also trying to support overstretched frontline workers dealing with refugees using a programme called Help the helpers it developed in Lebanon. It is hard to watch what Ukrainian refugees are going through, said Moldovan Nadia Pascaru Botnaru, 41, the local head of the People In Need organisation. We ourselves are also living under the threat of a Russian invasion. You say to yourself, Maybe it will be us next.' With inputs from agencies There are certain professions that increase the risk of ovarian cancer in women, a new study has found. According to researchers from the University of Montreal in Canada, hairdressers, beauticians, accountants and women working in four other professions, could be more susceptible to developing ovarian cancer than the average woman. Published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the study analysed data on women aged between 18 to 79. What is ovarian cancer and what has the study found? Lets take a closer look. What is ovarian cancer? Ovarian cancer refers to the abnormal growth of cells in ovaries or fallopian tubes. Ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands that produce eggs in females. According to Medical News Today, there may be no symptoms in the early stage of ovarian cancer. It can develop and spread throughout a persons abdomen before they start noticing the symptoms. Thus, ovarian cancer is called a silent killer as it is mostly diagnosed after the disease has reached an advanced stage. Dr Ronny Drapkin, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, told Daily Mail that its detection is late because the cancer is located in the pelvis. The pelvis is like a bowl, so a tumor there can grow quite large before it actually becomes noticeable, Drapkin explained. Doctors believe symptoms such as bloating or an increase in the size of the abdomen; pelvic or abdominal pain; losing appetite or feeling full quickly; and urinating more frequently or urgently could be early warning signs of ovarian cancer, noted the Harvard Health Publishing article. The disease affects women and people assigned female at birth. How was the study conducted? The researchers at the University of Montreal examined data of 491 Canadian women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and compared it with 897 women who did not have the disease, as per Sky News. Different details were collected from the participants, including their employment history. The researchers then analysed several factors such as whether these women were likely to come in contact with certain chemicals while at work, as per The Independent. ALSO READ: What is the Guillain-Barre Syndrome, the rare disorder that has forced Peru to declare national emergency? Findings The study found that hairdressers, barbers or beauticians have a three-fold higher risk of ovarian cancer. It further says that people working as accountants for at least 10 years are twice as likely to develop the disease, and construction workers have three times more risk. Those working in the clothing industry, including embroidery, for a long time were 85 per cent more vulnerable, those employed in sales were 45 per cent, while those in retail had 59 per cent increased risk, noted Daily Mail. The study says that women working as hairdressers, beauticians and in similar professions were exposed to over 10 chemical agents including cosmetic talc, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, hair dust, synthetic fibres, polyester fibres, organic dyes, and pigments and bleaches, reported Sky News. We observed associations suggesting that accountancy, hairdressing, sales, sewing and related occupations may be linked to excess risks, the authors said in the study. People working in accountancy may have a heightened ovarian cancer risk due to the sedentary nature of the job, the study said, as per Daily Mail. However, the researchers pointed out that it is not clear whether the link to ovarian cancer is due to a single agent, a combination or other workplace factors. They also acknowledged that inferences from the results are limited. Further population-based research is needed to evaluate possible hazards for female workers and occupations commonly held by women, the authors added. As per Sky News, academics from the National Cancer Institute in Maryland in the United States said in a linked editorial that the study reminds us that while the lack of representation of women in occupational cancer studies and indeed, even potential strategies to address this issue have been long recognised, there is still a need for improvement in studying womens occupational risks. By excluding women, we miss the opportunity to identify risk factors for female-specific cancers, to evaluate whether sex-specific differences in risk occur, and to study exposures occurring in occupations held primarily by women. With inputs from agencies At least six people died after a speeding SUV collided head-on with a school bus coming from the wrong direction on busy Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Ghaziabad on Tuesday. Two children are said to be injured in the accident and are undergoing treatment in a hospital. The condition of an eight-year-old child, injured in the accident, is said to be critical. The video of the accident was captured on CCTV. The bodies of those killed in Delhi-Meerut Expressway accident were sent for postmortem. Two children, women are among those dead in the Ghaziabad accident. Police said there were eight people in the SUV when the accident occurred. The bus belongs to Bal Bharti School Bus which is in Noida, ANI quoted ADCP Traffic Police Ramanand Kushwaha as saying. Delhi-Meerut Expressway accident Police said the school bus was empty and was coming from the wrong direction. A school bus and a car met with an accident on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway around 6:00 am today. The bus driver was coming from the wrong direction after filling CNG from Delhi near Ghazipur, Kushwaha said. Six dead, 2 injured in the accident near Ghaziabad. https://t.co/Ml1hhRZs8Q Anand Singh (@Anand_Journ) July 11, 2023 "The people in the car were enroute Gurugram from Meerut. There was a head-on collision. Six people died and two are seriously injured," Kushwaha said. "The driver of the bus has been caught. The entire fault was of the bus driver who was coming from the wrong direction," the ADCP Traffic Police added. #WATCH | Ghaziabad, UP | DCP Dehat Shubham Patel says, "The incident occurred at 6.04 am on Delhi-Meerut Expressway wherein a TUV which had eight people was hit by a school bus that was coming from the wrong direction. Six of the eight people died and two are critically injured - pic.twitter.com/O6zsLLkwsR ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 11, 2023 The accident on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway comes mere hours after at least nine people were killed on the Lucknow-Varanasi Highway. The accident occurred on Monday when a tanker coming at a high speed collided with a tempo on the Lucknow-Varanasi Highway near Mohanganj market in the Leelapur police station area in Pratapgarh. With inputs from agencies The Supreme Court will start day-to-day hearing from August 2 a batch of pleas challenging abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The hearing of the petitions before the constitution bench shall commence on August 2, 10:30 am and then proceed on day to day basis barring miscellaneous days that is Mondays and Fridays, the order said. Mondays and Fridays are days for hearing miscellaneous matters in the apex court. All parties have been asked to fill documents, compilations and written submissions by July 27. A Constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud has appointed two advocates Prasanna and Kanu Agrawal one from the petitioners side and the government side, to prepare convenience compilation and file it before July 27. The court made it clear that after July 27, no documents will be accepted. The Constitution bench said the affidavit filed by the Centre on Monday with regard to conditions prevailing post August 5, 2019, notification in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir have no bearing on the constitutional issue to be adjudicated by the five-judge bench. The affidavit filed by the Union Home Ministry on Monday stated that after the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed unprecedented stability and progress, with stone pelting and school closures becoming a thing of the past. Meanwhile, two petitioners IAS officer Shah Faesal and Shehla Rashid Shora sought permission to withdraw of their pleas and were allowed by the bench on Tuesday. Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, said he has no difficulty if anyone wishes to withdraw his or her name from the list of petitioners. The Centre on August 5, 2019, had decided to strip the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir of special status and bifurcate it into two Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. More than 20 petitions are pending before the Supreme Court of India challenging the governments decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution. With inputs from agencies A Managing Director and a Chief Executive Officer of a recently founded internet company in Bengaluru were allegedly killed inside their workplace on Tuesday afternoon in Amrutahalli, in the citys northeast, by their ex-colleague and his friends. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vinu Kumar and Managing Director Phanindra Subramanya of Aeronics Internet Company were hacked to death by their former colleague and his two men inside their office in Pampanagar. The accused trio attacked them with sharp weapons. Both died on the way to the hospital, Deputy commissioner of police-North East-Laxmi Prasad told the media. We are looking for the accused who fled the scene, he added. According to the authorities, Felix, who the victims had previously worked with, is the main suspect. It is still unknown who Felixs travelling companions, the other two suspects, are. According to sources, Phanindra and Vinu Kumar founded the Aeronics company in November 2022. Prior to that, Felix served as the senior colleague of Phanindra and Vinu Kumar in a private company on Bannerghatta Road. The business offered internet services. After quitting their employment, the victims later founded Aeronics Internet Company, and Felix thought Phanindra and Kumar were taking business away from his company. Additionally, employees informed authorities that Felix believed Aeronics was the source of his companys financial crisis. Supreme Court LIVE Updates It's Illegal says SC on extension of ED Director SK Mishra's tenure The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Enforcement Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra's tenure extension was unlawful. According to the Supreme Court, he will remain in office until July 31. Mishra will continue to remain as ED director till July 31, according to the Supreme Court. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court deferred its decision on several petitions contesting the extension of the ED Director's mandate. Following the hearing of the parties' representations, a bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, and Sanjay Karol reserved the order. Violence in West Bengal is not accidental, but is a state-sponsored murder of democracy, said BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Tuesday targeting Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in the state. Patras statement came on the day when the counting of votes for the Bengal Panchayat polls were underway. In West Bengal, elections and violence have become synonymous Around 45 people have been killed as of today as far as Panchayat elections of 2023 in West Bengal is concerned, Patra said. Democracy is dying in West Bengal. Words like firing, bombing, murder and vote rigging are being used for the Panchayat elections This is not accidental, this is a state-sponsored murder of democracy This is nirmamata (ruthlessness) and not mamata (endearment), the BJP leader said. #WATCH | In West Bengal, elections and violence have become synonymousAround 45 people have been killed as far as Panchayat polls in West Bengal are concerned. Words like firing, bombing, murder and vote rigging are being used for the Panchayat electionsThis is not pic.twitter.com/grgXHSMxFp ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2023 Intensifying his attack on Mamata Banerjee, Patra claimed the ruling TMC's "dadagiri politics" was on even on the day of ballot counting. Patra claimed that counting agents of BJP and that of other opposition parties were being stopped from visiting the counting centres. He even termed the poll violence "unprecedented". Violence rocked the July 8 West Bengal Panchayat polls, leaving 15 dead while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers burnt and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. On Monday, repolling was held in 696 booths across 19 districts where voting was declared void amid allegations of ballot box tampering and violence. Patra said the BJP vehemently condemns the poll violence and "murder of democracy" in West Bengal. He also attacked the Congress, Left and other parties, accusing them of being silent on the matter. "Where are Lalu Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of 'Maha Thug Bandhan'? Not a word from them so far," the BJP leader asked. Patra alleged the Congress' top leadership and Gandhi, who were opening "mohabbat ki dukan" (shop of love), are silent on the panchayat poll violence in Bengal even though the leaders of the party claimed that their workers were killed. "Rahul Gandhi is not talking about his 'mohabbat ki dukan' because his mega mall of ambition is open. He is silent on poll violence in West Bengal because he wants to become ruler of the country by hook or by crook," the BJP leader charged. Patra further claimed that despite the Supreme Court's order of holding free and fair elections in West Bengal with the deployment of central forces, the state government did not deploy central forces properly and "data on sensitive polling booths were not shared with the central forces." He even claimed that a large number of people have fled West Bengal out of fear and have taken shelter in Assam. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that more than 100 people from West Bengal have taken shelter in his state, fearing for their lives because of the panchayat election violence back home. Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal sought refuge in Dhubri District of Assam. We have provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance. Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 11, 2023 "Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal sought refuge in Dhubri district of Assam. We have provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance," Sarma said in a tweet. With inputs from agencies As the Yamuna river in Delhi continue to flow above the danger mark of 206 metres on Tuesday, railway and traffic movement on the Bridge has been stopped. At 8 am on Tuesday, water level of Yamuna river was recorded at 206.32 metres at Old Railway Bridge. The highest flood level of the river in Delhi is 207.49 metres. By Tuesday noon, the water level of the river is expected to rise to 206.65 metres. On Monday evening, the river crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres in Delhi. Officials said Yamuna river flowing above the danger mark has prompted relocation of around 41,000 people residing in flood-prone areas to safer locations. Delhi's Yamuna river as seen from the metro this evening. #DelhiRains pic.twitter.com/AtdD8378ws Andrew (@AndrewAmsan) July 10, 2023 Teams of six districts North, North East, Shahdara, East, Central and South East have been jointly rescuing people and rehabilitating them in schools, community centres, night shelters and vacant plots and buildings. The evacuation of people started on Monday night after floodwaters entered some areas. Rise in water level in Delhi's Yamuna is also due to release of more water into the river by the neighbouring state Haryana from the Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar. As per the irrigation and flood control department, flow rate at the Hathnikund barrage surged a whopping 3 lakh cusec mark on Monday. #WATCH | Delhi | River Yamuna has crossed warning level. At 1 pm, water level of the river recorded at 204.63 m. At 1 pm, 1,90,837 cusecs of water released from Hathinikund barrage into Yamuna pic.twitter.com/644xxOHYjv ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2023 Normally, the flow rate at the barrage is 352 cusecs, but heavy rainfall in the catchment areas have increases the discharge. One cusec is equivalent to 28.32 litres per second. At a press conference on Monday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said a flood-like situation is unlikely in Delhi, but the city government is prepared to tackle any eventuality. On Sunday, the Delhi government issued a flood warning and have instructed authorities to remain vigilant as well as take necessary action in vulnerable areas. Quick response teams and boats have also been deployed. As many as 16 control rooms have been set up by the Delhi government to monitor the flood-prone areas and the water level of the Yamuna. Meanwhile, The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate rainfall on Tuesday and a downpour for the entire week till July 16 in Delhi. The government has directed all schools in the national capital to remain close till July 11. Heavy rains continue to lash Northwest India over the last three days, with several areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan recording "heavy to extremely heavy" precipitation. With inputs from agencies Responding to Uddhav Thackerays taint remark, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the former Maharashtra CM needs a psychiatrist. I pity my old friend and todays political rival Uddhav Thackerays thinking and behaviour. I feel he needs a psychiatrist, Fadnavis said. Perhaps this situation had a huge impact on him and hence, when a person speaks from such a mindset, one should not react on it, he added. BJP workers in Nagpur on Tuesday protested against Uddhav Thackeray over his taint remark for Devendra Fadnavis and demanded that the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief retract his comment. The BJP workers staged a demonstration at Variety Square in the morning where they raised slogans against Thackeray. Addressing Shiv Sena (UBT) workers on Monday, the home turf of Fadnavis, Thackeray said the BJP leader was a taint on Nagpur as he had aligned with the NCP despite asserting that he would never do so. Playing an old audio clip of Fadnavis stating that he would never join hands with the NCP, Thackeray said the BJP leaders no means yes. (With inputs from agencies) It may be called a curious coincidence, but the signals were not lost on anyone. The United States touts India as indispensable in its plans to counter China, claims the bilateral relationship is among the most consequential in the world, and the most important for the US in the 21st century. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just returned from his maiden official State visit to the US that produced a lot of deliverables, including an agreement on the transfer of jet engine technology. It seems the relationship is in the pink of health, and as Modi said, sky is not the limit. Yet Washingtons actions, which speak louder than words, put this narrative persistently to test. For instance, for all the fire and brimstone that defines Americas relationship with China, in Joe Bidens words our most serious competitor, reconciliatory gestures from Washington are never too far away even at the cost of getting repeatedly snubbed by Beijing. It raises confusing signals for Americas allies and partners. US treasury secretary Janet Yellen, who had said last month that an American decoupling from China would be a disastrous mistake and is an advocate for the deepening of economic ties between the worlds two largest economies, was sent to Beijing last week. Yellen, the key figure of Bidenomics, is the second high-ranking official in the Biden administration to fly to China after Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit last month. Bidens climate envoy John Kerry is slated to visit Beijing this week. These quick successive sojourns indicate that the US is worried to the extent of initiating one-sided reconciliatory moves. To Americas three high-ranking visitors in the space of a month, China has sent none. Meanwhile, in an escalation of the tech war between the two sides, China has banned the export of two critical components needed for semiconductor chip making. The move was timed just before Yellens arrival. The banning of gallium and germanium, of which China is the biggest global source, is Beijings way of getting back at Washington that has blocked Chinas access to advanced semiconductors, technology and the tools required for manufacturing the chips. In this atmosphere of action and retaliation, Yellen met top Chinese economic officials in a bid to stabilize and ease tensions between the two sides in a four-day trip that concluded Sunday. It isnt clear whether she was successful in her mission, but Yellen evidently tried hard. She was caught on camera bowing furiously to Chinese vice premier He Lifeng in a major protocol gaffe that raised eyebrows around the world, and did not elicit a reciprocation from her Chinese counterpart. She reportedly held 10 hours of meetings over two days with Chinese officials and declared at the end of it that the world is big enough for both the US and China to thrive. What did she get in return? The Chinese committed nothing beyond a cordial reception the bar has been set so low. Beijing asked the US to address its major concerns over sanctions on Chinese firms while letting the rumour swell on social media platforms that Yellen had come begging. Interestingly, around the time that Yellen was in Beijing, which according to Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was a a disastrous diplomatic trip to China, the Biden administration sent to New Delhi its most consequential partner a controversial diplomat with a remit to talk about freedom of speech and human rights in India. America was sending several messages at once. The first message was, regardless of Indias geopolitical value and the superlatives spent on describing the relationship, ties will forever remain subject to what Samir Saran calls Americas bloated sense of virtuosity and entitlement. Putting bilateral ties with a fellow democracy (where, some may argue, that the political system is in more robust health than in America where half the population do not accept the electoral results of 2020 elections) through the repeated stress test of a dubious values framework when the US is in no position to assume the role of a judge, jury and executioner, or take a moral high ground owes to Americas delusional self-image as the sole upholder of a moral order that other countries must aspire to attain. This was rather candidly described by Ashley Tellis, a former US State Department senior adviser and a noted commentator on US-India ties to Hindustan Times in a recent interview. Tellis, who had been one of the key figures behind the US-India civil nuclear agreement, claimed in the interview that if India doesnt improve its worsening values trend, an assessment for which he provided no factual basis, then the US would be in a disturbing dilemma over the state of the ties. According to Tellis, the Biden administrations unwillingness to bludgeon India over human rights and religious freedoms is rooted strongly in its estimation of Indias importance in the competition with China. But it would be a mistake to assume that the rivalry with China gives India full immunity. Already, the administration itself is divided on giving India a pass The comments indicate that the India-US partnership is an unequal one where Indias rise is dependent on Americas continued altruism, and the US may choose to turn the faucet off if it deems that India is falling out of line with its exceptions. It may seem that even though the American unipolar moment is long over, the Beltway commentariat is still clinging on to the nostalgia. This sense of moral superiority is prevalent not just in the commentariat but troublingly, also in the administration where Biden is under tremendous pressure from his Democratic Partys base to pummel Modis Hindu nationalist, majoritarian government on democracy and human rights. Ergo, Uzra Zeya, the US under secretary for civilian security, democracy, and human rights and US special coordinator for Tibetan issues is in India. The American audacity is stunning. Zeya, whose role in the Devyani Khobragade incident that marked one of the lowest-ever points in bilateral ties is well documented, is visiting both India and Bangladesh during her trip, and among other things, she will meet Indian officials on democracy and engage with civil society organizations on freedom of expression and association, and marginalized religious and ethnic minorities. The point being made is that for India to benefit from the American partnership, it must accede to the rules set by its senior partner and give in to its intrusive demands. Never mind that going by the current state of play, it is New Delhi who should be sending a diplomat on special duty to the US to advise the Americans on handling the human rights of its ethnic racial minorities who have repeatedly voiced their opinion against continued and systemic discrimination in the US, whereas in India the religious minorities are thriving and free to practice their religion. Bear in mind that the arrival of Zeya follows the avoidable remarks made by US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, who said last Thursday that the US is ready to help ease the situation in violence-hit Manipur if asked. Garcettis comments represent explicit interference in an issue on which the Americans have no role to play, and even suggestions of doing so are deeply unwelcome. Regardless of the situation in Manipur, it is internal to the Indian state and the US ambassador has no business poking his nose into the issue. The remarks reflect two things. One, Garcetti, a career politician, is still cutting his teeth as a diplomat. He would be well advised to curb his enthusiasm for bites in matters that are beyond his remit. Two, the US wants to keep its most valuable partner under pressure, or it wouldnt have sent Garcetti as an envoy who, during his confirmation hearing before the US Senate, had promised that that human rights, including in the context of the Citizenship Amendment Act, will be a core part of his work in India. This casual orientalism from America is sure to interfere with the pace and quality of bilateral ties that must be built on the edifice of equality, mutual respect and trust. Tall claims about galvanizing industrial bases, securing digital ecosystems for the next few generations, defence cooperation, co-development and co-production would not fructify if the underlying conditions to boost the relationship are not met. The signals being given by Washington, in this context, are discouraging. It is seemingly bending over backwards to accommodate China to put guardrails in the relationship or whatever other excuses that it may ferret out to justify its actions. At the same time, it is being too clever by half in nurturing its relationship with India. This wont take us anywhere. The writer is Deputy Executive Editor, Firstpost. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. IAF is planning its biggest air exercise to bring 12 nations to large-force engagements on Indian soil and shores. The Tarang Shakti will see fighter combat jets and large transport aircraft in action, supported by force multipliers. IAFs global engagements are on the rise. Three Rafale fighter jets of the IAF will take part in the Bastille Day flypast over the Champs Elysees in Paris on 14 July. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend this years Bastille Day Parade as the guest of honour and a tri-services contingent will participate in the parade along with their French counterparts. IAF going big on exercises and interoperability IAF and USAF participated in the bilateral US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) sponsored Field Training Exercise (FTX) Cope India series, conducted in India. Beginning at Gwalior in February 2004, the exercise was repeated in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2018. Cope India-2023 was held in April this year across Kalaikunda, Panagarh and Agra bases. It included air engagements, demonstrations, as well as lectures on aviation subjects. It helped both sides in evaluating their intercept techniques and tactic. The IAF fielded Su-30s, Mirage 2000s, MiG 27s, Jaguars, and MiG 21s, and the USAF, F-18s, F-15s, C-130 J, among others. Exercise has also included airdropping training. Exercise Garuda series is with the French Air and Space Force (FASF) since the first in 2003 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, India. Subsequently, they were held in 2005, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2019. The other locations included Istres and Mont-de-Marson in France and Kalaikunda in India. French and Indian Rafale fighter aircraft, French A-330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, Indian Su-30 MKI, LCA Tejas, Jaguar fighter aircraft, the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), and Mi-17 helicopters have participated. IAF also fielded combat-enabling assets like Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA) and AEW&C. The joint exercises were meant to augment the operational capability and interoperability, while also sharing best practices. In August 2022, a contingent of the FASF made a strategically important stop at the IAFs Sulur base in Tamil Nadu on their way to Exercise Pitch Black 2022 in Australia. The 17-nation Multilateral Exercise Pitch Black was held in Darwin, Australia in September 2022. Exercise Pitch Black is held alternative years since 2006, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). India began participating in 2018. The aim is to practice Offensive Counter Air (OCA) and Defensive Counter Air (DCA) combat, in a simulated war environment. It traditionally consists of a red team and a blue team based at separate locations, with one attacking the other. As inferred from the name of the exercise, it takes place in low-light conditions. All Quad members and many from Indo-Pacific were part of the exercise, with over 100 aircraft and 2,500 military personnel participating. The IAF fielded four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft. The participating forces took part in various multi-aircraft combat drills by day & night, simulating complex aerial scenarios, involving large formations, and combined force engagements for enhancing interoperability and strengthening relationships in a dynamic warfare environment. It was also training for European countries ability to project power into the Indo-Pacific. It gave exposure to a very large cross-section of aircraft including the F-35s. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the IAF have been carrying out bilateral exercise SINDEX since 2004. They were held at airbases in India and Singapore. The RSAFs F-16 C/D Fighting Falcons and F-5E Tiger fighter aircraft and the IAFs Su-30 MKI, MiG 27, Mirage 2000 and Jaguar have been participating. IAF and Royal Air Force (RAF), conduct Exercise Indradhanush since 2006, held in both India and the UK. Indian Su-30 MKI and Mirage 2000 could engage with RAFs Eurofighter Typhoons. Force multipliers from both sides take part. Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transport aircraft and RAF Regiment Paratroopers also practiced operations. The exercise included close combat and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) engagements. IAF has also been participating in the US Air Force (USAF) Red Flag exercise in Nellis Air Force Base, and at Eielson AFB in Alaska in the United States. Desert Eagle is a multilateral exercise organised by United Arab Emirates Air Force. IAF has also been participating in the exercise Eastern Bridge with Oman. Blue Flag is a military aviation exercise held by the Israeli Air Force. In July 2022, the IAF carried out a one-month-long engagement with the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) at the Egyptian Fighter Weapon School, located at Cairo West Air Force Base. This was a first-of-its-kind interaction for both the air forces as it was conducted between their respective Fighter Weapon Schools. The Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) and IAF participated in bilateral air exercise SHINYUU Maitri-18 in 2018 at the IAF airbase in Agra. In January 2023, the bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian 2023 was held between the IAF and Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) in Japan. IAFs Su-30 MKI and JASDFs F-2 and F-15 aircraft participated. IAF participate in Exercise Orion at the Mont-de-Marsan airbase in France and exercise INIOCHOS at Andravida base in Greece, hosted by the Hellenic Air Force, both held in April-May 2023. Major planning and execution considerations The large force, bilateral and multilateral air exercises between major professional air forces require months of planning and coordination. Selection of area of operation that allows adequate airbases, radar positioning, para-drop areas and also firing range in case live firing is involved. The planning has to factor in multiple aircraft flying in confined spaces involving slow-flying helicopters and UAVs to very high-speed fighters and engaging in combat manoeuvring. The pace for the exercise is set by initially doing smaller packages and increasing the degree of difficulty in a graduated manner. There is a need to de-conflict flight paths. The air engagements have to be closely controlled or monitored by ground-based and airborne radars. The radio procedures have to be coordinated. The mission commanders have to be designated. Flight safety and operational issues have to be managed. Each mission must have clearly spelt out the aim and detailed briefing. There is always a detailed safety and operational debrief. The air effort must draw lessons for all air and ground crew. In addition to enhancing combat knowledge by imbibing the best practices of other air forces, it also improves interoperability. Young aircrew get exposure by flying aircraft of other air forces. Social and casual interactions help exchange ideas and imbibe knowledge. Special lectures are organised to educate the participants. These exercises are also a part of defence diplomacy. There are cultural events and exchanges. IAF benefits from exposure to air exercises with all the worlds major air forces. The frequency and number of air exercises have gone up in recent years. After a short pandemic-related lull, the pace has picked up. The saying More you sweat in peace, less you bleed in war is best exemplified by these air exercises. India must be proud that all Western air forces have rated IAF aircrew as great professionals and very superior in their air combat capabilities. Why repeat exercises It is pertinent to note that since newer operational equipment keeps inducting and also the crew keep changing, there is thus a need to repeat the exercises every few years. Such international exercises give exposure to large-force engagements with dissimilar aerial platforms. They also expose the IAF crew to different tactics and flight techniques under electronic and cyber warfare conditions. Tarang Shakti The initial inputs on IAFs mega-multilateral exercise Tarang Shakti planned around October-November later this year indicate that the air forces of 12 nations will participate. It will be the biggest air exercise to be conducted in India. Invited air forces will participate with fighter and transport aircraft and other force multipliers. Initial indications are that FASF, RAAF, USAF, and RAF are likely to participate. The location has not been announced but is likely to be in central India. There are likely to be large-force engagements, long-range missions, and maybe joint exercises with elements of Special Forces, and maritime strikes. Also, they will look at no War No Peace scenarios. Air power and Exercise Tarang Shakti Airpower is the most difficult of all forms of military force to measure, or even express in precise terms, said Winston Churchill, many years back. Air power capabilities result directly from its characteristics of speed, range, and elevation. Military operations in the air and space are significantly different from those of the land or sea mediums. The capabilities of air power are operational flexibility, responsiveness, range, precision, and mobility. Aircraft are able to scurry over vast ranges, independent of sea or land boundaries. Air forces provide global range and global power. Air power is the integrated employment of all air and space forces to control and exploit the air and space environments to achieve national security objectives. Air power exploits the properties of its operating medium to realise unique operational characteristics and thus employ unique capabilities to provide the nation with a broad range of military options. The fundamental strengths of Air Force air power are air superiority, reliable global mobility, rapid global employment, and global situational awareness. The concentration of force is a product of air powers responsiveness, mobility, and tremendous agility of manoeuvre. Concentration is not measured in numbers, but in overwhelming effect, at the decisive time and place. Centralized control, and decentralized execution, is an important approach to air power and needs training. All these need to be tested and exploited. With very long-range weapons and platforms, and due to the highest impact of changing technology, the platform employment and tactics change. There is thus a need for regular air exercises. These exercises are required not only for the air warriors, and to improve interoperability between friendly air forces, but also to sensitize the joint staff and the political leadership. IAF is fast transforming from a continental air force to one with global reach. It now has trans-domain operations capability and prides itself on its reach, flexibility, versatility, responsiveness and offensive lethality. In keeping with the evolutionary nature of air power and the need to stay relevant across the spectrum of conflict in an inter-connected environment, there is a need for exercises and doctrinal reviews. Exercise Tarang Shakti will help us understand the nuances of capabilities and application of air power. The writer is Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Saudi Arabia, the birthplace and seat of Islam, has embarked on a Hadith documentation project ordered by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. It wants to cut out the plethora of Hadith in circulation which are misused by terrorists and extremists. The Islamic world may soon have an authentic and verifiable Hadith compiled from primary sources that narrated Prophet Mohammeds teachings; one that junks the violent and regressive bits thought to have been added over the years. Saudi and more than 20 other Islamic nations including Pakistan have a ban on instant triple talaq. Egypt is considering making hijab in academic institutions illegal, and Indonesia is discussing if bigoted and othering words like kafir should be outlawed. But in secular India, small groups like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) which has unconstitutionally taken upon itself the role of courts for the community continue to oppose every progressive step. The latest flashpoint for them is the creation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as mandated by the Indian Constitution. They do not want one nation one law. It will impinge on religious freedom, and majoritarian morality should not override religious freedom and rights of minority communities, they insist. Since the Narendra Modi-led government announced that the Law Commission will hold consultations on UCC, these Muslim moral vigilante groups have been in attack mode. This warranted a ground check. To understand what the Muslim woman thinks of the provisions that are likely to be at the core of a UCC, 884 reporters from the News18 network interviewed 8,035 Muslim women across 25 states and Union Territories. It was not a poll done on social media. Every participant was personally reached by a reporter. The respondents represented a cross-section of female Muslim across different demographics. The survey participants included those 18 years and above to those above 65. Right from the illiterate to the post-graduate, the survey captured a wide educational diversity. The participants were given the choice to remain anonymous. But 90 per cent of them willingly gave their names. Each surveyor (reporter) interviewed on an average only nine Muslim women for purposes of higher accuracy. The seven key questions asked in this survey did not mention a Uniform Civil Code. These were strictly limited to only the themes that the UCC is likely to cover. The survey was conducted to better understand Muslim womens perspectives on these issues. The key findings demolish the narrative being built by the AIMPLB and other hawkish groups. 1. There is a very high degree of support among Muslim women on the key provisions of what most experts say will be the major tenets of any UCC. 2. Though there is a slightly higher support of the provisions of the UCC among highly educated Muslim women (Graduate+), the overall support is very high. 3. 67 per cent of all Muslim women surveyed agreed that there should be a common law for all Indians for personal matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption and inheritance. The responses were slightly higher at 68 per cent for graduate+ respondents. 4. 76 per cent of all Muslim women (Graduate+: 79 per cent) disagree with polygamy and say that Muslim men should not have the right to marry four women. 5. The highest support from women is on the question of equal rights of succession and inheritance of property irrespective of gender (82 per cent overall; 86 per cent graduate+) 6. 74 per cent of all respondents agree that divorced couples should be allowed to remarry without any restriction. 7. Though there was high agreement on the question of adoption, the percentage of Muslim women agreeing that adoption should be allowed regardless of religion was much lower than the other questions asked in the survey (all: 65 per cent; graduate+: 69 per cent). 8. 69 per cent of all respondents (73 per cent graduate+) agree that all Indians who have attained the age of majority should be free to will away their property as they please. 9. There is very high support for raising the minimum age for marriage for both men and women to 21. 79 per cent of all Muslim women supported increasing the minimum age and 82 per cent of graduate+ women agreed. The findings of this painstakingly done News18 network survey strongly indicate a couple of things. First, that groups and individuals like AIMPLB do not represent the voice of ordinary Muslims, particularly the women. These self-appointed brokers between the divinity and the people had long served talaq to modern realities and aspirations of the community. They perpetuate their relevance using bluff and intimidation. Second, there are external and internal forces which are highly active in keeping the 20-crore Muslim community in India on the boil. It serves their own political purpose and seldom has anything to do with the faith. British colonisers widened the fault line between Hindus and Muslims to rule and eventually engineered Partition. Todays external forces hope to one day bleed and balkanise India by creating Muslim disaffection where there is none among ordinary citizens. Then there is the enemy within. Indian political parties which oppose the UCC either deliberately or unwittingly widen the rift in the hope of Muslim votes. They had done nothing for Muslims when they were in power. They walk with a matchbox looking for gunpowder to use against Narendra Modi, even if it means burning down the nation. Which is what makes this News18 survey so insightful and important. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ten years back, the redoubtable Subramanian Swamy wrote an article, Is the Dravidian movement dying? He began by asserting, The Dravidian movement is on the verge of collapse under the weight of its inherent ideological contradictions. With MK Stalins DMK government firmly in the saddle in Tamil Nadu, at least for now, one might question Swamys contention. The case booked against 11 Dikshithars or priests of the famous Chidambaram Nataraja temple on 26 June, in addition to the reported statement by the Tamil Nadu minister for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CED), PK Sekarbabu, that the DMK government is gathering evidence to take over the management of the temple, also suggest that Swamys prediction was premature. The Dravidian movement seems to be reasserting itself at least when it comes to this ancient and hallowed Shiva shrine. The conflict between Dravidianism and the Chidambaram Dikshitars is over 70 years old. In 1951 the HR&CED tried to appoint an executive officer to administer the temple, but the Dikshitars resisted. This micro-community of 1,500 has managed to hold out against repeated attempts to tarnish them and thus, seize this rich and famous temple, the last one still outside the state governments control. The earlier government order (GO) passed by the state government to take control of the temple was stayed by the Supreme Court. In 2014, the apex court bench of Justice BS Chauhan and Justice SA Bobde ruled in the Dikshitars favour as hereditary priests and custodians of the temple. With the DMK back in power, the dispute, according to some observers, has become a prestige issue. Allegations of child marriage and invasive medical tests, it has been argued, are ways to humiliate and destroy the morale of the Dikshitars, as was the forced entry of HR&CE personnel with a police escort. At least in one aspect of his analysis, Swamy is obviously right: The Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu can be dated to begin from December 1916 when the Non-Brahmin Manifesto was released. In the manifesto, the Dravidian concept was anti-Brahmin specifically because the patrons of the movement, the British imperialist rulers, had wanted it that way. But we are no longer ruled by the British, so they cannot be blamed for all our sins. This means that whatever anti-Brahminism has persisted to this date cannot be laid at their doorstep. It is the Dravidian political ideologies that must accept responsibility. The normalisation of anti-Brahminism in Tamil Nadu is usually traced to EV Ramasamy Naicker, commonly known as Periyar meaning respected elder. But its roots go deeper to missionaries like Bishop Robert Caldwell, the self-respect movement, and the justice party. It was Periyar, however, who was most vocal, even intemperate in his abuse of Brahmins. Earlier this year, the Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, arguing before a bench headed by Justice KM Joseph, quoted a DMK leaders speech: If you want equality, you should butcher all Brahmins. This is what he says. Just because what he said was said some years ago by someone famous, it cannot be pardonedit is hate speech this DMK leader does not even face an FIR and he continues to be a spokesperson of a recognised political party. Periyars public speeches and writings are littered with anti-Brahminism, all cited in the above source. Parpanan (Brahmin) should be driven away from this land; However much a rationalist or atheist, if a person is a Brahmin he should not be allowed in our organisations; To destroy caste discrimination, burn the pictures of Nehru and Gandhi and also the Constitution of India. If all these methods fail to give us results, then we should start beating and killing the Brahmins; we should start burning their houses (quoted by Sami Chidambaranar in his biography of Periyar titled Tamizhar Thalaivar); Wherever we find a temple, we must go inside and break all the idols; Wherever we find a Brahmin, we must kill him and destroy him; A few of us have to die. If one Tamilian dies for one Brahmin, only three of us will die out of every hundred. 94% of us will still remain. But they will be completely eliminated. We will definitely go that level; and so on. Many more such hate-speech and anti-Brahmin actions, including snatching or cutting their vajnopavit or sacred threads, have been reported. But they are not well-known or circulated anywhere in India or abroad. Instead the official narrative usually hails Periyar as a great social reformer. Periyar not only ranted against the Indian republic and our Constitution, but abused BR Ambedkar accusing him of selling out to the Brahmins. He was also an advocate of Dravidistan and had tried to seek an alliance with MA Jinnah. Exasperated, Indias first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, is said to have remarked, Old and Senile men like Periyar deserve a place more in a lunatic asylum than in public life. It is high time Periyar and his followers were banished from this land (ibid). More recently, when Rajinikanth criticised Periyar for allegedly garlanding Hindu deities with slippers and shoes in 1971, he created a furore. But despite the criticism and pressure on him, Rajnikath refused to apologise. The arrest of Kanchi Sankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal by J Jayalalithas AIADMK government in 2004 on charges of murder and conspiracy also served to reinforce the normalisation of anti-Brahminism in Tamil Nadu. Being a highly revered figure among Brahmins and respected by many followers across India, the arrest sparked outrage and condemnation from various sections of society. However, newspaper reports and political analysis suggest that this incident was ultimately used as a political instrument by the ruling Dravidian parties to further strengthen their stance on anti-Brahminism. After nine years, some of which were spent in incarceration, the Sankaracharya was acquitted by the Puducherry Principal District Sessions Court for lack of evidence against them. The court also observed that the investigation was not conducted in a fair and proper manner, especially faulting the Kanchipuram SP for acting beyond the ambit of the law. In fact, the trial had to be shifted to the neighbouring Union Territory, Puducherry, because it was feared that justice would not fully be served in Tamil Nadu. No one would go so far as to say that religious institutions should be allowed to overlook the laws of the land or that their management cannot be improved or evolve with time. But given the record of the Dravidian parties in power, the charges against the temple and its priests seem be part of the larger agenda and political ideology of the ruling DMK with the aim to wrest control of this old, prestigious, and wealthy temple. To return to the Chidambaram temple row, an insider and devotee remarked, What business do these professed atheists have in temple matters? The Shiva Purana says that stealing from a temple is a sin. Here they want to steal the whole temple itself! Mark my words, Nataraja himself will judge them. After all, he is famous as the great destroyer! Those in power should remember that what Shiva gives, Shiva can also take away. As ordinary mortals, Shivas will remains inscrutable to us. But the sentiments of a large number of Hindus may well be reflected in the above statement. The writer is an author, columnist, and professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Tata Group is all but set to sign an agreement to purchase a factory owned by an Apple Inc. supplier, making it the first Indian company to enter the iPhone assembly business. According to insiders, the acquisition of Wistron Corp.s factory in southern Karnataka state, estimated to be worth over $600 million, follows nearly a year of negotiations. The facility currently employs more than 10,000 workers who assemble the latest iPhone 14 model. Due diligence complete, deal to be signed soon Sources reveal that the Tata Group has been conducting thorough evaluations of the Wistron facility for some time now. While there are still unresolved issues, they are in the process of being addressed and are likely to be rectified by the time the deal is signed. To secure financial incentives from the state, Wistron has committed to shipping iPhones worth at least $1.8 billion from the factory until March 2024. The company also had plans to triple the workforce at the plant by next year. Tata is expected to honour these commitments as Wistron exits the iPhone business in India. Major boost for Apple in India The introduction of an Indian-made iPhone is likely to bolster Apples efforts to diversify its manufacturing beyond China and establish a stronger presence in the South Asian nation. In the three months leading up to June 30, Wistron exported nearly $500 million worth of iPhones from India, while other Taiwanese suppliers of Apple, Foxconn Technology Group and Pegatron Corp., have also expanded their operations in the country. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has made significant strides in domestic manufacturing through government programs that offer attractive financial incentives to promote production and employment. Tough challenges to Chinas dominance as the Worlds Factory As Chinas status as the Worlds Factory faces challenges, an Indian company producing iPhones could play a pivotal role in Modis efforts to reshape the global manufacturing landscape. It may also encourage other international electronics brands to consider manufacturing in India as a means to reduce reliance on China. The Tata Group, with a history spanning 155 years, engages in diverse businesses, ranging from salt to tech services. In recent years, the conglomerate has ventured into electronics production and e-commerce, both of which are relatively new territories for the Tata family. They currently manufacture iPhone chassis, the metal framework of the device, at a sprawling factory in Tamil Nadu. Additionally, Chairman N Chandrasekaran has expressed the groups aspirations in the chipmaking industry. On Monday, Taiwans Foxconn announced its decision to back out of a $19.5 billion semiconductor joint venture with Indian conglomerate Vedanta, citing unspecified reasons. Although this may seem like a massive setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modis chipmaking plans for India, it isnt that big a setback and was something that many industry experts had anticipated. To allay any concerns that may arise of the JV not going forward, Union IT Minister of State, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, put out a tweet stating that Foxconns withdrawal from the JV will have no impact on India Semicon. Why the JV did not go through While Foxconn and Vedanta have not offered any explanations as to why the JV could not go through, industry experts have provided various explanations for the collapse of the partnership. One factor was the fine imposed on Vedanta by SEBI for violating disclosure regulations. Vedanta had issued a press release suggesting a partnership with Foxconn for semiconductor manufacturing in India, whereas the deal was actually with Vedantas parent company. The Indian government also raised concerns regarding Vedantas application for an incentive program aimed at promoting chip production. Officials in New Delhi questioned the accuracy of the cost estimates submitted to claim incentives from the government. Furthermore, the involvement of European chipmaker STMicroelectronics as a technology partner posed another challenge. While STMicroelectronics had entered into a licensing agreement for certain technologies, the Indian government insisted that any participant in the joint venture must have a greater level of commitment and ownership in the partnership. Simple licensing arrangements were deemed inadequate. Experts had anticipated that there would be major hiccups Neither Vedanta nor Foxconn had any major chipmaking experience. Because of this, they had to license the tech to fabricate chips from some other company. Industry experts had anticipated that the involvement of a third partner would have been great. However, Foxconn and Vedantas agreement with STMicroelectronics was that of a licensing deal. This would have significantly skewed the financials of the deal going forward. Considering all of this, experts had anticipated that unless third-party partners had a stake in the semiconductor fab in India, the JV between Foxconn and Vedanta would have had to face a number of hiccups. What this means for Vedanta and Foxconn The dissolution of the JV between Vedanta and Foxconn, while significant, does not mean to be a massive setback for either of them. Vedanta, for its part, is still adamant about setting up Indias first Semicon fabrication unit and has partnered up with other entities that would facilitate the setting up of the fabrication unit. Meanwhile, Foxconn too, has diversified its portfolio. While it is known to assemble smartphones, mainly Apples iPhone, in the last couple of years, it has expanded to creating semiconductors and chips for other companies. If sources are to be believed, they plan on soon starting to design and package their chips. Regardless of everything else, Foxconn will obviously continue with its main business in India, which is producing iPhones in India. For this, they will also be partnering up with several local players to set up new production lines and factories. For example, Foxconns upcoming Bengaluru factory will have a production capacity that can produce 7-10 per cent of total iPhones sold in a year, all over the world Chip-making fab imminent in India It is clear that a chip-making fabrication will be set up in India soon. India projects a semiconductor market value of $63 billion by 2026, and had received three applications last year from companies looking to establish semiconductor plants as part of a $10 billion incentive scheme. These applications came from the Vedanta-Foxconn joint venture, IGSS Ventures based in Singapore, and a global consortium consisting of ISMC and Tower Semiconductors. Furthermore, India has issued a fresh call for applications from companies interested in participating in the incentive scheme. In addition to these developments, Micron recently announced its intention to invest up to $825 million in a chip testing and packaging unit, rather than manufacturing facilities. With support from both the Indian federal government and the state of Gujarat, the total investment is expected to reach $2.75 billion. TSMC, the Taiwanese semiconductor giant, is actively considering the establishment of a chip fabrication factory in India. The company is engaged in discussions with various government agencies to assess the feasibility of setting up operations in the country. TSMC already maintains one of its largest offices outside Taiwan in Bengaluru, Karnataka, where it offers support to its customers across Asia, Europe, and North America. Additionally, it promotes the growth and development of fabless companies in India through its presence. In addition to TSMC, Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation, another Taiwanese chipmaker, is reportedly engaged in preliminary discussions with multiple Indian companies to assist in establishing chip operations in India. This announcement from the memory chip manufacturer comes after six months of speculation regarding its plans to invest in India and diversify its operations, despite the increasing geopolitical tensions involving Taiwan. A Melbourne woman, jailed for two and a half years in prison for keeping an Indian-origin Tamil woman as a slave for eight years has been sentenced to an extra two and a half years for intimidating the victim before she testified in the criminal trial, according to police. Kumuthini Kannan and her husband Kandasamy Kannan were previously convicted and jailed for enslaving the victim, in her 60s, at their Mount Waverley home between 2007 and 2015, according to a police statement on Saturday. Kumuthini pleaded guilty to the offence of perverting the course of justice during an Australian Federal Police (AFP) slavery investigation and was sentenced on July 7 in the County Court of Victoria to an additional two years and six months imprisonment, the statement said. The Judge ordered that the sentence would start 18 months before the completion of her current sentence for the slavery offences. Kumuthini was earlier sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years for the slavery offences. She will be eligible for parole in January 2026. Her husband was sentenced to six years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years. They were convicted and jailed in 2021 after the police investigation established the couple had kept the victim as a slave for 8 years. The federal police charged the couple in June 2016 with slavery offences and in 2020, while awaiting trial, Kumuthini threatened the victim and warned her not to give evidence during the court proceedings. In February 2020, the AFP Human Trafficking Team charged the woman with attempting to pervert the course of justice, contrary to section 43 of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), and the matter was heard separately from the slavery proceedings. According to a local media report, the exploitation of the elderly woman was able to take place because the womans family was in India, she did not speak English, and her passport was taken away by the Kannans. With inputs from PTI France will provide Ukraine with SCALP long-range cruise missiles to help Kyivs forces strike targets deep behind Russian lines, President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday. Arriving at a NATO summit focused on Kyivs battle against Moscows invasion, Macron said Paris would send the SCALP missile, already supplied by London under the name Storm Shadow. Macron said the new missile delivery was designed to allow Ukraine to strike at Russian forces in depth during its counteroffensive to liberate its territory. The SCALP/Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French weapon with a range of 250 kilometers (155 miles) the longest of any Western weapon supplied to Ukraine so far and Britain announced in May that it would supply a batch of the advanced weapons. Russia reacted with fury, warning that London risked being dragged directly into the conflict, and even some Western allies were concerned that Kyiv might conduct strikes into Russia itself. Macron implied, however, that Ukraine had given an undertaking not to use SCALP against such targets, saying that they had been given in coherence with our doctrine, that is to say to permit Ukraine to defend its own territory. Macron did not say how many of the missiles would be sent, but France is understood to have an arsenal of less than 400, according to specialist defense review DSI. The Kremlin said it would respond to the decision by France to supply Kyiv with long-range missiles that could help Ukraine strike targets deep behind Russian lines. From our point of view, this decision is a mistake with consequences for the Ukrainian side, because this will of course force us to take countermeasures, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced on Monday that the head of a U.S. think group has been charged with working as an unregistered agent of China and attempting to negotiate the sale of Iranian oil and weaponry. Gal Luft, a dual citizen of the United States and Israel, is charged with hiring and compensating a former senior U.S. government official in 2016 on behalf of principals based in China without filing the necessary paperwork to be recognised as a foreign agent. The former official, who was not named by the prosecution, was allegedly serving as Donald Trumps adviser at the time. Luft is accused of pressuring the advisor to back measures that benefit China, including by writing comments that were published under the advisors identity. A Twitter account bearing Lufts name, with more than 15,000 followers, said in a Feb. 18 tweet that he had been arrested in Cyprus on a politically motivated extradition request by the U.S. Ive never been an arms dealer, Luft said in the tweet. He did not immediately respond to a direct message sent by Reuters seeking comment. Luft, 57, was arrested in February in Cyprus on U.S. charges, but fled after being released on bail while awaiting extradition, prosecutors said. He is not currently in U.S. custody. Luft is co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, which describes itself as a Washington, D.C.-based think tank focused on energy, security and economic trends. Gal is a man of total integrity and honesty, the think tank said in a statement on Tuesday. We are confident in his innocence. According to prosecutors, Luft arranged a deal for Chinese corporations to sell weapons to nations like Libya, the United Arab Emirates, and Kenya despite the fact that they did not have the necessary authorization under US law. Despite U.S. sanctions on the Middle Eastern nation, he is also charged with arranging meetings between Iranian officials and a Chinese energy company to discuss oil transactions. (With agency inputs) The chief of a prestigious US think tank has been taken into custody on charges of acting as a Chinese agent and engaging in illicit arms and oil transactions. Gal Luft, a 57-year-old joint US and Israeli citizen, is accused of covertly recruiting and financially compensating a former US official to publicly endorse specific Chinese policies, according to federal prosecutors. Luft serves as the co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, a research institution focused on energy and US security located outside of Washington DC. The institute, co-founded by Luft and advised by former CIA Director James Woolsey, states its mission on its website. It is alleged that Luft attempted to broker arms deals involving buyers from China, Libya, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kenya. Although an associated Twitter account in Lufts name has denied his involvement in arms dealing, prosecutors in Manhattan have declared him a fugitive. In 2016, he supposedly neglected to register as a foreign agent while working to advance Chinese interests within the United States. One of Lufts purported actions involved lobbying an ex-US official, who advised then President-elect Donald Trump, in an effort to persuade him to publicly support China-related policies. It is claimed that he drafted comments on behalf of this unnamed official, which were subsequently published in Chinese media and distributed to American universities. Prosecutors have also accused Luft of attempting to facilitate arms sales without the required US permits. It is alleged that he aided Chinese companies in selling anti-tank launchers, grenade launchers, and mortar rounds to Libya. Furthermore, he purportedly sought to sell aerial bombs and rockets to the UAE, as well as strike drones to Kenya. Additionally, federal officials assert that Luft endeavored to bypass US sanctions on Iranian oil by instructing an associate to falsely declare it as Brazilian oil. According to prosecutors, Luft was arrested in Cyprus on February 17 of this year on US charges, but absconded after being granted bail while awaiting extradition. On the following day, a Twitter account bearing his name and boasting 15,000 followers announced his arrest in Cyprus, attributing it to a politically motivated extradition request by the US. Luft, meanwhile, also claims he has information about the Biden familys business with people linked to Chinese military intelligence. He was a potential witness for the US House committee investigating wrongdoings by Hunter Biden and his father, President Joe Biden. The status of his potential testimony is not known now that Bidens DOJ has announced charges against the think-tank leader. Luft was last seen in a video interview with The New York Post that was filmed from an undisclosed location. In the video, he claimed he was being hunted by the Justice Department because he had information about the Bidens. I, who volunteered to inform the US government about a potential security breach and about compromising information about a man vying to be the next president, am now being hunted by the very same people who I informed and may have to live on the run for the rest of my life, he said. The House Oversight Committee was preparing to interview Luft as part of their investigation into the Biden family before he fled his extradition from Greece. Luft claims he met with FBI agents in Brussels in 2019 and told them relatives of President Joe Biden were receiving vast sums of money from Chinese officials. Luft said the China state-controlled energy company CEFC was paying $100,000 a month to Hunter Biden, and $65,000 to his uncle, Joes brother, Jim Biden. Hunter and Jim Biden took the money in exchange for their FBI connections and use of the Biden name to promote Chinas Belt and Road Initiative around the world, Luft claimed. Luft faces a total of eight charges, including failure to register as a foreign agent, evasion of oil sanctions, two counts of providing false statements to investigators, and three counts of illicit arms trafficking. If convicted, he could face several decades in prison. The Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent that landed in France last week has been practicing their marching drills ahead of the upcoming Bastille Day celebrations scheduled to be held in Paris on July 14. Bastille Day, also known as the French National Day, marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 which is a major event of the French Revolution, as well as the Fete de la Federation that celebrated the unity of the French people on July 14, 1790. Celebrations are held throughout France on July 14 to mark the occasion. The Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent taking part in the Bastille Day parade includes four Rafale fighter jets and two C-17 Globemaster aircraft. India and France have a long history of cooperation, particularly in air power, as seen by the flypast and march of the IAF air warriors on Bastille Day. "The flypast and marching by the IAF air warriors on Bastille Day follow a long association that the two nations share, especially in the field of air power," the Ministry of Defence said in an official statement. "Many Indians like Welinkar, Shivdev Singh, HC Dewan and Jumbo Majumdar fought over the skies of France during the two World Wars. Some, like Jumbo Majumdar, were also decorated for their gallant action, over the Falaise Gap, during the terminal phase of World War II," the statement added. "The Indian Air Force has operated multiple French aircraft starting with the Ouragan." This was followed by fighter aircraft like Breguet Alize, Mystere IVA, SEPECAT Jaguar, Mirage 2000 and now, the Rafale. Helicopters like the Alouette-III & Lama continue to render yeoman services to India, especially in the remote Himalayan areas, it added. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France on its National Day, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain recently expressed the desire to have Indian troops participate in the parade and Indian Rafales in the sky to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two nations. India and France are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership this year. In a noteworthy achievement, India has witnessed a significant reduction in poverty, with a staggering 415 million people emerging from poverty within a span of just 15 years. The United Nations (UN) announced this remarkable progress on Tuesday, highlighting Indias achievement as the worlds most populous nation. The latest update of the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford, reveals that 25 countries, including India, successfully halved their global MPI values within 15 years. This positive outcome demonstrates that rapid progress in poverty reduction is attainable. Among the countries that achieved this feat are Cambodia, China, Congo, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Serbia, and Vietnam. The report showcases Indias impressive journey, as it surpassed China in April to become the worlds most populous nation, with a population of 1.4286 billion, according to UN data. The report emphasizes that Indias poverty reduction is an achievable goal. However, the lack of comprehensive data during the COVID-19 pandemic period presents challenges in assessing the immediate prospects for poverty reduction, according to the report. India witnessed a significant decrease in poverty incidence from 55.1% in 2005/2006 to 16.4% in 2019/2021, with 415 million people escaping poverty between 2005/2006 and 2019/2021. In 2005/2006, approximately 645 million people in India were living in multidimensional poverty, a number that declined to about 370 million in 2015/2016 and further reduced to 230 million in 2019/2021. The report highlights the decline in deprivation across all indicators in India, with the poorest states and marginalized groups, including children and disadvantaged caste communities, making the fastest progress. Notably, the percentage of people who are multidimensionally poor and deprived of nutrition reduced from 44.3% in 2005/2006 to 11.8% in 2019/2021. Child mortality also witnessed a decline from 4.5% to 1.5%. Furthermore, the report indicates a substantial reduction in the percentage of people who are poor and deprived of essential resources such as cooking fuel (from 52.9% to 13.9%) and sanitation (from 50.4% in 2005/2006 to 11.3% in 2019/2021). The percentage of people experiencing multidimensional poverty and deprivation in indicators like drinking water, electricity, and housing also significantly decreased during this period. The report emphasizes that countries with varying levels of poverty incidence were able to halve their global MPI values. Despite starting with an incidence above 50%, both India and Congo achieved this milestone. Among the 19 countries that halved their global MPI values in one period (2005/20062015/2016), Indias progress stands out. The report, which states that 1.1 billion people (over 18% of the global population) are living in acute multidimensional poverty across 110 countries, reveals that sub-Saharan Africa (534 million) and South Asia (389 million) are home to the majority of the worlds poor population. It further highlights that approximately two-thirds of all poor people (730 million) reside in middle-income countries, making poverty reduction efforts in these nations crucial for global poverty alleviation. Although low-income countries constitute only 10% of the population included in the MPI, they are home to 35% of the worlds poor. Children under the age of 18 represent half of the MPI-poor population (566 million), with a poverty rate of 27.7% among children, compared to 13.4% among adults. Rural areas bear the brunt of poverty, with 84% of the worlds poor living in rural regions, which are generally poorer than urban areas across all regions. The report highlights that countries have achieved halving their MPI values in periods as short as four to 12 years, showcasing the feasibility of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of halving poverty based on national definitions within 15 years. To effectively address poverty, the report emphasizes the need for context-specific multidimensional poverty indices that reflect national definitions, as the global MPI uses a standardized methodology. However, the lack of post-pandemic data for most countries covered by the global MPI hampers the understanding of the pandemics impact on poverty reduction. As we enter the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Pedro Conceicao, Director of the Human Development Report Office, acknowledges the steady progress made in multidimensional poverty reduction before the pandemic. He emphasizes the significance of intensifying efforts to comprehend the dimensions most affected by the pandemic, highlighting the importance of strengthened data collection and policy interventions to get poverty reduction back on track. The UNDP press release reveals that poverty reduction momentum may have been sustained during the pandemic, based on data collected solely from a few countries, including Mexico, Madagascar, Cambodia, Peru, and Nigeria. Encouragingly, Cambodia, Peru, and Nigeria demonstrated significant reductions in poverty in their most recent periods, offering hope that progress can still be achieved. For instance, Cambodia witnessed a notable decrease in poverty incidence from 36.7% to 16.6% within a span of 7.5 years, including the pandemic years (20142021/22). However, the full global impacts of the pandemic on poverty reduction remain to be measured. The press release calls for a broader assessment of the pandemics impact on children, highlighting that in more than half of the countries covered, there was either no statistically significant reduction in child poverty or the rate of poverty reduction among children was slower than among adults. This underscores the urgency of addressing child poverty, particularly in relation to education and undernutrition. Sabina Alkire, Director of OPHI at the University of Oxford, expresses concern over the scarcity of data on multidimensional poverty, deeming it difficult to comprehend and unjustifiable. She emphasizes the solvability of this problem, advocating for breakthroughs in poverty data collection by leveraging just 5% of survey questions. Alkire calls on funders and data scientists to make significant strides in tracking and intercepting the real-time interconnected deprivations that affect poor individuals. The global MPI serves as a vital tool for monitoring poverty reduction and informing policy decisions, shedding light on how people experience poverty in various aspects of their lives, from education and health to living standards such as housing, drinking water, sanitation, and electricity. (With inputs from agencies) The Manang Air helicopter with five Mexican passengers and a captain that lost contact on Tuesday morning has crashed. Bodies of five people have been received while one other person on the aircraft was still missing. The chopper with registration number 9N-AMV crashed at Lamjura of Likhupike Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu district. The helicopter crashed in the Lamajura area and rescuers had recovered the bodies of five people and were searching for the sixth, Associated Press quoted Basanta Bhattarai, the chief government administrator in the area, as saying. The helicopter has been found at the border of Likhu PK village council and Dudhkunda Municipality-2 commonly called Lamajura Danda. The villagers have retrieved the five bodies, ANI quoted Koshi Province Police DIG Rajeshnath Bastola as saying. As per the police, the helicopter seems to have hit a tree on the hilltop. Local residents reported that the helicopter crashed with a loud explosion, and they witnessed a fire at the crash site, PTI quoted an official as saying. On Tuesday morning, the helicopter was returning to Kathmandu, bringing the five Mexican tourists from sightseeing trip to the worlds highest peak Mount Everest. The last location of the chopper was tracked around 10:12 am in the Lamjura Pass area, operation and safety manager of Manang Air, Raju Neupane, was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post. With inputs from agencies On Tuesday, NATO leaders agreed that Ukraines future rests with the organisation, but they refrained from giving Kyiv the invitation or timeline for joining that it had requested, a stance that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had earlier described as absurd. As a Ukrainian counteroffensive against the Russian invading forces occupying sections of the nation was moving more slowly than Kyiv had intended, the leaders gathered at a conference in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. NATO also removed the requirement that Ukraine complete a Membership Action Plan (MAP) in its declaration, removing a barrier to Kyivs membership in the alliance. Ukraines future is in NATO, the declaration said. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met. They did not specify the conditions Ukraine needs to meet, but they said the alliance would help Kyiv to make progress on military interoperability as well as on additional democratic and security sector reforms. Zelenskiy had earlier assailed NATO leaders for not offering a timeframe for membership. Its unprecedented and absurd when a timeframe is not set, neither for the invitation nor for Ukraines membership, Zelenskiy said before arriving as a special guest. Zelenskiys salvo at the start of a summit came after NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the bloc would send Kyiv a positive message on its path to membership. It highlighted the divisions among NATOs 31 members over giving a date or a straightforward invitation for Ukraine to join. Kyiv has been pushing for a swift entry, bound together with security guarantees, since even before Russia unleashed its invasion in February 2022. The declaration said: We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in the heroic defence of their nation, their land, and our shared values. In strong language towards Moscow, it said: The Russian Federation is the most significant and direct threat to Allies security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. Asked about Zelenskiys criticism, Stoltenberg told a press conference: There has never been a stronger message from NATO at any time, both when it comes to the political message of the path forward for membership and the concrete support from NATO allies. He said previous accessions to NATO had not been accompanied by a timeline. They are conditions-based, have always been, he said. Zelenskiy did score wins elsewhere. French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would start supplying long-range cruise missiles, following a similar announcement by Britain. With a range of 250 km (155 miles), the missiles nearly triple Ukraines previous capabilities, allowing forces to hit Russian troops and supplies deep behind the front lines. A French military source dismissed suggestions that the missiles were an escalation, saying their use was proportional and that Russia was using cruise missiles launched from thousands of kilometres away. Germany, too, announced new aid worth 700 million euros, including two Patriot air defence missile launchers, and more tanks and fighting vehicles. The summit was also buoyed by the prospect of Sweden joining NATO as its newest member after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday abruptly dropped his objections to the move, while pushing to revive talks for Turkey to join the European Union. Finland attended the summit as a member for the first time after its own entry into the alliance in April. While NATO members agree Kyiv cannot join during the war, they have disagreed over how quickly it could happen afterwards and under what conditions. NATO members in eastern Europe have backed Kyivs stance, arguing that bringing Ukraine under NATOs collective security umbrella is the best way to deter Russia from attacking again. Countries such as the United States and Germany have been more cautious, wary of any move that they fear could draw NATO into a direct conflict with Russia. U.S. President Joe Biden has stressed that NATO needed to stay united against the attempts of Russian President Vladimir Putin to split it. I still think that President Putin thinks the way he succeeds is to break NATO and were not going to do that, Biden said. Moscow, which has cited NATOs eastern expansion as a factor in its decision to invade Ukraine, has criticised the two-day summit ending on Wednesday and warned Europe would be the first to face catastrophic consequences should the war escalate. Potentially, this issue (of Ukraine joining NATO) is very dangerous for European security and therefore those who will make the decision must be aware of this, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. European leaders did not seem to understand that moving NATO military infrastructure towards Russias borders was a mistake, he said. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed that the nations warplanes stopped a US spy plane from flying over nearby waters on Monday and warned of shocking consequences if the United States continued its reconnaissance in the region. The accusations made by the North were rejected by the United States and South Korea, who urged the North to refrain from any actions or speech that incite animosities. Its unclear if North Korea would follow through. It has made numerous similar threats over alleged U.S. reconnaissance activities, but its latest statement came amid heightened animosities over North Koreas barrage of missile tests earlier this year. Kim Yo Jong, one of her brothers top foreign policy officials, claimed that the U.S. spy plane reached into the Norths eastern exclusive economic zone eight times Monday. In a statement carried by state media Monday night, she claimed that the North scrambled warplanes to chase away the U.S. plane. A shocking incident would occur in the long run in the 20-40 kilometer section in which the U.S. spy planes habitually intrude into the sky above the economic water zone of North Korea, Kim Yo Jong said. Earlier Monday, North Koreas Defense Ministry accused the U.S. of flying a strategic reconnaissance plane into its inviolable airspace several times and warning that approaching aircraft might be shot down. While the Defense Ministry statement seemed to imply an intrusion into North Korean territorial airspace, Kim Yo Jong accused the U.S. of conducting aerial surveillance over the Norths exclusive economic zone, the area within 200 nautical miles of its territory where it controls rights to natural resources. Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon press secretary, called the Norths claim on the airspace violation just accusations. The United States, as always, remains committed to safely and responsibly flying, sailing, operating anywhere that international law allows and alongside our allies and partners, Singh said. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said the United States urges North Korea to refrain from escalatory actions and engage in serious diplomacy. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff denied that the U.S. had flown any spy plane into North Korean territory. Spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said at a briefing that the U.S. was conducting standard reconnaissance activities in coordination with South Koreas military. Later Monday, the South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a second statement that it strongly urges North Korea to stop rhetoric that raises tensions over normal flight by the Korea-U.S. alliance over open waters. Early Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong issued another statement reasserting that intensifying U.S. reconnaissance activities were encroaching on the Norths sovereignty and that the U.S. forces would experience a very critical flight if they continue with their illegal intrusions. Earlier this year, tensions on the Korean Peninsula rose sharply as the pace of North Korean weapon tests and U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises have intensified. North Korea has test-fired nearly 100 missiles since the start of 2022 as Kim Jong Un expands a nuclear arsenal he apparently sees as his strongest guarantee of survival. The United States stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression by North Korea. With inputs from AP In a major setback for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued non-bailable arrest warrants against former prime minister Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry, in a case of contempt against the poll body. Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry did not appear before the ECP despite being summoned in personal capacity, Geo News reported. Contempt proceedings were initiated against several leaders of the PTI for allegedly using foul language against the chief election commissioner. Despite multiple notices being issued against them, the party leaders did not appear before the ECP and later challenged its powers to initiate contempt proceedings under Section 10 of the Election Act 2017 in different high courts, Geo News reported. As per the Section 10 of Pakistans Election Act, the election commission may exercise the same power as the high court to punish any person for contempt of court and the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 (V of 2003), or any other law pertaining to contempt of court shall have effect accordingly[] (With inputs from agencies) The United States on Monday welcomed Indias contribution in establishing lasting peace in Ukraine, a senior administration official said. A strategic failure for Russia, which has seen an enormous loss of both military personnel, but military equipment. Its seen its standing in the world affected. Its seen its economy crippled by the sanctions and export controls weve imposed, Matthew Miller, Spokesperson of the State Department told reporters at a news conference here. I will say with respect to what other countries of the world can do, we welcome the international support that Ukraine has received since the beginning of this conflict, he said in response to a question. We welcome the role that India or any other country could play in helping achieve a just and lasting peace that recognizes Ukraines territorial integrity and recognizes Ukraines sovereignty, he said, adding that the United States believes that the war in Ukraine has been a strategic failure for Russia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine completed 500 days on Saturday. With inputs from PTI King Charles displayed a momentary loss of patience as he attempted to move President Joe Biden during their meeting at Windsor Castle on Monday. During their inspection of the Welsh Guards, Charles tried to encourage Biden to continue walking while he conversed with one of the guards. However, the US President remained standing and continued his conversation, despite Charles attempts to keep the momentum. Watch: Following this incident, Charles appeared to direct his frustration towards the guard before walking away alongside the president. The 80-year-old President was also seen putting his hand on Charles back as they walked around the quadrangle. In addition, Biden held onto a handrail while ascending the stage for the performance of the Star Spangled Banner, causing Charles to wait for his SUV to pass through the castle. Despite these moments, both individuals maintained a pleasant environment, exchanging smiles and jokes during the formal proceedings. They guided each other around the castle grounds before engaging in discussions on climate change. Bidens visit to London lasted only 24 hours, prompting speculation about the absence of a full British state visit. He spent a mere 42 minutes having tea with PM Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street. In May, President Biden faced criticism for skipping Charles Coronation and instead sending First Lady Jill and granddaughter Finnegan. Additionally, his June speech raised eyebrows when he concluded it with the phrase God save the Queen, man. The last formal talks between President Biden and Charles took place during the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021. With inputs from agencies World Population Day is marked on 11 July every year. Although a nations population boom is a matter of pride, it can collectively act both ways, as an asset or a liability. While an educated population can serve as a nations greatest asset, it brings with it a range of issues. The problems at hand may differ from those of other countries, but they are mostly related to poverty, health, overall well-being, and employment to name a few. This day is observed in order to address issues and make the world a better place by making small collective efforts. In addition, the day plays a crucial role towards promoting a more humane approach to overpopulation hazards and its never-ending risks. Theme The United Nations (UN), an intergovernmental organisation that aims to maintain international peace and security decides on the theme each year. The theme for 2023 is Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting women and girls voices to unlock our worlds infinite possibilities. Significance The day is an opportunity to address important issues that plague the global population. According to the UN, it is imperative to see what women want and address their issues as gender equality serves as a stepping stone towards a more just, resilient and sustainable world. History The roots of the celebrations date back to 1989, when the UN recognised it. The groundbreaking initiative was proposed by Dr KC Zachariah, an Honorary Professor at the Centre for Development Studies. It was to mark the milestone as the global population crossed five billion on 11 July, 1987. It was on 11 July 1990 that World Population Day was first celebrated in more than 90 countries. From then onwards, the day has been commemorated in partnership with a wide range of organisations and institutions. The day marks a crucial reminder to serve a better future for all. The United Nations celebrates the day to create a world in which everyone basks in equal opportunities. It is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, striving for a sustainable future for all. Dr Natalia Kanem, an Executive Director at UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund recently shared a Twitter post: We must strive for a future where every woman and girl can read, learn, and embrace endless possibilities. Investing in gender equality is an investment in our shared future.#WorldPopulationDay pic.twitter.com/TkyqDt66jQ Dr. Natalia Kanem /she/her/ella/ (@Atayeshe) July 7, 2023 She captioned the post saying: We must strive for a future where women and girls can read, learn, and embrace endless possibilities. Investing in gender equality is an investment in our shared future. Tata Group is on the verge of acquiring Wistrons factory in the southern state of Karnataka, marking its entry into iPhone assembly, reports Bloomberg. The deal, worth more than USD 600 million (approximately Rs. 494 crores), is expected to be finalized in August. Although the deal was initially anticipated to be closed by March 2023, it experienced unforeseen delays. The facility, presently employing over 10,000 workers engaged in assembling the latest iPhone 14 model, would be the first Indian-owned company to undertake iPhone assembly. Wistron had committed to shipping iPhones valued at a minimum of $1.8 billion (approximately Rs. 180 crores) from the factory until March 2024 to qualify for state-backed financial incentives. With Wistron exiting the iPhone business in India, Tata Group will honour these commitments and take over the facility. This move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modis Make in India initiative and boosts Indias role as a supply chain hub for electronics. Tata Groups acquisition of Wistrons manufacturing unit highlights its ambition to expand its partnership with Apple. It also underscores the firms efforts to diversify into electronics production and e-commerce. With the addition of an Indian-owned iPhone manufacturing company, Apple further diversifies its product base beyond China and strengthens its manufacturing presence in India. The acquisition solidifies Tata Groups position in the Indian electronics industry, supporting the countrys manufacturing capabilities and reinforcing Indias potential as a manufacturing powerhouse. Source Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts 1. The Battle of Bloodriver Answer: Boer-Zulu Wars The Battle of Blood River, also known as the Battle of Ncome River, took place on December 16, 1838, between the Voortrekker (Boers) settlers and the Zulu army led by King Dingane. It was a important battle in South African history. The battle occurred in the period of tensions between the Voortrekkers and the Zulu Kingdom. After the execution of Voortrekker leader Piet Retief and his delegation by King Dingane, the Voortrekkers looked for revenge. Led by Andries Pretorius, approximately 500 Voortrekker men formed a defensive laager near the Ncome River in present-day KwaZulu-Natal. The Zulu army, estimated to be around 10,000 warriors, attacked the Voortrekker laager. prepared and armed with muskets and cannons. They utilized the laager formation to their advantage, defending themselves and firing at the Zulu warriors from behind the wagons. The battle raged for several hours, during which the Voortrekkers effectively defended themselves against Zulu attacks. The disciplined and coordinated firing of the Voortrekkers resulted in heavy casualties for the Zulus, with an estimated 3,000 warriors killed. In contrast, only three Voortrekkers were wounded. The Battle of Blood River had significant consequences. It became a defining event for the Voortrekkers, who attributed their victory to divine intervention and considered it a symbol of their struggle for independence. The battle led to the establishment of the Natalia Republic. The commemoration of the Battle of Blood River as the Day of the Vow (later renamed Day of the Covenant) became an important cultural and religious event for the Afrikaner people, reinforcing their identity and struggle against outside forces. 2. Battle of Italeni Answer: Boer-Zulu Wars The Battle of Italeni took place in 1856 between the Zulus, led by Chief Mpande, and the Boers under the leadership of Paul Kruger. The battle occurred near the Italeni mountain in what is now KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The conflict arose from tensions between the Boers and the Zulus. The Boers had established their settlements in the region and clashed with the Zulu Kingdom over land and resources. Chief Mpande, seeking to assert his authority, ordered an attack on the Boer settlement of Italeni. The Boers, led by Piet Uys and Hendrik Potgieter, were prepared for the Zulu assault. They had fortified their position and were armed with guns and cannons, providing them with an advantage over the Zulu warriors, who primarily relied on traditional weapons like spears and shields. During the battle, the Zulus launched multiple attacks on the Boer position, but the disciplined and well-armed Boers successfully repelled their advances. The Zulus suffered many casualties, and their efforts to overrun the Boer settlement proved unsuccessful. The Battle of Italeni resulted in a decisive victory for the Boers. The Zulu forces were unable to penetrate the Boer defenses and were forced to retreat. The battle highlighted the military strength and effectiveness of the Boers' firearms against the Zulu warriors' traditional weaponry. The outcome of the battle contributed to a period of relative peace between the Boers and the Zulus in the region, as it demonstrated the Boers' ability to defend their settlements against Zulu attacks. 3. Battle of Isandlwana British-Zulu Wars The Battle of Isandlwana, which took place on January 22, 1879, was a significant clash during the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. It occurred near the Isandlwana hill in present-day KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The British, under the command of Lord Chelmsford, were positioned at a camp near Isandlwana, consisting of approximately 2,000 British and colonial troops. They faced the Zulu army, led by the Zulu king Cetshwayo with an force of around 20,000 warriors. The British commanders overestimated the capabilities of their forces and showed an impressive lack of concern about their own safety. The battle began when a Zulu force launched a frontal assault on the British camp. Despite the initial success of the British artillery and disciplined resistance, the Zulus eventually outflanked and overwhelmed the British forces. The lack of prepared fortifications and the British soldiers' inadequate training in dealing with the Zulu's tactical maneuvers proved to be harmful. The battle resulted in a defeat for the British, with the majority of their forces killed. The Zulus achieved a remarkable victory, bolstering their reputation as formidable warriors and highlighting the British vulnerability in the face of a firm indigenous force. The Battle of Isandlwana had a profound impact on the course of the Anglo-Zulu War. It marked a turning point in the conflict and led to subsequent British campaigns to avenge the defeat. Ultimately, the war concluded with a British victory, but Isandlwana remains a notable event, showcasing the Zulus' military prowess and challenging British assumptions about colonial superiority Answer:The Battle of Isandlwana, which took place on January 22, 1879, was a significant clash during the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. It occurred near the Isandlwana hill in present-day KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The British, under the command of Lord Chelmsford, were positioned at a camp near Isandlwana, consisting of approximately 2,000 British and colonial troops. They faced the Zulu army, led by the Zulu king Cetshwayo with an force of around 20,000 warriors. The British commanders overestimated the capabilities of their forces and showed an impressive lack of concern about their own safety.The battle began when a Zulu force launched a frontal assault on the British camp. Despite the initial success of the British artillery and disciplined resistance, the Zulus eventually outflanked and overwhelmed the British forces. The lack of prepared fortifications and the British soldiers' inadequate training in dealing with the Zulu's tactical maneuvers proved to be harmful.The battle resulted in a defeat for the British, with the majority of their forces killed.The Zulus achieved a remarkable victory, bolstering their reputation as formidable warriors and highlighting the British vulnerability in the face of a firm indigenous force.The Battle of Isandlwana had a profound impact on the course of the Anglo-Zulu War. It marked a turning point in the conflict and led to subsequent British campaigns to avenge the defeat. Ultimately, the war concluded with a British victory, but Isandlwana remains a notable event, showcasing the Zulus' military prowess and challenging British assumptions about colonial superiority 4. Battle of Rorke's Drift Answer: British-Zulu Wars The Battle of Rorke's Drift, which occurred on January 22-23, 1879, was a crucial engagement during the Anglo-Zulu War. It took place at a small mission station called Rorke's Drift in Natal Province, South Africa, and involved a small British garrison defending against a large Zulu force. Following the overwhelming defeat of the British at the Battle of Isandlwana earlier that day, a Zulu force of around 4,000 warriors led by Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande advanced towards Rorke's Drift, where a hastily fortified British garrison of approximately 150 soldiers, mainly from the 24th Regiment of Foot, awaited. The garrison, under the command of Lieutenant John Chard and Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, displayed remarkable bravery and resourcefulness throughout the battle. Despite being heavily outnumbered, they skillfully used the fortifications and stood firm wave after wave of Zulu attacks. The British soldiers' disciplined fire and the improvised barricades they created proved crucial in holding off the Zulus. The battle raged for over 10 hours, with the Zulus launching continuous assaults. However, the determined defense of the British ultimately prevailed, and the Zulu forces were forced to withdraw. The British garrison suffered 17 killed and 10 wounded, while the Zulus suffered heavy casualties, estimated to be around 350 warriors. The Battle of Rorke's Drift became widely celebrated in Britain as a heroic stand against overwhelming odds. Eleven Victoria Crosses, the highest military decoration in the British Empire, were awarded to the defenders of Rorke's Drift, making it one of the most decorated engagements in history. The battle's significance lies in its contrast to the British defeat at Isandlwana earlier that day. The successful defense at Rorke's Drift restored British morale and highlighted the Zulu Kingdom's military capabilities. 5. Battle of Gingindlovu Answer: British-Zulu Wars The Battle of Gingindlovu occurred on April 2, 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War in South Africa. It was a significant battle between the British forces under the command of Lord Chelmsford and the Zulu army led by Somopho kaZikhala. The battle took place near the village of Gingindlovu in present-day KwaZulu-Natal. The British had established a fortified camp overthere as a supply depot and defensive position. Prince Dabulamanzi, seeking to deal a blow to the British forces, launched an attack on the camp. The Zulu warriors, armed with traditional weapons such as spears and shields, launched repeated assaults on the British positions. The British, equipped with rifles and artillery, held position and inflicted heavy casualties on the Zulus. However, large number and determination of the Zulu warriors posed a significant threat to the British defenses. The battle raged for several hours, with intense hand-to-hand combat and fierce resistance from both sides. The Zulus made multiple attempts to breach the British defenses but were ultimately repelled. In the end, the British emerged victorious at Gingindlovu. The Zulu forces suffered heavy losses, estimated at around 1,000 warriors, while the British had significantly fewer casualties. The battle marked a strategic success for the British, as it secured their control over the region and demonstrated their military superiority over the Zulu army. The Battle of Gingindlovu played a role in the overall Anglo-Zulu War, which concluded with the British capturing the Zulu capital at Ulundi and ultimately establishing British control over Zululand. 6. Battle of Ulundi Answer: British-Zulu Wars The Battle of Ulundi, which took place on July 4, 1879, was the final and decisive clash in the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. It occurred near the Zulu capital of Ulundi, in present-day KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Following their defeats at the battle of Isandlwana earlier in the year, the British regrouped and launched a series of successful campaigns against the Zulu forces. The British commander, Lord Chelmsford, led a well-equipped force of approximately 4,500 British and colonial troops, while the Zulu army, under King Cetshwayo kaMpande, numbered around 15,000 warriors. The British forces advanced on the Zulu capital, where the Zulu army was heavily fortified. In the battle that ensued, the British employed a combination of disciplined firepower from rifles and artillery, as well as well-executed infantry movements. The Zulus fought courageously but were outmatched by the British technology and tactics. The battle ended with a decisive British victory. The Zulu forces suffered heavy casualties, and their capital was captured and burned by the British. King Cetshwayo was subsequently captured, effectively ending Zulu resistance. The Battle of Ulundi marked the end of the Anglo-Zulu War and solidified British control over the Zulu Kingdom. It had significant repercussions for the Zulu people, as their traditional authority was diminished, and the region came under British rule. 7. Battle of Bronkhorstspruit Answer: First Boer War The Battle of Bronkhorstspruit, also known as the Bronkhorstspruit Ambush, took place on December 20, 1880, during the First Boer War. It occurred near the town of Bronkhorstspruit in the Transvaal region of present-day South Africa. The battle was part of the Boer uprising against British rule in the Transvaal. A Boer commando, consisting of approximately 350 to 400 armed farmers and led by Francois Joubert, ambushed a British military convoy consisting of 94 men from the 94th Regiment of Foot, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Anstruther. The Boers, using the advantage of surprise and the cover of thick fog, launched a sudden attack on the British convoy while it was preparing breakfast. The British soldiers, caught off guard, suffered heavy casualties. The Boers employed guerrilla tactics, using their superiority as gunman, horseriding and knowledge of the terrain to their advantage. The battle resulted in a significant victory for the Boers. The British suffered 156 casualties, including many fatalities, while the Boers had relatively few casualties. The defeat at Bronkhorstspruit was a blow to British prestige and underscored the challenges they faced in suppressing the Boer resistance. The Battle of Bronkhorstspruit marked an early turning point in the First Boer War, highlighting the Boers' skill in guerrilla warfare and their determination to resist British imperialism. It led to an escalation of the conflict and further intensified the Boer resistance, ultimately resulting in the British being pushed back and a negotiated peace settlement in 1881. 8. Battle of Laing's Nek First Boer War The Battle of Laing's Nek, took place on January 28, 1881, during the First Boer War in South Africa. It was a significant engagement between the British Empire and the Boer Republics. The battle began when the British attempted to storm the Boer positions on Laing's Nek. However, the Boers had fortified the area with well-prepared trenches and natural defenses. The British soldiers faced a barrage of accurate Boer rifle fire from the heights above. Despite multiple attempts to dislodge the Boers, the British were unable to make significant progress. The Boers, skilled marksmen, inflicted heavy casualties on the British forces. The battle continued throughout the day, with the British suffering mounting losses. As darkness fell, the British forces retreated from Laing's Nek, acknowledging their failure to secure the position. The British suffered approximately 150 casualties, including many killed, wounded, and captured, while the Boers had relatively fewer losses. The Battle of Laing's Nek further demoralized the British. It highlighted the Boers' ability to utilize their knowledge of the terrain and employ effective defensive tactics against a conventional army. The defeat at Laing's Nek, combined with previous setbacks, ultimately led to negotiations for a peace settlement. The Pretoria Convention of August 1881 recognized the independence of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, ending the First Boer War. The Battle of Laing's Nek played a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the conflict and the subsequent political landscape in South Africa. Answer:The Battle of Laing's Nek, took place on January 28, 1881, during the First Boer War in South Africa. It was a significant engagement between the British Empire and the Boer Republics.The battle began when the British attempted to storm the Boer positions on Laing's Nek. However, the Boers had fortified the area with well-prepared trenches and natural defenses. The British soldiers faced a barrage of accurate Boer rifle fire from the heights above.Despite multiple attempts to dislodge the Boers, the British were unable to make significant progress. The Boers, skilled marksmen, inflicted heavy casualties on the British forces. The battle continued throughout the day, with the British suffering mounting losses. As darkness fell, the British forces retreated from Laing's Nek, acknowledging their failure to secure the position. The British suffered approximately 150 casualties, including many killed, wounded, and captured, while the Boers had relatively fewer losses.The Battle of Laing's Nek further demoralized the British. It highlighted the Boers' ability to utilize their knowledge of the terrain and employ effective defensive tactics against a conventional army.The defeat at Laing's Nek, combined with previous setbacks, ultimately led to negotiations for a peace settlement. The Pretoria Convention of August 1881 recognized the independence of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, ending the First Boer War. The Battle of Laing's Nek played a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the conflict and the subsequent political landscape in South Africa. 9. Battle of Ingogo Answer: First Boer War The Battle of Ingogo, also known as the Battle of Schuinshoogte, took place on February 8, 1881, during the First Boer War between the Boer Republics and the British Empire in South Africa. After their defeat at the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit, the British forces under the command of Major General Sir George Pomeroy Colley sought to regain momentum. They advanced towards the town of Newcastle in Natal, encountering Boer commandos along the way. At Ingogo, the British camped near the Ingogo River, where they faced a Boer force commanded by General Nicolaas Smit. The Boers, using their knowledge of the terrain, launched a surprise attack on the British positions. Despite being outnumbered, the British put up a fierce resistance and inflicted heavy casualties on the Boers. However, the battle turned against the British when the Boers launched a flanking attack and pinned down the British troops. The British found themselves in a vulnerable position, exposed to Boer fire from the surrounding hills. The battle lasted for several hours, with both sides exchanging gunfire. In the end, the British were forced to withdraw from their exposed position and retreated back to their camp. The British suffered significant losses, with over 100 casualties, including many killed or wounded, while the Boers had relatively fewer casualties. The Battle of Ingogo was a setback for the British and highlighted the resilience and tactical prowess of the Boer forces. It further added to the difficulties the British encountered in the First Boer War and reinforced the Boers' determination to defend their independence. 10. Battle of Majuba Hill Answer: First Boer War The Battle of Majuba Hill took place on February 27, 1881, during the First Boer War in South Africa. It was a significant engagement between the British Empire and the Boer Republics and marked a turning point in the conflict. The battle occurred near the Drakensberg Mountains, where the British forces, commanded by Major General Sir George Pomeroy Colley, attempted to dislodge the Boer commandos from their fortified position on Majuba Hill. The hill provided the Boers with a strategic advantage, offering a commanding view of the surrounding area. In a surprise night assault, the Boers, led by General Nicolaas Smit, launched an attack on the British positions. The Boers expertly navigated the rugged terrain and managed to climb the hill undetected. At dawn, they unleashed a devastating salvo of accurate rifle fire on the British forces. The battle quickly turned into a severe crush for the British. The Boers, using their superior marksmanship skills, inflicted heavy casualties on the British soldiers, who found themselves exposed and vulnerable on the open slopes of the hill. Major General Colley was among the British casualties, killed by a Boer sniper. The British suffered a crushing defeat at Majuba Hill, with over 200 casualties, including many killed and wounded, while the Boers had relatively few losses. The British were forced to retreat, abandoning their positions. The Battle of Majuba Hill had a profound impact on the First Boer War. It shattered British confidence and revealed the vulnerability of conventional warfare against the guerrilla tactics employed by the Boers. The defeat at Majuba Hill led to negotiations for a peace settlement and played a significant role in the signing of the Pretoria Convention in August 1881, which recognized the independence of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, ending the war. 11. Battle of Talana Hill Answer: Second Boer War The Battle of Talana Hill, also known as the Battle of Glencoe), took place on October 20, 1899, during the Second Boer War in South Africa. It was the first major clash between British and Boer forces in the Second Boer War. The battle occurred near the town of Dundee in Natal, South Africa. The British, commanded by Major General Sir William Penn Symons, sought to prevent the Boers from advancing into British territory. The Boers, under the leadership of General Lukas Meyer, launched an attack on the British positions on Talana Hill. The battle began with an artillery duel between the two sides. The Boers, positioned on the surrounding hills, had the advantage of higher ground. However, the British responded with accurate artillery fire of their own. The Boers then launched an infantry assault on the British positions. Despite being outnumbered, the British put up a fierce resistance. However, the Boers, utilizing their superior marksmanship and knowledge of the terrain, managed to outflank the British positions. The battle raged throughout the day, with both sides sustaining heavy casualties. In the end, the Boers emerged victorious. The British were forced to retreat, abandoning Talana Hill to the Boers. The British suffered approximately 300 casualties, including many killed, wounded, and captured, while the Boers had fewer losses. The Battle of Talana Hill was a setback for the British and highlighted the challenges they faced in the face of Boer resistance. It demonstrated the effectiveness of Boer guerrilla tactics and their ability to capitalize on favorable terrain. The battle set the tone for the subsequent phases of the Second Boer War, which would be characterized by protracted guerrilla warfare and British struggles to overcome Boer resistance. 12. Battle of Elandslaagte Second Boer War The Battle of Elandslaagte took place on October 21, 1899, during the Second Boer War in South Africa. It was a significant engagement between British and Boer forces. The battle occurred near the town of Elandslaagte in Natal, South Africa. The British, commanded by General Sir George White, sought to disrupt Boer supply lines and halt their advance into British-held territory. The Boers, under the leadership of General Piet Joubert, planned to ambush the British forces. The battle began with an artillery exchange, as both sides tried to gain the upper hand. The Boers initially had the advantage due to their well-concealed positions. However, the British managed to bring up many reinforcements and launched a successful cavalry charge, led by Colonel John French. The British cavalry charge caught the Boers off guard and led to a disorganized retreat among the Boer forces. The British infantry then launched a bayonet charge, routing the Boers and capturing their positions. The battle lasted for several hours, with fierce fighting taking place in close quarters. In the end, the British emerged victorious. The Boers suffered significant casualties, with over 300 killed, wounded, or captured, while the British had fewer losses. The Battle of Elandslaagte provided a much-needed morale boost for the British, who had faced setbacks in previous engagements. The Battle of Elandslaagte demonstrated the effectiveness of British combined arms tactics, incorporating artillery, cavalry, and infantry. It highlighted the vulnerability of the Boers to disciplined infantry charges and showcased the British ability to adapt to changing circumstances on the battlefield. Answer:The Battle of Elandslaagte took place on October 21, 1899, during the Second Boer War in South Africa. It was a significant engagement between British and Boer forces.The battle occurred near the town of Elandslaagte in Natal, South Africa. The British, commanded by General Sir George White, sought to disrupt Boer supply lines and halt their advance into British-held territory. The Boers, under the leadership of General Piet Joubert, planned to ambush the British forces.The battle began with an artillery exchange, as both sides tried to gain the upper hand. The Boers initially had the advantage due to their well-concealed positions. However, the British managed to bring up many reinforcements and launched a successful cavalry charge, led by Colonel John French. The British cavalry charge caught the Boers off guard and led to a disorganized retreat among the Boer forces. The British infantry then launched a bayonet charge, routing the Boers and capturing their positions. The battle lasted for several hours, with fierce fighting taking place in close quarters.In the end, the British emerged victorious. The Boers suffered significant casualties, with over 300 killed, wounded, or captured, while the British had fewer losses. The Battle of Elandslaagte provided a much-needed morale boost for the British, who had faced setbacks in previous engagements. The Battle of Elandslaagte demonstrated the effectiveness of British combined arms tactics, incorporating artillery, cavalry, and infantry. It highlighted the vulnerability of the Boers to disciplined infantry charges and showcased the British ability to adapt to changing circumstances on the battlefield. 13. Battle of Ladysmith Answer: Second Boer War The Battle of Ladysmith was a significant battle during the early stages of the Second Boer War. It took place from October 30, 1899, to February 28, 1900, in and around the town of Ladysmith in Natal, South Africa. The town of Ladysmith, defended by British forces under the command of Sir George White, was besieged by Boer forces led by Generals Piet Joubert and Louis Botha. The Boers aimed to capture Ladysmith and cut off British supply lines in Natal. The siege lasted for 118 days, during which the British garrison endured heavy shelling, lack of supplies, and deteriorating living conditions. The Boers, on the other hand, faced challenges in maintaining a tight blockade and suffered from their own supply issues.The Boer commandos were not used to defend a fortification during a long period. In former battles they used their quick replacements and sudden attacks to defeat Britis troops. The British led by General Redvers Buller, eventually broke through the Boer lines on February 28, 1900, lifting the siege of Ladysmith. The Boers withdrew, and the town was once again under British control. The Battle of Ladysmith marked a turning point in the conflict and set the stage for further British offensives against the Boers. It ultimately led to the eventual British victory in the war, although the conflict would continue for several more months before its conclusion. 14. Battle of Spion Kop Answer: Second Boer War The Battle of Spion Kop took place on January 23-24, 1900, during the Second Boer War in South Africa. It was a significant and bloody battle between British and Boer forces. The battle occurred near the town of Ladysmith in Natal, South Africa. The British, commanded by General Sir Charles Warren, sought to capture the strategically important Spion Kop hill, which provided a vantage point for observing and controlling the surrounding area. The British launched a nighttime assault on the Boer positions atop Spion Kop. However, the Boers, under the command of General Louis Botha, fiercely defended their positions and unleashed a barrage of accurate rifle fire on the advancing British soldiers. The battle was characterized by intense close-quarter fighting and heavy casualties on both sides. The British troops faced numerous challenges, including steep terrain, confusion in the darkness, and effective Boer marksmanship. The Boers utilized well-dug trenches and well-concealed firing positions, which made it difficult for the British to gain an advantage. Despite initial British success in capturing the hill, the Boers launched a counterattack and managed to regain control of the key positions. The British soldiers, exposed on the open slopes, suffered heavy losses and were ultimately forced to retreat. The Battle of Spion Kop resulted in a tactical victory for the Boers. The British suffered approximately 350 casualties, including many killed and wounded, while the Boers had fewer losses. The battle highlighted the challenges faced by the British in adapting to the guerrilla warfare tactics employed by the Boers and the difficulty of capturing fortified positions. The battle became renowned for its high casualty rates and is remembered as a symbol of the hardships faced by both sides in the conflict. 15. Battle of Paardeberg Answer: Second Boer War The Battle of Paardeberg took place from February 18 to 27, 1900, during the Second Boer War in South Africa. It was a decisive conflict between British forces led by Lord Roberts and Boer forces under General Piet Cronje. The British besieged the Boer positions near the Modder River and subjected them to heavy artillery fire. After a week of intense fighting, the Boers, out of supplies and surrounded by British forces, surrendered. The battle was a significant victory for the British and marked a turning point in the war, leading to the eventual British success in the conflict. After the defeat at Paardeberg most Boers stopped their struggle for freedom. Only a small group of Boers (called Bitterenders) continued against the British in a two year long guerilla war. Finally they also surrenderd and, on 31 May 1902, the Peace of Vereeniging was signed and ended the last of the wars between the Boers, the Zulus, and the British. Source: Author piet This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system. felicilin at 10-07-2023 09:07 PM (1 week ago) (f) Critic, Reno Omokri on Monday said the Igbo can only get leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) out of prison if their leaders adopted diplomacy in doing so. Critic, Reno Omokri on Monday said the Igbo can only get leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) out of prison if their leaders adopted diplomacy in doing so. Omokri, in a tweet, said using force and destroying properties in the Southeast in a bid to force government to release Kanu would never work, as no government would succumb to that. Omokri, in a tweet, said using force and destroying properties in the Southeast in a bid to force government to release Kanu would never work, as no government would succumb to that. Quote When Abiola was in jail, the Yoruba did not destroy their region to force Abacha to release MKO Abiola. Rather, they used diplomacy to turn Abacha into an international pariah until Abacha was forced to offer Abiola bail (which Abiola ultimately refused). Mohammed Abacha was in prison for three years. How was he released? Kano elders sought an audience with Obasanjo in 2002 and publicly prostrated to him. The next month, the court freed Mohammed. Asari Dokubo was in prison for treason for two years until Niger Delta elders used diplomacy to get President Yaradua to release him in 2007. What militancy could not do, diplomacy did! I cannot imagine any truly intelligent person saying until you release our son, we will keep destroying our region. Who loses? Fight intelligently, not forcefully, Omokri said. Omokri added: You are cutting your nose and thinking you are spiting those in power? And nobody can even counsel you guys. It is either you know better than those who want to counsel you and start to lecture them, or you insult them. The Yoruba used diplomacy as leverage. Kano people used it. Niger Delta used it. You, too, use it. It will serve you better than this path of self-destruction. No government can give in to force. The minute they do, they are finished, because others will smell weakness and engage in their own violence. Omokri said.Omokri added: You are cutting your nose and thinking you are spiting those in power? And nobody can even counsel you guys. It is either you know better than those who want to counsel you and start to lecture them, or you insult them. Post Reply Posted: at 10-07-2023 09:07 PM (1 week ago) | Addicted Hero Tata Group could become Indias first iPhone maker amid Wistron factory acquisition: Report News oi -Carlsen Martin The Tata Group is on close to a deal to acquire an Apple Inc. supplier's factory. The agreement could be finalised as early as August and will mark the first time that a local company would move into the assembly of iPhones. The Tata Group is plotting a takeover of the Wistron Corp. factory in southern Karnataka, which is potentially valued at over $600 million, according to Bloomberg reporting. The report cites unnamed sources to maintain their privacy. Will Tata be the first Indian company to manufacture iPhones? The Wistron factory in the state of Karnataka currently employs more than 10,000 workers, who assembled the vanilla iPhone 14 model last year. Wistron has committed to shipping at least $1.8 billion worth of iPhones from the factory in the fiscal year through March 2024. People close to the matter said that the goal was set so Wistron could win state-backed financial incentives. Wistron also made plans to triple the factory's workforce by 2024, a commitment Tata will reportedly honour as Wistron exits the iPhone business in India. All three parties concerned with the acquisition, Tata, Apple, and Wistron have declined to comment on the report, according to Bloomberg. However, if the deal does go through, it will make the Tata Group the first company from India to manufacture iPhones for Apple. Apple looks to ramp-up iPhone production across the globe Apple have been attempting to diversify its product base beyond China after the Cupertino-based tech giant took a major hit to its supply chains in the country during the coronavirus pandemic and tensions between Washington and Beijing. India is also fast become one of the biggest markets for Apple, while iPhone 14 sales have shown strong growth despite an overall slump in the smartphone industry. Wistron exported around $500 million in iPhones from India in the three months ended June 30. Additionally, other suppliers including Foxconn Technology Group, and Pegatron Corp., have also reportedly ramped up production locally. A major step in challenging China's manufacturing dominance India also aims to ramp up its domestic manufacturing as PM Narendra Modi set up new government programs with lucrative financial incentives to expand production and employment in the country. And Tata's acquisition of Wistron could significantly boost India's attempts to challenge China. Over the past few years, the Tata Group has stepped up its efforts to make inroads into e-commerce and electronics production. The Group currently sells everything from salt to tech services in India. Additionally, the report also notes that the Group already makes iPhone chassis at its factory in Tamil Nadu. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Foxconn And Vedanta Part Ways: Micron Only Company To Build Semiconductor Manufacturing Plant In India? Tech Biz oi -Alap Naik Desai In a substantial but presumably temporary setback to India's ambitious plan of manufacturing microchips for electronics, Foxconn has walked away from a multibillion-dollar joint venture with Indian oil and metal giant Vedanta. Last year the Government of India praised Vedanta and Foxconn's upcoming semiconductor manufacturing plant in Gujarat as a landmark. However, less than a year after signing the historic MoU, with the state government in Gandhinagar, Foxconn is walking away from the partnership. What Will Happen To The $19.5 Billion Semiconductor Manufacturing Plant? Foxconn and Vedanta inked an agreement last year to build semiconductor and display production plants in Gujarat. The entire joint venture was supposed to be built with an investment of about 1.5 lakh crore. However, in less than a year, Foxconn is pulling out of the partnership with Vedanta and nullifying the entire joint venture from its end. Speaking about the development, Foxconn said: "In order to explore more diverse development opportunities, according to a mutual agreement, Foxconn has determined it will not move forward on the joint venture with Vedanta." "Foxconn is confident about the direction of India's semiconductor development. We will continue to strongly support the government's 'Make In India' ambitions and establish a diversity of local partnerships that meet the needs of stakeholders." Vedanta has assured that it continues to remain fully committed to its semiconductor project. The oil and metal giant even indicated that it has lined up other partners to set up India's first foundry. "Vedanta reiterates that it is fully committed to its semiconductor fab project and we have lined up other partners to set up India's first foundry. We will continue to grow our Semiconductor team, and we have the license for production-grade technology for 40 nm from a prominent Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM)," Why Did Foxconn Walk Away And What Will Happen To Its Other Operations in India? Simply put, Vedanta will take the project forward with an as-yet-unannounced partner. Foxconn too will remain committed to its India operations. The Tawian-based giant has merely walked away from its partnership with Vedanta. Some reports suggest Foxconn pulled out of the joint venture after the government raised questions over its application for an incentive scheme for chip production. However, the company may have been wary of Vedanta, which is reportedly reeling under a heavy debt load. Unconfirmed reports suggest Foxconn isn't confident Vedanta will be able to pay for acquiring the necessary technology for semiconductor manufacturing. Foxconn has categorically mentioned that it is "working to remove the Foxconn name from what now is a fully-owned entity of Vedanta. Foxconn has no connection to the entity and efforts to keep its original name will cause confusion for future stakeholders." This clearly implies that Foxconn doesn't want to be associated with Vedanta. Although Foxconn has stepped away, Vedanta has confirmed that it will move forward with the plant in Gujarat. This means that India could have two semiconductor manufacturing plants primarily because Micron hopes to start manufacturing microchips in India before 2024 ends. Incidentally, even Micron's plant will be in Gujarat. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Co-Director of Think Tank Indicted for Acting as Unregistered Foreign Agent, Trafficking in Arms, Violating U.S. Sanctions Against Iran, and Making False Statements to Federal Agents For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Monday, July 10, 2023 Gal Luft, a Dual U.S.-Israeli Citizen, Allegedly Evaded FARA Registration While Working to Advance the Interests of China in the United States and Sought to Broker the Illicit Sale of Chiense Manufactured Weapons and Iranian Oil to China A dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who serves as the co-director of a Maryland-based think tank was indicted today for allegedly engaging in multiple international criminal schemes. According to court documents, Gal Luft, 57, is charged in an eight-count indictment with offenses related to willfully failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), arms trafficking, Iranian sanctions violations and making false statements to federal agents. Luft was arrested on Feb. 17 in the Republic of Cyprus based on the charges in the indictment. Luft subsequently fled after being released on bail while extradition proceedings were pending and remains a fugitive. According to the allegations contained in the indictment, for years, Luft conspired with others in an effort to act within the United States to advance the interests of the People's Republic of China (China) as agents of China-based principals, without registering as foreign agents as required under U.S. law. As part of this scheme, while serving as the co-director of a Maryland-based nonprofit think tank, Luft agreed to covertly recruit and pay, on behalf of principals based in China, a former high-ranking U.S. government official (Individual-1), including in 2016 while the former official was an adviser to the then-President-elect, to publicly support certain policies with respect to China without Luft or Individual-1 filing a registration statement as an agent of a foreign principal with the Attorney General of the United States, in violation of FARA. Among other things, in the weeks before the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Luft and a co-conspirator (CC-1), who is a Chinese national and worked for a Chinese nongovernmental organization affiliated with a Chinese energy company, created a written "dialogue" between CC-1 and Individual-1, in which Luft wrote Individual-1's responses and included information that was favorable to China. The dialogue was then published in a Chinese newspaper online and sent to, among others, individuals in the United States, including a journalist and professors at multiple U.S. universities. When Luft was writing the dialogue, CC-1 told Luft that "[i]n these articles, we do not want to spill all the beans yet, just enough to let 'people' know he [i.e., Individual-1] is in the corridor of power to be. Just broad stroke policy consideration that leaves plenty of room for interpretation and imagination to be filled in later." After the purported "conversations" were published, Luft told CC-1 that certain information, favorable to China, had been "tucked between the lines." Shortly after the 2016 election, Luft and CC-1 also discussed possible roles Individual-1 might have in the incoming U.S. administration, and discussed Individual-1 taking a "silent trip" to China. Luft responded that "[w]e are debating about his role in the new admin. There are all kinds of considerations . . .We should talk ftf [i.e., face-to-face] as there can be a supremely unique opportunity for china." Second, Luft conspired with others and attempted to broker illicit arms transactions with, among others, certain Chinese individuals and entities. In his role as a broker or middleman, Luft worked to find both buyers and sellers of certain weapons and other materials, without a license to do so as required under U.S. law, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. Among other things, Luft worked to broker a deal for Chinese companies to sell certain weapons to Libya, including anti-tank launchers, grenade launchers and mortar rounds (which Luft and his associates referred to in coded language as "toys"). Luft also worked to broker deals for certain weapons to be sold to the United Arab Emirates, including arial bombs and rockets. Luft further worked to broker deals for certain weapons to be sold by a Chinese company to Kenya, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) - and specifically "strike" UAVs, which Luft acknowledged "[t]he US doesn't want to sell[, . . .] hence the opportunity." Luft also discussed brokering a deal for weapons to Qatar, and told CC-1 that Israel was "not a good fit" as the middleman for the deal because it had the "[s]ame problem the [] Q [i.e., Qataris] have w uncle [i.e., the United States]. Need a third party. . . . I will activate." In his role as a broker for illicit arms deals, Luft worked on a commission basis, and traveled to meetings and received and passed on documentation needed to secure the deals. During a voluntary interview with U.S. law enforcement in which he was asked questions about his involvement in arms trafficking, Luft made multiple false statements, including that he had just been checking prices for a friend and had not sought to engage in or profit from arms deals. Third, Luft conspired with others and attempted to broker deals for Iranian oil - which he directed an associate to refer to as "Brazilian" oil in an effort to conceal the activity and evade sanctions - in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In his role as a broker or middleman, Luft solicited buyers and passed on pricing and other information. One offer letter for Iranian oil that Luft received noted that the "origin" of the oil was "Iranian / It can be presented as UAE origin without Iranian papers." He also assisted in setting up meetings between Iranian representatives and a Chinese energy company for the purpose of discussing oil deals. During a voluntary interview with U.S. law enforcement in which he was asked about his role brokering deals in Iranian oil, Luft made multiple false statements, including that he had tried to prevent oil deals with Iran and had not been present during meetings with the Chinese energy company and Iranians. Luft is charged with the following offenses, which carry the maximum prison terms listed below. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Count Charge Maximum Prison Term One Conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act Five years Two Conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act Five years Three Violation of the Arms Export Control Act (relating to Libya) 20 years Four Violation of the Arms Export Control Act (relating to the United Arab Emirates) 20 years Five Violation of the Arms Export Control Act (relating to Kenya) 20 years Six Making false statements Five years Seven Conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 20 years Eight Making false statements Five years The FBI New York Field Office and FBI's Counterintelligence Division are investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel C. Richenthal and Catherine Ghosh for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. If you have any information about Luft's whereabouts, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Tips can be reported anonymously and can also be reported online at tips.fbi.gov. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Topics: Counterintelligence Export Control National Security Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 23-743 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Central Command and the Israel Defense Forces Begin Military Exercise U.S. Central Command USCENTCOM July 10, 2023 Release Number 20230710-01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TAMPA, Fla. -- U.S. Central Command and the Israel Defense Forces conduct military exercise this week during Juniper Oak 23.3 in Israel. This event tests collective U.S.-Israeli readiness and improves the interoperability of both forces through bilateral cyber incident response, while U.S. F-16's, KC-10, and KC-46 aircraft support air-to-air refueling, and agile combat employment (offensive air) within Israel. "Events like the Juniper Oak series demonstrate our commitment to strengthen military-to-military relations throughout the region," said Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command. "These exercises test our forces interoperability in multiple domains to bolster the kinds of firm partnerships we will lean on in times of crisis." The Juniper Oak 23.3 event demonstrates the U.S. commitment to Israel's defense and enhances military readiness of the two partners. This event also demonstrates our full commitment to the security of the Middle East and ability to deter hostile acts against regional partners. -30- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 10, 2023 Transcript Press Gaggle With Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY SABRINA SINGH: All right, can you hear me? STAFF: Yes. MS. SINGH: OK, great. All right, thanks all. Happy Monday, and good afternoon, everyone. So I'm going to just have a few items here at the top to pass along, and then I'd be happy to take any questions. So today, as we mentioned last week, the secretary departed on travel to Vilnius, Lithuania as part of the president's team for the NATO Ministerial. The summit provides an excellent opportunity to meet with our NATO allies at a critical time to discuss our collective security and bolster the alliance. The secure -- the secretary will also convey the importance of NATO nations pledging to spend two percent of their GDP to ensure the alliance has the resources it needs to meet our mutual defense needs. And finally, the secretary will also reinforce our unwavering unity and resolve to support Ukraine's efforts to defend their nation and sovereignty from Russian aggression. Changing topics, we want to congratulate the first three Royal Australian Navy officers on their graduation from the United States Navy's Nuclear Power School, marking a significant step in AUKUS implementation. The Naval Nuclear Power Training Command and Nuclear Power School trains officers and enlisted sailors in the science and engineering principles that are fundamental to the design, operation and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plants. These Royal Australian Navy sailors' graduation marks an important step in Australia's plan to operate conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines. And lastly, before I jump into taking questions, before the secretary departed on his trip he hosted the Relinquishment of Office ceremony for General David Berger, the 38th commandant of the Marine Corps at the Marine Barracks in D.C. As all of you know, here on this call, Senator Tuberville has placed an indefinite hold on our general and flag officers. So as of today and for the first time in more than 100 years, the U.S. Marine Corps is forced to operate without a Senate-confirmed commandant. General Eric Smith will be the acting commandant until a -- until a successor can be confirmed, meaning he will be doing two jobs at one time. But the issue extends far beyond today. Tomorrow, the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a nomination hearing for General C.Q. Brown, the nominee to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On Wednesday, the SASC committee will hold a hearing for General Randy George, who is the nominee for chief of staff of Army -- sorry -- chief of staff for the Army. Hundreds of well-qualified military leaders are now being held up by Senator Tuberville. As the sec -- as the secretary said in his speech today, smooth and timely transitions of confirmed leadership are critical to the defense of the United States and to the full strength of the most powerful fighting force in history, and stable and orderly leadership transitions are also vital to maintaining our unmatched network of alliances and partners. They are cru- -- they are crucial for our military readiness. The longer these unprecedented holds remain, the greater risk the department runs in experiencing knowledge and expertise gaps in certain critical and often difficult-to-fill positions, and the downstream effects will continue to impact the readiness of the force. We urge Senator Tuberville to lift his hold and urge the Senate to confirm these exceptional general and flag officers. And with that, I'd be happy to dive into questions. I'll go over first to Dan De Luce, NBC. Q: Could you speak to allegations in North Korea that a U.S. military aircraft allegedly entered into North Korean airspace or ventured near North Korea, and then the subsequent threat they've issued? MS. SINGH: Sure, thanks, Dan, for the question. I -- I've seen those comments coming out of North Korea today. The United States, as always, remains committed to safely and responsibly flying, sailing, operating anywhere that international law allows and alongside our allies and partners. I just don't have anything more to say on those comments or those threats coming out of North Korea. We operate responsibly and safely in international waterways and -- and airspaces wherever -- wherever we can. Q: So just to follow up, it -- it's accurate to say that the U.S. did -- military did not have an aircraft in North Korean airspace? MS. SINGH: Yeah, I -- again, we op- -- op- -- we always operate responsibly and safely and in accordance with international law, so those accusations are just accusations, and I'll leave it at that. Great. Next, we'll go to Jeff Seldin, VOA. Q: Sabrina, thanks very much for doing this, and I have a couple of things. First, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's proposed removing the requirement for a -- a MAP -- Membership Action Plan -- for Ukraine to join the alliance. Does the Pentagon have a position on that proposal of the U.N. on that? And also, over the weekend, CENTCOM announced that a drone strike killed a -- a senior ISIS leader, and he's from Syria. Do you have any more information on that leader, Usamah al-Muhajir? And also, CENTCOM said that the drones that did that strike had earlier been harassed by Russian jets. Does the Pentagon have any sort of assessment on how Russia's conduct in the skies above Syria has damaged the Defeat ISIS mission? Have Russian actions like this allowed other high-value ISIS targets to escape? MS. SINGH: Thanks, Jeff, for your questions. I will take the last one first. So as you -- as you -- or probably, as you did see, CENTCOM put out a release over the weekend that confirmed the successful operation taking out a key ISIS leader. In terms of more details on who that individual is, I will refer to CENTCOM for that. But just going to the -- the larger point that you bring up on -- on Russian harassment of our MQ-9s, again, we have been very clear and very vocal that our mission in Syria remains to defeat ISIS. The Russians know that, they know exactly where we operate, and so there is no excuse for Russian forces' continual harassment of our MQ-9s after years of U.S. operations in the area aimed at ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS. And it is almost as if the Russians are now on a mission to protect ISIS leaders. Again, this is something that is -- is very known, on where -- where we operate and -- and our mission in Syria, and while Russian forces did harass and -- and try to -- well, I guess "harass" will probably be the best word to describe what they were doing to the MQ-9 aircraft -- the mission was still a success. So while I can't speak to other missions, if they have been deterred by Russian actions, what I can say is that CENTCOM was able to successfully execute this mission despite what the Russian forces have been trying to do in the air, and -- and not just the one over the weekend but a few days prior to that, I think you saw some of the video that was released. I mean, you can just see how these Russian forces are trying to disrupt these operations. Going to your earlier port -- earlier point I think that you had raised on -- and I -- I don't exactly remember your entire question, but just when it comes to Ukraine and NATO, I think -- I think the Secretary laid this out well, as he said before, that, you know, each NATO aspirant has their own path to membership, and the -- the U.S. will always continue to support NATO's open door policy. But it is the -- it is the right of the -- each state to choose, you know, its ascension -- ascension path, and certainly, you know, it -- it -- it takes various forms but we will always continue to support NATO's open door policy. OK, with that, I will move on to Oren from CNN. Q: A question about the Senator Tuberville holds. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said earlier today, and I'm quoting here, "I'm also confident that the U.S. Senate will meet its responsibilities and I look forward to welcoming an outstanding new Commandant for our Marine Corps and adding many other distinguished senior leaders across the Joint Force." Has he -- sort of where does that optimism come from, that -- that there will be some sort of movement on the Tuberville holds? Has he or have Legislative Affairs have further conversations with either Senator Tuberville or the Senate Armed Services Committee? And -- and -- and do you see an end in sight to the holds? And if so, why? MS. SINGH: Thanks, Oren, for the question. So our -- our -- our Office of Legislative Affairs, the team upstairs continues to engage with Senator Tuberville's office and Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. I think what you're seeing from -- within Senator Tuberville's own party is displeasure with these holds. All we can do as a department is continue to remain engaged with the Senate, which is -- I think is why you saw the Secretary express optimism that, once Senator Tuberville does release his holds, that the Senate would confirm these nominees -- and these are exceptional general and flag officer nominees that we have awaiting confirmation -- that they would confirm them quickly. We don't have an indication right now of what Senator Tuberville plans to do. Unfortunately, he has put a blanket hold on our general and -- and flag officers, which is going to impact the readiness of our force, and that's already what you're seeing today with the -- with the -- General Smith having to occupy two positions as the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. Two positions that require two different people to be in those roles will now be a dual-hatted position, which of course is going to impact the U.S. Marine Corps, and -- and this is going to happen not just for the Marine Corps but other services. So we continue to engage, we continue to remain hopeful, but I think what you have seen is that Republicans within Senator Tuberville's party are -- are displeased with this. And we're -- again, just to reiterate -- and I know -- I know you know this -- but these are nonpartisan general and flag officers that, at a time when our nation is facing rising challenges and threats all around the world, from Russia in Ukraine to the -- the growing pacing challenge in China, we need the best of the best in those positions, in the positions that they were nominated for. So it's incredibly important that, once Senator Tuberville does lift the -- his hold, that these -- the ladies and -- the -- the women -- the men and women as -- is -- nominated in these positions are -- are confirmed quickly. And I'm sorry, did you have another question? I -- I'm sorry if I missed that. Q: No, that's it. Thank you. MS. SINGH: OK, great. Missy Ryan, Washington Post? Q: Hi, Sabrina. Thank you. I just wanted to see -- and -- and I hope -- I don't think I missed this on -- on Friday with -- with Dr. Kahl's briefing but can you provide any information about -- now that the DPICMs have been authorized, about the -- how -- where things stand in terms of getting them to Ukraine? You know, are these things that were pre-positioned in Europe or a -- do they need to be transported from the United States? Anything on how quickly, ballpark, this could come into play on the battlefield would be helpful. And then also just to clarify, regarding the Secretary's travel, is -- am I right to understand that he's just going to Vilnius and back, that he's not going on to Finland or anywhere else? Thanks. MS. SINGH: Yep, sure, Missy. Thanks for the questions. On -- on the last one first, that's right, he's just going to Vilnius and then will be returning back later this week, I believe on Thursday. On your -- on your first questions on -- on the cluster munitions, for operational security reasons -- and -- and Dr. Kahl did, a little bit, get into this -- I'm just not going to get into a timeline of delivery, of when they will be expected in Ukraine. What I can say is that, with the announcement of the package last week, we are flowing equipment and systems into Ukraine almost within -- from one to two days of a package being announced. So we are -- we are making sure that the DPICMs arrive at a time when they are most needed in the counter-offensive. That is exactly why we announced it when we -- when we did last week. I'm not going to detail the exact date but they will be arriving for the counter-offensive to be -- to be used on the battlefield. Great, OK. I'm going to go to Meredith Roaten from Janes. I hope I got your last name right, apologies if not. Q: That's correct. Thank you so much for doing this. I wanted to ask a follow-up question on the cluster munitions as well. I know Dr. Kahl that he can't speak to really the -- the mix of variants that are going to be sent to Ukraine but I was wondering if you can at least say how many different variants of these cluster munitions are going to Ukraine? MS. SINGH: Thanks -- thanks for the question, Meredith. Unfortunately, just for operational security reasons, I'm not going to get into the types of -- different types of variants. All I will say is that the DPICMs that we are sending average a 2.35 dud rate or below, based on our recent studies and tests on them. And in -- that's all I'll speak to on that front. Q: If I could follow up. MS. SINGH: Yes, sure. Q: I'm sorry, if I could follow up. MS. SINGH: Go ahead. Q: -- just follow up really quickly on that. And to clarify, does -- because the DPICMs have a 2.35 or less dud rate, I just wanted to clarify that that means that there are DPICMs going with dud rates that are less than 2.35. MS. SINGH: Yes, that's -- I mean, I think that -- I think you might have just said that as well, but that is correct. So, what we are sending Ukraine are DPICMs that have been tested and have a dud rate of less than 2.35 percent. That's exactly what we're sending. Q: OK, thank you. MS. SINGH: No problem. Brandi Vincent, DefenseScoop. Q: Thank you so much, Sabrina. Two lines of questions for you. First is another follow-up from the briefing with Dr. Kahl last week. Does DOD plan to send more ISR assets to Ukraine to try to mitigate the risks of potential civilian casualties from these cluster munitions or to help with targeting for Russian forces? MS. SINGH: Hey, Brandi, thanks for the question. So again, we've been rolling out presidential drawdown packages and Ukraine security assistant packages for, you know, almost every week. You see what is listed in those packages and we have them posted online, on some of the capabilities that we have been providing. What Ukraine needs right now in its fight is artillery. And one of their -- that's one of their main priorities and also more air defense. And so, that's something that you've seen that we've been providing in all of our packages. And we continue to provide. And we will continue to have more and future security packages in the coming weeks. I don't have anything to announce today. But as we roll out more security assistance, you know, you'll certainly be aware of that when the time comes. Q: Thank you so much. And then just one other question on Deputy Secretary Hicks' travel to Hawaii. I was wondering if you could provide some color or a little bit more details about what she's learned from meetings with INDOPACOM's AI and data accelerator operational data team. What are the actual use cases with AI that she's seeing where INDOPACOM is really integrating it to tackle data challenges? MS. SINGH: Hey, Brandi, thanks so much for the question. I just -- I would need to get back to you on that. So, I'm happy to take that question and follow back up with you. Q: Thank you so much, Sabrina. MS. SINGH: Great. And our last question is from Sam LaGrone from USNI. Q: Well, hey, how's it going, Sabrina? Real quick, is there OSD Policy yet on how you all are going to handle some of these vacancies or the extensions for these positions that are still awaiting confirmation? And then, how many positions are still pending confirmation? Thanks. MS. SINGH: Thanks, Sam, for the question. So, as of -- as of last Friday, I believe, there are 265 general and flag officer nominations that have been -- that have -- that have been submitted and are currently impacted by the hold. And that, of course, ranges between -- between the services. So that's -- that's currently where it stands, but between now and the end of the year, we could have as many as 650 vacancies in -- or -- or approximately 650 general and flag officers that would require Senate confirmation. And the fact that we have -- we have 852 general and flag officers in our military, there are approximately 110 other positions that will be forced to be dual-hatted to allow for other officers to retire -- so we're looking at about 89 percent of all general and flag officer positions that could be vacant or require a Senate confirmation, again, at a time when we are facing rising challenges from all around the world. Does that get to your question? I'm sorry, I think you had one other and I -- I -- I'm blanking on the -- the third one. Q: No, I mean, is -- so are you extending people in some of these jobs? Are you allowing them to retire and have a deputy? And -- and -- and how are you all adjudicating, like, these positions and how they're going to get filled and how that works, going to get done while this hold is ongoing? MS. SINGH: Yeah, because the hold is ongoing, we are having to ask people to delay their retirements and continue to stay in their positions. We are also asking officers to assume the duties of a higher grade while remaining in their current rank but not actually being able to pay them of that -- that rank that they occupy because they cannot receive that pay unless they are Senate confirmed. So this is going to have a huge impact across -- across the force, and again, just to -- just to give you, you know, some insight here, it's not -- it's not just our general and flag officers that are -- that are being impacted in our force, it is their families as well. I've heard cases of two students who were -- who dis-enrolled from their current school because they were supposed to move with their family for a change of station move but now they can't enroll in a new school because they don't know when they'll be able to relocate. I have another -- I've -- I've heard another story of a -- a teacher who was a teacher at the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, and she recently ended her contract with her previous employer but has been unable to start a new job at another school because she doesn't know when her spouse will be relocated. So again, this is having a -- an incredible impact not just to our general and flag officers but to our families, and we -- we certainly urge Senator Tuberville to -- to lift these holds and -- and allow these general and flag officers to be confirmed. With that, thanks all for joining the gaggle today. We will be back briefing on Thursday and look forward to talking to you then. Thanks. Q: Thank you. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3453577/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 10, 2023 By C. Todd Lopez , DOD News Senate Nominations Hold Stalls Hundreds of Military Leader Appointments With the current hold in the Senate on confirming general and flag officers, as many as 650 critical leadership positions might be vacant by year's end, said the deputy Pentagon press secretary during a briefing today. Military positions which should be filled with confirmed leaders, Singh said, might instead need to be filled by men and women who are doing the job part time, while continuing to fill another role they've already been appointed to. Right now, Singh said, as many as 265 general and flag officer nominations have been delayed in the Senate, affecting the smooth transition of leadership. This morning, for instance, Marine Corps Gen. David H. Berger relinquished his position as the 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Taking his place is Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith, who will serve in an acting capacity, until confirmed, while he continues to serve in his current role as the assistant commandant. The only other time the Marine Corps operated with an acting commandant was in 1818, more than 100 years ago, when Marine Corps Maj. Archibald Henderson served as the acting commandant for just over five months. In later years, Henderson was confirmed as commandant. During the relinquishment of office ceremony at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III used the opportunity to highlight the importance of smooth leadership transitions within the U.S. military. "As the secretary said in his speech today, smooth and timely transitions of confirmed leadership are critical to the defense of the United States and to the full strength of the most powerful fighting force in history," Singh said. "Stable and orderly leadership transitions are also vital to maintaining our unmatched network of alliances and partners; they are crucial for our military readiness." Continued holds on confirmations, Singh said, poses a risk that the department will experience knowledge and expertise gaps in critical and difficult-to-fill positions. She said this will impact the readiness of the force. Tomorrow, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. goes before the Senate for a hearing regarding his nomination to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown currently serves as the chief of staff of the Air Force. Later this week, Army Gen. Randy A. George will also appear before the Senate regarding his nomination to be the next chief of staff of the Army. George currently serves as the vice chief of staff of the Army. Continued delay in confirming leadership positions in the department, Singh said, means some officers may be asked to delay retirements so they can stay in their current positions. Other leaders may be asked to take on a role with more responsibility, and in an acting capacity, but without the commensurate promotion and pay that goes with that role. "This is going to have a huge impact across the force," Singh said. "And ... it's not just our general and flag officers that are that are being impacted ... it is their families as well." Singh offered as an example two students who had disenrolled from their current school expecting to move with their military parent to a new assignment. However, due to delays in confirmation, they have now found that they can't enroll in their new school because they are not sure when they will be able to relocate. In a similar example, a schoolteacher ended her contract with her current employer, expecting to move to a new location, but now that's been put on hold due to delays in Senate confirmations. "This is having an incredible impact not just [on] our general and flag officers, but [on] our families," Singh said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway will continue to contribute Norwegian forces in Lithuania Government of Norway Press release | Date: 10/07/2023 The Norwegian Government has now decided to extend the participation of Norwegian forces in NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Lithuania until the end of 2024. Norway has participated in the eFP since it was first deployed in 2017, and is contributing a company of up to 150 military personnel. On Monday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre and Minister of Defence Bjrn Arild Gram visited the Norwegian Force in Lithuania in advance of the NATO Summit in Vilnius. 'I am proud of the work being carried out by the Norwegian forces in Lithuania. The decision to extend the participation of Norwegian troops when there is an ongoing war in Europe is not a decision the Government takes lightly. But we know that this is an important operation and that our contribution is valuable. Sharing knowledge and experience serves to enhance both our own Armed Forces and NATO,' said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre. NATO has deployed a total of roughly 1 600 personnel in Lithuania, following the reinforcement of troops in 2022. 'The Baltic countries are our allies. Our presence helps to safeguard their security. Therefore, the Government has now decided to extend the deployment of Norwegian forces in Lithuania until the end of 2024,' said Mr Stre. This is one of our most important military contributions to the international community at the present time, and it is also the largest number of personnel we are providing abroad. I am very pleased we can extend this deployment until the end of 2024,' said Minister of Defence Bjrn Arild Gram. The eFP consists of four multinational battalion-size battle groups based in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland. The Norwegian contribution is part of a German-led multinational battalion in Lithuania. The Norwegian force is based at a Lithuanian garrison in the town of Rukla, some 90 km outside Vilnius. The Norwegians train and exercise together with soldiers from Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and the host country Lithuania. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Baltic states to sign declaration on airspace extension for NATO activities Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2023-07-10 International cooperation On July 11 Defence Ministers of the Baltic states Arvydas Anusauskas, Inara Murniece and Hanno Pevkuras will sign a joint declaration on extension of the Baltic airspace for NATO activities. The Declaration will lay out the authorization for NATO Allies to use the block airspace of the three Baltic states for NATO deterrence, enhanced vigilance and large scale training purposes without restrictions. NATO agrees on strengthening its air posture and on the Rotation Air Defence Model which means air-based air defence capabilities deployed to Allied countries on a rotational basis to thus enhance the Alliance's air and missile defence readiness, rapid response and mobility. The Joint Declaration of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will invite NATO Allies to dedicate capabilities for implementation of the Rotational Air Defence Model. The Baltic states will also express a joint intent to stay responsive to emerging needs and continue developing airspace solutions, enhancing airspace accessibility for NATO air activity, to ensure top flight safety standards and improve civilian and military cooperation between Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on July 3-9, 2023 Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2023-07-10 International cooperation On July 3-9 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled 3 times to identify and escort aircraft of the Russian Federation flying in violation of flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. On July 4 the NATO Air Policing aircraft were scrambled to intercept one TU-214 flying from the mainland of the Russian Federation to Kaliningrad. It had a pre-filed flight plan, the crew kept the onboard transponder on and maintained radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. On July 4 NATO fighter aircraft identified and escorted two SU-27 flying in international airspace from Kaliningrad's and back. The flight had no pre-filed plan, the crews kept the onboard transponders off and did not keep radio communication. On July 7 NATO air policing mission fighter aircraft intercepted one IL-76 flying in international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad without the pre-filed flight plan, though its onboard transponder was kept switched on as well as radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President ahead of the NATO Summit: We need to take important decisions on forward defense President of the Republic of Lithuania July 10, 2023 On Monday, ahead of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, President Gitanas Nauseda met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The Head of State and the NATO Secretary General discussed the final details of preparations and coordination of decisions. The President underlined that Lithuania's ambition from the very beginning was for the Vilnius Summit to be characterized not by declarations, but by decisions that are essential for the entire Alliance. According to Gitanas Nauseda, the fact that the allies are meeting in the neighborhood of an aggressor sends a strong signal of unity and resolvewe are united and will defend every inch of the Alliance. "Thanks to the allies, Vilnius will be one of the safest places in Europe during the NATO Summitin the air, at sea and on land. We want to feel that safe at all times, and we will work towards it because we are the front line of NATO," the President spoke. According to Gitanas Nauseda, the security of NATO's eastern flank should be a priority for the entire Alliance, and we need to swiftly implement the decisions taken in Madrid on forward defense and to approve new defense plans in Vilnius. Gitanas Nauseda and Jens Stoltenberg also discussed Ukraine-related issues that will be on the agenda of the NATO Summit. "We all understand that only Ukraine's victory will bring security and stability back to Europe. We also understand that Ukraine must be fully integrated into the transatlantic security structures and become a member of NATO. The time is over for repeating promises. It is time to agree on a clear plan on how we will achieve this. The prospect of membership is extremely important for a country that has been fighting heroically against the Russian monster for almost a year and a half. Vilnius has to be the place from which good news reaches the Ukrainian people," the Lithuanian leader spoke. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. AND INDONESIAN MARINES CO-HOST PACIFIC SYMPOSIUM US Marine Corps News 10 Jul 2023 | 2nd Lt. Lauri Schleicher U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific BALI, Indonesia -- The Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, Lt. Gen. William Jurney, and Indonesian Marine Corps Commandant, Maj. Gen. Nur Alamsyah, will co-host the 9th Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Bali, Indonesia, July 9-14. This is the first PALS to be co-hosted by the Indonesian Marine Corps, and is set to be one of the largest PALS since its inaugural gathering in 2015. The symposium will bring together senior Marine Corps, naval infantry, and military leaders from across the Indo-Pacific, Central America, South America, and Europe. Delegations from 25 countries are anticipated to participate. Through in-person dialogue and interactions, PALS seeks to strengthen relationships and cooperation among amphibious leaders and forces to maintain a secure and stable Indo-Pacific region. The theme of this year's symposium is "Multilateral Amphibious Contributions to Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific." The event will consist of speeches, panel discussions, bi-lateral and tri-lateral engagements, and a capabilities demonstration. Throughout the event, participants will have the opportunity to share ideas, best practices, and recent experiences on areas of common interest. Topics include amphibious capabilities and interoperability, force modernization, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. PALS is the premier annual gathering of regional amphibious forces. Established in 2015 by MARFORPAC, PALS brings together a growing list of like-minded Allies and partners committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the region. Each delegation has a vested interest in the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific. Many delegations have populations affected by natural disasters like typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to their proximity to the "Ring of Fire" and the Indian or Pacific Ocean. "The work we do at PALS contributes to regional peace and security, and will save lives during a crisis," said Jurney. "We gather at PALS because we know that, working together, we can improve our response capabilities, increase our integration, and bolster our cooperation in this vibrant region." PALS 23 demonstrates the U.S.' commitment to our regional allies and partners, and builds on the successes of previous iterations. Historically, MARFORPAC has hosted the event, but in recent years, co-hosts such as the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, and now the Indonesian Marine Corps have assumed leadership roles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Secretary General welcomes Turkiye's decision to forward Sweden accession protocols to parliament NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 10 Jul. 2023 Speaking in Vilnius on Monday (10 July 2023), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's agreement to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible, and work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification. The announcement came following a meeting between the Secretary General, President Erdogan, and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. "The memorandum concluded a year ago at the Madrid summit has delivered," said Mr Stoltenberg. "It has delivered more in our fight against terrorism, more security for Turkiye, and a stronger NATO." He noted that Sweden and Turkiye have worked closely together since NATO's 2022 Summit in Madrid to address Turkiye's legitimate security concerns, and that as part of that process, Sweden has amended its constitution, changed its laws, significantly expanded its counter-terrorism cooperation against the PKK, and resumed arms exports to Turkiye. "Sweden's cooperation with Turkiye in the fight against terrorism will continue beyond accession," he said, welcoming that Sweden and Turkiye agreed today to establish a new bilateral Security Compact. "NATO will also significantly step up its work in this area, and I will establish, for the first time at NATO, the post of Special Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism," said the Secretary General. "Completing Sweden's accession to NATO is an historic step that benefits the security of all NATO Allies at this critical time. It makes us all stronger and safer," said Mr Stoltenberg. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary General arrives in Vilnius ahead of NATO Summit, meets with Lithuanian President NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 10 Jul. 2023 Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Vilnius on Monday (10 July 2023) and discussed final preparations for the NATO Summit with President Gitanas Nauseda. The Secretary General said that when Allies meet on Tuesday and Wednesday, they will take further major steps to strengthen deterrence and defence. This includes three new regional plans, backed by 300,000 troops on high readiness, and major capabilities across all domains. "This sends a clear message that we will defend every inch of Lithuania, and every inch of Allied territory," said Mr Stoltenberg. Mr Stoltenberg also said that Allies will take decisions on Ukraine, including a multi-year package of assistance, and upgraded political ties with a new NATO-Ukraine Council. He added that Allies will also address Ukraine's path towards NATO membership. To continue supporting Ukraine and strengthening deterrence and defence, Allies will set a more ambitious defence investment pledge, building on nine consecutive years of defence spending across European Allies and Canada. This includes a rise of 8.3% in real terms this year, the biggest increase in decades. Allies will also meet with close partners in Vilnius, including the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. "This will be Finland's first Summit as a NATO Ally, and we look forward to Sweden joining as soon as possible. I will meet with President Erdogan and Prime Minister Kristersson later today as the next step in this process," said Mr Stoltenberg. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey's President Erdogan gives green light to Sweden's NATO accession bid Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 10:23 PM Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given the green light to Sweden's bid to become a member of the NATO military alliance, ending months of tug of war over the issue. The announcement was made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in a news conference on Monday ahead of the alliance's summit in the Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius, which starts on Tuesday. Erdogan had previously conditioned his approval on Sweden dropping its support for Kurdish opposition groups that are considered terrorist outfits by Ankara. He even upped the ante earlier on Monday by saying Turkey's approval of Sweden's NATO bid hinged on revival of his country's European Union membership process. Turkey also wants Sweden to extradite or expel supporters of the Kurdish militant group, PKK, which is labeled a terrorist organization by the US and the EU, as well as supporters of the Kurdish YPG forces in Syria and followers of the US-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen. Erdogan alleges Gulen masterminded the 2016 coup attempt. "I'm glad to announce ... that President Erdogan has agreed to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the grand national assembly as soon as possible, and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification," Stoltenberg told reporters, describing it as a "historic" step. This came after Sweden and Turkey ironed out their differences at an eleventh-hour meeting attended by Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Vilnius. A statement issued following the meeting by the two countries said Sweden would stop providing support to Kurdish groups. "Sweden will actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkey's EU accession process, including modernization of the EU-Turkey Customs Union and visa liberalization," the statement added. "This has been a good day for Sweden," Kristersson told reporters, saying the joint statement represented "a very big step" toward the final ratification of Sweden's membership of NATO. The Turkish parliament must approve Sweden's bid, but Erdogan has agreed to push for its ratification. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country is yet to approve Sweden's membership, said on Thursday that Budapest would no longer block Sweden's NATO membership ratification. Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year following the start of the war in Ukraine. Moscow has been explicitly warning both countries that they have fallen victim to "the Russophobic frenzy" that followed the initiation of the conflict in Ukraine, adding that the countries have failed to put their interests above those of the collective West. Finland's NATO membership was green-lighted by all NATO members in April. It took the Turkish parliament two weeks to ratify Finland's membership. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan: Sweden's NATO membership linked to Turkey's EU accession Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 4:42 PM President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey says Brussels should facilitate the country's accession to the European Union (EU) before Ankara moves to approve Sweden's bid to join NATO. At a press conference on Monday and shortly before setting out for a major NATO summit in Lithuania, Erdogan, in an unexpected move, said he would urge the summit to open a path for Ankara's EU membership. "Almost all of the NATO member countries are now members of the EU. I am calling out to these countries that have kept Turkey waiting at the door of the EU for more than 50 years, but I will also call out to Vilnius," the recently-reelected Turkish president said. The 12-year accession talks were effectively halted after Turkey began a massive crackdown on suspects in connection with a failed military coup in mid-July 2016. The EU reacted strongly to Ankara's purging of thousands of people from organizations and institutions over alleged links to the coup attempt. But relations between Ankara and Brussels improved. The EU depends on Turkey's help, particularly in curbing the flow of illegal migrants heading to Europe. "First, let's pave the way for Turkey in the EU, and then we will pave the way for Sweden just as we did for Finland," Erdogan said, adding that he would express these views and make the demands while meeting with leaders on the sidelines of the summit. Turkey wants Sweden to extradite or expel alleged supporters of the Kurdish militant group PKK, which is labeled a terrorist organization by the US and the EU, as well as supporters of the Kurdish YPG forces in Syria and followers of the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. Erdogan alleges Gulen masterminded the 2016 coup attempt. Erdogan said a country where terrorists roam freely in the streets was untrustworthy, referring to the Swedish government's treatment of the PKK militants living in the Nordic country. The Turkish president has previously said his country cannot ratify Sweden's NATO application before the Qur'an burning is stopped, referring to the recent public burning of a copy of the Muslim holy book in Sweden. To join NATO, Sweden needs the approval of its entire current members, including Turkey, which has been a member for over 70 years and has its second-largest army. This is the first time Erdogan has made a link between Turkey's long-forgotten EU accession and Sweden's NATO membership bid. Shortly after Russia's war in Ukraine began in February 2022, Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership, abandoning policies of military non-alignment that had lasted through the decades of the Cold War. In April, Finland finally managed to secure NATO membership, but Turkey and Hungary have yet to clear Sweden's bid. Stockholm has been working hard to make the arrangements to join the alliance at the two-day summit in Vilnius. Later in the day, Erdogan said he would have a trilateral meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. "As for Sweden, the process continues. Our relevant institutions maintain their contacts with their Swedish counterparts with a transparent and well-intentioned manner." "As Turkey, we are tired of repeating that we need to fight terrorist organizations and their extensions indiscriminately." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Netanyahu claims trying to prevent collapse of Palestinian Authority Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 11:23 AM Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's so-called security cabinet has claimed the regime will try to prevent the collapse of the Palestinian Authority (PA) following its incursion into areas controlled by the PA in the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu's office said in a statement that his security cabinet made the decision on Sunday, with eight votes in favor, one against and one abstention. According to the statement, Netanyahu and his minister of military affairs would bring forward "steps to stabilize the civil situation in the Palestinian arena." The statement, which apparently refers to the escalation of acts of resistance in the occupied West Bank, did not specify concrete steps to achieve the alleged goal. Israel launched a military campaign against the occupied West Bank city of Jenin in the early hours of July 3, mobilizing upwards of 1,000 troops as means of supposedly damaging the resistance "infrastructure" in the city and the refugee camp that it hosts. At least 12 Palestinians and one Israeli trooper died as a result of the conflict, during which a steadfast Palestinian resistance response prompted the regime to pull out its forces after less than two days. Netanyahu's claim of trying to help the Palestinian Authority comes while the collapse of PA will serve Israel's interests as it will see the regime controlling the entire West Bank as was the case between 1967 -- when Israeli occupied the territory -- and 1993. Netanyahu's cabinet in January announced withholding millions of dollars in tax revenues from the PA as part of a series of measures announced over a push by Ramallah to get the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an advisory notice over Israel's actions in the West Bank. At the time, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said the measures amounted to "a war against the national authority (PA) and its survival." Such sanctions, he said, were "aimed at undermining the authority and pushing it to the brink -- financially and institutionally." The draft declaration agreed on Sunday presents a series of demands for the PA to "cease its anti-Israel activity in the international legal-diplomatic arena." The Palestinian Authority, formed in 1993 following the Oslo Accords, controls parts of the occupied West Bank. The PA, which is run by the ruling Fatah party and led by President Mahmoud Abbas, has seen its popularity shrivel as it is increasingly seen by some Palestinians as an accomplice to the Israeli regime rather than fighting for their rights. Nearly 700,000 Israelis live in illegal settlements built in violation of international law since the 1967 occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel releases senior Hamas leader after 20 months in jail Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 8:37 AM The Israeli regime has released Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a senior leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, after keeping him in captivity for 20 months. The Palestinian Commission of Detainees' and Ex-Detainees' Affairs announced on Sunday the release of Sheikh Yousef, who is also a member of the Palestinian parliament, from the regime's notorious Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Information Center reported. Yousef had been taken captive 20 times and has spent a total of 24 years in Israeli jails, mostly under its arbitrary, brutal policy of administrative detention, which allows the occupying regime to incarcerate Palestinians indefinitely without pressing formal charges or bringing them to trial. The last time Sheikh Yousef was taken captive occurred on December 13, 2021, after Israeli military forces raided his home in the town of Beitunia, west of occupied Ramallah. Hamas leader vows to continue defending al-Quds Following his release, Yousef reiterated in a statement that he will continue defending the occupied city of al-Quds and the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound by all means possible. He also declared that his last arrest was for participating in the funeral of a Palestinian martyr in al-Quds. Sheikh Yousef is known for his advocacy for reform and support for prisoners and the oppressed. Since 1971, he has been targeted by Israeli regime forces due to his social and political activities. He was first arrested as a child at the age of 16. His second arrest came in the early 90s on charges of being affiliated with Hamas and ended with his deportation to Marj Zuhur in southern Lebanon along with 417 leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. He also served as a spokesperson for Hamas until he was elected as a deputy in the Legislative Council. Hamas chief congratulates Yousef on freedom In a telephone conversation with Yousef, Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas political bureau, congratulated him on his freedom from Israeli captivity. Haniyeh praised Yousef for his endeavors, resistance, and sacrifices to defend the Palestinian land and sanctities, saying, "He is one of the symbols of the Palestinian national struggle and stands strongly against aggressions by the occupying regime." He also expressed hope that all Palestinians will soon be released from Israeli prisons. Haniyeh also emphasized that continuous Israeli attacks against the Palestinians in al-Quds and the West Bank will make them persistent in defending their homeland and rights. There are reportedly more than 7,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Hundreds of inmates have been incarcerated under so-called administrative detention, without trial or charge. Palestinian detainees have continuously resorted to open-ended hunger strikes in an attempt to express outrage at their illegal detention. Israeli prison authorities keep Palestinian prisoners under deplorable conditions without proper hygienic standards. Palestinian inmates have also been subject to systematic torture, harassment, and repression. Human rights organizations maintain that the Israeli regime continues to violate all rights and freedoms commonly granted to prisoners by the Fourth Geneva Convention and international laws. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Islamic Jihad blasts Palestinian Authority's crackdown on resistance Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 8:13 AM The Gaza-based Palestinian resistance movement Islamic Jihad has condemned the crackdown launched by the Palestinian Authority (PA) on a number of resistance commanders and former prisoners in the occupied West Bank. Tareq Selmi, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad, said on Sunday "We condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing arrests carried out by the [Palestinian] Authority's security apparatuses that affected a number of freed prisoners," including Jamal Hamamra, one of the group's commanders. He noted that Hamamra was detained on Sunday after being summoned by the intelligence apparatus. Selmi stressed that the arrest campaign is "a deviation from the national consensus," calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners and resistance fighters, including Hamamra. In recent days, the Ramallah-based PA has arrested a number of Islamic Jihad members in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin in what is seen as an attempt to reestablish its control over Jenin. Among those arrested were the former prisoners, Murad Walid Malayshe, 34, and Muhammad Walid Barahme, 37, who were detained while they were on their way to assist resistance fighters during Israel's last week attack on Jenin. The two are currently on hunger strike in protest against their detention. The PA security forces also arrested journalist Ahmed al-Betawi, and an activist from near al-Khalil (Hebron) named Louay Qabaja, who has staged a hunger strike over his detention for a Facebook post. The PA, which is run by the ruling Fatah party and led by President Mahmoud Abbas, is increasingly seen by some Palestinians as an accomplice to the Israeli regime rather than fighting for their rights. On Wednesday, mourners kicked out senior Fatah leaders, including Mahmoud al-Aloul, deputy to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, and Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, of a mass funeral held for some of the victims of the latest Israeli attack on Jenin. The mourners were angry at Fatah's neglect of the resistance, and failure to defend Palestinians during the Israeli attack. Following the expulsion of senior Fatah officials, a delegation of three ministers from the PA visited Jenin on Sunday and met with local officials, in a move seen as part of an effort to reassert the PA's presence in the city. 'Our weapon remains against the enemy' Meanwhile, the Islamic Jihad's Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhala stressed that the escalation of acts of resistance in the occupied West Bank is aimed against the Israeli occupation and has nothing to do with the PA and doesn't aim at undermining it. "We disagree with the Palestinian Authority in terms of political stance, but our weapon remains against the enemy. If the Palestinian Authority was wiser, it would have benefited from the state of resistance," he said in an interview with IRNA published on Sunday. Israel launched the military campaign against Jenin in the early hours of July 3, mobilizing upwards of 1,000 troops as means of supposedly damaging the resistance "infrastructure" in the city and the refugee camp that it hosts. At least 12 Palestinians and one Israeli trooper died as a result of the conflict, during which a steadfast Palestinian resistance response prompted the regime to pull out its forces after less than two days. Israeli troops finally pulled back from Jenin on Tuesday evening following a 44-hour-long incursion. The Israeli aggression on Jenin drew widespread condemnation from the international community. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: Sudan on brink of full-scale civil war that could destabilize entire region Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 12:35 AM The United Nations has warned that Sudan is on the brink of a full-fledged civil war, which may spill over into neighboring countries and threaten stability of the entire region. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres made the remarks on Sunday through a statement by his spokesperson, Farhan Haq, and just a day after an airstrike on a residential area in the city of Omdurman killed around two dozen civilians. Guterres "remains deeply concerned that the ongoing war between the armed forces has pushed Sudan to the brink of a full-scale civil war, potentially destabilizing the entire region," Haq added. The statement came after Sudan's Health Ministry reported that 22 civilians were killed and a large number of others wounded from a Saturday airstrike on the capital Khartoum's sister city, Omdurman. A video posted by the ministry showed apparently dismembered bodies lying partly covered on the ground after the airstrike. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting the country's army, claimed that the airstrike was carried out by the army and killed 31. The Sudanese army, for its part, released a statement, denying the RSF's claim and "clarifying that the air force did not deal with any hostile targets in Omdurman yesterday." Witnesses reported more airstrikes on Sunday near the presidential palace in Khartoum and in Omdurman, as well as machine-gun clashes and artillery fire in the city's south. "There is an utter disregard for humanitarian and human rights law that is dangerous and disturbing," the UN chief's spokesperson added in his statement. Haq also expressed support for efforts by the African Union and the East African bloc known as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to end Sudan's crisis. The leaders of four IGAD members handling the case of Sudan, that is, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan, are to meet in Addis Ababa on Monday. The heads of Sudan's warring factions, namely army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the RSF, have been invited to the meeting, but neither of them has confirmed they will attend. Egypt has also announced that it will host a summit of Sudan's neighbors on Thursday to seek an end to the conflict and its regional repercussions. Early on Monday, Sudan's civil aviation authority extended the closure of the country's airspace until July 31, with the only exception being humanitarian aid and evacuation flights with permission from authorities. The fighting in Sudan began in mid-April over a power struggle between the two generals. According to the latest figures, around 3,000 people have been killed in the conflict. The International Organization for Migration says nearly three million people have been displaced by Sudan's fighting, among them almost 700,000 who have fled to neighboring countries, especially Chad and Egypt. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dalai Lama says Chinese officials want to contact him over Tibet issues China protested the Tibetan spiritual leader's meeting with a U.S. delegation in New Delhi. By Lobsang Gelek and Lobe Socktsang for RFA Tibetan 2023.07.10 -- Tibet's foremost spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has revealed that Chinese officials have sought contact with him, either "officially or unofficially" to discuss Tibet issues. The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in Dharamsala, India, addressed reporters there on Saturday as he was about to depart for the Indian capital, New Delhi, and then a month-long sojourn in Ladakh. "I am always open to talk, and Chinese officials have now realized that Tibetan people's spirits are very strong, so in order to deal with Tibetan problems they want to contact me. I am also ready," he said. The Dalai Lama, who celebrated his 88th birthday on June 6, did not specify when or how Chinese officials requested contact. He said that Tibetans are not seeking independence and have decided to remain part of the People's Republic of China. A message seeking comment from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., wasn't immediately returned on Monday. China annexed Tibet in 1951 and maintains a tight rein on the western autonomous region. "Now China is changing and Chinese officials want to contact me officially and unofficially," the Dalai Lama said. While in New Delhi on Sunday, the Dalai Lama visited with a delegation from the U.S. organized by the Office of Tibet in Washington. Led by U.S. special coordinator of Tibetan issues, Uzra Zeya, the delegation also included the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, Donald Lu, and a senior USAID official. Also attending the meeting was Penpa Tsering, leader of the Central Tibetan Administration, or CTA, the Dharamsala-based Tibetan government in exile, and Norzin Dolma, the CTA's minister of information and international relations. Diplomatic meetings with the Dalai Lama are controversial. In May last year, when Zeya visited the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, Beijing protested saying that Washington was interfering in China's affairs. Regarding Sunday's visit, China's Embassy in India voiced Beijing's objection on Twitter. "The US should take concrete actions to honor its commitment of acknowledging Xizang [Tibet] as part of China, stop meddling in China's internal affairs under the pretext of Xizang-related issues, and offer no support to the anti-China separatist activities of the Dalai clique," the embassy's spokesperson Wang Xiaojian said in the tweet. Such a response is typical for China, Tenzin Lekshey, the spokesperson for the CTA, told RFA. "The Chinese government has always been hostile whenever U.S. officials, or for that matter any dignitaries, meet with the Dalai Lama or Tibetan leaders from CTA, so this is not something new," Tenzin Lekshey said. The spokesperson denied China's claim that the Dalai Lama and the CTA are separatist, citing the Middle-Way Approach, a CTA official policy he described as a way to "peacefully resolve the issue of Tibet and to bring about stability and co-existence between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples based on equality and mutual cooperation." The Chinese government must take the initiative to solve the Tibet problem," he said. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Edited by Eugene Whong. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Agrees To Back Sweden's Bid To Join NATO By RFE/RL July 10, 2023 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to forward Sweden's application to become NATO's 32nd member to Turkey's parliament for approval, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced on the eve of a NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital. Stoltenberg made the announcement on July 10 after talks in Vilnius with Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. "This is a historic day," Stoltenberg said. "President Erdogan has agreed to forward the Accession Protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification." Completing Sweden's accession "benefits the security of all NATO allies at this critical time," Stoltenberg said. "It makes us all stronger and safer." Turkey has been holding up Sweden's application to join the alliance over objections to Stockholm's harboring of Kurdish activists whom Ankara regards as terrorists. Erdogan said in a statement that Sweden had taken steps in the right direction by amending its terror legislation. But he accused Stockholm of allowing demonstrations glorifying "terrorism" and thus undoing the progress made in an apparent reference to the burning of a Koran in front of a mosque in Sweden last week. Erdogan earlier on July 10 made a surprise demand that the European Union revive Turkey's stalled EU membership bid as a precondition for Sweden joining NATO, prompting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to say they should "not be understood as related issues." A separate joint statement outlining the agreement between Sweden and Turkey was also issued saying that Sweden will actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkey's EU accession process, including modernization of the EU-Turkey Customs Union and visa liberalization. It also said Turkey and Sweden would work closely in "counterterrorism coordination" and also boost bilateral trade ties. Kristersson hailed the announcement and pledged to continue to fulfill all parts of the trilateral memorandum with Turkey and Finland. "We take a very big step towards the formal ratification of Sweden's membership in NATO. It has been a good day for Sweden," Kristersson told reporters ahead of the NATO summit scheduled to start July 11 in Vilnius. Sweden still needs the approval of Hungary, but Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said last week that Budapest would no longer block Sweden's NATO membership. NATO applications must be approved by all members. In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in May 2022. Finland became a member in April 2023. U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed Stoltenberg's announcement on the agreement and said he was ready to work with Erdogan on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. "I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO ally," he said in a statement. Biden is due to hold face-to-face talks with Erdogan during the summit. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also welcomed the announcement, saying the path is "finally clear for Turkey's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership." British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also reacted positively. "It is in everyone's interest for Sweden to join @NATO. Their accession makes us all safer. The UK welcomes the steps Turkey has taken today to bring this closer," he said on Twitter. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-sweden-nato-european- union-erdogan/32496862.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wider Europe Briefing: Four Things To Watch For At This Week's NATO Summit In Vilnius By Rikard Jozwiak July 10, 2023 Brief #1: What Will Ukraine Get? What You Need To Know: For Ukraine, this summit is about avoiding another "Bucharest" or "Budapest." "Bucharest" refers to the 2008 NATO summit in the Romanian capital at which the military alliance famously stated that Ukraine (and Georgia) would become members but avoided any specific timetable or pathway. Everyone is acutely aware that the NATO summit declaration in Vilnius won't invite Kyiv to become a member then and there. No one around the table has any appetite for giving a country in the middle of a war Article 5 guarantees (making an attack on any NATO member an attack on all). Instead, they will try to find a way to promise Ukraine membership once things look better. That's where "Budapest" comes into play. It's a reference to a trio of 1994 memorandums in which Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States gave security assurances to Ukraine (and Belarus and Kazakhstan) in exchange for Kyiv giving up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons. While Ukraine awaits possible NATO membership, it wants "guarantees" or "assurances" that the West will continue to support it militarily. Quite how this might be spelled out will remain one of the summit's head-scratchers. Drilling Down Most NATO officials I've spoken to quietly concede that there is really just one ironclad security guarantee: NATO membership. That's something that Finland and Sweden realized (more on that in a moment) when applying to join so quickly after the invasion. All other measures, such as security assurances, can essentially only be offered on a bilateral basis by alliance members. It could be that a group of nations in the run-up to the summit or in Vilnius will pledge to support Ukraine militarily for "as long at it takes" by providing more weapons, ammunition, or even training for Ukrainian troops. Don't rule out the possibility of a separate Group of Seven statement to that effect either, especially as all members of that group will be in Vilnius. (Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will also attend.) What NATO will offer as an organization is a pot of 500 million euros ($538 million) a year for the foreseeable future to assist Ukraine on various military expenditures. This sum could potentially grow in the future, too. Otherwise, the biggest issue lies in semantics: How can a declaration be written so as to avoid another "Bucharest" and not disappoint Ukraine but at the same time reassure cautious countries like the United States and Germany? They are wary of any membership commitment in wartime against a nuclear-armed Russia, as evidenced by U.S. President Joe Biden's warning that there's not "unanimity" on Ukrainian membership "at this moment, in the middle of a war." that there's not "unanimity" on Ukrainian membership "at this moment, in the middle of a war." One way might be to state that Kyiv will join once "conditions" or "consequences" allow, and perhaps even to describe them explicitly. It could be that some sort of pathway will also be spelled out -- for example that NATO allies will issue an assessment or return to the question at the next summit, in Washington, D.C., next summer. Ukraine is also fighting to avoid a requirement for a Membership Action Plan (MAP) before it can join. A MAP is a sort of NATO membership "antechamber" in which the aspirant gets a tailor-made national program to prepare for future membership, and it could cover not only defense aspects but also political, security, and legal issues that the alliance thinks need to be addressed. Many of the current Central and Eastern European NATO members needed a MAP before joining. But there are indications from officials that Kyiv won't need one -- just as Finland and Sweden weren't required to have one before starting the membership process. In the end, the biggest question is whether Ukrainians will be satisfied with the outcome of the summit. While it is very much expected that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will show up, there have been persistent rumors that he is toying with the idea of not coming if he feels the summit isn't ambitious enough. Still, most expect him to be there and to co-chair the inaugural NATO-Ukraine Council -- an updated political relationship in which Kyiv will be sitting at the table as a sort of coequal, with the right to call meetings with the military alliance whenever it sees fit. Brief #2: Sweden's NATO Accession? What You Need To Know: This is an issue that not many NATO officials expected would drag on for so long. Sweden applied to join alongside Finland in the spring of 2022 as a direct consequence of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and many diplomats expected the process to be wrapped up by autumn. But Ankara had other plans. Before green-lighting membership, Turkey demanded that the Nordic pair, or more specifically Sweden, lift an arms embargo against Turkey, update its counterterror legislation, and extradite individuals whom Turkey has deemed to have been engaged in terrorist activities. While Turkey agreed that both Sweden and Finland would join at the NATO summit in Madrid last year, Ankara withheld ratification of the Accession Protocols until progress was made. Issues with Sweden, notably demonstrations in Stockholm that included the burning of a Koran, particularly strained Ankara-Stockholm relations before Finland decoupled and joined NATO alone in early April. Drilling Down There are essentially two ways this can go: There could be a repeat of the Madrid summit in which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Vilnius a day before the start of the summit to seek an agreement, paving the way for ratification in the Turkish parliament in July or the autumn; or the pair could end up holding "constructive talks" in the Lithuanian capital that conclude with more work still to be done at various diplomatic levels. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg met with the foreign ministers and intelligence and security chiefs of Finland, Sweden, and Turkey on July 6 to try to iron out lingering details ahead of Vilnius. He described the meeting afterward as "productive" and suggested it is "possible to have a positive decision" the week of the summit. NATO officials I've spoken to on condition of anonymity believe Erdogan still would like to be viewed as a key statesman and agree on something once full media attention is directed at the summit. They note that expectations were low approaching the Madrid summit as well, but say face-to-face talks at the highest level then paved the way for an agreement. They do, however, note that there might be another meeting needed as well: between Erdogan and Biden, at which the latter could promise American deliveries of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara -- a move that many believe could be deal clincher. But more Koran burnings in Sweden, for instance, could still prove to be a potential spoiler. Turkey and much of the Muslim world reacted with fury when permission was granted for someone to burn the Muslim holy book outside a Stockholm mosque on June 28 in a protest to coincide with Eid al-Adha, one of the Islamic calendar's holiest events. The protest was permitted by a Swedish court after similar requests had been turned down, with authorities citing national security risks. At least three permits for the burning of religious books have been lodged in recent days, and the Swedish authorities now face a real headache. Diplomats I've spoken to say that Swedish officials will tell their Turkish counterparts that the latest Koran burner at least was charged with agitation against an ethnic or national group, and that they plan similar charges if any similar incidents happen. If there is a deal in Vilnius, it is widely thought that the Turkish parliament could still approve the ratification instrument before it goes into recess by October. Hungary has not ratified Sweden's accession protocol, either -- mainly in solidarity with Ankara. While there are indications that Hungarian lawmakers postponed the vote to their autumn session, Budapest has repeatedly noted that it won't be the last country to ratify; so don't quite rule out Sweden becoming NATO member number 32 already this month. Brief #3: Sorting Out NATO's Core Tasks What You Need To Know: Perhaps the single most important decision that will presumably be taken at the NATO summit is the unanimous approval of the military alliance's first comprehensive defense plans since the end of the Cold War. These represent NATO's bread and butter: How to defend every inch of the 31 member states' territories. Four thousand pages of classified plans should be green-lighted, covering three major regions: the North, meaning the Atlantic and the Arctic regions; the central region that essentially covers Europe from the Baltics to the Alps; and a southern region extending south from the Alps to the Mediterranean and including NATO states around the Black Sea. Of course, there are also subsections focusing on, for example, cybersecurity. If all goes well and the plans are approved at the summit, even more detailed planning will follow that informs battalions as to exactly what patch of territory or sea they should defend in case of attack. Drilling Down These plans were essentially supposed to be agreed ahead of the summit, but there have been some obstacles -- mostly involving Turkey. Ankara has, for example, insisted on calling the Bosphorus "the Turkish strait" in the plans and also wanted to put more emphasis on fighting terrorism rather than simply focusing on the threat posed by Russia. But the big issue remains how to go from plans to reality, and that ultimately means: Is there enough military gear, soldiers, and money to achieve all of that? Now, NATO is good at making commitments. In Madrid last year, the allies agreed that they would have 100,000 troops ready to deploy within 10 days and 300,000 inside of a month. But they still haven't reached that lofty target. It has fared even worse when it comes to defense spending. At the NATO summit in Wales back in 2014, a pledge was made that every ally would spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense by 2024 -- a figure all NATO members managed to reach during the Cold War. One year before that pledge should have been fulfilled, the alliance as a whole isn't even close to achieving it. Only seven countries -- Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States -- reached the 2 percent threshold in 2022. In 2023, newest NATO member Finland will join the club, as will Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. Germany should get there next year and France in 2025. But several NATO officials point out that quite a few countries might reach the 2 percent target, only to drop under it again shortly thereafter. Thus, the new pledge in Vilnius. The 2 percent target should be "the floor" rather than the "ceiling." That's no problem for countries like Estonia, Poland, and the United States, which all spend 3 percent or more. But for others, it might be just another empty promise. Another issue is that NATO will once again need to return to basics. After 20 years of largely guerrilla fighting in Afghanistan, there is a perceived need for investment in jets, tanks, and artillery -- and this was an acute need even before many NATO allies started sending such military hardware to Ukraine. There is also the production of artillery. Even though European countries are slowly scaling up, largely to provide Kyiv with more rounds, Russia is still firing Europe's monthly artillery production rate (currently estimated at 20,000-25,000 shells per month) in a single day in Ukraine. Brief #4: All Of NATO's Other Friends What You Need To Know: All the spotlight at the summit will doubtless be on Ukraine, but there are other non-NATO countries present in Vilnius, too. On the first day, July 11, there is an informal North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting together with "Partners at risk" -- in this case, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, and Moldova -- all of which will be represented by their respective foreign ministers. On the second and final day, July 12, there will be a NAC meeting with the leaders of the four "Indo-Pacific Partners" -- Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea -- repeating a format first used in Madrid in 2022. The Indo-Pacific meeting very much reflects the growing worry within the alliance about China; but there are divisions inside the club as to whether NATO is the appropriate forum when it comes to addressing issues pertaining to Beijing. Drilling Down One clear result of this internal tension is that NATO still hasn't reached consensus on opening a NATO office in Tokyo, with France no big fan of the idea. At the summit, however, NATO will draw up new cooperation programs with the Indo-Pacific quartet that cover areas like maritime, cyber, and new tech. Combining Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, and Moldova into one session is rather odd. The first two are NATO aspirants that, like Ukraine, have offers of future membership but no concrete timetables. Moldova, on the other hand, is constitutionally neutral and its population is deeply divided on potential membership. For Georgia, it's also a bit of downgrade. Tbilisi has until recently gone "hand-in-hand" with Ukraine when it comes to NATO membership; not so anymore. NATO officials I've spoken to say this "decoupling" simply reflects a reality that the Ukrainian leadership is currently pushing harder for NATO membership. Speeches like the one made by the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili at the Globsec summit in Bratislava, in which he blamed the war in Ukraine on NATO enlargement, certainly haven't helped. But what I hear from the NATO corridors in Brussels is that Tbilisi needs to do more to fix Georgia-Ukraine relations and show greater political support for Kyiv. The hope is still that Ukraine can offer a precedent for Georgia going forward on its NATO path. At the summit, the allies will continue to pledge money to boost Georgia's defense capabilities, notably in the area known as CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense) and to refurbish a number of training facilities in the Caucasus country. For Bosnia-Herzegovina, the expectation is of an agreement on a 30 million-euro support package, financing 12 projects in fields such as cybersecurity, air medical evacuation, and boosting its military police. With Moldova, NATO has devised a so-called "enhanced defense-capacity-building package" focused on fighting disinformation, responding to cyberthreats, and modernizing the country's defense institutions. Interestingly, in light of the recent unrest in northern Kosovo in which NATO KFOR troops were attacked, that country is not formally on the agenda. KFOR's presence has now been boosted by 500 soldiers, bringing the total number of peacekeepers to 4,300; but no discussions are expected on that issue at the summit unless one of the leaders explicitly brings it up. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-jozwiak-nato- summit-vilnius/32494876.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon Problem-Solver Talks About 'Bucharest 15.0,' NATO's Article 5, And Ukraine As 'An Asset' To The Alliance By Vazha Tavberidze July 10, 2023 U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Walter "Rick" Landgraf is a strategic and international engagements chief at the Pentagon and a fellow in the Eurasia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a Philadelphia-based think tank. He has served combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as serving in NATO's headquarters in Brussels, in the United Kingdom, and in Georgia. Ahead of the NATO Vilnius summit on July 11-12, RFE/RL's Georgian Service asked Landgraf about Ukraine's and Georgia's decoupled paths since Bucharest in 2008, the need for a "real conversation" about NATO's "all for one" article, and whether simply wanting to be in NATO makes it a good idea for the alliance. The comments and opinions expressed in this interview are Landgraf's personal views and are not intended to reflect the positions of the U.S. Army or Defense Department. RFE/RL: What can be expected, realistically, of the Vilnius summit, for Ukraine and Georgia? Or has this tandem been decoupled for good? Walter "Rick" Landgraf: Over the years, Ukraine and Georgia, in a way, have shared the same fate. In some ways their situations are very similar. Russia has, to some extent, invaded both countries to prevent their likely accession to the alliance. So these are countries that have similar geopolitical circumstances whereby the central governments don't control all of the territory within the internationally recognized border. And these are also countries where ostensibly their governments want to integrate with the West [and] join Western institutions, namely EU and NATO. Now, in practice, I know in both cases there has been some democratic backsliding, particularly with Georgia over the past couple of years. And, for the Georgia case, that doesn't serve Georgia well, if it intends to join NATO or the EU. I think that the Ukraine case is different, obviously, because of the scale of the war and the devastating effects of the war. So I think the West can more easily get behind Ukraine -- rightly so. But I think ultimately both their fates are tied together because of Bucharest and because they both want to join the West, integrate with the West. RFE/RL: What can they expect of this summit, realistically? Landgraf: I think realistically what you can expect is that NATO will reaffirm the Bucharest decision and will say that both countries have all the practical tools to prepare themselves for eventual membership. And NATO will likely also say that the Membership Action Plan (MAP) is the next step in the process for both countries. Now, in reality, both countries already have everything that a Membership Action Plan can bring. And from a military standpoint, I think the Ukrainian military over the past year and a half since the [full-scale] invasion began, has showed an incredible capability to modernize, to adapt, and to improve and enhance its interoperability with NATO forces. It's had to do this because the fate of the country relies on it. On the Georgia side, I think the pace and the intensity of Georgia's modernization of its military has slowed quite a bit. In some ways, it's been maybe hollowed out a bit. So I think the pace is a little bit different there. I expect NATO to commit itself to Bucharest at the summit. But as far as practical, concrete action on the ground, I don't expect much more than already what's happening outside of the NATO construct with regards to Ukraine. RFE/RL: I see. So, basically, that would be a Bucharest 2.0? Landgraf: Well, I don't know if we can call it 2.0 at this point; it might be like more like 15.0. Because over the past 15 years, every single summit that NATO has had, NATO has reaffirmed the commitment to Bucharest. Now, especially for Georgia, because the Georgian government has never officially renounced its intent to join NATO...unlike Ukraine, when the [ex-President Viktor] Yanukovych government declared military neutrality for a period of about 3 1/2 to four years. And you go back into the summit declarations -- once that happened, once the Yanukovych government did that, there was no mention of Bucharest in a context of Ukraine for several years. It shows that what really kind of drives this process of enlargement is, there needs to a concerted interest from the countries that want to join the alliance. RFE/RL: Let's agree on "Bucharest 1.5." And I'm sure it's convenient for NATO, but the expert consensus seems to be growing that Bucharest 1.0 was a mistake. So how much sense does it make strategically to continue on this road? Landgraf: It makes sense from a point of view of NATO, of the spirit and the drive behind Article 10 of the NATO Charter, which is the open-door policy, which states that any European democracy that meets NATO standards, both politically and military, which can contribute to the overall security of the Euro-Atlantic region, can join the alliance. So in many ways, Bucharest is not just a signal to Georgia and Ukraine; it's also a signal to other countries which may want to one day join the alliance. So strategically, for NATO's sake, reiterating Bucharest also shows potential members and potential challengers and opposers that NATO is serious about keeping its commitments and it's serious about following through on those at some point in the future. I agree with you, I think the consensus now -- many observers will say that Bucharest 1.0 was a mistake. It was a mistake, because it put tremendous pressure on Georgia and Ukraine and exposed them to Russian coercion. We've seen this play out. This was the first time that NATO explicitly said that two countries would join the alliance but did not give those two countries a pathway to do so. At the time, it was a compromise that that the NATO allies made to come up with this Bucharest statement, saying that "We agree in principle that they should be become members, however, what we disagree on is when this will happen." And this awareness is directly linked to the Membership Action Plan. RFE/RL: It might make sense for NATO, but doesn't it also create a waiting limbo, where these countries are kept in front of the open door ad infinitum? And what kind of message does it send to other countries who might want to join? Landgraf: I think there are two ways to look at the message of Finland's accession. One, as NATO says, each country will be judged on its own merits. The geopolitical circumstances surrounding Finland's accession are different than Georgia's or than Ukraine's. I think the biggest thing that stands out in the enlargements of both organizations is that Finland is already an EU member and has been an EU member for a very long time. So nobody seriously questions Finland's bona fides for becoming firmly part of the Euro-Atlantic alliance, because it's already a member of the EU. Finland is the first country since the end of the Cold War that has joined the EU first and then NATO. Up until now, it had been the other way around -- countries joined NATO and then the EU -- because the conventional understanding is that the barrier to joining NATO is much lower than it is to joining the EU. And NATO in practice has been sort of a stepping stone to EU membership. Probably the best example of this has been the Baltic states. But I think ultimately for these countries that are transitioning from communism to democratic systems, what they worry about the most is security. And this is this is what leads countries like the Baltic states, who are exposed and have this history with Russia for many years and the Soviet Union, to seek security guarantees first -- to provide an element of cover, so their countries can fully democratize, fully transition into market-based economies to provide that cover, that security umbrella, so those transitions can take place. I think on the one hand, Finland is a case that has been judged on its own merits. And NATO has been clear in saying that the cases should be judged by their merits for many years. Now, on the other hand, you're right, Georgia and Ukraine had been in this waiting room for many years without a MAP, and NATO has told both countries that MAP is the next step. And then if you're from Ukraine and Georgia, you say, "Hey, wait a minute: Finland has just joined without a MAP and has sort of bumped up into the front of the queue, in front of us." RFE/RL: Not only that. Also, in parallel, NATO has been telling both Kyiv and Georgia that they have every practical means available to be members. "If we do have every practical tool, why do we need a MAP? [We could join] just like Finland." Landgraf: That's the paradox. NATO has for many years avoided and sort of kicked the can down the road with the MAP decision by giving both Georgia and Ukraine various other things -- the substantial NATO-Georgia package for Georgia; the counterpart for Ukraine is a comprehensive assistance package; also things like labeling each country an "enhanced opportunities partner." These are all what I call consolation prizes to try to reinforce Georgia's and Ukraine's integration and to provide a sense of forward momentum. Because the fact is, the allies can still not agree on whether or not the two countries should receive MAPs. RFE/RL: We saw a statement that amounted to NATO asking Ukraine for more reforms at Vilnius before discussion on any clear road map. Is that an excuse? And if it is, will it fly for Ukrainians? Landgraf: I think what it does is it provides NATO a convenient justification for delaying the process. For Ukraine's sake, for its part, of course, it is very difficult to enact and implement and internalize these sorts of reforms while there is an active war happening. [In] NATO membership, the standards have always been two-pronged; there's the military standards and there's the political standards. And these practices and these standards that countries are supposed to internalize and implement in their domestic processes, these can be presented as objective standards.... RFE/RL: Or as double standards? Landgraf: Ultimately, there's a measure of subjectivity to the standards. Because, in some cases, they can say, "This country meets the standards [and] that country doesn't." But in practice, the geopolitical circumstances of the aspirant state matter, they matter greatly. There are no cases like the Georgia and Ukraine cases that [better] demonstrate that.... RFE/RL: Who has the moral high ground here? Landgraf: I think this goes back to the question about Bucharest and how it was a mistake. If you are a member of a club and you say to someone who wants to join the club that "You will become a member of this club if you do X, Y, and Z," and then circumstances change -- well, on the one hand, Georgia and Ukraine say: "Hey, we've done X, Y, and Z. Where's our membership card?" And then on the other hand, NATO can say, "Well, the situation has changed." Which it has. RFE/RL: Partly because of what NATO did. Might one argue it changed due to NATO's passive stance on the issue? Landgraf: Yeah, well, yeah. I mean, I agree. I think the crux of the matter is that we have this structure, this framework, where it's about membership or no membership. And I don't know if there's force behind this, but the real conversation that needs to happen behind closed doors is: If these countries want to join NATO, then what happens with regards to Article 5, and what territory does Article 5 apply to? This is the single most important issue. Because ultimately the backbone of NATO is Article 5, and without Article 5 and maintaining the integrity of Article 5 that all allies will follow through on this mutual-defense pledge, there is no alliance. RFE/RL: And there is no rush in Brussels to face up to that question. Landgraf: Right. RFE/RL: We also mentioned the fact that Georgia's NATO ambitions are weakened by its government's perceived or real pro-Russian course...and not being as fervent as the previous government and half-steps. Far be it from me to defend them. But let me ask this: Is this the sole detriment for Georgia on its path to NATO? If that's the case, why doesn't Brussels say, "You can join, but not under this government"? Landgraf: I think it's a contributing factor. I don't think it's the only factor. Let's say that the government of Georgia was extremely -- whether perceived or real -- pro-Western, very, very assertive on that. That still does not address the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. So long as there are territorial divisions, I think that is the overriding factor. Now, certainly the current position of the Georgian government doesn't help Georgia's case one bit. But let's take that out of the equation, the geopolitical orientation of the current government. You still have the breakaway territories and how Georgia could join NATO as a full member with or without those territories. That is the single most important issue in the Georgia case. RFE/RL: That also applies to Ukraine, with the war going on, and Kyiv not having full control of its internationally recognized borders. And we approach a paradox there, don't we, because NATO is not willing to get those two countries accepted unless the territorial-dispute issue is resolved? And on the other hand, these two countries have zero willingness whatsoever to renounce those territories and join NATO without them. Landgraf: Right. What Georgian government would survive after saying, "We renounce Abkhazia and South Ossetia, so now let's join NATO." I don't think that Georgian government, no matter who controls it, would survive the following day. RFE/RL: And both Tbilisi and Kyiv want to join NATO, at least partly, so that they can see the territorial borders, sometime in the future, restored and at peace? Landgraf: Yes. And I think Georgians use the precedent of West Germany's accession to NATO. I think that, again, the political circumstances are much different. We are no longer in a bipolar system, where there are two superpowers and the superpowers are vying for influence over countries that are in the middle. We are in a more chaotic system, a more multipolar system now. And I think strictly from a NATO security perspective and a military perspective, just because Georgia and Ukraine want to join NATO does not necessarily mean it's a good idea.... That is the elephant in the room. RFE/RL: There is another debate about being a security asset versus being a security liability. When it comes to Ukraine and Georgia, where do those two countries stand? Landgraf: I think, on the one hand, there's this argument about defensibility. This is the same argument that characterizes the debate about the Baltic states' accession -- that these countries were indefensible from Russian invasion. I think when the Baltic states joined in 2004, the relationship between the West and Russia was much different; It wasn't nearly as standoffish as it is now. At that point, there was still this aspiration that the West could successfully integrate Russia in one way or another, or at least try to bring Russia into the fold. Now, I think by the time of 2007 and 2008, things had changed quite a bit, and I think there is a geopolitical crisis that has been created with the Russian invasion of [Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia territories in] 2008. And there was a brief sort of respite during the so-called "reset," and then that reset did not fix any sort of the structural issues in the system where, on the one side, NATO is the dominant player in the European security architecture and wants to set the rules, and Russia does not want to accept this sort of junior-partner status in Europe. And it has struck out against the system, and we saw this play out in 2014, and we saw it play out a year and a half ago in the full-scale invasion. So this defensibility argument applies to Georgia and Ukraine, because of their physical situations and them sharing these long borders with Russia. I mean, you look at the history of enlargement and you look at Montenegro's accession [in 2017], North Macedonia's accession [in 2020]; it's much easier because of where these countries are -- they don't share borders with Russia. And it shows you that geography matters in these cases. RFE/RL: But then again, Finland also shares a rather sizable border with Russia, and it was accepted. Landgraf: Right. And I think that speaks to the paradox that the Georgians and Ukrainians can justifiably claim. RFE/RL: On Ukraine, this security-asset-versus-liability debate, it kind of seems to be shifting in Ukraine's favor, don't you think? Because a lot of experts have been claiming that Ukraine would a real asset for NATO security, if it joins, not so much when it comes to Georgia. Landgraf: I think the asset-versus-liability argument is in the eye of the beholder. Certainly, from a military-capability standpoint, the Ukrainian military has done a tremendous job in defending its country. I know that the counteroffensive is still playing out, and we'll see how it does play out. But the Ukrainian armed forces has shown an ability to adapt and overcome, and a resiliency -- they've truly been battle-tested. And from a military standpoint, yes, Ukraine's military, as it stands right now, would be an asset to NATO forces, to NATO missions and operations across the globe -- a variety of types of missions from peacekeeping to combat [and] everything in between. Georgia's military is in a different situation. For many years, Georgia, had sent its best forces to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and those provided opportunities to enhance capability and to participate in training and exercises, and to demonstrate interoperability in real-life scenarios. Very much, I think the attention has shifted. RFE/RL: I was actually meaning to ask about that. You were posted both in Iraq and Afghanistan. And for many, many years for Georgia, part of the argument about NATO was that Georgia has paid its admittance price with blood, both in Georgia in 2008 and then in Afghanistan. Has this argument become obsolete? Landgraf: I think there is still purchase in that argument. I think Georgians are justified in making that argument. Because for the size of the Georgia military and the size of Georgia and the capabilities that it does have, it does have a very small military. And for many years, it sent its best forces to both conflicts. I think that is worth something and the price that Georgia has paid, it's very important and it should not be forgotten. Now, on the other hand, as time moves on, memories fade; and the Afghan war is now over, NATO is not directly engaged in a conflict such as that. So that has removed an opportunity for Georgia to justify and to warrant its being included in the alliance. RFE/RL: Do you fear there might be a sort of NATO fatigue in both Ukrainian and Georgian populations, and what might it cost, geopolitically, for the West? Landgraf: I think there's been this argument about NATO fatigue, both within the domestic population of Georgia and Ukraine, but also, within the alliance. I think it's important for both sides to recommit -- rhetorically and then also through concrete action -- to the relationship. I think that's the best way that both sides can stand up to Russia and to show Russia that no third country, as NATO says, has a say over who joins the alliance and who doesn't. RFE/RL: A geopolitical "it takes two to tango," right? Landgraf: Right. RFE/RL: But it seems that the two parties or the three parties, in this case, want to dance to different music? The DJ is a bit lost? Landgraf: Yeah, yeah. Just last week, in Georgia, the sense I got -- and I think this had been many years in the making -- is that this idea of EU integration seems much more of an attractive thing than NATO integration. I wonder if the Georgian population sees the benefits of EU integration more so than they would NATO integration. Much more the practical things, like visa-free travel and other sort of practical benefits. But on the other hand, NATO brings a security guarantee that the EU at least has on paper but has never been activated or implemented. This interview has been edited for clarity and length Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-georgia-nato- bucharest-article-5/32497512.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Uzbek Leader Mirziyoev Reelected In Scripted Election By RFE/RL July 10, 2023 Shavkat Mirziyoev was overwhelmingly reelected on July 9 for a third term as president of the repressive Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan in a snap poll that an international monitoring mission said was "lacking genuine competition." Uzbekistan's Central Election Commission said on July 10 that Mirziyoev was reelected with 87 percent of the vote. The turnout was almost 80 percent of Uzbekistan's 19.6 million registered voters. Throughout the campaign, the three token opponents formally running against Mirziyoev had been largely silent. Earlier this year, Mirziyoev oversaw a constitutional referendum that increased the presidential term from five years to seven and cleared the way for him to serve two more terms. He could remain in power until 2037. "The July 9 early presidential election was technically well-prepared but took place in a political environment lacking genuine competition," the monitoring mission from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the election monitoring arm of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said in its preliminary report on July 10. "Substantial changes are needed to provide a sound legal basis for the conduct of democratic elections," the ODIHR said. Mirziyoev, who is 65, became president in 2016, following the death of longtime autocratic leader Islam Karimov. He served as Karimov's prime minister for 13 years before moving on to the presidency. Mirziyoev won plaudits early in his presidency, ushering in some reforms and sparking optimism for potential change. But he has since lapsed back into what many analysts say is a more familiar and repressive administration reminiscent of Karimov's. Mirziyoev is credited with eradicating forced labor in the cotton fields, opening the country to tourism and investment, and allowing limited media freedoms. But critics have pointed, among other things, to a crackdown on minority unrest in the nominally autonomous region of Karakalpakstan in July 2022 as part of steps that have undermined the strongman's claim to national unity and reform. Some 20 million people were eligible to vote in the landlocked country of 35 million people that is rich in natural gas and strategically placed in a volatile region, bordering Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Mirziyoev's official opponents -- a former education minister, a former high-ranking forestry official, and a career judge fresh from a term in the slavishly loyal Senate -- had remained mostly silent since the campaign kicked off in May. One potential legitimate opponent, however, was thwarted in his attempts to take part in the election. Xidirnazar Allaqulov, a former university rector turned regime opponent, said his bid to establish a political party had repeatedly and sometimes violently been disrupted by authorities. "For 32 years of independence, there has been no competition in our political arena," Allaqulov, 67, told RFE/RL in a phone interview. "They don't want it. They don't want justice. They don't want the rule of law." With reporting by AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-mirziyoev- presidential-election/32495394.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 10 July 2023 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. ** Central African Republic Alright, good afternoon; just starting off with some sad news which we've received from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), where, earlier today, a peacekeeper from Rwanda was killed when his unit came under attack by members of an unidentified armed group. When the unit was attacked, the peacekeepers were on patrol providing a protective presence around the town of Sam-Ouandja, in the Haute Kotto Prefecture. The peacekeepers returned fire, and according to initial reports we have received, three of the assailants were killed. We add our voice to that of the Head of MINUSCA, Valentine Rugwabiza, who strongly condemned the attack. We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper, his colleagues as well as the people and Government of Rwanda, and we do expect a more formal statement today. The incident today follows the rapid deployment of peacekeepers to the town Sam-Ouandja last week in response to an attack on the town by an armed group, which fled after an initial intervention by peacekeepers. Over the past five days, the Mission has expanded the security perimeter around the town to protect the community and support the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. The Special Representative has confirmed that the peacekeepers will remain in place in Sam-Ouandja. The Mission is engaging with national authorities for the deployment of national defence and security forces to consolidate the authority of the State in the area. ** Noon Briefing Guests Sorry, and I meant to start of course with telling you that our guests today will be Li Junhua, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Francesca Perucci, the Assistant Director in the Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs; and Astra Bonini, the Senior Sustainable Development Officer in the Division for Sustainable Development Goals of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. They will brief on the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report, specifically on the key findings of this year's Report The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023: Special Edition. Using the latest available data and estimates, this Report provides both a snapshot of the SDGs' progress, highlighting the gaps that exist and urging the world to redouble its efforts to achieve the SDGs. ** Democratic Republic of the Congo Going back to peacekeeping in Africa, our peacekeeping colleagues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are telling us that the Force Intervention Brigade wrapped up a month-long operation which was conducted jointly with the Congolese Armed Forces in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, and that was meant to deter threats against civilians and prevent further expansion of armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The operation began in early June and has covered key areas in both provinces. The mission reports that peacekeepers will continue to conduct follow-up patrols, which have helped civilians to move freely and deny movements of armed groups in the area. ** Syria Quick humanitarian update for you on Syria, on deliveries of goods to north-west Syria: Today, 79 trucks moved through the Bab al-Hawa crossing. They were carrying humanitarian supplies from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Another 19 trucks loaded with aid went through the Bab Al-Salam crossing. Since the 6 February earthquakes, more than 3,700 trucks carrying aid from seven UN agencies have crossed into north-west Syria through the three available border crossings. As of today, we have also completed more than 150 cross-border missions to the north-west, since the first inter-agency visit to Idlib on 14 February. As you are aware, Security Council authorization for cross-border operations under resolution 2672 (2023) expires today. The Secretary-General has called for a 12-month renewal of that authorization. We continue to advocate for expanding all avenues to deliver humanitarian assistance to millions of people in north-west Syria. ** Ukraine Turning to Ukraine: Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that, yesterday, civilians were killed and injured while receiving humanitarian aid in yet another attack on the front lines of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, in the south-east of the country. As confirmed by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, four civilians were killed in the attack. Efforts to verify reports of further civilian casualties are continuing. The attack destroyed a drinking water distribution point installed and maintained by a partner of the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, which is administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, strongly condemned the attack, reminding that civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian assets must be protected under International Humanitarian Law. Our humanitarian colleagues note that residents in Orikhiv have been living under constant shelling for months. The families have been forced to take cover in basements, emerging only briefly to receive essential humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, humanitarians continue to deliver vital aid to those who need it the most, including in front-line communities. On Friday, an inter-agency convoy brought medicines, shelter materials and hygiene kits to Lyman town in the Donetska Oblast in the east of Ukraine, which has been exposed to continuous shelling. This was the twenty-third inter-agency convoy to date this year to reach the Donetsk region, where humanitarian needs remain high due to the ongoing hostilities. ** Sudan Moving on to Sudan, today, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, is in Addis Ababa, where he was invited by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa to take part in its Quartet Heads of State and Government meeting on Sudan. They discussed how to address challenges in providing humanitarian aid to people in need, both inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries hosting those fleeing the ongoing fighting in Sudan. Mr. Griffiths stressed the need for expanded access and the lifting of bureaucratic impediments to allow more aid to reach people who need it. On the ground, we and our partners continue our efforts to reach Sudanese communities with life-saving assistance, and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that a chartered flight carrying 18 tons of medicines and medical supplies has arrived in Port Sudan. The shipment also includes trauma and emergency medical supplies. Also on Sudan, just a reminder you have seen that over the weekend, the Secretary-General condemned the attack in Omdurman, Sudan, and offered his condolences to the families of the victims of that attack. He is also appalled by reports of large-scale violence and casualties across Darfur. The statement noted an utter disregard for humanitarian and human rights law is both dangerous and disturbing. The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned that the ongoing war between the armed forces has pushed Sudan to the brink of a full-scale civil war, potentially destabilizing the entire region. ** Yemen Crossing the borders and going to Yemen, this morning the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, briefed Security Council members on the situation there. He said that, despite the expiry of the truce, the Yemenis continue to feel the benefits from the longest period of relative calm since the beginning of the conflict, and that this period of relative calm has opened the door for serious discussions with Yemeni actors on the way forward toward ending the conflict. Also briefing was the Deputy Humanitarian Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya. She told Council members that humanitarian needs in Yemen will remain high for the foreseeable future, and she called on the parties to fulfil their obligation to facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief. She reminded the Council members that the Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen is funded at just 29 per cent this year. ** FSO Safer Also briefing with some good news, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, spoke about the status of the FSO Safer Operation. He said that the Sana'a authorities provided authorization today for the oil transfer from the FSO Safer to the replacement vessel, which is good news, adding that the replacement vessel Nautica is preparing to sail from Djibouti. It will moor alongside the Safer and should begin taking on the oil by early next week. Once the transfer starts, that will take about two weeks. He noted that since the salvage ship Endeavor arrived next to the Safer site on 30 May, and the salvage company contracted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has done everything possible to stabilize the decaying Safer tanker and prepare it for the removal of a million barrels of crude oil. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the UN there, Lynn Hastings, visited the Jenin refugee camp on Saturday, joined by representatives of a number of Member States. Our humanitarian partners have concluded an initial damage assessment following last week's operation by Israeli forces, indicating that 460 housing units were damaged in and around the camp. Of these, 70 housing units were destroyed or otherwise rendered uninhabitable. At least 40 families remain displaced. The camp remains largely without running water, necessitating temporary solutions, which include water trucks. Humanitarian teams, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), are also providing emergency assistance, medical supplies and mental health support. ** Haiti And in Haiti, our Humanitarian Coordinator there, Ulrika Richardson, strongly condemns rising violence against medical staff and facilities in and around the capital Port-au-Prince and the rest of the country. The humanitarian community calls on all parties involved in attacks on health care to immediately cease all forms of violence against the population and humanitarian infrastructure, while also urging respect for the neutrality of healthcare facilities and their staff. More online. ** Sri Lanka I am very pleased to announce the UN Secretary-General has appointed Marc-Andre Franche of Canada as the new Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka. Mr. Franche has 24 years of experience in the United Nations and his work has focused on boosting development coordination among UN agencies, funds and programmes. He started on Saturday, following the confirmation by the Host Government. We congratulate Marc-Andre. ** High-Level Political Forum I wanted to flag that the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, otherwise known as the HLPF, started today and will go on until next Wednesday, 19 July. The three-day ministerial segment of the Forum will take place from Monday, 17 July, to Wednesday, 19 July. This year's theme is "Accelerating the recovery from COVID-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels". The meeting will also support the midterm review of the SDGs and the preparations of the SDG Summit in September. ** Financial Contribution We just got fresh payments to the regular budget, from a landlocked country in Latin America. An interesting fact about this country is that, for being a nation without a coastline, it has a strong naval tradition; its navy has access to the Atlantic Ocean through Argentina. And the Itaipu Dam on the River Parana which it shares with Brazil is one of the world's biggest working hydroelectric power plants. And it's actually an amazing place to see. And what country are we talking about? [Paraguay.] Yes, Edith Lederer. I love the dam, it's really a sight to see. So, we thank our friends in, the capital of...? [Asuncion.] Edie, man. Was a restful weekend for Edie. Please, Edie Lederer, Associated Press. ** Questions and Answers Question : Thank you, Steph. Last week, Martin Griffiths said that Rebeca Grynspan would like to go to Moscow this week to talk about cross-border, and he would like to go to Istanbul to meet with... not cross-border. What am I talking about? About the Black Sea Grain Initiative. And sorry; too many deals going on is right. And he would like to go to Istanbul to meet with the parties to the Initiative. Can you give us any update on what's happening? And is the Secretary-General himself involved? Is he making any phone calls? Thank you. Spokesman : Yes. I don't have any information on travel to share with you, but I can tell you, I spoke to the Secretary-General about this this morning; he is deeply involved, as are Rebeca and Martin, in doing whatever we can to ensure the continuation of all of the agreements and to ensure full implementation of what has been signed, whether it's the Black Sea Initiative or the MoU [Memorandum of Understanding], given its importance in the fight against global hunger. Michelle, then Pam. Question : Is Russia engaging with the UN at all? Spokesman : Throughout this, we've been engaged with all the critical parties, notably the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkiye. Question : But, we're a week out now from the expiration of this deal. We don't know if Rebeca Grynspan is going to Moscow. Spokesman : We've been a week out from the extension at a number of points along the way. It's high stakes, so... Question : Has the SG spoken with...? Spokesman : I'm not going to get into any conversations that he's had. Pam? Question : Thanks, Steph. A follow-up as well. On Sunday, there was a report that Ukraine sources said that the Turkish Navy will protect ships from the Russian Navy in the Black Sea corridor, even if Russia withdraws from the grain deal. Any comment on that? Spokesman : No. Question : Would that be positive? Spokesman : I don't have any comment. That seems to be like questions you should ask the Ukrainians and the authorities in Turkiye. Question : Given what you know, any... I know you don't like to make predictions. But, any sense that it might move along, even with resistance? Spokesman : No. I think your last sentence was a correct one. Dezhi? Question : I'm going to ask a different topic. WMO [World Meteorological Organization] just announced that, according to its data, the world just had the hottest week on record, following the hottest June on record. As a matter of fact, last Monday and Tuesday, it's also the hottest day. So, any reaction from the Secretary-General on this very, how would I say, concerning trajectory on this temperature? Spokesman : Well, I don't think the data is surprising. What remains disappointing is the lack of action by people who need to take action, given all the data that we're seeing. We're continuing to see extreme weather. I came back to the States yesterday. We saw the storms here in New York State. I think there was one fatality. I was home in France. There was a lot of extreme weather, storms in different parts of the country. We're all seeing it with our own eyes, and it's all being backed by very clear data from impartial scientists. Yes, go ahead. No, please. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead, Betul. Sorry. Question : Thanks, Steph. Well, first a follow-up on Yemen. David Gressly said that ship-to-ship transfer of oil from the decaying tanker off the coast of Yemen will start early next week. Can you just remind us once the transfer is completed, what will happen to the oil? Who's going to use it? The Yemenis or the UN? Spokesman : The oil will stay there. I think those are still issues that need to be worked out. Our focus right now and has been, I think, you've heard me talk about this for a few years now, it is to avoid an ecological disaster. We've had a million barrels of oil stuck on this tanker, which is decaying. And we're very close to actually completing that. And I think we all very much hope that the operation will succeed. And I know all of those involved, Mr. Gressly's team, the UNDP team, and the contractors that we've provided with the support of all the parties in Yemen, I think everyone is working in the same direction. Question : And back to my second question, last week at the Security Council, the US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that "the UN Secretariat has an obligation to carry out its mandate to examine evidence of Iran's transfer of UAVs to..." Spokesman : A little slower because I'm still on vacation mode here. Question : Sure. "The UN Secretariat has an obligation to carry out its mandate to examine evidence of Iran's transfer of UAVs to Russia in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015)." This was her quote. What does the UN plan to do with this call? Do they plan to send a team to investigate it? Spokesman : We are continuing to analyse the information received with regard to the alleged transfer of uncrewed aerial vehicles by Iran in a manner that's consistent with paragraph 4 of resolution 2231 (2015). Question : Is the SG in favour of sending a team? Spokesman : I will refer you back to what I've just said. Evelyn? Question : Yes. We get lots of calls in today's meeting on Yemen for aid and yet the Yemenis, the Houthis at any rate, are not allowing women to move around without escorts. So, this must be that... the UN must have a terrible time. Does the UN have a terrible time in distributing any aid? Spokesman : Delivering humanitarian aid in Yemen remains challenging. Dawn? Question : Thank you. I wanted to ask a question on Jenin. So, the Secretary-General gave comments. The Israeli ambassador asked him to retract them about what happened in Jenin. Secretary-General hasn't done that, as far as I know at this moment. And I'm just wondering, what are the political consequences of any for the Secretary-General to not act on that request? Does he have to get on the phone with the Israeli ambassador? Has he had discussion? Spokesman : No. I'm not aware that he's had a discussion with the ambassador. Maybe last week, I'm just not aware of it. I think Farhan [Haq] was pretty clear on Friday, when he said the Secretary-General stood by his statement. It is not the first time in history and even recent history that this Secretary-General has made a statement in which certain Member States have asked them to withdraw and he has not. He's just stating what his opinion is. Question : And if I can just ask one more. I was asked on Friday, but I'm going to try again. I know you weren't here. The Secretary-General was asked at the stakeout whether or not he thought Israel had committed war crimes. He didn't answer the question. Anything to add? Spokesman : If he didn't answer the question, I don't think I will. But I think his position on the events that we have seen recently in Jenin, I think was made very clear in what he said to you. Other parts of the system may voice their opinion also in more legal terms. Abdelhamid? Question : Thank you, Stephane, and we'll come back, I want to follow up with the diplomat's visit to Jenin. On 18 April 2002, after the first destruction of the same refugee camp by Israel, Terje Roed-Larsen, the then Special Envoy of the SG and the Middle East Peace Coordinator, visited the camp. And he said that what he had seen is a brutality beyond imagination. This is an earthquake; that's what he said. Now, Tor Wennesland, he didn't visit Jenin. He didn't visit Turmus Ayya, and he didn't visit Huwara, while other diplomats do. Why he doesn't take a step further and go see for himself, being the supreme representative of the United Nations? Spokesman : Listen, I think I will leave the analysis, the compare and contrast to you and your journalist's colleague. I think Mr. Wennesland has been extremely vocal and extremely clear and the whole UN system, I think, has been extremely clear, as well. Okay. I will get our guests, and so I'll ask you to stay in your seats. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KC-135 serves as platform for multiple missions over Germany, Netherlands Published July 10, 2023 By Staff Sgt. Allison Payne 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- Aeromedical Evacuation technicians with the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron assigned to Ramstein Air Base, sharpened their skills during a routine refueling flight in a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 93rd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, June 27, over the skies of Germany and the Netherlands. The 86th AES provides critical medical care to forces operating throughout Europe and Africa. They are responsible for treating patients for a variety of illnesses and injuries, using assessment skills during contingency operations to save life and limb, and providing essential care to patients of all ages. "We are that segment between transporting patients from one place to another while still giving them the care they need," said Capt. Jordan Klein, 86th AES flight nurse. "If we couldn't be there for them, they are more likely to undergo harm that could have been otherwise preventable." The mission of the Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation system is to provide time-sensitive, mission-critical care to patients being transported between medical treatment facilities. AE forces operate anywhere air operations occur in support of the full range of military operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response. "In-flight training ultimately makes us more prepared for future fights and anything we may see or experience with a patient," Klein said. "We don't always have the ability to fly on the KC-135, so building a cohesive working relationship with the 93rd EARS is definitely important to us." AE crews execute patient movement primarily on Mobility Air Forces aircraft, including the C-130J Super Hercules, C-21 Learjet, C-17 Globemaster III and the KC-135. "If we are the only jet available to medically evacuate a patient, our job as boom operators gain more responsibility," said Senior Airman Carson Wilberg, 93rd EARS boom operator. "Everything from the beginning of the flight to the end becomes a collaborative effort, so it's really important for us to understand what roles we can fill and how we can help our AE guys out." The KC-135 flew above northeastern Europe to conduct routine refueling for Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s and F-35s from Volkel Air Base, Netherlands. Together, the flight enabled the training missions of the 86th AES, 93rd EARS and the RNLAF. "As the aircraft commander, I'm in charge of essentially the wellbeing of the jet and everyone on board," said Capt. Nathan Armes, 93rd EARS KC-135 pilot. " It's my job to maintain a smooth, steady aircraft so the medical team can accomplish their mission as we accomplish ours." When the boom operators weren't refueling aircraft, the 86th AES team was busy practicing various medical scenarios they may encounter, such as mental health care, musculoskeletal injuries, anaphylactic reactions and other patient emergencies. "Running through these training scenarios helps us learn what to do during potentially stressful situations," said Senior Airman Zachary Vedder, 86th AES aerospace medical technician. "Being able to manage stress is really important because we need to be able to make quick decisions to ultimately save a life. " NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bataan ARG and 26th MEU(SOC) Marines, Sailors Set Sail for Deployment US Navy 10 July 2023 From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs ATLANTIC OCEAN -- U.S. Marines and Sailors of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BAT ARG) / 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) (Special Operations Capable) (SOC) departed Norfolk, Virginia, and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, July 10, after completing a comprehensive, nine-month training program. The deployment is part of a regular rotation of forces that foster maritime security and increased theater cooperation by providing a forward naval expeditionary presence with vast, specialized crisis response capabilities to support the geographic combatant commander, numbered fleet commander, and joint special operations task force commander. "We are ready to complete any mission before us, and we are looking forward to the opportunities we will have to work alongside our allies and partners in the months ahead," said Capt. Martin Robertson, commander of Amphibious Squadron 8. "Our Sailors and Marines have trained hard and are ready. We are thankful for the support of our families and loved ones during this journey." The BAT ARG/26th MEU(SOC)'s pre-deployment training program culminated with its final certification exercise, Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), a series of exercises designed to fully integrate roughly 4,000 Marines and Sailors into one cohesive contingency force while testing the units' abilities to carry out sustained operations from the sea. During COMPTUEX, the BAT ARG/26th MEU(SOC) operated under NATO command and control to replicate the realities of missions the Navy-Marine Corps team may encounter on deployment. "Over the course of the last nine months, Marines and Sailors of the 26th MEU(SOC) successfully demonstrated the battle staff competencies coupled with all-domain operational capabilities and high proficiency across the MEU Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) mission essential tasks and warfighting functions, to include MEU/SOF-integration, during an enhanced, rigorous pre-deployment training program within a scenario reflective of the EUCOM, AFRICOM, and CENTCOM regions," said Col. Dennis "Dolf" Sampson, commanding officer of the 26th MEU(SOC). "Throughout our work-ups, the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the 26th MEU(SOC) executed multiple advanced at-sea training exercises and fully integrated into a cohesive naval expeditionary force capable of supporting theater campaigning requirements while remaining postured, as the Nation's Immediate Response Force, to rapidly respond to any crisis." The Bataan ARG is comprised of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 50), the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50). Embarked commands include commander, Amphibious Squadron (CPR) 8, Fleet Surgical Team 8, Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, Assault Craft Unit 4, Beach Master Unit 2, and the 26th MEU(SOC). "I could not be any prouder of the Marines, Sailors, and families of the 26th MEU(SOC)," Sampson said. "They set the bar very high during our work-ups as the premiere Tri-GCC Crisis Response Force, showcasing the flexibility and all-domain operational capabilities the ARG/MEU(SOC) provides to a Fleet or Joint Task Force Commander within the littorals and beyond." The 26th MEU(SOC) serves as one of the Nation's premier crisis response forces capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response, and limited contingency operations, to include enabling the introduction of follow-on forces and designated special operations, in support of theater requirements of the Geographic Combatant Commander. Coupled with the BAT ARG, the 26th MEU(SOC) serves as a premier stand-in force with a full complement of all-domain capabilities to operate persistently within the littorals or weapons engagement zones of an adversary. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Welcomes Sweden's Acceptance Into NATO as Summit Begins By Patsy Widakuswara, Anita Powell July 10, 2023 President Joe Biden welcomed news late Monday that Sweden will be admitted to NATO, overcoming objections from the last holdout in the security alliance, Turkey, on the eve of a major summit of the security bloc in Lithuania's capital. "I stand ready to work with (Turkish) President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan and (Turkey) on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area," Biden said in a statement issued from Vilnius, where he is attending the summit of NATO leaders. "I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO Ally." Biden is set to meet with Erdogan late Tuesday at the end of the first day of the summit. Erdogan had opposed Sweden's membership, accusing Stockholm of not doing enough to crack down on their branch of a political party that Turkey's government sees as extremists. In what appeared to be a last-ditch parry on the eve of the summit, Erdogan linked the Sweden issue with Ankara's stalled demands to join the European Union. "The United States has always supported (Turkey's) EU membership aspirations and continues to do so. (Turkey's) membership application and process is a matter between the EU and (Turkey)," a National Security Council spokesperson told VOA. The official asked not to be identified, as is common practice when discussing administration policy. "Our focus is on Sweden, which is ready to join the NATO Alliance." NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey's decision on Sweden, calling it "an historic step" that makes all members stronger and safer. Sweden needed unanimous support from all 31 NATO members to join the alliance. Sweden and Finland applied jointly for membership last May, with both Nordic nations citing overwhelming popular support for the idea amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finland's membership was finalized in April. Defense spending and Ukraine The summit still has important issues to cover in a short time. Those include whether the members can agree on and then meet a commitment to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. Currently, only seven members fulfill that target. Another key agenda is Ukraine's ambition to join NATO, something that Biden has candidly admitted there is no consensus about within the alliance. The U.S. is reluctant to grant quick membership for Kyiv for fear of dragging NATO into war with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he accepts that his country can only join after the conflict with Russia ends. Membership in the midst of a war would require the alliance to apply the principle of "an attack on one is an attack on all" enshrined in the bloc's Article 5. Still, Zelenskyy has demanded a clear pathway to join the alliance, and during the two-day summit, NATO members will aim to nail down a compromise that will signal that Kyiv is moving closer to membership without making promises of a quick accession. Some NATO allies, including the U.S., U.K. and France, are set to come up with proposals to strengthen Ukraine's armed forces, including its postwar needs, through a series of long-term commitments outside the NATO framework. The so-called security guarantees are going to be done in "extremely close coordination, given how high the stakes are," however it will be "different from having an Article 5 agreement to defend Ukraine," said Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the U.S. and Americas program at Chatham House, to VOA. Earlier on Tuesday, Biden will participate in a bilateral meeting with summit host President Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania and with the North Atlantic Council, the principal political decision-making body within the alliance. Following the two-day summit, Biden heads to Helsinki on Thursday to meet with leaders of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark. Once Sweden has joined NATO, all five Nordic countries will be members of the military alliance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Says It's Working to Hold Afghan Taliban to Anti-Terror Pledges By Ayaz Gul July 10, 2023 A senior U.S. official says the Biden administration is "working tirelessly every day" to ensure the Taliban stick to their pledges to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for transnational terrorists. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan discussed the matter with reporters aboard Air Force One when asked by VOA if Washington is working with the Taliban to hunt down terrorist targets on Afghan soil. Sullivan traveled to London, where President Joe Biden met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. "What I could say is that we are holding the Taliban to their commitments under the Doha agreement, which is that Afghanistan cannot be used as a safe haven to plot terrorist attacks against anyone and especially, from our purposes, against the United States of America, our homeland, our allies, and our partners," Sullivan said. He referred to the February 2020 deal the Trump administration negotiated with the then-insurgent Taliban in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The deal paved the way for all U.S.-led NATO troops to depart Afghanistan in mid-August 2021 after two decades of involvement in the war. The insurgents, in turn, pledged they would not allow terrorist groups, including al-Qaida, to threaten other countries from Afghan soil. Sullivan spoke days after President Joe Biden defended the chaotic troop withdrawal and suggested that the Taliban are helping Washington to push out al-Qaida from the war-torn South Asian country. "We are working tirelessly every day to ensure that that set of commitments is fulfilled," Sullivan said. "And beyond that, I won't say anything further," he added. The Taliban reclaimed control of Afghanistan just days before the last group of U.S. soldiers left the country. While the U.S. and the Taliban have declined to acknowledge publicly any counterterrorism cooperation, regional diplomatic and Taliban sources say the two former adversaries are working together to deal with the threat of terrorism. The reported collaboration stemmed from a meeting between top Biden administration and Taliban officials in Doha last October. The CIA deputy director, David Cohen, and the Taliban spy chief, Abdul Haq Wasiq, also attended the talks, underscoring the emphasis on counterterrorism. Both sides confirmed the meeting but would not say whether Cohen and Wasiq, who heads the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence or GDI, participated in the talks. The meeting came several months after the United States announced its drone missiles killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in his hiding place in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Washington said the terror mastermind lived in the safehouse as a Taliban guest and accused the de facto Taliban authorities of violating the Doha agreement. Taliban authorities have maintained they were unaware of al-Zawahiri's presence in Kabul, and the incident was under investigation. Wasiq has established an exclusive cell in the GDI for counterterrorism collaboration with U.S. authorities and oversees its work, VOA learned through reliable sources. VOA contacted chief Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid for comments on whether Kabul and Washington are jointly working to combat terrorism but did not receive a response immediately. Regional sources also attribute the Taliban's recent successes against Islamic State-Khorasan, the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State terrorist network, to their counterterrorism collaboration with the U.S. The United States has denied working with the Taliban on operations against Islamic State-Khorasan. U.S. military officials have publicly doubted the Taliban's ability to go after high-value IS-K targets. The Taliban, however, maintain they are conducting operations against IS-K on their own, saying the group is a threat to Afghanistan and regional stability. VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this story. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Analysts: Jenin Violence Heralds New Era in Israel-Palestinian Conflict By Dale Gavlak July 10, 2023 The United Arab Emirates has promised $15 million in aid to support United Nations relief operations in Jenin after deadly violence turned the refugee camp's streets and houses into rubble and cut off power and water. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to abide by its international legal obligations, saying that "escalation is not the solution," warning that violence "simply bolsters radicalization." Israel maintains that it was uprooting radical militants and weapons caches in the West Bank camp. Observers like Jordanian independent analyst Osama Al Sharif see Israel's military incursion as encouraging more Palestinian youth to join militant groups. That's because, he told VOA, there are no tangible results from a moribund peace process, while many reject the aging and ineffective leadership in the Palestinian Authority. "It's a generation in despair. There hasn't been any kind of genuine attempt to create hope for the majority of Palestinians in the occupied territories. This Palestinian Authority is incapable of protecting the Palestinians in the areas it controls. The only thing that the Israelis want from the Palestinian Authority is security coordination. They're not talking to the PA over a peace process. They are not in favor of an independent Palestinian state. They are against a two-state solution. So, what else is there for especially those young Palestinians increasingly seeing what is left of the West Bank being colonized by Jewish settlers?" said Al Sharif. Washington Post columnist David Ignatius blames both Israel and the Palestinians for the worrying developments. "The Palestinian Authority's security forces," he said, "have lacked the firepower or will to challenge the growing presence of Hamas and Islamic Jihad" in Jenin, both militant groups backed by Iran. Others, like the Jenin Brigades, have risen to confront violence by Jewish settlers. The group reported that eight of the 12 dead were its members, while hundreds of others were wounded. Ignatius also criticized Israel's "refusal to control and discipline the ever-expanding [Jewish] settlements in the West Bank" undertaken by its current hardline nationalist government, pointing out that even if both sides really wanted a Palestinian state to materialize now, "there is simply not enough land left in a small territory dotted with Israeli settlements and 'outposts.'" Michael Milstein, a former adviser to the Israeli agency overseeing Palestinian affairs in the West Bank, told London's Financial Times that Jenin is a wake-up call. "The basic problems in the West Bank are much deeper than terror or military or security problems. You also need to take care of political and social and economic problems," Milstein said, pointing to the apparent disintegration of the Palestinian Authority. Jordanian analyst Al Sharif said there doesn't appear to be an endgame. "We are reaching the point of truth. When you are talking about a second or third intifada, an implosion. All negative scenarios are there waiting to happen because simply there is no alternative, no political process," said Al Sharif. He said that inside Israel, there also seems to be no answer to what is next. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China Protests US Meeting With Dalai Lama in India By VOA Tibetan Service July 10, 2023 China has protested a weekend meeting between the Dalai Lama and the U.S. coordinator for Tibetan affairs, saying on Monday that "no external forces have the right to interfere" in the affairs of Tibet. Uzra Zeya, U.S. special coordinator for Tibetan issues who is also the U.S. undersecretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights, met Sunday with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, which China annexed in 1950. Namgyal Choedup, the representative of the Dalai Lama in Washington who attended the meeting, said, "Undersecretary Urza Zeya reiterated the continued attention and support for Tibetan issues by the U.S. administration." The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi tweeted that "China firmly opposes any form of contact between foreign officials and the "Tibetan independence" forces." "The 14th Dalai Lama is by no means just a religious figure, but rather a political exile who has long been engaging in anti-China separatist activities and attempting to split Xizang (Tibet) from China. ... The so-called 'Tibetan government-in-exile' is an out-and-out separatist political group and an illegal organization completely in violation of China's Constitution and laws. It is not recognized by any country in the world," he said in the tweet. Penpa Tsering, leader of the Central Tibetan Administration, also attended the meeting. The government-in-exile represents about 100,000 Tibetans living in an estimated 30 countries, including India, Nepal, Canada and the United States. In March, Zeya told a congressional commission that China continues to "wage a campaign of repression that seeks to forcibly Sinicize" the 6 million Tibetans in the country and eliminate Tibetan religious, cultural and linguistic heritage, according to Reuters. In that report, Republican Representative Chris Smith, who chairs the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said that while the global focus was on China's activities in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, "we cannot take our eyes off the ongoing genocide being committed against Tibetan people." Zeya, who will also visit Bangladesh during her July 8-14 trip to the region, is expected to meet senior government officials in India to discuss the U.S.-India partnership, including "advancing shared solutions to global challenges, democracy, regional stability, and cooperation on humanitarian relief," the U.S. State Department said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Right-Wing Victory in Spain Could Bolster Catalan Independence Drive By Graham Keeley July 10, 2023 Analysts say a right-wing victory may bolster the Catalan independence movement in the north-eastern corner of the country when voters go to the polls in Spain this month. Several recent polls suggest the opposition conservative People's Party (PP) will get more votes than the ruling Socialists in the election on July 23 but will fall short of a majority so it may have to rely on the support of the hard-right Vox party to form a government. In 2017, a former PP government ordered hundreds of police to stop a Catalan independence referendum which resulted in clashes between riot officers and voters. Vox, meanwhile, proposes eradicating regional governments like the one in Catalonia, in a direct challenge to the fiercely proud region. Meanwhile, the European Union's General Court last week stripped Carles Puigdemont of legal immunity from prosecution as a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for his role as the separatist leader of Catalonia's failed bid for independence nearly six years ago. The decision could pave the way for Puigdemont, who lives in self-imposed exile in Belgium, to be extradited to Spain to stand trial for disobedience and embezzlement, which carry jail terms of up to eight years. Boost for separatists Analysts believe that the prospect of a separatist leader appearing in a Madrid court may boost the Catalan independence movement, which has lost support in recent years. Puigdemont has vowed to appeal the decision at the European Court of Justice, which could delay any moves by Spain to extradite him. In 2017, Puigdemont fled Spain to avoid prosecution following a short-lived declaration of independence that prompted Madrid to take direct control of the wealthy region. In its ruling last week, the Luxembourg-based EU court rejected the appeal filed by Puigdemont and backed the European Parliament's decision to waive his immunity and that of two other self-exiled Catalan separatist MEPs, Toni Comin and Clara Ponsati. "The Parliament cannot adopt decisions to defend immunity which produce binding legal effects with regard to the Spanish judicial authorities," the court said in a ruling reported by Reuters. Puigdemont said the three MEPs would appeal to the European Court of Justice. "We will defend our fundamental rights until the end," he tweeted. Vox was in the political wilderness until four years ago, but after the Catalonia crisis it experienced a surge in support and is now the third largest party in the Spanish parliament with 52 lawmakers. Battles over language In its election manifesto published Friday, Vox called for regional governments to be abolished and Spanish to be promoted over other co-official languages like Catalan, Galician and Basque. Santiago Abascal, Vox leader, told hundreds of supporters at a rally last week attended by VOA in Barcelona that he would "not cede an inch in defending the right of Spaniards to speak their own language and against linguistic imposition." The Catalan language is seen by separatists as a symbol of its nationhood. It is the predominant language in which most school subjects are taught in the region. Only 25% of classes in Catalonia are taught in Spanish. Pere Aragones, the separatist Catalan regional leader, last month called for a "democratic front" against a possible right-wing government. Catalan independence parties, which have been divided in recent years over the right path to independence, came together to support Puigdemont. Aragones, a senior figure in the left-wing Catalan Republican Left party, said he hoped European justice would prevail and restore Puigdemont's immunity. Dolors Feliu, president of the Catalan National Assembly, a pro-independence civic group, told VOA in a statement: "The arrest of President Puigdemont would be a blatant violation of his rights and an attack against Catalonia's pacifist pro-independence ideology." Pablo Simon, a political analyst at the Carlos III University in Madrid, said Puigdemont's decision to appeal means the prospect of the Catalan leader standing trial is not an immediate one. "It will have [a] far more immediate effect on the independence movement if the PP and Vox govern together [after the election]. That could provide a boost to the independence movement," Simon told VOA. On the same day as Puigdemont lost his appeal in Luxembourg last week, a poll found 52% of Catalans opposed independence, according to the Catalan government's Center for Opinion Studies (CEO), while 42% support splitting from Spain. Since May, when the last survey was published, opposition to independence has risen two percentage points, while support has fallen one point, the survey found. Since July 2022, support for staying part of Spain has risen by four percentage points, while support for independence has fallen by two points. In January, Spain's Supreme Court dropped sedition charges against Puigdemont after a reform of the country's penal code abolished the crime. Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena said he would submit a new extradition request to Belgian authorities for Puigdemont to face trial on the lesser charges, depending on the EU courts' rulings. Spain's earlier attempts to extradite Puigdemont from Germany, Belgium and Italy failed. Some information in this report came from Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan army refuses to attend peace talks in Ethiopia, as fighting rages on Iran Press TV Tuesday, 11 July 2023 1:38 AM Sudan's army has refused to take part in the meeting of a regional bloc, which was aimed at ending nearly three months of brutal fighting that has ravaged the North African country. This came after the East African bloc known as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) invited both the Sudanese army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to its meeting in Ethiopia's capital on Monday. Sudan's army, however, accused Kenya, which chaired the talks, of favoring the RSF. The fighting in Sudan began in mid-April over a power struggle between army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who commands the RSF. Neither Burhan nor Dagalo personally attended the talks in Addis Ababa, but the RSF sent a representative to the quartet meeting, which was attended by Kenya, South Sudan, Djibouti and Ethiopia. The quartet issued a communique following the Monday meeting, deploring "the regrettable absence of the delegation of the Sudanese Armed Forces in spite of the invitation and confirmation of attendance." The quartet said it had agreed to "mobilize and concentrate the efforts of all stakeholders towards delivering a face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the warring parties." It also called on the rival generals to "immediately stop the violence and sign an unconditional and indefinite ceasefire." The meeting came a day after the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that Sudan is on the brink of a full-fledged civil war, which may spill over into neighboring countries and threaten stability of the entire region. Guterres "remains deeply concerned that the ongoing war between the armed forces has pushed Sudan to the brink of a full-scale civil war, potentially destabilizing the entire region," the UN chief's spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said in a statement. While the meeting was going on, residents reported battles and airstrikes in several areas of Sudan's capital city of Khartoum, some reporting rockets falling on civilians' houses. Witnesses also reported fighting in El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan and a commercial hub some 350 kilometers (220 miles) south of Khartoum. According to the latest figures, around 3,000 people have been killed in Sudan's conflict so far. The International Organization for Migration says nearly three million people have been displaced by the fighting, among them almost 700,000 who have fled to neighboring countries, especially Chad and Egypt. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 10 July 2023 - Day 502 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia is almost certainly struggling with a crisis of combat medical provision, after suffering an average of around 400 casualties a day for 17 months. The influx of military casualties has likely undermined the normal provision of some Russian civilian medical services, especially in border regions near Ukraine. It is likely that many dedicated military hospitals are being reserved for officer casualties. As claimed by the head of the Kalashnikov company's combat medicine training division, it is likely that up to 50 per cent of Russian combat fatalities could have been prevented with proper first aid. Very slow casualty evacuation, combined with the inappropriate use of the crude in-service Russian combat tourniquet, is reportedly a leading cause of preventable fatalities and amputations. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that that night, the Russian Federation launched another missile attack on the territory of one of the infrastructure facilities of Mykolaiv. Also, Russian forces carried out 22x airstrikes and carried out about 30x MLRS attacks. Unfortunately, infrastructure was damaged and civilians suffered. The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine. Russia is concentrating its main efforts on the Kup'yans'k, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes, heavy battles are ongoing. During the day, 17x combat clashes took place. Volyn' and Polissya axes: no significant changes detected. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces carried out airstrikes at Basovoy, Odnorobivka, and Veterinaryny of the Kharkiv Oblast. They shelled with mortars and artillery about 10x settlements, among them Hirsk of Chernihiv Oblast; Chuykivka of the Sumy Oblast and Uda, Veterinarne, Ohirtseve, Zemlyanka of the Kharkiv Oblast. Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding their ground. Krasne Pershe, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Masyutivka and Kislivka of the Kharkiv Oblast were under artillery and mortar fire. Lyman axis: Russian forces carried out airstrikes at Rozdolivka and Bilogorivka of the Donetsk Oblast. More than 15 xsettlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast, and Tors'ke, Verkhn'yokam'ians'ke, Ivano-Daryivka, Berestov, Vesele, Rozdolivka of the Donetsk Oblast, were shelled by artillery. Bakhmut axis: despite heavy fire from Russian aviation and artillery, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled attacks near Hryhorivka, Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces launched an air strike near Toretsk. More than 10x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Bogdanivka, Khromov, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivs'ke, Oleksandro-Shultyne, and Pivdenne of the Donetsk Oblast, were shelled by artillery. Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the assaults of Russian troops at Pivdenne of the Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces launched an airstrike in the Avdiivka area. russians shelled with artillery more than 10x settlements, including Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, and Nevels'ke in the Donetsk Oblast. Mar'inka axis: under Russian artillery fire, Ukrainian defenders repelled all enemy attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Krasnohorivka settlements. Near the latter, Russian forces also carried out an air strike. russians shelled more than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Georgiivka, and Pobyeda in the Donetsk Oblast. Shakhtars'k axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations at Novomykhailivka of the Donetsk Oblast. Conducted an airstrike near Odradny in Donetsk Oblast. They shelled more than 10x settlements, including Vugledar, Storozheve and Blagodatne of the Donetsk Oblast. Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia is concentrating forces to prevent further advance of Ukrainian troops. They carried shelled more than 20 settlements, including Novodarivka, Levadne, Malynyvka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Orihiv of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Beryslav, Kozats'ke, Lviv, Antonivka, Inzhenerne, Dniprovs'ke of the Kherson Oblast and Kherson. Defense Forces of Ukraine continue conducting offensive operations on the Melitopol and Berdyansk axes, digging trenches at achieved positions, while also shelling with artillery identified enemy targets, and carry out counter-battery measures. Ukrainian Air Force conducted 4x strikes on Russian manpower, weapons and military equipment concentrations. Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed 3x operational-tactical reconnaissance UAVs. Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit the command post, 3x manpower, weapons and military equipment concentrations, an ammunition warehouse, 7x artillery units at firing positions and anti-air defense system of the Russian occupiers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Alaska Guard rescues 10 people across state Published July 10, 2023 By Maj. Chelsea Aspelund 176th Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) -- Rescue crews from the Alaska Air and Army National Guard navigated across 1,850 miles, saving 10 people in four civil search and rescue missions and one medical evacuation mission June 30-July 4. The first call for assistance came to the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center from Alaska State Troopers June 30. A hiker had used a satellite communication device to call for help after experiencing a significant leg injury. Heavy clouds and low visibility precluded attempts by a civilian air ambulance to reach the hiker, so the AKRCC coordinated with the 176th Operations Group search and rescue duty officer to dispatch a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with a 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angel team of pararescuemen. The AKRCC controller on duty passed a phone number through the Alaska State Troopers to the survivor, allowing communication directly with the AKRCC, said Alaska Air National Guard Master Sgt. Mark Roberts, AKRCC search and rescue controller. The injured hiker provided medical condition, weather updates and positional guidance for the Pave Hawk. Once overhead, a HH-60G special missions aviator lowered the team to the patient for field care and hoisting into the hovering helicopter. The patient was flown to Providence Alaska Medical Center. On July 2, the AKRCC received a Emergency Locator Transmitter beacon signaling a distressed aircraft near a popular landing strip alongside McArthur River in south central Alaska. The ELT was registered with up-to-date information, allowing the AKRCC to initiate emergency calls reaching a listed emergency contact who had received a satellite phone call from the pilot reporting a crash landing in bad weather. A Pave Hawk with a Guardian Angel team located the aircraft and transported four uninjured people a two from the crash and an additional two stranded due to weatherato Wasilla Airport. "The registration information coupled with the coordinates provided from the satellite phone enabled aircrew to navigate directly to the site," Roberts said. "When we use only ELT coordinates, we have to set up a search area, which can delay critical rescue timelines." Roberts' statement was underscored July 4th, when a second general aviation aircraft crash-landed on a landing strip along McArthur River. The aircraft did not emit an ELT distress signal, so the AKRCC was unaware of the incident until the uninjured pilot used a satellite communication device to contact the AKRCC directly. An Army National Guard 207th Aviation Regiment UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew quickly located the site using the satellite communication device coordinates and transported three uninjured people to Anchorage. Also on July 4th, Air National Guard rescue assets were dispatched when the National Park Service requested hoist-capable rescue for a hiker experiencing a severe allergic reaction impacting eyesight on challenging, glacial terrain. "The hiking party, like the other rescues this week, carried a two-way communication device, which helped us identify the right rescue assets and expedited their pick-up," Roberts said. Meanwhile, the AKRCC coordinated the dispatch of a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II to provide helicopter air-to-air refueling for the Pave Hawk en route to the rescue. Once on scene, pararescuemen provided field medical care and hoisted the juvenile hiker and mother into the helicopter for transport to Providence Alaska Medical Center. The refueling capability provided to the Pave Hawk by the Combat King significantly reduced time en route as the helicopter would otherwise have had to land to refuel. The Combat King also provides weather reconnaissance and terrain navigation for the Pave Hawk, as was demonstrated in a medical evacuation mission to Chignik Bay earlier in the week. "Over the past week, we dispatched seven aircraft with aircrew, Guardian Angels and Army medics standing ready for the call," Roberts said. "The civil search and rescue capability provided by the Alaska Air and Army National Guard is unparalleled as Guardsmen navigate inclement weather, perform lifesaving field and en-route medical care, and safely transport approximately 100 patients each year." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address $1 billion defence agreement supports Australian jobs and industry Media release 10 Jul 2023 Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Minister for Defence, Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for International Development and the Pacific The Albanese Government has agreed to a major defence export deal with Germany, signing an in-principle agreement for Australia to supply more than 100 Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles, built in Brisbane. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese witnessed the signing of the agreement by Ambassador to Germany Philip Green and Mr Benedikt Zimmer, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Defence, during his visit to Berlin. Once finalised, the deal would see Rheinmetall leverage its production capacity at its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Redbank, Queensland to supply the vehicles to Germany. The deal represents one of Australia's largest ever defence export contracts, worth over $1 billion to the Australian economy in the production and supply of vehicles, supporting approximately 1,000 local Australian jobs and providing a significant boost to our sovereign defence industry. Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: "This is one of the biggest defence sales in Australia's history and is worth over $1 billion to the Australian economy in the production and supply of these vehicles. "The agreement will boost Australia's sovereign defence industry, secure local jobs and contribute to Australia's economic growth. "This deal secures well-paid jobs in Queensland and across the country." Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles: "The Defence relationship between Australia and Germany is growing significantly, and we are excited about this in-principle agreement for Rheinmetall to build Boxers for the German Army in Brisbane. "This is a significant investment for our local defence industry; securing local jobs and contributing to Australia's economic growth. "I look forward to seeing this significant deal between our two countries continue to progress." Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy: "We are excited that Boxers made in Brisbane, using Australian suppliers, will be used by the German Army. "This export opportunity highlights the world-leading skills and capabilities within Australia's defence industry. "This deal will support hundreds of well-paid, high skill jobs and grow the defence relationship between Australia and Germany." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australia Agrees to Near Record German Defense Deal By Phil Mercer July 10, 2023 Australia has confirmed one of the largest defense export deals in its history selling armored combat vehicles to Germany. The $661million announcement was made by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after he arrived in Berlin ahead of talks at a NATO summit in Lithuania. Australia will supply Germany with 100 Brisbane-made Boxer armored combat vehicles from 2025. The deal is worth $661 million and is expected to be formally signed on Tuesday. Analysts have said the Boxer heavy assault vehicle, which is armed with a cannon, has a reputation for mobility, firepower and protection from explosives with a reinforced hull and wheel housings. The Australian-made assault vehicles will eventually replace aging heavy weapons carriers in German army platoons. German defense contractor Rheinmetall started producing the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle in the Australian state of Queensland in March. It has a contract to supply more than 200 vehicles to the Australian military. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has seen European nations replenish military hardware, which has given Australia the opportunity to export German military technology back to Germany. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Berlin, Germany Sunday that it was a historic arms deal for his country. "This will be one of our largest-ever exports," he said. [It] will guarantee that the 1,000 jobs that are there in Queensland will go into the future and will be worth in excess of AUD$1 billion for the Australian economy. This will boost our sovereignty; this will increase our defense capability and boost our economy." Albanese also is scheduled to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Monday to discuss the war in Ukraine and security in the Indo-Pacific region. Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors to Kyiv's war effort. Canberra has recently approved an additional $73.3m in military aid to Ukraine. On Sunday, Education Minister Jason Clare told local media that while there had been criticism that Australia's assistance to repel the February 2022 Russian invasion was not enough, the Canberra government has indicated that more support could be on its way, although no details were given. Albanese will also meet the New Zealand prime minister, Chris Hipkins, on his trip to Europe, along with the leaders of Japan and South Korea, who have also been invited to attend this week's NATO summit. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hong Kong politicians in exile call for international response to electoral changes Warnings come as rules take effect ensuring that only 'patriots' can run for District Council elections. By Gao Feng for RFA Mandarin 2023.07.10 -- Hong Kong's "last elected district councilors" have called on the international community to withdraw recognition for the city's legislature after it voted to slash the number of directly elected district council seats. The city's legislature - which has been packed with pro-Beijing members since changes to the electoral system that saw chief executive John Lee "win" an election in which he was the only candidate - voted unanimously last week to slash the number of directly elected seats on District Council from 452 to just 88. The move comes amid an ongoing crackdown on public dissent and political opposition in Hong Kong, and after millions of voters in Hong Kong delivered a stunning rebuke to Beijing and their own government with a landslide victory for pro-democracy candidates across the city's 18 district councils at the height of the 2019 protest movement. Lee welcomed the changes to the District Council election rules, which will also ensure that pro-democracy candidates won't be able to run in the next election. "We must ... completely exclude those anti-China and destabilizing forces from the District Councils," Lee said in a July 8 statement. "This legislative exercise [will] ensure that the District Councils are firmly in the hands of patriots." Lee said the government is looking for candidates who are "capable, experienced, with relevant skill sets suited to the needs of the districts, and patriotic," although the government has yet to set a date for the district election. Under the new rules, which took effect on Monday, candidates will have to pass a national security background check and secure at least three nominations from several committees loyal to the ruling Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. More than 20 former District Council members in exile have called on the international community to withdraw official recognition of Hong Kong's Legislative and District Councils, which no longer "legally represent the people of Hong Kong." Elections for show The joint letter authored by former Shek Tong Tsui district councilor Sam Yip, who fled the ongoing crackdown to live in Japan, said that the latest legislation has sounded the death knell for any kind of democracy in Hong Kong. "Under the framework of the Hong Kong government's so-called 'patriots governing Hong Kong' policy, candidates must show their loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party before they can run for election," Yip said. "[They have to] go to these pro-government people to get nominated." Former Legislative Council member and former District Council member Ted Hui, who is among eight prominent overseas activists wanted by national security police for "collusion with foreign forces," said he, Yip and the other signatories to the letter were "the last democratically elected district councilors." "Maybe we would never get through the government's review process ... but the public opinion we represented still exists," Hui said. "We may scatter all over the world, but we still want to serve the people of Hong Kong." Daniel Kwok, a former Hong Kong district councilor now living in the United Kingdom, said the whole electoral system in Hong Kong is now just there for show. "You have to pass the qualification review [examining your loyalty to Beijing] and a political review process," Kwok said. "It's a high threshold." "The motivation is clear -- it's to cling to the principle that only patriots can rule Hong Kong, and eliminate any of the voices of the so-called 'anti-China chaotic elements' in Hong Kong," he said. 2020 National Security Law Kwok said it's important to amplify these changes to the rest of the world. "Many Western democracies may not have a timely understanding of the situation," he said. "Nobody has yet formally discussed the changes to the electoral rules for the Legislative Council and District Council at the United Nations Human Rights Council." "We have to keep on speaking out and keep the issue alive in the international community," he said. The European Union said in a July 6 statement that the changes go against China's commitment to democratic representation under the terms of the 1997 handover. "This severely weakens the ability of the people of Hong Kong to choose representatives overlooking district affairs," it said, noting that the decision follows the imposition of a draconian national security law on Hong Kong from July 2020. "These developments raise serious questions about the state of fundamental freedoms, democracy and political pluralism in Hong Kong that were supposed to remain protected until at least 2047 under the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 and China's international commitments," it said. The Hong Kong government "vehemently rejected" the EU statement and said the bloc was "interfering in Hong Kong matters, which are purely China's internal affairs." It said there was no mention of democratically elected district councilors in the handover treaty or Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law. It said the elected component under the new rules would still be larger than it was under British rule during the 1980s. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Paul Eckert. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More than 2 dozen bodies of Uyghur inmates released in Kashgar prefecture Authorities discharged the corpses in the run-up to an Islamic holiday in April. By Shohret Hoshur for RFA Uyghur 2023.07.10 -- Authorities at a prison in the Xinjiang region released the bodies of at least 26 Uyghur inmates before the Eid al-Fitr holiday in late April, police in various towns have told Radio Free Asia. RFA contacted 10 police stations in Kashgar prefecture's Maralbeshi county to confirm that authorities at Tumshuq Prison had released the bodies. Five of the inmates were elderly and died of heart and lung diseases, while one other died of diabetes, sources said. A Maralbeshi resident said many of them died of starvation because the inmates fasted in secret during Ramadan and couldn't eat during breakfast or after sunset because of jail rules. Officials contacted by RFA did not comment on the matter. In June, a source told RFA that authorities at the prison had released the bodies of dozens of individuals, including that of his brother, just before the Islamic holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. To obtain more information, RFA followed up by contacting police in the 10 towns, including speaking to officials in SAriqbuya, Awat and Chongqurchaq. When RFA contacted the police station in Awat, a Maralbeshi market town, to inquire about the body distribution on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, one officer said he was aware of the distribution of 18 bodies of dead prisoners, but he declined to disclose any information regarding the identities or their respective family members. "We have knowledge of the events and circumstances surrounding their deaths as they were under our supervision, but I am unable to share further information," he said. "I believe the overall count of deceased individuals amounts to 18," he said. "However, I am unable to disclose their identities." The police officer did not say whether prison authorities took the bodies directly to family members of the decedents, to the police station, or to a mortuary. RFA previously reported that other bodies were taken to a police station before being handed over to families. The process took place under the supervision of county, village, and people's committee officials and police. Additionally, authorities monitored the families for several weeks. Tumshuq Prison housed locals arbitrarily arrested during the 2017 crackdown on prominent and ordinary Uyghurs alike, jailing them in "re-education" camps and prisons for alleged extremist behavior, such as previous trips or contacts abroad or religious activities. China has come under harsh international criticism for its severe rights abuses of the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs, including forced labor. The U.S. government and several Western parliaments have declared that the abuses amount to genocide or crimes against humanity. A police officer from Seriqbuya told RFA in April that prison authorities delivered five bodies to his police station, and that most of them had been in their 70s or 80s and had been ill. "It appears that most of them passed away due to ineffective medical treatments," he said. The police officer also confirmed that one of the corpses was that of Abdugheni Qadir. A person familiar with the situation told RFA that Abdugheni Qadir from Seriqbuya was the son of Qadir Toxti, principal of SAriqbuya Primary School. Authorities arrested him in 2017 while he was doing business in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The other three dead prisoners were Memettursun Metniyaz, Haji'ahun and his wife Mehpiremhan. Metniyaz was a Uyghur motorcycle repairman jailed in early 2017 for completing the hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, years before. He died of diabetes in jail and his body was delivered to his family, a local residential committee member who oversaw the return of his corpse told RFA in a May report. Haji'ahun, a hatmaker, and his spouse Mehpiremhan, residents of Maralbeshi county, were each sentenced to 10 years in Tumshuq Prison in 2019 for "illegal" religious activities, people with knowledge of the couple's situation told RFA in a June report. Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yellen hails China visit as 'productive' Senior officials on both sides agree the trip has paved the way for improved communication. Chris Taylor for RFA 2023.07.10 -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has left Beijing after what she described as a "direct" and "productive" 10 hours of bilateral meetings with senior Chinese officials. Yellen left Sunday amid signs that China's senior officials were receptive to her overtures. Referring to a rainbow Yellen saw when she arrived in Beijing on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said to Yellen on Saturday that China-US relations can also see "more rainbows" after a round of "wind and rain," nationalist tabloid, the Global Times reported. Yellen told a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on Sunday morning that she was confident her four-day visit had advanced U.S. efforts to "put the U.S.-China relationship on a surer footing." Yellen said, "President Biden and I do not see the relationship between the U.S. and China through the frame of great power conflict. "We believe that the world is big enough for both of our countries to thrive. Both nations have an obligation to responsibly manage this relationship, to find a way to live with each other and share in global prosperity." She described her meetings with Chinese senior officials as "direct, substantive and productive," adding that the meetings had put the U.S.-China relationship on a "surer footing." Yellen also said she had made it clear that the United States does not seek to decouple from China. "There is an important distinction between decoupling on the one hand and, on the other hand, diversifying critical supply chains or taking targeted national security actions." Earlier this month, China implemented a new foreign relations law, which some critics contend broadens China's definition of espionage to the point it could be used to interfere with the operations of foreign businesses and the daily work of foreign journalists. In March and April, raids were undertaken on U.S. management consultancy Bain & Co.'s office and U.S. due diligence firm Mintz in Beijing, detaining five Chinese nationals in the process Yellen called for fair treatment so that American companies can compete in the Chinese market on a level playing field. She said she raised the issue of "the recent uptick in coercive actions against American firms." "Senior level engagement is particularly vital during moments of tension," she said. She also raised the issue of China's support for Russia's "illegal invasion of Ukraine" and said she hoped that Chinese firms would not provide Russia with material support. The Treasury Secretary added, "We discussed areas where we can work together on global challenges, from tackling the climate crisis to addressing sovereign debt. In the press conference Q&A session in Beijing, Yellen repeatedly circled back to national security concerns. "I do believe that it's possible for the two countries to be attentive to and take actions to protect their national security interests," she said. "That's what the U.S has done and will continue to do. But I do think it's important that we be transparent about the actions we're taking." Climate crisis The U.S. treasury chief noted that the U.S.-Sino partnership had yielded significant breakthroughs such as the 2015 Paris Agreement, urging China to support multilateral climate institutions such as the Green Climate Fund. "Both our economies seek to support partners in emerging markets and developing countries as they strive to meet their climate goals," she said. China has long maintained it is the responsibility of developed nations to help poor countries pay to address climate change. The United Nations still describes China as a "developing nation." John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy for climate change, will travel to Beijing this month for talks with Chinese officials on global warming. The visit is tentatively scheduled for the week starting July 16, an official at the State Department told Radio Free Asia on condition of anonymity because the travel plans have not yet been officially announced. Kerry is expected to meet with Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change. Kerry and Xie have not met publicly for talks since then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's August 2022 trip to Taiwan soured relations between Beijing and Washington. "China and the United States are the two largest economies in the world and we're also the two largest emitters," Kerry told the New York Times in an interview. "It's clear that we have a special responsibility to find common ground." Business first Yellen described her visit as "an opportunity for a new team, a new economic team in Beijing to meet with us and for us to establish a desire and willingness to work together, to discuss issues where we have agreements and to seek deeper engagement on the part of our staffs." She expressed confidence that there will be more frequent and regular communication. In the Beijing press conference Q&A session on Sunday, Yellen said she had heard her counterparts express skepticism about decoupling, remarking, "They have expressed concern that de-risking amounts to decoupling." She said she had assured her Chinese counterparts that these are "by no means the same thing, that de-risking involves attention to carefully articulated and narrowly targeted security concerns as well as with a broader concern about diversifying our supply chain." Both the U.S. and China are facing economic headwinds. According to a recent survey, most Americans think that a full blown recession is imminent. China has its own problems - a disappointing consumer rebound from the COVID lockdown period, youth unemployment, a property sector in crisis and vast piles of local government debt. If Fed hikes tip the U.S. into recession, economists warn, a simultaneous slump in the world's two economic powerhouses is a possibility. Bloomberg News notes, "President Xi Jinping's government doesn't have great options to fix things." Beijing's old playbook of using "large-scale stimulus to boost demand has led to massive oversupply in property and industry, and surging debt levels among local governments, sparking speculation that China is headed into "Japan-style malaise after 30 years of unprecedented economic growth." Speaking at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing at the opening of her meeting with her counterpart He Lifeng on Saturday, Yellen said there were many opportunities for U.S. and Chinese companies to do more business with each other. "The fact that despite recent tensions we set a record for bilateral trade in 2022 suggests there is ample room for our firms to engage in trade and investment," Yellen said. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korean police complain to Pyongyang about uncooperative state security agents Agents refused to share case data with local police prompting official letter to Central Committee. By Ahn Chang Gyu for RFA Korean 2023.07.10 -- Police in North Korea's Ryanggang province have sent a formal complaint to the central government after their coworkers, agents of the ministry of state security, refused to share data on criminal cases, officials in the province told Radio Free Asia. Stationed in every North Korean police station are local police officers under the social security department and state security agents under the ministry of state security. They often butt heads with each other due to the similarity of their mandates. The police are charged with keeping public order, including by eradicating crime. Meanwhile, the state security agents are like a secret police force that must protect the country's leader and the regime, as well as enforcing punishment for general crimes. The agents enjoy special privileges and powers that ordinary officers do not. After the police in Ryanggang province requested data from the agents regarding data from previous cases involving people currently under police investigation, the province's social security bureau submitted an official letter to the Central Committee over the impasse, a Ryanggang official, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told RFA's Korean Service. "[The letter] said the state security department is marking its territory and is not being cooperative," he said. Although the conflict between the state security department and social security department is nothing new, it is extremely rare that either group files official complaints about the other. The police claimed in the letter that state security agents did not transfer data on a group of people it had previously detained. The police caught these people making phone calls outside the country, but were not given access to data for their previous cases that were handled by the agents. "The police ordered [the agents] to hand over ... all materials and subjects of cases," he said. "But many state security agents think that the police are incompetent and act with jealousy toward them." Despite their internal conflict, the agents and the police appear to be outwardly friendly with each other, a resident from the province, who requested to remain anonymous for personal safety, told RFA. "They are actually enemies to each other," he said. "A few days ago, I personally saw an argument between a state security agent and a police officer." The cause of the spat, which happened inside a police station, was because the state security agent tried to get information from an informant working in a case handled by the police, the resident said. "That day, several residents who happened to be in the police station witnessed the quarrel," he said. "They mocked both of them afterward. Residents have very negative feelings of police officers and state security agents who give up nothing when it comes to monitoring and oppressing residents." Residents fear that the conflict between the two law enforcement factions could lead to competition between each other in how well they can oppress the people, he said. Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee and Leejin J. Chung. Edited by Eugene Whong. Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea says US spy plane violated its economic zone, warns of decisive action Iran Press TV Tuesday, 11 July 2023 12:23 AM North Korea says a US military spy plane has violated the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) multiple times, just a day after Pyongyang warned it could shoot down any American reconnaissance aircraft entering its airspace. Speaking on Tuesday through a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, said a US spy plane had entered the North's EEZ eight times on Monday. She said the intrusion of the economic zone took place off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula 435 kilometers (270 miles) east of Thongchon in Kangwon Province and 276 kilometers (171 miles) southeast of Uljin in North Gyeongsang Province. Kim added that the North would not respond directly to US reconnaissance activities outside its exclusive economic zone, but warned that it would take "decisive action" if the US military crosses its maritime military demarcation line. A country's exclusive economic zone extends 200 nautical miles from the 12 nautical-mile territorial zone around its coast. Within that space, the country has a right to exploit marine resources. In a separate statement, Kim warned that American forces will face a "very critical flight" if they continue their "illegal intrusion" into North Korea's airspace. She also repeated her earlier warning that such flights may be shot down by her country's air defenses. Calling the issue "one between the Korean People's Army and the US forces," Kim went on to tell South Korea to refrain from getting involved in this issue. Her warning to Seoul came after South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff claimed in a Monday night statement that Pyongyang was escalating tensions by using threats over what it said was "normal flight activity" by the South Korea-US alliance. The new development came after earlier on Monday, the North threatened to shoot down the United States' reconnaissance planes in the event that they violated its airspace and crossed into its territory. Pyongyang issued the stern warning through an unnamed spokesperson of the country's Ministry of National Defense. The North Korean official said US reconnaissance planes had recently violated the country's airspace near the east coast. "Especially in the East Sea, US Air Force strategic reconnaissance aircraft violated the airspace of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by tens of kilometers several times," the unnamed spokesperson said, using the official name of North Korea. "There is no guarantee that a shocking incident where a US air force strategic reconnaissance plane is shot down over the East Sea will not happen," the spokesperson added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address German military commitment to Lithuania Germany - Federal Ministry of Defence Jul 10, 2023 After the illegal Russian Annexation of Crimea NATO Member States responded with the NATO Readiness Action Plan to the increasing threat from Russia. At the beginning of 2017, NATO began deploying robust land forces to Poland and the Baltic states. with The the mission of "enhanced Forward Presence", which serves to secure the Eastern European NATO member states. The German-led "enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Lithuania" currently has a strength of around 1,700 soldiers from 6 Nations. Integration into local defense structures, training and exercise is a core mission of the battlegroup. Personnel and materiel rotate in enhanced Forward Presence every six months, practicing the deployment of troops and weapon systems within Europe. The Battlegroup is fully integrated into Lithuania's defense planning. The German-led Battlegroup is based in Rukla, about 100 kilometers northwest of Lithuania's capital Vilnius and about 100 kilometers from Russian territory. Together with multinational units from the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Luxembourg, they make up the enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Lithuania. The forces deploy to the Baltics with their complete equipment and all combat vehicles and ammunition: The core of the battlegroup was formed by mechanized and infantry forces. Combat support - for NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) defense, reconnaissance or artillery - is added. This makes the enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup in Lithuania a battle group that exceeds the scale and equipment of a conventional battalion in the German Armed Forces. In March 2017, the operational readiness of the German enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup was established for the first time. This is regularly verified and demonstrated during exercises. Iron Wolf, Resolute Stallion, Saber Strike, Flaming Thunder or Eager Leopard -combat exercises are a recurring element of the enhanced Forward Presence. The Battlegroup uses all of the military training areas in Lithuania for its numerous exercise and training projects. Soldiers demonstrate multinational cooperation and defense readiness. The German Brigade for Lithuania Following Russia's attack on Ukraine in violation of international law in 2022, NATO is demonstrating its will and willingness to defend every inch of NATO alliance territory together. Germany is contributing to this by assuming special responsibility towards its ally Lithuania within the framework of NATO. In addition to its ongoing commitment through the German-led "enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup" on the ground in Lithuania, Germany is currently maintaining a whole combat brigade in Germany to defend Lithuania . The strength, equipment, and mobility of this combat brigade visibly enhance the defense readiness of Lithuania and its allies. A so-called Forward Command Element (FCE) of the combat brigade is permanently stationed in Lithuania, where it ensures smooth integration into defense planning in close exchange with host nation and NATO forces. The brigade regularly exercises the rapid deployment to Lithuania and the immediate transition to the defense of the country together with the allies in an intense exercise cycle that ensures an increased presence of Force in Lithuania. In Lithuania, Germany has been leading the NATO battle group since 2017. The troops are stationed in Rukla. In Lithuania, Germany has been leading the NATO battle group since 2017. The troops are stationed in Rukla. Germany is thus consistently and purposefully continuing its role in the first line of defense of the Alliance area, in full compliance with the decisions of the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid and the bilateral relations between Lithuania and Germany. As the surety environment remains highly volatile, and the Baltic states and Poland along NATO's eastern flank are particularly exposed Germany decided to assume even greater responsibility for protecting the Alliance area. Germany therefore expressed to Lithuania that it is prepared to expand the commitment within NATO in the long term with the permanent stationing of a brigade in Lithuania. For this, two essential conditions must be met. On the one hand, there is the infrastructure on site: It must be able to accommodate around 4,000 men and women of the Bundeswehr, the corresponding material - and, in the case of permanent stationing, also provide the necessary framework conditions for families. In addition to barracks, logistical facilities and military infrastructure for training and exercises, an appropriate civilian infrastructure must also be provided. Our hosts have pledged to build up this infrastructure step by step, thus creating the structural conditions for a gradual expansion of our presence on the ground. On the other hand, an expansion of our engagement must of course be in line with the further planning of NATO and our allies, fit seamlessly into the defense plans and preserve the necessary military flexibility. To this end, we are in close and continuous contact with NATO and our allies. We have had a close and consensual exchange with our Lithuanian friends on these two prerequisites. We share the common understanding that they set the framework for the plans now underway for the gradual implementation of a permanent stationing in Lithuania and that their fulfillment will guide the next steps. The goal of such a permanent stationing on NATO's eastern flank is ambitious - and it is new territory for Germany and the Bundeswehr. Above all, however, it is a clear expression of Germany's "Zeitenwende" as well as a change of era in action and a clear signal that we are prepared to defend our common freedom together with our friends and allies: Freedom is not for free - and that also means taking active, long-term and joint responsibility on the ground. The Joint-Working Group A joint Lithuanian/German expert-level working group has been established to continuously develop bilateral military coordination. NATO relies on the strategy of clear deterrence without confrontation. Quick Facts ~1.000 German soldiers are part of the eFP Battlegroup Lithuania. ~ 50 German soldiers are part of the Forward Command Element of the German Brigade for Lithuania, permanently stationed there. 1 German Brigade in Germany exclusively planned for Lithuania to reinforce Lithuania`s defence in case of urgent need.They regulary practice the deployment to and the Defence in Lithuania . NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran launching $1.43bn petrochemical plant in Gachsaran Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 6:44 PM Iran is launching a major petrochemical plant that relies on home-grown equipment for more than 80% of its needs, according to a senior official in the state-controlled Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC). Hassan Neshanzadeh, who leads planning and business operations at the PGPIC, said on Monday that Gachsaran Petrochemicals in southern Iran will soon be inaugurated in a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Raeisi. Neshanzadeh said the project will increase Iran's ethylene production by 1 million metric tons (mt) per year. He said the project has cost 1.3 billion euros ($1.43 billion) to build, adding that a bulk of the equipment used in the plant have been sourced from Iranian suppliers. "Gachsaran is the first polyolefin unit (in Iran) with home-made furnace burners," said the official. Gachsaran Petrochemicals will rely on 1.25 million mt per day of ethane gas as its feedstock. The gas will be supplied to the plant through a 90-kilometer pipeline from Bidboland Gas Refinery, located in the nearby Khuzestan region. Iran's Energy Ministry has guaranteed to supply 12 million cubic meters per year of water and 50 megawatts of electricity to the plant. The launch of the plant will create 1,000 direct jobs in the relatively impoverished regions in southern Iran while another 3,000 jobs will be created on the supply chain of the industry. The PGPIC accelerated construction works for Gachsaran Petrochemicals in 2019, some 15 years after it started the project. The planned launch comes despite the fact that Iran's petroleum sector has been subject to a series of American sanctions since 2018. Some experts believe US sanctions on Iran have backfired as they have forced the country to rely more on domestic resources to expand its massive oil and gas sector. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC foiled 'risky' US attempts to prevent seizure of foreign tanker smuggling Iran oil: Cmdr. Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 1:20 PM The United States made "unprofessional and risky" attempts to impede the seizure of a foreign oil tanker smuggling Iranian fuel in the Persian Gulf last week, but the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) successfully confiscated the vessel, according to an IRGC commander. The vessel that had military backing from the United States was seized by the IRGC naval forces on Thursday, Rear Admiral Ramazan Zir-Rahi, the commander of the IRGC's second naval zone, announced on Monday. He said that the US Navy tried to intervene as IRGC naval forces moved to intercept the oil tanker involved in smuggling one million liters of Iranian oil and gas. "On July 6, the forces of the IRGC's second naval zone were inspecting a vessel with the commercial name of NADA 2 that was involved in the organized smuggling of the Islamic Republic's oil and gas in the Persian Gulf, when the Americans started a series of unprofessional and risky actions in order to prevent this legal measure," he said. The commander said his forces found out during the inspection that the captain of the intruding vessel was in communication with the US command and control center in the region, seeking assistance for escape. Zir-Rahi said it was clear in the recorded conversations between the officer at the US control and command center and the captain that the American officer had asked him to stop the engine and wait for help. The captain was told to "stall the vessel's engine until the American military forces arrive for help." The US Navy deployed fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, helicopters and patrol vessels to prevent the Iranian operation, the commander explained. "The Americans scrambled two A-10 surface combat aircraft, a P-8A manned reconnaissance aircraft, two Hawk C helicopters, an MQ9 unmanned aircraft and dispatching US patrol vessels to the site," Zir-Rahi said. Stressing that the Americans tried until the very last moment to prevent the seizure of the intruding vessel, Zir-Rahi said, "With vigilance, precision, professional behavior, and the power of the IRGC Navy, the illegal and unprofessional actions of the Americans in the Persian Gulf were confronted and resulted in their failure and humiliation." State media reports announced on Thursday that the naval forces of the IRGC had confiscated a vessel with 900 tons of smuggled fuel and arrested all the 12 crew members onboard. No further details about the identity of the vessel and the nationality of its crew members were released at the time. The IRGC's Navy confiscated more than 50 million liters of smuggled fuel, mainly diesel, in various missions last year. It has over the past years foiled several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers in the strategic Persian Gulf region and other high seas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Europeans in no position to make accusations, must be held accountable for shortcomings on JCPOA: Tehran Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 11:27 AM Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman has slammed the irresponsibility of the three European signatories to the JCPOA agreement with the Islamic Republic, saying they must be held accountable for failing to fulfill their own obligations. Nasser Kan'ani made the remarks in a news briefing on Monday, following a recent UN Security Council meeting on Resolution 2231, which endorses the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action). Kan'ani went on to say that Germany, France, UK avoided fulfilling their obligations within the framework of the deal after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the agreement, adding that despite the promises they made, they could not make up for Washington's withdrawal. "We believe European governments are just as responsible as the United States in fulfilling their obligations and should be held accountable for failing to do so," he said. The foreign ministry spokesman further called on the European signatories to the nuclear deal to adhere to their commitments, instead of making accusations against Iran. He also said Iran does not accept the West's allegations, stressing that such actions are unconstructive and will not lead anywhere. Kan'ani also emphasized that any new sanctions based on baseless claims are completely rejected and Iran reserves its right to respond to any irresponsible action in a timely manner, while denouncing "as a violation of human rights" the unilateral sanctions imposed by the US and its allies on Iran. Iran proved the peaceful nature of its nuclear program to the world by signing the JCPOA with six world powers. However, Washington's exit in May 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo. Multilateral diplomatic efforts to revive the JCPOA have been stalled since last August, with Iran blaming the United States for failing to guarantee that it will not leave the deal again. Former US President Donald Trump pulled out of the UN-endorsed agreement in May 2018 and imposed what he called "maximum pressure" sanctions against Iran. Iran has repeatedly announced that the JCPOA revival is possible if the US and the European signatories to the agreement have the will to reach that aim, warning that the opportunity will not last forever. US court decision on anti-Iran figure 'example of banditry' Kan'ani further slammed a US federal court's ruling that Iran should pay over $3.3 million in damages to Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad for detaining her brother. Alinejad released the court's decision in a post on her Twitter account on Sunday. "We do not accept the American robbery of other countries' property in any way. Americans use their own internal laws to issue orders to other countries and then touch the countries' resources; This action is completely illegal and violates international laws," he said. The Iranian official also said relations between the countries are based on the two principle of mutual respect, stressing that the US has never followed this principle regarding Iran and has always committed violations. Kan'ani stated that Iran basically has no restrictions on mutual communication with different countries based on mutual respect, emphasizing that as long as Washington does not seriously change its behavior and talks to the Iranian nation from a position of supremacy and dominance, basically proposing a review of relations between both sides are meaningless. Iran-Baku ties returning to normal Elsewhere in his remarks, Kanaani said Iran and Azerbaijan are currently in a "very good and constructive path" to mend their ties following a recent escalation of tensions. "The two sides agree to overcome obstacles in the path of bilateral relations, including the attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran, and return to normal relations," he said. He also said that during Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian's recent visit to Baku, he held "good and constructive" talks with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev. "The spirit of the conversation and its content showed that we were on the right path," he added. On Sunday, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov underlined the importance of relations between Iran and Azerbaijan from Baku's point of view. "We highly appreciate the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to Azerbaijan, his participation in the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as his meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during this visit," he said, according to Trend. "We see Iran's intention to take serious steps towards resolving disagreements. In this case, Azerbaijan will take adequate and reciprocal steps," he added. Amir-Abdollahian arrived in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku on July 5 to take part in the two-day Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). He highlighted Iran's policy of consolidating neighborly relations and its remarkable achievements in the fight against terrorism, during his speech at the NAM Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau. He also held meetings with Azerbaijan's president and his counterparts from Turkey, Iraq, Malaysia, Sudan, Belarus, Syria, Kuwait and Nicaragua. His visit came as a shooting incident at Azerbaijan's embassy in Tehran in February led to diplomatic tensions between the two countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Sentences Rapper Salehi To Lengthy Prison Sentence For Supporting Protests By RFE/RL's Radio Farda July 10, 2023 Prominent Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, considered by many as the voice of the unrest that has rocked the country's Islamic leadership for almost a year, has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison on charges of "corruption on Earth" over tweets he posted supporting protesters. Rosa Etemad Ansari, one of Salehi's lawyers, disclosed on July 10 that Salehi had been sentenced on the "corruption on Earth" charge, while he was acquitted of the charges of "insulting the founder of the Islamic revolution and leadership and communicating with hostile governments." Salehi, who was previously held in solitary confinement, has been moved to a general prison ward, Ansari said. Ye-One Rhie, a member of Germany's parliament and one of Salehi's political sponsors, confirmed the sentencing, adding that she was still demanding to see Salehi "to know how he is doing." "If there is anything positive about this prison sentence: Toomaj Salehi has been transferred out of solitary confinement," she said. Ansari said that in addition to the prison sentence, Salehi's passport has been revoked and he will be banned from leaving the country for two years and his passport will be revoked. He has also been deprived of any music production or singing for two years. Salehi's trial was held in two closed-door sessions. Amir Reissian, another lawyer for Salehi, noted that "third parties, reporters, representatives of civil society, and even the client's family were not allowed to attend the hearings," and that his lawyers had only been able to meet with their client for half an hour during the eight months he has been in detention. Salehi, 33, has gained prominence for his lyrics that rail against corruption, widespread poverty, state executions, and the killing of protesters in Iran. His songs also point to a widening gap between ordinary Iranians and the country's leadership, accusing authorities of "suffocating" the people without regard for their well-being. He was arrested on November 30 amid protests that erupted following the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while she was in police custody for an alleged head-scarf violation. In the days leading up to his arrest, Salehi was living clandestinely, releasing numerous messages in support of the protests. Human rights sources say they have yet to obtain accurate statistics on the number of detainees in the protests, but the head of Iran's judiciary announced on May 17 that about 90,000 protesters were pardoned by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The activist HRANA news agency says that more than 500 people have been killed during the unrest, including 71 minors, as security forces try to stifle widespread dissent. Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-rapper- salehi-sentenced-protests-six-years/32496781.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian Activist Dies In Custody At Urmia Detention Center, Second In Two Days By RFE/RL's Radio Farda July 10, 2023 Human rights activists say Peyman Golvani, a Kurdish political activist, has died while in custody at the Intelligence Detention Center at the northwestern Iranian city of Urmia, where another political prisoner, Mousa Esmaili, died less than 24 hours earlier. The human rights group Hengaw said Golvani died on July 9 after being transferred from the detention center to the Khomeini Hospital in Urmia. Golvani was arrested on June 25 when security forces apprehended him at his home in Mahabad. Despite his family's attempts to ascertain the reasons for his arrest and possible charges, officials have not commented. The Kurdpa news agency reported that Golvani had joined a Kurdish opposition party. Hengaw quoted sources as saying Golvani was admitted to the hospital in a coma from what security forces said was a "fall from height." But Golvani's sister, the only relative who was able to gain access to see the activist, told the group her brother had extensive bruising on his body, face, and head, raising speculation that he had been tortured. The announcement of Golvani's death comes a day after human rights activists reported the death of Esmaili, a Kurdish political prisoner from Piranshahr, at the same detention center, which has long faced allegations of torture and inhumane treatment of its prisoners. Esmaili, 35, was arrested on May 7 after intelligence agents confiscated his car. Rights groups say he was held for 62 days "without explanation." Hengaw says a source close to Ismaili's family told it security officers said Esmaili "has been executed without presenting any justification or documentation connected to going through any legal process and trial." Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-activist-dies- custody-urmia-detention-center/32497243.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran cuts gas flow to Iraq amid heavy arrears Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 7:32 PM Iran has reportedly cut gas supplies to Iraq in a renewed attempt to force the Arab country to pay its debts for previous energy imports. Iraq's Minister of Electricity Ziad Ali Fadhil told the official INA news agency on Sunday that Baghdad had started intensive talks with Iran for a resumption of gas supplies that he said had been slashed by nearly a half because of unpaid debts. Fadhil said reduced supplies of Iranian gas to Iraqi power plants had caused Iraq's electricity production to drop by as much as 5 gigawatts (GW), forcing power outages in many towns and villages across the country amid temperatures that regularly reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). He said Iran had also cut electricity supplies to Iraq by 1 GW because of the arrears. "We hope they (Iranians) would understand Iraq's situation and the hot temperatures in the country and restore gas exports to previous levels," said the minister. The comments come days after Iranian authorities expressed hope that Iraq would soon provide Iran with an access to more than $10 billion worth of funds that have remained blocked in an account in the Trade bank of Iraq (TBI) because of US sanctions. Iraqi and US authorities had indicated in statements last month that the Central Bank of Iran would be able to access the funds for paying for imports. However, the TBI seems to have been unable to clear the account as Iraqi Ministry of Electricity sources said on Sunday that they had been notified by Iran that the reason for cutting gas flows was the failure to pay arrears. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Israel not a star in US flag': Israeli minister hits back after Biden calls Netanyahu cabinet 'most extreme' Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 11:07 AM An Israeli minister has lashed out at US President Joe Biden after the latter stated that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition administration has some "of the most extreme members" he has seen. "President Biden must internalize that Israel is no longer another star in the American flag," Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a Sunday evening interview with Channel 14, a right-wing network aligned with Netanyahu. He added, "In what way am I an extremist? By handing out weapons to Israeli people so that they can defend themselves? In that, I give full backing to our soldiers and officers. I invite Biden to tour Jerusalem (al-Quds) and Hebron (al-Khalil) to see that our extremism is extreme." The hawkish Israeli minister's remarks came after Biden offered rare comments during a CNN interview released on Sunday about the Israeli cabinet. Biden was pressed on what it would take for him to extend an invitation to Netanyahu to visit the White House, but he dodged the question, noting that Israeli president Isaac Herzog will be coming to Washington next week. As for Netanyahu, Biden said, "I think, [he] is trying to [figure out] how he can work through his existing problems in terms of his coalition." "I'm one of those who believe that Israel's ultimate security rests in a [so-called] two-state solution," Biden then said. He went on: "I think it's a mistake to think that, as some members of his cabinet a and this is one of the most extreme members of cabinets that I have seen." The US president also stated that Israeli cabinet ministers who back settling "anywhere they want" in the West Bank are "part of the problem" in the longstanding conflict with Palestinians. Netanyahu's coalition includes extremist elements like Bezalel Smotrich, who serves as finance minister, and Ben-Gvir. Both of those ministers have vowed to oppose a series of measures aimed at bolstering the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority and have voiced fierce opposition to the prospect of a Palestinian state, pushing for settlement expansion and more Israeli control in the West Bank. Washington has steered clear of both ministers in Netanyahu's cabinet and has expressed deep misgivings about them. Last month, the White House raised the alarm over the sway the right wing of Netanyahu's coalition has over policy, especially settlements and the widely-bashed "judicial overhaul" plan. Three Biden administration officials stated in June that Washington is not convinced that the longtime Likud chairman is in control. Actually, none of the Israeli cabinet members have gone on record in recent years backing a two-state solution, and many back annexing large parts of the West Bank without granting equal rights to Palestinians in those areas. Netanyahu even told his right-wing Likud political party last month that Israel must "crush" Palestinian aspirations for a state. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel's Knesset passes first reading of Netanyahu's divisive plan, despite months-long protests Iran Press TV Tuesday, 11 July 2023 2:06 AM Ignoring 27 weeks of incessant protests, Israel's legislature has approved the first reading of a highly controversial and divisive plan drawn up by the regime's extremist cabinet to curtail the powers of the Supreme Court. The bill proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right cabinet won 64 votes against 56 during a stormy parliamentary session on Monday, which was marred by heavy protests outside its building. Hundreds of protesters marched on the Knesset after holding a massive gathering outside the court. Ahead of the debate, some protesters entered the Knesset and had to be dragged out by the regime's forces, while others continued to demonstrate outside. The sound of protesters could be heard loud and clear at the nearby Bank of Israel, whose governor Amir Yaron told reporters that continued political uncertainty "is liable to have notable economic costs" for the regime. The bill has to clear two more readings before it can be signed into law. It seeks to reduce the Israeli judiciary's power to rule on the cabinet's decisions, including on the very makeup of the cabinet. The so-called judicial overhaul scheme, which was introduced by Netanyahu's extremist cabinet in January, has led to thousands-strong protests across the occupied territories every Saturday for the past six months. Its supporters allege that it will end decades of overreach by judges, while opponents argue that the plan will remove necessary checks on the power that is wielded by Israeli politicians. Critics have also accused Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges that he denies, of trying to use the scheme to quash possible judgments against him. Faced with overwhelming protests and a wave of industrial actions, Netanyahu paused the scheme in late March to enable talks on the issue. However, deeming the negotiations to be pointless last month, he re-launched his bid to push through with the reform package, claiming that he has come up with new proposals, which were more moderate. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Jet attack kills 3 civilians in Myanmar's Chin state The dead include a nursing mother and a young girl. By RFA Burmese 2023.07.10 -- Junta jets dropped bombs on a village in Chin state, in the west of Myanmar, killing three people including a nine-year-old girl, the Mindat township People's Administration Group told RFA Monday. Group spokesman Yaw Man said jets attacked Vung Khung village repeatedly on Saturday morning. "They shot three times with fighter jets, dropped two 500-pound bombs, and fired with other weapons, sending the villagers running like the world was about to end," he said. "There was a nursing mother who had left her baby behind and fled to another place. She was killed by a bomb that was dropped on the place where she was sheltering on the way home to pick up her baby. Her neighbor's nine-year-old child died next to her. "The locals don't dare to live in the village anymore, so they are fleeing to their hill farms and other villages." Yaw Man said a 65-year-old woman was also killed and a 50-year-old man injured in the attacks. Locals said there was no reason for the raids because the junta had not been fighting with the Chinland Defense Force. As well as attacking by air, infantry regiment 274, based in Mindat, fired long-range artillery at the village destroying the school and damaging 10 homes. The junta has released no statement on the attack and junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun did not answer his phone when called by RFA on Monday. Last month air attacks on Mindat and Thantiang townships destroyed a monastery and four houses. RFA data show that 44 civilians have been killed by junta air attacks in Chin state since the February 2021 military coup. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin Says Putin Met With Prigozhin In Russia On June 29, Days After Mutiny By RFE/RL July 10, 2023 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the private Wagner mercenary group, on June 29, just five days after the group had marched to within 200 kilometers (120 miles) of Moscow in a short-lived mutiny. Peskov said in a meeting with journalists on July 10 that the meeting was part of a three-hour gathering of 35 people, which included unit commanders from Wagner, who conveyed to the Russian leader that they would continue to fight for him in the war against Ukraine. Peskov did not say where Prigozhin currently is, nor did he give any further details on the meeting, which was first reported by French newspaper Liberation. "The only thing we can say is that the president gave his assessment of the company's performance on the front line during the special military operation, and also gave his assessment of the June 24 events. Putin listened to the commanders' explanations and offered options for their employment and combat role," Peskov added. The whereabouts of Prigozhin have remained unknown since his fighters briefly captured a southern Russian city and marched toward Moscow last month, representing the biggest threat to Putin in his more than two decades in power. On June 27, the leader of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, said Prigozhin was in Belarus, but nine days later he claimed the Wagner chief was in St. Petersburg. He gave no proof for either claim. Lukashenka, a Kremlin ally, helped broker a deal for Prigozhin to end the standoff in exchange for amnesty and security guarantees for himself and his troops. Under the deal, Prigozhin and his fighters were to be allowed to move to Belarus. But Lukashenka said last week that Wagner troops had yet to come to Belarus, raising questions over whether the deal between Putin and Prigozhin was actually being implemented. NATO is closely monitoring the movements of Wagner troops and Prigozhin, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on July 6. With reporting by Reuters and TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-prigozhin- meeting-kremlin-ukraine-mutiny-mercenary/32496760.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy Chief Of Mobilization In Krasnodar Shot Dead While Jogging, Russian Media Reports By RFE/RL's Russian Service July 10, 2023 A deputy chief of the department for mobilization in Krasnodar has been shot dead in the southern Russian city, Russian media reported on July 10. Stanislav Rzhitsky, who also commanded a Black Sea Fleet submarine, was shot four times while jogging on the morning of July 10 and died at the scene. A criminal case into the killing has been opened, TASS reported, citing law enforcement bodies. Rzhitsky commanded the submarine Krasnodar in the Russian Navy. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Krasnodar is a diesel-electric submarine built for the Black Sea fleet and designed "to fight surface ships and submarines, lay mines, and conduct reconnaissance." The Krasnodar is equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles, and Ukrainian media claimed that the vessel participated in the shelling of Vinnytsya in July last year, firing its Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea. In addition, a person with the same name is included in the database of a Ukrainian website that collects data on war crimes in the Russian army. It claims that he was the commander of the Alrosa submarine and was directly involved in the military invasion of Ukraine. It is unclear when Rzhitsky left the submarine fleet for the post of deputy head of the department for mobilization work in Krasnodar. Telegram channels report that items found at the crime scene -- a smart watch and headphones -- presumably belong to the killer. Authorities in Krasnodar are looking for the assailant. Russia implemented a partial mobilization late last year as it sought add at least 300,000 to bolster its depleted forces in Ukraine. Although Russian forces are now mainly on the defensive, Moscow has so far denied plans for a further mobilization. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-deputy- chief-krasnodar-shot-dead-/32497651.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. "TArkiye has always supported NATO's open door policy" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 10.07.2023 Delivering remarks to reporters prior to his visit to Lithuania for NATO Summit, President ErdoAYan said: "TArkiye has always supported the open door policy of NATO. Having acted in line with its commitments, Finland became an official member of the Alliance in April. The process concerning Sweden, on the other hand, still continues. Our relevant institutions maintain their talks with their Swedish counterparts with a transparent and well-intentioned approach." President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan delivered remarks to reporters prior to his visit to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius for the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit. President ErdoAYan noted that the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, which will begin tomorrow, will be held amid the increasing negative effects of the war in Ukraine on global stability and security. "WE WILL REVIEW THE DECISIONS WE TOOK AT MADRID SUMMIT" Stating that views on the defense and the security of the NATO geography during this critical period will be exchanged and important decisions will be taken at the Summit, President ErdoAYan said: "We will review the decisions we took at the Madrid Summit to strengthen the deterrence and defense structure of the Alliance as well as to support the partners, Ukraine in particular. We will hold on this occasion the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council formed as a sign of NATO and its alliances' support for Ukraine. We believe that the immediate termination of the war with a just and lasting peace will further facilitate Ukraine's NATO membership process." President ErdoAYan added that they decided to update the defense plans of the Alliance in Madrid, and that he expects them to be approved at the Vilnius Summit. President ErdoAYan stressed that despite the efforts exerted to raise difficulties they act in line with the spirit of alliance during this period as has always been the case, and went on to say: "We will review in Vilnius the works carried out to carry NATO's efforts in combatting terrorism to a new stage. Another important outcome of the Summit will be the renewal of the commitment of the minimum 2 per cent of the defense spending. On one hand we see that the increasing of the defense spending is discussed, brakes are applied with limitations on the other. The limitations and obstacles imposed unjustly by some of our allies restrict us. Our country, which saw nearly 2 per cent in defense spending in 2019, has regressed to some 1.30 per cent in this field. I will reiterate our call to our allies, which impose sanctions and limitations against TArkiye, to immediately rectify this mistake of theirs." NATO'S EXPANSION Underscoring that one of the items on their agenda will be the expansion of NATO, President ErdoAYan noted that TArkiye has always supported the open door policy of NATO. President ErdoAYan said: "We at every opportunity voiced our support for this policy while North Macedonia had been kept waiting at the door for 16 years. With the Trilateral Memorandum we signed last year in Madrid, a roadmap was prepared regarding Finland and Sweden's membership application to NATO. Having acted in line with its commitments, Finland became an official member of the Alliance in April. The process concerning Sweden, on the other hand, still continues. Our relevant institutions maintain their talks with their Swedish counterparts with a transparent and well-intentioned approach. And I will hold a tripartite meeting with NATO Secretary General and the Swedish Prime Minister tonight. The progress of Sweden's NATO membership process depends on the fulfillment of the issues set down in the Trilateral Memorandum. We as TArkiye are tired of saying that it is a must to combat terrorist organizations and its extensions without making any distinction among them." Wishing Allah's mercy upon two gallant Turkish soldiers, Hasan TaAY and Furkan GAnergAk, who died a martyr's death yesterday in the Operation Claw-Lock zone, President ErdoAYan extended his condolences to the relatives and brothers-in-arms of the martyrs. "No one should expect any compromise or understanding from us while our soldiers, police officers and civilians are martyred," President ErdoAYan stressed, adding that they want all the promises made to them to be delivered on. "WE ASSUME CRITICAL ROLES AT GLOBAL SCALE" Pointing out that TArkiye does more than what falls to itself as one of the five allies that contribute the most to NATO's missions and operations, President ErdoAYan stated that TArkiye, by making use of advanced technology on land, at sea and in the air, provide the Alliance with significant strength and capabilities. Noting that their anti-terror fight in the southern border region, which is NATO's borders as well, and beyond continues, President ErdoAYan said: "We assume critical roles at global scale in the prevention and management of irregular mass migration. In Vilnius, we, together with our allies, will reaffirm the importance we attach to the Alliance in a period during which threats are on the rise. I will hold bilateral talks with some of the heads of state and government on the sidelines of the Summit. I hope that my visit to Lithuania will lead to auspicious outcomes for our country, Alliance and region." "CLEAR THE PATH TO THE EU IN FRONT OF TARKAYE AND THEN WE WILL CLEAR THE PATH IN FRONT OF SWEDEN" Further stressing that he would like to reiterate another reality on the occasion of his visit to Lithuania, President ErdoAYan went on to say: "TArkiye has for over 50 years been kept waiting at the door of the European Union. Besides, today, nearly all of the NATO-member countries are at the same time a member of the EU. I hereby call on the countries that make TArkiye keep waiting at the door of the EU for over 50 years, will make the same call again in Vilnius: First clear the path to the EU in front of TArkiye and then we will clear the path in front of Sweden, just as we did for Finland." Stating that he told President Joe Biden of the U.S. all this during their phone call last night, President ErdoAYan said: "I have to make this statement in Vilnius, too. That is so because I believe that our nation has an expectation from us." PRESIDENT PUTIN'S VISIT TO TARKAYE Answering reporters' questions following his remarks, President ErdoAYan, in response to a question regarding the extension of the grain corridor agreement, said that he expects President Vladimir Putin of Russia to pay a visit to TArkiye next month, and added: "If Mr. Putin visits TArkiye, we will definitely discuss this issue. We will address the issue during our bilateral meeting. Ukraine says they stand ready to do their part on this issue. During our meeting, I expect the same attitude from Mr. Putin as well. I believe that Mr. Putin will display the same stance as he has done so far. In the meantime, our relevant officials discuss this issue thoroughly with their counterparts." Responding to a question as to what kind of an attitude TArkiye will display regarding Sweden's NATO membership, President ErdoAYan noted that the final decision concerning this issue belong to the Grand National Assembly of TArkiye (GNAT). Further stating that it is impossible to take any step here so long as the GNAT does not take any decision regarding the issue, President ErdoAYan drew attention to the delivery of the F-16s, and said: "They say that it should be approved by the Congress. If they have a Congress, we have the Grand National Assembly of TArkiye. If it does not pass at the GNAT, we cannot say, 'I say it, and it is done.'" MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN OF THE U.S. As regards the delivery of the F-16s, President ErdoAYan pointed to the phone call he made last night with President Biden of the U.S., and said that President Biden told him that he will mobilize all the means in hand for the issue. Noting that he expects the same from him, but that theirs is totally a different issue, President ErdoAYan drew attention to the fight against terror, and added: "We have firm stance on this issue. While we continue our fight against terror, DAESH in particular, we have brought the issue of Finland to our Parliament since Finland is not involved in terror. And our Parliament cleared the way and the job is done. However, the F-16 issue is totally different. We, with the steps we as two NATO-ally countries will take here, will further strengthen ourselves against all the enemies of NATO. We have made payments to you. We have made payments regarding F-35s: 1.45 billion dollars. We have yet to receive the return of this payment. We discussed all this. Obviously, we will have a narrow-scoped meeting in Vilnius. We will discuss these issues with him at these narrow-scoped meetings. I hope that we will overcome this problem through these talks. We are also upset that this issue is related to Sweden. They are two different issues. We will tell him all this once again. I hope that we will get an auspicious outcome." Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan and Minister of National Defense YaAYar GAler are accompanying the President on his visit to Lithuania. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM meeting with President Biden of the United States: 10 July 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed the President of the United States, Joe Biden, to Downing Street this morning. 10 July 2023 The Prime Minister welcomed the President of the United States, Joe Biden, to Downing Street this morning. The leaders discussed progress made since they announced the Atlantic Declaration, a first-of-its kind framework for the economic partnership between the UK and the US, last month. Since the Prime Minister and President Biden's last meeting in the White House, we have begun work on a UK-US Critical Minerals Agreement and the Joint Action Group on Energy Security has met to begin work on strengthening our clean energy supply chains. The Prime Minister and President Biden agreed to hold the first high level meeting between Number 10 and White House representatives in October to drive progress under the Atlantic Declaration. The Prime Minister also updated on the UK's AI Summit which will be held this autumn and welcomed the President's strong support for the initiative. Looking ahead to this week's NATO Summit, the Prime Minister and President Biden agreed on the need to strengthen our alliance and maintain our support for Ukraine. They discussed the progress of the counter-offensive and emphasised the importance of the country's international partners committing to its long-term defence, providing the support Ukraine needs to win this war and secure a just and lasting peace. On broader NATO issues, they agreed on the need to ensure that Sweden has a swift path to full NATO accession. The Prime Minister and President Biden also discussed the broader geopolitical context, including in the Indo-Pacific and with regard to Iran. The leaders agreed on the importance of their friendship and of continuing the close dialogue they have had in the few months. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Meets Sunak Amid Differences on Cluster Munitions for Ukraine By Patsy Widakuswara July 10, 2023 U.S. President Joe Biden said relations with the U.K are "rock solid" as he visited 10 Downing Street in London to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of Tuesday's NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. "We've got a lot to talk about. I think we're doing well. We're moving along in a way that's positive," said Biden. "Great for us to carry on our conversations, which we were having just a month or so ago, it feels like, in the White House, where we signed the Atlantic Declaration," said Sunak, referring to the June agreement to cooperate on advanced technologies, clean energy, and critical minerals to counter China's clout around the world. Biden administration officials underscore that this is the leaders' sixth visit in six months. However, the meeting is overshadowed by Washington's recent announcement that it will send cluster munitions to Ukraine, despite the bombs being banned by 123 nations, including Britain, for their indiscriminate killing capability. Sunak has not publicly backed the move, noting on Saturday that the U.K. is a "signatory to a convention which prohibits the production or use of cluster munitions and discourages their use." "We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion, but we've done that by providing heavy battle tanks and most recently long-range weapons, and hopefully all countries can continue to support Ukraine," he told reporters. Sunak was fulfilling "his legal obligation" under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. He pushed back against the notion that the decision to send cluster munitions is creating division with the alliance. "I think you will find Prime Minister Sunak and President Biden on the same page strategically on Ukraine, in lockstep on the bigger picture of what we're trying to accomplish, and as united as ever both in this conflict and writ large," he said. Security guarantees for Kyiv Biden and Sunak are also focused on finding the right formula to provide long-term security guarantees for Kyiv outside of the NATO framework as Kyiv moves toward membership. Biden has said he does not believe Ukraine is ready to join the alliance, citing needed reforms and the danger of dragging NATO into a direct conflict with Russia. Sunak meanwhile appeared to be more forward leaning on membership for Ukraine, partly because he knows where Biden stands, said Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the U.S. and Americas program at Chatham House, a London-based research group. "It's not that there isn't integrity to what Britain's doing, but there is protection," she told VOA. "You can say everything you want to say about offering membership to NATO to Ukraine more quickly but you know that you have the U.S. there who is going to ensure that certain conditions are met first." Reviewing preparations for the Vilnius summit, Biden and Sunak "reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression. Later Monday, Biden headed to Vilnius for the two-day gathering with allied leaders that will focus on Ukraine, as well as strengthening and enlarging the alliance. NATO leaders are meeting amid potential instability in Russia following an attempted mutiny by Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. His troops have been invited to set up camp in Belarus, which shares a border with Lithuania. Monarch meeting on climate Following his meeting with Sunak, Biden headed to Windsor Castle to meet with King Charles, to discuss boosting private investment for developing nations to combat climate change. Biden did not attend the monarch's coronation in May. British Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Grant Shapps, Biden's special climate envoy John Kerry, as well as top financiers and philanthropists attended the meeting. "They represent literally trillions of dollars either investment or assets under management or assets owned, and they are making decisions every single day about how to accelerate this transition," Kerry said. Northern Ireland Biden and Sunak also reviewed developments in Northern Ireland, where tensions remain over post-Brexit trade rules that have torn apart the region's unity government. In April, Biden, who is fiercely proud of his Irish heritage, traveled to Belfast to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the U.S.-brokered Good Friday peace accord. During a campaign fundraising event in May, Biden's blunt comments triggered criticism from some British politicians. Biden said he traveled to Northern Ireland "to make sure the Brits didn't screw around" with the region's peace process and "Northern Ireland didn't walk away from their commitments." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom Before Bilateral Meeting July 10, 2023 Number 10 Downing Street London, United Kingdom 10:47 A.M. BST PRESIDENT BIDEN: All the flowers bloomed. PRIME MINISTER SUNAK: Well, Joe, welcome. It's great to have you here, back in Downing Street. I think a you've been here a few times before, I know, but your first time as president. So we're very privileged and fortunate to have you here. Thanks for coming. Great for us to carry on our conversations, which we were having just a month or so ago, it feels like, in the White House, where we signed the Atlantic Declaration a the first-of-its-kind economic partnership, which I know we'll be talking about today: how do we strengthen our cooperation, joint economic security to the benefit of our citizens. But also, we head from here to NATO in Vilnius, where we stand as two of the firmest allies in that Alliance. And I know we'll want to do everything we can to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security. But great pleasure to have you here . PRESIDENT BIDEN: It's good to be back. You know, we've only been meeting once a month. PRIME MINISTER SUNAK: (Laughs.) PRESIDENT BIDEN: (Laughs.) We met in San Diego, Belfast, Hiroshima, Washington, here. And couldn't be meeting with a closer friend and a greater ally. And we got a lot to talk about, and I a I think we're doing well. I think we're moving along in a way that's positive, but our relationship is rock solid between the United States, Great Britain. And I look forward to our discussions. PRIME MINISTER SUNAK: Yeah, me too. Great to have you here. Thanks very much. 10:49 A.M. BST NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NB8 joint statement of foreign ministers supporting Ukraine's path to NATO Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 10.07.2023 Foreign affairs ministers Lars LAkke Rasmussen (Denmark), Margus Tsahkna (Estonia), Elina Valtonen (Finland), Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir (Iceland), Arturs Krisjanis Karins (Latvian prime minister; acting foreign minister), Gabrielius Landsbergis (Lithuania), Anniken Huitfeldt (Norway) and Tobias BillstrAm (Sweden). Together, the Nordic and Baltic countries represent a unique history of Euro-Atlantic integration. One of the Nordic countries' greatest foreign policy achievements was an extensive engagement in the Baltic countries after the Cold War opens in a new tab . The Nordics supported their Baltic neighbors' fight for restoration of freedom and their journey into the Euro-Atlantic family. Now, the Nordic and Baltic countries act together in an equal and free partnership of prosperous democracies. It is time for us to bring this Baltic experience of the 1990s to our joint efforts in support of Ukraine on its journey toward membership in the European Union. The ministers for foreign affairs of the Nordic and Baltic countries jointly visited Ukraine in April opens in a new tab to express our unwavering support. The visit made a significant impression and reaffirmed our belief that vigorous and enduring support for Ukraine across multiple areas is the only path forward. We cannot allow Russia to harvest any fruits of aggression. The future of Ukraine and its people lies within the Euro-Atlantic family. The E.U. has affirmed this by granting candidate status to Ukraine opens in a new tab . This past month marked not only one year since that historic decision was made but also the 30th anniversary of the adoption of what is known as the Copenhagen Criteria opens in a new tab . The rules serve as the foundation for E.U. enlargement, shaping the democratic values, economic stability and legal requirements that aspiring member states must meet. The Nordic countries stood alongside the Baltic countries as they pursued E.U. membership, recognizing the importance of regional cooperation and shared values. Today, motivated by the same principles of solidarity and unity, we support Ukraine's endeavors to meet the Copenhagen criteria and align with European standards. The Nordic and Baltic countries, having experienced the transformative power of European integration firsthand, are eager to share our knowledge, expertise and best practices with Ukraine. E.U. integration will go hand in hand with the Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction, which must begin with no delay. It is important to lay the ground with ambitious, long-term engagement that empowers Ukraine to recover and rebuild in a manner that generates new opportunities for all Ukrainians. The involvement of all relevant partners, including the private sector and international financial institutions, is crucial. We will stand by Ukraine to rebuild a modern and prosperous country firmly anchored on the European path a and with the means to protect itself. In this regard, we take note of President Volodymyr Zelensky's ambition to transform Ukraine's state institutions, to root out corruption, secure the rule of law a and make Ukraine open and transparent. These are high ambitions, but we are convinced that Ukraine has the potential to achieve these goals with our long-term support. Ukraine's security is part of European security. Russia will likely be a threat to Ukraine security, as well as to our own, in the long-term. Our support therefore needs to be steadfast, durable and long-term. Ukraine has the right to choose its own security arrangements. All NATO allies agree opens in a new tab that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance. Right now, the most important and urgent task is to support Ukraine to prevail in this war. At the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, opens in a new tab this week, we want to see ambitious steps bringing Ukraine closer to NATO and upscaling our practical support, both financially and longer-term. At this critical juncture, we need to make sure that history does not repeat itself. Zelensky's "peace formula" opens in a new tab for a just and sustainable peace, based on the respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, seeks to achieve this. The Nordic and Baltic countries actively support Ukraine's efforts to ensure as much international participation as possible in the implementation of the peace formula. We are committed to strengthening Ukraine's capacity to defend itself. So far, our combined pledged support to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion amounts to more than 8.5 billion euros a and our support will continue for as long as necessary. At the same time, we need to put in place credible, lasting frameworks to secure Ukraine's future, bridging the gaps on Ukraine's path toward future NATO membership. Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration entails an ambitious endeavor. It is our duty to support Ukraine on its path to a better future for its people. The historic example of successful Nordic-Baltic cooperation is an inspiring precedent and gives us hope. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna met with Ukrainian ambassador Maksym Kononenko Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 10.07.2023 Today 10 July, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna met with Maksym Kononenko, the new Ukrainian ambassador appointed to Estonia. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna assured Estonia would continue to offer Ukraine comprehensive support in its fight against Russia's aggression until the war has been won. "We have offered Ukraine political, economic and military support, ensured the necessary humanitarian aid and begun reconstruction efforts with a focus on civilian sites and infrastructure," Tsahkna said. The minister added that Estonia was preparing national legislation that would allow to use frozen assets to pressure Russia into compensating for the damage it has caused in Ukraine. Tsahkna also emphasised that Estonia supported Ukraine's path into the European Union and NATO. "Estonia's aim at the Vilnius summit is to provide Ukraine with a clear roadmap for joining NATO and to reiterate the Alliance's open door policy," the minister said. The meeting also covered holding Russia's leadership accountable for the crime of aggression in Ukraine. "We must not let Putin and the rest of Russia's leadership hide behind immunity when it comes to the horrors committed in Ukraine. It is the moral duty of the West to bring those responsible for what has been done in Ukraine to international justice," Tsahkna said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime ministers of Finland and Ukraine held a video conference Finnish Government Government Communications Department 10.7.2023 Press release Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held a video conference on Monday 10 July. Prime Minister Orpo told his Ukrainian counterpart that Finland's strong support for Ukraine will continue under the new Government. "Finland's support for Ukraine will continue as long as it takes. Russia must end its illegal war of aggression. Russia and its leadership must be held accountable for international crimes committed in Ukraine. Russia must also compensate financially for the damage it has caused", said Prime Minister Orpo. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo also met with Ukraine's Ambassador Olga Dibrova today. They met at the Finnish Prime Minister's official residence, KesAranta. Since the start of Russia's full-scale war of aggression, Finland has provided Ukraine over EUR 1.7 billion in support. Finland has decided on 17 packages of armed materiel support to Ukraine with a total value of about EUR 1.2 million. Ukraine is Finland's biggest single partner in development cooperation. Finland also provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine through humanitarian organisations and material assistance through the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism. More than 56,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have applied for temporary protection in Finland. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine one key step closer to NATO membership amid Lithuania summit Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 7:08 PM Ukraine has taken a key step toward becoming a member of NATO after a high hurdle in its way to accession was lifted during the current two-day summit of the US-led military alliance in Lithuania. As NATO leaders on Monday convened in Vilnius for the summit, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine said NATO member states reached a consensus to drop the requirement for the Membership Action Plan (MAP) for Ukraine's bid to join the alliance. MAP is a list of political, economic and military goals that other eastern European nations had to meet before joining NATO. "Following intensive talks, NATO allies have reached consensus on removing MAP from Ukraine's path to membership. I welcome this long-awaited decision that shortens our path to NATO. It is also the best moment to offer clarity on the invitation to Ukraine to become member," Kuleba tweeted on Monday. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Western official also told AFP that the NATO allies "are set" to drop the MAP requirement for Ukraine. "MAP is just one of the steps in the NATO accession process... so even with its removal, Ukraine will still need to complete further reforms before joining NATO," the official said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the summit. He wants a clear invitation in Vilnius to add his country to NATO after the war ends. Despite the reported consensus, some NATO members, such as the United States and Germany, have had reservations, wary of any step they fear could draw the military alliance into a direct conflict with Russia, potentially sparking a global war. The war in Ukraine began after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of a "special military operation" in the ex-Soviet republic on February 24, 2022 to "demilitarize" two eastern Ukrainian regions amid Kiev's vaulting ambitions to join NATO, which Moscow deems a redline. In September 2022, President Zelensky formally applied for a fast-track NATO membership and ruled out talks with Putin as the war entered its eighth month. "No final decision has been made but at the summit I am absolutely certain that we will have unity and a strong message on Ukraine," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a joint press conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Monday, adding that there would be more meetings later in the day. Nauseda, for his part, placed a premium on the prospect of Ukraine's membership. The Lithuanian president said Ukraine had been "heroically fighting" Russia. Moscow has repeatedly warned Ukraine against its NATO membership proposals, calling the move "purely destabilizing." Russia has also warned the alliance against its further expansion toward its borders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China warns US against sending cluster munitions to Ukraine Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 1:31 PM China says the US decision to send banned cluster munitions to Ukraine could "trigger humanitarian problems." Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a briefing on Monday that the decision has "given rise to concern across the entire international community." "The irresponsible provision of cluster munitions can easily trigger humanitarian problems," she said, adding that "many countries have clearly voiced their opposition to this move." Mao said the Chinese government believes "the parties concerned should refrain from adding fuel to the fire in order to prevent tensions from rising and the Ukrainian crisis from escalating." Washington said on Friday it will supply cluster bombs to Ukraine to help in its counteroffensive against Russian forces. The cluster bombs, known as Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM), are banned under an international treaty that took effect in 2010. The weapons can contain dozens of smaller bomblets, dispersing over vast areas, often killing and maiming civilians. Some cluster munitions, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, leave behind bomblets that have a high rate of failure to explode a up to 40% in some cases. They pose a significant threat of serious injury to soldiers and civilians, possibly for decades after their use in conflict. President Joe Biden of the United States claimed the decision was "very difficult," but that Ukrainian forces were "running out of ammunition." In reaction to the controversial decision, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said Saturday that the Biden administration is so obsessed with the idea of aadefeating Russia that it does not realize the severity of its actions, which only lead to an increase in the number of victims. He said "bombarding the republic with Western weapons will in no way hinder the path to the goals of the special military operation aimed at eradicating threats to the security of the Russian Federation, including Nazism nurtured in Ukraine." Russia launched what it called a special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022 to defend the pro-Russia population in Donbas against Kiev's persecution and in response to the eastward expansion of NATO. Since then, Ukraine's attempts to gain victory in several counteroffensives have been unsuccessful. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden: Ukraine cannot join NATO due to war, lagging in democratization Iran Press TV Monday, 10 July 2023 11:14 AM US President Joe Biden has ruled out Ukraine's membership in the US-led NATO military alliance, citing its raging war with Russia as well as the country's failure to meet other qualifications, including "democratization." "I don't think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war," Biden during an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria that was broadcast Sunday, insisting that if Ukraine joined the alliance during the war, then the entire NATO would in effect be at war with Russia. "For example, if you did that, then, you know - and I mean what I say - we're determined to commit every inch of territory that is NATO territory; it's a commitment that we've all made no matter what," Biden explained. "If the war is going on, then we're all in war. We're at war with Russia, if that were the case." The US president further claimed that he had spoken "at length" with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky about the issue, telling him that would keep providing "security and weaponry" for Ukraine as it does for the Israel regime occupying Palestine. "I think we have to lay out a rational path for Ukraine to be able to qualify to be able to get into NATO," Biden went on to assert. "But I think it's premature to say, to call for a vote, you know, in now, because there's other qualifications that need to be met, including democratization and some of those issues," Biden said. Biden's remarks were aired as he began a trip to Europe that will include attending a NATO summit in Lithuania, where the Ukraine conflict and his decision to supply Kiev with globally-banned cluster bombs are expected to top the agenda. Biden also defended his decision to provide Ukraine with the mass-destructive weapon, claiming that it was a "difficult decision," but with artillery supplies dwindling, it was a choice between supplying the weapons or leaving Ukraine defenseless. "It was a very difficult decision on my part a and by the way, I discussed this with our allies, I discussed this with our friends up on the Hill," he proclaimed. "The Ukrainians are running out of ammunition." Moscow lashed out at Washington's decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions, undermining it as an "act of desperation" that signals "weakness," amid Kiev's failure to make much progress in its hyped-up counteroffensive against Russian forces. "It is an act of desperation and shows weakness against the backdrop of the failure of the much-touted Ukrainian counteroffensive," said Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in a Saturday statement. The statement echoed dismissive remarks by other Russian officials a day earlier, with the Russian ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, blasting the US move as a sign of "their impotence," leading them to "commit new madness." "Cluster munitions are a gesture of desperation," Antonov also insisted on Friday as quoted in a report by Sputnik News. "Such a measure speaks of the recognition by the United States and its satellites of their impotence." However, he added: "Here they do not want to admit their own failures and the failure of the attempts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to carry out an offensive against the Russian regions. Therefore, they commit new madness." Russia's strong reaction followed Washington's declaration on Friday that it will indeed supply cluster bombs to Ukraine to help its counteroffensive against Russian forces despite a global ban on the use of the controversial weapons of mass destruction. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ahead Of Key NATO Summit, Ukraine Says It Has Made Advances In Southern Counteroffensive By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service July 10, 2023 Ukrainian forces have continued to make gains in the south, liberating an area roughly the size of the city of Odesa since the start of its counteroffensive, the General Staff of Ukraine's military said on July 10, as a fresh Russian strike on a town in Zaporizhzhya killed at least four people and wounded at least 13. The intense fighting comes as NATO is preparing for a key summit on July 11-12 in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, where the war in Ukraine and the alliance's ties with Kyiv are expected to take center stage, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's participation in the summit has not yet been officially confirmed. Over the past week, the Ukrainian military advanced 1 kilometer in the Melitopol and Berdyansk areas of the Zaporizhzhya region, the General Staff reported on Facebook. Since the start of the counteroffensive in the south, Ukrainian forces have advanced a total of 8.6 kilometers and liberated more than 10 square kilometers, the military said, adding that the total surface of the regained territory in the Melitopol and Berdyansk areas was 169 square kilometers -- approximately the size of the Black Sea port city of Odesa. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on July 9 that Ukrainian forces are consolidating gains made in the southern directions of Melitopol and Berdyansk, where "hot battles" are under way. Malyar added that in the eastern region of Donetsk, Russian forces were on the defensive in Bakhmut, while heavy fighting was also under way in Lyman, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka, where the General Staff reported more than 30 combat clashes over the previous 24 hours. At least five people were killed and 13 others were wounded when Russian shelling hit an aid distribution center in Orikhiv, a town on the front line in the southern region of Zaporizhzhya, regional Governor Yuriy Malashko said on July 10. The death toll increased when the body of another man was pulled from a destroyed distribution center. The Interior Ministry reported that three people may still be under the rubble. Rescuers continued operations late on July 10. Russian forces carried out a total of 36 air strikes on 10 civilian settlements in the Zaporizhzhya region over the past 24 hours, Malahsko said early on July 10. Also on July 10, Russian troops used ballistic missiles in a strike on the southern city of Mykolayiv, wounding one person and causing damage to civilian infrastructure, regional Governor Vitaly Kim said on Telegram. Ahead of the Vilnius summit, NATO members remained divided over how to put Ukraine on a path to membership but appeared to remove one key hurdle to Kyiv joining the alliance. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he had put forward a package that included the removal of the requirement for a Membership Action Plan (MAP) -- a list of political, economic, and military goals that other eastern European nations had to meet before joining the alliance. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted earlier that there had been a consensus among allies to drop MAP but added that while he welcomes the long-awaited decision, it is also "the best moment to offer clarity on the invitation to Ukraine to become member." Zelenskiy on July 10 again asked Western allies for a "clear signal" on his country's NATO membership prospects. "Ukraine deserves to be in the alliance. Not now, because now there's war, but we need a clear signal and this signal is needed right now," Zelenskiy said in a video message posted on Telegram. "The security reality here on NATO's eastern flank depends on Ukraine. When we applied to join @NATO we were frank: Ukraine is de facto already in the Alliance. Our weapons are the weapons of the Alliance. Our values are what the Alliance believes in. Our defense is the very element of the formula of Europe that makes it united, free and peaceful," Zelenskiy said. "Vilnius must confirm all this." Stoltenberg told a news conference there would be more meetings, adding that no final decision has been made but he is "absolutely certain that we will have unity and a strong message on Ukraine." Moscow again warned against allowing Kyiv into the alliance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it would have a "very, very negative" impact on Europe's security and Moscow would have to contemplate a "firm" response to what he called "an absolute danger and a threat to our country." President Vladimir Putin has cited NATO's eastward expansion as a reason for his decision to send his armed forces into Ukraine in February 2022. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-heavy-fighting- russia-counteroffensive-/32496386.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: Zelenskyy Asks for De Facto NATO Membership Guarantees at Vilnius By VOA News July 10, 2023 Latest developments: Ukrainian officials say the country's forces have recaptured 193 square kilometers of territory since launching a counteroffensive last month. Poland, which serves as a hub for military aid to Ukraine, says it detained a 15th member of a Russian spy network. Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said the person "kept surveillance of military facilities and seaports." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday that no agreement has been reached on the U.N. brokered Black Sea grain deal set to expire July 17. Russia will not extend the agreement that secures the safe passage for Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea corridor until its requirements for Russian food and fertilizer exports are fulfilled. The Pentagon won't say precisely when cluster munitions, promised in an aid package announced Friday, will be delivered to Ukraine, but Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told VOA the cluster munitions will arrive "at a time when they are most needed in the counteroffensive." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said NATO must confirm Ukraine's de facto membership during NATO's two-day summit at Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday and Wednesday. "The security reality here on NATO's eastern flank depends on Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. "When we applied to join NATO, we were frank: Ukraine is de facto already in the alliance. Our weapons are the weapons of the alliance. Our values are what the alliance believes in. ... Vilnius must confirm all this," he remarked. NATO members remained divided Monday over Ukraine's potential membership in the military alliance between those in Eastern Europe and in the direct path of Russian aggression backing Ukraine's entrance, and those such as the United States and Germany fearing that a NATO membership for Ukraine before the war ends would drag the whole alliance into the conflict against Russia and potentially spark a global war. However, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he had put forward a package that included the removal of a key requirement to Ukraine's entrance into the alliance: The Membership Action Plan (MAP) a a list of political, economic and military goals that other eastern European nations had to meet before joining the alliance. Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited NATO's expansion toward Russia's borders over the past two decades as a reason for his decision to send his armed forces into Ukraine in February of 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden has said NATO has an open-door policy on countries requesting NATO membership. "Each NATO aspirant has their own path to membership, and the U.S. will always continue to support NATO's open-door policy," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said in response to a question from VOA. Turkey - Sweden Stoltenberg said Monday that Turkey has agreed to back Sweden's bid to join the military alliance. "This is an historic step which makes all #NATO Allies stronger & safer," Stoltenberg posted on Twitter. In a statement, Biden welcomed Turkey's commitment to NATO's accession protocol for Sweden. "I stand ready to work with President ErdoAYan and TArkiye on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister [Ulf] Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO ally. And I thank Secretary-General Stoltenberg for his steadfast leadership," he said. Until now, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has opposed Sweden's NATO accession over concerns that Stockholm has not taken adequate measures against groups that Turkey considers "terrorists." Earlier Monday, the Turkish leader had suggested that Sweden could only join the alliance after his country is accepted into the European Union. Kremlin - Prigozhin Five days after the short-lived rebellion of Wagner's mercenaries against senior Russian military leadership, mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and several of his top commanders met with Putin and pledged loyalty to the Russian government, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday. Peskov said the three-hour meeting included Putin giving his assessment "of the events of June 24," the date of the rebellion, and listening to the commanders giving their account of what happened. Recent online videos and witness accounts added yet another twist to the aborted mutiny saga alleging that during Wagner's march to Moscow on June 24, some Wagner forces broke off the main contingent and turned east on a highway in the direction of a fortified Russian army base that holds nuclear weapons. So far, there is no evidence to suggest the fighters entered a nuclear facility. In a Reuters exclusive interview, Ukraine's head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said the mercenaries reached the nuclear base intending to acquire small Soviet-era nuclear devices to "raise the stakes" in their mutiny. Reuters could not confirm the information. Western officials have repeatedly said that Russia's nuclear stockpile was never in danger during the uprising, which ended quickly and mysteriously later that day. Orikhiv attack Officials in southern Ukraine said Monday that Russian shelling hit a humanitarian aid hub in Orikhiv, a small town in the Zaporizhzhia region, killing at least four people and injuring 11 others. Yuriy Malashko, the regional governor, said on Telegram that Russian forces used a guided bomb to strike the site in a residential neighborhood and that all four of those killed died at the scene of the attack. Russia has been accused of striking numerous civilian targets during its invasion that began in February 2022, while denying it targets civilian sites. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. VOA national security correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: Putin Met With Wagner Leader After Mutiny, Kremlin Says By VOA News July 10, 2023 Latest developments: Ukrainian officials say the country's forces have recaptured 193 square kilometers of territory since launching a counteroffensive last month. Poland, which serves as a hub for military aid to Ukraine, says it detained a 15th member of a Russian spy network. Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said the person "kept surveillance of military facilities and seaports." The Kremlin said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and several Wagner commanders days after Prigozhin led a brief mutiny. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the three-hour meeting included Putin giving his assessment "of the events of June 24," the date of the rebellion, and listening to the commanders giving their account of what happened. Peskov said the commanders pledged to continue to fight for Russia. Wagner has taken part in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Prigozhin had criticized Russia's military leadership ahead of the mutiny, in which Wagner forces briefly seized control of the headquarters for Russia's southern military command. The rebellion ended with a deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, allowing Prigozhin and his fighters to move to Belarus. The mutiny prompted speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin would reshuffle his military leadership. Russia's defense ministry shared a video Monday showing Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, the country's most senior general, in his first public appearance since the mutiny. The video shows Gerasimov receiving a report and giving directions to Russia's aerospace forces and the military's intelligence service. Gerasimov was one of the main targets of Prigozhin's criticism, along with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Still absent from public view is Gerasimov's deputy, General Sergei Surovikin, who has longtime links to Prigozhin. NATO summit Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday his country could support Sweden joining NATO if the European Union opens the way for Turkey's long-sought accession to the EU. Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO members not to give final approval to Sweden's bid, with Turkey expressing opposition to what it says is a lack of action by Sweden against groups that Turkey considers terrorists. "Turkey has been waiting at the door of the European Union for over 50 years now, and almost all of the NATO member countries are now members of the European Union," Erdogan said ahead of the NATO summit this week in Lithuania. "I am making this call to these countries that have kept Turkey waiting at the gates of the European Union for more than 50 years." The EU and Turkey launched membership negotiations in 2005. The process has been stalled since 2016 due to concerns about democracy and human rights. Sweden applied to join NATO along with Finland last year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland was admitted in April. Swedish officials say they have lived up to an agreement with Turkey to institute reforms, including enacting a new anti-terror law. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was due to hold talks with Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Monday. Stoltenberg said leaders at the Vilnius summit this week in Lithuania will agree on a "multi-year package of support" for Ukraine. This package will help Ukraine rebuild its defense and security sector, so that it can defend against further aggression," Stoltenberg said in a Foreign Affairs article published Monday. "It will ensure that the Ukrainian armed forces are fully interoperable with NATO forces." The NATO chief said the alliance will host the first meeting of a new NATO-Ukraine council that will serve as "a platform for decisions and crisis consultation, where NATO allies and Ukraine will sit as equals to tackle shared security concerns." Stoltenberg has reiterated that NATO members agree Ukraine will one day join the alliance, while cautioning that adding Ukraine while Russia's invasion is ongoing is not on the agenda. U.S. President Joe Biden said in an interview with CNN broadcast Sunday that if Ukraine were to become a NATO member before the war's end, it would drag the whole alliance into the conflict against Russia. Biden also said that before Ukraine is considered for NATO membership, it will take time to meet all the qualifications required "from democratization to a whole range of other issues." Orikhiv attack Officials in southern Ukraine said Monday that Russian shelling hit a humanitarian aid hub, killing at least four people and injuring 11 others. The attack happened in the town of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region. Yuriy Malashko, the regional governor, said on Telegram that Russia forces used a guided bomb to strike the site in a residential neighborhood and that all four of those killed died at the scene of the attack. Russia has been accused of striking numerous civilian targets during its invasion that began in February 2022, while denying it targets civilian sites. Azov release Zelenskyy tweeted a note of thanks to Turkey on Monday along with a video from his trip that included bringing home five commanders from Ukraine's Azov unit who were involved in the defense of the city of Mariupol. The commanders were taken to Turkey as part of a September prisoner swap and were supposed to stay there until the end of the war under the conditions of the deal. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Saturday that Turkey had violated the terms of the agreement and that Russia was not informed in advance that the commanders would be released back to Ukraine. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 10, 2023 By Jim Garamone , DOD News DOD Destroys Last Chemical Weapons in Arsenal Defense Department employees made history Friday by destroying the last chemical weapon in the U.S. military arsenal at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky. The destruction ended decades of effort to eliminate chemical weapons, said Douglas Bush, assistant secretary of the army for acquisition, logistics and technology, during a Pentagon news conference today. "The U.S.'s destruction of declared chemical weapons stockpiles in a safe, secure and environmentally responsible manner was a difficult task, requiring many years to complete," he said. The Senate ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1997, and DOD employees began the process of safely demilitarizing the weapons. "Through last Friday, the United States destroyed over 30,000 metric tons of declared chemical agent contained in nearly 3.5 million chemical munitions, over 22,500 one-ton containers containing chemical agent, and over 50,500 bottles and containers containing chemical agent," said Kingston Reif, deputy assistant secretary of defense for threat reduction and arms control. Nearly 90 percent of the weapons were eliminated by 2012. The last 10 percent was a greater challenge involving a complicated approach of neutralizing these chemicals. The last mustard gas munition was destroyed last month at the Army's Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado; Blue Grass destroyed the last missile loaded with Sarin nerve agent last week. "This is an important moment a not only for the United States, but also the entire world," said Mallory Stewart, assistant secretary of state for the bureau of arms control, verification and compliance. "This achievement is indicative of the important role that international cooperation and transparency play in arms control and disarmament." The destruction cements U.S. compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention by the Sept. 30 deadline. This is important, Reif said, "for the viability of the convention and for our moral and diplomatic leadership. The most important action the United States can take to contribute to a world free of chemical weapons and lead by example is to follow through on our own treaty commitments. With verifiable completion of destruction operations, last week, we have done just that." Reif praised Michael Abaie, the program executive officer of the Army's Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, who led the team of thousands of DOD civilians and contractors in the $13.5 billion effort. He said when Abaie took over the program in 2018, it was uncertain whether the deadline could be met. Abaie worked with Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency, state offices, the local communities, scientists and others to devise safe and efficient means of destroying the chemicals. "The program's turnaround is a major acquisition success story," Reif said. It is "defined by proactive risk management, resourceful problem solving and technological innovation. And it has been a team effort. The completion of the mission means that the significant resources spent on demilitarization can be redirected to support other high priority department missions." Two years of efforts remain to ensure the facilities used are safe before turning out the lights. Officials said that will cost another $2.5 billion. DOD officials also worked with other nations to help them destroy chemical weapons, including Russia, Syria, Albania and Libya. Still, there are questions about whether Russia and Syria have destroyed all their chemical weapons as both nations have used them against their own people, Stewart said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's Small and Medium Enterprises Development Index (SMEDI) edged up by 0.2 to 89.1 in June from the previous month, ending three consecutive months of decline as the country's policies to promote economic recovery continue to take effect, China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (CASME) said on Monday. Out of the eight sub-indexes surveyed under the SMEDI, six of them recorded higher results in June compared to May. Both the market index and overall input index climbed 0.4 point month on month, the highest increase among the sub-indexes, reflecting an improvement in market expectations. From the industry perspective, five out of the eight sectors monitored saw growth in June. The construction sector led with a 0.4-point increase, followed by the industrial sector which was up 0.3 point. In view of the economic situation, it's necessary for China to roll out more effective measures to strengthen growth momentum, optimize the economic structure, and promote sustained economic recovery, according to the CASME. China should strive to expand effective demand, provide new growth drivers to enterprises and reduce their costs, promote transformation and upgrading, as well as high-quality development of the small and medium-sized enterprises, said the association. Santa Monica, CA, July 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oliveda International, Inc. (OTC Pink: OLVI) today announced new products in its waterless beauty lines by subsidiary, Olive Tree People, and its affiliated brands. The new products include Olivedas F86 Corrective Vegan Hyaluronic Serum Face, which provides a highly effective combination of the protective and regenerating hydroxytyrosol with vegan hyaluronic acid, which provides a plump and moisturized skin. More information on the F86 Corrective Vegan Hyaluronic Serum Face and all products from Oliveda, LA Dope, and The Intuition brands can be found at https://us.olivetreepeople.com. In order to develop a cream with 70% water, a lot of preservatives and up to 25% refined/deodorized vegetable oils are needed, since the emulsions can only be kept stable in this way. Preservatives on the skin can damage the microbiome and promote the inflammatory process and have hormonal effects. Refined/deodorized oils, even if they are organic, can also promote the inflammatory process of a skin. The remaining 5% then contain the so-called active ingredients but also often synthetic fragrances, which can also have a hormonal effect. How can it be that in our enlightened society every second person suffers from inflamed skin and thousands are added every day? How is it possible that in the last 50 years the number of skin diseases has increased by 500%? How can it be that we treat our largest organ, the skin, completely differently than the rest of our body? With Oliveda and a unique technology, founder and CEO Thomas Lommel intuitively created the future more than 20 years ago, which everyone is talking about today. Mr. Lommel commented, Waterless beauty is The Next Big Thing. Why? Because it makes 100% sense! We are on the way to growing to over 30,000 Waterless Beauty Consultants in the next 18 months to make a significant contribution to a new awareness of sustainable beauty. Our goal is to reduce skin diseases by 500% and help people regain their naturally healthy glowing skin from the inside out. For this reason, Oliveda and all sister brands do not use 70% water as a basis, but rather the cell elixir of the olive leaf developed by Thomas Lommel in his tree house, which has a highly antioxidant effect and counteracts inflammation. Instead of refined/deodorized oils, Oliveda and all sister brands use cold-pressed Bioactive Arbequina Oil derived from their own eco-certified mountain olive trees. All Oliveda, LA Dope, and The Intuition products are built on this basis. Of course, only high-quality and very specific active ingredients are processed in the remaining 5%, which then work in synergy with the 95% active ingredient base. If fragrances are also used, then only a composition of essential oils is used. According to the EU Cosmetics Regulation, these are then summarized under the generic term perfume in the INCIS. Plant allergens such as linalool have to be shown separately according to the EU Cosmetics Regulation. In principle, Oliveda avoids all kinds of synthetic fragrances. For us, sustainability is not a marketing tool but something that we have been practicing for over 20 years, said Mr. Lommel. We love our trees and what we do and have created this wonderful sustainable cycle over the past 20 years. About Oliveda International, Inc. Founded in 2003 by German real estate investor Thomas Lommel, Oliveda International, Inc. is a leading international natural cosmetic company in the premium segment. The company has also developed a globally unique wearable beauty and health technology. In addition to online sales and a global branch network of 650 retail stores, the companys wholly owned Oliveda Deutschland GmbH second-tier subsidiary operates flagship stores, Olive Tree Pharmacy, in Berlin and Dusseldorf with plans to open new locations in Los Angeles, Taipei and Seoul. Overall, the company believes that it will be able to operate a total of 60 of its own flagship stores worldwide and increase the retail store network worldwide to 1,200 over the next five years. Through subsidiary operations, Oliveda International is the largest investor in eco-certified mountain olive trees as well as the largest conservationist in Arroyomolinos de Leo, Spain. Further information on Oliveda International can be found at http://www.oliveda.com, https://us.oliveda.com and http://www.olivetreepeople.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain statements, estimates or projections that constitute "forward-looking statements" pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which may be found in the Companys filings with OTC Markets Group Inc., that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's historical experience and present expectations or projections. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or intention to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements unless otherwise required by law. Westford, USA, July 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest's latest global research of the Seed Treatment market , increasing adoption of biological seed treatments, development of innovative and specialized seed treatment products, growing demand for seed treatment in organic farming, integration of seed treatment with precision agriculture practices, rising popularity of seed treatment for niche crops, advancements in seed treatment application techniques, focus on seed treatment for disease resistance and tolerance, expansion of the seed treatment market in emerging economies, use of seed treatment as part of integrated pest management strategies, are the trends that aid in the market's growth. Browse in-depth TOC on "Seed Treatment Market" Pages - 157 Tables - 89 Figures 76 Get sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/seed-treatment-market Seed treatment is the application of chemicals, biological agents, or other materials to seeds to protect them from pests, diseases, and other environmental factors. Seed treatment can help to improve crop yields and reduce crop losses. Prominent Players in Seed Treatment Market Syngenta BASF Bayer UPL Corteva Agriscience FMC Corporation Sumitomo Chemical Croda International ADAMA Eastman Chemicals Certis Europe Novozymes Rizobacter Bioworks Marrone Bio Innovations Solvay Valent BioSciences Verdesian Life Sciences Plant Health Care Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/seed-treatment-market Chemical Seed Treatment Demand to Grow Substantially in the Forecast Period Chemical Seed treatment dominated the global online market due to their efficiency. Chemical seed treatments have been widely used in agriculture for many years and have a well-established market presence. They are readily available, and farmers and seed companies are familiar with their efficacy, making them a preferred choice for seed treatment. Cereals and Grains is the Leading Application Segment In terms of application, cereals and grains are the leading segment due to the increasing consumption. In addition, the cereals and grains category encompasses a wide range of crops such as wheat, corn, rice, barley, oats, and sorghum. Each of these crops faces specific challenges related to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Seed treatment provides targeted protection and helps improve crop yield and quality. North America is the leading Market Due to the Technological Advancements Region-wise, North America is one of the largest growing markets with a huge emphasis on technological advancements. The region has a robust and highly mechanized agriculture industry, with a focus on commercial farming and high crop yields. The adoption of modern farming practices, including seed treatment, is widespread in the region. The demand for seed treatment products is driven by the need to protect crops and enhance yields, contributing to market dominance.. A recent report thoroughly analyzes the major players operating within the Seed Treatment market. This comprehensive evaluation has considered several crucial factors, such as collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing invaluable insights into the key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Additionally, the report has carefully scrutinized the market share of the top segments and presented a detailed geographic analysis. Finally, the report has highlighted the major players in the industry and their ongoing endeavors to develop innovative solutions that cater to the ever-increasing demand for Seed Treatment . Key Developments in Seed Treatment Market In 2022, BASF acquired several Bayer herbicide businesses and selected seed treatment products. This acquisition gave BASF a significant market share in the seed treatment market, and it could lead to further consolidation in the future. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/seed-treatment-market Key Questions Answered in Seed Treatment Market Report What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period? Can you list the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence? In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how might these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Animal Parasiticides Market Global Agricultural Inoculants Market Global Microencapsulated Pesticide Market Global Phosphoric Acid Market Global Polyphenols Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com July 11, 2023 release at 7:30 am CET Sophia Antipolis, France Under the liquidity contract entered into between Nicox and Kepler Cheuvreux, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account on June 30, 2023: As a reminder: The implementation of this report is carried out in accordance with AMF Decision N2021-01 of June 22nd 2021 renewing the implementation of liquidity contracts for shares as an accepted market practice. About Nicox Nicox SA is an international ophthalmology company developing innovative solutions to help maintain vision and improve ocular health. Nicoxs lead program in clinical development is NCX 470, a novel nitric oxide-donating bimatoprost, for lowering intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The company is also conducting research on NCX 1728, a nitric oxide-donating phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, in retinal conditions. NCX 4251, a novel, patented, ophthalmic suspension of fluticasone propionate nanocrystals for topical ocular application for dry eye disease, is being developed by Ocumension Therapeutics in China under an exclusive license agreement and is available for partnering elsewhere. Nicox generates revenue from VYZULTA in glaucoma, licensed exclusively worldwide to Bausch + Lomb, and ZERVIATE in allergic conjunctivitis, licensed in multiple geographies, including to Eyevance Pharmaceuticals, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), in the U.S. and Ocumension Therapeutics in the Chinese and in the majority of Southeast Asian markets. Nicox, headquartered in Sophia Antipolis, France, is listed on Euronext Growth Paris (Ticker symbol: ALCOX) and is part of the CAC Healthcare index. For more information on Nicox, its products or pipeline, please visit: www.nicox.com. Analyst coverage Bryan, Garnier & Co Eric Yoo Paris, France Edison Investment Research Pooya Hemami London, UK H.C. Wainwright & Co Yi Chen New York, U.S. Kepler Cheuvreux Arsene Guekam Paris, France The views expressed by analysts in their coverage of Nicox are those of the author and do not reflect the views of Nicox. Additionally, the information contained in their reports may not be correct or current. Nicox disavows any obligation to correct or to update the information contained in analyst reports. Contacts Nicox Gavin Spencer Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer & Head of Corporate Development T +33 (0)4 97 24 53 00 communications@nicox.com Forward-Looking Statements The information contained in this document may be modified without prior notice. This information includes forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on current expectations or beliefs of the management of Nicox S.A. and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Nicox S.A. and its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents, do not undertake, nor do they have any obligation, to provide updates or to revise any forward-looking statements. Risks factors which are likely to have a material effect on Nicoxs business are presented in section 2.7 of the Rapport Annuel 2022 which is available on Nicoxs website (www.nicox.com). Pune, india, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global solar tracker market size was valued at USD 6.94 billion in 2022. The market size is projected to grow from USD 7.88 billion in 2023 to USD 19.61 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 13.9% during the forecast period. A solar tracker is an apparatus designed to orient an object at an optimal angle in relation to the sun. The renewable energy sector is witnessing a surge in research and development endeavours aimed at diminishing dependence on fossil fuels. These efforts are driving technological advancements throughout the industry. Fortune Business Insights presents this information in their report titled "Global Solar Tracker Market, 20232030." Request a Free Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/solar-tracker-market-100448 Solar Tracker Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 CAGR 13.9 % 2030 Value Projection USD 19.61 billion Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 USD 6.94 billion Historical Data for 2019-2021 No. of Pages 281 Segments covered Type, Movement, Application, and Region Growth Drivers Green Energy Targets to Fuel Investments in Solar Industry Growing Adoption of Renewable Sources for Power Generation to Boost Market Market Drivers & Restraints: Global Shift Toward Renewable Energy Accelerates as Governments Set Ambitious Goals Governments globally are setting ambitious targets and goals to embrace green energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, leading to increased adoption of renewable energy sources, including solar power, globally. A notable example is Brazil, where the new legal framework for solar energy exempts those who start photovoltaic generation in 2022 from paying taxes until 2045. This favorable policy is expected to incentivize the adoption of solar power in the country. However, increasing steel prices may stifle the solar tracker market growth. COVID-19 Impact: Strict Transportation Laws Plunged Energy Markets During Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented global health emergency, resulting in a profound crisis that has impacted various industries, including the energy sector. The energy industry faced numerous challenges in 2020, including repeated lockdowns and transportation restrictions, which led to an economic slowdown and a decline in global trade activity. As a result, energy consumption decreased by 4% during this period. To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market, please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/solar-tracker-market-100448 Segmentation: Increasing Solar Photovoltaic Installations Will Drive the Growth of Segment Based on type, the Solar Tracker market is segmented into photovoltaic and concentrated solar power. Photovoltaic installations are very large compared to concentrated solar power installed in different regions, due to which it dominates the solar tracker market share. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology uses mirrors to accumulate the sunrays and focus on a single point. As a result, only dual-axis trackers are preferred in these installations. The most commonly used solar technologies for homes and businesses are solar photovoltaics for electricity, passive solar design for space heating and cooling, and solar water heating. Utility Segment to Take Lead with Rising Solar Grid Integrations By application, the market is bifurcated into non-utility and utility. The utility segment is poised to take the lead as solar grid integrations become increasingly prevalent in numerous countries. The market is studied geographically across Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Regional Insights North America Takes the Lead in Solar Tracker Adoption, Boosting Market Demand The market in North America is led by the U.S. with the highest deployment of solar trackers to enhance the functionality of installed solar panels. During the projected timeframe this trend is expected to position North America as the market leader. Furthermore, Mexico and Brazil have appeared as significant importers of solar technologies and trackers in Latin America, further increasing the solar tracker market share. Quick Buy - Solar Tracker Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/compare-plan/100448 Competitive Landscape Key Players Maintain Dominance with Well-Established Supply Chain The solar tracker industrys competitive landscape is characterized by the market dominance of key manufacturers, including Array Technologies, NEXTracker, Soltec, and PV Hardware. Among them, NEXTracker holds the largest market share globally. This is attributed to its well-established supply chain, strong customer preference, and recognized brand name. These factors have contributed to NEXTracker's position as a leader in the market. Key Industry Development: April 2023 - Nextracker Inc. plans to double India's solar tracker manufacturing capacity to 10 gigawatts in the next few years. They will manufacture the semiconductors under the production-linked incentives scheme and indigenously produce 100% of the products. The company said India's target of 500 GW renewable capacity by 2030 would see at least 7-8 GW of projects annually have trackers. February 2023 - PVHardware announced it will build Spain's worlds largest solar tracker factory. This facility will occupy a space of 65,000 square meters of area. The firm wants to take its capacity to 25 GW, making it the worlds top solar tracker producer. List of Key Players Profiled in the Market Report: NEXTracker (U.S.) Array Technologies (U.S.) Trina Solar (China) SunPower Corporation (U.S.) ArcelorMittal Projects (Luxembourg) Soltec (Spain) Convert Italia (Italy) PV Hardware (Spain) Arctech Solar (U.S.) Solar Steel (Spain) Ideematec (Germany) SunPower (U.S.) Scorpius Trackers (India) Sun Action Trackers (U.S.) Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/solar-tracker-market-100448 Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions & Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Key Emerging Trends For Major Countries Latest Technological Advancement Regulatory Landscape Porters Five Forces Analysis Impact of COVID-19 on Solar Tracker Market Global Solar Tracker Market Analysis (USD Billion, MW) Analysis, Insights, and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Type Photovoltaic Concentrated Solar Power Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Movement Single Axis Dual Axis Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Utility Non-Utility Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Competitive Analysis Company Market Share Analysis, 2021 Company Profile Business Overview Product Application, & Services Recent Developments Financials (Based on Availability) Continued Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/solar-tracker-market-100448 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 TORONTO, Ontario, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toubani Resources, Inc (ASX: TRE) (Toubani Resources or the Company) advises that the Board of Directors has approved the commencement of an update of the 2021 Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for its 3.1Moz1 Kobada Gold Project in southern Mali. Highlights Toubani believes that Kobada is on the path to becoming the next West African gold mine of significant scale, underpinned by a substantive initial oxide phase operation DFS Update to assess the potential for a higher processing rate, and consequently increased annual gold production, with an initial oxide focussed project phase followed by the inclusion of fresh material later in the mine plan Toubani believes that a bulk tonnage oxide mining and processing operation represents a lower overall technical risk profile for the project as mining methods are not required to be highly selective, minimal drilling and blasting is required and crushing and grinding circuits are simplified and not as power intensive DFS Update to start in July 2023 to optimise both oxide and fresh rock project phases, including the significant stockpile balances built over the first 10 years of the 2021 DFS mine plan Targeted drilling program to convert Inferred Mineral Resources within the 2021 DFS pit design to Indicated category is planned DFS Update will identify the optimal execution approach for the project with engineering groups tendering proposals in the coming weeks and completion targeted by end of 2023 Chief Executive Officer, Phil Russo, commented: We are excited to commence the DFS Update workstream as we believe the full potential of Kobada as the next West African gold mine of scale has yet to materialise. The DFS Update will pursue the potential for the project to be reoptimized to a throughput level that more aptly supports a bulk mining and lower overall technical risk approach, which is further strengthened when considering the significant existing resources of oxide, free digging material at Kobada. We believe Kobada has all the attributes to distinguish itself from its other West African development peers, being free milling ore, a large oxide resource with attractive fresh rock optionality, while also permitted. We look forward to completing the update to the DFS later this year to aim to demonstrate the robustness and lower overall risk profile that a larger Kobada project could deliver. 2021 Definitive Feasibility Study The Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) was completed in September 2021 and published on the ASX in the Technical Assessment Report contained within the prospectus dated 12th September 2022 and the supplementary prospectus dated 18th October 2022 (released on the ASX platform on the 24th and 25th November 2022). The DFS Update will focus on a range of development scenarios to analyse the impact of different mining and processing rates on operating costs, capital costs and the financial performance of the project. The 2021 DFS contemplated a processing plant with a 3.0Mtpa throughput rate, with mining rates averaging 24Mtpa to enable a higher-grade feed in years 1 10. In the 2021 DFS, the quantity of ore mined is significantly more than the ore processed in the first 10 years of the project due to the low strip ratio (refer Figure 1). As a result, substantial stockpiles are projected to build up over that period, impacting cashflows and requiring double handling later in the project life. The DFS Update will focus on a range of higher processing plant throughputs, with mining schedules updated to match these processing rates, and optimisation of stockpile balances shown in Figure 1. The DFS Update will assess whether this range of throughputs can be achieved without significant changes to the mining rates contemplated in the 2021 DFS while using achievable mining productivities and consistent material movements for a project of this scale. Furthermore, the Company believes that mine scheduling using typical mining fleets seen in similar gold mining operations in West Africa, including different and larger configurations of equipment, will achieve more efficient material movements and potential cost economies, to be tested in the DFS Update. The DFS Update will also consider whether changes to the pit stage layout and scheduling sequence has the potential to deliver sufficient material to meet larger throughput scenarios, while maintaining a meaningful project life. As detailed in the 2021 DFS, Inferred Mineral Resources fall within the DFS open pit design. The Company will assess the potential of including or excluding this Inferred material to assess the potential contribution to the project in higher throughput scenarios. It is noted that there is a low level of geological confidence associated with Inferred Mineral Resources and there is no certainty that further exploration work will result in the determination of Indicated Mineral Resources, and accordingly this material may not contribute to the DFS Update or any future study. Figure 1: Cumulative Ore Mined and Processed with Annual Stockpile Balances for the Kobada Project (source: 2021 DFS) The DFS contemplated an onsite processing plant treating a blend of oxide, transitional and fresh gold-bearing ores from the open pit all ore types are free milling and capable of processing using conventional Carbon-in-Leach methods. The DFS planned the processing of oxide material only in the initial project phase by removing the secondary and tertiary crushing stages as well as the secondary ball mill from the full DFS flowsheet. Given the DFS level of metallurgical testwork already completed on both oxide and fresh material, the Company does not anticipate making significant changes to the flowsheet as part of the DFS Update. As part of the DFS Update, the Company plans to conduct a targeted drilling campaign with the objective of upgrading Inferred Mineral Resources which fall inside the current 2021 DFS pit design as well as updated geological modelling to better constrain the mineralisation model. Updated Definitive Feasibility Study The Company plans to kick off the DFS Update workstream this month with targeted completion of the DFS Update by the end of 2023. The Company has initiated discussions with engineering groups to perform the updated DFS. The Company believes that Kobadas overall technical and geological risk profile could reduce significantly under a large tonnage majority oxide scenario with the nature of the deposit amenable to a bulk mining approach, and the potential economics of a larger processing plant and increased annual production benefitting the project overall. As a result, the DFS update will focus on maximising and de-risking the oxide mining and processing phase. To achieve this, the opportunity of converting Inferred Mineral Resources within the current open pit design to add future value will be investigated as part of the updated DFS workstream, by completing targeted drilling in key areas as well as updating the geological model. In parallel, and as part of the DFS Update, the Company also plans to further investigate the optimal inclusion and implementation of the fresh rock mineralisation into a reoptimized Kobada as it remains a major opportunity for the project. The deposit is open at depth along the 4.5km strike extent of the Kobada deposit. The fresh rock material is of moderate hardness and free milling with significant test work completed as part of the 2021 DFS. The potential for mineralisation recently delineated at satellite prospects such as Gosso and Kobada West (refer ASX Announcement 17 May 2023) to be incorporated in the project pipeline will also be investigated with resource delineation drilling at these prospects able to be scheduled for 2H 2023, if warranted. Additional metallurgical testwork is likely to be conducted on potential new sources of plant feed including the Kobada extensions at Kobada North, Foroko and Kobada South, Kobada West, Gosso and Kobada East. This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Toubani Resources. For more information: Phil Russo Jane Morgan Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Investor and Media Relations +(61) 478 138 627 +(61) 405 555 618 Phil.Russo@toubaniresources.com jm@janemorganmanagement.com.au About Toubani Resources Inc Toubani Resources (ASX: TRE) is an exploration and development Company with a focus on becoming Africas next gold producer with its advanced Kobada Gold Project. The Company has a highly experienced Board and management team with a proven African track record in advancing projects through exploration, development and into production. For more information regarding Toubani Resources visit our website at www.toubaniresources.com . Table 1. Mineral Resources for the Kobada Gold Project Classification Tonnes Mt Tonnes Less Geological Loss Mt Au Au Au g/t kg koz Measured 22.65 21.40 0.83 17,784 572 Indicated 44.81 40.15 0.88 35,425 1,139 Measured and Indicated Total 67.46 61.54 0.86 53,209 1,711 Inferred Total 49.60 42.03 1.06 44,564 1,433 Notes: A Mineral Resource cut-off grade of 0.35 g/t Au was applied. A gold price of US$1,800/oz was used for ultimate optimisation. Columns might not add up due to rounding. Mineral Resources are stated as inclusive of Ore Reserves. Mineral Resources are reported as total Mineral Resources and are not attributed. Geological losses have been applied. The information above is extracted from the Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on 25 November 2022. Technical statements The information in this press release relating to the Mineral Resources at the Kobada Deposit is extracted from the Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on ASX on 25 November 2022 (Prospectus) which is available on the ASX announcements platform. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information relating to the Mineral Resources at the Kobada Deposit included in the Prospectus and all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the Mineral Resources estimate in the Prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed. The information in this announcement that represent production targets and forecast financial information derived from production targets is extracted from the Technical Assessment Report in Annexure D of the Prospectus which is available on the ASX announcements platform. The Company confirms that all material assumptions underpinning the production targets and forecast financial information derived from production targets contained in the Technical Assessment Report in Annexure D of the Prospectus continue to apply and have not material changed from the Prospectus. Cautionary statements This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding potential project feasibility, the expansion of mineral resources and reserves, and drilling and exploration plans of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: receipt of necessary approvals from Canadian and Australian regulatory authorities; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; available infrastructure and supplies; the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. _____________________________________ 1 Combined Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 103.57Mt at 0.94g/t, refer Table 1. Refer to the Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on ASX on 25 November 2022 Dublin, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Smart Life Sciences Manufacturing Market Forecast to 2033 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Component, Technology, and Application" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The smart life sciences manufacturing market is projected to reach US$ 78,974.61 million by 2033, registering a CAGR of 14.4% from 2023 to 2033. Technology has been playing a major role in the healthcare sector, wherein the biotechnology industry is the most benefited segment by recent technological advancements in data analytics, compared to other domains such as oncology, neurology, and immunology. Emerging data sciences technologies assist in the growth of the biotechnology industry. Analysis of living organisms, research for novel drugs, etc. are major roles played by biotechnology laboratories. Modern data analytics tools have allowed biotechnology researchers to create predictive analytics models and understand the most effective ways to achieve desired goals and objectives. Big data, AI, virtual reality, data visualization, and data security are among the common technologies used in biotech laboratories. Novozymes, a leading global biotechnology company headquartered in Bagsvard, just outside of Copenhagen, Denmark, has adopted Tableau, a data visualization tool, which revolutionized its approach to data analysis and collaboration. AstraZeneca, plc, a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, uses data and technology to minimize the time to discovery and delivery of potential new medicines. The company has data science and AI capabilities embedded in its R&D departments, which allows scientists to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. Such adoptions are expected to boost the smart life sciences manufacturing market growth during the forecast period. China accounts for the largest share in the smart life sciences manufacturing market in Asia Pacific, followed by Japan and India. China has one of the fastest growing smart life sciences manufacturing markets globally. Chinese firms have been one of the keenest adopters of technology in APAC as they seek to gain a competitive edge through digitalization and innovation. The manufacturers have collaborated with each other for the successful deployment of advanced technologies. In March 2022, Triastek and Siemens Ltd., China signed a strategic collaboration agreement to provide digital technologies for the global pharmaceutical industry. Triastek is actively implementing a continuous manufacturing approach with advanced digital tools to streamline and improve its manufacturing processes and products. Such factors promote the revenue generation of smart life sciences manufacturing market players operating in China. Moreover, the country has flourishing biotechnology industry, which led to increased investments in biotech firms over the period. China-based biotech firms have seen 100 times increase in total market value to more than US$300 billion from 2016 to 2021. Biopharma companies are exploring China and other emerging markets for commercial expansion and for acquisition and partnership targets to boost innovation. Therefore, all the above-discussed factors will drive the smart life sciences manufacturing market growth in China during the forecast period. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 212 Forecast Period 2023 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $18649.5 million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $78974.61 million Compound Annual Growth Rate 15.5% Regions Covered Global Market Dynamics Drivers Rising Adoption of Pharma 4.0 Increasing Use of Technologies in Biotechnology Laboratories Restraints Presence of Skill Gap and Need for High Initial Investment Opportunities Use of Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Research Adoption of Virtual Reality in Smart Factory Future Trends Connection to Data Silos Usage of Blockchain Emergence of Industry 5.0 Companies Mentioned ABB Ltd Bosch Rexroth AG Emerson Electric Co Fortinet Inc General Electric Co Honeywell International Inc IBM Corporation Rockwell Automation Siemens AG Sophos Group plc For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/631svs About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment New York, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Assisted Reproductive Technology Market size accounted for USD 27.9 Bn in 2022. It is projected to surpass around USD 57.9 Bn by 2032, and it is poised to reach a CAGR of 7.8% from 2023 to 2032. Assisted reproductive technology Market refers to medical procedures that assist in achieving pregnancy when traditional methods are unsuccessful. These procedures can help individuals and couples struggling with infertility or those who may be at risk for passing on genetic disorders to their offspring. ART includes a variety of procedures, such as in vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, & preimplantation genetic testing, among others. These procedures may involve the use of fertility medications, surgical interventions, or the uses of donated eggs, sperm, or embryos. Get additional highlights on major revenue-generating segments, Request an Assisted Reproductive Technology Market sample report at: https://marketresearch.biz/report/assisted-reproductive-technology-market/request-sample Key Takeaway By product type, the accessory & disposable segment leads the market with the highest revenue share of 52.3% . leads the market with the highest revenue share of . By technology, the in-vitro fertilization segment is projected to hold the largest market share of 87% . is projected to hold the largest market share of . By procedure, the fresh non-donor segment is likely to grow at the highest rate with a revenue share of 40% . is likely to grow at the highest rate with a revenue share of . By end-user, fertility clinics dominate the segment with a revenue share of 40.5% in the account. the segment with a revenue share of in the account. Europe held a significant revenue share of 39.2% in 2022. held a significant revenue share of in 2022. Asia Pacific market is anticipated to grow at a high CAGR during the forecast period. The rising incidences of infertility, rising disposable income, and Technological advancements are major factors that have propelled the demand for assisted reproductive technology. Additionally, increasing awareness regarding ART, government support, and investments in research and development processes are expected to fuel the market growth during the projection period. Factors Affecting the Growth of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Market Several factors can affect the growth of the Assisted Reproductive Technology market. Some of these factors include: Technological advancements : Several advancements in assisted reproductive technology have significantly improved the success rates of fertility treatments, expanded options for individuals and couples, and increased the chances of achieving a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Thus, technological advancements will likely drive the demand for assisted reproductive technology over the projection period. : Several advancements in assisted reproductive technology have significantly improved the success rates of fertility treatments, expanded options for individuals and couples, and increased the chances of achieving a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Thus, technological advancements will likely drive the demand for assisted reproductive technology over the projection period. Rising disposable income: ART success rates can vary; sometimes, multiple treatment cycles are required to achieve a successful pregnancy. Higher disposable income can provide individuals with the financial means to undergo multiple treatment cycles, increasing their overall chances of success. They may be more willing and able to invest in repeated attempts, which can be financially burdensome for those with limited resources. Thus, increasing disposable income is expected to duel the demand for ART during the projection period. To understand how our report can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://marketresearch.biz/report/assisted-reproductive-technology-market/#inquiry Top Trends in Global Assisted Reproductive Technology Market The growing interest in alternative treatments: There is growing interest in alternative treatments such as acupuncture, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to improve fertility outcomes. These treatments are used with traditional ART procedures to improve outcomes and reduce the physical and emotional toll on patients. Thus, rising interest in alternative treatments can be considered a positive trend and will likely boost the market's growth in the upcoming period. Market Growth The rising prevalence of infertility is driving the demand for assisted reproductive technology during the estimated period. Also, new technological advancements and rising disposable income in developing countries stimulate the market's growth during the projected time. Furthermore, new strategic initiatives and rising awareness regarding ART will propel market growth during the forecast period. Regional Analysis Europe region leads the market by accounting for a significant revenue share of 39.2%. Europe benefits from advanced healthcare systems and high-quality medical infrastructure. These factors contribute to the availability of well-equipped fertility clinics and skilled healthcare professionals who can provide a wide range of ART treatments. Thus, the presence of an advanced healthcare system is a major factor driving the regional market growth during the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly over the forecast period. Countries such as China, India, and Japan have large populations and growing middle classes, driving the region's demand for infertility treatment services. Competitive Landscape The competitive landscape of the market has also been examined in this report. Some of the major players include Cosmos Biomedical Ltd., Microm U.K. Ltd., CooperSurgical, Inc., FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific, Cryolab Ltd., Vitrolife AB, European Sperm Bank, Bloom IVF Centre, Merck KGaA, Ferring B.V., Cook Medical Inc., Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Genea Biomedx, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Millendo Therapeutics, Inc., Oxford Gene Technology, Progyny Inc., Other Key Players. Make informed business decisions with our sample report, revealing key market insights Click Here To Download/Request a Sample Scope of Report Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 27.9 Bn Market Size (2032) USD 57.9 Bn CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 7.8% Europe Revenue Share 39.2% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032 Market Drivers Technological advancements & rising disposable income Advances in medical technology, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), have improved the success rates of ART procedures and expanded the types of patients who can benefit from them. Thus, technological advancements are a key factor driving the market growth over the projection period. Also, increasing disposable income will likely fuel the demand for assisted reproductive technology during the forecast period. Market Restraints Ethical concerns There are some ethical & moral concerns surrounding ART procedures, such as using donor eggs or sperm, embryo selection, & surrogacy. These concerns can limit the acceptance of these procedures among some patients or healthcare providers. Thus, ethical & moral concerns may limit the market growth during the projected period. Market Opportunities Increasing government support Governments in some countries are providing financial support for ART procedures, making them more accessible to a wider range of patients. There is potential for significant growth in emerging markets, where access to ART treatments is limited, but demand is increasing. Thus, rising government support will likely stimulate segment growth during the upcoming period. Maximize your profitability with MarketResearch.Biz - Gain a competitive edge by acquiring this premium report at https://marketresearch.biz/purchase-report/?report_id=24363 Report Segmentation of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Market By Type Insight The IVF-ET (in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer) segment will likely dominate the market during the forecast period. The success rates of IVF have significantly improved over the years due to advancements in technology, laboratory techniques, and medications. Higher success rates have instilled confidence in individuals and couples considering IVF, increasing the demand for the procedure. Also, artificial insemination is expected to grow rapidly over the projection period. The growth of this segment is driven by the high cost-effectiveness and affordability provided by this procedure. By End-user Insight Fertility clinics dominate the end-user segment by accounting for the largest revenue share in the market. The availability of financial support or insurance coverage for fertility treatments, including ART, has made these services more accessible to a wider population. Financial assistance and insurance coverage help individuals and couples afford the costs associated with fertility treatments, driving the demand for ART services. On the other hand, the hospital segment is likely to experience high growth over the projected period, as hospitals provide a wide range of healthcare services, including assisted reproductive technology procedures. Uncover valuable statistics and future projections by accessing a sample report for historical and forecast market data spanning 2016 to 2032 at https://marketresearch.biz/report/assisted-reproductive-technology-market/request-sample Market Segmentation By Type IVF-ET (in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer) ZIFT (zygote intrafallopian transfer) FET (frozen embryo transfer) GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer) By End-User Fertility Clinic Hospital Surgical Center Clinical Research Institute Other End-Users Key Regions North America The US Canada Mexico Western Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Costa Rica Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA Key Market Players Cosmos Biomedical Ltd. Microm U.K. Ltd. CooperSurgical, Inc. FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific Cryolab Ltd. Vitrolife AB European Sperm Bank Bloom IVF Centre Merck KGaA Ferring B.V. Cook Medical Inc. Fujifilm Holdings Corporation Genea Biomedx Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Millendo Therapeutics, Inc. Oxford Gene Technology Progyny Inc. Other Key Players Recent Development of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Market March 2020: A team of researchers in China used CRISPR gene editing technology to genetically modify human embryos, igniting renewed debate and scrutiny around the ethics and safety of embryo editing in assisted reproductive technology. A team of researchers in China used CRISPR gene editing technology to genetically modify human embryos, igniting renewed debate and scrutiny around the ethics and safety of embryo editing in assisted reproductive technology. November 2019: California passed legislation that made it legal for doctors to donate unused embryos to research, a move that could spur innovation and advancements in the field of assisted reproductive technology. Browse More Related Reports Epigenetics Market size is expected to be worth around USD 63.59 Bn by 2032 from USD 20.29 Bn in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 12.1% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032. by 2032 from in 2022, growing at a during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032. Ectopic Pregnancy Market size is expected to be worth around USD 14 Bn by 2032 from USD 8 Bn in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032. by 2032 from in 2022, growing at a during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032. 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MarketResearch.Biz provides customization to suit any specific or unique requirement and tailor-makes reports as per request. We go beyond boundaries to take analytics, analysis, study, and outlook to newer heights and broader horizons. Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketresearch-biz/ Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marketresearch.biz Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrudourResearch TORONTO, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the Company or Torex) (TSX: TXG) announces assay results from the Companys ongoing drilling program at the El Limon Guajes underground mine, including zones referred to as El Limon Deep (ELD), Sub-Sill, Sub-Sill South, El Limon Sur Deep, and El Limon West (collectively ELG Underground). Jody Kuzenko, President & CEO of Torex, stated: We are excited about the positive results from the ongoing drilling program at ELG Underground. The program is a key facet of our strategy to optimize and extend the mine life at ELG Underground with a view to filling the mill beyond 2027. Infill and step-out drilling to the south at El Limon Sur Deep was successful in extending higher-grade mineralization outside of the current resource block model. Several drill holes returned notable intersects over favourable widths including 88.92 grams per tonne gold equivalent (gpt AuEq) over 14.5 metres (m) in drill hole LS-220, 11.20 gpt AuEq over 29.4 m and 19.03 gpt AuEq over 13.3 m in LS-221, 6.86 gpt AuEq over 16.6 m in LS-187, and 7.46 gpt AuEq over 11.6 m in LS-184. These drill results, which include several higher-grade sub-intervals in addition to other impressive intersects, validate the high grade potential associated with the area that runs from El Limon Sur Deep to the La Flaca fault (600 m), known as the El Limon Sur Trend, with potential to extend deeper. Drilling at El Limon Sur Deep also encountered areas of economic copper mineralization which we expect to mine after the flotation circuit, part of the Media Luna Project, is commissioned in late-2024. This will enable us to maximize margins from this zone of the deposit and to compliment copper production from Media Luna. Additionally, step-out drilling looking for the north-south continuity of the feeders on the north side of the Z71 fault completed in late-2022 encountered the deepest recognized mineralization at the 400 m elevation within the El Limon Sur Trend, with drill hole SST-299 intersecting 4.17 gpt AuEq over 3.7 m. This hole was drilled within a cluster of holes which included an intersect of 9.56 gpt AuEq over 5.0 m in SST-278 and 6.23 gpt AuEq over 8.9 m in SST-282. This set of drill holes demonstrates the continuity of mineralization at depth at ELG Underground and supports previous information from exploratory drill holes that highlight the resource potential at depth. Step-out and infill drilling continue to support our ability to expand and upgrade resources within the ELD, Sub-Sill, and Sub-Sill South deposits. Drilling at a zone approximately 100 m to the west of El Limon Sur Deep, referred to as El Limon West, continues to highlight the potential for another underground mining front below the El Limon Sur open pit. Further work will be conducted in the near future on El Limon West to explore the potential for a second, parallel corridor of mineralization to the El Limon Sur Trend. Overall, the positive results from the underground drilling program support ongoing resource expansion and reserve growth within ELG Underground, which in turn supports our strategic focus on filling the mill with higher-grade feed beyond 2027. Gold equivalent (AuEq) grades use the same metal prices ($1,550/oz gold (Au), $20/oz silver (Ag), and $3.50/lb copper (Cu)) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2022 Mineral Resource estimate for the ELG Underground (AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0123 + Cu (%) * 1.6000). ELG UNDERGROUND 2023 DRILLING PROGRAM Through the end of May, approximately 34,300 meters and 177 holes were drilled as part of the 2023 drilling program at ELG Underground. This represents 60% of the planned meters in this area for 2023 (30,000 m under the ELG Underground program and 27,000 m under the near-mine program), for which assays have been received for 54% of the metres drilled. The level of infill drilling is expected to increase through the back half of the year, with a focus on upgrading Inferred mineral resources to the Indicated category. Step-out drilling from south of the La Flaca fault to El Limon Sur Deep will focus on further expanding mineralization with the goal of increasing Inferred mineral resources across the ELG Underground. The excellent results from the 2022 drilling program and initial results from the 2023 drilling program, including high grade intersects in several of the underground deposits, have been instrumental in exploring the extent of the mineralization at depth. This is supported by an improved understanding of the structural controls of mineralization, which suggest high grade feeders controlled by fault systems trending NNW/SSE and NE/SW, in the intrusive and sedimentary sequence, within a regional North-South deep structural trend (Figure 1). The improved interpretation of mineral controls will be incorporated into future drilling programs as the Company looks to identify higher-margin feed to fill the mill beyond 2027. Figure 1: Drilling program highlights at ELG Underground (Plan View) https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a225ad59-5707-45fe-bfb4-f3965c026735 Assay results reported in this press release include drill holes completed under the 2023 underground drilling program as well as drill holes completed in late-2022, for which assays were received after the cut-off date for inclusion in the year-end Mineral Resource estimate. Drill hole intersects are core lengths and not true widths. Results from the ongoing underground drilling program are reported in Table 1 (El Limon Sur Deep), Table 2 (Sub-Sill South), Table 3 (ELD), Table 4 (Sub-Sill), and Table 5 (El Limon West). El Limon Sur Trend Drilling completed in late-2022 that focused on the extension of the Sub-Sill and ELD deposits to the south encountered mineralization down to an elevation of 400 m (drill hole SST-299), which is 125 m below the lowest Inferred resource at Sub-Sill and 275 m below the lowest elevation of Inferred resources at ELD. This hole, as well as drill holes SST-278 and SST-282 confirm the existence of deep mineralization that was previously detected in exploratory holes. The mineralization appears to be related to the higher-grade feeders of the El Limon Sur Trend (Figures 1, 2, and 3). SST-278 13.16 gpt AuEq over 16.64 m (11.79 gpt Au, 14.3 gpt Ag and 0.74% Cu) including 21.67 gpt AuEq over 5.39 m (19.73 gpt Au, 21.3 gpt Ag and 1.05% Cu) 9.56 gpt AuEq over 4.95 m (9.13 gpt Au, 6.2 gpt Ag and 0.22% Cu) SST-282 6.23 gpt AuEq over 8.93 m (5.63 gpt Au, 12.2 gpt Ag and 0.28% Cu) SST-299 4.17 gpt AuEq over 3.66 m (4.08 gpt Au, 1.0 gpt Ag and 0.05% Cu) The resource categorization and expansion program at El Limon Sur Deep has yielded outstanding results, particularly in extending mineralization outside of the current resource block model, both laterally and vertically to the north and south. Drilling at El Limon Sur Deep returned several impressive intersects over favourable widths, which confirm the high grade potential of the main feeders. Drill results from this area include strong copper intersects which are expected to be mined after upgrades to the processing plant (including a copper flotation circuit) are completed in late-2024 as part of the Media Luna Project (Figure 3). LS-220 88.92 gpt AuEq over 14.46 m (88.61 gpt Au, 20.6 gpt Ag and 0.04% Cu) including 75.97 gpt AuEq over 2.00 m (75.53 Au, 30.0 Ag and 0.04% Cu) including 759.47 gpt AuEq over 1.29 m (757.86 gpt Au, 126.1 gpt Ag and 0.04% Cu) LS-221 11.20 gpt AuEq over 29.38 m (9.86 gpt Au, 42.0 gpt Ag and 0.52% Cu) including 26.06 gpt AuEq over 4.55 m (25.31 gpt Au, 29.0 gpt Ag and 0.25% Cu) including 28.98 gpt AuEq over 3.38 m (25.61 gpt Au, 108.2 gpt Ag and 1.27% Cu) 19.03 gpt AuEq over 13.31 m (11.84 gpt Au, 73.7 gpt Ag and 3.93% Cu) including 28.29 gpt AuEq over 5.55 m (21.18 gpt Au, 94.5 gpt Ag and 3.72% Cu) LS-197 7.38 gpt AuEq over 17.06 m (5.78 gpt Au, 44.0 gpt Ag and 0.66% Cu) including 11.39 gpt AuEq over 3.84 m (8.88 gpt Au, 74.5 gpt Ag and 1.00% Cu) 10.39 gpt AuEq over 5.86 m (4.13 gpt Au, 125.9 gpt Ag and 2.94% Cu) LS-187 6.86 gpt AuEq over 16.63 m (4.61 gpt Au, 34.4 gpt Ag and 1.14% Cu) including 9.05 gpt AuEq over 3.89 m (3.60 gpt Au, 65.8 gpt Ag and 2.90% Cu) LS-183 17.85 gpt AuEq over 5.21 m (16.66 gpt Au, 20.6 gpt Ag and 0.58% Cu) LS-184 7.46 gpt AuEq over 11.62 m (6.00 gpt Au, 40.7 gpt Ag and 0.60% Cu) LS-203 9.95 gpt AuEq over 7.50 m (9.56 gpt Au, 10.1 gpt Ag and 0.17% Cu) Drilling at Sub-Sill South was also successful, with assay results highlighting the potential to upgrade Inferred resources to the Indicated category and expand Inferred resources both laterally and vertically to the north and south (Figure 3). SST-320 9.88 gpt AuEq over 9.62 m (9.41 gpt Au, 11.3 gpt Ag and 0.21% Cu) SST-321 5.77 gpt AuEq over 3.00 m (4.59 gpt Au, 23.3 gpt Ag and 0.56% Cu) SST-286 5.07 gpt AuEq over 7.76 m (4.16 gpt Au, 8.2 gpt Ag and 0.51% Cu) ELD At ELD, step-out drilling along the southwest extension of the deposit and infill drilling returned several impressive intersects that indicate the potential to expand resources at depth while upgrading Inferred resources to the Indicated category (Figure 2). LDUG-233 11.29 gpt AuEq over 34.89 m (9.48 gpt Au, 23.6 gpt Ag and 0.95% Cu) Including 21.13 gpt AuEq over 15.10 m (18.03 gpt Au, 45.5 gpt Ag and 1.59% Cu) LDUG-229 9.70 gpt AuEq over 18.17 m (9.20 gpt Au, 6.3 gpt Ag and 0.26% Cu) 8.68 gpt AuEq over 16.87 m (7.63 gpt Au, 25.5 gpt Ag and 0.46% Cu) 10.65 gpt AuEq over 4.00 m (9.47 gpt Au, 10.9 gpt Ag and 0.65% Cu) 8.82 gpt AuEq over 5.18 m (8.71 gpt Au, 2.8 gpt Ag and 0.05% Cu) LDUG-218 6.06 gpt AuEq over 4.75 m (5.80 gpt Au, 3.3 gpt Ag and 0.14% Cu) 7.24 gpt AuEq over 7.03 m (7.09 gpt Au, 2.9 gpt Ag and 0.07% Cu) Sub-Sill Step-out drilling to the north and south of the deeper extension of the Sub-Sill deposit and infill drilling around the existing resource continue to support the potential to expand and upgrade resources at depth (Figure 4). SST-306 18.95 gpt AuEq over 4.08 m (18.83 gpt Au, 3.7 gpt Ag and 0.05% Cu) SST-303 5.17 gpt AuEq over 7.61 m (4.39 gpt Au, 7.8 gpt Ag and 0.43% Cu) SST-301 5.12 gpt AuEq over 6.11 m (5.04 gpt Au, 1.5 gpt Ag and 0.04% Cu) El Limon West Follow-up drilling at El Limon West, a zone of mineralization below the El Limon Sur pit and approximately 100 m west of the El Limon Sur Deep deposit, continues to highlight the potential for another new mining front within ELG Underground (Figure 5). Mineralization at El Limon West is controlled and hosted by a phreatomagmatic breccia pipe, which differs from the mineralization commonly associated with the El Limon Sur Trend. This indicates the potential of a second structural corridor and other styles of mineralization across the broader Morelos Property and will be explored further in the near future. LS-207 6.16 gpt AuEq over 16.01 m (4.92 gpt Au, 30.4 gpt Ag and 0.54% Cu) LS-218 8.83 gpt AuEq over 5.21 m (8.10 gpt Au, 25.1 gpt Ag and 0.26% Cu) LS-169 7.52 gpt AuEq over 4.41 m (6.25 gpt Au, 30.3 gpt Ag and 0.56% Cu) EL LIMON GUAJES MINE COMPLEX GEOLOGY The ELG Mine Complex, located in the central part of the Guerrero Gold Belt in southwest Mexico, is hosted in the Mesozoic carbonate-rich Morelos Platform, which has been intruded by Paleocene granodiorite stocks, sills, and dikes. Skarn-hosted gold mineralization is developed along the contacts of the intrusive rocks and the enclosing carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks of the Cuautla and Morelos formations as well as along the footwall contact of the Mezcala Formation. Gold mineralization at ELG occurs in association with a skarn body that was developed along a 2-kilometre-long corridor following the northeast contact of the ELG granodiorite stock. The skarn zone that occurs at the marble stratigraphic level of the Morelos Formation is in contact with hornfels developed in the Mezcala Formation. At El Limon, skarn mineralization is also structurally controlled by NE-SW and WNW-ESE trending faults and fracture zones. Skarn alteration and mineralization at ELG are fairly typical of calcic gold-skarn systems. Zones of coarse, massive, garnet-dominant skarn appear within and along the stock margin, with fine-grained pyroxene-dominant skarn more common at greater distances from the contact with the stock. Significant gold mineralization at ELG is associated with the skarn, preferentially occurring in pyroxene-rich exoskarn but also hosted in garnet-rich endoskarn that has been affected by retrograde alteration. Pre- and post-mineralization dykes and sills are found to crosscut the hornfels and marble, along the structural trends mentioned above, and are spatially associated with the skarn formation. The style of mineralization at El Limon Sur Deep is like Sub-Sill and ELD, and is characterized by gold, with locally high silver and copper grades. Gold occurs in variably sulfidized, pyrrhotite-rich skarn, while silver and copper mineralization is controlled primarily by the degree of sulfidation of the host skarn. Mineralization is mainly associated with retrograde alteration characterized by the occurrence of phlogopite, amphibole, chlorite, calcite and lesser amounts of quartz and epidote, and local magnetite. QA/QC AND QUALIFIED PERSON Torex maintains an industry-standard analytical quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) and data verification program to monitor laboratory performance and ensure high-quality assays. Results from this program confirm reliability of the assay results. All sampling and analytical work for the mine exploration program is performed by SGS de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (SGS) in Durango, and by SGS at Minera Media Luna site facilities in Mexico. Gold analyses comprise fire assays with atomic absorption or gravimetric finish. External check assays for QA/QC purposes are performed at ALS Chemex de Mexico S.A. de C.V. The analytical QA/QC program is currently overseen by Carlo Nasi, Chief Mine Geologist for Minera Media Luna, S.A. de C.V. Scientific and technical data contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Carolina Milla, P.Eng. Ms. Milla is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (Member ID #168350), has experience relevant to the style of mineralization under consideration, is a qualified person under NI 43-101, and is an employee of Torex. Ms. Milla has verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the drill results; verification included visually reviewing the drillholes in three dimensions, comparing the assay results to the original assay certificates, reviewing the drilling database, and reviewing core photography consistent with standard practice. Ms. Milla consents to the inclusion in this release of said data in the form and context in which they appear. Additional information on the El Limon Sur deposit, sampling and analyses, analytical labs, and methods used for data verification is available in the Companys technical report entitled the Morelos Property, NI 43-101 Technical Report, ELG Mine Complex Life of Mine Plan and Media Luna Feasibility Study, Guerrero State, Mexico, dated effective March 16, 2022 filed on March 31, 2022 (the 2022 Technical Report) and in the annual information form (AIF) dated March 30, 2023, each filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Companys website at www.torexgold.com. ABOUT TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. Torex is an intermediate gold producer based in Canada, engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of its 100% owned Morelos Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in the highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometres southwest of Mexico City. The Companys principal asset is the Morelos Complex, which includes the El Limon Guajes (ELG) Mine Complex, the Media Luna Project, a processing plant and related infrastructure. Commercial production from the Morelos Complex commenced on April 1, 2016 and an updated Technical Report for the Morelos Complex was released in March 2022. Torexs key strategic objectives are to extend and optimize production from the ELG Mining Complex, de-risk and advance Media Luna to commercial production, build on ESG excellence, and to grow through ongoing exploration across the entire Morelos Property. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. Jody Kuzenko Dan Rollins President and CEO Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Direct: (647) 725-9982 Direct: (647) 260-1503 jody.kuzenko@torexgold.com dan.rollins@torexgold.com CAUTIONARY NOTES ON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information also includes, but is not limited to, statements about: impressive drill results demonstrate the potential for ongoing resource expansion and mine life extension at ELG Underground; the Companys strategy to optimize and extend the mine life at ELG Underground with a view to filling the mill beyond 2027; the results of the infill and step-out drilling to the south at El Limon Sur Deep validate the high grade potential associated with the area that runs from El Limon Sur Deep to the La Flaca fault (known as the El Limon Sur Trend), with potential to extend deeper; the expectation that the Company will mine areas of copper mineralization encountered at El Limon Sur Deep after the flotation circuit is commissioned in late 2024 as part of the Media Luna Project; the mining of these areas of copper mineralization will enable the Company to maximize margins from this zone of the deposit and will compliment copper production from Media Luna; the step-out drilling looking for the north-south continuity of the feeders on the north side of the Z71 fault demonstrates the continuity of mineralization at depth in ELG Underground and supports previous information from exploratory drill holes that highlights the resource potential at depth; the step-out and infill drilling continue to support the Companys ability to expand and upgrade resources within the ELD, Sub-Sill, and Sub-Sill South deposits; drilling at a zone approximately 100 m to the west of El Limon Sur Deep, referred to as El Limon West, continues to highlight the potential for another underground mining front below the El Limon Sur open pit; further work will be conducted in the near future on El Limon West to explore the potential for a second, parallel corridor of mineralization to the El Limon Sur Trend; overall, the positive results from the drilling program support ongoing resource expansion and reserve growth within ELG Underground, which in turn supports the Companys strategic focus on filling the mill with higher-grade feed beyond 2027; the level of infill drilling is expected to increase through the back half of the year, with a focus on upgrading Inferred mineral resources to the Indicated category; step-out drilling from south of the La Flaca fault to El Limon Sur Deep will focus on further expanding mineralization with the goal of increasing Inferred mineral resources across the ELG Underground; the assay results from drilling at Sub-Sill South highlight the potential to upgrade Inferred resources to the Indicated category and expand Inferred resources both laterally and vertically to the north and to the south; at ELD, step-out and infill drilling along the southwest extension of the deposit returned several impressive intersects that indicate the potential to expand resources at depth while upgrading Inferred resources to the Indicated category; step-out drilling to the north and south of the deeper extension of the Sub-Sill deposit and infill drilling around the existing resource continue to support the potential to expand and upgrade resources at depth; the potential of a second structural corridor and other styles of mineralization across the broader Morelos Property and will be explored further in the near future; follow-up drilling at El Limon West continues to highlight the potential for another new mining front within ELG Underground; and the Companys key strategic objectives to extend and optimize production from the ELG Mining Complex, de-risk and advance Media Luna to commercial production, build on ESG excellence, and to grow through ongoing exploration across the entire Morelos Property. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as strategy, demonstrate, potential, continue, ongoing, goal or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results will, or is/are expected to occur or with a view to. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, without limitation, those risk factors identified in the 2022 Technical Report and the Companys annual information form (AIF) and managements discussion and analysis (MD&A) or other unknown but potentially significant impacts. Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions discussed in the 2022 Technical Report, the AIF and the MD&A and such other reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Figure 2: Drilling program highlights at the ELG Underground (Long Section) https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4560941-2840-42a5-8ce8-5c8683a4fa14 Figure 3: Drilling along the El Limon Sur Trend highlights the potential for resource expansion at both the Sub-Sill South and El Limon Sur Deep deposits https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ca4f300b-6cd8-4d5c-a882-5801d877745c Figure 4: Drilling at Sub-Sill demonstrates potential to expand resources outside of current resource shell https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/92408740-0595-47dd-875a-7d05cad503b9 Figure 5: Drilling at El Limon West (~100 m west of El Limon Sur Deep) continues to support potential for a new zone of underground mineralization below the El Limon Sur open pit https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c22911eb-a761-45aa-bb33-7a4808bb3578 Table 1: Drill results from infill and step-out drilling to the south testing mineralization extensions at El Limon Sur Deep Intersection Drill-Hole Program UTM-E UTM-N Elevation Azimuth Dip Length From To Core Length Au Ag Cu AuEq Lithology (m) (m) (m) () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (g/t) LS-183 Step-out 422103.0 1989309.9 932.7 80.0 -50.0 189.0 158.97 164.18 5.21 16.66 20.6 0.58 17.85 Skarn LS-184 Step-out 422102.6 1989309.7 932.5 80.0 -60.0 229.0 208.38 220.00 11.62 6.00 40.7 0.60 7.46 Skarn LS-185 Step-out 422103.2 1989309.9 932.4 80.0 -64.0 249.0 172.00 175.00 3.00 0.18 2.8 0.17 0.50 Skarn/marble LS-186 Step-out 422110.7 1989281.0 929.2 80.0 -57.0 225.0 138.61 141.67 3.06 0.06 6.5 0.09 0.29 Skarn LS-187 Step-out 422094.2 1989338.2 936.3 80.0 -57.0 225.0 193.47 210.10 16.63 4.61 34.4 1.14 6.86 Skarn including 194.25 198.14 3.89 3.60 65.8 2.90 9.05 Skarn LS-190 Step-out 422106.3 1989294.7 930.7 80.0 -62.0 240.0 218.43 223.30 4.87 0.42 23.2 0.41 1.35 Skarn LS-191 Step-out 422106.0 1989294.6 930.7 80.0 -69.0 288.0 233.00 236.00 3.00 0.02 6.0 0.12 0.29 Skarn LS-192 Step-out 422159.1 1989351.3 954.1 80.0 -48.0 90.0 59.50 66.14 6.64 5.32 5.9 0.04 5.45 Skarn LS-193 Step-out 422135.6 1989360.8 953.3 84.0 -45.0 114.0 79.60 83.64 4.04 3.61 35.1 0.22 4.40 Skarn LS-194 Step-out 422156.9 1989334.1 953.8 80.0 -47.0 90.0 75.50 80.86 5.36 61.15 15.2 0.24 61.72 Skarn including 78.51 80.86 2.35 137.56 20.0 0.22 138.16 Skarn LS-195 Step-out 422165.3 1989322.5 954.9 80.0 -46.0 87.0 75.09 79.00 3.91 6.12 3.6 0.04 6.23 Skarn LS-196 Step-out 422160.4 1989290.1 959.2 80.0 -57.0 129.0 106.39 112.04 5.65 1.87 59.1 1.21 4.54 Skarn LS-197 Step-out 422117.8 1989358.0 949.4 80.0 -48.0 150.0 99.00 116.06 17.06 5.78 44.0 0.66 7.38 Skarn including 109.26 113.10 3.84 8.88 74.5 1.00 11.39 Skarn 123.63 129.49 5.86 4.13 125.9 2.94 10.39 Skarn LS-198 Step-out 422117.2 1989357.9 949.5 81.0 -59.0 201.0 143.00 148.61 5.61 8.55 5.8 0.17 8.89 Skarn 174.25 181.00 6.75 4.51 52.1 2.15 8.59 Skarn LS-199 Step-out 422131.3 1989329.5 953.2 80.0 -53.0 149.0 109.20 117.00 7.80 3.31 22.3 0.35 4.15 Skarn LS-200 Step-out 422143.8 1989316.8 955.2 80.0 -45.0 115.0 105.09 110.00 4.91 30.85 15.3 0.34 31.59 Skarn LS-201 Step-out 422142.8 1989316.6 955.2 80.0 -58.0 156.0 125.00 129.00 4.00 4.97 8.8 0.20 5.39 Skarn LS-202 Step-out 422161.0 1989304.9 958.0 85.0 -65.0 160.0 117.02 122.00 4.98 0.71 19.8 0.43 1.64 Skarn LS-203 Step-out 422178.3 1989307.9 959.6 80.0 -50.0 87.0 58.00 65.50 7.50 9.56 10.1 0.17 9.95 Skarn LS-204 Step-out 422177.8 1989307.9 959.6 80.0 -60.0 105.0 92.09 96.15 4.06 8.68 0.8 0.02 8.72 Skarn LS-205 Step-out 422195.3 1989310.6 961.6 80.0 -50.0 60.0 31.32 44.48 13.16 4.46 9.8 0.64 5.60 Skarn LS-206 Step-out 422116.7 1989358.0 949.5 80.0 -65.0 214.0 113.14 119.00 5.86 3.93 216.7 1.47 8.94 Skarn LS-208 Step-out 422086.1 1989365.6 940.1 80.0 -54.0 216.0 190.40 194.26 3.86 0.24 16.1 0.26 0.86 Skarn LS-211 Step-out 422113.4 1989271.4 928.4 76.0 -53.0 201.0 156.00 159.30 3.30 0.48 40.7 0.84 2.34 Skarn LS-212 Step-out 422161.1 1989289.8 959.3 85.0 -63.0 150.0 126.34 131.57 5.23 0.22 1.8 0.03 0.29 Skarn LS-214 Infill 422161.0 1989291.1 959.3 77.0 -73.0 189.0 172.50 175.50 3.00 3.40 9.3 0.14 3.73 Skarn LS-217 Infill 422161.1 1989290.8 959.3 80.0 -77.0 240.0 209.06 216.20 7.14 0.79 23.4 0.26 1.50 Skarn LS-219 Infill 422125.0 1989342.8 952.2 80.0 -52.0 147.0 134.00 143.48 9.48 4.35 4.8 0.09 4.56 Skarn Table 1: Drill results from infill and step-out drilling to the south testing mineralization extensions at El Limon Sur Deep (continued) Intersection Drill-Hole Program UTM-E UTM-N Elevation Azimuth Dip Length From To Core Length Au Ag Cu AuEq Lithology (m) (m) (m) () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (g/t) LS-220 Step-out 422161.0 1989290.8 959.3 94.0 -75.0 255.0 229.22 243.68 14.46 88.61 20.6 0.04 88.92 Skarn including 232.00 234.00 2.00 75.53 30.0 0.04 75.97 Skarn including 237.18 238.47 1.29 757.86 126.1 0.04 759.47 Skarn LS-221 Infill 422125.0 1989342.7 951.9 80.0 -59.0 189.0 112.00 141.38 29.38 9.86 42.0 0.52 11.20 Skarn including 124.00 128.55 4.55 25.31 29.0 0.25 26.06 Skarn including 137.00 140.38 3.38 25.61 108.2 1.27 28.98 Skarn 148.24 161.55 13.31 11.84 73.7 3.93 19.03 Skarn including 156.00 161.55 5.55 21.18 94.5 3.72 28.29 Skarn LS-222 Infill 422160.8 1989291.5 959.3 62.0 -70.0 192.0 176.00 179.82 3.82 0.81 27.6 0.77 2.38 Skarn LS-223 Infill 422124.4 1989342.6 952.0 80.0 -71.0 216.0 161.80 165.40 3.60 0.24 1.1 0.01 0.27 Skarn LS-224 Infill 422161.5 1989290.4 959.2 96.0 -69.0 201.0 147.95 153.00 5.05 1.63 54.6 1.04 3.97 Skarn LS-225 Infill 422124.8 1989341.8 952.1 97.0 -56.0 180.0 127.62 163.56 35.94 3.70 10.1 0.21 4.16 Skarn including 129.15 134.00 4.85 9.66 13.2 0.22 10.18 Skarn including 145.00 148.00 3.00 9.35 5.7 0.09 9.56 Skarn Notes to Table 1) Intersections are core lengths and do not represent true thickness of mineralized zones. 2) Core lengths subject to rounding. 3) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. 4) Gold equivalent (AuEq) grades use the same metal prices ($1,550/oz gold (Au), $20/oz silver (Ag) and $3.50/lb copper (Cu)) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag and 93% Cu) used in the Mineral Resource estimate for ELG Underground (AuEq (gpt) = Au (g/t) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0123 + Cu (%) * 1.6000). Table 2: Drill results from infill and step-out drilling to the north targeting underground mineralization at Sub-Sill South Intersection Drill-Hole Program UTM-E UTM-N Elevation Azimuth Dip Length From To Core Length Au Ag Cu AuEq Lithology (m) (m) (m) () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (g/t) SST-278 Step-out 421913.8 1990095.4 948.4 131.0 -59.0 675.0 205.10 212.75 7.65 2.73 5.6 0.39 3.43 Skarn 237.00 253.64 16.64 11.79 14.3 0.74 13.16 Skarn including 238.80 244.19 5.39 19.73 21.3 1.05 21.67 Skarn 465.90 469.79 3.89 4.39 17.3 0.61 5.58 Skarn 588.00 592.95 4.95 9.13 6.2 0.22 9.56 Skarn SST-279 Step-out 421995.8 1990230.5 946.9 153.0 -63.0 330.0 281.50 286.00 4.50 6.22 6.7 0.16 6.56 Skarn SST-280 Step-out 422102.8 1989764.2 1092.1 27.0 -71.0 276.0 222.17 248.38 26.21 6.18 10.8 0.45 7.03 Skarn SST-281 Step-out 422103.5 1989763.4 1092.2 54.0 -77.0 240.0 186.43 190.46 4.03 3.27 7.8 0.40 4.00 Skarn 223.04 226.81 3.77 2.12 29.3 0.98 4.05 Skarn SST-282 Step-out 421913.7 1990095.4 948.3 131.0 -67.0 699.0 246.00 273.11 27.11 8.96 10.2 0.12 9.28 Skarn including 251.00 255.00 4.00 36.69 24.0 0.65 38.02 Skarn 505.00 508.90 3.90 4.15 6.9 0.16 4.50 Skarn 526.00 534.93 8.93 5.63 12.2 0.28 6.23 Marbles/ skarn SST-285 Step-out 422103.8 1989762.9 1092.2 73.0 -78.0 261.0 195.43 198.59 3.16 2.21 0.5 0.00 2.22 Skarn SST-286 Step-out 422104.6 1989762.2 1092.1 84.0 -70.0 213.0 164.63 172.39 7.76 4.16 8.2 0.51 5.07 Skarn SST-287 Step-out 422104.9 1989761.7 1092.2 94.0 -67.0 213.0 176.94 182.37 5.43 0.18 0.5 0.01 0.19 Skarn SST-288 Step-out 422103.2 1989764.3 1092.1 97.0 -75.0 225.0 167.11 171.80 4.69 5.57 3.2 0.08 5.73 Skarn SST-289 Infill 422103.2 1989763.7 1092.2 110.0 -72.0 219.0 169.81 174.86 5.05 1.40 3.5 0.16 1.70 Skarn SST-290 Infill 422103.2 1989763.9 1092.5 105.0 -68.0 219.0 199.82 205.00 5.18 0.45 50.2 1.85 4.03 Skarn SST-291 Step-out 422103.5 1989763.8 1092.4 105.0 -63.0 219.0 152.00 157.65 5.65 0.57 0.5 0.02 0.60 Skarn SST-292 Step-out 422102.5 1989763.6 1092.3 118.0 -83.0 264.0 211.20 217.49 6.29 3.30 3.2 0.17 3.61 Skarn 226.50 230.43 3.93 5.33 4.2 0.09 5.52 Skarn SST-293 Step-out 421914.1 1990095.2 948.4 131.0 -49.0 648.0 367.00 371.00 4.00 3.40 6.0 0.92 4.94 MSO 619.54 626.00 6.46 1.68 26.1 1.03 3.65 Skarn SST-294 Step-out 421657.7 1989760.5 583.6 81.0 -9.0 609.0 577.48 588.15 10.67 2.77 22.4 0.68 4.13 Skarn SST-298 Step-out 421914.2 1990095.1 948.9 131.0 -36.0 381.0 341.19 344.69 3.50 2.45 8.0 0.42 3.21 Skarn SST-299 Step-out 421657.3 1989760.3 583.5 81.0 -22.0 567.0 518.34 522.00 3.66 4.08 1.0 0.05 4.17 Skarn SST-300 Step-out 421914.2 1990095.2 949.3 131.0 -25.0 330.0 281.05 285.00 3.95 0.14 0.8 0.02 0.18 Skarn SST-302 Step-out 421914.2 1990095.1 949.7 131.0 -13.0 353.7 317.22 321.00 3.78 0.20 1.5 0.07 0.33 Skarn SST-305 Step-out 421913.7 1990094.9 948.7 145.0 -48.0 465.0 450.62 452.94 2.32 0.06 5.6 0.11 0.31 Skarn SST-307 Step-out 421913.6 1990095.0 948.5 150.0 -61.0 423.0 187.46 193.00 5.54 0.04 0.5 0.01 0.07 Skarn SST-309 Step-out 421913.4 1990095.8 948.4 131.0 -81.0 675.0 211.62 215.00 3.38 1.25 18.4 0.69 2.58 Skarn Table 2: Drill results from infill and step-out drilling to the north targeting underground mineralization at Sub-Sill South (continued) Intersection Drill-Hole Program UTM-E UTM-N Elevation Azimuth Dip Length From To Core Length Au Ag Cu AuEq Lithology (m) (m) (m) () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (g/t) SST-315 Step-out 422232.7 1989923.7 794.4 231.0 0.0 275.0 250.56 254.80 4.24 0.91 1.8 0.01 0.95 Skarn SST-319 Step-out 422232.8 1989923.8 794.6 231.0 4.0 264.0 214.83 217.68 2.85 1.05 3.2 0.13 1.30 Skarn SST-320 Infill 422237.5 1989898.1 856.8 240.0 5.0 156.0 113.47 118.00 4.53 3.69 14.3 0.49 4.65 Skarn 121.27 130.89 9.62 9.41 11.3 0.21 9.88 Skarn 144.00 147.78 3.78 4.50 2.7 0.13 4.74 Skarn SST-321 Infill 422237.7 1989897.6 856.9 232.0 5.0 150.0 121.00 124.00 3.00 4.59 23.3 0.56 5.77 Skarn SST-322 Infill 422237.3 1989898.2 856.8 248.0 5.0 201.0 113.09 119.00 5.91 7.30 7.9 0.25 7.80 Skarn 122.00 130.00 8.00 4.45 2.7 0.07 4.59 Skarn Notes to Table 1) Intersections are core lengths and do not represent true thickness of mineralized zones. 2) Core lengths subject to rounding. 3) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. 4) Gold equivalent (AuEq) grades use the same metal prices ($1,550/oz gold (Au), $20/oz silver (Ag) and $3.50/lb copper (Cu)) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag and 93% Cu) used in the Mineral Resource estimate for ELG Underground (AuEq (gpt) = Au (g/t) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0123 + Cu (%) * 1.6000). Table 3: Drill results from infill and step-out drilling to the southwest targeting mineralization extensions at ELD Intersection Drill-Hole Program UTM-E UTM-N Elevation Azimuth Dip Length From To Core Length Au Ag Cu AuEq Lithology (m) (m) (m) () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (g/t) LDUG-213 Step-out 422025.8 1990282.8 878.2 224.0 -62.0 150.0 115.87 118.64 2.77 1.06 6.9 0.33 1.67 Skarn LDUG-214 Step-out 421996.2 1990230.9 947.0 77.0 -73.0 231.0 145.22 148.93 3.71 6.16 23.2 0.73 7.61 Skarn LDUG-215 Step-out 422026.8 1990281.7 878.4 193.0 -44.0 240.0 102.10 107.19 5.09 0.53 26.9 1.16 2.72 Skarn LDUG-216 Step-out 422025.8 1990282.6 878.4 248.0 -64.0 231.0 204.57 208.53 3.96 2.90 20.1 0.54 4.01 Skarn LDUG-217 Step-out 422025.2 1990282.8 878.4 80.0 -77.0 255.0 89.00 92.38 3.38 0.06 0.5 0.01 0.09 Skarn LDUG-218 Step-out 422025.0 1990282.7 878.3 296.0 -70.0 258.0 149.41 154.16 4.75 5.80 3.3 0.14 6.06 Skarn 166.82 173.85 7.03 7.09 2.9 0.07 7.24 Skarn LDUG-219 Step-out 421996.0 1990231.1 947.0 80.0 -52.0 237.9 165.67 193.00 27.33 3.03 10.7 0.72 4.32 Skarn LDUG-220 Step-out 421955.0 1990115.0 950.0 93.0 -75.0 270.0 227.65 231.17 3.52 0.13 1.3 0.02 0.18 Skarn LDUG-221 Step-out 421996.0 1990230.9 947.0 80.0 -59.5 249.0 180.62 185.39 4.77 1.98 25.4 0.79 3.56 Skarn 190.40 195.75 5.35 2.75 24.8 0.95 4.56 Skarn LDUG-222 Step-out 422025.2 1990282.6 878.3 62.0 -70.0 201.0 121.22 124.33 3.11 1.05 1.1 0.04 1.12 Skarn LDUG-223 Step-out 422026.0 1990281.8 878.2 80.0 -71.0 195.0 93.50 101.88 8.38 3.63 23.6 0.88 5.33 Skarn LDUG-224 Step-out 421996.1 1990231.5 947.2 96.0 -69.0 258.0 137.62 142.13 4.51 1.62 13.9 1.18 3.67 Skarn 183.65 188.80 5.15 4.72 3.0 0.09 4.90 Skarn LDUG-225 Step-out 422026.0 1990283.1 878.3 97.0 -56.0 291.0 136.70 141.00 4.30 4.85 4.0 0.04 4.97 Skarn 209.50 212.51 3.01 11.65 1.6 0.15 11.91 Marbles LDUG-226 Step-out 422025.0 1990282.9 878.4 9.0 -48.0 231.0 78.44 82.00 3.56 0.11 1.3 0.02 0.16 Skarn LDUG-227 Step-out 422025.9 1990282.6 878.3 22.0 -61.0 171.0 141.92 146.92 5.00 1.55 5.1 0.25 2.01 Skarn LDUG-228 Step-out 422292.3 1990578.4 741.4 268.0 2.0 111.0 91.46 95.61 4.15 2.15 4.0 0.28 2.64 Skarn LDUG-229 Step-out 421954.2 1990115.0 948.1 119.0 -73.0 291.0 168.71 186.88 18.17 9.20 6.3 0.26 9.70 Skarn 193.70 210.57 16.87 7.63 25.5 0.46 8.68 Skarn 220.00 224.00 4.00 9.47 10.9 0.65 10.65 Skarn 238.00 243.18 5.18 8.71 2.8 0.05 8.82 Skarn LDUG-230 Step-out 422292.3 1990577.9 741.3 255.0 2.0 180.0 128.00 130.74 2.74 1.29 5.1 0.43 2.04 Skarn LDUG-231 Step-out 421953.7 1990114.8 948.2 143.0 -71.0 291.0 171.76 177.00 5.24 1.88 3.7 0.12 2.12 Skarn LDUG-232 Step-out 422292.3 1990577.9 740.6 255.0 -14.0 150.0 80.22 86.58 6.36 0.07 1.3 0.12 0.28 Skarn LDUG-233 Step-out 421953.6 1990114.8 948.1 310.0 -61.0 285.0 178.00 212.89 34.89 9.48 23.6 0.95 11.29 Skarn including 184.27 199.37 15.10 18.03 45.5 1.59 21.13 Skarn LDUG-244 Infill 422189.0 1990257.6 979.3 192.0 -59.0 78.0 39.00 49.00 10.00 4.84 1.0 0.03 4.89 Skarn LDUG-245 Infill 422027.9 1990281.1 878.2 96.0 -29.0 141.0 80.13 84.00 3.87 5.35 1.2 0.00 5.37 Skarn LDUG-246 Infill 422188.5 1990257.1 979.4 204.0 -42.0 93.0 86.30 91.50 5.20 2.67 5.2 0.25 3.14 Skarn LDUG-247 Infill 422028.2 1990285.5 878.9 88.0 -30.0 132.0 126.00 129.86 3.86 26.27 9.1 0.00 26.39 Skarn LDUG-248 Infill 422189.3 1990256.2 980.1 170.0 -23.0 81.0 78.00 81.00 3.00 2.93 0.5 0.00 2.95 Skarn LDUG-251 Infill 422028.4 1990285.1 878.5 105.0 -30.0 138.0 15.00 19.85 4.85 4.80 1.2 0.06 4.92 Hornfels Notes to Table 1) Intersections are core lengths and do not represent true thickness of mineralized zones. 2) Core lengths subject to rounding. 3) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. 4) Gold equivalent (AuEq) grades use the same metal prices ($1,550/oz gold (Au), $20/oz silver (Ag) and $3.50/lb copper (Cu)) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag and 93% Cu) used in the Mineral Resource estimate for ELG Underground (AuEq (gpt) = Au (g/t) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0123 + Cu (%) * 1.6000). Table 4: Drill results from infill and step-out drilling to the north and south targeting mineralization at Sub-Sill Intersection Drill-Hole Program UTM-E UTM-N Elevation Azimuth Dip Length From To Core Length Au Ag Cu AuEq Lithology (m) (m) (m) () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (g/t) SST-284 Step-out 422289.8 1990279.0 695.0 171.0 -10.0 299.7 112.41 115.47 3.06 2.54 1.9 0.01 2.58 GDI 248.06 250.82 2.76 0.92 0.5 0.00 0.93 Skarn SST-295 Step-out 422332.7 1990194.2 683.7 180.0 0.0 192.0 131.00 135.00 4.00 0.08 35.6 2.54 4.59 Skarn 163.00 167.50 4.50 3.40 0.5 0.00 3.41 Skarn/fault SST-296 Step-out 422332.7 1990194.1 682.9 180.0 -26.0 168.0 142.92 146.00 3.08 0.44 0.5 0.00 0.45 Skarn SST-297 Step-out 422332.6 1990194.2 682.2 100.0 -48.0 264.0 154.52 158.67 4.15 3.49 2.5 0.09 3.67 Skarn SST-301 Step-out 422333.6 1990194.3 683.7 153.0 0.0 231.0 165.00 170.82 5.82 0.16 27.3 1.60 3.05 Skarn 187.39 193.50 6.11 5.04 1.5 0.04 5.12 Skarn SST-303 Step-out 422333.6 1990194.2 682.9 153.0 -25.0 202.6 96.86 104.47 7.61 4.39 7.8 0.43 5.17 Skarn SST-304 Step-out 422336.3 1990194.7 683.7 128.0 0.0 240.0 224.69 226.31 1.62 0.24 2.1 0.02 0.30 Skarn SST-306 Step-out 422331.7 1990194.0 682.4 204.0 -46.0 550.0 137.02 141.10 4.08 18.83 3.7 0.05 18.95 Skarn 197.62 202.00 4.38 2.28 3.7 0.00 2.34 Skarn SST-308 Step-out 422331.9 1990193.9 682.4 219.0 -45.0 255.0 26.14 29.64 3.50 0.62 10.6 0.77 1.98 Skarn SST-310 Step-out 422331.9 1990193.9 683.0 204.0 -26.0 183.0 10.31 14.00 3.69 4.95 3.0 0.00 4.99 Skarn Notes to Table 1) Intersections are core lengths and do not represent true thickness of mineralized zones. 2) Core lengths subject to rounding. 3) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. 4) Gold equivalent (AuEq) grades use the same metal prices ($1,550/oz gold (Au), $20/oz silver (Ag) and $3.50/lb copper (Cu)) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag and 93% Cu) used in the Mineral Resource estimate for ELG Underground (AuEq (gpt) = Au (g/t) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0123 + Cu (%) * 1.6000). Table 5: Drill results from infill and step-out drilling targeting underground mineralization at El Limon West Intersection Drill-Hole Program UTM-E UTM-N Elevation Azimuth Dip Length From To Core Length Au Ag Cu AuEq Lithology (m) (m) (m) () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (g/t) LS-129 Brownfield 422126.4 1989207.2 920.7 260.0 -45.0 299.0 198.58 202.19 3.61 0.75 33.3 0.36 1.73 Skarn LS-130 Brownfield 422097.4 1989324.5 934.8 260.0 -53.0 275.0 173.00 179.61 6.61 3.61 7.4 0.42 4.38 Breccia 193.37 199.74 6.37 2.61 18.8 1.16 4.70 Skarn LS-131 Brownfield 422112.6 1989265.7 927.7 260.0 -50.0 323.0 280.20 287.00 6.80 0.29 8.6 0.13 0.60 Breccia LS-132 Brownfield 422108.6 1989386.4 946.0 260.0 -47.0 341.0 158.27 161.57 3.30 3.12 3.1 0.30 3.64 Skarn LS-160 Brownfield 422041.5 1989109.3 868.3 315.0 -55.0 286.5 199.92 204.41 4.49 2.68 11.2 0.09 2.96 Skarn LS-162 Brownfield 422040.5 1989137.5 868.2 325.0 -50.0 357.0 106.43 112.86 6.43 5.57 51.2 0.12 6.40 Fault 253.73 261.04 7.31 3.94 27.9 0.40 4.92 Breccia LS-166 Brownfield 421926.0 1989023.0 807.5 105.0 -70.0 123.0 55.80 61.48 5.68 0.10 0.5 0.00 0.11 Skarn LS-168 Brownfield 422009.1 1988972.7 792.0 285.0 -50.0 210.0 183.33 187.80 4.47 0.02 8.0 0.10 0.27 Skarn LS-169 Brownfield 422039.7 1989135.0 867.9 305.0 -45.0 330.0 85.15 89.56 4.41 6.25 30.3 0.56 7.52 Fault LS-207 Brownfield 421960.8 1989225.5 812.1 315.0 -52.0 168.0 82.45 98.46 16.01 4.92 30.4 0.54 6.16 Skarn LS-209 Brownfield 421962.4 1989227.3 812.3 327.0 -65.0 156.0 117.37 120.62 3.25 1.80 26.6 0.39 2.74 Skarn LS-210 Brownfield 421822.9 1989329.0 819.3 90.0 -43.0 300.0 No skarn Intersected LS-213 Brownfield 421938.3 1989220.1 791.4 224.0 -62.0 100.0 22.00 31.36 9.36 0.21 2.7 0.02 0.27 Skarn LS-215 Brownfield 421938.3 1989220.1 791.4 193.0 -44.0 81.8 35.00 38.90 3.90 1.45 10.4 0.11 1.75 Skarn LS-216 Brownfield 421940.4 1989237.0 792.4 248.0 -64.0 99.0 22.50 32.00 9.50 3.68 30.0 0.26 4.46 Skarn LS-218 Brownfield 421940.1 1989237.1 792.3 296.0 -70.0 120.0 43.68 49.22 5.54 0.45 73.9 1.38 3.56 Skarn 72.36 77.57 5.21 8.10 25.1 0.26 8.83 Skarn LS-226 Brownfield 421937.0 1989239.0 791.7 9.0 -48.0 132.0 77.85 81.00 3.15 1.95 7.9 0.20 2.36 Skarn LS-227 Brownfield 421937.5 1989238.3 791.5 22.0 -61.0 162.0 71.57 76.87 5.30 5.04 3.7 0.12 5.27 Skarn 91.88 96.33 4.45 4.72 13.8 0.39 5.51 Skarn LS-228 Brownfield 421938.5 1989238.6 791.5 33.0 -42.0 120.0 71.00 74.28 3.28 0.58 0.5 0.01 0.60 Skarn VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: ARK) (Arras or the Company) is pleased to announce the results of 135 grab samples taken from Soviet-era exploration trenches at the Karagandy-Ozek project (Karagandy-Ozek or the Project) located within the Companys Elemes exploration licence (Elemes or the Licence) in northeastern Kazakhstan. Highlights include: A total of 135 grab samples, collected by Arras, have returned grades up to 29 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au), 287 g/t silver (Ag) and 238 g/t tellurium (Te), with average grades of 3.5 g/t Au, 15.3 g/t Ag and 18.7 ppm Te. The northern most trenches delineate a zone of high-grade Au mineralization of at least 650 meters that remains entirely open to the NE. The average grade for 63 grab samples collected from the northern zone is 5.6 g/t Au, 20.4 g/t Ag and 29.5 ppm Te. The mineralization is interpreted as a low sulfidation epithermal gold-silver deposit that forms part of a far larger porphyry-epithermal system within the Elemes license that includes the Berezki Central and Berezki East porphyry copper-gold prospects, and Quartzite Gorka breccia-hosted intermediate sulfidation epithermal copper-gold-silver-lead-zinc prospect. Located to the nearby past-producing, high-grade epithermal Au-Ag Aimandai mine. Tim Barry, CEO, commented, We are very pleased with our first pass sampling program of the Elemes licence. Our mapping and sampling program suggests we have a fully intact, and largely unexplored epithermal and porphyry system. It should be noted that the mineralization identified in the Elemes licence is a completely different mineralizing system to the Beskauga deposit, which sits 85 kilometers to the east. We believe we are just scratching the surface of the potential of the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic arc and our team is methodically advancing towards establishing drill targets at some of these new areas. Figure 1. Arras Minerals License Package (Pavlodar, Kazakhstan) A summary of grab samples with over 5.0 g/t gold announced in this news release is outlined in the table below. Table 1. Grab samples with over 5.0 g/t Au from the Karagandy-Ozek prospect. The Karagandy Ozek Project: is located within the 425 square kilometer Elemes mineral exploration license, which was acquired in 2022. Elemes benefits from excellent modern infrastructure and ease of accessibility, being located only 20 kilometers (km) from Arras operational base in the city of Ekibastuz, northeastern Kazakhstan. A paved highway runs through the license, and within 1 km of the Karagandy Ozek project. 1,100 KVA power lines, heavy rail, and the IrtyshKaraganda irrigation canal all lie within a 20 km radius of the project. The past producing high-grade Au-Ag epithermal Aimandai mine is nearby. The gold-silver-tellurium mineralization at Karagandy-Ozek is hosted in zone of quartz veining (individual veins between 0.5 to 1 m width), that display typical low sulphidation textures including crustiform banding, euhedral crystal infill of vein voids, and bladed textures (quartz after calcite) (Figure 2 below). A zone of strong silicification and argillic (kaolinite-illite-quartz) alteration surrounds the quartz veins. Figure 2. Samples from the Karagandy-Ozek project on Elemes license The mineralization is interpreted as a low-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver deposit that forms part of a far larger porphyry-epithermal system within the Elemes license. Nearby is the past-producing Aimandai mine, a high-grade epithermal Au-Ag deposit which according to historical Soviet reports has an average resource grade of 24.6 g/t Au and 34.7 g/t Ag with minor copper, lead and zinc. A high-resolution airborne magnetic survey over the Elemes and 3D inversion of the resulting data demonstrates that Karagandy-Ozek and the aforementioned associated prospects are all located within a 9km x 3.5 km aeromagnetic low feature interpreted to represent magnetite destruction associated with hydrothermal alteration. The airborne survey has significantly improved the Companys understanding of the structural controls of the mineralization and provided several new drill targets within the Elemes license. The Elemes license is located within the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt that also hosts the Companys flagship Beskauga porphyry copper-gold-silver project approximately 80 km to the east, and KAZ Minerals Bozshakol porphyry copper-gold mine (one of the largest copper resources in Kazakhstan) approximately 60 km to the northwest. Figure 3. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras at the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing gold assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Figure 4. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras at the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing silver assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Figure 5. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras in the northern zone of the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing gold assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Note the potential for parallel vein systems to the NW and SE, as indicated by limited historical drilling. Mineralization remains open to the NE. Assay and QAQC Procedures: Samples were bagged and sealed in the field to ensure integrity during transport. Average sample weight was 5 to 6 kilograms. All sample preparation and geochemical analysis of the rock samples were undertaken by ALS Global at its laboratories in Karaganda (Kazakhstan) and Loughrea (Republic of Ireland), respectively. ALS preparation and analytical labs are accredited to ISO 17025:2005 UKAS ref 4028 and have internal Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) programs for monitoring accuracy and precision. ALS Global is entirely independent of the Company. After drying samples were crushed by ALS to >70% passing below 2 mm and split using a riffle splitter. 250 g splits were pulverized to 85 % passing below -75-microns. A 30 g split of the pulp was analyzed for gold content by fire assay with an Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) finish (ALS method: Au-AA25) at ALS Karaganda. A second pulp split was then air freighted to ALS Loughrea and analyzed for 48 elements by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) after four-acid digestion on a 0.25 g aliquot (ALS method: ME-MS61). Samples exceeding 100 g/t silver were re-analyzed using a 4-acid digest ICP-MS ore grade method (ALS method: Ag-OG62). Qualified Person: The scientific and technical disclosure for the Quartzite Gorka Project included in this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved Tim Barry, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Arras Minerals Corp., who is also a Member and Chartered Professional Geologist (MAusIMM CP(Geo)) of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr. Barry has sufficient experience, relevant to the styles of mineralization and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity that he is undertaking, to qualify as a Qualified Person (QP) for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Barry" Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo) Chief Executive Officer and Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687 5800 info@arrasminerals.com Further information can be found on the Companys website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arrasminerals About Arras Minerals Corp. Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group). The Companys shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol ARK. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms measured resources, indicated resources, and inferred resources which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Disclosure of contained ounces in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute reserves by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras management. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, continues, may, variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond managements control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption Risk Factors in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Companys profile on SEDAR on March 30, 2023 and in the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 24, 2023 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8234bbe5-df3a-49a9-816f-68f52dbd6f51 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7739c89c-b50d-46e3-8604-300b70e42379 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a81a7288-43c0-450d-a504-9f9f347d9f9d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f220aa55-8e4d-4cf2-ba7f-46848e88487e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5c0cbaf-0f25-4f83-b5a9-b0c6cec98153 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/abcd74eb-cd25-4bca-9e29-53cccf9e421f TORONTO, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Western Metallica Resources Corp. (TSXV: WMS) (Western Metallica or the Company) is pleased to report that it has finalized a first phase drill program which included four drill holes for a cumulative ~1,500 metres of drilling completing half of the planned two-phase, ~3,000-metre drill program aimed at investigating the mineralization at depth below mine levels, as well as the northern and southern extensions (refer to press release dated May 11, 2023). Results of first phase of drilling include 7.40 metres at 0.6% Cu in NCDDH003, 1.65 metres at 1.7% Cu and 5.95 metres at 0.7% Cu in NCDDH004, among previously reported results from the first two holes, NCDD001 and NCDD002. Moreover, these results prove the on-strike continuity of the mineralization for ~300 metres, thus far, and intersected multiple intervals of significant copper mineralization in massive sulphides. Results of all four holes are meaningful as they equally indicate intersections of copper sulfide mineralization, over multiple intervals, predicting a broader high-grade copper mineralized trend and substantiating the vast historic data which positions Nueva Celti as a highly prolific copper project. The results of the first phase confirmed the presence of the mineralized zones previously reported by the Asturian de Zinc, Glencore drilling program, and predict a high-grade copper mineralized trend. The mineralization is mainly represented by a semi-massive, >50% assemblage of pyrite, chalcopyrite and magnetite and ~2.3% disseminated ~chalcopyrite, defining strata bound-like bodies generally hosted by the mica-schists units. The control on the early-Cambrian mineralization is typical of the Cu-Zn-Pb occurrences on the Northern Central Belt (NCB) of the Ossa Morena geological province, with copper-sulfides mainly coinciding with layers of muscovite and biotite-schists, locally fragmental (meta-volcaniclastics) within an amphibolite unit (meta-volcanics). There remains vast potential for further discovery as the first phase program only investigated the known mineralization ~100 metres below the deepest historical mine level and has also intercepted other mineralized zones closer to surface and at depth, not indicated by previous historic exploration/exploitation (refer to Figure 1). HOLE From m To m Width (m) Cu % Zn % Pb % Ag g/t Au g/t NCDD001 149.97 151.53 1.56 1.9 0.9 0.1 23.0 0.5 165.55 170.42 4.87 1.8 1.1 0.2 18.2 0.6 191.95 196.50 4.55 2.6 - - 10.6 0.5 228.65 235.03 6.38 1.1 0.3 - 7.3 0.3 280.10 289.70 9.60 0.9 0.2 - 6.7 0.3 417.75 420.10 2.35 0.8 0.5 0.2 12.1 0.4 NCDD002 198.35 212.00 13.65 0.4 - - 3.2 - 219.75 245.80 26.05 1.5 1.8 0.4 27.6 0.7 290.65 299.00 8.35 1.0 1.2 0.2 17.1 0.6 NCDD003 186.70 194.10 7.40 0.6 0.2 - 5.7 0.2 NCDD004 180.65 182.30 1.65 1.7 5.1 1.7 30.8 0.5 265.20 269.95 4.75 0.4 - - 1.2 - 295.50 301.45 5.95 0.7 1.1 - 7.2 0.6 307.30 312.05 4.75 0.4 0.1 - 3.1 0.2 Table 1: Significant Results from the first phase of drilling on the Nueva Celti Project Figure 1: Nueva Celti stacked EW (looking North) cross sections containing the holes for the finalized first phase of drilling, including the position of the mine levels also shown. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/39d9dff1-c38c-4a83-acdc-1e81b8547ac7 HOLE Phase Easting Northing Elevation Az DIP Planned Depth (m) Final Depth (m) NCDD001 1 293716 4176850 103.00 265 -55 450 448.80 NCDD002 1 293726 4176956 87.21 265 -50 400 399.50 NCDD003 1 293712 4177064 92.12 265 -50 300 337.20 NCDD004 1 293740 4176821 100.32 265 -45 340 332.10 2 293696 4177103 91 265 -50 300 2 293739 4177029 86 265 -45 315 2 293624 4176628 88 265 -50 200 2 293720 4176899 95 265 -45 325 2 293740 4176821 100 245 -45 340 Total metres 1st phase 1,805 1,517.60 Total metres 2nd phase 1,515 Table 2: Nueva Celti Project Drill Program Schedule Gregory Duras, CEO and Director of Western Metallica Resources commented, "Western Metallicas exploration team are encouraged by the first phase drill program results that imply the continuity of the sulphide trend on strike and at depth and confirm the presence of higher-grade copper mineralized zones within the broader resource envelope, which furthermore includes credits of Zn, Pb, Au and Ag, as well as the potential northern extension delineated by NCDD003. Considering that this is only a modest 100 metres extension to the mine levels, the potential at depth remains unknown and highly prospective given the intervals historically reported, which were, to a certain extent, validated throughout Phase 1 of this drill program. Drill hole NCDD003, sited on the most northern section drilled to date (refer to both Figure 1 and Figure 2), proved that the historical mining ended in correspondence with the Penaflor normal fault system that seems to have lowered a northern block for ~100 metres giving the potential for the mineralization to extend north below the Miocene marlstone and calcarenites. Following this deduction, Western Metallica intends to execute a 30-kilometer ground mag, coupled with 300 gravimetric measurements, programs which are aimed at testing the possible continuity of the mineralization toward north and the possible repetition of the same mineralization style to the east. New Opportunities In parallel to conducting a geophysics program at the Nueva Celti Copper Project, the Company is evaluating other prospective projects for acquisition in new jurisdictions, leveraging the Companys strong cash position during an opportunistic period in the market, and delineating assets of interest that would further strengthen its portfolio of gold and polymetallic projects. Figure 2: Nueva Celti drilling platform locations and extent of the planned geophysical acquisition program https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f542975e-6acd-4026-b60c-3f881d70dc7d Quality Assurance and Quality Control Sample preparation and analyses will be conducted according to standard industry procedures. Drill core samples are crushed, split and pulverized prior to analysis of Gold by fire assay and Atomic Absorption and multi-elements by ICP-AES after four acid digestion. Analytical performance is monitored by means of certified reference materials (CRMs), coarse blanks, coarse and pulp duplicate samples. Samples have been prepared in ALS Chemex preparation lab in Seville, Spain and analyses have been completed in ALS Rosia Montana, Alba, Romania (Fire Assays) and LAS Loughrea, Galway, Ireland (ICP). Qualified Person The technical and scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Giovanni Funaioli, Eur.Geol., Vice President Exploration of Western Metallica, who is a Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Giovanni Funaioli is an employee of the Company and is not considered independent under NI 43-101. About Western Metallica Resources Corp. Western Metallica is a Ontario company with its head office in Toronto, Ontario, trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) under symbol WMS. Western Metallica is in the business of mineral resource exploration and development, its principal asset is its 100% owned Nueva Celti Copper Property in the Ossa Morena belt in Andalusia, Spain. Western Metallica also holds interests in three other Spanish gold projects in the Navelgas Gold Belt in Asturias, Spain (Penedela, Valledor and Sierra Alta). Further information of the Company can be found at: www.westernmetallica.com For more information please contact: Western Metallica Resources Corp. Gregory Duras Chief Executive Officer Email: gduras@westernmetallica.com Investor Relations Email: info@westernmetallica.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release contains statements that constitute forward-statements. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the planned drill program and the development of the Project and other mining projects and prospects thereof. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. New York, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market (By Disease, Test Types, Region), Key Company Profiles, Strategy, Financial Insights, Recent Developments - Forecast to 2030" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06474371/?utm_source=GNW There are almost 80 types of autoimmune diseases prevailing worldwide of which multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis are most common. As per the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, around 50 million Americans currently suffer from autoimmune related disorders. Moreover, the numbers are expected to escalate over the forecast period. The tests used to diagnose the autoimmune disease include auto antibody test, antinuclear antibody test, complete blood count, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Rising prevalence of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimotos thyroiditis, and presence of favorable government regulations will render significant impact on the autoimmune disease diagnostics market growth. Recent Developments In June 2023, AstraZeneca signed an agreement with Quell Therapeutics potentially worth more than US$ 2 billion to develop cell therapies that could cure autoimmune diseases. In August 2022, KSL Beutner Laboratories (Beutner) launched a blood test to detect an antigen linked with the autoimmune blistering disease mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), which often causes painful lesions in the oral cavity. In June 2022, Theradiag announced an agreement with Quotient Limited under which the two companies will partner to advance autoimmune diagnostics by leveraging Quotients MosaiQ platform. In May 2022, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced the availability of the Phadia 2500+ Instrument in the U.S. for autoimmune testing. By Disease Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market - Key Takeaway On the basis of disease, Localized autoimmune disease segment accounted for largest market share in 2022 and is likely to dominate the market over the forecast timeframe. Multiple sclerosis held highest share of the global localized autoimmune disease diagnostics market, followed by Inflammatory bowel disease segment. Systemic autoimmune disease diagnostics segment will witness robust growth over the forecast timeframe. Rheumatoid Arthritis accounted for approx. 50% share of the global systemic autoimmune disease diagnostics market in 2022, followed by Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). By Tests Type Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market - Key Takeaway Based on test types, Autoantibody test captured highest share of the overall autoimmune disease diagnostics market in 2022, followed by the antinuclear antibodies (ANA) test. The complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered blood tests. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Tests captured around 6% - 8% share of the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market in 2022 followed by C -reactive protein test. Urinalysis Tests and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Tests are competing closely with each other to grab maximum share of the pie. By Region Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market - Key Takeaway North America dominates the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market and is likely to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. Europe is the second largest region for autoimmune disease diagnostics market. It is estimated that the prevalence rate of multiple sclerosis in Europe is 83 out of 100,000. Asia-Pacific autoimmune disease diagnostics market is expected to grow at the fastest pace over the forecast period. The Middle East & Africa and Latin America autoimmune disease diagnostics market is driven by the rising prevalence of autoimmune diseases and growing demand for better and accurate diagnostic procedures. The research report titled Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market (By Disease, Test Types, Region), Key Company Profiles, Strategy, Financial Insights, Recent Developments - Forecast to 2030 provides a comprehensive analysis of the Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostic Market. This 172 Page report with 68 Figures and 8 Tables has been analyzed from 8 View Points: 1) Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market and Forecast (2015 - 2030) 2) Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market Share and Forecast (2015 - 2030) 3) By Disease - Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market and Forecast (2015 - 2030) 4) By Test Type - Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market and Forecast (2015 - 2030) 5) By Region - Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market and Forecast (2015 - 2030) 6) Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market - Company Profiles 7) Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market - Recent Developments 8) Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market - Growth Drivers & Challenges By Disease - Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market and Forecast Systemic Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market Rheumatoid Arthritis Ankylosing Spondylitis Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Others Systemic Autoimmune Disease Localized Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market Inflammatory Bowel Disease Multiple Sclerosis Type 1 Diabetes Hashimotos Thyroiditis Others Localized Autoimmune Disease By Test Type - Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market and Forecast Autoantibody Tests Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Tests Complete Blood Count Tests Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Tests C- Reactive Protein (CRP) Tests Urinalysis Tests Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Tests Others Tests By Region - Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market and Forecast 1. North America 2. Europe 3. Asia Pacific 4. Latin America 5. Middle East & Africa Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market - Key Company Profiles, Strategy, Recent Developments, Financial Insights 1. Abbott Laboratories 2. Siemens Healthineers 3. Roche Diagnostics 4. bioMerieux SA 5. EUROIMMUN AG 6. Bio-Rad Laboratories 7. Quest Diagnostics 8. Thermo Fischer Scientific Inc. Data Source The analyst employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. This report is built by using data and information sourced from Proprietary Information Database, Primary and Secondary Research Methodologies, and In house analysis dedicated team of qualified professionals with deep industry experience and expertise. Research Methodologies Primary Research Methodologies: Questionnaires, Surveys, Interviews with Individuals, Small Groups, Telephonic Interview, etc. Secondary Research Methodologies: Printable and Non-printable sources, Newspaper, Magazine and Journal Content, Government and NGO Statistics, white Papers, Information on the Web, Information from Agencies Such as Industry Bodies, Companies Annual Report, Government Agencies, Libraries and Local Councils and a large number of Paid Databases. Companies Mentioned 1. Abbott Laboratories 2. Siemens Healthineers 3. Roche Diagnostics 4. bioMerieux SA 5. EUROIMMUN AG 6. Bio-Rad Laboratories 7. Quest Diagnostics 8. Thermo Fischer Scientific Inc. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06474371/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ TORONTO, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQB: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) (Lithium Ionic or the Company) reports assay results from its 100%-owned Bandeira property, located within the lithium-rich Aracuai district in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. These results form part of an ongoing 50,000 metre expansion and definition drilling program for H2 2023 targeting the Bandeira and Outro Lado (Galvani property) lithium deposits, as well as other prospective regional targets, including Salinas and Itira. On June 27, 2023, the Company announced a maiden National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 7.57 million tonnes (Mt) grading 1.40% lithium oxide (Li2O) of Measured and Indicated (M&I) and 11.86Mt grading 1.44% Li2O of Inferred resources. The holes reported from Bandeira today have improved drill spacing and established continuity of mineralization between previously drilled holes, which is required to upgrade the mineral resource estimate from Inferred to M&I, and ultimately to mineral Reserve estimate in the future. Currently, approximately 39% of the MRE is classified in the M&I categories. Bandeira Drill Intercept Highlights 1.69% Li2O over 7.79m (hole ITDD-23-109) (hole ITDD-23-109) 1.32% Li2O over 9.15m (hole ITDD-23-105) (hole ITDD-23-105) 1.39% Li2O over 8.41m (hole ITDD-23-119) (hole ITDD-23-119) 1.74% Li2O over 6.39m (hole ITDD-23-112) (hole ITDD-23-112) 1.55% Li2O over 7.01m (hole ITDD-23-102) (hole ITDD-23-102) 1.86% Li2O over 5.70m (hole ITDD-23-120) Blake Hylands, P.Geo., Chief Executive Officer of Lithium Ionic, commented, We continue to see strong and consistent results from Bandeira. Eight of the 13 drills on our properties are at Bandeira, further defining the deposit and improving drill spacing to establish a mineral Reserve estimate for the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) targeted for completion by the end of 2023. We are drilling approximately 7,000 metres per month in the region and look forward to sharing results from other regional targets in the near-term. Bandeira is located approximately 500 metres south of Companhia Brasileira de Litios (CBL) Cachoeira lithium mine, and approximately 700 metres north of Sigma Lithium Corp.s large Barreiro lithium deposit (see Figure 1). The Company is currently the second largest mineral rights holder in the region, controlling 14,182 hectares in an emerging hard rock lithium-producing district coined Brazils Lithium Valley. Since April 2022, the Company has completed 53,000 meters of drilling with 314 holes mostly at the Bandeira and Outro Lado deposits, and more recently at the Salinas property. Figure 1: Bandeira Drill Highlights, Section Locations & Nearby Lithium Mines/Deposits View Figure 1 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/190dae6c-3f8d-4704-85fb-13d4b8a1dff2 Table 1: Bandeira Drill Results Hole ID Az Dip From To Metres Li2O (%) ITDD-23-098 150 -50 62.59 67.59 5.00 1.64 and 194.04 196.69 2.65 1.02 ITDD-23-102 150 -76 52.60 55.60 3.00 1.29 and 226.35 233.36 7.01 1.55 ITDD-23-103 150 -50 197.00 200.00 3.00 1.33 ITDD-23-104 0 -90 55.89 60.33 4.44 0.79 ITDD-23-105 150 -86 97.01 99.52 2.51 1.47 and 110.73 116.40 5.67 1.49 and 220.44 229.59 9.15 1.32 and 370.38 375.38 5.00 1.24 ITDD-23-106 150 -50 133.08 135.23 2.15 0.95 ITDD-23-107 150 -53 197.74 199.94 2.20 1.37 and 209.54 214.49 4.95 1.51 ITDD-23-108 0 -90 75.26 81.26 6.00 1.59 and 86.52 88.84 2.32 1.51 ITDD-23-109 150 -50 120.09 127.08 6.99 1.28 and 247.87 255.66 7.79 1.69 ITDD-23-110 150 -50 58.58 62.84 4.26 2.15 ITDD-23-111 150 -50 27.80 34.40 6.60 1.51 ITDD-23-112 150 -74 124.79 131.18 6.39 1.74 and 142.43 144.36 1.93 1.20 ITDD-23-113 150 -72 97.33 99.89 2.56 1.75 ITDD-23-114 0 -90 71.78 78.15 6.37 0.96 ITDD-23-115 150 -50 34.08 41.00 6.92 1.26 ITDD-23-116 150 -72 112.82 117.36 4.54 2.18 ITDD-23-117 150 -67 166.63 169.18 2.55 0.74 ITDD-23-118 150 -50 161.16 164.07 2.91 1.12 ITDD-23-119 150 -73 124.13 132.54 8.41 1.39 ITDD-23-120 150 -50 109.66 115.92 6.26 1.24 and 253.93 259.63 5.70 1.86 About Lithium Ionic Corp. Lithium Ionic is a Canadian mining company exploring and developing its lithium properties in Brazil. Its flagship Itinga and Salinas projects cover 14,182 hectares in the northeastern part of Minas Gerais state, a mining-friendly jurisdiction that is quickly emerging as a world-class hard-rock lithium district. The Itinga Project is situated in the same region as CBLs Cachoeira lithium mine, which has produced lithium for +30 years, as well as Sigma Lithium Corp.s Grota do Cirilo project, which hosts the largest hard-rock lithium deposit in the Americas. Quality Assurance and Control During the drill program, assay samples were taken from NQ core and sawed in half. One-half was sent for assaying at SGS Laboratory, a certified independent commercial laboratory, and the other half was retained for results, cross checks, and future reference. A strict QA/QC program was applied to all samples. Every sample was processed with Drying, crushing from 75% to 3 mm, homogenization, quartering in Jones, spraying 250 to 300 g of sample in steel mill 95% to 150. SGS laboratory carried out multi-element analysis for ICP90A analysis. Qualified Persons The technical information in this news release has been prepared by Carlos Costa, Vice President Exploration of Lithium Ionic and Blake Hylands, CEO and director of Lithium Ionic, and both are qualified persons as defined in NI 43-101. Investor and Media Inquiries: +1 647.316.2500 info@lithiumionic.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-statements. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the prospectivity of the Companys mineral properties, the Companys ability to produce a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource or mineral reserve estimate and/or a DFS, the mineralization and development of the Companys mineral properties, the Companys exploration program and other mining projects and prospects thereof. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Information and links in this press release relating to other mineral resource companies are from their sources believed to be reliable, but that have not been independently verified by the Company. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. New York, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "In-Circuit Test Market by Type, Portability, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05863934/?utm_source=GNW Also, smart medical devices used in the medical sector requires test & measurement process with high accuracy, which leads to an increase in the demand for in-circuit test. Analog In-Circuit Test: The largest segment of the in-circuit test market, by type Based on type, the in-circuit test market has been split into two types: analog in-circuit test and mixed in-circuit test.The analog in-circuit test segment is expected to be the largest segment during the forecast period. Analog in-circuit testers account for a greater share of the total in-circuit test market due to the ease of use and the accurate measurement of multiple parameters.The growth in the analog in-circuit test market is attributed to the low cost and the wide area of its application. China is the major consumer electronics industry in terms of production and deployment, thus there is significant demand of analog in-circuit test. Benchtop segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment during forecast period based on portability By portability, the in-circuit test market has been segmented into compact and benchtop.The benchtop segment is expected to lead the in-circuit test market during the forecast period owing to increasing demand for compact printed circuit boards (PCBs) for smart phones, TVs, and other home appliances. The benchtop in-circuit testers are used in applications such as automotive electronics, industrial electronics, consumer, military, and communication. The growth in the benchtop segment can be attributed to the increased demand for advanced consumer electronics. By application, the consumer electronics segment is expected to be the largest segment during the forecast period. Based on application, the in-circuit test market is segmented into consumer electronics, aerospace, defense, and government services, medical equipment manufacturing, automotive, and energy sector.The Medical equipment segment is expected to be the second largest segment the in-circuit test market during the forecast period owing to the rapid technological advancements in home-use devices such as glucose monitors, insulin delivery devices, nebulizers, and oxygen concentrators. The ability of healthcare professionals to support home-based patients through the use of remote communication technologies contributes to the choice for home and self-care. These trends are projected to boost the medical equipment and testing markets in the future. North America is expected to be the second-largest region in the in-circuit test market North America is expected to be the second-largest in-circuit test market during the forecast period.The market in this region is expected to be driven by the demand from the wireless communications and aerospace & defense sectors. In North America, it is projected that in circuit test equipment will be widely used and implemented in wireless communication and network applications. Also, because of the rise of the electrical sector, which will increase sales of in circuit test devices, the North American area controls the largest share of the total in circuit test market. Breakdown of Primaries: In-depth interviews have been conducted with various key industry participants, subject-matter experts, C-level executives of key market players, and industry consultants, among other experts, to obtain and verify critical qualitative and quantitative information and assess future market prospects. The distribution of primary interviews is as follows: By Company Type: Tier 1- 55%, Tier 2- 25%, and Tier 3- 20% By Designation: C-Level- 35%, Director Levels- 30%, and Others- 35% By Region: Europe- 35%, North America- 25%, Asia-Pacific - 25 %, South America 10%, Middle East & Africa 5%. Note: Others include sales managers, engineers, and regional managers. Note: The tiers of the companies are defined on the basis of their total revenues as of 2022. Tier 1: > USD 1 billion, Tier 2: From USD 500 million to USD 1 billion, and Tier 3: < USD 500 million The in-circuit test market is dominated by a few major players that have a wide regional presence. The leading players in the in-circuit test market are Teradyne Inc. (US), Test Research Inc. (TRI) (Taiwan), Keysight Technologies (US), Hioki E.E Corporation (Japan), Kyoritsu Electric Corporation (Japan) and SPEA S.p.A. (Italy). The major strategy adopted by the players includes new product launches, contracts & agreements and, investments & expansions. Research Coverage: The report defines, describes, and forecasts the global in-circuit test market by type, portability, application, and region.It also offers a detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market. The report comprehensively reviews the major market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.It also covers various important aspects of the market. These include an analysis of the competitive landscape, market dynamics, market estimates in terms of value, and future trends in the in-circuit test market. Key Benefits of Buying the Report Increasing investments in the modernization of printed circuit boards projects owing to increasing demand for in circuit test is the main factor driving the in-circuit test market. Moreover, rising 5G technology and increasing adoption of cloud computing and IoT devices are expected to create lucrative opportunities for the players operating in the in-circuit test market. Testing of high-speed interfaces and reducing size of PCB are major challenges for the players, especially for emerging players, operating in the in-circuit test market. Product Development/ Innovation: The in-circuit test market is witnessing significant product development and innovation, driven by the growing demand for consumer electronics. Companies are investing in developing advanced in-circuit tests such as machine learning technology in in-circuit test systems. Machine Learning (ML) has made significant contributions to test pattern generation in the field of in-circuit testing. These technologies leverage the power of data analysis and intelligent algorithms to optimize test patterns, improve test coverage, and reduce test time. Market Development: Test data analytics and visualization are becoming increasingly important in the in-circuit test. Advancements in test data analytics and visualization techniques have transformed the interpretation and utilization of test results. These advancements enable comprehensive analysis of large datasets, identification of trends, detection of anomalies, and provision of actionable insights to improve the overall testing process. Market Diversification: Test Research, Inc. (Taiwan) introduced TR8100H SII high-density pin count In-Circuit Tester (ICT) with vacuum fixture for full coverage testing. The TR8100H SII is the latest version of the high-performance board test system designed for low-voltage testing and complex PCBAs. Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and service offerings of leading players, like include Teradyne Inc. (US), Test Research Inc. (TRI) (Taiwan), Keysight Technologies (US), Hioki E.E Corporation (Japan), Kyoritsu Electric Corporation (Japan), and SPEA S.p.A. (Italy) among others in the in-circuit test market. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05863934/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ New York, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Military Sensors Market Report 2023-2033" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06474200/?utm_source=GNW The Military Sensors Market Report 2023-2033: This report will prove invaluable to leading firms striving for new revenue pockets if they wish to better understand the industry and its underlying dynamics. It will be useful for companies that would like to expand into different industries or to expand their existing operations in a new region. Growing Military Spending on Sensor Technology The increasing importance of sensor technology in modern warfare has led to a growing trend of military spending on this area. Sensors are essential for collecting information about the environment, such as temperature, humidity, light, and sound, and detecting the presence of objects or individuals in the vicinity. The development and deployment of sensors for military purposes have become more important in recent years due to the emergence of asymmetric warfare, where small, mobile, and agile units operate in complex environments. In such scenarios, sensors can provide real-time situational awareness, enabling commanders to make informed decisions. In addition, the rapid advancement of sensor technology, such as the miniaturization of sensors and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), has led to new capabilities, such as autonomous vehicles, drones, and robots. These technologies can provide new ways of gathering intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and can even carry out missions independently, reducing the risk to human personnel. Stringent Regulations Related to Military Sensor Systems Stringent regulations related to military sensor systems are essential for several reasons. First and foremost, military sensor systems are used to collect critical intelligence and provide situational awareness in combat scenarios. Therefore, any malfunction or error in the system could result in serious consequences, including loss of life or damage to military assets. Stringent regulations can help ensure that these systems meet rigorous standards of quality, reliability, and performance. Secondly, military sensor systems often involve advanced technologies and sensitive data, including classified information. Unauthorized access or misuse of this information could compromise national security and put military personnel at risk. Regulations can help ensure that these systems are designed with appropriate security measures and that access to them is restricted only to authorized personnel. What Questions Should You Ask before Buying a Market Research Report? How is the military sensors market evolving? What is driving and restraining the military sensors market? How will each military sensors submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2033? How will the market shares for each military sensors submarket develops from 2023 to 2033? What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2023 to 2033? Will leading military sensors markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others? How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2033 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2033? Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period? What are the military sensors projects for these leading companies? How will the industry evolve during the period between 2023 and 2033? What are the implications of military sensors projects taking place now and over the next 10 years? Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the military sensors market? Where is the military sensors market heading and how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market? You need to discover how this will impact the military sensors market today, and over the next 10 years: Our 328-page report provides 130 tables and 203 charts/graphs exclusively to you. The report highlights key lucrative areas in the industry so you can target them NOW. It contains in-depth analysis of global, regional and national sales and growth. It highlights for you the key successful trends, changes and revenue projections made by your competitors. This report tells you TODAY how the military sensors market will develop in the next 10 years, and in line with the variations in COVID-19 economic recession and bounce. This market is more critical now than at any point over the last 10 years. Forecasts to 2033 and other analyses reveal commercial prospects In addition to revenue forecasting to 2033, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares. You will find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments. Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints, and challenges), porters five forces analysis, PEST analysis, and recent developments. Segments Covered in the Report Type Outlook Hardware Software Platform Outlook Airborne and Space Naval Land Application Outlook Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance [ISR] Communication and Navigation Combat System Electronic Warfare Target Recognition System Command and Control Weapon and Fire Control System Others Sensor Type Outlook Imaging Sensors Magnetic Sensors Pressure Sensors Temperature Sensors Torque Sensors Speed-Sensors Position Sensors Proximity Sensors Others In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for five regional and 19 leading national markets: North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany France Italy Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Australia South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Colombia Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia Iran Israel Qatar Algeria Rest of MEA The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Military Sensors Market, 2023 to 2033, with a focus on this segment of these companies operations. Leading companies and the potential for market growth Aerosonic, LLC Amphenol Corporation BAE Systems Crane Aerospace and Electronics General Electric Company Honeywell International KONGSBERG Lockheed Martin Corporation Lucius and Baer GmbH Microflown AVISA Raytheon Technologies Corporation Rock West Solutions Stellar Technology TE Connectivity Thales Ultra VectorNav Viooa Imaging Technology Overall world revenue for Military Sensors Market, 2023 to 2033 in terms of value the market will surpass US$11.80 billion in 2022, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2033. Our work identifies which organisations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead. How will the Military Sensors Market, 2023 to 2033 Market report help you? In summary, our 320+ page report provides you with the following knowledge: Revenue forecasts to 2033 for Military Sensors Market, 2023 to 2033 Market, with forecasts for type, application, sensor type, platform, and each forecast at a global, and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues. Revenue forecasts to 2033 for five regional and 19 key national markets See forecasts for the Military Sensors Market, 2023 to 2033 market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. Also, market size estimation and forecast is provided for US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Colombia, Italy, France, China, India, Japan, and Russia among other prominent economies. Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles of 18 major companies involved in the Military Sensors Market. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06474200/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ New York, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Electric Aircraft Market Report 2023-2033" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06474198/?utm_source=GNW The Electric Aircraft Market Report 2023-2033: This report will prove invaluable to leading firms striving for new revenue pockets if they wish to better understand the industry and its underlying dynamics. It will be useful for companies that would like to expand into different industries or to expand their existing operations in a new region. Green Aviation: Reducing Emissions for a Greener Future Environmental sustainability is a significant driving factor for the adoption of electric aircraft. Electric propulsion systems offer the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional combustion engines. By utilizing electric motors powered by batteries or fuel cells, electric aircraft produce zero direct emissions during flight. This shift towards cleaner aviation aligns with global efforts to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable transportation. The tagline "Green Aviation: Reducing Emissions for a Greener Future" captures the essence of this driving factor, highlighting the positive environmental impact of electric aircraft. Driving Synergies between Aviation and Electric Vehicle Technologies The electric aircraft industry benefits from the technological synergies between aviation and electric vehicle technologies. The advancements made in electric vehicle battery technologies, charging infrastructure, and power management systems can be leveraged and adapted for electric aircraft. Similarly, innovations in aviation propulsion systems can contribute to advancements in electric vehicle technologies. This cross-pollination of ideas and technologies fosters rapid progress in both industries. The tagline "Electric Integration: Driving Synergies between Aviation and Electric Vehicle Technologies" reflects the collaborative nature of these technological advancements. What Questions Should You Ask before Buying a Market Research Report? How is the electric aircraft market evolving? What is driving and restraining the electric aircraft market? How will each electric aircraft submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2033? How will the market shares for each electric aircraft submarket develop from 2023 to 2033? What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2023 to 2033? Will leading electric aircraft markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others? How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2033 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2033? Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period? What are the electric aircraft projects for these leading companies? How will the industry evolve during the period between 2023 and 2033? What are the implications of electric aircraft projects taking place now and over the next 10 years? Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the electric aircraft market? Where is the electric aircraft market heading and how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market? What are the best investment options for new product and service lines? What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path and C-suite? You need to discover how this will impact the electric aircraft market today, and over the next 10 years: Our 383-page report provides 131 tables and 169 charts/graphs exclusively to you. The report highlights key lucrative areas in the industry so you can target them NOW. It contains in-depth analysis of global, regional and national sales and growth. It highlights for you the key successful trends, changes and revenue projections made by your competitors. This report tells you TODAY how the electric aircraft market will develop in the next 10 years, and in line with the variations in COVID-19 economic recession and bounce. This market is more critical now than at any point over the last 10 years. Forecasts to 2033 and other analyses reveal commercial prospects In addition to revenue forecasting to 2033, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares. You will find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments. Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising electric aircraft prices and recent developments. This report includes data analysis and invaluable insight into how COVID-19 will affect the industry and your company. Four COVID-19 recovery patterns and their impact, namely, V, L, W and U. Segments Covered in the Report Market Segment by Range Short/Medium-Range Electric Aircraft Long-Range Electric Aircraft Market Segment by Electric Propulsion Turbo-Electric Propulsion Hybrid Electric Propulsion All Electric Propulsion Market Segment by Aircraft Type Fixed-Wing Electric Aircraft Rotary-Wing Electric Aircraft Hybrid Electric Aircraft Other Aircraft Type Market Segment by Battery Technology Lithium-Ion Batteries Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Solid-State Batteries Lithium-Air Batteries Other Battery Technology Market Segment by Application Commercial Electric Aircraft Cargo/Transportation Electric Aircraft Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Electric Aircraft Military Electric Aircraft Personal/Private Electric Aircraft Other Applications In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for four regional and 20 leading national markets: North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany Russia United Kingdom France Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Australia South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East and Africa The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Electric Aircraft Market, 2023 to 2033, with a focus on this segment of these companies operations. Leading companies and the potential for market growth Aeromobil Airbus SE Ampaire Bye Aerospace Electroflight Eviation Aircraft Harbour Air Seaplanes Joby Aviation Lilium N.V MagniX Pipistrel The Boeing Company Voltaero Wright Electric, Inc. Zunum Aero Overall world revenue for electric aircraft market, 2023 to 2033 in terms of value the market will surpass US$9.5 billion in 2023, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2033. Our work identifies which organizations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead. How will the Electric Aircraft Market, 2023 to 2033 report help you? In summary, our 380+ page report provides you with the following knowledge: Revenue forecasts to 2033 for Electric Aircraft Market, 2023 to 2033 Market, with forecasts for range, electric propulsion, aircraft type, battery technology, and application, each forecast at a global and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues. Revenue forecasts to 2033 for four regional and 20 key national markets See forecasts for the Electric Aircraft Market, 2023 to 2033 market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. Also forecasted is the market in the US, Canada, Brazil, Germany, France, UK, Italy, China, India, Japan, and Australia among other prominent economies. Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles for 15 of the major companies involved in the Electric Aircraft Market, 2023 to 2033. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06474198/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ edgeCore, the First Commercially Proven Data Mesh Platform, Used to Create a Composite Digital Twin of the VAs Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) ARLINGTON, Va., July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edge Technologies, Inc., the operating company of Edge Total Intelligence Inc. (edgeTI) (TSXV: CTRL, OTCQB: UNFYF, FSE: Q5i), wins a multi-year, 5 million dollar USD contract in support of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) CMOP through a contract to Four Points Technology through NASAs governmentwide acquisition contract Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement, or SEWP. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below: The National CMOP and Regional CMOPs require mission critical metrics and control of workflows to deliver more than 500,000 prescriptions safely and efficiently to Veterans daily. We are honored to continue to serve our Veterans by delivering real-time situational awareness and equipping VA pharmacy leaders to accomplish more efficient operations and decision-making capabilities, said Jim Barrett, CEO of EdgeTI. As a real-time, data-mesh platform, Edge TI edgeCore platform consolidates data, enabling centralized control over several aging website portals that interactively connect all other tools used in the VA Enterprise Cloud. As a result, edgeCore creates a complete interactive view of CMOP business workflow, including the ability to stop/start services and navigate level 1, 2, & 3 monitoring system tools in context to accomplish the mission most effectively. As part of the award, the VA performed market research that determined no other product could address the unique CMOP requirements: No other software products consolidate multiple monitoring tools and dashboards into one centralized overview like edgeCore. No other vendor has the data rights to access, provides the required automatic upgrade of the existing edgeTI visualization solutions, or meets the Governments requirements for unifying visualization layer, virtual data federation, data integration and robotic process automation features like edgeCore. The edgeCore software does not require data to be moved or copied to a separate repository, instead, edgeCore uses data in its native location (virtual data federation) -- which is a VA requirement due to security issues related to copying sensitive data, the cost of data storage, and the labor associated with maintaining the data storage. Related training and lost time to learn a new product would take a minimum of two (2) years to accomplish, resulting in an estimated cost of at least $6,000,000.00 USD. About edgeTI edgeTI helps customers sustain situational awareness and accelerate action with its real-time digital operations software, edgeCore that unites multiple software applicates and data sources into one immersive experience. Global enterprises, service providers, and governments are more profitable when insight and action are united to deliver fluid journeys via the platform's low-code development capability and composable operations. With edgeCore, customers improve their margins and agility by rapidly transforming siloed systems and data across continuously evolving situations in business, technology, and cross-domain operations helping them achieve the impossible. Website: https://edgeti.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/edgeti YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/edgetechnologies Twitter: www.twitter.com/edge_suite For further Information contact: Nick Brigman Phone: 888-771-3343 Email: ir@edgeti.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information and Statements Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements or information for the purposes of applicable Canadian and US securities law. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the edgeTI, including but not limited to, changes in U.S. Federal Budget, business, economic and capital market conditions. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the edgeTI will operate in the future, including the demand for its products, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the continued availability of capital and financing, the impact of viruses and diseases on the edgeTI's ability to operate, competition and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the edgeTI disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. EDISON, N.J., July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zerify Inc., (OTC PINK: ZRFY), the 22-year-old cybersecurity company focused on Secure Video Conferencing & Endpoint Security announced today that Tennessee-based 323Link has integrated Zerifys Meet & Defender into their industry leading OneTouch Multi-Video Platform, creating a new secure standard for the audio-visual world. When it comes to meeting rooms, our OneTouch platform is in a league of its own, says Don Cottam, CEO of 323link. There isnt another A/V room solution on the market with advanced meeting room features like OneTouch i.e., you can connect over your favorite video platforms, such as Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and many more. Our OneTouch interface keeps users out of windows and allows them to join meetings seamlessly by just clicking the join button, or allows the system to launch calls automatically. By integrating Zerify Defender into our OneTouch meeting platform, your conferences and meetings are locked down from malware designed specifically to steal audio & video streams. This is the first time an A/V company put security first, says Cottam. Additionally, we will also be integrating Zerify Meets secure video conferencing service into our OneTouch platform giving users the option of the industrys only video conferencing platform that authenticates every participant for every meeting. Our OneTouch is available in every one of our room bundles in two different forms: OneTouch Core and OneTouch Think. Small-scale rooms are typically powered by a OneTouch Core computer, whereas larger, more complex configurations are powered by a OneTouch Think computer. This flexibility allows OneTouch to run optimally in any room solution, and for our software to develop in time with technology, says Cottam. OneTouch fully integrates with both Office 365 and Google Calendar, and allows users to connect to calls quickly and avoid the loss of time while starting up a meeting. All of the meetings booked for the room show up in the main interface with the application icon. OneTouch is also AI friendly and was programmed with artificial intelligence in mind, and works with all the up-and-coming AI programs, such as Chat GPT, Bard, and many others. The integration between Zerify and 323link's OneTouch brings about a remarkable partnership, elevating the standards of secure collaboration and audio-visual systems, says Mark L Kay, CEO of Zerify. Together, our two companies are developing three comprehensive hardware and software bundles, offering a range of solutions that cater to diverse needs, from a secure presentation space to a fully equipped training space, large conference room, or even a courtroom setting. By harnessing the power of 323link OneTouch, Zerify users will be able to enjoy a high-end meeting experience at a significantly reduced cost, all while ensuring the utmost security of the interconnected systems at the hardware level. As part of their shared vision for the future, Zerify and 323link are actively exploring the integration of AI-powered gatekeepers within the audio-visual rooms. These gatekeepers will regulate AI interactions, offering enhanced control over data access and usage. This innovative approach not only fortifies security but also paves the way for breakthrough advancements in industries like agriculture and healthcare. "If we plan to use AI tools in conference rooms, classrooms, or at our desks, we need to be able to regulate, control, and report its behavior with a proper set of controls, much like the traditional video conference gatekeepers of the past. We call this an AI Gatekeeper. We need to make AI safe at the endpoint," says Don Cottam, 323link, Inc. Moreover, the turnkey audio-visual rooms resulting from this partnership boast the ability to communicate with users. This personalized and intuitive interaction, reminiscent of conversing with a knowledgeable concierge, further enhances the overall meeting experience. Zerify and 323link extend their commitment to government entities, offering secure and cost-effective solutions for classrooms, courtrooms, and conference rooms. These environments adhere to NIST compliance standards, ensuring the highest levels of security, and inspiring confidence and trust among users. "We believe that one of the biggest security holes in most customers' networks is the room solution for video calling or AV systems in local conference rooms, classrooms, or meeting spaces. Many devices have their own operating systems and receive IP addresses. This is a significant problem we plan to fix, and we have been working on OneTouch Turnkey Rooms for 5 years now, set for release this year," explains Don Cottam, 323link, Inc. Excitement abounds as Zerify and 323link envision the immense potential of their collaboration, combining cyber security expertise with cutting-edge audio-visual solutions. Together, they aim to redefine the audio-visual landscape, empowering organizations to conduct secure and seamless meetings across various platforms. About 323link: 323Link is a Tennessee-based company located just outside of Nashville, we are a renowned provider of audio-visual solutions, offering a wide range of products and services to meet the diverse needs of businesses, educational institutions, and government organizations. With extensive industry experience and a passion for innovation, 323link stands at the forefront of audio and video collaboration. The company specializes in creating advanced technology solutions that deliver a simple user experience, employing full automations to make the experience seamless. OneTouch Audio Visual Systems are specifically designed for AI, VR, and AR integrations. About Zerify: Zerify Inc. (OTC PINK: ZRFY), formerly StrikeForce Technologies, is an Edison, New Jersey-based company with over two decades of experience in cybersecurity solutions. The company is focused on Secure Video Conferencing & Endpoint Gap Security. Its technologies help to prevent cyber theft and data security breaches for consumers, corporations and government agencies through powerful multi-factor out-of-band authentication and keystroke encryption. The technology also protects cameras, microphones and speakers, keeping computers and confidential data secure even when one is offline and not on a video conference. No other video conferencing service on the market, such as Zoom, Webex, LogMeIn, MS Teams or BlueJeans, offers this level of cybersecurity protections. 323link Contact: Don Cottam doncottam@323link.com (615) 794-8777 Zerify Contact: Mark L. Kay marklkay@zerify.com (732) 661-9641 Davenport, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Davenport, Iowa - La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries & Decor of Davenport, IA, is offering local homeowners free high-quality interior design services to go along with their furniture purchases. The independently owned and operated Davenport La-Z-Boy location brings the vast inventory and premium build quality that La-Z-Boy is known for nationally to Quad Cities area homeowners. The companys furniture offerings include everything that customers need to create a beautiful design for their living room, bedroom, kitchen, and more, within their budget and with world-class results. For customers who need help picking the right options for their decor can rely on La-Z-Boys roster of highly experienced professional Certified Design Experts. They are trained to bring each clients vision to life using the companys exceptional catalog of furniture products, creating spaces that reflect the homeowners aesthetic tastes and personality. The services offered by La-Z-Boys Certified Design Experts are completely free as clients only pay for the furniture and any delivery charges, potentially saving them thousands of dollars in fees that are usually charged by interior designers. The companys design experts work alongside homeowners every step of the way to understand their needs, incorporating the feedback until the client is satisfied and gives their final approval. All recommendations from La-Z-Boys interior designers respect the homeowners budget. The designers use their extensive knowledge of the companys products to suggest furniture options while still integrating the clients existing furniture, accessories, and artwork into the new look. For added convenience, customers can work with La-Z-Boys interior designers at their nearest retail location, invite them for an on-site visit, or even get advice from the comfort of their homes through a virtual consultation. The spokesperson for the Davenport furniture store talks about the benefits of working with La-Z-Boy by saying, La-Z-Boy offers a full range of great-looking, comfortable furniture designed to help customers create the home of their dreams. Our sofas, sectionals, chairs, recliners, loveseats, and more, come in a variety of styles and are customizable to match each customers unique look. The highest quality construction and craftsmanship, combined with professional design services help our customers bring their vision to life so they can feel confident and live life comfortably. On its website, the company provides several before and after photos for homeowners to browse through and gauge the quality of design recommendations they can expect. Clients are also encouraged to read how others like them have benefitted from the expertise offered by La-Z-Boys Certified Design Experts by checking out the several Design Stories past clients have shared. One client describes their experience of upgrading their contemporary condo with the help of the companys design experts by saying, When I walked into the La-Z-Boy store, there were all kinds of possibilities. And the free design services are amazing. The designer came to my home and worked her magic. I met with her again and she had tables, lamps, and artwork, she had it all. It was a lot of fun. Shes really great at her job. Another couple talks about how La-Z-Boy helped them overhaul the look of their entire home by saying, Our designer was wonderful! She was able to give us the look we wanted, but couldnt quite get on our own. We were also happy to see La-Z-Boy had office and bedroom furniture! They helped us achieve our vision of a beautiful home! Easily the most popular reaction we get is that our house should be in a magazine! Not only does it look nice, but its actually comfortable! I dont think we could be happier with how it actually turned out. The sentiment expressed in the design stories mirrors the reception that the Davenport La-Z-Boy location store has received from local clients. On its Google Business Profile, which has an excellent overall rating of 4.7 out of 5.0 from over 1000 reviews, customers praise the quality of the products, their affordability, the convenient delivery options, and the helpful in-store and post-purchase customer service. Readers can contact La-Z-Boy Davenport at (563) 355-7801 or visit its location at 4775 Elmore Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807. ### For more information about La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries & Decor, contact the company here: La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries & Decor Tonia Noordt (563) 355-7801 storemgr@lazboydav.com 4775 Elmore Ave Davenport, IA 52807 PHOENIX, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQB: ARRNF | FSE:1BHA) (ARR or the Company) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jose Rico as its new US-based Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who began with the Company effective July 10. Jose has over 22 years of corporate finance and accounting experience across both US domestic and international operations. Prior to joining American Rare Earths, Jose was Global Head of Management Company Finance at Resource Capital Funds, a mining-focused global alternative investment firm, and Managing Director of Corporate Accounting at The Charles Schwab Corporation. Earlier in his career, Jose held various corporate finance and accounting roles and began his career as an auditor in public accounting with Arthur Andersen. Jose holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting, and is a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A). We are very excited to have Jose join our team as an integral part of the Companys US transformation and part of our new management team to be based in Colorado. I look forward to working closely with him as we establish a stronger presence in the United States, says Melissa Mel Sanderson, President American Rare Earths. Mr. Rico is taking over the role from Mr. Mark Terry, who has been interim CFO since late January 2023. Mark has been invaluable in assisting the Company with its passage to the US and will continue in a supporting role for Jose as the Company transitions business activities to the United States, continues Sanderson. I am thrilled to be joining American Rare Earths at such an interesting and exciting time and look forward to contributing to the Companys continued success, says Jose Rico. This announcement has been authorized for release by the Board of American Rare Earths. About American Rare Earths Limited: American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQB: ARRNF | FSE: 1BHA) is a leading explorer and developer of rare earth elements with a strong focus on developing sustainable and cost-effective extraction and processing methods. The company's projects, including Halleck Creek in Wyoming, La Paz in Arizona, and Searchlight in Nevada, hold significant potential to become major rare earth production sites in North America. Head Office Suite 706 Level 7, 89 York St. Sydney, NSW 2000 Tel 612 8054 9779 GPO Box 1546 Sydney NSW 2001 US Mail c/o Western Rare Earths 514 Grand Avenue #371 Laramie, WY 82070 info@americanrareearths.com.au americanrareearths.com.au For media inquiries, please contact: Susan Assadi, sassadi@americanrareearths.com.au 347 977 7125 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/00a9a19b-c5c9-41bc-825b-839a4f4db3b9 Davenport, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Davenport, Iowa - Quad Cities insurance advisor Kelly Stewart is simplifying long-term investment and insurance opportunities, enabling everyday Americans to confidently retire when the time is right. At her Davenport-based family-owned and operated company KS Financial Services, Kelly aims to help Quad Cities residents yield the dividends of all the hard work that they have put in throughout their life - building a career, diligently saving money, and investing for future generations. To this end, Kelly and her team identify safe and secure investment strategies to help their clients reach their financial goals. Our biggest strength is the level of personalized service we offer our clients, says Kelly. We take the time to listen to your needs and do a deep dive into your current financials. Paired with our extensive experience in the financial services industry and knowledge of current offerings, we can recommend coverage that meets all your requirements while also being within your means. While other service providers encourage you to take on cookie-cutter investment portfolios to get their fees without putting in much effort, we pride ourselves on taking a hands-on approach to offer tailored solutions that make the most sense for you. KS Financial Services collaborates with more than 100 insurance companies and allows clients to pick from a long list of coverage options at different price ranges. Since the company is not beholden to a single major carrier, the team at the Davenport insurance services provider can sign its clients up for the best plans available on the market as a whole. The full range of insured and licensed services offered by KS Financial Services includes mortgage protection, final expenses, life insurance, Medicare, retirement and social security protection, short-term health insurance, life planning, investments, annuities, getting debt-free, and long-term care. Readers in the Quad Cities area can get started with the companys services by requesting a free no-obligation quote on its website. For more information and to keep up with updates, follow its Facebook page. For older Americans planning their retirement, KS Financial Services offers consultation on OASDI (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance), the largest income-maintenance program in the United States which is commonly known as Social Security. While it cannot replace a comprehensive personal insurance plan, it gives working and self-employed Americans the safety net they need to live with dignity in their sunset years. Beneficiaries have several options when it comes to leveraging their entitlements. If one chooses to begin receiving benefits before reaching retirement age, the amount they get paid each month will be lower than the full benefit that they are eligible for. On the other hand, choosing to defer the benefits to several years after reaching retirement age commensurately increases their monthly payout. Apart from making the wrong decision on when to receive retirement benefits, says Kelly, there are other pitfalls that you have to look out for. For example, after you die, your spouse will get just the bigger of the two monthly SSI payments, and the smaller payment will be forfeited. This is half of your income lost at a time when you need it the most. Enrolling in a Social Security Income Protection plan will ensure that your spouse receives both of your incomes for a set period of time after your death. For more such relevant information that goes overlooked by most, contact me and my team at our Davenport office, and let us secure you and your familys future without missteps. Kellys dedication to helping her clients stems from her own experiences watching her parents struggle financially in their final years. On her website, she says, In the years following the death of my mom and then my dad, I began searching for a better way to become financially independent. I have gained knowledge and insight through studying, and hard work, but also by asking hard questions. My goal is to help people plan for the worst so when they go through it, they will be better equipped for the steep cliffs and rocky paths. Readers can get in touch with Kelly at (563) 279-2356 or kelly@ksfinservices.com to inquire about her firms services. The company also urges Quad Cities area residents to follow its Instagram page. ### For more information about KS Financial Services, contact the company here: KS Financial Services Kelly Stewart (563) 279-2356 info@KSFinServices.com 4018 N. Marquette St. #1614 Davenport, IA. 52809 California's Affordable Housing Crisis Exacerbated by Highest Rental Rates in the Country California Grants Part of a Total of $32.9M in Funding Awarded to 38 Vital Projects in Partnership with Member Financial Institutions in California, Arizona, and Nevada SAN FRANCISCO, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) today announced it awarded over $26 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grants to fund 30 projects that will create 2,420 units of affordable housing in California. FHLBank San Francisco is the largest privately-owned source of affordable housing funding within its region - comprising California, Arizona, and Nevada - and collectively with the other Federal Home Loan Banks, one of the largest privately-owned grantors in the country. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, California is the most expensive state in the country for renters across all income levels. Additionally, there is a massive shortage of affordable rental homes available to extremely low-income households and its reported that California needs at least 2.5 million new housing units over the next eight years to support the growing population. Providing resources for affordable housing is a core element of FHLBank San Franciscos mission, with a firm commitment to deploy at least 10% and up to 15% of its net profits from the prior year to fund affordable housing and related community investment programs. Grants are awarded in partnership with the Banks member financial institutions. Lack of affordable housing is one of the most intractable problems our country faces today due to decades of systematic oppression that has created lasting inequality for millions of Americans, said Teresa Bryce Bazemore, CEO and President of FHLBank San Francisco. In California specifically, the housing crisis is exacerbated by dangerously high rents that increase annually and show no signs of reversing course. It's a crisis that can only be solved by consistent, dedicated, and equitable collaboration by a cadre of stakeholders, member institutions, and elected officials all working together to create lasting change. All of us at the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco take great pride in contributing to the solution by awarding over $26 million in grants to fund affordable rental housing for California residents in need of a safe, stable place to call home. Addressing the affordable housing and homelessness crises requires a multi-faceted approach and partners like FHLBank San Francisco are crucial in helping find solutions, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) said. This funding will help support projects across California to provide communities with the affordable housing and services they need. Ill continue working with all our partners to ensure that every person has a right to the dignity and security of housing. AHP grants contribute to the development, preservation, and rehabilitation of single-family and multifamily housing that serves people in need, including the chronically unhoused, families, seniors, veterans, at-risk youth, people living with disabilities and mental health challenges or overcoming substance abuse. Grants are delivered through FHLBank San Francisco member institutions partnering with nonprofits and affordable housing developers to submit applications for grants for specific projects in an annual funding competition. In total for the 2023 program cycle, the Banks AHP awarded $32.9 million in funding for 38 affordable housing projects in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Notable projects in California winning 2023 AHP General Fund grants include: $1 million awarded for the rehabilitation of The Woodlands in Woodland Hills, California, which will convert a 1974 hotel into 100 units of rent-free transitional housing for homeless households, in collaboration with member City National Bank and Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission. $1 million awarded for the new construction of Sango Court in Milpitas, California, to create 101 units of housing for low-income residents, with 51 units allocated for veterans and formerly unhoused individuals, in collaboration with member Century Housing Corporation and Resources for Community Development. $1 million awarded for the new construction of Ancora Place, a multi-family development in Oakland, California, designed to provide 77 permanently affordable rental housing units for large families and other extremely low-income residents, in collaboration with member Wells Fargo National Bank West and Satellite Affordable Housing Associates. $1 million awarded for the new construction of Cudahy Seniors, a mixed-use senior housing development in Cudahy, California, which will create 140 units of affordable housing for seniors in need of a safe and service-enriched environment to age in place, in collaboration with member Citizens Business Bank and National Community Renaissance of California. AHP-funded projects represent a wide range of strategies and solutions, from historic preservation and adaptive reuse to new construction and rehabilitation. Where AHP projects are developed, local economies also get a boost, as these projects create jobs, increase construction and consumer spending, and generate new tax revenues. Learn more about the communities, families, and individuals that have benefited from access to AHP-funded housing on the Banks website. Since 1990, we have contributed over $1.14 billion in AHP General Fund and Nevada Targeted Fund grants to support 141,000 units of affordable housing. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutions commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions propel homeownership, finance quality affordable housing, drive economic vitality, and revitalize whole neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant, equitable, and resilient. NEW YORK and CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Solomon Partners, a leading financial advisory firm, announced today that John LeVert has joined as a Managing Director in its Consumer Retail group. He will play a key role in expanding sub-sectors within the group, with a focus on building a strong presence in food, beverage and pet products. Mr. LeVert was most recently Managing Director at William Blair in its Consumer & Retail group, helping to lead coverage of these three verticals. During his nearly 20-year tenure, Mr. LeVert completed 90+ sellside, buyside and capital raising transactions totaling $30+ billion in aggregate value. Among his most notable transactions, Mr. LeVert advised on the $1.7 billion sale of Black Rifle Coffee Company to SilverBox-Engaged Merger Corp. and its listing on the NYSE, the sale of Natures Bakery to KIND, and the $1.0 billion sale of Boulder Brands to Pinnacle Foods, as well as public offerings for high-growth leaders such as Chewy, Dutch Bros, Freshpet, Sovos Brands and Vita Coco. At Solomon Partners, Mr. LeVert will report to Consumer Retail Co-Heads David A. Shiffman and Cathy Leonhardt and be based in the firms Chicago office. John is a proven leader who has developed strong relationships with both corporate and private equity clients, Mr. Shiffman said. As we expand and diversify into new industry sectors, we are also investing in core areas of our business. I look forward to working closely with John to further build and strengthen our consumer franchise. Founded in 1989, Solomon Partners has its roots in the Retail industry. Since forming a partnership with Natixis in 2016, Solomon has expanded and diversified and today advises companies in over 15 industries. In November 2021, the firm opened its Chicago office, which has steadily grown into a thriving hub and is now home base for bankers in several sectors, including Industrial and Business Services, as well as Consumer Retail. Were fortunate to have John spearheading our efforts in the food, beverage and pet spaces, Ms. Leonhardt said. From better-for-you brands to coffee, John is a recognized and well-respected expert in these categories and has advised on a broad range of transactions within several highly coveted sub-sectors. Mr. LeVert holds an MBA, with honors, from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in economics and mathematics from Vanderbilt University. I am grateful for the opportunity to join this dynamic team, Mr. LeVert said. There is tremendous potential within the food & beverage and pet sectors from both established and emerging players. Together with the broader team, I look forward to serving Solomon Partners clients and identifying new and exciting growth opportunities. About Solomon Partners Founded in 1989, Solomon Partners, previously known as PJ SOLOMON, is a leading financial advisory firm with a legacy as one of the oldest independent investment banks. Our difference is unmatched industry knowledge in the sectors we cover, creating superior value with unrivaled wisdom for our clients. We advise clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, recapitalizations, capital markets solutions and activism defense across a range of industries. Solomon Partners is an independently operated affiliate of Natixis, part of Groupe BPCE. For further information, visit www.solomonpartners.com. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/02bdc13a-1119-4c05-b5fa-38f4d1886919 NEW YORK, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questex s Hotec Design brought the top hospitality buyers, designers and suppliers together to discover new valued partners and stay on top of the latest trends. The 20th anniversary event, which took place at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa June 19th to the 22nd, 2023 provided the ideal backdrop for solidifying new relationships in a luxurious setting built for relaxed networking, one-to-one meetings, and exceptional education. The smaller, more intimate environment that Hotec Design curates allows for quality business partnerships to form at record speed, providing an unparalleled ROI. The event kicked off with an inspiring keynote, Designing Your Life: Make What You Do, Do More For You presented by Taniya Nayak, TV Personality and Principal of Taniya Nayak Design . Hotec events strive not only to create an environment for connection, but also to empower attendees to be their best selves on the job. Nayak shared experiences that shaped her as she found her calling in interior design and tips for those looking to expand their career beyond the traditional walls of the hospitality industry. Over the course of three days, Hotec Design brought together 189 attending companies, 93 buyer/designer attendees and 163 supplier attendees, generating nearly 2,000 face-to-face meetings. From a suppliers perspective, Joseph Bibi, President at Sampson Mills, praised its effectiveness in facilitating business throughout the entirety of the event. Not only do the Hotec staff help facilitate the right meetings, they help facilitate meetings on the breaks as well, he said. From a designers perspective, Nina Hudson, Senior Designer at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), shared how Hotec helped her discover new suppliers. I was strategic in picking the vendors and manufacturers I wanted to talk to, but I was also excited to see that though I had picked my top 25, there were other vendors and manufacturers who were excited to meet and see me. It was more of an educational opportunity for me to get to know vendors that I might not have worked with or may not have crossed paths with, she said. Amy Vaxman, Vice President, Questex Hospitality Group, says, We are proud to share that in its 20th year, Hotec Design saw 16% growth from 2022. As we continue to welcome new buyers, designers and suppliers into the Hotec community, we recognize that as a member of the hospitality industry, we must evolve with the initiatives that are important to our attendees. This year Questex accelerated sustainability initiatives at Hotec Design to help reduce the events carbon footprint. Changes included a digital directory, more plant-based food options, recyclable badges and signage, less printed items and more. Day two continued with a panel of experts in ADA design including Luke Spink, VP of Sales Eastern USA & Canada, Panaz, who experienced life altering circumstances that have limited his mobility. Panelists shared examples of what is considered ADA compliant and discussed how the industry as a whole can do better to ensure those with limited mobility experience the same level of hospitality as their peers. After an exciting day of meetings and education, attendees participated in a riddle challenge to further connections made with potential partners and give back to the local community, Hotec joined forces with Southwest Human Development , Arizonas largest nonprofit organization dedicated to early childhood development, to create backpacks filled with critical school supplies for Phoenix area elementary school students in need. Attendees also donated their favorite childrens books with many writing inspirational notes in the front cover. Annette Sutfin, Senior Manager of Philanthropic Experiences Development, Southwest Human Development, said, Thanks to the Hotec conference contributions, we will be able to provide backpacks and supplies to many kids who need them the most. Caregivers in the families in our programs are underserved and have limited resources, so school readiness often can fall low on their list of priorities. Providing backpacks is a small thing we can do to help kids feel more confident when returning to school. The education sessions concluded on day three with a panel focused on creating a more welcoming environment for seniors transitioning to senior living. The Intersection of Hospitality and Senior Living brought together leaders in senior living design to discuss how to create more aesthetically pleasing spaces while ensuring seniors have the tools they need to be safe and comfortable. Hotec events have become widely known for their interactive networking functions, and this years event was no exception. Attendees spent the first evening of the event designing their own cowboy hats to wear to the western/diamonds and denim themed farewell reception. The closing party featured a country band, horseshoe games, traditional southern BBQ and the premier of the western themed Hotec Design movie starring a handful of delegates in attendance. Dates and location for the 2024 edition of Hotec Design will be announced in the coming weeks. For those interested in becoming a buyer/designer or supplier, please reach out to Mary Malloy , Event Director, Hotec Design. To learn more about Hotec Design visit www.hotecdesign.com . Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and Twitter at @HotecEvents. About Questex Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here. Omaha, NE, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For Immediate Release July 11, 2023 For information contact: Brandon Pappas (402) 978-7919 bpappas@omahachamber.org Greater Omaha Chamber Announces Heath Mello as New CEO OMAHA, Neb. - July 11, 2023 - The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the appointment of Heath Mello to the role of CEO/President. Mello will assume responsibility for the organization effective August 2, 2023. Mello brings experience in public policy, fundraising, and community leadership to the Chamber, previously serving as vice president of external relations and director of state relations with the University of Nebraska system. Mello served as a Nebraska state senator for eight years and was chairman of the Legislatures Appropriations Committee for four years. While in the Legislature, Mello also served on the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee. Mello has also served on various state and regional Boards and Councils, including as Chair of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry Education Policy Council; and service on the Nebraska Chambers Board of Directors. He also was a member of the Nebraska Advisory Committee for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, and as a Commissioner on the Nebraska Educational Telecommunication Commission. Mello, a Nebraska native, graduated from Gretna High School and received his Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We are excited to name Heath Mello as the next chamber President and CEO. He brings his breadth of experience across multiple sectors and years of strategic leadership and management to this important role. He is passionate about our community and has devoted his career to ensuring it is a great place to live, to prepare our next-generation workforce, and to do business. We believe Mello will continue to grow the business landscape in Omaha and drive strong workforce and economic development in Omaha and Eastern Nebraska, said Carmen Tapio, who currently serves as chair of the Greater Omaha Chamber. Tapio served on the search committee, along with Tim Burke, interim President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, and Derek Leathers, Chairman and CEO of Werner Enterprises. Heath Mello has been a great friend and strategic partner during his time at the University of Nebraska, and hes proven his commitment to our state and communities throughout his career. I know he will bring these same leadership qualities to the Greater Omaha Chamber, said Ted Carter, president of the University of Nebraska. We are fortunate that Heath will continue to call Omaha home and that he will continue to shape and influence the greater Omaha region. He will be missed at the university, but we are grateful for his service and look forward to his leadership and partnership in this exciting new role. Mello replaces the Chambers Interim CEO/President, Tim Burke. About Greater Omaha Greater Omaha is a No. 1 ranked up-and-coming tech hotspot, a top 10 best place to live on a $60,000 salary, and one of the best cities for young professionals , according to SmartAsset. Greater Omaha is home to over 30 communities and nearly 1 million people. About the Greater Omaha Chamber The mission of the Greater Omaha Chamber is to champion a thriving business community and a prosperous region through visionary leadership and collaboration. ### Newport Beach, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Newport Beach, California - The Law Offices of Geoff Rill, APC, based in Newport Beach, CA, is offering legal help for personal injury cases, such as bicycle accidents car accidents, wrongful death, and other cases. The law firm doesnt just serve clients in Orange County but also in Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and San Diego County. Geoff Rill takes a unique approach to personal injury cases in that he takes cases to trial whenever it is required. More about the firm and Geoff Rill can be obtained by checking out the firms Facebook page. Geoff Rill says, If youre riding a bicycle or e-bike and you get hit by a car, the auto insurance company for the driver who hit you owes you money. If youre riding a bicycle and you get hit by another bicyclist or someone on an e-bike, the at fault bicyclists homeowners insurance company owes you money. You are entitled to have your bicycle repaired or replaced. You are also entitled to have your medical bills and lost wages paid for, and youre also entitled to pain and suffering damages if you were injured. The usual causes of bicycle accidents include: driver negligence, cyclist negligence, absence of bicycle lanes, and hazardous road conditions. Bicycle accidents can result into various kinds of injuries, ranging from minor to severe, such as: bone fractures, brain injuries, head injuries, nerve damage, dental injuries and amputation. There are a number of important things to do, including: collecting evidence at the scene, avoiding admitting fault, filing a police report, seeking medical treatment, contacting the insurance firms, and filing a personal injury claim with the help of a lawyer. In the case of a car accident, the accident victim also requires the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. Insurance companies are typically involved since the at-fault partys insurance firm has to provide the money to compensate the victim in a personal injury case. This means the insurance company typically has interests that run against that of the victim, which is why the claimant has to consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. More about what the firm can do with regards to car accidents can be gleaned from https://rill-law.com/car-accident. In some cases, the victim of an accident sustains fatal injuries and the result is wrongful death. The Law Offices of Geoff Rill is ready to accept wrongful death cases due to: slip and fall injuries, product liability, medical malpractice, bike accidents, car accidents, and more. Geoff Rill says, While it may take time for a case to go to trial, the majority of wrongful death cases settle out of court. This settlement process can also take a significant amount of time, as negotiations and paperwork will go back and forth between attorneys and clients until an agreement is reached or a decision to go to trial has been made. However, when an insurance company is involved, it may push for a quick settlement in order to save on legal fees. You may feel that it is difficult to find closure or peace of mind during this time, but this is why having a caring and knowledgeable wrongful death attorney by your side throughout this process is so vital. Geoff Rill of the Law Offices of Geoff Rill, APC, has served as a personal injury lawyer since 2010 and has accumulated extensive experience in jury trials and has won many personal injury jury trials in Newport Beach and nearby areas. He received the Young Gun Trial Lawyer of the Year award in 2020 from The Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. In 2022, he became a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), which is a group of civil trial lawyers who have tried at least 10 jury trials to verdict as the lead counsel. Geoff Rill can practice law in the US District Court for the Central and Southern Districts and in all California state courts. He received the Rising Star award from Super Lawyers in 2017 and he was also awarded the recognition as one of the Top 10 personal injury lawyers under 40 in Southern California. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieynLMmezWI Those who are interested in the personal injury law services offered by the Law Offices of Geoff Rill, such as wrongful death attorny services, can visit their website or contact them on the telephone or email. ### For more information about Law Offices of Geoff Rill, APC, contact the company here: Law Offices of Geoff Rill, APC Geoff Rill (855) 745-5529 geoff@rill-law.com 4100 Newport Place, Suite 630 Newport Beach, CA 92660 Pune, India, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Insight Partners latest study on " Gastrointestinal Drugs Market Size Report, Forecast to 2027 COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Drug Class, Route of Administration, Application, and Distribution Channel, the market size is expected to grow from $49.04 billion in 2019 to $71.30 billion by 2027; it is estimated to record a CAGR of 4.9% from 2020 to 2027. The global gastrointestinal drugs market majorly consists of the players such as Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Johnson and Johnson Services, Inc., Bausch Health, AstraZeneca, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, AbbVie Inc., Bayer AG, Celltrion Healthcare Co., Ltd, and LEXICON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. Download Sample Pages: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00014758 Global Gastrointestinal Drugs Market Strategic Insights: Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in USD 49.04 Billion in 2019 Market Size Value by USD 71.30 Billion by 2027 Growth rate CAGR of 5.4% from 2020 to 2027 Forecast Period 2020-2027 Base Year 2020 No. of Pages 160 No. of Tables 111 No. of Charts & Figures 79 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Drug Class, Route of Administration, Application, and Distribution Channel Global Gastrointestinal Drugs Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Johnson and Johnson Services, Inc., Bausch Health, AstraZeneca, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, AbbVie Inc., Bayer AG, Celltrion Healthcare Co.,Ltd., and LEXICON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC, among others are a few of the key companies operating in the gastrointestinal drugs market. These companies adopt product innovation strategies to meet evolving customer demands, which allows them to maintain their brand name in gastrointestinal drugs market. A few of the recent developments in the global gastrointestinal drugs market are mentioned below: In March 2020 , Sanofi has collaborated with video consultation business Babylon, to offer an online AI Health Service for those who suffer from digestive health issues. In April 2020 , Cara Care has collaborated with the Consumer Healthcare Business Unit of Sanofi Germany on a holistic approach to digestive health that bundles Sanofis Buscomint bei Reizdarm pharmaceutical drug with Cara Cares digital companion app for digestive conditions. In January 2020 , AstraZeneca will recover the global rights to brazikumab (formerly MEDI2070), a monoclonal antibody targeting IL23, from Allergan. Brazikumab is currently in a Phase IIb/III program in Crohns disease (CD) and a Phase IIb trial in ulcerative colitis (UC). AstraZeneca and Allergan will terminate their existing license agreement and all rights to brazikumab will revert to AstraZeneca. The transaction is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2020. Browse key market insights spread across 160 pages with 111 list of tables & 79 list of figures from the report, "Gastrointestinal Drugs Market Forecast to 2027 - Global Analysis by Drug Class (Acid Neutralizers, Antidiarrheal and Laxatives, Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Antiemetic and Antinauseants, Biologics, Others); Route of Administration (Oral, Parenteral); Application (Inflammatory Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Gastroenteritis, Celiac Disease, Others); Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, and Online Pharmacies)" in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/gastrointestinal-drugs-market Increasing Investment in Research Activities to Drive Global Gastrointestinal Drugs Market Growth During 2020-2027: Gastrointestinal diseases are becoming prevalent worldwide. Rapidly progressing research activities in drug development of novel therapeutics globally are driving the growth of the market. Many research institutes are offering funding to accelerate the discovery of novel methods for the treatment of GI disorders, which is offering lucrative opportunities for the discovery of new therapies. For instance, Yale School of Medicine receives US$ 8 million per year in research funding from NIDDK, more than any other digestive diseases section in the country. The major research areas are understanding mechanisms responsible for pancreatic inflammation and pancreatitis genetics and immunobiology of inflammatory bowel disease. Another institute, the UNC School of Medicine, which is engaged in advancing the understanding of gastrointestinal and liver diseases and developing new treatments, has a GI research funding of US$ 23 million annually. UNC has a dedicated center to research and clinical advances in the care of patients with esophageal diseases. Apart from this, the American Gastroenterological Association Research Foundation provides around US$ 3 million research grants annually to investigators in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. Moreover, the pharmaceutical industry is continually evolving. There is always a need for new, innovative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of various GI indications. The GI candidates-based pipeline is growing for a wide range of therapeutic applications, including Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and others. Many big and small pharmaceutical companies are engaged in the development of several GI biologics drugs. For instance, Synthetic Biologics, Inc. is a clinical-stage company leveraging the microbiome to develop therapeutics for GI. Its lead clinical candidate, SYN-004 (ribaxamase), is designed to degrade certain commonly used intravenous beta-lactam antibiotics within the GI tract to prevent microbiome damage. Thus, the growing innovative pipeline of GI drugs is, in turn, boosting the drug discovery activities across the industry. The gastrointestinal drugs market is the fastest growing in the Asia Pacific region. In the region, China accounts for the largest share of the gastrointestinal drugs market. The gastrointestinal drugs market in the country is driven by the growing pharmaceutical market, increasing developments by the market players, and favorable regulatory policies. The excessive population in China coupled with the rise of gastrointestinal disease prevalence is majorly driving the growth of the gastrointestinal drugs market in China and making it a prime market in the Asia Pacific region. Directly Purchase this Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00014758 China is among the leading countries in developing healthcare infrastructure and various medicines. Country is accounted as the largest drug producer. Thus, the country was the largest contributor to the Asia-Pacific gastrointestinal drugs market. Thus, national demand for gastrointestinal disorder is expected to increase. According to the study, Economic burden of irritable bowel syndrome in China, China's Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) incidence is significantly smaller than Western countries. Also growing research on innovative therapies for gastrointestinal diseases is likely to have positive impact on the market growth. For instance, a research study conducted in China Acupuncture plus Chinese Herbal Medicine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis was published in 2019. Thus, above mentioned factors are likely to propel the demand of gastrointestinal drugs market. Go through further research published by The Insight Partners: (Purchase with 10% Instant Discount): Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Therapeutics Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis Gastrointestinal (GI) Stents Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis Gastrointestinal Cancer Drugs Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis About Us: The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: Sydney, New South Wales, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Serving all of Greater Sydney, the team of skilled plumbers is dedicated to providing the highest quality services to clients. The family-operated firm has over 20 years of experience in the plumbing industry. Graham and Sons Plumbing proudly reports that the firm has provided many plumbing needs throughout Greater Sydney. The experienced professional team offers Emergency plumbing, Blocked drains, Gas fittings, Hot water heater replacements, and all plumbing maintenance. Graham and Sons Plumbing is a reliable plumbing team that provides emergency services to customers in Sydney and the surrounding areas. The company has a history of delivering dependable and timely solutions to address the pressing plumbing requirements of local residents. Because of the company's extensive knowledge and unwavering commitment to offering services of the highest possible calibre, it has firmly established itself as the plumbing emergency provider of choice for both commercial and residential clients. The company owner, Luke, says, "I am honoured to lead a team of dedicated professionals who understand the urgency and importance of providing prompt and reliable plumbing solutions to our customers in Sydney. We believe in going the extra mile to ensure that every plumbing emergency is handled with the utmost care and expertise. Our commitment to transparency, fair pricing, and exceptional customer service sets us apart in the industry. We are here to alleviate the stress and inconvenience caused by plumbing issues and deliver peace of mind to our clients. At Graham and Sons Plumbing, we take pride in being the trusted name that Sydney residents turn to when they need a dependable emergency plumber. We stand by our promise to deliver excellence, 24/7." Additional details are available at https://grahamandsonsplumbing.com.au/emergency-service/. Plumbing emergencies will happen at the most ungodly hours and when they are least expected. Plumbing emergencies can threaten to bring the customer's whole life to a horrifying standstill unless the customer can reach a reliable plumber who can answer calls immediately. Customers in Sydney and the surrounding areas can count on Graham and Sons for all their emergency plumbing repairs when looking for a 24 Hour Plumber in Sydney. The company always has plumbers on standby for emergency plumbing problems. Plumbing problems can escalate during holidays and festivities since it is at this time that the facility's use is stretched. Graham and Sons Plumbing is familiar with the anxiety and disruption that can be brought on by unforeseen plumbing problems, such as burst pipes, clogged drains, or water heaters that are not functioning properly. Because they understand how important it is to find a solution quickly, their team of experienced plumbers is available around the clock, every day of the year, to make sure that customers get prompt assistance whenever they have an emergency. Graham and Sons Plumbing takes a great deal of pride in the fact that they are dedicated to providing honest and fair pricing to each and every one of their clients. As soon as they arrive, their plumbers perform comprehensive inspections, providing customers with accurate assessments as well as explanations of the necessary repairs or replacements in great detail. By placing a significant emphasis on transparency from the very beginning of any project, the company ensures that clients are fully informed about the scope of the work, timelines, and cost estimates, which leads to the development of trust between the company and the client and provides mental ease. About the Company: Graham and Sons Plumbing has built its reputation for Sydney's best emergency plumbing services over the past two decades. The importance of establishing long-lasting relationships with customers is something that this family-run business is well aware of. The company places a high priority on open communication, professionalism, and a friendly approach, which helps to ensure that customers have a positive experience in which they are well taken care of and feel at ease. ### For more information about Graham and Sons Plumbing, contact the company here: Graham and Sons Plumbing Luke Farrell (02) 9199 7430 info@grahamandsons.com.au 28 Oak St, Rosehill NSW Falls Church, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Falls Church, Virginia - Brusco Vision, the pioneering LASIK practice in Washington D.C., is proud to discuss its innovative Topography-Guided LASIK surgery procedure. This state-of-the-art technology is engineered to significantly reduce dependence on glasses and contact lenses, paving the way for patients to interact and connect with their surroundings in a more vibrant and unobstructed manner. LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis), is a revolutionary eye surgery technique that corrects common vision problems such as myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), and astigmatism. This procedure, involving the reshaping of the cornea to improve the focus of light onto the retina, has dramatically changed the lives of millions worldwide. The introduction of this procedure, backed by FDA approval, has seen countless individuals transcend from a life tethered to their glasses or contact lenses to a life of improved visual acuity and freedom. However, it is the utilization of the ground-breaking Topography-Guided LASIK technology that propels Brusco Vision to the forefront of this field. This state-of-the-art approach effectively addresses the unique, minor distortions in each patient's vision, often untouched by conventional LASIK. The precise 3D topographical map generated by this technology guides the laser to provide a personalized treatment with micro-precision. "Our adoption of the advanced Wavefront LASIK technology at Brusco Vision signals a significant leap in vision correction," stated a representative at Brusco Vision. "By investing in this cutting-edge solution, we are not just improving vision; we are changing lives by reducing our patients' reliance on glasses and contact lenses." Brusco Visions technique has shown tremendous results in widening the field of vision and increasing clarity. The procedure eliminates common issues associated with glasses such as glare, smudges, distortion, and even those related to contact lenses like dry eye syndrome, irritation, and infections. The enhanced visual experience that follows a LASIK surgery makes even simple activities like swimming, running, or just relishing a rainy day more straightforward and enjoyable. The liberating experience of clear vision, unburdened by the constant need for glasses or contact lenses, is often described as life-altering by patients. With over 90% of LASIK patients achieving 20/20 vision or better, and nearly all (99%) achieving at least 20/40 vision, the legal requirement for driving in most states, the impact of this technology is far-reaching and transformative. "LASIK offers a compelling alternative to glasses and contact lenses. It's not just about vision correction but also about reducing the daily hassles associated with [corrective lenses]," the spokesperson added. "With our Topography-Guided LASIK, we are offering our patients a chance to break away from these dependencies, enabling them to embrace a more unencumbered lifestyle." Brusco Vision's team, dedicated to the mission of transforming lives through improved vision, is eagerly waiting to guide patients on this path of visual freedom. They extend an open invitation to those looking to learn more about their advanced LASIK surgery options. The team aims to provide a comprehensive service that includes detailed eye examinations, risk management, and attentive post-operative care, always focusing on patient satisfaction. There is a world beyond glasses and contact lenses, and Brusco Vision aims to help patients reach that potential. They offer a chance to experience the world with more clarity and less dependence on corrective lenses. It's time to embrace the transformative power of LASIK surgery at Brusco Vision. Schedule a LASIK consultation today and take the first step towards visual liberation. About Brusco Vision: Brusco Vision is a leading eye healthcare provider offering top-tier refractive surgery and eye care solutions in Washington, DC. With a dedicated team of experienced professionals and cutting-edge technology, Brusco Vision is committed to improving patients' visual acuity and enhancing their quality of life. ### For more information about Brusco Vision, contact the company here: Brusco Vision Michael Brusco, MD (571) 755-2020 info@bruscovision.com Brusco Vision 3120 Fairview Park Dr Ste 100 Falls Church, VA 22042 MILWAUKEE, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Scott Kamelle, an esteemed Gynecologic Oncologist at Aurora Healthcare in Milwaukee, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Dr. Scott Kamelle Scholarship for Future Doctors. This scholarship, available to current undergraduate students and high school seniors pursuing a career in medicine, aims to support and inspire the next generation of medical professionals. Dr. Scott Kamelle has dedicated his career to providing exceptional care to women facing gynecologic cancers. With a strong commitment to advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes, he established this scholarship to foster a community of dedicated individuals who will make significant contributions to the field of medicine. To be considered for the Dr. Scott Kamelle Scholarship for Future Doctors, applicants must meet the following criteria: Academic Pursuit: Applicants must be current undergraduate students actively pursuing a career in medicine or high school students with plans to attend university for a medical degree. Excellence in Academics: The scholarship values exceptional academic performance and seeks students who have demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievements. Commitment to Medicine: Applicants should possess a deep commitment to the field of medicine, showcasing a genuine passion for making a positive impact on the lives of patients. Dedication to Personal Growth: The scholarship seeks individuals who exhibit a strong desire for personal and professional growth, continuously striving to expand their knowledge and skills within the medical field. Applicants are also required to submit a thoughtful essay of under 1000 words, addressing a significant challenge currently faced by the healthcare industry and proposing an innovative solution to address it effectively. Dr. Kamelle values problem-solving skills and encourages applicants to demonstrate a creative and resourceful approach to tackling complex issues within the healthcare sector. The Dr. Scott Kamelle Scholarship for Future Doctors will provide a one-time award of $1,000 to the chosen candidate. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is January 15, 2024, and the winner will be announced on February 15, 2024. Dr. Kamelle, recognized as a Top Doctor by Milwaukee Magazine, has been widely respected for his contributions to the field. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and obtained his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine. With a residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Obstetrics and Gynecology and a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Dr. Kamelle has a wealth of experience and expertise. Dr. Kamelle's vision for the scholarship is to empower aspiring doctors and inspire them to make significant contributions to healthcare. By offering financial support and recognition through the essay contest, he aims to nurture the next generation of medical professionals dedicated to transforming healthcare and improving the lives of patients. For more information about the Dr. Scott Kamelle Scholarship for Future Doctors, including eligibility requirements and the application process, please visit the official website at https://drscottkamellescholarship.com/dr-scott-kamelle-scholarship/. About Dr. Scott Kamelle: Dr. Scott Kamelle is an esteemed Gynecologic Oncologist and served as the Director of Gyn Oncology for 10 years at Aurora Healthcare in Milwaukee. With a wealth of experience and expertise in the field, Dr. Kamelle has dedicated his career to providing exceptional care to women facing gynecologic cancers. His commitment to advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes serves as the foundation for the Scholarship for Future Doctors. SAN FRANCISCO, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/FMC Contact An Attorney Now: FMC@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895 FMC Corporation (FMC) Investigation: The investigation focuses on the propriety of FMCs sales and inventory management practices. On May 1, 2023, FMC announced its Q1 2023 financial results, said Q2 2023 revenue would be flat to the prior year quarter, and maintained FY 2023 revenue outlook of $6.08 to $6.22 billion. But, on July 10, 2023, FMC announced updated expectations for its Q2 and FY 2023 outlook. In particular, the company slashed its Q2 2023 revenue outlook by about 30%, reduced its FY 2023 revenue outlook by over 14%, and blamed the reduced guidance on reductions in channel inventory that adversely impacted the companys sales volumes in the quarter. This news sent the price of FMC shares sharply lower that day. Were focused on investors losses and whether FMC may have engaged in improper channel-stuffing, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you invested in FMC and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman. Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding FMC Corporation should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email FMC@hbsslaw.com. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. Contact: Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895 WASHINGTON, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it will launch a road tour to Midwest states connecting entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the countrys largest source of early-stage funding Americas Seed Fund. Americas Seed Fund, comprised of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, supports next-generation research & development (R&D), providing over $4 billion each year in non-dilutive funding from 11 participating federal agencies. Americas Seed Fund Road Tour plays an important role in increasing engagement with innovation ecosystems across the country and building out inclusive networks to support the creation of small businesses focusing on high-impact research. The Biden Administrations Investing in America agenda is about investing in innovators across the nation, including the American heartland, said SBA Administrator Guzman. America's Seed Fund Road Tour ensures that Americas Seed Fund is accessible to businesses in all parts of the country, promoting the development and commercialization of cutting-edge technologies that drive our innovation economy and global competitiveness." Each Road Tour stop is hosted by SBAs Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partners, who serve as navigators connecting entrepreneurs to Americas Seed Fund opportunities in their regions. At each stop, entrepreneurs and small business owners have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with federal agency representatives and attend programming to support their Americas Seed Fund journey. Americas Seed Fund Road Tour: Midwest, July 17-21 Monday, July 17 | Oklahoma City, OK Venue: OKC Convention Center Hosted by OK Catalyst, University of Oklahoma Tuesday, July 18 | Wichita, KS Venue: Wichita State University, Woolsey Hall Hosted by Wichita State University Wednesday, July 19 | Kansas City, MO Venue: Bloch School at the University of Missouri Kansas City Hosted by Missouri Small Business Development Center, University of Missouri Thursday, July 20 | Lincoln, NE Venue: Howard L. Hawks Hall Hosted by Nebraska Business Development Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha Friday, July 21 | Des Moines, IA Venue: FFA Enrichment Center, Des Moines Area Community Hosted by the Iowa Small Business Development Center, Iowa State University of Science and Technology For detailed information on the Americas Seed Fund Road Tour route and registration to attend in person, visit www.americasseedfund.us/road-tour. For more information about Americas Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR) programs, please visit www.sbir.gov. ### About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. Learn more at sba.gov. About SBA Office of Investment and Innovation The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs that provide the high-growth small business community with access to two things: financial capital and R&D funds to develop commercially viable innovations. Our work is underpinned by public-private partnerships that help small businesses on their trajectory from idea to IPO. Learn more at www.sba.gov. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almadex Minerals Ltd. ("Almadex" or the "Company") (TSX-V: DEX) is pleased to announce that it has acquired five target areas in western and southwestern USA through staking. The areas were targeted using Almadexs understanding of metallogenic, structural and magmatic hydrothermal systems in North America and follows work commenced in the United States by Almadexs predecessor in 2007. This programs primary focus is porphyry copper-molybdenum and epithermal gold-silver styles of mineralization. Preliminary mapping and sampling of the newly acquired target areas has commenced. Once preliminary work has been completed and evaluated, Almadex will announce the results and any projects defined for further detailed exploration work. Generative exploration work continues and remains focused on the southwestern and western US where Almadex has extensive data, experience and a conceptual geologic targeting methodology and internal models. Almadex is currently evaluating several other areas for additional acquisition as this work progresses. J. Duane Poliquin, Chairman of Almadex stated, It is very exciting to focus our generative exploration on the United States. Our business is to find and define new mineral resources in North America for stakeholders to develop. Our approach is to generate new targets through conceptual exploration and acquire them through staking if possible. We look forward to reporting results of this work and the project definition work currently underway on the new acquisitions. Almadex has dropped several of its legacy projects in Mexico including Yago and Lajas where exploration progress is challenged by numerous impediments to timely progress. The Company looks forward to further updating shareholders on its progress in the coming weeks and months as exploration progresses and results become available and are interpreted. Qualified Persons Morgan J Poliquin, PhD, PEng, the President and CEO of Almadex and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical contents of this news release. About Almadex Almadex Minerals Ltd. is an exploration company that holds a large mineral portfolio consisting of projects and NSR royalties in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. This portfolio is the direct result of many years of prospecting and deal-making by Almadex's management team. The Company owns a number of portable diamond drill rigs, enabling it to conduct cost effective first pass exploration drilling in house. On behalf of the Board of Directors, J. Duane Poliquin J. Duane Poliquin, Chairman Almadex Minerals Ltd. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within it, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Forward-looking statements in this news release relating to the Company include, among other things, the planned exploration activities at the new target areas and reporting thereon. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, permitting, continued availability of capital and financing, equipment availability, relationships with third-party clientele and their willingness or ability to continue to use the Companys drills for exploration, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws. Contact Information: Almadex Minerals Ltd. Tel. 604.689.7644 Email: info@almadexminerals.com http://www.almadexminerals.com/ Atlanta, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlanta, Georgia - ATLANTA, GA (June 27, 2023) - HOPE worldwide, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to providing sustainable, high-impact, community-based services, including critical healthcare services, disaster relief, and education, to underserved communities globally, is proud to announce the recognition received by the Lawes Road Clinic in Papua New Guinea during a recent visit by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. This visit highlighted the impactful work carried out by HOPE worldwide global network member, HOPE worldwide Papua New Guinea (PNG), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the U.S. governments largest effort to combat HIV. During his visit to Papua New Guinea, Secretary Blinken had the opportunity to tour HOPE worldwide PNGs Lawes Road Clinic, which is led by HOPE worldwide PNG Country Director Priscilla Sine Mal, and witness firsthand the incredible efforts undertaken by the dedicated team. The clinic's commitment to improving the lives of the local community in various areas, including HIV prevention and treatment, and treatment for victims of violence against women, deeply impressed Secretary Blinken. In his remarks, Secretary Blinken expressed his admiration for the clinic's work, stating, "This was a real privilege to be here at the Lawes Road Clinic where quite literally our partners are saving lives, changing lives, every single day." The visit showcased the significant impact of HOPE worldwide Papua New Guineas clinic on the region, highlighting its vital role in providing essential healthcare services to those most in need and who often have the most difficult time getting treatment, in part due to the social stigma often associated with their conditions. The Lawes Road Clinic operates under the auspices of the Presidential Emergency Plan For HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), funded through USAID and implemented in collaboration with FHI 360 and HOPE worldwide. The clinic has been instrumental in providing critical care, support, and testing for HIV/AIDS patients in Papua New Guinea, contributing to the nationwide efforts to combat the disease. This year, PEPFAR celebrates its 20th anniversary, and its 17th year of implementation in Papua New Guinea. HOPE worldwide is honored by the recognition bestowed upon HOPE worldwide Papua New Guinea and the Lawes Road Clinic by Secretary Blinken and remains committed to its mission of transforming communities and improving lives through local, volunteer-based initiatives. With the continuous support of partners like USAID and the unwavering dedication of its teams on the ground, HOPE worldwide and its global network of members like HOPE worldwide PNG strive to create a healthier, more resilient future for all. About The Lawes Road Clinic in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea HOPE worldwide PNGs Lawes Road Clinic operates under the auspices of the Presidential Emergency Plan For HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), funded through USAID and implemented in collaboration with FHI 360 and HOPE worldwide. It is managed and staffed by HOPE worldwide Papua New Guinea, with a dedicated team led by Country Director Priscilla Sine Mal. The clinic has been instrumental in providing critical care, support, and testing for HIV/AIDS patients in Papua New Guinea, contributing to the nationwide efforts to combat the disease. About HOPE worldwide HOPE worldwide is an international charity that partners with our neighbors in need, equips volunteers, responds to disasters and strengthens communities to inspire greater hope in our world. Today HOPE worldwide serves more than 1.5 million people annually on every inhabited continent. For over 30 years, motivated by Gods love, HOPE worldwide continues to be an organization dedicated to serving, teaching, healing and loving communities made vulnerable due to poverty, disease or disasters. Together everyone can inspire greater hope in the world. Learn more at HOPEww.org ### For more information about HOPE worldwide, contact the company here: HOPE worldwide Ryan Brown, Director of Communications 470-816-2255 hope.worldwide@hopeww.org 290 Interstate N Cir SE, Suite 130 Atlanta, GA 30339 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- K92 Mining Inc. (K92 or the Company) (TSX: KNT; OTCQX: KNTNF) announces that it will release its 2023 second quarter financial results before the North American trading markets open on Thursday, August 10, 2023. Conference Call and Webcast to Present Results K92 will host a conference call and webcast to present the 2023 second quarter financial results at 8:30 am (EDT) on Thursday, August 10, 2023. Listeners may access the conference call by dialing toll-free to 1-800-319-4610 within North America or +1-604-638-5340 from international locations. The conference call will also be broadcast live (webcast) and may be accessed via the following link: https://services.choruscall.ca/links/k92mining2023q2.html About K92 K92 Mining Inc. is engaged in the production of gold, copper and silver at the Kainantu Gold Mine in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, as well as exploration and development of mineral deposits in the immediate vicinity of the mine. The Company declared commercial production from Kainantu in February 2018 and is in a strong financial position. A maiden resource estimate on the Blue Lake porphyry project was completed in August 2022. K92 is operated by a team of mining company professionals with extensive international mine-building and operational experience. On Behalf of the Company, John Lewins, Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact David Medilek, P.Eng., CFA, President at +1-604-416-4445 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (forward-looking statements), including, but not limited to, the impact of global supply chain and financial market disruptions; projections of future financial and operational performance; statements with respect to future events or future performance; production estimates; anticipated operating and production costs and revenue; estimates of capital expenditures; future demand for and prices of commodities and currencies; estimated mine life of our mine; estimated closure and reclamation costs and statements regarding anticipated exploration, development, construction, production, permitting and other activities on the Companys properties, including: expected gold, silver and copper production and the Stage 3 Expansion and Stage 4 Expansion. Estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources are also forward-looking statements because they constitute projections, based on certain estimates and assumptions, regarding the amount of minerals that may be encountered in the future and/or the anticipated economics of production. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as expect, plan, anticipate, project, target, potential, schedule, forecast, budget, estimate, intend or believe and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions will, would, may, could, should or might occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control, that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation, Public Health Crises, including pandemics; changes in the price of gold, silver, copper and other metals in the world markets; fluctuations in the price and availability of infrastructure and energy and other commodities; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; volatility in price of our common shares; inherent risks associated with the mining industry, including problems related to weather and climate in remote areas in which certain of the Companys operations are located; failure to achieve production, cost and other estimates; risks and uncertainties associated with exploration and development; uncertainties relating to estimates of mineral resources including uncertainty that mineral resources may never be converted into mineral reserves; the Companys ability to carry on current and future operations, including development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; the Companys ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the availability and costs of achieving the Stage 3 Expansion or the Stage 4 Expansion; the ability of the Company to achieve the inputs the price and market for outputs, including gold, silver and copper; inability of the Company to identify appropriate acquisition targets or complete desirable acquisitions; failures of information systems or information security threats; political, economic and other risks associated with the Companys foreign operations; geopolitical events and other uncertainties, such as the conflict in Ukraine; compliance with various laws and regulatory requirements to which the Company is subject to, including taxation; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions, including relationship with the communities in Papua New Guinea and other jurisdictions it operates; other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry; and the risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to in the Companys Annual Information Form under the heading Risk Factors and filed on SEDAR or the Companys website. Estimates of mineral resources are also forward-looking statements because they constitute projections, based on certain estimates and assumptions, regarding the amount of minerals that may be encountered in the future and/or the anticipated economics of production. The estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actual results to differ materially from those that are anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. RAPID CITY, S.D., July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) today announced the release of its 2022 Sustainability Report highlighting the companys environmental, social and governance achievements and its progress on major projects and climate goals. We are committed to creating a cleaner energy future that builds on our responsibility to provide the safe, reliable and cost-effective energy that improves our customers lives, said Linn Evans, president and CEO of Black Hills Corp. We have set challenging yet realistic goals for delivering cleaner energy and have a clear path to reduce our emissions while minimizing cost impacts to our customers. Throughout 2022, Black Hills Corp. continued to achieve progress toward its goal to reduce electric utility greenhouse gas emissions intensity 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2040, and has already reduced emissions one third since 2005. Last year, the company increased its gas utilities greenhouse gas emissions target to Net Zero by 2035 and plans to achieve its Net Zero target through ongoing infrastructure investment, damage prevention and integration of low carbon fuels. Our ability to remain resilient, reliable and ready drives us to meet the needs of our customers today and in the future, continued Evans. These three words are emblematic of the unwavering commitment our 3,000 Black Hills Energy team members have to provide the safe, reliable, and cost-effective electricity and natural gas our customers depend on, and to do so in a sustainable way. Report highlights include: Expanded clean energy offerings: Over the last year, the company progressed on its preferred resource plans to add 520 megawatts of new renewable energy and battery storage by 2030. The company continued to expand its renewable energy portfolio of 289 megawatts of owned and operated wind generation capacity across its service territory with the planned addition of the 80-megawatt Fall River Solar project scheduled to come into service in 2023. Over the last year, the company progressed on its preferred resource plans to add 520 megawatts of new renewable energy and battery storage by 2030. The company continued to expand its renewable energy portfolio of 289 megawatts of owned and operated wind generation capacity across its service territory with the planned addition of the 80-megawatt Fall River Solar project scheduled to come into service in 2023. Advancements in renewable natural gas (RNG): In 2022, the company successfully filed and received approval for Green Forward, a voluntary renewable natural gas (RNG) attribute and carbon offset program, providing customers with a cost-effective path to offset up to 100% or more of the emissions associated with their own natural gas carbon footprint. To further leverage the Black Hills Corp.s experience building RNG interconnections, the company established a new business, Black Hills Energy Renewable Resources. This new business helps drive company growth by investing capital into infrastructure that provides a pathway for RNG to get to the market. Caring for the community : In 2022, the companys community support totaled $6.1 million, including over $604,000 in employee giving to United Way and more than $760,000 from the companys expanded energy assistance fund, which matches customers and employees contributions dollar-for-dollar. : In 2022, the companys community support totaled $6.1 million, including over $604,000 in employee giving to United Way and more than $760,000 from the companys expanded energy assistance fund, which matches customers and employees contributions dollar-for-dollar. Creating value: The companys investment in the safety, reliability and sustainability of its extensive utility systems delivers meaningful growth and sustains jobs, families and communities. In 2022, Black Hills Corp.s direct economic impact totaled $1.34 billion. The companys investment in the safety, reliability and sustainability of its extensive utility systems delivers meaningful growth and sustains jobs, families and communities. In 2022, Black Hills Corp.s direct economic impact totaled $1.34 billion. Energy efficiency and conservation: Black Hills Corp. provided nearly $9 million in energy efficiency rebates in 2022 to residential and business customers, leading to annual energy savings of about 17 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and nearly 386,000 dekatherms of natural gas enough energy to power more than 2,300 homes with electricity and about 4,900 homes with natural gas for one year. Learn more at www.blackhillsenergy.com/sustainability. About Black Hills Corp. Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves more than 1.33 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at ir.blackhillscorp.com. Investor Relations Jerome E. Nichols 605-721-1171 jerome.nichols@blackhillscorp.com 24-Hour Media Assistance 888-242-3969 Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statement This news release includes forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this report that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements may accompany the statements themselves. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which we believe are reasonable based on current expectations and projections about future events and industry conditions and trends affecting our business. Our business and any offering may be influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and are often beyond our ability to control. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to deliver safe, reliable and cost-effective energy to our customers. Whether actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that, among other things, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the risk factors described in Items 1A of our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports that we file with the SEC from time to time. New factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, or the extent to which any such factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We assume no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Rockville , July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per Fact.MR, a provider of market research and competitive intelligence, the global connected workers market is predicted to climb to US $ 33.31 Billion by 2033 and is witnessing a CAGR of 23.5% during 2023-2033. An employee who is equipped with digital tools and connected devices, such as mobile devices, wearables, or augmented reality (AR) glasses, is known as a connected worker. These tools and devices enable the employee to access information, communicate with coworkers and managers, and perform tasks more effectively and efficiently. Get Free Sample Copy of This Report: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=2956 Real-time data and analytics can be used by connected workers to make better decisions, communicate with remote teams more easily, and get guidance and support from their supervisors. By monitoring employees in real time and warning them of potential dangers, these technologies can also increase worker safety. The emerging Industry 4.0 trend, which involves integrating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing into manufacturing and other industries to improve efficiency, productivity, and safety, places a strong emphasis on connected workers. Key Driving Forces Accelerating the Market Growth The proliferation of IoT technology has paved the way for connected worker solutions. IIoT enables the integration of various devices, sensors, and wearables, allowing real-time data collection and analysis. This connectivity empowers workers with enhanced communication, situational awareness, and safety. As per FACT.MR, the US market is expected to reach US $ 9.06 Bn by 2033 due to expanding use of Industry 4.0 technologies and greater emphasis on worker safety. Wearable devices, such as smart glasses, smart helmets, and smartwatches, have become more sophisticated, affordable, and user-friendly. These devices enable hands-free access to critical information, remote expert guidance, and augmented reality (AR) overlays, improving productivity and efficiency. The focus on worker safety and regulatory compliance has intensified across industries. Connected worker solutions offer real-time monitoring of environmental conditions, worker vitals, and adherence to safety protocols. This helps organizations ensure a safe work environment, mitigate risks, and meet compliance standards. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote work and distributed workforces. Connected worker solutions enable seamless collaboration, virtual training, and remote assistance, bridging the gap between on-site and off-site workers. Key Companies Profiled in This Report 3M Company Accenture Fujitsu Ltd Honeywell International Inc Oracle Corp Zebra Technologies Vital indicators shaping future of the industry Continued advancements in technology, such as 5G networks, edge computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML), will drive the capabilities of connected worker solutions. These advancements will enable faster and more reliable connectivity, real-time data processing, and enhanced analytics, leading to improved productivity and efficiency for connected workers. The regulatory landscape surrounding connected worker solutions will play a crucial role in their future. Governments and regulatory bodies are likely to establish standards and guidelines for the deployment and use of connected worker technologies, particularly in industries with high safety requirements. Adherence to regulations and compliance standards will be essential for market growth. As connected worker solutions involve the collection and transmission of sensitive data, data privacy, and security will be paramount. The future of the market will depend on the development of robust security measures, encryption techniques, and privacy frameworks to protect worker data and mitigate cybersecurity risks. Organizations that prioritize data privacy and security will gain a competitive edge. Different industries will adopt connected worker solutions at varying rates based on their unique requirements and challenges. Challenges hindering the market growth Connected worker solutions involve the collection, transmission, and storage of sensitive data. The potential risks associated with data breaches, unauthorized access, and privacy violations are major concerns. Ensuring robust security measures, implementing encryption techniques, and complying with data protection regulations are essential to build trust and overcome security and privacy barriers. Introducing connected worker solutions often requires significant changes in work processes, roles, and responsibilities. Resistance to change from workers, supervisors, and management can hinder adoption. Organizations need to invest in change management strategies, provide adequate training and support, and effectively communicate the benefits of connected worker technologies to overcome resistance and foster acceptance. Strategies for manufacturers/suppliers to scale in the market The connected workers market is a highly fragmented market that comprises competitors ranging from small start-ups to tech major players. Manufacturers should focus on developing comprehensive connected worker solutions that address a wide range of industry-specific needs. These solutions should be customizable to meet the unique requirements of different organizations. Eleksen, a British start-up, offers end-to-end solutions to improve worker safety in a variety of industries. Their Tap&Go connected worker solutions offer the continuous collection of data for predictive safety improvements and enhanced efficiency. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=2956 Explore More Related Studies Published by Fact.MR Research: Smart-Connected Wallets Market Outlook: Worldwide sales of smart-connected wallets are estimated to hit US$ 550 million by 2033. Robotic Process Automation Market: Robotic process automation demand is forecasted to account for US$ 26.5 billion by 2033-end. Cloud Discovery Market: The market for cloud discovery is estimated to hit US$ 4.5 billion by 2033. Smart Badges Market: Global demand for smart badges is expected to increase at a CAGR of 9% from 2023 to 2033. About Fact.MR We are a trusted research partner of 80% of fortune 1000 companies across the globe. We are consistently growing in the field of market research with more than 1000 reports published every year. The dedicated team of 400-plus analysts and consultants is committed to achieving the utmost level of our clients satisfaction. Contact: US Sales Office 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583, +353-1-4434-232 (D) Connect to Author: Mr. Shubham Patidar Email: shubham@factmr.com Sales Team: sales@factmr.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube VANCOUVER, July 10, 2023 - Rusoro Mining Ltd. (TSXV: RML) (the "Company" or "Rusoro") is pleased to announce that it has achieved a significant appellate victory in proceedings to enforce an arbitration award it obtained against the Republic of Venezuela arising out of Venezuela's expropriation of Rusoro's gold mining assets, which as of today, with interest, totals over US$1.4 billion. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which is based in Philadelphia, affirmed that Venezuala's state-owned oil company is the country's alter ego and that its property may be seized in satisfaction of the Republic's judgment debt. A three-judge panel rejected Venezuela's argument that political turmoil in the country warranted a different outcome than the Third Circuit had reached back in 2019, when it concluded that the Republic controls its state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. ("PDVSA"). The ruling re-affirms Delaware Federal Judge Leonard Stark's ruling on the issue for the second time in five years. The panel, comprised of Judges Stephanos Bibas, Paul Matey and Arianna Freeman stated: "Even accounting for those differences [regarding political turmoil], the district court correctly concluded that PDVSA remains the alter ego of Venezuela." "Reviewing PDVSA's other arguments would stretch the limited grant of our appellate jurisdiction well beyond the words written by Congress, we decline the invitation and will affirm the district court's judgment." Andre Agapov, CEO of the Company, stated: "Rusoro welcomes the Court of Appeals' ruling and remains hopeful that, rather than continue to waste the Republic's scarce resources fighting with its creditors in court, the Republic will voluntarily pay its obligation to the Company and allow the parties to bring this longstanding dispute to its overdue conclusion." James Berger, Charlene Sun, and R. Craig Martin of DLA Piper represented Rusoro in the proceedings. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Andre Agapov" Andre Agapov, President & CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking statements: "This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This information and statements address future activities, events, plans, developments and projections. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information and statements are frequently identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and similar terminology, and reflect assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by management of Rusoro Mining Ltd. in light of its experience, current conditions, expectations of future developments and other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking information and statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Rusoro's actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information and statements and accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary include but are not limited to the availability of financing; fluctuations in commodity prices; changes to and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including environmental laws and obtaining requisite permits; political, economic and other risks; as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in our annual and quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other filings made by us with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Rusoro Mining Ltd. disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements except as may be required." SOURCE Rusoro Mining Ltd. /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR DISSEMINATION THROUGH UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES/ CALGARY, July 10, 2023 - Highwood Asset Management Ltd. ("Highwood" or the "Company") (TSXV: HAM) is pleased to announce that in connection with its previously announced "best efforts" marketed offering of subscription receipts ("Subscription Receipts"), it has entered into an agency agreement with a syndicate of agents led by RBC ?Dominion Securities Inc., Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. and Raymond James Ltd. (collectively, the "Agents") to sell ?5,833,333 ?Subscription Receipts at a price of $6.00 per Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $35,000,000 (the "Offering"). Each Subscription Receipt represents the right of the holder to receive, upon closing of the previously announced proposed acquisition by the Company of each of Castlegate Energy Ltd., Boulder Energy Ltd. and Shale Petroleum Ltd. (collectively, the "Acquisitions"), without payment of additional consideration and without further action, one unit of the Company ("Offered Unit"). Each Offered Unit will be comprised of ?one common share of the Company ("Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each full ?warrant, a "Warrant") with each Warrant exercisable into one Common Share (each a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $7.50 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months from the issuance date ?of the Warrants?. The gross proceeds of the Offering, less the portion of the Agents' fee that is payable on the closing of the Offering, will be held in escrow and intended to be used to partially fund the cash consideration payable in respect of the Acquisitions. If the Acquisitions do not close by September 8, 2023 or if any of the Acquisitions are terminated at an earlier time, the gross proceeds of the Offering and pro rata entitlement to interest earned or deemed to be earned on the gross proceeds of the Offering calculated from the closing of the Offering to, but excluding, the termination date, net of any applicable withholding taxes, will be paid to holders of the Subscription Receipts and the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled. The Company has granted to the Agents an option, exercisable in whole or in part in the sole discretion of the Agents at any time until the earlier of the date that is 30 days from the closing date of the Offering, and the occurrence of certain termination events with respect to the Subscription Receipts, to offer to sell of up to an additional 875,000 Subscription Receipts, on the same terms and conditions as set forth above. The Offering is being made concurrently in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick pursuant to a prospectus supplement to the Company's amended and restated short form base shelf prospectus dated May 19, 2023 for the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario and the short form base shelf prospectus dated May 19, 2023 for the provinces of Manitoba and New Brunswick (collectively, the "Prospectus") and in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"). The closing of the Offering will be subject to market and other customary conditions and the approval of, and the listing of the Subscription Receipts, Common Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares on, the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The Company has received conditional approval of the TSXV to list the Subscription Receipts, as well as the Common Shares, the Warrants and the Warrants Shares issuable thereunder, once issued; such approval subject to the Company fulfilling all of the listing requirements of the TSXV. Copies of the Prospectus, following filing of the prospectus supplement, may be obtained on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and from RBC Capital Markets, RBC Wellington Square, 8th Floor, 180 Wellington St. W., Toronto, Ontario, M5J OC2 Attn: Distribution by telephone at 416-313-8180 or by email at Distribution.RBCDS@rbccm.com. The Prospectus contains important detailed information about the Company and the proposed Offering, including the Subscription Receipts, Offered Units, Unit Shares and Warrants to be issued thereunder. Prospective investors should read the Prospectus and the other documents the Company has filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com before making an investment decision. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Subscription Receipts, Offered Units, Common Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, a U.S. person (as defined in the U.S. Securities Act) except in transactions not required to be registered under the U.S. Securities Act. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any of the securities within the United States. About Highwood Asset Management Ltd. Highwood Asset Management Ltd. (TSXV: HAM) is a growth orientated oil and gas exploration and production company committed to shareholder alignment with high insider ownership while creating long-term value for its shareholders. The Company has an extensive inventory of low-risk, oil development drilling locations focused primarily on horizontal multi-lateral development of its assets. Operating as a responsible corporate citizen is a key focus to ensure we deliver on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments and goals. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.highwoodmgmt.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain statements and information, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of applicable securities laws, and which are collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on Highwood's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. When used in this news release, the words ?"seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", ??"could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions, as they relate to Highwood, the Offering or the proposed Acquisitions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Actual operational and financial results may differ materially from Highwood's expectations contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By its nature, forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur and may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the completion of the Offering and timing and terms thereof; the expected net proceeds from the Offering and the Company's intended use thereof; adequacy of funds to fund the Acquisitions and the completion of each of the Acquisitions and terms and timing thereof. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially, including, but not limited to: inability to complete the Acquisitions; the conditions to completion of the Offering may not be satisfied; and the timing and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals for each of the Acquisitions and the Offering. With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this news release, the Company has made assumptions regarding, among other things, the timing of obtaining regulatory and third party approvals, as well as the completion of the Offering and the Acquisitions. Although Highwood believes the expectations and material factors and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that these expectations, factors and assumptions will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur and the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements may not occur, which may cause Highwood's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by this news release. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Highwood is disclosed in Highwood's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Highwood disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events, or developments, except as required by law. All dollar figures included herein are presented in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted. SOURCE Highwood Oil Company Ltd. BOARD APPOINTMENTS LONDON, July 11, 2023 - Horizonte Minerals Plc (AIM:HZM)(TSX:HZM) ("Horizonte" or the "Company"),the nickel company developing two Tier 1 assets in Brazil, is pleased to announce the appointment of John MacKenzie as a Non-Executive Director and Simon Retter as an Executive Director effective immediately. John MacKenzie John is a senior mining executive with more than 30 years of operational and investment experience in the metals and mining sector, currently Chief Executive Officer and Director of TSX-listed Capstone Copper Corp (current market capitalisation of US$3billion). Previously, John was Executive Chair and Founder of Mantos Copper before its merger with Capstone Mining in 2022. He brings extensive operating and construction experience to the Board, in particular in South American through his time as part of the Anglo American group where he was a member of the Executive Committee and CEO of Copper at Anglo American plc, CEO Zinc at Anglo Base Metals and General Manager at their Minera Loma de Niquel mine and smelter in Venezuela, an RKEF ferronickel operation similar in design capacity to Araguaia. He was also previously a Non-Executive Director of KAZ Minerals plc. John has a Master of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Master of Business Leadership from the University of South Africa and has completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School. Simon Retter Simon has served as the group CFO of Horizonte Minerals since 2016. He is a commercially focused business leader with almost 15 years of experience as an Executive and Non-Executive Director focussed in the natural resources sector, driving strategic growth and leading high-performance teams across various financial roles. Simon started his career at Deloitte in assurance and advisory, qualifying as a chartered accountant before gaining extensive experience in the public markets and the mining sector, specifically, reverse takeovers, IPOs and secondary fundraising. Change in Company Secretary Mr Leonardo (Leo) Neves, Horizonte's General Counsel, has been appointed as Company Secretary, taking over from Mr Simon Retter effective immediately. Mr Neves is an experienced legal professional, having developed his career at law firms Pinheiro Neto Advogados (Brazil), McMillan LLP (Canada) and Fasken Martineau LLP (UK). He has also acted in-house for various mining companies, including Ferrous Resources where he spent 9 years as Head of Legal and Company Secretary. Mr Neves holds an LL.B. degree from University of Brasilia (UnB) and an LL.M. degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is qualified to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales, as well as in Brazil and Portugal. Jeremy Martin, CEO of Horizonte, commented: "We are delighted to welcome John MacKenzie and Simon Retter to the Board at this important time for Horizonte. These appointments emphasise the Board's continued evolution enhancing the skillsets required to successfully deliver two Tier 1 nickel projects. "I am confident that John's in-depth experience in the base metals sector will prove invaluable as we transition from a developer to a producer, and I look forward to continuing the great work that Simon is doing, maximising the potential of the assets for all our stakeholders." For further information, visit www.horizonteminerals.com or contact: Horizonte Minerals Plc Jeremy Martin (CEO) Simon Retter (CFO) Patrick Chambers (Head of IR) info@horizonteminerals.com +44 (0) 203 356 2901 Peel Hunt LLP (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker) Ross Allister David McKeown +44 (0)20 7418 8900 BMO (Joint Broker) Thomas Rider Pascal Lussier Duquette Andrew Cameron +44 (0) 20 7236 1010 Tavistock (Financial PR) Emily Moss Cath Drummond +44 (0) 20 7920 3150 Regulatory The following information is disclosed under Rule 17 of the AIM Rules for Companies ("AIM Rules") and Schedule Two Paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules: John Fraser MacKenzie (aged 55) Mr MacKenzie does not hold any ordinary shares nor options over ordinary shares in the Company. Current Directorships Past Directorships (within the last five years) Capstone Copper Corp. Kaz Minerals plc Mantos Copper S.A. Mantos Copper (Bermuda) Limited Mantoverde S.A. There is no further information which is required to be disclosed under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of John Fraser MacKenzie. Simon James Retter (aged 41) Mr Retter holds 107,679 ordinary shares and 3,282,500 options over ordinary shares in the Company. Current Directorships Past Directorships (within the last five years) Timpton Ltd Aterian plc CTFR Holdings Ltd I-Med Group International Ltd Stonedale Management and Investments Ltd I-Med Medical Therapy System Ltd Horizonte Minerals (IOM) Ltd I-Med Sport Ltd HM Brazil (IOM) Ltd I-Med Treasury Ltd Vox Valor Capital Ltd Lan Greenfield Ltd HRC World plc Lan Group plc Adalan Ventures plc MDMS Online Ltd Fragrant Prosperity Holdings Ltd Oplon Ltd ElixIrr International plc Skinside UK Ltd SulNOx Fuel Fusions Ltd SulNox Group plc TriSkin Ltd Upham Holdings plc Vertu Capital Holdings Ltd I-Med Aesthetics Ltd I-Med Animal Healthcare Ltd I-Med Clinics Ltd Simon Retter was a director of I-Med Group International Ltd from 5 May 2017 until 5 December 2022. I-Med Group International Ltd entered into a creditors' voluntary liquidation on 30 June 2020, with the company subsequently dissolved on 5 December 2022. There is no further information which is required to be disclosed under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of Simon James Retter. ABOUT HORIZONTE MINERALS Horizonte Minerals Plc (AIM/TSX: HZM) is developing two 100%-owned, Tier 1 projects in Para state, Brazil - the Araguaia Nickel Project and the Vermelho Nickel-Cobalt Project. Both projects are large scale, high-grade, low-cost, have low carbon emission intensities and are scalable. Araguaia is under construction with first metal scheduled for 1Q 2024. When fully ramped up with Line 1 and Line 2, Araguaia is forecast to produce 29,000 tonnes of nickel per year. Vermelho is at feasibility study stage and is expected to produce 24,000 tonnes of nickel and 1,250 tonnes of cobalt to supply the EV battery market. Horizonte's combined production profile of over 60,000 tonnes of nickel per year positions the Company as a globally significant nickel producer. Horizonte's top three shareholders are La Mancha Investments S.a r.l., Glencore Plc and Orion Resource Partners LLP. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the ability of the Company to complete any planned acquisition of equipment, statements with respect to the potential of the Company's current or future property mineral projects; the ability of the Company to complete a positive feasibility study regarding the second RKEF line at Araguaia on time, or at all, the ability of the Company to complete a positive feasibility study regarding the Vermelho Project on time, or at all, the success of exploration and mining activities; cost and timing of future exploration, production and development; the costs and timing for delivery of the equipment to be purchased, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves and the ability of the Company to achieve its goals in respect of growing its mineral resources; the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates and achieving production in accordance with the Company's potential production profile or at all. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks related to: the inability of the Company to complete any planned acquisition of equipment on time or at all, the ability of the Company to complete a positive feasibility study regarding the implementation of a second RKEF line at Araguaia on the timeline contemplated or at all, the ability of the Company to complete a positive feasibility study regarding the Vermelho Project on the timeline contemplated or at all, exploration and mining risks, competition from competitors with greater capital; the Company's lack of experience with respect to development-stage mining operations; fluctuations in metal prices; uninsured risks; environmental and other regulatory requirements; exploration, mining and other licences; the Company's future payment obligations; potential disputes with respect to the Company's title to, and the area of, its mining concessions; the Company's dependence on its ability to obtain sufficient financing in the future; the Company's dependence on its relationships with third parties; the Company's joint ventures; the potential of currency fluctuations and political or economic instability in countries in which the Company operates; currency exchange fluctuations; the Company's ability to manage its growth effectively; the trading market for the ordinary shares of the Company; uncertainty with respect to the Company's plans to continue to develop its operations and new projects; the Company's dependence on key personnel; possible conflicts of interest of directors and officers of the Company, and various risks associated with the legal and regulatory framework within which the Company operates, together with the risks identified and disclosed in the Company's disclosure record available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, including without limitation, the annual information form of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the Araguaia and Vermelho Technical Reports available on the Company's website https://horizonteminerals.com/. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Horizonte Minerals Plc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/766778/Horizonte-Minerals-PLC-Announces-Board-Appointments Vancouver, July 11, 2023 - South Atlantic Gold Inc. (TSX-V:SAO) ("South Atlantic" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to C$510,000. The Offering will consist of up to 8.5 million common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price of C$0.06 per Common Share. The proceeds of the Offering will be used to advance the Company's due diligence on its proposed acquisition of the Tucano Gold Mine in Brazil, as previously announced on July 5, 2023, and for general corporate purposes. Insiders of the Company, including certain directors are expected to participate in the Offering. Accordingly, the Offering is considered a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Offering will be exempt from minority shareholder approval, and formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to the exemptions contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the Common Shares nor the consideration to be paid for the Common Shares, insofar as it involved related parties will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. As the material change report relating to the completion of the Offering will be filed on SEDAR less than 21 days before the completion of the Offering, there is a requirement under MI 61-101 to explain why the shorter period is reasonable or necessary in the circumstances. In the Company's view, the shorter period is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances because the related parties and the Company wished to complete the Offering in a fashion that resulted in the invested funds being received directly by the Company in a timely manner such that the funds could be accessed immediately by the Company to advance its ongoing due diligence activities. The Offering is subject to the receipt of all regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date hereof. The Offering is expected to close on or about July 27, 2023, or such other date as determined by the Company. The Common Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person or a person in the United States, without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable U.S. state securities laws, or compliance with the requirements of applicable exemptions therefrom. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the Unites States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About South Atlantic Gold South Atlantic Gold is an exploration company engaged in acquiring and advancing mineral properties located in the Americas. Our flagship asset is the 100%-owned Pedra Branca project, located 280 km southwest of Fortaleza, Ceara State, Brazil. South Atlantic Gold is focused on creating value for its shareholders by engaging in the development and acquisition of high-quality mineral assets located in stable and mining-friendly jurisdictions. South Atlantic Gold is based in Kelowna, British Columbia, and is listed on the TSX-V under the symbol "SAO". ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Douglas Meirelles, President and CEO For more information regarding this news release, please contact: Douglas Meirelles, President and CEO T: 250-762-5777 Email: ir@southatlanticgold.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking Information", as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information includes statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking information in this news release includes the Company's expectations concerning the completion of the Offering, the timing thereof and the use of proceeds of the Offering. Although the Company believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by its nature forward-looking information involves assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; the receipt of required regulatory approvals and the timing of such approvals; that the Company maintains good relationships with the communities in which it operates or proposes to operate, future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; competition; the risk that any of the assumptions prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work, risks associated with the interpretation of data, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as other assumptions risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company, including as set forth in the Company's public disclosure documents filed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS NEWS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Almonty and Korea Telecom collaboration introduces revolutionary Mine Safety DX technology to augment responsible and sustainable mining practices at Almonty's Sangdong Mine Almonty Industries Inc. ("Almonty" or the "Company") (TSX: AII / ASX: AII / OTCQX: ALMTF / Frankfurt: ALI.F), through its wholly-owned South Korean subsidiary, Almonty Korea Tungsten Corporation (AKTC), is proud to announce its collaboration with Korea Telecom (KT) which is introducing cutting-edge Mine Safety DX technology. Developed in partnership with KT, this innovative solution aims to enhance worker safety and promote efficient mining practices which is indicative of AKTC's strong commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance. The partnership between AKTC and KT is the result of the continuing challenges the mining industry has faced in ensuring immediate response to unforeseen events and instantaneous sharing of critical information in emergency situations. The Mine Safety DX technology, which is being implemented at the Sangdong Mine in South Korea, addresses these concerns by utilizing advanced Information and communication technology to establish a new safety framework for mining operations. "We are fully committed to implementing responsible and sustainable mining practices as we reopen the Sangdong Mine while also providing the safest environment possible for our mine workers," said Lewis Black, President and CEO of Almonty. "Mine Safety DX technology, developed with Korean Telecom, gives us a previously unheard of level of workplace environment monitoring that ensures the detection of hazardous factors and timely notifications to protect worker well-being. We look forward to sharing this advancement with the rest of the mining community. In addition, AKTC will be making this technology, which is a key component of our ESG program, available via open source to allow all South Korean mines access to this important new system." The communication infrastructure established by KT and AKTC at the Sangdong Mine is based on Long Term Evolution technology. This infrastructure offers superior coverage and simultaneous access, surpassing the capabilities of Wi-Fi and radios traditionally used in mine communication. By utilizing "leaky coaxial cables" and "mining designated line amplifiers," seamless communication is possible even in deep underground sections of the mine, ensuring communication and monitoring capabilities. The Mine Safety DX solution incorporates various components, including smart devices, access/location management, an AI-based mine safety system, and workplace environment monitoring. Smart devices, such as smart bands and helmets with smart tags, provide real-time location information and biometric data, enabling immediate response to underground emergencies and ensuring worker safety. The access/location management component utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy beacons for precise positioning and notification of workers entering dangerous areas. This AI-based mine safety system enables real-time monitoring of worker safety, emergency messaging, and data analysis allowing mine operators to take proactive safety measures. Workplace environment monitoring ensures the detection of hazardous factors and timely notifications to protect worker well-being. In addition to improving safety standards, the Mine Safety DX technology also contributes to the efficient functioning of mining operations. By establishing a robust communication infrastructure, AKTC aims to enhance mining efficiency and productivity. The collaboration between AKTC and KT aligns with the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Comprehensive Mine Safety Plan and supports the government's goal of providing long-distance wide-area communication capabilities by 2027. The implementation of Mine Safety DX at the Sangdong Mine further solidifies AKTC's commitment to responsible and sustainable mining practices. The redevelopment of the Sangdong Mine is not only revitalizing the local community but also positions KTC as a leader in the domestic mining industry. Almonty's investment in safety measures and the application of fourth industrial revolution technology demonstrates its dedication to reducing risks and improving the overall mining environment. "We are proud to partner with KT in developing the Mine Safety DX solution," said Donghoon Kang, Sangdong Mine's Planning Director at AKTC. "This collaboration allows us to prioritize worker safety while also promoting efficient mining practices. We believe that the implementation of this technology will establish Yeongwol-Gun, Gangwon-do, as a mining city at the forefront of technological advancement, contributing to the revitalization of the domestic mining industry." AKTC and KT plan to continue their collaboration in developing innovative solutions that not only prioritize safety but also align with ESG principles. By integrating advanced technology, sustainable practices, and strong corporate governance, AKTC remains at the forefront of responsible mining practices in South Korea. About Almonty The principal business of Toronto, Canada-based Almonty Industries Inc. is the mining, processing and shipping of tungsten concentrate from its Los Santos Mine in western Spain and its Panasqueira mine in Portugal as well as the development of its Sangdong tungsten mine in Gangwon Province, South Korea and the development of the Valtreixal tin/tungsten project in northwestern Spain. The Los Santos Mine was acquired by Almonty in September 2011 and is located approximately 50 kilometres from Salamanca in western Spain and produces tungsten concentrate. The Panasqueira mine, which has been in production since 1896, is located approximately 260 kilometres northeast of Lisbon, Portugal, was acquired in January 2016 and produces tungsten concentrate. The Sangdong mine, which was historically one of the largest tungsten mines in the world and one of the few long-life, high-grade tungsten deposits outside of China, was acquired in September 2015 through the acquisition of a 100% interest in Woulfe Mining Corp. Almonty owns 100% of the Valtreixal tin-tungsten project in north- western Spain. Further information about Almonty's activities may be found at www.almonty.com and under Almonty's profile at www.sedar.com. Legal Notice The release, publication, or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published, or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. These statements and information are based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and reflect Almonty's current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Almonty to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: any specific risks relating to fluctuations in the price of ammonium para tungstate ("APT") from which the sale price of Almonty's tungsten concentrate is derived, actual results of mining and exploration activities, environmental, economic and political risks of the jurisdictions in which Almonty's operations are located and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, forecasts and assessments relating to Almonty's business, credit and liquidity risks, hedging risk, competition in the mining industry, risks related to the market price of Almonty's shares, the ability of Almonty to retain key management employees or procure the services of skilled and experienced personnel, risks related to claims and legal proceedings against Almonty and any of its operating mines, risks relating to unknown defects and impairments, risks related to the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, risks related to governmental regulations, including environmental regulations, risks related to international operations of Almonty, risks relating to exploration, development and operations at Almonty's tungsten mines, the ability of Almonty to obtain and maintain necessary permits, the ability of Almonty to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements, lack of suitable infrastructure and employees to support Almonty's mining operations, uncertainty in the accuracy of mineral reserves and mineral resources estimates, production estimates from Almonty's mining operations, inability to replace and expand mineral reserves, uncertainties related to title and indigenous rights with respect to mineral properties owned directly or indirectly by Almonty, the ability of Almonty to obtain adequate financing, the ability of Almonty to complete permitting, construction, development and expansion, challenges related to global financial conditions, risks related to future sales or issuance of equity securities, differences in the interpretation or application of tax laws and regulations or accounting policies and rules and acceptance of the TSX of the listing of Almonty shares on the TSX. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to, no material adverse change in the market price of ammonium para tungstate (APT), the continuing ability to fund or obtain funding for outstanding commitments, expectations regarding the resolution of legal and tax matters, no negative change to applicable laws, the ability to secure local contractors, employees and assistance as and when required and on reasonable terms, and such other assumptions and factors as are set out herein. Although Almonty has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, level of activity, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and even if events or results described in the forward-looking statements are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Almonty. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and are cautioned that actual outcomes may vary. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Almonty cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Almonty's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Almonty has also assumed that material factors will not cause any forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF ALMONTY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD- LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE ALMONTY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711423950/en/ Contact For further information, please contact: Lewis Black Chairman, President and CEO Telephone: +1 647 438-9766 Email: info@almonty.com The Chaotic Election of 1800 Aaron Burrs Victory in New York Alexander Hamiltons Infamous Letter The Enemy of My Enemy The Two U.S. Constitutions Afterword: One-Term Presidents Some Trump supporters and advisers have suggested that if the certification of the 2020 election can be delayed beyond Dec. 8, Republican-controlled state legislatures could step in to name their own set of presidential electors who would cast their Electoral College votes for Donald Trump, not the individual who appears to have won the election in those swing states. Others have speculated that perhaps electors might be persuaded to vote for Trump in spite of the expectation that they would cast their ballots faithfully for the winner in their states. In the minds of some diehard Trump supporters, including individuals at the highest reaches of the Congressional establishment, whatever it takes to get Mr. Trump to 270 Electoral College votes is fair game.There is nothing illegal about these contrivances. In fact, the Founding Fathers actually intended the nations Electoral College electors to be somewhat independent of the will of the majority . Nothing in the Constitution itself requires the electors to vote for the winner of the popular vote in their state. It was assumed that they would routinely do so, but the Founders posited that if the people voted for a person the electors thought was unsuited for the presidency, they could use their discretion to advance the prospects of someone else. Most states now have laws requiring the electors to endorse the winner of the election in their state, but it is at least possible that what are known as faithless electors could award the presidency to Donald Trump rather than Joe Biden, who won the national popular vote by more than 5.6 million votes.There are lessons for them and those who oppose them in the election of 1800, generally considered to be the nastiest in American history.It might be useful to examine another such moment in American political history, the tumultuous presidential election of 1800, in which the challenger Thomas Jefferson of Virginia unseated his old friend, now his rival, the incumbent President John Adams of Massachusetts.The election of 1800 was one of the most contested and vituperative elections in American history. The incumbent John Adams was not well liked, even by his fellow Federalists. His craggy independence and his inconsistent handling of the quasi-war with France (an undeclared naval war) had perplexed almost everyone in the United States. He was being characterized by the emerging Republican Party (no relation to today's) as a monarchist and a lover of aristocracy, and he stubbornly refused to clarify his views or campaign for re-election in any way. His challenger Thomas Jefferson was regarded by his admirers as a friend to liberty and a friend of the people, an advocate for severely limited government, isolationism, fiscal responsibility, and states rights. Jefferson was characterized by his detractors as a political radical and demagogue who had spent too much time in revolutionary France, where he served as the American minister between 1784-89.In the end, Jefferson defeated Adams in the Electoral College 73 to 65. Adams skulked out of Washington, D.C., on the dawn stage on March 4, 1801, to avoid seeing Jefferson installed in his place. Adams was actually less angry at Jefferson than at the American people, for retiring him after a single term.For Jefferson to win the election of 1800, he would need all or most of the Electoral College votes in the southern states, some votes in the middle states, and most of all New York. It was expected that Adams would win all of New Englands Electoral College votes, perhaps a few in South Carolina, and several middle states. New York would determine the election. At that early point in American political history, there was no common date for national elections. Each state had its own system and its own election calendar. It wasnt until 1845 that Congress determined that the presidential election would be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November.Because they must win New York to win the 1800 election, the Jeffersonian Republicans selected Aaron Burr to be Jeffersons running mate (though Jefferson never really trusted him), knowing that Burr would work tirelessly to deliver New Yorks electors, if only out of self-love. In an era when men of political ambition had to pretend that they were high-minded gentlemen and that politics was a vulgar business beneath their dignity, Burr was a candid political opportunist, who gleefully engaged in the kind of ward and street electioneering that we associate with modern politics.Burr ran an outstanding campaign against the aloof and self-restrained Federalists under the leadership of Alexander Hamilton. He out-maneuvered Hamilton at every turn. He transformed his own house in lower Manhattan into an election headquarters, threw down mattresses in some of the rooms so his hectic operatives could rest, and maintained an open refreshment table, so that he could maintain party discipline and concentrate on getting tradesmen, craftsmen, small business owners, and others normally ignored by both parties to the polls.In the May 1800 election that determined who would be New Yorks presidential electors in the fall, Burr won a stunning insurgent victory that appalled the New York Federalist establishment, partly because it felt to them like a violation of the code of respectability. But the simple fact is that Burr outsmarted, out-maneuvered, and out-hustled Hamilton, who never quite got over it. One contemporary reported that after the election results were known, Hamilton exhibits a figure of rage and despair.In the wake of the election, Hamilton, perhaps the single most brilliant public figure of the founding generation, convened a caucus to assess the situation and determine if something could be done to forestall the election of Jefferson. The anti-Federalist newspaper thenoted, when it was urged that it [stealing the election after the fact] might lead to a civil war a person present observed that a civil war would be preferable to having Jefferson. Thats how passionate the politics of the early national period could be.Under Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, each state is empowered to determine its own method of choosing electors for the presidential election. In that bit of ambiguity, Hamilton saw a path to defeat Jefferson after the fact. Hamilton, the undisputed leader and political strategist of the Federalist Party, now a private citizen in New York pursuing a lucrative career as a lawyer, wrote a letter that has done more to damage his historical reputation than anything else he did in his extraordinary life. The letter was addressed to his friend John Jay, the governor of New York.Jay had been a delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1775, where he spoke against separation from Great Britain. He despised the people, arguing that those who own the country ought to govern it, and that the wise and the good should do everything they can to prevent the ascendancy of the wicked and the weak. He had, moreover, negotiated a compliant 1795 commercial treaty with Great Britain now known as Jay's Treaty , which made him a hated figure in southern and western circles and for which he was burned in effigy throughout the United States. He was, in short, no democrat and no admirer of Thomas Jefferson.In his letter to Jay on May 7, 1800, Hamilton urged the governor to call a special session of the outgoing, lame-duck, Federalist-dominated New York Legislature to change the method of choosing New Yorks electors so that the just-elected Republican (Jeffersonian) Legislature would not be able to select them in the fall of the year. Hamilton knew he was suggesting an unethical and anti-democratic stunt to avoid accepting the will of the people of New York. I am aware, he wrote, that there are weighty objections to the measure; but . . . in times like these in which we live, it will not do to be overscrupulous. It is easy to sacrifice the substantial interests of society by a strict adherence to ordinary rules. In other words, winning is sometimes more important than adhering to established American norms.Then, to cover his tracks, Hamilton wrote, In observing this, I shall not be supposed to mean that anything ought to be done which integrity will forbidbut merely that the scruples of delicacy and propriety, as relative to a common course of things, ought to yield to the extraordinary nature of the crisis. It turns out that every American election is the most important in our history. The rules that apply in the common course of things should not apply when so much is at stake.In his appeal to Gov. Jay, Hamilton said he could not countenance an Atheist in Religion, and a Fanatic in politics as the next president. Jefferson was neither of these things. He was a deist (God as physicist and clockmaker) and as time went on a unitarian, but he was never an atheist. In politics, although he was a utopian pragmatist and his dream of a Virgilian agrarian republic was more poetic than practical, Jefferson was never a fanatic. Warming to his theme, Hamilton told Jay that some members of Jeffersons party advocated the overthrow of the government by stripping it of its due energies, others . . . a revolution after the manner of Buonaparte. None of this was true, of course, but Hamilton needed some alternative facts to justify his rash proposal. This was no time for ethical fastidiousness, Hamilton said, and it seems to me that there is a very solemn obligation to employ the means in our power. Hamilton told Jay that while his proposed maneuver was of questionable propriety, the reasonable part of the world will, I believe, approve it.Hamiltons father-in-law Philip Schuyler wrote his own letter to Gov. Jay endorsing Hamiltons plan to steal the election. He admitted that although such a Machiavellian maneuver would cause some embarrassment, it was justified given the amount of mis-rule the country could expect from Jefferson.Hamiltons early 20th-century biographer Henry Cabot Lodge (a Hamiltonian, and the best friend of a greater Hamiltonian Theodore Roosevelt) concluded: The proposition was, in fact, nothing less than to commit under the forms of law a fraud, which would set aside the expressed will of a majority of voters in the state [of New York].Governor Jay never answered Hamiltons letter. But on the back of the letter he wrote, Proposing a measure for party purposes which it would not become me to adopt. Jay was a high Federalist who despised Jeffersons politics (though not the man), but he refused to countenance Hamiltons irresponsible proposal. Even Hamiltons most generous biographer Ron Chernow was harsh in his judgment: Hamiltons appeal may count as the most high-handed and undemocratic act of his career.This story ends in varieties of irony. Hamilton could not abide Jefferson, but he knew that Jefferson was a fellow gentleman who could be counted on to adhere to the Constitution in his administration of the country. Hamilton hated Burr, whom he regarded as a dangerous self-promoter and a rash adventurer who had no respect for constitutional niceties or the code of gentlemanly behavior. Hamilton didnt like or respect John Adams either. In fact, he wrote a 58-page pamphlet disparaging his partys nominee entitled, Concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq. President of the United States . Although the pamphlet was intended to be quietly circulated among Federalist political leaders, it was leaked to the press and published before the election. Naturally, this enraged Adams, who called Hamilton the bastard brat of a Scotch pedler [sic], and delighted the Jeffersonians, who watched the Federalist Party self-destruct before their eyes.Jefferson defeated Adams in the election, but he tied with his running mate in the Electoral College with 73 votes. That threw the election of 1800 into the House of Representatives, where a number of Federalists decided to press for the election of Burr, whom they thought they could manage or even induce to embrace their political point of view, rather than Jefferson, whom they knew they could not possibly control. The tie thus precipitated the first constitutional crisis in American history, when the party that lost attempted to supplant the duly elected president to preserve their power and place in the national government. In fact, the crisis might have led to civil war. Gov. James Monroe of Virginia was prepared to invade the national capital, if necessary, to take back the election for Jefferson.When Hamilton learned of the Federalist efforts to form an alliance with Burr, he threw his considerable political weight behind his old enemy Jefferson. In a letter to James Bayard of Delaware, dated Jan. 16, 1801, Hamilton argued that all responsible men must prefer Jefferson to Burr, even though I admit that his [Jeffersons] politics are tinctured with fanaticism, that he is too much in earnest in his democracy, that he has been a mischievous enemy to the principal measures of our past administration, that he is crafty & persevering in his objects, that he is not scrupulous about the means of success, nor very mindful of truth, and that he is a contemptible hypocrite. Amazing: thats Hamiltons characterization of the man he preferred! Of his personal and political enemy Burr, Hamilton wrote, these things are admitted and indeed cannot be denied, that he is a man ofambitionthat he isto a degree which excludes all social affections & that he is decidedly. Burr was, said Hamilton, inferior in real ability to Jefferson.This would seem to reinforce the adage that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Seldom has any political candidate been damned with such faint praise. Hamilton was right about Jefferson in one key respect, however. He told Bayard that Jefferson is as likely as any man I know to temporizeto calculate what will be likely to promote his own reputation and advantage; and the probable result of such a temper is the preservation of systems, though originally opposed, which being once established, could not be overturned without danger to the person who did it. To my mind a true estimate of Mr. J.s character warrants the expectation of a temporizing rather than a violent system. In other words, Jefferson was unlikely to destroy the fiscal system Hamilton had devised for the United States or eliminate the army and navy (as many Federalists feared). Jeffersons ideas and ideals were always more visionary than his actions. He turned out to be a decidedly moderate president, and some historians have even said he proved to be a quasi-Hamiltonian in his administration actions.What this extraordinary story tells us is that we have two constitutions the capital "C" Constitution drafted in 1787, ratified in 1788, and amended just 27 times in the course of American history. That Constitution is a brief document of just 4,543 words, which provides a general recipe for American governance but declines to specify exact procedures for many important American political institutions. Many provisions were left, as one historian puts it, in studied ambiguity.Then there is the lowercase "c" constitution of the ways and means and norms that have emerged in the 232 years since ratification, including the cabinet, executive orders, executive privilege, senatorial courtesy, and much more. Those constitutional norms include the gracious concession of the loser in a presidential election, cooperation in the transition from one administration to another, faithful electors, mutual acceptance that the people have spoken, the losers appearance at his rivals inauguration, and a high degree of self-restraint by former presidents in not opinionating on the leadership of their successors.Theodore Roosevelt actually left the country on a yearlong safari in 1909 to give his hapless successor William Howard Taft the chance to establish his own regimen and presidential style, without everyone looking over Tafts shoulder to see how the former president infinitely more energetic and charismatic reacted to his every utterance and every decision.In the election of 1800, Hamilton, who saw his lifes work slipping away with the coming of the democrats into power, assaulted the barely rooted norms of American political tradition. He attempted to void the results of the election by what even he regarded as unscrupulous means. His nasty pamphlet about his own partys nominee for the presidency broke later President Ronald Reagans Eleventh Commandment, Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican. In doing so, Hamilton split the Federalist Party and weakened its chances of holding onto the presidency. By 1805, after Jefferson won a second term by a landslide, the Federalist Party essentially blinked out of existence, in part because of Hamiltons misguided actions in the election of 1800.Hamiltons hostility towards Aaron Burr, and Burrs resentment of Hamiltons abusive words and deeds, would percolate for the next four years until it became clear that New York was not big enough to contain both of these titans of American politics. They finally met in a duel on the west bank of the Hudson River at Weehawken, N.J., on July 11, 1804, where Hamilton appears to have thrown away his shot (i.e., missed deliberately) and Burr fired to kill and did. The most famous duel in American history thus has some roots in the chaotic election of 1800, which Jefferson blithely called the Second American Revolution Even Hamiltons close friend Gouverneur Morris, who delivered the eulogy at his funeral in New York City on July 14, 1804, wrote in his diary that his friend was indiscreet, vain, and opinionated. These things must be told, or the character will be incomplete.Such were the political machinations of Alexander Hamilton, one of the greatest secretaries of the Treasury in American history, and, of course, the darling of the recent Broadway musical.John Adams became the first of 10 presidents who have been denied a second term by their party or by the American people: John Adams, John Quincy Adams (his son), Martin Van Buren, Franklin Pierce, Benjamin Harrison, William Howard Taft, Herbert Hoover, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. The expectation is always that an adequate president will be granted a second term. The last time an incumbent was denied re-election was 28 years ago, when Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush. Being relegated to the one-term club is a source of bitterness to its members, some of whom continue grumbling about it for the rest of their lives.If Mr. Trump, who has made a career out of deriding losers, winds up losing the Electoral College vote on Dec. 14, he will bear a double stigma. In addition to being a one-term president, he will be just the third president impeached by the House of Representatives. If (as seems unlikely) Trump resigns before the end of his term to secure a pardon from his short-term successor Mike Pence, he would bear a third historical stigma as the second American president to resign.Its 2020, the year when things fell apart. Alpine must find solutions amid slump says Gasly Pierre Gasly says Alpine has to "find solutions" to the Renault-owned team's stalled progress in Formula 1. Pierre Gasly, British GP 2022 Alpine The Frenchman left the Red Bull family to replace Fernando Alonso at Alpine this year, but the British GP basically summed up the result so far: P10 in qualifying, contact and DNF in the race. Afterwards, Gasly's frustration showed. First, after wheel-to-wheel action with Carlos Sainz, he interrupted a television interview with Sainz by physically poking the Ferrari driver on the arm and declaring: Don't push me like that . Poor thing, Sainz hit back. And after hitting out at Lance Stroll after his race-ending contact, the Aston Martin driver reacted by laughing: I'll meet him in the parking lot later. Gasly also told Canal Plus he is concerned about Alpine's performance problems. We know where we're losing time and we clearly have work to do, he said. What McLaren has done to improve must serve as an example to us, so we have to keep working. We know our weaknesses and we have to find solutions to solve them. Gasly's comments follow a period of change behind the scenes at Alpine, after selling part of the team to investors for EUR 200 million. That transaction followed Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi's earlier criticism of the team's progress, as he even put new team boss Otmar Szafnauer under the spotlight. And now, it emerges that Rossi has appointed former FIA official Bruno Famin to be vice president, where he will lead Alpine's activities across all motorsport disciplines . Alpine added that Famin will be reporting directly to Laurent Rossi rather than team boss Szafnauer. All current leaders of Alpine motorsport activities will thus report to Bruno Famin, the team confirmed. (GMM) Marko admits Verstappen could quit F1 Dr Helmut Marko admits the risk is real that Max Verstappen will quit Formula 1. Max Verstappen, British GP 2023 Red Bull The likely-in-2023 triple world champion actually has a contract through 2028, but Verstappen has warned that he could quit as the F1 calendar swells and the controversial new 2026 regulations loom. Max doesn't just say something like that, Red Bull's Marko told Osterreich newspaper. I hope he keeps his contract, which runs until 2028, to the very end. But who knows. Maybe one day he'll come and say 'Thanks, that's it', he added. Marko admitted that one of Verstappen's biggest concerns is the 2026 rules, after the Dutchman said he is worried the sport will turn into an engine competition . When asked if Red Bull's rivals must be hoping that Red Bull falters with its new Red Bull Powertrains project, though, 80-year-old Marko smiled: "I think that's wishful thinking. Let's see how everything develops. In 2026 there will be new regulations that could throw everything overboard, he admitted. But for now, Verstappen and Red Bull seem to be breaking long-standing records at every single grand prix. I'll be surprised what they dig up next and I'm sure I'll be made aware of it, Marko smiled. Honestly, I would never have dared to dream that we would one day advance into these spheres. The Vettel years were already scary for me. The next record can in fact be broken next time out in Hungary, where Red Bull can oust the utterly-dominant McLaren team of 1988 as owners of the longest winning streak in F1 history. We'll see how our car is doing in Budapest, Marko said. We thought such a winning streak was unlikely, but we have to enjoy it while it lasts. He admits Red Bull could end up with a full clean-sweep of victories in 2023. At Budapest we're only halfway, said Marko. There's still a long way to go. But so far it's true. Finally, Marko agreed with Verstappen that he's not too excited about the Formula 1 movie starring Brad Pitt that saw plenty of filming take place last weekend at Silverstone. It's not really my thing, Verstappen said. "In the end, a movie is to create a bit of a show, because of course not everything is going to be real. I think they're going to use some shots from around the world and onboard cameras and things, but actually I'm not very interested, he added. Marko agrees: "I was in a meeting until just before the start and didn't even realise that a movie car was said to have stopped on the installation lap. I really liked the Niki Lauda film, but otherwise I prefer to experience the whole thing live. (GMM) Consolidated Bank signs on to UN Global Compact Daily Graphic Business News Jul - 11 - 2023 , 06:11 As part of efforts to strengthen its commitment to responsible business practices, Consolidated Bank Ghana LTD (CBG) has joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a voluntary global initiative that promotes responsible business practices and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By signing on to the worlds largest corporate sustainability initiative, CBG aligns itself with a global network of Businesses and Organisations committed to upholding10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption. These principles serve as a guidepost for organisations to integrate sustainability into their strategies and operations, fostering long-term value creation for both the company and society. At the signing ceremony at Consolidated Bank Ghana LTD (CBG) in Accra, the Managing Director of CBG, Daniel Wilson Addo, said this agreement signifies the bank's unwavering dedication to advancing sustainable development goals and contributing to a more inclusive and prosperous future. "It is with joy that I announce that CBG is the first state-owned commercial bank in Ghana to be a member of the UNGC. This partnership has become necessary because, as a bank, we are cognisant of the impact of the decisions we make now and the years to come. As a member of the UN Global Compact, CBG joins like-minded corporate organisations to accelerate the world's progress towards sustainability. The Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Ghana, Tolu Kwaku Lacroix, welcomed Consolidated Bank Ghana LTD (CBG) to the initiative, stating, "CBG has shown great leadership in the areas of sustainability and ESG. Along with implementing the Ghana Sustainable Banking Principles, it is an institution that fosters good governance practices among its clients and supports capacity-building initiatives for its stakeholders. he added. He said by joining the UN Global Compact, CBG sent a strong message that this sustainability journey was important and that it desired to elevate its standing in Ghana and the world. For his part, the CEO of the Ghana Association of Banks, John Awuah, commended CBG for promoting sustainability in banking. "On behalf of the association, I commend you for choosing sustainability and humanity as the centre of all your business. I hope this will propel more banking institutions to boldly join the community of business leaders and organisations that have decided to put profitability and humanity in the same sentence". Biological man wins Miss Netherlands beauty pageant tvpworld.com Showbiz News Jul - 11 - 2023 , 14:32 A biological man, identifying as a transgender woman has won the Miss Netherlands beauty pageant, the first such happening in its history. Model Rikkie Valerie Kolle won the crown on Sunday, impressing the jury with his iron strong story and clear mission. Kolle, 22, originating from the southern Netherlands, is the competition's first transgender winner in its 94-year history. His victory means that he qualifies for the Miss Universe competition in El Salvador in December. The phenomenon of biological men finding success in womens beauty pageants has been a growing trend in the western world in recent years. Kataluna Enriquez, who was crowned Miss Nevada USA in 2021. Brian Nguyen won the title of Miss Greater Derry, which led to a backlash in some circles, more memorably from former Miss Great Britain winner model Leilani Dowdin, who said the other contestants had their opportunity stolen from them by a biological male. A biological male and an overweight one at that has just won Miss Greater Derry in New Hampshire. Brian who is not even a female name, caked in makeup, nothing like the pretty natural girls that entered the competition, has not only taken first place, theyve taken away the chance for a female to have a scholarship and use that prize money for something towards her future, Dowdin said in a video she shared on Twitter. When Kolle competes at Miss Universe, he will be the competition's second openly transgender competitor, after Spanish model Angela Ponce in 2018. Transgender contestants have been able to compete in the pageant since 2012 - when it was owned by former US President Donald Trump. The competition is now owned by Thai businesswoman and reality star Anne Jakkapong Jakrajutatip - who is transgender. Jakrajutatip bought the company in 2022 and promised: not only to continue its legacy of providing a platform to passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and traditions but also to evolve the brand for the next generation. Will Smith teases son Jaden for not having children at 25 Metro.co.uk Showbiz News Jul - 11 - 2023 , 09:41 Will Smith has celebrated his son Jaden on his 25th birthday, by teasing him for not having any children yet. The Bad Boys actor, 54, shares the musician, and daughter Willow, with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, 51, and made it very clear that he is ready to live that granddad life. Taking to Instagram, he shared a sweet black-and white snap of the pair together as he put his arm around his son. Alongside the upload, he joked: Happy Birthday, J-Diggy. Its crazy that youre 25?!?! When I was 25 I had a 2 yr. old Im just sayin Whas up? What you doin over there? BTW, this is my favorite picture of us [sic]. Yeah, were not entirely sure either While the birthday boy has yet to reply to his dads post, Jadas mother couldnt help but slide into the comments herself to mock her son-in-law. Adrienne Banfield Norris laughed: Hes smarter than you [sic]. Fans were also living for the unique birthday caption, with one penning: Parents are all same, I swear. He said give me a grandchild now!!! Lol, another agreed. A follower replied: These adults kids arent having any kids anytime soon. Theyre enjoying life as they should. Someone wants to be a grandpa. #justsayin, an Instagram user added. Read also: You Hide Me still packs hefty punch after 53 years Beyonce's mum's home robbed, $1 million in cash and jewellery reportedly stolen You Hide Me still packs hefty punch after 53 years Nii Laryea Korley Showbiz News Jul - 10 - 2023 , 15:54 In 1970 when Ghanaian film director /producer Nii Kwate Owoo made his You Hide Me documentary, little did he know that the 16-minute film would over half a century later, still be a vital asset in the crusade for the return of artworks pillaged from Africa during the colonial era. After carving up Africa and sharing territories to themselves in the mid-19th century, nations like France, Portugal, Britain, Germany and Spain destroyed invaluable knowledge systems in thriving kingdoms such as Benin, Ashanti, Cameroon and Dahomey. A massive extradition of artworks from those kingdoms to European centres then followed. Seen as controversial and ahead of its time then, You Hide Me concentrates on the stealing and stashing away in wooden boxes and plastic bags, of ancient and rare African art in the basement of the British Museum. The film was liked by many progressive folks for reinforcing the already growing aversion towards Western art establishments and the role they played in the looting and hoarding of precious works of art from Africa and elsewhere. On the 50th anniversary of You Hide Me in 2020, the June Givanni Pan African Cinema Archive (JGPACA) in association with the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Africa Centre in London, Africa Foundation for Development (AFFORD) and other partners, organised a series of webinars to commemorate the occasion. The four webinars, among other things, touched on the need for more attention to be paid to the curating and teaching of African art and the value of Africas historical cultural knowledge for a better understanding of the issue of restitution. It also stressed the necessity for Africa-oriented organisations to be more vocal in defending the future of African heritage. The campaign for the return of African artistic treasures to the places they belonged gained some traction in recent years when President Emmanuel Macron of France in 2021 announced steps he had taken toward honouring his 2017 promise to return some works from the Abomey Treasures collection which had been kept in Paris Quai Branly Museum since 1897. British and German museum authorities have also been reported to have agreed to return stolen artefacts to their rightful owners. According to Nii Kwate, he owes a great deal of gratitude to June Givanni for spearheading the London webinar series to mark the You Hide Me 50th anniversary. The initiative sparked fresh international interest in the film and he wasnt surprised when he got a call came from German scholar, Prof Benedicte Savoy of the Technical University of Berlin. She is an authority on the pillage of art treasures by colonizers. Her book, Africas Struggle for its Art - History of a Postcolonial Defeat, contains a chapter dedicated to You Hide Me. She invited Nii Kwate to show his film and lead a discussion on its content at the Archival Assembly #2 Festival held from June 8 to June 15 2023 in Berlin. The festival embraces screenings, a symposium, an exhibition and project presentations that highlight film archives as essential for the future of cinema. I had a useful interaction with the audience after my work was screened. Film is an extremely powerful medium of communication. It doesnt matter when it was made. Once the content resonates with people, that product would always be cherished, says Nii Kwate. As a final-year student at the London Film School in 1970, Nii Kwate was obliged to submit a short film as part of the requirements for graduation. Always an art enthusiast, he shot and presented something on three contemporary African artists in London then: Ibrahim Salahi from Sudan, Emmanuel Jegede from Nigerian and Dumile Feni from South Africa. He, however, felt that production didnt accurately say what he wanted to express about African art. With the British Museum just around the corner from the London Film School, he took a walk there to find out what new inspiration could grab him. He was overwhelmed by the extent of African art he found there and immediately knew that was the subject to tackle. Granted permission to film for a day only from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, he went in with a camera crew and managed to come away with a 16-minute final product that has been a compelling voice for Africa since 1970. You Hide Me opens with an energetic call to arms in Ga. A minimalist score of African wind and percussion instruments are sprinkled over the visuals of art objects hidden in the underground vaults of the British Museum. A section of the narration states: How can the governments of independent African states explain to the generation now growing up that they cannot see their cultural heritage in their own countries..We the people of Africa and of African descent demand that our work of art which embody our history, our civilization, our religion and culture should be immediately and unconditionally returned to us! There are now requests from many places around the world to show the film which won the Best Short Documentary Film trophy at the Paris International Short Film Festival in 2020. Ni Kwates immediate desire, however, is to have the film translated into African languages like Twi, Ga, Ewe, Dagbani, Hausa, Swahili, Zulu, Yoruba, Xhosa, Shona and Amharic for more non-English speaking Africans to catch the message in it. Unleashing gender equality for development Dr Leticia Adelaide Appiah Opinion Jul - 11 - 2023 , 12:45 The World Population Day (WPD) annually celebrated worldwide on July 11 is dedicated to emphasising the importance of population issues. The day was established by the United Nations (UN) in response to the significant interest generated by the Five Billion Day in 1987. Today, we join the world in celebrating another WPD, highlighting the profound impact of population dynamics on individual and national well-being, peace, and prosperity. The global theme for this year is "Unleashing the Power of Equality: Uplifting the Voices of Women and Girls to Unlock Infinite Possibilities." Our national theme, "Unleashing the Power of Gender Equality to Spur Development," has been derived from this overarching theme. Barriers In Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa, there exist several fundamental barriers to gender inequality. Our indifference towards issues such as high teen pregnancies, child marriage, and unmet family planning needs over the years has been perpetuated by political, traditional and religious leaders. These barriers hinder women from voicing their concerns and realising their full potential. Extensive research and evidence demonstrate that countries that have successfully addressed gender inequality gaps and developed their human capital have provided equal opportunities to both boys and girls. This has been achieved through eliminating child marriage and empowering women with age-appropriate and culturally sensitive reproductive health information, education, and services. Such measures enable women to exercise their right to make informed choices, free from coercion, ignorance and misinformation. It is crucial to acknowledge that as long as these conditions persist, our nation and sub-region will continue to face challenges. We will have a large and restless youth population in need of social services and employment opportunities. With only a limited number of taxpayers who may struggle to meet their own needs as well as those of the growing youth, effective governance will remain challenging. To address these issues, we must support young girls in raising their voices and unleashing their potential. Information This can be achieved by removing barriers to reproductive health information and services and advocating changes in the structures, norms, ideologies, values and cultures that oppress them. We must ensure that our girls are not reduced to mere conduits for vulnerable children, leaving them unable to provide proper care. It is important to note that a society, culture or regime that remains indifferent to child marriage and teen motherhood is also indifferent to individuals who are compelled to rely solely on public charity and the benevolence of strangers. Such a society fails to show kindness to its most vulnerable members and neglects the necessary steps to bridge the inequality gap, a crucial condition for unlocking the potential required for development. The suffering of teenage mothers and their babies is evident, and the communities they reside in also bear the consequences. It is imperative that we address these fundamental issues in order to alleviate our collective suffering and promote development. Choices Our choices and the values that underpin them have, at times, fostered socially, economically, and environmentally unsustainable policies and development paths. Similarly, our bright and sustainable future depends on the priorities and choices we make today. As an unknown author once said, "The hero and the villain in today's uncertainty story are one and the same: human choices." To achieve our national theme of "Unleashing the Power of Gender Equality to Spur Development" and create a Ghana beyond aid, as well as the Africa we aspire for, we must prioritise reproductive health information and services as an economic, security, environmental and health policy. To unlock the power of gender equality and propel our development, let us, as a nation and sub-region, pledge to adopt and promote reproductive health information and services, including family planning, as a means to safeguard the well-being, happiness, prosperity and peace of our people. On behalf of the National Population Council (NPC) Ghana, I wish you all a reflective World Population Day. Together we all get better. The writer is the Executive Director, National Population Council. David Adjaye: Africa Institute joins list of institutions to cut ties with architect International News Jul - 11 - 2023 , 12:27 The Africa Institute has decided to cut ties with architect Sir David Adjaye following accusations of sexual assault and harassment levelled against him. The institute had enlisted Sir Adjaye to design a massive monolithic campus in downtown Sharjah, UAE, encompassing Africa Hall and consisting of five high-rise blocks constructed from red-hued concrete, spanning an area of 31,882 square meters. However, in the wake of recent allegations made by three women against Sir Adjaye in the Financial Times, The Africa Institute, an organization devoted to the study, research, and documentation of Africa, has made the decision to cancel the project altogether. In a statement shared with Dezeen, Hoor Al Qasimi, President of The Africa Institute, expressed deep concern over the allegations and confirmed the termination of the building project with Adjaye Associates. Al Qasimi emphasized that despite this development, the institute's ongoing research and educational endeavours at its current facilities will remain unaffected. The cancellation of the Africa Institute project marks the latest in a series of professional setbacks for Sir Adjaye since the misconduct allegations were initially reported by The Financial Times. Sir Adjaye has stepped down from his role as a design advocate for the mayor of London and resigned as a trustee of London's Serpentine Galleries. Additionally, he will not be involved in the UK Holocaust Memorial project until the raised concerns are addressed, as stated by a spokesperson from the British ministry overseeing the memorial, according to The New York Times. Sir Adjaye's association with the Studio Museum in Harlem has also been terminated, resulting in his exclusion from the design of the museum's new facility. Furthermore, he has formally disassociated himself from the African Futures Institute, and his involvement in the construction of a building for Oregon's Multnomah County Library has been cancelled. IJM Ghana responds to BBC Africa Eye trafficked children documentary International News Jul - 11 - 2023 , 15:24 The International Justice Mission (IJM) office in Ghana has responded to a documentary by the BBC that alleged that some Ghanaian children have been taken from their homes in an operation backed by one of the world's leading anti-slavery organisations. The BBC Africa Eye in an investigative reported published on Monday, July 10, 2023 made the allegation. Related: Ghanaian children wrongly taken in raids backed by US charity [VIDEO] Below is a full copy of the response by IJM Ghana IJM Ghana Response to BBC Africa Eye Documentary 11 th July 2023 IJM has been active in Ghana since 2015 to stop child trafficking on Lake Volta. We have supported authorities on over 75 operations which have led to hundreds of children being brought to safety. In 90% of IJM supported cases, children have been reintegrated with family members who have been assessed as safe. The BBCs allegations are incredibly concerning. Protecting childrens welfare is at the core of IJMs work in Ghana and were always looking to evaluate any ways to improve policies and practices. We conducted a detailed internal investigation into the BBCs claims. We will take on board any refinements to our processes, but crucially the findings revealed material inaccuracies in the BBCs allegations. All decisions on whether to bring children to safety, as well as arrests and prosecutions, are made by the police and other Ghanaian authorities. All cases that IJM refers to Ghanaian authorities have gone through a rigorous review. IJM presents all the facts in advance of any action including distinctions between suspected cases of trafficking versus suspected cases of exploitative child labour. Police and authorities make their own determination if Ghanaian law has been violated. In the Hilltop case referred to by the BBC, IJM was fully transparent with police, providing them with the facts of the case, including that there was one likely case of child trafficking and three that were not clear (including Fatimas). The police conducted their own investigations determining there was sufficient evidence before proceeding with the operation and following information gathered on the operation police filed trafficking charges against the suspects. In this case the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) determined that the three girls were not safe with their grandmother. Families were told by police what was happening and where the children were being taken. The IJM team who were supporting the authorities on the operation did not witness the police using guns in the manner described by BBC. Ultimately, DSW decided to place the children with other family members in a different area where they were able to go to school. IJM Ghana in no way misled the authorities on the facts of this case. In relation to Operation Freedom, the BBC claimed that Ms. Mawusi did not know the whereabouts of her children after they were removed by the authorities. This is not accurate - IJM, in partnership with government social workers, facilitated and supervised phone communication between Ms. Mawusi and her children while she served her term, to assure her of the childrens safety and whereabouts. IJM and DSW also provided economic support in the form of business start- up equipment to the family to help ensure a safe return for the children. Upon monitoring the home to ensure that Mawusis sister Mavis was thriving economically with her business, DSW reintegrated the children with her. Protecting and supporting childrens welfare is at the core of IJM Ghanas work. All exploitation of children on Volta Lake is illegal under Ghanaian law, but our focus is on combatting child trafficking as these children are the most exposed to serious harm, life-threatening conditions and malnutrition. They are the least likely to be permitted to attend school. The prevalence, danger and severity of child trafficking and exploitative child labour in the Volta Lake fishing industry is well established and has been documented by the Ghanaian authorities, the United Nations, academic studies and even the BBC itself in previous reporting. In a new study commissioned by IJM and due to be released this year, researchers from leading academic institutions interviewed more than 1,200 children from communities surrounding Lake Volta. Their independent study that found that 38% of the children were likely to have been trafficked and a further 45% were likely engaged in exploitative child labour that was harmful. IJM Ghana, led and staffed by Ghanaians, successfully helps to reduce levels of child trafficking by supporting government partners to stop this exploitation. It has worked with authorities on more than 75 operations, which have led to hundreds of children being brought to safety. In 90% of IJM supported cases, children have been reintegrated with family members who have been assessed as safe. The Ghana team sets various targets for its work as one of several ways of evaluating IJMs programs. This allows the team to evaluate, learn and make its work more effective. No IJM Ghana staff member has been disciplined or dismissed for failure to meet victim relief targets. First-hand accounts from hundreds of children who survived trafficking and exploitation on the lake report being forced into life-threatening and exhausting work against their will. These children often experiencing beatings, malnutrition and sickness, and are at severe risk of drowning. Courage Hope, a survivor of child trafficking on Volta Lake who now leads My Story Counts, a chapter of the Ghanaian Survivor Network of more than 20 survivors, added his account of trafficking: Years ago, I lived with my mother until a strange man came and asked to take me to school. When we reached the place, the man told me that I wasnt there for school, but for fishing. I was diving into the lake, paddling the boat, fishing with bamboo. Theyd beat me and then throw me into the river and I will swim back again. And they are just beating me. I was there until one day, the police came to rescue me. So now, I am free. But I want to tell all the stakeholders that there are more children there who are suffering more than I have suffered. IJMs global mandate is to protect the most vulnerable people in our societies from violence, by helping to strengthen public justice systems through increasing their capacity to handle crime. Around the world, IJMs approach has led to reductions in child trafficking of up to 86% in places where we have worked. Our work relies on the support of government and civil society, and survivor-led groups. We are grateful to our partners in Ghana for their ongoing support in tackling the very real problem of child trafficking on Volta Lake. How do I seek justice for leaked exam question? Mirror Lawyer Life Jul - 11 - 2023 , 08:07 Dear Mirror Lawyer, During the conduct of my schools end-of-semester examination, there were allegations that some of the questions had leaked. The examiners resorted to scrutinising the scripts of the students to determine which students had received the questions. The results of students whom the school deemed had received the exam questions were initially withheld and the students were subsequently dismissed. I was one of those students affected and have not had it easy since then. I never received any questions but the school did not even want to hear my side of events. I don't even know what to tell my parents after all their sacrifices to put me through school. Is there anything the court can do for me? Kwasi Brew Dear Kwasi, I know this is really a difficult moment for you. In Ghana, administrative bodies must adhere to a principle known as natural justice. The principle is premised on two important legs. The first leg is audi alteram partem a Latin phrase which means hear the other side and the second leg namely nemo judex in causa sua which also means you cannot be a judge in your own cause. In this context, what is relevant is the first leg of the principle of Natural Justice that is audi alteram partem (hear the other side), the enabling law that governs this principle are articles 33(1) and 23 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. Article 23 of our Constitution states: Administrative bodies and administrative officials shall act fairly and reasonably and comply with the requirements imposed on them by law and persons aggrieved by the exercise of such acts and decisions shall have the right to seek redress before a court or other tribunal. Article 33(1) confers power on the High Court in cases where the person seeking redress alleges that his or her personal rights have been infringed upon. It provides that: 33(1) Where a person alleges that a provision of this Constitution on the fundamental human rights and freedoms has been or is being or is likely to be contravened in relation to him, then, without prejudice to any other action that is lawfully available, that person may apply to the High Court for redress. "Wade on Administrative Law (6th ed), p 523 states that: Powers of a purely administrative character must be exercised fairly meaning in accordance with natural justicewhich after all is only fair play in action. There have been judicial decisions concerning this principle of audi alteram partem. Cases such as Awuni v WAEC (West African Examination Council) is one of the cases where the principle was upheld. All you need to establish is that the school failed to give you an audience. In that case, you must provide sufficient evidence to prove that indeed the school failed to hear your side of the story. From your account of events, it is obvious that the school failed to give you an audience. The above constitutional provisions and Wades well-renowned book on administrative law provide a good ground from which you can seek redress. Please find a lawyer to represent you and possibly institute legal action on your behalf. All the best as you endeavour to fight for your right. TVET pivot for Africas economic growth Edward Boateng Daily Graphic Education Jul - 11 - 2023 , 10:00 The Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Ambassador Edward Boateng, has emphasized the transformative power of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in driving industrialisation and economic growth in Africa. Addressing delegates at the 3rd China - Africa Economic expo held in Changsha, Hunan China, he shared examples of strategic cooperation between China and Africa which inspired hope and evidence of a path of mutual benefit. Ambassador Boateng, who previously served as Ghana's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, expressed delight at participating in the expo and the seminar, recounting the deep affection and memories he had experienced during his tenure. He highlighted the longstanding history of relations between China and Africa in the field of education, describing China's monumental support as leaving a deep footprint in virtually every country on the continent. Pioneers It is worth noting that Ambassador Boateng was one of the key implementing pioneers of the China Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) during his tenure as Ghanas Ambassador to the Peoples Republic of China, a position he held from June, 2017 to September 2020. The CAETE was one of the pillars proposed by President Xi Jinping during the 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as a part of the broader concept of a community of a shared future for development under the Belt and Road Initiative. The expo has over the period of its establishment, worked under very insightful and practical themes; including technology, agriculture, resource management, education among others. This years expo had TVET as one of its themes of deliberation. TVET as critical pillar Recognising TVET as a critical pillar of national development, Ambassador Boateng emphasized its potential to harness and sustain a country's industrial strength and creative abilities. He underlined that skill development not only enables decent jobs and livelihood, but also increases revenue generation for individuals and expands the tax bracket for the nation. He stressed the worldwide importance of TVET, citing the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 4 and the Education 2030 Framework for Action. Ambassador Boateng drew attention to China's exceptional TVET programme, highlighting its potential as a game changer as seen by the country's unparalleled industrialisation. He also emphasized China's assistance to different African countries, particularly Ghana in the TVET sector. Ghana has embarked on a large effort to create TVET centres across the country, with support from Chinese organisations under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Ambassador Boateng expressed optimism that similar support schemes were being implemented elsewhere on the continent and would contribute to the continent's development. Concerning the future of TVET in Africa, Ambassador Boateng advocated for a break in the "silo-like" structure of TVET and general education in African countries, emphasizing the necessity for vertical and horizontal synergy between the two systems. He mentioned the progress made in Ghana under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, where technical school graduates were no longer required to take additional general education courses to pursue a university education. Integrated approach Ghana seeks to establish an integrated approach that optimises resources and propels sustainable development by linking TVET and general secondary education. He encouraged participants at the seminar to consider how best to replicate the Chinese TVET model in their individual nations and expressed confidence that the seminar's discussions would yield productive results and pave the way for significant changes in TVET across Africa. Ambassador Boateng said as African countries strived to collaborate and increase intra-continental trade through strategic initiatives such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), such calls for investment and collaboration in TVET were critical to preparing Africa's human resource for the expected industrialisation wave. Allow Islamic, Quranic experts to develop curriculum ''Allow Islamic, Quranic experts to develop curriculum" Joshua Bediako Koomson Jul - 11 - 2023 , 12:14 The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), has been urged to allow only Islamic and Quranic experts to develop curriculums for Islam studies. A Founder member of Talim Ghana, a Muslim organisation, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, said currently, the practice was that educational experts who had no basic understanding of the Islamic religion were given the opportunity to develop a curriculum for Islamic and Quran studies without any recourse to experts in the sector. Islamic and Quran studies is a specialised area, I am not saying its sacrosanct but we must be committed to engage experts who have basic understanding in the sector to develop our curriculum. We have a lot of Muslim scholars and Arabic experts in the country who can craft a curriculum for us. Dr Abdul-Hamid added. Dr Abdul-Hamid, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), was speaking at a seminar on Islamic teaching and learning in Accra yesterday. The event was organised by Talim Ghana, a non-governmental organisation committed to improving the standard of living in various Muslim communities in the country. It was attended by some Muslim leaders and Islam scholars who deliberated on developing a curriculum for the Muslim community in the country. Engagement Dr Abdul-Hamid further said, If you want to know about Catholicism, ask a Catholic, I am not going to read a book on Catholicism written by a Presbyterian. If you want to know about Islam, ask a Muslim, so it is we Muslims who must own our curriculum and we must have a say in the development and review of our curriculum as the years go by. He also urged Muslim experts to be assertive and let the Ministry of Education know that there were experts within the Muslim community who had the capacity to develop a curriculum and also review it periodically. Dr Abdul-Hamid said the Constitution had given every citizen the right to profess the religion of their choice and to manifest such belief. Therefore, the Muslim community must begin to engage with the government more thoughtfully and also give themselves a benchmark below which they would not accept, he added. Eternity of Quran Even though it was believed that the Quran was eternal, Dr Abdul-Hamid said many Muslims sometimes misunderstood the eternity of the Quran. He said the Quran was able to speak to every time and age and that there was enough technology in the Quran to answer questions of technological nature. So as the world evolves, Dr Abdul-Hamid said crafters of Islamic curriculum should be able to find principles in the Quran to bring it in tune with modern times. So dont be nervous when somebody says that the world has changed and , therefore, the Islamic curriculum must change with the times; dont misunderstand the person to mean that Islam has changed. It means that you can have enough principles in the Quran to answer the changes that are taking place in the world, he said. The President of the Nigerian Centre for Arabic Research, Nigeria, Professor Alkhidru Abdul Baaq Mohammed, also said there was the need to reconsider the relationship between Islam and modernity and develop curriculums that related to Muslim lives. Also, he said the curriculum must be connected to the national identity so that students would know about their national history and not be introduced to a curriculum that could lead to alienation. Embrace See something, Say something campaign ''National Security urges public'' Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Jul - 11 - 2023 , 12:43 The Head of Client Service of the Ministry of National Security, Akosua Ntim-Sekyere, has said that the See something, Say something campaign introduced to safeguard the peace and security in Ghana is not to create fear and panic. Rather, she said, the campaign was to awaken the security consciousness of Ghanaians in the wake of terrorist attacks and the insurgence of violent activities of extremists in Burkina Faso and other neighbouring countries in the Gulf of Guinea. She indicated that the campaign was to make the citizenry alert at all times to report suspected individuals who would infiltrate into Ghana through border communities. Tour Mrs Ntim-Sekyere said this during a tour to intensify the campaign in some border communities in the Upper East Region last Friday. The three-day tour took the team to Pusiga, Kulungugu, Zebilla, Bongo, Paga and Wiaga, with the members interacting with chiefs and elders, as well as a cross-section of society, including traders and transport unions. She noted that although it was the responsibility of the government through the security agencies to secure the country, Ghanaians also had a responsibility to play to ensure that the nation was safe. She said: There is no doubt that ensuring peace and security is a shared responsibility and that Ghanaians must be on the lookout to report persons whose actions they are not sure of to the security agencies for immediate action. Prank calls dangerous Mrs Ntim-Sekyere said it was dangerous for the public to place prank calls to the toll-free number 999 meant to receive calls about suspicious activities. She explained that calling the hotline only to find out whether the number is working can prevent the call of someone with genuine security concerns to go through for immediate action to be taken. While appealing to the public to desist from placing such calls to the call centre, she gave an assurance that the hotline was efficient and effective, and that there were always officers to respond to calls. She entreated the public to have confidence in the security agencies and to offer the necessary support to them in the discharge of their duties. Additional entry point The Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Baba Salifu Aleemyarum, called on the government to take immediate steps to set up another recognised entry point at Feo in addition to the one at Namoo, which shared a border with Burkina Faso. He expressed concern that some people entered Ghana from Burkina Faso through unapproved routes and that it was important for personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to intensify their checks at the border. Energy Commission begins outreach programme for schools Diana Mensah Jul - 11 - 2023 , 07:00 The Energy Commission has begun an outreach programme to sensitise schools to use less energy to perform the same task with equal results. The exercise is also geared towards addressing issues of climate change and energy efficiency in the country. At the first forum under the Accra Academy last Thursday, the Director of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency of the Energy Commission, Kofi Agyarko, said the outreach was a national call to encourage the public, simulation exercise particularly, young people to be ambassadors of energy efficiency and conservation. Accra Academy was identified as one of the schools with high energy consumption. So we will use the opportunity to equip students and staff of the school with the necessary skills and knowledge about the benefits of saving energy and identify ways to reduce energy consumption, Mr Agyarko said. He added that energy efficiency and conservation should be a national concern for all, adding that not only to old guys who control the budget but to everybody, especially students because they are the future leaders. He said as precious as energy was, it had become expensive and so there was the need for all to pay more attention to its usage for the countrys economic development. Mr Agyarko said students needed to be conscious of how they used power to help the school to spend less with better output from the little they spent on energy. Mr Agyarko expressed the hope that cutting down on energy consumption would save the environment and the economy, and improve the economic circumstances of the school. He, therefore, charged the students to be responsible, and to improve on the conditions of the earth, adding that the commission intended to reach out to schools across the country. At the end, you would know how to save energy to save the budget resources and then apply the saving for other critical areas that are useful to the school, he added. Climate change In an engagement with the students, an energy efficiency expert, Edwin Tamakloe, indicated that some human activities such as burning of coal, oil and gas for electricity, cutting down trees, waste disposal and increase in livestock were the main drivers of climate change in the country. He added that such activities had led to a change in snow and rain patterns, changes in animal migration and life cycle, rising sea levels, rising temperatures and damaged corals. Mr Tamakloe advised that energy efficiency and conservation were needed to ensure less electricity use, less carbon dioxide emissions, protect the climate, reduce energy cost and save money. He added that in order to be energy efficient, the school management needed to be more technology driven, adopt a behavioural change that would lead to the reduction of energy consumption, as well as invest in energy conservational technologies. That, he said, would help the school to use less electricity, protect the climate, reduce energy cost and save money. When the actions are properly adhered to, it would help to achieve the Sustainability Development Goals 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 13 (Climate Action), he said. Sustainable action The Headmaster of Accra Academy, Emmanuel Ofoe Fiemawhle, later said in an interview that his outfit would ensure that energy was used sustainably by paying critical attention to energy efficiency for the betterment of the school. Food security: Govt moves to strengthen measures Graphic.com.gh Jul - 11 - 2023 , 15:48 The government has given a hint about the implementation of aggressive measures to strengthen Ghanas food security systems. The measures are also intended to ensure resilience in the food security architecture. The Ashanti Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, Rev. Dr. John Manu who announced this in Kumasi said the strategies are to help sustain the 2022 gains and scale up targets for the years ahead. He was addressing the opening of a 5-day capacity enhancement training workshop for technical staff of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) in Kumasi. The workshop was funded by the World Food Programme (WFP) under its south-south triangular cooperation pilot project. A total of 23 technical personnel of NAFCO including Regional Managers, Food Safety Officers and Quality Control Managers drawn from all regions took part in the five-day training which was facilitated by a team of agriculture and food science experts from the Faculty of Agriculture of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The participants were taken through various topics including Post-Harvest Management, Grains Storage best practices, Modern Warehouse Management Techniques, Food safety, Quality Control and Standards. Rev. Dr. Manu said following the huge success of governments flagship interventions in the agriculture sector in the last few years, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is mapping out plans to consolidate the gains. Over the years, farmers have taken advantage of favorable government policies to increase their productivity. Some of the policies include Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), one district one warehouse, one village one dam, the regional director said. He said the training was critical in helping the National Food Buffer Stock Company to position itself, organise and collaborate professionally with aggregators when PFJ 2:0 by the government takes off. NAFCO must ensure reliable emergency national food reserve and explore sub regional markets for surpluses in maize and rice to support national development, he added. He commended the World Food Programme (WFP) for supporting Ghanas quest to be food sufficient, resilient and secured and also lauded the partnership between WFP and NAFCO describing it as strategically prudent for Ghanas food security agenda. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NAFCO, Mr. Kofi Amankwah said the training workshop was aimed at enhancing the technical abilities as the company seeks to re-position itself for national tasks. He expressed gratitude to the Ghana Office of the United Nations World Food Programme for its financial support towards the organisation of the training workshop. The Head of Corporate Affairs at NAFCO, Mr. Emmanuel J.K. Arthur who coordinated the training workshop told journalists the outcomes of the training included an increased staff efficiency and improved operations to enable the company deliver on its mandates more effectively. The workshop was on the theme Working together for food security and resilient food systems. 2022 World disaster report launched Emelia Ennin Abbey Jul - 11 - 2023 , 08:44 The Ghana Red Cross Society, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has launched the 2022 World Disaster Report in Accra with a focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparedness. The report indicates that preparedness ahead of COVID-19 globally was inadequate and highlights how the world can prepare more effectively for future public health emergencies. According to the report, the COVID-19 pandemic was the biggest disaster in living memory. It showed that more than 6.5 million people were confirmed to have died in less than three years with its indirect impact affecting lives in almost every community on the planet. The report is an annual publication by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) that provides a comprehensive overview of the humanitarian challenges faced by communities around the world. It also contains a comprehensive analysis of natural and man-made disasters, including data on disaster frequency, disaster-related deaths, the number of people affected, economic losses and impact on communities and livelihoods. Commitment The President of the Ghana Red Cross, Kwame Gyimah Akwafo, said the report served as a compass to guide stakeholders towards a future where communities would be resilient, individuals empowered and lives saved. The devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added, had tested our resolve, stretched resources and exposed the vulnerabilities in systems. "We have realised that the cost of inaction far exceeds the investment required for preparedness. The time for change is upon us, and the report provides us with a roadmap for that change," Mr Akwafo added. As a way forward, he said the global health architecture was being reformed while governments were reassessing their laws, policies and plans. The president urged stakeholders to influence the processes and advocate measures that prioritise disaster preparedness and response. He said his outfit "stands ready to support these efforts with our nationwide network, our dedicated volunteers and our commitment to humanity. We are uniquely positioned to bridge the gaps". The disaster management manager at the Red Cross Society, Jonathan Hope, also said that the report underscored the importance of preparedness based on the principles of trust, equity and local action. He said it also highlighted the growing impact of climate change and the increased frequency of extreme weather events, leading to humanitarian needs and increased challenges for disaster risk reduction and response efforts. Additionally, it stresses the need for a more humanitarian, rights-based and people-centred approach to disaster response and the importance of investing in resilience building, recovery and rehabilitation to build back better. Collaboration The Director-General of NADMO, Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh, said disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic had taught the world that there was no place for a business-as-usual approach to reducing disaster risks and vulnerabilities. He, however, said that disaster resilience required the cooperation, contribution and intervention of all state and non-state actors at global, regional, national and community levels. The coordinator of climate change at NADMO, Charlotte Norman, said the findings and recommendations made in the report were critical in ensuring the mistakes of the past were not repeated. Commendation Representatives from the Ministry of Health, the University of Ghana School of Public Health, the Ghana Health Service and the IFRC, all commended the government for its proactive response towards the COVID-19 pandemic and initiatives towards strengthening the countrys preparedness for potential disasters in future. Ghana, Europe sign protocol on cybercrime Linda Sah Jul - 11 - 2023 , 09:26 Ghana took a significant step towards strengthening its cybersecurity infrastructure by signing the Council of Europes Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention). Ghana ratified the Budapest Convention in April 2019 and is one of six African countries to do so. Last Wednesday, the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, signed the protocol on behalf of Ghana at the Council of Europe Headquarters in Strasbourg, France, being the second African country, following Mauritius, to sign the Protocol. In her opening remarks, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful expressed Ghanas appreciation to the Council of Europe for its relentless efforts towards a global response to cybercrimes through strengthening international cooperation and providing an opportunity for Member States to work together effectively. She lauded the Council for the recent workshop and public consultation held on June 8 and 9, 2023, in Ghana, which created the platform for relevant stakeholders to deliberate and obtain a better understanding of the principles of the protocol. The minister said since the powers of officials in the criminal justice sectors were limited by territorial boundaries, only a few cybercrime cases were reported to criminal justice authorities, leading to criminal justice actions. She, however, revealed that the Protocol responds to these challenges by providing the tools for enhanced cooperation and disclosure of electronic evidence. She further explained that the adoption of the Protocol will strengthen cybercrime investigation efforts and lead to more adjudication of cybercrime cases, globally.. Building The minister, who was accompanied by the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, and the Acting Director, Capacity Building and Awareness Creation, at the CSA, Alexander Oppong, pledged Ghanas commitment to taking the necessary steps towards the full implementation of the articles in the Protocol and will continue to count on the Council of Europe on this partnership. The brief ceremony also witnessed the signing of the Protocol by Hungary. Cabo Verde signed the Amending Protocol to the Convention for Protection of Individuals on Personnel Data, as well as the Second Additional Protocol as Slovak Republic also deposited the instrument of ratification of the First Additional Protocol. Global Action Ghana's designation as a hub country under the Global Action on Cybercrime Enhanced (GLACY-e) project highlights its role as a leader in cybersecurity. Ghana is one of the three hub countries in Africa, the others being Senegal and Mauritius, in recognition of its prior engagement with the GLACY+ project. The project is an extension of the GLACY+ project, with a projected duration of 30 months, from August 2023 to January 2026. As a hub country, it will spearhead training programmes for law enforcement agencies, conduct case simulation exercises, organise awareness workshops and share best practices at regional and international levels. Through its involvement in the GLACY-e project, Ghana will gain access to targeted advice on training strategies. By signing the Protocol and assuming the role of a hub country, the country reaffirms its commitment to combatting cybercrime, protecting its citizens and fostering international cooperation. These efforts align with its vision to establish a secure and resilient digital ecosystem, safeguarding its citizens and fostering economic growth in the digital age. Mining dispute: A-G fights $300m claim Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Jul - 11 - 2023 , 08:33 The Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has gone to court to stop an Australian mining firm, Cassius Mining Limited, from pursuing an international arbitration seeking $300 million compensation from the Government of Ghana (GoG). Cassius has been fighting Ghana in international arbitration forums since February this year, seeking compensation over what it claimed were unfair treatment and breaches of mining laws by the GoGs failure to extend the term of the companys Prospecting Licence Agreement (PLA), after exercising its contractual right of extension. However, in an application filed at the Commercial Division of the Accra High Court, the A-G urged the court to restrain Cassius Mining from going for international arbitration but rather avail itself of an ongoing arbitration at the Ghana Arbitration Centre (GAC) over the same dispute. Arbitration should be in Ghana It is the case of the A-G that per the PLA, any dispute between the mining firm and the GoG must be resolved by arbitration in Ghana in accordance with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798) and not by an international arbitration panel. The A-G filed the application at the High Court in Accra following a new international arbitration initiated by Cassius Mining in which the company sought to have the arbitration in London, UK, under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Arbitration Rules. Such a move by Cassius Mining, Mr Dame argued, was a clear violation of the PLA, Act 798 and virtually ousted the jurisdiction of the High Court of Ghana from supervising the arbitration process as stipulated by Act 798, and rather placed such jurisdiction over the matter in the High Court of England and Wales. The recourse by respondent to international arbitration is gross abuse of process and most oppressive of applicant herein as, in Clause 21 of the Prospecting Licence Agreement, the parties have agreed that their dispute shall be referred to arbitration in accordance with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798). Nowhere have the parties agreed that their disputes would be resolved under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, the A-G submitted before the court. Forum-shopping The Principal Legal Advisor to the government, therefore, urged the High Court in Accra to restrain Cassius Mining from embarking on any international arbitration, as such a move was not only against the PLA and Act 798, but also amounted to forum-shopping, which would saddle the GoG with unnecessary cost and expenses. Unless restrained by this honourable court, the respondent (Cassius Mining) will continue searching for an international forum that will support the breach of Clause 21 of the Prospecting Licence Agreement and undermine the ongoing proceedings before the Ghana Arbitration Centre. That this is a fit and proper occasion on which this honourable court ought to exercise its supervisory jurisdiction over the pending arbitration proceedings between the two parties hereto and grant an interim injunction restraining the respondent from embarking on plain illegality, the A-G added. The application for interim injunction by the A-G is in conformity with Section 39 of Act 798 which clothes the High Court with the jurisdiction to grant interim injunction in arbitration proceedings. Challenge This is not the first time the A-G is challenging Cassius Minings decision to go for international arbitration over the dispute. In March this year, the A-G successfully challenged the jurisdiction of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands, to hear the dispute after Cassius Mining had filed an arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules before the PCA. Raising a preliminary legal objection, Mr Dame argued that the GoG had not consented to the PCA administrating the arbitration and also per the PLA, any dispute between the two parties must be resolved in Ghana in accordance with Act 798. The PCA upheld the objection by Mr Dame, declined jurisdiction over the dispute and refused to constitute a panel to hear the dispute. The PCA Secretary-General may act as appointing authority under the UNCITRAL Rules if all parties so agree. The PCA understands that no such agreement has been reached in this matter, the PCA said in a letter dated March 20 this year to the parties. Background Per court records, on October 12, 2016, Cassius Mining Limited applied for a prospecting mining licence to explore minerals in Talensi in the Upper East Region. On December 28, 2016, the GoG, through the then Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, granted the mining firm a prospecting licence for two years, which was to expire in December 2018. On June 14, 2018, Cassius Mining alleged that the GoG had failed to uphold its part of the contract by not renewing the prospecting licence which was set to expire in December 2018. The mining firm, therefore, dragged the GoG to the Ghana Arbitration Centre (GAC) on June 26, 2018, in accordance with the dispute settlement clause of the Prospecting Licence Agreement, which enjoins the parties to settle their disputes in Ghana in accordance with Act 798. An arbitral panel which was comprised Emmanuel Amofa, Kizito Beyuo and Professor Albert Fiadjoe, was formed to hear and determine the dispute. However, per the court documents, on January 23, 2019, Cassius Mining applied for a stay of proceedings for three months in order to explore settlement with the GoG. After the expiration of the three months, the mining firm applied for an extension which was granted but nothing was heard about the arbitration, although it was still pending. In February 2023, Cassius instituted fresh arbitration at the PCA, which declined to hear the matter following the objection raised by the A-G. Texas-based Ghanaian nurses to construct maternity ward in Pantang Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Jul - 11 - 2023 , 08:53 The Ghana Nurses Association of Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas, US, has started a process to construct a maternity ward in the Pantang community in the La Nkwantanang Municipality in the Greater Accra Region. This comes after elders in the community appealed to the association for a maternity facility to cater to the needs of women during pregnancy through to the post-delivery period when some of their members visited the area in 2021. The President of the association, Aba Amprofi-Halm, said the nurses and the entire Ghanaian community in Dallas-Fort Worth agreed on the project because they were inspired to give back to their motherland. Other initiatives She said the goal of the association was to embark on various projects across the country every two years, adding last two years, we did more of donations and visiting to some clinics and communities. Our project is not only in Pantang, we are going to the Ho Teaching Hospital and to Cape Coast to work alongside the nurses there. We want to educate while also learn from them. We have obtained an evidence-based journal that we will donate to schools, the president added. Ms Amprofi-Halm reiterated their determination to continue supporting the country by putting their knowledge, expertise and resources together to strengthen healthcare delivery. We do everything from our own pockets with a lot of help from the Ghanaian community in DFW in the form of fundraising. They are always ready to support because they see the work we are doing here. We are on Facebook and Instagram so they see everything, she said. Evans Tawiah Quaye Otubuah, who represented the traditional area, expressed gratitude to the association for accepting to come to their aid. He said the maternity ward, when completed, would not only be of immense benefit to Pantang and its surrounding areas, but also create employment avenues for some people. Currently, when pregnant women need any medical attention, they have to travel all the way to Dodowa. With most of the roads dilapidated, such a journey is unsafe for them, Nii Otubua III said. While pleading with the group to ensure the completion of the project, the traditional leader further called on other associations and organisations to emulate the nurses gesture to make the country a better place, adding God blesses he who helps the poor and needy. Woodfield manor autism and special needs school celebrates anniversary Daily Graphic Jul - 11 - 2023 , 09:30 Woodfield Manor Autism and Special Needs School has celebrated its 10th anniversary at a special programme at its premises at Frafraha in the Adentan Municipality of the Greater Accra region last Friday. The event was under the chairmanship of the Omanhene of Assin Traditional Council, Nana Prah Agyensaim VI. The special guests of honour was the founder of Lepers Aid Committee and Parish Priest of the Christ the King Catholic church, Andrew Campbell. It also brought together parents and loved ones of the children of autism and special needs . As part of the event, special awards were presented to teachers, individuals and corporate bodies who had supported the Woodfield Manor autism and special needs home. Representatives from the Movenpick Hotel also presented an undisclosed amount of money and soft drinks to refresh the children. A visually impaired musical band, the Humble Band graced the occasion with melody to the admiration of the guests and the children with autism and special needs. Difficulty The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the school, Cornelia Boateng, recounted the difficulties of nurturing children with special needs adding; From ground zero, this school, through its patron, Dr Sam Jonah, Ghacem and others, had increased their number from below 10 in the beginning to over 40 children. Mrs Boateng, however, expressed her deepest gratitude to all who had aided the school to reach the 10-year milestone. Children of this nature need water therapy most of the time. Thats why in most cases, they are referred to as Nsuo ba, when they are born. We are grateful for ERATA Hotel, in Accra, for providing the kids with swimming pool for water therapy, she said. With that support, she said, some of the children could represent the country in international competitions and called on the government and corporate bodies to support the children. The CEO also noted that as part of the celebrations, the institution was establishing a branch in Kumasi. The school is ready and next week Friday, July 14, 2023, we will be in Kumasi to open a similar Woodfield Manor Autism and Special Needs School to serve the Ashanti region. Our patron, the wife of Asantehene, Lady Julia, will lead the team to open it, she said. Not spiritual Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, said because superstition was a part of the countrys culture, people with autism and special needs were often misconstrued in that light. However, he said, children with special needs were not spiritual but rather suffering from a clear human defect that could be nurtured for them to become great personalities in the world, as seen in other parts of the world. He, therefore, called on the relevant authorities to find innovative ways to create the right environment for every child, irrespective of their challenges. 10 years ago, a vision took root. A vision to provide each child, irrespective of their circumstances, a fair chance to succeed. Woodfield Manor, established our relentless NGO, became the embodiment of that vision and has since then become a beacon of hope for countless families, Nana Prah Agyensem said as he congratulated the CEO on her resilience. High Court dismisses Quaysons motion for stay of proceedings Justice Agbenorsi Jul - 11 - 2023 , 12:29 The Accra High Court has dismissed an application filed by the Member of Parliament for Assin-North, James Gyakye Quayson which sought to put his perjury and forgery trial on hold until the Court of Appeal determines an application against the trial Court. In a ruling today (July 11), the court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, said no exceptional circumstance had been proven by Quaysons lawyers to warrant the grant of stay of proceedings. Justice Yanzuh said, I am unable to agree with the submission that the appeal has a brighter chance of success because of errors of law. The fact that the applicant believes his appeal will succeed does not by itself warrant and it does not warrant a special circumstance for a stay to be granted, the presiding judge said. The Court emphasised that its decision to hear the case on day-to-day basis was still in force. But lead counsel for Quayson, Tsatsu Tsikata, notified the court of his intention to file another application at the Court of Appeal to put the trial on hold. He added that he needed more time to attend to a private matter, hence he would be unable to attend proceedings. He further prayed the court to choose a later date for the trial instead of Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The trial was subsequently adjourned to Friday, July 14, 2023. Stay Mr Quayson wanted the court to put the criminal trial, in which he has been accused of perjury and forgery, on hold until the Court of Appeal determines his appeal challenging the courts decision to hear the trial on a daily basis. With regard to the application for stay of proceedings, the MP was of the contention that the trial must be halted pending the appeal in the interest of justice. It was his case that the ruling by the court to hear the case on a daily basis was what emboldened President Akufo-Addo to allegedly make prejudicial comments regarding the case. That, at the campaign rally for the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the President made many prejudicial remarks, including some to the effect that the voters in Assin North constituency should not vote for a candidate who could end up in prison, the application for stay of proceedings stated. Charges Mr Quayson is facing charges of forgery and perjury in relation to certain alleged offences in the run up to the 2020 Assin North parliamentary election. He has pleaded not guilty to five counts of forgery of passport or travel certificate, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury and false declaration for office. It is the case of the prosecution that Mr Quayson allegedly made a false statement to the Passport Office that he did not hold a passport to another country when he applied for a Ghanaian Passport. In addition, the prosecution has accused Mr Quayson of making a false declaration to the Electoral Commission (EC) to the effect that he (Quayson) did not owe any allegiance to a foreign country when he filed to contest as candidate for the Assin North seat. KMA supports KATH with waste receptacles Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor Jul - 11 - 2023 , 11:52 The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) last Thursday presented 50 dustbin containers to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), as part of its support to help the management of the facility to keep the place clean. It was also to ensure that the hospital managed its waste properly and kept the place neat and conducive for healthcare provision. At a short ceremony to hand over the items to the hospital, the Metropolitan Chief Executive of KMA, Sam Pyne, said the assembly was aware of the volume of waste generated at KATH and the challenge it posed to the facility. Assistance He said the assembly, therefore, decided to assist them with the waste bins it received from the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development. "I am aware of the volume of waste at Komfo Anokye and being a facility dear to my heart I decided to present these 50 pieces to them to manage the waste, he said. He said the assembly would periodically assess the situation at KATH and other institutions in Kumasi and supply them when it takes delivery of some more bins. The KMA, he said, was currently distributing some of the bins to some selected senior schools and outfits in Kumasi. Mr Pyne said the objective was to keep the city clean and tidy. Appreciation The Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah, thanked the assembly for the gesture and commended the MCE for his support since assuming office some eight months ago. The donation of the bins, he said, would help the facility to deal with waste. "This donation of bins by the Mayor goes to show the kind of heart he has for us and the commitment to ensure we work to deal with sanitation issues here and we are most grateful," Professor Addai-Mensah stated. Redirect multi-trillion dollar subsidies to climate action World Bank Timothy Ngnenbe Jul - 11 - 2023 , 10:44 The World Bank has called on Ghana and other countries across the world to consider redirecting the trillions of money spent on inefficient subsidies to climate action to help address the global climate crisis. The bank made the call in a report dubbed Detox Development: Repurposing Environmentally Harmful Subsidies. It indicated that the subsidies in agriculture, fishing and fuel were counterproductive as they contributed to environmental pollution. The report examined how subsidy reform could help safeguard the worlds foundational natural assets, including clean air, land and oceans, which were critical for human health, nutrition and well-being of global economies. Within the Ghanaian context, it said the government continued to spend more on subsidies on agriculture, fisheries and fuel. For instance, since 2017 when the government implemented the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) policy, a lot of money had been sunk into providing seedlings and fertilisers at subsidised prices. Last year, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, disclosed that the government spent GH2.47 billion on the PFJ programme between 2017 and 2021. Thus, the GH614 million and GH660 million spent on the programme in 2022 and 2023 respectively, brings the total subsidy expenditure to GH3.74 billion. Data from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) also shows that the government spent GH1.4 billion to subsidise premix fuel between 2014 and 2022. Key findings The World Bank report revealed that the trillions of dollars wasted on subsidies for agriculture, fishing and fossil fuels were counterproductive as they were driving the degradation of those assets and harming people, the planet and economies. For instance, it indicated that agriculture subsidies were responsible for the loss of 2.2 million hectares of forest per year, translating into 14 per cent of global deforestation. Again, it revealed that fuel usage, incentivised by subsidies, was a key driver of the seven million premature deaths each year due to air pollution. Repurposing these wasteful subsidies will help ensure a green and just transition that can provide jobs and opportunities for all, the report said. According to the report, subsidies for fossil fuels, agriculture and fisheries exceeded $7 trillion in explicit and implicit subsidies, which were around eight per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP). It added that explicit subsidies, explained as direct government expenditures in agriculture, fishing and fossil fuels, totalled $1.25 trillion a year. Similarly, implicit subsidies, which is a measure of the subsidies impact on people and the planet, amounted to over $6 trillion a year, with the burden falling mostly on the poor. World Bank The World Bank report revealed that the amount countries spent to subsidise fossil fuel consumption was almost six times what they pledged to mobilise annually under the Paris Agreement for renewable energies and low-carbon development. Even more worrying, the report stated that government subsidies of $577 billion in 2021 to artificially lower the price of polluting fuels such as oil, gas and coal exacerbated the climate crisis, and caused toxic air pollution, inequality, inefficiency and mounting debt burdens. In the agriculture sector, the report said the direct subsidies of more than $635 billion a year were driving the excessive use of fertilisers that degraded soil and water and harmed human health. With more than one billion poor people obtaining most of their animal protein from fish, it is critical that the worlds fish stocks are restored to healthy status, the report recommended. With the global climate crisis biting hard and countries struggling for funds to tackle the menace, the World Bank stressed the need to redirect the colossal amount spent on subsidies for climate financing. That, the bank stated, could unlock at least half a trillion dollars towards more productive and sustainable uses, particularly, climate financing. The report stressed that the consequences of inaction was costly, especially so when the world was running out of time to deal with the climate crisis. In times of strained budgets, growing public debts, increasing inequalities, and worsening environmental degradation, governments should prioritise comprehensive subsidy reforms that build public acceptance, protect the vulnerable, and show how the money is being spent, the report added. A senior Managing Director of the World Bank, Axel van Trotsenburg, said the colossal amount wasted on subsidies defeated the general notion that there was no money for climate financing. People say that there is no money for the climate but there is; it is just in the wrong places, he stressed. The Chief Economist of the Sustainable Development Practice Group at the World Bank, Richard Damania, said with foresight and planning, repurposing subsidies could provide more resources to give people a better quality of life and ensure a better future for our planet. Reptiles invade Nfensi school, teachers abandon bungalow Emmanuel Baah Jul - 11 - 2023 , 13:16 Two teachers and their families who earlier occupied a two-unit teachers bungalow at the Nfensi D/A Junior High School have indefinitely abandoned their official residence for fear of being attacked by reptiles. They have since sought shelter elsewhere in the community and in Kumasi after snakes and scorpions found their way into their living rooms, mostly at dawn. Aside from the feeble doors to the bungalow which make it easy for these predators to sneak through to their rooms, the ceiling has also been identified as the main route for the reptiles and arachnids. Portions of the ceiling have removed as a result of heavy winds, making it porous for the preys to enter. The roofing sheets have also developed several leakages, forcing the school authorities to improvise by placing concrete blocks on it to avoid further destruction. Portions of the ceiling destroyed, making it accessible to the predators Moreover, the bungalow is surrounded by a canopy of giant trees, making the environment conducive for such predatory species to breed. Appeals In an interview with the Headmaster of the school, Nicolas Frimpong, he said all appeals to get authorities to attend to their concerns had fallen on deaf ears. He said this on the sidelines of a durbar to hand over a multipurpose library facility to the school by the Moments of Glory Prayer Army (MOGPA), last Thursday at Nfensi, in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District in the Ashanti Region. According to the headmaster, the two teachers were not the first to have vacated the bungalow for similar reasons. The teachers toilet facility now desolate He said the school, established in 1963, with an increasing current population of over 200, had seen little or no renovations, and appealed to the government and other benevolent organisations to come to its aid. Lavatory Another concern he raised was the absence of a lavatory for the schoolchildren, a situation which pupils took advantage of to go home when nature called, and in most cases never returned to school. That, he said, affected contact hours with the pupils and subsequently put these young ones at a disadvantage in pursuing quality basic education. KNUST to establish teaching hospital ''Allays fears of KATH'' Kwadwo Baffle Donkor Health Jul - 11 - 2023 , 08:55 The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, has allayed the fears of the management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) that the university will not sever ties with the hospital in the training of health professionals. The university has recently announced plans to set up a teaching hospital to train its students in medicine and health sciences, sparking fears about a possible cutting of training ties with the KATH. However, the Vice-Chancellor assured the management that the university would continue to collaborate and maintain the existing relationship with KATH in the training of world-class professionals in medicine and health sciences. In a statement issued by the Public Affairs Director of KATH, Kwame Frimpong, Prof. Dickson noted that the universitys decades old partnership with KATH has helped to produce professionals in the health sciences who are making great impact on the global stage. Courtesy call The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST made this known when the Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, with some management members, paid a courtesy call on Prof. Dickson to formally introduce himself to the university after assumption of office late last year. Prof. Dickson said KATH had for years helped students of the university to effectively marry theory with practice, and that there was the need for the two institutions to constantly deepen their collaborations to ensure the continuous production of some of the best minds in the field of medicine and health sciences for the country and the world. Prof. Dickson explained that given the huge increase in the intake of students, including those in the clinical programmes, KATH would continue to remain very relevant to the training mandate of the university even with the establishment of more teaching sites and the eventual completion of its teaching hospital. We have no plans of changing our relationship with KATH as far as our quest for producing world-class healthcare professionals are concerned, and we remain committed to deepening this highly impactful bond in the years ahead, she stressed. Prof. Dickson admitted that with all relationships, there were likely to be periodic incidence of frictions between the two institutions, but it is important that they resort to dialogue in resolving any differences so that both could reinforce each other to fulfil their respective mandates. Linkages Prof. Addai-Mensah said with KATH as the teaching hospital of the university, the umbilical cords of the two institutions were intrinsically linked, and, therefore, they had no option than to deepen their existing collaborations. Regrettably, he said there had been some intermittent frictions between the hospital management and the Senior Specialists and Consultants of the School of Medicine and Dentistry of the university working at the hospital, a situation which, he said was undermining the delivery of quality specialist services to patients. So soon upon my assumption of duty, I met the parties concerned to resolve all the differences and to give my word that there will be equality and fairness as far as appointments and payment of allowances were concerned irrespective of whether or not one was a KNUST or KATH staff, Prof. Addai-Mensah said. Fortunately, he said a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed by the two institutions to ensure a fair and equitable regulation of the relationship between them and to provide the framework for resolving any emerging difficulties and differences. He said management had instituted a number of measures to enhance the operations of the hospital through close supervision and enforcement of discipline. These measures have resulted in discernible improvements in staff attendance at work, patient numbers and revenues of the hospital, and it is the hope of management that it can continue to count on the support of KNUST and all stakeholders as it strives to improve services to the public, he stated. $200m World Bank Tree Crop project my initiative Dr Afriyie Akoto Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Politics Jul - 11 - 2023 , 06:37 A former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has said he personally approached the World Bank to provide funding to support the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), knowing the potential of its revenue base and how it could change the economic fortunes of Ghana. According to him, he embarked on that move because of the slow pace at which the government was disbursing the seed money of $5million every year for the first three years of the establishment of the TCDA, making it $15million. Dr Akoto, who is also one of the NPP presidential hopefuls, made this known when he addressed a cross-section of journalists in Accra yesterday. As at the first three years of the establishment of the TCDA, only $3million had been disbursed to the Authority, making it woefully inadequate for its operations, he stressed. The TCDA was established by an Act of Parliament, 2019 (Act 1010), to develop and regulate the tree crop sub-sector and to provide for related matters. It is the main body spearheading the Tree Crop Diversification Project (TCDP). World Bank He said based on that, the World Bank saw his vision as something that could easily make Ghana a prosperous country, if that particular authority was taken good care of. His reaction follows the announcement on June 23, 2023, in Washington DC by the International Development Association of the World Bank that it had approved $200million financing facility for the Government of Ghana for its TCDP. The facility was to support the Government of Ghana to diversify and grow its economy through modernising agriculture to accelerate productivity, resilience, and industrialisation. The financing is projected to directly benefit 12,800 cocoa farmers and 39,975 cashew, coconut, and rubber farmers, and their households. An additional 20,000 jobs are expected to be created in downstream value addition by mobilising private capital. Nearly 40 per cent of on-farm beneficiaries will be women. The TCDP, being spearheaded by the TCDA, will see the development of the six tree crops namely; cashew, rubber, shea, oil palm, mango and coconut, including cocoa itself, being prioritised by the government. The combined growth of these six tree crops is projected to earn Ghana between US$ 6 billion to US$12 billion annually after six or seven years of implementation. The financing of the Tree Crop Diversification Project will further support demand-driven research and enhance on-farm productivity and resilience to improve the productivity, profitability, and climate resilience in the cocoa, cashew, coconut, and rubber value chains. Commenting further on the facility, Dr Akoto, who is a former two-term Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, lauded the International Development Association for extending the financial support to the TCDP. Salvage He expressed the belief that the $200million injected into the TCDP would speed up the activities of the TCDA, an action, he underscored, was the surest way to salvage the countrys economic woes. Citing the situation in Ivory Coast, Dr Akoto said a total annual export earnings from five cash crops cashew, cocoa, coffee, rubber and oil palm, fetched the economy some US$8billion every year. Dr Akoto also commended the current Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, for continuing from where he left off with the introduction of the second phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative. NDC holds thank you rally at Assin North Shirley Asiedu-Addo Politics Jul - 11 - 2023 , 06:30 The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has said he is hopeful that the victory of James Gyakye Quayson in the recent by-election would be replicated across the country for an NDC win in the 2024 elections. Speaking at the party's thank you rally at Assin Bereku last Sunday Mr Mahama said the victory of the NDC was imminent. The rally held at the Methodist School Park at Assin Bereku was to express the party's gratitude to the people for reelecting Mr Quayson as the Member of Parliament ( MP) for Assin North. It was attended by hundreds of party faithful. Also present were some party bigwigs including the party chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey and the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson. Commendation Mr Mahama commended the people of Assin North for their unwavering support for Mr Quayson and urged them to vote massively for the party in the 2024 general election. If history is being written about elections in Ghana, the people of Assin North will have their name written in gold. We are carrying the same momentum to the 2024 general election. I have faith in the Almighty God to grant the NDC victory in the next election, he stated. He pledged the NDC's support for Quayson, saying the party would stand with him through the trial. Party leadership Mr Nketiah said Mr Quaysons win was an indication of an "awake" electorate. He said all must understand that those times when you could take the electorate for granted and come and "buy" them was over, saying that all institutions must learn a lesson for the election results. The Communications Director of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, for his part, said the Assin North electorate had spoken for the teeming unemployed masses, the many people who had lost their jobs and farmers who don't have access to farming inputs. The Central Regional Chairman of the NDC, Prof. Richard Asiedu, said the agenda to secure 20 of the 23 seats in the region for the party was on course and urged the people to vote the party into power for development. Minority leader Dr Forson said the election was a statement to the government that the people were unhappy with its bad governance, saying it must be repeated in the 2024 election. He pledged the support of the NDC parliamentary caucus to Mr Quayson, saying the minority would support and accompany him to all his court appointments. Mr Quayson thanked the chiefs and people of Assin North and all who supported him to win, saying he would not let the constituency down. He urged the people to repeat the voting trends in 2024 and vote for the NDC's flag bearer, Mr Mahama and himself for accelerated development. NPP presidential vetting committee submits report Zadok Kwame Gyesi & Maame Ama Tutuwa Kwaitoo Politics Jul - 11 - 2023 , 06:24 The nine-member vetting committee of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), tasked to vet the partys presidential aspirants, has submitted its report to the party after concluding its work. The committee, which was chaired by Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, a former Speaker of Parliament, submitted the report at the partys headquarters in Accra yesterday at the end of the exercise last Thursday. The ruling NPP on July 1, this year, inaugurated a nine-member vetting committee for the partys presidential primary slated for November 4, 2023. Other members Members of the committee were Kwasi Amoako-Attah, Stephen Abankwa Sekyere, Osei Bonsu Amoah, Lord Oblitey Commey, Frank Davies, Rita Talata Asobayire; Hackman Owusu Agyeman and Adelaide Ahwireng. The party also appointed Mr Amoah, the Member of Parliament for Akuapem North and a member of the Vetting Committee, as spokesperson for the committee and Evans Nimako, Director of Research and Elections of the party, as secretary to the committee. The committee was tasked to oversee the vetting of the 10 presidential aspirants of the party from July 3 to 6, 2023. The team was selected by the National Steering Committee during a meeting held on May 30, 2023. Report Mr Amoah, said the committee had finished its work and that the party, in due time, would announce the content of the report. He declined to comment on the content of the report, claiming that, that was not part of the work of the committee. For him, once the committee had submitted its report, its work had ended. Flag bearer aspirants The flag bearer aspirants who went through the vetting process were Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; a former Minister of Trade and Industry, John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; Energy expert, Kwadwo Poku; a former Minister of Regional Cooperation and New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku; a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto; and a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Joe Ghartey. The rest are a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Francis Addai-Nimoh; a former Energy Minister, Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko; MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, and a former NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong. Revised timelines Per the partys revised timelines for its internal elections, a steering committee meeting has been fixed for today, July 11, 2023 for the publication of the vetting report. It subsequently fixed July 12 to 14, 2023 for submission of any petitions to the National Presidential Appeals Committee, which would also sit on July 17 and July 18, 2023 to address any petitions. The National Council and the National Executive Committee meeting has been fixed for July 20, 2023 to adopt the report, while the list of qualified presidential aspirants would be published on July 21, 2023. Balloting for positions on the ballot paper will come off on Monday, July 24, while the first notice of poll is scheduled for Tuesday, July 25, 2023. If the qualified candidates exceed five, a Special Electoral College will be held on August 26, 2023, to prune the number to five. Fresh balloting of the final five qualified candidates will come off on August 28, 2023 with the final notice of poll fixed for August 31, 2023 and the national congress to elect the flag bearer will be on November 4, 2023, while a run-off, if any, is scheduled for November 11, 2023. Parliament urged to quicken Social Protection Bill Mohammed Fugu Politics Jul - 11 - 2023 , 06:18 Parliament has been urged to speed up work on the passage of the Social Protection Bill into law to give strong legal backing to the implementation of social protection policies and interventions in the country. The bill when finally passed will sustain financing for the various protection policies and cure some of the bottlenecks in the smooth delivery of social protection services such as delays in disbursement of funds to beneficiaries. The Executive Director of Penblusbyte, a non-governmental organisation, Jerry Sam, who made the call, observed that though there were a number of social protection programmes in the country, the lack of legal backing was hampering the effective resources mobilisation and implementation of the interventions. "Currently, we have a number of interventions and policies such as the School Feeding Programme, National Health Insurance Scheme, Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty programme, among others, but there are duplications in their implementation so the law will help reduce the duplication of efforts through proper coordination among the implementation agencies while strengthening accountability measures in the mobilisation and disbursement of funds to eliminate corruption," he noted. Mr Sam made the call at a social protection and accountability forum organised in Tamale which brought together various stakeholders to deliberate on ways to strengthen social protection and ensure accountability in the country. Organised by the Penblusbyte, in collaboration with SEND Ghana and Songtaba, with funding support from Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), the forum was on the theme Institutionalising Social Accountability in Local Governance; the successes, gaps and way forward. Bill Currently, the country has no law on social protection, it was only the bill that was pending before Parliament for approval. The bill, when finally passed into law, will guarantee the rights of all Ghanaians, especially the venerable and the very poor in the society to social protection. Social protection fund Mr Sam advocated the establishment of a Social Protection Fund modelled after the Ghana COVID-19 fund, with the aim of addressing the persistent challenge of insufficient funding for various social protection policies. He added that "when we involve the private sector in contributing to this fund, we can ensure the financial sustainability of diverse social protection programmes by mitigating the frequent delays and irregular disbursement of payments". Accountability For his part, the Northern Regional Programmes Manager of SEND GHANA, Mohammed Mumuni, said as a country we have a lot of social protection policies but we dont have any law governing them so if the government decides not to pay LEAP beneficiaries you cant take it to court. He admonished the public to join hands with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in demanding transparency and accountability in the implementation of social protection policies to curb corruption. Digitisation A Senior Manager at the Northern Regional office of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Ibrahim Tia, said the authority was undergoing robust digitisation to crack down on illegal charges by some service providers to make it more efficient. He also urged the public to report service providers and individuals engaged in fraudulent acts to any of the NHIA offices for the necessary action. Daimler Buses will deliver at least 95 battery-electric solo and articulated Mercedes-Benz eCitaro and eCitaro G city buses to the city of The Hague together with the e-infrastructure required for operation by 2024. The Hague is not only the third largest city in the Netherlands, it is also the parliamentary and governmental seat of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the capital of the province of South Holland. The Mercedes-Benz low-floor electric buses with a length of 12 and 18 meters and NMC 3 battery technology will be delivered to the transport company HTM, which operates trams, light rail vehicles and buses in the Hague region. With the new eCitaro, HTM is replacing the existing bus fleet with natural gas drive and is the first public transport operator in the Netherlands to convert its entire fleet to locally emission-free and CO 2 -neutral electric buses. However, the fully electric scheduled-service buses can only achieve their full performance by being embedded in a well-planned and coordinated integrated system. In addition to supplying the all-electric eCitaro vehicles, Daimler Buses is therefore also responsible for planning and installing the complete e-infrastructure, including charging infrastructure and charging management. The complete e-package solution for HTM also includes the necessary civil engineering measures for the HTM depot in The Hague. Mercedes-Benz low-floor electric buses are charged at HTM via pantographs. In Europe, only zero-emission vehicles are to be used from 2030; in the Netherlands, however, this is to apply from 2025. Data transfer between Europe and the United States was deemed illegal back in 2020 by an EU Court. Now, almost three years later, the European Commission announced the adoption of a new adequacy decision, which essentially allows companies like Facebook, Google, and Apple to store data about European users on their American servers. The EU-US Data Privacy Framework introduces new binding safeguards to address all the concerns raised by the European Court of Justice, read a press release issued by the Commission. US Intelligence services still wont be allowed to access EU data, and there will be established a Data Protection Review Court accessible to all Europeans. The framework effectively introduced improved mechanisms for protecting personal data, and the EU believes the United States will comply with a new detailed set of privacy obligations - for instance, the requirement to delete personal data when it is no longer necessary for the purpose for which it was collected. The decision comes just months after Meta was fined 1.2 billion ($1.32 billion) by the EU over a similar issue - transferring data to third parties that did not meet safety requirements. It is important to note that this adequacy decision can still be appealed in front of the blocs top court (Court of Justice of EU) by privacy campaigners in the following months as it lacks clarity on fundamental privacy rights. Source Last week the Fairphone 4, originally launched in Europe back in 2021, finally made it to the US, although in an altered software form, 'de-Googled' as they say. Today the sustainable smartphone company is in the news again, this time related to its previous models, the Fairphone 3, which was released in 2019, and the Fairphone 3+ from 2020 . Fairphone says it couldn't deliver Android 12 to these devices because the chipset manufacturer (Qualcomm) didn't support that for the Snapdragon 632 inside. #Android13 is now available for Fairphone 3 and 3+ pic.twitter.com/vmFxtXtHAE Fairphone (@Fairphone) July 10, 2023 So, Fairphone's "amazing internal team" has now taken over software support for the device and delivered Android 13 for both models, skipping Android 12 altogether. Fairphone's goal is to support each of its phones for at least five years after launch, which means the Fairphone 3's window expires next year. We aim to support Fairphone 3 for at least 5 years after launch , providing software updates until the end of August 2024. But since longevity is one of our core values, we aim for 2 extra years of support, taking us to 2026! Fairphone (@Fairphone) July 10, 2023 That said, the software team is now "aiming" to actually add two extra years of support to the Fairphone 3, thus taking the last update into 2026. That would be quite a feat for the modular device, and great news for its owners undoubtedly, provided they haven't already switched to something that isn't powered by the Snapdragon 632 SoC. Amazon Prime Day is taking place today, and we gathered a neat selection of all the various wearables available in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. We covered Apple and Samsung deals in their own separate articles, but there are so many other offers that need a mention. We start with the Google Pixel Watch, both in LTE and Wi-Fi variants, as well as the Fitbit Inspire 3 which is also under Google's wing. Huawei might be rapidly losing positions in the world of smartphones, but the company is heavily investing in wearables. It recently launched the Watch 4 Pro, but some slightly older devices are still worthy of purchase. Understandably, none of them are officially sold in the United States. All major wearables of Xiaomi are staying away from Amazon Prime Day, but we found a great deal for a Redmi (Smart) Band 2 in the United Kingdom. It is an incredibly light and affordable wearable. Garmin is a company best known for its navigation, but it is also a strong brand for active customers. We added two watches to our shortlist - the Forerunner 55 is everything one might need to begin with their intensive activities and detailed tracking. It is an extremely affordable device for what it offers, and now it is even cheaper. The fenix 7 is the current flagship in this class, despite being almost 1,5 years old. It supports GNSS on the L5 standard for more accurate data on the track, road, or in the water. Amazfit has a discount on virtually all wearables that can be found on Amazon. We selected one device from each category - best overall looks and performance in the face of GTR 4, a rugged watch for active people, that's the T-Rex 2 Pro; the Bip 3 Pro is affordable and lightweight, while the Band 5 is the ideal first wearable with its long battery life. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Leadership has now switched hands at the Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz. Colonel Christopher L. Bopp relinquished command of Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz to Colonel Ernest Govea on Monday during a change of command ceremony held at the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing hangar on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Bopp, a career infantry officer, took command of MCB Camp Blaz in May 2021. During his time as MCB Camp Blaz commanding officer, he was responsible for setting the conditions for the realignment of forces from Japan to Camp Blaz. Additionally, during his tenure, MCB Camp Blaz was reactivated, marking the first newly constructed Marine Corps Base since 1952. During the ceremony, Bopp was awarded a Legion of Merit for his superior leadership, his ability to enhance local and regional partnerships and his astuteness in refining quality control processes for Camp Blaz construction efforts. Major General Stephen E. Liszewski, Commanding General Marine Corps Installations Pacific, was the reviewing officer for the ceremony and provided opening remarks. Gov. Leon Guerrero, we heard you loud and clear during the reactivation ceremony. You charged the Commandant to ensure that the relationship between the Marine Corps and Guam was built on respect, said Liszewski. The entire approach Chris took during his tenure here was built on a foundation of respect: taking care of people, respecting history, respecting culture, respecting the environment and respecting the water. After Liszewskis remarks, the governor of Guam provided remarks and presented Bopp with a Magahaga Award. The Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Tinian Mayors Council on behalf of the Tinian Mayor, the 37th Guam Legislature and the Mayors Council of Guam also provided remarks and presented Bopp with plaques of appreciation. Ive done everything I can to take care of this community, said Bopp. Were protecting the people who are the heart and soul of this island. This has been a fantastic tour, and my wife and I have loved to be here. At the end of his remarks, Govea, MCB Camp Blazs newest commanding officer, turned to the formation and addressed the Camp Blaz Marines. As we continue to serve in the Western Pacific Theater, I personally will be a Marine of action, committed to taking care of you and your families, stated Govea. The change of command ceremony was attended by friends, colleagues, family and government officials from around the region. Guam Army National Guards 721st Band provided music for the ceremony. Dionate Dee Quintanilla has officially retired after 40 years of service with the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority. Speaker Therese Terlaje joined the Executive Team of GMHA on July 7, to honor Quintanilla on her recent retirement after 40 years of service as a nurse at GMHA. The speaker presented Quintanilla with a legislative resolution recognizing her many contributions to Guams health care industry, including her legacy at GMHA. The GMHA Executive Team presented Quintanilla with a special GMHA commemorative coin, recognizing her 40 years of service to the people and the hospital. Quintanilla is the first employee to receive a commemorative coin in recognition of all her years of commitment and service. During her 40-year career at GMHA, Quintanilla spent four years in the Obstetrics ward and 15 years as a valuable member of the GMHA Surgical Unit. She then put in 21 years of dedicated service in the GMHA Emergency Room as a staff nurse and unit supervisor. In addition to caring for patients in the ER, Quintanilla has taken many nurses under her wing to train, guide and encourage so that they may develop their skills and training to become excellent nurses. Quintanilla has shared her experience and skills with the ER team, where she took the lead in training and developing the unit clerks, technicians and staff nurses. She was also involved in staff recruitment and retention to encourage nurses to stay in Guam, where there is an ongoing need for their service. Quintanilla was onboard during many of Guams worst natural disasters, including Typhoons Omar, Paka and Pongsona. She was beginning her well-deserved retirement when Typhoon Mawar struck, and rather than watch from the sidelines, she immediately jumped back in. I think Dee is amazing for all her years of service to GMHA and our Island community. After Typhoon Mawar, when GMHA needed her, she was there immediately, working and helping during our recovery, said Christine Tuquero, Assistant Administrator of Nursing Services. I appreciate Dee for her dedication and hard work on the front lines of healthcare. Quintanillas plans for her retirement are to return to GMHA on a part-time basis. She is the living embodiment of everything outstanding about nurses, stated GMHA. Dee has been an extraordinary member of the GMHA family. Her commitment to GMHA, our patients and her coworkers has been an inspiration. Dee is a nursing dynamo and gladly shares her knowledge, skills and expertise with other nurses. She has taken many new nurses under her wing and through her mentoring, has turned them into highly skilled, caring nurses, said Hospital Administrator and CEO Lillian Posadas, It has been a joy and a privilege to have her with us for 40 years. We look forward to many more years of her devotion and commitment to Guam and GMHA. Through the Guam Department of Labor, the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration announced that they are preparing to launch Disaster Unemployment Assistance in the coming weeks. Guam has been authorized $876,374 for administrative costs to implement the unemployment assistance program, in accordance to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. With the administrative costs approved by FEMA and the U.S. Department of Labor, the department can now provide the final parameters for its software vendor to program the Guam DUA system. The GDOL has been actively surveying our business sector to provide the supporting information to secure this funding source. According to the data collected last month, GDOL estimates as much as 14% of the workforce, or 7,000 individuals, will apply for this aid, hundreds of whom are farmers and fishermen, said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. Similar to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, we look forward to providing support and much needed relief to our residents who lost wages or their jobs as a result of this disaster. The funding will benefit Guam for future disasters because having the DUA framework set up would improve implementation time when another disaster happens, according to Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio. With these lessons learned and systems in place, we continue to build our resiliency as a people and an island. The weekly assistance amount for all workers in Guam is $384 for each week of total unemployment, retroactive back to May 28. The DUA program will be an automated system similar to PUA, so filing online will be required. While the DUA program has not yet officially launched, affected persons with a HireGuam.com account should log on to their accounts now to ensure their accounts are active and that they are ready once the program starts. All affected workers are strongly encouraged to start preparing their documents now. Claims must be filed within 30 days from the date the system goes live. If a claim is filed after the 30-day window elapses, it will be denied under federal DUA regulations. Failure to provide required documentation within 21 days of filing an initial claim will also result in a denied claim. Guidelines DUA is a FEMA-funded disaster program with strict federal guidelines. Employees had to have been employed on the date of the storm. Required documents include the following: Documented proof of employment A government-issued picture ID A statement from the employer that the workers unemployment is directly due to damages caused by the storm Self-employed individuals will need to prove that their self-employment is their primary income source and that they cannot engage in self-employment activities directly due to the storm. These individuals will need to provide proof that their business is legitimate. Examples of such proof would be a copy of the individuals business license, Gross Receipt Tax filings and business records. Although GDOL applied on June 9 for $26 million, FEMA requested an initial administrative funding request under $1 million and then the balance of $25 million afterward because the benefits require congressional notice. If a resident is unable to log on or reset their password, they can email webadmin@dol.guam.gov for assistance. If a resident will be applying for DUA benefits as a direct result of Typhoon Mawar and does not have an account, they can register at hireguam.com. For more information, residents can contact GDOL at (671)475-7000/1 or visit dol.guam.gov. Thomas Benavente comes from Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. He enjoys talking to the public to share the island spirit. He can be reached through (671) 483-1440 or tbenavente@guampdn.com. AMD is set to debut its latest processor, the Ryzen 5 7500F, exclusively in the Chinese market. While official details are yet to be announced, industry sources have confirmed the processor's release at the end of this month. Unlike AMD's APU die, the Ryzen 5 7500F is built from the standard Ryzen 7000 silicon. The chip will be available for China retailers, e-tailers, and system integrators. This article delves into the specifications and features of the Ryzen 5 7500F. Specifications and Features: The Ryzen 5 7500F features six cores and twelve threads, operating with a 65W TDP. Clock speeds, as indicated by MSI's compatibility list, are expected to be slightly lower than the Ryzen 5 7600. Similar to Intel's F-series processors, the Ryzen 5 7500F does not have an integrated graphics engine. AMD's chiplet strategy utilizes the I/O die for the small integrated RDNA 2 GPU engine, setting it apart from Intel's monolithic silicon design. The Ryzen 7000-series iGPU is primarily designed for basic display-out capabilities rather than gaming performance. At present, the Ryzen 5 7500F is exclusive to the Chinese market, with no immediate plans for availability in the US and EU. However, similar previous releases like the Ryzen 5 3500X eventually reached the US market after several months. As the launch date approaches, more benchmarks and reviews of the Ryzen 5 7500F are expected to surface, providing further insights into its performance. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is equipped with 6 cores and 12 threads, complemented by a 6MB L2 cache and 32MB L3 cache. The chip's performance data, as revealed by a GeekBench 6 leak, suggests that it surpasses the Ryzen 5 7600X in multi-threaded workloads. This edge could be attributed to superior scalability of its cores during maximum load operation. However, when assessed for single-thread performance, the Ryzen 5 7500F scores slightly lower than the Ryzen 5 7600X, registering 2,782 points against the latter's 2,811. The disparity can be viewed as negligible, indicating similar performance between the two processors in this particular measure. Haiti - CARICOM : The Prime Minister of Dominica asks for more support for Haiti and urges China Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica, called for more support for Haiti to meet the country's humanitarian needs amid escalating gang violence. "We have committed as a Community to supporting the Haitian people to broker a Haitian-led solution to the instability that they now face. It is a crisis that requires our continued support and the support of the wider international community," Prime Minister Skerrit said during the opening ceremony of the 45th Conference of Heads of Government in Trinidad and -Tobago. He said CARICOM outreach has met with a favorable response, but sustained engagement is needed to help Haiti stop criminal gang violence "We are well aware that it is just the beginning, and our engagement must build from that and we must keep the dialogue going until there is not only light at the end of the tunnel, but a station for the stakeholders to disembark from the train, united in purpose and action" In addition, Roosevelt Skerrit urged China (which remains skeptical) to intervene https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39975-haiti-security-council-russia-and-china-skeptical-about-a-military-intervention-in-haiti.html) to support CARICOM's proposal to deploy an international security force to restore peace and stability in Haiti, for a Security Council resolution on Haiti and not to use his right of veto. Recalling that China, the second largest provider of peacekeeping forces to the UN Security Council, was eager to help "to alleviate the difficulties of Haiti" to the extent possible. Recalling that in the past, China had provided "support" to all resolutions on Haiti and even deployed peacekeeping personnel in the country. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - CARICOM : Ariel Henry refuses free movement for Haitians CARICOM leaders ended their three-day summit in Trinidad past Wednesday night by agreeing to the free movement of all categories of people by March next year. The arrangement does not extend to Haiti, whose Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry, had requested that the country be exempted from the arrangement, given the humanitarian, social and political crisis in the counrty "Obviously there are some legal issues that we have to examine. And we have given our legal people, some months to examine those legal issues and to ensure that they can come to us by 30th of March to take a definitive position on this," said the President of CARICOM and Premier Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit. Dominica's Prime minister said that while regional leaders understood there would be challenges for some,"we are committed to this [...] So this is great news. I think the various issues that we are discussing, the number of decisions we've taken, this is the decision that we've taken at this conference, and I believe the founding fathers are smiling from heaven." He indicated that in addition to free movement, the question of contingent rights that will be associated with the initiative will also be examined to provide access to primary and emergency health care, access to education for basic, pre-primary and secondary education. Previously, as part of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) which allows for the free movement of goods, people, skills and labor within the region, CARICOM governments had authorized the free movement of media workers, artists, musicians, sportspersons, nurses, teachers, craftspeople with a Caribbean professional qualification and holders of an associate degree or comparable qualification. Skerrit also announced that the leaders will hold a retreat in Dominica on August 18-19 to review a number of reports, including regional governance and enhancing functional cooperation, ahead of their next scheduled mid-term summit in Guyana. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who has primary responsibility for the CSME in the quasi-CARICOM cabinet, said the leaders of the 15-member group had decided to fully liberalize the free movement of all categories of people in the single market by the beginning of next year, and to amend the Treaty of Chaguaramas to guarantee them access to a limited number of services. "Freedom of movement of people so is all. There is no services anymoreThis now gives full expression to what every Caribbean person has wanted since we have had control of our destiny," she said. She said the treaty would be amended to harmonize the expectations of Caribbean residents when traveling to the region. "We recognise, as well, that there will have to be an approach that does not put countries or make countries liable to any form of suit with respect to some of the rights so there has to be a minimum set of rights guaranteed for the movement of citizens." "So there has to be a minimum set of rights guaranteed for the movement of citizens that will be discussed and agreed upon, that will be captured in the amendments to the treaty that will also have to be financed and we're looking at the CARICOM Development Fund as being able to put in place the mechanism to guarantee that each country can bring its minimum level of services up to the same acceptable period and level," said Mottley. The regional leaders also addressed the issue of air transport in light of the problems related to the movement of people since the trusteeship of the interregional airline LIAT a few years ago. HL/ HaitiLibre Ancient architecture unveils splendor of Bozhou Pub Date:2023-07-11 09:17 Source:CGTN Located in Anhui Province, Bozhou City was a key location for communication during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC). It developed as a transportation hub for trade during the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties and reached its heyday during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, serving as an economic center for the region. Beiguan Historical Block, which is the oldest street in Bozhou City, was built in 1656. In 2023, the block was listed as one of China's national-level tourism and leisure blocks thanks to its wealth of history and culture. There were around 150 streets in Bozhou City during the Qing Dynasty, of which 57 were located in the Beiguan business district.There were commercial clubhouses from more than 10 provinces and regions established there, among which the Huguang Guild Hall, Henan Guild Hall and Flower Peking Opera Theater were the largest and busiest. Later, there were 33 banks and nearly 1,000 different shops in this area.Nowadays, Beiguan Historical Block is made up of a network of around 20 ancient streets, each retaining their original appearance and elegant architectural style. The Flower Peking Opera Theater has been expanded many times to cover an area of over 3,000 square meters. The name of the theater derives from the exterior of the building, where many scenes from local operatic dramas were recreated as colorful patterns and decorations on its walls. The Hui architectural style of micro-carving art is also beautifully preserved on the brickwork of the building. Built in 1825, the Nanjing Lane Bank was one of the earliest banks established in Anhui Province. It is also the most well-preserved old bank building in China, featuring the classical Hui architectural style. Physical objects and wax figures have been combined with the use of advanced technology to recreate scenes from inside the bank. Old Chinese coins from different periods are also on display there. There are many other ancient relics worth exploring, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about the rich local history and culture. Editor:Zheng Chen Related News - Philippine media delegation visits China 2023-07-10 09:27 - China sets out new plan to preserve Yangtze River culture 2023-07-10 09:27 - Yunnan delicacies trend after Yellen's dining experience 2023-07-10 09:27 - GLOBALink | Italian art exhibition highlights cultural ex... 2023-07-10 09:26 photo >> Chengdu ready for 31st FISU Summer World University Games Release of Fukushima water poses unpredictable risks Video >> Spanish foreign teacher: the development of Chinese modernization is even greater than I expected Dragon Boat Festival People >> Standard Bank chairman: Collaboration between Africa, China predicated on the development objectives of both parties New Zealand PM: An inward looking focus serves no long-term interests for any country Travel >> Huangshan listed among China's Top 10 scenic cities China expects travel spree during May Day holiday Haiti - News : Zapping... Collective kidnapping at Estere Monday morning, the "Kokorat san ras" gang operating in Lacroix Perisse hijacked 2 trucks. The thugs hold captive the 8 passengers who were on board these vehicles. According to local residents, several other vehicles were hijacked by these heavily armed bandits. The Director of the APN of Cap released Pierre Richard Joseph, director of the National Port Authority (APN) of Cap-Haitien, regained his freedom on Sunday, July 9, 2023, after nearly a month of captivity in the center of the metropolitan region of Port-au-Prince. Multiple ransoms were paid by relatives of the victim to the gang of "Kraze Barye" and led by Vitelhomme Innocent. 85% of Haitian graduates flee Haiti 85% of Haitian graduates flee Haiti to take refuge in other countries including Brazil, Canada and the United States. Researchers in the humanities and social sciences, including Professor Josue Vaval, coordinator of the Faculty of Human Sciences (FASCH) of the State University of Haiti (UEH), have not hidden their concerns about this situation which creates a shortage of qualified human resources in the country. The Democratic and Popular Sector reiterates its full support for Ariel Henry The so-called "democratic and popular" sector (SDP), branch Michel Andre, Marjorie Michel and Ricard Pierre, at the end of a rally held on Saturday at its premises in Delmas 75, reiterated its full support for Ariel Henry, for the agreement of December 21 and at the request of a foreign force to help resolve the security crisis. Also Michel Andre, the spokesman of the SDP, criticizes, without naming names, those who oppose the deployment of this international force because, according to him, they have their own gang. Atelier Theodore Beaubrun at the Kiosk Occide Jeanty At the initiative of the National Theater of Haiti, the Atelier Theodore Beaubrun started this Monday, July 10 at the Kiosque Occide Jeanty at the Champ de Mars to end on September 1, 2023. Theater, dance and traditional music will be on the menu of these activities. The CRH supported the march The Haitian Red Cross (HRC) has deployed 12 volunteers as well as 2 medical ambulances to Port-au-Prince to accompany the "Souf Pou Ayiti" march organized on July 9, 2023 by the Eglise Tabernacle de Gloire and the Shekinahfm. Volunteers provided care to 8 people and transported 3 to hospital. HL/ HaitiLibre My angry text was just angry text, nothing else. I dont approve, nor have I ever approved, of any kind of violence, she tweeted before 10pm on Monday, justifying her earlier comments with a frustration and hopelessness about certain ripple effects of immigration in Finland. MINISTER OF FINANCE Riikka Purra (PS) has distanced herself from her earlier comments on online message boards, reports Helsingin Sanomat. The effects, she added, include harassment and sex crimes against women, and the unequal practices of Islam. In this position, at this stage in life and at this age, I naturally wouldnt write anything like that and I no longer agree with many of the things. Ive expressed myself in ways that I wouldnt approve today. The tweets were a response to intensifying speculation on social media that she contributed a series of racist posts under the username riikka on Scripta, the blog of current Speaker of the Parliament Jussi Halla-aho (PS). While she has admitted to commenting in the guestbook of the blog, she has directly neither confirmed nor denied using the username in question. The username made the following post on 25 August 2008. Greetings from Barcelona. There isnt an alarming immigration problem here. [Racial slur] sell fake Vuittons on Las Ramblas, scarves are hidden and everyone in their place. Must be bullshit, that too, the post reads. If only you could harness this amount of nationalism to your own country. *sigh*. You wouldnt have time to focus on [racial slur]. Helsingin Sanomat on Monday highlighted that Purra, nee Niskakari, was in Barcelona on the day in question, attending a graduate conference at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She was participating in a panel discussion on political theory as an expert in normative theory and multiculturalism, according to the conference brochure. It is unlikely, the newspaper estimated, that two Finnish-speaking people named Riikka with an interest in multiculturalism were in the city at the same time. Purra was 31 years old at the time of the conference. Also a number of other details shared by the blog commentator about their life appear to point to Purra, such as their marriage to a journalist and life in Tampere, Turku and Kirkkonummi. Purra also sent Helsingin Sanomat a guest contribution about a writing by two researchers that had provoked an angry response from riikka. Overall, comments made under the username contain a number of racist slurs, such as the N-word, mocha willies and Turkish apes, and reflect strong opposition to Islam and hostility toward Somalis, the newspaper analysed. They also contain references to violence. On 25 September 2008, a comment attributed to the username described an incident with young people of immigrant backgrounds on a train. If someone gave me a gun, thered be bodies on the commuter train, it reads. Purra appeared more defiant in a blog post published earlier yesterday. In it she reminded that she has contributed to a number of online forums and discussion boards since the early 2000s. Before the elections, in the winter, and now again zealous people have waded through the guestbook of Halla-ahos Scripta blog, looking for sins by yours truly. Were talking about the year 2008. Thats almost 10 years before I started in politics, she wrote. Im sure itll continue because the internet contains thousands of my writings. A neat pastime for archaeologists. Iltalehti contacted Purra in February to request a comment on whether she was known as riikka on the blog. She declined to comment at the time but tweeted, while the daily was still working on its story, that it is positive that people are still reading the blog. If only the rummagers learnt something from what they read, the tweet reads. She wrote in her blog yesterday that although she would not say, write or do all of the things she had done before as a lawmaker and cabinet member, she feels no need to reject or apologise for the comments. It wouldnt cross my mind to reject or apologise for my actions or comments from years and decades past, wrote Purra. Ive certainly written and said things that are stupid or absurd or harsh or badly chosen. Ive certainly also used bad humour according to current standards I still do that, by the way, as do most of the people I know. I certainly dont agree with nearly all of the things. I agree with many, but I have no intention of taking part in a game with the left about what I agree with and what I dont agree with. Or whether I wrote this or that. Thered be no end to that, she wrote. Purra began the post by portraying the media attention as a political attack against the Finns Party. The attack, she argued, rests on true or made-up claims about spots in the records of politicians before they became ministers or before their political career. Minister [Vilhelm] Junnila was made to resign, so they have no reason to stop. Once you get a taste of blood, she wrote. Aleksi Teivainen HT THE school run by a headteacher who took her own life after a critical Ofsted report has now been rated as good. Ruth Perry died in January after being told that Caversham Primary School was being downgraded from outstanding to inadequate due to safeguarding concerns. Her death led to nationwide calls for reform of inspections by Ofsted, including demands that one-word overall ratings are scrapped. The education watchdog reinspected the school on June 21 and 22 and assessed it as good in all areas, the second best rating. The report said: The schools work to address previous weaknesses has been swift, thorough and effective. Straight after the last inspection, useful advice was sought from beyond the school. In particular, this helped leaders to understand fully the extent of the weaknesses in safeguarding arrangements and prioritise what needed to be done. Ongoing and determined work has ensured that the improvements made have gone beyond the essential changes that were needed. Work to address weaknesses in breaktime supervision and monitoring of pupils attendance reflects the same rigour and success. Leaders identify quickly where attendance may be a concern and take swift action to help pupils come to school more often. Staff are constantly focused on doing their very best for the pupils in their care. They are universally positive about how leaders help them to improve their practice via planned training and helpful advice. Inspectors said that arrangements for safeguarding at the school are now effective. The report said: A positive culture of safeguarding now pervades the school. Detailed and relevant training ensures that all staff fully understand their role in keeping children safe. To improve further, inspectors say that governors need to check aspects of the school as rigorously as they oversee the arrangements for safeguarding and should make sure they are well informed about all aspects of the school. Leaders should also monitor all aspects of the schools wider curriculum as effectively as the rest and leaders should look to improve in the areas they are responsible for. Mrs Perrys family believe the stress associated with the inspection was a major factor in her death. Her sister, Julia Waters, said staff at the school who had worked with or been trained by Ms Perry had never been anything other than excellent, caring and professional. She said: The reversal of the previous judgement in a matter of a few months illustrates why schools should be given the opportunity to correct any technical weaknesses before the final report is published. An inspection should be about helping schools with independent scrutiny, not catching them out and publicly shaming them. That Ruth was left feeling suicidal as a result of Ofsted's previous judgement demonstrates, in the most tragic way possible, the intolerably high stakes created by the current inspection system. Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman has said the current one-word system should stay but has announced changes, including giving schools more information on when inspections will happen and a consultation on reforms to the complaints system. Schools where safeguarding concerns prompt an overall inadequate rating, but where other measures are rated good or better, will also now be revisited within three months. Neil Walne, chair of governors at Caversham primary, said: We fully acknowledge and pay tribute to the work that Mrs Perry started immediately after last Novembers inspection and hold her in our thoughts as we thank school leaders, teachers and support staff for their tremendous hard work under extremely challenging circumstances in the last six months. We are grateful to our pupils, to you and to the local community for your ongoing support and for helping the school to continue to thrive. A full inquest into Mrs Perrys death will be held later this year. Get ready to embark on a mesmerizing journey into the realm of timeless beauty and exquisite craftsmanship as Touch 925, the epitome of elegance, prepares for its launch on July15. With an extraordinary collection of pure silver jewelry, brace yourself for redefining luxury. The anticipation is mounting, and excitement is in the air as we eagerly await the unveiling of this remarkable brand. Touch 925 is the brainchild of visionary entrepreneur, Mr Nishit Begwani, who has poured his passion and creativity into crafting a silver jewelry design brand that knows no bounds when it comes to detailing jewelry to perfection. With meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to perfection, every piece from Touch 925 is a testament to the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into curating jewelry that is exceptional in it's true form The 925 sterling silver jewelry by the brand is sure to emerge as a symbol of unparalleled beauty and elegance on July 15. Prepare to be enchanted by a collection that seamlessly blends contemporary designs with timeless appeal. Each piece has been thoughtfully crafted to exude sophistication and reflect the individuality of its embracer. From delicately crafted necklaces that grace the neckline to intricately designed bracelets that make a bold statement, Touch 925 offers a diverse range of jewelry that caters to every style and occasion. Whether you prefer understated elegance or desire to make a striking impression, Touch 925 has the perfect piece to complement your unique taste. Well, Touch 925 is not just about aesthetics; it is a brand that stands for inclusivity and accessibility. According to Mr Begwani, true elegance should be within the reach of everyone, regardless of budget or background. And that is the reason Touch 925 is committed to offering exceptional quality at affordable prices, making luxury accessible to all. As the countdown to the grand launch on July 15 begins, the excitement is palpable. Be prepared to immerse yourself in a realm of finding silver jewelry online and beyond, where elegance knows no bounds and beauty knows no limits. Stay tuned for the unveiling of Touch 925 and prepare to witness the dawn of a new era in the world of jewelry. Do not miss out on indulging in brilliance, embracing sophistication, and adorning yourself with the touch of class. Mark your calendars for a new standard of luxury. Get ready to be captivated. The wait is almost over. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Google-backed Dunzo has delayed half of the salaries of workers at various levels for the month of June amid a cash crunch, according to media reports. The on-demand delivery company, which employs nearly 1,000 people, has deferred salaries to about 500 employees. Kabeer Biswas, co-founder and CEO, Dunzo.(MINT_PRINT) The top leadership will be impacted the most, the reports added. The quick commerce company, backed by Reliance Retail also, has informed employees wielding managerial positions and above that the pending salaries will be paid after July 15. The reports added that employees were paid a maximum of only 75,000 in June. The move comes after the logistics and delivery platform sacked about 400 employees in the first half of the year. After raising USD 75 million in April, the company again slashed about 30 per cent of its staff. According to reports, a third round of layoffs may hit the Dunzo workforce this month. After the second round of layoffs, CEO Kabeer Biswas in a company-wide town hall meeting announced a pivot in the business model by closing half of its dark stores in the country. Dark stores are small warehouses used to deliver orders in a short time frame. Financial records from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs filings for the fiscal year 2021-22 revealed that despite registering a total revenue of 67.7 crores, the expenses incurred amounted to 531.7 crores, the LiveMint reported. The company also experienced a consolidated loss of 464 crores, twice that of the previous year. The largest expense for the company was employee benefits - 138 crores - followed by advertising expenses, which soared to 64.4 crores. Currently, Reliance Retail owns 25.8 percent of Dunzo while Google holds a stake of under 20 percent. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ritu Maria Johny Multimedia journalist with Hindustan Times. Covers India, world, business and tech news with a keen eye for human-interest stories rooted in gender and culture. ...view detail The Goods and Services Tax Council decided to levy 28% GST on online gaming, horse racing and casinos at full value, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said after the conclusion of the council's 50th meet in New Delhi on Tuesday. Nirmala Sitharaman addressing the Press Conference after 50th GST Council meeting held today at New Delhi(Twitter/cbic_india) ALSO READ | GST Council meeting: List of goods and services to get cheaper, costlier There were deliberations on whether to impose a 28% GST on the face value of bets, gross gaming revenue, or just on platform fees and the council settled on taxing the turnover. How 28% GST will impact gaming After the new GST rates implementation 28 will be charged per 100 spent on an online game, explained Shivani Jha, Tech Policy Lawyer and Director, EPWA (E-Gamers and Players Welfare Association). This will not only discourage players from playing, the professionals for whom its a livelihood will be burdened by taxation. It may also force them to play on offshore platforms, and the whole vision of creating a digital progressing gaming ecosystem seems blurry at this point, she told Live Mint. ALSO READ | Startup founders enter politics: Ashneer criticises 28% GST on online gaming Government wants to end online gaming? The implementation of a 28% tax rate will bring significant challenges to the gaming industry," Aaditya Shah, chief operating officer, IndiaPlays told Hindustan Times. This higher tax burden will impact companies' cash flows, limiting their ability to invest in innovation, research, and business expansion, he added. In the post-GST council meeting media briefing, Sitharaman was asked if governments want to demotivate e-gaming given its adverse impact on children. The finance minister said that the council do not want to end any industry but they also don't want to give the wrong message in the country by lowering the tax rate on such industries to the level of essential goods. The decision to levy 28% on gross value in the case of online gaming and casinos is perhaps not what the industry was hoping for. While it has been indicated that this proposal is 'clarificatory' in nature, it would have been better to make it prospective to put the past dispute to rest," Pratik Jain Partner Price Waterhouse & Co LLP told HT. No differentiation in games of skill or chance Tax on e-gaming would be imposed without making any differentiation based on if the games require skill or based on chance. The finance minister said that a discussion was held on if an online game is skill-based or chance based. We are not looking at a game if it is skill-based, chance-based or both, we are purely looking at the value it generates that can be taxed, the FM said. "Very substantive discussions took place on online gaming. MeitY is likely to provide a list of an inclusion or exclusion list of games. Our position is clearly on taxation. We will still align it with MeitYs rules," Sitharaman added. 'Gamblers and e-gamers should not be treated same': Industry "There is a fine line between skill-based games and casinos/betting apps, and they must not be treated the same way," IndiaPlays' Shah said. Introducing a 28% tax rate not only hampers online gaming platforms' capacity to develop new games and technologies but also undermines their competitiveness in the market. Moreover, the constrained financial resources hinder their ability to enter new markets and reach a wider customer base, he added. The chief executive officer (CEO) and the managing director (MD) of Aeronics Internet Company were murdered allegedly by a former employee of the firm on Tuesday in Bengaluru. The deceased were identified as Phanindra Subramanya, MD, and Vinu Kumar, CEO, (L) of the private firm, According to the police, the deceased are identified as Phanindra Subramanya and Vinu Kumar who were serving as MD and CEO of the private firm. The accused, Felix, is said to be a former employee of the Aeronics Internet Company and the incident occurred at 6th cross of Pampa Extension Amrithahalli in Bengaluru. Laxmi Prasad, deputy commissioner of police, Bengaluru (North-East) said, The accused entered into the office and attacked the CEO and MD with a sword. Both died while on the way to hospital. The investegation is underway. The accused is on the run. (More details are awaited) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BENGALURU: A former employee barged into the office of a technology firm in Bengaluru and killed the chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director with a machete on Tuesday afternoon, police said. Police identified the two victims as Vinu Kumar (L), the CEO of Aeronics Media Pvt Ltd, and Phanindra Subramanya, the firms MD. The deceased have been identified Vinu Kumar, the CEO of Aeronics Media Pvt ltd, and Phanindra Subramanya, the firms MD. Police identified the suspect as Felix. A police officer familiar with the matter said Felix quit the firm some time back and started his own company. The circumstances around his separation from the company are not clear. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North East Bengaluru, Lakshmi Prasad, said Felix was on the run, and efforts are being made to arrest him at the earliest. Police said the incident took place at around 4pm when the accused, Felix, barged into his former office at Pampa Extension of Amruthahalli and attacked the two top executives with a machete. Phanindra and Kumar, who were seriously injured in the attack, died on the way to the hospital, police said. The Amruthahalli police reached the spot and requisitioned the dog squad and forensic teams. The bodies of the deceased have been sent to Manipal Hospital. Belagavi Several politicians, heads of board and corporations start to visit Jain Ashrams after the killing of Monk Aacharya Kaamakumar Nandi in Belagavi. (HT Photo) The visit of politicians, chiefs of corporation and religious heads after murder of Jain Monk Aacharya Kaamakumar Nandi in Belagavi has said to become a hurdle to the investigation, senior officials said on Tuesday. With a day of the crime, we rounded-up the accused and conducted inquiry. However, we have to attend to the ministers, political leaders, heads of board and corporations who are visiting the Aashram, leaving aside our prime work, said top officials investigating the case. Since the murder of the monk has grabbed the attention of Karnataka and Maharashtra, the higher-level police officers are also attending and following up on the case apart from the Chikkodi crime investigation squad. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwar, Higher Education minister Dr. M C Sudhakar, Religious Minority Commission chairman Abdul Azim, MLC Prakash Hukkeri, MLA Ganesh Hukkeri, former MLCs Mahantesh Kavatagimath and Veerkumar Patil, all the politicians from Chikkodi region, BJP State president Naleen Kumar Kateel and many Jain monks and seers of north Karnataka and South Maharashtra visited the aashram since the incident. To maintain protocol the higher police officials must be with them and escort them until they leave the venue, which is hampering their investigation. The accused, in just few minutes of their custody, confessed to the crime. We would have completed all the case filing procedure within hours. However, we couldnt due to the visits of ministers, elected representatives and others, said a member from investigation squad on condition of anonymity. Though both the prime accused were taken into custody last Friday, the next day of the alleged murder of monk Kaamakumarnand, police have officially on record taken them into custody on Tuesday who would be produced before the court on Wednesday. Chikkodi Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Basavaraj Yaligar who is leading the investigating team, told HT that police must produce the accused within 24 hours of taking them into official custody. We on suspected grounds had rounded-up both the accused on last Friday. We completed first round formal investigation for which their official on record custody would be shown Tuesday whom produced before the court on Wednesday, he said. Police who completed the primary investigation of the case are expected to prepare an FIR on Tuesday night which would be produced before Chikkodi court on Wednesday. The accused, according to police are expected to be taken again into their custody when they will produce them before the court. BJP state president Naleen Kumar Kateel before visiting to Kaamakumar Nandis Aashram told news persons in Belagavi on Tuesday that the party would hold statewide protest against killing of the monk. Even after Siddaramaiah led Congress government said that a fair and transparent investigation would be done, BJP has formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the case and submit a report which would be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. We dont have faith in the investigation of the state government. Many Hindu organisation leaders were killed during Siddaramaiahs previous regime which is now repeating, Kateel said. The committee has visited the aashram with Kateel on Tuesday and gathered the information from the inmates. Meanwhile, a few Lingayat seers in the joint news conference with Belagavi District Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Belagavi on Tuesday condemned the murder of the monk and said such incidents should not happen with heads of any religion. VHP district convener Krishna Bhat has suspected the hidden role of Jihaadis behind killing of the Jain monk. We dont know in what form the Jihaadis work. Its the responsibility of every Hindu to give protection to the heads of our religion, he said. As the police investigation revealed that monk Kaamakumarnand was murdered due to financial reasons, Bhat described it as false saying, Neither seers nor Jain monks do finance business. They left everything and committed to the spiritual grown of the devotees. How can they engage in worldly matter. What police said is absolutely false. Later, the activists of VHP, Bajarang Dal and the mathadishas took a protest march to Belagavi deputy commissioner office from Rani Channamma circle and presented a memorandam to a senior official at the office to Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shaha demanding to probe the killing of monk Kaamakumarnand through CBI. Jain monk Kaamakumarnand was taken out from his aashram from Hirekodi in Chikkodi taluk of Karnatakas Belagavi district on the night of July 6 when he was allegedly murdered by two people who were said to be the devotees of the aashram. After murdering the accused they had cut his body i to seven pieces, wrapped in a saree and towel and dumped it into a borewell at Khadakbhavi village in the same taluk. Financial matter is said to be the motive behind killing of the monk. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi is expected to attend the next meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Monday. He said the Congress party will hold a silent protest at Freedom Park here on July 12 as a mark of protest against the disqualification of its leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha. Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. (ANI) "A meeting of leaders of all opposition parties (in the country) will be held on July 17 and 18, as already announced. All the leaders are going to come. (M) Mallikarjun Kharge (AICC President) has requested Sonia Gandhi to participate in this meeting. We have got a message that she will be participating in this meeting," Shivakumar said. READ | AAP gets Congress's invite for Bengaluru meet. Delhi ordinance still a sticking point Speaking to reporters here, he said, "We will welcome all leaders who want to join this great movement for change in this country." The first such meeting of opposition parties, keeping in mind the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, was held in Bihars Patna on June 23. Earlier, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had said the next opposition meet will be held in Bengaluru on July 13-14. As those dates were said to be clashing with Assembly sessions in a few states, it was rescheduled to July 17 and 18. Shivakumar, who is also Karnataka Congress President, said the party under the leadership of Kharge has decided to hold silent protests on July 12 at all the state headquarters against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha. READ | Bengaluru opposition meeting will be conclusive, will oust PM Modi: Lalu Yadav "I don't want to speak about the Court verdict, but the political conspiracy that is going on against Rahul Gandhi to finish him off politically, we condemn it," he said. The protest will be held from 10 am to 4 pm at Freedom Park in Bengaluru by "covering our mouth with black cloths", Shivakumar said. All office-bearers, public representatives and a large number of workers of the party, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, will be participating in the protest against the "conspiracy of the BJP government at the Centre", Shivakumar said. The Congress has said it will move the Supreme Court, after the Gujarat High Court refused to stay Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 defamation case over his Modi surname remarks, and alleged that the government is finding newer techniques to throttle his voice. To commemorate the contribution of induced breeding in blue revolution, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University celebrated National Fish Farmers day on Tuesday. The breakthrough achieved in induced breeding of fish in captivity by the father of induced breeding, Dr Hira Lal Chaudhury, on July 10, 1957, served as a catalyst to synergise the growth of the aquaculture sector. Participants at the farmer-student meet at Karodian village in Ludhiana. (HT PHOTO) Meera D Ansal, dean of College of Fisheries (COF) said that over the last four decades, total fish production of the country has increased from 2.36 to 16.28 million tonnes (mt) in 2021-22, with corresponding increase in inland sector contribution from 40% (0.94mt) to 74.44% (12.12 mt). This was possible due to development of fish hatcheries across the country and subsequent adoption of aquaculture technologies by the receptive, dedicated and innovative farmers, which transformed Indian fish farming into a fast-growing lucrative aquaculture sector, making India the second-largest aquaculture producer in the world, she added. To showcase solidarity with the fisher folks on this occasion, the fisheries professionals of COF visited progressive fish farmers Buta Singh, Sukhjit Singh and Rajdeep Singh of Karodian village for interaction. The event was conducted under university institutional development plan of ICAR-national agriculture higher education project (NAHEP) by scientists Abhishek Srivastava and Amit Mandal, coordinated by Vaneet Inder Kaur, principal scientist. Inderjeet Singh, vice chancellor, congratulated the farmers for continued success in scaling up the sector to newer heights. Highlighting the significance of aqua foods in human nutrition, he also emphasised to take up required measures for enhancing fish consumption to complement the aquaculture production potential of the nation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday sought the help of the Indian Air Force to rescue an estimated 300 people, most of them tourists, from camps at a height of 14,100ft at Chandertal in Lahaul-Spiti district following heavy rain and snow in the region over the past four days. Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur inspects the flood-affected areas in Mandi on Tuesday. (PTI) The IAF deployed a helicopter for the rescue operation, while a team from Kaza reached Kunzum Top, 8km from the high-altitude lake. Principal secretary, revenue, Onkar Chand Sharma said that two individuals were experiencing breathing difficulties due to the high altitude and would be airlifted on priority. All stranded people would be evacuated to safer locations by Tuesday night, he said. On Monday, the state government rescued around 100 people from various rain-hit areas. Road restoration efforts To facilitate road restoration, two teams have been despatched one from the Losar side and the other from Kaza. These teams, consisting of personnel from the administration, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), police, and local villagers, have been tirelessly working towards reopening the blocked routes. Since the onset of the monsoon on June 24, the state has suffered losses amounting to 780 crore. This figure is expected to rise due to extensive damage caused by heavy rain on roads, bridges, and water supply systems on July 7 and 8. According to the state emergency operation centre, 1,239 roads, including the Shimla-Kalka and Manali-Chandigarh national highways, remain inaccessible for the past three days. Essential items in short supply The downpour severely impacted the supply of essential items as landslides and flooding forced the closure of the Chandigarh-Manali and Shimla-Kalka highways. Mobile connectivity that was disrupted in Manali was being restored on priority, Kullu deputy commissioner Ashutosh Garg said. Efforts were on to restore road connectivity in Manali, Kasol, and Parvati Valley. Relief camps have been set up in Kullu and Manali. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an aerial survey of the worst-hit Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, and Mandi districts. A landslide at Shamti, a suburb of Solan, damaged two houses and an office. More rain forecast The meteorological department has warned of moderate to heavy rain in Shimla, Sirmaur, and Kinnaur districts. Nahan received 250mm of rainfall followed by Dhaulakuan (138.5 mm), Jubberhatti (90 mm), Kufri (67 mm), Narkanda (65 mm), Shimla (64 mm), Mashobra (60.5 mm), Kalpa (48 mm), Reckongpeo (42 mm), Mandi (46 mm), and Sundernagar (45 mm). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON : In the wake of flood-like situation in Ludhiana and its adjoining areas, the district health department has devised a comprehensive action plan to address the needs of approximately 73,000 residents residing in 70 flood-affected villages across its jurisdiction. Senior medical officer of Koom Kalan CHC Dr Rupinder Gill said, Fortunately, the situation is completely under control as of now. (Stockphoto) The plan focuses on crucial aspects such as rescue operations, medical assistance, and the prevention of outbreaks, including water contamination. To effectively execute this plan, the administration has formed 46 rapid response teams and identified 16 highly sensitive points across three blocks. The 16 highly sensitive areas have been identified based on the previous year and the current situation assessment. Nine of the above identified areas fall under Koom Kalan block, three under Machhiwara block and four under the Sidhwan Bet block. Out of the 70 villages and 16 highly sensitive areas, the health administration has deployed rapid response teams at seven points, with five of them being in Koom Kalan block alone as adjoining area of Dhussi barrier is the most sensitive flood area. Senior medical officer of Koom Kalan CHC Dr Rupinder Gill said, Fortunately, the situation is completely under control as of now. No outbreak or health crisis has been reported at any high-risk point, but the rapid response teams deployed in the said areas remain highly vigilant. They are distributing chlorine tablets to keep the water contamination under check and are ready with other essential drugs to deal with any outbreak. Notably, as informed by the civil surgeon office, the health department has all the essential drugs, including snake vials, in place, however, the chlorine tablets required to prevent water and vector-borne diseases are being amassed. As many as 42 emergency ambulances are currently operational across Ludhiana. Shedding light on the preparations, civil surgeon Dr Hitinder Kaur said, Our health facilities are ready to deal with any adverse situation. Availability of beds, ambulances and essential drug is being ensured at every civic-run hospital in the district. For now, we have deployed our rapid action teams in seven highly sensitive areas namely Dhulewal complex, Ghumana complex, Mattewara complex, Roor complex, Kasabad Complex, Khaira Bet complex and Madhepur complex to deal with all kinds of medical emergencies. Besides, 39 rapid response teams are on standby and will be deployed as the need arises. The 46 four-member rapid response teams constituted by the department comprises of one MBBS doctor, a pharmacist, a staff nurse and a class four employee. After protests continued for the second day over snapping of water and power supply in TDI City, and sectors 117, 118, 119 and 74 A and 92, administration claimed that supply has been restored to most of the hit areas. Executive engineer Taranjit Singh maintained that the electricity department had provided uninterrupted power supply in the city. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Complaining of scarce electricity supply, lack of sewage disposal and unavailability of drinking water, residents alleged that instead of solving their problems, management had threatened them. On Tuesday, representatives of resident welfare associations (RWA), along with residents, blocked the airport road, raising slogans against builders and management. Balongi station-house officer Periwinkle Singh Grewal reached the spot and urged protesters to shift the protest, to allow traffic to ply on airport road. Executive engineer Taranjit Singh maintained that the electricity department had provided uninterrupted power supply in the city. He said that the poor drainage system had hit the water supply in sectors 117, 118, 119, 74 A and 92. Singh said that waterlogging had damaged the underground cables and electricity poles had fallen We assisted the builders in restoring power in the affected areas and work is underway in Sector 118, he said. Deputy mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi also reached in support of the protesters and brought the whole matter to the attention of deputy commissioner Aashika Jain. With the intervention of DC, a meeting was held with Additional Chief Administrator of GMADA Amarinder Singh Tiwana. Beside supplying water, the process of draining out water is also carried out by the administration. Water recedes to two feet in Gulmohar society, Derabassi After being submerged for nearly two days, the water level reduced considerably in Gulmohar enclave in Derabassi. However, majority of the families have shifted as water and electricity supply has not been restored yet. 10 snakes rescued from godown As many as 10 snakes hanging with a ceiling fan of a ration godown in Derabassi. Ankit Aggarwal, godown owner, said that after two days of flooding, he opened the godown and was shocked to find 10 snakes hanging with a ceiling fan. The wildlife department was called and the snakes were rescued. : As the water level of the Sutlej receded slightly on Tuesday, residents of several villages located along the banks are putting an all-out effort to fortify the banks of the river fearing breaches in case of an increase in the water level. Several hundred acres of fields and houses still lay submerged under the water. Residents of Bholewal village fortifying the banks along the Sutlej in Ludhiana on Tuesday. (MANISH/HT) Locals who reside along the banks have started the night patrolling to swiftly respond to any leakage in the embankments. They said as the water level had gone up significantly on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, they are having sleepless nights as there is a possibility of the same happening again. The locals whose houses have been submerged have relocated to nearby villages but are finding it hard to survive due to a shortage of fodder for their cattle. Several families are living in tents near the banks to keep a watch over their houses and safeguard their valuables. At least 15 to 20 villages have been affected due to the overflow, including Bholewal, Noorpur Bet, Walipur, Khehra Bet, Maanda, allowal and Kasabaad. The administration has issued an alert in these villages. Balwinder Singh of Bholewal village said, All the land belonging to the village residents has been submerged under the water. We fear the loss of this seasons crop which will put us in financial trouble. He added that the level of the Sutlej at the embankment near their village has receded by two to three feet. He added that locals have been on their toes since Saturday and are performing various duties, including night patrolling and fortification of the banks. Dyal Singh, whose house is among the 13 houses which have been submerged in the water in the village of Alloway, said that their losses should be compensated. He added that in 2019, the embankment close to their village had breached which is yet to be cemented. He added that the flood planes along the Sutlej should be identified, and the embankments close to the villages should be strengthened. Deputy commissioner Surabhi Malik on Tuesday ordered the food supply department to immediately procure 20,000 plastic bags (each of 30kg capacity) and hand over the same to the rural development and panchayat department. In her order passed under Section 33 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the deputy commissioner said The food, civil and supply department has been asked to ensure delivery of 20,000 plastic bags to rural development and panchayat department so that these can be filled with sand and used immediately for protection works. She said that among 20,000 sandbags, 5,000 bags filled with sand will be supplied in Samrala, Jagraon, and Ludhiana west sub-divisions. Besides, 2,000 bags will be sent to the areas falling under Ludhiana east and the remaining 3,000 will be kept in reserve. The deputy commissioner said that sufficient Mgnrega workers have been deployed and senior officials are overseeing the arrangements. She added that the district administration has also arranged 10 buses to shift locals to safe places. Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday arrested another retired patwari, Surinderpal, in connection with the multi-crore guava trees compensation scam case. This is the 19th arrest in the case. The accuseds colleague and namesake, Surinderpal Singh, was arrested on Monday from Sri Muktsar Sahib (iStco) The accused was posted at office of land acquisition collector (LAC), Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). The accuseds colleague and namesake, Surinderpal Singh, was arrested on Monday from Sri Muktsar Sahib. A VB spokesperson said that the accused had reported wrong information, which led to the undue compensation to accused beneficiaries. The accused did not raise objections about differences in the names and shares of some landowners as per the revenue records in the assessment report, when comparted to the report by horticulture department. Rather, the accused recommended disbursal of payments. The spokesperson added that the accused is a resident of MIG Flats, Sector 70. Kanwariyas overturned and vandalised a car and thrashed its driver after it hit one of the kanwars in Haridwar. Two people have been arrested for alleged involvement in violence. The incident took place in the Manglaur area on July 10. Two people have been arrested for alleged involvement in violence. The police, however, didnt reveal the identification of those arrested. In a video of the incident, which is going viral on social media, the Kanwariyas (devotees of Lord Shiva) first forcefully evicted the driver and a burqa-clad woman sitting on the front passenger seat, then overturned the car before vandalising it with sticks. In another video, the Kanwariyas could be seen thrashing the driver. In the video, some policemen could also be seen at the spot, taking no action to stop the kanwariyas. Haridwar Police, however, denied any communal angle in the incident and said the driver of the vehicle wasnt a Muslim but a Hindu and the burqa-clad woman accompanying him in the car was known to him. Hardiwar Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh said, A video of Kanwariyas getting violent and vandalising a car after it brushes with a kanwar in Manglaur area on July 10 is doing round on social. It is now being claimed on social media that an elderly couple belonging to a particular community (Muslim) was riding in the car and police took no action in this regard. It is not true. He said, The incident has no connection to any community. A case has been registered on the complaint of the owner of the damaged car who has been identified as local resident Pratap Singh. The miscreants who indulged in violence are being identified. The police anti-social elements are spreading misleading facts without knowing about the truth and strict action will be taken against such people. Another police official who didnt wish to be named said, The burqa-clad woman was known to the driver." On July 4, four kanwariyas were arrested for allegedly assaulting a local resident in Tehri Garhwal, a police official said. On July 2, the Narendranagar police station received information that some outsiders assaulted a local man near Agrakhal on the Rishikesh-Uttarkashi road. The accused were identified as Amar Kumar, Aman Kumar, residents of Punjabi Basti, Civil Lines in Delhi, and Kishan and Suraj, residents of Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi. On the complaint of victim Kamal Singh Rawats wife Chamni Devi, a case in this regard was registered against them under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Narendranagar police station. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: A 26-year-old lift operator was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants in a room at a public toilet complex in south Delhis Pul Prahladpur area late on Monday evening, police said. The dead man was identified as Vikas Mahto from Bihars Saran district who had come to Delhi for a job (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The victim was identified by the police as Vikas Mahto, a native of Saran district in Bihar. Mahto worked as a lift operator at a foot overbridge at Pul Prahladpur on the Mehrauli-Badarpur (MB) Road and lived in a room of a nearly public toilet complex managed by the municipal corporation of Delhi (MCD) Deputy commissioner of police (southeast) Rajesh Deo said a woman called up the police control room at 10:24pm to report that a boy had been stabbed near the Pul Prahladpur traffic interaction and nobody was helping him. She disconnected the call after asking for police assistance. By the time a police team reached the spot, the victim had been shifted to a nearby private hospital by another police patrol van where doctors pronounced him brought dead. He had stab wounds on his head, left thigh and groin area. Deo said the man was shifted to a government hospital mortuary for autopsy. At the incident spot, the police team inspected the toilet complex where the man lived and found blood in multiple places indicating that the assailant may have first attacked Vikas Mahto at his room. Among his belongings, police found a copy of his biodata and a photograph which enabled the police to identify him, the DCP said. We have registered a case of murder and are probing it from all angles. There was blood all around the toilet, suggesting Mehto may have been stabbed inside and that he rushed out to seek help, the DCP added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karn Pratap Singh Karn Pratap Singh has been writing on crime, policing, and issues of safety in Delhi for almost a decade. He covers high-intensity spot news, including terror strikes, serial blasts and security threats in the national capital. ...view detail The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi-led central government of snooping on a national political party. Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that three unidentified people were seen entering the AAPs headquarters in Rouse Avenue while a few others waited outside. He added that these people, who were allegedly snooping and had the same agenda, had also refused to share their details with the security guard. Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that three unidentified people were seen entering the AAPs headquarters in Rouse Avenue while a few others waited outside.(HT_PRINT) Terming it a "serious matter" while addressing a press conference, the AAP chief spokesperson questioned the alleged move of the BJP-led central government. "The BJP should answer what they are scared of? Why are they scared of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal?" he asked. Bharadwaj said, "Some people were seen roaming outside AAP headquarters in Delhi. Three of them entered the party office and the others remained outside. I think all of them were from the same agency and had the same agenda. The guard asked them to write their details in the register but gave excuses. We believe that the Central government is trying to spy on a national political party (AAP)." Recalling that Kejriwals residence was spied on by officials earlier, the AAP leader showed visuals of seven men moving around the party office. Which secret agency are they from?" he said. Bharadwaj's allegation comes amid the latest flashpoint between AAP and the Centre after the Supreme Court said Monday it would not immediately stay the ordinance that gives the latter authority over bureaucrats deputed to the Delhi government. However, the court issued a notice to the BJP-led Centre seeking a response to AAP's plea which called the ordinance unconstitutional. In May, AAP alleged that Prime Minister Modi was using the Delhi Police to spy on Kejriwal. AAP members of parliament (MP) Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh also wrote to the Delhi Police commissioner demanding an explanation. In a press conference, Bharadwaj said, A drone was spotted flying outside the official residence of Kejriwal. Over the last couple of days, a few officers from the special cell of Delhi Police were seen roaming outside the CMs residence throughout the day. When asked about the reason for their presence, these officers said they were there on a special task. What is this special task which has not even been conveyed to the CM? A senior Delhi Police officer said that the allegations were unfounded. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi airport on Sunday witnessed a major disruption to flight operations after heavy rains lashed the national capital. At least 20 flights were cancelled and 120 delayed, including departures and arrivals, the Business Standard reported. Passengers at Terminal 3 of the New Delhi airport. (Hindustan Times) The cancelled flights included those operating between Delhi and Dharamshala, Shimla and Leh, cities which were also battered by the monsoon showers. Nearly 12 SpiceJet aircrafts flying from Delhi-Dharamshala and Delhi-Leh ceased to function, while Vistara flights on Delhi-Leh and Leh-Delhi routes also remained suspended on Sunday. The delays resulted in chaos at the airport as passengers were left stranded and annoyed. Of the total 140 affected aircrafts, 55 were of IndiGos, the airline which takes up 40 per cent of Delhi airport flight traffic. Passengers of Air India flights also bore the brunt of the incessant rain in North India as 27 flights were cancelled. The Delhi airport, the busiest in India, is yet to issue a statement in the matter. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, 1,155 commercial passenger flights were scheduled to fly from Delhi on Sunday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued an orange alert in Delhi as the Yamuna River's water level crossed the danger mark. According to the Central Water Commission, the water level in the Yamuna River touched 206. 24 meters - slightly above the danger mark of 205.33 meters. While torrential rain has been pounding the Delhi-NCR region for the past few days causing flooding and disruption to normal life, the IMD has predicted six more days of rainfall. However, it added that the intensity of the rains will start reducing. Meanwhile, Lieutenant governor (LG) V K Saxena blamed the lack of preparations for the waterlogging in Delhi over the weekend as he took stock of the situation on Tuesday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two men, including a habitual criminal registered with the Bhajanpura police station, were shot dead in northeast Delhis Welcome in the early hours of Tuesday, police said. Police said the two men were shot dead within a distance of 300 metres. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Deputy police commissioner (northeast) Joy Tirkey said the two were shot dead within a distance of 300 metres. They knew each other and were probably together when unidentified assailants attacked them. It appears that Bablu was first shot in a lane. Pradeep may have tried to flee but was chased and shot dead on the main road. Police said they have registered a case and formed multiple teams to identify the suspects. They were probing whether it was a case of personal and gang rivalry. Tirkey said police were informed that a person was shot near Pili Mitti Chowk in Welcome at 2.15am. He added a police team rushed to the scene and found him with two gunshot wounds on his stomach and lower abdomen. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead. The man was later identified by his first name Pradeep, 40, a resident of Subhash Park in Welcome. Two empty bullet shells of 9mm were found at the spot where he was killed. Another man, identified as Bablu alias Patla, 40, was later found with two gunshot injuries on his chest and lower abdomen near Subhash Park. He was also declared dead at the hospital. Bablu faced 13 cases of snatching and theft. Tirkey said two empty 9mm bullet shells were found near his body as well. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lieutenant governor (LG) V K Saxena on Tuesday blamed the lack of preparations for the waterlogging in Delhi over the weekend as he took stock of the situation on Tuesday as the water levels in Yamuna rose above the danger mark. He said trouble due to waterlogging has now become an annual affair. Delhi lieutenant governor V K Saxena. (PTI) Saxena said nature does not issue warnings in advance as Delhis Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government blamed unprecedented rains for waterlogging. ...we must be prepared. Saxena, who has been at loggerheads with the government, said the sewage cleaning was not done as per requirement. He added drain water was not treated and harvested properly. Due to all these things which have been not done for years, waterlogging occurs. Desilting of Yamuna should be done regularly to increase its water holding capacity. He added the Najafgarh drain should have similarly been desilted properly to increase its holding capacity. Due to the lack of such steps, parts of Delhi were inundated. I will try to see to it that attention is paid to all this so that people do not have to face it again. Urban development minister Saurabh Bhardwaj hit back, saying the LG was claiming he got all drains desilted and the Yamuna cleaned. What happened now? Now he is shamelessly blaming the Delhi government? He asked Saxena to avoid playing dirty politics when people expect relief. DJB [Delhi Jal Board] has been starved of funds by the LG for the last year. No action [was taken] against officers who created finance issues. The LG and central government have been constantly creating obstacles for the Delhi government. They refused to even obey Supreme Court orders. Please allow the government to function and stop dirty politics. Bharadwaj said Delhi received 153 mm of rain on Saturday but Saxena visited the affected areas three days later. At a time when lives are being lost in Himachal and Uttarakhand and North India is facing a tragedy, should we help people or play dirty politics? It is not LGs work to play politics. Earlier LG was trying to take credit for cleaning Yamuna. Constitution mandated LG to manage law and order and he should focus on that. Following a substantial release of water from Haryana's Hathi Kund barrage, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday took stock of the situation arising due to the rising level of the Yamuna River. On Monday evening, the river crossed the danger mark much earlier than anticipated. Delhi LG VK Saxena (PTI) Speaking to the media, Saxena cited Delhi's lack of preparedness in dealing with the unprecedented rain and failure to clean the sewage in the river. He said, Waterlogging has become a yearly ritual. Sewage cleaning is not done, and drain water is not treated properly. Due to all these neglected tasks over the years, waterlogging occurs, in an apparent jibe at the Delhi government. Saxena further emphasised that there should be regular desilting of the Yamuna, which he said will increase the river's water-holding capacity. Najafgarh drain desilting should be done regularly, he said. When asked about the Delhi government's comments on the waterlogging, stating that the city has witnessed a higher amount of rain than usual and that infrastructure capacity is being enhanced accordingly, the LG said, Nature doesn't inform us in advance; we have to be prepared for it. Delhi received 153mm of rainfall over 24 hours, the highest recorded precipitation in a single day in July in the past 40 years. "I will try to ensure that attention is paid to all of these issues so that people don't have to face this," Saxena added. The LG also inspected the flooded Pragati Maidan tunnel, Minto Bridge, and Zakhira underpass, all of which were closed for traffic due to the heavy rains received by the city over the weekend. Yamuna crossed evacuation mark The Yamuna River in Delhi has surpassed the evacuation mark of 206 metres, leading to the relocation of residents from flood-prone areas to safer places. On Monday evening, the river crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres in Delhi, earlier than expected. The Central Water Commission's flood-monitoring portal indicated that the water level at the Old Railway Bridge reached 206.28 metres by 6 am on Tuesday, due to increased water release from Haryana's Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar. These low-lying regions near the river are known to be susceptible to flooding and are home to approximately 41,000 individuals. Delhi government on flood-like situation During a press conference on Monday, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that while a flood-like situation is unlikely in Delhi, the city government is fully prepared to handle any unforeseen circumstances. He mentioned that the evacuation of residents from low-lying areas will commence once the water level of the Yamuna River crosses the 206-metre mark. An official from the East Delhi district confirmed that the evacuation process began on Monday night as floodwaters started entering certain areas. Atishi, the Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) minister, also visited the Yamuna to assess the situation. To address the potential flood situation, the Delhi government issued a warning on Sunday. Authorities have been instructed to remain vigilant and take necessary actions in vulnerable areas. Quick response teams and boats have been deployed as well. In order to closely monitor flood-prone areas and the water level of the Yamuna, the Delhi government has established 16 control rooms. (With ANI, PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LUCKNOW Decks have been cleared for setting up a GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) in Uttar Pradesh with the Cabinet on Tuesday giving approval to the proposal for promulgation of an ordinance in this regard. At present, aggrieved traders have to appeal to the high court in the absence of a GST Tribunal, said Hari Lal Prajapati, joint commissioner, GST. (Pic for representation) The GST tribunal, which will deal with tax disputes enabling traders and dealers to appeal to it against the departments decisions and actions, is expected to lessen the burden on the high court too. At present, aggrieved traders have to appeal to the high court in the absence of a GST Tribunal, said Hari Lal Prajapati, joint commissioner, GST. The governments decision to bring an ordinance, according to him, is in line with the Centres Finance Act enacted recently. The constitution of the GSTAT at the Centre as well as in states had been pending since the launch of the indirect tax regime in July 2017. According to the Act, GSTAT will have a principal bench in New Delhi, with branches in states. UP may have two branches considering its size of population. We will soon frame rules for setting up the GST Tribunal and send the same to the Centre for approval, said Prajapati. According to another official, the proposed ordinance also seeks to give some relief to traders in penalties/fines applicable in various GST offences. e-commerce traders will also be able to avail themselves of governments compounding schemes brought from time to time after promulgation of the ordinance, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PRAYAGRAJ The Allahabad high court stayed the arrest of a minor who had contested invoking of Gangster Act against him in Kannauj on the ground that the Act cannot be invoked against a minor. In an FIR lodged against him, it was alleged that the boy was a member of Sonu Yadav gang of Kannauj and allegedly involved in illegal mining. The bench passed the order on a petition filed by Arpit and five other members of the gang. (File Photo of HC) The bench comprising Justice Anjani Kumar Mishra and Justice Vivek Kumar Singh passed the order on a petition filed by Arpit and five other members of the gang. Counsel for petitioner no 4, who was a minor, argued that as per High School certificate, he was a minor when FIR under Gangster Act was registered and provisions of the Act cannot be invoked against a minor. After hearing the parties, the court observed: The first contention of counsel for the petitioners is that the gang chart which has been filed is in non-compliance of Rule 16 framed under Gangster Act. The second contention is that petitioner no.4 is a minor as per High School certificate, which is on record and the provisions of the Gangster Act cannot be invoked under the Gangster Act against the minor. The court while granting stay on arrest to the minor petitioner observed: Till the next date of listing, petitioner no.4 may not be arrested consequent to the impugned FIR dated 27.4.2023 giving rise to case crime no.144 of 2023, under Sections 3(1) of the U.P. Gangster and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, police station- Thathiya, district- Kannauj. This protection shall be available either till the next listing or till submission of police report under Section 173(2) CrPC, whichever is earlier, added the bench. The case will be listed after expiry of five weeks. LUCKNOW Neck, face, head injuries and broken teeth were the signs of torture a 24-year-old aspiring nurse went through before being killed on Monday allegedly by an e-rickshaw driver. Rape attempt was also suspected, said police officials on Tuesday. The womans body was found in the bushes on a deserted stretch in a village under Banthra police station limits in Lucknow on Monday afternoon. (Pic for representation) The womans body was found in the bushes on a deserted stretch in a village under Banthra police station limits here on Monday afternoon. The victim had left her house in Sarojini Nagar for a job interview in a private hospital in Krishna Nagar when she was reportedly abducted while boarding the e-rickshaw of the accused Roop Prakash. He drove her to a deserted spot where he allegedly tried to rape her and killed her after facing resistance. After getting a nursing degree, the woman was looking forward to a job to support her family financially. Her mother and brother were the breadwinners after the death of her father years ago. The accused had initially misled cops saying three other people committed the crime. Initial investigation, however, revealed that the e-rickshaw driver was involved in similar crime in the past. He confessed to committing the crime alone, said Kuldeep Dubey, inspector in-charge of Banthra police station. The post-mortem report of the victim stated the death was due to smothering and no sexual assault was found, said Vineet Jaiswal, DCP (south). However, it is suspected that rape was attempted by the accused. Dubey said Roop Prakash was arrested for sodomising and murdering a nine-year-old boy in 2017 and had come out on bail after over three years. He was a juvenile when he was accused of sodomy and murder and hence remained in a juvenile home after being arrested. Women prime target of criminals An analysis of crimes reported in Lucknow over the last three weeks reflects a rising trend in violence against women. The body of an 18-year-old girl was found hanging from a tree near a brick kiln at Gulab Khera on Sunday. On July 5, a 60-year-old woman Nafees Fatima was murdered in her flat in Shaktinagar after being robbed of 3 lakh by assailants. Her sacked driver and his two allies were the accused in the case, said police. On June 7, a 14-year-old girl was allegedly killed by a 16-year-old boy in Lucknow. The alleged incident took place in Takrohi village under Indira Nagar police station. The minor accused, who hanged the body of the girl from a ceiling fan to make it appear as a case of suicide, was taken into custody for interrogation, police added. The police denied the familys allegation that the girl was also raped. A 25-year-old woman was allegedly chased and assaulted by a jilted lover in full public view in Saadatganj area on June 26. The accused Sadman Abdul, 27, was arrested after the victim registered an FIR against him, said AK Mishra, SHO, Saadatganj police station. A woman in Gomti Nagars Viram Khand area had a harrowing experience recently when a youth, who was stalking her, pulled her chain and pushed her to the ground and fled. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a major move to add to Uttar Pradeshs power generation capacity and provide cheaper electricity to people, the state cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal for a joint venture between U.P. government and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to set up Obra D project having two ultra super critical units with a total generation capacity of 1600 megawatt (MW) at Obra thermal power generation complex in Sonbhadra. Uttar Pradesh has thermal power generation capacity of nearly 7000 MW and a large chunk of this capacity, about one fourth, would be generated from the proposed Obra-D plant. (For Representation) The project, with each unit having a generation capacity of 800 MW, will be implemented with an investment of 17,927 crore. Both the state government and the NTPC will invest in the project on 50:50 basis and have 30 percent equity while the remaining 70 percent will come from loan. The state governments equity will be around 2,697 crore. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath presided over the meeting of the state cabinet that gave go ahead to the Obra-D project to come at 500-acre land available there. This will be first such plant of its kind with advanced technology, efficiency and has lesser consumption of coal, said state energy minister AK Sharma while briefing media persons about the state governments decision. Sharma said as the coal for the plant would be available in the nearby area, the power would be available from the plant for 4.89 per unit against 5.50 per unit available now. He said if required, more land would be made available for the project. Sharma said Uttar Pradesh has thermal power generation capacity of nearly 7000 MW and a large chunk of this capacity, about one fourth, would be generated from the proposed Obra-D plant. He said power consumption in the state has been going up consistently. The minister said the power supply demand touched unprecedented peak of 27,000 MW in summer. He said the state government and the NTPC had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard at the Global Investors Summit organised in Lucknow from February 10 to 12, 2023. Sharma said this was an ambitious MoU. He said the state government proposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was on a visit to Varanasi during that period to develop Obra, Sonbhadra, as the energy hub for the country. He said the PM gave necessary directives to the union minister for energy, the secretary, energy, and the NTPC in this regard. He said the NTPC has now taken a step forward in this regard. Sharma said the first unit of the Obra-D plant would be ready in 50 months while the second unit will be functional in 56 months, six months after the first unit. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Ghaziabad police on Tuesday said they have arrested a contractual employee of the ministry of finance and booked him under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act for allegedly passing on sensitive documents/information to a WhatsApp number, the location of which was traced to Pakistan. The police said they initiated investigation and traced the WhatsApp mobile number of the woman to a city in Pakistan. (Representative Image) The police identified the suspect as Naveen Pal, 30, a resident of Bheem Nagar near Crossings Republik and booked him under provisions of the Officials Secrets Act and also the Information Technology Act at the Crossings Republik police station. The police said the FIR was lodged on June 10 and the man, who worked as multi-tasking staff at the ministry at a monthly salary of about 16,000, was later arrested. We arrested the suspect based on information we received. He was in touch with a woman who had told him that she is from Kolkata and posed as a content writer. The man then passed on some documents/information to the woman for payment and we have found that the man received about 1 lakh in his account. The man was in touch with the woman for the past two months but they never met, said Shubham Patel, deputy commissioner of police (rural). The police said they initiated investigation and traced the WhatsApp mobile number of the woman to a city in Pakistan. The mobile number was not of Kolkata but from a city in Pakistan. We have sent information about the case to the security agencies concerned. The suspect man has been arrested, the DCP said. The Bihar government will hold talks with agitating teachers on their grievances over the new recruitment policy and reconsider their reasonable demands, parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said in the legislative council on Tuesday amid the din created by the Opposition BJP, which alleged police high-handedness in dealing with their protests. CPI-ML legislators stage a protest in support of teachers, outside Bihar assembly on Tuesday. (Santosh Kumar/HT) Chaudhary, who also holds the finance portfolio, sought to convince the opposition leaders to break the stalemate, saying that chief minister Nitish Kumar would review the new recruitment policy Bihar State School Teachers (appointment, transfer, disciplinary action and service condition) Rules, 2023 after meeting with teacher leaders and accommodate their logical demands after the session. As soon as the legislative council met for the day, Opposition BJP members, apparently on instructions from state BJP chief and opposition leader in the council, Samrat Chaudhary, stood up and started shouting slogans against the government and the chief minister. The state BJP chief alleged that the government had resorted to oppressive measures to deal with teachers protests and was arresting their leaders. Opposition members trooped inside the well, shouting slogans and refusing to listen to pleas by chairperson Devesh Chandra Thakur to bring the House in order. Responding to the ruckus, Vijay Chaudhary said BJP leaders have no sympathy for the teachers as they did little to improve their conditions when they were in the power. However, teachers will also not be allowed to create chaos on the streets, he said. Samrat Chaudhary also had a verbal duel with council chairman Thakur for shouting CM Murdabad slogan soon after the house was adjourned till lunch hour. The chair said use of unparliamentary words would not be allowed to be used in the house. The BJP leader dared the chair to show if it was barred by the parliamentary tradition or give a ruling for it, on which the chair declined and walked away. Taking serious exception to the opposition leaders act in the house, JD(U) member Ramishsar Mahato brought in censure motion against Samrat Chaudhary with backing from other ruling party leaders, including Neeraj Kumar (JD-U), Sunil Singh (RJD) and Prem Chandra Mishra (Congress) for engaging in altercation with the chair. Thakur accepted the motion. Finance minister blames Centre for delay in salary support to teachers Finance minister Vijay Chaudhary, meanwhile, alleged that Central government did not release any fund under samagra shiksha abhiyan even after passing of one quarter of the current fiscal. The state government is giving necessary funds to pay salary of teachers and other requirement of schools for want of allotment of the Central governments share. A provision of more than 6,200 crore has been made in the first supplementary to the budget to make up for the Central grant, he said. Teachers to continue with their protests Meanwhile, leaders of various teachers associations, which had called for gherao of the state legislature on Tuesday in pursuance of their demand seeking state employees status to teachers on fixed pay, hailed the governments announcement. Shatrughan Prasad Singh, general secretary of Bihar secondary teachers association, the oldest teachers body in the state, said they had faith on the government, but would continue with their ongoing protest until their main demand, government status to teachers, is fulfilled. The government has shown a positive gesture, said Singh. Carrying on with their planned agitation, thousands of teachers, appointed by the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) and urban local bodies (ULBs) and others on contract, had assembled at Garganibagh ground and held a peaceful demonstration in support of their demands. Dy CM on teachers demand Talking to media persons later on teachers protest, deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said the CM would be personally looking in the matter and talk to the teachers after the monsoon session of the state legislature. In an apparent dig at the Prime Minister for his apathy towards farmers plight, Yadav said that the PM had no time to talk to the farmers, who were on the streets. Here, we believe in democracy and hence we are willing to interact with the teachers on their grievances. Judicious steps will be taken with regard to teachers demand for bettering academic activities, said the deputy CM. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PUNE: After Patil called Bhujbals office, the personnel contacted Pune police about the incident, and after analysing the callers technical details, a team of Pune City police rushed to arrest him in Chandgad. (HT PHOTO) Pune police have detained a 24-year-old man hailing from Chandgad in Kolhapur district for allegedly threatening to kill recently sworn-in cabinet ministers and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde. The accused, Prashant Patil, was arrested from Mahad on Monday, police officials from the anti-extortion cell said. Patil allegedly called Bhujbals personal assistant (PA) on Monday night claiming he has taken Bhujbals supari (contract) and he will kill him, investigating officers said. After that, the accused dialled Mundes office in Parali town, Beed district and apart from a threat to kill Munde, Patil demanded 50,000 from him. Staffers at Mundes office approached Parali City police station and lodged a plaint against the perpetrator. Nandkumar Thakur, SP Beed said, The accused arrested by Pune police is involved in a threat call to minister Dhananjay Munde. Once we get his custody, well be able to ascertain more details about the threat call. Thakur added that an FIR regarding the same has been registered at Parali police station under IPC sections 387 (extortion) and 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) and further investigation is going on. Similar call to Bhujbals PA After Patil called Bhujbals office, the personnel contacted Pune police about the incident, and after analysing the callers technical details, a team of Pune City police rushed to arrest him in Chandgad. Amol Zende, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Crime said, Accused works at a manufacturing unit. On Monday he made a threat call from Mahad in Raigad district, and it was picked up by staff at Bhujbals office. Acting swiftly, our team arrested him, and they are on their way to Pune. According to a senior police officer, Patils whereabouts were traced to Mahad during scrutiny of his call data records. There is a possibility that the accused may have made a threat call to minister under the influence of alcohol. However exact details will come out after a detailed investigation, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. When asked about the threat call, Bhujbal said, Some overenthusiastic people indulge in such activities. But we will continue to do our work. On being asked about allegations of NCP leadership backing threats, Bhujbal replied saying, Sharad Pawar or the entire Pawar family has never engaged in such activities. Pawar family does not engage in issuing threats. Instead, they fight battles through intellectual discourse. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PUNE: PMC had requested the one-acre land from the College of Agriculture for erecting a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) under the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) scheme. (HT PHOTO) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the city on August 1, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) plans to handover 2,600 homes to beneficiaries under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY). Reacting to the development, Pune Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar said, PMC is sending the invitation letter to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) and will seek his appointment for the PMC event. A total of 2,600 homes in the city under the PMAY scheme are ready. These are located at five various areas including three sites at Hadapsar and one each at Kharadi and Vadgaon. Meanwhile, the Municipal Commissioner visited Mumbai on Monday and met with the state government to discuss various initiatives in the city. PMC had requested the one-acre land from the College of Agriculture for erecting a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) under the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) scheme. But the institute is not ready to hand over the land, even if PMC is ready to pay 1 crore as compensation. Commissioner said, PMC will call a few more meetings with the College of Agriculture administration for same as the issue has not been resolved. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PUNE Patients wait at a hospital in Aundh in Pune, on Tuesday. (KALPESH NUKTE/ HT PHOTO) The state public health department has come up with an action plan to combat the monsoon-related surge in the number of vector-borne and waterborne diseases. A senior official said, This year, the health department has identified high risk villages and teams have been formed accordingly at the village- and district- levels. These rapid response teams have been trained and kept ready to handle any disease outbreak. Daily reports of cases will be prepared at the district level and closely monitored. A list of nodal officers in the districts with contact numbers will be prepared and updated at the district- and state- levels. Furthermore, drinking water sources will be tested regularly to ensure that the water is fit for consumption. Kits for epidemic control will be distributed. A list of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers and health workers will be submitted to the district health officers, the officials informed. State public health minister Tanaji Sawant on Saturday held a review meeting to check the preparedness of the health department to handle outbreaks of vector-borne and waterborne diseases during the monsoon. Preparedness at both district- and village- levels, especially that of high risk villages, was reviewed. Sawant said that mosquito breeding spots should be monitored regularly and hygiene of water stocks should be maintained through public participation. A booklet with guidelines to handle any outbreak of disease should be prepared by the rapid response team. The stock of drugs at healthcare facilities should be updated and adequate stocks should be kept available. The Gram Panchayats, Nagar Panchayats and other local bodies should conduct information, education and communication (IEC) programmes. Noticeboards can be put up to spread awareness about disease, Sawant said during the review meeting. Dr Kailas Baviskar, deputy director of health services, said that a list of vulnerable villages has been prepared and door-to-door surveys have been initiated to identify dengue, malaria, Japanese encephalitis and leptospirosis patients. Dr Baviskar said that regular visits to ashram schools are being carried out to identify patients. A survey of water sources has been carried out across the state. Around 76K water samples have been tested for water quality. The testing facilities at laboratories and the medicine stocks at healthcare facilities across the state have been upgraded. An epidemiology survey is being carried out at the village level with the help of other departments. Citizens are being counselled to keep their surroundings clean and take measures to prevent breeding of mosquitoes, he said. PUNE Accident victims on the Pune-Ahmednagar state highway are transferred to Sassoon General Hospital, Aundh District Hospital, or a private hospital for treatment. Now, a facility near Wagholi will save valuable time for the victims. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) The Maharashtra government has given administrative approval to establish a Trauma Care Centre at Wagholi. Recognising the necessity of improved health facilities along highways, the state administration approved the proposal as a special case on June 28, 2023. The centre will benefit accident victims by providing life-saving emergency treatment during the golden hours. A General Resolution (GR) was passed directing to make a land parcel at Wagholi available for the centre. Accident victims on the Pune-Ahmednagar state highway are transferred to Sassoon General Hospital, Aundh District Hospital, or a private hospital for treatment. Now, a facility near Wagholi will save valuable time for the victims. Reacting to the development, Dr Nagnath Yempalle, district civil surgeon, said, The 5-acre plot for the Trauma Centre has already been identified and it belongs to the Zilla Parishad. The proposal to transfer ownership of the site to the public health department has already been submitted to the state government. I believe the proposal will be approved soon. According to Dr Yempalle, the Trauma Care Centre will contain indoor and outdoor patient facilities, as well as a specialised operation theatre. Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC CDS II 2022 marks of recommended candidates. Candidates can check the marks on the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in. UPSC CDS II 2022 marks of recommended candidates released at upsc.gov.in The commission announced the UPSC CDS II Final Result 2022 on July 4, 2023. Direct link to check UPSC CDS II 2022 marks of recommended candidates: How to check Visit the official site of UPSC at upsc.gov.in. On the homepage, click on Marks of Recommended Candidates: Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2022 A new PDF file will open where candidates can check the result. Download the page and keep a hard copy of the same for further need. A total of 302 candidates were qualified on the basis of the results of the Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2022 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission and Interviews held by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Detailed Application Form (DAF) 1 for Civil Services Mains examination, 2023. Candidates can submit it through the link given on upsc.gov.in. UPSC CSE Mains 2023 DAF 1 released on upsc.gov.in UPSC CSE Mains 2023 DAF 1 direct link The commission announced CSE Prelims results on June 12 and those who have qualified for Mains have to fill the form by July 19. In accordance with the Rules of the Examination, all candidates declared qualified in the said examination have to apply again in the Detailed Application Form-I (DAF-I) for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2023, which has been made available on the website of the Union Public Service Commission from 10/07/2023 to 19/07/2023 till 6:00 P.M. All the candidates are required to fill up the DAF-I ONLINE and submit the same ONLINE for admission to the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2023, the UPSC notice reads. Instructions for filling the DAF 1 will be made available on upsc.gov.in, the commission said. Admit cards and time table for CSE Mains exam will be uploaded on the UPSC website three to four weeks before the examination, it added. "Changes, if any, in the postal address or email address or mobile number after submission of the DAF-I may be communicated to the Commission at once," the notice reads. Arshad Warsi has opened up on the prevalence of nepotism and favoritism in Bollywood. The actor, who received praise for his turn in the latest release, Asur 2, opened up about the privileges some actors in the industry have, where they are offered multiple films to make a hit while for others, if there's one flop, the actor is 'doomed.' (Also read: Arshad Warsi reveals why he was replaced by Salman Khan in Bigg Boss, Akshay Kumar in Jolly LLB 2) Arshad Warsi made his acting debut with Tere Mere Sapne in 1996. About Arshad Warsi Arshad Warsi made his debut with the 1996 drama Tere Mere Sapne, which was produced by Jaya Bachchan, and was directed by Joy Augustine. The actor then rose to fame with films including Munna Bhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Dhamaal, Golmaal and Ishqiya. Arshad Warsi on nepotism In a new interview with Humans of Bombay, the actor opened up about nepotism and favoritism in the industry. When asked whether it's a long climb for the actor if he gives a flop, he said, "It is a sad thing but what can you do? There is a certain segment of actors, who are a little more privileged than the other segment. Yes I am talking about kids connected to the film industry. Then there are people who are not connected to the industry. I cant complain, the film industry has given me a lot, and I love it and I thank them all the time. I literally, every morning, thank Joy Augustine, Jaya Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, because of them I have got what I have got. So, nothing against the industry but this is the norm. On how some actors get multiple chances Arshad added what the difference between the ones connected with the industry and the ones who are not is, "I am not even complaining, I accept it. The sad part is I probably would do the same things with my kids. But yes, it is a difficult thing. You have a segment of actors who will get multiple chances to give a hit and then you have another segment who do not get that. You give one flop, you are doomed; you have to struggle all the way again to get back. So that is a sad part." Arshad's latest release, Asur 2, is currently streaming on Jio Cinema. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail Actor Deepika Padukone on Tuesday morning flew out of Mumbai days ahead of her upcoming film Project K's debut at the San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). Taking to Instagram, a paparazzo account posted a video of the actor at the airport. (Also Read | Project K will be first Indian film to debut at San Diego Comic-Con, Deepika and Prabhas will attend) Deepika Padukone spotted at the Mumbai airport. Deepika flies out of Mumbai In the clip, Deepika was seen getting out of her car and heading towards the terminal gate. She was dressed in a purple T-shirt and matching corduroy jacket and pants. She also wore dark sunglasses, boots and carried a black bag. While walking towards the gate, Deepika smiled at the paparazzi stationed at the airport. Before entering the terminal she posed for the camera for a brief moment, smiled and walked inside. Her travel comes just a week ahead of Project K becoming the first-ever Indian film to debut at the SDCC. Project K's debut at San Diego Comic-Con A few days ago the team of Project K made an announcement saying that Deepika along with Kamal Haasan, Prabhas and Nag Ashwin will share an exclusive glimpse into the world of their sci-fi movie Project K at the San Diego Comic-Con. Kicking off the SDCC celebration, Vyjayanthi Movies will offer fans a look at the film as part of an opening night party on July 19. On July 20, the film's team will host a panel titled This is Project K: First Glimpse of India's Mytho-Sci-fi Epic. The team will unveil the film's title, trailer, and release date on day one of SDCC. The Comic-Con is scheduled to take place from July 20 to 23. All about Project K The multi-lingual sci-fi film, helmed by Nag Ashwin, also features Amitabh Bachchan and Disha Patani. Recently, Amitabh Bachchan expressed happiness on being a part of the film. On Twitter, he wrote, I am honoured and have had the great privilege of being a part of this great enterprise in Telugu Cinema, Project K and to have had the huge honour of being in the same frame of the Idol, Prabhas." He had also added, "Thank you all .. and thank you Nagi Sir, for thinking of me .. The humility, the respect and the concern Prabhas has given me has been so so touching & emotional.Not for me, but for all those involved in Project K, may your hard work touch new horizons .. love and prayers. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Preity Zinta has shared pictures of her children Jai Zinta Goodenough and Gia Zinta Goodenough after their 'mundan ceremony'. It is a ritual as per Hindu traditions where the baby's head is shaved for the first time. Taking to Instagram on Monday night, Preity posted the photos and also penned a note. (Also Read | Preity Zinta gives glimpse of her 'mornings' in LA, poses with husband Gene Goodenough as their twins make cameo in pic) Preity Zinta has two kids--Jai Zinta Goodenough and Gia Zinta Goodenough. Preity shares pic of Jai and Gia In the picture, Gia and Jai sat on the carpeted floor playing. They had their back towards the camera. While Gia wore a pale blue dress, Jai was seen in a grey T-shirt and turquoise shorts. The duo seemingly played in Preity's living room as a few chairs were also seen nearby. Preity pens a note Sharing the photo, Preity captioned the post, "So the Mundan ceremony finally happened this weekend. For Hindus, the first shaving off the hair for babies is considered to be a gesture of purification from the memory of their previous births and freedom from the past. Here are Jai & Gia post their mundan ceremony (red heart emoji)." She also added the hashtags--tradition, mundan ceremony and ting. Reacting to the post, Bobby Deol posted a bunch of red heart emojis. Preity meets Nargis in LA Preity also shared a video as she met actor Nargis Fakhri. The duo met for lunch as Preity also posted pictures of their meal as well as the venue. In the clip, Nargis was seen in a printed floral pink shirt and denims while Preity was seen in a blue shirt, pants and a hat. Posting the video, she captioned it, "So awesome to catch up with the gorgeous @nargisfakhri this weekend. Love your energy & your vibe babe. Keep smiling, shining n stay in touch. Muaah (red heart emojis) #girlpower #ting." She also added Rema and Selena Gomez's song Calm Down as the background music. More about Preity and her kids Preity regularly shares photos on Instagram. She has been living in Los Angeles ever since she tied the knot with her husband Gene Goodenough. The couple got married on February 29, 2016, in Los Angeles. The duo became parents to twins in 2021. Announcing the birth of her children via surrogacy, Preity in 2021 wrote, "Hi everyone, I wanted to share our amazing news with all of you today. Gene and I are overjoyed and our hearts are filled with so much gratitude and with so much love as we welcome our twins Jai Zinta Goodenough and Gia Zinta Goodenough into our family." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A legal dispute between former Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie has erupted, as new documents have surfaced claiming that Pitt looted the assets of the winery he co-owned with Jolie. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were together for over 12 years. (Image Credit: Alan Davidson/Shutterstock)(Shutterstock) The filings, obtained by CNN and the Financial Times, accuse Pitt of "looting" the assets of Chateau Miraval in an attempt to maintain control of the property. According to the Financial Times, the filing was made by Jolie's former investment firm Nouvelle, which previously held her stake in the winery. Nouvelle is seeking $350 million in damages, alleging that Pitt masterminded a so-far-successful plan to seize de facto control of Chateau Miraval following their divorce. The documents assert, Pitt wasted the companys assets, spending millions on vanity projects, including more than $1 million on swimming pool renovations, building and rebuilding a staircase four times, and spending millions to restore a recording studio. Lawyers representing Nouvelle claimed that the Hollywood stars alleged misconduct escalated after Jolie sold her stake in the investment firm in October 2021. The filings suggest that Pitt, Incensed that Jolie sold Nouvel to Stoli rather than him, Pitt has acted like a petulant child, refusing to treat Nouvel as an equal partner in the business. The ex-couple initially purchased Chateau Miraval, in 2008. In recent times, their legal battles have revolved around the ownership and control of the property. In February 2022, Pitt filed a lawsuit claiming that Jolie's sale of the winery was illegitimate, asserting that they had agreed not to sell the property without mutual consent. The Original Sin actress countered Pitt's claim, stating that no such agreement had been reached. She explained that she sold her share of the winery to attain financial independence from the Bullet Train actor and to find closure for herself and their children, following a deeply painful and traumatic chapter in their lives. ALSO READ| 'Why are things being assumed,' Mission: Impossible star Hayley Atwell denies Tom Cruise romance rumours Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were together for over 12 years and tied the knot in 2014. They officially divorced in 2019, and the couple shares six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox. While Maddox, Zahara, and Pax were adopted from orphanages in Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Vietnam, respectively, the remaining three are the couple's biological children. Tom Holland has been sober for almost a year and a half now. In latest episode of Jay Shettys On Purpose podcast, released Sunday on YouTube, Holland shared that he quit drinking alcohol in January 2022. He highlighted that initially the target was not to drink for a month as he participated in the "dry January" trend- in which people commit to no booze for a month following a booze-heavy holiday season including Christmas. Tom Holland(File) Holland shared that during the whole of January, he really struggled to not break his promise of not drinking. All I could think about was having a drink. Thats all I could think about, recalled Holland. I was waking up thinking about it. I was checking the clock And it just really scared me, said the Spiderman star. Holland recalled that he recognised that he had an alcohol problem. So he decided to extended his vow of being sober by a month to February. Maybe I have a little bit of an alcohol thing. So I sort of decided to punish myself and say, Ill do February as well. Ill do two months off, shared Holland. ALSO READ| Robert Downey Jr. drops fabulous pics of outing with Oppenheimer' cast After having a hard time resisting his urge to drink for two months, Holland decided to go six months without a drink until his birthday on June 1. After successfully being sober for six months, Holland realised the positive effects of it. I could sleep better. I could handle problems better, things that would go wrong on set, that would normally set me off, I could take in my stride. I had so much better mental clarity. I felt healthier, I felt fitter, recalled Holland. And I just sort of said to myself, Why am I so enslaved by this drink? Why am I so obsessed by the idea of having this drink?,' shared Holland. The Spiderman star is currently dating Hollywood actress Zendaya. Holland last shot for The Crowded Room. There is more great news for Jamie Foxx's fans after the Hollywood star was seen on a boat, cruising along the Chicago river on Sunday. People.com have quoted a source as saying that Foxx is doing really well while on recovery from health scare which led to his hospitalisation in April, this year. Hollywood star Jamie Foxx(Twitter) "He is just taking it easy. He's not really having any visitors or anything like that yet but he's doing really really well," a source told people.com, following Foxx's appearance on the water. On Sunday night, Foxx tweeted for the first time since his hospitalisation. He posted "Boat life. Celebrating summer with @brownsugarbbn. Stay blessed!". ALSO READ| I felt: Spider-man star Tom Holland highlights positive effects in life after he quit drinking alcohol Foxx's first public appearance came as a huge sigh of relief for his innumerable fans since negative reports about his health have been published every now and then for the past almost three months. As per a news report, Hollywood journalist A.J. Benza had made the shocking claim that Foxx became partially paralysed and blind along with other complications as an adverse effect of Covid-19 vaccine. Notably, the "Django Unchained" actor got hospitalised on April 12 in Georgia where he was present for the filming of his Netflix movie, Back in Action". Foxx's daughter Corinne had then taken to Instagram to inform his fans about the actor's health condition and requested privacy. The entire saga surrounding Foxx's health involved various conspiracy theories too. During the entire matter, Foxx's family remained tight lipped and didn't disclose what had actually happened to the superstar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The most-anticipated release of the latest installment in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One," has sparked rumours and speculation surrounding the on-screen chemistry between Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise. Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise pose for photo during the red carpet event for the movie "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, June 29, 2023. The film is to be released in the country on July 12. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)(AP) Atwell recently set the record straight in an interview with The Independent, dismissing the notion of a romantic involvement with Cruise, expressing, I would be like, Ooh, theres some weird rumors, and it feels base. It feels a little dirty. It feels grubby. Its not what Im about. Why are things being assumed or projected onto me about my relationship with my work colleague and boss? Engaged to music producer Ned Wolfgang Kelly, Atwell firmly stated that she considers Cruise and the film's director, Christopher McQuarrie, as "sort of two uncles." ALSO READ| After Barbie, Blackpink concert banned in Vietnam, here's why the country is angry The British actress questioned, Its involving people in my actual life, my personal life, who have to be on the receiving end of that. It becomes invasive. The fabricated love story between Atwell and Cruise not only impacted her but also affected the individuals in her actual life, causing an invasion of privacy that she found upsetting. The 41-year-old actress acknowledged the consequences of such rumours and expressed her concern for the people close to her who had to deal with the repercussions of this unnecessary speculation. In "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One," the seventh installment of the iconic franchise Cruise reprises his role as secret agent Ethan Hunt. The film sees Hunt facing off against a formidable adversary known as "The Entity," an evolving form of artificial intelligence posing a global security threat. Atwell portrays the enigmatic pickpocket Grace, who joins forces with Hunt, forming an effective duo throughout the movie. Together, they navigate thrilling action sequences, including a wild car chase through Rome in a tiny Fiat and a heart-pounding train trip aboard the Orient Express. Critics have praised "Dead Reckoning Part One" for its breathtaking action sequences and compelling performances. Erik Davis of Fandango lauded the film as an impeccably made action film that does non stop entertaining. Davis took to Twitter to express his admiration, highlighting the film's lengthy, intense action sequences. ALSO READ| Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer: Unveiling the release date, cast, and streaming details He wrote, Each action sequence is long, crazy and intense, added, The story is big and sprawling, but I like how it both felt complete and left you dying for what comes next. Perri Nemiroff of Collider also commended the film and specifically praised Atwell's addition to the franchise. She described, She [Atwell] can do it all. Action, comedy, a capable hero in many respects while trying to get her sea legs in others. This year's World Population Day (WPD) theme puts safeguarding women's and girls' interests at the center. Nearly one-half of the world's population is women, yet, they are marginalised. What matters to them is very much rooted in the conversation around WPD. Women's rights, especially reproductive health rights, choices, agency, and decision-making abilities, revolve around policies determining the number of children they can have. Equality(Getty Images/iStockphoto) As India surpasses China to become the worlds most populous country, the concerns around population explosion spark heated debate to enforce strict population control measures. Several elected politicians and leaders propose implementing the Two Child Norm Policy during parliamentary and legislative assembly discussions, restricting people from availing of government subsidies and benefits if they have more than two children. In the Upper house of the Parliament, a nominated Member of Parliament (MP) introduced a private member bill to disqualify people from being chosen as MPs and members of legislative assemblies. Likewise, several other state governments have barred peoples right to contest local elections at the provincial or district levels in light of the proposed two-child norms policy. However, these strict policy measures to control the countrys population are shortsighted. First, India's population growth has stabilised, and the average number of children born per woman has decreased from 5.9 in 1950 to 2.1 in 2021. In other words, the intended replacement level of 2.1 has already been reached, implying one generation produces just enough children to replace itself. With the slower population growth rate that India is progressing into, there is less need to implement severe and forceful population control measures such as the two-child norm. Second, the poor and the marginalised face the brunt of such strict measures. Although fertility declined across all social, economic, and caste groups, it remains uneven. Being socially and economically disadvantaged, the poor and the minority communities, such as the Dalits, Adivasis, and Muslims, tend to have more children. They are often blamed for having large family sizes. Furthermore, they face social exclusion based on caste, identity, geography, and religion. The unmet need for family planning services in India stands low at 9.4 %; due to several reasons, such asthe unavailability and unaffordability of contraceptives, limited agency for women to utilise them, and insufficient attention given to addressing potential side effects. According to National Family Health Survey, 2019-21, 50% of women from lower socioeconomic groups use contraceptives, which increases to 58% among women from higher social quintiles. Conversely, people from lower social wealth quintiles have high unmet needs for family planning (11.4 %), while those among higher socioeconomic groups are the lowest (8.6 percent). Individuals who are less educated, economically disadvantaged, employed in the informal sector, and have limited financial resources often belong to lower social wealth quintiles. This demographic frequently includes Dalits, Adivasis, and Muslims. Thirdly, studies showed that the two-child norms policy led to the disproportional disqualification of women belonging to Dalits, Adivasi, and other backward castes in panchayat elections. This will be counterproductive to the 73rd constitutional amendment aimed to increase women's political participation by reserving 33% of seats in local governance in 1993. Fourth, women face both social and gender exclusion. Their limited agency to make decisions about sexual and reproductive health will further amplify their vulnerability. Till today, the burden of birth control remains on women, and contraceptive use among men is low; condom use among men stands at nine % while male sterilization is 0.2%, according to NFHS data, 2019-21. Unfortunately, female sterilisation is the most popular family planning method, and it takes place in camps in unhygienic and poor conditions, sometimes costing women their lives. Robbing off the choice to have children further disenfranchises them. It adds stigma and alienates them from development. Although officially, the family planning program is voluntary, several instances and news reports reveal that women face discrimination for availing reproductive health and nutrition services, schemes, and entitlements if they don't fit into the desired family size of two or opt for a permanent method of family planning. They fear reporting their third pregnancy, often giving birth at home, without registration and access to antenatal services, and risking their health and nutrition. It also takes away the health care and nutrition rights of the newborn. In Indian society, where a strong preference for having a male child persists, implementing the two-child norm significantly undermines women's reproductive health and rights. Women are deserted if they fail to produce a male heir, and children are neglected if they are girls. Studies have highlighted that this increased discrimination towards a girl child coupled with a deep-rooted preference for the male child has encouraged sex-selective, and unsafe abortions, further worsening the sex ratio. The imposition of the two-child norm in India undermines womens fundamental rights and interests, neglecting the significant harm it causes. Instead, the focus should be on empowering women as the central agents of development. As the saying goes, development is the best contraceptive. Promoting women's literacy, improving their employability, ensuring access to contraceptives, and offering affordable reproductive health services, there will be a natural decline in fertility rates. Women should hold complete autonomy and agency in deciding when and how many children to have, emphasising their freedom to make reproductive choices that best suit their aspirations and circumstances. The article is authored by Sanjeeta Gawri works with IPE Global and leads a CSR-supported nutrition project in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Amarnath Yatra was suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday due to a closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway owing to the extensive damage caused to its Ramban section, leaving 15,000 pilgrims stranded in Jammu and at other places. Pilgrims wait to get themselves registered for the Amarnath Yatra in Jammu. (PTI Photo) Authorities said incessant rains have caused unprecedented damage to the highway, especially the stretch falling in Ramban district, forcing its closure for traffic on Monday. Despite the suspension of the yatra, the pilgrims remain undeterred and optimistic about visiting the Amarnath cave shrine, even if it means waiting for days. "The yatra has not yet resumed from Jammu. It is still suspended due to a closure of the highway. No fresh batch was allowed to move towards Kashmir from the Jammu base camp on Tuesday," a senior officer told PTI. Traffic authorities issued an advisory on Monday night, saying the collective efforts of the administration and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) throughout the day resulted in a substantial improvement in the road condition. However, complete restoration is expected to take some more time. Accordingly, it has been decided by the administration to keep the traffic on the highway suspended for Tuesday, it added. As the yatra is suspended, around 8,000 pilgrims are stranded in Jammu, particularly at the Bhagwatinagar base camp, officials said. Similarly, around 6,000 pilgrims are stranded at the Chanderkot base camp in Ramban district. Nearly 2,000 pilgrims are stranded at the Kathua and Samba camps. Read Here: Over 1 lakh pilgrims pay obeisance at Amarnath holy shrine in first 10 days More pilgrims continue to arrive in Jammu for their onward journey to Amanarth, the officials said. "The number is going up. But most of them are being accommodated in various lodging centres," one of them said. Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and the deputy commissioners monitoring the situation said all possible steps are being taken to ensure that the stranded pilgrims do not face any problem. Kumar said the yatra will resume from Jammu once the highway is repaired fully. However, the annual pilgrimage, which was suspended from the Pahalgam and Baltal base camps in Kashmir due to heavy rain and inclement weather conditions, resumed on Sunday. The 250-km Jammu-Srinagar highway is the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country. Portions of the highway were washed away in floods triggered by the heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday. Ramban district administration officials said efforts are on to restore traffic on the highway. Around 5,000 vehicles are stranded on the stretch from Ramban to Lakhanpur. The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine located at an altitude of 3,888 metres in the south Kashmir Himalayas began on July 1. Since June 30, a total of 43,833 pilgrims have departed for the cave shrine from the Jammu base camp in seven batches. The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 31. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act has nothing to do with GST law, the Union government on Tuesday clarified after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal raised concern over a notification bringing the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) under the PMLA. Sanjay Malhotra, Revenue Secretary, told a press conference that the notification was issued to fulfil a requirement under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), adding that the Enforcement Directorate will neither receive nor provide any information through this notification. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses the press conference post the 50th GST Council meeting, in New Delhi on Tuesday.(CBIC twitter) Kejriwal on Tuesday alleged that with the GST being linked with the ED, even those traders paying the tax can be arrested by the federal agency. "A large proportion of traders do not pay GST -- some out of compulsion, some intentionally. A few days ago, the Centre also brought the GST within the purview of the ED. It means that now, if a businessman does not pay the GST, the ED will arrest him directly and bail will not be granted," Kejriwal alleged in a tweet in Hindi. Kejriwal hoped that people would oppose this development at the GST Council meeting on Tuesday. According to the amendment to the provisions of the PMLA, 2002, GSTN has been included in the list of entities with which the ED will share information. GSTN handles the technology backbone of the indirect-tax regime and is the repository of all GST-related information, including return, tax filing and other compliances. News agency PTI earlier reported that the government amended the provisions of the money-laundering law to allow the ED to share information with the GST network. The move would help in the recovery of the GST evaded through money laundering, the report said. Addressing a press conference after GST Council meeting, Malhotra said, The Prevention of Money Laundering Act has nothing to do with GST Law. The notification has been issued because, under the FATF, our mutual evaluation is already under process. To fulfil that requirement we have issued that notification. He added, This notification will empower our tax authorities with more information. The GSTN is a recipient of information. They (members of GST Council) had doubts as to whether GSTN will start sharing information about private businesses with other law enforcement agencies, including ED. Neither ED is getting any information nor it is providing information through this notification. The director of FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit) shall provide the information to empower authorities wherever they feel there's a chance of tax invasion or for purposes of money laundering. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail The counting of votes polled for around 74,000 Bengal panchayat seats began under tight security on Tuesday morning a day after re-polling was held at 696 booths following violence during the balloting on Saturday. Forty-two people have died since June 8 when the schedule for the polls was announced. Voters at a polling station in Bankura. (ANI) Officials said around 339 counting centres have been set up across 22 districts. The counting was likely to continue for two days and trends were expected to be available by the end of Tuesday. Armed state police and central forces were manning the counting centres, where the gathering of over four people has been banned. As many as 56.7 million were eligible to vote for 206000 candidates across 73,887 seats. The counting started at 8am...will be held in six rounds. After counting the postal ballots, the counting of ballots for the village panchayats will start. Later the ballots for the panchayat samiti and zilla parishad will be counted. The counting is expected to continue till late in the night, said a poll official. At least 80-90 central force personnel will be guarding each of the counting centres. Jishnu Saha, the state election commissions lawyer, told the Calcutta high court on Monday that a company of central armed police force along with state armed police will guard each counting centre A Border Security Force (BSF) officer said a company of central forces (90 personnel) will guard each of the strongrooms. They would remain at the counting centres until the results are announced. The BSF was to deploy one to two sections (each comprising around 9 personnel) within a radius of 24 km around counting centres. Last week, the high court ordered that central paramilitary forces remain stationed in the state for at least 10 days after the announcement of panchayat poll results to prevent post-poll clashes. Post-poll violence erupted after the results of the 2021 assembly elections were declared in May 2021. The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) earlier demanded a re-poll, citing alleged booth capturing, rigging, looting of ballot boxes, harassment of polling officials, firing, and bomb attacks. At least 18 people were killed and dozens injured on the day of polling. Twelve people were killed in rural election day violence in 2018. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury moved the high court on Monday seeking compensation for those killed or injured in poll-related violence and an independent probe into it. The BJP will send a four-member team to Bengal and prepare a report on the poll violence. In 2018, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) bagged around 90% of the panchayat seats including 34% of which were uncontested amid large-scale violence. This year, around 9.5% of West Bengals 73,887 panchayat seats have been won uncontested. The state election commission has not identified the parties that won the uncontested seats. The TMC swept the rural polls in Bengal in 2018 a year before the BJP registered its best performance in the national polls in the state, winning 18 of the states 42 seats. It won just two seats in the 2014 national polls in the state. The TMC returned to power in 2021 for the third consecutive time, winning 215 of the 294 seats. The BJP also improved its tally of seats by winning 77 seats compared to just three in 2016. The party is hoping to maintain the momentum ahead of the 2024 national polls. In the civic polls this year, the TMC won 1,871 of the 2171 seats across 108 municipalities. The BJP ended third with only 63 seats. The Left parties got the second-highest tally of seats. They ruled the state for 34 years before the TMC came to power in 2011. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hitting back at Uddhav Thackeray's taint jibe, Maharastra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief needs a psychiatrist and that he would not react to a statement made under such a mental state. Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. On Monday, Uddhav Thackeray said Fadnavis was a "kalank" (taint) on his home district Nagpur as he had aligned with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) despite asserting he would never do so. Playing an old audio clip of Fadnavis stating that he would never join hands with the NCP, Thackeray told party workers in Nagpur that Fanavis's no means yes. The situation of Devendra Fadnavis has become so strange that it is unbearable and indescribable, once he said, 'I will come again'. But, he brought two more people with him. Who are those two people? Devendra Fadnavis is a taint on Nagpur, the former Maharashtra chief minister said. Thackeray's remark drew major backlash from the BJP, with Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who also belongs to Nagpur, saying personal allegations at such a low level does not suit the political culture of the state. Gadkari said the language used by the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief for Fadnavis was reprehensible and asserted that the level of language should be maintained in politics. They can discuss the development works done we are in government and when they (MVA) were in power. But levelling personal allegations at such a low level does not suit the political culture of Maharashtra, the Nagpur MP tweeted. Reacting to Thackeray's remark, Fadnavis said, I pity the thinking of my old friend and today's political rival Uddhav Thackeray. I think he needs a psychiatrist. Earlier in the day, BJP supporters staged a protest against Thackeray at Variety Square in Nagpur, while the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the partys youth wing, took out a mock funeral procession of Thackeray in the Sitabuldi area. BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule warned that if Thackeray keeps insulting Fadnavis and Union home minister Amit Shah, it might trigger a law and order situation in the state. We will answer bricks with stones, he said, adding that BJP won't be responsible for it. Addressing a press conference in Nagpur, Bawankule said Thackeray has lost his mental balance and should seek treatment for it. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that it cannot order a blanket stay restraining other courts from hearing cases related to disputed religious sites even as there is no judicial order putting on hold the operation of the Places of Worship Act, 1991. The supreme Court observes that it cannot order a blanket stay restraining other courts from hearing cases related to disputed religious sites. (ANI) Read here: Collegium system is vibrant, committed to its task: CJI Chandrachud The 1991 law locks the religious identity of a place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, and makes it punishable to attempt to change its character. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and justice PS Narasimha pointed out that it would not be proper for the apex court to issue a generic directive without knowing the facts of the cases pending before various courts across the country. The court was hearing a bundle of petitions -- some challenged the validity of the 1991 Act while some others demanded stringent enforcement of the same law. There is no stay on the Act. You have to point out before the court concerned that there is no stay. Mere pendency of the plea (before the Supreme Court challenging the Act) is not a stay (on the Act). We cannot in general stay the proceedings before other courts without knowing what they are, the bench told advocate Vrinda Grover. The top courts remarks come at a time when a spate of suits and other proceedings have been initiated by at various places in the country, including Varanasi and Mathura, to reclaim Hindu places of worship. Grover, on her part, was seeking a clarification from the bench that the Supreme Court has not stayed the 1991 Act, and thus, the proceedings pending before the courts relating to determination of religious character or changing the character of a place of worship ought to be stopped. There is an interim application seeking a stay. Across the country matters are being litigated while the Act is in place. As of today, the Act applies. Please clarify that there is no stay on the Act, she submitted. Read here: Bilkis case: SC to hear petitions against remission to 11 convicts The bench, however, responded that there is no judicial order staying the operation of the Act, and hence, the issue of a clarification may not arise at all. At this, Grover said that she has also moved an application, seeking enforcement of the 1991 Act in letter and spirit. The bench issued a notice on this plea, asking the Union government to respond. The top court further gave the Centre time till October 31 to bring on record its stand on the issue. The government needs to come clean whether it stands by the 1991 Act or if a review of the Act is being mulled over, it said. If the Centre opts to defend the law as it is, it will have to justify the rationale behind the cut-off date and stopping reclamation of religious places allegedly destroyed by Muslim invaders, among others, as raised by the petitioners. The Union government was issued a notice by the top court over two years ago, but it is yet to convey its stand on the issue. The court had in March 2021 issued a notice on a petition filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, contending that the 1991 law violated Article 25 (right to practice and propagate religion) and Article 26 (right to manage religious affairs) of the Constitution, besides being discriminatory by barring religious communities from approaching courts to restore their places of worship. He even questioned the Centres power to enact such legislation. Subsequently, several other petitions and applications were filed on the issue. Muslim bodies such as Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and All India Muslim Personal Law Board brought up the declaration in the Ayodhya verdict that the Act is a legislative intervention which preserves non-retrogression as an essential feature of our secular values. Jamiats petition sought enforcement of the 1991 law, complaining, Muslim places of worship are being made the subject matter of frivolous controversies and suits, which are patently barred under the 1991 Act. Read here: SC clears decks for 12 MLCs appointment Upadhyay and Vishwa Bhadra Pujari Purohit Mahasangh, on the other hand, have argued that the top court was not dealing with the 1991 Act in the Ayodhya land dispute and what was said was just obiter dicta (observations made in passing), having no force in law. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is facing backlash on social media for allegedly breaking a reporter's mic after he was asked a question about the charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police on the basis of the sexual harassment allegations levelled by some top wrestlers. A visibly irked BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was seen breaking a reporter's mic. Singh, who has headed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for 12 years, has been charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC)s sections 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), 354A (sexual harassment) and 354D (stalking). A conviction under section 354 carries a maximum jail term of five years, three years under section 354A and three years under section 354D. When a Times Now reporter asked Singh whether he would resign as a member of Parliament, a visibly irked lawmaker said, Why would I resign? Why are you asking for resignation? As the reporter tried to highlight the grave charges he was facing, the angry MP said, Chup (Shut up). The reporter chased Singh to his car to get an answer but the outgoing chief of the wrestling federation slammed the door, breaking the reporter's mic. Sharing the video of the incident, Indian Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV wrote, A BJP MP accused of molesting wrestlers is threatening a female journalist on camera, breaking her mic. Can the Minister of Women and Child Development @smritiirani tell whose words are these? Whose sanskar is it? Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal hit out at Singh saying he is a 'gunda'. Imagine when he has the guts to behave like this with a female reporter on camera, how he must be behaving with women off camera! This mans place is in jail not in the parliament! A senior Delhi Police officer said investigators found evidence to charge Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh under sections relating to the use of criminal force to outrage modesty and sexual harassment in complaints by four woman wrestlers. In the other two cases, the officer stressed that there was evidence to charge the WFI chief for allegedly use of force to outrage the modesty of a woman, sexual harassment and stalking. Earlier in the day, the Congress questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" over the sexual harassment charge against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and said the government is facing a test from India's daughters. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate asked when will Prime Minister Modi expel Singh from the BJP and when will he be arrested. "Why is Prime Minister Modi silent on the issue of sexual harassment against women sportspersons? When will Modi ji expel MP Brij Bhushan Singh from the party? When will Brij Bhushan Singh be arrested? When will the Modi government stop giving protection and patronising Brij Bhushan Singh," Shrinate asked. "You and your government are facing a test Mr Modi, not from the Opposition but from India's daughters," the Congress spokesperson said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON No urgency: SC to hear Andhras appeal against scrapping 3 capital plan in Dec The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to take up urgently the special leave petition of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh challenging the state high court judgement of March 3, 2022, declaring Amaravati as the only capital of the state, people familiar with the matter said. Read more Supreme Court. Shah warns cozy club of dynasts after SC ruling on ED chief tenure: Those rejoicing Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a veiled attack on the opposition leaders for rejoicing over the Supreme Court judgment on the repeated extensions of Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra's tenure, saying they are being delusional for various reasons. Shah pointed out that the top court has upheld the amendments to the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Act, 2021 by which the government can give a maximum of five-year tenure to CBI and ED chiefs. Read more GST Council agrees to cut tax on food served in cinema halls The goods and services tax (GST) Council on Tuesday agreed to a slew of proposals at its 50th meeting, including slashing the tax on food served in cinema halls and exempting the tax on the import of some life-saving drugs. Read more 'What's going on inside MS Dhoni's head?': Rahul Dravid's million-dollar idea to decode ultimate MSD mystery Leaving it late and carving out wins for Team India in death overs, former Indian skipper MS Dhoni masterminded countless wins for the Asian giants in his trophy-laden career. Read more Salman Khan gives a shoutout to Shah Rukh Khan, assures watching his film first day first show: Pathaan Jawan ban gaya Salman Khan has reacted to Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan Prevue. They were last seen fighting side by side in Siddharth Anand's spy thriller Pathaan this year. While Salman doesn't have a cameo in Jawan, he's still given a shoutout to his friend and longtime co-star. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bengaluru: The Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a private tech company were killed in broad daylight allegedly by a former employee in Bengaluru on Tuesday, police said. MD, CEO of a private comapany were killed by an ex-employee in Bengaluru. (Representational image) The double murder occurred between 3.45 pm and 4 pm at Pampa Extension in Amruthahalli area, in northeast Bengaluru, police said, identifying the deceased as Phanindra Subramanya (36) and Vinu Kumar (40), who were MD and CEO of Aeronics Media Private Limited, respectively. The prime accused named Felix barged into Aeronics office, along with two other men and attacked the MD and CEO with sharp weapons, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Bengaluru Northeast, Lakshmi Prasad said. Subramanya and Kumar, who were grievously injured in the attack, died on the way to the hospital, the officer said. We suspect the involvement of three people in the murder. At the moment, we are not divulging the details of the other two accused. Three people entered the office, which is in a residential building, and attacked Subramanya with sharp weapons. When Kumar tried to intervene, he was also attacked, Prasad said. They then fled the spot. At the time of the incident, there were at least 10 other employees present in the office, the officer said. Prasad said the accused were known to the deceased and used to work in a different company before Aeronics was set up in November 2022. The investigation is underway regarding motives and involvement of others, the DCP said. The accused are on the run. Police are trying to nab them at the earliest, Prasad added. Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased have been sent to Manipal Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Further investigation in the matter is underway, another police officer said, adding that a dog squad and finger print experts were also roped in by Amruthahalli police. Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday targeted people who were hailing the Supreme Court verdict squashing the third extension to Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Mishra, saying they were being delusional. Union home minister Amit Shah targets people who were hailing the SC verdict squashing the third extension to Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Mishra. (ANI) Asserting that the apex court has upheld the amendments to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act, which empowers the government to give a maximum tenure of five years to the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chiefs, Shah said that EDs powers remain the same. He stressed that the work the agency does is more important than the person who heads it. Those rejoicing over the Supreme Court decision on the ED case are delusional for various reasons: the amendments to the CVC Act, which were duly passed by the Parliament, have been upheld. Powers of the ED to strike at those who are corrupt and on the wrong side of the law remain the same, Shah tweeted on Tuesday evening, hours after the top court judgment. He did not specify which people he was referring to. ED is an institution which rises beyond any one individual and is focused on achieving its core objective - i.e., to investigate offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws, the home minister said. Thus, who the ED director is - that is not important because whoever assumes this role will take note of the rampant corruption of a cozy club of entitled dynasts who have an anti-development mindset. Opposition parties have repeatedly accused the ED of doing the bidding of the Centre during Mishras tenure -- a charge the government has denied. Reacting to the top courts judgment, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Tuesday said it was a victory of justice and a vindication of our stand on brazen misuse and compromise of ED for political vendetta by the Modi government. On a petition instituted by me, the Supreme Court today pronounced its judgment striking down the extensions given to the ED Chief as illegal. ED Director will have to vacate office by the end of the month. This is a victory of justice. This is a vindication of our stand on brazen misuse & compromise of #ED for political vendetta by Modi Govt for targeting political opponents as also businessmen to spread terror, Surjewala tweeted. Muslim World League chiefs praise for India's unity: Great model for co-existence Muslim World League secretary general Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa Tuesday praised India's unity and the Muslim community within the country for their sense of national pride. They are proudread more. Saudi Arabia leader and Muslim World League Secretary General Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa addresses during an event, at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI) Congress slams BJP after Delhi Police charge sheet against Brij Bhushan goes public The Congress party on Tuesday accused the BJP government of shielding Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleging he was a sexual perpetrator, after itread more. Day before IMF bailout approval meet, Pakistan gets $2 billion from Saudi Arabia Pakistan has received $2 billion in financial support from Saudi Arabia, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday, a day before the International Monetary Fund's board is expected to give final approval for a muchread more. Watch: Rohit Sharma's mindboggling reaction to irritated Rahane's 'I'm still young' comment ahead of West Indies Tests When Ajinkya Rahane was dropped from the Indian Test squad after a strong of poor performances in early 2022, before the home series against Sri Lanka, there was little hope that he could make a comeback. He was 34 thenread more. SS Rajamouli shares video from his road trip to Tamil Nadu temples, fan asks 'It's not your VFX right?' Watch Filmmaker SS Rajamouli recently went on a road trip to several temples in Tamil Nadu and said the tour was refreshing and uplifting since it came after he spent 3 months abroad. SS Rajamouli campaigned for RRRread more. YouTuber throws a momo party for an entire village in Uttarakhand. Watch When you think of a party, what's the first thing that comes to your mind? Maybe a club party with your friends? Or it could also be a simple gathering at your home. Regardless of the kind of party, the one thingread more. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON AHMEDABAD: A former collector of Gandhinagar district was detained by the police from a location close to the Gujarat-Rajasthan border in connection with a corruption case registered against him in May. police said on Tuesday. Police said a team was sent to the Gujarat-Rajasthan border to take SK Langa into custody (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Gandhinagar superintendent of police (SP) Tarun Kumar Duggal said a team was been sent to take the retired civil servant, SK Langa, into custody but declined to reveal any other details. He said the police will share the details of his arrest on Wednesday. Police said the first information report (FIR) was registered against Langa at the Sector 7 police station of the state capital on May 17. According to the FIR, Langa, who retired as the Gandhinagar collector a few years ago, has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 409 (criminal breach of trust in respect of property as a public servant), 168 (unlawfully engaging in trade as a public servant), 193 (punishment for false trade), 196 (using as genuine evidence known to be false), 465 (forgery), in addition to provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR alleged that Langa allegedly conspired with his subordinates and abused his position for his own financial benefit and that of his associates and relatives. He is accused of granting permission to convert a piece of agricultural land for non-agricultural (NA) purposes at Mulsana village of Kalol taluka in Gandhinagar through unfair means which allegedly led to a loss of revenue for the government. The order was passed between April 6, 2018, and September 30, 2019 when Langa was Gandhinagar collector. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has hit out at the Union government over its affidavit in the Supreme Court (SC) defending the nullification of the Constitutions Article 370, saying it lacks logic. Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti. (AP) The government in the affidavit filed on Monday said the nullification has led to unprecedented development, progress, security and stability in the region. In a tweet on Monday, Mufti maintained the abrogation of Article 370 that gave J&K semi-autonomous was illegal and unconstitutional. She added brute majority was used to subvert the constitution that extended guarantees to the people of J&K. ...GOI [government of India] also violated earlier rulings of Honble SC [Supreme Court] which held that only J&Ks constituent assembly could recommend the removal of Article 370 to the President of India. Drum beating about an enforced silence & so-called grassroots democracy cant be used to justify constitutional harakiri. The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed a day-to-day hearing from August 2 of a clutch of petitions against the nullification. Some petitioners have brought up the requirement of consent from J&Ks erstwhile constituent assembly for the abrogation of Article 370. Others highlighted the Supreme Courts ruling of 2018 that observed that Article 370 had gained a status of permanence. Another former chief minister Omar Abdullah, whose National Conference is among the petitioners, called the contents of the affidavit political arguments. These are definitely political arguments the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party]/Union Govt can make to sell their decision to the voter but they are not legal arguments. The entire case in the SC is about the illegality & unconstitutionality of what was done on 5th Aug 2019, not whether the Govt has a strong enough political case, Abdullah tweeted. Former J&K minister Sajad Lone said the Article 370 case is one of the biggest challenges facing the judiciary. The role of the apex court is not to pass judgment on whether the abrogation of Article 370 was beneficial or detrimental to J&K but the courts duty lies in determining the legality of the abrogation. Lone said the governments affidavit focuses on issues post-abrogation. What will eventually be discussed in the court is the legal pathway to abrogation, not the so-called perceived political or law and order benefits post abrogation. Whether abrogation of Article 370 is good or bad for J and K is not what the Apex court has to decide. They have to decide whether it was good or bad in law, Lone said in a statement. He said Article 370 in essence was a form of federalism and a power-sharing arrangement. Lone added it has been slandered and defamed beyond recognition. He added clamour for federalism will progressively gain momentum over time. The biggest threats facing the country today are the attacks on its federal structure... Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, who is also a petitioner, said democratic and civil rights have vanished after the abrogation of Article 370. He added those wanting to speak are not allowed to do so. ...if anybody protests, they are being arrested. He said there is forced peace. The ruling BJP has maintained that Article 370 was a temporary provision in the Constitution that had to be removed. Hyderabad/New Delhi A combination of western disturbances and monsoon westerlies has brought heavy rainfall over northern India in the past week, turning the region rain-surplus for this time of the year, but 12 central, southern and northeastern states such as Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar and Jharkhand are still going through a deficient monsoon. Indian Army personnel rescue people stuck in the flooded Sanauri Adda area after an increase in the water level of Badi Nadi river following heavy monsoon rain, in Patiala, Tuesday (PTI) Read here: Telangana logs delay in sowing of kharif crops due to deficit rain The IMD (India Meteorological Department) rainfall data for the monsoon starting from June 1 shows that all the southern states except Tamil Nadu have received less than expected rainfall this season. Heavy rains in the South in the first week of July was restricted to the coastal regions of Kerala and Karnataka, with the mainland not receiving substantial rainfall; so much so that sowing of crops in Telangana, Andhra, Karnataka and parts of Kerala has been delayed. The Karnataka and Telangana governments have spoken of a possible monsoon drought. According to a Telangana State Development and Planning Society (TSDPS) bulletin on Tuesday, cumulative rainfall in the state, starting from June 1, when the monsoon season is considered to have commenced, till July 11 was 150.4mm, as against normal rainfall of 197.5mm, with a deviation of -24%. During this period last year, the state had witnessed heavy rainfall recording 395.6mm. Compared to the previous year, Telangana has witnessed a rainfall deficit of -65%, the bulletin said, adding that the monsoon started from June 24 and has been erratic. Except Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Siddipet and Narayanpet, which recorded slightly above normal rainfall so far, all the remaining 29 districts received deficit rainfall ranging from -5% (in Jangaon district) to -51% (in Khammam district). In Karnataka, officials said most of the major dams such as the Krishnarajasagar (KRS) dam, the vital water source for Bengaluru and supplier of Cauvery water for drinking purposes, is almost running dry with water level below 30 feet as compared to a maximum of 124.8 feet. Comparatively, last year, the water level stood at 106.5 feet. Similarly, the Tungabhadra dam, which caters to the Hyderabad and Karnataka regions, is currently holding only 4.1TMC of water, a significant decrease from last years 43.9TMC. The catchment areas responsible for replenishing rivers such as the Cauvery and the Tungabhadra in Karnataka have received less than one-third of normal rainfall during the first 35 days of the monsoon season, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Cell. Almost all zones are experiencing cloudy conditions but have not received an average of more than 12cm of rainfall. This has put reservoirs under tremendous stress and could impact power generation and supply of potable water if the situation does not change, said a senior government official, expressing concern. In many regions of Kerala, which is facing a rain deficit of 31%, rainfall has been inadequate. Except for parts of northern Kerala, most other regions have received very less rainfall, said a Kerala disaster management department official. He added that rainfall in 9 of 14 districts was in a large deficit. Andhra Pradesh is better placed than other southern states, with just a 19% deficit. The IMD said the monsoon in southern India has been weak since the beginning primarily because of the impact of cyclone Biparjoy. Read here: Monsoon fury: Patiala battles deluge for third straight day North received heavy rains because of a western disturbance and monsoon wind combination. That has moved east and will bring rain to Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh in the coming days. We expect the rains to resume in southern India in some days with a depression building in the Bay of Bengal, said IMD scientist Jenamani. Also in deficit are the eastern states of Bihar (-33%), Jharkhand (-43%) and Odisha (-26%), though West Bengal has received substantial amount of rain. All northeastern states except Assam are rain deficient though the average rainfall these states have received is higher than the average for the country. The average rainfall for any northeastern state is almost double of the average for mainland Indian states. For instance, Arunachal Pradesh has received 484mm of rain this monsoon season, which is 28% less than normal, whereas Rajasthan with just 249mm of rain is in 155% excess. (With inputs from state bureaus) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Heavy rain has lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh for days with no respite in sight. Several areas of the state saw flash floods with roads and highways being damaged due to incessant rainfall. People walk across a bridge over the River Beas swollen due to heavy rains in Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India, (AP) India Meteorological Department scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma said, A red alert has been issued for very heavy rainfall in Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur, and Lahaul for the next 24 hours. Additionally, an orange alert has been issued in Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Chamba. A flash flood warning has been issued for Mandi, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti for the next 24 hours. Here are the top monsoon updates on Himachal Pradesh: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red and orange alerts for several districts of Himachal for the next 24 hours. Himachal Pradesh's Mandi faced flood-like situation on Tuesday as river Beas continued to swell due to heavy incessant rainfall. Several houses and roads have been damaged in the Mandi district. Amid heavy rainfall a total of 12 major bridges have been damaged and infrastructure loss has been estimated between 3,000 crore and Rs. 4,000 crore, PTI reported. Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday that he would visit parts of Mandi and Kullu. He tweeted, Today, I am visiting the flood affected area of District Mandi and Kullu to personally access the damage caused to human life and property by flash floods and heavy rains. A landslide took place near Six Mile area in Mandi which led to the closure of the Chandigarh-Manali national highway. Over 1200 roads including highways have been blocked due to the heavy rainfall. The water flow around the Panchvakhtra Temple, which faced heavy flash floods on Monday after heavy rainfall, reduced on Tuesday. Kullu Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Garg, speaking to PTI, said, The weather has improved since last night which has helped us make progress in our restoration work. I want to assure that the stranded people are being taken care of as seven relief camps have been set up in Kullu. An Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper has been requisitioned to airlift several tourists who have been left stranded in Chandertal in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. A rescue team from Kaza has also reached Kunzum Top. Over 300 people, mostly tourists, have been stuck in camps in these districts. Amid heavy downpour, Shimla faced a drinking water shortage on Tuesday. The Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Ltd (SJPNL) had to supply water to residents through tankers. In Shimla, 1,418 water supply schemes have suffered damages. Shimla Municipal Corporation Mayor Surender Chauhan on Tuesday said, There has been a lot of loss to the state because of the disaster. Be it the water schemes, roads or the dams...In Shimla, we have hired private tankers and Nagar Nigam's tankers are also providing water. With the use of tankers we are trying to reach as many places as possible. The localities in Shimla have narrow roads and therefore we are sending small tankers of water to those places as well SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Today Weather News highlights: Major parts of north India have reported loss of life and property, as well as disruption in transport and power as heavy rainfall battered parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, on Monday leading to waterlogging, flash floods and landslides. Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur inspects the flood-affected areas, in Mandi on Tuesday.(PTI) India is set to become the worlds second-largest economy by 2075, leaving not just Japan and Germany but also the US behind, Goldman Sachs said in its latest report. Currently, India is the worlds fifth-largest economy, behind Germany, Japan, China and the US. Innovation and technology, higher capital investment and rising worker productivity will help India's economy in the coming years, the investment bank wrote. Goldman predicted capital investment will be another significant driver of Indias growth.(AFP) Over the next two decades, the dependency ratio of India will be one of the lowest among regional economies, Goldman Sachs researchs India economist Santanu Sengupta said. The dependency ratio is measured by the number of dependents against the total working-age population. Santanu Sengupta said that the key to drawing out the potential of Indias rapidly growing population is to boost the participation of its labor force. India will have one of the lowest dependency ratios among large economies for the next 20 years, he said. So that really is the window for India to get it right in terms of setting up manufacturing capacity, continuing to grow services, continuing the growth of infrastructure, he explained. Goldman Sachs said in the report that this is an appropriate time for the private sector to scale up on creating capacity in manufacturing and services. This will help in generating more jobs in the country and absorb a large labor force, the investment bank noted. Goldman predicted capital investment will be another significant driver of Indias growth. Indias savings rate is likely to increase with falling dependency ratios, rising incomes, and deeper financial sector development, which is likely to make the pool of capital available to drive further investment, Goldmans report stated. The labor force participation rate in India has declined over the last 15 years, the report noted. Womens participation rate in the labor force is significantly lower than mens, it said, adding, A mere 20% of all working-age women in India are in employment. The low figure could be due to women being primarily engaged in work not accounted for by the economic measures of formal employment, it said. Net exports have also been a drag on Indias growth, because India runs a current account deficit, Goldman Sachs said. S&P Global and Morgan Stanley have also predicted that India is on course to become the third-largest economy by 2030. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail The success of Indias Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission is important not just to India but also the entire world, as crucial information from the mission will help future space missions globally, science minister Jitendra Singh said. Chandrayaan-3, Indias third lunar mission, will be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on board the Launch Vehicle Mark-III from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on July 14 at 2.35pm. The lander and the rover will carry scientific payloads to carry out experiments on the moons surface. Ahead of the much-awaited launch, Singh spoke in an interview on the significance of Chandrayaan-3 for space programmes globally, future space missions and the governments focus on space programmes in the future. Edited excerpts: Union minister Jitendra Singh said Chandrayaan-3 has garnered a lot of interest (PTI) Read here: ISRO to launch moon mission Chandrayaan-3 on July 14. Check details How significant is the success of Chandrayaan-3 for Indias space aspirations? Not just for India, the world is waiting for the success of Chandrayaan-3 because the mission will ensure some very significant findings from the moon, which will be valuable for space agencies globally. There is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for this mission, even though Isro is known to successfully conduct such missions back-to-back. Chandrayaan-3 has garnered a lot of interest. The recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US added to the enthusiasm around this mission. Through this visit, it was reiterated to the world that as far as space technology is concerned, India has come of age, and we are a force to reckon with. Our space prowess is second to none and if there has to be a space collaboration with us, it has to be on an equal footing. Our enthusiasm around Chandrayaan-3 is also loaded with the confidence that we can achieve this feat successfully. We also need to recall that US might be the first nation to land a human on the surface of the moon, it our Chandrayaan-1 mission that first picked up images of water on the surface of the moon. These pictures were also provided to NASA for their future explorations. This mission series placed us at par with global leaders when it comes to our R&D capabilities. We will be the fourth country to land on the surface of the moon. So, the world will be closely watching our success in this mission. If everything goes well, which we are confident it will, other countries will also be looking forward to the findings of this mission for their own benefit. Chandrayaan-3 is significant not only for India, but for the entire space fraternity across the world. Chandrayaan-2 mission did not go as planned. How far has our preparations come since then? For a patriotic Indian, Chandrayaan-2 might come across as a disappointment, but if you look at it scientifically and objectively, it would be unfair to call this mission a failure. None of the other countries were successful in their first attempt. If the mission had gone as we had envisaged, it would have immediately placed us in front of all other countries. We are hoping that this will happen now with Chandrayaan-3. Read here: Earlier mission was success-based; this one also factors in failures: Isro chief on Chandrayaan-3 The Chandrayaan-2 mission fell slightly short of the outcome that we were expecting because the descent happened about 12 km away from the desired spot. There were some miscalculation that did not give us the results we wanted. The mission did happen, and it wouldnt be fair to call it a failure. We live and learn, and the faults have been rectified in Chandrayaan-3. There are some big-ticket missions lined up in the coming months, including Aditya-L1(the solar mission) and Gaganyaan (Indias human space flight). What is the update on these missions? Gaganyaan was delayed because of Covid-19. Our astronauts were undergoing training in Russia, but they had to be called back because of the pandemic. We have three missions under Gaganyaan before the manned mission happens. The first mission will be unmanned, the second one would carry a robot on-board and, finally, we will have the manned mission. The most important aspect of the mission is to ensure the safety of our astronauts. As important this mission is to send Indians to space, it is equally important to bring them back to earth safely. How far has India reached in its space journey and what are the governments plans for the space sector in the coming years? When we started our space journey in the early 1960s, the US and the then USSR were way ahead of us. We were just struggling with limited resources. The political leadership at the time also did not give much attention to the space sector. The kind of quantum jump that the space sector has seen over the last few years would not have been possible without the personal involvement of PM Modi. Read here: All you need to know about India's Chandrayaan-3 and its benefits for the US The entire world had opened up, but for nearly 70 decades our space programmes hid behind a veil of secrecy. Now the space sector has been unlocked and the doors of Sriharikota has been opened. We were always equal to, maybe even superior to others when it came to human resources. Even today, in NASA, most of the expert hands hail from India. We were never lacking in human resources, but we were lacking in an enabling milieu. The deficiency was at the level of policy planners and political leadership. Now India is being recognised as an equal partner. We have reached the level where the US is seeking an Indian astronaut to be a part of the mission to the International Space Station. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Soumya Pillai Soumya Pillai covers environment and traffic in Delhi. A journalist for three years, she has grown up in and with Delhi, which is often reflected in the stories she does about life in the city. She also enjoys writing on social innovations. ...view detail Indias higher education institutions are among the most effective platforms for promoting constitutional ideals of justice, equality, fraternity, individual dignity and respect for women, President Droupadi Murmu said on Tuesday. President Droupadi Murmu (PTI) Read here: Yeh to trailer hai, picture abhi baaki hai, says President Murmu in Bengaluru Murmu was addressing the closing ceremony of the two-day visitors conference held at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The conference was attended by education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and more than 150 heads of institutions including central universities, Indian Institutes of Technology, National Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research and National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. The conference -- Education for Sustainable Development: Building a better world -- saw parallel sessions on five themes including ones on national education policy, internationalization efforts, research contributions, diversity, equality, inclusivity and wellness. The themes of the conference were extremely relevant for our country as well as for the entire world, the President said. The session on diversity, equality, inclusivity and wellness, headed by V Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras, discussed efforts by education institutions on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The DEI efforts included reduction of gender bias, ensuring ease of living for physically challenged steps to improve participation of women in leadership roles. The deliberations brought out a wide range of suggestions on how to ensure the happiness, well-being and development of our students and faculty, the education ministry said in a statement. In her inaugural address on Monday, the President had raised concerns over a spate of suicides among students reported at IITs and stressed that educational institutions should make it their priority to protect and support their students against stress, humiliation or neglect in their campuses. Highlighting the importance of innovation and cutting edge research and development for economic and social development of a nation, Murmu said leading universities and technology institutions in the world have focussed on innovation. The higher education institutions in our country have the potential of becoming powerhouses of research and innovations, the President said I am confident that the heads of institutions of higher education would lead their institutions towards promoting innovation that can be used for industrial and commercial purposes. The President pointed out that developed countries are known for their higher educational institutions. Students from across the world want to study in higher educational institutions of those countries. Such a road map has been given in Indias National Education Policy 2020, following which our higher educational institutions can also become global education centres, she said. I am confident that our higher educational institutions would become centers of world-class knowledge creation. In his concluding remarks on Tuesday, education minister Pradhan highlighted how mental and emotional well-being positively impacts motivation, focus and resilience among students. By promoting well-being, institutions can provide students with tools and resources to prosper on campus and in life, he said. High-quality education can only be ensured by high-quality teaching, which will be possible when institutions handhold and mentor each other through collective effort. Read here: President Murmu to meet benefactors of education sector tomorrow University Grants Commission chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar, who headed a session on the education policy, said: During the conference, it was decided to upscale the efforts on creating programmes with no hard separations between arts and sciences with an emphasis on conceptual understanding. We also decided to promote multilingualism and use the power of language in teaching and learning through extensive use of technology. The education ministry said that while many institutions have taken steps towards internationalization, it was discussed that there is a need of increasing academic collaboration with top universities in the world and attracting foreign students to study in India. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The incredibly low number of Indians who joined global terrorism shouldnt lead to a sense of complacency and India will not shy away from actions such as hot pursuit to eliminate terrorist havens, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval said on Tuesday. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Saudi Arabia leader and Muslim World League Secretary General Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi on Tuesday (ANI) Addressing a gathering that included religious leaders, academics and diplomats, Doval and Muslim World League secretary general Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa highlighted the importance of Indias unity in diversity in relations between different communities, and in the countrys stability and progress. Doval and Al-Issa, a former Saudi justice minister who heads a body affiliated with Saudi Arabias defence ministry dedicated to fighting terrorist ideology, were speaking at an event organised by Khusro Foundation and the India Islamic Cultural Centre. Al-Issa is visiting India at the governments invitation as part of an outreach to top spiritual leaders of Muslim nations. As a proud civilisational state, India believes in promoting tolerance, dialogue and cooperation to deal with the challenges of our time. It is no coincidence that despite having around 200 million Muslims, the involvement of Indian citizens in global terrorism has been incredibly low, Doval said. Yet the challenge of extremism and global terrorism compels us not to lower our guard. To preserve security and stability, we will [guard] our borders and also rise to the security challenges beyond, he said. Doval added, India is an extremely responsible power but when the need for a hot pursuit against terrorist havens was felt, we have gone all out to destroy terrorism in our national interest. Even amidst great provocation in the war against terror, India upheld rule of law, rights of citizens and protection of human values and rights, he said. India continues to play its role as a refuge for high product ideas with infinite capacity to absorb dissent. Dissent does not mean disintegration. Dissent does not mean necessarily a confrontation. But in this country, because of your thought, because of your idea, no one is under threat, Doval said, adding India believes in tolerance, dialogue and cooperation to deal with challenges. NSA Doval spoke at length on Indian history, the advent of Islam to the region and the close cultural and economic ties between India and Saudi Arabia dating back many centuries, while highlighting how the country has been a melting pot of cultures, religions, languages and ethnicities. As an inclusive democracy, India has successfully managed to provide space for all its citizens, regardless of their religious, ethnic and cultural identities. Amongst the numerous religious groups, Islam occupies a unique and significant position of pride, with India being home to the second largest Muslim population in the world, Doval said, noting that Indias Muslim population is almost equal to the combined population of more than 33 members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The deep spiritual content of Hinduism and Islam brought people together and helped in bringing about social and intellectual understanding of each other. It gave rise to a distinct and vibrant expression of peace and harmony, he added. Al-Issa, considered a leading moderate voice in the Islamic world, repeatedly referred to Indias unity in diversity and how it fosters positive coexistence. Diversity is an unavoidable part of life. If we understand it in such a manner, then we will be able to approach it very positively, he said, speaking in Arabic. Diversity is a natural part of humanity, and...if we start looking at diversity as a source of enrichment, then there will be a shift in our thinking, a leap forward, he said. We are aware that there are negative trends in coexistence around the world and we have to take benefit from the common values that we share and work to strengthen them. Islamic culture is open to engaging in dialogue while respecting countries and their constitutions and laws, and Muslims should peacefully coexist with others, Al-Issa said, adding coexistence is an obligation among Muslims. When there are differences, these should be [addressed] in a manner that shows respect for others...And [Muslims] have to work on seeking avenues of cooperation with others, he added. Describing India as a Hindu-majority country with a secular constitution, Al-Issa said the Muslim community is a very important component of society that is proud of its nationality. The religious awareness of Indian Muslims should be a tool for co-existence and promoting tolerance and cooperation, he said. As part of the governments outreach to the Muslim world, Doval and his Indonesian counterpart Mohammed Mahfud Mahmodin addressed a special meeting of ulema or Muslim scholars in New Delhi last November. The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, also visited India in May and met senior officials, clerics and academics. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday said India has been a melting pot of cultures and religions that have co-existed in harmony for centuries, and Islam occupies a unique and significant "position of pride" among the religious groups in the country. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval being felicitated by Saudi Arabia leader and Muslim World League Secretary General Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa during an event, at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI) Doval was speaking during an event at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi where Muslim World League secretary general Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who is on an India visit, also addressed the gathering. Doval hailed Al-Issa as an authentic global voice of moderate Islam and a profound scholar with a deep understanding of Islam. Doval also hailed the excellent ties between India and Saudi Arabia and they were rooted in shared cultural heritage, common values and economic ties. "Our leaders share a common vision for the future and have been closely interacting with each other," the NSA said. "In your (Al-Issa) talk you elaborately mentioned diversity as a fundamental trait of our existence. It (India) has been a melting pot of cultures, religions, languages and ethnicities that have co-existed in harmony for centuries. As an inclusive democracy, India has successfully managed to provide space for all its citizens regardless of their religious, ethnic and cultural identities," Doval said. "Amongst its numerous religious groups, Islam occupies a unique and significant position of pride with India being home to the second largest Muslim population in the world," he said. To give an idea of the scale we are talking about, India's Muslim population is almost equal to the combined population of over 33 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Doval added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chennai Investigating blood samples to establish cases of sexual assault should completely replace the infamous two-finger test for woman survivors, and the potency test should be replaced by collecting the semen sample of a suspected offender, a special bench of the Madras high court has said. The court directed the director general of police to collect data from January to see if any report has referred to a two-finger test The court also directed Tamil Nadus police chief to identify consensual relationships in the 1,274 pending cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act across the southern state. It will hear the matter again on August 11. We want to ensure that the two-finger test and the archaic potency test are discontinued, said a special bench of justices Anand Venkatesh and Sunder Mohan constituted by the high court earlier this year to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Pocso Act and the Juvenile Justice Act. The court directed the director general of police to collect data from January to see if any report has referred to a two-finger test so that the court can pass appropriate orders. It also asked police to come up with a standard operating procedure to conduct a potency test by just collecting blood samples. Science has improved leaps and bounds and it is possible to conduct this test by just collecting the blood sample. Such advanced techniques are being followed across the world and we should also fall in line, said justice Venkatesh, who authored the order pronounced on July 7. The bench heard a habeas corpus petition filed in 2022 about a missing woman in Cuddalore district, only to find it was a case of elopement and there was no offence. While passing an earlier order on this, the judges attention was also drawn to a case at Dharmapuri where a boy and a girl born in 2005 had eloped last year, married and finally stayed in Chennai. The girl became pregnant and when the boy took her to a government hospital, he was arrested. Though their parents were ready to take them home without filing a complaint, the pregnant minor was kept at a child care home for a month and the boy spent 20 days in a place of safety. This is a sample case, the court said, which illustrates that the instructions given by the Pocso committee and the circular issued by the police chief to not be hasty while making arrests in Pocso cases have not percolated into the system. We find that there is a lack of sensitivity/empathy on the part of the CWC (Child Welfare Committee) and the Juvenile Justice Board, in some of the cases, the justices said, expressing shock that while they are both children in the eyes of the law, the boy was treated as a child in conflict with law, while the girl was treated as a victim. This case must be taken to be a wake-up call to ensure that such incidents at least do not happen in the future. The court went on to quash the case, describing it as an abuse of process of law and the continuation of such proceedings will adversely affect the interest and future of the boy and girl given that they have already undergone mental trauma. The court exercised its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution, read with Section 482 of code of criminal procedure to quash the case. The court has now undertaken an exercise to quash similar pending cases across Tamil Nadu. Following an earlier order, the police chief had submitted that from 2010 to 2013, a total of 1728 cases were registered before the courts and the Juvenile Justice Board pertaining to victims and the children in conflict below the age of 18 years. Out of these, 1,274 cases are pending in various stages. The court directed the director general to ascertain the category of consensual relationship out of the 1,274 cases. If those cases are segregated from the pending cases, it will be easy for this Court to deal with them and in appropriate cases, this Court can also exercise its jurisdiction and quash the proceedings if the proceedings are ultimately going to be against the interest and future of the children involved in those cases and it is found to be an abuse of process of Court / abuse of process of law, the bench said. Similarly, the court directed the police chief of the neighbouring Union territory of Puducherry to carry out the same exercise in 29 pending cases. The matter will be heard again on August 11. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Divya Chandrababu Divya Chandrababu is an award-winning political and human rights journalist based in Chennai, India. Divya is presently Assistant Editor of the Hindustan Times where she covers Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. She started her career as a broadcast journalist at NDTV-Hindu where she anchored and wrote prime time news bulletins. Later, she covered politics, development, mental health, child and disability rights for The Times of India. Divya has been a journalism fellow for several programs including the Asia Journalism Fellowship at Singapore and the KAS Media Asia- The Caravan for narrative journalism. Divya has a master's in politics and international studies from the University of Warwick, UK. As an independent journalist Divya has written for Indian and foreign publications on domestic and international affairs. ...view detail The iconic mascot of Air India, the Maharaja, is set to take a back seat in the new branding plan finalised by its new management under the Tata Group, two key executives close to the development said, without divulging details. Air Indias logo Maharaja. (AFP File Photo) The rebranding, which is likely to be announced next month and will be implemented by the end of 2023, includes a new logo and livery, and a fresh tagline, they said, declining to be named. The current logo of Air India, in use since 2014, shows a red swan with the orange Konark Chakra image on it. It is also displayed on the tail of Air Indias aircraft. Air Indias new management, after the government sold it last year, has maintained the Maharaja will continue to be part of the airline, but the executives now say the mascot will likely not remain in the same role. The Tata Group hired Prasoon Joshi-headed McCann Worldgroup India to improve the airlines branding. Air India did not respond to queries despite repeated attempts. The 76-year-old Maharaja was designed in 1946. Umesh Rao, an artist with an advertising agency, along with Bobby Kooka, Air Indias then commercial director, had created it, which became the Air Indias brand icon. It has since been closely associated with the airlines identity. Air India no longer wants to connect the Maharaja with the modern era, the executives said. The Maharaja personified high living or royalty since air travel back then was not as common or easy for the common man, one of them said. Hence, it seems to be a disconnect for the era. The airline was considering doing away with it, but it has decided to let the mascot remain but in a different role. The Maharajah mascot has been synonymous with the airline, but the airline would use it to its benefit, an expert said. If the airline is thinking on these lines, then they surely may have plans (on the Maharaja mascot). It will all depend on how they use it, said Piyush Pandey, a brand consultant and executive chairman at Ogilvy India. On being asked the timeline for the changes to be implemented by the airline, a second executive said: The airline aims to bring in all the changes by the year end. The airline in the coming months is set to receive the countrys first A350 aircraft that will consist of the premium economy cabin. The airline is expected to receive 40 new aircraft, including Boeing 737 MAX by the end of 2023. . SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 142 killed till July 4 in Manipur clashes: Centre informs Supreme Court The violence in Manipur has claimed 142 lives till July 4, the state government informed the Supreme Court on Monday by filing an updated status report, which disclosed that the majority of fatalities occurred in the valley districts as the state still reels under ethnic tensions. Only 181 people have been arrested so far, while 6,745 people were put under preventive detention, the report said. Read Here. Only 181 people have been arrested so far, while 6,745 people were put under preventive detention. (File/ANI) Ukraine will be in NATO, Zelensky asserts Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country will be part of NATO ahead of the alliance's meeting from which he expected an "algorithm" for Kyiv to officially join the military group. "We are still working on the wording, that is, on the specific words of such confirmation, but we already understand the fact that Ukraine will be in the alliance," Zelensky said, adding, And we are working to make the algorithm for gaining membership as clear and fast as possible. Read Here. Army rescues 910 university students in Chandigarh, 730 girls of Ambala school amid heavy rain Heavy rainfall across Punjab and Haryana not only affected life but also threw the travel plans of railway passengers haywire. Severe waterlogging saw railway tracks going underwater, leading to the suspension of services and diversion of trains on the Sanehwal-Ambala route, said the Northern Railway. Read Here. Novak Djokovic leaves behind Roger Federer's majestic Wimbledon feat after surviving Hurkacz test to reach quarters No player has dished out more than 30 aces in a match against Novak Djokovic in a Wimbledon clash since Sam Querry's effort in 2016. Hubert Hurkacz fired 32 of them as his service remained unbroken in the 2023 edition of the tournament. But all until the fourth set on Monday evening on Centre Court. Djokovic broke early and then maintained the pressure before sealing a 7-6(6), 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4 against the 17th seed to reach the quarterfinal at the Wimbledon again. Read Here. Janhvi Kapoor in chiffon saree dances with Varun Dhawan on Bawaal latest song, fan calls her 'Yash Raj heroine': Watch Actor Janhvi Kapoor is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film with Varun Dhawan, Bawaal. The two stars launched the movie's trailer recently, and Janhvi slipped into a chiffon Manish Malhotra saree for the occasion. She shared pictures and a video of herself dancing with Varun to a love song from the film Tumhe Kitna Pyaar Karte. Fans loved Janhvi's Indian attire for the clip and called her a 'Yash Raj heroine'. Scroll through to see the snippets and read what fans wrote. Read Here. Priyanka Chopra shares Malti Marie's summer look in sunglasses, hat and strawberry outfit during vacation Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas recently went on a small vacation during the weekend. The couple hit the sea with their one-year-old daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas. Priyanka has now shared a cute picture of Malti in summer wear, looking at the vast sea from a boat. Read Here. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Muslim World League secretary general Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa Tuesday praised India's unity and the Muslim community within the country for their sense of national pride. They are proud that they are Indian nationals and they are proud of their Constitution, he said during an event in New Delhis India-Islamic Cultural Centre. Muslim World League secretary general Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa. Dr Al-Issa also acknowledged Indias contribution to humanity. We have heard a lot about Indian wisdomWe know that we have a common objective of co-existing peacefully together...We know that the Indian components with all its diversity is a great model for coexistence not only in mere words but also on the ground and we appreciate all the efforts taken in this regard," he noted. In response to Dr. Al-Issa's praise, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who spoke following him at the event, emphasised the loud and clear message conveyed by the Secretary General of the Muslim World League that to protect humanity, it is vital to live in peace and harmony. Excellency your deep understanding of Islam, the religions of the world and incessant efforts towards interfaith harmony, courage to persistently lead on the path of reforms has not only contributed to a better understanding of Islam and its contribution to humanity but also prevented extremist and radical ideologies to plague the young minds, Doval said. He further said that India successfully managed to provide space for all its citizens regardless of their religious, ethnic and cultural identities. Islam occupies a significant position of pride with India being home to the second-largest Muslim population in the world. The Indian Muslim population is about the same as the combined population of more than 33 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation....It was only by being open to accommodating various world views and ideas, interactions and assimilations of various cultures, beliefs and practices that India emerged as a sanctuary for persecuted people of all faith from all across the world. Dr Al-Issas ongoing six- day visit to India, which began on Monday, is focussed on interfaith harmony and connecting Indian political and religious leadership with the leading body of the Islamic world. The Muslim World League or Rabitat al-Alam al-Islami is an International Islamic NGO that is founded and funded by Saudi Arabia. Hence, the visit is also being seen as peace diplomacy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail One more African cheetah died in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park (KNP) on Tuesday due to suspected infighting, a senior forest department official said, the seventh feline fatality in four months. The feline, brought from South Africa as part of the ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme, was in an enclosure at the time of the incident, the official said. The male cheetah, Tejas, was brought to KNP in Sheopur district from South Africa in February this year. With this, seven felines, including three cubs born to Namibian cheetah 'Jwala', have died at KNP since March, in a setback to the reintroduction programme launched with much fanfare in September last year. "Cheetah Tejas, aged around four years, died in KNP due to suspected infighting," Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Wildlife J S Chauhan told PTI. Also read | Male cheetah, Agni, injured in fight at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park The feline, brought from South Africa as part of the ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme, was in an enclosure at the time of the incident, the official said. The latest death came a day after two more male cheetahs were released into the wild at KNP. According to an official press release, the monitoring team spotted some injury marks on the neck of Tejas in enclosure number 6 at around 11 am on Tuesday following which veterinarians were called. After getting due approval for tranquilizing the injured cheetah, a team of veterinarians reached the spot at around 2 pm, but the feline was found dead, said the release. An investigation was underway and the exact cause of the big cat's death would be known after receiving the post-mortem report, it said. Cheetah Jwala had given birth to four cubs in March this year, but three of them died due to dehydration and weakness in May. Four cubs of Jwala, earlier named Siyaya and brought from Namibia in September 2022, were born in the wild on Indian soil for the first time after the last cheetah was hunted in Korea district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947. One of the Namibian cheetahs, Sasha, succumbed to a kidney-related ailment on March 27, while another cheetah, Uday, from South Africa, died on April 13. Daksha, a cheetah brought from South Africa, died of injuries following a violent interaction with a male feline during a mating attempt on May 9. Eight Namibian cheetahs -- five female and three male -- were released into enclosures at KNP on September 17 last year at a high-profile event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In February this year, 12 more cheetahs arrived at KNP from South Africa. From 24 cheetahs - 20 translocated from Namibia and South African and four cubs born at KNP - the total count of felines at the national park has now dropped to 17. The fastest land animal was declared extinct in the country in 1952. Earlier in the day, another forest official said two more cheetahs -- Prabhash and Pavak -- were released into the wild at KNP on Monday, taking the count of such felines to 12. Sheopur's Divisional Forest Officer P K Verma said both were brought from South Africa. One of the greatest hallmarks of democracy is the civilian control over the armed forces, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday, refusing to issue orders for the deployment of army and paramilitary forces in Manipur, which has been reeling under ethnic violence since early May. The court asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the state government, to submit an updated status report on the situation in the state after two weeks (PTI) Read here: 142 killed till July 4 in Manipur clashes: Centre informs Supreme Court You are asking for directions to the army and paramilitary forces for taking certain specific steps. Frankly, in the history of this nation since independence, in the last 72 years of this court, we have never issued such directions to the Indian army. One of the greatest hallmarks of democracy is civilian control over the armed forces. Lets not breach that, a bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and justice PS Narasimha, observed. The top courts statement came as it heard an array of pleas demanding a spate of orders ranging from investigation into the ethnic clashes that have overrun the state since early May claiming around 150 lives, to ordering deployment of additional security forces. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for NGO Manipur Tribal Forum, alleged that various terrorist organisations are aligned with the state government, attacking the tribals. Saying that he has no faith in local police, Gonsalves urged the bench to order deployment of army and paramilitary forces to the tribal areas housing the Kukis. Turning down this plea, the court said in its order: Maintenance of law and order and preservation of security of state falls in the executive domain. We are conscious that it wont be proper for this court in exercise of judicial function to pass specific orders on deployment of army and paramilitary forces. At the same time, the order added: However, we impress upon the state and Union to take all steps to ensure there is protection of life and liberty of people in Manipur. The bench told Gonsalves that it would be a dangerous proposition to pass orders on deployment of the army, but the court has been constantly monitoring the situation in the northeastern state. We are here and monitoring the situation. Conscious as we are of our remit, we wont be shying away if certain recalibrations of our orders are required. But at the same time, we have to maintain a constitutional balance because if we enter the fray, the objectivity is lost, it remarked. Read here: Cant let proceedings be used for escalating violence in Manipur: Supreme Court During the hearing, the bench also appreciated a suggestion made by advocate Nizam Pasha for including representatives of the Kuki community in the committees formed by the Manipur governor to oversee relief camps and ensure proper facilities. Noting Pashas concerns that none of the committees formed by the governor has an MLA from the Kuki tribe while 35 MLAs from the Meitei community are included, the bench asked the Manipur government to consider Pashas suggestion as a confidence building measure and take appropriate decisions. The court asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the state government, to submit an updated status report on the situation in the state after two weeks. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON SHIMLA/CHANDIGARH: As the rains receded on Tuesday, the Himachal Pradesh government focussed on rescuing and evacuating stranded people, many of them tourists, in Manali, Lahaul and Spiti and Shimla, even as several areas in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh continued to be flooded. Chandigarh-Manali national highway closed following landslide near Six Mile area, in Mandi on Tuesday (ANI) Four persons died when loose boulders fell on vehicles on the Gangotri highway in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand on Tuesday morning, leaving seven more persons injured. The annual Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir and Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand partially resumed on Tuesday, officials said. Tuesday was the first day since Friday that incessant rains relented in the hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh even as sporadic incidents of downpours were reported from other parts of the state. Heavy rainfall in the past four days, however, resulted in many rivers and streams in the state flowing in full spate. At least 1,239 roads including the Manali-Chandigarh national highway, continued to remain inaccessible for the third consecutive day, a Himachal government official said, adding that efforts were on to restore road connectivity in Manali, Kasol, and Parvati Valley. Relief camps have been set up in Kullu and Manali for those evacuated from flooded areas. A sense of normalcy returned on the Shimla-Chandigarh highway on Tuesday after roadblocks were removed to allow traffic, for the first time in two days. Traffic also resumed on the Delhi-Ludhiana highway, which was blocked at Shambu toll plaza in Ambala district due to a breach in the embankment of Ghaggar river on Monday night. The Indian Air Force rescued an estimated 300 people, most of them tourists, from relief camps at a height of 14,100 feet at Chandertal in Lahaul-Spiti after four days in Himachal. The Himachal government has rescued around 600 people from various rain-hit areas in the past two days. Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an aerial survey of the worst-hit Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, and Mandi districts on Tuesday. The Indian meteorological department (IMD), however, has warned of moderate to heavy rain in various districts of Himachal for the next few days. The IMD also warned of more rains in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh from Wednesday as monsoon clouds move eastwards. Several localities in Panchkula and Ambala in Haryana and Patiala in Punjab continued to reel under floods due to the over-flowing Ghaggar river. The Army and National Disaster Relief Force personnel were deployed to rescue people stranded in homes and to pump out the flooded water in the affected areas. The worst affected locality was Urban Estate in Patiala, where the water level continued to rise till late Tuesday afternoon. On Tuesday, Haryanas home minister Anil Vij toured a few affected residential colonies close to the Tangri river in Ambala Cantonment. He directed the local administration to make all possible arrangements for the people in flood-affected areas. Several areas in Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat in the state were flooded because of additional water released into the Yamuna river from Hathni Kund barrage in Yamunanagar district of Haryana. In Jalandhar district Punjab, a motorcycle-borne youth was swept away in the strong current of the Sutlej river when he attempted to cross a breached embankment near the Dhussi Bundh at Gidderpindi. Over dozen villages in the Shahkot sub division of the state were also flooded on Tuesday. Floods were also reported from several other districts of Punjab such as Moga, Fazilka and Ferozepur along the Beas, Sutlej and Ravi rivers. The Amarnath Yatra partly resumed from the Jammu base camp on Tuesday afternoon after remaining suspended for three days because the Jammu-Srinagar national Highway was closed for repairs in the Ramban section. About 15,000 pilgrims on the Amarnath route had been stranded because of heavy rains. The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine located at an altitude of 3,888 metres in the south Kashmir Himalayas began on July 1 and 43,833 pilgrims have visited the shrine till Friday when yatra was suspended, officials said. In Uttarakhand, four pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh died and seven more were injured when a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall buried three vehicles near the Gangnani bridge on the Gangotri National Highway here, officials said on Tuesday, adding that the accident occurred on Monday night. In Chamoli district of the state, floods in Jummagad river washed away a bridge, blocking the Indo-Tibet border road and disconnecting a dozen border villages. The incident happened 45 km uphill of Joshimath on the Joshimath-Malari highway. Close to 800 roads in Uttarakhand continued to remain blocked due to landslides, officials added. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) brass led by chief Mohan Bhagwat will meet in Ooty in Tamil Nadu this week as part of the annual Prant Pracharak meet to take stock of the work undertaken by its various offshoots and to review expansion plans ahead of its centenary celebrations in 2025. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh brass led by chief Mohan Bhagwat will meet in Ooty in Tamil Nadu this week (PTI) Contemporary political, social and economic issues are expected to come up for discussion at the meeting being held from July 13-15, which functionaries of the Sangh maintain will focus on organisational issues such as activities that were undertaken by the offshoots, the efforts made to expand its footprint, and breach territories where its work has been minimal or limited. The meeting will discuss and review the Sangh Shiksha Vargs (RSS training camps) held this year, and the progress made so far in the Sangh centenary action plan for expanding the organisation. The meeting also aims to deliberate upon, among others, shakha-level activities related to social transformation and discuss organisational programmes and activities for the next 4-5 months as well as the contemporary issues, said Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, or chief spokesperson of the Sangh. The annual meeting comes at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party government has shown its intent to roll out a uniform civil code (UCC), a demand that has been on the Sanghs wish list for decades. The BJP is the political arm of the RSS, which has also been pushing the government to bring in a national population policy. In several of his speeches, including the annual Vijaydashami speech, Bhagwat has flagged concerns about Indias growing population, the strain it puts on the natural resources and population imbalance and demographic changes in the country. In his last annual speech in Nagpur, Bhagwat said, Population imbalances lead to changes in geographical boundaries. Alongside the differences in birth rate, conversions by force, lure or greed and infiltration are also big reasons. All these factors have to be mulled over. Population control and religion-based population balance is an important subject that can no longer be ignored. While the law commission is in the process of seeking feedback and suggestions on the contours of the code that proposes uniformity on a broad set of issues such as gender parity, marriage registration, adoption and division of assets; Prime Minister Narendra Modi also flagged the issue of different sets of laws in the country. Addressing party workers in Madhya Pradesh last month, Modi said Muslims were being misled in the name of UCC. These days, people are being provoked by the UCC. You tell me, if there is one law for one person in a home, and another law for another person, can that house function? he asked rhetorically. Implementation of the UCC, removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir that gave it special status, construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya and a nationwide ban on cow slaughter have been high on the BJP and RSSs agenda for years. Another issue that is expected to come up for discussion is the unrest in Manipur over the issue of including the Meities in the list of scheduled tribes. The Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (VKA), the Sanghs offshoot that works with tribal communities, is expected to hold forth on the issue that has left the state simmering, with hundreds dead and injured. In its annual meeting in January, the VKA had suggested adherence to the laid down procedures for grant of ST status to communities instead of political compulsions. The process for inclusion in the ST list has been defined, and state governments should stick to it instead of making decisions based on electoral considerations or political gains, a VKA functionary said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The meeting, which comes ahead of assembly elections in five states and general election in 2024, is also expected to take stock of the Sanghs outreach towards the minorities, which was led by Bhagwat. In a bid to alter the impression about the Sangh being perceived as anti-minorities, the RSS chief visited a madrassa in the national capital and also met representatives of the Muslim community. Among those who will be present for the meeting are general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, joint general secretaries Krishna Gopal, Manmohan Vaidya, CR Mukunda, Arun Kumar and Ramdutt. Prant pracharaks, their deputies and the organisational secretaries of various RSS offshoots will also be present. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Smriti Kak Ramachandran Smriti covers an intersection of politics and governance. Having spent over a decade in journalism, she combines old fashioned leg work with modern story telling tools. ...view detail Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a veiled attack on the opposition leaders for rejoicing over the Supreme Court judgment on the repeated extensions of Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra's tenure, saying they are being delusional for various reasons. Shah pointed out that the top court has upheld the amendments to the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Act, 2021 by which the government can give a maximum of five-year tenure to CBI and ED chiefs. Union home minister Amit Shah.(ANI ) He said the powers of the ED to strike at those who are corrupt and on the wrong side of the law remain the same. The minister asserted that the central probe agency rises beyond any one individual and is focused on achieving its core objective of investigating offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws. Thus, who the ED director is - that is not important because whoever assumes this role will take note of the rampant corruption of a cozy club of entitled dynasts who have an anti-development mindset, he said in a tweet. The Supreme Court on Tuesday held as "illegal" two notifications by the Centre granting an extension of service, for one year each time, to Indian Revenue Service officer Sanjay Kumar Mishra as the chief of the Enforcement Directorate. A three-judge bench, headed by Justice BR Gavai, held that Mishra could not have been granted the extension beyond November 2022 in view of a previous order of the Supreme Court in 2021. However, the top court upheld the amendments made to the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Act, 2021 and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Act, 2021 as well as to the Fundamental (Amendment) Rules, 2021 by which the government can give a maximum of five-year tenure to CBI and ED chiefs. Opposition hails the decision Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, one of the petitioners in the case, thanked Supreme Court for ruling Mishra's extension as invalid. BJP - we shall fight you in the polls, we shall fight you in the courts. we shall fight in the fields & in the streets, we shall never surrender, she tweeted. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said his party has maintained from the beginning that the extension of tenure of the ED director is "totally illegal". "The Congress party's stand has been vindicated. The government has been exposed today," he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail Ma Chenghu was thrilled when the musical instruments depicted in the murals at the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu province, were played during a Chinese New Year concert in Vienna, Austria, in January 2019. "They are just like the ones in the mural paintings," said Ma, founder of a culture studio in Gansu who helped replicate the instruments. While studying in Britain, he developed a keen interest in the cultural and creative industries. In 2018, he and his team undertook a project to replicate the instruments depicted in the Mogao murals. Collaborating with scholars in Dunhuang studies and experts skilled in crafting ancient Chinese musical instruments, the team successfully recreated a total of 245 instruments across four categories, encompassing an impressive variety of 97 distinct types. Many Chinese youths have gained a more profound understanding of Chinese culture after living and studying overseas and experiencing different cultures. Today, a significant number of these individuals have emerged as leaders in the creative transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture. Yu Xin, a lifelong animation enthusiast, has successfully turned her childhood dreams into reality after pursuing a postgraduate degree in 2D animation and character design in Britain. Yu co-founded Shanghai Left Pocket Culture Communication, an original animation company focusing on content development and creation. The company's Emmy and Gooroo animated series took home the MIP Junior International Pitch 2014 award. "Since the very beginning, our dream has been to showcase Chinese animations on the international stage, and it remains unchanged as we continue to forge ahead on our journey toward its realization," Yu said. With China's doors opening wider to the outside world, the country's young people are embracing a quest for knowledge and exhibiting a remarkable spirit of inclusivity by studying, working and traveling abroad. In 1978, the number of students who left China to study was just over 800. However, in 2019, the figure skyrocketed to over 700,000. Remarkably, since 2012, over 80 percent of those who embarked on their educational journeys abroad have returned to China. Ye Feng, who spent six years studying and working in Britain, established a logistics center for agricultural products in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, after he returned. Having grown up in the countryside, Ye experienced the hardships of a farmer's life. The lack of information and the volatility of markets created significant barriers for many agricultural products, preventing them from reaching the market. During his stay in Britain, Ye worked part-time at a large vegetable supermarket in suburban London and was deeply impressed by the advanced circulation of agricultural products there. "I hope to apply what I have learned abroad to the trade of agricultural products and help open up the market for high-quality agricultural products," he said. Construction of Ye's logistics center began in 2013, and over time, it successfully established logistics markets for various sectors, including vegetables, livestock and poultry, aquatic products and grain and oil, as well as a robust cold chain, with an annual transaction volume of 10 billion yuan ($1.39 billion). After earning a doctorate in bioengineering in the United States, Yuan Yuyu returned to China and co-founded Medprin in 2008. The company specializes in the development and manufacturing of implanted medical devices. "There was indeed a gap between China and foreign countries in terms of technology and talent support in the past. However, we now have the necessary conditions and the capability to foster domestic high-performance implanted medical device brands," Yuan said. He noted that despite the challenges of starting a business, the confidence and determination to persevere in such an endeavor were emboldened by the supportive domestic market and favorable policy environment. Zhang Chengcheng, who hails from Xi'an, Shaanxi province, had studied in France as a teenager and returned to China when she was 23. Since her return, she has been working to promote exchanges between China and France. French beauty brand Guerlain launched its first perfume product inspired by Xi'an in November 2020, and Zhang was an active promoter of the project. "My long-standing aspiration has been to showcase my hometown on the international stage," Zhang said. "This perfume will serve as a fragrant name card to make people more aware of Xi'an." The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed day-to-day hearing, from August 2, of a clutch of petitions against nullification of the Constitution's Article 370, which gave Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) semi-autonomous status even as it allowed bureaucrat Shah Faesal and former student leader Shehla Rashid to withdraw as petitioners. The Supreme Court was hearing petitions against the nullification of Article 370 of the Constitution (File) A five-judge constitution bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant fixed July 27 as the deadline for filing of documents and written submissions by parties while observing it is a pure question of constitutional validity. It took up the matter after over three years. Parliamentarians from the National Conference are among those who have challenged the nullification. In August 2019, the court issued notices on the pleas and referred the matter to a five-judge constitution bench despite resistance from the Union government citing international and cross-border implications. The government then argued that it was a sensitive matter and whatever happens in the country over it would be raked up at the UN. What did the Union government say? The Union government on Tuesday made a statement that it would not rely upon the contents of the affidavit it filed a day ago to bring on record the scenario in J&K after the nullification. It told the court on Monday that the nullification has led to 'unprecedented development, progress, security and stability' in the region. It added that 'life has returned to normalcy in the region after three decades of turmoil'. READ | Normalcy, peace returned in J&K after Article 370 abrogation: Centre The government defended the 2019 presidential order that rescinded the special constitutional status of J&K and bifurcated the state into two Union territories. In its affidavit on Monday, it said that the nullification of Article 370 led to the dismantling of the terror network, and incidents of stone pelting and street violence have 'now become a thing of the past'. Petitions listed in March 2020 The bunch of petitions challenging the nullification of Article 370 was last listed in March 2020 when a five-judge bench declined to refer the matter to a larger bench. The reference was sought on the grounds that the two previous judgments of the apex court were conflicting with each other. But the bench did not agree with this contention. At that time, it was noticed that there was also an older batch of petitions pending in the Supreme Court that challenged the validity of Articles 370 and 35A. The bench pointed out that all the matters related to Article 370 should be preferably heard together. What do the petitions say? Some petitioners brought up the requirement of consent from J&Ks erstwhile constituent assembly for the abrogation of Article 370, while others questioned the validity of the Presidents rule that was in effect when it was made. Some of the pleas went back to J&K's Instrument of Accession with India. Others highlighted the Supreme Court's ruling of 2018 that observed that Article 370 had gained a status of permanence. Many petitions have also challenged the Jammu and Kashmir State Reorganization Act by which the state was bifurcated into two Union Territories with effect from October 30, 2019. In its affidavit, the Union government emphasised that due to the non-application of the Constitution and non-applicability of several beneficial central legislations to J&K prior to the nullification of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, there were obvious constraints that resulted in the alienation of the region. It said the alienation was fuelled by the secessionist forces and terrorists with cross-border support - both financial and otherwise. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the Union governments decision to grant two extensions of tenure to Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra in 2021 and 2022 and termed these orders illegal because they came after a court order that said no further extensions be given to him. And while the court affirmed the Centres 2021 amendments to the pertinent laws to extend the tenure of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director and ED chief up to a maximum of five years, it said these could not be used to defend Mishras extension because its writ cannot be nullified using a law. Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra. (ANI Photo) Read here: SC cancels ED chief Sanjay Mishras 3rd extension, says it was illegal Mishra can continue in office till July 31 to enable the Centre to initiate a smooth transition in the larger public interest, the Court further directed. A bench, headed by justice BR Gavai, held that though the Centre has the power to continue the tenure of an ED director beyond the mandatory two-year term, it could not have the granted the two extensions to Mishra in view of a September 2021 Supreme Court order in the Common Cause case, restraining any further extension to him. The 1984-batch IRS officer, who was granted a third extension in November last year, was otherwise set to demit office in November 2023. This court has specifically issued a mandamus that no further extension shall be granted to the second respondent (Mishra). The Union of India and Mishra were both parties in the proceedings before this court in the Common Cause case. The mandamus issued to the parties was binding on them... The impugned orders dated 17th November 2021 and 17th November 2022 granting extensions to the tenure of Mishra for a period of one year each are held to be illegal, stated the 103-page judgment. While it upheld the 2021 amendments to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act empowering the Union government to give an ED director and a CBI chief a maximum cumulative tenure of five years, the court rejected the Centres contention that Mishras extension can be protected under the new law despite the September 2021 order of the top court. The bench noted that while the effect of the judgments of the court can be nullified by a legislative act by removing the basis of the judgment, but a specific direction issued in relation to the parties in a case will remain binding. This court has clearly held that nullification of mandamus by an enactment would be impermissible legislative exercise. This court has further held that transgression of constitutional limitations and intrusion into the judicial power by the legislature is violative of the principle of separation of powers, the rule of law and of Article 142 of the Constitution of India, said the bench. Mishras extensions were challenged through petitions moved by Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, Jaya Thakur, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, and others. Read here: Who is Sanjay Kumar Mishra, ED director whose 3rd extension SC termed illegal? Mishra was initially appointed as ED director for a two-year tenure ending November 2020. Before his tenure came to an end, he was granted a one-year extension that was challenged in the top court by an NGO, Common Cause. By a judgment in September 2021, the court allowed the extension, noticing that the tenure was coming to an end in about two months. However, the judgment was clear that no further extension was to be granted to Mishra. On November 15, 2021, the Centre brought amendments to the CVC Act and the DSPE Act governing the appointment of heads of the two agencies. This allowed the government to extend the tenure of CBI and ED chiefs for a period of three years beyond their two-year tenure by granting extensions of one-year each. Finding no flaws with the 2021 amendments, the top court noted that such extensions can be granted by the government only if the selection committees, which are constituted for recommending their appointment, recommend their extension in public interest and also record the reasons in writing. The composition of the high-level committee for the appointment of the CBI chief comprises the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India or his nominee, and the leader of Opposition or the single largest party in Opposition. The panel to select the ED chief includes the central vigilance commissioner, vigilance commissioners, and three secretaries in the ministries of home affairs, finance and personnel. Affirming the amendments, the court noted that it is not at the sweet will of the government that the extensions can be granted to the incumbents in the office of the director of CBI or ED but that it is only following the recommendations of the selection committees and reasoned orders that such extensions can be granted. When a committee can be trusted with regard to recommending their initial appointment, we see no reason as to why such committees cannot be trusted to consider as to whether the extension is required to be given in public interest or not. At the cost of repetition, such committee is also required to record reasons in writing in support of such recommendations, it added. The court maintained there was no manifest arbitrariness in bringing the 2021 amendments nor could there be a contention in law that Parliament did not have power to enact on this subject. Defending its decision to extend Mishras tenure, the Centre argued in the court that Mishras continuation at the helm of ED was essential from the point of view of an upcoming peer review by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that will grade India on its laws being compliant with the international protocols on tackling money laundering and financial terrorism. During submissions opposing the petitions, the Centre, represented by solicitor general Tushar Mehta and additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju, further told the bench that the 2021 order was passed despite the two-judge bench recognising the power available with Centre to grant extensions. The law officers stressed on the point that the basis of the 2021 order has now been removed through the amendment to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act, passed last year, by which ED director can enjoy an extension of one-year each till a maximum of three years beyond the original two-year tenure. In its judgment on Tuesday, the court held that the question of altering the basis of the September 2021 order never arose since the 2021 order had found that there was no proscription on the government to appoint a Director of Enforcement beyond a period of two years. At the same time, it had restrained the Centre from extending Mishras tenure after the completion of his tenure in November 2021, added the bench. Though we have held that orders dated 17th November 2021 and 17th November 2022 granting extensions to respondent No.2 are not valid in law, we are inclined to take into consideration the concern expressed by the Union of India with regard to FATF review. We are further inclined to take into consideration that the process of appointing the Director of Enforcement is likely to take some time. In that view of the matter, we find that in order to ensure the transition to be smooth in the larger public interest, it will be appropriate to permit respondent No.2 to continue to be in office till 31st of July 2023, stated the order. Read here: Supreme Court refuses Centre's third tenure extension to ED director Sanjay Kumar: Its illegal' The petitioners in the case were represented by senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Anoop G Choudhary, Gopal Sankarnarayanan and advocate Prashant Bhushan. Senior advocate KV Viswanathan (now a SC judge) had assisted the court as amicus curiae when the matter was argued in May 2023. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON HYDERABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to take up urgently the special leave petition of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh challenging the state high court judgement of March 3, 2022, declaring Amaravati as the only capital of the state, people familiar with the matter said. Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy listens to the problem of a specially-abled person (YSR Congress Party) A Supreme Court bench comprising justices Sanjeev Khanna and Bela M Trivedi deferred the hearing on the SLP, which was clubbed with counter-petitions filed by the farmers of Amaravati, to December, saying it was not possible to take up the cases urgently, as there were important cases pertaining to Constitutional bench to be heard. We shall take up a full-fledged hearing on the capital issue in December. There is no urgency for the same, the bench said, turning down the plea of former attorney general K K Venugopal, who argued on behalf of the state government, for an urgent hearing of the case. Venugopal said he required just three hours to complete his arguments. The bench, however, asked whether he had served notices to all the respondents (Amaravati farmers). He told the court that except two farmers, who had died during the course of the litigation, notices were sent to all the other farmers. The bench asked the state governments counsel to submit the details of the notices to the court before the next hearing. On March 3, 2022, a division bench of Andhra Pradesh high court headed by chief justice Prashant Kumar Mishra delivered a landmark judgement declaring that Amaravati was the only capital of Andhra Pradesh. It said the state legislature had no competence to enact any legislation on three capitals for the state executive capital at Visakhapatnam, judicial capital at Kurnool and legislative capital at Amaravati, as proposed by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government in November 2019. The high court also directed that the state government complete within six months all the pending infrastructure works of the capital region in Amaravati which were halted in June 2019, soon after Jagan assumed charge as the chief minister. Six months later, the state government on September 17, 2022, filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court challenging the high court judgement. The first hearing of the petitions was held on November 28, 2022 where the apex court gave a stay on the HCs directions to develop infrastructure in Amaravati within a stipulated time-frame. The Supreme Court, however, did not stay the other part of the judgement, which declared Amaravati as the state capital and the law on three capitals was not valid. Simultaneously, the farmers of Amaravati, under the banner of Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi also moved the Supreme Court, questioning the state governments SLP. The case was first deferred to February 23, 2023 and later to March 28. When the issue came up before the division bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice K M Joseph and Justice B V Nagaratna on March 28, it did not entertain the state governments petition to expedite the hearing. The bench said it would hear the SLP along with other petitions linked to the issue on July 11. In the meantime, Justice Joseph retired on June 16 and the case was transferred to another bench, comprising Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Bela Trivedi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear petitions filed by Gujarat riots victim Bilkis Bano and other eminent citizens challenging the remission granted by the Gujarat government to 11 convicts who raped her and killed members of her family as she was fleeing from her village during the 2002 riots. Apart from Bano, the court is also hearing a bunch of public interest litigations (PIL) filed by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and former Communist Party of India MP Subhashini Ali, among others. (File photo) A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Prashant Kumar Mishra posted the matter for issuing directions on July 17 after being told that the 11 accused have been served notice through insertions in two local language newspapers in Gujarat. No hearing in the court can proceed unless all parties in a case are served proper notice of the proceedings; in May, the court was upset over the matter being delayed on account of technicalities. Seeking a report from the registry on May 9 of all unserved parties in the matter, the court directed the petitioners to intimate the accused persons through newspapers, commonly accepted as a mode for general intimation to the public. Advocate Shobha Gupta produced the newspaper clippings and filed an affidavit testifying serving of notice to the respondents. With this, the proceedings will now proceed; the Gujarat government is represented in the matter by solicitor general Tushar Mehta. Apart from Bano, the court is also hearing a bunch of public interest litigations (PIL) filed by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and former Communist Party of India MP Subhashini Ali, among others. On the previous date of hearing, Gupta informed the court that except for one of the convicts, Pradip Ramanlal Modhiya, all remaining 10 convicts were served notice. Gujarat police pasted the court notice outside Modhiyas residence in Gujarat. His phone was found to be switched off and members of his household refused to take the notice on his behalf. Although Modhiya was represented by a lawyer in one of the PILs, he informed the court on the previous occasion that he had no instructions from his client to appear in Banos matter. The court frowned upon the tactics and had said during the earlier hearing, Do not make a mockery of this court by playing such games. To ensure fair play, the court said, We cannot compel a lawyer to appear in the matter. If we will be bogged down by these technicalities, we will lose sight of the main matter. and proceeded to pass the order to serve the noticer. The Gujarat government in August last year released the 11 convicts who were found guilty by a trial court in Maharashtra, where the trial was shifted, for the rape of Bano and murdering 14 persons, which included seven family members of Bano, including her child. The petitions challenged the grant of remission by pointing out that the present remission policy in Gujarat does not permit premature release of rape convicts. Since it was a case investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, they questioned the lack of consultation with the agency. The petitions even argued that the Maharashtra government should be the competent authority to consider remission as they were convicted by a court in that state. However, the state government and the convicts relied on an apex court order of May last year which decided in the case of one of the convicts that Gujarat, where crime took place, and not Maharashtra will be the appropriate government to decide the issue of remission under Section 432 of Code of Criminal Procedure. Applying the policy applicable in the state at the time of their conviction, the Gujarat government granted remission under the old 1992 premature release policy. A review petition filed by Bano challenging the top courts May judgment was rejected in December last year. Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balajis wife S Megala, who has filed a habeas corpus petition before the Madras high court, on Tuesday argued that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cannot seek custody beyond the 15-day period from the date of arrest, people familiar with the development said. Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balajis wife S Megala argued that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cannot seek custody beyond the 15-day period from the date of arrest. (PTI) Challenging the legality of Balajis arrest by the federal agency, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioner, told the court that ED officials were acting like an authority investigating the predicate offence, arguing that the central agencys officials do not have powers of a police officer. Sibal made the submission before Justice CV Karthikeyan, who is the third judge hearing the habeas corpus plea filed by Megala after a division bench of justices J Nisha Banu and D Bharatha Chakravarthy gave a split verdict in the matter on July 4. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Tamil Nadu minister without a portfolio, Balaji remains in judicial custody and is currently admitted in a hospital. The investigation is to be done by ED. But I need to have that material in my possession which would allow them to investigate, Sibal argued, as reported by LiveLaw. They cant start an investigation to know if I have material. That is why there is a difference between the definition of proceeds of crime and money laundering. So, the officers must have information that I am projecting something as untainted when it is tainted. There was nothing on record, Sibal told the court, to show that ED had any such information. He further argued that the federal anti-money laundering probe agency was acting like an authority investigating the predicate offence. Sibal further argued that though the sessions judge already granted police custody on June 16, ED had filed a memo saying that they could not execute the custody. The senior lawyer added that the federal agency cannot seek exclusion of period of hospitalisation, after failing to implement an order of custody. The judge never passed any order on the memo they filed saying they could not execute the custody. They could have gone to high court. They did not. So they had an order of custody and they did not implement. They couldnt have assumed whatll happen. When you have an order, and you did not implement it, and the 15-day period is over, then its over. You cannot seek a remand, Sibal submitted, as reported by LiveLaw. On June 14, ED arrested Balaji in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged corruption in recruitment in transport department during 2011-2015, when Balaji was heading the portfolio in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) regime. Balaji switched over to the DMK in 2018 and became minister for electricity, prohibition and excise the portfolios were reallocated after he was hospitalised following his arrest after the MK Stalin-led party won the assembly elections in May 2021. Senior counsel and DMK lawmaker NR Elango, appearing for Balaji, submitted before that court that the habeas corpus petition is maintainable. Elango also argued that the procedure to be followed during arrest was not adhered to in this case. After Sibal and Elango completed their submission, the high court judge posted the case for Wednesday, when Solicitor General Tushar Mehra will put forth arguments on behalf of ED. Meanwhile, even as Balajis counsel put forth their arguments in the court, officials of the Income Tax (I-T) department conducted searches at locations linked to the arrested ministers brother Ashok Kumar in their native district of Karur, people familiar with the matter said. Central paramilitary personnel accompanied the I-T sleuths for security on Tuesday during the third round of searches against Balajis brother. On July 4, Justice Nisha Banu held that the habeas corpus petition was maintainable in the following terms ED is not entrusted with the powers to seek police custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The judge had dismissed a petition filed by ED seeking exclusion of the hospitalisation period. Differing with her, justice Bharatha Chakravarthy had dismissed the habeas corpus petition, stating that Balaji cannot be set at liberty pointing out that it was not an exceptional circumstance where there has been absolute illegality, total non-application of mind or lack of jurisdiction and wholesale disregard to the fundamental rights. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Six members of a family, on their way from Meerut to the Khatu Shyam temple in Rajasthan, were killed and two others were injured when their vehicle collided with a speeding bus that was being driven on the wrong side of the carriageway on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway near Behrampur in Ghaziabad on Tuesday. The accident was captured on CCTVs along the expressway. The incident was caught on CCTV cameras it showed the bus veering into the Mahindra TUV 300 even as the latter tried to change lanes at the last minute once again bringing into focus how some of the most basic traffic violations such as jumping red lights, speeding, and particularly driving on the wrong side of the road in an attempt to save time, lead to some of the worst accidents on Indian roads. It was a huge impact due to a head-on collision. The bus was driven at high speed when it hit the SUV. Six people including three children died on the spot, while two were rushed to a hospital for treatment. The police had to deploy cutters to remove some of bodies. The driver of the bus was arrested and an FIR was registered at Crossings Republik police station, said Ravi Prakash Singh, additional commissioner of police (Wave City). Police said that they also recovered a flip board from the bus with the name of a private school on it, suggesting that the bus was also used to ferry schoolchildren. The owner of the bus, which is part of the fleet of the local travel company Chaudhary Tours and Travels Private Limited, later said that it was not deployed with the school for the last two years. The driver, Prem Pal Singh, a native of Aligarh, was booked under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), and 427 (causing damages). Singh, aged around 45 years, was the only person in the bus at the time of the accident, officials said. The victims were identified as Narendra Yadav, 45, who ran an electrical business at Dhanpur in Meerut, his wife Anita, 42, and their two sons, Deepanshu, 17, and Himanshu, 14. Yadavs sister-in-law Babita, 37, and niece Vanshika, 8, were also killed in the accident. His brother Dharmendra, 40, and nephew Karthik, 5, survived, and are in hospital. The entire family of one of my cousins was killed, while the wife and daughter of my other cousin were killed. They left home in Meerut around 4am for darshan at Khatu Shyam temple in Sikar. They were to have breakfast at their sisters house in Gurugram, said Sanjay Yadav, who spoke to the media as a representative of the bereaved family. According to Ghaziabads additional DCP (traffic) Ramanand Kushwaha, the bus stopped at a CNG station in Ghazipur in Delhi, and entered the wrong lane of the DME to avoid taking a U-turn. But officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said that videos available with them showed that the bus entered the wrong carriageway near Indirapuram in Ghaziabad. According to them, it travelled for over 7.2km, which it covered in 5-6 minutes, before ramming into the car. The bus and the car were driven at speeds of about 90-100km per hour. The bus entered the expressway from Indirapuram and the traffic police at the entry/exit point should have stopped the driver. The bus travelled about 7.2km before hitting the car. The incident was also captured in the CCTVs of the DME which are installed every 500 metres. Our patrolling vehicles were also deployed on DME but they were at another location, said an NHAI officialwho asked not to be named. The prescribed speed limit on the expressway is 100kmph. The bus, with a Noida registration plate, bore the name Chaudhary Tours and Travels (P) Ltd on the rear along with threetelephone numbers. When contacted, an official from Chaudhary Tours, said: The bus was ferrying school children till the lockdown, and later it started ferrying employees of a private company in Noida. The bus driver left Noida on Tuesday morning to pick up company staff from Nandnagri in Delhi. Near Indirapuram, there were some diversions due to Kanwar Yatra, and police stopped him from proceeding further. Thereafter, he took a wrong turn on DME. The driver has been with us for the past several years. This official asked not to be named. Additional DCP Kushwahasaid that the bus had an on school duty card at the time but was ferrying staff of a company in Noida. Although the bus did not work for the school any longer, it still displayed the card, he said. The officer also suggested that the accident may have been averted. Our staff is deployed along major spots of the expressway for Kanwar Yatra duties. NHAI officials could have alerted us about the wrong side driven bus but there was no such alert, he added. NHAI officials, in turn, said it was the police that should have intervened or alerted them. According to the transport enforcement department in Noida, regular drives against erring vehicles are conducted in the region. Many bigger vehicles have strayed on different routes due to recent Kanwar Yatra diversions. The police have initiated action and we will also take suitable legal action into the incident. We conduct regular drives to trace the erring vehicles and launch another drive against such vehicles, said additional regional transport officer (enforcement, Noida) Deepak Shah. He said that their records showed the fitness, insurance, and other documents of the bus were valid. The bus had at least 19 challans in its name for contravention of speed limit, not following traffic directions, driving without license, failure to use seat belt, and violation of parking rules since 2018. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Peeyush Khandelwal Peeyush Khandelwal writes on a range of issues in western Uttar Pradesh from crime, to development authorities and from infrastructure to transport. Based in Ghaziabad, he has been a journalist for almost a decade. ...view detail NEW DELHI: A democratic and pluralistic India is a natural partner for the US and the bilateral partnership has never been more important for the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific than at this inflection point in world history, US under secretary for democracy and human rights Uzra Zeya said on Tuesday. US under secretary for democracy and human rights Uzra Zeya said the India-US relationship is multidimensional (Twitter/UnderSecStateJ) The ambitious joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the US last month reflects how the bilateral partnership is underpinned by shared democratic values and a shared commitment to support innovation and technology that strengthens democratic societies, Zeya said in an exclusive interview at the end of her three-day visit to India for meetings with senior officials and civil society representatives. The work being done by India and the US for a free and open Indo-Pacific and through groupings such as Quad offers an affirmative alternative to countries of the region to exercise their sovereignty against the backdrop of concerns about Chinas suppression at home, but also its efforts to export its model externally, Zeya said. Zeya is the first senior US official to visit India following Modis visit, which saw wide-ranging agreements and arrangements being put in place by both sides to drive cooperation in areas ranging from defence to critical technologies. Among the officials she met in New Delhi was foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra. The meetings with senior officials of the external affairs ministry and the government, civil society and academia were aimed at building on the positive momentum of Modis visit. For our part in the US, we believe a democratic and pluralistic India is a natural partner for the US... At this inflection point in world history, the US-India partnership has never been more important to the world, but also to the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region, she said. Asked about Chinas actions across the region affecting human rights and freedoms, Zeya replied: We are absolutely concerned by PRC suppression at home, but also its efforts to export its model externally. This is why I think the Quad cooperation and partnership on a free and open Indo-Pacific is so important, and why Indias role is so valued. The US is determined to offer an affirmative counterpoint to protect international institutions and principles in the UN Charter such as sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US is also seeking to manage competition with China responsibly, and this includes offering an affirmative alternative where countries of the region were not asking them to choose between the US and China but we want them to be able to have a choice and exercise their own sovereignty and not be coerced externally from the PRC or from others, she said. In response to a question on how much of an issue human rights is currently in India-US relations, Zeya said there was a reaffirmation from both countries during Modis state visit of shared values, freedom, democracy, diversity, inclusion, pluralism and equal opportunities for all citizens. She added, We see these values underpinning, standing at the core of an increasingly close but ambitious partnership. As close partners and friends, we regularly exchange views in a straightforward and respectful way about democracy and human rights and its one aspect of the relationship. She also made it clear that the India-US relationship is multidimensional. So, this [human rights] is not by any means, the sole issue in the relationship, but rather an underpinning and I think a motivation, she said. Amid growing concerns about Chinas efforts to choose the Dalai Lamas successor, Zeya who is also US special coordinator for Tibetan issues said US policy is aimed at advancement of the human rights of Tibetans, who face absolutely severe repression at home on the most fundamental freedoms. She added the US absolutely supports Tibetan Buddhists right to practice their religion, to venerate, educate, and ultimately select their own religious leaders, and we believe no foreign government should be interfering in this effort. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rezaul H Laskar Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail NEW DELHI: A democratic and pluralistic India is a natural partner for the US and the bilateral partnership has never been more important for the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific than at this inflection point in world history, US under secretary for democracy and human rights Uzra Zeya said on Tuesday. US under secretary for democracy and human rights Uzra Zeya spoke about how India and the US can work together to offer an affirmative alternative to countries across the region (Twitter/UnderSecStateJ) Read here: Heat waves hit US, effects of dry-heat wave in 10 points In an exclusive interview at the conclusion of her visit to India, during which she met senior Indian officials and civil society groups, Zeya spoke about how India and the US can work together to offer an affirmative alternative to countries across the region so that they can exercise their sovereignty at a time when there are concerns about Chinas suppression at home, but also its efforts to export its model externally. Edited excerpts: Could you give us a sense of the meetings youve had in New Delhi and the priorities in these interactions? Over the past two days, Ive had a broad range of productive meetings with senior officials at the external affairs ministry and other government officials, as well as civil society, academia and the philanthropic sector. These meetings are intended to build upon the positive momentum of Prime Minister [Narendra] Modis recent historic state visit to the US. For our part, it also builds upon Indias very successful G20 presidency and other top-level engagements. The intensive pace of high-level US-India engagement shows the depth and strength of the relationship. In my governmental and non-governmental meetings, I discussed our shared commitment to an Indo-Pacific that is free, open, connected, prosperous, secure and resilient. For our part in the US, we believe a democratic and pluralistic India is a natural partner for the US. I commended my counterparts for Indias very important contributions to the Summit for Democracy and congratulated them on the ongoing but highly successful Indian G20 presidency. I think all of these engagements in these areas of collaboration truly demonstrate to the world there is no better alternative to democracy when it comes to solving global challenges, but also delivering for our people and for the world. At this inflection point in world history, the US-India partnership has never been more important to the world, but also to the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. You referred to follow-ups to the prime ministers visit, were there any specific issues that came up or that you raised? If you look back to the very ambitious and detailed joint statement issued from the visit, the underpinning of the unprecedented US-India partnership is our shared democratic values, where we have a stated commitment to continue the Global Issues Forum...but I think theres also a shared commitment in terms of supporting innovation and technology that strengthens democratic societies, as opposed to undermining them. In the broader Indo-Pacific region, in the neighbourhood supporting more free, more open, more resilient, secure societies in line with the US Indo-Pacific strategy. Read here: More than half of America's beaches contaminated with poop and sewage: Report How much of an issue is human rights right now in India-US relations and how can the two sides work together on this? I think we saw clearly during the prime ministers historic state visit, a reaffirmation from the US side, from the Indian side of shared values, freedom, democracy, diversity, inclusion, pluralism and equal opportunities for all citizens. We see these values underpinning, standing at the core of an increasingly close but ambitious partnership. And as close partners and friends, we regularly exchange views in a straightforward and respectful way about democracy and human rights and its one aspect of the relationship. But also note in my role as under secretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights, I have a global remit where President Biden and secretary [of state] Blinken have clearly articulated and exhorted US diplomats to keep democracy and human rights at the centre of US foreign policy. But obviously, our relationship with India is multidimensional, as we noted in the joint statement, it really touches upon every aspect of the human endeavour from the sea to the stars. So, this is not by any means, the sole issue in the relationship, but rather an underpinning and I think a motivation. Theres been a lot of debate in India on reports on religious freedoms by the USCIRF and the state department. What are your views on those reports and did they figure in the meetings? Maybe I can make a clarification here. The US department of state, which I represent, publishes annual reports mandated by the US Congress on human rights, on international religious freedom, on trafficking in persons. These reports are based on objective criteria. In the case of the annual human rights reports, its the Universal Declaration on Human Rights to which every UN member has ascribed to. And its based on engagement with governments, publicly available information and engagement with civil society and other experts. The annual human rights reports, for example, are among the most widely read reports put out by the department of state. They are meticulously researched and we stand by these reports, and its also a long-standing tradition for over two decades. Under US law, we put these reports out. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is independent of the US executive branch and the state department. It is funded by the US Congress, so USCIRF puts out annual reporting and recommendations with respect to religious freedom, which are distinct from the assessments taken by the US department of state and, in this case, the Biden administration. Did you discuss these reports at any time during the visit? Well, I cant go into specific details of our diplomatic discussions, but I would say these reports are an important aspect of US diplomacy internationally on human rights, they are a critical aspect and its a process on which government engagement is a core part. In terms of efforts to keep the Indo-Pacific free and open, could you tell us a bit more on what you plan to do in this sphere? Theres been a lot of interest in your visit to Bangladesh, and could you throw some light on that? Certainly, I think we share a convergent approach and commitment with our Indian friends, through new groupings such as the Quad, to support a free and open Indo-Pacific that is more prosperous, more secure, more connected, more inclusive, more resilient. I cant go into too much detail on our diplomatic discussions, but certainly this is integral to regional peace and security and stability, another shared vocation for both of our governments. Im very pleased to be proceeding to Dhaka immediately after Delhi. In fact, I will be leaving later this afternoon and we look forward to robust discussions with the government on a host of issues, humanitarian cooperation, the elections process, and I think our hope for a peaceful, free and fair elections process, as well as the nexus between Bangladeshs economic progress and prosperity, which has been the subject of a very substantial and multi-decade development partnership, and the critical role of respect for labour rights and freedom of association towards achieving Bangladeshs ambitions. Are there continuing concerns about the Bangladesh elections because the US state department recently made an announcement on restricting issuance of visas to those responsible for undermining the election process in Bangladesh? I would refer you to the public announcement that our department spokesman made on a new visa sanction authority that is absolutely intended to support free and fair elections, which we think are critical for every democracy, but are essential for democracies to be able to thrive. Theres been some pushback from South Asia in relation to the human rights situation in the US, people talk increasingly about polarisation in the US. How would you respond to, say somebody in South Asia, raising these issues, where at one time, the US was seen as one of the leading players on human rights, but now more and more people are increasingly asking about such issues within the US? I think on this point, I would come back to the US Constitution, which in its preamble exhorts us as Americans to continuously work towards a more perfect union, and President Biden has taken this exhortation to heart. You know what we have happening in the US is a recommitment to improving human rights at home, as we reassert US leadership on human rights and democratic renewal internationally. Some of the ways, some of the lines of effort that are so important domestically, or issues like racial equity and justice, you know, his first week in office, President Biden issued an executive order on racial equity, requiring all US government agencies to look at these issue sets and to work collectively to ensure that we are delivering for all Americans. I think one of the measures of a successful and thriving democracy is how does it deliver for all its people? So taking this to heart, on LGBTQI-plus equality, this is another area where President Biden has really led domestic efforts that are coupled with international efforts to advance equality for LGBTQI-plus persons. We see this commitment on issues like the dramatic historic investment in US infrastructure and specifically digital rural broadband, where were making a multi-billion-dollar commitment to bring that access to all Americans. This helps inform and in fact inspire our efforts internationally. We believe that one of the many strengths of democracies is their ability to self-correct, their readiness to confront challenges and problems openly, and to work to solve them. Read here: All you need to know about India's Chandrayaan-3 and its benefits for the US Another interesting meeting you had in New Delhi was the one with the Dalai Lama and we saw a very strong reaction from China. There are concerns about Chinas handling of Tibet and one of the issues of concern to the Indian and American sides is the issue of the Dalai Lamas reincarnation. The Central Tibetan Administration here is increasingly talking about how young Tibetan people travelling to different parts of the world could be weakening the Tibetan movement. What are your views on those issues? I would note that Im very honoured to serve concurrently as US special coordinator for Tibetan issues. On the questions youve raised, this comes to my mission as special coordinator, and at the core is a US policy to work to support the advancement of the human rights of Tibetans, who face absolutely severe repression at home on the most fundamental freedoms freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of association. On religious questions, we have a separation of church and state and an Establishment Clause in the US, so I have no involvement in religious affairs per se. But as a foreign policy question, the US absolutely supports Tibetan Buddhists right to practice their religion, to venerate, educate, and ultimately select their own religious leaders, and we believe no foreign government should be interfering in this effort. On this point, I do want to take a moment though to commend Indias decades of generosity, hosting his Holiness the Dalai Lama, as well as thousands of Tibetan refugees. Since you spoke about human rights in the broader Indo-Pacific, how much of a concern are Chinas actions in this field, because we do hear about increasing actions by China that affect human rights and freedoms in various countries, especially small island countries? We are absolutely concerned by PRC suppression at home, but also its efforts to export its model externally. This is why I think the Quad cooperation and partnership on a free and open Indo-Pacific is so important, and why Indias role is so valued. We are determined in the US to offer an affirmative counterpoint to protect the integrity of international institutions, principles expressed in the UN Charter, of sovereignty, of territorial integrity. One point I want to make, and I think you interviewed my esteemed colleague, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during his recent visit, [is that] the White House has made very clear that what the US is seeking is a policy of managing competition with PRC responsibly. So, part of this competition is offering an affirmative alternative where countries of the region - were not asking them to choose between the US and China, but we want them to be able to have a choice and exercise their own sovereignty and not be coerced externally from the PRC or from others. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 2023 West Bengal Panchayat elections: The counting of votes in the violence-hit panchayat and rural body elections in West Bengal is currently underway. The counting came a day after repolling was held across 696 polling booths in 19 districts due to widespread violence in the state. In the poll-related violence, 37 people lost their lives, out of which 18 died on voting day. TMC workers and supporters celebrate the party's lead during the counting of votes of the West Bengal panchayat polls, in Nadia district on Tuesday.(PTI) According to the counting so far, TMC is leading in 8692 seats, BJP in 1453 and CPM in 894 seats. Apart from this, Congress is ahead in only 344 seats. Votes for the Gram Panchayats, as well as the Zilla Samitis and Zilla Parishads, are currently undergoing the tallying process. Here is party-wise winner list for Gram Panchayat, Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections Wins and Leads TMC BJP LEFT INC Other Zila Parishad 169 10 5 1 0 Wins and Leads TMC BJP LEFT Congress Other Panchayat Samiti 2648 327 99 61 170 Wins and Leads TMC BJP LEFT Congress Others Gram Panchayat 31192 8427 2856 2225 2582 Repolling The panchayat elections, which took place on July 8, witnessed a significant participation of approximately 5.67 crore voters who determined the political destiny of 2.06 lakh candidates. The re-polling, ordered by the state election commission following deadly violence and booth-capturing incidents reported the voting, was held on Monday with 69.85-per cent of all eligible voters casting their ballots till 5pm. On Monday, four more persons were reported dead, taking the toll of political violence to 42 since June 8, when the three-tier local body polls were announced. Allegations of vote tampering had marred the panchayat elections, forcing the SEC headed by Rajiva Sinha to order a repoll in affected booths in all but three districts of Bengal. Security deployment According to officials, stringent measures have been implemented at the counting centers to ensure security, including the presence of an ample deployment of security forces and the installation of CCTV cameras. These elections, touted as a crucial assessment of the Mamata Banerjee government's popularity, given the recent arrests related to an alleged teachers' recruitment scam, were marred by incidents of violence resulting in the tragic loss of at least 10 lives. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail After days of sporadic violence across the state, the results of the West Bengal panchayat election, seen as a litmus test for the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, are being declared on Tuesday amid tight security of central forces and the state police. Trinamool Congress supporters celebrate their party candidates' victory in the West Bengal panchayat election 2023 at a counting centre in North 24 Parganas on Tuesday. (ANI Photo) The counting of votes started at 8am. All counting centres will have a deployment of central forces and CCTV cameras installed. Top 10 updates on the West Bengal panchayat election results: 1. TMC swept the violence-scarred rural polls by winning 28,985 gram panchayat seats, besides leading in 1,540 seats, according to the SEC as of 10.30 pm on Tuesday. Its nearest rival BJP has won 7,764 seats and is leading in 417 seats. In all elections are being held for 63,229 gram panchayat seats. 2. The Left Front has won 2,468 seats, of which the CPI(M) alone has won 2,409. The Left is currently leading in 260 seats. The Congress won 2,022 seats and is leading in 139. Other parties won 725 seats and led in 23 seats, while independents which included TMC rebels won 1,656 seats and led in 104 seats. 3. The re-polling, ordered by the state election commission in 696 booths in 19 districts of Bengal following deadly violence and booth-capturing incidents reported during the July 8 voting, was held on Monday with 69.85-per cent of all eligible voters casting their ballots till 5pm. 4. On Monday, four more persons were reported dead, taking the toll of political violence to 42 since June 8, when the three-tier local body polls were announced. Allegations of vote tampering had marred the panchayat elections, forcing the SEC headed by Rajiva Sinha to order a repoll in affected booths in all but three districts of Bengal. 5. The BJP Tuesday slammed the Trinamool Congress government over the "state-sponsored" violence, terming chief minister Mamata Banerjee ruthless and claiming at least 45 people have died in the clashes. The BJP, in a release, said it has nominated a four-member fact-finding committee to visit the violence-affected areas in West Bengal. The panel members include MP and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and MP Dr Satyapal Singh. 6. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said 133 people from West Bengal have taken shelter in the state, fearing for their lives because of the panchayat election violence back home. Stating that the people have been provided shelter in a relief camp, the chief minister assured them of any humanitarian aid during times of crisis. 7. At least 19 persons were killed and dozens injured on July 8 amid widespread allegations of booth capturing, rigging, looting of ballot boxes, heckling of polling officials, firing and bomb attacks. The number of people that died solely on voting day stands at 17, seven higher than the 12 people that were killed in polling day violence in 2018. 8. On Monday, the repolling started at 7am amid tight security with at least four central forces personnel deployed in each booth, besides state police. Those who were in queues at 5pm in voting booths were allowed to cast their ballot with election officers working overtime to ensure a smooth process. 9. On Tuesday morning, West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose visited South 24 Parganas district, including Bhangar and Canning, to take stock of the situation. On Monday, governor CV Ananda Bose met Union home minister Amit Shah and apprised him of the violence in West Bengal two days back. 11. In 2018, the TMC had won uncontested, 34 per cent of the seats in the panchayat elections. The ruling party has won several seats without contesting this year as well. The opposition had alleged several candidates were stopped from filing nominations by the ruling TMC cadre. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The latest trends in the West Bengal panchayat election 2023 results indicate that ruling Trinamool Congress took a massive lead over its closest rival Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday. Counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats in West Bengal began in a peaceful manner amid tight security, officials said. A body claimed to be of a TMC activist after a clash among rival political groups outside a polling station during panchayat polls at Basanti in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on July 8.(PTI) However, violence had rocked West Bengal's rural polls on Saturday, leaving 19 people dead while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers torched, and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. Of those killed, 11 were affiliated with the TMC. The total death toll in the state since the poll process began on June 8, when the dates were announced, has crossed 42. There are around 339 counting venues spread across 22 districts. The maximum number of counting centres was in South 24 Parganas at 28, while the minimum was in Kalimpong at four. Some northern districts are also facing inclement weather. 19 killed during July 8 panchayat election As many as 19 people were killed and dozens injured on July 8 amid widespread allegations of booth capturing, rigging, looting of ballot boxes, heckling of polling officials, and firing and bomb attacks. The number of people that died solely on voting day stands at 19, six higher than the 13 people that were killed in polling day violence in 2018. 133 people sought refuge in Assam's Dhubri: Himanta Sarma Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said 133 people, who feared for their lives, sought refuge in Assam's Dhubri district amid violence in West Bengal during panchayat polls. "Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal sought refuge in Dhubri District of Assam. We have provided them shelter in a relief camp, food, and medical assistance", CM Sarma shared in a tweet. The people have now taken shelter at Ronpagli MV School of Jhapusabari area in Dhubri district, the CM added. Sarma said the state government has provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance. West Bengal state election commission on Sunday said the police have confirmed 10 deaths in poll-related violence across the state. Trinamool Congress spokesperson and West Bengal minister Shashi Panja hit out at Sarma, bringing in reference of the people left out of the final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC), which was updated for the northeastern state. @himantabiswa must be nauseated from the dizzying heights of self-righteousness & misplaced moral superiority! Before raising a false alarm and creating a sense of panic, he should consider the fate of the 1.9 million residents of Assam who were rendered stateless due to NRC, Panja wrote. Security forces and state poll panel at loggerheads The security forces and the state election commission are also at loggerheads over the violence. BSF DIG SS Guleria said, "Where the central forces were deployed, there was no violence and we were not informed about the sensitive booths." The DIG of BSF was the nodal officer for the deployment of the central force. The Calcutta high court has sought a report from him on the violence. The court has also asked the state government to help the victim's family for the last rites of those killed in the election violence and to provide treatment to the injured. On the other hand, state election commissioner Rajeev Sinha said the responsibility of law and order rests with the district administration. The job of the commission is to handle the entire system. Stories of deaths in Bengal Babar Ali, block leader of TMC: Dainik Bhaskar reported that TMC's Babar Ali was the block leader in Murshidabad's Kapasdanga. He was having tea at a shop with his friend Phoolchand Sheikh when 5-7 persons came and attacked both with sharp weapons. Babar Ali's supporters took him to the hospital in Beldanga, but he was declared brought dead. Phoolchand is admitted to the Medical College of Murshidabad. His condition is still critical. Yasin Sheikh, father-in-law of candidate: Yasin Sheikh, the father-in-law of TMC's panchayat candidate Babita Khatoon, was killed in Rajinagar on July 8, the day of voting. He was returning with a dinner for the staff posted at the booth when he was attacked with a bomb. Self-help group leader and Yasin's wife Rupali alleged that people associated with the Congress got the attack done, Dainik Bhaskar reported. My husband's body was lying on the ground, but the police did not even let us go near him. In the night the doctors told that he had died, she said. Sabir Uddin Shaikh, TMC worker: TMC worker Sabir Uddin Shaikh lived in Ratanpur village under Khargram police station. There was a knock on the door of his house at 4am on July 8. As soon as the door was opened, the miscreants dragged him out. Took him to a nearby pond. They fled after severing Sabir's neck on the bank of the pond. Congress leader Fulchand Sheikh was murdered in the same area. Sabir was accused of the murder. It is also being said that Phoolchand's murder was avenged by killing Sabir. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that around 150 individuals from West Bengal have taken shelter in the state, fearing for their lives amid amid violence during panchayat polls. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (File Photo) Read here: Those sitting in political control rooms': Bengal governor's warning for goons amid violence "Around 150 people from West Bengal have come as refugees to Assam. They have told that they have come because of the fear of violence in the panchayat elections. We have provided them accommodation, food and medical facilities. Around 133 people are currently staying in relief camps," he said. Sarma added that the state government has provided the refugees with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance. While West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari thanked Sarma for providing relief to the tormented opposition party karyakartas of WB, cabinet minister of the neighbouring state Shashi Panja hinted that the Assam CM was raising a false alarm and creating a sense of panic. Read here: Dragged out of home, neck severed: How political violence rocked Bengal panchayat election 2023 Expressing gratitude to the Assam CM, Adhikari tweeted, "I would like to thank the Hon'ble CM of Assam Shri @himantabiswa Ji for providing relief to the tormented Opposition Party Karyakartas of WB, especially those from BJP, who time & again are subjected to poll-related violence and being in close proximity to the state of Assam, they find it safe to cross over with their families for their safety. According to the news agency PTI, at least 15 people were killed in the clashes during West Bengal's rural bodies' elections on Saturday. Several ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers were torched, and bombs were thrown at rivals in several places during the polling. Of those killed, 11 were affiliated with the TMC. The total death toll in the state since the poll process began on June 8, when the dates were announced, has crossed 30. PTI reported. Read here: 2023 West Bengal Panchayat Elections: See result here Meanwhile, the TMC looked set to sweep the rural polls by taking an unassailable lead in results declared till now by the State Election Commission. In all elections are being held for 63,229 gram panchayat seats, the TMC has won in 31,192 seats. Its nearest rival BJP has won 8,427 seats, the Left front has won 2,856, while the Congress won 2,225 seats. (With inputs from agencies) A volcanic eruption that began on Monday near Icelands capital grew overnight and more magma and gas emerged than at the start of prior eruptions at the site. A man takes pictures as lava emerges from a fissure of the Fagradalsfjall volcano near the Litli-Hrutur mountain, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland, Monday July 10, 2023. Authorities in Iceland on Tuesday warned spectators to stay away from a newly erupting volcano that is spewing lava and noxious gases from a fissure in the countrys southwest (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco) Lava flows have since eased somewhat, spewing from ruptures that are estimated to be about 200 meters (660 feet) long, having reached 900 meters overnight, the Met Office said on Tuesday. The uninhabited area on the Reykjanes Peninsula is near the spot where previous eruptions happened in 2021 and 2022 for the first time in about 800 years in that area. We have flown over it two times and we see it is evolving a lot, according to Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland. Now we are seeing an eruption that is of similar magnitude as the two previous ones, but last night we were seeing that the beginning hours were considerably more powerful. The start of the eruption may have been ten times bigger than the first eruption at its beginning in 2021 and three or four times bigger than the one in 2022, he said. The island nation, which calls itself the land of fire and ice, has 30 volcanic systems and more than 600 hot springs. It is one of the most geologically active places on earth due to its position on the mid-Atlantic ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. One of the most disruptive volcanic eruptions in Icelands recent history occurred in 2010, when Eyjafjallajokull in the southern part of the country erupted in an explosion that released a plume of ash so vast that it grounded air traffic across Europe for weeks, resulting in the cancellation of 100,000 flights and affecting over 10 million people. The eruption that began on Monday around 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the countrys capital is effusive and will remain that way, Benedikt Ofeigsson, a geophysicist at the site, said by phone on Monday when surveying the site. Its not an explosive ash eruption and its very unlikely it will become explosive. The main airport, Keflavik, said there are no disruptions to arrivals or departures, according to its website. A spokesman for airport operator Isavia said that no impact is expected on aviation and that a flight ban only covers the eruption zone. Tourism is one of Icelands main industries, and businesses use lava flows to attract travellers. Airlines tend to use captivating images of lava streams and local guides market hikes to active areas. In the past, some have even fried hot dogs and marshmallows on the magma. Authorities warned against accessing the site due to dangerous concentrations of gas. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When Jacob Nemec's family heard he was planning to go on holiday in Iraq, they pleaded with the 28-year-old American to reconsider. Tourists walk during a tour in the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq. Iraq's ancient sites, vast desert, marshland ecosystems spur new trickle of tourists (REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani) "I got a text from my grandma for the first time in five years saying - being your grandmother and to respect me - I would appreciate if you don't go. I got crying phone calls from my mum," said Nemec, a warehouse supervisor from Reno, Nevada. He decided to go anyway, but understood his family's concerns. Iraq has seen almost non-stop turmoil for decades, from an eight-year war with Iran in the 80s, to the first Gulf war in the 90s and heavy sanctions, the 2003 US invasion, years of bloody sectarian warfare and then conflict with Islamic State militants. The situation, however, has gradually improved since Islamic State's territorial defeat in 2017, with blast walls coming down and cranes going up in Baghdad and other cities as they turn to construction and find a new sense of normalcy. Iraq hosted its first Gulf Cup in more than 40 years earlier this year, with thousands of Arab visitors in attendance - an event that helped put the country back on the map. Now, a small but growing number of tourists are heading to Iraq to see attractions spanning from vast desert and marshland ecosystems to ruins of the worlds earliest cities and empires. Many have come from neighbouring Arab Gulf countries, but defying warnings advising against travel, an increasing number of adventurous tourists are also trickling in from Europe and the United States. Nemec, along with a Russian and a British tourist, visited the maze-like ruins of the ancient city of Babylon, the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf with its tight alleys and mud-brick houses, and the old city of Mosul in the north. "I was a little hesitant coming as a American, like 'Oh my god my government did really bad things here. Is everyone going to hate me for that?'" Nemec said. "That hasn't been the case at all... Governments can be bad, but people wherever you go are good." The uptick in tourism coincides with a push by Iraq's government to show that the country is safe and open to foreign businesses and visitors as it looks to diversify its oil-dependent economy. Tourism Minister Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani said work was underway to build new hotels to keep up with growing demand and to refurbish tourist sites and heritage buildings. He said the country's image in the West as an arena of conflict would gradually change as more people visited. Tourists "are messengers who tell these states that Iraq has returned to being a safe country and is not a red line as some say. Maybe the issue needs some time, but not too long," he told Reuters. Foreign governments are not convinced. 'DO NOT TRAVEL' The US and European countries still warn against any travel to Iraq due to security concerns. The US State Department website says: "Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest". It urges people to write a will and make funeral arrangements with their families should they chose to go. Westerners became a main target of kidnappings and killings following the US invasion, including by extremist Sunni Muslim groups such as Al Qaeda and Islamic State, and hardline Shi'ite militias close to Iran, all of whom viewed the United States as an occupier. In November of last year, a US citizen was killed in central Baghdad - a rare attack that nonetheless sent jitters through the foreign community in the city. Five Western diplomats said that there would be no change to US or European travel advisories any time soon due to the continued possibility of unpredictable violence, such as armed clashes in Baghdad last year that killed dozens of Iraqis. That has not stopped people coming, though just how many are showing up is unclear. A SIDE FORGOTTEN The tourism minister did not provide figures of tourist arrivals. Major-General Abdel-Karim Sudani, a security adviser to the prime minister, told Reuters just over 2.5 million foreigners had visited Iraq in the 6-month period between Nov. 15 2022 and May. 15 of this year, including 312,000 Arab visitors. In any case, the tourism sector remains heavily underdeveloped. Few of the ancient ruins that dot the country have signs describing their significance, nor accredited tour guides. Baghdad International Airport does not have its own website, with the top search item instead directing browsers to a page that warns: "We do not recommend to visit the country (it is one of the most dangerous places on Earth)." Many Iraqis are trying to make up for those shortcomings and show another side of the country. Ali Hilal, a travel blogger, is one of them. He got stuck in Iraq during the Covid-19 pandemic while visiting from Canada where he lived, and decided to travel around the country, filming magnificent ancient palaces and lush green mountains in videos posted online and shared widely. "Of course we have innumerable political and social and environmental problems," Hilal said. But there is a side we might have forgotten, and that's the side I am trying to see and have people see with me. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In the recent past, the fragility of the Himalayas has been a significant concern, be it the sinking town of Joshimath, unregulated tourist influx in Nainital, Mussoorie, Srinagar, and Shimla, or landslides and water crises affecting the entire eco-sensitivity of the area. Moreover, the impending concern is that most of the cities in the Himalayan range fall in earthquake-sensitive zones. PREMIUM As urbanisation accelerates in the hill states across the Himalayan ranges, it becomes crucial to ensure the resilience of these cities. (Pexels) The Himalayas, known as the water towers of Asia, the third pole of the Earth or simply as a home to many of us, is experiencing speedy and unplanned urbanisation, upsetting the hydrological regimes of Himalayan watersheds. Further, the region has witnessed depleted forests and biodiversity coupled with increased risks of natural hazards and disasters in urban areas and peri-urban zones. Consequently, the vulnerability of inhabitants of hills and foothills has increased to water, food, livelihood and health insecurity. The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) holds one-sixth area of the country, 30% of forest, 36% of biodiversity, and 56% of the lands water resources. Still, at the same time, it suffers from natural and manmade disasters. Some of Indias fastest-growing cities are situated in this region. This region also witnesses a significant footfall of tourists yearly to experience its serene and pristine landscape, thus facing the considerable challenge of the carrying capacity of its environment. Further, the climate crisis has already made its mark visible, and the March 2023 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report clearly states that the water cycle in the region is being affected, putting further pressure on the provision of essential services such as water and sanitation, and burdening an already stressed Indian municipal system. Recent extreme climatic events have highlighted the marginalisation of mountain regions in India, particularly in the context of mainstream planning. As urbanisation accelerates in the hill states across the Himalayan ranges, it becomes crucial to ensure the resilience of these cities. However, avoiding a cut-copy-paste approach, where solutions designed for the plains are indiscriminately applied to the hills, is essential. The need for more specific contextual information and data-driven evidence in the technical and planning guidelines for the hilly region is concerning. It raises questions about our sensitivity towards the immense challenges for hill states and our capacity to address these issues effectively. Engagement at a higher level and fostering a vision for a targeted approach is imperative to overcome this gap. The need to pitch the voices from the hills is acute as the magnitude of the problem and the inability to grapple with them in silos is difficult. Over 150 esteem practitioners echoed this sentiment in a recent dialogue held in New Delhi on 19th June 2023 titled Parvat Manthan A Forum for Clean and Sustainable Hill States. For the past year, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and BORDA-South Asia have conceptualised a forum for the Hill states of India. The dialogue was a part of NIUA and BORDA-South Asias series on consulting dialogues with critical stakeholders and looking into the regions challenges through the lens of resilience and inclusivity. The stakeholders said the hill context should be included in national missions and policies: >To facilitate conversation amongst these cities, the relevant states and the Central ministries >To facilitate the development of specific policies, advisories and guidelines >To facilitate and promote indigenous research and development of specific technical solutions regarding the hill towns issues >To bring urbanisation challenges peculiar to hill cities into the mainstream and to initiate a conversation and peer-to-peer learning amongst cities and states We must understand that sustainability can only happen with significant disruption, be it social, economic or political. There is a need to reach out, recognise and acknowledge the challenges and issues. As hill cities face multiple complexities due to urbanisation in the wake of the climate crisis, it is imperative to constitute a forum for hill states that brings all sectors and stakeholders from public, private and social sectors together. Currently, we are facing a runaway situation of crises, and we need more ready solutions. We need to get together collectively and have a holistic and localised understanding of the mountain issues with a vital conversation among various stakeholders and political will. This entails focusing on technology, data and engagement with youth and cooperating with India, which will, in turn, help break the silos and make voices from the ground hearing. Despite bringing challenges, urbanisation is an inevitable process that also offers several opportunities. The amount of data is enormous, but no defined way exists to group or categorise it. We need platforms to park the geospatial approach. Infrastructure for resilience should be the approach rather than resilient infrastructure. Complex adaptive systems require prior understanding. Deconstruct and demystify ourselves and create barefoot guidelines. The forum is not just a theory but is expected to be a form of action to accelerate scale and impact, for converting aspiration to activities. Discussing the value proposition of the forum during the dialogue, what came out was that the forum should focus on the following: On July 10, over 4,000 AO3 users reported in the US reported trouble accessing the website in the afternoon. Since Monday morning, the website has been suffering from outages. Later, on July 10, AO3 tweeted that the site was under a DDoS attack. Popular fanfiction website, AO3, is under attack(Downdetector) What is a DDoS attack? A Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack is a malicious attempt to make the target server unavailable. It is a cybercrime in which the perpetrator floods a server with internet traffic. The excessive superfluous requests overload the server resulting in the disruption of legitimate requests. Thus, the unmanageable amount of requests leaves the server unusable. Who are the attackers? Another tweet by AO3 revealed that the attackers were a collective of religiously and politically motivated hackers known as Anonymous Sudan. This group of hacktivists is allegedly an Islamist terrorist gang. However, in another tweet, AO3 cautioned cybersecurity experts believe the group claiming responsibility is lying about their affiliation and reasons for attacking websites. View the group's statements with skepticism. Security experts believe that Anonymous Sudan is actually a Russian hacking gang seeking to cause trouble for Moscows enemies in the West. Louise Ferrett researcher at cybersecurity vendor Searchlight explained to Tech Monitor that, The original Anonymous Sudan collective was first seen during the 2019 political instability period in Sudan. This group was anti-Russia and active in local street protests as well, she added. However, the current iteration of the group attacking AO3 appears to be aligned with Russia and is posing as the Sudanese Islamist gang as a cover for their actions. Anonymous Sudan claimed that it attacked AO3 because it is, against all forms of degeneracy, and the site is full of disgusting smuts and other LGBTQ+ and NSFW things. Initially, the group stated that the first attack would last up to 24 hours. Now it is asking for a ransom of $30,000 in Bitcoin and has threatened to continue hitting AO3 for weeks if it fails to comply. However, AO3 is a non-profit endeavor that is supported solely by contributions and is run by volunteers. Meanwhile, AO3 has made it explicitly clear that, regardless of the circumstances, it does not condone anti-Muslim sentiments. The latest Twitter update by AO3 reported that the volunteers are still working to mitigate the DDoS attacks. What is AO3? Archive of Our Own (AO3) is currently the most popular website for fan-created content. The fansite is a non-profit online archive for fanworks contributed by users. It is well-known for its vast repository of fanfictions. It was founded by the Organization of Transformative Works and currently hosts more than 11,050,000 works in over 57,840 fandoms. AO3 is widely praised for its user-friendly interface. It follows a comprehensive system of labelling and categorization of works known as Tags. These tags allow users to filter works according to their preferences. AO3 maintains a policy of maximum inclusiveness and allows the publication of any work as long as it is legal. Since the website also allows content based on controversial or taboo topics, it is often considered offensive. However, the tags ensure that the work contains all necessary trigger or content warnings, allowing users to only view what they are comfortable with. Furthermore, its users argue that AO3 provides them with a safe space to indulge in their creativity. In 2013, Times listed AO3 under the 50 best websites and described it as, "the most carefully curated, sanely organized, easily browsable and searchable nonprofit collection of fan fiction on the Web". Archive of Our Own was also awarded a Hugo Award in the category of Best Related Work in 2019. Fans rejoice all across the worldAO3 is back! After the agonizing past couple of days, AO3 volunteers have successfully overcome the DDoS attack the website was under. AO3 is back up after two days of battling a a DDoS attack(Downdetector) ADistributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack is a cyber crime executed by overloading a server with superfluous requests, rendering it useless. For the past two days, acollective of religiously and politically motivated hackers called Anonymous Sudan had launched a DDoS attack on AO3. The group claimed that it attacked AO3 because it is, against all forms of degeneracy, and the site is full of disgusting smuts and other LGBTQ+ and NSFW things. Also Read | Fanfiction site AO3 temporarily down due to a DDoS attack: All details here While the group originally stated that the attack would last 24 hours, they later threatened to attack the website for weeks unless they paid $30,000 in Bitcoin. Archive of Our Own (AO3) is a nonprofit website by the Organisation of Transformative Works. It is currently the most popular platform for fan-created content. The fansite boasts a vast collection of fanfiction and other fanworks. It is widely praised for its user-friendly interface which allows fans to filter content based on their preferences. Content creators across fandoms find AO3 to be a safe space since it follows a maximum inclusiveness and minimal content censorship policy. As a nonprofit initiative, AO3 is solely dependent on the contributions of its users and is run by volunteers. Due to the DDoS attack, AO3 volunteers had been working tirelessly to get the website back up and running. Thanks to their efforts, fans are once again able to enjoy the repository of content on the website. AO3 users have taken to Twitter to express their gratitude for the volunteers. They also encourage anyone who can, to donate as much as possible in support of the volunteers. A heartwarming story of kindness and compassion emerged from the Gujarat High Court peon recruitment examination held at Sheth RT New High School in Odhav, Ahmedabad. Police constable Dayaben Jitubhai, who was on duty as part of the security arrangement, encountered a female examinee who had arrived at the examination centre with her six-month-old baby at around 9:45 am. The woman requested that she be allowed to take her child inside the exam hall, but Jitubhai explained that this was not permitted. Police constable Dayaben Jitubhai comforting the six-month-old infant. (Twitter/@AhmedabadPolice) Since the admission time was 10 am, instead of turning the mother away, Jitubhai took charge of the situation and offered to watch the baby while the mother wrote the exam. Despite the baby crying incessantly, Jitubhai cradled and comforted the child until 12:30 pm, along with guarding the exam centre. A colleague of Jitubhai captured this moment on camera and sent it to a higher official. Soon, the pictures capturing the constables act of kindness went viral and touched the hearts of many. Ahmedabad Police shared the pictures on their Twitter handle with a caption in Gujarati. When translated to English, it loosely reads, Dayaben Jitubhai, a woman police constable, helped a female examinee who came to take the exam at Odhav with her child. Since the infant was crying, the constable stepped in and agreed to babysit the infant so the mother could continue her exams without any worries. Dayaben Jitubhais act of kindness has not gone unnoticed. After the pictures of her comforting a crying child went viral, Vikas Sahay, DG and IGP of Gujarat, personally handed over an appreciation letter to her. The pictures that show Jitubhai comforting a crying baby were tweeted two days ago by Ahmedabad Police. They have been viewed over 1.4 lakh times so far. Additionally, the pictures also received over 2,800 likes and a flurry of comments from netizens. Heres what people wrote in the comments section: A Twitter user wrote, Ahmedabad Police did a really commendable job. We are proud of you maam. Dayaben, a female police officer, helped an examinees mother in a true sense today by becoming a mother and saving her child, posted another. A third shared, Commendable work. Salute to Ahmedabad police family. Salute Ahmedabad police, expressed a fourth. A fifth joined, Very impressive. Congratulations to the police department. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON San Diego beachgoers were treated to a heart-melting sight while riding the waves on the Pacific Beach. A baby seal swimming in the beach playfully hopping on their surfing boards and riding along. A video showing the seal showing off its surfing skills was shared on Instagram, melting peoples hearts into a puddle. The video is such that you wont be able to hold back your awws. Man surfing with beal seal on the Pacific Beach in the United States. (Instagram/@dronedudeed) Sammy the Seal ALMOST catches a wave out in the Pacific Beach, San Diego Ca surf - but I do think we should count it as at least a noseride. Hehe, wrote digital creator Ed Hartel while sharing a video on Instagram. Hartel shared that the seal named Sammy would haul itself out of the water and stay on a surfboard for five to ten minutes. The little creature would then paddle over to another surfboard. Surfers who witnessed this adorable sight made a conscious effort not to disturb the seal, allowing it to enjoy its surfing escapades freely, reported People Magazine. The magazine also reported that several surfers recall witnessing a possible shark attack on the seal pups mom a week ago. Since then, the baby seal has been swimming close to the shore near Tourmaline Park. Watch baby seal enjoying surfing on the Pacific Beach in the US: The video was shared a week ago on Instagram. It has since been viewed over 45,200 times. It has so far been liked by more than 2,800 people. Many even shared their thoughts in the comments section. Check out a few reactions here: Aww! He was ready for it, like he knew! commented an Instagram user. Another added, The way he braces himself, shared another. A third posted, Sweet little baby. OMG! This is amazing, expressed a fourth. A fifth wrote, So cute. What are your thoughts on the video? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON David Holtz, an Airbnb guest, has gone viral after sharing his living conditions on Twitter. His Airbnb rental accommodation is nothing more than a bed dumped into a bathroom during hod trip to London. Airbnb guest, David Holtz, received a rental space consisting a bathroom with a bed On Monday, Twitter user @/daveholtz shared pictures of his Airbnb, writing Tfw [that feeling when] you arrive at your @airbnb and realise that the whole space is essentially just a large-ish bathroom that the host put a bed into. Indeed, his pictures reveal that the Airbnb is a seemingly regular bathroom with a bed beside the toilet. David Holtz, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, explained that the listing had no reviews at the time he booked but seems to have a few now. He did not share the specific link to the listing but mentioned that the Airbnb was located in London. The tweet amassed over 13 million views and its sudden popularity prompted a response from Airbnbs official help account. The company asked Holtz to share the email address connected to his Airbnb account so that they could take a closer look. However, Holtzs reply to Airbnb revealed the dismal reality of the companys customer service. He expressed his disappointment as he mentioned that Airbnbs customer support had no interest in helping resolve the issue. can i expect a different outcome this time? Meanwhile, Netizens have reacted to the news with hilarious responses. Twitter handle @/SadCustomers quipped, The only time that they [Airbnb] assist with cases like this is to save face. Check out Twitter reactions! A robbery incident in Manhattan Beach took an unexpected twist when the perpetrator ended up forming an unlikely connection with his victim. The armed robber was driving his victim to an ATM to withdraw cash, and in the process of robbing him, the two made plans to reconnect. Not just this, the gunman gave his victim a ride back to where they initially met. The incident happened on July 2 when the victim was walking along Rosecrans Avenue. (Facebook/Manhattan Beach Police Department) According to a statement released by the Manhattan Beach Police Department, the victim was walking along Rosecrans Avenue on July 2 when an armed male suspect approached him. The robber, brandishing a silver handgun, demanded money from the victim. However, the victim informed the gunman that he only had a cell phone and an ATM card. Upon hearing this, the robber instructed the victim to enter his vehicle and drove him to an ATM. After the victim withdrew cash from the ATM, the suspect drove him back to the original meeting spot and allowed him to exit the vehicle. He kept the cash and the man's cell phone, explaining the financial obligations that he had to meet. He even apologised to the victim, who shared his Instagram handle so they could be in touch. The suspect was apologetic to the victim and told the victim he had bills to pay and would return his cell phone to him tomorrow, the police department said in a statement. Authorities have described the suspect in hopes of identifying and apprehending him. The suspect is described as a Black man in his 20s who is approximately 5 feet and 8 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a red design on the front and a black beanie. The suspect fled the scene in a four-door, dark-coloured sedan in an unknown direction. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Arfa Javaid Arfa Javaid is a journalist working with the Hindustan Times' Delhi team. She covers trending topics, human interest stories, and viral content online. ...view detail When Wagner group rebelled against Russian president Vladimir Putin on June 24, mercenaries drove north toward Moscow but a contingent diverted towards a fortified Russian army base that holds nuclear weapons, news agency Reuters reported even though Western officials have repeatedly said that Russia's nuclear stockpile was never in danger during the brief rebellion. Russian president Vladimir Putin(AP) Ukraine's head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov told Reuters that the Wagner fighters went far further as they reached the nuclear base and their intention was to acquire small Soviet-era nuclear devices in order to raise the stakes. "Because if you are prepared to fight until the last man standing, this is one of the facilities that significantly raises the stakes," Kyrylo Budanov said. The only barrier were the doors to the nuclear storage facility as they "were closed and they didn't get into the technical section," he said. A Wagner contingent "managed to get into a zone of special interest, as a result of which the Americans got agitated because nuclear munitions are stored there," a source close to the Kremlin with military ties told Reuters while another said that this caused concern in the Kremlin, prompting Russia to hastily negotiate with the Wagner group in a deal brokered by Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko. What has US said about this account? White House national security council spokesman Adam Hodge said, We are not able to corroborate this report. We had no indication at any point that nuclear weapons or materials were at risk. Matt Korda, a senior research associate and project manager for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said it would be "virtually impossible for a non-state actor" to breach Russian nuclear security. "If you had a malicious actor who was able to get their hands on a nuclear weapon, they would find the weapons stored in a state of incomplete assembly. They would need to be completed by installing specialised equipment and then unlocking permissive action links, and in order to do that they would need the cooperation of someone from the 12th Directorate" responsible for protecting Russia's nuclear arsenal, he said. Did the Russian military support Yevgeny Prigozhin? Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's national security and defence council, said that many in the Russian military sided with Yevgeny Prigozhin. "There are so many commanders who sympathise with Wagner and don't want to follow Putin," he said. At least14 Russian generals supported Prigozhin, he asserted. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON US president Joe Biden met with Britain's King Charles III at Windsor Castle two months after skipping his coronation. The US president's absence from the ceremony in May 2023 triggered speculation that he may have been snubbing the monarchy. US president Joe Biden meets Britain's King Charles at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Britain.(Reuters) The two leaders used their first meeting to talk about climate change, something that King Charles has been very passionate about, asking companies to do more for clean energy in developing countries. Joe Biden and King Charles participated in a climate-focused meeting with officials from the financial and philanthropic sectors. John Kerry, the US envoy on climate, also attended the roundtable. Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, said that Joe Biden has huge respect for the kings commitment on climate. He said Charles has been a clarion voice on climate and someone whos mobilized action and effort. What Joe Biden has said about King Charles before? In 2021 at COP26, Joe Biden had praised King Charles environmental advocacy saying, We need you badly, I am not just saying. You got the whole thing going, that's how it started. King Charles support for initiatives on climate change dates back to 1970 and has frequently been criticized by the British media in the past. Did Joe Biden snub the monarchy? When Joe Biden had not attended the coronation of King Charles and his wife in May, it was seen as a snub by the White House. In his memoir, Joe Biden wrote, "When I told my mother I was going to have an audience with the Queen of England, the first thing she said was: 'Don't you bow down to her.' Remember, Joey,' she'd say, 'you're a Biden. Nobody is better than you. You're not better than anybody else, but nobody is any better than you."' SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A strain of feline coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the prolific cat population of Cyprus. The eastern Mediterranean island is home to the earliest evidence of the cat's domestication and is known as the "island of cats". As many of the island's felines are strays, animal advocates said that the number of cats dying from disease is significantly higher than the 107 cases of FIP officially reported. Cyprus cat disease: Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) has rapidly spread across Cyprus in recent months.(Representational) The disease- Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)- is not transmittable to humans but has rapidly spread across Cyprus in recent months. It is "highly contagious" among cats. "We have lost 300,000 cats since January" from FIP, Dinos Ayiomamitis, head of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice-president of Cyprus Voice for Animals said. Experts say that the island's cat population is equal to or even exceeds the human population of Cyprus. In the south of the country, a third of the cats have succumbed to the virus. What are the symptoms of the disease and how widespread is it? Cats with FIP have symptoms including fever, abdominal swelling, weakness, and sometimes even aggressiveness. But many cats are stray leading to diagnosing being difficult. Several people who feed stray cats told news agency AFP said that many of their regulars are disappearing and very few corpses are found. An outbreak is suspected to be also spreading across cat populations in Lebanon, Israel. Are there treatment options available? To contain the spread, two treatment options have been considered- molnupiravir, an anti-Covid pill and another antiviral tablet GS-441524, chemically similar to the Covid-19 treatment remdesivir. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Donald Trump's claim that he would have ended the Russia-Ukraine war "in 24 hours" if he won the 2020 presidential election as the former US president blamed Joe Biden for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Touting his relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump said that he would have been able to end the war in just one day if he was the US president. Former US president Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a campaign event.(AFP) My personality kept us out of war. And I told you before, [it] would have never happened with Russia. Putin would have never ever gone in. And even now I could solve that in 24 hours. It's so horrible what happened. Those cities are demolished now, Donald Trump said. Zelensky told ABC News' This Week that Donald Trump "already" had the opportunity to step throughout his presidency but did not. It seems to me that the sole desire to bring the war to an end is beautiful. But this desire should be based on some real-life experience. Well, it looks as if Donald Trump had already these 24 hours once in his time. We were at war, not a full-scale war, but we were at war, and as I assume, he had that time at his disposal, but he must have had some other priorities, Zelensky said. Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump could have ended the war "even in five minutes" but they would force Ukraine to give up large swaths of its territory to Russia, he said. Talking about US aid to Ukraine, Zelensky said, I would like to say thank you to all Americans for what you have done, and I appreciate those who say that you've done enough. Trust me, no matter what, I appreciate help. When it comes to the word enough, we Ukrainians are not people known for excessive appetites. Our victory is enough for us. Honestly, when we have enough for our victory, then it will be enough. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Torrential rainfall triggered flash floods in the US northeast washing out roadways, overwhelming rivers and prompting 50 swift boat rescues, officials said. More than 13 million Americans were under flood watches and warnings which included areas from eastern New York state to Boston and western Maine to the northeast, the National Weather Service said in its forecast. Flooding surrounds a parking lot, in Highland Falls, Orange County, New York.(Reuters) AccuWeather estimated damages and economic loss at $3 billion to $5 billion, preliminarily, news agency Reuters reported as more than 1,000 flights to and from airports across the region were delayed or canceled due to the rains. Amtrak suspended passenger train service between the state capital Albany and New York City after flooding damaged tracks. New York and Vermont were the hardest hit states with more rain expected overnight, creating further flood hazards, National Weather Service said. Which is the situation in Vermont? In Vermont, the flooding is the worst since Hurricane Irene reached the state as a tropical storm in 2011. "This is an all-hands-on-deck" event, Vermont governor Phil Scott said as parts of the US state have already received between 7 and 8 inches of rain. Streets looked like raging rivers in videos shared widely on social media as almost 50 isolated people were rescued by swift boat, Mark Bosma, spokesperson for Vermont Emergency Management said. Officials expected rivers to flood overnight. "We really want people to be hyper vigilant and monitoring the weather and don't wait too long to get higher ground," Mark Bosma said. A bridge washed out, and that was the only way in or out. The call for help went out at 4 a.m., and they set up a swift-boat rescue. Everyone is safe this morning, the spokesperson added. What is the situation in New York? In New York, more than 8 inches of rain has been registered. The weather claimed the life of a woman who was swept away by floodwaters as she tried to leave her home with her dog, officials said. "Her fiance literally saw her swept away," New York governor Kathy Hochul said. Video and photos shared on social media showed washed-out roadways and raging floodwaters reaching houses. "Oh my God. It's up to my knees," a resident said in a video showing floodwaters rushing past her in Orange County. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Google doodle on Wednesday celebrated a popular South Asian street food pani puri as on July 12, 2015, a restaurant in Madhya Pradesh's Indore achieved the world record for serving the most flavors of pani puri by offering 51 options. Google doodle with interactive panipuri game.(Google) The snack, made of a crispy shell stuffed with potatoes, chickpeas, spices, or chilis and flavoured water, is known by various names like puchka, gol gappa, and has many regional variations across the country. In Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, the bite-sized snack is commonly filled with boiled chickpeas, a white pea mixture, and sprouts dipped in tangy and spicy water. In Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other north-Indian states, the potato and chickpea-filled treat dunked in jaljeera-flavored water is called gol gappa. The name puchkas or fuchkas is used in West Bengal and parts of Bihar and Jharkhand, with the key ingredient for this variety being tamarind pulp. According to the legends, the history of the popular snack dates back to the epic Mahabharata time when the newlywed Draupadi was challenged to feed her five husbands with scarce resources. With just some leftover potatoes and vegetables and a small amount of wheat dough to work with, Draupadi filled small pieces of fried dough with the potato and vegetable mixture, and thus, pani puri was invented. In the today's doodle game, the player is tasked to help the street vendor team to accomplish the orders for pani puri. The players is required to choose the puris that match each customer's flavor and quantity preference to keep them happy. (With inputs from Google Doodle archives) Heatwave baking the US Southwest A light rail train downtown during a heatwave in Phoenix, Arizona, US, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. A massive heat wave will build in the southern US and expand into the Pacific Northwest this week, with temperatures in the Southwest rising to as much as 120F (49C) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Photographer: Ash Ponders/Bloomberg(Bloomberg) A punishing dry-heat wave is baking the US Southwest, with temperatures soaring to triple digits in some areas. The heat wave is expected to last for several days, and health officials are warning people to take precautions to stay safe. In California, temperatures could touch 120 degrees in some areas. In Arizona, Phoenix is expected to see its longest period of 110-degree high temperatures on record. And in Texas, the heat will combine with humidity to push heat indexes into dangerous territory. ALSO READ| Notice for US Visa applicants: Shutdown of embassy's VFS service till July 14 A heat index of 105 or higher is considered dangerous, and can lead to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and other heat-related illnesses. Health officials are urging people to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day. They are also warning people to be aware of the signs of heat-related illness, and to seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms. Here are the 10 points you need to know about the recent heat wave: Flash flooding: The heaviest rain is expected in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Hurricane activity: The lack of hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin is due to a number of factors, including strong wind shear and cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures. No tropical cyclones are expected to form in the next five days. Record-breaking heat: The heat wave is being caused by a high-pressure system that is sitting over the western and central US. Temperatures are expected to touch 100F for the next few days. Wildfires: The largest fire is the Bootleg Fire in Oregon, which has scorched over 200,000 acres and is only 5% contained. Drought: The drought is being caused by a lack of rainfall in the western US. With 90% of the region experiencing some sort of drought. It is impacting water supplies, agriculture, wildlife, and recreation. Lightning: The lightning strikes have caused damage to property and injuries to people. In Alabama where a heritage house was destroyed after being hit by lightning. Smoke: The smoke from wildfires and fireworks has reduced air quality and visibility in some areas. Windstorm: The windstorm at Yellowstone National Park caused damage to buildings and trees. The wind gusts reached up to 70 mph at some locations. Rain: The rain in the eastern US is expected to continue through Wednesday. Sunshine: The sunshine and pleasant weather in the eastern US are expected to continue on Thursday. Temperatures will be near or slightly below average for this time of the year. The Manang Air helicopter, which went missing near Mount Everest in Nepal with six people on board, crashed at Lamjura of Likhupike Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu district on Tuesday and the bodies have been recovered. Initial media reports indicated that all foreign nationals on board were Mexicans. Manang Air is a helicopter airline based in Kathmandu. (File photo) The helicopter has been found at the border of Likhu PK village council and Dudhkunda Municipality-2 commonly called Lamajura Danda. The villagers have retrieved the five bodies, Koshi province police DIG Rajeshnath Bastola told news agency ANI. The helicopter seems to have hit a tree on the hilltop, the police said. Identities of the retrieved bodies are yet to be ascertained, Bastola added. The Kathmandu Post reported the area lies between Lukla and Phaplu. Citing the rural municipality deputy chair Nwang Lhakpa Sherpa the outlet reported that locals have informed that the chopper was found crashed at Chihandanda in Lamjura of Bhakanje village. The chopper was en route to Kathmandu from Solukhumbu and got disconnected with the control tower at around 10am, information officer Gyanendra Bhul earlier said. The helicopter with the call sign 9NMV got off the radar at 10:12am (Local Time). "...Total persons on board: 6 (5 passengers + 1 captain). Altitude Air helicopter departed from Kathmandu for search and rescue," tweeted the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. The helicopter was operated by the private company Manang Air based in Kathmandu, and was taking five foreign tourists from the mountainous Solukhumbu district in eastern Nepal to the capital Kathmandu. The helicopter was piloted by senior captain Chet Gurung, the Himalayan Times reported, citing sources from Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport. A detailed report is yet to come as a rescue operation is underway, said a senior official at TIA. The official said the locals have informed him that the helicopter crashed with a loud explosion and they saw fire at the crash site. Local police have been mobilised in the area. Two helicopters sent earlier to locate the crash site had to return due to bad weather, the senior airport official said, adding that the exact reason behind the crash is not known yet. According to MyRepublica news portal citing sources, the bodies of five of the six people on board the helicopter were found at the crash site. Earlier, TIA spokesperson Teknath Sitaula told My Republica news website, "It has been reported that the helicopter of Manang Air is out of contact, there is no contact with the tower when it reached the Lamjura pass, it was reported that the helicopter only received a 'hello' message on Viber, the search is underway. What we know about Manang Air Founded in 1997, Manang Air is a helicopter airline based in Kathmandu. It has been operating helicopters in commercial air transportation within the Nepalese territory under the Regulation of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. The company provides chartered services and is focused on personalised services such as adventure flights helicopter excursions or expedition work. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince Harry's US entry and exit records are private and publishing them through a case about his drug use would be "clearly unwarranted," officials said in a filing. The Duke of Sussex talked about taking drugs, including cocaine, cannabis, magic mushrooms and ayahuasca, in his memoir Spare which was released in January 2023. The Heritage Foundation argued that Prince Harry should have disclosed his experiences in his US visa application. Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex steps out of a car, outside the Rolls Building of the High Court in London.(Reuters) The organisation wants the US Department of Homeland Security to publish the application to allow scrutiny over whether Prince Harry lied or was given easy access to the visa. The DHS accused the foundation of drafting "six pages of inflammatory allegations" targeting US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) while the former said that DHS criticisms of its own conduct were outrageous. A letter from CBP to Heritage read, We find that you have not provided sufficient public interest to outweigh the Duke of Sussex's right to privacy concerning his entry and exit records. Without an individual's consent or an overriding public interest, providing the Duke's entry and exit records would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, Newsweek reported the letter as reading. A 'bare suspicion' of agency misconduct is insufficient. A FOIA requester must produce evidence that would warrant a belief by a reasonable person that alleged Government impropriety might have occurred. An allegation of 'public interest' that is nothing more than a general public curiosity in the subject matter of requested records is legally insufficient, it added. [DHS] statements that [the foundation's] position is 'inflammatory allegations' is simply an effort to distract from the record. All [the foundation] have done is recount CBP's own conduct," it continued. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Las Vegas Metropolitan Police responded to a home at about 6:32 p.m. Sunday in response to a shooting. In a devastating turn of events, the officers discovered a 2-year-old toddler suffering from a gunshot wound. Jaiangelis Stevenson Jaiangelis Stevenson was at his caregivers house when he accidentally fired the gun at himself. The toddler was taken to University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Stevensons aunt, Paris Box opened up to 8 News Now about the incident. She explained that Stevensons mother was working so a close family member was looking after him when the shooting occurred. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the incident for possible abuse and neglect. A child was shot with someone elses gun and that is negligence, but I dont know what happened, Box said. Box reminisced about her nephew, mourning the loss of a bright personality that could always make someone smile. We would actually call him Blue because of his eyes, she said, recalling the toddlers vibrant eyes. He would be like Hi Ti Ti and he would be walking around with his little popsicle The family is still trying the process their loss while trying to figure out what actually happened. The incident occurred at an apartment in the 5300 block of East Craig Road near Nellis Air Force Base. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, this happened at 6:38 pm on Sunday, July 9. The Clark County Coroners Office identified the 2-year-old victim. Because I know everyones heart involved, I dont have hate in my heart Im disappointed a little bit, but I know that was not meant to happen, expressed Box According to Metro, an investigation by Abuse and Neglect detectives is still ongoing. Also Read | Relative unknowingly crushes 11-month-old girl under tempo As Britain's King Charles welcomed US president Joe Biden to Windsor Castle for their first formal meeting since the monarch's ascension to the throne, the leaders were briefed on the Climate Finance Mobilisation Forum's discussions about how to better encourage big business in the fight against climate change. When Joe Biden's car arrived at Windsor Castle, King Charles greeted him with a handshake. Britain's King Charles and US president Joe Biden walk together in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle.(Reuters) The leaders then walked up a few stairs as a band played the national anthems of both the countries. They also inspected the Welsh Guards. But a controversy broke after it was said that Joe Biden broke royal protocol by casually putting his hand on King Charles' back during their exchange. A Buckingham Palace source told People that King Charles was "entirely comfortable" with Joe Biden touched the monarch on the back. "What a wonderful symbol of warmth and affection it was between both the individuals and their nations," the source said adding that it was in line with the correct protocol. Have Joe Biden and King Charles met before? Joe Biden and King Charles have met a number of times before, including a 2015 meeting in the Oval Office of the White House. Then-US president Barack Obama and Camilla were also present at the meeting. The meeting between the two leaders comes two months after the monarch's May coronation in London which Joe Biden skipped. His wife Jill Biden, was part of the congregation and attended the ceremony with her granddaughter Finnegan Biden. The Bidens also attended late monarch's Queen Elizabeth's funeral in September. What else has happened during Joe Biden's UK visit? Earlier, Joe Biden met British prime minister Rishi Sunak. From the UK, the US president will travel to Lithuania for the NATO Summit and Finland for a US-Nordic Leaders Summit, the White House informed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country will be part of NATO ahead of the alliance's meeting from which he expected an "algorithm" for Kyiv to officially join the military group. "We are still working on the wording, that is, on the specific words of such confirmation, but we already understand the fact that Ukraine will be in the alliance," Zelensky said, adding, And we are working to make the algorithm for gaining membership as clear and fast as possible. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky(AP) Zelensky said that the summit must confirm Ukraine is already 'de facto' a member of NATO as it has its weapons and shares values with the alliance. Even if different positions are voiced, it is still clear that Ukraine deserves to be in the alliance. Not now - there is a war, but we need a clear signal. And we need this signal right now, Zelensky said. US president Joe Biden to meet Zelensky? US president Joe Biden will meet with Zelensky one-on-one at the summit, news agency Reuters reported quoting a US official, although the Ukrainian leader is yet to officially confirm his participation in the alliance meeting in Lithuania. This comes as Joe Biden welcomed Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan for backing Sweden's bid to join NATO saying that he looked forward to welcoming Sweden as US' 32nd NATO ally. Thanking NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg for his steadfast leadership, Joe Biden said, "I welcome the statement issued by Turkiye, Sweden and the NATO Secretary General this evening, including the commitment by President Erdogan to transmit the Accession Protocol for Sweden to Turkiye's Grand National Assembly for swift ratification. I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkiye on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO Ally. And I thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for his steadfast leadership," he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that Moscow would be forced to use "similar" weapons if the United States supplied cluster bombs to Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. (via Reuters) The US announced last week it would supply Ukraine with cluster munitions - explosive weapons that typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets over a wide area. They are banned by over 100 countries, including Britain and Japan. Shoigu was quoted as saying that Russia was in possession of cluster munitions but had so far refrained from using them in its military campaign. However the U.S. has previously accused Russia of using cluster munitions in Ukraine and said they have had a failure rate of up to 40%, leaving the ground littered with unexploded bomblets. Washington says the cluster munitions it is sending to Ukraine have a failure rate of less than 2.35%. "In the event that the United States supplies cluster munitions to Ukraine, the Russian armed forces will be forced to use similar weapons against the armed forces of Ukraine as a response," Shoigu said on Tuesday. "It should be noted that Russia has cluster munitions in service... for all occasions... They are much more effective than American ones...," he said. Shoigu added that the Russian army was taking measures to protect its troops from such weapons. Human Rights Watch says both Moscow and Kyiv have used cluster munitions during the nearly 17-month conflict in Ukraine, which Russia calls a "special military operation". The US Russia and Ukraine have not signed up to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. US officials say they granted Kyiv's request for cluster bombs after it became apparent that Ukraine - now waging a counteroffensive against Russia - was running out of regular artillery ammunition and production would not meet its needs. Close US allies including Britain, Canada and Germany have expressed their opposition to the use of cluster munitions. In other comments, Shoigu said Russia was "significantly reducing" the potential of Ukraine's counteroffensive and that Russian forces had gained ground during their own counterattack in the direction of Lyman in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Reuters could not independently verify battlefield claims. There have been concerns over illegal migration across the world and in the United States. According to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle, Honduran migrants are driving San Franciso's drug market with aid from Mexican cartels.The report puts the blame on San Francisco's lax immigration and crime policies for providing a safe haven to Honduran migrants who are working on the front lines of the drug menace( including Fentanyl) in the city. Migrants from Honduras have become driving forces in San Francisco's drug market(Getty Images) Tenderloin and South of Market neighbourhoods in San Francisco have become the most notorious for drug related activity. According to the report, the Honduran migrants operate open-air markets in these areas through their meticulous planning and big numbers. The migrants often commute to their street-dealing posts via public transportation and conduct business like theyre going to a job, said San Francisco Mayor London Breed to San Franciso Chronicle. The report highlights that many of the drug dealers hail from Siria Valley in Honduras, which is about 80 miles north of Hondura's capital city Tegucigalpa. A drug dealer highlighted why more like him choose San Francisco for their nefarious activities. [I]n San Francisco, its like youre here in Honduras. The law, because they dont deport, thats the problem Many look for San Francisco because its a sanctuary city. You go to jail and you come out, said the anonymous dealer. ALSO READ| More than half of America's beaches contaminated with poop and sewage: Report Notably, San Franciso implements a City and County of Refuge Ordinance which prohibits city employees from assisting US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in their investigations or efforts. It also bars ICE from being able to step in after cops have arrested a migrant. According to the report by the Chronicle, the drug dealers in San Franciso get narcotics, often laced with fentanyl from Mexican Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa Cartels. The chemicals for fentanyl are obtained from China. The drugs are produced by the Mexican cartels, smuggled into US where they are stashed in Oakland. Overdoses due to fentanyl have caused more than 2,200 deaths since 2020 346 in 2023 as of the end of May. A Manang Air helicopter, with six people onboard, crashed in Nepal on Tuesday when it was coming from Surke in Solukhunvhu district, which is home to Mount Everest and several other high mountain peaks. Rescuers are found five bodies and are looking for the sixth person aboard, as per Reuters. Manang Air helicopter went missing on Tuesday. (Manang Air) The helicopter, carrying five Mexican nationals along with a Nepali pilot, went missing near a place called Likkhu. Here are five things to know about the Manang Air helicopter: Founded in 1997, Manang Air is a helicopter airline based in Kathmandu. It has been operating helicopters in commercial air transportation within the Nepalese territory under the Regulation of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. The company provides chartered services and is focused on personalised services such as adventure flights helicopter excursions or expedition work. Manang Air owns several helicopters including AS350 B3 (H125) series helicopters and Airbus Helicopter AS350 B3 (H125). These are supported by Turbomeca 2D1 engines, which are adequate for high altitude flights. The company says that its helicopters are maintained by specialized manpower and 100 percent quality maintenance with accident-free flying hours. Manang Air also runs operations to support trekkers and pilgrims and also offer air Logistics support to Nepal's government agencies. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sanskriti Falor Sanskriti Falor is a Senior Content Producer at the News Desk of HT Digital. Having worked in Digital Media for the past two years, she is interested in covering civic issues and global affairs. ...view detail A special district court has acquitted the son of Shehbaz Sharif, Suleman Shehbaz, and others accused in a money laundering case on Monday, reported The Express Tribune. The district court was hearing acquittal pleas filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's son, Suleman, and other accused in PKR 16 billion money laundering case. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif(Reuters) However, the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA)have earlier replied to 27 questions asked by the court, reported The Express Tribune. Judge Bakht Fakhr Behzad was told that the FIA's lawyer that a joint investigation team (JIT) led by Dr Rizwan conducted the money laundering inquiry, as per The Express Tribune. Later, the court asked whether the FIA had recorded any written statement by any witness during the probe to which the FIA's investigation officer (IO) Ali Mardan remained silent. The court further asked about the actions they have taken against those who kept changing their stance during the investigation. The Investigation officer replied that no action was taken. However, the FIA lawyer added that there was no direct evidence against Suleman regarding money laundering, The Express Tribune reported. Later, the court asked about any indirect evidence against Suleman to which the IO said that the inquiry was opened in light of the sugar inquiry commission's report. The FIA went through Suleman's bank accounts during the probe but did not find incriminating evidence against him. When asked about why a case was registered against Suleman, the IO answered that money would be deposited in Suleman's account and then withdrawn in cash. Furthermore, the court accepted the pleas submitted by the accused and acquitted Suleman and others from the case. The FIA had accused Shehbaz and his two sons, Hamza and Suleman, of corruption and money laundering of around 16.3 billion between 2008 and 2018 through 28 bank accounts, which had no names for account holders. The charges were filed in November 2020 during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's term in the federal government, according to The Express Tribune. However, Shehbaz and Hamza were acquitted of the case in October 2022. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry know they went "too far" with royal attacks, a royal expert claimed as the couple work on rebuilding their brand after struggling to keep it "reputable" following allegations made against the royal family and the ending of their lucrative deal with Spotify. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen.(AP) In their docuseries, Harry & Meghan, the couple made a series of allegations against the royal family especially Prince William. Meghan Markle is now said to be taking a step back and focusing on getting her brand back on track, royal biographer Tom Bower told OK. The pair will find it hard to keep their brand "reputable" following the collapse of a major deal, he said, adding, "They are beginning to taste the medicine that they handed out during the Oprah Winfrey interview. Theyre finding it very, very hard to keep their brand reputable. Theyre constantly having to defend themselves and theyre grasping for opportunities that dont exist anymore. All shes got is the baggage of the Oprah Winfrey interview and her damnation of the royal family in various successive interviews. Thats why shes been so quiet the whole year. She knows theyve probably gone too far and she doesnt know how to get out of it now. What is fascinating is how it will end? What will the climax be?, he continued. Work on their solo projects is also well underway as Meghan Markle is said to be looking into new brand partnerships while Prince Harry focuses on his Netflix deal. The couple had signed a deal with Spotify in 2020 with Meghan Markle releasing just one series of her podcast Archetypes before they parted ways from the company. In her podcast series, Meghan Markle spoke about her time as a working member of the royal family, claiming that she was forced to carry on with a public appearance after a "fire" in her son Prince Archie's nursery. Prince Harry's new project will see him return to Africa for a solo documentary about his love of the continent, it was reported. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The US government refused to reveal details of Prince Harry's visa application, citing his right to privacy after the Department of Homeland Security refused to reveal the information amid controversy over his drug use. US visa applications can be rejected if an applicant admits to having taken drugs. The refusal stated that even though Prince Harry is a "public figure", that does not mean he would "forfeit all rights to privacy". Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.(Reuters) In his tell-all memoir Spare, Prince Harry admitted to taking marijuana, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms. As per US law, foreigners who admit to taking drugs and wish to enter or move to the United States may face several challenges when doing so. Applications can be denied over drug taking. The lawsuit was filed by a Washington DC-based think tank called Heritage Foundation. Lawyers for the Heritage Foundation went to court over the refusal demanding the Department of Homeland Security to process a response to their Freedom of Information Act request regarding Prince Harry. The foundation says that Prince Harrys admitted drug use in the media makes it question if the US government followed procedures while he was admitted in the country. The Heritage Foundation's Nile Gardiner said that DHS' argument had "no sense", but is "not surprising coming from the zero transparency Biden Administration". Since stepping down as senior royals in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have settled into life in the US. The couple resides in California with their two young children, Archie and Lilibet. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Russia on Tuesday signaled the demise of a long-running United Nations humanitarian operation in Turkey delivering aid to 4 million people in rebel-held northwest Syria after it vetoed a nine-month authorization renewal at the UN Security Council. The first United Nations aid convoy through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey. (AFP) Russia then failed in its own bid for a six-month extension of the operation, which has been delivering aid including food, medicine and shelter since 2014. The Security Council approval for the aid deliveries expired on Monday. Russia U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia suggested that the council mandate for the aid operation could not be salvaged. After casting the veto and before the council vote on Russia's six-month proposal, Nebenzia said: "If our draft is not supported, then we can just go ahead and close down the cross-border mechanism. "The technical rollover, for any period of time, we're not going to accept," he added. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the United States would continue to work with all council members to renew the aid operation and urged Russia to reconsider its position. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had pushed for a 12-month renewal. Guterres was disappointed that the council had not reached an agreement and urged members "to redouble their efforts to support the continued delivery of cross-border assistance to millions of people in dire need in northwest Syria for the longest possible period," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Authorization is needed because the Syrian government in Damascus, which has close ties with Moscow, did not agree to the U.N. operation on sovereignty grounds. Security Council votes on the issue have long been contentious - in both 2022 and 2020 the mandate expired, only to be renewed a day later. The Security Council initially authorized aid deliveries in 2014 into opposition-held areas of Syria from Iraq, Jordan and two points in Turkey. But Russia and China have whittled that down to just one Turkish border point. Aid groups decried the Security Council stalemate. 'UTTER CRUELTY' Russia and Syria have argued that the aid operation violates Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They say more aid should be delivered from inside the country, raising opposition fears food and other aid would fall under government control. After an earthquake killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria in February, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad allowed the United Nations to use an additional two border crossings from Turkey to dispatch aid. That approval expires on Aug. 13. The Syrian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether it would now include the Bab al Hawa crossing in its agreement with the United Nations and whether it would extend those approvals beyond Aug. 13. "That is for them (Syria) to decide," Nebenzia told reporters. "It's in their hands." Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh told Reuters that Damascus would assess the situation and announce its position. Sabbagh told the council that authorization for the aid operation should only be extended for six months and criticized the text drafted by Switzerland and Brazil, saying it "did not reflect the aspirations of the Syrians." China abstained on the vote for the nine-month compromise renewal of the aid operation authorization drafted by Switzerland and Brazil, while the remaining 13 Security Council members voted in favor. Only Russia and China voted in favor of Russia's proposal for a six-month extension. Ten Security Council members abstained, and the United States, Britain and France voted against. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, France or Britain to be adopted by the Security Council. "It's a sad moment for the Syrian people," U.S. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield told the council after Russia's veto. "What we have just witnessed, what the world has just witnessed, was an act of utter cruelty." A violent crackdown by Assad on peaceful pro-democracy protesters in 2011 led to a civil war, with Moscow backing Assad and Washington supporting the opposition. Millions of people have fled Syria with millions more internally displaced. Fighting has abated with Assad back in control of most of Syria. The British government said on Tuesday it will provide a 50 million pounds ($64.65 million) support package for equipment repair and establishment of a military rehabilitation centre in Ukraine. Britain's Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak along with Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky.(via Reuters) Under the new tranche of support, which will be discussed at this week's NATO summit, the UK and G7 members will provide thousands of additional rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition and more than 70 combat and logistics vehicles. Russian president Vladimir Putin may have dismissed his top general- Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov- reports suggested. The general was not seen in public since Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's brief mutiny last month. But Moscow released a video that appeared to show him at a briefing on the war in Ukraine. Russia-Ukraine War: Russian president Vladimir Putin is seen. (Reuters) After days of being absent from public view, some Russian military bloggers and prominent figures suggested that Valery Gerasimov had been removed from his post. Those claims were repeated by Western outlets. The Moscow Times reported that Valery Gerasimov formally retains his post as Chief of the General Staff, but has nothing to do with resolving issues at the front" which according to Russian military bloggers said that it has been handed to Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinsky who took over as commander of the Airborne Forces in June 2022 and became deputy commander of a grouping in Ukraine in April. Pro-Kremlin Russian military blogger Vladimir Romanov appeared to confirm that Teplinsky is the one running operations on the Russian side. "The armed rebellion of PMC 'Wagner' became the reason for large-scale purges in the ranks of the RF (Russian Federation) Armed Forces and a crash test of the ministry for loyalty," .it said. Russia's defense ministry published a video that showed Gerasimov as the man in charge saying that he was listening to a report about Ukrainian missile attacks in the Crimea, Rostov and Kaluga regions at a meeting attended by top generals. In the video, he was seen listening to a report from First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Colonel General Viktor Afzalov, on "the destruction of four Ukrainian ballistic targets," the defense ministry said. According to the report of Colonel General Viktor Afzalov, two S-200 missiles were destroyed by air defense systems, and two similar missiles were intercepted using electronic countermeasures. There are no casualties and no damage," the statement read. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 55-year-old Melbourne woman, jailed for keeping an Indian-origin Tamil woman as a slave for eight years, has been sentenced to an additional two-and-a-half years for threatening the victim before she gave evidence in the criminal trial, police said. The police investigation established the couple had kept the victim as a slave for 8 years.(AP/ Representative image) Kumuthini Kannan and her husband Kandasamy Kannan were earlier convicted and sentenced for enslaving the victim, in her 60s, in their Mount Waverley home between 2007 and 2015, the police said in a statement on Saturday. Kumuthini pleaded guilty to the offence of perverting the course of justice during an Australian Federal Police (AFP) slavery investigation and was sentenced on July 7 in the County Court of Victoria to an additional two years and six months imprisonment, the statement said. The Judge ordered that the sentence would start 18 months before the completion of her current sentence for the slavery offences. Kumuthini was earlier sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years for the slavery offences. She will be eligible for parole in January 2026. Her husband was sentenced to six years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years. They were convicted and jailed in 2021 after the police investigation established the couple had kept the victim as a slave for 8 years. The federal police charged the couple in June 2016 with slavery offences and in 2020, while awaiting trial, Kumuthini threatened the victim and warned her not to give evidence during the court proceedings. In February 2020, the AFP Human Trafficking Team charged the woman with attempting to pervert the course of justice, contrary to section 43 of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), and the matter was heard separately from the slavery proceedings. According to a local media report, the exploitation of the elderly woman was able to take place because the woman's family was in India, she did not speak English, and her passport was taken away by the Kannans. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ukraine is set to be offered Israel-style security guarantees by its most powerful Western military allies, Telegraph reported. UK, US, France and Germany will commit to a long-term plan to arm Kyiv to defend itself from Russian aggression, the report claimed as talks over the assurances were ongoing ahead of NATO's annual summit in Lithuania. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky(AFP) Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to be present at the summit where he is reportedly planning to hold a meeting with US president Joe Biden. This comes as Turkey finally dropped its veto to Swedish membership for NATO which the alliance's secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg called a historic step after talks with Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the summit. A new defence scheme for Ukraine would create a legally binding pledge to continue existing military support for Kyiv, said diplomats involved in the discussions. There would also be promises on training for Ukrainian troops, intelligence-sharing and assistance with bringing Kyivs armed forces in line with NATO standards, the report claims. The offer stops short of a timetable for full Nato membership, requested by Ukraine but blocked by the US and Germany. However, the guarantees, underpinned by four of Natos biggest military powers, will be offered to Ukraine as a stepping stone to membership, it added. Israel is not part of the military alliance but the US provides close to $4 billion annually to help with country's qualitative military edge- under a memorandum of understanding that is renewed every decade. UK PM Rishi Sunak encouraged NATO to come together like never before in support of Ukraine and with firm determination that Russia cannot succeed. That is work we need to continue this week. We cannot let the fog of war obscure the clear lessons our alliance must learn if we are going to outpace and outmanoeuvre those who seek to do us harm," he said. Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said that NATO allies had agreed to waive the membership action plan usually required of prospective allies. It is also the best moment to offer clarity on the invitation to Ukraine to become a member, he said while Zelensky said that he does not expect Ukraine to join NATO before the war is over, but believes membership is the only guarantee Russia will not launch a new invasion in the future. Ukraines army would make NATO significantly stronger and reduce the burden on existing allies, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Turkey agreed to allow Sweden to join NATO as the countries ironed out their differences in talks in Vilnius. "Completing Sweden's accession to NATO is an historic step that benefits the security of all NATO allies at this critical time. It makes us all stronger and safer," NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said. Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan waves as he leaves after his meeting with Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.(Reuters) Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson said he was "very happy" and hailed "a good day for Sweden". The decision taken by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan must still be approved by the county's parliament. This comes as Hungary is yet to greenlight Sweden's bid, but the country's premier Viktor Orban has signalled he will follow Recep Erdogan's lead. US president Joe Biden said, I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO ally while German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock welcomed the "good news" on Twitter. Why was Turkey stopping Sweden's bid? Read more: North Korea threatens to shoot down US spy planes violating its airspace Turkey has been holding up Sweden's bid to join NATO as it accused the country of harbouring Kurdish activists which Ankara regards as terrorists. After the talks, Sweden said that it will actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkiye's EU accession process, including modernisation of the EU-Turkiye Customs Union and visa liberalisation. How does this decision help Turkey? EU chief Charles Michel, president of the European Council hailed a good meeting saying that they had "explored opportunities ahead to bring EU-Turkey cooperation back to the forefront and re-energise our relations". Turkey has been a formal candidate to join the European Union since 2005. What about Ukraine's bid to join NATO? Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said, It is also the best moment to offer clarity on the invitation to Ukraine to become member. "Ukraine deserves to be in the alliance. Not now, because now there's war, but we need a clear signal and this signal is needed right now," Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced disappointment that Ukraine was not invited to join NATO on Tuesday, telling supporters in the Lithuanian capital: "Is this too big of a wish?" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (AFP) "NATO will make Ukraine safer, Ukraine will make NATO stronger," he told the thousands of people, many waving Ukrainian flags, who gathered in central Vilnius, host to an alliance summit, as snipers stood guard on rooftops. He thanked Lithuania for a "clear, honest and courageous position" in support of Ukrainian membership. Shortly before the speech, NATO leaders agreed the alliance would extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the military alliance when "members agree and conditions are met." Zelensky said earlier in the day it would be "absurd" if NATO leaders did not offer his country a timeframe for membership. Speaking in Ukrainian, he told the crowd: "I travelled here today with belief in a decision, with belief in partners, with belief in a strong NATO, a NATO which does not doubt, which does not lose time, and does not look at any aggressor." "I would wish for this belief to become a certainty - certainty in decisions that all of us deserve and which our every soldier expects, our every citizen, our every mother, our every child. And is this too big of a wish?" he asked. NATO members in eastern Europe have backed Kyiv's stance, arguing that bringing Ukraine under NATO's collective security umbrella is the best way to deter Russia from attacking again. Countries such as the United States and Germany have been more cautious, wary of any move that they fear could draw NATO into a direct conflict with Russia. During the speech, Zelensky said: "No one should ever, ever look back to Moscow." 33,000 FLAGS Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who took part in the event, handed Zelensky a bullet-holed Ukrainian flag, which was then raised on a flagpole. The flag had flown on a Ukrainian tank during battles in Bakhmut. It was brought to Vilnius by a group of 33 Ukrainian and Lithuanian runners in support of Ukraine as the potential 33rd NATO member. Activists asked the people of Vilnius to display 33,000 flags in their house windows to show support. "Ukraine is buying us time with their blood, so we can prepare and give a strong retort to Russia," Nauseda told the crowd. Security worries are real in Lithuania, where memories of Moscow rule are fresh and a military presence is light. Lithuania, along with its Baltic neighbours Latvia and Estonia, were the last states to become part of the Soviet Union, when they were annexed in 1940, and the first to declare independence in 1990 when the bloc collapsed. Members of both NATO and the European Union since 2004, Lithuania is among Ukraine's staunchest supporters in both blocs and the first in NATO to provide weapons to Ukraine weeks before the Russian invasion. "We are in NATO ourselves, and the sense of security is incomparable (to what it would be) if we weren't there," said Birute Jurksiene, a Vilnius resident. "This is what we strongly wish for the Ukrainian nation." Buses in Vilnius display Ukrainian flags and signs reading "Vilnius loves Ukraine." Streets are decorated with NATO and Ukrainian flags. "While you are waiting for this bus, Ukraine is waiting to become a NATO member" is a message on Vilnius public transport buses taking journalists to the summit. State-owned energy company Ignitis, the largest listed company in the Baltics, topped its summit venue-facing office with large banners calling for Ukrainian membership in NATO. "Putin, the Hague is waiting for you", says the big sign hung from the Vilnius municipality, referring to the International Criminal Court in the Dutch city. As US president Joe Biden arrived in the UK on Sunday, he spent the night at the US embassy in London, closing out the days engagements by meeting with King Charles. Joe Biden had skipped the monarch's coronation ceremony in May. The meeting caused a stir as Joe Biden appeared to breach royal protocol by touching King Charles III during an arrival ceremony at Windsor Castle. US president Joe Biden walks with Britain's King Charles III during a ceremony before their meeting at Windsor Castle.(Reuters) The monarch also seemed to lose his cool after one of the Welsh Guards at the castle apparently spent too much time engaging the US president in conversation. In videos widely shared on social media, the US president was seen placing his hand on the Kings back as they reviewed the assembled Welsh Guards on the Windsor quadrangle. The monarch reciprocating in a similar gesture a short time later. But a video sparked reactions on social media in which King Charles was seen attempting to hurry Joe Biden along at one point as they reviewed the Guard of Honour. As the US president engaged in conversation with one of the soldiers he was reviewing, he failed to heed the monarchs polite suggestion to keep moving. The King appeared to snap and gesture at the guard after which the confused president moved along. Did Joe Biden break royal protocol? A Buckingham Palace source told People that Joe Biden did not breach protocol and said the monarch was entirely comfortable with the encounter. "What a wonderful symbol of warmth and affection it was between both the individuals and their nations," they said. Have Joe Biden and King Charles met before? King Charles and Joe Biden have met multiple times during their time in public life, with their two most recent meetings coming during the Cop26 summit in Glasgow and a Buckingham Palace reception in 2021. At both the meets, the leaders talked about climate change. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Holiday Inn, one of IHG Hotels & Resorts' most iconic brands, is bringing its new design hallmarks to the Middle East for the first time, at the newly opened Holiday Inn Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The opening marks IHG's expansion of its mainstream brand portfolio across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with the demand created by initiatives under Saudi Vision 2030. For over 70 years, Holiday Inn has been one of the world's most recognised and trusted brands and it continues to create memorable experiences for thousands of guests every day. Holiday Inn is an iconic brand that has set industry standards and continues to meet the changing needs of guests by delivering exceptional experiences that can be seen and felt through the new active, open lobby (with a mix of spaces to lounge, dine, and work), elevated food & drink options, and modernised design. The brand's Open Lobby concept combines all public spaces, including the reception area and the restaurant and bar, into one open, lively, and cohesive space. It allows guests to make themselves at home and enjoy their stay on their own terms, whether they're there to eat, drink, work or socialise. Holiday Inn Open Lobby: a first in the Middle East Newly opened in Saudi Arabia, Holiday Inn Riyadh The Business District features the first brand- defining Open Lobby and is a perfect showcase for the modern and engaging public spaces that Holiday Inn has come to be known for globally. The Open Lobby will offer a vibrant communal space where guests can relax and connect with friends, family or other travellers, designed with the needs of the modern traveller in mind. The public space includes a contemporary media lounge to unwind with friends, a coffee bar for a chat over a quick bite, and an e-lounge for those who need to catch up on the day's news or work, whilst still being part of the social vibe of the space. Guests will be able to enjoy a 'bright place to connect' with stylish and contemporary accommodation in the heart of the Business District, all the while being within 10 minutes to King Khalid International Airport and other major business offices. Contemporary designed rooms and suites and fusion cuisine The hotel is home to the Casa Oliva restaurant which serves authentic Italian food alongside innovative fusion options inspired by regional Saudi cuisine, while L'Espresso Bar offers a wide range of coffee selections, drinks, and gourmet cafe snacks. This brand new, purpose-built hotel features 138 contemporary rooms including 18 suites with kitchenettes, two swimming pools, a well-equipped gym, 24/7 concierge service, and versatile meeting spaces. Guests will feel right at home in Holiday Inn Riyadh the Business District 's spacious, modern light-filled rooms, each featuring comfortable bedding, large TVs and free unlimited high speed WIFI. Families are well catered for with family rooms and interconnecting suites and the Holiday Inn signature promise that Kids Stay & Eat Free.* This opening is the first in an exciting period of growth for the Holiday Inn brand in the Middle East with other hotels in the pipeline including the opening of Holiday Inn Jeddah Corniche and Holiday Inn Riyadh, Al Malaz in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Holiday Inn Dubai Business Bay in the United Arab Emirates by the end of 2023. The Business District property joins IHG Hotels & Resorts global portfolio that includes nearly 5,180 open or in pipeline Holiday Inn brand family hotels. Hotel website Melbourne just became home to Australia's most unique urban retreat as The Interlude officially opened its doors today and welcomed its first official guest - former HM Prison Pentridge Senior Prison Officer, Dennis Bear. The Interlude, in Pentridge's billion-dollar lifestyle precinct, is the world's first urban wellness retreat set in a converted prison. Many might know this hotel from its former life as B Division at the HM Prison Pentridge, once home to some of Australia's most infamous inmates including bushranger Ned Kelly and, more recently, Australia's last bushranger, the After Dark bandit, Doug Morgan. Today, the site looks very different. The centrepiece of The Interlude is an extraordinary subterranean swimming pool. The pool took three months to dig through sold bluestone and basalt to build, as stacked boulders were individually marked and removed by conveyer belt to minimise the impact on the historic structure. The Interlude truly is a feat of engineering, the likes of which hasn't been seen before in Australia. The restoration crew had no blueprints to work off and needed to reverse engineer many aspects of the project, such as the air conditioning being under the beds instead of the ceilings because of rocks in the roof to prevent inmate escapes. The 19 suites which make up The Interlude, have been created by knocking through the thick bluestone walls to link four or five cells together. Given the thickness of the walls, it took some 9 months to create just one suite. Each has vaulted ceilings, stone walls but with contemporary finishes and fittings that you would expect to see in a modern hotel. The opening of The Interlude is another sign of Melbourne and Victoria's post pandemic tourism revival. Recent hotel openings have boosted the cities room numbers by more than 900. The focus now though is not just on offering visitors a bed, but rather an experience. At The Interlude guests don't just purchase a room but are offered curated itineraries focussing on North Melbourne's thriving food and wine, history, and cultural scenes in partnership with local producers and businesses include Koko Black (chocolates); Impala & Peacock (tea) and urban winery, Jamsheed (Melbourne's first ever fully functioning winery, based in the south of Preston), and The National Trust. The land on which Pentridge was built was a sacred area for the Wurundjeri (WuhruhnjuhRee) people. A traditional gathering place and source of water, plants, and animals. The transformation now coming full circle, with a local Wurundjeri Elder Bill Nicholson performing a Welcome to Country and ceremonial cleansing of the entire site before it officially begins this new chapter of its diverse history. WHAT'S IN A NAME The Interlude (The name cannot be shorqtened). The Interlude is owned/developed by Shayher Group and operated by TFE Hotels. It is a standalone hotel brand completely enclosed within the B Division historical wing. (The modern accommodation tower you see above the Bluestone fence line is the Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne - a completely separate brand to The Interlude). Lead in rates for The Interlude start from $729 per night - including inclusive urban retreat experiences. https://theinterlude.com.au/ Hotel website Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is proud to announce the opening of Flor de Sal this summer. Situated within the stunning coastal haven of Dorado Beach, Flor de Sal combines the rich traditions of Italian cuisine with a unique emphasis on the flavor profiles of salt. Under the direction of Chef de Cuisine Rollyn Angela and Sous Chef Alan Avila, Flor de Sal will feature salt as a key differentiator: from the tradition of staving off bad luck by throwing salt over the shoulder to the dishes themselves. In the kitchen, the team will prepare locally-sourced meat, poultry, and fish with salt (such as using Himalayan salt blocks with its signature pink hue to flavor and finish Piedmontese bone-in ribeye), while tableside presentations (such as handmade Burrata) will delight guests with an epicurean experience. THE SALT Flor de Sal will source the finest salts from around the world, including: Bolivian Rose Salt from the Andes Mountains. Its high iron, potassium, and calcium content gives the salt a beautiful pink hue and adds sweetness to delicate dishes. Halit Salt (Rock Salt) adds a pure, intense natural taste to salads, pasta, and main dishes. Just a pinch of this salt goes a long way to bringing out their natural flavors. Kala Namak Salt (Black Salt) from India adds a unique fragrance and flavor with notes of earth, smoke, and tang, perfect for salads and vegetables. Sale Marino (Italian Sea Salt) from the ancient salt pans of Trapani and Marsala in Sicily enhances the bread service, inspired by rustic Sicilian bread. Sal de Cabo Rojo (local Puerto Rican salt) comes from the Salinas of Cabo Rojo, one of the oldest businesses in Puerto Rico (and part of the National Wildlife Refuge of Cabo Rojo), which underscores the restaurant's commitment to emphasizing the local culture, ingredients, and sustainability. THE MENU Each dish at Flor de Sal will celebrate the complexity of salt, using it as a transformative element that elevates the flavors to new heights. Piatele meze with roasted garlic hummus, baba ganoush, kalamata olive tapenade, steamed artichoke, pita chips, and crudite, and a whole branzino with roasted root vegetables, farro, shaved fennel, and lemon sauce set the scene for delectable lunch dishes in a casual setting with live music. As the sun dips below the horizon, the space transforms into a refined and bespoke setting with all the elements of a proper Italian dinner: antipasti, frutti di mare, pasta, and secondi. Featured dishes include the Tagliata di cernia cruda with salt-cured grouper, pink peppercorn, pickled fennel, charred grapefruit, and extra virgin olive oil from Sicily, caviar with basil creme fraiche, limoncello jelly, crispy capers, poached quail egg, citrus salad, red onion accompanied by blini, and filetto di manzo, a Wagyu tenderloin with Chianti wine sauce, rosemary patate fritte, Calabrian pepper aioli, and black truffle salt. Classic pizzas (margherita bufala, caponata, and prosciutto e pistacchio) are on the menu for lunch and dinner. Complementing the culinary offering is a cocktail program by award-winning mixologist Valentino Longo. Signature drinks will expertly blend the use of salt, from flavored rims to distinctive ingredients (such as 25-year aged balsamic vinegar). Citrus-forward cocktails will artfully pair well with many dishes on the menu, while low-ABV options and the estate's exclusive 1995 Ron del Barrilito Rum ensure something for everyone. A world-class wine list favoring white wine varietals and a rose wine bar pair perfectly with the seafood program. And a daily aperitivo hour at the Flor de Sal bar nods to the Italian tradition of stimulating the appetite with a spritz. THE DESIGN The newly built seaside restaurant's design evokes the elegance and refinement of coastal Italy to Puerto Rico's Atlantic shores. Two distinct spaces, a bar and lounge area with 360-degree ocean views and a restaurant with painterly island panoramas, set the scene for memorable sunsets and an alfresco dining experience. Hotel website Rosewood Munich will open in 2023 as the brand's first property in Germany. Housed in two landmark, historical buildings comprised of the former headquarters of the State Bank of Bavaria and the adjacent Palais Neuhaus-Preysing, a former grand aristocratic residence, Rosewood Munich will be ideally situated on Kardinal-Faulhaber-Strasse in the heart of the historic city center. The hotel will be located within walking distance of several of the city's most popular sites and destinations, including central Marienplatz square, the Residenz city palace, Bavarian State Opera, and the Maximilian and Theatinerstrae shopping districts, as well as world renowned museums. Rosewood Munich will offer 132 spacious guestrooms and suites designed to complement the property's original facade and iconic stairways, which remain well preserved and contribute to the city of Munich's ensemble of historical buildings. The property will boast an inviting lobby lounge and two distinct dining venues, which include a full service restaurant and a vibrant bar. Rosewood Munich will also feature a full service spa, which will house six treatments rooms, as well as an indoor pool and fitness area. Additionally, the hotel will include extensive meetings and events spaces to accommodate a variety of private gatherings, conferences, and special events for up to 312 guests. Hotel website Sascha Vaupel, an industry veteran with extensive experience in high-end hospitality brands, has joined the executive team at two of Qatar's most luxurious hotels, Raffles and Fairmont Doha. Vaupel, formerly a top sales director at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai, will step into the role of cluster director of sales at the two Accor flagships, housed within Katara Tower. With a career spanning 17 years in the luxury hospitality industry, Vaupel brings a wealth of expertise from his time with prestigious brands like Rocco Forte, Jumeirah Group, One&Only, and Ritz-Carlton. In his most recent role at Atlantis, Vaupel was tasked with leading the sales team, formulating strategic sales plans for the leisure segment across the Americas, Europe, and Australasia. His past roles also include a key position as director of global sales - Central Europe at Rocco Forte Hotels. Based in Frankfurt, Germany, Vaupel led a successful team, driving revenue and increasing market share across several European markets. He also played a pivotal role in launching new hotel openings, expanding core markets, and boosting the preferred agency programme. Dani Stern has joined CoralTree Hospitality as VP, business development operations and performance optimization. He will split his time between growing the company's portfolio of hotels and resorts, while working with property teams to maximize individual performance. He previously work with Tom Luersen, president, CoralTree Hospitality, and the leadership team while at Two Roads Hospitality. "We are so excited to be working with Dani once again," said Luersen. "He was a great asset to our Two Roads team, and we know he'll help us successfully grow the CoralTree collection of hotels and resorts. He brings a wealth of experience to our team along with a visionary approach to how we operate." Stern most recently was COO for Blue Water Development Company, which specializes in investing, developing and managing RV resorts, campgrounds, hotels and attractions along the East Coast from Maine to Florida and several Western destinations such as Texas, Montana and Oregon. He also had a tenure at Sage Hospitality Group as VP, operations and SVP for the company's Premier Collection. At Sage, he supported the company's branded luxury, soft-branded and full-service hotels to ensure optimize operational and financial performance. His time at Two Roads Hospitality as SVP first put him in contact with the CoralTree leadership team. While at Two Roads he led the corporate performance optimization team that supported nearly 100 hotels. In that role, he worked with properties on benchmarking, sharing best practices, internal asset management and supporting the field in meeting their key performance indicators. As SVP, he led the company's portfolio of hotels and resorts on the West Coast. He worked with properties to maximize operational performance, develop strategic plans, team member performance and worked closely with owners. Howard Johnson By Wyndham in New Town-Kolkata, India, is pleased to announce the appointment of Shashank Menon as the hotel's General Manager. In his new role, Menon will serve as a brand ambassador, providing leadership and direction to all hotel departments. He will be responsible for driving sales, marketing, and financial goals, ensuring the hotel's success. Before joining Howard Johnson-By Wyndham Kolkata Airport, Menon was General Manager for Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, a property owned by Louvre Hotels Group in Bangalore. In this capacity, he demonstrated exceptional leadership, maximizing sales, marketing, and revenue while achieving strong financial returns. Menon, originally from Cochin, Kerala, holds an MBA in International Business Management from the Business Administrations: International Business Management Institute Berlin and a Diploma in Hospitality Management from Alison, an Irish online education platform, in partnership with the Institute of Continuing Professional Development UK. He also obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel & Catering Management from the Confederation of Hotel & Catering Management UK - IAM-Kolkata. As Chief Evangelist and Development Officer for IDeaS, Klaus role is to challenge existing thought processes, create stimulating conversations and help bring to live the future of Revenue Management and Pricing in hospitality and travel. Klaus has been working to challenge the status quo for the last 20+ years. He re-joined IDeaS from TSA Solutions where he led the companys global commercial, operations and strategic partnership initiatives. Previously with IDeaS he started the companies global consulting division and led teams that partnered with leading hotel companies to jointly develop the worlds first group price optimization and function space revenue management solutions as well as requirements for new pricing methodologies. An advocate of lifelong learning, Klaus holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management, has studied business at Henley Management College, real estate investment and asset management at Cornell Universitys School of Hotel Administration; and finance and strategy at the Singapore Management University. GAIN, a leading global travel, hospitality technology and innovation advisory firm, has announced the launch of its PR & Business Communications Professional service pack designed to provide founders, start-ups, as well as departments and organizations in the travel, hospitality, and restaurant technology sectors with a strategic communication audit and plan designed to drive business results. A communication strategys success ultimately depends on the ownership and commitment of senior leadership and the adoption of the right tools and technologies to deliver the right content to the right people at the right time. This service pack enables business owners and corporate executives to gain competitive advantage to do so. Public relations is a powerful yet often misunderstood tool in today's business world. For a long time, PR was seen as a tactical instrument to generate buzz around events or quickly garner media attention. However, this perception is a failure on our part as an industry. PR offers much more value when approached strategically, aligning with an organization's business objectives and supporting its growth in meaningful ways, said Anne Bleeker, lead GAIN Advisor of this initiative. The GAIN PR & Business Communications Professional service pack, with all services delivered globally and fully remotely, comprises: Strategy communication discovery workshop(s) to take a deep dive into your organization and get a thorough understanding of your business goals An audit of your existing communication assets, content and collateral, including presentation decks and campaigns, as well as a detailed review of your online presence, including social media and your website with detailed recommendations for optimization A strategic communications plan comprising: A communication SWOT analysis Communication objectives, KPIs and measurement tools Your audience; stakeholder analysis, and audience segmentation Your story; recommendations for positioning and messaging, as well as your brand narrative and elevator pitch Your channels; a communication channel map for owned, paid, and earned media with suggested content pillars for each channel Your tools; an overview of the latest immersive technologies, AI resources and communication tools you can deploy to gain competitive advantage through strategic PR Your plan; a 6 or 12-month internal, digital, PR, editorial, and thought leadership program with a detailed implementation plan Anne is a business communication professional with over 25 years of international experience. She co-founded strategic communication agency In2 Consulting in Dubai in 2010, after leading corporate communication departments for multinational organizations in hospitality and manufacturing. Anne has an MBA from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) and a BA in Hospitality Management from Hotel School The Hague. In addition to her consulting work, Anne is an investor and advisor to several growing start-ups as well as a communications trainer. The GAIN PR & Business Communications Professional Service Pack is available now. Businesses interested in learning more can contact GAIN by emailing [email protected] Anne Bleeker In2 Consulting Today, hotel owner, operator and developer, Hotel Equities (HE) announced the enterprise wide implementation of a cutting-edge digital tipping platform for their associates powered by Grazzy. The initiative aims to enhance the overall associate and guest experience by providing a convenient, secure, and cashless way for guests to express their appreciation for exceptional service. According to a recent study, 83% of hotel guests report wanting to tip staff members but not having the means to do so digitally. With the Grazzy platform, hotel guests staying at any Hotel Equities hotels can now tip housekeeping, front desk, and other hotel staff directly from their mobile devices, without the need for cash or any additional app downloads. Guests simply scan a property branded QR code displayed in their hotel room or on signage around the hotel to access Grazzy, then select the staff member they want to tip and enter the amount. "Our associates drive results and we are constantly seeking ways to enhance their work experience which is why we are excited about our partnership with Grazzy and Visa Direct," said David Rosenberg, Senior Vice President of Operations at Hotel Equities. "By implementing digital tipping, we are not only modernizing the tipping process but also providing our associates with an additional avenue for recognition and financial benefit. This initiative aligns with HEs commitment to utilize thoughtful technology and create added benefit offerings for our team members." We are committed to turning inefficient, time-consuming processes into innovative digital experiences for businesses, their employees and customers, said Yanilsa Ore-Gonzalez, SVP, Head of Visa Direct, North America. Our close collaboration with Grazzy to digitize tipping in the hospitality industry is testament to our commitment to innovate to making life better for everyone, everywhere . Hotel Equities has begun implementing the Grazzy platform across its portfolio of hotels and will continue to do so over the coming months. Hotel Equities is committed to providing exceptional guest experiences and supporting its valued team members, and Grazzy's digital tipping platform is a powerful tool to achieve these goals. For more information on Grazzy, please visit www.grazzy.com. About Grazzy Grazzy helps hourly employees make more money, access it the same day, and save and spend in more meaningful ways. By improving financial wellness for front line workers, Grazzy reduces retention and recruiting costs for hotels, bars, restaurants, salons, car washes, and more. Grazzy also benefits back of the house operations by providing assistance to ensure tax compliance, scaling for businesses of any size, and real-time assistance with an expert care team. Our extensible payments platform enables digital tipping, instant tip-outs, and inclusive banking solutions that are built to scale with hospitality and services businesses of any size. To learn more visit https://www.grazzy.com/ About Visa Direct Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com. About Hotel Equities Hotel Equities (HE) is an award-winning full-scale hotel ownership, management, and development firm with a portfolio of approximately 300 hotels and resorts throughout the United States and Canada. Fred Cerrone, CHA, serves as Founder and Chairman; Brad Rahinsky serves as President and CEO. Hotel Equities is an affiliate of 33 Degrees, an integrated management platform combining market knowledge and industry experience across a broad range of CRE assets including office, restaurant, retail, mixed-use and multi-unit residential. For more information on Hotel Equities, visit hotelequities.com. Sommer Shiver Director of Communications & Marketing +1 678 678 4444, x19 ITB Berlin is offering the global tourism community even more high-quality themed content in the form of newsroom articles, podcast episodes and other innovative formats. Every month, ITB 360 devotes itself to another pressing headline topic aimed at attracting the industrys attention and sparking discussion, including blended travel, LGBTQ+, the skills shortage, travel technology hypes and Chinas travel market. From 5 to 7 March 2024 ITB Berlin will be taking place live again on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, providing a platform for the entire value chain of the travel industry. With ITB 360, the Worlds Leading B2B Travel Trade Show is hosting a new content concept that provides a year-round platform for the wide range of topics of the global travel and tourism industry. With ITB 360, ITB Berlin offers the global travel community access to valuable industry knowledge, including interviews with experts, surveys, trends and other insights and every month covers a new key topic. It incorporates the expertise and knowledge of all the international trade shows of the ITB brand family including ITB Asia in Singapore, ITB China in Shanghai, ITB India in Mumbai as well as ITB Berlin, together with that of various international industry experts. As an internationally established brand with wide-ranging expertise in every tourism segment, ITB sets standards. With ITB 360, we are pursuing an integrated content concept by offering the travel community outstanding events, expert knowledge, the latest trends and fascinating insights from around the world. By taking this approach we want to further strengthen our position as a global brand and to inspire, educate and inform the tourism community with first-class content throughout the year. Our extensive network of partners and experts enables us, as a platform for the global tourism industry, to begin a new chapter and communicate a comprehensive range of topics. Deborah Rothe, Exhibition Director, ITB Berlin. ITB 360 kicked off in June with blended travel, currently a much talked-about headline topic. Here, ITB Berlin looked at whether bleisure is likely to be a new form of business travel, or whether it is a trend that in future will merely complement traditional holiday trips. A deep dive podcast episode with Euromonitor International examined the statistics behind the trend. Charlotte Lamp Davies, founder of A Bright Approach, and Stephen Dutton of Euromonitor debated whether the trend towards bleisure and workationing is already reflected in numbers, while an interview with Raoul Dery, founder and CEO of the startup Newworkation, looked at workations, an increasingly popular form of travel. He talked about what companies should consider when planning workations and why remote working is not just a passing fad. Click here for the podcast episode Deep Dive: Blended Travel with Euromonitor International and to the ITB Newsroom article with Newworkation: Remote Work: What companies should consider when planning workations". In July, to mark International Pride Month, ITB Berlin will also be looking at LGBTQ+ Tourism. In the podcast episode entitled Low Hanging Fruit for entrepreneurship: Tourism, Pavel Subrt, Co-founder of East meets West, and presenter Charlotte Lamp Davies, founder of A Bright Approach, will among other topics discuss how to successfully tap into the LGBTQ+ market in Eastern Europe. In a series of brief podcasts entitled 300 Seconds With, together with leading industry experts Dirk Rogl, member of the ITB Berlin Board of Experts, will discuss the state of the travel industry. Lydia Li, Exhibition Director of ITB China, will talk about the belated easing of restrictions in Chinas travel industry compared with other regions, and how that impacts the global travel industry. She will provide an insight into estimated travel volumes and growth rates for 2023, present Chinese travellers preferred destinations abroad, and talk about the importance of the domestic and foreign travel market. Charuta Fadnis, SVP Research Phocuswright, will present the destinations with the highest overall booking rates in 2022 as well as forecasts for 2023 and the years to come, and talk about the winners and losers among the service providers at destinations and in travel markets. Andreas Wulfes, CEO of Neusta Data Intelligence, will talk about overall developments in the German travel market in 2023 and compare them with the pre-pandemic era. August will be devoted to the skills shortage, a pressing issue that was already an important topic at the ITB Career Center at ITB Berlin 2023. Topics discussed in that month will include how the tourism industry can become more attractive for Generation Z. Best cases will highlight how companies and institutions can successfully win over young people. As in its June podcasts, and on the subject of the skills shortage and lack of young professionals, ITB Berlin will again pick up on new forms of work. For its Travel Hero Podcast episode, ITB Berlin will be setting up an intriguing blind date with members of Gen Z and older guests who will exchange views on blended travel and share their differing outlooks and experiences. In September ITB Berlin will take the opportunity to look back on this years ITB Berlin Convention and in particular to follow the most important tech trends. Interviews, podcast features and visits to startups and trendsetters are currently scheduled. In addition to the convention and travel tech, the months topics will include ITB China, which is taking place in-person again for the first time since the pandemic in September in Shanghai. Together with the market research organization IPK International, ITB Berlin will be analyzing whether China is back in terms of both inbound and outbound travel. In a deep dive podcast there will also be an interview with a high-profile speaker from the ITB China Conference 2023. About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention ITB Berlin 2023 will take place for trade visitors only from Tuesday, 7 to Thursday, 9 March. Since 1966, ITB Berlin has been the World's Leading Travel Trade Show. As in previous years, the internationally renowned ITB Berlin Convention will take place live parallel with the exhibition on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, with selected sessions live-streamed on itb.com. In 2022 it took place as a virtual event on the brand's website itb.com and registered 60,700 attendees from 125 countries who took part in more than 100 sessions featuring 223 speakers. Taking place on one day, the Digital Business Day gave 2,500 attendees from 96 countries an opportunity to exchange views and do business virtually from anywhere in the world. International attendance was high, with 78 per cent of buyers and providers taking part from abroad. A total of 20,000 business contacts were made, resulting in 14,000 leads and 3,200 business meetings being arranged. As a virtual industry platform, the Digital Business Day augmented the ITB brand family and rounded off the trade show concept. In 2022, under the heading 'TRVLX by ITB', ITB Berlin is planning a series of B2B networking events in European markets the kick-off event took place in May in Georgia. Before the pandemic at ITB 2019, around 10,000 exhibitors from 181 countries displayed their products and services to some 160,000 visitors, including 113,500 trade visitors. In honor of the late Anthony (Tony) Aslanian, who passed away almost a year ago, Teneo Hospitality & the Aslanian family are offering a $5,000 scholarship to a current student participating in a 4-year hospitality program at any college or university within the United States. About Tony Tony Aslanian was a 38-year hospitality industry leader who had a deep passion for the industry. Tonys passion was unyielding, and he carried himself with such a level of friendliness and authenticity that those that met Tony would never forget. Over the course of his career, he touched the hearts of many people with his mentorship, and educating others was a huge part of who he was. "Tony epitomized what it means to be a hospitality professional, and he dedicated himself to the industry, its growth and its advancement." shares Mike Schugt, Tony's close friend, colleague, and Teneo Hospitality Group's president. Tony was a strong believer in education as an investment in the future, and he was always willing to invest his time supporting future industry leaders. "He was proud to guest lecture and mentor hospitality students [] He saw grit, perseverance and passion for the hospitality industry as critical skills that were nurtured in hospitality schools." remembers Jessica, Tony's wife and mother of his two children. Tony understood the value of education for the industry and did everything he could to support it. Tony was inspiring and remarkable, so, Teneo and the Aslanian family proudly celebrate this amazing man, his courage, and his conviction by offering a scholarship in his name to be awarded to a future industry leader. The Scholarship Teneo is proud to carry Tony's legacy by investing in the future of the industry he loved and cherished so deeply. All applications will be reviewed, and one participant will be selected by the Anthony P. Aslanian Scholarship committee. For eligibility, requirements, and to submit applications, interested students should visit: https://teneohg.com/anthony-aslanian-scholarship All submissions are due by September 1st, 2023 & Teneo will announce the winner for the upcoming fall semester on October 1st, 2023. About Teneo Hospitality Group Teneo Hospitality Group is a Global Sales Organization for the Finest Collection of Hotels, Resorts & Destination Management Companies (DMCs) Worldwide. Its globa l team is based in key geographic source markets and is an extension of its members' local and regional sales teams. Teneo has wide-ranging knowledge of the hospitality industry and serves the meeting planning community by providing valuable expertise and acting as trusted advisors. Teneo is a Latin word meaning to know, understand and persevere. This term represents the company's mission and its successful track record of global expansion. Since being established in 2013, Teneo has become a top-notch independent GSO. The company continues to expand its staff of hospitality sales and marketing professionals, and the services it provides the MICE marketplace as authorized by its members. Visit teneohg.com Maria PerretGentil Vice President, Digital Marketing Teneo Hospitality Group IHG Hotels & Resort has announced the signing of a management agreement with T&K Construction Private Limited for its first Holiday Inn hotel in Bhutan. The 100-keys Holiday Inn Thimphu is set to open its doors in Q2 2025, and will bring an internationally renowned brand to leisure and business travellers visiting the country. The hotel marks IHGs second brand in Bhutan, complementing the existing Six Senses Bhutan. Bhutan's captivating landscapes and natural beauty have garnered attention among leisure experiential travelers on a global scale. In line with the Bhutan Government's proactive efforts to establish the country as a premier international holiday destination, Holiday Inn Thimphu is poised to deliver an exceptional and immersive stay experience. Situated at a strategic vantage point in the vibrant capital city, the hotel will provide guests with seamless access to prominent tourist centers, while also serving as the very first welcoming sight upon their arrival into Thimphu from the nearby Paro International Airport. Holiday Inn Thimphu will provide a comprehensive range of world-class amenities, catering to the needs of both leisure and business travelers. With a sharp focus on comfort, guests can expect well-appointed and inviting rooms and suites. The hotel also features three convenient food and beverage outlets, including an all-day dining restaurant, a vibrant bar, and a relaxing lobby lounge. Recognizing the increasing demand for MICE and corporate events, the hotel will provide multiple meeting facilities, including a ballroom. Those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation can also enjoy access to leisure facilities such as a swimming pool, fitness center, and spa. Commenting on the announcement, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts said, We are delighted to partner with T&K Construction Private Limited to introduce our Holiday Inn brand to Bhutan. This signing presents a great business opportunity for us, given the tremendous growth of the countrys tourism and hospitality industry which has attracted visitors from around the world due to its rich heritage and serene landscapes. Complemented by its exceptional location, Holiday Inn Thimphu will serve as an ideal gateway for business and leisure guests visiting the country. He added, This signing reflects the long-standing trust and admiration for our brands from both our owners and guests. We take pride in growing our footprint in the South-West Asia region and venturing into new markets. We are confident that our brands will deliver world-class hospitality experiences to guests, while becoming the preferred choice for owners seeking to enhance their portfolios in the mainstream category. In a joint statement, Thinlay Gyamtsho, CEO, T&K Constructions Private Limited, and Jigme Ugyen Gyamtsho, Director, T&K Constructions Private Limited, said, We are thrilled to partner with IHG Hotels and Resorts for the debut of renowned Holiday Inn brand in Bhutan. The brand is globally recognized for offering an exceptional experience to guests, and we are confident that our partnership will set excellent standards in the countrys hospitality industry. The signing of Holiday Inn Thimphu comes at a significant time when Bhutan is gaining prominence and attracting attention from travelers worldwide. With its exceptional location and IHGs robust global systems, technology, and loyalty program, we are confident that the new hotel will be highly sought after by guests." Sofitel Adelaide Hotel Salter Brothers, one of the regions most active hotel investors, has exchanged contracts to acquire the multi-award winning Sofitel Adelaide Hotel for approximately $154,000,000. CBRE Hotels together with Savills negotiated the sale of the 251-key hotel on behalf of one of South Australias most respected development and construction firms Palumbo Group. Salter Brothers Managing Director Paul Salter said, We are extremely pleased to acquire this quality institutional luxury hotel asset in one of Australias most robust markets. Located at 108 Currie Street in the heart of the CBD, Sofitel Adelaide is the first internationally branded five-star hotel to be built in Adelaide in 30 years, forming part of a 32-storey mixed use tower with two flexible retail tenancies included. CBRE Hotels Managing Director Michael Simpson noted, The sale of the Sofitel Adelaide represents Adelaides most significant single asset hotel transaction. The developers, who were the vendors in this transaction, literally poured their heart and soul into delivering what is arguably the best internationally branded luxury hotel in Adelaide. We are privileged to have had the opportunity to work with the vendors to negotiate this transaction. The sale of the Sofitel Adelaide has reset the benchmark for the Adelaide luxury hotel market with a record price per key achieved for a CBD asset. The acquisition will allow Salter Brothers to capitalise on the significant public and private investment that is currently being undertaken throughout the city. Mr Simpson said, We have seen considerable investment activity for the first half of 2023, with the Sofitel Adelaide sale joining a raft of other major institutional transactions we have been involved in, including the Waldorf Astoria Sydney, Novotel & Ibis Melbourne Central and the Sofitel Brisbane, which together exceed $1.2 billion. Savills Director Nick Lower added, The Sofitel Adelaide has earned its reputation and place on the Adelaide skyline as a leading 5-star hotel product, offering unrivalled luxury and exceptional guest experiences. Its presence contributes to Adelaide's allure as a premier destination, attracting domestic and international visitors alike. The extraordinary record price achieved sets a new benchmark in the Adelaide market, reflecting the property's exceptional quality and desirability. This record-breaking transaction demonstrates the confidence in Adelaide's hospitality sector and highlights the city's position as a prime investment destination. The high price per key showcases the value placed on the property, emphasising its distinction in the market and the confidence now being seen in the Adelaide market. Excerpt from CoStar Tata Crocombe, who owns and operates resorts in the South Pacific, says technologies such as ChatGPT offer new possibilities for operational efficiency. Tata Crocombe, owner of three South Pacific resorts, says the travel and hospitality industry is not even scratching the surface yet on how impactful generative artificial intelligence can be in the long-term. Still, he said, it can be massively useful as a productivity tool. During the "Rise of AI-Powered Language Generation" session at the 2023 HITEC conference, Crocombe said he's already pushing employees at his three resorts The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium, Sanctuary Rarotonga and Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort, all located in the Cook Islands to make use of tools such as ChatGPT. "I gave everyone [on my team] a presentation [on generative AI]. Some people run with it, and some people don't," he said. "There's no requirement to use it, but I'll tell you one thing that's interesting is that the ones who are running with it, their performance is going through the roof," he said. "And the ones who aren't, their performance is static. We run a quarterly review process, and that's going to come through in the pay raises pretty quick." Crocombe said he's optimistic about the overall potential. "It's going to lead to a golden age in hotels," he said. "With all respect to all the vendors [at HITEC], nothing that I've seen down on the floor has got anything like the potential of ChatGPT. ... The large language models are going to be the thing, I think, that cracks open AI for wide distribution." He said it's already become a factor at his resorts. "We're using it in every single part of the business," Crocombe said. "We're finding significant value that we can derive ... and the barriers to entry are very low." The low barriers to entry give Crocombe confidence that this could help level the playing field in technology between independent hotels like his and large international chains. "The folks at OpenAI spent $30 billion to build the stuff, and they let us use it for $20 a month," he said. "In terms of independent hotels, we're on the same starting line as Marriott. In terms of previous technologies, they were always far ahead of us, so there's going to be a big change in technologies and how things work." Despite his big picture belief that it's a game changer, Crocombe said hoteliers need to think smaller to get the most out of it today. That starts with using it as a day-to-day productivity boost and to provide assistance in generating ideas. "We're just resolving problem after problem after problem quickly," Crocombe said. "Pain points that have been bugging us for decades literally have been resolved." He said generative AI is especially useful in guiding group discussions. "This is a very powerful productivity tool, and it gets more powerful when you use it in a group," he said. "We actually will do brainstorming and discussions, frame out an issue and say: 'OK, this is what we think the alternatives are. These are the considerations. These are the strategic options. This is the one we recommend and why.' Then we run it through ChatGPT, and sometimes it comes back and says: 'Hey, here's one modification to your thought process.' Sometimes it comes back and says: 'You've forgotten about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.'" Crocombe said the tools can provide input on scenarios from scheduling employees to restaurant menus to analyzing a hotel's performance against its budget. Click here to read complete article at CoStar. Click here for a Print Subscription with Online Digital included. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Below you will see test that reads Print Subscribe Access. Click this to then Get Started attaching your account number and zip code to you online user account. Click on the banner above if you would like to become a print subscriber with digital access. If you simply want online access without print click get started below. Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. Lemon8: A growing social media platform that musicians need to consider TikTok and Instagrams Threads are getting all the press, but sometimes musicians succeed on less well-known platforms. Users describe Lemon8 as a cross between Instagram and Pinterest and a great place to grow your music career. Heres how to get started by Janelle Borg of Amplify You In the vast landscape of social media platforms, Lemon8 is quickly emerging as a rising star. Its Gen Z appeal, coupled with the backing of social media powerhouse ByteDance, freshens up a familiar concept and delivers the Instagram-meet-Pinterest platform we never knew we needed. Question is why should artists download yet another app? What makes it different, and how can artists like you become early adopters and build a strong following? Keep reading to find out! What is Lemon8? If youve landed on this page, youre probably asking: what is Lemon8? Simply put, Lemon8 is a photo and video-sharing app thats taking the internet by storm, especially among Gen Z. Described as a cross between Instagram and Pinterest, the app combines aesthetically pleasing content and emerging trends. As a result, users can create a feed thats easy to digest, creative, and photo-oriented. Currently, the top trending topics on the app are beauty, food, wellness, travel, and fashion. Under each topic, you can find recommendations and suggestions, as well as tags that show the brand and price of this particular item. Is Lemon8 like Instagram or TikTok? Lemon8s direct competitor is the Meta giant, Instagram. However, with Instagram slowly losing relevance among American Gen Zers, Lemon8 hopes to win over that audience and cater to Gen Zs social media consumption patterns. It does, however, have a direct connection to Metas main competitor TikTok since they were both created by the same parent company, ByteDance. ByteDance first launched the photo-sharing app in Japan in May 2020 as a competitor to the Chinese app Xiaohongshu. It shot to popularity in Japan and Thailand, two territories where Xiaohongshu is less popular. Given the enormous popularity TikTok has gained beyond China, ByteDance is now aiming to achieve the same level of success as TikTok with Lemon8. In fact, it launched the app in the UK and the US in February 2023, and is already hiring teams in the West to promote the app and lure creators. The app reached 1 million downloads in March 2022 and ranked among the 10 most downloaded apps in March 2023. If these statistics are signs of whats to come, it definitely wont be long before creators and artists have to add Lemon8 to their social media arsenal. Where is Lemon8 available? The Lemon8 app is currently available to download in the UK, US, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Given the success of the app, international implementation is more of a matter of when and not if. If youre based in a country outside of these territories, you can quench your thirst for this new social media platform by checking out this basic web version of the app. How does the Lemon8 algorithm work? Like Lemon8s ByteDance sibling TikTok, it has a For You Page (FYP) that shows what the user is interested in as soon as they open the app. The more they interact with their FYP, the more accurate the algorithm becomes in terms of suggesting user-specific content. In contrast to TikTok, Lemon8 displays more current content, while TikTok can show content uploaded a few days ago. Hashtags appear to play an important role in driving the Lemon8 algorithm. Like Instagram and TikTok, trending hashtags are also a thing on this app. Therefore, aligning your content with these trending hashtags and categories is a good way to drive the algorithm and increase the visibility of your content. Moreover, incorporating keywords in your post titles increases the chances of your content reaching more people. In addition, content that tells a story has a greater chance of being shared and going viral, while the algorithm and users prefer carousels to single photo posts. The most game-changing tip is to aim for more saves the more saves there are, the greater the chance of getting the algorithm to drive it forward. How can artists use Lemon8? Engage with fans As with many fledgling social media platforms, being an early adopter pays off in the long run. Therefore, creating a Lemon8 account from this early on can be a good way to engage with your fans and build a following on an app thats quickly gaining popularity. Share behind-the-scenes moments, exclusive updates on your music, candid photos from your daily life, and so on. Showcase your creative process The Lemon8 apps format enables creatives like you to fully showcase their creative process to their fans. You can share snippets of songwriting and studio sessions, live performances, artwork curation process, and music video shoots. By sharing these moments, you can build anticipation and hype up your music while delivering value to your fans through engaging content. Collaborate with other artists Like any other social media platform, cross-pollination is key to expanding your reach and making new fans. Lemon8 provides you with a platform to collaborate with other artists on content thatll be mutually beneficial and appeal to both your fan bases. Remember music fans love nothing more than seeing two (or more!) of their favourite artists work together on new music AND share behind-the-scenes content of the collaborative process. Promote and sell music merchandise Lemon8 is rapidly transforming into a fast-growing social e-commerce platform. Its therefore a clever way to sell merch by using its e-commerce features to build your brand beyond music. Not only that but you can also use your cool music merchandise as an entry point to reach a wider audience and generate buzz around your brand. Final notes: Is Lemon8 safe? Given ByteDances recent issue with TikTok in the US, youre probably wondering: is Lemon8 safe to use? Launching Lemon8 in the US right after the TikTok bans could very well be a strategic decision. ByteDance could be using it as a backup or Plan B in case TikTok gets banned in all US states. As far as safety is concerned, there is currently no evidence that Lemon8 is unsafe to use or contains spy software. Lemon8 reportedly shares the same algorithm as TikTok, which is currently the source of many controversial problems in the States. However, as with any other app, its always important to read the T&Cs before signing up, and to be aware of the apps policies before sharing sensitive data. Janelle Borg knows a thing or two about the music industry. Having been involved in the industry since the age of 13, shes now involved in a variety of music-related projects and is always keen to share industry tips n tricks with fellow musicians. Share on: NAHA Improves Security Measures NORTH ADAMS, Mass. North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA) Executive Director Jennifer Hohn said various improvements have been made to enhance building security. To address security concerns, Hohn said they have added more hours to security detail as well as added an entry monitoring desk at the front of Ashland Park. "[They] monitor who's coming in and out of the building when they are on duty along with constantly walking the halls etc.," Hohn said. "It has helped reduce many of the complaints of unwanted individuals in the buildings." Over the past few years, tenets have been vocal about trespassing and crime in NAHA properties. The NAHA Board of Commissioners has held community meetings with the police department as well as hiring a private security firm to address known trespassing issues. They have allocated over $100,000 to address security concerns. Hohn has indicated in the past the NAHA has a hard time monitoring who tenants let in the building. To combat this, NAHA is also eliminating the keyfob entry system in both Spring Park and Ashland Park and replacing it with a retina recognition system. "This will eliminate people giving key fobs to others to enter in the building," Hohn said. The contractor is currently awaiting the parts to complete the installation. Also, Hohn reported that the renovated Greylock Apartments should be back online by the end of the month. In early 2021, an apartment block in the Greylock Valley Apartments was severely damaged by fire. Because of material shortages during the pandemic, the renovation has been delayed. This also delayed the housing authority's Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversion. Rental Assistance Demonstration, or RAD, allows HUD housing authorities to move their units to the Section 8 platform and to leverage debt and equity for re-investment without affecting tenant rights and rents, or housing authority control. The full conversion cannot happen until offline units are brought back online. Quinn, Elliot, and Mack Elliot doubled his goal of $1000. Elliot was able to sell donated food at the stand to help the cause. PreviousNext Lemonade Stand Raises Funds to Support Families Battling Childhood Cancer Elliot serving a resident. PITTSFIELD, Mass.In two years, nine-year-old Elliot Mack raised about $800 with his lemonade stand for local organizations, but this year he set out on a mission to raise $1,000 for the nonprofit Strong Little Souls Foundation And the community has gone above and beyond, doubling his original goal. This year Elliot raised $2,020 in donations and sales for the organization dedicated to "brightening the lives of children battling cancer, and their families." "It's so cool to see people so young give back, especially because I started Strong Little Souls when I was only 13," said Strong Little Souls Foundation founder Madison Quinn. Elliot said he enjoys running the lemonade stand so decided to use it as an opportunity to give back to the community. He said this year he decided to raise funds for the nonprofit because he knows a few kids that have faced pediatric cancer. Strong Little Souls Foundation was founded in 2014 and it helps families affected by pediatric cancer. Strong Little Souls sends care packages, offer financial assistance, and grant wishes for children battling cancer. "I've been running Strong Little Souls for about nine years now. We work with families locally across the [United States] Right now. I feel like every day I come across a new family locally which is so unfortunate," Quinn said. "But we have so much need in this community to support these families, whether it's financially or sometimes I pick up kids from school while their parents are at the hospital just doing whatever I can to support our families locally," Quinn said when Elliot's mom Danielle Mack reached out to her she said the goal of raising $1,000 felt "crazy" but Quinn reassured her that is not the case. Quinn said when she first started her nonprofit a lot of people thought she was "crazy" but young people should never be underestimated. Quinn said her favorite messages she receives are from parents expressing that their children are interested in doing a school project on her nonprofit or would like to put together a fundraiser. And she said they will take all the help they can get. Childhood cancer is severely underfunded despite how common it is, Quinn said. "Adult cancers receive 92 percent of all cancer research funding which is so unfortunate because children are our future and they have so much life to live," Quinn said. "The average life loss of a child with cancer is seven years when it's an adult with cancer, the average lifespan loss is seven. So children are just missing out on so much and they really should be our priority. So it's so important for me just to continue supporting kids with cancer and increasing funding and advocating for these kids." According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization cancer is the number 1 cause of death by disease for children in America. Each year an estimated 15,780 children between the ages of birth and 19 are diagnosed with cancer. The stand became a community effort this year with Elliot receiving food donations from residents Janet and Bob Kent, Karen McHugh, Debbie Southard, and Maureen Daniels and Shire Donuts, that donated a dozen donuts. The first year he held his lemonade stand he wanted to help kids get memberships to the Boys and Girls Club who couldn't afford one. Last year he chose Soldier On & Operation Bridges because his grandfather is a veteran. Also Elliot is a fan of Officer Derby who runs Copsicle, funded by the nonprofit, Mack said. Williamstown Board of Health Presses Neighbors to Resolve Rooster Issue WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The Board of Health Monday encouraged residents engaged in a dispute over roosters on White Oaks Road to work out a compromise between them. But the parties' words at the meeting made it clear that they have some work to do to find common ground. James Abdou of 392 White Oaks Road was back before the board to ask that it enforce the town's "Nuisance and Noisome Trades" regulation to abate the quality of life issue caused by the roosters kept on his neighbor's property. At Monday morning's meeting, Abdou accused his neighbor of "weaponizing" the town's 2006 adoption of the Right to Farm bylaw. Abdou said that last week he expressed his concerns in person to his neighbor and was informed that they might get some louder animals to add to the roosters on the property. "By not acting, you're allowing people to weaponize the Right to Farm, specifically, in this instance, they're telling me, 'We're going to make it worse for you since you complained,' " Abdou said. Daniel Onorato of 366 White Oaks Road told the board that Abdou was inaccurately characterizing that exchange. "What I asked him was, 'If I decide to get a pig or a cow 'I know there are rules I have to follow, but, 'If I get a cow and name her Daisy and she has a bell and starts mooing, am I going to get the same complaint?' " Onorato said. "That's what I asked him. Because a cow is louder than a chicken. "I asked him, 'Am I allowed to get a cow?' " Onorato characterized Abdou's behavior as "borderline harassment" and said Abdou had attempted to enlist other neighbors to join his complaint but had been unsuccessful. Onorato also said Abdou does not live at the 392 White Oaks residence, saying that the Onorato family had been monitoring when Abdou's car was on the property. Abdou told the board that the Onoratos were not being truthful when they said that they let the roosters out of their pen at 9 a.m., but even if he did, he can hear the animals while they are penned when they start making noise at 5:30 a.m. Onorato cited the language of the Right to Farm bylaw, which reads, in part, "whatever impact may be caused to others through the normal practice of agriculture is more than offset by the benefits of farming to the neighborhood, community, and society in general." Abdou told the board that since the Onorato family does not operate a commercial farm, it is not protected by the Right to Farm bylaw, which specifically defines farmland as, "used for the primary purpose of commercial agriculture." The Onoratos told the board that the majority of their eggs and chicken meat are sold to friends and family. Health Inspector Jeffrey Kennedy told the Onoratos and the board that the family could sell eggs and unprocessed honey that they also produce on their 15 acre property at the Williamstown Farmers Market. Abdou told the board again that a number of towns that have Right to Farm bylaws also have specific codes that either ban or curtail the raising of roosters. He cited some that require the pens to be 1,000 feet from neighbors. In June, he told the board that the Onoratos' pen is 100 feet from his home. Board of Health Chair Erwin Stuebner agreed that it appeared the majority of towns in the state banned roosters at residences. In response to questions from the board, Onorato explained that while roosters are not necessary for egg production, they are needed to produce fertilized eggs and, hence, more chickens. It is more cost effective to keep roosters to breed then it is to buy more egg-laying hens, he said. Board member Devan Bartels suggested that the neighbors might be able to reach some kind of creative solution, whether that included putting an acoustic barrier between the properties, relocating the rooster pens or, perhaps, Abdou helping to pay for new hens. Onorato indicated that a 1,000-foot setback requirement would be onerous but said that he would comply with any regulation the town put into effect. The board members agreed that any new rooster-specific bylaw that, for example, created setback requirements, would need to go through town meeting. Kennedy also noted that any agricultural regulations, including those in the health code, need to be coordinated with the Agricultural Commission. Ag Commission Chair Sarah Gardner, who attended Monday's meeting, told the board that she would attempt to schedule a special meeting of the commission which does not regularly meet in the summer to meet with Onorato and Abdou about their issue. Gardner, a strong advocate for farms and farming in the community, said she was sympathetic to both sides and indicated that a reasonable setback for roosters might make sense in the town's General Residence zoning district. The section of White Oaks at issue is in the Rural Residence 2 district. The board members agreed to revisit the issue after the Agricultural Commission has had a chance to hear from the parties and weigh in with the hope that the parties themselves will be able to find a resolution in the meantime. In other business on Monday morning, the Board of Health voted unanimously to adopt updated tobacco sales regulations, incorporating changes recommended by the Tri-Town Health Department in South County. The board this spring asked the agency to review the town's code to make sure it was inline with updated state law and best practices. Much of the new language updates the town code's definitions. Among the substantive changes are updated fines for violations $1,000 and license suspension up to 30 days for a first offense and $2,000 (and suspension) for a second offense within 36 months. The previous fines were $100 for a first offense and $200 and a seven-day suspension for a second offense within 24 months. For three or more violations in a 36-month period, the penalty now is $5,000 and suspension up to 30 days; previously, it was $300 and suspension up to 30 days. The newly adopted regulations also create a "sunset" clause for the town's six current tobacco retail licenses. It says that any license that is not renewed or is surrendered by the holder or which is revoked by the town will revert to the Board of Health and, "shall be permanently retired." The board also on Monday acknowledged with gratitude the resignation of member Ruth Harrison and unanimously voted to recommend the town manager appoint Sandra Goodbody of Bulkley Street as her replacement. Page Content A recent mission to Beijing and Shanghai, China, conducted by ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar (pictured second from left) coincided with the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the organizations Asia and Pacific Regional Sub-Office (APAC-RSO) in Beijing. This office complements the APAC Regional Office in Bangkok and focuses on supporting all the 39 APAC States on Air Traffic Management implementation. The Secretary Generals bilateral meetings at this occasion provided an opportunity for Mr. Salazar to express his gratitude to China for its hosting of the office. The Secretary General also thanked representatives of APAC States for their human resources contributions to this office. The Secretary Generals mission included a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Mr. Qin Gang, which provided a significant opportunity to highlight Chinas contributions in international civil aviation and to explore avenues for enhancing cooperation between ICAO and China. Arriving in Beijing, Mr. Salazar was welcomed at Beijing Daxing International Airport by previous Secretary General of ICAO, Dr. Fang Liu, Special Representative of the CAAC Administrator. He subsequently held bilateral meetings with the Administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Mr. Song Zhi Yong, and the Deputy Director General of the CAACs Air Traffic Management Bureau, Mr. Miao Xuan. At the APAC-RSO anniversary event, Mr. Song and Mr. Salazar signed the renewal of the Supplementary Agreement between ICAO and the CAAC regarding financial and administrative arrangements for APAC-RSO, demonstrating Chinas strong commitment to supporting its operations. Before concluding his mission, the Secretary General also met the UN China Resident Coordinator and the UNDSS Regional Security Adviser, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee and Mr. Sherif Messiha, respectively; as well as the Chair of the Council of the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT). These discussions revolved on how cooperation between ICAO and these bodies could advance progress towards the UN Agenda 2030 sustainable development goals, and ICAOs safety, security, efficiency and sustainability goals for civil aviation. While in Shanghai, Mr. Salazar held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Chen Jining, Party Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, as well as with Mr. He Dong Feng, Chairman of COMAC. Mr. Salazar congratulated China and the city of Shanghai for the first commercial flight of the C919 aircraft by China Eastern on 28 May 2023, the new aircraft developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC). BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with visiting Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko in Beijing. Xi noted that with joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia relations have maintained a sound and steady development momentum, with steady progress in cooperation in various fields. The social foundations and popular support for the long-term friendship between the two countries have become more solid. "During my state visit to Russia in March this year, President Putin and I reached new and important consensus on deepening bilateral comprehensive strategic coordination and practical cooperation in various fields," Xi said, noting that the development of China-Russia relations is a strategic choice that the two countries have made based on the fundamental interests of their respective countries and peoples. China will continue to work with Russia to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, featuring mutual assistance, in-depth integration, innovation and win-win outcomes for all, so as to boost the development and revitalization of the two countries and promote the construction of a prosperous, stable, fair and just world, Xi said. Noting that legislative cooperation is an important part of China-Russia relations, Xi expressed the hope that the two sides will work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, promote and guarantee the sustained and sound development of bilateral cooperation in various fields from the legislative level, strengthen exchanges of experience in legislation and state governance, and push cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries to a new level. He called on the two sides to strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, guide the reform of global governance in the right direction, and safeguard the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries. Matviyenko said the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination conforms to the interests of the two countries and the will of the two peoples, and has reached its highest level in history and continues to develop steadily. President Xi's successful state visit to Russia in March has injected strong impetus into the development of Russia-China relations. The Russian Federation Council supports deepening Russia-China cooperation and is willing to strengthen exchanges with China's National People's Congress to provide a legal guarantee for the implementation of the consensus of the two heads of state, Matviyenko said. Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, today unveiled its latest AI image generation model, Tongyi Wanxiang (Wanxiang means tens of thousands of images) at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2023. The cutting-edge generative AI model is now available for enterprise customers in China for beta testing. In addition, the cloud pioneer announced the launch of ModelScopeGPT, a versatile framework designed to assist users in accomplishing complex and specialized AI tasks across language, vision, and speech domains by leveraging various AI models on ModelScope. ModelScope is an open-source Model-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform introduced by Alibaba Cloud last year, featuring over 900 AI models. Tongyi Wanxiang represents another significant milestone in our pursuit of advanced generative AI models as we continue to explore paradigm-shifting technologies that empower businesses and communities to unleash greater creativity and productivity, said Jingren Zhou, CTO of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. With the release of Tongyi Wanxiang, high-quality generative AI imagery will become more accessible, facilitating the development of innovative AI art and creative expressions for businesses across a wide range of sectors, including e-commerce, gaming, design and advertising. Introducing Tongyi Wanxiang for Image Generation The generative AI model is adept at handling various tasks, responding to text prompts in Chinese and English to generate detailed images in an array of styles, encompassing watercolors, oil and Chinese painting to animation, sketch, flat illustration, and 3D cartoons. Moreover, the model can transform any image into a new one with a similar style and stylize images through style transfer, which preserves the content of the original image while applying the visual style of another picture. Powered by Alibaba Clouds trailblazing technologies in knowledge arrangement, visual AI and natural language processing (NLP), the model leverages multilingual materials for enhanced training. It boasts a robust semantic comprehension capability, resulting in more accurate and contextually relevant image generation. Additionally, by optimizing the high-resolution diffusion process based on the signal-to-noise ratio, the model can strike a balance between composition accuracy and detail sharpness while enhancing its ability to generate high-contrast, visually stunning images with clean backgrounds. Tongyi Wanxiang was developed using Composer, Alibaba Clouds proprietary large model that enables greater control over the final image output, such as spatial layout and palette, while maintaining image synthesis quality and creativity. Text-to-image generation examples by Tongyi Wanxiang: Prompt: Picture a cityscape at twilight, a world merging modern architecture with the evocative aesthetics of anime. Prompt: Beautiful nature superimposed into an infinite loop sign with bright colors Prompt: Immersive, captivating, grayscale coloring, featuring a tiger in the tranquil mandala forest. The image is composed of lines and brushstrokes. Prompt: A six-year-old girl's beautiful and exquisite Chinese-style Hanfu is displayed in front of a clothes rack, medium close-up, 85mm lens Please refer to the demo video of Tongyi Wanxiang here: www.alizila.com/video/wach-how-alibaba-tongyi-wanxiang-creates-generative-ai-image/ Enterprise customers in China can apply for beta testing of Tongyi Wanxiang at: wanxiang.aliyun.com/ ModelScopeGPT Launched for Sophisticated AI Tasks Alibaba Cloud also unveiled ModelScopeGPT, a powerful framework designed to harness the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) available on the platform. ModelScopeGPT will use LLMs as a controller to connect an extensive array of domain-specific expert models in the ModelScope open-source community. Built within the rich Model-as-a-Service ecosystem, ModelScopeGPT leverages the various AI capabilities offered on Alibaba Cloud. Enterprises and developers can leverage ModelScopeGPT for free to access and execute the best-suited models for performing sophisticated AI tasks based on users requests, such as developing multilingual videos. Alibaba Cloud launched its LLM named Tongyi Qianwen in April, and it plans to integrate the LLM across Alibabas various businesses in order to improve the user experience in the near future. The companys customers and developers will also have access to the model to create customized AI features in a cost-effective way. Since the models launch, over 300,000 beta testing requests were received from enterprises from a broad range of sectors, including fintech, electronics, transport, fashion and dairy. Tongyi Qianwen has also been integrated into Alibaba Clouds intelligent assistant, Tingwu, enabling the assistant to comprehend and analyze multimedia content with high levels of accuracy and efficiency. Over 360,000 users have accessed to the AI-powered assistant since its launch. AI Hackathon Competition to Inspire Innovation ModelScope also hosted its first ever AI Hackathon in China to facilitate the industrial applications of AI models, with cash prize awards and funding opportunities from leading venture capital firms as incentives. From over 300 participating teams, 56 teams made it to the final round. Participants competed for the grand prize on two tracks. One is to innovate upon a large language model to solve a real-life problem. The second is to leverage existing pretrained models to complete an assigned task, such as text-to-image generation or to build an LLM-powered autonomous agent to utilize the right models for specific tasks. By hosting competitions and other community events, we want to engage with more developers and entrepreneurs, and to encourage them to bring their ideas to life, unlock productivity, and create more versatile AI tools that transform and shape the future of our industries, said Jingren Zhou. For consistently promoting the values of inclusivity, teamwork, and leadership in the workplace, leading mobile wallet GCash recently earned the Great Place to Work (GPTW) Certification after employees gave high scores to their employer and workplace. The GPTW annual research represents more than 12 million employees from thousands of organizations in over 50 countries. Here at GCash, our goal is not just financial inclusion, but inclusion in every possible way. This certification proves that GCash employees are highly motivated by the companys ideals. Together, we have created tons of positive impact in the community, but remain humbled as there is always room for growth. A company that nurtures its employees develops a great culture and ultimately, an exceptional business. says GCash CEO Martha Sazon. GCash scored highly in the categories of inclusivity, teamwork, and leadership behavior with an impressive 88%, 84%, and 82% respectively. From the three categories, employee sentiment revealed that they trust their leaders, are supportive of each other, and at the same time have the liberty to be themselves. GCash understands the crucial role that leadership behavior plays in shaping the organizational culture and employee experience. By aligning leaders' behavior with the company's strategy and values, GCash inspires and motivates its employees. Furthermore, the survey revealed that 88% of GCash employees believe that the management promotes inclusive behavior, avoids discrimination, and ensures fair appeals. Notably, 95% of employees stated that people within GCash are treated fairly, regardless of their sexual orientation. GCash has also recently announced its new Life Partner Benefits program which extends its comprehensive benefits to employees with LGBTQIA+ and domestic partners. Employees will only be required to submit minimal documents to enable them to declare their partners as their dependents, excluding a marriage certificate. Additionally, 92% of GCash employees expressed satisfaction in their contributions to the community through their work, this reaffirms GCashs efforts to effectively communicate its vision and values, creating a sense of purpose and direction among employees. GCash's dedication to creating an exceptional workplace goes beyond individual rewards. Rather, it revolves around the trust employees have in their leaders, said Robert Gonzales, GCash Chief People Officer. To learn more, visit www.gcash.com Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Boy Meets World star Rider Strong alleged that Donald Sutherland had a rule that nobody can make eye contact with him on set unless an actor is in a scene with him. Strong, 43, starred alongside Sutherland, 87, in the 1993 thriller Benefit of the Doubt. Strong was talking about how guest stars can be treated on Mondays episode of the popular Pod Meets World podcast, which sees Strong, Danielle Fishel and Will Friedle revisit their days on the Nineties sitcom. I did a movie with Donald Sutherland and he has an eye contact rule, Strong said. Nobody can make eye contact with him. Sutherland played Strongs grandfather, Frank, who is released from prison 20 years after murdering his wife. If youre in the scene with him, you could make eye contact with him, Strong clarified, but his whole thing was that every crew member has to look away. Friedle reacted with incredulity, saying: Thats ridiculous... A stupid, egotistical power trip. Rider Strong (left) and Donald Sutherland (Getty Images) Strong further alleged that Sutherland derailed a scene mid-monologue because there was a man outside a window looking at him. That threw the whole take and he had to start all over, and the whole crew had to go outside and kick this guy away, he said. The Independent has contacted Sutherlands representatives for comment. Strong did stipulate that eye contact from crew members can be distracting when shooting single-camera scenes. It can be a problem if you have too many looky-loos all around the lens, he said, but did not clarify whether Sutherlands alleged demand was limited to filming. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Veteran Canadian actor Sutherland is perhaps best known for his role as Coriolanus Snow, the tyrannical president of Panem in The Hunger Games franchise. A forthcoming Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, will focus on Snows backstory with Tom Blyth taking over as an 18-year-old version of Sutherlands character. Sutherland became a Hollywood star with the release of The Dirty Dozen in 1967. His other notable films include M*A*S*H (1970), JFK (1991), Pride & Prejudice (2005), and Ad Astra (2019). He is the father of actors Kiefer Sutherland (24), Rossif Sutherland (Three Pines) and Angus Sutherland. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Harrison Ford has addressed archival footage that shows him stapling his Indiana Jones hat to his head during production for the first 1981 film, Raiders of the Lost Ark. When asked about the incredible clip in a new video interview with GQ, the 80-year-old actor nonchalantly replied: You do what you need to do. Brushing aside the front of his hair, he noted: I still have the [scar]. In the behind-the-scenes video, Ford can be seen unflinchingly securing his archaeologists iconic pinch-front fedora to his forehead with three staples before saying: That should do it. The actor, who has portrayed the beloved character across all five of the films, stapled the hat to his head to prevent it from flying off while filming action scenes. Ford went on to discuss the rest of Indys costume a leather jacket and a bullwhip saying that it was presented to me as an aspect of character in the first film. My questions about it were many, he recalled. Why am I wearing a leather jacket in the jungle? Isnt it hot here? Why am I carrying a whip? What am I going to do with a f***ing whip? Im going to whip people? Harrison Ford staples hat to his head in Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark The Star Wars actor remembers being told that the getup was an evocation of a time, a period. A reflection of movies past. I said OK, and that makes it my own, Ford explained. Ford reprises his legendary role for the final time in the film seriess fifth instalment, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. In it, his titular daredevil archaeologist must race against time to retrieve a magical dial with the ability to change the course of history. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelsen make their Indiana Jones debut, respectively, as Indys goddaughter Helena Shaw and the dastardly ex-Nazi Jurgen Voller. Since the movies cinematic release in June, several viewers have been left stumped by a major plot hole. In a three-star review of the film for The Independent, Geoffrey Macnab wrote: Tonally, the film wavers. It pulls in too many different directions at once. On the one hand, this is an exercise in affectionate nostalgia. On the other, like its predecessors, its an old-fashioned matinee adventure in which characterisation is deliberately broad. Certain episodes are knowing and ironic, while others seem painfully naive. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is out in cinemas now. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Mission: Impossible star Rebecca ferguson has called out boring debate her role in the films. The actor returns as Ilsa faust in new sequel Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One, which is in cinemas now. Ferguson made her debut as the undercover MI6 Agent in 2015s Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, and returned in 2018 follow-up Mission: Impossible Fallout. In the film, she is shown to have a spiky camaraderie with Ethan Hunt, the lead character played by Tom Cruise, which led to debate among the fandom about whether their relationship could evolve into somerthing romantic. However, if writer-director Christopher McQuarrie had any plans to introduce this, Ferguson, who also stars in Denis Villeneuve film Dune and Apple TV+ series Silo, would have had words with him. At the US premiere of Dead Reckoning on Monday (10 July), Ferguson was asked to describe Ilsa and Ethans relationship. She told Variety: I think how I would describe their relationship is that of fierce devotion, love, that goes beyond any form of relationship substance because its boring. She continued: Thats a boring storyline. People sit and they watch it and go, Are they gonna snog? And I think, Who the f*** cares? Do you know what I mean? Weve all seen that. Theyre two very similar characters constantly driven to do whats best, getting in the way of each other. They are reliably unreliable and that just make the most perfect incomplete characters. They are juxtaposition. Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust in the Mission: Impossible franchise (Paramount Pictures) Dead Reckoning has seen Cruise break an impressive record on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. In a four-star review for The Independent, critic Clarisse Loughrey praised the film for going one better than its predecessor. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free The film is a mirror image of its star a muscular, extravagant, thoroughly old-school work of ingenuity and craft, she wrote. In it, Ethan Hunt chases two halves of a key with a mysterious connection to the AI across several fabulous international locations: Abu Dhabi, Rome, Venice and the UK (standing in for the Alps). His loyal techies, Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg), are always stationed nearby. She concluded: You will leave Dead Reckoning the same way you always do: wondering how Cruise could possibly outdo himself in the next one until, inevitably, he does. Read the full review here. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jack White has lashed out at the celebrities spotted cosying up to Donald Trump at UFC 290 over the weekend. The former US president was in Las Vegas on Saturday (8 July) night after a volunteer event for his Nevada primary campaign. While there, the former president attended the mixed martial arts event at the T-Mobile Arena and met celebrities including Mark Wahlberg, American restaurateur Guy Fieri, controversial podcast host Joe Rogan, and Mel Gibson. Anybody who normalises or treats this disgusting fascist, racist, con man, disgusting piece of s*** Trump with any level of respect is ALSO disgusting in my book, musician White captioned an Instagram post featuring photos of the stars with Trump. Thats you Joe Rogan, you Mel Gibson, you Mark Wahlberg, you Guy Fieri, the former White Stripes frontman added. This is a statement from me, not a discussion/debate. Fans had previously responded in surprise to Trumps interaction with Fieri, in particular, who is as well known for spawning memes as he is for hosting the Food Networks Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Detractors of the twice-indicted, twice-impeached former president wrote that Fieri had just ruined his reputation. Rogan, who also commentates for the UFC, has previously denied being a supporter of the Republican party. People will say like, Oh, you know, youre a secret conservative. Like, you can suck my d***. You dont know what the f*** youre talking about, he said on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, last year. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Im so far away from being a Republican. Just because I believe in the Second Amendment and just because I support the military and just cause I support police. Rogan added: Like I was on welfare as a kid. I think its important. I think having a social safety net is crucial. We should help each other. Were supposed to be one big community. Im a bleeding heart liberal when it comes to a lot of s***. Uncharted star Wahlberg has never openly discussed his political affiliations. However, in a 2016 interview following the presidential election, he criticised celebrities who had bashed Trump. You know, it just goes to show you that people arent listening to [them] anyway, he said. A lot of Hollywood is living in a bubble. Theyre pretty out of touch with the common person, the everyday guy out there providing for their family. Gibson, too, has never openly revealed his political leanings; though, he has faced sustained criticism for a number of anti-Semitic comments hes made throughout his career. Trump is currently working to secure his victory in the 2024 Republican nominating contest before it officially begins, swiping at any rival that dares to pull into competitive territory. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Hong Kongs police took the parents and brother of pro-democracy activist Nathan Law away for questioning after an early morning raid on his family home on Tuesday, days after offering a bounty for his arrest. The raid by the National Security Department police comes a week after Hong Kong authorities targeted Mr Law along with seven other activists, by placing HK$1m (99,100) for his arrest or information leading to his arrest. In an interview with The Independent, Mr Law raised fears over government stepping up intimidation and said he will continue to speak up for the freedom of Hong Kong. Hong Kongs police have maintained that the eight dissidents seven men and one woman aged between 26 and 74 continue to threaten national security and seek to destroy Hong Kong and intimidate officials by encouraging international sanctions. Mr Law, who sought political asylum in the UK after fleeing Hong Kong in 2020 amid a crackdown on activists, has not commented on the development. The national security police questioned Mr Laws parents regarding their financial support to the activist in exile and asked if they were his agent in Hong Kong, iCable reported. The family members, who were not formally arrested, were released after questioning. The raid came as city leader John Jee on Tuesday said that the authorities would exhaust all methods to arrest the eight wanted activists, referring to them as street rats. The eight wanted criminals have committed [offences under the] Hong Kong national security law, endangered national security and been involved in serious crimes As I have said, everyone should treat them as street rats and avoid [them] at all costs, Chief Executive Lee said. Besides Mr Law, the authorities are looking to arrest ex-lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok; activists Anna Kwok, Elmer Yuen, Mung Siu-tat and Finn Lau, and solicitor Kevin Yam. Police have already arrested at least five people who had connections to the activists in Hong Kong since the announcement of the bounty. The police said they will not rule out the possibility that more arrests will be made". The activists have fled Hong Kong in recent years and living in the US, UK and Australia countries that do not have any extradition treaties with China. It was the first time the Hong Kong authorities had offered bounties in relation to the citys sweeping national security law. Mr Law is one of the most prominent figures in Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement. He founded the pro-democracy Demosisto Party and ran for the legislative council election in 2016, becoming the youngest lawmaker in Hong Kongs history. He was later disqualified by Hong Kongs high court in July 2017 for having taken the oath of office improperly. He left Hong Kong in 2020 after Beijing imposed a new national security law on Hong Kong in June, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. Critics have accused the government of throttling dissent with the help of the law, which makes it easier to arrest and detain protesters. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police in India arrested a conman accused of marrying at least 15 women he met through matrimonial sites and having children with some of them. The man, identified as Mahesh KB Nayak, often allegedly posed as an engineer or a doctor while duping unsuspecting women into marrying him. He went as far as setting up a clinic in southern Indian state Karnatakas Tumakuru city, where he employed a nurse in a bid to gain more credibility, reported The Times of India, citing police sources. While the accused targeted financially independent single women, his literacy level was often given away by his poor command of English, said the police sources. The man reportedly studied only till the fifth grade. Mr Nayak married at least 15 women since 2014 and had children with four of them, said reports. According to The New Indian Express newspaper, his victims were either divorcees or widows and were embarrassed to report him due to social stigma, even after he allegedly looted their valuables. He was arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by a 45-year-old software engineer he married this year, identified only by her first name Hemalatha, said the report. She informed the police that he had been coercing her for funds to establish a clinic and later absconded with her jewellery worth Rs 800,000 (7,530) and Rs 1.5m (14,118) cash. Based on her complaint, the authorities formed a team to track him down and apprehended the accused in Tumakuru. Meanwhile, it emerged that Mr Nayaks father filed a case of attempt to murder against him. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} India is in the grip of a tomato shortage, with the staple disappearing from the menu for households and restaurant chains alike after extreme weather devastated this years crop and severed supply lines. Prices have rocketed five-fold in some cities, making 1kg of tomatoes more expensive than 1 litre of petrol. In a country where tomatoes are an essential culinary item, vegetable stores and carts have resorted to stocking long-life packs of puree as substitutes. With the fruit suddenly becoming a rare commodity, there are multiple reports from across the country of farms and deliveries being targeted by thieves. On Saturday, a truck carrying 2,000 tonnes of tomatoes to a central market in Bengaluru was attacked by several men who reportedly accused the driver of hitting their vehicle, before taking his money and making off with the shipment. Elsewhere in the same state of Karnataka last week, tomatoes worth Rs250,000 (2,360) were allegedly stolen overnight from a womans farm. She says unknown people entered the field and stole some 50 to 60 bags worth of produce before destroying what remained of the field and leaving. The farmer, Dharini, told local media that the attack took place just before she and her family could harvest the ripe fruit, spread across two acres of land. Wholesale prices of the staple have shot up by 288 per cent in just a month in some regions, according to the Reuters news agency. At one shop in the capital Delhi where 1kg of tomatoes cost Rs39 a month ago, the price was listed as Rs193 on Monday. Memes relating to the tomato shortage are being widely shared across social media, and news of McDonalds branches in the capital running out of them quickly went viral. Images shared online showed notices plastered in restaurant windows stating that tomatoes would no longer be served in their burgers and wraps until further notice. Despite our best efforts, we are not able to get adequate quantities of tomatoes which pass our stringent quality checks, notices posted in two McDonalds stores in Delhi read. In the city of Varanasi a shopkeeper posed with security guards standing either side of his tomatoes in an apparent protest over the soaring wholesale price. Ajay Fauji claimed to journalists that he had employed the bouncers from 9am to 5pm at his shop in the Lanka areas market to prevent haggling and altercations with angry customers arguing with him over the spiking prices, though it was later reported that he was an activist for the opposition Samajwadi Party. The worlds second largest tomato producer after China, India has suffered a series of blows to the crop this year from erratic weather events. The biggest impact appears to have come from Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat last month, which not only distrupted the regions production but also its key trade routes through western Indias Nashik, Pune and Bengaluru. On Sunday, Delhi reported the wettest 24-hour period in July since 1982, and dozens of bridges and highways were washed away in heavy rains across northern India, killing 22. This has also severed trade routes across the region, both for tomatoes and other staples. Tomatoes have a short shelf-life compared to other fruit and vegetables, says senior trader Dalvinder Singh Bhalla in Asias largest wholesale fruits and vegetable market Azadpur Mandi, Delhi. He says that even semi-rotten batches are being sent to market to try and ease the shortage, but that this isnt enough. We had the first inkling of the crisis brewing a month back when Gujarat was hit by Cyclone Biparjoy. Farmers anticipated that the produce will not yield them any returns in the market as prices will surge and no one will buy, he tells The Independent, adding that some traders saw farmers destoying their own crops and sowing another more sturdy crop instead. Just a month back, we saw tomatoes selling for Rs6-7 kgs at wholesale prices, now its at Rs100-120kg, the trader says. Instead of 20 trucks carrying hundreds of kilograms of tomatoes, only five are barely trickling in the morning. Alongside onions and potatoes, tomatoes are one of Indias three largest cultivated, produced and consumed staples the triumverate known as TOP. It is a key ingredient to cuisines across all 28 states and essential for a huge range of dishes, making it vulnerable to extreme price fluctuations if stocks are destroyed. Agriculture experts in India have called on authorities to do more to prepare for extreme weather. Indra Shekhar Singh, independent agri-policy analyst and former director of Policy and Outreach for National Seed Association of India, said: In India, the authorities are just keeping their heads down. We need climate contingency plans, were talking about AI and tech in agriculture but is it reaching the farmer who can use it? The government should start intervening, send alerts to farmers stopping them from sowing a crop if it will suffer damage. There should be timely alerts to farmers on sowing. Ms Singh says this crisis is a result of the destruction of Indias off-season production cycle, and the first pinch of its kind this year following a spike in wheat prices caused by erratic weather patterns earlier this year. There will also be no short-term fix, he says, to ease pressure on the tomato market as other neighbouring large producers Pakistan and Sri Lanka are going through their own crises. Ties with China are not stable enough for India to ask for help, he adds. Mr Bhalla says he fears it could be a month before the market returns to normal, calling on the authorities to make better preparations for supply chain and post-harvest losses to prevent similar shortages recurring. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Pakistani woman and her Indian partner were reunited after a court released on them on bail following their arrest because she illegally crossed over to India to be with him. Seema Ghulam Haider, 27, crossed the border to enter India via Nepal without a visa or citizenship to be with her Indian lover Sachin Meena whom she met and fell in love with while playing PubGduring the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. She also brought along her four children, all aged below seven. The couple started living in an apartment in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh in the countrys north. On 4 July, the cross-border couple was arrested by the police after a neighbour of the Indian man complained to the authorities about the legitimacy of their marriage. Mr Meenas father was also taken into custody for sheltering an illegal immigrant. They were taken to the Luksar jail in the state, according to local media. The landlord of the apartment where they were staying reportedly told the police that it did not seem like the woman was from Pakistan. She wore salwar suit and sarees attire common to women from both the countries. On Saturday, the couple walked free after a UP court granted them bail. Reports said that the two hugged as soon as they saw each other outside jail. The court has however put a condition on Ms Haider she has been asked to not change her residence till the case was ongoing. It was reported that the couple has been asked to mark their presence before the court regularly. Hemant Krishna Parashar, a lawyer representing the Indo-Pak couple, said that the two married in Nepals capital Kathmandu earlier this year. Ms Haider has claimed that she would not be safe in Pakistan. Seema told me in writing that she and Sachin had got married in Kathmandu, Nepal. I informed the court about this. I also argued that Seema first went from Pakistan to Nepal and then came to India. Those coming from Nepal to India are not required to carry a passport or have a visa, Mr Parashar was quoted as saying by the local media. Ms Haider has accepted Mr Meena religion and culture as my own and changed the names of my four children, who call Sachin baba [father]. Sachins parents have also accepted me, and I have adopted all their cultural practices and will continue to live with them. The couple told the court that they got married in Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu a revered Hindu temple in the Nepal capital. The couple has become famous on the internet and are being referred to in both countries as the real-life Veer Zara a reference to a popular Bollywood movie by the same name which tells the story of two star-crossed lovers from India and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Times of India reported that Ms Haiders former husband Ghulam Haider, who works in Saudi Arabia, urged the Indian government to send Seema back to Pakistan and unite with me. Ms Haider, who hails from Sindh province in Pakistan and lived in Karachi after her first marriage, claimed that her husband divorced her over the phone and they have not been in touch. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Taliban have ordered the immediate suspension of all activities by Sweden in Afghanistan over the incident of burning of Quran in Stockholm in late June by an Iraqi national which sparked widespread protests in Muslim nations. Zabiullah Mujahid, the official spokesperson for the Taliban administration, said the rude act should push other Muslim nations to reassess their ties with Sweden where the incident took place during the major Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Adha. After insulting the Holy Quran and the Muslim faith in Sweden, the Islamic Emirate suspends Swedens activities in Afghanistan until they apologise to the Muslims for this heinous act. IEAs relevant organisations are obliged to comply with this directive, the spokesperson said. He added: Looking into the rude act of Sweden, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wants other Muslim countries to reconsider their interaction with this country. The statement comes two weeks after an Iraqi immigrant in Sweden burned the holy book of Islam outside a mosque as nearly 200 onlookers witnessed the act at an anti-Quran protest ahead of Eid. Sweden waded into a diplomatic row shortly after with Turkey, which at the time contested Stockholms entry into Nato, but the tensions eased up in July on the eve of the alliances summit in Vilnius where it gave its nod for the bid. The latest move stopping Swedish activities is likely to impact the European countrys non-governmental organisation Swedish Committee for Afghanistan which has employed thousands of aid workers in multiple critical sectors of health, education and rural development in the country. Mr Mujahid did not mention the organisations set to be hit by the latest edict. Officials at the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan have not issued an immediate response to the order by the Taliban. The countrys aid sector is in a dire situation after the fall of Kabul, exacerbated further by a chain of restrictions on women aid workers. Additionally, funding restrictions for the United Nations annual humanitarian plan suggested that the donor nations are now pulling back on their financial aid for Afghanistan, leaving millions of citizens on the brink of starvation, poverty, and declining medical aid. While the Swedish police have rejected several recent applications for anti-Quran demonstrations, courts have overruled those decisions, saying they infringed on freedom of speech. The Taliban enforce a strict version of the sharia law in Afghanistan. After grabbing power following the departure of US troops in August 2021, the hardline group whose administration is not recognised by most countries of the world has predominantly barred women from working or studying and free movement unless accompanied by a male guardian. The regime itself had brutally cracked down on peaceful marches in protest against its draconian policies on women after it came to power in Afghanistan, with authorities using live ammunition, batons and whips and causing the deaths of protesters. Sweden, like other European nations barring Russia, does not operate an embassy in Kabul after the hardline Islamist regime took over. Close Devastating floods batter Vermont as water levels continue to rise Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Vermont authorities confirmed the first flood-related death following catastrophic rain on Wednesday. Some 117 rescues were made in Vermont as the towns of Londonderry and Weston remained largely inaccessible. Officials were beginning to assess how many homes had been destroyed and what the financial cost would be from damaged roads, bridges and railways. Vermont Emergency Management confirmed on Thursday that 63-year-old Stephen Davoll died as a result of a drowning incident in his home on Wednesday. It is the first death linked to the historic floodings in the state. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared the floodings a 1-in-1,000-year weather event caused by the climate crisis, after a woman died in the Empire State when she was swept away while trying to escape her home with her dog. Vermont Governor Phil Scott said at a news conference that thunderstorms were expected to move into parts of the state by Thursday night, which could cause more flash flooding. The period we are more concerned about is Sunday because that could be more widespread and heavier, but not nearly on the scale of what we saw earlier in the week, National Weather Service meteorologist Seth Kutikoff also said. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Indias capital Delhi has evacuated hundreds of people after record-shattering torrential rains across northern India brought Yamuna above danger mark and prompted deadly landslides and floods in two states killing dozens. The extreme rainfall that started over the weekend saw Delhi getting record single-day rain on Sunday, the highest since July 1982 and inundated roads and buildings with knee deep waters. Videos and photos on social media show key roads and building, including the Delhi high court and the central Cannaught Place area, impacted by heavy rains. The communities close to the Yamuna were moved to higher ground after the river breached the danger mark of 205m above the mean sea level on Monday evening, up from the average elevation of 230m. The river currently stands at 206m with Delhi government setting up 16 control rooms to monitor the risks. The mark was reached much earlier than authorities anticipated with intense rainfall continuing in large parts of north India. The rains have prompted severe flooding and landslides in the hilly provinces of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, killing over 40 people in the last two days, according to local media reports. Shocking visuals showed floods washing away villages and key highways in Uttarakhand and Himachal. Flood waters blocked the Indo-Tibet border road while contact with over a dozen border villages were lost, local media reports said. The state has not witnessed such widespread heavy rains in over 50 years, authorities said. The Amarnath Yatra, a pilgrimage that takes place every year in the Jammu and Kashmir region, was also suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday due to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, leaving 15,000 pilgrims stranded in Jammu and other places. Authorities said incessant rains have caused unprecedented damage to the highway, especially the stretch in Ramban district, forcing its closure for traffic on Monday. At least 20 people have died in flash floods and other rain-related disasters in just one province of Himachal Pradesh the northern state most severely impacted, according to officials. Heavy rain and falling boulders killed four people and injured seven others in Uttarakhand last evening. The Indian Army and the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) have stepped in to intensify the relief and rescue operations with over 300 people rescued on Tuesday. Meanwhile, several cities in Punjab are underwater, with residents trapped in their homes without food or electricity, reported NDTV. A red alert has been issued in Uttarakhand for more rains as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted downpours to get heavier in the coming days, expanding to more areas in India. Heavy to extreme rainfall warning has been issued for 23 states in the country, including the eastern parts of West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya. What is driving the extreme rainfall in India? South Asia receives approximately 70-80 per cent of its annual rainfall during the monsoon season which starts in late June which can often get severe and cause flash floods. However, the intensity of the monsoon has been increasing in recent years with Bangladesh, India and Pakistan all witnessing record rainfall followed by extreme heat. Climate scientists have in the past raised alarms over changing patterns of the monsoon that is making rainfall more erratic. Experts say increased global heating is leading to more rain falling in shorter periods of time, resulting in flash floods. However, the current spell of rain is also driven by a rare interaction between three weather systems, according to Mahesh Palawat, a meteorologist at SkyMet weather services in New Delhi. The ongoing spell of extremely heavy rains is due to the alignment of three weather systems, Western Disturbance over Western Himalayas, cyclonic circulation over northwestern plains, and Axis of Monsoon trough running across Indo-Gangetic Plains, Mr Palawat explained. This alignment is not happening for the first time and is the usual pattern during the Monsoon. However, global warming-led changes in Monsoon patterns have made a difference, he said. There has been a constant rise in both land and sea temperatures, which has increased the capacity of the air to hold moisture for a longer time. Thus, the role of climate change in the increasing extreme weather events in India has been strengthening with each passing year. Several reports and research in the past have already established the impact of climate crisis on Indian monsoon patterns. However, it has also been tampering with atmospheric as well oceanic phenomena. This year, the world is experienced record shattering temperatures with last week confirmed as the hottest year on record driven by the impact of the El Nino phenomenon, which is associated with increased warming, on top of the average global heating of 1.2C. Experts said this unprecedented heat has further multiplied the implications for the region. There have been extreme weather events earlier as well, but 2023 has been a unique year, Dr Raghu Murtugudde, Earth system scientist, said. Global warming is making a significant contribution but there are some other factors as well, Mr Murtugudde explains, adding that El Nino, the record north Atlantic Ocean temperatures, exceptional warming in the Arabian sea in recent years were among the factors contributing to this deluge. He also added that with wildfires being three times larger, more carbon was being released into the atmosphere, increasing greenhouse gases. According to a recent Ministry of Earth Sciences report, overall monsoonal rainfall in India, which already leads to repeated flooding, is projected to become more intense in the future, and to affect larger areas driven by extreme heat and climate crisis. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The city of Montpelier has warned that a dam near the Vermont state capital is dangerously close to capacity and could fail, causing unprecedented flooding in the city. The Wrightsville Dam only has 6 feet of storage capacity left, the city wrote on Tuesday morning. The storm has dumped two months of rain on Vermont in 48 hours. If water exceeds capacity, the first spillway will release water into the North Branch River. This has never happened since the dam was built so there is no precedent for potential damage. There would be a large amount of water coming into Montpelier which would drastically add to the existing flood damage. Officials also warned that with very few evacuation options remaining people stranded in at-risk areas may wish to go to upper floors in their houses. The National Weather Service's office in Burlington, Vermont issued a flood warning at 11am local time on Tuesday, 11 July, for the Winooski River with major flooding forecast for Montpelier, Moretown, Waterbury and Essex Junction. In an update later on Tuesday morning, the Montpelier Police Department said multiple water rescue teams were positioned in Montpelier and they urged the public to please stay out of the downtown and off city roads. The Montpelier Police Department itself was forced to relocate to the water treatment plant in the neighbouring town of Berlin due to heavy flooding in the departments basement, city hall and the fire department. Waters continue to rise in the downtown area with predictions that water levels will begin to lower around noon, the police said. The Wrightsville Dam water levels have continued to increase and are being monitored on site by the Vermont Dam Safety Management group. There is a possibility that the dam has some spill over which can affect our current water levels downtown. The Main Street Middle School gym has been opened as a temporary shelter until buses can once again pick up residents and transport them to the Barre Auditorium, staffed by the Red Cross. Major slow-moving storms have saturated other parts of the Northeast since the weekend. There have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the Vermont flooding, according to emergency officials. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings and advisories for much of the state from the Massachusetts line north to the Canadian border on Tuesday. The slow-moving storm reached New England after hitting parts of New York, where one person died as she was trying to leave her home during flash flooding, and Connecticut on Sunday. Attributing the role of the climate crisis in individual flooding events takes significant scientific analysis. However, as the planet warms, more moisture is held in the atmosphere, which means that storms bring the possibility of a lot more rain. This is a breaking news story and is being updated Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rescue teams raced to Vermont on Monday after heavy downpours across the Northeast washed out roads and forced evacuations. One woman was killed in New York and dozens of others had to be rescued from submerged cars. Torrents poured through the verdant landscape and small towns of the state after Vermont Governor Philip Scott declared a state of emergency on Sunday. He told a press conference that this may be just the start of what well see as rainfall continues and will worsen over the next several hours. Mike Cannon of Vermont Urban Search and Rescue said crews from North Carolina, Michigan and Connecticut were among those helping to get to towns that have been unreachable since torrents of rain belted the state overnight. Mr Cannon said the hardest hit areas are along the mountainous region of the Green Mountains in the states southern and central counties. The towns of Londonderry and Weston were inaccessible, and rescuers were heading there to do welfare checks. A state park in Plymouth was being evacuated, and water levels at several dams were being monitored. On Sunday, video footage showed floodwaters surging down residential streets after a large storm system dumped rain across the Hudson Valley on its slow trudge east. More heavy downpours were expected across the US Northeast on Monday with flash flood warnings also in place for parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Some areas could receive as much as five inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The body of a woman in her 30s was found in the Hudson Valley by rescue teams. She drowned after being swept away in the floods while trying to evacuate her home, Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus told WABC-TV. Her house was completely surrounded by water, Mr Neuhaus said. She was trying to get through (the flooding) with her dog, he added, and she was overwhelmed by tidal-wave type waves. Many roads were inundated with flooding and several bridges collapsed, according to law enforcement agencies, with early estimates of millions of dollars in damage. Our town is completely cut off from the rest of the world right now due to mudslides, sinkholes, washed away roads, flooding, brick walls crumbling and more, Fort Montgomery resident Kristen Dyroff ODell told NBC News. Im separated from my kids right now in Monroe at a friends house after spending five hours trying multiple ways to get to Fort Montgomery. Every route was impassable. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency on Sunday for Orange County, around an hour north of New York City, where life-threatening flooding developed in a matter of hours. The amount of water is extraordinary and its still a very dangerous situation, Ms Hochul said. My biggest concern is the fact that most peoples lives that are lost during a flood event occur because theyre in their vehicles not in their homes, but in their vehicles. And I want people to be very cautious about not going into a road thats closed or if you see any running water, she said. The area around West Point in the Hudson Valley got more than 7.5 inches of rainfall over six hours on Sunday, according to preliminary data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A flood watch was in place until 6am on Monday in New York City with officials emphasising the dangers to those in low-lying areas with poor drainage systems and proximity to rivers and streams. City officials urged residents to consider moving to higher floors to protect themselves as heavy rain in may cause rapid, life-threatening flooding to basements. Attributing the role of the climate crisis in individual flooding events takes significant scientific analysis. However, as the planet warms, more moisture is held in the atmosphere, which means that storms bring the possibility of a lot more rain. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Since 2020, people on TikTok have shared videos of themselves jumping off moving speedboats. Now, authorities have spoken out about the dangers of the activity. Over the last three years, people have posted footage of themselves participating in what has become known as the boat jumping challenge on social media. In one video posted by @markthompson295 in August 2021, one person could been seen wearing a life jacket, as they jumped off the back of a speedboat. After this person jumped off, many other people in life jackets proceeded to follow their lead. In addition, other videos have documented people doing backflips or with their backs turned away from the water, when jumping off speedboats. On 3 July, first responders described the dangers of jumping off a moving boat, as it could potentially cause people to break their necks and drown. Jim Dennis of Alabamas Childersburg Rescue Squad told WBMA that the boat jumping challenge led to four easily avoidable drowning deaths in the state, which occurred in the last six months. They were doing a TikTok challenge. Its where you get in a boat going at a high rate of speed, you jump off the side of the boat, dont dive, youre jumping off feet first and you just kinda lean into the water, he said about the people who died. He added: That is a very big concern because we have seen this pattern emerge over the last two years and its sporadic, but its something that needs to go away and stay away, he said. In one instance in February, a father died while jumping off a boat, with his wife and three young children on board. According to Dennis, the wife unfortunately recorded her husbands death. He also noted that the most recent death came in mid-May, while adding that the four people who drowned in the state were males. Dennis urged people to avoid jumping off speedboats, with claims that social media had influenced viewers to try the trend. I think people, if theyre being filmed on camera, I think theyre more likely to do something stupid because they want to show off in front of their friends for social media, he told WPDE. Do not do it. Its not worth your life. However, on 10 July, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued a statement to correct the report about these drownings being linked to a TikTok trend. In the statement issued to ABC, the agency said that the WNBA released the story: first responders warning against a deadly boating TikTok trend after recent drownings, with incorrect information. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division does not have any record(s) of boating or marine-related fatalities in Alabama that can be directly linked to TikTok or a trend on TikTok, the statement read. One individual was fatally injured after jumping from a moving vessel in 2020 and a similar marine-related fatality occurred in 2021, however, both fatalities cannot be linked to TikTok. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency also noted that they spoke to Dennis, and claimed that he still stood by his initial statement about the deaths being related to the TikTok challenge. After the story was widely picked up by the media, Dennis told AL.com that the initial comments attributed to him had been blown way out of proportion. He told the news outlet that two Alabamans had died recently after jumping from boats, but he had no idea whether they were connected to TikTok. If theres data supporting that, I dont have that, he said, adding that a cause of death would have to be determined by a coroner. Meanwhile, experts have still spoken out about the dangers of jumping off a fast-moving boat. Speaking to Today, Gail Kulp, the executive director of the Sea Tow Foundation, emphasised that people are putting their physical health and live in jeopardy when doing this activity. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Carrie Johnson has announced that she and former prime minister Boris Johnson have welcomed their third child together, a son named Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson. The former political activist, 35, shared the news on Instagram on Tuesday (11 July) and confirmed that she gave birth on 5 July at 9.15am. Referring to her newborn sons middle names, she joked: Can you guess which name my husband chose? The name Odysseus comes from the mythological Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Greek poet Homers epic poem, Odyssey. Boris studied Latin and Ancient Greek at university and has previously recited Homers poem The Iliad during an event. Carrie shared several photographs of the familys newest arrival, including one of her cradling him in her arms and another of the couples eldest son Wilfred pulling a blanket over his baby brother. She wrote in the caption: A week of Frankie [red heart emoji]. Welcome to the world Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson born 5 July at 9.15am. (Can you guess which name my husband chose?! She added: Am loving every minute of the sleepy baby bubble. Seeing my older two embrace their new brother with such joy and excitmenet has been the most wonderful thing to see. We are all very smitten. Carrie thanked the NHS maternity team at University College London Hospital, adding: They really are the most amazing, caring people. I feel such immense gratitude. The new mother-of-three joked: Now, can anyone recommend any good series/box sets to binge while breastfeeding? Boris, 59, and Carrie are now parents to Wilfred, who was born on 29 April 2020, Romy, who was born in December 2021, and Frank. The couple have been married since May 2021. Carrie first announced that she was pregnant with their third child in May this year. In an Instagram post showing her holding her two older childrens hands, she wrote: New team member arriving in just a few weeks. Ive felt pretty exhausted for much of the last eight months but we cant wait to meet this little one. Wilf is [very] excited about being a big brother again and has been chattering about it non-stop. Dont think Romy has a clue whats coming... she soon will! In 2021, before the birth of her daughter, Carrie opened up about suffering a miscarriage that left her heartbroken. She called Romy a rainbow baby after she was born, a term that refers to a child born after the loss of a baby to miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal birth. In a post about the miscarriage, Carrie said she felt incredibly blessed to be pregnant again but Ive also felt like a bag of nerves. However, she added that she found real comfort to hear from other people who have experienced a similar loss. Before marrying Boris, Carrie was the first unmarried partner of a prime minister to move into 10 Downing Street, and was also the first partner of a serving prime minister in Downing Street to become a first-time mother. Former prime minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson now have three children (PA) (PA Wire) Boris has at least five other children with two other women. He was previously married to Marina Wheeler from 1993 to 2020 and shares three adult children with her: 29-year-old Lara Lettice, 27-year-old Milo Arthur, 25-year-old Cassica Peaches, and 23-year-old Theodore Apollo. The Conservative politician, who resigned as an MP in June after he was found to have misled the House of Commons over Partygate, is also father to a daughter named Stephanie, who he shares with Helen MacIntyre, with whom he had an affair. Carrie and Boris wed in a secret ceremony at Westminster Cathedral in 2021, two years after they got engaged. She is Boriss hird wife, as he was previously married to Wheeler. Prior to his second marriage, he was married to Allegra Mostyn-Owen from 1987 to 1993. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The second season of The Bear, which debuted on Hulu a little over two weeks ago, has received widespread praise from critics and fans alike namely, for its ability to create dynamic, three-dimensional female characters. In season two of The Bear, Jeremy Allen White stars as Carmen Carmy Berzatto an award-winning chef who returns home to Chicago to run his familys sandwich shop after the death of his brother, Michael. His sous chef and business partner, Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edeberi) juggles re-opening the restaurant with her own struggles for perfection and pleasing her father. Longtime employee Tina (Liza Colon-Zayas) adapts to the restaurants changing environment by willingly attending culinary school, while Carmys sister Sugar (Abby Elliott) is simply holding the entire Berzatto family together. Then, theres Claire. Claire, whose last name is unclear much like the rest of her background, is introduced in the second season as Carmys unrequited childhood crush. The two reconnect in the ice cream section of a grocery store, a classic location for a meet-cute, where the soft-spoken Claire (played by Molly Gordon) reveals that shes now working as an ER doctor. Upon first meeting Claire in episode two, fans quickly assume that this ghost of Carmys past has been established as his love interest for the rest of season two. And why shouldnt he have one? Carmy has unrelentingly worked to transform his late brothers Original Beef of Chicagoland into a five-star establishment called, fittingly, The Bear. Theres just one problem: Claire is a manic pixie dream girl. At least, thats what viewers of The Bear think. While Molly Gordon has previously stolen scenes in the 2019 teen comedy Booksmart, and Emma Seligmans anxiety-inducing film Shiva Baby, her character of Claire in The Bear has forced viewers to call out the controversial manic pixie dream girl trope thats often sadly used in cinema. The Manic Pixie Dream Girl as coined by The AV Club writer Nathan Rabin in a 2007 essay on Elizabethtown is a female character that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures. The manic pixie dream girl is a dangerous stereotype. Her main purpose is to inspire a greater appreciation in life for the male protagonist, who could be suffering from some identity crisis, artistic rut, or in Carmys case, total family trauma. The first instance in which Claire exhibits traits of the manic pixie dream girl is when she recalls a former classmate named Katie, who broke her arm in elementary school. The majority of students were freaked out by Katies broken limb, but not Claire. As she tells Carmy in the frozen aisle, she sat and stared at Katies broken arm because she wanted to understand it. Three episodes later, Carmy enlists Claires help to drop off a letter. As Carmy sits in the passenger seat, Claire tells him: Im a horrible driver, but I enjoy the risk of it. It soon became clear to viewers that Claire is not like other girls, which led them to air out their hot takes on social media. Claire in the bear s2 is so painfully a manic pixie dream girl it physically hurts, said one Twitter user. I love the bear with all my heart, but wtf is claire for?? why is she there?? we dont need a manic pixie dream girl arghhhhhhfjfjjdkskskf, said another frustrated viewer. Extremely cold take and i know everyones said this already but im just so frustrated by claire bc literally all of the other main female characters are so layered and compelling and she feels like a lazily written parody of a manic pixie dream girl gf, someone else pointed out. For others, Claires character seemed like something out of a movie montage in which the male protagonist watches an old recording of his dead/missing/sick wife before she died/went missing/got sick. You know the kind, which have been perfectly mimicked by comedian Delaney Rowe in her cringeworthy viral TikToks. One is titled, Absolutely insufferable female lead of an indie movie tells a childhood story, while another is, Girl whos convinced youre absolutely obsessed with her makes pancakes. As discourse surrounding Claires manic pixie tendencies grew online, many people wondered whether Gordons character was purposefully written to serve no purpose. As pointed out by TikTok user Leila Hussain, The Bear showrunner Christopher Storer has no problem writing dynamic female characters such as Carmys erratic mother, Donna Berzatto, played by none other than Jamie Lee Curtis. I wonder if they wrote her through Carmys POV because we very rarely see her around anyone else, commented one TikTok user. I dont think the writers wanted us to be invested in Claire, another suggested. Shes not a character shes a plot device, a third said. Throughout season two, we see Carmy become increasingly distracted by his budding romance, while everyone else is forced to pick up his slack to open the restaurant on time. In the finale episode, (spoiler alert) Whites character gets stuck in the kitchen walk-in refrigerator because he forgot to get the handle fixed, despite being reminded by Sydney multiple times to do so. During his self-loathing diatribe inside the walk-in, Carmy swears off love forever and, of course, Claire overhears him. It was unclear whether their relationship actually came to an end as she walked away from Carmy, who was locked in the freezing fridge, but viewers couldnt care less anyway. Now, they can focus their energy on shipping Carmy and Sydney together. The Bear season two is available to stream on Hulu in the US. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} As the girl dinner trend has now gone viral on social media, its sparked controversy, with some people claiming that the portions of food in the meals are too small. The concept behind girl dinner was first shared on TikTok in May by Olivia Maher. In her video, which has more than 1.2m views, she recalled how she noticed someone on the app describe their go-to dinner as bread and cheese. I cannot find the TikTok right now but a girl just came on here and said how in mediaeval times peasants had to eat nothing but bread and cheese and how awful that was, and she was like, Thats my ideal meal, Maher said. From there, she went on to showcase the meal that she was having, which consisted of bread, cheese, wine, grapes, and pickles. She went on to describe the foods, saying: This is my dinner, I call this girl dinner or mediaeval peasant dinner. Since then, multiple people on TikTok have shared footage of their girl dinners, which include bread or cheese in some way. For example, TikTok user @avocadale used the #girldinner tag in a video of the strawberries, bread chips, guacamole, salami slice, and pickles that she was having for dinner. In the caption of the footage, which has more than 1m views, they described themselves as a die hard snacker. Some TikTok users made their girl dinners a bit more elaborate. In one video posted by @alanalavv, she shared footage of multiple food plates that she thought would fit the trend. For one plate, she had green olives, salami slices, pieces of cheese, and bread on it, while another plate included: prosciutto, cheese, peach slices, mini tomatoes, and olives. In the video, which has more that 2.3m views, she paired one of her girl dinners plates with a glass of rose. While many people have hopped onto the viral trend, others have begun to question it. In a video posted by @siennabeluga, which has more than 800,000 views, she claimed that while she understands the appeal behind girl dinners, some people dont appear to be putting a lot of food on these plates. Okay I am pro girl dinner, I understand girl dinner, I get it, girl dinner healing your soul, she wrote in the text over the footage. BUT some of these girl dinners look a little suspiciously low cal[orie] to me hmmmmm?? Meanwhile, a TikTok user named Lexies, who goes by the username @missfirment, also criticised the small portions of food showcased in the girl dinner trend videos. As she shared a clip of a can of tuna, some chips, spinach, and a few olives, she noted that this would not fill [her] up for more than half an hour. As she shared more photos of meals from the girl dinner trend, she went on to claim these these were either appetisers or a plate of snacks. I cant believe that people are out here promoting this, she said. Amid the controversy, nutritionist Katherine Kofoed went on to share a TikTok video about why she thought the girl dinner trend is so satisfying. She claimed that when people make their dinners, they rarely think about their senses of taste, which impacts the flavour and texture of food. However, according to Kofoed, people are thinking about the foods they crave, while also having sustainable meals, when making their girl dinners. [The trend] is basically a smorgasbord of all of your favourite things, she said. Its also a really great way to satisfy all those needs and feel satiated and nourished after eating. According to The National Institutes of Health the recommended daily calorie intake for a man with an active lifestyle is 2,400-2,600. Meanwhile, the recommended daily calorie intake for a woman with an active lifestyle is 2,000-2,200 The organisation also notes that how much food you eat for every meal can vary. Last year, Dr Emily Manoogian, clinical researcher at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, also told BBC Future that eating two to three meals a day is the best, with the most calories being consumed in the morning or afternoon. If you eat most of your food earlier on, your body can use the energy you feed it throughout the day, rather than it being stored in your system as fat. she said. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} On Tuesday 11 July, Carrie Johnson announced that she and former prime minister Boris Johnson have welcomed their third child together. Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson was born on 5 July ay 9.15am, Carrie revealed in an Instagram post before joking: Can you guess which name my husband chose? Much has already been made about the choice of names on social media, with people quick to point out that the former PM is a fan of the Greek poet Homer and his epic poem The Odyssey, which tells the story Odysseus. But what does the name and the childs other names actually mean? Odysseus takes its moniker from Homers poem, which follows the legendary king of the island of Ithaca on his , who is returning home at the end of the 10-year Trojan War. His journey takes an additional 10 years, during which his crewmates perish and he must face a number of threats. In the poem, which covers a decade-long journey, Odysseus is portrayed as exceptionally intelligent and courageous. He is one of the most influential Greek mythology heroes and the name is often associated with wisdom, pride, and heroism. As for the newborns first and second names, Frank comes from the Medieval Latin term, Francus, which means free, at liberty, and exempt from service, according to etymonline.com. Its also thought to be connected to the Old French word, franc, which, similarly, means not servile, with other associations including sincere, genuine, open, gracious, generous, worthy, noble, and illustrious. Carrie Johnson has given birth to her and Boris Johnsons third child together (Instagram/Carrie Johnson) However, Merriam-Webster claims that the name Frank itself comes from the Franks, a West Germanic people who lived long ago. The dictionary continues: In the early Middle Ages the Franks were in power in France. (It was from them that the country got its name, in Latin Francia.) The Franks eventually merged with the earlier Gaulish and Roman inhabitants, and their name (Francus in Latin) lost its ethnic sense and referred to any inhabitant of Francia who was free, that is, not a slave or bondman. As for Alfred, the name is believed to mean elf counsel and is derived from the Old English name, lfrd. Its a name often associated with wisdom and is most commonly associated with famous Alfreds, including the ninth-century king, Alfred the Great, filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, and the poet Lord Alfred Tennyson. In 2019, the former PM was accused of misquoting Lord Tennyson while discussing Brexit, pledgingthat Britain would leave the EU on 31 October do or die, come what may. The phrase is often linked to Tennysons poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade, except the quote is, Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} European drug safety officials have launched a probe into Ozempic after patients reported thoughts of suicide or self-harm. On 10 July, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) told Reuters it is investigating adverse side effects into drug manufacturer Novo Nordisks the popular diabetes medication after Icelands health regulator flagged three cases of patients thinking about suicide or self-harm. In addition to the type 2 diabetes injection, weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Saxenda will also be investigated by the regulators Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC). Ozempic works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake. The committee will assess the risks of weight-loss medications that contain semaglutide or liraglutide, the GLP-1 agonists that induce weight loss in a person by reducing energy intake. It comes as the popularity of weight-loss drugs has led to a spike in demand for quick-fix treatments for obesity as influencers and celebrities promoted their use. Saxenda and Wegovy are approved in the UK and the US for weight loss. While Wegovy is not available in the UK yet, the prime minister has said that physicians would be able to offer it to patients for diabetes and weight management. An official of EMA told the BBC that the review is being carried out in the context of a signal procedure raised by the Icelandic Medicines Agency, following three case reports. A signal refers to information regarding a potential adverse event caused by a medication, whether it is already known or newly identified, that requires further investigation, the official said. The case reports included two cases of suicidal thoughts - one following the use of Saxenda and one after Ozempic. One additional case reported thoughts of self-injury with Saxenda, they added. The EMA will communicate further when more information becomes available. The medicines list suicidal thoughts or depression as their side-effects along with nausea, vomiting, headaches, constipation, and others. "You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes in your mood, behaviours, thoughts, or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you, a warning on the leaflet reads. Leading healthcare company Novo Nordisk which manufactures all three weight-loss drugs said it remains committed to ensuring patient safety but defended the use of semaglutide and liraglutide. GLP-1 receptor agonists have been used to treat type 2 diabetes for more than 15 years and for treatment of obesity for 8 years, including Novo Nordisk products such as semaglutide and liraglutide that have been in the UK market since 2018 and 2009 respectively, Novo Nordisk told The Independent. "The safety data collected from large clinical-trial programmes and post-marketing surveillance have not demonstrated a causal association between semaglutide or liraglutide and suicidal and self-harming thoughts. "Novo Nordisk is continuously performing surveillance of the data from ongoing clinical trials and real-world use of its products and collaborates closely with the authorities to ensure patient safety and adequate information to healthcare professionals. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the UKs drug regulator, said it is also monitoring the developments around the drug. Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer, urged users to report any side effects of the drugs and seek immediate medical assistance in case of suicidal or self-harm thoughts. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jennifer Garner has showcased the collection of friendship bracelets that she amassed while attending Taylor Swifts Eras tour concert. The 51-year-old actor took to Instagram on Saturday to share photos from the concert, which was held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday. After sharing one snap of herself with one of Swifts openers, Gracie Abrams, Garner also shared a video of her wrists and arms, which were covered with beaded, multi-coloured bracelets. In the short clip, she proceeded to hold her hands up and smile at the camera, before she started dancing and looking at the dozens of friendship bracelets, which she received from fans at the concert. Garner concluded her post with a video of Abrams performing during the concert, and two of Swift singing. In the caption, she praised all of the performers at the concert, as well as the Swifties who gave her the friendship bracelets. @gracieabramsand @taylorswift: a match made in heaven. We swooned for you, Gracie! And our minds are still blown by the generosity of spirit, ferocity and stamina of Taylor Swift. Shout out to @whereismuna, she wrote, referring to the band MUNA, which was another opener at the concert. To everyone who stopped by to bring a bracelet and say hello, to Kansas City for your warmth and enthusiasm. To us for lucking into the unofficial release party of both Speak Now (Taylors Version) and the music video for I Can See You, directed by TSwift and impeccably performed by @taylorlautner, @joeyking and @helloimpresleycash, she continued, referring to the three stars of the new music video, which debuted during Fridays concert. Epic night. In the comments, many famous faces and fans expressed their own excitement over the concert while remarking on Garners collection of friendship bracelets. Wow, how amazing was THAT?!!! Ina Garten wrote, while Taylor Lautner added: Best night EVER. A third wrote: YOUR WRISTS. Some fans even revealed that they noticed the actor at the show, with one writing: As we were walking to our seats right next to where you were sitting, my 10 year old was like: Hey! Thats the mom from Yes Day in there! I hope you and your daughter had an epic time! Since the Eras tour kicked off in March, friendship bracelets have been a staple part of the festivities. While exchanging friendship bracelets is a common practice at raves, the bracelet trading trend at Swifts concerts ties back to her song, Youre On Your Own, Kid, from her 2022 album, Midnights. In the popular bridge of the tune, the lyrics read: So make the friendship bracelets / Take the moment and taste it. Garner is not the only celebrity to leave one of Swifts shows with a collection of bracelets. In May, Jennifer Lawrence was spotted in the VIP section of the concert in Philadelphia, where she happily collected bracelets from fans who were offering them to her. While at the concert that same weekend, fans also tweeted photos of Nicole Kidman putting a friendship bracelet of her own on. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} This is the awkward moment Ed Balls asked TV personality Andi Peters if he has had a spray tan live on air. The former MP and Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid were having a discussion on whether people who wear fake tan should pay extra on their hotel bills for cleaning. As the show on Tuesday introduced its competition segment, cameras cut to Mr Peters on location in Rome, at which point Mr Balls asked: Spray tan, Andi? Ed Balls asked Andi Peters if he has had a spray tan on Tuesdays episode of Good Morning Britain (ITV) I didnt want to exclude him, the presenter, 56, continued. Seemingly taken aback by the question and after an awkward pause, Mr Peters replied: What do you think, Ed? before laughing off the gaffe. Before explaining the rules of the competition, Mr Peters added: Ed, the money Ive spent for 52 years looking like this, if theres anyone from LOreal, Garnier, any of them watching, Ive invested a lot in your company. Viewers were taken aback by the remark, and quickly took to social media to comment. One wrote: Ed Balls asking Andi Peters if hes had a spray tan was not how I expected my morning to start. Seemingly taken aback by the question, Mr Peters replied: What do you think, Ed? (ITV) Another asked with incredulity: Did Ed Balls really just ask Andi Peters if he has a SPRAY TAN?? A third suggested they almost choked on their toast when they heard the remark, writing: Ed Balls asking Andi Peters if he had a spray tan....had to stop eating my toast so not to choke on it. One viewer slammed the question as insensitive, saying: GMB very insensitive comment Ed Balls to Andi Peters tut tut tut. Another felt it was merely a hilarious blunder. Classic GMB, they wrote. Ed Balls asks Andi Peters does he have a spray tan??? Hilarious blunder, still laughing. Thanks Andi for keeping it in the innocent context it was made and not making it an issue. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Community health and social care for older people must be reformed and the hospital-orientated approach abandoned in order to stop the NHS buckling under the weight of an ageing population, a charity has warned. Age UK has published a new report The State of Health and Care of Older People in England 2023 calling for change in how care for older people is approached. It said the huge financial costs to our country and the harm to older people from continuing with our current outmoded way of working are too high and the decline in community care should be reversed to help older people get more help, earlier. According to the charity, when the NHS was founded 75 years ago one in two people died before the age of 65. Now, fewer than one in seven people die before the age of 65. In the next 20 years, the number of people aged over 65 in the UK is also expected to climb by four million. Age UK has called for a fundamental principle of home-first care to be established to stop older people being sent to hospital in the first instance. Services should also be made genuinely multi-disciplinary and should include the voluntary sector. Between 2021 and 2022, older people accounted for 4.8 million A&E admissions, the charity said, while the rate of those aged over 80 attending A&E increased by 40% between 2012/13 and 2021/22. Older people are also more likely to need an ambulance. Ruthe Isden, health influencing programme director at Age UK, said there is an ongoing crisis in the NHS. What does crisis look like? It looks like exactly what weve seen in the winter gone by, she said. It looks like ambulances stacking outside A&E because they cant offload because A&E cant move people through the hospital because theres no admitted beds. It looks like older people waiting up to 16 hours or beyond on a trolley in A&E in order to be seen. Ms Isden said there is also a hidden crisis unfolding behind closed doors. Its older people who are suffering, who arent getting the help that they need. Their health is deteriorating, theyre experiencing these avoidable crises falls, UTIs that are taking them into hospital and turning their lives upside down. The findings of the report the first compiled by Age UK since the pandemic showed Covid-19 has cast a long shadow over older peoples health and social care. Health inequalities in some groups of older people, such as those from ethnic minorities or deprived areas, were also identified. Paul Farmer, chief executive of Age UK, added: In many ways the picture painted by our new report is deeply depressing, but what strikes me the most is the wonderful opportunity we have now to switch to a much more effective approach to providing health and social care services for older people in their own homes and in care homes. Many of these people are worn out and fed up, and are quitting for better terms and conditions in hospitality, retail or indeed the NHS Caroline Abrahams, Age UK Age UK said issues can be addressed by hiring more staff and paying them fairly, as well as providing more support for unpaid carers. It also called for an infinitely more ambitious cross-Government drive to narrow health inequalities between people of all ages, ethnicities and places. Tom Gentry, senior lead, health and care policy at Age UK, said: We think the tools and skills for improvement do exist in the system. I think some of what the new structures are offering have the scope to make an impact here. I think what were yet to see is a real political and professional will to really drive those opportunities forward. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, called for an ambitious social care workforce plan that recognises the fantastic contributions of our care staff and rewards them fairly. The drive to recruit more care workers from abroad has been pretty successful, at least for some care providers, more so than many of us had expected, but meanwhile we know we are haemorrhaging more experienced care workers, including registered managers in care homes. Many of these people are worn out and fed up, and are quitting for better terms and conditions in hospitality, retail or indeed the NHS. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The UK and other countries should be doing a lot more if they are serious about containing global warming, according to the President of Cop26. Sir Alok Sharma, who led the United Nations climate change conference in Glasgow two years ago, said the world is not on track in its aim to curb rising temperatures and meet its previous targets. United Nations members signed the Paris Agreement in 2015, an international treaty with the goal of limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. The former Conservative cabinet minister was speaking at Windsor Castle on Tuesday after formally receiving his knighthood from the King for services to tackling climate change. Asked whether progress had been made since the conference, Sir Alok told the PA news agency: I think there are areas where we have moved forward, but the reality is that, if we are going to keep alive the prospect of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, we need to be doing a lot more (and) countries need to accelerate on the commitments theyve already made. This years climate change conference, Cop28, will be held from late November to mid-December in Dubai and Sir Alok emphasised the event will provide vitally important answers. He said: Cop28 is going to be that next point where the world comes together. Because, for the first time, we will have a stock-take process, we will be able to see whether were on track, and unfortunately I think we will find that the world is not on track to tackle climate change and avoid its worst effects. He added that he hoped to see a commitment to phasing out fossil fuels at the upcoming conference. Sir Alok, a serving MP for Reading West since 2010, said receiving his knighthood was one of the proudest moments of my life and a great opportunity to catch up with the King, having spoken with him about environmental issues on several previous meetings. He said some very nice words to me, and then we spoke about the need for more climate and development finance, we spoke briefly about Cop28, and I told him about the work Im now doing with the Rockefeller Foundation, he said. Obviously this is something that he has an enormous amount of interest in. Hes been on this agenda for decades, well before talking about climate was mainstream. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The BBC presenter facing allegations he paid a teenager for sexually explicit photos sent threatening messages to a young person in their early 20s, the broadcaster has reported. The fresh allegations add further pressure for the BBC as it deals with the fallout from separate claims made against the unnamed male presenter and first reported by The Sun newspaper at the weekend. According to the BBC, the presenter at the centre of the new allegations met the young person on a dating app before their conversations moved to other platforms. He then revealed his identity and asked the young person not to tell anyone, BBC News reported. The young person later posted online alluding to having had contact with the presenter and hinted they might name him. He then allegedly sent a number of threatening messages, which the BBC says it has seen and confirmed came from a phone number belonging to the presenter. The BBC said the young person felt threatened by the messages and remains scared. BBC News said it had contacted the presenter via his lawyer, but had received no response to the allegations. The Sun first made allegations on Friday about the unnamed presenter in which it says a young person who the broadcaster said is not connected to the person in the BBC report was paid around 35,000 over three years, from the age of 17, for explicit images. An unnamed police force has confirmed it was contacted by the parents of the teenager in April, BBC News has reported. The force said that no criminality was identified initially, however it has since met with the Metropolitan Police and the BBC, it was alleged. A statement said: As a result of recent developments, further inquiries are ongoing to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence. Earlier, director-general Tim Davie said he has ordered a review to assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation. Mr Davie said he was first informed of the allegations seven weeks after the family first complained about the presenter to the BBC, when the newspaper said it would be publishing its front page story. He told reporters this was because there was no response to the attempts to make contact and investigators could not verify the claims. The corporation has also been asked to pause its internal investigation into the allegations while the police scope future work following a meeting with the Metropolitan Police. A statement from the broadcaster said: As a result of this meeting, the BBC has been asked to pause its investigations into the allegations while the police scope future work. It added: The BBC has processes and protocols for receiving information and managing complaints when they are first made. We always take these matters extremely seriously and seek to manage them with the appropriate duty of care. The events of recent days have shown how complex and challenging these kinds of cases can be and how vital it is that they are handled with the utmost diligence and care. There will, of course, be lessons to be learned following this exercise. Mr Davie said he has asked Leigh Tavaziva, the BBC Group chief operating officer, to assess whether its protocols and procedures are appropriate in light of the case. Speaking at a press conference about the BBCs annual report, Mr Davie said: Of course there will be lessons to be learned, and how processes could be improved. Immediately I have asked that we assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation. We will take time to properly review the current protocols and procedures to ensure they remain sufficient based on anything we learn from this case. The Prime Ministers press secretary said she was unaware of reports that the unnamed broadcaster is facing fresh allegations against them. Asked during a press briefing in Vilnius if Rishi Sunak would encourage people to make themselves known to the BBC if they have related complaints, his press secretary said: I think in general, anyone who has been a victim in the nature of these allegations, of course we would call on those people to come forward to ensure that they are supported and their claims looked into. The young person at the centre of the controversy has said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened with the unnamed presenter, although their mother told The Sun they stand by the claims. There remains no police investigation at this time Met Police In a letter reported by BBC News At Six, the young person said via a lawyer: For the avoidance of doubt, nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations reported in The Sun newspaper are rubbish. The legal representative also said the young person told The Sun on Friday evening before the newspaper published the story that there was no truth to it, the BBC reported. The lawyer reportedly called the article on the front page inappropriate, claiming in the letter that the mother and the young person are estranged. BBC News said it does not know the identity of the young person and has not spoken to them directly, but that the letter was sent by a multinational law firm. In a statement about the BBC presenter, a Met Police spokesperson said: We have asked the BBC to pause its own investigation while we continue our assessment to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence being committed. The assessment is being led by detectives from the Mets specialist crime command and follows a virtual meeting with representatives from the BBC on the morning of Monday July 10. There remains no police investigation at this time. A spokesman for The Sun said: We have reported a story about two very concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and the welfare of their child. Their complaint was not acted upon by the BBC. We have seen evidence that supports their concerns. Its now for the BBC to properly investigate. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} TV presenter Carol Vordermans remarks about a Government minister not having a degree were branded snobbery and unforgivable in the House of Commons. Conservative MP Siobhan Baillie hit out at the former Countdown star, saying she eats political hate for breakfast to get social media hits. It follows critical messages being exchanged on Twitter between Ms Vorderman on one side and Cabinet Office minister Johnny Mercer and his wife Felicity Cornelius-Mercer on the other. A tweet by Ms Vorderman on July 8 and referencing the married couple said: Not a degree in sight in spite of expensive private education! So whod employ them? The message was followed with a shrugging emoji. Mr Mercer has previously described Ms Vorderman as a deeply unpleasant person on the social media site, while Ms Vorderman has posted a number critical remarks about Mr Mercers performance as a minister. Ms Baillie, Conservative MP for Stroud, weighed in during an adjournment debate in the House of Commons, where she was making the case for how and why access to on-the-job training should be improved. She said: Snobbery about further education and no degree sadly continues to this day. You just have to look at Carol Vordermans attack on (Tory minister Johnny Mercer) and his wife. After referencing Ms Vordermans tweet about Mr Mercers education, she said: This is the latest example of nonsense. Dismissing a minister who works tirelessly for the armed forces and veterans for not having gone to university is bad enough, but deliberately being condescending about the lives of millions of people who did not go to university is absolutely unforgivable. I used to admire Carol Vorderman an awful lot before she decided to eat so much political hate for breakfast to get social media hits. Now, sadly, I just feel sorry for her. It follows Tory assistant whip Jacob Young taking to the social media platform on Monday and calling Ms Vorderman a horrible little snob. Prior to the adjournment debate on Monday, Ms Vorderman tweeted that it was a joke to call her an education snob. She said: They cant think of anything else to have a go at. HOWEVER, Ill let my record in education do the talking (including) helping 500,000 children with their maths during lockdowngiving bursaries for young people and schools with disadvantaged backgrounds like mine.helping Blunkett introduce the Numeracy Hour.governor of inner city schooleducation books for decades..recognised STEM Ambassador.I could go on. Always a believer in encouraging young people to achieve their best, in whichever way that comes around, to be strong and happy and confident. Anything else being espoused is offensive, targeted, predictable Right Wing nonsense. PS Tories.this attack wont work. It just makes us more determined. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A high-profile BBC presenter has been accused of paying a teenager more than 35,000 for explicit pictures. Once the allegations went public, the now-suspended star said, what have you done? in an effort to try and stop the investigation, it has been claimed. It came afterThe Sun reported last week how the star allegedly appeared in his underwear in a video call and began paying the person for explicit content when the complainant was 17. The BBC confirmed on Sunday it had made contact with the Metropolitan Police over the presenters reported actions. As the scandal into the presenters alleged actions - and the initial response of the BBC - continue to be scrutinised, The Independent has looked at the possible criminal ramifications they could face. Myles Jackman - the UKs leading obscenity lawyer - said that based on the publicly available facts, the severity of the alleged offences would likely result in a custodial sentence in the event of a prosecution and conviction. He cited The Protection of Children Act 1978 which prohibits any production, possession, or distribution of images of a sexual nature of children which would apply if the person was 17 when the requests for images began, he said. Under the act, possessing images of a child undertaking sexual acts had a starting sentence of 26 weeks in prison, he added. Myles Jackman said mobile devices could be seized in the event of any arrest (Myles Jackman) Then, he said there were potential breaches under sections 44 - intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence - and 45 - encouraging or assisting an offence believing it will be committed - of the 2007 Serious Crime Act. This is because of the allegation that the star watched material self-produced by a child and which had been solicited through their payments to the person, he explained. Speaking to The Independent, he said: The presumption (under The Protection of Children Act 1978) is that the person should go to prison and taking into account all of the other aggravating factors, I would have to say that suspended sentence looks unlikely. Its an evolving situation and the information in the public domain has subtlety shifted. They are not only at risk of a custodial sentence for the images. Just trying to procure the images would also suggest an offence (Under the Serious Crime Act), he continued. If the suggestion that the presenter in question contacted the complainant approximately a week ago, after the complaint had been made to the BBC, this would be an aggregating feature which may even amount to an attempt to pervert the court of justice. Mr Jackman said a substantial number of criminal offences may apply to the case as well as aggravating factors like abuse of trust and power. Depending on the full facts - even on the basic facts - they are looking at immediate custody and it would only be up to a judge to decide if any sentence could be suspended, he added. Mr Jackman also revealed that if the police decide to launch a criminal investigation and arrest the presenter - all of their mobile devices will be seized. There could be all sorts of things on the individuals work computer as well as their personal devices, he added. And even if they do not supply the police with their passwords, evidence could still be gleaned from metadata from the sender which will be stored on all the relevant networks, he explained. False accusations against Sir Cliff Richard in 2014 had an impact on reporting (PA Wire) Mark Stephens, media law expert and partner at Howard Kennedy, explained that there was a big change to the way the media approached reporting after Sir Cliff Richard won a privacy case against the BBC over its coverage of a South Yorkshire Police raid on his home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, after he was falsely accused of historical sex offences. This was further entrenched when the Supreme Court, the UKs highest court, ruled that a person being investigated for a crime generally has a reasonable expectation of privacy. The landmark Supreme Court judgment related to a breach of privacy claim by a US citizen known only as ZXC, who was the chief executive of a regional division of a company, referred to as X Ltd. In the first case on the issue considered by the court last year, five justices dismissed an appeal brought by financial organisation Bloomberg over the publication of information about a person under investigation by a legal enforcement body prior to charge. On Monday, Mr Stephens said that following the Sir Cliff Richard case what was decided was that while an investigation was going on, the balance between right to privacy and freedom of expression or the publics right to know, favoured keeping things private. That is why the Sun and no other newspaper has identified the presenter, and part of that was to avoid this social media frenzy with names being bandied about. Over the years, several cases including that of ZXC and Sir Cliff have meant it has become much more difficult for the media to name people before they are charged with a criminal offence. Mr Stephens said there is a second layer of privacy, which is the contractual arrangement between the BBC and its members of staff. If there are allegations of inappropriate behaviour, or any other kind of breach of employment practice, they should be investigated confidentially, he said. Thats doesnt matter whether youre a celebrity or in the local office or on the building site, the same law applies. Thats why Tim Davie (the director-general), for example, didnt know because the HR department werent allowed to tell him because he didnt have a need to know at that point in time. The problem with the second layer (of privacy) is that because the BBC cant identify the individual. It also means that they cant defend their innocent presenters who are being named. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The jury in a trial of the facts has retired to determine whether a man carried out the act of killing a nine-year-old girl by stabbing her in the heart. Deividas Skebas is charged with murdering Lilia Valutyte by stabbing her in broad daylight in Boston, Lincolnshire, last July but is unfit to plead or face trial due to his mental health. Instead, the 23-year-old is the subject of a trial of the facts at Lincoln Crown Court but has played no part in proceedings. The jury cannot deliver a verdict of guilty or not guilty of murder, due to a trial of the facts not deciding whether Skebas intended to kill, but must instead make a determination as to whether he physically committed the act of killing. This is a desperately sad case, but you must try it on the evidence, and not on any emotion you may feel Mrs Justice McGowan DBE, Lincoln Crown Court Giving the jury of six men and six women final legal directions, Mrs Justice McGowan DBE said: You have to decide whether you are sure that Deividas Skebas killed Lilia Valutyte. The prosecution makes the allegation and they must prove it so that you are sure. Put any emotion out of your decision-making. This is a desperately sad case, but you must try it on the evidence, and not on any emotion you may feel. Please try to reach a decision on which all 12 of you agree. The fundamental question is, is that Deividas Skebas on the CCTV footage and are we sure that he killed Lilia Valutyte? You are simply being asked to let us know whether you are sure or not that Deividas Skebas is the man seen on CCTV, who undoubtedly is the man who killed Lilia. Concentrate on that. Is that him? Are you sure? Take as much time as you need to reach your decision. I grabbed the knife and I stabbed her Deividas Skebas in police interview A trial of facts also known as a finding of fact, trial of the act, or trial of the issue is not to decide whether someone intended to commit an act or question a defendants state of mind but to determine whether they physically did it. While a defendant cannot be criminally convicted, the burden of proof for a jury remains beyond all reasonable doubt. On the second day of proceedings on Tuesday, the Crowns KC, Christopher Donnellan, read the court a transcript of Skebass interview with police following his arrest. In the interview, Skebas admitted: I grabbed the knife and I stabbed her. The court previously saw CCTV of a man alleged to be Skebas pacing around Boston town centre on the evening of July 28 last year, having been seen buying a paring knife in the towns Wilko store two days earlier. At around 6.15pm, the man was seen running towards Lilia, who was playing with a hula-hoop outside a shop where her mother worked in Fountain Lane. He stabbed her once and ran away, with Lilia dying at 7.11pm after the blade pierced her heart. The knife was later recovered tucked behind a radiator when police searched Skebass property in Thorold Street, Boston, two days later. A blood-stained grey Calvin Klein T-shirt was also found, with DNA from the blood matching that of Lilia. Speaking on Monday, Mr Donnellan said: The prosecution case is that he unlawfully killed her with that single stab wound to the chest. You are only deciding whether he did it. You dont have to decide about his intention or indeed about his mental state. If Skebas, a Lithuanian national, is found responsible for Lilias death, the only sentence the court can pass is a hospital order. He could stand in a conventional trial in future if his mental health improves. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man who killed a nine-year-old girl by stabbing her in the heart as she played in the street has been given an indefinite hospital order. Deividas Skebas knifed Lilia Valutyte once in the chest in Fountain Lane, Boston, Lincolnshire, last summer, a jury has ruled. The 23-year-old was deemed unfit to plead or face a conventional trial due to his mental health and was the subject of a two-day trial of the facts at Lincoln Crown Court. On Tuesday, Skebas was detained in a secure hospital for an indefinite period the only sentence the court could pass hours after jurors returned their determination after about 15 minutes of deliberation. The grief and suffering of her family has been beyond imagination. Mrs Justice McGowan DBE Judge Mrs Justice McGowan DBE said: On July 28 2022, Deividas Skebas can be seen on CCTV footage taking a knife from the pocket of his jeans, running down the road and stabbing Lilia Valutyte as she played in the street. He then ran away. Lilia died from one stab wound to the heart. The grief and suffering of her family has been beyond imagination. She added: Given the fact that (Skebas) has been found to have killed a child, I am of the opinion that the only appropriate way to deal with the case is to make an order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Therefore I make an order that he be readmitted to and detained at Rampton Hospital. The judge also ordered a restriction under section 41 of the Mental Health Act, which means Skebas can only be discharged from hospital if the Justice Secretary approves it. Accordingly, I make a hospital order without restriction of time, she said. Jurors were not asked to deliver a guilty or not guilty verdict or determine if Skebas intended to kill instead only determining if he physically did what he was accused of. Skebas attacked Lilia eight days after returning to the UK for a second time from his home country of Lithuania, the court was told. The jury was shown CCTV of him running towards the girl as she played outside a shop in which her mother was working at about 6.15pm on July 28. He pulled a knife from behind his back and stabbed her once in the chest before running away. Lilia was declared dead at 7.11pm at Bostons Pilgrim Hospital. Prosecutor Christopher Donnellan KC said a Sabatier paring knife, bought by Skebas two days before the killing in the towns Wilko shop, was later found at his home in Thorold Street, Boston. A T-shirt, stained with Lilias blood, was also found, and Skebas, in an interview with police, admitted stabbing the schoolgirl. Skebas was not present for his sentencing, did not attend the trial and did not play any part in proceedings. He may face a conventional trial for murder if his mental health improves. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Young actors were aware of rumours about Kevin Spaceys alleged sexual advances on young men while he worked in the UK, a court heard. The Oscar-winning actor, 63, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of a string of sex attacks on four men between 2001 and 2013. On Tuesday, friends of one alleged victim said he told them he and Spacey had a few drinks before he fell asleep and woke up to find the Hollywood star performing a sex act on him. There were a lot of rumours going around... I definitely was saying if anything happened you should say One friend told jurors there was always chatter about Spacey chatting younger lads up and it was a bit of a thing that we would joke about as young men. But when Spacey rang the alleged victim, an aspiring actor at the time, to ask him to join him for a drink, his friends were not worried to a point where we thought it would turn into anything more serious, jurors heard. Another friend said the alleged victim had confided in her soon after that Spacey was being inappropriate and it had been really awkward but did not go into detail about what happened at the time. She told jurors: There were a lot of rumours going around I definitely was saying if anything happened you should say. Dont keep it to yourself. Other friends said he had looked grey when they first saw him after the alleged attack. One friend told jurors: I remember him coming round about midday. He was not himself. He was very confident, always cracking jokes, very good at holding a conversation. He came in and he just looked grey and gave one-word answers. We were all very excited because he had come back from this, we were asking questions and making jokes and he was not himself. He gave one-word answers saying they had had some drinks and went back to Spaceys flat, that was about it really. At a birthday celebration almost a decade later, the alleged victim then told friends in detail about what he says happened. One friend told jurors: He seemed agitated and upset like he couldnt quite compute it. I dont know where it came from, I imagine someone asked him about it. He looked deeply upset. This is the first time he had mentioned it (the alleged attack) to me. Back that weekend he said he felt so embarrassed and mortified about what happened. Thats why he didnt say. Prosecutor Christine Agnew KC asked: Did he say anything to you about the impact it had on him? He replied: He said it had destroyed him. It was quite hyperbolic. He mentioned he was still affected by the incident. He said it has destroyed me, it has messed me up or something like that. Spacey pleaded not guilty in January to three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. The two-time Academy Award winner also previously denied four further charges of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The trial continues. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A former politician has failed in a bid to overturn child sex abuse convictions. Three appeal judges dismissed an appeal attempt by Lord Nazir Ahmed, 66, on Tuesday. Lord Justice William Davis, Mr Justice Jacobs and Judge Paul Sloan concluded, at a Court of Appeal hearing in London, that Ahmed did not have arguable grounds for staging a full appeal. They said his victims cannot be identified in media reports. Ahmed was convicted in January 2022 of sexually abusing two children. Prosecutors said he abused the children when a teenager in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, in the early 1970s. Ahmed pleaded not guilty. A judge handed him a jail term of five years and six months after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court saw him found guilty. Earlier this year, three appeal judges cut that term to two years and six months after concluding trial judge Mr Justice Lavender erred when passing sentence. Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, Lord Justice Holroyde and Lord Justice William Davis reduced Ahmeds sentence in March after a Court of Appeal hearing in London.. They considered legal issues relating to the correct approach to sentencing an adult for an offence committed when they were a child and examined a number of cases, including the Ahmed case, concerning sexual offending. Ahmed, who was convicted of two counts of attempted rape and one of buggery, has now left prison and was in court for Tuesdays appeal hearing. A woman had told jurors Ahmed tried to rape her in the early 1970s, when he was about 16 or 17 but she was much younger. Ahmed was also found guilty of a serious sexual assault against a boy under 11, also in the early 1970s. The UK Parliament website says Ahmed has retired from the House of Lords. It says he was a member of the Lords between August 1998 and November 2020. The website says he was a Labour peer between 1998 and 2012 and between June 2012 and May 2013. At other times he was not affiliated, it says. After Tuesdays appeal hearing, Ahmed told a PA news agency reporter he did not want to comment. Lawyers representing Ahmed on Tuesday asked appeal judges for permission to stage a full appeal. Imran Khan KC, who led Ahmeds legal team, outlined a number of concerns and argued that the convictions were not safe. He raised concerns about the strength of evidence relating to one charge, jurors being affected by publicity, evidence relating to entries in a victims diary, a prosecuting barristers comment on a witnesss evidence and a concern about jurors discussing the case during a break in the trial. Appeal judges concluded that Ahmed did not have arguable grounds and refused to give him permission to stage a full appeal. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A heartbreaking text from a young mother who was one of 39 people found dead within a lorry in Essex has revealed the horrific last moment of those in the trailer. The Vietnamese nationals, including children, died in the airtight sealed container as it was being transported by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet in October 2019. They were crammed into the lorry to be shipped in pitch black and sweltering conditions. The victims aged between 15 and 44 had hoped for a better life in Britain when they agreed to pay up to 13,000 a head for a VIP smuggling service. The 28 men, eight women and three children had desperately tried to raise the alarm, with many leaving messages for loved ones on their mobile phones as they ran out of air before reaching British shores. One unsent text message by a young mother read: Maybe going to die in the container. Cannot breathe any more. Marius Mihai Draghici (Essex Police/PA) (PA Media) A right-hand man in the people-smuggling ring was jailed on Tuesday for more than 12 years for the manslaughter of 39 men, women and children found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex. Marius Mihai Draghici, 50, fled the country and was detained by police in Romania last August and extradited back to the UK. Last month, he pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. In a televised sentencing at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, Mr Justice Garnham jailed Draghici for 12 years and seven months. A van from the Border Force enters the Port of Tilbury, Essex, after the bodies of 39 people were found inside a lorry. (PA) He told the defendant he was an essential cog in a conspiracy which made astonishing profits out of the exploitation of people desperate to get to the UK. He said the conditions inside the trailer where the victims died were unspeakable with people trapped inside the trailer with no ventilation and no way of getting out. The senior judge recognised the pitiful audio recordings of those trapped inside reporting they could not breathe and a growing recognition they were going to die there and their love-ones heart-wrenching statements. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told the court that the victims last hours must have entailed unimaginable suffering and anguish. Candles laid out as part of the ceremony for the mass prayer and vigil for the 39 victims found dead inside the back of a truck in Grays, Essex, at the Holy Name and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Londons Vietnamese church, in east London (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Archive) Lorry driver Robinson had discovered the bodies in the early hours of October 23 after being messaged by Hughes to give them air, but not let them out. Four other gang members were jailed in 2021 for between 13 and 27 years for the manslaughter of the 39 migrants. They are: Ringleader Gheorghe Nica, 46, of Basildon, Essex, haulier boss Ronan Hughes, 43, of Armagh, Maurice Robinson, 28, of Craigavon, who found the bodies, and Eamonn Harrison, 26, of County Down, who had collected the victims on the continent. Robinson had picked up the container at the docks and opened the doors before alerting others including Draghici and Nica waiting at a nearby pick-up point near Collingwood Farm in Orsett. The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex (PA) Mr Emlyn Jones said gang members immediately abandoned the plan and melted away in the night, with Draghici following Nica on a flight from Luton to Romania. Setting out Draghicis involvement, Mr Emlyn Jones said: The prosecution case is that Draghici became party to a sophisticated, long-running and highly profitable conspiracy to smuggle illegal migrants to the United Kingdom, in the back of lorries, in a deliberate and intentional breach of border control. Draghici was recruited by fellow Romanian Nica and became his effective right-hand man and they were inseparable, the prosecutor said. The defendant had accepted being involved in the last three people smuggling runs, including the fatal trip although police identified a total of seven. He was present at a meeting at a hotel on October 19 2019 in which Nica delivered a very substantial payment to Hughes after collecting the money from Fong the Vietnamese organiser. He was also in contact with a person who had been described as Hughes man on the continent. Maurice Robinson, 26, was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison over the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants in October 2019. (PA) Mr Emlyn Jones said it was significant that Nica and Draghici both gave Robinson his instructions earlier on the night of the tragic journey. The prosecutor said: We accept that the role played in the conspiracy by Nica was more significant than that of Draghici. So Nica is above Draghici in the pecking order. But he said of Draghici: He was not just acting as a driver but playing the role of something of a right-hand man to Mr Nica. The 39 victims were: Dinh Dinh Binh, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Huy Phong, Le Van Ha, Nguyen Van Hiep, Bui Phan Thang, Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Huy Hung, Nguyen Tien Dung, Pham Thi Tra My, Tran Khanh Tho, Nguyen Van Nhan, Vo Ngoc Nam, Vo Van Linh, Nguyen Ba Vu Hung, Vo Nhan Du, Tran Hai Loc, Tran Manh Hung, Nguyen Thi Van, Bui Thi Nhung, Hoang Van Tiep, Tran Thi Ngoc, Phan Thi Thanh, Tran Thi Tho, Duong Minh Tuan, Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh, Tran Thi Mai Nhung, Le Trong Thanh, Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Hoang Van Hoi, Tran Ngoc Hieu, Cao Tien Dung, Dinh Dinh Thai Quyen, Dang Huu Tuyen, Nguyen Dinh Luong , Cao Huy Thanh, Nguyen Trong Thai, Nguyen Tho Tuan and Nguyen Dinh Tu. Pictures of those found in the lorry (Essex Police/PA Wire) In victim impact statements read in court, some victims families described feeling sad and hopeless at their loss while coping with crippling debt from borrowing thousands of pounds to pay for their loved ones travel. Nguyen Huy Hung, 15, one of the youngest victims, had been on his way to live with his parents in the UK and work as a hairdresser. His father said they were very shocked and trembling after hearing what happened on social media. He said: We did not believe it was the truth until we saw his body with our own eyesWe felt numb and that feeling lasted for many weeks later. Married couple Tran Hai Loc and Nguyen Thi Van, 35, were found lying side by side in the container. The court heard they had paid 7,000 US dollars to travel to Hungary to work as fruit pickers and told their families on October 18 2019 that their plans had changed. In mitigation, Gillian Jones KC said Draghici was shocked and horrified with what occurred and had struggled to come to terms with the enormity of it. (PA) Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who led the Essex Police investigation, said: For more than three years, we have never lost sight of the far-reaching impact the events of October 2019 has had, both here in Essex and, most acutely, in Vietnam. Each of the people inside the lorry container were mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. They have family who feel their loss acutely each and every day. Today is a significant day. Draghici knew the evidence that we were able to present was overwhelming. He had no option but to admit his involvement. Draghici left the UK after October 23 2019 and remained hidden in Europe until August 2022. We have always maintained that the actions we believed he was responsible for could never go unpunished. Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper, who oversaw the investigation, said: In October 2019, we made a promise to the families of our 39 victims that we would deliver justice. We have never lost sight of that promise and the investigation team members have ensured that we have kept that promise. We have been committed to tracking down every person we know to have been involved. Unfortunately for Draghici, he could not stay hidden, and he is now facing the consequences of his actions. Forensics officers hunt for evidence on the lorry at the industrial park in Grays, Essex (PA) National Crime Agency (NCA) deputy director international Tom Dowdall added: Marius Draghici and his criminal associates were responsible for the deaths of 39 men, women and children in horrific circumstances. It was an appalling example of just how callous people-smuggling gangs are, who are prepared to risk the lives of those they transport for financial gain. NCA officers in the UK and overseas worked closely with Essex Police and our international partners to ensure Draghici was tracked down in Romania and brought back to the UK to face justice. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A right-hand man in a people-smuggling ring has been jailed for more than 12 years for the manslaughter of 39 men, women and children found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex. The Vietnamese nationals died in the airtight sealed container as it was being transported by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet in October 2019. Marius Mihai Draghici, 50, fled the country and was detained by police in Romania last August and extradited back to the UK. Last month, he pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. In a televised sentencing at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, Mr Justice Garnham jailed Draghici for 12 years and seven months. He told the defendant he was an essential cog in a conspiracy which made astonishing profits out of the exploitation of people desperate to get to the UK. He said the conditions inside the trailer where the victims died were unspeakable with people trapped inside the trailer with no ventilation and no way of getting out. The senior judge recognised the pitiful audio recordings of those trapped inside reporting they could not breathe and a growing recognition they were going to die there and their love-ones heart-wrenching statements. Four other gang members were jailed in 2021 for between 13 and 27 years for the manslaughter of the 39 migrants. They are: Ringleader Gheorghe Nica, 46, of Basildon, Essex, haulier boss Ronan Hughes, 43, of Armagh, Maurice Robinson, 28, of Craigavon, who found the bodies, and Eamonn Harrison, 26, of County Down, who had collected the victims on the continent. The prosecution case is that Draghici became party to a sophisticated, long-running and highly profitable conspiracy to smuggle illegal migrants to the United Kingdom, in the back of lorries, in a deliberate and intentional breach of border control Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC The victims aged between 15 and 44 had hoped for a better life in Britain when they agreed to pay up to 13,000 a head for a VIP smuggling service. On October 22 2019, they were crammed into the lorry container to be shipped in pitch black and sweltering conditions. The 28 men, eight women and three children had desperately tried to raise the alarm, with many leaving messages for loved ones on their mobile phones as they ran out of air before reaching British shores. One unsent text message by a young mother read: Maybe going to die in the container. Cannot breathe any more. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told the court that the victims last hours must have entailed unimaginable suffering and anguish. Lorry driver Robinson had discovered the bodies in the early hours of October 23 after being messaged by Hughes to give them air, but not let them out. Robinson had picked up the container at the docks and opened the doors before alerting others including Draghici and Nica waiting at a nearby pick-up point near Collingwood Farm in Orsett. Mr Emlyn Jones said gang members immediately abandoned the plan and melted away in the night, with Draghici following Nica on a flight from Luton to Romania. Setting out Draghicis involvement, Mr Emlyn Jones said: The prosecution case is that Draghici became party to a sophisticated, long-running and highly profitable conspiracy to smuggle illegal migrants to the United Kingdom, in the back of lorries, in a deliberate and intentional breach of border control. Draghici was recruited by fellow Romanian Nica and became his effective right-hand man and they were inseparable, the prosecutor said. The defendant had accepted being involved in the last three people smuggling runs, including the fatal trip although police identified a total of seven. He was present at a meeting at a hotel on October 19 2019 in which Nica delivered a very substantial payment to Hughes after collecting the money from Fong the Vietnamese organiser. He was also in contact with a person who had been described as Hughes man on the continent. Mr Emlyn Jones said it was significant that Nica and Draghici both gave Robinson his instructions earlier on the night of the tragic journey. The prosecutor said: We accept that the role played in the conspiracy by Nica was more significant than that of Draghici. So Nica is above Draghici in the pecking order. But he said of Draghici: He was not just acting as a driver but playing the role of something of a right-hand man to Mr Nica. The 39 victims were: Dinh Dinh Binh, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Huy Phong, Le Van Ha, Nguyen Van Hiep, Bui Phan Thang, Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Huy Hung, Nguyen Tien Dung, Pham Thi Tra My, Tran Khanh Tho, Nguyen Van Nhan, Vo Ngoc Nam, Vo Van Linh, Nguyen Ba Vu Hung, Vo Nhan Du, Tran Hai Loc, Tran Manh Hung, Nguyen Thi Van, Bui Thi Nhung, Hoang Van Tiep, Tran Thi Ngoc, Phan Thi Thanh, Tran Thi Tho, Duong Minh Tuan, Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh, Tran Thi Mai Nhung, Le Trong Thanh, Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Hoang Van Hoi, Tran Ngoc Hieu, Cao Tien Dung, Dinh Dinh Thai Quyen, Dang Huu Tuyen, Nguyen Dinh Luong , Cao Huy Thanh, Nguyen Trong Thai, Nguyen Tho Tuan and Nguyen Dinh Tu. Today is a significant day. Draghici knew the evidence that we were able to present was overwhelming. He had no option but to admit his involvement Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, Essex Police In victim impact statements read in court, some victims families described feeling sad and hopeless at their loss while coping with crippling debt from borrowing thousands of pounds to pay for their loved ones travel. Nguyen Huy Hung, 15, one of the youngest victims, had been on his way to live with his parents in the UK and work as a hairdresser. His father said they were very shocked and trembling after hearing what happened on social media. He said: We did not believe it was the truth until we saw his body with our own eyesWe felt numb and that feeling lasted for many weeks later. Married couple Tran Hai Loc and Nguyen Thi Van, 35, were found lying side by side in the container. The court heard they had paid 7,000 US dollars to travel to Hungary to work as fruit pickers and told their families on October 18 2019 that their plans had changed. In mitigation, Gillian Jones KC said Draghici was shocked and horrified with what occurred and had struggled to come to terms with the enormity of it. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who led the Essex Police investigation, said: For more than three years, we have never lost sight of the far-reaching impact the events of October 2019 has had, both here in Essex and, most acutely, in Vietnam. Marius Draghici and his criminal associates were responsible for the deaths of 39 men, women and children in horrific circumstances. It was an appalling example of just how callous people-smuggling gangs are ... Tom Dowdall, National Crime Agency Each of the people inside the lorry container were mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. They have family who feel their loss acutely each and every day. Today is a significant day. Draghici knew the evidence that we were able to present was overwhelming. He had no option but to admit his involvement. Draghici left the UK after October 23 2019 and remained hidden in Europe until August 2022. We have always maintained that the actions we believed he was responsible for could never go unpunished. Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper, who oversaw the investigation, said: In October 2019, we made a promise to the families of our 39 victims that we would deliver justice. We have never lost sight of that promise and the investigation team members have ensured that we have kept that promise. We have been committed to tracking down every person we know to have been involved. Unfortunately for Draghici, he could not stay hidden, and he is now facing the consequences of his actions. National Crime Agency (NCA) deputy director international Tom Dowdall added: Marius Draghici and his criminal associates were responsible for the deaths of 39 men, women and children in horrific circumstances. It was an appalling example of just how callous people-smuggling gangs are, who are prepared to risk the lives of those they transport for financial gain. NCA officers in the UK and overseas worked closely with Essex Police and our international partners to ensure Draghici was tracked down in Romania and brought back to the UK to face justice. Russell Tyner, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: It is devastating that 39 people who put their trust in an unscrupulous network of people smugglers have lost their lives because of the traffickers sheer greed and recklessness. Draghici sought to evade the law by fleeing the country. Thanks to the continued hard work of prosecutors in our Extradition and International Units, Draghici was successfully extradited to the UK to face the charges against him and has today been brought to justice. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A teacher stabbed at a school in Gloucestershire has been hailed a true hero as a fundraiser in support of him has been launched. Police said the victim, named locally as maths teacher Jamie Sansom, was attacked in the corridor of Tewkesbury Academy on Monday morning. He was taken to hospital with a single stab wound and discharged that evening. On Tuesday morning the school said he was recovering well following the incident, having been in a serious but stable condition. Jamie Sansom is a maths teacher at Tewkesbury Academy in Gloucestershire (Tewkesbury Academy) A teenage boy from Tewkesbury has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on Monday and remains in police custody. Have you been affected by this story? Email tara.cobham@independent.co.uk On Tuesday morning, a spokesman for the school said: Following careful assessment and consultation with police, Tewkesbury Academy reopened today. We feel it is important for our students to be able to return to a sense of normality in their school, where we will be providing a range of additional mental and emotional support for students and staff. Police will retain a presence at the school for the coming days to provide reassurance. We are pleased to confirm the Tewkesbury colleague injured in yesterdays incident has been discharged from hospital and is recovering well. He has expressed his gratitude for the many positive messages he has received. A Gofundme appeal set up in support of Mr Sansom described him as a true hero, claiming he had risked his life during the incident. Anxious parents were reunited with pupils after a lengthy lockdown at Tewkesbury Academy (Getty Images) The academy was put in lockdown on Monday while police attended, and two neighbouring schools were also asked to shut their doors as a precaution, Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone of Gloucestershire Police said. At this stage, the motivation behind the attack is unclear but at this time there is no evidence to suggest it is terrorism-related, he said in a statement. This was clearly a very distressing incident and our thoughts are with the victim, their family and everyone impacted by what happened. We are working with the school and other agencies to ensure appropriate support is available and local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as the investigation continues. A teenage boy has been questioned on suspicion of attempted murder after the teacher was stabbed in the secondary school corridor (PA Wire) Tewkesbury Academy, a state secondary school for 11 to 18-year-olds, is part of the Cabot Learning Federation, a multi-academy trust responsible for a number of academies in the South West of England. Pupils were reunited with their families on Monday afternoon with some leaving school earlier after lockdown was lifted. There were tears and hugs as the youngsters were let go. Year seven pupil Katie Gardiner, 12, was collected from the school gates by her parents Martyn and Julia Gardiner. It was quite scary as we had never had anything like that before. My old primary school also got shut down, the schoolgirl said. The teachers did a really good job in keeping us calm. The teacher was attacked in the corridor of the secondary school just after 9am, police said (PA) Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed the victim had been discharged from hospital on Monday evening (PA) Her mother said: Hearing about it this morning felt very strange it doesnt happen here. I know it sounds a cliche and you see it happening on the news in other places. Among the parents was Michelle Smith, who was waiting for her 13-year-old son Alex, who is in year eight. Mrs Smith said she was very relieved to be able to collect him. The injured teacher is very popular with parents and pupils alike, she said. Mrs Smith said: He is one of those teachers you know you can email him or talk to him. He gets back to you and I am really, really, very concerned about him at the moment. I have got everything crossed for him. We know the kids are safe now, we just need to know that he is OK. Pupils were reunited with their families on Monday afternoon with some leaving school earlier after lockdown was lifted (Getty Images) Alex said: The school had just started and we went to our first lesson and we didnt know what was going on. But it was all right until the teacher locked the door and we were in that same lesson for four or five hours. Downing Street said Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks thoughts are with those affected by the stabbing, while Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the Department for Education (DfE) is on hand to support the school. The school has confirmed it will reopen on Tuesday (Getty Images) Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: This is a deeply shocking and distressing incident and our thoughts are with all staff, pupils and parents at the school. The immediate priority must be to support pupils and staff who will have been deeply affected by what has happened and we will be offering whatever support is needed at this difficult time. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has urged peaceful and positive July 12 celebrations across Northern Ireland. He made the call hours before bonfires built in loyalist areas will be lit ahead of Orange Order parades on Wednesday. They are a traditional part of the main date in the Protestant loyal order parading season. Some of the pyres, mainly made by stacking wooden pallets, have been burned already, though the vast majority will be lit late on Tuesday night. There was condemnation at the weekend when an Irish flag and a picture of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was put on a bonfire in Co Tyrone. Police are treating the incident as a hate crime. On Tuesday evening, police and community representatives were working together to remove material from a bonfire in Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, on the outskirts of north Belfast. An effigy, above a poster bearing the name of Sinn Fein Councillor Taylor McGrann, appeared on the pyre. A police spokesperson said they are treating this as a hate crime and have liaised with community representatives with a view to having the material removed. As unionists we need to recognise that such incidents are self-inflicted wounds. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Sir Jeffrey said the burning of flags or election posts are self-inflicted wounds for unionists. For those of us who do cherish the legacy of the Glorious Revolution then the best way to show that to others is through peaceful and positive celebrations, he said. Those dont include the burning of flags or election posters on a bonfire, but thankfully in the vast majority of cases that does not happen. Unfortunately, it will be a minority of cases where offence is caused that will dominate the headlines. As unionists we need to recognise that such incidents are self-inflicted wounds. From fun-days and bonfires on the 11th through to the annual Sham Fight at Scarva on Thursday, for most people it will be time to spend with family and catching up with friends. All of us who enjoy the celebrations can play our part in demonstrating to others everything that is best about this time of the year and why it is so important to us all. The Eleventh Night fires are traditionally lit on the eve of the Twelfth Of July a day when members of Protestant loyal orders parade to commemorate the Battle of Boyne in 1690. The battle, which unfolded at the Boyne river north of Dublin, saw Protestant King William of Orange defeat Catholic King James II to secure a Protestant line of succession to the British Crown. Most of the estimated 250 bonfires pass off every year without incident but a number continue to be a source of controversy. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A BBC presenter accused of paying for sexually explicit photos now faces four allegations against him. A 23-year-old has claimed the unnamed presenter broke lockdown rules to meet them during the pandemic in February 2021, according to The Sun. Separately, a 17-year-old has alleged they were following the star on Instagram when he messaged them, using love hearts and kisses, reported The Sun on Tuesday. Follow The Independents live coverage for the latest updates In a different set of allegations, BBC News reported on Tuesday that a person in their early 20s has claimed they were sent threatening messages by the unnamed man. It comes after The Sun alleged a young person was paid around 35,000 for sexually explicit images by the presenter, who has been suspended by the BBC. Have you been affected by this story? If so email holly.evans@independent.co.uk What are the allegations? In the first allegations that were made, the presenter was accused of paying a 17 year-old around 35,000 for sexually explicit images. The BBC star allegedly appeared in his underwear in a video call. The family of the young person, who is now 20 years-old, has claimed the series of payments fuelled their crack cocaine addiction. On Sunday, the Sun published an update that claimed that the male presenter called the young person twice after the allegations became public. He reportedly told them in panic what have you done and demanded that their mother stop the investigation. On Tuesday, BBC News reported a person in their early 20s who the broadcaster said is not connected to the person in the first report by The Sun allegedly received threatening messages from the presenter, after they met on a dating app. The presenter then allegedly sent a number of threatening messages, which the BBC says it has seen and confirmed came from a phone number belonging to the unnamed man, and asked the young person not to tell anyone. In another set of allegations, a 17-year-old claimed they were following the star on Instagram when he messaged them, using love hearts and kisses, reported The Sun on Tuesday. Separately, a 23-year-old person has claimed the BBC presenter broke lockdown rules to meet them during the pandemic in February 2021, according to The Sun on Wednesday. The Suns new report claims messages seen by the paper suggest the presenter travelled from London to a different county to meet the 23-year-old at their flat in February 2021, when strict coronavirus lockdown rules were in place including a stay at home order and mixing only between household bubbles. The young person, who claims to have met the presenter on a dating website, said the man also gave them more than 600 in three payments, which the newspaper said messages also suggest. Why hasnt the presenter been named? Since the news broke, questions have been asked why the name of the BBC star has not been published. The male presenter has not been named by the Sun or any other outlets who know their identity. There is no court injunction banning the disclosure of the name of the presenter, it is believed. The media is not publicly releasing the name through fear of defamation and breaching his privacy, media law experts have explained. Mark Stephens, media law expert and partner at Howard Kennedy, said the law was changed after Sir Cliff Richard won a privacy case against the BBC over its coverage of a South Yorkshire Police raid on his home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, in August 2014. Mr Stephens said there is a second layer of privacy, which is the contractual arrangement between the BBC and its members of staff. If there are allegations of inappropriate behaviour, or any other kind of breach of employment practice, they should be investigated confidentially, he said. Thats doesnt matter whether youre a celebrity or in the local office or on the building site, the same law applies. The well-known presenter has been suspended following the allegations (PA Wire) What is the BBC saying? On Tuesday, addressing the first set of claims, the BBC said a family member contacted the corporation in May and the BBCs Corporate Investigations Team assessed that the claims did not include an allegation of criminality but nonetheless merited further investigation. Director-general Tim Davie announced he has ordered a review to assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation. He told reporters he was first informed of the allegations when The Sun said it would be publishing its front page story. The corporation has also been asked to pause its internal investigation into the allegations while the police scope future work following a meeting with the Metropolitan Police. A statement from the broadcaster said: As a result of this meeting, the BBC has been asked to pause its investigations into the allegations while the police scope future work. It added: The BBC has processes and protocols for receiving information and managing complaints when they are first made. We always take these matters extremely seriously and seek to manage them with the appropriate duty of care. The events of recent days have shown how complex and challenging these kinds of cases can be and how vital it is that they are handled with the utmost diligence and care. There will, of course, be lessons to be learned following this exercise. In an email to staff, addressing the first set of claims, Mr Davie said such allegations were taken incredibly seriously. Tim Davie, Director General of the BBC, held emergency talks on Sunday with the Culture Secretary (PA Archive) What have the accusers said? The family of the teenager at the centre of the first set of allegations were reportedly upset with the wording of the BBCs statement on the star presenters suspension, according to the Sun. On Saturday night, the family allegedly handed a dossier of evidence to BBCs lead investigator, former detective Jeff Brown. The mother of the teenager told the paper she was frustrated the presenter was initially still on the air despite making their complaint to the BBC in May. She said the young person had gone from a happy-go-lucky youngster to a ghost-like crack addict in just three years. The mother reportedly begged the BBC to make the presenter stop sending the cash. She told the Sun: When I see him on telly, I feel sick. I blame this BBC man for destroying my childs life. Taking my childs innocence and handing over the money for crack cocaine that could kill my child. The young person showed their mother online bank statements. There were huge sums, hundreds, or thousands of pounds at a time, the mother said. One time he had sent 5,000 in one lump. The money had been in exchange for sexually explicit photographs of my child. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said suggestions BBC allowed presenter to stay on air were astonishing (PA Wire) What are politicians saying? Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the initial allegations as shocking and concerning on the plane to the Nato summit in Lithuania on Tuesday. But government minister Victoria Atkins on Wednesday told Sky News MPs should be "very careful" about using parliamentary privilege to identify the presenter, saying they had to remember the "huge responsibility" they have. Earlier culture secretary Lucy Frazer said the BBC had reassured her the broadcaster was investigating swiftly and sensitively. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves told the corporation to get its house in order. Former home secretary Priti Patel said: The allegations, carried by the Sun, are absolutely horrendous. The BBC owes an explanation to the country who funded it and placed their trust in it. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said the BBC had reassured her the broadcaster was investigating swiftly and sensitively (PA Wire) What are other BBC stars saying? Jeremy Vine has urged the unnamed figure to come forward publicly as speculation about their identity deepens. Several star faces at the BBC tweeted and tried to distance themselves from the male presenter facing damning allegations. A witchhunt on social media has also ensued due to the anonymity of the star male presenter. TV presenter Rylan Clark said: Not sure why my names floating about but re that story in the Sun - that aint me babe. What next? The BBC presenter could face jail if he is found guilty of any potential charges over the alleged explicit pictures. The allegations have caused the corporation damage to its reputation and pressure is mounting on the BBC as it deals with the ongoing crisis. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Racist slurs have been visible on the UK governments Foreign Offices website for over a decade breaching its own guidelines, The Independent can reveal. The word n*****d to describe Black people was found in the comment section of an article penned by the UKs former ambassador to Somalia about his then-recent visit to the country in 2012. Along with the slur were numerous other offensive Afriphobic remarks branding Somalis as very cunning and greedy people and claiming Somalia needs saving from itself. The derogatory comments contradict the governments own online comment guidelines and appear to have evaded the scrutiny of moderators despite ministers implementing policies to ensure such comments are removed. The Foreign Office has since removed the slur after The Independent highlighted it but it is the latest in a string of instances where racist terms have been uncovered either in official government documents or on its online platforms. It comes after Downing Street last week said that it was confident the word did not appear in any other documents and rejected calls for an investigation. The latest offending comment reads: The number of Jerer (Bantu) and other n*****d inhabitants in Somalia before the civil war is thought to have been about 1,900,000 persons. N*****d is widely accepted as a racist slur, coined by colonialists in the 18th century in reference to people of African ancestry who were deemed as subhuman. It is not a term associated with civilised discourse in modern times. The Independent revealed last week that the term had been included in both a report by the Met Office and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) guidance used to assess benefit claims, prompting prime minister Rishi Sunaks official spokesperson to denounce the word as inappropriate and offensive. The Independent later revealed that the slur had been further visible in the comment section of a page on the governments own website since 2015, in a comment under a blog post titled Equality in the Civil Service: talking about race. The word was removed after its presence was highlighted by The Independent, raising questions about the way the government monitors its website for offensive terms. The prime ministers spokesperson was forced to denounce the word as inappropriate and offensive (PA) Following the backlash, cross-party MPs have called for a government-wide review of official documents across all Whitehall departments. Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton, submitted a parliamentary question last Thursday to Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state for the Cabinet Office, calling for an investigation into official documents to ensure that no further slurs or prejudiced terms were being used. A Labour spokesperson told The Independent: It is appalling that another document containing racist language is still in widespread circulation within a government agency. The minister for women and equalities must launch an urgent audit of all government departments, agencies and arms-length bodies to find out whether there are any other documents that contain this or any other racist terminology, and see that they are withdrawn immediately. Swift action is needed from a Conservative government that has previously refused to accept structural racism even exists. Labour is serious about rooting out the structural racial inequality that scars our society and will introduce a landmark Race Equality Act to tackle it at source. Throughout history, slurs such as the one used on the Foreign Office website have been used against Black people and other ethnic minorities (AFP via Getty) The offending DWP paperwork uncovered by The Independent, first issued in 2010 to help doctors assess disability benefit claims but still in use until just days ago, referred to Black people as being of the n*****d race. The Met Office study titled Monitoring of Mean Radiant Temperature for Man was published in 2012 and was also publicly available until last week. Both documents have since been removed online. The Met Office has apologised for any offence caused, while the DWP has launched its own inquiry into how the document remained in circulation for so long. Christine Jardine, the MP for Edinburgh West and the Liberal Democrats equalities spokesperson, said: These revelations are truly shocking. Racist terms and racism in any form has absolutely no place in our society or our government. The government must now urgently review and investigate its departments to make sure we see no other occurrences. Political activist Professor Gus John told The Independent: N*****d ... does not connote a geographical place or region, but a people whose standing in the human realm has been defined as primitive, undeveloped, backward and not as human as the rest of humanity, thus qualifying to be used as chattels, or for experimentation by eugenicists. A spokesperson from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: Our gov.uk moderation policy makes clear we do not tolerate offensive or inflammatory language. These comments on a blog from 2012 fall short of those standards and have now been removed. The Independent has queried the office about why the comment describing Somali people as greedy and cunning remained live while the offensive slur has been removed. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police have seized drugs with a street value of 2 million which officers believe were destined for Northern Ireland. The PSNIs Organised Crime Unit, in conjunction with West Midlands Police, are investigating the attempted importation of the suspected cannabis and cocaine. A PSNI spokesperson said: West Midlands Police local response officers were called last Thursday to the report of a suspicious van in the Walsall area. Officers attended and gained entry to the van in which they found suspected cannabis and cocaine with an approximate street value of 2 million. A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and was later bailed for further enquiries to be carried out. The spokesperson added: We believe that this significant quantity of drugs was destined to arrive in Northern Ireland, and would then likely have been distributed and sold in local communities here. The organised crime gangs involved in this activity profit hugely from the sale of these harmful drugs and have no care for the destruction and harm they cause to peoples lives. We will continue every effort to disrupt this criminality, working with other UK and international policing teams to do so. Our enquiries into this matter are ongoing and I would appeal to anyone with any information about the supply or use of illegal drugs to contact police on 101 or submit a report online. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Biden on Wednesday hailed the unbroken people of Ukraine and the incredible dignity with which theyve acted to repel Russias invading forces as he pledged on behalf of the Western world to maintain support for Kyivs defence for as long as necessary. Mr Biden delivered his remarks to a boisterous crowd whod gathered hours ahead of time to hear him speak in the Great Court at Vilnius University, following the conclusion of this years Nato leaders summit, at which leaders of the 31-member defence alliance agreed to expedite Ukraines bid for membership in the bloc once the war with Russia has been brought to a close. The president, who was also met with one person in the crowd who held a sign marking him as a supporter of his predecessor, Donald Trump, noted the history of the place where he was speaking, and recalled how the Lithuanian yellow, green and red tricolour flag remained aloft outside the countrys diplomatic mission to Washington, even throughout the Soviet occupation of Lithuania. He said some of the older attendees in the crowd would know better than anyone how precious the right to determine your own future is, and praised Lithuania and the other Baltic states Estonia and Latvia for their strenuous advocacy for Ukraines defence and for Kyivs bid for membership in Nato. Mr Biden said that all parties involved want this war to end, but only on terms that will uphold the basic principles of the UN charter concerning national sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling those concepts two pillars of peaceful relations among nations. One country cannot be allowed to seize his neighbour territory by force, he said, adding that Moscow could end this war tomorrow by pulling back Russian forces from all of Ukraines territory, with the caveat that Moscow has shown thus far no interest in such an outcome because Russian president Vladimir Putin still wrongly believes that he can outlast Ukraine. He can't believe it's their land, their country and their future and even after all this time, Putin still doubts their staying power, Mr Biden said, adding that the Russian leader is still making a bad bet by thinking that the conviction and the unity among the United States and our allies and partners will break down. He still doesn't understand that our commitment, our values, our freedom is something he can never, never, ever ever walk away from. It's who we are, he said. The defence of freedom is not the work of a day or a year. It's the calling of our lifetime of all time. Were steeled for the struggle ahead, our unity will not falter, I promise you. Mr Biden added that the US and Western commitment to Ukraines defence will not waver. Our commitment to Ukraine will not weaken. We will stand for liberty today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes, he said. The presidents remarks echoed another rousing speech he delivered in Warsaw five months ago, when he pledged unwavering support for Ukraines defence and Natos unity less than 24 hours after a surprise visit to Kyiv. At the time, he pledged that Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, and it appears that the rest of the West is on board with Mr Bidens plans. In addition to the Nato leaders who gathered in Vilnius this week, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida travelled there to unveil a new joint declaration from the Group of Seven in support of Kyivs defence. In remarks delivered following the G7 leaders session, Mr Biden said the joint declaration will make it clear that support for Kyiv from the worlds largest democracies will last long into the future. This starts a process by which each of our nations and any other nation who wishes to participate will negotiate long-term bilateral or security commitments with him to Ukraine. Were going to help Ukraine build a strong capable defence across land, air and sea ... which will enforce stability in the region and deter against any and all threats, he said. Mr Biden reiterated the same sentiment a short time later during a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. He praised Mr Zelensky, the actor-turned-politician who has served as Ukraines leader since 2019, as having done an enormous job and promised that the US and its allies would make sure that you get what you need. And I look forward to the day when were having the meetings celebrating your official membership in Nato, so thank you for what youre doing, he said. For his part, Mr Zelensky thanked the US president for his recent decision to provide Kyiv with cluster munitions for use against Russian troops on Ukrainian soil, telling Mr Biden that the move will help us to save us. The announcement of the joint declaration and the meeting between Mr Biden and Mr Zelensky came after days of tension between the Ukrainian leader and his other Western counterparts over Ukraines prospects for membership in Nato. While the US and many other Nato nations had been skittish about giving Ukraine a path to rapid membership while the war with Russia continues, other states have pushed for an immediate change in Kyivs status. But the joint declaration and an announcement from Nato that Ukraine could skip the Membership Action Plan previously laid out for the countrys membership bid and join at a future date post-war appeared to smooth over the tension between the allies and the Ukrainian leader. Asked how long it would take for Nato to accept Ukraine once the war was over, Mr Biden quipped: An hour and 20 minutes. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak claimed his crackdown on small boats was having a much better result than expected despite the arrival of nearly 700 migrants on Friday. The PM also said the government had to get migrants out of hotels just hours after it emerged the Home Office is spending more than half a million pounds a day to reserve thousands of empty beds. Speaking to reporters on his way to the NATO summit in Lithuania, Mr Sunak denied that he had been wrong to claim his small boats policy was starting to work last month. Friday saw a record numbers of crossings for this year seeing 686 people arrive in small boats from across the English Channel, the highest number on one day so far in 2023. However, the prime minister said he had always predicted that the numbers coming to Britain would rise during the summer. The fact that they [the numbers] are down for five months of the year, the fact that they are still down, even if its less than what people are expecting, is a much better result than anyone was expecting, he said. Mr Sunak said his policy had to be judged on the trends when he took office. At that stage the numbers were increasing every year, he said. The PM said: I do think the plan is working starting to work. He added: You can see that most obviously with the Albanian deal we did. Weve returned almost 2,000 illegal migrants to Albania and youve seen a dramatic reduction in the number of crossings. Right. That shows me deterrence works. He said he did not think a system where people were dying in the Channel in their bid to get to Britain was one that should persist, adding: Its not going to be easy, its not going to happen overnight. Suella Braverman and Rishi Sunak under pressure to stop the boats (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street) The PM added: We need to get people out of hotels, we need to save the taxpayer billions. We need to get the backlog down. But fundamentally we need to do what it compassionate and fair. The PM is under huge pressure from within his own party to deliver on small boats. In January he promised he would stop the boats, and urged voters to judge him on that pledge. More than 13,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to the UK so far this year, figures show. According to Home Office data, 338 people made the journey on Monday. It means 1,677 arrivals were recorded in four days, with 686 detected on Friday, 384 on Saturday and 269 on Sunday. The Home Office data shows the number of small boat arrivals in the UK between January and June fell by around 10 per cent compared to the same period last year. Freedom From Torture campaigners put up blue plaque (Freedom From Torture) Campaigners at Freedom from Torture put a blue plaque outside Mr Sunaks constituency office accusing him of being on wrong side of history and closing the door on refugees. More than 60 people - who include victims of torture, refugees, asylum seekers and those already granted asylum in the UK - as well as around 30 campaign groups wrote to MPs to express their horror at the Illegal Migration Bill and urge them to oppose it. MPs are discussing the small boats legislation in the Commons on Monday after the government agreed a series of concessions to push the bill through before parliaments summer recess starts next week. Home secretary Suella Braverman revealed the concessions on Monday evening including limits on the detention of unaccompanied children, who will be granted immigration bail after eight days rather than the current proposed 28. The government will also keep the current limit of 72 hours on the detention of pregnant women though this can be extended to seven days on the authorisation of a minister. Almost 700 migrants arrived on Friday alone (PA Wire) Another change will prevent people who have already entered the UK without permission from being removed retrospectively after the legislation receives royal assent. The government still faces potential challenges despite the changes, with Theresa May and Iain Duncan Smith among senior Conservatives to air concerns that the legislation must go further in offering modern slavery protections. It comes as MPs heard the Home Office is paying for thousands of empty hotel beds reserved for migrants to avoid overcrowding at processing centres. Home Office second permanent secretary Simon Ridley told the public accounts select committee the government keeps a buffer of about 5,000 beds across the country in case of a sudden influx of Channel crossings. The Bill is central to Mr Sunaks pledge to stop the boats remains mired in difficulties. It aims to ensure those who arrive in the UK illegally to be detained and promptly removed either to their home country or a third country, such as Rwanda. But critics have argued it is morally unacceptable and unworkable, and the Rwanda plan is now set for a battle at the Supreme Court after it was rejected by the Court of Appeal. Meanwhile, the PM also told reporters that a prospective deal to rejoin the EUs science research scheme had to work in the interests of British taxpayers. Mr Sunak had been expected to finalise a deal, but No 10 insisted that he was still weighing up whether to sign an agreement as British reportedly pushed for further concessions. Our preference is to associate to Horizon but we need to make sure that we do that on terms that work for the UK and are in the UKs best interests, he said. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The immigration minister condemned for ordering staff to paint over cartoon wall murals at an asylum reception centre claims they were removed because they were not age-appropriate. Robert Jenrick was accused of losing sight of humanity with his intervention at the Kent Intake Unit, where unaccompanied child asylum seekers are processed after arriving on small boats. He defended the move when questioned repeatedly by MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday, saying the unit was still high quality and offered appropriate support. The cohort of unaccompanied children who passed through last year were largely teenagers and we didnt feel the site was age-appropriate, but it does contain a range of support for children and infants, Mr Jenrick said. Nothing about the decoration of sites changes the fundamentals that if someone comes to the UK we will treat them with decency and compassion at all times. Yvette Cooper, Labours shadow home secretary, said that painting over the cartoons of Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters would not deter small boats, and accused the minister of trampling over common decency towards vulnerable children. The i newspaper reported that several Conservative MPs were appalled by the order, which was initially resisted by staff but carried out by outside contractors last Tuesday. On the same visit, Mr Jenrick reportedly called for colourful welcome signs to be taken down to make clear the unit was a law enforcement environment and not a welcome centre. The Freedom From Torture charity accused the government of losing sight of its humanity, while Labour MP Stella Creasy compared the minister to a cartoon villain. The murals were photographed as part of a watchdog inspection that said the Kent Intake Unit was mainly used for unaccompanied children who arrive at the coast to be supervised, identified, interviewed and issued with immigration documents. A report published by HM Inspectorate of Prisons last month said they were detained in windowless holding rooms, adding: The unit was newly built and rooms were in good condition, warm and brightly lit, although there were no windows. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick was criticised for the decision in parliament (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire) The Kent Intake Unit will continue to process children under the governments Illegal Migration Bill, which aims to see all adult small boat migrants detained and deported. Mr Jenrick, who has previously visited Rwanda and given lessons to government lawyers, told parliament that most unaccompanied children will not be forcibly removed from the UK until they turn 18. The immigration minister defended the governments bill against a slew of critical interventions by senior Conservatives and opposition MPs, following 20 defeats in the House of Lords. Former prime minister Theresa May, ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and previous justice secretary Robert Buckland were among those raising concern about the proposed treatment of modern slavery victims, and lack of safe and legal alternatives for asylum seekers reaching the UK. Mr Duncan Smith said the government was cutting off their nose to spite their face by deporting trafficking victims, making it less likely they will support the prosecution of gangs, while Ms May said the bill would enable more slave drivers to operate and consign more people to slavery. Meanwhile Conservative MP Tom Hunt, who is a member of the ring-wing Common Sense Group of Tories, urged the government to have a plan B after the Court of Appeal ruled the Rwanda deal unlawful, adding: I hope that, when it comes to that Supreme Court judgment, the Rwanda plan will get the green light. However, the government need to plan for the eventuality that that might not happen. There needs to be a plan B, we cannot put all our eggs in the Rwanda basket. Theresa May says small boats bill 'shuts door' to genuine victims But the government was on track to win all Commons votes on Tuesday evening - throwing out the Lords amendments while passing ministers own concessions on the detention of children and pregnant women. In a major climbdown announced on Monday night, the government agreed not to detain and deport small boat migrants who arrived after the bill was announced until March, moving the threshold to when it becomes law - sparing more than 10,000 migrants who crossed the Channel in the interim. But the concessions fall far short of those demanded by the House of Lords, and the changes backed by MPs will now go back to peers in a protracted process known as ping-pong. More votes will take place if the House of Lords insists on its amendments, threatening the governments hopes to pass the Illegal Migration Bill before parliaments summer recess begins on 20 July. Labour's shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said the amendments would have mitigated the most egregious excesses of the bill. It will only make a terrible situation worse - it will simply grow the backlog and increase the cost, he told MPs. The bill says the government will detain and remove every asylum seeker coming to the UK via irregular route - where on earth is the home secretary going to detain them? And with the Rwanda deal in tatters, where will she remove them to? For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Bill seeking to stamp out bullying at work by providing robust mechanisms for reporting, investigation, and enforcement has been presented to Parliament. Labours Rachael Maskell tabled her Bullying and Respect at Work Bill on Tuesday, which aims to address the issue of workplace bullying whilst also advancing positive behaviours within work environments. The Bill would introduce a legal definition of workplace bullying, establish mechanisms for reporting and investigating incidents, and promote positive behaviours through a Respect at Work Code, with enforcement powers by the Human Rights Commission (HRC). There's clearly a cost to employers and also a significant loss in working days. People who have experienced bullying often end up going off sick. Rachael Maskell Speaking to the PA news agency about her proposals, the York Central MP highlighted the lack of a direct route to restitution within the current legal framework. She stressed that other jurisdictions, such as Australia, Canada and other European countries, have already enacted laws to combat workplace bullying. She said: In regard to bullying, theres no legal definition as such. Acas (The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) have got a definition within their code of practice. There is no direct route to restitution either in law. So at the moment, you could resign from your post and claim unfair dismissal and go for that kind of channel or there is protection from harassment. That was the stalkers legislation, but that is not suitable. Its not designed to address workplace bullying. Jurisdictions across the world have already put this into statute. So if you look at Australia, Canada, Scandinavian countries, Netherlands and others in Europe, they are so much further ahead. Ms Maskell also stressed how workplace bullying is a pervasive and widespread problem in the UK, with research suggests 4.9 million people, or 15% of the UK workforce have experienced bullying at work. Speaking in the Commons, the Labour MP said: My Bill will not just help people at work but employers, too. Bullying costs UK businesses 18 billion a year, over 17 million working days are lost each year due to work-related negative behaviours such as bullying, according to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive). She added: It is my experience that all can be subject to the destructive forces of bullying and all must receive protection under the law. In bringing forward this legislation, it is my hope that we can change the culture of work. For workers to no longer fear a day in the office, on a ward or even in this Parliament, but instead workers know that the law is on their side, justice is protecting them and they can receive the very help they need. Nicki Eyre, director of Conduct Change Advocates and Stop the Hurt at work campaigner, said: I am delighted to see the proposed Bullying and Respect at Work Bill being championed by Rachael Maskell. Our movement aims to shed light on the issue of workplace bullying and the urgent need for its recognition within the framework of UK legislation. This Bill represents a significant step forward in the journey to addressing workplace bullying and fostering a culture of respect within UK workplaces. I am particularly pleased to see the cross-party support this proposal has already achieved. Ms Maskell presented her Bill via the 10-minute rule motion procedure, which allowed her 10 minutes to outline her proposals. The Bill is unlikely to make further progress in its current form due to a lack of parliamentary time to debate Bills tabled by backbench MPs. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rachel Riley will receive an MBE at Windsor Castle for her work in raising awareness of the Holocaust and combating antisemitism. The Countdown presenter, 37, was honoured for her services to Holocaust education as an avid campaigner in the New Year Honours list. She was a vocal critic of Labours handling of alleged antisemitism within the party and condemned Jeremy Corbyns conduct while leader. Riley, who has co-hosted the Channel 4 show since 2009, was paid 10,000 in damages by Mr Corbyns former aide, Laura Murray, following a High Court libel case in August last year. In 2019, she explained the abuse she received on social media as a public figure during a speech for the Holocaust Educational Trust in Westminster, with her mother being Jewish. Riley wrote on Twitter after the honours announcement: Incredibly proud to have just been awarded an MBE for services to Holocaust education. Grateful to everyone who has sent well wishes and support over the years. This is very much shared with so many people who also dedicate their time and energy to fighting anti-Jewish racism. Sir Alok Sharma and David Harewood are among the other notable names set to collect honours at the event. Sir Alok, a former Conservative cabinet member, has been MP for Reading West since 2010 and also served as president for Cop26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow. He has remained vocal on environmental policy and last week called on the Government to remain committed to an 11.6 billion climate pledge. Fellow MP Sir Tony Lloyd, who holds a Labour seat in Rochdale, will also be honoured for his public service having represented his party since the early 1980s. Actor and broadcaster Harewood, best known for his role in US drama series Homeland, was recognised in the honours list with an OBE for services to drama and charity after he became a prominent voice for mental health support and against racism. He said on Instagram: An award from a new King should be cause for massive celebration, and yet already I hear the chorus of self defeating voices rattling around my head, thoughts of Empire and subjugation confusing the picture and again shifting the earth underneath. I stop for a moment and think of all the others whose contributions have gone unnoticed and unpaid for and accept this award on their behalf, and continue to speak truth to power whenever and wherever I see the need. Two men will receive honours for services to music, with Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward also collecting an OBE and pianist Sir Stephen Hough receiving his knighthood. Sir Stephen, who made 29 appearances at the BBC Proms, was recognised in the late Queens Birthday Honours last year for a career that includes eight Gramophone Awards. He said he saw the knighthood as an acknowledgement that classical music is something of continuing relevance and importance in British cultural life. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A group of meerkats is to move into a childrens hospital to give young patients the opportunity to connect with nature. The meerkats from Edinburgh Zoo will live in a new enclosure to be built at NHS Lothians Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) in the Scottish capital. The initiative, said to be the first of its kind outside Australia, is being delivered through a partnership between Edinburgh Childrens Hospital Charity (ECHC), the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and NHS Lothian. RZSS Edinburgh Zoo currently delivers a weekly programme of educational activities at the RHCYP, and having meerkats on site will give patients the opportunity to learn about nature and the environment. ECHC chief executive Roslyn Neely said: Some children are too unwell or have been in hospital for so long that they dont have the opportunity to engage with the outdoors, or interact with animals. Many of the children who visit the hospital care passionately about nature and the environment. Our programme will allow them to learn from experts while getting up close to the best teachers of all the meerkats themselves. The wellbeing benefits of engaging with animals and using nature in the healing process are well documented, and theres great excitement within the hospital in anticipation of our furry friends arriving. The programme is currently in the early stages of planning and it is hoped the meerkats will move into their new home at the RHCYP from 2024. Being close to nature and animals can have a tremendous impact on peoples mental and physical health and wellbeing David Field, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland There will be five animals in the enclosure in the Castle Mey courtyard, which will replicate their natural habitat, with sand, rocks and logs. It will feature Perspex panels so that children in pushchairs or wheelchairs can see the meerkats. Keepers from Edinburgh Zoo will care for the meerkats and provide educational sessions, both in communal spaces, at bedsides and outside at the enclosure. RZSS chief executive David Field said: Our conservation education programme has already been a great success and now we are taking this incredible next step by creating the only meerkat enclosure at a childrens hospital outside of Australia, making this a first in the UK and Europe. Being close to nature and animals can have a tremendous impact on peoples mental and physical health and wellbeing. We also know that people and communities are more likely to help protect nature when they have had the opportunity to connect with our natural world. We are really looking forward to bringing a group of meerkats to live at the hospital next year and seeing the impact this will have for the children and their families. We want to brighten up our patients days in an educational way and we know that the meerkats will be an exciting addition to the RHCYP Allister Short, NHS Lothian In Edinburgh all the welfare needs of the animals, such as feeding and veterinary care, will be overseen by RZSS, which will provide expert animal keepers, vets and trained volunteers. NHS Lothian will lead on all aspects of patient safety. Allister Short, director of womens and childrens services at NHS Lothian, said: We are really excited about this innovative programme coming to the RHCYP. Meerkats have been introduced into many childrens hospitals in Australia and this unique concept encourages children to learn and be inspired, particularly when theyre in hospital for long periods of time. We want to brighten up our patients days in an educational way and we know that the meerkats will be an exciting addition to the RHCYP. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The disclosure of an email to Ryan Tubridys agent has undermined attempts by senior RTE executives to distances themselves from the payments controversy, parliamentarians have been told. Agent Noel Kelly described the email to him from former RTE chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe as a shocking revelation that directly contradicted the claim that ex-director general Dee Forbes had done a solo run by agreeing to underwrite a 75,000-euro-a-year deal involving RTE, Tubridy and Renault. The disclosure was one of several made by Mr Kelly and Tubridy on Tuesday as they sought to challenge RTE claims around the 345,000 euro of misreported payments to the presenter. They also rejected the suggestion that 120,000 of that total represented additional payments to Tubridy across the years 2017-19. Tubridy and his agent instead contended that RTE incorrectly under-reported the agreed salary paid to the star across those years by a total of 120,000 as a way to set off a 120,000 euro loyalty payment that the presenter was due at the end of his contract, but did not ultimately claim for. There have been no overpayments of any sort, said Tubridy. He said all the issues related to the misreporting of payments to him were down to RTEs unfortunate accountancy errors. One of the most contentious aspects of the furore at the national broadcaster involves a tripartite agreement between RTE, Renault and Tubridy in 2020 that saw the star paid 75,000 euro a year in exchange for personal appearances for the motoring company. In the first year, Renault paid the 75,000 euro to Tubridy albeit it received a 75,000 euro credit off its sponsorship arrangement with RTE as a result. More controversial was RTEs decision to underwrite the agreement, meaning when Renault pulled out after the first year, the public service broadcaster picked up the tab for two 75,000 euro payments for 2021 and 2022. The broadcaster also used a UK-based commercial barter account to make those two payments. Last week Ms OKeeffe told parliamentarians that when she left her role in March 2020, RTEs position was that it would not underwrite the deal due to risks involved. My recollection is that Mr Tubridys agent requested that the commercial agreement be underwritten by RTE and this was refused, she said. She added: I was not aware any guarantee had been issued until I heard about it last week in the media reports. On Tuesday, Mr Kelly revealed an email sent by Ms OKeeffe in February 2020, ccing Ms Forbes and director of content Jim Jennings, that informed the agent of RTEs willingness to provide you with a side letter to underwrite this fee for the duration of the contract. Mr Kelly said the email directly contradicted Ms OKeeffes own claims last week, and the further assertions of others in RTE around who was responsible for the underwriting. This is perhaps the most shocking revelation this morning, Mr Kelly said. Since this controversy began, RTE has tried to distance themselves from this decision. Effectively they have blamed former director-general Dee Forbes for doing a solo run and for giving a verbal commitment to underwrite the contract on a Zoom call in May. Tubridy and Mr Kelly said they were not aware chat show sponsor Renault had withdrawn from the tripartite agreement after year one. In response to questions from Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe, Mr Kelly said No, no idea. Mr Kelly was also asked why he had used the description consultancy fees on the invoices he raised for the 75,000 euro payments for 2021 and 2022 and not put Tubridys name on them. He said he was following instructions from RTE and rejected any suggestion he colluded with the broadcaster to conceal the true nature of the payments. I think the lack of credibility is on RTEs side, he said. Mr Kelly was challenged why he had not queried why the first invoice was paid by Renault but the second two by Astus, the UK company linked to the RTE barter account. We acted at all times on instructions from RTE, he explained. He added: We trusted the process, why would we not trust the process? Mr Kelly has said it was the idea of RTEs former commercial director Geraldine OLeary to label invoices for payments due to Tubridy as consultancy fees. The agent also rejected the suggestion that the deal with Renault was designed to compensate for the pay reduction Tubridy had signed up to with his new RTE broadcasting contract a cut that amounted to 525,000 euro across five years. This was a separate contract for separate services, he said. Pressed on why he had sought the broadcaster to underwrite the annual 75,000 euro payments, Mr Kelly said the commitment was requested to ensure the arrangement would continue if the sponsor changed. I asked for the deal to be underwritten because the relationship with the sponsor is with RTE, its not with us, he said. Tubridy and Mr Kelly claimed they both thought the invoices that were paid from the UK-based barter account in 2022 were actually paid by Renault, given the first of the three invoices had been paid by the motoring company. Thats the misunderstanding, said Mr Kelly. On Tuesday, RTE rejected the claim that it gave an incorrect version of events to the Oireachtas over its agreement to underwrite payments. The broadcaster said: For clarity, the claim relates specifically to an email that was sent by the former CFO of RTE to NK Management (Noel Kellys company) on February 20 2020, which is being characterised as a contractual commitment on the part of RTE to underwrite the payments in question. RTE does not accept this characterisation. RTEs position is that the email of February 20 2020 formed part of the discussions and engagement between it and NK Management in relation to the proposed new TV and radio contract with Mr Tubridy/Tuttle Productions and did not comprise a binding legal or contractual commitment on its part. RTEs position is as per previous statements: That, until the verbal commitment given by the former director-general during the call on May 7 2020, it had not agreed to underwrite the 75,000 euro payment per contract year. During the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday morning, Tubridy answered at length on the 120,000 euro of misreported payments between 2017 and 2019. The star said RTE had cited accountancy reasons as an explanation as to why they were proposing to retrospectively underreport Tubridys actual salary across those years to offset the 120,000 end-of-contract payment that the presenter did not take up. And we said that this didnt make any sense as we had neither invoiced, or received or refunded the 120. So how could it be deducted? said Tubridy. He suggested the approach was kind of mad. RTEs proposed treatment of this would give the impression that I was being paid 120,000 euro less than I was actually paid. We made clear that the 120,000 should not be taken off or deducted for prior year actual earnings. He claimed RTE initially agreed with this argument but then latterly reverted to its original approach when it published the figures for RTEs top 10 earners figures that under-reported Tubridys salary by a total of 120,000 across three years. We were obviously very surprised to see that, said Tubridy. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Home Secretary Suella Braverman has told the Scottish Government its proposals to decriminalise drugs for personal use would do untold damage to our neighbourhoods. Scottish drugs minister Elena Whitham announced the plans on Friday which would require the backing of the UK Government along with a framework for the creation of safe consumption rooms and the consideration of implementing the regulated supply of drugs. Within an hour of the announcement, the Prime Ministers official spokesman had knocked down the proposals. In a meeting with Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville on Tuesday, the Home Secretary again hit out at the plans. A readout of the meeting provided by the Home Office described the meeting as fiery. To be clear this government will not be changing our policy on personal use of illegal drugs, the Home Secretary said at the London meeting. I am very clear that illegal drugs destroy lives and communities they are devastating. The proposals I read from the Scottish National Party last week are irresponsible and would do untold damage to our neighbourhoods. Were focused on protecting people and preventing lives from being ruined, targeting gangs and preventing supply of drugs from overseas. Weve absolutely no intention of decriminalising illegal drug use and I think the Scottish National Party should focus their efforts on what powers they do have such as reforming health outcomes for the Scottish people. Drug deaths are still a huge problem in Scotland and this government is keen to work together to try to tackle that problem and prevent the very levels of drug deaths in Scotland. According to the readout, the Social Justice Secretary said the two Governments would always fundamentally disagree on drugs. Scotland has had the highest level of drug-related deaths in Western Europe in recent years, with 1,330 recorded in 2021 the latest data set and the Scottish Government is looking to more radical approaches to stem the tide. A spokesman for Shirley-Anne Somerville said: It is disappointing to see well-evidenced proposals once again being rejected in such a high-handed manner, without the UK Government even having gone to the bother of giving them proper consideration. This is a serious issue, and we all agree on the need to save lives and reduce harm which we believe is best done by treating this as a public health issue. Westminster is out of touch with the general public, who rightly expect a mature and open-minded debate about the right way forward. The Scottish Government is ready and willing to work constructively with the UK Government, the political parties at Holyrood and of course stakeholders more widely to make progress. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An image of Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill has been placed on a bonfire in Co Tyrone. The picture, along with Irish flags, appeared on the pyre in the Eastvale area of Dungannon on Tuesday evening as bonfires in loyalist areas across Northern Ireland prepared to be lit as part of the annual July 12 celebrations. Ms ONeill leads Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland, which won the most seats in the Assembly election entitling her to be nominated as the first nationalist or republican first minister. However the Stormont Assembly remains collapsed amid DUP protest action over post-Brexit arrangements. On Tuesday evening, police said they were talking to community representatives about removing the material which they are treating as hate crime. Officers are aware of material placed on a bonfire in Eastvale, Dungannon earlier today, the PSNI said in a statement. Police are treating this as a hate crime and are liaising with community representatives with a view to having the material removed. DUP MLA Deborah Erskine condemned the picture of Ms ONeill on the bonfire as wrong, and urged those responsible to remove the effigy. Numerous events will be held tonight without burning flags, symbols or effigies, Dungannon should be the same, she tweeted. It came as DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson urged peaceful and positive celebrations. He made the call hours before bonfires built in loyalist areas will be lit ahead of Orange Order parades on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended a bonfire on the Portaferry Road in Newtownards. It is understood a man fell from a bonfire structure at around 10pm and is being taken to hospital. There was condemnation at the weekend when an Irish flag and a picture of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was put on a bonfire in Co Tyrone. Police are treating the incident as a hate crime. On Tuesday evening, police and community representatives were working together to remove material from a bonfire in Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, on the outskirts of north Belfast. An effigy, above a poster bearing the name of Sinn Fein Councillor Taylor McGrann, appeared on the pyre. A police spokesperson said they are treating this as a hate crime and have liaised with community representatives with a view to having the material removed. As unionists we need to recognise that such incidents are self-inflicted wounds. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Sir Jeffrey said the burning of flags or election posters are self-inflicted wounds for unionists. For those of us who do cherish the legacy of the Glorious Revolution then the best way to show that to others is through peaceful and positive celebrations, he said. Those dont include the burning of flags or election posters on a bonfire, but thankfully in the vast majority of cases that does not happen. Unfortunately, it will be a minority of cases where offence is caused that will dominate the headlines. As unionists we need to recognise that such incidents are self-inflicted wounds. From fun-days and bonfires on the 11th through to the annual Sham Fight at Scarva on Thursday, for most people it will be time to spend with family and catching up with friends. All of us who enjoy the celebrations can play our part in demonstrating to others everything that is best about this time of the year and why it is so important to us all. The Eleventh Night fires are traditionally lit on the eve of the Twelfth Of July a day when members of Protestant loyal orders parade to commemorate the Battle of Boyne in 1690. The battle, which unfolded at the Boyne river north of Dublin, saw Protestant King William of Orange defeat Catholic King James II to secure a Protestant line of succession to the British Crown. Most of the estimated 250 bonfires pass off every year without incident, but a number continue to be a source of controversy. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The BBCs director-general has ordered a review to assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation following allegations a high-profile presenter paid a teenager for explicit images. The corporation has said it made two attempts over several weeks to contact the family who claimed the unnamed presenter paid their child around 35,000 over three years, from the age of 17, for explicit images. Director-general Tim Davie was first informed of the allegations seven weeks after the family first complained about the presenter to the BBC, when The Sun said it would be publishing its front page story. Mr Davie told reporters this was because there was no response to the attempts to make contact and investigators could not verify the claims. The corporation has also been asked to pause its internal investigation into the allegations while the police scope future work following a meeting with the Metropolitan Police. A statement from the broadcaster said: As a result of this meeting, the BBC has been asked to pause its investigations into the allegations while the police scope future work. It added: The BBC has processes and protocols for receiving information and managing complaints when they are first made. We always take these matters extremely seriously and seek to manage them with the appropriate duty of care. The events of recent days have shown how complex and challenging these kinds of cases can be and how vital it is that they are handled with the utmost diligence and care. There will, of course, be lessons to be learned following this exercise. Mr Davie said he has asked Leigh Tavaziva, the BBC Group chief operating officer, to assess whether its protocols and procedures are appropriate in light of the case. Speaking at a press conference about the BBCs annual report, Mr Davie said: Of course there will be lessons to be learned, and how processes could be improved. Immediately I have asked that we assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation. We will take time to properly review the current protocols and procedures to ensure they remain sufficient based on anything we learn from this case. The BBC has released a timeline of events, saying a family member of the young person first complained on May 18, when they went to a BBC building. The following day the same family member contacted BBC Audience Services and the details of the claims were referred to the BBCs Corporate Investigations Team, who assessed that the claims did not include an allegation of criminality, but nonetheless merited further investigation. Appearing on BBC Radio 4s World At One programme with broadcaster Sarah Montague, Mr Davie said of the initial complaint: The facts are there that very simply the Corporate Investigations Team looked at the log that is the summary of the call we have clear records of an interaction that lasted 29 minutes. The BBC said two subsequent attempts to contact the complainant via phone and email were unsuccessful and while the Corporate Investigations Team were due to return to the matter in the coming weeks, no additional attempts to contact the complainant were made after June 6. The case remained open throughout, the BBC said. The Sun first contacted the BBC on July 6 about the allegations they were due to publish, which was the first time Mr Davie or any executive directors at the BBC were aware of the case. Mr Davie told the World At One that he did not speak to the accused presenter on July 6, but instead the conversation was conducted by a senior manager, which the director-general said was the right role for him in being able to oversee the process. The claims made by The Sun contained new allegations, that were different from the matters being considered by BBC Corporate Investigations, the corporation said. This was the first time the presenter concerned was spoken to about the matter, according to the BBC. The investigations team also contacted the complainant again. Explaining why no contact was made with the complainant for more than a month, Mr Davie said thousands of complaints are made and it is appropriate there is a verification process. He said: Some verification of that claim is appropriate once the Corporate Investigations team has taken something on, they do some due diligence on what is being alleged. Because if we work this through, youd be in a situation where anyone can ring anything in and youre taking that straight to presenters or whatever and having that duty of care issue there and a whole load of issues. He added: Even in the circumstances where we didnt have the level of verification we wanted or needed, I do think it is a fair question to review the red flagging process. Mr Davie later added on BBC Radio 4: I have given a bit of context in terms of the numbers of issues we get coming into our Corporate Investigations unit, over six months that will be about 250, and you take those and they are the serious complaints coming through all different types. When asked if the presenter offered to resign, Mr Davie said: I wouldnt comment on a private conversation, I think that is in terms of privacy for an individual, I dont think thats right. Discussing what support the BBC is offering for the presenter and if he is concerned about the impact if they are cleared of any wrongdoing, he added: Duty of care is a very significant factor in this. If you look at the enormity of the coverage and everything that is going on, I am very sensitive to it. I think duty of care in these types of affairs is critical and also that goes beyond those people at the centre of the drama. I cant give you specific details of individuals and duty of care packages, what I can say is the BBC I think is excellent at making sure we are offering the right support, we have really good professional teams that do that and its one of the highest priorities as we move through this affair. The young person at the centre of the controversy has said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened with the unnamed presenter, although their mother reportedly stands by the claims. In a letter reported by BBC News At Six, the young person said via a lawyer: For the avoidance of doubt, nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations reported in The Sun newspaper are rubbish. The legal representative also said the young person told The Sun on Friday evening before the newspaper published the story that there was no truth to it, the BBC reported. I think there is absolutely a proper duty of care for everyone involved, but when it comes to those matters, they may be appropriate lines of inquiry for the newsroom, but for the BBC corporately we need to make sure we are taking the evidence we have got and presenting that to the police and taking that forward Tim Davie The lawyer reportedly called the article on the front page inappropriate, claiming in the letter that the mother and the young person are estranged. BBC News said it does not know the identity of the young person and has not spoken to them directly, but that the letter was sent by a multinational law firm. A spokesman for The Sun said: We have reported a story about two very concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and the welfare of their child. Their complaint was not acted upon by the BBC. We have seen evidence that supports their concerns. Its now for the BBC to properly investigate. The mother and stepfather of the young person stood by their allegation, and questioned how their child could afford the lawyer, The Sun reported. Mr Davie was asked about the familys suggestion that the young persons legal fees were paid for by the presenter in question during his interview on World At One. He said: That is not information I am party too. That is not something for the BBC, bluntly. I think there is absolutely a proper duty of care for everyone involved, but when it comes to those matters, they may be appropriate lines of inquiry for the newsroom, but for the BBC corporately we need to make sure we are taking the evidence we have got and presenting that to the police and taking that forward. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak said he wants to see Natos commitment to inducting Ukraine as a full member of the alliance reaffirmed during discussions with leaders at the Vilnius summit. The Prime Minister arrived in the Lithuanian capital on Tuesday as he prepares for a flurry of meetings with world leaders across two days. The pressing issues are set to be about Nato expansion and cajoling member states to meet the goal of spending 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. Speaking to reporters on the plane journey from London, Mr Sunak said the UK, as well as the leadership of Ukraine, recognised that Kyiv would not join the defensive alliance while they are in the midst of a conflict. But he said his Government stands by the conclusion of Natos 15-year-old pledge to put Ukraine on a path to membership. Britain is keen to see Ukraines membership fast-tracked, arguing much of the military reforms asked of it are being witnessed on the battlefield in its fight against Russias invading troops. The US and Germany are said not to be on the same page as Britain, however. Mr Sunak said: Ive always said that Ukraines rightful place is in Nato and that we stand by the language of Bucharest in 2008. I think what is important at this summit is that that commitment is reaffirmed and also that there is demonstrable progress towards that goal. Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, who has had his tenure extended for 12 months, has said he is confident the summit will send a positive message to Ukraine about its path to membership. The Prime Minister appeared to confirm reports that conversations have taken place with allies to provide Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky with non-Nato security guarantees. According to the Daily Telegraph, the UK, US, France and Germany dubbed The Quad are looking to finalise an Israel-style security deal to provide Kyiv with a multi-year plan to defend itself from Russian aggression. The paper reported that it would be similar to a military and financial pact that Washington has with Tel Aviv to afford it protection in the Middle East. Conservative Party leader Mr Sunak said Britain had played a leading role in the discussions since he put the issue of multilateral Western security assurances on the table during his speech to the Munich security conference in February. He told reporters he was keen to try and get this over the line. I think it is something that we in the UK have taken a lead on, it is something Ive spoken a lot to fellow leaders about over the last few months, he said. Those conversations are ongoing so we need to keep having them, but that is the purpose of them. It is to demonstrate that long-term commitment from a broad group of countries. It is distinct from the Nato conversation and I think it will send a very strong signal of deterrent to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, that he cant wait people out, in terms of this conflict. I think it is important and valuable. In a message aimed at Mr Putin, Mr Sunak said: We are with Ukraine for as long as it takes. That is why the security assurances are important because what Putin needs to understand is there is no point in just waiting out the West. Everyone is in it for the long haul and any thought he had that this would be over quickly has already been proved to be false. Downing Street said Mr Sunak would use the Vilnius summit to press home the importance of increasing Natos defence spending in order to ward off Russian tyranny, urging member states to meet the 2% GDP target. Upon arrival in Vilnius, the Prime Minister was forced to defend the Governments investment in defence. Following suggestions Britain could lose influence due to potential cuts to the Army, he told broadcasters the UK should be incredibly proud of the leading role it plays in global security. Mr Sunaks first bilateral meeting after arriving at the summit was with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It follows a breakthrough with Ankara, brokered by Mr Stoltenberg, to remove Turkeys objections to Sweden being admitted to Nato. A full allies meeting of Nato is to take place on Tuesday afternoon, with Mr Zelensky due to travel to Vilnius on Wednesday to join discussions. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Volodymyr Zelensky said it is absurd that no timeframe has been set for Ukraine to join Nato following confirmation the UK is pushing for long-term military support to be pledged for Kyiv. The Ukrainian president said uncertainty is weakness as he criticised Nato leaders for failing to agree a pathway for his war-torn country to accede to the defensive alliance. Mr Zelensky said the delay was providing Russia with the motivation to continue its terror. World leaders have descended upon Vilnius for the Nato summit, with Ukraines membership one of the key items on the agenda. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters on his way to the Lithuanian capital that he wanted to see Natos commitment to inducting Ukraine as a full member of the alliance reaffirmed during the two-day gathering. Nato signalled at its 2008 summit in Bucharest that Kyiv should become a member state. Mr Sunak repeated his stance that, for the UK, Ukraines rightful place is in Nato. Britain has voiced its support for fast-tracking Kyiv through the membership process, arguing much of the military reforms asked of it are being witnessed on the battlefield in its fight against Russias invading troops. But the US and Germany are said to be against the idea. With allies reportedly reluctant to give Ukraine a date for when it will be accepted into the Nato fold, Mr Zelensky, who is due to attend the summit on Wednesday, hit out at the lack of a plan for the Vilnius meeting. Its unprecedented and absurd when (a) time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraines membership, while at the same time vague wording about conditions is added even for inviting Ukraine, he tweeted. It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to Nato, nor to make it a member of the alliance. This means that a window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraines membership in Nato in negotiations with Russia. And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror. Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit. Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, who has had his tenure extended for 12 months, has said he is confident the summit will send a positive message to Ukraine about its path to membership. With Nato publicly stating that Ukraine is not likely to be made a member while it is fighting back Russian president Vladimir Putins troops, leading members have reportedly been working on securing a multilateral long-term deal with Kyiv to help support its efforts to reclaim its borders. According to the Daily Telegraph, the UK, US, France and Germany dubbed The Quad are looking to finalise an Israel-style security deal to provide Kyiv with a multi-year plan to defend itself from Russian aggression. The paper reported that it would be similar to a military and financial pact that Washington has with Tel Aviv to afford it protection in the Middle East. Conservative Party leader Mr Sunak, without providing details of what the deal could look like, said Britain had played a leading role in the discussions since he put the issue of multilateral Western security assurances on the table during his speech to the Munich security conference in February. He said providing security guarantees to Ukraine was about showing the Kremlin that the West would not tire in its backing for Kyiv. Mr Sunak said: We are with Ukraine for as long as it takes. That is why the security assurances are important because what Putin needs to understand is there is no point in just waiting out the West. Everyone is in it for the long haul and any thought he had that this would be over quickly has already been proved to be false. Downing Street said Mr Sunak would use the Vilnius summit to press home the importance of increasing Natos defence spending in order to ward off Russian tyranny, urging member states to meet the target of spending at least 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, speaking to Bloomberg TV, said that Nato members are focused on supporting Ukraine in their self-defence and we are discussing the future pathway for Ukraine to enjoy Nato membership. The Prime Ministers first bilateral meeting after arriving at the summit was with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It follows a breakthrough with Ankara, brokered by Mr Stoltenberg, to remove Turkeys objections to Sweden being admitted to Nato. No 10 said Mr Sunak commended the Turkish leader for his efforts to pave the way for Stockholm to join. The Nordic country, along with Finland, dropped its long-held neutrality position following Moscows invasion. A full allies meeting of Nato took place on Tuesday afternoon in Vilnius, with Mr Sunak sat next to US President Joe Biden for the session. The British premier is set to hold further one-on-one talks with the leaders of Poland and the Netherlands. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Nato leaders have said Ukraine still has conditions to meet before it can join the alliance in a move that has left Volodymyr Zelensky frustrated. During a summit in Vilnius, the alliance agreed that Kyiv could fast-track the process of joining a concession called for by the UK but said additional democratic and security reforms were still required. Before the communique was released, Mr Zelensky had expressed his disappointment with the agenda for the gathering in Lithuania, saying it was absurd and unprecedented that no timetable for his country joining was being set out. Mr Zelensky said the delay was providing Russia with the motivation to continue its terror. In comments made after the document was released on Tuesday, the Ukrainian leader appeared to suggest that he continued to be unhappy at Natos stance. He said he wanted his faith in Nato to become confidence and questioned whether that was too much to expect for his citizens, who saw Russian president Vladimir Putins attack on their homeland pass the 500-day mark this week. Nato will give Ukraine security. Ukraine will make the alliance stronger, Mr Zelensky tweeted. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters on his way to eastern Europe that he wanted to see Natos commitment to inducting Ukraine as a full member of the alliance reaffirmed during the two-day gathering. Nato signalled at its 2008 summit in Bucharest that Kyiv should become a member state. Mr Sunak repeated his stance that, for the UK, Ukraines rightful place is in Nato. The statement agreed by the 31 member states did make that reaffirmation. It also agreed with the UKs stance that the membership action plan, part of Ukraines route to joining, would no longer have to be fulfilled. The communique said Ukraine had become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the alliance, and has made substantial progress on its reform path. A UK Government source said the fast-track decision was also a recognition that latest member Finland, along with Sweden which is due to join, did not have to undergo the plan. But Nato said, despite Ukraines armed forces being honed on the battlefield in its struggle against the Kremlins invading troops, there was still more to do, both democratically and in military terms, before it could be permitted to join. Allies will continue to support and review Ukraines progress on interoperability as well as additional democratic and security sector reforms that are required, Nato said in a joint statement. The alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path towards future membership. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said there were some steps that need to be met before the door can be opened to Mr Zelensky and his countrymen, with Nato calling for military improvements. But the Cabinet minister said we should be prepared as quickly as possible to bring Ukraine closer once the conflict is over. He told US broadcaster CNN: We can see right now that its military is up to standard. Its military is taking on a far superior sized Russian force and has dealt them a heavy defeat. So I think overall, Ukraine is not far off membership. There has long been an acceptance that, due to the Article 5 clause that means all members would act to defend an ally, Kyiv cannot be admitted to Nato while it is at war with Moscow. Its closest backers, however, had been keen to see a blueprint laid out for when Ukraine might be able to become the 33rd member. Talks have instead moved to how a non-Nato alliance, without the Article 5 commitment, can support Ukraine in the long-term against Russian aggression. Mr Sunak and allies are widely expected to use the summit to unveil fresh proposals to give multi-year backing to Kyivs forces. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Leslie Van Houten has been released from prison at the age of 73 after serving more than five decades for two notorious Manson Family murders. Leslie Van Houten was 19 when she joined the murderous cult and helped kill Los Angeles grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary in 1969. She was released after California Governor Gavin Newsom dropped his opposition to a state appeals court ruling that recommended her parole, against the wishes of surviving family members. Van Houtens attorney Nancy Tetreault said she was released early on Tuesday and taken to transitional housing, according to the Associated Press. There she will receive training on basic life skills like how to grocery shop, use a cell phone and a computer, her attorney said. Shes still trying to get used to the idea that this real, Ms Tetreault told the AP. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed in a statement that Van Houten was released to parole supervision. In May, a California appeals court ruled Van Houten should be released from prison after committing the infamous 1969 murders with five others at the direction of Manson. Leslie Van Houten attends a parole hearing at the California Institution for Women in 2017. (Los Angeles Daily News) Last week, Governor Newsom issued a statement saying he was disappointed with the courts decision but it was unlikely to be overturned by a higher court. More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal killings, the victims families still feel the impact, the statement said. At her first trial in 1971, Van Houten described holding Rosemary LaBianca down with a pillowcase over her head inside her home while other Manson followers viciously stabbed her. She then grabbed a knife and inflicted more than a dozen stab wounds on LaBianca, severing her spine. The group smeared blood across the walls of the home. Van Houten was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, becoming at 21 the youngest condemned woman in California history. Charles Manson died in prison in 2017 at the age of 83 (AP) In 1977, she was granted a retrial which ended in a hung jury after her defence argued she had diminished responsibility due to being under the influences of both LSD and Manson. She was convicted at a second retrial, and given a life sentence. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, the LiBiancas daughter Cory said they were being retruamatised by the prospect of Van Houtens imminent release. My family and I are heartbroken because were once again reminded of all the years that we have not had my father and my stepmother with us, Cory LiBianca told the AP. Manson, who was convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, died in prison in 2017 at the age of 83. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former CNN journalist Saima Mohsin says she is taking the network to court for unfair dismissal, disability & race discrimination after being injured on the job. The British-Pakistani foreign correspondent was injured during a reporting trip in Jerusalem in 2014 when her cameraman drove over her foot. The injury rendered her unable to sit, stand, or walk and prevented her from being able to work full time. The journalist, who now works as a TV presenter at Sky News, also claimed that she asked the network to switch roles to be a presenter, but was told you dont have the look we are looking for. CNN terminated her contract three years later. She is seeking justice through an employment tribunal claim in the UK. Her case was set to be heard on Monday in London. I worked hard to become an international correspondent and loved my job with CNN, Mohsin told The Guardian, adding, I risked my life many times on assignment for CNN believing they would have my back. They did not. Regarding the racial discrimination claim, Mohsin alleges she was denied broadcast opportunities, as the network preferred to put white American correspondents on air. CNN says that the UK doesnt have jurisdiction over Mohsins case. The journalist argued to The Guardian that her case should cause concern for all foreign correspondents who travel around the world and take risks to do their journalism in the belief their employer will take care of them. Saima Mohsin now works at Sky News (Saima Mohsin/Instagram) She continued, Im also taking the opportunity to highlight the racism and gender pay gap issues that I experienced. I was repeatedly let down and denied the ability to achieve my potential while I was at CNN. I am bringing my claim to take a stand and call for change to ensure women journalists, and women journalists of colour, are better protected. Mohsins complaint arrives during a period when the network is already mired in controversy. CNN boss Chris Licht was booted after just 16 months on the job after an explosive expose in The Atlantic. Licht replaced Jeff Zucker after the company president was fired for failing to disclose a relationship with a colleague. The network also received harsh criticism after hosting a town hall for former President Donald Trump, a decision that Licht oversaw. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A white woman accused of fatally shooting her Black neighbour through the front door of her house pleaded not guilty to a manslaughter charge on Tuesday. Susan Lorincz, 58, was charged with manslaughter and assault in Marion County, Florida, after shooting Ajike AJ Owens when the 35-year-old knocked on her door. Owens, a mother of four, was trying to confront Ms Lorincz for allegedly calling her children racial slurs, taking their iPad and then throwing skates at her son. Authorities said Ms Lorincz and Owens had a longstanding feud regarding Owens children playing in an area next to Ms Lorinczs home. On 2 June, Owens went over to Ms Lorinczs home to speak with her about the incident involving skate-throwing. Ms Lorincz then fired a bullet from within her home which went through the locked door and struck Owens. First responders attempted to keep Owens alive and rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she did not survive her injuries. The shooting occurred in front of Owens nine-year-old child. Following the shooting, Owens family pushed for authorities to charge Ms Lorcinz with murder. Ajike Owens, a 35-year-old mother of four from Ocala, Florida (Anthony D. Thomas via AP, File) However, Ms Lorincz claims she feared for her life when she chose to fire her gun. After weighing the applicability of Floridas stand your ground laws State Attorney William Gladson said his office decided to charge Ms Lorincz with manslaughter. Mr Gladson claimed there was insufficient evidence that Ms Lorincz had hatred, spite, ill will or evil intent toward Owens. As deplorable as the defendants actions were in this case, there is insufficient evidence to prove this specific and required element of second-degree murder, Mr Gladson said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press. Susan Lorincz is seen in a booking photo (Marion County Sheriff's Office) Ms Lorincz faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. Anthony Thomas, the family attorney for the Owens family said that Ms Lorincz deserves all 30 years of that 30-year-maximum sentence in a news conference last month. We firmly believe that justice demands nothing less, Mr Thomas said in a statement to the Associated Press. Ms Lorinczs next court door is expected to be sometime in September, a spokesperson in Floridas Fifth Judicial Circuit Court told CNN. As of now, Ms Lorincz has not posted the $154,000 bond set for her. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A newly-released jailhouse phone call has offered a glimpse into the state of Alex Murdaughs relationship with his surviving son following his conviction for the murders of his wife and second son. In the call dated 16 May, Murdaugh is heard ringing 26-year-old Buster Murdaugh from the maximum security prison in South Carolina where he will see out the rest of his days. During the awkward and brief conversation, Murdaugh says he has been trying to call his son and tells him he loves him and is proud of him. Meanwhile, Buster says he is busy and has few words for his father. The call begins with Murdaugh saying: Hey buddy. Buster quickly replies that he doesnt have much time to speak. Hey I dont have a whole of time I just boarded a ferry to go back to Hilton Head Island from Daufuskie [Island], he says flatly. Yeah I know, I been trying to call. I was supposed to call you while you were with Jim, um, about this meeting, Murdaugh says, in an apparent reference to his attorney Jim Griffin. But anyway. How about text him and let him know Im trying to call him? Buster simply replies: Mm-kay. Murdaugh continues with the conversation, asking: Did he talk to you about that about the thing that I told him? No, I cant really understand you either, says Buster as the line crackles. Alright, alright Im gone Im going to leave word with Jim and hell be in touch with you, Murdaugh says, before telling his son: Love you. Alex Murdaughs new mugshot after he was sentenced to life in prison (South Carolina Department of Corrections) Following a brief pause, Buster mumbles: Alright, love you, too. Proud of you, Murdaugh replies. Buster quickly responds thanks and then disconnects the call. In total, the call between father and son lasted just 42 seconds. It was one of a trove of records of Murdaughs communications behind bars released to local outlet FITS News via a Freedom of Information Act request. The outlet reports that the thing referenced in the call could have been referring to Busters interview for an upcoming Fox Nation documentary on the Murdaughs. The awkward conversation suggests that the father and sons relationship may have become strained in the wake of Murdaughs conviction for the brutal 7 June 2021 murders of Busters mother Maggie and brother Paul. Buster, the eldest and now only living son of Maggie and Alex, stood by his father throughout his murder trial attending each day of the courts proceedings with his family members in a show of support. He sat through brutal testimony revealing that Paul was shot twice with a 12-gauge shotgun while he stood in the feed room of the dog kennels on the affluent familys 1,700-acre Moselle estate. The second shot to his head blew his brain almost entirely out of his skull. After killing Paul, prosecutors said Murdaugh then grabbed a .300 Blackout semiautomatic rifle and opened fire on Maggie as she tried to flee from her husband. Buster Murdaugh in court at his fathers murder trial (AP) She was shot five times including twice in the head after she had fallen to her knees. Buster also testified in his fathers defence saying that Murdaugh had been destroyed and heartbroken in the aftermath of the deaths of his mother and brother. Following a dramatic and high-profile trial in which Murdaugh confessed to lying about his alibi on the night of the murders the disgraced legal scion was convicted in March of the murders. As well as the murders, Murdaugh is also facing more than 100 charges over a vast financial fraud scheme where he stole millions of dollars from law firm clients going back years. He is also awaiting trial over a botched hitman plot where he allegedly paid an accomplice to shoot him by a Hampton County roadside. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man who says he is armed has barricaded himself in a room at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, police say, where the individual is holding a female hostage. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said they received a complaint of a domestic disturbance at around 9.15am on Tuesday. When they arrived at the hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip, the man refused to come out and told officers he was armed, police said. Vegas police said the man pulled a woman into his room by force and that she remains inside. She is still in the room at this time, a police spokesman said on Tuesday morning during a press update. The female has been heard from and is still OK. The officer added that no shots have been fired and no weapons have been seen. SWAT teams and crisis negotiators have been sent to the hotel on the 3500 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard. Police asked residents to avoid the area and watch out for emergency personnel. We are actively trying to resolve this situation, the LVPD said in a tweet. North Carolina real estate broker Alyssa Hellman told The Independent she was at the Caesars Palace pool with her wife when she heard a loud bang at about 1.30pm. She said she looked up to see that a window had been broken on about the 10th floor, and a man inside started throwing furniture out onto the concourse. At #CaesarsPalace and someone has busted out a window and is throwing objects out. Security seems concerned that they may have a gun. #lasvegas pic.twitter.com/v12nLHigqE Alyssa Hellman (@AVHellman) July 11, 2023 We heard a bang and then one of the windows was broken open, and the guy was throwing things out. Lamps, a TV and a minibar. Hes drawn the curtains now, Ms Hellman said. Ms Hellman said guests were evacuated from the pool area, but staff did not explain what was going on. The couple had retreated to a safe distance and said everyone around them seemed pretty calm and content. Were tucked back hidden away, closer to the Bellagio, she said. A video posted to Twitter showed security guards duck for cover as a television fell to the ground behind them. One guest told 8NewsNow that she had been swimming in the pool when a security guard ordered everybody out. The witness said she saw chairs being thrown from a window, which appeared to be completely smashed out. Caesars Entertainment said in a statement: We are aware of the security incident at Caesars Palace. Our team is cooperating fully with law enforcement officers on scene who are handling the investigation. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A convicted Colorado pipe bomber will receive a fresh trial after spending 30 years behind bars for a string of attacks that killed two people. James Genrich, 60, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the bombings which killed Maria Delores Gonzales, 12, and 43-year-old Henry Ruble in Grand Junction in 1991. Genrich was found guilty in 1993 of three counts of use of an explosive or incendiary device to commit a felony, one count of third-degree assault and two counts of first-degree murder -extreme indifference. James Genrich (The Innocence Project) He was convicted after a prosecution expert Agent John ONeil of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told the jury that marks on the bombs must have been made by the suspects tools, ruling out the possibility of any other tools being responsible. Now Judge Richard Gurley of the 21st Judicial District has ruled that advances in forensics and science mean that the experts testimony was flawed, reported The Denver Post. In a 30-page order, the judge ruled that the expert could not accurately say that no other tools could have made the marks on the bomb. The judge ruled that the testimony violated Genrichs constitutional due process and right to a fair trial. The court finds that the conclusion that the defendants tools caused the cuts to the wires from the bombs to the exclusion of every other tool was a crucial piece of evidence in the defendants case and without it, the peoples case would have been almost entirely circumstantial, the judge wrote. Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein says that his office stands by the tool evidence and plans to appeal the ruling. There was a lot of other evidence in the case other than that, and thats part of my disagreement with the decision, he said. The evidence in the case was very strong and went well beyond the tool-mark evidence. Genrich was represented in his appeal by the Innocence Project, a non-profit dedicated to overturning convictions of wrongly convicted prisoners. Mr Genrich is very pleased that the court granted his request for a new trial, said Tania Brief, a senior staff attorney on his legal team. The judge set a hearing in the case for 28 July and stated that he intends to formally vacate the conviction for first-degree murder at that time. The pipe bombings started in Mesa County in 1989, with an undetonated device found outside a hotel in April of that year. Three bombs would detonate in 1991, killing the two victims and injuring others. Genrichs home was raided after investigators received a tip, and they found pliers, fuses, a circuit board and a multi-tool. The jury was also told that Genrich lived within walking distance of two of the three bombing locations, and had been seen in the area. Prosecutors also said that he had threatened to kill in the past and had expressed frustration with women. Genrich is currently being held at the states Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility in Crowley County. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A 10-year-old girl from Illinois was found dead after being abducted while playing with her six-year-old sister. A woman told Rockford police that her daughter came home and said a man had kidnapped her sister just after noon on Saturday, a report details. At around 12.40pm, Rockford Police officers were flagged down by a man who said he found an unresponsive girl on the 1200 block of 9th Avenue. When the officers arrived at the scene, they performed CPR on the girl, before the fire department transported her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Antonio Monroe, 44, is alleged to have abducted the girl. He is a convicted sex offender, previously convicted of criminal sexual assault. He has been charged with first degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, and kidnapping, according to the police report. Mr Monroe was taken into custody and will be transported to the Winnebago County Jail after being released from the hospital for an unrelated issue, the report states. From the time my phone rang yesterday in regards with this incident, my stomach has been in a knot, Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd told reporters. No one ever wants to get a knock on the door and hear from the police that your child has been murdered, especially an innocent child. Chief Redd added both girls were strangled, but the younger girl escaped and was treated at a hospital. She has since been released. At a press conference, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara described Monroe as a real life monster. The mayor added, This is truly a real life nightmare and honestly probably worse than any nightmare or situation I can think of on my own. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} For decades, they both sexually assaulted dozens of underage girls and young women. They preyed on their victims by first earning their trust one as a top doctor for athletes and the other as a generous billionaire mentor offering to help pursue their dreams. They then abused this position of trust and power by subjecting victims to a campaign of sexual abuse over several years. And, for a long time, they got away with it as despite the glaring warning signs these two powerful men went unchecked by authorities, public figures and other people in power. Larry Nassar and Jeffrey Epsteins crimes and patterns of abuse are no doubt chillingly similar. But, besides the suffering they caused to others, no connection was ever made between the two offenders. That is, until last month, when a trove of 4,000 pages of documents related to Epsteins jailhouse death were released by the federal Bureau of Prisons under the Freedom of Information Act. Now, in another bizarre twist it has emerged that, just weeks after this shocking link came to light, Nassar was violently attacked inside the high-security federal prison in Florida where he has been held since 2018. Sources told The Associated Press that the convicted sex abuser, 59, had been stabbed multiple times including in the chest and back by another inmate at United States Penitentiary Coleman in Florida over the weekend. A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson confirmed to The Independent that life-saving efforts were carried out on the inmate who they refused to confirm as Nassar before he was rushed to hospital. The extent of his injuries is currently unclear but sources said he is now in stable condition. Larry Nassar during his sentencing hearing in Michigan in 2018 (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The incident is now the subject of an internal investigation and the FBI has also been notified. For now, what led up to the attack is currently unclear. The identity of the attacker remains unknown. And no motive has been given. But the timing of his near-death experience behind bars may well raise some eyebrows coming just one month after new details emerged about a surprise connection between Nassar and fellow paedophile Epstein, who died inside his own jail cell back in 2019. In early June, thousands of pages of BOP records related to Epsteins death were obtained by The Associated Press, including details of his health history, emails and internal agency reports. Hidden among the 4,000 pages was one especially curious email dated September 2019. It was an email between staff at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, New York, which contained some surprising information. In the 34 days that Epstein was behind bars at the Manhattan jail he had sent a letter to a fellow convicted sex offender 1,100 miles away at a prison in Florida. That recipient was Nassar. At the time, Nassar was already convicted and serving hundreds of years behind bars in Coleman. Epstein, meanwhile, was awaiting trial on a slew of sex trafficking charges in New York. The letter never reached Nassar. For some unknown reason, it was returned to sender and was discovered in the Manhattan jails mail room weeks later in September 2019. By this point, Epstein was already dead. It appeared he mailed it out and it was returned back to him, the investigator who found the letter wrote in an email to a prison official. Jeffrey Epstein letter Nassar a letter before his death (New York State Sex Offender Registry) I am not sure if I should open it or should we hand it over to anyone? What the officials decided to do with the letter remains a mystery with the letter itself not included within the 4,000 pages of records released under the FOIA request. Was it mailed again to Nassar? Was it destroyed? Was it kept on record by prison officials? And, more importantly, what did it say? And why was Epstein writing to a fellow paedophile? But the biggest question is: Did the two convicted, high-profile sex offenders know each other or have connections to each other prior to their respective arrests and incarcerations? Nassar has been held at Coleman since his conviction in 2018 for sexually assaulting girls and young women at USA gymnastics and Michigan State University. As the team doctor, the sexual predator preyed on hundreds of young gymnasts including Simone Biles and Aly Raisman for several decades. He was finally arrested in December 2016 on child sex abuse image charges more than a year after his first victim came forward with the allegations. In 2018, he was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for criminal sexual conduct. He is also serving a 60-year federal prison sentence on child sex abuse image charges and a separate 40 to 125 years for sexual abuse in Michigan. Epstein, meanwhile, was initially convicted in 2008 of procuring an underage girl for prostitution in Florida. In a now widely condemned sweetheart plea deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to one charge and was sentenced to just 18 months in prison most of which he served out of prison in a work-release program. On his release, he was ordered to register as a sex offender. Then, in July 2019, he was arrested on a slew of sex trafficking charges in New York. On 10 August 2019 just one month after his arrest on 7 July and not long after he sent the letter to Nassar he was found dead in his cell. The medical examiner ruled his death suicide but there have long been questions and conspiracies surrounding his final hours. Last month, the Justice Department watchdog released a scathing report blaming Epsteins suicide on numerous and serious failures by Bureau of Prisons staff. US gymnasts from left, Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Maggie Nichols, arrive to testify about abuse they suffered at hands of Nassar (AP) While he died one month later before he could face trial, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of sex trafficking in New York in December 2021 and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. It remains unclear if Nassar and Epsteins paths ever crossed during their years of abusing girls and young women. Its a question that only Epstein and Nassar could truly answer. Epstein has taken his account and his reasons for contacting Nassar to the grave. An attorney for Nassar, meanwhile, said that they were not aware of any relationship between Mr Nassar and Jeffrey Epstein. Jonathan Sacks, director of the State Appellate Defender Office where Nassars court-appointed attorney Jacqueline McCann works, told CNN that the office had no knowledge of the letter or Epsteins attempt to contact Nassar prior to the documents release. Now that Nassar is in hospital recovering from multiple stab wounds, it remains to be seen whether he can and will shed light on the bizarre connection to Epstein and the contents of that letter. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A survivalist murder suspect who escaped from prison using a rope made from bed sheets is getting help as he remains on the run, say police. Fugitive Michael Burham, an Army veteran with survival and firearms training, has evaded a manhunt that began last week after he broke out of Pennsylvanias Warren County jail. Pennsylvania State Police investigators believe that he is now hiding in the forests along the border of Pennsylvania and New York with outside assistance. He was being held on kidnapping and related charges and is also suspected of murder and rape in New York. Mr Burham is accused of shooting Kala Hodgkin of Jamestown, New York, on 11 May before going on the run. He was eventually arrested in South Carolina following a multi-state manhunt. We do believe that he is getting some assistance, Pennsylvania State Police Lt Col George Bivens told reporters on Monday. We are prepared to prosecute anyone who does offer him assistance. Officials say that the suspect got onto the roof of the Pennsylvania jails gym before using the bedsheets to climb down. He was wearing the jails orange-striped jumpsuit, a denim jacket and Crocs when he escaped, although police say he may now have changed outfits. More than 150 officers from local, state and federal agencies are now following up on reported sightings of the suspect in both states. Lt Col Bivens added that the suspect is considered armed and dangerous and is thought to still be in Warren County or a neighbouring area. Police say that they have been tracking the suspect since Friday and have found a number of makeshift camps in the area. The suspect has multiple family members in the area but officials have not said if they are cooperating with law enforcement. At some point, we will force him to make a mistake, and when he does, we will use that to our advantage, Lt Col Bivens said. Mr Burham served in the Army Reserve as a water treatment specialist and utilities equipment repairer from February 2008 to December 2020, according to Fox News. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police in Alabama have safely located a nine-month-old girl who was kidnapped when a carjacker stole the family SUV on Monday evening. Just before 7pm local time in Parrish, Alabama, Harlow Darby Freeman was kidnapped from a residence on Crest Avenue. The infant was in her car seat in the back of a Lexus SUV when a carjacker stole the car. Harlows aunt Melinda Hutchinson told reporters that her niece was in the vehicle with her father when he ran inside to a friends house. He was gone for a very short amount of time before the SUV was stolen. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued an Amber Alert for Harlow around 9.40pm on Monday believing the infant to be in danger. More than 12 hours later, on Tuesday, authorities safely located the nine-month-old. The child has been found safe, Parrish Police Department wrote on Facebook. Authorities believe the fathers car was stolen and asked people to look out for a white 2009 Lexus RX350 with damage on the rear passenger side that appears to be tapped with clear tape. Harlows family offered $5,000 for information leading to her safe return. I hope whoever has her, I mean, I hope theyre taking care of her, Ms Hutchison told CBS 42. I mean, shes nine months old and, you know, I just know that sometimes money talks. And, so, maybe if somebody is offered money and they know something, they will say something. Parrish police officer Danny Woodard told reporters in a brief news conference that all resources at the local, state and federal level were being utilised in the search for the missing child. The main priority at this time is to locate the child, Mr Woodard said. Police said they located the missing child around 11.15am local time on Tuesday. They did not provide details about how Harlow was found or what condition she was in. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A mother posted a heart-wrenching tribute after she accidentally ran over her 13-month-old child while maneuvering her car out of a tight parking space in Arizona. Jafria Thornburg posted on a GoFundMe page for her daughter, Cyra Rose Thoemig, saying her daughter was the absolute light of my life. She continued, The name Cyra meaning light in several languages, one translating to the light off of Gods throne. I know she is with him now. She waved at everyone and made sure they saw her smile and she brought light to their day, the devastated mother wrote. She was only 13 and a half months and already walking, eating on her own, talking, singing, dancing, dressing herself, bathing herself, washing her hands, and more. A piece of me is gone forever and nothing will ever be the same. I cannot say thank you enough for all of your love and support through this tragedy. We never expected to have to deal with anything like this in our lives, Ms Thornburg wrote. The toddlers uncle, TJ Warren, organised the fundraiser. He spoke warmly about his niece. There isnt anyone who didnt smile their biggest after spending just a moment with her. Mr Warren explained that donations will go to the parents for final expenses, and will ease some of their burdens in this terribly trying time. On 6 July, Yavapai County officials responded to the scene after receiving a tragic 911 call from a woman saying she had run over her 13-month-old baby with her car. The car was parked on gravel next to Ms Thornburgs house in Cottonwood, Arizona. According to the media release, Ms Thornburg had positioned the child, within the car seat, in an area she felt was safe. While repositioning the vehicle, the front tire caught the canopy of the car seat, causing it to fall backward which led to the infant suffering critical injuries. Despite medical professionals performing life saving measures and heroic efforts, the child was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Close Rudy Farias mother is not facing charges for eight-year lie, police say Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rudy Farias mother once claimed that her son had been kidnapped by human traffickers while she was actually hiding him in her own home, according to a private investigator. Brenda Paradise told The Independent she devoted hundreds of hours to finding Mr Farias but grew suspicious of his mother Janie Santana. Ms Paradise said that Ms Santana repeatedly asked for money on her Facebook pages to help track her missing son down. Once, she asked for money to pay a ransom to a suspected human trafficker in Tijuana, Mexico, who she falsely claimed had kidnapped Mr Farias. She even went to a morgue to identify a deceased body, Ms Paradise said. Mr Farias made headlines last week when Ms Santana announced that the now-25-year-old had been found eight years after she reported him missing in 2015. Houston police later confirmed that he was never missing and had been living at home with his mother the whole time. Community activist Quanell X later claimed Mr Farias had alleged alarming abuse by his mother. After his claims were refuted by police, he doubled down in an interview with The Independent. Ms Santana has not been charged. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} More than 100 years after a white mob destroyed a Black neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, killing as many as 300 people and leaving hundreds of others homeless, a judge has dismissed the decades-in-the-making lawsuit demanding justice in its ongoing aftermath. A judges two-sentence dismissal closes a years-long chapter in a case, which traces the decades of neglect and festering racial disparities in Oklahoma in the long shadow of the racist massacre. But the plaintiffs including the three last-known living survivors of the 1921 attack and their descendants have vowed to appeal. Civil rights attorneys are urging federal authorities to investigate the attack and uphold President Joe Bidens promise to reckon with the deep roots of racial terror. This is not over, civil rights attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons told The Independent. Were certainly going to appeal this case, what we consider to be an unfounded, ridiculous, wrong decision. On 10 July, in remarks from inside the 120-year-old Vernon AME Church, the only-surviving structure from the massacre, Mr Solomon-Simmons read a statement from the survivors Viola Fletcher, Hughes Van Ellis, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, who at 109 years old is the oldest living survivor among them. We will not go quietly, he said, reading from their statement. We will continue to fight until our last breath. Like so many Black Americans, we carry the weight of intergenerational racial trauma, day in and day out. Black Americans did not provoke racial injustice but bear the burden of righting the wrongs of it, he said. We, as survivors, and all of those that believe in racial justice, we will not sit quietly or passively to allow mistruths and injustice to persist. We will not rest until there is justice for Greenwood. They murdered people In the late hours of 31 May, 1921 in Tulsas thriving Black Wall Street of Greenwood, an armed white mob deputized by law enforcement fired indiscriminately on Black Americans in the street. Planes dropped flaming turpentine-soaked rags and dynamite. Witness accounts reported the bodies of Black victims thrown into the Arkansas River or into mass graves. Survivors were rounded up at gunpoint and detained in internment camps. The mob torched and looted homes and businesses, including restaurants, hotels, theatres, and a newspaper. A truck mounted with a machine gun fired on Mount Zion Baptist Church before it was burned to the ground. No one was ever charged with a crime. Three survivors of Tulsa Massacre give statement read by lawyer at press conference In their testimony to Congress in 2021, survivors recounted the horrors they witnessed as young children. They murdered people, Ms Randle said in her testimony. I still see it today in my mind I have survived 100 years of painful memories and losses. By the grace of God, I am still here. I have survived. I have survived to tell this story. I believe I am still here to share it with you. Hopefully, now you all will listen to us while we are still here. Greenwoods long road to recovery would suffer the same systemic impacts of racial violence that reverberated across the US throughout the 20th century, from redlining and the construction of highways through Black neighborhoods to urban renewal initiatives and the use of eminent domain to seize Black-owned property. A lawsuit and the Justice for Greenwood campaign supporting it have sought to correct the record about the massacre with a detailed account of the violence and to establish a fund for survivors and their descendants. The challenge invoked a public nuisance statute, circumventing the statute of limitations for civil suits that prevented previous attempts to recover damages while threading the history of systemic harm in the years that followed the attack. A highly, highly unusual motion to dismiss The city, state and other defendants, including the Chamber of Commerce and county sheriffs office, filed several motions to dismiss the case in Tulsa County District Court. Defendants repeatedly argued a request to compensate residents for Greenwoods destruction would impose a significant burden on the governments financial stability. Last year, Judge Caroline Wall allowed the case to proceed, a victory for the plaintiffs who now see the judges abrupt dismissal as backpedaling on her order. On 7 July, Judge Wall dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning that the plaintiffs cannot refile. It is such a low bar in Oklahoma to get past that pleading stage, and we cleared it well and beyond, and thats why we feel really confident that we are right on the law that well be successful on appealing this, because we havent even gotten to any of that, attorney Sara Solfanelli with Schulte Roth & Zabel told The Independent. Theyre not even letting us get into court to get started, she said. This isnt that they said no reward, no abatement they just said, you dont even get to ask for it. And thats why its so devastating and wrong. The plaintiffs also are awaiting a written explanation for the judges decision, Mr Solomon-Simmons said. The decision, regardless of what she says, will not make sense to us, he told The Independent. But not to have a reasoning behind it is completely just absurd. And its a disrespect to this issue, its a disrespect to our clients who are over 100 years old and who came to every court hearing, its a disrespect to the hundreds of people from the community that came to every court hearing. And its just a disrespect to the rule of law. Schulte Roth & Zabels Michael Swartz told The Independent that it is highly, highly unusual to dismiss the case, certainly one of this magnitude. with no explanation. Its particularly perplexing here because the court said we can go forward, and then she reverses course on a Friday night without explanation, he said. It is so demoralizing, so inappropriate not to have an explanation. The plaintiffs feel incredibly disrespected and really just disappointed that the judge would not have more humanity towards them to at least give them reasoning and some notice that this was going to happen, Mr Solomon-Simmons said. So with that great disappointment, they still very much want to move forward, see this appeal, he added. For the last four years, every day weve been talking about time is of the essence because these people are so old. Theyre still here, and theyre still participating, and so were ready to fight. Smoke billows above Tulsa during a racist massacre in 1921 (AP) A statement from the office of Tulsa Mayor GT Bynam said the city remains committed to finding the graves of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre victims, fostering economic investment in the Greenwood District, educating future generations about the worst event in our communitys history, and building a city where every person has an equal opportunity for a great life. In 2021, recognizing the 100th anniversary of the attack, the mayor issued an apology on behalf of the city, while millions of dollars were raised to commemorate the massacre and open a centrepiece community centre. Advocates for the survivors have accused city officials of misappropriating survivors images to promote the massacres centennial. A commission appointed by the Oklahoma state legislature in 1997 spent nearly four years investigating the massacre before issuing several recommendations to state and local governments, including guidance to make direct payments to survivors and their families. Most of the recommendations never fully materialised, or have fallen short of community demands and expectations. The mayor supports efforts toward reparations for survivors but has rejected using taxpayer-supported municipal funds to do so. Crews working to excavate potential remains from the 1921 Tulsa race massacre are pictured 100 years later in 2021 (REUTERS) They havent honored anything. They commercially capitalized off the massacre to create a tourism district, raised 30 plus million dollars that benefits the white power elite here in Tulsa. Thats what what this has been all about, Mr Solomon-Simmons told The Independent. Its never been about justice, never been about compensation, never been about rebuilding Greenwood, he added. A blueprint for racial justice Attorneys for the plaintiffs have argued that the case could serve as a blueprint for other communities victimized by systemic injustice and racial violence relying on similar public nuisance statutes that can outline decades of harm. In a broader sense, it also models a creative way to ask how can you think about righting wrongs in the past that people havent tried before, within our system, Ms Solfanelli told The Independent. We do think that this is an inspiration, certainly, with a blueprint of some of the same arguments and using some of the same tools, but [thinking] about going outside the toolbox and bringing something new thats never been done before. And I think were all committed to continuing doing that, she said. In a proclamation recognizing the 100th anniversary of the attack in 2021, President Biden called on Americans to reflect on the deep roots of racial terror in our nation and recommit to the work of rooting out systemic racism across our country, a statement that echoed a renewed focus among the nations institutions during racial justice uprisings but diminished in their wake. Attorneys and advocates have fought to keep the publics attention on Tulsa, stressing that their case remains viable and that the survivors are committed to keeping their case alive. This work is very costly, both emotionally, physically, spiritually, but also financially, Mr Solomon-Simmons told The Independent. We want our survivors to know that despite what the city is doing, in spite of what the mayor is saying, in spite of what Judge Wall has done, they have a community, a nationwide community of folks that are not just praying and supporting them, but actively in the fight with you. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Montana Democrat Monica Tranel announced Monday she is seeking her party's nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke in next year's election, after suffering a close loss in 2022 to the former Trump administration Cabinet member. Tranel is the first Democrat to enter the race for the states western House district, which includes conservative bastions such as the Flathead Valley and more liberal cities such as Missoula and Butte. In a message that mirrors her platform from last election, Tranel, an environmental attorney from Missoula, told The Associated Press that corporations hold too much influence over Zinke and other Republicans at a time of rising costs for consumers. He's not serving Montana. He is serving his corporate donors, Tranel said. For those of us who are in the middle, we don't have anybody working for us and I will be that voice. Zinke was interior secretary under former President Donald Trump and resigned amid multiple ethics investigations. He was elected to the House last year with 50% of the vote versus 46% for Tranel and 4% for Libertarian John Lamb. Zinke spokesperson Heather Swift said nothing for Tranel has changed since the 2022 election. In contrast, Swift added, Zinke has been getting the job done for Montana by sponsoring legislation aimed at removing protections for Yellowstone area grizzly bears, improving mental health care for veterans and maintaining access to national parks." Over the past several election cycles, Montana voters ousted Democrats from almost every statewide office they once held as national issues like immigration, gun control and abortion came to dominate the state's politics. Yet Tranel's performance last year showed she can run a competitive race. For next year, she hopes to broaden her appeal among moderates who are willing to cross party lines. We've always voted to balance extremism, to have pragmatic leaders who get things done, she said. Zinke was the first person elected to Montanas western House district, which was created for the 2022 election after the state picked up a congressional seat because of its growing population. The former U.S. Navy SEAL had been considered a potential challenger to Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester until Zinke endorsed fellow Republican and Bozeman-area businessman Tim Sheehy for the post. The primary election is June 4. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Georgia state legislator from Atlanta switched to the Republican Party on Tuesday, after being at odds with Democrats for reasons including her support for school vouchers and disciplining prosecutors. Rep. Mesha Mainor becomes the only Black member of the GOP among Georgia's 236 state lawmakers, and the first Black Republican woman to ever serve in the Georgia General Assembly. Mainor's defection gives Republicans a 102-78 edge in the House. Mainor said legislative Democrats drove her out of the party for breaking party orthodoxy, claiming at a Tuesday news conference outside the Georgia Capitol that they had relentlessly tried to sabotage every single thing that I have done for District 56 and publicly slandered me in every way imaginable. I thought it was OK to not agree with those things as a Democrat. But they told me, You know what, those are values we just dont have, Mainor said, flanked by state Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon. But she had long been on the outs as part of a minority faction of Atlanta-area Democrats and for deeply personal reasons revolving around a stalking incident where Mainor felt her stalker got off too easy. The tension between Mainor and other Democrats burst into the open earlier this year after Mainor became the only Democrat to vote for a school voucher bill that failed after a number of House Republicans broke ranks to oppose it. School choice has always had some support among urban Black Democrats, but Mainor's fellow party members reacted with scorn even as Republicans rallied to Mainor's support. State Sen. Josh McLaurin, an Atlanta Democrat, posted a picture of a $1,000 check online for a primary challenger, writing All I need is a name. Mainor, first elected in 2020, represents House District 56, an ultra-Democratic swath of Atlanta including its Midtown neighborhood and close-in parts of the city's west side. She had said earlier that she wouldn't switch parties. Tuesday, though, she urged other lifelong Democrats to reexamine the party's values. I am encouraging more Black Americans and Black Democrats in particular you might have this coat on, but I suggest you look at the lining. See whats on the inside, she said. McKoon welcomed Mainor, saying her move shows that the Republican Party is where diversity of opinion is welcome, where different ideas, talking about different policy ideas and solutions together is a strength, not a weakness. We can disagree but still come together on things that matter the most to us," McKoon said, pledging to support Mainor's reelection bid. U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, lambasted Mainor's switch as a stinging betrayal" of her Democratic constituents. House District 56 deserves a representative who will do the job they were elected to do, including fight for high-quality public education," Williams said in a statement. House Speaker Jon Burns, a Republican from Newington, said in a statement that Mainor is joining the party of opportunity. Mainor's decision and some of her legislative actions are also driven by a much more personal dispute. She sued Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr., Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and the county in federal court in 2022, alleging that they had violated her civil rights in a case where a former campaign worker had stalked her. Willis claimed Arrington, who was the man's defense attorney, improperly used his position as a commissioner to get a favorable plea deal for the stalker. Mainor also alleged Willis didn't adequately investigate the crime before offering the plea deal. U.S. District Judge Sarah Geraghty dismissed the case in March, ruling that the alleged actions couldn't constitute a civil rights violation even if she accepted all of Mainor's claims. The last legislative Democrat in Georgia to switch to the Republican Party was DeKalb County's Vernon Jones, who plunged into the GOP in January 2021 as a supporter of then-President Donald Trump, at the end of Jones' last term in the state House. Jones abandoned a Republican primary challenge to Gov. Brian Kemp at Trump's behest and then lost a Republican congressional primary runoff in Georgia's 10th District to current U.S. Rep. Mike Collins despite Trump's backing. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's parliamentary coalition gave initial approval early Tuesday to a contentious bill to limit the Supreme Court's oversight powers, pressing forward with a judicial overhaul plan that has polarized Israel. The legislation is one of several bills proposed by Netanyahu's ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies. The plan has provoked months of sustained protests by opponents who say it is pushing the country toward authoritarian rule. Mass protests were expected later Tuesday in response to the vote. Lawmakers held the first of three readings of a bill that would curb the high court's ability to scrutinize the reasonability of decisions made by elected officials. That standard was implemented by the Supreme Court earlier this year to strike down the appointment of a Netanyahu ally as interior minister because of a past conviction for bribery and a 2021 plea deal for tax evasion. Critics say removing that standard would allow the government to pass arbitrary decisions, make improper appointments or firings and open the door to corruption. The bill passed in a parliamentary session that stretched past midnight by a vote of 64 to 56. Opposition lawmakers shouted shame, while members of Netanyahu's coalition stood and cheered after the vote passed. The bill must still be passed in two more readings to become law. Anti-overhaul activists called for a series of nationwide mass demonstrations Tuesday, including protests that could disrupt travel at Israel's main international airport. Netanyahus allies have proposed a series of changes to the Israeli legal system aimed at weakening what they say are the excessive powers of unelected judges. The proposed changes include giving Netanyahus allies control over the appointment of judges and giving parliament power to overturn court decisions. Netanyahu put the overhaul plan on hold in March after weeks of mass protests. But last month, he decided to revive the plan after talks with the political opposition aimed at finding a compromise collapsed. The Netanyahu government, which took office in December, is the most hardline ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox in Israel's 75-year history. His allies proposed the sweeping changes to the judiciary after the country held its fifth elections in under four years, all of them seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's fitness to serve as prime minister while on trial for corruption. Critics of the plan say it will upset the countrys fragile system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies. They also say Netanyahu has a conflict of interest because he is on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes, all of which he has denied. A wide swath of Israeli society, including reserve military officers, business leaders, LGBTQ+ and other minority groups have joined the protests. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Israeli protesters blocked highways leading to Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv on Tuesday, at the start of a day of countrywide demonstrations against the government's planned judicial overhaul that has divided the nation. The demonstrations came the morning after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus parliamentary coalition gave initial approval for a bill to limit the Supreme Courts oversight powers, pressing forward with the contentious proposed changes to the judiciary despite widespread opposition. The legislation is one of several bills proposed by Netanyahus ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies. The plan has provoked months of sustained protests by opponents who say it is pushing the country toward authoritarian rule. Anti-overhaul activists have called for nationwide mass demonstrations throughout the day, including protests at Israels main international airport that could disrupt travel. Police cleared protesters who blocked a main artery leading to Jerusalem with a water cannon and officers arrested several others who had obstructed a highway next to the central city of Modiin. Demonstrators blocked a main highway in Haifa with a large banner reading together we will be victorious, snarling traffic along the beachfront. Netanyahus allies have proposed a series of changes to the Israeli legal system aimed at weakening what they say are the excessive powers of unelected judges. The proposed changes include giving Netanyahus allies control over the appointment of judges and giving parliament power to overturn court decisions. Netanyahu put the overhaul plan on hold in March after weeks of mass protests. But last month, he decided to revive the plan after talks with the political opposition aimed at finding a compromise collapsed. The Netanyahu government, which took office in December, is the most hard-line ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox in Israels 75-year history. His allies proposed the sweeping changes to the judiciary after the country held its fifth elections in under four years, all of them seen as a referendum on Netanyahus fitness to serve as prime minister while on trial for corruption. Critics of the plan say it will upset the countrys fragile system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies. They also say Netanyahu has a conflict of interest because he is on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes, all of which he has denied. A wide swath of Israeli society, including reserve military officers, business leaders, LGBTQ+ and other minority groups have joined the protests. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A whistleblower who has repeatedly accused the Bidens of corruption has been charged by the Justice Department with arms trafficking, acting as a foreign agent for China and violating Iran sanctions. Gal Luft, who is a citizen of both the United States and Israel, is accused of paying a former adviser to Donald Trump on behalf of principals in China in 2016 without registering as a foreign agent. Prosecutors say that Mr Luft pushed the former government employee, who is not named, to push policies that were favourable to China. They also allege that he set up meetings between officials of Iran and a Chinese energy company to discuss oil deals, which would violate US sanctions. They also alleged that Mr Luft conspired with others and attempted to broker illicit arms transactions with, among others, certain Chinese individuals and entities by working as a middleman to find both buyers and sellers for certain weapons and other materials in violation of the US Arms Control Act. Specifically, prosecutors say he attempted to broker a sale of anti-tank weapons, grenade launchers and mortar rounds to Libya by Chinese companies, and also pushed to arrange for the United Arab Emirates to purchase bombs and rockets, and for Kenya to acquire unmanned aerial vehicles capable of striking targets on the ground. Mr Luft, 57, was arrested in Cyprus in February on US charges but fled after being released on bail while awaiting extradition and is not currently in US custody. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a statement that Mr Luft engaged in multiple, serious criminal schemes. He subverted foreign agent registration laws in the United States to seek to promote Chinese policies by acting through a former high-ranking U.S. Government official; he acted as a broker in deals for dangerous weapons and Iranian oil; and he told multiple lies about his crimes to law enforcement, Mr Williams said. As the charges unsealed today reflect, our Office will continue to work vigorously with our law enforcement partners to detect and hold accountable those who surreptitiously attempt to perpetrate malign foreign influence campaigns here in the United States. Gal Luft has been charged with arms trafficking, breaking Iran sanctions and acting as agent for China (LinkedIn) The Acting Assistant Director in charge of the FBIs New York Field Office, Christie Curtis, said the defendant engaged in multiple schemes to evade sanctions and laws intended to protect our national security. The FBI is determined to defend our nation by enforcing laws designed to promote transparency of foreign influence within the United States, she added. Yet the now-indicted think tank founder claims that there is no basis for the charges and has accused the Biden Administration of targeting him because he is one of the alleged whistleblowers who Republicans have held up as having evidence that President Joe Biden and his family are corrupt. In a bizarre video first reported by the New York Post, Mr Luft claims his arrest in Cyprus was meant to stop him from appearing before the GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee about alleged payments the Biden family allegedly received from Chinese intelligence-linked individuals. The fugitive also claimed that he offered evidence backing up his claims to the FBI in March 2019, and said it was never followed up on. I, who volunteered to inform the US government about a potential security breach and about compromising information about a man vying to be the next president, am now being hunted by the very same people who I informed and may have to live on the run for the rest of my life on the run, he said. I warned the government about potential risk to the integrity of the 2020 elections Ask yourself, who is the real criminal in this story? Mr Luft also said he jumped bail and fled after his arrest because he dd not believe he could receive a fair trial in New York. Kyle Herrig, the executive director of the Congressional Integrity Project, said in a statement that the case of Mr Luft shows there is nothing more corrupt than the lengths MAGA Republicans will go to preserve and expand their own power, including consorting with other corrupt actors even alleged spies for the Chinese Communist Party. Do James Comer, Jim Jordan and Kevin McCarthy lack a single ounce of shame? Apparently so. The case against President Biden was built on nothing more than conspiracy theories to begin with, but over the past few weeks weve seen their allegations crumble even more, he said. Todays charges add to six months of misery and failure for MAGA Republicans whose political stunts have failed to uncover a single piece of evidence linking President Biden to any wrongdoing whatsoever. A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Joe Biden skipped a dinner with Nato leaders on Tuesday, instead returning to his hotel room in Lithuania. A US official was reported as saying that the US .president skipped the dinner because he has four full days of official business ahead of him and is preparing for a major speech on Wednesday. Mr Biden, who arrived in Europe on Sunday, sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the dinner in his place. The gathered leaders have offered an invitation to Ukraine to join in the defence alliance, pending certain conditions. Before Ukraine can join, all 31 member nations must agree with its inclusion among other conditions. "We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met, Nato said in an official statement released on Tuesday. Jens Stoltenberg, the the Secretary General of Nato, said the allies had reduced the bureaucratic hurdles Ukraine would need to clear in order to join the alliance. "What we have agreed to is a very substantive package with many different elements that helps to move Ukraine closer to NATO, Mr Stoltenberg said. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed frustration that Nato did not provide a timeframe for Ukraine's inclusion in the organisation, calling it "unprecedented and absurd." He further insisted that the lack of a timeframe provides Russia with a "window of opportunity" for Russia to include Ukraine's potential Nato membership in future negotiations. "And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror," he said. Mr Stoltenberg contended that there have never been timelines given to prospective member nations, saying inclusion is always condition based. If you look at other membership processes, there have not been timelines, he said. They are condition based has always been. Despite his frustrations, Mr Zelensky attended a flag ceremony in Vilnius, Lithuania during which he said he had "embarked on a trip here with faith in decision, with faith in partners, with faith in a strong NATO." He further said he trusted Nato would not "hesitate" or "waste time" moving toward including Ukraine in the alliance. "NATO will give Ukraine security. Ukraine will make the alliance stronger," Mr Zelensky said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Fox News host has claimed that she was turned on by reports of Joe Bidens alleged bad temper and foul mouth. Lisa Kennedy said that she had enjoyed an Axios report that current and former aides were reluctant to meet with the president because of his volatile moods. Swearing at people, its a quirk, Kennedy said on Mondays Outnumbered show on the right-wing network. It kind of turned me on when I heard that the president gets angry and volatile, Im not gonna lie. Her stance amused her four co-hosts on the show, which led her to clarify her feelings for the Democratic president. Im disappointed by just about every single thing hes done as president, she insisted. Mr Bidens former aides told Axios that they often brought a colleague to meetings to try and blunt the presidents temper. Fox News host Lisa Kennedy said she was otherwise unimpressed by the presidents record (Fox News) God dammit, how the f*** dont you know this?! He was quoted as yelling on at least one occasion. Another Biden aide said that he also shouted Dont f***ing bulls*** me, at one point and threw another staffer out of a meeting by saying, Get the f**k out of here. Theres no question that the Biden temper is for real. It may not be as volcanic as Bill Clintons, but its definitely there, Chris Whipple, author of The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Bidens White House, told Axios. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Joe Biden will meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at the Nato summit in Lithuania on Wednesday, US officials confirmed to The Independent. The meeting comes as Biden has expressed doubts in recent days about Ukraines long-sought goal of joining the trans-Atlantic alliance. I dont think there is unanimity in Nato about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the Nato family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war, he told CNN last week. If the war is going on, then were all in war, he added. Were at war with Russia, if that were the case. The president also said that Ukraine would need to make reforms in terms of democratization before joining the alliance. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said in a press conference from Vilnius on Monday he is absolutely certain Nato members will offer unity and a strong message about Ukraines potential membership in the alliance. Earlier that day, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russias long-running warnings against Ukraine joining Nato. You know the absolutely clear and consistent position of the Russian Federation that Ukraines membership in Nato will have very, very negative consequences for the security architecture, the already half-destroyed security architecture in Europe, he said, according to The Guardian. And it will be an absolute danger, a threat to our country, which will require from us a sufficiently clear and firm reaction. President Joe Biden walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of a working session on Ukraine during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, in May (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Presidents Biden and Zelensky last met in May at a G7 summit in Japan. Their discussions will likely centre on US aid to Ukraine, as well as bigger-picture security guarantees. So far, the US has sent more than $76bn in aid to the Eastern European nation, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, more than $46bn of which has been military-related. Most controversially, the US anounced earlier this month it would begin sending cluster munitions to the besieged country as part of an $800m aid package. The weapon type, which opens in the air and releases smaller bomblets across a wide area, has been criticised for causing high rates of civilian casualties. Dud bombs can remain unexploded for decades, heavily raising the risk of accidental deaths for non-combatants. The move to send such weapons has been criticised by US allies. Canada is fully compliant with the Convention and we take seriously our obligation under the Convention to encourage its universal adoption, the Canadian government said in a statement last week. UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has also highlighted his countrys refusal to use cluster bombs, though he acknowledged the US had to make its own difficult decision about what aid to send to Ukraine. Well, the UK is signatory to a convention which prohibits the production or use of cluster munitions and discourages their use, he told broadcasters last week. We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russias illegal and unprovoked invasion, but weve done that by providing heavy battle tanks and most recently long-range weapons, and hopefully all countries can continue to support Ukraine. The US hasnt used cluster munitions since the Iraq war in the early 2000s, and more than 120 countries have joined an international convention banning their use. Ukrainian officials, however, welcomed the development, including Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to the Ukrainian president. In the great bloody war which has been ongoing for more than 16 months, and which will predetermine the future of the world the number of weapons matters. So, weapons, more weapons, and more weapons, including cluster munitions, he said last week. The White House has argued it has received written assurances Ukraine will use the rounds in a very careful way that is aimed at minimising any risk to civilians, according to US national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov said in a statement last week the country would comply with human rights law, and pointed out how Russia is already using cluster munitions against Ukrainian civilians. I would like to stress that in exercising our inalienable right to self-defence we will continue to strictly comply with all the international humanitarian conventions signed and ratified by Ukraine, he wrote. The question of ammunition has been a central one in the Ukraine war. Ammunition supplies are low both within the country, and within the countries supplying firepower to hold off the Russians, according to the White House. The Ukrainians are running out of ammunition, Mr. Biden told CNN. This is a war relating to munitions. And theyre running out of that ammunition, and were low on it. Such considerations will be key as Ukraine continues a counterattack that began last month, which Zelensky has admitted is going slower than desired. The Ukraine war isnt the only major topic that will be considered at the summit. Turkey announced on Monday it will support Swedens bid to join Nato, after previously blocking it. If Sweden successfully joins the alliance, it will complete the expansion of Nato launched in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, and allow the alliance to grow by thousands of miles along the Baltic Sea. Andrew Feinberg contributed reporting to this story. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former Virginia Representative Denver Riggleman on Sunday said he is now working for Hunter Bidens legal team with the objective of showing the true origins of the salacious data that supporters of former president Donald Trump say is proof of lurid corruption allegations on the part of Mr Biden and his father, President Joe Biden. Mr Riggleman, a former Air Force officer who worked as a technical adviser to the now-defunct House January 6 select committee after losing his congressional seat in 2020, told CNN on Sunday that he was retained by Mr Bidens lawyers to prepare a technical and analytical report compared to phone forensics regarding the purported laptop which Hunter Biden is alleged to have abandoned at a Delaware repair shop. He told host Jim Acosta that he took the job because he hate[s] bullies and because many of the people promoting various accusations based on the purported laptop data also promoted the false conspiracy theories which led to the January 6 attack on the Capitol. There are some things I cant talk about, unlike the grifters. I have to have transparency and verification to stand up in a court of law, but I can tell you this, Mr Riggleman continued. What we want to look at first is the data out there purported to be Hunter Bidens laptop, and we wanted to see if there was any forensic format, and make sure there was no forensic validity to it, and ... there was none, he said. If youre looking at 4chan or from a site like MarcoPolo, you have to have forensic validity. And I am shocked that anybody in Congress would use that data, or any journalist would use those sources because [of] what we found out. Mr Riggleman said he and his team have obtained proof based on the 1s and 0s that we have found that the people involved, including ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon, ex-New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, and others, were manipulating the data. We have people like Steve Bannon using words like editorial creativity, and we have specific instances of fabrication and manipulation of the data, he added. The ex-Republican representative said the content being published in right-wing media has no relation to any forensic copy attached to a Hunter Biden laptop and looks ... to us as if most of the data is curated in a way that is almost like a mixtape of multiple data sources thats gone through the hands of 30 or 40 people. A lot of the things they say are not validated and ridiculous, and weve found cases of fabricating data, he said. The alleged laptop, which a legally blind former Delaware computer shop owner claims was left at his store for repair by Mr Biden but never picked up, has played an outsized role in GOP politics since the New York Post published an email purportedly showing that the then-vice president met with an executive at Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company where Hunter Biden served as a board member. Hunter Bidens attorneys have repeatedly denied that the computer store owners version of events is accurate and have also repeatedly denied that the data in question is from any single device belonging to their client. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Few Republicans have high confidence that votes will be tallied accurately in next years presidential contest, suggesting years of sustained attacks against elections by former President Donald Trump and his allies have taken a toll, according to a new poll. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds that only 22% of Republicans have high confidence that votes in the upcoming presidential election will be counted accurately compared to 71% of Democrats, underscoring a partisan divide fueled by a relentless campaign of lies related to the 2020 presidential election. Even as he runs for the White House a third time, Trump continues to promote the false claim that the election was stolen. Overall, the survey finds that fewer than half of Americans 44% have a great deal or quite a bit of confidence that the votes in the next presidential election will be counted accurately. While Democrats confidence in elections has risen in recent years, the opposite is true for Republicans. Ahead of the 2016 election, 32% of Republicans were highly confident votes would be counted accurately a figure that jumped to 54% two years later after Trump won the presidency. That confidence level dropped to 28% a month before the 2020 election, as Trump signaled to voters that the voting would be rigged, and now sits at 22% less than 16 months before the next presidential election. I just didnt like the way the last election went, said Lynn Jackson, a registered nurse from El Sobrante, California, who is a registered Republican. I have questions about it. I cant actually say it was stolen -- only God knows that. Trump's claims were rejected by dozens of judges, including several he appointed. His own attorney general and an exhaustive review by The Associated Press found no evidence of widespread fraud that could have changed the results. Multiple reviews, audits and recounts in the battleground states where Trump disputed his loss confirmed Democrat Joe Biden's victory, including several overseen by Republican lawmakers. Even so, Trump's attempts to explain his loss led to a wave of new laws in GOP-dominated states that added new voting restrictions, primarily by restricting mail voting and limiting or banning ballot drop boxes. Across the country, conspiracy theories related to voting machines have prompted many Republican-controlled local governments to explore banning machines from tallying votes in favor of hand counts. The AP-NORC poll suggests that the persistent messaging has sunk in among a wide swath of the American public. The survey found that independents a group that has consistently had low confidence in elections were also largely skeptical about the integrity of the 2024 elections. Just 24% have the highest levels of confidence that the votes will be counted accurately. Chris Ruff, a 46-year-old unaffiliated voter from Sanford, North Carolina, said he lost faith in elections years ago, believing they are rigged to favor certain candidates. He also sees no difference between the two major parties. I dont vote at all," he said. "I think it only adds credibility to the system if you participate. The conspiracy theories about voting machines, promoted through forums held around the country, also have taken a toll on confidence among Republicans even though there is no evidence to support them. About four in 10 U.S. adults are highly confident that scanning paper ballots into a machine provides accurate counts. Democrats are about twice as confident in the process as Republicans 63% compared to 29%. That marks a notable shift from a 2018 AP-NORC poll that found just 40% of Democrats were confident compared to 53% of Republicans. Gillian Nevers, a 79-year-old retiree from Madison, Wisconsin, has worked as a poll worker and said she has confidence -- based on her experiences -- in the people who oversee elections. I have never seen any shenanigans, said Nevers, who votes Democratic. The claims are unfounded and ridiculous. Because they are being so widely projected, I think they have a lot of people worried who I dont think should be. The conspiracy theories have led to death threats against election officials and an exodus of experienced workers. The attacks against voting machines have been especially dispiriting for election officials because of the testing and audits they perform before and after elections to ensure votes are recorded accurately. All states except Alabama and Wisconsin reported using a method referred to as logic and accuracy testing to confirm that voting machines were tabulating votes correctly before the 2022 midterm elections, according to a report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. In most jurisdictions, any challenged result also can be checked against the paper ballots. James Grove, a 74-year-old retiree from Sharon, Pennsylvania, is among the minority of Republicans who are confident votes will be counted accurately next year and said he does not believe the 2020 election was stolen. I think most of the elections are run pretty honestly, said Grove, who backed Trump in 2016 and 2020. There are Republican election watchers and Democratic ones. And do I think the 2020 election was crooked? No, I really dont. Among other poll findings: Most Republicans 62% are opposed to allowing people to vote using mailed ballots without an excuse, compared to just 13% of Democrats. Roughly seven in 10 Democrats support no-excuse mail voting. Requiring a photo ID to cast a ballot receives broad bipartisan support. Seven in 10 U.S. adults would favor a measure requiring voters to provide photo identification, including 87% of Republicans and 60% of Democrats. A slim majority of Americans 55% support automatically registering adult citizens to vote when they get a driver's license or other state identification. Four in 10 U.S. adults say eligible voters being denied the right to vote is a major problem in U.S. elections, but about as many Americans say the same about people voting who are not eligible. The perceived significance of each issue varies by political party: 56% of Republicans call illegal voting a major problem in U.S. elections, compared to 20% of Democrats. At the same time, 53% of Democrats say eligible voters being unable to vote is a major problem, compared to 26% of Republicans. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ The poll of 1,220 adults was conducted June 22-26 using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A grand jury in Georgia has been sworn in to consider charges against Donald Trump and his allies in their attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in that state. The office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has helmed the investigation into the former president and his allies for more than two years, following Mr Trumps pressure campaign targeting state officials to reject the results. Ms Willis began investigating Mr Trump shortly after his call to Georgias Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, the states top elections official, who was pressed to find 11,870 votes just enough needed for then-President Trump to beat Joe Biden in the state. A special grand jury previously heard testimony from 75 witnesses, including aides and former attorneys to Mr Trump. That jury concluded its report in January with recommendations for state prosecutors to bring charges that will soon be reviewed by the newly impaneled grand jury. The investigation is among several facing the former president, who is separately the subject of a US Department of Justice special counsel probe into his attempts to subvert the election. He also faces 37 federal charges stemming from the alleged mishandling of dozens of sensitive government documents and has been criminally charged in New York City on fraud-related charges from hush-money payments to bury potentially damaging stories about his affairs in the leadup to the 2016 election. Mr Trump has repeatedly rejected any charges and investigations against him in several jurisdictions as political witch hunts and has called the Democratic elected prosecutor in Atlanta, who is Black, racist and a lunatic Marxist. He has similarly characterised prosecutors in Manhattan, where was found liable for sexual abuse, hit with a $250m lawsuit from the state attorney general, and criminally charged with more than 30 counts of falsifying business records. Ms Willis has previously suggested that any potential charges stemming from the grand juries could come in August. What happens now? The new grand jury in Fulton County, which includes Atlanta and surrounding suburbs, was sworn in on 11 July. Two jury panels selected at a courthouse in downtown Atlanta each have 26 participants. One of those panels will handle the Trump investigation. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who previously handled the special grand jury that collected evidence in the investigation, will preside. What happened to the special grand jury? Roughly one year into her investigation, Ms Willis took the unusual step of asking for a special grand jury to rely on its subpoena power to compel testimony from witnesses who otherwise would not be willing to talk with prosecutors. That special grand jury was seated in May 2022 and concluded its work in January 2022. A list of witnesses included former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, US Senator Lindsey Graham and former Senator Kelly Loeffler, and five members of Mr Trumps legal team, including Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis and fake elector architect John Eastman, among several others. In all, the grand jury heard from roughly 75 witnesses before dissolving in January. As a judge heard arguments on 24 January whether to publicly release the grand jurys report, Ms Willis said that a decision from her office on whether to bring criminal charges was imminent. A partially released report from the special grand jury shows that jurors unanimously agreed that no widespread fraud took place in Georgias election following interviews with election officials, analysis and poll workers. Fani Willis (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) It also includes a recommendation that prosecutors seek indictments for one or more witnesses who likely committed perjury, and it will ultimately be up to her office to seek indictments where she finds sufficient cause. The publicly released filing does not include witness names, names of people recommended for indictments, or other recommended charges. Who could be charged in the case? Lat year, Ms Williss office sent letters warning several people including fake electors and Mr Giuliani that they could face charges in the case. She also may be considering a wider set of charges that Ms Willis has made a career out of bringing against dozens of others. The states anti-racketeering RICO statute typically used to break up organized crime has been used by her office in indictments against more than two dozen people connected to a sprawling Atlanta hip-hop empire, 38 alleged gang members, and 25 educators accused of cheating Atlantas public school system. The RICO Act allows prosecutors to bring charges against multiple people that they believe committed separate crimes while working toward a common goal. How common are regular grand juries? Two grand juries are typically seated in Fulton County in each two-month term of court. They usually meet every week one on Mondays and Tuesdays and the other on Thursdays and Fridays. Their work takes place behind closed doors, not open to the public or to news media. What will they do? Georgia law requires an indictment from a grand jury to prosecute someone in most felony cases. When prosecutors present a case, theyre trying to convince the grand jurors that there is probable cause that one or more people committed crimes and to get the grand jurors to agree to bring charges against them. For each case, prosecutors read or explain the potential indictment and then call witnesses or present any other evidence. Any witnesses who testify must swear an oath to tell the truth. Recommended Trump valet charged in classified documents case set again for arraignment after earlier delays Often in Georgia, the only witnesses the grand jury hears from are law enforcement officers, including investigators for the district attorneys office. They can tell the grand jurors what theyve learned in their investigation, including what suspects or witnesses have said and what other evidence they have. Members of the grand jury are allowed to question witnesses. In general, a person who is named as a defendant on the potential indictment cannot be called to testify before the grand jury. After a case is presented, members of the grand jury convene to deliberate the case and whether to vote for a true bill or a no bill indictment, the former meaning that there is probable cause to believe a person committed a crime. A no bill means jurors did not believe a person committed a crime or that there is not enough evidence to indict them. An indictment is then presented in open court. Additional reporting from the Associated Press Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump is now seeking to have his federal criminal trial delayed until after the 2024 election, citing his status as a candidate for president and other legal arguments which experts say lack any grounding in actual law. In a court filing in Miami late on Monday, Mr Trumps lawyers asked the judge to indefinitely delay his trial on charges over his handling of classified documents, saying that due to the extraordinary nature of the case it would not be possible to try it before the presidential election. In the 12-page filing, they called the governments case against him extraordinary and claim it presents a serious challenge to both the fact and perception of our American democracy because Mr Trump is seeking his partys nomination to run against the incumbent president who defeated him in 2020, Joe Biden. The Court now presides over a prosecution advanced by the administration of a sitting President against his chief political rival, himself a leading candidate for the Presidency of the United States. Therefore, a measured consideration and timeline that allows for a careful and complete review of the procedures that led to this indictment and the unprecedented legal issues presented herein best serves the interests of the Defendants and the public, they said. While prosecutors had asked Judge Aileen Cannon to set a trial date of 11 December, the former president has opposed that request on the grounds that to begin a trial of this magnitude within six months of indictment is unreasonable, telling, and would result in a miscarriage of justice for him and his co-defendant, longtime aide Walt Nauta. In a brief order issued shortly after Mr Trumps arraignment last month, Judge Cannon set a trial date for 14 August, but Special Counsel Jack Smith later asked for the four-month delay the ex-president and his co-defendant now oppose. Instead, Mr Trump is seeking an indefinite delay to the proceedings against him. Based on the extraordinary nature of this action, there is most assuredly no reason for any expedited trial, and the ends of justice are best served by a continuance, his attorneys wrote in Mondays filing. The Court should, respectfully, before establishing any trial date, allow time for development of further clarity as to the full nature and scope of the motions that will be filed, a better understanding of a realistic discovery and pre-trial timeline, and the completion of the security clearance process, they said, adding later that the trial should also be delayed because Mr Trumps presidential campaign requires a tremendous amount of time and energy, and makes trial preparation too difficult. Mr Trumps attorneys also say that the case poses significant legal questions that could see the case dismissed long before trial, and suggest in their filing that they plan to argue that Mr Trump declassified the documents at issue, challenge the constitutionality of the Classified Information Procedures Act the law used to allow classified evidence in criminal trials and they further suggest that it would be impossible to select an impartial jury during the 2024 election. Proceeding to trial during the pendency of a Presidential election cycle wherein opposing candidates are effectively (if not literally) directly adverse to one another in this action will create extraordinary challenges in the jury selection process and limit the Defendants ability to secure a fair and impartial adjudication, they said, citing a Justice Department policy that cautions against taking prosecutorial action for the purpose of affecting an election or helping a candidate or party even though that policy pertains only to investigations and indictments, not the conduct of criminal cases that have already been brought. The ex-presidents lawyers later suggested that they intend to repeat baseless legal claims Mr Trump has advanced on his Truth Social page, namely the argument that under the Presidential Records Act and a 2012 court precedent regarding tapes belonging to former president Bill Clinton, he had the right to keep the documents at issue in this case. Contrary to the Governments assertion regarding the nature of the legal issues in this matter ... this case presents novel, complex, and unique legal issues, most of which are matters of first impression. As noted above, this Court will need to evaluate the intersection between the Presidential Records Act ... and the various criminal statutes forming the basis of the indictment. These will be questions of first impression for any court in the United States, and their resolution will impact the necessity, scope, and timing of any trial, they said. Continuing, they also said they plan to challenge the constitutionality of the Espionage Act under which Mr Trump is being prosecuted, as well as Mr Smiths ability to indict a former president. Mr Smiths office has not yet responded to the filing. Last month, Mr Trump was indicted on 37 federal charges over his handling of classified documents, including national defence information, after leaving the White House. The indictment, which was unsealed on Friday (9 June), alleges that Mr Trump deliberately lied to and misled authorities so that he could hold onto documents that he knew were classified. On at least two separate occasions, Mr Trump then showed some of the classified documents to people not authorised to see them, the indictment alleges. Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event, Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Las Vegas (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Stunning photos revealed that many of the documents were stored around a toilet, shower and ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The charges include 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information and single counts of false statements and representations, and counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document, concealing a document in a federal investigation and a scheme to conceal. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment in a Miami federal courthouse, becoming the first current or former US president ever charged with a federal crime. Mr Trumps longtime aide Walt Nauta was also charged with six obstruction- and concealment-related charges after he allegedly helped move boxes of documents from Mar-a-Lago to Mr Trumps residence and then lied to investigators about having any knowledge of the handling of the papers. The two men appeared in court together but Mr Nauta did not enter a plea as he did not have legal counsel in Florida. Mr Nauta appeared for his arraignment last week where he pleaded not guilty. Close Trump shares threatening fan-made video Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump will face trial for the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case on 20 May 2024, just six months before the presidential election. Judge Aileen Cannon gave the order on Friday morning. Meanwhile, the former president has been busy bullying his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, including Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson, on Truth Social as he braces for an imminent grand jury indictment over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his role in inciting the Capitol riot of 6 January 2021. Mr Trump announced on Tuesday that he had been sent a letter by special prosecutor Jack Smith informing him that he is the target of the investigation, citing three statutes under which he could be charged, including conspiracy to commit offence or to defraud the United States, deprivation of rights under colour of law and tampering with a witness, victim or informant. That indictment, Mr Trumps third in four months, could be handed down any day now, The Independent learned. Meanwhile, the latest attorney to join Mr Trumps legal team says he wants cameras in court when the former president is potentially put on trial over his alleged election interference. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Before 2024 presidential candidate Doug Burgum can debate his fellow Republicans on stage in the first primary debate, he needs 40,000 individual donors to give to his campaign. In order to meet that, the North Dakota governor has developed an incentive for donors: pay him $1 and he will give you a $20 gift card. Yes, 50,000 people will actually get a Visa or Mastercard gift card to their mailing address, Mr Burgum wrote on Twitter. The new initiative was met with raised eyebrows and mockery. Is this a legit way to amass enough donors to get on the debate stage @GOP? one user wrote on Twitter. Another Twitter user wrote: Literally bribing your constituents for votes? Lmao. Mr Burgum claims the new initiative is intended to provide economic relief to the American people who have been hurt by Bidenflation though in an email to The Independent, a spokesperson for Mr Burgums office said the initiative is also intended to help secure Mr Burgums spot on the debate stage. The so-called Biden Relief Card will benefit the first 50,000 people who donate to Mr Burgums campaign. Doug knows people are hurting because of Bidenflation and giving Biden Economic Relief Gift Cards is a way to help 50,000 people until Doug is elected President to fix this crazy economy for everyone, Lance Trover, a spokesperson for Mr Burgum, said. The 40,000 individual donor threshold was recently enacted by the Republican National Committee (RNC). As the pool of candidates grows more crowded, some may be weeded out by the new rules. In order for candidates to debate one another on the RNC stage in August, they need to have at least 40,000 individual donors contribute to their campaign with at least 200 unique donors from 20 states or territories. They also need to be polling with at least one per cent of national support and commit to supporting the eventual Republican nominee. The new rules have sent candidates like Mr Burgum scrambling for ways to incentivise supporters to donate. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is offering supporters who donate any amount a free Team Suarez t-shirt. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy launched a program that will pay participants 10 per cent of the money they raise for his campaign. Others like Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson and Mike Pence have posted messages on social media encouraging people to support their efforts to get to the debate stage. Forum underlines cooperation on investment, finance, sustainability China is ready to work with the international community to improve its development investment outlook as the world faces a global development financing gap amid growth uncertainties, an official said on Monday. Zhao Fengtao, deputy head of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, made the remarks at a sub-forum on the theme of capital mobilization for sustainable infrastructure. The event was jointly hosted by CIDCA and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Noting that 2023 marks the midterm evaluation year for the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, Zhao said China is willing to work with other countries to develop consensus and expects the UN to play a key role in promoting the UN 2030 agenda by bringing the development issues back to the center of global agenda. "China will move steadfastly in implementing the Global Development Initiative and increasing resources for global development cooperation. We are also ready to share development opportunities with other developing countries," he said. "China supports the optimization of the investment environment and looks forward to all parties working together to accelerate the construction of a justified and efficient financial governance framework and an open and transparent investment governance framework to create a stable investment environment for developing countries." He also said China will effectively leverage the platform role of the projects portfolio of the GDI and continuously deepen cooperation with financial institutions as well as businesses from home and abroad, to provide financial and professional support to developing countries. Global leaders expressed similar sentiments. Ban Ki-moon, former UN secretary-general, said financial institutions, governments and multilateral development banks are critical for risk sharing amid the current challenging times for global development. Noting that the importance of green and sustainable finance can never be overstated, he said the UN should ensure that sustainable infrastructure becomes a worldwide priority, in order to collaborate, with financial support from international institutions such as the AIIB.Such an approach can help countries overcome the financing gap amid challenges. The UN should see an opportunity to work with the AIIB by creating more visible, inclusive and sustainable development. Danny Alexander, vice-president for policy and strategy at the AIIB, said that as a multilateral development bank that was born amid the promise of the Paris Agreement, climate remains a key priority area for the AIIB. He said the financial institution has become fully aligned with the Paris Principles as of July 1, and in 2022, it had delivered about $2.4 billion in climate finance, reaching its climate finance goal three years early. On Monday, the AIIB signed an agreement with CIDCA to jointly accelerate the attainment of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Based on the agreement, the AIIB and CIDCA will work jointly in addressing climate change to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. CIDCA's resources will support the preparation and financing of AIIB projects, which are prepared to the highest international standards and in line with the AIIB's strategy and policies. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Her first day as the chief prosecutor for Fulton County came with news that then-President Donald Trump attempted to pressure Georgias top election officials to reverse his loss in the state during the 2020 presidential election. A phone call between Mr Trump and Georgias Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was published by The Washington Post late at night on 3 January, 2021. Hours later, Fani Willis would walk into her first day on the job as Fulton Countys district attorney, an office that is now spearheading a criminal investigation into Mr Trump, with the phone call serving as a central damning piece of evidence against him. For more than two years, her office has been investigating efforts to overturn election results in the state and the baseless allegations of widespread election fraud that fuelled them, adding to a long list of investigations and other legal consequences facing Mr Trump and others who rejected 2020 results. A grand jury seated on 11 July is expected to consider charges against the former president and his allies. She has previously indicated that any potential indictments could follow in August. The closely watched case against the former president could result in racketeering charges similar to those that Ms Willis has made a career out of bringing against dozens of others. An anti-racketeering RICO statute typically used to prosecute members of the Mafia and break up organised crime has been used by her office in indictments against more than two dozen people connected to a sprawling Atlanta hip-hop empire, 38 alleged gang members, and 25 educators accused of cheating Atlantas public school system. Such charges could also await Mr Trump, leaving Ms Willis in an unprecedented position of deciding whether to charge a former president who is once again running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 for a criminal offence. It doesnt matter if youre rich, poor, Black, white, Democrat or Republican, Ms Willis told CNN last year. If you violated the law, youre going to be charged. Get out of my county Ms Willis graduated from Howard University in 1992 and Emory University School of Law in 1996. She began her career in the Fulton County District Attorneys office in 2001, with roles in nearly every division in the agency, and serving as lead prosecutor in more than 100 jury trials. She is the first Black woman elected to lead the counts district attorneys office. (AP) Last year, her office charged rappers Young Thug and Gunna and 26 others in a sprawling, 65-count RICO case following an 88-page grand-jury indictment characterising their YSL group as a criminal street gang behind 182 instances of gang activity and criminal conspiracies. Her office also led RICO indictments against 12 alleged members of the Bloods gang, including the rapper YFN Lucci, and 26 alleged members of the Drug Rich gang, connected to a gang string of robberies and home invasions across Atlanta. I have some legal advice: Dont confess to crimes on rap lyrics if you do not want them used, she told reporters at a press conference last year. Or at least get out of my county. In a controversial case from 2014, she served as the lead prosecutor in a RICO case involving 35 Atlanta public school educators tied to an infamous cheating scandal, ultimately resulting in racketeering convictions against 11 of 12 people accused of manipulating students standardised test scores. As the countys chief prosecutor, she has expanded her offices gang unit and lobbied for passage of a statewide measure that would impose mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders and increase the power of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in an effort to crack down on gang violence. Key points from Trump's infamous Georgia call Following RICO charges against alleged members of the Drug Rich gang, accused of a series of high-profile robberies and shootings involving Atlantas wealthy, Ms Willis told reporters: If you thought Fulton was a good county to bring your crime to, to bring your violence to, you are wrong and you are going to suffer consequences. Imminent charges Over the last two years, the Fulton County district attorneys office has helmed a criminal probe into whether Mr Trump and his allies illegally interfered with the 2020 election in the state, which several recounts have confirmed President Joe Biden won definitively against Mr Trump. In January 2022, Ms Willis convened a special grand jury, a 26-member panel given subpoena power and investigative authority to interview witnesses and ultimately deliver a report, as per state law, that includes charging recommendations. The grand jury does not have authority to issue an indictment. It will ultimately be up to Ms Willis to determine whether to charge Mr Trump and others connected to her case. Her office sent letters to people connected to the so-called alternate electors scheme, including Georgia lawmakers and the chair of the Georgia Republican Party, and more than a dozen others who signed unofficial electoral certificates to subvert the Electoral College process and pledge the states votes for Mr Trump, who lost in Georgia. Central to the investigation is Mr Trumps call on 2 January, 2021, which he made days before a joint session of Congress convened to certify Mr Bidens victory, while those faithful to Mr Trump made last-ditch efforts to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject the elections outcome, or stormed the US Capitol in an antidemocratic show of force that has led to hundreds of federal prosecutions, including more than a dozen on treason-related charges. A list of grand jury witnesses included former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, US Senator Lindsey Graham and former Senator Kelly Loeffler, and five members of Mr Trumps legal team, including Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis and fake elector architect John Eastman, among several others. The grand jury investigation also looked into a phone call on 13 November, 2020 from Senator Graham to Mr Raffensberger, as well as Mr Trumps own remarks to a rally crowd months after he left the White House in which he appeared to publicly brag that he had asked Georgias Governor Brian Kemp to help us out and re-do the election. In all, the special grand jury heard from roughly 75 witnesses before dissolving in January. As a judge heard arguments on 24 January whether to publicly release the grand jurys report, Ms Willis said that a decision from her office on whether to bring criminal charges was imminent. In a series of Truth Social posts during the hearing, Mr Trump continued to lie about the results of the 2020 election, defended his perfect phone call to Georgia officials, and baselessly alleged widespread vote manipulation. Judge Robert McBurney granted a partial release of the special grand jurys report, which includes its introduction and conclusion and a section in which jury members expressed concerns that some witnesses may have lied under oath. The recommendations to Ms Willis include a roster of who should (or should not) be indicted, and for what, in relation to the conduct (and aftermath) of the 2020 general election in Georgia. A partially released report shows that the jury unanimously agreed that no widespread fraud took place in Georgias election following interviews with election officials, analysis and poll workers. It also includes a recommendation to Ms Williss office to seek indictments for one or more witnesses who likely committed perjury, and it will ultimately be up to her office to seek indictments where she finds sufficient cause. The publicly released filing does not include witness names, names of people recommended for indictments, or other recommended charges. Asked on 13 February how she feels about the judges decision to publicly release parts of the document, Ms Willis smiled and told reporters: Im pleased with it. This story was first published on 15 February and has been updated with developments Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Embattled Republican Rep George Santos has attracted scorn and mockery after saying he will not back down before bizarrely comparing himself to civil rights hero Rosa Parks. Mr Santos joined conservative talk show host Mike Crispi and vowed to retaliate against people who criticise him as he faces multiple threats to his time in Congress and his freedom. They come for me, I go right back for them because I think for far too long they've gotten away with getting along to get along, he said as he conducted the interview from a car. So you know, it's not going to stay that way anymore. I'm going to call them out. You want to call me a liar. I'll call you a sellout. Specifically, he criticised Senator Mitt Romney, who chastised the serial liar when they met at the State of the Union earlier this year and told Mr Santos that he did not belong there. At that point, he compared himself to Parks the civil rights activist who refused to give her seat up for a white man in Montgomery, Alabama. Well, guess what Rosa Parks didn't sit in the back and neither am I going to sit in the back, said Mr Santos. That's just the reality of how it works. Mitt Romney lives in a very different world. And he needs to buckle up because it's going to be a bumpy ride for him. After reporting on the congressmans comments and reminding viewers of the civil rights legacy of Ms Parks refusal to give up her seat on a bus for a white passenger in Montgomery Alabama in 1955, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper asked the networks senior data reporter Harry Enten for his thoughts. What the hell is wrong with him? Can I just say that? I mean, my goodness gracious, responded Enten. He then explained how Rep Santos is currently polling. The serial fabulist has a favourability rating in his own district of just seven per cent, which Enten points out is lower than both the percentage of Americans who believe the Earth is flat and those who think the moon landing was faked. By comparison, Rosa Parks is universally admired with both Republicans and Democrats giving her a favourability rating of about 90 per cent. This scorn is also reflected in Mr Santoss fundraising figures. In quarter one, he raised just $5,300, while his Republican challenger for the seat, Kellen Curry, raked in approximately $200,000, Enten reported. Many members of Congress, including his fellow Republicans from New York and beyond, have called on Mr Santos to resign after multiple news reports discovered he fabricated multiple aspects of his personal biography. In May, he was then arrested and surrendered to a federal court in Long Island. The Justice Department charged him with multiple counts of wire fraud, three money laundering counts, one count of public funds theft and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Four days after he claimed a very credible witness had emerged to provide the Justice Department with derogatory information about President Joe Biden and his family, House Oversight Committee chair James Comer questioned the timing of charges that the alleged whistleblower was actually spying for the Chinese government and attempting to broker illegal arms sales to Libya. The alleged unregistered foreign agent, Gal Luft, was arrested in February by authorities in Cyprus on arms trafficking charges, but he subsequently disappeared after jumping bail. Mr Luft, who is a citizen of both the United States and Israel, is accused of paying a former adviser to Donald Trump on behalf of principals in China in 2016 without registering as a foreign agent. Prosecutors say that Mr Luft pushed the former government employee, who is not named, to push policies that were favourable to China, and further accuse him of having set up meetings between officials of Iran and a Chinese energy company to discuss oil deals, which would violate US sanctions. Mr Comer, who appeared on Fox News late Monday, insinuated that the charges against the think tank founder were meant to silence him when asked about the timing by host Laura Ingraham. The timing is always coincidental, according to the Democrats at the Department of Justice, he said. The Kentucky Republican claimed that Mr Luft was being paid by the same company which entered into a failed business venture with Mr Bidens son, Hunter Biden, and suggested that the speed at which the department moved against Mr Luft is suspicious. So there are a lot of questions here and it's just amazing. The Department of Justice moves so quickly against some people, he said, adding that it is ironic that Mr Luft is charged with being an unregistered foreign agent the same allegation Republicans have levelled against Hunter Biden. The indictment announced on Monday also alleges that Mr Luft conspired with others and attempted to broker illicit arms transactions with, among others, certain Chinese individuals and entities by working as a middleman to find both buyers and sellers for certain weapons and other materials in violation of the US Arms Control Act. Specifically, prosecutors say he attempted to broker a sale of anti-tank weapons, grenade launchers and mortar rounds to Libya by Chinese companies, and also pushed to arrange for the United Arab Emirates to purchase bombs and rockets, and for Kenya to acquire unmanned aerial vehicles capable of striking targets on the ground. They further alleged that Mr Luft lied to FBI agents during an interview in 2019, when he claims to have provided the bureau with derogatory information on the Biden family. Asked whether the charges that Mr Luft made false statements to FBI agents in any way impacts his credibility as an alleged whistleblower against the president or his son, Mr Comer replied: Did he lie to the FBI? I dont know! He also accused FBI leadership of lying to him three times this year. I have no confidence in the FBI, he said, adding that his lack of confidence in the countrys premier law enforcement agency was sad. One of his Republican colleagues on the House Oversight Committee, South Carolina Nancy Mace, also downplayed the charges in a TV appearance in which she accused the Biden administration of using the prosecution to stop Mr Luft from speaking out. Speaking on Fox Business Network on Tuesday, Ms Mace said Mr Luft deserves to testify before the Oversight Committee and accused the department of trying to keep him from doing so. No one should be surprised here. I dont trust the DOJ or the FBI, they are trying to silence our witness and this is a way to do that, she said. She added that it is obscene that the government is not charging Hunter Biden with the same crimes despite the fact that Mr Biden has never attempted to broker arms sales or violate US sanctions on Iran. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Far-right Rep Majorie Taylor Greene has introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorisation Act that directs the president to withdraw the US from Nato. They are not a reliable partner whose defense spending should be paid for by American citizens. For the better part of the last decade, Germany has contributed only around one per cent of its GDP to finance Nato obligations while the United States is paying around four per cent of our GDP to defend Nato countries, Ms Greene said in announcing the amendment. She added that the US has been financing and promising to defend Nato countries for decades and paying more than its fair share. Western European countries could and should be stepping up their financial contributions to ensure the security of Nato. Instead, they are entirely beholden to Russia and US taxpayers expected to foot the bill, Ms Greene concluded. The Georgia congresswomans amendment comes the same day that President Joe Biden expressed the US ironclad commitment to NATO in a tweet amid a Nato summit in Lithuania. Earlier on Tuesday, Nato leaders wrote in a declaration that Ukraines future is in NATO, adding, We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Georgia Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene was blasted on social media after she defended a movie about child sex trafficking which has been described as QAnon adjacent. Ms Greene, who has previously touted the far-right conspiracy theory, tweeted that a prayer could end child sex trafficking, while posting a series of screenshotted headlines about Sound of Freedom, a new movie, that linked the film to QAnon under the words This is what covering for child sex trafficking looks like. She wrote, When major media companies all label a movie about child sex trafficking Qanon; they dont brainwash the masses to not watch it, they actually expose themselves as ok with child sex trafficking by engaging in such a ridiculous way to try to diminish such an evil very real industry. Ms Greene encouraged the public to see the film and let us all get active in every capacity to end child sex trafficking. She ended her tweet with the words The best place we all should start is in prayer, followed by a praying hands emoji. Seeing it tomorrow night. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, one user tweeted. One person took a more sarcastic approach, tweeting about the irony behind Ms Greenes post: Your endorsement should do wonders to make people disassociate it with Qanon. Another person said, Well, when you throw out conspiracies about pizza parlors and lizard people into the mix, yeah ... you get that kind of reaction. Maybe because the star is an admitted Q weirdo conspiracy theorist and its [sic] purpose is to spread their message, another user tweeted, adding, Liberals in general are not against busting child sex trafficking, and anyone who thinks that is obviously not well. The user was discussing an actor in the film, Jim Caviezel, who has been described as a promoter of the fringe theory. You and @Jim_Jordan talk big and bad about whatever is topical at the time and follow through with 0 results. Lots of words, no action, youre complicit, one user wrote, pointing out that Rep Greene voted against the human trafficking bill last year. The Georgia congresswoman has since blamed the internet for her being sucked into some things, seemingly in reference to the movement. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Georgia Republican Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene revealed that she doesnt know why she was expelled from the Freedom Caucus, but said she was not really concerned about it. No one has told me that. As a matter of fact, all the information I found out was from you guys, the congresswoman told reporters . She added that she works for her constituents and that she doesnt have time for the drama club. A Republican source told NBC News earlier this week that Chairman Scott Perry apparently has not yet told Ms Greene directly that she was kicked out of the group. Colorado Rep Ken Buck corroborated the information, telling CNN: The chairman has been trying to call her to let her know, but there havent been any returned phone calls. I dont know why they would do something like that from any perspective, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters. But Ill tell you this Marjorie Taylor Greene is a very good member, works hard, represents her district night and day and shes always here fighting for the process of what were doing. The House speaker added, I think its a loss for the Freedom Caucus. McCarthy also said that Ms Greene is probably one of the most conservative new members we have. Mr McCarthys support for Ms Greene comes after she voted for him for the speakership, while a number of Freedom Caucus members opposed him, causing a long, tense battle for the position. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A disgruntled Iowa voter asked former Vice President Mike Pence whether he ever second-guess[ed] himself after he certified Joe Bidens 2020 election victory, despite then-President Donald Trump repeatedly urging him to block the transfer of power. Luann Bertrand, the voter, confronted the former vice president during his campaign stop in Sioux City, Iowa. She falsely claimed that Mr Pence had the power to block the certification. Do you ever second-guess yourself? That was a constitutional right that you had to send those votes back to the states. It was not like you were going to personally elect him ... You changed history for this country, Ms Bertrand said. Mr Pence replied that his role on Jan 6 continues to be misunderstood, adding that he kept his oath to the Constitution that day. Dont take my word for it, go read the Constitution. Now really, I say this with great affection and respect the Constitutions very clear. ... The Constitution says you open and count the votes, no more no less, Pence continued. No vice president in American history ever asserted the authority that you have been convinced that I had, and I want to tell you, with all due respect, I said before and I said when I announced, President Trump is wrong about my authority that day and hes still wrong. I believe it with all my heart, the 2024 presidential candidate said. In a subsequent interview on CNN, Ms Bertrand said that she would consider supporting Pence in the 2024 race, but noted, he has that one hiccup, referring to his role in the certification process. Mr Pence also said at the campaign stop that he would weigh pardoning Mr Trump if he was found guilty of federal crimes. Ive been a governor, Ive actually pardoned people, he said. I think any pardon that you could conduct would only be appropriate to consider after somebody has been found guilty. And I dont know why some of my competitors in the Republican primary assume the presidents going to be found guilty. The former president faces a 37-count federal indictment relating to his handling of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Florida governor Ron DeSantis came to his wifes defence on Monday, claiming that those mocking her as Americas Karen were actually threatened by her. Mr DeSantiss pushback came as MSNBC analyst and former Republican congressman from Florida, David Jolly, called his wife Casey DeSantis Americas Karen, a pejorative term typically used for a middle-class white woman who exhibits entitled, demanding, and often confrontational behaviour. The comments were made on MSNBCs Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart last week during a discussion on Ms DeSantiss campaign on behalf of her husband. Appearing on Fox News on Monday, Mr DeSantis said he and his wife will wear the tag as a badge of honour. My wife is an incredibly strong first lady of Florida, a fantastic mother and a great wife, and that threatens the Left, he said. "So she and I kind of shrug it off because we know it just shows they view her as a threat, because the message that she was bringing in Iowa about the rights of parents and how we are not going to take this anymore with the Left trying to indoctrinate our kids, they understand that that resonates not just with Republican parents, with independent parents and, yes, with Democrat parents," he added. Mr Jolly, who represented Floridas 13th Congressional District from 2014 to 2017, said the presidential hopefuls wife was a fairly compelling political figure in Florida and now nationally. For many, shes the brighter side to Floridas angry governor. For others, shes become Americas Karen," he said. "Look, shes a more effective messenger than Ron DeSantis, but if all shes doing is amplifying the wrong message, shes actually clarifying Ron DeSantiss weaknesses," he added. It doesnt matter if its presented in heels or boots, the DeSantis doctrines a losing one, he said. Were gonna learn that the more Casey DeSantis gets out there. The panellists on the show, including The Lincoln Project member Tara Setmayer, cracked up at the mention of the words Americas Karen and joined Mr Jolly in mocking her. Well, I called her, I called her this, you know, Serena Waterford wannabe needs to cut it out. We see you. So theres all kinds of names for her, Ms Setmayer said. Waterford is a reference to the antagonist in Margaret Atwoods dystopian novel The Handmaids Tale. She needs to stop trying to measure the drapes in the White House and think that shes some kind of Jackie O reincarnate. I mean, Casey DeSantis, keep an eye on her, though. Shes a wily figure." Mr DeSantis said those who are criticising her are probably feeling challenged. "Shes a great advocate for families, a great advocate for children. And Im thankful that shes my wife," Mr DeSantis said. "And Im really honoured that shes willing to go out there and press the case. And so we wear criticism from MSNBC as a badge of honour." The comments came even as Donald Trump was found to be leading Mr DeSantis in polls of Florida Republicans. A survey of likely Republican primary voters in the Sunshine State by Florida Atlantic University showed him firmly trailing Mr Trump, with the pairs other rivals for the GOP nomination far out in the wilderness. Mr Trump leads Mr DeSantis 50-30 in the survey. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Department of Justice has told a federal judge in New York that it will no longer defend former president Donald Trump in a defamation case brought by writer E Jean Carroll, who earlier this year won a civil judgement against the ex-president for sexual battery and defamation in a separate matter. In a letter to the attorneys for Mr Trump and Ms Carroll, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton said the department would now decline to certify that Mr Trump was acting in the scope of his job as President of the United States when he denied attacking Ms Carroll in June 2019 and accused her of fabricating a sexual assault claim against him to boost book sales. Mr Boynton said the decision, which reversed an earlier effort to defend Mr Trump which had begun during his term in the White House, came due to clarified appellate court precedent which stated that courts need not always find that an elected officials statements to the press were in the scope of their employment. Applying the clarified D.C. respondeat superior standard, the Department has determined that it lacks adequate evidence to conclude that the former President was sufficiently actuated by a purpose to serve the United States Government to support a determination that he was acting within the scope of his employment when he denied sexually assaulting Ms. Carroll and made the other statements regarding Ms. Carroll that she has challenged in this action, he said. The Justice Department official also said the department had considered new evidence of Mr Trumps state of mind when he made the statements at issue, and determined that it does not establish that he made the statements at issue with a more than insignificant purpose to serve the United States Government. Additionally, Mr Boynton noted that even though the defamatory statements regarding Ms Carroll and the allegations she was making against Mr Trump were made during a press gaggle on the South Lawn of the White House, they were not made in the context of a work-related incident. Here, although the statements themselves were made in a work context, the allegations that prompted the statements related to a purely personal incident: an alleged sexual assault that occurred decades prior to Mr Trumps Presidency. That sexual assault was obviously not job-related, he said. E Jean Carroll (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Although the Justice Department official conceded that an elected officials ability to retain the trust of his constituents is an important part of his ability to effectively perform his job, he said the evidence of personal motivation in the case at hand outweighs any public- purpose inference one might draw in other circumstances, and cited statements Mr Trump made about Ms Carroll after he left office and after a New York jury found that he had defamed her in a separate trial in May. The later statements are substantially similar to the three June 2019 statements at issue in this action, and because he was no longer the President when he made the later statements, Mr. Trump could not have been motivated by any interest in serving the United States Government, he said. He added later that the jurys finding that Mr Trump sexually assaulted Ms Carroll in a department store changing room in the 1990s supports an inference that Mr Trump was motivated by a personal grievance stemming from events that occurred many years prior to Mr Trumps presidency. Without the Department of Justices intervention to defend the twice-impeached ex-president, he will not be able to argue that he enjoys any immunity from the lawsuit and he will not be able to substitute the US government as a defendant in the case. And because a prior jury already found similar statements he made about the former Elle magazine writer to be defamatory, legal experts say it will be a simple matter for Ms Carroll to obtain another jury verdict against him when the case goes to trial. Ms Carrolls attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said: We are grateful that the Department of Justice has reconsidered its position. We have always believed that Donald Trump made his defamatory statements about our client in June 2019 out of personal animus, ill will, and spite, and not as President of the United States. Now that one of the last obstacles has been removed, we look forward to trial in E Jean Carrolls original case in January 2024. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} As a grand jury in Georgia convened to potentially consider criminal charges against him, and as a partisan investigation into his political enemies appears to have imploded, Donald Trump lashed out on his Truth Social with a series of unhinged posts suggesting President Joe Bidens son should get the death sentence and that a crackhead is running the White House. The leading Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential nomination, facing what could be a third criminal indictment within a year, lambasted a federal prosecutor who directly refuted baseless allegations that the investigation into Hunter Biden was marred by political interference. In another post, he said the deranged US Department of Justice special counsel investigating Mr Trumps alleged mishandling of classified documents and his attempts to overturn 2020 election results should instead investigate the Cocaine dilemma at the White House. Id bet they already know the answer, but just in case, it could be done in 5 minutes, Mr Trump wrote. Is it Crooked Joe and his wonderful son, Hunter? Release the findings, release the tapes. We cant have a crackhead in charge of our Nuclear Arsenal!!! Mr Trump called US Attorney David Weiss a COWARD and a smaller version of his Attorney General Bill Barr, who never had the courage to do what everyone knows should have been done. He gave out a traffic ticket instead of a death sentence, Mr Trump wrote. Last month, the Justice Department approved a plea deal with Hunter Biden that will likely allow the 53-year-old to avoid prison in exchange for a guilty plea over failing to pay taxes on income he received in 2017 and 2018. Shortly before that plea deal was struck, IRS agent Gary Shapley alleged before a congressional committee that the Justice Department had buried a more-serious case against the presidents son, and that Mr Weiss unsuccessfully persuaded federal prosecutors to bring charges, prompting Mr Weiss to request his appointment as a special counsel. Mr Weiss, who was appointed by Mr Trump, has shot down those claims. To clarify an apparent misperception and to avoid future confusion, I wish to make one point clear: in this case, I have not requested Special Counsel designation, he wrote in a recent letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee. On Monday, the Justice Department announced charges against a whistleblower who has repeatedly accused the Bidens of corruption with arms trafficking, acting as a foreign agent for China and violating Iran sanctions charges that have roiled Republican officials who have repeatedly accused the Bidens of wrongdoing without presenting such evidence. Meanwhile, Republicans like Mr Trump have baselessly accused the Bidens of trafficking cocaine into the White House after the drug was allegedly discovered at an entry while the family was in Maryland. Congressional Republicans have demanded a briefing from the US Secret Service. The former presidents latest statements come as a grand jury in Atlanta was sworn in to consider charges against Mr Trump and his allies in their attempts to subvert the outcome of Georgias election results in that state. A potential indictment in that state would follow federal charges in Florida stemming from the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case and in New York City, where prosecutors have criminally charged him with 36 counts of falsifying business documents. The Georgia case is separate from the Justice Department special counsel probe into his attempts to overturn 2020 election results. On Monday, Mr Trumps lawyers asked a federal judge in Miami to indefinitely delay his trial on charges over his handling of classified documents, claiming that it would not be possible to try the case before the presidential election. In the 12-page filing, they called the governments case against him extraordinary and claim it presents a serious challenge to both the fact and perception of our American democracy because Mr Trump is seeking his partys nomination to run against the incumbent president who defeated him in 2020. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} After Donald Trump launched a public attack on Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, other GOP presidential candidates have come to her defence just six months before the Iowa caucus is set to take place. In a Truth Social post, Mr Trump objected to Ms Reynolds decision to remain neutral, believing he is owed an endorsement because he backed her when she was running for governor. I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won. Now she wants to remain NEUTRAL. I dont invite her to events! Mr Trump wrote. Ms Reynolds decision to remain neutral is unsurprising as it is part of a tradition that the Iowa governor remains impartial in the first caucus to allow the candidates to present their arguments to the voters. However, Mr Trumps bitter-sounding message also comes after The New York Times released an article claiming that Ms Reynolds appears to be softening the ground in Iowa for GOP candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to take on Mr Trump. Ms Reynolds has been seen standing alongside Mr DeSantis during donor gatherings and appeared with the Florida governor when he made his first three visits to the state. The Iowa governor also joined Mr DeSantis wife, Casey DeSantis, to launch Mamas for DeSantis last week. Mr DeSantis was one of the presidential candidates who quickly jumped to Ms Reynolds defence. [Kim Reynolds] is a strong leader who knows how to ignore the chirping and get it done, Mr DeSantis tweeted hours after Mr Trumps Truth Social post. She earned a landslide re-election because she delivered big results, and she is poised to deliver even more for Iowans in the special session, he added. Though Ms Reynolds has appeared alongside Mr DeSantis more than Mr Trump recently, she has attended rallies for Mr Trump, as well as a town hall for ex-South Carolina governor Nikki Haley. Ms Haley shared similar sentiments, tweeting: Governor [Kim Reynolds] is a conservative rockstar who has delivered for the people of her state. Like I always say, Iowa grows strong women! Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, condemned Mr Trumps behaviour, tweeting: No one should be attacked for declining to endorse a politician. That behavior is dictatorial. He added: I applaud [Kim Reynolds] for welcoming all GOP candidates into Iowa. America deserves better than Donald Trump. Ms Reynolds did not publicly reply to Mr Trumps criticism. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former president Donald Trump is treading through waves of backlash after a video circulated of him taking selfies with police officers. Dan Scavino, a senior adviser on Trumps 2024 campaign and former White House deputy chief of staff, posted the video on Sunday of the former president greeting law enforcement officers at Los Angeles International Airport. Mr Trump is seen shaking hands and taking selfies with dozens of officers from several law enforcement agencies. A Tennessee election commissioner, Chris D Jackson, tweeted in response: Im really confused how government agencies continue to let this kind of political involvement by on the job, uniformed officers take place. Its a clear violation of taxpayer dollars. In the same vein, one Twitter user wrote , Not LA cops doing a Trump photo op on our taxpayers dime. In a reply, another user said , This should piss off every taxpayer of LA. Yet another user reacted to the video, tweeting that the act was a Disgrace to all the US capital and DC metro police officers who were attacked by trumps maga thugs. Newsweek asked Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung about the online criticism. He replied, President Trump is the law and order President, and hes the only one who can bring safety and security to all communities. The incident happened just days after Florida a man associated with the Proud Boys, according to prosecutors, was sentenced to five years in prison for attacking police officers with pepper spray on January 6. The January 6 Committee determined in February that Mr Trump was the central cause of the events that transpired on that day. Mr Trump is facing a number of ongoing lawsuits, as well as a 37-count federal indictment. He remains the GOP frontrunner in the 2024 presidential race. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Watch as high-level speakers addressed a series of panel events at a forum organised by Nato on the margins of its leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. On Tuesday (11 July), Joe Biden met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda for an official welcome ceremony at the presidential palace. His welcome was followed by a bilateral meeting before the summit, which focused on Ukraine and its bid to join the defence alliance. Though all allies agree that Ukraine cannot join during the war, a move which would pull the wider West into direct conflict with Russia, the US is seen as most hesitant over its membership. Mr Biden has described Kyivs bid as premature while Britain, on the other, hand has indicated support for a fast-track approach for Ukraine. The US president was expected to face questions from allies on why he is sending cluster munitions to Kyiv when two-thirds of Nato members have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions. It prohibits the use, stockpiling or transfer of the munitions, which deploy a large number of bomblets across a wide area, because of the enduring danger they pose to civilians. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The US Marine Corps is without leadership for the first time in more than a century after its commandant stepped down and a Republican party senator blocked over 200 military appointments that include a successor for the post. The marine services of the US Department of the Navy are in for a historic limbo as Alabamas Republican senator Tommy Tuberville has blocked the nominations for months to protest against the defence departments abortion policies. General David Berger stepped down as commandant on Monday and his assistant commandant and potential successor, general Eric Smith, stepped in as the acting leader of the US Marine Corps. His nomination by the Senate is among the 256 nominations that have been hindered by Mr Tubervilles blockade. The Republican senator launched his bid to obstruct the nominations in response to a Pentagon policy that offers travel allowances and time off for a service member who has to go out of state to get an abortion or other reproductive care. Denouncing the policy approved by defence secretary Lloyd Austin as illegal tax-payer funded abortions, Mr Tuberville said his hold will have a minimal effect on Mr Smiths ability to lead. Under the law, top military decisions are approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee and eventually by the consent of the full chamber. But a single objector can hold up the process. The Pentagon said the blockade could lead to the stalling of promotions of 650 personnel if it continues till the end of the year. Mr Smith was nominated for promotion by Joe Biden and his confirmation hearing was on 13 June, something that was blocked by Mr Tuberville. The stall in his promotion means he will not be able to move to the main residence of the commandant or the commandants office, or even issue any new formal commandants planning guidance, which is usual for a successor. He will have the authority to implement new policies for the services such as budget, training and other personnel decisions. Two positions that require two different people to be in those roles will now be a dual-hatted position, said the Pentagons deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh, which of course is going to impact the US Marine Corps. The Pentagon is asking officers to delay their planned retirements, while some officers have already taken the responsibilities of more senior ranking jobs without getting the pay for the new rank, she said. Both Mr Austin and Mr Berger have called on the Senate to take action to resolve the situation. You know, its been more than a century since the US Marine Corps has operated without a Senate confirmed commandant, Mr Austin said at a ceremony at the Marine Barracks Washington. Smooth and timely transitions of confirmed leadership are central to the defense of the United States and to the full strength of the most powerful fighting force in history, he said. Stable and orderly leadership transitions are also vital to maintaining our unmatched network of allies and partners. And theyre crucial for our military readiness. The Republican senator has been called out by senior leadership for the blockade. This blockade weakens our national security, said senator Jack Reed, the Democratic chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Every day it goes on it has a more significant impact on operations within our military all branches of our military. My hold is not affecting readiness, said Mr Tuberville in a Washington Post op-ed, steadfast in his opposition to the policy. Acting officials are in each one of the positions that are due for a promotion. The hold affects only those at the very top generals and flag officers. The people who actually fight are not affected at all. If the blockade continues, it will affect the appointment of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, as current chair, army general Mark Milley, is set to retire from the highest-ranking US military job in September. General CQ Brown, the current chief of the Air Force, has been nominated to replace Mr Milley, and is scheduled to go before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his hearing on Tuesday. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Walt Nauta, the aide to Donald Trump who has been charged with helping the disgraced ex-president conceal classified documents from the government he once led, has asked the judge overseeing the criminal case against him and Mr Trump to delay a routine hearing to discuss how the court plans to handle the classified information prosecutors are expected to present in the case. In a motion to delay a pretrial conference on Classified Information Procedures Act matters scheduled for Friday 14 July, Mr Nautas lawyer, Stanley Woodward, writes that the hearing should be postponed because he is unavailable due to a trial commitment in Washington, DC. Mr Woodward claims that he was unable to object to the previously scheduled hearing until now because Mr Nauta did not have a local attorney until just before his arraignment on 5 July 2023 even though he was indicted nearly a month prior on 8 June. Mr Nauta respectfully requests the Court continue the July 14, 2023, CIPA conference to a date that is mutually convenient to the parties, he said. Even though Mr Nauta has since retained a local attorney, Mr Woodward argued that going through with the hearing will prejudice his client because he wont be able to attend. He also claimed that hes unable to meaningfully opine on any motions or discovery schedules relating to classified information because he has not yet been granted a security clearance. Nor is it feasible to expect Mr. Nautas local counsel to appear at a pretrial CIPA conference and to agree upon, a discovery and motion schedule relating to any classified information, barely a week after she has been retained by Mr. Nauta. Accordingly, continuing the pretrial CIPA conference will not prejudice either the Court, the government, or the public interest, but rather, will conserve time, expense, and judicial resources while the parties allow the security clearance process to proceed, he added. In response, prosecutors said in a filing of their own that Mr Nautas filing did not say when Mr Woodward would be available, nor did it explain why his local attorney, Sasha Dadan, would be incapable of representing his interests at the 14 July hearing. An indefinite continuance is unnecessary, will inject additional delay in this case, and is contrary to the public interest. The government therefore opposes this motion, said Jay Bratt, the veteran national security prosecutor working for Special Counsel Jack Smith. Mr Bratt and his co-counsel added that the 14 July session is a crucial step in this prosecution because it will affect the overall timing of the rest of the case against Mr Nauta and Mr Trump. Almost a month has passed since the grand jury returned its indictment. There is a strong public interest in the conference occurring as originally scheduled and the case proceeding as expeditiously as possible, they said, adding later that neither of Nautas proffered justifications for his request was persuasive because Ms Dadan is required by court rules to be ready to adequately represent him at any time and because Mr Nautas motion for a delay is silent as to any alternative steps Mr. Woodward might seek to take to participate in the hearing, if he believes his presence is necessary. Sasha Dadan and her client Walt Nauta (AP) The prosecutors also noted that Mr Woodward and Ms Dadans participation in the hearing is not in any way contingent on having security clearances, and pointed out that Mr Woodward has not yet submitted paperwork required to obtain a clearance more than a month into the case. Through the CIPA Section 2 pretrial conference and its continuance motion, the government is ... requesting that the Court set firm dates for the efficient movement of this case. Delaying the CIPA Section 2 hearing by at least a number of weeks, without any persuasive justification for doing so, is contrary to that goal and the public interest, they said. The matters is now in the hands of Judge Aileen Cannon, who as of late Monday had not yet issued a ruling on Mr Nautas motion. Mr Trump and Mr Nauta also have until close of business on Monday to object to a government motion to delay their trial until 11 December of this year. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Ukrainian military has begun deploying controversial cluster munition supplied by the United States in their counteroffensive against Russias Invasion, Washington has said. White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters: We have gotten some initial feedback from the Ukrainians, and theyre using them quite effectively. They are using them appropriately, they are using them effectively, Mr Kirby added. Cluster bombs have been banned by more than 120 countries, with many allies and humanitarian groups also opposing the use of the bomb. However, the use of cluster bombs does not violate international law when used on the battlefield, but any use in populated areas is considered a war crime. Ukraine welcomed the Biden administrations decision to provide the weapon and said it needed weapons, more weapons, and more weapons, including cluster munitions if it is to defeat Russia. Cluster bombs typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets that can kill at random, over a large area and those that fail to explode can be a danger for years to come. Here is a look at what cluster munitions are, why they are so controversial and where they have been used. What is a cluster munition? A cluster munition is a bomb that opens in the air and releases smaller bomblets across a wide area. The bomblets are designed to take out tanks and equipment, as well as troops, hitting multiple targets at the same time. The munitions are launched by the same artillery weapons that Western allies have already provided to Ukraine for the war such as howitzers and the type of cluster munition that the US is sending is based on a common 155 mm shell that is already widely in use across the battlefield. A Ukrainian serviceman carry a 155mm shell into self-propelled howitzer "Bohdana" before firing towards Russian positions near Bakhmut, Ukraine, Friday, July 7, 2023 (AP) Why are they so controversial? In previous conflicts, cluster munitions have had a high dud rate, which meant that thousands of the smaller unexploded bomblets remained behind and killed and maimed people decades later. The US last used its cluster munitions in battle in Iraq in 2003, and decided not to continue using them as the conflict shifted to more urban environments with more dense civilian populations. Brigadier General Pat Ryder the Pentagon press secretary said the US Defense Department has multiple variants of the munitions and the ones that we are considering providing would not include older variants with [unexploding] rates that are higher than 2.35 per cent. A convention banning the use of cluster bombs has been joined by more than 120 countries, which agreed not to use, produce, transfer, or stockpile the weapons and to clear them after they've been used. The US, Russia and Ukraine haven't signed on. Why provide them now? For more than a year the US has dipped into its own stocks of traditional 155 howitzer munitions and sent more than two million rounds to Ukraine. Allies across the globe, including the UK, have provided hundreds of thousands more. A 155 mm round can strike targets 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32 kilometres) away, making them a munition of choice for Ukrainian ground troops trying to hit enemy targets from a distance. Ukrainian forces are burning through thousands of rounds a day battling the Russians. Yehor Cherniev, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, told reporters at a German Marshall Fund event in the US that Kyiv would likely need to fire 7,000 to 9,000 rounds daily during the intensified counteroffensive. Providing that many puts substantial pressure on US and allied stocks. The cluster bomb can destroy more targets with fewer rounds, and since the US hasnt used them in conflict since Iraq, it has large amounts of them in storage it can access quickly, said Ryan Brobst, a research analyst for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. A March 2023 letter from top House and Senate Republicans to the Biden administration said the US may have as many as three million cluster munitions available for use, and urged the White House to send the munitions to alleviate pressure on American war supplies. Cluster munitions are more effective than unitary artillery shells because they inflict damage over a wider area, Mr Brobst said. This is important for Ukraine as they try to clear heavily fortified Russian positions. Tapping into the US stores of cluster munitions could address Ukraines shell shortage and alleviate pressure on the 155 mm stockpiles in the US and elsewhere, Mr Brobst said. Is using cluster bombs a war crime? The use of cluster bombs itself does not violate international law, but using them against civilians can be a violation. As in any strike, determining a war crime requires looking at whether the target was legitimate and if precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties. The part of international law where this starts playing [a role], though, is indiscriminate attacks targeting civilians, Human Rights Watchs associate arms director Mark Hiznay said. So that's not necessarily related to the weapons, but the way the weapons are used. Where have cluster bombs been used? The bombs have been deployed in many recent conflicts. The US initially considered cluster bombs an integral part of its arsenal during the invasion of Afghanistan that began in 2001, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The group estimated that the US-led coalition dropped more than 1,500 cluster bombs in Afghanistan during the first three years of the conflict. The Defense Department had been due to stop use of any cluster munitions with a rate of unexploded ordnance greater than 1 per cent, by 2019. But the Trump administration rolled back that policy, allowing commanders to approve the use of such munitions. Syrian government troops have often used cluster munitions supplied by Russia against opposition strongholds during that countrys civil war, frequently hitting civilian targets and infrastructure. And Israel used them in civilian areas in south Lebanon, including during the 1982 invasion. During the month-long 2006 war with Hezbollah, HRW and the United Nations accused Israel of firing as many as four million cluster munitions into Lebanon. That left unexploded ordnance that threatens Lebanese civilians to this day. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has been criticized for its use of cluster bombs in the war with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels that has ravaged the southern Arabian country. In 2017, Yemen was the second deadliest country for cluster munitions after Syria, according to the UN. Children have been killed or maimed long after the munitions originally fell, making it difficult to know the true toll. In the 1980s, the Russians made heavy use of cluster bombs during their 10-year invasion of Afghanistan. As a result of decades of war, the Afghan countryside remains one of the most heavily mined areas in the world. Which countries have banned the cluster bomb? The Convention on Cluster Munitions is an international treaty of more than 100 states which prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. The Convention was first adopted on 30 May 2008 in Dublin by 107 States and signed in Oslo on 3 December the same year, according to its official website. It soon became binding international law when it entered into force on 1 August 2010 and so far, there have been a total of 123 States which have joined the Convention 111 States Parties and 12 Signatories. Italy, Spain, Germany and the UK are among the NATO members who have expressed opposition to the use of cluster bombs. The full of countries can be found here. The Associated Press contributed to this report Addiction haunts the recesses of the ancient city of Porto as people with gaunt, clumsy hands lift crack pipes to lips; syringes to veins. Authorities are sealing off warren-like alleyways with iron bars and fencing in parks to halt the spread of encampments. A siege mentality is taking root in nearby enclaves of pricey condos and multimillion-euro homes. In 2001, Portugal decriminalised all drug use, including marijuana, cocaine and heroin, in an experiment that inspired similar efforts elsewhere, but now police are blaming a spike in the number of people who use drugs for a rise in crime. In one neighbourhood, state-issued paraphernalia powder-blue syringe caps, packets of citric acid for diluting heroin litters sidewalks outside a primary school. Portos police have increased patrols to drug-plagued neighbourhoods. But given existing laws, theres only so much they can do. On a recent afternoon, an emaciated man in striped pants sleeping in front of a state-funded drug-use centre awoke to a patrol of four officers. He sat up, then defiantly began assembling his crack pipe. Officers walked on, shaking their heads. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police officers who scoured a reservoir in Portugal in the search for Madeleine McCann have hit a fresh roadblock in their investigation. A large section of the Barragem do Arade reservoir was cordoned off in May, about 30 miles from where three-year-old Madeleine went missing in Praia da Luz 16 years ago. It is believed that the main suspect in the case, convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, regularly visited the reservoirs peninsula and had described it as a little slice of paradise. But detectives searching the reservoir have now said there is no compelling evidence Madeleine is there, according to The Sun. Holes up to 2ft deep were dug up in the reservoir search, in the hope of unearthing clothing fibres, local media reported. But despite initial hope, German public prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told newspaper Bild: Please dont expect too much. It came after police reportedly received a tip off that Brueckner had visited the lake shortly after the three-year-old went missing in May 2007. Madeline McCann went missing in Portugal in 2007 (PA) Madeleine disappeared from the bed of her holiday apartment in a Praia da Luz resort while her parents dined 50m away. Her younger twin siblings were also in the apartment at the time but were left untouched. The Arade Dam reservoir in Portugal was searched in June (AP) Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann, both doctors from Rothley, Leicestershire, have been searching for answers since. The Arade Dam is approximately 30km from the resort where the family was staying. Christian Brueckner is a suspect in Madeleine McCanns disappearance (Italian Carabinieri) Brueckner was first named in connection with the mystery in 2020 and officially made a suspect last year. His yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan was reportedly spotted near the Praia da Luz resort around the time Madeleine vanished. He is currently in a German prison over the rape of an elderly woman in Praia da Luz in the 2000s. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} US president Joe Biden was in the UK this week to meet with prime minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street and with King Charles III at Windsor Castle, keen to reaffirm that the special relationship between America and Britain remains as rock-solid as ever before jetting out to the latest Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. The meetings also served to underline the difference in height between the men, with Mr Biden standing 6 feet (ft) tall and unavoidably towering over both His Majesty and Mr Sunak, who measure 5ft 8 inches and 5ft 6 respectively. The Democrat is of fairly average height for an American president, however, as there have been 13 occupants of the White House taller than him, including his former boss Barack Obama (6ft 1 ) as well as John F Kennedy (6ft 1), Ronald Reagan (6ft 1), George Washington (6ft 1 ), FDR (6ft 2), Bill Clinton (6ft 2 ) and Donald Trump (6ft 3). The tallest man to hold the post was Abraham Lincoln, who measured 6ft 4 even without his signature stovepipe hat, which must have posed a persistent danger to the light fixtures during his time in the Oval Office . Mr Sunaks relatively short stature was last in evidence when he posed for a photograph with Westminsters tallest MP, Daniel Kawczynski, a 6ft 9 heap of Conservative. During his time as chancellor in March 2021, Mr Sunak posed for another picture in which he rather artfully positioned himself at the top of the stairs of No 11 brandishing the famous red Budget box, which forced his fellow Treasury ministers to line the steps below him, making them look far smaller. For the record, this is how the PM compares with his predecessors: Liz Truss (2022-22) 5ft 5 Boris Johnson (2019-22) 5ft 9 Theresa May (2016-19) 5ft 6 David Cameron (2010-16) 6ft Gordon Brown (2007-10) 5ft 11 Tony Blair (1997-2007) 6ft Sir John Major (1990-97) 5ft 11 Baroness Margaret Thatcher (1979-90) 5ft 5 James Callaghan (1976-79) 6ft 1 Sir Harold Wilson (1964-70, then 1974-76) 5ft 8 Sir Edward Heath (1970-74) 6ft Sir Alec Douglas-Home (1963-64) 6ft Harold Macmillan (1957-63) 6ft Sir Anthony Eden (1955-57) 5ft 11 Winston Churchill (1940-45, then 1951-55) 5ft 6 Clement Atlee 5ft 7 Mr Sunaks height makes him 1.96 inches shorter than the average adult man in Britain, according to the Office for National Statistics, which appears to be of greater concern when it comes to politicians than for the rest of us, particularly in America. But that does not seem to be the case in every country. France, for one, has remained admirably unflustered by the prospect of short statesmen, from Napoleon Bonaparte (5ft 5) to Emmanuel Macron (5ft 8) by way of Nicolas Sarkozy (5ft 5) and Francois Hollande (5ft 7). Elsewhere, Angela Merkel and the late Silvio Berlusconi were both 5ft 5, President Lula of Brazil triumphed over Jair Bolsonaro at the polls last year despite being 5ft 4 to his opponents 6ft 1 and both Russia and Ukraine are currently led by men of just 5ft 7 in the shape of Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. Bonaparte has, of course, lent his name however reluctantly to the Napoleon complex, a pop-psychological label commonly handed out to anyone thought to be overcompensating for their lack of height by behaving in an excessively assertive or domineering manner, which would certainly go some way towards explaining certain contemporary political figures like Mr Putin. Spains King Felipe and Queen Letizia greet Colombian president Gustavo Petro at the Royal Palace in Madrid in May (Paul White/AP) In Spain, where the 6ft 6 King Felipe VI constantly requires press photographers to take a step backwards when he is gladhanding guests at official occasions, Jorge Francisco Santiago a professor of politics at Madrids Camilo Jose Cela University assured El Pais that there is no meaningful correlation between centimetres and political success because the vast majority of citizens understand that political competence, honesty, empathy or even charisma do not depend on something as superficial as height. However, he acknowledged that there are ingrained social perceptions or false generalisations that tend to associate height with virility, or attribute ambition, aggressiveness or cunning to short men of which political advisers are aware and have to bear in mind on the campaign trail and during TV debates as they assess every detail in order to give their candidate the best possible chance of success. Professor Santiago advised readers of the newspaper to look out for low angles in campaign videos and on posters and for candidates wearing tight shirts or shorter ties as dead giveaways of efforts being made to conceal their height. He also warned taller candidates, citing 2004 US presidential candidate John Kerry as an example, not to stoop out of deference to a shorter opponent but to shamelessly make the most of the advantage they have, even if it is all only a matter of perception. Mr Kerrys unconscious gesture of humility hurt him, because it made him look uncomfortable in his own skin, Professor Santiago observed. Ultimately, what damages candidates most appears to be their betraying that they themselves are preoccupied with the issue, as was the case with Mr Sarkozy or, more recently, with Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis, who has already been ridiculed by Mr Trump for wearing heeled cowboy boots to appear taller. Rishi Sunak meets his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte in Vilnius (Paul Ellis/PA) Writing about the significance of Mr Sunaks stature when he took office last year, one GQ columnist wrote that the PMs preference for trick photography tactics, presumably to project a greater aura of authority, meant that he had betrayed short men. The reason Rishi has killed the era of the short king isnt because hes short and awful although he is both. Its because he has refused to own it, said Imogen West-Knights. Short men should be outraged at Sunak, who has spent his whole time in the political limelight trying desperately to distance himself from their ranks. In Vilnius, he will run into world leaders of a range of sizes, from outgoing Dutch PM Mark Rutte (6ft 4), Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, both 6ft 2, to German chancellor Olaf Scholz (5ft 7) and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni (5ft 4). Mr Sunak should perhaps be thankful that Serbia is not yet a member of the alliance, given that its absence means he will not have to peer blinking upwards at the 6ft 6 frame of that countrys president, Aleksandar Vucic. Close Head of MI6 says Putin clearly under pressure after Wagner Group uprising For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused Nato member Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, and said any aggression against Russias neighbour and close ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia. Moscow would react to any aggression against Belarus, which forms a loose Union State with Russia, with all the means at our disposal, Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks. Warsaws Security Committee decided on Wednesday to move military units to eastern Poland after members of the Russian Wagner mercenary force arrived in Belarus, the state-run news agency PAP quoted its secretary as saying on Friday. On Wednesday, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was shown in a video welcoming his fighters to Belarus, telling them they would take no further part for now in the war in Ukraine but ordering them to gather strength for Africa while they trained the Belarusian army. It comes as US-supplied cluster bombs are now being deployed by Ukraine in the battle against Russia, according to the White House. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Establishing accurate data on the number of military casualties sustained since Russias invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022 is difficult for two reasons. The severity of the fighting on the ground and the fact that both sides are inclined to keep their cards close to their chests to avoid damaging morale especially at a time when the war is entering a pivotal new stage. The Kremlin, in particular, is unlikely to admit to high fatality rates among its troops because to do so would amount to a confession that Vladimir Putins spurious war to de-Nazify Russias neighbour state is not going according to plan and, in fact, represents a monumental miscalculation on the part of its leader, who is already under pressure at home over the attempted uprising by Wagner Group mercenaries. Moscow is more likely to downplay its own (rarely offered) numbers putting the official number at around 6,000 and accuse its enemies of dishonestly briefing against it whenever outside estimates are offered that imply significant Russian losses. Ukraine, meanwhile, posts a daily report on its Ministry of Defence website listing a cumulative total of the number of enemy personnel liquidated, alongside other combat losses, which stood at the much higher total of 234,480 on 10 July. Most tolls typically refer to casualties as the preferred military euphemism, under which combatants killed and injured can be grouped together, whereas liquidated seems to imply killed only. Overseas observers offer a more dispassionate (if still not entirely impartial) assessment of the situation on the ground, which might equally be flawed by their far remove from the realities of life on the frontline. Local independent media group Mediazone, branded a foreign agent by the Kremlin, nevertheless work hard, operating within a tightly-controlled environment, to offer its own running total of Russian casualties in Ukraine based on what its journalists can corroborate from publicly available information, which currently puts the total at just 27,423 as of its latest update of 7 July. It works with the BBC but explains: These numbers do not represent the actual death toll since we can only review publicly available reports including social media posts by relatives, reports in local media, and statements by the local authorities. The real death toll is much higher. Besides, the number of soldiers missing in action or captured is not known. Another Mediazone partnership with fellow Russian independent outlet Meduza (now forced to operate from Lativa) and Germanys Tubingen University used Russian government data to cast a different light on the question and put the total number of Russian deaths twice as high, at nearly 50,000. For this count, they relied on a statistical concept popularised during the Covid-19 pandemic called excess mortality. Drawing on 11m inheritance records from the National Probate Registry and official mortality data, they estimated how many more men aged under 50 had died between February 2022 and May 2023 than normal. According to their analysis, 25,000 more inheritance cases were opened in 2022 for males aged 15 to 49 than expected. By 27 May 2023, the number of excess cases had shot up to 47,000. Discussing the two approaches, Mediazone editor Dmitry Treshchanin told the Associated Press the first represents only soldiers who we know by name, and their deaths in each case are verified by multiple sources. As for the second: The estimate we did with Meduza allows us to see the hidden deaths, deaths the Russian government is so obsessively and unsuccessfully trying to hide. Russians who are missing but not officially recognised as dead, as well as citizens of Ukraine fighting in units of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics, are not included in these counts. One of the most significant insights to be volunteered so far from Ukraines allies, watching on, came from John Kirby, the White Houses National Security Council spokesperson, who said on 1 May citing newly declassified information that the US believed Russia had suffered 100,000 casualties between December 2022 and April 2023, amounting to 20,000 deaths and 80,000 injuries, after becoming caught up in a grinding war of attrition around Bakhmut during the freezing winter months. Its really stunning, these numbers, Mr Kirby said. Its three times the number of killed in action that the United States faced on the Guadalcanal campaign in the Second World War. That followed an estimate given by Mark Milley, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, the previous November, when he told an audience in New York that the number of Russian casualties in the first eight months of the war stood at well over 100,000. If that figure is accurate and is added to Mr Kirbys update, that would put the total well north of 200,000 by this point, roughly in agreement with Ukrainian accounting, although the Kremlin has inevitably disputed Americas calculations and dismissed them as anti-Russian propaganda. Russian soldiers march towards Red Square as part of a Victory Day military parade in Moscow on 9 May 2023 (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP) The US has declined to estimate the number of Ukrainian casualties publicly, arguing that doing so would betray sensitive military information and risk undermining an ally. However, the top secret Pentagon documents leaked on social media in April if accurate suggested that the US Defence Intelligence Agency believed that Ukraine had suffered between 15,500 and 17,500 fatalities at that stage and seen between 109,000 and 113,500 of its soldiers injured. Those documents, incidentally, put the agencys assessment of Russian casualties at between 189,500 and 223,000, including between 35,500 and 43,000 soldiers killed in action and between 154,000 and 180,000 wounded. That likewise tallies with the other estimates seen so far. Elsewhere, Norways defence chief, Eirik Kristoffersen, offered a similar ballpark figure when he told his countrys TV2 on 22 January that he believed Russia had suffered around 180,000 deaths and injuries while Ukraines total casualties was significantly lower, closer to 100,000. In February, the UKs Ministry of Defense said it believed approximately 40,000 to 60,000 Russians had been killed in the war. As for civilian casualties, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) publishes regular updates of its tallies based on the latest intelligence from the conflict zone. The most recent such report from the OHCHR was published on 18 June 2023, recording that 9,803 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began 16 months ago and another 15,779 people have been injured. Of these numbers, 7,072 deaths and 13,001 injuries occurred in territory controlled by Ukraine. In Russian-occupied territory, 2,011 people have been killed and 2,778 injured since the attempted conquest began last year. These latest figures, recorded between 1 June and 18 June, added 557 civilian casualties in Ukraine to the running total, of which 112 were killed and 445 injured. However, even here, the OHCHR notes that the actual figures are likely to be considerably higher than those it can substantiate on account of the inevitable delay in receiving information from the most fiercely contested areas, underlining the complexity of saying anything definite about the state of play in Ukraine. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Turkey made a surprise pledge to drop its opposition to Sweden joining NATO, paving the way for the Nordic country to become a member of the Western military alliance. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg heralded the agreement Monday after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Stoltenberg said Turkey had agreed to support Swedens NATO bid by putting the issue to a vote in Parliament -- in return for deeper cooperation with Sweden on security issues and a pledge from Sweden to revive Turkeys quest for EU membership. The agreement also says Sweden and Turkey will step up trade and investment with each other. Hungary, the only other NATO holdout on Sweden, is also expected to drop its opposition. Hungarys foreign minister said Tuesday that his countrys ratification of Swedens NATO membership was now just a technical matter. Erdogan has been uncharacteristically quiet since the agreement was publicized, declining to comment on the reasons for his apparent change of heart on Swedens NATO membership. It remains to be seen how quickly the issue will be taken up by Turkeys Parliament. Here are key factors, and possible incentives, that Turkey is considering as it weighs Swedens entry into NATO. TURKEY IS CONCERNED ABOUT TERRORISM AND ANTI-ISLAM PROTESTS Erdogan's opposition to Swedish membership in NATO had focused heavily on his belief that the Nordic country has been too lenient toward elements of the Turkish and Kurdish diasporas that Turkey views as security threats namely, people associated with militant Kurdish groups and others connected to a 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan. An agreement signed between Turkey, Sweden and Finland last year set out to tackle some of these concerns, and Sweden recently tightened its anti-terrorism laws, making support for an extremist organization punishable by up to eight years imprisonment. Sweden also says it has cracked down on the activities of people connected to the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has waged a 39-year insurgency in Turkey. Under the agreement outlined Monday, Sweden said it would also work against the Syrian wing of the PKK, known as the YPG. A related issue for Erdogan has been anti-Turkey and anti-Islam protests held in Stockholm, some of which involved the burning of the Quran. Although condemned by the Swedish government, the demonstrations drew strong reaction from Turkey, which criticized Sweden which has strong free-speech protections for allowing public displays of anti-Muslim sentiment. But how Sweden deals with Kurdish militant groups has always been way more important for Turkey than the protests, said Cigdem Ustun, secretary general of the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies in Istanbul. Ustum described Turkeys statements over the Quran-burnings as a tool in the negotiations. adding that for Turkey it was mainly about terrorist organizations. TURKEY WANTS F-16 FIGHTER JETS FROM THE U.S. Erdogan's promise to Stoltenberg to bring Swedens NATO membership for a ratification vote in the Turkish Parliament may also have been linked to Turkey's efforts to upgrade the country's fleet of F-16 fighter jets. Turkey has asked the U.S. for approval to buy 40 new F-16s, as well as kits to upgrade its existing fleet. The request was backed by the White House but ran into opposition in Congress. Both U.S. and Turkish officials have insisted that any such deal would not be linked to Swedens NATO membership. But within hours of Erdogan apparently dropping his veto on Sweden, President Joe Biden signaled that the U.S. intended to proceed with the F-16 sale in consultation with Congress. In a statement welcoming Erdogan's agreement to bring Sweden's NATO bid before Parliament, Biden said he will work with Turkey on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area." The F-16 deals biggest critic, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J, appeared to soften his stance, saying there may be a way forward. Menendez has opposed any F-16 deal over the potential threat to Turkey's neighbor Greece. The F-16s have been an important part of the negotiations although theres no formal link," said Ustun. "Its obvious theres been some progress in that regard. TURKEY WANTS TO BECOME AN EU MEMBER Early on Monday, Erdogan made a surprise warning that he would block Swedens attempt to become a NATO ally unless European members of the military organization pave the way for Turkey to join the worlds biggest trading bloc. It was the first time that Erdogan had linked the two countries aspirations in this way. Following his remarks, European officials rebuffed any link between Swedens NATO membership and Turkey's 36-year bid to join the EU. You cannot link the two processes, European Commission spokesperson Dana Spinant said. Stoltenberg reiterated the point, saying that Turkeys relationship with the EU was not an issue for NATO, its an issue for the European Union. But, he told reporters that what Sweden agreed today as an EU member was to support actively the efforts to reinvigorate Turkeys EU accession process. Sweden also said it would seek improved customs arrangements and take steps to implement visa-free European travel for Turkish citizens. Still, few expect any accelerated movement on Turkey's EU membership talks, which stalled in 2018 because of the country's democratic backsliding and poor record on human rights. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Turkey has agreed to support Sweden's bid to join Nato after previously blocking the country from joining. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a briefing that he would forward Sweden's bid to join Nato to the Turkish parliament for ratification. It comes after the president previously appeared to suggest that Turkey would only back Sweden joining if it was re-considered for EU membership. Natos directory general Jens Stoltenberg said: President Erdogan has agreed to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly [Turkeys parliament] as soon as possible and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification. Mr Stolenberg said this is a historic step but that a clear date could not be given for when Sweden officially joins. Turkey previously resisted Sweden joining the alliance after accusing Swedish authorities of being complicit in Islamophobic demonstrations. It also claims that Sweden allowed members of recognised Kurdish terror groups to operate, such as the Kurdistan Workers Party. Although Sweden changed its terrorism laws earlier this year to make it a crime to be part of these groups. As a member of Nato, Turkey has a veto on allowing other nations to join the alliance. But the Turkish president faced pressure from European and American allies to allow Sweden to join. Joe Biden spoke with Mr Erdogan while flying aboard Air Force One on Sunday, CNN reported. The US president conveyed his desire to welcome Sweden into Nato as soon as possible, according to a readout from the White House. In a statement, the White House said: I welcome the statement issued by Turkey, Sweden and the Nato secretary general this evening, including the commitment by President Erdogan to transmit the Accession Protocol for Sweden to Turkeys Grand National Assembly for swift ratification. I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defence and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson prior to their meeting on the eve of a NATO summit (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd Nato Ally. And I thank secretary general Stoltenberg for his steadfast leadership. From Tuesday, during a two-day meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, Nato allies will also discuss the prospect of Ukraine joining. It has been agreed that although Ukraine cannot join during the war, a measure has been removed to allow the nation to join more quickly after the conflict is over. The Membership Action Plan, which involves a host of bureaucratic and military reforms designed to ensure a prospective member is up to NATO standards, is no longer a requirement for Ukraine to join. However, the move has sparked outrage in Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "You know the absolutely clear and consistent position of the Russian Federation that Ukraine's membership in NATO will have very, very negative consequences for the security architecture, the already half-destroyed security architecture in Europe. "And it will be an absolute danger, a threat to our country, which will require from us a sufficiently clear and firm reaction." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukraine has reported regaining further ground from invading Russian forces along the eastern and southern fronts in early July as its counteroffensive continues, following on from the liberation of a number of frontline villages in June. Offering an update from the frontlines on Monday 10 July, the Ukrainian military said its troops have so far retaken more than 65 square miles on the southern front and 9.26 square miles around the eastern city of Bakhmut since the counteroffensive effort commenced. Ukraines deputy defence minister, Hanna Maliar, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said that heavy fighting raged in two areas of the southeast. We are consolidating our gains in those areas, she wrote. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking to US network ABC News ahead of a Nato summit in Lithuania, said: All of us, we want to do it faster because every day means new losses of Ukrainians. We are advancing. We are not stuck. We would all love to see the counteroffensive accomplished in a shorter period of time. But there is reality. Today, the initiative is on our side. Ukrainian military analyst Denys Popovych meanwhile reported that Ukrainian forces had taken important positions near Klishchiivka, a village lying on heights to the south of Bakhmut. This will allow for artillery control of Klishchiivka itself and of parts of Bakhmut and supply routes, he told Ukraine's NV Radio. Just as [Russian mercenary group] Wagner surrounded the city, so will we. For its part, Russias Defence Ministry said brutal fighting had persisted in that area, with combat made difficult not only by the daily intensity of fire and battle, but also by topography. The line of contact runs between two hills. Pro-Moscow Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov also took to Telegram to claim that his Akhmat unit had been deployed to the region. A week earlier, Ukraine had said its soldiers had made steady advances in the Lyman, Avdiivka and Mariinka directions of Donetsk in the Donbas as Russias under-pressure defence minister Sergei Shoigu moved to deny that the short-lived rebellion by the aforementioned Wagner Group, which saw them occupy Rostov-on-Don and march on Moscow in protest on 24 June, had had any impact on its operations in Ukraine. Following months of speculation about when the Ukrainian counteroffensive might begin, unverified photographs and video began to appear on social media on Sunday 11 June showing its soldiers holding aloft their countrys blue and yellow flag in triumph above the eastern villages of Storozheve, Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka in Donetsk, suggesting they had been recaptured from occupying enemy troops. The Ukrainian national flag is seen flying in the newly-liberated village Neskuchne in Donetsk (Oleksandr Ratushniak/Reuters) Ms Maliar posted one such photo from Storozheve and thanked the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines for liberating it and subsequently reported that Ukraine had won back three more villages in Zaporizhzhia Lobkove, Levadne and Novodarivk and made fresh advances near Bakhmut, on the Toretsk front in the east and towards the port city of Berdyansk. The enemy is doing everything to hold on to the positions it has seized, Ms Maliar wrote on Telegram two days later. She added that Russian forces had air support and were showering Ukrainian troops with intense artillery fire and that the latter were encountering continuous minefields which are combined with anti-tank ditches. All this is combined with constant counterattacks by enemy units on armoured vehicles and the massive use of ATGMs [anti-tank guided missiles] and kamikaze drones, Ms Mailer reported. A team of Reuters journalists subsequently visited Neskuchne, observing that no building had been left unscarred by the fighting, noting three Russian corpses lying in the road and writing: The hamlet was silent except for birdsong and the crump of artillery fire in the distance. Since then, two more villages have been added to the list, bringing the reported total to nine. Kyiv has imposed a strict silence on its armed forces to avoid compromising an operation it hopes will retake swathes of land and eventually threaten the land bridge Russia has established for use in supplying the occupied Crimea. In practical terms, the advance represented by the retaking of the villages amounts to only modest gains: Makarivka, for instance, is around three miles short of the frontline and 56 miles from the southern rim of the aforementioned bridge over the Sea of Azov. But the symbolic value of Ukraines most rapid progression forward for seven months, after an arduous winter, is obvious, a timely boost to national morale for a beleaguered nation still reeling from the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka Dam, allegedly brought down after being mined by Russian soldiers, flooding neighbouring towns for miles around and leaving the regions farmland swamped, its crops ruined and livestock drowned. As the pushback continues, Ukraine is banking on the huge amount of weaponry, training and intelligence it has received from the West, combined with its own battlefield resolve, tactical nous and the motivation of driving an invader from its own land, to give it the edge in the conflict. The country also knows it may have to show significant progress over the summer to ensure its international allies demonstrate the same level of commitment in future. But so far the response has been positive, with Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg telling US president Joe Biden recently: The Ukrainians are making progress, making advances. Its still early days, but what we do know is that the more land that Ukrainians are able to liberate, the stronger hand they will have at the negotiating table. The US has responded by announcing that it will begin supplying Ukraine with cluster bombs for very careful use on its own territory against Russian forces, despite previously criticising Russias use of such munitions and the opposition of other nations, 100 of whom signed a 2008 treaty in Oslo, Norway, objecting to their deployment in warzones. Moscow has largely refrained from officially acknowledging any Ukrainian advances, insisting that it has consistently repelled attacks and inflicted heavy casualties on opposition forces. A map showing several of the villages liberated from Russian occupation by the Ukrainian military (The Independent/Datawrapper) Unverified footage circulated on social media by pro-Russia accounts has meanwhile shown destroyed American and German armoured vehicles, clearly intended to undermine allied faith in the Ukrainian cause. It is unquestionably too early to draw conclusions about the fate of the counteroffensive from these early skirmishes, which may be more about testing Russian defences than staking out major land gains. The US-based Institute for the Study of War said Ukraine was attempting an extraordinarily difficult tactical operation, a frontal assault against prepared defensive positions, further complicated by a lack of air superiority and these initial assaults should not be extrapolated to predict all Ukrainian operations. Ben Hodges, a former commander of US forces in Europe, told the Center for European Policy Analysis that the main attack, when it came, would be expected to feature several hundred tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. The offensive has clearly started, but not I think the main attack, he said. When we see large, armoured formations join the assault, then I think well know the main attack has really begun. That tallies with Ms Mailars recent comments on domestic television, when she told the nation the main events of the attack remain ahead of us, adding: The main blow is still to come. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraines ground forces, similarly told The Guardian: I want to say that our main force has not been engaged in fighting yet, and we are now searching, probing for weak places in the enemy defences. Everything is still ahead. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Tensions along Russias border with Ukraine finally erupted into open warfare on 24 February 2022 as Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in the eastern regions of the neighbouring state, confirming fears that had lingered since the preceding December that he was amassing troops intent on an invasion. The Kremlin leader said he believed that Russia had to take decisive action to extinguish a threat to its national security and that Moscow planned to carry out the demilitarisation and de-Nazification of Ukraine by toppling its leadership, also promising to put an end to eight years of war in which government forces have been battling pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Donbas. In the 16 months of fighting that have followed, the Russian military has bombarded cities like Kharkiv and Mariupol with intense shelling campaigns in tactics reminiscent of those previously deployed in Chechnya and Syria and become bogged down in gruelling combat in southeastern Bakhmut while millions of people have fled for neighbouring Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova. Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile continues to lead by example from Kyiv, as he has done throughout the war, tirelessly rallying the international community for support, as his people stage a courageous fightback against Russias armed forces with the help of generous foreign military aid. US president Joe Biden, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak and French president Emmanuel Macron have joined other global powers in condemning Moscows unprovoked and unjustified attack and promised to hold it accountable but have not joined the fight militarily because Ukraine is not currently a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) , whose members are honour-bound to come to the defence of any of its fellows under attack. Before the war, Mr Putin had previously denied having any intention of invading the neighbouring state and had presented the West with a series of demands, including an end to the eastern expansion of Nato membership to ex-Soviet states and the curtailment of US and alliance military activity on Russias doorstep. The issue of Ukraines exclusion from Nato has been a long-standing obsession for Mr Putin, who bitterly remembers the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union under his predecessor Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s as a decade of humiliation in which Bill Clintons US imposed its vision of order on Europe (including in Kosovo in 1999) while the Russians could do nothing but stand by and watch, according to diplomatic relations expert James Goldgeier. Mr Yeltsin did write to Mr Clinton in September 1993 expressing similar concerns, however, saying: We understand, of course, that any possible integration of East European countries into Nato will not automatically lead to the alliance somehow turning against Russia but it is important to take into account how our public opinion might react to that step. To address those anxieties, the Nato-Russia Founding Act was signed in 1997, a political agreement explicitly stating that: Nato and Russia do not consider each other as adversaries. The formation of the Nato-Russia Council followed in 2002. But Mr Putin is nevertheless said to begrudge what he regards as the alliances gradual sprawl eastwards, which saw ex-Soviet satellites Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland join in 1999, followed by Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia in 2004. Russian president Vladimir Putin (AP) He chooses to interpret the recruitment of these nations as the US breaking a promise allegedly made by its then-secretary of state James Baker to Mikhail Gorbachev during a visit to Moscow in February 1990 to discuss German reunification following the fall of the Berlin Wall. There would be no extension of Natos jurisdiction for forces of Nato one inch to the east, Mr Baker is supposed to have pledged to Mr Gorbachev, according to Russian officials, although the quote is heavily disputed and the latter denied the topic was ever discussed in an October 2014 interview with the Kommersant newspaper. Mr Putin has nurtured his grievance ever since regardless, no doubt keen to foster anti-Western sentiment at home and consolidate his powerbase, and has strongly opposed other Eastern European states joining the alliance. It is obvious that Nato expansion does not have any relation with the modernisation of the alliance itself or with ensuring security in Europe, he said at the Munich Security Conference in 2007. On the contrary, it represents a serious provocation that reduces the level of mutual trust. The following April, attending a Nato summit in Bucharest at which the alliance pledged future membership for Ukraine and Georgia (without specifying a roadmap and overlooking the reservations of France and Germany), he was even more emphatic: No Russian leader could stand idly by in the face of steps toward Nato membership for Ukraine. That would be a hostile act toward Russia. Four months later, Mr Putin invaded Georgia, destroying the countrys armed forces, occupying two autonomous regions and humiliating a president, Mikheil Saakashvili, who had openly courted Nato membership, actions that brought fresh international condemnation. For its part, Natos official stance remains that a sovereign, independent and stable Ukraine, firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law, is key to Euro-Atlantic security. It points out that its associations with the country date back to the disintegration of the USSR and that cooperation has had to be intensified in light of Russian regional aggression in 2014, when it annexed the Crimea Peninsula and supported the separatist insurgencies in DPR and LPR. Joe Biden visist Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on 20 February 2023 (Evan Vucci/AP) For the US, Ukraines path to Nato membership is less clear cut. Secretary of state Antony Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as recently as 8 June 2021 that we support Ukraine membership in Nato but his deputy, Wendy Sherman, was cagier when she addressed the issue in January, saying only: Together, the United States and our Nato allies made clear we will not slam the door shut on Natos open door policy a policy that has always been central to the Nato alliance. Mr Biden, the former top Democrat and later chair of that same committee, had previously believed that turning former Soviet republics into Nato allies marked the beginning of another 50 years of peace but has since pivoted to scepticism about US involvement in far-flung Forever Wars, hence the hurried withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of peace-keeping occupation. He is also known to be determined to see political and judicial corruption stamped out in Ukraine and reluctant to further provoke the Russian bear, having lived most of his life through the era of mutually-assured destruction, especially given that the security threat posed by China is a current priority that cannot be ignored. Without Ukraine being part of the alliance, the US and Nato are under no treaty obligation to come to its aid, whereas those security assurances are extended to nearby Baltic states like Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania since they signed up with the 2004 induction. All three could become potential future targets for Russian annexation, incidentally, if the current situation leaves Mr Putin feeling emboldened, which was the precisely the motivation that led Finland to join the alliance on 4 April 2023. Sweden could soon follow if opposition from Turkey can be overcome. Military personnel raise the flag of Finland during a ceremony on the sidelines of a Nato foreign ministers meeting at Nato headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on 4 April 2023 (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP) That said, Mr Bidens sabre-rattling rhetoric strongly suggests he is prepared to intervene in some form, even if that does not mean American boots on the ground. The US provided has provided $41.3bn to Ukraine in defensive military aid since the war began, according to the State Department, and shows no signs of ending its outreach. If it were to offer more direct defensive resources, the US would be in a position to provide Ukraine with a broad range of assistance free of charge, from air defence, anti-tank and anti-ship systems, electronic warfare and cyber defence systems to supplies of small arms and artillery ammunition. The announcement in July that the US would begin supplying Ukraine with cluster bombs for very careful use on its own territory against Russian forces was seen in some quarters as a significant escalation, in light of the fact that 100 nations had signed a 2008 treaty in Oslo, Norway, opposing the use of such dangerous weapons (although neither the US nor Ukraine, nor Russia, were signatories). In making the annoucement, US undersecretary of defence for policy Colin Kohl did admit that the US had previously criticised Russias use of cluster munitions because they done so indiscriminately, and with older, less reliable systems that cause more civilian casualties. But he insisted Kyiv had assured Washington that they would not use the cluster rounds in civilian areas or urban environments and had also commited to recording where they were used to aid in future post-war cleanup efforts. Ahead of the latest Nato gathering in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July, the Kremlin reiterated its opposition to Ukraine joining Nato, warning that such an eventuality would have very negative consequences for Europes security architecture and that it would be met with a harsh response. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Georgia's imprisoned former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, has called on the members of Nato to not hesitate in admitting Ukraine to the alliance and not repeat the mistakes that he believes empowered Russia's Vladimir Putin to invade the nation he led in 2008. In a piece for The Independent written from the hospital he is locked up in, Mr Saakashvili said that "Ukraine has amply earned the right to be the full fledged member of Nato" in fighting Russia's invasion and that it is "vital that Nato not to leave any space for the slightest perception of weakness" Mr Saakashvili, 55, who led Georgia from 2004 to 2013, was jailed on abuse of power charges upon returning to to the country from nearly a decade of exile in 2021. He is serving a six-year jail term. Critics have called the charges against him politically motivated. Earlier this month, appeared via vide link for a court hearing and looked almost unrecognisable, both frail and emaciated. It is the first time in months he had been seen, fuelling concern over his treatment. He was transferred to a civilian hospital last year after staging a 50-day hunger strike to protest against his detention. Recommended Why the Nato summit in Vilnius could prove critical In his piece, Mr Saakashvili said that has a "nagging sense that weve been here before," recalling a Nato summit in Bucharest in April 2008 during which the alliance declared that both Georgia and Ukraine would be members of the alliance but offering no path to get there. Mr Saakashvili said that despite his optimism about both nations being presented with a path to membership, thanks to support from the US. He was told by then-chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, that such a move would be blocked. That eventually leading to the wording Ukraine and Georgia "will become members of Nato" in the declaration stemming from the summit. Mr Saakashvili said that what was "worse" was a decision to pick the issue up again at a ministerial meeting in December, giving Mr Putin the space needed to act, which he did by invading Georgia in a brief war that August Mr Saakashvili says hestitation over Ukraine's status now will only lead to a "further escalation of conflict" and that "strength and resolve" is what is required from all the nations of Nato. The Georgian former leader has close ties to Ukraine, holding Ukrainian citizenship and having spent time as a regional governor in the country during his exile. In the wake of the video hearing showing Mr Saakashvili's condition, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the Georgian ambassador to Kyiv to leave within 48 hours to consult with Tbilisi about transferring the former Georgian leader to Ukraine for medical treatment. The Ukrainian leader also accused Russia of killing Mr Saakashvili at the hands of the Georgian authorities. Relations between the Kyiv and Tbilisi have suffered since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Georgia having refused to join sanctions against Moscow, one of its largest trading partners. In response to Mr Zelensky's remarks, Irakli Kobakhidze, chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, ruled out the possibility of such a transfer, saying there would be no consultation with Kyiv. He added that Mr Zelenskys decision to send the Georgian ambassador to Ukraine back to Tbilisi in order to negotiate was regrettable and insulting. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} World leaders of member states belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) are meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 11-12 July for their latest summit, with Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine very much top of the agenda. Nato is a political and military alliance of North American and European countries forged in the aftermath of the Second World War in the hope of avoiding future bloodshed and hostilities between nations through the realisation of three specific goals: deterring Soviet expansionism, preventing the revival of militant nationalism and encouraging European political integration. The organisation has its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and its current secretary general is Jens Stoltenberg. Its 31 member states are obliged by Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty of 4 April 1949 to come to the aid of any fellow signatory in the event that they should come under attack from a foreign power. In its own words: Nato is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations. Originally born of the Treaty of Dunkirk signed by Britain and France on 4 March 1947 pledging to contain any future military threat from a revived Germany or the USSR at a time when the Marshall Plan was attempting to bring economic deliverance to a stricken continent still in recovery from a war that had killed 36.5m people, Nato was soon expanded to include Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg and then the US, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. Holding firm throughout the Cold War and evolving its approach in response to such tense diplomatic episodes as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War and the USSRs invasion of Afghanistan, the alliance was given a new lease of life with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, gradually adding former Soviet satellites states to its ranks: first the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland in 1999 and then Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia in 2004. The most recent additions to the alliance were North Macedonia in 2020 and Finland in 2023. Sweden, breaking with its long history of neutrality, could be the next to join them in a move that came a step closer to reality in July after Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan signalled he was ready to drop his objections, which included opposition to Swedens tolerance of anti-Muslim demonstrations on free speech grounds, support for Kurdish refugees alligned with groups that Ankara considers terrorist organisations and frustration at Turkeys own exclusion from the European Union. Hungary is now the only holdout preventing Swedens accession and may well fall in line. Joining Nato gives smaller countries the assurance of military protection by the alliance as a whole, which is why the likes of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and, most urgently, Ukraine are seeking to join the collective and why Russian president Vladimir Putin is so opposed to the latter two in particular being granted entrance. Mr Putin has bitterly denounced Nato in the past, falsely alleging that assurances were given to former Kremlin leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the early 1990s that the alliance would not seek to extend its influence east of Germany, only for it to then break that so-called promise first in 1999 and then again in 2004. It is obvious that Nato expansion does not have any relation with the modernisation of the alliance itself or with ensuring security in Europe, he said at the Munich Security Conference in 2007. On the contrary, it represents a serious provocation that reduces the level of mutual trust. The following April, attending a Nato summit in Bucharest at which the alliance pledged future membership for Ukraine and Georgia (without specifying a roadmap and overlooking the reservations of France and Germany), he was even more emphatic: No Russian leader could stand idly by in the face of steps toward Nato membership for Ukraine. That would be a hostile act toward Russia. Four months later, Mr Putin invaded Georgia, destroying the countrys armed forces, occupying two autonomous regions and humiliating a president, Mikheil Saakashvili, who had openly courted Nato membership, actions that brought fresh international condemnation. Prior to his invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Russian president had built up his military forces on the countrys border with its western neighbour, countering international calls for him to stand down his troops with demands that Nato commit to denying Kyiv acceptance into its ranks and that the alliance cease and desist from its activities in eastern member states. Mr Putin insists that Russia and Ukraine are really one nation and appears to be seeking to reintegrate the country into what he considers to be the motherland, just as he annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. For its part, Ukraine wants the defensive protection of the alliance as part of its bid for recognition as a free western democracy, shielded from the malign influence of Moscow but US president Joe Biden, an influential voice, has insisted he does not believe it is ready to join up. Without Ukraine being part of Nato, the alliances member states, including Britain and the US, are not obliged to commit troops or come to its aid militarily, which is why those states and the other major European powers are reluctant to allow Kyiv into their company for now, as to do so would risk a much more widespread war in Europe. A number of British troops are, however, currently stationed in fellow signatory states Estonia and Poland as part of the organisations peacekeeping duties and the UK has carried out extensive military training with the Ukrainian armed forces since 2015 and has pledged to continue supplying Ukraine with weapons to counter Russian attacks during the present conflict. Natos official position is that membership is open to any other European state in a position to further the principles of the treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area. The present concern for the alliance is that, if Russia succeeds in conquering Ukraine, it could continue its westward expansion and perhaps seize other outliers like Georgia and, indeed, set a precedent for other global superpowers to follow, perhaps emboldening China to take Taiwan, for instance. At present, however, Moscow is a very long way from achieving its goal having been caught unprepared by the sheer ferocity of the fightback mounted by a united Ukraine well supplied with military hardware by its international allies rendering its war a drawn-out stalemate that is beginning to look like a monumental miscalculation on Mr Putins part that will achieve the direct opposite of his intentions. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Russias special military operation in Ukraine has been raging for one year now as the conflict continues to record devastating casualties and force the mass displacement of millions of blameless Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin began the war by claiming Russias neighbour needed to be demilitarised and de-Nazified, a baseless pretext on which to launch a landgrab against an independent state that happens to have a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukraine has fought back courageously against Mr Putins warped bid to restore territory lost to Moscow with the collapse of the Soviet Union and has continued to defy the odds by defending itself against Russian onslaughts with the help of Western military aid. Battle tanks from the US, Britain and Germany are now being supplied for the first time and Mr Zelensky toured London, Paris and Brussels in early February 2023 to request fighter jets be sent as well in order to counter the Russian aerial threat, a step the allies appear to have reservations about making, although Joe Biden has since visited Kyiv in a gesture of solidarity. Much of the fighting has been concentrated around the key eastern city of Bakhmut of late, with bombardments and heavy artillery fire taking place as Russian forces ramp up a major new offensive with the one-year anniversary of the war looming. In the autumn, Mr Zelenskys forces launched a major campaign of their own to retrieve the besieged city of Kharkiv and succeeded in driving Russian orcs out of Kherson but, as Ukraines resistance grows, Mr Putins threats of escalating the fight grow too, causing concern globally about the prospect of nuclear warfare being unleashed. Mr Zelensky has said Russian officials have begun to prepare their society for the possible use of nuclear weapons but added that he does not believe the Kremlin is ready to use them. The president believes action is needed now to avert that scenario, pointing out that Russias threats pose a risk for the whole planet and that Moscow has made a step already by occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europes largest nuclear station. In response to the ever-growing sense that his invasion has backfired, Mr Putin staged a televised address in September in which he ordered a partial military mobilisation of 300,000 reservists and reiterated his threat to use nukes against the West, a major escalation of his rhetoric in which he assured the world: Its not a bluff. Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Klimentyev/AP) The Kremlins faltering troops, otherwise saddled with outmoded equipment and sub-standard supplies, have employed brutal siege warfare tactics throughout the war, surrounding Ukraines cities and subjecting them to intense shelling campaigns, a strategy previously seen in Chechnya and Syria. Ukrainian cities in the east and south have been battered by Russian missiles in pursuit of gradual gains, while the targeting of residential buildings, hospitals and even nurseries and memorials have led to outraged accusations of civilians being intentionally targeted and of war crimes being committed on a massive scale. The discovery of mass graves in towns like Bucha and Izium have shocked the world. Mr Zelenskys initial appeals for Nato to implement a no-fly zone remain unanswered as the West fears such an act would be interpreted as a provocation by Russia and draw the alliance into a much larger war over Eastern Europe. However, US president Joe Biden, his European counterparts Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz and UN secretary general Antonio Guterres have all condemned the Kremlins unprovoked and unjustified invasion and promised to hold it accountable, with the West introducing several rounds of tough economic sanctions against Russian banks, businesses and oligarchs while supplying Ukraine with additional weapons, hardware and defence funding. The Ukrainian president has recently shown signs of frustration with allied dithering over next steps and the West has also faced criticism for not doing enough to support the millions of refugees from the conflict, who have fled their homeland for neighbouring states like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova. Ukrainian refugees wait in front of the consular department of the Ukrainian embassy in Berlin, Germany, in April 2022 (AP) So what are the key issues behind the conflict, where did it all begin and how might it unfold? How did the crisis start? Rumbling tensions in in the region first began in December 2021 when Russian troops amassed at its western border with Ukraine, creating widespread international concern but not acting until the final week of February 2022, when Mr Putin moved to officially recognise the pro-Russian breakaway regions of the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) and Luhansk Peoples Republic (LPR) as independent states. This enabled him to move military resources into those areas, in anticipation of the coming assault, under the guise of extending protection to allies. That development meant months of frantic diplomatic negotiations pursued by the likes of US secretary of state Antony Blinken, Mr Macron, Mr Scholz and then-UK foreign secretary Liz Truss in the hope of averting calamity had ultimately come to nothing. Going back even further to 2014 gives the current situation more context. Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula that year in retaliation after the countrys Moscow-friendly president, Viktor Yanukovych, was driven from power by the midwinter mass protests seen in Kyivs Maidan Square, an angry reaction to his decision to reject a treaty strengthening economic and diplomatic ties between his country and the EU, probably acting under pressure from the Kremlin. Ukrainians return to Kyivs Maidan Square to celebrate the liberation of Kherson in November 2022 (AFP/Getty) Weeks later, Russia threw its weight behind two separatist insurgency movements in Ukraines eastern industrial heartland, the Donbas, which eventually saw pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk declare the DPR and LPR independent states, although their claims went entirely unacknowledged by the international community. More than 14,000 people died in the fighting between 2014 and 2022, which devastated the region. Both Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of sending troops and weapons to back the rebels but Moscow has denied the allegations, stating that the Little Green Men who joined the separatists cause were not really Russian soldiers or had done so voluntarily, hence their lack of identifying insignia, an argument few believe. A 2015 peace accord the Minsk II agreement was brokered by Francois Hollande of France and Germanys Angela Merkel to bring Mr Yanukovychs eventual successor Petro Poroshenko and Mr Putin to the table in the hope of ending the bloodshed. The 13-point agreement obliged Ukraine to offer autonomy to the separatist regions and amnesty for the rebels while Ukraine would regain full control of its border with Russia in the rebel-held territories in return. Former German chancellor Angela Merkel mediates a tense meeting between then-Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin at a D-Day commemoration in 2014 (AP) The agreement is highly complex and remains contested, however, because Moscow continues to insist it has not been a party in the conflict and is therefore not bound by its terms. In point 10 of the treaty, there is a call for the withdrawal of all foreign armed formations and military equipment from the disputed DPR and LPR: Ukraine says this refers to forces from Russia but Mr Putin is adamant in his denials that his country has any of its own troops in the contested regions, despite the obviousness of the untruth. In 2021, a spike in ceasefire violations in the east and a Russian troop concentration near Ukraine fuelled fears that a new war was about to erupt but tensions abated when Moscow pulled back the bulk of its forces. How is the situation at present? As discussed, the fighting has become entrenched around the towns of Bakhmut and Soledar since late 2022, with Russias savage Wagner Group mercenaries battling Ukrainian forces in heavy mud, rubble and sub-zero temperatures in what has become a savage war of attrition. Of the latest aggressions against Bakhmut, the deputy commander of Ukraines Svoboda battalion, Volodymyr Nazarenko, said: The city, the citys suburbs, the entire perimeter, and essentially the entire Bakhmut direction and Kostyantynivka are under crazy, chaotic shelling. But after months of costly and violent warfare like this, it is believed that Russian citizens are finally beginning to see through the fog of Kremlin propaganda and understand Mr Putins misjudgement of the war for what it is, the aggressor having suffered devastating losses and economic consequences as a direct result of its leaderships actions. Ukrainian servicemen drive along a street with BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle in the frontline town of Bakhmut in February 2023 (Yevhenii Zavhorodnii/Reuters) The news that the average number of Russian soldiers dying per day has hit 824 in February 2023, four times higher than the rate of casualties recorded in June and July 2022, will only increase the pressure on Mr Putin at home. A growing reluctance to see more conscripts killed and living standards fall, especially in support of a war so ill-defined, is likely and could eventually lead to street protests. Sir Jeremy Fleming, director of the intelligence, cyber and security agency GCHQ, said Russians are now feeling the consequences of the Kremlin leaders war choice. What might happen next? In October, Russia responded to Ukrainian strikes on a major bridge connecting Crimea to its territory a matter of huge pride to Mr Putin when it was first opened by launching a widespread missile bombardment of Ukraine, some of which killed civilians in Kyiv. Mr Putin called the destruction of the bridge along the Kerch Strait an act of terrorism aimed at destroying critically important civilian infrastructure. In response to these assaults, Mr Zelensky accused Russia of trying to wipe his country off the face of the earth while his foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, added that the strikes show Mr Putin is a terrorist who talks with missiles. Volodymyr Zelensky (AP) Meanwhile, the West continues to assess the risk of nuclear warfare. Mr Biden has warned explicitly that the conflict could lead to nuclear armageddon. However, the White House has insisted that it has no reason to believe there is an imminent threat of Mr Putin using such weapons just yet. But the Kremlin leader did make clear in that September address that Russia would consider the use of nuclear weapons against Nato if its territory were to be threatened as a result of the invasion. At the time, Mr Putin warned: To those who allow themselves to make such statements about Russia, I would like to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and for some components more modern than those of the Nato countries. The threat was the most significant suggestion of the use of nuclear weapons by a leader with access to those weapons in decades and threatened to return Washington and Moscow to the height of tensions not seen since the Cold War. The question of fighter jets now needs to be resolved with some urgency as the war enters a new stage with the coming of spring. A Ukrainian man surveys the damage caused by a missile strike on a residential area near Kyiv's main train station (Getty) It is feared that Mr Putin, humiliated by the failure of his conquest so far, could now resort to even more drastic measures as the first anniversary of the war approaches, given that he will be under enormous pressure to present demonstrable wins to a Russian public growing impatient with a futile conflict. The prospect of the war finally spilling out over Ukraines borders and engulfing the rest of Europe can also not be dismissed, although Nato remains hugely reluctant to take up arms against Russia and will do everything in its power to avert that nightmare scenario. Ukraine is not (yet) a member of the military alliance, hence Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty not having been triggered before this point. However, the world saw a near-miss on 15 November when what appeared to be a Russian rocket crossed into Poland, killing two people when it hit a grain silo in Przewodow, Lublin, an act that might well have been interpreted as an attack on a Nato ally necessitating the entire alliance entering the fray to come to its defence. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and investigators concluded that the blast had actually been caused by a Soviet-era relic from Ukraines own arsenal, which had been fired in an attempt to bring down one of the aggressors projectiles targeting Lviv and drifted off course by mistake. The West breathed a collective sigh of relief but the episode served to illustrate just how quickly matters could escalate into a much wider war over continental Europe. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Battle of the Boyne has arrived a moment greeted with incredible significance by some people in the UK, and confusion by others. The event is a public holiday in Northern Ireland and marks one of the most controversial and important parts of British history. And it is marked by a message in people's iPhone calendar, which has the tendency to confuse some people who see it. For people in Northern Ireland, that fact is obvious: they have the day off, and the controversial celebrations are hard to miss. But for the rest of the UK, the only reminder might be a cryptic note inside their iPhone calendar. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 / 25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty What is the Battle of the Boyne? Historically, the name refers to the 1690 event where the Catholic King James II's troops were defeated by the Protestant William III. Nowadays, it is an annual bank holiday that commemorates the same battle. The original battle was of incredible significance not only to the history of Ireland but across Europe. It brought about the conclusion of a fight for the throne in England and is a key part of the ascendency of Protestants in Ireland. Now each year, the holiday takes place on 12 July, an event known as "The Twelfth". It is commemorated by the Protestant community, and it is often marked by confrontations in Northern Ireland. Why is it in my iPhone? The iPhone keeps a full log off all the public or bank holidays in the UK, or wherever else your phone happens to be. That can be very useful because Except sometimes it will throw up strange examples, such as the Battle of the Boyne. The reminder might be very useful for people in Northern Ireland but for the rest of the UK, where people don't have the day off, it probably mostly useless. That's because the calendar counts every holiday in the UK, even if it does not apply to you. The different parts of the UK have different holidays, and each of them show up in the calendar. It doesn't just include the Battle of the Boyne. The calendar will also show all of the Scottish bank holidays such as the extra day off at New Year, and the different summer bank holiday as well as St Patrick's Day, for which people in Northern Ireland are given a holiday too. How do I get rid of it? In short, you can't. The calendar isn't really yours, but is created by Apple, meaning that you can't change it either. You can get rid of the calendar entirely that is done by clicking the "Calendars" button at the bottom of the screen and deleting or hiding the UK bank holidays one but that will mean you'll also lose the entire calendar along with it. You could of course recreate the functionality by adding the dates yourself, but that is difficult since some bank holidays tend to move around depending on how days line up. You can add and subscribe to custom calendars on your iPhone, using links that can be found on the internet. The trouble is that all of the examples for bank holidays such as the one provided by the UK government also include the Battle of the Boyne. You can make the event slightly less irritating, by turning off any alarms that are associated with it. That is done by clicking on the event on your iPhone and pressing the "alert" button, where you can choose "none". But either the event stays, or you lose all the other bank holidays. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Twitter has received an unlikely endorsement from a Taliban leader amid woes as the number of users of the Elon Musk-owned platform is tanking following the release of Metas rival app Threads. Taliban leader Anas Haqqani tweeted his approval of Twitter over other social media platforms, highlighting what he thought were some advantages of the Musk-owned site. Twitter has two important advantages over other social media platforms, Mr Haqqani tweeted. The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second privilege is the public nature & credibility of Twitter. Twitter doesnt have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it, he said. Twitter has been facing major hurdles since the Tesla and SpaceX chief took over the company last year with further hardship after Metas Mark Zuckerberg launched the Threads app. It appears that the number of Twitter users may also be tanking following the release of Threads, according to Cloudflares chief executive Matthew Prince. Mr Prince showed a graph last week highlighting an apparent decline in Twitters popularity since Mr Musks takeover of the company, along with a steep drop after the launch of Threads. A record number of users have flocked to Mr Zuckerbergs Twitter-clone with the app gaining over 100 million sign ups within days of its launch. Thats mostly organic demand and we havent even turned on many promotions yet. Cant believe its only been five days! the Meta boss said. While Twitter appears to have fallen out of favour with many users, The Taliban, however, still seems to prefer it over Threads. After free-speech absolutist Mr Musk took over Twitter and fired over three-fourths of the companys workforce, including entire teams behind content moderation, social media experts expressed dissatisfaction over the rise of hate speech on the platform and advertisers as well as regular users have exited the site. But according to Mr Haqqani, a Taliban thought-leader, the biggest draw of Twitter where the militant group continues to post updates is the sites flexible moderation policy. This is in contrast to Metas Facebook which views the Taliban as a terrorist organisation and disallows it from posting on the platform. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Glasses clink and cutlery scrapes the plates at a pavement cafe by the side of the lake. People drink Aperol and espresso and take bites of pizza, their heads turned towards the peacock-green water and the villa-dappled hills that frame it. The scene wouldnt be out of place in Lake Como but Im 1,300 miles away from northern Italy, in a pocket of southwest North Macedonia called Ohrid (pronounced och-rid). Slowly inching onto the radar of UK travellers thanks to a selection of recently introduced direct TUI flights from Manchester and Gatwick, the town of Ohrid and its namesake lake have vital statistics that actually outshine their famed Italian counterparts. At more than 138 square miles, Lake Ohrid is more than twice as large as Como, a fact thats best appreciated on a boat trip around the formers shoreline. Karst cliffs, coloured in pewter and newborn pink, run on for miles, giving way to the uninterrupted greenery of the Galicia National Park, which is so densely packed in places it resembles broccoli florets. Lake Ohrid is twice the size of Lake Como (Sarah Holt) My boat makes a stop at the foot of the hilltop Monastery of Saint Naum, an Eastern Orthodox monastery originally built in the 10th century. From here I take in grandstand views of the voluminous lake on a plateau dotted with free-roaming peacocks (seen as symbols of resurrection at the time of Saint Naum). I duck into the monastery church, too, and discover the fresco-lined room where Saint Naum is buried. Legend says that if you put your ear to the surface of the tomb, you can still hear his heartbeat, but I spinelessly decide not to put that theory to the test. At more than a million years old, Lake Ohrid is also older than the Italian Lakes, with Ohrid town acknowledged to be one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. Walking around the Old Town and uphill to the 11th-century Tsar Samoil Fortress, with its gap-toothed ramparts, I get a sense that Im wading through history. Read more on Europe travel: Ohrids historical sites represent every phase of North Macedonias past and the tug of war so many empires and nations have had over its territory. There are city gates that were originally built in the 4th century BC; a 5,000-seat Hellenistic amphitheatre; a roll call of 14th-century churches; 18th-century townhouses; and the blush-coloured Church of Saint Sophia, which has its roots in the 6th century (to name just a fraction of whats there). Its this stratum of history that earned Ohrid Old Town its place on Unescos World Heritage Site list in 1997. Areas of the lake are also included in the listing, as they provide a home to more than 200 types of plants and 17 endemic species of fish. Free-roaming peacocks can be found at the Monastery of Saint Naum (Sarah Holt) Amble down any of the streets in the town centre and youll discover another of Ohrids USPs: its jewellery shops. Window displays drip with handmade silver filigree in designs as delicate as doilies. Then there are the pearls. Ohrid pearls, as worn by the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, are distinct from those youll find anywhere else in the world because theyre hand-made. Two families, the Talevs and Filevs, make them using secret, century-old recipes that involve ground shells, emulsions made from the scales of Ohrid trout and a painstaking multi-stage creation process. I personally experience an event horizon at the door to PS Filigree, one of the towns two Macedonian ruby specialists and am sucked in. As with the countrys pearls, Macedonian rubies are different from those found elsewhere. They are classified as genuine rubies, but they contain less chromium, which makes them opaque and more plummy in colour. I leave with a pendant necklace that includes a pea-sized ruby on the end that I have yet to take off. Lake Ohrid is also a key player in Macedonias current wine renaissance. The discovery of ancient grape grain remains suggests that wine has been produced in the North Macedonia area since Neolithic times. However, during the mid-20th century, when the country was under the rule of communist Yugoslavia, wine was produced for quantity rather than quality. Karst cliffs, coloured in pewter and newborn pink, run on for miles, giving way to the uninterrupted greenery of the Galicia National Park Now, the countrys existing larger wineries are working with experts from around Europe to elevate their offering and an increasing number of independent boutique wineries are opening with the intention of making North Macedonia a newly respected player on the worlds wine stage. I experience the standard of North Macedonian wine first-hand in the tasting rooms at the Vila and Winery Mal Sveti Kliment, in Ohrid Old Town. Opened in 2016, the winery produces wines using grapes sourced from its own vineyard plus a selection of local winegrowers. But its tasting rooms, run by WSET sommeliers Almir Rahimoski and Elena Mitrevska, are dedicated to showcasing wines from boutique wineries all over the country. My eyes widen as I sample a glass of sparkling wine from the Peshkov winery. Made using traditional champagne methods, its a new release for 2023. The bubbles do a welcome tap dance on my tongue before leaving a taste of green apple and citrus on my palette. Elena brings out a plate of her own recipe bruschetta, topped with lemon cream, apple and hazelnut to complement the wine, and theres an instant alchemy that elevates the flavour even further. The Monastery Winery produces 10,000 bottles a year (Sarah Holt) My interest piqued in North Macedonian wine, I venture out to visit The Monastery Winery the following day. Located at the end of a single-file gravel track, a 15-minute drive from Ohrid, the monastery was built in 2005 on the site of a former church. In 2018, the priest and a local engineer started making wine in the monastery cellar and The Monastery Winery which now produces 10,000 bottles a year was formed. I try seven varieties of Monastery wine and tuck into a platter of cow and sheep cheeses, cured meats, and a bowl of unctuous avjar (a smoky dip made from red peppers). Sipping the wine and nibbling antipasti in the sun of the winerys al fresco tasting area, I again get the sense that I could be in Italy. But the thought soon passes because Ohrid is so much more than a Como lookalike. Its a history-rich, nuance-filled destination in its own right. Travel essentials Tui Lakes and Mountains offers seven-night holidays to Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia staying at the Unique Resort & Spa with prices starting from 661pp, B&B, including return flights from London Gatwick, 15kg of hold luggage and transfers, for 6 September departures. Read more of our best Europe hotel reviews Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Thousands of passengers are struggling to recover their travel plans after easyJet cancelled 1,700 summer flights as it battles delays at its main base, London Gatwick. After weeks in which hundreds of flights at the airport have been cancelled at the last minute, Britains biggest budget airline has told 180,000 passengers that their departures in July, August and September have been grounded. The carrier blames unprecedented air-traffic control delays, which it says are three times longer than before the pandemic. It says 95 per cent of the affected travellers have been rebooked on other easyJet flights leaving 9,000 currently without a replacement. But passengers have complained about easyJets rebooking process, which has seen 18,000 travellers being switched to a different departure date. Under European air passengers rights rules, anyone whose flight is cancelled should be offered a flight on the original day of travel if seats are available on any airline. Jenny Chan found her planned journey from Glasgow via Gatwick to Marseille in disarray following easyJets rebooking. She had originally booked a nonstop from Glasgow to the south of France airport, but that was cancelled earlier in the year. Ms Chan accepted the one-stop journey but that was rendered impossible by easyJet moving the second leg a day earlier. She tweeted: They had me flying from Gatwick a day before my flight with them to Gatwick from Glasgow. All flights under the one booking as we were originally flying direct from Glasgow to Marseille but the flight was cancelled earlier this year. Passengers who choose to accept a rebooking to a different date can claim any additional accommodation and meal costs from easyJet. The Independent has also seen examples where travellers have been booked on connecting flights with easyJet through other European airports. They are entitled to a direct flight if one is available on any carrier. EasyJet chose Monday to launch a seat sale, triggering derision on social media. One prospective traveller tweeted: Dont want to plan any flights with a carrier that cancels so many flights these days. Jet2 will get my business from now on. Great record of not cancelling. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, told The Independent: This is really going to be devastating for many families and people who are looking forward to their plans and ready to depart. Trying to source new flights at the last minute wont be helpful for anybody. Passengers whose flights are grounded with less than two weeks notice are also entitled to cash compensation of 220 (or 350 for flights above 1,500km), unless easyJet can rebook them on a flight that arrives close to the original time. Taking so much capacity out of the summer market, in a year when seats are already scarce, will force fares higher and reduce availability for people who have not yet booked their summer trip. EasyJet insists it is fully crewed and has more pilots and cabin crew flying than ever, but says Gatwick has been hit by air traffic control delays. On Saturday alone, it grounded more than 40 flights to and from Gatwick, affecting more than 6,000 passengers. Between them, easyJets rival airlines at the same airport cancelled a total of eight departures and arrivals on the same day. On Sunday, dozens more easyJet departures were axed, including flights to the key Spanish holiday airports of Barcelona, Alicante and Malaga. In addition, passengers waiting at Gatwick for the last Belfast International flight of the day, and at Budapest for a flight back to London, had their trips cancelled while they were waiting at the gate. At London Stansted airport over the weekend, neither Ryanair nor Jet2 made any cancellations despite the disruption caused by the arrival of President Biden on Air Force One. The pressure on Gatwick, which is the worlds busiest single-runway airport, is felt far more by easyJet which comprises around half of the airports movements than any other carrier. Since 28 June, the daily late-evening easyJet departure from Gatwick to Palma de Mallorca, flight 8091, has been cancelled more often than not. A spokesperson for easyJet told The Independent: We are currently operating up to around 1,800 flights and carrying around 250,000 customers per day and like all airlines, we review our flights on an ongoing basis. As Eurocontrol has stated, the whole industry is seeing challenging conditions this summer with more constrained air space due to the war in Ukraine resulting in unprecedented ATC [air-traffic control] delays, as well as further potential ATC strike action. We have therefore made some pre-emptive adjustments to our programme consolidating a small number of flights at Gatwick, where we have multiple daily frequencies, in order to help mitigate these external challenges on the day of travel for our customers. Customers whose flights are affected are being informed, with 95 per cent of customers being rebooked onto an alternative flight and all customers provided with the option to rebook or receive a refund. We are sorry for any inconvenience that this may have caused. Aviation veteran Paul Charles, chief executive of the travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: Ive been warning for some time that our UK airport infrastructure, along with continuing people shortages at airlines and ground handlers, cannot cope with the massive summer demand. Just when you thought you had secured a flight to your summer holiday paradise, it gets changed and causes more inconvenience and stress. Airlines have to get better at planning and delivering, not letting down customers at short notice. EasyJet arent the first and wont be the last to take such action this summer. The scale of the cancellations could see easyJet lose future summer slots at Gatwick. Permissions to take off and land are awarded on a use it or lose it basis though last summer, when easyJet and British Airways made many thousands of cancellations, the government allowed the airlines to retain the slots. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The feeling of being hangry is one many people will be all too familiar with: a rumbling belly, a singular focus on that next meal, being ready to snap at the next person who so much as looks at you. But have you ever been so hangry youve found yourself kicked off a plane? A United Airlines business class passengers unruly behaviour caused a flight from Houston, Texas, bound for the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, to be diverted to Chicago allegedly because his preferred meal was not available. The flight, which took off at 4.20pm, was in Chicago airspace just two hours into its journey when it began circling the citys OHare International Airport to use up fuel in order to reduce the weight of the aircraft, reports The Guardian. Flightradar24, an air tracking website, tweeted that the flight was jettisoning fuel prior to diversion due to a problem passenger. Aviation watcher XJonNYC shared internal United communications on Twitter stating that there was a disruptive [passenger] on board. He also tweeted that the passenger was noted to be intoxicated as well, but meal choice seems to have been an enragement point. The Independent has contacted United Airlines for comment. In a statement to The Guardian, the airline said: United flight 20 from George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Amsterdam diverted to OHare International Airport and landed safely following a passenger disturbance. Law enforcement met the aircraft at the gate and escorted the passenger off the plane. The aircraft then continued to Amsterdam. According to Flightrader24, the flight landed in the Netherlands more than three hours late. The disruptive passenger may not have enjoyed flying with Japan Airlines if he was looking to satisfy his hunger, with the operator emphasising the sustainability benefits of avoiding a mid-flight lunch and giving travellers the option to skip their meal. Although its arguably preferable to have no meal at all than to have the experience of one SunExpress flight attendant, who found a severed snakes head in her dish. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Low-cost airline Wizz Air has apologised after it would not allow a wounded Ukrainian soldier to travel on one of its flights. In videos shared to TikTok, the unnamed man can be seen speaking to cabin crew at the front of a plane bound for Warsaw, Poland, from Tel Aviv, Israel, where, according to reports, he had been receiving treatment after losing his leg fighting against Russian troops. Despite being allowed to board the plane, he was asked to leave before the plane took off. The TikTok user who uploaded the clip wrote in Russian that the man was crying and yelling while asking how he would be able to get home. He allegedly showed the cabin crew the inside of his bag, in which there were only gifts for his family, which for sure had been waiting for him for a long time, wrote @mbbddk, adding: Im sorry, random man from the plane. You are a hero. The discussions lasted more than 90 minutes before the passenger was escorted off, according to Mail Online, which quoted independent Belarusian media outlet NEXTAs report that the man was removed as he was unable to sit in his seat properly due to his prosthesis. Wizz Air told The Independent: We apologise for the upset caused regarding a passenger on our Tel Aviv flight to Warsaw recently. Safety is our number one priority, and it is our crews responsibility to ensure that all passengers are fit to fly or are accompanied by someone to support them. If there is any indication that a passenger has a medical condition that might put them at risk while flying, we are obligated to deny boarding. To be clear, we would never discriminate against someone on the grounds of a disability and regularly fly passengers with prosthesis. In this instance, it was a difficult but necessary decision taken with the passengers safety in mind. He was provided with water and somewhere to sit while waiting for assistance from airport staff. Wizz Air was unable to confirm whether the passenger had been able to complete his journey. This week, were thrilled to be joined by actor Hayley Atwell, to discuss her latest role in Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One. Atwell stars as Grace alongside Tom Cruises Ethan Hunt, as the team track down a weapon that threatens humanity. We talk with Hayley about how she collaborated with Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie to build her character, as well as stunt and combat training, and the barriers facing women in Hollywood. Check out Love Lives on Independent TV and all major podcast platforms, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Residents have accused students of turning their streets into a tip each year by dumping piles of rubbish at the end of their university studies. Graduates are being blamed for leaving festering mountains of waste as they move out of the Selly Oak area of Birmingham. The suburb is a student heartland for those attending the University of Birmingham and hundreds of young people live in houses in the area. But locals say students along Exeter Road and Hubert Road fly-tip trash on an annual basis, which leaves the streets stinking and leads to an invasion of rats. West Midlands Fire Service previously warned students about the dangers of leaving rubbish behind. It is a seasonal issue for us and theres a big risk of an increase in secondary rubbish fires. We talk to bodies like the Guild of Students at the University of Birmingham and they do try to take it seriously, Watch commander Dave Clark said previously. The universitys own guidance advises students about their responsibilities when moving into properties ahead of starting their courses. Students are provided with information and advice about considering their neighbours and their environment. Community Wardens run Junkbusters, a scheme to collect students unwanted clothes, books, and household items to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. They also resolve other waste issues throughout the year, a statement from the university, provided to The Independent, read. In addition, the University works with Birmingham City Council to arrange extra refuse collections at key times of the year. Nevertheless, we recognise that additional efforts are required. We are committed to working with students, landlords, the local authority, and will continue to promote the importance of keeping our neighbourhoods clean and safe. Greenpeace activists in France dumped nearly a ton of green algae outside the Finistere administrative headquarters in Quimper, Brittany on Monday, in protest over the amount of green algae off the coast caused by industrial and factory farming. Calling for an end to the construction of industrial cattle farms in the region, members of the environmental group unfurled banners reading Green algae: asphyxiated Brittany and Brittany polluted: the state is guilty. The activists released green and black smoke during the protest, and some were moved away from the algae by police as authorities moved in to clear the streets. Half of Frances over 3,000 factory farms are situated in Brittany. Torrential downpours unleashed flash floods in the US Northeast on Monday (10 July) that washed out roadways, overwhelmed rivers, forced multiple boat rescues and killed a woman who was swept away in front of her fiance, officials said. Footage from Sunday showed several vehicles stranded on a road in Orange County, New York, as police and emergency crews rushed to rescue motorists using ropes. More than 13 million Americans were under flood watches and warnings from eastern New York state to Boston and Western Maine to the northeast, the National Weather Service said, after storms that began over the weekend inundated rivers and streams. Heavy rainfall and flooding has swept through countries across the world, including Spain, India and the United States, in recent days and weeks. New York is bracing for what could be its worst flooding since Hurricane Ida in 2021, as powerful thunderstorms killed at least one person. Meanwhile, Indias capital New Delhi this weekend recorded the highest single-day rainfall in July since 1982 and the third-highest single-day rainfall since 1958. Flooding and torrential rain also hit Spain and Japan just days before US president Joe Biden and King Charles III sat down to discuss the climate crisis at Windsor Castle. War changes things. There was a case, before Vladimir Putin launched his attempt to subdue the whole of Ukraine, for being cautious about Ukraines accession to Nato. It could be argued before February last year that accelerating Ukraines membership of the North Atlantic alliance would be regarded as a provocation by President Putins regime. It would have been wrong for Mr Putin to regard Ukraines joining a defensive alliance in this way, of course, but there was an argument of realpolitik that, if it is known that something would be seen as a provocation by a nuclear-armed power, it made sense to think twice about it. The world has now changed. Mr Putin, in his own mental universe, has already been provoked, and launched a special military operation to defend the people of greater Russia from the imaginary Nazis based in Kyiv. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A deadly heatwave sweeping Europe has claimed its first life prompting health warnings for tourists. A 44-year-old worker was reportedly painting a zebra crossing in 40C heat at midday on Tuesday when he collapsed. He is said to have lost consciousness due to the intense heat in the town of Lodi outside Milan, Italy. It comes as an area of high pressure named Cerberus after the underworld monster from Dantes Inferno makes its way across the country. The country saw highs of 40C again on Wednesday with Sicily and Sardinia forecast to be as high as 48C. The street sign painter was with colleagues when he slumped to the ground and was rushed to hospital, according to local media. He was rushed to hospital but doctors were unable to save him, The Times reported. It is believed his death is linked to the extreme heat currently making its way across the continent. General secretary of Fenealuil Milan-Cremona-Lodi-Pavia, Salvatore Cutaia, said: The climate is a cause of accident and also of death. This is a situation that could be repeated given the temperatures. We must question ourselves seriously and heavily sanction the responsibilities of an avoidable death. Temperatures in the Mediterranean could set a European record this week as the heatwave begins engulfs southern and eastern Europe. The highest temperature in European history was recorded in Syracuse, Sicily, on 11 August 2021, with a high of 48.8C. A tourist from the UK receives help near the Colosseum after fainting during a heatwave across Italy (REUTERS) Thousands of holidaymakers in the Mediterranean are being warned to take extra care in the dangerous heat. British tourists are among those grappling with the soaring temperatures, with one visitor fainted in front of Romes Colosseum on Tuesday. The tourist collapsed before being passed bottles of water by helpful passersby, according to LBC. President of the Italian Meteorological Society, Professor Luca Mercalli, said: "We know that there will be temperatures above 40C or 45C. We could get close to the record. Either way, the levels will be very high. A woman cools off as she sits in the sea during a heatwave across Italy, in Naples (REUTERS) The Red Cross has urged people to check on the most vulnerable during the high temperatures. People are being urged to stay hydrated, avoid caffeine and alcohol and look out for signs of heatstroke after a British tourist collapsed and fainted in front of the Colosseum in Rome as temperatures there reached over 36C on Tuesday. The exceptional heat is forecast to last across the Mediterranean for around two weeks. Italy is expected to be the worst-hit, Italian meteorologist Stefano Rossi told La Stampa that humidity levels across the peninsula will mean temperatures will not drop below 22C at night-time. People in Rome are battling the heatwave which could reach highs of 48C (Reuters) The heatwave is also hitting France, Germany, Spain and Poland; temperatures are expected to hit 44C in some parts of Spain later this week. Britain is not likely to see the return of hot weather until the end of this month. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue until at least 23 July when a two-week heatwave could hit the UK. The extreme temperatures in Europe come after record-shattering global temperatures as the world sees its hottest days on record in the first week of July. Visitors have been pictured using fans and clothing to shelter from the sun (Reuters) Professor Richard Betts, climate scientist at the Met Office and University of Exeter, said the alarming highs are in line with scientists' warnings about the continued use of fossil fuels. He told the BBC: This is all a stark reminder of what we've known for a long time, and we will see ever more extremes until we stop building up more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere." Last summer's heatwaves may have contributed to over 61,000 deaths in Europe, according to a study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. Europe experienced its hottest summer on record in 2022, marked by an onslaught of scorching heatwaves, devastating droughts and raging forest fires. Scientists at Copernicus Climate Change Service said the heatwave in Europe would have been virtually impossible without global heating. The human-induced climate crisis has been making heatwaves more intense and frequent, various assessments have shown. This year, with the onset of El Nino, a weather phenomenon associated with increased warming, on top of the global heating of 1.2C, extreme temperatures have already been experienced in Asia, North Africa and North America. Carlyle-owned AMCK warns granting injunction to Frontier Airlines would be very harmful precedent for leasing Frontier has a fleet of 127 jets and flies to more than 100 destinations Dublin aircraft leasing firm AMCK now ultimately owned by investment giant Carlyle has described demands by US low-cost carrier Frontier following AMCKs acquisition as brazen and insisted it has gone to extraordinary lengths in an effort to placate the airline in a lease dispute. AMCK and related units have urged a US court not to grant an injunction sought by Frontier to prevent the lessor from seizing about a tenth of the airlines fleet a move the carrier has claimed will cause irreparable harm to its business. Frontier has a fleet of 127 jets and flies to more than 100 destinations. The leasing firm and its co-defendants have warned a New York court that granting the injunction to Frontier would set a very harmful precedent in the aircraft leasing sector, if aircraft lessors are not permitted to exercise their express rights and remedies under leases. It would lead to more expensive leases, the defendants claimed, and those hazard costs would likely be passed on to customers. They say they have already incurred millions of dollars in costs and lost profits as a result of Frontiers delay and obstruction tactics. Colorado-based Frontier launched a lawsuit against AMCK in the United States last year seeking damages related to the acquisition by an affiliate of Dublin-based Carlyle Aviation Partners of Ireland-based AMCK Aviation last year. The airline insisted that under lease agreements it had with AMCK for 15 jets initially, its consent was required for any change of ownership involving those aircraft. AMCK and Carlyle have denied the claim. Frontier had also sued AMCK in 2020 in an unrelated matter connected to leases on six Airbus jets. Frontier claimed $53m in damages. The airline alleged that AMCK was raided as part of the takeover by Carlyle units in order to render the Irish unit judgment proof in the event it loses the case. But last week, a judge presiding over that case largely granted summary judgment against the airline, according to lawyers for AMCK and Carlyle. The only remaining claim for trial in that action is a claim for breach of contract arising from AMCKs express termination in 2020 of a framework agreement between the sides. AMCK and Carlyle have insisted that Frontier has refused to comply with its contractual agreements for months both under aircraft lease terms and under a cooperation agreement signed between the pair. Frontier has insisted that the Irish leasing units and other defendants provide the airline with security for the contingent litigation claim, such as a first lien on an aircraft subject to leases, or a letter of credit. Nothing in the leases or elsewhere gives Frontier any such rights, lawyers for AMCK and its related defendants have argued. They added in a filing on Friday opposing Frontiers request for an injunction: Frontier is flouting its contractual obligations in the hope that its actions will be so damaging to defendants that defendant will have no choice but to either accede to Frontiers demands or, more likely, to force a settlement in the first action, resulting in an unwarranted pay day for Frontier. The defendants said Frontier has already rejected an offer of a guarantee from a related entity. Tech and pharma multinationals are increasingly skewing Irish manufacturing data, with statisticians issuing a new volatility warning. Production in Irish-based manufacturing firms tumbled 26.9pc in the three months to May, compared with the previous quarter, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said. It follows a 17.6pc dip in the three months to April. In an advisory note at the top of its latest release, the CSO said the results reflect high levels of contract manufacturing activity and outsourcing in Ireland, where (mainly) foreign-owned companies headquartered here produce goods abroad using patents or licenses controlled by their parent firms. The scale of contract manufacturing and outsourcing in the Irish industrial economy has increased since 2015, meaning that very high levels of short-term, ie monthly, volatility may be present in the indices presented in this release, the CSO note said. With this in mind, the CSO recommends that analysts take a longer-term view of the indices. It is the second month in a row that the CSO has issued an up-front advisory note on industrial production data. Tech and pharma multinationals have seen increasingly large peaks and troughs in output in recent months. It should be noted that these exceptionally volatile results are not common to all sectors in the industrial economy, said Eamonn Cleary, a statistician in the CSOs business statistics division. For instance, the modern sector, which includes the chemical, pharmaceutical and computer and electronic sectors, recorded a fall of 18.7pc in industrial production in the period March to May 2023, compared with the previous three-month period. By contrast, the traditional sector, which is made up of all remaining enterprises, recorded a moderate increase of 3.8pc over the same period, the CSO said. Between February and March alone, there was a 48pc drop in industrial production in the modern manufacturing sector. Between March and April, production shot up by 81.3pc. The European Commission and European Central Bank are increasingly stripping Irish data out of their aggregates because of increasing volatility. It is unclear whether the latest CSO data signals any deeper trends in the sector. The Economic and Social Research Institute recently warned of weaker pharmaceutical exports. A recent AIB survey showed the sharpest downturn in output in manufacturing sector in more than two years, with employment numbers down for the first time in seven moths due to falling demand. Recent data also shows that in 2021, Ireland saw its first drop in intellectual property investment since records began 20 years ago. State Claims Agency said it had received notification of 379 CervicalCheck claims at the end of 2022. Photo: Getty Images A lab firm continued to count the cost of its role in the CervicalCheck programme scandal in 2021 as its accumulated losses climbed to 25.98m. The Dublin-based Medlab Pathology Ltd has been sued in the High Court by a number of women concerning alleged failings in the firms participation in the HSEs CervicalCheck programme from 2011 to 2019. New accounts show that the firm recorded pre-tax losses of 2.63m in the 12 months to the end of June 2021. The accounts disclose that CervicalCheck cases settled in the year came at a gross cost of 2.56m in 2021 and after medical malpractice insurance of 1.36m was received, the firms net cost from CervicalCheck cases in 2021 totalled 1.19m. A note attached to the accounts concerning the cost of the remaining claims puts an estimate of 46.76m on the companys gross legal provision. After taking into account insurance receivable of 29.59m from the claims, the firms estimated net liability from the claims is 17.17m. The note states that included in the gross liability is an estimate for future claims, based on data access requests received. In estimating the provision, the directors state that they have used the input of our legal advisers for each individual claim, assessed the complex medical factors involved and updated the provision for events up to the approval of these financial statements. The note adds that in relation to the small number of claims for which the insurers have not yet confirmed indemnity, we used our best judgment of the liability, based on the most reliable information available. In February 2021, Medlab Pathology sold its clinical pathology business to Sandyford Clinical Diagnostics Limited and it no longer trades. The main activity of the firm now is to manage the liabilities arising from litigation in respect of claims related to the cervical cancer screening programme in Ireland. On February 8, 2021 the firm received a capital contribution of 7.42m from its parent. Sonic Healthcare Ireland and the directors have determined that further financial support will be required from the parent entity. The 2021 losses resulted in the company having a shareholders deficit of 9.6m. The companys cash funds increased to 7.7m. The State Claims Agency confirmed it had received notification of 379 CervicalCheck claims at the end of 2022. The shareholder and director of a gold and silver investment company has been disqualified from holding a directorship for seven years after a judge found he presents a danger to creditors. The High Court heard a liquidator believes the Irish Gold and Silver Bullion Limited defrauded its customers and operated as a Ponzi scheme. In a ruling, Mr Justice Brian OMoore said Nicholas Wickham was not honest to investors and his behaviour makes it clear he presents a danger to creditors. He was not honest with investors in the company and his business model involved repeated misrepresentation to customers about how their funds were used, the judge said. He gave a headline sanction of 14 years. This was halved based on mitigating factors such as Mr Wickhams acceptance of a disqualification order and his 310,000 payment to the liquidator in settlement of proceedings. The court also noted Mr Wickham (61) reversed his original policy of not cooperating with the liquidator. The disqualification order, made under section 838 of the 2014 Companies Act, came in response to an application by Miles Kirby, the liquidator of the firm, which has an address at The Crescent, Monkstown, in south Co Dublin. Mr Kirby, as liquidator, secured court orders in July 2022 to freeze assets of Mr Wickham and a firm he owns and controls called Hamden Development Homes UK Ltd. Mr Kirbys counsel, Arthur Cunningham, later informed the court in May that Mr Wickham had begun to cooperate with the liquidator. The proceedings, seeking various orders including judgment of 1m against Mr Wickham and Hamden, had settled, he said. All previous court orders were lifted. Mr Justice OMoore said in his judgment that the liquidators investigations found Mr Wickham pooled customer funds, which should have been used to purchase precious metals as investments, with company money. This enabled Mr Wickham to operate what Mr Kirby described as a Ponzi scheme over several years. By the time Mr Kirby was appointed there was no stock of metal and the companys bank account contained 3,900. The firms deficit was 1m, said the judge. Mr Justice OMoore said his conduct puts him into the category of particularly serious cases warranting consideration of a disqualification period exceeding 10 years. Around 11,670 homes received planning permission in the first three months of 2023 A total of 6,716 new homes were completed in the first three months of this year, according to a report published by the Government. The number of completions in this period was up 20pc compared with the first quarter of 2022. The Housing for All progress report also revealed that construction commenced on 12,987 homes between January and May this year. This was an increase of 7pc compared with the first five months of 2022. The target for the Government strategy is 29,000 new home completions this year. New builds reached 29,851 last year. Housing for All aims to deliver over 300,000 new homes between 2022 and the end of 2030. Around 11,670 homes received planning permission in the first three months of 2023, with 2,557 of these homes located on State lands. The report also stated that 12,198 first-time buyers have been approved for mortgages in the first five months of the year. Over 1,300 of these were approved under the Governments affordable housing First Home Scheme. To date, almost 40,000 households have also purchased their first home through the Governments tax refund Help to Buy scheme. There has also been a number of new incentives introduced to increase housing supply and address viability challenges for new developments. This includes temporary waiving of local authority development contributions, as well as the refunding of water and wastewater connection charges with Irish Water. The Government has also introduced a 150m fund to end long-term vacancy and dereliction in towns and cities. The fund will be available for local authorities for towns and cities eligible for the Urban Regeneration Development Fund. These authorities have already identified projects that could provide 4,850 residential units. Today we are announcing a 150m fund to breathe new life into our towns and cities, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said. With this fund, we now have a comprehensive set of measures in place to make sure that everyone individual buyers, developers and local authorities have a really good incentive to bring disused properties back into use. The Housing for All report also shared updates on measures taken to plug the labour gap in the construction industry. Around 160,800 workers were employed in the sector in the first quarter of the year, with a new action plan to promote careers in the sector. Registrations for construction apprenticeships rose by 6pc to reach 2,155 so far this year. There are also plans to host recruitment events in South Africa to fill vacancies here. Dublin Bus is the largest transport provider in Ireland with a fleet of over 1,000 buses Revenues at Dublin Bus last year increased by 14pc to 310.2m as the number of customers journeys rose to 121.4 million. However, higher costs at Dublin Bus resulted in the transport firm recording a modest pre-tax loss of 611,000 compared with a pre-tax profit of 5.7m in 2021. The company is the largest transport provider in Ireland with a fleet of over 1,000 buses which follow 121 routes and the number of passenger journeys increased by 73pc rising from 70 million to 121.4 million as the business recovered from Covid-19. The business recorded the pre-tax loss as the cost of fuel and lubricants increased from 23.97m to 27.3m as part of the material and services bill rising from 69.85m to 78.82m. Staff costs increased by 15pc from 200.77m to 231.57m. The loss also took account of a 118,000 cost concerning restructuring and other employee related matters. On the challenges facing the company, chairman Gary Owens conceded that the highly competitive labour market resulted in some services failing to operate due to driver shortages. He said: The company has taken several additional steps to boost driver numbers and our employees are working hard to minimise the effect of driver recruitment challenges. Mr Owens stated that the company had a very strong performance in 2022, while meeting the needs of our customers and delivering cost efficiencies and value for money. The bulk of Dublin Buss income was made up of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) payment of 303.26m. In his report, chief executive Billy Hann, who joined the business last December, has stated: We are currently carrying an average of 457,000 customers per day, Monday-Friday, meaning customer demand is approaching pre-Covid years. Gross consultancy costs in 2022 totalled 1.5m that included a 38,000 spend on legal, 25,000 on industrial relations, 192,000 on public relations and marketing along with 1.14m on organisational strategy. Numbers employed increased from 3,642 to 3,771. The staff costs included salary costs of 116.12m, allowances of 63.89m and overtime payments of 15.55m. Those earning over 100,000 increased from 22 to 36. The figures show that one staff member earned over 200,000 with two others earning between 150,000 and 175,000. A further six earned between 125,000 and 150,000 and 27 earned between 100,000 and 125,000. Dublin Bus had equity of 44.96m. RTE will get adequate funding to ensure it can continue its public service role, the finance minister has said, while urging people to keep paying their TV licence. Michael McGrath said the Government would be monitoring progress in how the broadcaster, under its new director general, is implementing promised reforms. He made the comments after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said any interim funding for RTE would come with conditions. Last year the public broadcaster negotiated a 50m bridging payment with Media Minister Catherine Martin and Mr McGrath, when he was public spending minister, pending a review its future funding model. RTEs new director-general, Kevin Bakhurst, said yesterday that the broadcaster "will need it this year as well as "overall funding for this year and next year is challenging. He said he was making the case to Government. Mr McGrath said people should continue to pay" their TV licence fees because "its important that they would do so, but indicated there will be more public funding on the way. Its important that there is adequate funding in place, so Im not going to pre-empt the estimates process between Minister Martin and, now, [Public Expenditure] Minister [Paschal] Donohoe, Mr McGrath told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. "But of course government wont be blind to what is happening in RTE, and we wont be blind to the progress or lack thereof that is being made in the necessary reforms. We will be monitoring the progress in terms of all of that, but we will ensure there is funding there to sustain public service broadcasting. That is vital for our democracy. The Government set itself a limit of 85.9bn for core expenditure in 2023, and has said it will increase core spending by 6.4bn in 2024. Any extra funding for RTE would come out of one of those envelopes, rather than an extra envelope for one-offs, which has yet to be decided. Mr McGraths comments come after a dramatic day for RTE, with presenter Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly facing two separate Oireachtas committee drillings on side payments to the former Late Late Show host totalling 345,000 over a number of years. The finance minister said the hearings are to reveal new information that should lance the boil at the public broadcaster once it is put to RTE executives later in the week. "Ultimately we have to navigate a way through this we want RTE to come through this and it will, he said on the margins of a Department of Finance conference in Dublin. We wont shirk from the decisions that this government needs to make, in terms of the future funding of public service broadcasting, generally. But we have to lance this boil and the only way to lance the boil is for all the information to be made available. And I think now we are beginning to see the full picture. All along, we were seeing different parts of it. The overall picture is now now beginning to emerge and thats a healthy thing, notwithstanding what it might reveal as being deeply concerning and disturbing, in some respects. The government has appointed a forensic accountant to look into RTEs finances and is conducting two independent reviews into the payments scandal. The transatlantic data ban slapped on Facebook by the Irish Data Protection Commission may now fade into irrelevance after EU member states and the Commission ratified agreed adequacy status for the US. Meta may no longer need to abide by the Data Protection Commissioners order to cease Facebook personal data transfers between the EU and the US. The EUs member states have formally ratified a new transatlantic agreement to allow for personal data transfers. The new EU-US Data Privacy Framework includes a so-called adequacy decision that removes the legal barriers raised by Europes highest court and the Irish data regulator. A spokesperson for the Data Protection Commission (DPC) said that the office was assessing matters in relation to the frameworks adoption. This is a major breakthrough, said Alexandre Roure, the public policy director of the European Computer and Communications Industry Association. After waiting for years, companies and organisations of all sizes on both sides of the Atlantic finally have the certainty of a durable legal framework that allows for transfers of personal data from the EU to the United States. In May, the tech giant was instructed by Helen Dixons office to suspend Facebook personal data transfers from the EU to the US, and to stop storing the personal data of EU Facebook users in the US. It was also hit with a 1.2bn fine by the DPC, the largest GDPR-related fine to date. The Irish Independent understands that the company will still appeal the ruling because of the size of the fine, The ruling applied to Facebook personal data, but not Instagram or WhatsApp, Facebooks sister platforms under the Meta corporate brand. The data ban also required Facebook to delete EU personal data from US data servers. The DPC said that its decision was spurred by a ruling from the European Court of Justice that classed commonly-used Standard Contractual Clauses to be insufficient in protecting privacy rights. The new Data Privacy Framework was agreed, in draft form, between EU and US negotiators last year, with a view to implementation this year. Sources close to Meta said that the company now believes that the agreement supersedes the DPCs transfer ban. The company has also reaffirmed its statement in May from Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, that it would not now need to delete EU data from US servers. International data flows underpin the modern economy, tweeted Mr Clegg today. "We welcome the new Data Privacy Framework, which will safeguard the goods & services relied on by people and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. However, Europes most prominent privacy activist, Max Schrems, has already indicated that a legal challenge is likely imminent. "Noyb has prepared various procedural options to bring the new deal back before the CJEU, said Mr Schrems through his privacy organisation. "We expect the new system to be implemented by the first companies within the next months, which will open the path towards a challenge by a person who's data is transferred under the new instrument. It is not unlikely that a challenge would reach the CJEU by the end of 2023 or beginning of 2024. Ibecs head of digital economy policy, Erik ODonovan, welcomed the news. Todays announcement is welcome in safeguarding transatlantic data flows and EU-US trade worth over 1 trillion, he said. In a statement today, the European Commission said that concerns over US treatment of EU personal data had been addressed. The European Commissions adequacy decision concludes that the United States ensures an adequate level of protection, compared to that of the EU, for personal data transferred from the EU to US companies participating in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, said the European Commission in a statement. The adequacy decision follows the US's signature of an executive order which introduced new binding safeguards to address the points raised by [the] Court of Justice of the European Union in its Schrems II decision of July 2020. Notably, the new obligations were geared to ensure that data can be accessed by US intelligence agencies only to the extent of what is necessary and proportionate and to establish an independent and impartial redress mechanism to handle and resolve complaints from Europeans concerning the collection of their data for national security purposes. The Commission granted the latest derogation to Ireland in 2022 for the period up until 2025. Stock Image: Getty The EU should ensure by next year that nitrates derogations only apply to those areas already achieving the objectives of Nitrates Directive , that's according to a new report by the European Court of Auditors. The EU's financial watchdog is critical of the bloc's efforts to date to ensure sustainable soil management, and finds that the European Commission and EU countries did not make enough use of the financial and law-making tools at their disposal. The auditors found that EU standards are frequently 'unambitious' and that member states do not target funding towards areas with the most pressing soil problems. The report follows an analysis which shows that between 60pc and 70pc of soils in Europe are unhealthy, in part due to poor soil and manure management practices. As regards the application of the Nitrates Directive provisions relating to manure, the Auditors found that policy decisions such as the abolition of milk quotas led to an increase in the herd size in farms benefiting from a derogation from the nitrogen limits, which were constraining the application of manure. It said, as a result, the derogation limited the achievement of the Directive's objective. Ireland was among a host of countries audited for the report and the auditors highlighted that Ireland was among those that impose stricter conditions on farmers who apply for a derogation. Nevertheless, the auditors said they saw a clear risk in Ireland and the Netherlands that derogations provide an opportunity for farmers to increase herd sizes and thereby undermine soil health and water quality. The Auditors also concluded that the only way that the Commission is able to enforce the directive is to launch infringement proceedings under the Treaties. "We found that it takes a long time to resolve cases identified by the Commission. The Parliament has called on the Commission to considerably improve the use of its enforcement powers in respect of the Nitrates Directive," they said in the report. Further, in their recommendations, they said that when deciding whether to grant future derogations, the Commission should ensure that they only apply to those areas already achieving the Nitrates Directive objective, and include in its assessment a review of potential conflicting objectives arising in other EU policy areas. It also said this change should be implemented from 2024. The Commission granted the latest derogation to Ireland in 2022 for the period up until 2025. The Commission authorised an increase in the ceiling for the amount of nitrogen from manure that can be applied annually from 170 kg/ha nitrogen to 250 kg/ha. The main difference between the derogation granted in 2022 and that of 2018 is a two-year review of water quality data instead of four. This opens up the possibility that the derogation rate of 250 kg/ha nitrogen will be reduced to 220 kg/ha from 2024 onwards in areas draining into waters that show worsening trends, pollution or risk of pollution. In recent weeks, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalised its report, which will be used by the European Commission to determine if Ireland will be required to reduce the current allowable maximum organic N/ha of 250kg down to 220kg for derogation farmers. Over 44,000 km2 of land has been identified as requiring a reduction in the maximum N/ha in order to protect water quality. The National Childrens Hospital Board has issued a scathing criticism of developers BAM over what it says is their unacceptable failure to meet deadlines in constructing the controversial project. In a statement sent to the Oireachtas Health Committee, National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) chief officer David Gunning said he could not say when the project will be completed. Mr Gunning, who is appearing before the committee today (Tues), claimed BAM is not meeting its contractual obligations and the board has withheld payments due to the lack of progress. Central to the boards concerns is the lack of progress reports and compliance programmes from BAM which were due to be presented in recent months. While I understand how frustrating this is for the members, it is very difficult to provide a firm answer on the completion date in the absence of a compliant contract programme, he said. Mr Gunning also claimed that BAM is not providing sufficient resources to deliver the hospital. He said BAM achieved 67pc of its planned output in the last 12 months this output level fell as low as 34pc at certain times during this period. What this looks like from an actual output perspective is illustrated by examining BAMs progress with room completions. Based on BAMs commitments, 3,000 rooms should have been completed by now. To date, 27 rooms have been deemed complete, he said. Meanwhile, the Government is today (tues) expected to take another step forward in building a new National Maternity Hospital, which means moving from the existing NMH building at Holles Street in Dublin. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is seeking Cabinet approval to proceed to tender for the new hospital at Elm Park on the grounds of St. Vincents Hospital in Dublin. There are fears that the soaring 2 billion costs of the National Childrens Hospital could make this project expensive even at tender although the land is committed and there are not the urban constraints of the James Street site. Confirmation of a tender issue is likely however to reignite the row over the State not owning the land on which the hospital is to be built. It is being leased for 999 years from a trust involving Catholic religious. It is proposed to co-locate the new maternity hospital with the adult tertiary teaching hospital at St Vincents as part of a modern campus approach to healthcare. The prices of the tenders received will be closely analysed and watched by the public when the preferred bidder is announced which could turn into an election issue in tandem with the new National Childrens Hospital, which is due to receive its first patients at some time next year. On This Day In History - July 11th A Dublin-based nurse who was found dead in Brazil likely died of strangulation, an autopsy has found. The body of Priscila Leonardi (40) was found on the banks of the Ibirapuita River on Friday. Ms Leonardi had been working in Ireland since 2019 and returned home to Rio Grande do Sul for a month-long visit. She was last seen on June 19 getting into a taxi after leaving a relatives house in Alegrete, on the western border of the state. It is believed she booked the taxi via an app, according to local media reports. A family member notified police of her disappearance the following day, prompting a 17-day search for the nurse. Last week a fisherman discovered a body on the banks of the Ibirapuita River in Alegrete. It was later confirmed by police to be that of Ms Leonardi. She was found with a ribbon-like lanyard around her neck, and injuries consistent with beating. Local media reports that police are investigating whether Ms Leonardi was killed over an inheritance dispute. She was laid to rest in her hometown last Friday with tributes continuing to pour in to remember the nurse. "After days of looking for you, hoping to find you well, and now this news... a friend said. I thank you for the friendship, for the strength in the search for jobs in Ireland, which you suggested to me. Others appealed to anyone with information that may help with the ongoing police investigation to come forward. One former classmate said it is impossible not to be shocked by the news, with another adding: I will really miss that cheerful, happy, smiling, humble friend. Another wrote: Only memories of good times, your contagious laughter, parties, our dinners and the enlightened person you were! Stay at peace and justice will be served! One mourned that a moment of joy, returning to Brazil, has been a nightmare. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 11th Asking for a friend: My boyfriend has decided to go back to college. Im anxious hell have no time for me and that hell cheat. How can I stop us from drifting apart? Ms Smith had attended the David Bowie concert at Slane Castle in the hours before her disappearance. Gardai have renewed their appeal for information that may help solve the murder of mother-of-two Antoinette Smith (27) on the 36th anniversary of her death. Ms Smith was reported missing when she failed to return home from the David Bowie Concert at Slane Castle on Saturda,y July 11, 1987. Her remains were discovered nine months later on Glendoo Mountain, near the Lemass monument and close to Glencree/Enniskerry. Ms Smiths young daughters, Lisa and Rachel, were just seven and four years old at the time of her disappearance. Gardai are now urging anyone who may have information on the disappearance and murder of Ms Smith or may have come into the possession of information in the years since to come forward. Today marks the 36th anniversary of her disappearance. Following the concert at Slane, Co Meath, Ms Smith and her friend returned to Dublin by bus, arriving in Parnell Square at around 11pm. The pair then went to the La Mirage Discotheque on Parnell Street. While in the club, they met two men they knew and joined them until they all left just after 2am. Ms Smith and her friend then parted ways, with Ms Smith remaining with the two men for some time. All three spoke before walking together the short distance towards the taxi rank on OConnell Street. The men got a taxi to the Ballymun area, while Ms Smith continued walking past the rank. She passed the Gresham Hotel on OConnell Street where she was last seen towards OConnell Street Bridge. Ms Smith was subsequently reported missing by her husband and her remains were found nine months later on Glendoo Mountain on April 3, 1988. On the 36th anniversary of her disappearance, gardai have issued a renewed appeal for any information that may help solve the case. "Gardai are appealing to those who may have information since 1987, or who may have come into possession of information in the intervening years, to come forward, a Garda spokesperson said. "Gardai are urging individuals who, 36 years on, may want to come forward, to do so especially if relationships or associations may have changed over the years. They added: "Gardai are anxious to assure the public that they will treat anyone assisting the investigation in a sensitive manner. "Anyone with information can contact Gardai in Bray at 01 666 5300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. On This Day In History - July 11th The green light has been given to go to tender for construction of the new National Maternity Hospital on the site of St Vincents Hospital in Dublin. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the Cabinet today approved the business case for the facility which will move from its outdated building in Holles Street. It allows the HSE to go ahead with sending out a tender to build the new 244-bed maternity hospital. The procurement process will take 18 to 21 months. It follows long-running controversy over issues including claims that the ethos of the religious order the Sisters of Charity, who previously owned the land, would influence the running of the new hospital. Concerns were also raised around whether the State will own the land on which it is built. A majority of doctors in the hospital rejected claims of religious influence. The minister insisted it would be a voluntary, fully secular hospital. The State will own the land for the next 299 years. The minister said: I welcome the approval of Cabinet today for this important milestone towards the delivery of the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH). The new National Maternity Hospital will be the biggest and most important investment in womens healthcare in Ireland in decades. The quality of care delivered at the existing NMH at Holles Street is of the highest standard but is currently limited by infrastructural constraints. The new NMH is designed to be aligned with leading international standards which will result in improved patient and family experiences. Co-location of the NMH with St Vincents at Elm Park will enable greater and more direct access to a wide range of critical care and specialist medical services, reducing risk for both the mother and the newborn baby. He said the HSE is ready to go to tender on this project in the coming weeks. Once a successful bidder has been identified the Minister for Health will return to Cabinet to seek approval for the signing of contracts and to enable the project to proceed to the main construction phase. This will not just be a replacement of the existing National Maternity Hospital but will offer almost 50pc more in-patient and day case beds and provide additional capacity to manage national unmet need for womens health services, the minister said. The contemporary design of the new NMH provides flexibility to allow for the delivery of clinical services and to adapt to both expected and unforeseen change into the future. In a statement, the Department of Health said the project will proceed to the tendering stage for the main works in line with EU and national requirements. The procurement process will run in parallel to further enabling works on the SVUH campus. The enabling works will clear the site by decanting existing St Vincents buildings to further de-risk the main works. The procurement process will be approximately 18 to 21 months, given the scale and complexity of the works, and to give sufficient time for tender appraisal to ensure the most economically advantageous tender is selected. The proposed new NMH building will be located at the eastern side of the St Vincents University Hospital campus at Elm Park. It will comprise a seven-storey building with a gross internal floor area of up to approximately 54,000 square metres. It will include 244 beds, an increase of 80 in-patient and day case beds from the existing number at Holles Street, five theatres, 24 birthing rooms, early pregnancy foetal assessment and ultrasound facilities, and spaces to aid in near-patient education and professional development for healthcare professionals. The provision of single in-patient rooms on the campus supports patient privacy and dignity and reduces the spread of infection. It will also provide facilities to support a range of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services such as enabling gynaecology service reforms recently developed at the Holles Street site to be deployed to their full capacity, including: ambulatory gynaecology, specialist menopause clinic, regional fertility hub, endometriosis hub, and a national mesh complications service. The hospital has been designed to support the delivery of a range of shared services between the NMH and SVUH hospitals, such as the laboratories, sterile services, and patient and staff catering, which will bring operational efficiencies. The possibility of a flexible use of space means that the new NMH on the SVUH campus at Elm Park will deliver a longevity of design that could never have been achieved in the existing building at Holles Street, thereby future-proofing the new building, the department said. The department said that it is well recognised that for optimal clinical outcomes, maternity services should be co-located with adult acute services. An important objective of co-locating maternity services with adult acute services is to implement a modern campus approach to healthcare, where a range of medical specialists operate in close proximity to improve patient care and patient outcomes, it said. The design locates NMH theatres adjacent to the Level 3 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at SVUH, which will mean quicker access to emergency care from clinicians to the acute adult hospital. Hook Head in Co Wexford featured in the Celtic Routes advertising campaign Brexit is threatening the collapse of a unique Ireland-Wales tourism project which aims to highlight hidden gems in both countries. The Celtic Routes project was launched in 2019, leading to a range of successful tourism initiatives between Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow and Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion in Wales. However, after Britain left the EU, the project no longer qualified for funding previously provided by the European Territorial Cooperation Programme. It has been warned that the route will close at the end of August unless alternative funds are sourced. Close to 4m has been invested in the project so far. The project sought to transform less well-known areas from transit zones to new touring sites by encouraging people to visit them. An aim of Celtic Routes was to convert potential visitors transiting through the south-east into staying visitors by fostering links with Wales. Between 2019 and the end of March this year, almost 300 million people around the world through different formats have read information on Celtic Routes. Organisers say the ending of the initiative would be a severe blow to tourism in the south-east which is still recovering from the Covid shutdown. Another objective of the project was to increase sustainable economic developments by maximising visitor spend, income retention, adding value to the combined tourism offerings within the region through a tailored marketing and promotional campaign. Celtic Routes project officer Oonagh Messette said: As a direct result of Brexit, there will be no continuation of the Ireland Wales Cooperation Fund. While there may be considerable willingness on the part of all stakeholders, without the funding to administer activities, much will be lost. Michael Nicholson, director of services with Wicklow County Council, said the project has been one of the most successful that has ever crossed his desk. It has brought our countries closer together, and Wicklow tourism has benefited immensely from this collaboration. Between Brexit and the pandemic, it may be a little while before we see quantifiable results but just having 300 million people view our area is extraordinary. Tubridy earlier said he had taken the pay cutFormer Late Late Show host says he wants to set the record straightTubridy details seven untruths in lengthy opening statementTubridy said its my agents job to get the best deal as he sees fit for his clientDescribes controversy as his darkest hourWe were under siege Noel KellyFollow this story on Independent.ie for rolling updates from Oireachtas PAC committee 11/07/2023 Agent Noel Kelly arriving at Leinster House this morning to face in-depth questions from PAC on RTE payments and contract details. Pic Colin Keegan/Collins Photos 11/07/2023 Ryan Tubridy arriving at Leinster House this morning to face in-depth questions from PAC on RTE payments and contract details. Pic Colin Keegan/Collins Photos Noel Kelly and Ryan Tubridy arriving at Leinster House this morning to face in-depth questions from PAC on RTE payments and contract details (Pics: Colin Keegan/Collins Photos) An angry Ryan Tubridy banged his fist on the desk as he addressed the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) alongside his agent Noel Kelly. Mr Tubridy insisted he would set the record straight on the seven untruths that have circulated about him and the payments made to him by RTE. When quizzed on the 75,000 payments at the centre of the controversy that has dogged the presenter and RTE for almost three weeks, Mr Tubridy said he was of the belief that they were being paid by Renault. Mr Kelly said he believes his client has been thrown under a bus in recent weeks as he is the only recognisable face in the saga. The former Late Late Show host said he has struggled to leave the house and described the whole thing as a frenzy. I dont know if any of you have been cancelled before, but Im telling you, you dont want it, Mr Tubridy said. In his opening statement to the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this morning, he said he has become the face of a national scandal; accused of being complicit, deceitful and dishonest. Mr Tubridy banged his fist on the table when he said that the hidden payments have caused justifiable anger among his RTE colleagues. He said well stay for as long as it takes to PAC. Ryan Tubridy bangs fist on desk and says well stay for as long as it takes The radio host said he has a foot high pile of cards and letters addressed to Ryan Tubridy in Dublin. Mr Tubridy said he wants to get back on air and do the job I love. He said his understanding was that he was still under contract at RTE. Social Democrat TD Catherine Murphy said it is strange that Mr Tubridy wants to go back and work with RTE. Ive been badly damaged in the last three weeks, to be honest with you, but not necessarily by RTE as an institution, Mr Tubridy said. I have my beef with some people there as obvious from the documents. During the course of the committee hearing, Mr Tubridy said he took a 20pc paycut at RTE in 2020. However, this was disputed by Labour TD Alan Kelly, who referred to the earnings in the tripartite deal with Renault and RTE, which RTE had underwritten. Mr [Alan] Kelly said there was no 20pc drop in salary. It was absorbed in a different way, that is quite obvious, he said. 75,000 payments and RTE underwriting PAC chairperson Brian Stanley asked about the 75,000 payments being made during the lockdown. Between ye, did ye have any doubts on the merit of that or the credibility of that to make up that 75,000? he asked. Mr Tubridy said: My agent and friend Noel Kelly, its his job to get the best deal as he sees it for his client." Asked if it was per his instruction, Mr Turbidy said: You could say that. Mr Stanley asked about public optics and reputational damage in looking for the 75,000 payments. Mr Tubridy looked to Mr Kelly to confirm they did not have a conversation around this. I say to Noel I say, you do your job and Ill do mine. Asked by Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster did he want RTE to underwrite the Renault agreement, Mr Kelly said it was never for RTE to pay and the deal surrounded RTE and a sponsor. Ms Munster said Mr Kelly wanted RTE to underwrite the agreement. She said in Ms OKeeffes email, she confirms a side letter can be provided. You requested they underwrite it, she said. The deal was underwritten at your request for the three years at the expense of the public. I asked for the deal to be underwritten because the relationship with the sponsor is with RTE and not us, said Mr Kelly. Ms Munster said Mr Tubridy knew two payments for 75,000 were for him and that the taxpayers were paying that money. This was rejected by the presenter. Ryan Tubridy's opening statement at the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) As I understand it, there was a relationship with Renault that would sort that out," he said. "I was always under the impression that money was from Renault." Mr Kelly said at all times, everything to do with this contract was under the instruction of RTE. Mr Kelly said he does not have Dee Forbes number in his phone and he has only met Ms Forbes with the RTE legal team. Ive never had a cup of tea with Dee Forbes, insisted Mr Kelly. He said he hasnt met her for lunch and said he doesnt know Ms Forbes. Mr Kelly said the first signs of trouble were on May 3 as per emails. He said we met with Grant Thornton to talk about it. Mr Kelly said it was RTEs decision to label the invoices as consultancy fees and Geraldine OLeary told them to label the invoices as such. Mr Brady asked Mr Kelly if he would agree with CFO Richard Collins the public may have been defrauded. At all times we acted under the instruction of RTE, said Mr Kelly. Labelling of invoices Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon asked did Mr Kelly collude with RTE in a falsehood of concealment by labelling invoices consultancy fees. This was fraudulent accountancy practices, said Mr Dillon. Mr Dillon asked Mr Kelly did he take any responsibility in the oversight of the dealings with Mr Tubridy in relation to these invoices. Mr Kelly said the invoices were as instructed. "You said you were following instruction, so therefore did you collude with RTE in a falsehood of concealment by describing the invoices as consultancy fees? Mr Dillon asked. This was fraudulent accounting practice, Mr Dillon added. "And we certainly didnt do any fraudulent accountancy, Mr Kelly replied. "Alarm bells were never raised amongst you representing your client in relation to these invoices? Mr Dillon then asked. Mr Kelly replied that he has a small company of eight people. They have accountants, theyve auditors, theyve lawyers. "Were just following instruction and I had no reason not to believe them. These invoices were as instructed. The lack of credibility is on RTE's side, Mr Kelly added. Mr Dillon asked the presenter who does he believe is responsible for concealing the truth. Mr Tubridy said he believes Mr Kelly and said he does not think Mr Kelly colluded with RTE. Alan Dillon TD asks Noel Kelly whether he colluded with RTE in labelling invoices as consultancy fees "I think my agent did what he was instructed to do by RTE, he said. Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said Mr Kelly is using the Nuremberg defence in his answers, which is a defence of just following orders. Mr Tubridy said honest to goodness he does not get into invoices or that kind of thing and that he hadnt engaged with RTE management personally in 20 years over contracts. I trust Noel, he trusts the process, we all hope to get the best Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe asked the two men if they accept that the taxpayer lost 75,000 and Mr Tubridy gained it. Mr Kelly said this is completely between RTE and Renault. It looks like theres an attempt to deceive, said Mr McAuliffe. If thats the question, then we were deceived as well, said Mr Kelly. Mr McAuliffe asks who gave the instruction to not put any persons name on the invoice as per email of April 29. Mr Kelly said it was a person from Ms OLearys office, but said the person cannot be named under GDPR after consulting with lawyer. Mr McAuliffe also mentioned other references to Mr Kelly in the barter account where he is mentioned. Thats an RTE issue, Mr Kelly said. None of this is credible Labour TD Alan Kelly said the lateness of the documents is insulting to the committee and the staff. He referenced the statement from RTE this morning which rejected Mr Tubridy and Mr Kellys opening statements in relation to former CFO Breda OKeeffe. Mr [Alan] Kelly said there was no 20pc drop in salary. It was absorbed in a different way, that is quite obvious, he said. Alan Kelly said Noel Kellys company has serious accountancy issues. This is not how companies behave, he said. None of this is credible. Alan Kelly asked Mr Tubridy if his work hours reduced from 2015 to 2019 and then up to 2023. Id imagine [the hours are the same], he said. Leaving the Late Late Show Noel Kelly said he urged Mr Tubridy to stay on the Late Late. It's a great show, he said. I was trying to get him to stay. Mr Tubridy insisted the oncoming scandal had no impact on his decision to leave the show. I will be here until the last dog barks until you believe me that decision came from my heart and soul, said Mr Tubridy. This was a very personal decision. Meanwhile, Ms Munster referenced an event by St Vincent de Paul (SVDP) attended by Mr Tubridy in 2019 and how he had said at the time he was haunted by the situation and that he would accept RTEs cost-cutting gracefully. I wouldnt characterise that as a pay cut being subsidised by any deal, he said. I would also urge you not to conflate somebody being well paid as with somebody who may not have a conscience, Mr Tubridy told Ms Munster. I would not like to sully the work that those people do around the country. Its hard to leave the house I want to go back to work on the radio as soon as possible, said Mr Tubridy. Its what I do, its what I know. Its my job, its all Ive got. I havent changed as a person over those years. A lot of the trust was taken from me. I think that they're off to a good start this week with the new DG. Ive been dragged into a mess not of my own making. The only thing I have for my colleagues is respect. Mr Tubridy added that his name has been desperately sullied. Im deeply upset, I'm hurt. Its hard to leave the house, he said. For what? I spent three weeks watching people tell stories. Im not looking for sympathy or a violin. My relationship with the children of Ireland is so important to me. Whats happened in the last three weeks, its a frenzy. Mr Kelly said his client has been thrown under a bus. Ive never seen such horrendous, horrendous reporting and why suddenly the most trusted man in Ireland, Ryan Tubridy, thrown under a bus, said Mr Kelly. He said Mr Tubridy was taken off the air and looked like he was complicit in this whole RTE mess. This has been the worst of times, said Mr Kelly. People have families, people need to think about that, said Mr Tubridy. I dont know if any of you have been cancelled before but Im telling you, you dont want it. The real Director General Noel Kelly said his background is marketing, branding and sales. I see people as brands, he said. He said he worked for Cadburys selling chocolate and comes from a working class background. The claim by RTE sources that Mr Kelly is the real director general is put to him by Mr Stanley. Mr Kelly laughed. Its so ridiculous, we do deals and we do contracts for our people. I might be in RTE six times in a year, he said. Darkest hour In his opening statement, Mr Tubridy described the controversy as his darkest hour professionally and personally. "Full transparency and disclosure on RTEs part would have avoided this, he said. I am here to do one thing and one thing only: to set the record straight and to call out some untruths. There are seven material untruths which I would like to address. He said the claim that he did not take a pay cut from RTE in 2020 is untrue, as is the suggestion that the current debacle prompted him to leave The Late Late Show. No secret Mr Tubridy added that claims he was covertly or secretly overpaid by RTE, that he was aware that RTE were trying to conceal payments to him and that he had tried to conceal a secret agreement with Renault, were all false. Noel Kelly reiterated this to the Oireachtas. There is no secret, there was no secret, Mr Kelly said when speaking about RTEs underwriting of the 75,000 Renault agreement. Mr Kelly ran through an email chain in relation to the 75,000 agreement. Mr Kelly said that Mr Tubridy has been made a poster boy for this scandal. "Ryan and I have attracted, and our families, and our friends, a horrendous, horrendous amount of criticism in the past few weeks and I would not wish it on anybody. Why? Because the only figure in this whole story whose face was recognisable was Ryan Tubridy, Mr Kelly said. "This is not the Ryan Tubridy scandal, this is the RTE scandal, he concluded in his opening statement. Tubridy opening statement Mr Tubridy said he has "become the face of a national scandal; accused of being complicit, deceitful and dishonest." "I think that [RTE] statement of June 22nd was very unhelpful in this regard. The full truth was concealed. "I take full responsibility for not asking more questions back on January 20th , 2021 when the figures for 2017, 2018 and 2019 were released. I take responsibility for that. This has been my darkest hour both professionally and personally. I know the same is true for my agent and friend, Noel Kelly and his family," he added. In his opening statement, Mr Tubridy said "given the events of the last three weeks, there is a lot that I wish and need to say". "My aim is to help correct and clarify some very serious matters and I will be relying on my agent Noel Kelly to go through the figures and provide greater detail. "I want everybody here today to understand that the figures and statements presented by RTE over the last few weeks in relation to my remuneration have created a fog of confusion over what I was paid and when I was paid, what I knew and when I knew. Contradicting claims The RTE star and his agent have also contradicted claims by RTEs former chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe. The former CFO told an Oireachtas committee last week that Mr Kelly asked for the 75,000 to be underwritten by RTE and this was refused. She said that as far as she was aware, this continued to be the case up until she left RTE in March 2020. Mr Tubridy and Mr Kelly have refuted that claim, providing the Oireachtas Committees with a copy of an email from Ms OKeefe to Mr Kelly on 20 February 2020. Ryan Tubridy and manager Noel Kelly arriving at Oireachtas In the email, Ms OKeeffe says: We can provide you with a side letter to underwrite this fee for the duration of the contract. In his own opening statement today, Mr Kelly says RTE executives have tried to blame Dee Forbes for doing a solo run on the underwriting. He added: Clearly that is not correct. The decision was taken early by RTE and was known widely within the executive board of RTE. The public broadcaster has rejected the claim that an incorrect version of events was provided to the committee. RTE said the email formed part of the discussions and engagement between it and NK Management in relation to the proposed new TV and radio contract with Mr Tubridy/Tuttle Productions and did not comprise a binding legal or contractual commitment on its part. RTE said there was no agreement to underwrite the 75,000 payment until the verbal commitment was given by Ms Forbes. A Dublin man who threatened to kill his former partner during a court sitting has been jailed. The 34-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of making a threat to kill his former partner, intending her to believe that the threat would be carried out, on July 28, 2020. The court heard that the man and his former partner were in a family law courtroom when he told her that if anything happens, I'm going to f***ing kill you. She told the judge what the man had said to her. When asked by the judge, the man denied making a threat to his former partner. A transcript of the court sitting does not include the threat, however the victim can be heard telling the judge what the man had said to her. The man also told the woman: You want to watch yourself. Following his arrest, the man told gardai that he made the threat in the spur of the moment and apologised. He said he was angry at that moment and admitted that if he had got his hands on her at that moment, he would have choked her. The man said he wanted to scare the victim but had no intention of carrying out the threats. The court heard that the woman declined to make a victim impact statement. The man has 97 previous convictions and is currently serving a sentence on a separate matter. The investigating garda agreed with the defence counsel that his client made full admissions during an interview. It was further accepted that there have been no other incidents between the man and the victim since this offence. Defence counsel told the court that his client had a difficult upbringing and has had issues with drug addiction, which he is dealing with. His client is also the father of two children. He told the court that his client was open when interviewed, unlike in similar cases where the accused may deny or attempt to justify themselves. He said his client went further during the interview and admitted he could have been physically violent. His client intended to frighten his former partner but would not have harmed her. No violence occurred. A letter of apology was handed to the court. Judge Orla Crowe said the man's former partner would undoubtedly have been very concerned about the threats made. She said the man's considerable criminal record may have suggested to the victim that he was someone who would have no difficulty breaking the law. She noted the aggravating features include the man's previous convictions, that he was on bail at the time of the offence and that the victim was his former partner. Judge Crowe noted that there is a mechanism through the court process in which people can have their say and that events should not have descended into this situation. She handed the man a sentence of two years and six months, backdated to June 7. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 11th Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that lots of people living in emergency accommodation "refuse multiple offers to go on social housing", when he was tackled on plans to address Ireland's housing crisis. Department of Housing figures for May showed 8,742 adults and 3,699 children were in emergency accommodation in Ireland in May, representing a record 12,441 people in total. Responding to questions about the Government's Housing for All plan, Mr Varadkar listed some of the major causes of homelessness. He said: "I think we measure success on the number of things we can control. "The number of new homes built, for example, the number of social houses built, the cost of housing, the number of first-time buyers who are buying their first home. "But it would be just simply inaccurate to say that the Government has control over things like the number of family breakdowns that occur, the number of people who are new arrivals who seek emergency accommodation. "I work with a lot of people who are in emergency accommodation in my constituency. "There are lots of people who are in emergency accommodation and who refuse multiple offers to go on social housing. "It's a much more complicated picture than people would like to make out," Mr Varadkar added. Housing For All was launched in 2021, with a promise to deliver 300,000 new homes by 2030. Mr Varadkar told the Dail earlier that the latest Housing for All progress report, published this morning, showed that the number of new homes being built is up and the number of commencements is up and the number of planning permissions being granted is up by 40pc on this time last year. He said they are confident they are going to exceed the housing target for the year. "A lot of progress is being made but I don't for a second, argue that it's enough or that there isn't a lot more that we need to do and the really dark end, the most difficult end of the housing crisis is of course homelessness is the fact that there are roughly 12,000 people being provided with state emergency accommodation at the moment," he said. "We are lifting more people out of homelessness than ever before. "That figure is rarely talked about, more people being lifted out of homelessness by governments than ever before." Meanwhile, People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Richard Boyd Barrett hit out at the ending of the eviction ban earlier this year during Leaders Questions, saying it would mean thousands more are facing the possibility of homelessness. He contended that Ireland's housing crisis is being ignored while the RTE scandal "sucks all the air out of every other issues". Mr Boyd Barrett said while probing allegations of overpayments to top stars at the national broadcaster is important, it has overshadowed every other issue for the last three to four weeks. "Whoever is responsible for the scandal of RTE overpayments should be ashamed of themselves because for three or four weeks now it has sucked all the air out of every other issue that is affecting ordinary people in this country," he told the Dail. He said the Government has failed to put in place public housing, affordable housing or some alternative to the possibility of being evicted, and urged as an emergency measure, reinstating the eviction ban. "I just feel compelled to remind the Government and indeed the media in this last week of the Dail, these issues need to be addressed and not forgotten as we head into the summer," he said. "What I'm asking is that the Government will as an emergency measure reinstate the eviction ban, bring in the first refusal policy as an emergency piece of legislation and address the anomalies in the tenant in situ scheme to prevent more families being made homeless over the summer." Responding, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there is no plan to reintroduce the eviction ban, saying it did not work. He said at a Cabinet meeting that morning, there were 67 items on the agenda, and more of those are about housing than about RTE. "We as a government spend a lot more time concerned about the housing crisis than we do about RTE, important as that issue is, and I can give you that reassurance," he said. A psychic medium has been jailed for a year after she got a man to give her 10,000 by telling him his dead father had told her that if he didnt give her the money the devil would take his soul. Sentencing her today, Judge Pauline Codd said Debbie Paget was an old-fashioned confidence trickster. Paget (55) of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury last May. She had pleaded not guilty to dishonestly inducing by deception James Byrne to give her 10,000. She was also charged with dishonestly inducing by deception Maria Byrne, Mr Byrnes sister, to give her 200. After deliberating for a little over four hours, the jury found Paget guilty, by a majority, of the first count and returned a not guilty verdict on the second count. In his evidence during the trial, James Byrne told Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting, that he and his sister Maria and their mother lived together in Cabra, Dublin. He said Paget was a home carer for a neighbour and they all got to know her that way. He said on one occasion, Paget invited him to a reading and he thought this was a fortune telling and he would find out about his future. He said that that during the session Paget started talking about his father and then told him: Your father said you are to give me 10,000. He said that he felt pressurised and gave his word to give her the money. He said that Paget asked him: When are you getting the money and told him: If you don't, it will be a sin and the devil will get you. He said that he later gave her 10,000 cash in an envelope after withdrawing it from his bank account. Asked why he gave her the money Mr Byrne told the jury: I believed my father told her to tell me to give her the money, thats what I believed. When questioned, Paget told gardai that she was publicly known as a psychic medium which meant that she could see beyond the veil and communicate with the dead. She said she had offered this service to people for 40 years and had never charged a penny to anyone for it. She denied that she ever did a reading for the complainants and denied that she got any money from either of them. She said she never asked either complainant for money and said she had no idea why either of them would lie. Today Mr Byrne read his victim impact statement in which he said he was very depressed in the aftermath of the offence and has had sleepless nights. He said he was very upset about his father and he thought Paget was a decent person. I know now that she is not. I was taken advantage of. She said my Dad would tip me on the shoulder and she said it be would be a sin on my soul and I would go to hell if I didnt give her the money." Mr Byrne said: I am not a victim. I am a survivor and I felt I have learned a lesson. I am proud of myself having the courage to come here today. Mr Clarke confirmed that there is no evidence of where the money went. He acknowledged that there was a reference to a car and a loan during the trial but he said there was no specific evidence from the prosecution as to where the money went. Two women gave evidence on behalf of Paget describing her as funny and resilient and spoke of the grief Paget experienced when her youngest daughter died when she was eight-years-old having been born with cystic fibrosis. Paget had written a book about her experiences of the death of a child. One of the women said she had been impressed by Pagets forthrightness and determination while a second one said she had cared for her own mother with nothing but love and kindness and she wouldnt hesitate in employing her as a carer again. Karl Monahan BL, defending, said that his client had a horrible family life, had witnessed domestic violence and had a cruel and sadistic mother. She ultimately ran away from home when she was 14-years-old and stayed in a shelter for young girls until she was 17-years-old. Mr Monahan said Paget was introduced to methadone after her youngest girl was born and given the CF diagnosis. Counsel said Paget became addicted to methadone but never used any other drug. She was left distraught by the death of her daughter in 1999. Counsel said his client began to work as a carer in 2017. She recently began working as a cleaner but gave up that position when people began to recognise her from the newspaper reports surrounding her trial. Some of her family members have since distanced themselves from her and she has lost contact with some of her grandchildren. Judge Codd said it was quite clear from Mr Byrnes demeanour in court that he is a vulnerable person. She said Paget had told him that his deceased father had told her that if Mr Byrne did not give her 10,000 the devil would take his soul. She said Paget was criminally liable as she had taken large sums of money under threat, even though those are supernatural threats. The judge described the offence as cunning and manipulative and that Paget had taken advantage of Mr Byrne. Far from offering him spiritual comfort, she devised a make-believe threat to his soul, Judge Codd said before she added that it doesnt matter that the threat seemed fantastical because Mr Byrne believed it to be true and felt obligated to hand over the cash. Needless to say, her objective was far more worldly in nature, to enrich herself by manipulating a vulnerable man whose buttons she knew how to press, Judge Codd continued. She described Paget as an old-fashioned confidence trickster and added that the offence represented a breach of trust. Judge Codd stated that there has been no expression of remorse or attempt to pay back the money but acknowledged that Paget herself had particular vulnerabilities. She sentenced Paget to 18 months in prison and suspended the final six months on strict conditions. RTE management gave 2FM Breakfast presenter Doireann Garrihy clearance to hold an on-air ticket giveaway for her live podcast shows in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Ms Garrihy gave listeners the chance to win tickets to her The Laughs of your Life live show in Dublin ahead of the event, which was produced by NK Productions. The 2FM broadcaster hosted two nights of her podcast in the venue in April with seats costing 46.50. The podcast shows are a private business venture involving Ms Garrihy and her agent Noel Kelly. The show was described by the Bord Gais Energy Theatre as Ms Garrihy delving into the beauty of having a laugh with guests from all walks of life. From first memories of laughter to being laughed at to if I didnt laugh Id cry moments, Doireann will be bringing out the best in influential people, it added. 'I don't really know why I was asked' Doireann Garrihy and the paid Dail think-in The tickets were given to listeners to 2FM Breakfast, which is fronted by Ms Garrihy, along with Carl Mullan and former Irish rugby player Donncha OCallaghan. It is the most listened to radio show on 2FM with the latest Joint National Listenership Research (JNLR) figures showing it has 135,000 listeners. An RTE spokesperson said that the ticket giveaway to Ms Garrihys live podcast was not a commercial promotion. The giveaway was in the context of programme content, offering regular listeners the opportunity to attend Doireanns live show, she added. The spokesperson confirmed RTE management gave Ms Garrihy clearance for the on-air ticket giveaway to a commercial show produced by her agents company. Separately, RTE claimed it was an editorial decision to host a number of 2FM parties on boats owned by presenter Ms Garrihys family business. Dublin Bay Cruises which has hosted listener parties and birthday parties for the 2FM breakfast show was never charged for the events. RTE said the parties were not viewed as formal promotions for the cruise company, and so no charge applied. Ms Garrihy was announced as a new co-host of the 2FM breakfast show in May 2019. The Indo Daily: Rehabilitating RTE Can Kevin Bakhurst rebuild trust in the state broadcaster? At the time, she was presenting the show with former RTE radio presenter Eoghan McDermott, who has since left broadcasting. One month after she was announced as a presenter, 2FM hosted a boat party with Dublin Bay Cruises. In a Facebook post at the time, Dublin Bay Cruises said: We were thrilled when RTE 2FM asked us to host their first ever listener boat party with Doireann Garrihy & Eoghan McDermott. The drinks were flowin and the craic was 90! A spokesperson for RTE said that the party, the details of which were posted widely across social media, was not treated as a promotional event for the cruise company. Meanwhile, the Houses of the Oireachtas is refusing to say how much it paid to Ms Garrihy to host an event on participation in politics. She said she was asked to host the event by Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail. RTE has been urged to lift the lid on its car allowance policy as it was revealed that 61 people received the payment last year. Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Brian Stanley, said it should outline the eligibility criteria for staff and the checks used to ensure recipients have a driving licence or own a car. Workers at the station who travel frequently but can only claim mileage rates told the Irish Independent they would like to know who is entitled to the allowance and if these individuals can also claim mileage or taxi expenses. RTEs new director general Kevin Bakhurst has revealed that he will receive a 25,000 car allowance on top of his 250,000 salary. Bakhurst expects 'more to come' from RTE investigation Former director general Dee Forbes also received the 25,000 car bonus. Car allowances are lump sums that are used to cover any work-related costs where an employee is using their own vehicle for their job. An RTE spokesperson said 61 people were in receipt of car allowances at the end of last year and the amount paid varies. He said staff other than executive members receive it. When asked for the eligibility criteria or whether it is possible to get the payment without a driving licence or car, the RTE spokesperson said: These allowances are provided for certain roles as part of their contracts. At December 31, 2022, RTE paid close to 1,100 allowances, of which 61 are car allowances. Car allowance amounts vary. Car allowances do not only apply to executive members. It has also been revealed that one presenting and non-management worker received an unspecified allowance or allowances worth 42,778 last year. This was paid on top of their basic salary of 158,366. It was the highest allowance received in an anonymised list of the 100 top earners at RTE that was supplied to the PAC. This individual was the broadcasters 20th highest earner. The list does not give details of the expenses the allowances cover. It shows one member of the former executive board received an allowance of 31,711. Four members received an allowance of 24,700. Five other members each received 28,711, 25,000, 24,500, 24,100, and 19,000 respectively in allowances. A presenting and non-management worker received a 25,000 allowance. Mr Stanley said we need to know the rules around car allowances. Is it for people that have a lot of travelling to do on behalf of RTE or senior management who just get it anyway? he said. What way does it work? Fianna Fail senator Timmy Dooley said it would be nice to know RTEs policy if youre going to have the transparency Kevin Bakhurst is now talking about. He said he had tried to ascertain at an Oireachtas committee if car allowances were being used as a way to pay people maybe that had taken pay cuts and were circumventing their own rules. In fairness, they did give a list of the top 100 earners, but they are not comparing what they were paid previously, he added. The RTE spokesperson said allowances can apply in a number of scenarios and across management and non-management roles. Examples, which are subject to additional specific conditions, include allowance for long service, allowance for acting up at a higher level, role-related allowances, for example producers, journalism, riggers, HGV truck-driving. He added that allowances can be permanent or temporary in nature and can apply section-wide or on an individual basis. Tubridy offers to pay back 150,000 if outstanding Renault events dont happenBroadcaster says he has been publicly cancelledYes the salary is enormous, but that doesnt affect my soulAgent Noel Kelly says there were deceptive practices on the part of RTE Ryan Tubridy has told an Oireachtas committee I could be out of a job by Friday. In his second committee appearance of the day, alongside his agent Noel Kelly, the former Late Late Show host told the Media Committee that he was still being paid by RTE, despite not appearing on his radio show since the scandal first broke almost three weeks ago. However he added: I could be out of a job by Friday. If he keeps his job, he said he is willing to provide annual reports of his earnings. 'I could be out of a job by Friday' says Ryan Tubridy "In the event that I do keep my job - and it is touch and go at the moment, from my understanding of it, I'd be happy to suggest that you publish my contract on an annual basis, with the earnings and the salary, straight up. If RTE is going through a catharsis this week, that is my offer. Don't wait for three years and then have his codology. He said he should have called out the misreporting of his remuneration by RTE, adding: "I am not without blame in that regard." Mr Tubridy later told the committee that, if he is given the boot by RTE: "I will be able to walk out of there with my head held high." He said this is because of the millions of euro raised through charity fundraising appeals on The Late Late Show. "It is a beautiful thing, and thanks to the Irish people," he added. Asked by Labour Senator Marie Sherlock if his integrity has been damaged by the controversy, Mr Tubridy replied that he didn't think he was a different person who had advocated over the last 14 years for St Vincent de Paul, or warned about bullying or promoted literacy. "Yes, the salary is enormous, but that doesn't affect my soul," he said. Mr Tubridy made an emotional closing address before the committee meeting adjourned shortly after 6.30pm this evening. You know, if I do go back to RTE, which I hope to, it'll be in a whole new world order. And that's why I said today that I'd love to be part of that catharsis for the place, because it's a great old place. He added that if I was to sign another contract, I'd put it out in the public straightaway - no messing, no three-year carry-on. I'd be part and parcel of the new process, to build trust with my colleagues and the listeners - no viewers any more, but listeners anyway. "So that's what I'd say to you - that there's a lot of talk today about the talent in RTE. I hate being referred to as the talent. I think it's an obscene, outdated word. The talent in RTE work, as you know, in reception, and they work in security, and in make-up, in hair, and sound, and camera, and production. That's the talent. They're the people who make the programmes you listen to, driving into work every day - and the TV shows you watch at six o'clock and beyond, Nationwide and what-have-you. That's the talent. So if we do anything to change the language around RTE, please take that silly word off the contracts going forward. Theyre colleagues. Nobody is better than anyone else. Earlier in the hearing, Mr Tubridy spoke about the mauling he had faced since the controversy first broke last month. Referring to the first RTE statement naming him in connection with 345,000 in undisclosed payments, Mr Tubridy said he and his agent were given 30 minutes notice that this bomb was about to go off. He said there was so much information he and Mr Kelly could have given but RTE said no. He pointed out that the Grant Thornton report, commissioned by the RTE Board, found he had done nothing wrong. He said there had then been "a mauling of sorts" from the media for the past three weeks, but he was not blaming the media. Asked by Fianna Fail senator Malcolm Byrne if he had known when his annual earnings were being reported as 495,000 that they were actually 545,000, Mr Tubridy replied: "Yes." The committee heard that Mr Tubridy still has six personal appearances for Renault that are outstanding under the tripartite agreement between RTE, Mr Tubridy and the car company this is despite him receiving full payments of 150,000 for them through the barter account. Mr Tubridy said that "whenever they are called upon" he will fulfil them. If never called upon, "obviously the money goes back". Fianna Fail senator Timmy Dooley asked Mr Kelly if he believed suggestions by RTE that former Director General Dee Forbes, who resigned at the end of last month, was the only person who knew all the details of Mr Tubridy's remuneration. "Not at all," Mr Kelly answered. "Any meeting I ever had with Ms Forbes - six or seven - was always with the chief financial officer or members of her team. She was never on her own. That's the bizarre thing." Fine Gael senator Micheal Carrigy asked Mr Kelly why he did not question raising invoices on zero VAT for an overseas company in the second and third years of the tripartite agreement, when 17,250 in VAT was claimed in year one of the deal. Mr Kelly said he didn't ask any questions. Rural Independent Group leader, Mattie McGrath TD, said that if Mr Tubridy was to leave RTE he would be very welcome down in Tipperary. Committee chair Niamh Smyth reminded Mr McGrath to use your time wisely. Mr McGrath asked Mr Kelly if he is fully tax compliant, to which he replied: "Always have been." Mr Tubridy said his agent has always had my back in the 20 years we've been together" and denied there were every false invoices. Mr McGrath insisted they were false invoices, and committee members should be credited with some intelligence. He told Mr Tubridy: "This isn't a lynch mob here." The broadcaster replied: "I wouldn't invite myself before a lynch mob. But sometimes there is an issue with people's health." "When you have been publicly cancelled like me, it hasn't been easy," he added. Fianna Fail senator Shane Cassells said he was not buying that the tripartite deal, struck in 2020, was not what unlocked Mr Tubridys contract negotiations that had been at an impasse at the time. He suggested the 75,000 due to Mr Tubridy under the deal was a key component in him signing the contract. Mr Tubridy replied saying: "That is not my understanding of it at all, while Mr Kelly added: "It is a totally separate agreement." Mr Cassells said he had calculated that Mr Tubridy had earned over 8m from his 14 years on The Late Late Show and said he could not understand why there was chasing of an extra 75,000. "Was 440,000 not enough? Did you need the extra 345,000?," asked Mr Cassells. Mr Tubridy replied: "Would a footballer expect a decent wage for playing for his club?" Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan asked Mr Kelly about two 75,000 invoices that were raised as consultancy fees by his company CMS. "People are very sceptical...(they)have serious doubts as to whether your didn't knowingly work with RTE in concealing these payments?" Mr Kelly responded by saying: "There were deceptive practices on the part of RTE. We were instructed by RTE, and that they would look after them (the invoices) from there. We're a small company - they're a 350m massive organisation." Responding to Mr OSullivan, Mr Tubridy said he defines himself as a broadcaster, "not necessarily" a consultant. "I don't know what the dictionary definition of consultancy is. I'm not being smart," he said. The former Late Late Show host said he still has "full faith" in his agent. On labelling the 75,000 payments as consultancy fees, he said: "We would never have discussed that. Meanwhile Mr Kelly was asked about new RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst's statement that he would "in all likelihood" not work with him again. Mr Kelly said he is "the shop steward" for his clients, adding that Mr Bakhurst's statement was not "a flat no." Mr Tubridy was asked about the letter from former DG Ms Forbes in which he was told there will be no further reduction in his earnings, and how that sits with him when other colleagues in RTE "are taking pay cuts left, right and centre". Mr Tubridy responded by saying it was important to remember the 40pc pay cut he has already taken since 2012. On the issue of the letter, Mr Kelly said the terms were requested on foot of Mr Tubridy deciding not to take a 120,000 loyalty payment. Mr O'Sullivan said there was effectively no 20pc pay cut because the "Renault" money came from RTE in reality. Mr Tubridy says there was "fog of war" and he thought it was from Renault. Under questioning from Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon about the tripartite agreement, Mr Kelly said he had never come across a barter system before this. He said he was told by RTE "don't put any person's name on the invoice", but he still believed the cash would be coming from Renault. He was told the invoices were to go to UK barter company Astus. Addressing Mr Kelly, Mr Dillon said: "You must accept you paid a pivotal role as the conduit to these secret payments?" Mr Kelly responded: "It is an RTE issue." "You are washing your hands of it?" asked Mr Dillon. Mr Kelly responded: "Completely." On waiving a 120,000 loyalty fee, Mr Tubridy told the committee: "I didn't want to be paid for work I didn't do." But he said the payment has been paid to him for "outstanding work" due to Renault. If it is not done, it will be repaid, he said. It was at this point that Mr Turbidy ruefully added: "I could be out of a job by Friday. Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster asked the presenter if he "accepts the reality" that he didn't actually take the 20pc pay cut when the tripartite agreement is taken into account. Mr Tubridy talked about "an accumulation of pay cuts since 2012", adding: "I understand there is a confusion issue, but it is not right." "This is why I am in a terrible state at the moment, because there has been so much misunderstanding and misreporting." Mr Tubridy said: "Whether the feather has left the pillow... I am trying to put the feather back in the pillow." He said he was not appearing before the committee to be critical of RTE. "I am working there since I am 12-years-old. But I have to defend myself." He said "it strikes me as being unorthodox" that the money apparently being paid to him had in fact come out of the public purse. Asked about the deal with Renault by Ms Munster, Mr Kelly said: "I never wanted RTE to underwrite this...Renault was always going to pay for this." He said the underwriting was in case of a change of sponsor. We never thought that RTE would pay this - ever, ever, ever." Mr Kelly was asked why he did not call out RTE's public under-statement his clients earnings. He responded saying that RTE "put the figures out". Mr Tubridy denied to Fine Gael TD Peter Fitzpatrick that he was hiding information and said he was not party to any concealment. The broadcaster told the TD he has received "countless cards and letters" from members of the public "speaking words of sympathy and wisdom". Asked by Mr Fitzpatrick if he would return overpayments of money by RTE, which is taxpayers money, Mr Tubridy said: "There have been no overpayments of any sort. There have been over-statements of payments by RTE." He said he does not have a great grasp of detail and is "not a very intelligent man" which is why he hired others to negotiate for him. But he has no doubt about the intelligence of the Irish public. "I gave back money, as it happens, he said. Responding to Mr Fitzpatrick, Mr Kelly said it is obvious now that he might have asked questions about invoicing RTE in the manner it wanted, but explained that "this was the national broadcaster - honestly". He did not think to query Montrose instructions, adding: "I don't know these (RTE) people. They're not my friends." Mr Fitzpatrick suggested to Mr Tubridy he was out of contract, as RTE bosses have claimed to the committee in recent weeks. Mr Tubridy said his contract still stands until 2025, although RTE has suspended negotiations on a new contract for his radio work alone since he stepped down from The Late Late Show. Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin asked Mr Kelly if RTE bosses were afraid of him. "Sure how could you be afraid of me?" Mr Kelly replied. "Five foot six (in height). He said he came up with the idea of Operation Transformation for RTE, when his late client Gerry Ryan was alive, but an independent production company later claimed to have devised it. There was action from Mr Kelly which resulted in a settlement, covered by a non-disclosure agreement. Mr Kelly also confirmed to Mr Griffin that there was zero VAT raised on the invoices for "consultancy fees" that ultimately went to his client, Mr Tubridy. Mr Tubridy told Mr Griffin that no one from Renault ever told him the company was not going to pay for the second and third years of the three-year tripartite agreement. TD Cormac Devlin tells Ryan Tubridy that children are wondering why the 'toy man' is in the news Asked about the RTE box office flop, Toy Show: The Musical, which lost 2.2m, Mr Tubridy said it was very ambitious. Asked why he did not promote it, he said there was "no badnesss" towards it on his part, and he believed there were mentions made on The Late Late Show. He always "wished them well", he said of the two people who came up with the idea for the musical, Jane Murphy and Katherine Drohan. Meanwhile Senator Fintan Warfield asked what Mr Kelly made of being asked to bill "consultancy fees" to RTE. Mr Kelly replied: "The institution is 100-years-old. We're just a little company. Why would you question it?" On the issue of salaries paid to RTEs top presenters, Mr Kelly said higher salaries are being paid in the commercial sector. When Pat Kenny gave up The Late Late Show, two of his clients - Gerry Ryan and Mr Tubridy - went for the job. "But it was all about a younger demographic" for RTE, so Tubridy, who was then aged 35, won out, said Mr Kelly. Earlier Mr Tubridy and his agent appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in an attempt to set the record straight on a series of untruths relating to the ongoing payments saga. People watching Tubridy PAC at Doheny & Nesbitts The former Late Late Show host criticised the mess of the controversy and admitted it has been hard to leave the house in recent weeks. Mr Tubridy said he has become the face of a national scandal; accused of being complicit, deceitful and dishonest. The presenter has not hosted his show on RTE Radio One since the week the story broke, and today told committee members that he hopes to return to the airwaves as soon as possible. When asked about the 75,000 payments to him that were underwritten by RTE, Mr Tubridy maintained that he was under the impression that money was from Renault. He told the PAC he had nothing to hide, telling committee members that the full truth was concealed. Mr Kelly claimed that at all times, everything I do with this contract relating to his client Mr Tubridy was under the instruction of RTE. "The relationship is between RTE and the sponsor, not us, he added. When it was put to both men that it appears there was an attempt to deceive in how the payments were handled, Mr Kelly responded: If thats the question, then we were deceived as well. More to follow The tourist who infuriated a nation when he was captured scratching a love note into the Colosseum has apologised, claiming - with embarrassment - that he didn't understand the history of the Roman monument. In a letter addressed to the city's prosecutor and mayor, Ivan Danailov Dimitrov, 27, wrote that he was aware of the seriousness of his actions and apologised to the people of Italy and the entire world for causing the damage at the UNESCO World Heritage site. "By damaging the Colosseum, I acted with frivolousness, flippancy and incivility, to the detriment of other visitors," he wrote in Italian in the letter, which was translated by The Washington Post. "I have no excuses." Dimitrov wrote that he would take responsibility for his actions and acknowledged the "inestimable artistic and historical importance" of the site. "I am profoundly embarrassed to admit that it was only after this sad incident that I began to appreciate just how ancient this monument is," he wrote. Dimitrov's attorney, Alexandro Maria Tirelli, said in a message that he had already come up with a plea bargain request that would keep his client out of jail. He said that the prosecutor has agreed to no jail time, though the plea was still being negotiated. Prosecutors and representatives for the Carabinieri, Italy's national police, could not be reached for comment. The Associated Press reported last week that authorities used photographs to identify the man as a visitor who lived in Britain. Dimitrov's face was visible in a video that went viral in late June, in which he used a key to write "Ivan + Hayley 23" on a wall. The American visitor who shot the video, Ryan Lutz, told NBC News that he was "flabbergasted" and informed security about the incident. "I'd settle for this guy just kind of learning a lesson," Lutz told the news outlet. "You don't disrespect host countries." Italian officials expressed their outrage online, with culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano tweeting that the act was "a sign of great incivility" and tourism minister Daniela Santanche saying on Twitter that she hoped the tourist would face sanctions. Italy's ANSA news agency reported that the penalties for the damage could include up to five years in prison and a fine of more than 15,000. The evening I met God things didnt turn out quite the way I expected. It was a chilly February night in 1991 as I made my way homeward from the gig of my life at the Royal Albert Hall. The guitar genius who inspired my musical infatuation with The Yardbirds and Blind Faith had magnificently lived up to the graffiti that adorned every vacant London wall at the time Clapton is God. Around Christmas you can see it every other day on some television channel or other. But when Michael Curtizs iconic film, Casablanca, came out in 1942 it was banned in Ireland under wartime restrictions. Dart services between Dalkey and Bray were suspended this morning Dart services were suspended between Dalkey and Bray this morning following a tragic incident on the line. Irish Rail said services were suspended between Dalkey and Bray around 7am for one hour due to the incident. Gardai and emergency services are at the scene and the line has since reopened. Dart services have resumed, but with delays. Dublin Bus is honouring rail tickets for those affected. Rail services are operating from Dalkey to Malahide/Howth and from Bray to Greystones. Meanwhile, a separate incident has occurred on the M7 westbound between junction 4, Rathcoole and junction 5, Athgoe. Motorists are advised to expect delays. More to follow On This Day In History - July 11th Firefighters and paramedics need scrap cars to help them train to the highest standards Dublin Fire Brigade is seeking scrap vehicles for Road Traffic Collision training. Firefighters and paramedics need end-of-life vehicles to help them train to the highest standards. Are you the registered owner of a car or vehicle that is at the end of its life? Why not donate it to Dublin Fire Brigade for training its personnel? a DFB statement said. Vehicle design is constantly changing, and new technologies are being introduced by manufacturers. Firefighters and officers need to train regularly to keep their skills up to date with these new developments in how to safely and efficiently extricate casualties from crashed vehicles. Approximately 50 vehicles are donated to our training centre each year. It takes up to 25 cars to train 10 recruit firefighters on a two-week Road Traffic Collision Operators course. The vehicles will be used to train new recruits and upskill current firefighters The vehicles will be used to train new recruits and to upskill current firefighters. This training could potentially help save a life. DFB will consider all types of vehicles including vans, HGVs, and buses, not just cars. They will arrange for a contractor to collect your vehicle in the greater Dublin area and to issue an end-of-life certificate. All you need to have is the vehicles Vehicle Licence Certificate (VLC) or logbook. If you would like to donate your vehicle you can telephone 01 222 4199 or email dfbtrainingcentre@dublincity.ie A Dublin TD has called on the Government to make July 12 a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland as well as the North. Green Party TD Patrick Costello said the date is an extremely important one historically for the island and culturally for many people who live here. July 12 marks the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. William of Oranges victory secured a Protestant line of succession for the British crown. The biggest day in the Norths parading calendar will see an estimated 500,000 people participating in or watching the orange order marching at various locations. Reflecting on current reconciliation efforts, the Dublin South-Central TD said: We have seen the good work carried out by the shared island unit, building literal bridges between north and south. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Efforts such as this would reaffirm that commitment to a sense of shared ownership and history of the island. Deputy Costello said both the Twelfth and St Patricks Day are designated as public holidays in Northern Ireland and this too should be replicated here. Aside from the symbolic effects, this would also bring benefits for the tourism industry. For tourism there is huge untapped potential relating to the Jacobite-Williamite War. In particular, I think of the Battle of the Boyne site itself where the OPW run a fantastic visitor site. This could become a site of annual pilgrimage for many from the North. In Limerick, we could capitalise on the Treaty stone and in Galway on the Battle of Aughrim site. Deputy Costello also said introducing the public holiday would see the country living up to our constitutional obligation, in relation to the amendment made to the Irish Constitution following the Good Friday Agreement. As part of the peace process we have made a number of gestures, such as amending articles 2 and 3 of the constitution. The new article 3 specifies that the State will work to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland, in all the diversity of their identities and traditions. I believe my proposal would see us living up to our constitutional obligation, he said. For too long the Irish state sought to portray a single narrative of Irish history, one that was isolationist, militant, nationalist and catholic. We know that history is not black and white, we know there are numerous traditions on this island. If the Irish state truly aspires to unite all the peoples of this island, then all of those people need to feel represented and included. Designating the 12th as a public holiday would be a major step for that process, he added. The tricolour and an image of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar atop a bonfire that was set alight at the weekend. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire Meanwhile, a poster of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar being burned on a loyalist bonfire on Saturday during Twelfth celebrations in Tyrone is being investigated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). A large poster of the Taoiseach was erected on top of an old boat, bedecked with two tricolours and a placard criticising the Good Friday Agreement. The bonfire was lit in Moygashehel and attended by a large crowd who cheered as it burned. The PSNI are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime. Mr Varadkar said he was aware of the incident but did not believe it reflected the opinion of the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland. Dublin City Council has received full planning permission for 578 new homes at Emmet Road in Inchicore. Pic: 3D Design Bureau Ltd. Permission has been granted for the development of 578 new homes on Emmet Road (formerly St Michaels Estate), in Inchicore. A mixture of social and affordable homes will be delivered, with 76pc being allocated to affordable homes for rent and 24pc going to social housing. The new homes will offer a mix of accommodation suitable for single people, couples and families consisting of 110 studios, 172 one-beds (including 17 duplex apartments), 250 two-beds and 46 three-beds. The affordable rental homes aims to give secure and quality housing that remains sustainably affordable over time. Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daithi deRoiste, said: Creating a welcoming and sustainable neighbourhood, both for residents living within the new homes and the wider Inchicore community, is central to Dublin City Councils vision for Emmet Road. I cannot wait to see this development completed. Both the new and existing community will have access to a supermarket and library, as well as a cafe, creche, and community hub. The development will consist of a mix of social and affordable homes. Pic: 3D Design Bureau Ltd. Residents will also have access to car and bike parking spaces, landscaped open green space and play facilities for children. Councillor Sophie Nicoullaud, Local Area Committee Chair, said: A considerable amount of public consultation was undertaken as part of the design process and I would like to thank the local community, in particular the Inchicore Regeneration Consultative Forum (IRCF) for their continued support throughout the journey to reach this significant milestone. This project should proceed without delay in collaboration with the local community and councillors. Biodiversity will also be kept in mind during the development process to benefit the environment, residents and the surrounding community. There will be an installation of a network of green roofs, solar panels, and a number of spaces in the car park will have electric vehicle charging points. There will be approximately 1,285 spaces for bicycles with a network of cycle and pedestrian routes in surrounding areas. Councillor Alison Gilliland, Dublin City Council Housing SPC Chair, said: I welcome the progression of this development. The provision of public housing at Emmet Road is a key piece of the overall Dublin City Council housing delivery pipeline. This is a major step forward in this development, she added. Songwriters at the retreat have worked with international stars such as Ariana Grande Ambitious musicians are being given the chance to work with some of the top songwriters in the world. Those who wrote hit music for the likes of Britney Spears, Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande will be in Balbriggan for the International Songwriting Retreat from July 24-30. The Irish Institute of Music and Song is hosting this seven-day retreat held on their purpose-built music campus. It will give songwriters the opportunity to work and learn from some of the best mentors in the business. The retreat includes on-site accommodation in modern Japanese-style pods, with all meals from the onsite restaurant will be covered too. There is also the cheaper non-resident package option available for those who dont need to stay during the duration of the program. There will also be access to private rehearsal spaces and VIP membership to six music industry talks in the evening which will be presented by well-known musicians and songwriters Paddy Casey and Duke Special. The IMRO CEO, Victor Finn, said: We are very excited about working with the Irish Institute of Music and Song and supporting their new initiative, the International Songwriting Retreat. A big part of our mission at IMRO is being committed to creators. Alongside that, its to educate, thats why we sponsored two scholarship places on the retreat, giving songwriters the opportunity to learn, develop and ultimately grow. All retreat attendees will get to work with mentors who have written music for some of the worlds biggest record labels, including Universal, Warner and Sony. Big names include Rob Wells from Canada, who has written songs for Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and Selena Gomez; and Maria Christensen from Los Angeles, who has written music for Jennifer Lopez and Celine Dion. The Irish Institute of Music and Song in Balbriggan will host the songwriting retreat Other mentors include, Shridhar Solanki from the UK, who has worked with Dua Lipa, Andrea Bocelli, Craig David and Carrie Underwood; and Irish woman Ruth-Anne Cunningham, now based in LA, who has written music for Britney Spears, The Corrs and One Direction. Irish Institute of Music and Song CEO, Michael T Dawson, added: We have been working on this retreat for a few years now and are very excited it is finally taking place in July. We are very proud to partner with IMRO who sponsored two songwriting scholarship places on the retreat. This opportunity is second to none as the calibre of mentors on the course is literally world class. The Irish Institute of Music and Song is a world-facing, not for profit, music organisation that provides unique music experiences and programmes to individuals, communities, and businesses worldwide. It is Irelands only purpose-built music education campus. The campus consists of a music academy, accommodation, wellness retreats, cafe and restaurant. Opening this summer is a new state-of-the art 400-seat concert hall, called The Lark, which will host live music, theatre, comedy and more. Mart manager says some of the behaviour shown in RTE Investigates documentary on Monday night is unacceptable Castleisland Livestock Co-Op Mart manager Nelius McAuliffe has said he will support any investigation the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will take following the airing last night of RTE Investigates documentary Dairys Dirty Secret. The Fran McNulty-led investigation monitored animal-welfare issues within the Irish dairy sector, including at marts, and the documentary featured video footage from two Kerry marts: Castleisland and Gortatlea. One of the clips from Castleisland showed a man apparently grabbing, slapping, and kicking calves while trying to corral them within the mart complex. The documentary alleged that a person twisted or pulled a calfs tail on mart grounds while handling the animal, and a clip showed a man twisting a calfs ear. Another clip showed an individual loading a calf into a trailer, on top of other calves. Mr McAuliffe said the person in this clip is not a mart employee. Mr McAuliffe told The Kerryman that all calves are fed by farmers prior to coming to the mart, and any remaining calves on the premises at 7pm are fed milk, and bedded on straw. A clip also saw the documentary team going to Castleisland Mart on a Sunday night, claiming they had received information suggesting a truck would show up and take away unwanted stock, free of charge. The truck did not appear on the night, and Mr McAuliffe said that no such practice takes place at the Mart, adding that all calves are sold through the live ring. Mr McAuliffe has managed Castleisland Mart since 2021 but his association with it goes back to 1987, when he started out there as a drover. He has also managed Dingle Mart since 2006, and he insisted the practices seen at marts in the RTE documentary do not occur in Dingle. Mr McAuliffes statement, released to The Kerryman, said some of these occurrences that can be seen are unacceptable. He said Castleisland Mart will review the footage aired and address the issues that arise with all staff. This will involve, at a minimum, further animal-welfare training and awareness at Castleisland Mart, he said. These instances are no way representative of the required high standards and values that are observed and practised by our mart and by farmers all over Ireland, who are compassionate and caring for their livestock, he said. We will review the clips shown and address these serious issues...which will at a minimum involve further animal-welfare training and awareness. Mishandling and mistreatment of livestock, particularly of calves, is certainly not acceptable and cannot be defended. We welcome an investigation into any alleged incidences of animal cruelty by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and we will support the investigation in relation to these matters. We are, of course, very disappointed that this has happened, and it is the exception rather than the norm. We have designated calf day on Mondays, and this allows us, the mart, to provide better accommodation, and the calves are afforded more care and attention. Castleisland is home to the calf, and we will endeavour to continue to provide a service to the farmers of Kerry, Cork and Limerick. Management and staff are committed to maintaining the high standards it has set. We will strive to continuously improve our service to both farmers and livestock. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 11th Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney; hannon Estuary Economic Taskforce Chairman Barry OSullivan; Minister for Education Norma Foley and Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Transport Eamon Ryan at the historic Ardnacrusha hydro-electric power station at the publication of the Shannon Taskforce Report on Saturday. Photo by Brian Arthur The final report of the Shannon Economic Taskforce says an import/storage facility for liquified natural gas (LNG) would be a significant strategic investment in the North Kerry/West Limerick region. Its included in the 196-page Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce Report published on Saturday and which indicates the potential for the creation of 10,000 green jobs in the Shannon Estuary zone by 2035 rising to 50,000 by 2050. This incredible vision would be possible by building one of the worlds largest renewable-energy offshore hubs, to harness wind energy from the Shannon Estuary. The Report sets out that the EU recognises natural gas as a green transition fuel as the world moves to a climate-neutral future. On the creation of an LNG import/storage facility in the North Kerry and West Limerick region, the Report added that it would greatly assist efforts to attract other large capital investments there. A planning application by Shannon LNG Ltd, a subsidiary of US group New Fortress Energy, for a long-mooted LNG terminal on the Tarbert/Ballylongford landbank, is currently awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleanala. In welcoming the Report on its launch at Ardnacrusha, Kerry TD and Minister for Education Norma Foley, without commenting on any specific potential locations for an LNG terminal, was particularly welcoming of the Reports comments on natural gas and the benefits of an LNG import/storage facility. The Report agrees that natural gas is the accepted transition fuel to net zero and provides the flexibility and back-up the grid requires for the medium term, she said. I particularly welcome the Taskforce recommendation that an LNG import/storage facility and electricity generation would be both a significant and strategic investment. Although Minister Foley did not reference the plans at the Tarbert/Ballylongford landbank, a spokesperson for Tarbert and Ballylongford Development Associations welcomed her comments. Due to the number of jobs the construction of an LNG terminal would bring, the plans have received strong backing locally. Environmental groups have, however, consistently outlined their deep opposition to the plans on several grounds, including fears that it would see the importation of gas sourced through controversial fracking methods. Developing a renewable-energy hub on the Shannon Estuary, meanwhile, was described by the Report as the single greatest opportunity for sustainable economic growth in the countrys history. The Report recommends setting up a National Floating Offshore Wind Development Agency to drive plans to harness wind energy, which would require well over 100 billion worth of private investment and technology. The Shannon Estuary was described as an ideal base for several reasons, including its location midway along the west coast, its deep-water facilities, and the capacity for necessary manufacturing at Foynes and Moneypoint. We see this region as the green front door of Europe, leading to an Atlantic Green Digital Corridor, where we can take the infinite green energy from the Atlantic and convert that into a new economy and a new society for Ireland, said Taskforce Chairperson Barry OSullivan. The scale in terms of time is infinite because the wind will be around forever. And weve enough power out there for about 70million people. Well want to export some of that and play our part in the de-carbonisation of Europe. But also we want to attract new industries here and develop our own industries to take that powerand take the economy to a new level, Mr OSullivan added. Michael O'Sullivan (Black) and his wife Debbie who both passed away within days of each other. A KERRY man and his wife who were each battling cancer have died within eight days of each other. Michael OSullivan is this week being laid to rest in his home place of Templenoe having passed away suddenly on July 2 the day after the funeral of his beloved wife Debbie. Michael (of the well-known OSullivan Black family) and Debbie were living in her home place of Pearl River in New York, and Michaels family from Kerry had travelled to the US in recent weeks to attend Debbies funeral. She sadly passed away on June 24 following a difficult battle with cervical cancer. She had been diagnosed in September 2022 and spent the last few weeks of her life in the Joe Rago Hospice. Debbie was just 37 years of age when she passed away. Michael travelled to and from the hospital daily and sometimes twice daily to visit his beloved wife, whom he married in 2016. Michael, who is from Cappanacuss, Greenane, Templenoe, had moved to the US over 12 years ago and where he had enjoyed a wonderful life with Debbie in Pearl River, where the couple were well-known and loved. But tragedy hit the couple when Debbie received her cancer diagnosis less than a year ago. However, worse was to come when Michael, aged 49, was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer just over two months ago on May 5. He had been due to start treatment and it had been hoped that he would battle the illness but tragically he collapsed and died on July 2. His family had been in the US for Debbies funeral the day previously and his twin brothers Jimmy and Neilie were with him when he passed away. His remains arrived in Ireland this week and his funeral is to take place today, Tuesday July 11 and Wednesday, July 12. It is understood that Michael died as a result of complications of his cancer, but its understood that the pain of witnessing his wifes sad demise also took a major toll on his health. Michaels sister Marie paid tribute to her brother this week. She said the family are shocked by what has occurred. It is hard to imagine that this could happen, she said. They are together now. She said Michael was loved by all who knew him. "He had a very good heart, he was generous spirited and a good neighbour when he lived here. People were crazy about Michael, she said. Michael will be sadly missed and dearly loved by his siblings Maria, Jimmy, Neilie, Eileen, Christine and Geraldine, his sisters-in-law Eileen and Ann, brothers-in-law Kevin, Mike, Terry and Gary, and his extended family in Ireland and the US. The family are so grateful for all the support they have received not least from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund which helped bring Michael home. To say thanks for they have asked for donations for the fund in memory of Michael to https://www.idonate.ie/cause/kbrt His removal takes place from OConnors Funeral Home on Today, Tuesday evening (July 11th) from 5pm to 8pm. Requiem Mass for Michael will take place on Wednesday morning (July12) at 11.00am in Holy Cross Church, Kenmare. A total refurbishment is to be undertaken on the OConnell Centre in Cahersiveen with the news that 1.3m has been announced in funding. The positive news for the Iveragh peninsula and Cahersiveen has been welcomed by local councillor Norma Moriarty who said that it is a positive step and commitment to education in South Kerry. She said the community is delighted with the funding news given the huge role that the centre plays in the lives of the community not least playing a key role in the integration of the Ukrainian refugees now living on the Iveragh peninsula. Many of the newest residents to the area have and are undertaking courses in the centre. This is only one of the many roles the centre plays in education in the community with people of all ages undertaking courses at the OConnell Centre - some to learn new hobbies and many others as a stepping stone to further education or employment. The OConnell centre, located on the outskirts of the town, has a long history in the area dating back to the VEC era and now under Kerry ETB. The renovation works will begin shortly and this year classes will have to take place in other locations in the town which are currently being sought. Some classes will take place in the centre but others will be in temporary accommodation but classes will go ahead. ony Wilkinson patient representative from Bandon Co. Cork, Fergus ODowd TD, Sorcha Boyle, patient representative from Ardee, Co. Louth, and Deirdre Lennon from Cheshire Ireland. Photo : Keith Arkins Ardee woman Sorcha Boyle, who has been living with Multiple Scerlosis since 2014, was among the patients advocates who met with local politicians last week as part of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) s campaign to have a fully staffed community neurorehabilitation team in CHO 8, which includes Co Louth. Currently, there are only two partially staffed community neurorehabilitation teams up and running across Ireland which means that only 15% of neurological patients in Ireland have access to teams that provide vital care to support their recovery. Community neurorehabilitation teams provide short-term intensive rehabilitation input, and provide multidisciplinary services such as physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, social work and neuropsychology. While Sorcha hasnt had a relapse since travelling to London for a stem cell transplant in last year, she says that having access to a specialist neuro occupational therapist would be most beneficial as she still has issues with her hands and with walking. Unfortunately, there is currently no support available in my community. Having access to a community neuro-rehabilitation team nearby would mean that people like me with Multiple Sclerosis, could take ownership of our own care, we could get access to rehabilitation services when we need them, and continue to live well within our communities. We shouldnt have to fight for these services. We need our represented electives and the HSE to take action now. Along with the other NAI member, she highlighted the need to provide funding to get teams up and running in the regions that dont have services when they meet members of the Oireachtas. Members also highlighted the need for action by the HSE to establish teams without delay in CHOs where funding has been made available and ensure that existing community neurorehabilitation teams are fully staffed. The Implementation Framework for the National Neurorehabilitation Strategy clearly set out the commitment to establishing a community neurorehabilitation team in each of the nine HSE CHOs. Magdalen Rogers, NAI Executive Director Delays in implementing this have meant that no additional neurorehabilitation teams were established on the ground over the three-year implementation period between 2019-2021. A postcode lottery now exists where 85% of neurological patients do not have access to a community neurorehabilitation team. The consequences of the lack of access are a significant, and preventable, level of disability. Ultimately this leads to higher healthcare needs, increased costs to the health service through earlier admission to nursing homes, increased need for home care supports, as well as the increased likelihood of falls and subsequent hospital readmissions. From having the national network of community neurorehabilitation teams in place, up to 42,000 hospital bed days annually could be freed up based on an average saving of three hospital bed days per neurological patient, if they can be discharged to a community neurorehabilitation team. We are calling on the Government to commit to delivering these services for the over 800,000 people living with a neurological condition across Ireland. Having a team in place in each of the nine CHOs across Ireland would have a significantly positive impact on the lives of those living with neurological conditions in Louth and across Ireland. The Neurological Alliance is a coalition of neurological charities which advocates for developing and resourcing services across the spectrum of neurological diseases and neuro-disability. Following the meeting, Senator Erin McGreehan, raised the need to invest in community rehabilitation teams in the CH08 area, which Louth is part of, to ensure adequate community-based treatments and therapies for neuro patients. "Neurological conditions, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease, can have a profound impact on a person's life. However, with the right support and medical intervention, these individuals can have opportunities for recovery and a better quality of life, she said. "Unfortunately, not all communities have access to local neuro-rehabilitation teams, including my own county of Louth. As a result, many individuals are left without the specialised care they desperately need. Having these specialised teams situated within local communities ensures that individuals can receive timely and convenient care. "Dealing with a neurological condition can be overwhelming, both physically and emotionally. Local neuro-rehabilitation teams provide a network of support, helping individuals and their loved ones navigate the challenges they face. This emotional support is invaluable, providing individuals the strength and motivation to overcome adversity. She promised to continue to liaise with the Minister on this issue to ensure we continue to build supportive communities with equal access to quality neuro-rehabilitation care.'' Sligo Walking Trails are an insightful look into towns past If you have a couple of hours to spare this summer, we highly recommend you join the Sligo Walking Trail, which provides tours every day that are both informative and free to the public. The Sligo Walking Trail brings walkers on a whistle stop tour of the town, unveiling interesting and often unknown bits and bobs about the places in town many of us pass by in blissful ignorance every day. For example, did you know that you could buy your way into heaven by helping rebuild Sligo Abbey after it was burned down in the 15th century? Or that people were buried alive during the cholera epidemic in the 19th century? Thankfully (or maybe not!) most of the stories arent quite as grisly as these ones, told by walking guide Meg Byrne who regaled walkers with tales from Sligos history as well as anecdotes about the town. Sligo Walks dropped in last week to find out a little more about the tour and to gauge the responses of those taking part. Along the way, as we stop to look at places like the Courthouse, St. Johns Cathedral, the Genealogy Centre and elsewhere, Meg provides some background information on each site, and answers the many questions, often with a burst of humour thrown in to keep things interesting. As we walk from place to place, you get the sense that this is both an informative tour and one that doesnt take itself too seriously. Starting out at the Discover Ireland Centre at the top of OConnell Street, this drop in, drop out tour sets out at 11am each morning and by the time a couple of hours have whizzed by, youll be ready for lunch with plenty of discussion material gathered in the company of the expert local guides, which includes Meg, who alternates with Dave Lawless and Conor Finn. They are invaluable, because you get people interested in the town, theres more to it than meets the eye, says Meg of her reason for getting involved as a tour guide. I love Sligo, Im from Sligo and I just think that theres an abundance of riches here. Two and a half hours flies, you just dont notice it, theres so much to see and do. Dutch native Kees Barcema and his wife Eileen, a Dublin native, are here with their nephew Daragh. They have visited in Sligo for the past 25 years, and this tour offers them an insight into one of their favourite holiday destinations. Absolutely fantastic, says Eileen of the tour. We are thoroughly enjoying it. When we get visitors, we always bring them to Sligo, adds Kees. Sligo Town, and then we go on to Benbulben, Knocknarea, Strandhill. But we always say to people - dont tell anybody, referring to the peace and quiet you can experience around the county. Keith Hopper has returned to live in his native Sligo after spending many years in the UK. A lecturer at ATU, he and his family are avid fans of the walk. I grew up here so I have a potted history of Sligo. Im seeing the place in a completely different light. I think Sligo has transformed, its great, its a fantastic place, he says, adding that he is surprised that more Sligo people arent going on the walk. He, along with his wife Niamh and daughter Katie are on the walk along with Sam Browne, a first time visitor to Sligo from the UK. I heard a lot about Sligo before coming over here, so its really nice to come and find out the history of the place after hearing stories about it. He says that for first time visitors, this kind of tour is really useful. Theres a lot to cover, so its a good idea to get as much in as possible so that people can look into the bits they want to explore afterwards, and Katie adds that if you are going to be here for a few days and someone gives you a tour, even point out nice places to go, its a nice introduction to get to know the lay of the land. Patrick and Jo Fisher are here from Nottinghamshire. Patricks roots are in Gurteen, so they are regular visitors, but the tour is also new to them. Fantastic. Ive been coming here since I was a baby. I know Sligo like the back of my hand but I dont know any of the history, so its been very informative. One of the participants today, Niamh Moriarty, gives perhaps the best endorsement of this tour. I actually have two people visiting me from England later today, and having never done a walking tour of Sligo, Im going to do another one tomorrow, Im going to bring them around, and they have to meet Meg. I had a kind of piecemeal idea of what Sligo is about, but this is a great overview. The Sligo Walking Tour is supported by the Sligo Tourist Development Association (incorporating Rosses Point Caravan Park and Strandhill Caravan Park) and covers places of a historical, cultural, musical and sporting interest. The tour starts at the Discover Ireland Centre, where you can also pick up brochures and leaflets on walking and places of interest in Sligo. Currently there is one tour per day, and no pre-registration is required. The tours will continue daily throughout the Summer and will run until the end of September. With the summer holidays in full flow, the events calendar in County Sligo is jam packed with events to keep everyone entertained. Heres our top picks of this weeks events. BALLYGAWLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL The popular Ballygawley Music Festival returns this weekend from July 14-16 in the village of Ballygawley. This promises to be a fantastic weekend with music from The Tumbling Paddies, Johnny Brady, Nathan Carter, Ruaile Buaile, All Folkd Up and Derek Ryan. Check out www.ballygawleymusicfestival.com for full details. SEARCH RESULTS Search Results have released their first single Flower Rock Rain off their upcoming album Information Blip which is set to arrive in September to all streaming platforms, and on vinyl in partnership with Galway-based Blowtorch Records. Catch them in The Swagman on July 15. SUMMER RAMBLING HOUSE Rambling House returns at the Coleman Music Centre, on Wednesday, July 12. Welcoming Patsy Hanly, Philip Duffy, Pat Sweeney, Seamus ODonnell, John Dwyer, Brian Mostyn, Jason McGuinness & Caitriona Ni Cheannabhain. It is not that often this amazing group come together so dont miss the opportunity to see them live on stage. THE SPLASH TEST DUMMIES Rub-a- dub-dub! Pro Tours Theatre presents Splash Test Dummies at the Hawks Well Theatre on Saturday, July 15, at 7pm. The Dummies are back with some splish-splashing circus set to drown you in tears of laughter! With a brilliant array of catch-your-breath stunt work, The Splash Test Dummies roll out their beach towels and spring into an hour of dazzling acrobatics, dexterous juggling and side-splitting, slapstick, circus-filled hilarity. SLIGO AGRICULTURAL SHOW The annual Sligo County Agricultural Show returns to Riverstown this Saturday, July 15. From cooking demonstrations, magic, pony rides for kids, arts and crafts, home baking and lots more, theres something for all age groups and interests. SUMMER CREATIVITY WORKSHOP A summer creativity workshop for children over the age of eight will take place at Tubbercurry Library on Thursday, July 13. Illustration and writing with Sarah OKeeffe will take place from 10am-11.15am. TRAD@LUNCH Week ten for the Trad@lunch 2023 series is delighted to welcome Lisa Golden and Friends playing at the Hawks Well on Wednesday, July 12, at 1.10pm. Hawks Well Theatre has worked closely with the young Ballymote musician, Lisa Golden, on the curation of the 2023 Trad@Lunch series. A great flute player in her own right, she won the all-Ireland 12-15 Flute Slow Airs in 2022 and is joined for this special performance by special guests. FAAC SIMPLY AUTOMATIC/SLIGO PARK HOTEL SLIGO STAGES RALLY For motor enthusiasts, the FAAC Simply automatic/Sligo Park Hotel Sligo Stages Rally takes place on Sunday, July 16. Entries are closed, and over 200 entries have been received. Full list of entries is available on www.connachtmotorclub.com SUITU The Model is delighted to present Suitu, opening on Saturday, July 15, a new screening programme of some of the hottest experimental and artists films being made today. The films in this series have been selected by aemi (Artists & Experimental Moving Image). Suitu is an Irish language term which signifies the sound made as the sea moves through stones at the shoreline, pulling them into water before rolling them back onto dry land. SOUTH SLIGO SUMMER SCHOOL The South Sligo Summer School comes to a close in Tubbercurry this weekend. Catch the final events in the town this week, with the farewell ceili taking place on Saturday, July 15, in St Brigids Hall. Full schedule available at https://www.southsligosummerschool.com/ While life has returned to normal for much of society following the pandemic, many have found themselves reluctant to resume the lives they once lived. In an effort to combat the underlying fears felt many in our smaller towns and villages, a special Community Comeback event has been held in Ballyfad Hall. Organised by Muintir na Tire in partnership with Coolgreany and Ballyfad Community Alert, the aim of the event was to encourage people to come back out and engage with their local communities post Covid-19. A large crowd attended and spoke to representatives from some of the many organisations present at the event, including Home Instead, Alone, Alzheimers, Muintir na Tire, the Irish Countrywomans Association (ICA), An Garda Siochana, Awareness Head To Toe, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), Wexford Money Advice and Budgeting (MABS), and a number of mental health groups. There was also literature provided by Lorcan Brennan from Mens Network and local lady Bridget Cullen offered her services to perform blood pressure testing. Irish Red Cross members Caroline, Declan and John provided a demonstration on CPR and use of defibrillators while, according to Margaret Quinn of Muintir na Tire, the highlight of the night for the vast majority of the audience were the excellent presentations given by Niall OMuiri from Wexford Mental Health Association (WMHA) and Alice Doyle from the IFA who discussed the Fair Deal scheme and inheritance. "Both speakers were complimented on their ability to address an audience using lay mans language and to make what could be heavy content so relatable, said Margaret acted as MC for the event. Representatives from many community alert groups were present as were members of Gorey Community Policing unit, with Supt Dennis Whelan addressing the audience. Commending the beautiful food supplied and served by Mary Darcy, Margaret wished to thank all those who came along to listen, those who worked tirelessly in the organising of the event, the speakers and those who had Information stands, and Myles Carroll who made the beautiful new hall in Ballyfad available. "The night was deemed to be a great success, not just as an information event but also as a very valuable social occasion, with an attendance of approximately 80 people it proves that, with a bit of effort, life in rural Ireland is alive and well. The famous men and women of 1798 were honoured during a day of celebrations at Kilmore Quay to mark the 225th anniversary of the Rebellion. Beginning with a musical performance by the Danescastle traditional group, proceedings were opened by outgoing chair of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) Councillor Lisa McDonald who underlined how the ideals of the United Irishmen of 1798 remained relevant and meaningful to this day. Trumpet soloist Anthony Nolan then performed the The Last Post and Reveille before the raising of the United Irish Flag and the playing and singing of Amhran na bhFiann. Cllr McDonald also laid a wreath at the memorial stone commemorating the bicentenary of the 1798 rebellion. The audience on the quay then adjourned to the Stella Maris for refreshments before a presentation entitled Three Landlords, Three Castles, Three Leaders examined the roles played by Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey, Cornelius Grogan and Dr. John Colclough in the rising of 1798. Local historians Ray Corish, Bernard Browne, and Eamonn Barrett brought each of these characters to life, landed gentry who gave their lives for their ideals. The audience interest in these men was reflected in the length of the question-and-answer session following the presentations and the conversation continued over a lunch prepared by the staff at the Stella Maris. Following the conclusion of formalities, the attendees travelled to the cemetery in Mayglass where a wreath was laid at the grave of Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey and a poem was read by the Bard of Mayglass, Fintan Murphy. An image of a calf during export taken from the RTE Investigates programme 'Milking It: Dairy's Dirty Secret'. Wicklow IFA chair Tom Byrne has labelled a new RTE documentary on the exportation of live dairy calves a misrepresentation of the industry. The programme followed a truck transporting a cargo of bull dairy calves from a Wicklow location and went on to claim they had not been given adequate care on their journey from Wicklow, through Rosslare and Cherbourg to Barcelona in Spain. Highlighting how Irelands big push towards milk production had resulted in the birth of over half a million unwanted dairy bull calves each year, the documentary also showed graphic accounts of the treatment of calves at Irish marts and their slaughtering via kill and collect services and knackeries. Reacting to the investigative programme, Mr Byrne said: It was a misrepresentation of the industry and not a true reflection of what happens in it, were full sure of it. A lot of the footage used seemed to me to be old and based on what went on in New Zealand and the lairage in France. The lairage in Pignet was closed, and the people were either sacked or retrained, whereas in New Zealand the practice has been banned altogether. There was a bit of sensationalism to all of it. Were not to happy that was it an attack by RTE. They talked about the truck being loaded with calves and the condition they were in, but those trucks are temperature controlled, and its not a case that the outside temperature has an influence on the inside temperature. With regard to the marts, operators must go under Drover training to get its licence. That means that the people in the mart have to be trained in the handling of livestock and calves, which wasnt portrayed last night and we arent happy about that. I rang a mart manager, and he told me that they all undergo the training and, more so to the fact, they hire a gentleman to come to the mart, unannounced, to make sure the training he provided was adhered to. Listen, we dont condone cruelty or mistreatment of any kind, to any animal, right form calves to adult cattle. There are a lot of challenges there and we have a lot of initiatives in line and in place to try and alleviate some of the pressures. We have genotyping, which will ensure that there is a better quality of calf, then we have sexed semen, where the gender of the calf is dictated before the cow is inseminated, which will ensure that there arent as many Friesian bull calves that are not wanted within the system. We need to up our game probably and make sure that things are better, but they even said on the programme that the vast majority of people did adhere to the rules and handled animals properly. Some of the conversations Ive had in the media this morning have shown that people dont accept that there should be live exports of any kind and are not listening to the reality of the truth, but were an exporting nation. As I tried to point out to them, the EU regulations are very strictly adhered to with regards to the travelling conditions of calves during export. Farmers believe that the only way to do it is a proper and controlled environment for the calves, for the good of everyone. CLLR Tom Fortune has raised concerns that the incinerator in Ringsend, Dublin could be having an impact on the health of people living in parts of County Wicklow. Speaking at the Jul monthyl meeting of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Fortune said he had discussed the issue with members of the public with an expertise in the matter. The incinerator at Ringsend is driving blooms of stuff up into the atmosphere and I am told it can travel 30 to 40km or more, which brings parts of north Wicklow and west Wicklow into the equation. There seems to be quite an increase in kids getting asthma and I am told it is possibly related to the incinerator. And what comes out of it. I would like the Local Authority to get some communications and we need information on what has been the cause of the increase in chest related illness. Whats going into the atmosphere? I think its a massive, massive issue. Cllr Irene Winters provided a website address which gives a breakdown of the different emissions on a half hourly basis. Catriona Arnott and Hilary MacDonald at the launch of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland Archives in Wicklow library. Photo: Michael kelly Marian Kavanagh, Liam Murphy and Patsi Brennan at the launch of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland Archives in Wicklow library. Photo: Myles Buchanan Sheila Clarke and John Finley at the launch of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland Archives in Wicklow library. Photo: Michael Kelly Jim Smith and Rosemary Raughton at the launch of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland Archives in Wicklow library. Photo: Michael Kelly Brian Gurrin, Ciaran Wallace and Gerlanda Maniglia pictured with historians from County Wicklow at the launch of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland Archives in Wicklow library. Photo: Michael Kelly This was a chance to see the history of Wicklow and its people through the lens of this exciting new online resource. Ciaran Wallace, Deputy Director of the Virtual Record Treasury spoke about Irelands public records and their destruction and recovery. Brian Gurrin, Virtual Record Treasury Research Fellow, discussed Wicklow records in the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland and highlighted items of interest in the Wicklow County Archives collection. In June 1922 the Public Record Office of Ireland was destroyed in the battle of the Four Courts, the opening engagement of the Civil War. In a single afternoon seven centuries of Irish history went up in flames. The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland is an all-island and international research programme working to digitally reconstruct, as far as possible, these lost archives. By tracking down copies and transcripts in libraries and archives around Ireland and overseas, tens of thousands of documents relating to every corner of Ireland have been recovered, making them available online free of charge. Cllr Paul O Brien, Cathaoirleach, Wicklow Municipal District Council, said: We are very proud that Wicklow County Archives is a participating partner in this important project. Our County Archives has contributed digital versions of the Wicklow Grand Jury records to the Virtual Record Treasury and I look forward to learning about the other Wicklow treasures restored and made available by the Virtual Record Treasury. Emer OGorman, Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council, stated: The Virtual Record Treasury Roadshow highlights the value of archives to everyone, having reassembled 700 years of Irish archives lost during the Civil War. Indeed, archival sources and especially local authority archives have featured strongly in Decade of Centenaries programmes, which have brought local stories and experiences to life. We are very proud of the collections in our own Wicklow County Archives and look forward to a continuing collaboration between Wicklow and the Virtual Record Treasury project. Two sons of the late singer Aretha Franklin have clashed over her final wishes in an unusual trial that will determine whether a handwritten document found under sofa cushions will count as her will. The Queen of Soul died in 2018 aged 76 without a formal, typewritten will, and five years later her legacy is still tied up in a Detroit court after a niece found different sets of handwritten papers at her home. The issue for a jury is whether a 2014 document found in the sofa counts as a will under Michigan law. If so, it could trump a 2010 handwritten will that was found in a locked cabinet at the same time. The older version had been repeatedly signed by Franklin. Ted White II, a son who played guitar during his mothers performances, favours the 2010 document. Ted White II gave evidence in court (Carlos Osorio/AP) With all the time I spent working with her administratively every other document that she ever signed was something that was done conventionally and legally and with assistance from a lawyer, the 60-year-old told the jury. He acknowledged however that the 2014 document found at the same time in 2019 was also written by his mother. There are differences between the documents although they both appear to indicate that Franklins four sons would share income from music and copyrights. Four large posters showing pages from the 2014 document were presented to the jury. That version crossed out Whites name as executor of the estate and named another son, Kecalf Franklin, in his place. Kecalf Franklin and grandchildren would get his mothers main home in Bloomfield Hills, which was valued at $1.1 million when she died but is worth much more today. Kecalf Franklin, 53, said he does not consider it unusual that important papers like a will would be discovered in the living room. Asked by his attorney where Franklin often read mail, made important phone calls, signed documents and even slept, Kecalf Franklin repeatedly said on the couch. Kecalf Franklin, son of music superstar Aretha Franklin, arrives for a hearing (Carlos Osorio/AP) A niece, Sabrina Owens, who managed the estate immediately after Franklins death, did not appear in court on Monday but her testimony from a formal interview was read aloud. She explained how she was determined to search Franklins house for critical records. She would use the kitchen and living room that was about it, Ms Owens said. So when I got to the sofa, I lifted up that far right cushion and there was three notebooks there. The jury will hear closing arguments on Tuesday. The last public accounting filed in March showed the estate had income of $3.9 million during the previous 12-month period and a similar amount of spending, including more than $900,000 in legal fees to various firms. Overall assets were put at $4.1 million, mostly cash and property, though Franklins creative works and intellectual property were undervalued with just a nominal $1 figure. Riley has presented Countdown for the last 14 years (Matt Alexander/PA) Rachel Riley will receive an MBE at Windsor Castle for her work in raising awareness of the Holocaust and combating antisemitism. The Countdown presenter, 37, was honoured for her services to Holocaust education as an avid campaigner in the New Year Honours list. She was a vocal critic of Labours handling of alleged antisemitism within the party and condemned Jeremy Corbyns conduct while leader. Riley, who has co-hosted the Channel 4 show since 2009, was paid 10,000 in damages by Mr Corbyns former aide, Laura Murray, following a High Court libel case in August last year. In 2019, she explained the abuse she received on social media as a public figure during a speech for the Holocaust Educational Trust in Westminster, with her mother being Jewish. Riley wrote on Twitter after the honours announcement: Incredibly proud to have just been awarded an MBE for services to Holocaust education. Grateful to everyone who has sent well wishes and support over the years. This is very much shared with so many people who also dedicate their time and energy to fighting anti-Jewish racism. Sir Alok Sharma and David Harewood are among the other notable names set to collect honours at the event. Alok Sharma played a leading role at the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow (Victoria Jones/PA) Sir Alok, a former Conservative cabinet member, has been MP for Reading West since 2010 and also served as president for Cop26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow. He has remained vocal on environmental policy and last week called on the Government to remain committed to an 11.6 billion climate pledge. Fellow MP Sir Tony Lloyd, who holds a Labour seat in Rochdale, will also be honoured for his public service having represented his party since the early 1980s. Actor and broadcaster Harewood, best known for his role in US drama series Homeland, was recognised in the honours list with an OBE for services to drama and charity after he became a prominent voice for mental health support and against racism. He said on Instagram: An award from a new King should be cause for massive celebration, and yet already I hear the chorus of self defeating voices rattling around my head, thoughts of Empire and subjugation confusing the picture and again shifting the earth underneath. David Harewood previously received an MBE at Buckingham Palace in 2012 (Yui Mok/PA) I stop for a moment and think of all the others whose contributions have gone unnoticed and unpaid for and accept this award on their behalf, and continue to speak truth to power whenever and wherever I see the need. Two men will receive honours for services to music, with Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward also collecting an OBE and pianist Sir Stephen Hough receiving his knighthood. Sir Stephen, who made 29 appearances at the BBC Proms, was recognised in the late Queens Birthday Honours last year for a career that includes eight Gramophone Awards. He said he saw the knighthood as an acknowledgement that classical music is something of continuing relevance and importance in British cultural life. A male member of BBC staff has been suspended following the claims (PA) The teenager at the centre of the BBC controversy said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened with the unnamed presenter and that the allegations are rubbish, their lawyer said in a letter to the broadcaster. Police are carrying out further inquiries to establish whether any crime has been committed after BBC representatives met with detectives on Monday morning. The force said they are assessing the information discussed at the meeting but have not yet launched an investigation following allegations the presenter paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images. A male member of BBC staff has been suspended following claims that he paid a young person around 35,000 over three years, from the age of 17, for explicit images. The Sun reported on Monday that the presenter had made panicked calls to the person last week after the allegations became known. In a letter reported by BBC News At Six, the young person said via a lawyer: For the avoidance of doubt, nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations reported in The Sun newspaper are rubbish. The legal representative also claimed, the news programme said, that the teenager told The Sun on Friday evening ahead of the newspaper publishing the story that there was no truth to it. The inappropriate article was still put on the front page, the lawyer also told BBC News. The corporation said it had been investigating a complaint since May, and that new claims of a different nature were brought to it on Thursday. As well as being in touch with the police, the BBC is carrying out its own inquiries and talking to the young persons family. A spokesperson for The Sun said: We have reported a story about two very concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and the welfare of their child. Their complaint was not acted upon by the BBC. We have seen evidence that supports their concerns. Its now for the BBC to properly investigate. The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: Detectives from the Mets Specialist Crime Command met with representatives from the BBC on the morning of July 10. The meeting took place virtually. They are assessing the information discussed at the meeting and further enquiries are taking place to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence being committed. There is no investigation at this time. BBC director general Tim Davie said the broadcaster is working rapidly to investigate what has happened (PA) BBC director-general Tim Davie is due to face the media on Tuesday for a scheduled briefing following the release of the corporations annual report. In a note to staff on Sunday, he said: The BBC became aware of a complaint in May; the BBC investigations team have been looking into this since it was raised and have been actively following up. New allegations, of a different nature, were put to us on Thursday, and, in addition to our own inquiries, we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols. I can also confirm that we have suspended a member of staff. He added: By law, individuals are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy, which is making this situation more complex. I also want to be very clear that I am wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talent. We are in contact with the family referenced in the media reports. I want to assure you that we are working rapidly to establish the facts and to ensure that these matters are handled fairly and with care, including by external authorities where appropriate. The teenagers mother told The Sun newspaper she saw a picture of the presenter on her childs phone sitting on a sofa in his house in his underwear. The mother said she was told it was a picture from some kind of video call and looked like he was getting ready for my child to perform for him. The family were said to have complained to the BBC on May 19, but allegedly became frustrated that the star remained on air. On Monday, the newspaper reported that the presenter had made panicked calls to the young person following the allegations, claiming that he asked What have you done? and told them to tell their mother to stop the investigation. Gary Lineker, Rylan Clark, Jeremy Vine and Nicky Campbell are among the BBC stars to have publicly stated that they are not the presenter in question. Campbell suggested he had contacted police about being falsely mentioned online in connection with the story. He tweeted a screenshot which featured the Metropolitan Police logo and the words: Thank you for contacting the Metropolitan Police Service to report your crime. I think its important to take a stand. Theres just too many of these people on social media. Thanks for your support friends, he wrote. The young person at the centre of the BBC controversy said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened with the unnamed presenter and the allegations are rubbish, their lawyer said in a letter to the broadcaster. A male member of BBC staff has been suspended after The Sun newspaper reported he paid a young person around 35,000 over three years, from the age of 17, for explicit images. In a letter reported by BBC News At Six, the young person said via a lawyer: For the avoidance of doubt, nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations reported in The Sun newspaper are rubbish. The legal representative also said the young person told The Sun on Friday evening before the newspaper published the story that there was no truth to it, the BBC reported. The lawyer called the article on the front page inappropriate, the news show said. BBC News said it does know the identity of the young person and has not spoken to them directly, but that the letter was sent by a multinational law firm. Police said they are carrying out further inquiries to establish whether any crime has been committed after BBC representatives met detectives on Monday morning. A spokesperson for The Sun said: We have reported a story about two very concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and the welfare of their child. Their complaint was not acted upon by the BBC. We have seen evidence that supports their concerns. Its now for the BBC to properly investigate. The mother and stepfather of the young person stood by their allegation, and questioned how their child could afford the lawyer, The Sun reported. The newspaper reported that the mother said: It is sad but we stand by our account and we hope they get the help they need. We did this to help and the presenter has got into their head. How did they afford a lawyer? The Sun said the stepfather spoke to the BBC for an hour and the newspaper has seen emails sent to the corporation detailing alleged bank statements made by the presenter. According to the newspaper, the stepfather said: I told the BBC I had gone to the police in desperation but they couldnt do anything as they said it wasnt illegal. They knew all of this. BBC News also reported that the young person is estranged from their mother, according to their lawyer. The mother earlier told the Sun she saw a picture of the presenter on her childs phone sitting on a sofa in his house in his underwear. The mother said she was told it was a picture from some kind of video call and looked like he was getting ready for my child to perform for him. The family were said to have complained to the BBC on May 19, but allegedly became frustrated that the star remained on air. Earlier today, the newspaper reported the presenter had made panicked calls to the young person following the allegations, saying he asked What have you done? and told them to tell their mother to stop the investigation. BBC director general Tim Davie said the broadcaster is working rapidly to investigate what has happened (PA) The BBC said it had been investigating a complaint since May, and new claims of a different nature were brought to it on Thursday. As well as being in touch with the police, the BBC is carrying out its own inquiries and talking to the young persons family. The Metropolitan Police said: Detectives from the Mets Specialist Crime Command met with representatives from the BBC on the morning of July 10. The meeting took place virtually. They are assessing the information discussed at the meeting and further enquiries are taking place to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence being committed. There is no investigation at this time. BBC director-general Tim Davie is due to face the media on Tuesday for a scheduled briefing following the release of the corporations annual report. In a note to staff on Sunday, he said: The BBC became aware of a complaint in May; the BBC investigations team have been looking into this since it was raised and have been actively following up. New allegations, of a different nature, were put to us on Thursday, and, in addition to our own inquiries, we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols. I can also confirm that we have suspended a member of staff. He added: By law, individuals are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy, which is making this situation more complex. I also want to be very clear that I am wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talent. We are in contact with the family referenced in the media reports. I want to assure you that we are working rapidly to establish the facts and to ensure that these matters are handled fairly and with care, including by external authorities where appropriate. Gary Lineker, Rylan Clark, Jeremy Vine and Nicky Campbell are among the BBC stars to have publicly stated that they are not the presenter in question. The BBC said it had been investigating a complaint since May. Photo: Ian West/PA British detectives met with representatives of the BBC yesterday over allegations that a leading presenter paid a teenager for sexually explicit photos. But police said they had not opened a criminal investigation, and a lawyer for the young person denied anything inappropriate had happened. Meet the firm behind our content. Visit their website to see how their services can help your business succeed. Unsplash India's largest conglomerate Tata Group is inching closer to an agreement to acquire an Apple Inc supplier's factory in August, media reports said. If the deal is reached then the Group will become the first Indian brand to assemble iPhones. Tata Group, Indias largest conglomerate, is close to an agreement to acquire an Apple Inc. suppliers factory as soon as August, marking the first time a local company would move into the assembly of iPhones, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. A takeover of the Wistron Corp. factory in southern Karnataka state, potentially valued at more than $600 million, would cap about a year of negotiations, the people, asking not to be named as the matter is private, told Bloomberg. The facility employs more than 10,000 workers. It assembles iPhone 14 model. Foxconn and Wistron are currently the two major companies that manufacture Iphones in India. GDI:China's role in global recovery after COVID seen as proactive Leaders and senior officials from countries across the world have hailed the Global Development Initiative as a powerful tool to advance the prosperity of developing countries as President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message on the opening of a major conference on realizing the GDI. A total of 158 countries and international organizations took part in the first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development in Beijing on Monday in either an offline or virtual format. Xi noted that transformation of the world that is unseen in a century is unfolding at a faster pace, the world economy is struggling to recover and the global development agenda is facing challenges. In September 2021, Xi put forward the GDI for the first time when addressing the general debate of the 76th United Nations General Assembly. On Monday, Xi said he proposed this vision in order "to build consensus on cooperation and promote common development" and to help speed up implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. "I am pleased to see that with the joint participation of all parties, cooperation on the Global Development Initiative has yielded important early results and benefited many developing countries," he said. Noting that development is a timeless theme for humanity, Xi said "shared development is an important path to building a better world". As the largest developing country, China has always placed its own development within the larger context of human development and created new opportunities for the development of the world through its own development, he said. China will continue to allocate more resources for global development cooperation, and will work with the international community to bring about more concrete results in advancing the GDI, in order to make new contributions to realizing the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals on schedule and to building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said. Currently, over 100 countries and international organizations have expressed support for the GDI, and close to 70 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI in the UN framework. Beijing will take further action to support development as a priority agenda, better foster development projects, facilitate financing, diversify ways of cooperation, boost third-party collaboration and reinforce the role of young people, said Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee. "No matter how the international situation may evolve, China will stay true to its status as a developing country, and stand firmly side by side with fellow countries of the South for shared development and joint revitalization," Wang said when addressing the conference. The conference yielded key outcomes including the Beijing Statement, which calls for efforts to put development front and center in international cooperation. Also released were two documents The Guidelines on Global Development Project Pool and The Guidelines on Global Development Project Pool Financing. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the event "will attract the world's attention, especially in echoing the calls made by most developing countries from Africa and Asia in pursuit of development". "We also need joint efforts to safeguard our peace, development and cooperation. We need to understand that isolation and confrontation cannot and will never yield positive results," she said in a video speech. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen warned that the global economic situation and development "are still faced with increasingly complicated, grave economic, social and environmental issues". "In this context, we have witnessed China's proactive participation in recovery in the post-pandemic era through advancing the region's integration as well as multilateralism", he said in a video speech. Belarus was among the first countries to officially support the GDI and is a member of the Group of Friends of the GDI. Nikolai Snopkov, first deputy prime minister of Belarus, said that while the world is faced with geopolitical tension and crises in food and energy security, "it is disappointing to see some countries politicizing the development agenda, imposing restrictions on access to energy and technology rather than offering advices for tackling the current global challenges and threats". He noted that the GDI vision takes care of all countries, including small nations, and added that "no countries should be left behind". Pixabay Dhaka: Bangladesh Bank governor Abdur Rauf Talukder on Tuesday said the central bank will launch a dual currency card of Bangladeshi Taka and Indian Rupee from September. The central bank governor said this while addressing at the inaugural ceremony to introduce the rupee as a means of transactions in bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India at Le Meridian Hotel in Dhaka. Bangladesh Bank and Indian high commissioner in Dhaka jointly organised the event. Indian high commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Verma, and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Md Jasim Uddin were present at the event. The Bangladesh Bank governor said, We are in the middle of a process to introduce a taka-rupee dual currency card and it will be launched in September. The decision to introduce this dual currency card has been taken in a bid to save US dollars, he added. Currently, Bangladeshis, who visit India, carry US dollars and convert those to Indian Rupees. Once a Taka-Rupee dual currency card is launched, visitors from Bangladesh will no longer be needed to convert currency twice, and the exchange rates will also be saved. This card can be used both in Bangladesh and India. While announcing the monetary policy for the first half of 2023-24 fiscal on 18 June, Bangladesh Bank governor Abdur Rauf Talukder said, We are going to a new debit card Pay Card for transactions in Indian rupee as well as Bangladeshi taka. In addition to local transactions, the Pay Card users will have the convenience of spending up to USD 12,000 worth of rupees while traveling to India, he said. (With UNI Iinputs) Image: Twitter/Abdulla Shahid New Delhi: Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives will be in India on an official visit on 11-12 July 2023. "During his visit to New Delhi, Foreign Minister Shahid will meet the External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar for discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. Both Ministers will also witness exchange of project development agreements under Indian grant assistance. Foreign Minister Shahid will deliver the 43rd Sapru House Lecture at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi. Maldives is Indias key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in Prime Ministers vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy. Foreign Minister Shahids visit is in continuation of the series of high level visits from both sides and is expected to lend further momentum to the substantive bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Ghaziabad: Six members of a family, including two women and two children, were killed and two others injured when a school bus collided with an SUV in Crossing Republic area of Ghaziabad district here in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, a police officer said here. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ramanand Kushwaha said that the incident took place on Delhi-Meerut expressway around 6 am when the school bus coming from the wrong side collided with the SUV. "Six persons, all residents of Ichauli area in Meerut district, were killed in the incident," he said. He said that the deceased have been identified as Narendra Yadav (45), his wife Anita Yadav (42), son Kartik (12), sister-in-law Babita (35) and her son Vansh (7). "The victims were on their way to Rajasthan when the incident took place. Two persons were injured in the incident and have been admitted to the hospital," he said. The ADCP said that the bus driver has been arrested. (With UNI inputs) Image Credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) is heading for a massive victory in all three-tier Panchayat elections as results are pouring in from several districts as the ruling party secured wins in 14,767 gram panchayat (GP) seats, followed by main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that clinched 3,344 seats, according to the State Election Commission on Tuesday. Out of a total of 341 Panchayat Samitis (PS), the All India Trinamool Congress is leading in 28 as the results are awaited. The counting of votes in the violence-hit panchayat and rural body elections are currently underway for Saturday's poll and repolling to 697 seats on Monday. The ruling regime is dominant in all three - Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samities and the Zilla Parishads. According to trends at 3.30 pm, the TMC has won in 12,518 gram panchayat seats and is leading in 3,620 seats. Its nearest rival BJP has won 2,781 seats and is leading in 915 seats out of 63,229 seats. The Left Front has won 959 seats out of which the CPI(M) alone has won in 910 seats. The party is currently leading in 550 seats. The Congress won 625 seats and is leading in 276. Results so far TMC Won - 8,232 TMC Leading - 2,712 BJP Won - 1,714 BJP Leading - 734 Congress Won - 362 Congress Leading - 215. (With UNI Inputs) Representative image/ credit: Pixabay New Delhi/IBNS: A temporary staffer of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been arrested for allegedly sharing details of G-20 meetings and other confidential information with an unidentified person in Pakistan. The Ghaziabad Police arrested the man, Naveen Pal, and charged him with espionage based on information from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Pal allegedly shared confidential information through WhatsApp with a woman he met on social media, said reports The virtual phone number associated with the woman's WhatsApp account appeared to be from Bareilly in UP, officials said. However, the IP address was traced to Karachi in Pakistan, they added. The accused allegedly shared multiple pieces of intelligence about India, MEA documents, and details of G-20 meetings with a person in Karachi through WhatsApp, officials said. Image credit: UNI Kolkata/IBNS: After days of sporadic violence, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress swept the state's all three-tier Panchayat elections as results kept pouring in from several districts till late Tuesday night amid tight security of central forces and the state police. The TMC won the violence-scarred rural polls by bagging victory in 28,985 gram panchayat seats, besides leading in 1,540 seats, as per the State Election Commission as of 10.30 pm on Tuesday. The party's nearest rival-Bhartaiya Janata Party (BJP) has won 7,764 seats and is leading in 417 seats. The Left Front has won 2,468 seats, of which the CPI(M) alone has won 2,409. The Left, which is in third place, is currently leading in 260 seats. The Congress won 2,022 seats and is leading in 139. Other parties won 725 seats and led in 23 seats, while independents which included TMC rebels won 1,656 seats and led in 104 seats. The ruling regime is dominant in both Panchayat Samiti and the Zilla Parishad elections as well. Saturday's polling was marked by violence in multiple booths, in which a total of 15 people died. The repolling in 696 booths on Monday was held amid allegations of ballot box tampering. On Monday, four more persons were reported dead, taking the toll of political violence to 42 since June 8, when the three-tier local body polls were announced. Allegations of vote tampering had marred the panchayat elections, forcing the SEC headed by Rajiva Sinha to order a repoll in affected booths in all but three districts of Bengal. This morning, crude bombs went off in several places and the police resorted to lathicharge in Howrah to control crowds. The counting was held amid strict security with armed state police personnel and central forces stationed at the counting centres, and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents. The BJP Tuesday slammed the Trinamool Congress government over the "state-sponsored" violence, terming chief minister Mamata Banerjee ruthless and claiming at least 45 people have died in the clashes. The saffron party, in a release, said it has nominated a four-member fact-finding committee to visit the violence-affected areas in West Bengal. The panel members include MP and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and MP Dr Satyapal Singh. Peshawar: Pakistan's counter-terrorism department has claimed that the terrorist group Islamic State was behind the recent targeted attacks against religious scholars and members of minority groups in the provincial capital, media reports said. The CTD has arrested Daesh affiliate Aminullah and killed another, Zafar, following their encounter with the special patrolling squad, Ababeel Force, in the provincial capital, Additional Inspector General Shaukat Abbas told reporters here as quoted by Dawn News. He said on June 25, a gunman killed member of the Christian community Mushtaq and fled but he was intercepted by the Ababeel Force on the Ring Road near Garhi Qamardin area. As soon as the gunman saw the force, he opened fire at it injuring three personnel. The force retaliated and killed him, he told the newspaper. The official also said the police seized a pistol, a motorcycle, two SIM cards, a BRT card and an Afghan citizen card carrying the name of Khalid Khan son of Musafir. Initial investigation showed the gunman was identified as Zafar. Image: Unsplash Quetta: At least two persons, including a Levies official, were killed and a child was injured when unknown armed men opened fire on the vehicle of a nephew of Pakistani minister Sardar Israr Tareen on Monday night, media reports said. Sardar Shahzed Tareen, the ministers nephew, was not present in the vehicle when it was attacked in the Pishin stop area, reports Dawn News. Police told the newspaper the unknown armed men riding a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire with automatic weapons on the vehicle, killing a Levies guard and another person. Shahzed was also travelling in the vehicle but he later dropped at a car showroom. His guard and servant were going to his home in the Modal Town area when the attack took place. Representative image/ credit: Unsplash Vancouver/IBNS: A state of emergency for the unincorporated Stikine region was declared by the province of British Columbia in response to the ongoing wildfire situation and expansion of campfire bans throughout the province. An evacuation order in place for specific areas in the region affected by the Little Blue River Wildfire including the Stikine region being B.C.s only unincorporated region. The declaration is effective from July 10 for 14 days and may be extended or rescinded as necessary. Campfires have already been prohibited in many regions of B.C. While the Wildfire Act already enables all the legislative tools...to closely monitor wildfire and drought conditions and impacts across B.C. to determine if other measures might be required. We will continue to take actions to keep people and communities safe, said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. With 311 active wildfires burning in the province, significant amounts of dry lightning affected nearly all regions of the province during the past weekend. Additional out-of-province resources through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre are being provided to B.C. Currently, there are 12 evacuation orders affecting approximately 156 people, in addition to 12 evacuation alerts affecting 629 people in the northwest, northeast and Cariboo regions. In addition to deployment by international personnel from Mexico and the United States to the Prince George Fire Centre, aviation resources in recent days have been provided to B.C. With drought conditions continuing to worsen in B.C. due to lower levels of rain and other precipitation over the past year, the majority of water basins are now at Level 4 drought. In case drought conditions worsen due the failure of conservation measures not achieving sufficient results, temporary protection orders under the Water Sustainability Act may be issued to water licensees to support drinking water for communities and avoid significant or irreversible harm to aquatic ecosystems. The situation is being monitored by the provincial staff with efforts to balance water use with environmental flow needs. People and businesses have been advised to reduce water use wherever possible and observe all watering restrictions from their local or regional government, water utility provider or irrigation district. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) Audi, the famed German automaker, is said to be interested in obtaining an electric vehicle (EV) platform from a Chinese competitor. The move demonstrates Audi's commitment to growing its footprint in the rapidly expanding and fiercely competitive EV industry. With electric mobility gaining pace, the potential acquisition might present Audi with an excellent opportunity to boost its product selection and position as a leading participant in the global electric vehicle sector. The stated explanation is that parent firm Volkswagen Group's Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) is behind schedule, and Audi must immediately start. According to the German journal Automobilwoche, citing "company circles," Audi wants to be faster in EV development, so it is considering purchasing a platform from a Chinese rival. The issue could be considered in an Audi supervisory board meeting this week, probably on July 11, with Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume alleged to have already approved the proposal. Chinese EV Market On Audi's Radar: Company Considers Acquiring Rival's Platform Credits: InsideEvs According to unnamed sources reported by Automobilwoche (via Elective), Audi is already in talks with many manufacturers. Because the SSP platform is delayed, the German premium brand desperately needs an electric car platform to offer new models in China. Volkswagen's new electric flagship Project Trinity, which will be the first model to use SSP, is not slated to appear until 2029 - some reports even say 2030, meaning Audi's first SSP-based model is still a long way off. According to Volkswagen Group's initial timeline, Project Trinity was supposed to appear in 2026. Audi decided to purchase an external electric vehicle platform to continue delivering new EVs in the highly competitive Chinese market, even though the automaker maintained it had no formal knowledge of the plans when queried by Automobilwoche. In China, Audi sells two MEB-based models: the Q4 e-tron and the Q5 e-tron, the latter of which is a rebadged Volkswagen ID.6 X electric SUV. Both versions are manufactured at the Anting factory. Audi and its joint venture partner FAW are constructing an EV plant in China that will begin producing Premium Platform Electric (PPE) cars by the end of 2024. The Audi A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron are two models that use this platform. Audi and its joint venture partner FAW are constructing an EV plant in China that will begin producing Premium Platform Electric (PPE) cars by the end of 2024. The Audi A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron are two models that use this platform. Credits:Insideevs While PPE offers improvements over MEB, such as a system voltage of 800 volts, Audi requires the SSP architecture to make the next significant leap in autonomous driving, software, and production. The story does not specify which Chinese automakers Audi is currently in talks with, although Geely and Foxconn are two prominent contenders. Geely stated at the launch of its SEA electric car platform that it intends to make it available as an open-source solution to other OEMs. At the same time, contract manufacturer Foxconn is willing to produce vehicles for third parties based on its MIH platform for electric cars. What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. 1. OMG 2 Teaser: Akshay And Pankaj Leave The Internet Flooded With Chants Of Har Har Mahadev The much-anticipated teaser of Akshay Kumars OMG 2 was released on 11th July. The film will arrive in theatres exactly 1 month down, on August 11. Other than Akshay, this satirical comedy-drama will reportedly revolve around the Indian education system and will also star Pankaj Tripathi, Yami Gautam and Arun Govil in pivotal roles. Read More! Indiatimes 2. Salman Khans Ex Somy Ali Hurls Fresh Accusations Against Him, Pulls Up Shah Rukh Khan As Well Pakistani-American actress Somy Ali reportedly dated Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in the late 90s. The duo even did a film together but it got shelved. In the last few years, Somy has gone all out and has criticized Salman for the alleged ill-treatment she faced while being with him during 1991-1999. In a fresh post now, Somy has yet again called out Salman but this time has a fresh superstar to target. Read More! Indiatimes 3. Arshad Warsi On Being An Outsider In Bollywood, 'You Give One Flop, You Are Doomed' Talking about nepotism and favouritism in Bollywood, Arshad Warsi said that while some actors enjoy the privileges of being offered multiple films to make a hit, others give one flop and they are 'doomed'. Warsi debuted with Tere Mere Sapne in 1996, and has now received immense praise for his latest project Asur 2. Read More! Indiatimes 4. Couple Recreates Shahid And Kareenas Tum Se Hi In Mumbais Heavy Rain, Internet Is Impressed Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor made us fall in love with their romantic musical Jab We Met back in 2007. Although the film had a happy ending, these actors who were once in love broke up during the shoot of this film. One of the songs from the movie, Tum Se Hi; still remains fresh in our minds. One such video has caught our attention where a couple from Mumbai is seen grooving to this song. Read More! Indiatimes 5. Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan Trailer Crosses 100 Million Views In 24 Hours, Fans Call It Massive Feat Shah Rukh Khan is all set to hit theatres on September 7 with his upcoming film Jawan. The trailer of which released on 10th July with a roaring response. Released in three languages - Hindi, Telugu and Tamil, Jawans trailer has minted over 100 million views in just 24 hours. Several of SRKs fans have flocked to the internet with their reactions to this 100 million feat and heres what they are saying! Twitter (For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment) A 72-year-old resident of Ede, Osun State, identified as Kareem Aderemi, has reportedly committed suicide, by shooting himself with a barrel gun. The deceased, who was said to be battling some ailments including partial blindness, reportedly committed the act at his residence at Alapos compound, Ede on Monday when he shot himself with a barrel gun. The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, Kehinde Adeleke, confirmed the incident to The Punch on Monday. READ ALSO: 21-Year-Old Housewife Stabs Husband To Death In Bauchi She said, On July 10, 2023, at about 12:50hours, at Alapos compound, Ede, Ede North LGA, one Kareem ADEREMI, m, 72yrs, of 45, Alapos compound, Ede North LGA, allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself on the lower jaw with a local barrel. Preliminary investigation revealed that late Aderemi had been battling with Parkinsons and partial eye problems without adequate care. We learnt he had been living alone for some months before he allegedly committed suicide. It is pertinent to state that late Aderemi had a licensed barrel, and he had always been with his barrel since he partially lost his sight, but no one knew he had a cartridge with which he used to kill himself. She added that the police had retrieved and taken custody of the gun used to commit the act, as the corpse was being prepared for burial. Kareem Aderemi, a 72-year-old resident of Ede, was on Monday confirmed to have committed suicide by shooting himself with a gun at his apartment in Osun State. The State Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kehinde Adeleke, who disclosed this, stated that the deceased suffered from various sicknesses, including partial blindness. Adeleke said, On July 10, 2023, around 12.50pm, at Alapos compound, Ede, Ede North LGA, one Kareem Aderemi, 72, allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself on the lower jaw with a local barrel. READ ALSO: Court Remands 17-Yr-Old Girl For Sexually Assaulting Minor In Kano Preliminary investigation revealed that late Aderemi had been battling with Parkinsons disease and partial eye problems without adequate care. We learnt he had been living alone for some months before he allegedly committed suicide. It is pertinent to state that late Aderemi had a licensed barrel, and he had always been with his barrel since he partially lost his sight. But no one knew he had a cartridge with which he used to kill himself. According to her, the police had retrieved and taken custody of the gun used to commit the act. Drama erupted in a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday morning when a Judge, Justice James Omotosho handed a Police lawyer, Ibrahim Mohammed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over criminal charges filed against Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Mohammed is being investigated for allegedly filing criminal charges against former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah, without the required authorization from the EFCC. It was gathered that the police lawyer had filed an 8-count criminal charge against the former Minister in the name of the EFCC. However, he did this without the anti-graft agencys permission, leading to the unexpected order by Justice Omotosho. The police lawyer, Mohammed, found himself in a deep unfortunate circumstance when he announced his representation of the Nigeria Police Force for a case involving the former Minister. READ MORE: FG Sues Stella Oduah Over Alleged Felony, Document Falsification, Others Mohammed told the court that Oduah was absent due to health reasons. However, when the court discovered that the charges against Oduah were signed by a police officer, questions arose. The police officer who signed the charges had been temporarily assigned to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but was returned to the police force in November 2022. The judge questioned the legitimacy of the prosecutors explanation and subsequently ordered the EFCC to conduct an investigation into the prosecution counsel, Mohammed. Recall that Oduah was taken to court on an eight-count criminal charge, which included accusations of document forgery, conspiracy to commit a felony, among other offences. These charges come amidst a controversy surrounding allegations of document falsification by Oduah, with claims that she dishonestly stated she had completed the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program. The judge has scheduled a follow-up hearing and directed the prosecution counsel, Mohammed, to report to the EFCC for the investigation. A Magistrates Court sitting at Iyaganku in Ibadan, on Monday ordered that a nursing mother, Damilola Opeyemi be remanded in Abolongo Correctional facility, Oyo Town for allegedly stabbing her husband to death over dinner. Magistrate P. O. Adetuyibi, did not take her plea due to want of jurisdiction. She said the remand is pending legal advice from the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP). The Magistrate then adjourned the matter until Sept. 27, for mention. A High Court sitting in Abakaliki Judicial Division, Ebonyi State, has sentenced a 26-year-old man, identified as Offor Okike to death by hanging for armed robbery. Okike was convicted of robbing a resident of the state, Lydia Nwuba of her Toyota Corolla on April 2, 2019 at Elias Odili Street, off Adazienu junction, in Abakaliki. The prosecution team had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt before the presiding judge, Justice Chinyere Ken-Eze convicted Okike of the charge. READ ALSO: Court Remands Nursing Mother For Allegedly Stabbing Husband To Death Over Noodles In Oyo Okike was said to have robbed the woman of her Toyota Corolla car valued One Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,800,000.00), a Nokia handset valued N18,000 and cash of N2,000 at gunpoint. Okike was convicted for armed robbery contrary to section 1(2)(a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special provisions) Act cap R11, Volume 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. Delivering judgment on the matter recently, Justice Ken-Eze said following findings of the court, Okike was guilty as charged. The judge sentenced the convict to death by hanging and told him that, The sentence of death upon you, Offor Okike, is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on your soul. A witness of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kehinde Soboyejo, took a traditional oath with a cutlass at the governorship election petition tribunal in Abeokuta on Monday. He followed the precedent set by three witnesses last week who preferred a traditional oath, swearing on the god of iron, before testifying. Soboyejo said he would prefer to take his oath in a traditional way using the god of iron to swear before the panel. He claimed that the election that brought Abidoun into office was one fraught with irregularities. Recall that the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, Ladi Adebutu is challenging the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Abiodun at the tribunal, citing irregularities at the poll. READ MORE: FG Arraigns PDPs Adebutu, Nine Others For Vote-Buying INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the tribunal had last week Thursday, admitted undisputed documents presented by the PDP after which its counsel told the tribunal of its readiness to start calling witnesses as scheduled. The party called five additional witnesses who are; Ibuowo Ogunbowale, Adeleye Ayomide, Adijat Ayodele, Faisal Yusuf, and Soboyejo. They all testified against the victory of Abiodun and his party, APC at the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state. However, their credibility was questioned when Yusufs voters card contradicted his claim of being a trader for the past 30 years, indicating instead that he was a civil servant. Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, says only God can save President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should he lose at the Presidential Election Petition Court. According to the socio-political activist, if Tinubu loses, ex-Kaduna emperor and his next Book would come after him. He however said the opposition would either congratulate or condemn the verdict and move on if he wins the case in court. READ ALSO: Its Undemocratic For Nigerian Leaders To Limit Development To Their Hometown Bishop Kukah Sani tweeted on Monday: If the court favours Tinubu and his victory is affirmed, the opposition may congratulate him or condemn the ruling and move on. If the court ruled against Tinubu and he lost the presidency, only God will save him from the mouth of the ex-Kaduna emperor and his next Book How we made him and he betrayed us. Information Nigeria reports that Sanis emperor jab refers to Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, says the Integrity Group (G-5) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State are seeking appointment and protection from prosecution from the Federal Government. Recall that the G-5 consists of former governor Nyesom Wike, Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu of Rivers, Benue, Enugu and Abia States. In a statement by Atikus Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, their decision not to support Atikus 2023 presidential bid has nothing to do with patriotism. Information Nigeria reports that his reaction stems from remarks made by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, on why he did not support the PDP presidential candidate, in the last election. Shaibu however stated that Fayose ought to have been bold to campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress ( APC) in the last election. Atiku noted that the former Ekiti governor, who admitted in a television interview that he worked against his party in the last president poll was only running from pillar to post in order to get Tinubu to discontinue his N1.7 billion corruption case at the Federal High Court. On September 20, 2022, Fayose, while addressing his supporters in Ado Ekiti, publicly stated that he would be supporting Waziri Atiku Abubakar despite Wikes protests. A simple Google search will confirm this. READ ALSO: If Anybody Suppresses My Voice, I Will Say Things More Than This Fayose Dares PDP Then after Tinubus dubious victory, Fayose quickly changed gears, stating that he was the one who delivered Ekiti State to the APC. This is his stock in trade. He is a lily-livered rabble-rouser who loves to be in the spotlight and pretends to be more popular than he really is. This is the deception of the man. Aware of the fact that he cannot get a ministerial appointment because of people like Kayode Fayemi, Dele Alake and Dayo Adeyeye who are jostling for the Ekiti slot, Fayose is now running from pillar to post, trying to get an appointment for his son while also trying to get the government to withdraw his corruption case from court. G-5 governors were only seeking relevance, appointments, and protection from prosecution, their decision not to support Atiku had nothing to do with patriotism, and Nigerians should not be deceived. Ortom was one of the worst governors in the history of Nigeria. His case file at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is bulky, and he was recently invited but released because of Wikes intervention. Ikpeazu, the former governor of Abia State, also performed woefully in office. His successor has been complaining almost on a daily basis. But the EFCC will not prosecute him because of the G-5 connection. This is what they have turned the country into. No wonder, they believe Nigeria needs an average mad person, he stated. At least, no fewer than five persons, including four officers of the Nigeria Police Force, were reportedly killed on Monday midnight in Zamfara state by some yet to be identified gunmen, suspected to be bandits. According to a Channels TV report, the officers were said to have set up a checkpoint along the Bungudu-Gusau Road when they were ambushed by the gunmen, who opened fire on them. Meanwhile, a resident of Bungudu town, Ibrahim Bungudu, said that four of the policemen were killed in the attack and said that the bandits also shot a person in Tagero village, located in the Furfuri district of Bungudu Local Government Area. Bungudu said: The bandits ambushed the police along the Gusau-Bungudu road close to Nabature company and killed four. They also rustled many cattle at Tagero village under Furfuri district; one person was shot in the hand in the village. READ MORE: Troops Rescue 24 Kidnap Victims, Kill Bandits In Zamfara Another resident of the town, identified as Usman Bungudu, said the bandits assaulted the policemen while they were on checkpoint duty around midnight, resulting in the deaths of four officers. The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has released some documents before the States Election Petition Tribunal in a bid to prove that he thoroughly filled out the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) form EC9 which contains his full personal information as the partys candidate as well as the Oath that was taken on the nomination form. The documents were tendered by counsel for the governor and his deputy, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muiz Banire, through his witness, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fouad Oki. INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that other documents tendered and admitted through the same witness were the Nigerian and American passports for the deputy governor. Recall that the candidate of the Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is challenging the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the March 18 governorship poll. He is also challenging the eligibility of Mr Hamzat to contest on the ground that he allegedly swore allegiance to the United States of America. The petitioner also claims that the omission of the Oath page in Form EC9 of the 3rd respondent (Mr Obafemi Hamzat), submitted by his party, the APC, showed it was not endorsed by the Commissioner for Oaths within the time prescribed by the Electoral Law 2022 and that without the oath page, the entire form EC9 and the information contained in it are worthless. READ MORE: Lagos Tribunal: Absence Of Witness Delays Hearing In Rhodes-Vivours Petition Against Sanwo-Olu At the resumed hearing of the petition on Monday before the three-member tribunal, Banire also tendered some documents containing the certified true copies of INEC form EC8C titled: Summary of result from registration areas, collation at local government area levels, a copy of form EC8D titled: Summary of results from local government areas collation at State Level and also, a copy of form EC8E titled: Declaration of result. During cross examination by APCs lead Counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Abiodun Owonikoko, Hon. Oki told the tribunal that he witnessed when the Governor and his Deputy were filling the INEC form EC9 which contains the personal information of the partys candidates as well as the Oaths that was taken on their nomination forms. He said that the oaths were taken at the Ikeja High Court registry while also confirming that both men paid the prescribed fees and signed the oath. I witnessed when the 3rd respondent was filling the form as well as the oath that was taken on the nomination form at the Ikeja High Court registry. They paid the fees, we thought it would be free being government officials. but the Commissioner for Oaths said since they are signing in their personal capacity, they must pay. The witness sought to tender the declaration page of the form EC9 and the receipts, through the APCs counsel. But the counsel for the Labour Partys candidate, Idowu Benson objected to the admissibility, saying he would reserve his reasons till the stage of final addresses by all counsel. The tribunal admitted the documents provisionally, pending the stage when it will hear the objection on its merits. After his evidence, the tribunal discharged the witness and Mr Banire announced that his clients would be closing their case. Justice Arum Ashom has adjourned further hearing in the petition till July 11, 2023, for the APC to open its defence. Ancient Religion Societies of African Descendants International Council (ARSADIC), the umbrella body for all indigenous African religions, has warned Islamic extremists in Ilorin, Kwara state to stop harassing and provoking its members in the state. The council made this statement after one of its members Omolara Ajesekemi, an Osun devotee and priestess, was reportedly intimidated over her faith by some Muslims. In a statement issued by the ARSADIC President, Aare (Dr) Ifagbenusola Atanda and made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Monday, it warned that religious fundamentalism must not be encouraged in any form and in any part of the nation. Atanda, who is also the Asiwaju Awo Agbaye, said it was wrong for a Muslim group, Majlisu Shabab li Ulamahu Society, and the spokesperson of the Emir of Ilorin, Abdulazeez Arowona, to threaten the priestess and to stop her from holding Isese festival in the town. READ ALSO: Muslim Group Storms Traditionalists House, Warns Against Isese Festival In Ilorin The statement reads, As long as we, the traditional religion adherents, know our boundary not to throw offensives at other faiths, we will resist any attempt to trample on our rights to freedom of religion and association as well spelt out in the Nigerian Constitution. We will never fold our arms and allow extremists in any guise deny us our God-given rights and supported by the laws of Nigeria as a secular state. We are quite aware that Ilorin, Kwara State is an integral part of Nigeria and we ready to defend our faith. Yeye Omolara Ajesekemi has our support at all times to practice her faith, the traditional religion, which bonds all of us together. And as the tenets of our faith has taught us to be pious, be law-abiding, accommodating of other religions and value humanity, we will refuse to be initimidated and humiliated by any group or anybody. He, therefore, called on the State Government under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and all security agencies to intervene and live up to their constitutional duties of protecting lives and property. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has decried the fact that most of the people tasked to operationalise the Nigerian Constitution are the ones undermining the countrys democracy. The former Head of State, exemplified constitutional abuse as a situation where members of the National Assembly fix their own salaries in clear usurpation of the duty of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission. Obasanjo disclosed this on Monday in Ado Ekiti, during a public lecture organised for the 60th anniversary of the Call to Bar of legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola. READ ALSO: Tinubus Enormous Responsibility As Chair Will Restore ECOWAS Buhari In his submission, the ex-President said democracy is a preferred government but players needed to respect the laws to make it work for all. By the Nigerian Constitution, the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission is supposed to fix the salaries and emoluments of the members of the National Assembly, but they (lawmakers) set the constitution aside and decided to fix their salaries, Obasanjo remarked. While urging political leaders to put the interest of citizens ahead in all decisions, the ex-President pointed out that: Democracy doesnt mean anything to a man who is hungry, whose life is in danger or whose property is being destroyed. Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has sacked his Special Adviser on Youths, Babangida Sarki, over misconduct and immoral action. Information Nigeria reports that Sarki was specifically laid off for posting homosexual pornography on his WhatsApp status on Sunday. In a statement on Monday, the State government condemned Sarkis action saying Governor Idris was exasperated by the abhorrent action of his aide as it has negated the creed and social values of the State. The Governors spokesman, Ahmed Idris, quoted his principal as saying that Sarkis WhatsApp post trampled on the moral and social ethos of Kebbi society. READ ALSO: Isese: Stop Provoking Our Members Traditionalists Warn Muslim Extremists The Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Dr Nasiru Idris, Kauran Gwandu, has relieved his Special Adviser on Youths, of his appointment. The sacking of the S.A. was a sequel to an indecent posting he made on his WhatsApp status. The governor, who was enraged by the obnoxious development said the aide trampled on the moral and social ethos of the Kebbi society, which is largely Islamic. The Kauran Gwandu vowed that his administration would not condone any of such acts that denigrate the morality and integrity of the people of the state. The governor also cautioned other public officers against making such heinous postings in their social media handles and other public fora, the statement read. Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to send the wrong signals on his fight against corruption. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria who disclosed this on Monday, at the 60th anniversary of the call to bar of Aare Afe Babalola in Ekiti State. Falana said that quite a number of people in the Aso Presidential Villa are standing trial for corruption. READ ALSO: Sitting Judges Should Not Preside Over Election Tribunals Afe Babalola Im urging the president to lead an anti-corruption crusade so that the country the largest concentration of black people on earth, can take its rightful place in the committee of nations. Highly-placed public officers steal money meant for building hospitals, and people are dying on our roads. Some of those who are going in and out of the villa are standing trial for looting the treasury of this country. So, wrong signals must not be sent to our people and the international community, Falana said. Legal icon and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, has said sitting judges should not preside over election petitions tribunals. The legal luminary, made this known at an event in Ado-Ekiti to mark his 60th anniversary at the Bar, said the judiciary needs a total overhaul. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said judges who preside over election tribunals should be separate from regular court judges to avoid the halt of cases unrelated to elections. He suggested that retired judges and respectable SANs should constitute tribunal judges. He said: For the past four years, these cases have been on. We have some judges here, the headquarters wont be able to sit for many months because they are handling what they call election petitions. READ MORE: Politicians Should Contribute To Offset Nigerias Debt Afe Babalola Election petitions should not be handled by sitting judges, they should be decided only by the committee set up consisting of senior advocates and retired judges in that case regular courts would not close down. Babalola also said the judiciary needs a total overhaul, adding that it cannot be done without a new constitution. He said: Our judiciary today needs a total overhaul and you cannot do it without a new constitution. I have about three cases myself in respect of matters arising from the university. Dignitaries at the occasion include former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah; the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi; former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku; human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), amongst others. Former President Muhammadu Buhari, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his election as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). According to the former president, Tinubus emergence will bring restoration to the Community. Recall that Tinubu was on Sunday elected at the 63rd ordinary session of the ECOWAS Authority Heads of State and Government, in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau. The Nigerian president succeeded President Umaro Embalo of Guinea Bissau, who became chairman of ECOWAS on July 4, 2022. READ ALSO: Tinubu Sends Ministerial List To DSS, EFCC For Scrutiny Buhari, in a statement issued by Garba Shehu, his spokesperson on Monday, prayed that Tinubus term in office will bring restoration to the regional economic body. He however called on Nigerians to support Tinubu as he takes up the mantle of leadership in ECOWAS. West Africans have entrusted our new leader with an enormous responsibility, and it will be our task as citizens to support him to not let them down, he said. I pray the Almighty will make his tenure as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government see to the restoration of ECOWAS as the bastion of democracy, good governance and a leader in fighting terrorism and climate change on the continent, the ex-President added. Consensus is fundamental to consistent, distributed systems. In order to guarantee system availability in the event of inevitable crashes, systems need a way to ensure that each node in the cluster is in alignment, such that work can seamlessly transition between nodes in the case of failures. Consensus protocols such as Paxos, Raft, and View Stamped Replication (VSR) help to drive resiliency for distributed systems by providing the logic for processes like leader election, atomic configuration changes, synchronization, and more. As with all design elements, the different approaches to distributed consensus offer different trade-offs. Paxos is the oldest consensus protocol around and is used in many systems like Google Cloud Spanner, Apache Cassandra, Amazon DynamoDB, and Neo4j. Paxos achieves consensus in a three-phased, leaderless, majority-wins protocol. While Paxos is effective in driving correctness, it is notoriously difficult to understand, implement, and reason about. This is partly because it obscures many of the challenges in reaching consensus (e.g. leader election, reconfiguration), making it difficult to decompose into subproblems. Raft (for reliable, replicated, redundant, and fault-tolerant) can be thought of as an evolution of Paxos focused on understandability. Raft can achieve the same correctness as Paxos but is easier to understand and implement in the real world, so often can provide greater reliability guarantees. For example, Raft uses a stable form of leadership, which simplifies replication log management, and its leader election process is more efficient. Redpanda Data And because Raft decomposes the different logical components of the consensus problem, for example by making leader election a distinct step before replication, it is a flexible protocol to adapt for complex, modern distributed systems that need to maintain correctness and performance while scaling to PBs of throughput, all while being simpler to understand to new engineers hacking on the codebase. For these reasons, Raft has been rapidly adopted for todays distributed and cloud-native systems like MongoDB, CockroachDB, TiDB, and Redpanda in order to achieve greater performance and transactional efficiency. How Redpanda implements Raft When Redpanda founder Alex Gallego determined that the world needed a new streaming data platform to support the kind of GBps+ workloads that can cause Apache Kafka to fall over, he decided to rewrite Kafka from the ground-up. The requirements for what would become Redpanda were 1) it needed to be simple and lightweight in order to reduce the complexity and inefficiency of running Kafka clusters reliably at scale; 2) it needed to maximize the performance of modern hardware in order to provide low latency for large workloads; and 3) it needed to guarantee data safety even for very large throughputs. Implementing Raft provided a solid foundation for all three requirements: Simplicity. Every Redpanda partition is a Raft group, so everything in the platform is reasoning around Raft, including both metadata management and partition replication. This contrasts with the complexity of Kafka, where data replication is handled by ISR (in-sync replicas) and metadata management is handled by ZooKeeper (or KRaft), and you have two systems that must reason with one another. Performance. The Redpanda Raft implementation can tolerate disturbances to a minority of replicas, so long as the leader and a majority of replicas are stable. In cases when a minority of replicas have a delayed response, the leader does not have to wait for their responses to progress, mitigating impact on latency. Redpanda is therefore more fault-tolerant and can deliver predictable performance at scale. Reliability. When Redpanda ingests events, they are written to a topic partition and appended to a log file on disk. Every topic partition then forms a Raft consensus group, consisting of a leader plus a number of followers, as specified by the topics replication factor. A Redpanda Raft group can tolerate failures given 2+1 nodes; for example, in a cluster with five nodes and a topic with a replication factor of five, two nodes can fail and the topic will remain operational. Redpanda leverages the Raft joint consensus protocol to provide consistency even during reconfiguration. Redpanda also extends core Raft functionality in some critical ways in order to achieve the scalability, reliability, and speed required of a modern, cloud-native solution. Its innovations on top of Raft include changes to the election process, heartbeat generation, and, critically, support for Apache Kafka ACKS. These innovations ensure the best possible performance in all scenarios, which is what enables Redpanda to be significantly faster than Kafka while still guaranteeing data safety. In fact, Jepsen testing has verified that Redpanda is a safe system without known consistency problems, and a solid Raft-based consensus layer. But what about KRaft? While Redpanda takes a Raft-native approach, the legacy streaming data platforms have been laggards in adopting modern approaches to consensus. Kafka itself is a replicated distributed log, but it has historically relied on yet another replicated distributed logApache ZooKeeperfor metadata management and controller election. This has been problematic for a few reasons: Managing multiple systems introduces administrative burden; Scalability is limited due to inefficient metadata handling and double caching; Clusters can become very bloated and resource intensive; in fact, it is not uncommon to see clusters with equal numbers of ZooKeeper and Kafka nodes. These limitations have not gone unacknowledged by Apache Kafkas committers and maintainers, who are in the process of replacing ZooKeeper with a self-managed metadata quorum: Kafka Raft (KRaft). This event-based flavor of Raft reduces the administrative challenges of Kafka metadata management, and is a promising sign that the Kafka ecosystem is moving in the direction of modern approaches to consensus and reliability. Unfortunately, KRaft does not solve the problem of having two different systems for consensus in a Kafka cluster. In the new KRaft paradigm, KRaft partitions handle metadata and cluster management, but replication is handled by the brokers, so you still have these two distinct platforms and the inefficiencies that arise from that inherent complexity. Redpanda Data Combining Raft with performance engineering As data industry leaders like CockroachDB, MongoDB, Neo4j, and TiDB have demonstrated, Raft-based systems deliver simpler, faster, and more reliable distributed data environments. Raft is becoming the standard consensus protocol for todays distributed data systems because it marries particularly well with performance engineering to further boost the throughput of data processing. For example, Redpanda combines Raft with speedy architectural ingredients to perform at least 10x faster than Kafka at tail latencies (p99.99) when processing a 1GBps workload, on one-third the hardware, without compromising data safety. Traditionally, GBps+ workloads have been a burden for Apache Kafka, but Redpanda can support them with double-digit millisecond latencies, while retaining Jepsen-verified reliability. How is this achieved? Redpanda is written in C++, and uses a thread-per-core architecture to squeeze maximum performance out of modern chips and network cards. These elements work together to elevate the value of Raft for a distributed streaming data platform. Redpanda Data For example, because Redpanda bypasses the page cache and the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) dependency of Kafka, it can embed hardware-level knowledge into its Raft implementation. Typically, every time you write in Raft you have to flush in order to guarantee the durability of writes on disk. In Redpandas optimistic approach to Raft, smaller intermittent flushes are dropped in favor of a larger flush at the end of a call. While this introduces some additional latency per call, it reduces overall system latency and increases overall throughput, because it reduces the total number of flush operations. While there are many effective ways to ensure consistency and safety in distributed systems (Blockchains do it very well with proof-of-work and proof-of-stake protocols), Raft is a proven approach and flexible enough that it can be enhanced, as with Redpanda, to adapt to new challenges. As we enter a new world of data-driven possibilities, driven in part by AI and machine learning use cases, the future is in the hands of developers who can harness real-time data streams. Raft-based systems, combined with performance-engineered elements like C++ and thread-per-core architecture, are driving the future of data streaming for mission-critical applications. Doug Flora is head of product marketing at Redpanda Data. New Tech Forum provides a venue to explore and discuss emerging enterprise technology in unprecedented depth and breadth. The selection is subjective, based on our pick of the technologies we believe to be important and of greatest interest to InfoWorld readers. InfoWorld does not accept marketing collateral for publication and reserves the right to edit all contributed content. Send all inquiries to newtechforum@infoworld.com. Look Down On War, 2009, Maya Freelon, Offset Lithograph, a part of the Harm Reduction: Art in Response to Trauma gallery at Brandywine Workshop in Philadelphia, Pa., on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Read more An exhibit at the Brandywine Workshop and Archives takes an intimate look at the toll of violence on communities and the importance of harm reduction. The artwork, part of the exhibit titled Harm Reduction: Art in Response to Trauma, tackles a wide range of issues, from gentrification and displacement to the experiences of those who were enslaved and who were targeted during the Holocaust. The exhibit, at 730 S. Broad St. in Southwest Center City, runs through Sept. 22. In one piece, Look Down on War, artist Maya Freelon depicts a Black soldier who looks down to button his uniform jacket while an outburst of colors explodes behind him, simulating the violence of war. The soldier: Allan Randall Freelon Sr., Mayas great-grandfather. Advertisement Allan Freelon, who was born in Philadelphia and served in World War I between 1917 and 1919, came home traumatized by the war. He returned to the city to continue his studies in art, which helped him heal. His work was later celebrated during the Harlem Renaissance. Creating art was part of his therapy, said Allan Edmunds, founder of the Brandywine Workshop and Archives. Edmunds created a lithograph of Maya Freelons photograph of her great-grandfather. She then used tissue paper stained with different colors to create the explosion of orange, purple, teal, and brown colors behind the soldier. The burst of colors represents a lot of things, the explosion of bombs, and the explosions of emotions, Edmunds said. There are times when you seek darkness, and you see light and color exploding around you. Maya Freelon is one of 19 artists whose 27 prints in the exhibit are from the workshops collections. Out of the pandemic, a burst of violence The harm reduction theme came to Jessica Hamman, Brandywines curatorial assistant and collections manager, as she began planning for a new exhibit earlier this year. She considered how people were still struggling with the psychological and physical effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and she believed the pandemic unleashed a fury of violence in her Overbrook neighborhood. Last September, a man was shot and killed as he carried grocery bags home. There were also two separate shootings near Overbrook High School within just a few months. Last November, four students were injured in an after-school shooting. And earlier this year, there was another shooting of a student as he walked to the school one morning. One night, about 10, Hamman was looking out her windows and saw kids with a gun, shooting into the sky. They were laughing. It disturbed me. They were shooting straight up, but l was aware that the bullets come down, she said. More than anything, I was worried. The worry that produced an exhibit Hamman took all the turmoil she was seeing and planned to put together an exhibit that focused on what harm does to the human body. I wanted to show how artists depicted bodies under trauma, how bodies become distorted, she said. Rather than showing actual bodies, the works look at how people respond to trauma, whether from racism, sexism, homophobia, violence, war, or anti-Semitism. Conversations she had with Edmunds led them to the harm reduction theme. Harm reduction focuses on the needs of individuals and communities by providing relief and dignity to those in need, says the exhibit catalog, the introduction of which Hamman co-wrote with her wife, Alexa Vallejo. We see the significance of the show as a way to cultivate empathy among viewers as opposed to trying to highlight specific trauma experiences, Hamman said. One of the works on exhibit is And Then ... You Just Smile, by Philadelphia artist Moe Brooker. Although the piece is not directly about violence, Hamman said she included it because of a statement Brooker once made about living in a dangerous neighborhood: Artwork allowed me to say a lot about the world around me in a safe way. Other works include Untitled (The Dressing Table) by Chicana artist Patssi Valdez. Hamman said Valdez uses Mexican American imagery to give women sanctuary in a patriarchal world. There is the collage-like offset lithograph Family Pictures by Tomie Arai, who used photos from the archives of the Museum of Chinese in America to assemble an imagined family album. In the catalog, Arai said she uses her art to thwart the distillation of Asians and Asian Americans into a monolithic yellow race. Paul Keenes Generations, which shows images of Black people in what appear to be apartment windows with a sign at the bottom saying Final Notice, suggests concerns about gentrification and displacement. There are two prints by John T. Scott: Blues for the Middle Passage I, about the trauma of being warehoused on ships for the enslaved, and I Remember Birmingham, about the 1963 church bombing that killed four Black girls. And tucked away in a corner of the gallery because of the violence of the images are four prints from a 10-piece portfolio on the Holocaust by Murray Zimiles. A panel discussion on art and trauma The exhibit is extremely timely, if you want to draw a parallel between this exhibit [on trauma] and what happened in Southwest Philadelphia, said Edmunds, referring to the shooting in early July that killed five people and injured two children. On June 30, the Friday before that shooting, BWA hosted a panel discussion with two guest speakers who talked about how they used art in their work with the community. The panel discussion can be seen below: If you go, the exhibit is at the Brandywine Workshop and Archives, 730 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19146. Admission is free, but call to make a reservation a 267-831-2928. For more, visit https://brandywineworkshopandarchives.org/. A headstone at a graveyard in Northeast Philadelphia is shown in this file photo from 2019. Read more A Northeast Philadelphia monument company took more than $19,000 from grieving families, then never delivered headstones for the grave sites of customers deceased loved ones, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henrys office. The company, All American Monuments Inc., and its owner, Nancy Jelassi, left customers waiting for years and refused to provide refunds, the commonwealth alleges. Ms. Jelassi and her company took advantage of grieving Pennsylvanians, making tragic circumstances that much harder for families who were not able to provide proper burial services for their loved ones, Henry said in a statement. At least 23 Pennsylvanians were impacted, an attorney generals spokesperson said Monday afternoon, citing the number of complaints received to date. The lawsuit details the experiences of eight customers who reported to the state that they paid deposits, ranging from $600 to more than $4,000, for engraved monuments they have not received. The state did not name anyone impacted. Advertisement My mom lays in the grave for almost three years like [an] unknown soul, a Feasterville woman wrote to the state Bureau of Consumer Protection, which is overseen by the attorney general. She said she paid a deposit of more than $1,300 for a stone in March 2020. This situation breaks my heart and harms my health. I cant sleep because I could not finalize this grieving process and fulfill my obligation to my mother. One Lehigh County customer wrote in their complaint that they paid a deposit of $2,500 for a monument after both their parents died of coronavirus complications in January 2021. They said they ordered the monument two months later, and the company promised it would be delivered by September. The customer still has not received it or gotten a refund. Within our Jewish faith, we need to secure a monument at the grave site by one year in order to do complete the traditional death practices, the customer wrote. Im deeply saddened that I was not able to fulfill my parents traditions. This is an unacceptable practice taking advantage of people in grief. Others wrote that their inquiries were met with promises that their headstones would soon be completed and that their requests for refunds were denied. Sometimes, customers said, the company stopped communicating with them completely. Neither All American Monuments which still has a website but has ceased operations, according to the lawsuit nor Jelassi returned requests for comment Monday. When The Inquirer called the phone number listed on the company website, it was answered by someone who identified the business as a towing company. In March, Jelassi told 6ABC that the company she orders from was giving [her] the runaround, while officials with that company told the station Jelassi owed them $50,000. At the time, Jelassi promised to refund one customer more than $1,300. She also told the commonwealth that she wanted to refund customers who did not receive their orders, though she has so far failed to do so, according to the suit. The state is requesting that All American Monuments and Jelassi pay full restitution to affected customers, as well as civil penalties and court fees. If anyone else feels victimized by All American Monuments, the attorney generals office asks that they file a complaint with its consumer protection bureau by calling 800-441-2555 or visiting attorneygeneral.gov. Warren "Pete" Musser, former head of Safeguard Scientifics, in 2001. A new lawsuit filed by his ex-wife alleges that her late ex-husband conspired with officials of Safeguard to pay his multimillion-dollar stock market debts using properties he had promised to her. Read more A new lawsuit revives a struggle over property and losses from the 2000 dot-com stock market collapse that pressured the career and marriage of Warren Pete Musser, a well-known Philadelphia-area venture capitalist. Hilary Grinker Musser alleges that her former husband conspired with officials of Safeguard Scientifics of Wayne the company he headed for 48 years to pay his multimillion-dollar stock market debts using properties he had promised to her. She says their actions became fully clear only after he died in 2019, and she became executor of his will, gaining access to his papers. The lawsuit says that starting in 2000, Musser granted Safeguard control of the couples homes, building lots, and business assets on the Main Line and in Nantucket, Mass., to repay millions in Mussers debt, after Safeguard-backed stocks lost most of their value, while enabling him to remain active as a dealmaker at his wifes expense. Hilary Grinker Musser filed the suit in Common Pleas Court in Delaware County last month against Safeguard; Safeguard affiliate Bonfield VII, named for the couples Bryn Mawr mansion purchased in 1996; and Robert E. Keith Jr., a longtime collaborator of Mussers, in his role as Safeguards former board chairman. Advertisement Officials at Safeguard, a publicly traded company, didnt respond to calls and emails seeking comment. This case involves one companys greed, deception, and willingness to go to great lengths to win financial benefit for Safeguard, Musser, and other past Safeguard directors, alleges the lawsuit, filed by Philadelphia lawyers Michael van der Veen and Bruce Castor Jr. on Grinker Mussers behalf. Threats and strong arm-ing In his 48-year career at Safeguard, Musser had helped find investors and properties for Philadelphia-area companies such as Ralph M. Roberts Comcast and Joseph Segels Franklin Mint and QVC, along with manufacturing, electronics, and tech firms that never became household names, and several related investment companies that sought to develop Philadelphia as a tech start-up center. Musser and Grinker Musser met at an event at the Franklin Institute, where she was a fundraiser. In 1996, they began living together at Bonfield. At that time, he was worth around $70 million, according to the suit. As tech share prices rose sharply in the late 1990s, Musser borrowed $35 million from stockbrokers to buy shares in Safeguard-backed, internet-focused companies such as Internet Capital Group, which was briefly worth $50 billion, and VerticalNet, worth up to $7 billion. As the value of Mussers dot-com stocks skyrocketed amid the market bubble, the couple added properties far beyond their Main Line base. They set up companies that bought houses near Quidnet Beach on Nantucket, the old whaling center turned high-rent summer resort island. Grinker Musser took over 63 Hooper Farm Rd. on the island as a base for her construction business, Barcley Fine Homes LLC, along with lots she planned to develop in the nearby Juniper Hill section. And she acquired Whitehorse Farm, a horse farm in Willistown, Chester County, where she set up Whitehorse Stables LP. In early 2000, stock market values for unprofitable dot-com companies began collapsing. By August of that year, Safeguards shares, based mostly on its dot-com investments, were down 80% from their peak. Mussers brokers demanded their money back or his shares, pledged as collateral. Musser warned the Safeguard board that the immediate seizure and sale of his shares would flood the market, driving Safeguards value down even further. Mussers debts, according to the suit, had the potential to ruin Safeguard. Safeguard agreed to guarantee Mussers broker debt, so he could sell the shares in small batches to raise cash, easing pressure on the stock value. The company also lent Musser $10 million, which Safeguard disclosed to its public shareholders months later, along with the $35 million he owed brokers. According to the lawsuit, the board in exchange demanded Musser provide extra collateral for the risk it was taking on. So the company and Musser, the lawsuit alleges, conspired to strong-arm Grinker Musser into giving up her rights to properties the couple had acquired, including those that housed her businesses. The couple married on Nov. 24, 2000 having signed a prenuptial agreement the day before, which Safeguard had helped prepare, giving the company claims on some of the properties the couple had jointly acquired. But when the couple returned from a honeymoon trip, Safeguard pressed them to agree to a revised prenup that mortgaged her own properties to Safeguard with a threat that Musser would be fired from Safeguard, ending his annual salary and bonus of over $1 million, if she refused. Hilary had no choice, according to the suit. Musser was forced out as chief executive two months later but Safeguard gave him $650,000 a year, plus a secretary and health insurance, for the rest of his life, according to the suit. The couple started a consulting firm, The Musser Group, led by Musser but owned mostly by Grinker Musser, to help other start-ups. They had a son, born in 2003, and lived happily for a time, according to the suit. Playing for the same team In 2005, they filed for divorce. That put Musser under another threat of bankruptcy: If Grinker Musser exercised her rights to keep the consulting business and properties, Musser and Safeguards lawyers told her, he wouldnt have enough assets left to cover the Safeguard loan. And if that forced him into bankruptcy, she would lose her alimony After a year of litigation, she agreed to give up control of the consulting business and the remaining properties. Only years later, after reviewing records of his meetings with Safeguard officials during this period, did she conclude that the bankruptcy threat was made under false pretenses ... Safeguard never intended to recover assets to cover Petes debt but hoped only to keep Musser in business and its own debt covered, by her assets, according to the suit. The suit alleges that while pretending to struggle against one another over new terms for their financial relationship, Safeguard and Musser were actually playing for the same team. Grinker Musser agreed to their revised terms under duress, the suit says, because she feared losing the Bryn Mawr mansion and her remaining assets if her former husband was forced into bankruptcy. She lost the firm, the farm, and most of the island real estate, hanging onto the mansion and one of the Nantucket properties under the final divorce agreement in 2007. She and her son later moved to Florida. In 2017 she sold a house she designed, across the water from former President Trumps Mar-a-Lago compound, for $16 million, a record for West Palm Beach, according to news accounts. The suit asks for compensatory damages, interest, costs, and delay damages. As of July 10, no answer to the complaint has appeared in the public record, and no trial date has been set. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has changed the system that some restaurants and bars use to order wines and spirits. Read more Looking forward to a glass of 2020 Domaine Thierry Mortet Gevrey-Chambertin, or perhaps a nip of Pussers British Navy rum, or any of the thousands of other upmarket wines and spirits sold through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Boards special-order system? Be prepared to pay more. That is, when you can get these prized bottles, which are not sold in the states Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores and are available only by special order. Technical issues have beset the new version of PLCBs special-order system, which went online last week, slowing the flow between distributors and customers to a trickle. Many of these orders destined to bottle shops, high-end restaurants and wine bars, and everyday people with champagne tastes have now been delayed by about two weeks. Advertisement A PLCB spokesperson said a team was working round the clock on a fix for the system, known as the Licensee Online Order Portal (LOOP). To compound bar managers frustrations, in an unrelated move, the PLCB recently raised its handling fee on many special-order bottles. The fee formally known as the logistics, transportation, and merchandising factor, or LTMF is now a flat $2.47 per bottle. Previously, the LTMF was based on product type and size adding $1.37, for example, to a typical 750mL wine bottle. But the LTMF, applied to special orders delivered to a store or licensee service center, is also subject to the states 18% emergency tax (the so-called Johnstown flood tax) as well as sales tax. In Philadelphia, where that is 8%, the same bottle now costs an additional $1.40. The fee change, included in the PLCBs Special Order Program Guide released in June, caught many bar owners by surprise, said Joe Massaro, president of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, a trade group. (Six months ago, the PLCB raised prices 4% on many popular items available at its stores with 10 days notice.) Special orders account for only about 5% of the PLCBs annual sales, but some bars, such as the two Tria Cafes in Center City, sell these bottles exclusively. Bars may have to pass along at least some of the increase to customers, said Jon Myerow, an owner of Tria, who said the fee change would amount to nearly $20,000 per year at his company. Thats a huge cost increase for two small wine bars, he said. Myerow agreed that a new system was needed because it took Tria wine director Lauren Harris two or three times as much time to order wine than it should because the system would always crash. Myerow said Harris who knew that she would be on vacation when the new LOOP system started triple ordered [in advance], knowing it would not work, so were actually in pretty good shape. The PLCB spokesperson, who said hundreds of orders have been processed via LOOP, said some challenges had been expected, but we are happy to say the vast majority of licensee and retail business has continued without interruption. Bar owners and distributors interviewed Monday and Tuesday suggested that this was not always the case. In the months roll-up to the relaunch of LOOP, the PLCB stopped allowing distributors to register new items for the system. For about a week, the entire system was shut down to prepare for the transition. Users complained that LOOP had bugs from its relaunch. Massaro, of the restaurant association, said many issues were user errors and were to be expected. But as the days progressed and we started to receive additional concerns from members, it was apparent there was a technology problem as well, he said Tuesday. The PLCB emailed customers recommending that they change their password, which would improve access. We understand theres disruption and we apologize for that, the PLCB spokesperson said. Jason Malumed of MFW Wine Co., a distributor, said he used to be able to select whether he wanted to have a special order of wine shipped directly to a restaurant or to a state store. We were not able to select orders to ship to a store, he said. Orders would appear for them one minute, then magically disappear. Malumed said the system would also not allow his company to create an order for direct delivery unless a delivery fee was added. He said he did not want to charge a restaurant for this, but if I create an order with no supplemental delivery fee, the restaurant is not able to approve it. To work around that, Malumed said he added a nominal $1 fee. Malumeds company is one of two plaintiffs in a long-running court case over the PLCBs failure to allow direct shipment of special-order wines to restaurants instead of to a state store as a 2016 law required. Commonwealth Court found the agency liable for damages, interest, and lawyers fees. The case is headed back to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for the second time after the board appealed its defeat. Meanwhile, the PLCB last year allowed merchants to ship wine directly to licensees, five years late. Fewer than 80% of graduates from six Philadelphia area nursing programs passed the required licensing exam to work in their profession last year. Read more The state has flagged six Philadelphia-area nursing programs as needing improvement after too many of their graduates failed to pass their licensure exams last year. Pennsylvania Board of Nursings watch list swelled last year, as test scores nationally hit the lowest point in a decade. Philadelphia universities, such as Thomas Jefferson and Temple, are among the training programs now operating with provisional approval, after failing a state requirement that at least 80% of first-time test takers pass. Educators blame pandemic learning loss for a trend that has led to one-third of the Philadelphia regions roughly 20 nursing programs being downgraded to provisional status. A dip in scores The primary quality measure tracked by the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing is the annual pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination. To approve educational programs, the state requires each year that at least 80% of first-time test takers pass the test, a prerequisite to getting a registered nurse license. In 2021-22, the last testing cycle, the average pass rate in the United States dipped to 79% the lowest in a decade. Advertisement The decline in test scores could delay the entrance of more recent graduates to the job market at a time when many hospitals are already reporting a shortage of nurses in hospitals. Pennsylvania allows graduates to begin working before passing the exam with a temporary permit but many other states do not. The delay in employment could also mean a delay in the first paycheck for graduates who didnt pass. READ MORE: As many nurses say they plan to leave bedside care, these Philly-area grads cant wait for their first hospital job Last years results declined notably from prior years. In the 2017-2018 testing cycle, only three programs statewide dropped below the 80% pass rate, out of about 80 total. In 2021-2022, 23 Pennsylvania programs failed to meet the benchmark as nearly 1,300 test takers failed. Six of these training programs were in the Philadelphia region. They now are operating with provisional approval from the board of nursing, a temporary status that allows the board to demand reports, make campus visits, and impose restrictions such as limits on enrollment. Its a big deal for us, said Anne Krouse, the dean of the school of nursing at Widener University. Learning loss During the pandemic, Widener and other nursing programs struggled to get students clinical experience at a time when hospitals were closed to nonessential workers. Widener set up virtual sessions and simulations in an effort to maintain learning. There are just some students that that doesnt always work for them, Krouse said. I think thats where all those learning losses were for those students. She blamed its test score challenges the program in Chester has seen a 79% pass rate in the last two years on the pandemic. Widener classes are now back in-person, and students have resumed training in hospitals. The university hired a consultant to help it improve the scores, Krouse said. Student mental health challenges during the pandemic was another factor cited by Philadelphia-area nursing school deans. Many of the academic support resources students relied on were disrupted, said Marie Ann Marino, dean of the Jefferson College of Nursing. READ MORE: Lincoln University closes its nursing program, leaving a hole in the pipeline of Black nurses The Jefferson programs results fell half a percentage point below the required 80% rate. Marino is confident that the dip is temporary and pointed out that the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) expects some fluctuation. Its accreditation depends on, among other things, maintaining an average 80% pass rate over three years in addition to other quality measures. Many years of struggles were documented at the only nursing program in the region that has closed this year. Earlier this year, the national accrediting body, CCNE, withdrew its accreditation of the Lincoln University nursing program, the only such program at a historically Black college and university in Pennsylvania. The programs leaders told the Board of Nursing in June that they decided not to appeal the decision and shut the program down. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Drug Enforcement Administration allowed doctors and other health-care providers to prescribe controlled medicine during telehealth appointments without examining the patient in person. Read more Federal regulators want most patients to see a health-care provider in person before receiving prescriptions for potentially addictive medicines through telehealth something that hasnt been required in more than three years. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Drug Enforcement Administration allowed doctors and other health care providers to prescribe controlled medicine during telehealth appointments without examining the patient in person. The emergency declaration ended May 13, and in February, the agency proposed new rules that would require providers to see patients at least once in person before prescribing many of those drugs during telehealth visits. Controlled medications include many stimulants, sedatives, opioid painkillers, and anabolic steroids. Regulators said they decided to extend the current regulations which dont require an in-person appointment until Nov. 11 after receiving more than 38,000 comments on the proposed changes, a record amount of feedback. They also said patients who receive controlled medications from prescribers theyve never met in person will have until Nov. 11, 2024, to come into compliance with the agencys future rules. Advertisement The public comments discuss the potential effects on a variety of patients, including people being treated for mental health disorders, opioid addiction, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Thousands of commenters also mentioned possible impacts on rural patients. Opponents wrote that health-care providers, not a law enforcement agency, should decide which patients need in-person appointments. They said the rules would make it difficult for some patients to receive care. Other commenters called for exemptions for specific medications and conditions. Supporters wrote that the proposal would balance the goals of increasing access to health care and helping prevent medication misuse. Zola Coogan, 85, lives in Washington, Maine, a town of about 1,600 residents northeast of Portland. Coogan has volunteered with hospice patients and said its important for very sick and terminally ill people in rural areas to have access to opioids to ease their pain. But she said it can be hard to see a doctor in person if they lack transportation or are too debilitated to travel. Coogan said she supports the DEAs proposed rules because of a provision that could help patients who cant travel to meet their telehealth prescriber. Instead, they could visit a local health-care provider, who then could write a special referral to the telehealth prescriber. But she said accessing controlled medications would still be difficult for some rural residents. It could end up being a very sticky wicket for some patients to access care, she said. Its not going to be easy, but it sounds like its doable. Some health-care providers may hesitate to offer those referrals, said Stefan Kertesz, a physician and professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham whose expertise includes addiction treatment. Kertesz said the proposed referral process is confusing and would require burdensome record-keeping. Ateev Mehrotra, a physician and Harvard professor who has studied telehealth in rural areas, said different controlled drugs come with different risks. But overall, he finds the proposed rules too restrictive. Hes worried people who started receiving telehealth prescriptions during the pandemic would be cut off from medicine that helps them. Mehrotra said he hasnt seen clear evidence that every patient needs an in-person appointment before receiving controlled medicine through telehealth. He said its also not clear whether providers are less likely to write inappropriate prescriptions after in-person appointments than after telehealth ones. Mehrotra described the proposed rules as a situation where theres not a clear benefit, but there are substantial harms for at least some patients, including many in rural areas. READ MORE: Timing matters for medications your circadian rhythm influences how well treatments work and how much they might harm you Beverly Jordan, a family practice doctor in Alabama and a member of the state medical board, supports the proposed rule, as well as a new Alabama law that requires annual in-person appointments for patients who receive controlled medications. Jordan prescribes such medications, including to rural patients who travel to her clinic in the small city of Enterprise. I think that once-a-year hurdle is probably not too big for anybody to be able to overcome, and is really a good part of patient safety, Jordan said. Jordan said its important for health-care practitioners to physically examine patients to see if the exam matches how the patients describe their symptoms and whether they need any other kind of treatment. Jordan said that, at the beginning of the pandemic, she couldnt even view most telehealth patients on her computer. Three-fourths of her appointments were over the phone, because many rural patients have poor internet service that doesnt support online video. The proposed federal rules also have a special allowance for buprenorphine, which is used to treat opioid use disorder, and for most categories of non-narcotic controlled substances, such as testosterone, ketamine, and Xanax. Providers could prescribe 30 days worth of these medications after telehealth appointments before requiring patients to have an in-person appointment to extend the prescription. Tribal health care practitioners would be exempt from the proposed regulations, as would Department of Veterans Affairs providers in emergency situations. Many people who work in health care were surprised by the proposed rules, Kertesz said. He said they expected the DEA to let prescribers apply for special permission to provide controlled medicine without in-person appointments. Congress ordered the agency to create such a program in 2008, but it has not done so. Agency officials said they considered creating a version of that program for rural patients but decided against it. Denise Holiman disagrees with the proposed regulations. Holiman, who lives on a farm outside Centralia, Mo., used to experience postmenopausal symptoms, including forgetfulness and insomnia. The 50-year-old now feels back to normal after being prescribed estrogen and testosterone by a Florida-based telehealth provider. Holiman said she doesnt think she should have to go see her telehealth provider in person to maintain her prescriptions. I would have to get on a plane to go to Florida. Im not going to do that, she said. If the government forces me to do that, thats wrong. Holiman said her primary care doctor doesnt prescribe injectable hormones and that she shouldnt have to find another in-person prescriber to make a referral to her Florida provider. Holiman is one of thousands of patients who shared their opinions with the DEA. The agency also received comments from advocacy, health-care, and professional groups, such as the American Medical Association. The physicians organization said the in-person rule should be eliminated for most categories of controlled medication. Even telehealth prescriptions for drugs with a higher risk of misuse, such as Adderall and oxycodone, should be exempt when medically necessary, the group said. Some states already have laws that are stricter than the DEAs proposed rules. Amelia Burgess said Alabamas annual exam requirement, which went into effect last summer, burdened some patients. The Minnesota doctor works at Bicycle Health, a telehealth company that prescribes buprenorphine. Burgess said hundreds of the companys patients in Alabama couldnt switch to in-state prescribers because many werent taking new patients, were too far away, or were more expensive than the telehealth service. So Burgess and her coworkers flew to Alabama and set up a clinic at a hotel in Birmingham. About 250 patients showed up, with some rural patients driving from five hours away. Critics of the federal proposal are lobbying for exemptions for medications that can be difficult to obtain due to a lack of specialists in rural areas. Many of the public comments focus on the importance of telehealth-based buprenorphine treatment in rural areas, including in jails and prisons. Rural areas also have shortages of mental health providers who can prescribe controlled substances for anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Patients across the country who use opioids for chronic pain have trouble finding prescribers. It also can be difficult to find rural providers who prescribe testosterone, a controlled drug often taken by transgender men and people with various medical conditions, such as menopause. Controlled medications are also used to treat seizures, sleep disorders, and other conditions. Kaiser Family Foundation Health News is a national newsroom that produces journalism about health issues. Kevin Mahoney, chief executive of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, expressed support for the Patient Safety Act in an opinion piece Sunday. Read more Penn Medicine CEO Kevin Mahoney supports a bill that would impose nurse staffing minimums on Pennsylvania hospitals, while nurse leaders of nearly every other health system in the Philadelphia area have signed a letter in opposition. If enacted, the Patient Safety Act would make Pennsylvania one of the first states in the nation with a law detailing nurse staffing standards. The bill sets specific nurse-to-patient ratios for hospitals units, based on the level of care. For example, one nurse would be required for every patient in active labor, and for every two intensive-care patients. The House of Representatives passed the bill last month with mostly Democratic votes. Its future remains uncertain in the Republican-controlled Senate. READ MORE: Pennsylvania House approves bill to require nurse staffing minimums in hospitals Advertisement Unions representing nurses want the staffing standards, which they say will reduce burnout and bring back nurses who left hospital jobs. But many other nurses in hospital management positions, hospital executives, and industry groups, such as the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, criticize the bill as too expensive and impractical to implement. Mahoney said he supports the legislation because the financial pressures on the American health-care system should not result in fewer nurses working with more patients at the bedside. We have huge problems, but we shouldnt solve them by crushing the physicians and nurses, Mahoney said. The Penn Medicine executive first expressed his support in an opinion piece published Sunday on the PennLive/The Patriot-News website. We believe safe staffing standards will help relieve nurse burnout, improve care for patients and create better work environments to attract and retain dedicated frontline caregivers, Mahoney cowrote with Penn nursing professor Linda Aiken. READ MORE: Should hospitals be required to have a certain number of nurses? Health systems opposition Penn Medicines leadership support contrasts to the opposition from other health systems. Dozens of nurses in leadership positions in health-care systems statewide signed a letter opposing the measure prior to the House vote. The June 14 letter was addressed to General Assembly leaders from both parties, according to a copy obtained by The Inquirer. If strict, government-mandated [registered nurses] staffing ratios are required in Pennsylvania, we believe that there will be real and lasting damage to Pennsylvanias entire health care system, the nurses wrote. Among those who signed on are nurse managers and chief nursing officers from most other Philadelphia-area hospitals, including Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Jefferson Health and Einstein, Main Line Health, Temple Health, Nazareth Hospital, and St. Lukes. In a May state House Health Committee hearing and during the debate prior to the House vote, opponents of the bill argued that smaller and rural hospitals that are financially struggling wont be able to bear the added costs. They said hospitals are already experiencing nursing shortages. Yet Penns Aiken, the director of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, told the health committee that Pennsylvania has enough nurses to comply with the requirements in the bill if nurses return to bedside jobs in hospitals. Her analysis of the bill found that if Pennsylvania hospitals had the staffing levels it would require, the state could prevent 1,155 hospital deaths and 771 hospital readmissions every year. READ MORE: University of Pennsylvania Health System has a $160M operating profit so far in fiscal 2023 Mahoney told The Inquirer that Penn hospitals also share many of the recruitment challenges. Although Penn was the only health system in the Philadelphia region to report a profit last year, he said the cost concern is valid. In addition to the bill, he wants hospitals, the government, and insurers to work together on regulations designed to bolster hospitals financial stability. This shouldnt just be, increase the staffing ratios and the hospitals have to pay for it, Mahoney said. Monument Road, the seemingly ordinary road that passes the sprawling greenery of Fairmount Park, has a mystery behind it one tied to haunted breweries, curses, and Revolutionary War horses. The stretch of road from Lancaster Avenue to City Avenue was originally named Peters Road, after a long-standing prodigal family of Philadelphia, but was changed to Monument Road in 1886, according to the Historical Street Name Index. But the question remains: What is the monument? Thats what one reader asked through Curious Philly, The Inquirers forum for answering questions about the city and region. The monument no longer exists, but when it did, it was located on a farm belonging to Judge Richard Peters near Belmont Mansion in West Fairmount Park before being destroyed. Who owned the monument? Monument Road was named after a monument made by Peters, who served as secretary of the Board of War for the Revolutionary Army and Pennsylvania delegate to Congress under the Articles of Confederation. Peters also served as the speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly, Pennsylvania state senator, and judge of the U.S. District Court. With his high stature, he hosted a number of founding fathers at his estate at Belmont Mansion, including George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. What did the monument look like? The monument was a rough stone structure in an obelisk shape, according to a Philadelphia Times report from the time. Its exact height is unknown. Why was the monument made? After the monument was made its unclear exactly when that happened the reason for what it stood for remained widely unknown, with neighbors and townsfolk circulating a number of theories as reported in papers at the time. But regardless of the reason for its existence, it was widely accepted that the monument was haunted, according to a Philadelphia Times article from 1884. Some said the monument was in honor of the men killed in General Edward Braddocks defeat at the Battle of the Monongahela; others believed that it marked the spot where Peters saw his future wife. Advertisement According to the article, the monument was actually built for the horses who fought and aided soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Supposedly, while George Washington set up camp in the area near Belmont Mansion, it was nearly impossible to secure enough food and water, and as a result, many horses died. Peters is said to have erected the monument to honor the memory of the fallen horses, supposedly saying that even animals deserved remembrance for dying for their country. Peters himself never officially disclosed what the monument was commemorating, but close friends detailed the reason in the newspapers at the time. What happened to the monument? The monument used to be on one of Peters farms, which was later acquired by a British man named Austin Anstin. Anstin wished to build a brewery on top of the land called, Austins Belmont Ale, but was more commonly referred to as the Haunted Brewery due to the curse that befell Anstin. According to the Philadelphia Times, when Anstin wanted to build his brewery, he had to get rid of the monument in order to lay the foundation However, when he removed the monument in the 1860s, the theory described in the Philadelphia Times is that he disturbed the ghosts of the monument thought to be Revolutionary War patriots or even Peters and was cursed as a result. The brewery failed, and Anstin lost much of his property to the state, with many townspeople blaming the curse from the monument for the troubles he suffered. Where is the monument now? The monument was destroyed by Anstin, but the closest location to where the monument would have been is on the neighboring farmland near Belmont Mansion. Those interested can take a tour of Belmont Mansion, and while visitors cant see the monument anymore, they can enjoy the gorgeous landscaping and historical memorabilia of Peters, the monuments owner. Lifeguard Milan Howell, 17, on duty at the Tiffany Fletcher Recreation Center pool. Parks and Recreation offers free swimming lessons at every pool, schedules differ at each location. Read more My Summer Job is a weekly series that explores the jobs of seasonal workers in Philadelphia. Each week, well share stories from a typical day in the life of the people who make summer happen in the region. Milan Howell walks a little taller than she used to. She used to be a quiet person, she said, but shes learned how make herself heard using a bigger voice, and sometimes her lifeguard whistle. The City of Philadelphia announced last month that all 61 of its public pools will be able to open this year, even as a national shortage of lifeguards continues. In recent years, some pools were too understaffed to operate. Howell is one of the nearly 400 lifeguards who keep an eye on swimmer safety at the citys pools and teach young Philadelphians her neighbors how to swim. Advertisement The Inquirer spent a few hours on the job with Howell to learn a bit more about the work it takes to keep the city swimming. A typical day As a second-year lifeguard at West Philadelphias Tiffany Fletcher Recreation Center, its clear that Howell takes her role seriously. She makes sure to get a full 10 hours of sleep before every shift, and comes stocked with a cooler full of water bottles each day. During the school year she works part-time at a restaurant, but during the summer, lifeguarding is her main commitment, she said. Beginning in early July, the day starts with camper swim from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., when children enrolled in the rec centers summer day camp use the pool and get swim lessons. Sometimes lifeguards will also drill safety procedures during that time, Howell said Later in the day, from 3 to 5 p.m., other children can get lessons from lifeguards as well. The youngest kids Howell has worked with are around 7 years old, and the oldest are in their early teen years. In between, Howell spends her time watching the swimmers to make sure theyre following the rules, monitoring for safety concerns, and helping her fellow lifeguards and pool maintenance attendants keep the pool and surrounding area clean. If it starts to rain heavily or theres thunder or lightning, they move into the recreation center building and wait it out. Otherwise, her summer days unfold on the pool deck, seven days a week. As she prepared for the pool to open on a late-June Friday, over a dozen young children played on the splash pad and playground nearby. One school-age child sat in a swimsuit inches from the pool fence, staring at the water on the other side and awaiting her chance to jump in. A few minutes before 1 p.m., staff opened the gate and Howell guided the swimmer to sit on the pools edge, reciting the safety rules to the audience of one. The swimmer asked if she could borrow a pair of goggles, and Howell, without hesitation, offered a pair of her own to her younger neighbor. Just give them back to me before you leave, Howell responded, untangling the strap from her ponytail. As the afternoon stretched on at Fletcher, the pool filled with more kids and teens. Howell watched them each carefully, noting its important to stay alert and it helps to watch the faces of the swimmers. Staring at the water makes it too easy to get drowsy, she said. Many of the faces are familiar, including the kids she taught to swim last year. Why this job? Howell was visiting the rec center over a year ago when she saw a board covered with employment opportunities for teenagers. She noticed the lifeguarding job paid more than the rest. Howell had enjoyed swimming as a kid and liked the idea of getting back to it. I was also looking for something to keep me in shape, she added. So she started training. On the weekends, she went to Friends Select Aquatics to build stamina and relearn how to time her breathing as she moved through the water. She made the trip to Lincoln Pool in Northeast Philadelphia for her swim test, and later for her CPR and rescue training. The trip to Lincoln was over an hour each way, she said. I was able to meet some of the lifeguards there and talk to them and that was really nice, Howell said. This year I actually went back there to help train a couple other lifeguards. Workplace culture This spring, Howell was eager to come back for another year of lifeguarding, and she even recruited her cousin to take the test and work with her at the Fletcher pool. The Fletcher pool was one of the first to open in the city this year. With a minimum of two lifeguards needed to open, Fletcher has five on staff. Lifeguards at the rec center quickly become friends with each other, Howell said, given that they spend eight hours a day together most days of the week. The facility, formerly known as Mill Creek Recreation Center, was renamed just days before the pool reopened, to honor Tiffany Fletcher, a parks and rec employee who was killed in September after being struck by a stray bullet outside the rec center. Howell saw Fletcher at the pool everyday last summer, she recalled. She was definitely a big influence in the playground and at the pool. Howell said she thinks about Fletcher a lot. People in the neighborhood seemed worried and tense in the months following Fletchers death, Howell said. Its reassuring to have a police officer on site, she noted, gesturing to the tent where the officer sat with pool maintenance staff. Most of the time I just kind of hope for the best, Howell said. I dont want to let being scared ruin my summer because, I mean, theres gonna be dangers everywhere in the world. Pros and cons In addition to the confidence shes gained from lifeguarding, Howell said shes learned patience too, from working with mostly children each day. Teaching them to swim is her favorite part of the job. Theyre a little rambunctious at times, but I like getting into the water and showing them essential skills that are important to have later on in life, said Howell, adding that her mom is a swimmer and taught her to swim at a young age. Its flabbergasting sometimes the amount of people that cant swim. Shes already planning to come back in 2024, and is training for the lifeguard test that must be passed every two years. For a summer job, it takes a lot of pre-planning and effort to get trained. But overall, I think it was worth it, Howell said. I really enjoy being here. Beyonce in 2015 at Made in America. She has headlined the festival twice. David Maialetti / File Photograph Read more While the queen may not be from Philly herself, Beyonce's ties to the city are no secret. Her two headlining Made in America sets are still discussed to this day. Her team commissioned a local bakery to make her birthday cake (twice). She hired a Philly designer to make her mirrorball cowboy hat. And she prominently featured The Voice of Philadelphia, Kevin JZ Prodigy, in Renaissances Pure/Honey. But Prodigy isnt the only Philly artist to get musical recognition from Bey. READ MORE: BDay: All our Beyonce Renaissance Tour coverage in one place Advertisement Ahead of Wednesdays performance at Lincoln Financial Field, heres a look at times Beyonce has sampled tracks from, name-dropped, or drawn inspiration from local or local-adjacent artists. Artists sampled by Beyonce with Philadelphia ties 1. Foremost Poets Moonraker At the start of Alien Superstar, a voice-over begins, Please do not be alarmed, remain calm. Do not attempt to leave the dance floor. The DJ booth is conducting a troubleshoot test of the entire system. The voice-over is directly sampled from Foremost Poets Moonraker from 1998. . Foremost Poets is Johnny Dangerous, a Philly-born and New Jersey-based artist best known for his underground dance tracks. In the original track, Moonraker one of Foremost Poets most popular songs the now-easily recognized voice-over begins about 20 seconds into the song. 2. Animal Collective My Girls In 6 Inch from Lemonade, Bey uses a section of a 2009 track by the experimental pop band Animal Collective, and puts her spin on it. The technical term is that she interpolates it. You can hear it at the 3:01 mark. While the whole band isnt from Philadelphia, one of Animal Collectives members Brian Weitz, who goes by the stage name Geologist grew up in Philly and Baltimore. 3. Boyz II Men Uhh Ahh As if these artists need an introduction. When Beyonces album 4 dropped in 2011, it included the single Countdown, which directly samples a harmonized countdown by Phillys own Boyz II Men and originally featured in the groups song, Uhh Ahh. 4. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies TEDx Talk We Should All Be Feminists In her song, ***Flawless, Beyonce includes a portion of a TEDx Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about feminism. We teach girls to shrink themselves We say to girls, You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise, you will threaten the man, she says as Beyonce sings operatically under the voice-over. When Adichie was 19, she left Nigeria to study communications and political science at Drexel University, eventually graduating from Eastern Connecticut State. Later, she received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. 5. Kevin JZ Prodigy Feels Like We already know The Voice of Philadelphia is sampled throughout Beys Renaissance track Pure/Honey. Now, you can also hear him when the Renaissance tour hits Philly and other tour stops. Beyonce's team had him travel to Los Angeles to record his voice which is featured as part of the tours opening sequence, as well as during the tours versions of Formation, Cozy, and Pure/Honey. Read more from our interview with Prodigy here. 6. Cassidy Im a Hustla In the version of Crazy in Love Bey performed on her 2019 Homecoming Live album, she uses a sample from Cassidys song Im a Hustla, which he performs with Jay-Z. Cassidy is known for songs including Hotel (feat. R. Kelly) and Get No Better (feat. Mashonda). In his teens, he gained a reputation for being one of Phillys best battle rappers. 7. Ms. Jade Ching Ching In the outro of Rocket, the sultry eighth track on her self-titled 2014 album, Beyonce sings Were so much more than pointless fixtures / Instagram pictures / Consumers / (What about that ching-ching-ching?). Its a reference to rapper Ms. Jades 2002 song Ching Ching feat. Nelly Furtado and Timbaland, which was a single on the Philly artists only album, Girl, Interrupted. Ms. Jade is still Philly-based and released a new single, Celebration, last year. Beyonce names 7 Philly or Philly-tied artists in her Break My Soul (The Queens Remix) Last summer, Bey dropped a batch of remixed versions of her hit single, Break My Soul. One of them was The Queens Remix, featuring Madonna. In the remix, the duo pay homage to Madonnas Vogue and name-drop several Black women artists, like Grace Jones and Diana Ross. As it turns out, several of the icons named in the song have Philly connections including: To listen to the playlist, head over to tinyurl.com/phillybeyonce. Inquirer Social Platforms Editor Erin Gavle contributed to this article. Corynne McKenney-Collier outside her lawyer Stanley Kings law office in Woodbury, N.J. on Friday, July 7, 2023. Collier suffered a seizure while driving in Galloway Township, N.J. Police suspected she took heroin, dragging her out of the car, and arresting her. Collier wears braces on both of her arms due to injuries from the encounter with the police, she said. Read more Shortly after leaving home for work about 7 a.m., Corynne McKenney-Colliers vehicle swerved on a South Jersey road, striking a tree. After having an epileptic seizure, she has little recollection of what happened next, save for police bodycam video she obtained when she went seeking answers about the May 31 episode. Now, she is considering a lawsuit against police for how she says she was treated after the crash after they assumed she was under the influence of drugs. A Galloway Township police officer was traveling behind McKenney-Collier on Moss Mill Road when he saw her 2016 Suburban veer off the Atlantic County road. Responding to the scene, the officer immediately suspected a possible overdose and ordered McKenney-Collier to unlock the door. More officers arrived and repeatedly attempted to break the drivers side window. Its gotta be a drug thing, an officer can be heard saying in the bodycam video. She must have shot up something. Eventually, McKenney-Collier unlocked the door and police pulled her from the truck. Officers searched for drugs and checked her pockets for needles. In a search of the car, an officer initially asks whether a cigarette lighter was a pen vape, typically used for cannabis, nicotine or other substances. She took something, an officer said. Her mouth is all foaming. Advertisement McKenney-Collier obtained the bodycam video under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act and provided it to The Inquirer. Portions of the video were redacted by the police, leaving some parts distorted with audio only. READ MORE: First female police chief in Atlantic County wants to open doors for other women Civil rights lawyer Stanley King, who represents McKenney-Collier, has requested unedited copies of the bodycam video. He filed a tort notice last week of intentions to possibly file a lawsuit alleging unnecessary and excessive force by Galloway police. According to the notice, McKenney-Collier was dragged to the ground by police, resulting in torn clothing and injuries to her back and rotator cuff, as well as swelling and bruising to her wrists from excessively tight handcuffing. She was kept at the crash scene for nearly a half-hour before she was taken to a local hospital, the notice said, where doctors confirmed that she suffered a seizure and that there were no drugs in her bloodstream. The inhumanity was incredible, said King, of the firm Javerbaum Wurgaft Hicks Kahn Wikstrom & Sinins. A dog on the side of the road would have been treated with more empathy. Galloway Township Police Chief Richard D. Barber was unavailable to speak about the case. A spokesman, Capt. Eric Hendrickson, declined comment, citing the pending legal case. Township solicitor Marc Nehmad did not respond to a message at his law office. Brian Higgins, an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who viewed the bodycam video, said it was troubling that police automatically assumed McKenney-Collier was under the influence, without any evidence. He noted that there was no indication they conducted a sobriety test. They draw this conclusion and treat her as if she is a criminal consuming illegal narcotics, said Higgins, the former chief of the Bergen County Police. The police are supposed to be there to help. McKenney-Collier and her husband, Richard, believe race played a part in the case. The couple is Black; the officers who responded are white. Black lives matter, where? said Richard Collier, 51. McKenney-Collier, 49, of Egg Harbor City, said she was heading to her job at the nearby Mrs. Barnes Play House Daycare, when the crash happened. Diagnosed with epilepsy eight years ago, McKenney-Collier said it was her first seizure in two years and the first while driving. She believes a reaction to a new pain medicine may have caused the seizure. At the time of the crash, she was wearing a silver, personalized epilepsy bracelet with her nickname Cory, which she usually responds to after a seizure. At one point in the video, McKenney-Collier mentions bracelets on her arm. . READ MORE: South Jerseys civil rights power couple fight for justice. We try to give a voice to the voiceless In the bodycam, a disoriented McKenney-Collier repeatedly pleaded with police please help me. Police observed that she was wearing a seatbelt and told a dispatcher that it appeared unlikely she had a head injury. Police told her she could go to the hospital or with them. Look, I need help, she pleads. Please help me. Please, God. Police handcuffed McKenney-Collier and placed her in the back of a police cruiser while they searched her truck, tossing items aside. She didnt respond when an officer asked whether she needed any of her personal belongings, so they left her cell phone and purse in the truck, which was left running, according to her husband, who came to pick it up. McKenney-Collier asked the officers several times to remove the handcuffs. Ouch, officer, she could be heard shouting. Maam, you are under arrest, stop resisting, an officer said. Well let you go after you get all your charges. Shortly after an ambulance pulled off to take McKenney-Collier to the Atlantic City Medical Center in Pomona, her brother, LaMont McKenney, arrived at the crash scene. He recognized his sisters truck and asked police to confirm her identity. She has seizures, her brother told police. She doesnt use any substances? the officer asks in the video. No, the brother answered. The officer notified the EMS that McKenney-Collier may have a history of seizures. At the hospital, McKenney-Collier was handcuffed to a bed under police guard, King said. Doctors determined that she had suffered a seizure and released her, according to her discharge papers. No charges were filed against her. McKenney-Collier said she initially went to the police department looking for answers about what happened. She was stunned by the bodycam video, watching it about 30 times. She wants an apology from police. She wants police to undergo more training to help them better handle medical emergencies. I felt horrible that they treated me like that, she said. None of them helped me. Michael London, a former Central Bucks teacher, was charged with corruption of a minor. Read more A former Central Bucks School District teacher has been charged with corruption of a minor after sending messages to a child about sexual encounters and relationships. Michael London, 31, of Warrington, appeared to be grooming the child in the hopes of initiating a sexual relationship, according to the criminal complaint filed last month by Bucks County detectives. The complaint, which did not specify the age or gender of the child, said London had sent numerous inappropriate messages to the child, asking whether the child was engaged in sexual relationships. London, who shared information about his own sexual experiences, asked for photos of the child under the guise of inspecting (the childs) physique, according to the complaint. London also spoke with the child about drinking alcohol and described his own masturbation habits, according to the complaint, which said that detectives interviewed the child and reviewed messages exchanged with London. Advertisement Some messages were sent on Instagram in vanish mode, disappearing after they were read, according to the complaint. A lawyer for London, Craig Penglase, did not return a request for comment Tuesday. London, who was released on $100,000 unsecured bail, waived a preliminary hearing Monday and is due to be arraigned Aug. 11. The complaint did not specify whether the child in question was a Central Bucks student. However, in a message to the community Monday, Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh said the charges stemmed from an internal investigation conducted by the district, after an initial investigation by the Bucks County District Attorneys Office didnt find evidence of criminality. A spokesperson for the district attorney declined to comment Tuesday on the districts role in the investigation. The D.A.s Office said it began its investigation in September. London was hired as a long-term substitute math teacher at Central Bucks South High School in 2014, according to school board minutes. In his message, Lucabaugh noted that another Central Bucks teacher, longtime choir director Joseph Ohrt, was recently sentenced to jail for molesting two students and secretly recording another. As a district, we take these matters seriously, Lucabaugh said. He said the district had suspended London without pay when allegations came to light, and continued to suspend him after the district attorneys initial investigation concluded. The school board voted to fire London in December. Moving forward, this incident is a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance, vetting, and training to ensure every student can learn and grow, safely. It is also an example of why I continue to maintain my stance on protecting our students from sexualization, in any form and in any medium, Lucabaugh said. Amid controversy around the districts treatment of LGBTQ students, Lucabaugh has previously said he called for the reviews of five library books including Gender Queer and This Book is Gay, which the district has since banned out of a responsibility to guard against the sexualization of children. The cast of the North American Tour of "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" that plays at the Academy of Music through July 23 Read more The extravagant glitz and glam of Moulin Rouge! The Musical which won 10 Tony Awards has come to the Kimmel Cultural Campus Academy of Music, through July 23. Set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris at the turn of the 20th century, the musical largely follows the same beat as the 2001 film Moulin Rouge!, directed by Baz Luhrmann. The Broadway rendition, like the film, is a jukebox musical inspired by the centuries-old cabaret and vaudeville theater styles. The films plot, partly drawn from Giacomo Puccinis opera La boheme, departs only slightly to include some contemporary updates. Expect flowy choreography, iconic songs, lavish costumes, and extremely glamorous people on stage, as you follow the story of a young composer named Christian (actor John Cardoza) who arrives in Paris from Lima, Ohio. He meets bohemians Toulouse-Lautrec and Santiago and falls in love with Satine (Courtney Reed), a cabaret actor and star of the beloved nightclub Moulin Rouge. Advertisement Here is how the world of Moulin Rouge! The Musical and 1899 Paris is being summoned to Philadelphia under the directorial eyes of Tony Award-winner Alex Timbers,costume designer Catherine Zuber, and set designer Derek McLane. Lights, lights, lights, and more lights McLane started out as the musicals set designer in June 2017. Since then, he has worked on recreating elements from the cabaret aesthetic of the 2001 film and fusing them within the world crafted by playwright John Logan. Translating Luhrmanns high-energy, quick-cut directorial style to the stage wasnt easy. McLane worked with lighting designer Justin Townsend and added radiant lightbulbs and gaudy fixtures to the set, to help bring that sense of glam to the Broadway musical. We made as many things as possible on the set light up, he said. It makes it look like the scenery is moving to the beat of the music, which is incredibly fast. The scenery is actually sitting still on stage, but that kind of frenetic cueing captures some of the energy of the movie in that way. Couture from late 19th-century Paris meets high fashion from the early 2010s Zuber was inspired by the use of satin, silk, and lace fabrics, and extravagant adornments seen in the Moulin Rouge! film, which won Academy Awards for best production design and best costume design. She took those looks and combined them with runway trends from the 1990s and early 2010s. Zuber took the bright cancan dresses and lush corsets from the 19th-century Parisian dances and added elements from contemporary high-fashion brands. There was an amazing movement in high couture [in the 1990s and 2010s] that was quite theatrical, and there was so much inspiration based on what was happening on the runways, said Zuber, who has won eight Tony Awards for design, including for this show. Zuber was particularly inspired by Christian Diors 2005 and Alexander McQueens 2017 fall collections for the characters lingerie and lace pieces. A real depiction of late 19th-century Paris McLane said the fantastical elements of Moulin Rouge! The Musical made it one of his most ambitious projects. To recreate late 19th-century Paris for the Broadway stage, he combined memories of his childhood growing up in India and traveling to Morocco, with the history of Paris. Outside of the Moulin Rouge nightclub set, there is a mix of traditional French structures and other cultural elements that mirrored the Bohemian influence of the day. The Paris of 1899 had all of these interesting Asian and Middle Eastern influences, he said. The Parisian backdrop is most prominent and muted in color when depicting the Montmartre neighborhood. Large, grayscale buildings are visible in the foreground, which then tail off into smaller models as they blend in with winding streets in the background. Christian and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrecs rag-filled garret shows the lively but poverty-stricken conditions many artists were living under at the time. After researching old Parisian courtesan quarters, McLane filled Satines place with layered carpets, decorative Moroccan panels, and glimmering fabrics that bring a sense of regality to the dancers home. He even included a heart-shaped window as a homage to Luhrmanns film. Practicality with a zing We wanted to keep the aesthetics up to the same design power that the film had, but because its the stage version, there are different considerations, Zuber said. Her elaborate costumes combine design with practicality. The dancers can move freely and wear dance shoes under their costumes. Zuber also added small panels to the actors corsets to allow more flexibility. Since the choreography is so intense, I needed to strip away the garments as much as possible so audiences could see the body movement, Zuber said. Most theater-goers, Zuber said, scan performers from head to toe, so each costume is consistently extravagant. Instead of drowning ensemble characters in muted tones, she made the lead characters costumes even brighter. We all worked very hard to bring it to life and have it be a successful show, she said. It surely will be. Moulin Rouge! The Musical continues through July 23 at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. Tickets start at $20. For information: kimmelculturalcampus.org. An inside look at the First Bank of the United States, which is set to reopen as a museum in time for the nation's 250th birthday celebration in 2026. Read more After years of lobbying for the renovation of the First Bank of the United States building, the Independence National Historical Park was awarded $22.2 million in federal funding to turn the Old City landmark into a museum about the early phases of the American economy. The project, announced in a groundbreaking ceremony and news conference at the stairs of the historic bank on Monday, will be wrapped up in time for the nations 250th birthday celebration. Ive been telling the story of the First Bank and how much we need it for like four or five years now, said Tom Caramanico, executive director of the Independence Historical Trust, during the news conference. I kept telling the story over and over again, and giving dates on when it can be done, so now Im thrilled to have it get to this point. And Im proud that our small organization got it done. The Greek Revival-style building, located at 120 S. Third St., was built in 1795 as part of Alexander Hamiltons vision for a national financial system that tied the newly established states together. The white stone structure, now overseen by the National Park Service, was the precursor to the Federal Reserve. Later, it was the headquarters of immigrant millionaire Stephen Girard, a controversial figure who forged Pennsylvanias railroad, canal, and coal industries. LRai Arthur-Mensah, project director of the New York-based firm Local Projects, said the museum wont shy away from its past reiterations or owners when piecing together the story of the banks history, referring to Girard, who bought the First Bank in 1812 after its charter expired the year before. Girard was a slaveowner and contraband dealer. One thing were really clear on is that we are not going to hide from any story, she said. Were going to tell it truthfully, and were going to be honest and give context. Advertisement After lying unused for the last half-century, the rundown building will undergo a renovation led by Mary Werner DeNadai of John Milner Architects and the Independence Historical Trust, which has raised $4.5 million toward the buildings rehabilitation. The facade of the building will largely be kept intact, but the buildings weathered marble will be updated and the roof and the broken supports (that lead to the outdoor parapet) will be replaced. We want to preserve everything that is historic, and of the period it was built in 1795, DeNadai said. She added that the first floor will be completely dedicated to the museum. Two stories will be added to the back of the building, which will house the visitor information counter, restroom facilities, an elevator, and a basement. Arthur-Mensah said the plans for the museum experience are already in the works. Although additional funds are needed to build out the exhibits, the story of the bank, she said, will be told using film, digital interactives, and graphic and scenic elements. Jonathan Burton, director of development for the Independence Historical Trust, the nonprofit philanthropic partner of the Independence National Historical Park, said an additional $6.6 million is needed to complete the project. He added that University of Pennsylvania professor Jeremy Siegel, who has previously donated to the buildings renovation, is planning another significant contribution. The organization plans to apply for additional grants and use a $10 million grant awarded by Pennsylvanias Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to construct the interiors of the historic building, and tie the proverbial loose ends of the long-awaited project together. Its been a long, long time coming for this museum, but I think the residents and the tourists will be excited once it opens up, Burton said. This is a momentous day. City Council President Darrell Clarke, speaking, has been a champion of The Promise, a public-private partnership aimed at reducing Philadelphia's poverty rate. Read more Three years ago, City Council announced a plan to lift 100,000 Philadelphians out of poverty by 2024. Its safe to say the city will fall well short of the ambitious timeline laid out in the Poverty Action Plan, which Council President Darrell L. Clarke described at the time as our citys moonshot moment. The citys poverty rate is 22.3%, down from 24.5% when the report was released. Its unclear to what extent local policy played a role in that decline because the prevalence of poverty is often more reflective of broader economic conditions and federal policy. If the city succeeded in pulling 100,000 residents above the poverty line, the rate would be about 19%. READ MORE: More cities are offering no-strings-attached cash to residents. Heres what Philly can learn. Advertisement Heres what you need to know about the status of the plan and its future: How did Council plan to reduce poverty? Council intentionally set a lofty goal for the plan, centered around a public-private partnership called The Promise that is managed by the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. But days after the announcement, the coronavirus pandemic shut down the economy and shifted officials priorities. Clarke said the city, which has so far has invested $20 million in The Promise, likely would have contributed more were it not for COVID-19. READ MORE: Philly City Council wants to lift 100,000 residents out of poverty. Heres its plan. To have a chance at reaching the moonshot goal, the program would likely need $100 million of total funding behind it, said Michael Banks, executive director of The Promise. Nobody thought that $20 million was going to fix all the challenges, Clarke said. If that pandemic did not happen, trust me, we would have been a lot further along and we might have been in a position to reach that goal. Clarke noted that the city has followed through on recommendations from Councils anti-poverty plan through other efforts, such as investing in affordable housing through Clarkes Neighborhood Preservation Initiative, funding rent subsidies during the pandemic, and adopting property tax relief measures targeted at middle-class homeowners. What is The Promise? The seeds of The Promise were planted in a 2019 Council report that called for a public-private partnership to helm Philadelphias anti-poverty efforts. The program is structured so that the United Way, rather than a city agency, distributes the funds to smaller community organizations and nonprofits. Those groups include the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, the Congreso de Latinos Unidos, and the African Cultural Alliance of North America. Banks said the structure gives the program more flexibility and avoids needless competition between charitable organizations vying for city money. Theres so many different nonprofits doing so many things, and it becomes The Hunger Games every budget cycle, he said. United Way acts as the hub. Additionally, the public-private structure allows corporate and philanthropic backers to get involved. Donors including Comcast, Wells Fargo, and Peco have contributed $5 million to $6 million per year, Banks said. Clarke said he was hoping the private sector would have given more, but he remains optimistic. I appreciate in a very meaningful way the contributions weve gotten so far from the private sector, but clearly were asking them to do more, he said. What has The Promise done? The Promise has so far launched two programs that offer services to Philadelphians, each rooted by $10 million in city funding, Banks said. The first phase focuses on helping city residents access benefits that they are already eligible for. Every year, low-income Americans fail to claim billions of dollars worth of federal tax breaks and benefits they are entitled to, such as the earned income tax credit. The Promise has funded family stability centers across the city that make it easier for people to file their taxes and access benefits. As of October, the program had helped more than 53,000 Philadelphians access more than $52 million in benefits, according to its most recent annual report. I grew up in deep poverty, and I remember my mother taking several buses all around the city to pay bills or access government services, Banks said. What were trying to do is really just optimize it. The second phase involves helping people with criminal records enter the workforce through expungement clinics. Future phases of the program will tackle other recommendations in the Poverty Action Plan, such as paying low-income residents to attend job training courses. What is The Promises future? The Promise received $10 million in funding from the city in each of its first two years, but it did not get any money in the most recent city budget deal approved in June. Banks said he is optimistic Council will fund a midyear budget transfer to boost the program, and Clarke said he believes the city will remain committed to the program. Its unclear, however, who will champion it in the coming years. Former Councilmembers Maria Quinones Sanchez and Allan Domb led the Council committee, but they both resigned last year and ran unsuccessful campaigns for mayor. Clarke will leave office in January after deciding not to run for reelection. Banks said it would be a missed opportunity if Philadelphia let The Promise go by the wayside amid the upcoming turnover in City Hall. Collaboration, stability, commitment to ongoing measurement and progress improvement, and the ability to bring 20-plus organizations in one room thats not something that historically has happened, he said. Temple T logo flags on North Broad Street on the campus of Temple University Read more With another enrollment drop expected this fall, Temple Universitys board of trustees Tuesday voted to raise tuition by more than 4%. The increases will apply to both undergraduate and graduate students and both in-state and out-of-state students, with out-of-state students paying a slightly larger increase. In-state students, who make up the majority of Temples enrollment, will pay a base tuition of $17,979 for next year, up from $17,136. Actual tuition increases vary by school and major, with students on average facing about a 4.2% hike, said Ken Kaiser, senior vice president and chief operating officer. Out-of-state students will pay a base tuition of $32,376, up from $30,864. READ MORE: Temple University to raise tuition 3.9% for 2022-23 Advertisement Fees also will rise by $44, to $968. Like many other universities, Temple continues to face enrollment challenges. Temples enrollment this fall is projected to drop from last year by about 2,800 students or 8%, to just under 31,000 undergraduates and graduate students, Kaiser said. Thats a larger percentage drop than 2022, when enrollment fell 6.4%. Since 2019, before the pandemic, enrollment has fallen more than 20%. We understand the stresses on students and their families and we want to provide an affordable education, Kaiser said, explaining the tuition increase. But there is only so much you can cut. The increases come after the university held tuition rates flat during two of the past four years, in 2019-20 and 2020-21. Temple president Jo Anne A. Epps acknowledged the enrollment decrease at the board meeting, but said the university was taking steps to deal with it. Were not going out of business, she said. Were not going to close. We just have to belt tighten, and we have to be very careful about what we can prioritize and what we cant. Temple isnt alone in raising tuition. The University of Pennsylvania announced in March that it was increasing tuition and other costs 4%. Rutgers University this week said its tuition and fees for 2023-24 would go up 6%, while meal costs would go up 7% and housing 5%. Temple also is increasing the cost of meals by 5.5% on average and rooms by 3.47%. Graduate students at Temple will face tuition increases of 4.4% on average for in-state students and 4.6% on average for out-of-state, Kaiser said. Temples decision comes while state funding for the university remains in limbo. The state legislature has yet to approve any funding for the four so-called state-related universities, which also are Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Lincoln. Funding for the state-related universities requires a two-thirds majority vote, and Republican lawmakers have been pushing for more transparency from the schools, which currently are not fully subject to Pennsylvanias Right to Know law. Lawmakers also have called for the universities to freeze tuition. READ MORE: What you need to know about the Pa. budget impasse Universities may have to wait until the fall to know how much money they will be receiving from the state. The Senate isnt scheduled to return to session until Sept. 18, and the House just scheduled its next session for Sept. 26. State funding is critical to supporting the universities budgets. Ultimately the state appropriation is used to provide a tuition discount for [Pennsylvania] residents students, about $13,000 per student, Kaiser said. If we receive no state funding, that discount goes away. If the state provides flat funding, which would mean Temple would receive a basic appropriation of $158.2 million for the fifth consecutive year, it would not impact the tuition increases approved, Kaiser said. (Temple got a one-time 5% boost in funding through federal stimulus dollars last year.) Even if the legislature were to grant an increase in funding, it likely would not impact tuition, Kaiser said. Temple is planning to cut $57 million from its $1.2 billion spending plan. A funding increase would lessen the cuts, he said. We are looking at a lot of vacancies, attrition, and other selected cuts, Kaiser said. Penn States board is scheduled to meet next week to talk about its budget, including tuition. We are disappointed with the outcome of the House vote, as this funding directly supports Penn States discounted in-state tuition rate, which thousands of Pennsylvania students and their families rely on each year, the university said in a statement. With an enrollment of more than 40,000 Pennsylvania resident students across 20 undergraduate campuses, we look forward to continued conversations with lawmakers about how this funding represents an investment in our young people, our communities, and the commonwealths long-term economic prosperity. Lincoln University, a historically Black university, also is awaiting a decision on state funding. As the first degree-granting HBCU in the country, Lincoln University is all about creating opportunity for students through education, and that opportunity is hanging in the balance, said president Brenda Allen. Were closely managing our budget and watching the conversation in the legislature as it unfolds. The board of governors for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), which oversees 10 state universities, including West Chester and Cheyney, also will meet next week and plans to address tuition. The current budget bill includes a 6%, or $33 million, increase in basic funding for the system, though it, too, is tied up until the final budget is sent to the governor. The system had requested about $132 million in new funding including a 3.8% increase in basic funding, or $21 million and another $112 million, most of it for direct financial aid to students enrolled in careers with employee shortages. If the budget is signed, PASSHE would receive $585.6 million in basic state funding, up from $552.5 million last year. That follows a sizable increase from the year before. In the last two fiscal years, the state will have increased PASSHEs funding by $108 million, or nearly 23%, if the spending plan passes. The state also plans to provide $65 million to alleviate universities debt load, on top of another $175 million that was provided over the prior two years, according to the system. State system Chancellor Daniel Greenstein said through a spokesperson that given the level of support, he will recommend to the board that it freeze tuition for in-state students for an unprecedented fifth consecutive time, which would keep tuition the same for six years. If approved, students would pay $7,716 in tuition again. The state system is incredibly appreciative to the General Assembly and Gov. Shapiro for their strong commitment to PASSHE universities and our 85,000 students, Greenstein said. Staff writer Gillian McGoldrick contributed to this article. Governor Josh Shapiro spoke during a press conference near the collapsed section of I-95 near Cottman Avenue in Philadelphia, Pa. on Sunday, June 11, 2023. A truck fire and partial road collapse have closed Interstate 95 in both directions in Northeast Philadelphia. Read more Were supposed to get a beautiful summer day with clear skies and a high of 90. Since Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro took office in January, hes been lauded as a literal and political bridge-builder. He has worked to ensure a bipartisan image. Just last month, he clinched a major win by successfully reopening I-95 ahead of schedule. But his first budget negotiation didnt go as smoothly. He managed to rub everyone the wrong way. Our lead story explores that impact. Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) Gov. Josh Shapiro is known for finding common ground in his approach to lawmaking and bipartisan promises. That didnt quite work out during his first budget negotiation. Advertisement Reminder: Democratic allies and labor supporters initially felt burned by his pursuit of a private-school voucher program. When he agreed to veto it, top Republicans cried foul. The fiasco showed the reality of the politically-divided state and marked the end of a honeymoon phase between Harrisburg Republicans and Shapiro. Will there be a lasting impact? Thats unclear, but if the budget becomes law without noticeable delay, it likely wont impact Shapiros popularity. As for his colleagues in the statehouse, Democrats still got what they wanted, although there may be some hurt feelings. Meanwhile, Republicans say their trust is broken which could mean trouble for Shapiros ability to get things done in the divided chamber. Continue reading to learn why the school voucher issue isnt going away for Shapiro anytime soon. Philadelphia Police opened an internal investigation into how and why officers were dispatched to the wrong location on July 2 after a woman called 911 to report hearing gunfire at a house in Kingsessing. According to authorities, this mistake occurred nearly two days before the same gunman returned to the same street and killed four more people and injured several others. The initial shooting left 31-year-old Joseph Wamah Jr. dead inside his home. He was effectively unnoticed by authorities for 44 hours. Police radio recordings reviewed by The Inquirer provide some clues about what happened the night of the 911 call. The implications of the mishandled response are now at the heart of an investigation into a crime that rocked the city and attracted national attention. Notable quote: While it may have given us an investigative lead, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said, the likelihood of cutting off what happened later on, we just dont know. Keep reading for more clarity on the timeline, and the latest updates of the investigation. What you should know today Trivia time The biggest concert this week is Beyonce as she takes the stage at the Linc for her first U.S stop on her North American leg of her Renaissance Tour. She is not the only huge entertainer coming to town. Who is not performing this week in Philly? A) Alicia Keys B) Erykah Badu C) Kane Brown D) Kehlani Think you know? Check your answer. What were... Watching: Were rooting for Philly chef Brian Duffy as he competes on Season 4 of Food Networks BBQ Brawl. Listing: All of the Philly artists Beyonce has sampled or referenced in her music. Unscramble the anagram Hint: Lil Uzi Vert will perform at the Wells Fargo Center in November KEPT PAIN Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Kevin Keene, who correctly guessed Mondays answer: Atwater Kent Photo of the day Have a good day! Thanks for waking up with The Inquirer. Pedestrians hurry off of a bus during a downpour at the intersection of Girard Avenue and Front Street last month. Read more The torrential rain that ripped through the Philadelphia region Sunday shows yet again how extreme weather is becoming all too routine. King of Prussia reported 5.46 inches of rain in just 24 hours, while areas of Berks County reported nearly 7 inches of rain, and parts of New York were deluged with 8 inches of rain. Portions of Kelly and MLK Drives were closed as the Schuylkill overflowed, while the northbound lanes of I-476 were flooded near Conshohocken. Meanwhile, homes were flooded, and trapped motorists had to be rescued in Upper Merion, Radnor Township, and Quakertown. The intensity of the rain was yet another data point underscoring the worsening effects of climate change. The alarms keep sounding across the country and across the globe but not everyone is taking heed. Advertisement READ MORE: Theres a bleak message written in Phillys haze: climate change is at our doorstep | Editorial Earth hit its highest temperature ever recorded last week, and the heat is not letting up. Nearly 50 million Americans are expected to battle triple-digit temperatures this week as heat waves blanket Arizona, Nevada, Southern California, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. Texas has been baked for weeks in record triple-digit temperatures, resulting in at least 11 deaths and stressing the states power grid yet again. Meanwhile, Arizona is bracing for some of its worst heat ever. The extreme heat is not just an American problem. China is facing one of its hottest summers on record while blistering heat waves in India, Africa, and Europe earlier this spring resulted in scores of deaths and a drop in labor productivity. Thirty-five years ago, NASA climate scientist James Hansen told a Senate panel he was 99% sure that global warming is affecting our planet now. In the years since, scientists have issued increasingly dire warnings. In March, a panel made up of hundreds of scientists issued the final installment of a report urging world leaders to act now before it is too late to avert the irrevocable damage caused by rising greenhouse gas emissions. This report is a clarion call to massively fast-track climate efforts by every country and every sector and on every time frame. Our world needs climate action on all fronts: everything, everywhere, all at once, said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. This is a man-made problem decades in the making. There are no simple or quick fixes, but there are solutions if we act now. But instead of bold and unified efforts to fight climate change, the steps have been largely tepid and scattershot. America should be leading the world in the endeavor especially since it is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. But for years, Republicans and the fossil fuel industry denied the science of climate change, and continue to thwart attempts to address the threat to human health. READ MORE: With climate change, we must resist the quick fix on oil supplies | Editorial To his credit, President Joe Biden pushed through several measures to address the problem, including the $1 trillion infrastructure bill and rejoining the Paris climate agreement that former President Donald Trump withdrew America from in a reckless move. In the absence of united efforts, many blue states have rolled out ambitious climate strategies, while red states largely do nothing. Two-thirds of Americans think the federal government is not doing enough to combat climate change. The majority of Americans support climate mitigation policies, including some Republican voters. However, many GOP leaders continue to spread misinformation about climate change with help from Fox News. Trump called climate change a hoax, joked that rising sea levels will result in more beachfront property, and continues to spew lies. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is battling Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, dismissed climate change as left-wing stuff and said he rejected the politicization of weather. If only. In the real world, the rain falls on the just and the unjust, and until voters hold elected leaders accountable and demand action, climate change will continue to wreak havoc here and abroad. Gov. Josh Shapiro at a press conference near the collapsed section of I-95 in Philadelphia in June. Read more In the span of a week, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro managed to agitate everybody. His Democratic allies and labor supporters initially felt burned by his pursuit of a private-school voucher program. When he agreed to veto it, top Republicans cried foul. The budget controversy feels like a rare misstep for Shapiro, who just two weeks ago was nationally lauded for successfully reopening I-95 ahead of schedule after a bridge collapse. Since Shapiro took office in January, the press has cast him as a literal and political bridge-builder. But the current budget standoff shows the reality of politically divided Pennsylvania and marks the end of the honeymoon phase between Harrisburg Republicans and Shapiro, a master communicator, who has worked to cultivate a bipartisan image. Advertisement He miscalculated, and he angered both sides, Muhlenberg pollster Chris Borick said. The reality is, if youre trying to play this one both ways, its hard to do. Its unclear if it will have a lasting impact. If the state budget becomes law without noticeable delay, its unlikely to dent Shapiros popularity. (His predecessor, Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf, under a Republican-controlled General Assembly, didnt see a budget passed for the better part of a year when he first took office. He was still easily reelected for a second term.) As for legislators in the statehouse Democrats and public education advocates ultimately got what they wanted, though hurt feelings may linger. Republicans, meanwhile, say their trust has been broken and that could affect Shapiros ability to get things done in the divided chamber. How do we move forward and negotiate with him and trust him? Senate Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland) asked The Inquirer on Friday. I dont know how we do it. He negotiated in bad faith. A handshake didnt mean anything. Shapiro said in a news conference last week that it was Senate Republicans who misstepped when they assumed he was responsible to get House Democrats on board with the budget he had negotiated. And he said he was clear, in public and in private, that the deal wasnt final until House Democrats signed on. [Senate Republicans] made a unilateral decision to send this bill over to the House, Shapiro said. They may not like how this process played out, but it is the process that they put into effect because of their inability to close the deal with the House Democrats. Ward said Friday she and Shapiro have not spoken since he announced hed veto the controversial school-choice program. She has no plans to call the Senate back into session before Sept. 18, its next scheduled day. I need a cooldown period, she said. Im not prepared to have that in-depth conversation with him at this point. It will eventually come because we need to move forward. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) said last week in a statement he is dedicated to restoring trust in the budget process. House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery) told reporters Friday that leaders are entering a reset period and plan to restart negotiations soon. A spokesperson for Shapiro said hes had productive conversations with Pittman and Bradford throughout the budget process. As he always has, the Governor will continue working to bring Republicans and Democrats together in order to deliver real results for all Pennsylvanians, said Manuel Bonder, Shapiros press secretary, in a statement. In the meantime, Ward said shes working with other top Senate GOP leaders to attempt a workaround using code bills the instructions for how the state spends its state budget to try and slim down the budget, she said. This could mean some of Shapiros new budget initiatives, such as $7.5 million for Pennsylvania public defenders offices, might not happen after all. While Shapiro has characterized the stalemate as something the two chambers need to work out, Ward said thats revisionist history. To her, Shapiro portrayed himself as the negotiator for House Democrats. Ward went from tweeting his praises to posting that she missed Wolf. I would think as a governor, you would have the juice to get your party on board on one of your priorities, Ward told The Inquirer, if its truly a priority. Shapiro had gone on Fox News to talk about his support for vouchers, pleasing Republicans who endorse them and irking some Democrats who fiercely back public education. In the end, House Democrats convinced Shapiro to line-item veto the controversial school voucher program. Shapiro said hed do so to avoid a lengthy budget holdup. However, Pennsylvania is at an impasse anyway, at least until the main spending bill and at least one of the omnibus code bills are signed by the governor. His attempt to change course once the stalemate set in made political sense, even if it made him some GOP foes, said Alison Dagnes, a political science professor at Shippensburg University. If the narrative is Republicans are holding up the budget, thats not a bad narrative for the Democrats, Dagnes said. If its that Shapiro screwed over his own party and theyre not supporting him, thats much worse. The budget was a test for House Democrats on whether they could hold the line on issues they say they care about most, like public education, said State Rep. Rick Krajewski (D., Philadelphia), who is a leader of the Houses new progressive caucus. While he said he understands Shapiros stance on vouchers, the position of many Democrats was that we cant support a budget that is going to take tax dollars from our public schools and put them toward private interests. State Rep. Peter Schweyer (D., Lehigh), who chairs the House Education Committee, said Shapiros willingness to veto a program he helped create shows his strength as a leader. He was willing to give up what was a priority to him, Schweyer said. Thats not easy for any elected official. Candidly, he deserves a lot of credit for that. The school voucher issue isnt going away for Shapiro anytime soon. Shapiro reiterated last week his support of a voucher program, and Senate Republicans and school-choice advocates are still pressuring him not to veto the proposed program. The House promised to host joint hearings in the coming months about creating a voucher program or expanding existing tax credit programs that sponsor students to attend private schools. Democrats and Republicans have been cautious about publicly criticizing Shapiro, whose political clout has soared since his commanding November win and his accolades for rebuilding I-95. Leaders from both parties said they were hopeful that he would follow up with the moderate pragmatism he promised on the campaign trail. I think nobody wants to speak badly about him because hes really good, Dagnes said. This is a guy whos absolutely headed toward the White House. Who knows if hes gonna get there or not? It might be smart to not underestimate him and also to show you can play well with him. Democrats have a one-seat majority in the House and Republicans maintain a strong advantage in the state Senate, so Shapiros attempts at deal-making will likely be on display repeatedly. How does he toggle now? Borick asked. Does he look to find other ways to appease more moderate Republicans on other issues and once again risk angering some Democratic constituencies? Anne Fadullon, director of the department of planning and development, speaks with City Council President Darrell L. Clarke outside a hearing on a bill to change the 10-year tax abatement at City Hall in 2019. Read more Deputy Mayor Anne Fadullon is leaving her job overseeing planning and development in Philadelphia next month, bringing to a close her tenure as one of the longest-serving members of Jim Kenneys administration. Fadullons time in city government coincided with a sustained period of redevelopment that saw Philadelphia lead the region in housing construction. She was Kenneys point person for negotiating with City Council in an administration where the legislative branch dominated housing and land use policy. Fadullon will continue to serve in her role until Aug. 23, after which the head of the Planning Commission, Eleanor Sharpe, will take over. In January, the new mayor could chose to keep Sharpe or replace her. Fadullon is Philadelphias first director of Planning and Development, a position created at the onset of the Kenney administration with the merger of six previously existing departments into one entity. She entered government from the real estate industry after City Council President Darrell L. Clarke lobbied for her to get the job. Advertisement Shes somebody who, unlike her predecessors, had a strong background in the private real estate market, said John Kromer, former Mayor Ed Rendells director of housing. She was someone who was accessible and candid about the challenges facing Philadelphia and willing to talk through ideas about how to address those challenges. Thats a radical departure. Much of the second half of her tenure was defined by COVID-19. The pandemic forced Fadullon to adapt the quotidian duties of her department to the new circumstances, quickly moving Zoning Board and Historical Commission meetings on to Zoom. Her department also got a rent-relief program, backed by federal dollars, online much more quickly than most local governments and paired it with an eviction-diversion program that is still in use. The initiative kept tens of thousands of Philadelphians housed and has been praised as a national model. Im very proud of the citys effort to get our massive rental assistance program up and running so quickly, Fadullon said in a statement to The Inquirer after the announcement of her resignation. The combination of the COVID-related shutdown and switching to remote work further complicated this effort. Through incredible teamwork and a can-do attitude, we were able to keep tens of thousands of families in their homes during the most trying of times. From private to public sector Before her time in the Kenney administration, Fadullon worked as the director of development for the Dale Corp., a construction management and consulting firm based in Glenside. She also led the Building Industry Association, which advocates for market-rate residential developers, and had been the director of development for the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority under Rendell. Over the years, she developed a strong relationship with Clarke. He both championed the creation of the Department of Planning and Development and advocated to Mayor-elect Kenney that Fadullon be given stewardship of it. I worked with Anne for years both in and out of government [and she] understands the importance of neighborhoods and affordable housing, Clarke said in a statement about her resignation. While Kenney largely allowed City Council to steer questions of housing and land use policy, Fadullon was the point person when the administration did wade into these matters. She led the administrations negotiations over the revisions to the 10-year tax abatement, a controversial development incentive that turbocharged residential construction, and during debates over the creation of Clarkes construction tax and the myriad housing programs it funded. Fadullon also got involved in more hyper-local development issues such as negotiations around the closure of the University City Townhomes in West Philadelphia. She comes from the construction/developer world, so initially I didnt know if we would be in line on priorities, said Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who represents University City. But she really does care for the cause of safe, accessible, affordable housing in Philadelphia. Even in some of the tough fights like the townhomes her heart was in helping us figure that stuff out. Centering housing during the pandemic At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she quickly shepherded a powerful rent relief program called PHLRentAssist into existence and used her administrative discretion to break with the conventional wisdom that rent-relief programs should be routed solely through landlords. According to the city, between May 2020 and January 2023, 46,500 households in Philadelphia received $300 million to keep them in their homes during the pandemic emergency. Although that policy has now ended, the eviction-diversion program created at the same time is still in use. This work stabilized the rental market and made it Philadelphias most successful pandemic relief effort, and it is largely because of the diligence, efficiency, and hard work of this administration and Anne Fadullon, said Helen Gym, a former mayoral candidate who made eviction prevention one of her signature issues on City Council. Just before the pandemic struck, Fadullon also backed a separate program despite pushback from some Council members and other members of the administration that initiated a cash-transfer program for low-income tenants that beneficiaries could spend in any way they wanted. The program continues and, along with is counterparts, is being studied by the University of Pennsylvania. The real issue at hand is that the rental affordability crisis did not end with the pandemic, although the federal funding did, Fadullon said. We desperately need flexible federal dollars that we can put to use where they are needed most. Mayoral appointee on issues where Council rules For observers like Kromer, Fadullon often seemed like the lone top Kenney administration official with much interest in making housing and development a major priority. It was Clarke who effectively decided when the abatement for new construction would be weakened, Clarke who earmarked $100 million with Councilmember Cherelle Parker for housing-repair programs for low-income homeowners, and Clarke who passed a construction tax to fund his Neighborhood Preservation Initiative. Housing policy, in effect, was defaulted to City Council, said Kromer, so although Anne Fadullon and her associates were capable people, I didnt see them being empowered to make policy or implement policy. Her imprint on agencies like the Planning Commission is, arguably, less profound partly because the administrations limited ability to influence how zoning is used with the final say left to district Council members. (Although the citys first comprehensive plan since the 1950s was completed during Fadullons tenure, it hasnt been touched up in recent years.) Fadullon, and the Kenney administration more generally, periodically made stands against zoning bills they deemed to be exclusionary such as an overlay that limited height and density in Society Hill. Especially in the last two years. Anne Fadullon had a very tough time because it always comes back to Council, said Mo Rushdy, a developer with RiverWards Group who is in the BIA leadership. We dont have a unified vision were all rallying behind. You dont have the City of Philadelphia, you have 10 different districts with 10 different opinions of development. The land bank, which was meant to ease the disposition of city-owned parcels, too, has remained stifled, despite Fadullons efforts to get it adequately staffed and budgeted to get more city-owned vacant land into productive use. As a result, its sluggish progress was brought up repeatedly during the mayoral race. Despite the difficulty of Fadullons position, most observers say that she did as well as anyone could have in an administration that was largely focused on other issues. Shes a really talented, rare individual who doesnt need to go into government but does and sees the value and leaves it in a better place than when she started, said John Grady, former head of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. She was able to get a lot of things done behind the scenes, without needing to be the one getting credit for it. Especially during COVID she kept those mechanics of government moving. In this photo provided by the Government of Alberta Fire Service, a wildfire burns a section of forest in the Grande Prairie district of Alberta, Canada, on Saturday. Read more Blistering temperatures reached unheard-of northerly latitudes in Canada over the weekend amid dangerously hot and dry conditions, lightning storms and new blazes that intensified the countrys historically severe fire season. The temperature soared as high as 100 degrees in the Northwest Territories on Saturday, the hottest temperature ever measured north of 65 degrees latitude in the Western Hemisphere, according to Christopher Burt, an extreme-weather historian. The scorching temperatures over western Canada exacerbated the country's unprecedented wildfire crisis. A record 22.7 million acres (9.2 million hectares) have burned so far, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, blowing past the previous high mark of 17.5 million acres (7.1 million hectares) in 1995. There are months of the wildfire season to go. Record heat near the Arctic Circle In the desolate and oil-rich region of the Northwest Territories, nestled in the wooded Taiga Plains about 3o0 miles from the Arctic Ocean, the small town of Norman Wells hit 100 degrees on Saturday. It was "easily the farthest north in Canada with a reading of 37C (99F) or higher in the Canadian climate record," tweeted climatologist Brian Brettschneider, before the mercury ultimately ticked up to 100. Advertisement In an email, Burt said the Norman Wells reading was just 0.1 Celsius shy of the hottest temperature ever observed near or just north of the Arctic Ocean: 100.4 degrees (38.0 Celsius) in Verkhoyansk, Russia, in June 2020. Norman Wells had some company in the Northwest Territories to the east of the Mackenzie Mountains. Fort Good Hope, about 70 miles northwest of Norman Wells, reached 99.4 degrees (37.4 Celsius). Temperatures in the mid- to high 90s were also recorded south into northern British Columbia. By comparison, in the United States the farthest-north 100-degree mark pushed east of the Mississippi River in southern Illinois. West of the Rockies, temperatures this high have yet to reach Wyoming and Montana. Wildfire boom in the West As if the broiling heat weren't enough, at 5 p.m. Saturday, Noman Wells recorded a visibility of 1.25 miles because of wildfire smoke across the region. Earlier in the afternoon, visibility was as low as 0.75 miles there with temperatures in the 90s. New rounds of evacuations were ordered over the weekend in northern British Columbia, where hundreds of fires raged, according to the provincial government. Many new blazes were sparked because of relatively dry thunderstorms, producing lightning but little rain, during recent days. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported that most of the fires in the province are out of control. "Thirteen of them are deemed a potential threat to people or are highly visible - including one south of Fort St. James, one southwest of Quesnel, and another north of Fort St. John," it wrote. British Columbia's largest wildfire on record, the Donnie Creek Fire, is approaching 1.5 million acres (600,000 hectares) and has showed extreme behavior on several flanks after it had previously quieted-down somewhat. The fire began on May 12. More than 2.7 million acres (1.1 million hectares) have burned so far this year in British Columbia, compared to an average annual of 1 million acres (407,000 hectares), and approaching some of the record-worst seasons with a large portion of the fire season to come. Whats ahead? A major issue for firefighters in Canada this year is that fires are burning from coast-to-coast. In addition to the west, eastern Canada also suffered intense fire activity in June and early July, which is unusual. Over the past week or so, there has been some relief from the hot, dry weather fueling fires in the east because a zone of low pressure near and north of the Great Lakes has brought rainfall and lower temperatures. Still, a number of massive fires continue to burn near and east of James Bay. They may simmer for a while but could spread explosively if heat returns. In the near-term, the most concerning fire risk - categorized as high to extreme by the government of Canada in its daily report - will continue to focus on the western provinces, including areas in the Arctic north of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Because the fire intensity is forecast to remain most pronounced in western Canada, wildfire smoke risks into the Lower 48 should remain low over the next week or so except for possible incursions close to the international border. However, longer-range forecasts show above- to much-above average temperatures over all but central Canada. The possibility of more heat in eastern Canada could rekindle the fire threat there and increase the possibility of heat entering the Lower 48. Some Australian consumers may not be aware that their information is being collected, stored, and sold by third-party data brokers with whom they have no direct relationship, Cass-Gottlieb said. This report will explore how third-party data brokers collect and use information to create products and services and if there may be competition and consumer issues arising from this. What her statistics showed was that there were more people in the London market over the age of 50 than there were under the age of 30, she said. This was something that she and her organization are committed to trying to rebalance. Kendall said: Smart document management is now one part of digitally transforming policy management processes which are vital to every broker's ability to respond to cost and regulatory pressures. As a founder, I am proud to see my customers and people gain extra support and new opportunities within JAVLN. The deal, which closed on June 30, expands Acera's operations in central Alberta adding to its teams in Red Deer and Sylvan Lake. It will see Rushton Agencies fully transition to Acera in the coming months. DEI really is a way of life for me, in that I have always behaved the way I wanted to be treated, Quintana said. As I became influential in leadership positions, I never lost sight of the fact that I started at the bottom and that I needed to treat others with respect. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Friday it is investigating an engine fire last week on a Boeing BA.N 737-900 MAX plane operated by United Airlines UAL.O at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The NTSB said a fire warning light indicator came on after United Airlines Flight 2376 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida landed at Newark on June 28, prompting the crew to shut down one of the engines. There was no visible smoke or fire from the engine so the airplane was towed to the gate, where maintenance personnel saw evidence of a fuel leak from the engine and heat damage and soot on the engine cases and external surfaces, the NTSB added. Passengers exited from the plane in a normal fashion in Newark, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said after the plane landed the flight crew activated the engine fire extinguishers as a precaution. United said it is investigating but declined further comment. Boeing referred questions to the NTSB and United. The plane was delivered in 2020 and the LEAP-1B engine was built by French-American jet engine maker CFM International, which is co-owned by General Electric GE.N and Frances Safran SAF.PA. CFM said it is supporting the NTSBs investigation. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham, Leslie Adler anda Kim Coghill) Topics Aviation Aerospace New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Lawyers for a teacher who was shot by her 6-year-old student in Virginia can start the process of interviewing eyewitnesses, reviewing the boy`s disciplinary files and accessing other records for a $40 million lawsuit against the school system, a judge ruled Friday. But the judge is yet to decide whether Abby Zwerner`s case will end up in a civil courtroom or before the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission. The Newport News School Board wants the lawsuit dismissed and argues that Zwerner suffered employment-related injuries. Workers compensation provides up to 500 weeks of benefits and lifetime medical care for injuries. Zwerner was a first-grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School when she was shot in the hand and chest while sitting at her classroom reading table. The 25- year-old spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and has had multiple surgeries since the January shooting. Virginia Teacher Shot by 6-Year Old Sues School Officials for $40 Million Newport News Circuit Court Judge Matthew Hoffman said Friday that he will hold a hearing on the workers compensation matter in late October. Matters before the judge on Friday mostly involved the process of discovery, an early phase of a lawsuit where parties share evidence. Anne Lahren, an attorney for the school board, argued that discovery should wait until Hoffman decides on the workers compensation matter. But Kevin Biniazan, an attorney for Zwerner, pointed to other cases in the state in which discovery was allowed to proceed. Jeffrey Breit, another attorney for Zwerner, also said it was important to interview teachers before the new school year began. Breit told reporters after the hearing that the legal team had no intention of interviewing any children before the workers compensation matter is resolved, while they may only seek to talk to one or two students if the case goes to trial. Friday`s decision was a victory for Zwerner, who did not attend the hearing and no longer works for Newport News Public Schools. Virginia School: Workers Comp Bars $40M Suit by Teacher Shot by 6-Year Old Zwerner is still on a long road to recovery, another one of her lawyers, Diane Toscano, said after Friday`s hearing. She`s going to have physical and emotional scars for the rest of her life. The incident sent shock waves through the military shipbuilding community and the country, with many wondering how a child so young could access a gun and shoot his teacher. The boy used a gun that belonged to his mother, Deja Taylor. She is facing trial in August on charges of felony neglect and reckless firearm storage on the state level. Last month, Taylor pleaded guilty in federal court to using marijuana while possessing a firearm, which is illegal under U.S. law. Prosecutors in Newport News had also said in April that they were investigating whether the actions or omissions of any school employees could lead to criminal charges. Meanwhile, Zwerner`s lawsuit accuses the school system of gross negligence. She describes a series of warnings school employees gave administrators in the hours before the shooting, beginning with Zwerner, who told an assistant principal that the boy was in a violent mood, had threatened to beat up a kindergartener and stared down a security officer in the lunchroom. Other warnings included those from two students, who told a reading specialist the boy had a gun in his backpack, the lawsuit states. A search of his backpack found no weapon. And the assistant principal said the boys pockets were too small to hold a handgun and did nothing, Zwerners lawsuit states. The lawsuit claims that school officials dismissed concerns about the boys violent behavior over the course of months. Often, after he was taken to the office, he would return to class shortly thereafter with some type of reward, such as a piece of candy, the lawsuit states. The school system argues that Zwerner was clearly injured while at work, at her place of employment, by a student in the classroom, the board stated in court documents. While in an ideal world, young children would not pose any danger to others, including their teachers, this is sadly not reality, the board stated, pointing to numerous incidents of violence against teachers. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Workers' Compensation Talent Virginia New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Since workers compensation shields an employer from liability, an insurer may not be able to rely on an employer liability exclusion in a commercial general liability policy to avoid claims. Thats the potentially costly message a federal appeals court has sent to Security National Insurance Co. (SNIC). The Third Circuit of Appeals revived a $30 million claim against SNIC over employer liability coverage for a construction accident at a Philadelphia apartment building in which workers were injured when a third-floor fire escape balcony collapsed. SNIC attempted to escape the employer liability claims for the accident with an exclusion in its policy and succeeded at the district court level in 2021. However, the insurers fortunes have now been reversed on appeal. The federal appeals court in Philadelphia last week vacated the 2021 district court ruling. In remanding the case, the appeals court found that the language in SNICs policy around additional insureds that allowed it to apply the exclusion is ambiguous and thus the language must be construed against the insurer. The policy defines an additional insured as a party listed on the schedule of additional insureds. The lower court ruled that was sufficient to find that an employer is an additional insured and, therefore, subject to SNICs employer liability policy and its exclusion. However, the appeals court found that is not sufficient. The policy requires that to be considered an additional insured, an entity must also be liable for the acts or omissions that caused the accident a requirement that cannot be met where workers compensation cancels an employers liability for work injuries. Case Background A property owner, 4207 Chester Ave. LLC, hired Altman Management Co. to manage its property. Altman, in turn, enlisted AM Marlin Construction to repair a leak in the buildings ceiling. AM Marlin workers were standing on a third-floor fire escape balcony when the balcony collapsed. Among the workers injured was Argenis Reyes, who fell multiple stories to the ground and suffered significant injuries, including . . . permanent paralysis. AM Marlin was the named insured under the commercial general liability policy issued by SNIC. The policy listed both Chester Ave. and Altman as additional insureds but only to the extent that Chester Ave. or Altman was held liable for AM Marlins acts or omissions arising out of their ongoing operations performed for AM Marlin. Chester Ave. was also the named insured under a commercial general liability policy issued by Westminster American Insurance Co., which provided insurance that was excess to that provided by SNIC, an AmTrust Financial affiliate. Following the accident, Reyes asserted that Chester Ave. and AM Marlin were responsible for his bodily injuries and other damages. Westminster tendered Chester Ave.s defense and indemnity with respect to Reyes claims to SNIC, asserting that Chester Ave. was an additional insured under the policys additional insureds endorsement, which, according to Westminster, provided coverage to Chester Ave. for liability arising out of AM Marlins work at Chester Ave.s property. Positions SNIC, in first denying coverage, stated that Chester Ave.s liability coverage was not triggered because AM Marlin did not perform any work for Chester Ave. on the propertys fire escape balcony that collapsed. SNIC later argued that coverage was foreclosed by the employers liability exclusion. Specifically, SNIC asserted that this provision excluded coverage for bodily injury to an employee of any insured and that the exclusion therefore precluded coverage for Reyes bodily injuries because he was an employee of Altman, which was an additional insured under the SNIC policy. After SNIC declined coverage, Chester Ave., Westminster American and Reyes sued SNIC. They asserted eight claims for relief and sought declaratory judgments that SNIC be required to defend and indemnify Chester Ave. and reimburse Westminster for the costs of Chester Ave.s defense. They asked the court to require SNIC to pay its policy limit and indemnify Chester Ave. for its $24.6 million settlement with Reyes and another worker, and that SNIC pay the $1 million limit on AM Marlins liability policy. Another count sought indemnification for another related $5 million settlement. Contrary to what SNIC argued, the plaintiffs contend that Altman is not an additional insured and that, consequently, the exclusion is inapplicable to the bodily injury claims. They rely on the provision that states that an insured include[s] the person or organization shown in the Schedule, but only to the extent that the person or organization shown in the Schedule is held liable for [AM Marlins] acts and omissions arising out of [AM Marlins] ongoing operations performed for that insured. District Court The federal district court for Eastern Pennsylvania sided with SNIC. This court reasoned that the liability exclusion applied because the apartment management company Altman was listed as an additional insured on the construction firms policy. Furthermore, according to the district court, whether Altman wasor can beheld liable for AM Marlins acts or omissions speaks only to the scope of the coverage afforded by the policy, not whether Altman qualifies as any insured under the policy. However, the federal appeals court came to a different conclusion. It ruled that Altman is not an insured simply because it is listed as an additional insured. Thats because, as the plaintiffs point out, there is other policy language indicating a party must also be held liable for the acts or omissions of the underlying claim to qualify as an additional insured. Even more, since by law the states workers compensation act is the exclusive remedy for employees in claims against their employer, the employer cannot be held liable and thus is not an insured subject to the liability exclusion, the appeals court explained in vacating the lower court ruling. In the appeals courts view, an entity becomes an insured under AM Marlins policy when it is listed in the schedule, but only to the extent that the person or organization is held liable for the acts or omissions arising out of AM Marlins ongoing operations performed for the insured. As the appellants claim, Altman is not an additional insured because it cannot be held liable for the injured workers claims since it already paid workers compensation following the incident. The circuit court reads the workers compensation statute as shielding Altman from additional liability. Plainly, Altmans workers compensation payments effectively supplanted all other forms of liability that it could have had, the opinion states. Accordingly, because Altman is not held liable for AM Marlins acts due to the workers compensation law, it is not an additional insured. Because it is not an additional insured, SNIC cannot use the employer liability exclusion to preclude coverage for the liability claims. The court noted that its opinion only addresses that Altman is and cannot be liable for AM Marlins acts given its workers compensation payments, as that is the crux of the issue. But it offers no opinion on whether Altman may be liable for AM Marlins acts for any other reason not previously raised, especially since such an inquiry also turns on whether AM Marlins acts arose out of work it performed for Altman. Topics Legislation USA Workers' Compensation Commercial Lines Business Insurance Talent Aviva, Legal & General and seven other pension firms intend to invest 50 billion pounds ($64 billion) in unlisted companies by 2030 to help the City of London remain a competitive global finance center after Brexit, finance minister Jeremy Hunt said. Under a non-binding agreement, Aviva, Scottish Widows, Legal & General, Aegon, Phoenix, NEXT, Mercer, M&G and Smart Pension will allocate at least 5% of direct contribution pension funds into unlisted companies by the start of the next decade. The so-called Mansion House Reforms seek to deliver an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, change in our pensions market, and to strengthen the UKs position as a leading financial center, the finance ministry said. Hunts reforms represent a follow-up to last years Edinburgh Reforms which sought to attract international growth company listings to Britain after its departure from the European Union largely cut off the citys access to the bloc. By unlocking investment, we will boost retirement income by over 1,000 pounds a year for a typical earner over the course of their career, Hunt said in excerpts of a speech he was due to deliver on Monday to a gathering of finance leaders. Only 1% of Britains 4.6 trillion pounds of pension and insurance assets are invested in unlisted companies, compared with upwards of 6% in Australia. Within a year, the new plan will target fintech, life science, biotech, and clean technology firms, but exclude property and infrastructure, where huge debts at Thames Water have raised questions about the role of private investors in utilities. It follows efforts by City of London Lord Mayor Nicholas Lyons to set up a 50 billion-pound investment vehicle to back UK startups. Private equity investments typically offer greater returns in exchange for taking a greater risk, and many pension schemes have preferred to squirrel away cash in safer government bonds. Mandatory Mergers A new value-for-money framework will make clear that investments by pension firms should be based on overall long-term returns and not simply costs, the ministry said. Pension schemes which are not achieving the best outcome for members will be wound up into larger, better-performing schemes, the ministry said. There will be plans for a superfund regime to mirror the investment firepower of huge schemes in Australia and Canada. The British Business Bank, which seeks to support lending to small and medium-sized firms, will explore how Britain could set up investment vehicles. There will also be a public consultation about the feasibility of setting a target of 10%, or an additional 25 billion pounds, for local government pension schemes to invest in private equity by 2030. We need more transparency around asset allocation, costs and investment returns from local government pension schemes before taking any far-reaching decisions about consolidation or asset pooling in that sector, Lyons said. Other proposed reforms include simplifying the prospectuses that companies publish ahead of issuing stocks and bonds. In a long-awaited move hailed by supporters of Britains departure from the EU as a Brexit dividend, curbs inherited from the bloc on share trading would be scrapped, and another disputed EU-era rule on how broker research should be charged might also be removed, the ministry said. The plans in relation to research are particularly positive, as they should help to resolve longstanding concerns about the availability of research for SMEs, Norton Rose Fulbright lawyer Jonathan Herbst said. A new intermittent trading venue would provide unlisted private companies with a way of accessing investors. The ministry also welcomed a report on ways to move to fully digital shares by scrapping outdated paper-based stock certificates. ($1 = 0.7811 pounds) (Reporting by Huw Jones) Topics Europe London Uk The announcement of a nearly $1 billion fine by Chinese regulators on Ant Group has drawn a line under the fintech giants woes and given hope to investors that a regulatory crackdown on Chinas broader technology sector is over. Ants story so far has been one of a dramatic reversal in fortunes: while its shelved $37 billion IPO in 2020 had valued the company at $315 billion, a share buyback announced on Saturday valued it 75% less at $78.5 billion. Here are some of the key things to look out for with respect to Ant: Key Licenses For more than two years, Ant has been working under the guidance of Chinese regulators to turn itself into a financial holding company to ensure its financial-related businesses are fully regulated. After the fine, the next step would be to obtain the financial holding license, which is crucial for reviving any listing plans by Ant. The National Financial Regulatory Administration, a new government body under the State Council, is now the primary regulator to grant Ant the key license, sources have told Reuters. A second license Ant is waiting to procure is one for a personal credit reporting company. Chinas central bank said in November 2021 that it had accepted the application to set up Qiantang Credit Rating, a personal credit-scoring joint venture with Ant Group expected to own 35%. IPO Prospects The resolution of Ants regulatory woes has revived talk of whether the companys listing could be back on the cards. But some analysts have said that the initiation of a share buyback was an indication that the possibility of an IPO in the short-term was unlikely. Others have said that Ants announcement in January that its founder and billionaire Jack Ma will give up control of the Chinese fintech giant could also slow plans to revive its long-sought IPO as Chinas domestic A-share market requires companies to wait three years after a change in control to list. The wait is two years on Shanghais STAR market, and one year in Hong Kong. Ownership Ants announcement on Saturday that it will offer to buy 7.6% of its equity interest is set to give some investors an opportunity to exit. Alibaba, which has a 33% stake in Ant, said on Sunday it was considering whether to participate in the buyback. Ants major shareholders, Hangzhou Junhan Equity Investment Partnership and Hangzhou Junao Equity Investment Partnership, have voluntarily decided not to participate in the repurchase. Existing investors of Ant included Chinas national social security fund and major Chinese insurers such as China Life Insurance and China Pacific Life Insurance, as well as overseas institutions such as Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and private equity firm Warburg Pincus, according to Ants prospectus published in 2020. Jack Ma-founded Yunfeng Capital was also among Ants pre-IPO shareholders, the prospectus showed. (Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Brenda Goh; editing by Christina Fincher) Photograph: In this Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 photo, an employee walks past a logo of the Ant Group at their office in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) A German court will call former Volkswagen AG executives as witnesses in a 9 billion ($9.8 billion) investor lawsuit over the diesel emissions scandal to find out what the top brass knew about the the so-called defeat device used in diesel cars to sidestep emissions tests. Among the 86 witnesses to be called is Martin Winterkorn, VWs former chief executive officer, a spokeswoman for the Higher Regional Court of Braunschweig said by phone. The witnesses come from all levels of VWs management, she said. The judges on Friday [July 7] also ordered the disclosure of numerous documents. A VW spokesman said the ruling was expected, adding that the carmaker still considers the claims to be unfounded. Ex-Audi Boss Becomes 1st VW Board Member Sentenced for Fraud in Diesel Scandal The tribunal in 2021 gave investors a boost when it said Europes largest carmaker may be liable for not telling the markets about the defeat device if top management knew about it. Any investors seeking damages for losses up until July 9, 2012 have to prove that the management board knew about the deceit, the court ruled at the time. From that date onward, VW has to prove its executives didnt intentionally or negligently fail to disclose that information. Ever since the scandal broke in 2015, VWs main line of defense has been to blame a small group of engineers that it said colluded to rig the software and hid their tricks from company leadership. Winterkorn has been charged over the scam but his trial hasnt yet started due to health issues. Since hes a suspect in a criminal case, he can decline to testify in court, making it unlikely that he will show up in the investor suit. Other witnesses under investigation may also invoke these privileges. The case is Deka Investment GmbH v. Volkswagen AG and Porsche Automobil Holding SE (3 Kap 1/16). Photograph: Former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn; photo credit: Rolf Schulten/Bloomberg Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits Coalition, the San Francisco-based cyber managing general agent and cyber-security firm, announced its cyber insurance and technology errors and omissions (E&O) insurance offerings are now available in Quebec. Brokers can receive highly streamlined quotes for small businesses to large enterprises, Coalition said, noting that its risk appetite encompasses firms with up to $1 billion in revenue. The company will distribute its products via brokers across the province through capacity provided by Lloyds and Arch Insurance Canada. Coalitions Quebec offering is in French, including policies and endorsements. Coalition also offers French-speaking broker contacts and support staff, as well as a translated website and support center. Quebec brokers now have access to Active Insurance coverage that combines the power of technology and insurance to help organizations identify, mitigate, and respond to digital risks before they escalate into cyber-attacks. All Active Insurance policyholders have access to Coalition Control, the risk management platform that alerts organizations to critical vulnerabilities and security findings within their attack surfaces. Coalition first entered the Canadian cyber insurance market in 2020 and plans to expand its presence in Quebec throughout the remainder of the year. Coalition officially began offering policies on June 20. More information about Coalitions offerings in Quebec can be found via the companys web portal. About Coalition Coalition helps businesses manage and mitigate digital risks before they hit. Coalition offers its Active Insurance products in the U.S., U.K., and Canada through relationships with global insurers, as well as cyber capacity through its own carrier, Coalition Insurance Co. Coalitions Active Risk Platform provides automated security alerts, threat intelligence, expert guidance, and cybersecurity tools to help businesses worldwide remain resilient against cyber attacks. Source: Coalition Topics Cyber New Markets CHICAGO (AP) An SUV traveling the wrong way along a Chicago lakefront road collided with a city bus Sunday morning, killing one of the SUV`s passengers and injuring 15 other people, authorities said. A man was driving a Dodge Journey south along northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive when it crashed into a Chicago Transit Authority bus about 6 a.m. near the city`s Kenwood neighborhood, police said. A female passenger in the SUV, which caught fire after the crash, was pronounced dead at a hospital, while the SUVs driver and another female passenger were taken to hospitals in critical condition, police said. Chicago fire officials said the driver of the bus and 12 passengers were taken to area hospitals in good condition, WLS-TV reported. Seven other people refused treatment at the scene, fire officials said. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The backlash against investing strategies that factor in environmental, social and governance issues is rising in the US and is impacting the way managers are thinking about integrating such considerations into their funds, according to a survey by HSBC Holdings Plc. The London-based lender polled 310 professionals across the globe in roles related to ESG decision making from May 31, 2023 to June 24, 2023. These respondents represented $8.9 trillion in assets under management across 292 institutions, HSBCs global research team led by Wai-Shin Chan and Anushua Chowdhury wrote in a note published this month. There is undoubtedly a rise in anti-ESG sentiment in the US, wrote the analysts. In our view, this falls along mostly political lines and is isolated to the US. The effects of the pushback are evident in the US. For example, in North America, there has been a decline in those saying that sustainability is a fund objective. Nearly a quarter of respondents in North America this year said sustainability is a primary or secondary objective, compared to 37% who said the same last year. Additionally, about 44% of North American respondents also said that their reasons for having an ESG strategy have become weaker over the past twelve months, the survey found. Political Backlash In the fixed income market, there is a notable shift in the way investors are integrating ESG considerations into their portfolios, according to the survey. The proportion of respondents citing use of ESG integration and labeled bonds increased quite sharply compared to last years survey and the long-term trend. Both negative screening and use of ESG ratings declined as the primary method of implementing ESG, indicating, in our view, further progress on the part of investors to developing more bespoke forms of ESG analysis, wrote the analysts. However, backlash and scrutiny is hurting US sales of bonds designed to help companies do good as pressure from investors and Republican politicians mounts. The acronym ESG was coined almost two decades ago with the idea that investors should take into account environmental, social and governance risks in their financial calculations. But Republicans in recent years have blasted ESG financial practices and increased their scrutiny of what they call woke capitalism. One of their main complaints is that environmental, social and governance investing is part of a broader Democratic effort to prioritize climate change and other societal issues to the detriment of the fossil-fuel industry. HSBCs ESG survey attempts to understand where investors are now on specific ESG issues, where the momentum is and what the future intentions are, according to the analysts. Photo: A turbine from the Roth Rock wind farm spins on the spine of Backbone Mountain behind the Mettiki Coal processing plant in Oakland, Maryland. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics USA New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Carlos Jose Baez experienced the full brunt of Hurricane Maria when it made landfall in Puerto Rico as a catastrophic storm in 2017. The auto paint shop owner, who lives in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, saw his home badly damaged by Marias ferocious winds and rain. Despite submitting claims to his homeowners insurance policy for over $25,000, Baez ultimately received a payout of $11,000. We had a lot of property damage and insurance, but they didnt want to pay, Baez said in an interview in Spanish. More than $1.6 billion in insurance claims remained unresolved more than two years after Maria while others were denied completely. The latter happened to Jonathan Gonzalezs mother, who waited nearly a year for an adjuster to come take photos of water damage and a broken wheelchair ramp only for the claim to be denied six months later. That experience led him and three partners to co-found Raincoat in 2019, a climate technology startup that creates insurance that pays instantly. As climate change continues to worsen extreme weather, damaging homes and wreaking havoc on crops, the need for more responsive insurance policies is growing. Were still talking about federal aid related to reconstruction, Gonzalez said, calling the timeline for payouts from the public and private sectors absolutely insane. Most types of insurance policies, like auto and homeowner insurance, kick into action when a customer calls to submit a claim. Parametric insurance, a category of insurance which includes life insurance, for example, flips that model. Claims are automatically paid out when certain parameters are met, whether thats the policyholder dying or, in the case of climate insurance, when an extreme weather disaster meets certain conditions. Quantifying loss is a fuzzy experience, Gonzalez said, involving minute debate and human judgment about things like where water damage came from, sometimes a long time after the event occurred. With parametric insurance, that fuzziness disappears, he said. Traditional insurance companies are already feeling the pressure of climate change. Allstate and State Farm fled California due to wildfire risk to homes as did American International Group Inc., which also pulled back on home insurance sales in other markets deemed risky. Its clear that the industry needs a jolt of innovation to adequately meet the needs of customers, particularly in the regions most affected by climate change. Parametric insurance can fill some of the gap left behind by traditional insurers, which are finding it increasingly more difficult to quantify climate risk and limit exposure, Gonzalez said, because it hinges on metrics that are measurable and modelable, such as wind speed and seismic activity. The value proposition of parametric insurance in the context of natural disasters is not necessarily scale, but speed. When his mothers ramp was broken, Gonzalez waited months without repairing it so the insurance adjuster could visit and assess the damage. If the claim had been processed sooner, he could have fixed it sooner. The longer it takes you to financially recover from these types of events, the less likely you are to recover and the more likely you are for these things to balloon out of control, he said. Gonzalez and his co-founders were all software engineers prior to founding Raincoat. None of them had a background in insurance, but they realized the industry had a technological problem. Insurance companies and reinsurers they met with would tell them that a mass consumer parametric product for disasters was difficult to deploy. How do you detect an event accurately enough to be able to activate an individual policy? How do you build a risk model around pricing for that type of event? How do you download the data thats required? How do you segment it? If Raincoat could answer these questions and more, insurance companies would agree to sign on, they told Gonzalez. So he and the team developed their models and showed insurers that they worked, creating simulations of historical events as well as theoretical future ones to illustrate what a potential weather disaster events impact might look like for the insurance product prospective clients could sell. Traditional home insurers can go years with no activity and then experience a sudden surge in claims activity after an extreme weather event. That spikiness can make it difficult for insurers to handle incoming volume, straining the system. One of the beauties of software is we can run simulations, Gonzalez said, making it much easier for Raincoat to anticipate and respond to future demand. Today, the Puerto Rico-based Raincoat has customers in four locations Puerto Rico, Mexico, Jamaica and Colombia and works with distribution channels like governments and banking institutions, as well as insurance partners, to provide climate insurance for individuals. The startups products help create insurance policies for, among others, families, small-scale farmers and small businesses, and its products help insure against catastrophic events, including hurricanes, wildfires, floods and earthquakes and agricultural risks, such as drought, excess rain and flooding. This sort of climate-related financial engineering isnt new, according to Daniel Osgood, lead scientist for the Financial Instruments Sector Team at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society. In the early 2000s, power companies started to buy and sell weather derivatives based on heat. Shortly thereafter, the agricultural insurance industry started offering whats known as index insurance, which pays farmers out based on an index, like rainfall measured via a satellite, rather than field-level crop losses. Whats new, Osgood said, is applying this model and technology for all types of individuals. Its very exciting to see them putting together this kind of thing focused on people, he said. Of course, insurance products like this arent a be-all, end-all for consumers. For most individuals, they are more of a stopgap measure than something that can be solely relied upon in the wake of a natural disaster. Raincoats policies, for example, are typically cheap and the payouts are usually small, maxing out at a few thousand dollars. Those smaller but quick sums can help those affected buy provisions, check into a hotel or do a quick repair on their home. You have a screwdriver and a hammer and pliers and all different tools intended for different things to cover gaps, Gonzalez said. Baez, the auto paint shop owner, decided to pick up one of those tools after Maria. When installing solar panels on his house, his contractor offered him the Raincoat-powered climate insurance policy. Remembering the devastation of Maria, Baez purchased the plan. When Hurricane Fiona hit the island last year, Baez received an automatic payout of $75 two days later. (Fiona was a much weaker storm than Maria when it reached Puerto Rico and only clipped the island, resulting in less damage.) He and his wife used that money to buy groceries, since their fridge stopped working. I didnt have to fill out any documents, and they didnt have to come see anything. The process was very quick, Baez said. Photo: A vehicle drives through streets filled with floodwater near destroyed homes from Hurricane Maria in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2017. (Bloomberg) Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics Trends New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Online insurance agency EverQuote will lay off nearly 100 employees at its Evansville, Indiana office as part of plans to reduce its non-marketing operating expenses by over 15%. A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) submitted to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development shows the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based EverQuote plans to lay off 98 Evansville employees by August 28. In June EverQuote announced plans to implement a structural reduction. We remain committed to managing expenses throughout our operations, said Jayme Mendal, CEO of EverQuote. We expect this efficient cost structure will position EverQuote for growth and profitability when the auto insurance carriers return to their normal pattern of acquiring consumers through digital channels. Last week the company announced it would exit its health insurance vertical, beginning June 30. The health insurance vertical includes EverQuotes marketplace and direct to consumer agency (DTCA) serving the Medicare and Under 65 health insurance market and represented approximately 10% of the companys revenue in fiscal year 2022, according to a company statement. EverQuote said the decision to disband its health insurance vertical is part of the companys plans to streamline its business and reduce non-marketing operating expenses. EverQuote will incur aggregate severance charges of approximately $2 million to $3 million, the company said. EverQuote acquired Evansville-based Crosspointe Insurance & Financial Services, LLC in 2020. The following year, EverQuote announced plans to add more than 100 jobs in Evansville and invest more than $1 million to lease and equip a 14,000-square-foot headquarters facility. EverQuote experienced 2022 full year total revenue of $404 million, a decrease of 3%. The Workers Compensation Research and Evaluation Group at the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) conducted studies of RTW outcomes between 2007 and 2020, analyzing the percentage of injured employees who initially return to work after their injury, the percentage who remain at work, and the average days away from work. The report, 2023 Return to Work, found that 69% of employees who were back at work within six months stayed employed for at least three consecutive quarters. It took two years for employees who returned to work within six months to get back to pre-injury wage. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! One month after it announced it would stop writing new homeowner policies in Florida, Farmers Insurance now says it plans to cut back further on its presence in the hurricane-prone state. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said Tuesday that it had received a market reduction notice from Farmers Insurance Group on Monday, July 10. But the information was marked as trade secret, per Florida insurance statutes, so details were not provided. We have advised the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation of our decision to discontinue offering Farmers-branded auto, home, and umbrella policies in the state, Farmers director of public relations, Trevor Chapman, said in a statement Tuesday. This business decision was necessary to effectively manage risk exposure. Two Florida insurance agents for Farmers told Insurance Journal on Tuesday that they could not comment and referred all calls to Farmers corporate public information office. Its likely the move will mean non-renewals for thousands of affected policyholders, but the exact number is unclear. Chapman said Farmers has several brands in Florida and the withdrawal will not affect policies issued through its subsidiaries auto insurer Bristol West, home insurer Foremost, Foremost Signature, Farmers GroupSelect, and Foremost Choice, which include about 70% of the groups policies in the state. News reports from around the state noted that the pullout could affect as many 100,000 homeowner, auto and umbrella policies, but the OIRs quarterly report shows Farmers policy count may be less than that. State law requires insurers to give OIR 90 days notice when it plans to stop writing coverage in the state. But that did not appear to be enough for Floridas chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, whose department houses the OIR. On Monday, Patronis said on Twitter he had heard rumors. If thats true, my office is going to explore every avenue possible for holding them accountable, he tweeted. Dont get to leave after taking policyholder money. Cant write auto if youre not doing homeowners either. Zero communication! In a letter to Farmers Victoria McCarthy, released late Tuesday, Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky said regulators are disappointed by the hastiness in this decision and are troubled by how the decision may have cascading impacts on policyholders. We also want to directly express our disappointment regarding how this decision was communicated, the letter reads. While the office recognizes companies need to make operational changes to books of business, OIR always appreciates the opportunity to discuss these complex issues prior to receiving notifications of this nature. In a phone call with Farmers representatives Tuesday, the carriers officials committed to facilitating a seamless assumption of policies to other companies that may be interested, Yaworsky noted. The action by Farmers marks the latest pullback from the Florida market, which has seen 10 property insurer insolvencies in the last 30 months. In some cases in the last two years, announcements that carriers would stop writing new policies have preceded insolvencies by just a few months. Farmers, fronted on national television ads by actor J.K. Simmons, writes policies across the country and is unlikely to be deemed insolvent. But it, like other national carriers, has taken significant steps to reduce exposure. Farmers announced earlier this month that it would stop writing new homeowner policies in California, another state where insurers and insureds have been hit hard by natural disasters. Farmers pullback in Florida comes at a curious time just before insurance reform bills passed by the state Legislature can have much of an impact on the flood of costly claims litigation. Industry insiders said Tuesday that Farmers expanded its presence in Florida at exactly the wrong time, just before Hurricane Ian hit the state but before the tort-reform laws have an effect. In its June announcement that it would halt new HO policies, Farmers said in a statement: With catastrophe costs at historically high levels and reconstruction costs continuing to climb, we implemented a pause on writing new homeowners policies to more effectively manage our risk exposure. Yaworskys letter reminded Farmers that Floridas historic reforms should ensure competitiveness. Farmers insureds must be given 120 days notice before policies are canceled or non-renewed, according to state law. If a consumer receives a nonrenewal notice from Farmers Insurance Group, they are encouraged to contact their agent immediately to seek alternate coverage, OIR Communications Director Samantha Bequer said Tuesday. In late June, Farmers filed for rate changes for its auto policies in Florida, suggesting the company plans to continue at least some presence in the state. State Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Miami, tweeted Tuesday, appearing to suggest that that Republican leadership in state government could have done more to prevent a continuing property insurance crisis in the state. While campaigning on woke, Floridas leadership has been asleep, Pizzo wrote. Topics Florida Agribusiness Twelve homes were evacuated in a Los Angeles-area city after a major ground shift put them at risk of collapse, officials said. Janice Hahn, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, visited Rolling Hills Estates, a city 19 miles south of Los Angeles, Saturday night while the ground was moving. She said she had never seen anything like the damage that occurred. To think that these homes were intact, you know, yesterday afternoon, and today you can hear the creaking, the cracking, the crumbling, Hahn said Sunday. They`re going to fall. Evacuated homes were at risk of falling into a nearby canyon sooner than later, Hahn said. Outside of those evacuated, some homes had their gas shut off to try to prevent an accident from happening, said Pete Goodrich, a Rolling Hills Estates building official. Officials did not know yet what may have caused the ground to shift, Goodrich said. The evacuations come after landslides halted rail service in San Clemente, another Southern California city, earlier this year. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Toronto, Ontario - July 11, 2023 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) Canuc Resources Corporation (TSXV: CDA) (OTCQB: CNUCF) ("Canuc" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement to acquire an additional claim at the San Javier Silver-Gold Project in Sonora State, Mexico. The newly acquired claim is contiguous with the Company's existing claims and covers a total of 96.5051 hectares of prospective ground. The acquisition of this additional claim at San Javier brings the Company's total contiguous claim position to 1,052.9 hectares. Canuc now has agreements for 100% ownership of 28 contiguous claims in the heart of the San Javier Silver-Gold mining camp. San Javier Area Interest The San Javier area first came back into focus during September of 2020 when Barksdale Resources Corp. announced an earn in on several claims covering a combined 1,184 hectares of ground in the San Javier mining and exploration camp. These exploration claims (previously held by Constellation Copper Corp.) are contiguous with Canuc claims to the south, west and east. Further interest in the San Javier area came during October 2020 when Osisko Development Corp. announced acquisition of the San Antonio claims group (previously held by Red Tiger Mining Inc.). The San Antonio claims acquired by Osisko Development Corp. are contiguous with Canuc claims to the north, south and east. The San Antonio claims cover an area of 11,338 hectares. "The recently purchased claim is a strategic addition to the company's claim group at San Javier and provides Canuc with comprehensive coverage of an area surrounding the largest magnetic-high anomaly detected during the company's magnetic survey of 2021. This principal magnetic-high anomaly, measuring 800 meters by 400 meters, is manifest approximately 300 meters west of where magnetite silver veining comes to surface and where old artisanal mine workings were tunneled on magnetite veins which sampled high to bonanza grades of silver." "The magnetic-high anomaly also has dimensions similar to, and is coincident with, an area previously reported where the company sampled elevated silver in soils extending for over 800 meters of strike length and detected over a width of approximately 400 meters. This area, and the associated magnetic-high anomaly, represents the company's primary target for the discovery of silver IOCG deposition at San Javier," stated Christopher Berlet, President and CEO of Canuc Resources Corp. "The detection of massive magnetite and magnetite veining on company claims, which is found in combination with high to bonanza grades of silver that is manifest with a preponderance of silver halides, as well as the prevalence of copper and gold mineralization, have given us confidence in the IOCG thesis for ore genesis at San Javier." Canuc has assembled 28 contiguous claims in the San Javier mining camp covering key geological features of the San Javier IOCG system. The progressive accumulation of claims in the San Javier area is in keeping with the Company's objectives for value development as a junior exploration and development company. Seymour M. Sears, B.A., B.Sc., P.Geo. is the Qualified Person for the Company, as defined by NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release. About Canuc Canuc is a junior resource company focusing on its San Javier Silver-Gold Project in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company also generates cash flow from natural gas production at its MidTex Energy Project in Central West Texas, USA where Canuc has an interest in eight (8) producing natural gas wells and has rights for further in field developments. For further information please contact: Canuc Resources Corporation. (416) 525 - 6869 cberlet@canucresources.ca Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information. All information, other than information of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and includes any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Corporation's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on current expectations and applies only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to fund the exploration expenditures required under the Agreement. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Corporation's annual financial statements, MD&A and other publicly filed documents. The Corporation cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. 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Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100? That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More Award-winning Irish cosmetic brand Ayu has opened its first permanent store in Corks Mahon Point Shopping Centre. The opening of the store marks an exciting step for the brand as it expands its online presence following a previous pop-up shop at Kildare Village. The permanent home at Mahon Point Shopping Centre was officially opened by founder Suzie ONeill who invited beauty enthusiasts to attend the event. Ayu Cosmetics was founded in 2015 by Suzie ONeill, who is an internationally renowned makeup artist. The brand started with a collection of makeup brushes and has continued to grow into a full range of products such as tanning and skincare essentials. Other products include Ayus best-selling concealer, Hyaluronic Acid infused Perfect Skin foundation, and eye-popping shades of shadows, blushers, and bronzers designed to boost complexion and confidence. Suzie O'Neill at the opening of the Ayu Cosmetics Store in Mahon Point Shopping Centre in Cork. Picture: Brian McEvoy Speaking about the opening, CEO and founder of Ayu Cosmetics, Suzie ONeill described it as a dream come true. We believe that beauty has the power to inspire and empower, and we are thrilled to be able to bring our vision to life. Our Cork store is more than just a place to shop; it's a destination where beauty meets creativity, confidence, and self-expression, she said. We can't wait to welcome our customers, and we look forward to opening many more stores across the country in the near future! Ayus range is vegan and cruelty-free. The tanning range, AyuGlo is manufactured in Ireland, and they are currently in the process of removing all plastic from their packaging. Joanne Hickey at the opening of the new Ayu Cosmetics Store. Picture: Brian McEvoy A car is submerged in flooding along the quays in Dungarvan. Photo: Damien Storan. Sarah OReilly at the opening of the new Ayu Cosmetics Store. Picture: Brian McEvoy A car is submerged in flooding along the quays in Dungarvan. Photo: Damien Storan. Niamh Minihane at the opening of the new Ayu Cosmetics Store. Picture: Brian McEvoy A car is submerged in flooding along the quays in Dungarvan. Photo: Damien Storan. Aoife Brennan at the opening of the new Ayu Cosmetics Store. Picture: Brian McEvoy A car is submerged in flooding along the quays in Dungarvan. Photo: Damien Storan. Caitlin OMahony at the opening of the new Ayu Cosmetics Store. Picture: Brian McEvoy A car is submerged in flooding along the quays in Dungarvan. Photo: Damien Storan. Lorraine O'Brien and Suzie O'Neill at the opening of the new Ayu Cosmetics Store. Picture: Brian McEvoy The Ayu Cosmetics store is open Monday-Wednesday 9.30am-7pm, 9.30-9pm on Thursday and Friday, 9.30am-7pm Saturday, and 11am-6pm on Sunday Legislation to allow for the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is due to be passed by the Oireachtas later this year. The aim will be to protect at least 30% of Irelands seascape within MPAs by the end of this decade. This is the minimum that scientists tell us is needed for the recovery of marine life something that is essential if we are to address the biodiversity and climate crises. But unlike protected areas on land, which tend to be places that are familiar and distinctive, the sea can be impenetrable, its life forms unfamiliar, its beauty and diversity barely glimpsed by all but the most committed. The Irish Wildlife Trust is part of a coalition of groups that make up Fair Seas (fairseas.ie) and part of the work we have undertaken so far is an analysis of where MPAs should be located. Although the surface of the sea looks pretty much the same no matter where you are, beneath the waves is a very different story. Life congregates in some places while others can be barren. So its critical that we put the MPAs in places that protect the maximum amount of biodiversity. One of those places is the southwest coast, roughly from the mouth of Cork Harbour west to the Beara Peninsula and covering an area of more than 7,300 km2. It is known to be a hotspot for some of the largest animals on earth: fin and humpback whales and basking sharks, as well as a range of seabirds and commercially important fish which were once abundant in this region such as herring and whiting. To get an idea of what this potential MPA is like I joined the Irish Whale and Dolphin Groups (also a Fair Seas member) research vessel the Celtic Mist for a week-long scientific expedition from Cork City to Baltimore. For six days we charted a zig-zag course, heading out to sea and then back towards land, with observers stationed on either side of the boat searching for whales and dolphins as well as noting marine litter and pots set for crabs and lobsters (the ropes can entangle whales). This is valuable data that can be used to accurately estimate whale populations and how they use particular areas. These seas have become well known in recent years for the numbers of whales and a number of tourist boat operators provide a popular outing for an increasingly interested public. The images on social media of lunge-feeding humpback whales or spouting fin whales can give the impression that these waters are teeming with the animals. But a week at sea with beautiful warm weather and calm seas revealed no whale sightings whatsoever. What I did see were lots of boats. The mouth of Cork Harbour is busy with every kind of craft from tourist cruisers and luxury mega-yachts to fossil fuel and cargo tankers. Near the shore, there are lots of people enjoying the water, sailing, rowing, or angling. And then theres the fishing. Commercial fishing is a shadow of what it was in the 1980s but even now the pressure is unrelenting. There is virtually nowhere that isnt bottom trawled while pair-trawling for the small fish (sprats) that make up the base of the food chain for the whales and seabirds, continues unabated and unregulated. My days on board the Celtic Mist coincided with a marine heatwave that saw sea surface temperatures up to 5Celsius above normal. While we were anchored off Courtmacsherry our boat was surrounded by the froth and green scum that is associated with too much nutrient pollution from dairy farming in this area. Green algae on Courtmacsherry Bay It seems that instead of going all out to protect and restore our precious ocean we are going all out trying to kill it. An MPA designation, were it to happen, must exclude all the harmful fishing activities, especially the bottom trawling and pair trawling for sprat. It would designate some areas that are off limits to all fishing, sometimes called no take zones, as these provide the maximum benefit for marine life. But we also know that there is fierce resistance to these ideas, which is one reason why the few MPAs we do have are merely paper parks. But we must overcome this resistance if we are to restore our seas to a healthy state. How well do you know Irelands seas? Why not take part in Fair Seas Ocean Literacy Survey to find out how well people in Ireland know the waters around us and how they use them? Padraic Fogarty is an ecologist and environmental scientist and Irish Wildlife Trust campaign officer The family of Irishman Mick Ryan, who died in a 737 Max Boeing crash with 156 others in 2019, has welcomed an inquest ruling in Britain which found the three British victims were unlawfully killed. UN humanitarian Mick Ryan's mother Christine Ryan and widow Naoise Connolly Ryan jointly welcomed the ruling, saying those responsible at Boeing must now be prosecuted for manslaughter. They have also called on the US Justice Department to tear up an unlawful and unjust agreement that exempts Boeing from prosecution. Humanitarian worker Mick Ryan was killed in a Boeing Max crash in 2019 along with 156 others. On Monday, an inquest at Horsham in Britain heard that Boeing was playing Russian roulette with peoples lives by allowing a plane with a design flaw in the air. Senior coroner Penelope Schofield said Flight ET302 crashed six minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 10, 2019, as a result of a series of failures relating to the development and operation of the flight control software known as MCAS. She said two Boeing employees had deliberately deceived regulators and operators of the 737 Max about the operation of a safety-critical system. Identical flaw Five months earlier, an identical flaw caused another Boeing 737 Max to crash into the sea off Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board. The coroner ruled that the three British people on board the Ethiopian flight Joanna Toole (36), Samuel Pegram (25), and Oliver Vick (45) were unlawfully killed. This is a UK win, but its also a win for us all," said Christine Ryan and Naoise Connolly Ryan. The verdict was just as it should be, because it was an unlawful killing of everyone on board that plane." The family says nobody has been prosecuted because Boeing made a secret sweetheart deal, known as a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, with the US Department of Justice which exempts the global aircraft manufacturer from prosecution. In 2021, Boeing was fined $2.3m (2.09m) when it was found that it had misled regulators. The companys CEO Dennis Muilenberg was fired, but he left with a $80m (72.6m) severance package. No one, not one single person was ever held to account, Ms Connolly Ryan said. Mr Ryans family, like many others of those killed in the crash, said they would continue to seek justice through the courts. Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly appeared before two Oireachtas committees today facing over six hours of questioning from the Public Accounts Committee and the media committee. This morning, the pair told the PAC that at all times during the genesis of a commercial deal between Mr Tubridy, RTE, and Renault, they had been following RTEs instructions. Speaking at the media committee this evening, Mr Tubridy said that he could be "out of the job by Friday". The RTE Radio presenter was responding to Fine Gael TD Allan Dillon who queried his current contract with the broadcaster. The Director General of RTE says he hopes it will be known by the end of the month if Mr Tubridy returns to air. Kevin Bakhurst said it is a serious decision the broadcaster will have to make in the next few weeks. "We might need a little bit of time but I don't want it to be too long because it's not fair to Ryan, it's not fair to RTE but I want to talk to staff, I want to talk to my new leadership team," said Mr Bakhurst. This is a serious decision for RTE and I want it to be fair. I want it to be the right decision. The right decision for audiences and for RTE." Mr Tubridy also said his good name has been dragged through the mud in recent weeks and strongly denies he was overpaid. However, Mr Tubridy admitted that he is "not without blame" and said that he should have called out the incorrect figures that were reported on 20 January 2021. Marie Sherlock referred to Mr Tubridy's sign-off on his programs during the pandemic, "Mind yourself and mind each other", and asked how he felt knowing his colleagues at RTE were facing pay cuts when he had a guarantee that he would not. An emotional Mr Tubridy said that he did not want anyone to think that the words he said during the pandemic were insincere saying it came from "a special part of my heart". Mr Tubridy went on to say that while he does receive a substantial salary, it does not change his soul. Contract negotiations Ryan Tubridy said his good name has been dragged through the mud in recent weeks and strongly denies he was overpaid. Picture: Oireachtas TV Senator Shane Cassells said that he is "not buying" the claim by Mr Kelly that there was no indication that Mr Tubridy would not sign his 2020-2025 contract unless the commercial aspect was part of it. Mr Kelly said that the two were separate agreements. "The deal wasn't happening without the 75,000," said Mr Cassells. Mr Tubridy denied the suggestion that he refused to sign the contract until the commercial deal was in place. Mr Cassells asked whether there were offers on the table from other broadcasters in 2019. An animated Mr Cassells said: "You keep saying that it was RTE that were coming with this and you weren't going looking for it. But I'm finding that I'm struggling hard to believe that when Adrian Lynch said negotiations were stalled that here they came with a bounty." In response, Mr Kelly said he assumes that RTE made the decision in an effort to keep one of their biggest sponsors - Renault - on board. "Keeping Ryan Tubridy on board for another five years would equate to keeping the sponsor on," said Mr Kelly. Speaking earlier in the session, Mr Tubridy said that in the future, should he continue working with RTE, he would be happy to have his contract and salary published each year. "If RTE are going through a cathartic week, let this be part of it. I will offer that. I have nothing to hide," he said. Put the contract out. Put it online. Tell everyone how much I earn, don't wait three years." In a testy exchange with Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick, Mr Tubridy denied the suggestion that he had engaged in deception. The Louth TD said that people in his constituency were unhappy with Mr Tubridy and made reference to comments by the presenter this morning that he has received support from members of the public. "Your dismissal of the good people of Ireland who have the kindness and courtesy to approach me on the street is something I don't appreciate", he said. "In some ways, I wish I had brought them with me." Tubridy will return money if outstanding Renault appearances do not go ahead Speaking about the invoices raised for three 75,000 payments, Mr Tubridy said that it strikes me as being unorthodox that RTE paid two 75,000 payments to him after a sponsor pulled out of a tripartite deal. Im not here to be critical of RTE. Ive been working there since I was 12 years old, you know, its a very important place to me, but I have to defend myself, he told the Media committee. The new director general of RTE has asked for maximum transparency. Thats what he said in the last 48 hours. Thats why Im here. Fianna Fail TD Christopher O'Sullivan questioned the invoicing of the 75,000 payments, saying: "It seems to be clear to everybody that there was some form of deception here with RTE and Mr Kelly using the term 'consultancy fees' and also using a company that had never been used before." Responding to Mr Dillon on the same matter, Noel Kelly said the invoices paid to Astus were the first time he had dealt with any barter account. "Are you washing your hands of it?" Mr Dillon asked the agent about how the matter was dealt with. "Yes," responded Mr Kelly. The agent repeated on a number of occasions: "We were acting under instruction". Mr Kelly said that he put his trust in RTE as the national broadcaster and as a large company. Ryan Tubridy said there are doubts about his future as a radio presenter at RTE. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos He denied creating false invoices saying that they "raised exactly what was asked of us by RTE". Fine Gael's Ciaran Cannon said that "RTE told me to" is not a credible response to the creation of what the TD termed "false invoicing". "It was a false invoice for services that were never provided to a company you supposedly never heard of," said Mr Cannon. Under questioning from Fine Gael Senator Micheal Carrigy, Mr Kelly declined to say whether he benefitted financially from the deal with Renault. Mr Tubridy confirmed that he had not done any appearances in relation to Renault pre-2020. With six appearances for Renault still outstanding, Mr Tubridy told the committee that if he is not called upon to do this work then the money for them would be returned "to Renault or whoever paid it". He said he remains ready and willing to do the appearances he has been contracted and paid for. The question was put to Mr Tubridy by a number of members why he was paid for appearances that had not yet been done. Closing remarks There was a focus on mental health and wellbeing in the closing statements from Mr Kelly and Mr Tubridy. In his closing statement, Mr Kelly said that his family and his business have been through a horrendous few weeks since RTE released its statement on June 22. "Here is the interesting this about being an agent," Mr Kelly said. "I am the only person that the people we represent have. I am the shop steward. Where is the care? Where is the duty of care to Ryan over the last three weeks? Who reached out to see how he was and his family? This isn't a pity party. We are big boys. But it has been pretty horrendous and I wouldn't wish it on anybody." For his closing remarks, Mr Tubridy paid tribute to the people working in RTE. He said that the word 'talent' should not be used to refer to certain people working at the broadcaster as all members of staff are 'the talent' and no person is better than another. Mr Tubridy also thanked his family and the members of the public who reached out to him in recent weeks and offered their support. The former Late Late Show host expressed a desire to appear before the Oireachtas in the future to discuss mental health and both social and traditional media. Toy Show Appeal Mr Tubridy, who said his future at RTE is "touch and go at the moment", told the committee that the Toy Show Appeal will be his greatest legacy. Senator Micheal Carrigy asked whether 100% of the funds raised by the Toy Show Appeal go to charities. "It's one of the greatest legacies I'll have, even if I am given the royal order of the boot from RTE on Friday," the Toy Show presenter said. "I'll be able to walk out of those gates with my head held high knowing that Irish people year in, year out, knowing that Irish people offered, year one 6m, year two 6m, year three 4m, out of their back pockets when things weren't going well. "It is a beautiful thing and thank you to the Irish people" PAC committee Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly before the PAC At the PAC meeting, Mr Kelly was criticised by TDs for his handling of invoices for 75,000 payments due to Mr Tubridy for the years 2021 and 2022. Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe asked Mr Kelly about the invoices raised for three 75,000 payments due to RTE, and how the first payment made by Renault had been treated differently to the following two. The invoices were raised with you, you have a fiduciary responsibility as director of your company. You raised two for the same three payments you raised them under different companies, and you raise them for different reasons, and invoiced them to different people. Mr Kelly replied: We were under instruction, as you can see, description from RTE, description from RTE He added: Yeah, and they were sent under instruction to RTE, and we presumed that Renault were going to be paying this. Mr Tubridy told the PAC this morning that he was finding it hard to leave the house as he gave evidence to a committee over claims the broadcaster misreported fees paid to him. In an extraordinary committee appearance, Mr Tubridy appeared emotional at times, and slammed his hand on the table during his opening statement. He said he wishes to return as soon as possible to his weekday morning radio show because its all Ive got. My name has been desperately sullied, I think my reputation has been sullied, Mr Tubridy said, stating that he had been subjected to a frenzy and suggesting that he had been cancelled. After RTE's executive board members and officials went before Oireachtas committees last week to discuss 'secret' payments made to presenter Ryan Tubridy, on Tuesday it was the turn of the Late Late Show presenter. Mr Tubridy, with his agent Noel Kelly beside him, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Oireacthas media committee on Tuesday for six and a half bruising hours of questioning. While you can get a full recap of the day's happenings here, we picked out eight key bits of information we discovered during the busy day for Mr Tubridy and Mr Kelly. Decision to leave Late Late Show had 'nothing to do with' the external payments scandal Speaking in the media committee meeting, Mr Tubridy explained that he had "ran out of gas" as host of The Late Late Show. He told senator Micheal Carrigy: "You will hear 10,000 stories about how the Late Late Show decision came to pass. Theres only one, I believe, and thats mine. I presented that show. "I loved working with the people, I loved the audience, I love the job, I did it for fourteen years, I ran out of gas, I chose to leave, there is no conspiracy." He added that he will able to "walk out of those gates with my head held high" due to the work of the Late Late Toy Show charity appeal. Tubridy believes he has been 'cancelled' "This is my first rodeo being in the public eye," was a claim made by Mr Tubridy in the PAC meeting. "I dont know if any of youve been cancelled before but let me tell you, you dont want to be there, "People have families." he added. He repeated the claim in the media committee meeting: "When you're publicly cancelled in the way that I've been, it's not easy." However, he doesn't believe his reputation has been damaged. Yes, the salary is enormous, I understand that, but that doesn't affect my soul. Noel Kelly was unaware of what a barter account was before the payments scandal When questioned, Mr Kelly said the invoices paid to Astus in relation to Mr Tubridy's payments were the first time he had dealt with any barter account. Ryan Tubridy's agent Noel Kelly giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee He clarified a situation in 2018 which saw RTE pay for a table at a charity event he was organising that he had not been involved. Tubridy 'sees his future at RTE' but believes he 'has beef' with some staff When asked if he still wanted to work with RTE, despite the claims made in front of the Oireacthas, Mr Tubridy replied: "Yes I still see my future there." Catherine Murphy asked him whether he felt "RTE has badly damaged you" Mr Tubridy said that the past three weeks were "damaging" and that "there are people there I have a beef with, as you can see in the documents" There were no external offers for Tubridy at the end of his contract During questioning from Fianna Fail senator Shane Cassells, it was confirmed by Mr Kelly that as Mr Tubridy's contract was about to expire, no external offers were made for his services. Mr Tubridy claimed that he had no knowledge of the situation. Tubridy remains under contract with RTE but 'could be out of a job by Friday' Mr Tubridy confirmed that he is under contract with RTE, noting that he is happy to publish any details. However, he noted that if incoming director-general Kevin Bakhurst makes a decision that he"could be out of a job by Friday" Screenshot taken from Oireachtas TV of RTE's star presenter Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee at the Dail. He later added: "In the event that I do keep my job.. and it's touch and go... I'd be happy to suggest that in future, we'd have a suggestion where we'd publish my contract on an annual basis - with the money and earnings - straight up, "Don't wait for three years and have codology." Tubridy is 'the most trusted man in Ireland' In response to questions from Fianna Fail TD Cormac Devlin in this morning's PAC meeting, Mr Kelly hit out at the coverage of the payments scandal. He claimed that his client was "the most trusted man in Ireland. He said: "Over the last three weeks. Ive never seen such horrendous, horrendous reporting, "And suddenly the most trusted man in Ireland, Ryan Tubridy, it was like throw him under the bus. Why? Why? Renault is still owed six appearances by Tubridy As part of the tri-partide agreement between Renault and RTE, Mr Tubridy is still required to make six appearances at events for the car company. He said that he was "ready to make those appearances." Mr Tubridy has already received the payments for these events. He noted: "If those gigs are not called upon, if my services are not called upon, the money goes straight back." However, he was initially unsure of who the money would be returned to, before eventually being advised that the answer was RTE. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has told how counselling helped him during a difficult time in his life, including developing relationships. In a wide-ranging interview on The Ciara Phelan Podcast, the Government minister discusses coping following the loss of his mother last year, his family life, and addresses the misconceptions people may have about him. Mr Ryan said he thinks its healthy and useful to go for counselling, which he said he had many years ago. He told how he had a happy childhood and was just an ordinary person, but he didnt learn to read or write until he attended secondary school. I dont think I developed until my late 20s in terms of, God I was hopeless in so many different ways," he said. Too much drinking, not great with girls or relationships, but I was happy, I think just happy to be alive and getting on with it. "I found it [counselling] helped in developing relationships with other people. Mr Ryan also spoke of how he was angry with his fathers absence at home while he was a child, but said that was due to his career in public relations working for AIB. We had our problems, like every family," he said. "My dad was working in public relations at the time for AIB, and that meant he was in Doheny & Nesbitts most nights. That was the way the world of public relations and journalism worked at that time. "He had an amazing career and ability to befriend people in that world. It meant he was absent from home; that was tough, tough on my mother. But they got through that and I think, for me, it [home] was a very loving place. Mr Ryan also opens up about his son Tommy, who has a rare form of autism. He also speaks about the hurt caused when he fell asleep during a Dail session which was held at the Convention Centre during the pandemic. He said it was something that he deeply regretted. RTEs star presenter Ryan Tubridy has offered to pay back two payments at the centre of a fiasco the broadcaster has been embroiled in, as he laid bare the toll it had taken on him personally. Former Late Late Show presenter Tubridy said that he was due to make six more appearances for commercial sponsor Renault as part of a contentious deal at the centre of the crisis that has engulfed RTE. But he added that if that work is not called upon to be done, of course the money goes back. In two extraordinary committee appearances at Dublins parliament, Tubridy said he had been publicly cancelled and it was touch and go whether he would be allowed to return to his weekly radio programme. He said that he wants to return to RTE Radio as soon as possible because its all Ive got. If I do go back to RTE, which I hope to, itll be a whole new world order, Tubridy said in his closing remarks. RTE has been mired in controversy since it emerged last month that it under-reported fees paid to Tubridy and failed to correctly disclose 345,000 of payments to him between 2017 and 2022. I hate being referred to as the talent. I think its an obscene, outdated word. The furore has since widened amid further disclosures about RTEs internal financial, accounting and governance practices and its expenditure on corporate hospitality for advertising clients. Lily McGahern & Enya Donohue both from Dublin watch Ryan Tubridy and his Agent Noel Kelly during a PAC meeting on Television in the Camden Delux in Dublin's City Centre RTE operates on a dual funding model, with the majority of its revenue secured from a licence fee and the rest generated from advertising revenue. The Government has paused discussions on a new long-term funding arrangement until the current crisis abates. Newly appointed director general Kevin Bakhurst stood down RTEs executive leadership board on Monday as he vowed to restore peoples trust in Irelands public service broadcaster. When asked whether Tubridy will return to the airwaves, Mr Bakhurst told Newstalk that the decision will be made in a matter of a few weeks adding that he felt sorry for him. While the Irish government has announced two separate external reviews of RTE and also moved to send in a forensic auditor to examine the broadcasters accounts, the Public Accounts Committee and Media Committee in Dublin are conducting their own probes into the affair. New RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst speaks to the media outside the broadcaster's headquarters in Donnybrook, Dublin. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire As Tubridy appeared before both committees on Tuesday, he at times appeared emotional, slamming his hand on the table during his opening statement and claiming there had been misinformation around what fees he had been paid. Tubridy also emphasised that none of the payments represented overpayments of any sort, but instead were under declarations by RTE. He said that a 120,000 payment due at the end of his 2015-2019 contract had been waived by him, and said that RTE then suggested that it should be accounted for by retrospectively under-reporting his salary across several years. We made clear that the 120,000 should not be taken off or deducted for prior year actual earnings, he said, calling such a suggestion from the broadcaster odd. The former Late Late show host also reiterated on several occasions that his decision to step down from RTEs flagship chat show was not linked to the discovery of the accounting issues by auditors in March. Ryan Tubridy and Noel Kelly and thei legal and PR team pictured leaving the Public Accounts Committee this evening. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Tubridy announced publicly that he would step down from the programme after 14 years at its helm on March 16, and presented the last episode in May. My name has been desperately sullied, I think my reputation has been sullied, Tubridy told the committee, stating that he had been subjected to a frenzy. Im deeply upset. Im hurt. Its hard to leave the house if you really want me to be honest about it. Ive never seen anything like it. I dont know if any of youve been cancelled before but let me tell you, you dont want to be there. He said that the support he had received was something he would never forget, and said that he would love to be part of that catharsis at RTE. If it was to sign another contract, Id put it out in the public straightaway, no messing, no three-year carry on, Id be part and parcel of the new process to build trust with my colleagues and the listeners, he said. I hate being referred to as the talent. I think its an obscene, outdated word. The talent in RTE work in reception, and they work in security, and in make-up, and hair and sound and camera and production. Thats the talent. So if we do anything to change the language around RTE, please take that silly word off the contracts going forward. Theyre colleagues, no one is better than anyone else. Ryan Tubridy (left) with his agent Noel Kelly leaving Leinster House, Dublin, where they gave evidence before two committees, in what may decide his return to the airwaves. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire People were seen commenting and reacting to the proceedings being screened in some bars across Dublin. In one of the most significant revelations from the day, TDs were given an email which challenged RTE claims that ex-director general Dee Forbes had done a solo run by agreeing to underwrite a 75,000 a year deal involving RTE, Tubridy and Renault. The deal involved Tubridy making three appearances at Renault events per year. RTE executives have previously explained that Renault paid Tubridy the first 75,000 payment, while two other 75,000 payments were from RTE, as it had underwritten the amounts due in what TDs were previously told was a verbal-only agreement made on a Microsoft Teams meeting in May 2020. But an email between Tubridys agent Noel Kelly and former chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe in February 2020, CCing Ms Forbes and director of content Jim Jennings, informed the agent of RTEs willingness to provide you with a side letter to underwrite this fee for the duration of the contract. Read More 8 things we learned from Ryan Tubridy's Oireachtas committee grilling Labour TD Alan Kelly said that the documents were compelling and completely contradict RTEs account of events. Noel Kelly told TDs they had been under siege in recent weeks, and that Tubridy had been made a poster boy for the controversy. Screenshot taken from Oireachtas TV of RTE's star presenter Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly being questioned at the Joint Committee of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media. Photo: Oireachtas Tv He said RTE had attempted to distance itself from its decisions, that the deal with Renault was known widely within the executive board of RTE, and this was a mess of RTEs making. Suddenly the most trusted man in Ireland, Ryan Tubridy, it was like throw him under a bus. Why? Mr Kelly said. RTE has rejected the claim it gave an incorrect version of events over an agreement to underwrite payments to Tubridy, and reiterated its position that a verbal commitment given by the former director-general during a video call on May 7 was when the 75,000 payments were underwritten. RTEs new director-general Mr Bakhurst is to appear before the Public Accounts committee on Thursday, his fourth day in the role, alongside other RTE executives. Tubridy has not presented his weekday morning radio programme since the issues at RTE came to light on June 22. Israeli protesters have blocked roads leading to Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv during countrywide demonstrations against the governments planned judicial overhaul that has divided the nation. The demonstrations came on the morning after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus parliamentary coalition gave initial approval to a Bill to limit the Supreme Courts oversight powers, pressing forward with contentious changes to the judiciary despite widespread opposition. The legislation is one of several bills proposed by Mr Netanyahus ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies. The plan has provoked months of sustained protests by opponents who say it is pushing the country toward authoritarian rule. Protesters called for nationwide mass demonstrations throughout the day, including at Israels main international airport. An elderly protester is assisted after being knocked down by Israeli mounted police officers (Oded Balilty/AP) An estimated 10,000 people gathered outside the main hall of the airport, blowing horns and waving blue and white Israeli flags. Police kept the crowd from entering the hall, and travel was not disrupted. Adi Somech, one of the protesters, said: Civil war! I think were going that way if theyre not going to stop. On Tuesday, 300 reservists from the militarys cyber unit signed a letter saying they would not volunteer for service, explaining the government has demonstrated it is determined to destroy the state of Israel. Sensitive cyber abilities with the potential for being used for evil must not be given to a criminal government that is undermining the foundations of democracy, the letter said. Police used a water cannon to clear protesters who blocked a main artery leading to Jerusalem. Officers arrested several others who had obstructed a highway next to the central city of Modiin. Demonstrators blocked a main highway in Haifa with a large banner reading Together we will be victorious, snarling traffic along the beachfront. Police said 66 people were arrested for public disturbance during the protests nationwide. Protesters scuffled with police in various locations, but no major violence was reported. Arnon Bar-David, head of the countrys national labour union, the Histadrut, threatened a possible general strike that could paralyse the countrys economy. If the situation reaches an extreme, we will intervene and employ our strength, Mr Bar-David said, calling on Mr Netanyahu to stop the chaos. Israeli police officers remove a protester (Mahmoud Illean/AP) The Histadrut called a general strike in March as the government pushed the judicial overhaul legislation through parliament after weeks of protest. The move shut down large swathes of Israels economy and helped contribute to Mr Netanyahu deciding to freeze the legislation. But he decided to revive it last month after talks with the political opposition aimed at finding a compromise collapsed. Mr Netanyahus allies have proposed a series of changes to the Israeli legal system aimed at weakening what they say are the excessive powers of unelected judges. The proposed changes include giving Mr Netanyahus allies control over the appointment of judges and giving parliament power to overturn court decisions. The Netanyahu government, which took office in December, is the most hard-line ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox in Israels 75-year history. His allies proposed the sweeping changes to the judiciary after the country held its fifth elections in under four years, all of them seen as a referendum on Mr Netanyahus fitness to serve as prime minister while on trial for corruption. Critics of the judicial overhaul say it will upset the countrys fragile system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Mr Netanyahu and his allies. They also say Mr Netanyahu has a conflict of interest because he is on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes, all of which he has denied. A wide swathe of Israeli society, including reserve military officers, business leaders, LGBT+ people and members of other minority groups have joined the protests. Young actors were aware of rumours about Kevin Spaceys alleged sexual advances on young men while he worked in the UK, a court heard. The Oscar-winning actor, 63, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of a string of sex attacks on four men between 2001 and 2013. On Tuesday, friends of one alleged victim said he told them he and Spacey had a few drinks before he fell asleep and woke up to find the Hollywood star performing a sex act on him. There were a lot of rumours going around... I definitely was saying if anything happened you should say One friend told jurors there was always chatter about Spacey chatting younger lads up and it was a bit of a thing that we would joke about as young men. But when Spacey rang the alleged victim, an aspiring actor at the time, to ask him to join him for a drink, his friends were not worried to a point where we thought it would turn into anything more serious, jurors heard. Another friend said the alleged victim had confided in her soon after that Spacey was being inappropriate and it had been really awkward but did not go into detail about what happened at the time. She told jurors: There were a lot of rumours going around I definitely was saying if anything happened you should say. Dont keep it to yourself. Other friends said he had looked grey when they first saw him after the alleged attack. One friend told jurors: I remember him coming round about midday. He was not himself. He was very confident, always cracking jokes, very good at holding a conversation. He came in and he just looked grey and gave one-word answers. We were all very excited because he had come back from this, we were asking questions and making jokes and he was not himself. He gave one-word answers saying they had had some drinks and went back to Spaceys flat, that was about it really. Actor Kevin Spacey arrives at Southwark Crown Court (Aaron Chown/PA) At a birthday celebration almost a decade later, the alleged victim then told friends in detail about what he says happened. One friend told jurors: He seemed agitated and upset like he couldnt quite compute it. I dont know where it came from, I imagine someone asked him about it. He looked deeply upset. This is the first time he had mentioned it (the alleged attack) to me. Back that weekend he said he felt so embarrassed and mortified about what happened. Thats why he didnt say. Prosecutor Christine Agnew KC asked: Did he say anything to you about the impact it had on him? He replied: He said it had destroyed him. It was quite hyperbolic. He mentioned he was still affected by the incident. He said it has destroyed me, it has messed me up or something like that. Spacey pleaded not guilty in January to three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. The two-time Academy Award winner also previously denied four further charges of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The trial continues. A prominent rights group has called for the International Criminal Court to investigate atrocities in Sudans volatile Darfur region, including what it says were summary executions of 28 non-Arab tribesmen by a Sudanese paramilitary force and allied Arab militias in May. Human Rights Watch said several thousand members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and their allies rampaged through the Darfur town of Misterei, home to the non-Arab Massalit tribe, on May 28. The New York-based watchdog said the assailants killed the tribesmen and left dozens of civilians dead or wounded. The attack came as the paramilitary and Sudans army have been engaged in months-long fighting that the United Nations says has brought Sudan to the brink of a full-scale civil war. Jean Baptiste Gallopin, senior crisis and conflict researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: The mass killings of civilians and total destruction of the town of Misterei demonstrates the need for a stronger international response to the widening conflict. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the paramilitary force would not immediately comment on the groups findings. The group urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the attack on Misterei and others elsewhere in Darfur as part of its investigation into the regions genocidal war in the early 2000s. The Darfur conflict began when African tribes that had long complained of discrimination rebelled against the Khartoum government, which responded with a military campaign that the ICC later said amounted to genocide. State-backed Arab militias known as the Janjaweed were accused of widespread killings, rapes and other atrocities. The Janjaweed later evolved into the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The fighting between the paramilitary and Sudans army erupted in mid-April, at first centered in the capital, Khartoum. Later, the clashes spread across Sudan, including in Darfur, which saw some of the fiercest battles. According to Human Rights Watch, the paramilitary and allied Arab militias on motorcycles, pick-up trucks and horses surrounded Misterei and clashed with Massalit fighters. The assailants, armed with assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and vehicle-mounted machine guns, killed men in their homes, on the streets or in hiding. HRW said they also looted property, stole livestock and valuables before burning the town to the ground. Thousands of residents, including women and children, fled as assailants fired on them, killing many more, the group added. It quoted an unidentified 76-year-old man as saying the attackers fired on the fleeing people. He said: I saw three people running, being shot at, and falling to the ground near a grocery store. The group said the attackers also went after those who were hiding in schools and a mosque. The rights groups said it documented the killing of at least 40 civilians. Local officials said 97 people were killed in the May 28 attack, while according to HRW at least 59 were buried in mass graves. Along with Misterei, six other west Darfur towns and villages were also burned down over a period of several weeks, according to satellite imagery and fire detection data analyses. Geneina, the local capital in west Darfur, also suffered widespread and apparently deliberate fire damage, HRW said. On Tuesday, the UN food agency said that residents were still fleeing the violence in Darfur and crossing into Chad, including more than 20,000 refugees who crossed into the Chadian border town of Adre in the last week alone. The UN World Food Programme said this brought the number of people who fled the fighting to Chad to more than 230,000 refugees and 38,000 returnees since since mid-April. In total, the conflict has displaced around 3 million people, including more than 700,000 who crossed into Sudans neighbouring countries, according to the UN figures. The agency has said many of the arrivals to Chad were seriously wounded amid reports that fleeing civilians are being deliberately targeted with an increasing ethnic dimension to the violence. Pierre Honnorat, WFPs country director in Chad, said: People are running across the border, wounded, scared, with only their children in their hands and the clothes on their backs. They need safety, security, and humanitarian assistance. Many of the arrivals have lost family members, and we dont even dare ask them, Where are the men? The answer from the mothers is often that they were killed, Mr Honnorat added. Speaking from the Zabout refugee camp in the Chadian border town of Goz Beida, Mr Honnorat said financial support is urgently required to meet the growing needs of the refugees including dangerously malnourished children. At least one in 10 displaced youngsters from Sudan is malnourished, according to the World Food Programme. Every week children are dying at the nutrition centres, this is a reality, Mr Honnorat said, adding that the UN food agency needs at least 13 million US dollars (10 million) every month to help those on the Chad-Sudan borders. Israeli authorities evicted a Palestinian family from a contested apartment in Jerusalems Old City on Tuesday, capping a decades-long legal battle that has come to symbolise the conflicting claims to the holy city. Activists say the Ghaith-Sub Laban familys removal is part of a wider trend of Israeli settlers encroaching on Palestinian neighbourhoods with the governments backing and cementing Israeli control by seizing property in contested east Jerusalem. Israel describes the eviction as a simple battle over real estate, with settlers claiming the family was squatting in an apartment formerly owned by Jews. Earlier this year, Israels Supreme Court struck down the familys final appeal, ending a 45-year-long legal battle and clearing the way for the eviction. Nora Ghaith-Sub Laban reacts to her familys eviction from their home to make way for Israeli settlers in Jerusalems Old City (Mahmoud Illean/AP) Police officers came to Nora Ghaith-Sub Labans apartment in Jerusalems Old City early on Tuesday morning, forced open the door and removed the family. Her son, Ahmad Sub-Laban, said the family was barred from re-entering the premises. Mr Sub-Laban said: When we got back in front of the house, we faced the new reality that our main entrance had been closed and we dont have the right to use it anymore. They took the key and changed the lock. Several dozen protesters gathered around the block of apartments and chanted occupation no more. Jewish settlers also gathered outside, dancing and smiling as they stared at the distraught family. Other settlers poured water down on family members from windows above. Nora Ghaith-Sub Laban, the family matriarch, said she was in the hospital when police arrived and accused Israel of trying to ethnically cleanse the area of Palestinians and vowed to continue fighting the eviction. She said: My tears and all my crying is just sadness for losing my home, Im parting with my entire life and all my memories that are in this house. But Im not weak. But Arieh King, a settler leader and deputy mayor of Jerusalem, said it was a day to celebrate. At last after 40 years. They should be ashamed for using the property that does not belong to them. The family says it moved into the property in the early 1950s and rented it from a general custodian for abandoned properties, first under Jordanian authorities and then under Israel after the 1967 Mideast war. Activists gather outside of Nora Ghaith-Sub Labans home after their eviction (Mahmoud Illean/AP) The case dragged on for decades as the Israeli custodian and then the Kollel Galicia trust, the original property owner, contested the familys protected status. Among the trusts claims was that the family did not use the property for extended periods. The family has said its members moved out for periods due to illness or attempts to repair the property. Jerusalems Old City, home to holy sites of three monotheistic faiths, was captured by Israel along with the rest of east Jerusalem during the 1967 war and later annexed in a move unrecognised by most of the international community. Israel considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state. Today, more than 220,000 Jews live in east Jerusalem, largely in built-up settlements that Israel regards as neighbourhoods of its capital. Most of east Jerusalems 350,000 Palestinian residents are crammed into overcrowded neighbourhoods where there is little room to build. The Ghaith-Sub Laban family said authorities did not let them back into the house to recover furniture or medicine for the mother and another son, Rafat. They were only able to grab one item as the authorities forced them out a plant that has been in the family for 17 years. Mr Sub-Laban said: We decided to take it to remember that we lived here, our children grew up here and that we are looking forward to returning to the house. Ahmad and his siblings were evicted from the house in 2016 and for now, Mrs Ghaith-Sub Laban and her husband plan to stay with their children until they can find a permanent place to live. Across the citys eastern half, particularly in and around the Old City, settler organisations and Jewish trusts are pursuing other court battles against Palestinian families to clear the way for settlers. Nora Ghaith-Sub Laban has said she will continue to fight for her home (Mahmoud Illean/AP) An Israeli law passed after the annexation of east Jerusalem allows Jews to reclaim properties that were Jewish before the formation of the Israeli state in 1948. Jordan controlled the area between 1948 and the 1967 war. There is no equivalent right in Israel for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes during the war surrounding Israels establishment in 1948. During British rule over historic Palestine, before the war over Israels creation, the Ghaith-Sub Laban apartment was owned by a trust for Kollel Galicia, a group that collected funds in Eastern Europe for Jewish families in Jerusalem. A spokesman for Kollel Galicia declined comment. A similar dispute that could lead to evictions of Palestinian families in the nearby Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood stirred tensions that built up to a 2021 war between Israel and the Hamas militant group in Gaza that killed over 250 people. Nearly 1,000 Palestinians, including 424 children, currently face eviction in east Jerusalem, according to the United Nations humanitarian office. Mrs Ghaith-Sub Laban said. I will not stay quiet. If I find any loophole in the law, I will use it and I will sue them, because this is my right, and this is my home, and this is my land, and this is my country. Nato leaders, including US president Joe Biden, have endorsed a shakeup of the organisations response to an attack on its territory by Russia, the biggest since the Cold War. Inspired in part by Moscows invasion of Ukraine, the top-secret defence plans lay out which of the 31 member countries would be called on to respond an attack anywhere from the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions through the northern Atlantic and south to the Mediterranean and Black Seas. In a statement, laying out the twin threats posed by Russia and terrorism, Nato leaders said: Peace in the Euro-Atlantic area has been shattered. Together, this family of plans will significantly improve our ability and readiness to deter and defend against any threats, including on short or no notice, and ensure timely reinforcement of all Allies. Nato leaders including Lithuanias president Gitanas Nauseda and US president Joe Biden are attending the summit (Susan Walsh/AP) The leaders, meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, are committed to fully resource and regularly exercise these plans to be prepared for high-intensity and multi-domain collective defence. Under the new plans, Nato commanders will know more clearly what troops and equipment they would have at their disposal and how long it would take to have them in place, officials said. The defence blueprint was revamped after Russias war on Ukraine challenged Natos traditional security calculus. Nato, as an organisation, does not provide weapons or ammunition to Ukraine as it has sought to avoid being dragged into a wider war with nuclear-armed Russia. However, at the same time, it is massively reinforcing the security of member countries near to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Around 40,000 troops are on standby from Estonia along Natos eastern flank with Russia and down to Romania on the Black Sea. About 100 aircraft take to the skies in that territory each day, and a total of 27 warships are operating in the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. Those numbers are set to rise. The news of the shakeup comes after Volodymyr Zelensky revealed he was frustrated by the lack of timeline given for Ukraine to join Nato (Francisco Seco/AP) Under its new plans, Nato aims to have up to 300,000 troops ready to move to its eastern flank within 30 days. The plans divide its territory into three zones the high north and Atlantic area, a zone north of the Alps, and another in southern Europe. The planning was based on the strength of the Russian army before President Vladimir Putin launched the war on Ukraine almost 17 months ago. The war has depleted Russias army, but not its navy or air force, Nato officials say. Natos 31 member countries took part in a force generation conference in late June in an effort to understand how many troops and how much equipment the alliance might have at its disposal to respond to any Russian attack, both in the short and longer term. Senior officers were upbeat about the results, although they declined to provide details for security reasons. Experts and some Nato diplomats, however, have expressed doubt about the willingness of member countries to put a total of 300,000 troops on standby. Leaders at the summit (Susan Walsh/Pool/AP) One part of the process that has not been streamlined is the need for all 31 allies to approve launching the new plans in case of attack, and at certain points once theyre put into action. Such political decisions, which require consensus, can be time-consuming. A senior US official, speaking in the days leading up to the summit, said: Political decision makers still retain political control. Natos supreme allied commander, US general Christopher Cavoli, still has to come back to the (North Atlantic Council) to ask for permission the official said. The North Atlantic Council is Natos chief decision-making body, which meets at the level of ambassadors, ministers or national leaders. The official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity because the planning documents were still under discussion, added: But (General Cavoli) might have more authority, once that permission is given, to stage and move forces around in theatre. Nine civilian detainees were rescued from Myanmars regime when Magwe Region resistance groups attacked two pro-junta villages in southern Pauk Township on Tuesday. Several groups attacked Tat Kone and Ywar Thit villages held by pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee forces in a pre-dawn raid, according to Southern Pauk Guerrilla Force. Around 30 junta soldiers were stationed at the villages, along with approximately 60 militia members. Logistics troops from a weapons factory were also based in the villages. We attempted to occupy the junta bases in the villages in the mistaken belief that the logistics troops had left, Ko Nay Lone, a commander of Pakokku District Peoples Defense Force, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday. A pro-junta Telegram channel reported that the village was attacked and torched by a large number of resistance fighters. After nearly two hours of fighting, resistance groups said they occupied some junta camps and killed around 10 troops and militia members. A resistance fighter was injured. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. The resistance group said they rescued nine detainees from two nearby villages who were accused of having ties with resistance forces. The junta used a Russian-made MI-35 helicopter to attack for about 20 minutes but the attackers managed to retreat after being warned of the incoming airstrike. A resistance video shows the helicopter above the villages. Later in the morning, regime troops shelled neighboring villages at random, according to Pauks pro-revolutionary media group that monitors junta action. At least 23 villages in southern Pauk Township have been looted and burned by regime forces and Pyu Saw Htee militia groups. Chaung Nar, near the pro-junta villages of Tak Kone and Ywar Thit, was recently burned to the ground, according to resistance groups. Only four of its over 200 houses were left after the arson attack, said Ko Nay Lone. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) has strongly condemned the juntas recent wave of extrajudicial killings of political prisoners and is urging the international community to take collective action to ensure that all those involved in the crimes are held accountable. The junta has been using prison transfers in recent months as a pretext for interrogating, torturing and killing political prisoners, the AAPP said in a statement on Monday, citing the disappearance of 37 political prisoners on June 27 as one example. The advocacy group earlier reported that 37 political prisoners from Daik-U (Kyaiksakaw) Prison in Bago Region have been missing since June 27 when the junta removed them from the prison, saying it was transferring them. Prison officials told relatives of the prisoners they did not know their former inmates whereabouts, the AAPP said. Families of two of the 37 missing political prisoners received letters informing them that the prisoners were dead. The letters were sent to the families of Ko Khant Linn Naing and Ko Pyae Phyo Hein on July 7 and 8, respectively. In the letters, the junta claimed that the pair had attempted to escape while being transferred with from Daik-U prison to Insein Prison. They were killed by warning shots fired by security personnel trying to recapture them, the letters said. According to the Myanmar Political Prisoners Network, which was formed after the coup, seven political prisonersincluding Ko Khant Linn Naing and Ko Pyae Phyo Heinhave reportedly died after being removed from Kyaiksawkaw Prison. These brazen murders of political prisoners in prisons violate not only domestic laws, but also international laws, the AAPP said, adding that they also violate the ASEAN Human Rights Convention. On July 2, the family of political prisoner Sein Win was informed that he had died from intestinal bleeding in Myingyan Prison that day. Inmates at the prison, however, said Sein Win had been removed from prison and interrogated before he died, the AAPP said. Relatives of Sein Win say they found bruises on his body after they recovered it. We, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, strongly condemn such unlawful killings and torture, we will do our best to ensure justice for all political prisoners who have been wrongfully imprisoned, the statement said. It also urged the international community to collectively take action through international judicial mechanisms to hold those responsible for the crimes accountable. Since the coup in February 2021, at least 3,757 people have been killed by the junta, with 150 of them dying in prison due to poor healthcare, mistreatment and torture, or during interrogation, the AAPP said. That number is based on data it collected. The real number could be higher. The Myanmar juntas Ministry of information said Sunday it will take legal action against two independent television news channels, Mizzima TV and Democratic Voice of Burma TV (DVB TV), for failing to pay a combined 100 million kyats (about US$47,800 at the official rate) in what it claims are overdue transmission fees. The two broadcasters are accused of failing to pay a total of around 100 million kyats for using channels of state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) to broadcast their programs before the military coup in February 2021. In 2018, Mizzima Media Group and DVB were among a number of private companies that signed an agreement with MRTV to provide content for digital free-to-air TV channels using technology known as a multi-playout system. Mizzima and DVB are among at least 13 independent news outletsincluding The Irrawaddythat have been outlawed by the regime since the coup for reporting deemed to be critical of the junta. U Soe Myint, the founder and CEO of Mizzima, told The Irrawaddy on Monday that the channel owed around 81.2 million kyats to MRTV before February 2021. But he said the contract is no longer valid as the junta shut down the TV channel on the day of coup without any notice, breaching the agreement between the two parties. It violates the contract as it states 15 days prior notice is required. Shutting down our channel on the first day of the coup without notification was illegal, he explained. He added that the regime froze the bank accounts of Mizzima Media Group and some other accounts related to the organization after it was banned as an illegal media outlet. U Than Win Htut, the director of DVBs News and Current Affairs department, told The Irrawaddy that his agency had paid MRTV through December 2020, and that it was the regime that breached the agreement by shutting down the channel. We signed the contract with the legitimate government. We will review the agreements only when the legitimate administration is in power. The regime has nothing to do with it, he said. Currently, both Mizzima and DVB are operating in exile. Since the coup, the regime has targeted journalists and media organizations with arrests and lawsuits, and raids on offices. The offices of independent media organizations including Mizzima, The Irrawaddy, Myanmar Now and Kamayut have been raided by regime forces. Singapore-based holding company Emerging Towns & Cities Singapore (ETC) has announced an agreement to sell its controlling stake in Golden City, a Yangon real estate development built on land leased from the Myanmar military, but a rights group said the deal fails to fully sever the companys ties to the junta. Singapore Exchange-listed ETC said it would sell the stake in the development, which is built on land leased from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) and the Office of the Quartermaster General of the Myanmar military, to Grand Ally Pte Ltd. Under the agreement, the stake will be sold for Singapore $4 million, at a loss of S$80.2 million. The deal made on July 1 involves the sale of the ETC Singapore subsidiary DAS Pte Ltd., which owns 70 percent of the Singapore company Uni Global Power, according to its announcement. Uni Global Power owns 70 percent of the Myanmar company Golden Land Real Estate Development, which is the developer of the Golden City project. Grand Ally Pte Ltd. is a private Singapore company set up in February this year and owned by key members of ETC who manage the Golden City Project. Justice For Myanmar (JFM), a rights watchdog, said Grand Ally is controlled by Li Bo, a Chinese citizen who is the vice president of sales and marketing for ETC, and the companys regional sales and marketing director for Myanmar. The other stakeholder and directors are Lai Xuejun and Zhang Xiaoping, who are also Chinese citizens. JFM pointed out that ETCs sale involves related parties, and creates risks that the company may still maintain its links to the Myanmar military through personnel and stakeholders. As Grand Ally is registered in Singapore, Singapore will continue to be exposed to Golden Citys business with the Myanmar military, which is committing ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity with total impunity, it said. Golden City is ETCs sole real estate development and the sale and rent of property in the complex is its main source of revenue. Myanmar-based project company Golden Land Real Estate Development, and its Myanmar-based partner Nature Link Co. Ltd. signed a lease agreement with the Quartermaster Generals office in 2013. Then, a few days later, they were granted a Myanmar Investment Commission permit by the militarys proxy government, led by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Nature Link is part of Jewellery Luck, a crony-owned group of companies that develop real estate, operate hotels and have mining and forestry interests based in Yangon. Jewellery Luck Group of companies owns 30 percent of Golden Land Real Estate Development through its subsidiary. According to ETCs 2017 annual report, the Golden City deal with the military involves a land use premium payment of US$6.3 million, plus annual payments of US$2.8 million, with exemptions on lease payments from 2013-16. The total in payments to the military over the maximum 70-year term amounts to US$191.1 million. As of Dec. 31, 2019, ETC had accrued US$32.185 million in land lease payments to the Myanmar army. In October 2021, a legal memorandum found that international law and guidance places due diligence obligations on the SGX, and possible liability on the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Singapore government, in relation to companies like ETC doing business with the Myanmar military. The legal memo also raised the possibility of reputational and sanctions risks for the SGX, its regulator the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and by extension, the Singapore government, should it not prevent continued payments from ETC to the Myanmar army. Through its campaign of terror against the people, the Myanmar military junta has so far murdered over 3,700 people, arbitrarily arrested more than 23,700, committed indiscriminate air strikes and shelling, torture, and sexual violence, and displaced at least 1.5 million since the coup attempt in 2021. JFM spokesperson Ma Yadanar Maung said that ETC is a longstanding business partner of the Myanmar military that is complicit in the juntas genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. ETCs divestment was necessary but raises further questions that we urge Singapore authorities to address, including whether SGX will remain exposed to the Golden City project and the fact that a private Singapore company will continue to bankroll the murderous junta, she said. The rights group called on Singapore banks to ensure that they do not hold accounts for Grand Ally or support the Golden City project in any way. It has also called on governments to impose sanctions on Grand Ally Investments, its Myanmar partner Jewellery Luck Group of Companies, and their owners and directors. In 2019, Ye Hongyun opened the Dawan HongyunFarmStaywith herown houseinDawan village, Jinzhai County,Lu'an City,in the Dabie Mountains. Since she was a child, Ye Hongyun has followed her family to learn how to cookdishes like braised pork, tile-shapedfish, yam dumplings, and littleriver fish...... of which littleriver fish is her speciality. "She cooks well and works as a chef in the school canteen." Ye Hongyun's husband, Wang Dajian, is a teacher at the village primary school. After PresidentXi Jinping's visit to Dawan Village, the couple thought about opening a farmstayas they watched the number of tourists in the village grow. Ye Hongyun participated in the "New Hui Cuisine - Famous Hui Chef" skills training, and obtained theProfessional Skill Level Certificate for Chinese Cookery After chef training, Ye Hongyun's cooking skills have improved, the dishestaste betterand there are more regular customers. "The colours, fragranceand flavours of the stir-fry are much more betterthan those learned from the elderly." She describes, "For example, when I used to make roast chicken in pot, I blanched the chickentoo long and the chicken would be chewy. Now that I know to takeout the chicken as soon asthe water boils, the meat will be much more tender." Master Ye is preparing to cook Jinzhai little riverfish The Jinzhai's speciality, littleriver fish is ready Now Hong Yun Farm Staycan have 50,000 yuan profit a year. Ye Hongyun also servesas acanteen chefof the village primary school, a month's salary of 1,200 yuan. During the May Day holiday this year, the farm stay was overcrowded at meal times. "During the Spring Festival, my cousin also praised her cooking skills, saying that they have improved a lot." Wang Dajian said. The couple's life is also more and more prosperous. Source: Anhui News Edited and translated by Zheng Chen and Wang Xirui 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. Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Partly cloudy. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Reddit Email 64 Shares Over the past decade, since Xi Jinping became the General-Secretary of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2012, he has accelerated Chinas return to political prominence. In turn, Chinas ambitious global programme of economic, diplomatic and political expansion has pushed the world back towards a state of multipolarity. As well as developing Chinas domestic military and economic capabilities, Beijings state-led efforts to ensure it leads the field in the strategic technologies used by modern economies such as renewable energy or artificial intelligence have served it as a soft-power multiplier abroad. In many regions, this has eroded several decades of unquestioned US pre-eminence following the fall of the Berlin Wall, including the Middle East, whose abundance of fossil fuels made it a particular focus of American foreign policy concern for many decades. In the 21st century, as the world shifts away from hydrocarbons and towards renewable energy generation and clean mass transportation,Chinas deepening domestic commitment to electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to power them (like charging stations) is adding to its attraction as an economic and political alternative, even to Arab governments traditionally aligned with America. Enter the EV Dragon? With strong government backing since 2015, Chinas electric car industry has emerged in recent years as a serious competitor to pioneers of the sector like US firm Tesla, with plug-in cars share of the Chinese car market estimated to hit 40% by end-2024. Chinese auto manufacturers have a commercial incentive to expand into the Middle East even without official encouragement from the CCP. The domestic Chinese market for electric vehicles (EVs) is extremely competitive, with Chinese EV manufacturers looking to expand overseas in a bid to increase their profitability as a consequence. Chinese EV exports to the European Union and the US are increasing, albeit from a low base; but the growing trade and technology war between Washington and Beijing which began under former President Donald Trump in 2018 continues under President Joe Biden, who has chosen to maintain Trump-era tariffs on China for example. Growing Western unease about China means Chinese EV manufacturers worry about measures to limit their exports in both markets, incentivising them to look to regions like the Middle East, where there is less political resistance to Chinese commercial expansion. Like the rest of the world, the Middle East is suffering from the impact of manmade climate change and seeking to move away from fossil fuels for power and transport. Arab autocracies like the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) bloc are attracted to Beijings reputation as a modernising non-democracy which is able to complete large-scale infrastructure projects, shown by years of global infrastructure development under its strategy known as the Belt and Road Initiative. China also offers Middle Eastern countries a state-led model to emulate should they consider partnering with Chinese firms in their own nascent future EV industries, especially among early prioritizers of green transport like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Government-to-government connections between Middle Eastern regimes and Chinas CCP are also increasing, helped by the need of many GCC countries to diversify their economies beyond hydrocarbon exports. Moreover, unlike with the US, Arab governments face little domestic backlash for deepening their ties with China, which is popular in the region, especially among Arab youth, 80% of whom consider Beijing to be an ally of their country according to a regional survey held earlier this year. Article continues after bonus IC video BYD is Now In Middle East Early Indicators This diplomatic popularity suggests that Chinese products will benefit from a kind of soft power which will boost Chinese EV firms confidence that they will be able to enter the region with little political or commercial controversy. Some practical obstacles still remain. For example, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) bloc of Arab countries requires vehicles to pass a tough certification process to ensure they can operate in GCC countries harsh desert climates, and concerns have been raised about untested Chinese EV imports which are not covered by warranties there. The quickest Chinese EV brand to establish a commercial footprint in the GCC is BYD, run by Wang Chuanfu, which hopes to begin selling both EVs and plug-in hybrid cars in the UAE by the end of 2023. Despite recent cutbacks, the company remains backed by Warren Buffet, and is experiencing solid sales of its diverse portfolio. In the UAE, BYD appears focused on launching the ATTO 3 (the first EV model BYD developed for the international market and which it claims has passed GCC climate stress tests) first, followed by the Han EV sedan in October this year. BYD and other Chinese brands may soon face competition in the GCC car market from indigenous GCC brands like Saudi Arabias Ceer, but will have the advantage of their previous experience developing the market in China. Outside the GCC, Chinas backing for renewable energy projects which boost Middle Eastern countries energy independence such as Beijings longstanding state-backed investments in solar and wind power in resource-poor Jordan could help Chinese power and construction companies future work electrifying non-Gulf Middle Eastern countries roads and public transport systems too, as the shift to EVs takes off there. For example, work on renewable energy projects in Jordan in earlier years may have helped Chinese officials and executives establish the relationships that have already enabled early sales of EVs to begin there. BYD has received approval to launch four models there; in addition to the ATTO 3 and the Han sedan, these include the Dolphin compact car and the Tang sport-utility vehicle. An incentive to quickly approve more EV models, more quickly for Jordan, is that it is dependent on petrol-imports, meaning a shift to a renewable energy grid which fuels an electrified public transport system and road network would be an immense advantage to a relatively poor country. Chinese efforts to offer green economic development to Middle Eastern states have seen them make diplomatic in-roads into the region without the deployment of widespread military power, or the entanglement of Chinese actors in the regions many quarrels. Whether this will continue as the countrys diplomatic and commercial footprint expands in the Middle East is open to question. However, Chinas efforts to take a global lead in the areas of renewable energy and electric vehicles in the previous decade appear to be advancing its bilateral relations in the Middle East in the 2020s. It has not yet displaced the US as the dominant global power in the region, but Washington would be wise to take note of how Beijings investments in these areas have paid off in terms of soft power there. LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Horizonte Minerals Plc (AIM:HZM) (TSX:HZM) ("Horizonte" or the "Company"),the nickel company developing two Tier 1 assets in Brazil, is pleased to announce the appointment of John MacKenzie as a Non-Executive Director and Simon Retter as an Executive Director effective immediately. John MacKenzie John is a senior mining executive with more than 30 years of operational and investment experience in the metals and mining sector, currently Chief Executive Officer and Director of TSX-listed Capstone Copper Corp (current market capitalisation of US$3billion). Previously, John was Executive Chair and Founder of Mantos Copper before its merger with Capstone Mining in 2022. He brings extensive operating and construction experience to the Board, in particular in South American through his time as part of the Anglo American group where he was a member of the Executive Committee and CEO of Copper at Anglo American plc, CEO Zinc at Anglo Base Metals and General Manager at their Minera Loma de Niquel mine and smelter in Venezuela, an RKEF ferronickel operation similar in design capacity to Araguaia. He was also previously a Non-Executive Director of KAZ Minerals plc. John has a Master of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Master of Business Leadership from the University of South Africa and has completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School. Simon Retter Simon has served as the group CFO of Horizonte Minerals since 2016. He is a commercially focused business leader with almost 15 years of experience as an Executive and Non-Executive Director focussed in the natural resources sector, driving strategic growth and leading high-performance teams across various financial roles. Simon started his career at Deloitte in assurance and advisory, qualifying as a chartered accountant before gaining extensive experience in the public markets and the mining sector, specifically, reverse takeovers, IPOs and secondary fundraising. Change in Company Secretary Mr Leonardo (Leo) Neves, Horizonte's General Counsel, has been appointed as Company Secretary, taking over from Mr Simon Retter effective immediately. Mr Neves is an experienced legal professional, having developed his career at law firms Pinheiro Neto Advogados (Brazil), McMillan LLP (Canada) and Fasken Martineau LLP (UK). He has also acted in-house for various mining companies, including Ferrous Resources where he spent 9 years as Head of Legal and Company Secretary. Mr Neves holds an LL.B. degree from University of Brasilia (UnB) and an LL.M. degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is qualified to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales, as well as in Brazil and Portugal. Jeremy Martin, CEO of Horizonte, commented: "We are delighted to welcome John MacKenzie and Simon Retter to the Board at this important time for Horizonte. These appointments emphasise the Board's continued evolution enhancing the skillsets required to successfully deliver two Tier 1 nickel projects. "I am confident that John's in-depth experience in the base metals sector will prove invaluable as we transition from a developer to a producer, and I look forward to continuing the great work that Simon is doing, maximising the potential of the assets for all our stakeholders." For further information, visit www.horizonteminerals.com or contact: Horizonte Minerals plc Jeremy Martin (CEO) Simon Retter (CFO) Patrick Chambers (Head of IR) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +44 (0) 203 356 2901 Peel Hunt LLP (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker) Ross Allister David McKeown +44 (0)20 7418 8900 BMO (Joint Broker) Thomas Rider Pascal Lussier Duquette Andrew Cameron +44 (0) 20 7236 1010 Tavistock (Financial PR) Emily Moss Cath Drummond +44 (0) 20 7920 3150 Regulatory The following information is disclosed under Rule 17 of the AIM Rules for Companies ("AIM Rules") and Schedule Two Paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules: John Fraser MacKenzie (aged 55) Mr MacKenzie does not hold any ordinary shares nor options over ordinary shares in the Company. Current Directorships Past Directorships (within the last five years) Capstone Copper Corp. Kaz Minerals plc Mantos Copper S.A. Mantos Copper (Bermuda) Limited Mantoverde S.A. There is no further information which is required to be disclosed under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of John Fraser MacKenzie. Simon James Retter (aged 41) Mr Retter holds 107,679 ordinary shares and 3,282,500 options over ordinary shares in the Company. Current Directorships Past Directorships (within the last five years) Timpton Ltd Aterian plc CTFR Holdings Ltd I-Med Group International Ltd Stonedale Management and Investments Ltd I-Med Medical Therapy System Ltd Horizonte Minerals (IOM) Ltd I-Med Sport Ltd HM Brazil (IOM) Ltd I-Med Treasury Ltd Vox Valor Capital Ltd Lan Greenfield Ltd HRC World plc Lan Group plc Adalan Ventures plc MDMS Online Ltd Fragrant Prosperity Holdings Ltd Oplon Ltd ElixIrr International plc Skinside UK Ltd SulNOx Fuel Fusions Ltd SulNox Group plc TriSkin Ltd Upham Holdings plc Vertu Capital Holdings Ltd I-Med Aesthetics Ltd I-Med Animal Healthcare Ltd I-Med Clinics Ltd Simon Retter was a director of I-Med Group International Ltd from 5 May 2017 until 5 December 2022. I-Med Group International Ltd entered into a creditors' voluntary liquidation on 30 June 2020, with the company subsequently dissolved on 5 December 2022. There is no further information which is required to be disclosed under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of Simon James Retter. ABOUT HORIZONTE MINERALS Horizonte Minerals Plc (AIM/TSX: HZM) is developing two 100%-owned, Tier 1 projects in Para state, Brazil - the Araguaia Nickel Project and the Vermelho Nickel-Cobalt Project. Both projects are large scale, high-grade, low-cost, have low carbon emission intensities and are scalable. Araguaia is under construction with first metal scheduled for 1Q 2024. When fully ramped up with Line 1 and Line 2, Araguaia is forecast to produce 29,000 tonnes of nickel per year. Vermelho is at feasibility study stage and is expected to produce 24,000 tonnes of nickel and 1,250 tonnes of cobalt to supply the EV battery market. Horizonte's combined production profile of over 60,000 tonnes of nickel per year positions the Company as a globally significant nickel producer. Horizonte's top three shareholders are La Mancha Investments S.a r.l., Glencore Plc and Orion Resource Partners LLP. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the ability of the Company to complete any planned acquisition of equipment, statements with respect to the potential of the Company's current or future property mineral projects; the ability of the Company to complete a positive feasibility study regarding the second RKEF line at Araguaia on time, or at all, the ability of the Company to complete a positive feasibility study regarding the Vermelho Project on time, or at all, the success of exploration and mining activities; cost and timing of future exploration, production and development; the costs and timing for delivery of the equipment to be purchased, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves and the ability of the Company to achieve its goals in respect of growing its mineral resources; the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates and achieving production in accordance with the Company's potential production profile or at all. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks related to: the inability of the Company to complete any planned acquisition of equipment on time or at all, the ability of the Company to complete a positive feasibility study regarding the implementation of a second RKEF line at Araguaia on the timeline contemplated or at all, the ability of the Company to complete a positive feasibility study regarding the Vermelho Project on the timeline contemplated or at all, exploration and mining risks, competition from competitors with greater capital; the Company's lack of experience with respect to development-stage mining operations; fluctuations in metal prices; uninsured risks; environmental and other regulatory requirements; exploration, mining and other licences; the Company's future payment obligations; potential disputes with respect to the Company's title to, and the area of, its mining concessions; the Company's dependence on its ability to obtain sufficient financing in the future; the Company's dependence on its relationships with third parties; the Company's joint ventures; the potential of currency fluctuations and political or economic instability in countries in which the Company operates; currency exchange fluctuations; the Company's ability to manage its growth effectively; the trading market for the ordinary shares of the Company; uncertainty with respect to the Company's plans to continue to develop its operations and new projects; the Company's dependence on key personnel; possible conflicts of interest of directors and officers of the Company, and various risks associated with the legal and regulatory framework within which the Company operates, together with the risks identified and disclosed in the Company's disclosure record available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, including without limitation, the annual information form of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the Araguaia and Vermelho Technical Reports available on the Company's website https://horizonteminerals.com/. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.rns.com. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. (the "Company" or "GSilver") (TSXV:GSVR) (AQUIS:GSVR) (OTCQX:GSVRF) is pleased to announce the commencement of a high-grade pillar exploitation program at the Company's 100% owned Valenciana Mines Complex ("VMC") in Guanajuato, Mexico. James Anderson, CEO & Chairman, said, "After over 450 years of near-continuous production as one of the most significant silver mines in world history, the Valenciana Mines Complex retains hundreds of underground pillars that exhibit some of the highest silver grades within the entire Guanajuato mining district. Immediately following our acquisition of Valenciana, we recognized the substantial mineralized potential available to us contained within the old workings that were left behind by previous operators. Today, we are announcing the commencement of a pillar recovery program, as we begin extracting mineralized material from what has been dubbed the "La Patilla" pillar. We estimate this pillar's grade to be in the range of 300 g/t silver-equivalent to 330 g/t silver-equivalent based on numerous channel samples across the width of the structure. At approximately 100m in length, and averaging 35m in height, with an average mineralized width of approximately 2.75m, volumetrically the La Patilla pillar has the potential to fill our Cata mill to capacity for approximately one full month. Of course, mining in other areas of the mine continues as per our production ramp-up schedule." The potential quantity and grade of silver-equivalent material at the "La Patilla" pillar is conceptual in nature; there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in "La Patilla" being delineated as a mineral resource. Silver-equivalent amounts are based on a ratio of one ounce of gold being equal to 80 ounces of silver; one troy ounce converted to the metric system equals 31.1035 grams. The Valenciana Mines Complex has hundreds of small and large mining pillars located throughout an underground mine network that extends over 4km in strike length and 700m in vertical extent. The Company is targeting pillars that were all made between the years 1768 and 1950. Because many of these pillars were created during the Spanish colonial period using pre-modern mining techniques, they do not contribute to mine stability and can safely be exploited. Other pillars that qualify for this program will be replaced with backfill waste material as part of a program to return Guanajuato Silver's tailings back underground. Pillars are evaluated for their extraction suitability and mineral potential using the polygon method that calculates the volume, grade and tonnage for each pillar structure. Currently, four pillars are being evaluated in the Cata area of the mine; the Company estimates that that there are a minimum of 50 high-grade pillars that have the potential to be extracted as part of this program. Image: Guanajuato Silver's geological team reviews the La Patilla pillar (the "Sideburn" pillar), which will be the first pillar removed as part of a program to extract numerous high-grade pillars at the Valenciana Mines Complex. Figure 1: VMC longitudinal section showing primary areas being targeted for pillar recovery. The area of the La Patilla pillar is highlighted below. Image: Guanajuato Silver's geological team reviews the La Patilla pillar (the "Sideburn" pillar), which will be the first pillar removed as part of a program to extract numerous high-grade pillars at the Valenciana Mines Complex. Figure 2: Area of the La Patilla pillar. About Guanajuato Silver GSilver is a precious metals producer engaged in reactivating past producing silver and gold mines in central Mexico. The Company produces silver and gold concentrates from the El Cubo Mine Complex, Valenciana Mines Complex, and the San Ignacio mine; all three mines are located within the state of Guanajuato, which has an established 480-year mining history. Additionally, the Company produces silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates from the Topia mine in northwestern Durango. With four operating mines and three processing facilities, Guanajuato Silver is one of the fastest growing silver producers in Mexico. Technical Information Reynaldo Rivera, VP of Exploration of GSilver, has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Rivera is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM - Registration Number 220979) and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "James Anderson" Chairman and CEO For further information regarding Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., please contact: JJ Jennex, Gerente de Comunicaciones, T: 604 723 1433 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Gsilver.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which relate to future events or future performance including, but not limited to, the number of high-grade underground pillars at Valenciana Mines Complex available for potential exploitation and the estimated volume, grade and tonnage of silver-equivalent material contained therein; the ability of the Company to safely exploit certain existing pillars without impacting mine stability including the "La Patilla" pillar and the potential volume of mineralized material that "La Patilla" can contribute to the Cata mill's overall processing capacity; the ability of the Company to backfill waste material to replace removed pillar material as part of the Company's tailing management program; and the Company's status as one of the fastest growing silver producers in Mexico. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and expectations and are based on information currently available to and assumptions made by the Company; which assumptions, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: our estimates of silver grades, volumes and tonnage of mineralized material within existing pillars at Valenciana Mines Complex and the assumptions and methodologies upon which they are based, including geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock conforming to sampled results and metallurgical performance; available tonnage of mineralized material to be mined and processed; resource grades and recoveries; assumptions and discount rates being appropriately applied to production estimates; the ability of the Company to ramp up processing of mineralized material from existing pillars at the Valenciana Mine Complex and Cata mill at the projected rates and source sufficient high-grade mineralized material to fill such processing capacity; prices for silver, gold and other metals remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company's projects and to satisfy current liabilities and obligations including debt repayments; capital cost estimates; decommissioning and reclamation estimates; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation) and inflation rates remaining as estimated; no labour-related disruptions; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner; and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements and information are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results, level of activity, production levels, performance or achievements of GSilver to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, future prices of gold, silver and other metals, currency rate fluctuations, rising inflation and interest rates, actual results of production, exploration and development activities, actual resource grades and recoveries of silver, gold and other metals, availability of third party mineralized material for processing, unanticipated geological or structural formations and characteristics, geopolitical conflicts including wars, environmental risks, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, equipment or personnel delays, delays in obtaining governmental or regulatory approvals and permits, inadequate insurance, and other risks in the mining industry. There are no assurances that GSilver will be able to successfully exploit sufficient quantities of high-grade silver and other metals at the Valenciana Mines Complex, the El Cubo Mines Complex, San Ignacio and Topia for processing at its existing mills to increase production, tonnage milled and recoveries rates of gold, silver, and other metals in the amounts, grades, recoveries, costs and timetable anticipated. In addition, GSilver's decision to process mineralized material from El Cubo, Valenciana Mines Complex, San Ignacio and Topia is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and therefore is subject to increased uncertainty and risk of failure, both economically and technically. Mineral resources and mineralized material that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them, and may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing, and other relevant issues. There are no assurances that the Company's projected production of silver, gold and other metals will be realized. In addition, there are no assurances that the Company will meet its production forecasts or generate the anticipated cash flows from operations to satisfy its scheduled debt payments or other liabilities when due or meet financial covenants to which the Company is subject or to fund its exploration programs and corporate initiatives as planned. There is also uncertainty about the continued spread and severity of COVID-19, the ongoing war in Ukraine and elevated inflation and interest rates and the impact they will have on the Company's operations, supply chains, ability to access mining projects or procure equipment, supplies, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all and economic activity in general. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com including the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2021. These forward-looking statements and information are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by law. CD-264 returns 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq from 43.3m in Northwest Extension LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Meridian Mining UK S (TSX:MNO) (OTCQX:MRRDF) (Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its programs at Cabacal, where CD-264 has returned further strong results from the Cabacal Northwest Extension ("CNWE"). CD-264 has intersected a high-grade zone of 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq (15.3g/t Au, 0.2% Cu & 0.6g/t Ag) from 43.3m, representing a northern extension of similar high-grade results (CD-049, CD-072[1]). This and additional results in the mine area show the potential to better define the projection of higher grade trends across the deposit. In parallel with the resource development program, the Company is advancing with exploration of near-mine extensions, with a copper gossan identified at surface, located 350m southeast of CD-240's copper feeder zone. Drilling has also confirmed the mineralized position of the VMS horizon in a 1km step-out to the southeast of the Cabacal mine. Highlights Reported Today Cabacal Northwest Extension returns more high-grade gold intersections; CD-264 returns 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq (15.3g/t Au, 0.2% Cu & 0.6g/t Ag) from 43.3m; New results consolidate domain of high-grade mineralization extending over 175m; 1km step-out along the Cabacal trend intersects a base metal horizon correlative with the Cabacal system; CD-255 drill hole adds context for further exploration for VMS sulphide mounds; Arrival of Geonics down-hole probe to assist in targeting thicker Cu-Zn-Ag-Au zones; Preparations advance for mobilization of new Santa Helena drill rig Contractor representative due on site this month to prepare for mobilization of regional drill rig, with program to commence at Santa Helena; Program targeting verification of historic drilling and exploratory holes into satellite zones surrounding the historic resource ; and Cabacal development studies are advancing in preparation for submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the consideration of up to 4.5Mtpa expanded production scenario. Dr. Adrian McArthur, CEO, comments: "The CD-264 high-grade result of 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq from 43.3m shows the value of infill drilling in achieving better definition of shallow high-grade trends within the Cabacal deposit. The result continues to build on the importance of the CNWE as a focal point for early production scenarios. We are advancing Cabacal vigorously on multiple fronts, with drilling, with geotechnical evaluation, and with environmental studies to support expanded production scenarios to be evaluated in a PEA update. Our goal remains to continue moving Cabacal on its pathway to development, whilst laying the foundation to realize the broader discovery potential of this under-explored belt." Cabacal Resource and Extensions The drilling program at Cabacal continues to follow recommendations arising from the PEA. The resource definition program aims to achieve better definition of the higher grade trends within the broader mineralized halo. The projection of the high-grade trend at shallowing depths in CD-264 returning 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq from 43.3m is encouraging (Figure 1; Figure 2). Further drilling is being scheduled to test for the projection of the trend within the broader footprint of Cu-Au mineralization, both to the northwest and southeast where the drill spacing is currently more open. Figure 1: Location of CD-264's intersection, extending the projection of the high-grade CNWE trend. Colour points represent drill assays plotted as AuEq (g/t) in plan view. Digital elevation image in the background. Figure 2: Quartz veining in chloritic host rock associated with CD-264's intersection hosting visible gold. Additional drilling has been conducted in the Eastern Copper Zone ("ECZ"), where it was noted that the high-grade trends in the block model clustered around drill holes in areas of wider spacing, dropping off in-between. The new drill results show that basal concentrations of high-grade mineralization continue in these intervening areas (CD-256 & CD-263; Table 1). The cumulative effect of such results is expected to present a more accurate depiction of the higher grade population across the deposit as the drilling advances for the next resource update. The Company is currently conducting a Mise-a-la-Masse survey to follow up on the geophysical response of stringer sulphide mineralization in the ECZ, with the survey currently targeting extensions to the CD-254 result of 17.7m @ 1.6% CuEq / 2.4g/t AuEq from 50.0m[2]. Exploratory evaluation of the extensions of the Cabacal system continues. CD-255 was a 1km step-out along the Cabacal trend (Figure 3). It intersected a base metal horizon interpreted to be correlative with the Cabacal system (5.3% Zn, 0.1% Cu, 0.2g/t Au & 32.4g/t Ag over 0.3m from 119.9m). The drill hole adds useful context for further planning of exploration for VMS sulphide mounds over time. The Company awaits the arrival of a down-hole probe from Geonics to assist in targeting thicker Cu-Zn-Ag-Au sulphide accumulations, which are less conductive than the copper dominant end member. Recent prospecting by the geological team has also located some copper gossan at the south-west flank of the resource area (Figure 4). Drilling in this area is sparse, with wide-spaced historical BP holes not sampled systematically from surface. The gossan is located ~350m southeast of CD-240's copper feeder zone, possibly in an up-dip position to the Cabacal South FLTEM conductivity anomaly[3], where the Company has drilled just one hole. Following recognition of the gossan, trenching will be undertaken to guide further drilling and evaluate possible links to the feeder system. Figure 3: Drilling overview, with location of CD-255, pinpointing the open extension of the Cabacal VMS horizon in a 1km step out from the resource area. Santa Helena Preparations continue at Santa Helena in advance of the arrival of the fourth drill rig. The objective of the drilling program will be to conduct both validation drilling on historical resource holes, and a first phase of exploratory drilling on satellite drill targets marked by geophysical responses for potential discoveries satellite to the main resource. Project Development Project development studies are advancing in preparation for submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA-RIMA), positioning the project for the consideration of an expanded production scenario of up to 4.5Mtpa. Project development studies underway also include a 12-hole geotechnical drilling program. The PEA utilized default assumptions for pit will angles. Based on the PEA pit shell, a series of holes are being drilled to now gather specific data for the next phase of evaluation. If data supports a steepening of pit wall angles in a competent rock mass, results will have a positive impact on the stripping ratio. Figure 4: Copper Gossan with portable XRF reading from surface float at the southwestern flank of the resource area. Table 1: Drilling results Hole-ID Dip Azi EOH Zone Int AuEq CuEq Cu Au Ag Zn From (m) (m) (g/t) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (m) CD-264 -49 060 98.3 CNWE 12.6 15.5 10.4 0.2 15.3 0.6 0.0 43.3 14.7 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.0 65.5 CD-263 -70 048 104.1 ECZ 4.0 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.0 1.3 0.0 66.9 15.0 1.0 0.7 0.6 0.2 2.9 0.1 74.7 Including 4.0 2.5 1.7 1.4 0.5 7.1 0.1 85.4 CD-262 -49 045 49.3 ECZ 2.6 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.1 1.1 0.0 17.0 1.3 3.3 2.2 1.8 0.6 11.3 0.1 22.8 CD-261 -49 059 95.3 CNWE 6.2 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 20.0 13.0 0.8 0.5 0.3 0.4 1.0 0.0 40.1 7.0 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.9 0.0 59.4 7.4 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 1.1 0.0 72.0 CD-260 -49 059 113.2 CNWE 1.0 1.0 0.6 0.1 0.9 0.1 0.0 13.3 1.0 0.8 0.5 0.0 0.8 0.4 0.0 18.0 20.1 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 1.1 0.0 34.8 6.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.1 0.0 61.1 10.3 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 2.8 1.0 85.6 CD-259 -67 045 36.0 Cabacal-Sth Abandoned CD-258 -44 045 49.4 ECZ / Gabbro NSI CD-257 -51 058 127.2 CNWE 23.8 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.0 11.3 3.2 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.7 0.0 85.0 6.8 1.7 1.1 0.7 0.8 2.6 0.0 98.1 CD-256 -90 000 108.2 ECZ 4.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 16.0 28.6 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.1 2.0 0.0 66.7 Including 4.9 2.3 1.5 1.2 0.5 6.2 0.2 88.5 CD-255 -49 046 184.1 C4A-Sth 4.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 5.1 0.6 117.3 Including 0.3 0.1 0.2 32.4 5.3 119.9 About Meridian Meridian Mining UK S is focused on: The development and exploration of the advanced stage Cabacal VMS goldcopper project; Regional scale exploration of the Cabacal VMS belt; Exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts (the above all located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil); and Exploring the Espigao polymetallic project in the State of Rondonia, Brazil. Cabacal is a gold-copper-silver rich VMS deposit with the potential to be a standalone mine within the 50km VMS belt. Cabacal's base and precious metal-rich mineralization is hosted by volcanogenic type, massive, semi-massive, stringer, and disseminated sulphides within deformed metavolcanic-sedimentary rocks. A later-stage sub-vertical gold overprint event has emplaced high-grade gold mineralization cross-cutting the dipping VMS layers. The Cabacal Mineral Resource estimate consists of Indicated resources of 52.9 million tonnes at 0.6g/t gold, 0.3% copper and 1.4g/t silver and Inferred resources of 10.3 million tonnes at 0.7g/t gold, 0.2% copper & 1.1g/t silver (at a 0.3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade), including a higher-grade near-surface zone supporting a starter pit. The Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report (the "PEA Technical Report") dated March 30, 2023, entitled: "Cabacal Gold-Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, Mato Grosso, Brazil" outlines a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 573 million and 58.4% IRR from a pre-production capital cost of USD 180 million, leading to capital repayment in 10.6 months (assuming metals price scenario of USD 1,650 per ounces of gold, USD 3.59 per pound of copper, and USD 21.35 per ounce of silver). Cabacal has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 671 per ounce gold equivalent for the first five years, driven by high metallurgical recovery, a low life-of-mine strip ratio of 2.1:1, and the low operating cost environment of Brazil (see press release dated March 6, 2023). Readers are encouraged to read the PEA Technical Report in its entirety. The PEA Technical Report may be found on the Company's website at www.meridianminig.co and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The qualified persons for the PEA Technical Report are: Robert Raponi (P. Eng), Principal Metallurgist with Ausenco Engineering), Scott Elfen (P. E.), Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services with Ausenco Engineering), Simon Tear (PGeo, EurGeol), Principal Geological Consultant of H&SC, Marcelo Batelochi, (MAusIMM, CP Geo), Geological Consultant of MB Geologia Ltda, Joseph Keane (Mineral Processing Engineer; P.E), of SGS, and Guilherme Gomides Ferreira (Mine Engineer MAIG) of GE21 Consultoria Mineral. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S Dr. Adrian McArthur CEO and Director Meridian Mining UK S Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Ph: +1 (778) 715-6410 (PST) Technical Notes Samples have been analysed at the accredited ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru, and SGS laboratory in Belo Horizonte. Samples at ALS are dried, crushed with 70% passing <2mm, split off to give a mass of approximately 250g, and pulverized to >85% passing 200#. Routine gold analyses have been conducted by Au-AA23 (fire assay of a 30g charge with AAS finish). High-grade samples (>10g/t Au) are repeated with a gravimetric finish (Au-GRA21). Samples with visible gold identified during logging are analysed by screen fire assay method Au-SCR21. Samples at SGS are dried, crushed with 75% passing <3 mm, split to give a mass of 250-300g, pulverized with 95% passing 150#. Gold analyses are conducted by FAA505 (fire assay of a 50g charge), and base metal analysis by methods ICP40B and ICP40B_S (four acid digest with ICP-OES finish). Visible gold intervals are sampled by metallic screen fire assay method MET150-FAASCR. Samples are held in the Company's secure facilities until dispatched and delivered by staff and commercial couriers to the laboratory. Pulps are retained for umpire testwork, and ultimately returned to the Company for storage. The Company submits a range of quality control samples, including blanks and gold and polymetallic standards supplied by Rocklabs, ITAK and OREAS, supplementing laboratory quality control procedures. In BPM sampling, gold was analysed historically by fire assay and base metals by three acid digest and ICP finish at the Nomos laboratory in Rio de Janeiro. Silver was analysed by aqua regia digest with an atomic absorption finish. True width is considered to be 80-90% of intersection width. Assay figures and intervals are rounded to 1 decimal place. Gold equivalents are calculated as: AuEq(g/t) = (Au(g/t) * %Recovery) + (1.492*(Cu% * %Recovery)) + (0.013*(Ag(g/t) * %Recovery)), where: Au_recovery_ppm = 5.4368ln(Au_Grade_ppm)+88.856 Cu_recovery_pct = 2.0006ln(Cu_Grade_pct)+94.686 Ag_recovery_ppm = 13.342ln(Ag_Grade_ppm)+71.037 Recoveries based on 2022 metallurgical testwork on core submitted to SGS Lakefield The Mise-a-la-Masse survey is being conducted using the Company's in-house team, utilizing its GDD GRx816c receiver and 5000W240015A transmitter. Data is processed by the Company's independent consultancy Core Geophysics. Geophysical and geochemical exploration targets are preliminary in nature and not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit. Qualified Person Dr. Adrian McArthur, B.Sc. Hons, Ph.D. FAusIMM., CEO and Director of Meridian as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and verified the technical information in this news release. Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/contact/ Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining Further information can be found at: www.meridianmining.co FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise. [1] Meridian News Release of November 29, 2021, September 7, 2021, May 3, 2022. [2] Meridian News release June 14, 2023 [3] Meridian News release April 12, 2021 Toronto, Ontario - TheNewswire - July 11, 2023 - Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. (Noble or the Company) (TSX-V:NOB) (FRANKFURT:NB7) (OTC:NLPXF) is pleased to report on the reception of final drill core analysis results on the Cere Villebon drill program located southeast of Val dOr, Quebec ampling of Hole 1 from the Cere Villebon drill program returned analyses of 5.2 meters* of 0.66% copper, 0.94% nickel, 0.04% cobalt, 0.25 g/t platinum and 0.66 g/t palladium within a 63 meter* wide mineralized zone grading 0.24% copper, 0.38% nickel, 0.02% cobalt, 0.11 g/t platinum and 0.33 g/t palladium. (*true width not known at this time); Sampling of Hole 5, located 25 meters east of Hole 1, of 0.46% copper, 0.69% nickel, 0.03% cobalt 0.78 g/t platinum and 1.28 g/t palladium over 19 meters* within a 37 meter* zone of 0.36% copper, 0.50% nickel, 0.02% cobalt, 0.36 g/t platinum and 0.54 g/t palladium. (*true width not known at this time); The mineralization is associated with a strong chargeability anomaly associated with a resistivity low reflecting the sulphide mineralization encountered in the core. (See Figures 1, 2 and Image 1); Holes 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 showed no significant mineralization and were drilled off trend of Hole 1 and 5 to test targets on other parts of the property. Cere Villebon Project A drill program and geophysical survey have been completed on the Cere Villebon Project southeast of Val dOr, Quebec. The program included 7 diamond drill holes for a total of 1,955 meters. Significant mineralization was encountered in holes 1 and 5 and are summarized in Table 1. Historic drilling and resource estimates done by the Groupe La Fosse Platinum Inc on the North Zone (1987) evaluated a historical resource of 421,840 tonnes grading 0.52% copper, 0.72 % nickel and 1.08 g/t combined platinum-palladium (Groupe La Fosse Platinum Inc., 1987 Annual Report). This estimate is historical in nature, non-compliant to NI 43-101 Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves standards, and therefore should not be relied upon. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources, and these estimates should only be considered has an indication of the mineral potential of the Property. Table 1: Significant Intersections in Hole 1 and 5 Hole 1 From (m) To (m) Width (m) Cu (%) Ni (%) Co (%) Pt (g/t) Pd (g/t Pt+Pd (g/t) 101.50 102.50 1.00 0.41 0.46 0.02 0.35 0.63 0.98 137.35 148.00 10.65 0.12 0.25 0.01 0.06 0.13 0.19 162.00 225.00 63.00 0.24 0.38 0.02 0.11 0.25 0.36 including 166.70 169.00 2.30 0.25 0.45 0.02 0.09 0.20 0.29 plus 192.00 197.00 5.00 0.44 0.45 0.02 0.17 0.35 0.52 plus 200.00 205.20 5.20 0.66 0.94 0.04 0.25 0.66 0.91 plus 210.00 221.00 11.00 0.38 0.56 0.02 0.17 0.37 0.54 Hole 5 From (m) To (m) Width (m) Cu (%) Ni (%) Co (%) Pt (g/t) Pd (g/t Pt+Pd (g/t) 157 194 37.00 0.36 0.5 0.02 0.36 0.54 0.90 including 165 184 19.00 0.46 0.69 0.03 0.50 0.78 1.28 Subsequent to the drilling a 7.2 kilometer program of Induced Polarization and Magnetometer Survey was done in the vicinity of the diamond drilling. Figure 1 is a pseudo-section in the vicinity of Hole 1. The pseudo-section shows a strong chargeability anomaly associated with a resistivity low reflecting the sulphide mineralization encountered in the core. (Image 1) Figure 1: Pseudo-section in the Vicinity of Hole 1 Figure 2: Chargeability Anomaly Showing Mineralization in Hole 1 and 5 Image 1: Drill core from Hole 1, 220.5m depth down hole. Mitch Lavery P. Geo. (OGQ), a qualified person as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the Cere Villebon data disclosed in this news release, and has otherwise reviewed and approved this technical information in this news release on behalf of Noble. About Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. is a Canadian-based junior exploration company which, in addition to its shareholdings in Canada Nickel Company Inc., Spruce Ridge Resources Ltd., Go Metals Corp. and MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd., and its interest in the Holdsworth gold exploration property in the area of Wawa, Ontario, will continue to hold ~25,000 hectares of mineral rights in the Timmins-Cochrane areas of Northern Ontario known as Project 81, as well as an additional ~11,000 hectares in the Timmins area and ~14,400 hectares of mining claims in Central Newfoundland. Project 81 hosts diversified drill-ready gold, nickel-cobalt and base metal exploration targets at various stages of exploration. It will also hold its ~14,600 hectares in the Nagagami Carbonatite Complex and its ~4,600 hectares in the Boulder Project both near Hearst, Ontario, as well as its ~482 hectares in the Cere-Villebon Nickel, Copper, PGM property, its ~3,700 hectares in the Buckingham Graphite Property, its ~10,152 hectares in the Havre St Pierre Nickel, Copper, PGM property, its ~518 hectares in the Laverlochere Nickel, Copper, PGM property, all of which are in the Province of Quebec. More detailed information is available on the website at: https://www.noblemineralexploration.com Nobles common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol NOB. Cautionary Statement Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. The foregoing information may contain forward-looking statements relating to the future performance of Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. Forward-looking statements, specifically those concerning future performance, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the Companys plans and expectations. These plans, expectations, risks and uncertainties are detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with the TSX Venture Exchange and securities regulators. Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contacts H. Vance White, President Phone: 416-214-2250 Fax:416-367-1954 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Investor Relations: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. TORONTO, July 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Orford Mining Corp. ("Orford" or the "Company") (TSXV: ORM) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of: (i) approximately 6.0 million in the aggregate "flow-through" shares ("FT shares") or Critical Minerals "flow-through" shares ("CMFT shares") at an issue price of C$0.1725 per share, and (ii) approximately 6.7 million "hard dollar" shares ("HD shares") at an issue price of C$0.15 per share, (the "Offering"), to raise gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000 from the sale of FT Shares, CMFT shares and HD Shares, or any combination thereof. Alamos Gold (AGI-TSX) has indicated that it intends to participate in the financing by purchasing $1,000,000 (6.7 million shares) of HD Shares which will increase its holding in Orford Mining to approximately 28.0% of Orford's outstanding common shares from approximately 26.2% of Orford's outstanding common shares. Orford intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering on its currently active exploration programs in the Nunavik Region of Northern Quebec, in particular its Qiqavik Gold project summer 2023 RAB Drilling program and its summer 2023 Nunavik Lithium inaugural exploration program in addition to ongoing work on its Joutel Eagle project, all in Northern Quebec, and for general corporate purposes. The South Gold Zone on the Joutel-Eagle property in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Northern Quebec is intended to be the focus of a 2024 winter geophysics and drilling program. The Qiqavik project represents what Orford believes is a new gold district discovery in the Cape Smith Belt of Northern Quebec. The Offering is anticipated to close on or before July 27, 2023, and is subject to the prior approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months plus a day from the date of closing. The purchase of securities pursuant to the Offering by Alamos (an insider of Orford) will constitute a "related party transaction" as such term is defined by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The transaction will be exempt from the MI 61-101 valuation and minority approval requirements for related party transactions in connection with the Offering under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the transaction, insofar as it involves the Related Parties, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101). About Orford Mining Corporation Orford Mining is a gold and critical mineral explorer focused on highly prospective and underexplored areas of Northern Quebec. Orford's principal assets are the Qiqavik, West Raglan and lithium exploration projects comprising a land package totaling over 111,000 hectares in the Cape Smith Belt of Northern Quebec. The Qiqavik Project hosts several new high-grade gold discoveries along a mineralized trend in excess of 40 km. The West Raglan Project hosts a number of high-grade Raglan-style nickel/copper/platinum group metal discoveries along a 55 km mineralized trend. In early 2023 Orford acquired large claim blocks targeting lithium in the Nunavik Region. These lithium claim blocks have been carefully selected as having promising lithium potential after an exhaustive compilation of available data. Orford also has four property positions in the Joutel region of the Abitibi District of Northern Quebec, which hosts historical deposits such as the Eagle/Telbel, Joutel Copper, Poirier Copper, and Vezza deposits. Orford continually seeks new gold exploration opportunities in North America. Orford's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ORM. This information from neighbouring properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on Orford Mining's properties. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" including without limitation statements relating to the exploration potential of its mineral properties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Orford to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Orford's filings with Canadian securities regulators available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Orford has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward- looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Orford disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Discoveries similar to the Z-T structures include 5 gpt AuEq1 over 9.1 metres and 1.50 gpt AuEq over 14.0 metres VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prime Mining Corp. (Prime or the Company) (TSX-V: PRYM, OTCQX: PRMNF, Frankfurt: 04V3) is reporting drill results from nine core holes at the Central Area, one of three main zones hosting the gold-silver mineral resource estimate (MRE) at the Companys Los Reyes Project, located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. The 2023 Technical Report outlining the MRE can be found on the Company's website at https://primeminingcorp.ca/ and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, under the Companys Issuer Profile. Central Area Drilling Highlights: 4.99 grams per tonne (gpt) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (4.11 gpt Au and 67.9 gpt Ag) over 9.1 metres (m) estimated true width (etw) in hole 23NB-46, located 150 m along strike from the bottom of the MRE pit, including: 37.48 gpt AuEq (31.40 gpt Au and 470.0 gpt Ag) over 1.1 m etw. 1.50 gpt AuEq (1.23 gpt Au and 20.5 gpt Ag) over 14.0 m etw in hole 23NB-39, located immediately adjacent to the MRE pit, including: 5.17 gpt AuEq (4.19 gpt Au and 76.0 gpt Ag) over 2.0 m etw. 2.25 gpt AuEq (1.86 gpt Au and 30.2 gpt Ag) over 5.7 m etw in hole 23NB-40, located 80 m along strike and below the MRE pit, including: 5.62 gpt AuEq (4.75 gpt Au and 67.6 gpt Ag) over 1.4 m etw. The holes reported in this news release were drilled at Noche Buena, located in the southeastern-most end of the Central Area (see Figures 1, 2) up to 150 m along strike from the bottom of the recently announced resource pit. As with the Companys June 20th release regarding the Z-T Area, the drilling at Central Area confirms the ongoing expansion of potential gold-silver resources in addition to and not included in the Companys MRE. Prime Mining Corp. Chief Executive Officer Daniel Kunz commented, Our expansion drilling continues to encounter wide intercepts of high-grade mineralization outside of the current resource pits, this time in the Central Area. These results parallel what we recently reported at the Z-T Area. We see expansion of the Central Area with high-grade mineralization discovered along strike and at depth beyond the current resource pit, with the potential discovery of a new high-grade structure. We are excited by the continued discovery of high-grade areas outside of the MRE that demonstrate the scale of the Los Reyes system with potential to contribute to the global project. Figure 1: Los Reyes drilling update The mineralization encountered in this drilling has identified a new developing high-grade shoot in drill holes 23NB-40 and 46 (see Figures 3, 4). Extending out from previously released drill hole 23NB-21, this high-grade shoot remains open south-southeast along strike. Results from remaining drill holes 23NB-47 and 23NB-48, with a quartz vein intersected about 30 m down-plunge from the intercept in 23NB-46, are expected in the coming weeks. Figure 2: Central Area drilling update Figure 3: Central Area long section with drill holes highlighted Figure 4: Central Area (Noche Buena) cross section A-A Drilling is ongoing through the current rainy season (which started at the end of June) with four drill rigs focusing on: extending the high-grade Z-T Area shoots that remain open at depth, as well as along strike north and south; expanding the two other MRE resource areas, including the eastern extensions of the Guadalupe System and Echeguren Shaft area; and, exploring the new generative targets. Prime has completed over 30,000 m of its planned 60,000 m 2023 drill program and will continue to evaluate its drilling plans using its success-based approach. Link 2 PDF Drill Hole Tables Note 1: Gold equivalent grades are calculated based on an assumed gold price of $US 1700 per ounce and silver price of $22 per ounce, based on the formula AuEq grade (gpt) = Au grade + Ag grade x ($22 / $1,700). Metallurgical recoveries are not considered in the in-situ grade estimate but are estimated to be 93% and 83% for gold and silver, respectively, when processed in a mill, and 72% and 25% respectively when heap-leached. QA/QC Protocols and Sampling Procedures Drill core at the Los Reyes project is drilled in predominately HQ size (63.5 millimetre mm), reducing to NQ (47.6 mm) when required. Drill core samples are generally 1.50 m long along the core axis with allowance for shorter or longer intervals if required to suit geological constraints. After logging intervals are identified to be sampled, the core is cut and one half is submitted for assay. RC drilling returns rock chips and fines from a 133.35 mm diameter tricone bit. The returns are homogenized and split into 2 halves, with one half submitted for analysis and the other half stored. Sample QA/QC measures include unmarked certified reference materials, blanks, and field duplicates as well as preparation duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and make up approximately 8% of the samples submitted to the laboratory for each drill hole. Samples are picked up from the Project by the laboratory personnel and transported to their facilities in Durango or Hermosillo Mexico, for sample preparation. Sample analysis is carried out by Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs, with fire assay, including over limits fire assay re-analysis, completed at their respective Hermosillo, Mexico laboratories and multi-element analysis completed in North Vancouver, Canada. Drill core sample preparation includes fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250-gram split to at least 85% passing 75 microns. Gold in diamond drill core is analyzed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy of a 30 g sample (code FA430 or Au-AA23). Multi-element chemistry is analyzed by 4-Acid digestion of a 0.25-gram sample split (code MA300 or ME-ICP61) with detection by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer for a full suite of elements. Gold assay techniques FA430 and Au-AA23 have an upper detection limit of 10 ppm. Any sample that produces an over-limit gold value via the initial assay technique is sent for gravimetric finish via method FA-530 or Au-GRA21. Silver analyses by MA300 and ME-ICP61 have an upper limit of 200 ppm and 100 ppm, respectively. Samples with over-limit silver values are re-analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish FA530 or Au-GRA21. Both Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs are ISO/IEC accredited assay laboratories. Qualified Person Scott Smith, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of Exploration, is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content in this news release. Additional Notes Metres is represented by m; etw is Estimated True Width and is based on drill hole geometry or comparisons with other on-section drill holes; Au refers to gold, and Ag refers to silver; gpt is grams per metric tonne; some figures may not sum due to rounding; Composite assay grades presented in summary tables are calculated using a Au grade minimum average of 0.20 gpt or 1.0 gpt as indicated in Au Cut-off column of Summary Tables. Maximum internal waste included in any reported composite interval is 3.00 m. The 1.00 gpt Au cut-off is used to define higher-grade cores within the lower-grade halo. About the Los Reyes Gold and Silver Project Los Reyes is a rapidly evolving high-grade, low sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. Since acquiring Los Reyes in 2019, Prime has spent approximately US$30 million on direct exploration activities and has completed over 120,000 m of drilling. On May 2, 2023, Prime announced an updated multi-million-ounce high-grade open pit constrained resource (see below, and refer to Note 1 and the May 2, 2023 press release for more details). May 2, 2023 Resource Statement Drilling is on-going and suggests that the three known main deposit areas (Guadalupe, Central and Z-T) are larger than previously reported. Potential also exists for new discoveries where mineralized trends have been identified outside of the currently defined resource areas. Historic operating results indicate that an estimated 1 million ounces of gold and 60 million ounces of silver were recovered from five separate operations at Los Reyes between 1770 and 1990. Prior to Primes acquisition, recent operators of Los Reyes had spent approximately US$20 million on exploration, engineering, and prefeasibility studies. About Prime Mining Prime is managed by an ideal mix of successful mining executives, strong capital markets personnel and experienced local operators all focused on unlocking the full potential of the Los Reyes Project. The company has a well-planned capital structure with a strong management team and insider ownership. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Daniel Kunz Chief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Daniel Kunz Chief Executive Officer and Director Prime Mining Corp. 1307 S. Colorado Ave. Boise, Idaho 83706 Telephone: +1 (208) 926-6379 office email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Scott Hicks Executive Vice President Prime Mining Corp. 710 1030 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC, V6E 2Y3 Telephone: +1 (604) 428-6128 office email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation as may be amended from time to time, including, without limitation, statements regarding the perceived merit of the Companys properties, including additional exploration potential of Los Reyes, potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, the potential size of the mineralized zone, metallurgical recoveries, and the Companys exploration and development plans in Mexico. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Companys management on the date the statements are made, and they involve several risks and uncertainties. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements were made, including without limitation, assumptions regarding the price of gold, silver and copper; the accuracy of mineral resource estimations; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained, including concession renewals and permitting; that political and legal developments will be consistent with current expectations; that currency and exchange rates will be consistent with current levels; and that there will be no significant disruptions affecting the Company or its properties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to: risks related to uncertainties inherent in the preparation of mineral resource estimates, including but not limited to changes to the cost assumptions, variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery rates, changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations, failure of plant, equipment or processes, changes to availability of power or the power rates, ability to maintain social license, changes to interest or tax rates, changes in project parameters, delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of local communities, environmental risks, title risks, including concession renewal, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, risks relating to COVID-19, delays in or failure to receive access agreements or amended permits, risks inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Companys objectives and strategies, including costs and expenses, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion and analysis, as well as its annual information form dated April 22, 2022, available on www.sedar.com. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. VANCOUVER, BC, July 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) (OTCQX: NKGFF) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its 100%-owned Atlanta Gold Mine Project, located in the prolific Battle Mountain Trend 264km northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. Highlights: The Company recently staked an additional 947 lode claims around the existing Atlanta land package, increasing total claims held to 1,562, covering 131 km 2 or 13,100 hectare (Figure 1). land package, increasing total claims held to 1,562, covering 131 km or 13,100 hectare (Figure 1). The land package now covers and creates a buffer around all high-priority gold prospects in and around the Atlanta district identified historically and by Nevada King through its geophysical, geological, and geochemical studies conducted since 2019. district identified historically and by through its geophysical, geological, and geochemical studies conducted since 2019. The Company has commenced a Phase II CSAMT (Controlled Source Audio-frequency Magneto-tellurics) survey, a low-impact, non-intrusive, ground geophysical survey method that provides critical information about geologic structure and lithology, particularly in debris covered terrain such is as at Atlanta . . Nevada King initially conducted a 51 line kilometre Phase I CSAMT survey in 2022 that covered 8.3 km 2 centred over the current resource zone. Results outlined known structural features and faults and identified a number of new structures and high-priority targets at Atlanta , two of which led to the development of the East Ridge and South Extension Targets. Based on the CSAMT survey's high degree of accuracy with respect to locating mineralized structures, the Company has expanded the survey to 111 line-kilometres in order to cover potential distal target areas throughout the Atlanta district (Figure 2). initially conducted a 51 line kilometre Phase I CSAMT survey in 2022 that covered 8.3 km centred over the current resource zone. Results outlined known structural features and faults and identified a number of new structures and high-priority targets at , two of which led to the development of the East Ridge and South Extension Targets. Based on the CSAMT survey's high degree of accuracy with respect to locating mineralized structures, the Company has expanded the survey to 111 line-kilometres in order to cover potential distal target areas throughout the district (Figure 2). The new CSAMT data will be integrated with 56 km2 of detailed ground gravity, 119 km2 of drone magnetic surveys and geochemical data as well as existing showings in order to enhance the existing exploration model. The Company anticipates releasing a detailed review of district targets at Atlanta in the coming weeks. Cal Herron, Exploration Manager of Nevada King, commented, "Nevada King's initial interest in acquiring the Atlanta Project centred on the district-scale potential connected to hydrothermal activity localized around the perimeter of the Indian Peak caldera. Our drilling within the West Atlanta Graben target in late 2022 and early 2023 revealed potential for a much larger deposit hosted within the Tertiary volcanic section above the basement Paleozoic carbonates and quartzite. This West Atlanta Graben mineralization opened our eyes to the potential in the altered volcanic section west and south of the current Atlanta resource zone. Our district scale work has succcesfully identified numerous structural trends between various mineralized zones scattered across the district, thus occasioning the recent, major expansion in our claim holdings. The Company now possesses a substantial claim buffer zone outside of what we perceive to be the limit of volcanic-hosted mineralization around the Atlanta deposit." Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016, the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million-ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada. The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $19 million as of July 2023. The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a NI 43-101 compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000's) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Nevada King, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans and the Company's ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Onyx Gold Corp. ("Onyx Gold" or the "Company") and HighGold Mining Inc. (TSXV: HIGH) (OTCQX: HGGOF) ("HighGold") are pleased to announce that Onyx Gold has closed its previously announced private placement (the "Private Placement"), pursuant to which Onyx Gold issued 7,888,000 non-flow-through units (each, a "HD Unit") at a price of $0.50 per HD Unit and 6,400,000 flow-through units (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of $0.69 for gross proceeds of $8,360,000. Following the closing of the Private Placement, there are now 41,208,207 common shares in the capital of Onyx Gold (each, an "Onyx Share") issued and outstanding. Each HD Unit and each FT Unit was comprised of one Onyx Share and one-half of one Onyx Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Onyx Share at a price of $0.75 per Onyx Share for a period of 24 months following the date of issuance. The Onyx Shares comprising the FT Units will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). The net proceeds from the issue of the HD Units will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Company will use an amount equal to the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the FT Units, pursuant to the provisions in the Tax Act, to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as both terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Onyx Gold's mineral properties, on or before December 31, 2024, and to renounce all the Qualifying Expenditures in favour of the subscribers of the FT Units effective December 31, 2023. In connection with the Private Placement, Onyx Gold paid cash commission in the amount of $42,500 to eligible finders. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to a hold period expiring on November 7, 2023, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada. Certain insiders of Onyx Gold (the "Interested Parties") purchased or acquired direction or control over a total of 274,000 HD Units as part of the Private Placement. The placement to such persons constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the directors of Onyx Gold have determined that the Interested Parties' participation in the Private Placement will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in reliance on the exemptions set forth in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the Private Placement as the details of the participation of Interested Parties had not been confirmed at that time. Update on TSX Venture Exchange Listing Onyx Gold is also pleased to announce that it has received conditional approval for the listing of the Onyx Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). Pending final approval, the Company will be listed as a Tier 2 issuer on the TSXV under the symbol "TSXV: ONYX". The completion of the Private Placement moves the Company toward listing, and the Company hopes to announce details on the initial trading date of Onyx Shares in the coming days. Share Incentive Plan Approval HighGold and Onyx Gold also announce that at the annual general and special meeting of HighGold held on May 30, 2023, the shareholders of HighGold approved: (a) the omnibus share incentive plan for Onyx Gold which plan includes (i) a "rolling" stock option plan component; and (ii) a "fixed" share unit and deferred share unit component; and (b) the renewal of the omnibus share incentive plan for HighGold. For details on the incentive plans, please see the information circular of HighGold dated April 25, 2023 available on HighGold's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. About Onyx Gold Onyx Gold is an exploration company focused on well-established Canadian mining jurisdictions, with assets in Timmins, Ontario and Yukon Territory. The Company's extensive portfolio of quality gold projects in the greater Timmins gold camp includes the Munro-Croesus Gold property, renowned for its high-grade mineralization, plus two additional earlier-stage large exploration properties, Golden Mile and Timmins South. Onyx Gold also controls four properties in Selwyn Basin area of Yukon Territory, which is currently gaining significance due to recent discoveries in the area. Onyx Gold's experienced board and senior management team are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally/socially responsible mineral exploration. On Behalf of Onyx Gold Corp. "Darwin Green" Executive Chairman & Director Darwin Green, Executive Chairman & Director Phone: 1-604-629-1165 Naomi Nemeth, Vice President, Investor Relations Pone: 1-604 629 1165 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. There can be no assurance as to if, or when, the Onyx Shares will be listed or traded on the TSXV or any other stock exchange. Forward looking statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively "forward looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds of the Private Placement, the first trading date of the Onyx Shares on the TSXV and the listing of the Onyx Shares on the TSXV are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include, among other things, receipt of final approval of the TSXV for the listing of the Onyx Shares, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Interra Copper Corp. (CSE: IMCX) (OTCQB: IMIMF) (FSE: 3MX) ("Interra" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its exploration activities at its Tres Marias Copper Project (the "Project"), located approximately 40 km southwest of the city of Calama in the Antofagasta Region of Chile. Phase 1 of the drilling program at Tres Marias which began on May 24, 2023 is complete. In total, six RC holes totalling 1,896 m were drilled. Samples were sent to ALS Global in Santiago for analysis and results are expected in early August. Sociedad Perforaciones E Inginieria Chile Limitada ("PerfoChile"), a local business and experienced drilling contractor that services many of the large producing mines in Chile, completed the first phase of the Reverse-Circulation ("RC") drilling campaign. PerfoChile has now demobilized and the project site has been rehabilitated. Investors are encouraged to visit our website at www.interracoppercorp.com, Press Releases of May 4, 2023 and May 24, 2023, and our corporate presentation for a more detailed summary of the drilling program. Technical Disclosure/Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans (P.Geo., PhD, PMP), Principal Geoscientist and Managing Director at Caracle Creek Chile SpA and an independent consultant and Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. About Interra Copper Corp. Interra Copper Corp. is focused on building shareholder value through the exploration and development of its portfolio of highly prospective/early-stage exploration copper assets located in Chile and Northern British Columbia. The Company's portfolio includes three copper projects located the Central Volcanic Zone, within a prolific Chilean Copper belt: Tres Marias and Zenaida in Antofagasta Region, and Pitbull in Tarapaca Region. The Company now holds a significant land package covering an area of 20,050 ha with the projects situated amongst several of the world's largest mines owned by the largest global mining companies including Glencore, Anglo American, Teck Resources and BHP among others. The Company also owns two exploration projects in Northern British Columbia: Thane and Chuck Creek. The Thane Project is located in the Quesnel Terrane of Northern BC and spans over 20,658 ha with 6 high-priority targets identified demonstrating significant copper and precious metal mineralization. Interra Copper's leadership team is comprised of senior mining industry executives who have a wealth of technical and capital markets experience and a strong track record of discovering, financing, developing, and operating mining projects on a global scale. Interra Copper is committed to sustainable and responsible business activities in line with industry best practices, supportive of all stakeholders, including the local communities in which we operate. The Company's common shares are principally listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange under the symbol "IMCX". For more information on Interra Copper, please visit our website at www.interracoppercorp.com. On behalf of the Board and Interra Copper Corp. Chris Buncic President & CEO, Director For further information Katherine Pryde Investor Relations Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Twitter LinkedIn Forward Looking Information Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to exploration on the Company's Tres Marias Copper Project, and the potential results of exploration work on the project. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company's website. We seek safe harbor. Palos Verdes Assays Pending Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Prismo Metals Inc. (CSE: PRIZ) (OTCQB: PMOMF) ("Prismo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the airborne ZTEM geophysical survey at Hot Breccia has been completed as part of an ongoing exploration program at the project located in the center of the prolific Arizona Copper Belt. The Company has also received assay results for the first batch of samples taken at the project, that indicate the presence of not only copper mineralization, but also gold mineralization associated with gossanous veins and shear zones. Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO commented: "We are pleased to have completed the ZTEM survey on time, and are looking forward to seeing the results, with interpretations expected to be received in the next few weeks. We are also excited about the first assay results that, when combined with historic assays by the property vendor, show not only copper mineralization in the area of the surface exposures of the namesake polylithic breccia, but also gold values with some copper associated with gossanous shear zones throughout the property that are commonly located at the contacts of a dike swarm cutting older rocks. The presence of gold in the mineralizing system could be important for future development of the project." Table 1. Highlight assays for samples from Hot Breccia Sample Type Sampler Width (m) Easting Northing Cu_% Au g/t 74304 Chip Vendor, 1989 525,879 3,653,846 - 0.13 75000 Chip Vendor, 1989 527,574 3,654,602 - 2.1 84835 Chip Vendor, 1989 526,967 3,653,733 1.28 0.062 84836 Selected Vendor, 1989 526,175 3,652,946 - 18 84837 Selected Vendor, 1989 526,153 3,652,908 0.55 28 84838 Chip Vendor, 1989 526,054 3,653,161 - 0.125 84839 Chip Vendor, 1989 526,030 3,653,200 - 0.1 84841 Chip Vendor, 1989 525,862 3,653,505 - 0.375 84843 Selected Vendor, 1989 525,700 3,654,197 - 1.2 84844 Selected Vendor, 1989 525,665 3,654,294 - 2.4 84845 Chip Vendor, 1989 525,734 3,654,348 - 0.53 W147767 Chip Vendor, 2023 1.5 526,911 3,653,668 - 0.18 W147768 Subcrop grab Vendor, 2023 2.0 526,971 3,653,681 1.17 0.074 22006 Selected Prismo 0.2 x 0.5 526,703 3,654,137 - 0.334 22007 Chip-channel Prismo 0.5 526,529 3,653,988 - 0.404 22008 Channel Prismo 1 526,053 3,652,802 1.11 3.75 22013 Selected Prismo 1 526,901 3,653,654 0.21 0.005 Coordinates in WGS84. Figure 1. Copper (left) and Gold (right) plotted on preliminary LiDAR interpretation with small mines and prospects and historic drill holes. The inset shows the location of the figure in the land package. The Hot Breccia project consists of 227 mining concessions that lie about four kilometers from the historic Christmas mine which recorded production of about 481.6 Mlbs of copper from 20.2 M tons at a grade of 1.2% Cu plus significant gold and silver (Sources: Arizona Geological Society Spring Field Trip Guide in 2014). Prismo has not been able to verify the production information and it is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Hot Breccia property. It is believed that the Hot Breccia property may contain high grade skarn mineralization similar to that originally mined at the Christmas mine and the historical information is being used by Prismo solely to plan and guide future exploration. Figure 2. Location of the Hot Breccia project Kennecott drilled seven holes from 1972 to 1981 and Phelps Dodge drilled two holes on and near the current property in the same era. All drill holes intersected hydrothermal alteration within the volcanic rocks that overlie the typically better mineralized Paleozoic carbonate rocks with increasing alteration intensity downwards. The carbonate host units have several copper intercepts reported to exceed 1% copper and elevated zinc. Figure 3. Location of the Hot Breccia claim package southeast of the Christmas mine. Palos Verdes Update The Company has completed 1,239 meters of drilling in seven holes, with the 8th hole in progress. We expect to release assay results from the first seven holes during the week of July 17. QA/QC Rock samples taken by Prismo were analyzed by multielement ICP-AES and MS methods by ALS Group, an internationally recognized analytical service provider. Gold was analyzed by fire assay using a 25-gram charge, with an AA finish. Cu over 1% by an overrange method. Certified Reference Materials including standard pulps and coarse blank material were inserted in the sample stream at regular intervals. Samples taken by the vendor in 2023 were also analyzed by ALS Group. Samples taken by the vendor in 1989 were analyzed by Skyline Labs, certificates and QAQC data are not available, and these data should not be relied upon, and are used solely as a guide to exploration. Dr. Craig Gibson, PhD., CPG., a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-01 regulations and President, CEO and a director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release. About Hot Breccia The Hot Breccia property consists of 1,420 hectares of contiguous mining claims located in the world class Arizona Copper Belt. About Prismo Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is mining exploration company focused on two precious metal projects in Mexico (Palos Verdes and Los Pavitos) and a copper project in Arizona (Hot Breccia). Please follow @PrismoMetals on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Prismo Metals Inc. 1100 - 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6 Contact: Craig Gibson, President & Chief Executive Officer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Jason Frame, Manager of Communications This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement and exploration program results, the ability to complete future financings, required permitting, exploration programs and drilling, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, the analytical results from surface trenching and sampling program, including diamond drilling programs, the results of IP surveying, the results of soil and till sampling program. the quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including CSE acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, the potential impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the Company's exploration program and on the Company's general business, operations and financial condition, and other risks and uncertainties. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. First gold poured from the Las Calandrias heap leap project Las Calandrias is now ramping up to full production, expected in Q3 2023 MDC (Brazil) Feasibility Study in the final optimization stage TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 10, 2023 / Cerrado Gold Inc. (TSX.V:CERT) (OTCQX:CRDOF) ("Cerrado" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has poured its first gold from its new heap leach gold production project at the Las Calandrias area in Argentina. Mining and stacking operations are at planned capacity, and gold production is expected to steadily increase as the retention period for the stacked ore is reached, allowing the project to reach design capacity during the third quarter of this year. Las Calandrias heap leach gold pour The Company also wishes to report it is in the final stages of completing its Feasibility Study for Serra Alta deposit at the Monte Do Carmo ("MDC") project in Tocantins, Brazil. Together with its consultants, the project team are conducting final optimizations, design trade offs and sequencing of the mine plan and we expect to complete the feasibility shortly. Mark Brennan, CEO and Chairman commented, "We are extremely pleased to see the first gold poured from the Las Calandrias project and this is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the operations team. In addition, this represents a significant milestone for Cerrado as we continue to deliver on our production growth strategy in Argentina. In Brazil, as we near the completion of the study phase, we continue to be confident that the MDC Project will be a very robust project which should position Cerrado for a period of rapid growth." About Cerrado Cerrado Gold is a Toronto-based gold production, development, and exploration company focused on gold projects in South America. The Company is the 100% owner of both the producing Minera Don Nicolas and Las Calandrias mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina, and the highly prospective Monte Do Carmo development project, located in Tocantins State, Brazil. In Canada, Cerrado Gold is developing it's 100% owned Mont Sorcier Iron Ore and Vanadium project located outside of Chibougamou, Quebec. In Argentina, Cerrado is maximizing asset value at its Minera Don Nicolas operation through continued operational optimization and is growing production through its operations at the Las Calandrias Heap Leach project. An extensive campaign of exploration is ongoing to further unlock potential resources in our highly prospective land package in the heart of the Deseado Masiff. In Brazil, Cerrado is rapidly advancing the Serra Alta deposit at its Monte Do Carmo Project, through feasibility and into production. Serra Alta is expected to be a high-margin and high-return project with significant exploration potential on an extensive and highly prospective 82,542 hectare land package. In Canada, Cerrado holds a 100% interest in the Mont Sorcier Iron Ore and Vanadium Project, which has the potential to produce a premium iron ore concentrate over a long mine life at low operating costs and low capital intensity. Furthermore, its high grade and high purity product facilitates the migration of steel producers from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces contributing to the decarbonisation of the industry and the achievement of SDG goals. For more information about Cerrado please visit our website at: www.cerradogold.com. For further information, contact: Mark Brennan Mike McAllister CEO and Chairman Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: +1-647-805-5662 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Disclaimer NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation, all statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business and operations of Cerrado. In making the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, Cerrado has made certain assumptions, including, but not limited to the time required to reach production capacity at Las Calandrias, the future operating costs in Argentina, as well the timing of the feasibility study at Monte Do Carmo. Although Cerrado believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Cerrado disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. VANCOUVER, BC, July 11, 2023 /CNW/ - TinOne Resources Inc. (TSXV: TORC) (OTCQB: TORCF) (Frankfurt: 57Z0) ("TinOne" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it been granted a total of 243 km2 of new exploration tenure in northeast Tasmania. In addition, the Company has applied for another 133 km2, which has been recommended to be granted in the coming months. The road-accessible tenements, collectively called the Mount Maurice Project, are considered prospective for tin and lithium mineralization. While northeast Tasmania has historically been a tin and tungsten producing region, recent exploration by several companies surrounding TinOne's tenements have focussed efforts on lithium prospectivity. Highlights Dominant land position: The acquisition of the Mount Maurice project strengthens the Company's position in northeast Tasmania focused on tin and lithium exploration. The acquisition of the Mount Maurice project strengthens the Company's position in northeast focused on tin and lithium exploration. Prospective for tin and lithium mineralization: The Mount Maurice project is centered on a complex granite batholith containing greisen zones considered prospective for tin and lithium mineralization. The Mount Maurice project is centered on a complex granite batholith containing greisen zones considered prospective for tin and lithium mineralization. Road accessible project: A forestry road network provides access across the project. "We believe northeast Tasmania is a prime jurisdiction for the discovery of tin and lithium deposits," commented Chris Donaldson, Executive Chairman. "Our recent exploration results, specifically the discovery of lithium mineralization at our Aberfoyle project, just 20 kilometres south of Mount Maurice, has led us to re-evaluate the lithium potential of many Devonian-aged tin-tungsten bearing granites across northeast Tasmania. This evaluation led us to stake the Mount Maurice project an area that has received little modern exploration but contains documented greisen alteration zones hosted in prospective Devonian aged granites. We look forward to getting boots on the ground and exploring this new project." Mineral Exploration Licences The southern edge of the Mount Maurice tenements are approximately 20 kilometres north of the company's Aberfoyle Sn-W-Li project (see March 15th, 2023 news release; Figure 1). The road accessible claims are underlain by the 35 by 15 kilometre polyphase Scottsdale granitic batholith considered to be prospective for tin and lithium mineralization. The area has seen very limited historic exploration besides a regional stream sediment geochemical surveys, focused geological mapping, and minor trenching. Trenching results from the Mount Maurice Sn-Cu showing, central to the project, returned grades of up to 0.78% Sn and 1.4% Cu from quartz veins cutting greisenised (coarse mica altered) granite (Ellis, 1984). These mineralized occurrences have yet to be drill tested and lithium analyses have never been performed on any of the rock or stream sediment samples. A phase 1 reconnaissance-style exploration program comprised of project-wide stream sediment surveys, prospecting and rock-chip sampling is currently being planned. The project was acquired via staking and represents an accretive addition to the Company's exploration-stage project portfolio in northeast Tasmania. The northern tenement (EL36/2022) at Mount Maurice has been granted while the southern tenement (EL39/2022) is under application and is expected to be granted in the coming months. References Ellis, P.D., 1984, Relinquishment Report, Mt. Maurice, EL 43/82, Northeast Tasmania, Open File, https://mrt.tas.gov.au About TinOne TinOne is a TSX Venture Exchange listed Canadian public company with a high-quality portfolio of tin, tin/tungsten and lithium projects in the Tier 1 mining jurisdictions of Tasmania and New South Wales, Australia. The Company controls some of the most important tin districts in Tasmania, including Aberfoyle, Rattler Range and Great Pyramid and is focussed on advancing its highly prospective portfolio. TinOne is supported by Inventa Capital Corp. Qualified Person The Company's disclosure of technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Russell Fulton (MAIG), Vice President Exploration for the Company and a Qualified Person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the development of the Company's projects; future mineral exploration, development and production; and the release of exploration results. Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of TinOne, future growth potential for TinOne and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of gold and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; TinOne's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. These statements reflect TinOne's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and TinOne has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on early stage mineral projects; metal price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Australia; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in TinOne's management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. Although TinOne has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. TinOne does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MAX Power Mining Corp. (CSE: MAXX; OTC: MAXXF; FSE: 89N) (MAX Power or the Company) has expanded its footprint in the Raglan West Lithium Camp in Nunavik, northern Quebec, by more than 80% with the acquisition of a highly strategic block totaling 100 sq. km (247 claims) adjoining Eureka Lithium and Orford Mining. This district is approximately 30 km southwest of the community of Salluit, Quebec. Notably, these claims now 100% owned by MAX Power were staked in early February 2023 by a Shawn Ryan-led syndicate immediately after Orford Mining kicked off a staking rush with its Radiant Property claims (126 sq. km) featuring abundant pegmatite dykes and unusually high lithium and cesium values in lake sediments in the 99th percentile for Quebec according to the Quebec government database. Nunavik, where exploration including MAXs just-launched field program are not affected by the forest fire situation impacting the James Bay district, covers the top third of Quebec and is drawing increasing interest for its high-grade lithium potential outside of the Cape Smith Belt prospective for nickel, gold and copper. Within this belt, underscoring Nunaviks geological potential, Glencore operates one of the worlds premier nickel mines (Raglan) while privately-owned KoBold Metals, which recently raised $195 million (U.S.), is also currently very active searching for battery metals. Raglan West Lithium Camp MAX Power now owns 100% of two major claim blocks in the Raglan West Lithium Camp (see enclosed property map), 222 total sq. km covering the entire eastern border and much of the southern part of Raglan West where there is a strong lithium-cesium geochemical anomaly and an abundance of historically mapped and untested pegmatites, trending north and northeasterly. Preliminary data from a remote sensing data program recently carried out by Orford, with results announced June 16, 2023, tripled the number of high-priority targets with lithium pegmatite potential at Orfords Radiant Property. Mr. Peter Lauder, MAX Power Senior Geologist and Exploration Manager, and Member of the Order of Quebec Geologists, commented: This new claim block acquisition includes multiple historic pegmatite showings as well as favorable geology, structure and geochemistry. Combined with the eastern block, MAX Power is a major force in the emerging Raglan West Lithium Camp where we will have boots on the ground shortly. Acquisition Details The Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement (Agreement) for 100% the Property with consortium of six sellers made up of Shawn Ryan et al. (the Vendor) for consideration of 1 million common shares (the Consideration Shares) of the Company and $66,960 cash. Furthermore, the Company has granted a 1% net smelter royalty (NSR) to Shawn Ryan in relation to the Property. All common shares issued in connection with the Agreement are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws. All terms are subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE). Bonus shares are payable to the Vendor with respect to the Agreement as follows: 1,000,000 share one-time bonus payment if a drill hole in 2023 drill program at Raglan West intersects a core length of at least 100 meters grading at least 2.0% Li 2 O; O; 500,000 share one-time bonus payment if a drill hole in 2023 drill program at Raglan West, separate from the above 100-meter core length, intersects a core length of at least 50 meters grading at least 1.5% Li 2 O. Raglan West Lithium Camp Nunavik Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Lauder, P.Geo., Member of the Order of Geologists of Quebec and Senior Geologist and Exploration Manager for MAX Power Mining Corp. Mr. Lauder is the Qualified Person responsible for the scientific and technical information contained herein under National Instrument 43-101 standards. About MAX Power MAX Power is a dynamic exploration stage resource company targeting domestic lithium resources to advance North Americas renewable energy prospects. MAX Power has also entered into a co-operative research and development agreement with the University of California Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to develop state-of-the-art direct lithium extraction technologies for brine resources. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. MarketSmart Communications Phone: 1-877-261-4466 Forward-Looking Cautionary Statement This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to exploration, drilling, mineralization and historical results on the Properties; the interpretation of drilling and assay results, the initiation of and the results thereby of any future drilling program, mineralization and the discovery mineralization (if any); plans for future exploration and drilling and the timing of same; the merits of the Properties and the Nunavik region, generally; the potential for lithium within the Properties; commentary as it related to the opportune timing to explore lithium exploration and any anticipated increasing demand for lithium; future press releases by the Company; funding of any future drilling program; regulatory approval, including but not limited to the CSE. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," interpreted, "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," suggests, often, target, future, likely, pending, "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," possibly, preliminary, and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of assay results and the drilling program, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Managements Discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this news release. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: ARK) (Arras or the Company) is pleased to announce the results of 135 grab samples taken from Soviet-era exploration trenches at the Karagandy-Ozek project (Karagandy-Ozek or the Project) located within the Companys Elemes exploration licence (Elemes or the Licence) in northeastern Kazakhstan. Highlights include: A total of 135 grab samples, collected by Arras, have returned grades up to 29 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au), 287 g/t silver (Ag) and 238 g/t tellurium (Te), with average grades of 3.5 g/t Au, 15.3 g/t Ag and 18.7 ppm Te. The northern most trenches delineate a zone of high-grade Au mineralization of at least 650 meters that remains entirely open to the NE. The average grade for 63 grab samples collected from the northern zone is 5.6 g/t Au, 20.4 g/t Ag and 29.5 ppm Te. The mineralization is interpreted as a low sulfidation epithermal gold-silver deposit that forms part of a far larger porphyry-epithermal system within the Elemes license that includes the Berezki Central and Berezki East porphyry copper-gold prospects, and Quartzite Gorka breccia-hosted intermediate sulfidation epithermal copper-gold-silver-lead-zinc prospect. Located to the nearby past-producing, high-grade epithermal Au-Ag Aimandai mine. Tim Barry, CEO, commented, We are very pleased with our first pass sampling program of the Elemes licence. Our mapping and sampling program suggests we have a fully intact, and largely unexplored epithermal and porphyry system. It should be noted that the mineralization identified in the Elemes licence is a completely different mineralizing system to the Beskauga deposit, which sits 85 kilometers to the east. We believe we are just scratching the surface of the potential of the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic arc and our team is methodically advancing towards establishing drill targets at some of these new areas. Figure 1. Arras Minerals License Package (Pavlodar, Kazakhstan) A summary of grab samples with over 5.0 g/t gold announced in this news release is outlined in the table below. Table 1. Grab samples with over 5.0 g/t Au from the Karagandy-Ozek prospect. The Karagandy Ozek Project: is located within the 425 square kilometer Elemes mineral exploration license, which was acquired in 2022. Elemes benefits from excellent modern infrastructure and ease of accessibility, being located only 20 kilometers (km) from Arras operational base in the city of Ekibastuz, northeastern Kazakhstan. A paved highway runs through the license, and within 1 km of the Karagandy Ozek project. 1,100 KVA power lines, heavy rail, and the IrtyshKaraganda irrigation canal all lie within a 20 km radius of the project. The past producing high-grade Au-Ag epithermal Aimandai mine is nearby. The gold-silver-tellurium mineralization at Karagandy-Ozek is hosted in zone of quartz veining (individual veins between 0.5 to 1 m width), that display typical low sulphidation textures including crustiform banding, euhedral crystal infill of vein voids, and bladed textures (quartz after calcite) (Figure 2 below). A zone of strong silicification and argillic (kaolinite-illite-quartz) alteration surrounds the quartz veins. Figure 2. Samples from the Karagandy-Ozek project on Elemes license The mineralization is interpreted as a low-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver deposit that forms part of a far larger porphyry-epithermal system within the Elemes license. Nearby is the past-producing Aimandai mine, a high-grade epithermal Au-Ag deposit which according to historical Soviet reports has an average resource grade of 24.6 g/t Au and 34.7 g/t Ag with minor copper, lead and zinc. A high-resolution airborne magnetic survey over the Elemes and 3D inversion of the resulting data demonstrates that Karagandy-Ozek and the aforementioned associated prospects are all located within a 9km x 3.5 km aeromagnetic low feature interpreted to represent magnetite destruction associated with hydrothermal alteration. The airborne survey has significantly improved the Companys understanding of the structural controls of the mineralization and provided several new drill targets within the Elemes license. The Elemes license is located within the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt that also hosts the Companys flagship Beskauga porphyry copper-gold-silver project approximately 80 km to the east, and KAZ Minerals Bozshakol porphyry copper-gold mine (one of the largest copper resources in Kazakhstan) approximately 60 km to the northwest. Figure 3. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras at the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing gold assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Figure 4. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras at the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing silver assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Figure 5. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras in the northern zone of the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing gold assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Note the potential for parallel vein systems to the NW and SE, as indicated by limited historical drilling. Mineralization remains open to the NE. Assay and QAQC Procedures Samples were bagged and sealed in the field to ensure integrity during transport. Average sample weight was 5 to 6 kilograms. All sample preparation and geochemical analysis of the rock samples were undertaken by ALS Global at its laboratories in Karaganda (Kazakhstan) and Loughrea (Republic of Ireland), respectively. ALS preparation and analytical labs are accredited to ISO 17025:2005 UKAS ref 4028 and have internal Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) programs for monitoring accuracy and precision. ALS Global is entirely independent of the Company. After drying samples were crushed by ALS to >70% passing below 2 mm and split using a riffle splitter. 250 g splits were pulverized to 85 % passing below -75-microns. A 30 g split of the pulp was analyzed for gold content by fire assay with an Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) finish (ALS method: Au-AA25) at ALS Karaganda. A second pulp split was then air freighted to ALS Loughrea and analyzed for 48 elements by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) after four-acid digestion on a 0.25 g aliquot (ALS method: ME-MS61). Samples exceeding 100 g/t silver were re-analyzed using a 4-acid digest ICP-MS ore grade method (ALS method: Ag-OG62). Qualified Person The scientific and technical disclosure for the Quartzite Gorka Project included in this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved Tim Barry, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Arras Minerals Corp., who is also a Member and Chartered Professional Geologist (MAusIMM CP(Geo)) of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr. Barry has sufficient experience, relevant to the styles of mineralization and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity that he is undertaking, to qualify as a Qualified Person (QP) for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Barry" Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo) Chief Executive Officer and Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687 5800 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Further information can be found on the Companys website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arrasminerals About Arras Minerals Corp. Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group). The Companys shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol ARK. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources This press release uses the terms measured resources, indicated resources, and inferred resources which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Disclosure of contained ounces in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute reserves by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras management. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, continues, may, variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond managements control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption Risk Factors in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Companys profile on SEDAR on March 30, 2023 and in the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 24, 2023 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Kingsmen Resources Ltd. (TSXV: KNG), (OTCQB: KNGRF) ("Kingsmen" or the "Company") is pleased to report on the detailed, 1:5,000 scale geological mapping of the 100% owned Las Coloradas project including the Soledad and Soledad II structures, and their subsidiary structures. Located 30km from Hildago, Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico the Soledad structures were historically mined by ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company), the U.S. based subsidiary of Grupo Mexico. Scott Emerson, President commented: "Kingsmen is making significant progress in sourcing and compiling exploration data for the Las Coloradas project. As the database grows new exploration opportunities are becoming apparent in the recognition of mineralized structures apart from Soledad and Soledad II, and the potential for epithermal gold-silver mineralization. The structures have not been drilled at depth or along strike. As well, new targets are being identified in the consolidated land position where new claims have been added." Kingsmen's new geological map (Figure 1) delivers an excellent understanding of the mineralization and its structural control(s). The mineralization is shallow, high-grade, silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper quartz-calcite veins hosted by all rock types in structures that cut all rock types. The mineralized structures may go to significant depths. Flexures, intersecting structures, en echelon veins, and dilation zones control the development and location of individual bodies of mineralization. Two important areas of mineralization are currently recognized. The first is at the southeast end of the Soledad structure (see News Release dated June 7, 2023). The second is the cluster of old workings at the northwest end of the Soledad II structure. The Las Coloradas mineralization is on the southeast flank of a prominent aeromagnetic high interpreted to be a buried felsic intrusive body (Figure 2). The felsic intrusives associated with the Soledad and Soledad II structures are likely linked to this body and the setting is favourable for porphyry, skarn and epithermal vein mineralization. While the strongest mineralized orientation is NW-trending there are also quartz veins/structures with a NE-trend. The geometry of the veins/structures suggests radial fracturing of the country rocks above the buried felsic intrusive resulting in ground preparation for mineralization. About Las Coloradas The 100% owned Las Coloradas Project ( 8.5 km2 -3.3 sq miles) represents a consolidation of a historic mining district which covers numerous silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper mines previously exploited by ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company), the U.S. based subsidiary of Grupo Mexico. Las Coloradas is in the Parral mining district of the Central Mexican Silver Belt, and is located approximately 30 kilometers southeast of the city of Hildago de Parral and 40 kilometers east of the San Francisco de Oro and Santa Barbera mining districts where several old major mines are located, such as La Prieta, Veta Colorada, Palmilla, Esmeralda, San Francisco del Oro and Santa Barbara. As well, new major mining projects are currently being explored in the district; Cordero (Discovery Silver Corp.), 35 kms north of Parral, and La Cigarra (Kootenay Silver Inc.), 35 kms northwest of Parral. Click here to see locator map, https://www.kingsmenresources.com/area-history. Qualified Person Kieran Downes, Ph.D., P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure set out in this news release. About Kingsmen Resources In line with Kingsmen's organic-growth strategy, the Company's focus is on exploration and development, and is currently focused on district-scale exploration for high -margin metallic mineral deposits in the prolific mining districts of Parral Mexico. In addition, the company has a 1% NSR on the Los Ricos North project in Mexico operated by GoGold Resources Inc. The Company's leaders have extensive experience in the mining and financial sectors. Kingsmen is a publicly-traded company (TSXV: KNG) (OTCQB: KNGRF) and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. On behalf of the Board, Signed: "ScottEmerson" Scott Emerson, President & CEO Phone: 6046859316 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding the completion of the acquisition of the Las Coloradas Project and receipt of regulatory approval, are forward-looking statements. Although Kingsmen believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since Kingsmen can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in Kingsmen's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, and assumptions made with regard to: Kingsmen's ability to make the required payments under the definitive agreements; and Kingsmen's ability to secure the necessary regulatory approvals. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Kingsmen's expectations include risks associated with the business of Kingsmen; risks related to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions to the closing of the acquisition of the Las Coloradas Project; non-completion of the acquisition of the Las Coloradas Project; risks related to exploration and potential development of the Las Coloradas Project; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and additional risks identified in Kingsmen's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Kingsmen does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements TORONTO, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red Pine Exploration Inc. (TSXV: RPX, OTCQB: RDEXF) (Red Pine or the Company) reports drilling results from its ongoing exploration program. The new results continue to validate the presence of multiple zones of mineralization in the Wawa Gold Corridor west of the Jubilee Shear and within the intrusion related gold system (IRGS). Mineralization was also extended in the Sadowski Vein Network and in new mineralization zones east of the Jubilee Shear. Mineralization extends in the Footwall of the Jubilee Shear in the Wawa Gold Corridor (Figures 1 and 2) Confirmation of gold mineralization west of the Jubilee Shear in the intrusion-related gold system, in zones of orogenic overprint and the extensional vein networks Near-surface discovery in a zone of orogenic overprint of 6.15 g/t gold over 11.67 m in SD-23-434 that includes 11.16 g/t Au over 5.93 m (Figure 3) Extension of intrusion-related gold mineralization with the intersection of 1.57 g/t gold over 26.3 meters including 25.74 g/t gold over 1.24 m in SD-23-433 Hanging wall of (above) the Jubilee Shear (Figure 1) Sadowski Vein Network Intersection of 6.86 g/t gold over 1.00 meter and 6.03 g/t gold over 1.00 meter indicating that gold mineralization extends laterally Quentin Yarie, President and CEO of Red Pine Exploration commented: The new results from this systematic drill program of the Wawa Gold Corridor (planned for the revised resource) confirms the presence of near-surface and significant gold mineralization west of the Jubilee Shear and lies very close to the 2019 resource of the Surluga Deposit. Mineralization is open in all directions, and we now have additional evidence that high-grade gold zones can be present in the Intrusion Related Gold System. Table 1 Highlights from drilling in the Wawa Gold Corridor (Figure 1) Hole From (m) To Length (m)* Visible Gold Gold (g/t) Zone (m) JS-22-375 88.71 89.90 1.19 1.47 Jubilee Shear South of PH fault 184.03 185.41 1.38 1.27 Jubilee Shear South of PH fault SD-23-420 79.58 86.46 6.88 0.95 New Zone East of Jubilee Shear Including 81.00 82.88 1.88 2.40 370.63 376.54 5.91 0.48 Jubilee Shear 383.3 385.68 2.38 1.03 SD-23-421 84.9 93.44 8.54 0.58 New Zone East of Jubilee Shear SD-23-423 60.27 61.16 0.89 VG 0.53 Sadowski Vein Network SD-23-424 57.49 58.49 1.00 VG 6.86 Sadowski Vein Network 71.36 72.36 1.00 VG 6.03 SD-23-432 37.96 42.21 4.25 0.67 Core Shack Vein Network 63.00 66.00 3.00 VG 1.42 Core Shack Vein Network 377.57 380.06 2.49 1.57 Jubilee Vein Network SD-23-433 11.95 39.62 27.67 1.57 New zone of IRGS/Orogenic overprint Including 17.00 18.07 1.07 11.00 21.45 23.69 2.24 8.71 190.88 206.14 15.26 0.54 IRGS 239.34 265.64 26.30 1.57 Including 264.4 265.64 1.24 25.74 SD-23-434 15.00 26.67 11.67 6.15 New zone of IRGS/Orogenic overprint Including 17.00 18.20 1.20 14.90 19.31 22.93 3.62 13.30 114.11 125.69 11.58 0.85 IRGS 195.00 199.60 4.60 0.90 213.00 215.17 2.17 1.51 Assay results presented over core length. True width for the intersections varies between 50 to 95% depending on the intersected geological structure. Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") Measures Drill core samples were transported in security sealed bags for analyses to Actlabs in Ancaster, Ontario. Individual samples were labelled, placed in plastic sample bags and sealed. Groups of samples were then placed into durable rice bags and shipped. The residual coarse reject portions of the samples remain in storage if further work or verification is needed. Red Pine has implemented a quality-control program to comply with best practices in the sampling and analysis of drill core. As part of its QA/QC program, Red Pine inserts external gold standards (low to high grade) and blanks every 20 samples in addition to random standards, blanks, and duplicates. Qualified Person Quentin Yarie, P.Geo. and Chief Executive Officer of Red Pine and the Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the news releases technical information. About Red Pine Exploration Inc. Red Pine Exploration Inc. is a gold exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Company's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "RPX" and on the OTCQB Markets under the symbol RDEXF. The Wawa Gold Project is in the Michipicoten Greenstone Belt of Ontario, a region that has seen major investment by several producers in the last five years. Its land package hosts numerous historic gold mines and is over 7,030 hectares in size. Led by Quentin Yarie, CEO, who has over 25 years of experience in mineral exploration, Red Pine is strengthening its position as a major mineral exploration and development player in the Michipicoten region. For more information about the Company, visit www.redpineexp.com. Or contact: Quentin Yarie, President and CEO, (416) 364-7024, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Or Carrie Howes, Director Corporate Communications, (416) 644-7375, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 1 National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Wawa Gold Project, Brian Thomas P.Geo. Golder Associates Ltd, report effective June, 21, 2023. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains statements which constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words may, would, could, should, will, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect or similar expressions. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes but may not be limited to: the potential for a hybrid pit and underground project. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect managements expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Such opinions, assumptions and estimates are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the Company's expectations in connection with the projects and exploration programs being met, the impact of general business and economic conditions, global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future conditions, fluctuating gold prices, currency exchange rates (such as the Canadian dollar versus the United States Dollar), variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in accounting policies, changes in the Company's mineral reserves and resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, changes in project development, construction, production and commissioning time frames, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, higher prices for fuel, power, labour and other consumables contributing to higher costs and general risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, unexpected changes in mine life, seasonality and weather, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims, and limitations on insurance. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in filings made by the Company, including the Companys annual information form, financial statements and related MD&A for the year ended July 31, 2022, and the interim financial reports and related MD&A for the period ended April 30, 2023, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. Figure 1 - Plan Map of the Drilling Results Figure 2 - Plan Map of the IGRS in the Footwall of the Surluga Deposit Figure 3 - Cross Section of Holes in the IGRS A Libyan court has sentenced to prison 37 people convicted of human trafficking over migrant deaths in the Mediterranean, authorities said on Monday. The North African country is a key departure point for migrants, with many risking the perilous sea journey seeking a better life in Europe. The appeals court in Al-Bayda, some 800 kilometres (500 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, pronounced the verdict against a "criminal gang" whose members organised for migrants to travel on a "dilapidated boat, resulting in the death of 11 of them", according to statement from the prosecution. The prosecutor's office, which did not specify the identities or nationalities of the convicted traffickers, said five of them were sentenced to life in jail and nine others to 15 years. The rest received a one-year prison term, it said. War-torn Libya is a key launchpad for migrants who are often fleeing conflict and poverty in sub-Saharan African countries. They aim to reach Italian shores just 290 kilometres (180 miles) to the north across the Mediterranean, in the world's deadliest migratory sea route. Libya was plunged into years of chaos after a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed strongman Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, helping to turn the country into a fertile ground for human trafficking. It is regularly criticised for its handling of migrants, with rights groups alleging horrific treatment by smuggling gangs and inside state-run detention centres. In a March report, a United Nations fact-finding mission on human rights in Libya found that some migrants trapped there had been subject to sexual slavery -- a crime against humanity. In October 2021, the United States and the United Nations imposed sanctions on a Libyan, Osama Al Kuni Ibrahim, accused of abusing African migrants at a detention centre in Libya. Russian shelling on an aid hub in the town of Orikhiv in southern Ukraine has killed seven people, the emergency services said on Monday. Regional governor Yuriy Malashko called it a "war crime". "They hit a humanitarian aid delivery spot in a residential area," Malashko said on social media. "Four people died on the spot: women aged 43, 45 and 47 and a 47-year-old man." The death toll has since increased, emergency services said. "Rescuers removed the bodies of three people with no signs of life from under the rubble. The number of dead has risen to seven", Ukraine's emergency services wrote on Telegram. Orikhiv, with a pre-war population of around 14,000 people, is in the frontline southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, which Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed to have annexed last year despite not having full military control over it. Ukraine's prosecutor general said in a statement the strike had occurred a day earlier at 1:20 pm local time (1020 GMT), and that 13 people were injured, in addition to those killed. It released images showing a red-brick two-storey building partially collapsed and surrounded by debris and snapped roof beams. Orikhiv is near the front line where Ukrainian soldiers last month were pushing to recapture heavily fortified positions from Russian forces. JUSTICE INFO: What is the size of the War Crimes Department at Ukraines Office of the Prosecutor General today? YURIY BELOUSOV: In total, we have 200 war crimes prosecutors working in the country. We have 100 persons working on war crimes at the Office of the Prosecutor General, including 82 prosecutors, and we have 120 prosecutors working on war crimes in the regions. In addition, a lot of investigations are done by other prosecutors because the scale of the crimes is so big that war crimes prosecutors alone cant do the job. But we supervise all these investigations. As of today, we have 92,000 war crimes registered since [Russias] open invasion on February 24 last year. To collect evidence, we work with security services and with national police; they also have war crimes investigators who work as a team with war crimes prosecutors. Its difficult to say because its changing, but 500 people may be working on war crimes full time. We have some departments like the juvenile department at the Office of the Prosecutor General that investigates specific war crimes committed against children, or the ecological prosecution office that investigates crimes that do harm to the environment. They have around 20 or 30 prosecutors. Then we have several teams working on major crimes at the central office: one team is, for instance, on genocide, another on the crime of aggression or the attack on the Kakhovka dam [on June 6, the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine was destroyed by an explosion causing huge environmental damage and dozens of deaths]. These are the main ones, who work on more than 90% of our cases. Our main task at the central office is to coordinate the whole system of war crimes investigations in the country. We designed a strategy to prosecute international crimes in Ukraine for the next three years. In maximum two or three weeks it will come into force. In your view, have you succeeded in bringing enough cases to trial up to now? Let me first say that two years ago in Ukraine we didnt have a war crimes investigative system at all [the War Crimes Department was initially created in 2019, focusing on Donbass and Crimea, then reorganised and strengthened after February 24, 2022]. We were investigating totally different types of crimes before the war. So our task was first to establish this system. We have established specialized teams at the Office of the Prosecutor General and in nine regions, and the national police and the security services also have. We have designed standards that we share with our colleagues, for everyone to be on the same page. Now we are working on a unified database that would put together the huge load of information on war crimes that we have accumulated. We are trying to introduce new IT solutions Microsoft for example or other companies have helped us with instruments to analyse the data. We established good cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and with other countries. We now have 24 countries that have started their own investigations on war crimes in Ukraine. We give them evidence, we share information. We also have conducted a lot of training on international humanitarian law for our prosecutors and for our investigators. And then, we designed a strategy to prosecute international crimes in Ukraine for the next three years. I believe that in maximum two or three weeks it will come into force. The strategy has very clear goals on what should be done in Ukraine. We definitely should do our best not to give any war criminal a chance to avoid punishment. Even if it takes years. We have a systematic approach. We established active collaboration with NGOs and with our international partners, to share information with each other, not to duplicate. For example, if we know that one country started their own case, we are trying to help them with as much information as possible. We cooperate with the ICC on a daily basis: if we see they are interested in a particular case, we try to do our best to help them collect proper evidence, to speed up the prosecution. From the selection of the case [against Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova] to the arrest warrants [released last March] it took the ICC only five months. This never happened in history; it usually takes years for the ICC to reach such a result. What is your policy if the ICC or Germany, for instance, wants a case - how do you decide? Every country is independent. If Germany or Italy start their own investigation, they are independent to select whom to prosecute, which evidence to select. But at the same time, we just tell them: tell us which case and who you are interested in, we will give you all the evidence we have, and we will stop our own investigation against the same criminal. Because a double prosecution would be a violation of [the accuseds] rights. 99% of the cases will be investigated in Ukraine, we understand that. This is our job. We coordinate through the platform of Eurojust. Its a special entity in the European Union that represents prosecutors offices. We have already conducted several meetings with countries that have started their own investigation. The last one was in December last year, where I participated with the prosecutor general. With the ICC there is no specific rule, but if the ICC decided to prosecute someone, we would definitely stop our procedure. Thats how we are trying to make war crimes prosecutions in Ukraine effective globally. This is our strategy. Ukraine is one side of the conflict and our decisions, our verdicts, would always be criticized. We want other jurisdictions to prosecute. Is this strategy driven by the fact that you have limited resources, or by other principles? Resources are important, but this strategy is also important for legitimacy. Because Ukraine is one side of the conflict and our decisions, our verdicts, would always be criticized that we are not objective, that we are part of the conflict we understand these potential criticisms. Thats why we want other jurisdictions to prosecute. Everybody remembers the case of the MH17 Boeing [in 2014, a Malaysia Airlines aircraft was shot down over Ukraines Donbas region, killing all 298 civilians on board]; it was a case that was prosecuted by a national court in The Netherlands, but its verdict [in November 2022, a Dutch tribunal found three Russians and one separatist Ukrainian guilty of shooting down the plane] was resonant for the whole world. Ukraine helped The Netherlands as much as possible to collect evidence. Limited resources is one of the reasons, but the legitimacy and political global importance is important for us. So its also a political perspective: the more countries start their own prosecutions, the more the whole word would see that its not just a matter of Ukraine. Its not just Ukraine which is blaming Russia. International crimes is not just a word; it means that they are so severe that it matters to the whole world and the world should react. Prisoners of war are less than 10% of all of our prosecutions. The rest are in-absentia investigations. If we consider trials in the presence of the accused, we have seen limits in terms of their number and level of responsibility. Is this connected to another priority, i.e exchanging prisoners of war? No, no, no, it is important to mention that we try to prosecute different levels of potential Russian war criminals. We have a big case on the crime of aggression, with already more than 170 suspects, top leaders of the Russian Federation, members of parliament, top chiefs of the Ministry of Defence, heads of intelligence, and others. We already have verdicts from our courts against several members of the parliament who made the decision to initiate the war against Ukraine or to make part of Ukraine part of the Russian territory. The crime of aggression is a separated and big investigation and we are working on that [see chart in PDF below]. Without waiting for an international tribunal to be set up, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General has so far issued 312 indictments against political and media figures and senior members of the Russian security apparatus. To date, twenty Russian MPs have been tried in absentia and convicted in this major case for Ukraine. We mostly have soldiers and lower officers in our hands, because they are the ones we could physically capture. Generals, members of parliament and the Minister of Defence [of Russia] are not in Ukraine. We have thousands of prisoners of war, but we dont prosecute each of them, we have a screening procedure. If we see that a particular prisoner of war is involved in a war crime, then we start prosecution against him. If not, he is kept in a camp for prisoners of war which Ukraine has established according to the Geneva Conventions, and then exchanged against our own prisoners of war. Thats why in our indictments, prisoners of war are less than 10% of all of our prosecutions. The rest are in absentia investigations that we conduct without the suspects in our hands. But we believe that this is just a matter of time. Why? Because justice could wait. Ukraines legislation allows us to have a sentence in absentia. It already helps us to limit the movements of this person. She or he already cant leave Russia because he/she would be arrested, or it helps to find his or her assets abroad and to seize these assets. Thats why we use in absentia cases. It would definitely be better if these people were physically in court, but in the course of an armed conflict its not always possible. If we see that we have suspicion that a person has committed war crimes, the Office of the Prosecutor General can prevent it from benefiting from a prisoner exchange. Regarding the exchange of prisoners, do you have a word to say as a prosecutor? Yes, sure, and I was leading the group which was set up to design legislation [on prisoner exchange] since the very beginning of the open invasion. We are not the ones who make exchange but we are the ones who check everyone who is claimed for exchange. If we see that we have suspicion that a person has committed war crimes, the Office of the Prosecutor General can ban the exchange. Our task is also to prevent exchange of war criminals, and we have a list of people we prohibit for exchange. Can we have an idea of the number of cases that might be brought to court in the next months? Its difficult to say how many. In Ukraines legislation, we should notify the person with a notice of suspicion, then we send the indictment to the court, then the court issues a warrant. [see chart below]. The status of war crimes prosecutions in Ukraine as of July 1, 2023. Out of a total of 22 "notices of suspicion" issued against prisoners of war (signifying the opening of an investigation), the Prosecutor General has issued 18 indictments and 15 of these defendants, who were physically present at their trial, have been convicted to date. The attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam had an enormous impact. Do you think this is a case that should stay in Ukraine or go to the ICC? At the moment, its difficult to say. We are definitely ready to prosecute. But at the same time, the ICC is also interested in this case. Thats why we will definitely be in negotiations with the ICC. I think they would be interested in top commanders. Our task is to prosecute everyone who is involved. Thats why if the ICC should be interested in a particular person we would not take him to our courts. I think this case would be, lets say, cut in pieces. We see the ICC as our partner. Their task is to prosecute top leaders of the Russian Federation. But 99% will definitely be prosecuted by us. How do you think Ukrainians see the fact of prosecuting war crimes in times of war, what does it mean to them? You know, everyone is looking for justice, but our task is to show that we are not wasting time and that we are doing our best to collect evidence wherever we can and prosecute all who are involved. Its also important that our Office of the Prosecutor General is changing our approach. Now it has established a special coordination centre for victims and witnesses of war crimes. Its an absolutely new approach and this centre is to support victims, cooperate with other agencies, and provide legal, psychological, and social care for victims. Our militaries are fighting, they have their own front, they have their own battle. But we, as prosecutors and investigators, have our own battle. Its a legal battle. And we cant lose this battle. Our task is to collect evidence and do it in the best possible way, in accordance with international standards, not give any chance to any Russian criminal or whoever is committing a war crime in Ukraine to get away with punishment. Thats our front. We are trying to persuade the society that we are doing our best to win this particular legal battle. At the moment, we already have an effective system, we have well trained people, we have perfect cooperation with our international partners. They help us to get the information in the fastest way, to share this information, and I am very proud that in the past year our team managed to significantly increase the quality of these war crimes investigations. At the same time, we are trying to persuade our citizens that it could take time. Justice doesnt come the next day. When you look at the Nazis in the Second World War, the whole world was looking to get them 50 or 60 years later. We see the ICC as our partner, we trust that they are doing their job, which is to collect everything in the most objective way. Our task is to help them. Their task is to prosecute top leaders of the Russian Federation. The rest will be prosecuted by us or by other countries. 99% will definitely be prosecuted by us. Recommended reading Map of war crimes trials in Ukraine Aside from the romance between Lee Junho and YoonA, "King the Land" made the audience roll on the floor laughing after these two high-rated K-dramas made their special mention in the rom-com series. Can you guess which K-dramas these are? K-Drama Crossover: 'The Red Sleeve,' 'Squid Game' Make Special Appearance in 'King the Land' In "King the Land" episodes 7 & 8, the drama gave delight to viewers as it offered a variety of fun and interesting shout-outs. What surprised the audience were the scenes referring to two of the high-rated K-dramas in 2021 - "The Red Sleeve" and "Squid Game"! Gu Won (Lee Junho) invited the Arab Prince (Anupam Tripathi) to The King Hotel as it will play a big role in the sales of their business. It was revealed that the prince was his former classmate in the business school, and the chaebol heir was able to change his mind to stay in King the Land. However, they engaged in a jealousy war and tried to fight for Cheon Sa Rang's (YoonA) heart. The prince decided to visit a palace that was famous to tourists in Korea. While they toured the place, he tasked Gu Won to buy them coffee. Though he was annoyed, the chaebol heir followed the order. First Yi San from The Red Sleeve and now Poong from Wok of Love? The Junho Multiverse of Madness #KingTheLandEp7 #KingTheLand #LeeJunho pic.twitter.com/IyMGDbDaI2 anne ktl rt bot (@httpgttk) July 8, 2023 Before he left, Gu Won looked at the palace and said: "This place seems oddly familiar." He was referring to none other than his previous role as King Yi San, in "The Red Sleeve"! Gu Won even walked out full of authority like a king. Someone from the production asked if they were really gonna go through with the trs reference and the director said theyll make it work as they have a multiverse Please theyre so unserious with the King The Red Sleeve logo at the corner#LeeJunho # #KingTheLand # pic.twitter.com/sbHxRgYHFG Ines || CHEONWON KISSED (@inesyawyawyaw) July 10, 2023 Breakout star Anupam Tripathi, who appeared in the record-breaking series "Squid Game," made a special appearance in "King the Land" where he played the role of the Arab Prince. As he wanted to do the fake wedding ceremony at the palace, Gu Won gave him a hand in choosing what to wear. Unexpectedly, the famous tracksuit Anupam wore in "Squid Game" appeared in the closet, with player number 199 on the green jacket. the #SquidGame reference! HAHAHAHA specifically player 199 Ali Abdul played by actor Anupam Tripathi#KingTheLand#KingTheLandEp8 pic.twitter.com/SMzd8VZgWP daisy han (@kdramadaisy) July 9, 2023 'King the Land' Maintains Double-Digit Viewership Ratings "King the Land" once again broke its own record before officially entering the second half of the series. According to Nielsen Korea, Lee Junho and YoonA's drama continues to score double-digits in viewership ratings. With "King the Land" episode 7, the series garnered 10.6 percent, and it exceeded 12.3 percent in episode 8. Many are looking forward to the upcoming episodes of the rom-com series as the main protagonists, Gu Won and Cheon Sa Rang, already sealed their first kiss, spoiling more of their romance in the second half of "King the Land." Catch "King the Land's" latest episodes every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 p.m. (KST) on JTBC and Netflix. What can you say about "King the Land's" latest episodes? 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. Park Bo Gum is set to make his musical debut through the upcoming show "Let Me Fly." After headlining hit K-dramas "Reply 1988," "Love in the Moonlight," and more, the South Korean hearthrob will surely capture the hearts of fans with his musical debut. Park Bo Gum to Make Musical Debut With 'Let Me Fly' The upcoming musical "Let Me Fly" has introduced its much-anticipated cast lineup. Among them is Park Bo Gum, who will venture into the world of theater and music. With his 12-year career as an actor, "Let Me Fly" is his first-ever appearance on stage. Scheduled to premiere on September 26 in Seoul, the musical has been nominated for various recognitions. It includes the 7th Korean Musical Awards ceremony, where "Let Me Fly" earned six nods, including Grand Prize, Best Project, Best Composition, Best Original Screenplay, Best Arrangement, Music Director, and Best Rookie Male Artist. With Park Bo Gum's participation, fans are thrilled to see him on stage. To recall, shortly after the actor was officially welcomed by his new agency THEBLACKLABEL in January 2023, rumors sparked that he would be transitioning into music. This was after he was discharged from the military. Back then, the agency shared that they plan to "maximize" the label's "strengths and know-how so that he can deepen his charms in many different fields, including as an actor." Due to this, the public speculates that he will also have a music career since THEBLACKLABEL is also known for its music foundation and for managing K-pop stars like BIGBANG's Taeyang, Zion.T, Jeon Somi, and more. On the other hand, Park Bo Gum is not new in the world of music since he also lent his voice to drama OSTs, had remake tracks, and joining as navy military band during his military service. Park Bo Gum Drama: Actor Stars With IU in 'You Have Done Well' Apart from his his soon-to-premiere musical, Park Bo Gum is currently working on his K-drama comeback. After the hit series "Record of Youth," Bogummy will return to the small screen with a highly-anticipated team-up for the K-drama "You Have Done Well." He is paired alongside IU, who portrays his childhood friend, while award-winning stars Moon So Ri and Park Hae Joon will play as their older versions. Set to premiere sometime in 2025, "You Have Done Well" is penned by Im Sang Choon of "Fight for My Way" and "When the Camellia Blooms, and helmed by "Misaeng (Incomplete Life)," "Signal," and "My Mister" director Kim Won Seok. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Park Bo Gum's Unexpected Reaction To Song Hye Kyo's Baeksang Arts Awards 2023 Speech Sparks Interest For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills In his recent interview, Lee Junho gets honest about his experience portraying his new character Gu Won, and what it was like working with "King the Land" co-star YoonA for the first time on screen. Curious about what the K-heartthrob said? Then read on! Lee Junho Shares Hardest Part of Portraying Gu Won in 'King the Land' On July 6, actor and 2PM's main vocalist Lee Junho made his first appearance in JTBC's "Newsroom," where he talked about his ongoing K-drama "King the Land." Lee Junho stated that he was nervous about appearing on a news broadcast for the first time. As the interview continued, the idol-actor discussed his role as Gu Won, a chaebol heir with a cold aura and gradually melts down as he opens his heart to love. Even though he is known for his professionalism at work by the public, Lee Junho shared the hardest part of playing his new character. "I would say, holding my laughter was the most difficult part. When I was playing Gu Won, who despises smiling, I had to put on my full fierce-looking face. But I couldn't help and burst out laughing every time I got a cut since everyone on the set was joyful and hilarious." He added that they were laughing the entire time when filming the project. Did YoonA Captivate Lee Junho's Heart With Her Beautiful Smile? Lee Junho and YoonA have known each other for a decade since they are both members of second-generation K-pop groups. They had been working in the music industry for so long and developed a certain bond as colleagues. When talking about working with the SNSD member, the lead actor said that he had been wondering what it would be like to co-star with YoonA. "When I finally got to act with her in 'King the Land,' our pre-existing closeness really helped. It was our first time meeting as actors, so we got to experience each other's new professional side." It is no doubt that YoonA and Lee Junho's on-screen romance was convincing that it even ignited dating rumors between the two. The "Good Manager" star was asked if he has the thought of falling in love with a woman like Cheon Sa Rang. "When I'm filming, it is hard not to be immersed in the part. To Gu Won, her smile is another key that unlocks my heart. Yoona has an attractive smile in real life. I believe our characters' dynamics were well portrayed in the series." IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: YoonA & Lee Junho Make 'King the Land' Fans Swoon With Their New Couple Photos What can you say about the news? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. Kim Ok Vin surprised many with her bikini photo taken during her vacation abroad. The actress also shared snippets of her spontaneous trip. Kim Ok Vin's Photos in Bali Garner Attention On July 11, Kim Ok Vin shared a photo of her on Instagram story, flaunting her slim figure in a two-piece bikini. The 36-year-old beauty immediately stole attention with her unexpected update. It has been said that the "Love to Hate You" actress is spending her vacation in Bali before she makes a comeback on primetime. She also dropped snippets of her spontaneous trip where she's seen riding a motorcycle while on her way to surf. Kim Ok Vin also confidently showed off her tattoos and tanned skin. Her sunkissed complexion also received compliments from her fans. "You look pretty!" "Kim Ok Vin looks good with tanned skin. She looks hotter" "Natural beauty!" "Looking great as always" Kim Ok Vin Makes Successful Rom-Com Drama Debut With 'Love to Hate You' After she finished the mystery series "Dark Hole" in 2021, where she played the character of a detective, Kim Ok Vin made a hiatus for almost two years. She shocked the public when it was announced that she would headline the 2023 Netflix rom-com series "Love to Hate You." Most of her projects focused on mystery, action, and thriller, and since she hadn't done any rom-com yet, people were impressed seeing her in a different genre as she portrayed Yeo Mi Ran in the Netflix drama. "Love to Hate You" brought fun and romance to viewers. Adding to its fun-filled story was her undeniable chemistry with "Vagabond" actor Yoo Teo. Both actors exhibited strong charisma and powerful acting in their first project together. Kim Ok Vin to Reprise Role in 'Arthdal Chronicles' Season 2 Meanwhile, Kim Ok Vin is ready to meet the viewers again in the second half of 2023 as she will reprise her role as Taeilha, alongside Jang Dong Gun, in the second installment of the fantasy series "Arthdal Chronicles." Joining season 2 are the new cast members Lee Joon Gi and Shin Se Kyung. It was also rumored that Kim Ji Won might have a special appearance in the upcoming season. "Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramoon" is in discussion to be released sometime in September on tvN. You can follow the actress on Instagram, @KIMOKVIN. What can you say about Kim Ok Vin's latest Instagram post? Share your 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. The real cause of Americas opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame 1K Shares Share Weve all heard about Americas so-called opioid epidemic. Nearly 100,000 people died in 2021 of causes that included overdose by one or more narcotic drugs and often alcohol. We also hear assertions from anti-opioid advocates that this epidemic was caused by doctors over-prescribing opioid pain relievers to their patients. These assertions are fundamentally wrong on fact. U.S. national health care policy and law redirections are needed to correct such distortions. Doctors prescribing to their patients did not create the U.S. opioid crisis. Undeniably, America is undergoing a public health crisis in rising rates of drug addiction and tens of thousands of yearly drug-overdose-involved deaths. However, it is equally undeniable that doctors did not cause this crisis by over-prescribing opioid pain relievers to their patients. Illegal street drugs instead drive our crisis, primarily fentanyl imported from Mexico and China. As Dr. Nora Volkow (director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse) and Thomas A McMillan noted as early as 2016, addiction is not a predictable result of opioid prescribing. Addiction occurs in only a small percentage of persons exposed to opioids even among those with pre-existing vulnerabilities. Our real crisis is instead driven by the socio-economic determinants of health; it is one of hopelessness rooted in 50 years of wage stagnation, ever-increasing wealth inequality, under-investment in national economic infrastructure, and the hollowing-out of the rust belt, rural and inner-city communities by structural poverty, leading to the collapse of family support systems. Vulnerability to addiction is created by the circumstances in which people live, not by medical exposure. These realities are vastly misunderstood by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Veterans Administration, and law enforcement agencies, particularly the Drug Enforcement Agency. Despite repeated false claims of an association between prescribing and opioid deaths, data published by the CDC itself directly contradict such conclusions. For millions of Americans, long-term opioid therapies are the only treatments that make severe pain manageable and preserve limited quality of life. However, U.S. public health policy is killing patients in wholesale lots by forcing doctors out of pain medicine and patients into street markets or suicide. When it is understood that doctors are not now and likely never were the primary source of Americas opioid crisis, much of current public policy on addiction, overdose deaths, and harm reduction is revealed to be either profoundly misdirected or outright fraudulent nonsense. What must be done today? Americas opioid crisis is multi-dimensional. So also must be needed redirections of health care policy. Some of these redirections will likely require new laws. Corrections at the federal level 1. Immediate public withdrawal and repudiation of the fatally flawed and actively dangerous 2016 and 2022 revised CDC guidelines on the prescription of opioids, with notification of State Medical Boards and Departments of Health that these guidelines should no longer be used as references in State health care regulatory documents. 2. Immediate public repudiation of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense May 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Use of Opioids in the Management of Chronic Pain and the related Opioid Safety Initiative. Both documents suffer from the same cherry-picking and misrepresentation of research that is deeply evident in the CDC guidelines. 3. Amendment of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 to halt pre-trial asset confiscations directed against clinicians; coercing clinician staff with threats of prosecution if they do not testify against clinicians must also cease. 4. An immediate stand-down order to the Drug Enforcement Agency is needed, halting prosecutions of clinicians until the publication of definitive standards for judge and jury instruction under the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Ruan v. the United States. Such standards must be accompanied by a related standard for qualification of expert witness testimony submitted against clinician defendants. 5. Given the current artificial shortage of critical anesthetic and analgesic medications caused by the DEA, the authority of that Agency to set production quotas on scheduled medications must be rescinded. At the state level 6. All states should replace laws that limit patient access to opioid medications under medical supervision or create sanctions against clinicians who prescribe opioid analgesics within their own best understanding of patient needs. Models for policy redirection are offered in recent legislation passed in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Minnesota. Replacement of CDC and VA practice guidelines 7. The FDA or National Academies of Medicine should convene a one-year consensus conference on clinical practice standards for treating acute and chronic pain, supported by clinical specialty academies and Boards. Conference participants should have hands-on professional experience in hospital and community medical practice for pain management. Voting participants should also include chronic pain patients or their advocates. An interim draft should be published via the Federal Register for public comment. Actions in response to every comment must be tracked and reported. The 2018-2019 Department of Health and Human Services Inter-Agency Task Force on Best Practices in Pain Management offers a model for processes to ensure public transparency and scientific accuracy. A plea for help and a demand for change Millions of U.S. citizens now live every day in a nation in pain. Much of their pain is now caused by misdirected public health policy and outright fraudulent misrepresentation of the risks and benefits of prescription opioid medications. Even officials who have inherited this debacle must surely acknowledge that if they arent part of the solutions, they are part of the problem. The message to government decision-makers is clear: We will no longer be silent. We demand your immediate actions on our behalf. Richard A. Lawhern is a patient advocate. Our reaction to COVID-19 brought us a very sudden socially distanced, remote-working, touchless economy, in which the majority of our daily interactions needed to be remote interactions. Some industries adapted easily (think tax preparation), and some, like health care where personal contact is often mandatory, struggled to find solutions. However, health care IT departments adjusted quickly and deployed a truly impressive array of low and no-contact services. The solutions ranged from Zoom-call appointments with patients to accelerating the deployment of take-home medical monitoring and testing devices that connect remotely to upload their data. Today, even though society has started to open up again, not everything is going back to the way it was. For example, patients like not having to schedule an appointment at a clinic to have tests and measurements taken. As it turns out, they really like the take-home devices. Clinicians like getting results from the patients home environment as well. Results are both more plentiful and more contextually accurate. However, the demands that new services like these place on our server-side infrastructure are immense, and those demands arent going anywhere. This is the new normal. IT heroics came at a cost Many IT departments that deployed new solutions quickly did so without the chance to make foundational investments in their infrastructure first. Remote monitoring services were often built on top of the same server stack that had done little more than billing and scheduling in 2019. The intentions were noble: getting these new social-distancing services up and running as soon as possible could save lives. There would be plenty of time to fix infrastructure when things went back to normal. Except back to normal didnt mean what they thought it would mean, and the technical debt they had incurred when skipping the infrastructure investment wasnt going to get paid anytime soon. What does this technical debt look like? Now that were beyond COVID lockdowns, we still have IT departments with monolithic server-side applications that support scheduling and billing, and now also support remote access, mobile apps, video appointments, all while trying to accommodate patient demands for mobile apps and updated UI, and the governments demand that all the data be kept HIPAA information privacy compliant. Oh, and they also have to make sure this tower of babel doesnt fall over twice a day. Maintaining this is a tall order that non-IT folks rarely appreciate. IT managers need to dedicate more staff to the maintenance and support of this stack than they had approved in their budgets, which reduces the staff they have on hand to re-architect those hastily deployed solutions. And as for implementing new initiatives? Only if youre OK building those new services on top of the technical debt youve already incurred. Where does that leave us post-COVID? I havent spoken to one IT manager or CIO who would have chosen to build out the functionality the way they did if they had been given appropriate time and budget. The trade-offs they were required to make to address COVID have resulted in a server-side stack that is now much more fragile than it was just five years ago. Today, adding new functionality and new services to that stack often risks taking down the whole stack. And its not cheap to scale that old stack either. While you can usually add new virtual machines (VMs) in the cloud running copies of your server-side software, the costs add up quickly and you havent solved any of your foundational issues. You could say our server-side health is immuno-compromised. It wouldnt take much to send many IT departments into critical care mode. Moving forward We will need some injections to get our server-side stack healthy again. Capital injections. It is likely that institutions that have incurred this kind of technical debt will need to invest in one of the following two solutions: First, do no (additional) harm: The first solution focuses on containing the existing stack without making it worse when new services are required. New features will be added as simple Does-one-thing applications called microservices that are deployed in stand-alone virtual machines or in self-sufficient environments called containers. These containers have everything needed to run the microservice. If, for some reason, the microservice fails, it only takes down its container. Other microservices in their containers are not affected, nor is the legacy server stack. This kind of architecture, where many smaller services run in their own self-contained environment, is very change-tolerant and much easier to troubleshoot and cheaper to scale than having one huge monolithic stack of services all running together on one platform. But getting to the point where you can deploy microservices will take some preparation work. To prepare your server-side architecture for microservices in containers, you will need to give these new services a way to access your data. While each new service could access the data directly in the database, that can create a great number of problems down the road. Access to your data is more typically granted by going into the legacy server stack and granting access to the data that new services can use in the future. (Youll hear these access points referred to as APIs, and the place where they live is called the data access layer). With these access points in place, new services can interact with your existing data. If you dont have a data access layer or business logic layer where you can add API access, a new data access layer and/or business logic layer may need to be created so that new services can be added without having to add them to the monolithic legacy stack. While this approach of leaving the legacy stack alone and deploying only new services as microservices doesnt pay down any technical debt, it does prevent future borrowing. Untie the knot: The second type of solution unties some or all of the legacy stack, converting parts of it into a microservice model. This is a good choice if you have stability or performance issues in your legacy stack that are causing you trouble on a regular basis. This approach focuses on paying down the technical debt as well as reducing the cost of future deployments. By taking an existing service (say, remote monitoring devices) out of your legacy stack and rebuilding that service in a microservice container-based architecture, you can lower the burden on the hardware, the server stack, and reduce the risk to the other services that share the legacy stack. Typically, the IT department will have a very good idea of which services put the most load on the legacy stack and can easily prioritize which services to re-architect to get to a sustainable legacy stack. In this engagement, as in the last, youll want to have access to a data layer that can live in its own VM or container and manage access for all current and future services. This approach pays the technical debt that is currently hurting you and draining resources while making future deployments much easier, cheaper, and safer. Are we immune yet? There is no such thing as immunity from change in IT, but change can be made less dramatic. Adding new services in a change-tolerant server-side architecture, as opposed to a less resilient architecture, can be like having an operation done as an outpatient procedure instead of a more invasive procedure requiring days in the hospital. Just as in surgery, the fewer systems you have to disturb, the faster the procedure can be, and the lower the risk of complications. What of our post-COVID legacy in IT? We know COVID or something very much like it will happen again. And along with medical science, IT science will again need to respond quickly and with agility. The next time, though, IT will have change-tolerant microservices and container-based architecture, which will help critical new services come online faster, with less disruption, at a lower cost than we incurred the last time around. So, if thats how COVID changes health care on the server-side, thats not such a bad outcome. Mike Hines is an evangelist, Resolute Software, Savannah, GA. He can be reached on Twitter @MikeFHines and Facebook. Mike comes to Resolute after four startups, 13 years in engineering at Microsoft, and ten years at Amazon. At Amazon, Mike helped launch the Amazon Appstore for Android apps. Mike has spoken at dozens of national and international conferences addressing both app development and user engagement. Mike has been granted five patents for his software, software/hardware integration, and augmented reality inventions. Mike wants to teach health care industry developers the best practices he has learned for creating responsive apps, engaging UI/UX, and fast-update, low-risk back-end architecture. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! In this podcast episode, we have Christian John Lillis, executive director of the Peggy Lillis Foundation for C. diff Education & Advocacy. Christian shares his experiences as a patient advocate and discusses the challenges he faces at medical conferences. He also highlights the discriminatory laws in certain states and calls for medical societies to boycott those that impede evidence-based care. Join us for this insightful conversation on patient advocacy and health care rights. Christian John Lillis is executive director, Peggy Lillis Foundation for C. diff Education & Advocacy. He discusses his KevinMD article, Conferences duty of care in the face of discriminatory health policy. The Podcast by KevinMD is brought to you by the Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience. With a growing physician shortage, increasing burnout, and declining patient satisfaction, a dramatic change is needed to make health care more efficient and effective and bring back the joy of practicing medicine. AI-driven ambient clinical intelligence promises to help by revolutionizing patient and provider experiences with clinical documentation that writes itself. The Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience, or DAX for short, is a voice-enabled, ambient clinical intelligence solution that automatically captures patient encounters securely and accurately at the point of care. Physicians who use DAX have reported a 50 percent decrease in documentation time and a 70 percent reduction in feelings of burnout, and 83 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational. Rediscover the joy of medicine with clinical documentation that writes itself, all within the EHR. VISIT SPONSOR https://nuance.com/daxinaction SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE https://earnc.me/RgzDUn Powered by CMEfy. Effective today, July 11, 2023, any duty that will be executed by the village chairpersons (LCIs and LCIls), whose term of office expired yesterday, will be illegal and void, legal experts have warned. The mentioned leaders were elected on July 10, 2018. The Electoral Commission says government through the Ministry of Finance released Shs36 billion of the requested Shs90 billion to facilitate the nationwide election exercise that has since been postponed. Patrick Kamara hosts Kampala Central Division Mayor, Mr Salim Uhuru Nsubuga and Mr. Patrick Turinawe from ENSafrica for a conversation on the postponed LC elections. Listen to the show below; BEIJING -- Chinese scientists have recently introduced a new method to reveal the nature of the first galaxies and dark matter in the early universe, according to a paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy. The 21-cm absorption lines (21-cm forest) are the system of narrow absorption lines appearing in the spectra of high redshift background sources due to the intervening neutral hydrogen atoms. Researchers from the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences delved into the previously little-discussed 21-cm forest probe and proposed an innovative statistical measurement scheme. They discovered that by using the one-dimensional power spectrum measurement of the 21-cm forest signal in the cosmic dawn era, the upcoming Square Kilometer Array radio telescope would be able to simultaneously reveal the properties of the universe's first galaxies and dark matter, according to the paper. The ground-breaking methods are of great significance for unraveling the mystery of dark matter and the formation of celestial bodies in the early universe and will further promote people's understanding of dark matter and shed light on the formation and evolution of the universe's structure, the researchers said. Uganda is today joining the rest of the continent to commemorate the African Anti-corruption Day themed, African Union Convention on preventing and combating corruption; 20 tears after: Achievements and prospects. The Day was designated by the Union on July 11, 2003, in recognition of the vast progress in the war against corruption on the African continent and the need to reflect on the approaches to end the vice. Speaking to KFM, Marlon Agaba, the communication manager at Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU) decries what he calls selective prosecution of government officials implicated in corruption. Citing the infamous Karamoja iron sheets scandal where only three out of several implicated officials are facing trial, Agaba is calling for more political will from the Executive along with synergies among agencies fighting the vice. A 2021 survey by the Inspectorate of Government indicated that Uganda loses Shs20 trillion annually to corruption. In May 2023, government started a midterm review exercise for the implementation of its National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) launched together with the Zero Tolerance to Corruption policy. The five-year plan was launched in 2019 to renew the war on corruption and will end in 2024. Anti-corruption activists will today recognise officials who have demonstrated exceptional levels of integrity during events to mark the African Anti-corruption Day. The initiative is spearheaded by Action Aid International Uganda and supported by Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda, Uganda Debt Network, and the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), among other civil society organizations. Action Aid International country director, Mr. Xavier Ejoyi says close to 100 nominees have been selected from 15 sub-counties across the country in a systematic and transparent manner. There are three categories of awards which include; Frontline service providers, management, and political obligation. The citizens are really interested in the fight against corruption, in naming and shaming the corrupt, but also in recognising those who are serving with integrity. This event is one of those moments where citizens again take their power in recognising men and women of integrity in public offices, Ejoyi told KFM. African Anti-corruption Day commemorative events are running under the theme; African Union Convention on preventing and combating corruption; 20 years after: Achievements and prospects. The Day was designated by the African Union on July 11, 2003, in recognition of the vast progress in the war against corruption on the African continent and the need to reflect on the approaches to end the vice. A section of Local Council chairpersons is asking the government to immediately provide guidance on how they can continue to serve the people. This follows the expiry of the term of office for LC I and II chairpersons who were elected on July 10, 2018. The Electoral Commission requested for over Shs90 billion to carry out these elections this month but the finance ministry provided only Shs36 billion which it said was enough for the exercise. Expiry of their tenure means they stop official work immediately but the LC I chairperson for Mulago One Parish in Kampala, Richard Ochan says that while they are aware of the legal implications, they are left with no option but to continue serving the community. He says it is difficult to turn away a resident who is seeking help from his office. In Fort Portal town, Wilsom Katabarwa Friday, the chairperson of Katumba LC I, Kjanju ward central ward, shares the same sentiments, saying until the elections are conducted, they cannot leave a vacuum. He has promised to continue handling cases brought to his attention, like one that he is yet to conclude at the Kabarole Central Police Station. However, Maria Mwesigye of Tufnell Village, Mulago 1 Parish is happy to leave the office she has held since 1996. She says her biggest frustration has been with the huge workload compared to the remuneration. Mwesigye laments over the paltry monthly stipend of Shs10,000 that is only paid after every 12 months. She says although she still has a pending case regarding sewerage lodged before Kawempe Division, she is happy to hand the mantle to someone else. Members of Parliament (MPs) have implored the government to table a supplementary budget request for funds to conduct elections for Local Councils I, II, and women councils. This follows the expiry of the term of office for LC I and II chairpersons who were elected on July 10, 2018. The electoral commission requested for over Shs90 billion to carry out the elections this month but the finance ministry provided only Shs36 billion which the commission says was not enough for the exercise. MPs have meanwhile posed several legal questions on what is going to happen after today. Cabinet yesterday reportedly discussed the highly contentious matter which has left the public in panic due to the would-be perceived illegal operations of the village chiefs. They are often involved in land transactions and settling domestic disputes as well as providing village documents like reference letters and stamps to residents. Baale County MP, Charles Tebandeke and Butambala district woman MP Aisha Kabanda are also concerned about what will befall the Parish Development Model in the absence of the councils yet they both sit on committees, which select beneficiaries of the programme and oversee its implementation. Government does not have an interest as of now in having local elections. It [government] does not consider local elections a priority, Kabanda said. Meanwhile, the chairperson of local government and public service committee of parliament, Martina Ojara Mapenduzi has summoned the minister of Local Government over the matter. Local Council One and Two operations will be illegal from today. This is after the terms of the LCI and II chairpersons expired yesterday. A section of constitutional lawyers says LCs will be operating illegally unless parliament comes up with an amendment to the Local Government Act 2010, to legalise their operations again. Cabinet yesterday reportedly discussed the highly contentious matter which has left the public in panic due to the would-be perceived illegal operations of the village chiefs. They are often involved in land transactions and settling domestic disputes as well as providing village documents like reference letters and stamps to residents. For instance, one cannot be given bail or open a bank account without an LC1 letter. Yesterday, the FDC urged the government to avail funds for LC elections saying these offices are very important. Makerere University will hold its 74th graduation ceremony from January 8 to 12, 2024 KFM has learnt. The week-long graduation ceremony will see at least 13,000 students graduate in various disciplines. The University Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe says the Senate will in October meet to consider the final graduation list. He says that the results and marks of various students are at the college level, but most colleges have already held academic board meetings to approve the results. This is the first time the institution is holding its graduation in January after the Covid-19 pandemic that disrupted the institutions academic calendar. Makerere held its 73rd graduation ceremony this year in February but Prof Nawangwe said that the institution is slated to go to normalcy next year in August. Meanwhile, the academic registrars communication indicated that the new academic year 2023/24, starts on August 19, 2023, with the freshers orientation. Teaching and learning are slated to commence on August 26 when the continuing students are also expected at the institution to kick-start their new academic year. The institution last month released the list of government-sponsored students and is yet to release the list for privately sponsored students who are all expected to start next month. The academic registrar, Prof Buyinza Mukadasi indicated that all beneficiaries of the government sponsorship are expected to start picking their admission letters from their respective colleges. Budget airline Ryanair has resigned from the UK Aviation Council and branded it as a talking shop which does not deliver benefits or reform for the sector or passengers. Ryanairs chief executive Michael OLeary accused the organisation, led by Baroness Vere, of being useless and ineffective on a range of issues in recent months. The council was set up to bring industry and Government together to help the UK retain its spot as one of the worlds strongest aviation sectors. The council held its first meeting in February 2023, its second in April was postponed and the third took place on Tuesday, Ryanair said. Ryanairs decision was described as disappointing by a Government spokesman. Plans are already in place to welcome a new airline representative at the next meeting as it is felt the councils remit is the planning and collaboration between UK Government and industry over the next 10 years and not to push one airlines agenda over others. Mr OLeary, who said the resignation is with immediate effect, added: If Baroness Vere wants to deliver change or improve UK aviation, then she should disband this useless council and work instead with the UKs major airlines to deliver real and effective change, which will enable us to improve capacity and lower air fares for UK citizens and visitors. Instead, Baroness Vere prefers to waste her time, and ours, holding a quarterly talking shop, at which she promises action, but delivers none. Mr OLeary said the Dublin-based carrier expects to grow its traffic in the UK in 2023 by 13% to 56 million passengers, and all of this is happening without any support or initiative from the UK Government or its useless Aviation Council. He stated: We joined the UK Aviation Council in February when Transport Minister Mark Harper assured us it would be used as a delivery body to improve the resilience of UK aviation. Sadly, this has proved to be an empty promise. There has been no action, no delivery, and no improvement in UK aviation, and the council has become a talking shop for Baroness Vere, government bureaucrats and the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) to waffle on about reform while delivering none. Improvements to National Air Traffic Services (NATS) staffing to reduce delays, the push for effective air space reform in Europe, better Border Control staffing and processing times and a cut to the UK visa costs are among the issues the budget airline has raised. A Government spokesman said: Ryanairs decision is disappointing. The Aviation Council was set up to bring the industry and Government together to address shared challenges facing the sector and ensure the UK aviation sector remains one of the strongest and successful in the world. Assurances have been made that UK Air Traffic Control staffing would be sufficient to operate effectively during the summer 2023 and Border Force staff are deployed based on advance traffic data from operators to ensure match availability is matched with demand. Visa fees are seen as playing a key role in ensuring that the borders and migration system is sustainably funded, reducing reliance on UK taxpayers. The parents of one of two Dublin school leavers who died on a Greek island holiday have paid tribute to their fabulous son at his funeral. Max Wall died on the island of Ios last weekend. The 18-year-old, who underwent major heart surgery three years ago, fell ill at the islands port as he was about to board a ferry. Hours earlier, the body of fellow pupil at St Michaels College in south Dublin, Andrew ODonnell, was found on a rocky hill on the island. Mr ODonnell, who was also 18, is believed to have fallen while walking back from a night out. The teenagers were among a large group of young people from St Michaels and other Dublin schools who travelled to the island to celebrate the end of their Leaving Certificate examinations. Mondays funeral service at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook in south Dublin was told Mr Wall was speaking on the phone to his father Niall shortly before he died. One second Max was living and the next he was not, it was as quick as that, Fr Paddy Moran told mourners. Max did not suffer. He was not afraid. He died listening to the voice of a father who loved him. There is consolation in that. Mr Walls father and mother Fiona both delivered tributes at the service. Today marks the end of an eight-day journey for us that with the most profound cruelty has not only taken Max from us but has robbed him of a bright future. And the sense of loss that we feel is so deep because of what he has lost, said his father. Today is a day to remember Max, of course to mourn his premature death, but also to mark his short but very full life. Max was full of life. He brightened the life of others. He was the best craic. He was full of fun. The best kind. He spoke of his sons ambitious nature, his generosity, independence and polite, kind and respectful demeanour. The most important thing about Max is that he simply was our fabulous son and we will love him forever, Mr Wall added. He also extended his condolences to Mr ODonnells parents Bebhinn and Gavin. We forged the closest of friendships through our joint journey through what has only been a nightmare over the last week, he said. Mr ODonnells funeral will be held in the same church on Wednesday. Mrs Wall read the poem Funeral Blues by W. H. Auden at Mondays service. She then delivered her own tribute to her son. Max, our darling boy, we love you forever. We miss you dreadfully. You were a force of nature and your memory will live on, she said. There was sustained applause from mourners after Mr Walls parents delivered their tributes. Earlier, his classmates took symbols to the front of the church to represent his life. They included a Manchester United shirt with his name on the back, a signed Leinster rugby jersey and a pool cue. A megaphone symbolising the passion with which he supported the teams he loved was also taken forward. The teenagers parents took religious symbols forward to signify their sons strong faith, while his brother Charlie delivered a reading. St Michaels College chaplain, Fr Moran who celebrated the graduation ceremony attended by Mr Wall two months ago, was the principal celebrant at his requiem mass. He reflected on the ceremony for the school leavers who had completed their Leaving Certificates and were preparing for a new chapter in their lives. It was a joyous occasion, he said. I looked out at this sea of faces ready to embark on the next stage of their lives as young adults young, energetic men ready to take on the world. It never occurred to me that we would be gathered two months later for the funeral of Max. It is heartbreaking to be gathered in this most tragic of circumstances. Our hearts are broken. Be the first to know when a new trade signal is out! Click here to sign up for e-mail notifications. Someone in the Russian Embassy in Kenya in late June said the BRICS countries are planning to introduce a new trading currency, which will be backed by gold. No one in any of the other BRICS has said anything about this other than that they would not participate in any such ill-conceived effort. CPM Groups Jeffrey Christian discusses the unlikelihood of this actually occurring, and why such a program would not benefit any of the countries involved. Jeff also discusses gold, silver, and PGM markets, some of the recent price movements and CPMs projections for the next several months. NEW YORK, July 10 (Reuters) - Wells Fargo (WFC.N) promoted Dawson Her Many Horses, head of Native American Banking, to managing director, one of the first enrolled tribal members to reach that rank at a major U.S. bank, the lender said on Monday. Her Many Horses was appointed head of Native American Banking in the commercial banking division in 2021. He joined Wells Fargo in 2018. Wells Fargo has banking relationships with one out of three federally recognized tribes in the U.S. with about $3.4 billion in credit commitments and $4.1 billion in deposits. U.S. banks have sought to diversify their ranks in recent years. Last year, Wells Fargo commissioned a third-party racial equity audit by law firm Covington & Burling after the New York Times reported the bank had carried out fake job interviews with minority candidates for roles that had already been allocated to other candidates. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of stablecoin issuer Circle, said in an interview published Tuesday that even if mainland China doesnt follow Hong Kong in freeing up its crypto sector, he still sees an important role for a yuan-backed stablecoin. Allaire spoke to the South China Morning Post at the tail end of a two-week Asia trip which included an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin. He said that Hong Kongs recent moves to legalize and regulate digital assets, and their concerted effort to court crypto firms, will set the region up for success on the global stage. The reality is that every other major financial market in the world is also embracing digital assets, and the biggest financial institutions in the world are embracing digital assets. So for Hong Kong to be relevant, it has to, Allaire said. I think there is Chinese government support for that. He said that he doesnt believe Hong Kongs example will be followed across the rest of China, however. Thats different than feeling like it says something about opening up the trading of crypto on the mainland, he said. I dont think theres anything there. Allaire said that even if China is all-in on the eCNY, their central bank digital currency (CBDC), they should still consider supporting a yuan-backed stablecoin to internationalize their currency. If eventually the Chinese government wants to see the RMB used more freely in trade and commerce around the world, it may be that stablecoins are the path to do that more than the central bank digital currency, he said. Allaire suggested that a stablecoin pegged to the offshore yuan (CNH) might be a workable solution. Circles USD Coin (USDC) is the second-largest U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin in the world by market capitalization with $27.4 billion in circulation, second only to Tethers (USDT) $83.4 billion. Allaire said Circle is encouraged by the proactive stance of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) related to stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies. Were excited that this is a priority for the Hong Kong government and it seems like its a real priority for the HKMA, Allaire said. Thats tremendously positive and is really motivating for us to want to be able to grow our business here. He also believes that stablecoins will continue to play an important role in global markets even after the use of CBDCs becomes widespread. If central banks are going to upgrade their own systems to move away from legacy technology into more modern distributed ledger technology, thats great, he said. Theres a whole bunch of things that are useful from that, but I view that as very different than the work that the private sector does to innovate on the public internet. Allaire has been very vocal in his support of Hong Kongs new regulatory regime for digital assets in recent weeks. Speaking from the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China on June 27, Allaire said that Hong Kong is now attracting some of the largest and most prominent firms in the industry, including his own. Hong Kong clearly is looking to establish itself as a very significant center for digital assets markets and for stablecoins and we are paying very close attention to that, he said. Allaire noted that Asia is now a huge area of focus for cryptocurrency companies as the large populations and eagerness to integrate the latest technologies make the region ideal for blockchain and Web3 growth. All around the world, in every major market, stablecoin laws are coming into place, and what I think that signifies is that this kind of digital currency, these fiat-linked digital currencies, are about to become a part of the mainstream global financial system, he said. As for what can help ensure the approval and integration of stablecoins into the global payment system, Allaire said, The really key thing is a full-reserve model. The assets can be a mixture of overnight cash at central banks, short-duration Treasury bills or equivalent government debt, he said. If you have that foundation as the asset base, and thats regulated and looked after by banking supervisors, youll actually have the safest fiat digital instruments in the world. So we are pushing for that, and that is increasingly, I think, what we are going to see around the world. When asked about the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) specifically, Allaire said that at the global level, a uniform view is emerging that payment stablecoins are the domain of credentialed supervisors, banking and payment supervisors, and that also seems to be the focus of the United States. There could be stablecoins that behave in different ways, which might be subject to securities or commodities regulations, but clearly, these payment tokens that are operating as payment systems, it's clear they are not going to be subject to SEC regulations, he concluded. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Lithium supply must ramp up to keep momentum building in the sector, said Chris Doornbos, Founder and CEO of E3 Lithium. On June 21, 2023, Doornbos spoke to Kitco at the 15th Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials 2023 in Henderson, Nevada. E3 Lithium (TSX.V: ETL) is a lithium resource and technology company working towards the production of lithium products. Based in Alberta, E3 Lithiums Clearwater Project is being developed within the provinces' oil fields. E3s preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on its Clearwater project outlines a $820 million net present value (NPV8%) after tax, with a pre-tax value of $1.1 billion (NPV8%). E3 Lithium will use direct lithium extraction technology to recover lithium. The company claims that the technology obtains over 90% recovery and drastically increases the concentration of lithium, while reducing impurities by over 98%. Doornbos said the company is focused on a pilot plant completion. "Construction is underway right now. To get that up and running, [we will need] probably six to eight weeks. We're going to have brine flowing through our direct extraction unit, so it is very exciting. It's been a long time in the making," said Doornbos. Industry analysts worry that with a steep ramp up in demand, critical minerals like lithium will not be available in quantities needed. "There's lots of conversation going on at this conference about the need to get lithium out to market, because we want lithium batteries to be the dominant battery chemistry," said Doornbos. "We don't want to give the market an excuse to move off of [lithium]. That requires people being able to meet supply." Coverage of 15th Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials 2023 sponsored by Lindian Resources (ASX:LIN). Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Gatos Silver (NYSE: GATO) (TSX: GATO) reported Monday that its 70%-owned Cerro Los Gatos (CLG) mine in Mexico produced 2.0 million ounces of silver in Q2 2023, 13% below the 2.3 million ounces in Q2 2022. The company explained that the reduction in silver output is mainly attributable to a 29% decline in silver grades in Q2 2023, as expected in the mine plan, and partially offset by the 26% increase in mill throughput. The companys Q2 2023 zinc production decreased by 5% y-o-y to 14.8 million pounds, lead production declined by 18% to 9.7 million pounds, and gold production decreased by 6% to 1.2 thousand ounces, primarily due to lower mill feed grades as expected in the mine plan. Importantly, Gatos noted that mill throughput set a new quarterly record, averaging 2,916 tonnes per day during the second quarter of 2023, an increase of 26% compared to the second quarter of 2022. CEO Dale Andres commented, The CLG mine continues to perform very well with another record for mill throughput rate during the quarter, supported by further mine debottlenecking and plant optimization efforts. We remain on track to achieve 2023 production guidance at CLG and to provide an updated mineral resource and reserve estimate before the end of the third quarter of this year, including a new life of mine plan. Gatos Silver is a 70% owner of the Los Gatos Joint Venture in Mexico. The company is primarily focused on operating the Cerro Los Gatos mine and on growth and development of the Los Gatos district. (Reuters) - Sullivan & Cromwell announced on Tuesday that it has hired former U.S. Patent and Trademark Office director Andrei Iancu and former federal judge Kathleen O'Malley, bolstering the prominent New York-founded law firm's patent practice. Iancu and O'Malley both joined Sullivan & Cromwell from intellectual property-focused law firm Irell & Manella. Iancu, Irell's managing partner from 2012 to 2018, rejoined the firm in 2021 after heading the USPTO during Donald Trump's presidency. O'Malley joined Irell last year after retiring from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Sullivan & Cromwell co-chairs Robert Giuffra and Scott Miller said in a statement that Iancu and O'Malley, "two of the most respected litigation and IP lawyers in the country," will "enhance our ability to serve our clients' increasing demand for exceptional trial and appellate lawyers in this critical and growing practice area." Iancu is joining the firm as a partner and will split his time between Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. He has represented a range of companies including B/E Aerospace, Ariosa Diagnostics, TiVo and eBay in patent litigation. He also represented the Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research and Bristol Myers Squibb's Juno Therapeutics in their $1.2 billion patent dispute with Gilead Sciences. Iancu was known for policies at the USPTO that generally favored patent owners, and reformed the office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board in ways that reduced the number of patents it invalidated. Iancu said in a statement that Sullivan & Cromwell has an "impressive record of success in IP litigation and transactional matters," and that the firm represents "some of the most important companies at the forefront of innovation and the next industrial revolution." O'Malley was appointed to the Federal Circuit by President Barack Obama in 2010. She previously served as a federal district judge in Ohio and practiced at law firms Jones Day and Porter Wright Morris & Arthur. She is joining Sullivan & Cromwell as of counsel, based in Washington. O'Malley said in a statement that she was eager to join her new firm and for "the opportunities S&C will provide to expand my alternative dispute resolution, corporate crisis and white-collar practices." Irell & Manella shifted its strategy in 2020 to focus solely on high-profile IP and complex commercial litigation, which caused a wave of attorney departures at the time. The firm has won several major verdicts for patent owners since then against companies including Intel, Apple and PNC Bank. Representatives for the firm did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Iancu and O'Malley's departures. Craig Greaves writes in The Australian: New Zealand's governing labour party is shooting itself in the foot with its biggest re-election glitch possibly coming from within its own ranks. Months out from the October 14 general election a steady flow of allegations of ill-behaviour and proven transgressions by Labour MPs and cabinet ministers is helping to seed the idea that the party is stale, arrogant and lacking in good character and competency. A darker metaphor to describe the government's cracking, creaking working condition is perhaps the tragic final journey of the Titan' submersible in the North Atlantic, near the wreckage of the Titanic. The sub seems to have imploded, in large part, due to vastly imperfect working parts operating under great pressure. To a certain degree and within less violence, this is what seems to be happening to the Labour government. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Free Report) by 36.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 80,386 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 21,381 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $5,934,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of EFA. VitalStone Financial LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Financial Freedom LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA increased its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 172.9% in the 4th quarter. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA now owns 464 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares in the last quarter. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Field & Main Bank grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 189.7% in the 4th quarter. Field & Main Bank now owns 504 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 330 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.99% of the companys stock. Get iShares MSCI EAFE ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Price Performance EFA traded up $0.40 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $71.50. 6,308,441 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 18,208,096. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 1 year low of $54.61 and a 1 year high of $74.05. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $72.37 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $71.04. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR Free Report) had its price objective trimmed by Morgan Stanley from $121.00 to $116.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $130.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $114.00 to $113.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Wedbush lifted their price objective on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $110.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. They set a sell rating and a $107.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $134.92. Get Cullen/Frost Bankers alerts: Cullen/Frost Bankers Price Performance Cullen/Frost Bankers stock opened at $108.94 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. Cullen/Frost Bankers has a 52-week low of $92.55 and a 52-week high of $160.60. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $104.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $115.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.88, a PEG ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.05. Cullen/Frost Bankers Dividend Announcement Cullen/Frost Bankers ( NYSE:CFR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The bank reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.55 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $505.09 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $503.93 million. Cullen/Frost Bankers had a net margin of 30.40% and a return on equity of 21.59%. Cullen/Frost Bankerss quarterly revenue was up 44.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.51 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Cullen/Frost Bankers will post 9.76 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st were paid a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.19%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 30th. Cullen/Frost Bankerss dividend payout ratio is currently 34.77%. Insider Activity In related news, insider Patrick B. Frost sold 6,617 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $101.09, for a total transaction of $668,912.53. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 210,946 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $21,324,531.14. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Howard Willome John purchased 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $98.66 per share, for a total transaction of $197,320.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 9,000 shares in the company, valued at $887,940. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Patrick B. Frost sold 6,617 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $101.09, for a total value of $668,912.53. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 210,946 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,324,531.14. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders purchased a total of 8,500 shares of company stock valued at $818,945 in the last 90 days. 2.89% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cullen/Frost Bankers Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its stake in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 75.3% during the second quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 10,707 shares of the banks stock worth $1,151,000 after purchasing an additional 4,599 shares during the last quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. increased its holdings in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 10.3% during the second quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 3,314 shares of the banks stock valued at $356,000 after purchasing an additional 309 shares during the period. Duality Advisers LP increased its holdings in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 5.5% during the first quarter. Duality Advisers LP now owns 25,484 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,684,000 after purchasing an additional 1,328 shares during the period. Macquarie Group Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers during the first quarter valued at $25,000. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 6.1% during the first quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 254,139 shares of the banks stock valued at $26,771,000 after buying an additional 14,655 shares in the last quarter. 80.49% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Cullen/Frost Bankers (Get Free Report) Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Frost Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking services in Texas. It operates in two segments, Banking and Frost Wealth Advisors. The company offers commercial banking services to corporations and other business clients, including financing for industrial and commercial properties, interim construction related to industrial and commercial properties, equipment, inventories and accounts receivables, and acquisitions; and treasury management services, as well as originates commercial leasing services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Cullen/Frost Bankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cullen/Frost Bankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 26,645 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,189,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. boosted its position in Altria Group by 95.3% during the first quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. now owns 230,545 shares of the companys stock worth $10,287,000 after acquiring an additional 112,495 shares during the last quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC boosted its position in Altria Group by 27.2% during the first quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 67,688 shares of the companys stock worth $3,020,000 after acquiring an additional 14,471 shares during the last quarter. Xcel Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 11.8% during the first quarter. Xcel Wealth Management LLC now owns 9,688 shares of the companys stock worth $432,000 after purchasing an additional 1,025 shares during the period. Oxbow Advisors LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 13.8% during the first quarter. Oxbow Advisors LLC now owns 75,766 shares of the companys stock worth $3,381,000 after purchasing an additional 9,198 shares during the period. Finally, Stone House Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the first quarter worth about $58,000. 58.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Altria Group alerts: Altria Group Stock Performance Altria Group stock opened at $45.13 on Tuesday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $45.12 and its 200-day simple moving average is $45.65. The company has a market capitalization of $80.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $40.35 and a 1 year high of $51.57. Altria Group Announces Dividend Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $4.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.89 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 22.44% and a negative return on equity of 245.43%. Altria Groups revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.12 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.98 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a $0.94 dividend. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 120.90%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth MO has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 17th. StockNews.com raised shares of Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $52.00 target price on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $46.00. Altria Group Company Profile (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New York Community Bancorp (NYSE:NYCB Free Report) had its target price upped by Morgan Stanley from $11.00 to $12.00 in a report issued on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. NYCB has been the subject of a number of other reports. TheStreet raised New York Community Bancorp from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised New York Community Bancorp from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price target for the company from $10.00 to $11.00 in a report on Monday, March 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of New York Community Bancorp from $11.50 to $13.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of New York Community Bancorp from $13.00 to $14.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Finally, Wedbush raised New York Community Bancorp from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, March 20th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, New York Community Bancorp presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $11.04. Get New York Community Bancorp alerts: New York Community Bancorp Trading Up 0.8 % NYSE:NYCB opened at $11.45 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.01, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.07. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $10.67 and a 200 day moving average of $9.60. New York Community Bancorp has a 52 week low of $5.81 and a 52 week high of $11.49. New York Community Bancorp Dividend Announcement New York Community Bancorp ( NYSE:NYCB Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The financial services provider reported $0.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.23. New York Community Bancorp had a return on equity of 8.25% and a net margin of 49.74%. The company had revenue of $2.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $623.11 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.32 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 666.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that New York Community Bancorp will post 1.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 8th were issued a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 5th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.94%. New York Community Bancorps dividend payout ratio is presently 17.85%. Institutional Trading of New York Community Bancorp Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Thompson Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in New York Community Bancorp by 42.1% in the 1st quarter. Thompson Investment Management Inc. now owns 74,196 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $671,000 after buying an additional 22,000 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of New York Community Bancorp by 48.3% in the 4th quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 1,642,607 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $14,126,000 after acquiring an additional 535,107 shares during the last quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board increased its holdings in New York Community Bancorp by 45.6% in the 4th quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 106,900 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $919,000 after purchasing an additional 33,500 shares during the last quarter. New Hampshire Trust acquired a new stake in New York Community Bancorp in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Wealth Alliance increased its holdings in New York Community Bancorp by 23.7% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Alliance now owns 14,886 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $128,000 after purchasing an additional 2,854 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.49% of the companys stock. About New York Community Bancorp (Get Free Report) New York Community Bancorp, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Flagstar Bank, N.A. that provides banking products and services in the United States. The company's deposit products include interest-bearing checking and money market, savings, non-interest-bearing, and retirement accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. Read More Receive News & Ratings for New York Community Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New York Community Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oppenheimer (NYSE:OPY Get Free Report) was upgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report released on Monday. Oppenheimer Stock Up 0.5 % OPY stock traded up $0.19 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $39.30. 27,049 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 81,547. The stock has a market cap of $434.46 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.52 and a beta of 1.13. Oppenheimer has a fifty-two week low of $28.41 and a fifty-two week high of $49.32. The firms 50 day moving average price is $38.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $41.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. Get Oppenheimer alerts: Oppenheimer (NYSE:OPY Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $321.68 million for the quarter. Oppenheimer had a return on equity of 4.68% and a net margin of 3.16%. Institutional Trading of Oppenheimer About Oppenheimer A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Oppenheimer during the 1st quarter worth $34,000. Spire Wealth Management bought a new stake in Oppenheimer in the first quarter worth about $40,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in Oppenheimer by 436.7% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,830 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 1,489 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new position in Oppenheimer in the second quarter valued at about $71,000. Finally, Barclays PLC grew its position in shares of Oppenheimer by 512.1% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 2,118 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $90,000 after acquiring an additional 1,772 shares during the period. 37.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. (Get Free Report) Oppenheimer Holdings Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a middle-market investment bank and full-service broker-dealer in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company offers brokerage services covering corporate equity and debt securities, money market instruments, exchange-traded options and futures contracts, municipal bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and unit investment trusts; financial and wealth planning services; and margin lending services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Oppenheimer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oppenheimer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Pearson plc (LON:PSON Get Free Report) have been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the six ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 1,015 ($13.06). Several analysts have weighed in on PSON shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an overweight rating and issued a GBX 1,230 ($15.82) price objective on shares of Pearson in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and set a GBX 1,140 ($14.67) target price on shares of Pearson in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Get Pearson alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Pearson news, insider Sally Johnson sold 65,220 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 762 ($9.80), for a total transaction of 496,976.40 ($639,362.41). 0.67% of the stock is owned by insiders. Pearson Stock Performance About Pearson Shares of PSON stock opened at GBX 814.80 ($10.48) on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.33, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.90. Pearson has a fifty-two week low of GBX 746.20 ($9.60) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 1,006.29 ($12.95). The stock has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 819.65 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 863.85. The company has a market capitalization of 5.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,483.03, a PEG ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.30. (Get Free Report Pearson plc offers educational courseware, assessments, and services in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, other European countries, and internationally. The company operates through five segments: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Higher Education, and Workforce Skills. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Pearson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pearson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son (NYSE:NTB Get Free Report) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (OTCMKTS:CBAUF Get Free Report) are both financial services companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership and valuation. Profitability This table compares Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son and Commonwealth Bank of Australias net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son 36.85% 27.78% 1.66% Commonwealth Bank of Australia N/A N/A N/A Dividends Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son pays an annual dividend of $1.76 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.2%. Commonwealth Bank of Australia pays an annual dividend of $3.83 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.8%. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son pays out 37.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Commonwealth Bank of Australia pays out 73.4% 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. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son 0 0 4 0 3.00 Commonwealth Bank of Australia 0 0 0 0 N/A This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son presently has a consensus price target of $35.75, indicating a potential upside of 25.00%. Given Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Sons higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son is more favorable than Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Insider and Institutional Ownership 66.7% of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 13.6% of Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.2% of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son shares are owned 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. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son and Commonwealth Bank of Australias top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son $549.30 million 2.62 $214.02 million $4.64 6.16 Commonwealth Bank of Australia N/A N/A N/A $5.22 12.72 Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son has higher revenue and earnings than Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Commonwealth Bank of Australia, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son beats Commonwealth Bank of Australia on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son (Get Free Report) The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited provides a range of community, commercial, and private banking services to individuals and small to medium-sized businesses. It accepts retail and corporate checking, savings, term, and interest bearing and non-interest bearing deposits. The company's lending portfolio includes residential mortgage lending, automobile lending, consumer financing, credit cards, overdraft facilities, commercial real estate lending, and commercial and industrial loans. It also offers investment products and services; and cash and liquidity management, foreign exchange, custody administration, and settlement services. In addition, the company provides personal and property/auto insurance products; letters of credit; and cash management, payroll, remote banking, money market, advisory, brokerage, trust, estate, company management, wealth management, and fiduciary services. Further, it offers debit cards; automated teller machines; and personal and business deposit, merchant acquiring, and mobile and internet banking services. The company operates through offices in the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey, the United Kingdom, The Bahamas, Switzerland, Singapore, Mauritius, and Canada. It also operates through multiple branches in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. The company was founded in 1858 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. About Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Get Free Report) Commonwealth Bank of Australia provides integrated financial services in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It operates through Retail Banking Services, Business Banking, Institutional Banking and Markets, and New Zealand segments. The company offers transaction, savings, and foreign currency accounts; term deposits; personal and business loans; overdrafts; equipment finance; credit cards; international payment and trade; and private banking services, as well as home and car loans. It also provides retail, premium, business, offshore, and institutional banking services; and funds management, superannuation, and share broking products and services, as well as car, health, life, income protection, and travel insurance. The company offers advisory services for high-net-worth individuals; equities trading and margin lending services; debt capital, transaction banking, working capital, and risk management services; and international and foreign exchange services. The company was founded in 1911 and is based in Sydney, Australia. Receive News & Ratings for Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Two men walk over the pedestrian bridge on the Steuben County Multipurpose Trail in this September 2022 photo, along S.R. 127, just south of C.R. 400N. Officials are working to extend the trail south of Angola, to Pleasant Lake. The current trail runs from Angola to Pokagon State Park. The parcel up for rezoning consideration sits on the 3400 block of North S.R. 127 across from Scoops Ice Cream. The decision to rezone the property is up for a vote during Common Councils Monday meeting at 7 p.m. Currently the land is being used for construction staging and stockpiling of materials. The rezone would turn the property from agricultural to high impact, which would allow many uses neighbors object to. By Stephen Beech via SWNS Babies in the womb use a "greedy" gene from dads to "remote control" mom into feeding them extra food, reveals new research. Cambridge University scientists have discovered that fetuses use a copy of a gene inherited from their father to force their mother to release as many nutrients as possible during pregnancy, They found that the unborn baby "remote controls" its moms metabolism so the two are in a nutritional tug-of-war. The mothers body wants the baby to survive but needs to keep enough glucose and fats circulating in her system for her own health to be able to deliver the baby, breastfeed and to reproduce again. The study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, examines how the placenta communicates with the mother through the release of hormones so she will accommodate her babys growth. The placenta is a vital organ that develops with the fetus in pregnant women and other female mammals to support the developing fetus. In pregnant mice, scientists selectively altered the signaling cells in the placenta that tell mothers to allocate nutrients to their developing fetuses. Co-senior author Professor Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri a Fellow of St Johns College, said: Its the first direct evidence that a gene inherited from the father is signaling to the mother to divert nutrients to the fetus. Co-senior author Dr. Miguel Constancia, based at the Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, said: The babys remote control system is operated by genes that can be switched on or off depending on whether they are a "dads" or "moms" gene, the so-called imprinted genes. Genes controlled by the father are greedy and selfish and will tend to manipulate maternal resources for the benefit of the fetuses, so as to grow them big and fittest. "Although pregnancy is largely cooperative, there is a big arena for potential conflict between the mother and the baby, with imprinted genes and the placenta thought to play key roles. The team explained that the babys genes controlled by the father tend to promote fetal growth and those controlled by the mother tend to limit fetal growth. Professor Sferruzzi-Perri said: Those genes from the mother that limit fetal growth are thought to be a mothers way of ensuring her survival, so she doesnt have a baby that takes all the nutrients and is too big and challenging to birth. "The mother also has a chance of having subsequent pregnancies, potentially with different males in the future to pass on her genes more widely. The Cambridge team deleted the expression of an important imprinted gene called Igf2, which provides instructions for making a protein called "Insulin Like Growth Factor 2." Similar to the hormone insulin, which is responsible for making and controlling glucose levels in our circulation, the gene promotes fetal growth and plays a key part in the development of fetal tissues, including the placenta, liver and brain. Study lead author Dr. Jorge Lopez-Tello said: If the function of Igf2 from the father is switched off in signaling cells, the mother doesnt make enough amounts of glucose and lipids fats available in her circulation. "These nutrients therefore reach the fetus in insufficient amounts and the fetus doesnt grow properly. The researchers found that deleting Igf2 from the placentas signaling cells affects the production of other hormones that modulate the way the moms pancreas produces insulin and how her liver and other metabolic organs respond. Prof. Sferruzzi-Perri said: We found Igf2 controls the hormones responsible for reducing insulin sensitivity in the mother during pregnancy. "It means the mothers tissues dont absorb glucose so nutrients are more available in the circulation to be transferred to the fetus. She said babies with Igf2 gene defects can be overgrown or growth-stunted, adding: Until now, we didnt know that part of the Igf2 genes role is to regulate signaling to the mother to allocate nutrients to the fetus." The mice studied were smaller at birth and their offspring showed early signs of diabetes and obesity in later life. Prof. Sferruzzi-Perri said: Our research highlights how important the controlled allocation of nutrients to the fetus is for the lifelong health of the offspring and the direct role the placenta plays. The placenta is an amazing organ. At the end of pregnancy, the placenta is delivered by the mother, but the memories of how the placenta was functioning leaves a lasting legacy on the way those fetal organs have developed and then how theyre going to function through life. She said future research could help scientists discover new ways to target the placenta to protect moms and babies. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Ex-priest sentenced to 25 years for drugging and molesting men he met in New Orleans tourist area A former Catholic priest in Louisiana has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to drugging and molesting 17 men he met in a popular tourist area in New Orleans SHREVEPORT, La. -- A GoFundMe account has been set up for a woman and her children who lost their home Monday following a domestic violence di New Delhi, July 6: A woman helicopter pilot of the Indian Air Force will lead its marching contingent at the Bastille Day parade in Paris next week that will be graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the guest of honour, officials said on Thursday. The marching contingents of the Army, the Navy and the IAF will participate in the prestigious parade along with their French counterparts. The officials said Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy will lead the 68-member IAF contingent at the parade. Reddy, a Mi-17 pilot, led the IAF's marching contingent at the Republic Day parade on January 26 as well. When Is Bastille Day 2023? Know Date, History and Significance of National Day of France That Marks the Anniversary of the Storming of Bastille. A 269-member tri-services contingent of the Indian armed forces on Thursday left for Paris on board two C-17 Globemaster aircraft, the officials said. Four Rafale fighter jets of the IAF will also take part in the flypast over the Champs Elysees on the occasion along with French jets. The triservice marching contingent which was earlier flown to France in IAF C-17 aircraft includes 68 Air Warriors. Together they will march in unison along the 'Avenues des Champs Elysee'. The IAF contingent will be led by Sqn Ldr Sindhu Reddy.#Jointness pic.twitter.com/qfECLQRgGx Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 7, 2023 "The parade will witness a 269-member tri-services contingent of the Indian Armed Forces marching alongside their French counterparts. The contingent has left for France today," the Army said. The association of the Indian and French armies dates back to the First World War. "Over 1.3 million Indian soldiers participated in the war and almost 74,000 of them fought in the muddy trenches to never return, while another 67,000 were wounded," the Army said in a statement. The Indian troops valiantly fought on French soil also. "Their courage, valour and supreme sacrifice not only thwarted the enemy but also significantly contributed towards winning the war," it said. "Later, World War 2 witnessed a whopping 2.5 million Indian soldiers making significant contributions in various theatres of the war from Asia to Africa and Europe," it added. The tri-services contingent comprised 77 marching personnel from the Army and 38 members from its the band. The team is being led by Captain Aman Jagtap. The Indian Navy contingent is being led by Commander Vrat Baghel. The Army contingent is being represented by the Punjab Regiment which is one of the oldest regiments of the force. The troops of the regiment have participated in both the World Wars as well as the post-independence operations. The Rajputana Rifles Regiment band is accompanying the contingent. Internet operators have been asked to strengthen management of non-institutional content providers also known as self-media accounts on social media platforms such as WeChat and Weibo to prevent rumors and maintain online order, according to a notification. The notification was made public by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country's top internet regulator, on its website on Monday. The administration said websites and platforms should strictly review registered or changed account information to avoid them being imitated by non-institutional producers. If account information contain names or logos of the Party and government agencies, military organs, news media or administrative departments, they must be reviewed manually, it said, urging websites and platforms not to provide services if finding the accounts are falsified. Stricter review should be made for self-media accounts involved in finance, education, healthcare and justice, and clear summaries of the qualifications and professional backgrounds of the accounts should also be labeled, it said. It also pushed websites and platforms to monitor these accounts to annotate their information sources if published content is related to domestic and foreign affairs, policies or social issues. In addition, content posted by non-institutional accounts should not take words out of context or distort facts to affect the authenticity of information by means of patchwork editing or synthesis forgery. Furthermore, accounts that produce rumors or spread misinformation will not only be blacklisted and shut down, but also be reported by websites and platforms to cyberspace departments. After rain caused havoc in different parts of the country, especially Himachal Pradesh, veteran actor Anupam Kher warned people not to mess with nature otherwise they would have to pay a price for it. The Kashmir Files actor took to Instagram and shared his thoughts on the situation. He wrote in Hindi, which read, The heartbreaking havoc that has caused in different parts of the country, especially in Himachal Pradesh due to rain, is terrifying and alarming. Not only innocent lives have been lost, but also the government and private property worth crores have suffered huge loss. My sympathies and prayers go out to all! But for the past several years I have also been warning that if we continue to mess with nature we will have to pay heavily compensation for it. Greed must end somewhere. Swastika Mukherjee Says No One Should Play Rabindranath Tagore After Anupam Kher Shares First Look, Bengali Actress Shares Disapproval Post on Social Media!. There appears to be no immediate respite in the offing for Himachal Pradesh, which has been battered by rains over the last few days, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD), on Tuesday, issued "red" and "orange" alerts for several districts of the hill-state for the next 24 hours. "A red alert has been issued for very heavy rainfall in Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur, and Lahaul for the next 24 hours. Additionally, an orange alert has been issued in Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Chamba. A flash flood warning has been issued for Mandi, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti for the next 24 hours," said senior IMD Scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma on Monday. Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jairam Thakur on Monday said the state recorded unprecented rains in the past few days, adding that he was concerned over the loss of lives and damage to public infrastructure. Thakur, who is now the Leader of the Opposition in the Himachal Assembly, told ANI that Himachal Pradesh had "not seen such rain in its history" as over 12 major bridges have been damaged. "We never saw such a situation in the past several years. I am very concerned over the prevailing situation in the state. Several big and small rivers are in spate and if the situation persists over the next few days, there could be further damage," he said. The rains have wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh triggering landslides, causing power disruption, blocking roads, and damaging bridges. Nature's fury in the state has claimed 20 lives over the past 48 hours. Tourists were stranded in parts of the hill-state, with the loss of infrastructure estimated at between Rs 3,000 crore and Rs. 4,000 crore. Anupam Khers Brother Raju Shares Hilarious Conversation Between Actor and Their Mother (Watch Video). Check Out Anupam Kher's Instagram Post Here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said the state has not seen such heavy rains in the last 50 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, spoke to the Himachal CM on the prevailing situation, assuring full support from the Centre. Taking about Khers work front, he recently announced his new project in which he will be seen portraying the role of the poet, philosopher, and essayist, Rabindranath Tagore. Apart from that, he will be next seen in director Anurag Basu's upcoming anthology film Metro...In Dino. The film also stars Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal and Neena Gupta in pivotal roles and is all set to hit the theatres on March 29, 2024. Ayodhya, July 11: A 25-year-old man allegedly threw acid at a woman here in the Haiderganj area of the city after his marriage with her was called off, police said on Tuesday. The woman has been referred to Lucknow Trauma Centre in critical condition and the man has been arrested, police said. The man went to the 20-year-old woman's house late Monday night and threw acid at her while she was asleep, police said. Inspector General Ayodhya Range Pravin Kumar said Rajkaran Sharma was known to the victim and her family and lived in an area under the Inayat Nagar Police Station. Delhi Police Special Cell Busts Inter-State Arms Trafficking Syndicate Operating From Madhya Pradesh, Notorious Supplier Who Smuggled Over 1,500 Weapons Arrested. He was miffed that his marriage with the woman was called off. The reason why it happened was not specified. Uddhav Thackeray Takes Dig at PM Narendra Modi As Sharad Pawar To Be Chief Guest at Award Event, Asks What Happened to Rs 70,000 Crore Scam by NCP?. "We will file the chargesheet in the court in two days and within 15 to 20 days we will get the guilty punished," the IG added. (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, Jul 11 (PTI) The Delhi government on Tuesday issued new safety guidelines for construction sites and said a contractor will be blacklisted in case of an accident leading to a loss of life while administrative action will be initiated against officials too. The guidelines also state that failure to clear construction and demolition waste from work sites shall result in a "levy of Rs 5 lakh compensation on the contractor for each default apart from any other action as per contract clauses". Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress To Begin Poll Preparedness in Maharashtra Soon. The new safety guidelines come in the aftermath of two deaths at separate Public Works Department (PWD) construction sites here. A labourer was electrocuted while working at an under-construction building on the premises of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash hospital here earlier this month. On June 30, an autorickshaw got stuck in a ditch filled with water near Waziarabad. When the driver got out of the vehicle to push it out of the ditch, he drowned. Also Read | Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlots Government Transfers Rs 1,005 Crore to Over 51 Lakh Pensioners Through Direct Benefit Transfer. In a circular, the Delhi government said there should be proper barricading so that the entry of the general public to the construction site could be prohibited and chances of any untoward incident could altogether be mitigated. The contractor has to also ensure no waterlogging. "In case of any accident leading to a loss of life on the construction site due to lack of safety protocol, the contractor shall be blacklisted, an FIR shall be lodged and administrative action shall be initiated against the engineer in charge," stated the circular issued by PWD Special Secretary Shashanka Ala. "Site Engineers concerned shall ensure that the information board and barricading are always kept intact and there are no gaps in barricading that could potentially be dangerous to the general public/ traffic. "There shall be barricading of the construction site, having proper signages and information of the project in progress, clearly specifying the name of the project, estimated cost, estimated project start and completion date, name and contact number of the contractor, Name and contact number of the site engineer and supervising engineer, helpline number and contact details in case any citizen has to register any complaint/grievance and helpline numbers of traffic police," it said. The guidelines also mandate the site engineer to ensure there are adequate guards, illumination, fencing, fire extinguishers, proper drainage at the site and protective gear for workers at all times. It also said that there should be adequate washing facilities with proper drainage systems. "All awarded works costing more than Rs 1 crore shall have a safety engineer on site whose primary responsibility is to ensure safety on site," it added. The guidelines also mandate that the engineer in charge of every work must inspect the site regularly to ensure that all all-safety protocols are followed. In case of any violation of safety protocol, the contractor shall be informed and work will be stopped if needed, it said. The contractor shall not proceed with the work unless all the safety protocols are adhered to, the guideline document noted, adding that all engineers in charge of works shall issue show-cause notices to the contractor specifying the nature of the safety violation and the compensation proposed. It also asked the engineer in charge to notify the department about any fatality or even a major or minor injury at the site. The guidelines also list out the measures for the removal of construction and demolition waste and stated that it should be removed from the site in less than 48 hours and must be disposed of scientifically in designated sites of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. No final bill shall be cleared until and unless the work site is handed over in a clean condition, the circular added. (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, Jul 11 (PTI) The high court here on Tuesday dismissed a plea by the Enforcement Directorate seeking a direction that AAP leader Satyendar Jain, facing prosecution in a money laundering case, be medically examined at any other hospital like AIIMS instead of Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said since the matter is now pending before the Supreme Court, nothing remains to be adjudicated in the high court and dismissed the plea. Also Read | Ayodhya Acid Attack: Man Throws Acid at Woman After Marriage Called Off in Haiderganj Area. Former Delhi minister Jain is out on interim bail in pursuance to the order of the apex court which is scheduled to hear the matter on July 24. The ED's contention has been that Jain had influence over the hospital as he had been Delhi's health minister. Also Read | Uddhav Thackeray Takes Dig at PM Narendra Modi As Sharad Pawar To Be Chief Guest at Award Event, Asks What Happened to Rs 70,000 Crore Scam by NCP?. I consider that since the matter is now pending before the Supreme Court, nothing is left here, the Writ petition is dismissed, Justice Sharma said. At the time of filing of the petition by ED in July last year, Jain was admitted to LNJP Hospital and the agency's counsel had emphasised that there was a grave likelihood that Jain, who was the city Health Minister at the relevant time, exercised "influence over LNJP" and had said that even his picture was displayed prominently on the hospital website and he was also the "guest of honour" at an event there. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was arrested on May 30 last year under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and was first sent to police custody and thereafter to judicial custody. He resigned from the Delhi cabinet in February this year. While the high court had denied him bail, he was granted interim bail on May 26 for six weeks on medical grounds by the Supreme Court which, on July 10, extended the relief till July 24. In the petition before the high court, ED has challenged a trial court's July 6 order rejecting the agency's prayer to get the accused medically evaluated by any independent hospital such as Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital or AIIMS, instead of LNJP Hospital. the Directorate of Enforcement has a serious doubt as to whether the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital or even the GB Pant Hospital would be able to independently assess the medical condition of the respondent (Jain) herein for the reason that these hospitals continue to prominently display the picture of the respondent on its home page. "... from the plaque commemorating the inauguration of Lok Nayak Hospital, it is evident that the same was done in the presence of the respondent herein as the Guest of Honour, who was holding the portfolio of Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of NCT of Delhi, the petition has said. It had also challenged the trial court's July 19 order passed in the interim bail application of Jain. The ED had claimed that on June 27, 2022, the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case had gone to LNJP Hospital where he found that Jain was sleeping on the patient bed without any cannula on his hand and even the multipara patient monitor was switched off and he was not being monitored by any medical instrument and his wife was present in the room. When the IO reached the room, the respondent immediately wore the oxygen mask, the BP apparatus belt, and the monitor was switched on. "It was under these suspicious circumstances and the fact that prima facie the condition of the respondent was not such which required hospitalisation, an application was preferred (before the trial court) seeking a direction that he may be admitted in any independent hospital like the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital or AIIMS Hospital at New Delhi for an independent evaluation of his health, it said, adding that the application was dismissed by the trial court. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Maharashtra Congress leaders in a meeting with Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi at AICC office in Delhi (Photo/ANI) New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): Maharashtra Congress on Tuesday held a meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to take stock of the prevailing political situation in Maharashtra, days after the split in the Nationalist Congress Party. With both Shiv Sena and NCP seeing splits, Congress is in a position to stake claim to the position of Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly. Also Read | Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlots Government Transfers Rs 1,005 Crore to Over 51 Lakh Pensioners Through Direct Benefit Transfer. Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar had said that if Congress wanted to appoint their opposition leader, it was a legitimate demand. NCP leader Ajit Pawar joined the NDA government in Maharashtra as Deputy Chief Minister causing a crisis in NCP. Eight other MLAs also joined with him as ministers. Also Read | Ayodhya Acid Attack: Man Throws Acid at Woman After Marriage Called Off in Haiderganj Area. The developments in NCP also have implications for the Congress which is part of Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance. The MVA includes NCP led by Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress. Maharashtra will face assembly polls next year. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], July 11 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Tarun Chugh extended best wishes to Sunil Jakhar on taking over as the new president of Punjab BJP. In a statement to the media, Tarun Chugh said that Sunil Jakhar will take charge as the new Punjab BJP President. Many best wishes. Surely Sunil Jakhar's efficient political experience will give new energy to the Punjab BJP and victory mission in the upcoming elections and will result in victory on the ground with full strength. Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: Pani Puri Seller Abducted, Thrashed and Held Captive After Failing to Repay Loan in Thane, Four Booked. Chugh said that earlier BJP state presidents had worked well for the party, and the party is continuously getting stronger. The contribution of former state president Ashwani Sharma to keep the party organized and active, especially during the farmer's movement, is unforgettable, he said. Chugh expressed confidence that the party is full of new energy and the party is getting stronger on the ground in Punjab. The party will perform better in the upcoming elections under the leadership of Jakhar. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress To Begin Poll Preparedness in Maharashtra Soon. BJP appointed Sunil Jakhar as president of the Punjab unit on July 4. BJP has appointed Sunil Jakhar as the party's state president of Punjab; D Purandeshwari has been appointed as the state president of Andhra Pradesh; former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi becomes the state president of Jharkhand while Union minister G Kishan Reddy has been appointed as the party's state president of Telangana, replacing Bandi Sanjay. The party also appointed former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy as a member of the party's National Executive Committee. As part of the organisational rejig, BJP appointed Etela Rajender, MLA and former Telangana minister as Chairman of the Election Management Committee of the party's state unit for the forthcoming Assembly Elections. The BJP is gearing up for assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram to be held later this year as well for the next year's Lok Sabha elections. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended interim bail to Ashish Mishra in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case till further orders. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta while adjourning the matter to September 26, observed that the trial was going on in the case. Also Read | TikTok Star J Felix Aka Jocker Felix Hacks Tech Firms MD and CEO to Death in Broad Daylight in Bengaluru, Police Launch Hunt to Nab Killer. "We have perused the Reports dated 30.06.2023 and 07.07.2023 received from the Presiding Officer of the Court at Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. Post the matter for further consideration on 26.09.2023," the court said adding that interim directions to continue, meanwhile. On January 25, the top court granted interim bail for eight weeks to Ashish Mishra and imposed various conditions. Later it was extended time to time. Also Read | Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Liable To Be Prosecuted and Punished for Offences of Sexual Harassment, Molestation and Stalking: Delhi Police Chargesheet. The Supreme Court had directed to Ashish Mishra that during the period of his interim bail of eight weeks, he shall not stay in the State of Uttar Pradesh or in NCT of Delhi. The top court had also directed Ashish Mishra to inform to concerned court about his location. The Supreme Court had also clarified that any attempt by Ashish Mishra or his family to influence witnesses and trying to delay the trial may lead to cancellation of his bail. The court has also directed Mishra to mark his attendance in the concerned police station of his location. The court also extended the benefit of interim bail to the other four co-accused in the case by using his suo motu power. Ashish Mishra, the son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, moved Supreme Court challenging Allahabad High Court which denied bail to him in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case On July 26, 2022 the Allahabad High Court denied bail to Ashish Mishra, the son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. The bail was rejected by the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court. The said order is challenged by Ashish Mishra in the Supreme Court filed through advocate on record T Mahipal. Mishra is facing a case of murder for the incident that took place on October 3, 2021, in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri. Mishra allegedly ran over the farmers who were protesting against the Centres three farm laws. He was arrested on October 9 and granted bail in February 2022. Mishra, again moved to the High Court as the Courts earlier order was set aside by the Supreme Court in April 2022 and had ordered fresh consideration of his bail plea. The top court earlier had set aside the Allahabad High Court order dated February 10, 2022, and remitted the matter back to the High Court. The top court had said that the order of the Allahabad High Court cannot be sustained and had to be set aside and the bail bonds of the respondent/accused are cancelled. The Court had directed Ashish Mishra to surrender within a week. Family members of the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident moved the Supreme Court challenging the Allahabad High Court order, which granted bail to Ashish Mishra. The top court cancelled the bail plea of Mishra. Earlier, the Supreme Court had appointed a committee headed by retired Punjab and Haryana high court judge Rakesh Kumar Jain to monitor the probe into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.(ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Abu Dhabi [United Arab Emirates], July 11 (ANI/WAM): Under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and honorary patron of the Abu Dhabi Festival, the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) inaugurated its Art at Embassies program with a captivating panel discussion held at the Embassy of UAE in Paris, as part of the festival which is held under the patronage of Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Assistant to the President of the UAE Red Crescent for Women's Affairs, and Head of Higher Committee for the Ataya Initiative. The event, titled "The Evolution of the UAE Art Scene," featured prominent curator Maya El Khalil, editor and writer Melissa Gronlund, and Emirati conceptual artist Maitha Abdalla. Also Read | India: How Climate Change is Causing an Environmental Crisis. The panellists shed light on the extraordinary 50-year journey of the UAE's art scene, discussing its growth, transformation, and contribution to the global art landscape. The event was a testament to ADMAF's commitment to promoting cultural exchange and nurturing artistic talents. This panel discussion served as a platform for insightful conversations and valuable perspectives, emphasising the importance of cultural diplomacy and cross-cultural dialogue. Attendees had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the UAE's vibrant art scene and its profound impact on the international art community. Also Read | China Says Its Foreign Minister Qin Gang Is Ill, a Senior Diplomat Will Take His Place at ASEAN. Hend Al Otaiba, UAE ambassador to France, said in her opening speech, "Arts and culture are an essential component of the mission of the UAE Embassy in Paris and a fertile ground on which our bilateral relationship with France has flourished... they are at the heart of both our societies and therefore constitute a pillar of Franco-Emirati diplomacy. ADMAF could not have chosen a better country than France to launch its program." Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said, We are pleased to partner with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in France to launch the first event of our latest landmark initiative, Art at Embassies. The new initiative reaffirms our commitment to fostering cultural exchange and forging deeper connections between nations and cultures through the power and influence of art. Art at Embassies seeks to strengthen cultural partnerships and cultural diplomacy, opening doors for Emirati artists to showcase their talents on the global stage while challenging perspectives through the exchange of ideasspreading knowledge to inspire profound change and foster greater understanding among nations." We are delighted to inaugurate the initiative in Paris with a panel discussion exploring the incredible evolution of the UAE art scene with curator Maya El Khalil, and writer and editor Melissa Gronlund, who have each played a pivotal role in the success of ADMAFs historic publications Portrait of a Nation II, and Art of the Emirates II. Joined by gifted Emirati artist Maitha Abdalla, their valuable insights reflect how art enables us to explore the depths of our shared humanity and celebrate the rich diversity of our civilisations, encompassing the very essence of the initiative which seeks to unite people through shared experiences, she added. During her keynote speech delivered ahead of the panel discussion, she touched upon the significance of the initiative which reflects the UAEs commitment to learn and to listen and its determination to be heard in the international conversation on art and culture. ADMAF's history of collaboration with France further strengthened the importance of the event. Over the years, ADMAF has actively fostered cultural ties between the UAE and France through various initiatives and partnerships. In 2016, Abu Dhabi Festival, organised by ADMAF, celebrated France as the Country of Honour with concerts by Orchestre de Paris featuring the cellist Xavier Phillips and organist Thierry Escaich as well as the world premiere of an orchestral concert adaptation of the pillar of French literature, The Little Prince. Notable collaborations include the co-production of Resurrection with Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and the co-commission of opera star Joyce DiDonatos EDEN featured stage direction by acclaimed French stage director Marie Lambert-Le Bihan. Abu Dhabi Festival has consistently showcased exceptional artistic performances, and exhibitions, and fostered dialogue between nations, captivating audiences and promoting cultural diversity. Previous editions of the Festival have celebrated French artists, including renowned ballet dancer Sylvie Guillem, composer Gabriel Yared, and graphic designer Philippe Apeloig. ADMAF's commitment to cultural exchange extends beyond the UAE, as demonstrated by its successful international tours. Performances by Tarek Yamani and Moneim Adwan in France have captivated global audiences, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the UAE and the Middle East. The panel discussion at the Embassy of UAE in Paris further solidified ADMAF's dedication to fostering artistic dialogue and nurturing emerging talents. Through its Art at the Embassies program, ADMAF continues to create platforms for cultural exchange, furthering its mission to inspire creativity and celebrate the diverse expressions of art. (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) Beijing, July 11: Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is unwell and the country's senior diplomat will take his place at a two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this week in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin gave no details of what was ailing Qin, who has not been seen in public in more than two weeks. Indias Bishnoi tree Huggers Renew Conservation Fight. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang is unable to attend this series of foreign ministers' meetings due to health reasons, Wang said at a daily briefing Tuesday. Wang Yi, a former foreign minister and the current head of the ruling Communist Party's Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, will represent China at the meetings Thursday and Friday, Wang Wenbin said. Cryptocurrency Makes 19 People Super Rich: Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto, 18 Other Individuals Across World Become Billionaires via Cryptocurrency. Wang Yi drew controversy last week with comments saying Westerners are incapable of distinguishing among Chinese, Koreans and Japanese, and suggesting the three countries with vastly different societies and polities form an alliance based on racial and cultural similarities. Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah confirmed Wang Yi would be attending the ASEAN meeting in Qin's stead. Wang will attend the China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, the ASEAN-China-Japan-South Korea foreign ministers' meeting, the East Asia Summit foreign ministers' meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum foreign ministers' meeting. China has sought to engage the 10 members of ASEAN, mainly through trade, as part of a campaign to dilute US influence in the region and challenge the American-led liberal world order. However, China's influence has been limited by its aggressive assertion of its claim to virtually all of the South China Sea. ASEAN members Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines exercise overlapping claims and have largely welcomed the United States military presence in the region. China denounces US involvement as outside meddling. The foreign ministers' meeting is a platform to enhance mutual trust and cooperation," Wang Wenbin told reporters. China hopes this meeting will help build more consensus, make political preparation for a fruitful ASEAN leaders' summit in September, and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity." Qin, 57, rose to prominence as an outspoken ministry spokesperson who popularised an aggressive in-your-face style that came to be known as wolf warrior diplomacy," after the name of a nationalistic Chinese movie franchise. He previously served as ambassador to the United States and head of protocol for the ministry. In March, Qin warned Washington of conflict and confrontation, striking a combative tone amid conflicts over Taiwan, COVID-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That followed an accusation by leader Xi Jinping that Western governments led by the US wanted to encircle and suppress China. According to the Foreign Ministry's website, Qin's last public appearance was at a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in Beijing on June 25. The wolf warrior approach has been adopted by many senior Chinese diplomats, but has also fallen out of favour at times. One of its most famous exponents, former ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, was transferred in January to a department overseeing land and sea borders in what was widely seen as a demotion. Current Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng has taken a generally upbeat tone since taking office in May, despite the relationship between the world's two largest economies hitting a historic low. China's tightly-controlled, highly opaque political system and the lack of a free press frequently give way to speculation surrounding the disappearance of leading figures, as when former Chinese President Hu Jintao was guided off stage without explanation at the twice-a-decade congress of China's ruling Communist Party. However, while personal rivalries and scandals over corruption are not uncommon, the party at least outwardly remains largely united behind Xi. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu, July 11: A Manang Air helicopter with six people aboard went missing near Mount Everest in Nepal on Tuesday, aviation authorities said. According to Tribhuvan International Airport General Manager Pratap Babu Tiwari, the chopper, with call sign 9N-AMV, went contactless 15 minutes into the flight. Helicopter Goes Missing in Nepal: Manag Air Chopper Carrying Six People to Kathmandu Disappears From Radar. The chopper had taken off from Surki in Solukhumbu for the capital Kathmandu at 9:45 am, the Kathmandu Post newspaper quoted Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul as saying. Japanese Military Helicopter Carrying Ten People Goes Missing After Disappearing From Radar, Search Operation Launched. According to initial reports, the helicopter was carrying a total of six individuals. It was piloted by Senior Captain Chet Gurung, the Himalayan Times newspaper quoted a source as saying. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jerusalem, Jul 11 (AP) Thousands of Israeli protesters took to the streets on Tuesday, blocking major highways and thronging the country's main international airport, in countrywide demonstrations against the government's contentious plan to overhaul the country's judicial system.. The demonstrations came the morning after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's parliamentary coalition gave initial approval to a bill to limit the Supreme Court's oversight powers, pressing forward with a plan that has bitterly divided the nation. Netanyahu's ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies have proposed a series of bills that have provoked months of sustained protests by opponents who say the country is being pushed toward authoritarian rule. Also Read | US Formally Rejoins UNESCO After Five-Year Absence. Anti-overhaul activists demonstrated nationwide throughout the day, including a mass protest Tuesday afternoon at Ben-Gurion International Airport. An estimated 10,000 people gathered outside the main hall, blowing horns and waving blue and white Israeli flags. Police kept the crowd from entering the terminal, and travel was not disrupted. Civil war! I think we're going that way if they're not going to stop, said Adi Somech, one of the protesters. Also Read | Sex in Car Kills Dialysis Patient! Victim Was Getting Physically Intimate With Nurse, Who Is Now in Hot Water for Failing To Call for an Ambulance. Mass protests have taken place since Netanyahu's far-right government presented the overhaul plan in January, days after taking office. The protests led Netanyahu to suspend the overhaul in March, but he decided to revive the plan last month after compromise talks with the political opposition collapsed. The parliamentary vote overnight Tuesday gave fresh momentum to the protest movement. The bill still needs to be approved in two more votes, expected by the end of the month, before it becomes law. Police used a water cannon to clear protesters outside of Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv. Officers arrested several others who had obstructed a highway next to the central city of Modiin. Demonstrators blocked a main highway in Haifa with a large banner reading Together we will be victorious, snarling traffic along the beachfront. A crowd gathered outside U.S. diplomatic offices in Tel Aviv, calling on the White House to put pressure on Netanyahu to halt the overhaul. Protests were taking place later Tuesday outside Netanyahu's home in central Jerusalem and in central Tel Aviv. Police reported a total of 71 arrests nationwide for alleged public disorder. Protesters scuffled with police in various locations, with at least one protester hurt by a police horse, but no major violence was reported. Netanyahu's allies have proposed a series of changes to the Israeli legal system aimed at weakening what they say are the excessive powers of unelected judges. The proposed changes include giving Netanyahu's allies control over the appointment of judges and giving parliament power to overturn court decisions. The legislation advanced Tuesday aims to strip the Supreme Court of its power to review the reasonability of government decisions a safeguard that proponents say is needed to prevent corruption and improper political appointments. The Netanyahu government, which took office in December, is the most hard-line ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox in Israel's 75-year history. His allies proposed the sweeping changes to the judiciary after the country held its fifth elections in under four years, all of them seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's fitness to serve as prime minister while on trial for corruption. Critics of the judicial overhaul say it will upset the country's fragile system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies. They also say Netanyahu has a conflict of interest because he is on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. The United States, Israel's most important ally, has also criticized the overhaul effort, urging Netanyahu to move slowly and seek a broad consensus on any legal changes. On Tuesday, a member of Netanyahu's Cabinet, Amichai Chikli, accused Israeli opposition leaders of coordinating the criticism with the White House. A wide section of Israeli society, including reserve military officers, business leaders, LGBTQ+ people and members of other minority groups have joined the protests. The ongoing unrest has unnerved foreign investors and caused Israel's currency, the shekel, to drop in value. On Tuesday, 300 reservists from the military's elite cyber warfare unit signed a letter saying they would not volunteer for service, explaining the government has demonstrated it is determined to destroy the state of Israel. Sensitive cyber abilities with the potential for being used for evil must not be given to a criminal government that is undermining the foundations of democracy, the letter said. Fighter pilots and members of other elite units also have threatened to stop reporting for duty. In a speech Tuesday evening, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant lashed out at those who refuse to report for duty, saying it threatened the country's security and was a prize for our enemies. Arnon Bar-David, head of the country's national labor union, the Histadrut, threatened a possible general strike that could paralyze the country's economy. "If the situation reaches an extreme, we will intervene and employ our strength, Bar-David said, calling on Netanyahu to stop the chaos. The Histadrut called a general strike in March as the government pushed the judicial overhaul legislation through parliament after weeks of protest. The move shut down large swaths of Israel's economy and helped contribute to Netanyahu's decision to suspend the legislation. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lahore, Jul 11 (PTI) A Lahore court on Tuesday granted bail to Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, the President of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, in a money laundering case filed by the country's top anti-corruption agency against him. Judge Aslam Gondal of the Banking Offenses Court issued the order over the bail application of the former Punjab chief minister, who had been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for alleged money laundering, Geo News reported. Also Read | Indias Bishnoi tree Huggers Renew Conservation Fight. The court ordered Elahi, a close aide to former prime minister Imran Khan, to submit a surety bond of Rs 500,000 against the bail. The FIA had booked the 77-year-old veteran leader and his son on charges of money laundering and suspicious transactions on June 20. He was taken into custody the next day and was subsequently sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand. Also Read | Cryptocurrency Makes 19 People Super Rich: Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto, 18 Other Individuals Across World Become Billionaires via Cryptocurrency. Judge Gondal questioned the FIA for adopting a non-cooperative attitude after the probe agency failed to submit the record despite the court order. On May 26, a district court in Lahore issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Elahi. Elahi was initially arrested on June 1 in a graft case, amid a crackdown on Khan's party in the wake of May 9 protests. He was rearrested multiple times after this in different cases, including the two money laundering cases. During the hearing of his bail plea in the LHC, Elahi had requested the court to grant him bail like Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Elahi, who was a close aide to military dictator General Pervez Musharraf, was appointed as the president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in March this year after quitting his former party - the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Imran Khan by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad. His party workers vandalised over 20 military installations and government buildings, including the Lahore Corps Commander House, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Khan was later released on bail. The violence elicited a strong reaction from the government and military with vows of taking action against the culprits, leading to an ongoing crackdown against those involved. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Paris, July 11: As France is ready to roll out a red carpet for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his visit to the European nation is likely to be packed with several interactions with the top leadership in France to discuss issues of global interest that show the growing ties between the two countries. Notably, PM Modi is the Guest of Honour at Bastille Day celebrations in France this year. On the occasion, the Tri-services contingent from India will participate, including Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft. India: How Climate Change is Causing an Environmental Crisis. French National Day, or Bastille Day, occupies a special place in French consciousness. This day commemorates the Storming of the Bastille Prison in 1789 during the French Revolution. The Bastille Day Parade is the highlight of the Bastille Day Celebrations. However, it is uncommon for foreign politicians to be invited as the Guest of Honour for Bastille Day (the previous time was in 2017 when the US President (Donald Trump at that time) was given the invitation). China Says Its Foreign Minister Qin Gang Is Ill, a Senior Diplomat Will Take His Place at ASEAN. Participation by foreign marching bands and aircraft is even more unusual. The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi becomes all the way more important as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership. The two leaders (PM Modi and French President Macron) share great personal chemistry between the leaders. According to sources, a special gesture by President Emmanuel Macron is likely, which includes multiple meetings in the presence of the PM, particularly a private dinner and joint meeting with CEOs. Also, a State Banquet at the iconic Louvre Museum on Bastille Day will likely be hosted. Moreover, PM Modi's interaction with the entire political leadership of France, including President Macron, Prime Minister Borne and the Presidents of the Senate (Upper House) and National Assembly (Lower House) is also expected during his visit. A strong focus will be laid on trade and economy with a CEO Forum comprising big names from the Indian and French sides. A close collaboration not just on bilateral issues but also on what the two countries can do on global issues will be looked upon. PMs visit has been preceded by numerous activities organized by our Embassy, including Namaste France earlier this week. Interaction with the prestigious La Seine Musicale with the Indian community is also expected, as per sources. Ambitious outcomes of PM Modi's France visit are anticipated in the areas of defence, space, geostrategic planning, infrastructure, energy, climate action, museology, student mobility, interpersonal relations, sports, and culture, among others. As India and France are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership this year, the Indian military contingent would also be part of the marching contingent on Bastille Day, alongside their French counterparts to mark this important milestone. At the invitation of France President Emmanuel Macron, PM Modi will be the Guest of Honour on France's National Day on July 14. The French traditional military parade is held in Paris during Bastille Day on July 14. PM Modi's visit will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the "strategic partnership" between France and India. Prime Minister's visit is expected to herald the next phase in the India-France Strategic Partnership by setting new and ambitious goals for our strategic, cultural, scientific, academic, and economic cooperation, including in a wide range of industries, as per the official statement released by the Indian Embassy in France. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Johannesburg experienced its first snowfall in over a decade, surprising residents and delighting children.People in South Africa's largest city, Johannesburg, were delighted on Monday by rare snowfall. Also Read | Himachal Pradesh: 20 Killed As Rain Wreaks Havoc in the State, Damages Infrastructure; PM Narendra Modi Speaks With CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The South African Weather Service said Johannesburg last saw snow in August 2012. Also Read | Government Plans To Purchase 26 Rafale Jets for Navy, Deals Likely During PM Narendra Modi's France Visit. More snow was expected in the city Monday overnight. Cold weather conditions were expected to continue in other parts of the country for the rest of the week. Johannseburg's winter wonderland While other parts of South Africa regularly receive snowfall during winter, the once-in-a-decade dusting captured Johannesburg residents' imaginations. They took to social media to share videos and photos of them playing in the snow. After taking her picture on Nelson Mandela Square in the financial district, Jennifer Banda said she was pregnant the last time it snowed. "Eleven years down the line, it's exciting that we have snow," she said. "It's been such a long time, I feel so happy," another resident Lerato Matepese, said. Warnings of more cold weather Despite the fun, authorities warned people to stay warm accross the country as the cold spell continues. In Johannesburg, residents who rely on fires for heating were told not to leave them unattended. Humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers told South Africa's News24 that it responded to four fires caused by unattended heaters and fires elsewhere in the country. Snow has been reported in several provinces, including the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. lo/msh (AFP, Reuters) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2023 06:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Bengaluru, July 11: In a shocking incident, the MD and CEO of a private tech firm were brutally hacked to death in Amrutalli locality of Bengaluru in broad daylight on Tuesday, police said. The deceased are identified as Phanindra Subramanya, the Managing Director of Aeronics Media Private and its CEO Vinu Kumar. Police said that a former employee of the company, identified as J. Felix aka Jocker Felix, a TikTok star has hacked them to death and they have launched a hunt for the accused and his associates. Jehane Thomas Dies: TikTok Star Passes Away 'Suddenly' at 30 After Complaining About Migraines, Her Untimely Death Shocks Friends. Felix had left Aeronics and established his own company. As Subramanya was the major competitor for him in the business, he had hatched a plan to finish him off. Tanya Pardazi, Canadian TikTok Star, Dies in Skydiving Accident. As per the police, Felix, accompanied by three others, had barged inside the Aeronics office in the evening and attacked the victims, who were working in first and third floors, respectively, with a sword and a knife before escaping from the spot. Both the victims succumbed to injuries on the spot. Their bodies have been shifted to the Manipal hospital for an autopsy. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2023 10:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Police traced the location of the mobile phone from which the call was made to Devrad village of Harpur Budhat in Gorakhpur district, which led them to one Sanjay Kumar who was apprehended on Monday morning, the SHO said. Tamil producer Manickam Narayanan has opened can of worms for superstar Ajith Kumar. He has accused the actor of alleged cheating. Known for films like Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu and Vithagan, Narayanan has claimed that Ajith borrowed money from him and never returned it. He also added that Ajith requested that the money getting adjusted as a salary for a film, but never ended up working with him. "Till date he has not returned the money nor done a film for me. He has not spoken about this at all in all these years. He calls himself a gentleman, but hes not," producer told media. Ajith Kumars Father PS Mani Dies at 85; Last Rites To Be a Family Affair Read Statement. Ajith Kumar Accused of Cheating: Ajith is not a gentleman, he cheated me: Producer Manickam Narayanan slams actor I #AjithKumar https://t.co/E88U2tDmCf India Today Showbiz (@Showbiz_IT) July 11, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) New Delhi, July 11 : The Indian IT, BPO, Manufacturing and other sectors witnessed a growth in the hiring activity in the month of June 2023, a new report said on Tuesday. According to the report by foundit (previously Monster India & APAC), Healthcare (+11 per cent), BPO (+7 per cent), Production & Manufacturing (+5 per cent), and Logistics (+9 per cent) saw positive e-recruitment activity in June this year on a month-on-month basis, plus the IT (+2 per cent) sector also showed signs of rebound with improved demand for skilled professionals. AI Lab in India: Dell Technologies Joins Intel to Launch Artificial Intelligence Skills Lab in Telangana. "Jobs in segments such as Healthcare, Manufacturing, and even IT have returned, and we expect to see better hiring intentions in the coming quarter as companies revisit their talent requirements. As seen during any global slowdown, India Inc. exhibited cautious hiring sentiments but this is bound to bounce back with time," said Sekhar Garisa, CEO - foundit. Moreover, the report showed that metro cities fared well with an overall 3 per cent hiring growth, while recruitment across Tier-2 cities dipped by 2 per cent. Across experience levels, demand for freshers (0-2 years) on a monthly basis stabilised, while top management roles (15+ years) saw maximum growth of 4 per cent. Dukaan Layoffs: Indian SaaS Platform Hires AI Chatbot, Lays Off 90% of Its Customer Support Staff. On a year-on-year basis, sectors such as IT (-19 per cent), BFSI (-13 per cent), Home Appliances (-26 per cent), and Production/Manufacturing (-14 per cent) have not yet bounced back to last years hiring numbers (June 2023 vs June 2022), despite the monthly positive incline seen in a few of these industries. Further, the report said that Kolkata has emerged at the top of the list with maximum job posting activity with 12 per cent growth (June 2023 vs May 2023), largely on account of increased BPO hiring. Metro cities such as Bangalore (+3 per cent), Delhi NCR (+3 per cent), and Mumbai (+4 per cent) also noted a rebound in hiring demand. Engineering/Production roles witnessed robust growth of 8 per cent in June 2023 as compared to the previous month. A downward trend was noted for professionals in Sales & Business Development (-2 per cent) and Marketing & Communications (-1 per cent), indicating reduced requirements by companies in branding and related functions. Other roles such as HR & Admin, Hospitality & Travel, and Logistics/Supply Chain also noted a marginal decline of 1 per cent. New Delhi, July 11: The Taliban has come out in support of Elon Musk-run Twitter over Mark Zuckerberg-run Threads on Instagram, saying other platforms cannot replace the original micro-blogging platform. Anas Haqqani, a Taliban thought leader with family connections to the leadership, officially endorsed Twitter over Metas Threads has crossed 100 million users within a week of its launch. Elon Musk vs Mark Zuckerberg War of Words Escalates; Twitter Owner Proposes Literal Dick-Measuring Contest With Meta Founder After Challenging Him To Cage Fight. Twitter has two important advantages over other social media platforms. The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second privilege is the public nature and credibility of Twitter, Haqqani posted. He said that Twitter doesn't have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it, added the senior member of the Taliban. Taliban Leader Anas Haqqani Vouches for Twitter: Twitter has two important advantages over other social media platforms. The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second privilege is the public nature & credibility of Twitter. Twitter doesn't have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it. pic.twitter.com/oYQTI3hgfI Anas Haqqani( ) (@AnasHaqqani313) July 10, 2023 A Twitter user posted: What has it come to, even Taliban endorsing Twitter. According to reports, while Twitter has fallen out of favour with several prominent people, celebrities and advertising brands since Musk took over in October last year and made drastic changes, the Taliban seems to love it. Two Taliban officials even bought blue verification check marks after Musk started selling them in January this year for $8 a month, reports Vice. The Taliban is very aggressive about using social media platforms to push its message across to its audience. 'Rate Limit Exceeded' Cake Goes Viral! Twitter Employee Resigns With a Unique Cake Featuring the New Upgrade of Micro-Blogging Platform (View Pic). However, Facebook and TikTok both view the Taliban as a terrorist organisation and disallow them from posting. Its a ban that persists to this day, the report mentioned. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2023 11:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Ankara, July 11: People residing in summer houses around Turkey's Aliaga district in western Izmir province are being evacuated by land and sea following a wildfire, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported. "Currently, two summer houses have burned down. Our priority is to prevent fire from reaching residential areas. We are evacuating our citizens by both land and sea," the broadcaster quoted Aliaga District Governor Zekeriya Guney as saying. Turkey Wildfire: Evacuation of Russian Tourists Underway From Titanic Deluxe Bodrum Hotel Due to Forest Fire. Our citizens living in the affected region's sites are currently being relocated," the District Governor added. A total of six helicopters, four planes, 18 water sprinklers, and five construction machines are currently fighting the flames, Xinhua news agency reported citing TRT. Turkey Forest Fire: Death Toll In Wildfire Raging in South Turkey Rises To 4; Firefighting Operations Underway (View Images And Videos). Fires also broke out in the forest area of the Menderes district of Izmir, and in the Dalyan region of the Ortaca district of southwestern Mugla province, according to the TRT reports. Turkey suffers wildfires in Mediterranean and Aegean regions in summer prompted by high temperatures accompanied by strong winds. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2023 11:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Associated Press A federal judge in Brooklyn sentenced four Mexicans on Friday to prison terms ranging from 1 1/2 to three years for their involvement in a ring that brought deaf Mexicans into the country illegally and used them as slave labor. Norma Alcantara, 37, and Francisco Duenas-Olveras, 29, who prosecutors said originated the idea of using the immigrants to sell key chains in New York and Chicago, were each sentenced to three years in prison and were ordered to pay $300,000 restitution between them, said prosecutor Sanford Cohen. Each pleaded guilty in December to a single charge of conspiring to harbor illegal immigrants, he said. Advertisement Juan Antonio Limon, 22, who pleaded guilty to a conspiracy-to-harbor charge, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison. Carlos Rivera Lozano, 22, who was involved in smuggling workers through California and pleaded guilty to harboring illegal immigrants, was sentenced to a year and a half in prison. The forced-labor ring was discovered July 19 when New York police found 57 immigrants, most of them deaf, in squalid conditions. On 10 July journalists protested in Mexico City (CDMX) to demand justice for the killing, a reporter for national daily La Jornada, in Nayarit state. End of preview - This article contains approximately 398 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 10 July Guatemalas supreme court (CSJ) endorsed a 7 July ruling by the electoral authority (TSE) affirming the preliminary results of the 25 June presidential first round election following a review of the votes. End of preview - This article contains approximately 627 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 10 July Paraguayan authorities carried out an operation aiming to dismantle the money laundering activities of the network of Brazilian drug trafficker, who is currently behind bars. End of preview - This article contains approximately 362 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 10 July Brazils minister for indigenous peoples, Sonia Guajajara, gave an interview to the media outlet Reporter Brasil, in which she called for a greater security force to remove illegal wildcat miners (known as garimpeiros) from the demarcated Yanomami indigenous territory (TI) in the northern state of Roraima. Analysis: In February the government led by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva deployed security forces to clear out illegal mining groups from the Yanomami TI in what was a strong signal of its declared commitment to defend indigenous communities from armed criminal groups such as garimpeiros. However, Guajajara told Reporter Brasil that a lot more needs to be done on the Yanomami issue and lamented the legislative setbacks to indigenous land rights, such as the PL 490 bill (known as the Marco Temporal), which would limit the number of indigenous communities which can apply for protected demarcated status. Guajajara cited figures from the federal police (PF) and environmental agency (Ibama) on the progress of the security operations in the Yanomami demarcation, which reported that 82% of garimpeiros have already been removed from the TI. Despite the ongoing clampdown led by various government agencies, violence persists in the TI. An attack on a Yanomami village, Parima, on 3 July in which a child was shot dead and five villagers were injured was denounced by the indigenous peoples ministry as a garimpeiro attack. However, local authorities have yet to apprehend the perpetrators and confirm their motivations. When asked about the Lula governments failures to stop anti-indigenous legislation, such as the Marco Temporal bill, Guajajara rejected claims that the governments political will was faltering. Instead, she blamed the bancada ruralista and its allies in congress an allusion to the agribusiness lobby which enjoys a strong presence in both houses and welcomes the limits placed on indigenous land demarcations. Looking Ahead: Yanomami territory spans Roraima and neighbouring Amazonas and includes territory in neighbouring Venezuela, which is also preyed upon by illegal mining groups. The need to tackle transnational garimpeiro networks and violations of indigenous land rights is among the issues likely to be discussed by the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (OTCA), an international socio-environmental group of which Brazil and Venezuela are both members, which is due to hold a summit on 8-9 August. Actress Sofia Vergara has embraced the delights of la dolce vita while celebrating her latest birthday in grand style. Turning 51 on Monday, Vergara went on a luxurious Italian vacation with friends, immersing herself in the beauty of the Mediterranean country, per PEOPLE. The actress expressed her gratitude for reaching this milestone in a captivating makeup-free selfie shared on social media to commemorate the occasion. She humorously acknowledged the passage of time, stating, "Waking up here on my 51st birthday," she captioned, translated from Spanish. "Still with health, dreams, energy (my knees already hurt) but with a lot of joy to live!" Vergara's heartfelt post garnered a flurry of well-wishes from her dedicated followers, including a playful comment from her Modern Family co-star, Sarah Hyland. Her America's Got Talent co-judges Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel were among those extending their warm regards. Klum expressed her appreciation, affirming, "I love you, Sofia I am so lucky to have you in my life." At the same time, Mandel, ever the jester, added a touch of humor, exclaiming, "Happy birthday. @heidiklum is so lucky to have you in her life." Notably, Vergara's son, Manolo, also took the opportunity to honor his beloved mother on her special day. On his Instagram Story, he shared a cherished throwback photograph capturing the actress cradling him during his younger years, humorously dressed as a rodeo clown. Accompanying the heartfelt image, Manolo affectionately captioned, "Happy Birthday ma!!!!! Te quiero mucho," emphasizing the deep love he holds for his remarkable mother. READ NEXT: Sofia Vergara New Cooking Show Sofia Vergara Celebrates 30M Followers on Instagram In a remarkable social media milestone, Sofia Vergara recently achieved a remarkable feat, amassing a staggering 30 million followers on Instagram, Yahoo! Life noted. She graced her feed with captivating photos showcasing her impeccable style and stunning physique to commemorate this significant occasion. Contrary to expectations of a typical bikini ensemble, Vergara opted for a striking neon green one-piece bathing suit featuring high-cut sides, a cheeky backside, and a flattering square neckline. Facebook Error Against the backdrop of the picturesque Italian coastline, the actress posed on her hotel balcony, exuding confidence and elegance. Her luscious caramel-highlighted hair cascaded down with a sleek straightness, parted precisely in the middle. Complementing her sun-kissed complexion, she adorned her lips with a soft pink hue while her eyes captivated with a subtle smoky allure, likely protected by her trusted Toty sunscreen. Sofia Vergara humbly thanked her loyal supporters in a heartfelt caption accompanying the post. "30,000,000 followers!! Thank u to u all! Thank u for always being there for me! Thank u for always supporting me in everything I do," while sending affectionate "Besos from Italy!!," the actress captioned. Sofia Vergara Celebrates Her 'Vicious' Dog's 10th Birthday Actress Sofia Vergara recently took to Instagram to celebrate her beloved dog Bubble's birthday, sharing a heartwarming post that hinted at the day's vibrant festivities and humorously highlighted their unique dynamic, according to TODAY. Facebook Error In the post's caption, Vergara said, "Feliz 10th cumpleanos my sweet, vicious Bubbles!" as she wished her furry companion a happy 10th birthday in Spanish. Playfully acknowledging their affectionate yet mischievous relationship, she added, "No matter how many times u bite me, I will always love u." The photo featured Vergara's dog dressed in a charming leopard print dress, captured in the act of appreciating a delectably frosted pink cake adorned with a flamingo topper. READ MORE: Sofia Vergara Movies Top 5 Films This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Sofia Vergara's Birthday Bonanza - From TheEllenShow In what critics call a new low in the feud between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg over Meta's new social media platform, Threads, the Twitter CEO just called for things to go below the belt as Musk just issued an NSFW challenge to the Facebook CEO. Threads has been described as a Twitter-like social media platform, with the Musk-owned company threatening to sue. However, Business Insider pointed out that Elon Musk went the childish route by first name-calling Zuckerberg, tweeting "Zuck is a cuck" before issuing that NSFW challenge, which is a literal "d*ck measuring contest." I propose a literal dick measuring contest Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 10, 2023 Musk had been tweeting an awful lot about male genitals lately, and now he wants to whip his own out to deal with his beef with Zuckerberg, which has been simmering long before the Meta CEO even launched Threads. So far, this NSFW challenge is still a proposal from Musk, though the two are reportedly also interested in an actual cage fight, with the UFC's Dana White already talking to both billionaires about making that match happen. White stated that both are interested in the cage fight. As for the "D*ck measuring contest," Mark Zuckerberg has not officially said anything about it yet. Elon Musk Challenge To Mark Zuckerberg Issued as Threads Hits the 100 Million User Mark Musk has not been happy with the launch of Meta's new Threads platform, with Twitter sending a cease-and-desist letter to Meta, accusing it of illegally copying Twitter to create Threads. However, the Chief Twit's NSFW challenge came at an auspicious time for his new business rival. According to The Independent, Threads has now surpassed 100 million users, and the new Musk "Zuck is a Cuck" tweet was just adding fuel to the fire. READ MORE: Elon Musk Imposes Reading Limits on Twitter Musk had not been silent on the new social media platform, calling Threads "just Instagram minus pics," and adding that it "makes no sense, given that thirst pics are the main reason people use that app." Mark Zuckerberg also fired back at Twitter, with the Meta Chief tweeting for the first time in 11 years during the launch of Threads. He reportedly posted the Spider-Man meme where two Spider-Men are pointing at each other, referencing the similarities between the two competing platforms. The Threads Vs. Twitter Debate SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been accusing Meta of hiring former Twitter employees so that the company could steal trade secrets and intellectual property. The Chief Twit even tweeted, that "competition is fine, cheating is not." However, according to The Street, Meta has been contending that these accusations are untrue. While the "d*ck measuring contest" might be unlikely, the court battle between the two companies might certainly happen. Musk has had a rightward shift as of late, aligning himself with controversial Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Since he took over, Twitter has also seen a surge in hate speech and misinformation. With Threads, Zuckerberg hopes he could draw a contrast to all the negativity Twitter currently has and he has even expressed his intention to make "kindness" the focus of his new social media platform. READ MORE: Tesla Mexico Factory: Elon Musk's $5 Billion Plan, Revealed This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Elon Musk Calls Zuck a Cuck and Challenges him to a Dick Measuring Contest - Breaking Live A tragic incident unfolded in Mexico City on Monday, as masked gunmen targeted a Toluca market, resulting in the loss of nine lives, according to authorities, AP reports. Prosecutors revealed that the assailants arrived at the scene, opening fire before dousing a section of the market with a flammable substance and setting it ablaze. Following the attack, the perpetrators swiftly fled the area. While three deceased individuals are believed to be minors, official identifications are still pending. Authorities are investigating private security guards' conduct, as they are suspected of abandoning their assigned posts during the attack. No group or organization has immediately claimed responsibility for this violent act in Toluca, located approximately 60 kilometers (40 miles) west of Mexico City. Toluca serves as the capital of the State of Mexico and is considered part of the metropolitan area surrounding the national capital. With nearly a million residents, the city sees many individuals commuting to Mexico City for employment. READ NEXT: Mexico: CJNG Kills Quitting Scam Call Center Workers Familia Michoacana Drug Cartel Appears To Be Responsible for the Crime The incident involving the attack on the Toluca market reflects a broader pattern of violence and criminal activities in the region, per Al Jazeera. Historically, gangs have targeted public markets in Mexico to extort vendor protection payments. However, recent fires have also been linked to vendor disputes regarding market stall placement. This attack follows a string of violent incidents in Toluca, including discovering two dismembered bodies just last week. The bodies were accompanied by signs indicating the involvement of the Familia Michoacana drug cartel, which originated in the neighboring state of Michoacan in the early 2000s. Although the cartel has faced significant pressure and displacement from its home state, it has re-established a presence in the State of Mexico and the neighboring southern state of Guerrero. This resurgence has led to an ongoing territorial conflict with other criminal groups, resulting in a wave of violence in the region. Violence Spreads in Chilpancingo The recent attack on the Toluca market coincides with disturbing reports from Guerrero, where four taxi drivers were tragically shot and killed over the weekend, with one of their vehicles set ablaze in and around the state capital of Chilpancingo, ABC News noted. Chilpancingo had previously witnessed a gruesome incident of drug gang violence in late June, where parts of seven dismembered bodies were callously left on a downtown street, accompanied by a threatening message from a criminal organization. The situation in Chilpancingo remained tense on Monday as hundreds of protesters from a neighboring town converged on the city. Their primary demand was the release of fellow residents who had been detained on drug-related charges. During their demonstration, the protesters briefly obstructed the main highway connecting Mexico City and Acapulco, as reported by prosecutors. Disturbing video footage broadcast by local TV stations revealed that the protesters seized control of a police armored truck, which they then employed to forcibly breach the gates of the state congress building. It should be noted that legislators were not present for a session at that time. Guerrero continues to be embroiled in a violent territorial dispute involving the Familia Michoacana cartel and several other criminal gangs. One of these groups is suspected of being responsible for the recent killings in Chilpancingo. READ MORE: Missing Mexico Journalist Found Dead This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Cartel violence: Human remains hanging from bridge in Mexico - From NewsNation The Guatemalan election results are still being held up, stoking fears that controversial President Alejandro Giammattei is trying to hold onto power. However, in an unusual move, the president released an open letter promising he would not hold on to power. Alejandro Giammattei has been accused of moving further into authoritarianism, especially by the United States. Opponents fear that he is trying to hold onto power beyond his term because one of the candidates who qualified in the upcoming August runoff election is a critic and has vowed to take on Guatemala's problem with corruption. In his open letter, Giammettei denounced a "campaign of disinformation and absolutely false and biased rumors." According to the Associated Press, the president told the people of Guatemala that he would respect the constitutional end of his term. His last day of office is expected to be on Jan. 14, 2024. Conservative Sandra Torres, who previously faced corruption charges, is supposed to take on progressive anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arevalo in the upcoming run-offs. However, after Torres's party sent a complaint regarding the results, Guatemala's highest court, the Constitutional Court, ordered that the election results not be released and the votes reviewed. Organization of American States Urges Guatemala To Move Forward With Election Process Other observers in the Americas are backing the United States in its calls for Guatemala to move forward with its democratic process. This includes the Organization of American States, which, like the US, also did not find any anomalies in last month's Guatemalan elections. The organization released a statement, saying, "The Mission verified that no serious irregularities were revealed and that no significant changes were registered with respect to the preliminary results of Sunday, June 25," decrying the Constitutional Court's decision to release the results so that the country could move forward with the presidential run-off. READ MORE: Guatemala Elections Heading To Presidential Run-off "With the extension of the electoral process, the campaigns are deprived of unrecoverable days, which affects just as much the candidates to be able to present their proposals, as the citizens to cast a more informed vote," added the organization in a statement. Reuters reported that other international and national organizations have also criticized the decision made by Guatemala's equivalent of the Supreme Court, stating that the suspension of the electoral results was "unprecedented." Guatemala Elections Might Lead To Unrest and More Migrants Flocking to US When Daniel Ortega locked up political opponents to prevent them from running against him in 2021, Nicaraguans flocked to the US at historic levels as they tried to get away from his oppressive regime. The same could happen with the Guatemala elections. According to USA Today, discontented Guatemalans are flocking to Bernardo Arevalo's side as he takes on his country's political establishment. However, with the possibility that President Alejandro Giammattei is trying to hold on to power and become more authoritarian, it might mean more hardships in Guatemala, leading more people to flee and seek asylum in the US. READ MORE: Guatemala: At Least 9 Dead After Stampede During a Rock Concert This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH Review in Guatemala of contested electoral results - AP Archive Introduction In around ninety percent countries emergency provisions have been constitutionalized till now. About more than two-third countries (i.e.,138 countries) have declared emergency once and out of which approximately fifty percent of them failed to implement or take load of emergency properly. Emergency as per Cambridge dictionary means, "something dangerous or serious, such as an accident, that happens suddenly or unexpectedly and needs fast action in order to avoid harmful results."1 According to Black law dictionary, "it is a situation requiring immediate attention and remedial action. Involves injury, loss of life, damage to the property, or catastrophic interference with the normal activities. A sudden, unexpected, or impending situation."2 By importing the word "EMERGENCY" into "STATE EMERGENCY" it means when a country is expecting or already going through situation like external aggression, war, armed rebellion or financial crisis then there is need of an action that is to be taken by the government of a country in order to save its integrity and its existence. Reaction of a country to an emergency situation totally depends upon the strength and form of government within the country. However, there are extraordinary circumstances when a country should opt for declaring a state of emergency. The step of declaration of state of emergency is upon the discretion of the country which is facing it but over a period of time it has captured political sensation and debated globally. Why a country needs emergency provisions? During the times of unexpected and sudden overtakes of events and forces on a nation, lives of the citizens and their entire security system gets put in great danger. In order to cope with dangers any confronting nation requires that the individual rights and liberties of the citizens be temporarily suspended. Any democratic government has obligations primarily to protect the integrity of the state and then with equal efficacy protect human rights of its citizens and all other subjects which come under its jurisdiction. Many national constitutions which condone the suspensions of rights guaranteed, have the principle of choosing between competing values and the sacrifice of one to another behind emergency provisions. Why India needs emergency provisions? A lot of events occurred before as well as after the pre independence period which made arrangements being made for the imposition of the clauses of emergency by the drafters of the constitution relevant. Religious disturbances had put the democratic preservation and foundation of India under eminent danger prevailing between the Hindus and the Mohammedans. Dissonance gave birth to powers which could destroy casteism, regionalism, communitarianism and the unity of the nation integrated with peace and languish get shattered. Kashmir's dilemma had emerged due to the monarchs defeat while the constitution was being created and then subsequently Pakistan had threatened the country. One of the unique features the allows assumption of wide powers to the Centre in special situations to the constitution of India is the emergency provision. The Centre is allowed to suspend or curtail freedom of citizens through emergency provisions. A big reason behind educationists hesitating to identify the constitution of India as fully federal is the esse subsistence of the emergency provisions in the constitution. Towards the membership of the union of India certain states like Junagadh and Hyderabad (indigenous) were unenthusiastically disinclined, which lead to a greater challenge being faced by the government of India as the government had no acceptance towards such separatist actions which were demanded by geographical necessity in Junagadh and Hyderabad. Hence article 352 was required. Communist activities amongst Telangana workers and farmers had started to spread during the post-independence period. The country's civil order and peace was under possible threat because of the socialist regime prevalent which led to the adoption of extreme clauses by the constitution. Drafters of the constitution were concerned about the systematic, effective, efficient, and constant operation of the state and the local governments. Hence article 356 was instilled so as to keep a state without legislative processes from collapsing. The factors which played a big role towards the decline of the foreign currency reserves and branches, also played a role in the drastic downfall of the country's financial position, because of which article 360 was introduced in the constitution of India to prevent legal complications from arising by Dr. B. R Ambedkar. Indian History of declaring National emergency Post-independence, there were three-time span when national emergency declared. 1. Between 1962-1968: At the time of Indo- China war, when because of external aggression of China, national security of India was threatened.34 2. In 1971 during the war of Indo-Pakistan under the leadership of Indira Gandhi when the security of India was threatened by Pakistan. 3. Between 1975-1977: Internal disturbance was the reason behind declaration of emergency and again it was proclaimed under the government of Indira Gandhi. The political instability is one of the reasons which led to controversial circumstances and resulted in the proclamation. Laws related to emergency in other country State of emergency in U.S.A To meet crisis, exigency or emergency great powers are bestowed upon the president by the federal laws. These powers are not under restriction of any general sorts and have a wide range of jurisdiction from the military, war to any situation or circumstances. Powers that come under the purview of statutory delegations remain latent and silent until and unless national emergency has been declared by the president while certain other constitutional as well as statutory powers were always within the scope of powers granted to the president. Powers such as, seizure of commodities, properties, imposition of martial laws, controlling production, travel, laws etc. Above mentioned overview of the power's era need to the president were exercised at the discretion of the president till World War 1. There were times when no restrictions were placed upon the announcement of such proclamation and vice versa there were times when the subjects of such proclamation were confined to certain specific files of the policies, such powers were activated with the proclamation of national emergency which might have been declared on any condition or circumstance. The Supreme Court put certain limitations on the powers of the president with the help of a case quite important to understand the provisions and scope of emergency in U.S.A (Youngstown sheet &tube co. v. Sawyer) but didn't limit the president's power to declare such proclamation at his discretion. The national emergencies act was introduced in order to impose restrictions on the president for the declaration of emergency. To look at the subject matter of national emergency with close scrutiny a committee was set up specially in 1973. National emergency act passed by congress in 1976 was to make sure that a specific purpose should be there in order to declare a state of emergency which would not trigger other executive powers related to such declarations subsequently. State of emergency in Germany The constitution of Weimar republic is extremely important to understand the provisions of emergency in Germany. During the period of 1918 to 1933 Germany unofficially was termed as Weimar Republic, which came into a broader light in the year 1933. Acknowledgement was given to Germany in 1918 through it being declared as a republic. Subsequently the democratic Weimar constitution was adopted in 1919. To suppress rebellions mainly the Weimar constitution permitted provisions for the declaration of emergency under article 48. It is stated in article 48 "if a state doesn't fulfil obligations laid upon by the Reich constitution/Reich laws the Reich president may use armed forces through military actions in order to force the application to be caused upon such state. However, when Adolf Hitler successfully won the special federal elections in 1932, he was appointed as the chancellor of Germany by then presiding president Hindenburg. A month later a protest against Hitler's appointment was carried out which is now famously known as the "Reichstag fire", the arson was committed on the parliament on the 27th of February 1933, "Reichstag building". The commencement of the "Nazi Germany" was ushered via the indefinite suspension of the Weimar constitution, signed by then president Von Hindenburg essentially known as the "Reichstag fire decree". "Notstandsgezetse" was the German emergency act and constitutional provisions introduced to make certain amendments and to incorporate provisions relating to emergency in the constitution. Provisions concerning the proper functioning of the basic democratic rules and regulations during a state of emergency were installed very comprehensively in the constitution of Germany. The act provides for certain essential fundamental rights which are to be suspended. Borrowing of Emergency feature Articles enumerated in the Constitution of India are not originally invented by the Constituent assembly. Constitution of India is basically known as borrowed constitution because each aspect is borrowed from the constitution of other country. Similarly Emergency provisions were borrowed from Germany. It is not like that provisions were exactly copied and pasted to form our constitution. It is only the conceptual idea that was borrowed and framing was done by drafting committee under Dr. B R Ambedkar who was heading the drafting committee. And rest is the history when the Constitution was finalized in 2 years, 11 months and 18 days. Laws related to emergency in India Types of emergencies in India Federal standards under Part XVIII of the constitution enforced in the presidential state of emergency which the state may override concerning the freedom of individuals Article 352 to article 360 of the Indian constitution contains provisions relating to emergency: National emergency - Article 352 State emergency - Article 362 Financial emergency - Article 360 National emergency "Meaning: According to Article 352, when security of India or part of the territory is threatened by reason of war or external aggression or armed rebellion and to the satisfaction of the President there exists grave emergency then National emergency may be declared by way of proclamation in respect of the whole of India or of such part of the territory thereof as may be specified in the Proclamation. Furthermore, it should be noted that National emergency can be imposed even before actual occurrence of such events. Procedure for declaration of National emergency: National emergency can be proclaimed only when Union Cabinet communicate to president in writing of decision to issue a proclamation. Proclamation is valid for one month unless revoked and shall cease to operate at the expiration of one month unless approved by resolutions of both Houses of parliament [ Majority of total house + two-third present and voting. Time span: Once National emergency is approved then it will be valid for 6 Months. And if further approved by the same procedure, then it will continue for 6 Months more. Procedure for revocation of National emergency: National emergency may be revoked or varied by the President by a subsequent proclamation. Where a notice in writing signed by not less than one tenth of the total number of members of the House of the People has been given of, their intention to move a resolution for disapproving, or, as the case may be, for disapproving the continuance in force of, a Proclamation issued under clause (l) or a Proclamation varying such Proclamation, (a) to the Speaker, if the House is in session; or (b) to the President, if the House is not in session, a special sitting of the House shall be held within fourteen days from the date on which such notice is received by the Speaker, or as the case may be, by the President, for the purpose of considering such resolution."5 Duty of Union during National emergency: Article 355 lays down the duty of union towards the appropriate function of state machinery so as to prevent the breakdown of the country. It states as, "It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution."6 State emergency (Presidential Rule) Meaning: Union government has a responsibility to make sure that the state takes action according to the constitution's requirement to ensure proper administration. It is stated in the article 356 that when the president is of the view that a state government is inefficient and ineffective, and is failing to carry out operations smoothly due to the state's constitutional machinery not working as it should, via a briefing and a report by the governor of the state, president then constitutes a meeting with members of the council, after which a state emergency may be issued. The first state in India to proclaim a state of emergency was Punjab. In such cases the president's declaration of emergency is known as "announcement due to the breakdown of the legislative mechanism". Effects of the state emergency: The president may assume all or any of the responsibility of the state government, but he in himself cannot assume any power of the high court and further cannot suspend any article relating to high court. Announce that state legislative duties and powers to be exercised by or under parliament's jurisdiction. The subject matter which is necessary and suitable for the execution is supposed to be declared. Any which way, president isn't allowed to presume or terminate statutory obligations relating to the jurisdiction of high court. 126-fold rule was instituted in India by the president until 2018. Under Indira Gandhi's rule, the presidential rule has been used on 35 different occasions. Procedure for declaration of state emergency: An announcement which is concerning the national emergency is supposed to be sent for ratification before each of the Houses of Parliament, and the method of declaring a state emergency is pretty identical to the procedure used for national emergency. Within a period of two months, permission is supposed to be granted in situations such as these, after which the declaration shall cease to exist. Time span: Once approved the it will be valid for 6 Months and further can be extended for 6 more months. Procedure for revocation of state emergency: The time frame of proclamations and revocations in emergencies such as these are specified by the constitution of India along with the procedure, but when a proclamation is supposed to cancel a proclamation made prior, proclamation is supposed to be delivered to each of the houses of the parliament, Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha. Times when the Lok Sabha is under dissolution or when a proclamation is issued during times of dissolution, and when the ministers of council have issued a resolution proclaiming a state emergency, and also if there is no such resolution."7 Financial emergency Meaning: As per Article 360 of the constitution when there is a threat to the financial stability or credit of India or any part of India then president to the satisfaction of the same may proclaim Financial emergency. Procedure for declaration of Financial emergency: Proclamation is valid for 2 Months unless revoked and shall cease to operate at the expiration of 1 month unless proclamation is approved by the resolutions of both Houses of Parliament. Time Span: Once it is approved the it is continued to be in force till it is revoked by the president. Directions during Financial emergency: When proclamation is issued then executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to any State to observe such canons of financial propriety and may further provide for the measures that needs to be followed so as to proper implementation of the directions within state. Further, during financial emergency it shall be competent for the President to issue directions for the reduction of salaries and allowances of all or any class of persons serving the union, including Judges of the Supreme court and High courts. Furthermore, under such direction President may reserve all money and other bills for the consideration after passing the same by the legislature. Procedure for revocation of Financial emergency: President may vary or revoke it at any time by issuing a subsequent proclamation. "8 Noteworthy that there has never been a situation when Financial emergency has executed. Perception of Judicial review upon Emergency Provisions All three emergencies and specifically National emergency which come under the Article 352 are valid constitutionally. But however, Internal disturbances being loosely and not effectively explained, drafted with such nonchalance under the above-mentioned article, gave rise to issues such as, the integrity of the services which are to be carried out by politicians being exploited, similarly the integrity of their tenure, office and services being exploited just the same. When the emergency ceases, after being dismissed, its validity, measures taken to safeguard, as provided by the judiciary as well as the legislature are often put under carefully carried out scrutiny. Amendment of 1978 have been made to incorporate even more safeguards, in the grounds of proclamation, courts have made their positions stronger and have enhanced their functions, using their powers such as judicial intervention wherever possible. In the case of Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru & Ors. v. State of Kerala & Anr.9 it was held that Judicial review is the basic structure of the Constitution of India. Article 352 is not out of the preview of Judicial review. In the case reported as Minarva Mills Ltd. Vs. Union of India10, it was held that there is no bar to judicial review of the validity of Proclamation of emergency by President under article 352. Regarding Article 356 there are three cases that should be discussed over here. One is State of Rajasthan vs Union of India11, it was held that the court could exercise "minimal" judicial review if the power was abuse by the executive. It was made specific that the court could interfere with overtly mala fide exercise of power or exercise on irrelevant consideration. Further it was held that the word "satisfaction" in Article 356(1) does not mean the personal satisfaction of President, but it is the satisfaction of the cabinet. Second one is S.R. Bommai vs Union of India12, it was held that federalism is the basic structure of the constitution and exercise of power under article 356 is subject to judicial review. It was held that the satisfaction of the president must be formed on relevant materials. It could be struck down by the court if it is based on wholly irrelevant or extraneous grounds or if it is mala fide. The court cannot go into the correctness of the material or its adequacy, but it could see whether it was relevant to the action. "For this purpose, the court strictly relied on Justice Sarkaria report on centre-state relationship for the purpose of determining the circumstance and conditions subject to which President could act under Article 356. The Sarkaria commission in its report broadly classified the instances of failure of constitutional machinery into: Political crisis, where it is not possible to form a government in the state. Internal subversion, where for example a government is deliberately acting against the Constitution and the law, or is fomenting a violent revolt or revolution. Physical breakdown, where the government willfully refuses to discharge its constitutional obligations endangering the security of the state; and Non-compliance with constitutional directions of the Union government, for example, under Article 256, 257, 339(2) or 353."131415 Thirdly, in the case reported as Rameshwar Prasad vs Union of India16, the President rule was imposed on the ground that no political party or combination of parties was capable of forming the government and horse trading is apprehended. It was held that it would be wholly irrelevant for a constitutional authority on the ground that majority has been obtained by allurements and bribes, which deals have taken place on the cover of darkness, but has undisclosed sources have confirmed such deals. Thus, the judgment in this case has severely restricted the use pf Article 356. Changes brought by the 44th Amendment17 In order to prevent misuse of power by the executive as in 1975 during the term of Indira Gandhi, the Constitution was amended. Following are some important amendments in the Emergency provisions brought by the said amendment Under Article 352, "Internal disturbance" was replaced with "armed rebellion". The decision of proclamation of emergency must be communicated in writing by the Cabinet. The proclamation must be approved by both the houses within one month. Re approval by both houses is to be done after every six months. Revocation of emergency can be done by simple majority of the house, present and voting. Under Article 359, suspension of right to move to Court for violation of Fundamental rights will not include violation of Article 20 & 21 during operation of emergency. Effects of Emergency Whenever an emergency is imposed, it has grave and serious effects in the lives of people. The aftereffects of proclamation of emergency can be divided into three sub heads which are given below: I. Executive Effect Upon the proclamation of emergency the Union becomes empowered to use under its ambit the executive power to give directions to the state relating to the manner in which the executive powers shall be exercised by the State. The 42 Amended extended such powers of the Union by amending Article 353 in 1976 and laid that the Union can give directions not only to the state in which emergency has been proclaimed but to other states as well in the cases where the territory or any part of the territory's security is compromised or threatened. This power must be used sparingly and not casually. II. Legislative Effect Parliament becomes empowered to make laws on any subject in List II (State List) and when the Parliament is not in session then the President can issue Ordinance on state list too. However, these laws which the parliament make on state subjects during the proclamation of emergency die / become inoperative six months after the emergency ceased to be in force. III. Financial Effect While a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, the President may, by order define the financial arrangement between the State and the Union as under Articles 268 to 279. Such order shall be laid before both the House of Parliament and when the Proclamation of Emergency ceases to operate, such order shall too come to an end. IV. Effects on the life of Lok Sabha and State Assembly When emergency is in operation, the life of Lok Sabha may be extend by one year at a time and this extension limited to a period of six months and cannot continue post that period after the emergency has ceased to operate. V. Effect on Fundamental Rights The Indian constitution under Article 358 & 359 lays down the effects of a national emergency. Firstly, Article 358 provides that Article 19 stands suspended when an emergency is proclaimed along with the six fundamental rights which are enshrined under it and Article 19 is revived on its own right after the emergency ceases to operate. It was brought in by the 44th amendment to the constitution that Article 19 will stand suspended only then when the emergency has been laid due to war or external aggression and not when it has been laid on the grounds of armed rebellion. Secondly, Article 359 suspends other fundamental rights except right to move to the Court for enforcement of Article 20 and 21, as added by the 44th Amendment to the Constitution. Under Article 359, the President may, by order suspend the right to move to Court for violation of fundamental rights during proclamation of emergency. This order is laid before both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for their approval, after the approval is achieved then it is passed as a President's order Thus, the remedial measures against the violation of fundamental rights are suspended. It must be noted that only those fundamental rights are suspended which are mentioned in the President's order and not any other. This suspension can be for the entire tern of proclamation of emergency or they could be suspended for a shorter term too. In the case of Makhan Singh vs. State of Punjab18, the Hon'ble Supreme Court distinguished between Article 358 and 359. Under Article 358 suspension of Article 19 is completed during the period of emergency and legislative and executive actions which contravenes Article 19 cannot be questioned even after the emergency. Article 359 on the other hand, does not suspend the Fundamental Rights, but merely authorises it President to issue an order declaring that the right to move any court for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights shall remain suspended. Thus only right to seek remedy is suspended. Article 358 is effective all over the country, whereas Article 359 may be confined to an area. Freedoms given given by Article 19 are suspended by the virtue of Article 358. However, under Article 359 Fundamental rights are not suspended, only the right to move to the Court for enforcement of Fundamental right is suspended. Article 358 suspends Article 19 for the entire period of emergency, whereas under Article 359, the right to move to Courts is suspended for the period of emergency or until the proclamation of the President to remove suspension before the emergency ceases to be in operation, i.e., for a shorter period. Conclusion Significant long studies, comprehensive researches of the constitution have led to it being drafted with such deliberations arduously. Emergency provisions are to be placed with precision, caution and care keeping its importance and results at an extreme level of consideration which presents itself at the most critical and vital pedestal. Transformation of the federal system of India into a unitary one takes place with the exercise of such executive powers. A continuous belief regarding the third national emergency of 1975 not being in check and accordance with the balance of the system exists making us inclined towards the reinstatement of such check with precision in the present and any unforeseen future event, so that the parties ruling at the time and the executive machinery do not exploit their powers rather use then wisely. Powers are included in the constitution of India which allows infringement of individual rights and liberties during the times of emergency. Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!" Join our Telegram group Join our Whatsapp group "Loved reading this piece by Niharika Lohan Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!" Tags : Constitutional Law A massive early Monday morning fire that destroyed the Broad Street Markets brick building was caused by a large ceiling fan fixture, Harrisburg officials said during a press conference Monday afternoon. Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline said that the fan, which was installed in the market in 2017, had an electrical malfunction, which was what started the fire. This was an accidental fire, Enterline said. I know theres a lot of scuttlebutt that it may have intentionally set. One hundred percent it was an accidental fire in that ceiling fan fixture. The two-alarm fire broke out around 1 a.m. and was so powerful it melted some nearby lamppost lights. The fire, which was visible from the West Shore, was confined to the brick section of the market, with the separate, much smaller stone building untouched. The press conference was held outdoors in front of the market building with officials including Gov. Josh Shapiro, state Rep. Patty Kim, D-Cumberland/Dauphin counties, and Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams. Shapiro vowed to offer state assistance to the city as it begins the rebuilding process. This market matters. It has mattered for more than a century. Its a great place of great fellowship and is a place that we love and are excited to see rebuilt, Shapiro said. The governor thanked the firefighters for their work, adding government now needs to follow their example and pull together. He said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is coordinating with the Small Business Administration to support vendors. The fire call came in at 1 a.m. July 10, 2023. The market dates to the 1860s. The brick building, one of two at the market, burned. Jimmie Brown | jbrown@pennlive.com | July 10, 2023. In addition, Shapiro said the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will work with vendors to keep them in business while the rebuilding takes place. Williams and local government will determine what the rebuild looks like and work with the Department of Community and Economic Development to support vendors with grants and loans. The commonwealth is going to be here to support and assist, not dictate but to support and assist, and we look forward to partnering with Mayor Williams and her department, Shapiro said. Williams said overnight the heart of the community was taken as fire tore through the markets brick building, taking livelihoods with it. The markets stone building remains open for business. The Broad Street Market is so much more than just a place where you buy and sell food. It is quite literally the primary symbol of Harrisburg, Williams said. She then vowed to rebuild the market and its business. Make no mistake, this will take time and, of course, tears, she said. But the end result will be worth it. The Broad Street Market will be back and better than ever before. Enterline said fire departments from across central Pa. helped to battle the fire, including the aid of a drone borrowed from the Derry Township fire company and used in for the first time in the city. The building was not equipped with a sprinkler system. Video footage from stand owners helped investigators narrow down the origin of the fire, he said. It was a team effort by both our fire investigation team and those stand holders who came forward with the video, he said. Earlier today, the markets Executive Director Tanis Monroy emphasized they plan to rebuild, although no timeline is in place. The building housed about 23 vendors and the entire market was undergoing a beautification project that involved fresh paint and cleaning. Many call the market a community gathering place where generations of city residents have shopped. Vendors include a mix of those selling produce, prepared meals, butchered meats and coffee. Cebrum George II, owner of Nuborn Skin at the market, said he learned about the fire through a string of early morning text messages. He has operated at the market for about four years selling his line of skincare products. Its a hub, its essentially a place where people come, George said. Basically, its like a community. He said he doesnt know of plans for the vendors or the extent of damages to his business. But he noted unlike some of the other vendors selling food, he could temporarily sell from the markets outdoor courtyard if permitted. Moving forward, George said a rebuilt market might be better and is all relative to how much the community is willing to help. The market was founded in 1860 and is considered to be the oldest continuously operated market house in the U.S. The market is owned by the City of Harrisburg overseen by a board of directors and in 2017 became a private non-profit entity. READ MORE: The deadly shipboard fire in Port Newark has finally been extinguished after six days and round-the-clock firefighting, officials with the U.S. Coast Guard and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Tuesday. We can officially declare the fire is out, said Capt. Zeita Merchant, the commander of the Port of New York and New Jersey and the federal on-scene coordinator, during a press conference at Port Newark. While this is a huge milestone and something that we can celebrate, we must not lose sight of the fact that this is merely the first step of a long process as we now need to consider the salvage and transfer of the vessel, a process that can be hazardous and complex as well, Merchant added. Salvage operations can last one to two months, said Merchant. The ship, operated by an Italian company, Grimaldi Deep Sea, was an RORO vessel (for roll-on-roll off) loading new and used cars and other wheeled cargo bound for Africa when it caught fire while berthed at the port the evening of July 5. The U.S Coast Guard is now conducting a multi-agency investigation into the blaze, which killed veteran Newark firefighters Augusto Augie Acabou, 45, and Wayne Bear Brooks Jr., 49, and injured five others from the department. The New York and Elizabeth fire departments, the Coast Guard and other agencies also responded. The docked vessel held more than 1,200 vehicles and 157 cargo containers at the time of the fire, but no electric vehicles or hazardous cargo were on board, according a statement from Grimaldi Deep Sea. There were no lithium-ion batteries, which can be highly explosive, on the vessel at the time of the incident, according to the ships manifest. The air surrounding Port Newark was black and full of billowing smoke for several days after the blaze broke out. 27 1 / 27 Two Newark firefighters killed battling ship fire However, there are no reports of oil leaking from the vessel or poor air quality in the area since the incident. Water testing is currently ongoing. Industry officials say shipboard fires are extremely rare, and the head of the local ports trade group said the Grande Costa dAvorio fire was the first one of any significance in decades. Even so, last week, Beth Rooney the Port Authoritys director of ports, said the agency would consider establishing its own maritime firefighting unit. Asked about the idea on Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy said it made sense. Thats something that does need to be addressed, said the governor. Someone reminded me that way back when, airports didnt have their own dedicated fire force under the theory that they didnt have fires happening that frequently. But the fact of the matter is, it is a very specific expertise. Some fires do happen. Theyre substantial. Thats probably not a bad model to look at. And I think that makes sense to me. Following the ship fire, Newark Firefighters Union President Michael Giunta told NJ Advance Media that the fire department was understaffed and that trucks were being sent out with a contingent of one captain and two firefighters each, despite industry standards calling for crews twice that size. However, Newark city officials were not present to answer additional questions about staffing or the fire departments response at Tuesdays press conference. When asked what exactly Newark firefighters knew before heading into the cargo ship that night, U.S. Coast Guard officials said the requested information was under investigation. Some that information is under investigation because we do need to look closely at that timeline to see what happened, what information was passed. At this point in time, I cant share that information with you, said Merchant. But what I can share is that will be a part of the investigation and that information will help inform how information is flowed in the future, to ensure people specifically our first responders have the information they need so they can get on scene. READ MORE: Funerals set for 2 killed on Newark cargo ship as families, firefighters remember them Viewing and funeral services for Acabou will be held Wednesday and Thursday, and for Brooks Jr. on Thursday and Friday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. A GoFundMe page to support their families was also launched by the Newark Firefighters Union. Their selfless sacrifice is on the minds of all here and we will absolutely never forget their acts of courage and bravery in response to this fire, Merchant said. This combo of undated images released by Newark, N.J., Department of Public Safety show Newark firefighters Augusto Acabou, left, and Wayne Brooks Jr. Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson says the two firefighters were killed and five others injured battling a blaze inside a docked cargo ship carrying more than a thousand vehicles at Port Newark, N.J., Wednesday night, July 5, 2023. (Newark Department of Public Safety via AP)Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. A motorcycle driver was seriously injured in a crash Monday night on Interstate 78, Pennsylvania State Police said. The driver was on a 2008 Honda motorcycle on I-78 East when he crashed at about 9:53 p.m. Monday near mile marker 68.7 in Lower Saucon Township, Trooper Nate Branosky said. The 27-year-old man from Jamaica, New York, suffered serious injuries and was taken to to St. Lukes Hospital-Anderson, Branosky said. I-78 East was closed for about two hours while troopers investigated, and traffic was diverted onto Route 412. The highway reopened a little after midnight, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The crash is still under investigation, Branosky said. CLEARED: Crash on I-78 eastbound at Mile Post: 69.0. 511PA Allentown (@511PAAllentown) July 11, 2023 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. A ten year plan for the future of Derryounce Lakes and Trails is being drawn up and the public is being invited to have their say. The project team behind the plan has launched a survey in order to gather ideas from people who use the amenity. Portarlington Community Development Association and Offaly County Council have hired SLR Consulting Ltd to prepare a 10 Year Plan and Concept Designs for the development of Derryounce Lakes and Trails over the next decade. Together they held a well attended Stakeholder Workshop with a view to contributing to the development of a visionary long-term plan for Derryounce Lakes and Trails last Thursday. Pictured above at the contract was signed with SLR Consulting Ltd. Front row l-r Ann Dillon, Director of Services, OCC, Cathaoirleach Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick, Paul McTernan, Project Team (SLR Consulting Ltd.)Back row l-r Ian OBrien, Assistant Planner, OCC, Mary Keogh, PCDA, Colm Powell, PCDA, Aidan Mullally, PCDA, Joanne Coughlan, Project Team, Cllr Aidan Mullins, LCC and PCDA. It is envisaged that the plan will show how the site can be sensitively developed to become an even better community resource and a major regional visitor destination. The plan will consist of new concepts to improve and extend the recreational facilities including plans for a hub building, lakeside access and parking improvements, biodiversity enhancement and new infrastructure to support the site and better connect it to our network of towns and Villages. We are asking for your ideas and suggestions on how you would like to see Derryounce grow over the next 10 years, what the landscape should contain and how it should be laid out. The survey closing date is Monday the 31st July 2023, the project team stated. In order to participate on the Derryounce 10 Year Plan, click on Derryounce 10 Year Plan Survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Derryounce23 . This plan is funded through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, by the Department of Rural and Community Development, Failte Ireland and Offaly County Council. Figures released by the SEAI show that there has been over a three fold increase in grant-aided adoption of domestic solar panels in the first quarter of 2023 versus the first quarter of 2022. In Laois the growth was 159 per cent. In the first quarter of 2022 installations in Laois stood at 27, in the same period for 2023 it was 70. There was a 255% increase in the number of home solar installations in Ireland by people availing of SEAI grants in the first three months of 2023 compared with the previous year. Data provided by the SEAI to EnergyEfficiency.ie show that Cavan saw the largest increase in grant supported domestic solar installations (588%), followed by Waterford (427%), and Carlow (400%). At a provincial level Leinster had the highest number of home solar installations, with 2,102 homes getting solar panels fitted in Q1 2023, an increase of 250% on last year. The largest growth year-on-year was in Ulster, where 204 homes had solar panels installed, a staggering jump of 397% compared with 41 homes in the same period last year. Munster saw a 273% increase in grant-aided home solar this year, with 1,155 homes getting panels fitted, and Connacht recorded a 205% jump to 521 solar PV installations in Q1 2023. Dublin was the county with the most grant supported domestic solar installations in Q1 2023, with 865 homes having solar PV panels installed. Cork followed Dublin with 512 solar installations from January to March, and Galway saw the third most in the country with 257. The lowest number of homeowners installing solar panels with the assistance of SEAI grants so far this year has been in Longford (16), Leitrim (27), and Monaghan (45). But even there the numbers for the first three months of 2023 are up from just 10 in each county in the same period of 2022. James Dorrian, Managing Director of Energy Efficiency Ireland Reducing Energy Costs for Irish Households, a new website which connects homeowners with local SEAI registered solar installers, said: The rising interest that people have in home solar power is clearly seen in the fact that home solar installations have more than doubled in 2023. The stark difference between the figures for the start of this year, and the same three months in 2022, show that solar power is becoming an increasingly affordable option for homeowners looking to save money on their electricity bills, while also reducing their carbon footprint. As electricity prices remain stubbornly high, and with the reduced O% VAT rate for solar on residential properties, were expecting to see continued strong interest in solar PV from homeowners who want to become energy independent. Between high electricity prices, falling technology costs, and grant assistance, there has never been a better time for homeowners to go green with solar power. The government cut the VAT rate on the supply and installation of domestic solar panels from 13.5% down to nothing at the start of May this year to help families with high electricity prices and encourage the growth of micro-generation within Ireland. The SEAI offers grants of up to 2,400 for homeowners who are having solar PV panels installed on their property. This grant scheme is eligible for all homes built and occupied prior to 2021. Home solar got a boost late last year, when changes were made to planning regulations regarding rooftop solar. Homeowners can now install unlimited amounts of solar panels on the roofs of houses without needing planning permission. The changes in planning regulations were introduced in October of 2022, just in time for homeowners putting in their grant applications towards the end of the year. RTEs star presenter Ryan Tubridy has offered to pay back two payments at the centre of a fiasco the broadcaster has been embroiled in, as he laid bare the toll it had taken on him personally. Former Late Late Show presenter Tubridy said that he was due to make six more appearances for commercial sponsor Renault as part of a contentious deal at the centre of the crisis that has engulfed RTE. But he added that if that work is not called upon to be done, of course the money goes back. In two extraordinary committee appearances at Dublins parliament, Tubridy said he had been publicly cancelled and it was touch and go whether he would be allowed to return to his weekly radio programme. He said that he wants to return to RTE Radio as soon as possible because its all Ive got. If I do go back to RTE, which I hope to, itll be a whole new world order, Tubridy said in his closing remarks. RTE has been mired in controversy since it emerged last month that it under-reported fees paid to Tubridy and failed to correctly disclose 345,000 euro of payments to him between 2017 and 2022. I hate being referred to as the talent. I think its an obscene, outdated word. The furore has since widened amid further disclosures about RTEs internal financial, accounting and governance practices and its expenditure on corporate hospitality for advertising clients. RTE operates on a dual funding model, with the majority of its revenue secured from a licence fee and the rest generated from advertising revenue. The Government has paused discussions on a new long-term funding arrangement until the current crisis abates. Newly appointed director general Kevin Bakhurst stood down RTEs executive leadership board on Monday as he vowed to restore peoples trust in Irelands public service broadcaster. When asked whether Tubridy will return to the airwaves, Mr Bakhurst told Newstalk that the decision will be made in a matter of a few weeks adding that he felt sorry for him. While the Irish government has announced two separate external reviews of RTE and also moved to send in a forensic auditor to examine the broadcasters accounts, the Public Accounts Committee and Media Committee in Dublin are conducting their own probes into the affair. As Tubridy appeared before both committees on Tuesday, he at times appeared emotional, slamming his hand on the table during his opening statement and claiming there had been misinformation around what fees he had been paid. Tubridy also emphasised that none of the payments represented overpayments of any sort, but instead were under declarations by RTE. He said that a 120,000 payment due at the end of his 2015-2019 contract had been waived by him, and said that RTE then suggested that it should be accounted for by retrospectively under-reporting his salary across several years. We made clear that the 120,000 should not be taken off or deducted for prior year actual earnings, he said, calling such a suggestion from the broadcaster odd. The former Late Late show host also reiterated on several occasions that his decision to step down from RTEs flagship chat show was not linked to the discovery of the accounting issues by auditors in March. Tubridy announced publicly that he would step down from the programme after 14 years at its helm on March 16, and presented the last episode in May. My name has been desperately sullied, I think my reputation has been sullied, Tubridy told the committee, stating that he had been subjected to a frenzy. Im deeply upset. Im hurt. Its hard to leave the house if you really want me to be honest about it. Ive never seen anything like it. I dont know if any of youve been cancelled before but let me tell you, you dont want to be there. He said that the support he had received was something he would never forget, and said that he would love to be part of that catharsis at RTE. If it was to sign another contract, Id put it out in the public straightaway, no messing, no three-year carry on, Id be part and parcel of the new process to build trust with my colleagues and the listeners, he said. I hate being referred to as the talent. I think its an obscene, outdated word. The talent in RTE work in reception, and they work in security, and in make-up, and hair and sound and camera and production. Thats the talent. So if we do anything to change the language around RTE, please take that silly word off the contracts going forward. Theyre colleagues, no-one is better than anyone else. People were seen commenting and reacting to the proceedings being screened in some bars across Dublin. In one of the most significant revelations from the day, TDs were given an email which challenged RTE claims that ex-director general Dee Forbes had done a solo run by agreeing to underwrite a 75,000-euro-a-year deal involving RTE, Tubridy and Renault. The deal involved Tubridy making three appearances at Renault events per year. RTE executives have previously explained that Renault paid Tubridy the first 75,000 euro payment, while two other 75,000 euro payments were from RTE, as it had underwritten the amounts due in what TDs were previously told was a verbal-only agreement made on a Microsoft Teams meeting in May 2020. But an email between Tubridys agent Noel Kelly and former chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe in February 2020, CCing Ms Forbes and director of content Jim Jennings, informed the agent of RTEs willingness to provide you with a side letter to underwrite this fee for the duration of the contract. Labour TD Alan Kelly said that the documents were compelling and completely contradict RTEs account of events. Noel Kelly told TDs they had been under siege in recent weeks, and that Tubridy had been made a poster boy for the controversy. He said RTE had attempted to distance itself from its decisions, that the deal with Renault was known widely within the executive board of RTE, and this was a mess of RTEs making. Suddenly the most trusted man in Ireland, Ryan Tubridy, it was like throw him under a bus. Why? Mr Kelly said. RTE has rejected the claim it gave an incorrect version of events over an agreement to underwrite payments to Tubridy, and reiterated its position that a verbal commitment given by the former director-general during a video call on May 7 was when the 75,000 euro payments were underwritten. RTEs new director-general Mr Bakhurst is to appear before the Public Accounts committee on Thursday, his fourth day in the role, alongside other RTE executives. Committee members have been informed that Ms OKeeffe is not in a position to attend Thursdays hearing. Tubridy has not presented his weekday morning radio programme since the issues at RTE came to light on June 22. Job Title: Migrant Support Officer Reporting to: Manager, Laois Volunteer Centre Location: Laois Volunteer Centre, Unit 7, Bloom HQ (remote working hub), Mountrath, Co. Laois, R32DT9F. However, the role will require a reasonable amount of travel, within and around the county, to promote the Centre and to engage with migrants and people from new communities. Infrequent travel to other volunteer centres (in Ireland) may also be required as part of the role. Overview: Laois Volunteer Centre is the primary resource for both volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations (VIOs) in Co Laois. Our mission is to promote the value of volunteering and increase the range and quality of volunteering in Co Laois. Laois Volunteer Centre provides a professional, person-centred approach to supporting volunteers and volunteer involving organisations across Co. Laois. Laois Volunteer Centre was established in 2021 and the aim of the service is to become a one stop shop for volunteerism in county Laois. The service builds upon the existing volunteering infrastructure within the county, and our role is to provide advice and support to members of the public (to become volunteers) and to not for profit/charitable organisations who require the support and assistance of volunteers to carry out their vital work in the community. The Migrant Outreach Support Officer will play a key role, working with the Manager, Development Officer, Outreach Officer and Board of Directors in creating, planning, organising and delivering a migrant outreach support service in the county. They will also be involved in promoting volunteering to members of migrant/new communities in Co. Laois and in the ongoing promotion of the Centre to various stakeholders within and around the county. There is a healthy and enthusiastic appetite for volunteering in Co. Laois and to date, Laois Volunteer Centre has recruited approximately 1,000 volunteers and 80 organisations. We have been involved in event volunteering at Shine in Emo, Laois Africa Day and The Old Fort Festival. In December 2022, we secured funding to recruit a Ukrainian Support Worker and this has enabled us to help members of the Ukrainian community to integrate more easily into Co. Laois through participation in volunteering and other community events. Primary Purpose of the Role of Migrant Outreach Support Officer: This position will focus on promoting volunteering and civic participation across migrant/new communities in Co. Laois. In order to fulfill this objective, this position will focus on building relationships with people from migrant/new communities through information provision and support. Assisting migrants to identify and secure suitable volunteering roles in the county is the primary focus of this position. The Migrant Outreach Support Officer will report directly to the VC Manager. Outreach, Communication & Support: Deliver a fit for purpose Migrant Outreach Service to enable the Centre to meet its strategic objectives. Work with the other Volunteer Centre staff to create, plan, organise and deliver a Migrant Outreach Service in various public settings and in Direct Provision Centres etc. Presenting information about volunteering to groups and individuals e.g. the range of Volunteering roles in the county, the benefits of volunteering to the individual and the community etc. Assisting migrants/people from new communities to understand the concept of volunteering and provide factual/practical information about the process, that is, how to volunteer/I-VOL. Achieving targets set on increasing migrant participation in volunteering is key. Whilst conducting outreach, the candidate will, in effect, be a spokesperson for Laois Volunteer Centre, communicating its aims and objectives, promoting engagement with the service, registering members of the public for volunteering opportunities and engaging with organisations who need volunteers. Collaborating with various local stakeholders/services to develop and deliver initiatives that will enable migrant/new communities to participate in meaningful volunteering activities Liaising with the Outreach and Development Officers and local volunteer-involving organisations/not for profits to develop inclusive volunteering roles and referring potential volunteers Attending networking and promotional events on behalf of Laois Volunteer Centre Providing ongoing assistance to Laois Volunteer Centres existing volunteering projects Keeping accurate records on the CRM (i.e. I-VOL) software Contributing to the implementation of our workplan activities, delivering outreach, contributing to website and social media content and participating in various initiatives as required Work with the Manager and other staff to ensure that there is publicity and communications for Laois Volunteer Centre when appropriate. Work with the Manager and other members of the Laois Volunteer Centre team to identify and reduce the barriers to volunteering that marginalised groups such as migrants face. General Administration Duties: Provide administrative back up and support to Laois Volunteer Centre Manager, Development Officer and Outreach Officer in the delivery of quality-based, person centred volunteering service within Co. Laois. To undertake administration duties to support communication, maintenance of website, promotion, social media etc. General administrative duties as they relate to the post including reports as requested. Person Specification education/skills/experience required Essential criteria Ability to work on own initiative Ability to schedule, diarise and prioritise work Relevant third level qualification Flexibility, with a willingness to travel and work outside normal office hours some of the work associated with this role will take place in the evenings, and occasionally at weekends. Excellent people/interpersonal skills. Excellent communication skills. Strong presentation skills. Computer/IT literate including proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 including Word, PowerPoint; Salesforce or similar CRM package. Full clean driving licence and use of own car. Desirable criteria Commitment to the development of volunteering in Laois. Experience of working in a communications or outreach role in a not for profit/charitable organisation or in the private sector. Awareness and understanding of the experiences and issues facing migrants. Experience of the community and voluntary sector including issues relating to volunteering in Ireland. First-hand experience of being a volunteer. Core Competencies Essential Communicates effectively (through all modes of communication, and at all levels, both internal and external to the organisation) Interpersonal skills Person-centred approach. Drive (self-motivated) and Commitment (to achieving the aims and objectives of Laois Volunteer Centre in line with its work plan, ethos and policies). A collaborative (constructive and progressive attitude to working as part of the staff team and ability to develop partnerships with the wider community). Hours of Work: 20 hours per week for 35 weeks For further information, please contact the Manager BY EMAIL ONLY on info@volunteerlaois.ie. This post is funded by The Department of Community and Rural Development. *SPONSORED CONTENT The mother of a man aged in his early 30s who was subject to domestic violence order was praised by Judge Desmond Zaidan. The case was heard at Naas District Court on Thursday, July 6, where the defendant was brought before the judge following a breach of the order. It was heard that he had become angry and 'smashed up' plates and a door in her home. He pleaded guilty to the offence. Gardai told Judge Zaidan that the man has previous convictions, but they are for road traffic matters. The judge was also told by the mans solicitor, Joe Coonan, that his client has underlying mental health issues, and has been taking anti-psychotic injections. Mr Coonan and the mans mother both added that his mental health difficulties were amplified by his cannabis usage. When the mother was asked by Judge Zaidan if she would be 'endorsing' the prospect of legalising cannabis in Ireland, she said that she would not, given both her personal experience and experiences from when she worked in the prison services. "The lawmakers should be listening to people like you," Judge Zaidan said, and recommended that she write a letter to the government detailing her experiences. After the mother urged the judge not to send her son to prison, he replied that he would adjourn the case for sentencing, and told the man: "Your mother has a heart of gold." The judge also told the man that he should quit using cannabis 'cold turkey', and asked him to think about his mother the next time he has the urge to smoke cannabis. "I sincerely hope that there will be an improvement by then," he said, and also directed the man to apologise to his mother, which the man agreed to do. The case will resume on a date in December. Former US president Donald Trump gestures as he prepares to deliver remarks at an event on July 8, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. MARIO TAMA / AFP Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are asking a judge to postpone his criminal trial without setting a new date as he stands accused of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate. In a late filing on Monday, July 10, Trump's defense attorneys said the case was "extraordinary," with a large volume of documents and footage to be reviewed as the former president leads the race for the Republican nomination to unseat President Joe Biden. They cited challenges to select jurors and concerns about whether he would get a fair trial if scheduled before the November 2024 election. "The governments request to begin a trial of this magnitude within six months of indictment is unreasonable, telling, and would result in a miscarriage of justice," said the document filed by Chris Kise, one of Trump's lawyers. The Justice Department had previously proposed to set the trial date for December 11. Column Article reserve a nos abonnes 'The Trump mystery lies in his unshakeable popularity among the Republican electorate' Earlier on Monday, Trump's lawyers filed paperwork saying they agreed with federal prosecutors to delay to next week a pretrial hearing that specifically discusses how classified information is handled in court. 38-count indictment The hearing to discuss the Classified Information Procedures Act had previously been set for Friday. But an attorney for Trump's valet Walt Nauta, who was charged alongside the former president, said he has another bench trial this week in Washington preventing him from appearing Friday in South Florida. The attorneys said in their filing that they can appear at the pretrial conference to go over the 1980 law on July 18, adding they had also checked with US attorneys on moving the date. The judge in the case, US District Judge Aileen Cannon, agreed to the new date on Tuesday. Trump and Nauta were charged in a 38-count indictment with conspiring to hide classified documents at Mar-a-Lago from federal investigators. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has slammed the prosecution as an effort to hurt his bid to reclaim the White House in 2024. Read more The Trump threat to American democracy THE HSE are supporting St Johns proposal to develop a 150-bed extension on the grounds of the hospital, according to the Limerick hospital CEO Emer Martin. St Johns plans to build a 150-bed extension to the back of the hospital was announced as part of their Strategic Development last year but the plans are currently subject to capital approval. The expansion of St Johns does not have the go-ahead yet but the hospital are working to complete a strategic assessment report and have it ready to submit nationally to the HSE by the end of August. The launch of our strategic plan last year and announcing our proposal for a new bed block was very much about declaring our intention for St Johns and to put a message out there to the HSE as well that this is what we are proposing for healthcare in the region, Ms Martin said. Weve had several meetings [with the HSE] in relation to our proposal for capital development and they are now guiding us in that process which is a strong indication that they are supporting our bid. We have to do the work ourselves in St Johns but they are giving us a good steer on what we need to do, she added. If the extension gets the green light it is expected to help the region in the longer term, according to Ms Martin. Subject to capital approval a brand new bed block at St Johns is likely to take three years. The HSE and the Department of Health are trying to speed up on timelines, particularly in the Limerick region, and they would like to see new buildings being erected in two years instead of three, Ms Martin said. This is about a long-term investment and is to take into account population growth in Limerick over the next two decades, she added. AN AMERICAN-STYLE diner, and a coffee shop and sandwich bar are to move into a building in Childers Road Limerick, that has been out of use for more than three years. Following the onset of Covid-19, fast-food restaurant chain Pizza Hut followed others in shutting its doors to prevent the spread of the disease. However, when shops and restaurants were able to open again, Pizza Hut never did, and the unit at the Limerick One Shopping Park in Childers Road has lain idle since. Until now that is, with Limerick-headquartered restaurant Shake Dog planning a move into the building in a move which will create 20 new jobs. Formerly known as Rockin Joe's, Shake Dog has 11 locations across Ireland, including at O'Connell Street in the city centre and the Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle. Now the city is set to get its third Shake Dog outlet, its owner Brian Dunne confirmed. Unlike the other two, however, the new outlet in Childers Road will also include a coffee shop and sandwich bar. As the unit is so large, it's 3,500 square feet, it was too big for just a Shake Dog. So we are putting in a coffee/sandwich bar at the front of it. The back area will be the normal Shake Dog, Mr Dunne told the Limerick Leader. Mr Dunne has run the fast-food restaurants in Limerick since the late 1990s. Up until 2013, they were operated under the Eddie Rockets franchise. A dispute arose between the founder of this firm Niall Fortune and Mr Dunne. The businessman confirmed that he had agreed terms with the Crescent Shopping Centre to continue for another 20 years in Dooradoyle, having first moved there in 2001. He said he hopes that the new restaurant will be open by the end of July or the start of August. It's taken a bit longer than I thought, but we want to get it right, he added. Local councillor Catherine Slattery has welcomed Shake Dogs move to open at Childers Road. She said: It's great news for the area. We need restaurants and take-aways for our young and older people to meet up, and enjoy a bit of coffee and brunch. They will be great for the area. It'll be handy as people will be able to pop in for a coffee while they are shopping in the Childers Road area, Cllr Slattery added. Shake Dog is headquartered at Riverpoint in the city centre. PLANS are being finalised to add more than 100 new parking spaces at University Hospital Limerick. HSE bosses have signalled their intention to apply to Limerick City and County Council to construct a new car park in a move which will see the new vehicle spots for staff and visitors at the Dooradoyle hospital. In a planning notice, the health service has stated its planning to construct a double basement car park on the grounds of UHL. This will see parking spots created at both one level below ground and two levels underground. As a consequence of this, 131 new vehicle parking spots will be created. While the UL Hospitals Group did not return a request for comment, the news has been welcomed by local Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler. He said: 'These additional parking spots are very welcome given the significant issues a lack of parking has caused for local residents in the surrounding estates of UHL. I also hope that this will support staff to be able to get to and from work safely and efficiently. At present, the City West councillor argued, a lack of parking on site leaves staff scrambling for parking, and having to arrive early to find space on top of an already lengthy shift. For local residents it has meant being kept prisoner in their own homes as people park across gates, he added. Following the advertising of the planning notice in last weeks Limerick Leader, those leading the development have a fortnight to submit papers to council planners. The application comes around the same time UL Hospital Group bosses seek planning permission for another new development - an extension to its radiology unit. As reported in the Limerick Leader, permission is to be sought from the local authority for a single-storey extension to the department in Dooradoyle. The facility provides a service to patients who have injuries and diseases which need to be diagnosed and treated using high-tech tools like X-Rays, MRI scans and CT scans. Radiology is the science which deals with the use of these procedures. A spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group said the extension plan, if approved, could pave the way for a third MRI scanner at UHL. If approved, its anticipated works could be completed by the end of 2024, UL Hospitals wrote in response to a query. THE NUMBER of Ukrainian children enrolling in primary and secondary schools over the past year has been revealed, with Clare statistics coming in as average. The Department of Education has done a breakdown of each countys enrollment numbers from 2022-2023. As of the end of the school year, 15,625 Ukrainian pupils had been enrolled in schools across Ireland. 928 of those went to Clare schools. Data indicated an enrolment rate of 88% among Ukrainian children aged five to 18. The dates of 12 May, in the case of post-primary schools, and 12 June, in the case of primary schools, were selected as final dates to account for any additional enrolments of Ukrainian pupils in the academic year 2022-23. To assist with the transition of Ukrainian students and their families into Irish schools, Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) continued to operate. These were hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards around Ireland and staffed by regionally-based education support personnel. A LIMERICK-based company that provides hot cooked meals for school children has brought a High Court challenge against An Garda Siochana's refusal to include the firm on a list of entities entitled to vet its own workers. The action has been brought by School Food 4 Primary Ltd, which claims that it has applied to An Garda Siochana, via the Garda National Vetting Bureau for inclusion on the register of relevant organisations allowed to vet their own employees. The company, which prepares and cooks its food on site at schools, says its application has been refused by the bureau on grounds it claims are not legally coherent or comprehensible. It claims that the garda interpretation of the vetting process is that the individual schools where the firm's employees prepare the meals should vet the company's employees. The firm, which alongside its sister company employs over 300 people, says that this refusal is causing it practical difficulties and has left in a situation that is "unworkable." It claims that if one of its workers does not pass the school's vetting process. then that person cannot be employed by the firm. The company says that in such a scenario, it cannot tell the person why they cannot be employed by it, nor is the company informed of the reasons why that individual has not passed the vetting process. The company, with a registered address at Eastlink Business Park, Ballysimon Road, Limerick, says it has no legal entitlement to the information, or to tell the employee themselves, what triggered the red flag in the vetting process The company says that it recently had to deal with this situation with somebody it hired. While the firm says it does not want to replace the school's ability to vet those working on their premises, it says that no employer or employee can tolerate the current situation, particularly as those working at schools need to be vetting and re-vetted at regular intervals. It wants to grow its business and employ a further 200 people in the next five years. The government's Hot School Meals Programme is expanding, with 68m allocated to that scheme in 2022, the firm claims. In judicial review proceedings against the Garda Commissioner the company says it wants the Garda Commissioner to deem it a 'relevant organisation' under the 2012 National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act. Represented by Stephen Walsh Bl, the company seeks various orders and declarations including an order directing the Commissioner to enter the firm on to the register of relevant organisations. The company argues that on a proper interpretation of the 2012 Act, it is entitled to be included on the register of relevant organisations, and thus would be able to vet its own employees. It also claims that the garda interpretation of the Act is wrong. It also seeks declarations that the company is a "relevant organisation" within the meaning of 2012 National Vetting Bureau Act, and that the An Garda Siochana is obliged to enter the firm on the register of relevant organisations. The matter came before Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who on an ex-parte basis, granted the company permission to bring to bring its action. The matter will return before the courts in October. RTEs highest-paid presenter Ryan Tubridy has said he aims to bring maximum transparency ahead of his appearance before two committees on Tuesday, in what may decide his return to the airwaves. He also said that he aims to address much of the misinformation that he says has been circulating in recent weeks. Among the documents that will be submitted to the committees are Mr Tubridys 2015 contract with RTE, his 2020 contract with RTE, extracts from the financial accounts of Mr Tubridys company Tuttle Productions Ltd, and copies of emails to and from senior RTE executives. In a statement on Monday, Mr Tubridy said: We will be presenting key documents and new information to the two committees which we believe will bring maximum transparency to the situation and address much of the misinformation which has circulated over the past three weeks. This is the first opportunity we have had to set out the full facts of what occurred, and we have spent weeks reviewing all the information about these issues. The hotly anticipated committee appearance of both Mr Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly comes after weeks of bruising revelations at Irelands public service broadcaster. Scrutiny of governance and financial affairs at RTE began after it admitted that fees paid to its star presenter Tubridy had been underdeclared by 345,000 euro over the period 2017 to 2022. RTE executives subsequently explained that the sponsor of RTEs flagship Late Late Show programme, Renault, paid Mr Tubridy 75,000 euro in 2020 under a tripartite deal, but then pulled out of the arrangement. Two 75,000 euro payments made to Tubridy for the years 2021 and 2022 were made by RTE as it had underwritten the amounts due to Tubridy in what TDs were told was a verbal agreement made on a Microsoft Teams meeting in May 2020. Grant Thornton is probing the amounts that RTE said led to Tubridys fees from 2017-2019 being underdeclared; this report is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. On his first day as RTE director general, Kevin Bakhurst told reporters that whether Tubridy would return to the airwaves remained undecided. Mr Bakhurst also suggested his fate could be determined by what emerges at the Public Accounts Committee and Media Committee hearings calling for maximum transparency from both Tubridy and his agent. Tubridy has not presented his weekday morning radio programme since the issues at RTE came to light on June 22. He has apologised unreservedly for not asking questions when RTE published incorrect figures for his earnings, and said he was looking forward to returning to his radio show. He also denied that the undeclared payments issue formed part of his decision to step down as Late Late Show host. Noel Kelly who represents several high-profile RTE presenters, as well as former Late Late Show host and Newstalk presenter Pat Kenny will also be answering TDs and senators questions on Tuesday. Mr Bakhurst said on Monday that on-air RTE staff using agents to represent them was under close consideration, while the Tanaiste Micheal Martin has expressed concern about the predominance of the culture of the agent at RTE. I think its really important we see what comes out in the committees, Mr Bakhurst told reporters on Monday. I want to see maximum transparency from Ryan and his agent in that committee, and I want to see maximum transparency from RTE and well be putting more documents out to ensure that happens. And I want honesty and I want transparency and then well make a judgment. When asked whether legal action was being threatened over Tubridys treatment in recent weeks, Mr Bakhurst said no. Tubridy and Mr Kelly will appear before the Committee of Public Accounts at 11am, while the Media committee hearing begins at 3pm. These will mark the fourth and fifth committee appearances on the RTE controversy in three weeks, with two more hearings due to take place later in the week. Mr Bakhurst is due to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts on Thursday, his fourth day as director general, alongside RTE executives. Office attendance is slumping again and bosses have a warning: We are a worse company when you stay home. In buildings across 10 major U.S. cities, office occupancy has fallen back below 50% for the past three weeks, according to Kastle Systems, which tracks security swipes into offices. The drop comes despite new return-to-office mandates that affect more than 600,000 workers and counting. Hundreds of Wall Street Journal readersmany of them bosses and team leadersresponded to our story on the workers who say its not my responsibility" to save the office economy. These bosses say employees who insist they are more productive while working from home are missing the larger picture: Team productivity is taking a hit. The purpose of an office is to create a dynamic environment where people feed off one anothers energy, bond on a personal level and explore ideas in unstructured ways, many company leaders said. Remote work cant provide those kinds of casual interactions that build culture and camaraderie, they say, which means it is worse for the organization and, in many cases, individual careers, too. Team collaboration really is much better and more effective with actual face time. Career growth also," said William McNamara, a hiring manager who lives in Bellevue, Wash. Sure, zealots will claim you can do it all remotely, but you cant do it all as effectively for everyone, remotely." Still, work-life balance is a vital piece of company cultureone that workers say is helped by the option to work from home, at least part of the time. That leaves bosses to strike a difficult balance, something they are more keenly aware of than their employees might realize. We are stuck. Remote work means remote engagement. In-office means less flexibility," said John Hayes, founder of Blackney Hayes Architects, a Philadelphia-based firm. Eavesdropping as education Bosses say that developing young workers and new hires is a priority, and that its tougher and slower to accomplish it when people arent gathered together in offices. Structured training sessions can often be conducted via Zoom, but the daily rhythms of mentoring and learning on the job require a less-structured exchange of questions and answers that happen organically. Eavesdropping is a huge form of education," Hayes said. Hearing what other people are saying, how theyre dealing with problems." Blackney Hayes asks employees to do their jobs from the office at least two days a week, but doesnt mandate the face time because so many workers have said they prize flexibility. If leadership and all the energy radiate from the office, then people will understand that if they want to be part of the team they will need to show up," Hayes said. Jenny von Podewils, co-chief executive of Leapsome, an HR productivity and engagement platform, has taken a similar approach in the hopes of boosting young workers professionalism, such as appropriate conversations with colleagues and how to present in client meetings. Without office time, newer staff members take longer to get up to speedif they catch up at all. Learning doesnt happen on Zoom calls. It happens during meetings, together, through body language, listening to how people approach certain situations," she said. Breakthrough problem-solving Ad-hoc interactions are important for seasoned employees, too, said Kevin Kowalczuk, a technology product manager based in Franklin, Tenn., who retired in April. We could literally make progress on a task while waiting for our coffee cup to fill up or while we heated lunch in the microwave," he said of his return to the office. Kowalczuk resolved one of his tougher challenges while chatting with colleagues in the company kitchen last spring. After discussing the housing market, their conversation turned to a new application that was only loading for some users despite being released to hundreds. The group quickly determined the problem stemmed from incorrect group permissions being granted to the users. That saved us days of time," Kowalczuk said. Team productivity vs. individual output Individual contributors with task-oriented roles and a clear to-do list can perform satisfactorily in a remote setting in a way that doesnt work for more strategic roles, said Edward Boggs, an information-technology team lead who lives in Durham, N.C., and goes in five days a week. If the tasks they are receiving are of the figure it out variety, they often dont do a very good job, or it takes them much longer than it should," he said. The critical thinking required for those jobs usually requires a team working through issues in real time, Boggs added. Working from home introduces other performance-related issues, even for conscientious employees with the best intentions, said Kim McClung, a former vice president of clinic operations for a large medical group, whos now retired. Managers who reported to McClung struggled to step back from work. They answered emails and took calls after hours, a habit she said she tried to discourage because it leads to burnout. If youre in the car driving or trying to watch your kids recital while youre answering emails, youre not giving your best to anyone," she said. I dont want your attention under those circumstances." McClung would rather her team work shorter hours together in the office, 100% focused on work, then go home and have true downtime. When people are on 24/7, the quality of work is going to suffer," she said. Write to Gretchen Tarrant at gretchen.tarrant@wsj.com NEW DELHI : The ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) has begun an inspection of the books of edtech firm Byjus as corporate governance concerns mount following the resignation of its auditor as well as three shareholder directors. MCA has begun an inspection of Think and Learn Pvt. Ltd on a suo moto basis, according to two government officials directly aware of the development. The inspection of Byjus books of accounts by MCA has been started after certain significant developments at Byjus over the past few weeks," said the first person. Both people spoke on the condition of anonymity, terming the matter sensitive and highly confidential. According to the two people, the developments that prompted the MCA inspection include the sudden resignation of Deloitte Haskins and Sells as the companys auditor, inordinate and repeated delays in filing the companys financials with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), and the abrupt resignation of key shareholder directors from the board. The scope of the MCA inspection will entail thoroughly scrutinizing Byjus books of accounts to ensure that there is no breach of money-laundering norms or non-compliance with any of the extant regulations under the Companies Act, according to the two people. On 22 June, Deloitte resigned as Byjus auditor soon after representatives of Byjus three influential backersPeak XV, Prosus NV, and the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiativequit Byjus board, citing differences with founder Byju Raveendran on key operational issues. An inspection of books of accounts of Byjus has been ordered under section 206 of the Companies Act," said the second person, a government official. Officers of the company (Byjus) have to produce the documents sought by the authority doing the inspection. Section 207 of the Act specifies the powers of the registrar doing the inspection," he added. If the inspection discovers enough wrongdoings, especially on a potential siphoning-off of funds by the promoters, the case will be referred to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). But that may take some time," said the first person. Since Byjus is based in Bengaluru, MCA may be assisted by the ministrys Bengaluru office. In a statement, a Byjus spokesperson said the company had received no intimation about an inspection. We would like to clarify that, Think and Learn Pvt. Ltd (operating under the brand name Byjus") has not received any communication from the MCA regarding any suo motu section 206 Companies Act inspection of its books of accounts. Section 206 of the Companies Act is routinely used by the ROC (Registrar of Companies) to conduct inspections with respect to companies. If the routine inspection you mention indeed takes place, regarding the commencement of which we have no intimation or information, the company will be more than happy to cooperate fully and provide all necessary explanations and clarifications." According to the first government official, the MCA inspection follows an internal assessment of the companys state of affairs. At Byjus, there is no clarity on the financials for the last two years (FY22 and FY23). Nonetheless, the government is also of the view that investigating agencies chasing startups may not send the right signal to entrepreneurs and investors. MCA, in the meantime, has decided to explore a new regulatory framework for startups that have grown beyond a specific size. The idea is to suggest greater regulatory or compliance requirements for large startups without compromising on ease of doing business, Mint reported on Tuesday. Founder Byju Raveendran and his family hold around 24% of the company, while scores of other shareholders own smaller equity stakes. In May, Byjus lenders had taken the company to a US court over $500 million missing from its US entity Byjus Alpha and sought to take control of the US subsidiary. The origin of that dispute, too, was over the delay in Byjus financial statements, a technical breach of covenants as per the loan agreement. After Deloitte resigned, Byjus appointed BDO Consulting Pvt. Ltd as its auditor. Emails sent to MCA for comment remained unanswered at press time. New Delhi: A day after withdrawing from the $19.5 billion joint venture (JV) with Vedanta, the worlds largest contract manufacturer Foxconn said it remains committed to building Indiassemiconductor ecosystem and will begin afresh with new partners. In a statement Foxconn said it has initiated talks with both Indian as well as global companies for a potential partnership and will resubmit its application to the government under the Modified Programme for Semiconductors and Display Fab Ecosystem policy. Foxconn, which manufactures iPhones for Apple, said it will bring in new partners and is exploring partnerships that would better fit its way of functioning. On its decision to pull out of the JV with Vedanta, the company said the project was not moving fast enough. We are actively reviewing the landscape for optimal partners. We welcome a diverse set of stakeholders, both in India and abroad, who want to see India get to the next level, and complement our world-class supply chain management and manufacturing efficiency." According to Hon Hai Technology Group, better known as Foxconn the world over, said challenging gaps with Vedanta could not be solved. Besides external issues unrelated to the project also led to its decision of not proceeding further with the proposed plans. Calling its decision to pull away from the project a course correction it said the decision was taken after careful consideration on near-term impact to all stakeholders, as well as the long-term corporate health of the group and its shareholders. According to people in the know, seeking anonymity, the JV project did not make much progress since September last year when the memorandum of understanding with Gujarat government was signed, even after senior executives were appointed a few months ago. The JV was struggling to get suitable semiconductor technology providers, which led to delays in getting the project off the ground. Funding troubles at Vedanta were also an issue, a person said, requesting anonymity. Despite the challenges, Foxconn will continue to pursue its investments in India. It is challenging to build fabs from scratch in a new geography, but Foxconn is committed to invest in India. We are working on such challenges since the 1980s. We will continue to strongly support the governments Make In India" ambitions and establish a diversity of local partnerships that meet the needs of stakeholders." Foxconn has mobile phone assembly units in South India producing millions of iPhones and Xiaomi smartphones. It also manufactures other electronic products including EVs. Foxconn first entered India in 2006. The group looks to grow with Indias nascent semiconductor industry. Foxconn has channels of communications with government stakeholders and we are clear about continued commitment to India," the company added. Foxconn Technology Group and Vedanta Ltd had planned to invest $20 billion in India for setting up a semiconductor fabrication unit, display unit and semiconductor assembly and testing unit, under the $10 billion government-backed financial incentive scheme. The plant, which was planned to come up in Dholera, Gujarat, was touted as the first semiconductor plant to come up in India. The companies had forged the JV in February 2022. Foxconn added that it had not injected capital or fixed assets into the JV. Government officials said that the Vedanta Foxconn Semiconductor Limited, the JV from which Foxconn has now withdrawn, had recently submitted a 40nm fab proposal backed by tech licensing agreement from a global semicon major, which was being evaluated by the tech advisory group under the Indian Semiconductor Mission. Vedanta Group said in a separate statement on Monday that it would independently go ahead with its plans to set up a semiconductor fab with a global partner, but did not elaborate further. NEW DELHI : Mauritius-based foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) trading Indian derivatives are under heightened scrutiny by the Indian tax department, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Several FPIs have received queries from the tax department seeking additional details related to commercial substance and control residing in Mauritius. A large number of Mauritius FPIs have also been subjected to scrutiny assessment, a detailed assessment by the tax department to ensure the taxpayer has not understated income or underpaid tax. In some cases, the tax department has declined treaty benefits to some Mauritius funds that could not fulfil the substance requirements, the people cited above said. Derivative market gains made by FPIs from Mauritius and Singapore are exempt from taxes in India as per Indias double taxation avoidance agreements (DTAAs) with the two countries. Hence, if any Mauritius fund dealing in Indian derivatives is declined treaty benefit, the fund would have to shell out tax at a rate of over 30% on derivative market gains. An email sent to the finance ministry remained unanswered till press time. The India-Mauritius tax treaty, even post its amendment in 2017, provides for Indian capital gains tax exemption on income arising on the sale of derivatives," said Parul Jain, the head of international tax practice at Nishith Desai Associates. Jain added that recent tax audit experience has shown tax authorities are inquiring into the level of substance and decision-making by the Mauritius FPI entity, including the involvement of beneficial owners in the decision-making by the Mauritius FPI entity. Until 2017, it was an accepted rule that if a non-resident entity holds a tax residency certificate (TRC), it could claim treaty benefits under DTAA. TRC is a certificate issued by the income tax department to non-resident entities each year, making them eligible for DTAA benefits for that particular year. However, in 2017, India introduced General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR), which prohibit foreign funds from choosing a jurisdiction based solely on tax benefits. In the current scenario, an FPI wanting to trade in Indian derivatives cannot choose to come to India through Mauritius because of a tax exemption in the DTAA. There has been a notable increase in the frequency of FPIs being selected for scrutiny assessment, leading to the issuance of detailed questionnaires. In the case of Mauritius FPIs, tax authorities often conduct thorough investigations and issue comprehensive questionnaires to better understand their structures," said Suresh Swamy, partner at Price Waterhouse & Co. Llp. Swamy added that in the past, various appeals authorities have clarified that TRC is the sole evidence required to qualify for treaty benefits. However, the implementation of the GAAR provisions is yet to be extensively tested, leaving room for speculation on how courts will interpret the structures in light of GAAR," he added. Mauritius is the fourth-largest source of FPI flows into India, with funds from the island nation owning securities worth 3.59 trillion. However, in the past few years, there has been a steady decline in the number of FPIs coming from Mauritius as scrutiny rose, both in India and globally. This prompted newer funds to choose jurisdictions like Singapore and Luxembourg instead of Mauritius. Bank of Baroda, Indias second largest state-owned lender after SBI, Tuesday denied that its officials used phone numbers of strangers to inflate registrations for its mobile banking app BoB World. Earlier in a report, Al Jazeera said Bank of Baroda official linked bank accounts to unrelated mobile numbers in order to achieve stiff onboarding targets. A spokesperson for the bank told Mint in an emailed response that it has a current mobile banking activated user base of 30 million customers, all of whom are linked to a unique mobile number seeded with their bank account. The Al Jazeera, in its report has alleged that in March 2022 the Bank of Baroda officer from Bhopal zone were given a target of onboarding at least 150 existing bank customers for the banks new app, bob World", which was launched six months before. The officials were struggling to get people to sign up while their regional office kept tabs on them and reprimanded them for poor performance. The report said an official, on request of anonymity, told that he and his colleagues fetch the list of bank accounts not linked to mobile numbers, link these accounts to any mobile numbers they could gather of bank staffers, sanitation and security workers and their relatives to generate the one-time password (OTP) needed to join the app, and sign up these accounts from the back end. The employees would then deregister these customers from the app and reuse the same mobile number in the same manner with other bank accounts. Al Jazeera claimed that the Bank of Baroda employees from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Jharkhand also adopted this widely prevalent modus operandi to achieve the target. A retired executive from Gujarat sent five emails to the banks top management highlighting these irregularities. He shared these emails with Al Jazeera on the condition of anonymity. The email he sent in February last year, after his retirement, reads: Activation of bob World is given so much pressure that almost a fraud-like situation is arising and in the accounts of customers, mobile number of branch head is updated for activation A very big fraud is in the offing." Emails Internal emails of Bank of Baroda acknowledge that the safety of tens of thousands of bank accounts was at risk since they were linked with strangers mobile numbers. The emails, which were first sent in January 2022, show that branches were asked to conduct a discreet inquiry about mobile numbers linked to multiple accounts and, in light of those inquiries, to recommend whether the mobile numbers should be withdrawn. The cleanup was to take place in stages. First, the phone numbers that were illegally linked to a maximum number of accounts 100 or more had to be de-linked. This was followed by mobile numbers linked with 50-plus accounts and later those with 30 or more accounts. Accounts compromised Linking unauthorised mobile numbers exposes customers to the risk of fraud as the person with the registered mobile number gains access to the account and can change online banking passwords, get hold of new ATM cards, wipe clean bank accounts and much more. A Bank of Baroda customer from Uttar Pradesh lost 1.5 million ($18,150) in 2021 as his registered mobile number lapsed and got reassigned to someone else, who exploited the mobile banking access to the hilt. Al Jazeera found tweets from Bank of Baroda customers alleging that money sent to them via their mobile number-linked bank account ended up in someone elses bank account since their phone number was apparently registered with multiple accounts. While one wrote he lost 25,000 ($302) in this manner, another wrote she has lost 2,500 ($30), 1,500 ($18) and more over a year. Aggressive enrolment goals As the Indian government intensely promotes digital banking and pushes for the transition towards a less-cash economy, the scandal casts a shadow on the safety of customers money and spotlights the ham-handed way in which banks handle sensitive financial information. But this aggressive enrolment goals spurred bad behaviour. Imposing app on the poor Several Bank of Baroda employees from different branches told Al Jazeera about another workaround they found to boost app registrations: targeting the working-class customers who were still using feature phones and wouldnt be able to download the bank app. Bank employees took the SIM card of such users and inserted it in the branchs official tablet or an employees smartphone, with their permission, to sign them up. The officers said they would call such customers to the branch and sign them up individually like this. At the end of the day, to meet the number [target] and save your bread and butter, you have to do such things." Failing to get the job done in such campaigns puts employees at the risk of disciplinary action and abusive tirades from seniors. Controls in place Since Bank of Barodas internal emails ask branches to recommend bank accounts from which bogus mobile numbers must be unlinked, Al Jazeera, under Indias Right to Information law, asked the bank how many branches sent recommendations for the same and how many accounts were recommended in 2022. Al Jazeera also sought a copy of every email, letter, and circular sent to branches and/or zonal offices regarding the deletion of duplicate mobile numbers. The bank replied that it does not maintain such data even though a whistleblowers regional offices emails to branches state that the process of removal/correction of mobile number is to be carried out centrally from the back". Al Jazeera asked the bank for a month-wise list of the number of users joining bob World and quitting the app. The bank declined, saying that it is a trade secret and is exempted from disclosure. In response to Al Jazeeras questions, a spokesperson for the bank said in an email: The bank has a robust system with the necessary controls in place. The bob World mobile banking app cannot be linked to the same mobile number more than once. Further, to register or update a mobile number in a bank account, customers need to visit the bank branch in person and follow a two-factor authentication process, post which the mobile number is activated after 24 hours. With regard to your question on the linking of bank accounts to one mobile number, the bank has restricted the seeding of one mobile number to eight customer IDs, provided that the registered [postal] address is the same. This facility offers convenience to customers belonging to the same family." New Delhi: The market for critical minerals, essential for powering clean energy technologies, has experienced a remarkable surge, doubling in size over the past five years, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report on Tuesday. The IEAs inaugural Critical Minerals Market Review, released today along with a new online data explorer, highlights the soaring demand for minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper driven by the increasing deployment of clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels. The report reveals that the energy sector played a pivotal role in tripling the overall demand for lithium from 2017 to 2022, while cobalt witnessed a 70% jump in demand and nickel saw a 40% rise. Consequently, the market for energy transition minerals reached an impressive $320 billion in 2022 and is projected to witness further rapid growth, making it a focal point for the global mining industry. Responding to this surge in demand, investment in critical mineral development witnessed a significant rise of 30% last year, following a 20% increase in 2021. Among these minerals, lithium observed the sharpest increase in investment, with a remarkable jump of 50%, followed by copper and nickel. The substantial growth in corporate spending on mineral supplies reinforces the affordability and pace of clean energy transitions, underscoring the significance of the availability of critical minerals. At a pivotal moment for clean energy transitions worldwide, we are encouraged by the rapid growth in the market for critical minerals, which are crucial for the world to achieve its energy and climate goals," said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. However, Birol acknowledged the existence of major challenges and stressed the need to secure and sustain the supply chains for critical minerals. The IEA aims to lead in this area by conducting cutting-edge research, analysis, and by fostering collaboration among governments, companies, and other stakeholders. The agency has planned the Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Summit on 28 September, where progress in this critical field will be discussed. The IEAs analysis suggests that if all planned critical mineral projects worldwide materialize, the supply could meet the national climate pledges announced by governments. Nevertheless, concerns remain due to potential project delays and technology-specific shortages, leaving little room for complacency in ensuring an adequate supply. Meeting the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 C by 2030 would require even more projects to be undertaken. The report also raises concerns regarding supply diversity, with numerous new project announcements coming from countries that already dominate the critical minerals market. In 2022, the share of the top three critical mineral producers either remained unchanged or increased further, particularly in the case of nickel and cobalt. The report also highlights mixed progress in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. While companies have made advancements in community investment, worker safety, and gender balance, greenhouse gas emissions associated with mineral production remain high, with consistent annual emissions per tonne of mineral output. Additionally, water withdrawals nearly doubled between 2018 and 2021. Alongside the Critical Minerals Market Review 2023, the IEA has introduced the Critical Minerals Data Explorer, an interactive online tool that provides easy access to the agencys data and projections for critical minerals. The initial version of the tool enables users to explore demand projections under various scenarios and technology trends, with plans to include supply-side information in future updates. Since the publication of the IEAs influential analysis on the Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions in 2021, the agency has expanded its work on critical minerals to aid policymakers in addressing emerging challenges. Moreover, the IEA has been requested by the G7 to provide support in various aspects of critical minerals supply and demand. To foster international dialogue and cooperation on this matter, the IEA is set to host the worlds first international summit on critical minerals and their role in clean energy transitions on 28 September in Paris. The summit will bring together ministers from IEA member countries, as well as major mineral producers and consumers, business leaders, investors, heads of international organizations, and civil society representatives. Shares of Vedanta declined almost three per cent in morning trade on BSE on Tuesday, a day after Taiwan-based firm Foxconn said it had decided to pull out of a $19.5 billion semiconductor joint venture (JV) with Vedanta. The stock opened at 275 against the previous close of 282.25 and fell 2.6 per cent to 274.90 soon. The stock traded 1.26 per cent lower at 278.70 around 10:15 am. Taiwan-based Hon Hai Technology Group, which is popularly known as Foxconn, and India's metals and mining conglomerate Vedanta announced a joint venture in 2022 to manufacture semiconductors in India's Gujarat. Vedanta was to hold the majority stake in the JV, according to the MOU signed between the two companies. On July 10, 2023, Foxconn said in a statement that in order to explore more diverse development opportunities it had decided not to move forward on the joint venture with Vedanta. "Foxconn is working to remove the Foxconn name from what now is a fully-owned entity of Vedanta," Foxconn said. As per a Reuters report, quoting sources, "Concerns about incentive approval delays by India's government had contributed to Foxconn's decision to pull out of the venture. New Delhi had also raised several questions on the cost estimates provided to request incentives from the government." Meanwhile, Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw wrote on Twitter that Both the companies Foxconn and Vedanta are committed to Indias semiconductor mission and Make in India program." View Full Image Ashwini Vaishnaw's tweet. (Twitter) Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics & Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar wrote on Twitter: Withdrawal of Foxconn from its JV with Vedanta changes nothing about India's semiconductor goals. It allows both companies to independently pursue their strategies for Indian semiconductors and electronics." View Full Image Rajeev Chandrasekhar's Tweet (Twitter) After Foxconn's withdrawal from the JV, Vedanta said it has lined up other potential partners to set up India's first foundry. "Vedanta reiterates that it is fully committed to its semiconductor fab project and we have lined up other partners to set up Indias first foundry. We will continue to grow our Semiconductor team, and we have the license for production-grade technology for 40 nm from a prominent Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM)," Vedanta said. Earlier Vedanta said that it will acquire a 100 per cent stake in semiconductor and display units from sister concern Twin Star Technologies, the conglomerate. Twin Star Technologies is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volcan Investments Limited which is the ultimate holding company of Vedanta Limited. The new structure will make Vedanta India's first company in Integrated Semiconductor and Display Fab Business. Read more: Foxconn pulls out of $19.5 billion semiconductor JV but Vedanta says other partners already lined up Vedanta shares have gained in sync with the benchmark Sensex in the last one year; both are up about 21 per cent in the last one year. The stock hit its 52-week high of 340.75 on January 20, 2023, and a 52-week low of 221.55 on July 11, 2022. Read all market-related news here VEDANTA More Information BSE More Information Rumours are rife that the government may table the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. Currently, rules around succession, inheritance, marriage, divorce, alimony, etc. are governed by the respective personal laws and religion of the citizens. The UCC aims to enforce a uniform legal framework in respect of all such facets, for all Indian citizens, irrespective of their religion. The implementation of UCC can have some unexpected but intriguing tax implications too. Currently, when a person dies without a will, the appropriate succession laws come into effect for the transfer of a deceaseds assets to the legal heirs. For instance, according to the Hindu succession law, if a man leaves behind property, it is primarily passed on to his class I heirs (the widow, children and mother) in equal share. In their absence, class II heirs (father, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brother, sister and other relatives) can claim the property. If the owner is a Hindu woman, assets get passed on to her husband and children in equal proportion. If none of them are present, the property will go to the heirs of her husband. Failing that, it will go to her parents. According to Muslim law, the heirs are the successors of the deceased who are legally recognized by the Shariah to inherit his estate, given that they are not impeded from inheritance. The heirs succeed to the estate as tenants-in-common in specified shares. There is no joint tenancy in Muslim law and the heirs are only tenants-in-common. The Indian Succession Act of 1925 gives Christian mothers no right in the property of their deceased children. All such property is to be inherited by the father. The interstate inheritance of Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists is also governed by the Indian Succession Act of 1925. As per the Income Tax Act, the ancestral property acquired by way of a will or through inheritance is not considered as a transfer and is not taxable as capital gain or as income from other sources. Also, on the death of a person, the income tax liability of the deceased is to be discharged by the legal heirs. Similarly, in the Central Goods & Service Tax (CGST) Act, in case of the death of a sole proprietor, the business can either be cancelled or transferred to the legal heirs or a new owner. The transfer of business includes obtaining legal succession certificates, transferring assets and liabilities, and applying for the transfer of input tax credit (ITC). From taxation perspective, personal laws address some critical questionswhether the person claiming the acquisition of an ancestral property as non-taxable by virtue of his inheritance or claiming ITC in the capacity of his legal heir, is actually the lawful legal heir or not; who is to be considered as the lawful legal representative/heir of the deceased, to discharge the income tax or GST liability (if any) of the deceased. The coming into effect of the UCC will alter these established propositions of inheritance and succession governed by the personal laws, and will require an appropriate revisit in the IT Act as well as in the CGST Act. Another taxing implication will be in respect of the Hindu undivided family (HUF). The IT Act gives a separate legal person status to an HUF. Like an individual, an HUF is entitled to benefits of the basic exemption threshold limit, slab rates of personal taxation, tax deductions and exemptions (section 80C of up to 1.5 lakh, home loan, deduction on mediclaim premium paid for its members, reinvesting capital gains in prescribed avenues to get exemption, etc). An HUF can run its own business to generate income and claim all applicable exemptions and deductions that an individual is entitled to. If the UCC is implemented, the separate person status of an HUF may no longer continue. It will affect lakhs of HUFs currently filing their returns of income in India, and availing the benefits of various tax deductions and exemptions. Parliament will be required to make relevant amendments in numerous sections of the Income Tax Act, in respect of the legal person status and taxability of HUFs. It will also create some administrative difficulties for the tax administration authorities concerning the rolling back of PAN numbers of existing HUFs. Thus, the UCC is going to have its fair share of tax implications too, which need to be addressed carefully by policymakers. Mayank Mohanka is the founder of TaxAaram India and a partner at S M Mohanka & Associates. The message was rather abrupt: Your PAN is inoperative." The London-based NRI (non-resident Indian) was shocked to see this message flash on his laptop screen recently when he sat down to file his income tax returns (ITR) for the current year. His PAN had become inoperable since it was not linked with Aadhar, the 12-digit unique ID number. And the date for mandatorily linking both was 30 June. The NRI, who did not want to be identified, does not have Aadhaar. Neither does his wife. But, heres the surprising part. Unlike me, my wife was able to submit her ITR successfully. It makes no sense because she, too, hasnt linked her PAN with Aadhaar. Besides, getting an Aadhaar is optional for NRIs, so linking them should also be optional," he said. Other NRIs, too, are facing a similar crisis. The problem, however, is not related to their Aadhaar being linked with PAN. Rather, it stems from their residential status that they had hitherto declared in their PAN applications and found in the I-T department records. The IT department has an international tax ward that deals with non-resident taxpayers. Unless NRIs register themselves as a non-resident, they continue to be identified as a resident per the PAN records. Such NRIs who fall in resident jurisdiction and did not link Aadhaar with PAN are now seeing their PAN getting inoperative," said Prakash Hegde, chartered accountant, Acer Tax & Corporate Services LLP. View Full Image Mint This is akin to NRIs being asked by banks to convert their regular savings account to NRE or NRO account after they attain the non-resident status. Similarly, the change in status has to be registered with mutual fund (MF) companies, in demat accounts and with stock brokers, wherever applicable. However, in most cases, NRIs dont separately get their jurisdiction changed with the I-T department as they disclose the non-resident status while filing their ITR, which should suffice. This is erroneous on the tax departments part as these NRIs have been filing ITR under non-resident status for many years. The I-T department should have mapped their residential status as per their ITR and not wait for them to file a separate application. Or, the department should have educated the NRIs about PAN-Aadhaar linking and thereby averted this mess," said Hegde. In none of the correspondence that the department has been sending these past few months regarding PAN-Aadhaar, it was specified that NRIs have to get their PAN database changed. Also, getting PAN database changed every time you become resident to NR or vice versa is not a practical approach as some assessees status is changed frequently," said Deepak Kakkar, a Delhi-based chartered accountant and senior manager, Jaikumar Tejwani & Co. LLP. Do note that residential status in your profile on the online I-T portal can be easily updated but that doesnt change the residential status in the I-T departments records. Unlike residents, not having an Aadhaar card has no bearing on tax filing for an NRI. In fact, the government has exempted NRIs from stating Aadhaar in their ITR, said Kakkar. The provisions of section 139AA, which mandates quoting of Aadhaar in ITR and PAN application, do not apply to NRIs who do not possess the Aadhaar. They were exempted from this vide notification No. 37/2017," he said. It should be noted that only those NRIs who do not have the Aadhaar are exempted. If the NRI does have an Aadhaar, then the exemption does not apply and he will be required to link it with his PAN," said Neeraj Agarwala, Partner, Nangia Andersen India. The Impact An inoperative PAN is bad news for NRIs as they cant do a host of financial transactions, including investing in SIPs (systematic investment plans) or opting for redemption in MFs, payment of life insurance premium, and purchase of bonds and listed and unlisted shares. The RTA (Registrar and Transfer Agents), on behalf of the asset management company (AMC), checks the online status of the PAN at the time of processing the transaction and if its status is found to be inoperative, SIP or redemption will not get processed," said Kashmira Kalwachwala, head investor services, Tata Mutual Fund. Abdulla Chaudhari, head-investor services, Edelweiss AMC, concurred and added Currently, the AMC can only see the status of the PAN as operative or not, on the basis of which they are processing transactions." NRIs also cant file their tax returns. Any pending refunds owed to them will also not be processed until the issue with their inoperative PAN is resolved," said Agarwala. The London-based sexagenarian couple, mentioned earlier, has to file the ITR to get a refund of the 20% TDS (tax deducted at source) they are entitled to after selling a property held jointly in Chennai last year. We will get half the refund amount as my wife has filed her ITR successfully. But it doesnt look like we will get a resolution in time to claim the remaining half," the husband said. Another major impact of the inoperative PAN would be in the form of TDS on various payments made by NRIs in India. NRIs have the option to get TDS lowered from 20-30% (as applicable in different cases) if they get a lower deduction certificate from the tax authorities by furnishing their PAN. They can no longer exercise this option with an inoperative PAN. What can NRIs do NRIs facing this issue have two optionsget their jurisdiction changed to non-resident ward or enrol for Aadhaar and link it with PAN. For the first option, they have to file an application with the IT office in their domestic jurisdiction along with copies of their passports and details about their stay in India over the past few years. The income tax profile of the NRI taxpayer will have details of the jurisdiction in which he/she falls and the email ID of the concerned tax officer. They can send the application and other documents to this email ID," said Hegde. Once the residential status is updated, they must inform the tax assessing officer (AO). It is important to inform the relevant AO that linking is no longer required for them. Based on their request, the AO will be able to reactivate the PAN. It is important to note that the process of making the PAN operative may take up to 30 days. it is crucial to take prompt action to make the PAN operative in order to file the income tax return within the specified deadline," said Agarwala. ITR, if filed after the 31 July deadline (provided it is not extended), will attract a 5,000 penalty. For those who have MF investments, Abdulla said Currently, investors have to inform KRAs to update their PAN status. The KYC status for those whose Aadhar-PAN is not linked will be updated as On hold". KYC verified status is also a regulatory requirement for processing of transactions," he said Enrolling for Aadhaar may not be a feasible option as it can only be done physically in India. An NRI can only enrol for Aadhaar by visiting one of the Aadhaar Kendras located in India. They must physically visit the Aadhaar Kendra to complete the biometric authentication," said Adithya Reddy, an international tax advisor. At least six people died in a collision between a school bus and a car on Ghaziabad NH 9 on Tuesday morning. As per reports, the school bus had no student on it and was reportedly coming from the wrong direction. RK Kushwaha, ADCP (traffic) said that the bus driver was coming from the wrong direction after getting CNG from Ghazipur in Delhi while the TUV was coming from Meerut's direction and was on its way to Gurugram. "A school bus and a TUV met with an accident on the Delhi Meerut Expressway at 6.00 am today. The bus driver was coming from the wrong direction after filling CNG from Delhi near Ghazipur. The people in the car were coming from Meerut and had to go to Gurgaon. There was a head-on collision. 6 persons died and 2 are seriously injured. The driver of the bus has been caught. The entire fault was of the bus driver who was coming from the wrong direction", Ramanand Kushwaha ADCP Traffic Police told ANI. The ADCP further said that the deceased include two children and the injured are being treated. "The dead include 2 children. Women and men are also included. 2 people are injured and are being treated in the hospital. There were 8 people in the car. The bus belongs to Bal Bharti School Bus which is in Noida", ADCP Kushwaha said. Himachal rain updates: The rains in the hilly state have wreaked havoc triggering landslides, causing power disruption, blocking roads, and damaging bridges. As per NDTV report, heavy rain claimed 30 lives in the state of which 11 were reported from Shimla. The hilly state has also seen loss to infrastructure with an initial estimated between 3000 crore to 4000 crore. Tourists too are stranded in parts of the hill state and as per reports, over 500 tourists are stranded in Chandertal, Pagal Nallah, other places in Lahaul and Spiti. According to officials, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also rescued 515 labourers stranded in a waterlogged slum in Una district. Ashutosh Garg, Deputy Commissioner, Kullu told PTI that the weather in the state improved and also assured that the stranded people will be taken to reflief camps set in Kullu. The weather has improved since last night which has helped us make progress in our restoration work. I want to assure that the stranded people are being taken care of as seven relief camps have been set up in Kullu," he said as quoted by PTI. Also Read: Heavy rainfall likely in Rajasthan tomorrow Kullu has been among the worst affected districts in Himachal Pradesh with visuals showing a truck flowing in the waters of the furiously flowing Beas river in the district. In Mandi, Panchvaktra temple has been submerged in the waters of Beas river. A tragic accident in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district led to the loss of live seven people including a seven-year-old child while 15 other people were injured. The incident occurred after a State Road Transport Corporation bus carrying around 40 passengers fell into the Sagar Canal in the early hours of Tuesday. Initial probe by the police suggests that the passengers had hired the bus to attend a marriage function in Kakinada city and were returning from the function when they met with the incident. Reportedly, police reached the spot and started the rescue operation upon receiving information about the accident. Injured passengers have been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Darsi Sub Inspector Ramakrishna confirmed the reports about the accident. "More than 15 were severely injured and they are undergoing treatment at Darsi and Ongole hospitals . Let us hope there are no more casaulities" Ramakrishna was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. He further noted that the cause of the incident is yet to be known and the rescue operation is still underway. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock over the bus accident and expressed his condolences. In a tweet in Telugu, CMO Andhra Pradesh wrote, Chief Minister Shri YS Jagan expressed shock over the RTC bus accident near Darshi in Prakasam district. Deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. The officials were directed to take measures to provide better medical services to the injured. They want to stand with the families of the dead." (With inputs from ANI) Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the bail plea of Leena Maria Paulose, wife of conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar in a 200 crore extortion case registered by the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police. In addition, the court also dismissed the bail petitions of two accused Kamlesh Kothari and B Mohan Raj in the same case, according to the news agency ANI. Sukesh Chandrasekhar, Leena Maria Paulose and others are presently in judicial custody since last year in the case for allegedly duping Aditi Singh, wife of the former promoter of Ranbaxy, Shivinder Singh, of 200 crore. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma on Tuesday dismissed all three bail petitions filed in the matter. According to police, Kothari is a real estate agent who helped the couple buy a bungalow in Chennai and B Mohan Raj a lawyer by profession and has been representing Chandrashekhar in his cases for a long time and was allegedly involved in their wrongdoing, as per ANI reports. Delhi Police on May 23 filed two Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports in 200 crore extortion case in Patiala House Court. One of the reports is related to the mobile phone of Sukesh Chandrasekhar. This ED case is based on an FIR filed by Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against Sukesh Chandrasekhar who is accused of cheating and extorting Aditi Singh, wife of former promoter of Religare Enterprises Shivinder Mohan Singh, who was arrested in October 2019 in a case related to alleged misappropriation of funds at Religare Finvest Ltd. Chandrasekhar and his associates reportedly took money from Aditi after posing as government officials and promising to get bail for her husband, ANI reported. Reportedly, Chandrasekhar persuaded Aditi to transfer money by impersonating a central government official over a spoof call while he was lodged in Rohini jail and promised to manage bail for her husband. Both Chandrasekhar and his actor wife Leena Maria Paul were arrested by the Delhi Police in September last year for their alleged role in the duping case. (With ANI inputs) As river Yamuna continues to flow above the danger mark, the main reason behind waterlogging near Yamuna Bazar area and the rest of Delhi is inadequate cleaning of sewage and untreated drain water, said Delhi LG VK Saxena on Tuesday. He also added that lack of planning for fewer sewer lines, drainage and water harvesting are also major reasons behind waterlogging in Delhi. Waterlogging has become a yearly ritual. Sewage cleaning is not done, drain water is not treated properly. Due to all these things which have been not done for years, waterlogging occurs," Delhi LG told ANI. The LG took note of the situation of different areas of the city due to rainfall. He inspected the Prgati Maidan tunnel, Minto Bridge, and hte Zakhira underpass that were flooded and closed for traffic due to heavy downpour. On being asked about CM Kejriwal's statement that Delhi witnessed record-breaking rainfall this year, he reminded that nature doesn't inform in advance, hence it people who need to prepare beforehand for such situations. He said that desilting of Yamuna should be done regularly, and Najafgarh drain desilting should cleaned on a regular basis. "I will try to see to it that attention is paid to all this so that people don't have to face this.Nature doesn't inform us in advance, we have to be prepared for it," he added. He also addressed that Delhi's population grew by 50 lakh since 2014, but planning was not done accordingly for sewer lines and drainage, which has resulted in waterlogging. On Tuesday, river Yamuna crossed the danger mark and was flowing at nearly 206. 24 meters. Due to this, authorities began the evacuation of people living in the low lying area. Moreover, the traffic over the old Yamuna bridge in the national capital was also suspended for a while due to rising water level. The traffic was suspended since 6 am on Tuesday. "Rail traffic over the old Yamuna bridge, temporarily suspended since 06.00 a.m today--July 11," Northern Railways informed. The water level of the Yamuna river, which breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres earlier on Monday, was recorded at 206.24 mm at 6 am on Tuesday morning, triggering an Orange alert, according to data shared by the Flood Control Department in the national capital. Relocation of people residing in flood-prone areas to safer locations has begun, Delhi officials said. According to the flood bulletin, the water level of the Yamuna at the Old Railway Bridge was recorded at 206.24. Sources told ANI that people residing on the floodplain and along the banks, in the Mayur Vihar Extension area of the national capital, started shifting to roads. Officials also told the agency said the evacuation of people living on the Yamuna floodplains begins at the 'Orange alert' mark, which is at 206 metres. It is anticipated that the water level would reach 206.65 metres at 3 am on Tuesday, officials informed further. The water level in the Yamuna has been rising continuously as neighbouring Haryana released more water into the river from the Hathnikund barrage, amid heavy rainfall. The Yamuna was deemed to be flowing over the danger mark of 205.76 metres at 8 pm on Monday. Earlier, on Monday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said there is no threat of flooding in the national capital due to rising water level of the Yamuna on account of record rainfall over two days. Urging the Opposition parties not to indulge in a blame game, the CM said it was not the time to "point fingers" at each other. "A flood-like situation is unlikely in Delhi. Our government is prepared to deal with any situation," CM Kejriwal said at a press conference here after chairing a meeting to review the government's handling of the situation arising out of the heavy rainfall. Kejriwal said, "This is not the time to point fingers at each other or single out anyone", adding that the evacuation of people from low-lying areas around Yamuna will commence once the river breaches the 206-metre mark. (With inputs from ANI) ARVIND More Information In Delhi, the Yamuna River has exceeded the evacuation mark of 206 metres, prompting the relocation of people residing in flood-prone areas to safer locations, said officials on Tuesday, adding that it crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres in the national capital yesterday evening. The Central Water Commission's (CWC) flood-monitoring portal stated that the water level at the Old Railway Bridge rose to 206.28 metres by 6 am today with Haryana releasing more water than into the river from the Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar. It is expected that the river will rise to 206.65 metres by Tuesday afternoon, before gradually subsiding, according to a report published by the news agency PTI. Here are top 10 updates on Delhi weather 1) The rail traffic over the old Yamuna bridge in the national capital has been temporarily suspended as the water level crossed the danger mark in the Yamuna due to heavy downpours over the past few days. 2) According to the Flood Control Department, around 2,15,677 cusecs water was discharged through the Hathnikund barrage at 3 pm on Monday. 3) In a press conference on Monday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said a flood-like situation is unlikely in the national capital, but the city government is prepared to tackle any eventuality. 4) An official from East Delhi district informed that the evacuation process began on Monday night after floodwaters entered some areas. "Only those living in the affected areas have been shifted to camps on higher grounds," he said. 5) The irrigation and flood control department stated that the flow rate at the Hathnikund barrage had shot up to the 3 lakh cusec mark on Monday. Typically, the flow rate at the barrage is 352 cusecs, but heavy rainfall in the catchment areas increases the discharge. One cusec is equivalent to 28.32 litres per second. 6) The Delhi government issued a flood warning on Sunday. Authorities have been instructed to stay vigilant and act in vulnerable areas. Quick response teams and boats have also been deployed, PTI reported. 7) The Kejriwal government has set up 16 control rooms to monitor the flood-prone areas and the water level of the Yamuna. 8) Heavy rainfall across the entire North Indian belt and especially in states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana have throw normal life out of gear. 9) Delhi witnessed its highest rainfall (153 mm) in a single day in July since 1982 in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday. The city received an additional 107 mm rainfall in the subsequent 24 hours, exacerbating the situation. 10) The heavy rain transformed roads into gushing streams, parks into watery labyrinths and marketplaces into submerged realms.The Delhi government announced a closure of all schools on Monday and cancelled the Sunday leave of government officials, instructing them to be in the field. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the Union governments decision to grant two extensions of tenure to Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra in 2021 and 2022, and termed these orders illegal" because they came after a court order that said no further extensions be given to him. And while the court affirmed the Centres 2021 amendments to the pertinent laws to extend the tenure of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director and ED chief up to a maximum of five years, it said these could not be used to defend Mishras extension because its writ cannot be nullified using a law. Mishra can continue in office till 31 July to enable the Centre to initiate a smooth transition in the larger public interest", the court further directed. A bench, headed by Justice B.R. Gavai, held that though the Centre has the power to continue the tenure of an ED director beyond the mandatory two-year term, it could not have granted the two extensions to Mishra in view of a September 2021 SC order in the Common Cause case, restraining any further extension to him. The 1984 batch Indian Revenue Service officer, who was granted a third extension in November last year, was otherwise set to demit office in November 2023. While it upheld the 2021 amendments to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act empowering the Union government to give an ED director and a CBI chief a maximum cumulative tenure of five years, the court rejected the Centres contention that Mishras extension can be protected under the new law despite the September 2021 order of the top court. Mishras extensions were challenged through petitions moved by Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, Jaya Thakur, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and others. The bench noted that while the effect of the judgments of the court can be nullified by a legislative act by removing the basis of the judgment, but a specific direction issued in relation to the parties in a case will remain binding. This court has specifically issued a mandamus that no further extension shall be granted to the second respondent (Mishra). The Union of India and Mishra were both parties in the proceedings before this court in the Common Cause case. The mandamus issued to the parties was binding on them... The impugned orders dated 17 November 2021 and 17 November 2022 granting extensions to the tenure of Mishra for a period of one year each are held to be illegal," stated the 103-page judgment. This court has clearly held that nullification of mandamus by an enactment would be impermissible legislative exercise. This court has further held that transgression of constitutional limitations and intrusion into the judicial power by the legislature is violative of the principle of separation of powers, the rule of law and Article 142 of the Constitution of India," said the bench. Finding no flaws with the 2021 amendments, the top court noted that such extensions could be granted by the government only if the selection committees, which are constituted for recommending their appointment, recommend their extension in the public interest and also record the reasons in writing. The composition of the high-level committee for appointing the CBI chief comprises the prime minister, the chief justice of India or his nominee, and the leader of the opposition or the single largest party in opposition. The panel to select the ED chief includes the central vigilance commissioner, vigilance commissioners, and three secretaries in the ministries of home affairs, finance and personnel. Affirming the amendments, the court noted that it is not at the sweet will of the government" that the extensions can be granted to the incumbents in the office of the director of CBI or ED, but that it is only following the recommendations of the selection committees and reasoned orders that such extensions can be granted. When a committee can be trusted with regard to recommending their initial appointment, we see no reason as to why such committees cannot be trusted to consider as to whether the extension is required to be given in public interest or not. At the cost of repetition, such committee is also required to record reasons in writing in support of such recommendations," it added. The court maintained there was no manifest arbitrariness in bringing the 2021 amendments, nor could there be a contention in law that Parliament did not have the power to enact on this subject. In a bid to address labour shortage crisis, Canada earlier this year announced to dramatically increased the immigrants' entry. According to the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, the country aims to welcome 465,000 new immigrants in 2023. Then in 2024, the target is to invite 485,000 new immigrants and 500,000 new immigrants in 2025. That is, almost 1.5 million new immigrants coming to the country over the next three years. So far this years, it has managed to issue invites to nearly 60,000 candidates only through Express Entry draws. In 2022, Canada took in 405,000 permanent residents, the highest-ever count. What to expect next? In the second half of the year, Canada is likely to invite even higher number of immigrants. The IRCC has already started its category based draws this month and apart from that, the immigration ministry recently unveiled its tech talent strategy. These initiatives are planned so that right kind of talents are invited to the country to match the labour shortage needs. Moreover, Canada had earlier noted that it is likely to invite one million immigrants through PNP route this year. Here's a look at numbers of invites issued to immigrants till now January In January, Canada held two Express Entry draws - one on January 11 and the second one on January 18. A total 11,000 ITAs were issued during the first two draws. Eligible candidates were invited from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). All are programs that operate under the Express Entry system. The CRS scores for the two draws were 507 and 491. February In the February draw, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 3,300 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 489. March In a matter of three weeks, IRCC issued a total of 21,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score for the last draw dropped to 481, the lowest requirement for an all-program draw since the December 23, 2020 draw, where the score was 468. April In two consecutive draws, IRCC issued a total of 7,000 ITAs. The CRS score was 483. May In the thirteenth Express Entry draw of 2023, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 4,800 candidates to apply through an all-program draw. Candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 488. This draw marked the first all-program draw since April 26 and considered candidates from all three programs managed under the Express Entry system: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). June IRCC invited 4,800 candidates in an all-program draw. Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 486. July Canada has conducted an Express Entry draw for the fourth consecutive day, last week with a focus on the French category for the first time. In this draw, 2,300 candidates with strong French-speaking abilities were invited, and they needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 439, the lowest of 2023. This round marks the sixth set of invitations issued within the last two weeks, bringing the total number of candidates invited through Express Entry during this period to 9,800. The recent draws have included invitations for healthcare professionals, candidates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, and an unexpected all-program draw. Videos and interviews with local residents claim that when Wagner forces were heading towards Moscow on June 24, a group of its military vehicles diverted towards a Russian army base housing nuclear weapons, news agency Reuters reported Tuesday. The report says there is no clue about what happened next after the Wagner fighters entered more rural regions, approximately 100 km away from the nuclear base, Voronezh-45. However, Western officials consistently stated that Russia's nuclear stockpile was never at risk during the uprising, which ended quickly and mysteriously later that day. In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's head of military intelligence, claimed that the Wagner fighters reached the nuclear base with an intention to acquire small Soviet-era nuclear devices in order to "raise the stakes" in their mutiny. "Because if you are prepared to fight until the last man standing, this is one of the facilities that significantly raises the stakes," Reuters reported quoting Budanov. The only barrier between the Wagner fighters and nuclear weapons, Budanov said, were the doors to the nuclear storage facility. "The doors of the storage were closed and they didn't get into the technical section," Budanov added The Ukrainian intelligence chief did not provide evidence for his assertion. He declined to say what discussions, if any, had taken place with the US and other allies about the incident. He also didn't say why the fighters subsequently withdrew. LiveMint could not independently verify or confirm this report. The report said that a source close to the Kremlin with military ties corroborated parts of Budanov's account. A Wagner contingent "managed to get into a zone of special interest, as a result of which the Americans got agitated because nuclear munitions are stored there," the source said, without elaborating further. The report further claimed that another source in Russias occupied east Ukraine having knowledge of the matter said the presence of Wagner contingent near the nuclear base raised concerns in the Kremlin and provided impetus for a hastily negotiated end to the rebellion on the evening of June 24, brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. But, the US officials have expressed doubts about this account. White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said, "We are not able to corroborate this report. We had no indication at any point that nuclear weapons or materials were at risk." It would be virtually impossible for a non-state actor" to breach Russian nuclear security. Wagner may have had thousands of troops at its disposal, Reuters reported Matt Korda, a Senior Research Associate and Project Manager for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, as saying. He added, it's unlikely any of them knew how to detonate a bomb." "If you had a malicious actor who was able to get their hands on a nuclear weapon, they would find the weapons stored in a state of incomplete assembly," Korda said. "They would need to be completed by installing specialised equipment and then unlocking permissive action links, and in order to do that they would need the cooperation of someone from the 12th Directorate" responsible for protecting Russia's nuclear arsenal. The report said, Budanov was the first official to suggest that Wagner fighters came close to acquiring nuclear weapons and further escalating an armed mutiny that has been widely interpreted as the biggest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin's power. Wagner fighters drove in the direction of Voronezh-45 after peeling away from a larger convoy of heavy weaponry that was advancing along the M4 highway that runs north from Rostov, where the rebellion began. This smaller group headed east, and engaged Russian forces in a firefight at the first village it reached, according to residents and social media posts. But then it appears to have passed without hindrance for 90 km, including driving unchallenged through the centre of a town that houses a military base. The Wagner group reached Talovaya, 100 km from the base. Talovaya dates back to the Soviet era. It is one of Russia's 12 "national-level storage facilities" for nuclear weapons. At Talovaya, the Wagner fighters were challenged by the Russian forces, in which a Russian helicopter was shot down, killing two crew members, claimed the local residents. During the interview Budanov claimed that Voronezh-45 houses small nuclear devices that can be carried in a backpack. Without providing evidence for his assertion Budanov said "This was one of the key storage facilities for these backpacks." The report said small nuclear bombs light enough to be carried by a single person are Cold War relics. American troops trained to parachute from planes with nuclear weapons strapped to their bodies and Soviet troops trained to deploy them behind enemy lines on foot. But by the early 1990s, both nations agreed to remove them from their arsenals as tensions eased, and did so, though Russia kept some to mine harbours, said Hans Kristensen, who leads the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, based in Washington. Several former US nuclear nonproliferation officials cautioned that it's difficult to know for sure whether the Russians kept their promise to destroy their backpack-style nuclear weapons. "I don't believe the Russians still have them, but I wouldn't bet my life on it," said David Jonas, former general counsel to the US National Nuclear Security Administration, which tracks atomic weapons and radioactive material worldwide. However, Amy Woolf, a nuclear weapons specialist raised doubts about the potency of such weapons if they do still exist. "It's possible there's still some old crap stuck in storage somewhere," she said. "But is it operational? Almost certainly not." Another top Pentagon official on non-proliferation Jonas, agreed, noting that such portable weapons need to be maintained and updated, and degrade over time. He said Russia has struggled to maintain its conventional forces, let alone its atomic stockpile. A falling out Wagner was founded by Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, a former special forces officer in Russia's GRU military intelligence. Cast as a private army, Wagner enabled Russia to dabble in wars in countries including Syria, Libya and Mali with full deniability. Putin confirmed the Russian state financed Wagner. Prigozhin fired the opening salvo of his mutiny on June 23 when he accused the Russian military of launching a missile strike on a Wagner camp in Russian-occupied east Ukraine. Russia denied any such operation. In the early hours of June 24, Wagner forces arrived in the southern city of Rostov, an important command centre for Russia's operations in Ukraine. Wagner took charge of the base there and within hours video emerged of Prigozhin chatting with Russian commanders. Around the same time, other contingents of Wagner forces struck out north, heading in the direction of Moscow along the M-4 highway. Wagner fighters encountered little resistance. Some Russian units that stood in their path or were instructed to intercept them did nothing, Russian units did nothing because they were taken by surprise and were outgunned. Some sources said some officers were reluctant to move against Wagner because they felt solidarity with the private army and shared Prigozhin's disillusionment with the way the Defence Ministry top brass was running the war. A deal is struck On the evening of June 24 there was an unexpected announcement by Belarusian state media. The country's president, Alexsandr Lukashenko, had negotiated Prigozhin's agreement to halt his forces' advances. Prigozhin said in an audio message that his forces had come within 125 miles of Moscow and were "turning around" to head back to their training camps. Under the deal, Russia would not prosecute the rebels and Wagner fighters would either withdraw to Belarus or join Russia's regular army. A European intelligence source said Prigozhin was persuaded to abandon his revolt after realising he didn't have sufficient support amongst the military. Prigozhin's whereabouts and future plans are unclear. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Putin held talks with the Wagner leader on June 29 and "gave his assessment of the events" of June 24. A private commercial helicopter with six people aboard including five Mexican nationals that went missing near the Mount Everest area in Nepal on Tuesday has crashed in a hilly terrain in the country's eastern region, officials said as quoted by PTI. Gyanendra Bhul, Manager at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) said that the Manang Air NA-MV chopper took off from Surke Airport in Solukhumbu district at 10:04 am for Kathmandu and suddenly lost contact at an altitude above 12,000 feet at 10:13 am. The chopper crashed in the Lamjura area of Likhupike Rural Municipality in the remote mountainous Solukhumbu district. A detailed report is yet to come as a rescue operation is underway, said a senior official at TIA. Locals have informed us that the helicopter crashed with a loud explosion and they saw fire at the crash site," the official said. The last location of the chopper was tracked at 10:12 am in the Lamjura Pass area, said Raju Neupane, operation and safety manager of Manang Air. Local police have been mobilized in the area. Earlier, two helicopters sent to locate the crash site had to return due to bad weather, the senior airport official said, adding that the exact reason behind the crash is not known yet. Five Mexican nationals and pilot Chet B Gurung were aboard the helicopter. Sagar Kadel, an Airport official said that weather conditions had caused changes to be made to the helicopter's planned flight route. It is common for flights to be delayed and routes changed during the monsoon season amid heavy rains. In May, the tourist and mountaineering season ended with the onset of the rainy season. This time, tourist flights to the mountains are less common due to poor visibility and unpredictable weather conditions. Founded in 1997, Manang Air is a helicopter airline based in Kathmandu. It has been operating helicopters in commercial air transportation within the Nepalese territory under the Regulation of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. The company provides chartered services and is focused on personalized services such as adventure flights helicopter excursions or expedition work. (With inputs from agencies) The main focus of this year's NATO summit will be to come to a concrete conclusion around Ukraine's membership bid after a deal to lift Turkey's block on Sweden joining the military alliance. All the NATO leaders gather for the summit in Vilnius on Tuesday, to discuss different points around the security of NATO members. There are also talks of NATO leaders approving the group's first comprehensive plans since the end of the Cold War to defend against any attack from Moscow. Over time, NATO leaders have brought consensus on the fact that Ukraine cannot join the group during the war, but there are still some differences of opinion among members. Leaders of member countries have a different stance on how quickly Kyiv can join the group and under what conditions. We already understand that Ukraine will be in the Alliance, Zelensky Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also been invited at the VIlnius gathering of NATO members. He has been stressing on the membership from a very long time so that Ukraine can join the Alliance soon after the war is over. "We are still working on the wording ... but we already understand the fact that Ukraine will be in the Alliance," Zelenskiy said on Twitter on Monday evening. He also said that Ukraine was working to streamline the process of joining NATO more clear to make it as fast as possible. Ukraine's efforts are equally reciprocated by NATO members who collectively believe that adding Ukraine under NATO's umbrella is the only way to deter Russia from attacking again. Turkey agrees to support Sweden's bid to join NATO Soon after Russian invasion to Ukraine, Nordic neighbours Finland and Sweden abandoned their decades of military non-alignment and applied to join NATO. After Finland's successful inclusion, Sweden's accession was held by a dispute with Turkey. However, Turkey president Tayyip Erdogan agreed to send Sweden's application to the Turkish parliament for ratification. Stoltenberg hailed the move as "historic". Turkey and Sweden witnessed sour relation because of later's inaction on terrorists. Turkey had accused Sweden of not taking enough actions to curb the activities of groups and people identified as terrorists by Ankara. Main issue is with Sweden's inaction against the members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and the United States. On Monday, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Erdogan agreed to further steps on Monday evening, including establishing a new "Security Compact" on fighting terrorism. The two also agreed to step up economic cooperation and Sweden committed to support efforts to revive the moribund process of moving Turkey closer to the European Union. Ukraine can join NATO without MAP Given the condition of Ukraine and its relation with Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg on Monday said he proposed Ukraine could skip a Membership Action Plan (MAP). It is a process for meeting political, economic and military goals. "I am absolutely certain that we will have unity and a strong message on Ukraine," Stoltenberg told reporters. NATO came into existence in 1949. Its main aim was to counter the risk of a Soviet attack on allied territory. Throughout the course of NATO, member countries like the USA and Germany have been careful to not initiate any move that can bring NATO and Russia into loggerheads and spark a global war. Looking at the current scenario, NATO members have asserted that "Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO" and that it will join "when conditions allow". As of now, NATO leaders are discussing on what conditions Ukraine would have to meet to join NATO and how its progress should be tracked, reported Reuters. NATO summit a colourful spectacle in the worst traditions of western manipulation, says Moscow As NATO members are discussing the Ukraine's membership, Moscow has criticised the two-day summit in advance. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova predicted that NATO summit would be a colourful spectacle in the worst traditions of Western manipulation," reported Reuters citing inputs from RIA news agency. (With inputs from Reuters) Heavy rainfall drenched parts of the Northeast, prompting a temporary suspension of airline services and evacuations from the flood-affected areas. One person was killed in New York's Hudson Valley as she tried to escape her flooded home. Rescue teams raced into Vermont on Monday following incessant rain. Mike Cannon of Vermont Urban Search and Rescue said crews from North Caroline, Michigan, and Connecticut were among those helping to get to towns that have been unreachable since torrents of rain belted from the state. The towns of Londonderry and Weston were inaccessible. Rescuers were heading there to do welfare checks. Water levels at several dams were being closely monitored," Cannon said as quoted by The Associated Press. On Monday, the US Army Corps of Engineers said they expected two dams to release water overnight, causing severe flooding downstream likely to affect multiple towns. Floods hit Vermont's state capital with Montpelier Town Manager Bill Fraser estimating Monday night that knee-high waters had reached much of downtown and were expected to rise a couple more feet during the night. For us, this is far worse than Irene. We got water but it went up and down. There were some basements flooded but it didnt last long. We are completely inundated. The water is way, way higher than it ever got during Irene," Fraser said while comparing this flooding to the Montpelier Ice Jams in 1992. According to state emergency officials, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the latest flooding in Vermont. Roads were closed across the state, including many along the spine of the Green Mountains, AP reported. Some people canoed their way to the Cavendish Baptist Church in Vermont, which had turned into a shelter. About 30 people waited it out, some of them making cookies for firefighters who were working to evacuate and rescue others. The slow-moving storm reached New England in the morning after hitting parts of New York and Connecticut on Sunday. Additional downpours in the region raised the potential for flash flooding; rainfall in certain parts of Vermont had exceeded 7 inches ( 18 centimeters), the National Weather Service in Burlington said. One of the worst-hit places was New Yorks Hudson Valley, where a woman identified by police as Pamela Nugent, 43, died as she tried to escape her flooded home in the hamlet of Fort Montgomery. The force of the flash flooding dislodged boulders, which rammed into the womans house and damaged part of its wall, Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus told The Associated Press. Two other people escaped. (With AP inputs) On the eve of the NATO Summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky exuded confidence that the war-torn country will become part of the alliance. In a press statement on Monday night, Zelensky said, "We are still working on the wording, that is, on the specific words of such confirmation, but we already understand the fact that Ukraine will be in the alliance...And we are working to make the algorithm for gaining membership as clear and fast as possible". European diplomats said that the Western allies of Kyiv are still finalising a joint framework that would pave the way for long-term security assurances for Ukraine, and may wait until the end of a NATO summit this week to announce them. Negotiations among NATO members were ongoing over when and whether to issue a formal invitation, what conditions Ukraine would have to meet, and how its progress should be tracked. But NATO leaders remain divided over offering Ukraine a clear route into the alliance in Vilnius. While Eastern allies are pushing for Kyiv to get an explicit commitment on when it can join, the United States and Germany are reluctant to go beyond an earlier vow that Ukraine will become a member one day. Zelenskiy said the Vilnius summit must confirm Ukraine is already 'de facto' a member of NATO as it has its weapons and shares values with the alliance. "Even if different positions are voiced, it is still clear that Ukraine deserves to be in the alliance," Zelensky said. Not now - there is a war, but we need a clear signal. And we need this signal right now". US President Joe Biden will meet one-on-one with Zelensky during the Summit although the Ukrainian President is yet to officially confirm his participation in the 31-member alliance meeting in Lithuania on Tuesday. Yesterday he said that Ukraine will hold a number of bilateral talks on the summit's sidelines on more weaponry deliveries to Kyiv, including with the US, European Council, Canada, and Japan. What is NATO? NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization which was founded in 1949 and is a group of 31 countries from Europe and North America. The Alliance is founded on the principle of collective defence, meaning that if one NATO Ally is attacked, then all NATO Allies are attacked. NATO promotes democratic values and enables members to consult and cooperate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems in the long run, and prevent conflict. Turkey allows Sweden entry into NATO alliance Turkey has allowed Sweden to join NATO. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's block on Sweden's membership bid had cast a cloud over preparations for Tuesday's meeting, but the countries ironed out their differences in 11th-hour talks in Vilnius. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he was "very happy" and hailed it "a good day for Sweden". Hungary is also yet to greenlight Stockholm's bid, but Prime Minister Viktor Orban has signalled he will follow Erdogan's lead. As Wagner forces were heading towards Moscow n June 24,, another group of military vehicles diverted towards a Russian army base housing nuclear weapons. Videos and interviews with locals supported these claims. However, there is yet no clue about what happened next after the Wagner fighters entered rural regions, approximately 100 km away from the nuclear base, Voronezh-45. However, Western officials consistently stated that Russia's nuclear stockpile was never at risk during the uprising, which ended quickly and mysteriously later that day. But in an exclusive interview with Reuters, Ukraine's head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said that the Wagner fighters went far further. He said that they reached the nuclear base and that their intention was to acquire small Soviet-era nuclear devices in order to "raise the stakes" in their mutiny. "Because if you are prepared to fight until the last man standing, this is one of the facilities that significantly raises the stakes," Budanov said. The only barrier between the Wagner fighters and nuclear weapons, Budanov said, were the doors to the nuclear storage facility. "The doors of the storage were closed and they didn't get into the technical section," he said. Reuters was not able to independently determine if Wagner fighters made it to Voronezh-45. Budanov did not provide evidence for his assertion and he declined to say what discussions, if any, had taken place with the United States and other allies about the incident. He also didn't say why the fighters subsequently withdrew. A source close to the Kremlin with military ties corroborated parts of Budanov's account. A Wagner contingent "managed to get into a zone of special interest, as a result of which the Americans got agitated because nuclear munitions are stored there," this person said, without elaborating further. A source in Russian occupied east Ukraine, with knowledge of the matter, said this caused concern in the Kremlin and provided impetus for a hastily negotiated end to the rebellion on the evening of June 24, brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. U.S. officials expressed doubts about this account. In response to a query about whether Wagner forces reached the base and sought to acquire nuclear weapons, White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said, "We are not able to corroborate this report. We had no indication at any point that nuclear weapons or materials were at risk." The Kremlin and Wagner commander Yevgeny Prigozhin did not respond to questions for this article. Matt Korda, a Senior Research Associate and Project Manager for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said it would be "virtually impossible for a non-state actor" to breach Russian nuclear security. Wagner may have had thousands of troops at its disposal, he said, but it's unlikely any of them knew how to detonate a bomb. "If you had a malicious actor who was able to get their hands on a nuclear weapon, they would find the weapons stored in a state of incomplete assembly," he said. "They would need to be completed by installing specialised equipment and then unlocking permissive action links, and in order to do that they would need the cooperation of someone from the 12th Directorate" responsible for protecting Russia's nuclear arsenal. (With agency inputs) A volcanic eruption began near Iceland's capital Reykjavik on Monday, marking the third time in two years that lava has erupted in the area. The eruption occurred in an uninhabited valley near the Litli-Hrutur mountain, about 30 kilometres southwest of the capital. "The eruption is taking place in a small depression just north of Litli Hrutur ('Little Ram' in Icelandic) from which smoke is escaping in a north-westerly direction," Iceland's Met Office noted. Reportedly, lava seems to be emerging out of ruptures which are around 200 metres long. News agency Bloomberg quoting geophysicist Benedikt Ofeigsson said that the eruption does not seem very powerful but it is generating smoke consistently, mostly of steam. Meanwhile, Professor of Volcanology at University of Iceland Thorvaldur Thordarson told news agency AFP that there are three fissures with lava which are running in all directions. He also noted that this is a low intensity, effusive eruption meaning it will not lead to widespread threats owing to explosive activity but could be a threat to the infrastructure if the eruption continues for long. The uninhabited area also known as Fagradalsfjall volcano has been marred by more than 1,200 earthquakes in the last few days. The area has witnessed two eruptions prior to this one in the last two years alone, first one occurred at March 19, 2021 in the Geldingadalur Valley lasting around six months. The next eruption occurred on August 3, 2022 in the Meradalir valley and lasted around three weeks. Before the first eruption in 2021, this region had remained dormant for almost eight centuries. However, volcanologists believe the new cycle of increased activity could last many years. Iceland is home to 30 volcanic systems and over 600 hot springs making it one of the most geologically active places on the planet. Businesses in Iceland use lava as a way to attract tourists using images of lava streams and visits to active areas. (With inputs from agencies) Peru has declared a state of national emergency amid a surge in patient suffering from Guillain-Barre syndrome. The neurological ailment prompts the body's immune system to mistakenly attack nerves - sometimes leading to paralysis. Officials have cited an unusual increase" in cases while imposing the 90 day sanitary emergency. At least 18 of the country's departments reported one or more cases. The spike in cases have also triggered concerns about a strain on health services. As the official statement put it, the growing caseload negatively affects the continuity of health services as there are not enough strategic resources to respond to the volume and complexity of the cases in health facilities". The emergency declaration was first requested by Health Minister Cesar Vasquez last week who noted that an increase in the caseload could mean a lack of immunoglobulin". Intravenous immunoglobulin is used as a standard treatment in non-ambulant patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome. People with an IgG deficiency are incidentally more susceptible to infections. The Peruvian decree published on Saturday also details an action plan drawn up with a budget of 12.12 million soles. According to a report by the Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency, it aims to improve patient care in health facilities, reinforce case control and prepare informative material for the population and health personnel. What is Guillain-Barre syndrome? According to the US NIH website, GBS is a rare neurological disorder in which your immune system mistakenly attacks part of the peripheral nervous systemthe network of nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord. It is not contagious or inherited and its exact cause remains unknown. GBS can range from mild cases with brief weakness to nearly devastating paralysis that leaves people unable to breathe independently. The weakness seen in GBS usually comes on quickly and worsens over hours or days. Most people reach the greatest stage of weakness within the first two weeks after symptoms appear. By the third week 90% of affected individuals are at their weakest," the NIH website explains. While there is no known cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome, some therapies can help lessen the severity of the illness and shorten recovery time. There are also several ways to treat the complications of the disease. The Supreme Court of India has scheduled a hearing for the petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the constitution on July 11 that is today. The case will be heard by a five-judge constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. The Central government filed an affidavit defending the abrogation of Article 370 in the Supreme Court yesterday. The affidavit highlighted the stability and progress witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation, including the reduction of stone-pelting incidents and the dismantling of terror networks. Jammu and Kashmir was facing the brunt of terrorism for the last three decades. To curb it, the only way was to remove Article 370," the affidavit stated. The abrogation of the Article has led to the introduction of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system and successful elections to district development councils. "Today, all necessary institutions including schools, colleges, industries are running normally in the Valley. Industrial development is happening and people who lived in fear are living peacefully," the affidavit stated. The affidavit notes that local languages like Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, and Hindi have been added as official languages, fulfilling the demands of the people. The affidavit was filed in response to more than 20 pending petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 Article 370 of the Indian constitution granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, a disputed region in northern India. It provided Jammu and Kashmir with a separate constitution, a state flag, and internal administrative autonomy. Following the convening of the state constituent assembly, it recommended the provisions of the Indian constitution applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the issuance of the 1954 Presidential Order. Since the state constituent assembly dissolved itself without recommending the abrogation of Article 370, the article was considered a permanent feature of the Indian Constitution. On August 5, 2019, the Government of India issued a Presidential Order superseding the 1954 order, making all provisions of the Indian constitution applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, reported Bar and Bench. The order was based on a resolution passed with a two-thirds majority in both houses of India's parliament. A subsequent order on August 6 rendered all clauses of Article 370, except clause 1, inoperative. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 was enacted, dividing the state into two union territories: the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh. The reorganisation took effect on October 31, 2019. Read also: Can't take law and order apparatus in our hands: Supreme Court on Manipur violence The petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 were last listed for hearing in March 2020. A five-judge bench declined to refer the matter to a larger bench. During that hearing, the bench noted that there was another batch of petitions already pending in the Supreme Court, challenging the validity of Articles 370 and 35A, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The bench decided to hear all matters related to Article 370 together. Read also: Supreme Court to hear plea on 'ordinance on control of services' on 10 July Amidst the intense power struggle within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) between rival factions led by Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar, the former, along with fellow Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, arrived at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's official residence, 'Varsha', in Mumbai for a meeting on Monday night. Also read: New CM for Maharashtra amid NCP rift? Opposition leaders say Eknath Shinde will Earlier on Monday, Union Minister of State for Social Justice, Ramdas Athawale, met State Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who was among the dissident leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party that joined the Eknath Shinde-led government along with Ajit Pawar, following a split within the party, reported ANI. On Thursday, Athawale met Ajit Pawar at the latter's residence in Mumbai. Also read: Maharashtra speaker issues notices to 40 Shiv Sena MLAs including CM Shinde, Uddhav says 'we will seek justice' After the meeting, Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India, commented on the merger of Ajit Pawar's faction of the NCP with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliance, stating that the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) would further weaken due to this development. Post 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls, Thackeray severed ties with longstanding ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the contentious issue of sharing the chief ministerial post. Subsequently, Thackeray formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, comprising the Shiv Sena (prior to its division), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Indian National Congress. However, in June 2022, a revolt led by Eknath Shinde caused the collapse of the MVA government and a split within the Shiv Sena. As a result, Shinde gained the position of Chief Minister with support from the BJP. On July 2 this year, Ajit Pawar engineered a split within the Sharad Pawar-led party and joined the Shinde government as the Deputy Chief Minister. Additionally, eight other NCP leaders were also sworn in as ministers in the state cabinet. Maharashtra has been witnessing intense political developments since the split within the NCP occurred. (With inputs from ANI) Scientists have discovered 50 tiny spherical iron fragments from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Avi Loeb, a physicist from Harvard University in the US claimed that it may be material from an interstellar alien spaceship. Loeb also linked his finding with the passage of a fireball in January 2014. The meteor was observed by sensors of the US Department of Defense that track all objects entering the Earths atmosphere, according to media reports. It was recorded as traveling faster than most meteors and eventually broke up over the South Pacific Ocean near Papua New Guinea. The reports stated that the object is held by Nasas Centre for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). The meteors official name is CNEOS 20140108 and is also referred to as IM1 (for interstellar meteor). The appearance of 1I/2017U1, the official name for 'Oumuamua, was certainly an unusual event that was observed in 2017 as it was leaving the Solar System, according to The Conversation. It stated that its trajectory is different from the near-circular orbits of the planets and elliptical orbits of comets. The comets path was traced back, with scientists discovering that it had come from well beyond the outermost fringes of the Solar System. The metallic spherules that have been recovered are each about half a millimeter in diameter, The Conversation reported. Subsequent expeditions throughout the 20th century have also found cosmic spherules at the bottom of the ocean, but it has become harder to identify them because the amount of pollution has increased on Earth. Loeb disagrees with the claims that the material is from space, he thinks it is from interstellar space arguing this could be the first time humans put their hands on interstellar material". Loebs evidence for an extraterrestrial source for the material never mind an interstellar origin is rather shaky. He has found metallic spherules. Inside Tesla, it was known as Project 42," and the plans called for a dramatic glass-walled building to rise near the automakers headquarters outside this capital city. Internally, the secret project was described as a house for Chief Executive Elon Musk. One concept showed a structure in the shape of a twisted hexagon on waterfront land with Teslas factory in the background, according to a document reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Other renderings depicted an expansive glass box, reminiscent of Apples store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, with a residential area that appeared to include bedrooms, bathrooms and a kitchen, said people familiar with the matter. Plans for the project, which Tesla employees were discreetly working on last year, changed over time, said people familiar with the matter. Some images also showed a waterfall feature as part of the landscaping around the building and a futuristic-looking pickup truck, resembling Teslas forthcoming Cybertruck, approaching from a distance, one of the people said. At one point, there was speculation among employees that the project could include a museum. Along the way, the project drew scrutiny from Tesla lawyers and board members, according to people with knowledge of the situation. An order for millions of dollars in specialized glassthe type of large-format panels used on building facadessparked concern among some employees about what the materials would be used for, some of the people said. After that order, Tesla board members investigated whether company resources had been misused and if Musk, himself, had a role, some people with knowledge of the situation said. Among the questions asked as part of Teslas internal inquiry was how much employee time had been spent on the project, one person said. The outcome of Teslas investigation and the status of the project couldnt be learned. Last year, Bloomberg reported that Tesla had been investigating the glass order internally and whether the materials were being secured for Musks personal use. The involvement of board members and details about Project 42 werent previously reported. Tesla, Musk and Robyn Denholm, who is chair of Teslas board, didnt respond to requests for comment. Other board members contacted for this article also didnt respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for director James Murdoch declined to comment. The company had considered canceling the glass order at issue in the investigation or using the materials for another purpose, people familiar with the matter said. It couldnt be learned whether the glass was delivered to Tesla. Teslas Austin-area factory, which the company calls Giga Texas, is a key piece of Musks expanding business empire in the Lone Star State. Musk and employees of his companies have described a vision for a utopia" along the Colorado River, with plans to incorporate a town in Bastrop County, about 35 miles from Austin, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year. As Tesla employees worked on Project 42, the electric-car maker was trying to get its new assembly plant in Texas up and running, a capital-intensive undertaking that is critical to its growth ambitions. Tesla builds the Model Y crossover at the factory, which officially opened in 2022. Musks associates had also been searching for a property in the Austin area for the billionaire entrepreneur, the Journal has reported. The 52-year-old executive has for much of his career maintained a rather nomadic lifestyle, playing down the need to own a house or many personal possessions. Musk, who also owns social-media firm Twitter and runs rocket company SpaceX, is often traveling, bouncing back and forth between his companies various locations in Texas and California. A self-described couch-surfer, he has talked about sleeping at Teslas California car factory during intense work periods. Since taking control of Twitter in late October, Musk has said he has slept at the social-media companys headquarters in San Francisco. Musk publicly vowed in 2020 to own no house" and proceeded to sell seven houses in California. In 2021, Musk said he had relocated his primary" residence to a roughly $50,000 South Texas cottage that he rented from SpaceX, where he is also CEO. He also had engaged a series of real-estate agents to show him Austin-area mansions and personally toured some homes, the Journal has reported. His personal financial advisers told brokers there were certain requirements, including the desire for a large expanse of land that wasnt available in properties on the market at the time. Musk has disputed the notion that he was looking to buy a house but acknowledged that it could be time to find a more regular place to stay. I should probably live somewhere," he tweeted in December 2021. Meanwhile, limited liability companies tied to Musks businesses or executives were buying up land in the Austin area, according to land and deed records. For instance, an LLC managed by Jared Birchall, one of Musks top advisers, purchased more than 500 acres across the Colorado River from Teslas Austin-area factory in 2021, records show. Company policies on what constitutes personal or professional spending by C-suite executives differ depending on the firm, and there can be broad leeway, corporate governance experts say. Compensation packages can include access to a corporate jet, assistance from a financial adviser or a country-club membership. It is rarer for boards to sign off on using corporate funds for personal homes, corporate governance experts say, though it may happen related to portions of homes used for work purposes, such as meeting rooms for executives or board gatherings. Tesla has said in securities filings that the boards audit committee must review and approve transactions above $120,000 in which a related person, such as an executive officer, has a material interest. Tata Group is closing in on an agreement to acquire Apple's supplier factory in India. The factory could be acquired by August and once closed this will be the first time a local company will start assembling iPhones. According to news agency Bloomberg, Tata Group is looking to takeover a Wistron Corporation factory in Karnataka. The factory has more than 10,000 employees is valued at over $600 million and currently assembles the iPhone 14 model. Wistron Corp. has committed to shipping $1.8 billion dollar worth of iPhones by the fiscal year ending March 2024 and triple the workforce of the factory by next year. The Bloomberg report claims that Tata Group will honour these commitments after acquiring the factory. The acquisition of the Wistron Corp factory will mean the end of the Taiwanese company's iPhone manufacturing operation in India. Indian government has introduced various programmes in recent years to encourage manufacturing in the country. On the other hand, Apple has also been looking to diversify its iPhone production beyond China to other South Asian countries. Other major Apple suppliers, such as Foxconn Group and Pegatron Corporation, have also recently increased their production. The production of iPhones by an Indian brand could motivate other global companies to consider manufacturing in India in order to reduce their reliance on China. An earlier report by TrendForce had claimed that the upcoming iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models could be manufactured in India by the Tata Group. The report claimed that the Tata Group will receive smaller orders which means that the company will get only small orders for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. It could also mean that India becomes part of the first wave of shipments for the new iPhone series that is expected to launch in September this year. Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino on Monday said that Twitter last week had its largest usage day since February, without providing details. "Theres only ONE Twitter," she said. Dont want to leave you hanging by a thread but Twitter, you really outdid yourselves! Last week we had our largest usage day since February. Theres only ONE Twitter. You know it. I know it, Yaccarino wrote in a tweet. Commenting on her tweet, Elon Musk predicted that the social media platform may hit an all time record this week. "Cumulative user-seconds per day of phone screentime, as reported by iOS & Android, is hardest to game. I think we may hit an all-time record this week," he wrote. This tweet came after Meta Platforms' Twitter rival Threads crossed 100 million sign-ups within five days of launch, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Monday, dethroning ChatGPT as the fastest-growing online platform to hit the milestone. Threads has been setting records for user growth since its launch on Wednesday, with celebrities, politicians and other newsmakers joining the platform that is seen by analysts as the first serious threat to the Elon Musk-owned microblogging app. The app's sprint to 100 million users was much speedier than that of OpenAI-owned ChatGPT, which became the fastest-growing consumer application in history in January about two months after its launch, according to a UBS study. Twitter had nearly 240 million monetizable daily active users as of July last year, according to the company's last public disclosure before Musk's takeover, although data from web analytics companies indicates usage has dropped since then. Twitter's web traffic was down 11 percent from the year prior in the days after the Threads launch, compared to the 4 percent it was down year-over-year as of June, according to Similarweb. Matthew Prince, CEO of internet infrastructure firm Cloudflare, shared a graph showing a similar trajectory in a tweet on Sunday and said Twitter's traffic was "tanking." Meanwhile, Musk has gone after Threads and Meta owner Mark Zuckerberg all week since the launch of Threads. Musk said Zuck is a cuck" while responding to a screengrab of the Threads post by fast-food chain Wendys. The burger joint in its post was seen joining that Zuckerberg should go to space just to really make him mad lol." This clearly refers to Elon Musks SpaceX. Meta CEO replied to Wendy's post with a laughing emoji. After the launch of Threads, Musk has filed a lawsuit against Meta platforms. He even fired a letter to Zuckerberg through his Twitter lawyer Alex Spiro accusing Zuckerberg's company of engaging in systematic, willful, and unlawful misappropriation of Twitters trade secrets and other intellectual property." Earlier in June, Musk had also challenged Zuckerberg to a cage match" to which Zuckerberg responded, saying send me the location." While they find China's high global standing reassuring, college leavers are anxious about growing competition in the job market. Yan Dongjie reports. The annual college graduation season is just drawing to a close. As most of this year's graduates were born in 2000 or 2001, they are the first of the "00's generation" to leave the campus and enter the workplace. These graduates also have a second defining characteristic: three of their four years of college life were dominated by the COVID-19 epidemic, so they stayed home to take online classes or were quarantined in their dormitories. Some said they were surprised to have graduated without having eaten in every one of their school's canteens. Those factors have left two marks on them: a sense of security engendered by the favorable economic environment that has cushioned their young lives, while conversely they are anxious after the epidemic and as a result of the growing competition for jobs. Zhang Xiaojing, who was born in September 2000, graduated from Beijing Jiaotong University with a bachelor's in internet journalism. Like her peers, she is skilled in the use of a range of news software, self-media platforms and social media apps. She took many online classes at home, and the huge amount of information flowing from the internet meant that even from her earliest days at university she learned to think, be discerning and plan. "My generation is exposed to too much information, so when making future life choices, we need a stronger ability to sift through information. If you make a big life choice in a confused way, the risks are bigger than before," she said. With a plan for her future career in mind, she began an internship in the summer of her sophomore year. After trying five different companies and units including iQiyi, Tencent and traditional media she decided to undertake postgraduate study. "I tried a few different jobs and fluctuated between the feeling that I was the right fit or the wrong fit. I need more time to look at it and try more things in different areas," she said. "School is a very special period when we can learn social behavior and even make mistakes. We still have a lot of experience to gain, so we want to continue to obtain it as students, which I think comes at a relatively low cost. I will have to work for several decades, but my educational life is less than 20 years, so there's no hurry." Practical experience Kong Zhiyu, Zhang's classmate, said that this year's graduates enjoyed their internships very much, and they believe that learning in school and practicing in the workplace are equally important ways of gaining experience. Even though they are not yet 23 years old, many say that they are already "internship veterans". He said that interning taught him a lot: in addition to improving his basic working ability, he is better at writing resumes after interacting with employers and he has identified the things he needs to do to supplement his knowledge and ability. "The practical experience also made me more realistic," he said. "In school, we don't have a clear idea of what kind of talent society needs or where we stand among our peers. But after working with employers, we tend not to be too shy or arrogant, we can find our own level and have more realistic expectations for the future." One of his peers, Wu Di, a Spanish major who graduated this year, said that today's college students are "caught up" and that the anxiety and insecurity they feel mainly come from peer pressure to work hard. Wu said his former classmates still feel uneasy and anxious, despite having consulted with their predecessors and teachers about their experiences, formulated future work plans and interned and interacted with employers since their early years in college. "If you measure anxiety on a scale of zero to 10, this generation would register as eight to 10," he said. "In recent years, we have felt that there are too many uncertainties in the world. When it comes to work and the future, it seems that the only certainty is making money. So when I made a career choice after graduation, the salary was the first factor I considered, followed by the growth brought by the job, realization of personal value and a few other things." 'Sense of security' In interviews for this article, the phrase "Searching for a sense of security" appeared frequently among this class of graduates. Wu said that he needs to make money to gain that feeling. Meanwhile, some of his peers chose to take the civil service exam, while others preferred jobs that provide household registration in Beijing. Some simply chose to work for State-owned enterprises or large companies because that made them feel more secure. Wang Hongying, Party secretary of the School of Languages and Communication Studies at Beijing Jiaotong University, said there are big differences between today's graduates and those of 10 years ago. According to Wang, today's young people are focused more on their feelings than on rational thought when they make choices. For example, they pay more attention to the working environment and company culture, and they have more patience to wait to "grow up". "In the past, we heard that many college graduates overseas were taking gap years, and this phenomenon is becoming more and more popular in China. Some use the break to retake the graduate school entrance exams or go abroad for further study, while others just want to stop and 'wait for themselves' (to understand their own needs)," she said. "The country's economic development has given this generation a sense of security," she said. The 20 years during which this generation grew up was also the time in which China developed from being relatively well-off to well-off. "So they grew up with a certain sense of security. This is the confidence that the country's development has brought to this generation," she said. In China, the school entry age is 6 years old, so children born in the second half of 2000 and the first half of 2001 started school in 2007, went to college in 2019 and graduated this year. "This generation is regarded as a lucky one because its members grew up in a favorable environment. However, at the same time, it is also an anxious generation, and these young people may face greater employment pressures," Wang said. Glut of applicants Those pressures are likely caused by the large number of graduates and also because young Chinese who graduated from schools overseas returned during the COVID-19 outbreak, resulting in a glut of applicants on the job market. In recent years, students have felt more employment pressures. "From society's point of view, what we are pursuing is the reduction of occupational disparity: that is, whether it is government units, large or small, State-owned or private enterprises, the differences between them are narrowing. Many developed countries have gone through this phase. We have not been able to achieve development and balance in such a short period of time, so this is the next problem to be solved," Wang said. Wu, the graduate in Spanish, said: "Each generation has its own mission and topic. We need to acknowledge the fact that this generation is approaching its problems calmly. Looking on from a distance and saying that we are relaxed or we are distressed are both excessive generalizations, and I think they are unnecessary. "I am a big believer in making the best choice for yourself at any given moment. Keep doing that and you'll get the best life you can achieve." If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. Check out our latest E-Edition Accessible anytime and anywhere on your desktop, tablet and smart phone devices. The Lodi News e-Edition is enhanced with the latest digital tools, including RSS feeds, social networking and much more. Check out our latest E-edition! A CONTROLLED explosion was carried out on Monday evening after the discovery of what appeared to be an old hand grenade in a farm shed in the Midlands. The owner of the property where the explosive device was found estimated that it dated from the 1920 or 1930s but he could not be sure. The truth of the matter is it was just an old war-time hand grenade, said the man, who did not wish to be named. He called the gardai and personnel from the Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit arrived to examine the find. The grenade was found in a farmyard down a cul-de-sac opposite St Colman's Church, Mucklagh, just outside Tullamore. A woman living nearby said the bomb disposal unit examined the device: They did say they couldn't be sure it was viable or not because of the age of it. All precautions were taken. Gardai, both plain clothes and uniformed, along with members of the Defence Forces maintained a presence on the main road at the entrance to the cul-de-sac. After a number of hours an army bomb disposal unit vehicle which had been parked close to the road drove down the lane. At 9.38pm the blast was heard and Defence Forces personnel and gardai left the scene at about 10pm. Use the Arrows < > above to go through the gallery Edgeworthstowns Community Library was full to capacity as it played host to the launch of a special commemorative book to mark the centenary of An Garda Siochana. 'Celebrating the Centenary of An Garda Siochana in Longford' is arguably one of the most colourful, insightful and meticulously devised chronology of the State's law enforcement agency you are likely to get your hands on. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO Dozens of serving, retired officers and their families watched on as the end product marking several months of painstaking behind the scenes efforts by the publications 12 strong committee was formally unveiled. It was an evening tinged with as much celebration as it was melancholy as moving tributes and presentations were made in honour of deceased members of the force. Acclaimed local historian David Leahy, who officially launched the 132 page book, said its contents, carrying in-depth insights into the life and times of members from one end of the county to the other ticked every box when it came to local history. In what was one of his last public engagements before stepping down as Longford County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Turlough McGovern singled out the endeavours of joint editors Eamon Brennan and retired garda sergeant Jim McDonald in bringing the publication to fruition. He said the experiences encountered by the States guardians of the peace over the past 100 years could not be understated. When the first guards came to Longford the Civil War was going on, things were very difficult at the time, he said. One of the greatest achievements of the State was to dedicate a force that should be unarmed and since then the guards have enjoyed the confidence and support of all communities. His opposite number, in the form of Ballymahon Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Paul Ross said the book represented a key archive in the various experiences of a force that was held in the highest of esteem by Longfords 40,000 plus citizens. Equally, the Fine Gael local politician said the local organisations role in leading the rollout of a much heralded community text alert scheme and more recent Community Safety Partnership Scheme, were further illustrations of that common acceptance. This book brings it a step further in terms of digging deep into what happened in Longford over the last 100 years and its a very interesting insight into the changes, methods and technologies that have been gone through, he said. In an evening filled with congratulatory sentiments, special praise was set aside for the book's designer, Edel Fallon of Bottlegreen Design and county archivist Martin Morris. Chief Superintendent for the Roscommon/Longford Garda Division, Ray McMahon reserved a special mention for the books main protagonists alongside centenary chairperson and Longford Superintendent Seamus Boyle. I suppose this started off at the beginning of 2022 when I asked the superintendents in the local area to produce something to meaningfully commemorate and acknowledge all the members we have, he said. When Seamie told me he was teaming up with Jim McDonald and Eamon Brennan I knew we were going to have something really, really special. Superintendent Boyle followed suit, saying the evening underlined his own sense of personal fulfilment in an establishment he had spent over three decades dedicating his professional career to. I am so proud to have joined such a significant organisation, he said. From the beginning of the State, An Garda Siochana have been part and parcel of the fabric of Irish society. When you look back at all the good things we have done from the very start of the State to todays date, we have been involved in all good things in society and we dont get the credit we deserve. You dont join the guards to get praise, but we have all worked hard and its only from working on this centenary celebrations that I realised the significance of the organisation I joined. From the evidence of the launch night, that level of mutual satisfaction and pride could not have been more palpable. *All proceeds from the sale of 'Celebrating the Centenary of An Garda Siochana in Longford', priced at 15, will go towards Longford Hospice Homecare. Gardai have renewed an appeal for help to catch the killer of a young mother murdered after attending a David Bowie concert. It is 36 years since Antoinette Smith disappeared. The remains of the 27-year-old mother of two were found nine months later in a drain on the Glendoo Mountain in Co Wicklow. On Saturday July 11 1987, Ms Smith and a friend attended the concert at Slane in Co Meath. They returned to Dublin by bus, arriving in Parnell Square at around 11pm, and went to the nearby La Mirage Discotheque. While in the club they met two men that they knew. They remained in their company until they all left shortly after 2am. Ms Smiths friend parted company with the other three after they left the club while Ms Smith and the two men remained for some time before all three walked a short distance to a taxi rank on OConnell Street. Gardai said the men got a taxi to the Ballymun area while Ms Smith continued to walk by the Gresham Hotel on OConnell Street towards OConnell Street Bridge. She was subsequently reported missing by her husband. Ms Smiths children Lisa and Rachel were aged seven and four respectively when their mother disappeared. Gardai at Bray Garda Station have used the anniversary to renew their appeal to the public for assistance. They encouraged anyone with information to come forward, as they said that relationships and associations people may have had 36 years ago could now have changed. Gardai said they would treat anyone assisting the investigation in a sensitive manner. Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the results of initial enforcement actions against unlicensed cannabis businesses. The efforts in these first two weeks have been led by New York State's Office of Cannabis Management and Department of Taxation and Finance, which have been authorized under a new law signed by the Governor in May as part of the State's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget. "Under new powers that I fought for in this year's State budget, we can now conduct enforcement against businesses illegally selling cannabis, and I'm proud to report that in just the first three weeks of our efforts, we've seized nearly $11 million worth of illicit products off the streets," Governor Hochul said. "These unlicensed businesses violate our laws, put public health at risk, and undermine the legal cannabis market, and with the powerful new tools in our toolbelt we're sending a clear and strong message: if you sell illegal cannabis in New York, you will be caught and you will be stopped." The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) have jointly conducted inspections at 33 storefront businesses in New York City, Ithaca, and Binghamton not licensed to sell cannabis. The two agencies have issued Notices of Violation to 31 of these businesses, from which they have seized and catalogued a minimum of 1000 pounds of illicit cannabis with an estimated value of nearly $11 million, and with more still to be tabulated. Enforcement will be continuing weekly throughout the state, with OCM actively recruiting additional officers with the goal of ending the illicit sale of cannabis. The new enforcement legislation adopted as part of the Budget has authorized OCM to assess civil penalties against unlicensed cannabis businesses, with fines starting at $10,000 per day, and rising up to $20,000 per day for the most egregious conduct. The new law has also authorized the agency to seek a State court order to ultimately padlock businesses found to be in repeated violation of the law, among other penalties. In addition, the law makes it a crime to sell cannabis and cannabis products without a license In addition to the powers granted to OCM, the new enforcement law also empowers DTF to conduct regulatory inspections of businesses selling cannabis to determine if appropriate taxes have been paid and to levy civil penalties in cases where they have not. The legislation also establishes a new tax fraud crime for businesses that willfully fail to collect or remit required cannabis taxesor knowingly possess for sale any cannabis on which tax was required to be paid but was not. By taking decisive action against unlicensed cannabis businesses, New York State is making a significant stride towardcracking down onunlawful cannabis operations that jeopardize public safety, consumer well-being, and the integrity of New York State's legal cannabis market. To aid in these continuing actions, the FY 2024 Budget also provides $5M for an additional 37 OCM staff to carry out enforcement. Governor Hochul also appointed Hope Knight, President, CEO and Commissioner of Empire State Development, to the Cannabis Control Board (CCB). Commissioner Knight will be seated immediately and will serve at next month's CCB meeting. New York State Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director Chris Alexander said, "Today, Governor Hochul put out a sharp warning to every business selling cannabis without a license: New York State is coming to shut you down. Thanks to the Governor's efforts, our enforcement teams are out every day putting an end to the proliferation of unlicensed cannabis sales across New York State. Supporting local entrepreneurs launching legal cannabis businesses with safe and tested licensed products is paramount. OCM is committed to protecting public health and ensuring consumer safety." New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller said, "Working with OCM and our law enforcement partners, we're beginning the process of enforcing regulations regarding the sale of cannabis across New York State. This will be a carefully planned and sustained effort with the ultimate goal of ensuring a fair and regulated market." Crime By Chris Boyle Published: July 11 2023 Upon police arrival, Jair Dixon, 24, barricaded himself inside the home, refusing to allow the officers inside the house to investigate. Fifth Squad Detectives report the arrest of a Lakeview man for two seperate incidents of Assault that occurred on Friday, July 7, 2023 at 8:50 pm and Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 1:28 pm, both arrests taking place in Lakeview. According to detectives, police responded to a Ronkonkoma Avenue residence on July 7 for a domestic disturbance. Upon police arrival, Jair Dixon, 24, barricaded himself inside the home, refusing to allow the officers inside the house to investigate. The officers were eventually able to gain entry to the home and discovered that Dixon had punched a hole in the basement door and damaged the window air conditioning unit. While officers attempted to place Dixon into custody, he resisted, ignoring officers verbal commands. The officers were eventually able to secure the defendant and as a result of the defendants actions, a police officer sustained an injury to their left wrist. The injured officer was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported. Defendant Jair Dixon was charged with Assault 2nd Degree, Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, Obstructing Governmental Administration and Resisting Arrest. He was arraigned on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead. According to Detectives, Dixon violated an order of protection by entering the victims residence at the same location yet again on July 8. Upon Police arrival, Officers attempted to place Dixon into custody. Two Officers sustained injuries during the course of the arrest as the defendant was violent and combative while resisting arrest. Officers were transported to a local area hospital for treatment and released. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: July 11 2023 Owner and Manager of Santiago Pharmacy Allegedly Paid Kickbacks to Patients and Falsely Billed Medicaid for HIV Medications That Were Diverted or Never Dispensed. New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment, arrest, and arraignment of the owner and manager of a Queens County pharmacy for their roles in a multimillion-dollar drug diversion and kickback scheme involving HIV drugs. Juan Poveda, 32, of Nassau County, owner of CSE Drug Corp. doing business as Santiago Pharmacy (Santiago Pharmacy), and Javier Burbano, 32, of Queens, manager of Santiago Pharmacy in Flushing, Queens, allegedly paid kickbacks to Medicaid recipients in exchange for filling their HIV prescriptions at Santiago Pharmacy and submitted false claims for HIV drugs like Biktarvy that they either obtained illegally or never actually purchased. Poveda, Burbano, and Santiago Pharmacy were indicted by a Queens County Grand Jury for Grand Larceny in the First Degree, Health Care Fraud in the Second Degree, and for violating the New York Social Services Law for unlawfully paying kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries. Poveda, Santiago Pharmacy, and B&H Health Distributors, Inc. (a corporation allegedly registered to Juan Poveda) were also charged with Money Laundering in the First Degree, and Poveda, Santiago Pharmacy, Pobal Cargo LLC (a corporation allegedly registered to a relative of Poveda), were indicted for Money Laundering in the Second Degree for allegedly conducting financial transactions designed to conceal the illegally obtained funds. Grand Larceny in the First Degree and Money Laundering in the First Degree are both class B felonies and carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Health Care Fraud in the Second Degree is a class C felony and carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. This investigation remains ongoing. In connection with the investigation, the Office of the Attorney Generals (OAG) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) executed search warrants at Corona Chemist Pharmacy in Corona and Mi Botica Pharmacy in Flushing, Queens. We trust pharmacies to attend to the needs and welfare of their patients, not to take advantage of our most vulnerable neighbors to line their own pockets, said Attorney General James. People living with HIV are able to live full and healthy lives by taking wholesome medications as prescribed by their doctors. Scams like the one alleged in this indictment cheat New Yorkers out of their health. Stealing from Medicaid is a reprehensible crime, and New Yorkers can count on my office to hold these bad actors accountable. In the defendants arraignment on the indictment before New York State Supreme Court Judge Michelle Johnson, and at a prior proceeding, OAGs MFCU outlined a scheme in which Poveda and Burbano allegedly paid or directed others to pay cash kickbacks to Medicaid recipients to encourage them to fill their HIV prescriptions at Santiago Pharmacy. Santiago Pharmacy then billed Medicaid and received millions of dollars for those prescriptions. State law prohibits all medical providers, including pharmacies, from paying or offering to pay anyone for the referral of medical services paid for by Medicaid. Court papers allege that Poveda and Burbano stole more than $2.9 million dollars from Amida Care, a Medicaid-funded managed care organization, by billing for drugs, including the expensive HIV retroviral medication Biktarvy, that were either not legally obtained or that never existed. Poveda then allegedly attempted to hide the fraudulently obtained funds by funneling criminal proceeds from Santiago Pharmacy accounts to pass-through bank accounts without any apparent business operations, including B&H Health Distributors Inc. and Pobal Cargo, LLC. The charges filed in this case are accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Attorney General James thanks the New York State Department of Health and the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General as well as the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General for their assistance in this investigation. The Attorney General also thanks Medicaid MCOs Amida Care and VNS Choice, pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Med Impact, pharmacy services administrative organization AlignRx, and pharmaceutical wholesaler AmerisourceBergen for their cooperation with the investigation. This investigation is being conducted by Detectives Stanislav Tabakov and Anthony Caban with the assistance of Supervising Investigator Dominick DiGennaro and Acting Executive Officer Ronald Lynch of the Investigations Bureau, under the supervision of Commanding Officer Deputy Chief William Falk. The audit investigation is being conducted by Auditor Investigator Anthony Gillette with the assistance of Principal Auditor Investigator Olga Sunitsky, Regional Deputy Chief Auditor Jonathan Romano, and Regional Chief Auditor Thomasina Smith. The criminal case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorneys General Chase Ruddy and Amy Delfyett with assistance from Deputy Regional Director David Arias and Regional Director Twan Bounds and investigative support provided by Confidential Legal Assistant Natalie Tamblyn. MFCU Chief of Criminal Investigations, Special Assistant Attorney General Thomas OHanlon is supervising the case. MFCU is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mahoney. MFCU and the Investigations Bureau are both part of the Division for Criminal Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Jose Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. MFCUs total funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 is $65,717,936. Of that total, 75 percent, or $49,288,452, is awarded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $16,429,484 for FY 2023, is funded by New York state. Through MFCUs recoveries in law enforcement actions, it regularly returns more to the state than it receives in state funding. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: July 11 2023 Kevin Rosas Daquis Blood Alcohol Content was Almost Triple the Legal Limit When He Crashed into a Disabled Car and its Driver, Amputating Both of the Drivers Legs. Kevin Rosas Daqui, 25, was driving drunk on the Sagtikos Parkway at a high rate of speed when he struck a disabled vehicle in the right lane near Crooked Hill Road, according to Suffolk DA Raymond A. Tierney. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the guilty plea of Kevin Rosas Daqui, 25, of Brooklyn, for driving his car at a high rate of speed, crashing into a disabled vehicle and its driver causing both of the drivers legs to be amputated, as well as injuries to two of the defendants passengers. This defendants selfish and reckless decision to drink and then drive caused catastrophic injuries to multiple innocent people, one of whom will suffer for the rest of her life, said District Attorney Tierney. With the prevalence of ride hailing apps and taxi services, there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to drink and drive. Because of incidents such as this, my office will continue to aggressively prosecute drunk and drugged drivers to keep our streets safe, and I will continue to fight for tougher drunk driving laws. According to the court documents and the defendants admissions during his guilty plea, on November 5, 2022, at approximately 12:37 a.m., Rosas Daqui was driving a 2012 Honda Civic to Brentwood with three passengers after spending the evening at the Marine Corps Ball in Westbury. The defendant was driving southbound on the Sagtikos Parkway at a high rate of speed when he struck a disabled vehicle in the right lane near Crooked Hill Road. One of the victims, who was standing at the rear of the disabled vehicle attempting to remove a spare tire from her trunk, was also struck by Rosas Daquis vehicle. The impact caused both of the victims lower legs to be instantly severed from her body. Shortly after the crash, an off-duty Suffolk County Police officer and his wife treated the victim by applying belts as tourniquets to both of the victims legs in a successful attempt to stop her from bleeding to death. The good Samaritan couple stayed with the victim until medical personnel and law enforcement arrived at the scene. The victim was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery to close the wounds she sustained as a result of the double amputation. Two of Rosas Daquis passengers sustained injuries as a result of the crash. One, who is a member of the United States Marine Corps, was transported to South Shore University Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for skull and facial fractures and remained in the hospital for 18 days. The other passenger was also transported to South Shore University Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a lower spine fracture. The third passenger suffered no injuries. A sample of Rosas Daquis blood was taken approximately one hour after the crash, revealing his blood alcohol content was .22%, almost triple the legal limit. On July 10, 2023, Rosas Daqui pleaded guilty before County Court Judge, the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski, for the charges of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a Class C felony; Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, an Unclassified misdemeanor; and Reckless Driving, an Unclassified misdemeanor. Rosas Daqui is due back in court to be sentenced on September 14, 2023. He is being represented by Phillip Jusino, Esq. This case is being prosecuted by Principal Assistant District Attorney James Curtin of the Vehicular Crime Bureau with the investigative assistance from New York State Police Investigator Dominic Mangiapane. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: July 11 2023 The 59-year-old female victim was contacted by an unknown male subject who claimed that her sister had been arrested after an auto accident caused injuries to a pregnant female. The Major Case Squad reports the details of a Grand Larceny that occurred at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 7, 2023 in Hicksville. According to Detectives, the 59-year-old female victim was contacted by an unknown male subject that alleged to be a bail bondsman. He told the victim that her sister had been arrested after her involvement in an auto accident that had caused injuries to a pregnant female. The subject requested $15,500. 00 USC from the victim for her sisters bail. The victim complied and withdrew the money from her bank. A driver went to her house and retrieved the money. One hour later the victim received another phone call, this time from an unknown male who claimed he was a court officer. He requested the victim provide $27,000.00 USC as civil compensation for the pregnant female from the auto accident having a miscarriage. The victim again complied with this request and withdrew the funds from her bank. A short time later a driver came to retrieve the money. The victim later realized this was a scam and contacted Nassau County Police. The investigation is ongoing. The Nassau County Police Department urges the community to be on alert and to remind vulnerable family members, friends, and neighbors about potential scams or frauds. (Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will head to the Nato summit in Lithuania with a renewed call for all members of the alliance to commit to spending 2% of their gross domestic product on defence. Suank will tell allies in Vilnius that plans to make Nato's armed forces "more lethal and more deployable" start with "meeting the 2% commitment". Downing Street said that last year, fewer than half of those in the alliance were meeting the expenditure target in relation to their national GDP a measure of the health of an economy with nine out of 30 members spending at least 2%. While this is projected to rise to two-thirds of allies by 2024 the 10th anniversary of the goal being set at the Wales summit government sources said Sunak hoped to leave eastern Europe on Wednesday with a plan in place for all members to start meeting the target. No 10 said the Prime Minister will travel to Vilnius with the dual message of strengthening Nato and stressing the need to continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russia's invading troops. Speaking ahead of his trip, Sunak said: "When thousands of Russian troops crossed the border in February last year, it marked a grim new chapter in Europe and Nato's history. "In the 500 days that have elapsed since, we have witnessed the most terrible crimes and human tragedies in Ukraine. "But we have also seen the Nato alliance come together like never before in support of Ukraine and with firm determination that Russia cannot succeed. "That is work we need to continue this week. We cannot let the fog of war obscure the clear lessons our alliance must learn if we are going to outpace and outmanoeuvre those who seek to do us harm. "That is why the UK is investing record amounts in defence, to make our armed forces more lethal and more deployable, and to ready our defence industry for the challenges ahead. "And that's something we need to see across Nato starting with meeting the 2% commitment." In a sign that Sunak wants the UK to lead from the front, the Ministry of Defence is set to publish a new command paper setting out the measures the UK is taking to improve the "lethality and deployability of our own armed forces", No 10 said. The paper will include plans to establish a new Global Response Force which defence chiefs hope will dramatically increase the ability to physically respond to crises at short notice, either by being already present or deploying more rapidly. Other issues that are expected to dominate the two-day gathering in the Lithuanian capital include Sweden's accession to Nato, agreement on how Ukraine might eventually become a member of the alliance and the US offer to provide cluster bombs to Kyiv. The Telegraph reported that Britain, the US, France and Germany are planning to offer "Israel-style" security guarantees to the war-torn country. The scheme, which would involve commitments on military support and intelligence-sharing, are expected to be finalised in Kyiv in the coming days and could be offered as a stepping stone to membership, the paper reports. Sweden and Finland dropped their long-held policy of neutrality following Russian president Vladimir Putin's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine last year and signalled their intention to join Nato. Finland joined in April but Turkey's objections have held up Stockholm's accession, although there appeared to have been a breakthrough on the eve of the summit. The Nordic nation's proximity to membership took a big step forward on Monday as Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan committed to put its accession protocol before Parliament "as soon as possible" in return for help in reviving Ankara's own chances of joining the EU. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who is due in Vilnius on Wednesday, spent last week lobbying for Nato to admit his war-torn country into Nato. During a visit to Prague, he said the "ideal" result of the summit would be an invitation for his country to join the alliance. A spokeswoman for Sunak highlighted that, as the British leader has previously stated, he thinks Ukraine's "rightful place is in Nato". But with its membership unlikely to be granted while its fight against Moscow continues with Zelensky's troops currently engaged in counter offensive operations, Sunak will push for Nato to provide long-term security assistance to Kyiv to "guarantee they can win the war", according to his spokeswoman. There is expected to be a diplomatic tussle over the wording of any statement released after the summit about the pace at which Kyiv might be admitted, with London calling for its membership to be fast-tracked. Labour's shadow defence secretary John Healey said he wanted to see Britain show leadership on "strengthening support for Ukraine" in Vilnius. He said: "If UK military support for Ukraine is accelerated, this will have Labour's total backing." Sunak welcomed Joe Biden to No 10 for the first time on Monday as the US president made a layover visit to the UK on his way to the summit. Biden said the trans-Atlantic relationship is "rock solid", while Sunak hailed the US and UK as "two of the firmest allies" in Nato. But the issue of support for Ukraine's ambitions for Nato membership and the US decision to provide Kyiv with cluster munitions are signs that Westminster and Washington are not entirely on the same page. Britain "discourages" their use as one of 123 signatories of a convention banning the weapons. Separately, Conservative Party leader Sunak will use day-one of his trip to confirm an eight-fold increase in the UK's production capacity of 155mm artillery ammunition, No 10 officials said. With most Nato armies using the ammunition as standard, a new GBP190 million BAE Systems contract is expected to lead to the production of more artillery shells for use by the UK and other allied forces. No 10 said the deal would create more than 100 jobs at BAE Systems PLC' sites in the North of England and South Wales, adding to the firm's existing 1,200-strong UK munitions workforce. By Patrick Daly, PA Political Correspondent source: PA Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Solar energy has hit a new record in Luxembourg as it can now supply the total energy needs of a third of Luxembourg's population, the energy ministry said on Tuesday. The installed solar power capacity in Luxembourg reached a new record of 317 megawatt (MW) in 2022, an increase of 40 MW compared to the year before. The highest annual increase of solar power was registered during the pandemic-era, between 2020 and 2021, with 90 MW, according to data from the national statistics agency. The increase from 2022 to 2023 is expected to also be 90 MW, said the ministry. "Over the last 5 years, solar energy has really taken off in Luxembourg, thanks to more attractive tariffs and attractive subsidy programmes," Energy Minister Claude Turmes said in a press release. Solar energy now supplies the electricity needs of almost 210,000 people, a third of the total population. Renewable energy, which includes solar, hydropower and wind power, however, covers the totality of all household consumption, which itself accounts for just 12% of the country's total energy needs. "By 2023, 100% of household consumption will be covered by renewable energy production in Luxembourg. This development is part of the way out of our dependence on Russian fossil fuels," Turmes said. The biggest consumer of electricity in Luxembourg is still the transport sector, which is responsible for nearly 60% of the total electricity consumption in the country, according to the national statistics agency's data. A new EU-mandated climate plan, updated from 2020, increases the target for renewable energy consumed in Luxembourg by 2030 from 25% to at least 35%. The country currently ranks rock bottom in the EU when it comes to the share of renewable energy in the overall energy consumption. The ongoing energy price volatility due to Russia's war in Ukraine is adding complications to Luxembourg's climate action plan. Given that the ability for the Grand Duchy to generate more renewable energy may be limited, Luxembourg's parliament in February approved a treaty with Denmark that will see the country invest up to 66 million in green energy projects abroad. The agreement with energy-rich Denmark will also allow energy-scarce Luxembourg to count more renewable energy towards it national statistics to meet climate targets, the energy ministry said at the time. NATO leaders eager to show united front and signal to Putin that war on Ukraine has strengthened alliance Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson shake hands in front of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg prior to their meeting, on the eve of a NATO summit, in Vilnius on July 10, 2023. Photo credit: AFP Turkey agreed to support Swedens NATO bid in a major breakthrough for the military alliances push to strengthen its defenses following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Turkey will ask its parliament to advance Swedens membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as soon as possible, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Monday in Vilnius. The about-face comes after months of arduous negotiations over Turkeys demands and on the eve of a critical two-day NATO summit where leaders including US President Joe Biden are eager to show a united front and signal to Vladimir Putin that his war on Ukraine has only strengthened the alliance. NATOs northern enlargement heralds one of the most prominent changes in the European security landscape after Russias aggression led to shifts including a ramp-up of defense spending in Germany and plans to bring back conscription in France. The early 2022 attack on Ukraine prompted an almost overnight change in public opposition to membership in NATO in Finland and Sweden. Completing Swedens accession to NATO is a historic step that benefits the security of all NATO allies at this critical time, Stoltenberg said in Vilnius. I will not give you the exact dates for that. But this is a clear commitment. Just earlier on Monday, Erdogan had made a quid pro quo demand Sweden in NATO if the European Union opened its doors to Turkey - only to be reminded by Brussels that they are separate processes. After the surprise request, however, a solution to the impasse emerged behind closed doors within hours. Erdogan met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and then European Council President Charles Michel. After those conversations were had, Michel said the bloc would submit a report on the EUs relations with Turkey, with a view to proceed in strategic & forward-looking manner. According to a Turkish official, Erdogan won assurances on key demands, including Stockholms approach to supporters of Kurdish separatists operating in its territory. There was progress too toward lifting defense-related sanctions and EU officials agreed to speed up their membership negotiations, including on upgrading the customs union and on visa liberalization for its citizens. Stoltenberg expects Hungary, the only other NATO member yet to approve Swedens bid, will follow suit as they said they dont want to be the last one not ratifying. What remains unclear is to what extent Bidens comments over the weekend that Turkeys purchase of American F-16 fighter jets is in play contributed to Erdogans U-turn on Sweden. Biden released a statement saying that he welcomed the agreement and the two leaders will meet on Tuesday. Congress must approve significant U.S. arms sales to foreign allies and a bipartisan group of senators had told Biden earlier this year that lawmakers shouldnt consider the $20 billion sale of warplanes until the country ratifies Swedens membership. Back in Washington, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, one of the biggest holdouts, appeared to be softening his position when quizzed by journalists. He said there may be a path forward in the next week. The decision follows more than a year of stalling and contentious rhetoric, with Ankara repeatedly accusing Stockholm of failing to do enough to crack down on Kurdish groups it views as terrorists. Turkeys turnaround follows a flurry of diplomatic activity that has seen Kristersson visit Biden in Washington, and Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billstrom meet his Turkish counterpart at NATO headquarters in Brussels. I have worked very hard for this to happen, including almost endless conversations with other prime ministers and presidents, and the response has been very good, Kristersson told reporters Monday. Today we took a very large step on the way to completing the ratification process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also discussed Swedens ambitions with Erdogan during a visit to Istanbul on July 7. Todays decision is very important as it shows consensus can be reached within NATO, Ihor Zhovkva, Zelenskiys deputy chief of staff in charge for foreign relations said. We hope more political decisions will be taken during the summit and Ukraine will eventually become the 33rd member. Once completed, Swedens accession would clinch NATOs control of the Baltic Sea and give the alliance the upper hand in the Arctic region both strategic gateways for Russia even as Moscow is bogged down in its invasion of Ukraine. Seven out of eight Arctic nations will belong to NATO. Bringing Sweden into the fold will also simplify defense planning for the alliance. NATO will benefit not just from Swedens combat aircraft, naval prowess and other military assets but also being able to easily shuttle troops or equipment across Nordic territory. With both Finland and Sweden in the alliance, it will give NATO better access to reinforce the Baltic nations with military support in the event of a crisis. The area has long been seen as the blocs weak spot because troops and equipment arriving by land would have to traverse a narrow corridor between Poland and Lithuania that is sandwiched between Russias exclave of Kaliningrad and its ally Belarus. You can run Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on a Mac (and on your iPad or iPhone). But its not a simple case of installing the application you need and starting to type. You need to choose whether to sign up to a subscription or buy the full version outright. You need to decide whether you need just one application or all of them. And, if you are choosing a subscription package, you need to determine what kind of subscription applies to you. There are multiple ways in which you can get the Office apps on your Mac. Well help you figure out which version of Office for Mac is the right one for you in our complete guide to buying Microsoft Office for Mac. If you arent sure whether to choose the Microsoft Office apps or some free, or cheaper alternatives take a look at our Best Word Processors for Mac and Best Email apps for Mac articles. Best deals right now From time to time we see Microsoft software at a discount usually around Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Here are the best Microsoft Office deals we saw for Prime Day 2023: In the U.S. Prime subscribers can get a Microsoft 365 Personal (Office) 12-month subscription plus a $10 Amazon Gift Card for just $49.99, usually $79.99. Thats a saving of $30. Microsoft 365 Personal incudes Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. You also get 1TB of OneDrive Cloud storage. Get Microsoft 365 Personal (Office) for $49.99 U.S. Prime subscribers can also get Microsoft 365 Family (Office) and a $20 Amazon Gift Card. Thats a 12 month subscription with another three months free. It will auto renew at the higher price if you dont cancel. The Family version doesnt include Outlook but it can be used by six people. Get Microsoft 365 Family (Office) for $69.99 If youre in the U.K. an Amazon Prime Day deal can save you 30% off the price of a copy of Microsoft Office 2021 Home and Student (Mac or Windows version). You can get Office for Mac for 83.99, rather than the usual RRP of 119.99. Its a one-time purchase, which means you wont be tied into a subscription that will be renewed at full price in a year from now. Get Microsoft Office 2021 for Mac for 83.99 U.K. Prime subscribers can also save on Microsoft 365 Family Office 365 apps, including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook for up to 6 users. The 12-month deal is 47.99, which is 40% off the usual price of 79.99 a year. Get Microsoft Office 365 Family for 47.99 How to buy Microsoft Office for Mac: Subscription vs outright There is more than one way to buy Microsoft Office for Mac. You can subscribe to Microsoft 365 on a monthly or yearly basis, or you can buy the software outright. The latest version of Office for Mac is available via a Microsoft 365 subscription which costs from $69.99/59.99 per year or $6.99/5.99 per month). If you subscribe you benefit from the fact that you always receive the latest updates to the software, continuously, without the need of having to buy the whole program or suite again. The service, previously called Office 365, rebranded as Microsoft 365 in April 2020. Despite the name change and a bunch of upgrades at that time, the prices remain the same. If you dont want to sign up for a subscription and would rather own the software outright, you will be glad to hear that Microsoft continues to sell and update the Office 2021 suite. The latest version of Office for Mac for home users is Office Home & Student 2021 ($149.99/119.99). It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Outlook isnt included in this version, but since March 2023 Microsoft has started offering Outlook for free, and you can download that on the Mac App Store. There is also Office Home & Business 2021 ($249.99/249.99) which is designed for families and small businesses who want the office apps Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Read about Microsoft Office for Mac 2021 in our guide to the latest version of Office. Microsoft also offers Office LTSC (Long Term Servicing Channel). Details of how to upgrade to that are on Microsofts site here. Microsoft 365 subscribers get updates every month (though organizational subscriptions can choose to upgrade user accounts either semi-annually, every January and July). What is the latest version of Office for Mac? If you buy the software outright the latest version is Office 2021. If you subscribe your version of Microsoft 365 your version of Office will be regularly updated with new features. You can check which version is the most current and the latest features on Microsofts website here. Both versions receive security and performance updates. You can find details of the latest version on Microsofts website: Price Comparison: Microsoft 365 vs Office 2021 for Mac With so many options around, the pricing varies depending on the type of license you want and how you want to pay. Weve broken it all down in our table below. Microsoft 365 prices: subscribe here Subscription type Annual cost Monthly cost Max number of users Microsoft 365 Personal $69.99/year (59.99/year) $6.99/month (5.99/month) One person Microsoft 365 Family $99.99/year (79.99/year) $9.99/month ( 7.99/month) Up to six people Microsoft 365 Business Basic $5 per user month (3.80 per user per month) for a year Per user Microsoft 365 Apps for business $8.25 per user per month (7.90 per user per month) for a year) Per user Office 365 Business Standard $12.50 per user per month (9.40 per user per month) for a year Per user Microsoft 365 Business Premium $20 per user per month (15.10 per user month) for a year) Per user Best Prices TOday Microsoft 365 Price When Reviewed: 69 Best Prices Today: Office 2021 prices Best Prices TOday Office for Mac 2021: Home & Student If you are a PC user there is also Office Professional 2021 for $439/419, but there is no Mac version of this suite. More information here. Whats the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 2021? Office 2021 for Mac was launched in September 2021 (three years after Office 2019 launched). However, some of the new features had already been available as part of the Microsoft 365 (previously Office 365) subscription. With Microsoft 365, customers pay monthly or yearly to always have the most up to date version of the software. There are various packages depending on whether you will be the only person using the software, if you will be sharing the subscription with friends and family, or if you are a small business or a larger enterprise. The subscription system suits some users, but others prefer to pay for software outright and know that they will own it for eternity. Hence, Microsoft also allows you to buy the full Office 2021 suite for a one-off payment. That licence will never run out, although Microsoft might eventually stop support for that version. As far as stand-alone software go, you can either pick up Office Home & Student 2021 ($149.99/119.99), Office Home & Business 2021 ($249.99/249.99) or opt for the Office LTSC if you are buying for a business or to use commercially (in which case you will find details on Microsofts site here. You can also buy the apps individually, more on that below. There is also a free cloud-based version of Office that you can access online via a web browser. Think of it as a Lite version of the paid versions of the app. You still need to sign up for a Microsoft Account. Home/small business use: Office 2021 vs Microsoft 365 Office Home & Student 2021 and Office Home & Business 2021 Microsoft 365 (Family or Personal) Payment plan Pay once Pay monthly or yearly. Stop paying and you lose the license. Included Word, Excel, PowerPoint. (Works with Microsoft Teams). Office Home & Business 2021 also include Outlook. Most up to date version of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Additional services No services included. Skype and One Drive included. Family: 6TB (1TB for each person); Personal: 1TB. OneDrive Personal Vault security. Updates Includes security updates, but no feature updates. Microsoft will update the apps with new features. Devices Runs on one Mac or one PC. Install on one Mac or PC. Runs on Mac, PC, iOS & Android. Install on all your devices (iPad, iPhone, Mac). Depending on your subscription package you may be able to share your subscription with five others. Users One person. Personal: One person; Family: Six people. Mobile You get basic versions of the mobile apps that can be used on iPhones and iPads (as long as the iPad is under 10.1in so iPad mini only). You get free versions of the mobile apps with extra features that arent available in the basic versions. Storage No online storage. 1TB of cloud storage in OneDrive, to be used by up to 6 users depending on your subscription package. Support Installation help. Support for first 60 days at no extra cost. Ongoing technical help. Business use: Microsoft 365 for Business vs Office LTSC If you are a enterprise user you need to consider a version designed for deploying to businesses. With the 2021 version of Office Microsoft has added Office LTSC as an option. Office LTSC This version of Office 2021 is available to volume licence customers who just want to make a one-time purchase, rather than subscribing to Microsoft 365. It includes the same apps as the Home & Business version of Office Home & Business 2021, but, Mac users also get Outlook LTSC (PC users also get Access and Publisher LTSC versions). The price is 10% more than the Office Home & Business 2021 version, and will depend on how many Macs or PCs are being deployed to. Microsoft 365 for Business There are also Microsoft 365 subscription packages for businesses and enterprises. Each is charged per user/per month and there are lower monthly prices if you sign up for an annual commitment. Microsoft 365 Business Basic (formerly Office 365 Business Essentials) is the cheapest option at 3.80/$5 per user per month. It includes only web and mobile versions of the Office apps. Subscribers also get access to OneDrive, Exchange, SharePoint and Teams. Microsoft 365 Apps for Business provides app access only and access to OneDrive. You get the desktop versions as well but not the added services around the software such as Teams or threat protection. It costs $8.25/7.90 per user per month. Microsoft 365 Business Standard (formerly Office 365 Business Premium) includes Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook (plus Access on a PC), along with business email, Microsoft Teams access and cloud storage via OneDrive. This tier costs $12.50/9.40 per user per month. Office 365 Business Premium (formerly Microsoft 365 Business) includes everything you get in the Business Standard option plus cyber-threat protection. This is the most expensive at $20/15.10 per user per month. Head to Microsoft now to compare its plans for business. Microsoft Cheapest way to get Microsoft Office As you can see from the above, there are various ways to get Office, or single programs from the Office suite, on your Mac. You could subscribe for the time you need access to the software and then cancel your subscription. That way you could get the basic version of Office for Mac for $6.99/5.99 a month and cancel after 30 days. Beware that you may lose access to your data though. After you cancel, you can still use Office in View Only mode. Speaking of View Only mode, this mode is handy if you just want to be able to read Word documents or PowerPoint slides. In this mode you can view, but not edit. That may be all you need to do, in which case this is the cheapest option because its free. If you do need to be able to edit documents another option is to open them in Apples iWork apps. Apple has a word processor called Pages that can open Word documents, Keynote for PowerPoint presentations, and Numbers for Excel. These options will enable you to open and edit the Office documents and save them in the Office format, without ever having to open Office. Sometimes the formatting can be out slightly, but its a great solution. And crucially it wont cost you anything because these apps are free for Mac users. If all you need is Word, for example, you dont have to buy all the Office apps. As you can see from the table above, it is possible to buy Word, Excel and PowerPoint separately. At around $150/150 each, it could be a good solution if you dont want to pay more to get the other apps that are included in the suite. We also have this article about how to get Microsoft Word for free. Foundry Compatibility: Will my Mac run Microsoft 365 or Office 2021 for Mac? In terms of system requirements, both Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 will operate on macOS Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave and High Sierra (Microsoft will always endeavour to support the current and two previous versions of macOS). Mac users will need at least 10GB of disk space. One thing to note is that older, 32-bit versions of Office, such as Office 2011, will not work on Macs running Catalina or later. To find out whether your version is 64 bit click on the Apple icon in your menu and choose About This Mac, then System Report. Scroll down to Software and choose Applications. If any of your apps are 32-bit you will see that information here. Another compatibility issue is with M-series Macs. Soon after the arrival of the M1 Macs in November 2020 Microsoft made sure that Office worked natively on the M1 Chip. Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote all work on the M1 Macs. Microsoft 365 users would have had the new version of the software update automatically. Should compatibility issues come up again in the future you may have to wait longer for an update if you arent a Microsoft subscriber. See all Microsoft Office and Office 2019 system requirements. Verdict: Should I buy Office 365 or Office 2021? If you subscribe to Microsoft 365 Personal for two years youd spend $139.98/119.98. Thats essentially the same outlay as buying the software outright. Of course, there are plenty of disadvantages in this scenario too. Office 365 subscribers will benefit from new feature updates throughout those two years, meaning that you will miss out on some great new tools. You may benefit from technical support that you get with a 365 subscription. Perhaps you need to have access to the iOS and Android versions of the software. We have this article about getting Office apps for free on iPad. Another factor that may sway your decision is that Microsoft will stop mainstream support for Mac versions of Office Home & Student 2021 as well as Home & Business 2021 in October 2026 (which means Microsoft is only supporting it for five years, rather than the usual ten). This means that it will no longer receive security or non-security updates, such as changes to features or design. If thats a concern for you, you might prefer a subscription. Auckland will be blessed with their largest headline show to date at the iconic Powerstation, bringing PARK RD & The Dawns with them in support. The Auckland show will be all ages, with tickets for both shows on sale Wednesday July 12. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. UPDATE: Cambridge District Court reopened after bomb threat Massachusetts State Police evacuated Cambridge District Court in Medford Tuesday morning after receiving a report of a bomb threat. The threat was received at about 9:14 a.m., state police told MassLive. The state police bomb squad brought several K9 units to the area and swept the building. Read more: Former correctional officer Seth Bourget sentenced to prison for attacking inmate Nothing suspicious has been located in or around the building at this time, state police said. There were four detainees in the courthouse who were being held pending court appearances. Those detainees were taken to Medford barracks and will stay there until the situation is resolved, state police added. The investigation is ongoing. MassLive reporter Irene Rotondo contributed to this story. Searches conducted around Cambridge District Court in Medford following a report of a bomb threat have yielded no results as of Tuesday afternoon, Massachusetts State Police said. The threat was received at about 9:14 a.m., state police told MassLive. The state police bomb squad brought several K9 units to the area and swept the building after it was evacuated. Members of the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad and K9 units searched inside, outside and the perimeter around the courthouse. When nothing in the area was found, all units left the courthouse and the building reopened. Four detainees were in the courthouse and being held pending court appearances when the threat happened. Those detainees were taken to Medford barracks until the situation was resolved, state police added. An investigation led by state police detectives remains ongoing. MassLive reporter Irene Rotondo contributed to this story. A man died in a house fire in Belchertown on Monday afternoon, according to the towns fire and police departments. On behalf of the Belchertown Fire Department, I want to express our sincere condolences to the mans family, Belchertown Fire Chief John Ingram said in a news release. This is a sad day for them and our community. Officials said the man was the only person home at 42 Daniel Square, a single-story home that went up in flames and drew a large response from firefighters. The Belchertown Fire Department was called about the fire at about 12:20 p.m. and found heavy smoke coming out of all windows and heavy fire in the rear of the building. Officials did not release the mans name. Read more: Belchertown DPW director named town administrator Firefighters immediately mounted an aggressive exterior attack, then moved inside until conditions forced them from the building, wrote Jake Wark, public information office for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, in a news release. Several nearby towns responded to the fire and Amherst, Bondsville, Granby, Ludlow, Palmer, Pelham, Three Rivers, and Westover provided mutual aid, according to Wark. Read more: Belchertown to petition legislature to create town manager position It took about two hours to bring the flames under control. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the exact cause of the mans death, Jake wrote. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. NORTHAMPTON Forty-five beautiful acres of sweet corn, green peppers and other crops at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary were scheduled to be picked Tuesday. Instead, farmer Ben Perrault owner with wife Liz Adler of Mountain View Farm swam out Tuesday to check the fields for damage, knowing the Connecticut River was still rising and not expected to crest until Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. I think there is a potential we will lose that field, Adler said, as Perrault planned to take a borrowed kayak out for another look at the field. We still have some hope. The river was at 114.7 feet above sea level Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Thats about where it was expected to crest. Flood stage is 112 feet. AccuWeather estimated that heavy rains across Western Massachusetts, Vermont, eastern Pennsylvania through northwest New Jersey, the lower Hudson Valley of southern New York north of New York City, northwestern Connecticut, caused $3 billion to $5 billion in damage in rural communities in hardest hit areas. Meteorologists are likening this to Hurricane Irene back in 2011. This has been, potentially, a catastrophic event for a small number of farms, said Claire Morenon, communications manager for CISA, Communities Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, in South Deerfield. Itll take time, she said, to assess how much damage was done and where. Damage also will depend on the crop and how close it is to harvest. If food like cabbages touched floodwaters, then the crop is considered contaminated. But farmers who had tomato plants out in blossom, with no fruit, might be in good shape if the plants dry out and keep growing. 5 1 / 5 Connecticut River flooding July 11, 2023 For some farms, it doesnt look good for this years crop, Morenon said. And its all the more frustrating that the Connecticut River still has yet to peak. There is not much you can do if the water is coming, she said. They are trying to manage expectations with their customers. This weekends flood is also the third weather disaster to hit local growers. In February, a deep freeze destroyed delicate peach buds before they could blossom, meaning no peaches this year for much of the Northeast. In May, another freeze zapped blueberry and strawberry buds. CISA is responding, and by the end of the week itll open its Emergency Farm Fund, a zero-interest loan program from which eligible farms can borrow up to $25,000 so they can meet expenses. Also Tuesday, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources called on farmers whove suffered a flood loss to report damages to agency Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff Alisha Bouchard at alisha.bouchard@mass.gov and Director of Produce Safety Michael Botelho at michael.botelho@mass.gov. The state also says to contact Sue Scheufele at the University of Massachusetts Extension so that they can be made aware of the extent of damages. She can be reached at sscheufele@umass.edu or by calling 508-397-3361. Marinas up and down the river stopped operations Monday and pulled in most of their equipment. Brunelles Marina in South Hadley sits on a bend of the river, said spokesman Edward W. Brown III. That means, as the torrents pushed debris down the river, the waters slammed those tree trunks and flotsam into Brunelles docks. When its safe to do so, theyll do an assessment, Brown said. Theyve been through this before. In West Springfield, the Riverwalk was closed, according to Mayor William Reichelt, who urged people to be careful near the water. Fertile lands For farmers, low-lying land by the river is fertile. And while farmers are accustomed to flooding in the spring, before planting, and in the fall and winter after the harvest is in, this deluge came as crops were still ripening, Adler said. In Conway at Natural Roots, they had to hitch their horses quickly Monday to drag farm implements out of the way as the South River burst its banks, said farmer Maggie Toran. The farms mobile chicken coop was also in the way of the deluge. They lost a few birds, she said. On Tuesday, Toran was setting up a GoFundMe online campaign to raise money and help cover the losses. While the waters receded, Toran was awaiting guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources about how much of the crops can be salvaged after being inundated, however briefly. There is a chance that we will have a total loss, she said. Natural Roots is a CSA, a community supported agriculture farm that sells shares of produce to members. That gives it steady financial support and also means that it grows a wide variety of vegetables. Most of them are grown near the riverbank. Enough for 200 families, Toran said. In Hadley, Plainville Farm owner Walter Wally Czajkowski had an urgent crew harvesting cabbage from a field on Aqua Vitae Road as fast as they could. Water already covered a third of the field. Pickers were trying to stay ahead of it. Were getting two thirds of that field. By tonight, its all going to be underwater, Czajkowski said. Hes watching other fields, like those on Honey Pot Road, for encroaching water. Plainville Farm is a third-generation family farm that sells produce to local colleges and to stores like Big Y and Stop & Shop. Changing weather is making it harder, Czajkowski said. Climate change is real. There is no question about that, he said. All you have to do is go outside. The brother of former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez was ordered re-arrested on charges related to throwing a brick at ESPNs Bristol, Connecticut campus, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. Dennis Hernandez, 37, the older brother of the late Patriots tight end, had been scheduled to enter a plea on July 7 to a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace, but did not appear for that hearing, court records showed. CHICOPEE Mayor John L. Vieau announced Monday he is running for a third term, after submitting his nomination papers to the Registrar of Voters. Vieau is being challenged by City Councilor Delmarina Lopez, who turned in her nomination papers last week to be on Novembers ballot. They are the only two candidates to announce plans to run for mayor. The deadline to submit completed nomination papers is Aug. 1. As a lifelong resident, with nearly 25 years of experience from serving on the Planning Board, Alderman and City Council and now as your mayor, I am excited to announce that I am seeking another term to keep Chicopee heading in the right direction, Vieau said. As I pledged in 2020, I will continue to work hard and do what is in the best interest of you, the taxpayer. Vieau listed accomplishments in public safety, financial management and economic development he has made over the past three and a half years. He took office less than three months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The city weathered the crisis and is moving forward, Vieau said. He called public safety paramount to Chicopees success and pledged to invest in the police and fire departments, expand community policing and ambulance services. Vieau cited this years addition of a C3 Policing unit in Willimanset and increased police presence, community engagement and walking and bicycle patrols. The fire department has added two ambulance shifts to cover the busiest times. Following a series of fatal crashes, the city has prioritized pedestrian safety by making infrastructure improvements, such as installing flashing crosswalk signs and coming up with creative ideas to slow traffic. The city has a $27 million stabilization fund and one of the highest bond ratings in the region, Vieau said. I am proud to say that we applied $3 million in tax relief for the new fiscal year and our budget remains well under the levy limit established under Proposition 2, he said. The citys financial stability prepares officials for a possible recession and puts it in solid shape to expand programs for older residents, veterans and school children, he said. That stability will help fund coming projects, including the second phase of City Hall renovations and construction of a new Anna E. Barry School, he said. He also talked about economic development, with a focus on revitalizing Chicopee Center with the restoration of the former Central Library and selling long-vacant property that once held the Uniroyal and Facemate properties to developers. Vieau said his administration has been investing in parks. It plans to open the Post 9/11 and Service Dog Memorial Park off Westover Road in the fall. A new state-funded Connecticut River bike path is open and nearly complete and upgrades are being made to Szot, Lincoln-Grove and Rivers parks, he said. A 29-year-old man from Lynn was arrested after a woman said he threatened to kill her with a kitchen knife Thursday at Boston Logan International Airport, according to Massachusetts State Police. At 1:30 a.m. on July 6, troopers responded to Terminal C at the airport for a report of a man making threats with a steel kitchen paring knife in the terminal, police said. The officers located 29-year-old Emmanuel Tamba, police said, who had the 4-inch paring knife when officers arrested him, police said. The Lynn man and the woman had no connection to one another, police said, and she told officers Tamba was giving people a hard time in the terminal. The woman told police the 29-year-old held the knife and threatened to kill her. Tamba did not actually stab or cut her, police said, and she was not hurt in the incident. Tamba was arraigned on Thursday in East Boston District Court on four charges as a result of the incident: assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon, threatening to commit a crime and a municipal ordinance violation by having the knife, police said. He was a correctional officer and now hes about to be an inmate. Seth M. Bourget, 42, of Woodstock, Connecticut was sentenced to serve one year and one day in prison with two years of supervised release for using excessive force on an inmate, the U.S. Attorneys office announced on Monday. Bourget was convicted by a federal jury of one count of deprivation of civil rights under color of law in December of 2022, the U.S. Attorney said. Bourget struck an inmate suffering from mental health conditions with a large protective shield with excessive force around June 18, 2019, the U.S. Attorneys office said. The attack was so fierce it caused the inmate serious head injuries. On the day of the incident, the inmate was upset that he was being transferred to a different unit, the U.S. Attorney said. Evidence at the Bourgets trial showed that the inmate was pepper sprayed and locked in his cell with his hands behind his back for 45 minutes. Agitated and upset, the inmate was unable to comprehend normal commands. Bourget along with five other officers prepared to conduct a use of force on the inmate. Bourget led using the protective shield. When Bourget and the officers entered the cell, he thrust the protective shield upward and hit the inmate in the chin, the U.S. Attorney said. The inmates head snapped and he hit the floor. The injury to the inmates head included lacerations that required 12 staples and a gash on his lip that needed six sutures. Corrections officers are placed in a position of public trust and the overwhelming majority of correctional officers do their jobs with professionalism, respect and dedication to protect and serve. In this case, a jury unanimously found that Mr. Bourget abused his position of authority when he violently struck a mentally ill and defenseless inmate, said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy said in a statement. This office will continue to hold accountable bad actors who abuse their power and violate the publics trust in them. HOLYOKE A free 180-hour training designed for people learning English and seeking careers in the culinary and hospitality fields will begin Monday at the MGM Culinary Arts Institute at Holyoke Community College. Moira Lozada, career advisor for English language learners at Holyoke Community College, said culinary and English teachers will work side by side. Students will have two instructors, Lozada said. The program offered by HCC builds in 90 hours of English along with career preparation. This hands-on training is an exciting opportunity for students to begin a new career in culinary and hospitality, advance into higher-level roles, or continue studying culinary and hospitality at the college level, said Pesha Black, director of the English for Speakers of Other Languages program at HCC. Students in the course will gain skills with cutlery, cooking, culinary math and measurements, workplace etiquette, resume building and job searching, and earn ServSafe workplace certifications for management, and food and alcohol handling. Our alumni have gone on to work in restaurants, food service, hotels and started their own entrepreneurial ventures, said Black. An evening class started two weeks ago and includes students who speak Spanish, Russian and Mandarin. Immigration status has not been an issue for the program, Lozada told The Republican. The course is still registering adult residents of Massachusetts who are intermediate English learners. And while the program doesnt promise work after training ends, it doe aims to fully prepare people for careers with businesses within state. Kevin Lynn, executive director of MassHire Springfield Career Center, said culinary careers are in high demand now. People are eating out more, since the COVID-19 pandemic requirements, such as masking, ended, he said. People were laid off initially, and some did not come back. Now, lots of restaurants are coming back, and new restaurants are opening in the area, Lynn said. MassHire partners with companies like MGM and Snap Chef, which have different needs; MGM is looking to fill fast-paced restaurant kitchen positions, while Snap Chef has openings for corporate cafeteria jobs. A livelihood in the culinary arts field is great for the right person, because they can climb up the career ladder quickly, Lynn said. The HCC program assists students in their job searches, with resources, resumes, interviewing techniques, elevator pitches and talking about their skills and qualifications. The program also stays tapped into the needs of local eateries. We work with over two dozen local employers eager to hire qualified graduates as food preparers, line cooks, servers, bartenders, hosts and hostesses, and hotel workers, said Black. In addition, the programs students are scheduled to take two field trips. The first trip will be to an MGM kitchen, and the second one is to be announced but likely will be a mom-and-pop restaurant, Lozada said. The main reason for the tours is so students can see if the culinary and hospitality career is right for them. Cooking at home and cooking in a fast-paced restaurant are two different things, Lozada said. Skills, training and education programs like the one at HCC are a part of a state program called MassSTEP, funded by $40,000 through the states Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Massachusetts Boy Scout killed in a boating incident at a New Hampshire camp was commemorated in a GoFundMe created for the boys funeral, calling the 11-year-old a beautiful, kind, wonderful boy. Keoni Hubbard, from Troop 119 Lexington, died in a boating incident on Lake Manning in Gilmanton, New Hampshire on Friday, Spirit of Adventure Council, a regional council of the Boy Scouts of America, wrote on Facebook. New Hampshire State Police responded to the incident at about 2:15 p.m. Friday. Police said Keoni was out on the water when the incident occurred and died of his injuries at the scene. He had been in New Hampshire with his group from out of state for the week, police said. Anna Rohrbough, the creator of the GoFundMe for Keonis funeral and memorial services who identified herself as Keonis aunt, stated she was with her brother and the Hubbard family, including their 15-year-old daughter, in Lexington as of July 10. Keoni was a beautiful 11 year old boy that had pure kindness in him. I loved him dearly, Rohrbough said. The aunt then shared a message from the Hubbard family, who asked for privacy as they grieve, according to the GoFundMe. Our beautiful, kind, wonderful boy Keoni died Friday afternoon in a boating accident while away at Camp. Our hearts are forever broken by the loss of our Keoni. Beloved by his family and friends, Keonis spirit and empathy for others resonated with all who love and admire him, the statement read. Keoni was simply the best - a selfless child who truly found joy in the happiness of others... Hold and hug your children, and tell them you love them, the familys statement said. The GoFundMe surpassed its $15,000 goal within 20 hours of its creation, reaching more than $20,000 by 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Rohrbough asked for help for the family in the form of donations, and said to message her for an address for those wishing to send a card or note. Jonathan Pleva, the interim Scout executive of The Spirit of Adventure Council, had asked people keep the Hubbard family, Troop 119, as well as the Lexington Scouting Community in your thoughts and prayers. A GoFundMe page has been made for Rutland, Vermont police officer Jessica Ebbighausen, of Ira, Vermont, who was killed Friday following a pursuit of a burglary suspect that ended in a crash, according to Vermont State Police. At 2:35 p.m. Friday, Rutland police received a call about an attempted break-in at a home on East Washington Street, police said. At 2:51 p.m., the suspect, later identified by police as Tate Rheaume, 20, fled the scene in a truck with officer Jared Dumas in pursuit. The pursuit continued from East Washington Street to Stratton Road and further to the intersection with Woodstock Avenue. Meanwhile, other police officers were responding to the area, including Ebbinghauser, who was driving a cruiser with a supervising full-time officer Richard Caravaggio in the passenger seat east on Woodstock Avenue, followed by a second cruiser. At about 2:53 p.m., police say Rheaume crossed the center line into the eastbound lanes and collided with Ebbighausens cruiser, then struck the second cruiser behind hers, driven by officer Kelsey Parker. Both Rheaumes truck and Ebbighausens cruiser received catastrophic damage in the crash, police said. The cruiser that was pursuing Rheaume was not involved in the crash. Ebbighausen, who was 19, died at the scene. Caravaggio, Parker and Rheaume were injured and brought to Rutland Regional Medical Center for treatment, where the officer who was in the car with Ebbighausen remained hospitalized until Saturday. Since Jessica was 9 years old she dreamed of becoming a police officer, said GoFundMe organizer Brittany Rajda on the website. At the young age of 19, her dreams came true when she was able to wear the Rutland City Police Officer uniform. On July 7, 2023 Jessica gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty while serving and protecting the Rutland City community. Ebbighausen was a part-time member of the Rutland Police Department. She had started working for the department on May 23 and was scheduled to attend the Vermont Police Academy next month to become a full-time officer, according to a press release. The fundraiser was made on Saturday for the purpose of Ebbighausens funeral and memorial expenses, with a goal of $10,000. Jessicas mother loves and cares for Rutland City children in her at-home daycare, said Rajda. After such a traumatic loss, we are asking for support for Jessicas family as they navigate these difficult times. Any amount helps. The Charlton Police Department is thanking five people after they rushed to a burning car on Monday to try to save two children and the driver. At around 6:41 p.m., officials were on their way after a car had rolled over at 338 Worcester Road in Charlton. But when they got there, five people were already helping. Read more: GoFundMe made for Vermont police officer killed in crash with burglary suspect The car had caught fire, police said. And Russel Jennings, Mireya Wattson, Agata Lajoie, Alysa Hanson and one other person who wasnt named rushed to the car. They were able to get out the driver and two young children before the first responders had arrived, police said. Police said the five people were instrumental in the best case outcome of this incident. Everyday we rely on the support of the citizens within the general public but incidents like this remind us all of what a great community we live in, the police department wrote on Facebook. SPRINGFIELD A spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni identified a 56-year-old city resident as the man who died in Springfields latest fatal shooting. Spokesman James Leydon said Elias Cruz was killed during an alleged clash with another man outside 39 Commonwealth Ave. around 4:45 a.m. on July 7. The shooting brought the citys homicide tally to 16 already passing the annual total in 2022 by two. Investigators have released scant details about the predawn shooting on Friday morning except to confirm where it occurred and that the two men involved in the murky incident were known to each other. Of note, unlike nearly every other public statement Leydon routinely issues to identify those who lose their lives to violence, Leydon identified Cruz as the deceased rather than a victim in a press release Tuesday afternoon. Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni expresses his sympathies to the families suffering from this tragic incident, he wrote in the statement. No arrests have been made but the investigation remains ongoing, according to Springfield Police Department spokesman Ryan Walsh. A Massachusetts man is facing charges in connection with a July 5 shooting that injured at least five people, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office. Traequon Duncan, 27, was charged with assault with intent to murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, illegal possession of a firearm second offense and illegal weapons possession after a prior conviction. The shooting was reported on July 5 at about 2:01 a.m., Boston police told MassLive, in the area of River Street and Edgewater Drive. Crime scene tape and yellow evidence markers were placed around the area, along with boxes of firecrackers, WCVB reported. Officials saw Duncan on surveillance footage from the liquor store at 7 Edgewater Drive. In the video, police said someone fired the first shots and Duncan and another man took cover between two parked cars. They then produced their own firearms and began shooting in the direction of the original shooters. Duncan later fled in a maroon Ford Explorer owned by and registered to him. Five people were injured and taken to Boston-area hospitals. They all had non-life-threatening injuries, police said. On July 8 at about 11 p.m., officers pulled over the maroon Ford Explorer. When officers approached the vehicle and requested that the operator lower all of the windows, they observed Duncan sitting in the drivers side back seat. After officers confirmed his name and identity with his license, they had Duncan exit the vehicle and placed him under arrest, the district attorneys office said. Damarcus Bultumer was also in the car, officials said. Officers said they pat-frisked Bultumer and felt a hard metallic object between his legs. When he declined to answer what was between his legs and if it was a firearm, they placed him in handcuffs, the district attorneys office said. Officers then removed a small black semi-automatic firearm from Bultumers boxer shorts. Read more: Man injured in what police believe was hit and run on Cape Cod Bultumer, 23, of West Roxbury, was arrested at the same time as Duncan on weapons charges. They were unrelated to the Mattapan shooting. Both Duncan and Bultumer are scheduled for a dangerousness hearing on July 17. With the unfinished fiscal 2024 budget, a road and bridge funding bill, and even their internal rules still tied up in slow-moving backroom negotiations, House and Senate Democrats found another area in which they disagreed Monday. Lawmakers from both branches say firearm law reforms are a priority, but when a newly-filed gun reform bill came to the floor, the House and Senate were on different pages for a routine procedural step. Rep. Michael Day filed his 140-page proposal June 26 after wrapping up a listening tour with 11 stops around the state. That same day, the House sent the bill to the Judiciary Committee, which Day co-chairs. It takes agreement from the opposite branch to send a late-filed bill like Days into a joint committee, and a couple of weeks passed by without any action in the Senate. I assume its in the process like a lot of late-filed bills. A number of them were admitted today and Im sure this is in the stream somewhere, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said after the Senate adjourned July 3. Meantime, a Day aide was perched in the Senate Gallery watching several of that branchs sessions from start to finish. And Day was vocal about the Senates pace to introduce his bill, telling POLITICO Massachusetts late last week that it was astounding to [him] that the Senate refuses to assign this bill to a committee. Its usually a perfunctory exercise. The longer we sit on this, the longer people succumb to gun violence in our neighborhoods, the Stoneham Democrat said. Day reserved the Gardner Auditorium the State Houses largest hearing room on behalf of the Judiciary Committee for June 29 and 30, and then for July 13 and 14. No Judiciary Committee hearing was publicly advertised for any of those dates as of Monday. The Senates position, it turned out on Monday, was that the bill doesnt belong with Days panel. Sen. Walter Timilty, who presided over the Senate Monday, said during a recess in the session that he hadnt seen Days comments to Politico, but that branches customarily send gun-related bills to the Public Safety Committee, which he co-chairs. Traditionally, they have [been referred to Public Safety], as far as my service extends back in the Legislature. Well see what happens. Its a work in progress, Timilty told the News Service, around two hours before the Senate ultimately brought the matter to the floor. I like Rep. Day very much. Hes a fine guy, the Milton Democrat added. Im happy to work on any bill that involves making the citizens of the commonwealth safer, in conjunction with Rep. Day and my colleagues. After holding its session open into the afternoon, the Senate voted to reroute the bill to the Public Safety Committee instead. That action bounced the bill back to the House, which as early as Thursday could vote to either back down from its earlier vote and let the matter go to Public Safety, which Timilty co-chairs with Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, or insist on its earlier vote and bounce the bill back to the Senate Chamber again. A spokesman for Speaker Ronald Mariano said Monday afternoon that the House was considering its next steps. In a statement to the News Service, Day stuck by the relevance of his committee to work on firearm legislation and said the Senate chose to waste a week. A year ago, this Legislature responded to the Supreme Courts attempt to weaken Massachusetts gun safety statutes with a bill from the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Two weeks ago, I filed a bill that reflects the work that I, and a majority of my colleagues, have done in the wake of that decision. The House then referred it to the Judiciary Committee for a public hearing and for consideration, Day said. That the Senate chose to waste a week, convening three times without acting on this proposal, only to finally refer it to another Committee is incredibly disappointing, as this action delays a public hearing in the face of ongoing deadly gun violence in our streets. Read more: Hospital receivership pitched as way to stop closures of vital community health centers A Day aide pointed the News Service to 16 bills in the Judiciary Committee that he characterized as related to guns. Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem, meanwhile, said there are 47 other gun bills, from what I understand, including my own, that have been referred to Public Safety by both the House and the Senate. Among the major focuses of Days bill is cracking down on so-called ghost guns homemade, untraceable firearms. Creem and Rep. Marjorie Decker filed standalone ghost gun bills (H 2312 / S 1496) in January, before this sessions bill-filing deadline, and those were both referred to the Public Safety Committee. Public Safety is charged with issues relating to gun safety and firearms, Creem, of Newton, told the News Service. And I had assumed that this would go where all the other bills went. Because theres a lot of bills, and it would be great if there was a hearing where all the bills could be heard. Lots of people have great ideas, and I think its great that Rep. Day filed an omnibus bill, and I think that we want to hear that and all of the bills, including mine. Creem called gun law reforms a priority for the Senate and said she know[s] the House is anxious to get started. I looked at it quickly, she said of Days omnibus bill. Its very long. And there are certainly some good things in it. The state has issued more than double the number of learners permits in the last 10 days than this time last year, after a law went into effect July 1 allowing undocumented immigrants who live in Massachusetts to apply for drivers licenses. The Registry of Motor Vehicles has issued 2,800 learners permits so far in July, Gov. Maura Healey said during a press conference at the RMVs Haymarket location in Boston. The registry is expecting even more demand in the upcoming week, as residents get back into the swing of things after a popular vacation week for the Fourth of July, said RMV Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. Under the law, which the Legislature enacted over Gov. Charlie Bakers veto last year and then was upheld in November with 54 percent of voters supporting it, all Massachusetts residents who are old enough will be eligible to apply for standard drivers licenses, regardless of their immigration status. Immigrants who do not have legal status in the United States will need to submit other documents -- including either a valid, unexpired foreign passport or a valid, unexpired consular identification document -- to prove their identity, date of birth and current residency. Read more: Hospital receivership pitched as way to stop closures of vital community health centers Former Gov. Charlie Baker wrote in his veto of the law that the RMV does not have the expertise or ability to verify the validity of many types of documents from other countries. Healey on Monday gave no indications of any problems. I think weve gotten off to a strong start, wouldnt you say? Its been really, I think, great out of the gate, Healey said. In the buildup to the July 1 implementation date, the RMV staffed up and has been translating application materials and permits. The RMV also extended its hours, open now from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and with seven locations newly open on Saturdays for license-related matters. Ogilvie said there was not a major increase in the number of people using these extended hours, but that the registry anticipates more demand coming off the holiday week, and as more people know to begin applying for their learners permits. She also said there is currently no end-date for these extended hours, and that the RMV would be open 8-6 and on Saturdays for the foreseeable future. We changed all our leases to be able to follow this model for the next one or two years, she said. Though the RMV has expanded its hours to accommodate the nearly 200,000 undocumented immigrants that all became eligible to apply for a drivers license at once on July 1, anyone can make an appointment at the registry during these newly-open times. Ogilvie said she could not provide a breakdown of how many of the 2,800 learners permits issued over the last week and a half were newly-eligible undocumented immigrants. Asked for this breakdown, Ogilvie said We will not be able to answer that because the law prohibits us from looking at the data that way. From our perspective, it is all people that have gotten a new permit, whether its a 16-year-old for the first time, or an adult that is suddenly now obtaining a license. On average, about 120,000 people in Massachusetts get a drivers license for the first time each year, according to MassDOT. If all 200,000 newly-eligible undocumented immigrants apply for a drivers license, their applications would far exceed the typical number of first-time drivers. A Department of Transportation official said on Thursday that the RMV had received over 42,000 total requests for permits -- regardless of an applicants immigration status -- since the laws implementation five days earlier. The department did not provide data indicating how these requests compared to the number of people who requested permits during the same week last year. As part of the RMVs expansion in preparation of new drivers, license applications are now available in 15 different languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Vietnamese. The RMV is encouraging those who do not speak English to bring an interpreter for their road tests. If they do not have anyone who can interpret for them, the registry will provide an interpreter, Ogilvie said. The registry and the Driving Families Forward Coalition, who lobbied for the new law, have set up tents outside of RMVs around the state with interpreters available to help people with the application process. On Monday the third, we had two Brazilian gentlemen that were the first to get their permits, and we were excited to be out there cheering them on, said Chrystel Murrieta, co-chair of the coalition, with 32BJ SEIU. The governor recommended $28 million in funding to the RMV for expenses related to registry expansions to accommodate the new law, but RMV fees from new applicants may counterbalance the spending, the Executive Office of Administration and Finance has said. Healey told reporters on Monday that the licenses granted to undocumented immigrants would be valid and honored in other states. These are Massachusetts drivers licenses, she said. The governor also warned that there are scams targeting people seeking drivers licenses. You should only book your appointment and pay your fees through the RMV, she said. If something doesnt feel right, in terms of what people are seeing out there, contact the Attorney Generals Office. As some Massachusetts towns continue to deal with flooding, more rain is expected later this week. Well get a break from the rain and thunderstorms for a few days before the unsettled weather returns Thursday into the weekend, the National Weather Service tweeted Tuesday. [Rain Chances] We'll get a break from the rain and thunderstorms for a few days before the unsettled weather returns Thursday into the weekend. pic.twitter.com/psOHx7DvyB NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) July 11, 2023 The weather service is predicting rain could begin again around 6 p.m. Thursday. But Friday has the highest chances of rain and thunderstorms across the commonwealth. Rain could continue Saturday and Sunday. Parts of Western Massachusetts, including Greenfield, remain under a flood warning Tuesday. Read more: Solar storm expected to make Northern Lights visible in 3 New England states Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas, the National Weather Service warned. Turn around, dont drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Three people had to be rescued from their homes by Western Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team Monday due to flood of the Mill River in Williamsburg, according to WWLP. Summer weather is making a guest appearance one day early this week, though this period of drier weather is not expected to last long enough during the latter half of the week. Tuesday and Wednesday are set to deliver two days of sunny, warm weather following a day of torrential rain and flooding, the National Weather Service said. The coast and areas north of the Massachusetts Turnpike could see some clouds on Tuesday, though not enough to warrant any potential scattered showers and thunderstorms. Highs on Tuesday are expected to peak in the mid-80s, with some areas potentially reaching between 85 and 90 degrees. Temperatures overnight are expected to dip down to the 60s, with the Cape and Islands staying around the 70s. By Wednesday, the scattered showers and thunderstorms are back, removing any chance for no humidity as previously forecasted. Forecasters said they anticipate enough oomph to allow a few rumbles of thunder to develop. Temperatures are expected to be in the high 80s but could blast 90 degrees, even possibly in places like Boston and Providence, forecasters said. Come Thursday, those thunderstorms and rain could begin to dominate the region. Forecasters anticipate muggy conditions and temperatures in the 80s both days, and another round of heavy rainfall between 1 and a half to 2 inches. For now, forecasters are keeping an eye on the potential for excessive flooding in parts of Western Massachusetts and Connecticut for both Thursday and Friday. One weather service chart on Twitter showed higher chances for precipitation reaching as high as 70%. [Rain Chances] We'll get a break from the rain and thunderstorms for a few days before the unsettled weather returns Thursday into the weekend. pic.twitter.com/psOHx7DvyB NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) July 11, 2023 The chances for precipitation should over the weekend, though those chances hover between 30 and 50%, mostly at 45% in most communities on Sunday. This includes Boston, Hartford, Quincy and Springfield. A significant step has been taken towards the development of the strategic development zone (SDZ) at Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK). It is proposed that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment allocate 200,000 per year for two years to Mayo County Council. This will enable the employment of a dedicated project manager and the engagement of external expertise to develop a roadmap for the SDZ site, which has the potential to deliver over 4,000 jobs. The designation of lands for the establishment of an SDZ by order of the government in May 2017. if built out to full capacity, could deliver 95,025 square metres of commercial, business and enterprise space, 44,000 square metres of aviation Economic Development & Services, and 11,000 square meters of hotel accommodation and conference floor space. Mayo TD Alan Dillon said the news marked 'significant progress towards unlocking the potential of the Knock Airport SDZ' "Im delighted the Taoiseach and Minister Simon Coveney have supported my proposal for this funding allocation, which will bring us closer to realizing the potential of the Knock Airport SDZ. By supporting the employment of a dedicated project manager and accessing external expertise, we can ensure effective planning and execution of the roadmap for the site's development," said Deputy Dillon. The practical governance arrangements for the transfer of funds, expected to commence in early 2024, will be agreed upon by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Mayo County Council. This will be overseen by a Steering Group comprising IWAK, the Western Development Commission, Mayo County Council, IDA Ireland, and Enterprise Ireland, alongside the Programme Manager for the West Regional Enterprise Plan. Deputy Dillon stated: "This funding allocation recognizes the potential of the Knock Airport SDZ and ensures its integration with other regional development plans. By considering the feasibility study and related work, we can create a comprehensive roadmap that maximizes the economic benefits for the region." This funding arrangement will be strictly limited to a two-year period. It is anticipated that at the end of this period, a roadmap endorsed by relevant stakeholders, including the Government, will be in place. Detailed recommendations, including lead responsibility for advancing the SDZ's development, will also be provided. At that point, the initiative will transition to accessing normal funding mechanisms available for development projects of this nature. "I am determined that, with the collaboration of all stakeholders and the implementation of a well-defined roadmap, we will create a thriving hub of economic activity that benefits the entire region," concluded Deputy Dillon. Sinn Fein have selected two further female candidates to run in the Ballina and Castlebar electoral areas in next year's local election. At their latest selection convention in the TF in Castlebar last Friday, Mayo Sinn Fein selected Donna Hyland as their first candidate to stand in Castlebar Local Electoral Area, and Una Morris as their first candidate to stand in Ballina Local Electoral Area for next years local elections. Mother of four, Donna Hyland lives in Manulla and is a nurse by profession and is well known within the trade union movement and has previously served two terms on the National Executive of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. Una Morris is chair of Gaughan Lynn Stagg Cumann in Ballina and a member of Mayo Sinn Fein officer board. Originally from Dublin, she is married to Denis Quinn and lives near Killala with her family. She currently works in Rose Conway-Walsh's constituency office in Ballina and was a union shop steward while working at the Western People, and Irish Press newspapers. The two female candidates are the latest to join the Mayo Sinn Fein ticket ahead of next year's local election with Rosaleen Lally already selected to run in the Belmullet Electoral Area and Karen Gallagher in the Westport Electoral Area. Sinn Fein only has one sitting councillor in Gerry Murray after a disappointing 2019 local elections but speaking at the convention, Rose Conway-Walsh TD said the party was looking forward to running more candidates and winning seats. Strong candidates We are delighted to add two more really strong women candidates to the Ballina and Castlebar local election ticket. Along with Rosaleen Lally and Karen Gallagher, Sinn Fein in Mayo is offering constituents an opportunity for real change in next years council elections. Other candidates will be added in these areas as we progress towards 2024. I know that if they are elected, these four women will make a significant difference to Mayo County Council and the constituents they serve. I look forward to campaigning with them in the months ahead, she said. Ms Hyland is also a board member of the South West Mayo Development Company and the Mayo County Council Housing SPC. I intend to be a strong voice for all in the Castlebar municipal district, to join the team in continuing the Sinn Fein call for investment in healthcare services and housing, and in reducing the impact of the cost of living crisis. I am grateful to the members of Castlebar Sinn Fein and Mayo Sinn Fein for their support. I am looking forward to the campaign ahead of us and to ensuring that a Sinn Fein representative is returned to Mayo County Council, she said at the selection convention. Ms Morris told the convention that the cost of living crisis means that ordinary people are struggling to make a living. Living with deprivation or having to fight for everything your child needs is hugely draining. Poverty is hard work, and expensive. When youre struggling to survive, you dont get a chance to thrive. We need healthcare that is properly resourced and staffed in Mayo we have long waiting lists, elderly and infirm people on a trolley for hours, children with additional needs waiting years for services, carers not receiving supports, families unable to access respite services, old people cant get home help, she said. Current councillor Gerry Murray is also expected to defend his seat in the Swinford Electoral Area while a candidate has yet to be selected in the Claremorris Electoral Area. THE policing response to ongoing crime activity in Ballinrobe has been lauded as second to none by a local county councillor. Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday), Cllr Damien Ryan welcomed the recent seizure of 70,000 worth of suspected cocaine by Gardai from a property in the town. Cash worth 4,200 was also seized during a search in Ballinrobe as part of Operation Tara. The search, which was conducted by the Divisional Drug Unit, was targeting criminality and drug dealing in the South Mayo area. A man in his early 50s was arrested at the scene and detained at a Garda station in Mayo under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. The man appeared before a special sitting of Galway District Court on July 1 and is due before Castlebar District Court on July 19. The seized substance was sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis. Cllr Ryan who is a member of Mayos Joint Policing Committee (JPC) said tackling drug dealing had been the number one priority for the JPC. Theyre certainly acting on it. I have to acknowledge what the Super[intendent] and Chief Super[indent] are doing, the Fianna Fail councillor said. There has been a reaction to trouble in Ballinrobe that has been second to none. That has to be acknowledged in the strongest possible terms. Its targeted at what the problems are. Earlier last month, seven men were arrested and appeared before Castlebar District Court on charges of serious assault, violent disorder, possession of weapons and drugs offences following a major Garda operation in the town. A total of 85 Gardai were involved in the operation which saw properties searched in Ballinrobe and Galway city. THERE are now over 800 Ukrainian children enrolled in schools across Mayo, according to the latest figures. Statistics released by the Department of Education show that there are 804 Ukrainian students enrolled in schools across the county. Of these, 526 are enrolled in primary school while 278 are enrolled in secondary school. This represents a slight rise from the 770 that were enrolled in Mayo schools as of February 13, when 505 were enrolled in primary school while 265 were enrolled in secondary school. Of the 15,625 Ukrainian students attending Irish schools, 5.1 per cent are living in Mayo. According to the latest CSO statistics, 3,873 Ukrainian refugees have come to Mayo since Russia began the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Over 1,000 of these are living in Westport, where they comprise over 5 per cent of the population of the entire electoral area. According to the CSO 12,615 boys and 11,798 girls from Ukraine under the age of 18 have arrived in Ireland since the start of the war. In Galway, 628 Ukrainian children are enrolled in primary with 325 in post primary. Leitrim has 212 enrolled in primary and 134 in post primary. Roscommon schools have 181 Ukrainian students enrolled in primary education and 62 in secondary while Sligo has seen 234 enrolled in primary and 161 in secondary. Researchers at the University of London have collaborated with QuantuMDx, a medtech company based in the UK, to develop a microfluidic diagnostic device for tuberculosis. The CAPTURE-XT chip is designed to concentrate and purify Mycobacterium tuberculosis from suspected tuberculosis patients, particularly in areas that lack access to routine diagnostic technologies. The chip uses dielectrophoresis to capture the bacteria based on their dielectric properties, whereas other bacteria and impurities in the sputum sample are washed away. The captured bacteria can be assessed visually, providing a simple yes/no diagnosis, and the purified sample can also be characterized in a lab for more in-depth analysis. The World Health Organization estimates that there are approximately three million people who contract tuberculosis each year but who are undiagnosed. Many such patients live in low-resource areas where access to diagnostic technologies is not reliable. There is a clear need for inexpensive diagnostic devices that can detect the causative bacteria behind tuberculosis. Representative sputum samples from: A: smear negative, but culture positive (very low bacillary load); B: smear positive grade +1; C: smear positive grade 2+. A correlation between smear positive grading of the sputum sample and the visual count of captured particles of bacilli (indicated by arrows) is seen. To address this, these researchers have developed a microfluidic chip that can capture and concentrate these bacteria from sputum samples. The test works on the basis of dielectrophoresis, which essentially means applying an electric field to particles or cells, causing them to become polarized. However, the electric field is non-homogenous, resulting in movement in the polarized particle. The dielectric properties of Mycobacterium tuberculosis mean that the chip can use dielectrophoresis to selectively concentrate small numbers of the bacterial cells on the chip electrodes, allowing other bacteria and impurities to be washed away. The bacteria that are concentrated on the electrodes can be viewed through a microscope, allowing an inexpensive and simple visual identification that is suitable for use in low-resource regions. However, if lab equipment is available, then the chip can act as a simple method to prepare and purify samples before performing more advanced tests, such as PCR, to better characterize the infective bacteria. The CAPTURE-XT technology is truly revolutionary and will have an impact in many different diseases from sepsis to oncology (circulating tumor cells), said Jonathan OHalloran, CEO at QuantuMDx. This application in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is truly exceptional as its ultra-low cost and ultra-high sensitivity will profoundly improve equitable access to quality diagnoses for hundreds of millions of people. This chip-based technology exploits the physiological property of the TB bacteria to be specifically collected onto the device so that small numbers can be visualized on the chip electrodes and act as a visual readout to replace the lab-based sputum smear/microscopic methods, which typically have low detection rates and require training laboratory staff, at molecular-like sensitivities and at a fraction of the price. Moreover, when used as a front-end to downstream cellular, protein, and molecular devices, the possibilities are almost limitless. Study in Journal of Molecular Diagnostics: A Novel Microfluidic Dielectrophoresis Technology to Enable Rapid Diagnosis of Mycobacteria tuberculosis in Clinical Samples Via: Elsevier by Fern Siegel , July 12, 2023 Wolff Olins' hiring spree has resulted in the addition of 11 new creatives, four strategists and three additions to the engagement team. The global brand consultancy has offices in London, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Kwesi Blair has been tapped as senior strategy director in New York. Previously Instagram's global brand strategy lead, Blair will handle strategy for both U.S. and global clients. Prior to Instagram, Blair worked at SYPartners. His brand experience includes American Express, LVMH, Target, CVS, Warner Media and IBM. Blair said he admires Wolff Olins as one of the only consultancies thinking deeply about the holistic impact of brand from the inside out. Among the 11 new creative hires, including senior designers, is James McNaught, now associate creative director in London. He previously spent time at Zag, DixonBaxi and Koto. Jess Yan in New York and Matthew Haysom in London have been upped to creative directors. In addition to Blair, the strategy team has hired three more strategists, as well as promoting six on its team, including Michele Kim to senior strategy director in New York and Kate Pfeil to strategy director in London. On the engagement front, Raphael Picciarelli was promoted to associate engagement director in the U.S. Sairah Ashman, Global CEO at Wolff Olins, said: Nothing energizes more than an injection of fresh promotions, talent and new faces. Were riding high after an exciting start to the year with both existing and new clients. The energy in the business is electric. by Sarah Mahoney , Staff Writer @mahoney_sarah, July 10, 2023 Shinola knew it had a hit on its hands the minute its fake April Fool's watch hit social media. Based on the Detroit-based watch company's signature Runwell watch model, instead of a numeral for each hour, it was marked "Late." The gag watch generated three times the brand's usual reach, four times as many likes, 13 times as many shares and five times as many comments. Most asked the company to make the watch for real. "I know it's an April Fool's joke," said one. "But I want it." So the company just did a limited run, which sold out in three hours. Philip Pirkovic, Shinola's director of brand and partnerships, explains how the item fits in the 10-year-old brand's playbook. D2C Insider: How did the Runlate idea come about? Philip Pirkovic: Throughout the year, we always look for cultural moments where we have a right to play. And April Fool's Day is one. And we're also always looking for ways not to take ourselves too seriouslyI think that's a big problem with marketing. As we started to think of funny watches, the idea of always being late came bubbling up. Everyone we showed the mock-up to laughed, so we went with it. We knew we had something special within the first hour as our audience reacted to the joke. As it went viral, we decided it might be a bigger opportunity. So we decided to do a small run. D2C Insider: Will you make more? Or is scarcity the point? Pirkovic: We don't have any plans to. It's more kind of living in this moment. If you got it, you got it. It's a way to say to people, "Make sure you're following us. Make sure you're staying in tune with what we're doing." D2C Insider: How does the idea fit into your marketing strategy? Pirkovic: Brands don't create culture. People do. Brands can amplify culture, champion it and spotlight it. That's what we try to do, and we use our resources to help things happening in the world. The Runlate is a good example. We're not the first brand to do an April Fool's stunt, and we won't be the last. It's about riding the cultural waves and making sure you're doing it in a way that feels authentic to the brand. The second part of our marketing strategy is always being adaptable. Lots of marketers get in their own way because they think they have to stay with the playbook. For us, rules are meant to be broken. A playbook is good, but you can't let it deter you from good ideas. Finally, our marketing has to have this sense of enjoyment. If we don't enjoy the things we put out in the world, our consumers won't enjoy them either. Marketers tend to take themselves kind of a little too seriously. For us, if we can't have fun with it, there's no point in doing it. D2C Insider: Explain how quickly you made the Runlate. On the one hand, you started as a digital brand, and people associate stunts like this with D2C levels of speed and agility. On the other, Shinola is very much a manufacturing brand. Detroit factories aren't famous for fast pivots. Pirkovic: The Runwell is our staple and the first watch we made. We built the Runlate on the platform so that we could expedite it. Normally, it's an 18- to 24-month process. And yes, that manufacturing heritage is part of who we are. D2C Insider: How so? Pirkovic: We have been intentional about maintaining a brand that reflects the people who work here and the community we live in. Design, quality, and craftsmanship guide us as we create products, design our retail experience in stores and online, and build our marketing strategy. I would underscore the importance of our commitment to building here in Detroit. Tt /hat is our heart and soul. And while there is a very set process in place to ensure the highest quality for our watches and straps that come out of this factory (and equally high standards for our partners around the world), nothing can replace the passion, creativity, commitment, and determination of those who work here, whether they be watchmakers, leather artisans, writers, or working in one of our stores. D2C Insider: Tell us about Shinola's brick-and-mortar strategy. Pirkovic: We have 22 retail locations. As much as we are an ecommerce company, we see retail as an incredible way to experience the brand, including watches, leather and accessories. D2C Insider: What's special about the Foundry members, those in your loyalty program? Pirkovic: We've got about 17,000 members. They've hit certain thresholds by spending or the number of purchases. They get first access to drops and find out about things before they happen. They get invited to events. Whenever they're in Michigan, we invite 'em to the office to show them around. They are our most loyal brand advocates, so we take care of them. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, July 11, 2023 A tug-of-war between technology companies, the Canadian government, and Canadian news outlets that own content sourced by Google, Facebook and other digital platforms continues to heat up following the passage of the country's Online News Act. Bill C-18, which passed in June 2023, was meant to ensure fair revenue-sharing between digital platforms and news outlets. The passage of the bill prompted Google, for example, to remove links to Canadian news in its Search, News and Discover products in Canada. Research released Monday by the Angus Reid Institute, a nonprofit public opinion research foundation, found Canadians align with the concept of Big Tech paying a fair share, but many are concerned about the consequences of the government's practices and proposals, including the Online News Act, which seeks to force Meta's Facebook, Alphabet's Google, and others to to license and distribute Canadian content. advertisement advertisement spend millions Google and Facebook have already paid Australian media companies around $200 million in 2022, based on new regulation that helped that country's local news industry, the Financial Times reported. Some 63% of Canadians are concerned about losing access to Canadian news on Facebook and Google, and 48% of Canadians want the federal government to back down in its battle with Big Tech. One-quarter say Ottawa should stand firm, and 25% are unsure of the best path forward. For Canadians, the loss of Google and Facebook as news vehicles would be considerable. Asked what news source they are most likely to go to first if they had to choose one or two, 32% said national Canadian news sites, 28% said Facebook, and 23% said Google News. Only about 15% of Canadians say they currently pay for an online news subscription to a Canadian site. Three-quarters of past Conservative voters would reverse course on Bill C-18, the Online News Act, if given the chance. Just one in three, 32% past Liberal, and 34% of voters from the New Democratic Party (NDP) would take this action. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, July 10, 2023 Drug discounter GoodRx along with Google, Meta and Criteo are urging a federal judge to dismiss a class-action privacy complaint stemming from allegations that GoodRx wrongly shared consumers' health information with the tech companies for ad purposes. GoodRx argues in papers filed Friday that it informed consumers about data sharing, and that people consented to share their information in exchange for coupons. GoodRx expressly disclosed in its privacy policy and terms of use that it shared personal information and browsing data with Facebook, Google, and other third parties for advertising and other purposes, GoodRx says in a motion asking U.S. District Court Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin in San Francisco to throw out the case. GoodRx elaborated that its privacy policy specifically said the company could use tracking technologies including cookies, tags and pixels to collect personal information that would assist Google, Facebook, other third parties, or GoodRx with advertising. advertisement advertisement Users consented to provide certain information ... to GoodRx and its vendors; in exchange, GoodRx provided the users with valuable drug pricing information, coupons, and (for GoodRx Care users) access to discounted telehealth services, the company writes. Google, Meta and Criteo filed separate motions asking Martinez-Olguin to dismiss the lawsuit. The companies' papers come in response to a class-action complaint brought by GoodRx users in February, soon after the Federal Trade Commission unveiled an enforcement action against the company. The FTC said GoodRx repeatedly violated promises to never share personal health information with advertisers or other third parties. Among other allegations, the FTC said GoodRx shared sensitive information -- prescription medications and personal health conditions, personal contact information, and unique advertising and persistent identifiers -- with third-party ad companies. GoodRx settled that matter by agreeing to pay $1.5 million, to refrain from sharing users' health data for ad purposes, and to obtain people's express consent before disclosing their health data for non-advertising purposes. GoodRx said at the time that it didn't agree with the allegations. It also didn't admit wrongdoing. The company added that the settlement focused on an old issue that was proactively addressed almost three years ago, before the FTC inquiry began." The class-action complaint by consumers includes claims that GoodRx violated various state consumer protection laws by allegedly misrepresenting its policies regarding data. For instance, the consumers alleged that between October 2017 and March 2019, GoodRx's privacy policy contained the statement, we never provide advertisers or any other third parties any information that reveals a personal health condition or personal health information. GoodRx counters that the consumers' don't specify when or where they saw that statement. GoodRx also says the consumers don't say how they relied on the statement, adding that the same privacy policy said the company would share people's personal information with Google, Facebook and other companies. In addition to arguing that consumers consented to any data disclosures, GoodRx also says the users who sued can't prove any injury, and therefore lack standing to proceed in federal court. What's more, the company argues, some of the users who used GoodRx's coupons very likely saved money through the free service. The complaint also claims the tech companies violated consumers' privacy by engaging in intrusion upon seclusion -- a broad concept that allows people to hold companies liable for highly offensive conduct that infringes privacy. Criteo argues the complaint makes only vague and factually unsupported allegations about Criteos business generally, and also that it fails to allege Criteo took any consumer-facing acts or established any practice, let alone a deceptive one. The company writes: The complaint contains no facts to plausibly indicate that Criteo even received data from GoodRx -- no facts to indicate that the unspecified Criteo technology worked and was configured in such a way to send any data, or any particular data, to Criteo, or that any data sent to Criteo (if any was sent) was actually sensitive, or that it could be linked to plaintiffs individually. Meta says in its new papers that it doesn't want to receive sensitive health information from publishers, and contractually bars developers from sending that type of data. The company also says it has a system to filter out sensitive health data. Meta also argues it shouldn't be responsible for GoodRxs alleged misuse of a tracking technology, adding that the consumers consented to GoodRx's practices. Google makes a similar argument, adding that it prohibits targeted advertising based on health conditions. Plaintiffs do not identify any fact that would make it plausible that Google served any ads based on data entered by plaintiffs on the GoodRx platforms, the company writes. by Ray Schultz , July 10, 2023 The Washington Post has promoted Johanna Mayer-Jones to the new title of chief advertising officer, effective immediately. Mayer-Jones will report to the chief revenue officer, as yet to be announced. Mayer-Jones joined the Post as head of North American client partnerships in July 2022. Previously, Mayer-Jones served at as the senior vice president of partnerships at The Atlantic, and has also held senior sales and marketing roles with The Wall Street Journal in New York and Hong Kong. "I am thrilled to promote Johanna to Chief Advertising Officer, a new role that expands her focus across the entire Client Solutions team, building a strong advertising business for The Washington Post," says Patty Stonesifer, interim Washington Post CEO. "She is a bold and visionary leader who has won the respect of clients and colleagues and will continue to identify and bolster business opportunities." Given The Washington Post's global presence, credibility, and ambition, we have a unique opportunity to solidify ourselves as an innovative publisher and advertising partner," Mayer-Jones adds. by Ray Schultz , July 10, 2023 De Los, a community-driven brand and platform powered by the Los Angeles Times, was launched on Monday as a space for exploring all things Latinidad. De Los offers reporting and commentary, graphic comics and topical social videos. The product is led by L.A. Times General Manager for Latino Initiatives Angel Rodriguez, Editorial Director Fidel Martinez, and Design Director Martina Ibanez-Baldor. The weekly Latinx Files newsletter was launched by the Latino Initiatives team in November 2020. Created for and by Latinos, De Los is an expression of both the responsibility we have to offer more to the diasporic Latino communities that are largely underserved by news media and the opportunity we have to engage with a population that is shaping our future, says L.A. Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida. Rodriguez comments, Latino identity, and the term Latino itself, is a shortcut for describing an incredibly diverse group of people. We are excited about digging into what that means, every single day, as we take a look at the things we have in common, show how different our cultures and identities can be, and bring everyone together for an ongoing conversation about the thread that ties us all together. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, July 10, 2023 The Biden administration on Monday asked the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to lift an injunction banning many federal agencies and officials from encouraging social media platforms to suppress posts by users. The injunction, issued July 4, could be read to prohibit (among other things) virtually any government communication directed at social-media platforms regarding content moderation, the Department of Justice wrote in its request for a stay. The motion came the same day that U.S. District court Judge Terry Doughty in Monroe, Louisiana rejected a request for a stay. Doughty's order prohibits numerous federal agencies and personnel from taking any action such as urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner social-media companies to remove, delete, suppress, or reduce posted content protected by the First Amendment. The order includes specific prohibitions on meeting with social media companies in order to convince them to suppress content protected by the First Amendment, flagging specific posts as problematic, and encouraging tech platforms to change their content-moderation guidelines. advertisement advertisement The First Amendment generally protects all lawful speech, including speech that's inaccurate. When Doughty issued the injunction, he said it wouldn't stop the government from informing tech companies about posts involving crime, national security threats and criminal efforts to suppress voting. It also, according to Doughty, doesn't prohibit officials from exercising permissible public government speech promoting government policies or views on matters of public concern. The order applies to federal agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, The National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Justice. It excludes certain other agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, Treasury Department and Election Assistance Commission. Doughty's order also applies to specific individuals, including Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. The judge issued the injunction in response to a lawsuit brought by attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, and several individuals who said their posts relating to COVID-19 policies and vaccines were suppressed. The complaint included a claim that the government violated the First Amendment by pressuring social platforms "to censor disfavored speakers and viewpoints by using threats of adverse government action." Doughty said in an opinion accompanying the injunction that the evidence about the government's efforts to prevent the spread of some content online depicts an almost dystopian scenario. He wrote: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a period perhaps best characterized by widespread doubt and uncertainty, the United States Government seems to have assumed a role similar to an Orwellian 'Ministry of Truth.' Doughty added that posts opposing COVID-19 vaccines, masking requirements, lockdowns and the validity of the 2020 election were among the content that was suppressed on social media. The Justice Department argues the injunction is so broad and vague that it could affect efforts to debunk false stories, or provide information to the public after natural disasters. Consider, for example, the injunctions prohibition against 'urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing' social-media platforms 'in any manner' to moderate their content, the Justice Department writes in its petition to the 5th Circuit. May federal officials respond to a false story on influential social-media accounts with a public statement, or a statement to the platforms hosting the accounts, refuting the story? The government adds: No plausible interpretation of the First Amendment would prevent the government from taking such actions, but the injunction could be read to do so. The Justice Department also discusses a scenario where, after a natural disaster, a White House Press Secretary urges tech platforms to act responsibly by spreading only accurate information. The injunction threatens to chill this wholly lawful conduct, and to place the judiciary in the untenable position of superintending the executive branchs communications, the government writes. The administration adds that it will likely prevail on appeal, arguing that asking social media companies to take down posts doesn't violate the First Amendment, unless the government is also threatening the companies with sanctions for failing to comply. The district court identified no evidence suggesting that a threat accompanied any request for the removal of content, the Justice Department writes. Nor does the record suggest that the platforms felt they had no choice but to comply with all governmental requests. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, July 11, 2023 Omnicom Media Group, has acquired Ptarmigan Media, a specialist agency that provides media and marketing solutions to financial services brands. Founded in the UK in 1993, the agencys offering includes media planning and buying, market research, search and social, as well as content and creative. The company specializes in serving financial services clients in the Asset Management, Life and Pensions, Banking, Trading and Platforms, Wealth Management, Fintech, and Insurance sectors across North America, Europe, The Middle East and Africa and the Asia Pacific region. With a staff of more than 100 media pros, Ptarmigan is headquartered in London and has offices in Hong Kong, New York, Singapore and Sydney. Florian Adamski, CEO of Omnicom Media Group, stated, The combined capabilities that will result from this acquisition will enable an unprecedented and singular depth of financial services industry expertise and media buying scale, translating to better outcomes for our clients, increased professional opportunities for our people, and accelerated growth. Ptarmigan has always put clients at the center of everything we do and becoming part of Omnicom Media Group continues that commitment, says Ptarmigan CEO Matt Ball. Combining our expertise with the scope and scale of Omnicom Media Groups industry leading tools and technology will have an exponential impact on the value we deliver to the worlds leading financial brands. The Marine Corps' top enlisted service member -- Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Troy E. Black -- will receive one last promotion, taking the top enlisted job for the entire U.S. military. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, named Black as the next Senior Enlisted Adviser to the Chairman (SEAC), the most senior enlisted rank in the military and a position that serves as the chairman's "direct tie to the enlisted force," a statement said Friday. Black, a 35-year Marine veteran, will relieve the current SEAC, Ramon "CZ" Colon-Lopez, on Nov. 3, when the latter retires from the Air Force. Read Next: Speed, Blind Spots Cited as Contributing Factors in Deadly Accident Involving Coast Guard Cutter In a statement emailed to Military.com on Saturday, Black said that the promotion is "a privilege." "This is truly humbling, and I am honored," he added. The Army's top enlisted soldier, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, tweeted out his congratulations to Black on Saturday. "I know the Joint Force is in great hands," Grinston wrote. Black joined the Marine Corps in 1988 as a machine gunner, and his battlefield accomplishments drew attention early in his time as the Corps' top enlisted Marine. However, his tenure as the senior enlisted adviser to Marine Corps leadership would be defined by his efforts to improve the quality of life for average Marines. Black frequently spoke to the press and Congress about policy changes or improvements that were being made with an eye toward making service in the Corps less taxing on families. He would often reference his wife, a retired first sergeant, as a source of inside knowledge on the challenges that come with a military lifestyle. Black will become only the fifth person to hold the rank of SEAC since the position was created in 2005. Since then, the service members who held the job have been relatively unknown compared to their service-level counterparts who have taken on leading roles in shaping service-level policy and speaking to issues including defending troops or helping raise awareness and funds with silly online hijinks while drawing media attention. From 2008 to 2011, while Adm. Mike Mullen was chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the post went unfilled. A distinct rank insignia wasn't developed until 2019. Since the post has been held only by soldiers, airmen and Marines, the Navy's rank for a sailor who would fill the position has not even received final approval. Colon-Lopez drew some media attention early in his tenure when he urged service members to speak up about unsafe actions or policies during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those comments came just hours before Reuters reported that the Navy had relieved Capt. Brett Crozier of his command as the captain of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, after a letter leaked in which he raised concerns about the health of his sailors. Colon-Lopez also tried to help address the military's mental health and suicide problem by releasing a several minute-long video in which he and his wife discuss his struggle with mental health issues that followed his combat deployments, though later remarks he made on the topic drew criticism. He also was in the news in March when he gave a powerful rebuke of a push toward more progressive military shaving policies. "If you want to look cute with your skinny jeans and your beard, by all means do it someplace else but quit wasting our time on something that doesn't have anything to do with kicking the enemy's ass," he said on a Facebook livestream alongside the top enlisted advisers for the Air Force and Space Force. Black says that he will use his time in the job to focus on "readiness and warfighting." "I am committed to advocating for every service member and their families," Black added. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Black's Replacement: Marine Corps Picks Next Sergeant Major Investigative documents reviewed by Military.com are giving more insight into the timeline and events that led to a 14-year-old girl, who was missing for weeks, being discovered in the barracks room of a junior Marine at a California base. While the young girl at the heart of this story went missing in early June, federal investigators concluded that she had been at Camp Pendleton for only about 24 hours and appeared to have met the Marine whose barracks room she would come to stay in just a day prior. The documents also show that investigators have begun to look into the claims that the girl was a victim of human trafficking. So far, investigators are reporting that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), which is being aided by several other agencies, has been unable to find any corroborating evidence to back up those claims. Read Next: 'Families Get a Huge Vote': Joint Chiefs Nominee Warns Officers Will Leave Military Due to Confirmation Delay The documents seen by Military.com say that when agents first interviewed the Marine and the victim, both said they met on the dating app "Tinder" where the girl used a different name and claimed to be 22. The Marine told investigators the connection happened on June 26 -- a day before he would help drive her onto Camp Pendleton -- and admitted to having had sexual contact with the girl in his barracks room. The investigative documents also note that the Marine allowed agents to take all the data from his cell phone, including later messages in which the victim admitted to lying to the Marine about her age. Capt. Charles Palmer, a spokesman for the 1st Marine Logistics Group, confirmed to Military.com that a Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group, was taken into custody for questioning by NCIS on June 28. "The Marine was questioned by NCIS and released to his command pending further investigation," Palmer said, adding that the Marine was not kept overnight. Jeff Houston, a spokesman for NCIS, told Military.com that no charges have been filed so far and no arrests have been made in connection with this case. The documents reviewed by Military.com say that the girl was interviewed by agents again last week, and that she told them she was kept locked up and sold out for sex by a pimp she knew only by a first name. Agents say they looked into the girl's claims of being a human trafficking victim but so far have not found evidence to support them. In a TikTok video posted last week, the girl's aunt, Casaundra Perez, alleged that her niece had been a victim of human trafficking and accused the military of a cover-up. Perez also faulted base security for allowing her niece on base unquestioned. "Our family is worried about retaliation from the military and the man that has trafficked my niece," Perez said in the video. The documents outline a timeline when the girl was on the base. On June 27, the Marine; a friend of his, who is another service member; and the young female victim drove through a security checkpoint for Camp Pendleton. The documents say personnel at the gate asked for the identification of the Marine and his friend, but not the girl. Once on base, the Marine and the female victim went to his barracks room, where they spent time with the Marine's roommate. On the morning of June 28, the pair of Marines left the victim in the barracks room, but eventually the roommate returned and kicked the girl out of the room. She used another service member's cell phone to get the Marine to let her back into the barracks room. However, two Navy corpsmen found the girl wandering the barracks building. Entries from a barracks duty logbook posted to social media in the days after the arrest show that the girl was discovered around 9 a.m., and she was removed to a separate location within 30 minutes. Agents from NCIS arrived within hours, the logbook shows. According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the victim was last seen by her family on June 9 -- more than two weeks before it appears she encountered the Marine who would eventually bring her to Camp Pendleton. NBC reported that San Diego law enforcement officials said her family reported her missing on June 13. Both the documents reviewed by Military.com and local reports noted that the girl's family told officials that she had a history of running away from home. Houston said that the San Diego Sheriff's Department and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force are assisting the investigation. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Girl Found in Camp Pendleton Barracks Was Raped by Marine, Family Alleges VILNIUS, Lithuania U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts on Tuesday endorsed the biggest shakeup since the Cold War of the way the military alliance would respond to any attack on its territory by Russia. Inspired in part by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the highly-secretive defense plans lay out which of the 31 member countries would be called on to respond an attack anywhere from the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions through the northern Atlantic and south to the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Peace in the Euro-Atlantic area has been shattered," the leaders said in a statement, laying out the twin threats posed by Russia and terrorism. Together, this family of plans will significantly improve our ability and readiness to deter and defend against any threats, including on short or no notice, and ensure timely reinforcement of all Allies. The leaders, meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, committed to fully resource and regularly exercise these plans to be prepared for high-intensity and multi-domain collective defense. Under the new plans, NATO commanders will know more clearly what troops and equipment they would have at their disposal and how long it would take to have them in place, officials said. The defense blueprint was revamped after Russias war on Ukraine challenged NATOs traditional security calculus. NATO, as an organization, does not provide weapons or ammunition to Ukraine. Its sought to avoid being dragged into a wider war with nuclear-armed Russia. At the same time, it is massively reinforcing the security of member countries near Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Around 40,000 troops are on standby from Estonia along NATO's eastern flank with Russia and down to Romania on the Black Sea. About 100 aircraft take to the skies in that territory each day, and a total of 27 warships are operating in the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. Those numbers are set to rise. Under its new plans, NATO aims to have up to 300,000 troops ready to move to its eastern flank within 30 days. The plans divide its territory into three zones the high north and Atlantic area, a zone north of the Alps, and another in southern Europe. The planning was based on the strength of the Russian army before President Vladimir Putin launched the war on Ukraine almost 17 months ago. The war has depleted Russias army, but not its navy or air force, top NATO brass say. NATOs 31 member countries took part in a force generation conference in late June in an effort to understand how many troops and how much equipment the alliance might have at its disposal to respond to any Russian attack, both in the short and longer term. Senior officers were upbeat about the results, although they declined to provide details for security reasons. Experts and some NATO diplomats, however, have expressed doubt about the willingness of member countries to put a total of 300,000 troops on standby. One part of the process that has not been streamlined is the need for all 31 allies to approve launching the new plans in case of attack, and at certain points once theyre put into action. Such political decisions, which require consensus, can be time-consuming. Political decision makers still retain political control, a senior U.S. official told reporters in the days leading up to the summit. NATOs Supreme Allied Commander, U.S. General Christopher Cavoli, still has to come back to the NAC to ask for permission, the official said, referring to the North Atlantic Council, NATOs chief decision-making body which meets at the level of ambassadors, ministers or national leaders. But he might have more authority, once that permission is given, to stage and move forces around in theater, the official said, on condition of anonymity because the planning documents were still under discussion. A controversial proposal that would force the Army to return to its old, and what service leadership argue is inferior, fitness test would allow for some changes, including swapping out events, according to legislative language released Tuesday. The Senate Armed Services Committee unveiled the specifics of its proposed National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which would direct the service to immediately revert back to the Army Physical Fitness Test, or APFT, developed in the 1980s and its standard measure until last year. The bill gives the Army room to change the events and scoring standards for the APFT, including adding events from the current fitness test, but only after at least a two-year period of a pilot and a briefing to lawmakers from the Army secretary. It also says the service can continue conducting the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, as an unofficial assessment. But in practice, it's unlikely units would bother with off-the-books fitness tests. Read Next: Military Couple at Center of Lawsuit Challenging Porn Restrictions in State Law "Nothing in this section prohibits the Army from using the Army Combat Fitness Test, or any other physical assessment the Army may develop, as a supplemental tool to assess physical fitness for all or parts of the force," the legislation reads. "Army Commanders may also require higher standards than the Army-wide grading scale for promotions, awards, schools and similar actions. Such supplemental assessment shall not constitute the baseline physical fitness assessment of record for the Army unless it is incorporated into the Army Physical Fitness Test." The change to the test was penned by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who successfully lobbied the committee to amend the draft defense policy bill. Cotton's changes also authorize commanders to set higher standards in situations if they see fit, but the bill did not detail what level of command would have that authority. Cotton's office did not immediately return a request for comment. The NDAA is far from becoming law and will likely see several changes as both chambers negotiate a final bill for the president to sign. The idea has caught Army leadership and those tracking the decade-long saga of transforming the service's fitness test by surprise. The ACFT has been tweaked several times since soldiers started testing it in 2019 and it became the official test in October. While ideas on how to adjust the test are plentiful on social media and across the rank and file, reverting back to the APFT hasn't been part of the debate. Cotton's plan, when the broad strokes were unveiled last month, immediately elicited the ire of Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, who told reporters in June that the going back to the APFT is "unreasonable" and "doesn't make any sense." "It would just take us into chaos," said Grinston, the service's top enlisted leader. In June, Military.com reported on the proposal to scrap the ACFT contained in a draft summary of the NDAA, but Tuesday was the first time the details of the proposal have been made public. Cotton, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran who served as an infantry officer, has long blasted the Army for what he argues are relaxed fitness standards -- mostly over the service not having gender-neutral standards for its new test. The previous test also had different scoring scales based on gender and age and would stay that way if his proposal became law. "The new standards are pathetic," Cotton told Army Secretary Christine Wormuth at a May 2022 hearing. "They are absolutely pathetic." Meanwhile, the House NDAA is proposing its own changes to the Army fitness test, much more akin to what the service has already been mulling behind the scenes. That proposal sets gender-neutral standards for combat arms jobs such as infantrymen and cavalry scouts. The ACFT is a six-event test measuring a soldier's maximum deadlift; hand-release push-ups; a plank; a timed two-mile run; an event in which soldiers throw a 10-lb. ball as far as they can; and another event that involves sprints, carrying two 40-lb. kettlebells, and dragging a 90-lb. sled. Broadly, the ACFT is considered easier to pass, though much more difficult than the APFT to earn a high score, which can be critical for advancement. The old test included only a two-mile run, push-ups and sit-ups. Part of the motivation for the new test was to promote a diversity of workouts in the force. For decades, most Army workouts centered around running. While that still plays a major role, soldiers are now lifting weights, swinging kettlebells and performing more exercises that involve heavy weights during organized training than in years past. -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: Gender Neutral Standards, Return to Old Fitness Test: Congress' Dueling Ideas for the Army MIAMI Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are asking a judge to postpone his criminal trial without setting a new date as he stands accused of illegally hoarding classifed documents at his Florida estate. In a late Monday filing, Trump's defense attorneys said the case was extraordinary," with a large volume of documents and footage to be reviewed as the former president leads the race for the Republican nomination to unseat President Joe Biden. They cited challenges to select jurors and concerns about whether he would get a fair trial if scheduled before the November 2024 election. The governments request to begin a trial of this magnitude within six months of indictment is unreasonable, telling, and would result in a miscarriage of justice, said the document filed by Chris Kise, one of Trump's lawyers. The Justice Department had previously proposed to set the trial date for Dec. 11. Earlier on Monday, Trump's lawyers filed paperwork saying they agreed with federal prosecutors to delay to next week a pretrial hearing that specifically discusses how classified information is handled in court. The hearing to discuss the Classified Information Procedures Act had previously been set for Friday. But an attorney for Trump's valet Walt Nauta, who was charged alongside the former president, said he has another bench trial this week in Washington preventing him from appearing Friday in South Florida. The attorneys said in their filing that they can appear at the pretrial conference to go over the 1980 law on July 18, adding they had also checked with U.S. attorneys on moving the date. The judge in the case, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, still needs to agree to the new date. Trump and Nauta were charged in a 38-count indictment with conspiring to hide classified documents at Mar-a-Lago from federal investigators. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has slammed the prosecution as an effort to hurt his bid to reclaim the White House in 2024. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. The April arrest of Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira produced a flurry of editorials and op-eds seeking to explain the problems and possible solutions tied up in protecting national security information. These ranged from complaints about the issue of rampant overclassification and awarding of security clearances, leadership mistakes, missed red flags, and mental health screening. And while most of those points are true, it's eerily similar to past prescriptive discussions that yielded few solutions. It's often easier and reassuring to blame a flawed individual, but addressing institutional and systemic failings can produce better solutions. Details about Teixeira's past suggesting social isolation are tragically familiar. That narrative lacks an understanding of recent cultural shifts and environmental factors of the social media, post-pandemic generation representative of America's young adults. Two aspects of the Teixeira leak case distinguish themselves from previous high-profile classified leaks by Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning and Reality Winner. The first is the influence of an unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. The second: Teixeira's alleged motive. A comprehensive study of the generational and societal changes that appear to be central to this recent leak may provide answers to how our military can better address these issues and create a more inclusive and supportive culture conscious of the challenges faced by post-pandemic recruits. Impact of COVID-19 The timing and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent nationwide lockdowns are a striking storyline. Teixeira reportedly joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard in September 2019, before finishing high school, and graduated in spring 2020 after virtual instruction, like most of his peers across the country. Naturally, during the pandemic lockdown, Teixeira strengthened ties with members of his online Discord chat community. That increased emphasis on an online life was true for many kids. The National Center for Education Statistics tracked that during spring 2020, 77% of American public schools moved to online remote learning and 84% of undergraduate students attended some or all their classes online. A year later, only 52% of public school students received in-person full-time education. Correspondingly, a 2019-2021 medical study found children from four to twelve years of age increased daily screen time by an average of nearly 1.5 hours per day compared to pre-pandemic levels. The study also showed these levels remained high even after pandemic restrictions were lifted. Americans in this age group will reach military enlistment age in 2026. In addition to anecdotal evidence from educators and parents, researchers at Harvard note that pandemic-related remote learning has had a negative effect on children's emotional, social and relational development. Young Americans already of military age who went to high school online, like Jack Teixeira, themselves reported lower levels of social, emotional and academic well-being, especially those in their late teen years (10th through 12th grade). according to a 2021 study by University of Pennsylvania psychologist Angela Duckworth. Reports indicate Teixeira exhibited loner and outlier behavior during his school career that differentiated him from other students. But we cannot fully dismiss that he was part of the American teen population that underwent massive upheaval during a critical stage of academic, social and emotional development. The research does not justify or excuse Teixeira's alleged actions, but the service branches and intelligence community cannot ignore the impacts of COVID-19. To do so is to commit a disservice to the futures of current and upcoming members of our military ranks. Motive Teixeira's apparent motivation to allegedly post sensitive information appears different from those of Snowden, Manning and Winner. These individuals all saw themselves as whistleblowers performing a duty to the American people by exposing secrets they felt the public needed to know. Reports from members of his Discord group say Teixeira wanted to impress and show off his access to confidential information. Kori Schake has written that his motive signals affirmation craving resulting from "emotional insecurity." The whistleblower narrative suggests people like Snowden, Manning and Winner believed, albeit wrongfully, they were serving a greater good. Teixeira's alleged self-serving motive bucks this pattern. Instead, he appeared to be motivated by self-aggrandizement and self-importance and perhaps felt greater belonging and acceptance by friends and fellow gamers online than in his in-person interactions. The motive shift from the whistleblower identity of the past illustrates an intricate problem in which military members could show greater allegiance to and shared identity with civilian friend groups than their unit or country. Though this is no new threat to the military's task of creating common ground, the present environment is unlike the past. Societal and community norms have dramatically altered because of the internet and social media age. Critics point to the years surrounding 2012 as a tipping point for young adults and teens. This time corresponds to Facebook's acquisition of Instagram and the start of an era where an app-embedded smartphone was in every high schooler's pocket. Since then, studies have consistently shown the mental and emotional effects of these platforms on the well-being of developing minds. Accelerated by pandemic isolation, teens' in-person friendships and communities moved online. A Complex Problem Recent op-eds about the alleged Teixeira leak by retired Brig. Gen. Jack Hammond and E.M. Liddick highlight the role of mental and emotional health in national security and show the risks on both sides. Hammond notes the U.S. Surgeon General's warning about the American epidemic of loneliness and a study of mental illness prevalent among 18- to 25-year-olds and argues that those exhibiting signs of "loneliness, poor self-esteem, and grandiose narcissism" should not be approved for security clearances. Countering, Liddick argues the difficulty of defining loneliness criteria, points out generational changes in reporting statistics, and notes the risk of re-stigmatizing service members struggling with these issues. While individuals who exhibit mentally unstable behavior should not handle sensitive information, red-flagging loneliness and low self-esteem as disqualifiers may not only stigmatize some military members but, perhaps more concerningly, disqualify a mass proportion of eligible recruits merely because they grew up in and survived a once-in-lifetime pandemic environment. The current and upcoming generation of Americans that will and must fill our military ranks as a national security necessity faced a coming-of-age development unlike any other living age group. We cannot assume all young Americans exposed to such conditions are high-risk or unqualified. The post-pandemic environment is different. Amidst current recruiting challenges, academic fallout reaching all levels of education, and online realities that were not present a decade ago, the Defense Department must recognize reality and adjust to what comes with it. The solution is not obvious and won't be reached easily, but the military intelligence community cannot afford to miss the lessons the Teixeira case presents. A solution will require avoiding the treatment of national security leaks as "a few bad apples" and confronting the monumental societal impacts of the digital revolution exacerbated by a pandemic event. The next generation to bear the defense burden must rise to the occasion, just as those that have come before it. These Americans deserve a leadership approach committed to balancing their unique challenges with the uncompromisable duties required of them. -- Jon Hemler is a military and defense markets analyst with GovExec's Forecast International. He is a former naval officer, helicopter pilot, educator and civil servant, holding degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy and the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. The views expressed here are strictly his own and do not represent those of Forecast International or the federal government. The Pirates have sent reliever Rob Zastryzny through outright waivers, per the transaction tracker at MLB.com. He was designated for assignment on Friday and apparently went unclaimed. Zastryzny signed a minor league deal with Pittsburgh over the offseason and broke camp with the MLB team. The 31-year-old southpaw made 18 appearances around a pair of injured list stints. He allowed 13 runs (10 earned) across 17 innings, striking out and walking 13 batters apiece. Those arent great bottom line results, although Zastryzny did average a personal-best 92.9 MPH on his fastball. This is the second straight year and fifth overall in which the former second-round draftee got to the MLB level. Hes logged 55 2/3 career innings of 4.85 ERA ball, striking out a below-average 18.6% of batters faced. The Missouri product has allowed just under five earned runs per nine over 366 2/3 career Triple-A frames. Zastryzny was previously outrighted by the Cubs five seasons ago. Players with multiple career outrights can decline the assignment in favor of minor league free agency. The Bucs havent announced whether Zastryzny plans to do so. The White Sox seem to be gradually accepting that this isnt their year. A miserable 8-21 start in March and April put them in a bad spot out of the gate. They managed to stay afloat by going 15-14 in May and then 13-13 in June, keeping them near contention in a weak American League Central division. But they slid a bit further recently, going 2-6 in July prior to the All-Star break. Their overall record of 38-54 has them eight games back in the division and even further back in the Wild Card race. As of about a month ago, it was reported that they were hoping to limit their upcoming summer sell-off to just rental players. But reporting from yesterday indicates they have widened that stance, now willing to trade just about anyone on the roster apart from Luis Robert Jr., Dylan Cease, Andrew Vaughn and Eloy Jimenez. One of the more interesting trade candidates they will have to consider is shortstop Tim Anderson. The extension he signed with the club back in 2017 was guaranteed through 2022 with a pair of club options. The Sox triggered the 2023 option and still have the potential to do so again for 2024. The decision to trigger the first option was an easy one, as Anderson had emerged as a solid above-average regular for the club over the course of his deal. He was a solid speed-and-defense player in the first couple of years but subpar at the plate. He took a huge step forward in 2019 and maintained it in the years to come. From 2019 to 2022, he hit .318/.347/.473 for a wRC+ of 123, indicating he was 23% above league average. When combined with his baserunning and glovework, he was able to produce 13.6 wins above replacement in 374 games, according to the calculations of FanGraphs. At the end of last season, the Sox had to decide between triggering a $12.5MM option for 2023 or buying him out for $1MM. With many premier shortstops earning north of $30MM annually, that price point made Anderson a bargain. Unfortunately, this year has been a nightmare for him. Hes yet to hit a home run this season and is batting .223/.259/.263 overall for a wRC+ of just 43, the worst production in the majors among players with at least 250 plate appearances. The advanced defensive metrics also consider him to be below average this year. Those metrics can be fickle on a year-to-year basis but this would be the second straight season they have all had him in the negative range. On the offensive side of things, if one wanted to look for signs of hope, there are things to squint at. Andersons Statcast numbers arent drastically different from previous seasons. His average exit velocity of 88.3 mph is in the same range as where hes been in recent years and is even above his career average of 87.5. His 109.6 mph max exit velo and 40.9% hard hit rate are similar to other seasons as well. His sprint feet of 27.2 feet per second is about a foot shy of his norms, but thats not too shocking given that he missed about three weeks with a left knee sprain. What seems to be a real factor is launch angle, which is averaging 0.5 degrees this year, well below his career average of 6.6. His 65.1% ground ball rate is well above the 42.5% league average. Anderson has always had above-average grounder rates but was at 52% for his career coming into this campaign. All of that would perhaps explain why he doesnt have a home run and why his .284 batting average on balls in play is so far beneath the .376 mark he had during his strong 2019-2022 stretch. Perhaps Anderson can produce better results going forward just by pounding the ball into the dirt less often. Regardless, the Sox have a few weeks to decide between a few different paths. One is to trade Anderson, which they are apparently open to doing, since he wasnt listed as one of the players that are off-limits. However, doing so would mean selling when his value is at an extremely low ebb, given his awful results so far this year. Its possible that some clubs are willing to overlook the rough season and take a shot on him. The upcoming free agent class is very light on position players, meaning the crop of available trade candidates is likely to be similar. There are several contenders who could use middle infield reinforcements, such as the Giants, Marlins, Angels, Dodgers and Brewers. Those clubs may not have too many options for lining up on trades. The Cardinals will likely listen to offers on Paul DeJong, but he has his own issues with inconsistency and is no guarantee to be moved with a couple of club options remaining. Teams like the Orioles and Guardians have many infield prospects and could be open trading from their respective surpluses, but they would likely be looking to part with the players who arent helping them right now. Perhaps that leads to someone making the Sox an intriguing offer, but it will undoubtedly be less than what they could have gotten in the past or could potentially get in the future. The other path would be to hang onto Anderson and hope he finishes strong enough for them to justify triggering his $14MM option for 2024 instead of the $1MM buyout. If hes able to return to his previous level of performance, that would still be good value. If Anderson were indeed able to get back to being a solid everyday player, he could perhaps help the club have better outcomes next year. Even if the club stayed on the outside of a playoff race, he could increase his trade value relative to where it is today. But the risk would be in hanging onto him and spending $13MM on another disappointing season. Theres also the injury question to consider, as various ailments have prevented Anderson from tallying 125 games in any individual season since 2018. Hes since battled a right ankle injury, two right groin injuries, two left hamstring injuries, a sagittal band tear on his left middle finger and this years left knee sprain. The third path would be to sign Anderson to an extension, something he openly pined for back in February. No deal has come together up until this point and Andersons leverage has surely dropped dramatically since then, when he said there would be no discounts and that he wanted to be treated fair. Its unknown if the Sox ever had any formal negotiations with Andersons camp, but any offers they may have made at that point would undoubtedly be dropped if talks resumed. If the club believed in Andersons ability to get back on track, perhaps they would try to buy low and get him to agree to a lengthier pact, though doing so would essentially carry the same risks as simply triggering his 2024 option, only more so. Each path comes with its own upsides and downsides, depending on what the future holds. Holding onto him for 2024 or longer is the smart thing if he bounces back but the wrong move if he doesnt, while the inverse is true of the trading path. What do you think is the right choice? Have your say in the poll below. (Link to poll for app users) ALGER COUNTY, MI A Michigan woman accused of setting her husband on fire has been ordered to undergo a competency exam before the case can move forward in court, WLUC reports. Julie Boxley, 52, of Ishpeming, allegedly poured lighter fluid on her husband and then set him on fire during October 2021, authorities said. The incident went unreported but was recently discovered during an unrelated investigation by the Michigan State Police. RELATED: Michigan woman accused of setting husband on fire The fire was quickly extinguished and the victim, a 63-year-old man from Christmas, was not injured, police said. Boxley is charged in Alger County court with third-degree arson and assault with intent to do great bodily harm. She denied bond and remains in jail, WLUC reports. READ MORE: Michigan man pleads insanity in Alabama stabbing murder Man, 58, arrested for indecent exposure at Petoskey State Park Mom tubing with kids loses vision, found clinging to tree branch Angler busted for using gobies as live bait, hid other fish in a bag 5 people jump overboard after explosion causes boat fire A Michigan man is pleading insanity to charges related to the stabbing death of a man in Alabama, WLUK reports. The alleged killing was the last act in a multi-state crime spree last summer, including another homicide and sexually assaulting a jogger. Caleb Scott Anderson, of Caspian, then-23, was arrested on Aug. 3 in Alabama and remains jailed there. He is accused of capital murder, and could face the death penalty, in the stabbing death of Dwight Dixon, 52. The case also involves arson. Andersons attorney recently filed notice of intent to pursue a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, the report said. A mental exam was ordered. There are no court hearings scheduled. The Alabama case is expected to play out before Anderson can be extradited to Wisconsin to face charges in the stabbing death of Patrick Ernst, 65, in Green Bay, Wis., and then to Michigan for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman who was jogging. In the Wisconsin case, Anderson allegedly took selfie videos and photos with the victims body, wrote a Bible verse on the victims wall, left a handwritten apology and then stole the victims vehicle. Anderson found Ernst through an app men use to meet other men for sex, investigators said. Ernst was killed on Aug. 1. RELATED: U.P. man allegedly took selfies with body after stabbing man to death in Wisconsin Anderson was driving Ernsts vehicle when he allegedly fled to Michigan and sexually assaulted an 18-year-old woman who was jogging around 6 a.m. on Aug. 1 in Gaastra. She fought off the attacker, who was unknown to her, and escaped. Her description of the assailant and the vehicle he was driving helped law enforcement catch Anderson. RELATED: Michigan teen shares story of fighting off attacker now accused in 2 murders This string of alleged crimes is not the first time Anderson has run afoul of the law. In 2019, he was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and sentenced to 12 months of probation in what was known as the serial butt-grabber case. Anderson was accused of running up behind unsuspecting women and grabbing their buttocks without permission and then running away. READ MORE: Man, 58, arrested for indecent exposure at Petoskey State Park Mom tubing with kids loses vision, found clinging to tree branch Angler busted for using gobies as live bait, hid other fish in a bag 5 people jump overboard after explosion causes boat fire SUTTONS BAY, MI - A triple-masted schooner thats been turning heads for the last month as it has made its way from the East Coast to the Great Lakes is set to receive a big welcome when it sails into its new home port on Grand Traverse Bay this week. The Alliance, a 105-foot boat thats most recently done day cruises in Virginia, is the newest name in the Inland Seas Education Associations fleet. It is in the Straits of Mackinac area today, plans to swing by Charlevoix, then is expected to finish its 3,000-mile journey late this week. The public is invited to welcome the Alliance to Suttons Bay on Friday, July 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. Visitors can meet at the Inland Seas campus at 100 Dame St. Once the schooner arrives, people can meet the crew and take a tour of the vessel. The Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) is known for its popular schoolship program for students as well as its short, themed cruises for the public. The nonprofits team has been excited for months about adding the Alliance. They say it will open the door to a lot more programming for students here and in other Great Lakes cities where ISEAs vessels sail. These include Houghton, Green Bay, Detroit and Cleveland. Currently, the program uses its flagship 77-foot Inland Seas, along with another boat, the Utopia. Check out its public day sails schedule here. The Alliance, which can carry about 54 passengers, will allow ISEA to answer a growing pile of requests that until this year had to go unfulfilled. It can also add new programming, building on its current work of deepening peoples understanding and connection to the freshwater system that surrounds us. The addition of the schooner Alliance to the ISEA schoolship fleet marks a pivotal moment in the history of our organization and the future stewardship of the Great Lakes, said ISEA Executive Director Fred Sitkins. This organizational expansion is a testament to the partnerships that ISEA enjoys throughout the Great Lakes region. Colleges/universities, nonprofits, K-12 schools, foundations, and other organizations partner with ISEA to develop environmental stewards and leaders to care for the Great Lakes. We make a lasting impact in the lives of youth and the health of the Great Lakes and we are thrilled that we can now reach more individuals and communities with the addition of another schoolship. Want to experience sailing on Alliance? Public sails are scheduled for late July and early August. In the fall, the Alliance will motor into Detroit to work with students on the Detroit River. The Alliance, the Inland Seas' newest vessel, motors in the Detroit River during its journey to Grand Traverse Bay. Photo provided by the Inland Seas Education Association. A Flashy Past The big schooner was launched as a superyacht in 1995 by Treworgy Yachts in Palm Coast, Florida. Initially named Kathryn B., the boat was launched just a year after the same yard put out the Inland Seas. The Kathryn B. ran as part of a windjammer group in Maine, then in 2005 was renamed the Alliance and was run as a daysailing boat in Yorktown, Virginia. When the vessel came up for sale, the ISEA team saw it as a great addition because it was not only a big, safe boat in good condition, it was already licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard. The long journey to get the Alliance to Grand Traverse Bay began at a Maryland marina in mid-June. From the crew notes that day: The Schooner Alliance calmly slipped away from the fuel dock at Georgetown Yacht Haven and headed downriver towards the main body of the Chesapeake Bay. After weeks of yard repairs taking longer than anyone had anticipated, the crew is relieved to be underway at last. Winds are light from the west and Alliance turned more than her fair share of heads as she motored down the Sassafras River. After entering the Chesapeake, Alliance turned north for the Elk River and then onto the C&D Canal bound for the Atlantic Ocean. Inland Seas' newest vessel, the Alliance, transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway on its way into the Great Lakes. Photo provided by the Inland Seas Educational Association. More Than Three Decades on the Water ISEAs schoolship program, based in Suttons Bay with an education center and small dormitory there, has been active for 33 years. It has invited children in elementary, middle and high school classes to climb aboard and experience the Great Lakes up close. Kids learn about their water-based ecosystem, environmental issues, conduct experiments, and just learn to love the feel of being on the water. People protect what they love, and they love what they understand, Sitkins said, echoing the words of the famous ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau. We want kids to understand the lakes ... so they feel connected to them. Being aboard a boat as its skimming across a Great Lake is an experience that sticks with kids. It also offers them a chance to do the hands-on work of scientists and engineers - perhaps sparking an interest in a future career. Its a really good real-world work experience for students, he said. More than 10,000 people participated in ISEA programs last year. About half of those were students from more than 150 different schools in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. Other passengers were adults or family groups who toured one of the boats, went on their roster of ticketed summer cruises for the public, or just stepped on board for a look around as they stopped in a Great Lakes port. ISEA has deep connections around the lakes. It works with colleges, environmental groups, foundations and other nonprofits. The year-round work follows a seasonal structure: Schoolship programs start in May and stretch into June. Summer is for traveling, sailing into four of the five Great Lakes for educational programs. Past port stops have included Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland and into Lake Superior to drop anchor in Marquette, Houghton and Duluth. Then it is back to the fall schoolship format once classes are back in session. The Inland Seas 77-foot flagship schooner. Inland Seas Education Association For more information about ISEAs schoolship program, check the website here. To follow ISEA on social media, check out its Facebook page. Love the Traverse City area? Find more travel ideas here: Secret Garden, 6,000 lavender plants bloom at this Northern Michigan winerys estate Rare log cabin sits on the edge of this Michigan peninsula New summer rail-bike adventure trips near Traverse City off to busy start Traverse City celebrates opening of scenic Boardman Lake Loop Trail How to go wine tasting on Michigans gorgeous Old Mission Peninsula ANN ARBOR, MI - Hundreds of respiratory therapists and technicians have formed a union at University of Michigan Health hospitals. About 300 respiratory health workers are now under the union banner of SEIU Healthcare Michigan after earning recognition June 26, officials from the new union said in a statement. The union seeks to advocate for safe staffing, workplace safety standards and scheduling that supports work-life balance, said Sabra Wells, a registered respiratory therapist at University Hospital. Our patients are best served when health care professionals have a strong voice in the decisions that affect the care available to their communities, Wells said in a statement. Now we are excited to negotiate our first contract to improve working conditions in our facility. About 80% of university frontline workers are currently union members, officials said. SEIU Healthcare Michigan is the largest union in Michigan representing more than 13,000 hospital workers, officials said. The new union was motivated to organize its members after working through the COVID-19 pandemic without representation, said Shannon Beadle, a respiratory therapist at C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital. We decided to take strategic action to put ourselves on equal footing with the majority of the University of Michigan employees, Beadle said in a statement. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: 600 additional Michigan Medicine workers join health professionals union University of Michigan professor facing sexual harassment complaints accuses dean of homophobia Check out this Ann Arbor bakers crunchy caramel apple pie that can be delivered to your door WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Facing a recommendation of denial for its proposed 400-acre sand and gravel mine, the company behind the plans is offering to pay a per-ton impact fee to a rural Washtenaw County township to compensate for any negative consequences from its operations. In a July 7 letter to elected leaders in Sharon Township, some 20 west of Ann Arbor, Michigan Materials and Aggregates Co., also known as Stoneco, offered to negotiate with the township board on conditions that would result in approval for its project. FLINT, MI - Flints Artwalk is back this week. The event is on Friday, July 14 from 6-9 p.m. with music from Flint Wave Synth Club (Russell Woods, Je Suit Venu Voir Seth, and Girl Icarus). On view, three concurrent exhibitions will feature the works of Robert Beras, Maria Lux and Andrew Rieder: Robert Beras | In A Dream (Photography) Maria Lux | Nature is Healing (Collage and sculptural work) Andrew Rieder | Vocation as Vacation (Paintings) Summer Solo Exhibitions will be on view at Buckham Gallery, 121 W 2nd St. in Flint, from July 14 through Aug. 12. Art galleries also can be viewed on Friday at Greater Flint Arts Council, Mott-Worsh Gallery, Comma Bookstore and Reclaimed by Whaley. Occasionally people will also set up on the sidewalks outside, Michele Leclaire, executive director of Buckham Gallery, told MLive-The Flint Journal. Buckham Gallery holds a national culture entry contest each year and artists from around the country apply with their images and proposals for the show. It receives around 125 applicants and 17 winners are chosen to feature throughout the year. Buckham Fine Arts Project is supported in part by an award from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment For The Arts, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the Greater Flint Arts Council Share Art Genesee Grant Program. We are showing emerging and established artists at Buckham Gallery, Leclaire said. Were trying to push the boundaries of contemporary art and finding new ways to challenge our audience to look at art in new ways. Were not trying to duplicate other venues in town. The next Artwalk is on Aug. 11 from 6-9 p.m. An Artwalk is on display each second Friday of the month. For more details, visit www.buckhamgallery.org. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. Read more at The Flint Journal: Michigans Best Local Eats: Get a Philly Boy sandwich, wings from Suga Ds food truck Gun violence survivor bringing his inspire brand pop-up shop to Flint Farmers Market Come visit a historic 175-year-old Michigan lighthouse in Port Hope this summer McLaren Lapeer nurses unanimously vote to authorize strike Popular Michigan ninja warrior training facility gains national fame CORUNNA, MI Nearly 31 years after the body of Matthew Leach was found in a wooded area near the intersection of M-21 and Reed Road in Venice Township, the Shiawassee County Sheriffs Office is hoping fresh eyes from a new investigator will help bring forth new leads. Sheriff Doug Chapman and investigator Mark Pendergraff are holding a news conference Wednesday, July 12, to announce they are reopening the July 1992 Leach homicide investigation, which remains unsolved. FLINT, MI -- Proposed petition language to recall one member of the Flint City Council has been approved but a second recall attempt will have to be resubmitted before it has a chance to move forward. The Genesee County Election Commission approved language targeting 4th Ward council member Judy Priestley for recall on Tuesday, July 11, while proposed language to recall 1st Ward council member Eric Mays was rejected because the panel said it wouldnt be sufficiently clear to voters. Priestley, who did not attend the commission meeting, is the third council member currently facing the prospect of a recall election for not attending a special Saturday meeting to discuss Flints American Rescue Plan Act funding in May. Almost identical language to recall council members Ladel Lewis (Ward 1) and Eva Worthing (Ward 9) was approved by the commission last month. Petition language targeting former 7th Ward Councilwoman Allie Herkenroder for the same reason was also approved last month before she resigned from her position on July 1, and similar language has been filed -- but not yet voted on by the commission -- against 8th Ward Councilman Dennis Pfeiffer. Mays, the councils longest-serving member, argued on Tuesday that the proposed petition to recall him wasnt clear and should be rejected. Filed by 1st Ward resident Dionne Freeman, the proposed language against Mays said he should be recalled because he was charged with a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct. This is my third term. Ive been charged with disorderly conduct (more than once). This doesnt tell me specifically what term theyre talking about, Mays told the commission. It should, in my opinion, identify what term, what date so I can properly defend against it. Freeman said after the hearing that she intends to file new recall language against Mays, clarifying when he was most recently charged with disorderly conduct. Mays has left voters in his ward unrepresented on the council, Freeman said, because hes been removed from meetings so often for being disruptive or disorderly. After his conviction, Mr. Mays behavior has intensified and he continues to be disorderly, Freeman told the commission. I, like many others, used to support the councilman. However, his more recent attitude, language and actions have become a distraction to the duties of the job he was elected to accomplish. Mays, who was most recently removed from a council meeting on Monday, July 10, was convicted of disorderly conduct by a Genesee District Court jury in March for his refusal to leave a council meeting almost a year earlier. A Flint police officer arrested him after he refused to leave City Hall voluntarily. Priestley has said she hasnt decided whether to appeal the commissions decision in Genesee Circuit Court -- something she can do within the next 10 days. If there is no appeal filed, recall organizers would be cleared to begin collecting petition signatures to force a recall election in her ward. Michigan election law provides for a single special election if recall language is approved and if the petitioner collects the minimum valid signatures required. Petition circulators are required to collect the signatures of at least 25% of the number of votes cast in the 4th Ward for all candidates for the office of governor in the last gubernatorial election. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter Read more at The Flint Journal: Eric Mays is target of latest Flint City Council recall attempt What you need to know to apply for 7th Ward Flint City Council vacancy Two-thirds of Flint City Council members now targeted for recalls LAPEER COUNTY, MI The Michigan Attorney Generals Office said Monday it would review the incident during which a homicide suspect set to be transported from Montana to Michigan escaped the custody of the private transportation firm hired to do the transporting. Chadwick Shane Mobley was arrested in Montana Monday, July 10, after escaping the custody of Prisoner Transport Services, LLC, the company contracted to transport him from Libby, Montana, to Michigan for arraignment. WEXFORD COUNTY, MI -- Fire crews were battling a large wildfire Monday, July 10 northwest of Cadillac. Authorities, in posts to social media, said they asked some people to evacuate. As of about 8 p.m., Wexford County Emergency Management officials said fire crews were making progress to contain the fire. They noted several ongoing road closures. Those include: N 1 Road at W 10 Road N 1 Road at Faylor Road N 3 Road at W 8 Road Viaduct Road at Read Road A 9 & 10 News report indicated that authorities believed about 60 acres had burned as of 6:10 p.m. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. More from MLive Attendance numbers for Muskegon air show leave organizers ecstatic Its been raining, so why are we still in a drought? GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids firefighters rescued a person from a burning house Sunday, July 9. The rescue happened at a house in the 1700 block of Carlton Ave. NE about 6:20 p.m. Firefighters said they arrived to find smoke showing from the single-story home. Firefighters quickly entered the home and located a person inside. They moved the person outside and began life-saving measures. Firefighters said the person was then taken to a hospital. The persons condition was not immediately known Monday. GRAND RAPIDS, MI A custodian at a local high school earned money by allegedly taking a 21-year-old woman to a mans work in Kent County to have sex, court records show. Jeremy Jonathan Byl, 47, was before a Grand Rapids judge a second time this week on Tuesday, July 11, facing a new charge stemming a monthslong human trafficking investigation. Kent County sheriffs deputies first learned of Byl after receiving information from a woman who said she was contacted by an unknown person later identified as Byl on social media. Police did not say when they received the details. Byl asked the woman to help him in sex trafficking a 21-year-old Muskegon woman, Kent County sheriffs deputies wrote in an affidavit of probable cause. The request was reported to local police. RELATED: School worker accused of prostituting women arrested after monthslong investigation Police obtained search warrants for social media accounts and discovered Byl had created fake social media accounts using sexually explicit photos he had taken of the victim to communicate with unknown men, the affidavit states. Ultimately, Byl solicited the men to have sex with the trafficking victim, police wrote. Police later identified a man that communicated online with Byl, using the fake social media account, and negotiated sex with the trafficking victim in exchange for money. An agreement was made to have sex with the woman for $400 at his work in Byron Township, the affidavit states. The man told police he witnessed Byl who he identified from security footage transport the woman to him to have sex. The man told police this happened once last December and a second time in January. The first time, he paid $400 for sex and the second time it was $200. Sheriffs deputies arrested Byl on July 9. When police interviewed him, Byl admitted he had received about $2,000 from the proceeds of prostitution, the affidavit states. Byl, of Walker, appeared for a video arraignment Tuesday, July 11 before Judge Jeffrey OHara. He was charged with prostitution accepting earnings. On Monday, Byl was also charged with single counts of transporting a person for prostitution, using a computer to commit a crime, and aiding and abetting prostitution stemming from the same incident. More charges are expected. Byl is employed as a custodian through Grand Rapids Building Services, assigned to the Holland High School. Yet, police said there currently isnt any information indicating anyone at Holland Public Schools is involved or students were targeted. The investigation is ongoing. Police ask anyone with information regarding this case to call the Kent County Sheriffs Office 616-632-6125 or Silent Observer 616-774-2345. Read more on MLive: October trial date adjourned for former officer accused in Patrick Lyoya killing Known for her bright smile: Funeral set for woman killed in backyard fireworks explosion 2 boys found safe after initially being reported missing and endangered GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- An October trial date has been adjourned for a former Grand Rapids police officer accused in the death of Patrick Lyoya, a Black man shot and killed during a struggle between the two. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced the adjournment in a statement Tuesday, July 11, citing a pending Court of Appeals case in the matter. Former Officer Christopher Schurr is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Lyoya, a 26-year-old Congolese immigrant. Schurr was ordered to stand trial following an October 2022 hearing and testimony in Grand Rapids District Court, but his attorneys soon after challenged the ruling. They argued the district court judge, Nicholas Ayoub, should have given weight to Schurrs acting in the line of duty when the shooting happened. Related: The People vs. Christopher Schurr: Where officers murder case stands a year after Patrick Lyoya was killed The state Court of Appeals has agreed to hear the challenge, although no court dates have yet been scheduled for the appeal. We respect the judicial process and we understand the community has a vested interest in the progress of this case. However, this adjournment was not a surprise given the status of the case in the Court of Appeals as it simply would not be possible to keep the dates set by the 17th Circuit Court as we await a date to be set for oral argument with the higher court reviewing the case, Becker wrote in a Tuesday statement. Lyoya died April 4, 2022 when he was shot in the head following a traffic stop in a Southeast Grand Rapids neighborhood. Lyoya tried to run from Schurr and the two then struggled over the officers Taser. Schurr was on top of Lyoya when the shot was fired. When the Court of Appeals agreed to hear the case in April, Schurrs attorneys released a statement. We look forward to the Court of Appeals looking at the issue of when a police officer will be charged for actions committed in the line of duty, defense attorney Matthew Borgula told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press at the time. Its an important appeal. All police officers in the State of Michigan are going to be watching how this could impact how to police. 46 1 / 46 Grand Rapids police officer's fatal shooting Patrick Lyoya More from MLive Its been one year since Patrick Lyoya was killed. Whats happened since in the fight for change? How are Grand Rapids already strained police-community relations a year after killing of Lyoya? Patrick Lyoya killed, police officer charged with murder: A timeline of key events in the case. Theyre trying to do everything to dismiss the case: Patrick Lyoyas family renews calls for justice UPDATE: The two boys have been found safe. Police are still looking for their father. WYOMING, MI Authorities are searching for two young children who are believed to be endangered after their father took them, Wyoming police said. Investigators identified the suspect as 25-year-old Jacobus Lamont Ezell. Police described the man as having black hair styled in half-afro and half-twists. Ezell is about 60 and weighs 180 pounds. Ezell was last seen wearing black pants, white shoes and no shirt. The children were identified as Amir Ezell, an 18-month-old boy, and Adonis Ezell, a 4-year-old boy. Jacobus Ezell is the biological, non-custodial father of both children, police said. Police are concerned for the welfare of the children given the circumstances of the incident as well as the fact that the suspect is reported to have a mental disorder. Amir is about 20 and weighs 30 pounds. He was last seen wearing a green onesie with red and white socks. Adonis is about 30 and weighs 40 pounds. He was wearing Spiderman shoes and red and white socks. Police first responded to a 5:23 a.m. report of a domestic dispute on Tuesday, July 11, in the 2600 block of Burlingame Avenue SW. At the scene, police learned that the father allegedly assaulted his former girlfriend and left with her two children. Jacobus Ezell was last seen with the children in the 2600 block of Burlingame Avenue SW. Police believe he left the area on foot with the children as well as a baby stroller. The children have been entered into the National Crime Information Center. An Endangered Missing Person Advisory has been submitted to the Michigan State Police, and a Child is Missing Alert has been activated. Investigators ask anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Wyoming Police Department at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. Read more on MLive: Holland cleaning company plans $6M building in Grand Rapids State regulators put $5M toward Kent Countys $380M plan to divert trash from landfills Michigan protected LGBTQ rights. The U.S. Supreme Court carved out an exception. KENT COUNTY, MI A 47-year-old man was arrested on charges alleging he was running an operation where he arranged and transported women for commercial sex, Kent County sheriffs deputies said. The suspect, Jeremy Jonathan Byl, was taken into custody this week and arraigned in a Kent County courtroom on Monday, July 10. GRAND RAPIDS, MI After 100 years, the University Club of Grand Rapids is making a move to a new downtown clubhouse. The University Club, founded in 1923, will be moving from the Fifth-Third Center at 111 Lyon St. to the old Peninsula Club at 116 and 120 Ottawa Ave. NW In an effort to increase membership, the University Club will renovate the old Pen Room, which is over 100 years old. The renovations at the new location are starting next week, and will be completed by the end of the year. The RDV Corporation, which provides private equity investment, finance, philanthropy, technology and other services to Grand Rapids, already invested $10 million into the renovations of the infrastructure of the building. University Club Board Secretary Elizabeth Geode is calling the next renovation process a face lift of the building, estimated to cost $3 million. Member and non-member fundraising is still taking place to cover some of the costs of the clubhouse. The new clubhouse features renovated bars, conference rooms, social rooms, a library space and even a game room in the basement. The space will house any sort of event for the 250 members in the club. The 1923 Room and the Centennial Bar are a nod to the history of the club, which is incorporated throughout the whole clubhouse. Club members want to honor the social groups history while propelling the University Club into its next 100 years. Geode said the move felt necessary for the space to feel more like a clubhouse rather than a part of a high-rise building, creating a unique space to fit all the needs of the members. Were adding to the history by building something new and fresh, said Tom Pantlind, president of the University Club board. That idea has resonated with members and non-members alike to be able to say This is something that I want for the community. Pantlinds great great grandfather was one of the founding members of the Peninsula Club and his great grandfather was one of the board members of the University Club in the 1930s. Pantlind is looking to make the next 100 years for the club more vibrant. Membership dues range from $75-$180 per month plus quarterly food and beverage minimum costs of $100-$225. The new club vision was created by Kathryn Chaplow, the interior designer of the new clubhouse. Chaplow has been friends with owner of 120 Ottawa Avenue, Matt Borisch, for years. We wanted to really honor the architecture and the original millwork and the original design of the space, while bringing it up to date and making it feel fresh, Chaplow said. Chaplow said storytelling will play a large part of the design. One of the conference rooms is wallpapered in pictures of Grand Rapids from the early 1900s, which will remain. Weve respected the history, but also brought it into a space that is exciting and fresh and interesting, Chapelow said. Its going to have elements that are unexpected. One person that is focused on the future of the club is Mark Canak, the clubs general manager. Canak said he came from Chicago to grow a diverse and younger demographic, as many people look at the club as an old boys club. He said that in creating a space that will serve the younger generation, it will bring in future members of the University Club. The University Club hopes to create a gathering place to work and play, holding intimate meetings or big parties in the new and improved ballrooms and conference rooms. When I got to Grand Rapids, I wanted to create a club that was inclusive, but yet also exclusive, Canak said. We want to be open to every walk of life in the city of Grand Rapids. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. Read more on MLive: Two former state senators vying to replace Slotkin in U.S. House Prosecutor reviewing investigation into sheriffs deputy fatally shooting armed man Its been raining, so why are we still in a drought? MICHIGAN CENTER, MI -- Michigan Centers new elementary school principal has roots in the Jackson-area, and more than two decades of experience in childrens education. Sarah Neubecker has been picked as the next principal of Michigan Centers Arnold Elementary School. Her hiring was approved Monday, July 10, by a unanimous vote of the Michigan Center School Board. Neubecker, 52, replaces Matthew Desmarais, who announced his resignation as Arnolds principal at the June board meeting. Desmarais has replaced Ben Gilpin as principal of Warner Elementary School in the Western School District. Related: Longtime teacher, principal leaving Michigan Center for another Jackson County school Were all happy for Matt (Desmarais) for him moving on. Im going to be honest, there was a moment of Were not going to be able to replace (Desmarais), said Michigan Center Superintendent Brady Cook. Sarah was incredibly high-quality and not only had the acumen and the experience, but a personality that will be a culture fit for our district. We are thrilled to have her on board. Neubeckers first day in the job is Aug. 7. Neubecker comes to Michigan Center after a five-year stint as principal of Dunlap Elementary School in the Pennfield Community Schools district near Battle Creek. She also served as dean of Paramount Charter Academy in Kalamazoo, she said. Between 1994 and 2014, Neubecker taught high school-level English in Battle Creek Public Schools and also worked as a behavior specialist at the Calhoun Intermediate School District. Although I was a high school English teacher for the majority of my career, I kind of fell in love with elementary school, Neubecker said. I love the little people. Giving (children) a great start is very important. Though much of her experience as an educator thus far has taken place in western Michigan, Neubecker is not without roots in Jackson County, as her husband graduated from Lumen Christi and her father grew up in Jackson, she said. Neubecker herself grew up in Marshall. Neubecker graduated from Alma College in 1993 with a bachelors degree in English language and literature. She also received an administration certification at Michigan State University and a masters degree in instruction from Olivet College. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. More from the Jackson Citizen Patriot: Rock, soul acts coming to Jackson College for 2023-24 Potter Center series 500-arce solar farm being proposed in Grass Lake Save-A-Lot closing its doors in Jackson after 15 years $6.3M bond aims to fund air, heating improvements at Michigan Center Schools Editors Note: This article was updated to clarify Osborn was sentenced to probation without upfront jail time. The jail time only applies if he violates probation. KALAMAZOO, MI A Kalamazoo Public Schools teacher accused of sexual assault was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to lesser charges. Joel Patrick-Floyd Osborn, 45, was sentenced July 10 for two misdemeanor counts of lewd and lascivious conduct. Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Paul Bridenstine sentenced Osborn to 24 months of probation for each count, with the time to be served simultaneously. If Osborn violates his probation terms, he can spend up to 120 days in jail, according to court records. Related: Kalamazoo Public Schools teacher pleads guilty to lewd, lascivious conduct After Osborn is released from jail, he will have 24 months of probation. One felony count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with force or coercion was dismissed when Osborn pleaded guilty to the misdemeanors June 14, according to court records. Osborn, a teacher at Parkwood-Upjohn Elementary School, is still listed as a teacher there, according to the KPS website, as of Tuesday, July 11. A long-term guest teacher was hired to cover Osborns class after he was arraigned in December. The charge stems from an incident May 21, 2022, according to court records. Osborn is accused of sexually assaulting a woman after intercourse started consensually, according to a probable cause affidavit. The woman sought medical attention for bleeding and abdominal pain a couple days after, according to the affidavit. Michigans lewd and lascivious cohabitation law is from 1931 that outlaws unmarried couples from living together. Michigan Democrats have a bill in the works to get rid of the law. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. Also on MLive: No-nonsense new superintendent has high expectations for Kalamazoo schools 1886 building undergoing $2M transformation into wedding, event center Kalamazoo Township manager allegedly eavesdropped on attorney-client meeting, police report says See the freshly repainted animals on the Kalamazoo Mall BAY CITY, MI - City officials took time to honor the life and legacy of a Bay City soldier who died in an off-duty incident. On Monday, July 10, Mayor Kathleen Newsham issued a proclamation that declared Tuesday, July 11 as Braden Robert Peltier in honor of an Army soldier who died in a shooting in Colorado. Peltier was born in Bay City on April 28, 1999 and he attended T. L. Handy and Bay City Central High School. Commissioner Chirs Girard read the proclamation on behalf of Newsham. In attendance was Senator and former Bay City Commissioner Kristen Rivet, who presented the family with a framed copy of the proclamation. As they remembered Peltiers legacy, tears were flowing in the commission chambers from family and officials alike. He was an admirable, hard-working young man with a giant loving heart and a wonderful smile, Girard said while reading the proclamation. Peltier was a 23-year-old Army specialist that was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. The Colorado Springs Police Department identified Peltier as the victim of a fatal overnight shooting that took place on Sunday, March 26. Police responded to a report of shots fired before 4 a.m. on March 26. When officers arrived, they located two people who had sustained gunshot wounds, police said. Both victims were transported to the local hospital, where Peltier later succumbed to his injuries, police said. Peltier joined the United States Army in 2020 as an artillery soldier and was stationed at Ft. Carson in Colorado. He was deployed to Poland and had recently returned home in Dec. 2022. Peltier was buried at the Rose City Cemetery in West Branch with full military honors on April 11. Before his burial, a special procession carried Peltiers body from Detroit up to West Branch. Hundreds of civilians and first responders lined the roadway, waving American flags and shining lights to welcome the soldier home for his final rest. Peltier is survived by his wife Pagge Peltier and their son Caycee Peltier, as well as his father Jay Peltier and mother Melissa Samples. Peltier enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, trail riding, the mountains, and working out, according to his obituary. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved spending time outdoors. Long-range shooting was a passion of his, said his obituary. Click here to read Peltiers obituary. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. Read more from MLive Michigan soldier killed in Colorado shooting returning home with special procession Helping Veterans Help Themselves, Bay City learning center and workshop opening its doors US-10 lane closures coming to Bay County as $32M project continues Nearly $1M in improvements coming to Bay Citys Wenonah Park Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday signed the second of three major bill packages put forth this year that tackle sex abuse in Michigan after the Larry Nassar and Robert Anderson scandals. Most notably in the nine-bill set, Senate Bills 67 and 68 prohibit sexual contact under the pretext of medical treatment, and SB 69 and 70 prohibit medical professionals from performing sensitive procedures and exams on minors except in certain circumstances. Violating both legal changes would be a felony. We all put our utmost trust in the medical professionals who care for us, and betrayal of that trust is unacceptable, state Sen. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor, said in a statement. SB 71 and 72 require medical professionals to preserve a patients records involving penetration for at least 15 years, plus create new penalties and sentencing guidelines for violation. SB 73 exempts from public records requests any information that would reveal a sexual misconduct victims identity when theyre anonymously in a civil action. Additionally, SB 66 requires the Department of Education to make materials regarding sexual assault and harassment available to students in sixth through 12th grade. And SB 236 adds a specific reference to being under the influence of alcohol to the definition of mentally incapacitated in Michigans law against rape. I am confident that these bills will make a big impact in Michigan by starting to change the culture around sexual assault, said Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, ensuring that young people are aware of what sexual assault is and where to go for help, and so much more. Nassar, a former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor, was sentenced to prison in 2018 for abusing hundreds of women and girls during medical appointments. He is expected to spend the rest of his life behind bars. New this week: Larry Nassar stabbed multiple times at Florida federal prison Anderson, who died in 2008, was a physician at the University of Michigan for more than three decades. Former students and athletes said he gave them unnecessary hernia and prostate exams that included fondling during routine physicals. In both cases, independent reports found that people in leadership positions at the universities could have acted to detect or stop the abuse. After public complaints about Nassar in 2016 began the saga that led to his conviction, Michigan lawmakers in 2018 first introduced bills to tackle guidelines, reporting and penalties. Legislation received bipartisan support while being reintroduced every session since, but many ideas never made it across the finish line until 2023. We never gave up hope because we were determined to make these changes to prevent future sexual assault and protect survivors, Chang said. The Michigan House gave final passage three weeks ago to every bill in the package with nine votes of 105-4. Republican Reps. Steve Carra, Neil Friske, Matt Maddock and Josh Schriver voted no. The first package of anti-abuse bills this year, which Whitmer signed in late June, improves sexual abuse reporting and further punish assaulters. Bills also prevent people from intentionally using their professional authority to stop someone from reporting an assault. Go deeper: Whitmer signs laws upping sexual abuse protections in medical, school settings A third package of bills is moving through the House after being heard a month ago. Among other changes, they would raise the statute of limitations for sexual assault victims to bring civil action from 28 to 52 years old. Whitmer on Tuesday also signed bills to: Build overpasses and underpasses at railroad tracks Expand financial assistance eligibility for guardians of children whose cases originate in tribal court Reduce the penalty for failing to report a deer killing Consider Department of Natural Resources conservation officers as peace officers in the mental health code Designate part of US-127 in Ingham County as Trooper Starr Memorial Highway Read more from MLive: Every Michigan Republican in Congress endorses Trump for 2024 Michigan State sued over redacting details about 1,400-acre mega site Police cracking down on unsafe commercial driving this week in Michigan Michigan protected LGBTQ rights. The U.S. Supreme Court carved out an exception. A U.S. Supreme Court decision last month created an exclusion in anti-discrimination laws across the country. The court ruled 6-3 that free speech protections in the Constitution allow a Colorado web designer to refuse service to gay and lesbian couples in what the dissent called a sad day for LGBTQ Americans. Michigan State University is being accused of improperly redacting information about farmland possibly being sold for an industrial mega site in Eagle Township west of Lansing. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a free market think tank, filed the lawsuit Monday, July 10 in the Michigan Court of Claims. This case represents yet another example of Michigans lack of transparency, said a statement from Steve Delie, director of transparency and open government at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan State University said it does not comment on pending litigation, and as of Tuesday, had not been served yet. Related: Michigan assembling 1,000-acre mega sites to attract big investments The 1,400-acre Eagle Township mega site, a build-ready swath of land assembled for future economic development projects, includes farmland donated to the university by late farmer David Morris. Morris stipulated the property must remain farmland for 25 years an agreement the university previously said will carry over to the new owner until 2031. The mega site, located within 20 miles of downtown Lansing and Michigan State, includes the Morris farmland plus 11 private properties under a three-year option agreement. The land has not been sold yet. The Michigan Manufacturing Innovation Campus is a 1,400-acre 'mega site' located in Eagle Township. These mega sites are properties being assembled to attract largescale manufacturing projects that could create thousands of jobs. (Photo provided by the Lansing Area Economic Partnership) The Mackinac Center filed a FOIA request in February to get more information about whether Michigan State could legally sell the Morris property. In response, the university produced legal documents that improperly relied upon the privacy exemption to black out details of the agreement, the lawsuit claims. State FOIA law allows public bodies to redact sensitive personal information like home addresses. Related: Michigan funneled $2B into luring big business. Heres where it went. The Mackinac Center alleges these exemptions do not contain information subject to redaction or redacted significantly more information than permitted. The Eagle Township megasite has been the source of major media attention, but details on the project are sorely lacking, Deile said. Michigans citizens deserve to know the details of how the underlying land came to be in MSU possession, and MSU needs to be held accountable for relying on improper redactions to withhold key information. Michigan started assembling mega sites in the past year to attract multi-billion dollar manufacturing investments that create thousands of jobs. But some of the proposed mega sites have faced backlash from residents, including the one in Eagle Township and a 1,900-acre Marshall site chosen for a $3.5 billion Ford battery plant. Related: At what cost? Michigan communities fight mega sites despite promise of jobs The Eagle Township site was eye for a $100 billion semiconductor investment that Michigan ended up losing to New York, the Detroit News reported last week. Some of Michigans economic development deals have been criticized for lacking transparency and including non-disclosure agreements. Last year Michigan awarded grants totaling $2.35 million to local economic development groups to prep three mega sites for development. This includes assembling parcels by offering landowners option agreements and building infrastructure on site. The Mackinac Center says it filed the lawsuit to shed light on an area of important public debate. The legal action aims to require Michigan State to provide a full response to the Mackinac Centers FOIA request. More on MLive: Michigan protected LGBTQ rights. The U.S. Supreme Court carved out an exception. Months after MSU shooting, a lawmaker wants to allow guns on campuses Two former state senators vying to replace Slotkin in U.S. House SUTTONS BAY, MI A Leelanau County district court magistrate arraigned a Traverse City man accused of repeatedly sinking his barge in Lake Michigans Grand Traverse Bay, granting him a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. Daniel Lewis Balcom, aka Donald Lewis Balcom, appeared Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in 86th District Court for a virtual criminal arraignment. The 88-year old was charged with a seven-count complaint, including a two-year felony for alleged violations of Michigans environment and water protection laws. Balcom faces thousands of dollars in fines, if convicted. 19 1 / 19 Owner of derelict Grand Traverse Bay barge faces charges Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently filed criminal charges against Balcom after a three-year saga in which the barge twice sank off the coast of Leelanau County first in November 2020 near Greilickville and again in January 2022 near Northport. The first sinking involved the release of petrochemicals into the waters of Grand Traverse Bay. Related: Owner of derelict barge criminally charged in Great Lakes saga Traverse City-based defense attorney Thomas Seger represented Balcom during the online court hearing. Seger requested the magistrate grant a personal recognizance bond because Balcom has no prior criminal history, arguing he is not a threat to the public nor a flight risk. Assistant Attorney General Dan Bock said he did not object to the bond request. Magistrate Norene Kastys said Balcom must abide by all state natural resources regulations as part of the conditions of his bond. She set an in-person preliminary hearing for Aug. 18 in a Suttons Bay courtroom. Among the charges is a single felony violation of state water resources protections for oil spilled into Lake Michigan. Misdemeanor charges include two counts of both trespass and altering bottomlands, as well as littering, and not having contact information on the barges hull. Balcoms barge and crane has for two years remained either anchored or grounded in the same nearshore area in Northport Bay, a smaller embayment within Grand Traverse Bay; it struck bottom in January 2022, and did not float again until late April this year. It previously sat on the bottom of Lake Michigan in Greilickville from November 2020 until May 2021; that time the barge was partially submerged and leaked oil and fuel into Lake Michigan waters. The barge was re-floated in May 2021 in Greilickville and moved to a boat ramp owned by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa in Peshawbestown. It stayed there about a week before being floated to a job near Northport but by July 2021, the barge was anchored offshore near a gated resort community in Leelanau County where it remains. A local excavating company was on site in late April to help dig out the barge and pull it into deeper waters, but it hasnt moved since. In fact, it teetered in the water a matter of days after being refloated. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources in November 2022 sent Balcom notice state officials considered the barge abandoned and warned they may seize it. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent a letter in September that said the federal government also considered the barge an abandoned navigational hazard and the agency was prepared to issue a permit for any salvage operation willing to remove it. State environmental regulators said they were working with Balcom and other enforcement agencies in hopes of removing the barge from Lake Michigan and addressing any other issues, but the process broke down and the case went to the attorney general for review. Sign up to receive MLive's free new environment and climate newsletter, "Lake Effect." Enter your email below: Related articles: Dive training in Lake Michigan preps underwater Great Lakes science Wisconsin Line 5 shutdown order may disrupt pipeline fight in Michigan Forever chemicals estimated in 45% of tap water nationwide In December 2022, Covenant Community Care broke ground on their new community health center and campus atop a four-acre site in Detroits Cody Rouge neighborhood. Now the nonprofit community health center is looking to complement its forthcoming development with the construction of an outdoor public gathering space and wellness plaza, and public walking trail.Covenants Cody-Rouge Health Center in Northwest Detroit is the first-ever new-build health center developed by the nonprofit, which was first founded in 2001. Covenant currently operates three clinics in Detroit and a fourth in suburban Westland.The new four-acre health campus will feature a 10,000 sq. ft. medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare center that the organization hopes to see completed come fall. Covenant offers its healthcare services to the community regardless of an individuals ability to pay. Covenant seeks to open their four-acre campus to the public with the addition of an outdoor event and wellness plaza that will host cooking demos, weekly summer farmers markets, organized group walks and exercise programming, and more. Plans also call for the construction of a quarter-mile universally accessible walking trail that complies with the citys stormwater management plan and feature plants native to Michigan. Trees will be planted to boost air quality.Public health is one of the key components of successful urban planning and placemaking but is often overlooked, MEDC Regional Prosperity Managing Director Paula Holtz says in a statement.[Related: Read "Covenant Community Cares Homeless Outreach Program brings compassion to Detroit streets" on Model D.]Covenant Community Care has been accepted by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) in its Public Spaces Community Places placemaking initiative. Should Covenant successfully raise $50,000 through a crowdfunding campaign , the MEDC will contribute an additional $50,000 in support of the project.The deadline for Covenants crowdfunding campaign for the Pathway to Health project is Friday, Sept. 8, the status of which can be viewed on the Michigan-based Patronicity platform "Covenant Community Care is proud to partner with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation on our Pathway to Health Patronicity Campaign, Covenant Community Care Chief Executive Officer Joslyn Pettway says in a statement. MEDC's matching funds will help us complete the outdoor features of our new health center in Northwest Detroit, including the creation of an outdoor event plaza for farmer's markets, cooking demonstrations, and other programs, and a public walking trail for everyone in the neighborhood."Covenants Cody-Rouge Health Center will be located at 17635 Joy Rd. in Detroit.Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith Alexis Escoto Members of the Detroit Creative Society pose in front of CoC's Youth-Driven Community Center. Kaylee Walker 10.07.2023 LISTEN Catherine Afeku, the former Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture has declared her support for Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen as the best candidate to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and secure a victory in the upcoming 2024 elections. Madam Afeku, in her appeal to the NPP delegates, emphasized that Mr Kyerematen possesses the qualities and experience necessary to effectively lead Ghana. She highlighted his impressive track record as a former Minister of Trade and Industry and a prominent member of the NPP. "In my heart, my principle is that Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen is best poised and ready to leadHe will be the best-to-lead and the ready-to-lead candidate to make us break the eight," Madam Afeku stated on Peace FMs Kokrokoo morning show monitored by ModernGhana News on Monday, July 10, 2023, referring to the party's goal of securing a third consecutive term in office. She specifically mentioned Mr Kyerematen's dedication to industrialization and his instrumental role in implementing the government's "1 District, 1 Factory" policy, which has significantly benefited the nation. Madam Afeku also revealed Kyerematen's vision to empower the private sector and transform Ghana if elected as the NPP's presidential candidate and subsequently as President. She described him as a businessperson with exceptional skills and emphasized his understanding that a thriving private sector is essential for the country's economic growth. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen is a businessman par excellence. He knows empowering the private sector is the engine of growth," she stated. Madam Afeku emphasized that under Kyerematen's leadership, "His first major catalyst for the change agenda is that he'll pay all these executives." She highlights Mr Kyerematen's commitment to supporting party members at all levels. Mr. Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has applauded the people of Assin North for voting massively for the party in the by-election held on Tuesday, June 27. He was particularly delighted that regardless of the sheer perks of goodies shared by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), the people were guided by their conscience and truthfulness to vote against the NPP. The penchant of vote selling and buying smacked of bad governance, inspired corruption and a drawback to Ghana's democratic credentials, Mr. Kwetey said at a rally held at Assin-Bereku to thank the people. He said the silent opinion of the people of Assin North should not be talked down by any political party or state institutions but must be a national call to duty guided by integrity and professionalism. Particularly, he reminded political parties to be guided bearing in mind that the people cannot be taken with fiction of development and bribes for votes. That is the message Ghanaians from far and near must imbibe. If they come to you to buy your conscience, tell them I will not sell my conscience and integrity for the country to suffer. Mr. Kwetey also called on the Electoral Commission, Supreme Court, and media to be guided by the categorical message echoed by the people of Assin North by staying focused on their mandate. Mr. James Gyakye Quayson, the Assin North Member of Parliament, expressed gratitude to his constituents for the confidence reposed in him. I am deeply humbled by the confidence the people have expressed in what I stand for and what I have done. I am also fully aware of the reciprocal responsibilities that this massive show of confidence imposes on me. My solemn pledge is to work as hard as I can for the people who have made this possible, Mr. Quayson assured. Leader of the Minority Caucus in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam committed the group to solidarizing with Mr. Quayson on his trial in court on charges of forgery and perjury. He served notice to the Minority would go all out to support the embattled member anytime he was scheduled to attend the court. Mr. Quayson won the election with 17,245 votes representing 57.56 percent of the valid votes cast with the NPP candidate, Mr Charles Opoku placed second with 12,630 votes, representing 42.15 percent. The Liberal Party of Ghana's (LPG) candidate, Madam Sefenu Bernice Enyonam got 87 votes representing 0.29 percent. Compared to the 2020 results, he won the by-election with over 1,300 more. In that election, Mr. Quayson polled 17,498 votes to beat NPP's Abena Durowaa Mensah, the former MP who polled 14,193. GNA 11.07.2023 LISTEN Ghana has become single-country District of the Rotary Club International beginning July 1, 2023. This followed efforts of the various Rotary Clubs in Ghana to meet the prescribed criteria for being a district by having a minimum of 75 clubs and 2,500 members. Rotary International is a renowned global organization that brings together 1.4 million individuals dedicated to creating positive change worldwide. With a mission to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance understanding, goodwill, and peace, Rotary has played a vital role in various fields since its establishment in Ghana in 1958. Rotary in Ghana has evolved since its introduction in 1958 and played vital roles in most fields such as championing the provision of clean water to deprived communities in tandem with its areas of focus. Mr David Osei Amankwah, a past President of Rotary Club Accra Airport, who was later invested at a dinner in Accra, together with Rotary International Director Patrick Chisanga, announced the elevation at the weekend. The investiture ceremony witnessed the official appointment of Mr Osei Amankwah as the first District Governor of Rotary International District 9104. The redistricting process has allowed Ghana to establish its own single-country district, District 9104. For ease of administration, Rotary clubs are run by presidents and managed by districts headed by a District Governor which are supervised by Zones represented by Rotary International Directors. Ghana belonged to District 9102 together with Togo, Benin and Niger, which fall under Zone 22. As a result of appreciable membership growth over the last 10 years, District 9102 was split into two districts namely District 9103 (comprising Togo, Benin and Niger) and District 9104. As of now, Ghana has 63 clubs with membership of about 1,600 members. The organizations focus areas encompass maternal and child health, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, community and economic development, basic education and literacy, peacebuilding and conflict prevention, and supporting the environment. Ghanas Rotary clubs have been instrumental in championing projects aligned with these focus areas, notably the provision of clean water to combat Guinea worm disease. Rotarys collaboration with partners has resulted in over 80 percent of Ghanas population gaining access to clean water. Furthermore, Rotary has been a key contributor to the global effort to eradicate polio, working alongside international organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the World Health Organisation. Thanks to the diligent efforts of Rotarians in Ghana, the country has been declared polio-free. Rotarians around the globe rise to the occasion to support locally and internationally when the need arises spanning from humanitarian service to disaster relief. Rotary has worked with partners to provide more than 80 percent of Ghanaians with clean water to fight Guinea worm disease. In Ghana, Rotarians in Ghana have worked so hard and efficiently collaborating with the above-named international partners as well as the Ghana Health Service in particular its arm, the Expanded Programe on Immusinisation and with institutions such as the Noguchi Memorial Institute to eradicate polio and has been declared polio-free country. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. At the investiture, the colourful event was graced by representatives of prominent organisations and high-profile dignitaries such Former President John Agyekum-Kufuor, Past Rotary International Director Sam Okudzeto, among others. Lady Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, a retired Chief Justice,and Member of The Council of State, who was the Guest Speaker, applauded Rotarians for their enormous contribution to the society at large over the years and made a special call for Rotarians to be seen as leaders in championing women empowerment in our society. She also called for Rotarians to play a more active role in peace building and conflict resolution, which she said was particularly important, looking at the current situation around the globe. Mr Amakwah, the new District Governor said his focus are areas during the one-year term areempower and encourage the youth through collaboratIon with relevant institutions to provide skills training and support thereby increasing their chances of employment and the development of entrepreneurial abilities. He said he would also embark on impactful legacy projects and environmental support prgrammes, mainly through tree planting. Mr Chisanga, resposible for Rotary Zone 22, Patrick Chisanga commended Ghana for the feat it has chalked and was at event to celebrate with Rotarians in the district. He indicated this significant achievement of Ghana becoming a district is historic because it has an enviable record of having-led the charge of gaining Independence in 1957 which inspired other countries to follow. He encouraged Ghana to focus on growing its membership due to the vast potential it has. He said, A growth in Rotary is a triumph for all of us. He talked about the history of Rotary in Africa which started 103 years ago in 1920. Presently, there are 1,775 clubs across Africa with 45,000 members and Ghana has become the 18th District. Among the benefits that await Ghana is the increased availability of resources as a District it can directly lay claim rather than sharing with others that existed under the previous arrangement hitherto. GNA Aggrieved Individual Bondholders say they will continuously stage a fierce protest at the Finance Ministry to demand payment of coupons and principals owed them by government. The coalition, made up of Individual Bondholders Forum and the Individual Bondholders Association of Ghana, plans to picket at the Ministry from today, July 11, to protest the failure to honour matured coupons that have defaulted for over 100 days. A lead convener of the Individual Bondholders Forum (IBF) Senyo Hosi in an interview on Accra-based JoyNews PM Express on Monday, July 10, noted that bondholders have lost patience with government over the delays. "The President told us that we won't lose our money and they will honour their obligations. We saw breaches in they honoring their words," Mr Hosi said. He noted that bondholders have proposed solutions government has disregarded. "We have not come to the table with our hands and complained, we came up with solutions that they disregarded," aggrieved Mr Hosi added. He accused government of insensitivity and disrespect, indicating that some bondholders have lost their jobs and are solely dependent on the funds owed. "The least you can do when you owe people is to be open with them. People have lost their jobs and are solely depending on this. You can't be insensitive and disrespectful at the same time," he tells government. The IBFs convener warned that bondholders will occupy the Finance Ministry and stage repeated protests if their demands are not met. "We are going to occupy every space of the Finance Ministry tomorrow[Tuesday, July 11]. We intend to repeat this and it will be fierce and stronger," he emphasized. . The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it will resist any attempt by the Electoral Commission (EC) to rig the 2024 elections. The NDC says sinister plans by the EC to use the Ghana Card as the only source document for registration onto the voters' register will be fiercely resisted and prevented. Speaking at a Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) event at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the NDC flagbearer and former president, John Dramani Mahama said his party will not allow itself to be cheated. It is in this light that we in the NDC wish to make clear that we will resist and prevent any sinister plot by the EC to manipulate the outcome of the 2024 elections even before the first ballot is cast through the needless and unapproved insistence of the Ghana Card as the only means of registration. The EC remains intransigent and appears determined to make it difficult for sections of our population to have their names on the voter register. This is not the first time the NDC has accused the EC of scheming to rig the polls. Citi Newsroom James Gyakye Quayson (left) and KT Hammond (right). 11.07.2023 LISTEN The political landscape in Ghana is heating up once again as Member of Parliament for the Assin North Constituency, James Gyakye Quayson, has taken legal action against the Minister of Trade and Industry, KT Hammond, for contempt. Mr. Quayson has filed the necessary processes at the High Court, seeking to hold KT Hammond accountable for what he perceives as prejudicial comments made against him during an ongoing court case. The controversy began when KT Hammond appeared on an interview on Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. During the interview, he boldly proclaimed that Gyakye Quayson would go to prison, referring to the legal proceedings against the Assin North legislator. These remarks were seen by Mr. Quayson as an attempt to influence public opinion and undermine the integrity of the ongoing court case. "As a Member of Parliament, James Gyakye Quayson has the right to defend himself against any false or prejudicial statements made against him," Lawyers for the MP stated. By filing a complaint of contempt against KT Hammond, he is seeking legal recourse to hold the Trade Minister responsible for his remarks. Former National Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) Bernard Mornah has said he would not put too much blame on the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for the economic challenges because he did not appoint himself into office. He heaped the blame at the doorstep of the appointor, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for failing to act to ensure that the appointees deliver. Contributing to a discussion on the state of the economy on the Big Issue on TV3 Tuesday, July 11, Mr Mornah said I cant blame Ofori-Atta that much because he did not appoint himself, I blame the president. He further accused the president of feeding on lies such as the impact of the downgrades on the local economy by credit rating agencies. It is recalled that Akufo-Addo has described the downgrade of Ghana by credit rating agencies as reckless. He said the downgrades exacerbated the challenges in African countries including Ghana. Fitch Ratings, for instance, in April this year downgraded Ghana's Long-Term Local-Currency (LTLC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'RD' from 'CCC'. President Akufo-Addo said at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Afreximbank on Sunday, June 18 that the AU champion for African financial institutions and leader of a country that recently had to deal with one of the most difficult periods in his post-independent history, difficulties that were exacerbated by the reckless behaviour of rating agencies that engaged in pro-cyclical downgrades that shut Ghana out of the capital market and turned a liquidity crisis into a solvency crisis. But Bernard Mornah said the agencies gave Ghana positive ratings when the economy was doing well therefore it cannot be wrong if they are giving negative ratings presently. One of the lies is to blame the rating agencies for the economic challenges, clearly, we are in a crisis, he said. 3news.com 11.07.2023 LISTEN Bernard Mornah, Former Chairman of the Peoples National Convention has bemoaned the deteriorating economic situation of the country. According to Mr. Mornah, the main problem with Ghana's economy is Ken Ofori-Atta still in office. On July 11, he said in an interview on TV3 that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout was not the best way for Ghana. He noted that until the Finance Minister is removed from office, the situation economic situation with remain with Ghanaians for long. Ken Ofori-Atta is the challenge of this economy. Look at how bondholders. You saw what they had to go through in order that they can get their payment that they are due. This man cannot be trusted and so I find it very difficult that, we find it very difficult to express this but President Akufo-Addos continuous acceptance in office will continue to be the nemesis of this country and in particular the New Patriotic Party(NPP), Bernard Mornah stated. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin wants the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to consider presenting the mid-year budget review before July 27, 2023, as the House intends to adjourn sine die on August 3, 2023. The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had earlier announced that the mid-year budget presentation was scheduled for July 27 with the house expected to adjourn on August 9, 2023. Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been criticised for lacking ideas to get the economy out of the woods by South Dayi Member of Parliament (MP) Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor. According to Mr. Dafeamekpor, the sector minister will in the 2023 mid-year budget review throw figures into the air as usual. Speaking on TV3 on July 11, he stated Ken Ofori Atta has no clue of his work. The Finance Minister will come to parliament and be waxing lyrically about economic figures and then by conduct he will engage in prolific expenditure and borrowing." The man who has borrowed nearly 400 billion of Ghanas public debt in a matter of six seven years and yet we are in this sort of crisis issue should tell you the mismanagement of the economy, Rockson Dafeamekpor stated. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin wants the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to consider presenting the Mid-year budget review before July 27, 2023, as the House intends to adjourn sine die on August 3, 2023. The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had earlier announced that the mid-year budget presentation was scheduled for July 27 with the house expected to adjourn on August 9, 2023. In a bold statement, former President John Dramani Mahama has declared his determination to resist and prevent any attempts by the Electoral Commission (EC) to allegedly manipulate the outcome of the 2024 elections in Ghana. The former president, who served as the country's leader from 2012 to 2017, expressed his concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and called for vigilance among the citizenry. Mahama, who is also the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), made this declaration during a public address in which he outlined his party's vision and plans for the upcoming elections. He emphasized the importance of a fair and transparent electoral system, stating that the will of the people should be respected and upheld. The former president's remarks come at a time when there is growing skepticism and mistrust in the electoral process in Ghana. The country has experienced several controversial elections in recent years, with allegations of rigging and manipulation being raised by various political parties. These concerns have led to a loss of confidence in the Electoral Commission and raised questions about the integrity of the democratic process. Mahama's strong stance against the potential manipulation of the 2024 elections by the EC resonates with many Ghanaians who are yearning for a free, fair, and transparent electoral system. His words are seen as a rallying call to citizens to remain vigilant and actively participate in the electoral process to ensure a level playing field for all political parties. While acknowledging the role of the EC in conducting elections, Mahama urged the commission to be impartial and independent, stating that its primary responsibility is to safeguard the democratic rights of Ghanaians. He called on the EC to address the concerns raised by various stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organizations, and to work towards building trust and confidence in the electoral process. Mahama's commitment to resisting any sinister plot by the EC is not only a reflection of his dedication to upholding democratic values but also highlights the importance of a robust and transparent electoral system. It sends a strong message to the EC that any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the 2024 elections will not be tolerated by the opposition and the citizens of Ghana. As the country gears up for the 2024 elections, it is crucial for all stakeholders, including the EC, political parties, civil society organizations, and citizens, to work together to ensure the integrity and credibility of the electoral process. Open dialogue, transparency, and inclusivity are essential in addressing the concerns and mistrust that currently exist. The outcome of the 2024 elections will shape the future of Ghana, and it is imperative that the will of the people is respected and upheld. Former President Mahama's call for resistance against any potential manipulation serves as a reminder that the power ultimately lies in the hands of the people, and their vigilance will be key in safeguarding Ghana's democratic principles. 11.07.2023 LISTEN The Member of Parliament for South Dayi Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has accused Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta of ignoring advice from National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members hence the current economic crisis. According to Mr. Dafeamekpor the Finance Minister is running the economy like a sole proprietorship. Speaking in an interview on TV3 on July 11, he said the Finance Minister has ignored calls by the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin to brief members of the house on restructuring measures to revamp the economy. The request of the Finance Minister to come to parliament with the conditions and terms of this restructuring, it hasnt happened. He has refused to come to parliament with the terms and conditions of this restructuring which is a breach but this is a man who is running the economy like a sole proprietorship. Why didnt you hear that the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia say that the head of the economic management team say he has not been allowed to function havent you? Is that not part of his campaign? So I am saying that we saw this crisis coming in fact for the Minority advice including the flagbearer of the NDC party John Dramani Mahama advised the government to go to International Monetary Fund (IMF) as far as last year. They came to parliament to say they wont go today or wont go tomorrow. If they had gone to IMF last year, our crisis management would have been at a manageable level. The NPP needs to write a handover note to the competent ones to run the economy once more, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor stated. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin wants the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to consider presenting the Mid-year budget review before July 27, 2023, as the House intends to adjourn sine die on August 3, 2023. The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had earlier announced that the mid-year budget presentation was scheduled for July 27 with the house expected to adjourn on August 9, 2023. Four persons have been granted a GHS150,000 bail with three sureties each for allegedly conspiring to commit crime to wit, defrauding by false pretense, by an Accra Circuit Court. The accused persons are Mr Kennedy Antwi alias Emtee, Mr Lawrence Asiedu, Mr Samuel Osei Boateng, Madam Elizabeth Nyarko. The fifth accused person, Mr Golly Bob, is on the run. They obtain the consent of one Poku Dapaah Afriyie to make a part payment of GHS360,000.00 under the pretext of making him a part-owner of an online lottery business which he failed to do. The accused persons are facing three counts of defrauding by false pretense which they all pleaded not guilty to. The Court presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah ordered that one of the sureties of each accused person must be a public servant, who earned not less than GHS2,000.00 per month. Prosecution led by Detective Chief Inspector Richard Amoah told the court that the complainant Mr Poku Dapaah Afriyie was a Medical Doctor who resided at East Legon. It said Mr Antwi was a student and stayed in Sunyani, Mr Asiedu was a Radiographer and stayed at Berekum, while Mr Osei Boateng was a Field Officer with Solidaridad West Africa and lived at Awoshie with Madam Nyarko was the girifriend of Mr Antwi and a teacher, stayed in Sunyani. Prosecution said on November 16, 2020, the complainant received a message on Facebook Messenger from user of account name of Hon.Isaac Osei Ameyaw who introduced himself as the former Director-General of Lottery Marketing Companies at National Lotteries Authority (NLA). It said during their conversations, Mr Antwi lured the complainant to pay money to make the complainant a shareholder and subsequently a part-owner of an online lottery business called CARITAS where Mr Antwi provided documents online for complainant to sign. It said the complainant signed the document and made him pay a shareholder fee via two different mobile money numbers he provided, registered in the name of Haruna Mardiya and Albert Amponsah, respectively. The prosecution said Mr Antwi realising that his mobile money numbers were not able to receive huge sums of money from the complainant, he then contacted Mr Asiedu to acquire an already registered merchant SIM that could receive over GHS100,000.00 where Mr Asiedu in turn contacted Mr Osei Boateng, SIM registered in the name Thomas Yeboah Ventures and sent same to Mr Antwi in Kumasi. It said between November 22, 2020, and May 30, 2021, the complainant paid a total amount of GHC360,000.00 to the wallet numbers and Mr Antwi withdrew same. Prosecution said the complainant petitioned the Director General/ Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and court order was obtained for disclosure of information on the numbers. It said analysis on the mobile money statements of the above-mentioned numbers revealed that anytime the complainant deposited money into the numbers, a chunk of it were pushed to MTN number that belonged to Mr Bob. It said between January 25, 2023, and February 24,2023, Mr Asiedu and Mr Osei Boateng were arrested and on March 9, 2023, further investigations led to the arrest of Mr Antwi and Madam Nyarko in Sunyani. The prosecution said Madam Nyarko admitted ownership of SIM card and further stated that sometime in November 2020 her boyfriend, Mr Antwi told her that he had a done deal and for that reason some payments would be received in her mobile money wallet. It said shortly after, she received the first two payments of GHS 2,000.00 and she withdrew same for him which she later gave the SIM card to Mr Antwi to be in charge for easy withdrawal. The prosecution said Mr Antwi admitted the offence and stated that he conspired with Mr Bob, who is on the run, to defraud the complainant and shared the proceeds 40 and 60 per cent, respectively. Further investigations revealed that Mr Antwi used the proceeds from the crime to established a boutique and a barbering shop in Sankore in the Ahafo Region. He also used some of the proceeds to build a one room self-contain and an uncompleted four-bedroom Storey building in Sankore. GNA Mr. Hariprasad Viswanathan, Head a Sub Saharan Africa, VFS Global 11.07.2023 LISTEN As part of the Government of Equatorial Guineas endeavour to encourage tourism and business-related travel to the country, VFS Global has been onboarded as the technical partner to offer a new E-Visa service that will enable a faster and more convenient application, processing, and issuance of visa for leisure and business travellers. Visitors from all nationalities who are eligible to apply for one of the E-Visa categories will receive their travel authorisation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prior to their departure from their country of origin. A popular location for business related travel, inbound tourism is expected to see an improvement with the launch of the new eVisa service. This is due to the increased interest amongst global travellers who are looking for newer and offbeat locations for their upcoming trips and sustainable travel becoming a popular trend now. Another reason is the growing preference amongst many travellers who are now keen on technology led Do It Yourself solutions like eVisa services by themselves at their convenience. The new eVisa service is available for travellers across the world from 1 July 2023. Travellers can of avail this simplified and seamless, highly secure online service by visiting equatorialguinea-evisa.com from a location of their choice, instead of having to visit the Embassy or Consulate in person. With online payment options available, travellers also can use the save and retrieve option for completing the form at a later stage. Commenting on the launch of the new eVisa service, Hon. Ms. Manuela Roka Botey, Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea, said "With our new Evisa Service, Tourists and Business people from all over the world can easily, securely and faster get a visa to travel to EG and are most welcomed. Mr. Hariprasad Viswanathan, Head Sub Saharan Africa, VFS Global, added VFS Global is proud to extend its eVisa solutions to our newest client government- Equatorial Guinea with the launch of the new eVisa portal. With a globally accessible portal that is accessible by all nationalities across the world, we expect an increase in inbound travel to this hidden gem in Central Africa. Apart from being a highly secure and seamless experience that elevates the overall experience of the traveller, we also ensure our partners who avail of our eVisa solutions have a powerful and efficient system in place that is easily integrated with their existing immigration systems using our scalable and customisable experience. Here is how you can apply for Equatorial Guinea E-Visa in 3 simple steps: STEP 1: Visit equatorialguinea-evisa.com and complete the registration process. STEP 2: Complete the easy-to-use application form, seamlessly upload the documents needed and proceed with online payment. STEP 3: On the successful completion of the payment and once the visa decision is made, travellers will be informed about the outcome via email. The eVisa, if approved, will be provided electronically after application. Key benefits of the new Equatorial Guinea eVisa services: A globally accessible and user-friendly website that provides online payment options Time and effort saved from not having to visit the Consulate or Embassy in person for a visa Quicker processing time of visa (estimated to be five working days). Opt for the save and retrieve option to complete the form at a later stage Track the status of the application online or avail of dedicated helpline and email support by well-trained staff Since 2002, VFS Global offers innovative and highly secure online visa solutions that enable applicants to apply for their visa on the move from any time or any place. This includes promotion of the respective locations (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Suriname, Azerbaijan), and airlines as the destination or travel partner of choice. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday called on the International Criminal Court to investigate possible "war crimes" in Sudan's Darfur region where fighting has intensified despite calls for an end to the conflict. The New York-based group charged that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab militias "summarily executed" at least 28 members of the Massalit ethnic minority when they ransacked and torched much of the town of Misterei in May. Efforts to broker an end to the violence have continued, and the east African regional bloc IGAD on Monday led a renewed push, calling on the warring parties to "sign an unconditional ceasefire". The Sudanese army nonetheless boycotted the gathering in Addis Ababa, dampening hopes for an end to the nearly three-month-old conflict with the RSF. The Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have fought the army since mid-April, with some of the heaviest clashes rocking the capital and the Darfur region. By - (Rapid Support Forces (RSF)/AFP/File) Air strikes again shook the capital Khartoum, residents said Tuesday as they sheltered from gunfire. Experts believe army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, have opted for a war of attrition and are hoping to extract more concessions at the negotiating table. US ambassador John Godfrey, who along with other diplomats was evacuated near the start of the conflict, warned that "a military 'victory' by either of the belligerents in the Sudan conflict would entail unacceptable human cost and damage to the country". 'Horrific deaths' Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, pictured on top, is the leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has been at war with the army commanded by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. By Ashraf SHAZLY (AFP/File) Godfrey called instead for "a negotiated exit from the crisis", which he said "does not -- and cannot -- mean returning to the status quo that existed before April 15". Before the conflict erupted that day, the two generals had jointly ruled the country following an October putsch that derailed Sudan's fragile transition to civilian rule. Around 3,000 people have been killed in the violence, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Godfrey further slammed "irresponsible" calls for continued fighting, pointing to the "horrific deaths by air strike of at least six people" in Khartoum North on Monday and of "at least 22 people on Friday in Omdurman". US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee was due to meet regional and Sudanese officials Tuesday in Addis Ababa. Map of Sudan and neighbouring countries as civilians flee the country. By Sophie RAMIS (AFP/File) IGAD on Monday said it would request the African Union to look into possibly deploying the East Africa Standby Force -- usually tasked with election observer missions -- in Sudan "for the protection of civilians and... humanitarian access". But such a move would likely face hurdles as the conflict has seen multiple successive ceasefires violated. Kenyan President William Ruto, who leads the IGAD quartet tasked with finding a solution to the Sudan conflict, on Monday reiterated calls for humanitarian passages. But Sudan's foreign ministry has objected to his leadership of the quartet, accusing Nairobi of siding with the RSF. Child malnutrition The RSF paramilitaries have meanwhile been accused of a litany of abuses, including some that the United Nations said could amount to crimes against humanity. HRW on Tuesday said dozens were killed and wounded when "several thousand" RSF fighters attacked Misterei in late May. Arriving at dawn using "motorcycles, horses or pickup trucks", the fighters launched an attack that saw the "near total burning of the town" of 46,000 residents, the watchdog said. In response, armed members of the Massalit -- one of the key non-Arab communities in Darfur -- clashed with the RSF. The RSF "and allied Arab militias summarily executed at least 28 ethnic Massalit", HRW said, citing witnesses who said civilians were "executed" in schools and mosques where they had sought shelter. The rights group charged that the violations "amount to war crimes" and called on the ICC to investigate the attack. Internally displaced Sudanese with their children, pictured in a secondary school on July 10, 2023. By - (AFP/File) The Hague is already investigating war crimes committed in Darfur during the conflict that erupted in 2003 and saw the Janjaweed -- the precursor to the RSF -- unleashed on ethnic minority rebels in a conflict that killed over 300,000 people. In the latest fighting, some 230,000 people have fled Darfur to neighbouring Chad, where the UN's World Food Programme has reported "high rates of malnutrition among children" who have fled. 11.07.2023 LISTEN The Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has released a report on a rapid efficiency analysis of the Free Wi-Fi Programme undertaken by government in Ghanas Second Cycle Schools. In the report published on the website of Eduwatch, it has disclosed that its research uncovered 107 of 138 schools sampled do not have a functioning Wi-Fi. Among the Senior High Schools are top schools such as Legon Presby Boys SHS, Bishop Herman College, St. Johns Grammar, as well as St. Augustines College are all not without functioning Wi-Fi in their schools. The responses as presented in Figure 1, indicate about 78 per cent of the 138 SHS that responded did not have functioning Wi-Fi. The schools include St. Augustines College, Presby Boys SHS - Legon, Bishop Herman College, St. Johns Grammar SHS, Ejisu Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Bekwai SHS, Bolgatanga Technical Institute, Akatsi SHTS, Wa SHS, and Ola SHS, among others, parts of the report from Eduwatch said. Meanwhile, Eduwatch found out in the research that 22 percent of the schools representing 31 schools have functioning WiFi that is accessible. The schools include Bongo SHS, Krachi SHS, Akuse Methodist SHTS, Akrofuom SHTS, Amenfiman SHS, Manya Krobo SHS, Kurofa Methodist SHS, Odupong SHS, J. E. A Mills SHS, and St. Mary's Seminary SHS. Further probe by Eduwatch uncovered that the schools with functioning Wi-Fi had challenges with coverage as many Wi-Fi signals were only accessible at the administrative and ICT departments, excluding classrooms. This meant, teachers, while teaching, could not access the Wi-Fi. As part of its recommendations, the Eduwatch report proposed that efforts must be made to extend Wi-Fi coverage to classrooms. The report also calls for a performance audit of the free WiFi programme by the Auditor-General to ascertain its full-scale efficiency. Penplusbytes, a non-governmental organisation has held an inclusive social protection and technology forum in Tamale with a call for the passage of the social accountability and protection bill. The passage of the bill would empower citizens to actively participate in decision-making processes, demand transparency, and hold public officials accountable for the equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. The two year HERE (Health, Education, and Resource Equity) and Now Project funded by the Open Society Foundation and implemented in Ghana and Mali seeks to promote citizens access to quality, inclusive public goods in the health and education sectors as fundamental rights by supporting movement building and empowering citizens to fight corruption in the delivery and access to these services. It was also to enable citizens to understand the various social protection policies and actively monitor and provide feedback on how best the selected policies should be implemented in their communities. The forum in partnership with SEND-Ghana and Songtaba dubbed "Institutionalizing Social Accountability in Local Governance: Successes, Gaps, and the Way Forward, brought together civil society organizations(CSOs), duty bearers and other stakeholders in the social accountability space to dialogue and share experiences on best practices in social accountability. Former Northern Regional Director Alhaji Abdul Razak Saani expressed worry over the delay of the social protection bill and called for a joint advocacy to get duty bearers to pass the bill to ensure sanity in the country. Northern Regional Senior Manager of NHIA Tia Ibrahim said mechanisms have been put in place to protect citizens from being exploited by some health officials. He advised the public to report service providers and individuals engaged in fraudulent acts to any NHIA office for punitive actions. Northern Regional Project Manager of Send-Ghana, Mohammed Mumuni advocated for a law on social intervention to ensure marginalized are not left out. Executive Director for Pensplusbyte Jerry Sam noted that impeding factors such as poor governance, weak institutions, systemic corruption, and inadequate budgetary allocation make access to health and education services in Ghana a critical problem, especially for vulnerable groups. This, he noted coupled with the continuous shrinking of civic engagement, called for the need to build understanding of what works and how to design better approaches and improve on existing ones to increase citizen participation and empowerment for better access to health, education, resource utilization, and overall development of communities in Ghana. He noted that social accountability is the cornerstone of achieving economic justice in Ghana as it empowers citizens to actively participate in decision-making processes, demand transparency, and hold public officials accountable for the equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. By fostering a culture of social accountability, we can create a society where every Ghanaian has equal access to social protection, ensuring a more just and inclusive economy for all, he added. He also advocated the need to set up social protection fund to help address emergency issues in Ghana. He said feedback collated from the citizens monitoring and on the mobile app served as evidence-based information used to generate policy briefs on selected social protection programs such as Free SHS, the School Feeding Programme, the NHIS, the Mental Health Act, and others. "The policy briefs have so far been presented to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Secretariat, and the Mental Health Authority," he stressed. 11.07.2023 LISTEN "There are known knowns, things we know that we know; and there are known unknowns, things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns, things we do not know we don't know." - Donald Rumsfeld. "Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" - Winston S. Churchill. "The secret of a perfect psyop is that no one understands it. The objective is to simultaneously confuse the enemy while achieving a very important goal. It goes without saying that sooner rather than later we should see the real goals emerging from The Longest Day's strategic play." - Pele Escobar. Coup: coup noun ku plural coups kuz: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics and especially the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group. - Webster Dictionary. Mutiny: forcible or passive resistance to lawful authority especially: concerted (see concerted sense 1) revolt (as of a naval crew) against discipline or a superior officer. - Webster Dictionary. Rebellion: 1. opposition to one in authority or dominance. 2. open, armed, and usually unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government." - Webster Dictionary. To the Collective West which has set its goal firmly on destabilizing and ultimately destroying and fragmenting Russia, the June 24-25, 2023 attempt at mutiny by the boss of the paramilitary Wagner Group was a godsend. It couldn't have come at a better time as their NATO-TRAINED and EQUIPPED Proxy fighters in Ukraine have been largely decimated. With the well-touted Ukranian counter-offensive (actually a military oxymoron) going nowhere, Western officials, analysts, and media cannot wait for the outcome of the Prigozhin's denouement before they went to town to gloat about the imminent termination of the rule of their numero uno nemesis, VV Putin. C'mon, guys, how can anyone with brains seriously believe that 3,000 rebels with about 250 vehicles can overthrow the government of the Russian Federation? Was Prigozhin's showy brinkmanship a serious attempt to topple the government of the Russian Federation, or was it a case of deep intelligence manoeuvering by the various agencies of both the West and Russia, or was it a case of an Oligarch with a criminal past desperately trying to save his collapsing economic empire? Let's attempt to shed some light. Almost two weeks have passed since Yevgeny Prigozhin launched his farcical uprising. It pays to wait, read and digest the various analyses/perspectives before a serious analytical post-mortem is attempted. Unfortunately, many commentators in Ghana rushed to town armed with only the propaganda bs they have garnered from the BBC and CNN, and they just regurgitate what their Western sources told them with absolutely no attempt at any critical analysis. Let's start our foray by taking a look at the principal instigator of the saga, Yevgeny Prigozhin: Contrary to persistent rumors, Mr. Prigozhin was never President Putin's Cook. He started a sausage stand in his native Saint Petersburg (St Pete) and built it up into a portfolio of restaurants, branched into providing catering services to various institutions, including the government of the Russian Federation. One of the restaurants was in the Kremlin and Mr Putin used it for state functions when he worked as deputy to the then-boss of the city. A shrewd name-dropper, Prigozhin promoted himself as "Putin's chef." Prigozhin is said to have hands in many businesses, many of them shady enough to have earned him two jail terms, one for eight years for mugging a woman. Things get murkier as one tries to understand how a convicted felon came close to "grabbing" political power in Moscow. It is essential to understand the state of affairs in post-Soviet Russia to begin to appreciate VV Putin, what he stands for, why Russians LOVE and ADORE (even revere him), and why the West so passionately hates him. Post-Soviet Russia was a total mess - and that is putting it mildly. Boris Yeltsin, so beloved by the West, presided over the collapse of the economy and the authority of the Russian state he inherited from the incredibly naive Gorbachev. Yeltsin surrounded himself with American advisers (the so-called Harvard Boys) who comprehensively did to Russia what they did to Africa's economies in the 1980s - ruthlessly dismantled state enterprises, devalued currencies, and sent millions into penuries, all in the name of economic liberalization. Vladimir Putin came to power and set himself the onerous task of cleaning the Augean stable by clipping the wings of the powerful Oligarchs who, collectively, were stronger than the Russian state. Putin set the rules of engagement at a meeting with 21 of the richest men in Russia in the summer of 2000. In exchange for staying out of politics where they used their wealth to sponsor candidates and win political power, Putin offered the oligarchs a deal: 'Keep your ill-gotten wealth; the expensive mansions, luxurious aircraft, yachts, and corporations, but subject yourself to the authority of the Russian state, or else. Putin kept his word and allow compliant Oligarchs to keep their loot, but he dealt very harshly with the few that reneged. A good example is Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once one of Russia's richest people who now lives in the United States and is among the leading Putin critics in exile. Khodorkovsky is among the lucky ones - many of the others died in rather mysterious circumstances. A flamboyant, loud-mouthed, and very capable marketer, Mr. Prigozhin is a Maestro of self-promotion and self-aggrandizement. He is considered one of the Oligarchs that ordinary Russians hated with a passion, understandably so if one remembers what they did to pre-Putin's Russia. Since the beginning of the SMO, Prigozhn has never lost any opportunity to lambast the top echelons of Russia's military establishment. To the bewilderment of observers, the Wagner boss on several occasions contemptuously lambasted both the Minister of Defense Shoigu, and the Chief of the General Staff, Gerasimov. Although an Oligarch himself, he nevertheless continues to rail against corruption and habitually issues threats to target corrupt elites in Russia. The Wagner PMC Group: Western officials and media who often mock the Wagner group as a mercenary outfit staffed by ex-convicts, forget that Russia was just following the trend set by Western nations who organize coups to protect their geopolitical interests in faraway poor countries with immense natural wealth. Examples are the British Aegis and the American Academi (formerly Blackrock) private security companies that provide extensive services for their home governments. The Russias patterned their Wagner PMC along the notorious French Foreign League. In many countries in Africa, the group has helped to stabilize governments where Western forces have failed to perform. Burkina Faso, Mali, and the Central African Republic are some examples. In fact, not only has the Central African Parliament publicly thanked "Wagner," but the government erected a monument to them. The Wagner Group has also made its mark in both Syria and Libya. Its epic battle against hardened Ukranian forces in the small city of Backhmut has elevated the group to mythical proportions among Russians. Contrary to Western mockery, the Wagner Group is an exceedingly capable professional military organization, organized by the Russian military intelligence, GRU, which provides not only the men and the officers but also the weapons (including very advanced and sophisticated ones) plus the logistics and pay the salaries. In his address to the military commanders who helped stop Prigozhin's rebels' march on Moscow, Putin appear to suggest that the Wagner Group had been more effective than the regular troops. President Putin added: "Those who served and worked for this company, Wagner, were respected in Russia. At the same time, I would like to point out, that I want everyone to be aware of the fact that all of the funding the Wagner Group received came from the state. It got all its funding from us, from the Defence Ministry, from the state budget. "Between May 2022 and May 2023 alone, the Wagner Group received 86,262 million rubles (approx. $1 billion) from the state to pay military salaries and bonuses But while the state covered all of the Wagner Group's funding needs, the company's owner, Concord, received from the state, or should I say earned, 80 billion rubles ($940 million) through Voentorg as the army's food and canteen provider. The state covered all its funding needs, while part of the group I mean Concord made 80 billion rubles, all at the same time. I do hope that no one stole anything in the process or, at least, did not steal a lot. It goes without saying that we will look into all of this." Coming from the proverbial horse's mouth, this is among the most intriguing part of the Prigozhin rebellion. Is the world to believe that an organization the military intelligence of Russia set up, staffed, and funded remains totally in the dark as it seeks to overthrow the Russian state? The famous American investigative journalist, Seymour Hersh, shed some light: "So, below is a look at what is going that was provided to me by a knowledgeable source in the American intelligence community: "I thought I might clear some of the smoke. First and most importantly, Putin is now in a much stronger position. We realized as early as January of 2023 that a showdown between the generals, backed by Putin, and Prigo, backed by anti-Russian extremists, was inevitable. The age-old conflict between the 'special' war fighters and a large, slow, clumsy, unimaginative regular army. The army always wins because they own the peripheral assets that make victory, either offensive or defensive, possible. Most importantly, they control logistics. special forces see themselves as the premier offensive asset. When the overall strategy is offensive, big army tolerates their hubris and public chest thumping because SF are willing to take high risk and pay a high price. Successful offense requires a large expenditure of men and equipment. Successful defense, on the other hand, requires husbanding these assets. "Wagner members were the spearhead of the original Russian Ukraine offensive. They were the 'little green men'. When the offensive grew into an all-out attack by the regular army, Wagner continued to assist but reluctantly had to take a back seat in the period of instability and readjustment that followed. Prigo, no shy violet, took the initiative to grow his forces and stabilize his sector. "The regular army welcomed the help. Prigo and Wagner, as is the wont of special forces, took the limelight and took the credit for stopping the hated Ukrainians. The press gobbled it up. Meanwhile, the big army and Putin slowly changed their strategy from offensive conquest of greater Ukraine to defense of what they already had. Prigo refused to accept the change and continued on the offensive against Bakhmut. Therein lies the rub. Rather than create a public crisis and court-martial the asshole [Prigozhin], Moscow simply withheld the resources and let Prigo use up his manpower and firepower reserves, dooming him to a stand-down. He is, after all, no matter how cunning financially, an ex-hot dog cart owner with no political or military accomplishments. "Putin fully backed the army who let Prigo make a fool of himself and now disappear into ignominy. All without raising a sweat militarily or causing Putin to face a political standoff with the fundamentalists, who were ardent Prigo admirers. Pretty shrewd. There is an enormous gap between the way the professionals in the American intelligence community assess the situation and what the White House and the supine Washington press project to the public by uncritically reproducing the statements of Blinken and his hawkish cohorts. - https://open.substack.com/pub/seymourhersh/p/prigozhins-folly?r=3wwyw&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post Here is another brilliant analysis by the distinguished retired Indian diplomat and geopolitical observer, .. : "It wouldn't have escaped the attention of Russian intelligence analysts that Prigozhin's ranting and ravings from Donetsk from last autumn and winter began originally on the operational aspects of the Bakhmut war front in Donetsk oblast, but incrementally began acquiring political overtones, culminating finally in his incredible statement that the 'e of the special military operation in Ukraine since February 2022, was all baloney." "Even more strangely, this man who physically witnessed the Battle of Bakhmut came to the bizarre conclusion that Kiev or Nato had no intentions toward Donbass or Russia." "The last element is utterly fascinating. The Kremlin is extremely annoyed with Prigozhin for his seditious behavior but is also aware presumably on the basis of intelligence inputs that he has been manipulated by Western powers. Of course, there is going to be a price to pay. Prigozhin will never get back his towering stature as an oligarch with a personal fortune of $1.2 billion or the fabulous lifestyle he led." - https://www.indianpunchline.com/fsb-spooked-the-cia-on-prigozhin-coup/ Russian MP Andrey Kartapolov (four-star general) who heads the State Duma's Defense Committee explained that the conflict was provoked by Prigozhin's unwillingness to comply with the Russian Defense Ministry's demand that all military groups should sign contracts with it. "Everybody apart from Wagner complied. Apart from this gentleman [Prigozhin], who refused. Faced with this rebuttal, the Russian authorities told the group that it would no longer be involved in the military campaign in Ukraine, Kartapolov stated. "This means that there will be no more money, no more financial or material resources. And for Mr. Prigozhin, money is a factor, an important one, maybe even decisive." As a result, the threat of defunding, "excessive and stupid ambitions," and an emotionally "agitated state" resulted in "high treason and the deceit of [Prigozhin's] brothers in arms," Mr. Kartapolov explained. The (MOAQ) Mother of all Question: How does a convicted foul-mouthed felon get away with not only getting juicy contracts from the Russian military but constantly berating, abusing, and rubbishing the top brass of the organization that feeds him? Not only that, Prigozhin persisted in issuing threats against the state but suffered no consequences whatsoever until he made his "coup" attempt which ended in his being sent to a comfortable Minsk, instead of being prosecuted as both the Russian Prosecutor-General and Putin himself promised. Were Progzhin's "coup" to be genuine why was the initial reaction of the Russian government so lackadaisical - like waiting for hours before sending forces to the Wagner's headquarters in St. Petersburg where vast sums of money were, allegedly, discovered? And why did Yevgeny Prigozhin explain his action thusly: "The aim of the march was not to let PMC Wagner be dissolved and to hold the military leadership accountable for the mistakes made during the war." - Prigozhin And why was Prigozhin allowed to visit his native St. Petersburg a week after he was supposed to have been banished into exile in Minsk, and after news circulated about vast sums of money were said to have been recovered from a raid on his properties? A few days later, he was reportedly seen on the street of Moscow. So, much for the coup plotter! These troubling questions might explain why many analysts continue to raise the Maskirovka scenario. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_military_deception The best analyses of the alleged coup were offered by the esteemed Larry Johnson. Here: https://sonar21.com/russias-academy-award-winning-performance-for-best-coup-prigozhin-scores-best-actor/ And here: https://sonar21.com/prigozhin-will-the-real-slim-shady-please-stand-up/ The famous American journalist, Seymour Hersh chipped in with an insightful piece: https://open.substack.com/pub/seymourhersh/p/prigozhins-folly?r=3wwyw&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post When is a coup, not a coup? There was a time when military adventurists routinely toppled governments in Africa, especially in West Africa. Luckily, those days are gone, hopefully forever! Those who lived in those tumultuous days will recognize that Mr. Prigozhin violated all the known rules of coup-making. One of the best books, actually a Primer on how to organize a coup is by Edward Luttwak, whose "Coup d'Etat A Essential Primer" remain a recommended reading for anyone planning a coup or trying to prevent one. https://www.amazon.com/Coup-d%C3%89tat-Practical-Handbook-Revised/dp/0674737261 Mr. Luttwak's essential points are: The commanders of military units in the Capital must be either in on the plot, neutral, or otherwise be prevented from taking action to impede the coup. Control of communication facilities, radio, tv, and telecom, is critical. Coups are led by Cols, Lt Cols, and Majors because these men are commanders of battalions and companies and their men know them and will follow their orders even if they don't know the reason for them. Speed is essential. Leaders of centers of power that could organize resistance to the coup must be detained or neutralized within a couple of hours. Needless to say that Yevgeny he Prigozhin/Wagner broke almost all the known rules in the book. He was never a military commander and no senior officer came out to support him. He was about 1200 kilometers away from Moscow, and the police and the military in the capital built barricades to stop any unauthorized movement. Apart from allegedly shooting down an aircraft and some helicopters, Prigozhin and his troops didn't kill anyone. Wagner troops were seen queuing up to buy snacks at a local eatery. There are videos of ordinary citizens mingling easily with the alleged coupists. One video showed an elderly citizen standing by his bicycle while berating the coup plotters for disturbing citizens instead of being on the battlefront to confront the enemies. It was positively farcical, almost comical. To the chagrin of the Collective West whose analysts and media predicted and salivate with almost libidinous excitement at the prospects of a civil war in Russia, the whole rebellion petered out as dramatically as it started. This is how the Grayzone magazine put it: "Expecting a bloodbath and seismic political upheaval, corporate networks like CNN had budgeted wall-to-wall coverage of the 'coup that wasn't' - filling cable news 'green rooms' with rent-a-generals, K Street think-tankers, and war-hungry former diplomatic corps hacks: For just over 12 hours, everyone from former ambassador McFaul to Zelensky to neocon pundit, Anne Applebaum, exploded with seemingly libidinal excitement about a supposed "civil war" that was certain to feature "Russians killing Russians", along with "lots of casualties" - and Putin "probably hiding somewhere". "On Saturday afternoon, however, news broke across the US that Prigozhin had struck a deal with President Lukashenko - to end his protest and go into exile. Thus ended a largely bloodless affair that ultimately saw fewer documented deaths than the 6th January, 'Capitol Riot'." - https://thegrayzone.com/2023/06/26/russias-civil-war-beltway-expert/ It was announced that the Belarussian strongman brokered a deal in which Prigozhin called off his tragi-comic coup and agreed to be exiled to Minsk. The Ministry of Defence (MoD), announced that the Wagner roops have been absorbed into the military and were not to be punished in any way. Putin who had threatened fire and brimstone: "Those who staged the mutiny and took up arms against their comrades, they have betrayed Russia and will be brought to account. I urge those who are being dragged into this crime not to make a fatal and tragic mistake but make the only right choice: to stop taking part in criminal actions," was, uncharacteristically, silent. Two days after the event, the taciturn and unflappable Defence Minister Shoigu went around to inspect military formations sporting his normal martial disposition. Chief of General Staff Gerasimov appears to be doing what he does best - running the military affairs of the Russian state behind the scene with no frills and no fanfare. Both men were objects of Prigozhin's tantrums and were rumored to have been sacrificed to appease the egomaniac and megalomaniac former boss of the Wagner Group. Even the popular General Surovikin was rumored to have been roped in with the conspirators and jailed. None of the rumors panned out. It is instructive that the media-loving Prigozhine didn't personally address the media after the failure of his rebellion, but a statement released by his press service said: They wanted to disband the Wagner PMC, we marched on June 23 on a justice march. Within a day we had not reached Moscow in 200 kilometers. During that time we have not shed a single drop of blood of our fighters. Now the moment has come when blood can be spilled. Understanding all the responsibility that Russian blood will be spilled on one side, we are turning our columns back to the field camps, according to the plan." What should worry not only Western officials and their lapdog analysts and media, but the rest of us, is the apparent ease with which the West allowed its pathological narcissism and visceral hatred of Russia to blind it from realizing the risk involved in a successful overthrow of the Putin's government by a radical ultra-nationalist like Prigozhin, would pose to the West and the world. The question has also never been asked what exactly is the West strategic goal in its proxy war against Russia? If war, as they say, is the continuation of diplomacy by other means, it is time the West is asked how exactly it intends to achieve its goal of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia. How do you force the country with the most nuclear weapons on earth to comply with your dictation? This potent question has not been posed by the compliant media in the West. Russian filmmaker, producer and screenwriter, and Director General of the Mosfilm studios and noted Putin critic, Karen Shakhnazarov, tried to concentrate minds when she said: "I have read what they are saying in the West. Liz Truss is commenting again. But you have to be a complete idiot not to understand a very simple thing: what it would mean if such chaos if a civil war broke out in a country like Russia with its nuclear arms. And it is not those whom they want who would come to power, quite the contrary. Only the most radical, nuclear-minded people would take over. They wouldn't hesitate for a moment. They would send the Poseidon to where it should go. And the Sarmat[Russia's heaviest and most advanced strategic nuclear missile]. Maybe this mutiny will clear minds somewhere about the danger. You have to be a complete idiot not to see this could be a catastrophe for the whole world. And so, even those here who may not be particularly loyal have to understand that the President is uniting us." It troubles greatly that Westerners, supposedly living in democracies, do not ask their officials the reason for their constant warring all over the world. It is equally baffling that Westerners do not appear to see how counter-productive their governments' policies towards Russia have become. The unprecedented sanctions the West imposed on Russia have not affected the Russian economy as many in the West are coming to realize. Russia is enjoying what can be considered an industrial renaissance, thanks to Western firms leaving the country. Germany, on the other hand, is de-industrializing at a dizzying speed. Militarily, the West's proxy war has not only boosted Russia's military capabilities, it has exposed NATO as a paper tiger. The world has been treated to the spectacle of the Russians burning overpriced and over-marketed Western armaments on a truly industrial scale. Cuo Bono: If even after almost two weeks, it is still not clear what exactly happened, we can try to look at who gained what from the supposed rebellion. It could be possible that the coup was launched at the instigation of Russian intelligence in what some analysts believed to be a classical Marskirovka to move Russian troops into a new axis of an offense without raising suspicions of Western ISRs and military planners. We simply don't know. What has become clear is that the Russian State and the Russian military benefited somewhat from the mutiny or coup attempt. The foul-mouthed Prigozhin ended up in Minsk with some of his people. This means that one of the most capable arms of the Russian military is close to both Kyiv and the Polish border, where they can be activated to go in either direction when Russian military honchos made up their minds on which direction they want to swing the battle. A Layout report: "In Belarus, they began to build camps to accommodate the fighters of PMC "Wagner". The publication confirmed the construction of a camp in Osipovichi, Mogilev region for 8,000 fighters. According to them, there will be several camps in the 24 thousand square meters facilities. The Belorussian Parliament has ratified the agreement between Belarus and Russia for the establishment of joint training centers. The original document which was signed in March of 2023 in Minsk long before the Prigozhin affair; has now been ratified by the Lower Chamber, and moves on up to the Upper. The Lithuanian President Nauseda cried out: "In the event that Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Wagner PMC appear on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, we will have to strengthen the entire eastern flank of NATO." - Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki: "Poland is strengthening the border with Belarus amid reports of the transfer of Yevgeny Prigozhin and PMC Wagner there." - Sky News: "PMC "Wagner" may launch an attack on Kyiv from Belarus. Prigozhin has kept tens of thousands of combat-ready fighters around him, who can pose a significant threat to Ukraine." President Putin came out smelling like Roses as his political base solidified beyond expectations. Despite his threats and bluffs, no prominent political, military, or intelligence figure came out in support of Prigozhin. Should he decide to run in next year's elections, Putin will be guaranteed smooth sailing - his approval rating is said to be close to 90%. As for Prigozhin, his political career appeared to be buried forever. The affair also exposed the West as staggeringly misinformed about the dynamics of Russian society. It doesn't bode well when Western officials, media, and even intelligence officers appear to have a kindergarten understanding of their main military foe. Were the current crop of leaders in the Collective West so full of narcissistic hubris, they would have listened to the admonition of Winston Churchill: "Kremlin political intrigues are comparable to a bulldog fight under a rug. An outsider only hears the growling, and when he sees the bones fly out from beneath it is obvious who won." According to Jacques Baud, a Swiss military analyst, "In the end, this situation was nothing more than that of a company director trying to save his business and doing so impulsively and thoughtlessly, with potentially dramatic consequences for combatants on both sides in Ukraine. This crisis demonstrates the inability of Westerners to think and act according to facts, rather than expectations. The Ukrainian people are beginning to understand this." - https://www.thepostil.com/author/jacques-baud/ News Flash: It was reported that Putin held a three-hour meeting with Prigozhin and some of his commanders on June 29. So much for a coup de tat! Femi Akomolafe July 7, 2023 Femi Akomolafe is a farmer, writer, and published author. His latest book, "Africa: a Continent on Bended Knees" is available on: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Africa-Continent-Bended-Femi-Akomolafe-ebook/dp/B08FGZNJ5T On Booknook.store: https://booknook.store/product/africa-a-continent-on-bended-knees/ The French government has sometimes inappropriately used external consulting companies, the French court of auditors concluded in a report published to address public concerns over the externalisation of government business, in particular since Emmanuel Macron became president. The Cour des comptes auditor on Monday said that hiring external consulting companies has become an easy option for government administrators facing tight budgets and time constraints, but it warned that consultants are intervening in domains they should not. The externalisation of part of the tasks of administrations does not call for an objection on principle, the auditors wrote. An external consultant can be a useful and efficient way to implement policy, however, the practice has lead to an inappropriate use of consulting missions. Some consultants are taking on roles that should be kept in the public sphere, and the auditor said the state should bring some capabilities back into the civil service and call on its own employees whenever possible. Citizen request The court took on the issue after citizens requested an investigation, following a Senate report that was published in March 2022, a few weeks before the presidential election, that found that Macron and his ministers were too close to consultants like the US-based McKinsey. According to the auditors, state spending on consultancies tripled between 2017, when Macron was first elected and 2021. While two thirds of the 890 million euros spent on consultants in 2021 was for external work like IT, the rest is for intellectual and strategic work that could be considered the remit of public servants. Though the court noted that spending on consultancies amounted to just 0.04 percent of state spending last year. Follow through on reforms The court called on the government to "put the finishing touches" to a January 2022 circular that aimed at limiting use of consultancies, which had been issued "under the pressure of events". The government says it had reduced spending on consultants by 35 percent between 2021 and 2022, and had imposed a two million euro limit on the amount that could be spent on any given company. The Senate passed a bill in October to further limit the government's dependence on consultants, but the National Assembly has yet to bring it to a debate. (with newswires) 11.07.2023 LISTEN Whereas a decade ago, things on the political arena in the world were clear-cut (there was a G8, with East and West being friends), in todays world it seems not so clear-cut. Changes are occurring so quickly on the global political landscape that we here in Africa are not so certain what will eventually result in what is quickly shaping up as a new Cold War that will very soon become a Hot War. One issue is certain, however. Increasingly, it is becoming clear that there is a Great War on the horizon. Today, Russia finds itself in a proxy war with the US, which leads the Western World (as well as Japan, South Korea, etc.) in a confrontation with some Eastern Powers, China mainly (allied with North Korea, Iran, Pakistan, and of course the Mighty Russia). This confrontation in the current time REALLY started in 2014, when Russia broke ranks with the Western Powers. Since then, there has been a schism in the positive timelines for a peaceful world, which means we are now more and more faced with the spectre of war, both the cold and the hot varieties. How and why did we progress into possible futures that now guarantee war? To understand this progression, we really must retrospectively view the past. During the last past three Great Wars (yes, there have really been three, and even arguably FOUR past Great Wars in the past twelve thousand years, and not merely the two, WW1 and WW2, that we are commonly told), what brought about a Great War was untenable competition between world powers. On this occasion of Russia-China versus US-NATO, as we now progressively experience an unstoppable descent into economic and military war between these world powers (US-NATO and their allies on the one hand, as well as China-Russia and their allies on the other hand), history has now shown us that this precipice did not manifest out of thin air. After 1945, Germany, Japan and Italy, as well as much of Europe became indebted to the US, and of a certain view, have become vassals to the US. The US emerged as the pre-eminent power in the West, after 1945 (c.f., Bretton Woods, and so on). Russia assumed a comparable position to the US among European nations of the East, due to their military might. The ideological competition between Russia and the US, everyone knows what that is, blossomed into the first Cold War of that era. Many of us lived through some of it. In the end, the US (George Bush Sr., and his team) managed to trick Gorbachev into believing that if he signed a deal encouraged by the US and NATO (i.e., the deal was what came to be Warsaw Pact), to dismantle the Soviet Union, the West would agree to avoid encroaching into what would become former Soviet states, in exchange for economic and other assistance to Russia with its ailing economy at the time. The deal was reneged upon by the West, right from the start, which in fact quickly toppled the Soviet Union and set the stage for todays situation where NATO (i.e., the US and its vassals) increasingly encroach upon those former Soviet states. What the West failed to calculate was the possible rise of Russian leaders of a different variety to the Gorbachevs and, those that signed the Warsaw Pact, and others that did not. The toppling of the Soviet Union brought about the Boris Yeltsin-type leadership for a while in the 1990s, and also to the stratospheric rise of the Chinese, who since the late 1970s era of Deng Xiaoping have been steadily and progressively advancing their economic, scientific/industrial and now military presence regionally and on the world stage. However, the US-NATO miscalculated that Russia will rise again. And so now we have Putin and Medvedev-type leaders in Russia who choose to push back against Western drive (US primarily, but also now via NATO) for their world view, and the Chinese who have quietly developed their potential have now teamed up with a resurgent Russia. So, it is back to competition between world powers. Same as it was in the 1939 1945 era that brought forth the Central Powers (Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy) against the Allies (British, French, Russian, and US powers). Same as it was in the 1914 1918 era that brought forth the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottomans etc.) against the Allies (UK, US, France, Russia, etc.). Same as it was in the 1756 1763, in the Seven Years War era that brought forth a Great War as a result of competition between Britain and France, the great European powers of the time. With the exception of the Seven Years war, the peoples of Africa and of other colonies of the European powers were massively drawn into these two global conflicts (WW1 & WW2), brought forth by the competing world powers. As a result of the Berlin Conference of 1884 1885, ushered for Otto von Bismarck, during which European colonial powers gutted and divided African territories between themselves without regard to the physical locations of various African groups (this became known as the Scramble for Africa) wherein many times colonial borders were drawn that have now split up the same African group into two or even into three national territories, African peoples WERE DRAWN INTO THE FIGHTS OF THE WORLD POWERS in their competitions for supremacy. The Berlin Conference guaranteed this, because in WW1 & WW2, Africans were colonial subjects at the time. This time, it is different. Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, Jomo Kenyatta, and Julius Nyerere among many other eminent names (Kaunda, Mugabe, Mandela, Mba, etc.) had to endure brutal political and sometimes even armed struggles to free African peoples from the clutches of the European colonial powers after Europe became weakened following the Great War of 1939 1945. So now, African people need not fight on one side or another as subjects supporting the competition struggles of the Great Powers of the world. Consider that as a whole, we did not have to fight during the Seven Years war (1756 1763) or indeed neither did we during the War of the Grand Alliance of 1689 1697, the other large scale war between European/Global powers that can arguably also be called a Great War. This time, we are free, as we were before colonization! It is time therefore, for Ghana, and Africa, to realize that we need to pick a side in this coming Great War. We need to pick our own side! It is time for Ghana, and Africa to sit out this coming next Great War (I predict: around 2026 2030, more or less), which once again will set Europe as a stage, for struggles this time between Western Powers (US-NATO, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, TAIWAN!!) pitted against Eastern Powers (China-Russia, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, much of the Arab world, France, and sadly, also some in Central-Latin America and possibly in Africa as well). This next Great War will be the most brutal of all, because the technology to be unleashed will be just as strange and as otherworldly as the nuclear bomb was when it was released in 1945 technologies such as AI, drones, next gen nukes, particle beam weapons/lasers, super soldiers, etc.). Europe, once again, is going to be devastated, like it was in the previous three/four Great Wars. This is very sad (I have love for the European people as well). But Africa need not be. No, thank you!! We are no longer your colonial subjects, so that we have to fight your wars alongside you. Just as we sat out the War of the Grand Alliance, and just as (for the most part) we sat out the Seven Years War, I HOPE that Ghanaian and African leaders will listen. Please be friends with everyone, but please preserve your dignity and your neutrality. We do not have the economic or technological capabilities to contribute meaningfully to their wars, or even to survive and to recover from the destruction that is always brought about by the onslaught of war, another occasion of which is about to occur massively between US-NATO and Russia-China, started with this Russia-Ukraine issue, but particularly to be triggered (I predict) on a more massive scale, by this longstanding issue of Taiwan. No, thank you. As Ghanaians and as Africans, we need to pick sides to survive and thrive. We need pick ourselves! Today 11th July 2023, the African Union (AU) and its member states commemorate 20 years of enacting the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption (AUCPCC). This framework was developed to guide member states to fight corruption and promote good governance. This momentous occasion provides stakeholders across the continent; state and non-state actors, a unique opportunity to take stock of the gains made while considering the debilitating effect of corruption on the economic growth and development of the 55-member states of the union. At the national level, the AU Day and the 20th Anniversary offer Ghana a period for introspection, particularly when the country is said to have stagnated in its fight against corruption and also struggling to pick itself up from an all-time economic quagmire. Among the causes attributed to the current economic challenges facing the country are the increasing corrupt practices and other global developments. In order to accelerate efforts at redeeming the country from further development challenges, key stakeholders in the fight against corruption are joining forces with Honourable Edem Senanu, Ghanas representative on the AU Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the AU Anti-Corruption Day in Ghana. The shared objective is to encourage all stakeholders in the anti-corruption space to use the occasion and subsequent weeks and months till the end of 2023, to organise events aimed at amplifying national strategies to stem the tide of corruption and enhance the countrys integrity systems. It is important to note that Ghana is one of the 48 African countries that has so far signed onto the AUCPCC and ratified it as a covenant it subscribes to. To demonstrate the countrys commitment to the convention, Ghana has complied with most of the articles of the convention and has proceeded within the context of the AUCPCC, to develop the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) to guide and strengthen anti-corruption activities within the country. What remains, however, is the domestication of key aspects of the convention, including criminalizing illicit enrichment (introduction of reverse burden of proof), diversion of state property, conflict of interest, etc., as part of the countrys Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and other anti-corruption legislation. In addition, Ghanas framework on Asset Declaration which is regarded below expected best global standards would have to be reviewed to incorporate verification and stricter sanctions for non-compliance. On behalf of the good people of Ghana, we call on the Executive and Parliament to work towards passing the Conduct of Public Officers Bill into law in order to enhance the fight against corruption in Ghana. We also call on all NACAP implementing partners to report back to the NACAP Secretariat on activities they implemented in the year 2022 to rid their institutions of corruption. It is not encouraging to note that only 50 agencies reported on their activities in the year 2022. We use this occasion to call on all stakeholders, to re-commit themselves to the fight against corruption. We want to emphasize that we can win the fight against corruption if we join forces and work together - Citizens, CSOs, Media, Private Sector, Government, and academia. We appeal to the government to display stronger political will and allocate adequate funding to bolster the effectiveness of all Anti-Corruption Institutions. This unified effort aligns with the AU's theme of "AUCPCC, 20 Years After: Achievements and Prospects." We use this opportunity to emphasize that corruption remains a reality and to encourage Ghanaians to revisit our cultural values that prohibit corrupt conduct. We are convinced that African countries, such as Ghana, can use African models and solutions to tackle and overcome corruption if we employ research and an evidence-based approach in crafting the strategies that will define our policies and programmes over the next two (2) decades. God bless our homeland Ghana, as we commit ourselves, to doing what is in the best interest of our nation. #AfricaAgainstCorruption -END- Signed. Mr. Edem Senanu, Member - African Union Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) Mrs. Mary Addah, Acting Executive Director - Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) Dr. Kojo Asante, Director of Programmes and Policy Engagement - Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Secretary - Ghana Anti-Corruption Corruption (GACC) For any press enquiries, please contact Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) +233 0302 760 884; +233 0501 695 951 or Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) 0243923475 Source: Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) Nathanial Dwamena 11.07.2023 LISTEN When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice you may know that your society is doomed. Ayn Rand. The word 'Goro Boys' is a popular name used to refer to middlemen who make it possible for people to receive their services at public institutions at a fee higher than what they ordinarily would have been charged. The 'Goro Boys' play the role of Public Relations practitioners in certain jurisdictions, using social media and traditional media to rubbish claims of allegations leveled against their paymasters. In these instances, their paymaster may be a government appointee or a CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation who is under scrutiny for his inactions. But for this subject, we will limit it to middlemen. The devastating activities of 'Goro Boys' are not novel to the Ghanaian system. One is usually directed to an agent who provides the service on a 'cash and carry' basis to avoid waiting in a long line. It takes someone who has suffered from the hands of 'Goro Boys' to appreciate this piece for paying so much for an easy service that one could have had on their phone or from a service provider for free. During the peak of the pandemic, 'Goro Boys' heightened, especially when the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the sector Minister of Communication and Digitalization requested the populace to link their Ghana Card with the SIM card or risk losing the SIM. At various registration stations where there were 1-50 customer service representatives to customer ratio in a day, the 'Goro Boys' took advantage of the situation and rolled out door-to-door registration services where people paid more for a free service at the time considering the economic impact of the pandemic on the ordinary citizen. I registered with 'Goro Boys' to avoid long queues at service outlets. One intriguing part of their activities is that their services are genuine. Also, they were fast and easy and saved me transportation. The question I kept asking myself was, is there no way to register in the comfort of our homes or work places to ease the tension of registration? Could there not be anything, some technology to ease transport fares in accessing such services? It was reported that people traveled from the northern parts of the country to Accra to get their SIM cards registered. As a matter of fact, people still suffer from SIM card blockages due to deadline failure. (Sigh), Blockchain Works In situations like SIM registration, I encountered the word 'Block Chain' for the first time at a round table policy dialogue discussion on using Fintech and Blockchain Innovation for free trade organized by the YAFO Institute, an independent public policy research organization. Listening to YAFO President, Nathanial Dwamena, as he presented blockchain technology, should government and non-governmental organizations embrace blockchain technology the various activities of 'Goro Boys' who charge exorbitant fees for relatively free services at public places in the country will reduce drastically. Check www.dailyguidenetwork.com It was also revealed that blockchain technology is not Bitcoin. It is a distributed database or ledger shared among computer network nodes. Blockchain technology is best known for its crucial role in cryptocurrency systems in maintaining a secure and decentralized record of transactions. However, they are not limited to cryptocurrency uses. It also can be used to make data in any industry immutablethe term used to describe the inability to be altered. Mr. Dwamena however explained that Immutable records stored on the blockchain provide transparency and verifiability, allowing all participants to audit and validate the contract's execution. This, he said, is key to eliminating 'Goro Boys' activities for inclusive development, due to the decentralized nature of blockchain, it has many advantages to solving problems like corruption and activities of 'Goro Boys' who frustrate entrepreneurs in the country. Government Failed Attempt In a news report on www.dailyguidenetwork.com headlined Registrar Of Companies Gets Tough On 'Goro Boys', The Registrar of Companies, Jemima Oware, established that her outfit will roll out a completely digital system next year (2023) aimed at eliminating third-party interference in business registration. Emphasizing that the objective of the updated digital system is to eliminate third-party interferences, Goro Boys, in business administration processes. The year is halfway through, yet companies have trouble registering their organizations. We eagerly await her announcement of how her outfit is implementing its digitalization system. Similarly, President Akufo-Addo in a news report said that the digitalization of the Driver Vehicular Licensing Authority (DVLA) will ease the corrupt activities of the 'Goro Boys' who frustrate vehicular owners in the country. That notwithstanding, months later after the Presidents promise of hope to Ghanaians, local media station, Joy News 'Money Over Human Lives' investigation captured DVLA officials of different categories with some operating through 'agents', as well as security men who solicit money to outwit the official mandatory requirements for personal financial gains in total disregard for the danger their actions pose to human lives. As we speak, DVLA management has interdicted the four members captured in the expose. On various occasions, the government and its agencies have attempted to end corrupt practices in the country, but they do not seem to be succeeding. Could it be that the authorities have overlooked the potential of blockchain because they perceive it as a scam scheme? Although it is best known for its relationship with cryptocurrencies and Non-Fungible Token NFTs, it is already been implemented in other areas of significant importance because its features have proven to be highly beneficial in many ways. This has resulted in corruption prevention, fraud combatting, and improved transparency in all sectors. And it is ideal for implementation in obsolete financial and administrative systems with poor IT security. Countries such as Colombia and Peru are witnessing the positive results of how this technology prevents corruption. Mr. Dwamena says as it stands now the Registrar of Companies does not register blockchain companies in the country. In contrast, there are many international companies transacting businesses with thousands of customers in Ghana tax-free which is a huge revenue loss to the country. By Prince Fiifi Yorke With the above title of this epistle, there would be two dominant reactions of citizens and denizens alike who are reading it right now. For any Akyim Mafia or an Asante criminal, this is the biggest story of the century. A story bigger than a president of a full republic plagiarizing the speech of another president; it's a story bigger than Ghana economy adjudged as the worst in the world; a story bigger than shortage of food at Senior High Schools; a story bigger than the galloping numbers of teenage pregnancies among Free SHS girls; and certainly, a story bigger than the assassination of Ahmed Suale, Mohammed Kaaka, and late MP JB Danquah. The other reactions from citizens and denizens alike, upon seeing the above title would be that of those who would sigh in disappointment and said: ah, they have succeeded in hanging the innocent man and the only political godfather and demagogue who could have navigated Ghana out of the current appalling mess. Oh! God, Ghana is doomed. For any member of this ruling party and government that has perfected the art of political buccaneering, the arrest of former President Mahama because of Airbus Scandal would have been a dream come true. The beehive of euphoria and hysteria it would have created could make many shop owners at Kejetia to sell their products and items for free for couple of days if not weeks. The writer would have been the most fantastic scribbler the world have ever seen. Thank God the above title doesnt go beyond the length of sarcasm and mockery of all those who are seeking to throw mud against innocent people and wishing some would stick. Most probably, the Airbus SE bribery scandal has been one most hyperbolized story among the rank and file of the NPP, and they wish to drum home the same narrative in the ear of every Ghanaian. This is because the agenda to arrest president Mahama and subsequent prosecution is probably the single most important reason why Akufo Addo decided to put up that, arguably, most useless, criminal, and biased Office of the Special Prosecutor. But the good news is that, God is neither an Akyim Mafia nor the Cabal of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP. Fellow Ghanaians, it's an attack on our collective common sense for the Office of the Special Prosecutor to decide to resurrect the so-called Airbus Scandal involvement of the former President of the Republic of Ghana: His Excellency John Dramani Mahama. He might have seen Ghanaians as some collectible bunch of empty-headed-nonentities. How many times does the NPP government want to investigate this most baseless claims that Mr. Mahama likely took a bribe in the Airbus global scandal? An accusation capable of making Jesus Christ blush. Since 2012, the NPP has consistently tried to smear campaign the former president for nothing. Every other general election, the NPP would find an idiot to make an airy-fairy comments about investigating the Airbus Scandal. Later, the matter would be made to die a natural death until another election. The NPP seems to take delight in downplaying the intelligence and cognitive abilities of Ghanaians for the past three elections about Mahamas involvement in the Airbus scandal, and the need to resurrect the matter. Even Jesus himself didn't resurrect Lazarus twice. But I begrudge them not: hate is thick where love is thin. Its simply hatred for the former President. The NPP hate Mahama. Because all that they said about Mahama has come back to hunt and haunt them. In the land of my mothers (Dagbon), it is said that only our enemies complain of dust when we are swimming. This is how pathetic our politics has become. Hate. Envy. Enmity. Naughtiness. Fellow Ghanaians, before we delve into this matter of Airbus scandal once and for all, please consider this illustration, scenario and analogy so as to judge for yourselves whether former President Mahama's so-called involvement in that global expose was really the case or just political malice against him. Assuming you're a vice President of your organization, and a certain company wants to sell furniture to that organization. So the company decides to employ your cousin or brother as a middleman and marketing officer. And through your cousin or brother, they reached out to your organization as a company who are into the sales of furniture. If your cousin or brother reaches out to you to allow your organization to purchase furniture from his company, how does this amount to bribery if later a foreign law or policy charges the company of corruption for using influence peddling to selling to your organization? Fellow Ghanaians, are we together on this simple analogy and illustration? Again, imagine because of your wife working at a certain restaurant, you choose to always eat launch there every afternoon. And assuming as the vice President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana, UTAG, you choose to procure food and soft drinks for your group members during a program from that restaurant where your wife works. How does this amount to bribery and corruption if later it is alleged that the restaurant management employed your wife because of you in order that you could buy the food for your UTAG members from that restaurant? Now, let us assume the said restaurant belongs to an umbrella company of restaurants where a law is made to prohibit the use of influence peddling to gain clients over other restaurants within that company of restaurants. And as a result of which the restaurant that employed your wife is indicted for wrongdoing. Fellow Ghanaians, the restaurant in this analogy and scenario is the Airbus SE in aerospace industry in France; the wife in the analogy is former President Mahama's brother, Samuel Adam Mahama; and the Umbrella Company of the restaurants are the investigative agencies of the UK, USA, and France. Pay attention fellow Ghanaians. If the investigative authorities realized it was due to the employment of the wife by the restaurant which led to the vice President procuring food for the UTAG members, and decide to sanction the restaurant for breaking the law against influence peddling, how does that involve the vice President or even his wife? Isnt it the problem and trouble of the restaurant in question? Now, won't it sound stupid, complete tomfoolery, and smacks of envy, hatred, and enmity if some members of the organization think of putting up disciplinary hearing (Office Special Prosecutor) to investigate the vice president? Because of a case he has nothing to do with whatsoever? It's more interesting when that law is not even applicable to employees let alone people they know and who patronize the company because of people them. In fact, it is most interesting when neither the vice President nor his wife employed by the restaurant do not even know about any law governing this company of restaurants. In any case, do we have Ghanaians who have never bought something because of someone they know at the company or restaurant? Fellow Ghanaians and readers, if you have paid attention to the above analogy and scenario, it is in brief and summary what the so-called Airbus scandal all about. That, President Mahama's younger brother, Samuel Adam Mahama, was employed by the second largest aerospace company based in France when he was least aware of any company law governing the conduct of all companies in the Arms and aerospace industry; when Samuel Adam Mahama was least aware, that he was going to be made the company's ambassador (middleman) to Ghana so that, likely, his elder brother who was the then vice president, could influence Ghana's purchase of the company's products: Helicopters for the military of Ghana. How does that concern the then vice president, Mr. Mahama, if later it is discovered that per law, the company that hired his brother was engaged in fraud for letting the brother serve as middleman? In furtherance of this, the Airbus company was indicted for fraud because it has been a crime to use influence peddling either by offering bribes or any means to acquiring undue advantage over other companies in the industry. This law is called the Arms Exports Control Act (AETA) and its implementation known as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). And the agencies in charge of these violations were the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of the United Kingdom, Parquet National Financier (PNF) of France, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of the United States of America. All this agencies took up the matter in the interest of Arms and other related companies in the USA, France, and UK. At the end of their investigation, they established that the Airbus SE Company had engaged in this fraudulent means of marketing strategy since 2008 to 2016, that involved China, Malaysia, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Indonesia and seventeen other countries. In all this twenty-three countries, the Airbus SE Company was accused and indicted for fraudulent and unfair marketing strategies for having middlemen who had family relatives in government. But the Company sort of pleaded not guilty of the charges and decided to pay a penalty of a whopping 3.9 billion euros to these investigative agencies as fine. Fellow Ghanaians, the most pathetic aspect of this is that, while no country of all the other twenty-two countries saw the need to investigate any businessman or woman for this scandal of Airbus SE, Ghana wanted to know what role did former President Mahama play when his brother was employed by the Company and made him a middleman to selling the airplanes to Ghana? Balderdash! What impudence? I mean, what rubbish? And because of this, Akufo Addo has decided to abuse the public coffers by setting up this most useless office called the OSP to investigate it. If not envy, hate, wickedness, enmity, and severe sociopathic personality disorder, who would do this? It was interesting, and very laughable that Akufo Addo appointed Martin Amidu who has been very bitter about John Dramani Mahama's selection as a running mate to late Prof. John Atta Mills when the latter previous choice of Amidu as running mate in the 2000 and 2004 general elections didn't materialize into political fortune of winning those elections. The NPP realizing the mortal enmity with which Martin Amidu has nursed and hatched against the presidency of former Mahama (2012-2016), decided to make Amidu the Special Prosecutor purposely to crucify Mr. Mahama. But it never worked. Because this is the most useless, baseless, senseless, lawless, and mannerless case anyone can pursue. Thats why I laughed in Greek when I heard that this useless and purposeless Special Prosecutor said hes engaging Interpol on the matter. Let him engage ISIS, Al Qaeda and Boko Haram. Perhaps, Wagner. Nkwasiasem nkuaa! Ghanaians should therefore not be surprised and flabbergasted the NPP keeps bringing the issue ad nauseam. Amidu failed flat! That is what has led to the recent marketing of ignorance and idiocy by the current stomach Special Prosecutor who pathologically chooses to rehash that nonsense again when he claims to have engaged Interpol. If not ignorance at its zenith, how can a "lame duck" of such unrealistic prosecutorial power and Lilliputian engage Interpol? Does the OSP think INTERPOL is a Vigilante group and vandals of the NPP? Nonsense! Let the Special Prosecutor engage Interpol to unveil the mystery surrounding the sighting of Ghana Ambulances at Dubai. I pity the man and his miserable office. Undoubtedly, this is the only way the Special Prosecutor can also get to make himself relevant and to seek an undue attention as one of the famous ass and bootlickers of President Akufo Addo. Let no Ghanaian pay attention to any useful idiot! But you see, it is amazing how politics laced with hatred, envy and enmity can actually render some fine brains and flag of intelligent individuals who would have been prioritized national assets to be very stupid people. Because of their malicious agenda to adulterate and tarnish the political image and fortunes of others. Methinks our case in Ghana is not what it means by "politics is a dirty game"; this is outright envy and enmity that takes politics beyond being a dirty game into a "gutter game." Apparently, the Office of the Special Prosecutor was created for Airbus Scandal and to hunt political opponents. Otherwise, it's a common knowledge in the general air, that if the Justice system of Ghana were just, persons like grandfather Akufo Addo wouldn't have become the president of Ghana and mess up our affairs big time like this. For they would have been companions of Nsawam longtime ago. Let the OSP engage Interpol to unveil the circumstances surrounding the death of Ahmed Suale, JB Danquah, and Mohammed Kaaka. Did someone just mention the unprecedented corruption that has led to the collapse of the Ghanaian economy? Won't the Special Prosecutor engage France, UK, US to find out what did Ghana government do with IMF 2 billion dollars support to Ghana; our own internal Covid-19 Funds; how come we are where we are today as an economy? Nonsense! May God protect every innocent Ghanaian from these official criminals, and hold them to account severely. As for former President John Dramani Mahama, the similitude of anyone who hates, fights, and plots, his political come back as the next president of the republic of Ghana come January 2025, is like one who is throwing dust into the sky in order to stain the heavens: it's his face that would get dirty with severe glaucoma. In Sha Allah, former President John Dramani Mahama shall return as the president of Ghana. The skeptics, haters and phobes alike can burn the sea. Once again, the Minority in Parliament has boycotted business activities within Parliament in a display of support for the trial of James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament for Assin North. The High Court in Accra is scheduled to deliver a ruling on the application for a stay of proceedings in the case involving the legislator, who is facing charges of forgery and perjury. Lawyers representing the embattled MP have filed a request for the court to suspend proceedings, allowing the Court of Appeal to review the trial judge's decision to conduct the case on a daily basis. In a show of solidarity, the Minority caucus has chosen to forego participation in Parliamentary proceedings and accompany their fellow member to the court. This is the second instance where Minority MPs have abstained from Parliamentary work to accompany their colleague. The Minority caucus asserts that Mr. Gyakye Quayson's trial is unjust and calls for the Attorney General and Minister for Justice to drop the charges against him. Classfmonline.com West African heads of states have chosen Nigeria's newly elected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the Ecowas regional bloc for the next year, replacing Guinea-Bissau's leader Umaro Sissoco Embalo. Speaking at a summit in Bissau after being named chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, Tinubu said at the weekend that democracy was "the best form of government," despite being "very tough to manage". The recently elected Nigerian president added, "We need it, to be an example to the rest of Africa and the world. We will not allow coup after coup in West Africa." Three Ecowas members Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso have undergone five putsches since 2020. Omar Alieu Touray, president of the Ecowas commission, urged the ruling juntas in those countries to respect agreed-upon deadlines to hand over power to civilian rule. "In the event of a failure to meet the transition deadlines, major sanctions could be imposed," Touray said. Mali tops Ecowas agenda This comes as the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) agreed on Saturday to lift Mali's suspension from the organisation, imposed in January 2022 over the military's timeline for returning to civilian rule. Ecowas had also imposed a range of measures against the military leaders in Bamako, but lifted them in July 2022 after the junta agreed to hold democratic elections by March 2024. Meanwhile, Touray also said Ecowas had set up a commission to examine security options in Mali as the UN winds down its decade-long MINUSMA peacekeeping mission there. The commission reportedly has 90 days to reflect and make proposals on the situation in the country. Since 2012, Mali been battling a jihadist insurgency that has since spread to Burkina Faso and Niger. Tinubu who was sworn in as president of Africa's largest economy in May said Ecowas members would pursue "inclusive" economic integration in the year ahead. "We should serve a warning to exploiters that our people have suffered enough," he said on Sunday. "I am with you -- and Nigeria, we are back." Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah has said they feel vindicated by the dismissal of the application filed by Member of Parliament for Assin North James Gyakye Quayson against his daily trial. Mr Tuah-Yeboah stated that the court was interested in the facts of the matter vis-a-vis what the law says and not the political gimmicks. An Accra High Court on Tuesday, July 11 dismissed the application filed by Assin North Member of Parliament James Gyakye Quayson seeking to halt the daily trial. His lawyers say they will file a motion at the Court of Appeal. Earlier, his lawyer Mr Tsatsu Tsikata argued in court that his client was on a national assignment when the Assin North by-election, was approaching, citing Article 55(13) of the 1992 Constitution to have his application granted. Speaking on this matter in an interview with the press in court, Mr Tuah-Yeboah said we feel vindicated, this is a court of law, it is not a court of political gimmicks or razmataz, it is for us to speak law and talk law in court. we spoke law and we have been vindicated. The trial is going to continue on Friday, Friday ur witness will be in court and continue with the cross-examination. Regarding the decision by the lawyers of Mr Quasyon to file the stay of proceedings, he said It is within their right to do so but their filing does not automatically stays the proceedings of the trial, if they file we will respond accordingly. To us, we are dealing with law, we are not dealing with sentiments, we are not dealing with politics in court, politics belongs to the political platforms, law belongs to the court, we are in court to talk law and not politics. 3news.com 11.07.2023 LISTEN Builsa South Member of Parliament Dr Clement Apaak has said reports he is receiving indicate that the free WI-FI for Senior High Schools is not benefiting the students and teachers. To that end, the Ranking Member on the Committee of Education said he has filed an urgent question to the Minister of Education to provide answers to this report. His comments come at a time a report issued by the African Education Watch (Eduwatch) has indicated that about 78 percent of the 138 Senior High Schools (SHSs) that responded that were surveyed did not have functioning Wi-Fi despite the rollout of the free WI-FI programme. The report stated that a random sample of 150 SHSs out of the 717 that received connectivity was undertaken, out of which 138 (92%) of key informants who are staff of the schools responded to the survey instrument. Data verification was conducted in 20 per cent of responding schools. Data was collected from 24th May to 5th June 2023. The schools include St. Augustine's College, Presby Boys SHS Legon, Bishop Herman College, St. John's Grammar SHS, Ejisu Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Bekwai SHS, Bolgatanga Technical Institute, Akatsi SHTS, Wa SHS, and Ola SHS, among others. However, in 22 per cent of the schools, including Bongo SHS, Krachi SHS, Akuse Methodist SHTS, Akrofuom SHTS, Amenfiman SHS, Manya Krobo SHS, Kurofa Methodist SHS, Odupong SHS, J. E. A Mills SHS, and St. Mary's Seminary SHS, the Wi-Fi facility was working and accessible. Follow-up interviews conducted by the researchers with key informants in schools with functioning Wi-Fi indicated that the Wi-Fi was useful in facilitating learning at the computer laboratories, while enabling teachers to access internet for academic research from their office desks without having to commute to computer lab. Administratively, communication is enhanced, using email systems. The only challenge was limited coverage, as many Wi-Fi signals were only accessible at the administrative and ICT departments, excluding classrooms. This meant, teachers, while teaching, could not access the Wi-Fi, the report added. The second question on when the free Wi-Fi stopped working was posed in the survey to enable Eduwatch appreciate how long the state may have been paying for Wi-Fi services SHS were not enjoying. In its observation, the report said the free Wi-Fi facility has enhanced access to Internet for academic research and administrative communication. However, given that the MoE incurs a monthly cost of GHC 6.3 million on the programme, the fact that two-thirds of sampled SHS did not have functioning Wi-Fi, with some having down time spanning over a year, gives a strong indication of low programme efficiency. Interventions to improve programme efficiency are critically required. Regarding recommendations, it said The Ministry of Education must strengthen the system for verifying the quality of service provided by Busy Internet Ghana Ltd., based on which payments are made for their service. This must include monthly reports from all user institutions on the functioning of their Wi-Fi facilities. Secondly, efforts must be made to extend the Wi-Fi coverage to classrooms. This will ensure real time access to the internet by teachers when teaching. Finally, a performance audit must be commissioned by the Auditor-General into the free WiFi programme to ascertain its full-scale efficiency and advise accordingly. Commenting on this on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 Monday, July 10, Dr Apaak said For the past two years I have been filing questions seeking clarity, seeking investigations, and seeking details regarding the governments policy to provide free WI-FI to public senior high schools, and so I welcome this research done by Africa Education Watch although what has been put out is not exhaustive. For example, we know that we have in excess of 730 senior high schools and TVET schools in Ghana, we are aware that the government has indicated that it has provided free WI-FI to all of the schools as far as we are concerned. At the same time, I have gone on to file a series of questions seeking more details with regard to this policy because I have been receiving complaints and reports from both teachers, instructors, and students from across the country to the effect that the free WI-FI is not in use, it is not benefiting the students. So one of the questions is that, I have asked, for which am hoping the minister will provide answers to, the number of Secondary and TVET schools in Ghana currently enjoying the free WIFI on the basis of the governments programme and policy to provide free WIFI to secondary and TVET schools. It is recalled that in 2020, Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia announced that the next administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would provide SHS and tertiary institutions across the country with free Wifi. Speaking at the manifesto launch of the party, Bawumia said this was to boost learning among students and broaden the scope of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) education and research. He said The process has started and a contract has already been awarded. ECG is also leveling its fibre network across the country adding that the government is expecting the work on the free wifi initiative to be completed by the year 2021. To that end, the Minister of Communications, Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful, said the government's policy to roll-out free internet for Senior High schools in the country has been achieved. I can happily announce that 90% of Senior High Schools in the country have been connected to free Wi-Fi. The challenge now is how to replicate that in the Junior High schools as the Education Ministry seeks to introduce blended learning (a mixture of virtual learning and face to face) and so we will need to put in place the infrastructure to support such. It is one of our priority areas, she said in a Facebook post. 3news.com Dear Dad, I am sorely disheartened by a mismanaged and bankrupt Ghana led by H.E. Akufo Addo "Corruptionocracy" of the Akyems, by the Akyems and for the Akyems and their dubious NPP beneficiaries who have strenuously attached your name and image to their current NPP shameless autocratic misgovernance, in a classic betrayal. They do not understand that your blood speaks through me, that your legendary spirit of humility and dedicated selfless service, is not at peace with their impudent and arrogant misrule. I fail to see the honour in their lip-service to your legacy without genuine substantive engagament to your ethical, common humanity and nation - building ideals. Certainly, the H.E. J. A Kufour led gathering that will discuss your Continuing Relevance in a corner of the dubbed "Waa Waa hotel" on this your would be 110th birthday, today, 11th July 2023 , to placate their own egos would be a consequential anomaly. Surely, dear Dad, I have direct knowledge of the National Security betrayal of Ghana that occured in the secret vaults of the Kufour Administration and the sheer wickedness that resulted in the sacrificial untimely death of your son, my brother Nana Gyasi Busia over documents in his custody necessary for their cover - up, which occurred when I was Legal Counsel to National Security with small arms control as part of my portfolio. There is definately no Busia respite in any choking needless fake tears that will be shed on your behalf today by NPP's secretive evil forces. Dear Dad, I know first hand the national security compromise of HE. Akufo - Addo as Foreign Minister with Francis Poku's hocus Pocus national security just so he could become President at all cost, it didn't matter if Ghana became prey to armed insurrection! I do know about the political disservice that is wreaked by key politicians and family allies who seek to package you into a corner and have monopoly over you, 'ie.the Busia image capture' for national benefits they can Seize. I know them Dad, your so called wolves in sheep clothing self -ordained proteges without your approval. I am not impressed by their public K.A. Busia charade as needed for whatever political gain that can be Squeezed. Damirifa Due dear dad, I posit without equivocation, that any proper, contextual re-appraisal of your bold instructive role in pre- independent Ghana, your bullish stance for afrocentric not euro centric democracy, your sincere and strategic policies in governance viewed objectively vindicate you. This is in spite of naysayers who distort your historic record and deliberately falsify facts. Thanks to an NPP that has made you a soft target in a Ghana that is today owned and controlled by foreign interests; a self destructive galamsey nation that operates without ideational scruples with a huge non productive civil / public service that swallows up its revenue streams while living on borrowed funds. This is not the Ghana that you worked towards and hoped for. What indeed is the financial sense of a Ghana that misunderstood devaluation of the cedi, applauded yentua, now come full cirle in 2023 still in abject shameful debt under IMF colonial patronage yet full of dust throwing "we have the men fluff". What has this got to do with K.A.Busia 45 years after your death. Dear Dad, let me posit on a happy unequivocal note that Your Ideational Intellect and continental AFRICANIST mindset is still evident in your own eloquent voice for posterity ; you are your own best advocate. You do not need re-invention. You left blueprints dedicated to the continent of Africa's eternal youth, in ideals, values and principles which still speak for a better socio-polical and economically emancipated Africa. On this note it is noteworthy and a gratifying time honored hallmark of your 110th birthday that on May 8, 2023 Routledge Released a 3 voume set titled "K. A. BUSIA ON AFRICA" comprising: 1.The Challenge of Africa, 2. Africa in Search of Democracy & 3.PURPOSEFUL Education for Africa", all duly written in exile to "contemplate an Africa undergoing rapid social change... Together they act as testimony ...to the centrality of TRADITIONAL African IDeologies & Practices to comprehend the influence of Native institutions and systems of thought on the modern state and reflect their role in creating a healthy democratic environment. The principles K. A. Busia taught as a sociologist and scholar continue to live on in the influences he made in African Studies in particular to the extent that his name became a SHORTHAND for the establishment of free Democratic traditions in Ghana today" . Thank you Yesu." s3 Mo nyi no ay3 a, Enma mo nsei ni din". How on earth can K.A. Busia be a western stooge traitor? Please do not attempt to destroy the crendentials of a divinely blessed Kofi Busia who through inordinate suffering, nonetheless served his nation and continent well to international acclaim. Dear Dad, what would indeed honour your contemporary relevance, is, an inspirational and inclusive NPP good governance in a fast developing and flourishing Ghana, not a recalcitrant NPP with a lost leadership that runs the economy aground and refuses to cut the size of a government with a monstrous belly that is drowning the nation with not much to show for false promises with which they bought their way to power. Dear Dad, The selfish gang of "all die be die" misleaders who recently sent armed uniformed police thugs to rattle me at my residence with pointed guns do not know your heart for Ghana the way I do, they do not understand your *implacable essence that is my being, they are certainly clueless about selfless patriotism I am minded to inquire, How does H. E. Akufo Addo and his nation wrecking bunch, perched high on their misguided jubilee House rafters, with control power levers in a floundering Ghana in economic tatters honor a Busia milieu? Dear Dad , I am certainly thankful for well meaning truely loyal Busiast who love you and appreciate your distinguished legacy, those whose good faith is banished to the edges of the NPP and are unable to make their input felt on a national scale because they care not for nefarious deals in a supposed UP tradtion that has been ambushed by non UP elements. Indeed, what is the point of the discussion of your relevance 45 years after your death by a so called Busia institute led by Anane Agyei commercialising your legacy while contemptous of consultative processes as integral to democratic governance with an institute that has tagged your name on a thin intellectual tailcoat, oblivious of what you stood stallwart and risked your life in Ghana's opposition leading up to independence for. Your mission was to caution, to offer reasoned, objective alternatives on a time tested cultural principle of " Tikoro nko Agyina " as a foundational precept. As opined by Routledge, You were a man of Thought, forced by Circumtances to be A man of Action". On what stilted grounds does Anane Agyei derive validity as a Busia spokesperson when he and his sponsors so palpably misunderstand what you stood for ? Dear dad, isnt it interesting that a hypocritical President Akufo Addo, a veritable Danquaist by blood and inclination, in a desperate search for undeserving accolades was recently seen inaugurating a refurbished Nkrumah Mausoleum to rub false shoulders with the grandiose Osagyefo stature! I wonder what the Osagyefo Dr. Nkrumah would think of this rumoured expensive refurbishment by a broke Ghana when his Tema Oil Refinery " TOR" for instance has been rendered non- functional and about to be cannibalised by a clueless Torrentco Asset management fronting an insanity grab under Akufo Addo watch, but I digress. Dear Dad, On this your 110th birth anniversary, your solid soothing voice is not dimmed. K.A Busia on Africa revisited above has clarity about the Africa you envisaged in your own words as evident in the legal concept of " Res IPsa loquitor" . ie. The matter speaks for itself. Dear Dad , I end this letter by wishing Ghana, socio- political and economic enlightenment as well as mental freedom. I hope patriotism will be revived and the bubbling angry discontent that is so evident in our body politic will not overun and disrupt our Peaceful facade. Accept my Eternal Salute Papa Your Ever Loving Daughter Email : [email protected] yahoo.com The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, has pledged to cooperate with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to regulate the petroleum downstream industry in the region. He said his support was to enable the Authority to discharge its statutory mandate effectively to ensure consumers of petroleum products get quality petroleum products at the right price and quantity. Mr. Letsa was speaking in Ho when the new NPAs Volta Regional Manager, Mr. Godwin Yaw Konu, paid a courtesy call on him at his office. Mr Konu was at the office to introduce himself as the NPA Volta Regional Manager who had taken responsibility for the administration of the NPA in the Volta and Oti regions. The meeting also discussed several issues relative to the petroleum downstream industry in the Volta region. Receiving the delegation, Dr. Letsa pledged his support and that of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council to the NPA in the region to succeed in its operations. On his part, the NPA Volta Regional Manager, Mr Godwin Yaw Konu explained the mandate of the NPA is to regulate, oversee and monitor the activities of the downstream petroleum industry. Mr Konu indicated that, the NPA regional office exist to further the overall vision of the Authority in the region to ensure that economic growth and development is not hindered. As such, the regional office would facilitate the speedy growth of the downstream petroleum industry in the Volta Region to meet the growing petroleum needs of consumers in the region, particularly those in underserved and hard to reach communities. According to Mr Konu, the regional office would ensure that petroleum service providers comply with the various guidelines, rules and regulations set out for operators in the downstream petroleum industry. The regional office would hold the various operators in the region to the prescribed standards on health, safety and environment management. The regional office, Mr Konu indicated, prioritise the needs of petroleum consumers and protect their various interests with respect to quality, quantity and pricing of petroleum products offered for sale by petroleum products retail outlets. Mr Konu assured the Regional Minister that, the NPA and by extension the regional office operates a robust monitoring regime to protect the interest of petroleum consumers in the region. Consequently, petroleum consumers should be rest assured that they are receiving the right quantity of petroleum products, at the right price, at the right quantity, at the various retail outlets they interface with. In attendance at the meeting were Mr Augustus Awity, Chief Director of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, Mr Michael Kwasi Dadza, Special Assistant to the Hon Minister and Mr Forster Honu, Public Relations Officer of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council. Voters in Madagascar will go to the polls by the end of the year to re-elect President Andry Rajoelina or pick a successor, the government announced Tuesday. "The head of government summons voters to the polls," on November 9 for the "first round of presidential election", and on "December 20 for the second round, if there is one", said a statement from Prime Minister Christian Ntsay's office. The dates had already been proposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The vote comes at a tense time on the large Indian Ocean island amid questions around Rajoelina's dual nationality. Rajoelina, who won the last vote in December 2018, in an election beset by fraud allegations, was born in Antsirabe, a town in central Madagascar, but was secretly naturalised in France in 2014. Under local law if a person acquires foreign citizenship, he or she automatically loses the Madagascan nationality, and cannot stand for public office in any election. But Rajoelina's TGV party is vigorously disputing the interpretation of the law saying his dual citizenship does not stand in the way of his candidacy. A former mayor of Antananarivo, the 49-year-old Rajoelina, first came to power in 2009, ousting Marc Ravalomanana with the backing of the military. He returned to the presidency in 2019, after beating archrival Ravalomanana in the 2018 two-round election. The opposition and rights groups accuse his government of stifling dissent in one of the poorest nations in the world. Interior Minister Ambrose Derry says government is impressed with the performance of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare dismissing reports of plot to remove him from office. We should dismiss such reports with contempt. Theres no plot to remove anybody, as far as Im concerned he is doing a good job, he told the media in Parliament on Tuesday. The comments come in the wake of a leaked audio in which a top police officer is heard plotting with an alleged senior member of the governing New Patriotic Party for the removal of the IGP. The Police officer is heard telling the politician that the IGP is too firm and will not allow machinations in next years polls if he is not removed. He further noted that the nature of security the IGP provided during the Assin North by election shows he will not allow any rigging in the polls. This IGP wont help us. He wont, he wants everything to be done fairly and we dont win elections that way. If we dont remove him we cant break the 8, in politics we need machinations and this IGP wont allow that, the top police officer is heard saying. He also stated that the President has refused to listen to his appeals to replace the IGP. The President is not listening; I have been telling him. Even if they dont want to give me the job, they should give it to another person but they want to listen. Classfmonline.com This week, a group of mostly old men from individual West African States, making up the ECOWAS heads of states, have once again carried out the yearly ritual of gathering in one capital in the principality. They gather to present a show of relevancy known as ECOWAS meeting. This week, these old and mostly ugly black West Africans( they don't come more uglier than own in the Flagstaff House). They had gathered in another dusty, wretched, smelly, and poverty-stricken country called Guinea Bissau . They were there to apparently discuss and find solutions to West Africa's problems. This remote-controlled repeats of yearly rituals designed just for the aesthetic value unlike the assured relevant and positive results that accrues after European heads meeting in Brussels. Trust, after the talking and handshakes, not much will be achieved from this Guinea Bissau summit. This is because immediately after the nice neighbourly handshakes, almost each of those West Africa heads will then have to report to their superiors in Europe and in America, in Saudi Arabia, and in China for approval. This wasteful, yearly ECOWAS durbar of mostly men with corrupt mindset is set to continue with no significant achievements because our leaders are not in control of any happenings in our regional. This meeting in Guinea Bissau is another unnecessary exercise in futility because majority of the 14 or 15 heads of states who gathered in the capital village of Guinea Bissau, over 90% of them still have the colonial dependency mindsets which compels them to have their heavy savings in European or American banks. Our African heads of states have their best hospitals in Europe or in America. They have their good educational institutions, for their families located in either Berlin, Paris, London, or New York. They have very expensive private mansions located, you know where. On the other hand, European and American politicians will have their savings, not in Africa. Their children do not enrol in expensive universities in Africa, so huge academic fees do not flow into Africa. The European and American politicians have all their institutions of health, schools, good banks, bad banks, and their manufacturing bases, all located in their own neighbourhood. In essence, they have control over their own destinies. Quite simple. But with the colonised black African mentality of having all your best things located thousands of miles from home. With such voluntary repatriation of massive capital(wealth) from Africa shores to the northern hemispheres since times of slavery, during colonial periods and up till now, how on earth do we expect to arrive at solutions to our collective predicament. Honestly, this ecowas summit will not amount to much. We as blacks depend too much on others. That's why. Just think about it. Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh 11.07.2023 LISTEN On October 10, 2023, Liberia will witness its 4th postwar democratic elections, where more than two million registered voters will choose their leaders for the next six years. Some 1.4 million voters (provisional yet) will cast their ballots at approximately 2080 voting centers to elect 90 individuals for the presidency and legislature. These newly elected leaders will join 15 sitting senators (elected in 2020), resulting in a total of 105 elected leaders for the country's approximately 5 million people. As the country and its people prepare for this imperative milestone, it is essential to acknowledge the significant role and responsibilities of the Liberian media in ensuring a transparent, informed, and successful electoral process. The media's role in democratic processes worldwide is crucial, and Liberia is no exception. In fact, without the media, no democratic elections is possible. The media serves as a vital link between candidates, parties, and the electorate. In the upcoming Liberian elections, the media will have the responsibility of providing unbiased coverage, offering a platform for political discourse, and ensuring equal representation for all candidates. By doing so, it facilitates an informed electorate, enabling voters to make decisions based on comprehensive and reliable information provided by and through the media. This is why, in the lead-up to the 2023 General and Presidential Elections in Liberia, the media assumes multiple roles that are critical to the success of the democratic process. Beyond merely reporting on campaigns and other electoral processes, the media serves as a campaign platform, an open forum for debate and discussion, and a public educator, playing a vital role in fostering an informed and engaged electorate. In its function as a campaign platform, political candidates and parties rely on the media to disseminate their messages to a wide audience. Through professional news coverage, interviews, and advertisements, the media offers candidates an opportunity to present their platforms and engage with the electorate. This platform is invaluable in leveling the playing field, allowing candidates from different backgrounds, regardless of their sizes and resources, to reach voters and compete based on ideas and merits. As a platform for political debate, our media must act as an unbiased platform for political discourse, facilitating open deliberations and providing equal coverage to all candidates and parties, while creating avenues for citizens to voice their opinions and engage with political issues. Through televised debates, radio call-in shows, and online discussions (particularly on Facebook), the media facilitates the exchange of ideas, allowing voters to hear different perspectives and make informed decisions. This open forum fosters a vibrant democracy, where diverse voices are heard, and critical issues are debated in the public sphere. 'Moreover, the media acts as a public educator, playing a crucial role in informing citizens about the electoral process, political parties, and candidates. Through investigative reporting, analysis of policy proposals, and fact-checking (which is more necessary than ever), the Liberian media empowers voters with the knowledge they need to make informed choices on October 10. By providing accurate and reliable information, the Liberian media will serve as a safeguard against misinformation and help voters navigate the complexities of the political landscape. Professionalism and ethical standards, which seem to be slipping away in some instances, mean a lot to the media's journey in these elections and the country's democratic success. This calls for the media to strive to maintain professionalism and uphold ethical standards. It should verify information before dissemination, fact-check claims made by politicians (many of whom will tell deadly and devilish lies), and avoid sensationalism or biased reporting. The absence of these journalistic virtues can detrimentally impact the democratic process by misleading citizens into making wrong decisions and regretting them later. The media should avoid being the culprit for any wrong decision the electorate makes by reporting nothing but the facts. Our media must understand that objectivity and accuracy are crucial in fostering a well-informed electorate, enabling citizens to make sound decisions based on reliable information. Undoubtedly, it goes without saying that the Liberian media also faces prospects and challenges as it embarks on this electoral journey. One of the prospects lies in its potential to create an engaged and politically aware citizenry. Through its coverage, the media can educate voters about the importance of their participation, promote voter registration (as it recently did), and encourage peaceful and fair elections. Moreover, it can serve as a platform for marginalized voices, amplifying the concerns of various communities and fostering inclusivity in the political process. I have been watching and following several media entities playing these roles. For example, Okay FM's Morning Rush talk show has given voices to Liberians from all walks of life to express their views about the electoral process and their participation. At some points, special telephone lines have been set aside for women to express their views, while the station has given exclusive airtime to women aspirants to express their political desires to the public. More of these feats are required not just for women but other marginalized groups and smaller political parties as a way of strengthening our democracy. Nevertheless, challenges exist that must be addressed. The media in Liberia often grapples with limited resources, including financial constraints and inadequate training. These obstacles can hinder its ability to provide comprehensive coverage, conduct investigative journalism, and maintain independence. Journalists require the necessary tools and skills to navigate the complexities of election reporting effectively. Additionally, a serious challenge is the potential influence of powerful interests on media outlets, which could compromise their impartiality and undermine the integrity of the electoral process. While there are media outlets and journalists committed to upholding high ethical standards and providing accurate and balanced reporting, there are many instances of unprofessional conduct, including biased reporting, lack of fact-checking, and sensationalism fostered by external influence. For example, according to research, some 15 media entities in Liberia are owned by politicians, some of whom are running in these elections. These politicians will obviously, to a greater extent, control and dictate the contents of these stations that they founded and fund. They could give directives on talk show topics and censor what goes on their radio stations. Practicing true journalism on these stations, without satisfying the whims and caprices of their owners overtly or covertly, will amount to a breach of the station's "editorial policy." With politicians owning and controlling media entities, we can expect, at some point in time, to see the proliferation of "political journalists" and propagandists who will twist the news, talk show topics, and discussions to favor their godfathers. Such practices can undermine public trust in the media and hinder the development of a well-informed citizenry and even undermine democracy. It's a challenge we must grapple with. To overcome these challenges and harness the media's full potential, it is imperative for the National Elections Commission (NEC), development partners, and media empowerment organizations to empower the media. Training programs focused on election reporting can enhance journalists' skills and equip them to navigate the electoral landscape effectively. Financial support through training, investigative and business development grants for media organizations is essential to ensure sustainable and independent journalism. Let us not be dismissive of the crucial roles that media development organizations like Internews and the Center for Peace Building and Media Studies have played now and then, but more needs to be done with more emphasis on covering campaign rallies and election day reporting. The instability or poor level of staff retention in the mainstream media accounts for why more of these refresher and specific training is required. Many of those trained in the past are no longer in the mainstream and have been replaced by younger or newer journalists, most of whom are novices in reporting, let alone covering special areas like elections. But training and financial support aren't the only aspects. Fostering an enabling environment that respects press freedom and protects journalists from harassment or intimidation is crucial. The media needs space to function, and being hostile to the media to the extent that its functioning is seriously undermined undermines the "democratic-ness" of the very democratic process. That is why NEC can be applauded for terminating the services of one of its contracted staff, Thomas Bryant, who physically assaulted journalist Diamond Slanger of Spoon Communications Network on March 21, 2023, during the voter registration exercises. "The Commission condemns in the strongest terms the attack on Journalist Diamond N. Slanger... by an electoral supervisor known as Thomas Bryant... The Commission will not condone these acts of violence... and has therefore terminated the services of Mr. Bryant with immediate effect," NEC Chair Davidetta Brown Lansanah told a press conference. This was a welcome decision that signified that the media needs freedom to work to cover the elections and report to the public. More of this is required. Collaboration between the media, civil society organizations, and the National Elections Commission is pivotal in the pending elections. Together, they can work towards promoting transparency, accountability, and fairness in the electoral process. By recognizing the media as a vital stakeholder, all parties involved can contribute to a successful and credible election that reflects the will of the Liberian people. Certainly, as Liberia prepares for the October 10 elections, the media's role takes center stage. By fulfilling their responsibilities with professionalism, adhering to ethical obligations, and receiving support from relevant authorities, the Liberian media can play a pivotal role in shaping the country's democratic future. An empowered media not only safeguards the integrity of the electoral process but also strengthens the foundations of democracy, fostering a more inclusive and prosperous Liberia for all its citizens. Even though the process still seems lukewarm at this time compared to the three previous post-war democratic elections, it is crystal clear that there's no turning back. It will happen on October 10! The media must neither sleep nor flutter! By Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh *About The Author: Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh is a journalism, media, and communication professional with over two decades of experience. He lectures Journalism at the University of Liberia. He earned an MSc in Media and Communication Studies at Lund University in Sweden, a BA in Mass Communication at the University of Liberia and Diploma in Journalism from the International School of Journalism. Hes UN Media Fellow and former Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General of the Press Union of Liberia. He also manages Communications at the Liberia Revenue Authority, contributing to domestic resource mobilization for Liberia. WhatsApp +231777586531/[email protected] Government has strongly refuted allegations of a clandestine scheme to oust the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, from his position prior to the 2024 general elections. A leaked tape has surfaced, uncovering a plot involving a high-ranking police officer and a member of the New Patriotic Party, aimed at removing the IGP. The motive behind this plot appears to be the concern that Dr. Dampare could impede efforts to manipulate the outcome of the 2024 elections. In response to these claims, the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, addressing a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, dismissed the allegations, urging the public to disregard them as baseless and unfounded. He maintained that there is no such plot against the Inspector General of Police, emphasizing the importance of upholding the integrity and independence of the police force during the electoral process. Tapes will be useful if they relate to a crime, but otherwise No. But I havent made that determination whether this is criminal or not. Let me make it absolutely clear that this government is not going to tamper with the 2024 elections. The president does not want to stay one more hour beyond his term. We also want to make sure that we have a free and fair election, he said. Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has urged the government to thoroughly investigate a leaked tape which suggests that the government aims at rigging the upcoming General Elections following the planned removal of the IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare. Speaking to journalists, the Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, James Agalga said such comments pass for treason hence the need for urgent action to be taken by the government to deal with it. Builsa North Member of Parliament James Agalga has told the Minister for Interior Ambrose Dery to investigate the audio recording that captures persons suspected to be members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) allegedly plotting to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare from office. Mr Agalga who is a member of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament said the action of the one behind the take is treasonable and hence must be investigated thoroughly. The former Deputy Interior Minister told journalists in Parliament on Tuesday, July 11 that If the audio is authenticated then it will mean that there are people within the government circus, the NPP, who have resorted to evil machinations to subvert the will of the electorate in 2024. That for me, is an important revelation that must be taken very seriously. The actions of the one behind that audio, for me, pass for treason and this matter must be dealt with as such, it passes for treason, it is an attempt to subvert the will of the Ghanaian people in 2024, and the ramifications can be very dire. We do not dismiss what has been said, the revelations in that audio are very serious and so for me, rather than dismiss what is contained in the audio, I will urge the Interior Minister to take steps very quickly to get to the bottom of the matter and persons suspected to be responsible for that audio need to be investigated. Meanwhile, the Minister for the Interior Ambrose Dery has dismissed reports that stalwarts of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) are scheming to remove the Inspector General of Police. There is no plot to remove anybody, he told journalists in Accra on Tuesday, July 11. He added I can assure you that I serve a president who is committed and has respect for human rights. Under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo we will make sure that 2024 is peaceful. One thing to be sure, 2024 will not be a violent election by anybody and no one will want to thwart the will of the people. If you vote us in, you vote us in, if you vote us out, you vote us out. Portions of an audio that allegedly captures the plot to remove Dr Dampare said that Alhaji, my only problem this current IGP if we do a mistake and take him to the elections, it will not help us. It will not help us at all and I will not mind if the position is not given to me but that man is changed; because he will not help us, he will not help us at all he won't help the party at all. I know there are others who are also good for this position, if I don't get and this man is changed and those people that we think they are our men get I (it is ok)t Because we need to break this 8. That is important, we need to break the 8 Because I wouldn't want doctor to become the flagbearer and then we lose the elections one of the senior officers told the senior NPP members who is believed to be a former regional chairman of the party and now a traditional ruler. 3news.com Lawyer Kwame Jantuah, a leading member of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has registered his disapproval of the National Democratic Congress' continuous boycott of business in parliament. According to Mr. Jantuah, there are better ways than holding parliament to ransom. In an interview on GHONE TV on July 11, he stated, If any of the 137 Members of Parliament intend to do what they are doing now shouldnt they have gone back to their constituency and their constituency members that this is the reason why we want to take such actions and let the constituency members give them the go-ahead to do it and then they come to parliament and show the evidence of the people agreeing that they should go on a boycott? But no. The last time they did this parliament didnt sit to whose detriment? to the people! In the court the law lies in the bosom of the judge, Attorney General Godfred Dame also feels that some of the comments that are being made on this case can intimidate the prosecution lawyer. Let the big shots in NDC go to court and sit there. President Mahama is there, let them go to court that will even have a stronger impact than what they are currently doing, Lawyer Kwame Jantuah stated. Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quaysons application for a stay of proceedings has been dismissed by an Accra High Court. An Accra High Court has adjourned the trial involving Alhaji Collins Dauda, a former Water Resources, Works, and Housing minister and four others to enable the State to produce its first prosecution witness. The prosecution led by Madam Hilda Craig, the Principal State Attorney informed the Court that the witness; Reverend Stephen Yaw Osei, the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works, and Housing was currently on a National Assignment with the President outside Accra. Other persons standing trial over the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project are Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, also a former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, a former Chief Director of the ministry, Mr Andrew Clocanas, Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, Chief Executive Officer, and owner of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited. They are facing 70 charges. They are said to have willfully caused financial loss to the state over the $200M sum approved for the project. They have all pleaded not guilty and have been granted bail. Justice Ernest Owusu Dapaah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court judge told the parties that the trial had to be adjourned because the defence had filed separate motions. He said the Court would also ascertain the orders made for the State to file further disclosures sought by the defence. They are yet to serve the application on the prosecution, who have said they would not be able to express their opinion on the motion unless those disclosures were served on them. The trial was adjourned to July 26, 2023. Some bigwigs from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were in court to solidarize with their members. They include Dr Dominic Ayine, a former Deputy Attorney General, Dr Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle constituency, Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu Constituency, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, MP for Tamale Central, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare a Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and Kwabena Donkor, MP for the Pru East constituency, GNA In Angola's Malanje province, the buildings of Camalundu stand abandoned amid open fields. On one of them, the fragmented words IAN NGOYI recall a figure little-known in Angola but familiar to South Africans: anti-apartheid leader Lilian Ngoyi . These large letters partly hide some words that were painted previously. From the faded letters that are visible, I could make out some words apparently in Spanish. These layers of paint texts of South Africa's then liberation movement, the African National Congress (ANC), on top of Cuban texts painted on Portuguese colonial buildings illustrate the changing uses of the site over the years. Over the past three years I have been part of a project called Global Soldiers in the Cold War . We study the international exchanges of ideas about soldiering and politics that resulted from the interlinked liberation struggles and civil conflicts across southern Africa in the 1970s and 1980s. As part of this research I visited some of the sites where liberation soldiers were trained in Angola. The sites provide a rare tangible record of the international solidarity that existed during the Cold War: solidarity that prompted Cuba to provide civilian and military expertise to Angola's MPLA-led government and to liberation movements from Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The liberation movements looked not only to their own countries' histories but to earlier struggles in Cuba and Vietnam for ideas and inspiration. Read more: A new narrative unfolds about South Africa's protracted war in Angola After taking control of independent Angola in 1975, the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola ( MPLA ) still fighting a civil war against its rival, National Union for the Total Independence of Angola ( Unita ) gave refuge to liberation fighters from Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. The apartheid regime in South Africa, determined to undermine the liberation movements, provided military support to Unita in order to weaken the MPLA. Both the MPLA and the exiled movements enjoyed the support of Cuban and Soviet military advisers . Camalundu, established by the colonial government as an agricultural training centre, was used by the MPLA first as a civilian and later as a military training centre, with Cuban personnel. Places of learning and solidarity Historians have viewed liberation guerrilla training camps as a particular kind of social and political environment. Host countries like Angola allowed exiled movements to act, to a certain extent, like enclave governments with state-like powers over their own members. Guerrillas, already filled with idealism, absorbed ideas and experiences from their new environment. But they were also at the mercy of national and international strategic calculations, without the immediate prospect of returning home in triumph. Camps were places where liberation fighters came into contact with officials and soldiers from their host countries, as well as trainers from Cuba and the Soviet Union. The slogans painted at Camalundu provide evidence of how people were taught that they were there as part of a global struggle. The sixth congress of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Havana in 1979, commemorated at Camalundu. Justin Pearce Facing the building with Lilian Ngoyi's name was another slogan in Spanish: VI cumbre un paso mas en la unidade de los no-alineaos (six completes another step in the unity of the non-aligned), a reference to the sixth congress of the Non-Aligned Movement , which was held in Havana in 1979. From King Cetshwayo to Ho Chi Minh South African history appears again with the name of Cetshwayo, the last Zulu monarch to resist the British Empire before conquest. His name was painted above the entrance of another now-abandoned building. This was likely painted in 1979, the ANC's Year of the Spear , the centenary of the Battle of Isandlwana when Cetshwayo's army resisted the better-armed British. Zulu king Cetshwayo, defeated in 1879, commemorated a century later. Justin Pearce On a similar building, the letters O C MI point to the commemoration of the Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh . On another building, the remains of his portrait are just about visible, above the English translation of a slogan associated with him: Nothing is more precious than freedom and independence . An ANC delegation visited Vietnam in 1978 , a visit that had a profound effect on its military strategy. Fragments of the name of Ho Chi Minh, painted not long after the ANC sought strategic advice from Vietnam. Justin Pearce Many of the slogans at Camalundu seem to point to events between 1978 and 1980. Not long after that, the ANC presence there ended when its soldiers were moved to Caculama, further east. Caculama had housed a training camp established by the Zimbabwean African People's Union ( Zapu ), which became vacant after Zimbabwe became independent in 1980 and the Zimbabwean soldiers went home. Around the same time, American president Ronald Reagan and South African prime minister PW Botha renewed their respective countries' commitment to supporting Unita against the MPLA . The Angolan ruling party had taken a firm stand against apartheid and Washington saw it as a bridgehead for communist influence. Read more: Radio as a form of struggle: scenes from late colonial Angola The MPLA began to see the foreign liberation fighters it was hosting as a potentially useful military reserve. The former ANC soldier Luthando Dyasop recalls how ANC leader Oliver Tambo told soldiers of the ANC's army, Umkhonto we sizwe (MK), they needed to bleed a little in recognition of Angola's support for the South African struggle. The remains of bunkers and trenches speak to the defensive function of the camp at Caculama. Justin Pearce Southern Africa liberation movements and geopolitics Whereas Camalundu's buildings stand in open countryside, Caculama is buried in thick bush. Trenches and the remains of underground bunkers remind us that this was the front line of the MPLA's war against UNITA. Exiled movements were responsible for their own security within Angola. When the MPLA positioned ANC soldiers somewhere like Caculama, it knew that in defending its own camps, the ANC would also be part of the government's defensive lines. In their different ways, Camalundu and Caculama provide historians with evidence of liberation struggles and how they were entangled with the international politics of the time. A Zimbabwean government delegation, I was told, had visited Caculama shortly before I was there an acknowledgement at least of the site's historical significance. Yet so far almost no attention has been given to preserving these sites. A longer article about the training sites with more photos was published by Sources journal . Justin Pearce received funding from The Leverhulme Trust. By Justin Pearce, Senior lecturer, Stellenbosch University 11.07.2023 LISTEN The Minister for Interior, Ambrose Dery has waved into the allegation that there is a plot for government to fire the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare before the 2024 General Election. In a lengthy audio that has gone viral on social media, a man said to be a Police Commissioner is heard discussing with a politician the need to sack the current IGP to help the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to break the 8. This has become topical in both social and traditional media with calls for an investigation into the matter. Speaking to the media on the alleged plot, Ambrose Dery has assured the Ghanaian people that government is not hatching any plan to fire the IGP. According to him, President Akufo-Addo as a respecter of human rights will ensure the 2024 General Election is peaceful for the will of the people to stand. There is no plot to remove anybody. I can assure you that I serve a president who is committed and has respect for human rights. Under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo we will make sure that 2024 is peaceful. One thing to be sure, 2024 will not be a violent election by anybody and no one will want to thwart the will of the people. If you vote us in, you vote us in, if you vote us out, you vote us out, Interior Minister Ambrose Dery said. Meanwhile, security experts have proposed that any top official of the police service found to be involved in the alleged plot to get rid of the IGP should be dismissed. Lawyers of Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson have served notice of moving to the Court of Appeal to request for a stay of proceedings in his criminal trial at the High Court despite the decision of the trial Judge to dismiss a similar application. The High in Court in Accra on Tuesday rejected arguments raised by lawyers of James Gyakye Quayson in support of the application for stay of proceedings. The lawyers filed the motion pending the determination of an appeal against the decision of the court to try the matter on a day-to-day basis. Led by Tsatsu Tsikata, lawyers for the accused argued that the trial judge erred when she made the ruling. According to them, the decision is in violation of Article 296 of the 1992 constitution which limits the exercise of discretionary powers. He further argued that Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame and President Akufo-Addo had made extremely prejudicial comments that may affect the fair adjudication of the matter. The lawyers also argued that any decision by the trial judge not to stay proceedings until the final determination of the matter at the court of appeal will be prejudging the appeal and a breach of their client's rights to fair trial. Mr. Tsikata was insistent on how this was a breach of fair trial rules and argued that the grounds warranted exceptional circumstances to merit the granting of the application for stay of proceedings. The state however opposed the application on grounds that the decision being appealed was for the daily trial to take place from June 20 to June 23 and considering the fact that the application was filed on June 27, the process was unnecessary. Mr. Dame also debunked allegations of prejudicial statements made by himself and the president. The judge after considering the arguments however dismissed the application. The trial Judge indicated that granting of stay of proceedings applications is purely a discretionary matter. According to Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, the court may be convinced to grant such an application, if the applicant is able to show exceptional circumstances to warrant the grant of the application. The judge however ruled that the case does not present any exceptional circumstances to grant the application for stay proceedings. She stated that there is no irreparable damage to be suffered by Gyakye Quayson by the refusal of the application. Based on these, the application was dismissed. Lawyer for James Gyakye Quayson however in court hinted of plans to go to the court of appeal to stay the proceedings. Tsatsu Tsikata therefore requested for a favourable adjournment to allow them file the relevant processes. As a result of this, the court adjourned the case to Friday, July 14, for trial to continue. citinewsroom The Attorney General has filed an application at the High Court to retrain Cassius Mining Limited from pursuing any arbitration outside the jurisdiction of Ghana under the Prospecting License Agreement. The application, filed at the Commercial Division of the High Court, has been fixed for hearing on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Mr Godfred Dame, the Attorney-General is seeking to stop the company from instituting or pursuing international arbitration proceedings against Ghana until the matter instituted by Cassius Mining Limited against Ghana at the Ghana Arbitration Centre in 2018 has been heard and determined. Earlier this year, Cassius Mining, an Australian-owned mining company, instituted international arbitration against Ghana at the Permanent Court of Arbitration to claim some US$300 Million over disputes with the Government of Ghana on its prospecting license. The arbitration was suspended following objections by the Attorney-General. That notwithstanding, Cassius Mining Limited made attempts to institute international arbitration against Ghana at other international arbitration forums. Backing his application with voluminous documents, the AG stated that, on October 12, 2016, Cassius Mining Limited applied for a prospecting license from the Government covering 13.791 km2 of the Gbane/Datoko area in Talensi, Upper East Region of Ghana. This was granted by the Government on December 28, 2016, for two years expiring in December 2018. The A-G contended that clause 21 of the Prospecting License Agreement specifically required any question or dispute that arises regarding the rights, powers, duties, and liabilities of the parties thereto, to be referred to arbitration in accordance with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798) of Ghana. In this regard, following allegations by the company of what it considered to be unlawful and arbitrary actions by the Government, Cassius Mining Limited by a letter dated June 14, 2018, notified the AG of its referral of the dispute between the parties to arbitration under the auspices of the Ghana Arbitration Centre in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and clause 21 of the Agreement between the parties. On June 26, 2018, the Australian-owned company, referred the dispute to arbitration at the Ghana Arbitration Centre pursuant to clause 21 of the Prospecting Licence Agreement and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798). It proceeded to file a Statement of Claim at the Ghana Arbitration Centre claiming several reliefs. The AG said that on January 9, 2019, Ghana filed an answer to Cassius Mining's Arbitration at the Ghana Arbitration Centre. Following this, a three-member arbitral tribunal comprising Mr Emmanuel Amofa, Mr Kizito Beyuo, and Professor Albert Fiadjoe was duly constituted for the hearing of Cassius Mining's claim. Mr Dame noted that despite the pendency of the arbitration proceedings at the Ghana Arbitration Centre and in the face of the clear provisions of the arbitration provisions under the Prospecting Licence Agreement and Ghana's Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, Cassius Mining Limited on February 3, 2023, instituted international arbitration proceedings against Ghana in respect of the same subject matter. The company was claiming a total amount of almost US$ 300 Million, under Article 3.1 of the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules as adopted in 2021 (UNCITRAL Rules). The AG observed Cassius Mining quite curiously titled the originating process IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION UNDER A PROSPECTING LICENCE AGREEMENT DATED DECEMBER 28, 2016. He said Cassius Mining proposed in that Notice of Arbitration, that the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague serve as the appointing authority for the said arbitration and that, the arbitration be administered by the PCA. The AG submitted that Cassius Mining instituted the international arbitration proceedings even though the UNICTRAL Rules was not referred to in the Prospecting License Agreement. Furthermore, he said Cassius Mining knew that the Permanent Court of Arbitration was not mentioned in the Prospecting License Agreement and that the Ghana Arbitration Centre had been administering the arbitration between the parties regarding the same Prospecting License Agreement as far back as 2019. Mr Dame said in a response to the notice of arbitration dated March 17, 2023, Ghana raised objections to the institution of the international arbitration by the Australian-owned mining firm and requested the tribunal to declare the proceedings instituted by Cassius Mining a legal nullity and the arbitration terminated. The AG further indicated that he would raise a preliminary objection to the jurisdiction of the PCA in a bifurcated phase of the Arbitration to avoid unnecessary expenditures of time and costs for the Parties and the Tribunal. The PCA on March 20, 2023, invited Ghana to confirm whether it agreed to the PCA administering the arbitration, as proposed by Cassius Mining Limited. The AG, by a letter dated March 27, 2023, raised vehement objections to the jurisdiction of the PCA and asked the PCA to determine as a preliminary matter whether it has the authority or any role to play in the dispute between the parties. The AG said, the clear abuse of process and reprehensible attempt at forum shopping was not lost on the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, as, by a letter to the parties dated March 30, 2023, the PCA decided that the PCA Secretary-General may act as appointing authority under the UNCITRAL Rules if all parties so agree. The PCA understands that no such agreement has been reached in this matter. The PCA further decided that there is no arbitral tribunal for the dispute constituted since the parties have not agreed. The AG asserted that the effect of the decision of the PCA is that the international arbitration commenced by Cassius Mining Limited under the UNCITRAL Rules could not proceed unless the parties, including the Government of Ghana, had agreed for the Permanent Court of Arbitration to appoint a tribunal. Given that the parties had not agreed (either in the Prospecting Licence Agreement or in any document) to submit the dispute between the parties to the jurisdiction of an international arbitration tribunal under the UNICTRAL Rules, it was clear that a dispute between the parties could never be submitted for determination by such a forum. Faced with this legal stumbling block in the pursuit of international arbitration against Ghana, Cassius Mining instead of returning to Ghana to continue with the ongoing arbitration at the Ghana Arbitration Centre that the company itself had earlier instituted, instituted another international arbitration proceeding by purporting to file what it described as an Amended Notice of Arbitration this time entitled IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION UNDER THE UNCITRAL ARBITRATION RULES (2021). The AG said he had refused to respond to the Amended Notice of Arbitration because it was a nullity. Consequently, no arbitral tribunal has been constituted for the hearing of the new international arbitration. The AG argued that the recourse by Cassius Mining to international arbitration was a gross abuse of process and most oppressive of the Government of Ghana because, in Clause 21 of the Prospecting License Agreement, the parties have agreed that their dispute shall be referred to arbitration in accordance with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798). Nowhere have the parties agreed that their disputes would be resolved UNDER THE UNCITRAL ARBITRATION RULES (2021). The AG observed that in both the original international Notice of Arbitration and Amended Notice of Arbitration, Cassius Mining had proposed that the seat of arbitration be London. He said Cassius Mining clearly is keen on enabling the High Court of England & Wales to have supervisory jurisdiction over the arbitration instead of the courts of Ghana, as stated in Act 798 the agreement between the parties. The AG submitted that by Clause 21 of the Prospecting License Agreement entered between Cassius Mining and the Government of Ghana, the arbitration law governing the resolution of disputes between the parties is the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798) which grants the High Court of Ghana the power to supervise the arbitral proceedings, and not the High Court of England and Wales. He prayed for an injunction to restrain the Australian-owned mining firm from pursuing any fresh international arbitration on the ground that it amounted to forum shopping. Mr Dame submitted that Cassius Mining's forum shopping efforts also constituted an attempt to strip the High Court of Ghana of its statutory jurisdiction to supervise arbitration instituted domestically. He contended that unless restrained by the High Court of Ghana, the Australian-owned company would continue searching for an international forum that would support its breach of Clause 21 of the Prospecting License Agreement and undermine the domestic proceedings currently pending before the Ghana Arbitration Centre, which the company itself instituted back in 2018. The AG contended the company's forum-shopping activities would result in unnecessary cost and expense to the Government of Ghana. GNA Spain's coastguard was on Tuesday looking for three migrant boats reported lost at sea by an NGO a day after rescuing scores of people from another vessel near the Canary Islands. A spokeswoman for Salvamento Maritimo told AFP a rescue plane had been deployed to the area but "did not find anything". The coastguard has also requested other ships in the area to be on the lookout, she added. During their searches on Monday, rescuers found a boat carrying 78 sub-Saharan migrants who were taken to Gran Canaria island, she said. They had initially thought there were 86 on board. The three missing boats are believed to have left the coast of Senegal in recent weeks, according to Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras which helps migrant boats in distress. "One is carrying around 200 people and the other two between 50 and 70 people," a spokesman for the NGO told AFP. On Monday, Caminando founder Helena Maleno said the biggest boat had left the southern fishing town of Kafountine on June 27 with "many minors on board", quoting family sources who said they had lost contact with the vessel days ago. Kafountine lies at least 1,700 kilometres (more than 1,000 miles) south of the Canaries. The other two boats with around 120 people on board had left the Senegalese coast on June 23. A Spanish rescue plane had initially thought the boat spotted on Monday was the one carrying some 200 people, but it was only on reaching the vessel that they realised their mistake. "Every minute counts if we're to find these more than 300 people alive who are in three Senegalese pirogues which have disappeared in the Atlantic," Maleno tweeted on Tuesday, referring to a long wooden canoe-like vessel. 'Macabre and sad' Senegal is one of the main departure points for migrants heading to Europe. In a tweet, Senegal's main opposition leader Ousmane Sonko on Tuesday blamed the flight of migrants on the "failure of the public policies of the regime of President Macky Sall", calling it a "macabre and sad phenomenon". Sonko, a firebrand politician and Sall's fiercest opponent, was sentenced last month to two years in prison for morally corrupting a young woman, a conviction that renders him ineligible to run in February's elections in Senegal. The ruling led to the most serious unrest Senegal has seen in years, leaving 16 people dead, according to authorities, or 30 dead according to the opposition. The Atlantic route to the Canaries is particularly dangerous due to strong currents, with migrants travelling in overloaded often unseaworthy boats, without enough drinking water. Atlantic crossings surged from late 2019 after increased patrols along Europe's southern coast dramatically reduced Mediterranean crossings. In the first six months of 2023, 7,213 migrants reached the Canary Islands by boat, interior ministry figures show. Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North, James Agalga has expressed concern about the viral audio of a police commissioner plotting the sacking of the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare. In a lengthy audio that has gone viral on social media, a man said to be a Police Commissioner is heard discussing with a politician the need to sack the current IGP to help the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rig the 2024 elections. According to James Agalga who formerly served as Deputy Minister for the Interior, the police officer in the viral audio needs to be charged with treason for his comments. The Ranking Member on the Interior and Defense Committee insists that the secret recording of the purported plot to get rid of the IGP must not be taken for granted as it threatens the 2024 general elections. Until now Ive never known we have NPP IGPs, NDC IGPs. Ive never known that. What I know is that IGPs are supposed to be professionals, they rise through the rank, and if there is a vacancy the President exercises his power to appoint the IGP. The said officer needs to be seriously interrogated and if its the authenticity of that audio is established then he must be charged. The actions of the one behind that audio for me pass for treason and this matter must be dealt with as such. Its an attempt to subvert the will of the Ghanaian people in 2024. Such conduct can compromise the security of our country, James Agalga said. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ambrose Dery has also reacted to the viral audio. Speaking to the media in Parliament, he said IGP George Akuffo Dampare has done a great job and not going anywhere. A former Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. George K. T. Oduro has indicated that the major religions of the world acknowledge the importance of fathers in child development. He said a father is not someone who makes the home a place of fear for kids but rather a friendly and peaceful place. Prof. Oduro made these comments while speaking on the sidelines of the launching of a book authored by DC Kwame Kwakye at the University of Cape Coast, Sasakawa Large Conference Room, on the 9th of July, 2023. Drawing on religious perspectives of fatherhood, the educational scholar said the Christian, Islamic and Traditional African religions acknowledge the importance of father's role in child upbringing. From the Christian perspective, he noted that the continuation of God's creation rests on the shoulders of fathers in the home. "Fathers represent God as heads of the family. It is therefore the responsibility of fathers to be supportive and make their homes attractive to motivate mothers to perform their complementary roles efficiently to contribute to the holistic development of the child," he stated. He noted that responsible fathers encourage mothers to perform their complementary roles enthusiastically for the benefit of their children. He emphasized that fathers are more likely to get some peace of mind if they play their fatherhood role well. With reference to the Islamic religion, Prof. Oduro said fathers are revered persons in the Islamic religion who are expected to exhibit qualities of humility and forgiveness in dealing with their children. Dovetailing into the African Traditional religion, he referred to the Akan saying 'Agya y3 sunsum', literally translated as, "A father is spirit" and explained that, for kids to be able to grow into adulthood and exhibit virtues such integrity, hard work and the ability to live in harmony with others, depends largely on the shoulders of fathers. In this light, he commended the author DC Kwame Kwakye for being very innovative in authoring a book on fatherhood. He challenged all fathers to get a copy of the book titled "Beyond Fatherhood: Changing The Narrative" by DC Kwame Kwakye. He challenged the audience to buy copies, read the contents and apply the lessons in the book to change the current narrative which largely portrays fathers as irresponsible. He lamented the low representation of fathers during PTA meetings and other school engagements and call for a change. A 19-year-old unemployed accused of attacking and terrorizing students and other residents with a matchet around the University of Ghana, Legon has been remanded into police custody. Appearing before an Accra Circuit Court, Koku Kumedzro has been charged with preparation to commit a crime, namely robbery and robbery. Abu Bright, a trader who allegedly received an iPhone XR mobile from Kumedzro, has been charged with dishonestly receiving. Kofi Appiah, a 49-year-old trader who also prevented police officers from arresting Bright has also been charged with resisting arrest and rescue. The three accused persons have pleaded not guilty to their respective charges. The court presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah has admitted Appiah and Bright to bail in the sum of GHC50,000 with three sureties each. The prosecution led by Chief Inspector Clemence Takyi said Kumedzro had on numerous occasions armed himself with a matchet and knife and hid at secluded places within the community of the University of Ghana Campus to rob students and other persons of their valuables. It said on June 17, this year, Kumedzro went to the University of Ghana and took cover in a bushy area. Whilst in the bush, Kumedzro attacked a passerby who was making a call with an iPhone XR Phone. The prosecution said the victim. who was afraid for his life. left the phone and ran away. It said the Kumedzro picked up the phone and absconded. According to the prosecution, Kumedzro offered the phone, valued at GHC3,000, to Bright who sells phones in a showcase at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra. It said Kumedzro agreed to sell the phone for GHC450 to Bright. Bright in turn also sold the phone for GHC900 to an unknown customer who is yet to be identified. On June 21, 2023, the prosecution said Kumedzro visited the same spot and decided to rob other victims. It said on seeing a potential victim, Kumedzro jumped out of his hiding place and attacked the person. The prosecution said the second victim who was unintimidated by Kumedzro's action, asked why he was in the bush. The prosecution said Kumedzro told the victim that he was attending to nature's call. As the two argued, the Police headquarters Surveillance team arrived at the scene around 1230 hours, and when quizzed, Kumedzro said that he was attending to nature's call in the bush. The prosecution said the Police asked him to point to the exact spot where he attended the nature's call, but Kumedzro could not substantiate his claim with proof. It said Kumedzro then threw away his knife and cutlass and took to his heels. He was however apprehended by the police, who also retrieved his offensive weapons. During interrogation, Kumedzro confessed to robbing several victims with the same modus operandi. It said Kumedzro led the Police to Bright at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Bright tried to call the buyer of the phone but the police found out that he had called his personal phone number. The prosecution said Appiah then rushed to the scene to rescue Bright from the police. GNA 11.07.2023 LISTEN The annual ban on drumming and noisemaking, as part of preparations for this year's Hogbetsotso Festival commences from September 10 to October 1. The Anlo Traditional Council, which announced date said all forms of noisemaking and drumming from religious and social events would be prohibited within the three-week period. In a press release issued by Togbi Zewu IV, Chairman, Local Planning Committee, 2023 Anlo Hogbetsotsoza and copied to the Ghana News Agency, the Council urged churches to carry out their premises and avoid making noise through musical instruments. During the period of the ban, churches are expected to carry out their activities within their premises and refrain from the use of musical instruments. The positioning of loudspeakers outside the premises of churches, mosques and pubs are banned. Roadside evangelists are to cease their activities during this period. Other guidelines by the Anlo Traditional Council include a ban on funeral rites and their related activities, the release said. The release alerted that apart from the Ghana Police Service and representatives from the Anlo Traditional Council with tags, no other person or group of persons should be seen or found enforcing this ban. It entreated all persons, towns and villages within the Anlo Traditional Area to cooperate and comply with the directive in the interest of peace, harmony and national security. The festival, also known as Hogbeza which commemorates the legendary exodus of the Ewe-Dogbo folks from Notsie in present-day Togo, is celebrated every first Saturday in November at Anloga, the ritual and traditional capital of the Anlos with activities and ceremonies including reconciliation, cleansing, enactment of the departure and escape, mini Hogbe and mini durbar of schools preceding the main durbar. GNA The Accra Senior High School, located in the heart of the nation's capital, welcomed a delegation from the Quality Education Academy (QEA) from the United States of America. Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the visit was made possible through the Arts Cares Foundation in conjunction with African Roots Travel Welcoming the visitors on Tuesday, July 11, Madam Evelyn Sagbil Nabia, Headmistress of Accra High, gave them a brief history of the school which will be celebrating its 100th anniversary on August 17. She then officially ushered them in, allowing them to proceed with their planned activities. Excited to connect with their roots and culture, some administrators and students from the US-based educational facility, designed for Black and Brown students, embarked on a program called "School for a Day." The "School for a Day" program facilitated organic interaction and engagement between the Diasporan and Ghanaian students and teachers at Accra High. The visiting QEA students and their facilitators attended classes, actively participated in lessons, and shared their perspectives on education with their Ghanaian counterparts. Following this, the Headmistress and other staff members led the delegation to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education facility at the school, which was a major point of interest for the Diasporan visitors. At the facility, Donald Sweeper, a drone technician and founder of SweepWorx, based in America, promised to partner with Accra High School and the entire QEA to teach drone innovation in the STEM facility, pending government approval. He demonstrated how a drone flies and how it is operated by the students and administrators present. His 18-year-old son and Level 100 student at Elizabeth City State University, Dorian Sweeper, who has been inspired by his father to build his own racing drones, also showcased his innovation. Intrigued by their fellow students' creative prowess, Accra High students and teachers asked questions about the challenges faced during the building process and if such innovations generate revenue. Dorian Sweeper shared, "I had a lot of challenges, but I couldn't give up because I wanted to see its joyful completion. It took me a couple of weeks." He added that his father had been teaching him about drones since he was a child. Discussing how drones generate revenue, Dorian explained, "Many construction companies hire the services of drone inventors...they pay about a thousand dollars per hour." His father added that such partnerships will "help solve Ghana's technological problems as well as learn a lot from them to solve our (Americas) problems too." The Quality Education Academy donated Android tablets and made a financial donation to Accra High School for its 100th anniversary. Grateful for the kind gesture, the headmistress said, "We are happy to have received them here, despite the many schools in the city. We are grateful for the donation." She added that their visit was largely due to the school's STEM facility, and are prepared to partner after receiving approval from the Ministry of Education. The headmistress called for more support from donor agencies, private organizations, and the public as they prepare to climax their centenary celebrations in November this year. Barry Mavrice Nii Ayitey Cheetham, a Ghanaian-American, who is the Director of the Arts Cares foundation, affirmed the headmistress' earlier statement about why they chose the school, stating, "It was because of their STEM facility and their transparency and academic track record." He added that the African American visitors aimed to connect with their roots and establish an emotional connection with their colleagues in Ghana. The event concluded with a display of talents and drama by the creative arts club of Accra Senior High School. Accra Senior High School was founded with only eight students on August 17, 1923, in Adabraka known as Ayalolo. The school relocated to its current location in the 1960s and now boasts of 2,409 students and 168 staff members. Its centenary celebrations will begin on August 17 and end on November 18 this year. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, June 9th, RTT News reports. Investors of record on Friday, July 14th will be paid a dividend of 0.51 per share by the healthcare product maker on Tuesday, August 15th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th. Abbott Laboratories has increased its dividend payment by an average of 13.3% annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend annually for the last 51 consecutive years. Abbott Laboratories has a payout ratio of 44.2% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Abbott Laboratories to earn $4.54 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.04 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 44.9%. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Abbott Laboratories Price Performance Shares of NYSE ABT opened at $107.02 on Tuesday. Abbott Laboratories has a fifty-two week low of $93.25 and a fifty-two week high of $115.69. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $106.53 and its 200 day simple moving average is $106.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.68. The stock has a market cap of $186.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.53, a PEG ratio of 4.76 and a beta of 0.68. Analyst Ratings Changes Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.05. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 22.36% and a net margin of 13.98%. The firm had revenue of $9.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.64 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.73 EPS. The companys revenue was down 18.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. ABT has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $115.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. BTIG Research boosted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Wolfe Research lowered their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $107.00 to $103.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $121.26. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 8,226 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.56, for a total value of $909,466.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,427 shares in the company, valued at $7,786,409.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 8,226 shares of the companys 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 in the company, valued at $7,786,409.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the director now owns 6,825,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $757,746,582.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Abbott Laboratories A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the first quarter valued at approximately $21,021,000. West Michigan Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 11.0% during the first quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 4,637 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $549,000 after buying an additional 461 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 83.1% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,925,012 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $582,924,000 after purchasing an additional 2,235,314 shares during the last quarter. KC Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 7.7% in the first quarter. KC Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,902 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $343,000 after purchasing an additional 207 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SS&H Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the first quarter worth approximately $4,856,000. Institutional investors own 73.08% of the companys stock. About Abbott Laboratories (Get Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Adtalem Global Education (NYSE:ATGE Free Report) from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report released on Friday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has $44.00 price objective on the stock. A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on ATGE. StockNews.com began coverage on Adtalem Global Education in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. TheStreet raised shares of Adtalem Global Education from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Get Adtalem Global Education alerts: Adtalem Global Education Stock Performance Adtalem Global Education stock opened at $36.70 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $39.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $38.81. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. Adtalem Global Education has a 52 week low of $33.59 and a 52 week high of $44.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.97, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 0.95. Insider Buying and Selling Adtalem Global Education ( NYSE:ATGE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $1.13 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.92 by $0.21. Adtalem Global Education had a net margin of 5.54% and a return on equity of 13.67%. The company had revenue of $369.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $354.47 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.87 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Adtalem Global Education will post 4.12 earnings per share for the current year. In other Adtalem Global Education news, Director Lisa W. Wardell sold 71,400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.45, for a total transaction of $2,888,130.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 180,034 shares in the company, valued at $7,282,375.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Adtalem Global Education news, Director Lisa W. Wardell sold 7,940 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.24, for a total value of $327,445.60. Following the transaction, the director now owns 275,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,362,774.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Lisa W. Wardell sold 71,400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.45, for a total value of $2,888,130.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 180,034 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,282,375.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 3.30% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Adtalem Global Education A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of ATGE. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in Adtalem Global Education by 65.2% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 727 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 287 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its holdings in Adtalem Global Education by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 7,267 shares of the companys stock worth $281,000 after buying an additional 299 shares in the last quarter. Connectus Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Adtalem Global Education by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Connectus Wealth LLC now owns 15,100 shares of the companys stock worth $536,000 after buying an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue raised its stake in Adtalem Global Education by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 31,616 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,122,000 after acquiring an additional 320 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System raised its stake in shares of Adtalem Global Education by 3.1% during the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 13,156 shares of the companys stock valued at $508,000 after purchasing an additional 401 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.85% of the companys stock. Adtalem Global Education Company Profile (Get Free Report) Adtalem Global Education Inc provides workforce solutions worldwide. It operates through three segments, Chamberlain, Walden, and Medical and Veterinary. The Chamberlain segment offers degree and non-degree programs in the nursing and health professions postsecondary education industry. This segment operates Chamberlain University. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Adtalem Global Education Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Adtalem Global Education and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CP ALL Public (OTCMKTS:CPPCY Get Free Report) is one of 62 publicly-traded companies in the Grocery Stores industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare CP ALL Public to similar companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, valuation, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, profitability and earnings. Earnings & Valuation This table compares CP ALL Public and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get CP ALL Public alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio CP ALL Public N/A N/A 1.59 CP ALL Public Competitors $26.99 billion $611.52 million 185.30 CP ALL Publics competitors have higher revenue and earnings than CP ALL Public. CP ALL Public 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. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score CP ALL Public 0 0 1 0 3.00 CP ALL Public Competitors 1121 2754 3008 114 2.30 This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for CP ALL Public and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com. As a group, Grocery Stores companies have a potential upside of 100.81%. Given CP ALL Publics competitors higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe CP ALL Public has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Institutional & Insider Ownership 45.3% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are owned by institutional investors. 22.8% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares CP ALL Public and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets CP ALL Public N/A N/A N/A CP ALL Public Competitors 2.01% 15.36% 4.99% Dividends CP ALL Public pays an annual dividend of $7.25 per share and has a dividend yield of 42.0%. CP ALL Public pays out 66.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Grocery Stores companies pay a dividend yield of 4.1% and pay out 61.4% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Summary CP ALL Public competitors beat CP ALL Public on 10 of the 13 factors compared. About CP ALL Public (Get Free Report) 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. Receive News & Ratings for CP ALL Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CP ALL Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pennon Group (OTCMKTS:PEGRF Get Free Report) and Severn Trent (OTCMKTS:STRNY Get Free Report) are both utilities companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation and risk. Dividends Pennon Group pays an annual dividend of $0.30 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. Severn Trent pays an annual dividend of $1.47 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.7%. Pennon Group pays out 104.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Severn Trent pays out 179.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Get Pennon Group alerts: Profitability This table compares Pennon Group and Severn Trents net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Pennon Group N/A N/A N/A Severn Trent N/A N/A N/A Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Pennon Group N/A N/A N/A $0.29 31.21 Severn Trent N/A N/A N/A $0.82 38.44 This table compares Pennon Group and Severn Trents revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Pennon Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Severn Trent, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Institutional and Insider Ownership 44.0% of Pennon Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.1% of Severn Trent 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. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings for Pennon Group and Severn Trent, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Pennon Group 0 1 1 0 2.50 Severn Trent 0 2 3 0 2.60 Pennon Group presently has a consensus target price of $815.00, indicating a potential upside of 8,900.55%. Severn Trent has a consensus target price of $2,932.50, indicating a potential upside of 9,209.55%. Given Severn Trents stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Severn Trent is more favorable than Pennon Group. Summary Severn Trent beats Pennon Group on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Pennon Group (Get Free Report) Pennon Group Plc provides clean water and wastewater services in the United Kingdom. It provides water and wastewater services for customers in Cornwall, Devon, and parts of Dorset and Somerset; water-only services in the areas of Dorset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire; and water and wastewater retail services to non-household customers in Great Britain. The company also offers regulated water to approximately 1.2 million customers in the Bristol region. Pennon Group Plc was incorporated in 1989 and is based in Exeter, the United Kingdom. About Severn Trent (Get Free Report) Severn Trent PLC operates as a water and sewerage company in England and Wales. It operates through two segments: Regulated Water and Waste Water, and Business Services. The Regulated Water and Waste Water segment offers water and waste water services to approximately 4.8 million households and businesses. The Business Services segment generates renewable energy from anaerobic digestion, hydropower, wind turbines, and solar panels; property development; and offers affinity products and search services. It also provides services to municipal and industrial clients, including the Ministry of Defence and the Coal Authority for design, build, and operation of water and wastewater treatment facilities and networks. Severn Trent PLC was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Coventry, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for Pennon Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pennon Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scotiabank reiterated their outperform rating on shares of Associated Capital Group (NYSE:AC Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Stock Target Advisor reports. The brokerage currently has a $31.00 price target on the financial services providers stock. A number of other research firms have also weighed in on AC. Citigroup set a $26.00 price objective on shares of Associated Capital Group in a research note on Friday, May 19th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Associated Capital Group in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Get Associated Capital Group alerts: Associated Capital Group Stock Down 0.4 % NYSE:AC opened at $34.75 on Friday. Associated Capital Group has a 52 week low of $31.01 and a 52 week high of $44.50. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $36.56 and a 200 day moving average of $37.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $760.68 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -51.10 and a beta of 1.05. Associated Capital Group Announces Dividend Associated Capital Group ( NYSE:AC Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 10th. The financial services provider reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $2.47 million for the quarter. Associated Capital Group had a negative net margin of 99.05% and a negative return on equity of 1.68%. The business also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. Associated Capital Groups payout ratio is -29.41%. Insider Transactions at Associated Capital Group In other news, major shareholder Gamco Investors, Inc. Et Al acquired 700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 17th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $35.95 per share, for a total transaction of $25,165.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 22,000 shares in the company, valued at $790,900. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 85.61% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Associated Capital Group A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of Associated Capital Group by 23.8% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,464 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 281 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG raised its stake in shares of Associated Capital Group by 13.5% in the 1st quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 2,576 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $95,000 after acquiring an additional 306 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Associated Capital Group by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 37,337 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,565,000 after acquiring an additional 331 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of Associated Capital Group by 33.8% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,457 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 368 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its stake in shares of Associated Capital Group by 87.7% in the 1st quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 858 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 401 shares during the period. 9.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Associated Capital Group (Get Free Report) Associated Capital Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides investment advisory services in the United States. The company offers alternative investment management and asset management services. It also invests in new and existing businesses. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Associated Capital Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Associated Capital Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Basilea Pharmaceutica AG (OTCMKTS:BPMUF Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $50.00 and last traded at $50.00, with a volume of 0 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $50.00. Basilea Pharmaceutica Price Performance The firms 50-day moving average is $50.44 and its 200-day moving average is $51.45. About Basilea Pharmaceutica (Get Free Report) Basilea Pharmaceutica AG, a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development of products that address the medical needs in the therapeutic areas of oncology and anti-infectives. It offers Cresemba, an intravenous and oral azole antifungal drug for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis in the United States, and the European Union, as well as in Phase III clinical trials for invasive fungal infections in Japan. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Basilea Pharmaceutica Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Basilea Pharmaceutica and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of BlackBerry (NYSE:BB Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Friday morning. Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of BlackBerry from $5.00 to $4.50 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. TD Securities boosted their target price on BlackBerry from $4.00 to $5.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 30th. 3M reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of BlackBerry in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on BlackBerry from $5.00 to $5.50 in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. Finally, CIBC upgraded shares of BlackBerry from a sector underperform rating to a neutral rating and raised their target price for the stock from $4.20 to $6.50 in a report on Thursday, May 18th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $5.58. Get BlackBerry alerts: BlackBerry Trading Up 1.7 % BB opened at $4.84 on Friday. BlackBerry has a 1-year low of $3.17 and a 1-year high of $7.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.82 billion, a PE ratio of -4.61 and a beta of 1.55. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $5.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4.50. Insider Transactions at BlackBerry BlackBerry ( NYSE:BB Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 28th. The company reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.06) by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $373.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $159.36 million. BlackBerry had a negative return on equity of 5.96% and a negative net margin of 65.50%. On average, research analysts predict that BlackBerry will post -0.19 EPS for the current year. In other BlackBerry news, insider Mattias Eriksson sold 11,126 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.56, for a total transaction of $61,860.56. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 64,721 shares in the company, valued at approximately $359,848.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.94% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of BlackBerry Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Belpointe Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of BlackBerry by 8.2% in the 4th quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 31,162 shares of the companys stock valued at $102,000 after purchasing an additional 2,355 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its position in BlackBerry by 11.7% in the second quarter. FMR LLC now owns 27,322 shares of the companys stock valued at $147,000 after buying an additional 2,851 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of BlackBerry by 17.1% during the third quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 26,640 shares of the companys stock worth $125,000 after buying an additional 3,892 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in shares of BlackBerry by 29.3% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 17,487 shares of the companys stock worth $80,000 after buying an additional 3,966 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CI Investments Inc. lifted its stake in shares of BlackBerry by 10.8% in the 4th quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 48,277 shares of the companys stock valued at $157,000 after acquiring an additional 4,697 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.62% of the companys stock. BlackBerry Company Profile (Get Free Report) BlackBerry Ltd. engages in providing intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments. The firm leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to deliver solutions in the areas of cyber security, safety, and data privacy solutions, and also focuses on the areas of endpoint security, endpoint management, encryption, and embedded systems. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BlackBerry Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackBerry and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Free Report) (TSE:CNR) had its price target trimmed by Royal Bank of Canada from C$180.00 to C$174.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, FlyOnTheWall reports. A number of other equities analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Argus decreased their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from $155.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Susquehanna raised their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from $114.00 to $116.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. StockNews.com cut shares of Canadian National Railway from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from $126.00 to $133.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Canadian National Railway from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Canadian National Railway currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $144.28. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Canadian National Railway Stock Performance NYSE CNI opened at $115.91 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $117.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $118.48. The firm has a market cap of $76.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.22, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.91. Canadian National Railway has a 12-month low of $103.79 and a 12-month high of $129.89. Canadian National Railway Cuts Dividend Canadian National Railway ( NYSE:CNI Get Free Report ) (TSE:CNR) last posted its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The transportation company reported $1.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.09. Canadian National Railway had a net margin of 30.61% and a return on equity of 25.00%. The company had revenue of $3.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.15 billion. On average, equities analysts forecast that Canadian National Railway will post 5.82 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th were given a $0.5835 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $2.33 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.01%. Canadian National Railways dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.14%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Canadian National Railway Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. First Affirmative Financial Network lifted its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 16.2% in the 2nd quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network now owns 2,673 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $324,000 after purchasing an additional 373 shares during the period. Cardinal Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 13.4% during the 2nd quarter. Cardinal Capital Management Inc. now owns 444,223 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $53,831,000 after acquiring an additional 52,435 shares in the last quarter. Kwmg LLC raised its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 5.0% during the 2nd quarter. Kwmg LLC now owns 46,803 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $5,666,000 after acquiring an additional 2,224 shares in the last quarter. Telemus Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 13.8% during the 2nd quarter. Telemus Capital LLC now owns 2,063 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $250,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AE Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Canadian National Railway during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $222,000. 64.89% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Canadian National Railway (Get Free Report) 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian National Railway (TSE:CNR Free Report) (NYSE:CNI) had its target price reduced by Royal Bank of Canada from C$180.00 to C$174.00 in a report released on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock. A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on CNR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$169.00 to C$171.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$184.00 to C$192.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. CIBC reduced their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$185.00 to C$183.00 in a research report on Friday, June 16th. Desjardins upgraded shares of Canadian National Railway from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Scotiabank boosted their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$169.00 to C$172.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$168.41. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Canadian National Railway Trading Up 0.3 % Shares of CNR stock opened at C$153.93 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 81.35, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.74. The stock has a market capitalization of C$101.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$157.92 and a 200 day moving average price of C$159.66. Canadian National Railway has a fifty-two week low of C$142.37 and a fifty-two week high of C$175.39. Canadian National Railway Cuts Dividend Canadian National Railway ( TSE:CNR Get Free Report ) (NYSE:CNI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The company reported C$1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$1.70 by C$0.12. Canadian National Railway had a net margin of 30.60% and a return on equity of 25.38%. The company had revenue of C$4.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$4.25 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Canadian National Railway will post 7.5847047 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th were issued a $0.79 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $3.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.05%. Canadian National Railways payout ratio is 40.10%. About Canadian National Railway (Get Free Report) 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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) was upgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report released on Monday. Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Bank of America boosted their target price on Charles Schwab from $46.00 to $53.00 in a report on Thursday, June 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. Raymond James upgraded Charles Schwab from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $63.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, May 15th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $66.00 in a report on Monday. Finally, Piper Sandler cut their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $75.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $66.83. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Price Performance Shares of NYSE:SCHW traded up $1.04 during trading on Monday, reaching $57.83. The stock had a trading volume of 8,070,440 shares, compared to its average volume of 19,312,570. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39. Charles Schwab has a 1-year low of $45.00 and a 1-year high of $86.63. The stock has a market cap of $102.31 billion, a PE ratio of 15.80, a PEG ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.88. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $53.20 and a 200-day moving average price of $63.58. Insider Activity at Charles Schwab Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $5.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.13 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.82% and a return on equity of 27.83%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.77 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Charles Schwab will post 3.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total transaction of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 6.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Charles Schwab A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 19.1% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 203,986 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $16,984,000 after buying an additional 32,653 shares during the last quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 53.7% in the 1st quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. now owns 7,724 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $405,000 after acquiring an additional 2,697 shares during the period. Weatherly Asset Management L. P. purchased a new stake in Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter valued at $205,000. ProShare Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Charles Schwab by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 325,162 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,073,000 after purchasing an additional 5,432 shares during the period. Finally, Koshinski Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Charles Schwab by 176.6% during the 1st quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. now owns 21,275 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,114,000 after purchasing an additional 13,582 shares during the last quarter. 82.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Charles Schwab (Get Free Report) 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC cut its stake in shares of iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IJS Free Report) by 7.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 68,384 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,494 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC owned about 0.09% of iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF worth $6,290,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of IJS. Atticus Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. First PREMIER Bank acquired a new position in shares of iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Horizons Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Barclays PLC bought a new stake in iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Get iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF alerts: iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF Stock Up 0.6 % Shares of IJS stock traded up $0.59 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $95.84. 97,007 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 433,767. The stock has a market cap of $7.09 billion, a PE ratio of 11.52 and a beta of 1.18. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $91.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $94.42. iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF has a 12 month low of $82.09 and a 12 month high of $106.93. iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF Company Profile iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the small-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market and consists of those stocks in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index exhibiting the strongest value characteristics. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lowered its position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:EEM Free Report) by 0.2% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 142,660 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 318 shares during the quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF were worth $5,552,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of EEM. Greenwich Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Greenwich Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,484 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $435,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. White Pine Capital LLC grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 4.3% in the 4th quarter. White Pine Capital LLC now owns 6,045 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $229,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 7.9% in the 1st quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 3,626 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $143,000 after buying an additional 264 shares during the last quarter. Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel Lllp grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel Lllp now owns 26,109 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $990,000 after buying an additional 274 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Resolute Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Resolute Advisors LLC now owns 18,905 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $716,000 after buying an additional 276 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.70% of the companys stock. Get iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF stock traded up $0.29 on Tuesday, hitting $39.71. 8,562,650 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 31,864,008. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has a one year low of $33.49 and a one year high of $42.53. The company has a fifty day moving average of $39.40 and a two-hundred day moving average of $39.49. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Profile iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities in global emerging markets, as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the Index). See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EEM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:EEM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mapfre (OTCMKTS:MPFRF Get Free Report) and Assicurazioni Generali (OTCMKTS:ARZGF Get Free Report) are both financial services companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, profitability, valuation, dividends and institutional ownership. Dividends Mapfre pays an annual dividend of $0.10 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.3%. Assicurazioni Generali pays an annual dividend of $0.33 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. Mapfre pays out 40.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Assicurazioni Generali pays out 26.3% 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. Get Mapfre alerts: Insider & Institutional Ownership 13.6% of Mapfre shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 14.6% of Assicurazioni Generali shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Valuation and Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Mapfre N/A N/A N/A $0.26 7.57 Assicurazioni Generali N/A N/A N/A $1.24 16.23 This table compares Mapfre and Assicurazioni Generalis gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Mapfre is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Assicurazioni Generali, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Mapfre and Assicurazioni Generali, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Mapfre 1 0 1 0 2.00 Assicurazioni Generali 1 0 0 0 1.00 Mapfre presently has a consensus price target of $1.73, indicating a potential downside of 10.65%. Assicurazioni Generali has a consensus price target of $17.50, indicating a potential downside of 12.92%. Given Mapfres stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Mapfre is more favorable than Assicurazioni Generali. Profitability This table compares Mapfre and Assicurazioni Generalis net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Mapfre N/A N/A N/A Assicurazioni Generali N/A N/A N/A About Mapfre (Get Free Report) Mapfre, S.A. operates in the insurance, property, financial, and services sectors worldwide. It offers life, health, accident, savings and investment, retirement, burial, and travel and leisure insurance; and homeowner's, automobile, third-party liability, and other insurance. The company also provides vehicle, third-party liability and asset, agriculture and livestock, commercial establishment, and other insurance products. In addition, it offers solutions for large risks for aviation, energy, industry, construction, and other companies; and reinsurance services. In addition, it engages in the real estate, real estate investment management, and IT businesses; and provision of advisory and management services. The company offers its services to individuals, professionals, entrepreneurs, self-employed people, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large corporations. The company was formerly known as Corporacion Mapfre and changed its name to Mapfre, S.A. in December 2006. Mapfre, S.A. was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Majadahonda, Spain. Mapfre, S.A. is a subsidiary of Cartera Mapfre, S.L. About Assicurazioni Generali (Get Free Report) Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. engages in the provision of various insurance solutions. The company operates through four segments: Life, Property & Casualty, Asset & Wealth Management, and Holding and Other Business. It offers savings, individual and family protection, and unit linked, as well as motor third-party liability, home, casualty, accident, health, and commercial and industrial risks insurance products; and insurance plans for multinational companies. The company also provides equity and fixed-income funds, and alternative products; and financial holding, investment advisory, asset management, and financial planning services. It operates in Italy, Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Brazil, Croatia, Chile, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Montenegro, Philippines, the Americas, Southern Europe, and Asia under the Generali brand. The company was formerly known as Assicurazioni Generali Austro-Italiche and changed its name to Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. in 1848. Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. was founded in 1831 and is headquartered in Trieste, Italy. Receive News & Ratings for Mapfre Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mapfre and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cubic Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN Free Report) by 346.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 45,155 shares of the energy companys stock after buying an additional 35,050 shares during the period. Cubic Asset Management LLCs holdings in Devon Energy were worth $2,285,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. American National Bank increased its position in Devon Energy by 1,986.1% in the 1st quarter. American National Bank now owns 10,493 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $531,000 after buying an additional 9,990 shares in the last quarter. Xcel Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Devon Energy by 23.5% in the 1st quarter. Xcel Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,184 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $212,000 after buying an additional 795 shares in the last quarter. JB Capital LLC bought a new stake in Devon Energy in the 1st quarter valued at about $2,375,000. Bullseye Investment Management LLC increased its position in Devon Energy by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Bullseye Investment Management LLC now owns 82,384 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $4,337,000 after buying an additional 7,842 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eudaimonia Advisors LLC increased its position in Devon Energy by 13.2% in the 1st quarter. Eudaimonia Advisors LLC now owns 7,240 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $366,000 after buying an additional 842 shares in the last quarter. 71.00% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Devon Energy alerts: Devon Energy Price Performance Devon Energy stock opened at $49.59 on Tuesday. Devon Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $44.03 and a 12 month high of $78.82. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $48.59 and its 200 day simple moving average is $53.79. The company has a market cap of $32.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.36, a PEG ratio of 0.15 and a beta of 2.31. Devon Energy Cuts Dividend Devon Energy ( NYSE:DVN Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results 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. The firm had revenue of $3.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.82 billion. Devon Energy had a return on equity of 47.42% and a net margin of 31.39%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.88 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Devon Energy Co. will post 6.14 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a dividend of $0.72 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.81%. Devon Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 8.72%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Devon Energy news, EVP Dennis C. Cameron sold 8,292 shares of the 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 218,418 shares in the company, valued at $10,914,347.46. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.63% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets DVN has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Mizuho cut their price target on Devon Energy from $71.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. Bank of America cut their price target on Devon Energy from $67.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Barclays cut their price target on Devon Energy from $82.00 to $67.00 in a research note on Friday, March 17th. StockNews.com downgraded Devon Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 17th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Devon Energy from $75.00 to $71.00 in a research note on Monday, May 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Devon Energy currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $66.89. Devon Energy Profile (Free Report) 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DVN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Devon Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Devon Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eastmain Resources Inc. (ER.TO) (TSE:ER Get Free Report) shares rose 12% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$0.28 and last traded at C$0.28. Approximately 2,105,459 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 333% from the average daily volume of 486,551 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.25. Eastmain Resources Inc. (ER.TO) Stock Performance The firm has a 50-day moving average price of C$0.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.84, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The company has a market capitalization of C$81.37 million and a PE ratio of -4.75. About Eastmain Resources Inc. (ER.TO) (Get Free Report) Eastmain Resources Inc, together with its subsidiary, Eastmain Mines Inc, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral resource properties in Canada. The company primarily explores for gold, silver, nickel, platinum, and copper deposits. Its flagship project is the Clearwater project, which hosts the Eau Claire gold deposit covering an area of 201 square kilometers located in the central portion of the Eastmain River Greenstone Belt within the James Bay Mining District of QuAbec. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Eastmain Resources Inc. (ER.TO) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eastmain Resources Inc. (ER.TO) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ethernity Networks Ltd. (LON:ENET Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 1.80 ($0.02) and last traded at GBX 1.80 ($0.02), with a volume of 56589 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1.95 ($0.03). Ethernity Networks Trading Down 7.7 % The firms 50-day moving average is GBX 3.13 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 5.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 28.12. The firm has a market capitalization of 2.46 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -22.50 and a beta of 1.76. Ethernity Networks Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ethernity Networks Ltd. provides technology solutions for telecom, mobile, security, and data center markets in Asia, Europe, Israel, and the United States. The company develops and delivers data processing technology and solutions for carrier Ethernet switching, including broadband access, mobile backhaul, carrier Ethernet demarcation, and data centers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ethernity Networks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ethernity Networks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Century Financial (OTCMKTS:CYFL Get Free Report) is one of 284 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Century Financial to similar companies based on the strength of its risk, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations and profitability. Insider & Institutional Ownership 40.1% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 13.4% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get Century Financial alerts: Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Century Financial and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Century Financial 0 0 0 0 N/A Century Financial Competitors 1100 3288 3241 22 2.29 Profitability As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 347.18%. Given Century Financials competitors higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Century Financial has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. This table compares Century Financial and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Century Financial N/A N/A N/A Century Financial Competitors 33.76% 10.67% 0.94% Dividends Century Financial pays an annual dividend of $0.90 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. Century Financial pays out 49.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 13.3% and pay out 18.8% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Century Financial lags its competitors as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Century Financial and its competitors revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Century Financial N/A N/A 14.95 Century Financial Competitors $2.94 billion $595.46 million 236.26 Century Financials competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Century Financial. Century Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Summary Century Financial competitors beat Century Financial on 10 of the 10 factors compared. Century Financial Company Profile (Get Free Report) Century Financial Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Century Bank and Trust that provides a range of financial and trust services. The company's primary deposit products include checking, savings, term certificate, and individual retirement accounts. It also provides residential mortgages; home equity, auto, specialty item, debt consolidation, construction, business term, and agri-business loans; small business Loans; real estate financing; lines of credit; letters of credit; and government loan guaranty programs. In addition, the company provides account and deposit management; receivables management services, such as direct payment, remote deposit, merchant, lockbox processing, and cash concentration services; and online and mobile banking services. Further, it offers account alerts; night and direct deposit, notary, wire transfer, guarantee, and ATM services; reorder and cashier's checks; debit, credit, gift, reloadable, and payroll cards; card valets; and safe deposit boxes. Additionally, the company provides trust, investment planning, estate and financial planning, insurance advisory, and retirement planning services. It serves individuals and businesses. The company was founded in 1890 and is based in Coldwater, Michigan. Receive News & Ratings for Century Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Century Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franco-Nevada (NYSE:FNV Free Report) (TSE:FNV) had its price target lowered by Barclays from $127.00 to $126.00 in a report issued on Friday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Several other research firms also recently issued reports on FNV. HC Wainwright boosted their price objective on shares of Franco-Nevada from $145.00 to $180.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Franco-Nevada from $163.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Franco-Nevada in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $174.14. Get Franco-Nevada alerts: Franco-Nevada Stock Performance Shares of FNV stock opened at $140.74 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $27.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.10, a PEG ratio of 9.81 and a beta of 0.69. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $147.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $144.14. Franco-Nevada has a twelve month low of $109.70 and a twelve month high of $161.25. Franco-Nevada Dividend Announcement Franco-Nevada ( NYSE:FNV Get Free Report ) (TSE:FNV) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The basic materials company reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $276.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $302.62 million. Franco-Nevada had a net margin of 53.87% and a return on equity of 10.58%. Franco-Nevadas revenue was down 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.93 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Franco-Nevada will post 3.54 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were paid a $0.34 dividend. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. Franco-Nevadas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.75%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Franco-Nevada Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. ClariVest Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Franco-Nevada by 0.3% in the first quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC now owns 20,790 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $3,028,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the period. Van Hulzen Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Franco-Nevada by 2.5% in the first quarter. Van Hulzen Asset Management LLC now owns 3,020 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $440,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Franco-Nevada by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,782 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $329,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC grew its position in shares of Franco-Nevada by 5.3% in the first quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 1,640 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $239,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its position in Franco-Nevada by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 5,236 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $626,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.24% of the companys stock. Franco-Nevada Company Profile (Get Free Report) Franco-Nevada Corporation operates as a gold-focused royalty and streaming company in Latin America, the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through Mining and Energy segments. The company manages its portfolio with a focus on precious metals, such as gold, silver, and platinum group metals; and engages in the sale of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Franco-Nevada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Franco-Nevada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 25,017 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,433,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Riverpoint Wealth Management Holdings LLC purchased a new position in Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Red Tortoise LLC purchased a new position in Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Optiver Holding B.V. purchased a new position in Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Winch Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Philip Morris International by 200.0% in the 4th quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 294 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 196 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stone House Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Philip Morris International in the 1st quarter worth $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.43% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Philip Morris International Stock Up 0.1 % NYSE:PM opened at $97.75 on Tuesday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $82.85 and a 52 week high of $105.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $151.73 billion, a PE ratio of 17.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 0.70. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $94.36 and its 200-day moving average price is $97.81. Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.04. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 128.55% and a net margin of 10.80%. The firm had revenue of $8.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.03 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.56 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed 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. This represents a $5.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.20%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 22nd. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 90.88%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In PM has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the stock from $109.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $114.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup raised Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $109.00 to $117.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a reiterates rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $111.40. Philip Morris International Profile (Free Report) 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. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Integrated Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Invesco High Income Trust II (NYSE:VLT Free Report) by 42.7% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 18,287 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 5,476 shares during the quarter. Integrated Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Invesco High Income Trust II were worth $161,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Melfa Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Invesco High Income Trust II by 21.1% during the 1st quarter. Melfa Wealth Management LLC now owns 75,266 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $790,000 after acquiring an additional 13,097 shares during the last quarter. RPO LLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco High Income Trust II in the 4th quarter worth approximately $197,000. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Invesco High Income Trust II by 12.8% in the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 17,713 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $182,000 after purchasing an additional 2,012 shares during the period. Fiera Capital Corp lifted its stake in shares of Invesco High Income Trust II by 5.7% in the 4th quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 49,884 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $512,000 after purchasing an additional 2,683 shares during the period. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Invesco High Income Trust II by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 84,395 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $866,000 after purchasing an additional 914 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 15.79% of the companys stock. Get Invesco High Income Trust II alerts: Invesco High Income Trust II Price Performance Shares of NYSE:VLT traded up $0.04 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $10.56. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,827 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,612. The company has a 50-day moving average of $10.33 and a 200-day moving average of $10.56. Invesco High Income Trust II has a 12 month low of $9.45 and a 12 month high of $12.01. Invesco High Income Trust II Dividend Announcement Invesco High Income Trust II Company Profile The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be paid a $0.0964 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.95%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 14th. (Free Report) Invesco High Income Trust II is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc, INVESCO Asset Management (Japan) Limited, INVESCO Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, INVESCO Asset Management Limited, Invesco Hong Kong Limited, INVESCO Senior Secured Management, Inc, and Invesco Canada Ltd. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VLT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco High Income Trust II (NYSE:VLT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco High Income Trust II Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco High Income Trust II and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday after Raymond James raised their price target on the stock from $127.00 to $130.00. The company traded as high as $114.21 and last traded at $114.11, with a volume of 538293 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $113.16. A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on ICE. Rosenblatt Securities restated a buy rating and set a $168.00 price objective on shares of Intercontinental Exchange in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. StockNews.com started coverage on Intercontinental Exchange in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Barclays started coverage on Intercontinental Exchange in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. They set an equal weight rating and a $123.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Intercontinental Exchange from $120.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Intercontinental Exchange from $130.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $130.00. Get Intercontinental Exchange alerts: Insider Activity In related news, SVP Douglas Foley sold 1,600 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.48, for a total transaction of $173,568.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 19,881 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,156,690.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CFO Warren Gardiner sold 500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.52, for a total value of $55,260.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 16,025 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,771,083. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Douglas Foley sold 1,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.48, for a total transaction of $173,568.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 19,881 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,156,690.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 93,934 shares of company stock worth $10,139,046. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Intercontinental Exchange Intercontinental Exchange Stock Performance A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Intercontinental Exchange during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. MADDEN SECURITIES Corp bought a new position in Intercontinental Exchange during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Red Tortoise LLC bought a new position in Intercontinental Exchange during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. OLD Mission Capital LLC bought a new position in Intercontinental Exchange during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. lifted its holdings in Intercontinental Exchange by 187.6% during the 1st quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 256 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.28% of the companys stock. The company has a market capitalization of $63.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $109.24 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $106.37. Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The financial services provider reported $1.41 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.40 by $0.01. Intercontinental Exchange had a net margin of 14.97% and a return on equity of 12.98%. The company had revenue of $1.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.43 EPS. Intercontinental Exchanges revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. will post 5.48 earnings per share for the current year. Intercontinental Exchange Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. Intercontinental Exchanges dividend payout ratio is currently 65.12%. Intercontinental Exchange Company Profile (Get Free Report) Intercontinental Exchange, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of market infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions for financial institutions, corporations, and government entities in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Singapore, India, Abu Dhabi, Israel, and Canada. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Intercontinental Exchange Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intercontinental Exchange and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (NYSEARCA:KSA Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Tuesday . 368,008 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 24% from the previous sessions volume of 485,881 shares.The stock last traded at $41.95 and had previously closed at $41.70. iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF Stock Up 0.7 % The company has a market capitalization of $961.57 million, a PE ratio of 19.03 and a beta of 0.56. The companys 50 day moving average is $41.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.37. Get iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in KSA. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF by 101.2% during the 2nd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 40,664 shares of the companys stock worth $1,681,000 after purchasing an additional 3,375,802 shares during the period. Susquehanna International Group LLP lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF by 186.3% during the 1st quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 39,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,519,000 after buying an additional 25,527 shares in the last quarter. Bluefin Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $1,824,000. WCM Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $72,000. Finally, Glovista Investments LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF by 13.1% in the 1st quarter. Glovista Investments LLC now owns 181,211 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,992,000 after purchasing an additional 20,935 shares in the last quarter. About iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Saudi Arabia IMI 25-50 index, a market-cap-weighted index of Saudi Arabian firms covering 99% of the market cap spectrum. KSA was launched on Sep 16, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (LON:JSGI Get Free Report) declared a dividend on Monday, July 3rd, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Investors of record on Thursday, July 13th will be given a dividend of GBX 3.50 ($0.05) per share on Friday, August 18th. This represents a yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. The official announcement can be accessed at this link. JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income Price Performance JSGI stock opened at GBX 310 ($3.99) on Tuesday. JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income has a 12-month low of GBX 303 ($3.90) and a 12-month high of GBX 353 ($4.54). The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.55. The firm has a market cap of 168.98 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -153.20 and a beta of 0.58. The companys fifty day simple moving average is GBX 315.05 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 319.46. Get JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income alerts: JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income Company Profile (Get Free Report) Read More JPMorgan Japan Smaller Companies Trust plc is an open-ended equity mutual fund launched by JPMorgan Funds Limited. The fund is co-managed by JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited and JPMorgan Asset Management (Japan) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Japan. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lindbrook Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report) by 6.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,065 shares of the conglomerates stock after buying an additional 242 shares during the quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLCs holdings in Danaher were worth $1,025,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Arkadios Wealth Advisors grew its stake in Danaher by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 4,176 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $1,108,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Danaher by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc now owns 5,284 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $1,402,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the period. Donaldson Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Danaher by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Donaldson Capital Management LLC now owns 1,260 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $334,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Danaher by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC now owns 8,341 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $2,214,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the period. Finally, AM Investment Strategies LLC raised its holdings in Danaher by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. AM Investment Strategies LLC now owns 2,728 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $687,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. 75.68% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Danaher alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Walter G. Lohr sold 3,490 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.88, for a total transaction of $840,671.20. Following the transaction, the director now owns 12,115 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,918,261.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Danaher news, EVP Joakim Weidemanis sold 9,934 shares of Danaher stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $245.27, for a total transaction of $2,436,512.18. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 91,423 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,423,319.21. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Walter G. Lohr sold 3,490 shares of Danaher stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.88, for a total transaction of $840,671.20. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 12,115 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,918,261.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 34,466 shares of company stock worth $8,103,781 in the last quarter. 11.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Danaher Stock Performance DHR traded up $1.82 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $236.29. The companys stock had a trading volume of 857,028 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,905,986. Danaher Co. has a 52-week low of $221.22 and a 52-week high of $303.82. The companys fifty day moving average price is $234.93 and its 200-day moving average price is $248.00. The company has a market capitalization of $174.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 1.89. Danaher (NYSE:DHR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The conglomerate reported $2.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.26 by $0.10. Danaher had a net margin of 22.40% and a return on equity of 16.70%. The company had revenue of $7.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.06 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.76 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Danaher Co. will post 9.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Danaher Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 28th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.46%. Danahers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 11.64%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on DHR shares. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price target on Danaher from $300.00 to $270.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Danaher from $289.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Citigroup dropped their price target on Danaher from $325.00 to $300.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Danaher from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price target for the company from $275.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on Danaher from $310.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $294.88. Danaher Company Profile (Free Report) Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes and services; and healthcare filtration solutions. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DHR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Danaher Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Danaher and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wright Investors Service Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK Free Report) by 29.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,406 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,304 shares during the quarter. Wright Investors Service Inc.s holdings in McKesson were worth $1,925,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System acquired a new position in McKesson during the 4th quarter worth $4,192,000. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of McKesson by 44.5% in the 4th quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,672 shares of the companys stock worth $627,000 after buying an additional 515 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its stake in shares of McKesson by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 28,207 shares of the companys stock worth $10,581,000 after buying an additional 803 shares in the last quarter. PDS Planning Inc bought a new stake in shares of McKesson in the 4th quarter worth $205,000. Finally, Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of McKesson in the 4th quarter worth $2,238,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.77% of the companys stock. Get McKesson alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other McKesson news, EVP Thomas L. Rodgers sold 645 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $395.70, for a total value of $255,226.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 2,544 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,006,660.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 3,471 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $420.00, for a total value of $1,457,820.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 129,714 shares in the company, valued at approximately $54,479,880. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Thomas L. Rodgers sold 645 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $395.70, for a total value of $255,226.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 2,544 shares in the company, valued at $1,006,660.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 36,076 shares of company stock worth $14,231,719 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock. McKesson Price Performance Shares of NYSE MCK traded down $0.71 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $414.05. 111,977 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 935,510. McKesson Co. has a 1-year low of $315.78 and a 1-year high of $429.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.53, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.60. The companys 50-day moving average price is $397.38 and its 200-day moving average price is $375.31. McKesson (NYSE:MCK Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The company reported $7.19 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.16 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $68.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $67.94 billion. McKesson had a negative return on equity of 234.22% and a net margin of 1.29%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.83 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that McKesson Co. will post 26.51 earnings per share for the current year. McKesson Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, June 1st were given a dividend of $0.54 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.52%. McKessons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.60%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In MCK has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. SpectralCast reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of McKesson in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on McKesson from $450.00 to $475.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Citigroup started coverage on McKesson in a research report on Friday, March 31st. They set a buy rating and a $420.00 price target on the stock. Barclays boosted their target price on McKesson from $415.00 to $420.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on McKesson in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $434.92. McKesson Profile (Free Report) McKesson Corporation provides healthcare services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS), Medical-Surgical Solutions, and International. The U.S. Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded, generic, specialty, biosimilar and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs, and other healthcare-related products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for McKesson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McKesson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust acquired a new position in FedEx Co. (NYSE:FDX Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 1,100 shares of the shipping service providers stock, valued at approximately $251,000. Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Martin & Co. Inc. TN raised its stake in FedEx by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Martin & Co. Inc. TN now owns 5,080 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $880,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the period. Kovack Advisors Inc. raised its stake in FedEx by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. now owns 3,619 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $827,000 after buying an additional 197 shares during the period. McGinn Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in FedEx by 25.6% during the 4th quarter. McGinn Investment Management Inc. now owns 23,864 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $4,133,000 after buying an additional 4,860 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in FedEx by 36.0% during the 1st quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 21,752 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $4,970,000 after buying an additional 5,761 shares during the period. Finally, Daymark Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in FedEx by 26.6% during the 1st quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,382 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,001,000 after buying an additional 922 shares during the period. 73.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get FedEx alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In FDX has been the topic of a number of research reports. Barclays upped their price target on FedEx from $240.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Loop Capital decreased their price objective on FedEx from $263.00 to $255.00 in a report on Thursday, June 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on FedEx from $250.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on FedEx from $240.00 to $282.00 in a report on Thursday, May 18th. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their price objective on FedEx from $170.00 to $225.00 in a report on Friday, March 17th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, FedEx presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $245.11. Insiders Place Their Bets FedEx Stock Performance In other FedEx news, EVP Robert B. Carter sold 19,270 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.00, for a total transaction of $4,740,420.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 58,875 shares in the company, valued at $14,483,250. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . In other news, VP Jennifer L. Johnson sold 10,801 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $238.61, for a total value of $2,577,226.61. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,196 shares of the companys stock, valued at $762,597.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, EVP Robert B. Carter sold 19,270 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.00, for a total transaction of $4,740,420.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 58,875 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,483,250. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Company insiders own 8.62% of the companys stock. FedEx stock traded up $7.06 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $258.75. The stock had a trading volume of 974,716 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,050,943. The stock has a market cap of $65.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.35. The stocks 50 day moving average is $231.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is $215.38. FedEx Co. has a 1 year low of $141.92 and a 1 year high of $258.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.33, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. FedEx (NYSE:FDX Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, June 20th. The shipping service provider reported $4.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $21.93 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.55 billion. FedEx had a return on equity of 15.32% and a net margin of 4.41%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $6.87 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that FedEx Co. will post 17.29 EPS for the current year. FedEx Company Profile (Free Report) FedEx Corporation provides transportation, e-commerce, and business services in the United States and internationally. The company's FedEx Express segment offers express transportation, small-package ground delivery, and freight transportation services; time-critical transportation services; and cross-border enablement, technology, and e-commerce transportation solutions. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for FedEx Co. (NYSE:FDX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for FedEx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FedEx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Outokumpu Oyj (OTCMKTS:OUTKY Get Free Report)s share price dropped 5.2% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $2.71 and last traded at $2.71. Approximately 1,000 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 35% from the average daily volume of 741 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.86. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Outokumpu Oyj from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Friday, May 12th. Danske raised Outokumpu Oyj from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $5.00. Get Outokumpu Oyj alerts: Outokumpu Oyj Trading Down 5.2 % The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $2.86 and a 200 day simple moving average of $2.71. Outokumpu Oyj Company Profile Outokumpu Oyj produces and sells various stainless steel products in Finland, other European countries, North America, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers cold rolled coils, strips, and sheets; precision strips; hot rolled coils, strips, and plates; quarto plates; precise components, including welded stainless-steel I-beams, H-beams, hollow-section tubes, bent profiles, structural sections, press plates, roll shells, and blancs and disks; long products, which includes wire rods, wires, bars, rebars, billets, blooms, slabs, and ingots; and forged and rolled billets. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Outokumpu Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Outokumpu Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Proffitt & Goodson Inc. raised its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR Free Report) by 23.9% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 139,146 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 26,860 shares during the period. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF comprises about 2.7% of Proffitt & Goodson Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Proffitt & Goodson Inc.s holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF were worth $13,455,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in IJR. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 118,698.9% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 738,286,464 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $69,871,431,000 after acquiring an additional 737,665,005 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 9,021.6% in the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 2,119,864 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,795,000 after acquiring an additional 2,096,624 shares in the last quarter. Cowa LLC raised its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 5,333.8% in the 1st quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 1,283,582 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,670,000 after acquiring an additional 1,259,960 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates raised its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 14.2% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 8,734,201 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $844,597,000 after acquiring an additional 1,087,241 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 18.5% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 6,349,891 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $685,026,000 after acquiring an additional 990,861 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Trading Up 0.5 % Shares of IJR traded up $0.49 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $100.17. The company had a trading volume of 691,490 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,114,574. The company has a market capitalization of $69.18 billion, a PE ratio of 12.11 and a beta of 1.15. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has a one year low of $86.40 and a one year high of $108.24. The companys fifty day moving average price is $95.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $97.55. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Profile iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of publicly traded securities in the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IJR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RFP Financial Group LLC decreased its position in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Free Report) by 91.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,050 shares of the retailers stock after selling 11,162 shares during the quarter. RFP Financial Group LLCs holdings in Walmart were worth $155,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in WMT. AMI Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Walmart by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,269 shares of the retailers stock worth $1,231,000 after acquiring an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its position in shares of Walmart by 36.8% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 4,820 shares of the retailers stock valued at $718,000 after purchasing an additional 1,296 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of Walmart by 31.7% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,162 shares of the retailers stock valued at $173,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC increased its position in shares of Walmart by 123.9% during the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 10,566 shares of the retailers stock valued at $1,573,000 after purchasing an additional 5,847 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its position in shares of Walmart by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 857,839 shares of the retailers stock valued at $127,749,000 after purchasing an additional 13,985 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 31.95% of the companys stock. Get Walmart alerts: Walmart Stock Down 0.4 % Shares of NYSE WMT traded down $0.60 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $154.28. 660,454 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,130,686. 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 cap of $415.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.24, a P/E/G ratio of 4.49 and a beta of 0.50. Walmart Inc. has a 1 year low of $120.06 and a 1 year high of $159.12. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $152.40 and a 200 day moving average of $147.14. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Walmart ( NYSE:WMT Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 18th. The retailer reported $1.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.15. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.30% and a net margin of 1.82%. The company had revenue of $152.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $147.91 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.30 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 6.21 earnings per share for the current year. WMT has been the topic of several analyst reports. Gordon Haskett raised Walmart from an accumulate rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $155.00 to $165.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Walmart from $169.00 to $174.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Walmart from $160.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. KeyCorp boosted their price objective on Walmart from $170.00 to $175.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Walmart from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Walmart currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $166.91. Insider Activity at Walmart In related news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 6,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $147.78, for a total transaction of $975,348.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 159,240 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,532,487.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, EVP Daniel J. Bartlett sold 6,600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $147.78, for a total value of $975,348.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 159,240 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,532,487.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.00, for a total value of $660,625.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 286,617 shares in the company, valued at $43,279,167. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 9,208,665 shares of company stock valued at $1,421,177,843 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 46.51% of the companys stock. Walmart Company Profile (Free Report) Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, and other units worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com, walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, and samsclub.com; and mobile commerce applications. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Seabridge Gold Inc. (NYSE:SA Get Free Report) (TSE:SEA) was up 3.5% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $12.72 and last traded at $12.68. Approximately 116,465 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 68% from the average daily volume of 358,431 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.25. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Seabridge Gold to a sell rating in a research note on Friday. Get Seabridge Gold alerts: Seabridge Gold Stock Up 2.0 % The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The stocks fifty day moving average is $13.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $12.91. Institutional Trading of Seabridge Gold Seabridge Gold ( NYSE:SA Get Free Report ) (TSE:SEA) last issued its earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The basic materials company reported ($0.10) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.05) by ($0.05). As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Seabridge Gold Inc. will post -0.18 EPS for the current year. A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SA. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in Seabridge Gold by 17.9% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 163,874 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $3,032,000 after purchasing an additional 24,880 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Seabridge Gold by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 24,162 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $447,000 after purchasing an additional 1,175 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. boosted its stake in Seabridge Gold by 56.9% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 15,194 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $281,000 after purchasing an additional 5,512 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can boosted its stake in Seabridge Gold by 64.0% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 3,836 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $75,000 after purchasing an additional 1,497 shares during the period. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its stake in Seabridge Gold by 75.9% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 47,146 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $872,000 after purchasing an additional 20,338 shares during the period. 34.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Seabridge Gold (Get Free Report) Seabridge Gold, Inc engages in the business of acquisition and exploration of gold properties. Its projects include Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell, Courageous Lake, 3 Aces, Iskut, Snowstorm, and Non-Core Assets properties. The company was founded by James S. Anthony and Rudi P. Fronk on September 14, 1979 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Seabridge Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Seabridge Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D cut its holdings in iShares MSCI India ETF (BATS:INDA Free Report) by 0.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,583,940 shares of the companys stock after selling 34,158 shares during the period. iShares MSCI India ETF makes up 0.8% of State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund Ds investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D owned 4.87% of iShares MSCI India ETF worth $219,784,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Caprock Group LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI India ETF in the first quarter worth $628,000. Arlington Partners LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI India ETF in the first quarter worth $101,000. Millburn Ridgefield Corp boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI India ETF by 11.4% in the first quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp now owns 60,351 shares of the companys stock worth $2,375,000 after purchasing an additional 6,152 shares in the last quarter. Thompson Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in iShares MSCI India ETF during the first quarter valued at about $114,000. Finally, Eagle Strategies LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI India ETF during the first quarter valued at about $1,152,000. Get iShares MSCI India ETF alerts: iShares MSCI India ETF Stock Up 0.1 % INDA stock traded up $0.06 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $43.66. 1,471,508 shares of the stock traded hands. iShares MSCI India ETF has a 52 week low of $30.57 and a 52 week high of $38.21. The business has a 50-day moving average of $42.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $41.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.01 billion, a PE ratio of 23.86 and a beta of 0.68. iShares MSCI India ETF Profile The iShares MSCI India ETF (INDA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI India index, a market-cap-weighted index of the top 85% of firms in the Indian securities market. INDA was launched on Feb 2, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding INDA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI India ETF (BATS:INDA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI India ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI India ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Research analysts at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:THM Get Free Report) (TSE:ITH) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Sunday. The brokerage set a sell rating on the mining companys stock. International Tower Hill Mines Trading Up 4.7 % International Tower Hill Mines stock opened at $0.45 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $88.27 million, a P/E ratio of -22.65 and a beta of 0.70. International Tower Hill Mines has a 1-year low of $0.37 and a 1-year high of $0.75. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.47 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.52. Get International Tower Hill Mines alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A hedge fund recently raised its stake in International Tower Hill Mines stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:THM Free Report) (TSE:ITH) by 187.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 215,462 shares of the mining companys stock after acquiring an additional 140,462 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned about 0.11% of International Tower Hill Mines worth $211,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. 55.34% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About International Tower Hill Mines 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for International Tower Hill Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Tower Hill Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tillys, Inc. (NYSE:TLYS Get Free Report) major shareholder Fund 1 Investments, Llc acquired 6,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 6th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $6.99 per share, for a total transaction of $47,532.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,172,307 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $29,164,425.93. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. Fund 1 Investments, Llc also recently made the following trade(s): Get Tilly's alerts: On Friday, June 30th, Fund 1 Investments, Llc acquired 15,000 shares of Tillys stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of $7.00 per share, for a total transaction of $105,000.00. On Tuesday, June 27th, Fund 1 Investments, Llc purchased 6,000 shares of Tillys stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $6.90 per share, for a total transaction of $41,400.00. On Friday, June 23rd, Fund 1 Investments, Llc purchased 5,750 shares of Tillys stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $6.75 per share, for a total transaction of $38,812.50. On Friday, June 16th, Fund 1 Investments, Llc purchased 24,500 shares of Tillys stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $6.76 per share, for a total transaction of $165,620.00. On Wednesday, June 14th, Fund 1 Investments, Llc purchased 38,526 shares of Tillys stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $6.59 per share, for a total transaction of $253,886.34. On Monday, June 12th, Fund 1 Investments, Llc purchased 31,000 shares of Tillys stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $6.52 per share, for a total transaction of $202,120.00. On Wednesday, June 7th, Fund 1 Investments, Llc acquired 1,600 shares of Tillys stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $6.30 per share, for a total transaction of $10,080.00. On Monday, June 5th, Fund 1 Investments, Llc acquired 21,832 shares of Tillys stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $6.26 per share, for a total transaction of $136,668.32. On Friday, June 2nd, Fund 1 Investments, Llc acquired 120,500 shares of Tillys stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $6.50 per share, for a total transaction of $783,250.00. On Wednesday, May 31st, Fund 1 Investments, Llc acquired 30,000 shares of Tillys stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $7.79 per share, for a total transaction of $233,700.00. Tillys Trading Down 0.8 % TLYS stock traded down $0.06 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $7.35. 133,555 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 214,030. Tillys, Inc. has a 52-week low of $6.05 and a 52-week high of $10.35. The stock has a market cap of $219.62 million, a P/E ratio of -82.44 and a beta of 1.64. The stocks 50-day moving average is $7.25 and its 200 day moving average is $7.89. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Tillys Tillys ( NYSE:TLYS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, June 1st. The specialty retailer reported ($0.40) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.34) by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $123.64 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $124.99 million. Tillys had a negative return on equity of 1.56% and a negative net margin of 0.41%. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.03 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Tillys, Inc. will post -0.75 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System lifted its position in Tillys by 4.5% during the first quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 64,619 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $498,000 after purchasing an additional 2,767 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its position in Tillys by 41.3% during the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 56,900 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $439,000 after purchasing an additional 16,630 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in Tillys by 34.9% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 17,492 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $135,000 after purchasing an additional 4,522 shares during the last quarter. Long Focus Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Tillys by 21.9% during the first quarter. Long Focus Capital Management LLC now owns 1,439,379 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $11,098,000 after purchasing an additional 258,720 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC bought a new position in Tillys during the first quarter valued at $117,000. 86.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TLYS has been the topic of several analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Tillys from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, June 2nd. TheStreet downgraded shares of Tillys from a c rating to a d+ rating in a research note on Monday, June 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $9.00. Tillys Company Profile (Get Free Report) Tilly's, Inc operates as a specialty retailer of casual apparel, footwear, accessories, and hardgoods for young men and women, and boys and girls in the United States. Its apparel merchandise includes tops, outerwear, bottoms, swim, and dresses; and accessories merchandise comprises backpacks, hydration bottles, hats, sunglasses, small electronics and accessories, handbags, watches, jewelry, and others, as well as hardgoods consists of skateboards, longboards, and related equipment for skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tilly's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tilly's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Vale (NYSE:VALE Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Friday. A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. BNP Paribas lowered shares of Vale from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $13.20 price target on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Vale from $18.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Citigroup lowered shares of Vale from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $20.00 to $16.00 in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Scotiabank lowered shares of Vale from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating and set a $16.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Vale from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $13.00 to $15.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $16.43. Get Vale alerts: Vale Price Performance Vale stock opened at $13.21 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $59.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.73. Vale has a 1 year low of $11.72 and a 1 year high of $19.31. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $13.70 and a two-hundred day moving average of $15.53. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Vale ( NYSE:VALE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The basic materials company reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.57 by ($0.16). Vale had a return on equity of 38.16% and a net margin of 38.99%. The business had revenue of $8.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.09 billion. On average, research analysts forecast that Vale will post 2.21 earnings per share for the current year. Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. National Bank of Canada FI raised its position in Vale by 7,636.2% during the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 34,263,547 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $581,453,000 after buying an additional 33,820,650 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in shares of Vale by 93.2% in the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 31,188,702 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $529,272,000 after purchasing an additional 15,047,063 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vale by 18.7% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 72,165,728 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,138,775,000 after purchasing an additional 11,393,498 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in shares of Vale by 57.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 22,763,893 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $359,214,000 after purchasing an additional 8,334,786 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. purchased a new position in shares of Vale in the 4th quarter valued at about $71,347,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 18.82% of the companys stock. About Vale (Get Free Report) Vale SA, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells iron ore and iron ore pellets for use as raw materials in steelmaking in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through Iron Solutions and Energy Transition Materials segments. The Iron Solutions segment produces and extracts iron ore and pellets, manganese, and other ferrous products; and provides related logistic services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Vale Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vale and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Walter & Keenan Wealth Management LLC IN ADV grew its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 53.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 8,573 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 3,001 shares during the quarter. Walter & Keenan Wealth Management LLC IN ADVs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $834,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Riverpoint Wealth Management Holdings LLC bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Red Tortoise LLC bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Optiver Holding B.V. bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Stone House Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Winch Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 200.0% in the 4th quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 294 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 196 shares during the period. 77.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $109.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. 22nd Century Group restated a reiterates rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $109.00 to $117.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. Stifel Nicolaus assumed 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. Finally, 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $111.40. Philip Morris International Price Performance PM traded up $0.16 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $97.91. 984,350 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,408,803. The firm has a market capitalization of $151.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 0.70. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $94.36 and a 200 day moving average of $97.81. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 12-month low of $82.85 and a 12-month high of $105.62. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.04. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 10.80% and a negative return on equity of 128.55%. The firm had revenue of $8.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.03 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.56 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.2 EPS for the current fiscal year. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 23rd will be paid a dividend of $1.27 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 22nd. This represents a $5.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.19%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 90.88%. Philip Morris International Profile (Free Report) 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Walter & Keenan Wealth Management LLC IN ADV reduced its stake in Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report) by 3.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,272 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 462 shares during the quarter. Walter & Keenan Wealth Management LLC IN ADVs holdings in Digital Realty Trust were worth $1,206,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Digital Realty Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $538,000. Atlas Private Wealth Management raised its position in Digital Realty Trust by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Atlas Private Wealth Management now owns 11,638 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,144,000 after buying an additional 343 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. raised its position in Digital Realty Trust by 67.3% during the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. now owns 62,473 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $6,142,000 after buying an additional 25,138 shares during the last quarter. Rowland & Co. Investment Counsel ADV raised its position in Digital Realty Trust by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Rowland & Co. Investment Counsel ADV now owns 5,678 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $558,000 after buying an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Silver Lake Advisory LLC purchased a new position in Digital Realty Trust during the 1st quarter worth approximately $3,290,000. 97.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Digital Realty Trust alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Digital Realty Trust In other Digital Realty Trust news, CAO Peter C. Olson sold 700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.67, for a total value of $73,969.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 7,134 shares in the company, valued at approximately $753,849.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CAO Peter C. Olson sold 700 shares of Digital Realty Trust stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.67, for a total transaction of $73,969.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 7,134 shares in the company, valued at approximately $753,849.78. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jean F. H. P. Mandeville sold 1,500 shares of Digital Realty Trust stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.47, for a total value of $146,205.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 10,176 shares in the company, valued at approximately $991,854.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.39% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Digital Realty Trust Price Performance Digital Realty Trust stock traded up $2.41 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $116.42. The company had a trading volume of 516,341 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,633,710. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $102.53 and its 200 day simple moving average is $102.63. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. has a 1-year low of $85.76 and a 1-year high of $138.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.61 billion, a PE ratio of 103.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.62. Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.65 by ($1.46). The company had revenue of $1.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.41 billion. Digital Realty Trust had a net margin of 7.61% and a return on equity of 2.34%. Digital Realty Trusts revenue was up 18.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.67 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Digital Realty Trust, Inc. will post 6.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Digital Realty Trust Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a $1.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.19%. Digital Realty Trusts payout ratio is currently 439.64%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have issued reports on DLR. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $113.00 to $112.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 7th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company. 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a reiterates rating on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. BMO Capital Markets cut shares of Digital Realty Trust from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $121.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $115.00 to $105.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $113.08. Digital Realty Trust Profile (Free Report) Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data "meeting place" and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Digital Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Digital Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Walter & Keenan Wealth Management LLC IN ADV decreased its stake in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report) by 3.5% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 10,595 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 388 shares during the period. Walter & Keenan Wealth Management LLC IN ADVs holdings in Southern were worth $737,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in SO. Bell Investment Advisors Inc lifted its position in Southern by 127.6% during the 4th quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 421 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Horizon Bancorp Inc. IN acquired a new position in Southern during the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. VitalStone Financial LLC acquired a new position in Southern during the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. bought a new stake in Southern during the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Bourgeon Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Southern by 192.0% during the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 511 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 336 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.25% of the companys stock. Get Southern alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have weighed in on SO. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Southern from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Southern from $73.00 to $69.00 in a report on Thursday, June 8th. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM reissued a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a report on Friday, April 28th. VNET Group reissued a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised Southern from a buy rating to a conviction-buy rating in a report on Monday, July 3rd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Southern presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $73.93. Southern Stock Performance SO traded down $0.18 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $69.96. The companys stock had a trading volume of 587,321 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,193,799. The Southern Company has a 52 week low of $58.85 and a 52 week high of $80.57. The companys 50-day moving average is $71.26 and its 200-day moving average is $69.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $76.28 billion, a PE ratio of 22.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.90 and a beta of 0.50. Southern (NYSE:SO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $6.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.14 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 10.78% and a net margin of 11.53%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.97 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that The Southern Company will post 3.6 EPS for the current year. Southern Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed 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 a boost from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 12th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.00%. Southerns dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 90.32%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Southern news, insider David P. Poroch sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.05, for a total transaction of $700,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 28,691 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,009,804.55. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total value of $3,758,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 847,592 shares in the company, valued at $63,705,014.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider David P. Poroch sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 28,691 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,009,804.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 200,678 shares of company stock worth $14,528,821 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock. Southern Company Profile (Free Report) 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB Free Report) had its price objective upped by Mizuho from $39.00 to $40.00 in a research note published on Friday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Williams Companies from $41.00 to $39.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Williams Companies from $36.00 to $35.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Williams Companies from $36.00 to $35.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Truist Financial cut shares of Williams Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $31.00 target price for the company. in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Finally, Scotiabank reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $35.00 target price on shares of Williams Companies in a report on Friday, April 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $35.50. Get Williams Companies alerts: Williams Companies Trading Up 0.5 % NYSE:WMB opened at $32.91 on Friday. Williams Companies has a one year low of $27.80 and a one year high of $35.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.63. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $30.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $30.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.45, a PEG ratio of 4.71 and a beta of 1.18. Williams Companies Dividend Announcement Williams Companies ( NYSE:WMB Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The pipeline company reported $0.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.46 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $3.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.65 billion. Williams Companies had a net margin of 22.53% and a return on equity of 17.24%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 22.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.41 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Williams Companies will post 1.99 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 26th. Investors of record on Monday, June 12th were given a dividend of $0.4475 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 9th. This represents a $1.79 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.44%. Williams Companiess dividend payout ratio is 84.04%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP Scott A. Hallam sold 14,388 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.64, for a total transaction of $440,848.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 248,554 shares in the company, valued at $7,615,694.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Scott A. Hallam sold 14,388 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.64, for a total transaction of $440,848.32. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 248,554 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,615,694.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Scott A. Hallam sold 7,194 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.00, for a total transaction of $230,208.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 234,166 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,493,312. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 35,969 shares of company stock worth $1,131,439. 0.44% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Williams Companies Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WMB. Motco increased its stake in Williams Companies by 306.2% in the 4th quarter. Motco now owns 784 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 591 shares during the period. Richard W. Paul & Associates LLC purchased a new position in Williams Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Aspire Private Capital LLC purchased a new position in Williams Companies in the 1st quarter worth about $25,029,697,000. Concord Wealth Partners purchased a new position in Williams Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Salem Investment Counselors Inc. increased its stake in Williams Companies by 52.5% in the 2nd quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 915 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 315 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.71% of the companys stock. Williams Companies Company Profile (Get Free Report) 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Williams Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Williams Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wincanton plc (LON:WIN Get Free Report) declared a dividend on Monday, May 22nd, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 13th will be paid a dividend of GBX 8.80 ($0.11) per share on Friday, August 11th. This represents a dividend yield of 4.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th. This is a positive change from Wincantons previous dividend of $4.40. The official announcement can be accessed at this link. Wincanton Price Performance WIN stock opened at GBX 254.78 ($3.28) on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 243.21 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 259.71. The stock has a market cap of 317.30 million, a PE ratio of 980.77 and a beta of 0.62. Wincanton has a one year low of GBX 187 ($2.41) and a one year high of GBX 399 ($5.13). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 349.24, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.66. Get Wincanton alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Numis Securities reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 365 ($4.70) target price on shares of Wincanton in a research report on Monday, May 22nd. About Wincanton Wincanton plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of outsourced and integrated supply chain solutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It offers business critical services, including storage, handling and distribution, eFulfilment, retailer, home delivery, fleet and transport management, and network optimization. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Wincanton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wincanton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wright Investors Service Inc. raised its stake in Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO Free Report) by 1.8% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 24,434 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 442 shares during the quarter. Wright Investors Service Inc.s holdings in Rio Tinto Group were worth $1,676,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 58.9% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 12,899,694 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,037,135,000 after purchasing an additional 4,783,488 shares in the last quarter. Cowa LLC purchased a new position in shares of Rio Tinto Group in the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Pendal Group Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group in the 4th quarter worth about $183,849,000. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 26.9% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,475,787 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $440,253,000 after buying an additional 1,161,737 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Neuberger Berman Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 14.4% in the 4th quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 6,247,953 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $444,853,000 after acquiring an additional 787,650 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.44% of the companys stock. Get Rio Tinto Group alerts: Rio Tinto Group Stock Performance Shares of RIO traded up $1.25 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $64.43. 1,432,965 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,220,445. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. Rio Tinto Group has a 12-month low of $50.92 and a 12-month high of $80.51. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $63.27 and its 200 day moving average price is $68.40. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Rio Tinto Group Profile Several brokerages have weighed in on RIO. Morgan Stanley upgraded Rio Tinto Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Rio Tinto Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Friday, May 5th. CLSA upgraded Rio Tinto Group from an underperform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Rio Tinto Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $4,360.50. (Free Report) Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. It offers aluminum, copper, iron ore, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, silver, molybdenum, and lithium. The company also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, refineries, smelters, and concentrator facilities, as well as power stations, research, and service facilities. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RIO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Rio Tinto Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rio Tinto Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wright Investors Service Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Boyd Gaming Co. (NYSE:BYD Free Report) by 35.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 22,271 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,226 shares during the quarter. Wright Investors Service Inc.s holdings in Boyd Gaming were worth $1,428,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Boyd Gaming by 4.1% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,030,684 shares of the companys stock worth $594,039,000 after purchasing an additional 359,698 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Boyd Gaming by 2.1% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,025,507 shares of the companys stock valued at $462,137,000 after buying an additional 143,418 shares during the period. Ariel Investments LLC increased its holdings in Boyd Gaming by 63.4% during the first quarter. Ariel Investments LLC now owns 2,629,438 shares of the companys stock valued at $172,965,000 after buying an additional 1,020,515 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in Boyd Gaming by 45.2% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,382,418 shares of the companys stock worth $156,715,000 after acquiring an additional 741,156 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Boyd Gaming by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,200,680 shares of the companys stock worth $109,811,000 after acquiring an additional 10,796 shares during the last quarter. 68.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Boyd Gaming alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes BYD has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com started coverage on Boyd Gaming in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. Barclays upped their price target on Boyd Gaming from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Boyd Gaming from $83.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Boyd Gaming from $76.00 to $78.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their price target on shares of Boyd Gaming from $80.00 to $84.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $75.29. Boyd Gaming Price Performance Shares of NYSE:BYD traded down $0.10 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $69.56. 143,321 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 869,943. The stock has a market cap of $7.03 billion, a PE ratio of 10.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.77. The businesss fifty day moving average is $67.71 and its two-hundred day moving average is $64.19. Boyd Gaming Co. has a one year low of $46.10 and a one year high of $71.69. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.20. Boyd Gaming had a net margin of 18.48% and a return on equity of 43.15%. The business had revenue of $963.97 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $889.59 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.40 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Boyd Gaming Co. will post 6.3 earnings per share for the current year. Boyd Gaming Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Boyd Gamings payout ratio is 10.08%. About Boyd Gaming (Free Report) Boyd Gaming Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-jurisdictional gaming company in Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It operates through three segments: Las Vegas Locals, Downtown Las Vegas, and Midwest & South. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Boyd Gaming Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boyd Gaming and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bain Capital and Carlyle Group Inc. are among potential bidders for a controlling stake in Gautam Adanis shadow bank, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Indian billionaire looks to conserve cash and focus on core businesses. The Adani Group is working with an adviser to look for buyers for Adani Capital after an initial public offering plan for the non-bank lender was scrapped, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private. The Adani Group will decide whether to completely exit or keep a minority stake after the bids are in, the people said. A potential sale of Adani Capital would come after US-based short seller Hindenburg Research in January leveled fraud allegations against Adani Group, which has denied any wrongdoing. The report wiped out more than $150 billion from the conglomerates market value at one point. Selling the shadow bank can help cut liabilities on the Adani Groups balance sheets, one of the people said. Deliberations are ongoing and the potential bidders may not proceed with any formal offer, the people said. The Adani Group can also choose to keep the asset for longer, they added. Representatives for Bain and Carlyle declined to comment, while an Adani Group representative didnt immediately offer a comment. The Economic Times reported the private equity funds interest in Adani Capital on Monday, citing unnamed people, adding that Adani Capital is looking for a valuation of about 20 billion rupees ($243 million). Adani Capital started its lending operations in April 2017 and has more than 160 branches across India, according to its website. The non-bank lender was planning an IPO as early as 2024, selling about a 10% stake with a targeted valuation of $2 billion, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Gaurav Gupta said in an interview last year. A former employee and his associates allegedly murdered the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Managing Director (MD) in the office premises in north Bengaluru on July 11. The incident took place at around 4 pm in Aeronics internet company located in North Bengaluru's Amruthahalli. Phaneendra Subramanya (36), MD, and Vinu Kumar (40), CEO of Aeronics internet company, which was established in November 2022, were attacked by three individuals, including the primary suspect Felix, who was their former colleague. According to police officials, the accused forcibly entered the office premises and assaulted the victims with a sword. Both Phanindra Subramanya and Vinu Kumar succumbed to their injuries while being transported to the hospital. Felix, the assailant, is currently at large, and further investigation is underway, said Lakshmi Prasad, DCP, north-east Bengaluru. At the time of the incident, there were 10 other employees present in the office. When Phaneendra's partner Vinu Kumar attempted to intervene, he was also attacked. The accused fled the scene through the backdoor. Co-workers rushed the injured victims to the hospital, where they later died, an official said. According to sources, both Phaneendra Subramanya and Vinu Kumar were previously employed at a private internet company on Bannerghatta Road, where they worked under Felix. However, they eventually decided to leave the company and established Aeronics. Felix was reportedly frustrated because his company suffered financial losses after losing customers to Aeronics. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept In a recent interview Gaurav Dua, Sr VP & Head Capital Market Strategy, Sharekhan by BNP Paribas said the outlook for the Indian markets in the medium to long term is highly promising, primarily due to the ongoing multi-year economic growth cycle and the anticipated robust growth in corporate profits over the coming years. From an investor's standpoint, it is advisable to refrain from chasing momentum and speculative stocks at their current levels. However, it is prudent to remain invested in high-quality stocks. In fact, any volatility or market pullback should be viewed as an opportunity to carefully accumulate selectively chosen stocks at more favorable entry levels, Dua added. Edited excerpts: What is your take on markets? Should investors exit at this time, or remain invested? Markets never fail to surprise. Benchmark indices have climbed the wall of worries and practically made a new high almost everyday in the past couple of weeks. Post the recent rally, Nifty trades at 19.5-20x one year forward earnings which is at premium to long term average and not cheap anymore. However, the outlook on the medium to long term remains extremely attractive given the multi-year economic growth cycle and the expected healthy growth in corporate profits over the next few years. From an investor's perspective, one needs to avoid chasing momentum and speculative stocks at current levels. But can stay invested in good quality stocks. In fact, any volatile or pullback should be used to accumulate carefully short-listed stocks at better entry levels. Are valuations rich or expensive given the underlying earnings and growth estimate? As mentioned above, Nifty trades at around 10% premium to long term average valuation multiples now and not cheap anymore. However, one needs to understand that valuations are nowhere close to all time high though the Nifty/Sensex index is at new high. Thats because the markets have gone through time correction for almost 20 months and consolidated in the 16,000-18,000 range on Nifty while corporate earnings have gone up by close to 25% in the same period. Also, as an investor, we need to focus on opportunity in individual stocks rather than worry too much about valuation at index level. Any sectors/stocks where valuations are very rich? We see pockets of stretched valuation in some of the stocks in engineering, consumer discretionary, financials, real estate among others. Also, the recent surge in the broader markets has resulted in some of the stocks running ahead of their fundamentals; especially in the microcap space which is reflected in close to 34% appreciation in CNX Microcap 250 index in the past three months alone. What are the downside risks? After a strong rally, the markets can always pullback by 5-8% from the recent peak which would be a healthy correction. We expect the reason for the correction to come largely from global uncertainties rather than domestic issues. Globally, the H2 would see a more pronounced impact of rate hikes on economies in the developed markets. Plus, the geo-political issues continue to be an overhang. Which are the sectors/stocks which will continue to do well? If an investor has at least 18-24 month of investment horizon, our preferred picks would be banks, building material, cap goods/industrials and consumer companies. We also see value emerging in underperforming sectors like pharma and IT services. Though it is difficult to call out an exact bottom in these two sectors, we believe that a lot of negatives are priced in and any surprise in terms of growth and margins could lead to substantial re-rating here. Will the movement of the rupee weigh on the FII investments in India? FII inflows have been very strong in India lately. Though the FII flows tend to be very volatile and unpredictable, we believe that FII flows continue to remain on the positive side in H2 of CY2023 also. On a trailing twelve months basis, FII flows have only turned positive in May 2023 since December 2021 gap of almost 19 months. Generally, the change in trend over a 12 month trailing basis is sustainable for a 6-12 month period. Are the underlying fundamentals supporting the rally? The rally has been supported by both surprises on the fundamental side in terms of Q4 FY2023 GDP growth, Q1 FY 2024 corporate earnings and other high frequency macro data points. Globally also, the equity markets have done well in H1 of CY2023. Technically, the market has also got strong support from continued retail SIP inflows in mutual funds and reversal in trend of FII inflows since April this year. What kind of earnings growth is expected in the April to June quarter? In Q1 (Apr-June quarter), Nifty earnings would get a big push from the surge in profits of oil marketing companies (OMCs). We expect OMCs to report Rs40,000 crore of combined profits in Q1 FY2024 as compared to net loss of Rs18,500 crore in Q1FY2023. This would provide an alpha of close to Rs58,500 crore to corporate earnings in Q1 result season. Also, the banking and auto sector would push the Nifty companies combined profits growth to around 20% in April-June quarter. The 50th GST Council meeting started on Tuesday and is likely to deliberate on a host of issues including taxation of online gaming, definition of utility vehicles and tightening of norms for registration and claiming of ITC. At the beginning of the meeting taking place in the national capital, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released a short film titled 'GST Council - 50 steps towards a journey'. GST Council Meeting LIVE Updates In 49 meetings held so far, the Council has taken approximately 1,500 decisions in the spirit of co-operative federalism, the office of Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted. "The 50th meeting is a milestone which indicates success of cooperative federalism and establishment of a good & simple tax regime," the tweet said. Sitharaman also released a Special Cover and customised 'myStamp', which was presented to her by the Chief Post Master General, Delhi Circle India Post Office, the finance ministry tweeted. The GST Council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and comprises ministers from every state and Union Territory. The Council is also likely to clarify on GST rates applicable on food and beverages sold in multiplexes, exempt GST on import of cancer drug Dinutuximab, and Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) used in the treatment of rare diseases. It is also expected to finalise contours for setting up appellate tribunal, and demand of the industry for reimbursement of full Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and 50 per cent Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) in 11 hill states under the 'scheme for budgetary support'. Also, mandatory physical verification of the business premises of "high risk" applicants before granting of GST registration, as well as reduced time for submitting PAN-linked bank account details to GST authorities is expected to be discussed. A new rule in GST law under which businesses would be required to explain the reasons for excess input tax credit (ITC) claimed or deposit the amount with the exchequer is slated to be discussed. The Law Committee, comprising tax officers from Centre and states, have opined that where the ITC availed in GSTR-3B return exceeds the amount of ITC available in accordance with the auto-generated statement GSTR-2B by a specified threshold, the registered person may be intimated on the portal about such difference and be directed to either explain the difference or pay the excess ITC along with interest. The Committee has suggested that the provision should kick-in, if the difference is more than 20 per cent and more than Rs 25 lakh. GST Council is likely to take a final call on the recommendation of the Committee in its 50th meeting. The report of the panel of eight state finance ministers, convened by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, on taxation of online gaming, horse racing and casinos is also slated to be discussed in the meeting. The GoM (group of ministers) had a broad agreement that a 28 per cent GST should be levied on all the three supplies, but a consensus eluded on taxability of online games with Goa suggesting that an 18 per cent tax should be levied only on platform fees and contribution to prize pool should be tax exempt. A final view on taxation rate as well as whether tax is to be levied on the Gross gaming revenue (GGR) or fees charged by the platform; or on the full face value of bets put in by players of online gaming, horse racing and casinos would be taken by the GST Council. A clarity on taxation of Multi Utility Vehicles (MUV) or multipurpose vehicles or Crossover Utility Vehicles (XUVs) for levy of a 22 per cent compensation cess over and above the 28 per cent GST rate is also expected. The fitment committee, comprising Centre and state tax officers, has recommended that all utility vehicles, by whatever name called, would attract a 22 per cent cess provided they meet three parameters -- length greater than 4-metre, engine capacity greater than 1,500 cc and ground clearance in 'un-laden condition' of more than 170 mm. The fitment committee has also suggested to the GST Council to clarify that food and beverages served in cinema halls be taxed at 5 per cent and not 18 per cent as was being done in some multiplexes. However, if the sale of cinema ticket and supply of eatables such as popcorn or cold drinks etc. are clubbed and sold together, the entire supply should be treated as composite supply and taxed as per the applicable rate of the principal supply, which in this case is cinema ticket. Currently, movie tickets below Rs 100 are taxed at 12 per cent, while those above the threshold attract an 18 per cent GST. Import of cancer medicine Dinutuximab (Qarziba) by individuals for personal use attracts a 12 per cent IGST. The fitment committee said that the medicine, which costs Rs 36 lakh, should be exempted from GST as patients usually raise money through crowdfunding. Among other things, the Council is also likely to decide on TCS liability of suppliers engaged in e-commerce trading through the government's Open Network for Digital Commerce. Also satellite launch services by private players are likely to be exempt from GST. (With PTI inputs) India, the world's second-largest sugar producer and a major exporter in recent years, will likely have a smaller role in the sugar export market going forward as its government-led ethanol program continues to expand, a report said on Monday. According to the report Asia Biofuel Outlook, produced by research firm BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, India's pursuit of increased ethanol blending in gasoline, as a way to cut the oil products' import bill and reduce carbon emissions, will continue to support global sugar prices. BMI says that there is currently a fast development of additional capacity to produce ethanol in India, where the biofuel is made mainly from sugarcane. As more ethanol plants start production, more of the country's sugarcane crop will be used to make the fuel, limiting the amount of sugar that will be produced. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), India's ethanol blending has reached 11.5%, while the country's government target is to reach 20% by 2025. The report said that although it is "doubtful" that India will be able to achieve that by 2025, the program will cap exports of feedstocks used in ethanol production. BMI noted that Indonesia is also getting back to an ethanol blending program with a 5% rate initially, and a target to get to 10% by 2030. The research firm said that the country would need to sharply increase sugarcane planting to reach that target, and it would probably need to import ethanol to do it. Indonesia is not a regular exporter of sugar, so BMI says the program would not likely provide additional support to global sugar prices. The 50th meeting of the GST Council is scheduled to take place today in New Delhi. Led by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Council will engage in discussions covering a range of topics. These include taxation on online gaming, defining utility vehicles, and enhancing regulations for registration and claiming Input Tax Credit (ITC). The Council is also likely to clarify on the GST rates applicable on food and beverages sold in multiplexes, exempt GST on import of cancer drug Dinutuximab, and Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) used in the treatment of rare diseases. It is also expected to finalise the contours for setting up an appellate tribunal, and demand of the industry for reimbursement of full CGST and 50 percent IGST in 11 hill states under the 'scheme for budgetary support'. Mandatory physical verification The Council is likely to provide for mandatory physical verification of the business premises of 'high risk' applicants before granting of GST registration, as well as reduced time for submitting Pan-linked bank account details to GST authorities. Reasons for excess input tax credit Also, a new rule in the GST law under which businesses would be required to explain the reasons for excess input tax credit (ITC) claimed or deposit the amount with the exchequer is likely to be discussed. The Law Committee, comprising tax officers from Centre and states, have said that where the ITC availed in GSTR-3B return exceeds the amount of ITC available in accordance with the auto-generated statement GSTR-2B by a specified threshold, the registered person may be intimated on the portal about such difference and be directed to either explain the difference or pay the excess ITC along with interest. The committee has suggested that the provision should kick in if the difference is more than 20 percent and more than Rs 25 lakh. GST Council is likely to take a final call on the recommendation of the Committee in its 50th meeting on Tuesday. Taxation of online gaming, horse racing and casinos The report of the panel of eight state finance ministers, convened by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, on taxation of online gaming, horse racing and casinos is also slated to be discussed in the meeting. The GoM (group of ministers) had a broad agreement that a 28 percent GST should be levied on all the three supplies, but a consensus eluded on taxability of online games with Goa suggesting that an 18 percent tax should be levied only on platform fees and contribution to prize pool should be tax exempt. A final view on taxation rate as well as whether tax is to be levied on the GGR or fees charged by the platform; or on the full face value of bets put in by players of online gaming, horse racing and casinos would be taken by the GST Council. Taxation of Multi Utility Vehicles A clarity on taxation of Multi Utility Vehicles (MUV) or multipurpose vehicles or Crossover Utility Vehicles (XUVs) for the levy of a 22 percent compensation cess over and above the 28 percent GST is also expected. The fitment committee, comprising central and state tax officials, has recommended that all utility vehicles, by whatever name called, would attract a 22 percent cess provided they meet three parameters - length greater than 4 metres, engine capacity greater than 1,500 cc and ground clearance in 'un-laden condition' of more than 170 mm. Food and beverages in cinema halls The fitment committee has also urged the GST Council to clarify that food and beverages served in cinema halls be taxed at 5 percent, and not at 18 percent as was being done in some multiplexes. However, if the sale of cinema ticket and supply of eatables such as popcorn or cold drinks are clubbed and sold together, the entire supply should be treated as composite supply and taxed as per the applicable rate of the principal supply, which in this case is cinema ticket. Movie tickets below Rs 100 are taxed at 12 percent, while those above the threshold attract an 18 percent GST. Cancer medicine Dinutuximab Import of cancer medicine Dinutuximab (Qarziba) by individuals for personal use attract a 12 percent IGST. The fitment committee said that the medicine, which costs Rs 36 lakh, should be exempted from GST as patients usually raise money through crowdfunding. TCS liability of suppliers on ONDC Among other things, the Council is also likely to decide on TCS liability of suppliers engaged in e-commerce trading through government's Open Network for Digital Commerce. Satellite launch services by private players are also likely to be kept out of the GST ambit. With inputs from agencies India and the UK have agreed to add momentum to the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. Goyal, who is on a short visit to the UK, took to Twitter after meeting his UK counterpart Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch to say they had agreed to keep up work towards a mutually beneficial deal. India and the UK started round 11 of their FTA talks last Wednesday, which is expected to conclude on Friday. "Held a meeting with the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch in London. Discussed how both sides can add further momentum to the India-UK Free Trade Agreement negotiations for a mutually beneficial deal," Goyal tweeted. It came a day after a UK government source said the senior Indian ministerial visit to the UK in the midst of a negotiation round shows there is political will to make progress towards an ambitious trade deal. "The potential is clear a strong trade deal will strengthen the economic links between the UK and India, already worth GBP 36 billion in 2022. But we will only sign when we have a deal that is in the best interests of the UK," the source noted. According to stakeholders close to the discussions, Goyal will be holding wide-ranging discussions while in the UK to add momentum behind the FTA as both sides feel they are within touching distance of an agreement. Last week, the Ministry of Commerce had issued a statement confirming Goyal's visit to the UK as coming at a "crucial juncture" when both countries are committed to expanding their economic ties and exploring avenues for enhanced bilateral trade. "With the FTA negotiations gaining momentum, the visit aims to further propel the discussions and pave the way for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement that would drive economic growth and strengthen ties between the two nations," the ministry's statement read. The visit will not only be focused on the ongoing India-UK FTA negotiations but also involve a meeting with ministers from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member countries Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein to discuss the progress of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). The Senco Gold public issue has recorded the highest subscription after Ideaforge Technology this calendar year. The Kolkata-based jewellery retailer is expected to declare the share allotment in the next couple of days, while the basis of allotment of shares will be finalised July 11. The public issue was subscribed 73.35 times during July 4-6, with support from all kinds of investors. Qualified institutional investors played a key role behind this massive subscription numbers, buying shares 181 times the allotted quota. High networth individuals have bid 65 times the portion set aside for them, and the part reserved for retail investors was booked 15.5 times. Considering the huge subscription demand and having more positives than negatives, the grey market also seems strong for the jewellery brand. Its shares were available at around 35 percent premium over the expected issue price of Rs 317, in the grey market, analysts said on anonymity. The grey market is an unofficial market where IPO shares can be bought and sold till their listing on the bourses. The listing of shares is going to take place on July 14, as per the IPO schedule in the draft papers. Other reasons that boosted the grey market premium of Senco Gold included its strong presence and brand name in eastern India with extensive retail network of 136 showrooms, reasonable valuations compared to listed peers such as Titan Company, Kalyan Jewellers India, a legacy of over five decades, asset-light franchise model, and rising urbanisation with increasing disposable income levels. Also read: NSDL files draft papers to float public issue; IDBI Bank, NSE, SBI to dilute holdings Investors participated in the offer can check their allotment status either on the BSE website or the portal of the IPO registrar. On the BSE website: a) Select issue type 'Equity', and issue name 'Senco Gold Limited' b) Enter either 'Application Number' or 'PAN Number' c) Check box 'I am not a robot' and finally click on 'Search' button Also read: Analysts cautious after Cyient DLM big-bang listing spins bumper gains On the IPO registrar's portal: a) Select IPO 'Senco Gold Limited' in the dropdown b) Select and accordingly enter either 'Application Number', or 'Demat Account', or 'PAN Number' c) Enter captcha and finally click on 'Submit' button Equity shares will be transferred to demat accounts of eligible investors by July 13. They will get shares proportionately due to tremendous demand for the issue. Eligible investor will get atleast 1 lot of Senco Gold comprising 47 shares. Unsuccessful participants will get the refunds in their bank accounts by July 12. Click Here To Read All IPO News The Rs 405-crore public issue of Senco Gold comprised of a fresh issue of Rs 270 crore and an offer-for-sale of Rs 135 crore by investor SAIF Partners India IV who has been an investor in the company since 2014. The price band for the offer was Rs 301-317 per share. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Utkarsh Small Finance Bank is all set to float its maiden public issue today. It would be the second initial public offering to be launched this month after Senco Gold. Varanasi-based Utkarsh Small Finance Bank has mopped up Rs 222.75 crore from 20 anchor investors. The company in its filing to exchanges said it has finalised the allocation of 8.91 crore equity shares to anchor investors, at an upper price band of Rs 25 per share. Let's check out 10 key points before subscribing to the offer: 1) IPO Dates The public issue will open on July 12 and bidding will close on July 14. The anchor book, the part of qualified institutional buyers, was opened on July 11. 2) Price Band The small finance bank has set the price band for its issue at Rs 23-25 per share. 3) Issue Size The bank plans to raise Rs 500 crore from its offering that comprises only fresh issue portion. Also Read | Utkarsh Small Finance Bank raises Rs 222.75 crore via anchor book ahead of IPO 4) Objectives of Issue Utkarsh Small Finance Bank will utilise net issue proceeds for augmenting its Tier - 1 capital base to meet its future capital requirements, besides issue expenses. 5) Lot Size Investors can bid for a minimum of 600 equity shares and in multiples of 600 shares thereafter. Hence, the minimum investment by retail investors in the public issue would be Rs 15,000 for one lot and the maximum investment would be Rs 1.95 lakh for 13 lots. High networth individuals (non-institutional investors) with a capital in the range of Rs 2-10 lakh will make a minimum investment of Rs 2.1 lakh for 14 lots and their maximum investment would be Rs 9.9 lakh for 66 lots, while high networth individuals with minimum capital of Rs 10 lakh can invest a minimum Rs 10.05 lakh for 67 lots. Up to 75 percent of the issue size is reserved for qualified institutional buyers, 15 percent for high networth individuals, and the balance 10 percent for retail investors. 6) Bank Profile Utkarsh Small Finance Bank recorded the third fastest gross loan portfolio growth between FY19 and FY23 among SFBs at above Rs 6,000 crore, as per CRISIL report. Promoter Utkarsh CoreInvest commenced its operations as a NBFC in FY10, with a focus on microfinance business, providing support to unserved and underserved segments in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Also Read | Utkarsh Small Finance Bank raises Rs 222.75 crore via anchor book ahead of IPO In October 2015, Utkarsh CoreInvest received the RBI in-principle approval to set up a small finance bank and after the same later incorporated Utkarsh Small Finance Bank as a wholly owned subsidiary in April 2016. After the obtaining RBI licence in November 2016, Utkarsh CoreInvest transferred its microfinance business to Utkarsh Small Finance Bank. The small finance bank commenced its operations in January 2017, with operations across 26 states and Union territories through 830 banking outlets and 15,424 employees, as of March 2023. By the end of FY23, it had 3.59 million customers (both deposit and credit) majorly located in rural and semi-urban areas in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh which constituted 30.88 percent and 25.98 percent to its total gross loan portfolio. For expansion in newer geographies, the bank entered into arrangements with 13 business correspondents (BCs) and 321 direct selling agents (DSAs). 7) Promoters Utkarsh CoreInvest, formerly known as Utkarsh Micro Finance, is the only promoter of small finance bank, holding 84.75 percent stake, while the rest of shareholding is held by public shareholders - Olympus ACF Pte Limited, Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company, Triodos Sicav II - Triodos Microfinance Fund, responsability Participations Mauritius, Aavishkaar Bharat Fund, and Growth Catalyst Partners LLC. Govind Singh, with over 25 years of experience in the banking and financial services sector, is the managing director and chief executive officer of the small finance bank, while Parveen Kumar Gupta as the part-time non-executive chairman and independent director on the board. Muthiah Ganapathy is the Company Secretary and Compliance Officer of the bank, while Sarjukumar Pravin Simaria is the chief financial officer. Its promoter Utkarsh CoreInvest is backed by institutional investors such as British International Investment Plc, RBL Bank, International Finance Corporation, NMI Frontier Fund KS, Lok Capital Growth Fund, SIDBI, HDFC Life Insurance Company, HDFC Ergo General Insurance Company, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company, Faering Capital India Evolving Fund, Hero Enterprises Partner Ventures, responsAbility Participations Mauritius, Shriram Life Insurance Company and Aavishkaar Bharat Fund. 8) Financials Utkarsh Small Finance Bank has reported healthy financials with deposits in FY23 growing 36 percent to Rs 13,710 crore compared to the previous year, disbursements increasing 37.5 percent to Rs 12,443 crore and gross loan portfolio rising 31.3 percent to Rs 13,957 crore in the same period. Its retail term deposits comprised 40.66 percent to total deposits in FY23, increasing from 37.28 percent in FY22, while CASA as a percentage of overall deposits was 20.89 percent against 22.37 percent in same period. Profit for the financial year ended March FY23 surged significantly by 558 percent to Rs 404.5 crore compared to previous year, with fall in provisions and contingencies and healthy net interest income. The net interest income spiked 44 percent year-on-year to Rs 1,529 crore in FY23, with net interest margin expanding to 9.57 percent from 8.75 percent. Asset quality also improved with the gross non-performing assets as a percentage of gross advances declining to 3.23 percent in FY23, from 6.1 percent and net NPA, too, dropped to 0.39 percent from 2.31 percent in the same period. 9) Risks and Concerns Here are key risks and concerns highlighted by Reliance Securities: a) The company is subject to inspections by regulatory authorities, including the RBI. b) Significant portion of advances in the microbanking segment are towards customers located in Bihar and UP. c) The bank is largely dependent on key managerial personnel and senior management. d) Its deposits are depend on a limited number of customers. e) Weakness or failures of internal control systems can impact the business f) Insurance coverage may be inadequate to cover claims 10) Listing and Allotment Dates The finalisation of basis of allotment of IPO shares is going to take place by July 19 and the successful investors will get shares in their demat accounts by July 21. The refunds will be credited to bank accounts of unsuccessful investors by July 20. Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, which will make its grand debut on the BSE and NSE on July 24 as per the IPO schedule in draft prospectus, is available at more than 50 percent premium in the grey market, analysts said on anonymity. The grey market is an unofficial market where IPO shares can be bought and sold till the listing. ICICI Securities and Kotak Mahindra Capital Company are the book running lead managers to the issue, while KFin Technologies is the registrar to the offer. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Sanjiv Puri, Chairman and Managing Director of diversified conglomerate ITC, took home a salary of Rs 16.31 crore in FY23. This was 53 percent higher than Rs 10.66 crore he was paid a year back. As per the ITC annual report for FY23, Puris remuneration included a basic salary of Rs 2.88 crore, a performance bonus and commission of Rs 12.86 crore, as well as perquisites and other benefits totalling Rs 57.38 lakh. Puri's term as the managing director of the company ends on July 21, 2024, but the ITC board has recommended extension of his tenure by another five years. The resolution will be taken up in the 112th Annual General Meeting. Puri's salary hike is in stark contrast with the paycuts taken by most FMCG bosses last year. Nestle India Chairman and Managing Director Suresh Narayanan, for instance, took a 6 percent salary cut in 2022 that pulled his annual salary down to Rs 17.7 crore from Rs 18.8 crore a year back. Former Hindustan Unilever CEO Sanjiv Mehta, who hung up his boots in June, took home Rs 22.36 crore in annual remuneration in FY23, indicating no significant jump over the previous year. In FY22, Mehta had received Rs 22.07 crore, a 47 percent rise from Rs 15 crore recorded in FY21. Also Read: HUL annual report: No salary jump for Sanjiv Mehta, 19 brands in Rs 1,000 crore club and more Puri's salary hike also comes at a time when talks of demerging the company's hotels business are gathering steam. The cigarettes-to-hotels-conglomerate had on July 7 said it remains committed to implement its asset-right strategy with respect to the hotels business. Today, slightly over half of the room inventory is through management contracts, while the rest comes from owned hotels. The hotel business has contributed less than 5 percent to ITC's revenues and EBIT over the last decade and the management is trying to change this. ITC is among the three corporates in the private sector in terms of contribution to exchequer over the years, the company said in its annual report. It paid over Rs 19,255 crore in dividends in FY23. Shares of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders surged 8 percent on July 11, hitting an all-time high at Rs 1565.80, as the company is expected to get new orders which will help increase the companys depleting order book. The Ministry of Defence is said to have cleared the procurement of three additional Scorpene or Kalvari class submarines ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to France. The submarines will be constructed at the facility of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in collaboration with France-based Naval Group, as per reports. The deal is expected to be signed with the Naval group during PM Modi's visit on July 13- 14. The contract value for these three additional submarines is expected to be around Rs 20,000-22,000 crore. At 9:36 am, shares of the company were trading 7.7 percent higher at Rs 1,555.9 on the BSE. Catch up on all LIVE stock market updates here This is a significant positive for Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders considering that the companys submarine facility is currently involved with the construction of only one submarine as against the building capacity of 11 submarines, highlighted ICICI Securities. The pending order backlog in P75 stood at Rs 4,255 crore only in the total backlog of Rs 38,755 crore as of March-end of 2023. Moreover, the follow-up project P-75 (India) is yet to be awarded and will take time, we believe that the contract for three additional submarines would help Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in increasing its depleting order-book which declined from Rs 46,000 crore in FY22 to Rs 38,755 crore in FY23 end, the domestic brokerage firm said. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Shares of Suzlon Energy rose 4 percent on July 11 after the renewable energy solutions provider announced an order win for the development of a 47.6 MW wind power project for The KP Group. The project is located at Vagra in Bharuch district in Gujarat and is expected to be commissioned in 2024, the company said in a regulatory filing. At 10:53 am, shares of the company were trading 2.5 percent higher at Rs 17.81 on the BSE. The scrip has shot up nearly 120 percent in the past three months. Suzlon Energy will supply S133 wind turbines and supervise execution and commissioning of the project. The company will also provide comprehensive operations and maintenance services post commissioning. Catch up on all LIVE stock market updates here JP Chalasani, Chief Executive Officer, Suzlon Group said, The power generated from this project will serve the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) consumer segment, which is a key segment to drive deeper penetration of renewables in India. Suzlon Energy has enjoyed a market share of 33 percent in Indias domestic market based on total installations. It has 20GW of operational wind power capacity globally and is well ahead of its competitors, pointed out ICICI Securities. The companys existing orderbook at 1.5GW bodes well for execution through the next two years, the domestic brokerage firm highlighted. ICICI Securities also noted that Suzlon Energy has reduced leverage by restructuring its debt and by raising money through a rights issue. With these positives, the brokerage firm expects a sharp uptick in earnings from FY24 onwards. It initiated coverage on the stock with a buy rating and target price of Rs 22 per share which implies a multiple of 24 times its FY25 EPS. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. This year, Air India, Akasa Air and IndiGo ordered 974 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus. This number will increase as Akasa has said it will place a three-digit order for aircraft before the end of the year. With India accounting for the bulk of aircraft demand in South Asia, should Boeing and Airbus, the two global manufacturers of civilian aircraft, look at setting up a final assembly line (FAL) to make planes in the country? There is talk about an FAL in India as the government continues to focus on domestic manufacturing and making the country atma nirbhar (self-reliant). With India set to become the second-largest global aviation market soon, this sector is under attention. While an FAL will no doubt bring cheer, is it the right time to have an FAL in India for the country and aircraft manufacturers? Moneycontrol explains. What is an FAL? An FAL is a factory where the nuts and bolts, painting and final assembly of a civilian aircraft are done. Airbus has a production facility in Toulouse, France, and recently opened one in the US. Boeing Commercial has FALs in Seattle and Charleston. Both companies also have a factory in China. In business terms, final assembly is estimated at 6 to 8 percent of the cost of aircraft production. Indias role so far Indias association with civilian aircraft dates back to the early 1960s, when state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. started licensed production of Airbus helicopters. Thanks to the global position that Indian companies enjoy in research and development, they have grown to be an integral part of aircraft production for the two global manufacturers. There are a host of Indian aircraft part suppliers. Dynamatic Technologies is one of the main suppliers of complex aeronautical parts, structures and designs for Boeing, Airbus and Bell Helicopters. Karnataka-based Aequs is a key producer of parts used in commercial aircraft worldwide. Mahindra Aerostructures makes parts for commercial aircraft produced by Boeing and Airbus. What will an FAL mean for part manufacturers? As aircraft parts are produced globally, manufacturers will have to find a way to ensure they reach the FAL in India on time and to specifications. There could also be the ticklish issue of transfer of technology many manufacturers are not keen to hand over the expertise they have mastered in making precision parts for Boeing and Airbus. What are the other hurdles? Satyendra Pandey, managing partner of Aairavat Technology & Transport Ventures, said assembling aircraft in India is an aspirational goal. What is needed for an FAL are policies, people and processes that are aligned. Then there has to be sophistication across the supply chain. Everything from airports to roads to custom brokerage houses have to be aligned. For instance, aircraft engines require specialist transport with trucks that have exacting technical specifications. It requires roads that make for smooth transit, vehicles that limit vibrations, and transporters who are well-versed with the special handling that this requires, Pandey said. He adds that it also requires insurance companies that are aware of transport risks and can offer competitive premiums. These are issues that are slowly improving but the investment and expertise can only come if policy prescriptions propel these initiatives forward, he said. What an FAL in India will mean for global manufacturers Starting an FAL will mean that aircraft manufacturers will require huge amounts of land. Normally, an FAL also has a runway to test new aircraft and take delivery of aircraft. Land acquisition could be troublesome in India, as seen in the past. Then there is the cost of setting up the plant and getting the machinery. There have to be proper access roads and easy accessibility to ports or airports in case large equipment needs to be transported to the FAL facility. Is the time right for India to have an FAL? There are various reasons why this might not be the right time for India to look at having an FAL. Firstly, to make aircraft production cost-effective, the building blocks need to be in place. Boeing upped its forecast for the number of airplanes that will be required in South Asia over the next 20 years to 2,700 this year from 2,200 in last years Boeing Commercial Market Outlook. About 90 percent of this demand is from India alone, which translates to about 2,400-2,500 aircraft, a large chunk of which has been ordered already. This includes orders from Akasa, Air India, and IndiGo (for Airbus planes). If demand in South Asia is the key consideration, the question is whether it is large enough to make a financially viable business case for an FAL. If an FAL in India is to import 90 to 95 percent of aircraft components, then the economics of aircraft production in India might not work for the global market. While Indian manufacturing units are making progress in aircraft part delivery, they are not yet at a stage where the country can boast of being self-reliant in creating a civilian passenger jet in-house. China recently started delivery of the COMAC C-919 narrowbody commercial passenger jet to airlines. But the only customers are Chinese airlines and the production line has been heavily cross-subsidised by the government. India can perhaps look at having an FAL in the next decade or decade and a half. What aircraft manufacturers say A Boeing spokesperson said, Volumes required for final assembly of commercial airplanes are far greater than that required for defence and a business case would require a large regional market. The spokesperson said Boeing is already the top foreign aerospace and defence company in India when measured by the more than 5,000 engineers and skilled staff it employs in India, and the 13,000 people employed by its suppliers. Our supply chain footprint extends to over 300 local companies and $1 billion spent annually on local sourcing, the spokesperson said. Airbus sources said close to $750 million of goods and services come from Indian vendors in the civil aircraft space annually. An Airbus spokesperson said the company is already building an FAL in India for C295 military aircraft. The C295 FAL and related manufacturing activities will lead to the creation of 15,000 skilled direct and 10,000 indirect jobs over 10 years. We already have a strong industrial presence in India, which is not just a market for Airbus aircraft but also a strategic resource hub. Airbus is constantly expanding our local supply chain, component manufacturing, design, innovation and training capabilities, the spokesperson added. Airbus has put Make in India front and centre of its business strategy here. The Airbus supply chain in India generates more foreign exchange value and jobs (7,000+) for the country than modern assembly does. Airbus will further contribute towards deepening the aviation value chain in India by increasing its component and services sourcing from India, including manufacturing A320 cargo and bulk cargo doors, the spokesperson said. As Remi Maillard, president of Airbus India and South Asia, told Moneycontrol in August 2021: Today, every commercial aircraft or helicopter that Airbus manufactures has parts, design or technology coming from India. Every one of our commercial aircraft today is partly made in India: Airbuss Remi Maillard (moneycontrol.com). Given this, perhaps India would be better off concentrating on supplying and increasing sales of aircraft parts before it looks at starting an FAL in the country. (EOM) 50th GST Council meet gets underway; taxation of online gaming, utility vehicles on agenda The 50th GST Council meeting started on Tuesday and is likely to deliberate on a host of issues including taxation of online gaming, definition of utility vehicles and tightening of norms for registration and claiming of ITC. More here. Amazon readies for Prime Day blitz with 45,000 launches, faster deliveries in 25 cities Amazon is gearing up for its biggest Prime Day blitz in India yet, with over 45,000 product launches and fast deliveries to 25 cities lined up for the two-day deals extravaganza on July 15th and 16th, at a time when the e-commerce industry is looking to bounce back from a slowdown in sales growth. More here. ONDC posts record 35,000 retail orders in a day, Delhi-NCR pips Bengaluru in volume Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) crossed a fresh daily retail orders peak of 35,000 on July 9, even as Delhi-NCR beat Bengaluru in terms of order volume, according to people in the know. While Delhi-NCR accounted for around 11,000 orders on Sunday, Bengaluru contributed more than 7,000 orders to the number. More here. Exclusive: Finance ministry likely to invite financial bids for IDBI Bank by December The financial bids of Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) are likely to be invited by December as the clearance from the RBI is awaited for the strategic sale from which the government aims to get approximately Rs 16,000 crore in this financial year, a senior government official said. More here. India to buy 26 Rafale jets, 3 scorpene submarines, full ToT for Shakti from France Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France on July 13-14 will set a new milestone for cementing bilateral ties between the two nations as India's Ministry of Defence gave the initial nod to acquire 26 Rafale fighter aircraft and three Scorpene submarines from France. More here. SC to start hearing challenges to abrogation of Article 370 from August 2 A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on July 11 indicated that it will commence the hearing of a bunch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 on a daily basis from August 2. More here. Personal care startup Clensta International has raised Rs 75 crore in a funding round led by TradeCred and the Royal Family from UAE, the company said on Tuesday. Other investors who participated in the current round include Export-Import Bank of India, Mumbai Angels, Keiretsu, LetsVenture and O2 VC Fund, a company release said. "We are delighted to announce our recent round of funding and are grateful to the investors who've showed their faith in Clensta's vision. This good news comes at a time when there is significant stress in the startup ecosystem in India and we hope that for the startup industry, this positive announcement will open up new doors and avenues", he said. Clensta has raised Rs 105 crore since its inception in 2016, with participation from IIT Delhi and US-AID among other investors, the company said. "We look forward to supporting Clensta as they expand and grow their business in India and globally. What attracted us to the brand was their unique selling proposition to combine nature and technology to create science-backed, innovative products," said Hardik Shah, TradeCred. Actress Parineeti Chopra announced her investment and partnership with the personal care brand on Monday, after which the company has confirmed her as their brand ambassador as well. Clensta offers a wide range of sustainable wellness products which are researched and developed at IIT-Delhi. The brand currently owns five technologies and patents under its name. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept How do you stand a chance to earn more returns with as little volatility as possible? Kotak Quant Fund (KQF), the new scheme by Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co Ltd (Indias fifth largest fund house with assets over Rs 2.97 lakh crore), aims to do something like that. KQF, its first quantitative fund, launches on July 12. What does the fund do? At the heart of it, KQF by Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund is a thematic equity fund. Using the combined expertise of human fund managers as well as computer programs, it aims to pick stocks that it thinks would do well in rising markets as well as protect the downside in volatile markets. From its starting point of 800-1,000 stocks, KQF will narrow down the basket through human intervention to close to 150-200 stocks by weeding out stocks based on low liquidity, weak financials and bad governance. From here on, the fund houses algorithm will pick around 35-50 stocks from this shortlisted universe, based on momentum and volatility factors. In simple words, stocks that demonstrate high growth and low volatility. What works? Quant funds have a more rigorous approach to stock picking than smart-beta passive funds. Like a typical quant fund, KQF will shortlist the universe of stocks it would invest in. This border will be drawn manually. The algorithms will finally choose and pick stocks that the fund will buy. To this extent, the fund has an active screening process. Also read: Want to know the best mutual funds to invest in? Check out the MC30 basket This, explains Harsha Upadhyaya, Chief Investment - Equity and Debt, Kotak Mahindra AMC, means that the botheration to replicate the portfolio is done away with. Upadhyaya says that in traditional smart-beta passive funds, many benchmark indices have mid-cap stocks and even some small-cap stocks. When such stocks hit their circuit filters either on their way or down they become illiquid. And as a result, fund managers either cannot buy or sell such stocks or cannot transact at a price. This results in a wide tracking error, he says. KQF, due to its active fund management, can filter out such stocks at the liquidity stage. KQF can get even more active if there is a high impact cost (difference between the trade price and market price) for a particular stock, if there are high inflows or outflows or if there is a corporate action, say a merger. KQF is the fund houses first foray into quant funds. But its track record in equity funds has been good. Three of its equity funds are a part of MC30 Moneycontrols curated basket of 30 investment-worthy mutual fund schemes. To bolster its quant team, Kotak AMC has hired two data scientists whose responsibility is to build models, based on the fund management teams inputs, that help pick stocks. Based on KQFs track record, the fund house might increase this team. The fund house has back tested the model since 2005. In 14 of those years, it has outperformed its benchmark index, Nifty 200 TRI (Total Returns Index); mostly by 6-25 percentage points. What doesnt? The drawback of quant funds is that they look more towards the past and less towards the future. The selection bias based on only a few rules is not good for the fund's investors as the model has limited data with only a few factors captured. We saw in the last three years how the markets went down and rebounded back. The shift from growth to value and now gradually moving to a blended styleI doubt if quant funds capture this in advance. Its only in hindsight that the model gets adjusted to the on-going realities and changes the portfolio accordingly, says Ravi Kumar T V, Director, Gaining Ground Investment Services. Upadhyaya of Kotak Mutual Fund says the fund house has back-tested for the past 18 years. Ravi Kumar says 3-4 decades testing is required, "to capture market cycles data, macro volatility along with investor sentiment." That apart, quant funds by themselves do not have a long track record in India to give confidence of how they have performed across market cycles. Of the roughly seven quant funds in the Indian mutual funds industry, only one has a track record of more than three years. In the last two odd years, single-factor funds, popularly known as smart-beta funds, have become more popular. To be sure, there is no official industry differentiation between smart-beta funds and quant funds. The one thing that often differentiates between the two is that while typically smart-beta funds are passively-managed, quant funds are actively-managed. Quant funds have a significant fund manager intervention. In the case of KQF, the fund managers intervention is at the start where they filter out stocks based on quality and governance. After this stage, the machine takes over different quant funds and then follows different methodologies, explains Srikanth Bhagavat, managing director, Hexagon Capital Advisors, which runs Hexagon Wealth. But more such passive smart-beta have been launched by the industry in the past couple of years, as compared to quant funds. KQF aims to break this trend. But coming back to performance, quant funds have underperformed large-cap, large-and-mid-cap funds and flexi-cap funds over the past three-year period. But in the past year, many quant funds have done better than category averages of more-diversified equity funds. Bhagavat advises smart-beta funds to some of his clients. Quant funds and smart-beta index funds are worth trying but very selectively. They are not needed for all portfolios. But high networth individuals who are already well-diversified can invest in them selectively. Those who have knowledge of how factors work and have used smart beta in the past can invest in quant funds, says Bhagavat. Vinod Jain, principal advisor, Jain Investments Planner Pvt Ltd says that he prefers to stay from quant funds, for now, due to a lack of history. This, he adds, doesnt give him enough confidence as of now. But I will keep my eyes open to it all the time, he adds. Moneycontrol's take KQF is an ambitious target by a fund house with a good equity fund management team that has a proven track record elsewhere. Its experienced fund management team gives us some confidence that a lot of thought has gone behind the schemes structure, especially its path to eliminate companies based on performance, in order to come to an investible universe of stocks in which the fund would invest. This is done with an aim to prevent accidents and unnecessary volatility. Ultimately, how well the fund does in future will depend on how the algorithm picks stock winners. KQF is not meant for beginners. Its only meant for those who have a sizeable portfolio already and understand the risks that come with factor investing and are okay with lack of a track record of not just a new scheme. The NFO ends on July 26. In a citizen-friendly initiative, Bengaluru city police and civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have launched a QR-code system to improve its services. B Dayananda, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, told Moneycontrol that QR code-based feedback mechanisms have been implemented in all police stations in the city. "Visitors to all police stations in Bengaluru can now scan the QR code and rate their experience, including the behavior of officers. The respective Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) will monitor these ratings. Additionally, the command and control center will oversee the overall performance, providing insights into which police stations are excelling and which need improvement." Dayananda, who is known as a tech-savvy officer, said "Visitors will receive a unique ID from the reception desk at the police station. Although not mandatory, the feedback can only be submitted after entering the unique ID in the feedback form. This process will aid us in enhancing the system." This system was piloted at 14 police stations in the South West region of Bengaluru and received positive feedback, prompting its extension to all police stations. Bengaluru police recently upgraded the communication systems of 241 Hoysala patrolling vehicles from analog wireless sets to advanced digital wireless technology. Separately, BBMP has installed QR codes on street name boards within the South zone, which includes areas such as Jayanagar, Basavanagudi, Vijayanagar, Chickpet, Padmanabha Nagar, BTM Layout, Girinagar, and JP Nagar at a cost of Rs 15 lakh. Once scanned, QR codes provide information about the local MLA, street-related details, sanitation workers, waste management contractors, contact numbers of officials and departments, and other relevant information. The BBMP plans to extend this QR-code system to other parts of the city, with an estimated cost of Rs 1.5 crore. This will help citizens to directly register complaints to the civic officials. In November 2022, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) introduced a WhatsApp chatbot-based QR ticketing system (8105556677), which has gained popularity among passengers. This system allows passengers to purchase QR-code tickets, recharge Metro smart cards, locate nearby stations, and obtain information on departure timings and fares between stations. Collaborating with BBMP and the traffic police, a private hospital has also affixed QR codes at 20 major traffic signals in Bengaluru, shaped like hearts, to assist individuals in connecting to emergency services. These QR codes also provide information about CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), a life-saving technique in case of emergencies. Further, Bengaluru traffic police is planning to introduce QR codes on autorickshaws, allowing passengers to register complaints regarding driver misconduct, overcharging, or refusal to ply. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) crossed a fresh daily retail orders peak of 35,000 on July 9, even as Delhi-NCR beat Bengaluru in terms of order volume, according to people in the know. While Delhi-NCR accounted for around 11,000 orders on Sunday, Bengaluru contributed more than 7,000 orders to the number. The next three cities in terms of order numbers were Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune, logging order volumes in the range of 2,500-3,000 each. Retail orders include food and grocery, with the former accounting for the lions share of orders on the government-backed interoperable network as yet. ONDC did not respond to Moneycontrols queries on the order volumes. ALSO READ | Understanding ONDC, the open network billed to be the UPI of e-commerce The network is gearing up to hit 200,000 transactions a day by the end of the year, the interoperable network's chief executive officer T Koshy said at the Moneycontrol Startup Conclave last week. Koshy also said that ONDC is working to bring financial products to the network, and this is expected to happen in the next couple of months. In the first week of May, when ONDC had crossed the daily order threshold of 10,000 for the first time, the distribution was more skewed with Bengaluru accounting for around 40 percent of the orders, and top metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata contributing the same share cumulatively. After a couple of months of fast-paced growth that saw daily order volumes rise from 200 in March to 25,000 in the second week of May, the network saw the surge tempered down as it substantially reduced discounts to consumers and incentives to network participants. Backed by the government, ONDC seeks to prevent the dominance of a few large platforms in the e-commerce and food delivery sectors, such as Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, and Zomato. ALSO READ | ONDC will be driven by competition and fair practices, not unhealthy discounting: CEO T Koshy At the time, ONDC had received some flak from industry watchers and analysts as they thought that the discounting regime was unsustainable in the long run, especially for a government-backed endeavour that sought to create a level playing field for all buyers and sellers. Since the revised incentive scheme came into effect on June 1, a buyer is now eligible for discounts for a maximum of five transactions per month. Earlier buyers could avail discounts on three orders per day, but it was subsequently capped at a total of 30 orders in total. After the change in the discounting regime funded by ONDC, the growth in the last one and half months has been significantly aided by discounting schemes floated by network participants such as Paytm, PhonePe, Magicpin, and even some sellers, according to people in the know. With the network, the government hopes to increase e-commerce penetration in the country to 25 percent in the next two years, reaching 900 million buyers and 1.2 million sellers through the network. It is projected to generate a gross merchandise value of $48 billion. ONDC is banking on three key pillars to reduce the cost of doing business for everyone, including retailers: dynamic pricing, inventory management, and delivery cost optimisation. Shares of Minda Corporation surged over 5 percent to hit a 52-week high of Rs 307.75 intraday on July 11 after the company secured a Rs 750-crore contract from a leading OEM. Under the contract, Minda Corporation has will produce battery chargers for electric vehicles (EVs). The product will be manufactured at a facility run by Spark Minda Green Mobility Systems Private Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Minda Corporation Limited) in Pune. This prestigious order is a testament to Spark Mindas robust EV product portfolio and our focus on customer-centricity. This milestone underlines our commitment towards promoting sustainable mobility and our ability to adapt to the evolving demands of the global automotive industry," said Aakash Minda, Executive Director of Minda Corporation. During the last financial year, electric vehicles accounted for nearly 20 percent of the total orders bagged, the company said. Catch all the market action on our live blog Minda Corporation is a leading automotive component manufacturer with a pan-India presence and significant international footprint. The company has a diversified product portfolio that encompasses Mechatronics; Information and Connected Systems, Plastic and Interiors, Electronic Manufacturing Excellence and Spark Minda Green Mobility for auto OEMs. At 10:26am, Minda Corporation was quoting Rs 301.80, up Rs 10.30, or 3.53 percent, on the BSE. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France on July 13-14 will set a new milestone for cementing bilateral ties between the two nations as India's Ministry of Defence gave the initial nod to acquire 26 Rafale fighter aircraft and three Scorpene submarines from France. The proposals are now lined up for approval from the defence acquisition council, the country's top procurement body, and then from the government cabinet. Modi is said to sign the acquisition of 26 Rafale-Marine fighters for INS Vikrant and three additional Scorpene class submarines that would be built at Mumbai's Mazagon Dockyards, during his visir. A potential collaboration for 100 percent technology transfers for jet engine technology, which powers Indian advanced light helicopters, will likely be announced. Defence minister Rajnath Singh will chair a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council on July 13 to proceed with the inter-governmental agreement (IGA) for the acquisition of the fighter jets from France . The procurement of the fighter jets will likely be channelled through a government-to-government deal instead of taking an open tender route. This is being done to save time and simplify the entire procurement process. Modi has been invited as the Guest of Honour to attend the Bastille Day Parade in France, where a contingent of the Indian military with troops from the Armys Punjab Regiment, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force is gearing up to participate. The Indian Navy, looking for procurement of deck-based fighter jets for its indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, had reportedly narrowed down on Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet and French aerospace major Dassault Aviation's Rafale-M aircraft, after a long evaluation. The Rafale-M emerged the clear winner in the tight race. Also Read: Defence ministry clears purchase of 26 Rafale fighters, 3 Scorpene submarines: Report India has already procured 36 Rafale jets from France for the Indian Air Force and they are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 years after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The latest follow-on order of the three Scorpene submarines is also another significant development for further bolstering the country's defence sector. Earlier, six Scorpene submarines have already been manufactured in India. Also Read: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders hits record high on hopes of new order win Notably, US-based Boeings F/A-18 Super Hornets (Block III) fighters were also in the race to secure the Indian contract. The Modi cabinet's decision to acquire from France, however, reflects the governments efforts to fortify engagements beyond Washington. India last purchased 36 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force in 2015 for about 7.9 billion. The latest Indo-French defence deal is being seen as France's effort in further closing in on Russia - Indias biggest weapons supplier traditionally. It is to be noted that Moscow has been slowing down deliveries due to sanctions for its war in Ukraine. India has two-squadrons comprising 18 Russian-made MiG-29K fighters each, based on INS Vikramaditya its second aircraft carrier. The defence ministry is also in talks with French defence major Safran for joint development of a fighter jet engine in India to power the country's next-generation aircraft, including the futuristic Advance Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Difference between UPI and CBDC is not much. UPI is a money transfer instrument but CBDC is money, said T. Rabi Shankar, RBI Deputy Governor. CBDC ensures anonymity and it can be used entirely differently from a bank account, he added. CBDC recorded significant amount of transaction in two days of its launch, said Dinesh Kumar Khara, SBI Chairman. Behavioural change is the biggest challenge in retail pilot of CBDC, he added. He also said salary account can be given an opportunity an to use CBDC for transactions. Also, the scope can be expanded to tax payments, settlement in primary G-Sec market, among others. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Dr Preeti Aghalayam is all set to be the first woman director to lead an Indian Institute of Technology campus. She will be in-charge of the Zanzibar chapter of the institute, which is an extension of her alma mater IIT Madras. The expansion of the IIT Madras is part of an agreement signed between Indias education ministry and the ministry of education and vocational training of Zanzibar-Tanzania on July 5 in presence of Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi and India's External Affairs minister S Jaishankar. Also Read: First IIT outside India will be in Tanzania: MEA "The Zanzibar Campus of the IIT Madras will be located on the Zanzibar Island, off the East African mainland and is being planned as a unique and game-changing educational partnership between India and Zanzibar-Tanzania," the premier educational institute said in a press release. Aghalayam, who joined IIT Madras in 2010, is a professor of chemical engineering. She has been appointed as the first Dean of School of Science & Engineering & Director-in-charge, Zanzibar Campus, IIT Madras. "I am an alumnus of IIT Madras and doing something of this magnitude for the institute and for the country is such a big honour. Every time we visited Zanzibar as part of the IIT Madras contingent, we noticed that the representation of women on their side is quite significant. So, it was important that we do this mindfully," she said in a press conference hosted by IIT Madras earlier this month to announce the unveiling of the campus. Aghalayam pursued her BTech from IIT Madras in 1995, and MS in chemical engineering from the University of Rochester in 1996. She went on to complete her PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2000. Her research areas include underground coal gasification, reduction of automotive NOx, reduction of large reaction mechanisms, and reactor modeling. She has also worked as a postdoctoral researcher at MIT, Cambridge, and as a faculty at IIT Bombay. Aghalayam was recently acknowledged as one of the 75 Women in STEM by the Principal Scientific Advisor's office. "Aghalayam is the first woman to be an IIT director. We will see many more encouraging things. We are following sustainable development goals and one of the important goals suggests that we need to bring in gender balance," IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti said at the conference. As per the statement released by the institute, faculty for the Zanzibar campus shall be deputed from IIT Madras or recruited from India during the initial days of this campus. It also stated that the Government of India is offering numerous scholarships for citizens of Tanzania and Zanzibar to study in various degree programmes at IIT Madras since July 2023. The IIT Madras Zanzibar campus will offer two full-time academic programmes - Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Master of Technology in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The total student intake will be 70. Classes for the first academic year will commence in October 2023. The campus sprawls over more than 200 acres in an up-and-coming area of Zanzibar Island, the master plan for which is being developed by IIT Madras experts, the institute said. The Office of Global Engagement, IIT Madras, will coordinate the student entrance process, including a screening test developed by the institute's faculty and an interview, as per the IITM Senate-approved admission process for international students. The government's latest move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends that "high performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries". The June that just ended was the Earths hottest recorded ever. And the first week of July saw the trend continue. The surging summer temperatures made me wonder: Just how much heat can the human body stand? Deaths from heat are pretty common, and as the world heats up, may become more so if we dont develop a plan for extreme heat days, like the kind of warning system that usually comes before a major hurricane or blizzard. In 2019, approximately 469,000 people worldwide died from overheating, according to a paper published in 2021 in The Lancet. Heat is sometimes called the silent killer, said Ollie Jay, director of the Heat and Health Research Incubator at the University of Sydney. It doesnt make for dramatic television footage the way tsunamis and tornados and floods do. People who die are often old, theyre socially isolated, theyre living in low-income settings, theyre often not found for days after theyve died, he said. We dont recognise the dangers. Whether a given temperature can kill depends on humidity, wind velocity and direct exposure to sunlight as well as a persons level of exertion, body size and clothing. Temperatures reportedly reached 119 F where a man and his young stepson died hiking last month in Texas, but just 107 when a young couple, their baby daughter, and the family dog all died in 2021 while hiking in California. That California case was chronicled in the book The Heat Will Kill You First, by Jeff Goodell. The young parents had brought what seemed like ample water. When they set out, the temperature was only in the 70s. They had planned to be home before the worst heat set in. But the hike started downhill. Getting back to their car required a 2,300 foot climb up a slope in direct sunlight. They never made it. Heat can kill because our bodies are made of cells contained with membranes that will, if hot enough, melt. While we think of ourselves as warm-blooded animals, biologists would call us homeothermic we need to maintain a core temperature within a narrow range around 98 F. Our core can get up to about 104 F for a short time without permanent damage, said Sam Cheuvront, a heat physiologist whos worked for the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. Exertion and external temperature both factor into our core temperature and of course, so do fevers. Our bodies cool off by sending blood to the skin, where it dissipates heat into the air. But that only works until the air temperature is about 95 F, he said, which is as hot as your skin can get. Then theres only one way to cool off, which is to sweat. The sweat isnt what cools you its the process of sweat evaporating. If the humidity gets too high, the vapor pressure around you prevents evaporation and sweat pools and drips. Humans will start to cook in their own body heat at the equivalent of 95 F with 100 percent humidity. More vulnerable people can suffer heatstroke at lower temperatures. Other factors also make a difference. Peoples bodies heat up much faster in direct sun than in the same temperature in the shade. Air flow can help sweat evaporate and allow body heat to dissipate. The majority of heat-related deaths are not due to heatstroke, said Jay. The elderly and people with heart conditions are at greater risk of heart attacks, because the bodys cooling mechanisms create cardiovascular stress when pushed too hard. Others die of renal failure from a combination of blood being pulled away from the kidneys and dehydration. Once the bodys core temperature starts to rise above 104 F, things get dangerous very fast. If it gets to 106 F, youre likely to suffer fatal heatstroke. People can acclimate to heat over a few days in a hot place. They will start sweating more quickly, decrease their core temperature and increase fluid volume. But eventually heat can override all these natural adaptations. Jay says hes devised a five-level heat stress warning scale to alert people if the danger is low, moderate, high, very high or extreme. These levels would be based on a combination of the temperature, wind, sun exposure and humidity to warn people when those factors line up in a deadly combination. Alerts could be sent to phones and sent out on television. He said hes working with communities in Sydney, which can be one of the hottest places on the planet. An interactive app could allow people to check the risk level of various activities such as running or hiking. But Jay says its most important to reach the most vulnerable people, some of whom may need to get a more basic warning on television. In this 2021 paper, he detailed how alerts could be combined with other measures to help people whose homes or workplaces could get dangerously hot. Communities need air-conditioned common spaces, such as libraries, and systems for getting vulnerable people there during dangerous heat waves. (Trying to give everyone air conditioning isnt the answer, since air conditioners spew additional heat into crowded cities, and are a major use of energy and source of carbon emissions.) A science-based heat-risk scale might also alert workers to danger and force employers to give outdoor workers a break when conditions are life-threatening. Congress may need to step in; as my Bloomberg Opinion colleague Mark Gongloff wrote, Texas just added a law that would allow employers to deny workers breaks for water and shade even in 115 F heat. Heat has been killing people for decades especially in cities acting as heat islands. As the Earth gets hotter, that will put more pressure on city officials to embrace heat warning systems, public cooling centers and science-based regulations aimed at preventing heat from killing us. FD Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering science. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg Recent news that heatwaves have claimed more than 100 lives in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has put the spotlight on the rising risks due to climate change. Being a tropical country, India will be impacted earlier than many other regions along three vectors cyclones, rains, and heat waves. Of these, while mortality associated with cyclones and rains has reduced over the past couple of decades, that associated with heat waves has increased. It is projected that heat waves will increase six-fold by 2060, with low-income households bearing the highest burden. No one can deny the increase in frequency and intensity of heatwaves both in India and globally, and everywhere the underprivileged will bear the brunt of the burden. This is where financial products that can compensate them for lost wages can help. Self Employed Womens Association (SEWA) has introduced an Extreme Heat Insurance product for its members with support from Rockefeller Foundation. This is simply a pilot and if successful will need to be scaled up to help the heat-exposed workers address the climate challenge. Anticipatory cash transfers have been seen to work in Bangladesh to help during the flood season. Since the timing of heat waves is reasonably predictable, an alternative approach may be anticipatory cash transfers to the most vulnerable groups, which will help them prepare well and weather the heat wave without reducing consumption. Such innovations will be important as heat waves intensify in the future. Rolling Out Heat Act Plans But the current system is not geared toward enabling the rollout of such solutions. The extent of preparation requires a range of actions including at the policy level, monitoring and reporting of credible data. Heat has no doubt been on the governments agenda for a few years. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) published the latest version of the model Heat Action Plan (HAP) in 2019 which lists a number of long and short-term actions. Several states, districts and municipalities have also prepared HAPs though there is no central authority or entity coordinating these plans or acting as a repository. A recent report by the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) found that few HAPs take the local context into account and many such plans do not have any legal basis for their authority. Without funding and legal backing, they are at best only statements of intent. Most importantly, only two of the 37 HAPs studied contained vulnerability assessments, and HAPs as a group present generalised solutions and do not identify and target vulnerable segments. One of the key climate-related challenges for policymakers and government is to integrate hyperlocal climatic factors in the policies and action plans. While heat waves are declared at a metro sub-division level with a temperature threshold, there can be significant variations locally the difference between the concrete core of a city and its greener periphery can be as much as 20 degrees. Other factors, such as hot nights and humidity, which increase health risks, are typically not considered when declaring heat waves. Better Data Needed Thus, weather information needs to be gathered at a much more granular level and used for determining heat-related health risks. This will require a significant upgrade to the data collection infrastructure, especially the use of technologies, such as sensors. Also, it calls for much more localised action, which necessarily requires delegation of authority, devolution of funds and capacity building at local levels. India also needs better data on heat-related deaths and morbidity. While NDMA has claimed that heat-related deaths had come down from over 2,000 in 2015 to just four in 2020, India Today, a publication, based on an analysis of National Crime Records Bureau data calculates that there were 1,274 heat-related deaths in India in 2019. While the National Action Plan on Heat-Related Illnesses, prepared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, provides guidelines for investigating suspected heat-related deaths, clearly it leaves room for ambiguity. While there is no data on mortality or morbidity by profession, it is to be expected that workers who have to toil in the open, such as farm workers, head-loaders and construction workers bear the brunt of heat waves. They usually do not have the luxury of skipping a few days of wages, and their refusal to work in intense heat may even cost them their employment/contract. Interestingly, none of the HAPs analysed by CPR has financial inclusion as a pillar. Heatwaves are just one increasingly debilitating event in the lives of low-income households. After a hot prolonged summer, we now have devastation across Himachal Pradesh and parts of north India due to heavy rainfall, record-breaking in many areas. The impact of the changing climate on incomes and productivity must be integrated into policy. It is time for governments and industry to broaden the conversation on financial inclusion across solutions in the form of benefits transfers and insurance products to deal with climate risks. Sumita Kale and Pranav Kumar are with Indicus Centre for Financial Inclusion. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. President Recep Tayyip Erdogans suggestion that he might lift his veto on Swedens accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in exchange for Turkeys admission to the European Union was the baldest blackmail it deserved no consideration, never mind consent. Even though a breakthrough on Sweden seems to have been achieved, Erdogans EU proposition should be taken by the US and its European allies as further proof that Turkeys president is not a reliable ally within multilateral organizations. First come and open the way for Turkey in the EU; after that well open the way for Sweden just like we did for Finland, Erdogan told a press conference in Istanbul before leaving for NATOs summit in Lithuania on Monday. He criticised countries keeping Turkey waiting at the EUs door for almost 50 years. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced Monday evening on social media that accommodation had been reached with Ankara over Swedens membership which will undoubtedly be welcomed in Brussels, Stockholm and Washington. But that wont change things on the EU front: The European Commission has rejected Erdogans demand out of hand, pointing out that NATO membership and EU accession are two separate processes. If anything, he has given the EU yet another excuse to slow-roll Turkeys application for membership, which has been pending for the best part of the two decades he has been at the helm in Ankara. Having seen how Erdogan behaves in one exclusive club, the Europeans are hardly likely to welcome him to another. The Turkish leader has a longstanding grudge against the Europeans for blackballing him. Turkey applied for membership long before he rose to power, and was declared eligible in 1999. But the rise of his Islamist party spooked members who were already leery of allowing a Muslim-majority nation into the fold. There is strong suspicion in Turkey, encouraged by Erdogan and his AK Party, that EU membership is now out of question no matter who is president. But Erdogans reelection in May ensured that proposition cannot be tested at least another five years. In fairness, Erdogan did make some good-faith efforts in his first term to allay European concerns, pushing through some democratic and economic reforms while curbing the power of the Turkish military. But the EU kept prolonging the negotiations, citing human-rights violations, among other things. By the end of his first decade in power, Erdogan had lost patience with the process and was growing more openly authoritarian, strengthening the argument of the European naysayers. Things came to a head with a failed coup in 2016, after which his rule grew increasingly repressive. That fall, the European Parliament called for a halt to the membership negotiations. By 2018, the accession process was frozen. In the meantime, Erdogans frustration with the Europeans was manifested in progressively more bellicose rhetoric. Europe, he thundered, was sick and collapsing, and would pay for what they have done. He threatened to roll back some of the reforms he had made to bring Turkey in line with EU norms, including reinstating the death penalty. And there have been other menaces, most notably the periodic threat to send millions of refugees into Europe. At this point, the greatest hurdle to Turkeys joining the EU is Erdogan himself. Although he occasionally claims that membership remains an objective, his policies have pushed the country farther from the door than at any time in the past 50 years. Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering foreign affairs. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Electoral bonds contributed more than 52 percent of the donations received by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), amounting to Rs 5,271.9751 crore, in the past six years, while all other national parties combined garnered Rs 1,783.9331 crore. The Congress party received the second highest amount from bonds at Rs 952.2955 crore which is 61.54 percent of the total donations. The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) received Rs 767.8876 crore, or 93.27 percent of its donations from electoral bonds. According to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the total donations received by the 31 recognised political parties during the six-year period from 2016-17 to 2021-22 stood at Rs 16,437.635 crore. Out of this, Rs 9,188.35991 crore (55.90 percent) came from electoral bonds, followed by Rs 4,614.53 crore (28.07 percent) from the corporate sector, and Rs 2,634.74509 crore (16.03 percent) came from other sources. The ADR analysis showed that electoral bonds remained the most preferred method of donating to national and regional political parties. For national parties, donations from electoral bonds increased by 743 percent between 2017-18 and 2021-22, while corporate donations increased by only 48 percent. The BJP declared corporate donations at least three to four times more than all other national parties combined. Delhi contributed the highest amount of corporate donations among the 31 recognised political parties, totalling Rs 1,843.697 crore, followed by Maharashtra with Rs 1,418.130 crore, and Gujarat with Rs 213.540 crore. In 2017-18, the BJP's corporate donations were more than 18 times that of all other national parties combined. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) consistently declared no corporate donations in the past six years, while the Communist Party of India received zero corporate donations from 2018-19 to 2021-22. During the six-year period, direct corporate donations declared by 24 regional parties also increased by 152.029 percent. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept "It is a good sign. It is encouraging news, mainly because it was found promptly," the Cabinet member said as soon as he was informed of the recovery. The government official said the fact that this property has been recovered is positive because "the longer it takes, the more negative its impact abroad." "We found the gold plaque an hour ago. It was located on a bookshelf at the General Secretariat (of the Municipality of Machu)," he said in statements to the media. The local authority explained that after the municipal personnel found the award, it was reported to the National Police, the Public Ministry, as well as the promoter of the "Vote for Machu Picchu" campaign, Moises Bendezu, for him to check the authenticity of the plaque, as he is one of the persons who attended the ceremony in which the awards were delivered back in 2007. Machu Picchu's top official affirmed that the problem arose because the above-mentioned awards were not designated as heritage properties by the municipal administration in 2007; therefore, they are not considered property of the Municipality, so their whereabouts were unknown. (END) MAO/RMB/MVB President Vladimir Putin of Russia held a lengthy meeting with Yevgeny Prigozhin and commanders of his Wagner private military company just days after they had launched a mutiny that put the nation on the brink of a civil conflict, the Kremlin disclosed Monday. Putin had denounced the leaders of the June 23-24 rebellion as traitors, so the startling revelation that he played host to them on June 29 suggests that for all his bluster, he saw a continued use for the mercenary group and its boss. The meeting is the first known contact between the two men since the uprising, which posed the most dramatic challenge to Putins authority in his 23 years in power. News of the meeting added to the mystery of what will become of Prigozhin and his force after the insurrection. It remains unclear why a warlord with his own private army, who attempted to depose the Russian military leadership by force, has been allowed to remain in the country, apparently unhindered, allegedly even returning to his hometown, St. Petersburg, to pick up his confiscated guns. Putin invited 35 people to the three-hour meeting, including Prigozhin and all of Wagners top commanders, and gave his assessment of the companys efforts on the battlefield in Ukraine, as well as its actions in the mutiny, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. Wagner fighters also offered their explanation of what had transpired, according to Peskov, who suggested the gathering was a chance to clear the air and set a course going forward. Putin heard out the commanders and proposed further employment options and further combat options, he said. Wagner fighters pledged their loyalty to the Russian leader during the meeting, Peskov added. They emphasized that they are staunch supporters and soldiers of the head of state and commander in chief and also said they are prepared to fight for the country going forward, he said. The picture of Prigozhin and his top lieutenants sitting peacefully at a table with the Russian leader just days after Putin had vowed to crush their rebellion contrasted with the widely held image of Putin as a ruthless authoritarian, adept at squelching threats to his rule. It appeared to reflect a calculation by the Kremlin to avoid fully eradicating an experienced fighting force with a popular following in the middle of a costly war. Putin, some analysts say, may also view the insurrection as little more than a factional feud that got out of control. Prigozhin has said he set out to topple the Russian military leadership not to challenge Putins rule. I would not assume that Prigozhin is back into Putins best graces forever and nothing has happened. Something has happened. Conclusions have been drawn for now, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. But just crushing them and crushing him at this point is for some reason disadvantageous, compared to keeping him afloat. Andrei Soldatov, a Russian security services expert, said Putins tough talk about treachery had been aimed primarily at the Russian military, to prevent any commanders from siding with the mutiny. Afterward, he said, the president and Prigozhin just made another deal. We dont know the terms, Soldatov added. But the understanding is they know each other, know what to expect from each other, thus they can still cooperate or work together. But the revolt put Putins vulnerability on global display, and the admission that he chatted with Wagner leaders risks making him look weaker still. Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of the R.Politik political consultancy, said the Kremlin possibly decided to disclose the meeting to calm a Russian elite that remains confused about what transpired about whether Prigozhin is a traitor or our guy. Its a signal to the elite that Prigozhin remains systemic, Stanovaya said. Yes, he made a mistake, yes, this is a very serious crime. But due to the specifics of the situation, which is really very unique, Putin will give him the opportunity to survive. The mutiny exposed Putins inability or unwillingness to deal with a power struggle that for months had raged in the open, with Prigozhin regularly launching profanity-laced invective at Russias military leadership on Telegram. Stanovaya, who is also a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said she suspected Putin felt at least partly responsible for not better managing the escalating feud. So for Putin, Prigozhin is of course a traitor, but hes his traitor, Stanovaya said. That is, a person who made a mistake out of stupidity, rather than out of malice. The Kremlin previously had been deflecting questions about Prigozhins status and whereabouts. On the day Putin and Prigozhin met, Peskov told reporters he didnt know where Prigozhin was. The following week, Peskov said the Kremlin had neither the ability nor the desire to track his movements. But on Friday, the French newspaper Liberation reported that Putin had met with Prigozhin and his Wagner commanders at the Kremlin to negotiate the fate of his empire, which includes a range of business ventures. On Monday, Peskov confirmed that the meeting took place, but added, The details of it are unknown. Prigozhins forces have been important to Russias war against Ukraine, but last month the government ordered Wagner troops fighting there to join the regular military. Facing a major loss of power, Prigozhin railed loudly against the move, to no avail. His fighters seized the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, and an important Russian military headquarters there, and staged a drive on Moscow that stopped within 125 miles of the capital. Putin warned in a national address against a descent into civil war, and said the harshest punishment awaited those who had consciously chosen the path of betrayal. But the punishment didnt come. Hours later, the Kremlin announced a deal, allegedly brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko: Prigozhin would stand down, avoid prosecution and depart for Belarus. Wagner fighters who had participated in the mutiny would also avoid punishment; those who didnt participate would be given the chance to sign Russian military contracts. Prigozhin and his men packed up and retreated. The agreement outraged hard-line Russian commentators, who noted that the insurrectionists had shot down Russian aircraft, killing military personnel. In the days since, Prigozhins status has been a mystery. He hasnt made any public appearances. His company has stopped posting responses to questions from the media. The man who stepped out of the shadows last year to make a public name for himself has gone quiet, at least temporarily. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that in the world of Putin, where those causing political problems have regularly ended up imprisoned or killed, Prigozhin is not only still alive but appears to be moving freely around Russia. Lukashenko said days after the mutiny that Prigozhin had arrived in Belarus, but it is not clear if that was true. Last week Lukashenko said Prigozhin was in Russia which U.S. officials confirmed and was a free man. On Thursday, Prigozhin was spotted arriving in a BMW 7-series sedan at the St. Petersburg headquarters of the FSB, a successor to the Soviet-era KGB, where he collected weapons that Russian authorities had seized from his country house during the mutiny, the independent news outlet Fontanka reported. Days earlier, Fontanka said, one of his drivers had arrived to collect billions of rubles, hundreds of thousands of dollars and several gold bars that Russian authorities had seized in vehicles parked at St. Petersburg hotels associated with him. Lukashenko said just after the uprising that Wagner fighters, like their leader, would be welcome in Belarus. Last week, his government said none had come, but that that might change. A prominent Wagner commander, Anton Yelizarov, who goes by the nom de guerre Lotos, gave an interview to a Russian war blogger on Friday, from southern Russia, in which he said all Wagner fighters had been released on break until early August and suggested he was spending time with his family by the sea. In the interview, posted on Telegram, Yelizarov said Wagner would stand aside in Ukraine for the time being and had a lot of work to do to prepare its exit to Belarus. Theres no clash with law enforcement agencies, the president guaranteed us that, Yelizarov said. As for society and normal people, you can see for yourself: girls are walking around with patches that they coaxed off our guys, most likely for kisses. Boys are wearing T-shirts and hats with our logos. Little kids are playing war games, with the Ukrainians as the Germans and Wagner PMC fighters as the Red Army. He didnt exclude the possibility of the mercenary group becoming involved again in Ukraine. Our armored train is in reserve, and we stand ready to come to the aid of our Motherland and our nation when the Russian people call us, he said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Amidst allegations by the Congress-led UDF opposition of price rise in the state, the Kerala government on Tuesday decided to take steps, which included strict action against merchants who overcharge for daily use items, to control rates of essential commodities. The direction to take action was given by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a high-level meeting which was attended by various Cabinet Ministers, the State Police Chief as well as Collectors and police chiefs of all districts, a statement issued by Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said. The meeting was held after the government came to notice a huge difference in prices of daily necessities in many places, the statement said. Interestingly, the move comes after the UDF opposition a day ago threatened to hold protests from ration shops to the state secretariat against the rise in prices of essential commodities. In addition to taking action against those who overcharge consumers for daily necessities, the Chief Minister also directed that a price list of the essential items be displayed in front of all businesses and inspections by the Legal Metrology Department be tightened to prevent illegal activities like hoarding. Besides that, a team led by the Collector should directly carry out inspections in the main markets of each district and the police too should intervene where required, the Chief Minister directed. "Horticorp, Consumerfed and Civil Supplies should also effectively intervene in the market to bring down the prices of consumer goods. All the departments should work together to contain the prices through effective intervention, he said in the meeting. The Chief Minister suggested that the District Collectors hold discussions with the merchant community on the issue of differences in prices of the same item in different areas and find a solution to it, the statement said. He said efforts should be made to settle the fluctuations in the prices and bring about uniformity in the rates and as part of that, District Collectors should review the prices of daily necessities at least once a week. Apart from inspections, quality control should also be carried out at all places, he directed. Vijayan also suggested a meeting of the concerned departmental secretaries once in 10 days under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to ensure the decisions taken in the meeting were being implemented, it said. Police officers in the UK rushed to investigate reports of a screaming woman only to realise the culprit was a loud parrot. In a bizarre incident, Essex Police dispatched three cars to the home of one Steve Wood to investigate reports of a screaming woman after being alerted by a concerned neighbour. However, when cops reached Woods house, they were stunned to discover that a bird was responsible for all the screeching. Wood, 54, said he felt a wave a panic when he opened the door to find policemen staring down at him. I thought, 'Oh my God what have I done?' the Essex resident told BBC. I said, 'What have I done?', and they said, 'We have had a report that there is a woman screaming for help in your house and we have come to check everything is OK.' Wood, who keeps 22 birds at home, explained that the screaming noise was coming from a yellow-naped Amazon parrot named Freddie. I'm just surprised it hasn't happened previously, said Wood, who owns two Amazon parrots, eight Indian ringnecks, green-winged macaws, blue-and-gold macaws, a Hahn's macaw, and budgies. A spokesperson for Essex Police confirmed the incident, saying that a member of the public reported sounds of a woman screaming. "Officers attended to conduct a welfare check, but upon arrival discovered the noise was in fact caused by a number of parrots inside a property," a spokesperson said. "Officers engaged with a member of the public at the property and we thank him for his understanding and patience." USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Ashneer Grover on Wednesday continued his criticism of the Centre's decision to impose a 28 percent tax on funds that online gaming companies collect from their customers. He pointed out that even Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly endorse online gaming with BCCI even accepting fantasy sports platform Dream 11 as its title sponsor, "Why judgement on online gaming now?" he asked. "You (the government) got billions in from foreign investors as FDI. Celebrated FDI inflow! Now the same investors will apply regulatory risk discount to India and funds will dry up. Not only for online games -- but across sectors. Across startups," Grover, who has his own fantasy gaming platform Crickpe, tweeted. "Tech founders are dispensable -- thats the only truth. In future, all tech companies will be based in Dubai/Singapore. As an operator Indian regulatory risk makes no sense to put ones own effort -- forget raising external capital for it !" Exactly. You got billions in from foreign investors as FDI. Celebrated FDI inflow ! Now the same investors will apply regulatory risk discount to India and funds will dry up. Not only for online games - but across sectors. Across startups.Also why judgement on online gaming https://t.co/00E1yqOkoC Ashneer Grover (@Ashneer_Grover) July 12, 2023 On Monday, hours after the government announcement, Grover said the new tax will murder the fantasy gaming industry and that it's time for entrepreneurs to enter politics or this will keep happening. "RIP - Real money gaming industry in India," he tweeted. "If the government is thinking people will put in Rs 100 to play on Rs 72 pot entry (28 percent gross GST); and if they win Rs 54 (after platform fees), they will pay 30 percent TDS on that -- for which they will get a free swimming pool in their living room the first monsoon - it's not happening!" "It was good fun being part of the fantasy gaming industry -- which stands murdered now. $10 billion down the drain in this monsoon," Ashneer Grover said referring to his own company Crickpe which allowed users to create virtual teams of the best in-form real players and earn points depending upon their actual performance. "Time for startup founders to enter politics and be represented - or this is going to be spate industry after industry," the former Shark Tank India judge wrote. RIP - Real money gaming industry in India. If the govt is thinking people will put in 100 to play on 72 pot entry (28% Gross GST); and if they win 54 (after platform fees)- they will pay 30% TDS on that - for which they will get free swimming pool in their living room come Ashneer Grover (@Ashneer_Grover) July 11, 2023 The Centre's decision to impose the tax has come as a blow to the $1.5 billion industry that has surged in popularity and attracted foreign investment. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the decision was taken after consultation with states, and the intent was not to hurt the industry. Read more: Ashneer Grover says paying tax is a punishment: 'Taxpayers are doing charity in this country' As Himachal Pradesh battles a flood crisis rising after extremely heavy rainfall, there are several tourists stranded in the region which has very weak to nil mobile network and internet connectivity. Amid this, a tourism company in the state has offered free food and stay at its group of hotels to such tourists. "In Manali, if any tourist is stranded, they can come to our hotels, Beas Valley and Beas Residency. No money will be charged for staying in the hotel, and all necessary assistance will be provided," GoHimachal tweeted sharing names, locations, and phone numbers of the hotels. In Manali, if any tourist is stranded, they can come to our hotels, Beas Valley and Beas Residency. No money will be charged for staying in the hotel, and all necessary assistance will be provided. Here are the contact numbers: - 9050126060 (Ved Prakash) - 9053126060 - Go Himachal (@GoHimachal_) July 11, 2023 Environmentalist and activist Siddharth Bakaria of GoHimachal, told Moneycontrol that the stranded tourists are welcome to stay at the hotels till the weather condition improves. Around 70 tourists have taken shelter in these hotels, Bakaria, who is currently in Dalhousie, added. "There is no connection to my other hotels in Manali because there's no electricity right now, but as per my last communication, more than 60 to 70 people are staying at the hotels," he told the publication. Speaking about the food being offered to the tourists, Bakaria said, "We're giving them normal food, not the expensive kind. But we're ensuring that it's of good quality." In Manali and Dalhousie, Chamba, and Lahual Spiti, if any tourist needs help or wants to stay, they can stay at my house and our hotels and there will be no charges will he asked for their stay, and all necessary assistance will be provided. Contact - 7876136946 Siddharth Bakaria (@SidBakaria) July 11, 2023 As many as 1,239 roads, including the Shimla-Kalka and Manali-Chandigarh national highways, are blocked due to heavy downpour over the last three days, according to Himachal Pradesh emergency operation centre. Bus service is suspended on 1,416 routes of the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) while 679 buses are held en route, transport officials said on Tuesday. The supply of essential items was hit in several areas of the hill state, including Shimla and Manali, as the Chandigarh-Manali and Shimla-Kalka national highways were closed following landslides, caving in of roads and flooding. Several areas in Kullu and Mandi remained without electricity as 2,577 transformers were disrupted while the water supply was also affected in several areas, including state capital Shimla, as 1,418 water supply schemes have suffered damage. Manali town and the adjoining areas remained cut off for almost a day as roads were blocked due to landslides. Mobile connectivity has also been disrupted. (With inputs from PTI) Read more: Rains wreak havoc in Himachal, six dead in landslides, many stranded A two-judge bench of the Delhi High Court on July 11 deferred to July 12, the hearing of appeals by grounded airline Go First's resolution professional against the order of a single judge permitting the aircraft lessors to inspect and carry out maintenance work of their 30 aircraft and their parts twice in a month. During the hearing today, senior advocate Rajiv Nayyar, appearing for one of the lessors, argued that the moratorium would not apply to them as they had terminated their leases prior to Go First being admitted to insolvency. He further argued that Go First cannot cannot use the aircraft as the rules mandate that it cannot be used once the lease is terminated. The bench at this point questioned the lessor on the applicability of Section 14 of Insolvency Bankruptcy Code, 2016, in this case. Section 14 prohibits the alienation or sale of any assets owned by a company under insolvency. Nayyar argued that the company does not own the asset as they have only been leased to them. The bench also questioned Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on why aircraft lessors could not undertake its maintenance. DGCA responded by stating that Go First is Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Organisation (CAMO) compliant, while the lessors are not. CAMO is a set of standards adopted and used to certify airworthiness of aircrafts, organisations maintaining aircrafts must be compliant with the standards of CAMO. According to DGCA, the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) do not permit any organisation other than CAMO compliant ones to maintain the aircrafts. DGCA also made it clear that they would not be able to permit Go First to resume operations unless they are certain that a CAMO compliant organisation is maintaining the aircraft. Appearing for the RP, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul reiterated that Go First was ready to commence operations as soon as they get the requisite approval from DGCA. He further argued that the lessors had not terminated the leases despite knowing fully well that Go First was defaulting in payments since 2020, however they did so once Go First announced that it was filing for voluntary insolvency. The court decided the continue the hearing on July 12 due to paucity of time. On July 10, the DGCA informed the court that Go First's lessors were not allowed to carry out maintenance work on the grounded fleet because of compliance issues. On July 5, a single-judge bench of the Delhi High Court permitted the lessors of the airline to inspect and carry out maintenance work of their 30 aircraft and their parts twice a month. Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju, who passed the interim order, also restrained Go First's resolution professionals and employees from removing, replacing and taking out any part or component of the leased aircraft without the express permission of the lessors. Aircraft lessors, including Pembroke Aviation, Accipiter Investments Aircraft 2 Ltd, EOS Aviation, and SMBC Aviation, filed a writ with the Delhi High Court, seeking directions to release the planes leased to the financially distressed airline. On May 22, the NCLAT upheld the NCLT's order admitting Go First's plea for insolvency. On May 10, the principal bench of the NCLT in Delhi accepted Go First's voluntary plea to initiate an insolvency resolution process. The tribunal appointed an IRP, suspended the board, and imposed a moratorium on the airline's financial obligations. The Supreme Court on July 11 ruled that the central government extending the tenure of the director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is invalid and directed Sanjay Kumar Mishra, who is presently the director, to vacate the office by July 31. The court however upheld the validity of amendments to the Central Vigilance Commission Act (CVC Act) conferring power on the central government to extend the tenure of ED director. In December 2022, the top court sought a response from the Centre and others to a plea challenging the third extension granted to ED chief Mishra. It had issued notices to the Union of India, Central Vigilance Commission and the ED director on a plea filed by Congress leader Jaya Thakur. The plea accused the central government of destroying the "basic structure" of democracy by misusing the enforcement agencies against its political opponents. The court had appointed Justice KV Viswanathan (who was not a judge of the Supreme Court then) as an amicus curiae to assist them in the case. The Congress leader said the top court had passed a specific order that no further extension shall be granted to Mishra but the Centre gave him a second extension from November 17, 2021 to November 17, 2022 after which she filed a petition on which a notice was issued. "During the pendency of above writ petition, respondent no.1 again gave third extension from November 18, 2022 to November 18, 2023 to the respondent no.2, which shows that respondent no.1 has no respect towards the rule of Law," the plea has said. On November 18, Justice SK Kaul had recused himself from hearing the pleas challenging the amended law allowing extension of up to five years for the ED director, a day after Mishra was given a fresh one-year extension as the chief of the anti-money laundering agency. A batch of petitions, including those filed by Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Thakur, and TMC's Mahua Moitra and Saket Gokhale, had come up for hearing before the bench. According to an official order, the Union government gave a fresh one-year extension to Mishra, the third for the Indian Revenue Service officer. The notification issued by the government said the 1984 batch IRS officer will be in office till November 18, 2023. Mishra, 62, was first appointed the director of the ED for two years on November 19, 2018. Later, by an order dated November 13, 2020, the central government modified the appointment letter retrospectively and his two-year term was changed to three years. The government promulgated an ordinance last year under which the tenure of the ED and CBI chiefs could be extended by up to three years after the mandated term of two years. On September 5, the Centre had contested in the top court the bona fide of the pleas filed by some political leaders challenging the extension granted to the ED chief and the amended law allowing such extensions up to five years, calling it "pressure tactics". The apex court had then appointed Vishwanathan as amicus curiae (friend of the court) to assist it in dealing with the pleas. Congress leader Surjewala's plea challenged the amendment made by the central government to the fundamental concept decided by the apex court in two judgements in the Vineet Narayan and the Common Cause cases on fixed tenure for such officials. Video sharing platform Roposo has tied up with e-commerce platform Shopify to enable entrepreneurs to launch and scale up their business by setting up online stores, product sourcing, order fulfilment and payments. Under the partnership, online stores can be created on Shopify's platform, which can then be integrated by the Roposo Clout plugin on the Shopify profile to instantly start selling. Roposo Clout was launched to simplify business management by outsourcing warehouse and inventory management, including tasks like product sourcing, order fulfilment, logistics, and doorstep payment collection. "The platform is launched to enable anyone to become an entrepreneur. The partnership is to combine the strengths of Shopify and Roposo. Anyone who wants to start a D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) brand can use Roposo plug-in and their catalogue can start getting integrated and then the merchant can sell on different channels. This is to enable a new base of digital entrepreneurs," said Mansi Jain, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Roposo. To simplify the operations and management of digital retail businesses the collaboration will provide entrepreneurs on the Shopify platform with a comprehensive solution to participate in the Indian ecommerce and retail business, said Bharati Balakrishnan, Country Head & Director of Shopify India & SEA. Jain said that currently on Roposo there are 200 digital entrepreneurs doing over a million annual turnover. "With this partnership, the number could reach up to 1,000 and the target is to reach 10,000 in next couple of years," she added. She added that they are seeing transactions from Tier I, II and III markets and the majority is coming from Tier II cities. The biggest category in terms of sales is fashion while they are seeing a lot of transactions for sneaker brands as well. "Average ticket price for products is Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. We are seeing strong signs of engagement and conversion. There are 10-15 percent people who are watching and interacting and are going deeper in India. The tipping point is 24 months for creator commerce in India. We expect 10-15 percent of overall ecommerce can be driven by creator commerce in next few years," Jain said. She said that live commerce or creator commerce is 25-30 percent of overall ecommerce business in markets like China and Indonesia, and India has the potential to reach there. Influencer (content creator) Ritoban Chakrabarti said that digital entrepreneurship via creator economy has emerged as a significant entrepreneurial opportunity globally and has gained momentum in India in recent years. "However, it still lacks widespread understanding, which hinders many from tapping into its potential." Two men were seen fighting over a seat inside a Malta to London Stansted Ryanair flight. One of the passengers- identified as Neil Modwhadia- said that the incident took place on July 3 and the fight broke out when one of the two passengers declined to let the other to go to his seat, a report in The Mirror said. In a video shared on Twitter, one of the passengers inside the flight could be heard telling the two men to stop fighting, adding that those inside the flight may never get home if the fight continued. "We're never gonna get home," one of the passengers was heard saying in the video. Other passengers could also be heard screaming in the video while one passenger requested the two men to "calm down'. A staff member from Ryanair could be seen coming down the cabin to stop the fight. "The shorter guy on the left is American and had the window seat. The taller man on the right with a cap on is British and had the aisle seat. The British man wouldnt let the American man pass through to get to his window seat and then some words and swears were exchanged before a scuffle broke. The flight was delayed two hours everyone was annoyed," Modwhadia told The Mirror. He further said that because of the fight, the flight was delayed by two hours and left everyone "annoyed". Ryanair issued a statement, saying that the cabin crew managed to diffuse the situation and flight took off safely, post that. "Two passengers on this flight from Malta to Stansted (3 July) became disruptive ahead of take-off. Cabin crew diffused the situation before the aircraft departed safely for Stansted following a minor delay," the statement read. Also read: Man tries to open Ryanair plane door before take-off, tackled by passengers. Watch Ten-year-old Bella Macey from Melbourne, Australia is enduring a daily struggle that most of us can scarcely imagine. She fights against complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a rare neurological disorder known to cause excruciating discomfort. It is considered one of the most painful incurable conditions that humans can experience. Bella's pain is so severe that even a gentle hug from her parents elicits screams of agony. In an interview with A Current Affair, Bella described her pain as a constant "10" out of 10. She explained, "It's all sharp, it's burning, it's tingly, it's all sore. It's different pain [that] I never knew was possible." The severity of her condition has rendered her bedridden, robbed her of movement in one leg, and made even the simplest tasks unbearable. Bella shared, "I can't have a shower, I can't have a bath...even with a tissue, you can't touch it with anything, otherwise I will scream." Bella's nightmare began when a small infection appeared on her foot during a family vacation in Fiji. However, what initially seemed like a minor issue quickly escalated into excruciating pain that spread throughout her entire leg. Upon returning home to Melbourne, Bella was rushed to the emergency room at the Alfred Hospital. Doctors conducted a battery of tests but were unable to identify the cause of her suffering. After her original infection subsided, Bella received the diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome. CRPS typically affects one arm or leg following an earlier injury, such as a fracture or sprain with no nerve damage. The exact causes of this syndrome remain unclear, but it is believed to involve increased sensitivity in the nerves of the affected area, resulting in altered pain pathways between the limb and the brain. As a consequence of her condition, Bella has developed hypersensitivity, making even the gentlest touch agonizingly painful. What is Complex regional pain syndrome? Complex regional pain syndrome is a debilitating condition that affects countless individuals worldwide. It causes extreme and unrelenting discomfort that cannot be eased easily. The symptoms of CRPS include burning, stabbing, stinging, or throbbing pain in the affected limb. Additionally, the limb becomes highly sensitive to touch, with even the lightest contact causing agony. Swelling, stiffness, weakness, and jerky movements may also occur. Many individuals with CRPS experience anxiety or depression as a result of their condition. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for CRPS. Therapies aim to maintain movement through rehabilitation and provide pain relief. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, coping strategies, and medications are among the treatment options available. YEREVAN, JULY 11, ARMENPRESS. Since establishment of illegal checkpoint in Lachin Corridor Azerbaijan repeatedly forbids even movement of the vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which is against the decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Armenias Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan wrote on Twitter. Since establishment of illegal checkpoint in Lachin Corridor Azerbaijan repeatedly, against ICJ decisions, forbids even movement of ICRC, including medical evacuation. More international efforts and actions needed to lift 7-month blockade of Nagorno Karabakh to prevent ethnic cleansing, MFA Spokesperson wrote on Twitter. A United Airlines flight to Amsterdam was diverted to Chicago due to an unruly passenger. The international flight was heading from Houston, Texas to Amsterdam on Sunday evening when the business class passenger created a ruckus onboard, reportedly because he did not get his first choice of meal. According to The Guardian, the flight took off from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston at 4.20 pm (local time) on Sunday. However, instead of flying to Amsterdam, the flight spent two hours circling over Chicago before landing in the city. The plane circled Chicago because it was too heavy to land and had to use up some of its fuel. What caused the diversion to Chicago was the ruckus created by the unruly passenger. In a statement, United Airlines described it as a disturbance and said the passenger was escorted off the plane before the flight continued on its way to Amsterdam. Aviation insider XJonNYC shared internal United Airlines communication on Twitter which seemed to indicate the passenger was enraged that his first meal choice was not available. He also appeared to be intoxicated. United crew classified him as threat level one, which is the lowest threat level. United flight 20 from George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Amsterdam diverted to OHare International Airport and landed safely following a passenger disturbance. Law enforcement met the aircraft at the gate and escorted the passenger off the plane. The aircraft then continued to Amsterdam, the airline said in a statement. The flight landed in Amsterdam three hours after its scheduled arrival time. US comedian Sarah Silverman and two other authors have sued Open AI over copyright infringement in the latest pushback by creatives since the company's release of ChatGPT took the world by storm. The plaintiffs accuse the San Francisco company of using their works to train their artificial intelligence models without permission, adding to a series of cases that could complicate the development of tech world's biggest new trend. The trio also filed a suit against Facebook parent company Meta, whose less known open source models also used pirated downloads of their books for training purposes, the suit alleged. Much of the training material used by OpenAI and Meta "comes from copyrighted works -- including books written by the plaintiffs -- that were copied by OpenAI and Meta without consent, without credit, and without compensation," the trio's lawyers said in a blog post. In both lawsuits, which were filed on Friday in a California court, the authors accuse the tech companies of using their books to train their AI models and are claiming a series of copyright infringements. If these types of cases succeed, they would upend the way the technology is developed, limiting the way tech giants can build their models and churn out convincing, human-like content. Plaintiffs in the barrage of recent cases include source-code owners against OpenAI and Microsoft's GitHub, visual artists, as well as photo agency Getty against Stability AI. San Francisco lawyer Joseph Saveri and Matthew Butterick are behind other such lawsuits and filed the latest on behalf of Silverman and the authors Christopher Golden and Richard Kadrey. The lawsuit referred to Silverman's 2010 bestselling memoir "The Bedwetter," Golden's horror novel "Ararat" and Kadrey's Sandman Slim supernatural noir series. Silverman is best known in the United States for her edgy and often controversial humor as well as being outspoken on social and political issues. Against OpenAI, the plaintiffs say they "did not consent to the use of their copyrighted books as training material for ChatGPT. Nonetheless, their copyrighted materials were ingested and used to train ChatGPT." The authors provided exhibits in the lawsuit that gave ChatGPT's detailed summaries of their works. Against Meta, the trio say the company turned to an illegally constructed "shadow library" to build the firm's LLaMA models that included their works. These libraries use pirated torrent downloads to illegally publish copyrighted works. OpenAI declined to comment on the lawsuit, while Meta did not immediately respond to a requests for comment. China's science and technology ministry held a meeting on July 5 with firms including Xiaomi, iFlytek and Alibaba Cloud to discuss innovation as well as national strategic scientific and technological initiatives, the ministry said on Tuesday. China will support private enterprises to create leading science and technology enterprises, and encourage more talents to gather in leading private science and technology enterprises, the minister Wang Zhigang said in a statement. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Dominion Energy (D.N) agreed to sell its 50% stake in the Cove Point liquefied natural gas facility in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay to a unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N) for $3.3 billion in cash, the companies said on Monday. Berkshire Hathaway Energy already operates the facility, and would upon closing have a 75% ownership stake. A unit of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP.N) owns the remaining 25%. Cove Point is located in Lusby, Maryland, about 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Washington, D.C. Berkshire Hathaway Energy said the facility has a storage capacity of 14.6 billion cubic feet, and provides liquefied natural gas to supplant coal-burning power plants and support energy needs in 28 countries. Robert Blue, Dominion's chief executive, in a statement said Dominion considers Cove Point a "non-core" business, and selling it would free the Richmond, Virginia-based company to focus on state-regulated utility operations. Dominion also expects to receive about $200 million from the termination of interest-rate derivatives. It plans to use sale proceeds to repay debt. The transaction is subject to federal regulatory approval, and expected to close by the end of 2023. If it failed to close under specified circumstances, Berkshire would owe Dominion a $150 million termination fee. Berkshire Hathaway, based in Omaha, Nebraska, has held a controlling stake in Berkshire Hathaway Energy since 2000, and now has a 92% stake in the Des Moines, Iowa-based company. Buffett's company also owns dozens of other businesses such as the BNSF railroad and Geico car insurance, as well as stocks such as Apple (AAPL.O). USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The European Commission announced a new data transfer pact with the United States on Monday, seeking to end the legal uncertainty plaguing thousands of companies that transfer personal data across the Atlantic. The move was immediately criticised by non-profit group noyb, led by privacy activist Max Schrems, which said it would challenge the agreement. The commission and the United States had been struggling to reach a new agreement after Europe's top court annulled two previous pacts that underpinned the transfer of personal data across the Atlantic for services ranging from cloud infrastructure to payroll and banking. The commission, the EU's executive arm, said measures taken by the United States ensured an adequate level of protection for Europeans' personal data transferred across the Atlantic for commercial use. It said new binding safeguards, such as limiting U.S. intelligence services' access to EU data to what is "necessary and proportionate" and the establishment of a Data Protection Review Court for Europeans, address the concerns raised by Europe's top court. U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the data transfer pact and said it reflected a "joint commitment to strong data privacy protections." EU justice chief Didier Reynders said he was confident of fending off any legal challenge. "The principles of the data privacy framework are solid, and I am convinced that we have made significant progress which meets the requirements of the European Court of Justice case law," he told a news conference. "I am very confident of fighting, defending the new data agreement." But Schrems said the latest revision was inadequate. "Just announcing that something is 'new,' 'robust' or 'effective' does not cut it before the Court of Justice. We would need changes in U.S. surveillance law to make this work," he said in a statement. "We have various options for a challenge already in the drawer, although we are sick and tired of this legal ping-pong. We currently expect this to be back at the Court of Justice by the beginning of next year," Schrems added. Lobbying group DigitalEurope, whose members include Airbus (AIR.PA), Amazon (AMZN.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Ericsson (ERICb.ST), Nokia (NOKIA.HE), Philips (PHG.AS) and Samsung (005930.KS), welcomed the deal. "Data flows underpin the EU's annual 1 trillion euros of service exports to the United States, and this decision will give companies more confidence to conduct business and help our economies to grow," its director-general, Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, said. Earlier this year, the EU's privacy watchdog, the European Data Protection Board, said the latest data agreement still fell short and urged the commission to do more to protect Europeans' privacy rights. Europe's top court scuppered the previous two deals after challenges by Schrems because of concerns about U.S. intelligence agencies' accessing European citizens' private data. US President Joe Biden, who publicly holds an image of being a soft-spoken statesman, has a quick-trigger temper in private and often yells at his aides in the White House, a report said. "No one is safe" from Biden's line of fire, one administration official was quoted as saying in the Axios report, adding that both senior and lower-level officials could find themselves at the receiving end of his fury. The president's admonitions to the staff and close aides include the use of expletives, stated the report, which is based on the inputs shared by Biden's current and former aides on condition of anonymity. Chris Whipple, author of The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Bidens White House, told the publication that "there is no question" that the president's temper is for real. "It may not be as volcanic as Bill Clintons, but it's definitely there," he added. Also Read | Bidenomics critique exposes energy tension in both parties Biden's aides who spoke to Axios said that being yelled by him is akin to the internal initiation ceremony in the current White House. If the president has not yelled at any of his staff members and aides, then there could be a possibility that he does not respect them, they reportedly added. The report further said that Whipple, in his book on Biden, said former White House press secretary Jen Psaki had asked the president when he would yell at her to know whether he trusts him. "I said to [Biden] multiple times, 'I'll know we have a really good, trusting relationship when you yell at me the first time," the book quoted her as saying. "Psaki wouldn't have to wait long," Whipple further noted in his book. Biden's former chief of staff Ted Kaufman told Axios that Biden's way of interacting with his staff or aides is not aimed at embarrassing them. "...he wants to get to the right decision. Most people who have worked for him like the fact that he challenges them and gets them to a better decision," Kaufman was quoted as saying. Some of the president's aides who spoke to publication defended him, saying that despite being tough, he is more generous and compassionate compared to several other politicians. This is the reason why several of his aides have continued to work with him for decades, they reportedly pointed out. NATO leaders agreed in a joint statement to offer Ukraine an invitation to join, but remained vague on how and when, wording that essentially marked a victory for President Joe Biden, who said before the summit that Ukraine was not ready to be a member. The alliances leaders, meeting at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, had struggled to agree on language about how to describe a timeline and conditions for what everyone agrees will be Ukraines eventual membership in NATO. The leaders of the 31 member states said in their communique that Ukraine would receive an invitation when allies agree and conditions are met, and that there would be regular reviews of the countrys progress toward meeting NATO standards in democratization and military integration. The debate has again exposed differences among Western allies that have emerged throughout the war, with European states closest to Russia pushing for more and faster support for Ukraine and the Biden administration opting for a more deliberate approach often to Kyivs consternation. The language is considerably weaker than what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has said is necessary amid Russias invasion. Earlier Tuesday, the Ukrainian leader had repeated his frustration over the lack of clarity from NATO, calling it absurd and adding, Uncertainty is weakness. Later, as he arrived in Vilnius, Zelenskyy appeared to soften his tone, telling a crowd that he had come to Lithuania with faith in partners and in a strong NATO that does not hesitate. Here are other developments: Zelenskyy will attend a dinner on Tuesday evening with leaders of NATO countries, according to Jens Stoltenberg, NATOs secretary-general, and will attend the inaugural meeting on Wednesday of the NATO Ukraine Council, a new group that will give Ukraine an equal voice on key issues alongside full member states. Biden is planning to meet with Zelenskyy on Wednesday, White House officials said. For the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO countries gave political approval to detailed plans designed to ensure the alliances collective military defense against a major attack by a power such as Russia, which upended NATOs strategic assumptions with its invasion of Ukraine. An abrupt shift Monday by Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, unblocked Swedens bid to join NATO, a move that followed intense pressure from the United States and other allies. Jake Sullivan, Bidens national security adviser, said that the president would move forward in consultation with Congress with the transfer to Turkey of the F-16 fighter jets it is demanding. Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, with a barrage of drones early Tuesday, all of which were shot down, the citys military administration said. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. By Lara Jakes, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Steven Erlanger and Victoria Kim North Korea threatened military action against American spy planes operating off the countrys east coast, its state media reported Tuesday, as a United States submarine capable of shooting nuclear ballistic missiles planned to visit South Korea for the first time in four decades. The North has often bristled at U.S. military reconnaissance activities around the Korean Peninsula. But since Monday, it has issued three consecutive statements threatening retaliation against what it called provocative aerial espionage by American spy planes and drones. On Monday, the Norths Ministry of National Defense accused an American strategic reconnaissance plane of illegally intruding into its inviolable airspace off its east coast this month. There is no guarantee that such shocking accident as downing of the U.S. Air Force strategic reconnaissance plane will not happen, it said, according to an English-language dispatch from the Norths official Korean Central News Agency. In two separate statements issued later Monday and early Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of and spokesperson for North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un, also said that U.S. reconnaissance planes committed a grave encroachment upon the sovereignty and security of her country by flying over its 200-nautical mile economic water zone. She warned that a shocking or critical incident would occur if such illegal intrusions continued. To drive home the threat, North Korea cited a 1969 incident in which it shot down an American EC-121 reconnaissance aircraft, killing all 31 people aboard. Both the Pentagon and the South Korean military dismissed the North Korean statements as baseless accusations. But officials and analysts in the region fear that the Norths escalating rhetoric might lead to military provocations. We always operate responsibly and safely and in accordance with international law, so those accusations are just accusations, Sabrina Singh, a deputy Pentagon press secretary, said Monday. Matthew Miller, a U.S. State Department spokesperson, urged North Korea to refrain from escalatory actions. A country can claim the right to exploit marine resources in its so-called exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from its 12 nautical-mile territorial waters. But it does not hold sovereignty over the zones surface and the airspace above it. South Korea also pushed back against the outbursts coming from the North. North Korea makes these claims for internal purposes and maybe to build an excuse to launch provocations, Col. Lee Sung-jun, a South Korean military spokesperson, said Tuesday. He added that an exclusive economic zone guarantees the freedom of sailing and flying for foreign vessels and planes. North Korea usually escalates anti-U.S. rhetoric ahead of the July 27 anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War in order to instill in its people fear of the Americans and to justify its nuclear weapons program as a military deterrent to war. In its statement, the North Korean defense ministry harshly criticized the Pentagons decision to send a nuclear-capable submarine to make a port call in South Korea at some point in the future. If the submarine arrives, it will be the first known visit to South Korea by a nuclear-capable U.S. submarine since 1981. When President Joe Biden met his South Korean counterpart, Yoon Suk Yeol, in April, they agreed to strengthen the allies joint military drills and enhance the regular visibility of American strategic assets around Korea to highlight the U.S. commitment to defending South Korea. The two leaders also agreed to establish a new group to discuss nuclear and strategic planning on the peninsula. The groups first meeting is scheduled to take place in Seoul next Tuesday. The Norths comments came as Yoon arrived in Lithuania on Monday to attend a NATO summit, where he was expected to join world leaders in condemning North Koreas nuclear weapons development. North Koreas nuclear threat will also likely become a topic of discussion when foreign ministers from around the world attend the annual gatherings led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which are taking place in Jakarta, Indonesia, later this week. North Korea usually turns more defiant before such international gatherings. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. By Choe Sang-Hun Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday agreed to forward to parliament Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance, appearing to end months of drama over an issue that had strained the bloc as war has raged in Ukraine. Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership last year, abandoning their policies of military non-alignment that had lasted through the decades of the Cold War in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While Finland's NATO membership was green-lighted in April, Turkey and Hungary have yet to clear Sweden's bid. Stockholm has been working to join the bloc at the alliance's summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, which begins on Tuesday. "I'm glad to announce ... that President Erdogan has agreed to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the grand national assembly as soon as possible, and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference, describing it as a "historic" step. He had convened Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for several hours of talks on the eve of the summit as he sought to finally break the deadlock. Erdogan has held out for months, saying Sweden's accession hinged on the implementation of a deal reached last year during the alliance's summit in Madrid and that no one should expect compromises from Ankara. Turkey has accused Sweden of not doing enough against people Turkey sees as terrorists, mainly members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and the United States. Erdogan and Kristersson appeared relaxed ahead of the meeting, with the Swedish leader joking about parking his plane next to the bigger Turkish aircraft at Vilnius airport. "This has been a good day for Sweden," Kristersson told reporters, saying the joint statement on Monday represented "a very big step" toward the final ratification of Sweden's membership of NATO. The statement issued by both countries said Sweden had reiterated that it would not provide support to the Kurdish groups and would actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkey's EU accession process. Erdogan on Monday said the European Union should open the way for Ankara's accession to that bloc before Turkey's parliament approved Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance. Stoltenberg said Erdogan had agreed to push ratification in parliament "as soon as possible," but he could not give a specific calendar. It took two weeks for Turkey's parliament to ratify Finland's membership. After Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said on Thursday that Budapest would now no longer block Sweden's NATO membership ratification, Turkish approval would remove the last hurdle for Swedish accession to NATO, applications for which must be approved by all members. The United States and its allies have sought to pressure Ankara for months. Some NATO partners believe that Turkey, which requested in October 2021 to buy $20 billion of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-16 fighters and nearly 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes, has been using Swedish membership to pressure Washington on the warplanes. U.S. President Joe Biden, who welcomed the announcement, is due to hold face-to-face talks with Erdogan during the summit. Additional reporting by Niklas Pollard, Andrius Sytas and Justyna Pawlak in Vilnius, Anna Ringstrom and Johan Ahlander in Stockholm, and Ezgi Erkoyun in Istanbul; writing by John Irish; editing by William Maclean and Rosalba O'Brien The United States continues to support the talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Matthew Miller, Spokesperson of US Department of State, stated this during Mondays Department press briefing. July 11, 2023, 10:08 US State Department: We hope to see continuation of Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue in coming months STEPANAKERT, JULY 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: "We continue to believe an agreement [between Armenia and Azerbaijan] is possible and we look forward to further talks in the coming months, Miller added. July 11, 2023 NATO's Big Climb Down From the: Vilnius Summit Communique Issued by NATO Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Vilnius 11 July 2023: 11. We fully support Ukraines right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraines future is in NATO. We reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, and today we recognise that Ukraines path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan. Ukraine has become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the Alliance, and has made substantial progress on its reform path. In line with the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine and the 2009 Complement, Allies will continue to support and review Ukraines progress on interoperability as well as additional democratic and security sector reforms that are required. NATO Foreign Ministers will regularly assess progress through the adapted Annual National Programme. The Alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path towards future membership. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met. The statement 'when Allies agree and conditions are met' sets arguably a higher bar than the 2008 Bucharest Summit Declaration had promised: 23. NATO welcomes Ukraines and Georgias Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in NATO. We agreed today that these countries will become members of NATO. Both nations have made valuable contributions to Alliance operations. We welcome the democratic reforms in Ukraine and Georgia and look forward to free and fair parliamentary elections in Georgia in May. The Membership Action Plan (MAP) is the next step for Ukraine and Georgia on their direct way to membership. Today we make clear that we support these countries applications for MAP. Therefore we will now begin a period of intensive engagement with both at a high political level to address the questions still outstanding pertaining to their MAP applications. We have asked Foreign Ministers to make a first assessment of progress at their December 2008 meeting. Foreign Ministers have the authority to decide on the MAP applications of Ukraine and Georgia. Also note that the 'conditions', just like the rules in the 'rules based order', are undefined. It seems like any NATO member will be able to define its own ones. Added: Also note this from the: Pre-Summit press conference by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the NATO Summit in Vilnius Iryna Somer, Interfax Ukraine Thank you Oana. Iryna Somer, Ukrainian News Agency Interfax Ukraine. I have follow up question on Mindaugas, regarding declaration. I do understand you can't comment on the language which will in decleration regarding membership. But can you tell us how far or how close Allies are regarding wording in the declaration regarding a possible membership for Ukraine, which also will be satisfactory for Kyiv? Thank you. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg [...] We will provide support to Ukraine for as long as it takes. Because unless Ukraine wins this war, there's no membership issue to be discussed at all. Ukraine's victory in the war, which is unachievable, is now a main condition for its admittance to NATO. It wasn't what the Ukrainian government had wanted to hear. Via Strana.news (machine translation): "Unprecedented and absurd." Zelensky criticized the allies for the lack of an invitation to NATO - 13:59, Today Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on Western leaders' plans not to include any specifics on Ukraine's NATO membership in a forthcoming statement. Now, on the way to Vilnius, we received signals that language without Ukraine is being discussed. And I want to emphasize that this wording is only by invitation, and not by Ukraines membership. It is unprecedented and absurd when there is no time frame for the invitation (! ), and for the membership of Ukraine; and when some strange wording about "conditions" is added even for inviting Ukraine ... It seems that there is no readiness either to invite Ukraine to NATO or to make it a member of the Alliance. Consequently, there remains the possibility of bargaining Ukraine's membership in NATO - in negotiations with Russia. And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror. Uncertainty is weakness. And I will frankly discuss this at the summit," Zelensky wrote. Well. The little comedian seems disappointed. As if the whole play had not been obvious from the very beginning. Since 2008 the Ukraine was to be used as a tool to nag Russia. It is otherwise of little value. It will end up as a discarded rag while NATO will, in the end, again recognize the Russian Federation as the super power that that it is. NATO will have to relearn to listen to and negotiate with it. Now lets wait and see what NATO's climb down will do to the morale and motivations of the Ukrainian army and people. Posted by b on July 11, 2023 at 16:13 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page Picture tearing into that assorted box of chocolates, and what do you find? Vintage flavours like Strawberry, Peppermint, and Orange Creme. It's like a personal gift to our tastebuds, and mine is definitely the return of the Strawbs. The statement disseminated by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, claiming that the units of the Artsakh Republic Defense Army on Monday repeatedly violated the ceasefire by opening fire in the direction of the Azerbaijani positions located in the Azerbaijani-occupied territories of the Askeran and Martuni regions of Artsakh, is another disinformation, the Artsakh Republic MoD press service informed. July 11, 2023, 10:38 Artsakh army did not fire at Azerbaijani positions STEPANAKERT, JULY 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: The Azerbaijan MoD claim that engineering work by Artsakh has been stopped as a result of Azerbaijani actions is also false. The false statements of the Azerbaijan MoD aim to justify the recurring Azerbaijani shooting at Artsakh citizens and agricultural equipment in order to disrupt agricultural work. Between 9:30am and 10:45am Monday, Azerbaijani army units opened fire with small arms at a combine harvester doing agricultural work in the fields of Sarushen village. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to send Sweden's bid for NATO membership to his country's parliament, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced Monday, on the eve of the Vilnius summit. July 11, 2023, 11:57 Turkeys Erdogan agrees to Sweden membership in NATO as soon as possible STEPANAKERT, JULY 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: President Erdogan has agreed to send the protocol on Sweden's NATO membership to the Turkish Grand National Assembly as soon as possible and work closely to ensure ratification, Stoltenberg said at a press conference, news.am informs. Meeting with the Turkish President and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson ahead of the alliances summit in the Lithuanian capital on Monday, Stoltenberg tried to find a way out of Sweden's NATO membership issue. During the Vilnius summit, US President Joe Biden was going to negotiate with Erdogan on the matter. Erdogan has been insisting for months that Sweden's NATO membership depends on its implementation of the agreement reached at the alliance's summit in Madrid last summer, adding that nobody should expect concessions from Ankara in this regard. The Turkish president had said Sweden had not taken enough action against what Ankara considers terrorists; mainly members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which is outlawed in Turkey. Earlier on Monday, Erdogan said the EU must give the green light for Ankara to join this bloc before Turkey's parliament approves Sweden's NATO membership bid; but later he agreed to send the bid for ratification by the Turkish parliament. REDCON1 BAR Is Back! Peanut Butter Protein Snack New and Improved Written by Team MD 11 July 2023 REDCON1 BAR Is Back! Peanut Butter Protein Snack New and Improved REDCON1 BAR is back and its better than ever with upgraded taste and texture, even better macros and packed with 15 grams of protein. Protein bars are an important part of your nutritional plan when you lead an active, fit, and busy lifestyle like so many of us do. 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Peanut Butter is loaded with healthy fats, protein, fiber, and a variety of essential vitamins and minerals. Whey Protein Isolate is the liquid remaining when milk is processed to form cheese. Whey protein isolate undergoes additional processing to remove the remaining fat and carbohydrate content from the whey to result in a very high percentage of proteins and many essential amino acids. Honey is a sweet substance made by bees from the nectar of flowering plants and is high in antioxidants. Satisfy Your Cravings Anywhere Use the REDCON1 BAR as a meal replacement bar or when youre in need of a high-protein snack. Its recommended that you consume a REDCON1 BAR as a midday snack or for fuel before an intense training session. If youre ready for a delicious protein bar that will boost your daily protein intake while overwhelming your taste buds with the power of peanut butter, ditch your ho-hum protein bar and dare to indulge in the REDCON1 BAR. REDCON1 BAR 15 Grams of Protein, Powered by Peanut Butter Helps Boost Daily Protein Intake Perfect On-the-Go Snack Made With Real Cookie Pieces Rich and Indulgent Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Flavors For more information, visit redcon1.com 5 STAR REVIEWS I really enjoy these. Theyre great to have as a snack or as a buffer before getting to a full meal. -Keith P. Great way to get your macros in quick and easy. The consistency of the bar is great. -Matthew S. Cookies and Cream BARs are the best. Theyre macro friendly and satisfying. It doesnt take long to eat through a box. -Ben O. Fuel for the machine. Very filling and satisfying when on the go. A great grab-and-go fuel for the machine. Flavor is great too! -Skyler S. Great! Love the taste. -Ty B. DISCUSS ON OUR FORUMS SUBSCRIBE TO MD TODAY GET OFFICIAL MD STUFF VISIT OUR STORE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER ALSO, MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON: FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE (Shutterstock) Miss Universe Netherlands has crowned its first ever transgender winner. Rikki Valerie Kolle, 22, won the pageant on Sunday and will go on to compete in the Miss Universe competition later this year. Kolle wore a floor-length red gown with a thigh-high slit at the ceremony, where she was given the crown by her predecessor, Ona Moody, and the current Miss Universe, US contestant RBonney Gabriel. She will now compete against contestants from 24 other countries in the Miss Universe 2023 competition in El Salvador, which takes place in December. Kolle will be the second transgender woman to take part in the MIss Universe pageant, after Spanish contestant Angela Ponce competed in 2018. Transgender contestants have been allowed to take part in the competition since 2012. On Instagram, Kolle expressed her delight at winning the pageant. I did it!, she wrote in English before continuing in Dutch. Its unreal but I can call myself @missnederland 2023. It was an educational and wonderful process, my year cant go wrong anymore. Kolle continued: I made my community proud and showed it can be done. And yes I am a trans woman and I would like to share my story, but I am also Rikkie and that is what counts for me. I did this on my own strength and enjoyed every moment. Robert Celestial, president of the Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors, testifies during a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in 2018 in Washington, D.C. Also pictured is then-Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje, background right. Seated at a table that displays his books, historian and author Don Farrell talks to an educator at the Visitor Center of American Memorial Park on Monday, July 10. Farrell is one of the lecturers in the Saipans Land and Sea: Battle Scars & Sites of Resilience program. Reporter Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post. The prime minister's decision to sign Australia up to the Climate Club has been welcomed by a leading economist. Here's what it all means. Anthony Albaneses decision to sign Australia up to the G7-backed Climate Club has been welcomed by a leading economist as a possible "game-changer". Unlike the annual international COP conferences that insiders have characterised as too slow-moving to prevent the worst effects of the climate crisis, the Climate Club will likely supercharge a number of emerging green industries. According to Nicki Hutley, an economist with the Climate Council, this could include cooperation between other nations and Australia to promote growth in green hydrogen, steel and cement. In Australia, were starting to make breakthroughs, but were still a significant distance away. But if you suddenly put multiple advanced economies and their researchers and money together, you're gonna get a faster outcome. Anthony Albanese made the announcement after a meeting with Germanys chancellor Olaf Scholz. Source: Getty When will Australia start to benefit? The reason Ms Hutley believes the cooperation is potentially a game changer is because the sharing of ideas will see the economies of both members and emerging nations benefiting both environmentally and economically. It has the potential to do great good, she said. When it comes to a timeline on when Australia will start benefiting financially from the agreement, Ms Hutley is optimistic it could be soon. Will it be next year? No. Could it be in five years? Maybe. Will it be by 2030? I certainly hope so, she said. Who else is in the Climate Club? The club was first proposed by US Nobel Prize-winning economist William Nordhaus. It begins with nations voluntarily agreeing to a strong emissions reduction target, and then they compel their trading partners to do the same. Its members include Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Uruguay. Australias commitment was welcomed by Germanys chancellor Olaf Scholz after he met with Mr Albanese in Berlin. I am delighted that Australia has announced it will to join the Climate Club. Anthony, thank you so much for being here today, he said. Mr Albanese said Australia is aiming to become a renewable energy superpower and this will involve working with countries like Germany on future industries. No challenge is of course more pressing than that posed by climate change. Australia and Germany are now united in our deep commitment to tackling climate change, he said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. All 6 aboard helicopter carrying Mexican tourists are killed in a crash near Mount Everest in Nepal All 6 aboard helicopter carrying Mexican tourists are killed in a crash near Mount Everest in Nepal View Photo KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) All six people on board a helicopter carrying Mexican tourists were killed when it crashed Tuesday near Mount Everest in Nepal, authorities said. The helicopter crashed in the Lamajura area and all the bodies were recovered, said Basanta Bhattarai, the chief government administrator in the area. The five tourists were Mexican nationals and the pilot was Nepalese, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said in a statement. The Mexicans included two men and three women. Federico Salas, Mexicos ambassador to India, told N+, part of Mexicos Televisa network, that the five Mexican victims were part of the same family. Mexicos National Cancer Institute said via Twitter that one of those killed was Dr. Abril Sifuentes Gonzalez, a resident in internal medicine there. A week earlier, Sifuentes posted a photo of herself standing in front of Indias Taj Mahal on Instagram. Two rescue helicopters were used to fly the bodies out of the crash site and then to the capital, Kathmandu. Doctors were expected to perform an autopsy before the bodies are handed over to relatives, or in case of foreigners, to embassy officials. The aircraft was returning to Kathmandu on Tuesday morning after bringing the tourists on a sightseeing trip to the worlds highest peak. It wasnt clear what caused the crash. Weather conditions had caused the helicopters planned flight route to be changed, airport official Sagar Kadel said. It is common for flights to be delayed and routes changed during the monsoon season and heavy rains. The tourist and mountaineering season ended in May with the onset of the rainy season and tourist flights to the mountains are less common this time of year as visibility is poor and weather conditions become unpredictable. By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA Associated Press Senator Mitch McConnell View Photo U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered remarks on the Senate floor regarding the Blue Grass Army Depot and the U.S. commitment to the global prohibition of chemical weaponry. McConnell was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words: Over 25 years ago, America made a noble and necessary commitment never again to deploy or produce chemical weapons and to destroy our remaining stockpiles. Blue Grass Army Depot in my home state of Kentucky has been home to the bulk of our Nations legacy chemical weapons for decades. And on Friday, the Depot safely destroyed the last nerve-agent rocket in the U.S. arsenal. Last week marks a major milestone in an effort that dates back to President Reagans call for a global prohibition on chemical weaponry altogether. After a decade of bilateral negotiations, the United States made an international commitment to ban their use, production, and stockpile for good. At that time, Blue Grass Army Depot stored over 500 tons of lethal chemical agents. The Armys initial plan for eliminating the Depots stockpile was incineration literally burning these rockets. Understandably, local residents were concerned about the potential for poisonous leaks into the community, with schools and family homes in spitting distance. When I joined the Senate in 1985, our first victory was putting a stop to new munitions entering the Commonwealth. The second came when I passed legislation forcing the Army to explore more advanced disposal options that ensured the safety of local residents. Over the years, Ive been proud to call greater national attention to this important local issue. Ive fought to bring home nearly $7 billion in federal funding to support the responsible destruction of these munitions and Ill continue to fight for Kentuckians until this mission is complete. It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead this charge in the Senate and push for the safety of Madison County families each step of the way. We wouldnt be here today without the singular focus and determination of community leaders like Craig Williams, an extremely effective local advocate who devoted much of his career to seeing this project through. And, of course, we owe a debt of gratitude to the operators, technicians, construction workers, and other staff for their work on the ground. Today is as much a story of local success as it is a reminder of worldwide significance. The United States is firmly planted in a wide international coalition that recognizes the moral imperative to reject chemical weapons. And unfortunately, that coalition is more important today than ever. The authoritarian regime in Moscow that escalated a brutal war in Europe last year is the same one that repeatedly and brazenly ignores the Chemical Weapons Convention that governs our efforts. Vladimir Putin has repeatedly used deadly nerve agents on foreign soil and supported the Assad regimes use of devastating sarin and chlorine against Syrian civilians. As we condemn this horror, the American people can be proud that our nation stands squarely on the right side of history. Families in my home state of Kentucky can rest a little easier. Thanks to the dedication of so many, the United States has shown the world that our commitment to the global prohibition on chemical weaponry is ironclad as ever. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. Saudi Arabia deposits $2 billion in Pakistans central bank as a boost ahead of a key IMF meeting View Photo ISLAMABAD (AP) Saudi Arabia has deposited $2 billion into Pakistans central bank, the government said Tuesday, a much-needed financial boost ahead of a critical meeting of the International Monetary Fund on the new bailout package for the cash-strapped South Asian country. In a video statement, Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the kingdom was making good on its promise to bolster Pakistans foreign exchange reserves. The infusion is not a loan as such but will shore up the reserves and remain with Pakistans central bank for at least a year. The development comes on the eve of the meeting of he IMFs executive board which is expected to approve a new and much-needed $3 billion loan to Pakistan to help the country overcome an economic crisis. Dar said that with the Saudi deposit, Pakistans foreign exchange reserves which dropped to $9.6 billion last week barely enough to pay import bills for a month have gone up to $11.6. We thank the Saudi leadership on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, he said. He assured the nation that Pakistan would soon return to the path of growth. God willing, now Pakistans economy will witness an improvement, Dar said. Following the announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted his deep gratitude to the leadership and brotherly people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and said the deposit reflects the kingdoms growing confidence in Pakistans economic turnaround. We remain committed to making all necessary efforts to improve Pakistans economy, Sharif said. Also on Tuesday, Sharif in a meeting with the Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, praised the kingdoms generous and unwavering support for Pakistan, saying it was particularly instrumental in securing the deal with the IMF, according to a government statement. It said Sharif thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the deposit. The IMF late in June agreed to provide $3 billion to Pakistan in badly needed relief to bail out the impoverished countrys ailing economy a nine-month agreement that the IMFs executive board is to approve Wednesday at a meeting in the United States. Pakistan also hopes the board will approve the release of a crucial $1.1 billion from the bailout. Pakistans economy has faced several heavy blows recently, such as the devastating floods last summer that killed 1,739 people, caused $30 billion in damage and impacted millions of Pakistanis. The country was also hit by an international commodity price spike in the wake of Russias war in Ukraine. The bailout deal was originally signed between the IMF and Pakistans former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2019 and was to expire on June 30 when the new, breakthrough agreement was announced. By MUNIR AHMED Associated Press A microelectronics company is planning a $50 million investment to create more than 100 jobs and open a manufacturing facility near Ithaca. Menlo Microsystems, a microchip switch maker, will establish its first domestic manufacturing fab at an existing facility in the village of Lansing, Tompkins County. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the company's plans on Tuesday. Schumer, D-N.Y., called Russ Garcia, Menlo Micro's CEO, last year and urged him to bring the company's manufacturing facility to upstate New York. "The greater Ithaca area is unquestionably leading the charge in research and development and building the future of technology, and Menlo Micro will help further supercharge the region's leadership, while helping secure America's critical microelectronics supply chains that power everything from 5G communications to the power grid to aerospace engineering with their switch technology made right here in Tompkins County," Schumer said. According to Garcia, the Tompkins County plant is part of Menlo Micro's plans to increase domestic production of its Ideal Switch, a certain type of switch used in communications infrastructure. The facility will complement what's happening more than an hour away in Onondaga County, where Micron is planning an historic $100 billion investment to build a semiconductor manufacturing facility near Syracuse. Schumer says both projects are supported by the federal CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing. Garcia noted that the CHIPS and Science Act is "directly supportive of and aligned with (Menlo Micro's) plan to onshore our manufacturing capabilities." There will be state support for the project, too. Empire State Development, New York's lead economic development agency, will provide $6.5 million in Excelsior Jobs tax credits that are linked to job creation goals. Menlo Micro plans to create 122 new jobs at the Lansing plant. "With this agreement to bring Menlo Microsystems to Tompkins County, we are once again declaring New York state as Chips Country," Hochul said. Production will begin at the Lansing site in 2024. Editors note: This story is part of a Record-Journal series on asthma. Although asthma prevalence in Connecticut has been decreasing over the years, the state still ranked among the top 15 in the nation for percentage of asthmatic adults in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public school systems are microcosms of these high rates, with an estimated one in eight students under 18 years old living with asthma, reported the state Department of Public Health. Meriden schools have had a particularly high prevalence of asthma cases 21.2% of students in 2020-21, according to DPHs Connecticut School-based Asthma Surveillance Report. That was higher than Bridgeport (18.5%), Hartford (17.1%), Middletown (15.3%) and New Haven (14.3%) school districts. Jessica Hollenbach, senior manager of the Asthma Center at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center, said students often deal with various triggers at school. From scented cleaning products to having gym class outside to the idling buses waiting to take the kids home, students may be exposed to their typical irritants and new ones throughout the school day. When our students come back together, and theyre in close proximity, and theyre indoors, theyre just more likely to spread germs, Hollenbach said, which leads to illnesses that can worsen a childs asthma. Wheres the impact? A comparison of almost a decade of state data from the DPH shows the disparate impact of asthma on local school districts, with Meriden continuing to have one of the highest percentages of asthmatic students. Since 2009, asthma prevalence in Meriden has hovered just over 20%. By comparison, Southington and Cheshires asthma prevalence has remained at around 12% and 10%, respectively. Meanwhile, Wallingford Public Schools have significantly decreased their asthma rates over the last decade. The towns nurse coordinator, Kathy Neelon, attributes this to the ongoing collaboration between school nurses and primary care physicians to address overcounting. DPH data shows asthma has decreased among Wallingford students from 14% to 11% since 2009. Since asthma is a dynamic condition that may change as a child ages, many students might have asthma medications maintained with the school but havent experienced asthma attacks in many years. After identifying the asthmatic students, Neelon said the school nurses connect with all their primary care doctors to see when the most recent attack occurred, or the last time they administered a rescue inhaler. Some of our children that are diagnosed with asthma dont really have asthma, Neelon said. They took an inhaler once or twice in their entire life because they had a respiratory illness and then theyve been diagnosed as having asthma. Triggers in schools The most common irritants in schools often exist everywhere else in the world, like dust, air fresheners and pollen. However, schools have many unique triggers that can impact a students health and ability to learn, Hollenbach said. These triggers range from as simple as a flu outbreak to as complex as poor indoor air quality. Hollenbach said, for example, that some teachers might swing open the classroom windows to let in fresh air throughout the day without realizing the residual impact that the pollen may have on their students with asthma. Other common allergens found at schools include scented cleaning products and hand sanitizers. Youd be surprised how many schools and teachers and staff think that these essential oil diffusers are beneficial to children because it helps calm them not knowing that they might be releasing particles, Hollenbach said. A schools proximity to sources of outdoor air pollutants also increases the chances of the student experiencing an asthma attack, said Jessica Brockmeyer from the DPHs Epidemiology and Emerging Infections Program. From 2005 to 2006, across the nation, an estimated 6.4 million children attended schools within 250 meters of a major roadway, according to a study by the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. Exposure to these high concentrations of air pollution has been shown to harm students physical and behavioral health. The 2023 State of the Air report by the American Lung Association found that cars and trucks often emit particulate pollutants, with short-term exposure resulting in increased emergency room and hospital admissions for people with chronic heart and lung conditions. Children with asthma may also experience worsened symptoms. Long-term exposure, however, raises a persons likelihood of developing diabetes, lung cancer and dementia. Waterbury, Meriden and New Haven were identified as the cities with the highest rates of outdoor air pollutants and also have the highest rates of asthma-related emergency department visits over the past five years, according to DPH. You have schools right off the highway, so youre going to have more exposure to certain pollutants that are associated with an urban environment, Brockmeyer said. Its along the major highways in the major cities where the [emergency department visits] are the highest and also where some of the pollution levels are highest. Air pollution also adversely impacts students behavioral health and educational success, according to a study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Students who moved to a school downwind of a major highway reported having lower test scores, higher chances of acting out and missing school than when they attended a school not downwind. The study noted that the effects were more intense for students attending schools on heavily trafficked roads. The effects appear to last even after the child moves away from a downwind school, the study found. This suggests that once damage from pollution is done, even during middle childhood, it might persist, potentially affecting outcomes far into the future. Meanwhile, poor air filtration and ventilation play a role in the circulation of asthma irritants throughout the schools, said Mel Collins, a doctor with Connecticut Childrens. Although air purifiers are a good stopgap to the indoor air problem, she explained that many schools need a total ventilation system replacement but cant afford it or are housed in buildings too old to update. Improving indoor air quality is not equitable across the state, said Collins. She added that respiratory viruses, such as the flu and coronavirus, often worsen asthma symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, even a common cold can lead to difficulty breathing, chest tightening and wheezing in children. She explained that masking helped curb virus-induced asthma attacks since students were less exposed to each others germs, so researchers are waiting to see the true impact now that COVID-19 is no longer considered an emergency. When you have cold after cold after cold, asthma is an inflammatory disease, so we start to stack inflammation on top of each other and then (youre) more likely to get sicker with a lower stimulus, Collins said. Asthma education According to the CDC, asthma management needs to be well-rounded, balancing education, trigger avoidance and behavioral changes. Since irritants can never be fully eliminated, Collins said continuous education is critical to finding what works best for you. Life is a balance of mitigation of triggers but also appropriate treatment of your disease, she said. It wouldnt be very fun if the only place you could exist with your asthma was in this bubble of perfection. Several educational programs are hosted throughout the state to support children with asthma, their parents, school nurses and primary care providers. Hollenbach said Connecticut Childrens hosts the Easy Breathing Program to support doctors. She explained that their team regularly communicates with doctors across the state to keep them up-to-date on the latest asthma medication treatments or changes to treatment regulation processes. One significant change, for example, is a growing emphasis on daily medications. Doctors have historically prescribed asthma inhaler medications such as Albuterol for emergencies or rescue. The recent launch of SMART medication, which functions as daily management and rescue, marks an immense shift in treatment plans that doctors may have yet to be aware of. Our Connecticut clinicians and pediatricians are really at the forefront of adopting these new treatment pathways that make treating asthma a lot simpler than whats been done for the past 50 years or so, Hollenbach said. At the schools, nurses play significant roles in educating students and parents about asthma. Still, with only a handful of on-hand staff, many are stretched thin as they deal with emergencies and students who need daily medications, Collins said. She added that some other health issues present at schools, such as the mental health crisis, may unintentionally impact students with asthma. For example, stress hormones released during anxiety can trigger an asthma attack. One educational program hosted by the American Lung Association targets children ages eight to 11 with asthma to promote asthma education. The Open Airways for Schools is a course hosted by participating local districts to help their students identify their irritants, learn to use their medication and implement positive behavioral changes properly. School nurses also work with parents to ensure they are informed of updates about their childs health and provide education, said Eric Scoville, director of communications for the state Department of Education. Nurses educate parents and students about their medication, the importance of having medication in schools, how to use an inhaler, how to clean the medication equipment, and how to follow the Asthma Action Plan, he said. Regarding irritant management, Hollenbach said that schools have been trying to address as many triggers as possible, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, she explained that many school districts had updated their cleaning regimen to use allergy-friendly, unscented products. Creating a plan Asthma Action Plans are a crucial tool that help facilitate open communication between students, their parents, school nurses and their primary care physician. These plans include submitting yearly forms submitted for students with asthma that outline their symptoms, triggers and needed medications. Statewide, an estimated 17% of students with asthma have an action plan with their school, according to the state DPH. Private school students are nearly twice as likely to have an asthma action plan as public school students. Over the last decade, Wallingford Public Schools have increased the number of students with an action plan. Neelon attributes these changes to an increasing effort by doctors to educate students, parents and nurses. She explained that action plans act as a doctors order, dictating what the nurse can do in an emergency. Action plans are submitted on behalf of the student by their primary care physician, and any student diagnosed with asthma can have an action plan with the school regardless of the severity of their condition. She added that these plans are crucial, especially for students who use their inhalers for both day-to-day symptom management and as a rescue medication. In Meriden, communication between parents, students, school nurses and primary care physicians is key to their asthma action plans and education, according to Stephanie Denya, the citys assistant director of health and human services. Denya explained that Meridens asthma rates have hovered around 1,700 to 1,800 students since 2015. Of them, 300 to 400 students use asthma medication in the schools. She also noted that Meriden saw a drop in asthma numbers last year, but Denya attributes this to the decreasing school population. The school nurses provide education to the student with regards to their asthma and the triggers, what to do should they experience symptoms and how to use their inhaler (with spacer) correctly for the most effective delivery of the medication, Denya said. With action plans in place, Denya said the communication lines between students, parents, nurses and primary care providers are open. When children and their families have a good understanding of their asthma, she said, they can advocate and work with the school nurse to ensure a great plan is in place to help make the school year a success and, most importantly, keep the child healthy and actively involved. Health Equity reporter Cris Villalonga-Vivoni is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. They can be reached at cvillalonga@record-journal.com and 203-317-2448. Support RFA reporters at the Record-Journal through a donation at https://bit.ly/3Pdb0re. To learn more about RFA, visit www.reportforamerica.org. Auburn has selected a company to help guide a major expansion of its city court facilities. The Auburn City Council recently accepted a resolution authorizing an agreement not to exceed $185,000 with Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture & Preservation, an Albany-based firm, for consulting services for a project expanding space for Auburn City Courts. According to a memo on the project, the city government has been responsible for providing space where the city courts can be held since the state court system was consolidated in the late 1970s. For most of that time, city court has been held on the first floor of the Historic Old Post Office building, 157 Genesee St. The New York State Office of Court Administration has tasked the Auburn government with providing additional space for the city courts, including a second courtroom and other functions, the memo said. Due to the building's historic nature and Cayuga County's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children recently moving out of the old post office building, "the City now sees an opportunity for City Court Expansion," the memo continued. A presentation to the Cayuga County Legislature was held in January 2023 proposing reusing the former 2,500 square feet of special supplemental nutrition program office space in the building. City staff put out a request for proposals in early May "seeking to procure professional consulting services for project programming, design, construction documents, bidding, construction administration, and inspection," the memo said. Auburn received proposals from four firms, including Thaler Reilly Wilson. The memo said a proposal committee was created to review and score the proposals, consisting of representatives from the Auburn City Manager Office, corporation counsel and the city's engineering department, plus representatives from the Cayuga County Department of Buildings & Grounds and the county's corporate compliance program to review and score the proposals. Criteria used for scoring the four entities were firm description, qualifications and relevant project experience, fee proposal, approach to the project scope and design, approach to project timeline and workforce diversity. The committee interviewed Thaler Reilly Wilson and another firm to further talk about project approach and fee structure. Thaler Reilly Wilson ultimately received the top score. The memo noted a draft contract with the firm is forthcoming. Before the council voted for the resolution at the July 6 meeting, Councilor Jimmy Giannettino asked if the city has any experience with Thaler Reilly Wilson. City Manager Jeff Dygert said he believes this is the city's first experience with the firm, "but from what I've heard from staff, they have significant experience in the realm of court space." Giannettino later said he was happy to see the project move forward, noting the city is complying with requirements from the the state's Office of Court Administration. "It's been some time to get here, but I think going forward, this is the best possible solution. We're utilizing existing government building space rather than building a new building and I'm just happy to see it moving forward," he continued. The Boluarte government has next to no democratic legitimacy, is broadly rejected by the public and under investigation for numerous human rights violations. Now, with roughly 1,000 US troops stationed in the country, it faces a third massive march on Lima. Social movements and trade unions in Peru are holding a third massive march on the capital, Lima, next Wednesday (July 19), to demand the resignation of the unelected President Dina Boluarte, the release from prison of the former elected President Pedro Castillo, the dissolution of the right-wing dominated Congress, new general elections, and a new constitution. The protest, dubbed the third takeover of Lima (tercera toma de Lima), is expected to draw the participation of thousands of members of Indigenous and peasant communities as well as diverse social organisations and trade unions from across the country. Our voice has to be heard from all over Peru, which demands the departure of Dina Boluarte, said Erwin Salazar, leader of the General Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP). Canadian Mining Interests, US Troops and a Deeply Unpopular Government The delegation from the southern region of Puno alone, the epicentre of opposition to the Boluarte regime, is expected to send around 13,000 protesters to the capital. They are not just protesting for the broad demands mentioned above but also against the recent decision by the Boluarte government to grant the first of three exploration permits for lithium in Carabaya, a province in Puno, to Macausani Yellowcake, a Peruvian subsidiary of Canadas American Lithium Corp. Indigenous communities in Puno are calling for the lithium deposits not only to be mined but also processed in plants installed in the region as well as a broad improvement in workers rights. As I reported in February, Canadian mining companies have significant but oft-ignored commercial interests in Peru. Like the US, Canada is competing with China and Russia for the extraction of lithium and other raw materials in the Andean-Amazonian area, which is home to over two-thirds of the worlds known lithium reserves. For example, in Luis Arce government in Bolivia recently signed an agreement with two Chinese companies, Catl Brump & Cmoc (CBC) and Citic Gouan, and a Russian one, Uranio One Group, to exploit the lithium deposits in Uyuni and Pastos Grandes, considered the largest in the world. Back in Peru, Macausani Yellowcakes managing director Ulises Solis met with Castillo on two occasions in 2021, including once in New York, to try to persuade the president not to nationalise the strategic mineral. But apparently to no avail, according to a December 2022 report in the Peruvian daily Republica. In May this year, six months after the toppling of Castillo, the government of Boluarte, Castillos former vice-president, gave American Lithium Corp the green light to carry out additional explorations near its current lithium project. Meanwhile, all talk of nationalising lithium, hiking taxes on mining profits or improving workers conditions has all but disappeared. As readers may recall, the reactivation of national protests in Peru coincides with the authorised entry of around 1,000 US military personnel onto Peruvian soil, most of whom are participating in a military exercise between June and August. The troops will be stationed in at least 14 departments, including Lima and provinces in the Andean south where many of the protests are taking place, until August. An additional 65 personnel will be staying put until the end of the year to oversee ongoing training programs. The protest also comes roughly a month after Boluarte announced that her government would not be holding early elections, as it had repeatedly promised, and will instead try to cling to power until 2026. The idea of holding early elections is over, said Boluarte. We will continue working responsibly, respecting the rule of law, democracy, and the constitution, until July 2026. This is a dangerous move given how unpopular Perus government institutions have become, after decades of corruption scandals and poor governance. The country has burnt through seven governments in the past six years. Now, Boluartes administration and Perus Congress are registering record disapproval ratings. Boluartes supposedly left-wing government is rejected by a staggering 80% of the population, according to one recent poll, and is wholly dependent on the support of the right-wing majority in Congress, which is itself rejected by 91%. Boluarte has zero respect for democracy or the rule of law. Her government has next to no democratic legitimacy, having seized power through a legislative coup against Boluartes former boss, Castillo, after he had taken the suicidal step of trying to establish an emergency government and reorganise the judiciary without the support of the military, Congress or the judiciary. Boluarte, along with some of her ministers and police chiefs, is under investigation by Perus Prosecutors Office for the alleged crimes of genocide, homicide, and serious injuries. Around 60 people perished in the first wave of protests between December 7 and late January. All but one of the deaths took place in or around protests in Andean provinces, all with Quechua or Aymara majorities. At least 30 of the victims were shot with projectiles from weapons of war. To date, no officials have been charged for the deaths. Boluarte claims she had no direct contact with the Command of the Armed Forces or the Police during the protests, and therefore no knowledge of, or involvement in, their actions. It is an absurd line of defence and some senior staff in the armed forces are not playing along. In recent testimony, General Manuel Gomez de la Torre, head of the Joint Command of Perus Armed Forces, said that both Boluarte and her defence minister received regular updates on the police and armed forces containment policies. How Many More Deaths Do They Want? As a fresh round of protests looms, fears are mounting that the police and army could once again resort to disproportionate use of force in the inevitable crackdown. As before, the high command in Lima is minimising the social character of the protests while painting many of the protesters as part of a broad terrorist insurgency. In an interview last week, the general of Perus National Police (PNP), Oscar Urriola, said that members of Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), a notorious Maoist guerrilla group from the VRAEM (Valle de los Rios Apurimac, Ene y Mantar) region, will attend the protest march, warning protesters to be on their guard. He also said the PNP will impose strict controls on marchers, including identity checks at tolls and highways, 3,000 AI-driven facial recognition cameras in downtown Lima and biometric voice recordings. Boluarte issued an even blunter warning a few weeks ago (emphasis my own): In the six months that we have been in government, we have practically been firefighters putting out almost 500 violent demonstrations. Right now, I call on these people who are once again announcing a third takeover of Lima or the third takeover of Peru, how many more deaths do they want? Doesnt it hurt your souls to have lost more than 60 people in these violent mobilizations. At the onset of the nationwide protests, in mid-December, veteran journalist Cesar Hildebrandt made a prescient observation. The arrival of a virtual unknown like Pedro Castillo to the presidential palace in June 2021 was, he said, a sign of just how little legitimacy the political establishment in Lima has left in the eyes of the voting public. This, he said, is primarily due to its unwavering support for mafia-style neoliberalism. While Castillo failed miserably to overcome rabid right-wing opposition, neglected his base and by the end of his presidency was almost totally isolated, the political establishments refusal to veer from the neoliberal path all but guarantees the emergence of another Castillo, said Hildebrandt. This is precisely why both the broadly detested Boluarte government and Congress are doing everything they can to forestall elections, even if it means repeatedly crushing popular protest in the country. The next wave of political repression will happen either with direct US military support or with US soldiers simply watching on and doing nothing. The 1,172 US military personnel stationed in Peru includes members of the US Air Force, US Space Force and US Special Forces. They are officially there to run training exercises with Perus Joint Intelligence and Special Operations Command, the Joint Special Force and the FAP Special Forces Group, as well as provide support and assistance in special operations to the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and the Police of Peru. Almost 1,000 US troops are participating in Resolute Sentinel 2023, a military exercise staged across a number of regions of Peru, including some recently engulfed in violence such as Cusco and Ayacucho. Whether intended or not (my guess is the former), the presence of US troops sends a strongly dissuasive message to the populace. As the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) reported in early May, Perus police forces and army the same forces that are now receiving support and assistance from US troops already resorted to disproportionate, indiscriminate, and lethal use of force in their response to the protests of December and January: The information gathered by the IACHR in Lima, Ica, Arequipa, and Cusco shows that the disproportionate, indiscriminate, and lethal use of force was a major element of the State response to the protests. This is supported by factors including the high numbers of people killed and injured with shots (including pellets) to the top half of their bodies and the fact that a significant number of victims were not even involved in the protests or simply happened [to be] near the areas where clashes erupted. In Ayacucho, there were serious human rights violations that need to be investigated with due diligence and with an ethnic-racial focus. The Commission notes in its report that killings perpetrated by officers of the State may amount to extrajudicial killings. Furthersince there were in fact many violations of the right to life in specific circumstances in terms of how, when, and where they happenedthey might also amount to a massacre. In Juliaca, the IACHR found that there had been several instances of an excessive and indiscriminate use of force by officers of the State, which allegedly caused serious human rights violations against both protest participants and bystanders. All this happened in a complex and violent context, which started with clashes on airport grounds as law enforcement officers were attacked with stones, sticks, and other projectiles, including hazelnuts. In recent days, US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced an amendment calling on the Biden administration to ensure that no funds earmarked for the Defence budget for fiscal year 2024 be made available to Peruvian law enforcement agencies. The amendments calls for all security and military support to be frozen, including the provision of military equipment, defence services, crowd control tools and the coordination of exercises with the Peruvian Army or Police, at least until free elections take place in the country. As far as I can tell, this development has received no coverage at all in the English language press. While certainly a welcome step, it comes a little late in the day given that more than 1,000 US troops are already in Peru or heading there, in order to train Peruvian security units and take part in a military exercise that (in the words of the Peruvian weekly newspaper Hildebrandt en sus trece) is intended as a show of force to US strategic rivals Russia and China, which are eroding US influence in the region. Parrots Are Taking Over the World Scientific American How the Octopus Evolved To Taste by Touch The Wire Elephants Giant Hot Testicles Might Be the Reason They Get Less Cancer Scientific American Man-made materials in nests can bring both risks and benefit for birds (press release) Bangor University Climate Water #COVID19 Masks matter for more than mandates Virology Down Under. TL;DR The amount of virus we receive can determine the severity of the disease that results. This infectious dose is affected by how much virus is in the particles we inhale as well as how long we inhale them. Excellent review of the literature, well worth a read. SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses wane profoundly in convalescent individuals 10 months after primary infection Virologica Sina. Ten months after primary infection, the mean magnitude of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses decreased about 82% and 76%, respectively. SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses waned significantly in 75% of convalescent individuals during the follow-up. Well, so much for herd immunity. Also, Leonardi was right. Again. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging white-tailed deer in the United States Nature. From the Abstract: Evolutionary analyses showed these white-tailed deer viruses originated from at least 109 independent spillovers from humans, which resulted in 39 cases of subsequent local deer-to-deer transmission and three cases of potential spillover from white-tailed deer back to humans. Viruses repeatedly adapted to white-tailed deer with recurring amino acid substitutions across spike and other proteins. Overall, our findings suggest that multiple SARS-CoV-2 lineages were introduced, became enzootic, and co-circulated in white-tailed deer. China? Myanmar violence and South China Sea disputes to dominate ASEAN talks Channel News Asia The Koreas As Asia embraces Thailands T-wave, is the tide turning against K-pop? South China Morning Post India Dear Old Blighty O Canada COVID-19: what did Quebec do with the $432 million from the federal government intended for schools? (Google Translate) Le Soliel. The federal government calculated that the schools could, among other things, with this money, improve their ventilation system, increase hygiene measures or buy personal protective equipment and cleaning products. New Not-So-Cold War Biden Administration Spook Country Digital Watch Gunz Justices take up major Second Amendment dispute SCOTUSblog Imperial Collapse Watch Class Warfare The Best Decision-Making Is Emotional Every Antidote du jour (via): Bonus antidote: Tiger taking a stroll through farmland in Terai region of . Humans and animals can coexist in peace only when we understand the true nature of animals is never to harm humans first! pic.twitter.com/UmpO050xJB Prem Mohanty (@philipbkk) July 10, 2023 See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Prime Minister Chris Hipkins of New Zealand to the Vilnius Summit on Tuesday (11 July 2023). Calling New Zealand a highly valued partner of NATO, Mr Stoltenberg underlined that strengthening cooperation is even more important as security is not regional, security is global. Pointing to the global ramifications of Russias war in Ukraine, he thanked Prime Minister Hipkins for New Zealands support to Ukraine, as well as to NATO missions and activities over the years. The Secretary General also welcomed work to further deepen cooperation in areas like climate change, cyber defence, and new technologies. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea to the NATO Summit in Vilnius on Tuesday (11 July 2023). Saying that Russias war in Ukraine shows how security is not regional but global, Mr Stoltenberg commended South Korea for its support to Ukraine. He also expressed concern about North Koreas provocative behavior, including nuclear activity and ballistic missile tests which violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions. The Secretary General welcomed NATOs deepening partnership with Seoul, including the new partnership programme between the Alliance and South Korea. This programme will further strengthen cooperation including on cyber defence, counter-terrorism, arms control, and new technologies. South Korea opened a diplomatic mission to NATO last November. AUBURN City officials used the completion of an infrastructure project to thank a state representative for advocating on their behalf. Crews have finished an $850,000 road construction project that included repaving all of John Street, which connects the Arterial to Genesee Street, and a portion of East Genesee Street between Fulton Street and Loop Road. Other infrastructure work was part of the project, including the installation of storm sewers, catch basin and manhole repairs, and curb and sidewalk repairs. The project was funded by the New York State Touring Route Program, a state initiative that was created to provide aid to cities, towns and villages based on the state touring route miles within the municipality. Auburn has 37.75 miles of state routes within the city limits. When the touring route program began in the 2021-22 budget, the city received $1.5 million. It received the same amount in the 2022-23 budget. In the current state budget, Auburn will get $2.16 million, a 44% increase. City officials credited state Sen. Rachel May for advocating for more touring route funding. "It makes sense for the state to be stepping in like this," May, D-Syracuse, told city officials during a brief meeting at Market Street Park. Auburn Mayor Michael Quill and Auburn City Councilor Jimmy Giannettino, who is running for mayor this year, praised May for working to bring more funding to the city. For years, they have been seeking more support for the maintenance of state routes within the city. "Thank you for listening," Giannettino told May. "It's refreshing to have somebody listen to us." According to Auburn City Clerk Chuck Mason, the East Genesee and John streets project would not have been completed this year without the touring route funding. He estimated that it would've taken another three or four years to complete the project based on the city's regular road construction schedule. The city is also using touring route funding for a road construction project on State Street. With the new allocation of more than $2 million, city officials will hold a work session to determine how to spend the additional monies. "This has been probably one of the most effective things the state of New York has done," Mason said. After meeting with city officials to discuss the success of the touring route program, May met with leaders of the city's ambulance service. May is in her first year as Cayuga County's state senator. In 2022, she was reelected to represent the 48th district, which includes the city of Auburn and the entire county. Speaking at the NATO Public Forum in Vilnius on Tuesday (11 July 2023) Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said that it is fundamental for the Alliance to maintain its technological edge. He said that NATOs "ecosystem of innovation" goes hand in hand with the new NATO Innovation Fund, the "first ever multinational sovereign venture capital fund", noting the need to put a little seed money into start-ups" and that NATO is acting as a catalyst for harnessing the innovation ecosystem across the Alliance". Speaking about the war in Ukraine and noting that high-intensity warfare is back in Europe, the Deputy Secretary General said that there is also a need to invest more in conventional and multi-domain forces. He said that NATO is an aggregator and an organization that sends a demand signal to our governments and to our private sector. Mr. Geoana stressed that security is the foundation of prosperity, security is the foundation of democracy and that NATO is looking forward to having Sweden as a new Ally. The NATO Public Forum in Vilnius is organised by NATO, the Eastern Europe Studies Centre, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Munich Security Conference and the Atlantic Council. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the Vilnius Summit on Tuesday (11 July 2023), praising Australia as a deeply valued NATO partner. Underlining that security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is closely linked, Mr Stoltenberg thanked the Prime Minister for Australias strong military and economic support to Ukraine, which includes training for Ukrainian forces and the provision of armoured vehicles. Mr Stoltenberg also welcomed that NATO and Australia are deepening partnership in areas like cyber, new technologies, and countering hybrid threats. On Tuesday (11 July 2023), NATO released three major reports contributing to Allies increased understanding of the impact of climate change on NATOs strategic environment, missions and operations, and the adaptation of their armed forces required to maintain operational effectiveness. NATOs 2023 Climate Change and Security Impact Assessment demonstrates how extreme weather conditions create operational stress and shorten the life cycles of military equipment, generating additional maintenance and replacement costs. The assessment, which builds on findings from the first 2022 edition, focuses on four geographical regions (Europe, North America, the Middle East and North Africa/the Sahel, and the High North), and four of NATOs operational domains. It uses three specific case studies to underpin its recommendations on adapting to a climate changed future operating environment: the impact of extreme heat on NATO Mission Iraq; the effects of rising sea levels and storms on Norfolk Naval Station in the US; and those of flooding on the Naval Air Station in Sigonella, Italy. The Compendium of Best Practice provides concrete examples of Allied efforts to adapt to climate change through the introduction of relevant policies and procedures into their armed forces while reducing their environmental footprint. The introduction of energy efficient and environmentally sustainable technological solutions combines capability requirements on innovation with military effectiveness, while ensuring interoperability and enhancing mission endurance. This facilitates NATOs exploitation of the ongoing transition to low-carbon energy sources and helps inform the development of an implementation plan for NATOs Energy Transition by Design. The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mapping and Analytical Methodology provides guidelines and tools to calculate emissions from the civilian and military facilities (installations and assets) of the NATO Enterprise. The Methodology will help NATO as an organisation to reach its emission reduction targets. Opening the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Allies will take decisions to increase their practical and political support to Ukraine. This will bring Ukraine closer to NATO, where it belongs, Mr Stoltenberg said, adding that Allies will also reinforce NATOs deterrence and defence, and agree a more ambitious defence investment pledge. (As delivered) Good evening. I have just had a constructive meeting with President Erdogan and Prime Minister Kristersson. I am glad to announce that, as a result, President Erdogan has agreed to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible. And work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification. This is reflected in the joint press statement just agreed by President Erdogan, Prime Minister Kristersson, and myself. The memorandum concluded a year ago at the Madrid summit has delivered. It has delivered more in our fight against terrorism. More security for Turkiye. And a stronger NATO. Since our agreement in Madrid, Sweden and Turkiye have worked closely together. To address Turkiye's legitimate security concerns. As part of that process, Sweden has amended its constitution, changed its laws, significantly expanded its counter-terrorism cooperation against the PKK, and resumed arms exports to Turkiye. Sweden's cooperation with Turkiye in the fight against terrorism will continue beyond accession. Turkiye and Sweden agreed today to establish a new bilateral Security Compact. NATO will also significantly step up its work in this area. And I will establish, for the first time at NATO, the post of Special Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism. Completing Sweden's accession to NATO is an historic step that benefits the security of all NATO Allies at this critical time. It makes us all stronger and safer. And now I am ready for a few questions. NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu: Okay, we'll go to TV4 for Sweden. Ritva Ronnberg, TV4: What exactly made President Erdogan change his mind about Sweden? Was it the proposal that you had about the counter-terrorism special mechanism or person? NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: I think the agreement we achieved today builds on what we agreed a year ago in Madrid. Because in Madrid, all Allies and also to Turkiye agreed to invite Finland and Sweden to become members. Then the ratification process has been finalized for Finland. Finland is already a full member. And now President Erdogan has made it clear that they're also ready to ratify Sweden. And that is reflected in the joint statement, where we state both what Sweden is going to do - this is not a new negotiation, but it is about implementing and reassuring the implementation of the different things we agreed a year ago in Madrid. It's also stated what NATO will do. And then, based on that in the final paragraph, Turkiye makes it clear that they are ready to transmit the Accession Protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly and work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification. So it is the totality, the reconfirmation of the importance of fully implementing the different elements we agreed, on working closer on fighting terrorism, and also lifting restrictions on arms exports and examples that are provided in the joint statement agree today. NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu: NTV. Gul Sonumut, NTV: Gul Sonumut, NTV. Secretary General, what makes Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson' mind changed about Turkey, bearing in mind that all the debate would last six months was implementation. Yes, Sweden did everything in legal terms, but implementation was a problem. So what makes him change his mind that there is a gap in implementation? Thank you very much. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: I think the whole concept that that either President Erdogan or Prime Minister Kristersson have changed your mind is wrong. What we have seen is that we have been able to reconcile the concerns that Turkiye has expressed with the concerns that Sweden has expressed. And then we have been able to find joint ground, common ground, move forward based on that. And this is fully in the spirit of what we agreed back in Madrid a year ago. But we have in the text now developed further how to implement, how to step up the fight against terrorism, how to work more closely as Allies and, also, how to ensure that restrictions on arms exports are lifted. And this is good for all of us. This is good for Sweden, Sweden will become a full member of the Alliance. It's good for Turkiye, because Turkiye is a NATO Ally that will benefit from a stronger NATO. And then, of course, it's good for the whole Alliance. So this is in the security interest of all of us. And it's good that we now are able to move forward and that we have this clear commitment from Turkiye here to submit their ratification documents to the Grand National Assembly. NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu: Okay. We'll go to AFP. Max Delany, AFP: Secretary General, Max Delany, AFP. You said President Erdogan had agreed to do this as soon as possible. How soon is "as soon as possible"? Has he given any date or timeframe for this? And when do you expect Sweden to finally be a member of NATO? NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: This is an historic day because we have a clear commitment by Turkiye to submit the ratification documents to the Grand National Assembly, and to work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification. And then it's historical also because we have Sweden committing so clearly, to step up further the fight against terrorism, working closely with Turkiye, and NATO also announcing what more we will do in our fight against terrorism and strengthening what we do together as Allies, also when it comes to investments and trade in military equipment. So that package makes it an historic day. Then it's not for me to go into the details about the timelines of the different political institutions in Turkiye. This is first about the President submitting the documents to the Parliament. The President has made it clear that that will happen as soon as possible. And then, of course, it is for the Parliament then to have the process and then do the final ratification. I will not give you exact dates for that, but this is a clear commitment. And the President has made it clear that it will happen as soon as possible. Then it has to be also for the sovereign national parliament to decide exactly how much time they need to finalise the ratification. I've been a member of parliament myself, and I think that we have to respect that every parliament has their own integrity, their own timelines. So I welcome that the President has made this clear that he will work with the parliament to ensure ratification but exactly when has to be announced by the Turkish parliament. NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu: Okay, we'll go over there. Dagens Nyheter Mikael Holmstrom, Dagens Nyheter: Thank you. Mikael Holmstrom, Dagens Nyheter, Sweden. You mentioned some kind of a security pact between Sweden and Turkey. Could you please elaborate? And also I have a second question, because there is another country, Hungary, which has not ratified the application. And I wonder, do you have any information or have you had any communication with Hungary on this matter? Thank you. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: Well, Hungary has made it clear that they will not be the last to ratify and now Turkiye has made it clear that they will ratify and there are only two countries that have not ratified it. So I think that the problem will be solved. Then, on the security compact, well, that just reflects the importance of this day because it reflects that the cooperation between Turkiye and Sweden on fighting terrorism and working more closely together as Allies will be brought to a new level. This is about high-level cooperation. It's about annual meetings, and it is about developing a roadmap as the basis for its continued fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. So this just further strengthens and also creates a stronger institutionalized cooperation between Turkiye and Sweden, to address common security concerns, and in particular the fight against terrorism. This is also something that was offered by the Swedish side, and welcomed to very much by the Turkish side. It's in line with and in the spirit of the agreement we made in Madrid, but the example how we take the Madrid agreement further and develop more concrete implementation by agreeing the security contract. NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu: OK, Anadolu. Omer Cam, Anadolu: Thank you. Secretary General, can you please elaborate more about the function of the Special Coordinator for terrorism? This is the first in NATO history you said. And what kind of work he or she will perform regarding the terrorist organization PKK or also on FETO for example. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: As NATO has for many years played an important role in the fight against terrorism, and especially after 9/11. But we were also part of, for instance, the global coalition to defeat Daesh and we have different efforts and different work strands addressing the threat of terrorism. Partly this is now part of our new defence plans, where we address the two main threats that NATO is facing: terrorism and Russia. So this is a core responsibility of NATO. But there's also of course, in our collective defence a new force structure and the new force structure requirements. And then it's also about what we do in different NATO missions and operations. We, for instance, have a training mission in Iraq, where we help the Iraqi security forces to be trained to be able to ensure that ISIS does not return and that they're ready to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. And then of course, our counter-terrorism work is all about our different partnerships. And we have partnerships, for instance, with Jordan, with Mauritania, with Tunisia and other countries, which has also been part of our efforts to fight terrorism. So, terrorism is addressed in many different ways across the NATO organization. And, therefore, to have one coordinator that can coordinate the different efforts, all the different divisions and the different tools you have at our disposal in NATO is something that I absolutely confirmed can help to further strengthen and to improve the way that NATO as an Alliance is working together to fight terrorism. So yes, this will strengthen our efforts. It's also something which has been asked for by Turkiye, and I'm glad that also as part of this agreement today, I have agreed to appoint the new coordinator on counter-terrorism. NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu: ARD. Markus Preiss, ARD: Thank you very much. Markus Preiss with ARD German TV. Mr. Secretary General, it was only today that Turkish President Erdogan linked the Swedish future in NATO to his own perspective in the EU. How much of a role did this play today? Were there any agreements and what role did representatives of the EU played today? Thank you. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: So first, I think that on EU, that's not an issue for NATO. Of course, it is an issue for the European Union. But what we agreed today sorry, what Sweden agreed today as an EU member, was to support actively the efforts to reinvigorate Turkiye's EU accession process, and also to help to modernize the EU- Turkiye customs unions and visa liberalization. So this is something that Sweden does, as an EU member, to support Turkiye's efforts to move closer to the European Union. And of course, Sweden can do that as an EU member. It's not for NATO to be part of that process. But again, I welcome the fact that Sweden as EU member, can support efforts over over NATO Ally, Turkiye, and I agree to these efforts today and that Sweden will support to the efforts of over Turkiye on these issues. NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu: For the final question, we got to Associated Press. Over there. Thanks. Lorne Cook, Associated Press: Secretary General, I asked you on Friday already whether you understood President Erdogan's thinking when it came to this. And we were very surprised by the EU element today. We know there was the timeline. President Erdogan met with you and the Swedish Prime Minister, then you met with the President of the European Council, who then tweeted that everything was okay and that he was going to reinvigorate, that they between them - not involving Sweden but Charles Michel and President Erdogan had agreed to reinvigorate the process. It's very difficult to sit here and to think that NATO has just taken this decision on its own without the EU ministers - the right place - NATO - to bring EU in for its decision making processes. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: But first of all, I think we now have to clarify what this is. This is not a NATO decision. This is a joint statement where Sweden, Turkiye and NATO have expressed the views we agreed in the meeting. And some of them are positions that NATO is expressing - I'm expressing them on behalf of NATO. Then there are also some paragraphs here, which are not NATO policy, but actually expressed what two of the participants in the meeting Turkiye and Sweden - agree. And if you look at paragraph six, that's about how Sweden and Turkiye have agreed to step up economic cooperation to the Turkiye-Sweden Joint Economic and Trade committee. Both Turkiye and Sweden will look to maximize opportunities to increase bilateral trade and investments. Sweden will actively support efforts to rein Turkiye's EU accession process, including modernisation of the EU-Turkiye customs union and visa liberalisation. This is not a NATO issue. This is reflecting a bilateral agreement between an EU member Sweden and Turkiye. But it is part of what we discussed, and part of the joint statement which has been issued today. So again, some part of that is for EU to decide on EU enlargement. We focus on NATO enlargement at NATO. NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu: Thank you very much. (As delivered) Good morning. This Summit is a historic Summit because we have already made an agreement that ensures that Sweden will become a full-fledged member of the Alliance. And this is good for Sweden. It is good for Turkiye. It's good for the whole NATO Alliance and not least it's good for the Baltic region, for Lithuania and the other countries in this region. At the Summit we will also make important decisions, sending a clear message to Ukraine that we stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes and expect Allies also to reiterate their commitment to provide military support to Ukraine to help them liberate more land. On the membership issue, I also expect that Allies will send a clear and positive message on the path forward towards membership for Ukraine. I have proposed a package of three elements with more practical support, with a multi-year program to ensure full interoperability between the Ukrainian forces and the NATO forces. This will move Ukraine closer to NATO. To strengthen their political ties with the establishment of the NATO Ukraine Council, we will have the inaugural meeting tomorrow with President Zelenskyy and then to remove the requirement for Membership Action Plan. This will turn the membership process for Ukraine from a two-step process into a one-step process. So all of this will send a positive and strong message. Then Allies will also make important decisions to further strengthen our deterrence and defence with new defence plans and more forces on high readiness. I also expect that Allies will agree a more ambitious Defence Investment Pledge, where 2% of GDP for defence will be a minimum. And then lastly, I look forward to also welcoming our Indo Pacific Partners at this summit. This will demonstrate that security is not regional security is global, and therefore I welcome the partners from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan. And with that, I'm ready to take some questions. Steve Sedgwick [CNBC]: Security guarantees didn't stop Vladimir Putin in 2014. The Budapest Memorandum was a worthless piece of paper to Vladimir Putin. What is concrete about the future security guarantees for Ukraine that will make a difference? And a second point if I may on the same issue. Ukraine has fears that perhaps security guarantees will change over time with different leaderships, perhaps a different presidency in the US. What kind of guarantees are there that security guarantees will outlast any change in presidency in the United States? Thank you sir. NATO Secretary General: We all agree that the most imminent task now is to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent nation in Europe. So the most important thing we can do is to continue to provide weapons, ammunition, military support to Ukraine, because unless Ukraine prevails as a nation, as a democratic nation in Europe, there is no issue to be discussed about security guarantees or membership in NATO at all. Then on the membership issue: we will send a clear message, a positive message on the path forward. The text in that communique will be made public within hours later on today, when all Allies agree on the text. But I expect that Allies will agree on a message which is clear on the need to move Ukraine closer to NATO, making sure that their forces are interoperable, with the NATO Ukraine Council and also removing the requirements for the Membership Action Plan. This is all about moving Ukraine closer to NATO membership, which will be extremely important for Ukraine and also demonstrates the unity and the strength of the message that NATO Allies are sending to Ukraine. Question 2: Secretary General, nuclear security in the region is worsening. So, we have the Russian forces occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, we have the announcement of Vladimir Putin to put Russian nuclear warheads in Belarus. What will be the reaction of NATO if some nuclear accident happens in Zaporizhzhia or, these nuclear warheads will be really placed in Belarus. What will be the response of NATO countries? NATO Secretary General: So first of all, the nuclear rhetoric of Russia is dangerous and reckless, and Russia must know that nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought. NATO Allies are of course monitoring closely what Russia is doing. We condemn the announcement that Russia will deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. We are monitoring closely what they are doing; so far we haven't seen any changes in the Russian nuclear deployments posture that requires any changes from our side but we remain vigilant and we will ensure that we of course are ready to protect and defend every NATO Ally against any potential threat. On the situation in Zaporizhzhia, our message to Russia is that they have to withdraw their forces because the way they now behave in Zaporizhzhia is undermining the security of this biggest nuclear power plant in Europe. Question 3 [ZDF]: On the membership language and the conclusions, will the word invitation feature in the conclusions? And the second question: a few days ago Mr. Zelenskyy said there was no point in coming to Vilnius if there was no concrete discussion and concrete thing that NATO could offer. What would that have meant to NATO and now what is your feeling about this? Will he come? NATO Secretary General: President Zelenskyy will come. I'm glad to welcome him, both at the dinner tonight and at the inaugural meeting of the NATO Ukraine Council tomorrow. NATO Allies will send a strong, united, positive message on the path forward for Ukraine. But I will not go into the exact language now because that will be made public when the communique with the text is agreed and that will happen later on today. But rest assured the message will be positive, the message will be strong, the message will be united from NATO Allies. This is both about the path forward for membership, but also about the most imminent task, and that is military support. Because unless we ensure that Ukraine wins this war, unless we ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent nation, there is no membership issue to be discussed. So we have to understand the timelines, the tasks and the first and the most imminent task is to ensure that Ukraine prevails and President Putin does not win this war. Question 4: Mr. Secretary General, can you say something about the decisive issues in the last moments of the negotiations between Turkiye and Sweden? How important were for example the F16, probably arriving from the United States. And lastly, how relieved are you personally of this result? NATO Secretary General: Well, the agreement is public. You can see the statement and that statement addresses the same issues that we agreed in Madrid. So the agreement yesterday it builds on, and is implementing the agreement that we reached last year in Madrid. So this is about stepping up the cooperation to fight terrorism, which is extremely important for Turkiye, but also for all NATO Allies. It's about lifting restrictions on arms exports, and it's also about ensuring that this is a long term continued cooperation between Sweden and Turkiye also after accession, so there are no other agreements. The agreement is public as the agreement was in Madrid. And the good news is that we have then paved the way for Sweden to become a full member. And I will thank President Erdogan, I also thank Prime Minister Kristersson for their constructive approach that enabled the decision yesterday to allow Sweden to become a full member and for Turkiye then to ratify the accession protocols for Sweden. Question 5 [Anadolu]: Regarding the agreement reached by Turkiye and Sweden yesterday, I'd like to ask: will NATO act as a guarantor, especially for promises made by Swedish side, new promises made, to be fulfilled, not only before but after the ratification as well. NATO Secretary General: I am absolutely confident that both Sweden and Turkiye will adhere to the agreement and also that this will continue after accession, and to ensure that we actually established last year in Madrid, what we call the Permanent [Joint] Mechanism to ensure the continued cooperation on fighting terrorism. And just the fact that we have met many times since Madrid to step up our cooperation in the fight against terrorism demonstrates that this is a lasting agreement and a lasting commitment that will also be there after Sweden joins the Alliance. Question 6 [ARD]: Question on the bilateral or multilateral security guarantees, which are not part of NATO, as I understand: can you elaborate a little bit what they will contain, which countries will participate, and as of what time they will be valid, so is it only when there's a ceasefire, when the war is over? And will it be concluded here, at the Summit? Thank you. NATO Secretary General: At the NATO Summit, we will agree a package for Ukraine with more practical support with stronger political ties and also decisions to move Ukraine closer to NATO membership. And exact language will be available later today. Then, some Allies are also having a bilateral or multilateral dialogue with Ukraine on a framework to have in place, to ensure continued support for Ukraine. I think it would be wrong if I go into the exact language of that and also exactly how that will be made public, but of course this will complement and supplement the decisions made at the NATO summit. Question 7: Secretary General, the question about potential Wagner mercenaries in Belarus: are there any traces of their presence seen by NATO? Thank you. NATO Secretary General: The answer is no. So far we haven't seen any deployment or movement of any Wagner forces into Belarus. But of course again, we follow closely what's happening. And of course, for Lithuania neighbourhood matters. NATO is here we are ready to defend against any potential threat but so far we haven't seen the deployment of Wagner forces to Belarus. Question 8 (Finnish outlet): Thank you. [] How do you feel: was Finlands and Swedens ratification process too slow and what kind of message will their membership sent to Russia? Thank you. NATO Secretary General: This sends a very clear message to Russia, to President Putin, that NATO's door remains open, and that it is for NATO Allies to decide on enlargement. Moscow, President Putin doesn't have a veto on NATO enlargement. And this is demonstrated by the fact that Finland is now already a full-fledged member and that we yesterday agreed to also make Sweden full member, that Turkiye will ratify the accession protocols for Sweden. So this sends a clear and strong message and also demonstrates that President Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine was a big strategic mistake. He totally underestimated the Ukrainians, he underestimated the unity of NATO Allies, but he also underestimated the political consequences in countries like Sweden and Finland. He went to war because he wanted less NATO. He's getting more NATO. More NATO military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance and two new members, Finland already a member and then Sweden soon to become a member. So that just highlights the big strategic mistake that President Putin made when he invaded Ukraine. Let me also add that this has been the fastest accession process in NATOs modern history. That's obviously the case for Finland, which is already a member, but also for Sweden. So this has actually gone fast. You have to remember that Sweden and Finland applied for membership in May last year. Already in June, all Allies invited both Finland and Sweden to become members, then Finland was ratified a few months later, and Sweden obtained this Invitee status after the decision in Madrid, and now also their accession will be ratified. So this has been fast and that demonstrates the unity and the resolve, and the commitment of NATO Allies to demonstrate that NATO's door remains open. Question 9 (Tanjug, Serbian outlet): Mr. Stoltenberg, President Vucic say that he will ask for a meeting with you. Will you meet and when? And why KFOR allows special units for Pristina in the north of Kosovo and Metohija despite Serbians, and can you do anything with that? NATO Secretary General: I am in regular contact with President Alexandar Vucic and of course I am ready to meet. We are concerned about the increased tensions in Kosovo, and we call on both parties to de-escalate and to refrain from an action that can further increase tensions in the region. NATO is present in Kosovo, we have the KFOR forces there that are there to ensure security and stability for Kosovo and the people living in Kosovo. We execute our UN mandate in an impartial way. And NATO has increased its presence in Kosovo, added some hundred extra KFOR troops because of the instability and the violence and the tensions we have seen over the last week's. Thank you so much. (As delivered) Good evening. NATO Heads of State and Government took important decisions at a critical moment for our security. We welcomed Finland as a full-fledged member of the Alliance. And we look forward to welcoming Sweden as a full member of the Alliance, based on the agreement I reached last night with President Erdogan and Prime Minister Kristersson. We also addressed Ukraine. Since we last met a year ago at our Madrid Summit, NATO Allies have delivered unprecedented support to Ukraine. With more ammunition, more modern equipment, and more training to the Ukrainian forces. Today, Allies have agreed a package of three elements to bring Ukraine closer to NATO. First, a new multi-year assistance programme for Ukraine. To enable the transition from Soviet-era to NATO standards, training and doctrines. To help rebuild Ukraines security and defence sector. And to cover critical needs like fuel, demining equipment, and medical supplies. Second, a new NATO-Ukraine Council. A forum for crisis consultations and decision-making. Where we will meet as equals. And I look forward to having the inaugural meeting of the Council tomorrow with President Zelenskyy. Third, we reaffirmed that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. And agreed to remove the requirement for a Membership Action Plan. This will change Ukraines membership path from a two-step process to a one-step process. We also made it clear that we will issue an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO when Allies agree and conditions are met. This is a strong package for Ukraine. And a clear path towards its membership in NATO. Allies have also approved the most comprehensive defence plans since the end of the Cold War. These are designed to counter the two main threats we face: Russia and terrorism. Under our new plans, NATO aims to have 300,000 troops at high readiness, including substantial air and naval power. Robust deterrence and defence requires a robust industrial base. So leaders endorsed a new Defence Production Action Plan. This will accelerate joint procurement, boost interoperability, and generate investment and production capacity. To do all this, we need to invest more in defence. Our latest estimates show that defence expenditure by European Allies and Canada will increase by 8.3% in 2023. This is the biggest increase in decades. Since 2014, they will have invested an extra 450 billion US dollars in defence. Eleven Allies now reach or exceed the 2% benchmark. And we expect this number will rise substantially next year. Today, Allies made an enduring commitment to invest at least 2% of Gross Domestic Product annually in defence. And to do more urgently to meet their commitments. NATO leaders also addressed China. China is not our adversary, and we should continue to engage. But Beijings increasing assertiveness affects our security. China is increasingly challenging the rules-based international order. Refusing to condemn Russias war against Ukraine. Threatening Taiwan. And carrying out a substantial military build-up. Chinas nuclear modernisation is unprecedented in speed and scale. And being carried out with no transparency. Allies agreed to continue working together to protect against Chinas coercive behaviour. And tomorrow, we will meet the leaders of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. As well as the European Union. Because we are stronger and safer when we stand together. With that, I am ready to take a few questions. Michael Birnbaum [Washington Post] Hi, thanks for taking my question. Michael Birnbaum from the Washington Post. President Zelenskyy, of course, issued a tweet in the middle of your talks that criticized the language that you've just agreed to on Ukraines path toward membership. I was wondering what your thought was when you saw what he was saying about what NATO was agreeing to and what your message would be for Ukrainians who are disappointed by this language. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: What Allies have agreed today is strong, united and positive message to Ukraine. About enduring support, but also a positive message on the path forward for membership. And this includes this package of practical support to enable full interoperability between Ukrainian armed forces and NATO forces. The establishment of the NATO Ukraine Council, and then the decision to remove the requirement for a Membership Action Plan, which actually means that instead of two steps to become a member, there will now be one step. And we also made it clear that the invitation will be issued when conditions are met. Then I would like to add that on top of that, of course, Allies are also providing substantial military support, because the most urgent task now is to ensure that Ukraine prevails, because unless Ukraine prevails, there is no membership issue to be discussed at all. And therefore I welcome the military support that Allies have provided now for months, actually starting back in 2014. And then, since the full-fledged invasion in February last year, substantially stepping up their support. And just over the last few days, Allies have made substantial new announcements: France has announced that they will deliver long range cruise missiles, Germany just announced a new package with air defence and armoured vehicles, and the US made yet another big announcement of more military support, and many other Allies have made many different types of support, including the establishment or coalition to provide training for F-16 fighter jets. So put together this is a strong message which sends a positive and united message to Kyiv. Question [Ukrainian National News Agency] Just a follow up on my colleague: can we expect today a final communique on Ukraine or we can expect it tomorrow? And could you please specify what kind of conditions Ukraine still needs to fulfil to initiate the accession procedure and to get an invitation Thank you. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: We have agreed the communicate and we also agreed the package for Ukraine that was agreed by the leaders. And I refer to the main elements now: the practical support or political ties with the NATO Ukraine Council, full interoperability, and the removal of the Membership Action Plan. And then of course, also all the different things that Allies are providing bilaterally including with the new announcements we have heard today and the last few days. I have been in close contact, and the regular contact, and NATO Allies have also been the regular contact, with Ukrainian officials. I've discussed this also with President Zelenskyy and I look forward to meeting him tonight. And then also to have the inaugural meeting of the NATO Ukraine Council tomorrow, where I will set out the package, or the three elements, bringing Ukraine closer to NATO and this is a strong package. Question [Reuters] Secretary General, to come back to President Zelenskyys remarks: he said it would be absurd if a timeframe is not set neither for invitation, nor for Ukraine's membership. How would you respond to that specific point and why have Allies not set out a timeframe today? NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: What we have agreed is a very substantive package with many different elements that helps to move Ukraine closer to NATO, help them to move towards NATO membership. And this is partly a very practical support on for instance, interoperability, and reforms, defence sector reforms and interoperability are among the conditions which are important for membership. So that's a practical way of moving them, and moving Ukraine closer to NATO. Then we also send a strong political message with the language on a membership including the language, which is now in the Communique on invitation. So there has never been a stronger message from NATO at any time. Both when it comes to political message on the path forward for membership, and the concrete support from NATO Allies, military support but also the practical support on how to ensure full interoperability. And if you look at all other membership processes, there have not been timelines for those processes, they are conditions based, have always been. Lauri Ilmari Nurmi Tuomaanpoika [Italehti]: Lauri Ilmari Nurmi, Italehti, from Finland. Mr. Secretary General, the Baltic Sea becomes NATO's inland sea, NATO puts 300,000 new troops on high readiness. What does all this mean for frontline countries like Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland? And what is NATO's message to Mr. Putin and Russia? How historic is this moment? Thank you. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: It is historic that both Finland and Sweden will become members of NATO. Finland is already a full member. And with the agreement that President Erdogan and Prime Minister Kristersson and I were able to make last night, Sweden will also become a full member of the Alliance. This is historic. It's important for the whole Alliance, it's important for Finland, its important for Sweden, but this also in particular important for the Baltic region, because when you look at the map, you realize that for instance, the ability to reinforce the Baltic region is very much improved by the fact that we now have Finland and soon also Sweden as full members. And that will be reflected in our defence plans, in our exercises, in our capability targets and everything else we do as an Alliance. So it makes the whole Alliance stronger, and it makes especially the Baltic region safer. It sends the message that NATOs door is open, it sends the message that it is for NATO Allies to decide on enlargement and it is not for Moscow to deny sovereign nations the sovereign right to choose their own path. And this is again something we have demonstrated not only in words, but also in deeds by now allowing two new members and sending a message to Ukraine, which is stronger than any message NATO has ever sent before on membership for Ukraine. Oana Lungescu NATO Spokesperson: We have the gentleman over there in the third row. Question [European Pravda]: European Pravda, Ukraine. Secretary General, I would ask you to clarify a bit on conditions. I understand that you cannot list all of them. It's probably not clear but maybe you see how these conditions will be defined, agreed? Because I'm afraid that it will be read that NATO has lifted Membership Action Plan but have invented another Membership Action Plan with another name, which is conditioned. So it's like making a bit of a fake achievement. Thank you. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: No, what we say in the Communique is that Ukraine has moved beyond the requirements for Membership Action Plan just because Ukraine has come much closer to NATO. I was actually attending the NATO Summit in Bucharest in 2008 as Norwegian Prime Minister. And I remember very well to the discussion there. And of course, the discussion now is totally different for many reasons. And not least because Ukraine is under full-fledged attack by Russia. But also because Ukraine has come so much closer to this Alliance over all these years because especially since 2014, when NATO Allies started to train and equip Ukrainian armed forces, but even more so after 24 February last year. Ukraine has demonstrated capabilities, skills and has been more and more integrated with NATO. This is also a consequence of the equipment which NATO Allies are delivering. Because for instance, when we deliver modern battle tanks, or advanced air defence systems, a consequence of that is also more interoperability, more NATO standards, doctrines and the gradual movement from the Soviet era doctrines, standards and equipment to NATO - just by the fact that so much equipment is now delivered. And of course, when we start with training of pilots for F-16 it will even more add to this important interoperability which has always been a requirement for NATO membership. So this is moving Ukraine closer to NATO and to NATO membership, and also reflecting the fact that NATO has come much closer. [Question inaudible] NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: Well, we have conditions partly in Article 10 of the [North Atlantic] Treaty, the Washington Treaty. And then of course, at the end of the day, it has to be Allies that assess whether conditions are fully met or not. And that's exactly what Allies then have to agree. And therefore we also refer to both the conditions but also the need for all Allies to agree. That's the way we make decisions in NATO. Oana Lungescu NATO Spokesperson: Politico. Lili Bayer [Politico]: Thank you, Secretary General. Just to follow up on this important topic. I have in front of me the text from 2008 from Bucharest, which we've all been reading and re-reading over the past weeks. NATO welcomes Ukraines and Georgias Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in NATO. We agreed today that these countries will become members of NATO. So if you were explaining just to the average citizen in the Alliance and in Ukraine, people who are really keen to understand what was decided today, how would you explain the difference between the text that was agreed in Bucharest in 2008 and the specific language that was agreed today? NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: There are several differences. One important difference is I think the next sentences at least a bit further down. We say that the next step is Membership Action Plan. And that's exactly what we removed today. And at every Summit since 2008 we have said Ukraine will become a member, the next step is Membership Action Plan. Now we remove that. So that's actually turning this process, which has always been two steps, into one step. That actually moves Ukraine closer to membership and that's a significant difference from the 2008 language, which has been reiterated at every Summit since 2008. And it has been also a process in NATO to make that decision. Because it was not a straightforward decision to make. I'm glad that Allies agreed and it was the main element in my package I launched in Oslo in May at the Informal Meeting [of Foreign Ministers]. Then there were questions asked whether that was moved too fast and therefore I'm glad that since May since we started this discussion of removing MAP requirements all Allies today have agreed to remove MAP requirements. So that's difference number one. Difference number two is that we actually now have a program for how to help and support Ukraine move closer to NATO. And that is the interoperability, the multi-year program, but also the strengthening of our political ties and also reference to that the foreign ministers will, also in the text that we have agreed today, will regularly assess progress. So this together with the fact that the substantial delivery of equipment and training, just by itself, moves Ukraine closer to membership, is a big difference. There is one more difference. And that is that in 2008, Ukraine was quite far from NATO. What has happened since 2008 has already moved them much closer to us. Oana Lungescu NATO Spokesperson: Swedish Radio. Second row. Question [Swedish Radio]: Mr. Secretary General, you mentioned the Swedish membership. And you said it's historic. But we still don't know when the ratification will be in the parliament in Ankara and in Hungary, which day? What do you know about that? And can you please tell us something about the feelings in the meeting hall today, when you met the other Heads of State and you had the Swedish Prime Minister together with you? What was the feeling today, after the green light yesterday from President Erdogan? NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: Of course, it is for the Turkish parliament to decide exactly when they finalize the ratification. President Erdogan made it clear yesterday that he will submit the ratification papers for Swedish accession as soon as possible. But then of course, also as a former parliamentarian, I think we should respect that every parliament has their own procedures. And also when there has been a not very controversial enlargement, this has sometimes been domestic processes. But what makes the agreement yesterday historic, is that of course, it is a clear commitment from President Erdogan that he will submit the papers for ratification and that he will work with the Grand National Assembly, the Turkish parliament to ensure ratification. And this is historic. And that was also reflected in the meeting today. I think that almost - all Allies welcomed Ulf Kristersson - first of all, they welcomed Sauli Niinisto, the President of Finland, because this was his first NATO Summit. He attended as President of Finland as a full member of the Alliance. And then Allies also expressed their welcome to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, expressing that they welcomed the agreement yesterday. And in all, we're looking forward to having also Sweden as a full member as soon as possible. So I felt the kind of historic sentiment in the room that was reflected in in what the Allies said, and of course, I welcome that message from all of them. Oana Lungescu NATO Spokesperson: Okay, we'll take the last question from ARD, over there. Markus Preiss [ARD]: Thank you very much, Markus Preiss with ARD. Apparently there's a big need to better understand what are the conditions. I have tried the other way around. President Biden said in his interview with CNN that Ukraine was still short of some requirements for joining, including over democratization. What are conditions Ukraine clearly does not meet now to get the invitation? Thank you. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: I think we have to understand that there are at least two dimensions which we're addressing. One is the kind of the level, or to what extent they've being able to modernize the defence and security institutions to strengthen their governance, including fighting corruption. And this has been issues which have been addressed at every enlargement of NATO. Because we want good governance, we want modern defence and security institutions, and we want armed forces which are interoperable with NATO. We are addressing that, both the modernization of the defence and security institutions and the interoperability with the multi-year programme we agreed. Then there is another dimension. And that is, of course, the fact that there's a war going on in Ukraine. The Ukrainian forces have demonstrated courage, skill, competence, that has impressed the whole world. But at the same time, there is a full-fledged war. And therefore, I think all Allies agree that when a war is going on, that's not the time for making Ukraine a full member of the Alliance. So these are two different things. The question of governance, corruption, interoperability, which is an issue regardless of whether it's a war or not, and then the other issue is the ongoing war in Ukraine. And we need to address both of them. At this at the end of the day, it has to be Allies that assess as we always do, when we have enlargement, whether their conditions are met and then make the decision on an invitation. The important with the Communique today, is that we have the tools to ensure that Ukraine moves towards a membership. We have for the first time invitation as part of the language. And we have for the first time removed the requirement for the Membership Action Plan. So this is a big step. Never been stronger language from NATO on membership, and never been a more specific announcement on what we are actually going to do to ensure that Ukraine becomes a member of the Alliance. Oana Lungescu NATO Spokesperson: Thank you very much, colleagues. I know there are still quite a few questions, but we need to leave it for now, because there is a dinner of the readers and we'll see you tomorrow. Thank you. Biden Regime GROOMING CHILDREN while promoting perverted books and gender-bender cult philosophy in SCHOOLS across America "Woke" is an anti-cultural, anti-religious, anti-science term for a whole wave of Millennials who have been brainwashed by a perverted, insidious, communist-controlled media and educational system. Woke means hate white people for being born white. Woke means to deny or doubt God's existence. Woke means do not believe in real science, because all of the major "missions" of the woke mentality are rooted in fake science, Democrat-nanny-state-control and pharma-scripted science, including gender fluidity, CRT (critical race theory), and of course, "climate change" (formerly "global warming" until all the fake and altered weather data was revealed). "Grooming" means brainwashing, influencing and coercing children and teens to engage and support perverted, demonic and trans-everything "lifestyles" that include cross-dressing, taking hormone pills and getting permanent genitalia and breast surgery to pretend one has switched genders (or convoluted male and female). "Grooming" means preparing and converting children to a perverted lifestyle where all they think about all day is sex, sex partners, sexual identity, sexual perception, altering their private parts and hating everyone who does not support this. "Woke" is backed by all of social media, the Democrat Party, almost all Liberals, all gays, perverts, child molesters, child traffickers, and of course, the insidious O'Biden Regime (Obama and Biden combined). That leads us to discuss the grooming of children for voting Democrat in elections. Woke and grooming go hand-in-hand. They're both sick and perverted movements that warp children and teens into thinking about gay sex, fake climate change and hating all straight, white people. The grooming of children for voting democrat in elections in the trans-industrial-complex Millennials is a term that encompasses today's youth and young adults. Besides attempting to convert American children into agnostic, atheist and demon-worshipping pagans, the Democrat Party is brainwashing kids to hate anyone who doesn't support gender-bending surgeries and hormone-inducing transgenderism. This is a con to make kids think that everyone who is not gay is bigoted and hates gays, and that's simply not true. Racism mostly dissipated in America before this horrific campaign that Obama started in 2008 and continues to foment behind the scenes, across the nation. Most Americans are very accepting of all cultures, lifestyles, religions, races, creeds, and colors, but the communists in Washington DC would have us all believe that the majority of white, straight Americans hate all people of color, all gays, and all immigrants. This is all a ploy and a con to get today's children, teens, and young adults believing that the only way to "fix" America is to vote for Democrats who support everything "trans," Black Lives Matter (BLM), Antifa, Drag Queen Story Hour, open borders, fake climate change, the military industrial complex, Big Pharma, Big Tech, Big Media, Hollywood, Disney, and you get the picture. In that regard, the Biden Regime is trying to undermine all parents who oppose their children engaging this perverted "gender fluid" world of grooming and demon-worshipping that's being propagandized right out in the open. We are seeing the Democrats and twisted Liberals pushing for gay and trans-everything in daycare centers, schools at all levels, summer camps, via Disney, Hollywood, Netflix and the Trans-Industrial Complex. The open southern U.S. border is feeding this perversion frenzy, as children are being trafficked in by child predators and "mules" who then sell the children into sex slavery, or just rape them repeatedly, and then kill them. Social media is the ultimate brainwashing frontier for the insidious child perversion network, because most kids and teens think everything they see, hear and read on social media is true. They also think that independent, truth-media is "fake news" because the O'Biden Regime and Big Tech have convinced them of this through propaganda. Again, it's all to create a sick, twisted country full of perverted adults, teens and kids who are distracted from everything that matters in this world, while focused on sex, hate and voting for evil Democrats. Tune your internet dial to Gender.news for updates on extreme liberals with hidden agendas trying to turn normal kids into gender-confused freaks who will vote for twisted, perverted Democrats forever. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com FrontPageMag.com BIG BRIBES: Big Tech spent at least $250M to kill regulatory proposals in Congress Big Tech firms such as Amazon, Apple, Alphabet and Meta have spent at least $250 million on efforts to kill regulatory proposals filed in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The National Pulse's Jack Montgomery shed light on the scheme in a July 7 article, claiming that the tech giants shelled out huge amounts to block any bills limiting their censorship of conservatives. "Republicans concerned about censorship worked alongside Democrats championing unions to pass bills with bipartisan majorities. None of them made it to the floor of either chamber of Congress, despite public support for regulating Big Tech," he wrote. According to Montgomery's piece, both the GOP and the Democrats are on the payroll of Big Tech. For the Democrats, they are hesitant to challenge Silicon Valley as it helps them wage an ideological war against "hate speech" and "misinformation." Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) raised millions from tech executives before breaking a promise to put bills regulating Big Tech before the full House of Representatives. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) privately assured donors from the technology sector that any proposals filed in the Senate could not overcome filibusters. According to Montgomery, the employment of the senator's two daughters in two Big Tech firms Amazon and Facebook possibly influenced this commitment. Montgomery added that even GOP representatives are compromised with Big Tech money. Lobbyist Jeff Miller, a close confidante of incumbent House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), counts Amazon and Apple as two of his biggest clients. POLITICO remarked that Miller, who once worked for former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is "a very key and central figure" advising the House speaker. (Related: Matt Gaetz: 'Congress not going to rein in Big Tech, Congress owned by Big Tech.') This Big Tech connection went full circle when McCarthy was elected to head the House of Representatives in January. One of his first actions upon replacing Pelosi was demoting Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) in favor of Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). Buck has led GOP efforts on Big Tech regulation while the "libertarian" Massie has insisted that Big Tech should not be subjected to "Big Government." Reining in Big Tech is supposedly a rare issue the GOP and Democratic lawmakers could agree on Professor Steven Pearlstein of George Mason University (GMU) in Virginia put in his two cents on Big Tech's bribery of lawmakers in a July 6 op-ed. He pointed out that despite the differences in political opinions, reining in Big Tech "was the rare issue on which both Republicans and Democrats, House and Senate, could agree." This common ground led to lawmakers in both the upper and lower houses of Congress introducing several bills that sought to end the anti-competitive business practices of Apple, Amazon, Alphabet (Google's parent) and Meta (Facebook's parent) in 2021. "By early 2022, all had been voted out of committees in both chambers with bipartisan majorities. All had broad support from voters, knowledgeable experts, regulators and the White House. Yet no [sic] one was taken up by the full House and Senate," wrote Pearlstein. He pointed his fingers at Big Tech, accusing it of being the "prime suspect" in the "legislative murder mystery." The GMU professor also commented on the $250 million shelled out by tech companies to kill regulatory proposals in the halls of Congress. According to Pearlstein, this amount was used for "lobbying, advertising, public relations and stepped-up campaign contributions." "In financial terms, that represented about one-tenth of one percent of their combined annual profits. On a political scale, it was an overwhelming show of force." Visit BigTech.news for more stories about tech companies paying off Congress for their own interests. Watch this video about how Big Tech has become Big Brother. This video is from the Thrivetime Show channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Big Government selling unconstitutional censorship tools to Big Tech to override First Amendment and silence all voices of dissent. More evidence emerges of U.S. government colluding with Big Tech to censor conservatives. Congress is set to expose what may be the largest censorship system in U.S. history. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com POLITICO.com WashingtonPost.com Brighteon.com Leftists argue government censorship is the highest form of speech When Judge Terry Doughty issued an injunction in Missouri v. Biden that banned the government from specifically flagging content or posts on social-media platforms and/or forwarding such to social-media companies urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner for removal, deletion, suppression, all hell broke loose. (Article by Daniel Greenfield republished from FrontPageMag.com) Evelyn Douek, a Stanford law professor, formerly of the Knight First Amendment Institute, warned that preventing the government from colluding with corporations to censor citizens would have a chilling effect on communication between the government and platforms. In traditional free speech jurisprudence, chilling effects were inflicted by the government, but Douek is worried that free speech might have a chilling effect on government censorship. After advocating, in cases like Lamont v. Postmaster General, that any interference with speech, no matter how odious including, in the aforementioned Supreme Court case, asking recipients of Communist propaganda to affirmatively agree to receive it, entailed a chilling effect, liberals dont want to chill the censors, instead theyre worried that civil rights will chill censorship. Even though its the height of summer, chilling effects on censorship were on display. Liberals who might have once worried about free speech now fret that the government will be inhibited from censoring free speech. According to CNN, Legal experts say that the order is overly broad and scholars on online misinformation warned that it could have a chilling effect on the governments efforts to curtail lies about public health emergencies and elections. Nina Jankowicz, Bidens former disinformation czar, popped up to argue that, "itll have a chilling effect on government and academia, ensuring that officials and researchers think twice before trying to counter those spreading conspiracies and false information. The axis of concern had shifted from worrying that government action would inhibit free speech to agonizing that judicial interference would prevent the government from inhibiting free speech. The existence of chilling effects in free speech cases testified to the degree to which we protected free speech from even the faintest tinge of indirect discouragement. Now, lefty academics and experts want to not only reverse the polarities of free speech, but they are just as worried that any protection for free speech will interfere with government censorship. Its new victims are not civilians who engage in political speech, but government censors. To justify this inversion of civil rights, they have also inverted the concept of censorship so that the true form of free speech is to prevent others from speaking. According to Leah Litman, a law professor at the University of Michigan, preventing the government from censoring citizens was censorship. Litman told NPR that the injunction literally prevents the federal government from sending emails to social media companies about their content moderation policies or having meetings with social media companies about taking down speech and posts. And so that prevents speech, really important speech, from ever happening. The most important speech is government speech that suppresses the speech of the public. If government censorship is speech, then any interference with government censorship is a violation of free speech. And the government must be allowed to censor everyone lest its really important speech be restrained from taking place. And then where would we be, except free? Judge Terry Doughty was attacked by pro-censorship leftists for invoking George Orwells 1984 and yet that same faction insists on literally arguing that censorship is speech. Crying censorship has become the last resort of censors who demand the right to censor. When Gov. Ron DeSantis and other governors signed laws barring Big Tech monopolies from deplatforming candidates for public office, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, whose members include Amazon, Google and Facebook, sued in the name of free speech. We are bringing this suit to safeguard the industrys free speech, CCIA boss Matt Schruers claimed. A digital service that declines to host harmful content is exercising its own First Amendment rights. Section 7 does not chill speech; if anything, it chills censorship, the Fifth Circuit court replied. We reject the Platforms efforts to reframe their censorship as speech. It is undisputed that the Platforms want to eliminate speechnot promote or protect it. And no amount of doctrinal gymnastics can turn the First Amendments protections for free speech into protections for free censoring. But that hasnt stopped the totalitarian gymnastics from going forward. After arguing that censorship by some of the biggest companies in the world was really speech, lefty legal scholars are arguing that government censorship is free speech, and that when judges prevent the government from censoring, the governments speech is being violated. The official Biden administration position is that it is entitled to censor in the event of emergencies. Were not going to apologize for promoting responsible actions to protect public health, safety and security when confronted by challenges like a deadly pandemic or foreign attacks on our elections, Sharon Yang, a White House spokeswoman, argued. These deadly challenges and foreign attacks included a video mocking Jill Biden and a Twitter account impersonating Bidens granddaughter. Biden officials insisted on having these and many other posts, accounts and materials that they disliked taken down. Emergencies have never been anything other than an excuse for a broad censorship scheme. Liberals have abandoned even the pretense of caring about free speech. Laurence Tribe, a lefty constitutional law professor, co-authored an op-ed complaining that the injunction seems to maintain that the government cannot even politely ask companies not to publish verifiable misinformation. What would Tribes view be on the Nixon administration politely asking the media not to spread lies about the Vietnam War, the Reagan administration politely asking the media not to lie about the War on Drugs, and the Bush administration politely asking the media not to lie about the War on Terror? Any such suggestions, no matter how mild, were greeted with rabid rage. The First Amendment certainly doesnt prevent them from merely asking, Tribe contends, and preventing the government from doing so would turn the Constitutions protection of free expression in an open society into an obstacle course for some of the most valuable exchanges of information and ideas we can imagine. The most valuable exchanges of ideas apparently involve asking social media monopolies to take down content mocking the president. Lefty legal scholars keep arguing that government censorship is the highest form of speech. After abandoning free speech, lefty legal scholars now celebrate the virtues of censorship in the glowing language once used for promoting reverence for a free exchange of ideas. Forget an open society, a truly valuable exchange of ideas consists of government officials telling huge corporations whom to censor this morning. None of this is remarkable when you go back to the origins of lefty support for free speech. In 1934, Roger Nash Baldwin, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the ACLU, quite clearly explained why he was fighting for civil liberties. I champion civil liberty as the best of the non-violent means of building the power on which workers rule must be based. If I aid the reactionaries to get free speech now and then, if I go outside the class struggle to fight against censorship, it is only because those liberties help to create a more hospitable atmosphere for working class liberties. The class struggle is the central conflict of the world; all others are incidental. When that power of the working class is once achieved, as it has been only in the Soviet Union, I am for maintaining it by any means whatever. The American Left believes it has gained enough power that it no longer sees any value in maintaining protections for free speech, at least at a federal level, and has publicly switched its enthusiasm from speech to censorship. It now lovingly speaks of the valuable speech of government censors and of the chilling effects of extremist judges who interfere with them. There are still select conservative enclaves where the Left pretends to care about free speech. Should parents persuade a middle school library to pull a work of hard core LGBTQ pornography off the shelves, the Left will describe this as an attack on the First Amendment. But otherwise, freedom of speech has been buried in the same unmarked grave as freedom of religion with the bulk of the First Amendment soon set to join the Second Amendment. Censorship is becoming speech and speech is becoming censorship. The real threat to civil liberties comes from people interfering with the speech of censors telling them to shut up. In a world where governments have rights and people have none, the right to censor is the only right. And if they disagree with you, liberals will fight to the death for the right of the government to silence you. Read more at: FrontPageMag.com Mercedes-Benz India announced on Tuesday that it had had a record performance in the first half of the ongoing calendar year, selling 8,528 units between January and June. This is a 13 per cent year-on-year growth for the country's largest luxury car maker. Mercedes has dominated the Indian luxury car market for several years now but is now bettering its own performance with a wide array of models across price brackets. The performance between January and June this year is its best H1 showing ever and is largely due to a strong lineup of all-new and updated models launched in recent times. Mercedes currently offers models across body types and the powetrain options include petrol and diesel motors, as well as electric vehicles. The company has also been strengthening its AMG lineup of vehicles. Interestingly, the Germans have already launched two all-AMG models - AMG SL55 Roadster and AMG GT 63 SE Performance. Two versions of the G-Wagon were also recently launched - Adventure Edition and AMG Line. Top-end Mercedes models take limelight Mercedes began this calendar year by announcing it will focus big time on its top-end models. The company reasoned that there is a healthy demand for such vehicles and the need is to cater to this demand. As such, models like AMG SL55 Roadster, AMG GT 63 SE Performance and the updated G-Class have been launched. The German brand further claims that one in every four Mercedes sold in India this year has been a top-end vehicle (TEV). The best-selling Mercedes in India is not an SUV The dominance of Mercedes continues unchallenged but within the portfolio, it is the unparalleled success of the E-Class LWB that remains robust. The sedan was and is the best-selling Mercedes in the country and is continuing with its strong momentum despite newer models joining the ranks. Among SUVs though, it is the GLE that wears the crown although the launch of the updated GLC is around the next proverbial bend. All of these launches put Mercedes in a confident position to close this calendar year on an unprecedented high. With an order bank of over 3,500 units, the company claims that the path ahead looks good even as it underlines its commitment to all-electric models as well. First Published Date: China enacts export restrictions on two crucial metals amid escalating trade war with US China has just instituted massive export restrictions on two metals gallium and germanium necessary for the manufacturing of crucial technologies According to a notice by China's Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs, the export controls will come into effect on August 1. These restrictions also include several of their compounds. The communist nation said these controls are necessary to safeguard its "security and national interests." Chinese exporters may apply for export licenses if they wish to continue exporting their metals out of China. (Related: Chinese Defense Minister warns: Severe China-US conflict would be an UNBEARABLE DISASTER for the world.) The announcement was made on Monday, July 3, amid an escalating tech war with the United States and potentially causing more disruption to global supply chains, especially those involved with the manufacturing of tech that relies on gallium and germanium, like semiconductors, electric vehicles, communications equipment and solar panels. China's export control announcement comes just days after the Netherlands, at the urging of the U.S., restricted the sale of high-end semiconductor manufacturing equipment abroad in a move designed to target the communist nation. This also comes nearly a year after the U.S. began limiting Chinese access to the equipment necessary for the manufacturing of semiconductor chips. China is the world's largest producer of gallium and germanium, with mines in China accounting for 95 percent of global gallium output and 67 percent of germanium output. Chinese curbs are expected to add urgency to American and Western efforts to develop alternative sources for gallium, germanium and other crucial metals. Chinese export restrictions could have catastrophic impact on global supply chains The administration of President Joe Biden said in a statement on Thursday, July 6, that it "firmly opposes" China's new export restrictions. "These actions underscore the need to diversify supply chains," said a spokesperson for the Department of Commerce, adding that Washington would "engage with our allies and partners to address this and to build resilience in critical supply chains." Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen followed this statement up with her own, telling American businesses in China and those with agreements with Chinese corporations that the Biden administration is still evaluating Beijing's decision, but that the move was a reminder of the importance of diversifying supply chains. The Chinese Commerce Ministry claimed several days after its initial announcement that Beijing had informed the U.S. and the European Union in advance about its decision through "export control dialogue channels." America's allies in Europe and the rest of the Western world are also in the process of evaluating the potential impact of Chinese export restrictions. The European Commission, the leading executive body of the E.U., called on Chinese authorities to "adopt an approach where restrictions and controls are based on clear security considerations in line with World Trade Organization rules." A spokesperson for the government of Japan said: "The intention of the matter and the operational policy of China will be confirmed by us, and the WTO rules will need to be complied with." Japanese manufacturing companies import large quantities of Chinese gallium and germanium. "It is a shot across the bow intended to remind countries, including the United States, Japan and the Netherlands that China has retaliatory options and to thereby deter them from imposing further restrictions on Chinese access to high-end chips and tools," noted analysts at New York-based political risk consultancy firm Eurasia Group. Learn more about China's latest activities at CommunistChina.news. Watch this episode of the "Health Ranger Report" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, interviews "The Liberty Man" John Moore about the latter's intelligence pointing to the U.S. engaging in an imminent conflict with Russia and China. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: New Energy Market Order: Russia, China, Iran sign over a dozen new trade agreements mostly concerning energy. China quickly expanding use of yuan in global trade as it seeks to dethrone US dollar as world's top currency. Taiwan pushes back, won't let US destroy semiconductor factories to prevent them from falling into Chinese hands. Experts: Semiconductor ban accelerates severing of US-China ties. Biden wages ECONOMIC war against China's semiconductor industry. Sources include: WSJ.com BusinessInsider.com Reuters.com SCMP.com Brighteon.com Chinese mining companies accused of human rights and environmental abuses in pursuit of green transition A new report has accused Chinese corporations of more than a hundred human rights and environmental abuses at mines where China is producing much of the world's supply of minerals for green energy projects , such as lithium, cobalt, copper and rare earth minerals. This is according to the Business and Human Rights Resource Center (BHRRC), a London-based non-government organization and corporate watchdog that tracks the local impact of thousands of businesses around the world. According to the BHRRC's report, there were at least 102 alleged abuses linked to Chinese mining interests across 18 countries in 2021 and 2022. (Related: Car companies are expanding into the lithium mining business to secure their supplies for EV manufacturing.) China has recently come into the forefront of the world's mining operations, as companies coming from the communist nation dominate the processing and refining of lithium, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, zinc, chromium, aluminum and rare earth minerals. Furthermore, Chinese corporations also dominate the manufacturing of technologies like solar panels, wind turbines and batteries for electric vehicles all of which require so-called "transition minerals" for the Western world's green transition to reduce their consumption of fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy. China isn't alone in committing abuses against people and the environment. Mining firms based out of the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada, among others, have also been levied with allegations of abuse. However, China is at the forefront due to its vital role in mining, processing and refining transition minerals. This is why the BHRRC believes Chinese companies need to be at the forefront of ensuring equity and fairness in mining. "Given their vital role in energy sectors globally, Chinese actors are well placed to lead a responsible energy transition," read the BHRRC's report. "However, this can only be achieved if Chinese businesses and regulators take proactive measures to address endemic human rights and environmental abuses linked to transition minerals." Chinese companies committing abuses all over the world According to the report, the most alleged abuses were found in Indonesia with 27 cases, followed by Peru with 16, the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 12, Myanmar with 11 and Zimbabwe with seven. The alleged human rights and environmental abuses from these five countries represented more than 70 percent of the documented abuses. These five countries are notable for weak governance and a lack of attentiveness to violations of human rights and environmental regulations. They are also notable for having China as their major economic partner. "Many projects invested in by Chinese companies are located in resource-rich host countries, which often have weak governance and limited options for victims of abuse to seek remedy," noted the BHRRC in its report. "This is accompanied by an absence of legislation in China mandating extraterritorial human rights and environmental due diligence, leaving workers and communities vulnerable to harm." Around two-thirds of the alleged abuses involve human rights abuses against local communities, with the communities of indigenous peoples being the most affected. Other allegations involve attacks against local leaders and activists, water pollution, ecosystem destruction and unsafe working conditions. Experts warn that the mad dash to acquire the transition minerals needed for expanding the use of green energy technologies is threatening to increase the number of abuses mining companies commit against people and the environment. They warn that a new wave of illicit land grabs, water violations, environmental damage and community conflicts is coming as corporations flout human rights laws and environmental regulations to profit from the green transition. Learn more about mining at Metals.news. Watch this report warning how Chinese state-owned investment conglomerate CITIC Group acquired a massive 20 percent stake in Canadian mining firm Ivanhoe Mining in 2018. This video is from the channel Chinese Taking Down Evil CCP on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Australia risks OVERMINING in its bid to break China's grip over minerals crucial to clean energy technology. They will be RARER soon: Rare earth magnet supply for wind power and EVs will fall 246,000 tons short by 2040. Copper crisis threatens future of "clean" energy there's not nearly enough of this metal available for the world to go "green." STUPID: In order to meet demand for "clean" electric vehicles, China will be forced to burn more COAL. Big Tech demand for cobalt drives SLAVE MINES in the Congo. Sources include: Breitbart.com TheGuardian.com APNews.com Brighteon.com Rogue agency CISA connives with Big Tech to censor speech and manipulate the lives of Americans There is a thin line that separates the execution of credible and honest government watchdog duties and abuse of power and responsibility. The House Judiciary Committee recently released a report on how the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), colluded with Big Tech and "disinformation" partners to censor Americans. The 36-page piece pointed out familiar issues like government actors worked with third parties to overturn the First Amendment; censors prioritized political narratives over truthfulness; and an unaccountable bureaucracy hijacked American society. (Related: House report concludes: CISA engaged in massive COVER-UP of Biden censorship scheme.) The House Report titled: "The Weaponization of CISA: How a 'Cybersecurity' Agency Colluded with Big Tech and 'Disinformation' Partners to Censor Americans," revealed that the agency worked with social media platforms to censor posts it considered dis-, mis- or malinformation. Brian Scully, head of CISA's censorship team, admitted that the " switchboarding " process triggers "content moderation." Said switchboard programs directly contradict sworn testimony from CISA Director Jen Easterly before Congress in March. "We don't censor anything we don't flag anything to social media organizations at all. We don't do any censorship," Easterly claimed. According to Brownstone Institute's Global Research article, her statement was more than a lie; it omitted the institutionalization of the practice she denied. "The agency's initiatives relied on a collusive apparatus of private-public partnerships designed to suppress unapproved information," the article stated. Former New York Times reporter and author Alex Berenson also claimed that he was censored for criticizing Biden's Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) policies. Another one directly hit by Biden's censorship drive was former Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson. White House Director of Digital Strategy Rob Flaherty privately lobbied social media groups to remove a video of Carlson reporting the link between Johnson & Johnson's vaccine and blood clots. Meanwhile, Facebook worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to censor posts related to the COVID "lab leak" theory. The tech giant's employees later met with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to de-platform the "disinformation dozen," which included Democratic presidential bet Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The committee analysis further showed how CISA censored "malinformation truthful information that, according to the government, may carry the potential to mislead." Journalist Lee Fang later wrote that the malinformation campaign "highlights not only the broad authority that the federal government has to shape the political content available to the public but also the toolkit that it relies upon to limit scrutiny in the regulation of speech." Bureaucrats are granted too much power over people Officials supporting the operation such as Dr. Kate Starbird, a member of CISA's Misinformation & Disinformation subcommittee, remained unrepentant in their aim to advance political agendas. Despite the program explicitly violating the Constitution and eviscerating the First Amendment, CISA officials still appointed themselves the arbiters of truth. They worked with the most powerful information companies in the world to purge dissent. The House report further disclosed how Biden's administration bureaucrats are granted too much power over the people while "protecting" them with anonymity and accountability. Unelected officials, like CISA's employees, bask in the ever-increasing control without having to answer for the consequences of their decisions and actions. Another Misinformation & Disinformation Subcommittee member, Suzanne Spaulding, warned that it was "only a matter of time before someone realizes we exist and starts asking about our work," a statement exposing the authority that CISA holds while lacking public exposure. In fact, many are still surprised to learn that the agency even existed despite its great influence over lockdowns. In March 2020, CISA divided the American workforce into categories of essential and nonessential. Within hours, California became the first state to issue a "stay at home" order, an unimaginable assault on Americans' civil liberties. However, after all the reported and proven adverse effects of lockdowns depression and suicide in teenagers, lower intellectual levels in students, a weaker immune system in most adults, and many others CISA remained clean and pristine from all criticisms and blame. Watch Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey expose the illegal government censorship collusion with Big Tech in the video below. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: YouTube CENSORS another RFK Jr. video "on its own initiative" most likely to please the establishment. CNN host: We should yield to government censorship demands. HUGE: Biden officials ordered by federal judge to STOP contacting social media companies and demanding censorship of speech. Sources for this article include: Revolver.news Judiciary.House.gov GlobalResearch.ca Brighteon.com Former Head of Disinformation Governance Board claims that the government flagging content has nothing to do with censorship Last week, in a significant victory for free speech, a federal court stepped in to curb potential overreach by the Biden administration in its collaboration with social media platforms to suppress online content. The court ruling , issued by US District Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana on Tuesday, caused critics to complain that it hinders the administrations efforts to counter online conspiracy theories and disinformation. (Article by Cindy Harper republished from ReclaimTheNet.org) But in the usual doublespeak in an interview with MSNBC, the former head of the governments controversial Disinformation Governance Board Nina Jankowicz claims that the government flagging content that goes against Big Techs policies has nothing to do with censorship and is not about removing speech. This is a weaponization of the court system. It is an intentional and purposeful move to disrupt the work that needs to be done ahead of the 2024 election, and its really chilling, she said to the Guardian. The ruling inhibits key federal agencies and officials from intervening in the content posted on tech platforms. It has been suggested that without such a check in place, the governments efforts could easily spill over into manipulating public discourse and controlling information, with potentially dangerous effects on free speech and political balance. The injunction comes as conservative leaders and groups have been vocal in their opposition, accusing the Biden administration of collusion with social media companies in an attempt to suppress conservative viewpoints. Judge Doughty supported the arguments of Republican attorneys general from Louisiana and Missouri who filed the lawsuit. They contend that the Biden administrations tactics infringe on First Amendment rights to free speech. He expressed the sentiment that the government seemed to be exploiting its power to stifle opposing voices, and he ominously compared the handling of social media content by the administration during the COVID pandemic to the Orwellian Ministry of Truth. Nina Jankowicz, a former government appointee to lead a new Department of Homeland Security unit aimed at countering online misinformation, has defended the governments actions, insisting that they do not amount to censorship. However, critics might question her impartiality, considering she was initially named as a defendant in the case but was later removed due to no longer holding a governmental role. Adding to the controversy, this unit was swiftly disbanded after facing intense criticism from conservatives who claimed it was stifling conservative speech. This has led some to question whether the governments efforts to fight misinformation are truly unbiased or, as many suspect, are a veiled attempt to suppress dissenting opinions. The ruling, which temporarily bars several agencies and officials from pressuring social media companies to remove or delete protected free speech, sends a strong message that government interference in the digital public square must be carefully scrutinized. This order stands as an affirmation of the fundamental right to free speech. Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org Beyond Orwellian: France allows cops to SPY on citizens with their own mobile phones Going above and beyond the dystopian social science fiction novel by English writer George Orwell titled "Nineteen Eighty-Four" where Big Brother controls every aspect of people's lives, French President Emmanuel Macron's administration has allowed remotely activating snitch phones after the July 5 passage of a provision in the "justice reform bill" at the National Assembly. The said legislation grants French cops the authority to secretly open a "suspect's" camera, microphone and global positioning system (GPS) on their mobile phones and other devices like laptops. Article 3 of the bill indicates the remote triggering of cameras or microphones of the gadgets without the knowledge of the persons concerned would be allowed for different purposes. First, real-time geolocation for certain offenses such as those that are punishable by at least five years in prison. On the other hand, the activation of microphones and cameras to capture sound and images would be reserved for cases of terrorism and delinquency and organized crime. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti assured the public that the powers would only be used for "dozens" of cases per year and that this was far from the surveillance state of Orwell's 1984. Members of parliament also inserted an amendment that only allows "remote spying when justified by the nature and seriousness of the crime" and "for a strictly proportional duration" after a judge has approved the surveillance. Still, the digital rights group La Quadrature du Net raised serious concerns over infringements of fundamental liberties as the law could violate the "right to security, right to a private life and to private correspondence" and "the right to come and go freely." This has a potential for abuse, the group pointed out, calling it part of a "slide into heavy-handed security." Dissenters also noted that the law does not stipulate what constitutes a serious crime. They fear that Macron's regime could use this to target environmental activists and others who are not actually grave threats. The organization also pointed out that security policies have a habit of expanding to less severe crimes. "Police would be exploiting security holes instead of telling manufacturers how to patch those holes," La Quadrature stressed. Lawmakers also insisted that sensitive professions, such as journalists, judges, lawyers, doctors and MPs would not be legitimate targets, People's Gazette reported. French people are suspicious due to the timing of the bill's passage Parts of the country face a sea of protests after 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk was shot and killed by a police officer in a Paris suburb. Riots have gotten out of control, spreading with astounding speed and intensity from major cities and suburbs to the countryside, with demonstrators frequently clashing with police. (Related: French police's fatal shooting of a teenager triggers VIOLENT RIOTS across Paris and beyond.) The timing of the passing of the bill could not have been worse, experts argue. Currently, the police are having a hard time mitigating the uprising. Could this legislation turn the country into a police state? Macron argued at the time that the bill was meant to protect police officers from increasingly violent protestors. He expanded police authority via technology, threatening a shutdown of social media platforms, as he claims that protestors are filming, posting and organizing on apps like TikTok, Snapchat and Telegram. This totalitarian form of governance is not new under Macron's rule. In 2021, the New York Times reported that the French Parliament passed a bill that broadened the powers of municipal police forces, expanded the police's ability to use drones to monitor citizens in public and toughened sentences for people found guilty of assaulting officers. One of the most arduously debated measures criminalized the act of helping identify officers with the intent to harm them. Gerald Darmanin, the Interior minister who championed the bill, told lawmakers at the time that it would be France's shame if it failed to prevent people with malicious intent from publicly spreading identifying information or pictures of security forces. "Police officers and gendarmes are children of the Republic, and they must be protected because they protect us every day," Darmanin said. "In the hands of an authoritarian government, such a law would become a dangerous weapon of surveillance and repression of the population," Cecile Coudriou, the head of Amnesty International France, said in a statement at the time. Visit Tyranny.news for more news related to tyrannical measures implemented by governments around the world. Watch the video below where Macron blames parents, video games and the internet as reasons for the violent France riots. This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Top brass military officers give Macron ULTIMATUM to end riots in France. Desperate French government trying to convince tourists that it is safe to visit the country despite ongoing rioting. Macron deploys 45,000 French police to tackle torching of infrastructures, vehicles, public spaces in ongoing nationwide riots. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com GazetteNGR.com GlobeEcho.com Gizmodo.com NYTimes.com Brighteon.com Netherlands declares STATE OF EMERGENCY to stop farmers from protesting green tyranny The Netherlands has declared a state of emergency in a bid to prevent farmers from protesting against the country's green tyranny in the name of "fighting climate change." SHTF Plan's Mac Slavo wrote about the situation on July 3, noting that the Dutch government at The Hague made the declaration in response to a June 29 protest. The gathering organized by the Farmers Defense Force reportedly drove tractors into the city, the Dutch seat of government, to protest the mandatory fertilizer reduction targets set by the government. According to the farmers, the state of emergency was a way to squash their freedom of assembly. They added that their rights are being trampled on by totalitarianism wearing the mask of "democracy." Dutch News reported that Jan van Zanen, mayor of The Hague, issued an emergency order on the morning of June 29. The order prohibited farm tractors from entering the city center, but this did not dissuade the protesting farmers. In defiance of the emergency order, they blockaded supermarkets and dumped farm waste on roads. (Related: Mayor of Hague threatens protesting Dutch farmers with VIOLENCE to stop their blockades and tractor caravans.) Law enforcement managed to intercept a group of tractor drivers at the A1 highway in Bathmen village, eventually talking them out of joining the protest. Meanwhile, around 40 farmers who headed down the A28 highway toward the city of Amersfoort were escorted by police off the road. The farmers were slapped with fines afterward. While FDF had hoped to raise 10,000 supporters for the June 29 protest, only less than 1,000 made the trip to The Hague. Van Zanen ordered police to move the demonstrators toward the city's open-air Malieveld Park due to lack of space. Slavo: Slaves still hold up the system that's oppressing them In April, Dutch Climate and Energy Minister Rob Jetten said the Netherlands needs a "great leap forward" after missing its climate goals for years. According to Euronews, the Dutch government plans to spend 28 billion ($30.7 billion) in the coming years to meet its climate goals for 2030. To achieve this target, the Dutch government is resorting to drastic measures such as outlawing farming. But this attack on farms comes at a high price a serious impact on the food supply, which customers are paying. These drastic measures are what the farmers are protesting against. "Democracy worldwide is, even if run perfectly, nothing more than mob rule and nothing less than slavery. All freedom is an illusion as long as governments exist, [and] people will be deluded into being their slaves," wrote Slavo. "Of course, [the Dutch] government like all governments sees them only as slaves meant to obey, so they don't care about rights or freedom. The rulers think they own their slaves. It would be like believing your cow has a right to vote to keep it from being eaten." Slavo also questioned the farmers' decision to disobey and make their way to The Hague. "If they intend to disobey the state of emergency, why not just disobey the unjust law they are protesting?" he asked. "Begging the master for longer chains never works and if it does, it's only temporary. The way to end it is to remove the system that's putting chains on people. The notion of government gets more absurd by the day, and yet slaves still hold up the system that's oppressing them." Visit GreenTyranny.news for more stories about the Dutch government's drastic measures to meet climate targets at the expense of farmers. Watch Josh Sigurdson of World Alternative Media talking about the state of emergency declared to prevent Dutch farmers from protesting. This video is from the Alex Hammer channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Farmers across EU rise up against tyrannical "green" mandates that threaten food supply. Thousands of Dutch farms face forced closure to comply with new EU environmental rules. Tensions escalate as Dutch farmers protest after police discharged firearms over "threatening situation." Dutch farmers block roads with tractors in protest of government plan to seize thousands of farms over "climate change." Dutch government's new climate agenda will force thousands of farmers out of business and destroy Europes food supply chain. Sources include: GlobalResearch.ca SHTFPlan.com DutchNews.nl Euronews.com Brighteon.com Rolling Stone, Washington Post PRAISED pro-pedophile movie Cuties, ATTACKED anti-child sex trafficking movie Sound of Freedom The Washington Post and Rolling Stone both came out criticizing the anti-child sex trafficking film, Sound of Freedom after its release . Both also praised another movie, Cuties, which depicts a twerking dance crew made up of little girls. (Article by Thomas Stevenson republished from ThePostMillennial.com) The articles that both the Washington Post and Rolling Stone released about Sound of Freedom accuse the film of being associated with QAnon conspiracy theories. The film is based on a portion of Tim Ballard's life and the beginnings of him forming the organization, Operation Underground Railroad (OUR). Rolling Stone said that actor Jim Caviezel, who depicts Ballard in the film, has given "speeches and interviews" about "evildoers who are harvesting the blood of children." The Post pointed out that the film has been "promoted on QAnon message boards" and plays into the theory that "global elites are kidnapping children, having sex with them and harvesting their blood. Ballard and Caviezel recently went on an "interview with Jordan Peterson. Ballard also addressed this and explained that blood and organ harvesting is "very real. He has posted a video showing a raid where this occurred in Western Africa. He continued and said, "So, I might say something like that and then they connect it to something a QAnon person says about a celebrity who must be doing this too. But there's no evidence to back that. They make a false connection there." Other reports detail the practice. Another report from the Guardian also made similar claims about Sound of Freedom, yet it also has a report from 2015 about a charity that was formed to prevent child sacrifice and blood rituals in Uganda. The report said, "10,317 youth in Uganda, representing every district in the country, confirmed they have heard of a child being sacrificed." Jezebel and the Guardian have tried to discredit the hit new film, Sound of Freedom, linking it with conspiracy theories.https://t.co/vwk0gFuYBm The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 8, 2023 The Post and Rolling Stone, aside from attempting to link Sound of Freedom to QAnon, praised the movie Cuties, in which little girls are sexualized in a twerk-dancing crew. One statement from Rolling Stone said the backlash at Cuties was just part of a "tactic [that] has its roots in conspiracy theorist circles, such as the QAnon community." The article alleges the backlash to the film was part of the "far right's obsession with pedophilia." Another piece from Rolling Stone called it a "coming-of-age movie" that was caught in a culture war. The piece says it was not "a salacious bit of pedo-bait" but instead said it was its "polar opposite" that points out what happens when children get too involved with sexuality. The Post called Cuties "an unflinching look at what it means to be a preteen girl." It is the "kind of story that isnt told well very often, and deserves to be told more." The Post's article continued. "Whose gaze does the camera represent? How is this scene supposed to make us feel? These are the kind of nuanced discussions that art is meant to encourage," the article went on while discussing explicit scenes in the film. The article says that the point of the camera angle in the scene is to show how "unhealthy adults could perceive whats happening on the screen" while healthy adults will be shocked. Read more at: ThePostMillennial.com Virginia classifies FENTANYL as weapon of TERRORISM in response to rise in overdose deaths The state of Virginia has officially classified the opioid fentanyl as a "weapon of terrorism" in response to overdoses caused by the drug. According to local news outlet FFX Now, two bills signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in March codified this classification. Senate Bill (SB) 1188 and House Bill (HB) 1682, introduced by Republican State Sen. Bryce Reeves and State Delegate Scott Wyatt, introduced the respective laws. Under both proposals, "any person who knowingly and intentionally manufactures or distributes" fentanyl commits Class 4 felonies and could face up to 10 years behind bars. "Fentanyl overdoses have increasingly become a major concern, particularly among young adults, in Fairfax County and nationwide," FFX Now noted. SB 1188 and HB 1682, both of which took effect on July 1, seek "to impose harsher penalties on the drug's manufacturing and distribution." According to the outlet, the new laws are similar to measures in other states but they weren't without criticism. FFX Now reported: "Critics say the law doesn't take into account context or circumstances, and increasing penalties could make people less likely to call authorities when someone they are with overdoses." Bo Banks of Big League Politics praised the two laws as "good news" and a sign that the Old Dominion is "taking a step in the right direction." "States with GOP leadership are more capable of handling the real issues hurting Americans than Democrats are," he wrote. "As many Americans have already become privy to, overdose deaths generally are surging in the U.S. with fentanyl deaths specifically hitting a whopping 26 percent jump from 2020 to 2021." Decriminalizing fentanyl like in Dem states DOESN'T WORK Banks noted that fentanyl alone "has gotten so out of control" in his piece for Big League Politics. He added that the issue is a hot one among presidential candidates for the 2024 elections, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis saying he will have new "rules of engagement" for Mexican drug cartels if he wins. "Other GOP contenders are saying the same thing because fentanyl is a bigger issue than most people think," Banks continued. "It's definitely a bigger issue than how the mainstream media (MSM) is covering it." The writer also noted that the Left has its own way of addressing the fentanyl overdose crisis something he dubbed a "miserable failure." "Washington state, for example, has seen nearly 3,000 overdoses in the past year alone thanks to its pathetic approach toward decriminalizing drugs," Banks recounted. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention appeared to back up his claim, as the Evergreen State has seen drug overdoses soar by almost 22 percent over the last 12-month period ending Jan. 31. Washington's southern neighbor Oregon has also seen "record-high overdoses" due to the decriminalization of fentanyl and other hard drugs after 2020. The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has warned about the spike in fentanyl incidents, urging families to stay on high alert because the drug often looks like candy. It called on users themselves to "immediately take extra steps to prevent children from accessing fentanyl or other controlled substances." (Related: The most dangerous drug in the world is NOT cocaine, heroin, or crystal meth, but rather a drug commonly prescribed by doctors who get lavish bonuses for slinging it.) "The MSM likes to turn a blind eye to the chaos and madness, pretending nothing substantial is really happening. But Americans know the real story, especially with the rise of overdoses from cartel products," Banks remarked. "Maybe other states like Washington will soon follow suit, especially as (the) tides turn on liberal soft-on-drug policies." Visit Overdose.news for more stories about fentanyl deaths across the United States. Watch this "CBS Mornings" report about fentanyl overdoses being the No. 1 cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: DRUG EPIDEMIC: Data reveals drug overdose KILLED close to 110,000 Americans in 2022. Under Torontos proposed decriminalization plan, fentanyl and crack would be made "legal" for kids. DEA: Fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills now contain potentially LETHAL dose of synthetic opioid. Sources include: BigLeaguePolitics.com FFXNow.com Brighteon.com I got into medical school by pretending to be black: We must enforce Supremes ruling The Supreme Courts decision banning college admission based on race was a good first step, but the challenge now is to see that schools abide by it. (Article by Vijay Jojo Chokal Ingam republished from NYPost.com) Indeed, no sooner did the court rule than President Biden vowed not to let the decision be the last word. I know firsthand why Americans should make sure it is. Back in 1998, I knew my odds of getting into medical school, as an Indian American, would be better if I were black. So, being dark-skinned, I pretended I was black and got accepted, despite a mediocre 3.1 GPA. Once there, though, I found the going rough and dropped out. That made me realize that affirmative action doesnt really do anyone any favors. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="598"] Vijay Jojo Chokal Ingam was able to get into medical school in 1998 despite having a lower GPA by pretending to be black.[/caption] And its unfair to those who are excluded even though they were more deserving than those admitted on the basis of race. Outside the courthouse in October, during deliberations in the recently decided case, I asked Edward Blum, president of Students for Fair Admissions (the plaintiff), about the potential consequences of a victory. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="588"] A person protesting against affirmative action outside the Supreme Court on June 29, 2023.[/caption] He replied with a twist on Winston Churchills famous words: It would be the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end. After the decision, colleges and universities displayed a range of reactions from reluctant acceptance to outright defiance. More than 100 colleges and universities, including the entire Ivy League, had filed amicus briefs backing Harvard and the University of North Carolinas admission practices, which the court now deemed discriminatory. These schools have collected tens of billions in taxpayer dollars and sent millions of rejection letters to applicants whose only fault may have been their race. In the case against Harvard, SFFAs attorneys unearthed the schools use of positive personality traits as a guise for Harvards affirmative-action admission practices. Theoretically, schools that had endorsed affirmative action could continue to cloak such discriminatory practices in defiance of the court. They could employ stealthy, complex admissions algorithms that make it hard to identify their illegal scheme. Gauging the sincerity of commitments to comply and scrap these practices will indeed be a formidable task. Anyone hoping for colorblind admissions will need to support individual and class-action lawsuits against institutions that refuse to adopt race-neutral admission policies. This means identifying victims of such biases, gathering expert testimony, subpoenaing relevant admissions data and enduring lengthy legal battles. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="568"] Chokal Ingam said his experience in medical school turned him against affirmative action being used in admissions.[/caption] They should not be afraid to threaten stiff financial penalties via legal settlements or awards or new legislation for defiance. Former President Donald Trump has suggested consequences large enough to erode endowments. Though legislation or court settlements might not go as far hed like, hes got the right idea. The local, state and federal government must all be involved: Scores of congressmen and virtually every major Republican presidential candidate publicly supported SFFAs cause. With the courts ruling, these leaders can now move to withhold federal funding from the Department of Education, Department of Justice and the universities themselves if they fail to enforce the courts ruling. Officials might also look to devise additional punishments, for school officials and the schools themselves, including loss of accreditation, a powerful weapon. Recall that, years ago, Bob Jones University lost its tax-exempt status due to its discriminatory policies. Further back, Washington dispatched federal marshals to see that black students were allowed into schools like the University of Alabama. Surely officials can come up with other ways, too, to enforce compliance and design a routine for regularly examining, supervising and auditing these institutions until this scourge is truly behind us. I am hopeful that this is the beginning of the end of affirmative action. Im desperately crossing my fingers that were entering a new era, with nationwide lawsuits and civil rights campaigns dedicated to upholding race-neutral admissions policies when universities refuse to comply. Im encouraged not only by the Supreme Courts ruling, but by the successful 2020 effort (in which I participated) to defeat Californias Prop. 16, which sought to allow affirmative action at California state institutions, including my beloved alma mater, UCLA. Despite our staggering financial disadvantage, our efforts yielded a remarkable triumph, as 57% of voters sided with us. These recent successes show that the nation is on the right track. Americans will be better off when we no longer have to worry about legally sanctioned discrimination against people of any race. Read more at: NYPost.com Report: Xi warned Putin against launching NUCLEAR ATTACK on Ukraine Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping has reportedly warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against launching a nuclear attack on Ukraine The Financial Times (FT) first broke the news on July 5, citing Chinese and Western officials. According to the outlet, the Chinese leader made the remarks during his visit to Russia in March. FT's sources said Chinese officials are using the conversation to boast Beijing's ability to stop Moscow's threats of nuclear warfare, with a senior U.S. official saying "the Chinese are taking credit for sending the message at every level." Josep Borrell, the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, remarked that China's visit to Russia "reduces the risk of nuclear war and they have made it very, very clear." A former Chinese government official attested to the conversation between Xi and Putin, adding that Beijing's stance against nuclear weapons was included in its 12-point position paper on peace in Ukraine. An incumbent senior advisor to Beijing agreed with the former official. They added that deterring Putin from using such a weapon has been central to China's campaign to repair damaged ties with Europe. According to the senior advisor, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is undermining China's effort to court Europe. If Moscow launches a nuclear strike on Ukraine or one of its European allies, it would risk turning the entire continent against China. Concurring with the Chinese senior advisor, a third official privy to the talks remarked that if Russia were to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, "it's all downside for China." Meanwhile, the Kremlin denied the conversation between Xi and Putin. "No, I can't confirm it," Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He added that both nations have issued official accounts of what went on during the talks, and "everything else is fiction" including FT's report. Beijing brokering peace deal between Moscow, Kyiv "Russia has never [had] and will never have China's approval for using nuclear weapons, said Renmin University of China international relations professor Shi Yinhong. He added that if Moscow does use them against Kyiv, "China will further distance itself from Russia." Those concerned with Putin using nuclear weapons can rest easy for now. According to people close to the Kremlin, Putin decided against using these weapons after projecting scenarios resulting from their use. Putin ruled that the use of nuclear weapons would not give Russia an advantage and would do little to help Russian forces advance on the battlefield. A nuclear strike was also likely to turn the territories Moscow has claimed into irradiated wastelands. Early this year, China called for a ceasefire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. The 12-point proposal from Beijing issued in February 2023 condemned threats of nuclear force, urged an end to "unilateral" sanctions on Moscow and called for the "territorial integrity of all countries to be respected." (Related: Peace talks over Russia-Ukraine conflict could be held as soon as July, German media reports.) The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the proposal at that time. It added that it shares China's ideas outlined in the proposal, including the rejection of Western sanctions. Ukraine likewise welcomed Beijing's efforts to broker peace. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that success would depend on actions and not words. "I believe that the fact that China started talking about Ukraine is not bad," he said during a news conference then. "But the question is what follows the words. The question is in the steps, and where they will lead to." Visit NuclearWeapons.news for more stories about Russia's possible use of these arms against Ukraine. Listen to the New American's Ben Armstrong as he explains why China won't invade the U.S. until after it is hit with Russian nuclear weapons. This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: US created the conditions for Russia-Ukraine war, says China. Russia ready to defend itself with any weapon, including nuclear Medvedev. Russian, Chinese nuclear arsenals have been upgraded in race to dominance over outdated U.S. ICBMs. RED ALERT: Russia and China planning simultaneous attack to ELIMINATE the United States and occupy North America. Former Russian President Medvedev: Russia will hit Ukraine with preemptive NUCLEAR STRIKE if West tries to send nukes. Sources include: FreeBeacon.com FT.com NewArab.com APNews.com Brighteon.com Beijing (Gasgoo)- In June 2023, Dongfeng Motor Group Company Limited (Dongfeng Motor Group) faced a 25.68% year-on-year decline in monthly sales, which stood at 179,119 vehicles. VOYAH DREAM & VOYAH FREE; photo credit: Dongfeng Motor Among the vehicles sold in the past month, 149,458 units were passenger vehicles, representing a 29.96% decline from the previous year. In addition, of the passenger vehicles sold last month, 20,393 units were new energy vehicles, down 30.04% year over year. In the first six months of this year, Dongfeng Motor Groups cumulative sales volume amounted to 945,484 vehicles, indicating a 23.39% drop year-on-year. Passenger vehicles accounted for 81.41% of the total sales volume in the period, coming in at 769,689 units. Moreover, 107,718 units were new energy passenger vehicles, slipping 7.8% from a year ago. As to the groups joint venture, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen sold 7,657 vehicles in June 2023, representing a 10.24% decrease over that of the previous year. In the first half of this year, cumulative sales of the Sino-French joint venture summed up to 44,217 vehicles, falling 21.56% compared to the same period last year. Ben Armstrong outlines the difference between FAKE FREEDOM and REAL FREEDOM Ben Armstrong of the New American magazine discussed the difference between fake freedom and real freedom on the July 4 edition of "The Ben Armstrong Show," in time for Independence Day. He urged Americans to take a look at what freedom really is, warning that there is a lot of fake freedom out there and the American people don't have true freedom. He cited movie-going as an example of fake freedom. Citizens in China can only watch films approved by the government, while most Americans can do it freely. But Armstrong pointed out that the U.S. is not really free to pick what they want to watch, thanks to politically correct liberals running Hollywood and blacklisting movies like "Sound of Freedom" and "The Passion of the Christ." The journalist with the New American magazine cited racism as a second example. According to him, the government should not be allowed to practice racism in the form of making laws that oppress certain people or races. The Jim Crow laws that codified oppression of Blacks served as an "extremely racist" example. The Jim Crow laws were a collection of statutes at the state and local levels that legalized racial segregation. These existed from after the Civil War until 1968. Armstrong said Americans who live in a free society should fight laws that are oppressing people. Racism will be snuffed out in a truly free society with people having true freedom, he added. Americans need FREE SPEECH to be truly free According to Armstrong, everything is fake freedom without free speech. People being unable to speak out against the government is what makes a country communist. "What makes a country not a free country is the inability to speak against the government. Or even if you can speak against the government, there are certain things you can't say then you're not really in a free society." He noted that free speech was the No. 1 concern for the Founding Fathers, who understood that the American people need it in order to be truly free. But Armstrong noted that there was much more freedom of speech in the 1980s. While there were some people still trying to do political correctness, Americans of that time still respected freedom of speech. Armstrong also expressed belief that America does not have free speech today and Americans do not have any freedom. Most people will not even dare discuss their opinions on the LGBT community for fear of their careers being destroyed. Given that people are getting banned from or kicked out of social media platforms, he remarked that America does not have real freedom of speech. (Related: Media watchdog says Elon Musk needs to WALK THE TALK to really safeguard freedom of speech in America.) "Overall, society has made it a no-no. Free speech is a no-no in America. You really can't say certain things in our society without the society trying to crush you." He mentioned that Americans do have free speech because they have the chance to speak out their minds. Sadly, Armstrong said people are too scared and intimidated to do that and have actual free speech. Listen to Ben Armstrong comparing fake freedom and real freedom in the clip below. This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden DOJ indicts four Americans for "weaponized" free speech. Twitter moderator fired by Musk expresses "worries" about potential free speech future of platform. The official truth: The end of free speech that will end America. Sources include: Brighteon.com History.com China has had a spy base in Cuba for decades, retired army counterintelligence agent says A retired army counterintelligence agent disclosed that the espionage operations of China in Cuba have been operating and targeting the United States for over three decades. Chris Simmons, a former chief of a counterintelligence research division of the Defense Intelligence Agency, revealed that American intelligence agencies took nine years to identify the culprits behind repair and enhancement activities during the 1990s at a signals intelligence facility in Bejucal, a town south of Havana. "We saw the enhancements over a decade, a steady evolution; clearly, something was going on, but we didn't know what," said Simmons. "And then, in 2001, we discovered that the Chinese had been there already for nine years. We were told at that time that when the Chinese arrived in 1992, they were embedded in a single building within Bejucal, and there were 50 officers in this facility." These revelations came after a report from the Wall Street Journal disclosing discussions between Cuban and Chinese officials who were negotiating building a Chinese espionage facility and military training base in Cuba. China allegedly offered financial incentives to the Cuban government for this deal to push through. Both the White House and the Department of Defense initially dismissed the reports as inaccurate but later confirmed the presence of Chinese intelligence-collection facilities in Cuba since 2019. (Related: POWER PLAY: Cuba spy station brings US-China rivalry closer to American shores.) Apart from the facility in Bejucal, China reportedly took control of two other monitoring stations built by the Soviet Union, one in Lourdes to the northwest of the island and one in Santiago de Cuba, the second-largest city on the island located some 40 miles to the west of Guantanamo. Reports of Chinese spies in Cuba influenced a U.S. government commission's recommendation last year to deny permission for a U.S. company to extend a submarine internet cable connection between South Florida and Cuba. In response to these issues, Senator Bob Menendez and Representative Michael McCaul, the chairpersons of the Senate and House committees handling foreign affairs, requested an intelligence briefing in a joint letter. They highlighted the escalation in establishing intelligence facilities and expanding military ties of China near U.S. territory. However, both China and Cuba have denied these allegations and labeled them as part of a disinformation campaign from the United States. US tries to maintain defense cooperation with allies in Asia and the Pacific The presence of Chinese spies in Cuba directly threatens several key U.S. military installations in the southeastern region. R. Evan Ellis, a professor at the U.S. Army War College, claimed that they could monitor facilities in Florida, such as the headquarters of U.S. Southern Command in Doral, the Naval Air Station in Key West and the Special Operations Command South at Homestead Air Reserve Base. Chinese intelligence-gathering capabilities and its knowledge of U.S. aircraft and naval traffic could be exploited to disrupt American operations during military conflicts. Additionally, the proximity of Cuba to the United States allows the interception of signals from U.S. satellites communicating with ground stations that would provide Chinese and Cuban spies with all the valuable data. Even encrypted phone calls can be tracked by analyzing call patterns and identifying regular contacts. In response, the U.S. has strengthened its alliances and expanded military and defense cooperation with major allies in Asia and the Pacific, including Australia, India, Japan and the Philippines. Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner emphasized the demand for the U.S. to play its traditional stabilizing role in the region as bonds with these countries intensify. Given the powerful and coercive tactics of China, the U.S. and other countries must collaborate and prepare for possible war. The U.S. may seek to prevent China from strengthening its military presence in Cuba. It could consider working with European and Latin American allies to exert pressure on Havana through economic sanctions or strained diplomatic ties. However, the success of such efforts may depend on whether the U.S. can offer incentives to Havana. Visit CommunistChina.news to learn more about China's rivalry with the U.S. and other countries. Watch the video below to know more about China's spy station in Cuba. This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The enemy of my enemy is my friend: Beijing plans to construct military training facility in Cuba and station Chinese troops on the island. China negotiating with Cuba to put training base on soil just 90 minutes from America's shoreline. Trump and Biden camps blame each other over Chinese spy base in Cuba. Cut from the same cloth: Cuba agrees to let China construct a SPY BASE on island to intercept American communications. Sources include: News.Yahoo.com WSJ.com Brighteon.com Proof climate change is a hoax: Climate models are engineered with dangerous CO2 warming conclusions built right into the code More proof that the "scientific community" is filled with more left-wing activists than actual scientists when it comes to hyperventilating about global warming and "climate change" has been found. In November 2021, Gavin Schmidt, one of the primary programmers of the NASA climate model, stated in the Spectator that the model's track record dating back to the 1970s shows they have skillfully predicted the trends of the past decades." However, after the initial laughter subsided, an expert analysis of NASA's GISS Model E, comprising approximately 441,668 lines of FORTRAN code from around 1983, emerged. Criticisms have surfaced regarding features such as water that doesn't freeze and "negative" cloud cover, leading some to question the claim that the model is truly "physics-based." This analogy draws parallels to how Hollywood producers describe a movie as being "based on a true story," notes the Daily Sceptic. Willis Eschenbach, a seasoned computer programmer, has conducted a comprehensive analysis published by Net Zero Watch (NZW) titled "Climate Models and Climate Muddles." NZW's Andrew Montford discussed Eschenbach's paper in a recent edition of the Daily Sceptic, highlighting the central role of climate models in the global warming concern and their association with the collective Net Zero project's weather-related warnings. Montford posed a critical question: What if these climate models were fundamentally flawed? Worrisomely, Eschenbach's research reveals that "this is indeed the case," indicating significant issues with the accuracy and reliability of these models. Eschenbach contends that the existing set of computer climate models is woefully inadequate for making informed public policy decisions. He argues that one only needs to examine the extensive track record of inaccurate, unsuccessful, and flawed predictions these models have generated to verify this claim. Eschenbach advises against paying undue attention to these models. Their main use is to add false legitimacy to the unrealistic fears of the programmer," he said, pointing out that if a model is developed based on the assumption that carbon dioxide regulates temperature, it is not surprising that the outcomes will align accordingly. The outlet adds: According to Eschenbach, climate models have a hard time replicating the amazing stability of the climate system. They are iterative models, meaning the output of one timestep is used as the input for the next. As a result any errors are carried over, making it easy for models to spiral the Earth into fire and snowballs. NASA gets around polar water refusing to freeze and negative amounts of cloud forming (what do minus-two clouds look like?) during model runs by replacing bad values with corresponding maximum or minimum values. Science at its finest, comments Eschenbach. He notes that he is not picking on just NASA. The same issues, to a greater or lesser extent, exist within all complex iterative models. Im simply pointing out that these are not physics-based they are propped up and fenced in to keep them from crashing, he observes. Climate models and predictions "started to go haywire 25 years ago, just as the global warming fright started to gain political traction," the outlet notes. Gavin Schmidt, a former 'fact checker' for the Daily Sceptic, mentioned in his Spectator article that the majority of outcomes rely on the general trend rather than the specific intricacies of any particular model. Interestingly, the aforementioned data appears to support Eschenbach's perspective that computer models merely serve to make visible and glorify the understandings and, more importantly, the misunderstandings of the programmers," he noted. The argument against relying on computer models to support an extreme global de-industrialization campaign is strengthening with each passing day. The most recent example of this unsubstantiated claim, propagated by various media outlets including the BBC, is the assertion that the world's hottest day temperature record was broken three times in the past week. Climate journalist Paul Homewood astutely pointed out that the notion of global temperatures surging by 0.22C in a mere three days is physically implausible. The entire propaganda campaign is built upon computer modeling, which may not come as a surprise to those who have familiarized themselves with Eschenbach's meticulous research. Sources include: DailySceptic.org NotALotOfPeopleKnowThat.com Depopulation agenda: Government tyranny plus COVID jabs caused more than 13 million DEATHS worldwide, doctor reveals The latest scientific analysis of available data shows that Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines" have so far killed13 million people worldwide, including some 3.7 million people in India. Dr. Denis Rancourt holds a PhD in physics and has held numerous post-doctoral research positions at prestigious institutions throughout France and The Netherlands before becoming a physics professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada. He is the man who quantified that the average all-ages death rate from COVID jabs is something along the lines of one out of every 2,000 people, an incredibly high number compared to what the official data claims. In fact, officially speaking, COVID jabs have never killed anyone and are completely "safe and effective." Dr. Rancourt's work, however, tells a much different story and one that desperately needs to be told on behalf of the hundreds of millions of people who were duped into taking these deadly injections. On May 17 in Ontario, Dr. Rancourt testified at the National Citizens Inquiry (NCI), a citizen-led inquiry into Canada's COVID response. He has also penned more than 30 scientific reports about COVID, including some for a new non-profit organization called Correlation. "There's a strong correlation to poverty, which is one of the pieces of evidence that allows you to say that this is not a virus," Dr. Rancourt said during the hearing, highlighting the fact that poor people are most negatively affected by the jabs, and the fact that COVID is not a virus. "No matter how you slice it, there's absolutely no correlation with age, which is definitive proof that this cannot be COVID." (Related: Most "COVID" deaths prior to the launch of Operation Warp Speed were actually just ventilator deaths in disguise.) Because all Western nations stopped prescribing antibiotics during the pandemic, patients were not being properly treated for bacterial pneumonia Remember all during COVID when the media was telling us that people were dying from COVID "complications" such as bacterial pneumonia? It turns out that the reason so many people were dying from it is because Western nations stopped prescribing antibiotics during COVID. "During the COVID period, all Western countries cut antibiotics prescriptions by 50 percent, so they were not treating bacterial pneumonia," Dr. Rancourt explained, going on to explain that things to an even worse turn for the worst after the launch of Operation Warp Speed. "The age structure of the excess mortality has changed as you move into the vaccination period," Dr. Rancourt added. "These peaks occur in very specific hotspots, but synchronously around the world [...] that from an epidemiological standpoint is strictly impossible, because the time from seeding of an infection to the sudden rise of mortality is completely uncertain." One of the big outliers in the alleged "spread" of COVID are the unique national or state boundaries at which the disease just apparently stopped killing people. The reason for this is not because the disease actually stops spreading at a national or state border, of course, but because the disease was the "vaccines" all along. Put another way, countries and states that heavily pushed the jabs saw a corresponding spike in excess mortality, while their neighbors that did not push them as much saw far fewer deaths. If the cause of all those excess deaths was really just "COVID," then national and state boundaries would have been irrelevant as far as the spread of the virus. "You see, as a consequence of the vaccine rollout, there's a higher regime of mortality," Dr. Rancourt explained. "The large peak [in the southern U.S.] coincides with [the] vaccine equity [program]." It is no longer a secret that COVID jabs kill. Learn more at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: AllNewsPipeline.com Newstarget.com Judge DENIES Bidens motion to stay preliminary injunction on the FREE SPEECH case: NO MORE COLLUDING with the SOCIAL MEDIA Editor-in-Chief of "UncoverDC" and host of the "Dark to Light" podcast Tracy Benz posted a recent development on the Missouri v. Biden FREE SPEECH case on Twitter. "The judge in the case has DENIED the stay on the temporary injunction," the post said with an attachment of the recent court ruling file. ??BREAKING- Missouri v. Biden - The judge in the case has DENIED the stay on the temporary injunction. pic.twitter.com/Ki1hHd2vmK Tracy Beanz (@tracybeanz) July 10, 2023 The order stipulated that it was "ordered, adjudged, and decreed that the definition of "protected free speech" shall be amended to read as follows: "Protected free speech" means speech which is protected by the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution in accordance with the jurisprudence of the United States Supreme Court." The ruling that U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty signed on July 10 in Monroe, Louisiana further ordered that the "defendant's motion to stay the preliminary injunction pending appeal and alternatively for administrative stay is DENIED." The new decision was a response to President Joe Biden's appeal to the July 4 court ruling of Doughty on the Missouri v. Biden case, which immediately took effect after the verdict was proclaimed as the judge ordered a preliminary injunction to immediately stop the government from contacting and muscling social media companies as described in detail by the judge in a 155-page memo. (Related: Missouri v. Biden might be most important legal case in U.S. history.) The case, in which the states of Missouri and Louisiana joined with five individuals psychiatrist and university professor Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, Harvard and Stanford universities' epidemiologists and professors of medicine Dr. Martin Kulldorf and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Gateway Pundit owner and St. Louis resident Jim Hoft, and co-director of Health Freedom Louisiana Jill Hines sued the Biden administration for allegedly conspiring with and coercing social-media platforms "to suppress disfavored speakers, viewpoints and content." This, the plaintiffs argued, constitutes government action to violate their First Amendment right to freedom of speech. The plaintiffs presented evidence that the government suppressed constitutionally protected free speech on nine different topics: Hunter Biden's "laptop from hell," the lab-leak theory of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) origin, the efficiency of masks and lockdowns, the efficiency of COVID-19 vaccines, election integrity in the 2020 presidential election, the security of voting by mail, parody content about government agencies and officials, negative posts about the economy and negative posts about the POTUS. Biden has continuously denied his involvement in the "Biden crime family" illegal international business dealings despite massive shreds of evidence found in investigations. Also, Twitter owner Elon Musk has previously disclosed how former Twitter management bigwigs (whom he fired) were regularly coordinating with the government, making their platform an "extension of the government" or accomplice in imposing total control. Moreover, reports indicated White House Deputy Assistant to President Rob Flaherty leaned on Facebook to remove what he called "misinfo themes," which included "claims about the side effects of vaccines." Although Facebook said "vaccine-skeptical" content did not violate its policy, the company reduced the distribution of the content and prevented recommendations for Groups, Pages and Instagram accounts where that content was shared. Flaherty continued to hound the company, demanding "actions and changes." "If the allegations made by plaintiffs are true," Doughty wrote, "the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States' history." The U.S. government agencies and officials included in the "enjoined and restrained" list include the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and NIAID Acting Director Dr. Hugh Auchincloss (who succeeded Dr. Anthony Fauci after serving as his longtime deputy), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the surgeon general. It also included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, a long list of White House aides including Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, along with specific officials and employees. Bookmark FirstAmendment.news to read more developments on the ongoing free speech suppression case against the Biden administration. Watch the video below that talks about the mainstream media denouncing Doughty's decision against Biden's "connivance with social media." This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Social media Gestapo: Twitter engaged in illegal COLLUSION with CDC to silence anyone questioning covid vaccines. Social media censorship: Fauci admits his daughter worked at Twitter and that he spoke with Mark Zuckerberg multiple times during the pandemic. DHS engaged in treasonous collusion with Twitter and Facebook to censor Americans, bombshell report reveals. Big Tech censorship of vitamin D as covid treatment KILLED 116,000 Americans so far, warns the Health Ranger, who was banned by YouTube, Twitter and Facebook for telling the TRUTH. Sources for this article include: StrangeSounds.substack.com DailyNews.com Brighteon.com Its all about CONTROL: Macron suggests shutting down internet and cutting off access to social media platforms to curb protests in France French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested the possibility of shutting down the internet and cutting off access to social media platforms like Snapchat and TikTok to limit protests in France. During a gathering at Elysee Palace, Macron stated that these social media platforms could influence the youth and alter the way they perceive reality. Macron's remarks came on the heels of violent demonstrations across France, sparked by a police officer's fatal shooting of Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old delivery boy and a Muslim immigrant. These protests have reignited long-standing tensions between the youth and the police. (Related: RIOTS erupt across France as EU falls to migrant invasion.) In the past week, rioters have targeted various public institutions, including schools, police stations, libraries, stores and even politicians. Despite calls for calm from Merzouk's grandmother and mother, the unrest shows no signs of abating. An anonymous official from Digital Minister Jean-Noel Barrot's team clarified that the president merely stated the technical possibility of cutting social media access, without indicating that it was under active consideration. This statement is contrary to the news circulating online about the notice issued by the Directorate General of the National Police. The official emphasized that nothing should be dismissed outright and that all options should be explored. The government reportedly did not discuss the idea of cutting social media access with platform representatives during a recent meeting focused on content moderation and cooperation with the justice system. Barrot expressed satisfaction with the tech companies' responsiveness in removing problematic content, blocking accounts and assisting law enforcement agencies. Government spokesman Olivier Veran addressed the issue during a press conference on July 5. He mentioned the potential for temporary suspensions of certain functionalities, specifically referring to geolocation, which enables users to share their locations and scenes. Snapchat's mapping tool was reportedly extensively used by rioters for coordination purposes. MP Mathilde Panot to Macron: OK Kim Jong Un Macron's suggestion of cutting off social media access during riots has faced criticism from different political factions and even his own allies. Leaders from the Socialists and Les Republicains compared his decision to authoritarian regimes like Iran, China and Russia, with MP Mathilde Panot from the left-wing France Unbowed tweeting, "OK Kim Jong Un." Eric Bothorel, an MP from Macron's Renaissance Party specializing in tech policy, also expressed opposition to the idea. He argued that implementing such measures would mean giving up on the belief that democracy is stronger than the tools used against it, calling it a mistake. France has previously supported United Nations resolutions condemning internet shutdowns by governments, including one in 2021 that opposed intentional and arbitrary disruption of online information access and dissemination. In response to the recent riots, some French lawmakers have attempted to impose stricter regulations on social media platforms through votes on the country's tech bill, currently being discussed in parliament. Senator Patrick Chaize from Les Republicains has advocated for online platforms to promptly remove violent content flagged by authorities within two hours during periods of civil unrest or social movements. While Chaize withdrew his amendment, he secured a commitment from the government to revise and present rules regarding social media use during riots at the National Assembly in the autumn. The world is teetering on the edge of a cataclysmic global collapse. Learn more about it at Chaos.news. Watch this video as Macron claims parents, video games and the internet are the reasons for the ongoing riots in France. This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Internet SHUTDOWN begins in Wuhan, China to stop the spread of truth and hide the severity of the outbreak from the world. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com Politico.eu Brighteon.com Dr. Lee Merritt and Trent Loos discuss LAND GRABS in America Brighteon.TV Trent Loos joined the Medical Rebel Dr. Lee Merritt to talk about land grabs in America during the June 28 episode of the "Merritt Medical Hour" on Brighteon.TV Merritt said Americans must have their own land where they can live and grow food to take care of themselves. If they do not have their own land, it will be over for them. "That is a critical infrastructure that has to be preserved and that is the basis of our liberty," said Merritt, a former Navy physician and surgeon. Loos, a sixth-generation rancher and farmer, noted that land grabbing is not new. He has been talking about the importance of domestic food and energy production for more than 20 years. However, he lamented that people have been taking the issue for granted. According to Loos, people never cared about it until the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic happened and the U.S. food and energy sector suddenly became crippled. The central Nebraska rancher mentioned that rich and influential people are behind this collapse, and they take marching orders from the globalist United Nations and the World Economic Forum. These individuals are putting pressure on elected officials to advance this agenda. Loos: Big Government spearheading the land grabs Loos also told Merritt that he has been fighting the Endangered Species Act for years. Under the law, the government through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks to control land under the guise of "protecting endangered species." But of the 2,390 animal species listed as endangered in America since 1971, the government has only successfully saved 12 as of writing. Moreover, Merritt noted that the EPA also attempted to do a land grab following the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment and chemical spill. She expressed belief that the disaster isn't an accident, and that Americans are in a multi-dimensional war with every facet of their life being attacked. (Related: Ohio train derailment highlights Democrats environmental hypocrisy, reveals this about the disaster.) Her guest agreed, saying: "We've got to get around the government to bring these things to the forefront." Loos also noted that so-called conservation programs being done in the name of the 30 by 30 initiative are nothing more than attempts to stop farmers from being able to use the land to produce food, fiber and fuel for the nation and the world. The sixth-generation farmer noted that the attempt to shut down food production was done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. But while Americans can't control the Swamp in Washington, D.C., they can play a key role while in their respective home states. Loos mentioned that former Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, now a U.S. senator, has viewed the 30 by 30 initiative as a challenge and a threat to the human food production. He added that more than half of the counties in the Cornhusker State had signed resolutions at the county level against it. County commissioners who signed these resolutions have committed to preventing 30 by 30 efforts from taking place in their respective territories. "We all need to focus on what is happening in the county, the county government, the county or local school boards and that is where we control this and turn the tide," Loos said. BigGovernment.news has more stories about how the federal government is spearheading the land grab in America and other parts of the globe. Watch the June 28 episode of the "Merritt Medical Hour" below. Tune in to the show every Wednesday at 7-8 p.m. and Saturday at 2-3 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: The goal of the elite with all their climate hysteria is to wipe out the food supply and depopulate the planet. Amazon, Bill Gates, China buying up land all over the US in run up to Great Reset agenda. Green tyranny takes aim at our farms: South Dakota farmers face land seizures by terraforming company planning to install massive carbon capture infrastructure across landscape. Absurd: Climate activists say food production is the cause of global environmental crisis. Sources include: Brighteon.com DrLeeMerritt.com LoosTalesMedia.com EPA.gov NIH uses taxpayer money to fund the genital mutilations of children The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been using taxpayer money to fund the sterilization and genital mutilation of children since September of 2021. The corrupt and predatory agency has yet to be held accountable for funding gain-of-function virology research that generates pathogens of pandemic potential and exploits human immune systems for vaccine development and population control. Feeling as if they are above the law, the NIH is now funneling more than $3 million into programs that expand access to puberty blockers and genital mutilation of minors. As these programs go into effect, an untold number of kids will be further brainwashed into the LGBTQ cult and put on puberty blockers that sterilize them for life, before their private parts are maimed - their future destroyed. NIH to wage war on the next generation, erecting the medical infrastructure to maim children and destroy their lives The NIH entered into an agreement with the Brigham and Womens Hospital and the Childrens Hospital Corporation in September 2021. The agreement is titled TRANS-NIH RESEARCH SUPPORT and provides $3,266,707 to establish a Trans Health Guide at the hospitals. This grant will be used to expand the local workforce of gender-affirming care providers and advance equity and reduce mental health disparities for TGD [transgender and gender diverse] youth by making systemic changes that increase access to gender-affirming care. The NIH program prompts medical professionals to do their part in affirming ones gender of choice with free online training course for continuing education credit which includes consultations with specialists. The Trans Health Guide provides free training materials on working with transgender and other gender-diverse youth including gender-affirming medical and mental health care. The grant implies that access to gender-affirming care is family support that improves mental health outcomes for TGD youth. This cold, psychopathic deception is destroying countless young lives. The chemical castration and genital mutilation of children constitute crimes against humanity. This pedophilic industry destroys people for life, leaving them with reproductive health issues, physical disabilities, and serious regrets. The NIH had previously experimented on children at the Boston Childrens Hospital with the study Psychosocial Functioning in Transgender Youth after 2 Years of Hormones. After the study, two individuals who were pushed into gender transition later committed suicide. Congressmen speak out against these crimes against children Senators Rand Paul (KY), Marco Rubio (FL), and Ted Budd (NC) are currently speaking against these crimes against children. As a senator and a physician, I am deeply concerned about the NIHs use of taxpayer money to fund dangerous and controversial youth transgender research, Sen. Paul told The Daily Wire. The well-being of our youth is of utmost importance and subjecting them to harmful and experimental medical procedures is unacceptable. Senator Marco Rubio lambasted the predatory NIH grant. The NIH should not use U.S. taxpayer dollars to encourage or promote transgenderism in children, especially when that means subjecting kids to damaging and irreversible surgeries and hormones, Rubio told The Daily Wire. The U.S. government should not overlook or diminish the biological reality that underpins human existence. Senator Tedd Budd spoke out: Our government should not be furthering the fallacy that chemically transitioning children is safe and effective. Taxpayer dollars should not be used to encourage gender transition interventions on young people. January Littlejohn, a Senior Fellow Patient Advocate for Do No Harm, criticized the NIH for pushing irreversible, harmful treatment interventions on vulnerable and confused children. Boston Childrens Hospital lost all credibility when they released videos of their doctors stating children seemingly know from the womb they are transgender and admitted to performing irreversible gender surgeries on minors, she said. Sources include: DailyWire.com FoxNews.com NaturalNews.com RFK Jr. dismisses conspiracy theorist accusations, insists he hasnt been proven wrong about his beliefs Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) has dismissed accusations of being a "conspiracy theorist," adding that he is yet to be proven wrong about his beliefs on certain things. The Democratic presidential hopeful recently sat down with Reason TV for an interview with Reason magazine editor-in-chief Nick Gillespie. The candidate discussed a myriad of topics such as his campaign, his potential plans if elected as president and some of his controversial beliefs. Gillespie accused RFK Jr. of "trafficking" conspiracy theories, which the candidate decried. He then accused the Reason editor-in-chief of basing his reports on newspapers, "many of which are just wrong." RFK Jr. proceeded to challenge Gillespie to provide evidence to the contrary. The Reason editor-in-chief then presented theories that had allegedly been "debunked," such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) not always being detected in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines being unsafe. "Show me where I got it wrong," the candidate said. "Yes, I am willing to question public matters; I've been taught to do that my whole life. My father [former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Sr.] said people in authority lie." He also emphasized to Gillespie in the same interview his opposition to COVID-19 mandates such as vaccine mandates and draconian lockdowns: "My inclination is not to mandate things, but give people a choice." RFK Jr.'s interviews involving vaccine criticism being CENSORED Due to RFK Jr.'s vocal criticism of vaccines, including that of COVID-19, most of his interviews were suppressed on major social media platforms and mainstream media networks. (Related: ABC News censors Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s criticisms against covid "vaccines.") Back in June, YouTube took down the Democratic presidential candidate's interview with Canadian clinical psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson. The Alphabet-owned video platform's decision to take down the episode of "The Dr. Jordan B. Peterson Podcast" triggered accusations of Big Tech actively interfering in a U.S. presidential election. "Now YouTube has taken upon itself to actively interfere with a presidential election campaign," Peterson remarked. RFK Jr. also spoke out: "Do you really need Big Tech censors to decide what you should hear, or would you prefer to be treated as a competent adult who can listen to various viewpoints and come to [their] own conclusions?" YouTube defended its decision to take down the interview between RFK Jr. and Peterson, alleging that the clip promotes "vaccine misinformation." "We removed a video from the Jordan Peterson channel for violating YouTube's general vaccine misinformation policy, which prohibits content that alleges that vaccines cause chronic side effects, outside of rare side effects that are recognized by health authorities," a spokesperson for the platform said in a statement. RFK Jr. responded in a tweet: "It may be that YouTube has broken no laws in this blatant interference in the electoral process. In that case, change will come only through public pressure. That's democracy in action." Visit VoteDemocrat.news for more stories about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign. Listen to this interview between RFK Jr. and the Health Ranger Mike Adams about election integrity, free speech, border issues and more. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: New book narrates RFK Jr.s pursuit of medical freedom especially for children. RFK Jr. promises punishment against all government officials who committed crimes against humanity during covid: "Not retribution but justice!" Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rejects climate cultism, while expressing genuine alarm about stopping REAL pollution and ecological destruction. Climate change is being exploited by "mega billionaires" to tyrannize the planet, warns RFK Jr. RFK Jr. doesn't "think it's fair" for males who call themselves "trans" to invade women's sports. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Breitbart.com Brighteon.com Science journal finally admits covid jabs cause autoimmune disorders One of the world's top scientific journals,, is finally confessing to the fact that Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) "vaccines" are hurting people and causing them to develop "long vax." Another name for "long covid," long vax encompasses the consortium of autoimmune-related and other health conditions that people who get jabbed for covid tend to develop at some point after the fact. The government and media have long denied that any of this even exists, instead falsely claim the shots are "safe and effective." But the new study in Science dashes all that to pieces. While the medical, media, and government establishments have finally conceded to the fact that covid injections cause cardiovascular problems such as myocarditis and pericarditis, they have been reluctant to admit to the autoimmune issues that often arise post-injection. Now, however, Science has blown the lid on the matter by revealing that covid jabs are linked to autoimmune conditions such as small fiber neuropathy and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, also known as POTS. "We've been screaming from the top of our lungs about these things happening," said Agnieszka Wilson, the founder of #CanWeTalkAboutIt, as quoted by The Defender. "And finally, slowly, it's being acknowledged." (Related: More people died from the government's covid restrictions than died in the Holocaust.) You can avoid Long Vax by NOT getting jabbed for covid in the first place Wilson's #CanWeTalkAboutIt initiative aims to accomplish exactly what its name suggests: to get more government agencies, the media, and other loud voices to talk about the incredible amount of harm being suffered by people who got jabbed for covid. Increasingly more physicians and other individuals are speaking up about it, especially the more they see others doing the same. It is no longer a secret in the medical community that something is very, very wrong with the shots. "I am extremely grateful that doctors and medical institutions are now willing to talk about adverse reactions," said Suzanna Newell, a former board member at the vaccine-injured patient advocacy group React19. "[They] should have been listening to the injured. We even have many injured medical professionals among the injured who have had trouble being heard." In addition to destroying the heart and cardiovascular system, often leading to blood clotting and heart inflammation, covid jabs also give rise to "another apparent complication," to quote the new study. "[This] debilitating suite of symptoms that resembles Long Covid, has been more elusive, its link to vaccination unclear and its diagnostic features ill-defined," the study explains. "But in recent months, what some call Long Vax has gained wider acceptance among doctors and scientists, and some are now working to better understand and treat its symptoms." Though cases of long vax "seem very rare," according to the study, it is still one case too many for even one person to develop such symptoms after getting injected. Symptoms can appear weeks or even hours after getting jabbed but because of denial throughout the establishment that they even exist, long vax symptoms are difficult to study. Again, increasingly more researchers are making autoimmune diagnoses in "fully vaccinated" patients as more such cases arise but is it enough to really get the ball rolling so the matter can be better addressed? Keep in mind that long vax can occur from other jabs as well. We know that Merck's Gardasil injection for human papillomavirus (HPV) also causes it. How rare can it be if multiple widely distributed injections are linked to it? Want to keep up with the latest news about the deadly after-effects of covid "vaccination?" You can do so at Genocide.news. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org Science.org Newstarget.com Beijing (Gasgoo)- In the first half of 2023, Chinas auto market has overcome several external influences and experienced a significant growth, with a 9.8% year-on-year rise in cumulative sales volume. The combined efforts of national and local promotion policies, the various automobile marketing activities across different regions, and the introduction of numerous new vehicle models by automotive companies have collectively contributed to this positive momentum. Additionally, the boost in market demand can be attributed to the mid-year surge in sales driven by automakers and the relatively low base in comparison to the same period last year. In June 2023, China produced a total of 2.561 million vehicles, representing a 9.8% rise over the previous month and a 2.5% edge up over the previous year, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). At the same time, China's monthly auto sales came in at 2.622 million vehicles in June, ticking up 10.1% from a month ago and 4.8% from the year-ago period. Thanks to the low base number in the past year and multiple beneficial factors, Chinas auto market has been continuously heating up since April. In the first half of this year, there were 13.248 million and 13.239 million vehicles produced and sold across China, increasing 9.3% and 9.8% year over year, respectively. BYD Seal; photo credit: BYD As one of the main factors that drive the local auto market growth, new energy vehicles (NEVs) maintained its robust performance in June. With about 784,000 and 806,000 NEVs produced and sold by automakers in China in the past month, the market boasted a respective year-over-year hike of 32.8% and 35.2%. NEVs accounted for 30.7% of the country's total auto sales last month. In the first half of this year, China completed a strong NEV output and sales of 3.788 and 3.747 million units, representing a 42.4% and 44.1% spike over the previous year. Sales of NEVs made up 28.3% of Chinas total auto sales in the period. Last month, automakers in China saw roughly 382,000 vehicles leave to overseas markets, notching down 1.7% month on month while surging 53.2% year over year. Of the vehicles shipped overseas in June, about 78,000 units were NEVs, down 28.4% from the previous month, but skyrocketing 170% from the earlier year. In the first half of 2023, a total of 2.14 million vehicles were exported outside of the country by automakers in China, soaring 75.7% from a year ago. Among which, exports of NEVs in the period reached roughly 534,000 units, which is 1.6 times higher than that of the previous year. MG MULAN; photo credit: SAIC Motor According to rankings compiled by the CAAM, SAIC Motor was the number one exporter of automobiles in China during the Jan.-Jun. period, with an impressive volume of 483,000 vehicles. Meanwhile, Chery came closely after with 394,000 vehicles exported. NEV-dedicated companies such as Tesla and BYD, ranked third and ninth on the list, with 182,000 and 81,000 NEVs shipped overseas. Notably, BYD boasted a year-on-year surge of 1,006% regarding Jan.-Jun. export volume this year. On the other hand, China's passenger vehicle sales stood at 2.268 million units in June, up 2.1% over the previous year. In the first half of this year, automakers in the country sold a total of 11.268 million vehicles, which rose 8.8% year over year. Last month, sales of China-branded passenger vehicles summed up to 1.205 million units, jumping 21.2% year on year, while accounting for 53.1% of China's overall passenger vehicle sales. In the first six months of this year, cumulative sales of China-branded passenger vehicles totaled 5.986 million units, increasing 22.4% from the earlier year. Looking ahead to the second half of the year, the gradual recovery of the macroeconomic conditions is expected to have a positive effect on Chinas automotive market. The strong performance of the NEV segment and the growth in automotive exports have effectively stimulated market growth. Furthermore, the continued presence of favorable policy effects will further unlock the consumer potential of the automotive market, facilitating stable industry growth throughout the year. However, it is important to acknowledge that the current external environment remains complex, with some structural issues still prevalent. Consumer demand continues to be insufficient, and the industry faces significant pressure and numerous challenges. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain stable and predictable policies to support the smooth operation of the industry. UNRELIABLE SOURCE: Siemens Energy says up to 30% of its wind turbines could be MALFUNCTIONING International energy firm Siemens Energy has experienced a significant setback, disclosing that up to 30 percent of its wind turbines could be malfunctioning . According to Siemens Gamesa CEO Jochen Eickholt, the company believes between 15 percent and 30 percent of its installed fleets are suffering from component failures prompting Siemens Gamesa to retract its profit estimates. Siemens Energy President and CEO Christian Bruch said in a June 22 analyst call: "The fact that we have identified more quality problems marks a significant setback for us. These quality problems go beyond what we were previously aware of, and they are directly linked to selective components at a few but important suppliers." He estimated that the costs associated with addressing these issues could exceed 1 billion ($1.09 billion). According to MarketWatch, Siemens Energy's stock value plunged to 36 percent on June 23, a day after its announcement. CNBC separately reported that other wind energy companies saw their shares retreat. The mainstream news outlet remarked that investors and industry experts worry that the problems at Gamesa could be a sign of an industry-wide issue. (Related: Wind power FAILING in Texas as power grid pushed to brink of collapse.) Wind turbine issue being downplayed Cristoph Zipf, a spokesman for the European industry group WindEurope, said wind turbine failures remain "extremely rare." He added that the problems faced by Siemens Gamesa a merger between the Spanish Gamesa and the German conglomerate were isolated to the subsidiary. Nicholas Green, the head of capital goods and industrial technology for the European Union at asset management firm AllianceBernstein, suggested that limited operational data and the industry's pace of change could be contributing factors. He said: "It wasn't that Siemens Gamesa is a bad operator as such, it's that actually some of the normal protocols and time in use, operational data in use, is relatively limited." According to Green, the rapid technological advancements and the increased size of modern wind turbines have placed the sector in relatively uncharted territory. Zipf shared the same sentiment, remarking that the larger size of contemporary turbines may exacerbate quality issues. He noted that fierce competition in the sector was driving original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to develop even larger and more efficient turbines at a rapid pace. Industry analytics company ONYX Insights noted that while wind turbines receive certification for a 20-year lifespan, cost-saving measures often result in the inclusion of components that will fail within that period. The company predicts that the wind energy industry will spend approximately $4 billion on major repair projects by 2029 with around 65 percent of maintenance costs being unplanned. Evgenia Golysheva, vice president of strategy and marketing at ONYX Insights, highlighted the need for a comprehensive understanding of turbine failure rates across the industry. She emphasized that while turbines were not inherently poorly made, there exists a trade-off between energy cost and targeted reliability. Golysheva ultimately urged all stakeholders involved in wind turbine construction, financing and operation to have a realistic outlook on the number of failures to anticipate. "It's a conversation that is overdue because the underlying issues aren't going away," she said. Visit NewEnergyReport.com for more news related to renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar. Watch this Fox Business segment about the U.S. being dependent on wind and solar energy technologies that are unreliable in extreme weather situations. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Texans urged to conserve energy as state wind farms CANT produce enough power to meet demand. High wind hazard: Norway wind farm faces SHUTDOWN as parts of wind turbines fly off due to strong winds. Wind turbine manufacturers losing BILLIONS as orders decline despite turmoil in natural gas markets. Sources include: NewRightNetwork.com DailyCaller.com CNBC.com Brighteon.com Study: Many health care clinics in Oregon lost workers due to COVID-19 vaccine mandate Many health care clinics in Oregon have lost workers as a result of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate, according to a study. A group of researchers from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) made a survey and sent it out to staffers at 80 clinics across the Beaver State's 28 counties. Of this number, 38 staffers were from clinics in rural areas while 42 were from urban areas. The researchers asked respondents whether their clinics had lost workers through termination or resignation arising from the vaccine mandate, and the level of impact the mandate had on staffing at their clinics. They found that 37 of the 80 clinics lost jobs due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. More than half of rural clinics 52.6 percent lost jobs, while about 40 percent of those in urban areas saw staff levels drop. About 45 percent of rural clinics and 21 percent of urban clinics said the vaccine mandate's overall impact on staffing was significant or very significant. "Oregon's COVID-19 vaccination mandate increased health care personnel vaccination rates, yet amplified staffing challenges with disproportionate impacts in rural areas," said OHSU professor and study co-author Dr. Brigit Hatch. Former Oregon Gov. Kate Brown first announced the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in 2021. She explained that forcing workers to get vaccinated would help ensure enough manpower to treat infected patients. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), which is in charge of health policy at the Beaver State, imposed the edict. "The [B16172] delta variant is causing a surge in unvaccinated cases and vaccine breakthrough cases," the OHA previously said. "This rule is necessary to help control COVID-19, protect patients and protect the state's health care workforce." However, it was eventually found that the vaccines never prevented infection or transmission. Even the OHA acknowledged that both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals carried the same viral loads. Moreover, vaccine-induced protection had been waning over time necessitating COVID-19 boosters. The rule was suspended in May of this year, and was finally repealed the next month. COVID-19 vaccine mandates worsened staffing shortages NPR's Andrea Hsu wrote in September 2021 that despite healthcare workers having priority access to the COVID-19 vaccines, "vaccination rates remained low in some states and among some subgroups of healthcare workers." "As part of his push to get more Americans vaccinated, President Joe Biden essentially told 17 million workers at approximately 76,000 healthcare facilities including hospitals and long-term care facilities to get vaccinated or get out," she noted. Hsu also pointed out that the president did not give health workers COVID-19 testing options made available to workers in different fields. (Related: Military whistleblowers submit report claiming COVID-19 vaccine mandate is UNLAWFUL.) In January 2022, the Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic axed roughly 700 workers who refused to comply with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The said workers refusing to get injected with the COVID-19 shot comprised one percent of the clinic's total workforce. The said workers were given a deadline to get a medical or religious exemption to the mandate, if not getting the first dose of vaccine. Those who had already received one dose were expected not to delay their second dose. "While Mayo Clinic is saddened to lose valuable employees, we need to take all steps necessary to keep our patients, workforce, visitors and communities safe," it said in a statement to NBC News. "If individuals released from employment choose to get vaccinated at a later date, the opportunity exists for them to apply and return to Mayo Clinic for future job openings." MedicalTyranny.com has more stories about COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Watch Tommy Carrigan and Dr. Richard Amerling discussing vaccine mandate terminations below. This video is from the Tommys Podcast channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Scott Kesterson: Military COVID-19 vaccine mandate a ploy to get rid of soldiers who would disobey illegal orders - Brighteon.TV. FBI using counterterrorism resources on parents who oppose school mask mandates. Highly decorated US military officer resigns in protest of COVID vaccine mandate. Sources include: NTD.com NPR.org NBCNews.com Brighteon.com Transgenderism a scientifically baseless movement, says endocrinologist Everything the Endocrine Society is currently pushing with regards to "gender-affirming care," especially for children, is completely unscientific , a prominent endocrinologist has warned. In a recent piece he co-wrote for The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Roy Eappen criticized the Endocrine Society's false claims about "transitioning" children with drugs and surgery, stating that the whole thing is a "scientifically baseless movement" pushing an ulterior agenda. Shamefully, some of these false claims made by the Endocrine Society were used by a federal judge to block an Arkansas law that aimed to protect children from the pharmaceutical chemicals and destructive surgical procedures being pushed on them by the LGBT mob. With the help of Ian Kingsbury of the medical advocacy group Do No Harm, Dr. Eappen did a phenomenal job at blowing holes in the Endocrine Society's false, pro-trans claims, which are destroying countless children's lives. "... over the past decade transgender activists have co-opted the Endocrine Society and other professional organizations to promote such treatments for adolescents and even young children," Dr. Eappen and Kingsbury warn. "Their guidelines are based on flimsy evidence, giving the appearance that invasive and irreversible treatments are beneficial for young patients despite a growing body of evidence to the contrary. The guidelines have been used by lawmakers in states such as California and New York to endanger children and now by judges to block state efforts at protecting youngsters." (Related: The more the trans mob is exposed as a fraud, the more its members are becoming unhinged.) Many other Endocrine Society members agree that transgenderism is highly destructive pseudoscience It turns out that Dr. Eappen and Kingsbury are not alone. Many other members of the Endocrine Society agree with them that the transgender craze is one of the most heinous things to ever come out of and be affirmed by Western medicine. "We found that endocrinologists are aware of the society's failings and rue its elevation of transgender activism over medical expertise and patient needs," the duo wrote. It was the year 2017, right after Donald Trump was sworn in as president of the United States, that the Endocrine Society first endorsed drugging children with gender-bender hormones, despite "little good research on this issue and ... admit[ting] the guidelines were largely based on evidence of 'low' or 'very low' quality." "At this year's meeting, we had frank and fruitful discussions with endocrinologists who provide hormonal treatments to kids with gender dysphoria, as well as some who don't," the pair further explains in the Journal piece. "Without exception, they acknowledged that the society's evidence base for pediatric gender transition is weak, at best. Yet while they're aware of the guidelines' shortcomings, they're afraid to voice their concerns." It is implied by the Endocrine Society's position on the matter that anyone who holds differing viewpoints on transgenderism, including members of the organization, is to be condemned. "Medical professionals are being cowed into silence and coerced into providing treatments they know are dangerous to children," they explained about how the LGBT-pushing medical mafia is ringleading this operation. Unfortunately, it is difficult to challenge a finding of fact in court. This means the Endocrine Society and the endocrinologists who support its official position on transgenderism "are making themselves complicit in a scientifically baseless movement that inflicts serious harm on children's physical and mental health." In response to the piece, Endocrine Society president Dr. Stephen Hammes tried to claim that more than 2,000 studies published since the year 1975 support the idea that mutilating children with drugs and surgery "improves the well-being of transgender and gender-diverse people and reduces the risk of suicide." Transgenderism is a mental illness. Learn more at Transhumanism.news. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com FALSE BRAVADO: UK is hoping to fight a war with Russia with only 40 TANKS The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has stripped the Western forces of their true colors as to which side they buttress. As if to prove to the world that Ukraine can count on them, the United Kingdom government vowed to support President Volodymyr Zelensky's troops with war weapons including tanks though it only has 40. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the U.K. chief of the defense staff, revealed on July 5 that his country has "no tanks! They have no army! It was all just bluster!" For the record, the United Kingdom was the first to send tanks and other heavy weaponry into the conflict and it has been the most outspoken among the Western allies regarding supplying Ukraine not only with tanks but most recently warplanes as well. (Related: Russia says it will 'respond accordingly' if UK supplies Ukraine with depleted uranium tank rounds.) "A Defense Committee meeting in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon heard the U.K. has just 40 tanks and roughly a dozen frigates and destroyers ready for war," one report on Radakin's words underscored. "With the Russian-Ukrainian conflict continuing, military figures are urging for larger stockpiles." Fight Russia? Britain has just 40 tanks and around a dozen frigates and destroyers ready to go war - the lowest figures in modern times https://t.co/7uscgIkzAC KulganofCrydee (@KulganofCrydee) July 5, 2023 According to him, Britain has around 200 on paper. But of these, only 40 are ready to go to war. "We were at 19 frigates and destroyers, which we subsequently reduced to 17 because some of those ships were very expensive," the top defense official admitted. "You've then got some in maintenance and refit so it is probably 11 or 12 which are available to go out on operations." He explained that the armored vehicles that the government has been "investing like crazy" in will only be available at the end of the decade which is why the Armed Forces need to have deeper stockpiles. As per the DailyMail, the figures are the lowest in modern times and MPs suggest they show the U.K. would struggle to fight a war against Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin's army has been reported to have lost over 2,000 tanks in the conflict but has as many in reserve. See the video below Dr. Ron Paul's Liberty Report where he talked about the tough-talking U.K. when they only have 40 war tanks. Radakin: Russia is now "so weak" that it couldn't wage a counteroffensive Though admitting that they do not have the strongest force when it comes to war tanks, Radakin still undermined Russia's combat effectiveness since invading Ukraine and is now not strong enough to even launch a counteroffensive. "Russia has lost nearly half the combat effectiveness of its army," he said, according to the Financial Times. "Last year, it fired 10 million artillery shells, but at best, can produce one million shells a year. It has lost 2,500 tanks and, at best, can produce 200 tanks a year." On the other hand, he defended Ukraine's counteroffensive, which everyone has observed to be slow and not making enough progress. He said that Kyiv's strategy to "starve, stretch, and strike" was gradually eroding Russia's defenses despite Putin's mines, Zelensky's insufficient air defenses and that the lack of equipment Ukraine requested had weighed on operations. A report from February by the open-source intelligence group Oryx indicated that more than 1,000 Russian tanks had been destroyed in Ukraine while another 500 were captured. A classified U.S. military assessment, leaked earlier this year, suggested that as many as 43,000 Russian soldiers had been killed and another 180,000 wounded since February last year. Some "experts" speculated that the losses had taken a huge toll, particularly on Russia's elite infantry and armored fighting brigades. "They've been decimated," Jeffrey Edmonds, a Russia expert at the Center for Naval Analyses who is a former CIA military analyst, told Insider's Jake Epstein earlier this year, describing it as a "blow to Russian's ground force's combat power." Visit WWIII.news to read more about new stories in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. More related stories: Zelensky's RHETORIC: Russia is preparing nuclear explosion as Moscow's troops are reduced at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Putin: Russia will deploy tactical NUCLEAR WEAPONS in Belarus by early July. THE ENEMY WITHIN: Russia loses 39 pilots and crews during short-lived coup theater. DOUBLE AGENT? China supplies drones to both Ukraine and Russia. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com DailyMail.co.uk RonPaulInstitute.org BusinessInsider.com U.S. military facing recruitment shortages, with most potential service members DISQUALIFIED The U.S. military is having a hard time filling up its ranks , thanks to recruitment shortages. To make things worse, most potential service members are disqualified from enlisting due to a myriad of reasons. Brazilian international affairs researcher Uriel Araujo elaborated on the problem and cited a July 3 article published in the Atlantic magazine. The piece by Jason Dempsey of the Center for a New American Security and Gil Barndollar of the Defense Priorities Foundation disclosed that since 2020, merely "23 percent of young Americans aged 17 to 24 are 'eligible for military service without a waiver.' Most ineligible youth are disqualified 'for multiple reasons' such as [being] overweight, poor medical health and drug abuse." The two former military members recounted that mandatory conscription in the U.S. ended on July 1, 1973. Since then, the armed forces have become an "all-volunteer force" (AVF) for 50 years. However, Dempsey and Barndollar lamented that the AVF has become "unsustainable." They added that the AVF faces threats on "three fronts" cost, capacity and continued ability "to find enough Americans willing and able to serve." "Military pay and benefits have skyrocketed since 9/11, actually rising by more than 50 percent. Its high cost is one of the factors that make the U.S. military small," the two noted. Thus, they warned that the military could be broken by any "major conflict." Dempsey and Barndollar also noted that only nine percent of young Americans would seriously consider military service which is near the all-time low number since the AVF began. Service branches have loosened their restrictions on various things such as neck tattoos in order to widen the recruiting pool. They also recounted how the Army briefly dropped its requirement for potential soldiers to have a high school diploma. "Even so, the U.S. military simply can't seem to find recruits and keeps falling short of its enlistment quotas," Araujo wrote. "Given all these domestic and systemic issues, it is no wonder that most youth either do not qualify or do not want to be part of the military. Considering that many young people, due to so many factors, simply do not qualify for service, bringing back the draft with all the political costs would simply not solve the issue." (Related: Woke U.S. military failing to recruit because nobody wants to defend American degeneracy.) Wokeism in the armed forces impacting recruitment efforts Woke ideology is perhaps one of the most overlooked reasons why the U.S. Armed Forces are having a hard time recruiting. In August 2022, the Epoch Times spoke to an active-duty soldier with over 15 years of service. The soldier, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, blasted the military's pivot toward wokeism as the main reason for dwindling recruitment numbers. "In the past, the Army targeted a specific demographic of people based on their values. [These recruits] were patriots and loved America," the soldier remarked. "[Nowadays], much of the country doesn't live America like it used to. With a military no longer upholding the values, the oaths or the creeds it once did, what kind of new recruits should we expect?" The soldier pointed out that America now has a Department of Defense "that has taken various political positions that are very much opposed to the heart of America." Such positions include the encouragement of mandatory vaccination, support toward transgenderism and opposition to the Supreme Court's overturn of the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling. The anonymous military member isn't the only one concerned about the issue. A Navy lieutenant also pointed this out, lamenting that the service branch "has probably alienated the majority of its recruiting base that [it] could have always counted on historically." According to the lieutenant, senior military leaders have "bought into a big lie that somehow, the population at large wants a military which reflects the population diversity of the country." He decried this sentiment, adding: "The public simply wants to know that they have a military that's capable and lethal, and could successfully defend this nation on a moment's notice." Watch Richard Leonard and Jason Ous discussing why the military's recruitment numbers are at an all-time low. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Former Space Force officer: WOKE AGENDA weakening, dividing US military. Active-duty serviceman blames "woke" policies for Armys worst recruiting year in nearly five decades. Americans shun Biden's woke military, as all service branches except the USMC see recruiting shortfalls. Sources include: GlobalResearch.ca TheAtlantic.com TheEpochTimes.com Brighteon.com An increase in the number of cases of skin cancer was evident in United Kingdom, especially with the sharp rise among older adults. A report on The Guardian said an increase on the cases was observed among those who are 55-years-old and above. It noted that Melanoma cases across all age groups have reached 17,500 a year in the UK, which is considered as the highest since records began. Previous studies have shown that the case rates among those over 55-years-old have peaked by 195% since the 1990s. Factors, causes of skin cancer The Cancer Research UK said that the increase in skin cancer cases in this age group could be attributed to the trends to have tanned skin and the cheap package holiday boom dating from the 1960s or the period wherein people were not that aware of skin cancer. Experts said that other factors such as the growing and ageing population and the preference of people to have their skin checked whenever they notice any changes. The group warned that Melanoma skin cancer cases could spike by about 50% over the next 20 years, hitting a record 26,500 a year by 2040. Fortunately, the number of deaths due to the disease has been decreasing because of early detection and treatment. "While it's promising that more people are seeking treatment for skin cancer earlier and survival is improving, it's alarming that cases of the disease could soar over the coming years. Melanoma is the UK's fifth most common cancer, and we know that 86% of these skin cancers could be prevented," Cancer Research UK's chief executive, Michelle Mitchell told The Guardian. The Cancer Research in UK also said the high temperature could be one of the reasons for the alarming increase of skin cancer cases. The group emphasized how sun exposure is linked to skin cancer. It explained that almost nine out of ten skin cancer cases in the UK are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and sunbeds. This overexposure will damage the DNA in a person's skin cells, which can build up over time and later result in skin cancer. Read Also: Alcohol Might Cause Skin Cancer, Study Finds Symptoms of skin cancer one should look out for A Mirror report warned that one should look out for moles when detecting early signs of skin cancer. According to experts, Melanomas are often described as an uneven shape. They could have two different shaped halves and uneven edges. When it comes to color, Melanomas often have a mix of two or more. In size, they tend to be bigger and they are often more than 6mm wide. In some cases, doctors said one should be concerned when moles are swollen and sore, bleeding or itchy. It is best to make doctor consultations when these symptoms manifested and have moles checked by physicians. Physicians suggested reducing exposure to sun and avoiding skin cancer by spending time in the shade and covering up with a shirt and hat. Most importantly, one should regularly use a sunblock. Related Article: Red Hair Gene Linked To More Skin Cancer Mutations Authorities stepped up their shark patrol efforts in New York beach town after reported attacks of marine animals, which were believed to be sharks. Over the Independence Day holiday, at least five shark bites were reported on Long Island. The first incident was recorded on Tuesday, when a 15-year-old girl was bitten on the leg while swimming at Robert Moses Beach, according to CNN. According to George Gorman, the Long Island Regional Director for New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, no sharks were observed by the girl or anyone else at the time of the incident, but the bite was most likely caused by a shark. On Tuesday, a 15-year-old boy was also reportedly bitten on the foot by a shark while surfing off Fire Island's Kismet Beach Three more people were bitten on the same day, including a 47-year-old man swimming in chest deep water off Quogue Village Beach. The incident left him with laceration on his knee and was from a "large marine animals" believed to be a shark. The two other victims were a 49-year-old man at Pines Beach and a woman west of Cherry Grove. Authorities said most of the victim did not sustain life threating injuries. Read Also: Shark Attack Reported In Lovers Point Beach, California; Shark's Identity Remains Unknownd Drone for surveillance Following several possible incidents of shark bites off local beaches, New York lifeguards are being trained to utilize drones and personal watercraft to monitor the area. One of the lifeguard supervisors who pilots the drone at Jones Beach is Cary Epstein. He said a tiny batter powered aircraft make at least three sweeps each day, one before the opening, then midday and a final round before the end of the day. "Despite the nervousness over what's going on right now in New York, people swim in the ocean every day, and they have for centuries," he told the AP. "But we do have to remember that we are cohabitating, and this is their house." Meanwhile, the ABC News reported that a $1 million is provided to buy at least 42 drones and training staff to use them. Dan Keefe, spokesperson of New York's Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said half of the funds will use to support Long Island beaches while the other half will be shared by New York City and Westchester Country beaches. He added that their office is working to procure and distribute the drones as soon as possible. Consult with shark experts Greg Metzger, chief field coordinator with the Sofo Shark Research Program in Binghamton, New York, told The Guardian that surveillance methods used to spot sharks are not ideal, noting that education about sharks for beachgoers is more sustainable to increase safety. According to the study conducted by the Sofo program, sharks are rarely at the shallow depths that allow them to be detected by surveillance. "90% of the time that a shark could be there, it would not be at the surface where you could see it. It is not necessarily as effective as people might think," Metzger said. Metzger stated that even experts like himself find it challenging to spot sharks using means such as drones. He also encourages authorities to consult with shark experts before implementing several measures to spot sharks. On Wednesday, New York State Parks published a drone footage of roughly 50 huge marine animals swimming near Robert Moses Beach. The department initially thought they were sharks before determining they were fish, most likely black drum. Related Article: Shark Attack: Swimmer Survives Being Bitten And Shaken In Del Mar Beach, California Flash flooding impacted the Northeast region of the United States over the weekend as heavy rain dumped enough precipitation to submerge different areas. With this, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued flash flood warnings across the region, including southeast New York, while describing the situation as "life-threatening," according to reports. By the start of the week, the NWS issued a Northeast weather update that the flash flooding threat will continue Tuesday, July 11. This means torrential rain could persist in the Northeast and its surrounding areas across the East Coast. Disruption to ground and air travel, as well as a series of power outages, are possible in the coming hours and days. The U.S. is currently over two months since its hurricane and the summer season started on June 1. While high temperatures have been recorded in some parts of the country, including the southern half, severe thunderstorms have gripped the country. In recent weeks, flight disruptions have been reported from coast to coast. Northeast Weather Update On Monday, July 10, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) of the NWS stated heavy rain is likely to cause significant flash flooding throughout New England, as the deadly, excessive rainfall could persist until Tuesday. The short-range forecast shows the state of Vermont will experience the highest risk, with expected impacts on transit routes, amid the looming adverse weather. Meanwhile, severe thunderstorms with heavy rain are also possible in areas from the Central Plains to the Midwest, according to the weather service. In addition, the U.S. weather agency adds excessive heat will continue in southern Florida and parts of the Southwest U.S. and Southern High Plains. Before Tuesday, "intense rainfall rates" are anticipated to persist in Vermont and northeastern New York on Monday, wherein more than 9 million people are under flood alerts across the region, CNN reported. So far, at least one person has died after involving a woman who was swept away by strong-moving floodwaters. Also Read: Northeast Weather Forecast: Rainy Conditions to Unload This Week After Experiencing Drought Conditions Northeast Flash Flooding Threat Amongst all other weather hazards, the Northeast is vulnerable from heavy precipitation, mainly due to its proximity with the Atlantic Ocean and its position in the Northern Hemisphere. Flash flooding has been reported in areas like Norfolk, Connecticut, and Reading, Pennsylvania, where road traffic movement came into a standstill as raging floodwaters submerged major highways, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. Even meteorologists from AccuWeather placed Northeast under alert for "serious flash flood risk" as excessive rainfall may occur into Monday night, including in areas struck by flooding and landslides over the past week. The exceptionally wet weather is caused by a slow-moving weather system that absorbs and releases moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, according to AccuWeather. The system is moving in a north-northeast direction, which can bring flooding rainfall across the western and central parts of New England, as well as in northeastern New York. Related Article: Northeastern US Weather Forecast: Stormy, Rainy Pattern to Continue Until Next Week White rhino extinction, at least for one out of two subspecies of the rhinoceros extant species, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has shocked conservationists and scientists around the world in recent years. Humanity has seen the extinction of the group's northern white rhinoceros in the wild due to rampant, continuous poaching amid illegal wildlife trade and trafficking. In the DRC, South Africa has planned to conserve and prevent the white rhino population from going extinct by re-populating the country with several of the animals. This occurred almost 16 years after the last remaining member of the northern white rhino subspecies died from poaching, a common human activity even in some protected wildlife areas in Africa. While widespread hunting during colonial times reportedly contributed to the decline of the white rhinoceros population, people killing them for their horns have continued today, which could drive the remaining survivors into extinction. One such case is in Africa, where remaining white rhinos are at risk as demand for their body part persists. White Rhino Extinction With the northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) becoming extinct, the remaining population of southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) has significantly decreased as well due to losses from poaching. In total, the southern white rhino subspecies incurred a population decrease of almost 12% in the last four years, plummeting from 18,067 to less than 16,000 this year, according to the International Rhino Foundation. Being the second-largest land mammal on Earth next to elephants, the white rhino has been one of the targets of widespread poaching amongst wild animals. Despite conservation efforts in recent years, poachers and other individuals linked to the illegal practice have still managed their way to harm or kill some of these animals. Also Read: Can Scientists Bring the Northern White Rhino Back from Functional Extinction? DRC White Rhino Population On Sunday, July 9, the Telegraph reported that a cargo plane from South Africa, carrying eight large boxes, weighing a ton per piece, arrived at the DRC. The boxes contained eight white rhinoceros as conservationists have an "ambitious plan" to bring the endangered white rhino species back to a nation where it went extinct, the U.K. media outlet reported. The animals were reintroduced at the Garamba National Park, located in Garamba in the northeastern part of the African country. The white rhinos came from a South African private reserve. The return of the animals signifies the country's commitment to biodiversity conservation, according to Yves Milan Ngangay, a DRC conservation official, as cited by Phys.org, the website EcoWatch reported. Rhino Poaching Threat As mentioned earlier, there is an ongoing demand for rhino horn worldwide, but primarily for usage in traditional Chinese medicine. With South Africa being home to the majority of rhinos across the world, poachers are heavily targeting them (not just white rhinos) according to the organization Save The Rhino. The World Wildlife Fund states the white rhino is considered to be a "near threatened" species, adding their near extinction is caused by decades-long killing for their horns. Related Article: Eggs Taken From the Remaining Two Northern White Rhinos Might Rescue the Species For the first time in 20 years, an endangered red panda cub was born in San Diego Zoo. For the first time in 20 years, an endangered red panda cub was born at the San Diego Zoo, igniting excitement as it entered the viewing area for the general public. First in 20 Years The young red panda and its mother visited the outdoor habitat at the zoo's Asian Passage during the mid-morning hours of Thursday, providing a rare and amazing sight for visitors who happened to be in the right place at precisely the right moment. After its birth on June 9, this was the first time that zoo staff and visitors were able to see the curious cub beyond its habitat. According to the San Diego Wildlife Alliance, the roaming cub is a significant milestone for the zoo as it is the first member of its species to be born there since 2006. According to Erika Kohler, the San Diego Zoo senior vice president and executive director, while any animal birth is an emotional experience, it is much more extraordinary for a species that hasn't given birth in such a long time. This cub gives hope to everyone fighting to rescue this critically endangered Asian species because every birth bears so great weight. Endangered Red Panda Cub The nameless cub, which was born to first-time parents Lucas and Adira, has remained secluded in their cave for its first few weeks of life, largely sleeping and eating. Newborn red panda cubs typically suckle from their mother for 13 to 22 weeks, according to zoo authorities. Around six or seven weeks old, they become more energetic and start exploring their environment. Don't be misled by the name of these pandas, even if they enjoy eating bamboo and coexist alongside giant pandas in China's bamboo forests. Red pandas, formerly known as smaller pandas, are now classified in their own distinct family, Ailuridae, as evidenced by DNA tests. This family split from the rest of the carnivore order. Red pandas are also known as hun-ho, or fire fox, in Chinese. The red panda blends well with the white lichen and crimson moss that cover the trees in its bamboo forest habitat thanks to its reddish coat and white face mask, according to San Diego Zoo. Also Read: World's Only Albino Panda Seen Interacting with Other Pandas in China Nature Reserve Threats According to experts in wildlife, the red panda's population has decreased by as much as 40% over the previous 50 years, placing it on the list of endangered animals. Red pandas are reportedly threatened by several factors, including habitat loss and degradation brought on by rising human encroachment and climate change, FOX5 reported. Red pandas' special habitat is one of the factors contributing to the challenge of conservation. To have the best chance of surviving, these animals need a particular set of conditions, such as being close to water sources, having the right amount of bamboo, and being at the right altitude and forest cover. As human encroachment continues to rise, these ideal ecosystems become even more difficult to find. Degraded habitats provide inconsistent bamboo growth, which increases stress in the environment, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Related Article: Ravi the Red Panda Escaped Aussie Zoo to Hang Out in a Fig Tree With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Hongqi HS3 to hit market on July 17 The Hongqi HS3, a brand-new compact SUV featuring the brand's new design language and a competitive 2,770mm wheelbase, will officially hit the market on July 17. The model is currently available for pre-sales with a starting price of 150,000 yuan. Photo credit: Hongqi FAW Jiefang expects net profit to surge by 123%-147% in H1 2023 Chinese commercial vehicle maker FAW Jiefang announced that it expects a substantial year-on-year increase of 123.33%-146.84% in net profit for the first half of 2023, reaching 380 million yuan to 420 million yuan. The company's balanced growth across various segments, particularly medium and heavy-duty trucks, as well as light trucks, has contributed to this impressive result, while overseas exports achieved a historic high. JD Logistics partners with AutoCore.ai to develop intelligent driving systems JD Logistics signed a cooperation agreement with AutoCore.ai to jointly develop end-to-end, intelligent driving systems for the logistics industry. The collaboration aims to support the large-scale deployment and normalized operation of intelligent driving systems across various road environments and cost structures. Chinas auto export exceeds 2.1 million units in H1 2023 In the first half of 2023, Chinas auto market has overcome several external influences and experienced a significant growth, with a 9.8% year-on-year rise in cumulative sales volume. BYD completes construction of new energy vehicle parts industrial park in Xian city A ceremony was recently held in Xi'an Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone to celebrate the completion of 69 projects, including the BYD New Energy Vehicle Parts Industrial Park project, according to a post on the "Xi'an High-tech", the official WeChat account operated by local authority. Chinas power batteries installed capacity in H1 2023 leaps 38.1% YoY In June, China's production volume of power batteries reached a total of 60.1GWh, marking a year-on-year spike of 45.7% and a month-on-month increase of 6.3%, according to data by the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance (CAPBIIA). Dongfeng Motor Group faces double-digit YoY drop in June auto sales In June 2023, Dongfeng Motor Group Company Limited (Dongfeng Motor Group) faced a 25.68% year-on-year decline in monthly sales, which stood at 179,119 vehicles. Geely, Renault to build 50/50 joint venture for R&D, production of advanced powertrains Following the framework agreement announced in November 2022, Geely Holding Group and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (hereinafter referred to as "Geely") have signed a binding joint venture agreement with Renault Group in a 50:50 partnership, Geely Holding announced on July 11. SPACE nabs nominated supply contracts for intelligent parking solutions SPACE, Shanghai-based intelligent driving solution provider, announced that it has been selected as the designated supplier for two vehicle models of a prominent automaker. Dongfeng Motors VOYAH expands market presence in more European countries Dongfeng Motor's import and export subsidiary recently conducted meetings with dealers and signed agreements with four dealerships from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, and Finland regarding its premium new energy vehicle brand, VOYAH. Biggest-ever ZEEKR Center in China opens for business On July 8, the largest-ever ZEEKR Center in China officially opened its doors. BYD, GS Global co-deliver first T4K electric truck to user in South Korea On July 7, BYD, in collaboration with GS Global, the overseas trading arm of South Korea's GS Group, officially delivered its electric 1-ton-class truck T4K to its first customer in South Korea, marking the entry into the formal delivery phase. An expert claims that the anthropocene epoch happening right now is no longer shocking as a result of GHG, microplastics, and PFAS, which are all human-inflicted. Anthropocene: Happening Right Now Soaring greenhouse gas levels, widespread "forever chemicals," omnipresent microplastics, the global upheaval of animals, and even outdated mobile phones, and chicken bones have all been cited as indicators that the Anthropocene, or era of humans, began in the middle of the 20th century. When asked if there was any place on Earth that lacked evidence of human influence, Jan Zalasiewicz, a British geologist and former chair of the Anthropocene Working Group, took time to think. It is challenging to imagine a location that is more isolated than the Pine Island glacier in Antarctica, according to Zalasiewicz. Nuclear Fallout However, indications of plutonium were discovered when scientists excavated a deep hole beneath the glacier's ice a few years ago. It was the lingering radioactive remnant of nuclear bomb tests that had started in 1945 and had never been seen before. Although there aren't many options, Zalasiewicz claimed that these radionuclides may have been the sharpest signal to indicate the beginning of the Anthropocene epoch about 70 years ago. Golden Spike: GHG The site that best exemplifies the myriad ways that people have altered the earth will be chosen by the Anthropocene Working Group to serve as the "golden spike" of the epoch, according to AFP via South China Morning Post. However, because scientists throughout the world are still sorting through the material, the announcement will not yet formally recognize the Anthropocene as a geological time period. It should come as no surprise that the rapid increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are warming the earth is another significant hallmark of the Anthropocene. According to Zalasiewicz, many things occurred once humans gained the technology to extract oil, coal, and gas (which he called fossilized sunshine) from the ground. The Anthropocene experts have demonstrated that since 1950, human energy use has exceeded that of the preceding 11,700 years of the Holocene epoch, according to Eagle News. Wildlife Upheaval It was now conceivable to rule the globe thanks to this newfound strength. The growing human population required the use of both land and animals. In 2018, it was said that humans and their livestock account for 96% of the biomass of all terrestrial mammals, with wild mammals making up the remaining 4%. According to Zalasiewicz, two-thirds of all avian biomass comes from supermarket hens, which have been raised by humans to grow much bigger than they would naturally. Invasive species like rats were introduced by humans to even the most isolated Pacific islands, rearranging species across the world. Also Read: Worst Climate Polluters in US Named in 2021 EPA Report PFAS Researchers predicted that by the year 2020, all human-made objects would weigh more than all other living things combined. These items were referred to as "technofossils" by Anthropocene researchers. Zalasiewicz cited the rapid obsolescence of subsequent mobile phone generations as just one example of a technofossil that will be recorded in the Anthropocene. Microplastics, which are smaller fragments of plastic, have been found on the highest mountains on the planet and at the bottom of the world's deepest oceans. The global identification of substances known as PFAS, or "forever chemicals," produced for goods like non-stick cookware is also on the rise. The list of prospective Anthropocene indicators is endless and includes pesticides, fertilizers, rising levels of nitrogen and phosphate, and even human bones buried underground. According to scientists, all of these markers will eventually be clearly preserved hundreds of thousands of years in the future to provide an understanding of the human era to any other species that wish to look. One of the preferred signs from the Anthropocene, according to Mark Williams, a paleontologist and Anthropocene Working Group member, is humanity responding positively. Although a global extinction has not yet been documented in the fossil record, it is currently quite likely to occur, according to Williams via NDTV. Related Article: PFAS Forever Chemicals Detected in 45% of US Drinking Water Following Tests on Tap of 700 Locations Male rhesus monkeys are found to have engaged more in copulation with each other compared to having intercourse with their female counterparts, a recent study showed. A report on Live Science said the monkey species, which are inhabiting a tiny island in Puerto Rico, often have intercourse with other males. Scientists reasoned out that this practice could be due to their genetics. The study further discovered that the copulation between the two males tend to produce more offspring, meaning this helps in the process of breeding among monkeys. "We find the complete opposite of what people were saying before, which was generally that the more homosexual sex animals have, the less babies they will have," Organismic Biology Professor Vincent Savolainen told Live Science. Findings of the study The study, which has been published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, indicated that scientists noticed the same-sex intercourse among 236 male monkeys in the island of Cayo Santiago. Researchers have recorded how often male monkeys mounted or were mounted by compared to females over three periods in 2017, 2019, and 2020. They discovered that 72% of males had intercourse with each other, while only 46% had copulated with females. A Dailymail report quoted Jackson Clive, author of the study, saying that "most males were behaviourally bisexual, and that variation in same-sex activity was heritable." Clive disclosed that there is a probability that male monkeys, which mounted each other, were most likely to support each other during the times of conflict. He further stressed that this is one of the benefits of the same-sex activity among male monkeys. Read Also: Scientists Unlock A Key Cognitive Ability Of Monkeys Reasons for the male-to-male copulation Researchers are still uncertain why male monkeys have more sexual engagements with other males than females. The researchers, however, underscored the practice's benefits. Clive said that the same-sex sexual behaviors could be common among other animals, adding that the practice can actually evolve. Savolainen said the research is aiming to advance and develop the scientific understanding of same-sex, including exploring the benefits it brings to nature and within animal societies. According to a report posted on New Scientist, the homosexual behavior has appeared to be widespread among male macaque monkeys in the wild. It noted that the trait could be at least partially passed down in genes from father to son. An entry in PETA UK said that other animals have also engaged in homosexual intercourse, and not just monkeys. These animals include elephants, giraffes, albatrosses, and lions. For one, homosexual copulation among giraffes make up 90% of all observed sexual activity in these animals. Further, experts also noticed the act of male lions nuzzling, caressing, and mounting each other, which shows engagement in same-sex sexual relations. On the other hand, PETA UK also said same-sex relationship have also been documented between albatrosses. There were instances before wherein a male albatross had failed in his moves toward a female albatross, prompting other males to approach him. Related Article: Monkeys Can Do Math, Study Finds Related Video: The latest report showed that Florida's massive population of foul-smelling stinky seaweed declined by 75% in the Gulf of Mexico. The emergence of the stinky seaweed population could affect beachgoers. In May, CNN reported that the smelly seaweed population unfolded in Key West. The report noted that beachgoers were unhappy as the Sargassum emerged on Florida's beaches, reaching about 3 million seaweed tons. Stinky seaweed population in Florida Beaches According to the University of Florida Optical Oceanography Laboratory, the Sargassum was seen in parts of the Caribbean Sea in 2011, especially in the summer season. The report explained that the emergence of stinky seaweed could result in ecological and environmental concerns, originating in parts of the tropical Atlantic. The agency said they would continue to monitor the emergence of the Sargassum in the area. In June 2013, the report found that the emergence of the Sargassum amount managed to decrease by 75%, especially in the Gulf of Mexico and the Western Caribbean Sea. The massive decline of the seaweed is good news for beachgoers in Florida, as the summer season is already here, and many Americans want to enjoy the beach amidst the challenging heat. More facts about the Sargassum According to the Sargassum Information Hub, the emergence and proliferation of Sargassum could be attributed to the changing wind patterns. The report noted that thousand of tons of Sargassum could likely emerge in the famous beaches in portions of the Caribbean and America. Because of the foul-smelling odor from the Sargassum, it could prevent tourists from visiting beaches. Furthermore, the NOAA Ocean Exploration reported that Sargassum is also known as a large seawood. In marine life, seaweed can become helpful for food sources and breeding grounds for turtles, birds and fishes. Going to the beach this summer season As many Americans planned beach activities this summer season and searing temperatures, they should always check the weather conditions. It is best to visit beaches with patrolling lifeguards, as possible sharks could roam over the area. In May, Nature World News reported that a 13-year-old girl suffered from a shark attack, leaving the victim with 19 stitches. Beachgoers should only swim in designated or supervised areas, so the lifeguards can quickly alert them. Immediately keep out of water when sharks are spotted. Also Read: Horrific Shark Attack in Florida Beach Leaves 13-Year-Old Girl With 19 Stitches Furthermore, it is best to swim with a friend or company. Swimming at night is not also recommendable. There are times when severe thunderstorms could emerge while people are on the beach. Beachgoers should go out of water when thunder roars. While on the beach, applying sunscreen is essential, as hotter conditions could become deadly. Using bug spray is also helpful. On the other hand, beachgoers should keep away from rip currents. If your family members become missing, immediately call for help from authorities or a lifeguard. Related Article: Hurricanes Help to Unearth Historical Shipwreck from the 1800s in Florida For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News. After a strong earthquake struck Iceland on Sunday, a volcano erupted near the country's capital. In a video posted by The Wall Street Journal, lava and a massive cloud of smoke can be seen emanating from the Fagradalsfjall volcano. The smoke was visible from the road that connects the capital to the international airport. The volcanic activity began early Monday afternoon at 4:40pm GMT, around 30 kilometers from Reykjavik. This came after a 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit the country. The IMO, the country's Meteorological Office, said that the eruption started in the northwest of Litli Hrutur mountain. "Last night a M 5.2 earthquake was detected just ESE of Mount Keilir. This event is the largest one in the current seismic activity. Aftershocks are very likely and can reach up to M4," the statement added. Low intensity, effusive eruption Experts anticipated an approaching explosion after 1,500 minor quakes were recorded days prior to the eruption. Thorvaldur Thordarson, Professor in Volcanology at University of Iceland, told the Associated Press that they observed a low intensity and effusive eruption. The academician explained that the three fissures with lava are "basically running in all directions" This means "it is not causing widespread threats due to explosive activity" but "if the eruption continues for long enough it could be a threat to infrastructure." So far, the Keflavik International Airport remained open and no flights were affected. Authorities warned people not to trek to the volcano because dangerous high levels of volcanic gases could be gathering close to the eruption. "It is not a little hike," said Kristin Gudmundsdottir, a natural hazard specialist at the Met Office. "We need to wait and see how the eruption develops." The IMO experts are set to examine where the lava is erupting and how the eruption is progressing. Read Also: Volcano Eruption Vs. Typhoon: Island Hit By Two Worst Disasters In One Day Three eruption for the past two years The Reykjanes Peninsula is a volcanic and seismic hotspot that can be found at the southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland's capital. In March 2021, lava fountains erupted from a 500 to 750 meters long fissure in the ground of the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system, this volcanic activity lasted for six months. A three-week eruption occurred in the same location in August 2022. These two eruptions attracted thousands of visitors wanting to capture the rare view of an active volcano. Prior to the said eruptions, the region had remained dormant for eight centuries, but volcanologists predicted that the new cycle of heightened activity will endure for several years. Geophysics professor Magnus Tumi Gumundsson observed that the lava that flows from the volcano goes south and has a long way to go down to the road. "We can say that considering the possible effects, this is not an unfortunate place for an eruption. This can change," he told Mirror. Iceland has been known to be the most active volcanic system in Europe. It erupts every five years on average. Following the massive eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in April 2010, almost 10,000 flights were cancelled leaving 10 million passengers stranded in Iceland. Related Article: Philippines' Most Active Volcano On The Verge Of Eruption, Alert Level 2 Raised Amid Volcanic Unrest According to information published by the Irish government on June 29, 2023, the Irish Air Corps officially received two Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol aircraft. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Artist rendering of the C295 Maritime Patrol aircraft. (Picture source: Airbus) Accompanied by Secretary General of the Department of Defence, Jacqui McCrum, and Chief of Staff, Sean Clancy, the Tanaiste was met by the commanding officer of the Air Corps, Brigadier General Rory OConnor, and team members involved in project implementation, along with representatives from Airbus Defence and Space. The contract for these patrol aircraft was granted to Airbus Defence and Space in December 2019 after a public tender. Replacing the two existing CASA CN235-100 Maritime Patrol Aircraft acquired in 1994, these new aircraft offer maritime surveillanceparticularly for fisheries protectionand equip the Air Corps with capabilities for services such as logistics support, troop and equipment transportation, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and general utility. The aircraft were produced in Seville, Spain. The entire contract, including both Maritime Patrol Aircraft, associated training, ground equipment, and spare parts, cost 230 million, VAT included. The second Maritime Patrol Aircraft is scheduled for delivery later this year. Technical data The aircraft measures 24.5 meters in length with a wingspan of 27.6 meters. Its operational ceiling is listed at 30,000 hours and it can reach a maximum cruise speed of 260 knots. Included in its setup is a comprehensive military communications package. It can carry a payload up to 23,200 Kg and has a range exceeding 2,300 nautical miles. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- A ceremony was recently held in Xi'an Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone to celebrate the completion of 69 projects, including the BYD New Energy Vehicle Parts Industrial Park project, according to a post on the "Xi'an High-tech", the official WeChat account operated by local authority. Photo credit: Xi'an High-tech The BYD New Energy Vehicle Parts Industrial Park, with a total investment of 15 billion yuan, is built in Caotang Science and Technology Industrial Park and Jixian Industrial Park. It mainly focuses on constructing production facilities for core components of new energy vehicles, such as electric drive assembly, electric motors, and electronic control units. After the project is completed and put into operation, it is expected to achieve an annual output value of approximately 70 billion yuan. It is worth noting that in February of this year, according to the local newspaper "Sanqin Metropolis Daily," Xi'an surpassed Shanghai to become the city with the highest production of new energy vehicles in China. The report stated that in 2022, Xi'an produced 1.0155 million new energy vehicles, surpassing Shanghai's 990,000 units, taking the top spot in the country. According to the statistics from the Shaanxi Automotive Industry Association, BYD's automobile production in Xi'an city reached 1.008 million units in 2022, a year-on-year spike of 145.4%. Among them, the production of new energy vehicles reached 995,000 units, a year-on-year surge of 270.4%, accounting for 97.9% of the city's total production of new energy vehicles. According to the data compiled by Gasgoo, BYD's domestic passenger vehicle production capacity in 2022 was 2,069,997 units, with the Xi'an base accounting for 778,086 units, representing 37.6% of its total production capacity nationwide. With the completion and operation of the new energy vehicle parts industrial park, the proportion of BYD's production capacity in Xi'an may further increase. AMSTERDAMInteractive sex-tech manufaturer Kiiroo has released a brand new automatic suction device, the PowerBlow, accompanied by a mouth stroker sleeve molded from adult actress Victoria June. The PowerBlow is the result of more than two years of research and development, and is compatible with the Kiiroo range of Feel Strokers. When paired with the FeelVictoria stroker and connected with adult content using the FeelConnect app, it offers users a vicarious experience with what they see on screen in real time. Compatibility with FeelMe AI is coming soon. I am thrilled that we can finally show PowerBlow off to the world! Our team has worked extremely hard to give our customers the best interactive experiences both online and off. We have invested in a number of signicant feature updates in our FeelConnect app to allow users to customize their blowjobs to their liking," Kiiroo CEO Toon Timmermans said. Were excited to be bringing such a compact, innovative product to market that won't break the bank and will build on our users' current product purchases! June expressed excitement about being the first adult star to have her mouth and lips molded into a Feel Stroker. I cant wait to have my fans join me in a new and engaging way by experiencing my blowjob content in real-time with the PowerBlow," she said. "Go and get yourself my mouth stroker and the PowerBlow and let me blow you! PowerBlow is also compatible with Keon by Kiiroo, the company's flagship stroking masturbator, further elevating the sensations users can experience. PowerBlow by Kiiroo is available now for $69.00, and the combo set of PowerBlow and FeelVictoria Mouth stroker is available for $129.00. For more information, visit the Kiiroo website and follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit and Discord. Ujwal Jalali By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Since the Pakistan woman Seema Ghulam Haidar was caught by the Noida Police and found illegally residing in India, people have been swarming like flies to their house in Greater Noidas Rabupura area. When the media persons interviewed the couple, what emerges out is all love and no hatred -- seems like a story from the famous Bollywood flick Gadar. A common man may be infatuated with their love story; however, the police do not think that way and it is just a case for them which needs proper investigation from all angles, including the spy angle especially as the woman is not from any ordinary country. Official sources told this newspaper that Seema Ghulam Haidars brother had once applied in the Pakistan Army, however, he failed to qualify the examination. This was revealed during the interrogation of the woman who came from across the border. The Noida Police may soon approach the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Bureau of Immigration to verify all what has been told by Seema to them. It was learnt that the Noida cops had even found two decades-old VCR cassettes at the house of Sachin, the so-called lover-turned-husband of Seema. When Seema was asked about it, she told cops that the cassettes contain some of his pictures. Apart from the VCR cassettes, the police had also recovered 4 sim cards from Seemas possession along with one broken mobile phone which has been sent for forensic examination. Sources also told this newspaper that one team of Noida Police has already been dispatched for Kathmandu where the couple had stayed for a while and then illegally entered India along with her four children. The couple claim that they got married at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Haider and Sachin say they got in touch while playing PUBG in 2019. Noida police team visits Kathmandu Sources told this newspaper that one team of Noida Police has already been dispatched for Kathmandu where the couple had stayed for a while and then illegally entered India along with her four children. The couple claim that they got married at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. They say they got in touch while playing PUBG in 2019. NEW DELHI: Since the Pakistan woman Seema Ghulam Haidar was caught by the Noida Police and found illegally residing in India, people have been swarming like flies to their house in Greater Noidas Rabupura area. When the media persons interviewed the couple, what emerges out is all love and no hatred -- seems like a story from the famous Bollywood flick Gadar. A common man may be infatuated with their love story; however, the police do not think that way and it is just a case for them which needs proper investigation from all angles, including the spy angle especially as the woman is not from any ordinary country. Official sources told this newspaper that Seema Ghulam Haidars brother had once applied in the Pakistan Army, however, he failed to qualify the examination. This was revealed during the interrogation of the woman who came from across the border.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Noida Police may soon approach the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Bureau of Immigration to verify all what has been told by Seema to them. It was learnt that the Noida cops had even found two decades-old VCR cassettes at the house of Sachin, the so-called lover-turned-husband of Seema. When Seema was asked about it, she told cops that the cassettes contain some of his pictures. Apart from the VCR cassettes, the police had also recovered 4 sim cards from Seemas possession along with one broken mobile phone which has been sent for forensic examination. Sources also told this newspaper that one team of Noida Police has already been dispatched for Kathmandu where the couple had stayed for a while and then illegally entered India along with her four children. The couple claim that they got married at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Haider and Sachin say they got in touch while playing PUBG in 2019. Noida police team visits Kathmandu Sources told this newspaper that one team of Noida Police has already been dispatched for Kathmandu where the couple had stayed for a while and then illegally entered India along with her four children. The couple claim that they got married at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. They say they got in touch while playing PUBG in 2019. By ANI GHAZIABAD: At least six people died in a collision between a school bus and a car on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway on Monday morning, the police said. According to the police, the school bus was empty and was reportedly coming from the wrong direction. "A school bus and a TUV met with an accident on the Delhi Meerut Expressway at 6.00 am today. The bus driver was coming from the wrong direction after filling CNG from Delhi near Ghazipur. The people in the car were coming from Meerut and had to go to Gurgaon. There was a head-on collision. 6 persons died and 2 are seriously injured. The driver of the bus has been caught. The entire fault was of the bus driver who was coming from the wrong direction", Ramanand Kushwaha ADCP Traffic Police told ANI. The ADCP further said that the deceased include two children and the injured are being treated. "The dead include 2 children. Women and men are also included. 2 people are injured and are being treated in the hospital. There were 8 people in the car. The bus belongs to Bal Bharti School Bus which is in Noida", ADCP Kushwaha said. Earlier on Monday, at least nine people were killed after a tanker coming at a high speed collided with a tempo in Pratapgarh, said an official. The accident happened on the Lucknow Varanasi Highway near Mohanganj market in the Leelapur police station area in Pratapgarh. #WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | Six dead and two critically injured in a collision between a school bus and a TUV in Ghaziabad NH 9. The bus driver, who was driving in the wrong direction, has been nabbed. Visuals from the spot. pic.twitter.com/wMnKPnP7bb GHAZIABAD: At least six people died in a collision between a school bus and a car on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway on Monday morning, the police said. According to the police, the school bus was empty and was reportedly coming from the wrong direction. "A school bus and a TUV met with an accident on the Delhi Meerut Expressway at 6.00 am today. The bus driver was coming from the wrong direction after filling CNG from Delhi near Ghazipur. The people in the car were coming from Meerut and had to go to Gurgaon. There was a head-on collision. 6 persons died and 2 are seriously injured. The driver of the bus has been caught. The entire fault was of the bus driver who was coming from the wrong direction", Ramanand Kushwaha ADCP Traffic Police told ANI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The ADCP further said that the deceased include two children and the injured are being treated. "The dead include 2 children. Women and men are also included. 2 people are injured and are being treated in the hospital. There were 8 people in the car. The bus belongs to Bal Bharti School Bus which is in Noida", ADCP Kushwaha said. Earlier on Monday, at least nine people were killed after a tanker coming at a high speed collided with a tempo in Pratapgarh, said an official. The accident happened on the Lucknow Varanasi Highway near Mohanganj market in the Leelapur police station area in Pratapgarh. #WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | Six dead and two critically injured in a collision between a school bus and a TUV in Ghaziabad NH 9. The bus driver, who was driving in the wrong direction, has been nabbed. Visuals from the spot. pic.twitter.com/wMnKPnP7bb ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 11, 2023 NAMITA BAJPAI And Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH/LUCKNOW: At least 61 more people were reported dead across North India following incessant rains, flashfloods and lightning strikes on Monday, 34 of them in Uttar Pradesh and 17 in Himachal Pradesh, which is the worst affected state so far. More than 300 tourists are stranded in Himachals Lahaul-Spiti district amid snowfall. Efforts are on to rescue them. Rains hampered the clearing of massive landslides that snapped road links. The tourists have been put up in hotels and government accommodations by the local administration. Besides, tourists and locals in two state roadways buses have been stuck following a flash flood in the Pagal nullah near Sissu village in the Lahaul Valley as it blocked the Manali-Leh highway. The initial estimate of property loss in Himachal Pradesh is around Rs 3,000-4,000 crore. The overall toll in the North included six in Haryana and four in Punjab. In UP, 17 got electrocuted due to lightning while 12 drowned. Besides, there were five other rain-related deaths in the state. Armymen rescue people stuck in Patiala district ALSO READ: Most rivers in the North were swollen, with the Yamuna in Delhi, too, crossing the danger mark following the release of water from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and assured all support. The Centre deployed 39 National Disaster Response Force teams 14 in Punjab, 12 in Himachal, eight in Uttarakhand and five in Haryana for the rescue and relief operations. Sukhu said efforts were underway to evacuate the stranded tourists and residents in Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu districts using helicopters whenever the weather permits. In Himachal, five persons were killed in the Nirmand area of the Kullu district while five others died in the Shimla district in two different landslides. Also, the Shimla-Kalka highway was blocked near Shoghi due to a landslide. Besides, rail operations on the Shimla-Kalka rail track were suspended as landslides blocked the track. In Punjab, floodwaters entered the Nabha Thermal Power Plant near Rajpura in Patiala forcing the shutdown of one of its 700 MW units. Army rescues 910 university students in Punjab The Army rescued 910 students and 50 others from the flooded Chitkara University near Rajpura in Punjab. The flood relief columns of its Western Command worked through the intervening night of Sunday and Monday to evacuate them and helped prevent the breaching of canals by the flood waters, the Army said. CHANDIGARH/LUCKNOW: At least 61 more people were reported dead across North India following incessant rains, flashfloods and lightning strikes on Monday, 34 of them in Uttar Pradesh and 17 in Himachal Pradesh, which is the worst affected state so far. More than 300 tourists are stranded in Himachals Lahaul-Spiti district amid snowfall. Efforts are on to rescue them. Rains hampered the clearing of massive landslides that snapped road links. The tourists have been put up in hotels and government accommodations by the local administration. Besides, tourists and locals in two state roadways buses have been stuck following a flash flood in the Pagal nullah near Sissu village in the Lahaul Valley as it blocked the Manali-Leh highway. The initial estimate of property loss in Himachal Pradesh is around Rs 3,000-4,000 crore. The overall toll in the North included six in Haryana and four in Punjab. In UP, 17 got electrocuted due to lightning while 12 drowned. Besides, there were five other rain-related deaths in the state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Armymen rescue people stuck in Patiala district ALSO READ: Passengers stranded as trains diverted, cancelled due to rains Cases of typhoid, throat infection rise three-fold after incessant rainfall in Delhi Rain mayhem in Delhi as Yamuna breaches flood warning level earlier than predicted Most rivers in the North were swollen, with the Yamuna in Delhi, too, crossing the danger mark following the release of water from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and assured all support. The Centre deployed 39 National Disaster Response Force teams 14 in Punjab, 12 in Himachal, eight in Uttarakhand and five in Haryana for the rescue and relief operations. Sukhu said efforts were underway to evacuate the stranded tourists and residents in Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu districts using helicopters whenever the weather permits. In Himachal, five persons were killed in the Nirmand area of the Kullu district while five others died in the Shimla district in two different landslides. Also, the Shimla-Kalka highway was blocked near Shoghi due to a landslide. Besides, rail operations on the Shimla-Kalka rail track were suspended as landslides blocked the track. In Punjab, floodwaters entered the Nabha Thermal Power Plant near Rajpura in Patiala forcing the shutdown of one of its 700 MW units. Army rescues 910 university students in Punjab The Army rescued 910 students and 50 others from the flooded Chitkara University near Rajpura in Punjab. The flood relief columns of its Western Command worked through the intervening night of Sunday and Monday to evacuate them and helped prevent the breaching of canals by the flood waters, the Army said. By PTI PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court has said that a female cannot be forced to give birth to a child conceived as a result of a sexual assault as it would lead to "unexplainable miseries." A bench comprising justices Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Prashant Kumar stated this as it directed the constitution of a five-member medical board last week to examine a 12-year-old deaf and mute rape survivor who has sought permission to terminate her 25-week pregnancy. The girl's counsel had last week argued that she was raped and sexually assaulted several times by her neighbour but due to her disabilities, she could not tell anyone about it. After her mother firmly questioned her, the girl used sign language to reveal to her that she had been raped by their neighbour. On the basis of her mother's complaint, an FIR was then filed against the man under charges of rape and other offences under the POCSO Act. When the girl was medically examined on June 16, 2023, she was found to be 23 weeks into her pregnancy. On June 27, the matter was placed before the Medical Board, which told the girl that since her pregnancy had exceeded 24 weeks, she would need court permission to abort the child. The court, after hearing the parties concerned, said, "Though the statute does not provide for termination of pregnancies over the gestational age of 24 weeks except in case of detection of substantial fetal abnormalities, the provision in regard to which is Section 3(2B) of MTP Act. The extraordinary powers of the Constitutional Courts, however, have been recognised even by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and exercised several times by the High Courts to allow termination of pregnancies even in cases where pregnancy has exceeded the limit of 24 weeks." Considering the urgency in the matter and taking a humanitarian view, the Court requested the Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor to direct the Principal of Jawahar Lal Medical College in Aligarh to constitute a five-member team. The team, to be headed by the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Department of Anaesthesia, and Department of Radio Diagnosis, will examine the petitioner and submit its report before the Court on July 12. PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court has said that a female cannot be forced to give birth to a child conceived as a result of a sexual assault as it would lead to "unexplainable miseries." A bench comprising justices Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Prashant Kumar stated this as it directed the constitution of a five-member medical board last week to examine a 12-year-old deaf and mute rape survivor who has sought permission to terminate her 25-week pregnancy. The girl's counsel had last week argued that she was raped and sexually assaulted several times by her neighbour but due to her disabilities, she could not tell anyone about it.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); After her mother firmly questioned her, the girl used sign language to reveal to her that she had been raped by their neighbour. On the basis of her mother's complaint, an FIR was then filed against the man under charges of rape and other offences under the POCSO Act. When the girl was medically examined on June 16, 2023, she was found to be 23 weeks into her pregnancy. On June 27, the matter was placed before the Medical Board, which told the girl that since her pregnancy had exceeded 24 weeks, she would need court permission to abort the child. The court, after hearing the parties concerned, said, "Though the statute does not provide for termination of pregnancies over the gestational age of 24 weeks except in case of detection of substantial fetal abnormalities, the provision in regard to which is Section 3(2B) of MTP Act. The extraordinary powers of the Constitutional Courts, however, have been recognised even by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and exercised several times by the High Courts to allow termination of pregnancies even in cases where pregnancy has exceeded the limit of 24 weeks." Considering the urgency in the matter and taking a humanitarian view, the Court requested the Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor to direct the Principal of Jawahar Lal Medical College in Aligarh to constitute a five-member team. The team, to be headed by the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Department of Anaesthesia, and Department of Radio Diagnosis, will examine the petitioner and submit its report before the Court on July 12. By Express News Service BHOPAL: Yet another adult African cheetah has died inside one of the enclosures of Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park (KNP). The adult South African cheetah named Tejas died at around 3 pm on Tuesday in an enclosure, where it was housed with a Namibian female for mating. Our regular monitoring team spotted the wound in the upper portion of the neck of SA cheetah at around 11 am, which was promptly informed to the veterinary specialists in the park. The vets subsequently examined the injured cheetah and found that the wound was serious. Just when the team of vets reached the spot again to tranquilize the injured cheetah and start its treatment, the cheetah was found dead in the enclosure at around 2 pm, a senior MP forest department official told The New Indian Express. While the actual reason behind the cheetahs death will be ascertained only after the autopsy is over, the wound on the neck suggests that a physical struggle with the Namibian female could have led to the fatality. ALSO READ | 'We take responsibility but project will be successful': Environment minister on cheetah deaths This is the fourth death of an adult cheetah at the KNP since the last week of March. Three of the four cheetah cubs born to a Namibian female in March also died. In May this year, the central government had denied any lapse behind the deaths of six cheetahs (including three cubs) within two months at the KNP. A senior central government official made it clear that even if 50% of the cheetahs brought from Africa survive, the Project Cheetah will be considered successful. There is no lapse behind any of the cheetah deaths. Even in the case of deaths of the three cheetah cubs, global wildlife literature clearly mentions 90% infant mortality among cheetahs. We havent done any trials with any of the cheetahs trans-located to KNP from the two African nations. Cheetahs live in coalition, so even the mating of a female cheetah with a male coalition, (aggressive interaction led to the females death), wasnt done as any trial. It was done based on documented evidence and following clearance from African experts, CP Goyal, the director general of forests at the union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, had said on May 29 in Bhopal. Seven decades after the fastest moving mammal officially became extinct in India due to rampant hunting, eight Namibian cheetahs were introduced at KNP by PM Narendra Modi on his 72nd birthday on September 17, 2022. Five months later, 12 South African cheetahs were flown to the same national park in MPs Sheopur district in February 2023, taking the total count there to 20. After the deaths of four adults and three cubs since March 2023, there are now 16 adults (12 in the jungles and four in enclosures) and one cub left at the KNP. BHOPAL: Yet another adult African cheetah has died inside one of the enclosures of Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park (KNP). The adult South African cheetah named Tejas died at around 3 pm on Tuesday in an enclosure, where it was housed with a Namibian female for mating. Our regular monitoring team spotted the wound in the upper portion of the neck of SA cheetah at around 11 am, which was promptly informed to the veterinary specialists in the park. The vets subsequently examined the injured cheetah and found that the wound was serious. Just when the team of vets reached the spot again to tranquilize the injured cheetah and start its treatment, the cheetah was found dead in the enclosure at around 2 pm, a senior MP forest department official told The New Indian Express.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While the actual reason behind the cheetahs death will be ascertained only after the autopsy is over, the wound on the neck suggests that a physical struggle with the Namibian female could have led to the fatality. ALSO READ | 'We take responsibility but project will be successful': Environment minister on cheetah deaths This is the fourth death of an adult cheetah at the KNP since the last week of March. Three of the four cheetah cubs born to a Namibian female in March also died. In May this year, the central government had denied any lapse behind the deaths of six cheetahs (including three cubs) within two months at the KNP. A senior central government official made it clear that even if 50% of the cheetahs brought from Africa survive, the Project Cheetah will be considered successful. There is no lapse behind any of the cheetah deaths. Even in the case of deaths of the three cheetah cubs, global wildlife literature clearly mentions 90% infant mortality among cheetahs. We havent done any trials with any of the cheetahs trans-located to KNP from the two African nations. Cheetahs live in coalition, so even the mating of a female cheetah with a male coalition, (aggressive interaction led to the females death), wasnt done as any trial. It was done based on documented evidence and following clearance from African experts, CP Goyal, the director general of forests at the union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, had said on May 29 in Bhopal. Seven decades after the fastest moving mammal officially became extinct in India due to rampant hunting, eight Namibian cheetahs were introduced at KNP by PM Narendra Modi on his 72nd birthday on September 17, 2022. Five months later, 12 South African cheetahs were flown to the same national park in MPs Sheopur district in February 2023, taking the total count there to 20. After the deaths of four adults and three cubs since March 2023, there are now 16 adults (12 in the jungles and four in enclosures) and one cub left at the KNP. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned to July 17 the hearing of a batch of pleas challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the gang-rape case of Bilkis Bano and the murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra Gujarat riots. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Prashant Kumar Mishra noted, in accordance with its May 9 order, notices have been published in local newspapers, including those in Gujarati and English, against the convicts who could not be served (the notice). The apex court then posted the matter for hearing on July 17 due to paucity of time. The top court had earlier ordered publication of notices in local newspapers against the convicts who could not be served notices, including the one whose house the local police found locked and his phone switched off. The Centre and the Gujarat government had told the court they are not claiming any privilege and not filing any plea for a review of the court's March 27 order, asking for the production of the original records with regard to the remission granted to the convicts. The Gujarat government had raised preliminary objections to the petitions filed in the matter other than the one by Bilkis Bano, saying it will have wide ramifications as every now and then third parties will approach courts in criminal cases. On April 18, the top court questioned the Gujarat government over the remission granted to the 11 convicts, saying the gravity of the offence should have been considered, and wondered if there was any application of mind. Asking for the reasons for the premature release of the convicts, the top court also questioned the frequent parole granted to them during their incarceration. "It (remission) is a kind of grace, which should be proportional to the crime," it had said. The Centre and the Gujarat government had then told the court that they might file a plea seeking a review of its March 27 order, asking them to be ready with the original files on the grant of remission. The apex court had on March 27 termed Bilkis Bano's gang- rape and the murder of her family members during the riots a 'horrendous' act, and asked the Gujarat government whether uniform standards, as followed in other murder cases, were applied while granting remission to the convicts. It had sought the responses of the Centre, the Gujarat government and others on the plea filed by Bilkis Bano, who has challenged the remission. All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and they walked free on August 15, 2022. PILs were filed by CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul, former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra against the release of the convicts. Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident in which 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya were killed in an act of arson. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned to July 17 the hearing of a batch of pleas challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the gang-rape case of Bilkis Bano and the murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra Gujarat riots. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Prashant Kumar Mishra noted, in accordance with its May 9 order, notices have been published in local newspapers, including those in Gujarati and English, against the convicts who could not be served (the notice). The apex court then posted the matter for hearing on July 17 due to paucity of time.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The top court had earlier ordered publication of notices in local newspapers against the convicts who could not be served notices, including the one whose house the local police found locked and his phone switched off. The Centre and the Gujarat government had told the court they are not claiming any privilege and not filing any plea for a review of the court's March 27 order, asking for the production of the original records with regard to the remission granted to the convicts. The Gujarat government had raised preliminary objections to the petitions filed in the matter other than the one by Bilkis Bano, saying it will have wide ramifications as every now and then third parties will approach courts in criminal cases. On April 18, the top court questioned the Gujarat government over the remission granted to the 11 convicts, saying the gravity of the offence should have been considered, and wondered if there was any application of mind. Asking for the reasons for the premature release of the convicts, the top court also questioned the frequent parole granted to them during their incarceration. "It (remission) is a kind of grace, which should be proportional to the crime," it had said. The Centre and the Gujarat government had then told the court that they might file a plea seeking a review of its March 27 order, asking them to be ready with the original files on the grant of remission. The apex court had on March 27 termed Bilkis Bano's gang- rape and the murder of her family members during the riots a 'horrendous' act, and asked the Gujarat government whether uniform standards, as followed in other murder cases, were applied while granting remission to the convicts. It had sought the responses of the Centre, the Gujarat government and others on the plea filed by Bilkis Bano, who has challenged the remission. All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and they walked free on August 15, 2022. PILs were filed by CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul, former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra against the release of the convicts. Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident in which 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya were killed in an act of arson. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots. Jaison Wilson By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking, as per the Delhi Police chargesheet filed before a city court, following the alleged sexual harassment case moved by six female grapplers. In Singh's case, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal had earlier taken cognisance of the offences committed under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks) and 354D (stalking), 506 (para 1) (criminal intimidation) and 109 (abetment to offense) of the Indian Penal Code. As per the court summons, the WFI chief has to appear before the court on July 18, 2.30 PM for further proceedings. Co-accused Vinod Tomar, the suspended assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was also asked by the court to be present in connection with the case. "Having heard the submissions and having carefully considered the police report, along with its annexed documents, including the statements of the victims recorded... the other oral and documentary evidence, etc., this Court takes cognizance for the offences committed, under aforementioned Sections of IPC," the court said in the order. ALSO READ: Wrestlers who accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment seek copy of charge sheet against him The court had noted that "it is settled law that at this stage, the Magistrate Court taking cognizance is primarily concerned with the allegations made in the police report and the evidence, offered to be lead in support thereof. It is not the province of the Magistrate to enter into a detailed discussion on merits/de-merits of the matter. Appreciation is permissible only to the extent of justification of issue of process," it read. Notably, the Delhi High Court on July 7, allowed a minor wrestler to withdraw her plea relating to the hearing of a sexual harassment case against Singh, a six-time MP, by a competent court. The issue arose as the cases related to sexual offences against minors have to be heard by a special court set up under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The FIRs narrate several alleged instances of sexual harassment like inappropriate touching, groping, stalking and intimidation by Singh at different times and places over a decade. The politician has been questioned by the police twice so far, and on both occasions, he denied all the allegations against him and claimed he was being "framed". READ MORE HERE: "We will participate in Asian Games only when all our issues will be resolved": Sakshi Malik We did not ask for exemption from trials, will quit wrestling if proved: Bajrang Punia 'Yogeshwar leaked the names of women complainants to Brij Bhushan and the media': Vinesh Phogat 'Two BJP leaders helped wrestlers stir, discloses Sakshi Malik NEW DELHI: Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking, as per the Delhi Police chargesheet filed before a city court, following the alleged sexual harassment case moved by six female grapplers. In Singh's case, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal had earlier taken cognisance of the offences committed under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks) and 354D (stalking), 506 (para 1) (criminal intimidation) and 109 (abetment to offense) of the Indian Penal Code. As per the court summons, the WFI chief has to appear before the court on July 18, 2.30 PM for further proceedings. Co-accused Vinod Tomar, the suspended assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was also asked by the court to be present in connection with the case.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Having heard the submissions and having carefully considered the police report, along with its annexed documents, including the statements of the victims recorded... the other oral and documentary evidence, etc., this Court takes cognizance for the offences committed, under aforementioned Sections of IPC," the court said in the order. ALSO READ: Wrestlers who accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment seek copy of charge sheet against him The court had noted that "it is settled law that at this stage, the Magistrate Court taking cognizance is primarily concerned with the allegations made in the police report and the evidence, offered to be lead in support thereof. It is not the province of the Magistrate to enter into a detailed discussion on merits/de-merits of the matter. Appreciation is permissible only to the extent of justification of issue of process," it read. Notably, the Delhi High Court on July 7, allowed a minor wrestler to withdraw her plea relating to the hearing of a sexual harassment case against Singh, a six-time MP, by a competent court. The issue arose as the cases related to sexual offences against minors have to be heard by a special court set up under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The FIRs narrate several alleged instances of sexual harassment like inappropriate touching, groping, stalking and intimidation by Singh at different times and places over a decade. The politician has been questioned by the police twice so far, and on both occasions, he denied all the allegations against him and claimed he was being "framed". READ MORE HERE: "We will participate in Asian Games only when all our issues will be resolved": Sakshi Malik We did not ask for exemption from trials, will quit wrestling if proved: Bajrang Punia 'Yogeshwar leaked the names of women complainants to Brij Bhushan and the media': Vinesh Phogat 'Two BJP leaders helped wrestlers stir, discloses Sakshi Malik Preetha Nair By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Under pressure from tribal communities from various parts of India including the northeastern states, the Centre is likely to exclude indigenous groups from the ambit of the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC). A highly placed source told this newspaper that the customs and traditions of the tribal communities, which are protected under the Constitution, will not be taken away under the UCC that the government proposes to bring in. The development comes on the heels of Union Home Minister Amit Shahs meeting with a 12-member Naga delegation last week. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who led the delegation, said Shah assured them that the Law Commission is considering excluding the Christian community and some tribals from the legislation. READ MORE: NEW DELHI: Under pressure from tribal communities from various parts of India including the northeastern states, the Centre is likely to exclude indigenous groups from the ambit of the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC). A highly placed source told this newspaper that the customs and traditions of the tribal communities, which are protected under the Constitution, will not be taken away under the UCC that the government proposes to bring in. The development comes on the heels of Union Home Minister Amit Shahs meeting with a 12-member Naga delegation last week. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who led the delegation, said Shah assured them that the Law Commission is considering excluding the Christian community and some tribals from the legislation. READ MORE:googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Understanding UCC rumble UCC to be decisive in tribal-dominated states Buzz on Uttarakhand's UCC draft bill as template for national law By PTI NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leaders from Maharashtra on Tuesday held a meeting with the party leadership here to discuss the political situation in the state in the wake of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. The Congress has now emerged as the largest opposition party in Maharashtra and has staked claim to the post of Leader of Opposition in the state assembly. The deliberations come after a faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar switched over to join hands with the NDA. Congress leaders are discussing the aftermath of the NCP split and how it will affect the party's prospects in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi were present during the meeting at the AICC headquarters here. AICC in-charge for Maharashtra H K Patil and PCC chief Nana Patole were also present at the meet, besides senior party leaders Sushilkumar Shinde, Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan. The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999, witnessed a split recently with Ajit Pawar joining the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government in Maharashtra. NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leaders from Maharashtra on Tuesday held a meeting with the party leadership here to discuss the political situation in the state in the wake of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. The Congress has now emerged as the largest opposition party in Maharashtra and has staked claim to the post of Leader of Opposition in the state assembly. The deliberations come after a faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar switched over to join hands with the NDA.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Congress leaders are discussing the aftermath of the NCP split and how it will affect the party's prospects in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi were present during the meeting at the AICC headquarters here. AICC in-charge for Maharashtra H K Patil and PCC chief Nana Patole were also present at the meet, besides senior party leaders Sushilkumar Shinde, Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan. The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999, witnessed a split recently with Ajit Pawar joining the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government in Maharashtra. By PTI KOLKATA: The latest trends indicate that Trinamool Congress is leading in over 3,068 gram panchayat seats in West Bengal while the BJP is ahead in 1,151 seats as of 12.30 pm, State Election Commission officials said on Tuesday. The CPI(M) is currently ahead in over 400 gram panchayat (GP) seats followed by its ally Congress in 110 GP seats, they said. "These are unofficial figures, we will make an official announcement later," a poll official told PTI. Counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats in West Bengal began in a peaceful manner amid tight security, officials said. There are around 339 counting venues spread across 22 districts. The maximum number of counting centres was in South 24 Parganas at 28, while the minimum was in Kalimpong at four. Some northern districts are also facing inclement weather. "The counting, which began at 8 am, is likely to continue for the next two days. It will take time for the ballots to be counted and the results to be compiled. We are hopeful that a trend will be available by the end of the day," an SEC official said. All the counting venues are being manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents. There are a total of 767 strongrooms across 22 districts. Large crowds of supporters of various candidates gathered at various centres to ensure that the counting was conducted correctly. Violence had rocked West Bengal's rural polls on Saturday, leaving 15 people dead while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers torched, and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. Of those killed, 11 were affiliated with the TMC. The total death toll in the state since the poll process began on June 8, when the dates were announced, has crossed 30. A voter turnout of 80.71 per cent was recorded on Saturday, whereas a vote percentage of 69.85 was recorded till 5 pm in 696 booths across West Bengal, where repolling was held on Monday. The decision for repolling was taken after reviewing reports of violence and tampering with ballot boxes and ballot papers on Saturday. A total of 5.67 crore people living in the state's rural areas were eligible to decide the fate of 2.06 lakh candidates in 73,887 seats of the panchayat system. Saturday's violence was in keeping with the state's history of violent rural elections, including the 2003 panchayat polls, which gained notoriety for its cumulative death toll of 76 during the poll process, with nearly 40 killed on the day of polling. This year, with more than 30 killed since polls were announced earlier last month, the toll remained almost equal to that of the previous panchayat elections in 2018. However, this time, the Opposition had fielded candidates in more than 90 per cent of seats, unlike in 2018 rural polls, when the ruling TMC had won 34 per cent of the seats uncontested. In the 2018 rural polls, the ruling TMC had emerged victorious in 90 per cent of the panchayat seats and in all the 22 zilla parishads. The elections were marred by widespread violence, with the opposition alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in several seats. KOLKATA: The latest trends indicate that Trinamool Congress is leading in over 3,068 gram panchayat seats in West Bengal while the BJP is ahead in 1,151 seats as of 12.30 pm, State Election Commission officials said on Tuesday. The CPI(M) is currently ahead in over 400 gram panchayat (GP) seats followed by its ally Congress in 110 GP seats, they said. "These are unofficial figures, we will make an official announcement later," a poll official told PTI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats in West Bengal began in a peaceful manner amid tight security, officials said. There are around 339 counting venues spread across 22 districts. The maximum number of counting centres was in South 24 Parganas at 28, while the minimum was in Kalimpong at four. Some northern districts are also facing inclement weather. "The counting, which began at 8 am, is likely to continue for the next two days. It will take time for the ballots to be counted and the results to be compiled. We are hopeful that a trend will be available by the end of the day," an SEC official said. All the counting venues are being manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents. There are a total of 767 strongrooms across 22 districts. Large crowds of supporters of various candidates gathered at various centres to ensure that the counting was conducted correctly. Violence had rocked West Bengal's rural polls on Saturday, leaving 15 people dead while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers torched, and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. Of those killed, 11 were affiliated with the TMC. The total death toll in the state since the poll process began on June 8, when the dates were announced, has crossed 30. A voter turnout of 80.71 per cent was recorded on Saturday, whereas a vote percentage of 69.85 was recorded till 5 pm in 696 booths across West Bengal, where repolling was held on Monday. The decision for repolling was taken after reviewing reports of violence and tampering with ballot boxes and ballot papers on Saturday. A total of 5.67 crore people living in the state's rural areas were eligible to decide the fate of 2.06 lakh candidates in 73,887 seats of the panchayat system. Saturday's violence was in keeping with the state's history of violent rural elections, including the 2003 panchayat polls, which gained notoriety for its cumulative death toll of 76 during the poll process, with nearly 40 killed on the day of polling. This year, with more than 30 killed since polls were announced earlier last month, the toll remained almost equal to that of the previous panchayat elections in 2018. However, this time, the Opposition had fielded candidates in more than 90 per cent of seats, unlike in 2018 rural polls, when the ruling TMC had won 34 per cent of the seats uncontested. In the 2018 rural polls, the ruling TMC had emerged victorious in 90 per cent of the panchayat seats and in all the 22 zilla parishads. The elections were marred by widespread violence, with the opposition alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in several seats. South Beaver School alumni and employees gathered at Flagstaff High School (FHS) on Saturday, July 1, for a reunion. The school was open and operating from 1935 to 2010, and was originally a segregated school for Hispanic students before Flagstaff schools were desegregated in 1952 -- two years before the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Though no longer an elementary school, the building is still located on South Beaver Street in Flagstaff's Southside neighborhood and has been used for Northern Arizona Universitys intensive English program since its purchase in 2015. As we always said, South Beaver School was built for the wrong reasons -- it was to segregate the Hispanic kids -- but it lived for the right reasons, because it was a safe haven for the kids from Southside, said Sarah Cromer, one of the schools former teachers. The parents always felt like when their kids were at school, they were safe, and, of course, we tried our darndest to make sure that was the case. The reunion was meant as a way for former students and employees of South Beaver School to reconnect, with several mementos from the school displayed in front of FHSs gymnasium, an outdoor meet and greet and an open mic for people to share their stories of the school. Most graduates of South Beaver then went on to attend Flagstaff Middle School and FHS. The high school still has a display case with artifacts from the elementary, including photographs, the first yearbook and a paddle used for discipline in the early years. South Beaver School's building was originally planned to be built in February of 1918 for $75,000, but it was delayed by World War I. After a couple of deferrals, the board arranged to complete the project in 1934, with the school building being completed in November 1935. In the end, construction cost was $63,923.06. Within the next few days, the Mexican students were called out of their classes at Emerson School and with their teachers walked to their new school, South Beaver Elementary School, according to a historical plaque displayed at the reunion. More than 400 people came to the reunion, potentially a last hoorah for the group, traveling from as far away as Massachusetts, California and Washington D.C. Cromer said she felt fortunate to have taught at South Beaver School. We always said we were a family, and we always said that families were the heart of our school, she said. She added: "This is really a Flagstaff thing." Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: It seems that all is not well within the grand alliance in Bihar ahead of the Opposition party's two-day meeting scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on July 17-18 to chalk out a strategy against BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and an RJD MLC indulged in a verbal duel during a legislature party meeting of the grand alliance held in the wake of five-day Monsoon session of Bihar assembly, which began on Monday. The trouble started when Nitish asked RJD MLC Sunil Kumar Singh to refrain from issuing statements against the grand alliance in the media and also to keep himself away from Opposition BJP as he has a soft corner for the saffron party. Don't do such things. You are close to Lalu Ji. You shared your pictures with union home minister Amit Shah on social media platforms. You are also willing to contest the election from Saran, Nitish reportedly told Sunil at the meeting. Nitish didn't stop there. He reportedly told RJD MLC that he was working on BJP's agenda. You should follow principles of alliance and do not do such things in the larger interest of the alliance, a lawmaker quoted Nitish as saying. Who is doing what and who is in whose contact, I know it very well. So I am asking you people, to refrain from doing such things in the larger interest of the grand alliance, Nitish told the lawmakers at the meeting. This led to a verbal duel between Nitish and Sunil, who is also chairman of Biscouman. Sunil retorted, Nobody can question my integrity. I have been with Lalu ji for the last 27 years after seeing many ups and downs. He said that he was with RJD and would continue to serve the party till he breathed his last. He told Nitish that he had met union home minister Amit Shah at Cooperative conclave in New Delhi on July 1. As I am chairman of Biscomaun (Bihar state cooperative marketing union ltd) and director of cooperative societies, it is quite obvious to meet the union Cooperative minister at the function, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Later I shared the pictures on social media, he said. As the situation turned volatile, deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav intervened and asked his party's legislator to keep quiet. I am keeping quiet because of Lalu ji. He has asked me not to speak anymore, Sunil reportedly said. The spat didn't go well with GA ally Congress. Congress MLA Ajit Sharma said that the chief minister has no right to reprimand any MLA/MLC belonging to other parties. It's true that we all are part of a grand alliance. But it doesn't mean that the chief minister can reprimand anyone as per his wishes, he said. Earlier, a war of words broke out between Sunil Singh and Ashok Choudhary over the issue of posting of an IAS officer K K Pathak in the education department as additional chief secretary recently. Choudhary is considered to be close to Nitish. The trouble started when RJD MLC Sunil Singh remarked that chief minister Nitish Kumar deliberately posted senior IAS officer KK Pathak in the education department so that the education minister Prof Chandrashekhar could be reined in through the officer. Incidentally, Prof Chandrashekhar who belongs to RJD has a stand-off with Pathak recently as the minister had written yellow letters to Pathak and director-level officers of the department to express his displeasure over the style of their functioning. In the letter, the minister, while raising objections to their style of functioning, also asked them not to leak department-related information to the media. To tame his ministers, Nitish attaches officers like Pathak with them, RJD MLC Singh said while attacking JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar. Singh, who is considered close to Lalu and his wife Rabri Devi, also attacked senior JD (U) minister Ashok Choudhary for claiming that he was raising the issue of the minister-officer face-off due to his personal agenda. He said that Choudhary would have been in jail had RJD chief Lalu Prasad not helped him. Choudhary's name had figured in the murder of senior Congress leader Rajo Singh. RJD leader alleged that Choudhary had the habit of changing parties and he would betray Nitish too. He also claimed that Choudhary had once used objectionable language against former chief minister Rabri Devi. Choudhary had also recalled Jungle Raj days, an oblique reference to the Lalu-Rabri regime, and also alleged that Singh was speaking language of BJP. Choudhary sharpening his attack on RJD MLC Singh said that he was not the ultimate voice in the RJD as Lalu and former chief minister Rabri Devi had final say in the policy-related major issues. Opposition BJP took a jibe at the ongoing spat between RJD and JD(U). Former Bihar deputy chief minister and BJP Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi said that the ongoing verbal duel between two allies has an adverse impact on development works. The ongoing tussle between RJD and JD(U) has stalled development works while chief minister Nitish Kumar is a mute spectator, alleged Sushil Modi. He said the bureaucrats are so arrogant during GA regime that they don't bother to listen to their political bosses (read respective ministers) and the spat between Prof Chandrashekhar and KK Pathak is no exception. Yet leaders of both ruling partners claim that all is well in GA, remarked Modi. PATNA: It seems that all is not well within the grand alliance in Bihar ahead of the Opposition party's two-day meeting scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on July 17-18 to chalk out a strategy against BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and an RJD MLC indulged in a verbal duel during a legislature party meeting of the grand alliance held in the wake of five-day Monsoon session of Bihar assembly, which began on Monday. The trouble started when Nitish asked RJD MLC Sunil Kumar Singh to refrain from issuing statements against the grand alliance in the media and also to keep himself away from Opposition BJP as he has a soft corner for the saffron party.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Don't do such things. You are close to Lalu Ji. You shared your pictures with union home minister Amit Shah on social media platforms. You are also willing to contest the election from Saran, Nitish reportedly told Sunil at the meeting. Nitish didn't stop there. He reportedly told RJD MLC that he was working on BJP's agenda. You should follow principles of alliance and do not do such things in the larger interest of the alliance, a lawmaker quoted Nitish as saying. Who is doing what and who is in whose contact, I know it very well. So I am asking you people, to refrain from doing such things in the larger interest of the grand alliance, Nitish told the lawmakers at the meeting. This led to a verbal duel between Nitish and Sunil, who is also chairman of Biscouman. Sunil retorted, Nobody can question my integrity. I have been with Lalu ji for the last 27 years after seeing many ups and downs. He said that he was with RJD and would continue to serve the party till he breathed his last. He told Nitish that he had met union home minister Amit Shah at Cooperative conclave in New Delhi on July 1. As I am chairman of Biscomaun (Bihar state cooperative marketing union ltd) and director of cooperative societies, it is quite obvious to meet the union Cooperative minister at the function, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Later I shared the pictures on social media, he said. As the situation turned volatile, deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav intervened and asked his party's legislator to keep quiet. I am keeping quiet because of Lalu ji. He has asked me not to speak anymore, Sunil reportedly said. The spat didn't go well with GA ally Congress. Congress MLA Ajit Sharma said that the chief minister has no right to reprimand any MLA/MLC belonging to other parties. It's true that we all are part of a grand alliance. But it doesn't mean that the chief minister can reprimand anyone as per his wishes, he said. Earlier, a war of words broke out between Sunil Singh and Ashok Choudhary over the issue of posting of an IAS officer K K Pathak in the education department as additional chief secretary recently. Choudhary is considered to be close to Nitish. The trouble started when RJD MLC Sunil Singh remarked that chief minister Nitish Kumar deliberately posted senior IAS officer KK Pathak in the education department so that the education minister Prof Chandrashekhar could be reined in through the officer. Incidentally, Prof Chandrashekhar who belongs to RJD has a stand-off with Pathak recently as the minister had written yellow letters to Pathak and director-level officers of the department to express his displeasure over the style of their functioning. In the letter, the minister, while raising objections to their style of functioning, also asked them not to leak department-related information to the media. To tame his ministers, Nitish attaches officers like Pathak with them, RJD MLC Singh said while attacking JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar. Singh, who is considered close to Lalu and his wife Rabri Devi, also attacked senior JD (U) minister Ashok Choudhary for claiming that he was raising the issue of the minister-officer face-off due to his personal agenda. He said that Choudhary would have been in jail had RJD chief Lalu Prasad not helped him. Choudhary's name had figured in the murder of senior Congress leader Rajo Singh. RJD leader alleged that Choudhary had the habit of changing parties and he would betray Nitish too. He also claimed that Choudhary had once used objectionable language against former chief minister Rabri Devi. Choudhary had also recalled Jungle Raj days, an oblique reference to the Lalu-Rabri regime, and also alleged that Singh was speaking language of BJP. Choudhary sharpening his attack on RJD MLC Singh said that he was not the ultimate voice in the RJD as Lalu and former chief minister Rabri Devi had final say in the policy-related major issues. Opposition BJP took a jibe at the ongoing spat between RJD and JD(U). Former Bihar deputy chief minister and BJP Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi said that the ongoing verbal duel between two allies has an adverse impact on development works. The ongoing tussle between RJD and JD(U) has stalled development works while chief minister Nitish Kumar is a mute spectator, alleged Sushil Modi. He said the bureaucrats are so arrogant during GA regime that they don't bother to listen to their political bosses (read respective ministers) and the spat between Prof Chandrashekhar and KK Pathak is no exception. Yet leaders of both ruling partners claim that all is well in GA, remarked Modi. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: A total of 133 people from West Bengal, who feared they could be attacked after the declaration of results of the panchayat elections in the state, have fled to adjoining Assam so far. Most of them are believed to be the supporters of opposition parties. They all hail from Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts of north Bengal. The panchayat election votes are being counted on Tuesday. Disclosing the influx of the people, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said they were lodged at a relief camp. Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal, sought refuge in Dhubri district of Assam. We have provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance, Sarma tweeted. ALSO READ | Tit for tat: TMC and BJP form fact-finding teams for Manipur, Bengal panchayat poll violence Replying to a tweet from West Bengal BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari who thanked Sarma for the assistance, the Assam CM wrote, We consider the people of West Bengal as our valued and respected neighbours. He recalled that when hundreds of people from West Bengal had fled to Assam in the wake of the 2021 Assembly election-related violence, it had extended the same assistance. Please be assured that you can rely on us for any humanitarian aid during times of crisis, the Assam CM said. Adhikari had thanked Sarma for providing relief to the tormented Opposition party karyakartas of West Bengal, especially those from BJP, who time and again are subjected to poll-related violence. He said they find it safe to cross over to Assam with their families for safety. Several lives have been lost in the recent panchayat poll-related violence in West Bengal. In 2021, when the families fled to Assam, the state's BJP government sheltered them in relief camps in Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts. They returned to West Bengal when the violence subsided. GUWAHATI: A total of 133 people from West Bengal, who feared they could be attacked after the declaration of results of the panchayat elections in the state, have fled to adjoining Assam so far. Most of them are believed to be the supporters of opposition parties. They all hail from Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts of north Bengal. The panchayat election votes are being counted on Tuesday. Disclosing the influx of the people, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said they were lodged at a relief camp.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal, sought refuge in Dhubri district of Assam. We have provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance, Sarma tweeted. ALSO READ | Tit for tat: TMC and BJP form fact-finding teams for Manipur, Bengal panchayat poll violence Replying to a tweet from West Bengal BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari who thanked Sarma for the assistance, the Assam CM wrote, We consider the people of West Bengal as our valued and respected neighbours. He recalled that when hundreds of people from West Bengal had fled to Assam in the wake of the 2021 Assembly election-related violence, it had extended the same assistance. Please be assured that you can rely on us for any humanitarian aid during times of crisis, the Assam CM said. Adhikari had thanked Sarma for providing relief to the tormented Opposition party karyakartas of West Bengal, especially those from BJP, who time and again are subjected to poll-related violence. He said they find it safe to cross over to Assam with their families for safety. Several lives have been lost in the recent panchayat poll-related violence in West Bengal. In 2021, when the families fled to Assam, the state's BJP government sheltered them in relief camps in Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts. They returned to West Bengal when the violence subsided. Rakesh Kumar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In a setback to the Centres efforts to draw investment in the semiconductor sector and make India a chip-manufacturing hub, Taiwan-based electronic giant Foxconn on Monday pulled out of its joint venture with Vedanta. The development comes in the wake of the joint ventures failure to onboard a technology partner to manufacture nano chips. According to industry sources, high-cost estimates and the governments own delay in approving incentives also influenced Foxconns decision. The JV had initially submitted an application to manufacture 28-nanometre chips, but the government rejected it as the JV could not source a tech partner. The venture later filed an application for 40-nm chips, which is being evaluated. Foxconn, the contract manufacturer of Apples iPhones, and Anil Agarwals Vedanta last year announced Rs 1.6 lakh crore investment to set up semiconductor and display production plants in Gujarat. They formed a joint venture with Vedanta holding a 60 per cent stake and Foxconn the rest. Last week, Vedanta took full ownership of the JV. Foxconn is working to remove the Foxconn name from what now is a fully-owned entity of Vedanta, a Foxconn statement read. The company, though, maintained that it will continue to support the country's 'make-in-India' ambitions. Meanwhile, Vedanta claimed it has lined up other partners. We will continue to grow our semiconductor team, and we have the licence for production-grade technology for 40 nm from a prominent integrated device manufacturer, said a Vedanta spokesperson, adding that the company will shortly acquire a licence for production-grade 28 nm as well. Meanwhile, the government said the pullout wont impact Indias semiconductor journey. Telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said both firms remain committed to Indias semiconductor mission and 'make-in-India' programme. NEW DELHI: In a setback to the Centres efforts to draw investment in the semiconductor sector and make India a chip-manufacturing hub, Taiwan-based electronic giant Foxconn on Monday pulled out of its joint venture with Vedanta. The development comes in the wake of the joint ventures failure to onboard a technology partner to manufacture nano chips. According to industry sources, high-cost estimates and the governments own delay in approving incentives also influenced Foxconns decision. The JV had initially submitted an application to manufacture 28-nanometre chips, but the government rejected it as the JV could not source a tech partner. The venture later filed an application for 40-nm chips, which is being evaluated. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Foxconn, the contract manufacturer of Apples iPhones, and Anil Agarwals Vedanta last year announced Rs 1.6 lakh crore investment to set up semiconductor and display production plants in Gujarat. They formed a joint venture with Vedanta holding a 60 per cent stake and Foxconn the rest. Last week, Vedanta took full ownership of the JV. Foxconn is working to remove the Foxconn name from what now is a fully-owned entity of Vedanta, a Foxconn statement read. The company, though, maintained that it will continue to support the country's 'make-in-India' ambitions. Meanwhile, Vedanta claimed it has lined up other partners. We will continue to grow our semiconductor team, and we have the licence for production-grade technology for 40 nm from a prominent integrated device manufacturer, said a Vedanta spokesperson, adding that the company will shortly acquire a licence for production-grade 28 nm as well. Meanwhile, the government said the pullout wont impact Indias semiconductor journey. Telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said both firms remain committed to Indias semiconductor mission and 'make-in-India' programme. By PTI SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh authorities on Tuesday took stock of the havoc caused by the recent rains, saying 31 people have been killed, nearly 1,300 roads closed due to landslides and floods and 40 major bridges damaged. In Kullu's Sainj area alone, around 40 shops and 30 houses were washed away, according to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who conducted an aerial survey of the Kasol, Manikaran, Kheer Ganga and Pulga areas. Officiating Director General of Police Satwant Atwal said 31 people have died in the recent rains in the past three days. He said 250 tourists are stranded in Chandertal and 300 in Sissu in the Lahaul and Spiti district and 300 in parts of Mandi district. An attempt to evacuate them by an IAF helicopter failed due to bad weather, Atwal said. However, there has been little rain on Tuesday, helping the authorities to intensify the restoration of damaged infrastructure. Officials said the Shimla-Kalka highway, which was blocked for vehicular traffic due to a cave-in following a landslide at the Chakki Mor area near Jabli, has been partially restored for one-way traffic. A large number of vehicles, however, are stranded on both sides of the road. The state education department has issued an order stating all government schools will be closed till July 15. The state public service commission has re-scheduled the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service Competitive (Preliminary) Examination to August 20 in the wake of the bad weather. The chief minister said excessive damage has been caused by the rainfall in the past few days. There is not even a single panchayat in the state where roads and water supply schemes have not been damaged, he stressed. Atwal said the chopper sent to the Chandertal area to evacuate the stranded tourists had to return due to bad weather conditions, and appealed to people to stay positive. "Will try again as the cloud cover gives way," she said in a tweet. A rescue team from Kaza has reached Kunzum Top which is a few kilometres away from the lake, Principal Secretary of Revenue Onkar Chand Sharma said. "Two of the stranded tourists were facing breathing issues due to the high altitude and they would be airlifted," Sharma said, adding that all the stranded people would be evacuated to safe places. About 100 people were rescued from different places in the hill state on Monday. According to officials, about 800 people are still stranded at Chandertal and Pagal Nallah in Lahaul and different parts of Mandi. As per the state emergency response centre, Himachal has suffered a cumulative loss to the tune of Rs 1,050 crore since the onset of monsoon on June 24 and 80 people have been killed, while 10 are missing. However, Sukhu on Monday said an assessment of the losses is underway and it is estimated to be in the range of Rs 3,000-Rs 4,000 crore. As many as 1,299 roads, including the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway, were blocked for vehicular traffic and 3,737 water supply schemes were affected, data from the response centre said. Out of the total 80 deaths so far, 24 are attributed to road accidents while landslides claimed 21 lives, followed by falling from height (12), accidental drowning (seven), flash floods (five), electrocution (four), snake bite (two) and others (5), according to the data. In total, 79 houses have been damaged completely and 333 partially, it showed. Bus service is suspended on 1,284 routes of the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC), according to transport officials. The supply of essential items was hit in several areas, including Shimla and Manali, as the Chandigarh-Manali and the Shimla-Kalka national highways were closed following landslides, caving-in of roads and flooding. Several areas in Kullu and Mandi remained without electricity as 2,577 transformers were disrupted, while the water supply was also affected in many areas as 1,418 water supply schemes suffered damage. Manali town and the adjoining areas remained cut off for almost a day as roads were blocked due to landslides. Mobile connectivity has also been disrupted. There were reports of landslides in Shamti, in the suburbs of Solan, which damaged two houses and an office while about 10 houses were affected. The meteorological department has warned of the possibility of moderate to high flash floods in Shimla, Sirmaur and Kinnaur districts. SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh authorities on Tuesday took stock of the havoc caused by the recent rains, saying 31 people have been killed, nearly 1,300 roads closed due to landslides and floods and 40 major bridges damaged. In Kullu's Sainj area alone, around 40 shops and 30 houses were washed away, according to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who conducted an aerial survey of the Kasol, Manikaran, Kheer Ganga and Pulga areas. Officiating Director General of Police Satwant Atwal said 31 people have died in the recent rains in the past three days. He said 250 tourists are stranded in Chandertal and 300 in Sissu in the Lahaul and Spiti district and 300 in parts of Mandi district.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); An attempt to evacuate them by an IAF helicopter failed due to bad weather, Atwal said. However, there has been little rain on Tuesday, helping the authorities to intensify the restoration of damaged infrastructure. Officials said the Shimla-Kalka highway, which was blocked for vehicular traffic due to a cave-in following a landslide at the Chakki Mor area near Jabli, has been partially restored for one-way traffic. A large number of vehicles, however, are stranded on both sides of the road. The state education department has issued an order stating all government schools will be closed till July 15. The state public service commission has re-scheduled the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service Competitive (Preliminary) Examination to August 20 in the wake of the bad weather. The chief minister said excessive damage has been caused by the rainfall in the past few days. There is not even a single panchayat in the state where roads and water supply schemes have not been damaged, he stressed. Atwal said the chopper sent to the Chandertal area to evacuate the stranded tourists had to return due to bad weather conditions, and appealed to people to stay positive. "Will try again as the cloud cover gives way," she said in a tweet. A rescue team from Kaza has reached Kunzum Top which is a few kilometres away from the lake, Principal Secretary of Revenue Onkar Chand Sharma said. "Two of the stranded tourists were facing breathing issues due to the high altitude and they would be airlifted," Sharma said, adding that all the stranded people would be evacuated to safe places. About 100 people were rescued from different places in the hill state on Monday. According to officials, about 800 people are still stranded at Chandertal and Pagal Nallah in Lahaul and different parts of Mandi. As per the state emergency response centre, Himachal has suffered a cumulative loss to the tune of Rs 1,050 crore since the onset of monsoon on June 24 and 80 people have been killed, while 10 are missing. However, Sukhu on Monday said an assessment of the losses is underway and it is estimated to be in the range of Rs 3,000-Rs 4,000 crore. As many as 1,299 roads, including the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway, were blocked for vehicular traffic and 3,737 water supply schemes were affected, data from the response centre said. Out of the total 80 deaths so far, 24 are attributed to road accidents while landslides claimed 21 lives, followed by falling from height (12), accidental drowning (seven), flash floods (five), electrocution (four), snake bite (two) and others (5), according to the data. In total, 79 houses have been damaged completely and 333 partially, it showed. Bus service is suspended on 1,284 routes of the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC), according to transport officials. The supply of essential items was hit in several areas, including Shimla and Manali, as the Chandigarh-Manali and the Shimla-Kalka national highways were closed following landslides, caving-in of roads and flooding. Several areas in Kullu and Mandi remained without electricity as 2,577 transformers were disrupted, while the water supply was also affected in many areas as 1,418 water supply schemes suffered damage. Manali town and the adjoining areas remained cut off for almost a day as roads were blocked due to landslides. Mobile connectivity has also been disrupted. There were reports of landslides in Shamti, in the suburbs of Solan, which damaged two houses and an office while about 10 houses were affected. The meteorological department has warned of the possibility of moderate to high flash floods in Shimla, Sirmaur and Kinnaur districts. Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In a move to strengthen maritime air combat capability, the process to acquire Rafale-Marine (M) combat fighters has moved a step closer to approval by the Defence Procurement Board (DPB). Another approval included the construction of the additional Scorpene submarine, adding to the Indian Navys underwater combat capability. These approvals will be moved to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in a couple of days. The deal to buy 26 Rafale M jets and three additional Scorpene submarines from France are expected to be announced during PM Narendra Modis visit to France during July 14-16. The deals worth around Rs 90,000 crore, will include 26 Rafale M aircraft, consisting of 22 single-seater and four double-seater trainer versions. It will also include the construction of the additional submarine under Project 75. The Defence Procurement Board has moved the proposal to acquire Rafale-M maritime Combat planes, a source said. The proposals moved ahead for the consideration of the DAC also included the construction of additional Scorpene submarines. As per procedure, it is the DAC that grants the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) which sets the procedure for acquisition. The Defence Acquisition Council is the highest decision-making body on issues related to policy and capital procurement and is chaired by the Defence Minister. As reported earlier, in March by this newspaper, the Indian Navy had expressed its preference for the French fighter aircraft Marine over US F-18 Super Hornet. What went in favour towards these maritime fighters is that the Indian Air Force has already acquired 36 Rafale fighters. The commonality of the fleet and the resultant savings on training, repairs and maintenance have reportedly tilted the scale in favour of Dassaults Rafale M. The two aircrafts versions have over 80 per cent common features. The Navy has been exploring options to replace its ageing MiG-29K as a short-term solution. India has been working on developing its own twin-engine deck-based fighters as a long-term solution to its need for carrier-based fighters. But since there are still some years before the aircraft is indigenously developed, the Navy has decided to go in for the acquisition to meet its requirement. The other key proposal moved forward is related to strengthening the Navys sub-surface combat capability with the construction of the additional Scorpene Submarine in India under Project 75. India has completed the construction of six indigenous conventional submarines with the last, INS Vagsheer, of the six Scorpene submarines, Kalvari Class, being manufactured as part of Project 75 (P-75). NEW DELHI: In a move to strengthen maritime air combat capability, the process to acquire Rafale-Marine (M) combat fighters has moved a step closer to approval by the Defence Procurement Board (DPB). Another approval included the construction of the additional Scorpene submarine, adding to the Indian Navys underwater combat capability. These approvals will be moved to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in a couple of days. The deal to buy 26 Rafale M jets and three additional Scorpene submarines from France are expected to be announced during PM Narendra Modis visit to France during July 14-16.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The deals worth around Rs 90,000 crore, will include 26 Rafale M aircraft, consisting of 22 single-seater and four double-seater trainer versions. It will also include the construction of the additional submarine under Project 75. The Defence Procurement Board has moved the proposal to acquire Rafale-M maritime Combat planes, a source said. The proposals moved ahead for the consideration of the DAC also included the construction of additional Scorpene submarines. As per procedure, it is the DAC that grants the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) which sets the procedure for acquisition. The Defence Acquisition Council is the highest decision-making body on issues related to policy and capital procurement and is chaired by the Defence Minister. As reported earlier, in March by this newspaper, the Indian Navy had expressed its preference for the French fighter aircraft Marine over US F-18 Super Hornet. What went in favour towards these maritime fighters is that the Indian Air Force has already acquired 36 Rafale fighters. The commonality of the fleet and the resultant savings on training, repairs and maintenance have reportedly tilted the scale in favour of Dassaults Rafale M. The two aircrafts versions have over 80 per cent common features. The Navy has been exploring options to replace its ageing MiG-29K as a short-term solution. India has been working on developing its own twin-engine deck-based fighters as a long-term solution to its need for carrier-based fighters. But since there are still some years before the aircraft is indigenously developed, the Navy has decided to go in for the acquisition to meet its requirement. The other key proposal moved forward is related to strengthening the Navys sub-surface combat capability with the construction of the additional Scorpene Submarine in India under Project 75. India has completed the construction of six indigenous conventional submarines with the last, INS Vagsheer, of the six Scorpene submarines, Kalvari Class, being manufactured as part of Project 75 (P-75). By PTI SRINAGAR: Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to hear a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution on a day-to-day basis. The apex court on Tuesday said it will commence day-to-day hearing from August 2 on the petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 that bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah said he is confident that there is a strong case in favour of the restoration of Article 370. "It took four years for the case to get to the Supreme Court. It shows how strong our case is. Had it been weak, believe me, they (Centre) would have started the hearing within weeks. It took so long because the Constitution was blown to pieces on August 5, 2019," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister told reporters after paying homage to his grandmother Begum Akbar Jahan, the wife of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Abdullah said the abrogation of Article 370 may be linked to tourism and G20 events, but the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status was wrong. "You may package it as you may wish. Link it to tourism or G20 as much as you like, but legally and constitutionally, whatever happened with Jammu and Kashmir was wrong," he added. The former Union minister also claimed that the government's case is weak. "The government did not even try to get it listed. There are ways....If the government was interested, it could have requested the Supreme Court for an early hearing. Had its case been strong, it would have requested the chief justice for a hearing. It did not." "Thankfully, the chief justice and other Supreme Court judges came here, probably saw the situation and after going back, it was listed. Better late than never," Abdullah said. People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said the top court's decision not to rely on the Centre's affidavit on the abrogation of Article 370 vindicates her stand that the BJP-led Union government's move did not have a logical explanation. Mufti, however, said there are genuine apprehensions regarding why the apex court has taken up the petitions with such alacrity after remaining silent for four years. "Hon'ble SC's decision to not rely on GOI's affidavit vindicates that it doesn't have a logical explanation to justify illegal abrogation of Article 370." "Having said that there are legitimate apprehensions about why SC has taken up Article 370 with such alacrity after their visit to Kashmir. After remaining silent for four years the decision to hear the case on a daily basis does evoke misgivings. Hope the Constitution of this country by which judiciary swears is not sacrificed at the altar of power to satisfy the collective conscience of people who know little about the matter," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister wrote on Twitter. NC's chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the development instils hope among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "It is a welcome development that the CJI will hear the petitions on a daily basis from August 2. It instils a lot of hope in the minds and hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Sadiq told PTI here. He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been waiting for this day for the last four years. "Now that the CJI has taken interest in this case, it definitely gives us hope. We would request that the petitions are heard thoroughly and a verdict is given in our favour because we feel our case is very strong," Sadiq said. To a query on the top court's observation that the Centre's fresh affidavit will have no bearing on the hearing, the NC leader said the affidavit should not matter much as it is more about the developmental aspect. "The fact that the extra affidavit of the government had more about development and the fact that the court did not agree to it is also a welcome step because you need to understand that in spite of Article 370, there was development here before 1989. In spite of Article 370, you had a record number of tourists coming to Jammu and Kashmir. "A record number of one crore pilgrims visited Jammu and Kashmir when Omar Abdullah was the chief minister. So the affidavit should not matter much, because the CJI has said the matter should be decided on the basis of the Constitution," Sadiq said. Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader M Y Tarigami also welcomed the apex court's decision. "This is a positive intervention. We welcome it. Though it is late as it has taken four years, nevertheless, it has sent a positive message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh," he said. "We expect that justice will be delivered," the Left leader added. The Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. SRINAGAR: Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to hear a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution on a day-to-day basis. The apex court on Tuesday said it will commence day-to-day hearing from August 2 on the petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 that bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah said he is confident that there is a strong case in favour of the restoration of Article 370.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "It took four years for the case to get to the Supreme Court. It shows how strong our case is. Had it been weak, believe me, they (Centre) would have started the hearing within weeks. It took so long because the Constitution was blown to pieces on August 5, 2019," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister told reporters after paying homage to his grandmother Begum Akbar Jahan, the wife of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Abdullah said the abrogation of Article 370 may be linked to tourism and G20 events, but the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status was wrong. "You may package it as you may wish. Link it to tourism or G20 as much as you like, but legally and constitutionally, whatever happened with Jammu and Kashmir was wrong," he added. The former Union minister also claimed that the government's case is weak. "The government did not even try to get it listed. There are ways....If the government was interested, it could have requested the Supreme Court for an early hearing. Had its case been strong, it would have requested the chief justice for a hearing. It did not." "Thankfully, the chief justice and other Supreme Court judges came here, probably saw the situation and after going back, it was listed. Better late than never," Abdullah said. People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said the top court's decision not to rely on the Centre's affidavit on the abrogation of Article 370 vindicates her stand that the BJP-led Union government's move did not have a logical explanation. Mufti, however, said there are genuine apprehensions regarding why the apex court has taken up the petitions with such alacrity after remaining silent for four years. "Hon'ble SC's decision to not rely on GOI's affidavit vindicates that it doesn't have a logical explanation to justify illegal abrogation of Article 370." "Having said that there are legitimate apprehensions about why SC has taken up Article 370 with such alacrity after their visit to Kashmir. After remaining silent for four years the decision to hear the case on a daily basis does evoke misgivings. Hope the Constitution of this country by which judiciary swears is not sacrificed at the altar of power to satisfy the collective conscience of people who know little about the matter," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister wrote on Twitter. NC's chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the development instils hope among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "It is a welcome development that the CJI will hear the petitions on a daily basis from August 2. It instils a lot of hope in the minds and hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Sadiq told PTI here. He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been waiting for this day for the last four years. "Now that the CJI has taken interest in this case, it definitely gives us hope. We would request that the petitions are heard thoroughly and a verdict is given in our favour because we feel our case is very strong," Sadiq said. To a query on the top court's observation that the Centre's fresh affidavit will have no bearing on the hearing, the NC leader said the affidavit should not matter much as it is more about the developmental aspect. "The fact that the extra affidavit of the government had more about development and the fact that the court did not agree to it is also a welcome step because you need to understand that in spite of Article 370, there was development here before 1989. In spite of Article 370, you had a record number of tourists coming to Jammu and Kashmir. "A record number of one crore pilgrims visited Jammu and Kashmir when Omar Abdullah was the chief minister. So the affidavit should not matter much, because the CJI has said the matter should be decided on the basis of the Constitution," Sadiq said. Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader M Y Tarigami also welcomed the apex court's decision. "This is a positive intervention. We welcome it. Though it is late as it has taken four years, nevertheless, it has sent a positive message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh," he said. "We expect that justice will be delivered," the Left leader added. The Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: While emancipating the Vantangiyas, one of the most backward tribal communities of Uttar Pradesh, in a phased manner, now it is the turn of Gonda Vantangiyas to be brought to the mainstream. For the first time in 76 years of independence, the extremely backward community, inhabiting the thick Ramgarh forest areas of Gonda in central UP, are looking to get connected to the outer world through road infrastructure. Even the proposal for two government schools to be built at a cost of Rs 35.90 lakh each has also been sent by the Gonda district administration to the state government. Soon after taking over as CM in 2017, Yogi Adityanath initiated policy measures to help the Vantangiyas in a phased manner. As per official data, out of 13 UP districts Lakhimpur, Balrampur, Bahraich, Gorakhpur, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Lalitpur, Maharajganj, Chitrakoot, Chandauli, Gonda, Saharanpur and Bijnor 38 Tangia/Forest villages in seven districts had been declared as revenue villages. Of these, 18 had been made revenue villages in Maharajganj, five each in Gonda, Gorakhpur and Balrampur, three in Saharanpur and one each in Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts. While Vantangiyas villages were officially categorised as forest villages, they had been demanding to be declared as revenue villages in the absence of which they were deprived of basic development. There were no permanent schools, no roads, and no electricity. The tribals even lacked voting rights. Since a revenue village has definite surveyed boundaries and each village is a separate administrative unit with separate village accounts, the state government is bound to provide facilities like schools, hospitals, power, and water in revenue villages. The residents can also get land titles so that their claim on the lands they live on is confirmed. This makes them eligible for benefits under various welfare schemes. For this reason, in 2016, the Union government had asked the state governments to convert all forest villages into revenue villages. In 2017, the UP government initiated steps for bringing Vantangiyas to the mainstream. In the first phase, 23 Vantangiya settlements were accorded the status of revenue villages, followed by recognition to another 47 under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, (FRA) in Gorakhpur district. The vantangya families were accorded land rights. With the revenue village recognition, the Vantangiyas became eligible to get approach roads, potable water, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, BPL cards, employment guarantee projects, education, electricity connections, pensions, loans and permanent housing even voting rights. In fact, Vantangiyas trace their history to the early 1900s when they were brought to eastern UP by the British to carry out forestation on the government land. The van in their name stands for forest. During British rule, natural forests were cleared on a large scale to make way for railway tracks. They decided to develop a forested region in its place based on the Tangiya method a farming system practised in the mountains of Myanmar. For this purpose, a large number of labourers were brought to the forest. They came to be called the Vantangiyas van means forest while tangiya is derived from the word tongya, where tong means mountain and ya means agricultural field. The Tangiya system was introduced in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand between 1920 and 1923. Vantangiyas were not paid for their services by the British, instead, allotted a small plot of land for survival. In the following years, as the Sal forests matured, the job of Vantangiyas was over. Hence the forest department made attempts to expel them from their lands. Since they didnt have land titles, they were seen as encroachers of the land of the forest which they nurtured so long. Significantly, the Yogi government had accorded the revenue status to Gonda Vantagiya villages in May 2018. Now, to connect the tribals from development, the state government is getting their villages connected with the approach road of the Forest Department and also a link road to their villages. LUCKNOW: While emancipating the Vantangiyas, one of the most backward tribal communities of Uttar Pradesh, in a phased manner, now it is the turn of Gonda Vantangiyas to be brought to the mainstream. For the first time in 76 years of independence, the extremely backward community, inhabiting the thick Ramgarh forest areas of Gonda in central UP, are looking to get connected to the outer world through road infrastructure. Even the proposal for two government schools to be built at a cost of Rs 35.90 lakh each has also been sent by the Gonda district administration to the state government. Soon after taking over as CM in 2017, Yogi Adityanath initiated policy measures to help the Vantangiyas in a phased manner. As per official data, out of 13 UP districts Lakhimpur, Balrampur, Bahraich, Gorakhpur, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Lalitpur, Maharajganj, Chitrakoot, Chandauli, Gonda, Saharanpur and Bijnor 38 Tangia/Forest villages in seven districts had been declared as revenue villages. Of these, 18 had been made revenue villages in Maharajganj, five each in Gonda, Gorakhpur and Balrampur, three in Saharanpur and one each in Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While Vantangiyas villages were officially categorised as forest villages, they had been demanding to be declared as revenue villages in the absence of which they were deprived of basic development. There were no permanent schools, no roads, and no electricity. The tribals even lacked voting rights. Since a revenue village has definite surveyed boundaries and each village is a separate administrative unit with separate village accounts, the state government is bound to provide facilities like schools, hospitals, power, and water in revenue villages. The residents can also get land titles so that their claim on the lands they live on is confirmed. This makes them eligible for benefits under various welfare schemes. For this reason, in 2016, the Union government had asked the state governments to convert all forest villages into revenue villages. In 2017, the UP government initiated steps for bringing Vantangiyas to the mainstream. In the first phase, 23 Vantangiya settlements were accorded the status of revenue villages, followed by recognition to another 47 under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, (FRA) in Gorakhpur district. The vantangya families were accorded land rights. With the revenue village recognition, the Vantangiyas became eligible to get approach roads, potable water, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, BPL cards, employment guarantee projects, education, electricity connections, pensions, loans and permanent housing even voting rights. In fact, Vantangiyas trace their history to the early 1900s when they were brought to eastern UP by the British to carry out forestation on the government land. The van in their name stands for forest. During British rule, natural forests were cleared on a large scale to make way for railway tracks. They decided to develop a forested region in its place based on the Tangiya method a farming system practised in the mountains of Myanmar. For this purpose, a large number of labourers were brought to the forest. They came to be called the Vantangiyas van means forest while tangiya is derived from the word tongya, where tong means mountain and ya means agricultural field. The Tangiya system was introduced in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand between 1920 and 1923. Vantangiyas were not paid for their services by the British, instead, allotted a small plot of land for survival. In the following years, as the Sal forests matured, the job of Vantangiyas was over. Hence the forest department made attempts to expel them from their lands. Since they didnt have land titles, they were seen as encroachers of the land of the forest which they nurtured so long. Significantly, the Yogi government had accorded the revenue status to Gonda Vantagiya villages in May 2018. Now, to connect the tribals from development, the state government is getting their villages connected with the approach road of the Forest Department and also a link road to their villages. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Amid growing political diffracts between BJP and NCP, come August 1 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would most probably be sharing a stage with NCP chief Sharad Pawar. However, the occasion would be a non-political function of award-giving to confer Minister Narendra Modi with the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune. At this upcoming function, the organiser- the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust, has invited NCP chief Sharad Pawar to grace the function as chief guest. This year, after wider deliberations and scrutiny, PM Modi has been selected for this award which carries a memento and citation and is given in recognition of his supreme leadership and for awakening the feeling of patriotism among citizens. It is interesting to know that Sharad Pawars rebellious nephew Ajit Pawar, who is the deputy CM of Maharashtra, has also been invited to grace the function besides other state dignitaries. A press statement, issued by Deepak Tilak- president of organising trust, on Monday, said: The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) will confer the Lokmanya Tilak National Award upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1, the 103rd death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak. "It says that India has climbed the ladder of progress under the supreme leadership of the prime minister under the concept of Atamnirbhar Bharat. PM Modi awakened the feeling of patriotism among citizens and put India on the global map. Considering his perseverance and efforts, and highlighting his work, the trustees of the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust have unanimously selected him for this award. Political observers say that if all the invitees including Sharad Pawar, PM Modi, and Ajit Pawar, in particular, attend the function, there will be a new kind of ambiance with politicians of different ideologues amid persisting differences sharing dais together. Other prominent invitees likely to attend the function would be Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Recently, Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs of the NCP joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government deserting the NCP of the Sharad Pawar faction. NEW DELHI: Amid growing political diffracts between BJP and NCP, come August 1 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would most probably be sharing a stage with NCP chief Sharad Pawar. However, the occasion would be a non-political function of award-giving to confer Minister Narendra Modi with the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune. At this upcoming function, the organiser- the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust, has invited NCP chief Sharad Pawar to grace the function as chief guest. This year, after wider deliberations and scrutiny, PM Modi has been selected for this award which carries a memento and citation and is given in recognition of his supreme leadership and for awakening the feeling of patriotism among citizens.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It is interesting to know that Sharad Pawars rebellious nephew Ajit Pawar, who is the deputy CM of Maharashtra, has also been invited to grace the function besides other state dignitaries. A press statement, issued by Deepak Tilak- president of organising trust, on Monday, said: The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) will confer the Lokmanya Tilak National Award upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1, the 103rd death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak. "It says that India has climbed the ladder of progress under the supreme leadership of the prime minister under the concept of Atamnirbhar Bharat. PM Modi awakened the feeling of patriotism among citizens and put India on the global map. Considering his perseverance and efforts, and highlighting his work, the trustees of the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust have unanimously selected him for this award. Political observers say that if all the invitees including Sharad Pawar, PM Modi, and Ajit Pawar, in particular, attend the function, there will be a new kind of ambiance with politicians of different ideologues amid persisting differences sharing dais together. Other prominent invitees likely to attend the function would be Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Recently, Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs of the NCP joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government deserting the NCP of the Sharad Pawar faction. Shruti Kakkar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: India's top court on Tuesday said it will commence hearing of the pleas challenging the Abrogation of Article 370 of the constitution which granted a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) from August 2. A five-judge constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud Justices SK Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai and Surya Kant will hear the petitions on a day-to-day basis. The apex court also fixed July 27 as the deadline for filing documents and written submissions by parties. It appointed two lawyers one from the petitioner's side and the government side to prepare a convenience compilation and file it before July 27 and made it clear that after the said date no documents will be accepted. In the hearing that transpired on Tuesday, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told the bench that centres affidavit which was filed ahead of the hearing only reflected the position post-August 5, 2020. CJI DY Chandrachud clarified that the Union governments affidavit would have no bearing on the "constitutional question." On August 5, 2019, the Centre decided to strip the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir of special status and bifurcate it into two Union Territories (UT). Notably, the Central government had told the top court that "this historic step" had brought unprecedented development, progress, security and stability to the region, "which was missing" during the old Article 370 regime. "After the historic changes, the UTs of J-K and Ladakh has witnessed profound ameliorative, affirmative and progressive changes in the last four years encompassing its entire governance - including the developmental activities, public administration and security matters which has positively impacted every resident irrespective of caste, creed or religion," the affidavit stated. "The entire region since 2019 has witnessed an unprecedented era of peace, progress and prosperity, and life has returned to normalcy after over three decades of turmoil. Schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and other public institutions are functioning efficiently without any strikes or any kind of disturbances during the last three years. The earlier practice of daily hartals, strikes, stone pelting and bandhs are things of the past now," the affidavit continued. ALSO READ | Centres defence lacks logic: JK politicians on revocation of Article 370 The SC bench also granted two petitioners IAS officer Shah Faesal and activist Shehla Rashid Shora permission to delete their names from the list of petitioners and agreed on SGs suggestion to rename the case as "In re: Article 370 of the Constitution." The pleas were filed in the wake of the amendments praying for declaring the Presidential Orders issued under Article 370, repealing the special status of the erstwhile state and the Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Act, 2019 as "unconstitutional." Apart from seeking this declaration, the pleas had also challenged the Centres "unilateral" move unravelling the unique federal structure of India by dividing J-K "without taking consent from the people." Questioning Centres move, under cover of Presidents Rule with the view to undermining crucial elements of due process and the rule of law, the pleas stated that what happened to J-K "goes to the heart of Indian federalism." It was also argued that the Presidential Order of August 5 substituted the concurrence of the Governor of the State government to change the very character of a federal unit. The pleas were last listed on March 2, 2020, when the constitution bench had held that there was no need to refer the matter to a larger Bench. The hearing had commenced on December 10, 2019 - four months after the repeal of the J&K special status - before a Constitution Bench comprising Justices NV Ramana (now retired), SK Kaul, R Subhash Reddy (now retired), B R Gavai and Surya Kant. Some of the petitioners during the course of the hearing had also sought for reference of the matter to a 7-judge Bench in light of the contrasting opinions expressed by two coordinate benches of the Supreme Court in the cases of Prem Nath Kaul and Sampath Prakash which was refused by March 2, 2020 order. NEW DELHI: India's top court on Tuesday said it will commence hearing of the pleas challenging the Abrogation of Article 370 of the constitution which granted a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) from August 2. A five-judge constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud Justices SK Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai and Surya Kant will hear the petitions on a day-to-day basis. The apex court also fixed July 27 as the deadline for filing documents and written submissions by parties. It appointed two lawyers one from the petitioner's side and the government side to prepare a convenience compilation and file it before July 27 and made it clear that after the said date no documents will be accepted.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In the hearing that transpired on Tuesday, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told the bench that centres affidavit which was filed ahead of the hearing only reflected the position post-August 5, 2020. CJI DY Chandrachud clarified that the Union governments affidavit would have no bearing on the "constitutional question." On August 5, 2019, the Centre decided to strip the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir of special status and bifurcate it into two Union Territories (UT). Notably, the Central government had told the top court that "this historic step" had brought unprecedented development, progress, security and stability to the region, "which was missing" during the old Article 370 regime. "After the historic changes, the UTs of J-K and Ladakh has witnessed profound ameliorative, affirmative and progressive changes in the last four years encompassing its entire governance - including the developmental activities, public administration and security matters which has positively impacted every resident irrespective of caste, creed or religion," the affidavit stated. "The entire region since 2019 has witnessed an unprecedented era of peace, progress and prosperity, and life has returned to normalcy after over three decades of turmoil. Schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and other public institutions are functioning efficiently without any strikes or any kind of disturbances during the last three years. The earlier practice of daily hartals, strikes, stone pelting and bandhs are things of the past now," the affidavit continued. ALSO READ | Centres defence lacks logic: JK politicians on revocation of Article 370 The SC bench also granted two petitioners IAS officer Shah Faesal and activist Shehla Rashid Shora permission to delete their names from the list of petitioners and agreed on SGs suggestion to rename the case as "In re: Article 370 of the Constitution." The pleas were filed in the wake of the amendments praying for declaring the Presidential Orders issued under Article 370, repealing the special status of the erstwhile state and the Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Act, 2019 as "unconstitutional." Apart from seeking this declaration, the pleas had also challenged the Centres "unilateral" move unravelling the unique federal structure of India by dividing J-K "without taking consent from the people." Questioning Centres move, under cover of Presidents Rule with the view to undermining crucial elements of due process and the rule of law, the pleas stated that what happened to J-K "goes to the heart of Indian federalism." It was also argued that the Presidential Order of August 5 substituted the concurrence of the Governor of the State government to change the very character of a federal unit. The pleas were last listed on March 2, 2020, when the constitution bench had held that there was no need to refer the matter to a larger Bench. The hearing had commenced on December 10, 2019 - four months after the repeal of the J&K special status - before a Constitution Bench comprising Justices NV Ramana (now retired), SK Kaul, R Subhash Reddy (now retired), B R Gavai and Surya Kant. Some of the petitioners during the course of the hearing had also sought for reference of the matter to a 7-judge Bench in light of the contrasting opinions expressed by two coordinate benches of the Supreme Court in the cases of Prem Nath Kaul and Sampath Prakash which was refused by March 2, 2020 order. By Express News Service AHMEDABAD: Surat Police have apprehended a man who robbed 150 kg of tomatoes. The incident was recorded on a CCTV camera in the neighbourhood. An application has been filed at the Surat Kapodra region regarding the robbery of tomato, brinjal and garlic from the vegetable market near Akshar Diamond in the area. A shop owner, in the Kapodrani vegetable market, found three bags of tomatoes missing from his store. He scanned the CCTV footage and found that he has been robbed. The footage showed a young man walking away with over 150 kg of tomatoes from the shop. The police arrested a man identified as Ghanshyam. Ghanshyam is originally from Bhavnagar district and had come to Surat city for employment five months ago. But after not getting employment, finally he resorted to theft. Because of the rising prices of vegetables, he stole expensive vegetables from inside the market and sold them to a local for Rs.40 per kg. The Kapodra police confiscated all the stolen vegetables and returned them to the original owner and have started further investigation. AHMEDABAD: Surat Police have apprehended a man who robbed 150 kg of tomatoes. The incident was recorded on a CCTV camera in the neighbourhood. An application has been filed at the Surat Kapodra region regarding the robbery of tomato, brinjal and garlic from the vegetable market near Akshar Diamond in the area. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A shop owner, in the Kapodrani vegetable market, found three bags of tomatoes missing from his store. He scanned the CCTV footage and found that he has been robbed. The footage showed a young man walking away with over 150 kg of tomatoes from the shop. The police arrested a man identified as Ghanshyam. Ghanshyam is originally from Bhavnagar district and had come to Surat city for employment five months ago. But after not getting employment, finally he resorted to theft. Because of the rising prices of vegetables, he stole expensive vegetables from inside the market and sold them to a local for Rs.40 per kg. The Kapodra police confiscated all the stolen vegetables and returned them to the original owner and have started further investigation. Next week, Flagstaff and northern Arizona residents will have the opportunity to make their voices heard to federal officials on the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. The tribal-led effort hopes to protect 1.1 million acres around the Grand Canyon within a new national monument. On July 18, officials from the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture will host a public meeting in Flagstaff to hear from the public on the issue. The meeting will be from 1 to 4 p.m. in the grand ballroom of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at 1175 W. Route 66. Doors will open to the public at 12:30 p.m. Among those expected at the meeting are Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Laura Daniel-Davis and Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Homer Wilkes. Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tracy Stone-Manning, Arizona BLM Director Raymond Suazo and U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester Michiko Martin will also be in attendance. The meeting comes after Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited the region in May to meet with tribal leaders, local elected officials, and community members to hear about their vision for the monument. In April, a coalition of tribes began pushing the Biden administration to create the new monument. The coalition includes leadership representatives of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Las Vegas Band of Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Throughout the years, there have been several efforts to push for the creation of a Grand Canyon national monument on the part of environmental groups and tribes with deep historic and cultural connections to the Canyon and surrounding areas, but none have been successful thus far. Advocates say a national monument designation would prevent new mining claims from being issued while maintaining existing uses such as hiking, hunting, fishing, grazing and camping. Uranium mining is of particular concern for tribes and environmental groups, and has long been controversial. Currently, new mining claims around the Grand Canyon are paused after a 2012 moratorium was implemented by the Obama administration. Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: Bihar assembly on Monday witnessed an uproar when BJP demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in view of the filing of chargesheet against him in the land-for-jobs scam. As soon as the House assembled on the first day of the monsoon session, BJP chief whip Janak Ram rose from his seat and demanded the resignation of Tejashwi. Both CM Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi were present in the house at that time. The first supplementary budget for the financial year 2023-24 was also tabled in the House in the monsoon session. Earlier, Bihar CM, Tejashwi and his elder brother and minister Tej Pratap Yadav reached the assembly in the same vehicle. BJPs chief whip said that it had never happened earlier, adding that for the first time, during the tenure of Nitish, a chargesheeted person was participating in the proceedings of the House as deputy CM. Why is action not being taken against Tejashwi? he asked. He said that the government had to concede to the demands of teachers after they were forced to appear in Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination. We will take out a march to assembly on July 13 and will not allow the House to conduct its proceedings, he said. Meanwhile, the grand alliances legislature party meeting was held under the CM. PATNA: Bihar assembly on Monday witnessed an uproar when BJP demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in view of the filing of chargesheet against him in the land-for-jobs scam. As soon as the House assembled on the first day of the monsoon session, BJP chief whip Janak Ram rose from his seat and demanded the resignation of Tejashwi. Both CM Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi were present in the house at that time. The first supplementary budget for the financial year 2023-24 was also tabled in the House in the monsoon session. Earlier, Bihar CM, Tejashwi and his elder brother and minister Tej Pratap Yadav reached the assembly in the same vehicle.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); BJPs chief whip said that it had never happened earlier, adding that for the first time, during the tenure of Nitish, a chargesheeted person was participating in the proceedings of the House as deputy CM. Why is action not being taken against Tejashwi? he asked. He said that the government had to concede to the demands of teachers after they were forced to appear in Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination. We will take out a march to assembly on July 13 and will not allow the House to conduct its proceedings, he said. Meanwhile, the grand alliances legislature party meeting was held under the CM. Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Last year on September 18, Indian intelligence noticed an unusual guest at two gurdwaras in Canadas Surrey in British Columbia: Dashmesh Darbar and Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. The guests name is Janbaz Khan, Pakistani Consul General in Vancouver. Like any official of Pakistan, Khans apparent objective was to collect donations for his flood-hit country. No one knows how much Khan collected, but officially, he thanked the gurdwaras for their generous help. He also held secret meetings along with two officers of the consulate with Khalistani separatists. Surrey is a part of the Metro Vancouver area and lies between the Fraser River and the US border. In Peace Arch Provincial Park, a white arch marks the international boundary between Canada and the US. Surrey is also a hub of migrating birds. As per the 2021 Census, more than half of Canadas Sikhs can be found in one of four cities: Brampton (1,63,260), Surrey (1,54,415), Calgary (49,465), and Edmonton (41,385). In months following Khans meetings, a series of anti-India attacks took place in Canada. On January 31, the Gauri Shankar Mandir was defaced at Brampton, on February 17, the Ram temple in Mississauga, Toronto, was sullied with anti-India graffiti and on March 23, two smoke grenades exploded in the Indian High Commission premises in Ottawa. Indian security agencies say a sudden spurt in the Khalistani movement in Canada, the UK, the US, Australia and Germany is due to rising insecurity among the sympathisers of Khalistan. The separatists believe that their fellow comrades have fallen to Indian security agencies abroad. In the last two months, three top Khalistani protagonists have died mysteriously. They are Avtar Singh Khanda, chief of the Khalistan Liberation Force and a mentor of Amritpal Singh (who is lodged in an Assam jail) who died following cancer in a hospital in UKs Birmingham. Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead by two youths outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey and Khalistan Commando Force chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistans Lahore. ISIs double game A section of Indian secret agencies also attributes the recent depletion in Khalistani ranks to the Pakistani spy network, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Pakistani handlers believe they have used up the present hardcore Khalistani crop; and that they need to nurture a new generation of separatists to revive the so-called Khalistani movement. The ISI could be playing a double game: on the one hand they could be monitoring and stashing away parts of donations from the pro-Pakistan Indian diaspora and crowd-funding, they could be using the money to carry out assassinations of those Khalistani hotheads who have been unable to do ISI bidding, said a senior intelligence official. Sources said soon a National Investigation Agency team would visit the US and probe the recent attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco after it was torched by Khalistani elements months after vandalising the same consulate in the wake of Amritpal Singhs arrest. Operation 21 The proscribed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), headed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is headquartered in New York. Pannun holds a dual passport from Canada and the US. Sources say in a meeting held in June in Canada, Pannun announced putting up anti-India posters and rallies against atrocities committed against Sikhs in India. It is Pannuns plan to hold a protest march to the Indian missions in Toronto and Vancouver on July 8 against the killing of Nijjar and a referendum in the Greater Toronto area on July 16 and a referendum in the Greater Vancouver area in September. All of this is under the macabre Operation 21 plan. The plan includes asking Khalistani supporters across the globe to form 21-member groups each and protest outside 21 prominent embassies across the world. These elements and operations are backed by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and ISI in a desperate attempt to stay relevant. It is learnt that Pannun went underground for some time, recently. His death in a car accident did the rounds on social media last week. However, he surfaced last Thursday and released a video. Pannun named Indian diplomats by the surnames: Sandhu-Verma-Doraiswami-Malhotra-Vohra (believed to have been posted in Canada, the UK, Italy and Australia) and held them responsible for the assassination of Nijjar. Pannun also announced to besiege Indian embassies on August 15 and asked Khalistani sympathizers in Toronto to vote against India on July 16. He dedicated the September 10 Vancouver protest to Nijjar. The Khalistanis have released a threat poster in the UK with pictures of top Indian diplomats. Provocative banners have been put up against the Indian high commissioner to Canada. The fallout The Canadian High Commissioner in India was summoned and conveyed Indias concerns after posters of Kill India were out by pro-Khalistan leaders in Canada. India has already asked the Canadian authorities to take measures for the security of its diplomats. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Security and Intelligence Service are in touch with the Indian High Commission and consulates in Canada and have provided escort to top diplomats in Toronto and Vancouver. We have requested our partner countries like Canada, the US, the UK and Australia not to give space to Khalistanis. Extremist thinking is neither good for us nor for them nor our relations, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. In a recent statement, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly stated, Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously. Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online which are unacceptable. Talking with this newspaper, political analyst Kuldeep Singh said, There is a visible Indian government pressure on governments in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia to be tough with these radical elements. As a result, these governments have become active on this front. Indian-origin Canadian MP Chandra Arya of the Liberal Party who represents the Nepean constituency in Ontario and belongs to Karnataka tweeted, Khalistanis in Canada continue to reach a new low in abusing our Charter of Rights and Freedom by promoting violence and hate. Emboldened by non-criticism from elected officials of a recent Brampton parade portraying and celebrating the assassination of Indian PM Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards, they are now openly calling for violence against Indian diplomats... we should note the snakes in our backyard are raising their heads and hissing. It is only a question of time when they bite to kill. CHANDIGARH: Last year on September 18, Indian intelligence noticed an unusual guest at two gurdwaras in Canadas Surrey in British Columbia: Dashmesh Darbar and Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. The guests name is Janbaz Khan, Pakistani Consul General in Vancouver. Like any official of Pakistan, Khans apparent objective was to collect donations for his flood-hit country. No one knows how much Khan collected, but officially, he thanked the gurdwaras for their generous help. He also held secret meetings along with two officers of the consulate with Khalistani separatists. Surrey is a part of the Metro Vancouver area and lies between the Fraser River and the US border. In Peace Arch Provincial Park, a white arch marks the international boundary between Canada and the US. Surrey is also a hub of migrating birds. As per the 2021 Census, more than half of Canadas Sikhs can be found in one of four cities: Brampton (1,63,260), Surrey (1,54,415), Calgary (49,465), and Edmonton (41,385).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In months following Khans meetings, a series of anti-India attacks took place in Canada. On January 31, the Gauri Shankar Mandir was defaced at Brampton, on February 17, the Ram temple in Mississauga, Toronto, was sullied with anti-India graffiti and on March 23, two smoke grenades exploded in the Indian High Commission premises in Ottawa. Indian security agencies say a sudden spurt in the Khalistani movement in Canada, the UK, the US, Australia and Germany is due to rising insecurity among the sympathisers of Khalistan. The separatists believe that their fellow comrades have fallen to Indian security agencies abroad. In the last two months, three top Khalistani protagonists have died mysteriously. They are Avtar Singh Khanda, chief of the Khalistan Liberation Force and a mentor of Amritpal Singh (who is lodged in an Assam jail) who died following cancer in a hospital in UKs Birmingham. Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead by two youths outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey and Khalistan Commando Force chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistans Lahore. ISIs double game A section of Indian secret agencies also attributes the recent depletion in Khalistani ranks to the Pakistani spy network, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Pakistani handlers believe they have used up the present hardcore Khalistani crop; and that they need to nurture a new generation of separatists to revive the so-called Khalistani movement. The ISI could be playing a double game: on the one hand they could be monitoring and stashing away parts of donations from the pro-Pakistan Indian diaspora and crowd-funding, they could be using the money to carry out assassinations of those Khalistani hotheads who have been unable to do ISI bidding, said a senior intelligence official. Sources said soon a National Investigation Agency team would visit the US and probe the recent attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco after it was torched by Khalistani elements months after vandalising the same consulate in the wake of Amritpal Singhs arrest. Operation 21 The proscribed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), headed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is headquartered in New York. Pannun holds a dual passport from Canada and the US. Sources say in a meeting held in June in Canada, Pannun announced putting up anti-India posters and rallies against atrocities committed against Sikhs in India. It is Pannuns plan to hold a protest march to the Indian missions in Toronto and Vancouver on July 8 against the killing of Nijjar and a referendum in the Greater Toronto area on July 16 and a referendum in the Greater Vancouver area in September. All of this is under the macabre Operation 21 plan. The plan includes asking Khalistani supporters across the globe to form 21-member groups each and protest outside 21 prominent embassies across the world. These elements and operations are backed by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and ISI in a desperate attempt to stay relevant. It is learnt that Pannun went underground for some time, recently. His death in a car accident did the rounds on social media last week. However, he surfaced last Thursday and released a video. Pannun named Indian diplomats by the surnames: Sandhu-Verma-Doraiswami-Malhotra-Vohra (believed to have been posted in Canada, the UK, Italy and Australia) and held them responsible for the assassination of Nijjar. Pannun also announced to besiege Indian embassies on August 15 and asked Khalistani sympathizers in Toronto to vote against India on July 16. He dedicated the September 10 Vancouver protest to Nijjar. The Khalistanis have released a threat poster in the UK with pictures of top Indian diplomats. Provocative banners have been put up against the Indian high commissioner to Canada. The fallout The Canadian High Commissioner in India was summoned and conveyed Indias concerns after posters of Kill India were out by pro-Khalistan leaders in Canada. India has already asked the Canadian authorities to take measures for the security of its diplomats. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Security and Intelligence Service are in touch with the Indian High Commission and consulates in Canada and have provided escort to top diplomats in Toronto and Vancouver. We have requested our partner countries like Canada, the US, the UK and Australia not to give space to Khalistanis. Extremist thinking is neither good for us nor for them nor our relations, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. In a recent statement, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly stated, Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously. Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online which are unacceptable. Talking with this newspaper, political analyst Kuldeep Singh said, There is a visible Indian government pressure on governments in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia to be tough with these radical elements. As a result, these governments have become active on this front. Indian-origin Canadian MP Chandra Arya of the Liberal Party who represents the Nepean constituency in Ontario and belongs to Karnataka tweeted, Khalistanis in Canada continue to reach a new low in abusing our Charter of Rights and Freedom by promoting violence and hate. Emboldened by non-criticism from elected officials of a recent Brampton parade portraying and celebrating the assassination of Indian PM Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards, they are now openly calling for violence against Indian diplomats... we should note the snakes in our backyard are raising their heads and hissing. It is only a question of time when they bite to kill. By Agencies KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: The Trinamool Congress on Monday said a five-member party delegation will visit ethnic strife-torn Manipur on July 14. On the same day, a committee of BJP parliamentarians said it will visit West Bengal to probe the cases of violence during the panchayat polls in the state. More than 120 people have lost their lives and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, who include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts. The TMC delegation will comprise Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien, Rajya Sabha MPs Dola Sen and Sushmita Dev and Lok Sabha MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Kalyan Banerjee. A four member fact-finding delegation of MPs from @AITCofficial will visit Manipur on July 14. Members of Parliament @derekobrienmp @KBanerjee_aitc @kakoligdastidar @Dolasen7 will reach out to those affected and provide some healing comfort for a DOUBLE ENGINE State that the All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 10, 2023 On the other hand, violence had rocked West Bengal's rural polls on July 8, leaving 15 people dead while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers torched, and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. The BJP committee, headed by former law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, consists of former Mumbai police commissioner Satyapal Singh, Rajdeep Roy and party vice-president Rekha Verma. After their visit, they will present a report to party president J P Nadda. TMC blames BJP for Manipur situation; BJP says 'send fact-finding teams to Bengal first' West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had recently accused the BJP of using "divisive" politics in Manipur and blamed it for a "failure" on the part of the central government to restore peace in the northeastern state. Banerjee had also claimed that she wrote to the Centre to allow her to visit Manipur but didn't receive a reply. Bengal BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said the TMC should first send fact-finding teams to districts in their state, calling it "an attempt to divert attention from the violence in Bengal." Of those who died on the polling day, 11 were affiliated with the TMC. The total death toll in the state, since the rural poll process began on June 8 when the dates were announced, has crossed 30. ALSO READ | (With inputs from PTI) KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: The Trinamool Congress on Monday said a five-member party delegation will visit ethnic strife-torn Manipur on July 14. On the same day, a committee of BJP parliamentarians said it will visit West Bengal to probe the cases of violence during the panchayat polls in the state. More than 120 people have lost their lives and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, who include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The TMC delegation will comprise Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien, Rajya Sabha MPs Dola Sen and Sushmita Dev and Lok Sabha MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Kalyan Banerjee. A four member fact-finding delegation of MPs from @AITCofficial will visit Manipur on July 14. Members of Parliament @derekobrienmp @KBanerjee_aitc @kakoligdastidar @Dolasen7 will reach out to those affected and provide some healing comfort for a DOUBLE ENGINE State that the All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 10, 2023 On the other hand, violence had rocked West Bengal's rural polls on July 8, leaving 15 people dead while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers torched, and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. The BJP committee, headed by former law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, consists of former Mumbai police commissioner Satyapal Singh, Rajdeep Roy and party vice-president Rekha Verma. After their visit, they will present a report to party president J P Nadda. TMC blames BJP for Manipur situation; BJP says 'send fact-finding teams to Bengal first' West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had recently accused the BJP of using "divisive" politics in Manipur and blamed it for a "failure" on the part of the central government to restore peace in the northeastern state. Banerjee had also claimed that she wrote to the Centre to allow her to visit Manipur but didn't receive a reply. Bengal BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said the TMC should first send fact-finding teams to districts in their state, calling it "an attempt to divert attention from the violence in Bengal." Of those who died on the polling day, 11 were affiliated with the TMC. The total death toll in the state, since the rural poll process began on June 8 when the dates were announced, has crossed 30. ALSO READ | Counting for West Bengal rural polls underway, TMC leads in over 3,000 gram panchayats In violence-hit Bhangar, TMC wins majority of panchayat seats without contest Apex court cannot be used as platform to escalate tension in Manipur: Supreme Court Manipur violence: Policeman killed, 10 injured in west Kangpokpi (With inputs from PTI) By PTI KOLKATA: According to the latest declarations by the State Election Commission, the TMC has won 12,518-gram panchayat seats and is leading in 3,620 seats. Its nearest rival BJP has won 2,781 seats and is leading in 915 seats out of 63,229 seats as of 3.30 pm. The Left Front has won in 959 seats out of which the CPI(M) alone has won in 910 seats. The party is currently leading in 550 seats. The Congress won 625 seats and is leading in 276. Other parties which included the newly formed ISF won 219 seats and led in 70 seats, while independents which included TMC rebels won 718 seats and led in 216 seats. Counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats which besides the gram panchayat seats, also includes 9,730 panchayat samiti seats and 928 zilla parishad seats, began at 8 am on Tuesday peacefully amid tight security, officials said. There are around 339 counting venues spread across 22 districts. The maximum number of counting centres is in South 24 Parganas at 28, while the minimum is in Kalimpong at four. Some northern districts are also facing inclement weather. Counting began at 8 am and is likely to continue for the next two days. It will take time for the ballots to be counted and the results to be compiled, an SEC official said. In Darjeeling hills, out of the 598 seats in Darjeeling and 281 in Kalimpong, the BGPM was leading in 21, whereas the BJP was head in one, and the independents were leading in four. All the counting venues are manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents. There are a total of 767 strong rooms across 22 districts. Large crowds of supporters of various candidates gathered at various centres to ensure that counting was conducted correctly. In various districts, TMC supporters celebrated their victory by dancing and smearing each other with green gulal. As initial trends started pouring in, a war of words broke out between the TMC and the BJP, with the latter accusing the ruling party of making last desperate attempts to loot votes by blocking opposition agents from entering counting centres. TMC goons are making desperate attempts to steal the elections by obstructing the counting agents and candidates of the BJP and other opposition political parties from entering counting centres. They are being restricted from going towards the venue, and bombs are being hurled to intimidate counting agents, leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, said. Refuting the allegations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, Sensing defeat, they are making baseless allegations. Rejected by people and sensing humiliating defeat, this is BJPs last attempt to come up with lame excuses to make up for its own organisational failures, he said. Violence had rocked West Bengals rural polls on Saturday, leaving 15 people dead while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers torched, and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. Of those killed, 11 were affiliated with the TMC. The total death toll in the state since the poll process began on June 8, when the dates were announced, has crossed 30. A voter turnout of 80.71 per cent was recorded on Saturday, whereas a vote percentage of 69.85 was recorded till 5 pm in 696 booths across West Bengal, where re-polling was held on Monday. The decision for re-polling was taken after reviewing reports of violence and tampering with ballot boxes and ballot papers on Saturday. A total of 5.67 crore people living in the states rural areas were eligible to decide the fate of 2.06 lakh candidates in 73,887 seats of the panchayat system. Saturdays violence was in keeping with the states history of violent rural elections, including the 2003 panchayat polls, which gained notoriety for its cumulative death toll of 76 during the poll process, with nearly 40 killed on the day of polling. This year, with more than 30 killed since polls were announced earlier last month, the toll remained almost equal to that of the previous panchayat elections in 2018. However, this time, the Opposition had fielded candidates in more than 90 per cent of seats, unlike in 2018 rural polls, when the ruling TMC had won 34 per cent of the seats uncontested. In the 2018 rural polls, the ruling TMC had emerged victorious in 90 per cent of the panchayat seats and all the 22 zilla parishads. The elections were marred by widespread violence, with the Opposition alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in several seats. KOLKATA: According to the latest declarations by the State Election Commission, the TMC has won 12,518-gram panchayat seats and is leading in 3,620 seats. Its nearest rival BJP has won 2,781 seats and is leading in 915 seats out of 63,229 seats as of 3.30 pm. The Left Front has won in 959 seats out of which the CPI(M) alone has won in 910 seats. The party is currently leading in 550 seats. The Congress won 625 seats and is leading in 276.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Other parties which included the newly formed ISF won 219 seats and led in 70 seats, while independents which included TMC rebels won 718 seats and led in 216 seats. Counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats which besides the gram panchayat seats, also includes 9,730 panchayat samiti seats and 928 zilla parishad seats, began at 8 am on Tuesday peacefully amid tight security, officials said. There are around 339 counting venues spread across 22 districts. The maximum number of counting centres is in South 24 Parganas at 28, while the minimum is in Kalimpong at four. Some northern districts are also facing inclement weather. Counting began at 8 am and is likely to continue for the next two days. It will take time for the ballots to be counted and the results to be compiled, an SEC official said. In Darjeeling hills, out of the 598 seats in Darjeeling and 281 in Kalimpong, the BGPM was leading in 21, whereas the BJP was head in one, and the independents were leading in four. All the counting venues are manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents. There are a total of 767 strong rooms across 22 districts. Large crowds of supporters of various candidates gathered at various centres to ensure that counting was conducted correctly. In various districts, TMC supporters celebrated their victory by dancing and smearing each other with green gulal. As initial trends started pouring in, a war of words broke out between the TMC and the BJP, with the latter accusing the ruling party of making last desperate attempts to loot votes by blocking opposition agents from entering counting centres. TMC goons are making desperate attempts to steal the elections by obstructing the counting agents and candidates of the BJP and other opposition political parties from entering counting centres. They are being restricted from going towards the venue, and bombs are being hurled to intimidate counting agents, leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, said. Refuting the allegations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, Sensing defeat, they are making baseless allegations. Rejected by people and sensing humiliating defeat, this is BJPs last attempt to come up with lame excuses to make up for its own organisational failures, he said. Violence had rocked West Bengals rural polls on Saturday, leaving 15 people dead while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers torched, and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. Of those killed, 11 were affiliated with the TMC. The total death toll in the state since the poll process began on June 8, when the dates were announced, has crossed 30. A voter turnout of 80.71 per cent was recorded on Saturday, whereas a vote percentage of 69.85 was recorded till 5 pm in 696 booths across West Bengal, where re-polling was held on Monday. The decision for re-polling was taken after reviewing reports of violence and tampering with ballot boxes and ballot papers on Saturday. A total of 5.67 crore people living in the states rural areas were eligible to decide the fate of 2.06 lakh candidates in 73,887 seats of the panchayat system. Saturdays violence was in keeping with the states history of violent rural elections, including the 2003 panchayat polls, which gained notoriety for its cumulative death toll of 76 during the poll process, with nearly 40 killed on the day of polling. This year, with more than 30 killed since polls were announced earlier last month, the toll remained almost equal to that of the previous panchayat elections in 2018. However, this time, the Opposition had fielded candidates in more than 90 per cent of seats, unlike in 2018 rural polls, when the ruling TMC had won 34 per cent of the seats uncontested. In the 2018 rural polls, the ruling TMC had emerged victorious in 90 per cent of the panchayat seats and all the 22 zilla parishads. The elections were marred by widespread violence, with the Opposition alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in several seats. By Express News Service Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent statement on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has kicked up nationwide debate on the proposed equal rights law. While many Muslim organisations have opposed the move, political parties hold different opinions on the same. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan who has been a proponent of gender justice and equal rights for Muslim women, says that the Uniform Civil Code should be implemented in the country, not merely because it is part of the directive principles, but because the existing legal arrangement violates both the fundamental right of equality before law and equal protection of laws. In an interview with Anil S, the Governor also criticised the Left parties for doing a volte-face in their stance on the UCC. The Centre is now mulling over implementing the Uniform Civil Code and the same has invoked stringent criticism from various quarters. What is your position on this matter? We are a vibrant democracy and everyone has the right to give expression to her opinion. My stand is the same which is spelled out in the Constitution of India which makes it obligatory for the State to secure a uniform civil code for all citizens throughout the territory of India. I feel that UCC should come not merely because it is part of the directive principles but more importantly, the legal arrangement that exists violates the fundamental right of equality before the law and equal protection of laws. OPINION | The 1937 Act divided India. Will UCC integrate it? Today every person who goes to court to seek justice in matters pertaining to personal laws receives justice on the basis of her religious faith. Two persons similarly circumstanced will not receive similar justice because they belong to different faith traditions. I feel that any judicial scrutiny would reveal that personal laws are violative of fundamental rights and they are an obstacle in the path of uniformity of justice. A few political parties, including the CPM and IUML, have lashed out against such a move, terming it anti-women and anti-minority. Do you believe such opposition stems from political rather than ideological differences? Muslim League I can understand because they had raised this bogey even before Independence and had demanded the partition of India to safeguard the Muslim religion, culture and language. It is a different matter that after partition, the new dominion Pakistan changed these personal laws in 1962 and not only banned triple divorce but also placed restrictions on polygamy. What is surprising is the volte-face staged by the Left which at least till 1990, was vocal supporters of UCC and gender justice. In 1986, when I resigned from the Central government on the issue of Shah Bano, Mr EMS Namboodripad, Left parties and BJP had supported my stand. Since Left parties had earlier supported the UCC, I think they owe a duty to the people to explain why they have changed their stance so radically and now are ready to align with parties who were described by them as communal. Those opposing the UCC have pointed out that the Centre could instead review existing discriminatory practices in personal laws of various religions. Would you concur with such an approach? The Centre must stand by the Constitution, which is clear on this issue. If those who are opposed to UCC feel that gender justice can be ensured through some other methodology then it is their duty to prepare the draft and submit it to the Law Commission and to the government and I am sure that it will receive due consideration. READ MORE: Opposing parties have pointed out that any demand for such reform should arise from within a particular community. As someone who has always advocated equal rights for Muslim women, do you feel that such reformatory awareness does exist in present-day society? This question reminds me of what Sri PV Narasimha Rao had told me in 1986 while trying to persuade me to withdraw my resignation from the government. He said, We are not social reformers but a political party. If Muslims want to live in a pothole, why we should bother about it as long as they are voting for us? To me, this approach is dangerous because if any one section of the population is left behind then it would not hurt them alone rather it would be a problem for the whole country. Some are also of the view that if the UCC is implemented by the Centre, it would end up destroying the diverse fabric of Indian society. Would you agree with such a thought process? This assertion is part of a vicious propaganda to mislead people to believe that UCC means bringing about uniformity of customs, rituals and practices. This is far from the truth. The UCC is only about bringing uniformity of justice. After UCC becomes law, every group will continue to have the freedom to follow their own practices and customs but in case of any dispute if the parties decide to go to the court then uniform justice will be available and no one shall be discriminated against on the basis of her faith. Never forget that UCC is a civil law and no civil law forbids any action on the pain of punishment. Civil Laws do not come into operation on their own, they are enforced by courts only if the affected party goes to the court seeking remedy for some alleged wrong. ALSO READ: A slew of legislations including the Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Succession Act, Indian Christian Marriages Act, Indian Divorce Act, Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act will be replaced if the UCC becomes law. Would this not impact the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution? Please look at Article 25 of the Constitution more closely. It ensures freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion to all persons not just citizens. It is not a community right but an individual right subject to public order, morality and health and nothing in this article shall prevent the State from providing for social welfare and reform. Secondly, I am convinced that the Constitution of India does not allow the government to enforce religious laws as there is no unanimity in any religious community as the interpretations of various provisions differ and particularly among Muslims there are more than six schools of jurisprudence which are applicable to various groups who subscribe to these schools. In fact, Muslim Law is a misnomer, at best they can be described as sectarian laws which radically differ from each other. That explains why Muslim Ulema are not able to codify the Muslim Law and the Shariat Application Act 1937 is merely a declaratory law that such and such matters shall be decided in accordance with the provisions of Muslim Law. In the absence of a codified law, when a specific matter comes for adjudication, the court has no option but to find out some previous ruling and apply that ruling to decide the matter accordingly. So when the government in 1986, accepted the stand of the Personal Law Board in the Shah Bano Case and decided to enact a law as per their demand, the state power was used to impose one viewpoint on all Muslims although many Muslims had publicly differed with the Board. Will you not see this as a denial of freedom of religion to these individuals who may be small in number but held a view that was different from the Personal Law Board and this list included very eminent individuals led by former Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Mr FH Badruddin Tyebji. ALSO READ: Critics cite the example of Goa where UCC had already been enforced. They point out that the Hindu community too has had to bear the brunt of such a law. Do you foresee a host of future legal tangles arising from implementing the UCC? Goa is a good example. Has the UCC there created uniformity of custom, ritual and practice or it has merely provided for uniformity of justice? One political leader has said on record that UCC is an attempt to impose Hindu Law on Muslims. Though he has a legal background he appears to be unaware that Hindu Code Bill is not a law based on Shastras. The Shastra-based Hindu Law had no provision about divorce or daughters having a share in ancestral property. Because Hindu Code Bill is not based on Hindu Shastras therefore Dr. Ambedkar thought it appropriate to apply it to communities like Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs as well. It is a modern legislation but to assure the Muslims that it would not apply to them it was named as Hindu Code Bill. Today, the Law Commission has invited opinions and everybody has a right to propose a draft of UCC, whose provisions do not offend any religious sensitivity and at the same time are in accord with the letter and spirit of the Constitution, then we can go ahead to secure a Uniform Civil code for all Indians. Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent statement on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has kicked up nationwide debate on the proposed equal rights law. While many Muslim organisations have opposed the move, political parties hold different opinions on the same. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan who has been a proponent of gender justice and equal rights for Muslim women, says that the Uniform Civil Code should be implemented in the country, not merely because it is part of the directive principles, but because the existing legal arrangement violates both the fundamental right of equality before law and equal protection of laws. In an interview with Anil S, the Governor also criticised the Left parties for doing a volte-face in their stance on the UCC.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Centre is now mulling over implementing the Uniform Civil Code and the same has invoked stringent criticism from various quarters. What is your position on this matter? We are a vibrant democracy and everyone has the right to give expression to her opinion. My stand is the same which is spelled out in the Constitution of India which makes it obligatory for the State to secure a uniform civil code for all citizens throughout the territory of India. I feel that UCC should come not merely because it is part of the directive principles but more importantly, the legal arrangement that exists violates the fundamental right of equality before the law and equal protection of laws. OPINION | The 1937 Act divided India. Will UCC integrate it? Today every person who goes to court to seek justice in matters pertaining to personal laws receives justice on the basis of her religious faith. Two persons similarly circumstanced will not receive similar justice because they belong to different faith traditions. I feel that any judicial scrutiny would reveal that personal laws are violative of fundamental rights and they are an obstacle in the path of uniformity of justice. A few political parties, including the CPM and IUML, have lashed out against such a move, terming it anti-women and anti-minority. Do you believe such opposition stems from political rather than ideological differences? Muslim League I can understand because they had raised this bogey even before Independence and had demanded the partition of India to safeguard the Muslim religion, culture and language. It is a different matter that after partition, the new dominion Pakistan changed these personal laws in 1962 and not only banned triple divorce but also placed restrictions on polygamy. What is surprising is the volte-face staged by the Left which at least till 1990, was vocal supporters of UCC and gender justice. In 1986, when I resigned from the Central government on the issue of Shah Bano, Mr EMS Namboodripad, Left parties and BJP had supported my stand. Since Left parties had earlier supported the UCC, I think they owe a duty to the people to explain why they have changed their stance so radically and now are ready to align with parties who were described by them as communal. Those opposing the UCC have pointed out that the Centre could instead review existing discriminatory practices in personal laws of various religions. Would you concur with such an approach? The Centre must stand by the Constitution, which is clear on this issue. If those who are opposed to UCC feel that gender justice can be ensured through some other methodology then it is their duty to prepare the draft and submit it to the Law Commission and to the government and I am sure that it will receive due consideration. READ MORE: Understanding UCC rumble UCC to be decisive in tribal-dominated states Buzz on Uttarakhand's UCC draft bill as template for national law Opposing parties have pointed out that any demand for such reform should arise from within a particular community. As someone who has always advocated equal rights for Muslim women, do you feel that such reformatory awareness does exist in present-day society? This question reminds me of what Sri PV Narasimha Rao had told me in 1986 while trying to persuade me to withdraw my resignation from the government. He said, We are not social reformers but a political party. If Muslims want to live in a pothole, why we should bother about it as long as they are voting for us? To me, this approach is dangerous because if any one section of the population is left behind then it would not hurt them alone rather it would be a problem for the whole country. Some are also of the view that if the UCC is implemented by the Centre, it would end up destroying the diverse fabric of Indian society. Would you agree with such a thought process? This assertion is part of a vicious propaganda to mislead people to believe that UCC means bringing about uniformity of customs, rituals and practices. This is far from the truth. The UCC is only about bringing uniformity of justice. After UCC becomes law, every group will continue to have the freedom to follow their own practices and customs but in case of any dispute if the parties decide to go to the court then uniform justice will be available and no one shall be discriminated against on the basis of her faith. Never forget that UCC is a civil law and no civil law forbids any action on the pain of punishment. Civil Laws do not come into operation on their own, they are enforced by courts only if the affected party goes to the court seeking remedy for some alleged wrong. ALSO READ: AAP backs Uniform Civil Code, Akali Dal, AIMPLB to oppose the code SGPC, the mini parliament of Sikhs, expresses strong opposition to UCC A slew of legislations including the Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Succession Act, Indian Christian Marriages Act, Indian Divorce Act, Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act will be replaced if the UCC becomes law. Would this not impact the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution? Please look at Article 25 of the Constitution more closely. It ensures freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion to all persons not just citizens. It is not a community right but an individual right subject to public order, morality and health and nothing in this article shall prevent the State from providing for social welfare and reform. Secondly, I am convinced that the Constitution of India does not allow the government to enforce religious laws as there is no unanimity in any religious community as the interpretations of various provisions differ and particularly among Muslims there are more than six schools of jurisprudence which are applicable to various groups who subscribe to these schools. In fact, Muslim Law is a misnomer, at best they can be described as sectarian laws which radically differ from each other. That explains why Muslim Ulema are not able to codify the Muslim Law and the Shariat Application Act 1937 is merely a declaratory law that such and such matters shall be decided in accordance with the provisions of Muslim Law. In the absence of a codified law, when a specific matter comes for adjudication, the court has no option but to find out some previous ruling and apply that ruling to decide the matter accordingly. So when the government in 1986, accepted the stand of the Personal Law Board in the Shah Bano Case and decided to enact a law as per their demand, the state power was used to impose one viewpoint on all Muslims although many Muslims had publicly differed with the Board. Will you not see this as a denial of freedom of religion to these individuals who may be small in number but held a view that was different from the Personal Law Board and this list included very eminent individuals led by former Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Mr FH Badruddin Tyebji. ALSO READ: UCC is against interest of ethnic minorities, says Mizoram CM 'On what issues does he want uniformity?' Kapil Sibal on PM Modi's pitch for UCC Critics cite the example of Goa where UCC had already been enforced. They point out that the Hindu community too has had to bear the brunt of such a law. Do you foresee a host of future legal tangles arising from implementing the UCC? Goa is a good example. Has the UCC there created uniformity of custom, ritual and practice or it has merely provided for uniformity of justice? One political leader has said on record that UCC is an attempt to impose Hindu Law on Muslims. Though he has a legal background he appears to be unaware that Hindu Code Bill is not a law based on Shastras. The Shastra-based Hindu Law had no provision about divorce or daughters having a share in ancestral property. Because Hindu Code Bill is not based on Hindu Shastras therefore Dr. Ambedkar thought it appropriate to apply it to communities like Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs as well. It is a modern legislation but to assure the Muslims that it would not apply to them it was named as Hindu Code Bill. Today, the Law Commission has invited opinions and everybody has a right to propose a draft of UCC, whose provisions do not offend any religious sensitivity and at the same time are in accord with the letter and spirit of the Constitution, then we can go ahead to secure a Uniform Civil code for all Indians. By PTI KOLKATA: Ananta Rai 'Maharaj', who has been demanding that a separate state of 'Greater Cooch Behar' be carved out of West Bengal, on Tuesday said he has been offered a Rajya Sabha ticket by the BJP, after a meeting with Union MoS for Home Nisith Pramanik. Pramanik, the BJP MP of Cooch Behar, met the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples' Association (GCPA) leader at his residence, and held an hour-long meeting. "I have been given an offer (for Rajya Sabha). They said they were considering my name. I am not opposed to it. Let's see what happens," Ananta told reporters with Pramanik by his side. Pramanik said it would benefit the entire state if people like him go to Parliament. "We want someone from Cooch Behar like Ananta Maharaj, who works for the development of the people, to be sent to the Upper House. But I cannot comment until the list is out as nothing is final. Let the names be announced officially," he said. Six Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal will go to the polls on July 24, besides, bypoll will also be held in another seat from the state. However, it was not immediately clear whether Ananta Rai was offered a ticket to contest one of these seats or will be nominated to the Upper House. Ananta Rai 'Maharaj' heads one of the factions of GCPA, which has been demanding that a separate state be carved out of northern West Bengal. With its eight districts, including picturesque Darjeeling, north Bengal is economically important for the state for its tea, timber and tourism industries. The region, which shares a border with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, has witnessed several violent statehood movements since the early eighties by various ethnic groups such as Gorkhas, Rajbanshis, Kochs and Kamatapuris. Several BJP MPs and MLAs from the region have advocated that a separate state or Union territory be carved out with these eight districts. However, the state BJP has maintained that it does not support such demands. The Trinamool Congress on Monday announced its candidates for six Rajya Sabha seats. Among them were Derek O'Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Dola Sen. O'Brien, an MP since 2011, is the TMC's leader in Rajya Sabha, while Ray, who was first sent to the Upper House of Parliament in 2012, is the deputy chief whip. Sen, a senior leader and trade unionist, became an MP in 2017. The newcomers on the list were Bangla Sanskriti Mancha president Samirul Islam, TMC's Alipurduar district president Prakash Chik Baraik, and RTI activist and TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale. The bypoll will be held in another seat as former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro resigned as a TMC MP in April. The TMC has 216 MLAs in the 294-member assembly and enjoys the support of five BJP MLAs, who switched over to the ruling party but are yet to resign from the House. The BJP has a strength of 70 in the assembly. As per the numbers in the assembly, TMC will get six of these seven Rajya Sabha seats and the BJP one. KOLKATA: Ananta Rai 'Maharaj', who has been demanding that a separate state of 'Greater Cooch Behar' be carved out of West Bengal, on Tuesday said he has been offered a Rajya Sabha ticket by the BJP, after a meeting with Union MoS for Home Nisith Pramanik. Pramanik, the BJP MP of Cooch Behar, met the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples' Association (GCPA) leader at his residence, and held an hour-long meeting. "I have been given an offer (for Rajya Sabha). They said they were considering my name. I am not opposed to it. Let's see what happens," Ananta told reporters with Pramanik by his side.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Pramanik said it would benefit the entire state if people like him go to Parliament. "We want someone from Cooch Behar like Ananta Maharaj, who works for the development of the people, to be sent to the Upper House. But I cannot comment until the list is out as nothing is final. Let the names be announced officially," he said. Six Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal will go to the polls on July 24, besides, bypoll will also be held in another seat from the state. However, it was not immediately clear whether Ananta Rai was offered a ticket to contest one of these seats or will be nominated to the Upper House. Ananta Rai 'Maharaj' heads one of the factions of GCPA, which has been demanding that a separate state be carved out of northern West Bengal. With its eight districts, including picturesque Darjeeling, north Bengal is economically important for the state for its tea, timber and tourism industries. The region, which shares a border with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, has witnessed several violent statehood movements since the early eighties by various ethnic groups such as Gorkhas, Rajbanshis, Kochs and Kamatapuris. Several BJP MPs and MLAs from the region have advocated that a separate state or Union territory be carved out with these eight districts. However, the state BJP has maintained that it does not support such demands. The Trinamool Congress on Monday announced its candidates for six Rajya Sabha seats. Among them were Derek O'Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Dola Sen. O'Brien, an MP since 2011, is the TMC's leader in Rajya Sabha, while Ray, who was first sent to the Upper House of Parliament in 2012, is the deputy chief whip. Sen, a senior leader and trade unionist, became an MP in 2017. The newcomers on the list were Bangla Sanskriti Mancha president Samirul Islam, TMC's Alipurduar district president Prakash Chik Baraik, and RTI activist and TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale. The bypoll will be held in another seat as former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro resigned as a TMC MP in April. The TMC has 216 MLAs in the 294-member assembly and enjoys the support of five BJP MLAs, who switched over to the ruling party but are yet to resign from the House. The BJP has a strength of 70 in the assembly. As per the numbers in the assembly, TMC will get six of these seven Rajya Sabha seats and the BJP one. By PTI KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday thanked the people of West Bengal for the TMC's huge win in the panchayat elections. The counting for the election to the three-tier panchayat system, comprising zilla parishad, panchayat samiti and gram panchayat, was still underway. At the gram panchayat level, TMC won 29,665 seats and held the lead in 1,527 seats. The opposition BJP bagged 8,021 seats and was leading in 406 seats. The CPI(M) won 2,472 seats and was leading in 239 seats, while its ally Congress won 2,094 seats and was leading in 131 seats. "It's TMC all the way in rural Bengal. I want to thank the people for their love, affection and support towards the TMC. This election has proved that only TMC resides in the heart of the people of the state," Banerjee said in a Facebook post. The elections were held on July 8 for over 73,000 seats in the panchayat system. KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday thanked the people of West Bengal for the TMC's huge win in the panchayat elections. The counting for the election to the three-tier panchayat system, comprising zilla parishad, panchayat samiti and gram panchayat, was still underway. At the gram panchayat level, TMC won 29,665 seats and held the lead in 1,527 seats.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The opposition BJP bagged 8,021 seats and was leading in 406 seats. The CPI(M) won 2,472 seats and was leading in 239 seats, while its ally Congress won 2,094 seats and was leading in 131 seats. "It's TMC all the way in rural Bengal. I want to thank the people for their love, affection and support towards the TMC. This election has proved that only TMC resides in the heart of the people of the state," Banerjee said in a Facebook post. The elections were held on July 8 for over 73,000 seats in the panchayat system. By PTI KOLKATA: TMC looked set to sweep the violence-scarred rural polls keeping intact the mandate it won two years back during the assembly polls by taking a seemingly unassailable lead in results declared till now by the State Election Commission. The ruling TMC has won in 30,391 gram panchayat seats, besides leading in 1,767 seats, according to the SEC as of 11.30 pm on Tuesday. Its nearest rival BJP has won 8,239 seats and is leading in 447 seats. In all elections are being held for 63,229 gram panchayat seats. The CPI(M) has won 2,534 and is leading in 237 seats. The Congress won 2,158 seats and is leading in 151. The ruling TMC won 2,612 Panchayat samiti seats while leading 627 seats. BJP has won 275 and is leading in 149 seats, while CPI(M) has won 63 seats and is leading in 53 others and Congress has won in 50 seats and is leading in 26 seats. Elections were held for 9,728 Panchayat Samiti seats. TMC has also won all 88 Zila Parishad results declared so far and is leading in 163 others while CPI(M) has is leading in 4 seats, while Congress is leading in 2 and the BJP in 13. In all, there are 928 Zila Parishad seats. Though the counting process was largely peaceful, there were stray incidents of bombs being thrown outside a counting centre and political workers of various parties clashing. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had suffered an injury during campaigning thanked people for reposing trust in her party. "It's TMC all the way in rural Bengal. I want to thank the people for their love, affection and support towards the TMC. This election has proved that only TMC resides in the heart of the people of the state," Banerjee said in a social media post. The elections were keenly contested as they were seen by all parties as an indicator of which way the wind will blow in the 2024 parliamentary elections from this part of the country. The violence which rocked the panchayat polls held on Saturday has claimed at least 15 lives with 11 of them from the ruling TMC. Since elections were announced last month, the number of people who died in poll-related incidents has been 33, with the ruling party suffering 60 per cent of the deaths. Allegations of vote tampering and violence by various parties forced the SEC to order re-polling in 696 seats on Monday, which passed more or less peacefully. Intervention by the Calcutta High Court had seen the deployment of central police forces on both election and counting days. Though Bengal has a long history of violent rural polls with 40 people killed in one single day of polling during the 2003 panchayat elections, this year's violence which was covered extensively by the media focused national attention on it. Governor CV Ananda Bose who had rushed to Delhi to give a report on the violence told newspersons "Political parties should realise elections are not grounds to examine one's physical strength". Officials said the counting process was largely peaceful though stray incidents were reported, including allegations of bombs being thrown outside a counting centre at Bongaon, the beating up of a local ISF leader outside another counting centre and lathi charge by central policemen on duty at places where crowds had gathered in large numbers and breached the security of certain counting centres. Vote counting is on at 339 venues spread across 22 districts and is likely to carry over to Wednesday. The maximum number of counting centres is in South 24 Parganas at 28, while the minimum is in Kalimpong at four. Some northern districts are also facing inclement weather. "Counting began at 8 am and is likely to continue for the next two days. It will take time for the ballots to be counted and the results to be compiled," an SEC official said. In Darjeeling hills, out of the 598 seats in Darjeeling and 281 in Kalimpong, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) was leading in many areas and looks likely to be the new numero uno in the Bengal hill districts. All the counting venues are manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents. There are a total of 767 strong rooms across 22 districts. Large crowds of supporters of various candidates gathered at various centres to ensure that counting was conducted correctly. In various districts, TMC supporters celebrated their victory by dancing and smearing each other with green colour, the party's chosen colour. As initial trends started pouring in, a war of words broke out between the TMC and the BJP, with the latter accusing the ruling party of "making last desperate attempts to loot votes by blocking opposition agents from entering counting centres." "TMC goons are making desperate attempts to steal the elections by obstructing the counting agents and candidates of the BJP and other opposition political parties from entering counting centres. They are being restricted from going towards the venue, and bombs are being hurled to intimidate counting agents," leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, said. Refuting the allegations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "Sensing defeat, they are making baseless allegations." "Rejected by people and sensing humiliating defeat, this is BJP's last attempt to come up with lame excuses to make up for its own organisational failures," he said. "We salute the people that despite all these (hurdles), they have supported the Left Front candidates," CPI(M) state secretary Mohd Salim said. The CPI(M) leader alleged that the ruling party was misusing the police and administration to get back to power in the panchayats. ISF MLA Nawshad Siddique who is leading his newly formed party told PTI, "Whatever chance the people have got to exercise their franchise despite violence and intimidation, they have expressed their opinion against the ruling party." He added that the "myth that a certain community is a vote bank has been proven wrong". A total of 5.67 crore people living in the state's rural areas were eligible to decide the fate of 2.06 lakh candidates in 73,887 seats of the three-tier-panchayat system. Unlike earlier elections, the Opposition had fielded candidates in more than 90 per cent of seats, unlike in 2018 rural polls, when the ruling TMC had won 34 per cent of the seats uncontested. In the 2018 rural polls, the ruling TMC had emerged victorious in 90 per cent of the panchayat seats and all the 22 zilla parishads. The elections were marred by widespread violence, with the Opposition alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in several seats. KOLKATA: TMC looked set to sweep the violence-scarred rural polls keeping intact the mandate it won two years back during the assembly polls by taking a seemingly unassailable lead in results declared till now by the State Election Commission. The ruling TMC has won in 30,391 gram panchayat seats, besides leading in 1,767 seats, according to the SEC as of 11.30 pm on Tuesday. Its nearest rival BJP has won 8,239 seats and is leading in 447 seats. In all elections are being held for 63,229 gram panchayat seats.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The CPI(M) has won 2,534 and is leading in 237 seats. The Congress won 2,158 seats and is leading in 151. The ruling TMC won 2,612 Panchayat samiti seats while leading 627 seats. BJP has won 275 and is leading in 149 seats, while CPI(M) has won 63 seats and is leading in 53 others and Congress has won in 50 seats and is leading in 26 seats. Elections were held for 9,728 Panchayat Samiti seats. TMC has also won all 88 Zila Parishad results declared so far and is leading in 163 others while CPI(M) has is leading in 4 seats, while Congress is leading in 2 and the BJP in 13. In all, there are 928 Zila Parishad seats. Though the counting process was largely peaceful, there were stray incidents of bombs being thrown outside a counting centre and political workers of various parties clashing. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had suffered an injury during campaigning thanked people for reposing trust in her party. "It's TMC all the way in rural Bengal. I want to thank the people for their love, affection and support towards the TMC. This election has proved that only TMC resides in the heart of the people of the state," Banerjee said in a social media post. The elections were keenly contested as they were seen by all parties as an indicator of which way the wind will blow in the 2024 parliamentary elections from this part of the country. The violence which rocked the panchayat polls held on Saturday has claimed at least 15 lives with 11 of them from the ruling TMC. Since elections were announced last month, the number of people who died in poll-related incidents has been 33, with the ruling party suffering 60 per cent of the deaths. Allegations of vote tampering and violence by various parties forced the SEC to order re-polling in 696 seats on Monday, which passed more or less peacefully. Intervention by the Calcutta High Court had seen the deployment of central police forces on both election and counting days. Though Bengal has a long history of violent rural polls with 40 people killed in one single day of polling during the 2003 panchayat elections, this year's violence which was covered extensively by the media focused national attention on it. Governor CV Ananda Bose who had rushed to Delhi to give a report on the violence told newspersons "Political parties should realise elections are not grounds to examine one's physical strength". Officials said the counting process was largely peaceful though stray incidents were reported, including allegations of bombs being thrown outside a counting centre at Bongaon, the beating up of a local ISF leader outside another counting centre and lathi charge by central policemen on duty at places where crowds had gathered in large numbers and breached the security of certain counting centres. Vote counting is on at 339 venues spread across 22 districts and is likely to carry over to Wednesday. The maximum number of counting centres is in South 24 Parganas at 28, while the minimum is in Kalimpong at four. Some northern districts are also facing inclement weather. "Counting began at 8 am and is likely to continue for the next two days. It will take time for the ballots to be counted and the results to be compiled," an SEC official said. In Darjeeling hills, out of the 598 seats in Darjeeling and 281 in Kalimpong, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) was leading in many areas and looks likely to be the new numero uno in the Bengal hill districts. All the counting venues are manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents. There are a total of 767 strong rooms across 22 districts. Large crowds of supporters of various candidates gathered at various centres to ensure that counting was conducted correctly. In various districts, TMC supporters celebrated their victory by dancing and smearing each other with green colour, the party's chosen colour. As initial trends started pouring in, a war of words broke out between the TMC and the BJP, with the latter accusing the ruling party of "making last desperate attempts to loot votes by blocking opposition agents from entering counting centres." "TMC goons are making desperate attempts to steal the elections by obstructing the counting agents and candidates of the BJP and other opposition political parties from entering counting centres. They are being restricted from going towards the venue, and bombs are being hurled to intimidate counting agents," leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, said. Refuting the allegations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "Sensing defeat, they are making baseless allegations." "Rejected by people and sensing humiliating defeat, this is BJP's last attempt to come up with lame excuses to make up for its own organisational failures," he said. "We salute the people that despite all these (hurdles), they have supported the Left Front candidates," CPI(M) state secretary Mohd Salim said. The CPI(M) leader alleged that the ruling party was misusing the police and administration to get back to power in the panchayats. ISF MLA Nawshad Siddique who is leading his newly formed party told PTI, "Whatever chance the people have got to exercise their franchise despite violence and intimidation, they have expressed their opinion against the ruling party." He added that the "myth that a certain community is a vote bank has been proven wrong". A total of 5.67 crore people living in the state's rural areas were eligible to decide the fate of 2.06 lakh candidates in 73,887 seats of the three-tier-panchayat system. Unlike earlier elections, the Opposition had fielded candidates in more than 90 per cent of seats, unlike in 2018 rural polls, when the ruling TMC had won 34 per cent of the seats uncontested. In the 2018 rural polls, the ruling TMC had emerged victorious in 90 per cent of the panchayat seats and all the 22 zilla parishads. The elections were marred by widespread violence, with the Opposition alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in several seats. By ANI SHILLONG: Border Security Forces (BSF) Meghalaya seized huge quantity of clothing item worth more than 13 lakh on the International Border, an official release of BSF said on Tuesday. The release said, "Acting on a specific tip-off, vigilant troops 04 Bn BSF Meghalaya seized clothing item i.e, saree of worth Rs 13 lakh approx while being smuggled to Bangladesh from bordering area of East Khasi Hills on July 10, 2023." According to the official statement, the consignment was seized when miscreants were trying to smuggle it to Bangladesh. "The consignment was seized by active/vigilant troops of BSF BOP Pyrdwah when the miscreants were trying to smuggle it to Bangladesh. On being challenged by BSF, smugglers fled away from the spot by taking advantage of thick vegetation and undulating terrain leaving behind a consignment of saree," it said. The seized items were handed over to the concerned customs office for further action. Earlier, the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a huge cache of explosives from Gampakonda forest near Marigetta village in the Malkangiri district of Odisha on Monday, officials said on Monday. The Naxal arms dump was detected during a search operation in the area launched on the basis of a specific information, officials said, adding that the cache comprised electric detonators, gelatin sticks, whistles and hand grenades. "BSF has been carrying out relentless Operations in highly Naxal-affected districts of Malkangiri and Koraput in South Odisha. Such recoveries would certainly dent Maoist strategy and dampen their spirits to take on evergrowing dominance of Security Forces," read an official statement by the BSF. The area earlier used to be a stronghold of the Naxals and their sympathisers, the statement informed, adding that the Left-wing ultras would keep IED-making materials in isolated and secluded places to prepare explosive devices to be used against the forces operating in these areas. "In the wake of recovery, further combing and search operations would continue to make the area safe for security forces as well as locals," the BSF added in its statement. SHILLONG: Border Security Forces (BSF) Meghalaya seized huge quantity of clothing item worth more than 13 lakh on the International Border, an official release of BSF said on Tuesday. The release said, "Acting on a specific tip-off, vigilant troops 04 Bn BSF Meghalaya seized clothing item i.e, saree of worth Rs 13 lakh approx while being smuggled to Bangladesh from bordering area of East Khasi Hills on July 10, 2023." According to the official statement, the consignment was seized when miscreants were trying to smuggle it to Bangladesh.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The consignment was seized by active/vigilant troops of BSF BOP Pyrdwah when the miscreants were trying to smuggle it to Bangladesh. On being challenged by BSF, smugglers fled away from the spot by taking advantage of thick vegetation and undulating terrain leaving behind a consignment of saree," it said. The seized items were handed over to the concerned customs office for further action. Earlier, the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a huge cache of explosives from Gampakonda forest near Marigetta village in the Malkangiri district of Odisha on Monday, officials said on Monday. The Naxal arms dump was detected during a search operation in the area launched on the basis of a specific information, officials said, adding that the cache comprised electric detonators, gelatin sticks, whistles and hand grenades. "BSF has been carrying out relentless Operations in highly Naxal-affected districts of Malkangiri and Koraput in South Odisha. Such recoveries would certainly dent Maoist strategy and dampen their spirits to take on evergrowing dominance of Security Forces," read an official statement by the BSF. The area earlier used to be a stronghold of the Naxals and their sympathisers, the statement informed, adding that the Left-wing ultras would keep IED-making materials in isolated and secluded places to prepare explosive devices to be used against the forces operating in these areas. "In the wake of recovery, further combing and search operations would continue to make the area safe for security forces as well as locals," the BSF added in its statement. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: In an exercise partly similar to that of the National Register of Citizens or NRC, the Centre has directed Manipur and Mizoram governments to record the biometric details of illegal migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh. a campaign for capturing of biometric data of illegal migrants in the states of Manipur and Mizoram is to be completed by the end of September 2023. The state governments of Manipur and Mizoram are requested to quickly prepare a plan and initiate the biometric capture of the illegal migrants, a Ministry of Home Affairs letter, dated June 22 and written to the chief secretaries of the two states, reads. The letter further states that the National Crime Records Bureau has made arrangements in all district headquarters for capturing the biometrics of illegal migrants. This facility is also proposed to be extended up to the police station level, the letter adds. Manipur BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh shared the letter on Twitter. Government of India has undertaken the task to identify illegal migrants across Manipur and Mizoram by capturing biometric dataState (Manipur) government had already started this earlier this year due to which nearly 2,500 illegal migrants were identified, Singh wrote. He considered the exercise as a step towards the NRC. Over 40,000 people from Myanmar and Bangladesh entered Manipur and Mizoram in the past two years following violence in the two countries. Eight injured Myanmar nationals are admitted at a hospital in Manipurs Churachandpur. It could not be ascertained where and how they were injured. There are no official figures on the number of refugees in Manipur but reports suggested that an estimated 5,000 people from Myanmar are taking refuge in the state. The burden of refugees is more on Mizoram. An estimated 35,000 Chin people from Myanmars Chin State fled to Mizoram over a period of time in the wake of the coup by the military of the country in February 2021. While the state was managing to accommodate these refugees, more than 1,000 Kuki-Chin people fled their homes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh last year in the face of a conflict between the Bangladesh Army and an ethnic armed group. Meanwhile, no major incident of violence was reported from strife-torn Manipur on Tuesday. GUWAHATI: In an exercise partly similar to that of the National Register of Citizens or NRC, the Centre has directed Manipur and Mizoram governments to record the biometric details of illegal migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh. a campaign for capturing of biometric data of illegal migrants in the states of Manipur and Mizoram is to be completed by the end of September 2023. The state governments of Manipur and Mizoram are requested to quickly prepare a plan and initiate the biometric capture of the illegal migrants, a Ministry of Home Affairs letter, dated June 22 and written to the chief secretaries of the two states, reads. The letter further states that the National Crime Records Bureau has made arrangements in all district headquarters for capturing the biometrics of illegal migrants. This facility is also proposed to be extended up to the police station level, the letter adds.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Manipur BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh shared the letter on Twitter. Government of India has undertaken the task to identify illegal migrants across Manipur and Mizoram by capturing biometric dataState (Manipur) government had already started this earlier this year due to which nearly 2,500 illegal migrants were identified, Singh wrote. He considered the exercise as a step towards the NRC. Over 40,000 people from Myanmar and Bangladesh entered Manipur and Mizoram in the past two years following violence in the two countries. Eight injured Myanmar nationals are admitted at a hospital in Manipurs Churachandpur. It could not be ascertained where and how they were injured. There are no official figures on the number of refugees in Manipur but reports suggested that an estimated 5,000 people from Myanmar are taking refuge in the state. The burden of refugees is more on Mizoram. An estimated 35,000 Chin people from Myanmars Chin State fled to Mizoram over a period of time in the wake of the coup by the military of the country in February 2021. While the state was managing to accommodate these refugees, more than 1,000 Kuki-Chin people fled their homes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh last year in the face of a conflict between the Bangladesh Army and an ethnic armed group. Meanwhile, no major incident of violence was reported from strife-torn Manipur on Tuesday. As soon as fire crews on the Coconino National Forest were suppressing one fire southeast of Flagstaff Monday, attention had largely turned to a fire north of town. Dubbed the Flat Fire, the blaze was spotted Monday afternoon and reported at about 25 acres, just north of the San Francisco Peaks. Forest spokesperson Randi Shaffer said it is not fully clear how large the fire is currently, but based on estimates from crews who circumnavigated the blaze, officials are putting it at about 150 acres. So there has been a bit of growth there. [] Crews have been working to put direct line on the east and west flanks of that fire, Shaffer told the Arizona Daily Sun. It's got a low rate of spread. So it's moving to the north and northeast direction toward Goat Tank. Shaffer said they already have about 5% containment on the Flat Fire. Crews planned to take a direct suppression approach toward the head of the fire throughout Tuesday, according to a media release. As of Tuesday morning, two hotshot crews, one hand crew, one bulldozer, a water truck and four engines were working the fire, which is burning in an area of grasses and mixed pinyon and juniper. While officials have utilized several fires throughout this year to improve forest health, Shaffer said for the Flat Fire they are taking a full suppression approach. That is largely because the fire is suspected to be human-caused. There was no record of lightning in the area, so it's pretty safe to say this was human-caused. But the exact cause is still under investigation, Shaffer said. So anytime we have a human-caused wildfire, we always go full suppression on it. BEAR FIRE Meanwhile, operations on what has been dubbed the Bear Fire, just north of lower Lake Mary on Anderson Mesa, are winding down. That fire was contained at just 2.8 acres, Shaffer said. The fire was first reported at 11:03 a.m. on Monday from a lookout tower at about a quarter of an acre. Fire officials were quick to jump on the fire, with a helicopter and about 45 personnel working the blaze throughout the day. Even so, work on that fire will continue throughout Tuesday as hotshots and two engine crews mop up the fire, moving through the burned area and putting out individual stumps and trees that may still be ablaze. Smoke from both fires may be visible in and around Flagstaff throughout the day. There are no closures associated with either fire. The fires come after several weeks of hot, dry weather, and some high points in forest visitation associated with summer holidays. Just last month, Coconino National Forest and several other local governments and agencies implemented stage 1 fire restrictions across much of northern Arizona. Those restrictions ban the use of campfires or charcoal grills in undeveloped areas and primitive campgrounds. Shaffer said at this time there are no plans to implement stage 2 fire restrictions. WEATHER After a small chance of storms to start the week, more hot and dry weather is expected in the Flagstaff area through the weekend. According to the National Weather Service in Bellemont, there is a 50% chance of storms Tuesday and a 20% chance Wednesday, though little to no precipitation is expected in northern Arizona. From there, temperatures rise into the 90s starting on Friday, with a high of 94 degrees projected for Saturday and 95 for Sunday. Temps could surpass 110 in the lower elevations of the Grand Canyon. Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect across both the Coconino and Kaibab national forests and within both the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County. Under stage 1 restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are prohibited, except within a developed recreation site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or a developed recreation site. Fireworks are always prohibited on all national forest and state lands. By AFP ARGUINEGUIN: Spain's coastguard said Monday it rescued 86 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa aboard a boat near the Canary Islands that had been spotted earlier in the day by a rescue plane. The Salvamento Maritimo coastguard service said they had found the boat with six females and 80 males on board as rescuers were searching for a missing migrant boat that had "left Senegal with around 200 people on board". It did not indicate the ages of those rescued. When a rescue plane spotted the vessel about 71 nautical miles south of the island of Gran Canaria, it was initially thought to have "around 200 people on board", a spokeswoman said. "We can't be 100 percent sure but it's likely it is the same boat," she said. But the coastguard later acknowledged that the estimate by the plane's crew was incorrect. "It is difficult to determine the number of people from the air," she later told AFP. A rescue ship brought the migrants to the port of Arguineguin on Gran Canaria, where they were greeted by Red Cross workers who provided them with medical care. The situation remains confusing, however, and the spokeswoman told AFP she was not able to say whether there was another boat adrift in the same area with 200 people on board. Helena Maleno, head of Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras, which helps migrant boats in distress, said a vessel had left the southern Senegalese town of "Kafountine on June 27 with approximately 200 people on board". "There are many minors on board," she said in an audio message, explaining the families had "told us about the disappearance of the boat, saying they had had no news for several days". Kafountine is a fishing village in the southern part of Senegal, which lies at least 1,700 kilometres (more than 1,000 miles) south of the Canary Islands. She said the NGO knew of two other boats with around 120 people on board that were also missing after leaving Senegal on June 23. An easy departure point Senegal, and more specifically the Kafountine region, is a regular departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe. For them, the nearest entry point is the Canary Islands, although Spain itself is often only a stopover as the migrants make their way to other EU countries. David Diatta, the mayor of Kafountine, told AFP some migrants had recently left the village but that he'd not heard any news about them. "They are Senegalese, Gambians, Guineans, Sierra Leoneans... Most of the time, they are foreigners," he said. He said people chose to leave from Kafountine because it is surrounded by islands and inlets that provide hiding places for people smugglers and migrants. "As a local authority, we have tried to raise awareness, but the state's silence is regrettable -- there are very few gendarmes on the ground (to stop them) and we lack the resources," he said. In June 2022, a pirogue -- a long wooden vessel -- with migrants on board caught fire in the area, leaving 15 dead and 20 injured. "People from outside the area organise their departure as they wish, and it's only after the event that we find out about it," said Abdoulaye Demba, head coordinator of the local fishing council. He said none of the migrants' families approach him directly for help because they know it is against the law. A highly dangerous journey The Atlantic route to the Canaries is particularly dangerous due to the strong currents, with migrants travelling in overloaded boats, which are often unseaworthy, and without enough drinking water. Many boats leave from ports in Morocco, Western Sahara or Mauritania but they also come from countries further south such as Senegal. According to figures released by Caminando last week, 778 people died while trying to reach the Canary Islands by boat in the first half of 2023. Figures from the International Organization for Migration point to 126 dead or missing over the same period. Spain has long been a key entry point for migrants seeking a better life in Europe, but the number of Atlantic crossings began surging in late 2019 after increased patrols along Europe's southern coast dramatically reduced Mediterranean crossings. In the first six months of this year, a total of 7,213 migrants reached the Canary Islands by boat. That figure is nearly 20 percent lower than the 8,853 that arrived in the same period a year earlier, interior ministry figures show. ARGUINEGUIN: Spain's coastguard said Monday it rescued 86 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa aboard a boat near the Canary Islands that had been spotted earlier in the day by a rescue plane. The Salvamento Maritimo coastguard service said they had found the boat with six females and 80 males on board as rescuers were searching for a missing migrant boat that had "left Senegal with around 200 people on board". It did not indicate the ages of those rescued.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); When a rescue plane spotted the vessel about 71 nautical miles south of the island of Gran Canaria, it was initially thought to have "around 200 people on board", a spokeswoman said. "We can't be 100 percent sure but it's likely it is the same boat," she said. But the coastguard later acknowledged that the estimate by the plane's crew was incorrect. "It is difficult to determine the number of people from the air," she later told AFP. A rescue ship brought the migrants to the port of Arguineguin on Gran Canaria, where they were greeted by Red Cross workers who provided them with medical care. The situation remains confusing, however, and the spokeswoman told AFP she was not able to say whether there was another boat adrift in the same area with 200 people on board. Helena Maleno, head of Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras, which helps migrant boats in distress, said a vessel had left the southern Senegalese town of "Kafountine on June 27 with approximately 200 people on board". "There are many minors on board," she said in an audio message, explaining the families had "told us about the disappearance of the boat, saying they had had no news for several days". Kafountine is a fishing village in the southern part of Senegal, which lies at least 1,700 kilometres (more than 1,000 miles) south of the Canary Islands. She said the NGO knew of two other boats with around 120 people on board that were also missing after leaving Senegal on June 23. An easy departure point Senegal, and more specifically the Kafountine region, is a regular departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe. For them, the nearest entry point is the Canary Islands, although Spain itself is often only a stopover as the migrants make their way to other EU countries. David Diatta, the mayor of Kafountine, told AFP some migrants had recently left the village but that he'd not heard any news about them. "They are Senegalese, Gambians, Guineans, Sierra Leoneans... Most of the time, they are foreigners," he said. He said people chose to leave from Kafountine because it is surrounded by islands and inlets that provide hiding places for people smugglers and migrants. "As a local authority, we have tried to raise awareness, but the state's silence is regrettable -- there are very few gendarmes on the ground (to stop them) and we lack the resources," he said. In June 2022, a pirogue -- a long wooden vessel -- with migrants on board caught fire in the area, leaving 15 dead and 20 injured. "People from outside the area organise their departure as they wish, and it's only after the event that we find out about it," said Abdoulaye Demba, head coordinator of the local fishing council. He said none of the migrants' families approach him directly for help because they know it is against the law. A highly dangerous journey The Atlantic route to the Canaries is particularly dangerous due to the strong currents, with migrants travelling in overloaded boats, which are often unseaworthy, and without enough drinking water. Many boats leave from ports in Morocco, Western Sahara or Mauritania but they also come from countries further south such as Senegal. According to figures released by Caminando last week, 778 people died while trying to reach the Canary Islands by boat in the first half of 2023. Figures from the International Organization for Migration point to 126 dead or missing over the same period. Spain has long been a key entry point for migrants seeking a better life in Europe, but the number of Atlantic crossings began surging in late 2019 after increased patrols along Europe's southern coast dramatically reduced Mediterranean crossings. In the first six months of this year, a total of 7,213 migrants reached the Canary Islands by boat. That figure is nearly 20 percent lower than the 8,853 that arrived in the same period a year earlier, interior ministry figures show. Central Cottage Industries Corporation joins ONDC platform New Delhi, July 10: The Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd. (CCIC), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Textiles, has joined Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an official release from the ministry said. Central Cottage Industries Corporation joins ONDC platform The Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd is engaged in the promotion and retail marketing of authentic Indian handloom and handicraft products through its showrooms in New Delhi and other metropolitan cities.ONDC is a non-profit company established by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to develop open e-commerce.ONDC aims at promoting open source networks for all to exchange goods and services on the internet, and most importantly it is independent of any specific platform.Incorporated on December 31, 2021, ONDC goes beyond the current platform-centric digital commerce model where the buyer and seller have to use the same platform or application to be digitally visible and do a business transaction.India has developed some of the finest digital public goods infrastructure which could change lives the world over, and the next in line could be its Open Network for Digital Commerce which currently is in its nascent stage of adoption. India has taken the path of building the public digital infrastructure for serving citizens and UPI, and Jan Dhan, Aadhar and CoWin are some examples.The Ministry of Textiles release put out on Sunday said the corporation's collaboration with ONDC signifies the commitment to expanding its market presence and making its exquisite range of handicrafts and handloom products easily accessible to customers across various buyer apps within the ONDC network.Meanwhile, to support artisans, a 'Mega Sale' promotional campaign is being organised from July 8-23. Up to 30 per cent discount has been offered on handicraft and handloom products to promote traditional art and crafts.ANI10 July 2023 Shared Recently! TIJUANA, Mexico Luis Ramirez leapt onto the roof of his bright blue water truck to fill the plastic tank that by days end would empty into an assortment of buckets, barrels and cisterns in 100 homes. It was barely 11 a.m. and Ramirez had many more stops to make on the hilly, grey fringes of Tijuana, a sprawling, industrial border city in northwestern Mexico where trucks or pipas like Ramirezs provide the only drinking water for many people. Each time, it gets farther and farther where we have to go, he said, blaming the citys water problems on drought and population growth, before jumping into the drivers seat next to 16-year-old assistant Daniel Alvarez. Among the last cities downstream to receive water from the shrinking Colorado River, Tijuana is staring down a water crisis driven also by aging, inefficient infrastructure and successive governments that have done little to prepare the city for diminishing water in the region. Entire neighborhoods on Tijuanas hilly and sometimes grassy far reaches remain unconnected to the citys water mains and pipes. Accessing water there is a daily struggle and an expensive one, as trucked-in water usually costs much more than what people connected to the city pay. Taxi driver Aurelio Hernandez lives in one of roughly 150 houses in a remote development near vast industrial parks that make aviation parts in the citys south. Dirt roads so steep they seem vertical lead to the village. It is the biggest problem we have, said Hernandez, who has lived in Rancho el Chicote for 20 years, about the lack of running water. Hernandez, his wife and two daughters use about 1,585 gallons (6,000 liters) of trucked-in water per month, he said, which costs about 2,000 pesos or $116. The average U.S. family uses more than five times as much water each month, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, yet pays less, despite Mexicos much lower wages. Every year its the same. Politicians come and promise you things, but nothing ever changes, Hernandez said. Even in middle class neighborhoods, like homemaker Martha Munozs in Tijuanas fast-growing south, neighbors have to share updates on WhatsApp about possible shutoffs and coordinate requests to city authorities when its cut. The state government is trying to bring some relief, but it will take time, Munoz said. Meanwhile, its really hard every time theres a burst pipe, because they leave us without water for five days. Thats what happened in April, when upwards of 600 neighborhoods more than half of the whole city went without water while the state water utility known as CESPT in Spanish, repaired leaks in a primary main. For some, that shutoff lasted days longer than the official 36-hour estimate. Authorities admitted that given the size of the area affected, they could not send water trucks to many neighborhoods. People are left without water for way too long, said Jose Manuel Perez Reyes, who distributes trucked-in water, adding that the government sometimes tells residents the shutoffs are to fix pipes when in reality there simply isnt enough water. Even for the 700,000 users, according to CESPT, that are connected to city water, faucets often go dry, forcing them, too, to pay for trucked-in private water. Its like playing whack-a-mole in terms of trying to see where things are going to pop up next, said Carlos de la Parra, a water consultant and former professor of urban studies and the environment at the Colegio de la Frontera Norte who has studied water issues in northwestern Mexico for decades. Water utilities are struggling to keep pace with both Tijuanas growth, de la Parra said, and about 8 to 10 years of neglect of infrastructure. Then, theres drought. Nationwide, more than 44% of municipalities in Mexico were in drought in May, according to Mexicos National Water Commission. Tijuanas challenges are acute as one of the countrys fastest-growing cities in one of Mexicos most water-stressed states. In charge of running the water utility in Tijuana is Victor Amador, who, despite the daily struggles for water in the city, denied that taps run dry except when work is being done on the pipes. We dont have problems at the moment, Amador said. For now, we have enough water. But that wasnt the case in January when Tijuana shut off a water main to perform work and had to request about 540 acre-feet of emergency water from San Diego. (An acre-foot of water is equal to 326,000 gallons or 1.2 million liters.) The water available during times of acute need, but counted against Mexicos share of Colorado River water traveled through Southern Californias behemoth aqueducts and across the U.S.-Mexico border. Such emergency water transfers have taken place for more than 50 years, the San Diego County Water Authority said, and have been needed every year since 2018 except one. More than 90% of Tijuanas water comes from the Colorado River, traveling west across Baja California and over a 4,000-foot (1,219 meter) mountain pass through a single aqueduct that itself is often under repair. Over the past two years, Mexicos share of Colorado River water was slashed by 7%, and while those cuts have yet to affect Tijuana, hydrologists and policy experts emphasize that the city and state of Baja California need to secure other water sources soon. Despite years of promises from federal, state and city officials to diversify Tijuanas water supply using ocean water desalination and treated wastewater, the city has little to show for it. Amador said the government is working toward developing both. Were living in this drought as if nothing were happening, said Manuel Becerra, a water consultant based in Tijuana and former city superintendent of public services. Part of the challenge for Tijuanas aging infrastructure is the citys layout: water is pumped up and down steep hills and canyons to reach developments that have sprawled in every direction as the city has grown 19% since 2010. Then theres the estimated 7% of water that Tijuana loses to leaks, according to the state water utility. The topography of the area requires that water is pumped and re-pumped, Becerra said. Sometimes even though there is water, the pumps fail, the power fails, or the pipe breaks, and service is interrupted. On his fifth stop after re-filling his truck, water truck driver Ramirez descended a steep, gravel road to enter a neighborhood with about 100 homes not connected to city water. He stopped in front of a grey, two-story cinderblock home where retired construction worker Jose Trinidad and his wife move water from tank to bucket to bowl for bathing, cleaning and cooking. Every month, Trinidad said he spends 1,600 pesos (about $91) for water. After food, its his largest expense. We spend a lot. Its difficult, but we have to deal with it, Trinidad said. We have no choice. Maldives Foreign Minister to meet Jaishankar during two-day visit to India from July 11 New Delhi, July 10: Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid will be on a two-day official visit to India from July 11 during which he will discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Maldives Foreign Minister to meet Jaishankar during two-day visit to India from July 11 Both Ministers will also witness an exchange of project development agreements under Indian grant assistance.A Ministry of External Affairs release said Maldives Foreign Minister Shahid will deliver the 43rd Sapru House Lecture at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi.The release said Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in Prime Minister's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the 'Neighbourhood First Policy'."The Maldives Foreign Minister's visit is in continuation of the series of high-level visits from both sides and is expected to lend further momentum to the substantive bilateral cooperation between the two countries," it said.Abdullah Shahid said in a tweet that his visit is in keeping with the tradition of high-level exchanges between Maldives and India."Keeping with the tradition of high-level exchanges between #Maldives and #India, I am departing to New Delhi on an Official Visit at the invitation of EAM @DrSJaishankar. Look forward to continuing our discussions on enhancing the #MaldivesIndiaPartnership," Shahid said.Last month, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan and Abdulla Shahid attended the ceremony for the exchange of 10 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) between India and Maldives in Male.Muraleedharan noted that MoUs will facilitate the implementation of development projects in areas like arts, sports, education and health under India's grant assistance.Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh had visited Maldives in May on a three-day official visit at the invitation of his Maldivian counterpart, Mariya Ahmed Didi, and held bilateral delegation-level talks to further strengthen the defence and security partnership. India also handed over a fast patrol vessel along with an assault landing craft to the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) in a formal ceremony on May 2, 2023.ANI10 July 2023 Shared Recently! G20: Third Culture Working Group meeting begins in Karnatakas Hampi New Delhi, July 10: The third G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting commenced on Monday in Hampi, Karnataka. The meeting under India's G20 presidency will conclude on July 12. G20: Third Culture Working Group meeting begins in Karnataka's Hampi The Culture Working Group is working with delegates of the G20 member countries, guest nations and international organisations through an inclusive process of in-depth discussions.It brought together representatives from 20 member countries, eight guest countries, and several other organizations. The previous two meetings were held in Khajuraho and Bhubaneshwar.Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi addressed the inaugural session on Monday."We have progressed from identifying and deliberating the four priorities to seeking consensus on the action-oriented recommendations that would be a significant step in placing culture at the heart of policymaking," Joshi said.The four priority areas are the Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property; Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future; Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy; and Leveraging Digital Technologies for the Protection and Promotion of Culture."We strive to build consensus on the ministerial declaration containing the four priority areas which are cornerstones in our vision of an inclusive and sustainable future," the minister added.Highlighting the invaluable contributions of the G20 member countries he said "Your insights, comments, and feedback on the preliminary draft of the Ministers Declaration have been instrumental in shaping our shared vision.""Let our work today pave the way for a future where culture is not just a part of our identity, but a driving force for sustainable development, social inclusion, and global harmony," he added.During the event in Hampi, a range of cultural experiences has been carefully selected and arranged for the delegates to witness throughout their visit. They include a visit to heritage sites like the Vijaya Vittala Temple, the Royal Enclosure, and the Yeduru Basavanna complex of the Hampi Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.ANI10 July 2023 Shared Recently! Taliban calls on international community to remove sanctions Kabul, July 10: The Taliban has called on the international community to remove sanctions to facilitate engagement with global organisations, Tolo News reported. Taliban calls on international community to remove sanctions Tolo News is an Afghan news channel broadcasting from Kabul.After the Taliban took over Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, the Afghan assets in foreign reserves were frozen. The UN Security Council in August 2022, failed to reach an agreement on whether to extend travel exemptions for 13 Taliban officials.According to Tolo News findings, more than USD 9 billion in assets were frozen by the US and European countries, restrictions were placed on the banking system and transferring money abroad, and travel bans were placed on 15 Taliban officials.Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said that restrictions on travelling do not benefit any side.He said, "About 14 to 15 officials have issues with travelling. It (travel ban) existed previously but it has been extended. This doesn't benefit any side as the travels of the leaders are necessary for engagement with the world and development of Afghanistan."The Taliban's Ministry of Economy (MoE) said that the imposed sanctions by the international community are affecting the life of the people of Afghanistan."The imposition of pressure policy and sanctions by some of the countries has affected our countrymen," said Abdul Latif Nazari, Taliban deputy Minister of Economy.But political analysts gave various opinions about the sanctions on the Islamic Emirate's leaders."If the Taliban wants, they can bring reform as an independent government and accept the conditions to get out of the blacklist and travel bans," said Aziz Maarij, a political analyst."The Afghan currency is in a good position due to the strategic deposits of Afghanistan's assets which guarantee the international value of the Afghan currency, although it is frozen," said Azeraksh Hafizi, an economist, according to Tolo News.ANI10 July 2023 Shared Recently! Ridhima Pandit of Bigg Boss OTT confirms shes is in dating mode Mumbai, July 10: Ridhima Pandit, reality TV star who became briefly famous when she was lip-kissed by Neha Bhasin in the last season of 'Bigg Boss OTT', has broken her silence on her private life and said she is dating 'someone'. Ridhima Pandit of 'Bigg Boss OTT' confirms she's is in dating mode In the news recently for being among those Bollywood personalities who have frozen their eggs for later use, Ridhima went out of circulation a few years ago after she broke up with Eshaan Roshan, son of music composer Rajesh Roshan, and Hrithik's cousin.Now, it looks like she has got someone in her life and was recently spotted outside a salon, getting much-needed TLC before heading out for a date.Talking to the media, Ridhima said: I am going out on a date, but I am not going to tell you where and with whom.After becoming an instant sensation as the humanoid daughter-in-law in 'Bahu Hamari Rajni Kant', Ridhima appeared in reality shows such as 'Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 9', 'Khatra Khatra Khatra' and 'Bigg Boss OTT'.Ridhima said she is not following 'Bigg Boss OTT 2' at the moment, though she looks forward to seeing Pooja Bhatt on it.IANS10 July 2023 Shared Recently! Speculations rife as Tamil superstar Vijay calls meeting of fans association on Tuesday Chennai, July 10: Amid speculations of an imminent political entry, Tamil superstar Vijay has called a meeting of members of his fans association at his Chennai residence on Tuesday morning. Speculations rife as Tamil superstar Vijay calls meeting of fans association on Tuesday The meeting, according to sources, is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday.Vijay has given signs on his imminent political entry and recently he had held a felicitation meeting at Chennai for school and higher secondary school toppers from each Assembly constituency of Tamil Nadu. The parents of the children were also invited to the event.Vijay fans association, Thalapathi Vijay Makkal Iyyakam has contested in the last panchayat elections but without a flag and symbol. As many as 115 of the 169 fans association members who had contested the panchayat elections had won and this was considered as a method adopted by Vijay to test waters.IANS10 July 2023 Shared Recently! Chinas military seeks to break its West Pacific noose Hong Kong, July 10: China has already gained de facto control over huge swathes of the South China Sea, it daily sends aircraft and warships close to Taiwan, and it contests passages of foreign warships through the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Yet the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is still dissatisfied, for it feels confined by what is referred to as the First Island Chain. China's military seeks to break its West Pacific noose This so-called chain stretches from the Japanese archipelago to Taiwan, the Philippines and Borneo. If the PLA is to make the most effective use of its brand-new equipment and exercise greater global reach, especially in times of conflict, it must penetrate the First Island Chain. If an enemy site's anti-ship missiles, sea mines, air defenses and submarines narrow straits through which Chinese warships must pass, it becomes extremely perilous for the PLA.Furthermore, China does not have any natural friends along the First Island Chain, especially since the Philippines' brown-nosed Rodrigo Duterte has departed. Controlling the South China Sea and East China Sea matters little if the PLA's enemies can keep it bottled up inside the First Island Chain. This fear of containment also emphasizes the importance of Taiwan to China, since capturing it immediately snaps the First Island Chain in two and gives China instant access to the West Pacific.The Second Island Chain runs from mainland Japan, through Iwo Jima, Guam, the Northern Marianas, Micronesia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia. The PLA's intention is to not only break through the first chain, but to also gain dominance in the maritime area behind it and thus restrict US freedom of movement. Grant Newsham, a former colonel in the US Marine Corps, testified before the US House of Representatives on the topic of Chinese influence on Compacts of Free Association (COFA) states on 14 June. COFA is an agreement between the USA and three sovereign states comprising the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau.Newsham asserted that COFA "underpins the entire Unites States defence posture and strategy in the Western Pacific and East Asia". With the US defensive line hemming in China along the First Island Chain, the US military requires a secure rear area to support logistics for forward defence. COFA states, along with Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, are situated in this major east-west "power projection super-highway" that runs from the USA's west coast. Newsham said it is "indispensable" that this corridor be free of enemy interference since it acts as a plug to close off the South Pacific and most of the Pacific Ocean.Newsham testified that "China is trying to leapfrog the First Island Chain. If it can burrow itself into the Second Island Chain, it will roil American (and Japanese and Australian) defence plans, and can potentially break down First Island Chain defences from behind ... Should the PRC establish a military foothold or gain political dominance with de facto strategic veto power in the COFA states, it will have 'leapfrogged' America's island chain defence and ensconced itself in the USA's once secure 'rear area'."Newsham warned "China knows this, which is why undermining the relationship between COFA states and the United States is one of Beijing's highest strategic priorities." As well as denying the USA a power projection super-highway, it envisages a corridor of its own running in the opposite direction.Persistent China is "using political, economic and other soft-power tools to undermine the US presence" there, and "thus weaken the US military defences and capabilities in the Central Pacific," Newsham stated. Chinese survey ships have scouted undersea cables in Micronesia and Palau, Chinese cyberattacks have installed malware on critical US military infrastructure on Guam, it has installed underwater listening devices in the Mariana Trench, and boasts threateningly about its DF-26 "Guam killer" intermediate-range ballistic missile.Newsham added "For the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to achieve its aspirations, it needs to at the very least render the COFA states 'harmless', and ideally be able to use them as launch points under its control." Proclaimed neutrality by these territories will not deter China, and while the USA is not looking for a fight against China, Chairman Xi Jinping's belligerent hubris is making it an increasing possibility.The US military presence in the Second Island Chain is alarmingly small, with just four permanent bases. Only one of these is in a COFA state - the ballistic missile test site at Kwajalein Atoll - while the others are air force, navy and marine corps bases on Guam. A consequence of having so few bases is that the USA is putting a lot of eggs in one basket, all of which are susceptible to Chinese missile attacks. However, new bases in COFA states would permit the USA to disperse forces, spread out for survival and then hit back.Interestingly, the PLA Navy (PLAN) has just dispatched the Peace Ark hospital ship to Tonga, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Timor-Leste. While the PLAN said it was a "pragmatic initiative", it is a public-relations exercise to shore up Chinese ties with South Pacific countries as part of its wider campaign to penetrate the ring of containment. Beijing has already succeeded in putting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in its pocket.China continues to swamp Taiwan with threatening incursions of PLA aircraft and warships. China is so fixated with Taiwan, and seems so intent on conquering it, that it willingly puts up with setbacks and losses of relationships because of this bullying. The "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation", according to Xi's formula, cannot occur until Taiwan is brought under the CCP's red umbrella.Retired General Lee Hsi-ming, former Chief of General Staff in Taiwan's military, said on 29 June that the results of Taiwan's 2024 elections would not change Beijing's policy in the slightest. No matter which candidate or party wins, Xi's resolve will remain the same. Lee argued that the question is not whether Beijing will invade Taiwan, but rather when, for it will not allow the status quo to remain indefinitely.Although China has an expanded footprint in the West Pacific as a major goal, it continues to consolidate territorial gains in the South China Sea. Indeed, the Philippines is extremely concerned at China's creeping presence within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) warned on 8 July that swarms of Chinese vessels at the Reed Bank, some 80nm west of Palawan, may presage an illegal occupation. An unprecedented number of 50+ Chinese vessels have been observed at both Iroquois and Sabina Shoals in the Reed Bank. They include vessels of the People's Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM), accompanied by three China Coast Guard (CCG) and two PLA Navy (PLAN) vessels.Tarriela commented, "The only analysis that we can provide for the presence of these Chinese maritime militias is to swarm a particular maritime feature and to occupy it." The PCG said their bloated presence, first spotted on 30 June, is a "concerning and alarming development".Unlike Duterte's subservient policy to China, the current Philippine administration has not been shy about exposing China's alarming antics within its own EEZ. Tarriela said exposure of China's nefarious activities "has been a tool for us to make sure that China's aggressive behaviour and bullying activities in the West Philippine Sea will be criticized by the international community".Indeed, MaryKay Carson, US Ambassador to the Philippines, commented on 10 July "We're concerned by the unprofessional maneuvers of the China Coast Guard against the Philippine Coast Guard. The PRC's irresponsible behavior in the South China Sea threatens the security and legal rights of our treaty ally, the Philippines. We call on the PRC to comply with international law, including implementing the legally binding 2016 award in the Philippines v. China Law of the Sea Convention arbitration as a starting point to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific."Aggression against the Philippines is nothing new. In 2021, a record 220 Chinese vessels swamped Whitsun Reef. Recently, Chinese vessels interdicted a routine supply mission by two PCG vessels to Philippine marines aboard BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippine military uses this grounded and rusting vessel as an outpost. China's argument was that the PCG tried to "intrude" into its waters "without Chinese permission". The CCG and PLA are routinely lambasted nowadays for unsafe interceptions in the air or in the sea as they flex their martial muscles.Last year, the PAFMM engaged in serious encounters with Philippine vessels too. It harassed a Taiwanese research vessel operating alongside the University of the Philippines, while a CCG vessel harangued Norwegian survey vessels looking for oil and gas near Palawan. Last November, the CCG forcibly captured rocket debris being towed by the PCG towards Thitu Island. Such nefarious activity is only strengthening Philippine-US ties, but Xi seems beyond caring.Vietnam is responding to Chinese villainy too. In the latter half of 2022, Vietnam dredged and reclaimed land on four Spratly Islands outposts (Namyit, Pearson and Tennent Reefs, and Sand Cay), adding some 420 acres. However, this is just a fraction of the 3,200 acres that China created from 2013-16 as it militarized reefs and Xi lied through his teeth about it. Namyit and Pearson Reefs are Vietnam's largest outposts and, possessing harbors, Vietnam may deploy more vessels there in response to Chinese provocation.China is also expanding its footprint in Cambodia. Despite denials from both Phnom Penh and Beijing that the PLAN is not establishing a military base at Ream Naval Base bordering the Gulf of Thailand, satellite imagery shows the true extent of Chinese construction there. Activity kicked off in earnest in June 2022 as land was cleared and construction of a cement plant began.Thomas Shugart, an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, studied satellite images dated from June. He noted the construction of "several sets of sizeable buildings", presumably a headquarters cum administration and barracks, plus a couple of others for direct operational support (e.g. storage sheds, warehouse). Other buildings exist in the northern part of the base, having been constructed earlier, though there are also new foundations for larger buildings there.On the eastern side of the base, large-scale construction preparations are under way,with areas cleared and some smaller buildings expanded.There is 38,000m2 of reclaimed land in the southern portion of the base. A deep-draft pier has taken shape - it is about 685m long, with 290m of usable berthing space. This makes it big enough to accommodate large warships, of which the Royal Cambodian Navy has none. Clamshell dredges have been deepening the seabed, and it is logical to assume that PLAN warships will use this pier.Shugart concluded "In summary, [it] looks like lots of rapid progress is underway on construction of this base - which we also now know will be provided with air defences though, according to the Cambodian government, those air defences will not include 'Chinese funding, support or presence at these facilities'. And if you believe that, I have a bridge I'd like to sell you!"This Cambodian location is strategically useful to China, for it gives the PLAN permanent access to the southern part of the South China Sea. This is particularly alarming for Vietnam, which will find the Chinese navy located north, east and south of its coastline. The Ream site is also closer to the Singapore and Malacca Straits, which are vital chokepoints to which China cannot afford to lose access.Despite increasing tensions in the region, Xi and his diplomatic minions are deaf to protests from others. Under Xi's direction, the PLA continues to avoid military-to-military communications with the USA. At a time when communication is essential to prevent misunderstandings, China is behaving like a petulant child. Pretending to be a "responsible great power", Beijing is proving irresponsible and obstreperous, with seemingly little intention of stabilizing relations with the USA.Xi insists on putting his head in the sand, perhaps the very stuff he dredged up from the seabed of the South China Sea. After his meeting with US State Secretary Antony Blinken on 19 June, Xi said competition among major powers "does not conform to the trend of the times". Not only is competition growing because of Xi's own belligerence, but the Chinese leader is actively veering that competition towards conflict.ANI10 July 2023 Shared Recently! Shiamak Davar is grateful as he reflects on 25th anniversary of National Award win New Delhi, July 10: Ace choreographer Shiamak Davar on Monday celebrated the 25th anniversary of his prestigious National Film Award win for the iconic Bollywood film 'Dil To Pagal Hai'. Shiamak Davar is 'grateful' as he reflects on 25th anniversary of National Award win Taking to social media, he shared a throwback picture of him, receiving the award from the former President of India, K. R. Narayanan. This has marked a significant milestone in Davar's illustrious career and catalyzed his remarkable journey in choreography.He captioned the post Grateful as I celebrate 25 Years of receiving the National Award as a Best Choreographer for 'Dil Toh Pagal Hai!' This film holds a special place in my heart as it marked my Bollywood debut as well. Thank you Yash uncle for believing in me and for the love and support throughout the journey.Reminiscing about the golden moment, Davar expressed gratitude and said I am reminded of the incredible journey that brought us this recognition. This award is not just a personal achievement but a celebration of the collaborative effort of an exceptional team.'Dil To Pagal Hai' recently celebrated 25 years as a testament to Indian cinema. The ace choreographer also said the film was a labor of love, passion, and dedication.Shiamak has gained recognition for his exceptional choreography in Bollywood, creating mesmerising dance sequences for numerous hit movies like 'Jagga Jasoos', 'Taal', 'Bunty Aur Babli 2', 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi', and 'Dhoom 2', among others.IANS11 July 2023 Shared Recently! Concerned representatives must take into account Indias diversity while implementing UCC: Legal experts New Delhi, July 10: As four days are left for the common public to present their views on Uniform Civil Code, the legal experts have expressed that concerned representatives must take into account India's diversity while providing a common minimum code for all citizens to follow. Concerned representatives must take into account India's diversity while implementing UCC: Legal experts Expressing his view, Senior Advocate Nidhesh Gupta said that Article 44 of the Constitution of India requires the State to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code throughout India. "Being a part of the Directive Principles, it is a guiding principle that the State must aspire to secure," he stressed."At the same time while providing a Uniform Civil Code, which provides a common minimum code for all citizens to follow, there must be some play in the joints for different citizens to pratice and profess matters of their faith," Nidhesh Gupta said.He further added that India being a country of much diversity freedom of expression peculiar to different citizens must be allowed.With regard to the reference dated June 17, 2016, sent by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the 22nd Law Commission of India examined the subject matter of the Uniform Civil Code.Initially, the 22nd Law Commission of India examined the subject of the Uniform Civil Code. It solicited the views of all the stakeholders through its appeal along with a questionnaire dated Oct 7, 2016, and further public notices.The 22nd Law Commission of India had decided again to solicit the views and ideas of the public at large and recognized religious organizations about the Uniform Civil Code and asked the interested ones to present their opinions by July 14.According to noted lawyer Ashish Dixit, the Constitution makes UCC desirable but not mandatory, unlike the other fundamental rights. Dixit said that Article 44 casts the onus on the State to take steps to implement UCC and the present exercise being undertaken by the Executive including the Law Commission is part of the consultation process leading to the enactment of the law.Dixit said that the Law Commission can only give suggestions in the form of a report, which is strictly not binding on the Government. If Government is of the view that the time is right to implement UCC it would require the approval of parliament, he further added.Advocate Utkarsh Singh, who deals with human rights violations, remarked that In India, even "Equality before the law" is read as "Equality among equals".Advocate Utkarsh Singh opined that drawing a straight line in the name of UCC can be very complex. However, he said, "If the UCC intends to bolster gender justice and cleave patriarchal supremacy, we should accept it with open minds and hearts." However, in a pluralistic society with syncretic culture, how will it tend to customs and convention is yet to be seen, Advocate Utkarsh Singh said.ANI11 July 2023 Shared Recently! WhatsApp widely rolling out translucent bars on iOS San Francisco, July 10: Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp is widely rolling out a tweaked interface that features translucent bars, on iOS. WhatsApp widely rolling out translucent bars on iOS With the new interface, the platform is providing users a translucent tab bar and navigation bar, reports WABetaInfo.Users can open any section of the application to check if the translucent effect is available to their account.However, users might need to restart the app once after downloading the new update.If you don't have this feature, note that some accounts may receive it over the coming weeks, as indicated in the official changelog, the report said.Meanwhile, last week, the messaging platform was widely rolling out a redesigned sticker and GIF picker on iOS.The official changelog of the application mentioned that an updated sticker tray with improved navigation is now available on the platform.IANS11 July 2023 Shared Recently! Post-pandemic travel boom has resulted in healthy yields for airlines: Expert Chennai, July 9: Explaining the continuing financial choppiness afflicting the Indian carriers, an expert industry watcher blames it on multiple structural factors -- absence of a strong capital structure and low-cost infrastructure, the heavy taxation burden on aviation turbine fuel, and the fact that 60-70 per cent of costs are dollar denominated. Post-pandemic travel boom has resulted in healthy yields for airlines: Expert In an interview with IANS, Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, Senior Director, Consulting, CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analytics, said the duopoly in the market, which is dominated today by Air India and IndiGo, coupled with the release of the pent-up demand for travel, has led to Indian airlines enjoying healthy yields rarely seen over the past decade, allowing them to streamline their balance sheets, which were severely impacted by the pandemic.Excerpts from the interviewQ. What is the current status of Indian-owned airlines?A. The Indian aviation sector was chugging along healthily, rising to become the third largest in the world when measured by domestic passengers carried, when it was hit first by the grounding of Jet Airways and then by the pandemic lockdown, leading to airlines ceasing operations. Yet, India was one of the few nations where no airline exited on account of the pandemic.The privatization of Air India was a watershed moment for Indian aviation and it has led to a strong competitor emerging to challenge IndiGo as the TATA group has also completed the takeover of AirAsiaIndia. The two airline groups account for 85 per cent of the Indian domestic market, leading to a duopoly in the market..The recovery from the pandemic and the untapped potential of Indian aviation, considering that India still has one of the lowest number of air trips per capita has led to consecutive world record orders by Indian airlines -- Air India, 470 aircraft, followed by IndiGo with 500.Smaller players are struggling due to legacy issues as well as technical issues with an OEM , but for the two dominant airlines, there is a significant runway for growth in the medium to long term.Q. New airlines taking off and crash landing has been a regular feature in India. Why do you think this happens?A. There are structural factors at play for a number of startup airlines fading away quickly. Most of the new airlines lack a strong capital structure -- and airlines are capital guzzlers especially in the infant stage.Further, the airlines lack differentiated products/offerings and try to ape the incumbents by flying on similar routes. Look at the airlines that have done well.IndiGo started with the idea of a no-frills airline with strict focus on on-time performance and delivered on the same. Vistara was launched with the idea of getting the best of service and hospitality to the Indian market, and both have survived the brutal wars.Both low cost carriers and full-service carriers , moreover, continue to operate at the same airports and this leads to high airport and other charges.Indian regulations, moreover, did not allow for International operations for five years; now, the requirement has been reduced to the acquisition of 20 aircraft, allowing well-capitalised carriers to get aggressive with their fleet plans and begin higher-yielding International operations .Q. What are the major expense heads for an airline? What is the kind of flexibility available to them to reduce the costs?A. As per data from FY20, the last non-Covid year where financial numbers for all airlines are available, variable costs account for 70 per cent , and fixed and semi-fixed for 30 per cent .As for flexibility in managing the costs, fuel expenses can be reduced only to a certain extent by deploying fuel-efficient aircraft as price is the major driver of fuel expenses.Employee costs are on the upswing on account of the massive cuts during the pandemic and rising attrition as global players are offering better packages.The repair and maintenance costs are coming down as more MROs are being set up in India leading to a rationalisation of costs.Q. What are the revenue streams for an airline and what trends do you see?A. Indian airlines focused on passenger revenue with cargo revenue being an afterthought. Only SpiceJet realised the importance of cargo revenues and created SPiceXpress. During the pandemic, airlines finally recognised the importance of cargo revenues, leading them to refocus on cargo operations.Q. Is pricing an issue with airlines? If yes, in which sector -- domestic or overseas?A. The Indian market was notoriously tough for pricing because of intense competition, with players jostling to capture market share and financially weak airlines resorting to discounting to shore up cash.The closure of a couple of airlines, coupled with the brutal impact on airline balance sheets and the rise of a duopolistic market, has led to improved pricing power for Indian airlines in the domestic market.Q. Can a low-cost airline succeed in India? If yes, how?A. IndiGo is the best example of an LCC not just succeeding, but flourishing. It has placed the world's largest order for 500 aircraft and crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore market cap. Some lessons to be learnt from its success story are Being nimble in the face of opportunities ; a strong balance sheet that allowed it to tide over the pandemic; planning ahead; intense focus on costs and on-time arrivals; and operating a young fleet.Q. What patterns do you see in load factor?A. Pre-pandemic, Indian airlines were operating at 85-86 per cent load factors in the domestic space and this declined to 40-50 per cent in the first phase of resumption of operations post pandemic. With passenger traffic having recovered now to pre-Covid levels, PLFs are hovering around 84-87 per cent in the domestic market.IANS11 July 2023 Shared Recently! Japan's recent decision to release radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the ocean has sparked international concern and drawn the attention of the international community, prompting some countries to question the safety of Japanese food exports. This action, although allowed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has left experts a lot of unresolved queries, giving rise to justifiable cause for concern. As Japan prepares to implement its plan, it is crucial for the international community to maintain vigilance and express its concerns regarding the potential risks associated with this action. The potential for radioactive contamination of food products from affected regions poses a significant risk that must be effectively addressed. China, demonstrating its vigilance, has banned the import of edible foodstuffs from 10 regions in Japan, including Fukushima, in order to safeguard its consumers from potential exposure to radioactive substances. The Chinese customs authority has also increased inspections of food imports from other regions of Japan, especially seafood, to assure the detection of radioactive materials and prevent the importation of hazardous goods. This action illustrates the global apprehension regarding the safety of Japanese food products, and heightened vigilance is essential for enhancing the detection rate of radioactive substances and preventing the entry of hazardous products onto the Chinese market. Consumer health and safety protection should be a top priority. Although the IAEA has granted its approval, the consensus among experts is not unanimous. Persistent concerns include the justification for the discharge, the dependability of the employed purification devices, and the sufficiency of the monitoring efforts. These residual uncertainties necessitate a cautious approach and necessitate additional investigation prior to taking irreversible action. The IAEA's two-year safety assessment determined that Japan's plan is consistent with the organization's safety standards. The discharges of treated water would have "negligible" radiological effects on both people and the environment, the IAEA report said. Nonetheless, it is essential to recognize that the report is merely one stage in an ongoing procedure, and that vigilance must be continued throughout the discharge phase. The long-term effects of such a massive discharge into the ocean are still unidentified, raising concerns for marine life, ecosystems, and human health. Additionally, there is concern regarding the potential bioaccumulation of radioactive substances in the food chain, which could pose risks to local as well as global consumers. The international community should urge Japan to address the unanswered queries concerning the safety and potential consequences of discharging treated radioactive water into the ocean. It is essential to recognize that Japan's decision has far-reaching consequences. The release could have effects beyond national borders, affecting neighboring nations and possibly contaminating international waters. Therefore, it is crucial for the international community to engage in dialogue, voice concerns, and participate in the decision-making process. The voices of neighboring nations, particularly those with extensive coastlines and marine resources, must be heard and valued. Transparency, continual evaluation and adherence to international safety standards must be prioritized throughout this process. By advocating comprehensive scrutiny and transparency, the international community can play a crucial role in assuring the protection of both the environment and public health in light of Japan's decision. In the face of Japan's decision, the international community can help ensure the protection of both people and the environment by pressing for comprehensive inspection and transparency. Japan must address the unanswered questions regarding the safety and potential consequences of releasing radioactive water, taking into consideration the global ramifications of its decision. Japan must uphold and adhere to the highest international safety standards while managing the release of radioactive water. It is essential that the country demonstrate its dedication to environmental and public health protection. Any decision or action must be governed by the principles of the IAEA's safety standards, considering the concerns of neighboring nations and the international community. The author Ruqiya Anwar is a PhD scholar of Media and Communication Studies in Pakistan. (Source: CGTN) Jonah Hills ex brands actor misogynist after he asked her not to post bikini snaps Los Angeles, July 9: Hollywood star Jonah Hill's ex-girlfriend, Sarah Brady, has branded the much-loved actor as misogynist, with her also leaking alleged screenshots of texts that he sent. Jonah Hill's ex brands actor 'misogynist' after he asked her not to post bikini snaps Sarah, who works as a surf instructor, took to Instagram to brand somebody - who is thought to be Jonah Hill - a misogynist. Although she didn't initially say she was talking about Jonah, Sarah shared a slew of screenshots of an alleged conversation the pair had, reports 'Mirror.co.uk'.Taking to the social media app to share a string of alleged text messages between her and Jonah, Sarah didn't hold back when she plastered the screenshots over her Instagram stories.As per 'Mirror.co.uk', alongside some of the screenshots she penned Kind of unbelievable that a man who sent me s*** like this ... would then be upset I didn't read his mind and take down pics of that once I was in a relationship.The screenshot alongside her short caption was from Jonah, and it read I want to see you. Other grabs that Sarah has since shared have shown texts from Jonah appearing to be concerned that she posted snaps online while wearing a bathing suit. With the actor also warning her not to share sexual pictures.IANS11 July 2023 Shared Recently! 5,000 new healthcare jobs for UAE nationals Abu Dhabi, July 10: The Department of Health, Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, has set Emiratisation targets Tawteen for all healthcare facilities operating in Abu Dhabi to provide 5,000 new job opportunities for UAE nationals until the end of the year 2025. 5,000 new healthcare jobs for UAE nationals DoH called on all healthcare facilities in the emirate to work towards achieving these targets by retaining and increasing Emiratisation rates within their healthcare and administrative staff.The Department indicated that it is working closely with healthcare providers in the emirate to raise Emiratisation rates in medical professions, which include doctors, nursing staff and extended healthcare professions, while the administrative staff include employees working in information technology, human resources, accounting, finance, and legal sectors. This comes in line with the DoH's efforts to unlock opportunities for local talents in line with the Tawteen agenda for the healthcare workforce and ensure its sustainability.Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Under-Secretary of DoH, said, "Under the directives of our wise leadership, the Tawteen targets were implemented in healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi to empower national competencies, allowing them to further contribute to the healthcare system, in order to enhance its outcomes and establish a competitive knowledge-based economy in the Emirate. This comes in line with the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi's (DoH) efforts to support Tawteen initiatives in the healthcare sector to retain qualified national medical professionals, further cementing Abu Dhabi's position as a leading global healthcare destination."DoH will support all facilities to achieve the target and make the most of the "Nafis" initiative and its platform to identify citizens seeking employment in the healthcare field.Furthermore, Ghannam Al Mazrouei, Secretary-General of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, praised DoH's efforts to increase the Emaritisation rates and monitor healthcare facilities to achieve their Tawteen goals, in accordance with the decisions related to the subject. This provides a supportive work environment to UAE nationals, especially those working in the healthcare sector, allowing them to fill positions in this vital and important sector.He also praised the cooperation shown by various national entities to provide means of success and support to "NAFIS" and its different programmes and initiatives and to raise the competitiveness of Emirati cadres. This will entail a substantial leap in different national fields and sectors, which helps achieve the goals and aspirations set by the wise leadership to consolidate and unify efforts to support and adopt national talents, qualify Emirati cadres, raise their competitiveness, and increase their presence within the workforce in the private sector. (ANI/WAM)ANI11 July 2023 Shared Recently! Air monitor can identify Covid-19 virus in five minutes Missouri, July 10: Scientists are investigating techniques to monitor indoor environment in real time for viruses now that the Covid-19 pandemic's emergency phase is over. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a real-time monitor that can identify any SARS-CoV-2 virus variant in a room in roughly 5 minutes by fusing recent advancements in aerosol sampling technology with an ultrasensitive biosensing method. Air monitor can identify Covid-19 virus in five minutes The inexpensive, proof-of-concept device could be used in hospitals and health care facilities, schools and public places to help detect CoV-2 and potentially monitor for other respiratory virus aerosols, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Results of their work on the monitor, which they say is the most sensitive detector available, are published July 10 in Nature Communications.The interdisciplinary team of researchers from the McKelvey School of Engineering and the School of Medicine consists of Rajan Chakrabarty, the Harold D. Jolley Career Development Associate Professor of energy, environmental and chemical engineering in McKelvey Engineering; Joseph Puthussery, a postdoctoral research associate in Chakrabarty's lab; John Cirrito, a professor of neurology at the School of Medicine; and Carla Yuede, an associate professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine."There is nothing at the moment that tells us how safe a room is," Cirrito said. "If you are in a room with 100 people, you don't want to find out five days later whether you could be sick or not. The idea with this device is that you can know essentially in real time, or every 5 minutes, if there is a live virus."Cirrito and Yuede had previously developed a micro-immunoelectrode (MIE) biosensor that detects amyloid beta as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease and wondered if it could be converted into a detector for SARS-CoV-2. They reached out to Chakrabarty, who assembled a team that included Puthussery, who had expertise in building real-time instruments to measure the toxicity of air.To convert the biosensor from detecting amyloid beta to coronavirus, the researchers exchanged the antibody that recognizes amyloid beta for a nanobody from llamas that recognizes the spike protein from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. David Brody, MD, PhD, a former faculty member in the Department of Neurology at the School of Medicine and an author on the paper, developed the nanobody in his lab at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The nanobody is small, easy to reproduce and modify and inexpensive to make, the researchers said."The nanobody-based electrochemical approach is faster at detecting the virus because it doesn't need a reagent or a lot of processing steps," Yuede said. "SARS-CoV-2 binds to the nanobodies on the surface, and we can induce oxidation of tyrosines on the surface of the virus using a technique called square wave voltammetry to get a measurement of the amount of virus in the sample."Chakrabarty and Puthussery integrated the biosensor into an air sampler that operates based on the wet cyclone technology. Air enters the sampler at very high velocities and gets mixed centrifugally with the fluid that lines the walls of the sampler to create a surface vortex, thereby trapping the virus aerosols. The wet cyclone sampler has an automated pump that collects the fluid and sends it to the biosensor for seamless detection of the virus using electrochemistry."The challenge with airborne aerosol detectors is that the level of virus in the indoor air is so diluted that it even pushes toward the limit of detection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and is like finding a needle in a haystack," Chakrabarty said. "The high virus recovery by the wet cyclone can be attributed to its extremely high flow rate, which allows it to sample a larger volume of air over a 5-minute sample collection compared with commercially available samplers."Most commercial bioaerosol samplers operate at relatively low flow rates, Puthussery said, while the team's monitor has a flow rate of about 1,000 liters per minute, making it one of the highest flow-rate devices available. It is also compact at about 1 foot wide and 10 inches tall and lights up when a virus is detected, alerting administrators to increase airflow or circulation in the room.The team tested the monitor in the apartments of two COVID-positive patients. The real-time PCR results of air samples from the bedrooms were compared with air samples collected from a virus-free control room. The devices detected RNA of the virus in the air samples from the bedrooms but did not detect any in the control air samples.In laboratory experiments that aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 into a room-sized chamber, the wet cyclone and biosensor were able to detect varying levels of airborne virus concentrations after only a few minutes of sampling."We are starting with SARS-CoV-2, but there are plans to also measure influenza, RSV, rhinovirus and other top pathogens that routinely infect people," Cirrito said. "In a hospital setting, the monitor could be used to measure for staph or strep, which cause all kinds of complications for patients. This could really have a major impact on people's health."The team is working to commercialize the air quality monitor.ANI11 July 2023 Shared Recently! Sharad Malhotra, Akanksha Puri all set to show their romantic chemistry in Baarishon Mumbai, July 10: Actors Sharad Malhotra and Akanksha Puri opened up on their working experience in the romantic track 'Baarishon'. Sharad Malhotra, Akanksha Puri all set to show their romantic chemistry in 'Baarishon' Sharad shared his experience of working in the monsoon melody, "'Baarishon' was my first music video shot in the rain. Great experience with the music, collaborations, and working with Akanksha. She's a professional, easygoing girl, making co-actors comfortable. We had fun shooting the video. It was a nice experience with Akanksha, and she knows her strengths and weaknesses. People are praising our chemistry on screen. Expecting cute, melodic, and filmy elements in the song. Hoping for a positive response as a new on-screen pair."He further opened up on what made him say yes to the song, "I agreed to the project because it's my third or fourth collaboration with Payal. We have a great working relationship and enjoy working together. Payal is incredibly talented, especially with her vocals, and a pleasure to work with. Her husband, Aditya, is the producer and they both prioritize quality work. The video was shot grandly, and the music and melody are impressive. Aditya even managed to bring Udit Narayanji on board, which was a great addition and a dream come true for me. Everything fell into place perfectly, and I believe audiences will enjoy the track. Fingers crossed for a positive response".Akanksha also shared, "'Baarishon' is our first music video together. Even though we have worked together earlier this has been an opportunity we were waiting for a long time. With 'Baarishon' we are glad that finally we have done a music video together. 'Baarishon' brings back the essence and feel of our melodies in the 90s. The song absolutely delivers the romantic and steamy vibes from the old times with a modern touch".She said, "It was an immediate yes for 'Baarishon'. I had always manifested being a part of such a sizzling rain song and the dream just came true with 'Baarishon'. In my view, the romance in the rain makes this song the most special for me".Sung by Udit Narayan and Payal Dev, lyrics penned by Rashmi Virag, music production and arrangement by Aditya Dev, 'Baarishon' will be out on July 11.ANI11 July 2023 Shared Recently! Akshay Kumar shares a glimpse of himself as Lord Shiva from OMG 2 Mumbai, July 9: A sequel to the 2011 film 'Oh My God' has been highly awaited, and audiences will now finally have their first look at the film, as 'OMG 2' will release its first teaser on July 11. Akshay Kumar is playing the role of Lord Shiva and he shared a glimpse of his role from the film on Sunday. Akshay Kumar shares a glimpse of himself as Lord Shiva from 'OMG 2' Announcing the teaser with a small clip of himself, Akshay Kumar captioned #OMG2Teaser out on July 11. #OMG2 in theaters on August 11.Donning an intimidating and powerful aesthetic of Shiva, complete with long matted hair, bead necklace and a tripundra on his forehead, Akshay Kumar with the powerful chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' in the background, walking amidst clearing smoke and bunch of people, nails the look.Fans have showcased their excitement for the film, though many are also showing caution after the recent 'Adipurush' controversy where the film was accused by many of hurting religious sentiments.Another wrote Akshay ji, I hope this film will not hurt the religion aspect.However, fans have also expressed excitement Totally goosebumps guru ji @akshaykumar sir ... WAITING for teaser.IANS11 July 2023 Shared Recently! Scope for regional films as Hindi releases dwindle New Delhi, July 9: When Hindi mainstream cinema strays or, otherwise, disappoints, people seek alternatives. Of course, OTT streaming is one alternative, but that is recent. Scope for regional films as Hindi releases dwindle OTT content cannot cater to all tastes and, especially, the generations of Indians brought up on films. It will be a long time before OTT content is accepted as a replacement for cinema, if at all.When Hindi filmmakers stray, as in, take their audience for granted, regional film industries come alive. Besides South, the only regional industry that has maintained continuity is Bengali cinema.Marathi, Gujarati, Bhojpuri and Punjabi are regular film industries, but they go dormant at times. The usual culprit is oversupply.If one Punjabi film is a success, the market is flooded with more films. Most prefer to cast the same stars. This glut weighs heavy and investors shy away.There came a phase when Hindi filmmakers thought it was cool to base the film's story in a foreign country, the trend being to shoot in the US. Along with that craze to shoot abroad, there was little attention to the story, which in most cases was hackneyed.Audiences in states such as UP, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh found them hard to accept. Take for example this film titled 'Anjaana Anjaani'. Actors Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra meet on a river bridge. Both have come there to commit suicide! Don't remember who convinced who, but the suicide is put aside as they go on to paint the town red!Then we had 'Dostana'. John Abraham and Abhshek Bachchan pretend to be a gay couple. Rest of the story is incidental. But, in this county of closet gay men, it was an odd story.Who will accept this story where a man, Salman Khan, and his woman, Preity Zinta, are separated following a misunderstanding? And then, what does the husband do? He encourages his old mate, Akshay Kumar, to court his wife and goes out of his way to help him!Strangest stories were concocted. In 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna', Rani Mukerji is married to Abhishek Bachchan with Amitabh Bachchan playing the father-in-law. Abhishek is an exemplary husband. So what happens?Rani walks out on him and pairs up with Shah Rukh Khan, who she always loved! That is not all, even while living with his son and daughter-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan is prone to inviting sex workers at home!This may be okay in the US where you shoot such films, but your audience is still Indian. And these films were far from what the industry made earlier, films with universal appeal!This what one would describe as producers straying from what is generally acceptable to our audience! The cinemas in the Hindi belt were suffering as such films did not enjoy any longevity at the cinemas. Some even decided to get into production in the local language with films suited to their state and people.Marathi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri and Gujarati film industries, as a result, were resurrected. The films need not be crude anymore; with filmmaking going digital, it was easier to give finesse to films.When people could not identify with such films, wanting something they could enjoy with the family, they turned to regional films.This time again, the field has opened up for regional films to fill the gap as the supply of mainstream Hindi films is dwindling. People and the cinemas, both can't be starved of films. Where there used to be a film or two every Friday, we have just about ten films for the rest of this year, which translates to about two films a month.Just one film is lined up for July -- 'Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani' ; three more for August, 'OMG 2' and 'Gadar 2' and 'Dream Girl 2' on followed by 'Jawan' , 'Ganpath' , 'Tiger 3' , 'Emergency' ,' Animal' and 'Dunki' .The next big release, 'Fighter', is a month away, on January 25.These are huge gaps between releases that will directly affect the exhibition trade while also depriving people of their favourite pastime -- viewing movies. Of course, there is this newly developed fancy for OTT content. But not all OTT content is fun and in most cases not the kind one can watch with the family.How much of OTT streaming can one watch and not that the content is going away anywhere, it can be watched anytime, anywhere. People also want an outing and the usual weekend outing is going to cinema, among other things. As such, films have to be made, they are a part of our lives.Hindi films, though, are going to be in short supply, so the dependence will be on dubbed South Indian films and Hollywood films, which are also in short supply. Is this, however, what people want?The fact is, not all dubbed South Indian films are a 'Baahubali' or an 'RRR' or 'Pushpa'. And, Hollywood films are a change that only the urban audience opts for.Regional films are the ones that will work. They have always existed parallelly. When filmmakers follow trends alien to Indian film lovers, they turn to films they identify with -- that is, their own films with local and Indian flavour. And, what better than regional films to provide that?This time it is happening because Hindi films are going to be few and far in between. Thankfully, regional films are making a comeback.The latest Punjabi release, 'Carry On Jatta', has become a huge success. The Gujarati industry has also given a couple of hits in 'BuShirt T-Shirt' and 'Vash' .Marathi films are back in the reckoning, too, with three recent films, 'Ved', 'Jhimma', 'Vaalvi'. and, the latest, a woman-dominated and -oriented film, 'Baipan Bhaari Deva' proving to be hits.IANS11 July 2023 Shared Recently! Over 40% of UK universities probing students for cheating via ChatGPT London, July 9: More than 40 per cent of UK universities are investigating students for using AI chatbots like ChatGPT to cheat in their examinations, a report has said. Over 40% of UK universities probing students for cheating via ChatGPT According to The Tab, about 48 institutions have investigated at least one student since December 2022 for using ChatGPT in their assessments.At least 377 students have been investigated for using AI chatbots in a university-assigned piece of work and 146 have been found guilty, with dozens more pending.The number was highest at the University of Kent, where 47 students were examined for using ChatGPT or another AI chatbot.Moreover, the report suggested that AI investigations are taking a long time to reach an outcome of investigation.At Birkbeck, University of London, 41 students have been investigated but so far the number who have admitted the offence is less than five.As this is new technology most of these investigations are still open, the university was quoted as saying.Moreover, the report mentioned that Leeds Beckett, the third highest was trying its best to deal with the rapidly developing situation regarding generative AI tools.More than half of the 35 inquiries launched so far have not yielded a result and are still underway.IANS11 July 2023 Shared Recently! Odisha Cabinet approves Ama Odisha, Naveen Odisha scheme to build rural infra Bhubaneswar, July 11: Odisha Cabinet on Monday approved 'Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha' scheme under which measures will be taken to augment rural infrastructure, leading to accelerated growth as well as to promote, preserve and protect the Jagannath culture and tradition of the state, an official release stated. Odisha Cabinet approves 'Ama Odisha, Naveen Odisha' scheme to build rural infra Under the scheme, 4,000 crore will be allocated from the state budget for the effective implementation of the scheme, the release informed further, adding that it is among several proposals that got the Cabinet nod on Monday.After the Cabinet's decision, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, "This scheme has the vision of a New Odisha, Aspirational Odisha, Modern Odisha, while retaining the essence, the soul and the spirit of Odisha."According to state government sources, the Budget this year proposed to set aside Rs 4,000 crore under the scheme this fiscal."Odisha has always been rooted in its culture, tradition and history. Odisha is the land that gave Jagannath culture to the world. A culture that is based on universal love, service and equality. It is based on inclusiveness and embraces everyone, irrespective of caste and community," said the CM."In a historic move to preserve our Jagannath culture - protect our local places of worship, sites of historical significance and to provide amenities for our pilgrims and visitors -- every Gram Panchayat can take up work up to Rs 10 lakh. It is important for our future generations that they be preserved and protected. And who better to do this important work than our Panchayati Raj Institutions through Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha," the CM added."Our villages need internet connectivity, playgrounds, science parks for the youth. They need training facilities, work hubs and skill centres for rural entrepreneurs, especially women. We need to Bridge the gap in education infrastructure, provide banking facilities, build digital infrastructure and take up other modernisation works. This scheme will support panchayats to take up these works," Patnaik added.All original works -- from village temple restoration to building futuristic digital infrastructure -- can be taken up under 'Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha'."It will herald a new Odisha -- modern, dynamic and responsive -- for our youth, our women and children, entrepreneurs, farmers and tribals. This scheme will usher in Odisha with secure roots and powerful wings," the official statement added.ANI11 July 2023 Shared Recently! PM Modis France visit to likely boost economic cooperation and shape EU-India strategic ties: Report New Delhi, July 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France is likely to boost economic cooperation between India and France and shape broader strategic ties between European Union and India, Media India Group reported, adding that his visit to France holds special significance as the two nations are celebrating 25 years of their strategic partnership. PM Modi's France visit to likely boost economic cooperation and shape EU-India strategic ties: Report PM Modi will visit France to attend the Bastille Day Parade as the Guest of Honour at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.He will be the second Indian PM after Manmohan Singh in 2009 to be the Guest of Honour at Bastille Day Parade, the report said.PM Modi's visit presents an opportunity for the two nations to move into the next phase in the India-France strategic partnership and set new ambitious goals for cultural, scientific, academic, economic cooperation and wide range of interests, Sunil Prasad, Secretary General of Brussels based Europe India Chamber of Commerce wrote in the Media India Group report. So far, India has signed more than 35 strategic partnerships agreement with countries. However, India signed the first-ever strategic partnership with France in January 1998.In the past 25 years, through numerous bilateral meetings, a strong institutional mechanism has been established to strengthen cooperation between India and France in the space, defence, civil nuclear, renewables, cyberspace, digital technology, counter terrorism and the blue economy sectors, the report noted.These initiatives not only cover the two nations, however, some are also multilateral, it added.India and France at the Paris Climate Change Summit in 2015 jointly launched International Solar Alliance to promote solar energy in 121 tropical countries all over the world. India and France enjoy synergy in the defence sector.France is set to play a significant role in the growth of India's civil aviation industry. In June, Air India and IndiGo announced purchase agreements to acquire 250 and 500 aircrafts respectively from Airbus during the Paris Air show. The agreement marks a landmark milestone in ties between India and France.France is a nation of the Indo-Pacific and PM Modi's visit will help strengthen the collaboration between two nations in the Indo-Pacific where France has overseas territories and an exclusive economic zone. The two nations share a vision of a free, open, and rules-based order, based on commitment to international law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, freedom of navigation and a region free from coercion, tensions, and conflicts, according to Media India Group report.France hosts the fourth-largest Indian community in Europe after the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany, and is making efforts to attract students and professionals from India. A bilateral agreement on migration and mobility cooperation is already in place between two nations which aims to facilitate circular migration on the basis of mobility and return of skills to the home country.PM Modi's visit will leverage India as an active strategic partner on many dimensions, which includes gathering investors, focusing on clean energy and global peace, Media India Group reported, adding that his visit will strengthen the spirit of cooperation with India's European partners and mould India's image as a reliable and confidant collaborative partner.India and France have trade relations since the 17th century. Bilateral trade between two nations stands at EUR 10.7 billion with more than 1,000 French companies in India having a total turnover of USD 20 billion. Meanwhile, 210 Indian companies are operating in France with an investment stock of EUR 1 billion. France is the 11th largest foreign investor in India with a total FDI stock of USD 10,389 million from April 2000 to September 2022.The relations between India and France is a defining strategic partnership which presents an opportune moment for the two leaders to revitalise multilateralism. France openly backs India's desire for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, Media India Group reported.One of the important features of India's foreign policy under the leadership of PM Modi has been its flexibility to accept ground realities and its willingness to embrace change, Media India Group reported, adding that his visit to France presents an opportunity to tell Europe that despite the different views on global issues, India values its ties with Europe and it believes in shared future and common values.As the Indian Army contingent is also set to participate in Bastille Day celebrations, the preparations for which are currently on in full swing. During the preparations of the Indian Army contingent at the event on Monday, the Chief of Defence Staff of France, Gen Thierry Burkhard and Military Governor of Paris, Lt Gen Christophe Abad, took the salute from the Indian contingent.Taking to Twitter, the Indian Army posted a video of the marching contingent with a message that read, "Participation of the Indian Armed Forces Contingent is testimony to more than a Century old affiliation and the bond between both the Armies and the Nations.""It reminds us of the valour and courage of the Indian soldiers on the French soil during the World Wars," the Indian Army tweeted.On Sunday, the Indian Tri services contingent held practice sessions in France for the Bastille Day parade, the Indian Defence officials said.ANI11 July 2023 Shared Recently! National Education Policy-2020 aims to make India Global Knowledge Superpower: President Murmu New Delhi, July 11: President Droupadi Murmu on Monday hailed the Centre's National Education Policy-2020, saying that it was aimed at making India a 'Global Knowledge Superpower'. National Education Policy-2020 aims to make India Global Knowledge Superpower: President Murmu Addressing a gathering after inaugurating Visitor's Conference 2023 on Monday, President Murmu said she was happy that the Union Ministry of Education, in coordination with all the stakeholders, is striving to make India a global knowledge hub in line with the National Education Policy.Praising Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and his entire team for conceiving and organising this conference, the President also congratulated all the winners of the Visitor's Awards."The objective behind introducing the National Education Policy-2020 is to make India a Global Knowledge Superpower and I am happy to note that the Union Ministry of Education, in coordination with all the stakeholders, is continuously making efforts in line with the National Education Policy," the President said."The importance of education is paramount in the progress of individual, society and the country. This is a universal truth. Higher educational institutions will play an important role in achieving the goal of establishing India as a developed nation by the end of the Amrit Kaal -- by the year 2047," President Murmu added."Only the countries that are knowledge superpowers, going forward, will rank among the global superpowers. To this end, the contribution of each and everyone of us to nation building will prove decisive," the President said.Sharing her lifestory, of "moving from my small village in Odisha to the city to study", President Murmu said, "Through the creation of an environment of sensitivity towards first generation students coming to higher-educational institutions, all of you will be discharging an important social responsibility.""Just as sensible and sensitive head and senior members of a joint family pay attention to the needs of each and every member, all of you -- the teachers and staff -- should be sensitive to the needs of the students. All of you are the guiding lights of the students as well as their parents. It should be your endeavor that the students get a safe and sensitive environment like their home on campuses and hostels of higher educational institutions," the President added."About half of the students (at institutes of higher learning) belong to reserved classes. There were about 100 dropouts in IIMs, and the majority of them were from reserved classes. The issue of dropouts needs to be addressed very sensitively and a solution needs to be found," she said."In a heart-wrenching incident last Saturday, a 20-year-old student died by suicide at IIT Delhi. Similar incidents have happened in many other educational institutions. This isn't just limited to a particular institution but is a matter of concern for the entire education world," the President added.ANI11 July 2023 Shared Recently! The City of Omaha is seeking to buy land around 1410 Locust St. that is envisioned as a industrial business park for North Omaha. The site, currently known as Enterprise Industrial Park, is shown here Monday, July 10, 2023. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) OMAHA Nebraskas largest city is preparing to pay $12 million for a tract of land that would help fulfill a long-running effort to create an industrial business park in northeast Omaha. A proposed purchase agreement for 67 acres near 14th and Locust Streets, on this weeks Omaha City Council agenda, offers scant detail about the purpose other than that it is for future economic development opportunities. The proposal states that the property also would be used for new street infrastructure and right of way. Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha said at least one key reason behind the deal is a future business park that once built out and filled with manufacturers, distributors and other employers is envisioned to bring hundreds of jobs to one of the most economically disadvantaged and employment-deprived areas of the state. This is a first step toward developing the business park in North Omaha, Wayne said. Two business parks anticipated The Nebraska Legislature over the past two years set aside $90 million to develop at least one and perhaps two business parks in the North Omaha area within two miles of Eppley Airfield. The amount was allocated in the Nebraska Economic Recovery Act, which was approved in 2022 and updated in 2023. The broader legislation called for investing roughly $400 million into distressed North and South Omaha neighborhoods, and one of the single biggest project amounts was directed to the business park venture. Wayne, a co-sponsor of the Economic Recovery Act, said the funds likely will cover two business park sites, though he said the second spot was not yet public. Asked about the $12 million proposed real estate purchase, an aide to Mayor Jean Stothert said Monday that the city intends to partner with the still-to-be announced developer who would be awarded the state funds to develop a business park at that site. Spokeswoman Carrie Murphy said the city also plans to add a north truck route to the designated truck route system that runs in and around north downtown, and that the new route will create an access road to the new park. Currently owned by Enterprise Industrial Park LLC, the land under consideration is bounded by Locust Street on the south, Cornish Boulevard on the north, Carter Lake Shore Drive on the east and a western boundary that zags from 14th to 16th Streets. According to the proposed agreement with Enterprise representative Thomas Egan Jr., the deal is subject to a review and due diligence process by the city. It acknowledges environmental concerns due to the areas past use as a railroad yard and a dump site for construction debris. A storied past The swath of land has a storied past that includes being a burial site for parts of Jobbers Canyon when the vintage warehouse district was dismantled to make way for the ConAgra riverfront campus. Around 2012, under the administration of Mayor Jim Suttle, the City of Omaha eyed the site then referred to as the Ames-Locust Industrial Park as a potential home for companies that would get rare access to big industrial work space within a short drive from the citys downtown commercial and residential district. The city moved to seize the property through eminent domain before it struck a tentative deal with ownership that included Virgil Anderson of Anderson Excavating Co. According to Omaha World-Herald reports, the city in 2014, under the Stothert administration, backed out of that $1.9 million purchase agreement after projected costs of environmental cleanup and infrastructure demands surfaced. The reported price tag of roughly $18 million for environmental remediation was beyond the $8.6 million the city had projected to spend on total redevelopment. Then in 2019, a private entity led by Egan came into the picture, buying the land from the Anderson team for lease to outdoor storage and industrial users. Operations include a concrete crushing area and storage. A sign this week at the property says that some space remains for lease. Meanwhile, city and local Chamber of Commerce leaders continued to search elsewhere for an appropriate business park site that would be an economic generator for North Omaha. Since the last time the city attempted to buy the land near 14th and Locust Streets, the citys core has further developed with additional residences and the revamped trio of downtown parks. Under construction is the $600 million Mutual of Omaha business tower, which is tied to the multimillion-dollar planned Omaha streetcar route between downtown and midtown. Mixed-use areas such as the Builders District anchored by Kiewit Corp. and Millwork Commons arts and creatives-focused district have further developed north of downtown and closer to the proposed new business park. And millions of dollars appropriated in the Economic Recovery Act have yet to be awarded to nonprofits and other organizations that, under the legislation, are to be selected by the Department of Economic Development to carry out various economic development projects in North and South Omaha neighborhoods. Tuesday will be the councils first reading of the proposed ordinance and purchase agreement; a final hearing and City Council vote is to be held July 25. Smart Data Solutions expands into India through the launch of its CoE in Chennai PRNewswire, Chennai, July 11: (SDS), an AI-based platform technology company providing healthcare process automation and interoperability solutions, announced its expansion in the India region with the launch of its new Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Chennai. Smart Data Solutions expands into India through the launch of its CoE in Chennai This centre signifies a major milestone in SDS' expansion plans and demonstrates the Company's strategic vision to leverage local talent in Chennai to scale existing operations and add to its extensive product portfolio.The SDS product portfolio leverages data analytics, AI and intelligent automation across healthcare business processes to deliver clear value for customers including a lower cost structure, improved quality, and streamlined workflows. This portfolio includes digital mailroom capabilities, claims operations, interoperability solutions (including enrollment, image exchange and others), provider data/contract management, prior authorization, and clearinghouse services.The SDS platform is built on a scalable, HITRUST-certified, SOC2-compliant architecture utilizing technologies such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR), AI, and Robotic Process Automation, and is developed using Java, Python, HTML and SQL."We are thrilled to inaugurate our new Centre of Excellence in Chennai," said Shashi Yadiki, CEO of Smart Data Solutions. "We have seen significant growth in the last nine months as we look to help our clients using our AI platform to optimize their cost structure and become more agile. The quality of talent here in Chennai across all areas has made it our clear choice, as we not only look to scale existing areas but also grow in completely new dimensions."Yadiki added, "This state-of-the-art CoE in Chennai will tap into the tremendous pool of talent here with deep expertise in healthcare processes as well as leading-edge technologies such as AI, Java and Python. The CoE in Chennai is also a key part of our strategy and marketing efforts, helping SDS to expand its thought leadership in the market."To explore exciting career opportunities at SDS' new centre in Chennai, interested professionals can visit the of the SDS website or email their resumes to . Discover how you can be part of SDS' journey and contribute to transforming the future of healthcare through AI and automation.As a technology leader in healthcare process automation and interoperability, Smart Data Solutions (SDS) is a strategic partner that helps clients digitally transform operations and delivers tangible value that includes reduced costs, streamlined workflows, and an improved customer experience. Smart Data Solutions has a specialized approach to data capture and automation, focusing on innovative solutions to meet the unique needs of the healthcare market. Today, more than 500 clients including multiple Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, regional health plans, TPAs, providers and healthcare partners depend on SDS to help streamline complex parts of their front, middle and back-office operations.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI11 July 2023 Shared Recently! Jaishankar meets his Maldivian counterpart Abdullah Shahid to discuss bilateral issues New Delhi, July 11: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on Tuesday, met his Maldivian counterpart, Abdullah Shahid for discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. Jaishankar meets his Maldivian counterpart Abdullah Shahid to discuss bilateral issues Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "A warm welcome to FM @abdulla_shahid of Maldives. The India-Maldives special partnership grows deeper by the day."Maldives' Foreign Minister is also expected to deliver the 43rd Sapru House Lecture at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi.Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in the Prime Minister's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the 'Neighbourhood First Policy'."The Maldives Foreign Minister's visit is in continuation of the series of high-level visits from both sides and is expected to lend further momentum to the substantive bilateral cooperation between the two countries," the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official release.Last month, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan and Abdulla Shahid attended the ceremony for the exchange of 10 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) between India and Maldives in Male.India and Maldives' relationship is not limited to political affairs but also they have a strong military alliance. Recently, India and Maldives held a Joint Exercise Ekuverin concluded after intense validation training.'Taking to Twitter, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information of the Indian Army said, "The exercise has strengthened mutual confidence and enabled sharing of best practices."The 12th edition of the joint military exercise "Ex Ekuverin" between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force has taken place at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand from 11 to 24 June 2023, reported the Ministry of Defence.Ekuverin meaning 'Friends' is a bilateral annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Maldives.A platoon strength contingent from Indian Army and Maldives National Defence Force has participated in a 14-day long exercise.The exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability in Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorism Operations under the UN mandate and carrying out joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations. The focus was to share best practices and enhance coordination and cooperation between both the forces at tactical level, according to the Ministry of Defence.ANI11 July 2023 Shared Recently! Montana needs more investigators to address drug trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney for Montana Jesse Laslovich. Our main issue, at least for me, is that we need more boots on the ground for investigating cases, Laslovich told the audience at City Club Missoula Monday. He and Missoula Police Chief Michael Colyer discussed the impact of drug crimes on Montana with a special emphasis on fentanyl. Laslovich said the Bureau of Indian Affairs is currently grossly underfunded without enough agents to serve Montanas tribal reservations. Do you think these sophisticated drug traffickers know that there arent a lot of law enforcement resources on reservations? They do, Laslovich said. So its not a coincidence that a lot of those DTOs (drug trafficking organizations) are in Indian Country, because we dont have a law enforcement presence there, or at least not a significant presence. Colyer said his department has funding shortfalls around keeping its technology up-to-date. Colyer said it is very time-intensive and labor-demanding to just access and collect data. Technology is just huge, Colyer said. We are constantly working phones and that type of stuff so staying up on the ability to investigate that technology, store that data and analyze that data is forever changing. Colyer mentioned the department will continue chasing for modernization of technology. New tools like spectrometers now help officers analyze for fentanyl without even opening a package, he said. Laslovich mentioned Missoula as one of three cities alongside Great Falls and Billings in Montana that have started a pilot program for a federal drug court. Similar to drug courts at state and local levels in Montana, it focuses on rehabilitation for people who plead guilty for drug-related crimes and connects them with available resources and a provider for treatment. If they successfully complete it, then we rip up the indictment at the end, Laslovich said. So, its a carrot and stick approach. If they dont successfully complete it, then they will continue the sentence and go to prison. The federal treatment program gets applied more to drug traffickers than people with drug possession charges, but Laslovich noted that many people wind up in that trafficking position because of addiction. The program is expected to continue until midway next year, when they can determine if it is successful. Colyer noted that concerns around the risk to bystanders of fentanyl powder floating in the air have been largely exaggerated. Nonetheless, he cautioned against hanging around drug users due to the unknown amounts of fentanyl getting mixed into other drugs. Because it's often 100 times more powerful than morphine, the chances of an unexpected overdose with fentanyl are high. Drug trafficking organizations have been located and broken up recently in Butte and Billings and the Northern Cheyenne and Crow reservations, according to Laslovich. Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. There are significant variations in healthcare spending and care delivery across NHS hospitals in England and Wales following hip fracture, a new study aimed at understanding how hospital care impacts patients' outcomes and costs has revealed. The study, led by the University of Bristol and funded by Versus Arthritis, highlights the urgent need for evidence-based quality improvement strategies to reduce healthcare spending and improve patient outcomes in the year following a hip fracture. The research is published online in The Lancet Healthy Longevity today [10 July]. Hip fracture is a serious health concern, with more than 70,000 older adults admitted to a UK hospital each year. This study highlights the high healthcare burden associated with breaking a hip. The research analyzed data from national databases for 178,757 hip fracture patients aged 60 years and above in England and Wales, who broke their hip between 2016 and 2019, followed up to just before the pandemic. More than one in four patients died within a year of their hip fracture. Patients spent an average of 32 days in hospital in the year following a hip fracture, resulting in substantial inpatient costs of on average 14,642 per patient - a cost similar to that incurred in the year after a stroke, and that exceeds costs of many common cancers. But this cost varied substantially between hospitals, with more than a two-fold difference in spending, ranging from 10,867 to 23,188 per patient, between NHS hospitals studied in England and Wales. The researchers identified that in hospitals where patients are up and about quickly after their operation and where physiotherapy is provided seven days a week, patient costs were lower, the risk of sudden confusion (delirium) was reduced, and patients spent fewer days in hospital in the year following hip fracture. The research further highlighted the crucial role of orthogeriatricians - consultant geriatricians who specialize in the care of people with fractures- in hip fracture care. The findings suggest that having all patients assessed by an orthogeriatrician within the first days of admission could cut healthcare spending by 529 per patient, as well as reduce the chance of dying by 15% in the year following hip fracture." Dr Petra Baji, Senior Research Associate in Health Economics at Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences (THS) and the paper's first author Dr Rita Patel, Senior Research Associate in Medical Statistics at Bristol and statistician for the study, added: "If a consultant orthogeriatrician attends hospital clinical governance meetings, a further cost savings of 356 could potentially be achieved, as well as patients spending fewer days spent in the hospital in the year following hip fracture." The study highlights the importance of addressing the way hospitals deliver hip fracture care to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of hip fracture services, and the need to develop evidence-based quality improvement strategies across the UK, to achieve financial savings while also improving patient outcomes. Celia Gregson, Professor in Clinical Epidemiology in the Musculoskeletal Research Unit at the University of Bristol and Chief Investigator of the study, commented, "The variation we have seen in patient outcomes and health spending following hip fracture are difficult to justify on purely clinical grounds, it tells us that the way we organize the delivery of care can be improved nationally. "By prioritizing orthogeriatrician assessment, getting patients out of bed promptly after surgery, providing seven-day physiotherapy, reducing delirium risk for patients, and holding monthly multidisciplinary clinical governance meetings, hospitals stand to improve patient outcomes and reduce their healthcare spending." Caroline Aylott, Head of Research Delivery at Versus Arthritis, said: "This research shows the unacceptable state of care for older people who break their hip. The findings show that older people have a high chance of dying within a year of a hip fracture, and that quality of care varies hugely between NHS hospitals in England and Wales. "As hip fractures mainly affect older people, many of whom live with multiple long-term conditions, this research suggests we are not getting older people's care right. That must change. "The study found that better, faster access to orthogeriatricians and fracture liaison services would not only reduce people's risk of dying and improve chances of a better recovery, but also reduce NHS spending. Just weeks after publication of the NHS workforce plan, the study provides yet further evidence of the desperate and immediate need for a properly resourced NHS." The research team has already developed a potential solution, after working with the Royal Osteoporosis Society to develop an innovative toolkit - REDUCE hip fracture service implementation toolkit - informed by the results of their research. The toolkit is freely available to all healthcare professionals and service managers to support the quality improvement of fracture service provision within the 172 acute hospital settings across England and Wales. This study follows previous work from the REDUCE study (REducing unwarranted variation in the Delivery of high-qUality hip fraCture services in England and Wales), published last year in Age and Ageing, the journal of the British Geriatrics Society, which focused on patient outcomes of hip fracture patients in the short term. The study was funded by Versus Arthritis (ref: 22086), the UK's biggest charity supporting people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC). First Ladies from countries across Africa and experts from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health will meet the week of July 10, 2023 to discuss current trends, critical research, and sustainable, evidence-based approaches to promote population health and well-being. From July 10th to the 13th, First Ladies and their senior advisors will participate in an executive leadership program to advance critical health and development issues in their countries and regions, including communicable and chronic disease management, community health, maternal and child health, climate change, health systems, and gender gaps in access to healthcare. This week's program is the first convening of the Global First Ladies Academy, which aims to support First Ladies' and First Partners' work to catalyze positive impact and social transformation in their communities and around the world. Through regular gatherings, the Global First Ladies Academy aims to foster collaboration between First Ladies and First Partners' at regional and global levels, and to support programmatic and policy initiatives related to health, education, gender equality, economic development, and climate change. As partners of Presidents and Prime Ministers, First Ladies have the potential to be highly visible and influential. Their role as private counsel to their partners and their access to leaders allow them to convene stakeholders, influence priorities, and change social norms. Their position as role model also provides them an important platform to reach communities, address harmful norms, and impact behavioral change. Despite the role First Ladies can play in enabling change, few receive the training, network, and resources they need to do so successfully. GFLA was founded in 2009 to meet this need, and we are thrilled to be hosting this first ever academic and leadership training course with Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, a global leader in health and development." Cora Neumann, PhD, Global First Ladies Alliance president and founder "The Global First Ladies Academy is an important opportunity for First Ladies to dialogue with experts and peers to deepen our understanding of significant global developments in a constantly changing geopolitical, economic, environmental, social, and technological context," said First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos, UNAIDS Special Advocate for Young Women and Adolescent Girls. "The lessons from this week, and future gatherings, will help First Ladies strengthen our voices and take action on pressing issues, and to make the most impactful use of our individual and collective platforms." Workshops and roundtable discussions will focus on interdisciplinary strategies to improve health, facilitated by leaders including the Hon. Anita McBride, former Senior Advisor to George W. Bush and Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, and Columbia public health and medicine experts including Columbia Mailman Dean Linda P. Fried, MD, MPH; Katrina Armstrong, MD, chief executive officer of Columbia University Irving Medical Center; Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, MPH, MPA, director of the global health center ICAP; and Michael Sparer, JD, chair of the department of Health Policy and Management. "The Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health is honored to support the Global First Ladies Academy and its efforts to protect and improve the public's health and societal well-being," said Dean Fried. "First Ladies are on the front lines of health and improving people's lives, with unique perspective, reach, and influence to improve the well-being of communities and countries. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with this visionary group of changemakers." The Global First Ladies Academy executive leadership program is a partnership among Columbia University Mailman School of Public, the Global First Ladies Alliance, and the Organization of African First Ladies for Development. The first large-scale U.S. clinical trial of cytisinicline, led by a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigator, found the smoking cessation medication to be effective and well tolerated in adults who wished to break their nicotine dependence. In the Phase 3 study published in JAMA, researchers reported that cytisinicline could offer adults who smoke a potential new treatment option. "Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, yet no new smoking cessation medication has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for nearly two decades," says Nancy Rigotti, MD, director of MGH's Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, and lead author of the study. "There is an urgent need for new medications to treat tobacco smoking because existing products don't help all smokers to quit and can have unacceptable side effects. If approved by regulators, cytisinicline could be a valuable new option to treat tobacco dependence." Cytisinicline (historically known as cytisine) is a naturally occurring plant-based alkaloid that binds selectively to nicotinic receptors in the brain that regulate nicotine dependence, alleviating the urge to smoke and reducing the severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Its mechanism of action is similar to that of varenicline, an FDA-approved smoking cessation aid. The 17-site randomized clinical trial, known as ORCA-2, tested cytisinicline among 810 adults who smoked cigarettes daily and wanted to quit. It is the first of two Phase 3 clinical trials conducted by Achieve Life Sciences, Inc., the drug's manufacturer. ORCA-2 compared two durations of cytisinicline treatment 6 and 12 weeks versus a placebo, with a follow-up to 24 weeks. The primary outcome measure was biochemically confirmed continuous smoking abstinence for the last 4 weeks of treatment. Specifically, for the 12-week group, 32.6% of participants using cytisinicline vs. 7% using placebo were abstinent during weeks 9 to 12. For the 6-week group, abstinence was 25.3% for cytisinicline vs. 4.4% for placebo during weeks 3 to 6. Participants taking cytisinicline also experienced a rapid and sustained decline in cravings and smoking urges during the first 6 weeks of treatment. Over the longer term, ORCA-2 found a statistically significant increase in continuous abstinence through 6 months for both treatment durations. Abstinence from weeks 9 to 24 for the 12-week group was 21.1% for cytisinicline vs. 4.8% for placebo, and for the 6-week group abstinence from weeks 3 to 24 was 8.9% for cytisinicline vs 2.6% for placebo. Cytisinicline was also well tolerated by participants, with no serious drug-related adverse events reported and low rates of typical side effects like nausea and insomnia. "Cytisinicline demonstrated impressive results as a smoking cessation medication in a rigorous clinical trial that used a new, scientifically-based dosing regimen as well as a longer duration of treatment than traditionally done," notes Rigotti, an internationally known expert in tobacco use and treatment. "This agent has the potential to help countless numbers of people quit smoking and, in the process, reduce the enormous toll of premature deaths and disability due to cigarette smoking in the U.S. and worldwide." Rigotti is director of the MGH Tobacco Research and Treatment Center in the division of General Internal Medicine and Mongan Institute at MGH, and professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Senior author Cindy Jacobs, PhD, MD, is director, president and chief medical officer for Achieve Life Sciences. The study was funded by Achieve Life Sciences. Representatives from a local Moms for Liberty group urged the Billings Public Library board on Monday to label or separate LGBTQ content. The public meeting was prompted by Billings City Councilwoman Pam Purinton after she received complaints from several parents concerned that an activity in the library's teen lab featured gay pride stickers. Some of these were home school parents who were not aware that something like this was being done, Purinton said, adding she was personally worried that patrons as young as 11 could access the event. When five of nine library board members agreed to meet, the meeting was opened to the public and held on the second floor of the library. More than 100 people attended the meeting and at least 33 people made public comments. All of the commenters opposed labeling or removing LGBTQ content. Many commenters also spoke to the importance of free speech and accessibility to information in a public place like the library. One woman, Pari Kemmick, said labeling or removing LGBTQ content would make vulnerable LGBTQ youth feel unsafe or unwanted. Many other commenters shared personal testimony about how LGBTQ representation in books and programs had helped them avoid a mental health crises or suicide ideation. Im sick of young people leaving (Billings), Kemmick said. Im sick of people feeling unsafe. Other said the labeling or separation would unfairly impose the values of Moms for Liberty onto the general public. As a red rock conservative, I understand family values," one man began. "...But leave mine to me and my family, and Ill leave you to your family. Protect the library, please. The Moms for Liberty representatives wanted to emphasize that discrimination against LGBT people and book banning was not their goal. We are not here to target a specific group, Yellowstone County chapter chair Alba Pimentel said. We are here to set a boundary for our children. Instead of banning books, she said books and programs featuring LGBTQ material should be clearly marked. She suggested adding a sticker to books with LGBTQ content or moving them to a dedicated section. Adria Jawort, a two-spirit member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, cautioned that the labeling of books as objectional can be "a slippery slope." "If you want to start putting stickers on books, maybe put one on this book," she said before quoting the Bible verse Ezekiel 23:20: "She lusted after their male consorts, whose sexual organs were like those of donkeys, and whose ejaculation was like that of horses." Rev. Patrick Lewis of Billings First United Methodist Church also remarked on the futility of labeling books. If you need to have something labeled, you should probably label the Bible, he said. Love your neighbor, love God. The main goal of Moms for Liberty is to allow for parents to vet books before their children read them, said Moms for Liberty chapter treasurer Jessie Browning. She said many people are incapable of understanding gender and sexuality until their in their 20s, and LGBTQ books will only add to the confusion. Browning said parents should be able to decide when their children learn about gender and sexuality. Multiple studies nationwide, however, suggest most LGBTQ people discover their sexuality well before their 20s. A 2013 survey by Pew Research Center said 68% of lesbian, gay and bisexual people first noticed signs of their sexuality by age 14. Only 11% of survey respondents said they discovered their sexuality past the age of 20. In addition to labeling books, Moms for Liberty and Purinton asked that parents be informed about LGBTQ events in advance. At the end of the meeting, Billings Public Library Director Gavin Woltjer said the future was murky. I do not know where we go from here, but I hope that we maintain this decorum of respect, Woltjer said. After one hour of public comment and around 30 minutes of discussion from Moms for Liberty, several library board members argued they didnt have any obligation to label LGBTQ content. Board member Peggy McSweyn explained that while book complaints can be brought to the board, the final decision follows policies determined internally by the board at regular meetings. She said hosting LGBTQ content does not necessarily mean the library endorses LGBTQ content. She also reminded attendees of the responsibility of parents in what their children read. You have to individually check out your books in a machine, McSweyn said. If your children are picking up a book you dont like, you have the final say on that. Board member Roger Young said he hesitates to limit access of any materials based on the principles of what a library represents. Im a basically conservative individual, politically, Young said. But our ability to always go to the library to find answers One of the major roles of the library is to satisfy our curiosity. Not all board members were in agreement. Is it really necessary to have a conversation about sexual identity in the childrens section? board vice chair Staci Samuelson asked. Woltjer said that while he isnt sure what the next steps will be, the library would work toward a solution that both sides could appreciate. He said his goal is to give everyone information, regardless of what they seek to do with it. We will do our part to try to represent every segment, Woltjer said. We will fail, and we will keep trying Whether I agree with it or not, I serve you all. In a recent study published in Communications Earth & Environment, researchers examined the generational differences across the population of the United Kingdom (UK) in risk perceptions, emotions, and beliefs about climate change and climate engagement. Background Research indicates that as a result of growing up with early exposure to the concept of climate change, the younger generation worldwide is more concerned about the consequences of climate change than the older generations. Literature on the subject suggests that the concerns and emotions about climate change are often beyond manageable levels and are taking a toll on the mental health of the younger generation. The contrast in the levels of concern about climate change between the younger and older generation is also supported by the prominent media presence of young climate change activists. However, the findings on the size and nature of the gaps in concerns and beliefs about climate change have been mixed. While some studies have reported that the younger generation is generally more concerned about the environment and experience anger, worry, and guilt regarding climate change, individuals from the older generation are more likely to have a skeptical approach to climate change. In contrast, other studies have reported negligible differences between generations in the concerns, commitments, or values about the environment, indicating methodological differences across studies in the outcome measures used to assess concerns, beliefs, and risk perceptions about climate change. About the study In the present study, the researchers used data from three nationally-representative cross-sectional surveys conducted each year between 2020 and 2022 in the UK to examine the generational differences in various aspects of climate engagement. The questions of these surveys assessed the beliefs about the urgency, temporal proximity, and causes of climate change and evaluated the worries, perceived threats and impacts, and other emotions about the subject across the representative population. The surveys were conducted across groups categorized using the theory of generations, which states that generations are formed based on shared experiences about circumstances and historical and social events. Groups based on these generational labels enabled the researchers to evaluate the insights from various age cohorts, with the assumption that common opinions and values are formed from shared experiences. Six major generations were examined in the study the post-war generation, spanning 1928 to 1945; two halves of the baby boomer generation, spanning 19461954 and 19551964, respectively; Generation X between 1965 to 1980; and millennials and Generation Z, comprising individuals born between 1981 and 1996, and born after 1996, respectively. The questions in the survey had a response scale of five points, with higher scores indicating a stronger belief in and emotions regarding the temporal proximity, urgency, anthropogenic nature, and higher perceptions of risk related to climate change. Beliefs about climate change indicate an emotional state that is a result of an effective evaluation of the impacts and risks of climate change and might or might not be related to reality. Perceptions of risk can be categorized based on perceived likelihood into personal worry, generalized concern, and seriousness. Results The findings reported that generational differences with regard to climate change were found mostly in areas of emotional engagement, while the differences in perception were lower when the cognitive beliefs about the causes and impacts of climate change were compared across generations. The younger generation has stronger negative feelings of guilt, fear, and outrage about climate change than the older generation. Furthermore, between 2020 and 20212022, the differences across generations in the perceived impacts and beliefs about climate change seemed to have narrowed, indicating a changing trend in the understanding of climate change. Surprisingly, a significant proportion of the older generation believed that the impacts of climate change were already being felt. The levels of risk perceptions and worries about climate change were significantly higher among the younger generation than the older one. The results indicated that age did not seem relevant to the skepticism about climate change. Still, they did play a significant role in influencing the concerns and threat perceptions about climate change, indicating a stronger emotional climate engagement among the younger generation. Conclusions Overall, the findings suggested that the threat and risk perceptions, emotions, and beliefs about climate change were higher among the younger generation than the older one, but the gap is more consistent and larger for climate change-related emotions rather than beliefs. Furthermore, over the years, with an increasing understanding about the impacts of climate change, the overall gap in cognition between the generations about climate change is narrowing, and the differences are more in the areas of emotions rather than beliefs about climate change and its anthropogenic nature. In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, scientists investigated the association between constipation and cardiovascular events such as angina, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, and stroke, as well as hypertension among a representative population of elderly hospitalized patients in Australia. Background Cardiovascular disease is one of the major health problems worldwide, with a staggering mortality rate that continues to grow. Over the last 30 years, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases has doubled despite attempts to address the modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular disease through pharmaceutical and lifestyle interventions. Close to 32% of global mortality is attributed to cardiovascular events, of which stroke or myocardial infarction constitute 85% of the cases. Hypertension is one of the prevalent risk factors for cardiovascular disease, with a higher incidence among older adults than among young people. Constipation, common among the elderly, is believed to be linked to hypertension. While studies among the Japanese population and veterans in the United States have reported an association between constipation and an increased risk of ischemic stroke, coronary heart disease, and mortality due to stroke and other cardiovascular events, it remains unclear whether constipation is independently associated with cardiovascular events or hypertension. About the study In the present study, the researchers conducted a matched-cohort analysis among elderly Australian hospitalized patients, with half of the study population having constipation. The average age of the cohorts was 73.7 years, and of the patients who had constipation, close to half had hypertension, while close to 70% of the patients who had hypertension also suffered from constipation. The data from the Department of Health and Human Services of Victoria, Australia, were used for the analyses and comprised hospitalization information from all private and public hospitals in Victoria. After applying exclusion criteria based on factors such as age and occurrence of the measured study outcomes, the final dataset consisted of 541,172 hospitalized patients, of whom 50% had constipation. The study examined cardiovascular events, including stroke, angina, transient ischemic attack, and myocardial infarction, which were diagnosed according to the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases. Data were also obtained on covariates that could be potentially confounding, such as age, sex, smoking behavior, obesity, diabetes status, hypertension, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, endocrine disorders, kidney disease, metabolic disorders, peripheral occlusive arterial disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiac arrythmia, atrial fibrillation, ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease, and socioeconomic status. Binary logistic models were used to evaluate the association between constipation and cardiovascular events, and hypertension while controlling for the various covariates. Subgroup analyses were conducted across groups based on sex or hypertension. Additionally, binary logistic regression was used to determine the role of the interaction between hypertension and constipation in modifying the risk of cardiovascular disease. Results The results indicated that the multivariate-adjusted risk for cardiovascular events and hypertension was higher for patients with constipation as compared to those without constipation. Furthermore, when compared to patients who did not have constipation or hypertension, the risk for cardiovascular events after adjusting for all the covariates was higher among patients with only constipation or only hypertension. Moreover, the cardiovascular event risk when all events were considered appeared to be additive among patients with both hypertension and constipation. The scientists discussed some of the potential mechanisms that could explain the association between constipation, hypertension, and cardiovascular events. One of the mechanisms linking constipation and hypertension is the increase in water absorption from the intestines during constipation, which could result in hypertension due to the increase in blood volume. Based on growing evidence from research on the role of gut microbiomes in the pathophysiology of various diseases, the researchers believe that another mechanism through which constipation is linked to hypertension and cardiovascular disease is gut microbiome dysbiosis leading to inflammation and alterations in the production of short-chain fatty acids. Early studies on constipation have reported that obstruction of the intestines results in bacterial overgrowth in the region of the gut above the obstruction, while normal gut bacterial communities are found in the region below the obstruction. Gut microbiome dysbiosis due to constipation is also thought to be independently associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction. Conclusions To summarize, the study explored the association between constipation and increased risk of cardiovascular events and hypertension in elderly adults in Australia. The findings indicated that constipation is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events and hypertension in adults over 60 years, with the risk of all cardiovascular events increasing additively in individuals with both constipation and hypertension. The results highlight the need to address constipation as a modifiable risk factor to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events. If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing "988," or the Crisis Text Line by texting "HOME" to 741741. Aimee Quicke has made repeated trips to emergency rooms, hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and psychiatric lockdowns for mental health crises including suicidal thoughts since she was 11. The 40-year-old resident of Le Mars, Iowa, has bipolar and obsessive-compulsive disorders. "Some of the visits were helpful and some were not," she said. "It was like coming in and going out and just nothing different was happening." Then she heard about Rhonda's House, a rural peer respite program that opened on the other side of the state in 2018, through acquaintances in her community. That facility, and dozens of others like it established nationwide over the past 20 years, offers a short-term, homelike, nurturing environment for people who are experiencing a mental health crisis but don't need immediate medical attention. At respites, patients are treated like guests, proponents say, and can feel heard and keep their dignity without having to relinquish their clothes and other belongings. During her weeklong stay at Rhonda's House, which founder and executive director Todd Noack referred to as "a bed-and-breakfast facility for emotional distress," Quicke made many breakthroughs, working on her self-esteem and gaining better coping skills. If she hadn't found the program, she said, "I don't think I would have come out of 2020." Public health professionals say respite facilities can potentially play a big role in addressing a national mental health crisis that accelerated dramatically during the covid-19 pandemic, especially when it comes to suicide prevention. "It's a really important piece of the larger puzzle of how to improve health care and reduce suicide risk, because there is a 'traffic jam' in suicide prevention," said Jane Pearson, chair of the National Institute of Mental Health Suicide Research Consortium. Respites rely on trained peers to provide care, and often serve patients who might otherwise visit overburdened ERs, psychiatric institutions, and therapists. Today there are 42 community-based respite programs spread across 14 states, including new ones opened recently in Tacoma, Washington, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Most are nonprofits governed by a patchwork of state guidelines, and they're funded by a mixture of local, state, and federal grants. Experts say the programs fill a void, though there is little hard data on their effectiveness. Paolo del Vecchio, director of the Office of Recovery at the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, said peer-run respites have proven themselves as an "evidence-based model of care," with positive effects including reduced hospitalizations and increased engagement with community support services. A 2015 study published online in the journal Psychiatric Services found that people who sought respite were 70% less likely to use inpatient emergency services than non-respite users. Still, del Vecchio said, more research is needed to analyze how the programs are working and troubleshoot problems. SAMHSA is conducting a cost-benefit analysis of respite programs that officials hope to release this summer. Pearson said she would like to see more research on who uses respites, how they are advertised, clients' reasons for seeking them, and whether they deliver what they promise. Respites can be especially important in rural America, where suicides increased 46% from 2000 to 2020, compared with 27.3% in urban areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rural residents also have 1 times the rates of ER visits for self-harm as urban residents. Del Vecchio hopes greater awareness can help bring the promising respite approach to the states with the highest suicide rates, including Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, and New Mexico. Rhonda's House, in Dewitt, Iowa, has provided care to 392 people over the past five years, and recently moved into a three-story, five-bedroom house with two baths. Peer specialists in Iowa must complete 40 hours of training plus six hours of ethics counseling, and then work 500 hours to become eligible to take a state certification test. For Quicke, Rhonda's House was a lifesaver during a brutal 2020. The pandemic had isolated her from her support system, her brother-in-law died, her long-term partner moved out, and her mother had open-heart surgery. "There was a lot of chaos. A lot of family fights broke out. That's when I took off packed a bag and left for respite," said Quicke. "There was nowhere else closer to go." She drove six hours from her home to Rhonda's House, where she found 24-hour help that you "just can't get from an emergency room or hospital." Unlike traditional hospital staffers, peers are available to speak with guests whenever they are needed, which Quicke appreciated since she has "a lot of panic and anxiety in the night and it's frightful." She also found it easy and comforting to speak with peers with "lived experience," or firsthand experience with mental health challenges. Allowing people to reach out for help without being judged is a crucial feature of the respite model, said Paul Pfeiffer, a psychiatrist at the University of Michigan's medical center. He cautioned against regulations that would make them more like hospitals, noting that many people in trouble avoid getting help because they fear being locked up in a psychiatric facility. Quicke said she learned a lot during her stay at Rhonda's House. "I always thought I was co-dependent. I learned I just need me and my dogs. I learned wellness tools and that I can be strong and resourceful and resilient," she said. She described being more conscious of her triggers and said she had "more routines to help with sleep hygiene." When Quicke left, respite staffers connected her with community resources close to her home, near the Nebraska border. They also encouraged her to call if she needed help again and told her she could return for another stay after 60 days giving her time to work through her challenges and freeing up space for others in the meantime. "Peer respite works 8 out of 10 times," said Noack, the executive director. "Some people do have to leave to get another level of care, but nothing is ever perfect." The average cost of staying at Rhonda's House is $428 a day far less than the thousands of dollars a hospital stay typically costs. Noack's respite does not bill insurance but covers the cost with state and regional contracts, as well as donations, like many other respites. Some respites receive Medicaid funding. As this type of care grows, more states will explore Medicaid and other funding sources, said del Vecchio. A few weeks ago Quicke became discouraged after a job rejection. She thought about going back to Rhonda's House but said she channeled what she learned there during her stay. "I was able to use my coping skills to get through it," she said. New CT technology allows for a comprehensive, simultaneous evaluation of lung structure and function, something not possible with standard CT, according to a study published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Chest CT is the imaging method of choice for analyzing lung disease and tracking changes over time. However, CT studies of lung function and perfusion, or blood flow, require dedicated protocols that cannot be combined. Researchers in Germany and the Netherlands developed a chest imaging protocol that yields information on structure and function of the lungs as a one-stop-shop procedure. The protocol uses recently introduced photon-counting CT technology. Photon-counting CT enables high image quality at a radiation dose below that of a standard chest CT. In addition, it provides better spatial resolution and options for spectral imaging, which uses energy information from the X-rays to characterize tissue composition. The new protocol requires advanced software but no additional hardware. The researchers studied the protocol in 197 patients with clinically indicated CT for various known and unknown lung function impairment. After administration of an intravenous contrast agent, the photon-counting CT scan was taken when the patients inhaled. This was followed by a scan when the patients exhaled. In 166 patients, the researchers were able to acquire all CT-derived parameters, for a success rate of 85%. The protocol allowed for simultaneous evaluation of lung structure, ventilation, vasculature and perfusion of the parenchyma, the region of the lungs that contain the gas-exchanging alveoli. The alveoli are tiny air sacs where the lungs and the blood exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide during the process of breathing in and out. The protocol showed advantages over standard CT. The improvement in the contrast-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution of the pulmonary blood volume images was substantial. In my opinion, the most important advantage is the significantly improved spectral resolution, which enables new applications such as functional imaging of the lungs with CT." Hoen-oh Shin, M.D., study senior author, professor of radiology at the Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at Hannover Medical School in Hannover, Germany The photon-counting CT protocol has other promising applications in lung imaging. It can provide important preoperative identification of areas of emphysema and perfusion defects in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a progressive disease caused by blood clots that do not clear from the lungs. Postoperatively, the protocol allowed evaluation of surgical success and was helpful in assessing the lungs after lung or stem cell transplant procedures. It may also be useful in follow-up of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and looking at pathological findings in the lung tissue. "We believe that the proposed protocol is generally valuable for diseases with known or unknown lung function impairment," Dr. Shin said. Dr. Shin and colleagues first applied the protocol to patients with interstitial lung disease, a group of diseases that cause progressive scarring of the lung tissue. They then expanded the applications to include post-COVID-19 condition where interstitial lung disease sometimes develops. "With the proposed protocol, we have also been able to answer many other questions related to post-COVID-19 condition, such as the detection of acute and chronic pulmonary emboli on CT angiography, and we are currently investigating whether perfusion changes can be quantified in microvascular damage or inflammatory areas," Dr. Shin said. The researchers are working to improve processing time and increase the robustness of the technique. "Regional ventilation and perfusion depend on patient position and gravity, among other factors," Dr. Shin said. "Further studies are needed to assess the dependence on position and depth of breathing, as well as the reproducibility of the measurements." Detrimental effects of all severities of maternal dengue infections on birth outcomes have been discovered in a new research study from the University of Surrey and the University of Birmingham. Surrey and Birmingham researchers have found robust evidence of the negative impact of dengue infections on birth weight - with effects documented for mild and moderate infections with the virus. The results were particularly prominent among infants at the lower end of the birth weight scale, with increases of 15%, 67%, and 133% in the incidence of low, very low, and extremely low birth weights, respectively. Furthermore, the research highlighted the long-term consequences of maternal dengue infections. It documents significant increases in the hospitalizations of children for up to three years after birth, emphasizing the far-reaching impact of this mosquito-borne disease. Dr Martin Foureaux Koppensteiner, co-author of the study at the University of Surrey said: "There is now compelling evidence of the detrimental effects of maternal dengue infections on birth outcomes. It emphasizes the urgent need for increased awareness, prevention, and targeted interventions to mitigate the impact of this widespread disease on maternal and child health. "Despite dengue being the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease worldwide, with tens of millions of cases annually, there has been a lack of causal evidence regarding its effects on birth outcomes. "I would strongly encourage to consider dengue fever along with TORCH infections to manage and avoid when pregnant. Currently, the TORCH infections include Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, HIV, syphilis, chicken pox, Zika, and influenza among others." As the research has shown that even mild dengue infections during pregnancy can impact the health of newborns in the short and longer term, including dengue fever in this list will ensure that pregnant women are aware of the risks involved with infections during pregnancy and can take precautions, for example using insect repellents. The study's findings will also be relevant for public health officials when deciding on the adoption and prioritization of a new generation of vaccines against dengue. The study used administrative data from Minas Gerais - a southeastern state in Brazil. Dengue fever, known as the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease globally, poses a grave threat to approximately half of the world's population. The disease has witnessed an alarming rise in recent years, with the Americas alone registering over 3 million cases in 2019. Dr Livia Menezes, co-author of the study at the University of Birmingham said: "The study also highlights the possible consequences from the expanding reach of dengue fever due to climate change. While once limited to tropical and subtropical regions, the disease has now established its presence in more than 120 countries. Aedes mosquitoes, the carriers responsible for transmitting dengue, have found suitable breeding grounds in countries previously unaffected, including Croatia, France, Portugal, and the southern states of the USA. "This study not only deepens our understanding of the consequences of dengue infections during pregnancy but also serves as a call to action for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and global communities to prioritize preventive measures and support affected families." This study has been conditionally accepted for publication in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. Ignoring the long-time demand of the gaming industry, levying a 28% tax rate on the gaming industry will be a big setback for Indian players. We will need to see the fine print of notification if any exceptions are created. We might immediately see notices being issued to the gaming players for differential tax and with this new series of litigation. With the advent of technology and the use of handheld devices, the online gaming market is fast growing at US$ 3 billion with more than 400 million users and is expected to grow rapidly in the next half a decade. Therefore, it was important to put taxability at par with global tax rates so that the Indian industry remains competitive. In most countries the online gaming industry is taxable more or less at par with the current taxability of 18%, therefore, its a disadvantage for Indian game companies if the taxability moves to 28%. Even on the valuation, the taxability seems to be on the face value and not on margin / platform fee. Taxing the entire pool value will adversely impact the customers as well as they would get less playable value, said Ankur Gupta, Practice Leader Indirect Tax at SW India. 50th GST Council Meeting: The GST Council at its meeting on Tuesday (July 11) announced several key decisions in the GST system of various sectors in India. Announcing the deliberations in a press conference, union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, said that on four items GST rates have been brought down. Rates have been brought down on four items, including fish soluble paste and LD slag from 18 percent to 5 percent, Nirmala Sitharaman said. Three items have received exemption from GST, including medicines for rare diseases. Personal use and import of cancer medicine exempted from GST. Also Read: 50th GST Council Meeting Live Updates: FM Nirmala Sitharaman Addresses Media The Council has approved the exemption of GST on import of cancer drug Dinutuximab, and Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) used in the treatment of rare diseases. In a major good news for movie lovers, the GST council decided to cut GST rate on food served in cinema halls to 5%. Earlier, the GST rate was 18%. The Council also approved 22% cess rate on Multi Utility Vehicles but sedans are not included. The GST Council also agreed to levy a 28 per cent tax on online gaming, casinos and horse racing and the tax would be levied on full face value. Changes will be made in the GST law to state that these three supplies are not actionable claims, like that of lottery and betting. The council has decided to do away with the distinction of game of skill and chance in case of online gaming. 28 per cent tax would be levied on the full face value of bets. The council has also approved setting up of appellate tribunals. Maharashtra to get four benches of GSTAT in first phase and three more in second phase. West Bengal has agreed to have two benches of GST Appellate Tribunal in Kolkata. The GST Council serves as the collaborative platform for both the Central and State governments. It comprises the following members: the union finance minister (as the Chairperson), the Union Minister of State responsible for Revenue or Finance (as a member), and the Minister in charge of Finance, Taxation, or any other Minister nominated by each State Government. The GST Council, a constitutional body, holds the responsibility of providing recommendations concerning the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. The first meeting of the GST Council took place on September 22-23, 2016, and subsequently, the Council convenes at regular intervals to discuss and make decisions on diverse GST-related matters. At the beginning of the meeting taking place in the national capital, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman released a short film titled GST Council - 50 steps towards a journey. In 49 meetings held so far, the Council has taken approximately 1,500 decisions in the spirit of co-operative federalism, the office of Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted. The 50th meeting is a milestone which indicates success of cooperative federalism and establishment of a good & simple tax regime," the tweet said. Sitharaman also released a Special Cover and customised myStamp, which was presented to her by the Chief Post Master General, Delhi Circle India Post Office, the finance ministry tweeted. Twenty people were reportedly killed in violent clashes related to Panchayat elections in West Bengal until Monday. The official figures are not available yet. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has lost more workers to the violence than the Opposition parties, claimed the senior party leaders. However, the election trajectory of West Bengal does not change. For the first time in decades, the state witnessed re-polling in 696 booths for the rural areas, which is unique. Video clips and images of political party workers running away with ballot boxes, rigging booths in presence of presiding officers, beating each other and police personnel, firing bullets, hurling bombs, arson, ransacking police cars and pelting stones were doing the rounds on social media. As the day progresses today, the results will keep coming from over 3,317 panchayats across districts. According to political observers, the Panchayat polls, the violence and the results are going to be reflected in the strategies of all political parties, meant for the general elections next year. West Bengal is a crucial state for BJP as it added 18 Lok Sabha seats to its tally in 2019. Since the assembly elections in 2011, Trinamool Congress swept all elections in the state. However, the political equations and the scene changed post-Panchayat elections in 2018. The panchayat polls in 2023 may bring a similar opportunity for the BJP. Without investing much on the ground, BJP got 18 seats as the voters cast their votes against Mamata Banerjee spontaneously. The reason, as analysed by the political experts, was unabated violence and intimidation. The state witnessed TMCs win in over 20,000 uncontested seats and similar scenes of clashes and killings in 2018. For the Opposition block, especially for the BJP, this election turns out to be a repetition of the 2018 Panchayat polls in terms of political violence. BJP, which has been designing its campaign on the issues of corruption, scams and the dynasty politics, will now focus on the states past and present scenarios of political violence. Apart from incidents of clashes, the role of police and administration is also a glaring example of misgovernance. In recent times, no other state saw violence of this magnitude. Despite an intervention by the Calcutta High Court leading to deployment of central forces across districts, the government failed to make the polling day peaceful. Following the incidents of a bloody poll, a section of intellectuals says that people who condemn Bengals current poll violence did not experience the ones during the Left regime. Also, a section of senior politicians come up with explanations some sporadic incidents of violence reported only in 43 of 61,000 booths, however, media highlighted only those to show the state in bad light. Violence over Corruption Bengals electorate has a history of reacting and responding to violence through ballots. Scams and corruption may have a partial role to bring resentment among voters, but this never gets reflected through the election results. For instance, Mamata Banerjee swept the assembly elections in 2016, and panchayat polls in 2018 following the Ponzi scam the poor depositors lost their hard earned money. Several ministers and MPs of Trinamool Congress were arrested, but voters still reposed faith in Mamata Banerjee. The Left governments high-handedness, arrogance, and unprecedented violence during Singur and Nandigram land agitation movement drew an end to its three-decade-long regime. Even though Mamata Banerjee saw a landslide victory in the 2021 elections, the results of 2019 still haunt the ruling party. After the nomination process, the BJPs poll strategy is now revolving around the incidents of political violence, while the cadres are being trained to retaliate to such violence. A close look at BJPs election strategy and campaign reveals how the party has brought Bengals political violence to the centre of national politics. The issue has been made prominent and crucial. The BJP has taken the fight to the court, which brought some scathing observations, and it managed to create a political narrative against Mamata Banerjees government in a certain way. The violence has taken centre-stage, and has also prompted senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, to condemn it. This does not serve Mamata Banerjees purpose of building a national image of good and liberal governance. Silence can be powerful. But in case of the West Bengal panchayat poll violence, it is reflecting the dilemma within the Congress. While the fight over the poll violence is largely between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, too, claimed their party workers have been assaulted in state Congress president and leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhurys territory, Murshidabad. ALSO READ | WB Gram Panchayat Poll Results 2023 LIVE HERE Murshidabad has seen many incidents of crude bombs being hurled and attacks on workers and voters. While Chowdhury has been aggressive on ground, as he needs to take on the CM Mamata Banerjee-led government for his political survival, the Congress has been largely muted. The first major reprimand of the violence came a day before counting. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the violence. But no names were taken, and the TMC was not mentioned strongly. TMC has taken a solid lead in the three-tier panchayat polls, counting of votes for which are underway currently; BJP claims workers being attacked@KamalikaSengupt brings in live updates | @JamwalNews18 #WestBengalPanchayatElections2023 #WestBengalViolence #BengalViolence pic.twitter.com/Tarf0nDUgz News18 (@CNNnews18) July 11, 2023 This elicited a strong response from the BJP. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said, What happened to the mohabbat ki dukaan? Why is the Congress not attacking the TMC for this violence? ALL FOR OPPOSITION UNITY The TMC and Congress have an understanding that someone like Chowdhury has to attack Banerjee to stay politically relevant in Murshidabad, where both the parties are jostling for the same space. So the TMC has begun to accept the fact that Chowdhurys politics requires him to attack them. This is in contrast to the earlier times, when the TMC had demanded that Chowdhury be replaced. But the TMC has drawn a line where it comes to the poll violence issue. This has caught the Congress in a dilemma now. With the Opposition unity being the main focus and the constituents ready to compromise, the Congress is not keen to ruffle the TMCs feathers. It is aware that a frontal attack on Banerjees government for the poll violence could cast a shadow on the attempts for opposition unity. This has led to barb from the BJP, accusing the Congress and Left of being the B-team of the TMC. But the Congress doesnt want to be dragged into this debate. Some battles need to be postponed to win the war, is what the Congress thinks. The Trinamool Congress has swept the West Bengal panchayat elections, with results still trickling in. In Jangalmahal and north Bengal where the Bharatiya Janata Party did well in the 2018 panchayat polls and the 2021 assembly elections, the TMC has staged a strong comeback. Leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari from the BJP managed to save his fort of Nandigram though his party was decimated in many other places. The opposition party though says the TMCs victory is because of large-scale rigging and violence. A BJP fact-finding team will also visit violence-affected areas in the state on Wednesday. The saffron party and other opposition outfits have said that they do not consider the elections to be free and fair. Cooch Behar A close look at key regions shows that in Cooch Behar, with 2,507 gram panchayat seats, the TMC bagged 1,675, BJP 524, CPI(M) 11, Congress 5, All India Forward Bloc 6, and independents 18 Out of the 128 gram panchayats, the TMC looks set to form boards in 102. It had bagged 79 gram panchayats in the latest results, the BJP was ahead in 19, four were hung, and counting was going on for others. In 2018, Trinamool had won only 1,049 contested gram panchayat seats out of a total of 1,966, among which 1,295 were contested. Alipurduar Results coming in from Alipurduar indicated 783 of the total 1,252 seats going to the TMC, 387 to BJP, 20 to CPI(M), 34 to independents and others, while 27 seats were yet to be decided and one had been countermanded. Out of the 64 gram panchayats here, TMC appeared to have won 55 with a clear majority, while six seemed headed for hung results. In 2018, TMC only had 40 of these gram panchayats under its control. The results coming in indicate the TMC regaining ground in north Bengal, with the BJP making its mark here in previous elections in recent times. Jangalmahal Purulia, Bankura, Paschim Medinipur, and Jhargram comprise the region known as Jangalmahal. The BJP faced setbacks here compared to last time. Of Jhargrams 1,007 seats, TMC seemed set to bag 712, BJP 131, CPI(M) 26, and independents 138. Out of the 79 gram panchayats here, Trinamool had 64 with a clear majority (compared to 55 in 2018) while others were hung. Kurmi candidates were leading in 100 gram panchayats. Observers say last time the Kurmi vote went to the BJP, but this time they did not support the saffron party. Nandigram In Suvendu Adhikaris constituency, the BJP was ahead in 9 gram panchayats, TMC in 6, and independents in 2. The Matua votes have also seemingly shifted from the BJP to the TMC this time, say observers. Congress comeback The Congress was totally wiped out in the 2018 panchayat elections as well as the 2021 assembly polls. This time, the party has held on to some of the seats in gram panchayats in Malda, Murshidabad, which is significant, say analysts. Some victims of the 2022 Bogtui massacre contested for the BJP but lost. Observers say while the TMC has won the polls by a huge margin, the ramifications of the results and the violence for the 2024 Lok Saba elections are uncertain. BJP insiders say the party will use this as a campaign issue nationally and will also go to court. More than 40 people died in clashes during and ahead of the elections. Suvendu Adhikari questioned the credibility of the elections and said he spoke to union home minister Amit Shah on the matter. The top leadership is concerned about the well-being of local representatives and workers, he said. The party has also started helpline numbers. TMC minister Shashi Panja though blamed the opposition for creating problems and said her party won on the plank of development. NorthWestern Energy is asking Montana regulators to approve the sale of $1.75 billion in securities, weeks after presenting a five-year, multibillion infrastructure plan to investors. Montanas largest monopoly has requested the PSC sign off on the sale of $1.75 billion in securities to fund capital expenditures and purchases of state-regulated assets, as well as repayments of outstanding debts. The securities will be sold over two years ending in August 2025. When those expenses might show up in rates hasnt yet been discussed. Separately, in one-on-one meetings with existing and potential investors in June, NorthWestern put forth a $2.4 billion capital investment opportunity financed with equity issuances, mortgage bonds, plus cash flow from operations. Total spending over five years in Montana was presented at $1.9 billion, with some expenses already made in 2023. The utility's objective is to "turn around aging infrastructure" as part of its resource plans. The news comes as commissioners weigh a rate increase 28% higher than what NorthWestern residential customers paid last August. Utility requests for issuing securities are biennial and provide an important glimpse at long-term infrastructure spending that eventually customers will pay for. The infrastructure initiative isnt part of the current rate increase, but rather one of several big-ticket items on the companys five-year horizon. A new, 175-megawatt gas-fired power plant located near Laurel comes online next year. The last estimate of the power plants cost was $275 million. Costs associated with the utility doubling its share of Colstrip Power Plant havent been spelled out. Spokane-based Avista Corp. is giving its shares of Colstrip to NorthWestern in December 2025. Capital expenditures wont show up in customer bills until the resulting infrastructure is in service, said Jo Dee Black, NothWestern Energy Spokeswoman. Invested capital can be recovered after an asset under construction is completed and serving customers. NorthWestern Energy files a regulatory rate review and the Montana Public Service Commission determines and authorizes recovery. Much of our capital investment program includes multi-year construction projects, Black said in an email. Meeting with investors and potential investors, NorthWestern said it planned to reverse the trend in aging infrastructure, maintain reliability, proactively manage safety, build capacity into the system and prepare our network for the adoption of new technologies. The presentations were filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The timeline of the Montana expenditures is from 2023 though 2027 at an average of about $380 million a year, 70% being spent on electric infrastructure, the rest on natural gas. Several million dollars in metering upgrades are already occurring. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday thanked the people of West Bengal for the TMCs huge win in the panchayat elections. The counting for the election to the three-tier panchayat system, comprising zilla parishad, panchayat samiti and gram panchayat, was still underway. At the gram panchayat level, TMC won 29,665 seats and held the lead in 1,527 seats. The opposition BJP bagged 8,021 seats and was leading in 406 seats. The CPI(M) won 2,472 seats and was leading in 239 seats, while its ally Congress won 2,094 seats and was leading in 131 seats. Its TMC all the way in rural Bengal. I want to thank the people for their love, affection and support towards the TMC. This election has proved that only TMC resides in the heart of the people of the state," Banerjee said in a Facebook post. The elections were held on July 8 for over 73,000 seats in the panchayat system. The counting of votes in the violence-hit West Bengal Panchayat elections began amid tight security on Tuesday morning across 928 seats in Zilla Parishads, 9,730 seats in Panchayat Samithis and 63,299 seats in Gram Panchayats. In the 2018 rural body elections, the Trinamool Congress had won all 20 Zilla Parishad seats, but the BJP had managed to make inroads in some areas of Jangal Mahal and North Bengal. The opposition BJP has alleged a repeat of the violence that unfolded in 2018 with Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari demanding a CBI probe. The BJP has also formed a fact-finding team which will begin work after the Panchayat elections results. Tuesdays results are the only semi-final the state will witness before the big Lok Sabha battle of 2024. The BJPs performance will be watched in areas like Jangal Mahal Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram as well as North Bengal areas where the ruling TMC has been cautious this time. Heres a look at the key factors in the West Bengal Panchayat elections 2023: How Will the TMC Perform in the Minority Belt? Pre-poll violence in the state mostly unfolded in two minority-dominated areas Bhangar and Murshidabad. It will be interesting to note whether there is any division in the TMCs minority vote share here. The party has received the lions share of minority votes here since 2014. It must be noted that the Congress won the Sagardighi bypoll Murshidabad in March this year. The partys main challenger in Murshidabad is the Congress, while in Bhangar it is the Indian Secular Front. Keeping its minority vote share intact could be a challenge for the TMC this time. How Will the BJP Do in Jangal Mahal and North Bengal? Can the BJP hold onto its position in Jangal Mahal and North Bengal or will it lose dominance in these key areas? West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had mentioned the two areas in her Panchayat poll rally on July 3. The BJP has destroyed Kashmir and Manipur through its divisive politics and is now after West Bengal. They support and instigate divisive forces and secessionist groups in North Bengal and Jangal Mahal (in the south) to divide the state. We will not allow division of the state and defeat such forces, she had said. The Congress and Left Fortunes Both the Congress and the Left failed to open their score in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections. The former won the Sagardighi bypoll but MLA Bayron Biswas switched over to the TMC shortly after. Both parties have campaigned aggressively but whether that translated into electoral gains remains to be seen. Violence had rocked the polling on Saturday, leaving 15 people dead while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers torched, and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. The total death toll in the state since the poll process began on June 8, when the poll date was announced, has reportedly crossed 30. A voter turnout of 80.71 per cent was recorded on Saturday, whereas 69.85 per cent of votes were cast till 5pm in 696 booths across West Bengal, where re-polling was held on Monday because of violence and tampering with ballot boxes and ballot papers on Saturday. In the 2018 panchayat elections, the TMC won all 20 Zilla Parishads. That time also the voting was marred by widespread violence, with the opposition parties alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in many seats across the state. West Bengal Gram Panchayat Poll Results Updates: Trinamool Congress looks set to sweep the violence-scarred rural polls keeping intact the mandate it won two years back during the assembly polls by taking an early but seemingly unassailable lead in results declared till now by the State Election Commission. The ruling TMC has won 16,330 gram panchayat seats out of the 23,344 seats declared, besides leading in 3,002 seats, according to the SEC as of 5.30 pm. Its nearest rival BJP has won 3,790 seats and is leading in 802 seats. In all elections are being held for 63,229 gram panchayat seats. As anticipation builds for the Chandrayaan-3 - scheduled for a July 14 launch - will be the first mission to land on the lunar South Pole. This region is of special interest due to its permanently shadowed areas, where the presence of water ice is anticipated. The mission aims to study the unique geology and composition of this unexplored region. By analyzing the lunar South Poles environment, including factors such as thermal conductivity and regolith properties, Chandrayaan-3 will contribute to characterizing the landing site. This information will be crucial for future lunar missions and potential human exploration. Why This is Significant Chandrayaan-3, the upcoming lunar mission by India, is set to achieve a significant milestone by being the first spacecraft to land on the South Pole of the Moon. Previous moon landings have primarily occurred in the equatorial region, with only a few degrees of latitude north or south of the lunar equator. The farthest any spacecraft has ventured from the equator was NASAs Surveyor 7, which landed near 40 degrees south latitude on January 10, 1968, as per a report by Indian Express. In April 2019, Israel made an attempt to land on the South Pole but unfortunately crashed during the process. Similarly, Indias Chandrayaan-2 mission, launched in 2019, was also intended to land at the lunar South Pole but encountered a software error that resulted in a crash during the final stages. To rectify the issues, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made modifications to the software and hardware of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, particularly focusing on the lander thrusters. The lander now possesses four thruster engines instead of five, sturdier legs, larger solar panels, and increased fuel capacity to ensure a successful landing. Chinas Change 4 mission, which landed on the far side of the moon in 2019, also came close to the lunar South Pole, landing near the 45-degree latitude. NASAs Artemis III mission, scheduled for launch in 2025, is also targeting exploration of the region near the lunar South Pole. Why the Moons South Pole? Challenging Conditions: The lunar South Pole poses difficulties for landing and sustained operations due to extreme and contrasting conditions. However, its unique characteristics hold promise for deep space scientific discoveries and further exploration of the solar system. The lunar South Pole poses difficulties for landing and sustained operations due to extreme and contrasting conditions. However, its unique characteristics hold promise for deep space scientific discoveries and further exploration of the solar system. Possibility of Water: Water ice has been detected at both lunar poles, with the South Pole potentially having a larger concentration due to its larger area in permanent shadow and colder temperatures. This makes it an interesting location for studying water resources and its implications for future human missions. Water ice has been detected at both lunar poles, with the South Pole potentially having a larger concentration due to its larger area in permanent shadow and colder temperatures. This makes it an interesting location for studying water resources and its implications for future human missions. Frozen Time Capsule: The extreme cold temperatures at the South Pole help preserve materials without much change over time. Rocks, soil, and the South Pole-Aitken basin, a massive crater, could provide valuable insights into the early solar system and potentially contain material from the Moons deep crust and upper mantle. The extreme cold temperatures at the South Pole help preserve materials without much change over time. Rocks, soil, and the South Pole-Aitken basin, a massive crater, could provide valuable insights into the early solar system and potentially contain material from the Moons deep crust and upper mantle. Difficult Terrain: Exploration of the South Pole is challenging due to its rugged and treacherous terrain. Parts of the region remain in complete darkness, making it difficult for sunlight-dependent operations. Additionally, temperatures can drop below -230 degrees Celsius, posing operational challenges for instruments and equipment. Exploration of the South Pole is challenging due to its rugged and treacherous terrain. Parts of the region remain in complete darkness, making it difficult for sunlight-dependent operations. Additionally, temperatures can drop below -230 degrees Celsius, posing operational challenges for instruments and equipment. Safety Concerns: The presence of large craters, ranging from centimeters to thousands of kilometers in size, adds to the complexity and potential risks of landing and operating on the lunar South Pole. The former chief of ISRO highlighted the anxiety and uncertainties associated with the 15 minutes of terror" during the Chandrayaan-2 missions attempted landing. With inputs from agencies In a devastating incident near Mount Everest, a private commercial helicopter crashed, resulting in the loss of six lives, including five members of a Mexican family. All details of the tragic incident explained: Helicopters Contact Lost in Unfamiliar Territory The ill-fated Manang Air NA-MV chopper departed from Surke Airport in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal at 10:04 am, en route to Kathmandu. Tragically, the helicopter lost contact suddenly at an altitude above 12,000 feet at 10:13 am. Gyanendra Bhul, the Manager at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), confirmed this information, underscoring the unfamiliar territory where the helicopter lost communication. Origin of the Ill-fated Chopper Journey The helicopter, which embarked on its journey from Lukla, the gateway to Mount Everest, was returning to Kathmandu after a mountain flight. The passengers, including the Mexican family, had been enjoying the scenic experience before the unfortunate turn of events. Tkeknath Sitaula, the spokesperson for TIA, revealed that the flight originated from Surke before reaching Lukla. The Cause of the Crash Based on preliminary investigations, the crash occurred in the Lamjura area of Likhupike Rural Municipality, situated in the remote and mountainous Solukhumbu district. Authorities believe that the accident was primarily caused by adverse weather conditions, which hampered the helicopters navigation. Reports indicated that the crash site was located in Chihandanda, and local witnesses described hearing a loud explosion and seeing flames. Victims Aboard the Nepalese Helicopter The tragic incident claimed the lives of all six individuals aboard the helicopter. The victims included Captain Chet Bahadur Gurung, along with five Mexican nationals. The Mexican family members have been identified as Sifuentes G. Fernando (95) and Sifuentes Rincon Ismail (98), both males, and three females: Sifuentes Gongalez Abril (72), Gongalez Olacio Luz (65), and Sifuentes G. Maria Jese (52). The fatal crash near Mount Everest resulted in the untimely deaths of all people aboard the Nepalese helicopter. Investigations suggest that adverse weather conditions played a significant role in the unfortunate accident. The victims, including five members of a Mexican family, were returning to Kathmandu after a mountain flight experience, adding to the profound tragedy of the incident. PTI contributed to this report The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has released comprehensive guidelines for tax officers to implement the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the use of freebies, cash, liquor, and drugs which are used to influence voters. The new Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) requires GST and Customs officials to monitor the distribution of coupon-based or free fuel, cash, and expenses related to food, hotels, parties, and more. The CBIC aims to collaborate with the ECI to curb illegal activities and ensure a fair electoral process. The SoP Under the new SoP, GST and Customs officials are responsible for monitoring the distribution of inducements aimed at enticing voters. What does this mean? This includes keeping a close check on restaurant/eateries, marriage halls/farmhouses/slaughterhouses/meat houses in the poll-bound areas. The officials are required to set up flying squads and static surveillance teams" for effective road and transit checks, verification of warehouses, and to combat illegal activities. Sharing Information The CBIC has emphasised the importance of sharing information with other enforcement agencies and departments. Tax officers will be tasked with apprehending smuggled or illicit goods, identifying warehouses involved in stocking goods for voter inducement, and reporting daily to the Election Commission of India. Additionally, efforts will be made to detect and seize illicit currency, liquor, gold, counterfeit notes, narcotics, and other contraband. Preventive Measures To prevent unauthorized diversion of goods, special watch/stock-taking will be conducted in Customs Bonded Warehouses. The CBICs Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management (DG ARM) will study surge patterns of specified freebies and analyze the storage locations of such goods. Extensive checks of e-way bills will be carried out at checkpoints during elections to ensure compliance with GST regulations. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) will increase vigilance along international borders and airports to monitor the flow of foreign currency, gold, narcotics, and other potential malpractices. The use of smuggled goods, contrabands, and illicit articles to influence voters during elections requires diligent efforts from law enforcement agencies, including those under the CBIC. Digital initiatives such as e-way bills, e-invoicing, and RFID technology are seen as valuable tools in ensuring transparent elections. AMRG & Associates Senior Partner Rajat Mohan said digital initiatives like e-way bills and e-invoicing, coupled with RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) are a great tool in the hands of the CBIC. Collaboration with the ECI would be in the national interest to deter the influence of unscrupulous elements during elections," Mohan said. With inputs from agencies On July 31, the Supreme Court will hear a plea filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray challenging an Election Commission of India (ECI) decision recognizing Eknath Shinde group of Shiv Sena as the real Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena witnessed a split into two factions in June 2022. On February 17, 2023, ECI recognized the Eknath Shinde group as the real Shiv Sena" and allowed them to use the official Bow & Arrow" symbol and Shiv Sena name. While the group led by Uddhav Thackeray was given the name Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)" and was allotted the symbol of the Flaming Torch" to be used in the bye-election that took place on February 23. Following the ECI decision, Uddhav Thackeray moved the apex court seeking a stay on the ECIs decision. However, the Supreme Court refused to stay the ECIs order. The splitting of the Shiv Sena raised two legal and constitutional questions. The first question was whether the Eknath Shinde group would face disqualification under the anti-defection law as enshrined under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. The second question was which group would be recognized as the real Shiv Sena and will have the right to retain the original symbol. To answer the first question, it is important to note two points: firstly, the issue of disqualification is addressed through the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, and this is a subject that lies in the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. After the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, of 2003 if two-thirds of the members of a party break away from the party to merge with another party or form a new party, the anti-defection law will not be applied to it. However, the current case is related to the allocation of the party symbol and name. In this respect, the touchstone would be the famous case titled Sadiq Ali and Another Vs Election Commission of India." Sadiq Ali and Another Vs Election Commission of India In 1969, following differences over the choice of the Congress nominee for the office of the President of India, the Congress Party witnessed a split. The two groups came to be known as Congress O and Congress J. On January 15, 1970, a communication was addressed by the ECI to the Secretary of Congress J as well as that of Congress O stating that a dispute appears to have arisen as to which of the two groups is the recognized political party known as the Indian National Congress" for the purpose of the Election Symbols Order and that the ECI was required to take a decision in the matter in terms of para 15 of the Election Symbols Order 1968". Paragraph 15 of the order empowers the ECI to decide upon the claims of splinter groups or rival sections of a recognized political party. It reads, When the Commission is satisfied on information in its possession that there are rival sections or groups of a recognized political party each of whom claims to be that party, the Commission may, after taking into account all the available facts and circumstances of the case and hearing such representatives of the sections or groups and other persons as desire to be heard, decide that one such rival section or group or none of such rival sections or groups is that recognized political party and the decision of the Commission shall be binding on all such rival sections or groups." A statement was submitted on behalf of Congress J, in which 229 out of 284 Congress Members of Lok Sabha and 106 out of 147 Congress Members of Rajya Sabha declared their allegiance, to the Congress, Government led by Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister and to the Congress-led by Jagjivan Ram as President called Congress J. As against that, Congress O claimed the allegiance of 65 members of the Lok Sabha and 40 Members of the Rajya Sabha. The Congress Legislature Parties of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Tripura declared their support to the Congress Governments in those States and to Congress J. The Speaker of Lok Sabha and the Chairman of Rajya Sabha recognized Congress J in Parliament as the party which was in power and which ran the Central Government. Similarly, ECI too recognized Congress J as the original Congress party, a decision which was validated by the apex court. In the judgment, the apex court made two important points which establish that the group that enjoys the majority support among the members of the organizational and legislature wings" will be considered as the original party. The judgment read, It can hardly be disputed that substantial majority of the members of the Congress in both its legislative wing as well as the organizational wing supported the Congress J. As Congress J is a democratic Organisation, the test of majority and numerical strength, in our opinion, was a very valuable and relevant test. Whatever might be the position in another system of government or Organisation, numbers have relevance and importance in a democratic system of government or political set up and it is neither possible nor permissible to lose sight of them. Indeed it is the view of the majority which in the final analysis proves decisive in a democratic setup. It further added, It may be mentioned that according to paragraph 6 of the Symbols Order, one of the factors which may be taken into account in treating a political party as a recognized political party is the number of seats secured by that party in the House of People or the State Legislative Assembly or the number of votes polled by the contesting candidates set up by such party." If the number of seats secured by a political party or the number of votes cast in favour of the candidates of a political party can be a relevant consideration for the recognition of a political party, one is at a loss to understand as to how the number of seats in the Parliament and State Legislatures held by the supporters of a group of the political party can be considered to be relevant. We can consequently discover no error in the approach of the Commission in applying the rule of the majority and numerical strength for deter- mining as to which of the two groups, Congress J and Congress O was the Congress party for the purpose of paragraph 15 of Symbols Order," the order said. When a similar split took place in the party in 1995, resulting in the formation of two groups headed by PV Narasimha Rao and ND Tiwari respectively, a petition was filed by Arjun Singh, before the ECI which sought that the group headed by ND Tiwari be recognized as the real Indian National Congress. The ECI, while applying the test of majority as upheld by the Supreme Court in the case of Sadiq Ali case by a majority decision (2:1), decided that the group headed by PV Narasimha Rao was the Indian National Congress, as it enjoyed superior majority support both in the organizational and legislature wings of the party. In the current case of Shiv Sena also the ECI applied the same test. Shinde group could prove the support of 40 out of 67 MLAs and MLCs in Maharashtra, and 13 out of 22 MPs in both houses of Parliament. The ECI in its 77-page order highlighted that the 40 MLAs of the Shinde group had got 76% of the votes polled by the 55 Shiv Sena MLAs in the 2019 elections, as opposed to 23.5% for the MLAs in the Thackeray camp. On August 5, 2019, the Union government passed a resolution in the Parliament for revoking Article 370 of the constitution of India, which gave the state of Jammu & Kashmir a special status. Three days later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his televised address said, We have removed the provisions in Article 370 which acted as an impediment to J&K and Ladakhs development." The people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were deprived of their rights. With the abrogation of Article 370, the dreams of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, B.R. Ambedkar, and Syama Prasad Mookerjee have been fulfilled. A new era in Jammu and Kashmir has now started," he had said. Following the revocation of Article 370, more than 20 petitions were filed challenging the constitutional validity of the Centres decision to abrogate Article 370. First petitioner Advocate ML Sharma was the first to challenge the constitutional validity of the union governments decision to abrogate Article 370. 4 CJIs, 3.5 Years The hearing started in December 2019 when Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde was the Chief justice. Then it was mentioned in April 2022 before the then-chief justice NV Ramana. Then after it was mentioned before Chief Justice UU Lalit who agreed to list the petitions, but it could not be listed in his tenure. And, finally, it has been listed now when Justice DY Chandrachud is the chief justice. In the last three-and-a-half years, two judges on the last constitution bench that dealt with this matter have retired. Justices NV Ramana and Subhash Reddy who were part of the original bench retired and have been replaced by Chief Justice Chandrachud and Justice Sanjiv Khanna. On March 2, 2020, Supreme Courts constitution bench ruled that it would not be necessary to refer the matter to a seven-judge bench. Shah Faesal Withdraws Petition One of the petitions was filed by Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Shah Faesal. Faesal resigned from IAS in January 2019 and floated his political party the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement. Later he left politics and the party and in April 2022 he was reinstated as an IAS officer. Shah Faesel had later withdrawn his petition, as well. In September 2022, Faesal moved Supreme Court seeking to withdraw his name from the list of petitioners challenging the presidential order repealing Article 370 of the Constitution. Shehla Rashid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru Student Union (JNUSU) leader also chose to withdraw her petition. As all the petitions challenging the abrogation of article 370 were clubbed together the case, title was Shah Faesal And Ors. v Union Of India And Anr. However, as Shah Faesal had withdrawn his petition it was requested to change the case title. The apex court passed the order to that effect on Tuesday and now the case will be known as In Re : Article 370 petitions. Affidavit by the central government As reported by the Live Law on July 10, the central government had filed a fresh affidavit in the matter and stated that its decision to dilute Article 370 in 2019 revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir has brought an unprecedented era development, progress, security and stability to the region. The Centre defended its move by stating that in the past 3 years, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and other public institutions have been functioning without any strikes or disturbances. The earlier practice of daily hartals, strikes, stone pelting and bandhs are a thing of the past now, the government said. Now, four CJIs, three-and-a-half years of waiting, two important petitioners withdrawing their pleas, the petitions challenging the abrogation of article 370 are to be be heard from August 2, when the Supreme Court will start hearing the case on a day-to-day basis. It will be one of the most watched-after cases of independent India with far-reaching constitutional and political ramifications. ON THIS DAY IN 2006: July 11, 2023, marks the 17th anniversary of the deadly Mumbai train blasts that brought the financial capital to a standstill in 2006. The scars of the incident, also known as the 7/11 attacks, remain afresh in the minds of people. It was a series of seven bomb blasts that ripped through trains on Mumbai Suburban Railways Western Line. The devastating explosions killed around 200 people and injured many more. The seven explosions went off in quick succession over the course of around 11 minutes. The explosives were reportedly put into seven pressure cookers before being transported to various sites to carry out synchronised explosions. According to investigations, the criminals used a combination of RDX and ammonium nitrate in the blasts. 2006 Mumbai Train Bombings: The 7 Stations 6.24 pm: Khar Road Deaths: 9 6.24 pm: Bandra station Deaths: 22 6.25 pm: Jogeshwari station Deaths: 28 6.26 pm: Mahim Deaths: 43 6.29 pm: Mira Road Deaths: 31 6.30 pm: Matunga Road Deaths: 28 6.35 pm: Borivli Deaths: 26 2006 Mumbai Train Bombings: The Incident The first bomb detonated around 6:20 PM, during peak traffic hours. The first explosion happened inside the First Class compartment of a Western Railway train on its way to Borivali. The explosive was ignited between the stations of Khar and Santacruz. At the same time, another explosion took place in a local between Bandra and Khar Road. Five further explosions happened at Jogeshwari, Mahim Junction, Mira Road-Bhayander, Matunga-Mahim Junction, and Borivali as a result of this. A memorial service for the victims was conducted in Mumbai a week after the blast. Sirens rang out across Mumbai to pay homage to those who died, and then-President Abdul Kalam led people in a two-minute silence. 2006 Mumbai Train Bombings: The Probe While directing for constitution of a medical board to consider termination of 25-week pregnancy of a minor girl, the Allahabad High Court on Monday observed that although, generally, the termination of pregnancies over 24 weeks is not allowed under the law, but to force a sexual assault victim to give birth would result in unexplainable miseries. The bench of Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Prashant Kumar said, In the case of sexual assault, denying a woman right to say no to medical termination of pregnancy and fasten her with the responsibility of motherhood would amount to denying her human right to live with dignity as she has a right in relation to her body which includes saying Yes or No to being a mother. Section 3(2) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971, as amended in 2021 reiterates that right of a woman, added the division bench. The court was dealing with a writ petition filed by a 12-year-old girl through her mother seeking permission for medical termination of her pregnancy under the MTP Act. The minor, who was deaf and dumb since birth and was 84% disabled, alleged that she was repeatedly raped by her neighbour which had resulted into the present pregnancy. The mother told the court that the father of the girl had already passed and they were in financial distress. She alleged that it was on June 15, 2023, when she first came to know about the sexual assaults on her daughter. She stated that since the girl was mute, she could not tell anyone about the crime earlier and it was only when she asked her about it, she communicated in sign language that she had been raped on multiple occasions by their neighbour. Consequently, the mother of the victim lodged an FIR, and a case was registered under Sections 376, 354C IPC, and Sections 3, 4, 7, 8 of the POCSO Act at Police Station Khurja Nagar, District Bulandshahar. Thereafter, the medical examination of the victim was conducted on June 16, where it was found that she was carrying a pregnancy of 23 weeks. The mother then moved a representation on June 26 before the concerned authority with a request for termination of pregnancy, but since it was found that the girl was suffering from severe anaemia and the period of pregnancy had already gone beyond allowed period of 24 weeks, permission from the court was required. The high court considered victims tender age and her disability while adjudicating upon the issue. The court was also informed that since the pregnancy had already gone over gestational age of 25 weeks, the process would require proper facilities. Therefore, considering the urgency in the matter and taking humanitarian view, the court asked the Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University to direct the Principal of the Jawahar Lal Medical College, Aligarh, to constitute a five-member team to examine the victim and submit a report in sealed cover on July 12. JACKSON Old Tim and Cox creeks meander through wetlands meadows that grace the remote, high-elevation Clemow Cow Camp. The meadows are lush with grasses, sage and a profusion of wildflowers, including pale Indian paintbrush. A late June visit there found it awash with the sights and sounds of snowmelt. Old Tim and Cox creeks flow into Warm Springs Creek, a tributary of the upper Big Hole River. The cold mountain streams could someday contribute late-season water to help sustain flows in the river a hot topic in recent weeks. The cliche would be: Every little bit helps. Gains in flow in the Big Hole River seem destined to accumulate incrementally. Might just be a few cubic feet per second per tweak in the status quo. Take the 317-acre Clemow Cow Camp as one example. The property, near the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area northeast of Jackson, was purchased in August by the Western Rivers Conservancy. The nonprofit plans to convey the unique inholding to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Josh Kling, conservation director for Western Rivers Conservancy, said the goal is to use flood irrigation when water is abundant to turn the high meadows into a sponge of sorts and then send water downstream when water levels drop. The net result should be an increase in flows, he said. Reaching the property during a recent visit required miles of travel on often rocky and mostly deserted Forest Service roads. An elderly man and his companion cut firewood. Mule deer sprang away like four-legged pogo sticks. George Clemow In 1897, George Montigue Clemow, a native of England, arrived in the upper Big Hole Valley. He ultimately became, by one account, among the staunchest cattlemen of Beaverhead County. Fire twice bedeviled his ranch. First, during the summer of 1913, a few of his children playing with matches set fire to a haystack storing about 45 tons of hay, a precious commodity in the upper Big Hole Valley, where winters are long and snow is deep. Then, just before Christmas 1924, fire consumed the family home. The temperature was 28 below zero. A resilient George and Elizabeth Clemow bounced back, building a new and finer home. They continued to be respected ranchers regionally and statewide and generous community benefactors. Thats according to a history of the family by Ciara Pares Kempf for the Big Hole Historical Society. The Clemows four children continued ranching after their parents died. The Clemow name frequently made the news in the early 1900s in the Big Hole Breezes newspaper, the Big Hole Basin News, the Dillon Examiner and the Dillon Daily Tribune. Now, the name is back in the news, offering, like a rising trout, a glimmer of something hopeful for those fretting about flows in the Big Hole River in summer and reports of a declining trout population. Kling said the Western Rivers Conservancy purchased the Clemow Cow Camp because the organization does what it can to befriend key rivers. Our mission is to protect the most outstanding rivers in the West, he said. The Big Hole is a premier stream, a legendary trout fishery. Yet news this spring and summer about declining populations of brown and rainbow trout in the river has fomented worry and controversy about sustaining the Big Holes legendary status as a blue-ribbon trout stream. Low flows, high temps Theres long been tension between hay-dependent ranchers in the upper Big Hole and fishing outfitters and guides who also depend on the river to make a living. The tension escalates when irrigation withdrawals during dry summers play a role in triggering fishing restrictions and bans. Eileen Ryce, fisheries division administrator for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, has referenced diminishing flows during conversations about declining trout numbers. Trout populations in many streams in southwest Montana have seen decline in recent years, and research continues to point to perennially low stream flows and high water temperatures as contributing factors, she has said. Pedro Marques is executive director of the Big Hole Watershed Committee, established in 1995 to shepherd voluntary conservation efforts by ranchers to keep the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from adding the fluvial Arctic grayling to its list of threatened and endangered species. Marques shared mixed reactions to the Clemow Cow Camp acquisition. Its the kind of high meadow environment that could be a great sponge for late-season water, but from what I understand, the road infrastructure up there and access to private inholdings limits the amount of re-wetting the sponge that could be possible without major changes to roads, he said. Agricultural producers generally dont like seeing land taken out of production, Marques said, and private land becoming public shrinks the tax base. Obviously, if there is any potential for ecological enhancement of the site, were starting to work more closely and frequently with the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and would be open to supporting projects of that nature, he said. We know the downstream irrigators from the system, who may be cooperative if we identified opportunities for late-season water, Marques said. Theres one big caveat towering like hay stacked by a beaverslide. Not everyone is cooperative when it comes to late-season water. The trouble I keep running into is that all water-storing technologies only go as far as the next non-cooperating irrigator, Marques said. Nix on trophy homes Steve Luebeck, a director for the George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited, described the Clemow Cow Camp property as a beautiful inholding within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The biggest benefit I see from that acquisition is protection from development in a very remote area, Luebeck said. We certainly dont need any non-resident trophy homes in areas like that, and without this acquisition, that would likely happen. Any contribution of water to instream flow is important and valuable, he said. Montana water law makes it very difficult to protect these contributions all the way through the river system, but every drop counts and often we do see improvements. If these instream flow contributions can be coupled with a water lease, it sometimes helps protect the water even further through the system. Cat McRae, a spokeswoman for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, said the Clemow Cow Camp land conveyance is currently being held by the Wester Rivers Conservancy as the Forest Service works to complete their due diligence and administrative processes. Eagle Rock Ranch Meanwhile, the Western Rivers Conservancy acquired another property in the Big Hole River watershed during the summer of 2021 that could also benefit flows. The 200-acre Eagle Rock Ranch controls the upper-most major water rights on the Wise River, the Conservancy reports. Like the Clemow Cow Camp, the plan is to convey the property to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Big Hole Watershed Committee were involved in the Eagle Rock Ranch project. Ultimately, the goal is to help sustain flows in the Wise River, a key tributary to the Big Hole, and to provide important habitat for wildlife. Marques said the Fish and Wildlife Service, which is monitoring the population of fluvial Arctic grayling in the watershed, has consulted with the Western Rivers Conservancy and is, among other things, fixing the headgate infrastructure on the property. So, thats an example of how an entity like Western Rivers Conservancy could come into a place like the Big Hole and support the broader efforts of conservation of water and ways of life, he said. A tragic accident on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Ghaziabad claimed the lives of at least six people on Tuesday. The driver of the bus, which was coming from the wrong direction, has been arrested. According to the police, the TUV had eight passengers, six of whom are dead, and two are in critical condition. The accident occurred when a bus collided with a car. Sadly, an eight-year-old child, who was also involved in the accident, was critically injured and immediately rushed to a hospital for medical attention. Accident on Delhi-Meerut expressway between a school bus and car. Several feared dead. pic.twitter.com/tCmPdUx7GI Anand Singh (@Anand_Journ) July 11, 2023 While speaking to news agency ANI, Ramanand Kushwaha ADCP Traffic Police said: A school bus and a TUV met with an accident on the Delhi Meerut Expressway at 6.00 am today. The bus driver was coming from the wrong direction after filling CNG from Delhi near Ghazipur. The people in the car were coming from Meerut and had to go to Gurgaon. There was a head-on collision. 6 persons died and 2 are seriously injured. The driver of the bus has been caught. The entire fault was of the bus driver who was coming from the wrong direction." The dead include 2 children. Women and men are also included. 2 people are injured and are being treated in the hospital. There were 8 people in the car. The bus belongs to Bal Bharti School Bus which is in Noida," ADCP Kushwaha was quoted as saying to ANI. #WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | Six dead and two critically injured in a collision between a school bus and a TUV in Ghaziabad NH 9. The bus driver, who was driving in the wrong direction, has been nabbed. Visuals from the spot. pic.twitter.com/wMnKPnP7bb ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 11, 2023 In another tragic incident that took place on Monday, a gas tanker overturned on a tempo in Uttar Pradeshs Pratapgarh, resulting in the loss of at least nine lives and leaving seven others injured. The unfortunate accident took place in the Lilapur area, approximately 15 km from the district headquarters, along the Lucknow-Varanasi highway, according to media reports. India is all set to host a two-day G20 Conference on Crime and Security in the age of NFTs, AI and Metaverse in Gurugram on July 13-14. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), over 900 participants from G20 countries, 9 special invitee countries, international bodies and technology leaders and domain experts from India and across the world will be participating in the conference. News18 had first reported that India was going to host a big conference on next level cyber challenges. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will address the inaugural session and also flag off the Cyber Volunteer Squads from seven premier educational institutions of India. Shah will also inaugurate an exhibition and release Conference Medallion. The conference is envisaged as an opportunity to forge a global partnership to build a safe cyberspace and to prioritize cybersecurity concerns, it will provide a platform for cutting-edge ideas, knowledge exchange and networking with visionaries around the globe," the MHA said. There will be six technical sessions and exhibitions to showcase national and international products and services being offered by organizations/industries. Cybersecurity has become an essential aspect of security related affairs internationally, which requires adequate focus owing to its economic and geopolitical implications. Enhanced focus on cybersecurity at G20 forum can positively contribute in ensuring the security and integrity of critical information infrastructure and digital public platforms. The deliberations on cybersecurity and cybercrime prevention at the G20 forum will also help in development of information sharing framework," the MHA said in a press release. The G20 Conference on Crime and Security in the age of NFTs, AI and Metaverse will provide a platform for cutting-edge ideas, knowledge exchange and networking with visionaries around the globe. Globally acclaimed cyber experts and guest speakers representing legal fraternity, academia, training institutions, financial intermediaries, Fintech, social media intermediaries, Information and Communication Technology, cyber forensics, regulators, startups, Over The Top (OTT) service providers, E-commerce companies and others will participate in the conference," the MHA said. Sanjay Mishras tenure as the director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is set to end on July 31, following the Supreme Court order which held his third extension till November invalid. However, his five-year tenure saw around 15 senior politicians, including former finance and home minister P Chidambaram, former deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia, ex-chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah, Tamil Nadus influential minister Senthil Balaji, Bengals senior minister Partha Chatterjee, and over a dozen Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officers, go behind bars. Mishra, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, was in his fifth year as the ED director, the maximum on a post for any bureaucrat, as even the maximum term that any cabinet secretary has had so far is four years. He got a third extension last year. ALSO READ | Blow for ED Chief, SC Says Extension of Sanjay Mishra Invalid, Can Continue Till July 31 Believed to be the most efficient among the heads of central agencies and the closest to the Prime Ministers Office, Mishra has delivered justice to many politicians, bureaucrats, and fraudulent corporates, according to a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer who worked with him. Mishra made ED the fiercest central agency among all and that made him the most loyal and efficient to the people who matter, the officer added. 181 POLITICAL CASES UNDER PROBE The ED, under Mishras leadership, entered the territory which remained almost uncharted, barring a few exceptions cases involving senior politicians. Post Lalu Prasad Yadavs arrest in the fodder scam, India has rarely seen a senior politician of a CM or ex-home ministers stature getting arrested. In fact, senior bureaucrats were almost insulated from such actions. Mishra, however, broke that convention. Of the 726 cases that the ED is now probing, 181 are related to political leaders, said a top official of ED. The official further added that 191 important cases related to massive scams, political or bureaucratic corruption or bank frauds or laundering of money are now in trial. SC strikes down third extension to ED director Sanjay Mishra, calls the extension order illegalWatch this report by CNN-News18's @AmanKayamHai_ for more details #ED #SupremeCourt pic.twitter.com/ElmhiqCeF5 News18 (@CNNnews18) July 11, 2023 MASTER OF LAW The Opposition parties called him Modis man who helped him in intimidation and in breaking parties. For his peers and juniors, Mishra was a ruthless professional who knows how to get the job done and is a master of using law and legal power of the directorate. During Mishras stint, Chidambaram, who served as the finance and home minister, was arrested. And the arrests of multiple powerful politicians followed. THE THREE EXTENSIONS Mishra was appointed the ED chief in 2018. An order last November said he will continue in his chair till November 18, 2023. The government had last year brought in an ordinance to enable itself to give a five-year term to the ED and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chiefs, up from two years. The government argued before the Supreme Court, where the move was challenged, that the tenure of the ED chief had been earlier extended in public interest as various cases being probed by the agency were at a crucial juncture and continuity of officers means proper and expeditious disposal of cases. ALSO READ | What Will Happen When He Retires?: SC Asks Centre on 3rd Extension to ED Chief The ordinances were later passed as bills in Parliament last December where the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) minister argued that if in the middle of an important case if you change the head of the agency, others may not be able to carry it forward in the same tone to justify the five-year-long tenures. The government had termed the move in the interest of national security and the stability of the financial structure. The ED director has a very crucial role in money laundering cases, and is possibly the only agency of its kind available in India, the government told Parliament Mishras term as the director was extended thrice by the government and his third term was scheduled to end in November. RECLUSIVE OFFICER Mishra is known to be a reclusive officer, who refuses to meet any politician or accused, and stresses on speedy investigation and zero tolerance for corruption during its internal meetings. A senior officer serving in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said Mishra made ED a strong organization with sweeping powers. The extension of Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief is invalid, said the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The court mentioned that Chief Sanjay Mishra can head ED till July 31. Supreme Court, however, affirmed the amendments in the DSPE and CVC Act, giving the Centre the power to extend the tenure of a CBI chief and ED director by a possible three years beyond their mandatory two-year term. Mishra got an extension of one year last in November 2022. His tenure as ED Director was to expire in November this year. Questioning the Centres decision to grant a third extension to Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra, the Supreme Court in May this year asked the government if there is no competent person in the entire agency. The apex court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, Is there no competent person in the entire agency and can one person be so indispensable?" The bench, also comprising justices Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol, queried Mehta, What will happen to the agency post-2023 when he does retire?" Who is Sanjay Mishra Sanjay Mishra, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, is in his fifth year as the ED director, the maximum on a post for any bureaucrat as even the maximum term that any cabinet secretary has had so far is four years. He got a third extension last year. Mishra was appointed the ED chief in 2018, an order last November order says he will continue in his chair till November 18, 2023. Government had last year brought in an ordinance to enable itself to give a five-year term to the ED and CBI chiefs, up from two years. Centres Explanation on The Extension The government argued before the Supreme Court, where the move was challenged, that the tenure of the ED chief had been earlier extended in public interest as various cases being probed by the agency were at a crucial juncture and continuity of officers means proper and expeditious disposal of cases. The ordinances were later passed as bills in Parliament last December, where the DoPT minister argued that if in the middle of an important case if you change the head of the agency, others may not be able to carry it forward in same tone to justify the five-year-long tenures The government had termed the move in the interest of national security and the stability of the financial structure. The ED director has a very crucial role in money laundering cases, and is possibly the only agency of its kind available in India, the government told Parliament. Bharatiya Janata Party workers on Tuesday protested here against Uddhav Thackeray over his taint remark for Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded that the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief retract his comment. The BJP workers staged a demonstration at Variety Square in the morning where they raised slogans against Thackeray. BJPs Nagpur chief Pravin Datke said Thackeray has not only insulted their senior leader Fadnavis but also denigrated the people of the city. Addressing Shiv Sena (UBT) workers in Nagpur on Monday, the home turf of Fadnavis, Thackeray said the BJP leader was a taint on Nagpur as he had aligned with the NCP despite asserting that he would never do so. Playing an old audio clip of Fadnavis stating that he would never join hands with the NCP, Thackeray said the BJP leaders no means yes. Datke said Thackeray had done injustice with Vidarbha and Nagpur during his two-and-half-year stint as the Maharashtra chief minister. He also alleged that Thackeray indulged in corruption during the COVID pandemic and has no right to call Fadnavis tainted. Datke demanded that Thackeray take back his statement against Fadnavis. Meanwhile, workers of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of BJP, took out a mock funeral procession of Thackeray in Sitabuldi area. In a significant development, the Manipur Government on Monday formed committees to bolster agricultural activities and ensure safety of farmers in areas that have been affected by the recent clashes. In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, a state-level monitoring committee, along with some at the district-level have been formed. This will be done to facilitate agricultural cultivation and ensure its smooth functioning. The primary objective of these committees is to provide assistance to farmers and create a conducive environment for agricultural activities. The committees will be responsible for coordinating and planning activities in neighboring districts, ensuring the deployment of adequate security forces when required, and monitoring the timely implementation of agricultural tasks, spokesperson and minister Th Basanta Kumar said. At least 2,000 security personnel have been deployed to safeguard farmers engaged in cultivation within violence-prone areas of the state," Basanta Kumar said. This initiative aims to provide a secure environment for farmers to carry out their agricultural activities without fear," he added. The state-level monitoring committee will be led by the administrative secretary of the Agricultural Department, with key officials such as the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, and representatives from farmers welfare groups serving as members. Addressing concerns about food security, Kumar assured that the state will not face famine next year and that the government remains committed to ensure a stable food supply. This comes as for nearly two months, agriculture activities in Manipur were suspended due to security concerns in areas where the Imphal Valley merges with the hills. On July 6, chief minister Singh announced the resumption of farming activities under the protection of the Army and state forces. Singh recently held a meeting with Ministers, MLAs, and officials to discuss matters concerning farmers welfare. Manipur has experienced escalating violence between two communities since May 3, affecting the overall stability of the state. In a latest incident, ne policeman was killed and at least 10 people injured on Monday following violent overnight clashes in Manipurs west Kangpokpi area on Monday. At least 150 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence broke when a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribal Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. North India continuous to face the destructive effect of incessant rainfall and flash floods over the weekend that led to the loss of lives, waterlogging, damage of properties, heavy traffic snarls, landslides, and major road blockages in many states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi with people stranded in the affected areas. The Indian Air Force is on standby to ready to deal with any flood situation in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi, IAF officials told CNN-News18., In Delhi, Yamuna breached the safety mark, much earlier than anticipated, even as light rain is predicted for Wednesday. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange" alert of most of the districts of Uttarakhand on Tuesday and Wednesday. Heavy rainfall and landslides have killed 27 people in Himachal Pradesh till now Heres the latest on monsoon from across the states Himachal Pradesh Himachal, affected worst in the northern region continued to see more rains today. Flash floods and landslides claimed 20 lives in the last two days. Power and water supply has also been snapped in several areas. Over 300 tourists and local people are stranded in Chandertal, Pagal Nallah and other places in Lahaul and Spiti. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said efforts are on to rescue the stranded people, and they could be airlifted as the weather clears. This comes as teams of National Disaster Response Force, police and home guard rescued 515 labourers from waterlogged slum areas at Lalsingi in Una district. Delhi IMD has predicted light rain and cloudy skies on Wednesday, with a the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to settle around 34 and 26 degrees Celsius. Schools in Delhi were closed on Monday, after three days of heavy rainfall. The torrential rain over the weekend left parts of the national capital overflowing with submerged roads and stranded people. Due to continuous rains over the weekend, Yamuna breached the danger mark on Monday evening and exceeded the evacuation mark of 206 metres on Tuesday. This prompted relocation of people residing in flood-prone areas to safer locations and a closure of the Old Railway Bridge for road and rail traffic, officials said Uttarakhand Landslides triggered by the rains disrupted traffic on key highways in Uttarakhand, and warnings were given to residents not to venture out of their homes unless necessary. At least 5 pilgrims were killed and eight others injured n landslides and due to boulders falling from mountains in the past 24 hours. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has urged pilgrims and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel till the rain lasts. Amid this, neatly 4,000 are stuck between Gangotri and Gangnani due to the blockade of the Gangotri Highway, and arrangements are being made to bring them back by the Uttarkashi district administration. Uttar Pradesh Three people died in rain related incidents on Tuesday, as rainfall continued in most parts of Uttar Pradesh. Rainfall will continue in the state till July 15. Heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur at many places over the western parts of the state. Maharashtra Moderate rainfall is predicted in Mumbai and its surrounding areas in the next 24 hours, according to IMD. This comes as Mumbai has received 31.17 per cent of the annual average rainfall of 2,547 mm till Monday morning. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) report, the IMD Mumbai has recorded 1,043.8 mm rainfall at its Santacruz observatory (representative of suburbs) and 658.7 mm rainfall at the Colaba observatory (representative of the island city) in the last 15 days. Punjab, Haryana In the last three days of continuous rains Haryanas Ambala and Punjabs Patiala was the worst hit. Heavy showers led to rivers brimming and major canals breaching flood marks. As water gushed into houses in parts of the two states, authorities raced to bring affected people to safety. (with agency inputs) A 27-year-old doctor of civic run KEM hospital in Mumbai was duped of Rs 1.40 lakh after he ordered 25 plates of samosas from a popular eatery in Sion, a police official said on Monday. The incident took place on Saturday between 8.30 am to 10.30 am, the official said. The victim and his colleagues had planned a picnic at Karjat and had ordered samosas for the journey. He placed the order after locating the eaterys number online. When he called on the number, the one who answered asked him to pay Rs 1,500 as advance," he said. The doctor then received a Whatsapp message, which had confirmation of the order and also bank account number to send money online. The doctor sent Rs 1,500. The man at the other end said the doctor had to create a transaction ID of the payment. While following instruction to create one, he first lost Rs 28,807 and subsequently Rs 1.40 lakh cumulatively," he added. On his complaint, a case has been registered at Bhoiwada police station under Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act provisions, the official informed. A 50-year-old man has been arrested here for stealing jewellery from senior citizens on the street by tricking them to hand over their ornaments and money to him after posing as a well-meaning individual, an official said on Tuesday. Accused Sanjay Mangade was arrested on July 9 on the complaint of a 62-year-old in the western suburb of Borivali, said the official. His interrogation revealed that he has targeted 28 more senior citizens in Mumbai and its adjoining areas. Cops are now on the lookout for Mangades accomplice Vijay Tambe, who is on the run, said the official from Kasturba Marg police station in Borivali. In his complaint, the senior citizen said the accused approached him on June 23 saying, Do you recognise me?. Mangade showed much concern and told him that there is a police check ahead and he shouldnt be wearing any gold jewellery, the official said. Mangade persuaded the complainant to hand over his gold chain, ring and cash, collectively worth nearly Rs 75,000, to him. While he wrapped the valuables and money in paper and gave back the packet, the complainant found them missing when he opened it at home later. During their probe, the police found that the accused targeted only senior citizens. They went through footage from several surveillance cameras and worked on technical inputs to nab Mangade from Mahim on July 9, the official said. The police have also urged citizens not to trust unknown persons on the street. Instead, they should approach the nearest police station, the official added. Expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvams camp on Tuesday said it would hold a state-wide protest on August 1 to urge the DMK regime to expedite the probe in the 2017 Kodanad heist-cum-murder case and punish the perpetrators of the crime. The protest is also to condemn the DMK government for sleeping over the case without giving additional attention and importance, former AIADMK leader and OPS loyalist R Vaithilingam told reporters here. The heist-cum-murder of 2017 in Kodanad in the hilly Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu remains in limelight as it happened in a bungalow there, which was used on and off by late chief Minister J Jayalalithaa as a camp office-cum-residence. The former AIADMK supremo died in December 2016. The AIADMK hit back at the OPS camp reiterating that it was merely the DMKs B-team and the protest move was to support the evil motive of the ruling party in the Kodanad case. Vaithiligam, flanked by OPS and former AIADMK veteran Panruti S Ramachandran, read out from a statement. To a question related to suspicions if any, Vaithilingam said: It may be X or Y, those who did that should be brought to bookit is the job of the police department to find out the culprits. Panneerselvam, when asked about suspicions, also said it was the police departments responsibility to probe in-depth and find out the culprits behind the crime. Only to stress this we are going to hold a (state-wide) protestthe government is also silent. Asked if the probe was blunted during the 2017-2021 AIADMK regime when Edappadi K Palaniswami was the Chief Minister, he said it would be known following a comprehensive probe. It was the duty and responsibility of the government to come out clear on those who were behind the crime, Panneerselvam said. When his attention was drawn to the fact that he was the deputy chief minister during 2017-2021 he said, the post of Deputy CM had no authority whatsoever barring the specific portfolios he held. The subject of law and order, police and home departments were under the Chief Ministers domain. Vaithilingam and another supporter, Paul Manoj Pandian pointed out that on the date of occurrence of the crime (April 24, 2017), OPS was not the deputy CM. Vaithilingam said Chief Minister M K Stalin had assured, ahead of the 2021 Assembly election that perpetrators of the Kodanad crime would be brought to justice within 90 days of assuming power. AIADMK senior leader D Jayakumar alleged the DMK regime had an evil motive, as regards the Kodanad case, to bring disrepute to his party. Only to support such a motive, the OPS camp has taken up this issue and they were the DMKs B-team, he claimed. The DMK regimes ulterior motive was to blemish the reputation of the AIADMK and party general secretary K Palaniswami, which showed the ruling partys political vendetta, he alleged. The AIADMK would not be cowed down by such tricks of the DMK regime which was aimed at intimidating the party, he said. At a time when a judgment was expected to be delivered by a court in the Kodanad case, the DMK assumed power in May 2021, Jayakunar, also a former Minister said. The case went into probe-mode again following the instructions of Stalin, he said and added that the CB-CID handled the case eventually. Jayakumar demanded to know why the matter was handed over to the CB-CID when the probe by a top western range police official was already over by 90 per cent. The accused in the case belonged to Kerala and they have criminal cases pending against them there. He said lawyers belonging to DMK appeared on behalf of the accused. In 2017, a security guard of the bungalow, Om Bahadur was murdered and another guard was severely assaulted by a gang. Kanagaraj, a former car driver of Jayalalithaa, died in an alleged road accident days after the heist. He was a suspect in the case. A young man, Dinesh Kumar, who worked as a computer operator at the Kodanad Estate died by suicide months after the crime. Following the April 2017 crime, expelled AIADMK leader Vaithilingam said, in total, six lives (including Kanagaraj, a police sub-inspector and Dinesh) have been lost so far and all these are suspicious deaths. The police SI was attached to the Kodanad police station at the time of the occurrence of crime. The wife and daughter of K V Sayan, a key accused in the case, died in an accident. These are suspicious deaths and mysterious accidents, Vaithilingam said, adding though six years have gone by, the culprits have not yet been identified and punished. The Bismarck Tribune marks 150 years today. Copies of the states oldest newspaper occupy more than 350 feet of space in the State Archives at the Historical Society of North Dakota. The editions are neatly stored in labeled boxes, stacked on shelves from the floor nearly to the ceiling. Theres so much history here, its just fascinating, State Archivist Shane Molander said last week as we stood in one of the aisles with Tribune copies. The first edition of the Tribune -- July 11, 1873 -- is available at the State Archives on microfilm, and hard copies are on file starting with the 1880s. Microfilm is still the favored method to preserve newspapers despite the technological advances that have occurred over the lifetime of the Tribune. Supposedly if you do it right, microfilm has a 500-year lifespan. Thats why its the preferred method of preservation, Molander said, though he added: Now microfilming hasnt been around for 500 years, so how do you prove that? Each roll of microfilm takes microfilm specialist Tam Leben about eight hours to produce. A roll contains one to two months of a daily newspaper, depending on the size of the paper, and one year of a weekly. The Legislature last session approved funding that will allow the State Archives to buy equipment to streamline that process. The North Dakota Newspaper Association is partnering with the effort, with a goal of making more newspaper archives available online to the public. State law A North Dakota law enacted in 1905 requires newspaper publishers in the state to send a copy of each edition to the State Archives for preservation. Thats enabled North Dakota to have an impressive collection of newspaper archives. Most states dont have anything like that so they struggle, Molander said. Recently as newspapers have reduced print editions, archivists have had to adapt to also preserve the digital e-editions. The Tribune continues to print a newspaper six days a week, but produces only a digital e-edition on Sundays and major holidays. The State Archives downloads the e-editions and maintains the digital files. But to make sure those editions are available in the future -- no matter what changes in technology occur -- archivists plan to preserve those digital files on microfilm. The future is not completely certain, Molander said. Microfilm is still the best way to assure we have those newspapers well into the future. All you really need with that film is light and you can read it. The Legislature approved $236,400 for the State Archives to buy equipment, including an archive writer, that will allow staff to create microfilm from the digital e-editions. The North Dakota Newspaper Association Education Foundation approved a grant of about $11,800 to help pay for the equipment. I organized a tour of the State Archives for the NDNA Board in 2021, and we were surprised to learn that staff use a clothing iron to flatten each print newspaper issue before taking a picture of each page. The new equipment and the partnership with NDNA will enable the State Archives to skip the ironing and some other steps. Its going to be fast, Leben said. That will free up staff time for other projects, such as refilming old newspapers that were preserved before microfilm standards were adopted in the 1980s, Molander said. Tribune archives The public can access digital archives of The Bismarck Tribune two ways. The site Chronicling America has Bismarck Tribune archives (previously known under other titles, including Bismarck Weekly Tribune and Bismarck Daily Tribune) from 1873 to 1937 available online for free. Thats the result of a grant program the State Historical Society participated in with the National Endowment for the Humanities and Library of Congress, according to Molander. Bismarck Tribune archives were digitized through 1937 to include the Tribunes Pulitzer-winning coverage of the Dust Bowl, he said. Newspapers.com also has digital archives of the Tribune available to the public for a fee. Bismarck Tribune subscribers can access two years of archives for free. The State Archives also has been working with newspapers throughout the state to digitize more archives, often using grant funding from local historical societies or libraries. Those archives are made available to the public at: http://ndarchives.advantage-preservation.com. The new equipment will better enable the State Archives to make newspapers available digitally in the future. But staff have a lot of catching up to do. We have 18,000 rolls of film that we need to digitize, Molander said. Business leaders have welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visit to France from July 14-16, which is expected to boost economic, strategic and defence cooperation between the two countries. ALSO READ | Sharing Best of Tech with India: French Envoy Says PM Modis France Visit a Significant Push to Ties Saint Gobain tweeted how India has been a country of importance for their growth strategy. [#Event]On the occasion of Frances National day, it's a pleasure to welcome @PMOindia @Narendramodi, as guest of honor for #BastilleDay celebrations.For 25 years now, India has been a country of significant importance for #SaintGobains growth strategy.@IndiaembFrance pic.twitter.com/cIxxX6VE6o Saint-Gobain (@saintgobain) July 10, 2023 While Alstom CEO put out a tweet looking forward to the visit, Schneider Electric said the visit would bring the two countries together. The Naval Group, too, welcomed the opportunity. The visit is high on both symbolism and substance. PM Modi will be the Guest of Honour at Bastille Day celebrations. The Tri-services contingent from India, including the Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, will participate. The French National Day, or Bastille Day, occupies a special place in French consciousness. This day commemorates the Storming of the Bastille Prison in 1789 during the French Revolution. A RARITY Bastille Day Parade is the highlight of the Bastille Day Celebrations, akin to Indias Republic Day Parade. However, foreign leaders being invited as Guest of Honour for Bastille Day is not common. The last time this happened was in 2017, when then US President was invited. Even rarer is having foreign marching contingents and foreign aircraft participate in it. The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of India-France Strategic Partnership. France is a key strategic partner for India and one of the earliest. The opportunity to chart way for the next 25 years coincides with the 100th anniversary of Indias independence in 2047. x We are honoured to welcome the PM @narendramodi on #BastilleDay. This is an opportunity for us to celebrate our strategic relationship with India, which has lasted for over 25 years ! #IndoFrenchpartnership #AarmanirbharBharat pic.twitter.com/bxOHdkCFUT Naval Group (@navalgroup) July 11, 2023 GREAT CHEMISTRY BETWEEN LEADERS The special gestures by President of France Emmanuel Macron include multiple meetings and presence with the PM, particularly a private dinner and joint meeting with CEOs. He will also be hosting the State Banquet at the iconic Louvre Museum on Bastille Day. Modi will interact with the entire political leadership of France, including President Macron, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and the Presidents of the Senate (Upper House) and National Assembly (Lower House). There will be a strong focus on trade and economy with a CEO Forum comprising big names from Indian and French sides. It will see a close collaboration not just on bilateral issues, but also on what the two countries can do on global issues. As the festivities of Bastille Day in France begin, Schneider Electric welcomes @narendramodi as the Guest of Honor as the two countries celebrate their 25 years of partnership. Thank you @EmmanuelMacron for bringing us together. pic.twitter.com/NldWKnZuar Schneider Electric (@SchneiderElec) July 11, 2023 INTERACTION WITH PROMINENT FRENCH PERSONALITIES On the itinerary is an interaction with the Indian community at the prestigious La Seine Musicale. The PMs visit has been preceded by numerous activities organized by the Indian Embassy, including Namaste France earlier this week. The meet is expected to result in outcomes in the field of defence, space, geostrategy, infrastructure, energy, climate action, museology, student mobility, sports, culture, etc. One more cheetah has died at Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park, giving another jolt to the governments ambitious Project Cheetah. The male was among the 12 big cats brought from South Africa this February and was named Tejas. At around 11 am, the monitoring team of the forest department noticed some injury marks on the upper part of the neck of the male cheetah. The wildlife doctors were informed and they inspected the cheetah. However, according to the forest department, the wounds appeared to be serious. The male cheetah was later found dead at the spot around 2 pm. The injuries sustained by the Cheetah Tejas are being probed. The exact cause of death will be ascertained after the post mortem, the department said in a statement. The cheetah has died in the enclosure and was yet to be released into the wild. According to forest officials, infighting with another female cheetah could have led to the fatal injury. India has so far lost seven cheetahs since it conducted the historic translocation exercise of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa in September last year. Two of the three adults died due to illness, while the third died during a violent interaction. This was followed by the deaths of three cubs born to a Namibian cat due to the scorching summer heat. The latest casualty has taken the number of deaths to seven in just five months. Out of the total seven dead, four were adults aged above four years, while the cubs were just two months old. The big cats classified as endangered wildlife species were brought to India as part of Project Cheetah a grand experiment to revive its population in the country. While eight were brought from Namibia, they were joined by 12 more from South Africa this February. Questions now loom large over one of the worlds biggest such translocation projects, with wildlife conservationists flagging their concerns. The cheetahs have remained in the enclosures for far too long. News18 had reported earlier that, according to experts, the density of leopards at Kuno is far greater than in African ecosystems, which may lead to increased pressure on the cheetahs. In addition, Kuno has other large carnivores that are not known to cheetahs, including wolves, sloth bears, dhole dogs and, occasionally, a dispersing tiger that wanders through from a nearby reserve. Japanese clothing brand, UNIQLO, on July 6 announced that it will launch its first store in Mumbai on October 6 at Phoenix Marketcity in Kurla. This is the latest in its development plans in India. UNIQLO Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla, will be Indias 11th physical UNIQLO store. The brand first opened its gates to Indians in Delhi. The new store will provide a variety of LifeWear collections for men, women, kids and newborns. LifeWear range of clothing consists of basic and high-quality everyday wear. Talking about the new store, Tomohiko Sei, Chief Executive Officer, UNIQLO India said, We are delighted to be launching in Mumbai this fall. October will also mark our four-year journey in India and this new milestone highlights our strong, ongoing commitment to India. Until now, our customers in Mumbai have been using our e-commerce channel to shop for their LifeWear essentials, and we now look forward to welcoming them in person to our first Mumbai store. At present, UNIQLO operates over 2,400 locations worldwide. Since its first store opened in Hiroshima in 1984, UNIQLO has manufactured clothes based on Japanese ideals of simplicity, quality, and longevity, with universal styles, superlative fit, and comfort, with the goal of improving its customers daily lives. MALALA DAY 2023: Malala Day is an international observance held on July 12th each year to honor the birthday of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani education activist and Nobel laureate. Malala is known for her advocacy of girls education and her courageous stand against the Taliban, who had banned girls from attending school in her hometown of Mingora in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. On October 9, 2012, Malala was targeted and shot by a Taliban gunman but survived the attack. Her activism and resilience have made her a symbol of inspiration and empowerment for girls and women worldwide. Malala Day 2023: Quotes By Malala Yousafzai One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world." We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced." When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful." Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world." I dont want to be remembered as the girl who was shot. I want to be remembered as the girl who stood up." We cannot succeed when half of us are held back." Education is the power that can bring change to the world." We must tell girls their voices are important." If one man can destroy everything, why cant one girl change it?" I raise up my voice not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard." THE MALALA FUND & NOBEL Malala and her father co-founded the Malala Fund, a platform to support girls education and raise awareness on the matter. They collaborated with Vital Voices Global Partnership for the initiative. In December 2014, Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and became the youngest ever recipient of such a pristine honour. She was designated as United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2017 to help raise awareness of the importance of girls education. The young activist has bagged over 40 awards and honours for her courage. Malala at the University of Oxford Malala studied philosophy, politics, and economics at the University of Oxford. Her formal education was completed in 2020. She got married in 2021 to Asser Malik, manager at the cricket governing body of Pakistan. Malala continues to work on the cause she started as more than 130 million girls are kept out of school globally, even today. She aspires to create a world where all girls can learn, grow and lead. Tinder, the worlds most popular app for meeting new people, is back with new episodes of Swipe Ride. now in its third year, a show that celebrates uninhibited, meaningful conversations about what Indian women want from their dating lives. The first episode this year features internet sensation and fashion icon Uorfi Javed and will premiere on Friday, 7th July, 2023 on the apps Youtube channel and stream exclusively on JioCinema. Popular social media content creator and actor, Kusha Kapila, takes the drivers seat once again to pick up app members to meet their dates with a surprise celebrity guest as they chat about all things dating and relationships. In the currently released episode, Uorfi, Kusha and Tinder member Heeral talk about the importance of self-care in dating, self-awareness and confidence, first dates, and green flags. Uorfi chats with Heeral on her first date ever about breaking away from the age-old concept of the one and to put yourself out there for every kind of possibility. In fact, 80% of 18-25 women daters in India agree that their generation is challenging traditional relationship goals and dating standards that were passed down from previous generations. Uorfi further emphasizes on being your authentic fearless self, prioritizing your own needs and creating a space where you love yourself first. And shes not alone in this mindseta whopping 8 out of 10 young women daters in India admit that their personal self-care is their top priority when dating and having a partner who values self-care is critical to a happy relationship. This shift reflects a growing trend of Indian women daters exploring diverse connections and seeking personal fulfillment on their own terms. Talking about her appearance on Swipe Ride, Uorfi said, When it comes to dating or, really, life everyones experience is as unique as they are. If you want to be your most beautiful, authentic self, the work has to start with you. If theres one thing I was unapologetic about when I was using the app was that establishing contentment within yourself and your needs is essential for opening up to somebody else. This episode of Swipe Ride series talks about the evolving culture around love and relationships, and its amazing to see modern Indian women embracing self-love, confidence, self-belief and prioritizing themselves unabashedly. Creating space for your own self and weeding out folks who dont bring that energy is a big green flag! The trio also talked about what they want in a modern relationship and how online dating enables autonomy and freedom for Indian women. For Uorfi, online dating equates freedom and the ability to make decisions with the power to choose. This resonates with young adult female daters in India as more than half agree that dating apps allow them to meet people outside their social circle and others who they may not meet otherwise. To empower young women in India to navigate the world of online dating and prioritize their wellbeing, the app has recently launched Tinder Love and Care (TLC), a dating wellness guide developed in collaboration with That Sassy Thing. TLC features advice and insights from 15 prominent female experts and queer voices in India, covering a range of topics such as sexual health, intimacy, and fostering honest conversations with dates, all while prioritizing self-care. Young women today are upfront about what they want when it comes to their dating lives. They are doing so by normalizing conversations around female desire, body positivity, consent and boundaries which the viewers will also get to witness on Swipe Ride. For the third season, I got a chance to witness female Tinder members be absolutely confident about their dating choices and take charge of what they want. I was more than happy to play a role in facilitating these meaningful conversations, adds Kusha. Swipe Ride celebrates the diverse perspectives of young Indian women and their dating journeys in a relatable context. From having open dialogues on the importance of self-care, financial freedom, dating autonomy, to showing up with confidence and freedom of choice, young women daters are being fiercely honest about and transparent about putting oneself out there for all kinds of possibilities, says Taru Kapoor, GM, Tinder and Match Group India. Actress Divya Spandana, better known by her screen name Ramya, has created new waves on social media with her comeback in films. She has launched a production house Applebox Studios, which will produce her project Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye. Later, she opted out of the film. She will now be seen in a cameo in the film Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare, written and directed by Nithin Krishnamurthy. A2 Music unveiled the trailer of this film on July 10. It has garnered more than 5,00,000 views and counting. The trailer opens up with a hilarious line, which reads: Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear and people, in reality, are stupid than they appear. The trailer then proceeds to show a group of college boys who are protesting in demand of non-vegetarian food. They also manage to attempt a blast of small intensity to pressurise the college administration for accepting their demands. The trailer takes a horrific twist when they try to kill the college warden as well and he gets to know about their plan. What happens next in the story forms the premise of Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare. Ramya has essayed the cameo role of a college professor in this film which will release on July 21. Actors like Prajwal BP, Rishab Shetty and Diganth have also acted in this movie. The quirky trailer intrigues social media users, and they are eager to know what the makers have in store for them. One of the users commented, Finally the sandalwood queen is back. Another wrote, I have watched so many Kannada trailers and films in my life. This is the first time I clapped in excitement after watching a trailer. Watching it FDFS!!!. Bobby CR from ABBS Studios has scored the music for this movie, while Suresh M is in charge of the editing. Prajwal B P, Varun Kumar Gowda, Nithin Krishnamurthy, and Arvind S Kashyap have produced Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare. Followers were also eagerly anticipating the release of Divyas Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye; but later on, her production house Apple Box Studios released a statement that she will not act in the film. The statement released by the production house informed that she felt that the role of the female lead in this film will suit a newcomer. Tamil producer Manickam Narayanan has accused Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar of cheating. The producer, who has backed films such as Kamal Haasans Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu and R. Parthibans directorial film Vithagan, has claimed that Ajith borrowed money from him and never returned it. Manickam also claimed that Ajith requested that the money gets adjusted with the fee of a movie he would do with the producer but never ended up working with him. Manickam made the shocking allegations when he spoke with Tamil media. As reported by India Today, the producer said, Ajith borrowed money from me many years back as he wanted to send his parents on a holiday to Malaysia. He told me then that he would do a film for me and we could adjust this amount with his salary. However, till date he has not returned the money nor done a film for me. He has not spoken about this at all in all these years. He calls himself a gentleman, but hes not!" He has a very good family and he is earning Rs 50 crores and more for every film. What is the need for him to cheat people?" he said, adding that he earlier knew his wife Shalini and was good friends with her. Ajith is yet to react to the claims. Manickam Narayanan was in the news a few months ago for his comments on Shah Rukh Khans Jawan. The producer calimed that the film is plagiarised from the Tamil film Perarasu. He filed a complaint with the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC). Perarasu starred Vijayakanth in a double role, playing the role of twin brothers. However, it seems that the claims were debunked after Shah Rukh released the Jawan prevue on Monday. The video hinted that Shah Rukh is likely playing a double role of his own father and son. Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani starrer SatyaPrem Ki Katha has impressed fans a lot. The romantic drama has earned Rs 100 crore worldwide and the makers are very happy. Kartik took to his social media handle and thanked his fans for their love. He shared a post from London where he is shooting for his next reportedly. Taking to his Instagram stories, Kartik, who also shared the poster of the film, wrote, Thank you for 100 cr ka Love #SatyaPremKiKatha. His post immediately garnered a lot of attention from fans. They praised his performance as Sattu in the film. One of the fans wrote, I love kartik I loved shehzada i love kiara i love gajraj but all I can say is 1st half the movie was boring last 30 min was good and the movie was with good cause but makers could have put some sense in some scenes too and stop dad jokes and I find it that Kathas ex bf were played by 2 diff person. Another wrote, This movie deserves much more. Many also dropped heart emojis in the comment section. Take a look at the post here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan) Earlier, Kiara also expressed her gratitude towards the fans and wrote, Kiara Advani also penned down a sweet note on her Instagram stories to thank her fans. Today what has truly touched me is seeing my fans rejoice with all the reviews coming my waythey have rooted for me since the very beginning and seeing them feel a sense of victory has made me really emotional, I owed it to them, it has taken me some time, but here we are finally! It is their success. This love is genuinely magical. #JustGreatful. SatyaPrem Ki Katha is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Namah Pictures. The film is directed by Sameer Vidwans and marks Kartik and Kiaras second collaboration after Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. It also stars Supriya Pathak Kapur, Gajraj Rao, Siddharth Randheria, Anooradha Patel, Rajpal Yadav, Nirrmite Saawaant, and Shikha Talsania in key roles. Actor Chiranjeevis niece and actor, Ram Charans cousin, actress Niharika Konidela confirmed her divorce from Chaitanya Jonnalagadda a few days ago. The couple, who got married in 2020, issued a joint statement announcing their separation. In a recent Instagram post, Niharika requested her fans to kindly respect their privacy during this tough time. She wrote, Chaitanya and I have decided to mutually part ways and ask for kindness and sensitivity as we move on. I request some privacy to navigate this new normal in private." She further wrote, Thank you to my family and friends who have been pillars of support. I request privacy for us to navigate this new normal in private. Thank you for understanding." Check out the post here: Niharika and Chaitanya Jonnalagadda filed for divorce in the Kukatpally Family Court on April 1. The court officially granted the divorce to Niharika and Chaitanya on June 5. Now, the speculations are rife with Niharikas father, Nagendra Babu, being blamed for their unsuccessful marriage. It is reported that Nagendra Babu brought up his daughter with lots of love. Some close friends even commented that her father did not teach her how to settle down after marriage. Allegations suggest that Niharika faced difficulties in adjusting to married life, with restrictions imposed by her husband Chaitanya and mother-in-law reportedly affecting her acting career. Tensions escalated between the couple, which led to their divorce, as per reports. Expressing regret among close acquaintances, Nagendra Babu blamed himself for excessively pampering his daughter, feeling responsible for the unsuccessful relationship, the reports further added. Niharika Konidela and Chaitanya Jonnalagadda dated for five years before their wedding in December 2020. The couples wedding ceremony took place at the Udaivilas Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan, and was attended by notable personalities from the film industry, including Varun Tej, Ram Charan, Pawan Kalyan, Allu Arjun, Sneha Reddy and others. Niharika Konidela made her film debut in 2016 with the Telugu movie Oka Manasu. Before her acting career, she gained popularity as a television anchor, hosting several successful shows on a Telugu channel. In addition to her acting endeavours, she is the owner of a production company called Pink Elephant Pictures. Chaitanya, on the other hand, works as a Business Strategist in a prominent multinational corporation based in Hyderabad. Hours before the release of OMG 2 teaser, Akshay Kumars old statement on religion has gone viral. OMG 2 is a sequel to the 2012 film OMG in which Paresh Rawal lodged a case against God and Akshay Kumar played Lord Krishna. In the sequel, Akshay has taken on the role of Lord Shiva. Akshays Lord Shiva look has been met with mixed reactions, with a section of netizens being skeptical about how the sacred character will turn out to be. Of late, mythological films including Adipurush and Brahmastra have been accused of hurting religious sentiments, and hence, theres been a paranoia amongst the people regarding the films on such subjects. Amid all this, Akshays old statement on religion has resurfaced on the internet. At the time of Sooryavanshi release, Akshay Kumar had said in an interview that there was only one religion and that was being an Indian, and his movie reflected the same sentiment. I dont believe in any religion. I only believe in being Indian and that is what the film also shows. The idea of being an Indian and not about being a Parsi or a Hindu or a Muslim, we havent looked at it on the basis of the religion, Akshay told PTI in an interview. Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar recently announced that the teaser of OMG 2 would be released on 11th July, a month before the release of the film on 11the August. The film also features Yami Gautam and Pankaj Tripathi. The release of the sequel of OMG is expected to clash with the sequel of another much-awaited sequel Gadar 2, which stars Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel. The dust storms in the 1930s were unbelievable, with dirt flying up to 6,500 feet in the air and traveling up to 2,000 miles. The first dust storm in North Dakota was recorded in 1933. The state along with the rest of the nation was already deep into the Great Depression. North Dakota would see its population slip from 680,845 people in 1930 to 641,935 in 1940, as farms and ranches dried up and blew away and businesses went bust. By 1934, North Dakota had the highest proportion of its population depending on government relief of any state in the union. Grass was so scarce in 1936 that cattle were allowed to graze on the Capitol grounds. The next year, on June 15, a downpour flooded the same area and the Tribune snapped a photo of a boy canoeing. On Aug. 12, 1937, the Tribune headline told readers that Burleigh wheat yield to average under 2 bushels to the acre. Amid these dire circumstances George D. Mann, publisher of The Bismarck Tribune, came up with the idea for a series of stories to tell North Dakotans how they could help lift themselves out of what many considered a hopeless situation. He handed the assignment to Kenneth W. Simons, his managing editor. Throughout 1937 Simons and his staff pounded out more than 175 stories and 151 editorials dealing with the Depression. Simons and his city editor, Gordon MacGregor, did most of the writing. Some of the stories came from outside sources. Put altogether the coverage was called Self Help in the Dust Bowl. The focus of the stories and editorials was on conservation, diversification of crops, irrigation and the construction of dams. During this time the conversation began over the diversion of the Missouri River for irrigation. Today, those stories and editorials dont carry as much punch, and some of what the Tribune advocated didnt hold up. Still, for a small newspaper it was a major endeavor. The Tribune coverage helped spur the 1937 Legislature to create the North Dakota Water Conservation Board. Gov. Bill Langer, no friend to the Tribune, appointed Simons to the board. Knut Oss, a farmer living near Memorial Bridge on the Morton County side, became the first farmer to get an irrigation project under way in May 1937. In 1938 the Tribune was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for public service for its stories and editorials, the ultimate achievement for any newspaper, large or small. The community celebrated with a dinner at the World War Memorial Building, now the Belle Mehus Auditorium. The newspaper had come a long way from a humble start in 1873 when the first Tribune was published on July 11. The beginning Col. Clement A. Lounsberry, a Civil War veteran and seasoned Minnesota newspaperman, was determined to launch a newspaper wherever the Northern Pacific Railroad crossed the Missouri River. That brought him to Bismarck. His printing press arrived on the first NP train into Bismarck on June 5, 1873, and in just a little more than a month the first Tribune would be printed. Lounsberrys first issue was dated July 11, 1873, but it was actually printed July 6 with some copies distributed. Lounsberry used a handset press to print a seven-column weekly. The colonel couldnt be bullied, as was demonstrated when two dance hall owners angered by his call for a vigilance committee tried to intimidate him. They were carrying guns, but he confronted them with his own pistols and they beat a retreat. Lounsberry gained fame in 1876 when he filed the first reports of Lt. Col. George A. Custers defeat at the Little Bighorn. The unfiled reports by reporter Mark Kellogg, killed at the Little Bighorn, helped him write the story. He sent the story to the New York Herald in New York City by telegraph. It was more than 15,000 words, took telegrapher John Carnahan 22 hours to send and cost $3,000. Lounsberry sold the Tribune to his partner of two years, Marshall H. Jewell, in 1883. Jewell operated the Tribune until his death in 1911. New homes Mann was hired as editor of the Tribune in 1914 and purchased it in 1917. The Tribune didnt have much luck in the early years when it came to buildings. The Tribune was displaced three times when buildings it occupied burned. Mann decided to solve the problem by hiring Great Falls, Montana, architect George H. Shanley to design and build a fireproof building. He came up with a Prairie Style design building with a Hebron pressed-brick exterior, concrete frame and floors, and structural clay tile walls. Theres an elaborate carving above the front door. The Tribune used the building at 222 N. 4th St. from 1920 to 1980. By the late 1970s the newspaper had outgrown the Fourth Street building. The newsroom, on the northwest corner of the second floor, was crowded with desks holding computers with wires dangling from the ceiling. A. Glenn Sorlie had become publisher on April 1, 1962, succeeding his aunt, Stella Mann. She had become publisher when her husband, George Mann, died on March 26, 1936. Sorlie purchased property at 707 E. Front Ave. and planned to build a new office and plant. As planning got underway Sorlie sold the Tribune to Lee Enterprises in Davenport, Iowa. Lee worked with Sorlie, who stayed on as publisher, to adjust the plans. Two more press units were purchased to add to the Tribunes printing capacity. To avoid missing a print day, the new units were installed in the basement and used to print the Tribune while the old units were removed from the basement of the Fourth Street building and moved to Front Avenue. The Tribune maintained its record of never missing a day of publishing an edition. One of the nice touches on the Fourth Street building was that passersby on the sidewalk could look through windows to watch the press running. They still can with the new building on Front Avenue. The Tribune building got a makeover in 2004 to accommodate a new press purchased in Germany. It was large and required the removal of a hallway where visitors had been able to look down through glass to see the press operating in the basement. A winding stairway leading to a second-floor balcony also had to be removed. But other major modifications were made on the ground floor, including a glass exterior wall for the press room enabling people outside to watch it operate. When the remodeling was complete and the press installed the Tribune had an open house where guests could mingle in a large tent in the parking lot before touring the building. There was a tough learning curve with the new press, and the first few months proved difficult with missed deadlines and press problems. It took a long time to get comfortable with the press. The war and aftermath Stella Mann and Simons guided the Tribune through World War II. There was a quota on newsprint so the Tribune had to adjust the number of pages in the paper. Despite that, starting in 1943, the Tribune published a monthly tabloid for military personnel and families. It was free. Others interested in the publication could buy it for $2 a year. It was published until April 13, 1946. Simons died unexpectedly on Aug. 30, 1948. He was replaced as editor by John Hjelle, who had worked in the Tribune newsroom from 1936 to 1945. From 1945 to 1948 he was an administrative assistant to U.S. Sen. Milton Young, R-N.D. Mann, Sorlie and Hjelle would give continuity to the Tribune. Hjelle retired in 1979 and Sorlie did the same on Jan. 1, 1982. When Hjelle became editor the Tribunes circulation was 11,000; when he retired it was 30,000. Hjelle had a sense of humor. For many years the Tribune published Nubs of the News, which was a listing of births, deaths, marriage licenses and court proceedings. Hjelle got cited for a minor traffic violation that he knew would appear in the paper. He took aside the wire editor -- the person who handled Associated Press copy and the layout of the paper -- and instructed him to watch for his item. When the item was ready to run the wire editor was to make it all capital letters and in boldface type. Other members of the newsroom were unaware of Hjelles scheme and when the paper was printed they thought the wire editor had pulled a prank on Hjelle. They waited for the fallout, which never came. Hjelle had more than fun on his mind. He wanted to show the public that the editor didnt get any special treatment. It also gave him a ready answer when someone called to ask him to keep their name out of the paper. Hjelle occasionally had an event in which he invited the governor to be editor of the day. The governor would follow Hjelle through part of his workday. On Oct. 9, 1974, Gov. Art Link, a Democrat, was editor for a day. News broke that U.S. Rep. Wilbur Mills, D-Arkansas, had been stopped early that morning by police and that Fanne Fox, an Argentine stripper, had fled the car and jumped into the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. Hjelle, a well-known Republican, on learning about the incident, turned to Link with a sly smile and asked, Where should we play this story? The later years From the 1980s on it was a time of change. Computers replaced typewriters, mostly making life easier for the newsroom. Copy editors no longer had to do a headline word count in their head as they wrote headlines. The computer did it. Over the years everything changed in the newsroom. When the internet arrived no one was sure how to use it. In the early years of the internet the Tribune would put longer versions of stories that appeared in the paper on the internet. On days when the paper was squeezed for space reporters would have to write shorter than they liked. The internet enabled them to add valuable information they couldnt get in the print story. Technological changes have been so rapid and constant that its allowed newspapers to streamline, or some would argue, downsize. Reporters and photographers can cover an event anywhere in the state, even the nation, and have the ability to file stories and photos quickly to the Tribune. The internet and social media make the future of print newspapers uncertain. The Tribune has survived for 150 years and the odds favor it being around in some form in the future. Not just a newsroom The Tribune has been much more than a newsroom. The paper has been published and delivered for years because of the contributions of advertising, circulation, marketing, classified, press department, production department, mailroom workers, delivery drivers, carriers and assorted other staff members. The Tribune is North Dakota's oldest newspaper and the state's oldest continuously operated business. You could say the glory goes to the newsroom, but the credit is shared by all. Rashmika Mandanna seemed to be annoyed after a group of cameramen chased her in Bandra on Monday. The Animal actress was in Mumbai for a few hours to complete a few engagements. While she obliged to pose for photos at the airport upon arrival, she appeared to discourage cameramen following her and trying to take her photos in the middle of the traffic. In a video shared by Movified on YouTube, the actress was seen in her car, making her way to Bandra when she was stopped by a few paparazzi. While the actress humbly agreed to roll down her cars window and smile for the camera, she asked them, How many videos and photos?" When a cameraman informed her that he was following her from Bandra, the actress replied, This is in the middle of the traffic na." Watch the video here: Rashmika had a busy Monday. The Pushpa 2 star was spotted outside her vanity on a set a couple of times, wearing different outfits. In the first video, Rashmika was seen wearing a floral-printed dress with her hair perfectly done, in the second, she was seen in a black saree. Rashmika wrapped work and was spotted making her way back to the airport. Later in the night, Rashmika was spotted at Hyderabad airport, confirming that she is back home. The recent visit to Mumbai come amid concerns over Rashmikas relationship with Vijay. Last week, Rashmika shared a motivational video that spoke about falling apart and understanding the purpose of people leaving your life amid rumours that she is dating Vijay Deverakonda. Sometimes it takes certain things falling apart for better things to fall in place. Sometimes it takes losing what youre settling for to remind you of what you truly deserve," a portion of the video said. Rashmika shared the inspiring video on her Instagram Stories but without a caption, leaving everyone wondering if all is okay with her. Meanwhile, on the work front, Rashmika recently began work on Pushpa 2. The actress will be reprising her role as Srivalli in the Allu Arjun-led film. The film also stars Fahadh Faasil and is rumoured to feature Sai Pallavi. Apart from that, Rashmika also has Animal in the pipeline. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor in the lead and has been delayed to a December release. Ace director SS Rajamouli recently took to Twitter to share glimpses from his trip in Tamil Nadu, where he visited several temples with his family and experienced the soul-stirring tranquility of the state. The RRR director wrote that he wanted to take a road trip to central Tamil Nadu for a long time to experience the states rich cultural heritage. He captioned the video, Wanted to do a road trip in central Tamilnadu for a long time. Thanks to my daughter who wanted to visit temples, we embarked upon it. Had been to Srirangam, Darasuram, Brihadeeswarar koil, Rameshwaram, Kanadukathan, Thoothukudi and Madurai in the last week of June. Could only touch the tip of the iceberg in the given few days." Wanted to do a road trip in central Tamilnadu for a long time. Thanks to my daughter who wanted to visit temples, we embarked upon it. Had been to Srirangam, Darasuram, Brihadeeswarar koil, Rameshwaram, Kanadukathan, Thoothukudi and Madurai in the last week of June . Could only pic.twitter.com/rW52uVJGk2 rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) July 11, 2023 Talking about the cultural heritage and brilliance of the state, the filmmaker further wrote, Exquisite architecture, amazing engineering and deep spiritual thought of pandyas, chozhas Nayakkars and many other rulers was truly mesmerizing." Whether the fine dining in Mantrakoodam, Kumbakonam or a kaka hotel murugan mess in Rameshwaram the food has been marvelous everywhere I must have put on 2-3 kilos in a week. After 3 months of foreign travel and food, this homeland tour has been refreshing and uplifting," Rajamouli added. Meanwhile, Rajamoulis next pan-India venture SSMB29 which stars Mahesh Babu in the lead will be launched on August 9, which is the Telugu superstars birthday. Reportedly, the film is currently in the pre-production stage and its script is being worked upon. It is said to be an adventure drama set in an African jungle and the shooting for the movie is likely to begin next year. SSMB29 is scheduled to hit theatres in mid-2025. Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor was recently spotted recently at the Mumbai airport, as she took off to Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh, to shoot for Stree sequel. And now, a motion teaser that says the filming has started has been dropped. Taking to their Instagram handles, the lead cast of the film, shared the teaser and wrote in Hindi, Ek baar phir aantak! filming begins! Aa rahi hai woh- August 2024!" As Shraddha left for Chanderi, she looked elegant as she walked out of her car and greeted the cameramen. She styled her airport look with a printed kurta set and sported a no-makeup look. She accessorised her outfit with golden hoop earrings and a white bag. Stree, a comedy horror film directed by debutant Amar Kaushik and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Raj and DK, takes inspiration from the urban legend Nale Ba (Come tomorrow) of Karnataka. The story revolves around a witch who kidnaps men at night while they are alone, leaving only their clothes behind. Stree 2 is a sequel to the 2018 horror comedy film. The 2018 film starred Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha in the lead roles. Actors Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee, and Pankaj Tripathi played supporting roles in the movie. Helmed by Amar Kaushik, the film was dubbed a blockbuster hit and received praise from audiences and critics. The makers of the film had earlier announced the release date of Stree 2 at a grand event in Mumbai. The team revealed that the sequel to the horror comedy film will be released in August 2024. On the work front, Shraddha was last seen in the movie Tu Jhoothi Mai Makkar, opposite Ranbir Kapoor, which garnered a positive response from the audience. Currently, as per reports, she has signed her new film, Chandu Champion, however, an official confirmation is awaited. Hollywood actor Tom Holland expressed his disappointment with the way his social media hiatus was reported by the press. In a recent interview on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, the Spider-Man: No Way Home star revealed his frustration at how the media took his story in the wrong direction. The actor known for being vocal about mental health, has been candid about his decision to take a break from social media. During the podcast interview, he discussed the toll that his emotional role in The Crowded Room had taken on him and how it prompted him to step away from the addictive nature of social media. Holland explained, I was having a really hard time with the job just because of how taxing it was, the emotional capacity that I was having to get to every day. And I decided to delete my Instagram because I just felt like I was so addicted to this kind of false version of my life that it was just taking over." Holland further revealed that he made a public announcement about his social media hiatus, explaining that he believed it would benefit his mental health. However, he was dismayed when the press took his statement and spun it into a narrative of a mental breakdown. He said, The thing that really upset me is the press ran with that and they tried to make out that I was having this mental breakdown. And what upset me was if I was having a mental breakdown, thats not for you to report on." The 27-year-old expressed disappointment that his decision to prioritize his mental well-being was portrayed negatively by the media. Rather than supporting his choice, the press painted a negative light on mental health, perpetuating the stigma surrounding it. They took the story in the wrong direction. They painted this negative light on mental health, he said. Holland believes that this type of journalism is unfair and misleading. He emphasized the importance of responsible reporting and expressed his disappointment that the press failed to take a more understanding and supportive approach. This is not the first time Holland has faced media scrutiny over personal decisions. Earlier this year, he revealed his plans to take a year-long break from acting after filming Uncharted and Spider-Man: No Way Home back-to-back. However, his decision was put on hold when he received an offer to star in The Crowded Room. After completing that challenging project, Holland decided it was time to take a break and focus on himself. In the multicultural and multi-religious landscape of India, where personal laws govern the lives of citizens based on their religious affiliations, the idea of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been a subject of heated debate for decades. However, a recent survey conducted by News18 illuminates a promising shift in the attitudes of Muslim women in India, indicating robust support for the principles central to the proposed UCC. The survey shatters widely held stereotypes and misconceptions about the perspective of Muslim women on personal law issues. It shows that a considerable majority supports the introduction of common laws pertaining to marriage, divorce, adoption, and inheritance. The degree of consensus, surprising to some, underscores the changing paradigms within a community often thought to be resistant to such ideas and should serve to silence sceptics and in particular male-dominated bodies like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). To understand what the Muslim women think of the provisions that are likely to be at the core of a UCC, 884 reporters from the News18 network interviewed 8,035 Muslim women across 25 states and Union Territories. It was not a poll done on social media. Every participant was personally reached by a reporter. The respondents represented a cross-section of female Muslims across different demographics. The survey participants included those 18 years and above to those above 65. Right from the illiterate to the post-graduate, the survey captured a wide educational diversity. The participants were given the choice to remain anonymous. But 90 percent of them willingly gave their names. Each surveyor (reporter) interviewed on average only nine Muslim women for purposes of higher accuracy. The seven key questions asked in this survey did not mention a Uniform Civil Code. These were strictly limited to only the themes that the UCC is likely to cover. The survey was conducted to better understand Muslim womens perspectives on these issues. Key findings of the survey The survey reveals that a remarkable 67 percent of all Muslim women respondents, with a slightly higher percentage (68 percent) among graduate and above respondents, favour a common law applicable to all Indians. This response points to an evolving consciousness, a shift towards seeing the merit in a legal framework that unites rather than divides, a step towards greater legal cohesion that transcends religious, caste, and community barriers. A recurrent contentious issue in debates about Muslim Personal Law is polygamy. Here, too, the survey offers an unambiguous perspective: a significant 76 percent of all Muslim women respondents, and an even higher 79 percent among graduates and above, disapprove of polygamy. This trend indicates a strong movement towards embracing monogamy, a shift that cannot be understated in its social implications and the impact the practice of polygamy has on Muslim women. When asked about the equal rights of succession and inheritance of property irrespective of gender, the response was overwhelmingly positive. As many as 82 percent of all respondents, and 86 percent of the graduate and above demographic, favoured gender equality in inheritance laws. This figure mirrors a growing call for breaking down patriarchal norms in property inheritance, extending the ethos of equality to all areas of personal law. In the context of divorce and remarriage, 74 percent of all respondents believe that divorced couples should be able to remarry without any restrictions, suggesting an increasingly liberal stance on second marriages within the Muslim community and a rejection of the practice of Nikah Halala, which states a woman must marry another man, consummate her marriage, then divorce him and post three months of waiting, re-marry her first husband. This has proven to be an extremely exploitative practice and Muslim women have raised objections to it and even approached the court, the AIMPLB, however, challenges their stance. The surveys findings are not uniformly high across all issues. When it comes to adoption, the level of agreement drops to 65 percent for all respondents and 69 percent for the graduate and above segment. While these numbers still represent a majority, the comparatively lower agreement underscores the complexities and deeply ingrained cultural nuances around adoption. One of the surveys key revelations is the strong support for the freedom to will away property as per an individuals wishes, with 69 percent of all respondents and 73 percent of graduate+ respondents supporting this idea. This reflects an aspiration for increased autonomy and personal freedom in property matters. Additionally, the survey highlights overwhelming support for increasing the minimum age for marriage to 21 for both men and women, backed by 79 percent of all Muslim women respondents and 82 percent of those with a graduate or higher degree. This aligns with recent policy shifts and amplifies the collective voice for delaying marriage in favour of education and career growth, thereby empowering Muslim women and giving them more control over their lives. This is an ongoing battle, as recently as in January this year, the Supreme Court had to intervene when NCPCR raised an objection about the Haryana and Tamil Nadu High Court judgements that held that Muslim girls attained puberty at 15 and were hence legally eligible to be married off. These glaring violative issues do the rounds of courts, even though women from the community overwhelming want to protect young girls from child marriage. A UCC would settle this matter once and for all. In conclusion, the insightful findings of the News18 survey illustrate a picture of Muslim women ready to embrace legal reforms that provide greater gender equality and personal freedom, transcending traditional, religious and social barriers. This unequivocal support for a UCC displayed by the survey should significantly inform the ongoing dialogue around the topic, bringing to the fore the fact that Muslim women, an essential stakeholder in this discourse, are not only ready for change but are actively advocating for it. Advaita Kala is a best-selling novelist and award winning screenwriter. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday expressed solidarity with the trading community across India, tweeting against the BJP-led central governments move to allow the Enforcement Directorate to share information with the GST Network (GSTN). The partys strategic position is another attempt to chip away at the support of the trading community, who are believed to be staunch supporters of the BJP and stuck to the saffron party in the national capital through the AAP waves in 2015 and 2020. GSTN handles the technology backbone of the indirect tax regime and is the repository of all GST-related information, including return, tax filing and other compliances. As per the amendment to the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, GSTN has been included in the list of entities with which ED will share information. A big section of traders do not comply with GST some unknowingly and some knowingly. A few days ago, the central government brought GSTN also into the ambit of Enforcement Directorate which means that if a trader does not submit GST, then ED can arrest that person directly and even bail will be denied, Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. - , GST ED GST ED GST Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 11, 2023 Terming the move very dangerous, Kejriwal said that instead of focusing on their business, traders would be busy saving themselves from the Enforcement Directorate. Raising an alarm, he said the countrys small traders would come within the ambit of the law and no one would be spared. Kejriwals tweet had come ahead of the 50th meeting of the GST Council chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday. According to AAP sources, at the meeting, Delhi Finance Minister Atishi and Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema opposed the central governments move in the GST meeting, leading to an exchange of words with Nirmala Sitharaman. Speaking to News18, AAP minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said: I think the central government is creating a new tool to harass the businessmen in this country. PMLA was designed basically to check terrorism funding, to check drug cartels. It was not meant for common man. If somebody does a mistake in GST filing, which can be done by anybody because GST is so complicated, you cant book them under PMLA. You cant throw them in jail until they prove themselves innocent. This is totally wrong. This was not the intention of parliamentarians when they brought in PMLA. It is just an exercise to silence all the individuals who have started questioning the central government. The BJP believes that through polarization, they would be able to manage the trading community. But I dont think it is possible. If you hurt their living, if you threaten their life and liberty, they would be very annoyed with the central government, he added. On whether the AAP sees an opportunity in this, Bhardwaj said: We dont see any opportunity here. What we believe is that this is totally illegal and it should be stopped." In November last year, the government had allowed the ED to share information about economic offenders with 15 more agencies, including SFIO, CCI and NIA. Following that notification, the ED, which deals primarily with cases of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws, was allowed to share data with a total of 25 agencies, including the 10 specified earlier. The list also includes CBI, RBI, Sebi, IRDAI, Intelligence Bureau, and Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), among others. With the addition of GSTN, the list of entities now stands at 26. Rajasthan's Sainik Kalyan Minister Rajendra Gudha has said since both Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot are "running after" him, there must be something special about him. Gudha made the remarks, which seem to refer to the power struggle in the state's ruling party, on Monday during an event at the community health centre in Jhunjhunu's Gudhagoudji. A purported video of his speech is being circulated on social media platforms. "Today, both Gehlot and Sachin Pilot are running after your brother (Gudha). There must be some quality," Gudha said addressing the people gathered at the event. The minister is also heard talking about Goddess Sita, whose beauty he said was "unimaginable" and that is why people like Lord Ram and Ravana admired her. When asked about the viral video, the minister told PTI, "I am a descendant of Lord Ram. Mata Sita is 'Jagdamba'. She was beautiful. People like Ram and Ravana were her admirers." In the video, the minister attacked the BJP and accused it of dividing people in the name of Hindu-Muslim, mandir-masjid, Pakistan-Hindustan, and Yogi-Modi to win elections. Whereas the Congress seeks votes in the name of those who fought for the country's independence such as Maulana Azad, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel, he says in the video. "Rajendra Gudha asks for votes on the basis of his deeds," he said. With Karnataka government ruling out CBI probe into the brutal murder of a Jain monk in Belagavi district, Opposition BJP on Tuesday staged a protest by trooping into the well of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, accusing Siddaramaiah-led administration of not taking the case seriously. The BJPs protest disrupted the proceedings of the House, during the second half of the day, prompting Speaker U T Khader to adjourn the House first for a few minutes and then for the rest of the day, as his repeated attempts to conduct the business by requesting opposition MLAs to go their seats failed. Alleging that a series of killings have taken place in the state since the Congress came to power, the BJP also raised the murder of a Yuva Brigade member in Mysuru district, and questioned the government about the maintenance of law and order situation in the state, while demanding a fair probe and strict punishment to the culprits. Ruling out BJPs demand for a CBI probe in Jain monk murder case, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara said that the government has taken all the cases seriously. Police are probing the cases efficiently and will bring out the truth and would ensure merciless strict action against the culprits, they said. With the ruling side not heeding to their demand, BJP leader and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai alleged that the government has not taken the case seriously. We have no faith in this government and its actions, so we will stage a protest," he said, leading BJP MLAs to the well of the House. Jain monk Kamkumar Nandi Maharaj from Nand Parvat Ashram at Hirekodi village in Chikkodi taluk of Belagavi was allegedly murdered and his body was dumped in a borewell pit at Khatakbhavi village in Raibag taluk last week. Police have arrested two persons identified as Narayana Basappa Madi and Hassan Dalayath in connection with the case. Siddaramaiah during his intervension called the Jain monks killing as shocking and said, police are effectively handling the case and there is no question of protecting anyone, and whoever is involved and however big they are, the government will do all that is possible to get them strict punishment. The government has taken the case seriously, investigation is on." I assure the Assembly that our government whether it is a Jain monk murder case or killing of a Yuva Brigade member there is no question of protecting those involved, there will be no chance for any influence or pressure Doubting our own police and handing over the case to the CBI at this moment is not right, so there is no need to give it to the CBI. Police will inquire," he added. Sharing the details of the Jain monks murder and investigation so far into the case, Parameshwara making a statement said, police within six hours after getting the complaint have arrested the accused. I compliment the police for swift actionfurther investigations are on." You (opposition) have the right to demand for a CBI probe, but arent our police efficient? Karnataka police is one of the best police in the country. When the police have nabbed the culprits in six hours and are conducting the inquiry, what is the need for a CBI probe? There is no need for the CBI probe, so there is no question of handing over the case to CBI," he said. There will not be any coverup, he further said, adding that, there would be a fair probe to bring the truth out, and the government would ensure strict punishment to the culprits. Bommai in response to the Ministers statement said the Jain monks murder case was not like any other case, as it is a gruesome and cold blooded murder", with a pre-planned conspiracy behind it. The reason why we are demanding for a CBI probe is because the police immediately after nabbing the accused came to the conclusion that financial dealing between the monk and one of the accused led to the murder. This has led to the suspicion of attempts to cover up the case on part of the police," he said, adding that the government should not make it a prestige issue and should let the truth come out. CBI probe can bring the real conspirators and those behind the murder and can ensure the strictest action against the culprits, he added. Former Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and BJP MLA Abhay Patil too demanded a CBI probe. Later, making a statement regarding the killing of Yuva Brigade member Venugopal Nayak in T Narasipura, Parameshwara sharing the details of the incident and investigation so far, said, all the accused in the case have been arrested by the police. He said the deceased and the accused were known to each other and murder was a result of personal issues. With BJP alleging lapses on part of the police leading to Nayaks murder, Siddaramaiah said, the case will be probed from all angles and if there is dereliction of duty on part of the police, action will be taken against them. Nayak, a Yuva Brigade member was allegedly stabbed to death at T Narasipura on Sunday, during a clash between two groups of youths following Hanuma Jayanti celebrations. Bommai reacting to the statement said Nayaks murder could have been avoided as there were police bandobast for Hanuma Jayanti celebrations and officials were aware of the altercation between those involved in the incident on the previous day. There is negligence on part of the officials and police, what action has been taken against them? What message do you want to send, without any action?" he asked, while alleging that over 10 such series of incidents have taken place in the state. Maharashtras cabinet expansion and portfolio distribution was the key topic of discussion in Mondays late-night meeting between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his two deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis (Bharatiya Janata Party) and (Nationalist Congress Party) Ajit Pawar, according to sources. While it has been more than nine days since Ajit Pawar and his 8 MLAs were sworn-in, no portfolios have been assigned to them. ALSO READ | Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion in 2 Days, Ajit Pawar to Get Revenue | Details of Late-night Key Meet The newly inducted ministers, along with aspirants for cabinet berths from the Shiv Sena and BJP, are putting pressure on CM Shinde for expansion as early as possible, as the ministers, too, will require some time to study their departments and prepare for the questions that will be asked by MLAs on the floor of the house. If sources are to be believed, talks are still stuck over portfolio distribution, as the number of aspirants is more than the portfolios available. AJIT PAWARS DEMANDS Ajit Pawar, who was inducted recently, is demanding one of the important portfolios between home, finance and urban development. Pawar was the finance minister in the CM Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. In 2022, when Shinde and his 40 MLAs parted ways with the Thackeray-led Sena, one of the reasons cited was Pawar did not give them funds easily, while NCP MLAs always got the first preference. Fadnavis is not willing to give the home department to Pawar and Shinde is not ready to part with the urban development department (UDD). There is a chance that Pawar may be asked to lead the revenue or energy department, both critical departments, which are with the BJP. Source also indicated that Pawar has also sought irrigation, rural development, tourism, social justice, women and child development and excise departments for his MLAs. CASTE FACTOR; NO JUNIOR MINISTERS Shinde and Fadnavis have reportedly held multiple meetings with their party legislators, and separately among themselves, over who can be inducted into the cabinet and who will get which department. While speaking to News18, a senior BJP leader said: The cabinet expansion will happen within the next two days. Although the maximum limit in the Maharashtra cabinet is 43 ministers, it is likely that five ministers each from the BJP and Shiv Sena may take oath. ALSO READ | Maha CM Eknath Shinde: No Cold War with Devendra Fadnavis, Ready for Mumbai Civic Polls | Exclusive The leader also said this time the possibility of having MoS (junior ministers) in the cabinet is bleak, as whoever will be sworn in will directly get a cabinet berth. He indicated that instead of performance, Shinde and Fadnavis may consider the caste factor. Its unlikely that Pawar may get finance, home, urban development and irrigation departments, he said. IN 48-72 HOURS Speaking to the media, Minister Uday Samant said the cabinet expansion may happen within the next 48-72 hours. The three leaders CM Eknath Shinde and two Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar know Maharashtra and its geography very well. They will allocate the portfolios according to the abilities of the MLAs. We have complete faith in Shindes leadership and we will accept the decision taken by them, he said. BJP minister Sudhir Mungantiwar told this reporter: One or two upset MLAs dont represent the voices of all 40-50 Shiv Sena MLAs. Just like how we cant induct all BJP MLAs ministers, we cant make all Shiv Sena MLAs ministers. Some will have to make the sacrifice or wait for their time. Boasting of the development work carried out in Mumbai and Maharashtra, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, in an exclusive interview to News18 Lokmat, said he was ready for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. ALSO READ | Uddhavs Maha Tour Pointless Now; Party Chiefs Need to Keep Family Aside: CM Eknath Shinde to News18 He refuted claims of a cold war between deputy CM and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis, saying the latter had a lions share in making him the CM. MUMBAI POLL PLANK We will fight the elections on our development work. People have lost their lives on these roads. The roads are better, cleanliness is improving, there are health centresThey could have done this using the money from the Mumbai civic body. What was stopping them? It could have benefitted the people. You have been here for 30 years, we were just for a yearMumbaiites see the difference. The contractors were hand-in-gloveThey are misleading on the FD issueWe are not spending on ads for us. Mumbaiites need to know about the schemes we are offering. They can audit it. Mumbai is an international city, we are doing our best for it. The citys money should be used for it. We will look into the redevelopment projects pending for years. We will change rules if need be. We will get the Mumbaiites who left the city back. All agencies, MMRDA, MSRDC, Cidco, will be asked to take over the projects and help people get homes. We are helping in cluster redevelopment. We are looking at premium and FSI. We cant let them stay in dilapidated buildings, he said. ON COLD WAR BETWEEN FADNAVIS AND HIM There is no cold war between Devendraji and me. There are no differences. He is a large-hearted man. I am not a hardcore politician. I am not a person who compromises his principles and ideals for the chair. Devendraji had a lions share in making me the Chief Minister. He accepted another Deputy CM in Ajit Dada. It takes courage to do some things, it takes a large heart to digest it, he has it. We have a friendship, he trusts me. His projects were stopped by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Jobless opponents are spreading these rumours, he said. ON NEXT CM FACE Shinde said it depends on people. We work as a team. Our works, decisions for development and public interest will help us. Under the leadership of PM Modi, we will win record numbers. We will contest the assembly elections as a team and win a majority. We have worked. People dont like those who just indulge in insulting others. We are from the streets. We will continue to work for the state as much as we can till our last breath, said Shinde. On claims that they are delaying the elections because they are scared, Shinde said, The issue of municipal elections is in the Supreme Court. They are also accusing the Election Commission, even advising the Supreme Court. People are wise. We believe in our work, so we are ready to face the elections. ON MAHA DEVELOPMENT Our government is completing one year. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavisji and I have taken 350 to 400 big decisions. In every cabinet, we have considered the interest of the people of Maharashtra. We have not seen any individual benefit. We have been working throughout the year with the aim of making a difference to peoples lives, he said. When some projects get delayed, people suffer the consequences. The financial burden also increases. We removed all these speedbreakers and took many decisions one after the other. We have the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After the cooperative sector came close to Amit Shah, he decided to waive Rs 10,000 crores of income tax. Every proposal of ours is approved through the Central government. Prime Minister Modis focus is the development of our Maharashtra. This is why Ajit Pawar and his colleagues came with us. That is why they have supported us. Maharashtra had gone backwards. Gujarat and Karnataka went ahead. But as soon as our government came, Devendraji and I started working. Now I am proud to say that Maharashtra is number 1 in foreign investment. We got Rs 1.18 lakh crore investment. Infrastructure works are underway on a large scale. Metro works that were shut have been started. Metro 2A, Metro 7 was inaugurated by Honble Prime Minister. The Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway has been inaugurated. Even there, the opposition played pranks as they did not want the development of Maharashtra. They stopped Aareys car shed due to ego. Metro-3 was stopped. We removed the speed breaker. The Mumbai-Pune Link, MTHL will reduce the travel time. Sewri-Nhava Sheva project is also starting. Versova to Virar, Mumbai Goa Sindhudurg Access Control GreenfieldWe are undertaking the same work. We have also undertaken the work of Coastal Konkan. It is for the benefit of the people. Time will be saved, fuel will be saved, pollution will be reduced. When the 337 km network of Metro is completed, 60-70 lakh vehicles will go off the roads. People will travel comfortably by Metro. Carbon emissions will reduce. In two-and-a half years, only Rs 2 crore of the CM fund was spent on medical aid. We have spent Rs 85 crore in a year. Whenever someone demands, I sign wherever I am. If my one signature is saving someones life, why should I not? There were no pens at that time. I dont even know when the ink gets over, he said. ON PM MODI Why should I not thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi? He helped me become the CM. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Devendra Fadnavis supported me. The world is looking up to India because of PM Modi, be it G20 or his speech in the US, Shinde said. When questioned about Opposition unity, he said, The fact that all opponents are coming together is Modis victory. You are scared. They hold meetings there and come out and say that Modi is going to be the Prime Minister. The Bismarck Tribune didnt have a good track record as a tenant or building owner. Where the Tribune went, fires seemed to tag along. When Col. Clement A. Lounsberry reported on Lt. Col. George A. Custers defeat at the Little Big Horn in 1876, the Tribune was located at 213 E. Main Ave. in a basic wood building. Most of the buildings in Bismarck at the time were built out of cottonwood. The Tribune building was constructed in 1873 and burned in 1885. The Tribune then moved to a more substantial building at 317 E. Main that was built in 1885. In 1898 a railroad warehouse on the right of way in the back caught fire, touching off a large blaze downtown. The Tribune again went up in smoke. In 1898 the Tribune purchased a small building on the northwest corner of Broadway Avenue and North Fourth Street. It later added on to the building. In 1919 the Tribune moved to the Gussner Building on the southwest corner of Main and North Third Street. The staff hadnt been in the building very long when arriving at work on the morning of Jan. 21, 1920, they reported a fire. At first it wasnt considered serious, but it grew, gutting the interior. The building survived and today is the home of J&R Vacuum and Sewing at 223 E. Main. Bismarck Tribune marks 150 years of writing history The Bismarck Tribune, North Dakota's oldest newspaper, celebrates 150 years of publishing on Tuesday. The first edition was dated July 11, 1873. Publisher George Mann had seen enough of fires. He hired an architect from Great Falls, Montana, to design and build a new office and plant. In 1920 the Tribune moved into its new quarters at 222 N. Fourth St. It would serve as home until 1980. The building remains in use. By the 1970s the Tribune building on Fourth Street had become crowded, and Publisher A. Glenn Sorlie decided to build a new plant and building. He selected a site at Front Avenue and South Seventh Street. The Tribune staff moved into the $7 million building in 1980. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar may share the stage at an event in Maharashtra next month with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. The Prime Minister will be conferred with Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune on August 1 which is likely to be attended by Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. Sharad Pawar has been invited as a chief guest, organisers said on Monday. Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit have been locked in a tussle to claim over the NCP after the latter rebelled against senior Pawar and joined the NDA government in Maharashtra. While Ajit took oath as deputy CM, eight other NCP MLAs were sworn in as cabinet ministers earlier this month. PM Modi has been selected for the award, comprising a memento and citation, in recognition of his supreme leadership and for awakening the feeling of patriotism among citizens. The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) will confer the Lokmanya Tilak National Award upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1, the 103rd death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak," Trust president Deepak Tilak said in a release. It said India climbed the ladder of progress under the supreme leadership of the prime minister under the concept of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. PM Modi awakened the feeling of patriotism among citizens and put India on the global map. Considering his perseverance and efforts, and highlighting his work, the trustees of the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust have unanimously selected him for this award," the release said. During an interaction with the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) booth workers in Bhopal on June 27, Modi said there are allegations of scams of nearly Rs 70,000 crore against NCP, including the Maharashtra Cooperative Bank scam, irrigation scam and illegal mining scam. After Ajit Pawars revolt, Sharad Pawar reminded PM Modi of his recent remarks about the corruption" of NCP leaders and asked him to act against those who are guilty. It seems the Prime Minister has exonerated the NCP and all those against whom he had levelled allegations. I am happy today that he gave cabinet berths to some colleagues from NCP. It shows the allegations against corruption were not factual. I am thankful to the PM for this," Sharad Pawar had said. (With PTI inputs) Amid the split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Ajit Pawar joining the Maharashtra government as the deputy Chief Minister, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, spoke exclusively to News18 Lokmat, saying his Shiv Sena is not upset about the new development. ALSO READ | Maha CM Eknath Shinde: No Cold War with Devendra Fadnavis, Ready for Mumbai Civic Polls | Exclusive While refuting that they caused the NCP split, he said leaders from Uddhav Thackerays Sena are joining him because they trust his work and government. DISGRUNTLED SENA? When asked if there was disgruntlement in his Shiv Sena because of the NCPs entry, Shinde dismissed it as rumours. All these are rumors. Who will go? And where? To those who are sitting at home or to a broken boat? Not one paper was signed in two-and-a-half years. MLAs are witness to the change in the past one year. So much work has been done in their constituencies in one year. Who will go and voluntarily fall into a pit, Shinde asked. ON BREAKING UP THE NCP Ajit dada had clarified after the split that Sharad Pawar saheb has been taking the decisions. In 2017, in 2019, he took a call on alliances. Ajit dada and Chhagan Bhujbal have clearly stated this. I dont think we need to say anything on that now, he said. ON UDDHAV THACKERAY When asked about Uddhav Thackeray touring the state, Shinde said, He should have done it earlier. It is too late now. What is the point of walking around now? You have lost what you had. Balasaheb Thackeray used to stand by his colleagues whenever they faced any difficulty. When there is ego, you start thinking of yourself as the owner and the other person as a slave. You need a large heart to run a party, you have to support and boost the morale of the workers. When they rise, they take the party along. A party which has insecurity cannot make it big, said Shinde. SHOOT MYSELF STATEMENT Shinde said that his alleged statement that I will shoot myself if nothing comes out of this Sena rebellion was distorted. It was my responsibility to ensure that the political future of those who came with me should not be jeopardized. No one should be harmed. That is the way I work. When I won difficult elections, I gave credit to my colleagues, but when I lost, I took responsibility for it, he said. ON UDDHAV SENA LEADERS JOINING HIS PARTY Why shouldnt people come? They trust our government. Neelam Gorhe joined us. Did we offer her money (khoke)? The truth will come out in the probe into the handling of Covid by the Mumbai civic body. 50 MLAs, 13 MLCs, scores of corporators and workers are leaving them. They need to introspect why people are leaving them. Once you leave, they call you useless, but when you are with them you are precious, Shinde said, adding, They can conduct a probe into Thane and Kalyan civic bodies functioning. The scams in buying body bags, the way Covid centres were handled by inexperienced people, the faulty oxygen plants led to black fungus leading to deaths ON THE NCP SPLIT When a capable, hardworking person is ignored or suppressed or given a secondary place, such incidents happen. If any party chief wants to make the party big, he has to keep his family and personal ambitions aside, he said. ON MNSs CAMPAIGN Commenting on the campaign being run by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), seeking signatures from those who are angry, Shinde said, I have no idea who is angry. My relations with MNS chief Raj Thackeray are cordial. We recently met and spoke about Nashik and BDD chawl issues. The foldable smartphone market has blossomed with multiple brands out there but the foldable laptop segment is yet to evolve, with only Asus being the lone option. Apple could change that dynamics with its own MacBook foldable model, which is reportedly expected to launch by 2026. Apple could work with Samsung or LG for the foldable screen, making it an intriguing development for the industry in the next few years. Foldables are likely to be Apples next big frontier in the tech space, and the foldable MacBook could kickstart the era with the product unveiling expected in 2025 while the product officially launches in 2026, similar to the Apple Vision Pro launch timelines. Samsung is likely to benefit the most from Apples product timelines, and the South Korean brand is seemingly betting billions on a dedicated unit for manufacturing foldable OLED panels, which could eventually come to its own products. After all, the company already has foldable screens for phones, and moving to laptops will be an obvious growth move. Coming back to the foldable Macs, expect Apple to put a mind-boggling price tag for the product, something we have seen with the Apple Vision Pro headset earlier this year. In addition to the Macs, we might also see the first OLED iPad Pro range in the next 12 months, and eventually moving to the OLED MacBook Pro for consumers in the next few years, before the foldable tech picks up pace for the company. The only foldable laptop available in the market comes from Asus, and the ZenBook Fold 17 is priced upwards of Rs 3 lakh as of now, with the tech likely to see further evolution to become far more affordable in the next few years, which gives Apple more room to showcase its foldable version of the macOS and make it the benchmark for the industry to follow. A Mumbai-based private aerospace company has supplied critical components to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its upcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission. Liquid propulsion engines such as Vikas, CE20, and satellite thrusters for the lunar mission have been manufactured by Godrej Aerospace in its facility at Vikhroli in suburban Mumbai, a senior company official said on Monday. Maneck Behramkamdin, Assistant Vice-President and Business Head, Godrej Aerospace, said his company has been affiliated with the ISRO, an entity under the Department of Space, for over three decades. The collaboration began with the production of critical components to meet ISROs needs, and then expanded to liquid propulsion engines, Behramkamdin said. Godrej Aerospace also had key contributions to Chandrayaan-1 and 2 and Mangalyaan space missions, besides participating in ISROs other endeavours. Chandrayaan-3, set for lift-off at 2:35 pm on Friday (July 14), will be a follow-up mission after the crash-landing of Chandrayaan-2 in September 2019 due to a software glitch. This will be Indias third lunar mission and it is among few countries to have undertaken such an ambitious project. Behramkamdin said the company is investing Rs 250 crore to build a new facility at Khalapur in coastal Maharashtras Raigad district. This greenfield facility will have advanced manufacturing and assembly capabilities, enabling the company to enhance its technological prowess and meet the growing demands of the space sector, he added. PTI PR RSY . . Google is reportedly testing the ability to send animated emojis using the standard messaging app on Android, Google Messages to make standard messaging livelier and fun, but with certain limitations. According to Android Police, animated emojis are functional only when a single emoji is sent by users. However, if users send multiple emojis together or combine emojis with textthe animated functionality does not work. Google Messages already allows users to send emojis when texting, but the addition of animated emojis will make the app more appealing to users, and bring the experience in line with Apples iMessage and others like Telegram. For instance, iMessage offers a variety of text bubble effects when sending text messages or emojis, such as celebration, slam, gentle, invisible ink, and screen effects, including echo, spotlight, balloons, and confetti. Additionally, users can send custom Animoji emojis by choosing an emoji, character, or their own avatar and using their own facial expressions. This is most likely Googles way of introducing a similar experience for Android. The new animated emoji experience, which was first spotted by Reddit user BruthaBeige, builds on the Emoji Kitchen experience, which allows users to combine two emojis to create a hybrid of the two, resulting in strange but amusing emojis that users can send to each other. Googles current implementation is reportedly region-specific, with a broader rollout anticipated in the future. It works with most of the accessible emojis on Android. In other news, Google has also added a new badge/indicator for RCS chats in the Google Messages app, allowing users to differentiate between RCS and standard SMS conversations. A massive fight broke out between two male passengers on the flight over a seat dispute. The incident took place on a Ryanair flight, travelling from Malta to London Stansted on July 3. The disagreement took place when one passenger refused to make way for the other to get to his window seat. As reported by The Mirror, a video recorded by another passenger captured the intense argument that spiralled into a full-blown brawl. As the fight broke out, fear started to spread among the passengers. Following this, someone urgently appeals to the two men to stop fighting, saying, We wont be able to go home." The chaos prompted others to step in, trying to calm things down and separate the fighting passengers. The incident was recorded by a passenger named Neil Modwhadia. The video shot on the Ryanair flight has gained widespread attention across social media platforms. The argument over seating arrangements escalated to such an extent that it resulted in a significant delay before the flight finally took off, causing considerable inconvenience for the remaining passengers. Neil Modwhadia stated to The Mirror that the incident resulted in a two-hour flight delay, leaving everyone onboard annoyed." In the footage, a member of the Ryanair crew can be observed making their way through the cabin to intervene and separate the two men. Modwhadia provided additional details about the individuals involved in the fight. The shorter man on the left, who occupied the window seat, was described as American; while the taller man on the right, wearing a cap, was identified as British and was seated in the aisle seat. Recounting the incident, the passenger said, The British wouldnt let the American man pass through to get his window seat, and then some words and swears were exchanged before a scuffle broke out. Consequently, the flight got delayed for two hours, leaving all passengers feeling frustrated and annoyed. Ryanair said in a statement: Two passengers on this flight from Malta to Stansted (3 July) became disruptive ahead of take-off. The cabin crew diffused the situation before the aircraft departed safely for Stansted following a minor delay." Warm and cuddly are adjectives that seldom spring to mind when one thinks of rattlesnakes. But a new study from Loma Linda University near San Bernardino, California, may change that by showing that the venomous rattler appears to take comfort in being close to its own kind, much like people. The research showed that the snakes seem to gain a sense of well-being when they wriggle into sort of a group hug with other rattlers, according to the study published this week the journal Frontiers in Ethology. The findings challenge the notion that reptiles are solitary hunters that display little in the way of complex social behavior. The study is the work of Chelsea Martin, a Loma Linda doctoral student in biology, and her faculty adviser William Hayes, a professor of earth and biological sciences. Ethology, the study of animal behavior, has long recognized that birds and mammals, including humans, find comfort from being physically close to their own kind. Such proximity tends to make reptiles more relaxed, lowers their heart rates and reduces stress - not much different from people, Hayes said. Unfortunately for rattlesnakes and other lower vertebrates and invertebrates, we seldom give them that credit," Hayes said. Also read: Video Of Turtle Attacking A Snake In Water Leaves Internet Surprised People are eager to just chop their heads off," Hayes said, adding that the animals are sentient, capable of emotions." The idea for the study was hatched by Hayes in his off hours, when he is often called upon to wrangle rattlers caught by homeowners in the mountains of Southern California. Hayes said he usually puts a captured snake in a bucket and carries it safely into the wild, with the creature typically rattling furiously all the way. But he said he noticed that when two or more snakes were in a bucket, the rattling tended to ease. The calming effect when creatures are in close proximity with their own kind is called social buffering. It tells us that when they are with another snake it reduces their stress response," Martin said. It has never been reported in reptiles before. Its something that humans do." To measure stress levels in the snakes, Martin used a heart-rate monitor designed for humans. It lets us know as humans that, hey, were not that different from these snakes," Martin said. They are doing something we do." Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Frank McGurty and Will Dunham What will prevent Bengaluru from deviating from the subject of Peak Bengaluru when the city consistently astounds us with its unconventional ideas and actions? This bustling metropolis is renowned for its thriving startup culture, IT industry, traffic congestion, skyrocketing rents, tenant woes, and the myriad of other facets that make it an intriguing urban landscape. However, recently, an extraordinary and uncommon sight outside a preschool captured the attention of a user, prompting them to share and commemorate yet another remarkable Peak Bengaluru moment on the internet. In a tweet, @Bhavana_MA shared a pic of a poster depicting a child pointing towards the word Future under the heading Entrepreneurship Programme, indicating that the preschool was offering such a program to its students. The caption accompanying the photo exclaimed, Saw this outside a preschool (!) in HSR. Can only happen in Bangalore." In response, another user shared one of their old tweets featuring a preschool in Bengaluru, which showcased an image with a clever message uncommon for a child: Design is not what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." Saw this outside a preschool (!) in HSR. Can happen only in Bangalore @peakbengaluru pic.twitter.com/MZy1GOrfZs Bhavana (@Bhavana_MA) July 10, 2023 In yet another remarkable moment that epitomised the spirit of Bengaluru, a Twitter user made a bizarre yet ingenious approach while posting a requirement for a tenant. The tweet, which quickly went viral, was shared by a user who proudly mentioned founding three companies in their Twitter bio. They expressed their desire for a new roommate who could potentially become a Co-founder" if they had a compatible vibe. Read More: Man Seeks Roommate, Says Can Be Potential Co-Founder If They Vibe No doubt, this city is an absolute game-changer, pushing the boundaries of innovation in every possible way! Israels parliament adopted in a first reading a controversial bill that would limit court powers, in a new offensive to push ahead with a judicial overhaul that has split the nation. The changes, proposed by the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have sparked one of the countrys biggest-ever protest movements since their announcement in January. Tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in weekly rallies, demanding a halt to the planned overhaul of Israels justice system. Following stiff opposition and growing international criticism including from US President Joe Biden Netanyahu ordered what he called a pause in March to allow for talks on the proposals. But with Israels two main opposition leaders, Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, pulling out of negotiations, Netanyahu has now made a new attempt to pass the legislation in parliament. After a stormy parliament session, the bill was adopted in its first reading by 64 votes to 56. Ahead of the debate, some protesters entered the Knesset building and had to be dragged out, and hundreds more demonstrated outside. The vote was the first reading of a bill aimed at excluding the judiciarys right to rule on the reasonableness" of government decisions. One of its potential effects would be on the appointment of ministers. - Protests - Netanyahu in January was forced to dismiss cabinet member Aryeh Deri, of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish party Shas, after intervention by the Supreme Court, including on the ground of reasonableness", over a previous tax evasion conviction. Other reform proposals would give the government a greater say in the appointment of judges. The administration of Netanyahu, who returned to power in December at the head of a coalition with ultra-Orthodox and extreme-right allies, argues that the revamp is necessary to ensure a better balance of power. But critics have accused Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges, of trying to use the overhaul to quash possible judgements against him. Netanyahu denies the charges and rejects any link between the judicial changes and his own case. Opponents more generally regard the proposals as a threat to Israeli democracy. Demonstrators vowed to press on and called for mass protests on Tuesday if the vote on the first reading of the reasonableness" bill passed. A poll released Sunday by Israels public Kan television channel showed 31 percent of Israelis were in favour of the change, while 43 percent opposed it. In a June interview with The Wall Street Journal, Netanyahu said he would continue with the reforms but without a clause that curbs the Supreme Courts powers. I already changed a few things right after the original proposal was put forward," the premier said in the interview. I said that the idea of an override clause where the parliament, the Knesset, can override the decisions of the Supreme Court with a simple majority, I said, I threw that out." External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be on a week-long visit to Indonesia and Thailand beginning Wednesday for meetings, including with counterparts of the ASEAN and BIMSTEC groupings. During his visit to Indonesia, Jaishankar will meet his counterparts under the ASEAN framework in the format ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum over two days beginning Thursday. He will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries, an External Affairs Ministry statement said. Indias engagement with this ASEAN centred regional architecture signifies Indias strong commitment to ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific, it said. After Jakarta, Jaishankar will travel to Bangkok to participate in the 12th Foreign Ministers Meeting of Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism on Sunday. MGC, one of the oldest mechanisms of the lower Mekong region, is guided by Indias Act East Policy, the External Affairs Ministry said. The MGC is an initiative by India, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam to facilitate closer connections between the six member countries which share the Ganga river and Mekong river basins. In Bangkok, Jaishankar will also attend the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers Retreat on July 17. BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative which brings together the countries of Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation. The retreat would discuss ways to further deepen the BIMSTEC agenda and strengthen the organisation. In Bismarcks first park, just off Washington Street between Broadway and Thayer, theres a small plaque memorializing Mark Kellogg, The Bismarck Tribune reporter who died along with Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. I snapped a picture of it three years ago, noting the marker was placed by the Minishoshe Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and its location at the base of a Ponderosa pine tree. Its difficult to find, dirt creeping onto its edges and weed leaves dangling over parts of its top. Despite being obscured by construction fencing, the monument to Tribune founder Col. Clement Lounsberry, Kelloggs boss back then in 1876, is easier to find. Its not buried in the grass, but mounted on a big rock next to the sidewalk on Fifth Street just east of the old NP depot. It marks the spot where Lounsberry, by telegraph and using information from Kelloggs notes, told the rest of the world that the politically ambitious Custer had failed in his attempt to capture or kill Sitting Bull and his men. Of course the Tribune, just three years old at the time, already had the scoop when disbelieving newspapers in the Twin Cities and in New York got the story. Today, on the 150th anniversary of the publication of Volume 1, Number 1 of The Bismarck Tribune, the Kellogg/Lounsberry story remains among the most colorful about a publication whose business ever since has been to tell colorful, interesting and important stories about North Dakota and its capital city. Certainly there have been many others over those 150 years, notably the 1938 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service for its continuing coverage called Self Help in the Dust Bowl. But more than anything the story of the Tribune is one of daily routine, writing the first draft of Bismarcks history by providing a permanent record of births and deaths, weddings and divorces, business start-ups and failures, city commission and school board actions, elections, legislative decisions, major crimes, minor milestones, and on and on. At its core, this is irreplaceable community service, sometimes done better than others, sometimes angering or disappointing readers, sometimes engaging and enlightening them, always binding the community by revealing its beauty and its blemishes. If you remember Jack Case, youve been reading the Tribune a long time. Jack was a gentlemanly curmudgeon who was on the front page just about every day for most of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. He gathered material for Browsing Around by making a daily walk from the historic downtown Tribune building to Woodmansees to Cowan Drug and to coffee at the Prince Hotel, and chatting with anyone whose path he crossed. The column was filled with short snippets, mostly offbeat but sometimes newsy nuggets. The column always started with a question of the day, in which he would ask four or five people to answer inconsequential questions like Do you prefer hamburgers or hot dogs? To be sure, idealistic young journalists like me thought it was garbage, taking valuable space from the more important stories of the day. We were wrong. It was the local newspaper building relationships with members of the community for whom it existed. Glenn Sorlie, son of a former governor, was publisher in those days, having succeeded his aunt, Stella Mann at the companys helm. To this day Manns guiding principle is printed on the masthead of each edition: Seeking to find and publish the truth, so that the people of a great state might have a light to guide their destiny. John Hjelle, who had worked for Sen. Milton Young, was in the last of his 31 years as editor of The Tribune. He was a quintessential North Dakotan and newsman. He once probably many times said that if he could hire young North Dakota reporters, train them for a few years, send them somewhere else for a few years, and then bring them back to the Tribune, hed have the best news staff anywhere in the world. There are, of course, many others who over the course of 150 years have made contributions, from miniscule to monumental, to the Tribune and its community. They are still there today, despite tectonic disruption in the newspaper industry that has impacted every aspect of the operation, doing what they have always done informing, entertaining and providing a good chunk of the glue that holds the Bismarck-Mandan community together. The disruptions and changes no doubt will continue, and so, hopefully, will the Tribune, providing interesting, informative and exciting news for another 150 years. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday that Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to send Swedens accession protocol for joining NATO to the Turkish Parliament as soon as possible and to help ensure that the assembly approves it. Stoltenberg made the announcement after talks with Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on the eve of a NATO summit in Lithuania. Swedens NATO accession has been held up by objections from Turkey since last year. This is an historic day because we have a clear commitment by Turkey to submit the ratification documents to the Grand National Assembly, and to work also with the assembly to ensure ratification, Stoltenberg told reporters. Earlier Monday, with NATO hoping to put on a public display of unity in its support for Ukraine more than 500 days into the war, Erdogan said that he would block Swedens path unless European members of the military organization pave the way for Turkey to join the worlds biggest trading bloc. His surprise announcement added new uncertainty to Swedens bid to become the alliances 32nd member. Turkey was already blocking its entry because Erdogan believes that Sweden has been too soft on Kurdish militants and other groups that he considers to be security threats. On arriving in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, where U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts will hold two days of talks starting on Tuesday, Erdogan first met with Kristersson, before breaking off for a separate meeting with European Council President Charles Michel. Michel tweeted that he and Erdogan had explored opportunities ahead to bring cooperation back to the forefront and re-energise our relations. Michel said he has tasked the European Commission to draw up a report with a view to proceed in strategic and forward-looking manner. Turkey is a candidate to join the EU, but its membership talks have been at a standstill since 2018 due to democratic backsliding during Erdogans presidency, concerns about the rule of law and rights abuses, as well as disputes with EU-member Cyprus. Erdogans new demand was the first time that he had linked his countrys ambition to join the EU with Swedens efforts to become a NATO member. Turkey has been waiting at the door of the European Union for over 50 years now, and almost all of the NATO member countries are now members of the European Union, Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. I am making this call to these countries that have kept Turkey waiting at the gates of the European Union for more than 50 years. Come and open the way for Turkeys membership in the European Union. When you pave the way for Turkey, well pave the way for Sweden as we did for Finland, he added. Earlier, Erdogans office said he told U.S. President Joe Biden during a telephone call Sunday that Turkey wanted a clear and strong message of support for Turkeys EU ambitions from the NATO leaders. The White House readout of the Biden-Erdogan call did not mention the issue of Turkish EU membership. Turkey has been waiting at the door of the European Union for over 50 years now, and almost all of the NATO member countries are now members of the European Union, Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul, before flying to Vilnius. I am making this call to these countries that have kept Turkey waiting at the gates of the European Union for more than 50 years, he said. Come and open the way for Turkeys membership in the European Union. When you pave the way for Turkey, well pave the way for Sweden, as we did for Finland. Earlier, Erdogans office said he told U.S. President Joe Biden during a telephone call Sunday that Turkey wanted a clear and strong message of support for Turkeys EU ambitions from the NATO leaders. The White House readout of the Biden-Erdogan call did not mention the issue of Turkish EU membership. Erdogans government has postponed ratifying Swedens accession, saying the administration in Stockholm needs to do more to crack down on Kurdish militants and other groups. A series of anti-Turkey and anti-Islam protests in Swedens capital raised doubts that an agreement to satisfy Turkeys demands could be reached before the NATO summit. Turkeys delaying tactics have irritated other NATO allies including the United States. Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, confirmed Sunday that Biden and Erdogan had spoken about Swedens NATO membership among other issues and had agreed to meet in Vilnius for further talks. Sullivan said the White House is confident Sweden will join the alliance. We dont regard this as something that is fundamentally in doubt. This is a matter of timing. The sooner the better, he said. Previously non-aligned Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership last year following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Finland joined in April following Turkish ratification. Another key issue in Vilnius will be how to bring Ukraine closer to NATO without actually joining, and security guarantees Kyiv might need to ensure that Russia doesnt invade again after the war ends. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky will join the summit in person on Wednesday. Stoltenberg said the most important thing was to continue to support Ukraines efforts to resist the Russian invasion. Unless Ukraine prevails there is no membership issue to discuss at all, he said. Nepals Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda on Monday expressed regret over his controversial remarks that an Indian businessman staying here made efforts to make him the premier, saying he should not have made those comments in his present capacity. On July 3, during a book launch event, Prime Minister Prachanda said that Sardar Pritam Singh, a pioneer trucking entrepreneur in Nepal, played a key and historic role in enhancing Nepal-India relations and lobbied for him. He (Singh) had once made efforts to make me the prime minister, Prachanda said. He travelled to Delhi several times and held multiple rounds of talks with political leaders in Kathmandu to make me the prime minister, Prachanda said during the event. Prachanda, 68, was sworn in as Nepals Prime Minister for a third time on December 26. His remarks stirred up a political storm and invited criticism from several quarters. The Opposition demanded his resignation. However, a close aide of Prachanda said that the Prime Minister will not resign. Clarifying his controversial remarks while addressing the Parliament session on Monday, Prachanda acknowledged his lapse in judgment during the speech. I should not have spoken what I spoke as the Prime MinisterOn that day, I spoke not as a Prime Minister but as a father of a daughter, he said. I have accepted whenever I have committed mistakes. I wanted to make things clear, but I did not get the chance due to the obstruction of the Parliament, he further clarified. The Opposition parties, including the CPN-UML, which had been instrumental in obstructing the Parliament proceedings since Wednesday over Prachandas statement allowed him to speak in the House on Monday. The understanding to resume the House proceedings was reached at a meeting between Prime Minister Prachanda, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli ahead of the lower House meeting. Prachanda said that when his elder daughter Gyanu was critically ill with cancer, his son Prakash had taken him to Delhi, where they sought treatment and temporarily stayed at Pritam Singhs residence. During their stay, Singh had mentioned that Prachanda should become the prime minister. He wasnt proposing himself as the prime minister, nor was it a matter of me appointing him as one, the prime minister clarified. The Opposition CPN-UML demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister for making such remarks. I have never compromised on the issue of the countrys sovereignty and national integrity, Prachanda said addressing the Parliament. Since I had no bad intention in mind, I have made this self-criticism, he said while addressing the House. One who had proposed my name for the post of the Prime Minister himself is asking who has made me the Prime Minister, Prachanda said sarcastically pointing to CPN-UML chief and former prime minister Oli. The Prime Minister said that he is committed to taking the remaining works relating to the peace process to the logical conclusion and for this, he has been holding consultations with both the ruling alliance members and the opposition. Prachanda said the ruling alliance and the Opposition should work together in the national interest. I am clear that we all need to collaborate for the cause of democracy and its protection. At least five people died after a private commercial helicopter with six people on board, crashed near the Mount Everest area in Nepal on Tuesday. There were five Mexican nationals on the chopper in hilly terrain in the countrys eastern region. The Manang Air NA-MV chopper took off from Surke Airport in Solukhumbu district at 10:04 am for Kathmandu and suddenly lost contact at an altitude above 12,000 feet at 10:13 am, said Gyanendra Bhul, Manager at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The chopper crashed in the Lamjura area of Likhupike Rural Municipality in the remote mountainous Solukhumbu district. A rescue operation is underway in the area, said a senior official at TIA, said adding that the locals have informed him that the helicopter crashed with a loud explosion and they saw fire at the crash site. The locals discovered the crashed helicopter at Chihandanda, rural municipality deputy chair Nwang Lhakpa was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post newspaper. The last location of the chopper was tracked at 10:12 am in the Lamjura Pass area, said Raju Neupane, operation and safety manager of Manang Air. Local police have been mobilised in the area. Two helicopters sent earlier to locate the crash site had to return due to bad weather, the senior airport official said, adding that the exact reason behind the crash is not known yet. Five Mexican nationals and pilot Chet B Gurung were aboard the helicopter. According to MyRepublica news portal citing sources, the bodies of five of the six people on board the helicopter were found at the crash site. Earlier, TIA spokesperson Teknath Sitaula told the news website, It has been reported that the helicopter of Manang Air is out of contact, there is no contact with the tower when it reached the Lamjura pass, it was reported that the helicopter only received a hello message on Viber, the search is underway. Founded in 1997, Manang Air is a helicopter airline based in Kathmandu. It has been operating helicopters in commercial air transportation within the Nepalese territory under the Regulation of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. The company provides chartered services and is focused on personalised services such as adventure flights helicopter excursions or expedition work. (With PTI and Associated Press Inputs) New York remained inundated on the second day after severe flash flooding in Hudson Valley as officials estimated that the damage would likely run into the tens of millions of dollars. Governor Kathy Hochul said that New York is in the middle of an extraordinary weather event that has devastated communities in the state. The toll was at one on Monday while several people were said to be missing as the torrential rains swept houses. Here are the top updates on New York floods: The United States welcomes India to play a constructive role to work towards lasting peace amid the war in Ukraine, the State Department said on Monday. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller made these remarks in response to a question about whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led India can still break the ice and play a key role to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine. I would say we welcome a role that India or any other country could play in helping achieve a just and lasting peace that recognizes Ukraines territorial integrity and recognizes Ukraines sovereignty," Miller said during a press briefing. This comment comes on the heels of PM Modis landmark visit to the US, which was a number of deliverables in the field of defence and tech. Differences persist between Washington and New Delhi over Russias invasion of Ukraine. India has urged both sides to resolve their differences through diplomacy. New Delhi continues to maintain strong ties with Moscow for its defense needs and has sharply increased its imports of cheap Russian oil, frustrating the West. Asked by the Wall Street Journal about Western criticism of India for not taking a more forceful stance against Russia over Ukraine, Modi last month said: I dont think this type of perception is widespread in the US." I think Indias position is well known and well understood in the entire world. The world has full confidence that Indias top-most priority is peace," he said in the WSJ interview. Last month, PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation around Ukraine and how Moscow had resolved an armed mercenary mutiny. In a telephone call on June 30, Moscow said that Modi had expressed support for what the Kremlin called the Russian leaderships decisive actions in handling the mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group. (With agency inputs) When the Wagner forces rebelled against Kremlin last month, a contingent of Yevgeny Prigozhins military diverted east on a highway in the direction of a fortified Russian army base that holds nuclear weapons, a report has said. According to a report in Reuters, the Wagner fighters reached up to 100 km from the Russian nuclear base, Voronezh-45, but the surveillance trail goes cold after that. It is not clear what happened next or if the Wagner Force reached nuclear stockpile. Prigozhin led his Wagner force in a brief mutiny against Russias military command, in what most observers consider to have been the biggest threat to President Vladimir Putins authority in 20 years. Prigozhin finally abandoned his advance on Moscow and accepted a deal brokered by Putin ally Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko under which he accepted exile there. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines head of military intelligence, claimed that the Wagner soldiers went further and they reached the nuclear base. Budanov said their intention was to acquire small Soviet-era nuclear devices in order to raise the stakes" in their mutiny. Because if you are prepared to fight until the last man standing, this is one of the facilities that significantly raises the stakes," Budanov said. He further said the only barrier between the Wagner fighters and nuclear weapons were the doors to the nuclear storage facility. The doors of the storage were closed and they didnt get into the technical section," he said. However, he did not provide evidence for his claim and didnt say why the fighters subsequently withdrew. Russia has the worlds largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, with 4,477 deployed and reserve nuclear warheads, according to American Scientists. A source close to the Kremlin said that the Wagner contingent managed to get into a zone of special interest, as a result of which the Americans got agitated because nuclear munitions are stored there," according to the report. Another source said the rebel forces getting close to the nuclear weapons caused concern in the Kremlin and led to a hastily negotiation to the rebellion on the evening of June 24, which was mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. However, according to the US, there is no clear evidence to support the claim. We are not able to corroborate this report. We had no indication at any point that nuclear weapons or materials were at risk," White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said. Meanwhile, experts said that it is almost impossible to breach Russian nuclear security. Matt Korda, a Senior Research Associate and Project Manager for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said it would be virtually impossible for a non-state actor" to breach Russian nuclear security. Although, Wagner may have had thousands of troops at its disposal, but its unlikely any of them knew how to detonate a bomb, he said. 60% of organizations surveyed by ESG Research find it challenging to prioritize actions that will allow them to reap security hygienes rewards. Is your business part of this majority? Through the presentation of 6 steps, this white paper explores how leveraging automation can help you boost your businesss security hygiene. Tap into the paper to unlock these insights. Total Experience: a new era for customers, employees, and business This ServiceNow study across nine different EMEA markets highlights how businesses must invest in long-term loyalty strategies to win customers including security, rapid issue resolution and personalized experiences. Anticipate, prevent, and minimize the impact of business disruptions Read this guide to discover how you can enable confident risk-based decisions across business and IT by building a proactive, comprehensive and competitive resilience strategyespecially in times of uncertainty and disruption. Start building a resilience programme that can give you a competitive edge, with ServiceNow. Achieve effective enterprise risk management and compliance (OX Day int he life video) Businesses today face an incredible number of constantly emerging challenges.In order to deal with these challenges, your business needs a risk management solution that is up to the task. Watch this video to learn how ServiceNows platform allows organizations to implement risk management throughout all levels of their business. Are you lost in the cloud? At any stage in the cloud transformation, it can be a struggle to find the right talent, automate processes for cloud adoption, and run cloud services with resilience. Watch this video to discover how ServiceNow helps you move your apps to the cloud on your own terms, modernize faster and show ROI sooner. Choosing the right technology to strengthen cloud security and risk management Learn the 3 essential elements you should look for in an integrated solution that can help strengthen security, manage risk and monitor compliance in the cloud while also reducing costs and the risk of human error. Advancing your risk management maturity Maturing your risk management program is vital for meeting enterprise-wide objectives. Get insights on how you can raise the maturity level of enterprise risk management. Youll discover how your teams can make better decisions that lead to greater outcomes, by connecting business and IT with a common language on a single platform. Deliver faster and better services, more efficiently Watch this video to discover the game-changing functionality of ServiceNows IT service management platform, designed to ignite IT team productivity and resolve issues even with no internet connection. Unify your Hyperautomation landscape Discover in this short video how Automation Engine can empower ServiceNow platform owners to connect to any system quickly and easily, and to start automating routine, UI-centric work all from a single platform. Accelerate innovation with low code app dev Discover in this ServiceNow video how your organization can fuel productivity by giving app developers the ability to build faster and more flexibly with low code development solutions. Leading practices for citizen development initiatives Explore how organisations are accelerating their digital transformation journeys using hyperautomation and low-code, in these success stories. By making your citizen development programme a service for your teams, they can meet their innovation needs swiftly and safelywith built-in guardrails to avoid technical debt. 6 ways to recession-proof your business with ServiceNow risk products Organisations that invest in resilience during times of uncertainty are better able to seize opportunity when it arises. In this eBook, discover how you can optimise operations, reduce costs and risk and boost resilience by connecting business and IT on a single platform. Learn more about Integrated Risk Management from ServiceNow in this ebook. Service Operations powered by AI Watch this short video to discover how self-healing systems like ServiceNows Service Ops powered by AI can help you discover anomalies, pinpoint root causes, and automate remediation as fast as possible. Beginner's Guide to Observability Monitoring helps IT teams answer known questions about their infrastructure, but it doesnt signal new opportunities. With observability, you can discover and understand your dynamic environments in near real time. Download this custom TechTarget e-Guide to access a beginners guide to the data-driven management strategy. Operationalize ESG for excellence Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting is seen as a mixed bag in the eyes of many business leaders. This white paper is designed to serve as a guide to operationalizing your ESG reporting initiatives, turning what could be a headache into an opportunity. Download now to learn more. 6 steps to a stronger security posture through automation 60% of organizations surveyed by ESG Research find it challenging to prioritize actions that will allow them to reap security hygienes rewards. Is your business part of this majority? Tap into this white paper to discover 6 steps you can take to boost your companys security hygiene through automation. SAS shows how to secure a digital-first airline Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) transports over 28 million passengers each year, all of whom trust the company with their personal data. To better protect that data in the face of cyberthreats, SAS set out to augment their security posture. Check out this case study to track the airlines flight to stronger security. Business value of ServiceNow Security Operations Defending your organization against cyberattacks requires a special kind of teamwork: intradepartmental teamwork. Take a look through this white paper to learn how you can ensure seamless collaboration among your IT, security and risk teams with a platform for AI-driven and automated workflows. Make self-healing IT infrastructure a reality with AI-powered service operations An explosion of digital services, mirrored by a tidal wave of data, is rapidly overwhelming IT services and operations teams. But there is a way you can cope and even thrive through this inevitable change and growth: artificial intelligence for IT operations (a.k.a. AIOps), along with observability. Download this eBook to learn more. ServiceNow Cloud Insights Overview Organizations that rush to the cloud experience challenges discovering all of their cloud resources and identifying consumption patterns. However, with the right managed solution, you can ensure your cloud resources are right sized for your business and optimized to find areas of high spend to keep your budget intact. Watch this video to see more. IT Asset Management Overview IT asset management (ITAM) is more complicated than ever with remote work, highly distributed applications, and patchwork security solutions. How can you simplify all this complexity? Watch this video to learn more about ServiceNows single-platform ITAM solution and see how it can help your organization. The Evolving PMO: Today's Top Questions Project management offices (PMOs) determine and maintain the standards of project management within an organization. But as organizations evolve new ways of doing business, PMOs must also evolve. ServiceNows Jon Lim and Michael Starr join President of Roffensian Consulting, to discuss the benefits of a value driven PMO. Watch now to learn more. Deliver resilient technology service operations to support rapid software innovation More than $3 trillion has been invested in digital transformation over the last few years, but too much of that has been funneled into point solutions that have failed to solve the needs of the modern enterprise. Use this handbook from ServiceNow to discover the value of a single platform that unifies your IT service and operations teams. Hardware Asset Management Overview As companies scale and grow, IT teams need to know at all times what devices the company owns, where they are, and if you should even still be using them. The larger the organization, the more difficult this can be. However, with a hardware asset management (HAM) solution, you can make it happen. Watch this video to learn more about it. Software Asset Management Marquee Video Managing your apps across data centers and hybrid cloud enviros is tough when you have general tracking, compliance, cloud spend optimization and more to worry about. With ServiceNows Asset Management solution, youll find everything you need all in one place. Watch this video to see for yourself. A time-off request from the 14th century is likely the only handwriting of Geoffrey Chaucer's still surviving, a leading academic says. The note (in which Chaucer, a civil servant, requested a leave of absence from King Richard II) is not a new discovery in and of itself, the Guardian explains; rather, it was believed to have been written by a clerk on behalf of the Canterbury Tales author. North Korea said Monday that its warplanes turned back a US spy plane that was over its territorial waters earlier in the day. The statement was made by Kim Yo Jong, sister of the nation's ruler, Kim Jong Un, and one of the government's top foreign policy officials. North Korea will not take direct action against US forces' "acts of espionage outside the economic water zone," Kim said, while warning of "shocking" consequences if US spying continues, the Hill reports. US officials did not immediately respond to the claim. Gen. David Berger's retirement arrived on schedule Monday after four years atop the Marine Corps, and a colorful ceremony was held, but politics got in the way of a smooth handover of power. "You know, it's been more than a century since the US Marine Corps has operated without a Senate-confirmed commandant," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the crowd at a ceremony at the Marine Corps Barracks in Washington, Politico reports. "Smooth and timely transitions of confirmed leadership are central to the defense of the United States." The plan was for Gen. Eric Smith to assume the job. But Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville is holding up all nominations for top military positions because he opposes Austin's policy to have the Defense Department cover travel costs when a service member is forced by state laws to go out of state for an abortion or other reproductive care. Tuberville's move could affect the leadership of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force before the year is out, per the AP, as well as the chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Eric Smith has been nominated to be commandant, and he's taking over with temporary status. Unless or until he's confirmed by the Senate, he won't be able to make strategic decisions or even move into the commandant's office. Smith is assistant commandant now, and he'll continue to hold that post at least until there's resolution. "That is my title, and one that I'm proud of," he said at the ceremony. As of Friday, a Pentagon spokeswoman said Monday, 265 senior officers' promotions have been frozen by Tuberville. The military is headed for the point where more than 100 officers would be doing two jobs at once because their replacement isn't approved to move upincluding Smith. (Read more Marine Corps stories.) Donald Trump once argued that he couldn't be investigated while he was still president for crimes he may have committed. Now, the former commander in chief has tweaked that murky policy to include not being tried for crimes while he's running for president, asking for a delay of his trial in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case until after the 2024 election. Trump's attorneys said in a Monday court filing made on behalf of Trump and his co-defendant, valet Walt Nauta, that a trial held during the 2024 campaign cycle "will create extraordinary challenges in the jury selection process and limit the Defendants' ability to secure a fair and impartial adjudication." Trump's latest move comes after special counsel Jack Smith already asked for a trial delay from US District Court Judge Aileen Cannon, noting both sides needed more time to prepare. Cannon had originally set the trial for this August; Smith is asking to push it until December. But even that's not a long-enough delay for Trump's team, which cites the "extraordinary nature" of the proceedings. "There is most assuredly no reason for any expedited trial, and the ends of justice are best served by a continuance," they write in their filing, per ABC News. They add that "previously scheduled trials in other matters for both President Trump and defense counsel make it nearly impossible to prepare for this trial by December." Trump's criminal trial in the Stormy Daniels hush-money case begins in March, a second civil trial involving writer E. Jean Carroll's defamation claims starts in January, and a civil trial in New York state over potential fraud in Trump's business kicks off in October. Other possible indictments also loom. Politico notes that this development syncs with how Trump usually approaches legal commotion, a tactic in which he "[drags] out matters he's facing as long as possible while hoping the legal landscape changes." However, the outlet notes he's never faced a situation like this before, one in which he's involved in a criminal trial that could put him behind bars for years, as well as make him the first president ever prosecuted for a crime. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 counts of mishandling classified documents, Nauta to six counts related to the case. (Read more Mar-a-Lago indictment stories.) Albuquerque's VIP Beauty Salon and Spa has been shuttered for nearly five years, but it keeps making headlinesthis time, for yet another HIV case linked to its infamous "vampire facial." Per USA Today , the New Mexico Department of Health is urging past clients who may have received an "injection-related service" at the spasuch as Botox injections or the vampire facialto come in for free, confidential testing for blood-carried infections such as HIV or hepatitis. Two HIV cases linked to VIP Spa had been found during initial testing in 2019, shortly after the spa had closed down following a state inspection, but now, the state DOH confirms to the Messenger that a total of five HIV infections in the state claim a "direct or indirect connection" to the salon. The DOH reopened its probe into the spa after a report came in earlier this year that tied an HIV case to VIP's vampire facial, another name for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. In a previous report, NBC News detailed how the process worked: First, the patient's blood is drawn, then it's spun in a centrifuge to filter out the red cells. Finally, the remaining plasma, replete with nutrients, is then injected or microneedled into the patient's facial skin. Dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban told NBC at the time that PRP facials were "outstanding" for helping to improve skin texture, discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles, and acne scarringall for around a cost of between $600 and $2,000 per treatment, per the Messenger. Shamban said that the needles used for this process are single use, but that in the New Mexico cases, perhaps a needle was reused, or blood lingered on the tool that holds the needle. NBC notes that the vampire facial concept took off years back, thanks to celebrity endorsements from the likes of Kim Kardashian and model Bar Refaeli (Kardashian later said she regretted getting one). The spa's owner, meanwhile, pleaded guilty last year to negligence and was sentenced to three and a half years behind bars. The DOH, which is hosting two more free testing days on Saturday and next Tuesday, says even those who have been tested in the past should come to be retested. Former clients can call 505-479-2164 or check out https://nmhivguide.org for more information. (Read more HIV stories.) In a sign of just bad the flooding might get in Vermont's capital of Montpelier, police are urging residents to head to the upper floors of their homes, reports Boston.com . The reason? The nearby Wrightsville Dam, built in 1935, is almost at capacity. "This has never happened since the dam was built so there is no precedent for potential damage," said City Manager William Fraser. "There would be a large amount of water coming into Montpelier which would drastically add to the existing flood damage." An overflow would further engorge the Winooski River, which flows through the city. Storms dumped 9 inches of rain on the state in two days, the equivalent of two months' worth, per the AP. While it stopped Tuesday morning, the rain is forecast to resume Thursday and Friday. The flooding has caused tens of millions of dollars in damage already, and more than 100 people and counting have been rescued by boat, per the Washington Post. So far, the state has not logged any fatalities, but given the numerous roads washed out, it could take days to complete searches. (Other parts of New England and New York also were reeling from the deluge of rain.) Tom Holland says he gave up drinking more than six months agoand he's never been happier. The English actor, best known for starring in three Spider-Man movies, told the On Purpose With Jay Shetty podcast this week that he realized he had a problem after he tried to have an alcohol-free January this year after a "very, very boozy" Christmas and it was more of a struggle than he expected, the Guardian reports. "All I could think about was having a drink," he said. "It really scared me. I just was like, 'Wow, maybe I have a little bit of an alcohol thing.'" "I just sort of said to myself, like, 'Why? Why am I enslaved to this drink? Why am I so obsessed by the idea of having this drink?'" Holland said. "I was definitely addicted to alcohol. I'm not shying away from that at all." He said part of the problem was that drinking and socializing are very intertwined in British culture. He said he had to step back from friends in the rugby community in particular, "because so much of it is about how much can you drink." He said he felt he had turned a corner by June 1, when he celebrated his 27th birthday sober, and was "the happiest I've ever been in my life." "I could sleep better. I could handle problems better," he said. "Things that would go wrong on set, that would normally set me off, I could take in my stride. I had such better mental clarity. I felt healthier, I felt fitter." He said he inspired his mother to quit drinking, and she's "loving it, and it's been amazing." Last week, Holland told the Smartless podcast that he's lucky to have girlfriend Zendaya in his life, the BBC reports. "It's interesting being in a romantic relationship with someone that is in the same boat as you," he said. "You can share your experiences and all that sort of stuffand that's worth its weight in gold." Holland is taking a break from acting after being "broken" by filming psychological thriller The Crowded Room. (Read more Tom Holland stories.) NATO leaders agreed Tuesday to allow Ukraine to join "when allies agree and conditions are met," hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky blasted the organization's failure to set a timetable for his country as "absurd." "We reaffirmed Ukraine will become a member of NATO and agreed to remove the requirement for a membership action plan," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters, referring to a key step in joining the alliance. "This will change Ukraine's membership path from a two-step path to a one-step path," he said, per the AP . Although many NATO members have funneled arms and ammunition to Zelensky's forces, there is no consensus among the 31 allies for admitting Ukraine into NATO's ranks. Instead, the alliance leaders decided to remove obstacles on Ukraine's membership path so that it can join more quickly once the war with Russia is over. Zelensky pushed back sharply against the decision. "It's unprecedented and absurd when a time frame is set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership," he tweeted as he headed to the annual NATO summit in Vilnius. "While at the same time, vague wording about 'conditions' is added even for inviting Ukraine. It seems there is no readiness to invite Ukraine to NATO or to make it a member of the Alliance." Zelenskyy is expected to meet Wednesday with President Biden and other NATO leaders. There have been sharp divisions within the alliance over Ukraine's desire to join NATO, which was promised back in 2008 even though few steps were taken toward that goal. The Baltic statesincluding Lithuania, which is hosting the summithave pushed for a strong show of support and a clear pathway toward membership for Ukraine. However, the United States and Germany urged caution. Biden said last week that Ukraine was not ready to join. Some also fear that bringing Ukraine into NATO would serve more as a provocation to Russia than as a deterrence against aggression. (Turkey has dropped its objection to Sweden joining NATO.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Renaissance woman Marjorie Taylor Greene is more than just a Qult leader, space laser expert, and key speaker at white supremacist events. The Congressquack has also taken up moonlighting as a "Sunday Bible Study" minister, in which she defies the Constitution by unifying church and Christian nationalist state on her podcast. (Listen to clip below, posted by Patriot Takes.) "Then Jesus tells us how you should pray. He says, 'This then is how you should pray,'" Georgia's fluent lawmaker said in part of her episode, before reciting a version of The Lord's Prayer. With a straight face, Greene had teased this episode as a discussion of "prayer and 'forgiveness.'" Not to be confused with the The Handmaid's Tale, Marge's dystopian world is nonfiction at its worst. Marjorie Taylor Greene recited The Lord's Prayer during her first "Sunday Bible Study" podcast episode. pic.twitter.com/mdfftiAT3L PatriotTakes (@patriottakes) July 10, 2023 Front page thumbnail image: Boing Boing East Asia Forum - Jul 19 Despite its low birth rates, Japan is struggling with a shortage of teachers. In Japan, a 'teacher shortage' is a situation in which the number of teachers assigned to schools does not meet local quotas. Vacancies occur because it is not possible to secure teachers, even temporarily assigned teachers. Japan's space agency says its lunar lander will be launched on an H2A rocket next month. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, on Tuesday announced the launch of the probe called the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM. The SLIM project is seeking to be Japan's first lunar landing. It will test pinpoint landing technology as well as examining moon rocks. If successful, Japan would be the fourth country to carry out a lunar landing. Data obtained by the probe would be used for the US-led Artemis program aimed at sending astronauts to the moon for space exploration. The H2A is to lift off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan on August 26 at 9:34 a.m., local time. The launch vehicle will also carry a new X-ray astronomical satellite, XRISM, jointly developed with US space agency NASA and others. ... continue reading The worlds favorite hundred foot tall rampaging kaiju is about to make landfall just in time for the holiday movie season, according to an announcement today from Japans Toho International. Godzilla Minus One, the first Japanese-produced Godzilla film since Shin Godzilla in 2016, will debut in Japan on November 3, 2023 and will get a theatrical release in the United States on December 1. It is just one part of a broader plan for Godzilla to rampage through American media and pop culture in coming months. Set in a post-war Japan, Godzilla Minus One will once again show us a Godzilla that is a terrifying and overwhelming force, which you already get a sense of from the teaser trailer and poster, said Koji Ueda, President of Toho International. The concept is that Japan, which had already been devastated by the war, faces a new threat with Godzilla, bringing the country into the minus. The new film is just one part of Tohos new initiative to promote the Godzilla license worldwide and breathe fresh life into a global icon that has terrorized Tokyo since the mid-1950s. ... continue reading A passenger on a Sun Country flight that had just landed at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on Sunday was in a hurry to dodge police waiting for him at the gate, so he skipped the slow line to deboard. Instead, the 44-year-old gentleman made a beeline to the emergency exit door, opened it, leapt onto a wing, then jumped to the tarmac, where he made his getaway by foot. And he managed to remain a "fugitive" for about half an hour, hiding inside an airline food truck, before getting caught. From CBS: "He sounds like an angel, somehow" is how Paisley Gardner, a tween from Des Moines, Iowa, describes yacht rock legend Michael McDonald in a recent CBS Sunday Morning interview. Her parents, Tony and Jessica, were confused by their 11-year-old's adoration for the Doobie Brothers founding member, especially since she had never seen what he looks like. "So one day, she Googled a picture of Michael McDonald, and she came running up the stairs and flailed herself on the bed and was like, 'nooo!'" Jessica Gardner said. Her pop star turned out to be a 71-year-old grandpop. "I just had to deal with it, but it's ok," Paisley said. The story doesn't end there though. First, Paisley's parents took her to see him perform live in a Doobie Brothers concert where she got a nod from him. Later, CBS News facilitated a surprise Zoom call between Paisley and McDonald and, well, just watch. Watch this incredibly interesting video of Dr. Jalondra Davis, an assistant professor of English at UC Riverside, discussing her latest research project, which is all about mermaids. On her website, she describes herself as: "Black Feminist, Merwomanist, & Intellectual with a Fierce Pen." The UC Riverside YouTube page describes the video: Jalondra Davis, an assistant professor of English at UC Riverside, is a scholar and a real-life mermaid. Throughout her life, Davis has researched the intersections of Black studies, women and gender and sexuality studies, and contemporary fiction and popular culture. With the upcoming release of Disney's live-action "The Little Mermaid" which features Disney's first Black Ariel protagonist Davis' research is more relevant than ever. In the video, Dr. Davis describes her path to studying mermaids, and provides an overview of her research: "My passion for this research came about because I have always loved mermaids. It's always been something I've really identified with, that I've always kind of paid attention to, and looked out for mermaid texts. But for some reason I never really considered it as an object of scholarly analysis. And now mermaids are my life's work. Even though my project is about Black mermaids more broadly, one of the things I'm really zeroing in on is this idea of the Middle Passage as the birth of mermaid speciesand I call this idea the "crossing merfolk." "A lot of people feel within Afro-Futurism studies and within Black popular culture studies that there's too much trauma, that there's too much pain. So that's one of the main things that I am interested inhow Black artists can take this idea that's so full of trauma and pain and violence and brutality, as the experience of the Middle Passage, and they can conceptualize it in a way where there's also this connection to rebirth into something magical and something beautiful. "So there have bene a lot of scholars that have been writing in mermaid studies, however they've mostly been ignoring Black mermaid lore." "It's important, because one of the thing I'm thinking about in this project is that Black people also need access to whimsy, we also need access to fantasy, we also need access to magic. And I just don't think that there's any more awe-inspiring image or idea that that of the mermaid." In the rest of the video she focuses on the importance of representation (it "isn't everything, but representation does matter, because it helps you determine the limist of your possibilities"), and talks about one of the courses she teaches at UC Riversidea History of Fantasy and Horror, focused on mermaids. You can also see her transform into a mermaid. I absolutely love everything about this project, and can't wait to read some of her scholarship! To learn more about her work, and to listen to her podcastThe Merwomanist Podcastcheck out her website. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ondo deputy governor, says Rotimi Akeredolu will resume duty after being certified fit by doctors. Aiyedatiwa said Akeredolu, Ondo governor, is in high spirits and recuperating from his illness. Over the past few weeks, the health status of Akeredolu has been making the headlines. Akeredolu had embarked on a 21-day leave on June 7 and was expected to return on July 6. The governor had directed Aiyedatiwa to act in his stead. However, he wrote to the state house of assembly, extending his medical leave. On Monday, Abdullahi Adamu, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said Akeredolu is hospitalised and in a state of extreme incapacity. LETS REMAIN IN PRAYERS In a statement on Tuesday, Aiyedatiwa appreciated residents of the state for their solidarity and prayers for Akeredolu. He urged them to continue to pray for the governor, while commending them for their loyalty and solidarity. You are well aware of the message of Mr. Governor to the people of Ondo state in which he thanked the people of Ondo state and other critical stakeholders for their support and loyalty to the state government, the statement reads. Mr. Governor appreciates your prayers and good wishes for himself and the state, across the board. He is in high spirits, recuperating and being expected back in office to continue with his laudable service to the state as soon as he is certified medically fit by his doctors. I have been in touch with him, the latest being on Sunday, 9th July, 2023, when he expressed appreciation to me and other state executive council members for holding the fort while he is away. I like to also join Mr. Governor to express our profound appreciation to you all for your unending show of love, solidarity and prayers for the number one citizen of Ondo state, who is always leading from the front and making life more meaningful to our people. We should remain in this attitude of prayers and solidarity for the good of ourselves, Mr. Governor and the state at large. The gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party for the 2023 election in Enugu State, Barr Chijioke Edeoga, has petitioned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmoud Yakubu, alleging that the states Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, denied his team access to inspect electoral materials, especially the Voter Accreditation Systems, BVAS. Edeoga, in a petition he personally issued to the INEC boss, lamented that the REC refused to allow his legal team and experts access to vital electoral materials despite being directed to do so. The LP candidate had, through his counsels, written to the INEC Chairman, demanding access to the BVAS machines used in the March governorship election. The letter, which was dated June 26, 2023, and received by INEC on July 3, 2023, reminded the INEC boss that the tribunal had fixed the hearing of the petition for July 7, 20223, urging the electoral umpire to allow them access to the machines. But according to Edeoga, following the alleged refusal of REC to grant the access, a fresh letter was issued on Monday, July 6, 2023, reminding the INEC Chairman of the need to have access to the materials. The letter reads in part: I want to inform you that in Enugu, the LP is being frustrated from inspecting the BVAS machines, notwithstanding the numerous court orders issued in that regard. The LP candidate begged the INEC chairman to prevail on the REC to allow his team access to the BVAS machines in obedience of the properly issued order of the tribunal. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, lamented that most of the people who are supposed to operationalise the Nigerian Constitution are the ones undermining the countrys democracy. According to Obasanjo, an example of constitutional abuse is a situation where members of the National Assembly fix their own salaries in clear usurpation of the duty of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission The ex-President spoke on Monday in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, at a public lecture orgnised as part of activities marking the 60th anniversary of the Call to Bar of the legal luminary and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN). The lecture, titled, The future of constitutional democracy in Nigeria: Imperative of a new constitutional order, was delivered by Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah. Obasanjo, in his remarks, said democracy was a preferred government but players needed to respect the laws to make it work for all. By the Nigerian Constitution, the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission is supposed to fix the salaries and emoluments of the members of the National Assembly, but they (lawmakers) set the constitution aside and decided to fix their salaries, Obasanjo remarked. While urging political leaders to put the interest of citizens ahead in all decisions, the ex-President pointed out that: Democracy doesnt mean anything to a man who is hungry, whose life is in danger or whose property is being destroyed. A joyful Babalola, who expressed gratitude to the dignitaries, friends and family members,who graced the occasion, reiterated that the 1999 Constitution could not produce good governance in the country, because of its flaws, which, he said, could only be remedied by coming up with a new constitution for the country. The jurist made a case for better pay packages for judges, saying judges poor pay is a reason SANs dont find going to the bench attractive. Kukah, in his lecture, advocated that only men and women of integrity should be appointed as Supreme Court Justices. He called on the Federal Government to shun nepotism. Nigeria needs to grow democratically and develop politically. Every federal institution must reflect what Nigeria should reflect all over the country. The country should stop reinforcing inequality. There must be sanctions and consequences for those who go against our democracy and the constitution of the land for us to have a better society. In his remarks, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), called on President Bola Tinubu to show leadership and tackle corruption. Corruption has taken a dangerous dimension, the President should lead the anti-corruption crusade so that this country can take its rightful place in the comity of nations, Falana said. Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, described Afe Babalola as a gift to Ekiti State, noting that the legal luminary played a major role in the creation of Ekiti State, creating a platform for him and his predecessors to govern the state. Oyebanji said, If we dont have this state, I and all others that have been governors of this state will not have a platform. So, on behalf of myself and all the governors before me, I say, Thank you sir. Veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo has invoked the gods of Igbo land, Amadioha, and Ogun of Ijebu Ode on any boyfriend that may subject his daughter Uloaku to engage in Brazilian Butt Lift, BBL, enlargement surgery. In a viral video, the actor shared a story of a young lady who was compelled by her boyfriend to undergo the surgery, saying the lady died later due to infection. Kanayo opined that if the surgery were something to write home about, husbands would be making funds available for their wives to do it. On this note, anybody in the name of boyfriend who will cause my daughter Uloaku to do bumbum enlargement, holy ghost thunder! May Amadioha from Igbo land combined with Ogun from Ijebu Ode kill that person. If this bumbum enlargement was good, why are husbands not paying for their wives to do it? He asked. The actor argued that whatever stimulated the idea to undergo such surgery is not worth the pain, insisting that it is not profitable. The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has issued a warning to unknown gunmen, urging them to cease the continuous destruction of valuable properties and belongings of the people in the southeast region. MASSOB strongly condemned the activities of the unknown gunmen, particularly their assault on schoolchildren and teachers while attempting to enforce a sit-at-home order. In a statement signed by the National Director of Information, Comrade Edeson Samuel, MASSOB expressed deep disappointment that those claiming to fight for the emancipation of the Biafran people were simultaneously engaging in actions that brought hardship, poverty, and economic destruction upon their own people. The destruction of the peoples agricultural produce and the mistreatment of school children and teachers not only hinder the progress of the Igbo people but also jeopardize the future of the children and the entire generation of Biafrans. MASSOB firmly rejected the continuous and mandatory sit-at-home exercise in Igbo land, emphasizing that its enforcement only serves to destroy their fragile economy and inflict more suffering on the people. They highlighted the similarity between the Nigerian governments treatment of the Igbo people and the actions of the group claiming to be pro-Biafra. MASSOB demanded the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention and called upon the South East governors and National Assembly members to take a stand and advocate for his release. Simon Ikpa should have a rethink and see that our enemies are happy with the pains and cries of our people because these are what they wanted. The failure of an Igbo man and the destruction of our economy has been their dream, that was why they gave igbo man 20 after the civil war the group lamented. Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communication to the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, was right in describing ex-governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, as an average mad man. Recall that Fayose had said Wike was an articulate capacity person, stressing that Nigeria needs an average mad person to become a minister. Speaking over the weekend, the former governor had urged President Bola Tinubu to include Wike in his cabinet. He also noted that Tinubu should appreciate the G-5 integrity group for their support during the last presidential election. Faulting Fayoses comment, Shaibu cautioned Tinubu against appointing Wike as a minister. In a statement he signed, Shaibu said it would amount to a lunatic running an asylum by appointing Wike minister. According to Shaibu: We want to appreciate Fayose for describing Wike as an average mad man. Indeed, it is only a mad person who can use violence to prevent people from coming into a state to campaign. It takes madness to subvert the will of the people. Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Umo Eno, are the early arrivals at the Akwa Ibom State Governors lodge, the venue of the inaugural meeting of the PDP Governors Forum in the current dispensation. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has also arrived at the meeting. Makinde, alongside former governors of Rivers (Nyesom Wike); Abia (Okezie Ikpeazu); Enugu (Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi); and Benue ( Samuel Ortom), who has been boycotting PDP events joined party faithful in Bauchi in June where he called for a healing process to begin, following the divisions within the party in the months leading to the general election. The meeting, which is expected to play host to all 13 governors elected on the platform of the party, will deliberate on a wide range of issues including the state of the nation as well as that of the PDP Governors Forum, the leadership of the party, among others. Also, present at the meeting are Sheriff Oborevwori, Dauda Lawal, Duoye Diri, and Ahmadu Fintiri, governors of Delta, Zamfara, Bayelsa, and Adamawa respectively. Professor Gina Francesco, teaching ethics at Harvard Business School, has an ethics problem of her own to deal with: accusations of faking data in one of her studies. Professors Joseph Simmons, Uri Simonsohn and Leif Nelson of University of Pennsylvania, Escade Business School in Spain, and University of California, Berkeley, respectively, accused Gino of the fraud on their blog Data Colada. "Specifically, we wrote a report about four studies for which we accumulated the strongest evidence of fraud," they wrote, stating they shared their concerns with Harvard Business School. Neither Gina nor Harvard are talking to the press, but her husband picked up the phone for the New York Times: "It's obviously something that is very sensitive that we can't speak to now," he told Noam Schieber there. But in their blog post, Dr. Simonsohn, Dr. Nelson and Dr. Simmons, analyzing data that Dr. Gino and her co-authors had posted online, cited a digital record contained within an Excel file to demonstrate that some of the data points had been tampered with, and that the tampering helped drive the result. Last week's post was not the first time the DataColada watchdogs had found problems with the 2012 paper by Dr. Gino and her co-authors. In a blog post in August 2021, the same researchers found evidence that another study published in the same paper appeared to rely on manufactured data. It seems blood's been in the water with Francesco's research since others failed to replicate it. I wonder how close the general correlation between failure-to-replicate and fraud is. Nigerians have taken to Twitter, the micro-blogging platform, to criticise President Bola Tinubu and some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the endless red carpet receptions at airports. On July 7, Tinubu departed Nigeria for the 63rd ordinary session of the authority of heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in Guinea-Bissau. At the airport were top government officials and ex-governors, including Femi Gbajabiamila, the presidents chief of staff; Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of Kano; Mohammed Badaru, former governor of Jigawa; and Abubakar Bagudu, former governor of Kebbi. On his arrival at Aeroporto international airport in Guinea-Bissau on Saturday, Ganduje, Badaru and Bagudu, including Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, were again part of the welcome party on the tarmac. Back in Nigeria on Monday, the president was once again received by an all-smiling cast of former governors, who had been present during his departure to Bissau. The never-ending rollout of the red carpet, and the beeline of politicians at the airport as the president departs or returns, has got some Nigerians on social media talking. What is with the welcome party and line up for handshake every time the president travels and comes back? These people dont have work to do?, one Twitter user wrote as the president returned from Bissau. Below are more reactions. This Ganduje man wont rest, always in Aso rock and receiving the president. @officialABAT please ask Ganduje to go and rest in Kano!! Oscar Jnr (@OJ_Godson7) July 10, 2023 One hopes that these former governors are not going to find their ways into the president's eagerly awaited Cabinet nominees!? Emmanuel Ndiokwere (@EmmanuelNdiokw4) July 11, 2023 Pls o, all this lines up welcome, what's the meaning, someone should help me, because me no understand it. Ericochidex (@Ericochidex1) July 10, 2023 I no understand why the same people wey travel with presido be the ones wey dey welcome am back at the tarmac. Bigek (@igebello) July 10, 2023 The way all of them use to receive him like they didn't follow him there use to make me laugh Lebron of comedy (@Oscarfranklincf) July 10, 2023 Whats with the welcome party and line up for handshakes every time the president travels and comes back. Dis people no get work to do? Haba! JOOKS (@Mal33q) July 11, 2023 This Three governor are making me laugh They don't any other work apart from politics Appointment hunger and they have nothing to offer us They have been in government for many years go their state and judge them with their performance (@Am__Shakur) July 10, 2023 You travelled together on the same plane, you'll come down from the plane first then you line up to shake hands with the same person you took the flight together Harifarta (@Harifarta1) July 10, 2023 Rita Edochie, Nollywood actress, has called for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu. Edochie made the call on her Instagram page on Monday. According to her, if Nnamdi Kanu is released, the unrest in the South East would cease forthwith. Alongside a video of the IPOB leader, she wrote: Release Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu today and see the unrest in the South East become history. Stop playing with peoples lives, especially all you elites that your children are overseas and you are using other peoples children to create unrest. If you are one of them your generation and generation to come will never know peace [sic]. The federal government has filed an eight-count charge against Stella Oduah, former minister of aviation, for a felony. The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/275/23 was filed before a federal high court in Abuja on June 26. All the charges against the former minister bother on the allegation that she lied on oath which amounts to a felony. It is alleged that Oduah falsely claimed to have lost her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate to support her eligibility to contest elections and occupy public office. According to the federal government, Oduah had obtained a police report claiming that she lost her NYSC certificate. The police report was said to have been attached with other documents and affidavits submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the federal government at different times. NYSC SAYS ODUAH DID NOT COMPLETE SCHEME In a letter dated May 24, the management of the NYSC claimed that Oduah did not complete the one-year mandatory national youth service scheme. Shuaibu Ibrahim, NYSC director-general, had said Oduah was mobilised for national service in 1982/83 and was deployed to Lagos but absconded after the orientation. He said: The consequence of this is that she is not qualified for the issuance of the certificate of national service. However, the former minister had described the allegation as reckless and scandalous. She also threatened to sue if the allegation was not retracted. SIMILAR SUIT Shortly after Oduah became a senatorial flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra, John Emeka, an aggrieved aspirant in the primary, approached the court to contest the outcome. Emeka alleged that Oduah lied on oath in both her expression of interest and nomination forms, including in the form CF001 which she submitted to INEC. In the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/841/2022, filed on June 8 by his lawyer, Mbanefo Ikwegbue, Emeka prayed the court to declare that the information supplied by Oduah in her INEC form CF001, with respect to her participation in the NYSC scheme, was false. However, in a judgement delivered on November 22, 2022, Inyang Ekwo, Abuja federal high court judge, dismissed the suit for being status barred. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the March 18 election, Ladi Adebutu, have called 29 witnesses who testified before the election petition tribunal that voting was disrupted in their polling units by political thugs. In petition EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023, the PDP and Adebutu challenge Governor Dapo Abioduns victory, claiming non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The petitioners called 10 witnesses, including voters, party agents, and party members, at the resumed hearing on Tuesday. Gordy Uche (SAN), Adebutus counsel, had previously informed the tribunal that the petitioners intend to call over 100 witnesses to prove their case against the respondents. The witnesses called thus far have all testified that elections were cancelled in their polling units and that their votes were not counted as a result of the election being disrupted by suspected thugs. O. Keshiro, counsel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), representing Dapo Abiodun, and Afolabi Fashanu (SAN) of the APC cross-examined the witnesses. One of the witnesses, Rabiu Adeniyi, testified that political thugs intimidated and harassed voters at his polling unit, disenfranchising many voters. According to him, the thugs stormed his polling station with guns and other dangerous weapons in order to disrupt the election and drive voters away. Adeniyi said: It is very painful that our votes did not count. The election at my polling unit was cancelled after APC thugs invaded our polling units and started shooting. They (the thugs) disrupted the election, and our votes were not counted at the end of the day. Another witness, Olusanya Yusuf Olatunji, told the court that voting at his polling unit was disrupted by suspected thugs who invaded the unit, chased voters, and carted away ballot boxes. The petitioners are expected to call more witnesses on Wednesday as the case continues. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says the 800,000-litre vessel intercepted on the coastline of Ondo state was Cameroon-bound. Garba Deen Muhammad, NNPC Ltd spokesperson, announced the development in a statement on Monday. Nigerianeye had reported that the joint military task force had intercepted a vessel laden with 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, which had been evading arrest. Giving details of the arrest, Muhammad said the vessel has been in stealth mode for 12 years, making detection difficult. Following the receipt of credible intelligence, Tantita Security Services, a private security contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd, intercepted a suspicious vessel with a cargo of crude oil on board on July 7, 2023, Muhammad said. The vessel, MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462), owned by a Nigerian registered company, Holab Maritime Services Limited with registration number RC813311, was heading to Cameroun with the cargo on board when it was apprehended at an offshore location (latitude: 5.8197194477543235, longitude: 4.789002723991871), with the captain and crew members on board. He said preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore in Ondo. There was no valid documentation for the vessel or the crude oil cargo onboard at the time of the arrest, the NNPC Ltd spokesperson said. Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd command and control centre also revealed that the vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last 12 years. The last reported location of the vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011. Details of this arrest and the outcomes of the investigations were escalated to the appropriate government authorities, upon which it was concluded to destroy the vessel to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities to cease and desist. Destroying vessels involved in transporting stolen crude oil is of paramount importance as a strong deterrent. The illegal trade of stolen crude oil not only inflicts significant economic losses on Nigeria and legitimate stakeholders in the oil industry, but also perpetuates a cycle of corruption, environmental devastation, and social instability. Muhammad assured that NNPC Ltd would sustain the momentum in the war against crude oil theft until it is brought to a halt. The Ondo government says Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of the state, is not incapacitated and will return to duty soon. The clarification came after Abdullahi Adamu, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday said Akeredolu is hospitalised and in a state of extreme incapacity. Adamu said this when he met with state chairmen of the party in Abuja on Monday. Akeredolu had embarked on a 21-day leave on June 7 and was expected to return on July 6. However, he wrote to the state house of assembly, extending his medical leave. In a statement on Tuesday, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, Ondo commissioner for information, said the governor is not in a critical situation. The national chairman was indeed excited at the reports on the rate of recovery of the Governor of Ondo state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, and urged all those present at the meeting to pray for his quick return, Ademola-Olateju said. He is, evidently, not in any critical state that should warrant this clearly reprehensible conduct as he still sent a post to the executive council committee platform yesterday. Mr. Governor is not incapacitated. He will return to his duty as soon as the doctors certify him fully fit to do so. Shehu Sani, a socio-political activist, has said only God can save President Bola Tinubu if he loses at the Presidential election petition. Sani warned that only God would save Tinubu from an emperor in Kaduna State. Tweeting, the former Kaduna Central Senator, said the opposition would congratulate Tinubu if he wins the presidential election. According to Sani: If the court favours Tinubu and his victory is affirmed, the opposition may congratulate him or condemn the ruling and move on. If the court ruled against Tinubu and he lost the presidency, only God will save him from the mouth of the ex-Kaduna emperor and his next Book How we made him and he betrayed us. Senator Olurermi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu has debunked reports that she closed the Aso Rock Chapel. Reports had emerged over the weekend that Remi ordered the closure of the chapel because some members of the congregation did not support her husband. Reacting in a statement issued by her aide, Busola Kukoyi, she said the chapel is open and holds weekly fellowship. She added that President Tinubu is yet to appoint a Chaplain for the chapel. We wish to state categorically that this is a fabrication and totally false representation of the true situation, as the First Lady at no time gave such directive that the Chapel be shut and the keys handed over to Her Excellency. Presently, there are weekly fellowships going on at the Chapel. However, Mr President is yet to appoint a Chaplain for the chapel after the exit of the last Chaplain, as he only reserves the right to appoint a Chaplain for the Chapel, she said. The house of representatives has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the directive that banks should collect and verify the social media handles of customers. The lower legislative passed the motion during the plenary session on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by nine lawmakers. In the guideline issued in June, the apex bank said the objective of the regulation which is part of banks know-your-customer (KYC) procedures is to prevent financial crimes and terrorism and to enhance the precision and thoroughness of customer identification. According to the CBN, the policy is intended to enable financial institutions to gather information in accessing customers online presence and activities for better assessment of potential risks associated with money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing. While leading the debate on the motion, Kelechi Nwogu, a lawmaker from Rivers, said while the policy is commendable, it violates section 37 of the constitution which guarantees privacy rights. As laudable as this directive may appear, it is unnecessary as it is likely to bear pressure on teeming Nigerian masses at a trying period, he said. He said financial institutions in the country already have the names, telephone numbers, passport photographs, emails, national identification numbers (NIN), biometric verification numbers (BVN), utility bills and other basic requirements with which to identify, know and monitor customers. The lawmaker said there are better means of monitoring money laundering and terrorism financing which are through the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), intelligence and crime tracking agencies, among others. If the directive takes effect, Nigerians who are not on social media, with large turnovers from their businesses and trades, would be compelled to or systematically excluded from formal banking systems with its attendant negative effects and implications, he said. The legislator said the policy may cause untold hardships to millions of Nigerians, especially the illiterate or semi-literate business owners, traders and entrepreneurs living in the villages and rural areas who do not have social media handles if the policy is implemented. Implementing the CBNs directive at this point may clearly be unnecessary as it is likely to bear a lot of pressure on teeming Nigerian masses, he said. There is a need to revisit and halt the Central Bank of Nigeria directive to reduce the hardship and pain faced by teeming Nigerians. The motion was unanimously adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house and presiding officer. STOP EXCESS CHARGES AND ILLEGAL DEDUCTIONS In a related development, the house has asked commercial banks to stop alleged excess illegal charges and deductions from customers accounts. The house passed the motion after the adoption of a motion sponsored by Godwin Offiono. While moving the motion, Offiono claimed that financial institutions in Nigeria indulge in the unethical practice of fleecing their customers through excess charges and unauthorised deductions. He said customers of deposit money banks are groaning over excessive charges on their accounts and financial institutions have introduced different deductions to increase their income, a development that is uncomfortable with customers. Apart from stamp duty, bank customers also pay value-added tax (VAT) charges applicable on all vatable transactions in their account, he said. Following the adoption of the motion, the lawmakers resolved to investigate the issue of illegal deductions by commercial banks. The joint military task force has intercepted a vessel laden with 150,000 tonnes of crude oil in Ondo state. Speaking with journalists on Monday, Warredi Enisuoh, operations manager, Tantita Security Services Limited, said his organisation provided intelligence that aided the arrest of the vessel by security operatives. Although the vessel was arrested along the coastline of Ondo, Enisuoh said it was taken to Oporoza, Delta state, to be displayed. He said the vessel changed its name to MT Tura II after initially registering in Togo, adding that security operatives had arrested the vessel in the past. It was a bit of a joint operation. As you know, the NNPC has been at the forefront of battling this crude oil theft, Enisuoh said. As you can see, the military has also been very supportive when it comes to battling this crude oil theft. We got intelligence on this vessel a long time back. As you know, it is a notorious ship. It has been notorious for stealing crude oil to foreign countries here and there. But somehow, it is not stronger than the Nigerian military might and with our intelligence and their support and power, we were able to bring this vessel to book on the 7th of July, 2023. The ship, Enisuoh said, had been eluding capture for some time and had been observed by security operatives. It was under arrest for some time but somehow, somewhere, it was able to evade capture but the current military and its forces were able to heed to our intelligence and jointly, we were able to bring it to book, he said. It has been evading capture for a long time and the Tura II has not got any documentation concerning Nigeria within the ship. The Chicago Tylenol Murders killed at least 7 people, poisoned after someone tampered with pill bottles on store shelves in 1982. The longtime prime suspect, James Lewisconvicted of trying to extort $1m from the manufacturer but not charged with the poisonings themselvesis dead at 76. Seven people ages 12 to 35 were killed in the Chicago area after they ingested extra-strength Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide. Lewis, who was in his 30s at the time, denied any involvement. But he was convicted of attempted extortion after he wrote a ransom note to Johnson & Johnson, the company that manufactures Tylenol. Lewis demanded $1 million "if you want to stop the killing," according to the Chicago Tribune. The letters were postmarked before it was disclosed to the public that the killings involved Tylenol, and there seems little doubt that he was the murderer. You also have him to thank for modern tamper-evident drug packaging, though that was a solution waiting for an inevitable problem to show up. He served 12 years in prison for the extortion attempt. Security Operatives of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, in collaboration with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, have set ablaze an intercepted vessel carrying barrels of stolen crude oil in the Escravos area of Delta State. The vessel was set ablaze by a military helicopter. The vessel allegedly owned by a Nigerian registered company, was heading to Cameroon with the cargo onboard when it was apprehended at an offshore location with the captain and crew members onboard. According to the Executive Director of Operations and Technical at Tantita Security, Captain Warred Enisuoh and the Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, the oil cargo was illegally sourced from a well-jacketed offshore in Ondo State with no valid documentation at the time of the arrest. The said vessel had operated in stealth mode for the last 12 years. The discovery was the latest in the series of disturbing findings by the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a security outfit owned by former militant leader Government Ekpemepulo aka Tompolo and contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. Unending Controversy In October 2022, security agents also destroyed a vessel used for crude oil theft off the Niger Delta creeks after the vessel was reportedly arrested by Tompolos firm. The destruction of the vessel generated controversy as some Nigerians fumed at the action of security agents, saying the vessel should have been preserved as an exhibit to prosecute the owners of the vessel. The House of Representatives subsequently said it would investigate the circumstances surrounding the destruction of the oil bunkering vessel by security agents. However, the Federal Government defended the swift destruction of the vessel, saying it was in line with the rules of engagement. The then Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, said the vessel was caught in the act and security agents subsequently set the instrument of operation ablaze, noting that no investigation is needed to carry out the action. Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has offered a scholarship to Miss Nkechinyere Umeh, who emerged best performing candidate in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations. Soludo said the gesture followed the recent JAMB declaration of Umeh from Anambra State as the highest scorer with a cumulative mark of 360 in the examination. The governor congratulated the remarkable student for doing the state proud with her exceptional performance. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Christian Aburime, Soludos Press Secretary on Tuesday. The statement read, Following the recent JAMB declaration of Miss Nkechinyere Umeh from Anambra State as the highest scorer with a cumulative mark of 360 in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has congratulated the remarkable student on doing the state proud with her exceptional performance. In further celebration of Umehs feat, Soludo announced a well-deserved scholarship for her to study any course of her choice at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra state. The scholarship will not only serve as a token of the state governments appreciation for her hard work but also provide her with the opportunity to pursue her dreams and contribute to the development of the state in the future. While wishing Umeh continued success in her future academic pursuits, Soludo also encouraged other young ndi Anambra students within the state and across the country. He urged them to take inspiration from Umehs outstanding performance and take advantage of the improved conducive learning environment in the State to strive for excellence. Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has urged President Bola Tinubu not to send the wrong signals on his fight against corruption. According to Falana, some people that can be found in the Aso Presidential Villa are standing trial for corruption. He made this claim while speaking as a guest at the 60th anniversary of the call to bar of Aare Afe Babalola in Ekiti State on Monday. Im urging the president to lead an anti-corruption crusade so that the country the largest concentration of black people on earth, can take its rightful place in the committee of nations. Highly-placed public officers steal money meant for building hospitals, and people are dying on our roads. Some of those who are going in and out of the villa are standing trial for looting the treasury of this country. So, wrong signals must not be sent to our people and the international community, Falana said. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has cautioned party chieftains against nursing high expectations of being appointed as ministers by President Bola Tinubu, saying everybody cant be a cabinet member. Adamu also used the opportunity to explain the delay in the unveiling of the Presidents ministers and heads of ministries, departments and agencies, saying Tinubu was carrying out an extensive consultation before making an official announcement. The former Nasarawa State governor stated these at the meeting of the National Working Committee and APC state chairmen at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Monday. The meeting, which started at about 1.55pm, was attended by a delegation of 32 members of the Forum of APC Chairmen, including their leader, Ali Dalori, and acting Secretary, Alphonsus Ogah. Addressing the party chieftains, Adamu said, Every APC member has an inherent right to hope to get some patronage. We cannot all be ministers of the government. We cannot all end up as board members, directors of parastatals and MDAs across the country. The President has just started. He is doing his extensive consultations before coming up with his nominees for ministers. The nomination of the ministers will come first. They will go through their screening until they are pronounced after they have been submitted before Mr President. He will formally appoint his ministers and swear them in. Only then will he disclose each of them to the country to know which minister is going to which ministry and how many ministries we are going to have. After that is done, the ministers will assume office, make a comprehensive report, starting from all the ministries and MDAs under them, before we know what vacancies exist for chief executives, directors and part-time directors. These are some of the exercises that will take place in the next two months. It cannot happen by next week. But certainly, that is what we should be expecting. The APC chair, nevertheless, expressed optimism that Tinubu would consider party loyalists at both state and national levels for appointments. But we do expect some patronage from the government that we are forming. It is our hope and prayers that Mr President will come along with us in that regard and strengthen the relationship of the party in the states and at the national level will enjoy some level of patronage in the new government. Those are the key issues that we do hope to share with you in the course of this meeting, Adamu said. Meanwhile, Adamu decried the abduction of Ekiti APC Chairman, Paul Omotosho, by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers. This was even as he prayed for the quick recovery of ailing Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu. Omotosho was kidnapped on Saturday evening along AgbadoImesi-Ekiti Road in the Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State while driving to his hometown. In what some sources alleged to be an ambush, the APC chairman was forced out of his Toyota Hilux and whisked away. Akeredolu, on the other hand, has reportedly gone abroad on medical vacation. Prior to his trip, the governor had handed power over to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in an acting capacity. President Bola Tinubu has ordered the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the recent killings in Plateau state. On Saturday, gunmen killed nine persons and razed six houses in the Sabon Gari community located in Mangu LGA of the state. Jerry Datim, one of the leaders in the community, had said there were people that have not been seen since the attack. In a statement on Tuesday, Dele Alake, special adviser to the president on special duties, communications and strategy, quoted Tinubu as saying that the attacks were needless. It is most unfortunate that in this orgy of violence, an innocent eight-month-old baby in Farin Lamba community of Vwang District, Jos south LG, died in a conflict she knew nothing about, he said. A major consequence of perennial conflict is always the tragic loss of innocent lives. To build virile, peaceful and prosperous communities demand tolerance and forgiveness for every perceived wrongdoing. Tinubu asked community leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and socio-cultural organisations to work together in a bid to create long-lasting peace. The president charged the governments of Plateau and Benue states and emergency response agencies to provide support and immediate relief to victims who have been displaced as a result of the conflicts. Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau, imposed a 24-hour curfew on Mangu LGA of the state following recent attacks. Also, Abdusalam Abubakar, commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), in Plateau, says he has temporarily relocated to the LGA. Abubakar said the move will enable him to work in synergy with the local authority to mitigate the situation. Former spokesman to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, has attacked the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah over his latest comment. Adesina said Kukah was pained that he never got under-the-cassock patronage from Buhari. On Monday, Kukah said Nigeria witnessed the ugliest phase of corruption during Buharis administration. Kukah said the trend of corruption didnt start under Buhari, that it festered under the ex-Presidents watch. He spoke in Ado Ekiti while delivering a lecture at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the call to bar of the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola. Reacting, Adesina tweeted: Who listens to that Bishop again. Hes still pained that he got no under-the-cassock patronage from Buhari, unlike in the past. As e dey pain them, e dey sweet us. Over the objections of a dozen medical staff and community representatives, the Rutgers Board of Governors on Monday unanimously approved combining New Jersey Medical School in Newark and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick to become the Rutgers School of Medicine. Brian L. Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, said having Rutgers medical schools under one accreditation would help improve name recognition and rankings, recruit faculty and researchers, and improve patient care. The school would be run by the current deans, acting as co-deans, and the existing campuses would receive equitable representation and allocation of resources. The result, officials said, would be a medical school that enjoys a national reputation greater than the sum of its parts. While the plan is to operate two equal campuses with separate finances, critics fear that New Brunswick facilities will receive more funding and renovations. They say that for Newark, the states largest and poorest city, University Hospital is crucial to residents health, as it is the primary site for clinical training of New Jersey Medical School students. In a joint statement, Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway and Strom said, An integrated model will position Rutgers School of Medicine as one of the largest and leading public medical schools in the country, committed to the highest standards of education, research, and clinical care. They said the school will firmly remain an anchor institution, civically engaged and serving the communities of Newark and Middlesex County, as well as the State of New Jersey. But the plan has powerful critics. Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, with Assemblywomen Eliana Pintor Marin and Shanique Speight (all D-Essex), asked the Board of Governors Friday to delay or reject the merger. We believe that such a merger would undermine the historical significance of the New Jersey Medical School, they wrote, noting that in a recent division of funding in this years state budget, New Brunswick is getting an additional $260 million while $40 million will be divided between Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers-Newark. Its hugely disappointing that they would not have just allowed for a pause for many of us to get more information, Ruiz told NJ Advance Media Monday. To do this at the height of when people are away, and students are not on campus speaks volumes in and of itself. She noted that she worked on the bill to merge Bloomfield College and Montclair State University, which she called seamless and transparent, with many inclusive meetings. You never heard the volume of discontent you heard with this, she said of the medical school merger. This may end up ultimately being the greatest thing, but when youre doing things in what appears to be a rushed matter, the timing doesnt lend itself to folks being able to feel confident and have faith in the process. Dr. Jeffrey Levine, a 27-year faculty member at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a member of the University Senate, was among the dozen critics of the plan and called out Stroms decision to submit his merger proposal while the University Senate was not in session. During all of these meetings and in documented surveys, there has been consistent and overwhelming opposition to this merger by our clinical and basic science faculty, Levine told the board. Shareif Abdelwahab, a medical student at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, told the board the proposed merger raises a question of importance to his peers: Will residency programs potentially cap or otherwise limit the number of students selected from the merged medical school? The answer is potentially yes. He noted that one consultant report showed a potential decrease of up to 21 residency spots in 13 programs interviewed. Ingrid Hill, vice chair of internal affairs for the Peoples Organization for Progress, a community group, told the board that the merger would weaken University Hospital, which she called the only public hospital in the state providing care without regard to a persons ability to pay. The impact will decimate both the hospital and the medical care providers ability to provide the necessary medical services to some of the most vulnerable patients, she said. Among those opposing the move was the American Association of University Professors Biomedical and Health Sciences of New Jersey (AAUP-BHSNJ), which represents 1,500 faculty at Rutgers and Rowan Universities. After the vote, Diomedes Tsitouras, the unions executive director, said, It is a sad day when the university moves a resolution solely championed by one administrator to effectively end 50 years of history. This merger is opposed by faculty, students, and community. We will explore legal, legislative, and other options to stop this disgraceful unilateral action. On Friday, lawyers representing the union asked Attorney General Matthew Platkin to request that the board postpone its vote so his office could review the merger thoroughly. Among other matters, the union is concerned that it violates the states 2012 Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act, which requires labor representatives to be part of significant decisions regarding the schools. The required committee never met to discuss the merger, according to the letter. Platkins office declined to comment. In 2020, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka called the proposed merger an unregulated and premeditated takeover that will leave Newark residents without critical resources. Requests for comment from Baraka and James Harris, former head of the Association of Black Educators, who also addressed the board, were not immediately returned. Rutgers officials anticipate the first class at the Rutgers School of Medicine will enroll in the 2028 academic year. For comparison, the January report included an interview about the merger of Rutgers law schools seven years ago. One unnamed faculty member concluded that the merger met almost none of its stated goals and has preoccupied administrators, faculty and staff over the whole time. There is a sense that if it could be done over, a majority of the faculty would want to unwind it. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Tina Kelley may be reached at tkelley@njadvancemedia.com. The deadly shipboard fire in Newark was largely extinguished Sunday night, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday, adding that talk of a firefighting unit specifically for the port made sense to him. Due to the extraordinary I emphasize that word efforts of our first responders, Im happy to report that as of last evening, the main body of the fire has been extinguished and contained, Murphy said Monday morning, providing an update on the fire during a press conference in West Orange focused on prescription drug pricing. Firefighting efforts are now focused on cooling down the ships decks to prevent any reignition, Murphy said. Murphy allayed earlier concerns that the 692-foot Grande Costa dAvorio could capsize due to the tons of water that had been dumped on the ship since it caught fire while berthed at the port Wednesday night. The ship, operated by an Italian company, Grimaldi Deep Sea, was an RORO vessel (for roll-on-roll off) loading new and used cars and other wheeled cargo bound for Africa. The ships listing has been reduced, Murphy said, referring to a sideways tilt. It is now approximately two degrees. The danger zone is five to six degrees. We continue to monitor the air quality and are testing the water quality as well. The U.S. Coast Guard is now leading a multi-agency investigation into the intense blaze, which killed veteran Newark firefighters Augusto Augie Acabou, 45, and Wayne Bear Brooks Jr., 49, and injured five others from the department. The New York and Elizabeth fire departments, the Coast Guard and other agencies also responded. I cannot thank our firefighters and first responders enough, Murphy said. As I said last week, the fact that this fire was aboard a ship made for a very complicated situation. Yet our first responders adapted and rose to the occasion, and once again, they have proven that we have the worlds best firefighters and first responders, and we all marvel at their remarkable skill and professionalism and courage. Quoting President Abraham Lincoln, Murphy said Acabou and Brooks had demonstrated the last full measure of devotion. Please keep their memory and their families in your prayers. And may God watch over not just their families but all of our first responders and firefighters. Along with Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York, Murphy shares control of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the bi-state agency that runs the port as a landlord to multiple private container, bulk and automobile shipping terminals. Industry officials say shipboard fires are extremely rare, and the head of the local ports trade group said the Grande Costa dAvorio fire was the first one of any significance in decades. Even so, last week, the Port Authoritys director of ports, Beth Rooney, said the agency would consider establishing its own maritime firefighting unit. Asked about the idea on Monday, Murphy said it made sense. Thats something that does need to be addressed, the governor said. Someone reminded me that way back when, airports didnt have their own dedicated fire force under the theory that they didnt have fires happening that frequently. But the fact of the matter is, it is a very specific expertise. Some fires do happen. Theyre substantial. Thats probably not a bad model to look at. And I think that makes sense to me, Murphy added. Following the ship fire, Newark Firefighters Union President Michael Giunta told NJ Advance Media that the fire department was understaffed and that trucks were being sent out with a contingent of one captain and two firefighters each, despite industry standards calling for crews twice that size. According to the citys budget, the Newark Fire Division has 80 unfilled firefighter positions and even that fails to meet the industry standard set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the statement read. Giunta made clear, however, that he was not attributing last weeks deaths or injuries to inadequate staffing, training, equipment or anything else, and he noted that the matter was under investigation by multiple agencies. Given Newarks population density and building construction, the standard calls for a combined minimum of six officers and firefighters on every engine and truck, Giunta stated. So why is the Newark Fire Division only regularly staffing companies with three members? A spokesperson for the Newark Department of Public Safety, which includes the fire division, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Murphy hadnt seen the unions statement, but he said Monday that the staffing level for Newark and other local fire departments has to be on the list of consideration as well, when developing a long-term response to Wednesdays fire. We need to have these first responder units fully staffed, no question about it, said Murphy, who was noncommittal on whether the state would help increase Newarks staffing levels. Its too early to tell. Obviously, its a Newark matter, first and foremost, and we work extremely well with the mayor and the whole team there, he said. Its a long list of considerations that people are going to have to go through and make big decisions on. Nobody knows Jersey better than N.J.com. Sign up to get breaking news alerts straight to your inbox. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com Newark officials say they are investigating whether a zoning board member moved out of the city and became ineligible to serve, a situation legal experts said could render the boards decisions vulnerable to legal challenge. Katiria M. Cobian, 39, was one of 10 members listed on the Newark Zoning Board of Adjustments web page Monday. The board appointed by the City Council decides whether to allow developers to build homes, retail shops, factories, or other structures in areas where they are not ordinarily permitted. Members receive $166 for each regular meeting they attend, plus $250 each for special meetings scheduled as needed to hear applications promptly. With up to 30 regular and 10 special meetings a year, thats a maximum of $7,480. Cobian, first named to the board in 2014, is one of four alternates, serving when needed in the absence of one or more of the seven regular members, according to the city clerks office. The citys deputy mayor for housing and economic development, Allison Ladd, confirmed last week that Cobians residency was under investigation. I am aware, Ladd said of a complaint that Cobian had been serving on the board while living in neighboring Harrison, just across the Passaic River. Its under investigation. Cobian, a psychiatric social worker at Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove, did not respond to phone, email and Facebook messages seeking comment. City records indicate that Cobian used a Raymond Boulevard address when first named to the board and later changed her address to one on Broad Street, which she used over the last three years for her voter registration. But a search for Cobian turned up a Harrison address on two separate residential databases: True People Search, which indicated that she lived there from July 2021 through this month, and Accurint, which showed her living there since February. On July 5, about a week after Ladd confirmed the investigation, Cobian notified the city of another change of address to an apartment on McCarter Highway, according to the City Clerks office. Typical of zoning boards, Newarks members must be residents, according to the citys land use ordinance. Board members are nominated for a two-year term by a city councilperson, in Cobians case At-Large Councilman Carlos Gonzalez, and confirmed by the full council. Gonzalez did not respond to a request for comment this week. If a member moves out of town and therefore becomes ineligible yet continues to serve on the board, any decision that member participated in could be challenged in state Superior Court, and possibly overturned, said Stuart Lieberman, a veteran land use lawyer with Lieberman Blecher & Sinkovich in Princeton and New York City. If the city were sued either by a developer whose application was denied or by opponents of an approved project a judge could order a new vote on the application or a whole new hearing, said Lieberman, who often represents neighborhood groups or other objectors seeking to delay or block projects they dont want. If theres an ineligible member, thats very serious, Lieberman said, speaking hypothetically. Most of the time, the courts are going to say either you get a new hearing, or, at least, youre going to get a new vote. Nobody knows Jersey better than N.J.com. Sign up to get breaking news alerts straight to your inbox. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com Keep your ugly, goldbricking ass out of my beach community! Malibu removed some signs directing people to its intentionally obscured beaches. The town cites some sign safety issues, but we all know we aren't welcome in their nice, quiet little beach community. They intend to keep it quiet. Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority is a public agency stewarding Los Angeles' parklands and coastal access. They nicely added signs to help people find one of Malibu's public yet hard-to-access beaches. The signs lasted eight days. https://twitter.com/MRCAParks/status/1677505791581097985 SF Gate: Nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital voted Monday night to strike, rejecting a contract offer from the New Brunswick facility, according to the union representing the nurses. But there will not be an immediate work stoppage. According to the union, a 10-day notice period is required as negotiations continue. Nurses and management planned to meet at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, said Judy Danella, president of United Steel Workers Local 4-200 and a registered nurse at the hospital. She said of the more than 1,270 members who voted, 96% were in favor of the strike. Additional staffing to help remedy labor shortages remained the top issue, though Danella said they were also seeking a pay hike, retirement benefits and a cap on insurance costs. The hospital said in a statement that it was disappointed the vote came from a narrow majority, which Danella refuted. Whatever delusional minds they have, she said, it was in no way, shape, or form narrow. The hospital maintained that the nurses are the highest paid in the state at every level among their peers at comparable hospitals even before the proposed increase offered in this contract renewal. The facility added, On average our wage proposal is 14% higher than the average published rates for similar New Jersey hospitals. The hospital also said it has approved hiring more than 100 full-time registered nurses and has onboarded more than 600 nurses since last year. Danella disputed that claim, too. Theres not 600 nurses that have come in, Danella said. She acknowledged that numbers have increased, but not where they need to be. She said the facility may have hired 100 nurses over the past year, but We still get 50 to 75 who have left. There are around 1,500 nurses at the facility, who would strike if the 10-day notice period passes. Danella expects the facility will bring in traveling nurses to fill the gap. The dispute comes amid a crippling nursing shortage state and nationwide, which grew worse after the COVID-19 pandemic. New Jersey has been ranked among the states with the most unfilled registered nurse positions. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is a 965-bed facility and the flagship hospital of its parent network, RWJBarnabas Health. The network treated more than 3 million patients last year. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. The man who died in a three-alarm blaze on Stegman Street in Jersey City Monday morning has been identified as 54-year-old Christopher Williams, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said Tuesday. Williams was found unconscious on the second floor of the single-family home at 269 Stegman St., between Bergen Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard, when Jersey City firefighters arrived at approximately 6:50 a.m., the prosecutor said. He was transported to Jersey City Medical Center and pronounced dead just after 7:30 a.m. A second resident, a 41-year-old woman, was injured while escaping the fire by jumping from a second-floor window. She was treated for nonlife threatening injuries at Jersey City Medical Center and has since been released, Suarez said. A preliminary investigation by the Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force, which is working with the Jersey City Fire Department, determined the fire originated in the front enclosed porch of 269 Stegman St. The cause remains under investigation at this time, the prosecutor said, but a source with knowledge of the incident said the fire may have been started when a lithium battery on an e-bike caught fire. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Prosecutors Office at 201-915-1345 or to leave a tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential. Hackensack University Medical Center in running for Most Beautiful Hospital Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack is one of 50 hospitals nationwide nominated in an Americas Most Beautiful Hospital contest. Hackensack University Medical Center was selected for how well it treats its workers. The contests voting period to determine the winner runs from June 22 to July 27. The 20 Most Beautiful Hospitals contest is sponsored by national healthcare staffing firm Soliant. The program recognizes hospitals for their commitment to developing and improving their campuses, facilities and staff, thereby creating holistic and healing environments. Soliant will donate $5,000 to the winning hospitals foundation. Soliant began this program in 2009, and since then, more than 150 hospitals have been recognized. Votes for hospital winners will be accepted through July 27 at https://www.soliant.com/most-beautiful-hospital-contest/vote/. The contests winners will be announced Aug 2. Jersey City Woman Business Owner marks 20 years on Grove Street X-Press Cuts Hair Salon celebrated its 20th anniversary with food, drinks, and haircuts for the local community on June 17. Leonor Hernandez is owner of X-Press, located at 291 Grove St., Jersey City. Originally from Ecuador, Hernandez has a long career of cutting hair, including many years with Supercuts. In 2003, she was able to open the unisex salon on Grove Street, across the street from City Hall, serving a clientele of all ages. Hudson County immigrant entrepreneur honored Mexico native Jaime Lucero, founder of Harrison-based Golden and Silver Inc. was awarded the David Sarnoff Award for Advocacy and Community Engagement at the 10th Annual New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards at the Multicultural Business Expo on June 27 at the Pines Manor in Edison. Lucero received the David Sarnoff Award for Advocacy and Community Engagement for his role as a Servant Leader, addressing the needs of the less fortunate and acting to create institutions that help meet those needs. In 2019, Lucero founded Fuerza Migrante, a bi-national movement of key migrant organizations from throughout the U.S. that empowers the Mexican community abroad through education. Under his leadership, it has created educational platforms tailored to the needs of migrants and their families here and in Mexico, signing partnership agreements with more than two dozen private and public educational institutions in Mexico, New Jersey and New York. Lucero came to the US at the age of 18 knowing little English. He had little money or marketable skills. He found a job as a dishwasher at a Queens restaurant where he saved enough money to buy a truck and begin a delivery business. Ten years later, he established a warehouse. Today, his Harrison-based Golden and Silver Inc. is one of the largest importers and distributors of high-end clothing in the United States. NJCU has partnership with Latino Action Network and LAN Foundation New Jersey City University (NJCU) has announced a partnership agreement with the Latino Action Network and the Latino Action Network Foundation in an effort to address issues plaguing Latino and immigrant communities. The partnership will focus on the development of community education, civic engagement, and research initiatives on educational equity and health care access policies. The partnership was announced at the schools Board of Trustees meeting on June 26. The partnership will engage leadership, faculty, staff and students in opportunities to participate in community education and advocacy toward policy change. The University will host an official signing ceremony at a future date. The joint agreement will address six key issues: the impact of school segregation; affordable access to higher education, civic engagement and impact of political participation by Latino communities; workforce development in areas of education and health care, including mental health care; providing internship and fellowship opportunities for students and faculty to support research initiatives in areas of education, health care and civic engagement; and development and integration of curriculum that work to address equity issues in education, health care, and civic engagement into NJCU academic programs. The partnership with NJCU is in alignment with the three-year strategic plan (2022-25) launched by LAN and the LAN Foundation in 2022. Its primary collaborative goal was to build academic partnerships with primarily Hispanic-serving institutions such as NJCU that could further develop research and policy work. Hoboken building over 100 years old bought by Maridian Properties Hoboken-based real estate developer Maridian Properties has announced the recent acquisition of 95 River Street in Hoboken, now named as Lions Gate according to a report by Jerseydigs.com. The new name is a nod to the lion heads that decorate the 113-year-old buildings upper facade. The Lions Gate is a five-story building that offers 22,500 sq ft of retail and office space. A Wells Fargo bank branch is located on the ground floor. The building was constructed in 1910 for the Steneck Trust Company and underwent a remodel in 1983. Maridians co-founder, Mario Fini, says they hope to create an appealing environment that caters to wide range of commercial users such as the tech industry. Morelia Gourmet Paletas to open in Hoboken In a report by Jerseydigs.com, the vacated space at 932 Washington St., in Hoboken, formerly the barbershop Spesh, will become the new home for Miami-based business Morelia Gourmet Paletas. Morelia Gourmet Paletas specializes in the Mexican dessert known as paletas, an ice pop larger than the traditional popsicle which may have first come to prominence in the capital city of the State of Michoacan in Mexico. They can be made with ice cream, sorbet, or with dairy free and vegan ingredients such as coconut milk. Morelia Gourmet Paletas first formed in Miami in 2016. The business also has locations in Texas and North Carolina. The Hoboken location will be the first New Jersey spot and will feature 16 flavors of paletas. Quantum Leap for Young Adults On July 22nd, Keller Williams Jersey City, a local real estate company, is hosting Quantum Leap for Young Adults for people ages 18 to 28 years old on Saturday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The one-day workshop will introduce future generations of leaders and entrepreneurs to the tools that will help them define and achieve their own version of success in any industry. While the event is not a real estate course, young real estate agents are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served throughout the day and lunch will be provided. When a student completes the one-day course, they become eligible to apply for a free coaching program, followed by a Fund MY Mission Scholarship up to $5,000 awarded per award period, with a maximum of $10,000 to help fund their career goals. You can apply for the course online at AllEvents.in. A North Brunswick man who authorities alleged played a leading role in the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 has been convicted of over a dozen crimes, court records show. Christopher Quaglin, 37, took his case to a bench trial, where the judge fills the role of jury, in federal court Washington, D.C. A married couple from northern New Jersey has been sentenced to prison in a sex trafficking scheme that victimized six women, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Jean Noriega, 52, of Paterson, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release on a guilty plea of sex trafficking six victims and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, prosecutors said. Noriegas wife, Enna Gonzalez, 58, was sentenced to four years in prison and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, prosecutors said. A 27-year-old Philadelphia man has accepted a plea deal in the killing of a woman at a New Jersey motel last year, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said. Alexander Rivera admitted to the slaying and pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in exchange for a 25-year prison sentence, prosecutors said. He was initially charged with murder and related weapons offenses. Police were called to the Bel-Air Motor Lodge on Route 73 in Maple Shade at about 11:30 a.m. on May 11, 2022, after 36-year-old Michelle L. Johnston was found dead in room 410 by a motel employee, officials said. Hundreds of parents and the townships police department are urging school officials in a Bergen County district to reconsider a reconfiguration plan that would alter the grade levels in the boroughs two elementary schools. More than 800 people have signed a Change.org petition against the proposal in River Edge, a small district with roughly 1,100 students in pre-K through sixth grade, according to state data. We feel that they are not thoroughly vetting and exploring alternative options, said Carmen Philbin, a parent of three children in the district who is against the reconfiguration. Theres a big debate at the moment over the question of just what sections of the state, if any, make up Central Jersey. I have no idea. But Im sure theres a Shore. And if I were a Democratic governor with presidential aspirations, Id stay away from it. Phil Murphy didnt do so over the July Fourth weekend. And now hes the star of one of those videos that will live in infamy. The occasion was an appearance of a band called Brian Kirk and the Jirks at an outdoor music venue called the Red Rock. Its in Red Bank, within sight of Murphys six-acre compound on the other side of the Navesink. Kirk lives in nearby Rumson. He counts himself a friend of the governor. So when Murphy showed up at a July 3 show at the Red Rock, Kirk invited the governor up on stage. At first, there was a smattering of applause. But then the booing started. And booing is a lot more fun than cheering, especially if youve tossed back a few on a beautiful summer day. Kirk tried to rescue the governor. Listen to me, hes a buddy of mine, he told the crowd. This is not about politics. But where Murphys concerned, everythings about politics. Back in 2021, Kirk and the Jirks played at a $4,900-a-seat event to raise funds for Murphys re-election bid. Murphy won re-election, but he lost Monmouth County by a 59-40 margin to his Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli. Lately hes widely believed to be preparing a run for the White House in the event that Joe Biden drops out of the race for the 2024 Democratic nomination. So the last thing he needed was a video like this showing up on Twitter. But thats where Matt Rooney of the conservative Save Jersey blog posted it. Dont miss the best in editorials, opinion columns and commentary from NJ.com writers. Add your email here: Murphys hardly the first governor to get caught in a controversial video while at the Shore. That honor goes to Chris Christie. Back in 2012, he was strolling the Seaside Heights boardwalk when he got into a beef with a heckler. The headline in the New York Daily News read, Not exactly Mr. Softee: Chris Christie caught on video getting into a Jersey Shore yelling match - while holding an ice cream cone. That didnt hurt Christie. He wanted to be portrayed as a tough guy from Jersey. But he didnt fare so well in another tiff he had at the Shore. That came in 2016, when a tropical storm named Jonas socked the South Jersey beaches hard. Christie was campaigning in the New Hampshire Republican primary at the time. He was initially reluctant to come back home for a storm he dismissed as much less severe than Hurricane Sandy of 2012. Finally, he decided to come back for a quick visit. But soon he was back in New Hampshire. When an attendee at one of his rallies asked him why he wasnt in New Jersey, Christie replied, You want me to go down there with a mop? Christie also called North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello crazy for stating that the flooding in Cape May County was far worse in Jonas than it was in Sandy. Except it was. And when that was pointed out to Christie, he had to apologize to Rosenello, who is a fellow Republican. When I called him yesterday, the mayor said both Christie and Murphy let their national aspirations overshadow their statewide duties. Instead of becoming a better governor, they want to use it as a springboard to higher office, Rosenello said. The mayor said thats the case with Murphys efforts to promote offshore wind. It may be good for his national image, but residents of the Shore dont want what the industrialization of the ocean, he said. Thats a big issue in Monmouth County as well. Republican Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger of Monmouth County recently sent out a sarcastic tweet about the power outages that hit the Wildwoods over the big weekend: WAIT! I know what can solve this - wind turbines! Someone tell the Governor to get those big pinwheels blowing, itll stop climate change from turning off the lights tonight! (Heres a recent post of his on the subject ) When I called Scharfenberger yesterday, he said his son was at the Red Rock on that fateful day. He said there was a lot of talk about the wind turbine stuff, Scharfenberger said. The people at Red Rock arent gonna get into the big debate about climate change. Theyre just into surfing and fishing and they dont want to mess with the ocean. Murphy doesnt ask me for advice, but as a long-time student of the Jersey Shore I would suggest that he avoid the Shore this summer. Maybe he can figure out where Central Jersey is. If so, he should go there instead. BELOW - HERES THE VIDEO BELOW Also: On Twitter, David Cruz says perhaps it was Murphys bad singing that set the crowd off:. Check it at @DavidCruznj. More: Recent Paul Mulshine columns. Paul Mulshine may be reached at pmulshine@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @Mulshine. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook and on Twitter A Passaic County man who was shot and paralyzed by a Paterson police officer during a foot chase last year has filed a $50 million federal lawsuit against the officer who shot him and city officials. Khalif Cooper, 28, of Paterson, was unarmed when he was shot at twice by Officer Jerry Moravek, 40, during a pursuit on a street in Patersons First Ward on June 11, 2022, according to the suit, filed July 2 in U.S. District Court. Moravek was responding to a noise complaint on Garrison Street when he heard gunshots and started running toward Marion Street where he believed the shots had been fired, according to the suit. Cooper was running from the gunshots and crossed paths with the officer, who began chasing him and yelling drop the gun, according to the lawsuit. Without telling Cooper to get down on the ground, Moravek fired twice. One bullet struck Cooper in the back, damaging his spinal cord, and causing other internal injuries, the suit says. Moravek ran up to the wounded man, placed a knee into his back, handcuffed him, and asked, why did you run?, according to the suit. Cooper responded he was ran because he was scared and told Moravek that he did not have a gun, according to the suit and body worn camera footage. The lawsuit alleges no weapon was found on Cooper recovered in the area that could be linked to Coopers fingerprints or DNA, the suit says. Cooper has not been charged with a crime related to the incident. On Feb. 6, state prosecutors charged Moravek with second-degree aggravated assault and second-degree official misconduct. NorthJersey.com reported Moravek, a member of the department since 2014, has been placed on paid administrative leave. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said during a press conference that Moravek violated the offices use-of-force policies, which state that police officers have a duty to use deadly force only as an absolute last resort. The body worn camera footage does not depict the victim brandishing any firearm or pointing a firearm at the defendant, other officers or any member of the public, a statement from Platkins office said. No gun was found in the victims possession nor within his reach. The encounter between Moravek and Cooper, Platkin said, fell so far so outside of these confines shooting an unarmed man in the back, resulting in a serious injury that criminal charges are appropriate. Moravek shot the plaintiff without need, justification, or cause, the lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit alleges city officials had actual or constructive notice of the failures of its police officers to avoid excessive use of force and violations of civil rights. The Office of the Attorney General announced in late March that it had taken control of the Paterson Police Department, following years of problems, including criminal charges against a dozen officers, millions in legal settlements and fierce criticism of police use of force. Included in the lawsuit are a half dozen other alleged unlawful acts attributed to Paterson police officers, including the 2012 fatal shooting of Saulo Del Rosario, and the 2019 death of Jameek Lowery, who the suit says died from alleged unreasonable use of force while in Paterson police custody. The suit alleges Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh was aware of corruption within the police department and that he fired former police Chief Ibrahim Baycora for allegedly failing to address misconduct. Paterson deserves a police chief that not only stays awake on the job but is engaged, Sayegh said, according to the suit. Baycora has also been named as a defendant in the suit. Sayegh on Tuesday declined to comment, saying the city does not comment on pending litigation. Baycora declined to answer questions about the suit Tuesday, but denied that he had been fired from his job. I retired, Baycora said. Moraveks attorney, Patrick Caserta of Wayne, did not return a call seeking comment on the suit. The federal lawsuit alleges violations of Coopers civil rights, negligence, and says Paterson has failed to adequately supervise and train its officers on use of excessive force and the civil rights of others. Coopers attorneys are asking for a $50 million judgment for compensatory and consequential damages. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The National Governors Association, chaired by Gov. Phil Murphy, is set to begin its annual summer meeting Wednesday in Atlantic City, bringing the yearly conference to New Jersey for the first time in more than three decades. Governors from 50 states and five territories will join business leaders and federal officials, including First Lady Jill Biden, for two days of public discussions on some of todays most pressing issues for state leaders. The conferences public sessions are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Murphy, a Democrat, became the first New Jersey governor to lead the association after being sworn in last July, and the annual meeting marks the end of his one-year term. He will lead an opening session on Thursday to unveil Strengthening Mental Health: A Governors Playbook, a resource developed over the past year as part of his NGA Chairs Initiative, Strengthening Youth Mental Health. Elizabeth "Liz" Holmes and her ex-boyfriend, co-conspirator, and attempted scapegoat Sunni Balwani, have seen their prison sentences shortened by two years. The Bureau of Prisons declined to comment as to why, however, sentences are routinely shorted for things like good behavior, tho not necessarily for positive press in the New York Times. Holmes has been serving her term, while her attorneys continue to appeal her conviction. The Guardian: A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment. The legal team representing the remaining survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre slammed Judge Caroline Wall for dismissing a lawsuit seeking reparations for Lessie Benningfield Randle, Viola Fletcher and Hughes Van Ellis. They called the decision a gut punch during a press conference on Monday. Attorney Demario Solomon-Simmons, who represents Randle, Fletcher and Ellis, said that his team would be moving forward with an appeal. This is not a defeat. This is a hurdle, Solomon-Simmons said Monday at the Historic Vernon AME Church, which sustained major damage during the Tulsa Race Massacre and had to be rebuilt. White mobs destroyed hundreds of buildings and homes and their actions resulted in as many as 300 deaths, to say nothing of the nearly 10,000 who were displaced in Greenwood. Solomon-Simmons read a statement on behalf of Randle, Fletcher and Ellis, who were not in attendance: We will continue to fight until our last breathes... Despite Tulsa and Americas attempt to silence, change and gaslight the facts and truths of our collective racial history and trauma, we as survivors and all of those that believe in racial justice, we will not sit quietly or passively to allow mistruths or misjustices to persist. We will continue to fight... We will not rest until there is justice for Greenwood. The suit can no longer be refiled in Oklahomas courts due to Judge Caroline Walls decision. The justice, who considers herself a Constitutional Conservative, ultimately sided with arguments made by the regional chamber of commerce as well as other government entities. Wall claimed that survivors sought relief that violates the separation of powers provided by the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma. Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum was among the officials supportive of Walls decision, claiming that he reject[s] the notion that the citizens of Tulsa have benefited from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. In this case, I dont believe this generation of Tulsans is any better off, and, in fact, is worse off because of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, Bynum told Tulsa World. Solomon-Simmons also called for a Department of Justice investigation under the Emmett Till Act to be conducted on behalf of the survivors. The nonprofit Justice for Greenwood, which supports survivors and descendants of survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre, also participated in the press conference. In a prior statement, Justice for Greenwood lamented that Judge Wall effectively condemned the three living Tulsa Race Massacre Survivors to languish genuinely to death on Oklahomas appellate docket. Fletcher, the oldest living survivor, is 109 years old, while Randle is 108 and Ellis is 102. Fletcher released a memoir last week about living through the massacre. Tilted Dont Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre In Her Own Words, Fletcher details her firsthand account of fleeing Greenwood as a seven-year-old and how the massacre ultimately shaped the rest of her life. The book will be widely available Aug. 15. Justice for Greenwood also condemned a recent comment from Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters, who last week answered a question about teaching the massacre in schools without violating the states critical race theory ban. Walters initially said that the racism motivating the Tulsa Race Massacre should not be included in curriculum. He later issued a statement clarifying that history should be accurately taught and that the events on that day were racist, evil and inexcusable but added that kids should never be made to feel bad or told they are inferior based on the color of their skin. Attitudes like Walters may explain why the larger issue of distributing reparations for descendants of slaves remains inadequately addressed. Last year, the Pew Research Center found a drastic divide between white and Black Americans when it comes to supporting reparations. Just 18 percent of white Americans were supportive compared with 77 percent of Black Americans. Cities and even entire states continue to move forward with reparation plans, including the State of California and separately San Francisco and Sacramento. More than a dozen cities in states across the country have formed reparations commissions. In 2021, Evanston, Illinois became the first city to begin distributing reparations to Black residents. Andre Perry, whos a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and co-authored the research on Why We Need Reparations for Black Americans, believes local solutions such as the ones being pursued by Randle, Fletcher and Ellis are critical to righting the very clear wrong of systemic racism and tragedies like the Tulsa Race Massacre. The Tulsa Massacre puts the reparations debate in very concrete terms: You still have people who are alive, who deserve their government to restore them and the lack of restoration or reparation is to not acknowledge the ostensible crimes that were committed upon Americans because of their race, Perry said. I believe that the solutions will come at the local level from all of these various efforts in different sectors, so housing, slavery and other injuries that were caused by discrimination. I think that a lot of the solutions that are emerging will eventually be reified into law and resourced at higher levels, he added. We dont necessarily know or have all the solutions and all the fixes but they are certainly developing at this time. A Salem County man who died in police custody in February was denied timely medical care and ignored by officers when he showed signs of distress, according to a tort claim notice filed by an attorney representing his estate. Walter S. Zilinski Jr., 49, and two women were arrested at the mans home in Pennsville Township on Feb. 10, attorney Jeffrey V. Puff writes in the notice of intent to file a lawsuit against various public agencies, including local police, the county prosecutor, sheriff and EMTs. Officers zip-tied Zilinskis wrists so tightly that it interfered with blood flow and forced him to sit outside in cold, windy weather on a metal boat trailer for about two-and-a-half hours while dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, Puff states. When the two women complained they were cold, officers retrieved coats for them, but no similar considerations were provided for Zilinski, the attorney noted, writing, Police failed to execute the search warrant in compliance with the procedures of the State of New Jersey and left him in the cold without giving him proper medical attention. The three were taken to Pennsvilles police station, where Zilinski allegedly began having trouble breathing while sitting in a holding area. He was gasping for air and wheezing, the attorney wrote, and the two women yelled for help, but officers took no action to help the man. A Pennsville Police Officer stated that Zilinski probably swallowed drugs or was faking in order to go to the hospital instead of prison, Puff wrote. Zilinski vomited and continued struggling to breathe until his skin turned gray, the attorney stated, adding: It was too late when the officers called for an ambulance. Responding EMTs failed to give Zilinski oxygen or an overdose antidote to save his life, according to Puff, and failed to transport him to an emergency room in a timely manner before he was pronounced dead. The notice alleges civil rights violations, failure to act, failure to provide appropriate medical care and malpractice. The claim lists damages of $2 million. Pennsville Police referred questions about the matter to the county prosecutors office, which confirmed its investigating Zilinskis case under state guidelines for in-custody deaths. The Salem County Prosecutors Office is reviewing this matter and the findings of that review will be reported to the Attorney Generals Office, Executive Assistant Salem County Prosecutor Jeffrey Barile said in an email. He declined to comment on details of the case, citing the ongoing investigation. Officials have not said why Zilinski was arrested. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Authorities have charged a second juvenile with murder in connection with the shooting death of a 16-year-old youth last month in South Jersey. Officers responded to Mount Vernon Street in Bridgeton shortly after 9 p.m. on June 25 for a reported gunshot victim and found the Millville teen dead, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office. Police arrested a 16-year-old Bridgeton resident July 3 in the case and charged him with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, destruction of evidence, hindering apprehension and obstructing the administration of law. On July 6, police charged a second 16-year-old Bridgeton boy in the killing, the prosectors office announced Tuesday. He is charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, destruction of evidence, hindering apprehension and obstruction. Two other suspects were charged with hindering the investigation into the killing. A 20-year-old Bridgeton woman was charged with hindering apprehension and obstruction after she was arrested July 6 in Jefferson City, Missouri, officials said. She is awaiting extradition to New Jersey. A 21-year-old Bridgeton man is charged with destruction of evidence, hindering apprehension and obstruction, and remains at large, according to the prosecutors office. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Bridgeton Police Detective Mark Yoshioka at 856-392-9031 or prosecutors office Detective Chris Johnson at 856-579-1431. Anonymous tips may be shared online at ccpo.tips. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Watertown, NY (13601) Today A shower or two possible this evening with partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight A shower or two possible this evening with partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. I absolutely adore Hercule Van Wolfwinkle's pet portraitspeople send him photos of their pets, and then he draws them, with hilarious (and charming) results. He doesn't ask to be paid for his workthe portraits, which he uploads on his social media, are free, but in return he asks for folks to donate to two charities. On his website, he explains his story and his style: Hercule's self-proclaimed 'ultra-realistic' style is akin to that of a small child who has never seen an animal before and is only just learning how to hold a pencil properly, but people like it. A large social media following and worldwide media coverage catapulted Hercule into the limelight and he has used this exposure to raise money for his chosen charities, Turning Tides Ending Local Homelessness and StreetVet. Here are the descriptions of the two charities he donates to, from JustGiving: Turning Tides is the largest provider of services for single homeless men and women in West Sussex and they believe everyone has the right to a home, regardless of the difficulties and issues they may face in their lives. Turning Tides know anyone's life can unravel into homelessness, so they bring together compassionate individuals and organisations who work tirelessly to transform the lives of people in our local community and to change perceptions of homelessness. Victims of the UK homelessness epidemic often have scant support, except for, in a growing number of cases, the companionship of their pets. Many have had their pets since before losing their homes, which makes their bond even more profound, such that their pet's well-being is a life-shaping priority. StreetVet's volunteer vets and vet nurses provide accessible fundamental veterinary care. They vaccinate, microchip, treat for fleas and worms, prescribe pain relief, help fight infections, perform surgeries and sometimes just sit and listen. I seriously love his workhe somehow perfectly captures the essence of each pet he draws. I would absolutely adore a portrait of my dog Henry Rollins, but it's pretty much a lottery, as he has over 60,000 requests in his queue already! I'll just have to be happy exploring his Instagram, instead. Just off the busy Elmwood Avenue is a tucked-away commercial district, where the shopping is small, local and sustainable. Dubbed Little Soho by locals for its creative small businesses, the block of Lexington Avenue between Ashland and Elmwood avenues is a collection of small businesses run by artists and restaurateurs where you can eat, drink and shop all afternoon without venturing more than a couple of hundred feet. (Its also the original home of the Lexington Co-op before it moved a half-mile away on Elmwood Avenue.) Its just a diverse group of shops [and] restaurants. Its a shopping experience, said Stephanie Robb, owner of Turnstyle Designs, an Ashland Avenue boutique. Tracey Wei, owner of zero waste shop Little Salmon on Lexington calls the neighborhood a slice of heaven because of its walkability and lively (but not rowdy) Saturday crowds who frequent the boutiques and restaurants. Stop by the neighborhood from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 15 for the fourth The Arts on Lexington Ave festival organized by Wild Things. More than 10 artisan vendors will set up on the neighborhood sidewalks, selling jewelry, paintings and other handmade goods. Its a tiny neighborhood to traverse and is doable in an afternoon, but just because its small doesnt mean its selection isnt mighty. Below are some ideas of how to spend a day on Lexington. Grab a pastry Begin the day at the quaint Farm Shop, 235B Lexington Ave., where youll find a seasonal selection of Butter Block pastries and produce, meat, frozen foods, homemade jam, cold beverages and other items sourced from local farms. Youll also likely be greeted by a sleepy golden retriever named Eli, who hangs out at the entrance baking in the sun. Shop local Swing by Turnstyle Designs the womens clothing and jewelry boutique located at 298 Ashland Ave., in a former clock manufacturing building with striking round windows to browse Robbs collection of comfortable apparel, colorful accessories and original jewelry. Robb sells her own jewelry designs at the store along with jewelry and handmade goods by other local artists, including Colleen Tomlinson, who also works at the store. Cross Ashland Avenue to check out Little Salmon (230 Lexington Ave.), a zero waste shop that stocks reusable, refillable and biodegradable lifestyle products, such as cleaning supplies, makeup and soap. Tracey Wei opened the store in 2021 to provide a resource for conscious consumers to generate less waste when buying necessities. Customers often return with glass bottles to refill their shampoo, conditioner and skin care products from Weis wholesale supply, cutting down on unnecessary plastic waste. (Relle Organic Salon, 218 Lexington Ave., also sells organic hair products.) Wild Things (224 Lexington Ave.) has anchored the Lexington commercial district for the last 35 years at its sunny space. Its customer base is loyal, according to longtime employee Paula Connors. Wild Things sells the work of more than 30 local artists. Browse the boutiques diverse and eclectic array of locally produced jewelry, ceramics, stained glass and fine artwork at a range of price points. Look for handmade ceramic mugs decorated in mountain motifs by local artist Sam Schnell and dainty, woodland-inspired jewelry by artist Sarah Kieffer. We have something unique happening here. Were, I think, iconic in the neighborhood, Connors said. Get a bite to eat Two popular restaurants face each other on Lexington. The Place (229 Lexington Ave.) has been feeding locals for decades. Find a seat around a fire pit on the patio, under the heat lamp on the porch or inside the restaurants dim, homey dining room and browse the tavern menu. Mac and cheese is served hot on a sizzling skillet. Youll find Buffalo classics on the menu, such as beef on weck and chicken wings. Return in the winter for a festive Tom and Jerry cocktail in a branded mug, which you get to keep. Or try Kunis (226 Lexington Ave.), a small, well-respected authentic Japanese restaurant known for its fresh sushi, sashimi and sake. The restaurant is back open for dine-in and takeout under new ownership following the retirement of Chef Kuni Sato after more than 25 years of service. Longtime Kunis chef Thaviesak Nachampassak now owns the restaurant and is committed to continuing Satos legacy and keeping Kunis exactly the same as it has always been, according to Joseph and Sadako Sadie Leta, who work with Kunis and run the food blog Buffalo Food Otaku. Last week, Steve Hearse, Chief Executive of TDC, and I travelled to Bournemouth to attend the Annual Local Government Association (LGA) Conference alongside other local authorities. The conference was well-attended and featured a variety of expert speakers and MPs who discussed the latest issues affecting our communities. We also had the opportunity to visit the inspiring Innovation Zone and explore various exhibitor stands and presentations. At the conference, prominent figures and Members of Parliament like Angela Rayner, Michael Gove, and Ed Davey from the Liberal Democrats were present. The event was organised by the LGA to showcase the best practices being implemented by local government authorities across the country. The aim was to equip attendees with knowledge that they could use to make a positive difference back in their own councils and communities. Despite the numerous challenges faced by local government, the conference was very useful and enlightening, with many great ideas being shared during discussions and presentations. There were numerous opportunities to join sessions on the subjects all councils are currently wrestling with such as housing, green energy, and future government funding. The main benefit for me included meeting other council leaders and chief executives in an informal relaxed atmosphere discussing mutual ways councils can move forward. I attended many exhibitions and particularly enjoyed a talk about how local areas and effective partnerships will play a crucial role in delivering net zero. As an observation, in January 2023, Bath and North East Somerset Council and Cornwall Council were granted permission to implement planning policies that mandate new homes to meet net zero energy standards. Working in collaboration with the South West Net Zero Hub and Etude Consultancy, these councils have now developed a comprehensive energy reporting tool. It was fascinating to observe how effective collaboration between the South West Net Zero Hub and its partners can lead to significant climate change solutions. Definitely a topic I and my fellow councillors will be giving our attention to during our current term. Attending the LGA conference also reinforced my belief of the importance of Northern Devon taking advantage of the upcoming green energy and zero emissions opportunities. At the recent 'Marine Futures Conference' hosted by Petroc College, we learned about the potential of Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) in the Celtic Sea, as well as advancements in clean green hydrogen propulsion systems and the development of the UK's largest seaweed farm. These opportunities can provide better-paying jobs and new career paths for students and help businesses diversify and expand their supply chains. Petroc will be key academic partner in all of this alongside the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth and I was pleased to contribute a few words to the opening of that event which took place a few weeks before the LGA conference. I thought it fitting to close my column this week with a few words of recognition for the 75 year celebrations of the foundation of the NHS. Having access to free health care dependant on need and not ability to pay is something we might sometimes take for granted. However, it has been fundamental to better health outcomes for all in this country and while it may be in need of an overhaul and perhaps more funding it is certainly an institution of which we can all be proud. While the government may provide the money its the dedicated doctors, nurses, and myriad other people involved in proving the care that make the institution unique and such an important part of our lives when we need it most. Congratulations to everyone involved, past and present and along with that our thanks for all their hard work and dedication. A dedicated group of volunteers has celebrated 40 years of work conserving one of the North Devons best-loved nature havens. Halsdon and Dolton Local Group was formed in 1983 to help promote local the preservation of wildlife and specifically to look after a local nature reserve. Ever since its volunteers have worked in tandem with the Devon Wildlife Trust to conserve the charitys Halsdon nature reserve, a 57 hectare site near Great Torrington. Its combination of beautiful woodland and a stunning section of the River Torridge, makes it popular with visitors and a home to huge numbers of wildflowers, butterflies, moths, birds and much more besides. The Group recently celebrated its significant birthday staging a public open day at the nature reserve. The event included walking tours, moth identification, badge making, a cake stall and river dipping in search of aquatic insects. Joining the Groups volunteers and local families were Devon Wildlife Trusts Chief Executive Harry Barton and Mike Moser, Chair of North Devons UNESCO Biosphere Partnership. Local Group member Marion Philips said: The idea behind todays event is trying to get local families involved. I have lived in Dolton for 40 years and been involved with Devon Wildlife Trust much of this time. Back then, local young mums and I used to get involved doing facepainting and pond dipping. We also organised work parties to help look after the nature reserve. The focus then was clearing the invasive rhododendron. We once had 90 people come to a work party. It was exciting and we got a lot of work done. Dawn Lenn, Devon Wildlife Trusts Volunteer Coordinator said: We are so pleased to be able to celebrate 40 years of wonderful service by Halsdon and Dolton Local Group. Over the decades they have contributed countless hours of hard work, helping to maintain Halsdon nature reserve as a haven for people and wildlife. But that is not all the Group has achieved. Each year they have also staged a programme of regular nature-based walks and talks, bringing the wonders of wildlife to hundreds of local people. The event also gave Halsdon and Dolton Local Group an opportunity to celebrate a special award for one of their founder members. Local-resident and former schoolteacher, Diana Goodacre was presented with a Devon Wildlife Fellowship the charitys top accolade for its volunteers and supporters. The award was in recognition of her four decades of volunteering in the cause of local wildlife and its conservation. Diana Goodacre said: I volunteer because its part of who I am. You feel youve done something worthwhile, and my upbringing showed that the natural world is so important. The bluebell woods in spring here at Halsdon make me think this is what heaven must be like. But I love all of the nature reserve. For the latest volunteer opportunities and public events organised by Dolton Local Group go to the Devon Wildlife Trust website at www.devonwildlifetrust.org Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown wants the Common Council to confirm new people in three key cabinet posts. He will ask council members Tuesday to accept Callie Johnson and Rashied McDuffie as deputy mayors and Michael Marcy as chief of staff. Johnson and McDuffie would fill positions left vacant after the departure of deputy mayors Ellen E. Grant in September and Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney last month. Rodriguez-Dabney also served as chief of staff for the city since April 2022. She left City Hall last month to become the chief diversity officer and senior vice president at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Grant served for 2-1/2 years as deputy mayor for Brown before leaving in 2015 to join Say Yes to Education as the nonprofits senior vice president for chapter programming. She returned to City Hall in 2019 in the same capacity before leaving last year for Roswell Park. Johnson most recently worked since July 2021 as director of communications and community engagement for the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. McDuffie was assistant corporation counsel for the city of Buffalos Law Department from March 2014 to January 2022, serving as a Buffalo Housing Court prosecutor. He also defended the city in administrative hearings, settlement negotiations and other matters, as well as oversaw inspectors and management in the Office of Permits and Inspection Services. Since 2022, McDuffie has been deputy general counsel and records access officer with the State Office of Cannabis Management. Marcy has been in the Brown administration 15 years, most recently as director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Division of Urban Affairs. The Council is expected to refer the appointments to its July 18 Civil Service Committee meeting for discussion and deliberation. Browns recommended salary for Johnson and McDuffie is $148,000 each, for a total of $296,000, less than the $309,000 adopted in the 2023-24 operating budget for two deputy mayors. The budget line for chief of staff is $133,946. Catholic Charities of Buffalo announced Tuesday that its annual appeal brought in just over $9.1 million in 2023, short of its $9.5 million goal. Thank you to our nearly 24,000 donors who supported Appeal 2023, Adam Sumlin, chair of the annual drive, said in an emailed statement. When we come together, so much good can be accomplished for the many individuals, families and children who rely on these funds raised through the appeal and the vital services offered. The annual fund supports 57 programs and services across Western New York, as well as diocesan ministries through its Fund for Faith. Catholic Charities has been around since 1923 and celebrates its centennial this year. Catholic Charities services are open and available to everyone across all eight counties of Western New York, regardless of an individuals religion. The organization offers resources such as food pantries, educational advancement opportunities, immigration/refugee assistance, substance use treatment and family support services. Last year, the charity exceeded its $9.5 million goal. The $9.1 million raised for the 2023 appeal includes nearly $700,000 worth of donations that came from bequests. Donors can continue to support the work of Catholic Charities at ccwny.org/donation. Over the last 100 years, we have certainly had our challenges, but Catholic Charities continue to stand ready as a beacon of hope to our neighbors of all faiths in need, said Deacon Steve Schumer, the organizations president and CEO. Town of Hamburg police and state troopers were seen searching a wooded area of Hamburg on Tuesday. Hamburg police tweeted a brief statement confirming they were searching a "wooded property near Southwestern Boulevard and Big Tree Road." They said the search was related to a "cold case." Police clarified that the search was not related to any current cases and that there was no threat to public safety. A massive manhunt is underway much farther south around Warren, Pa., for Michael C. Burham, 34, of Jamestown, the escaped kidnapping suspect who is a prime suspect in the killing of a Jamestown woman. Police did not say Tuesday which cold case they were investigating. You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. "She Said, He Said" with Jerry and Karen Davich - Podcast Series She Said, He Said" with co-hosts Jerry and Karen Davich unpacks all the baggage about relationships, couples and issues between the sexes (and the exs). Because theres a lot to unpack, Karen says. The dangers of online dating. The fun of flirting. Blended families. Difficult in-laws. Connecting after arguments. First kisses and final divorces. You name it, theyll unpack it on She Said, He Said. All episodes are now available for viewing at NWI.com or to listen on your favorite platforms such as Apple, Spotify, Google and Audacy, whichever is most convenient. Subscribe to not miss any new episodes. The couple's podcast is recorded each week at CreataSpacePlace studios in Hobart, with local guests in the studio and timeless topics on the table. The $1.5 million federal grant St. Catherine Hospital recently landed is part of an ongoing modernization of the hospital's cardiac catheterization lab. The multiphase project is bringing advanced equipment and procedural systems to the century-old hospital in East Chicago's Indiana Harbor neighborhood. It will result in new cabinets, flooring and other enhancements to the control room. St. Catherine has renovated two of its three cath lab suites within the last two years, said Mary Miller, director of cardiovascular services for Community Healthcare System. "We've been doing about one per year and making sure that we stagger it so that we still have patient care accessibility," she said. "This third lab that this cab table is going in will likely be completed within the next year." The improvements are dramatic, she said. "The room itself will be completely redone from floor to ceiling," she said. "The lighting will be redone. The anesthesia booms that allows us to capture gases for anesthesia, sedations, etcetera are currently wall-mounted. That's very cumbersome. This will move with the patient. It will allow for greater care and ease of care for the patient." The grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration will fund an Azurion 7 C20 Catalyst table. It's image-guided therapy system designed by Philips Healthcare that provides high quality imaging at low X-ray dose levels. It results in more precise diagnoses and better treatment for patients. "There's going to be the ability for IVIS, an ultrasound device that goes inside the artery and actually takes pictures inside the artery," she said. "There's multiple things this table can do that will be very beneficial to the population." The technology features Cardiac Swing to capture difficult angiography views, StentBoost Live to enhance visualization during balloon and stent placement in coronary arteries and real-time 3D impressions for complex vascular surgeries. The work should start in early January and take about three months to complete, Miller said. "They'll be ripping out flooring and putting in new ceiling tiles and everything," she said. "Phillips offers great technology. They have a good support team, which is very vital in the cath lab. This is going to help that caregivers at St. Catherine to provide the best care." Community Healthcare System also recently brought in more diagnostic tools for heart disease for its whole hospital system, Miller said. "We're always working ahead and looking ahead," she said. "We never finish." PORTAGE Police said they found a young girl with a couple of adults inside a vehicle filled with marijuana smoke and containing a stolen handgun. An officer said he was called out around 8:18 p.m. Thursday to the 2500 block of Founders Parkway where he found a vehicle with a large amount of smoke inside that he recognized to be from marijuana. When a female lowered the driver's side window for the officer, a large amount of the marijuana smoke poured out, police said. The woman, identified as Qierra Crosslin, 20, of Portage, reportedly told police she and her passenger, Javonte Small, 22, of Gary, live at the apartment complex and had just arrived. Two shot; Region police seeking tips Officers collected numerous pieces of evidence and interviewed multiple witnesses, police said The young girl was sitting in the backseat of the vehicle, police said. Police said they found a bag of marijuana in the vehicle, along with a digital scale, box of plastic sandwich bags and several small cigars. They also reported finding a handgun in Small's waistband. Small said he bought the gun online and did not seem surprised when told it was stolen, police said. Small and Crosslin were arrested and face a charge of possessing marijuana, the report says. Police said they are seeking a further charge against Small of possessing a stolen firearm. Police said they contacted Indiana Child Protective Services about the case. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail Samuel Schneemann Jack Sedivy Thomas Gross III Ethan Wyszynski Joshua Odell Iesha Gibson Sherri Harris Chad Chalfant II Amanda Deutscher Max Smith Jr. Leanna Williams Tristan Peterson Benito Pedraza-Lizama Ryan Beck Joseph Chase Kimberly Giorando Michael Yahkind Matthew Yurechko Shykeena Smith-Mohammed Nizah Westbrooks Nathaniel Wilson Trevon Robinson Jonathan Noort Tymmia Kimp Michael Mavrogeanes Dontarius Garrett Ronald Arceneaux Jr. Michele Clark Lourdes Zavala Jason Napier Matthew Sirko William Jared Pamela Jones Michael Wagner Robert VanDrunen III Brooke Leonard Teresa Thorne Jack Garner Hannah Holloway Kyle Douglas Amy Becker David Bowman A Marion County Sheriffs Department deputy died Monday after allegedly being assaulted by an inmate he was transporting for a medical appointment, according to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department. The death is the third high-profile case involving police officers killed in the line of duty in Indiana in less than two weeks. Marion County Deputy John Durm was returning shortly before 11:30 a.m. EDT Monday to the Adult Detention Center in Indianapolis when inside the sally port, he was assaulted by a 34-year-old inmate who then stole the van, police said. The suspect, alone in the vehicle, drove the wagon out of the Criminal Justice Center Complex where he then crashed, according to the IMPD. The inmate was taken back into custody and one deputy was reportedly treated at the scene for minor injuries. Durm was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead, police said. He was 61 and a 38-year veteran of the Marion County Sheriffs Office who came from a law enforcement family, police said. He is survived by a wife, four children, his parents and several other family members. The Marion County Coroners Office will determine the manner and cause of death, police said. The inmate was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Police plan to charge him with murder upon his release from the hospital. A homicide investigation is underway and teams were called in to provide peer support for deputies. A murder charge is also being pursued against an 18-year-old Missouri man accused of driving the stolen car that struck and killed Indiana State Trooper Aaron N. Smith June 28 near Indianapolis. Smith, 33, of Franklin was reportedly struck around 8:40 p.m. EDT on the Ronald Reagan Parkway north of Interstate 70 in Hendricks County, which is immediately west of Indianapolis. The nearly five-year veteran of the force was deploying stop sticks in the road when he was struck and critically injured, police said. He was treated at the scene and rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died. Child found inside vehicle filled with pot smoke, Portage cops say When a female lowered the driver's side window for the officer, a large amount of the marijuana smoke poured out, police said. Smith is survived by his wife. Heather Glenn, a sergeant with the Tell City Police Department is far southern Indiana, was reportedly shot to death July 3 while attempting to take a 34-year-old man into custody as part of a domestic abuse case, Indiana State Police said. The shooting occurred during a struggle with the man, who had the gun, police said. He was reportedly shot and killed by police. The shooting occurred at Perry County Memorial Hospital, in Tell City, which is located along the Ohio River, which separates Indiana from Kentucky. Glenn had reportedly worked for the Perry County Sheriffs Office and Tell City Police Department for nearly 20 years. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail Samuel Schneemann Jack Sedivy Thomas Gross III Ethan Wyszynski Joshua Odell Iesha Gibson Sherri Harris Chad Chalfant II Amanda Deutscher Max Smith Jr. Leanna Williams Tristan Peterson Benito Pedraza-Lizama Ryan Beck Joseph Chase Kimberly Giorando Michael Yahkind Matthew Yurechko Shykeena Smith-Mohammed Nizah Westbrooks Nathaniel Wilson Trevon Robinson Jonathan Noort Tymmia Kimp Michael Mavrogeanes Dontarius Garrett Ronald Arceneaux Jr. Michele Clark Lourdes Zavala Jason Napier Matthew Sirko William Jared Pamela Jones Michael Wagner Robert VanDrunen III Brooke Leonard Teresa Thorne Jack Garner Hannah Holloway Kyle Douglas Amy Becker David Bowman VALPARAISO When an employee at a Portage apartment complex opened the door to one of the units late Monday morning to perform maintenance, he discovered three young children left alone inside, police say. The children, who were 3 years old, 21 months old and 8 months old, were left alone for about three hours without any adult supervision, according to a newly-filed charging document. Their father, Trevon Robinson, 21, was arrested Monday and has been charged with three felony counts of neglect of a dependent, records show. The charges accuse Robinson of placing the dependents in a situation that endangered their life or health. Child found inside vehicle filled with pot smoke, Portage cops say When a female lowered the driver's side window for the officer, a large amount of the marijuana smoke poured out, police said. Robinson is scheduled to appear Wednesday afternoon on the charges before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer. Police said they spoke shortly before 11:30 a.m. Monday to the maintenance employee at the complex in the 2300 block of Dixie Drive. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail Samuel Schneemann Jack Sedivy Thomas Gross III Ethan Wyszynski Joshua Odell Iesha Gibson Sherri Harris Chad Chalfant II Amanda Deutscher Max Smith Jr. Leanna Williams Tristan Peterson Benito Pedraza-Lizama Ryan Beck Joseph Chase Kimberly Giorando Michael Yahkind Matthew Yurechko Shykeena Smith-Mohammed Nizah Westbrooks Nathaniel Wilson Trevon Robinson Jonathan Noort Tymmia Kimp Michael Mavrogeanes Dontarius Garrett Ronald Arceneaux Jr. Michele Clark Lourdes Zavala Jason Napier Matthew Sirko William Jared Pamela Jones Michael Wagner Robert VanDrunen III Brooke Leonard Teresa Thorne Jack Garner Hannah Holloway Kyle Douglas Amy Becker David Bowman GARY Gary police are investigating two shootings that occurred over the past couple of days, including one involving a vehicle with a 2-year-old child inside. A 26-year-old Illinois man was was shot early Sunday, Cmdr. Samuel Roberts said. "Officers spoke with the victim and his friends, but they were not provided with any information," he said. No further details were provided on that shooting. The second shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. Monday after a vehicle chase that began in the area of 37th Avenue and Grant Street in the city's Glen Park neighborhood, Roberts said. Child found inside vehicle filled with pot smoke, Portage cops say When a female lowered the driver's side window for the officer, a large amount of the marijuana smoke poured out, police said. A 29-year-old Gary woman reportedly told police that she, a child and a 30-year-old man were in a vehicle chased by a black Cadillac. The group was chased to 31st Avenue and Grant Street where they were forced to stop at a red light. "At the light, the 40-year-old driver of the Cadillac began shooting at the Chevy striking the victim, who was then driven to the hospital by her friend," Roberts said. The man and child were not injured, Roberts said. The woman's status was not known. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Demond Tyler Jacqueline White Kristina Schierberl Glynisha Shiel Byron Strong Dollie Tecaxco Semaj Reynolds Fred Parker Paige Perry Lawrence O'Toole Mathew Murphy Geoni McNeal Brett Miner Shanae McGee Wilbur Jenkins II Kerry Kirk Robert Mathena Nathaniel Guzman Joshua Hansen Bradley Heideman Kyanne Edwards Ollicia England Kenyatta Freeman Jr. Jacob Gould Antonio Cornejo Lashionda Bradley James Buhle Zakiya Coats Carlos Andrade Dierra Bluitt Jovon Sharp Demetrian Shorter Matthew Potocki Tonie Pattent Edward Macker Jerry Moore Christopher Hurley Leroy Jefferson III Edwin Macias Guerrero Patrick Hammack Mark Henderson Isabell Hernandez Lexi Adams Derrick Angelucci Cartrelle Sullivan Lap Dai Truong David Smith Candice Johnson Julie Lonngren Cody Nagel Tomislav Ristic Jonathan Igras John Gallagher Jr. Christina Brown Deanna Findley Danielle Ford Ramon Bridges Ian West Michael Wynter Maltese Tally John Stoddard Jr. Eric Skinner Angel Preacely Brian Riley Aarjione League Charles Moore Suzanne Krischke Marquita Ford Antonio Galvan Jason Brown John Berrios Jr. Laura Bobadilla Keith Bretthorst Lakisha Brooks Narcisa Apuyod Dan Rodriguez Michael Zivanovich Shaunese Rice Robert Lay III Loretta Bell Larry Gore Calvin Winfield Katelyn Zajeski Percy Perry Andrew Wilcox Javonni Avila Matthew Druzbicki Michael Kras Troy Sykes David Venzke Jr. Taylor Smith Gregory Phillips Jose Rivera Jr. Nicole Roge CHICAGO A former slag dump on the Southeast Side was once slated to be the city's next landfill but instead ended up home to egrets wading in search of fish to spear, BMX bikers looking to catch serious air, and one of the most comprehensive exhibits about Calumet Region history. The 297-acre Big Marsh Park features the centerpiece of the $7.8 million, 9,300-square-foot Ford Calumet Environmental Center, which tells the story of the bistate Region's development, environment and people. The wide-ranging exhibit talks about the steel industry, the pollution, the ethnic melting pot, native species like great blue herons and everything else that makes the Region the Region. It features taxidermied herons, vintage mill signs, hardhats, lunch pails and other memorabilia, such as a historic photo of a Chicago Tribune reporter dipping his hand into Lake Michigan at Indiana Harbor and pulling it out covered in sludgy black goop to show just how polluted it was from heavy industry. Big Marsh Park is in the South Deering neighborhood on the eastern shore of Lake Calumet, near planned industrial docks that were never developed. It was acquired by the Chicago Park District when the last steel mill on the Southeast Side closed in 2002. "It was once owned by Waste Management. It was destined to be the next landfill for Chicago," Field Museum Chicago Region program Director Mark Bouman said. "There was pushback from community residents, from environmental groups and others who saw different possibilities. What that led to is that it was acquired by the city and turned over to the Chicago Park District." Acclaimed architect Jeanne Gang came up with the original bird's-nest-inspired design for the long-gestating education center. Her vision ended up being scrapped because of cost. "It was a beautiful design," said Stephen Bell, director of the Ford Calumet Environmental Center and Big Marsh Park, 11555 S. Stony Island Ave. "But it was something like $19 million." Ford, which operates the nearby Chicago Assembly Plant, helped fund the neighborhood improvement project. It opened in 2021 and has become a popular destination for school trips and Boy Scout troops. The center, designed by Valerio Dewalt Train, was the first mass timber construction built in the city since the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. "The idea behind the timber construction is that it's more sustainable to build with wood now than steel or concrete," Bell said. "For us it's a beautiful workspace filled with lots of lights. It's a bird-safe building. The windows have shutters. Every morning we crank the shutters open. Every night they come down. The idea is that we're on the Mississippi Flyway and are an important rest stop for migrating birds. The intent is to decrease the number of birds hitting the windows." The windows are designed with a pattern of dots to disrupt reflections. It's only had a few bird deaths, which is a rarity for a new building in Chicago. "I don't know how much you know about Chicago bird deaths, but it's absolutely outstanding," Bell said. The remote location, away from the Chicago sewer system, means it has its own wastewater disposal system. All of the wastewater gets filtered and sent into a wetland. The facade of the LEED-certified building includes Cor-Ten steel in a nod to the industrial heritage. It features the exhibit, as well as classrooms, bathrooms and a bike repair area. "It's one of only three nature centers operated by the Chicago Park District," Bouman said. "It's supported by the Friends of Big Marsh. There's a bike park that attracts people from around the metropolitan area. The marsh itself was drained off and then restored. It's about 300 acres of marsh. There's a process now to figure out the train connections. If we were to go through the barbed wire to the west and across Lake Calumet, we would be at the Pullman National Park. That trail is happening now and then how do you get across to the east?" The center is an example of what the Calumet Heritage Partnership hopes to accomplish by getting the Calumet Region designated as a National Heritage area, Bouman said. The hope is to do more placemaking in the sprawling region that follows the Calumet River watershed and spans two states. "This map shows more Indiana than it does Chicago," Bouman said. "This is a gateway to the entire Region. This is something that could happen in other places across the Region. This is something that could happen in all directions." The Ford Calumet Environmental Center serves as a gateway to Southeast Side parks like Indian Ridge Marsh and Hegewisch Marsh, Bell said. "Altogether, there's more than 1,000 acres of what we call natural area," he said. "Most of them are large sites that have been restored and remediated. These are spaces that are being managed and restored. But most importantly, these are spaces where we want people, in particular from the neighborhoods that surround us. "In addition to the restoration and remediation, this is a gateway to the Calumet Region and is a model for what these gateways could look like throughout the entire Calumet Region." Greenways and blueways land and water trails, respectively are vital to connecting the Region's green spaces. "Outside you see all these barriers, especially on the Southeast Side. You see bridges. You see train tracks. You see highways. All of those act as barriers for accessibility. We need to break down some of those barriers. We're doing it by remediating and restoring some of these green spaces." Whether on the Illinois or Indiana side, the Calumet Region shares a common identity. "Why do we call ourselves a region? Why do we think we're a region?" said Gary Johnson, chairman of the Calumet Heritage Partnership board. "Well, we're close to each other. But one of the things that's striking is, as you cross the state line from Hammond to Hegewisch, the similarities are striking. You cannot tell where the state line is. The architecture is the same. As you get into the origins of the people, it's the same. The industrial heritage is very similar. We have lots of cultural and heritage similarities, which is why we call this the Calumet Region." That's all spelled out in the history exhibit that relates the multifaceted story of the Region, for instance discussing all the immigrant groups that migrated here and organized labor's long struggle for workers rights. "The exhibit was intended to complement the Region and complement the stories that we find here," Bell said. "It tells the story of the site pre-colonization and pre-industry. It tells the positive and negative. We talk a lot about industry's negative environmental impact, but without industry we wouldn't have these communities, jobs putting food on the table or environmental organizations. "It also talks about the decline of the industry and the closing of the steel mills. It talks about the people, the families, the culture and the history. It also talks about the remediation and restoration and what that's looking like." Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, the architecture firm that designed the building its work includes University of Chicago campus buildings, the Shedd Aquarium master plan, Aloft Hotel Mag Mile and the Art on the Mart nightly artistic video displays on the Merchandise Mart has a department that specializes in corporate interiors. The Ford Calumet Environmental Center was the first time it designed an exhibit. "To me it has a very different look and feel than a traditional exhibit you'd find in a nature center," Bell said. "It's the story of our Region." Four men in a stolen vehicle were apprehended early Monday after a lengthy chase that began in the Town of Newfane, the Niagara County Sheriffs Office reported. Charged with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration and sixth-degree conspiracy were Franklin A. Chambers, 21; Tarin T. Abram, 23; and Ishmeal J. Muhammad, 23, all from Buffalo; and Demetrius M. Davis Jr., 22, of Cassadaga. Chambers, identified as the driver, also was charged with fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle, fourth-degree criminal mischief, second-degree reckless endangerment, aggravated unlicensed operation, reckless driving and several traffic violations. All were held for centralized arraignment in the Niagara County Correctional Facility. According to the report, a deputy spotted a vehicle stolen in Buffalo about 2:25 a.m. on Ewings Road in Newfane and attempted to stop it. The vehicle fled into the Town of Lockport, where patrols used stop sticks to deflate all four tires, the Sheriffs Office said. The vehicle stopped in a ditch and four men inside fled on foot. All were rounded up with the help of the sheriffs K9 Unit and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Team, state police, City of Lockport police and Lewiston police. - Dale Anderson INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana Department of Education announced on Monday a new assistance program meant to help teachers get licensed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The program, called the Indiana STEM Educator Expansion initiative will help cover the cost of coursework and related fees for current non-STEM licensed educators, and prospective educators who hold a bachelors degree. Some current and prospective educators may be eligible to complete the I-STEM program at no cost. There will also be a $1,000 stipend to prospective teachers for childcare, licensure fees, books and other related fees, a $1,000 stipend once they are hired in an Indiana school district in a STEM-related position, and an additional $1,000 stipend if they are hired in a rural district. Current licensed teachers can receive a $1,000 stipend once they receive the STEM endorsement and are hired or retained in an Indiana school district in a STEM-related position. According to Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner, the I-STEM program is building off of the special education and English learner licensing assistance programs, and it will allow the state to strengthen the teacher pipeline in STEM disciplines. In todays technology-driven world, it has never been more important for every Indiana student to have access to high-quality STEM instruction, Jenner said in a press release. The program is in partnership with the Education Service Centers of Indiana, which will administer the program in collaboration with iteachINDIANA. It will be financed using $4.8 million from the states ESSER and Title II, Part A funds. The states department of education has recently been investing in STEM education. Last year, it launched the Indiana Learns initiative, which provided qualifying families up to $1,000 for reading and math tutoring. And in January, it announced nearly $2.2 million in STEM grant funding for 48 school districts and charter schools. East Chicago Lighthouse and Gary Lighthouse were two charter schools that received grant funding, getting $43,875 and $44,200 respectively. GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week The comedian Sarah Silverman has joined a class-action lawsuit against OpenAI and another against Meta accusing the companies of copyright infringement, saying they copied and ingested her protected work in order to train their artificial intelligence programs, according to court papers. The lawsuits, in which she joined the authors Christopher Golden and Richard Kadrey, were filed Friday in the San Francisco Division of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California. Each suit says that the company in question made copies of the authors works, including Silvermans memoir, The Bedwetter, without permission by scraping illegal online shadow libraries that contain the texts of thousands of books. The lawsuit against Meta cites the companys own research paper about LLaMA, the large-language model it uses to train chatbots. According to the paper, made public in February, scientists included text from The Pile within their training dataset; the lawsuit says some of that text comes from shadow libraries. Their copyrighted materials were copied and ingested as part of training, the lawsuit claims. Many of the plaintiffs books appear in the dataset that Meta admitted to using. Benno C. Schmidt Jr., a constitutional law scholar who became one of the countrys leading education executives, bringing difficult but necessary reforms to Yale and the City University of New York, died on Sunday at his home in Millbrook, N.Y., in the Hudson Valley. He was 81. His daughter Elizabeth Hun Schmidt said the cause was cardiac arrest. A child of Manhattan privilege with a perfect academic pedigree, Mr. Schmidt seemed destined to lead a university like Yale. He was president there for six years, during which he fought with the faculty over painful but necessary budget cuts, changes that left many people bitter but the university better off in its finances and academic direction. He spent much longer turning around the beleaguered City University of New York, a sprawling system of two- and four-year colleges and graduate programs that once competed for the citys brightest minds. It had fallen into disarray by the time Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani put him in charge of a rescue task force in 1998. CUNY was in a very sad state it had no energy, no ideas, Matthew Goldstein, the former chancellor of CUNY who worked closely with Mr. Schmidt, said in a phone interview. We got hardly any students from Bronx Science or Stuyvesant two of the citys most selective public high schools or any of the citys top schools. The company that possesses the exclusive salvage rights to the Titanic shipwreck and the ships artifacts filed in federal court on Saturday a map of the surrounding seabed that shows where searchers found the twisted remains of the Titan submersible. The map, a mosaic of sonar images that were annotated by experts at the company, RMS Titanic Inc., helps indicate how close the craft was to its intended destination when disaster struck. The vehicle very likely imploded on the morning of Sunday, June 18, killing all five crew members. RMS Titanics director of underwater research was on the last dive of the tourist submersible as a guest of Titans owner, OceanGate. The seabed map, attached to a legal filing as an exhibit, shows the ghostly outline of Titanics bow section. It is one of the wrecks most celebrated features because deep explorers over the decades have revealed the prow and forward railings to be in relatively good repair, standing upright and almost proud in the inky darkness. A dozen hilltop homes in one of the most affluent areas of coastal Los Angeles County were collapsing into a canyon on Monday after a landslide over the weekend forced the evacuation of a neighborhood in the community of Rolling Hills Estates. Local officials said that about 16 people were evacuated late Saturday after fire officials responding to a call about a leaking pipe discovered significant land movement on Peartree Lane on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Californias disastrously wet winter may be to blame for saturating the underlying soils in the neighborhood, a hazard that in the past few months has threatened other idyllic perches in the state. After crews found cracks and other damage to homes on the block, authorities said, residents were given 20 minutes to pack up and leave. Gradually, and then swiftly, the properties began to buckle. By Monday afternoon, a stretch of $1 million-plus townhouses that had once stood high on a cliff had slipped nearly to street level, their beige stucco walls slanted and broken, their living areas reduced to gaping holes framed by wooden beams. Behind yellow caution tape, utility crews inspected power, cable and gas lines. Periodically, a sickening crash and rumble of something cracking or falling would disrupt the quiet of the neighborhood. A local prosecutor in California has secured what he says is the states first murder conviction in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose, marking a legal milestone in the efforts to curb sales of the increasingly deadly drug. The prosecutor, District Attorney Morgan Gire of Placer County, said that a 21-year-old man pleaded guilty last week to second-degree murder for providing fentanyl to a 15-year-old girl who died shortly after consuming it in June 2022. The novel prosecution in Placer, northeast of Sacramento, is being closely watched in law enforcement and legislative circles in California, which lost about 6,000 people to fentanyl and other opioids in 2021, the last year for which complete data is available. Prosecutors have been looking for ways to hold people distributing the drug accountable for the staggering death toll. But some lawmakers have expressed concern about a return to the aggressive drug prosecutions of decades ago, which resulted in dealers and users languishing in prisons across the United States. As police first disclosed on Sunday evening, after the 911 call early on the morning of July 2, a dispatcher sent officers to the wrong address North 56th Street instead of South 56th Street, which is three miles away in a different police district. As the police would later determine, Mr. Wamah was killed by the man who had burst in the door. And the man charged in Mr. Wamahs death is Kimbrady Carriker, who prosecutors said stalked the neighborhood the next evening wearing a mask and body armor, firing his assault-style rifle wildly and killing four people. Arrested soon after, Mr. Carriker, 40, was charged with murder and other offenses and is now being held without bond. The citys police commissioner, Danielle M. Outlaw, said in a news conference that the discovery of the error compounds the tragedy that already occurred and that it was under administrative investigation. But she insisted that even if police had shown up to the right address on July 2, Mr. Wamah would likely have already been dead. It was also unclear, she added, if police would have been able to prevent the massacre the next day. Though investigators have since obtained video footage of the shooter entering Mr. Wamahs house, the man in the video was masked, officials said. They were able to tie Mr. Wamahs killing to Mr. Carriker by matching the shell casings at the scene to the gun Mr. Carriker was carrying when he was arrested on July 3. After three years of self-isolation by China, President Bidens top aides are flying into Beijing throughout the summer to try to convince and cajole Chinese officials, including Xi Jinping, the nations leader, on building a new foundation for relations. It could amount to the most consequential diplomatic push of Mr. Bidens presidency. He is betting that high-level dialogue can itself act as a ballast in a relationship that has been in a dangerous free fall for years. I think there is a way to resolve, to establish a working relationship with China that benefits them and us, Mr. Biden said in a CNN interview broadcast on Sunday, as Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen was ending her visit to Beijing. Ms. Yellen met for hours with Chinas premier, Li Qiang, and with a vice premier and top economic aide to Mr. Xi who was relatively unknown to U.S. officials a sign that these exchanges might help establish important one-on-one channels. Since May, the C.I.A. director and the secretary of state have also traveled to Beijing, and the special climate envoy and the commerce secretary are following soon. Mr. Biden and his aides say forging these personal ties could be necessary for defusing crises between the worlds two main superpowers. But the recent visits have also thrown into sharp relief the worsening structural problems in the relationship, ones that some analysts say could lead to armed conflict if mismanaged. How much is a dollar worth? To Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota, quite a lot. Mr. Burgum is one of several Republican presidential candidates going to great lengths to reach a crucial threshold to qualify for the partys first primary debate on Aug. 23 the requirement that only candidates with at least 40,000 individual donors to their campaigns will be allowed on the stage. A long-shot contender at the bottom of recent polls, Mr. Burgum is offering $20 gift cards to the first 50,000 people who donate at least $1 to his campaign. And one lucky donor, as his campaign advertised on Facebook, will have the chance to win a Yeti Tundra 45 cooler that typically costs more than $300 just for donating at least $1. The unusual offer was earlier reported by FWIW, a newsletter that tracks digital politics. Mr. Burgums push to prioritize donors over actual dollars is a sign of some candidates desperation to make the debate stage and to seize some of the national spotlight from the Republican front-runner, former President Donald J. Trump, and his top rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. Former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, another Republican candidate, recently ended a campaign ad with a direct plea that flashed on the screen to Donate today, get Chris Christie on the debate stage. A former Catholic priest in Louisiana who preyed on 17 men who were intoxicated or needed help, drugging and photographing them and sexually assaulting at least a dozen of them was sentenced on Friday to 25 years in prison. Judge Shayna Beevers Morvant of the 24th Judicial District Court handed down the sentence to the former priest, Stephen Sauer, 61, after he pleaded guilty on Friday to 13 counts of sexual battery, nine counts of third-degree rape, 17 counts of video voyeurism and 16 misdemeanor charges of drug possession, according to a news release from the district attorney for Jefferson Parish, part of the greater New Orleans area. The judge also ordered Mr. Sauer to register as a sex offender and barred him from contacting 12 of the victims for life. Over a period of two years beginning in the fall of 2019, prosecutors said, Mr. Sauer preyed on scores of men in various states of distress and vulnerability in the French Quarter of New Orleans, a neighborhood frequented by tourists and known for its nightlife. In some cases, he would drug their drinks or give them sleep-inducing substances, prosecutors said. Pretending to offer them assistance, he would bring them back to his home in Metairie, La., the largest city in Jefferson Parish, prosecutors said. He then photographed or videotaped them and sexually assaulted some of them, according to prosecutors. Mr. Sauer would often share photos of the victims online and in email correspondences with others, the district attorneys office added. New York State School Districts with Indigenous mascots and logos had until the end of June to commit to getting rid of them, and four Western New York School Boards voted to replace the symbols. New York State prohibits use of Native American names and logos in schools The Native American imagery must be eliminated by June 30, 2025, the New York State Board of Regents said. The fifth, Salamanca City Central School District, got permission from the Seneca Nation of Indians to continue to use its Native American name, the Warriors, and its logo of an Indigenous man. Meanwhile, the Cheektowaga, Iroquois, Tonawanda and West Seneca districts are making plans to involve students and the community as they choose new names and identities. In April, the State Board of Regents approved changes in regulations that prohibit public schools from using Indigenous names, mascots and logos by June 30, 2025. The Tonawanda Warriors have not had a mascot in years, Superintendent Timothy Oldenburg said, and one will be reinstituted with the name change. Probably one of the largest areas of excitement and enthusiasm from the student body has been the opportunity to develop and reinstitute a mascot, he said. The maroon and white colors will remain, as well as the large white T in a circle, but the feathers will be gone, he said. Salamanca schools can keep nickname, use historic logo that honors Native heritage A provision allows schools to use an Indigenous name, mascot or logo when "culturally affiliated" with a federally recognized tribal nation within the state or a state-recognized tribal nation, if they have a written agreement. Suggestions are to be submitted this summer. A committee will review the ideas submitted, and narrow the list to semi-finalists for the community to consider, he said. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade will vote on the finalists, and the committee will review the finalists and make a recommendation to the School Board in late fall or winter, he said. The transition throughout the district would be completed in the 2024-25 school year. There will be a financial cost to the district, Oldenburg said, but he added, Our evaluation seems to show that the cost will not be as significant as it could have been. That is because the turf field and gymnasium floors some of the most expensive changes had already been scheduled to be resurfaced as part of a routine replacement. If the turf had been put in two years ago, it would be a major problem, he said. At Iroquois Central, the Class of 2024 will be the last to graduate as the Chiefs, Superintendent Douglas Scofield told the School Board in May. The board voted last month to implement the new regulations. The committee planning the transition is suggesting separate votes on the mascot, and the logo. The district will solicit suggestions in October, and administrators will review the submissions to make sure they are appropriate, are not used anywhere in New York State and have a simple, single design, Scofield said. Voting on the top 25 is expected to take place in early December, then a second vote on the top five finalists is expected to occur at the end of December or early January. The superintendent said by Jan. 4 the district could know what the mascot is, then another two rounds of voting would choose the new logo. The mascot and logo would be known by the end of March. That gives us time in April to get contractors in place to redo any of the floors or anything that needs to be done, he said. Cheektowaga School Board members approved replacing the Warriors mascot and Native American man with a braid and feather on his head June 13. Also last month, the West Seneca School Board committed to removing the nickname the Indians from West Seneca Senior and Middle schools. West Seneca pledged to identify the use of Indigenous nicknames, mascot or logo at district schools by Oct. 31, as it works to initiate a process for selecting a new mascot and logo with input of students. A recommendation would be made to the School Board for a new nickname and mascot by Sept. 2024. Other vestiges of her genteel surroundings, including a shadow box frame that she filled with the artfully placed collars of her beloved pugs, vie in the exhibition with the work that convulsed Honey in vituperative fits. Using her bare breasts as paintbrushes, Berlin, beginning in the 70s, made tit prints, in which her pigment-laden aureoles produced forms that resemble balloons and angelfish. Even more scandalous are three of the chapbooks in which she kept drawings she cajoled artists into making of their penises. The self-illustrators include Jasper Johns, Leonard Cohen, Dennis Hopper, Robert Smithson and Brice Marden. Artistically, Berlin was ahead of her time as a woman unabashedly indulging her sensual desires. Not that she would have called herself a feminist. You can argue that her work has feminist content, but her conservative background works against that, Gingeras said. Theres so much internalized misogyny in her desire to be one of the guys and have that validation. She was making the tit prints without thinking of burning her bra. What really matters is what is in the work. Like Powell, Berlin in many of her Polaroids documented the Warhol entourage. But Gingeras puts those pictures in context, as only part of Berlins abundant production, by arranging the Polaroids in three groups one devoted to Warholiana, the others to self-portraits and to shots of eminent artists, including Willem de Kooning and John Cage. The show concludes with homages to Berlin made by artists today, including Francesco Clemente, Jenna Gribbon and Jane Kaplowitz. Ukraine will be invited to join NATO when conditions are met Ukraine wanted a clear timeline for when it can join NATO. But the alliances leaders would not commit to one. Yesterday, at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, NATO leaders agreed to invite Ukraine to join but remained vague on how and when. The leaders said that Ukraine would be invited to join when allies agree and conditions are met, and they pledged regular reviews of its progress toward standards on democracy and military integration. The response meant that President Biden, who said before the summit that Ukraine was not ready for membership, and like-minded allies had prevailed over Poland and Baltic nations, who wanted a formal invitation for Ukraine as soon as the war ends. To better understand the debate, I spoke with Steven Erlanger, our chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe. Freight trains frequently stop and block the roads of York, Ala., sometimes cutting off two neighborhoods for hours. Emergency services and health care workers cant get in, and those trapped inside cant get out. Peoples livelihoods are in jeopardy because they cant get to work on time, said Amanda Brassfield, who has lived in one of the neighborhoods, Grant City, for 32 years and raised two daughters there. Its not fair. Residents have voiced these complaints for years to Norfolk Southern, which owns the tracks, and to regulators and members of Congress. But the problem has only gotten worse. Freight trains frequently block roads nationwide, a phenomenon that local officials say has grown steadily worse in the last decade as railroads run longer trains and leave them parked on tracks at crossings. The blockages can turn school drop-offs into nightmares, starve local businesses of customers and prevent emergency services from reaching those in distress. A decade ago, when he was sheriff, Mr. Rogers dispatched deputies to issue tickets to Norfolk Southern crews whose trains were impeding traffic. The tickets helped draw attention to blocked crossings, and the congestion decreased for a time. But the railroad sued the state, and Indianas Supreme Court overturned the law that authorized local officials to fine railroads for blocking crossings. The Association of American Railroads, which represents the major freight railroads, has said that its members work with local officials to alleviate crossing congestion when they can, but that the problem is complex and the result of years of limited public funding for infrastructure improvements. When the railroads started connecting the country, people put down roots and built communities beside them, John Gray, a senior vice president at the association, said in a statement. Railroads allowed the roads to cross the tracks utilizing grade crossings rather than grade separations, as was the norm in populated areas of most other developed regions of the world. The public entities, always eager to save a few dollars, readily agreed. Most states regulate blocked crossings, but courts have thrown out several of those laws, determining that only the federal government can enact and enforce such rules. Indiana and nearly 20 other states recently joined Ohio in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to determine that states can issues such regulations. Congress provided about $3 billion in 2021 to help fund projects that would alleviate congestion at frequently blocked railroad crossings. In June, the Biden administration awarded the first round of grants from that fund, about $570 million, to make improvements at more than 400 crossings. Underneath downtown Chicagos soaring Art Deco towers, its multilevel roadways and its busy subway and rail lines, the land is sinking, and not only for the reasons you might expect. Since the mid-20th century, the ground between the city surface and the bedrock has warmed by 5.6 degrees Fahrenheit on average, according to a new study out of Northwestern University. All that heat, which comes mostly from basements and other underground structures, has caused the layers of sand, clay and rock beneath some buildings to subside or swell by several millimeters over the decades, enough to worsen cracks and defects in walls and foundations. All around you, you have heat sources, said the studys author, Alessandro F. Rotta Loria, walking with a backpack through Millennium Station, a commuter rail terminal underneath the citys Loop district. These are things that people dont see, so its like they dont exist. It isnt just Chicago. In big cities worldwide, humans burning of fossil fuels is raising the mercury at the surface. But heat is also pouring out of basements, parking garages, train tunnels, pipes, sewers and electrical cables and into the surrounding earth, a phenomenon that scientists have taken to calling underground climate change. Poached chickens and roasted chickens dangle in the window of Hainan Chicken House on Eighth Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. A chicken-size sculpture of a chicken stands above the door. Scattered among the plain white tiles on the dining-room walls are other tiles printed with images of chickens. And if you order one of the noodle soups, it will come to the table in a white bowl with a picture of a chicken on the outside. Astute readers will have noticed a decorative theme. In fact, the motif extends to the menu. Hainan Chicken House is dedicated to Hainanese chicken rice, a dish with ancient origins on Hainan Island in southern China. It has since traveled, along with Hainanese cooks, to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and beyond, putting down deep roots wherever it lands. The owners of Hainan Chicken House are Malaysian New Yorkers, and it is the Malaysian version of chicken rice that they serve, along with curry laksa, mee goreng and a few other classics of the cuisine. What is called the House Hainan Chicken at Hainan Chicken House comes to the table wrapped in paper, hawker style, and sealed by a sticker printed with an image of a chicken. Inside are two balls of rice, a cilantro branch, slices of cucumber and poached chicken hacked into pieces with a cleaver. For generations, our society has vacillated about how best to heal people who experienced terrible things in childhood. Should these memories be unearthed, allowing their destructive power to dissipate? Should they be gently molded into something less painful? Or should they be left untouched? Researchers from Kings College London and the City University of New York examined this conundrum by conducting an unusual experiment. Researchers interviewed a group of 1,196 American adults repeatedly over 15 years about their levels of anxiety and depression. Unbeknown to the subjects, 665 of them had been selected because court records showed they had suffered mistreatment such as physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect before age 12. Why It Matters: Deer could be a source of new variants. There is no evidence that deer play a major role in spreading the virus to humans, but the transmission of the virus from people to animals raises several public health concerns. First, animal reservoir could allow viral variants that have disappeared from human populations to persist. Indeed, the new study confirms prior reports that some coronavirus variants, including Alpha and Gamma, continued to circulate in deer even after they became rare in people. New animal hosts also give the virus new opportunities to mutate and evolve, potentially giving rise to new variants that could infect people. If these variants are different enough from those that have previously circulated in humans, they could evade some of the immune systems defenses. Background: Scientists have found signs of widespread infection in deer. Researchers at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in collaboration with other government and academic scientists, began looking for the coronavirus in free-ranging white-tailed deer in 2021, after studies suggested that the animals were susceptible to the virus. In that first year of surveillance work, the scientists ultimately collected more than 11,000 samples from deer in 26 states and Washington, D.C. Nearly a third of the animals had antibodies to the coronavirus, suggesting that they had previously been exposed, and 12 percent were actively infected, APHIS said on Tuesday. For the new Nature Communications paper, scientists from APHIS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Missouri sequenced nearly 400 of the samples collected between November 2021 and April 2022. They found multiple versions of the virus in deer, including the Alpha, Gamma, Delta and Omicron variants. Then, the scientists compared the viral samples isolated from deer with those from human patients and mapped the evolutionary relationships between them. They concluded that the virus moved from humans to deer at least 109 times and that deer-to-deer transmission often followed. The virus also showed signs of adapting to deer, and the researchers identified several cases in North Carolina and Massachusetts in which humans were infected with these deer-adapted versions of the virus. Whats Next: Surveillance will continue. APHIS has expanded its surveillance to additional states and species. Many questions remain, including precisely how people are passing the virus to deer, and the role that the animals might play in sustaining the virus in the wild. With hours left in his presidency, Donald J. Trump granted pardons to a long roster of people. Prominent among them was his former chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, who had been charged by federal prosecutors in Manhattan with conspiring to swindle donors of money to build a wall along the Mexican border. This week, the attorneys who helped secure his freedom in 2021 won a judgment against him for nearly $500,000 in unpaid legal fees. The New York firm, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP., had sued Mr. Bannon in Manhattan state court in February for not paying more than half of what he owed them. Mr. Bannon had paid just $375,000 of more than $850,000 in legal fees incurred over two years, the law firm said. The order against Mr. Bannon is just the latest legal woe the right-wing pundit and podcaster has faced in recent years. The firm also worked for him during an investigation by the former Manhattan district attorney into Mr. Trump, it said in court papers. Its lawyers helped Mr. Bannon fight a subpoena from the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6 insurrection and subsequently represented him in criminal contempt proceedings when he defied it. The Justice Department said Tuesday that it would no longer argue that President Donald J. Trumps derogatory statements about E. Jean Carroll in 2019 were made as part of his official duties as president a reversal that gives new momentum to her case. Ms. Carroll, 79, who won $5 million in damages in a trial accusing Mr. Trump of sexual abuse in the 1990s and defamation after he left the White House in January 2021, now is trying to push forward a separate lawsuit over comments that he made while president. That case has been mired in appeals. If a judge ultimately finds that those earlier comments were part of Mr. Trumps official duties, that case would most likely be dismissed. The Justice Department had taken the position, first during the Trump administration and later under President Biden, that Mr. Trump was acting in his official capacity when he called Ms. Carroll a liar and denied her accusation that he had raped her nearly 30 years ago in a Manhattan department store dressing room. But the department said in a court filing Tuesday that new evidence had surfaced since Mr. Trump, 77, left office including in the recent civil trial in which a Manhattan jury found Mr. Trump liable for sexually assaulting Ms. Carroll decades ago. In February, it seemed Erie County Republicans had struck out when trying to come up with the partys nominee to challenge Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. Chris Jacobs, Mickey Kearns and others with some name recognition either opted not to run or were passed over by the partys executive committee. Kearns, in particular, made a point of calling The Buffalo News to say he said no, citing reasons relating to the health of a family member. As a result, the party chose Chrissy Casilio, a political newcomer with little name recognition beyond the fact that her father is Clarence Supervisor Pat Casilio. It was viewed as a disappointment by many in GOP circles. But five months later, it seems Republicans may have lucked out in not naming Kearns, a Democrat who has won elections on the Republican line, as its nominee. Thats because the Erie County clerk is now embroiled in multiple scandals relating to his management of the office, which he likes to point out brings in lots of revenue for the county. Where that revenue ends up after it leaves the hands of taxpayers is now at issue. A scathing audit by County Comptroller Kevin Hardwick revealed a pattern of lax oversight and evidence of thousands of dollars in missing county money. A four-month audit of Kearns office found vanishing cash, altered deposit records, poor fiscal oversight, bank-flagged discrepancies and numerous gun permit overcharges. The audit also found issues related to Clerks Office pistol permit staff being given improper access to state mental health records. Criminal investigations are underway by the Erie County sheriff and district attorney and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has also offered his assistance for a multiyear forensic audit. To his credit, Kearns after meeting with Hardwick agreed to assist the investigation, even though staffers had been unwilling to explain some of the discrepancies to auditors. And while Kearns isnt personally implicated in the fraud or theft being alleged and some of the issues predate his time as clerk, to the days of former Clerk Jacobs Kearns has been in charge for more than five years, so the buck stops with him. This, as well as the controversy over Kearns use of taxpayer money for advertisements featuring his name and likeness, would have made perfect fodder for Democrats had Kearns been the GOP candidate for county executive. The attack ads would write themselves. Instead, the GOP will look to November with Casilio as its nominee. She may not be the strongest candidate when her experience is compared to other Republicans, but aside from an early social media controversy, she doesnt have the kind of political baggage that now seems attached to Kearns. And in Republican-land these days, that counts as a win. *** The audit no doubt politically strengthens Hardwick, who has emerged as a veritable watchdog of taxpayer money. His predecessor, Mychajliw, shouted from the rooftops at the slightest oversight measures he took against the Poloncarz administration. Hardwick has taken the opposite approach instead of holding a news conference or releasing videos on YouTube, he gave an interview to News reporter Sandra Tan and invited Kearns to see the findings of his audit in the hopes that they would get him on board with the investigation. (To Kearns credit, he did). Few pegged Hardwick as having higher political aspirations, but he retains great name recognition not only as a political science professor at Canisius College where he taught many of the regions top political staffers but as former host of WBENs weekly Hardline with Kevin Hardwick radio show. Hardwick was pilloried by Republicans for switching to the Democratic party five years ago when he was a county legislator. Now, the grandfatherly figure with a sharp sense of humor has the potential to be a Democratic star. Hardwicks brand of steady leadership that shuns political bomb-throwing has proven effective before one might say surprisingly, in these divided political times. If you recall, Poloncarz was not exactly a household name when he toppled then-County Executive Chris Collins in 2011. But he built a reputation for effective oversight as comptroller that he rode all the way to becoming county executive. *** Speaking of Collins, who could have predicted he would return to the political scene this time, 1,400 miles away from here on sun-soaked Marco Island in Florida? Collins told me his friends there have welcomed him with open arms, despite his felony conviction for insider trading and his resignation from Congress in 2019. Collins perhaps said it best when asked whether his conviction and pardon by former President Donald Trump would hurt his chances of getting elected to Congress in Florida. I dont think it hurts me at all, Collins said. In fact, in the mood of the country today with Republican primary voters, it helps me. As strange as it seems to write these words ... hes probably right. But as one issue pops into the immediate view, the others dont go anywhere. Instead, the global problems with our online information ecosystem compound. And while societys and techs most powerful companies jump from one issue to the next, the abusive disinformation practices in places like Cambodia become entrenched. Governments refine their techniques, and opposition groups become less and less present because their members are trolled into submission, arrested, exiled or killed. It all benefits Big Tech, from Meta to Alphabet, which publicly seizes upon the idea du jour while cutting staffs and curbing efforts aimed at combating standing informational issues. What does this mean for the people of Cambodia? For a people who, in living memory, endured the horrors of genocide and totalitarianism? The Cambodian news ecosystem and the lives of Cambodians are controlled by Mr. Hun Sen, who has led them in some capacity for 38 years. He is quick to justify his long reign by pointing to economic gains before Covid by which time the country achieved lower-middle-income status through tourism, textile exports and a growing relationship with China. His people have languished in many other ways, however: Environmental degradation is rife, corruption is commonplace, and human rights abuses are worsening. Mr. Hun Sen and his cronies own or control all but the thinnest sliver of the countrys media outlets. They recently barred the main opposition party from running in the coming election because of a purported clerical error. And curtailing speech on social media has been critical to the consolidation of their power. Facebook, Telegram and other platforms have been central to the C.P.P.s illicit, strategic and authoritarian control of Cambodias information space and, consequently, public opinion. Other despots have made use of highly organized state-sponsored trolling outfits to quash dissent. Some, like Mr. Hun Sen, have also hired their kids to run them. In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaros Office of Hate, run by his sons, used social media to defame journalists and threaten opposition. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the autocrat recently re-elected as president of Turkey, benefited greatly from organized troll armies operating on Twitter. Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, the increasingly tyrannical regimes of Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar have deployed cybertroops to do their oppressive bidding. This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email transcripts@nytimes.com with any questions. farhad manjoo Im Farhad Manjoo. Im an opinion columnist at The New York Times. So today were talking about conspiracy theorists. Among them is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. RFK Jr. is running for the Democratic presidential nomination. And he is a long-time conspiracy theorist. Most recently, hes been in the news because he went on Joe Rogans show and said a number of inaccurate things about vaccines. And then on Twitter, he was called out by a vaccine scientist, Peter Hotez. speaker 1 A top vaccine scientist says hes been the target of stalking and harassment. And he says it started after he called a podcast with Joe Rogan and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disinformation. Now, that es farhad manjoo And Joe Rogan was sort of goading the scientist into debating RFK Jr. on Joe Rogans show. speaker 1 tweeting, quote, Peter, if you claim what RFK Jr. is saying is misinformation, I am offering you $100,000 to the charity of your choice if youre willing to debate him on my show with no time limit. farhad manjoo When I heard that, I wanted to tell Peter Hotez, dont do it because I have some experience in it. I have actually debated RFK Jr. on The Brian Lehrer Show about a different lie that he was pushing. archived recording (brian lehrer) This is The Brian Lehrer Show. Im Brian Lehrer. Remember election day 2004? Its back. Remember when early exit polls made it look like John Kerry was the winner of the presidential election? And that soon changed, and George W. Bush was eventually determined to have been reelected. But those exit polls combined with some irregularities, particularly in the key state of Ohio, are the stuff from which conspiracy theories are made, or was there in fact a conspiracy from which a presidency was made in the latest issue of Rolling Stone farhad manjoo Back in the mid 2000s, RFK Jr. Argued in Rolling Stone Magazine that George W. Bush and the Republicans stole the 2004 presidential election from John Kerry. archived recording (brian lehrer) And welcome back, Farhad. Welcome back, Robert, to WNYC. Hello, there. archived recording (farhad manjoo) Thank you. archived recording (robert kennedy jr.) Hello. archived recording (brian lehrer) Well farhad manjoo At the time, I was a reporter who had been covering elections. And I wanted to go on the show because I thought that his conspiracy theories were really dangerous. Disputing elections is just not good for democracy. And I thought that somebody needed to point out all of the ways that RFK Jr. was not telling the truth. archived recording (brian lehrer) So Robert Kennedy, do you want to start in and make your case? What are the biggest pieces farhad manjoo Theres this basic unfairness when you debate a conspiracy theorist. Your side is bound by evidence. You have to say what has been proven. You have to cite the truth. But they can just make up anything. archived recording (robert kennedy jr.) So, yeah, the biggest issue here is that there was a deliberate concerted effort by the Republican Party and this is indisputable to steal the 2004 election. farhad manjoo So among the arguments that RFK Jr. was making was that there were tens of thousands of votes that had been cast for John Kerry but then were switched to George Bush. archived recording (robert kennedy jr.) 80,000 votes were stolen from Kerry and shifted to Bush. farhad manjoo There were many other thousands of votes that were somehow not counted. archived recording (robert kennedy jr.) say, whereas over 350,000 Ohio citizens who never got a chance to vote, most of them Democratic, or whose votes werent counted. In addition farhad manjoo So he was finding votes sort of everywhere. And essentially he was saying that all of this came about because the Republicans had set up an effort like it was their plan to steal the election in Ohio in 2004. [MUSIC PLAYING] archived recording (robert kennedy jr.) Warren County declared a terrorist alert, got rid of the independent observers, ejected the press, and then took the ballots and brought them to a warehouse controlled by a Republican, and then counted them and recounted them three times. farhad manjoo So I hear him making these kind of headline arguments. And some of what he says is based in a little bit of truth. But then he kind of goes on wild assumptions and just kind of steps beyond the facts. archived recording (farhad manjoo) I think that, and certainly in some of those counties you saw problems farhad manjoo And so when its my turn to respond, I have to get into all of the complicated reasons why he couldnt count those votes. archived recording (farhad manjoo) And Mr. Kennedy gets this number from a Democratic from a poll, a telephone poll that the Democratic Party did in January of 2005, several months after the election. farhad manjoo I have to say where the numbers come from and why this specific number doesnt exactly support his argument. archived recording (farhad manjoo) The Democratic Party called people up. And it found out that less than 1 percent of the people in that poll didnt go to the precinct at all that day. So that accounted for about 48,000 people. And the Democratic Party itself was extremely careful with how it looked at that number. farhad manjoo It just becomes a very droning recitation of facts compared to his overly simplistic declaration that the Republicans stole the election. archived recording (farhad manjoo) The key question here is how many votes that affected. And theres not any evidence to show that that would have affected enough people to swing the race over to John Kerry. farhad manjoo I had expected that the audience would clearly see that the numbers that he was peddling were not correct, that his argument was based on a number of made up things. And I dont think thats what happened at all. archived recording (robert kennedy jr.) Again, I will end on archived recording (brian lehrer) Robert Kennedy Jr. and Farhad Manjoo, thank you both for having this debate on the air as you have had it online. Brian Lehrer on WNYC. farhad manjoo When my mother turned 70, she had a unique birthday wish. Instead of a party or a cake, she told our family she needed our help to open a transitional home for survivors of domestic violence and their children. She saw this birthday present as the culmination of a lifetime spent fighting for survivors of abuse, a journey that began back in the 1970s when it was commonplace to use terms like battered women, and survivors had few places to turn. A few months after my moms birthday, the Kathleen Mary House opened its doors named in honor of her mother, Kathleen Mary, a survivor of domestic abuse. When I was born, my mother gave me the name Kathleen Mary, and her lifelong activism on behalf of survivors made a huge impact on me. The effects of domestic violence are not limited to a single generation, nor should our vigilance against it be. That is just one reason Im so concerned about the outcome of an upcoming Supreme Court case, United States v. Rahimi, which next year will decide whether to uphold a gun safety law that protects survivors of domestic violence. The Supreme Court recently announced plans to take up the Rahimi case, which will most likely rely on the courts recent Second Amendment decision, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. In that case, a majority led by Justice Clarence Thomas overturned New Yorks concealed carry law that had been on the books for more than a century claiming 21st-century gun laws should be consistent with an earlier time, when muskets were common firearms. When European populations proved too stubborn, or undesirably swayed by socialist or nationalist sentiments, Atlantic integration proceeded all the same. The Czech Republic was a telling case. Faced with a likely no vote in a referendum on joining the alliance in 1997, the secretary general and top NATO officials saw to it that the government in Prague simply dispense with the exercise; the country joined two years later. The new century brought more of the same, with an appropriate shift in emphasis. Coinciding with the global war on terrorism, the big bang expansion of 2004 in which seven countries acceded saw counterterrorism supersede democracy and human rights in alliance rhetoric. Stress on the need for liberalization and public sector reforms remained a constant. In the realm of defense, the alliance was not as advertised. For decades, the United States has been the chief provider of weapons, logistics, air bases and battle plans. The war in Ukraine, for all the talk of Europe stepping up, has left that asymmetry essentially untouched. Tellingly, the scale of U.S. military aid $47 billion over the first year of the conflict is more than double that offered by European Union countries combined. European spending pledges may also turn out to be less impressive than they appear. More than a year after the German government publicized the creation of a special $110 billion fund for its armed forces, the bulk of the credits remain unused. In the meantime, German military commanders have said that they lack sufficient munitions for more than two days of high-intensity combat. Whatever the levels of expenditure, it is remarkable how little military capability Europeans get for the outlays involved. Lack of coordination, as much as penny-pinching, hamstrings Europes ability to ensure its own security. By forbidding duplication of existing capabilities and prodding allies to accept niche roles, NATO has stymied the emergence of any semiautonomous European force capable of independent action. As for defense procurement, common standards for interoperability, coupled with the sheer size of the U.S. military-industrial sector and bureaucratic impediments in Brussels, favor American firms at the expense of their European competitors. The alliance, paradoxically, appears to have weakened allies ability to defend themselves. Yet the paradox is only superficial. In fact, NATO is working exactly as it was designed by postwar U.S. planners, drawing Europe into a dependency on American power that reduces its room for maneuver. Far from a costly charity program, NATO secures American influence in Europe on the cheap. U.S. contributions to NATO and other security assistance programs in Europe account for a tiny fraction of the Pentagons annual budget less than 6 percent by a recent estimate. And the war has only strengthened Americas hand. Before Russias invasion of Ukraine, roughly half of European military spending went to American manufacturers. Surging demand has exacerbated this tendency as buyers rush to acquire tanks, combat aircraft and other weapons systems, locking into costly, multiyear contracts. Europe may be remilitarizing, but America is reaping the rewards. In Ukraine, the pattern is clear. Washington will provide the military security, and its corporations will benefit from a bonanza of European armament orders, while Europeans will shoulder the cost of postwar reconstruction something Germany is better poised to accomplish than the buildup of its military. The war also serves as a dress rehearsal for U.S. confrontation with China, in which European support cannot be so easily counted on. Limiting Beijings access to strategic technologies and promoting American industry are hardly European priorities, and severing European and Chinese trade is still difficult to imagine. Yet already there are signs that NATO is making headway in getting Europe to follow its lead in the theater. On the eve of a visit to Washington at the end of June, Germanys defense minister duly advertised his awareness of European responsibility for the Indo-Pacific and the importance of the rules-based international order in the South China Sea. How much should 14-year-olds be on their phones? The effects of phones and social media on teenagers and adults continue to be at the center of public health, tech, civil liberties and more. In March, Utahs Republican governor, Spencer Cox, signed an extensive package of laws intended to limit kids access to social media platforms, including time restrictions and requirements that parents and guardians have access to private messages and posts. On Sunday, he said that Utah in the coming months would file lawsuits to hold tech companies accountable. Utahs laws were among the first in a tranche of actions by state governments, like those of Montana and Louisiana, which have greatly limited access to certain social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, either for minors or all users. Some researchers have alleged that social media is responsible for increases in anxiety and depression. If this was childhood cancer or childhood car accidents, or if we had seen these significant changes anywhere else, we would all be losing our minds about this, he told me. The legislation is already facing legal challenges, as tech groups and libertarians balk at how involved the government will be in verifying users ages. But the governor told me he wasnt worried. When I asked if he had any hesitations about the bills he said simply, Uh, no. Researchers hoped to find evidence of a healthy new generation of ospreys when they checked 84 nests of the fish-eating bird in mid-June at Mobjack Bay, an inlet at the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay. They found only three young. It was the lowest reproductive number in more than 50 years of monitoring the local population of the raptor, according to scientists at the College of William & Mary. And they said it represented the latest evidence in a long-term decline in breeding success due to the bay-wide depletion of the birds favorite food Atlantic menhaden. Hundreds of millions of the little, silvery fish play a crucial role in the ecology of coastal waters all along the Eastern Seaboard, feeding bigger fish like striped bass and weakfish; marine mammals including whales and dolphins; and birds like bald eagles, great blue herons and brown pelicans. The fish are nutrient-rich, a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids; they consume smaller organisms like plankton and they filter huge quantities of ocean water. But they are also a mainstay of the commercial fishing industry, caught in mass quantities to be processed into bait for crabs and lobsters, and in greater volume for so-called reduction fisheries, in which they are ground up and turned into products including fish oil and fish meal. The rocks beneath an ancient volcano on the moons far side remain surprisingly warm, scientists have revealed using data from orbiting Chinese spacecraft. They point to a large slab of granite that solidified from magma in the geological plumbing beneath what is known as the Compton-Belkovich Volcanic Complex. I would say were putting the nail in the coffin of this really is a volcanic feature, said Matthew Siegler, a scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, headquartered in Tucson, Ariz., and who led the research. But then whats interesting is, its a very Earth-like volcanic feature. The findings, which appeared last week in the journal Nature, help explain what happened long ago beneath an odd part of the moon. The study also highlights the scientific potential of data gathered by Chinas space program, and how researchers in the United States have to circumvent obstacles to use that data. The movements adherents were among the first people to become worried about existential risk from artificial intelligence, back when rogue robots were still considered a science fiction cliche. They beat the drum so loudly that a number of young E.A.s decided to become artificial intelligence safety experts, and get jobs working on making the technology less risky. As a result, all of the major A.I. labs and safety research organizations contain some trace of effective altruisms influence, and many count believers among their staff members. No major A.I. lab embodies the E.A. ethos as fully as Anthropic. Many of the companys early hires were effective altruists, and much of its start-up funding came from wealthy E.A.-affiliated tech executives, including Dustin Moskovitz, a co-founder of Facebook, and Jaan Tallinn, a co-founder of Skype. Last year, Anthropic got a check from the most famous E.A. of all Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the failed crypto exchange FTX, who invested more than $500 million into Anthropic before his empire collapsed. (Mr. Bankman-Fried is awaiting trial on fraud charges. Anthropic declined to comment on his stake in the company, which is reportedly tied up in FTXs bankruptcy proceedings.) Effective altruisms reputation took a hit after Mr. Bankman-Frieds fall, and Anthropic has distanced itself from the movement, as have many of its employees. (Both Mr. and Ms. Amodei rejected the movements label, although they said they were sympathetic to some of its ideas.) But the ideas are there, if you know what to look for. Some Anthropic staff members use E.A.-inflected jargon talking about concepts like x-risk and memes like the A.I. Shoggoth or wear E.A. conference swag to the office. And there are so many social and professional ties between Anthropic and prominent E.A. organizations that its hard to keep track of them all. (Just one example: Ms. Amodei is married to Holden Karnofsky, a co-chief executive of Open Philanthropy, an E.A. grant-making organization whose senior program officer, Luke Muehlhauser, sits on Anthropics board. Open Philanthropy, in turn, gets most of its funding from Mr. Moskovitz, who also invested personally in Anthropic.) For years, no one questioned whether Anthropics commitment to A.I. safety was genuine, in part because its leaders had sounded the alarm about the technology for so long. Willkommen, bienvenue, Broadway! Cabaret, the ever-popular (and portentous) musical set in a Berlin nightclub on the eve of the Nazis rise to power, will return to Broadway in the spring in a new production that has already won raves in London. The producing team on Tuesday morning announced a plan to transfer the show to Broadway, and said it would open at the August Wilson Theater, where a revival of Funny Girl is scheduled to close Sept. 3. The Cabaret producers did not announce any other details, but it is widely expected that Eddie Redmayne, the film star who played the nightclubs Master of Ceremonies when this revival opened in London, will reprise the role on Broadway. The shows other big role, Sally Bowles, the nightclubs star singer, was initially played in London by Jessie Buckley; that role has not yet been cast in New York. Cabaret, with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Joe Masteroff, originally opened on Broadway in 1966, and that production, directed by Hal Prince and starring Joel Grey, won eight Tony Awards, including for best musical, and ran for three years. Grey went on to star in a 1972 film adaptation that won eight Academy Awards, including one for Grey and one for his co-star, Liza Minnelli. Californias residential composting program, which began last year, is an enormous undertaking meant to reduce the amount of trash going into the states landfills and the climate-polluting gases the facilities release. Landfills are Californias third-largest source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas thats released by banana peels, egg shells and other organic waste as it decomposes. Though the program is off to a rocky start, more composting should begin to curb a major source of emissions. But what if we threw out less food to begin with? Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, with support from the Natural Resources Defense Council and Californians Against Waste, introduced a bill this year that would restrict sell by dates and other labels that federal officials say often prompt consumers to needlessly discard canned goods, boxes of cereal and produce, while providing little information about food safety. The bill would require manufacturers of perishable products to use only standard phrases for expiration dates either best if used by in reference to freshness, or use by in reference to food safety. Those would replace sell by, best before, enjoy by and other language that Irwin said causes confusion about whether the food has merely passed its peak or has truly gone bad. State officials have allocated nearly $69 million for Western New York bridge repair and replacement projects, part of a statewide initiative to help local governments strengthen their infrastructure while making bridges and culverts more resilient and reducing the risk of flooding. The funding is part of more than $516 million in Bridge NY assistance for 141 local governments across New York, designed to support projects that combat climate change and ensure that the bridges can better withstand extreme weather. It comes on top of $716 million that was previously awarded through the program. Porter road to reopen after four-month bridge project Porter Center Road in the Town of Porter is to reopen to traffic Thursday. New York State is making historic investments to modernize our infrastructure, and we are committed to working with our partners in local government to help ensure that their bridges and culverts are ready to meet the challenges of global climate change, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.Among the awards are $1.43 million for the Kenfield Road bridge over Black Creek in Clarence, where town officials have been pushing to replace an old bridge that was last rehabbed more than 20 years ago. Officials said the new bridge, expected to take five to six months to complete, will probably be a modern three-sided box culvert with a wider bridge deck and a large opening to carry as much water as possible when the creek starts to flood. This was our second attempt submitting an application for this funding, but our persistence paid off as we thought the old bridge was a good candidate to be replaced under this program, Town of Clarence Highway Superintendent James Dussing said of the Kenfield bridge project. The bridge will serve our residents and local agriculture well for many generations to come. Town of Tonawanda pedestrian bridge still closed with no plan in place A more than 50-year-old pedestrian bridge that spans Sheridan Drive near Hoover schools has been closed for seven months, but what will happen to it next remains unknown. The Town of Tonawanda town engineer closed the bridge for safety reasons July 26, but Town Board members said they are unable to move forward with a plan until they get Funding for replacing 13 other bridges in Erie County includes: $4.75 million each for replacing the Mill Road bridge over Cazenovia Creek and the Hammond Hill Road bridge over Cattaraugus Creek. $2.95 million for the East Eden Road bridge over Hampton Brook. $2.29 million for the Marshfield Road bridge over North Bridge Clear Creek. $2.02 million for the Fletcher Street bridge over Two Mile Creek in the City of Tonawanda. $1.83 million for the Dennis Road bridge over Little Sister Creek. $1.43 million for the Kenfield Road bridge over Black Creek in Clarence. $991,000 for the Day Road culvert linking a tributary to Hunter Creek Tributary. $958,000 and $861,000, respectively, for Milestrip Road culverts linking to Muddy Creek and Delaware Creek. $800,000 for the Siebert Road culvert in Lancaster. $798,000 for the Reist Street culvert to Ellicott Creek in Amherst. $701,000 for the Larkin Road culvert to Franklin Gulf in Eden. $536,000 for the Greymont Avenue culvert in West Seneca. In Niagara County, the grant will pay for replacing the Route 271 bridge over Brench Jeddo Creek, the Carmen Road bridge over Golden Hill Creek, the Plaza Drive bridge over Bergholz Creek in Wheatfield, the Balmer Road culvert, the Ramsomville Road culvert, the Baer Road culvert and the East High Street culvert. Theres also money for seven bridges each in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties and four in Allegany County. Many Texans are familiar with the chorus of cicadas that fills the air on the hottest days of early July. But this week, the bugs seem particularly raucous. It could be, at least in part, a result of the heat wave that has been baking the region and shows no signs of letting up. On Tuesday, the high temperature was expected to reach around 103 degrees in El Paso and San Antonio. Its not that individual cicadas are louder than they were before, said Allen F. Sanborn, an emeritus professor of biology at Barry University in Miami who retired to central Texas. Instead, Dr. Sanborn has noticed, the insects seem to be active for more hours in the day. They start calling earlier because the minimum air temperature combined with solar radiation is reached earlier in the day, he said. They also call later into the afternoon and evening because they can maintain the elevated body temperatures for a longer period of time. Less than a month after a deadlocked Iowa Supreme Court left a six-week abortion ban unenforceable, lawmakers returned to the State Capitol on Tuesday and passed a nearly identical set of restrictions on the procedure. Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican who said, I believe the pro-life movement is the most important human rights cause of our time when she called the special session on abortion, plans to sign the bill into law on Friday, her office said. The voices of Iowans and their democratically elected representatives cannot be ignored any longer, and justice for the unborn should not be delayed, Governor Reynolds said in a statement on Tuesday night. The session further cemented Iowas sharp political shift to the right, and was set to end its increasingly rare status as a Republican-led state where abortions are allowed up to 20 weeks post-fertilization, or roughly 22 weeks into pregnancy. The new limits would add Iowa to a list of conservative states including Indiana, North Dakota and South Carolina that have passed abortion restrictions since the U.S. Supreme Court ended the national right to abortion last year. Leslie Van Houten, a former Charles Manson follower who played a role in the gruesome double murder of a Los Angeles couple in the summer of 1969, was released on parole on Tuesday after serving more than half a century in prison, according to her lawyer. Ms. Van Houtens lawyer, Nancy Tetreault, said she was taken early Tuesday morning to transitional housing at an undisclosed location. Shes going to have to learn to live in the world after 53 years in prison, Ms. Tetreault said in an interview. So thats going to take some time. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed her release. Ms. Van Houten will have three-year maximum parole term, according to Mary Xjimenez, a department spokeswoman. The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom said this month that it would not challenge her release. Mr. Newsom had reversed Ms. Van Houtens parole grant three times since taking office, most recently in March 2022. Six people were killed on Tuesday morning when a helicopter crashed during a sightseeing trip over Mount Everest, according to local officials in Nepal. The bodies of five Mexican tourists, two men and three women, and a male Nepali pilot were recovered from the crash site, the authorities said. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. The helicopter, which was operated by Manang Air, took off after 10 a.m. local time and lost contact with air traffic control within minutes, according to multiple statements from the countrys Civil Aviation Authority. The aircraft was headed to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, from Surke, a nearby small town in the remote region near Mount Everest. Raju Neupane, a spokesperson for Manang Air, said, The weather was not bad. Now we cant say what caused the crash. It will have to be investigated, according to Reuters. In the months before the 2020 presidential election, Roy W. Bailey, a Dallas businessman, received a stream of text messages from Donald J. Trumps re-election campaign, asking for money in persistent, almost desperate terms. Have you forgotten me? the messages read, Mr. Bailey recalled. Have you deserted us? Mr. Bailey was familiar with the Trump campaign: He was the co-chair of its finance committee, helped raise millions for the effort and personally contributed several thousand dollars. Think about that, Mr. Bailey said recently about the frequency of the messages and the beseeching tone. That is how out of control and crazy some of this fund-raising has gotten. He did, ultimately, desert Mr. Trump: He is now raising money for Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, whose campaign has pledged to avoid the kinds of online fund-raising tactics that irritated Mr. Bailey and that have spread in both parties, particularly the Republican Party, in recent years as candidates have tried to amass small donors. Mr. Luft has denied any wrongdoing, and claims he only became a subject of Justice Department scrutiny after discussing the Hunter Biden investigation with prosecutors who met with him in Belgium in 2019. But prosecutors painted a portrait of Mr. Luft, who split his time between Israel and Washington, as an unscrupulous political fixer working for China who made much of his cash as a back-channel arms and oil broker. Mr. Luft, prosecutors said, helped Chinese arms manufacturers sell anti-tank launchers, grenade launchers and mortar rounds to Libya (he referred to them as toys in communications obtained by the government), bombs and rockets to the United Arab Emirates and military drones to Kenya. He told an associate that the unwillingness of U.S. officials to sell weapons to Kenya provided them with an opportunity for profit, prosecutors said. He also carved out a role as a middleman in transactions to broker sales of oil from Iran, in violation of U.S. sanctions, ordering a business associate to refer to the products as Brazilian petroleum, the government charged. In one instance, Mr. Luft received a letter telling him explicitly that a shipment of the oil was Iranian but that it should be be presented as U.A.E. origin without Iranian papers, according to the filing. At the same time, he was using his post as co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security in Gaithersburg, Md., to exert political influence on behalf of Beijing, according to the Justice Department. In the letter, the senators signaled that Congress could intervene if the courts themselves do not make changes, asking what other options should Congress consider to reduce judge shopping. Claims of forum-shopping, where lawyers try to seek a judge sympathetic to their case by filing in that court, are not new. Lawyers often file in regions of the country that they believe will most advantage their clients. Single-judge divisions like those in Texas, however, go a step further because only one judge hears all new civil cases in some parts of the state. During the Biden administration, the Texas attorney general has filed more than two dozen lawsuits challenging federal policies such as immigration, the environment and pandemic restrictions. Many of these lawsuits have been filed in single-judge divisions. In an interview, Mr. Schumer pointed to the recent high-profile fight over the fate of mifepristone, an abortion drug. That case, pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in New Orleans, could sharply limit access to the medication and also curtail the Food and Drug Administrations ability to regulate other drugs. Its been an issue of abuse for the last while, Mr. Schumer said. Certain cases have highlighted it the mifepristone case above all. Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump asked a federal judge on Monday night to indefinitely postpone his trial on charges of illegally retaining classified documents after he left office, saying that the proceeding should not begin until all substantive motions in the case had been presented and decided. The written filing submitted 30 minutes before its deadline of midnight on Tuesday presents a significant early test for Judge Aileen M. Cannon, the Trump-appointed jurist who is overseeing the case. If granted, it could have the effect of pushing Mr. Trumps trial into the final stages of the presidential campaign in which he is now the Republican front-runner or even past the 2024 election. While timing is important in any criminal matter, it could be hugely consequential in Mr. Trumps case, in which he stands accused of illegally holding on to 31 classified documents after leaving the White House and obstructing the governments repeated efforts to reclaim them. There could be complications of a sort never before presented to a court if Mr. Trump is a candidate in the last legs of a presidential campaign and a federal criminal defendant on trial at the same time. If the trial is pushed back until after the election and Mr. Trump wins, he could try to pardon himself after taking office or have his attorney general dismiss the matter entirely. Iowa may be the most important state on Donald J. Trumps early 2024 political calendar, but he hasnt been making many friends there lately. He lashed out at Iowas popular Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, and then his campaign informed one of the states politically influential evangelical leaders, Bob Vander Plaats, that the former president would skip a gathering of presidential candidates this week in Des Moines. The back-to-back moves on Monday which the campaign of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida labeled a snub of Iowa conservatives in an email on Tuesday show the extent to which Mr. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, acts as if he is immune to traditional political pitfalls while he is also under indictment and his rivals are seeking to capitalize on some voters fatigue with his antics. With Trumps personality, I feel he thinks he owns Iowa, said Steve Boender, a board member for the Family Leader, the conservative Christian group organizing the event on Friday that Mr. Trump is skipping. And Im not sure he does. Despite billions of federal dollars spent to help make up for pandemic-related learning loss, progress in reading and math stalled over the past school year for elementary and middle-school students, according to a new national study released on Tuesday. The hope was that, by now, students would be learning at an accelerated clip, but that did not happen over the last academic year, according to NWEA, a research organization that analyzed the results of its widely used student assessment tests taken this spring by about 3.5 million public school students in third through eighth grade. In fact, students in most grades showed slower than average growth in math and reading, when compared with students before the pandemic. That means learning gaps created during the pandemic are not closing if anything, the gaps may be widening. We are actually seeing evidence of backsliding, said Karyn Lewis, a lead researcher on the study. On average, students need the equivalent of an additional 4.5 months of instruction in math, and an extra four months in reading to catch up to the typical prepandemic student. Thats on top of regular classroom time. Older students, who generally learn at a slower rate and face more challenging material, are the furthest behind. The U.S. has often been a leader in gender-based discrimination laws, such as Title VII and Title IX. In fact, many countries have modeled their legislation on how the U.S. legal system addresses sexual harassment. To prevent and address gender-based violence in the workplace, the International Labor Organization presented a new international model in 2019 in its Convention on Violence and Harassment, also known as Convention 190. Shaped by the voices of working women around the world in concert with unions, employer representatives and governments Convention 190 is broader than sexual harassment and, instead, addresses gender-based violence and harassment. It goes beyond the workplace and covers anywhere workers are paid in break rooms, restrooms, parking garages, trainings and through work-related communications. To truly prevent gender-based violence and harassment, we must do more than just prohibit unlawful conduct. Organizations need to think beyond the anti-discrimination requirements of Title VII, which sets the minimum legal requirements for employers but may not necessarily represent what is actually equitable in the workplace. Convention 190 can inspire us to better prevent gender-based violence and harassment from occurring. In April of 2023, New York Gov. Kathy Hochuls administration updated the states Sexual Harassment Model Policy. Groundbreaking when first established in 2018, the legislation requires a review and update every four years. With the release of the first U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence in spring of 2023, the federal government has already committed to think beyond Title VII. For example, the Department of Labors Womens Bureau and the ILO Office for the United States and Canada are hosting a series of national and regional meetings at which stakeholders will collaborate on strategies. As our workplaces have evolved and continue to change, so too must our policies and programs. We have the updated tools to build a world of work free of violence and harassment for all workers the time to use them is now. The question before the justices on Tuesday was whether the states courts could hear a lawsuit challenging the Legislatures map, or whether partisan maps were a political issue beyond their jurisdiction. It was not clear when the court would hand down a ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court considered the same question in 2019 and decided that the maps were beyond its purview. But voting-rights advocates say Utahs Constitution offers a stronger case than the federal one does for reining in political maps. Much of Tuesdays hearing which was streamed on the state courts website focused on the Legislatures repeal of the 2018 ballot initiative, given the provision in the State Constitution that all political power resides with the people and that they have the right to alter and reform their government. The Legislature has for decades engaged in this anti-democratic distortion of the process, said Mark Gaber, a lawyer for the Campaign Legal Center, an advocacy law firm based in Washington that represents the plaintiffs in the case before the court. And the people said: We have had enough. We are going to alter and reform our government and recognize that we hold the political power in this state. Taylor Meehan, a lawyer with the law firm Consovoy McCarthy who is representing the Legislature, said Utah citizens had many ways to exercise political influence even after the repeal. The people can advocate for a constitutional amendment, Ms. Meehan said. The people also can elect and lobby and propose ideas to their Legislature. The Legislature will still be politically accountable for whether they vote maps up or down. As the war in Sudan heads into its fourth month, Omdurman the city across the Nile River from the capital, Khartoum has become the site of some of the most fierce fighting between the two forces battling for power: the army and its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Patients were admitted in droves in recent days to one of the few functioning health facilities left in Omdurman, their bodies riddled with bullets or sliced by shrapnel from airstrikes. Some victims were dead by the time they were brought in, their passage hindered by street battles in Omdurman, once a bustling business hub and home to many universities, hospitals and political and cultural institutions. Its been like hell, said Dr. Rashid Mukhtar Hassan, the human resource manager at the health facility, Al-Nau Teaching Hospital, in a phone call. A trove of testimonies from more than 200 people who accuse senior Ugandan officials, including the president and his son, of torture, killings and other crimes against humanity has been submitted to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, a lawyer for the complainants said on Tuesday. The filing is an effort to bring international scrutiny to what human rights observers have called a brutal government crackdown on opposition groups and activists in the East African nation in the months before and after the countrys bloody 2021 elections. The briefing accuses nine top Ugandan officials of abuses, including President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country with an iron grip for almost four decades, and his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has been maneuvering to succeed his father. A total of 26 officials are accused of aiding and abetting the incarceration and systematic abuse of Ugandans, particularly supporters of the musician turned opposition leader Bobi Wine, who ran for president in 2021. Heavy rains in southwestern Japan have washed away homes, flooded hospitals, disrupted mobile phone services and cut off power and water for hundreds of households, officials said on Tuesday. The unusually high level of rainfall in Kyushu, Japans southernmost main island, on Monday has left at least six people dead and three missing, Japans top government spokesman, Hirokazu Matsuno, said at a news conference. Another official, Satoshi Sugimoto, the top forecaster at the Japan Meteorological Agency, on Monday called it the heaviest rain ever experienced in northern Kyushu. North Korea threatened military action against American spy planes operating off the countrys east coast, its state media reported on Tuesday, as a United States submarine capable of shooting nuclear ballistic missiles planned to visit South Korea for the first time in four decades. The North has often bristled at the United Statess military reconnaissance activities around the Korean Peninsula. But since Monday, it has issued three consecutive statements threatening retaliation against what it called provocative aerial espionage by American spy planes and drones. On Monday, the Norths Ministry of National Defense accused an American strategic reconnaissance plane of illegally intruding into its inviolable airspace off its east coast this month. There is no guarantee that such shocking accident as downing of the U.S. Air Force strategic reconnaissance plane will not happen, it said, according to an English-language dispatch from the Norths official Korean Central News Agency. Britain sent long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine in May. And France pledged a shipment of the same missiles, which it calls SCALPs, as NATO leaders gathered in Lithuania on Tuesday. But for now at least, the United States is still hesitant to send Ukraine any of its limited stock of long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems known as ATACMS, or attack ems even as the Biden administration acknowledges that Kyivs forces are running dangerously low on other munitions in its counteroffensive against Russia. Ukraine has long coveted the ATACMS, which have a range of about 190 miles, or about 40 miles more than the missiles France and Britain are providing. The Pentagon has maintained that Ukraine currently does not need ATACMS, which would be able to reach behind enemy lines, including in Russia and occupied Crimea. A crisis at the BBC over the conduct of a senior staff member deepened on Tuesday with a report that a second person had come forward with allegations that the unnamed male staff member had sent angry and abusive messages to the person via a dating app. The BBC reported that the young person, whom it did not identify, felt threatened by abusive, expletive-filled messages, which followed unsuccessful efforts by the staff member to meet with this person and the persons subsequent suggestion about possibly publicly naming him. The same staff member faced allegations of paying tens of thousands of pounds to a different young person in exchange for sexually explicit photographs. The BBC said it had paused its investigation into those accusations at the request of the Metropolitan Police, which was also looking into the matter. With the allegations piling up, but with many questions still unanswered, the BBC appeared to be under siege. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on his way to a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, said the reports of payments by the staff member were shocking and concerning and called for a swift, vigorous investigation. The conveyor belt was ready, the empty bottles were stacked and the machinery was about to splutter into life. But one more step was needed before any beer bottling could get underway. That last step required a monk. Within a minute or two, Father Joseph Delargy appeared, dressed in the white robes of the Cistercian order, to bless the proceedings in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And bottles of Britains only Trappist beer were soon rattling swiftly along the small production line. Only beers brewed in monasteries with the active involvement of Roman Catholic Cistercian monks are classified as Trappist products, and there is just one in Britain Tynt Meadow, a dark English ale that is celebrating its fifth anniversary. At Mount Saint Bernard Abbey set outside the town of Coalville in the lush countryside of east central England the blessing is a part of the bottling routine that even nonbelievers say is perilous to skip. While Europe and the United States were trying to isolate Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey referred to Russias president as my friend. While NATO leaders worked to enlarge the alliance, Mr. Erdogan held up the process by seeking concessions for his nation. Then on Monday, Mr. Erdogan suddenly flipped after more than a year of being treated as an in-house spoiler by Western allies. He dropped his objections to Sweden joining the alliance and allowed a NATO summit to convene on Tuesday with a new sense of strength and unity. Mr. Erdogan has yet to comment publicly on his decision, much less explain his change of heart, but he appears to have concluded that he had little more to gain from continuing to block Sweden and that he could potentially benefit more from mending his sour relationships with the United States and other NATO allies. Already on Tuesday, Mr. Erdogan cast a one-on-one meeting with President Biden in terms of a bright new start between the two leaders, who have had chilly relations. All of our previous meetings were like warm-up rounds, but right now we launch a new process, Mr. Erdogan told Mr. Biden when they met ahead of the summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Finlands deputy prime minister apologized on Tuesday for stupid social media comments after a series of racist and sometimes violent remarks posted in 2008 surfaced in the Finnish press the latest scandal for the party she leads, the right-wing Finns, since it joined the countrys governing coalition less than a month ago. Though the deputy prime minister, Riikka Purra, did not say the posts, published under the user name riikka, were hers, she said in a Twitter thread, I apologize for my stupid social media comments 15 years ago and for the harm and resentment that they understandably caused. Im not a perfect person, Ive made mistakes. According to local news media reports, in posts on a right-wing blog in 2008, riikka repeatedly used a racist Finnish slur against Black people, described Turkish people in derogatory terms and asked if there were any like-minded people in the city on a particular day to beat Black children. The blog was hosted by the former Finns party leader Jussi Halla-aho, who was fined by Finlands highest court for racist incitement in 2012. The comments attributed to riikka are not currently on the blog. The Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat tracked Ms. Purras whereabouts in one instance and linked it to a post from that location. Ms. Purra did acknowledge on Tuesday that she had posted on the blog in ways and with words that today I absolutely do not accept and would not use, though she did not identify specific posts. Battle of the Boyne: Why is it in the iPhone calendar and what is it? Loyalist are silhouetted as they gather in front of the bonfire on the Sandy Row area on July 12, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) The Battle of the Boyne has arrived a moment greeted with incredible significance by some people in the UK, and confusion by others. The event is a public holiday in Northern Ireland and marks one of the most controversial and important parts of British history. And it is marked by a message in people's iPhone calendar, which has the tendency to confuse some people who see it. For people in Northern Ireland, that fact is obvious: they have the day off, and the controversial celebrations are hard to miss. But for the rest of the UK, the only reminder might be a cryptic note inside their iPhone calendar. What is the Battle of the Boyne? Historically, the name refers to the 1690 event where the Catholic King James II's troops were defeated by the Protestant William III. Nowadays, it is an annual bank holiday that commemorates the same battle. The original battle was of incredible significance not only to the history of Ireland but across Europe. It brought about the conclusion of a fight for the throne in England and is a key part of the ascendency of Protestants in Ireland. Now each year, the holiday takes place on 12 July, an event known as "The Twelfth". It is commemorated by the Protestant community, and it is often marked by confrontations in Northern Ireland. Why is it in my iPhone? The iPhone keeps a full log off all the public or bank holidays in the UK, or wherever else your phone happens to be. That can be very useful because Except sometimes it will throw up strange examples, such as the Battle of the Boyne. The reminder might be very useful for people in Northern Ireland but for the rest of the UK, where people don't have the day off, it probably mostly useless. That's because the calendar counts every holiday in the UK, even if it does not apply to you. The different parts of the UK have different holidays, and each of them show up in the calendar. It doesn't just include the Battle of the Boyne. The calendar will also show all of the Scottish bank holidays such as the extra day off at New Year, and the different summer bank holiday as well as St Patrick's Day, for which people in Northern Ireland are given a holiday too. How do I get rid of it? In short, you can't. The calendar isn't really yours, but is created by Apple, meaning that you can't change it either. You can get rid of the calendar entirely that is done by clicking the "Calendars" button at the bottom of the screen and deleting or hiding the UK bank holidays one but that will mean you'll also lose the entire calendar along with it. You could of course recreate the functionality by adding the dates yourself, but that is difficult since some bank holidays tend to move around depending on how days line up. You can add and subscribe to custom calendars on your iPhone, using links that can be found on the internet. The trouble is that all of the examples for bank holidays such as the one provided by the UK government also include the Battle of the Boyne. You can make the event slightly less irritating, by turning off any alarms that are associated with it. That is done by clicking on the event on your iPhone and pressing the "alert" button, where you can choose "none". But either the event stays, or you lose all the other bank holidays. A bottle of syrup made from Siberian berries, legions of dirty socks and a military-issued tea bag stamped with For Victory! For Ukrainian soldiers, one advantage of achieving at least creeping advances in the now month-old counteroffensive in southern Ukraine is appropriating ready-made fortifications from the retreating Russians, who in months of preparations dug deep, well-protected trenches. For the Ukrainians, eerily enough, it also means living and fighting in positions long held by the Russians with a huge sprawl of military debris and personal items of Russian soldiers scattered about. Its not very pleasant, said Pvt. Maksim, a soldier with Ukraines 36th Marine Brigade, who has collected a number of curiosities, including what he thinks was a talisman: several bullets covered in sparkles and attached to a key ring. As part of his surprising U-turn that unblocked Swedens bid for NATO membership Monday evening, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey appears to have extracted vague commitments to re-energize his countrys complicated relationship with the European Union. In a Monday meeting, Mr. Erdogan and Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, agreed to focus on migration and refugees, economic links and the prospect of opening up visa-free travel to the E.U. for Turks, a senior E.U. official said. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to brief reporters, described the meeting as a change to a more positive tone. Turkey is officially a candidate for membership in the European Union, a status it has held for two decades. The process was practically frozen in 2018, cementing a kind of frenemy status between the bloc and its neighbor to the east. The two are deeply connected, but the relationship between them has been strained. Most E.U. countries consider Turkeys E.U. accession bid to be dead but they have not pushed to make that official out of concern that that would further alienate Mr. Erdogan and make improvements on key policy areas such as energy cooperation and migration harder. Here is a look at the history of Turkeys E.U. bid and where it stands now. NATO declared on Tuesday that Ukraine would be invited to join the alliance, but did not say how or when, disappointing its president but reflecting the resolve by President Biden and other leaders not to be drawn directly into Ukraines war with Russia. In a communique agreed to by all 31 NATO nations, the alliance said that Ukraines future is in NATO, and it will be allowed to join when the member countries agree that conditions are ripe but it did not offer specifics or a timetable. It promised to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia and to engage the alliances foreign ministers in a periodic review of Ukraines progress toward reaching NATO standards in both democratization and military integration. The wording means that Mr. Biden, who declared last week that Ukraine isnt ready for NATO membership, and like-minded allies had prevailed over Poland and Baltic nations that wanted a formal invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance as soon as the war ends. NATO leaders released the document, a compromise product after weeks of argument, at a summit meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania. Hours earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, apparently aware of what it would say, issued a blast at the NATO leadership. Its unprecedented and absurd when a time frame is not set, neither for the invitation nor for Ukraines membership, he wrote on Twitter before landing in Vilnius. Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated across the country on Tuesday, blocking the road outside the countrys main airport and about a dozen other thoroughfares and clashing with police officers to protest an overnight vote in Parliament that advanced efforts by the far-right ruling coalition to limit judicial oversight of the government. Thousands of protesters poured into the street beside the main terminal at Ben-Gurion International Airport, honking horns, chanting slogans and holding aloft scores of Israeli flags, in a scene more reminiscent of a packed sports stadium than an airport taxi rank. Others rallied in at least 20 towns and cities, often blocking traffic until being dispersed by police officers, in what protest leaders called a day of disruption. One group of demonstrators erected tents on a major intersection in central Israel. Another crowd gathered outside a United States consular building in Tel Aviv, calling on the Biden administration to do more to help their cause. The United States provides Israel with more than $3 billion in military aid each year. The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday failed to adopt two rival resolutions to extend cross-border aid deliveries into northern Syria from Turkey, effectively cutting off a vital lifeline to about 4.1 million people in opposition-held territories. Russia vetoed a bid put forth by Brazil and Switzerland to extend one resolution for nine months, a compromise from an initial 12-month extension called for by the United Nations and international aid agencies. A second resolution put forth by Russia for a six-month extension failed after Britain, France and the United States voted no and it did not reach the required quorum, with 10 Council members abstaining. Russia and China voted in favor. Vassily Nebenzia, Russias ambassador to the United Nations, told the Council that the aid would go to terrorists and that the cross-border mechanism was a show. If our draft is not supported, then we can just go ahead and close down the cross-border mechanism, Mr. Nebenzia said. In what many are calling a real-life Bollywood movie script, an Indian man married his wife to her lover after catching them cheating. In the 1999 Bollywood classic Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Ajay Devgns character, Vanraj, finds out that his wife is in love with another man and decides to unite them. Its one of Indias most famous love stories and one that was recently replicated by a scorned husband who, upon learning about his wifes infidelity, arrange the union of the spouse to her lover. The unusual incident took place in Nardiganj, a village in Indias Bihar state after villagers caught a young married woman visiting the home of her lover while her husband was away. They beat the man, who was also married with three children and had decided to drive the pair from their village, but then the womans husband returned and came up with another solution. Photo: Vaibhav Nagare/Unsplash Apparently, the unnamed couple had been married for only a few days when the husband learned about his young brides infidelity, and despite trying to talk her into giving up her lover, she never did. They had two children in the three years they were married, but the womans heart still belonged to her lover, who was married and had kids of his own. There was talk of the womans infidelity in Nardiganj, and during her latest visit to her beloveds house, her husbands in-laws caught her red-handed in the arms of her lover. The angry villagers beat up the man for cheating on his wife and breaking up the womans marriage as well, and they took the couple hostage until the womans husband returned from his work trip. Photo: video screengrab When the cheated husband returned and learned about his wifes infidelity, he surprisingly disagreed with the villagers decision to drive the two adulterers away from the village as punishment. Instead, he took them both to a local temple and made the lover marry his wife, claiming that he was in no position to stop the woman from being with the man she loved just because she was married. A video that has since gone viral shows the two lovers performing the unifying ritual in front of a crowd. The man, sporting a white vest and a visibly swollen eye, applies vermillion to his lovers forehead, as she cries uncontrollably. Its unclear whether the womans tears are tears of happiness or of shame Believe it or not, this is not the first something like this has happened in India. A couple of years ago, we wrote about another Bihar man who helped his wife marry the man she loved. Adriana Sanchez Its no secret that personalization plays a pivotal role in elevating the guest experience. While travel brands have mastered this when it comes to revolutionizing on-property stays, its often overlooked when enlisting creators and designing influencer collaborations. As proven time and time again, personalization is vital in unlocking the full potential of these partnerships and driving significant impact. In todays competitive and crowded travel and hospitality landscapes, providing customized experiences is no longer considered a luxury. It has become the essential element in truly setting brands apart. These tailored experiences, based on individual preferences and needs, are what make them so unforgettable. Noteworthy moments and occurrences transform the regular consumer or traveler into lifelong customers by fostering loyalty. They feel seen. Our data-driven world provides access to more consumer insights than ever before, and industry leaders have cracked the code for how to leverage this data and turn it into a lasting connection. This vast data generated from guests previous stays, behavior and interests allows hotels to deeply understand their audience before they even step foot through the door. These data points create countless engagement opportunities throughout their journey, which begins well before a guests arrival at the property. Hotels can offer discounts, add-ons and elevated experiences, from curated in-room amenities to individualized concierge recommendations or exclusive dining options. Communication with guests can be constant via their preferred method, all while using their name to evoke a deeper feeling of camaraderie. This article is featured in O'Dwyer's July '23 Travel & Tourism PR Magazine (view PDF version) Predicting guest needs is as effortless as making their stay feel unique and special. The opportunity for brands to interact with guests through various touch points enables them to not only meet but exceed expectations. And in fact, consumers are demanding they do just that. A recent study released by McKinsey reported that 71 percent of customers want businesses to provide personalized experiences and 76 percent are frustrated if they dont receive it. This is particularly relevant to the travel space, with 70 percent of guests reporting having a more positive experience at hotels that use personalization techniques. So, why dont travel brands use this same approach when it comes to influencer marketing? It helps drive engagement, credibility and more importantly results, too. For influencers, personalization makes a world of difference and it should start with the very first interaction. As we know, first impressions really can be everlasting and its nearly impossible to come back if you start things off on the wrong foot. During a recent panel in New York City, TikTok creator Rod Thill (1.6 million TikTik followers), who entered the social media spotlight and our mobile feeds during the peak of the 2020 lockdown, shared his biggest red flag when being tapped for a potential brand collaboration: a brief lacking any personality. If the outreach note doesnt include any personal details or a clear understanding of what he stands for, its a no. The ask must align with his vision and display a level of research on the brands end that proves this is a viable partnership. This accomplishes two things. First, he immediately knows the brand is serious about collaborating with him. Presumably, they have fully vetted his profile and possess a deep understanding of who he is and what he stands for. Meaning, theyre seeking him out specifically, which could minimize any back-and-forth down the line regarding expectations or content output. All this extensive research typically means that by the time he reviews a personalized brief, its likely the right opportunity. Of course, Thill conducts his own due diligence to ensure its a fit from his perspective as well. Second, it develops a level of trust between both parties. No one understands an influencers community better than they dothey built it and engage with their followers constantly. Theyre viewed as experts for a reason and if brands are able to tap into their unique perspectives and insights by trusting them enough to give them creative freedom, the results will speak for themselves. Another form of successful personalization when working with influencers takes things one step further. Rather than purely engaging partners to develop assets or post content on their channels, brands are reaping the benefits of co-creating. As seen with Christina Najjar (i.e., Tinx; 1.5 million TikTok followers) also known as TikToks big sister, and the launch of Tabascos first-ever product collaborationa limited edition jalapeno dressing. Tinx is known to overshare every detail of her life with her followers and opens up to them as if they were her friends. She often posts the food shes eating and salads smothered in hot sauce are a regular occurrence. Normalize hot sauce as dressing, she repeats. So, when Tabasco approached her for this collaboration, it was a no-brainer and a win-win for both parties. The brand had seen a growth in interest from Gen Z and this was a great way to authentically build credibility with that particular demographic. These kinds of collaborations also foster long-term relationships between influencers and brands, which drive better and long-lasting results. Social listening can also play an important role when finding the right influencer partner. Brands should be mining for organic partnership opportunities and using them to their advantage, knowing influencers are regularly sharing their day-to-day. A brand-influencer pairing that made headlines last month with influencer Alix Earle (5.4 million TikTok followers) is a testament to just how impactful it can be. The recent Miami University graduate, who gained tremendous popularity earlier this year, was on a Euro trip with friends when she suddenly found herself stranded without a place to stay in Italy following a booking scam. AirBnB quickly jumped to the rescue and put the group up in a luxurious Positano villa. Earle went on to post a tour of the villa thanking and tagging the brand for saving the day. Not only did she post organically numerous times to her millions of followers, but the stunt was picked up by major outlets resulting in thousands of dollars worth of earned value. Travel brands must evolve their influencer marketing strategies to not only include personalization but be at the center of everything they dojust like when dealing with guests. *** Adriana Sanchez is Vice President, Digital, at Magrino PR. A 170 acre solar farm in South Offaly has been given the go ahead. The farm will be in the Killyon, Rath and Fivealley areas and is overseen by Summit Solar Ltd. It will be a 62 Megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) development divided over two different pieces of land, the first in the townland of Parkmore, close to Rath and Fivealley, and the second in Clonbeale Beg Glebe and Rathure, North of Killyon. Kinnitty Cllr John Clendennen welcomed the news. "There's a realisation among most people now that our planet is facing a crisis and we need projects like this solar farm to try and fight this problem." He said that he's heard no objections from locals to this project. "Most people are accepting of the reality now that the transition from carbon to renewable is necessary so that we avoid future catastrophe." The councillor pointed out that an important practical consideration for renewable energy projects like Summit Solar's is access / connectivity to the grid. "We have this in Offaly," he remarked, "a ready access to the grid." The councillor added that while this green light for a new solar farm is good news there is a lot of important work to be done. "Retrofitting is too expensive. That needs to come down. We need more homes engaged in micro generation of energy in terms of solar panels and heat pumps. Those alternative forms of energy provision need to be made financially more attractive for people." The councillor pointed out that electricity bills remain too high for people and that, as more and more land is devoted to wind and solar farms, domestic electricity bills should start to reduce. The 170 acre solar farm will be connected by underground cables to another already permitted 45MW solar development stretching over a further 111 acres in the Rathmount, Mullanafawnia, and Russellspenn townlands in the Rath and Killyon region. This 111 acre project, granted in 2020, will see 105,000 photovoltaic panels put in place. The Summit Solar 170 acre project was first submitted to the Council's planning office at the end of July 2022. It was then put on hold for a time while Offaly County Council sought a large amount of further information from the company before making a final decision. The council asked questions about the site selection process, an assessment of any impact on archaeological remains and the height of the solar panels. Summit Solar said the panels will be a maximum height of 2.5 metres. The Council granted planning permission on June the 20th, subject to compliance with 19 separate conditions, including the payment of 744,000 in development contributions to the council. One of the conditions is to restore the site to its original condition, and dismantle and remove the elements of the development should energy generation cease on the site. The farm will include 24 Power Hubs with an inverter and transformer, two single-storey communications building, sub-station building, storage premises, GRP kiosk and twelve CCTV cameras mounted on four metre high poles. The farm will not require any permanent on-site staff following its construction. Cllr Clendennen also told the Tribune that he's a keen advocate of domestic solar panels. He added that the transition from carbon to renewable has been painful for many in Offaly and that this should be acknowledged. He recently put a motion to a monthly meeting of Offaly County Council which stated that, "In light of the closure of Ireland's last peat briquette production facility at Derrinlough and the ongoing challenge of higher electricity charges, Offaly County Council calls on the Ministers with responsibility for Housing and Planning, to introduce a policy that all public interest housing developments include the installation of solar PV panels as standard." The motion was passed by the Council. The councillor told the Tribune that he agrees with those who say we must remain conscious of our heritage while at the same time pursuing cleaner forms of energy production. He agreed we shouldn't turn our backs on things like real fires with real flames. "In my own business I've installed a pellet burning stove. Customers like to sit in front of real, flickering flames while enjoying a drink; especially on a winter's day." THE Killeigh-based organic yogurt company Glenisk is once again 100% owned by the Cleary family, a statement from the firm said this week. This follows the redemption by mutual agreement on June 30 by Danone of its minority shareholding in Glenisk. In 2006, organic yogurt company Stonyfield Europe acquired a minority stake in Glenisk. At the same time, French owned food giant Groupe Danone acquired a controlling stake in Stonyfield Europe. Glenisk said Danone remained a minority shareholder in Glenisk during the intervening period but the company continued to be majority-owned and fully-managed by the Cleary family. The Glenisk statement said the partnership with Danone was a positive arrangement for Glenisk, enabling the company to invest in its manufacturing facility in Killeigh and in product innovation and branding. The board of directors have now determined that a return to full ownership by the Cleary family is in the businesss best interest, the statement said. Glenisk managing director Vincent Cleary (pictured below) thanked Danone for their support and involvement over the years. In September 2021 the Glenisk factory near Killeigh was almost completely destroyed by a fire and millions of euros of damage was done. Fifty staff working at the facility at the time were evacuated when the fire alarm went off and fire brigade units from Tullamore, Edenderry, Clara and Portarlington rushed to tackle the inferno which engulfed manufacturing plant, storage facilities and offices at the Glenisk complex. The company retained its 90-strong workforce while it got the business back up and running. Milk production was resumed first and by early 2022 Glenisk yogurts were back in the shops. The company said in February last year that it plans to build a new carbon neutral manufacturing facility. The dairy company was founded by the late Jack Cleary in 1987. Did people really pay $300 to see a VTuber reveal his face during a concert in Thailand? If you have no idea what any part of this headline means, welcome. A clip from a VTuber performance that took place on July 1 at the Cosplay Arts Festival in Thailand has gone viral on TikTok. The virality comes from two different factors: social media being confused over the audiences reaction to a VTuber revealing his virtual face during a performance; and a rumor circulating that people paid $300 to watch the concert in the first place. What is a VTuber? A VTuber is a virtual YouTuber who uses digital avatars typically drawn in anime style to hide their true identities. For really big VTubers, real-time motion capture software is used to make the digital avatar re-create the YouTubers actual movements. The VTuber trend started in Japan in the mid-2010s and then exploded internationally in recent years. Kizuna Al is credited as the first person to use the term virtual YouTuber in 2016, although Japanese vlogger Ami Yamato is sometimes credited as the first person to actually use a virtual avatar for her videos when she started her channel in 2011. Up until 2021, Al was the most subscribed-to VTuber on YouTube with more than 4 million subscribers across three channels and 1 million subscribers on the Chinese video platform Bilibili. In February 2022, she hosted a farewell concert and hasnt posted since. Other popular VTubers who are still active include Gawr Gura (4.3 million subscribers), Houshou Marine (2.45 million subscribers) and Kuzuha (1.54 million subscribers). What happened at the Cosplay Arts Festival in Thailand? The Thailand Cultural Arts Center hosted the Cosplay Arts Festival (CAF) from June 30 to July 2, and it featured multiple VTuber performances. VTuber Dacapo is the most popular member of a Thai Virtual Talent Agency called Algorhythm Project. He is the most subscribed-to talent out of the 26 VTubers in the Algorhythm Project with 236,000 followers and allegedly reached 100,000 YouTube subscribers within only the first 18 days of his channel launching. Dacapo had a pre-ecorded performance that was shown at a concert within the festival on July 1, and thats been the clip thats since circulated all over social media. The full three-minute performance that was shown to audiences at CAF has since been uploaded to YouTube. Dacapo sang a cover of Japanese artist Fujii Kazes song Shinunoga E-Wa, and what garnered a big audience reaction during the performance was when Dacapo, who had been swaying side to side throughout the song, suddenly flipped his hair and revealed his eyes. Why are people making fun of Dacapos performance? Social media users not entrenched in the VTuber world did not understand the audiences reactions. But theres a popular misconception circulating with the clip that attendees paid $300 to watch Dacapos performance. In reality, CAF charged 300 Thai bhat to enter the festival, which equates to a little less than $9, and the VTuber performance was free for festival guests. The amount of people on TikTok cooking this guy singing at a Thai concert event that cost 9 USD bc they cant understand different world currencies is crazy. Whats more, the concert was actually free, with the con itself being 9 bucks. Let people have fun. pic.twitter.com/II9OdTLQJC Tyler Not Taylor (@Tyler_462) July 9, 2023 On July 9, Dacapo responded to the criticism in a tweet that roughly translates to, Meeting a mean person doesnt make my eyes as clear as a kind person. Several other VTubers chimed in to encourage Dacapo to continue singing and performing. You have an amazing voice dude, never stop singing, Shoto, a VTuber with over 1 million subscribers, tweeted in response. Your voice is incredible, Ironmouse, an American VTuber and one of the biggest VTubers right now, agreed. I am so glad we live in a world where everyone around the world can hear it no matter where you live. In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News follow us here! The post Did people really pay $300 to see a VTuber reveal his face during a concert in Thailand? appeared first on In The Know. More from In The Know: Pokimane speaks out against the double standards female streamers deal with No, an influencer did not get arrested for 'poisoning' his partner to stop her from cheating Allegations mount against Colleen Ballinger, aka Miranda Sings, as former fans share their experiences 5 Terror Suspects Held In Bengaluru With firearms, Raw Materials Used In Explosives Twin Murders Shock Bengaluru As CEO, MD Hacked To Death by Ex-Employee Bengaluru oi-Prakash KL In a shocking incident, a CEO and the managing director of a tech company were murdered by a former employee. The managing director is identified as Phanindra Subramanya and Vinu Kumar was the CEO of the Aeronics Internet Company. The accused is identified as Felix who killed them using a sword. The cops have launched a manhunt to nab Felix. The accused barged into their office and attacked them with a sword around 4.30 on Tuesday. However, the motive behind the murders is not known yet. "The accused barged into their office and attacked them with a sword. Both died on the way to the hospital. The attacker, Felix, is on the run. Further investigation underway," Lakshmi Prasad, DCP North-East Bengaluru, told ANI. Bengaluru, Karnataka | The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vinu Kumar and MD Phanindra Subramanya of Aeronics Internet Company were killed by a former employee. The accused barged into their office and attacked them with a sword. Both died on the way to the hospital. The attacker, pic.twitter.com/qWiki9mi2c ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2023 Going by the reports in the Kannada media, the ex-employee had started his own company after leaving the Aeronic Internet company. It has been learned that two people died due to severe bleeding on the way to the nearby hospital. The incident has come as a shock to Bengalureans. Further investigation is on. 5 Terror Suspects Held In Bengaluru With firearms, Raw Materials Used In Explosives Bengaluru Police Crack Down On Errant Auto Drivers, 151 Cases Filed Bengaluru oi-Deepika S It is not uncommon for auto drivers in Bengaluru and surrounding regions to behave inappropriately with their passengers. Often passengers complain about auto drivers for arrogant behaviour, seeking excess fares, rash driving and not using their metres. Following complaints about the rash behaviour of auto-rickshaw drivers, the Bengaluru police launched a drive and a total of 151 cases were registered under the Indian Motor Vehicles (IMV) Act. The west division traffic police launched a crackdown on those stationed outside the KSR Bengaluru (city) railway station, Majestic bus terminal, and Satellite Bus Terminal on Mysuru Road. Did A Man Ask Muslims To Boycott Hindu Shops In Bengaluru? Here's The Truth Of the total 151 cases, 90 cases were registered against drivers who were not wearing their uniforms, 18 cases were registered for refusal to go on hire, and 43 cases were filed for other violations, including wrong-side driving and stopping in a manner that impedes traffic flow. If you also notice such unruly behaviour, you can also reach out to the police. "Please call the helpline number 080-22868550.228684444 to complain against the rickshaw drivers - who demand excess fare, misbehave or also refuse you the trip", the Bengaluru police tweeted. Duties and Responsibilities of autorickshaw drivers Under Rule 13 (U) and Rule 16 of the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Act read with Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, there are a number of rules that auto drivers need to follow. Here are some of the rules. The driver shall behave in a civil and orderly manner with passengers, intending passengers, consignors and consignees of goods The driver shall not demand or extract any fare or freight in excess of that which he is legally entitled to The driver shall not loiter or unduly delay upon any journey The driver shall not terminate any hiring after it has been engaged and before discharged by the hirer The driver shall not demand or extract any fare in excess of that which is legally due The driver shall not drive the vehicle or allow it to be engaged for hire, unless he is satisfied that the fare-meter is in good working order The driver shall not tamper with or allow any other person to tamper with the seal or the working mechanism of the fare-meter The driver shall not without reasonable cause refuse to let the cab for hire when the flag is in a vertical position For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 11:08 [IST] 27-Year-Old Doctor Loses Rs 1.40 Lakh While Ordering Samosas in Mumbai India oi-Madhuri Adnal A 27-year-old doctor of civic run KEM hospital in Mumbai was duped of Rs 1.40 lakh after he ordered 25 plates of samosas from a popular eatery in Sion, a police official said on Monday. The incident took place on Saturday between 8.30 am to 10.30 am, the official said. ''The victim and his colleagues had planned a picnic at Karjat and had ordered samosas for the journey. He placed the order after locating the eatery's number online. When he called on the number, the one who answered asked him to pay Rs 1,500 as advance,'' he said. Pakistan: Hindu doctor shot dead in Karachi ''The doctor then received a Whatsapp message, which had confirmation of the order and also bank account number to send money online. The doctor sent Rs 1,500. The man at the other end said the doctor had to create a transaction ID of the payment. While following instruction to create one, he first lost Rs 28,807 and subsequently Rs 1.40 lakh cumulatively,'' he added. On his complaint, a case has been registered at Bhoiwada police station under Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act provisions, the official informed. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 9:47 [IST] When are the Red Hot Chili Peppers on stage in London? Bassist Flea (L) and singer Anthony Kiedis perform in Las Vegas earlier this year (Ethan Miller / Getty Images) Californian rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers will hit the capital at the end of the month, as they get ready to end their global tour. The US favourites will perform at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London, on Friday, July 21, in their only gig in the UK, apart from a concert in Scotland, as part of their tour. They will perform in Glasgow the following day (Saturday, July 22) before leaving the UK and heading back to America, where they will play the last dates in various states, as well as later dates in Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Here is all we know about the superstar show heading our way: What time will the Red Hot Chili Peppers be on stage? Doors will open for fans to make their way into the stadium at 4.30pm, with the show expected to end around 10pm. They are expected to take to the stage around 8pm but this is yet to be confirmed. Whos supporting the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their 2023 UK dates? The band has had an array of different support acts around the world, including The Strokes and Iggy Pop. The support act has been listed on the bands official website as The Roots and King Princess. What is the Red Hot Chili Peppers set list? The group has not confirmed the official set list they will be playing on the day, but a guess can be made looking at previous legs of the tour. They are set to play 17 of their best hits, and it is expected that will include: Cant Stop Around the World Dani California Scar Tissue Aquatic Mouth Here Ever After Snow (Hey Ho) These Are the Ways Right on Time Tell Me Baby Soul to Squeeze The Heavy Wing Black Summer Californication Give It Away I Could Have Lied By The Way Are there still tickets left? Yes, according to Ticketmaster which is one of the official ticket sites for the tour. There are still general admission tickets standing for 106.80 each. Other tickets are also available for seats in the upper section which are limited, and also VIP and Gold Bundle tickets ranging between 219 and 546. There are also tickets available on Viagogo, as well as other sites. Amarnath Yatra Remains Suspended from Jammu for 4th Consecutive Day India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Amarnath Yatra was suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday due to a closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway owing to the extensive damage caused to its Ramban section, leaving 15,000 pilgrims stranded in Jammu and at other places. Authorities said incessant rains have caused unprecedented damage to the highway, especially the stretch falling in Ramban district, forcing its closure for traffic on Monday. Despite the suspension of the yatra, the pilgrims remain undeterred and optimistic about visiting the Amarnath cave shrine, even if it means waiting for days. ''The yatra has not yet resumed from Jammu. It is still suspended due to a closure of the highway. No fresh batch was allowed to move towards Kashmir from the Jammu base camp on Tuesday,'' a senior officer told PTI. Amarnath Yatra 2023: Here's A List of Food Items Allowed Traffic authorities issued an advisory on Monday night, saying the collective efforts of the administration and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) throughout the day resulted in a substantial improvement in the road condition. However, complete restoration is expected to take some more time. Accordingly, it has been decided by the administration to keep the traffic on the highway suspended for Tuesday, it added. As the yatra is suspended, around 8,000 pilgrims are stranded in Jammu, particularly at the Bhagwatinagar base camp, officials said. Similarly, around 6,000 pilgrims are stranded at the Chanderkot base camp in Ramban district. Nearly 2,000 pilgrims are stranded at the Kathua and Samba camps. More pilgrims continue to arrive in Jammu for their onward journey to Amanarth, the officials said. ''The number is going up. But most of them are being accommodated in various lodging centres,'' one of them said. Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and the deputy commissioners monitoring the situation said all possible steps are being taken to ensure that the stranded pilgrims do not face any problem. Kumar said the yatra will resume from Jammu once the highway is repaired fully. However, the annual pilgrimage, which was suspended from the Pahalgam and Baltal base camps in Kashmir due to heavy rain and inclement weather conditions, resumed on Sunday. Amarnath Yatra Temporarily Suspended Due To Bad Weather The 250-km Jammu-Srinagar highway is the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country. Portions of the highway were washed away in floods triggered by the heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday. Ramban district administration officials said efforts are on to restore traffic on the highway. Around 5,000 vehicles are stranded on the stretch from Ramban to Lakhanpur. The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine located at an altitude of 3,888 metres in the south Kashmir Himalayas began on July 1. Since June 30, a total of 43,833 pilgrims have departed for the cave shrine from the Jammu base camp in seven batches. The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 31. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 9:42 [IST] Assam CM Claims Over 100 Bengal People Sought Refuge Amid Panchayat Poll Violence India pti-PTI Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said over 100 people from West Bengal have taken shelter in the state, fearing for their lives because of the panchayat election violence back home. Stating that the people have been provided shelter in a relief camp, the chief minister assured them of any humanitarian aid during times of crisis. While West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari thanked Sarma for providing relief to the tormented opposition party karyakartas of WB, cabinet minister of the neighbouring state Shashi Panja hinted that the Assam CM was raising a false alarm and creating a sense of panic. Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal sought refuge in Dhubri district of Assam. We have provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance, Sarma wrote on Twitter. Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal sought refuge in Dhubri District of Assam. We have provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance. Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 11, 2023 Expressing gratitude to Sarma, Adhikari, who is the leader of opposition of West Bengal, wrote: I would like to thank the Hon'ble CM of Assam Shri @himantabiswa Ji for providing relief to the tormented Opposition Party Karyakartas of WB, especially those from BJP, who time & again are subjected to poll-related violence and being in close proximity to the state of Assam, they find it safe to cross over with their families for their safety. I would like to thank the Hon'ble CM of Assam; Shri @himantabiswa Ji, for providing relief to the tormented Opposition Party Karyakartas of WB, especially those from BJP, who time & again are subjected to poll related violence and being in close proximity to the State of Assam, https://t.co/aj5s3XFWVY Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) July 11, 2023 Sarma was also quick to respond to Adhikari on the micro-blogging site and assured of help in all times of need. We consider the people of West Bengal as our valued and respected neighbours. During the previous assembly election in West Bengal, we extended the same assistance. Please be assured that you can rely on us for any humanitarian aid during times of crisis, the Assam CM wrote. We consider the people of West Bengal as our valued and respected neighbors. During the previous assembly election in West Bengal, we extended the same assistance. Please be assured that you can rely on us for any humanitarian aid during times of crisis. https://t.co/UaSPaV0lza Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 11, 2023 Trinamool Congress spokesperson and West Bengal minister Shashi Panja hit out at Sarma, bringing in reference of the people left out of the final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC), which was updated for the northeastern state. @himantabiswa must be nauseated from the dizzying heights of self-righteousness & misplaced moral superiority! Before raising a false alarm and creating a sense of panic, he should consider the fate of the 1.9 million residents of Assam who were rendered stateless due to NRC, Panja wrote. West Bengal Panchayat Polls Results 2023: TMC Wins 8,232 Seats, BJP, Others Far Behind Violence had rocked West Bengal's rural polls on Saturday, leaving 15 people dead while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers torched, and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. Of those killed, 11 were affiliated with the TMC. The total death toll in the state since the poll process began on June 8, when the dates were announced, has crossed 30. A voter turnout of 80.71 per cent was recorded on Saturday, whereas a vote percentage of 69.85 was recorded till 5 pm in 696 booths across West Bengal, where repolling was held on Monday. Bengal: TMC Set To Dominate Rural Polls, Bags Over 30,000 Gram Panchayat Seats India pti-PTI TMC looked set to sweep the violence-scarred rural polls keeping intact the mandate it won two years back during the assembly polls by taking a seemingly unassailable lead in results declared till now by the State Election Commission. The ruling TMC has won in 30,391 gram panchayat seats, besides leading in 1,767 seats, according to the SEC as of 11.30 pm on Tuesday. Its nearest rival BJP has won 8,239 seats and is leading in 447 seats. In all elections are being held for 63,229 gram panchayat seats. The CPI(M) has won 2,534 and is leading in 237 seats. The Congress won 2,158 seats and is leading in 151. The ruling TMC won 2,612 Panchayat samiti seats while leading 627 seats. BJP has won 275 and is leading in 149 seats, while CPI(M) has won 63 seats and is leading in 53 others and Congress has won in 50 seats and is leading in 26 seats. Elections were held for 9,728 Panchayat Samiti seats. TMC has also won all 88 Zila Parishad results declared so far and is leading in 163 others while CPI(M) has is leading in 4 seats, while Congress is leading in 2 and the BJP in 13. In all, there are 928 Zila Parishad seats. Though the counting process was largely peaceful, there were stray incidents of bombs being thrown outside a counting centre and political workers of various parties clashing. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had suffered an injury during campaigning thanked people for reposing trust in her party. "It's TMC all the way in rural Bengal. I want to thank the people for their love, affection and support towards the TMC. This election has proved that only TMC resides in the heart of the people of the state," Banerjee said in a social media post. The elections were keenly contested as they were seen by all parties as an indicator of which way the wind will blow in the 2024 parliamentary elections from this part of the country. The violence which rocked the panchayat polls held on Saturday has claimed at least 15 lives with 11 of them from the ruling TMC. Since elections were announced last month, the number of people who died in poll-related incidents has been 33, with the ruling party suffering 60 per cent of the deaths. Allegations of vote tampering and violence by various parties forced the SEC to order re-polling in 696 seats on Monday, which passed more or less peacefully. Intervention by the Calcutta High Court had seen the deployment of central police forces on both election and counting days. Though Bengal has a long history of violent rural polls with 40 people killed in one single day of polling during the 2003 panchayat elections, this years violence which was covered extensively by the media focused national attention on it. Governor CV Ananda Bose who had rushed to Delhi to give a report on the violence told newspersons "Political parties should realise elections are not grounds to examine one's physical strength". Officials said the counting process was largely peaceful thought stray incidents were reported including allegations of bombs being thrown outside a counting centre at Bongaon, the beating up of a local ISF leader outside another counting centre and lathi charge by central policemen on duty at places where crowds had gathered in large numbers and breached the security of certain counting centres. Vote counting is on at 339 venues spread across 22 districts and is likely to carry over to Wednesday. The maximum number of counting centres is in South 24 Parganas at 28, while the minimum is in Kalimpong at four. Some northern districts are also facing inclement weather. "Counting began at 8 am and is likely to continue for the next two days. It will take time for the ballots to be counted and the results to be compiled," an SEC official said. In Darjeeling hills, out of the 598 seats in Darjeeling and 281 in Kalimpong, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) was leading in many areas and looks likely to be the new numero uno in the Bengal hill districts. All the counting venues are manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents. There are a total of 767 strong rooms across 22 districts. Large crowds of supporters of various candidates gathered at various centres to ensure that counting was conducted correctly. In various districts, TMC supporters celebrated their victory by dancing and smearing each other with green colour, the partys chosen colour. As initial trends started pouring in, a war of words broke out between the TMC and the BJP, with the latter accusing the ruling party of "making last desperate attempts to loot votes by blocking opposition agents from entering counting centres." "TMC goons are making desperate attempts to steal the elections by obstructing the counting agents and candidates of the BJP and other opposition political parties from entering counting centres. They are being restricted from going towards the venue, and bombs are being hurled to intimidate counting agents," leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, said. Refuting the allegations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "Sensing defeat, they are making baseless allegations." "Rejected by people and sensing humiliating defeat, this is BJP's last attempt to come up with lame excuses to make up for its own organisational failures," he said. "We salute the people that despite all these (hurdles), they have supported the Left Front candidates," CPI(M) state secretary Mohd Salim said. The CPI(M) leader alleged that the ruling party was misusing the police and administration to get back to power in the panchayats. ISF MLA Nawshad Siddique who is leading his newly formed party told PTI, "Whatever chance the people have got to exercise their franchise despite violence and intimidation, they have expressed their opinion against the ruling party." He added that the "myth that a certain community is a vote bank has been proven wrong". A total of 5.67 crore people living in the state's rural areas were eligible to decide the fate of 2.06 lakh candidates in 73,887 seats of the three-tier-panchayat system. Unlike earlier elections, the Opposition had fielded candidates in more than 90 per cent of seats, unlike in 2018 rural polls, when the ruling TMC had won 34 per cent of the seats uncontested. In the 2018 rural polls, the ruling TMC had emerged victorious in 90 per cent of the panchayat seats and all the 22 zilla parishads. The elections were marred by widespread violence, with the Opposition alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in several seats. PTI SCH PNT AMR ACD MNB JRC JRC Caught On Camera: 6 Dead As School Bus Collides With Car On Delhi-Meerut Expressway India oi-Deepika S In a tragic incident, at least six people were killed following an accident on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Ghaziabad on Tuesday. The incident took place when a school bus driving on the wrong side of the road rammed into an SUV on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway near Crossing Republik in Ghaziabad on Tuesday. An eight-year-old child, who was injured in the accident, was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. The driver of the bus was later arrested. A video of the accident was captured on a CCTV camera, which has now gone viral on social media. Accident on Delhi-Meerut expressway between a school bus and car. Several feared dead. pic.twitter.com/tCmPdUx7GI Anand Singh (@Anand_Journ) July 11, 2023 Recommended Video School bus collides with SUV on Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Ghaziabad; 6 casualties | Oneindia News Speaking to ANI, DCP Dehat Shubham Patel said, "The incident occurred at 6.04 am on Delhi-Meerut Expressway wherein a TUV which had eight people was hit by a school bus that was coming from the wrong direction. Six of the eight people died and two are critically injured - they are admitted to the hospital. The driver has been arrested, he is being questioned and stringent sections are being invoked in the FIR..." Accident Caught On Cam: Speeding BMW Car Rams Scooter In Hyderabad On Monday, another massive accident in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh killed at least nine people while seven others were injured as a gas tanker overturned on a tempo in the Lilapur area. As per media reports, the accident took place on the Lucknow-Varanasi highway, about 15 km away from the district headquarters. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 11:42 [IST] Memorial: House of Kalam wants sand and brick from every state Ayodhya to Colombo: Now, IRCTC to introduce Ramayana Express train from Nov 14 Student goes missing in sea off Rameswaram while trying to take selfie I Will Defeat PM Modi If He Contests In Ramanathapuram: TN MP Navas Kani India oi-Prakash KL Ramanathapuram MP Navas Kani has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no chance of winning a Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu. In an exclusive interview with Oneindia Tamil, Navas Kani, who is elected from Indian Union Muslim League, said Rameshwaram holds great religious significance for Hindus, second only to Kashi. Therefore, it could be a potential choice for Modi to contest from this place. However, Kani claims that the likelihood of that happening is less. "The situation here is different. Even if Prime Minister Narendra Modi contests here, I will win against him from the Indian Union Muslim League," Navas Kani said. He said Ramanathapuram, where there is a significant population of Thevar community voters, would deliver a stern message to the AIADMK for disrespecting O Pannerselvam and Sasikala, who are from the same community. Therefore, if PM Modi decides to contest from Ramanathapuram, it will be an acid test for him. His comments come a day after reports claimed that the PM is likely to contest from Tamil Nadu in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The decision was taken at the Regional Consultative Meeting' of BJP presidents from 11 States and national general secretaries on Sunday. PM Modi To Be Honoured With Lokmanya Tilak National Award, Sharad Pawar To Be Chief Guest By fielding PM Modi from Ramanathapuram, the BJP is aiming to establish its presence in the south. Unlike Varanasi, this constituency from Tamil Nadu has a significant Muslim population. As per the earlier reports, the BJP central leadership was also considering fielding PM Modi from Kanyakumari, the lone seat the BJP had won in 2014 from Tamil Nadu but lost in 2019. IMD Issues Red, Orange Alerts for Himachal Pradesh for next 24 hours India oi-Madhuri Adnal Himachal Pradesh has been battered by heavy rains over the past few days, triggering landslides, causing power disruption, blocking roads, and damaging bridges. The rains have claimed at least 20 lives and caused an estimated Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore in damage to infrastructure. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for very heavy rainfall in several districts of the hill-state for the next 24 hours. A red alert is the highest level of warning issued by the IMD. Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jairam Thakur said the state had "not seen such rain in its history" as over 12 major bridges have been damaged. "We never saw such a situation in the past several years. I am very concerned over the prevailing situation in the state. Several big and small rivers are in spate and if the situation persists over the next few days, there could be further damage," he said. Tourists were stranded in parts of the hill-state, with the loss of infrastructure estimated at between Rs 3,000 crore and Rs. 4,000 crore. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the state has not seen such heavy rains in the last 50 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, spoke to the Himachal CM on the prevailing situation, assuring full support from the Centre. The government has deployed teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to assist in rescue and relief operations. The rains are expected to continue for the next few days, and the authorities have warned people to be careful and to avoid unnecessary travel. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 10:47 [IST] India Would Not Have Been Partitioned If Netaji Was There: NSA Ajit Doval Islam Occupies Unique 'Position Of Pride' In India: NSA Ajit Doval India oi-PTI National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday said India has been a melting pot of cultures and religions that have co-existed in harmony for centuries, and Islam occupies a unique and significant "position of pride" amongst the religious groups in the country. Doval's remarks came during an event here at the India Islamic Cultural Centre where Muslim World League Secretary General Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who is on an India visit, also addressed the gathering. Doval hailed Al-Issa as an authentic global voice of moderate Islam and a profound scholar with a deep understanding of Islam. Hailing the "excellent" relations between India and Saudi Arabia, Doval said the ties were rooted in shared cultural heritage, common values and economic ties. "Our leaders share a common vision for the future and have been closely interacting with each other," the National Security Advisor said. 50 Hindus convert to Islam in Pakistan's Sindh province In his remarks, Doval said India as the world's largest democracy and the mother of democracies is a land of incredible diversity. "In your (Al-Issa) talk you elaborately mentioned diversity as a fundamental trait of our existence. It (India) has been a melting pot of cultures, religions, languages and ethnicities that have co-existed in harmony for centuries. As an inclusive democracy, India has successfully managed to provide space for all its citizens regardless of their religious, ethnic and cultural identities," he said. "Amongst its numerous religious groups, Islam occupies a unique and significant position of pride with India being home to the second largest Muslim population in the world," he said. To give an idea of the scale we are talking about, India's Muslim population is almost equal to the combined population of over 33 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Doval added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 17:27 [IST] Meet Preeti Aghalayam, The First Woman Director Of IIT India oi-Prakash KL In a first, a woman has been appointed as the director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Preeti Aghalayam will be the lead in charge of India's first offshore campus in Zanzibar in Tanzania. Who is Preeti Aghalayam? Preeti Aghalayam is an IIT Madras alumni. After completing her BTech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras in 1995, she did her PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2000. She has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at MIT, Cambridge and faculty at IIT Bombay. Aghalayam joined IIT Madras in 2010, where she is currently a Professor in the Chemical Engineering department. She was recently acknowledged as one of the 75 Women in STEM by the Principal Scientific Advisor's office. "Aghalayam is the first woman to be an IIT director. We will see many more encouraging things. We are following sustainable development goals and one of the important goals suggests that we need to bring in gender balance," PTI quoted IIT Madras director V Kamakoti as saying at a press conference. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has become the first IIT in the country to launch an international campus, which is coming up in Tanzania's Zanzibar. An MoU was recently signed between India and Tanzania, the final procedural step that paves the way for this campus. "I am an alumnus of IIT Madras and doing something of this magnitude for the institute and for the country is such a big honour. Every time we visited Zanzibar as part of the IIT Madras contingent, we noticed that the representation of women on their side is quite significant. So, it was important that we do this mindfully," Aghalayam said. The applications for the first academic session, which will begin in October, are already open for two full-time academic programmes. Orange Alert in Delhi: Yamuna Breaches Danger Mark; IMD Issues Warning for Today India oi-Madhuri Adnal The water level of the Yamuna River in Delhi breached the danger mark of 205.33 meters on Monday evening, triggering an Orange alert. The water level was recorded at 206.04 mm at 11 pm, according to the Flood Control Department. The rise in the water level has forced people living on the floodplain and along the banks of the Yamuna in the Mayur Vihar Extension area of Delhi to shift to safer places. Officials said the evacuation of people living on the Yamuna floodplains will begin once the water level reaches 206 meters. The water level in the Yamuna has been rising continuously as neighbouring Haryana released more water into the river from the Hathnikund barrage. The Yamuna was deemed to be flowing over the danger mark of 205.76 meters at 8 pm on Monday. Delhi | At 8 am today, water level of River Yamuna recorded at 206.32 metres at Old Railway Bridge, flowing above the danger level. The highest flood level of the river in Delhi is 207.49 metres. As a precautionary measure, Railway and traffic movement on Old Railway Bridge has pic.twitter.com/V9qjGHKLLj ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2023 Recommended Video Delhi rains: Yamuna River breaches danger mark | Heavy rainfall lashes North India | Oneindia News SC Notice To Centre On Plea Filed By Delhi Govt Over Ordinance On Control Of Services Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was alert to the situation and fully geared to deal with it. He said the process of taking people living on the banks of the Yamuna to relief camps will be started once the water level reaches 206 meters. Earlier on Monday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said there is no threat of flooding in Delhi due to the rising water level of the Yamuna. He urged the Opposition parties not to indulge in a blame game and said that the government is prepared to deal with any situation. The water level in the Yamuna is expected to reach 206.65 meters at 3 am on Tuesday. Officials said they are monitoring the situation closely and will take necessary action if the water level rises further. Man arrested after woman finds out he faked his religion and his real name is Haseen Saifi Gym owner Intezaar Khan traps woman with fake name, then rapes her in his flat Pakistani Woman, Who Illegally Entered India, Embraces Hinduism, Doesnt Want to Go Back India oi-Madhuri Adnal Seema Haider, who recently secured bail after being arrested for illegally entering India with her four children to be with her lover Sachin in Greater Noida, has said that she has wholeheartedly embraced Indian culture and does not want to return to Pakistan. This unique tale of a Pakistani woman and an Indian man who fell in love while playing the mobile game PUBG in 2019 has sparked curiosity and excitement among many people. In July 2023, Seema Haider illegally entered India through Nepal and the couple along with Haider's children, began living together in a rented apartment in Greater Noida. They were arrested on July 4. However, both were granted bail on Friday. In an interview with India Today, Seema Haider has said that she has embraced Hinduism and adopted a vegetarian lifestyle. She also wears a Radhe-Radhe strap around her neck, greets people with folded hands, and touches the feet of elders for blessings. Seema Haider said that she is now very happy with Sachin and that she does not want to return to Pakistan, where she believes she would be killed. She also said that her children have chosen to stay with her in India. In a Filmy Style, Bihar Man Unites His Wife With Her Lover Recommended Video Seema Haider: Pakistani woman marries Indian man after coming into India illegally | Oneindia News Seema Haider also revealed that her first husband, Ghulam, has been absent from her life since 2020. Ghulam was working in Saudi Arabia when the duo fell in love. Seema Haider's story has attracted a lot of attention in both Pakistan and India. Some people have criticised her for leaving her husband, while others have praised her for her courage and determination. However, Haider said that she is not concerned about what others think. She said that she is only focused on her new life with Sachin and her children. "I am very happy here," she said. "I have found my true love and I am finally living my life the way I want to." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 12:36 [IST] Passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA Thieves have stolen the lighting system for one of the runways at Nigeria's busiest airport just months after it was installed, an airport authority spokesman has confirmed to the BBC. An investigation has now been launched to "arrest the criminals [and] recover what's missing", Yakubu Funtua added. It is not clear when the system was taken from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. But local media reported that airport workers were involved in the theft. The ground lights were installed in November, ending years of after-dusk restrictions on landing on that wing of the airport. Domestic carriers were forced to divert to the international section and taxi about 4km (2.5 miles) back to the right terminal, which caused flight disruptions. Mr Funtua told the BBC that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will "block all loopholes to prevent [a] future occurrence". The criminals took advantage of the fact that the runway had been closed for months for maintenance to take the lighting system, an unnamed source told Nigeria's Punch newspaper. The source blamed a "syndicate" of workers at the airport along with "accomplices from outside" for a series of thefts. If Govt Does Not Act, We Will: Supreme Court Warns After 2 Manipur Women Paraded Naked By Mob SC to Hear Pleas Against Abrogation of Article 370 from August 2 India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Supreme Court's five-judge Constitution bench on Tuesday said that the hearing of the batch of pleas challenging the abrogation from of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir will start from August 2. The apex court said that the hearing of pleas will be on day-to-day basis except Monday and Friday. The Court also appointed two advocates as nodal counsels for the preparation of common convenience compilations of documents. The apex court said that the written submissions shall also be filed on or before July 27 and no further additions to the convenience compilation shall be permissible. The petitions were filed in 2019 after the Centre abrogated Article 370, which had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The petitioners argue that the abrogation was unconstitutional and that it violated the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre has defended the abrogation, saying that it was necessary to bring peace and stability to the region. The Centre has also said that the abrogation has led to economic development and improved security in Jammu and Kashmir. The hearing on the petitions is expected to be closely watched. The Supreme Court is likely to ask tough questions to both the petitioners and the Centre. The Court's decision will have a significant impact on the future of Jammu and Kashmir. Implementing UCC Not Easy Like Revoking Article 370: Ghulam Nabi Azad In a related development, the Centre on Monday submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court defending the abrogation of Article 370. The Centre said that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an unprecedented era of peace, progress and prosperity since the abrogation. The Centre said that the number of stone pelting incidents has come down to zero, and the casualty of security personnel has declined by 65.9%. The Centre also said that the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have witnessed profound ameliorative, affirmative and progressive changes in the last four years. However, the Centre's affidavit was termed illogical and without constitutional backing by former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah. ''The Centre's defence lacks logic ... (is) illegal & unconstitutional abrogation of Article 370,'' PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet. ''Brute majority was used to subvert the Indian constitution that extended guarantees to the people of J&K & GOI also violated earlier rulings of Hon'ble SC which held that only J&K's constituent assembly could recommend the removal of Article 370 to the President of India,'' she said. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also took to Twitter saying the arguments put forth by the government were political and had little in the way of legality. ''These are definitely political arguments the BJP/Union Govt can make to sell their decision to the voter but they are not legal arguments. ''The entire case in the SC is about the illegality & unconstitutionality of what was done on 5th Aug 2019, not whether the Govt has a strong enough political case,'' Abdullah said. What Happened With Daughters Can Never Be Forgiven: PM Modi On Manipur Parade Incident If PM Modi Is Angry About Manipur, He Must Dismiss The CM: Mallikarjun Kharge Sharad Pawar, nephew Ajit to Share Stage at Lokmanya Tilak National Award Event India oi-Madhuri Adnal Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to receive the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune on August 1, as announced by the Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust. The event will witness a significant development as Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar will be present together, marking their first public appearance since the party split. The esteemed award, consisting of a memento and citation, acknowledges the Prime Minister's exceptional leadership and his endeavors to instill a strong sense of patriotism among the citizens, stated the Trust. "In recognition of PM Modi's tireless efforts and accomplishments, which have not only fostered patriotism but also projected India on the global stage, the trustees of the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust have unanimously chosen him for this award," expressed the Trust. I Have Come Here to Apologise, I Trusted Wrong People: Sharad Pawar The ceremony will commemorate the 103rd death anniversary of the freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak. The official release from the Trust revealed that Sharad Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party chief, will grace the event as the chief guest in Pune. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar are expected to deliver speeches during the ceremony. Other distinguished guests anticipated to attend the award ceremony include Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, as well as Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde. This occasion marks the first time that Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar will be seen together at an event since the split in the NCP, which had a significant impact on Maharashtra politics. On July 2, Ajit Pawar, along with eight other NCP MLAs, joined the Maharashtra government, surprising his uncle Sharad Pawar. In response to the split, Pawar later reminded Prime Minister Modi of his recent comments regarding alleged "corruption" within the NCP leadership and urged him to take appropriate action against those found guilty. Ajit Pawar Claims Himself As NCP Chief After Flaunting MLAs At Meet "It appears that the Prime Minister has cleared the NCP and all those against whom he made allegations. Today, I am pleased that he has included some NCP colleagues in his cabinet. It shows that the corruption allegations were baseless. I am grateful to the PM for this," said Sharad Pawar. During a conversation with Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) booth workers in Bhopal on June 27, PM Modi referred to various allegations of scams worth approximately Rs 70,000 crore involving the NCP. These accusations included the Maharashtra Cooperative Bank scam, an irrigation scam, and an illegal mining scam. How BJP and Congress have spent on the elections in Karnataka Plea seeking right for NRIs to vote from respective countries rejected by HC Tamil Nadu: EC Approves Edappadi K Palaniswami As AIADMK General Secretary India oi-Prakash KL The Election Commission of India (ECI) has approved Edappadi K Palaniswami, popularly known as EPS, as the General Secretary of AIADMK. Going by the updated list of the AIADMK office-bearers, Palaniswami is the General Secretary of the AIADMK. It is based on the submissions made by EPS. The development comes after the March verdict of the Madras High Court, in which it dismissed all interim applications filed by expelled AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam (OPS) and three of his supporters, and declined to intervene in their expulsion from the party. Not just the AIADMK, the ECI has updated list of office-bearers of many other political parties. Following Jayalalithaa's demise in 2016, the warring OPS and EPS factions came together to oust VK Sasikala -confidante of Jayalalithaa- and her relatives and amended party bye-laws designating Jayalalithaa as the eternal general secretary. BJP's Ally AIADMK Says It Will Oppose UCC It came up with a new dual leadership structure giving equal powers to EPS and OPS and made them joint-coordinator and coordinator respectively. The dual leadership was scrapped last year and Panneerselvam and his supporters were expelled leading to legal battles in the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court and the matter also reached the Election Commission. OPS and his team had lost in several such battles. While the Madras High Court rejected pleas of Panneerselvam and his aides against their expulsion from AIADMK, 68-year-old Palaniswami for the first time became the general secretary after the post's revival last year. Before his elevation, EPS was the interim general secretary. Party founder-leader M G Ramachandran (MGR), J Jayalalithaa, Navalar VR Nedunchezhiyan, P U Shanmugam and S Raghavanandam were the only other leaders who had held that top post in the AIADMK, which was founded in 1972. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 17:09 [IST] All National Highways in India to have helipads for emergency evacuations Nepal: 5 Foreign Nationals On Board Killed In Crash Near Mount Everest International oi-Deepika S The wreckage of a private commercial helicopter that went missing near the Mount Everest area in Nepal earlier today, has been found, officials said. Officials said five bodies have also been recovered from the site. "The helicopter has been found at the border of Likhu PK village council and Dudhkunda Municipality-2 commonly called Lamajura Danda. The villagers have retrieved the five bodies," Koshi Province Police DIG Rajeshnath Bastola told ANI. "Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV (AS 50) which departed from Surke (Solukhumbu) to Kathmandu at 10:05 local time is out of contact. Total persons on board: 6 (5 passengers + 1 captain)." tweeted Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV (AS 50) which departed from Surke (Solukhumbu) to Kathmandu at 10:05 local time is out of contact. Total persons on board: 6 (5 passengers + 1 captain). Altitude Air helicopter departed from Kathmandu for search and rescue. Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (@hello_CAANepal) July 11, 2023 As per the police, the helicopter seems to have hit a tree on the hilltop."Identities of the retrieved bodies are yet to be ascertained," Bastola added. Recommended Video Nepal Chopper Missing: Helicopter with 6 on board crashes, wreckage found | Oneindia News The passengers aboard the helicopter are reported to be five Mexican nationals, whose identities have yet to be disclosed and pilot senior captain Chet B Gurung, PTI reported citing Himalayan Times newspaper. The official said the locals have informed him that the helicopter crashed with a loud explosion and they saw fire at the crash site. "The locals discovered the crashed helicopter at Chihandanda," rural municipality deputy chair Nwang Lhakpa was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post newspaper. The last location of the chopper was tracked at 10:12 am in the Lamjura Pass area, said Raju Neupane, operation and safety manager of Manang Air. Reportedly, two helicopters sent earlier to locate the crash site had to return due to bad weather, the senior airport official said, adding that the exact reason behind the crash is not known yet. Five Mexican nationals and pilot Chet B Gurung were aboard the helicopter. According to MyRepublica news portal citing sources, the bodies of five of the six people on board the helicopter were found at the crash site. Founded in 1997, Manang Air is a helicopter airline based in Kathmandu. It has been operating helicopters in commercial air transportation within the Nepalese territory under the Regulation of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. The company provides chartered services and is focused on personalised services such as adventure flights helicopter excursions or expedition work. Ukrainian Energy Minister Halushchenko Frightens Of Russia's No Red Lines; Here's Why International pti-PTI The catastrophic collapse of a dam in southern Ukraine has made Kyiv worried that Russia might stage an attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to foment panic and quell Ukrainian advances on the frontline, Ukraine's energy minister, Herman Halushchenko said Monday. Herman Halushchenko said the destruction of the dam while under Russian control in the Kherson region proved there are no red lines for Moscow. He said it warrants the level of alarm Ukraine's leadership has been raising in recent weeks of an alleged Russian ploy to attack the nuclear plant in a possible false flag operation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged last week, citing intelligence reports, that Russian troops placed objects resembling explosives atop several power units to simulate an attack. Drone and satellite images obtained by the Associated Press showed unidentified white objects on the roof of the plant's fourth power unit, but Ukrainian leaders have so far been unable to provide further evidence. While Russia accuses Ukraine of bombarding the Kakhovka dam, Kyiv blames Moscow for the attack on the dam in late May, which triggered a humanitarian crisis and caused widespread ecological devastation. An AP investigation found that Moscow had the means and motive to carry out the attack. Halushchenko said he and Zelenskyy had raised alarms as early as October 2022 that the Russians could plant mines to blow up the Kakhovka dam. For many many people it sounded ridiculous and when it happened everybody understood that there are no red lines for them, he said in a sit-down interview with The Associated Press. And of course it's all connected to the counter-offensive operation, and after Kakhovka, the one tool which they still have is Zaporizhzhia. The nuclear plant was seized by Russia in March 2022, in the first weeks of the war in Ukraine, raising fears of a nuclear accident. Wagner Chief Prigozhin In Russia: President of Belarus Over the past year, Russia and Ukraine repeatedly accused each other of shelling the plant. Ukraine's military intelligence has claimed for weeks, without providing evidence, that Russia is planning a large-scale provocation at the nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, in the southeast of the country. Around the same time, Ukraine launched the early phase of its much anticipated counter-offensive last month and has reported steady advances along multiple directions of the 1,500 kilometer (930-mile) frontline. An incident at the plant could halt Ukraine's advance, Zelenskyy has said. Ukrainian military intelligence reports have said that Russia placed mines on the roof of the nuclear plant, and put remote-controlled and regular anti-personnel mines in technical and machine rooms. Image experts the AP spoke to could not identify the objects that have been seen on the roof. Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at the Middlebury Institute and satellite image expert, said the objects appeared to be placed on the roof of the unit's turbine hall, and, if it turns out to be a bomb, is unlikely to cause serious damage to the reactor. Ukraine War: What Are Controversial Cluster Bombs And How Munitions Work? The Russians have cited security concerns in granting only limited access to officials from the International Atomic Atomic Energy Agency. The agency's Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said recently that the IAEA had recently gained access to more of the site, including the cooling pond and fuel storage areas. The Ukrainians had said those areas were mined by the Russians, but the IAEA found they were not, Grossi said. The agency has not yet been given access to inspect the roof of the plant. Haluschenko noted that the IAEA representatives were not able to access the entire site. So the Russians allowed them to see only what they decided they could see, and that is the problem," he said. (AP) AMS AMS BBC News 28 Jun 2023 There are calls for the salary to be made public after undisclosed payments to Ryan Tubridy emerged. Rumble 18 Jul 2023 U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said that Ukraine's future lies with NATO. This damage control from the.. Membership for Ukraine and Sweden is set to be high on the agenda as the military alliance meets in Lithuania, and the issue of Wagner troops in nearby Belarus is also likely to feature. Follow DW for the latest. In his latest BBC Sport column, Britain's Jamie Murray discusses life on the circuit with a young family and ponders what lies in store when his playing days are over. Eurasia Review 12 Jul 2023 By Nontarat Phaicharoen and Kunnawut Boonreak For nearly a decade, Thailands Prayuth Chan-o-cha used every weapon in.. United States President Joe Biden met with King Charles III on Monday where they talked about various issues, focusing on climate change and China. Canada has committed more than $8 billion to Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion, including over $1.5 billion in military aid. From a $400,000 anti-missile system to warm clothes, here's a look at what's been delivered or promised. Oneindia 11 Jul 2023 As US President Joe Biden arrived in the UK on Sunday. He spent the night at the US embassy in London. After that, he met with King.. France will start supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine, which will allow Kyiv's forces to defend themselves, President Emmanuel Macron has announced. The U.S. dropped over 2 million tons of ordnance on Laos, including cluster bombs, in the 1960s and '70s. To this day, many people are killed, crippled and disfigured by them, writes Lewis M. Simons. eCOGRA Earns Prestigious ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Certification for Information Security Published July 9, 2023 by OCR Editor Leading online gambling testing agency eCOGRA has been awarded the esteemed ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification. This internationally recognized standard demonstrates eCOGRA's commitment to information security and positions the company as a trusted partner within the online gambling industry. eCOGRA, a renowned testing agency specializing in online gambling, has achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, an internationally recognized information security management standard. This prestigious certification underscores eCOGRA's commitment to ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information within the online gambling industry. ISO/IEC 27001 is designed to assist organizations in identifying and managing information security risks. By obtaining this certification, eCOGRA demonstrates its dedication to maintaining a robust security framework and meeting the strict requirements for safeguarding data across all relevant business operations. eCOGRA's ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification is particularly notable as it is the first testing agency in the online gambling sector to receive ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 accreditation. This accreditation is a prerequisite for conducting third-party ISO/IEC 27001 audits and accredited Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) certifications. The importance of ISO/IEC 27001 certification is evident as online gambling regulators increasingly mandate license holders and service providers to obtain this accreditation. In several jurisdictions, including the Czech Republic, Colombia, Denmark, Great Britain, Greece, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, license holders with ISO/IEC 27001 certification can benefit from waived security auditing requirements. This streamlines the regulatory testing and certification process, leading to cost savings, reduced effort, and faster time-to-market for eCOGRA's partners. Certification offers numerous benefits to organizations operating in the online gambling industry. It signifies trust and credibility to players and stakeholders, assuring them that sensitive information is appropriately secured and managed according to internationally recognized standardsadditionally, certification results in cost savings and reputation protection by reducing security incidents. Furthermore, ISO/IEC 27001 certification helps organizations enhance their ability to recover from disasters and maintain uninterrupted business operations. It facilitates the implementation of a consistent and proactive approach to identifying and managing information security risks. The certification also serves as a business differentiator, providing a competitive advantage over similar organizations in the industry. With eCOGRA's ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, the agency strengthens its position as a trusted partner within the online gambling sector. The certification validates eCOGRA's dedication to information security and expedites its partners' regulatory processes, allowing for smoother operations and continued growth in the dynamic online gambling market. Spelinspektionen Warns Zimpler of SEK25m Fine for Promoting Illegal Gambling in Sweden Published July 11, 2023 by OCR Editor Swedish regulator Spelinspektionen has warned payment provider Zimpler about its involvement with unlicensed operators. Failure to comply by 31 July could result in a hefty fine of SEK25m. Swedish regulatory authority Spelinspektionen has notified payment provider Zimpler, instructing the company to cease providing payment services involving BankID to unlicensed operators by 31 July. Failure to comply with the order will result in a severe penalty of SEK25.0m. Spelinspektionen emphasized that Swedish gambling regulations require all market participants to hold a valid license, with unlicensed entities being excluded. The objective is to channel all gambling activities towards responsible, reliable, and controlled operators. Since 1 January, it is prohibited to promote participation in games provided without the necessary license. The regulatory decision was based on Spelinspektionen's injunction ruling, which focused on Zimpler's use of BankID in transactions with unlicensed operators. BankID is an e-identification service used exclusively by customers in Sweden. According to Spelinspektionen, Zimpler's use of BankID in these transactions confirmed that the operators were illegally targeting Swedish players. The regulators did not disclose the operators' identities involved but initiated the investigation following an anonymous tip. In response, Zimpler stated that it does not believe its actions violate Swedish law. However, the company committed to terminating its relationships with unlicensed websites that cater to Swedish customers. Zimpler has initiated this process and aims to conclude the withdrawal of services by the end of the third quarter. While Zimpler claimed it was unaware that the operators needed the necessary licenses, it highlighted that its payment services are not specifically designed for gaming companies but are provided to customers across all segments. The company emphasized its commitment to regulatory compliance. It stated that it has the right to terminate any business relationship if it discovers that a customer is targeting Sweden without a valid license. Spelinspektionen contended that there was a clear collaboration between Zimpler and unlicensed operators targeting the Swedish market. As these companies utilized Zimpler's payment services in Sweden, the regulator argued that Zimpler promoted unlicensed gambling activity. This ruling comes on the heels of Sweden's Online Gaming Industry Association (BOS) report, which revealed that only 77% of the country's online gaming market is channeled to licensed operators. The BOS deemed this percentage critically low and called for action to increase channelization. Sweden currently aims to achieve a channelization goal of 90%. The Swedish government recently granted Spelinspektionen additional powers to combat illegal gambling, primarily focused on payment providers. These changes enable a more efficient system for blocking payments and facilitate collaborative efforts between regulators and payment providers to combat unlicensed gambling. Spelinspektionen has been proactive in implementing measures to strengthen the oversight of the gambling industry. As part of its ongoing efforts, the regulator has introduced fees for owners of supplier licenses and proposed increased penalty fees for operators breaching the Money Laundering Act. This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. I give myself credit for being significantly ahead of my time. I first came across artificial intelligence (AI) in 1968 when I was just 24 years old and, from the beginning, I sensed its deep dangers. Imagine that. Much as I'd like to brag about it, though, I was anything but alone. I was, in fact, undoubtedly one of millions of people who saw the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick from a script written with Arthur C. Clarke (inspired by a short story, "The Sentinel," that famed science-fiction writer Clarke had produced in "" yes! "" 1948). AI then had an actual name, HAL 9,000 (but call "him" Hal). And no, the first imagined AI in my world did not act well, which should have been (but didn't prove to be) a lesson for us all. Embedded in a spaceship heading for Jupiter, he killed four of the five astronauts on it and did his best to do in the last of them before being shut down. It should, of course, have been a warning to us all about a world we would indeed enter in this century. Unfortunately, as with so many things that are worrying on planet Earth, it seems that we couldn't help ourselves. HAL was destined to become a reality "" or rather endlessly multiplying realities "" in this world of ours. In that context, TomDispatch regular Michael Klare, who has been warning for years about a "human" future in which "robot generals" could end up running armed forces globally, considers wars to come, what it might mean for AI to replace human intelligence in major militaries globally, and just where that might lead us. I'm not sure that either Stanley Kubrick or Arthur C. Clarke would be surprised. Tom AI Versus AI And Human Extinction as Collateral Damage By Michael Klare A world in which machines governed by artificial intelligence (AI) systematically replace human beings in most business, industrial, and professional functions is horrifying to imagine. After all, as prominent computer scientists have been warning us, AI-governed systems are prone to critical errors and inexplicable "hallucinations," resulting in potentially catastrophic outcomes. But there's an even more dangerous scenario imaginable from the proliferation of super-intelligent machines: the possibility that those nonhuman entities could end up fighting one another, obliterating all human life in the process. The notion that super-intelligent computers might run amok and slaughter humans has, of course, long been a staple of popular culture. In the prophetic 1983 film "WarGames," a supercomputer known as WOPR (for War Operation Plan Response and, not surprisingly, pronounced "whopper") nearly provokes a catastrophic nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union before being disabled by a teenage hacker (played by Matthew Broderick). The "Terminator" movie franchise, beginning with the original 1984 film, similarly envisioned a self-aware supercomputer called "Skynet" that, like WOPR, was designed to control U.S. nuclear weapons but chooses instead to wipe out humanity, viewing us as a threat to its existence. Though once confined to the realm of science fiction, the concept of supercomputers killing humans has now become a distinct possibility in the very real world of the near future. In addition to developing a wide variety of "autonomous," or robotic combat devices, the major military powers are also rushing to create automated battlefield decision-making systems, or what might be called "robot generals." In wars in the not-too-distant future, such AI-powered systems could be deployed to deliver combat orders to American soldiers, dictating where, when, and how they kill enemy troops or take fire from their opponents. In some scenarios, robot decision-makers could even end up exercising control over America's atomic weapons, potentially allowing them to ignite a nuclear war resulting in humanity's demise. Now, take a breath for a moment. The installation of an AI-powered command-and-control (C2) system like this may seem a distant possibility. Nevertheless, the U.S. Department of Defense is working hard to develop the required hardware and software in a systematic, increasingly rapid fashion. In its budget submission for 2023, for example, the Air Force requested $231 million to develop the Advanced Battlefield Management System (ABMS), a complex network of sensors and AI-enabled computers designed to collect and interpret data on enemy operations and provide pilots and ground forces with a menu of optimal attack options. As the technology advances, the system will be capable of sending "fire" instructions directly to "shooters," largely bypassing human control. "A machine-to-machine data exchange tool that provides options for deterrence, or for on-ramp [a military show-of-force] or early engagement," was how Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics, described the ABMS system in a 2020 interview. Suggesting that "we do need to change the name" as the system evolves, Roper added, "I think Skynet is out, as much as I would love doing that as a sci-fi thing. I just don't think we can go there." And while he can't go there, that's just where the rest of us may, indeed, be going. Mind you, that's only the start. In fact, the Air Force's ABMS is intended to constitute the nucleus of a larger constellation of sensors and computers that will connect all U.S. combat forces, the Joint All-Domain Command-and-Control System (JADC2, pronounced "Jad-C-two"). "JADC2 intends to enable commanders to make better decisions by collecting data from numerous sensors, processing the data using artificial intelligence algorithms to identify targets, then recommending the optimal weapon" to engage the target," the Congressional Research Service reported in 2022. AI and the Nuclear Trigger Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). A 15-year-old girl died of a fentanyl overdose a year ago in California. A new California law makes drug dealers selling to "customers" who die from their overdose, a felony with far more serious penalties. These penalties now include the possibility of second-degree murder charges. This week in California, what is believed to be the first-ever conviction of a drug dealer under this new law has become a reality. Friday the Placer County California District Attorney's office confirmed that a 21-year-old man has been convicted of second-degree murder for this crime. "This conviction could be a watershed moment in the war on fentanyl," said former Santa Clara County District Attorney Steven Clark. He referred to the selling of fentanyl as a national health crisis, and the hope is that this new law, and this conviction, may lead to a more serious control of this crisis in other states nationwide. This conviction might also signal some more far-reaching consequences in other areas. For example, gun manufacturers, sellers, and promoters, such as the National Rifle Association, are probably not going to like this new development very much. For many years they have been fighting against any such "responsibilities" surrounding the sale of guns. And if fentanyl deaths are a national crisis (and yes, they are), what are our soaring firearms deaths? "if not, the trajectory of America's history (two steps forward, one back) becomes, two steps back and maybe one, wounded morally by an ever-increasingly politicized Supreme Court and GOP House of Non-Representatives determined to toss America backwards into the quicksand of fearing cultural diversity, racial equality and every gender's freedom of choice. Mansion hunting Supremely Conservative Jurists, and soul-losing GOP State Legislatures, in search of their, Whoopi coyote mother-load dream, are now overcast in the shadow of self-serving interpretations, dimming any declaration of independence into the murky muck and mire of the vapid self-righteous hypocrites spouting hordes of misinterpretations of both First and Second Amendments. So, we with past memory, present discernment and future vision, although stunned, must exclaim aloud with every vote: America, you're in danger girl! Sadly, trumped or not, most Americans, know less truth about America's history, Bill of Rights and 14th Amendment than, nationalized citizens, Bible-sworn to an allegiance to our Constitution. Yet, if we investigate more than corporate owned media, we will experience a reality check that frees us from following the prompts of the unseen, power over the bought, borrowed and bewildered willing to be bamboozled. Thus, the supreme triple hitter against American LGBTQ, Affirmative Action, and forgiven Student Loans - an inevitable tentacle of Rove's Citizens United, for if corporations are people, can dessert hypotheticals be far behind? Yet, It's Not Fair, is wasted energy and self-defeating. Even if unable to let go during any memorable parading out of our selective whitewashed memories of past, Rockets' Red Glare celebrations - with each dawn's early light, our best choice is to rise anew to, we hold these truths to be self-evident that all have never been equal - and will never be equal until we dispel every Big Lie we've been told, and magnified in our retelling - is silenced with our apocalyptic ballots' voting, cease and desist, to all hypocrites and violent Reactionaries insulting our collective emancipation from those who, despite, and to spite all historical evolution: insult any woman's right to choose, any straight, Lesbian, Gay, Trans or Queer's right to be, any current student's freedom from debt now available (although not so before a 21st century presidential hope to correct multiple centuries of neglect and disparaging disparity that Sieg Heils our American Flag, while desecrating all for which it stands - even if imperfectly and inconsistently. "In the 1960s, the average cost of tuition and fees at any 4-year college increased at an annual rate of 6.1%. Undergraduates attending U-Penn in the 2021-22 academic year will pay $61,170, a 373.9% increase over 1959 equivalent costs (that is, $12,907)." How impervious, self-absorbed, even, one might say: vengeful to resent college students receiving help now, that was unavailable in our recent past. If a presidential helping hand were allowed to lift some of the weight off the shoulders of 21st century students - who will be challenged to overcome the calamitous condition of earth's air, water, and environment, will we, the high and mighty emulating those deeming themselves supremely superior, deny America's future leaders. Apart from slavery, McCarthyism and the blatant bigotry of Trump's wall, there's little more anti-American idealist Exceptionalism, than wishing that those who follow us, be worse off than we. I can't imagine my grandmamma whose formal education ended with the 7th grade so she could help on the family farm, resenting or even complaining because I was able to attend The Peabody Conservatory of Music, Towson State University and earn an MFA from the Catholic University of America. So, until, we the privileged are secure enough in ourselves, our lives and accomplishments to, on the way up the ladder of success, reach back and give a hand up to the person behind us whose climb has historically been a greater challenge than ours - all of us are in danger of succumbing to the burning and banning of, knowledge is power. Perhaps if we focus more on what we need to do and must be, rather than, what we didn't get, those who follow will have a chance to breathe free on a planet desperately trying to survive our overindulgences. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Rennes, France, July 11, 2023 - BeWelcome.org reaches 250,000 members worldwide. The Community is celebrating its global impact as the largest free hospitality network. BeWelcome.org is providing a platform for travellers to stay with locals, to enable enriching encounters and start long lasting friendships. BeWelcome.org, the world's leading non-profit platform connecting people through the power of cultural exchange and hospitality, is delighted to announce a remarkable achievement - reaching 250,000 members Dear Annie: I love your column and read it faithfully in my newspaper in Connecticut. A few months ago, I lost one of my twin daughters who was profoundly handicapped and disabled. This has been the most painful and difficult challenge of my life. She fought for 45 years, lived at home with me and required 24-hour care. My daughter fought every day of her life and was truly a warrior and my hero. Her medical complications were so complex that it was a miracle that she had such endurance to fight for such a long time. I was going through a birthday book and found an article that someone had sent to me 45 years ago. Her twin sister is also a warrior and had been her sisters hero because she was by her twins side every step of the way for those difficult 45 years. We were blessed that she passed at home in her own bed in our arms. When I read the poem Heavens Very Special Child, I felt like it was written about my daughter -- it was all true. Of course, the tears flowed, but that was to be expected. This angel was sent to our family, and even though we knew in advance what the future would bring, we never expected it to be this complex and to be blessed with such a fighter. To be blessed with such a beautiful and exceptional girl who would forever change our entire focus on life was truly a gift. Being a retired special education teacher, I know many families who ask why, and maybe this poem will answer those why questions and give them some closure and offer them peace. If you would please publish it again, I would be grateful. Much love, and thank you for making my day with your column! -- A Grieving but Grateful Mom Dear Grieving and Grateful: I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your letter. And here is that beautiful poem: Heavens Very Special Child by Edna Massimilla A meeting was held quite far from Earth: Its time again for another birth. Said the Angels to the Lord Above, This special child will need much love. Her progress may seem very slow, Accomplishments she may not show And shell require extra care From folks she meets way down there. She may not run or laugh or play Her thoughts may seem quite far away: In many ways she isnt adapt And shell be known as handicapped. So lets be careful where shes sent We want her life to be content. Please, Lord, find the parents who Will do a special job for you. They will not realize right away The leading role theyre asked to play But with this child sent from above Comes a stronger faith and richer love. And soon theyll know the privilege given In caring for the Gift from Heaven. Their precious charge, so meek and mild Is Heavens Very Special Child. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM Wayne and Sherrie De Vore have lost track of how many hearings theyve endured over the years in the case of their daughters killer. They used to take time to prepare their remarks for court. This week, though, Wayne De Vore said his post-traumatic stress disorder and depression made it too difficult, so he instead brought notes from an earlier hearing, detailing the complete devastation Dayton Leroy Rogers wrought on his family. Police identified the person shot to death in Portlands Portsmouth neighborhood last week as 19-year-old Keanu Lorton. A medical examiner ruled his death a homicide by gunshot, police said Monday. Lorton graduated from Roosevelt High School with honors in 2021, according to Portland Public Schools spokesperson Sydney Kelley and a commencement document from Roosevelt. Officers responded to reports of gunshots in the 8400 block of North Exeter Avenue at 2:38 a.m. July 5. They found Lorton dead when they arrived. Bobby Puffin, who lives on the block where the shooting occurred, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he heard five or six gunshots just before 3 a.m. He said he knew immediately it wasnt Fourth of July fireworks. No arrests have been made in the shooting. Police have released no other details about Lortons death, and ask anyone who might have information about the shooting to contact Detective Tony Harris at Tony.Harris@police.portlandoregon.gov or Detective Shaye Samora at Shaye.Samora@police.portlandoregon.gov. Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe. The proliferation of Portland culinary talent on TV continues Tuesday, with the premiere episode of Chopped: All-American Showdown, on the Food Network. The new tournament features chefs from four U.S. regions, the North, South, East and West. The competitors will try to cook their way toward a $50,000 prize. (No cable or antenna? You can stream Chopped: All-American Showdown and other Food Network shows with a free trial of Philo, or stream it on demand shortly after it airs. You can also watch it on Fubo, which offers a free trial.) If the chefs-from-around-the-country angle sounds familiar, that may be because this season of Foxs MasterChef is subtitled United Tastes of America, and also features teams of home cooks chosen from different areas of the country, in that case the West, Northeast, Midwest and the South. The current MasterChef season includes a Portlander, James Barfield. Food Network viewers may also have seen Portlands Jasmyne Romero-Clark impressing the judges on Beachside Brawl, where Romero-Clark is a member of a West Coast team mentored by Oregons own Brian Malarkey. The Oregon connections keep coming with the Tuesday, July 11 premiere of Chopped: All-American Showdown, which focuses on chefs from the West. Gregory Gourdet, the Portland-based celebrity chef who is a veteran of Top Chef and whose Kann recently won the James Beard Award as the countrys best new restaurant, is a guest judge. The chefs competing in the initial Chopped: All-American Showdown battle between talent from the West include Sara Hauman, chef and owner of Oregons Tiny Fish Company. Viewers of the Top Chef season that filmed in and around Portland will remember Hauman for her solid showing in that competition. What else can we expect from tonights Chopped: All-American Showdown? Heres the official episode synopsis: Renowned chefs from across America have been invited to compete in a five-part tournament extravaganza. In this preliminary battle, four culinary greats from the West face off, starting with an appetizer basket that includes a prized fish and a popular pepper. In the entree round, the chefs must get creative with a San Francisco specialty. Then, when a dough in the dessert basket inspires the chefs to take very similar approaches with their final dishes, will the judges be able to taste the differences between the two plates? Ted Allen hosts, and, in addition to Gourdet, the rotating panel of judges includes Eric Adjepong, Scott Conant, Cassidee Dabney, Amanda Freitag, Alex Guarnaschelli and Geoffrey Zakarian. Chopped: All-American Showdown premieres at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, on the Food Network. Kristi Turnquist 503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe The Multnomah County Health Department was slated to provide smoking supplies to fentanyl and meth users starting this month in an effort to dissuade them from using needles to inject the drugs, which can lead to more potent, fatal doses and the spread of diseases. The effort was planned to start this month, as first reported by Willamette Week, but Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Monday she is pausing distribution until further conversation and analysis can be had. Former nurse Tony Daniel Klein repeatedly used his position of power to sexually abuse 11 prisoners who sought medical care or worked in a medical unit at the states only womens prison, a federal prosecutor alleged Monday. He counted on them not reporting him, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin W. Bruce said during his opening statement in a criminal trial expected to last up to three weeks in U.S. District Court in Portland. But defense lawyer Matthew G. McHenry argued that the prisoners were part of an interconnected group of women who knew one another in and outside of custody and schemed to make up false accusations to set up Klein to get free money. McHenry noted six-figure settlements several have received from the state after filing civil lawsuits over the alleged abuse. McHenry further argued that the federal government has continued to provide benefits, such as clearing an arrest warrant or helping find a lawyer, for some of Kleins accusers and has contributed to the cycle of allegations. Tony Klein is innocent of these accusations, McHenry said in his opening statement to the 12-member jury. The value of these accusations is zero, and zero added to zero added to zero is still zero. Klein is charged with 19 counts of subjecting women in custody to cruel and unusual punishment through sexual abuse and assaults, plus four counts of perjury. The perjury counts allege he lied when he denied, during a civil deposition in November 2019, that he had kissed, had sexual contact or had sex with any incarcerated woman while employed at Coffee Creek Correctional Institution in Wilsonville. Federal prosecutors say Klein sexually abused inmates who either sought medical care or worked as orderlies in the medical unit from 2016 to 2017. The alleged abuse ranged from over-the-clothes touching to groping during exams and forced sexual assault. He often groomed the women by casually complimenting them about their makeup or body, sharing details about his own life or marital problems and bringing them small gifts, considered contraband in prison, such as coffee or hair clips, according to Bruce. Some women feared reporting what had occurred, concerned doing so could lead to discipline and the loss of their sought-after jobs as orderlies responsible for cleaning the medical unit or could push back their prison release dates. They tried to avoid him. They asked him to stop. They froze in fear or they submitted because they felt they had no other choice, Bruce said. Prosecutors will call prison staff to testify about the Prison Rape Elimination Act, passed by Congress and signed into law in 2003. It called for national standards to prevent sexual assaults in prison. Klein was trained that sexual conduct with prisoners was absolutely prohibited and instructed about the importance of maintaining clear boundaries with people in custody, Bruce said. The defendant ignored his training with the women in his care, Bruce said. Klein manufactured reasons to get them alone in secluded areas, including medical rooms, janitors closets or behind privacy curtains, according to Bruce. There, hed force his hands under his victims clothes, force them to touch his genitals and sexually assault them, the prosecutor said. Nurses will be called to testify about Kleins exceedingly casual demeanor around inmates and how he used to call certain inmates to the medical unit on weekends, when it was far less busy, Bruce said. One nurse will testify that she came into an exam room and found Klein doing up his pants, buckling his belt with a top button of his pants undone, all with an inmate right in the exam room, the prosecutor said. Klein, wearing a dark blue suit, white dress shirt and striped tie, sat beside his two lawyers and occasionally took notes during the opening statements. He worked as a nurse at Coffee Creek from 2010 until January 2018, when he resigned. His defense lawyer urged the jury to note that Kleins record was clean until December 2017, when a prisoner filed the first accusation of sexual misconduct against him. From then until June 7, 2018, prisoners filed 18 complaints against him, according to McHenry. Some of the women also asked the FBI to clear their warrants and help them find an attorney or get their child out of state custody, McHenry said. Some have prior convictions for falsifying drugs tests and tampering with drug records and one admitted lying to a state Corrections Department disciplinary board, McHenry said. According to the Oregon Board of Nursing, the Department of Corrections reported him to the nursing board in September 2018 for alleged boundary violations with patients and alleged sexual misconduct involving inmates. State police and the corrections Office of Inspector General conducted an earlier investigation and submitted it to the Washington County District Attorneys Office, which declined to prosecute due to insufficient evidence, according to the nursing board. On June 10, 2020, the board issued a reprimand to Klein for conduct derogatory to the standards of nursing and issued a $2,500 civil fine. His nursing license expired on Oct. 15, 2022, according to Barbara Holtry, the boards interim executive director. Klein was indicted on the federal charges in March 2022, following an investigation by the FBI, with help from state police and the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office. The criminal section of the U.S. Department of Justices civil rights division is helping to prosecute the case. Klein remains out of custody. Separately, the state paid about $1.8 million to settle 11 civil lawsuits stemming from Kleins alleged sexual abuse while working as a nurse for the Corrections Department, according to Michelle Burrows, the lawyer who filed the suits. -- Maxine Bernstein Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe The Supreme Court in America today is a joke. It has shown conclusively theres no such thing as legal precedent. If you dont like the laws as currently written, you just have to get new justices appointed who have different personal values than their predecessors. This is exactly what conservatives have been able to achieve with all their persistence. How ridiculous is it that what was the law of the land for decades can simply be changed by putting in place a few justices with a different personal opinion on those matters? If the pendulum can swing so far one way and then the other as to what the law actually is, why should we, as citizens, have any faith that the current opinion is the right one? And now we even have Supreme Court justices, who should be above reproach if anyone is, that cant act in an ethical manner. Jim Griffiths, Troutdale Thanks to the sun, geomagnetism and physics, the fabled northern lights will likely be visible dancing in the night sky over parts of the Northwest on Thursday night into Friday morning. Will you be able to see the aurora borealis in Oregon? The Washington Post cast some clouds over the probability. The chances this week [of seeing the northern lights] are slim at latitudes such as Maryland, Bill Murtagh, the program coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Space Weather Prediction Center, told the Post. In northern-tier states, you might see a glow on the horizon. If visible, the phenomenon wont be directly overhead. Itll be low and off to the north. Thus, for the best viewing, find the highest spot you can facing north, or at least somewhere with an unobstructed view of the northern horizon, away from city lights. Media reports said the northern lights were expected to be visible this Wednesday and Thursday, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, with the best viewing time between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. However, the Washington Post reported that research associate professor Don Hampton, a space physicist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, released a statement Monday appearing to distance the university from any such predictions. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has not yet released its aurora forecast for Thursday. Wednesdays shows viewing is possible that night in parts of Montana and Idahol. The scientific term for northern lights is the aurora borealis a phenomenon named for the Roman goddess of dawn. The red and green lights appear in the northern sky when space weather, including solar winds or flares, scatter charged particles across the Earths tear-shaped geomagnetic field. That field is centered over the geomagnetic North Pole, a spot which changes over time. Right now, the field is centered a little south west of the northern tip of Greenland. That location favors North America in viewing the aurora. With normal solar winds hitting the Earths magnetic field, the aurora doesnt usually extend very far south. That makes northern lights sightings usually confined to Alaska or northern Canada. But the suns wind and flare activity intensifies and then wanes on a regular, 11-year cycle. Its been on a major upswing since 2019 and is on its way to peaking again in 2024. The more intense solar winds and flares now emanating from the sun can cause genuine magnetic storms over Earth. One such recent storm caused northern lights to become visible as far south as Arizona. If the aurora is very faint, a tripod-mounted camera shooting at a slow shutter speed will help you make it out. (c)2023 the Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Officials say burning debris near a residence southeast of Coloma initially caused the roughly 830-acre wildfire that led to the evacuation of 100 homes Monday. Three homes and 17 secondary structures were destroyed, as were several vehicles and equipment. The blaze, named the pallet fire, started near the Cumberland Road and Sixth Drive intersection at about 1 p.m. Monday and was reported to be 99% contained later that evening, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Officials say it likely will take several days before the fire, which continues to burn behind the containment line, is fully extinguished. On Tuesday, DNR Incident Commander Bruce Henderson said the fire was caused by a holdover fire, which occurs when a fire is not properly extinguished and the remaining embers lay dormant for as long as a day or two before reigniting. The fire that caused this forest fire was not ignited yesterday, Henderson said. The issue there is that it was not put out. Ongoing drought conditions paired with a hot, dry and windy Monday helped the fire spread at a rapid rate, burning a mix of pine and hardwoods. Henderson noted that residents who cause wildfires are liable for firefighting costs. They could also be charged with a crime. I do expect that they will he held responsible for suppression costs per our normal procedures, Henderson said. Eight firefighters were treated for injuries sustained while battling the fire and later released. Officials said a preliminary damage estimate was not available Tuesday. It will be a significant cost, that much I can tell you, DNR spokesperson Amy Penn said. The fire occurred in what the state considers an extensive forest fire protection area, which includes fire regulations from January through May. There are no burn permits or fire restrictions currently in place for the area, officials noted. Residents can find information on Wisconsins current fire risk, wildfire reports and burning restrictions on the state DNR website. When we burn its very important to make sure that the fire is extinguished and completely out, Penn said. 6 charts that track wildfires, air quality in Wisconsin, and precipitation Drought conditions, by county For colleges and libraries seeking a boldfaced name for a guest lecturer, few come bigger than Sonia Sotomayor, the Supreme Court justice who rose from poverty in the Bronx to the nations highest court. She has benefited, too from schools purchases of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of the books she has written over the years. Multnomah County Library was among the institutions that Sotomayors staff prodded to buy extra copies. Her staff often urged public institutions that hosted the justice to buy her memoir or childrens books, works that have earned her at least $3.7 million since she joined the court in 2009. Details of those events, largely out of public view, were obtained by The Associated Press through more than 100 public records requests to public institutions. The resulting tens of thousands of pages of documents offer a rare look at Sotomayor and her fellow justices beyond their official duties. In her case, the documents reveal repeated examples of taxpayer-funded court staff performing tasks for the justices book ventures, which workers in other branches of government are barred from doing. But when it comes to promoting her literary career, Sotomayor is free to do what other government officials cannot because the Supreme Court does not have a formal code of conduct, leaving the nine justices to largely write and enforce their own rules. This is one of the most basic tenets of ethics laws that protects taxpayer dollars from misuse, said Kedric Payne, a former deputy chief counsel at the Office of Congressional Ethics and current general counsel for the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan government watchdog group in Washington. The problem at the Supreme Court is theres no one there to say whether this is wrong. Supreme Court staffers have been deeply involved in organizing speaking engagements intended to sell books. That is conduct prohibited for members of Congress and the executive branch, who are barred under ethics rules from using government resources, including staff, for personal financial gain. Lower federal court judges are also instructed to not lend the prestige of the judicial office to advance their private interests. In a statement, the Supreme Court said it works with the justices and their staff to ensure they are complying with judicial ethics guidance for such visits. When (Sotomayor) is invited to participate in a book program, Chambers staff recommends the number of books (for an organization to order) based on the size of the audience so as not to disappoint attendees who may anticipate books being available at an event, the court said. The documents obtained by AP show that the justices conduct spans their conservative-liberal split. Besides book sales, appearances by the justices were used in hopes of raising money at schools, which often invited major contributors to the events. Justices also lent the allure of their high office to partisan activity. In 2019, as Sotomayor traveled the country to promote her new childrens book, Just Ask!, library and community college officials in Portland jumped at the chance to host an event. They put in long hours and accommodated the shifting requests of Sotomayors court staff. Then, as the public cost of hosting the event soared almost tenfold, a Sotomayor aide emailed with a different, urgent concern: She said the organizers did not buy enough copies of the justices book, which attendees had to purchase or have on hand in order to meet Sotomayor after her talk. For an event with 1,000 people and they have to have a copy of Just Ask to get into the line, 250 books is definitely not enough, the aide, Anh Le, who went to college in Portland, wrote staffers at the Multnomah County Library. Families purchase multiples and people will be upset if they are unable to get in line because the book required is sold out. It was not an isolated push. As Sotomayor prepared for commencement weekend at the University of California, Davis law school, her staff pitched officials there on buying copies of signed books in connection with the event. Before a visit to the University of Wisconsin, the staff suggested a book signing. At Clemson University in South Carolina, school officials offered to buy 60 signed copies before a 2017 appearance; Sotomayors staff noted that most schools order around 400. Michigan State University asked Sotomayor to come to campus and in 2018 spent more than $100,000 on copies of her memoir, My Beloved World, to distribute to incoming first-year students. The books were shipped to the Supreme Court, where copies were taken to her chambers by court workers and signed by her before being sent to the school. Sotomayor, whose annual salary this year is $285,400, is not alone in earning money by writing books. Such income is exempt from the courts $30,000 restriction on outside yearly pay. But none of the justices has as forcefully leveraged publicly sponsored travel to boost book sales as has Sotomayor, according to emails and other records reviewed by the AP. Such promotional efforts risk damaging the Supreme Courts public standing further by placing an individual justice above the institution itself, said J. Michael Luttig, a former federal appeals court judge who has pushed for the justices to adopt a formal code of conduct. I have never believed that Supreme Court justices should write books to supplement their judicial incomes, said Luttig, who was considered for the Supreme Court by President George W. Bush. The potential for promotion of the individual justices over the Court at the reputational expense of the Court as an institution, as well as the appearance of such, is unavoidable. Sotomayors publisher, Penguin Random House, also has played a role in organizing her talks, in some cases pressing public institutions to commit to buying a specific number of copies or requesting that attendees purchase books to obtain tickets, emails show. The publisher has had several matters before the court in which Sotomayor did not recuse herself. Justice Sotomayor would have recused in cases in which Penguin Random House was a party, in light of her close and ongoing relationship with the publisher, the Supreme Court said in a statement. An inadvertent omission failed to bring Penguins participation in several cases to her attention; those cases ultimately were not selected for review by the Court. Chambers conflict check procedures have since been changed. A person close to Sotomayor, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the justices book dealings, said that Sotomayor has not and will not profit from sales of her memoir beyond the $3.1 million advance that she received and that doing so would require purchases of hundreds of thousands of additional books, more than double the purchases to date. Sotomayor, however, continues to earn royalties at least $400,000 since 2019 from sales of her childrens literature, including Just Ask!, her second best-selling book, which was the promotional focus of the 2019 event in Portland, emails and records show. That summer, after an aide to Sotomayor first contacted Portland Community College to gauge its interest in hosting a book talk, PCC officials called it an exciting possibility. Officials committed to spending $1,000 to host the event. Co-host Multnomah County Library pledged an additional $1,500. Costs associated with the event spiked to more than $20,000 by the time it was held in September 2019. Emails show Supreme Court staff, including Le, a longtime legal assistant to the justice and graduate of the community college, closely controlled the run-of-show, requesting the largest venue possible, while managing minor details such as the placement of stairs or approving the TV camera angles that would be used. As the talk neared, Le shifted her focus to books, which were offered for sale online to those who obtained tickets to the free event. Can you please show me the screen where people can purchase books? Le wrote library staffers as they prepared to make the tickets available. Are you just placing Just Ask on the portal or all of the justices books. An email from Anh Le, a legal assistant to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, references the need for more "Just Ask!" books to be purchased for signing ahead of Sotomayor's visit to Multnomah County Library. For an event with 1,000 people and they have to have a copy of Just Ask to get into the line, 250 books is definitely not enough, Le, wrote staffers at the library. Families purchase multiples and people will be upset if they are unable to get in line because the book required is sold out. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)AP When the free tickets were quickly snapped up, she asked library officials to publicize that those who could not get tickets could still meet the justice if they purchased a book. Please also let them know that they can attend the signing line to meet the Justice even if they are not able to attend the event, Le wrote in an Aug. 26, 2019, email. A day later, she followed with another email, concerned that not enough of the people who got tickets had also purchased a book. Records indicate that the roughly 550 free tickets made available to the public (the rest were reserved for VIP guests) resulted in the advance purchase of only 28 books. Is there a reminder going out that people need to purchase a book at the event or bring a book to get into the signing line? Le wrote. Most of the registrants did not purchase books. Still, when she found out event organizers had only purchased 250 copies of Sotomayors book, she sent an email telling library officials that the quantity was definitely not enough. A library staffer emailed back, Maybe you should communicate with (Sotomayors publisher) and the book sellers about your concerns? A library spokesman, who was also included on the emails, declined to comment. In its statement, the Supreme Court said judicial ethics guidance suggests that a judge may sign copies of his or her work, which may also be available for sale so long as there is no requirement or suggestion that attendees are required to purchase books in order to attend. Justice Sotomayors judicial assistant has worked with the justices publisher to ensure compliance with these standards, and at no time have attendees been required to buy a book in order to attend an event, the court statement read. Asking whether attendees were reminded that they must either buy or bring a book in order to enter a signing line at an event would in no way conflict with the standard outlined above. Some institutions that bought Sotomayors books initiated the purchases on their own, raising the prospect of high-volume orders with the court as they extended the invitation to host her. In 2018, Michigan State spent $110,000 for 11,000 copies of My Beloved World, to distribute to incoming first-year students after selecting it for an annual reading program with the East Lansing Public Library. Her biography is really just kind of, for lack of a better term, a rags-to-riches story. I mean, she came from very humble beginnings and became a Supreme Court justice, library director Kristin Shelley told the AP, explaining the book selection. The books were shipped to the Supreme Court, scores of cartons at a time, to be signed by Sotomayor. Hello Supreme Court team: Good news! a Penguin Random House worker emailed court staff. The order that Anh and I have been waiting for from Michigan State University is in! They are going to be ordering a total of 11,004 HC (hard cover) copies. But dont panic. We will not be delivering 11,004 copies to the Supreme Court at one time. When university officials mistakenly thought they might be missing 20 boxes of books they had ordered, Le expressed surprise, writing, I literally prepped the boxes and had my aides count the books before signing. I even have a spreadsheet noting how many books were signed each day. Other colleges have made similar purchases. The University at Albany in New York bought about 3,700 copies before a 2017 appearance. Stony Brook University in New York ordered roughly 3,900 copies in 2018 for use in a first-year reading program. When the subject arose of how many Sotomayor books Clemson should purchase before a 2017 visit, school officials worried 60 might be too many to sign. Sotomayors legal assistant reassured them it would not be a problem because most institutions order in the ranges of 400 and up. Other justices have benefited from similar arrangements. But how much they have made from individual schools or events is difficult to assess because the justices only report lump-sum earnings at years end. Justice Clarence Thomas has collected about $1 million since 2006. Stephen Breyer, who retired in 2022, reported roughly $700,000 in royalty income in the past two decades. Justice Neil Gorsuch has disclosed more than $900,000 since his 2017 confirmation. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who was confirmed in 2020, received a reported $2 million advance for a forthcoming book. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson signed a book deal, but the amount of her advance was not public. In Sotomayors case, her staff routinely brought up books in emails as trip details were discussed. Depending on quantity and if they get hardcover or paperback, she will sign them, Le told a professor at the UC Davis law school, which arranged to host her for commencement weekend in 2018. She is signing over 11,000 for one school right now, Le added with a smiling emoji, apparently referencing Michigan States purchase. The law school ultimately ordered 410 signed copies of My Beloved World, after Le broached the idea of ordering copies. But one law school official took issue after a colleague relayed what he said was a question from Sotomayors staff about setting up a book table during graduation festivities. Im not sure this is a good idea, have we ever allowed other speakers to sell or offer their books (that we have purchased for guests)? Kelley Weiss, the law schools head of marketing and communications, wrote to the dean. I think having a table of her books could be out of place, she added. Weiss declined to comment to the AP. Then planning took a turn. Weeks before the ceremony, Sotomayor fractured her shoulder and canceled her appearance. The school in turn canceled its $6,500 book order and sought a refund. Still, Sotomayors office inquired to make sure. Is it for sure that UC Davis would like to move forward with canceling? Le emailed. I have the books on hold in storage and have not done anything with them. In about a month, the cancellation was processed. -- The Associated Press Leadership is a quality the Boy Scouts of America prizes and encourages among its scouts. Through programs and the natural mentorship angle involved in advancing through the organization's ranks, scouts learn to become leaders. For those who wish to be even better leaders, however, there are advanced options. Schuyler's Troop 311 has had several scouts attend National Youth Leadership Training and its more advanced counterpart of the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE). Sydney Messerlie and Nathanael and Lydia McKinney went to the most recent event and only returned over Independence Day. "NYLT is basically the lecture part where you get trained and NAYLE is experience where you put that into action," Lydia McKinney said. Sydney Messerlie said Ryan Newill, course director for NYLT, encouraged those on staff for the NYLT to sign up for NAYLE, which is how she got involved. Newill is also from Nebraska. The NAYLE experience, according to Nathanael McKinney, one of the attendees, focuses on the things participants were taught in NYLT in a real-life setting. "It's mostly activities, some lectures. Mainly it's experiencing what we learned in our NYLT training," Nathanael said. Messerlie said that even the lectures are less of a lecture and more of instructions. The event is run entirely by NYLT and NAYLE participants with no parents or scout leadership. "When it is more of a lecture it's more of a 'here's what you're doing and how to do it' then they give a challenge to go with that lecture," Messerlie said. An example activity, Lydia said, was a hiking and camping trip, organized by the group's leaders. "One of the main things that was kind of one of the big focuses of the week was called Outpost. It's a five-mile hike up a mountain and then you make camp on top," Lydia said. "Basically the whole hike was its own little experience where you have to put together skills of teamwork to get through the hike without other members falling behind. Messerlie said being part of NYLT and later staff for NYLT was cool because there was no help from parents. It was just the teenagers working together toward a common goal and learn as a group. When she was offered an opportunity to join NAYLE, she said, she was hesitant at first but went for it anyway. "When I got to NAYLE I was like 'Whoa, this is 10 times what we teach at NYLT' and it inspired a lot of us to bring back what we learned from NAYLE to improve on the NYLT course next year," Messerlie said. The three scouts from Schuyler accounted for over half of those in their larger group, the Mid-America Council, in attendance. Messerlie said being able to go is a big deal and allows scouts to have experiences they and the general public otherwise wouldn't have. "I think it's a big honor, especially coming from small-town Nebraska and seeing so many trees, hiking, it's just a whole new experience a lot of people don't see every day, especially people outside of scouting," Messerlie said. Lydia said that these unique experiences provide a kind of training that is unique to the NAYLE, NYLT and scouting experience, being able to do these things without their scout leadership's help available. Those concepts are part of the scouting experience. "We just try to put in a lot of effort to get our scouts to have these experiences and go out there," Lydia said. "That's what scouting is about, learning these kind of things and growing up in it." Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Government of National Unity, Najla al-Mangouch, discussed with the Maltese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ian Burg, measures taken by the governments of the two countries to develop their historic bilateral relations in various fields Log on if you are already subscribed or Subscribe... Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdelhamid al-Dbaiba, Tuesday discussed with the Maltese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ian Burg, the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries in all areas Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab militias summarily executed at least 28 ethnic Massalit and killed and injured dozens of civilians on 28 May, 2023, in West Darfur state, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday Poland is one of 11 Nato countries that will participate in a coalition established on Tuesday to train Ukrainian pilots and mechanics in the use and maintenance of the US-made F-16 fighter jet. At the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the defence ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom expressed their belief that continued support for Ukraine was "of paramount importance in the light of Russia's brutal and unprovoked aggression." All training will take place outside of Ukraine, and a training centre for Ukrainian pilots will be established in Romania and it should be operational in August, said acting Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen as quoted by Reuters. The countries involved in the coalition will provide facilities, instructors and other personnel needed to start training Ukrainian pilots, technicians and support staff. The aim is to provide the Ukrainian Air Force with basic capabilities to use, operate and maintain the F-16 fighter jet. (PAP) jch/jd For children with disabilities of any kind, it can be difficult to find places to have fun and be themselves safely and comfortably. Almost a year ago, a group of parents of children with special needs banded together to create a sort of support and community learning group called Corazones Azules to address that very issue. Luis Lucar, community coordinator for the Heartland Workers Center, said the group aims to provide a space for these kids to play and be themselves with their week of activities just for kids with special needs, such as autism. "What they learn through these difficult times raising kids with special needs, they can share that experience with other parents," Lucar said. The Heartland Workers Center, Lucar said, helps communities establish groups like Corazones Azules by giving them the information, resources and support they need to collaborate and achieve whatever goal the group may have. "We help those groups in our community to understand they can make those changes, they may feel they're not able to but e help them realize they have the power to do so," Lucar said. To start the week, June 26 saw activities at the Schuyler Municipal Pool for the Corazones Azules kids only, courtesy of Schuyler Home and Building Supply. June 27, the Schuyler Police Department had a series of activities in South Park for children across the community. June 28, Cargill Meat Solutions sponsored a viewing of "Happy Feet" at the Colfax Theater. June 29, the kids were able to have clean messy fun at the Schuyler Public Library with what Library Director Jenny White described as soap goop, using Ivory soap, a microwave and some water. "I wanted to do something with the senses. I knew you could do a science experiment where the air bubbles in the Ivory soap expanded," White said. The one ingredient exploring several different states of matter, White said, is interesting to her so she thought it would be for the kids too. "You have so many different textures with it, I didn't add anything to it, it goes from a hard state to a fluffy state to a flaky state and when you add water to it, it goes to a gloopy state," White said. Maricruz Alarcon, whose child participated in the library event, said these kinds of activities and groups are important for children in a social capacity. "The kids are more comfortable, they're around other kids, their good friends. It's free, nobody is watching them or judging them," Alarcon said, translated from Spanish. "Each one of them is different, they feel more comfortable interacting with each other than with other kids." Finally, on June 30, the week concluded with some good old-fashioned exercise at the Schuyler Middle School Fieldhouse, courtesy of Schuyler Community Schools and Communities for Kids. On June 20, Mayor Art Lindberg signed a proclamation commemorating the week of activities for the group. Photo: (Photo : Thanh Tran on Unsplash) In a shocking and tragic incident that unfolded on Monday, a vicious attack at a kindergarten in Guangdong province, China, resulted in the loss of six lives and left one person injured. According to CBS News, the city government's spokeswoman confirmed the heartbreaking news, revealing that among the victims were one teacher, two parents, and three students. The spokeswoman refrained from providing further details regarding the identities and ages of the victims, as well as the weapon used in the attack. However, media reports indicated that the assailant resorted to stabbing, according to information shared by the Reuters news service. Stabbing Rampage: Deadly Assault Claims Lives at Kindergarten in Southern China Authorities wasted no time in responding to the horrifying event, swiftly apprehending the suspect, a 25-year-old male named Wu, as revealed in a statement by local police. At present, an active police investigation is underway to shed light on the motive and gather more information surrounding the incident. The heart-wrenching tragedy occurred at approximately 7:40 a.m. local time in the city of Lianjiang, as reported by China News Network, a state-backed media outlet. Disturbing videos purportedly capturing the crime scene were briefly circulated on popular video-sharing platforms Douyin and Weibo before being swiftly removed. China has grappled with a series of mass stabbings in recent years, despite stringent controls on firearms. According to Al Jazeera, the rise in violent crimes has been linked to the country's rapid economic growth and the resulting disparity in income distribution. The alarming trend of fatal attacks targeting students and schools has been witnessed across the nation, prompting authorities to bolster security measures and emphasize the need for comprehensive research into the underlying causes of such violent acts. Tragically, this incident follows a string of similar attacks. In August of the previous year, a knife attack at a kindergarten in Jiangxi province claimed the lives of three individuals while leaving six others injured. Similarly, in April 2021, a knife-wielding assailant entered a kindergarten in southern China, resulting in the deaths of two children and injuries to 16 others. Read Also: Triple Stabbing in Florida: Wounded Girl Walks a Mile to Find Help for Her Baby Sister Security Measures Reinforced Following Devastating Attack at Chinese Kindergarten Another distressing incident unfolded in June of the preceding year, when a knife-wielding attacker targeted a primary school in southern China, injuring 37 students and two adults. In November 2019, a man climbed over a kindergarten wall in Yunnan province and sprayed a corrosive liquid, inflicting wounds on 51 individuals, predominantly students. These harrowing events underscore the urgent need to comprehensively address the root causes of such violent acts and highlight the importance of enhancing security measures to safeguard educational institutions. Authorities must continue their relentless efforts to investigate these incidents, implement effective preventive measures, and create a safe and nurturing environment for education in the country, ensuring the protection and well-being of all individuals within school premises. The devastating attack serves as a somber reminder of the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to prevent such acts of violence. It is our collective responsibility to create a society where children can learn and thrive without fear and where schools serve as sanctuaries of knowledge and safety. The memories of the innocent lives lost in this tragic incident will forever remain in the hearts of the affected families and the nation as a whole, spurring a call for lasting change and a resolute commitment to prevent future tragedies. Related Article: Mother of Murder Victim Says Parents Should Be Held Accountable for Child's Knife Crime Photo: (Photo : Magnet.me on Unsplash) Amidst a volatile job market, mass layoffs, and hiring freezes, the burnout phenomenon is not limited to employed individuals. According to BBC, unemployed workers actively searching for jobs are also feeling the emotional strain. The relentless cycle of submitting applications, networking, crafting CVs and cover letters, interviewing, and following up, only to face rejection or silence from employers, takes a toll on their well-being. Frustration and Rejection: The Cycle of Unemployment and Job Seeking LinkedIn's Workforce Confidence Index conducted a survey of over 30,000 US professionals, measuring their confidence in job prospects on a scale ranging from +100 (most confident) to -100 (least confident). For job seekers, the overall response in January 2023 was +36, but it dropped to +27 by May. Irina Gonzalez, 37, knows firsthand the challenges of the job search. She found herself out of work in January after being part of a wave of layoffs at a digital media company where she served as an editor. Although she secured a new role immediately, it didn't work out, leaving her unemployed once again. Unemployment brought not only financial instability for Gonzalez but also bitter feelings and distress. Despite needing to restart her job search, she found herself too burned out to dive back in. "I got to a place where I was saving dozens of job postings on LinkedIn every day and just could not fathom applying. I kept trying to get out of bed and do something, but nothing was working. Nothing was making me get up. It was awful." When she mustered the strength to continue, Gonzalez would force herself to write tailored cover letters. Spending an hour on letters for jobs she "liked" and up to three hours for jobs she "loved," she put in extensive effort. However, even with the belief that she was an excellent fit for many positions, she often faced employer ghosting despite landing interviews, sending follow-up emails, and completing skills tests. John Dooney, HR knowledge advisor at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), indicates that in 2023, the average time to find a job will be five months, though it will vary depending on demand for specific skill sets. Some industries may require an even longer process due to lower demand. Basant Shenouda, 26, from Dublin, experienced an emotionally draining three-year job search. As an international student in Germany, she began searching during her final year of university. Despite facing a year of rejections from major tech companies in 2018, Shenouda took on an internship post-graduation to gain experience. Although she secured a job offer just before the pandemic in 2020, it was postponed for eight months, with the risk of being revoked due to layoffs. Read Also: Nearly 90 Percent of Parents Think It's More Difficult To Raise Kids Than Ever Before Personal Stories: Surviving the Job Search Burnout Shenouda's job search eventually led to a "dream job" in 2021, but the journey was filled with significant effort and adversity. Visa sponsorship rejections, lack of experience rejections, and the pandemic made the process incredibly frustrating and stressful. As a short-term visa holder in Germany, she faced the risk of deportation during the pandemic and even experienced eviction due to unemployment. The high stakes and uncertainty took a toll on her mental health, leading to depression and weight loss from the pressure. Vicki Salemi, a careers expert at Monster, suggests that workers may need to adjust their career paths due to challenging labor market conditions. She advises considering part-time or hourly jobs to stay engaged, earn some money, and keep skills sharp alongside the primary job search. Creating a daily routine and allocating specific times for job alerts, applications, and networking can help alleviate burnout, ensuring that the job search doesn't consume one's entire day. For Gonzalez, who currently runs the Substack newsletter Raising Gen Alpha, the burnout recovery process takes time. While she hasn't secured a full-time position yet and has had to pivot to freelance work, the stress continues to weigh heavily on her. Shenouda also reflects on the need for self-care during her prolonged job search, acknowledging the importance of processing emotions, journaling, and meditation. Dooney remains optimistic, stating that despite ongoing workforce re-evaluations and restructuring after the hiring sprees of 2021 and 2022, employers continue to create job opportunities in many countries. However, the job market remains uncertain for many workers. In this challenging landscape, workers are encouraged to prioritize their well-being and exercise patience. It is crucial to protect mental and emotional health while understanding that recruiters are currently inundated with applications. The road to securing a role may be long, but preserving one's health is paramount in navigating the job search journey. Related Article: Tired & Overwhelmed? Parenting Can Burnout As Much As Work, Study Finds Photo: (Photo : Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images) In a heartbreaking incident that unfolded on Saturday at Seven Tree Pond in Maine, a courageous father lost his life while attempting to rescue his daughters from treacherous waters. The tragedy unfolded when Henry Brooks, a 46-year-old man from Hope, was enjoying a family outing by the pond. Despite his valiant efforts, Brooks tragically drowned, leaving behind a devastated family and a community in mourning. Seven Tree Pond's Desperate Rescue Attempt According to NBC News, as the sun began to set on Saturday evening, Henry Brooks accompanied his family to the picturesque Seven Tree Pond in the town of Union, Maine. Little did they know that this seemingly idyllic day would turn into a tragedy. Brooks was watching his daughters, aged 12 and 13, happily swimming in the water around 4:30 p.m. when a sudden misfortune struck. One of the girls accidentally fell into the deep water near the river's entrance, prompting the other daughter to courageously jump in to rescue her sibling. Unfortunately, both girls were swiftly carried away by the strong currents to a deeper section of the pond, putting their lives in grave danger. With his daughters in immediate peril, Henry Brooks summoned every ounce of his strength and leaped into the water without hesitation. Determined to save his beloved children, he fought against the unforgiving currents. His 27-year-old son, recognizing the urgency of the situation, quickly followed suit, equipped with a life jacket. The son swam to his sisters and successfully brought them to safety at a nearby dock. However, when he turned to locate his father, he was met with a heart-wrenching sight-Henry Brooks was nowhere to be found. Read Also: Finding Lost Family Members: Search Squad's Remarkable Success Stories on Facebook Exhaustive Search Ends in Tragic Discovery As the realization of their harrowing loss set in, authorities swiftly responded to the distress call. The Maine Warden Service, Union Fire and Rescue, and the Knox County Sheriff's Office converged on the scene to initiate a comprehensive search operation. Despite their combined efforts, scouring the pond by both boat and foot, Henry Brooks remained elusive. Hope persisted as three divers from the Maine Warden Service were summoned to the pond, intensifying the search. According to USA Today, at around 7:30 p.m., the divers located Brooks' lifeless body approximately 50 feet from the shore, submerged in water seven feet deep, not far from the dock where his son had heroically saved his sisters. While the daughters of Henry Brooks were taken to a local medical center for observation, their current condition remains undisclosed. CBS reported that the recent incident adds to a series of tragic drownings involving adults attempting to save children. In a similar occurrence, a man from the Chicago area lost his life after leaping into Lake Michigan to aid a child who had fallen off a raft, as confirmed by his family and officials. Likewise, just days prior, another individual drowned while rescuing two children who encountered difficulties while swimming at an eastern Pennsylvania state park, according to authorities. Additionally, in June, a firefighter drowned while endeavoring to rescue his child from a rip current at the Jersey Shore. The incident at Seven Tree Pond echoes a recent spate of similar tragedies across the country, where adults have tragically lost their lives while endeavoring to rescue children in distress. These devastating incidents underscore the need for increased water safety awareness and precautions to prevent further loss of life. This heartbreaking incident is a stark reminder of the inherent risks associated with water activities, even in seemingly serene environments like Seven Tree Pond. As friends, neighbors, and loved ones mourn the loss of a devoted father, the focus now turns to supporting the grieving family through this unimaginably difficult time. Related Article: Children's Hospitals Open 'Stone Clinics' as Kidney Stones Rises Among Children, Teenage Girls During Summer Photo: (Photo : Spencer Platt / Getty Images) A federal judge has issued a ruling to block the implementation of a controversial transgender bathroom policy in the Mukwonago Area School District, located in Wisconsin. According to CBS, the U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman's decision comes as a response to a lawsuit filed by an anonymous 11-year-old transgender student and her mother, asserting that the policy violated her rights and caused emotional harm. The judge's order temporarily prevents the district from requiring transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms based on their assigned sex at birth. Lawsuit Brings Attention to Transgender Rights in Schools The lawsuit, filed on June 30 in the Eastern District of Wisconsin federal court, challenged the Mukwonago Area School District's bathroom/locker room policy, which had been recently approved by the school board. Under this policy, the district prohibited transgender students from using restrooms that align with their gender identity. As per NBC News, the plaintiff, described as a boy at birth but identifying as a girl since the age of three, argued that the policy caused significant emotional and mental harm. In his ruling, Judge Adelman highlighted a similar case from 2017 involving a transgender student in Kenosha, which affirmed that schools cannot block transgender students from using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity. He stated that the plaintiff's case was likely to succeed at trial, pointing to the Whitaker v. Kenosha Unified School District case in which the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that Title IX and the equal protection clause protect transgender individuals from discrimination. Read Also: Malaria Cases in Florida Raise Concerns: Reports Seven Local Infections Impact on the Mukwonago Area School District The Mukwonago Area School District's policy faced criticism for allegedly singling out transgender students and disregarding their gender identities. School officials were monitoring the plaintiff's bathroom usage, directing her to use boys' or gender-neutral bathrooms, despite her consistent use of girls' facilities in the past. The judge's decision, blocking the policy and allowing the transgender student to use facilities that align with her gender identity, aims to prevent further emotional and mental harm. In response to the ruling, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the district's superintendent, Joe Koch, expressed the district's commitment to defending its restroom and locker room policy in order to protect the safety, privacy, and wellness of all students. The district's attorneys, Corinne Duffy and Joel Aziere, have yet to comment on the ruling. The Mukwonago Area School District's bathroom policy dispute reflects a broader national debate on transgender rights in educational settings. In recent years, Republican lawmakers across the country have passed measures aimed at restricting the use of public school and university bathrooms by transgender students. Judge Adelman's decision represents a significant milestone for transgender rights advocates who argue that such policies perpetuate discrimination and harm transgender individuals. The ruling provides temporary relief for the plaintiff and emphasizes the importance of respecting and affirming the gender identities of transgender students. As the case progresses through the litigation process, the Mukwonago Area School District will be closely monitored to see how it adapts its policies to align with legal requirements and protect the rights of all students, including those who are transgender. This ruling sets a precedent in Wisconsin and may have implications for other school districts grappling with similar issues. The ruling acknowledges the emotional and mental harm caused by discriminatory policies and reinforces the need to create inclusive environments for all students. The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equal treatment and acceptance of transgender individuals in educational institutions. Related Article: Record High Employment for People with Disabilities: Post-Pandemic Rebound Presents New Opportunities Photo: (Photo : Jordy Meow on Unsplash) A 17-year-old Canadian teenager has been brought in for questioning by local police in Japan after allegedly defacing a wooden pillar at the Toshodaiji Kondo temple complex in the historic city of Nara. The incident, which took place on July 7, has raised concerns about the preservation of cultural heritage sites and the behavior of tourists. Historic Toshodaiji Kondo Temple Complex Targeted in Act of Vandalism According to a police official, the teenager carved the name "Julian" into a wooden pillar using his nail, about 170 centimeters above the ground. A Japanese tourist who witnessed the act promptly intervened and alerted temple employees. The temple staff quickly notified the police, leading to the teenager's questioning the following day. The police official stated that the boy admitted to his actions but claimed that he had no intention of harming Japanese culture. He is currently with his parents, who were present at the time of the incident. While the teenager will not be detained, the police will continue their investigation. If he is found to have violated the Law for Protection of Cultural Properties, he may be referred to prosecutors for further action. CNN reached out to Toshodaiji Kondo officials for comment on the incident, but no response has been received yet. The Toshodaiji Kondo temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Built in the 8th century, the temple complex holds significant historical and cultural value. The UNESCO inscription emphasizes that the site offers insights into the architectural and artistic evolution of Japan during a critical period in its history. "Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and the excavated remains of the great Imperial Palace provide a vivid picture of life in the Japanese capital in the 8th century, a period of profound political and cultural change," states the UNESCO inscription. It further highlights that these sites bear exceptional witness to the evolution of Japanese architecture and art, vividly illustrating a critical period in the cultural and political development of Japan when Nara functioned as its capital from 710 to 784. Nara, located a 45-minute train ride south of Kyoto, is a popular destination for both international and domestic tourists. Apart from its historical significance, the city is renowned for Nara Park, home to over 1,000 sacred deer that freely roam the area. Visitors come from far and wide to experience the unique blend of cultural heritage and natural beauty that Nara offers. Read Also: High School Principal Told To Take Down Photos Where He's Kissing His Wife Parallel Incident at Rome's Colosseum Sparks Global Concerns This incident follows a similar act of vandalism at Rome's Colosseum, where a man was filmed carving his name into the ancient structure. The global community has been increasingly concerned about the behavior of misbehaving tourists and the potential damage they can cause to precious cultural landmarks. In response to his actions, the perpetrator in the Colosseum incident sent a letter of apology to the local prosecutor's office, expressing remorse and admitting his lack of knowledge regarding the monument's antiquity. The recent cases in Nara and Rome serve as reminders of the importance of respecting and preserving cultural heritage sites around the world. Authorities and organizations continue to work towards raising awareness and implementing stricter measures to ensure the protection of these irreplaceable treasures for future generations. As investigations into the Nara incident continue, it remains to be seen what consequences the Canadian teenager will face for his actions. The case highlights the need for educational initiatives and awareness campaigns to promote responsible tourism and instill a sense of appreciation for the historical and cultural significance of these sites. By fostering a greater understanding and respect for our shared heritage, we can help safeguard these invaluable treasures for generations to come. Related Article: Colorado Judge Rejects Student's Motion To Wear US, Mexican Flag Sash at Graduation Photo: (Photo : National Cancer Institute on Unsplash) Amid the ongoing war and constant threat of Russian missiles, a medical breakthrough has brought hope to Ukraine. The Heart Institute of Ukraine's Ministry of Health announced on Monday that they successfully performed a heart transplant on a 6-year-old girl in Kyiv. The three-hour operation, which took place on Sunday evening, involved transplanting the heart of a 4-year-old boy who had been declared brain dead after an aneurysm. This remarkable feat marked the first time such a heart transplant had been conducted in Ukraine on children as young as these. The institute emphasized the uniqueness of the operation, highlighting the fact that both the donor and recipient were very young children, making it a challenging endeavor for the medical team involved. Young Girl Receives Life-Saving Heart Transplant during Ongoing War Led by Dr. Boris Todurov, the Chief Scientist of the Department of Surgical and Minimally Invasive Treatment, the team of doctors successfully completed the operation. Dr. Todurov expressed satisfaction with the procedure, stating on his official Facebook page that the operation went smoothly and the girl was extubated just two hours afterward. According to CNN, heartwarming images released by the Heart Institute depicted the mother of the boy whose heart was donated standing by the girl's bedside, showcasing the emotional connection formed through this life-saving act. Oksana Dmytrieva, chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament's subcommittee on modern medical technologies and transplantation development, shared her heartfelt sentiments on Facebook, expressing gratitude that the new heart was beating in the girl's chest. She also praised the deceased boy's mother for her selfless act and extended wishes for the recipients' speedy recovery. The generosity of the organ donor's family extended beyond the heart. Three more organs from the boy-two kidneys and a liver-were successfully transplanted to two other children at the National Children's Hospital "Ohmatdyt" in Kyiv. These transplants brought renewed hope to a 12-year-old boy from the occupied part of Kherson region and a 15-year-old boy from Kirovohrad region, who had been waiting for the life-changing procedures. Read Also: Grandpa and Grandson Share the Same Heart Surgery Anniversary Ukraine Celebrates Landmark Heart Transplant on Young Recipient Ukraine has been facing the challenges of war while striving to continue medical advancements. Despite the ongoing conflict, the Heart Institute revealed that this year alone, they have already performed 23 heart transplants. The institute clarified that if an operation is already underway during an air raid, it will not be interrupted, demonstrating the unwavering dedication of medical professionals in the face of adversity. To ensure the continuity of medical procedures, the institute has taken extraordinary measures. Patients are relocated to a specially equipped bomb shelter during air raids, except for those in the intensive care unit who cannot be moved. The institute has also acquired generators and an autonomous water supply to overcome blackouts and maintain uninterrupted operations. The war has taken its toll on the people of Ukraine, with an increase in patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases and worsening chronic conditions due to stress. However, amidst these challenges, the successful heart transplant serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating the resilience and determination of the medical community to save lives and bring healing even in the most difficult circumstances. Related Article: Organ Transplant Discrimination Against People With Autism: The Fight Continues As Bias Still Exist Photo: (Photo : Fred Hayes / Getty Images) In a powerful and thought-provoking cinematic creation, the movie "Sound of Freedom" sheds light on the dark and harrowing reality of child trafficking. Inspired by a true story, the film delves into the heroic efforts of Tim Ballard, a former undercover operative for Homeland Security Investigations, as he fights against this heinous crime. With its release, "Sound of Freedom" not only captivates audiences but also aims to raise awareness about the global issue of child trafficking. Fighting Child Trafficking as an Agent According to Daily Mail, based on real events, "Sound of Freedom" chronicles the life of Tim Ballard, a man who dedicated 12 years of his life working undercover for Homeland Security Investigations, relentlessly pursuing child traffickers. Sound of Freedom portrays the incredible journey of Tim Ballard, whose unwavering determination to rescue children from the clutches of human traffickers becomes a personal mission. As a Special Agent for Homeland Security Investigations, Ballard witnessed firsthand the heartbreaking reality of child exploitation. Throughout the film, "Sound of Freedom" portrays the immense challenges faced by Tim Ballard as he navigates the treacherous world of child trafficking. It highlights the frustrations he encountered while working within the confines of the law, often being ordered to stand down when on the verge of making significant breakthroughs. Ballard's relentless pursuit of justice eventually led him to leave his government agency, paving the way for his establishment of Operation Underground Railroad, an anti-trafficking nonprofit organization. The movie's accuracy in depicting the events is emphasized by Ballard himself, who attests that the portrayal by Jim Caviezel, who plays him in the film, captures the essence of his experiences. However, Ballard reveals that the film only scratches the surface of the vast scope of his operations, with the rescue of over 120 women and children during his mission, far surpassing the 50 depicted in the movie. Read Also: TikTok, Content Creators Seek Federal Judge's Intervention to Halt Montana's Ban 'Sound of Freedom' Urges To Take Action Against Child Trafficking According to Vulture, "Sound of Freedom" aims to be more than just an emotionally gripping film; it serves as a rallying cry to combat child trafficking globally. Tim Ballard's courageous efforts have inspired countless individuals to join the fight against this pervasive crime. Through his organization, Operation Underground Railroad, Ballard continues to work alongside local authorities and governments to rescue children from the clutches of traffickers, providing them with a chance at a brighter future. The release of "Sound of Freedom" not only exposes the horrors of child trafficking but also challenges the audience to confront the uncomfortable reality that lurks in the shadows of society. By weaving together a compelling narrative with an important social cause, the film has struck a chord with viewers worldwide, igniting discussions and driving action against this deeply troubling issue. Shockingly, the film was kept from reaching theaters for nearly ten years, allegedly due to studio executives who disagreed with the beliefs and politics of its creators. Variety reports that Hollywood rarely supports movies aimed at this specific demographic. However, when they do, it has proven to be a reliable audience that shows strong support. A similar audience helped the low-budget film "Jesus Revolution" earn $53 million, making it one of the top 25 releases of the year. The movie "Sound of Freedom" is expected to surpass that success within days, as long as the positive momentum continues throughout the week. Originally produced by 20th Century Fox in 2018, "Sound of Freedom" was put on hold when Disney acquired the studio the following year. It is now being independently distributed by Angel Studios, which recently released the Old Testament-inspired film "His Only Son" and invested $15 million in the action-thriller led by Caviezel. Religious and conservative media groups have shown strong support for the film, which has also received partial funding through crowdfunding. Angel Studios, based in Utah, has employed unconventional methods to promote the movie, including an app that allows people to purchase and donate tickets to those who cannot afford them. The "Pay It Forward" app contributed approximately $2.6 million in sales on opening day, with the company highlighting it as a means to raise awareness about child trafficking. Related Article: Malaria Cases in Florida Raise Concerns: Reports Seven Local Infections Apple's chief operating officer and a top corporate lawyer at the company are fighting an effort that could require them to answer questions in a private securities class action against chip maker Qualcomm in U.S. court in California. Lawyers for Jeffrey Williams, who has served as Apple's chief operating office since 2015, and Bruce Watrous, the company's chief corporate and commercial counsel, on Friday asked a U.S. judge to quash subpoenas from Qualcomm and the plaintiffs in the investors' lawsuit. Apple, Williams and Watrous are not parties to the 2017 lawsuit, which alleged Qualcomm made misrepresentations about certain business practices that artificially boosted shares between 2012 and 2017. The complaint accused San Diego-based Qualcomm and executives of hiding anticompetitive sales and licensing practices. In the investor lawsuit, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Berg in May said Qualcomm and the plaintiffs could question two current or former Apple employees. Qualcomm and the plaintiffs said they agreed to that number of Apple deposition witnesses. Qualcomm wants to inquire about communication between Apple and the Federal Trade Commission, and Apple's cooperation with the agency, related to an antitrust case the FTC brought in 2017 against Qualcomm. Apple also said its "communications with the FTC are not relevant to the securities litigation between Qualcomm and its shareholders regarding alleged false statements by Qualcomm." For more on this, read the full Reuters report. It's being reported this morning that a federal judge in San Francisco has denied the Federal Trade Commissions motion for a preliminary injunction to stop Microsoft from completing acquisition of video game publisher Activision Blizzard. The deal isnt completely in the clear, though. The FTC can now file its appeal of the decision to federal appellate court, and the two companies must find a way forward to resolve opposition from the Competition and Markets Authority in the United Kingdom. This Courts responsibility in this case is narrow. It is to decide if, notwithstanding these current circumstances, the merger should be haltedperhaps even terminatedpending resolution of the FTC administrative action, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley wrote in her decision, published on Tuesday. For the reasons explained, the Court finds the FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content. The motion for a preliminary injunction is therefore DENIED. Our merger will benefit consumers and workers. It will enable competition rather than allow entrenched market leaders to continue to dominate our rapidly growing industry, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a statement. Microsoft also hailed the decision. Brad Smith, Microsofts president and vice chair stated in a press release that "Were grateful to the court in San Francisco for this quick and thorough decision and hope other jurisdictions will continue working towards a timely resolution. As weve demonstrated consistently throughout this process, we are committed to working creatively and collaboratively to address regulatory concerns." After the ruling, an FTC spokesperson stated: "We are disappointed in this outcome given the clear threat this merger poses to open competition in cloud gaming, subscription services, and consoles. In the coming days well be announcing our next step to continue our fight to preserve competition and protect consumers." For more, read the full CNBC report. Surprise! Something has just been posted on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Interpreter Radio Show July 9, 2023 In the 9 July 2023 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, Martin Tanner, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discussed Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 32, Jeremy Runnells and John Dehlins claim that second sight means imagination, and the article this week by John Gee. They were then joined by historian Ron Esplin to discuss his new Brigham Young Papers Project and its first volume, which will be published in August. Their conversation is now available, shorn of commercial breaks and without any charge, at the link given above. The New Testament in Context portion of this show, for the Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 32, A Minister and a Witness, covering Acts 2228, will also be posted separately on Tuesday, 25 July 2023. The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard weekly on Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 PM (MDT), on K-TALK, AM 1640, or you can listen live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com. Now, though, I want to share a few more passages from Logan Paul Gage, Understanding Design Arguments, in Ann Gauger, ed., Gods Grandeur: The Catholic Case for Intelligent Design (Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2023), 20-31. Logan Paul Gage earned his doctorate in philosophy at Baylor University and currently chairs the Department of Philosophy at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Ann Gauger, the overall editor of the volume in which Professor Gages article appears, is Director of Science Communication and a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture, and Senior Research Scientist at the Biologic Institute in Seattle, Washington. She earned a bachelors degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received her Ph.D. from the Department of Zoology at the University of Washington, in Seattle. Thereafter, she held a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, where her work focused on the molecular motor kinesin. She serves as an editor of the journal BIO-Complexity, and her scientific work has been published in Nature, Development, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Genetic Regulation of Development, In Vitro, In Vitro Cell and Developmental Biology, BIO-Complexity, and Biological Information: New Perspectives. But lets not forget about Professor Gage. Heres one of the passages from him that I marked: As far back as Socrates in the fifth century BC, we see the father of Western philosophy making an explicit design argument. His student Xenophon records Socratess view that we have been most favored by the supreme deity. We are uniquely arranged in body and mind. All other things appear to be here for our benefit. And nature itself seems consistently arranged in the best or finest way. All of this, Socrates argues, bears witness to divine providence. The opposing narrative came from the Greek atomists like Democritus, Leucippus, and Epicurus. Humans, they claimed, are intelligent of course. But this intelligence is a late arrival on the scene. Ultimate reality isnt intelligent. What fundamentally exists are atoms and empty space in which the atoms collide. Just as you hear many today saying silly things like, Love is just a chemical reaction in the brain, so too did the atomists believe that all phenomena really reduce down to the properties of material bodies. For the atomists, highly organized beings like ourselves self-organize by accident. There are an infinite number of worlds. So with an infinite amount of time, every combination of atoms must manifest itself somewhere! Sure, organisms look intelligently designed, but poor accidental designs disappeared while good accidental designs survived. . . . There is truly nothing new under the sun. There are differences, to be sure, but the atomist narrative clearly anticipates not only Darwins theory but multiverse scenarios as well. (21) As even Richard Dawkins recognizes, Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose. Like the atomists before him, of course, he thinks this design is only apparent and not real. (22) And, from what Ive read, I think that this distinction is spot on though often ignored by critics who cant be bothered to take a serious look at the matter: Creationism begins with the biblical text and attempts to reconcile scientific information with a certain understanding of the biblical narrative. Intelligent design begins with the scientific data and argues that it is far more likely the product of intelligence than unplanned accident. We started this morning off with a stroll through the ancient cedars along Ucluelets Wild Pacific Trail. They are huge and very complicated in their root structure and branches. Theyre estimated to be about eight hundred years old, making them rough contemporaries of Englands King John and his enforced signing of Magna Carta, and one of them is more than twelve meters (in other words, more than forty feet) in circumference at its base. Then we drove back across Vancouver Island, passing by Kennedy Lake and Sproat Lake and through the Cathedral Grove area of lush old-growth forest where we have always stopped for a walk on previous visits. Its a very other-worldly place, with the sunlight filtering through its soaring eighty-meter-high canopy. Unfortunately, the hiking trails there have been closed off during this trip. We also passed on through Nanaimo, where we enjoyed exceptionally good pizza at Mambo Gourmet Pizza. (Thats a nod to my most obsessive critics, who are sometimes driven into impotent frenzy by my restaurant recommendations.) We also bought some Nanaimo bars, for which the town is famous. The bakery on which my foodie son had set his heart was closed today, alas, but we found another source of Nanaimo bars that came recommended. I confess that they dont do a lot for me, and I dont think that thats merely a result of having chosen the wrong purveyor. My tastes simply dont incline in that direction. And now its dusk here at the southern end of Vancouver Island. Having spent some time in the swimming pool with my wife and a granddaughter, Im looking out over the Inner Harbour at the last traces of a beautiful sunset. Life is good. Posted from Victoria, British Columbia Brazilian Police to Auction Assets Seized from Suspected Crypto Fraudsters Source: GDM photo and video/Adobe Police in Brazil have announced plans to auction off assets seized from Trust Investing, a suspected crypto-themed financial pyramid operator. Per the media outlet Portal do Bitcoin, a Federal Court in Campo Grande granted the authorities the right to auction off seven luxury cars, including armored vehicles. The assets are valued at just under $288,000 and comprise BMWs, a Land Rover, and Porsches, as well as trucks and other cars. Three of the vehicles have been armor-plated, the media outlet noted. The cars belong to Patrick Abrahao and his celebrity wife Perlla, a chart-topping pop star. Abrahao and his pastor father Ivonelio, have been accused of orchestrating the suspected scheme. Trust Investing promised investors they could earn up to 200% on their stakes in just 10 months, but suspicions about the firm began to arise when some complained they were unable to withdraw funds from the companys platform. Police began a probe in 2019, with suspicions that the company may have raised up to $359 million from its customers. But the firm continued to grow in the subsequent years, even expanding overseas to Cuba. The court backed its decision by claiming there was a risk that the assets value could depreciate if they were not sold. The assets are part of a wide range of items and coins seized in police raids in October 2022. The raids saw officers detain a number of the companys directors, including Diego Chaves and Diorge Ribeiro Chaves (the formers father). The police raids saw 41 warrants issued, with items including cattle and sheep, luxury cars, jewelry, precious gems, and [almost $250,000] in cryptocurrencies seized. When Will Brazilian Police Sell Crypto Pyramid Assets? The assets will be sold in two auctions slated for mid-August. The media outlet quoted the court as stating: There are serious risks of the assets devaluation [...] due to [...] inevitable aging if they remain in disuse. The Trust Investing masterminds are still awaiting trial, and the court noted that should they be acquitted, the funds recovered from the auctions would be returned to the accused. But should they be found guilty, the state will take control of the funds. Lawmakers have demanded that suspected crypto pyramid operators appear before parliament to face questions. Late last month, police in Argentina arrested a number of executives from another suspected Brazilian crypto fraud operator Braiscompany as they attempted to flee Brazil. Part I: Steves 15-Minute Opening Statement, Covering the Perpetual Virginity, Immaculate Conception, & Bodily Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Steve Christie was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools up through college. He became a Protestant in 2004 at age 34, and is a frequent lecturer at Protestant churches and events, has led home Bible studies for sixteen years, and is a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio. He has participated in many oral debates with Catholics, and authored the self-published book, Why Protestant Bibles Are Smaller: A Defense of the Protestant Old Testament Canon in 2019. If my memory is correct, I have not interacted with him until now. ***** I will be responding to Steves portions of his two hour long audio debate with Catholic apologist Trent Horn (it originally appeared on Pints with Aquinas with Matt Fradd): posted in transcript on the Catholic Answers website (5-2-22), under the title, Debate: Do the Marian Dogmas Contradict Scripture? Steves words will be in blue. My biblical citations are from RSV, unless otherwise noted. In case anyone is wondering, I wont read Trents portions, so that my replies will be completely original. As such, this may be an interesting opportunity to compare the replies to the critical arguments of one Protestant apologist regarding Mariology, of two Catholic apologists. Im sure my response will be harmonious (though obviously not identical) with Trents. I love his work and consider him one of the best Catholic apologists today. Some of the ways Trent and I would agree that a dogma contradicts scripture is explicitly, implicitly, or partially. So even if that dogma is defined ex cathedra by a pope, by an ecumenical council, or by the magisterium, if it contradicts scripture, that dogma must be rejected. I aim to show that Catholic Marian dogmas (like all other Catholic dogmas) do not contradict Scripture at all. Being harmonious with the Bible and not contradicting it is different from being explicitly taught in Holy Scripture. Most Marian dogmas are not taught explicitly in the Bible, but it doesnt make them automatically untrue as a result. Its not a dealbreaker. I would contend in comparison that even the two pillars of the so-called Protestant Reformation: sola Scriptura and sola fide are not explicitly taught in the Bible, either (indeed, I would say they are not taught at all). Many Protestant apologists today freely concede that sola Scriptura is not taught explicitly in Scripture (though they hold to it on less epistemologically compelling grounds). And all parties agree that the canon of Scripture is not included in Holy Scripture. Nowhere in the Bible, I hasten to add, is it taught that every doctrine that must be believed by Christians has to be explicitly laid out in Scripture, or that they could not have been developed primarily or even solely in Sacred Tradition (always in harmony with Scripture). This notion of an explicit requirement in Scripture is, ironically, an extrabiblical Protestant tradition of men. All Christians contend that their doctrines are harmonious with Scripture. Catholics are no different. The dogma of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary contradicts scripture in the following ways. While the Greek word adelphos, translated brothers, can have numerous meetings in scripture, the specific Greek word adelphi, translated sisters, only has two. One, ones natural sister, such as a sister of the same parents or a half sister or, two, a believing sister, such as a Christian sister. It is used this way consistently in the New Testament, as well as in the Septuagint where it is used over a hundred times, such as the Sister Kingdoms of Israel and Judah who worship the same one true God of the Old Testament. It is never used for a female non-sibling relative in either Testament, nor in its Greek. When the New Testament writers wish to convey female non-sibling relatives, such as Elizabeth and Mary, they chose other Greek words, such as [foreign language 00:01:39] or [foreign language 00:01:39]* *Dave: I am pretty sure the two Greek words not transcribed are anepsios and sungenis (or, syngeneis), usually meaning cousin of some sort. I have written about both. Adelphos appears in the NT 346 times (and 649 times in the Septuagint: the Greek translation of the OT [LXX]). Syngeneis only appears twelve times (5 in the LXX). Anepsios appears once (Col 4:10), and once in the LXX. The NT employs a Hebraic use of the Greek adelphos: as applying to cousins, fellow countrymen, and a wide array of uses beyond the meaning of sibling. Yet it is unanimously translated as brother in the King James Version (KJV): 246 times. The cognate adelphe is translated 24 times only as sister. This is because it reflects Hebrew usage, translated into Greek. Briefly put, in Jesus Hebrew culture (and Middle Eastern culture even today), cousins were called brothers. Now, its true that sungenis (Greek for cousin) and its cognate sungenia appear in the New Testament fifteen times (sungenia: Lk 1:61; Acts 7:3, 14; sungenis: Mk 6:4; Lk 1:36, 58; 2:44; 14:12; 21:16; Jn 18:26; Acts 10:24; Rom 9:3; 16:7, 11, 21). But they are usually translated kinsmen, kinsfolk, or kindred in KJV: that is, in a sense wider than cousin: often referring to the entire nation of Hebrews. Thus, the eminent Protestant linguist W. E. Vine, in his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, lists sungenis not only under Cousin but also under Kin, Kinsfolk, Kinsman, Kinswoman. In all but two of these occurrences, the authors were either Luke or Paul. Luke was a Greek Gentile. Paul, though Jewish, was raised in the very cosmopolitan, culturally Greek town of Tarsus. But even so, both still clearly used adelphos many times with the meaning of non-sibling (Lk 10:29; Acts 3:17; 7:23-26; Rom 1:7, 13; 9:3; 1 Thess 1:4). They understood what all these words meant, yet they continued to use adelphos even in those instances that had a non-sibling application. Strikingly, it looks like every time St. Paul uses adelphos (unless I missed one or two), he means it as something other than blood brother or sibling. He uses the word or related cognates no less than 138 times in this way. Yet we often hear about Galatians 1:19: James the Lords brother. 137 other times, Paul means non-sibling, yet amazingly enough, here he must mean sibling, because (so we are told) he uses the word adelphos? That doesnt make any sense. So also, Luke 14:12 and 21:16, where the evangelist uses different Greek words to distinguish relatives from brothers. This proves nothing. The use of adelphoi for cousins is not ruled out, and the proof of that usage is found in my next reply. Therefore when Mark 6:3 refers to Jesus brothers and sisters not honoring him, we know this refers to Jesus younger half siblings. Some folks think it is a compelling argument that sungenis isnt used to describe the brothers of Jesus. But they need to examine Mark 6:4 (RSV), where sungenis appears: And Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. (cf. Jn 7:5: For even his brothers did not believe in him) What is the context? Lets look at the preceding verse, where the people in his own country (6:1) exclaimed: Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him. It can plausibly be argued, then, that Jesus reference to kin (sungenis) refers (at least in part) back to this mention of His brothers and sisters: His relatives. Since we know that sungenis means cousins or more distant relatives, that would be an indication of the status of those called Jesus brothers. We dont know at all that Mark 6:3 refers to . . . Jesus younger half siblings. I would strongly contend that in the case of James and Joseph, they cannot possibly be siblings, based on the following scriptural data: By comparing Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, and John 19:25, we find that James and Joseph [aka Joses: Mk 15:40] mentioned in Matthew 13:55 with Simon and Jude as Jesus brothers are also called sons of Mary, wife of Clopas. This other Mary (Matthew 27:61, 28:1) is called Our Ladys adelphe in John 19:25 (it isnt likely that there were two women named Mary in one family thus even this usage apparently means cousin or more distant relative, or sister-in-law). Matthew 13:55-56 and Mark 6:3 mention Simon, Jude and sisters along with James and Joseph, calling all adelphoi. Since we know for sure that at least James and Joseph are not Jesus blood brothers, the most likely interpretation of Matthew 13:55 is that all these brothers are cousins, . . . James (along with sometimes Joseph) is called the son of this other Mary: wife of Clopas or Alphaeus [alternate names for one person], in Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; 16:1; Luke 24:10, and the son of Alphaeus in Matthew 10:3 / Mark 3:18 / Luke 6:15 / Acts 1:13. This second Mary is called the wife of Clopas and the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus in John 19:25. This is strong evidence that James and Joseph were not sons of Mary the mother of Jesus, and hence not Jesus siblings (and indirect evidence that Simon and Jude are of the same similar status as relatives). Rather, it appears that they are Jesus first cousins or more distant cousins. Nowhere does the New Testament state that any of Jesus brothers (adelphoi) are the children of Jesus mother Mary, even when they are referenced together (cf. Mark 3:31 ff.; 6:3 ff.; John 2:12; Acts 1:14). So for example, in Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:55. Jesus is called the son of Mary and the carpenters son and only He is referred to in this way. The others (four brothers named in each passage) are not. It happens again in the book of Acts: Acts 1:14 All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers See how a distinction is made between Mary as the mother of Jesus and his brothers, who are not called Marys sons? Nor is she called their mother. These verses do not read in a siblings way. In the New Testament, none of these brothers are ever called Josephs children, anywhere, either. Much has been written about the use of adelphos in the NT. Its range of use is almost precisely like how it is used in the works of the first century Jewish historian Josephus (as we would expect, since he was a fellow Israelite and lived in the same period). In Antiquities, Book XVIII, ch. 4, sec. 6, Josephus refers to Philip, Herods brother (likely using adelphos there). In Wars of the Jews, Book II, ch. 6, sec. 1, he refers to Archelauss brother Philip. But we know that they were not siblings (sons of the same mother and father). In Wars of the Jews, Book II, ch. 7, sec. 4, Josephus mentions Alexander, who was the brother of Archelaus, . . . This Alexander was the son of Herod the king . . . Again, he likely uses adelphos, but is not referring to literal siblings, since we know that this Alexanders mother was Mariamne. Wikipedia (Philip the Tetrarch) informs us that Philip was son of Herod the Great and his fifth wife, Cleopatra of Jerusalem, . . . half-brother of Herod Antipas and Herod Archelaus. The mother of the latter two men was Malthace. When Matthew 1:25 writes, Joseph kept Mary a virgin until she gave birth to a son, the specific Greek words [foreign language 00:02:06] when translated until, is used consistently in the New Testament to refer to a change in condition. While the New Testament does use different Greek words translated until to refer to the condition continuing after the event, such as [foreign language 00:02:21] on its own, [foreign language 00:02:25] is never used once this way in the entire New Testament. The NAB, a Catholic translation authorized by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and approved by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the United States Catholic Conference supports this. The Greek word translated until does not exclude normal marital conduct after Jesus birth. If Matthew wished to convey Marys virginity was perpetual, there would be no need to add until she gave birth to a son. She wouldve simply ended with he kept her a virgin or added throughout her marriage. The Isaiah 7:14 prophecy only indicates that Mary was to remain a virgin during her pregnancy and up to the Messiahs birth. The NAB continues, The evangelist is simply concerned to emphasize that Joseph was not responsible for the conception of Jesus, which is why Matthew stresses the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. When Isaiah prophecy states that the virgin will bear a son, it is not implying her virginal integrity remained intact after his birth, nor that her virginity would extend throughout her entire life, but only to stress that the Messiahs birth would be supernatural and that Jesus was divine. As a believing Jew and Christian, Mary would not have disobeyed God who commanded married couples to be fruitful and multiply, nor would she have deprived her husband as the apostle Paul wrote, the wife must fulfill her duty to her husband and does not have authority over her own body so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self control. 1 Corinthians 7:3-5. Matthew 1:24-25 (NRSV) . . . Joseph . . . took her as his wife, [25] but had no marital relations with her [RSV: knew her not] until she had borne a son . . . This would involve probably six months, bare minimum. We dont know at what stage he was aware that she was pregnant. Protestants who reject the perpetual virginity of Mary need to be asked why Joseph abstained for the entire pregnancy if in fact he had marital relations with the Blessed Virgin Mary after Jesus birth. Rabbinic Judaism did not forbid sexual relations during the whole of pregnancy (especially not the final three months). I think we can safely assume that something of that sort was the custom of the Jews of Jesus time. So why did Joseph do this? There is no plausible reason to do so, other than the fact that he intended to never have relations with her (she being the Mother of God). Sometimes the most effective and elegant arguments are the small ones like this (that one could almost not notice at all). Writing against Helvidius, St. Jerome provocatively asked (making precisely the present argument): Why then did Joseph abstain at all up to the day of birth? He will surely answer, Because of the Angels words, That which is born in her, &c. He then who gave so much heed to a vision as not to dare to touch his wife, would he, after he had heard the shepherds, seen the Magi, and known so many miracles, dare to approach the temple of God, the seat of the Holy Ghost, the Mother of his Lord? Jason Evert offered a great insight in an article for Catholic Answers Magazine (then called This Rock): 1 July 2000: [E]ven in the Old Testament God asked married couples to refrain from intercourse for various reasons. For example, the priests of the temple had to refrain from intimacy with their wives during the time of their service. Likewise, Moses had the Israelites abstain from intercourse as he ascended Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:15 [the original erroneously had 20:15]). There is a theme here of refraining from marital rights because of the presence of something very holy. 2 Samuel 6:23 (And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death) supports the Catholic interpretation of until in Matthew 1:25 because it perfectly illustrates that until can and does (in some instances in the Bible) refer to events up to certain point referred to, but not after. In this case, it couldnt refer to events after, since Michal died and could no longer possibly have children. Other similar examples where until couldnt possibly refer to actions after the point of time referenced include 1 Samuel 15:35; Matthew 12:20; Romans 8:22; 1 Timothy 4:13; 6:14, and Revelation 2:25. Luke 2:7 describes Jesus as the firstborn of Mary, although the Greek word [foreign language 00:04:11] translated firstborn, can indicate firstborn opening the womb and is used this way in the New Testament. Both the Old and the New Testaments also use firstborn to indicate firstborn among other siblings, such as Esau being Isaacs firstborn and Ruben as Jacobs first born, meaning they were not firstborns out of their fathers wombs, considering men dont have wombs, but firstborn among their other children. See Genesis 35:23, Deuteronomy 21:15, Joshua 6:26, 1 Chronicles 3:1, and Hebrews 11:28, where firstborn is also used this way. The great Protestant commentator J. B. Lightfoot wrote that The law, in speaking of the firstborn, regarded not whether any were born after or no, but only that none were born before. [Commentary on the Whole Bible, 928; my italics] Among the Jews, the firstborn was ordinarily the child who was first to open the womb (e.g., Exodus 13:2: Consecrate to me all the first-born; whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine; cf. Num 8:16: all that open the womb, the first-born . . .). If Luke was communicating Jesus was Marys only child, he wouldve used the Greek word [foreign language 00:04:55] translated only begotten, rather than [foreign language 00:04:57] like he did elsewhere in his gospel, such as in Luke 7:12, 8:42 and 9:38. And in John 3:16, where Jesus is the only begotten son of God, meaning the only one. There is a place for speculation about what should have been written if specific view x is to be regarded as true. Ive done it myself (even in this reply). But of course, its always an argument from silence (argumentum ex silentio), which doesnt carry all that much weight in argumentation and logic. Hence, Sven Bernecker and Duncan Pritchard, in The Routledge Companion to Epistemology (2010) state that arguments from silence are, as a rule, quite weak; there are many examples where reasoning from silence would lead us astray (pp. 6465). In the final analysis, we can only deal with what the biblical text actually asserts and the possible meaning and its interpretation of any given passage. Lastly, Psalm 69:8 is a messianic verse, I have become estranged from my brothers and an alien to my mothers sons. Because verse nine begins with for, which is a conjunction, meaning because, since, or therefore, indicating that the same Messiah who would experience zeal for your house in verse nine is also the same Messiah whose mother would have other children in verse eight, which prophesied Jesus younger half brothers not believing in him in John 7:3-5 and dishonoring him in Mark 6:3-4, which occurred earlier in Mark 3:20-21 when they accused Jesus of being out of his senses, just as the future King David rebuked his oldest brother. Catholic apologist Joe Heschmeyer observed, in an article on this very question: Plenty of things in Psalm 69 foreshadow Christ, but that doesnt mean every element is true of Him. For example, Psalm 69:5 says, You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. And Christ is sinless, of course. RSV has at 69:5: the wrongs I have done. Mark 6:3-4 was dealt with above. There are two strong exegetical reasons to believe that Jesus cousins are being referred to, not supposed siblings. When Jesus mother and brothers approach him later in verse 31, Jesus contrasts his biological brothers who dishonored him with his disciples, who were his spiritual brothers, who did the will of God. Mark 3:31 is but one use of adelphe among many. What has to be determined is the meaning of each in context, and it is not necessarily siblings at all, and there are several biblical arguments that with regard to Jesus, they are not siblings. I provided some of the best traditional arguments above, and they are very strong. In light of Mark 6:3-4, these brothers were very likely not siblings. This passage also contradicts the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary since Jesus mother was with Jesus brothers in verses 20 to 21, when they accused him of being out of his senses. This is also the view of St. John Chrysostom as late as the fifth century, venerated as a doctor of the church of Roman Catholicism, who also believed Mary thought Jesus had gone mad. Chrysostom was simply wrong in that instance. We dont believe that Church fathers are infallible. And they are not part of the magisterium. I have dealt with the question of whether Mary thought her Son had gone crazy. Its too involved of an argument to even summarize. See: Did the Blessed Virgin Mary Think Jesus Was Nuts? [7-2-20] Did Mary Sin By Thinking Jesus was Crazy? (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [9-8-22] Mary and Crazy Jesus, Pt. II (vs. Lucas Banzoli): In Which Our Quixotic Anti-Catholic Warrior Desperately Savages Several Highly Reputable English Bible Translations in Order to Prove That Mary Thought Jesus was Out of His Mind [2-9-23] Other doctors like Ambrose, Augustine, Irenaeus and others in the early church, like Tertullian, Origen, Hillary of Poitier, and seven popes believed Mary was either conceived in sin or committed acts of personal sin, including Thomas Aquinas, as late as the 13th century. All of them could be (and were) wrong, without it affecting the Catholic doctrine of infallibility. When Mary declared God, my savior. In Luke 1:47, she understood that Jesus was the savior to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins, in Acts 5:31 and in Titus 2:9-11, which included her own. Isaiah 49:26 describes God as savior and Redeemer echoed in Galatians 4:4-5. He might redeem or rescue from bondage those who were under the law because we, which includes Mary, have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, Colossians 1:14. Mary needed a savior as much as any of us (hence, her statement in Luke 1:47: sometimes thrown at Catholics as a gotcha tactic). She was saved from ever falling into sin, rather than saved from existing sin. Her case arguably involved more free grace than anyone elses ever did, since extra grace was expressly given to her by God from the very moment of her conception. Obviously, this had nothing to do with her own merit or choice. Psalm 130, verse eight, promises God will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. Isiah wrote the deliverer will come out of Zion. I will take away their sins. This is how God as savior is used in both testaments. The Greek root is used in Matthew 1:21 to describe Jesus who will save his people from their sins. Jesus is never referred to as a preemptive savior, but as a redeeming, delivering savior, which includes redeeming and delivering Mary from her sins. I would say all that is normative language. There can always be an exception to the rule. Adam and Eve were such exceptions. If they had never fallen and sinned, they would have never needed a savior. They were created in a sinless state. Mary, being the mother of this very savior, was another exception. The angel Gabriel told her she was full of grace at the Annunciation, so we know for sure from explicit Scripture that she was without sin at that time. Luke 1:28 And he came to her and said, Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you! The great Baptist Greek scholar A.T. Robertson exhibits a Protestant perspective, but is objective and fair-minded, in commenting on this verse as follows: Highly favoured (kecharitomene). Perfect passive participle of charitoo and means endowed with grace (charis), enriched with grace as in Ephesians. 1:6, . . . The Vulgate gratiae plena is right, if it means full of grace which thou hast received; wrong, if it means full of grace which thou hast to bestow (Plummer). (Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, II, 13) Kecharitomene has to do with Gods grace, as it is derived from the Greek root, charis (literally, grace). Thus, in the KJV, charis is translated grace 129 out of the 150 times that it appears. Greek scholar Marvin Vincent noted that even Wycliffe and Tyndale (no enthusiastic supporters of the Catholic Church) both rendered kecharitomene in Luke 1:28 as full of grace and that the literal meaning was endued with grace (Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, I, 259). Likewise, well-known Protestant linguist W.E. Vine, defines it as to endue with Divine favour or grace (Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, II, 171). Vine concurs that charis can mean a state of grace, e.g., Rom. 5:2; 1 Pet. 5:12; 2 Pet. 3:18 (Vine, II, 170). One can construct a strong biblical argument from analogy, for Marys sinlessness. For St. Paul, grace (charis) is the antithesis and conqueror of sin: Romans 6:14: For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (cf. Rom 5:17,20-21, 2 Cor 1:12, 2 Timothy 1:9) We are saved by grace, and grace alone: Ephesians 2:8-10: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (cf. Acts 15:11, Rom 3:24, 11:5, Eph 2:5, Titus 2:11, 3:7, 1 Pet 1:10) Thus, the biblical argument outlined above proceeds as follows: 1. Grace saves us. 2. Grace gives us the power to be holy and righteous and without sin. Therefore, for a person to be full of grace is both to be saved and to be completely, exceptionally holy. Its a zero-sum game: the more grace one has, the less sin. One might look at grace as water, and sin as the air in an empty glass (us). When you pour in the water (grace), the sin (air) is displaced. A full glass of water, therefore, contains no air (see also, similar zero-sum game concepts in 1 John 1:7, 9; 3:6, 9; 5:18). To be full of grace is to be devoid of sin. Thus we might re-apply the above two propositions: 1. To be full of the grace that saves is surely to be saved. 2. To be full of the grace that gives us the power to be holy, righteous, and without sin is to be fully without sin, by that same grace. A deductive, biblical argument for the Immaculate Conception, with premises derived directly from Scripture, might look like this: 1. The Bible teaches that we are saved by Gods grace. 2. To be full of Gods grace, then, is to be saved. 3. Therefore, Mary is saved (Luke 1:28). 4. The Bible teaches that we need Gods grace to live a holy life, free from sin. 5. To be full of Gods grace is thus to be so holy that one is sinless. 6. Therefore, Mary is holy and sinless. 7. The essence of the Immaculate Conception is sinlessness. 8. Therefore, the Immaculate Conception, in its essence, can be directly deduced from Scripture. In this fashion, the essence of the Immaculate Conception (i.e., the sinlessness of Mary) is proven from biblical principles and doctrines accepted by every orthodox Protestant. Certainly all mainstream Christians agree that grace is required both for salvation and to overcome sin. So in a sense my argument is only one of degree, deduced (almost by common sense, I would say) from notions that all Christians hold in common. The apostle Paul affirms this in 1 Corinthians 15:22, In Adam all die. Meaning all of mankind spiritually, including Mary, which Paul clarifies in verses 47 to 49. The first man Adam is from the earth, earthy. The second man Christ is from heaven as is the earthy Adam so also are those who are earthy and as is the heavenly Christ so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have born the image of the earthy we, which includes Mary, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. We and also, which again includes Mary. We need to add also the old anti-Catholic polemical chestnut: Romans 3:23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. [Steve did mention this shortly after this section] Yes, if Mary were indeed in Adam, then, like everyone else, she would have possessed original sin, and would have been included in the all of Romans 3:23 and 1 Corinthians 15:22. Pauls statements remain quite true, without precluding a scenario in which God could (and did) perform a special act of grace (fitting for the Mother of God the Son) whereby Mary was prevented from contracting the original sin that is in Adam. It gets back also to scriptural language. All' doesnt always literally mean all. Its easy to prove this. Paul writes that all Israel will be saved, (11:26), but we know that many will not be saved. And in 15:14, Paul describes members of the Roman church as filled with all knowledge (cf. 1 Cor 1:5 in KJV), which clearly cannot be taken literally. Examples could be multiplied indefinitely. Linguistic reference works concur. Kittels Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged Ed.) states: Pas can have different meanings according to its different uses . . . in many verses, pas is used in the NT simply to denote a great number, e.g., all Jerusalem in Mt 2:3 and all the sick in 4:24. (pp. 796-797) Likewise, Thayers Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament gives of every kind as a possible meaning in some contexts (p. 491, Strongs word #3956). And Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words tells us it can mean every kind or variety. (vol. 1, p. 46, under All). Thats why and how Mary can rightly call God her savior and how she could be and was an exception to the rule of In Adam all die. We see Jewish idiom and hyperbole in passages of similar meaning. Jesus says: No one is good but God alone (Lk 18:19; cf. Mt 19:17). Yet He also said: The good person brings good things out of a good treasure. (Mt 12:35; cf. 5:45; 7:17-20; 22:10). Furthermore, in each instance in Matthew and Luke above of the English good the Greek word is the same: agatho. We observe the same dynamic in the Psalms: Psalm 14:2-3 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any that act wisely, that seek after God. [3] They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good, [Hebrew, tob] no not one. (cf. 53:1-3; Paul cites this in Rom 3:10-12) Yet in the immediately preceding Psalm, David proclaims, I have trusted in thy steadfast love (13:5), which certainly is seeking after God! And in the very next he refers to He who walk blamelessly, and does what is right (15:2). Even two verses later (14:5) he writes that God is with the generation of the righteous. So obviously his lament in 14:2-3 is an indignant hyperbole and not intended as a literal utterance. Such remarks are common to Hebrew poetic idiom. The anonymous psalmist in 112:5-6 refers to the righteous (Heb. tob), as does the book of Proverbs repeatedly: using the words righteous or good (11:23; 12:2; 13:22; 14:14, 19), using the same word, tob, which appears in Psalm 14:2-3. References to righteous men are innumerable (e.g., Job 17:9; 22:19; Ps 5:12; 32:11; 34:15; 37:16, 32; Mt 9:13; 13:17; 25:37, 46; Rom 5:19; Heb 11:4; Jas 5:16; 1 Pet 3:12; 4:18, etc.). One might also note 1 Corinthians 15:22: For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. As far as physical death is concerned (the context of 1 Cor 15), not all people have died (e.g., Enoch: Gen 5:24; cf. Heb 11:5; Elijah: 2 Kings 2:11). Likewise, all will not be made spiritually alive by Christ, as some will choose to suffer eternal spiritual death in hell. The key in all this is to understand biblical language properly in context. Its not always literal. This means Mary was earthy like Adam, before she was heavenly once Jesus redeemed and delivered her. She was redeemed and delivered by Jesus her Savior and Son, but there was never a time when she was earthy like Adam, since Gods special act of grace occurred at her conception. There are at least four biblical analogies to three prophets and a very important apostle being sanctified in the womb before they were born: Isaiah 49:1 . . . The LORD called me from the womb, . . . Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. (KJV: sanctified thee) Consecrated or sanctified in Jeremiah 1:5 is the Hebrew word quadash (Strongs word #6942). According to Gesenius Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1979 reprint, p. 725), in this instance it meant to declare any one holy. Luke 1:15 for he [John the Baptist] will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mothers womb. Galatians 1:15 . . . he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, Therefore, by analogy and plausibility, based on these biblical cross-references, we can and may conclude that it is biblical and reasonable to believe in faith that Mary was immaculately conceived. Nothing in the Bible contradicts this belief. And there is much that suggests various elements of it, as we have seen. It does require faith, of course, but based on the biblical data alone it is not an unreasonable or unbiblical belief at all. After Marys days of purification were completed in Luke two, she made burnt and sin offerings, which according to Leviticus 12 was required of mothers to make atonement or to cover their sins, which Mary would not need to do if she were immaculately conceived. Jesus observed the law, which included making sin offerings at Passover (see Mt 26:18; Mk 14:14; Lk 2:41-43; 22:7-15; Jn 2:13). Since He was sinless but still did these rituals (and also got baptized, which according to the NT, is a cleansing from sins, regeneration, and forgiveness: none of which He needed), so could Mary also be sinless and yet do the OT Jewish / Mosaic rituals. This dogma was defined by Pope Pius the ninth, but not ex cathedra in 1854 This is incorrect. It was indeed defined ex cathedra, (or, de fide, as we call it: dogma on the very highest level), in his encyclical Ineffabilis Deus (Dec. 8, 1854) and it had precisely the sort of profoundly authoritative language that is involved in proclaiming binding dogmas: We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful. and is not shared by the Eastern Orthodox, despite not schisming [sic] with the West until the 11th century demonstrating that this was a much later development foreign to the New Testament writers and the early church. It was a relatively later development, but it doesnt follow that its foreign in its essence (Marys sinlessness) to either the New Testament or to the early Church. See my paper: Church Fathers: Mary is Sinless [7-16-08] Ive already made an argument for Marys sinlessness from the Bible only, and shown four parallels to her being sanctified from the womb. the Bodily Assumption of Mary to Heaven infallibly defined ex cathedra by Pope Pius the 12th in 1950, which states after the completion of her earthly life was assumed body and soul into the glory of heaven, which strongly implies she died first. Most Catholics (including myself) believe that she did die first, since her Son died, but that wasnt part of the dogma, as indicated by the phrase, after the completion of her earthly life. Yet, if Mary did not inherit the stain of original sin passed down from Adam, she would not have died That doesnt follow, either, since Jesus had no sin, original or actual, and was God, and yet He died. This also contradicts the biblical purpose of an assumption. . . . Hebrews 11:5 states, By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death. And he was not found because God took him up. In 2 Kings 2:11, Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven, meaning he did not see death either before being assumed to heaven. Since this dogma allows for her to have died before being taken up to heaven, it contradicts the purpose of a biblical assumption. That the one being assumed would not see death and so their corpse would not be found as the case for both Enoch and Elijah demonstrates. But since it allows for Mary to have died, then it is much of a partial contradiction to scripture as the dogma of Jehovahs Witnesses of Jesus being the son of God and Michael. I dont see how. The similar events noted: Enoch and Elijah, didnt involve undergoing death (and the same might be true of Moses), but in the case of the Two Witnesses in Revelation, they died (Rev 11:7), and remained dead for three-and-a-half days, much like Jesus (11:8-9). Then they rose up (11:11) and went up to heaven in a cloud (11:12). So there is no set pattern, and Marys Assumption (if one believes she died) is more similar to what happened with the Two Witnesses. Being incorrupt after death is not unusual. There are all sorts of documented cases for that. But this dogma would still be a contradiction if Mary remained alive before assumption, since the biblical purpose of an assumption is so the individual would not see death That was not true of the Two Witnesses, as shown. This being the case, Steve cant refer to the biblical purpose as if there is only one, and one way that these spectacular events happened. because this dogma affirms the Immaculate Conception of Mary did not inherit original sin passed down to Adam to all of mankind. Therefore Mary would not need to be assumed to heaven to keep her from seeing death if she were conceived sinless. Thats exactly right. The key words are would not need. It wasnt a necessity. It was fitting just as her Immaculate Conception was. Hence the proclamation in 1854 mentioned the word fitting three times. Likewise, the proclamation on Marys Assumption, Munificentissimus Deus (Nov. 1, 1950) also mentioned that this was fitting seven times. I defend the notion of fittingness (which many Protestants seem to think is a solely Catholic and unbiblical thing) from the Bible. This being the case, Steves argument in this regard collapses, since it suffers from a false premise. Regarding proof from scripture, for this dogma founder and senior fellow of Catholic Answers, Karl Keating wrote There is none, in his book, Catholicism and Fundamentalism. He stated, Strictly, there is none (p. 275, my italics). The word strictly refers to explicit proof. Thats made more clear by what he wrote on page 272 (my italics again): True, no express scriptural proofs for the doctrine are available. But he did not contend that there were absolutely no proofs or no indication at all in the Bible. For in the very next sentence he wrote: The possibility of a bodily assumption before the Second Coming is not excluded by 1 Corinthians 15:23, and it is even suggested by Matthew 27:52-53 [the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many]. Accordingly, I make several arguments for Marys Assumption from Scripture alone: Bodily Assumption of Mary: Harmonious with the Bible? [2002] Marys Assumption: Brief Explanation, with a New (?) Biblical Parallel [3-1-07] Defending Mary (Revelation 12 & Her Assumption) [5-28-12] Understanding that these three Catholic Marian Dogmas contradict scripture has twofold importance. One, the sole non-falsifiable and fallible authority of the Roman Catholic church, sola ecclesia, which teaches these Marian Dogmas versus a sole infallible authority of scripture sola scriptura, which contradicts them. And two, they are binding to the faithful Catholic, who is threatened with an anathema if they reject any of them, despite them all contradicting God-breathed scripture. But they dont contradict the Bible at all, as I have shown above, with much Scripture. Again, Steves premises and conclusions are both wrong. Regarding her bodily assumption that Pope declared infallibly, if anyone should dare willfully to deny that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic faith. It is forbidden to any man to change this, to oppose and counter it. If any man should presume to make such an attempt, let him know that he will incur the wrath of almighty God and the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul. Its saying that if a man denies what is established to be true, then he is in deep trouble, yes. All Christians believe that. Catholics merely extend the principle further than Protestants do. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16:22: If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. So Catholics talk like Paul did. Paul even referred or appealed to Gods judgment regarding something personal that a man did to him: 2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will requite him for his deeds. Paul teaches shunning and separation from sinners and unbelievers in several passages. For example, If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed (2 Thess 3:14). Thus, the ideas of the warning and the anathema are themselves very biblical and especially Pauline. Protestants simply dont like what the Church is shunning people for. But I have shown in this article how they are misguided and mistaken in their critiques of us. Regarding the Immaculate Conception, the other Pope declared, but not infallibly, It was infallible. I dont know why Steve thinks otherwise. He doesnt specify. So these Marian Dogmas are not optional or fitting for the faithful Catholic to believe, but are required and binding to the Catholic to remain in good standing in communion with the Roman Catholic church, despite them all contradicting God breathed scripture. Again, they dont contradict Scripture, as shown. Its no different than the five points of TULIP not being optional or fitting for Calvinists, or adult believers baptism not being expected and required for Baptists (Steves present group). All Christians believe things, and many of them are compulsory not optional for members (at least theoretically so). When I attended the Assemblies of God for four years (where I met my wife and got married), part of their official beliefs was the notion that if one is filled with the Holy Spirit, he or she would always speak in tongues. I thought that clearly contradicted Pauls teaching; consequently, I was honest about it and never formally became a member. So Catholics are required to believe in the Immaculate Conception and Bodily Assumption of Mary. This is some shocking revelation! (so Steve insinuates)? Catholics ought to believe Catholic doctrines, just as the Calvinist believes in Calvinist doctrines, the Lutheran in consubstantiation, the Amish in radical separation from the larger culture, the Orthodox in icons, etc.? This is front page news and is somehow scandalous? When early followers of Jesus began to focus their adoration on Mary, rather than on Christ alone, Jesus responded, Rather blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. No one was adoring Mary. This is a distortion of what happened in this incident. Once it is understood, no one should have any problem with it at all. Mark 3:31-35 And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. [32] And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you. [33] And he replied, Who are my mother and my brothers? [34] And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, Here are my mother and my brothers! [35] Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother. (cf. Mt 12:46-49; Lk 8:20-21) Lets take a closer look at this, to see what Jesus was really driving at. Was he trying to denigrate veneration of His mother? No. Jesus took this opportunity to show that He regarded all of His followers (in what would become the Christian Church) as family. Similarly, He told His disciples, I have called you friends (Jn 15:15). It doesnt follow that this is a rebuff of this kin (i.e., his immediate family). He simply moved from literal talk of families to a larger conception and vision of families as those who do the will of God. He widened the net, so to speak. Thus, Jesus habitually used brethren to describe those who were not His immediate family (Mt 5:47; 23:8; 25:40; 28:10; Lk 22:32; Jn 20:17). Its not a rebuff of His mother and half-brothers and/or cousins. Its simply the beginning of the Body of Christ, and the Christian Church being regarded as one large, extended family. Its a both/and situation; not an either/or one, involving false dichotomies that arent biblical. Go to Part II *** * Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist , and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog. * The Case this is the song of mehitabel of mehitabel the alley cat as i wrote you before boss mehitabel is a believer in the pythagorean theory of the transmigration of the soul and she claims that formerly her spirit was incarnated in the body of cleopatra that was a long time ago and one must not be surprised if mehitabel has forgotten some of her more regal manners i have had my ups and downs but wotthehell wotthehell yesterday sceptres and crowns fried oysters and velvet gowns and today i herd with bums but wotthehell wotthehell i wake the world from sleep as i caper and sing and leap when i sing my wild free tune wotthehell wotthehell under the blear eyed moon i am pelted with cast off shoon but wotthehell wotthehell do you think that i would change my present freedom to range for a castle or moated grange wotthehell wotthehell cage me and i d go frantic my life is so romantic capricious and corybantic and i m toujours gai toujours gai i know that i am bound for a journey down the sound in the midst of a refuse mound but wotthehell wotthehell oh i should worry and fret death and i will coquette there s a dance in the old dame yet toujours gai toujours gai i once was an innocent kit wotthehell wotthehell with a ribbon my neck to fit and bells tied onto it o wotthehell wotthehell but a maltese cat came by with a come hither look in his eye and a song that soared to the sky and wotthehell wotthehell and i followed adown the street the pad of his rhythmical feet o permit me again to repeat wotthehell wotthehell my youth i shall never forget but there s nothing i really regret wotthehell wotthehell there s a dance in the old dame yet toujours gai toujours gai the things that i had not ought to i do because i ve gotto wotthehell wotthehell and i end with my favorite motto toujours gai toujours gai boss sometimes i think that our friend mehitabel is a trifle too gay My editor at Shambhala Matt Zepelin is slowly grinding through the great pile of words I presented to him, trying to discern the book he believes is buried in there somewhere. He recently came to one part and he advised me it needed an illustration, perhaps something like something he heard second hand attributed to Shunryu Suzuki. An enlightened person who loves alcohol, when they pass the liquor store, their head will still turn. I was much taken with it but was uncomfortable with the second hand nature of the citation. Also I had the impression Suzuki wasnt much of a drinker and thought it an unlikely image for him. And so I began a bit of a journey. I asked friends on social media, whom among the crackers wise and people who respond to a different question than the one asked, there are an unusually high number of folk who know something about Zen and the Zen scene. One such friend in the later category, Doug Bates, who is also prominent on the Pyrrhonist scene, said he heard Daido Loori cite it as an observation from Daidos teacher, Taizan Maezumi. As Maezumi was both a deeply wise person of the way, and an alcoholic, whose alcoholism actually killed him, it added a particularly poignant edge to the quote. As to the Suzuki provenance another friend said, why dont you ask David Chadwick. David is the author of the magisterial biography of Suzuki, Crooked Cucumber as well as perhaps the most delightful of the Zen memoirs Ive ever read, Thank You, and Okay. David also manages a gigantic archive of all things Shunryu Suzuki. So, I did. David, said the allusion is a commonplace in Chinese and Japanese Zen. Which, I want to assert, I know. At least in the sense of the deep teaching as presented as one of the important points in the famous Fox koan. He also said he was sure that he heard Suzuki say that, although probably with the word sake instead of alcohol. He didnt have a direct citation in mind however. So, I continued to dig a bit. And I found the transcript of a talk the roshi gave in 1971. He described the abbot of Eiheiji, one of the two major training temples in Japanese Soto Zen, Kitano Zenji. Zenji is a title, an honorific somewhat higher than Roshi. Never used in this country. It appears the old abbot was a very serious smoker. At some point he quit. But he always wanted a smoke. And it seems every once in a while he would smoke a cigarette. And then in the talk Suzuki Roshi comes to the point. But even though he gave up smoking, he has desire as long as he is alive, you know. But he knows how to treat his desire, thats all. This all led me to reflect a bit on the matter of awakening. If youre not familiar with the Fox koan, its quite compelling. On the surface it seems to be a discussion of karma. Okay, it is. But it point out how we dont usually get what karma might actually mean. The koan is framed as a ghost story. In the first part it turns on a conversation between the current master of a Zen monastery and the ghost of a former master who when asked many ages before whether someone who is awakened is bound by cause and effect, you know, karma? His answer was no. And it led to all those ages reincarnating as a fox spirit, a particularly unsavory version of ghost in that time and place. The current master corrected the old master, saying something that actually seems a bit hard to translate, but is a bit different than a straightforward yes. More about not evading or being one with. But the juicy part happens later in a second conversation when the new master tells the story to his community. One of his students asks, Well, master. What if the old master gave the right answer? An enlightened person who loves alcohol, when they pass the liquor store, their head will still turn. Many of us want our Zen teachers to be perfect. Enlightenment means not being tangled, not doing the wrong thing. And then they meet real Zen teachers. It can be very disappointing. Even in Suzuki Roshis smoking story, the renowned abbot, despite Suzukis line He knows how to treat his desire runs up against the fact the abbot continues to sneak a smoke. And, to make sure we dont miss the point, theres Maezumis fatal addiction. And. And this is so important. This does not mean they did not penetrate to the heart of the matter. Theres an old Zen line, even the Buddha is still training. The classic formula for Zen as a living tradition has three aspects. One is the great achievement, that winning of the race, finding our true nature. It is summarized in the Zen way in the deep knowing that form is emptiness and emptiness is form. Another are the constellation of practices. And the other is the ethical container. And then what? If we speak and no matter the answer we get five hundred lives as a fox. We become a renowned Zen master and we sneak cigarettes. We found one of the most vibrant Zen lineages in the West and are killed by drink. The light inside the dark. Which comes from an ancient Chinese poem the Cantongqi, more commonly known in English by its Japanese name Sandokai. It also says theres dark inside the light. It can be hard to discern anyway to disentangle the parts. In my old age Ive come, slowly, slowly, to appreciate the foibles and outright flaws of my character, the bad choices mix up with the good choices and the better aspects of who I am. They are not extricable one from the other. They can be minded, there are good anti smoking workshops, and Im a big fan of AA. Me, my abiding issues as they manifest these days lead me to be a paying member of weight watchers. And theres no letting ourselves off the hook, or the several hooks. There are always consequences. And theyre not ours alone. Were all in this mess together. Oh yes, and theres that koan. Mehitabels koan. Mehitabels presentation and invitation. After all that Zen stuff, after the great assertion, after throwing myself over and over again onto the pillow, after I bind myself to vows and fail and fail again, then what? What does it look like? Archy had once been a free-verse poet. A consequence of this led him to reincarnate as a cockroach. Among his companions was Mehitabel. Mehitabel had once been Cleopatra, but was now an alley cat with a weakness for bad boys. Archy would communicate his adventures and those of his friends to a newspaperman named Don Marquis. He would do this by jumping from key to key on Marquis old stand up manual typewriter. Because of this there were no punctuation marks, and of necessity the notes were brief. I count Archy and Mehitabel among my friends. As to Mehitabel. I suspect for her sins it was five hundred lives as a cat. I originally identified with Archy, the wry observer of life. But I realize my soul was Mehitabels. The grandeur of the awakened life is there, but often a dream of a past life. Today maybe its all more of a garbage scow and always mixed up with the come hither of that Maltese. These are hard times. I suspect rather than riding a handcart on our way to perdition were more likely all on that garbage scow on that journey down the sound. I can smell it. But broken and failed and a faint version of a better self, you know, I find how beautiful it can be, how good it can be. Even the garbage scow. (Theres a koan pointer there, in case you didnt pick it up.) And. And, I return to the pillow. And I practice with friends and cherish companions. I lean up against old Shakyamuni and wink at his friend Jesus. I find it hard to tell Archy and Mehitabel and Don apart, creator and created, the divine and the earth. And those five hundred lives as a cat. And I find the way is feeling how the light and the dark weave together creating what we can be Toujours gai Friends. toujours gai Amazon Prime Day is finally here and ready to party. Are you ready for it? If youre in the market for an immersive curved monitor for those late night gaming sessions, you better strap in, as weve got an amazing deal on tap for you today. Amazons currently selling the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 monitor for just $499.99, which is 50 percent off of the original $999.99 price tag. Holy cow. The 43-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 features a resolution of 38402160, a refresh rate of 144Hz, and a response time of 1ms. Whether youre playing a first-person-shooter or watching an epic fantasy movie, visuals should be buttery smooth. The Samsung Gaming Hub grants you instant access to various streaming services as well as cloud gaming. And lets not forget about AMDs FreeSync Premium Pro. This technology syncs up your monitors refresh rate with your GPU, resulting in smooth gameplay. This is a fantastic deal. Get it now before its gone. Get the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 monitor for $499.99 at Amazon The government has officially announced the resolution of all outstanding arrears owed to members of the Individual Bondholders' Forum. In a statement released by the Finance Ministry on Monday, it was confirmed that all due coupons and principals up to June 19 have been fully paid, and instructions for coupon payments until July 10, 2023, have been dispatched. Furthermore, the government has reiterated its commitment to maintaining a continuous and constructive dialogue with the leadership of the Coalition of Individual Bondholders Groups (CIBG). It has emphasized its unwavering dedication to implementing the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached with the bondholders. Previously, the CIBG, comprising the Ghana Individual Bondholders Forum and the Individual Bondholders Association of Ghana, had threatened to stage a protest at the Finance Ministry to demand the settlement of outstanding principals and coupons. Their discontent stemmed from the government's failure to adhere to the agreed-upon payment plan outlined in the MOU. However, the government has successfully fulfilled its commitment to pay all arrears related to coupons for bonds maturing by May 31, 2023, as well as coupons due from June 1, 2023, in line with the terms stipulated in the MOU. "The Ministry of Finance expresses its gratitude to all bondholders for their unwavering support during this period of tight liquidity. The government remains confident that by working collaboratively with all stakeholders, we will restore macroeconomic stability, achieve inclusive economic growth, and transform the Republic," stated the Finance Ministry. The government's announcement signifies a positive step towards addressing the concerns of individual bondholders and ensuring the fulfilment of financial obligations as agreed upon. Meanwhile, the members of the Coalition of Individual Bondholders Groups suspended their planned picketing at the premises of the Finance Ministry, to demand payments of their outstanding principals and coupons after the payment. The group, made up of the Ghana Individual Bondholders Forum and the Individual Bondholders Association of Ghana, had earlier lamented that the government had failed to honour a Memorandum of Understanding meant to guide the agreed payment plan. The group had warned that it will picket each day from today, July 11 till its grievances were addressed, but the decision has been reversed. Victory has been brought to our doors with Government announcing at 11:40 pm yesterday of its payment of all outstanding principals and coupons and a commitment to honour the MoU of 16th May 2023. Considering this development, the joint steering committee of the IBF and IBHAG has decided to suspend the march and picketing unless the Government breaches its commitment again. We remain indeed angry, but we choose to exercise extreme self-control, provided that the Government continues to fulfil its obligations promptly as agreed, the group said in a statement. Source: Graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, has held fruitful deliberations with the Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, Mr. Daren Tang, on the sidelines of the General Assembly of Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) currently ongoing in Geneva. The Attorney-General whose Ministry is responsible for matters concerning intellectual property rights in Ghana, on 7th July, 2023, officially led a Government delegation consisting of the Registrar-General of Ghana, Mrs. Grace Issahaque, senior officials of the Ministry of Justice and Ghanas Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr. Emmanuel Kwame Antwi, to the sixty-fourth (64th) edition of the General Assembly of the world body held at the headquarters of WIPO. Mr. Dame honoured an invitation for a meeting with the head of the global institution responsible for administering intellectual property in order to discuss pertinent issues relating to Ghanas development in intellectual property as well as Ghanas current status as the Coordinator of the African Group of Member States of WIPO from 2023 to 2024, a position Ghana is holding for the first time in over 20 years. Ghana is also the Vice-President of the Lisbon Union on Geographical Indications and President of the Paris Union Assembly of WIPO. WIPO Director-General, Mr. Daren Tangs comments The Director-General of WIPO expressed his sincerest appreciation for the honouring of the invitation by the Attorney-General of Ghana as well as the ministerial support for WIPOs work exhibited by Mr. Dame. Mr. Tang noted that Ghana had in recent times shown strong leadership on the African continent as far as intellectual property was concerned. He expressed the view that Ghanas status as the Coordinator of the African Group at WIPO can only result in meaningful development for Africas intellectual property law if backed by the necessary ministerial leadership, which Ghana is demonstrating. The Director-General of WIPO noted that the registration of the Bolga basket by Ghana as a geographical indication from Ghana as well as the deposit of the instrument of ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (the UPOV Convention) by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice in November, 2021, are very remarkable steps by Ghana in the protection of intellectual property. Mr Tang affirmed his preparedness to assist Ghana in the significant strides it is making in intellectual property. A-Gs Remarks The Attorney-General expressed his delegations appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to them by the World Intellectual Property Organisation and assured that Ghanawill continue to deepen its special relationship with the Director-General in particular, and WIPO in general. He also stated that the Government of Ghana under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, recognizes the importance of innovation, creativity and industrialization as key to national development. The need to foster an enabling environment for creativity and innovation to thrive at the national and continental level, according to Mr. Dame, has assumed paramount importance to the Government of Ghana, with the recent location of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area in Accra, which has a dedicated Intellectual Property Division. Ghana as Coordinator of African Group of WIPO As Coordinator of the African Group, the Attorney-General indicated that the Director-General of WIPO can expect maximum cooperation and collaboration from Ghana and the African Group. He assured the global body of Ghanas steadfast support and commitment to the work of WIPO and close monitoring of the work of the African Group. Request for technical assistance Mr. Dame requested WIPOs technical assistance for the upgrading of Ghanas intellectual property system, described as the IPAS system for Intellectual Property Office administration including the Madrid Module at Ghanas national offices, in order to enable the office provide efficient services to users. He also added that Ghana looks forward to advancing the project on Geographical Indications in the coming months, aimed at improving the usage of the intellectual property rights systems and protection as a tool for increased development and prosperity in Ghana. The A-G noted that Ghana would require the technical support of WIPO to effectively sharpen the skills of the staff to man the affairs of the Office particularly, in the area of Geographical Indications. Request for Ghana to hold the Directorship of the African Bureau of WIPO and more senior positions in WIPOs Management The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice used the occasion to request the support of the Director-General of WIPO for Ghana to hold more senior positions in the world body. Mr. Dame first noted that a Ghanaian national, Dr Edward Kwakwa, currently serves as an Assistant Director-General of WIPO and works closely with Mr Tang. He stated that anothersenior staff, Mrs Loretta Asiedu is very competent, hard-working and well-connected with member states and the African Missions in Geneva. Having been made the acting Director of the African Bureau, Mr. Dame expressed the hope that Mrs. Loretta Asiedu will be favourably be considered for the substantive position of Director at the African Bureau/Sector of WIPO, when nominations are opened. Response of Mr. Tang The Director-General of WIPO, supported the comment of Mr. Dame about the competence of Mrs. Asiedu and indicated that whilst he would do his best possible in view of the proposal by the Attorney-General, positions within WIPO are usually advertised and competed for. He however had no doubt that the experience and ability of Mrs. Loretta Asiedu would be a valuable asset for her. Mr. Dame has since left for Ghana after the meeting with the WIPO boss. The rest of the Ghana delegation continues with participation in the General Assembly which ends on 14thJuly, 2023. Source: Peacefmonline com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Senior Psychologist, Professor Joseph Osafo has thrown his support for the anti-LGBTQ+ bill before Parliament to be passed into law. The anti-LGBTQ+ bill, when passed, will ensure any person caught in the act of homosexuality or advocating for the practices of homosexuals is held culpable for contravening the law and be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions in the anti-gay bill. The offenders risk going to jail or being fined or both. Contributing to Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Professor Joseph Osafo stated emphatically that he fully supports the bill, however, he appealed for a review of some portions of it. "As a Pastor, I support the bill but as a clinician, let's reassess it and work on the parts that won't help us because if we are not careful and we pass the bill to a certain level, there may be some people who genuinely need help" but, due to the bill, may face prosecution, he stated. Prof. Joseph Osafo also stressed it is time for Ghana and Africa at large to be assertive in what they want and believe will help their society. "I have worked as a suicidologist within the Ghanaian context and the African context. Africa now is leading in suicidality. It is the youngest continent. Our infrastructure, health infrastructure is down; it is not the best . . . I think Africans ought to be assertive a little bit," he said. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video People have woken up to snow and sleet in South Africa's biggest city, Johannesburg, for the first time in over a decade. South Africans are being warned to keep warm as a cold front sweeps across most of the country. "No major disruptions have been caused by the snowfall at this stage," a spokesman for the South African Weather Service (Saws) has told the BBC. Cold weather conditions are expected to continue through the week. Many people in Johannesburg on Monday seem enchanted by the rare sight of snow in their city. "Some of the pupils and I went out to explore... some of them had seen snow before whereas others thought it was raining," says primary school teacher Agnes Mideva. Domestic worker Nobukhosi Stompie told the BBC she travelled through the snow on her way to work, and had never seen anything like it. "We're keeping warm indoors so we're fine," says caretaker Billy Nxumalo. "Snow was everywhere, covering the fields near our neighbourhood - it was really beautiful to see." As winter begins in the southern hemisphere nation, meteorologists are keeping a close eye on developments. Snow has been reported in a number of provinces including the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and the Gauteng region which includes Johannesburg and Soweto. Weather experts have advised initiation schools in the Eastern Cape to be extra vigilant over the next week as they keep watch over hundreds of teenage boys undergoing traditional circumcision rites on isolated mountainsides across the province, a practice seen as a rite of passage into manhood amongst the Xhosa ethnic group. Farmers are also being advised to provide shelter for their livestock during the cold spell. It is not clear what role climate change has played in the rare snowfall. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghana took a significant step towards strengthening its cybersecurity infrastructure by signing the Council of Europes Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention). Ghana ratified the Budapest Convention in April 2019 and is one of six African countries to do so. On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, the Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, signed the Protocol on behalf of Ghana at the Council of Europe Headquarters in Strasbourg, France. Ghana is the second African country, following Mauritius, to sign the Protocol. In her opening remarks, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful expressed Ghanas appreciation to the Council of Europe for its relentless efforts towards a global response to cybercrimes through strengthening international cooperation and providing an opportunity for Member States to work together effectively. She applauded the Council for the recent workshop and public consultation held on June 8 and 9, 2023, in Ghana, which created the platform for relevant stakeholders to deliberate and obtain a better understanding of the principles of the Protocol. The Minister bemoaned that since the powers of officials in the criminal justice sectors are limited by territorial boundaries, only a few cybercrime cases are reported to criminal justice authorities, leading to criminal justice actions. She, however, revealed that the Protocol responds to these challenges by providing the tools for enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence. She further explained that the adoption of the Protocol will strengthen cybercrime investigation efforts and lead to more adjudication of cybercrime cases, globally. The Minister, who was accompanied by the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, and the Ag. Director, Capacity Building and Awareness Creation, at the CSA, Mr. Alexander Oppong pledged Ghanas commitment to taking the necessary steps toward the full implementation of the articles in the Protocol and will continue to count on the Council of Europe on this partnership. The brief ceremony also witnessed the signing of the Protocol by Hungary. Cabo Verde, signed the Amending Protocol to the Convention for Protection of Individuals on Personnel Data as well as the Second Additional Protocol as Slovak Republic, also deposited the instrument of ratification of the First Additional Protocol. Ghana's designation as a hub country under the Global Action on Cybercrime Enhanced (GLACY-e) project highlights its role as a leader in cybersecurity. Ghana is one of the three hub countries in Africa, the others being Senegal and Mauritius, in recognition of its prior engagement with the GLACY+ project. The Project is an extension of the Global Action on Cybercrime Extended (GLACY+) Project, with a projected duration of 30 months, from August 2023 to January 2026. As a hub country, Ghana will spearhead training programmes for law enforcement agencies, conduct case simulation exercises, organize awareness workshops, and share best practices at regional and international levels. Through its involvement in the GLACY-e project, Ghana will gain access to targeted advice on training strategies. By signing the Protocol and assuming the role of a hub country, Ghana reaffirms its commitment to combatting cybercrime, protecting its citizens, and fostering international cooperation. These efforts align with Ghana's vision to establish a secure and resilient digital ecosystem, safeguarding its citizens and fostering economic growth in the digital age. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang has denied all allegations of involvement in illegal mining activities during her criminal trial. In her witness statement, Huang stated that her firm has never engaged in any mining activity and does not possess a mining license. The state presented 11 witnesses who testified to her involvement in illegal mining in the Ashanti Region, however, Huang argues that the evidence presented by the prosecution is false. Huang, who returned to Ghana illegally after being deported in 2018, is facing charges of engaging in illegal mining without a license. Meanwhile, her son, Huang Lei, was convicted and sentenced to a fine of GH10,800 for remaining in Ghana after the expiration of his permit, possession of ammunition without lawful authority, and possession of forged official documents. Lei was arrested in November of the previous year and initially pleaded not guilty. However, in December 2022, Leis lawyer revealed plans for his client to change his plea to guilty. Consequently, he was sentenced to a fine of GH10,800 and deportation. The case of Aisha Huang continues to be closely monitored as it exposes the illegal mining activities taking place in Ghana by Chinese nationals. The outcome of her trial will serve as a deterrent to others engaged in illegal mining activities. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Clayton Hetrick planned to major in mechanical engineering at Shippensburg University this fall, but when he got the news, he knew college would have to wait. The recent Big Spring graduate was selected as state vice president of the Pennsylvania Future Farmers of America, or FFA, a term he'll hold from June 15, the day he was elected, to June 13, 2024. Hetrick will be one of seven Pennsylvania FFA state officers that represent more than 13,000 FFA members in Pennsylvania, according to the organization. Other Cumberland County-based officers are Cumberland Valley High School graduate Grace Brammer, who will serve as the sentinel, and Shippensburg High School graduate Madeline Musser, who will serve as the chaplain. Officers are tasked with advocating for agriculture, agriculture education and the FFA, as well as conducting multiple leadership conferences and state conventions, Hetrick said. As Pennsylvania FFA state vice president, he will travel across the state to visit nearly 60 FFA chapters. Hetrick will complete training in Washington, D.C., alongside officers from other states and territories in the coming weeks and make his way to the Eastern Region States Exposition in Massachusetts. In October, he will venture to Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention, where he and his team of officers will serve as national delegates and provide solutions to better the organization and its membership. Hetrick's FFA involvement began his freshman year of high school, when he was a member. In spite of losing a portion of the year to the COVID-19 pandemic, he ran for office the following year, and Hetrick remained with the organization throughout his time in high school. The selection process for the state office included several rounds of in-person and online interviews, he said. Candidates also had to take an exam to demonstrate their knowledge of the agriculture industry, FFA history and current FFA programs. Hetrick said he didn't run for a specific position as a state officer. Instead, the organization's nominating committee selects the seven people it feels would form the best team before determining which office each person will hold. This year, 33 candidates vied for one of seven state officer positions, Hetrick said. A self proclaimed "family-oriented" person, he anticipates being away from home will be difficult, but ultimately he believes it will allow him to focus on the task at hand, making him a more effective officer. After Hetrick's time as a Pennsylvania FFA officer, he plans to attend Shippensburg University in fall 2024. The Sentinel spoke to Hetrick in the weeks after his selection for a look at some of the opportunities before him and how his time at Big Spring prepared him for what comes next: Q1: Why was this opportunity something you wanted to pursue? A: I wanted to pursue this due to the opportunities it opens for me, as well as the impact I will be able to make on not only my peers' lives, but also the students, teachers, administrators and even the general population. Nearly 7% of the country thinks that chocolate milk comes from brown cows. I want to be able to lower that number and educate people [about] where their food comes from. Q2: What has FFA taught you during your time at Big Spring? A: This organization is what you make it. However much you invest in it is what you will get. If you sit around, it wont be more than a bullet on your resume. If you utilize what opportunities are given to you, you will go places. All the doors are open and propped open by the advisers, you just have to go through them. Q3: What do you hope to learn through your role as Pennsylvanias FFA vice president? A: As the Pennsylvania FFA state vice president, I am hoping to expand my knowledge of agricultural commodities, as well as how the state FFA program [works]. I hope to learn about current industry needs and growth that we should be looking for in the near future to maintain our ability to produce more food with less land. Q4: Which opportunity with this role excites you the most and why? A: The opportunity to be a mentor, role model or supporter excites me the most. A lot of students need a mentor or role model. I want to be able to be that for the students and have them excited about agriculture but also be excited to see their friend they made at the last event. Q5: What does it mean to you to represent Big Spring at the state level? A: It is a huge honor to represent Big Spring and the Big Spring community. It also shows how great of a community we are in. I am hoping to be able to kind of brag about my community as well and use our model of a community and show others what it takes to work together. Photos: Scenes from the 2023 Big Spring High School commencement ceremony WILLIAMSPORT A New Jersey man who admitted videoing a 14-year-old central Pennsylvania girl engaged in a sexual act has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. U.S. Middle District Judge Mathew W. Brann called David Taylor, 34, a danger to society and said he cant be trusted to control his own desires. The jail sentence imposed Tuesday will be followed by 10 years of supervised release with extensive conditions. Taylor also must pay a special assessment of $5,000. The man who was struck and killed while crossing a Harrisburg street Saturday night has still not been identified, despite investigators searches of multiple databases. The Dauphin County Coroners Office on Tuesday asked the public for help identifying the man, who was hit around 9 p.m. while walking east across the 200 block of East 17th Street. The coroners office said the man died from multiple traumatic injuries. His death was ruled a homicide. Harrisburg police said the striking vehicle, described as a dark-colored BMW X5 SUV, fled the scene and was last seen driving east on Derry Street. Police asked the public to be on the lookout for the vehicle and they released blurry video surveillance images of the vehicle, which was suspected to have heavy-front-end damage. Police said they may have recovered the vehicle Monday morning in Susquehanna Township. The identity of the driver is still under investigation. The area of the crash along South 17th Street is bordered on one side by row homes and the Harrisburg Masjid mosque. Piccolos Cafe is across the street. There are no marked crosswalks on the block. But under Pennsylvania law, a legal crosswalk exists at all intersections, whether marked or not, and pedestrians have the same rights in all crosswalks. Anyone with information on the pedestrians identity can call the coroners office at 717-564-4567. Tips about the vehicle and its occupants can be made by calling Harrisburg police at 717-558-6900, or online through CrimeWatch. READ MORE: Coroner IDs man killed in weekend Harrisburg shooting Look inside Broad Street Market, hours after fire destroyed Harrisburg building PHILADELPHIA A day before killing four people in a mass shooting in Philadelphia last week, authorities say the gunman went to his first victims door wearing a dark mask, shot through it and yelled that he was law enforcement before entering the home and continuing to shoot, police officials said at a news conference Monday. The details were revealed a day after police announced that it was likely Joseph Wamah Jr., 31, had been killed in the early hours of July 2, and not during the larger July 3 attack, as police had initially thought, and that a 911 call reporting the gunshots had been misrouted to the wrong neighborhood. Officials said they have not found a connection between Wamah and the suspected shooter, Kimbrady Carriker. Authorities believe Carriker, 40, fatally shot Wamah in the early hours of July 2 and then, about 44 hours later, opened fire randomly with an AR-15-style rifle, killing four others and wounding four more in a southwest Philadelphia neighborhood. Wamah was killed in a row house on South 56th Street, but Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Monday that officers were dispatched several miles away to North 56th Street instead. Upon not finding any evidence of a shooting there, Outlaw said the officers asked dispatch to call back the 911 caller. She declined to discuss details of that follow-up call. I will abstain from providing the details of that interaction as they are currently under internal investigation, Outlaw said. Outlaw said the call came in to dispatch about 2 a.m., nearly 90 minutes after the shooting was believed to have happened early July 2. When asked how she would respond to people in the neighborhood suggesting that if officers had gone to the correct address, it might have prevented the shooting Monday, Outlaw pushed back against the line of thinking. I caution individuals to go down that rabbit hole. We can coulda, shoulda, woulda all day ... That doesnt make anyone feel better, Outlaw said. Its tragic, its unfortunate. We dont like the fact that we are adding to the atrocities that occurred, she added. Outlaw said because the injuries Wamah sustained were so extensive, she did not believe officers could have saved Wamahs life if they had been correctly routed. Calls and emails to Wamahs family members seeking comment were not immediately returned Monday. Meanwhile, while the dispatch response is being investigated, Outlaw said the department has instituted another failsafe to try to prevent calls from being wrongly marked as unfounded. She said a higher level of supervisor will have to review and OK it before a call is dismissed. Deputy Commissioner Krista Dahl-Campbell said when 911 calls are received, the system identifies a location for the caller. Dispatchers have the option of automatically transferring that location to dispatchers, but in this case and in most cases, the operator inputs the location by hand. Oftentimes you are not calling about yourself ... so they end up inputting the reported information instead, she said. Outlaw and others said several times that the caller did not specify north or south during the report. Once officers checked the location they were routed to, asked for the callback, and checked again, the call was reported to be unfounded in the system. Deputy Commissioner of Investigations Frank Vanore said police are still investigating a motive in both shootings. Carriker has been charged with five counts of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons charges. Vanore said it appeared the same weapon was used in the attacks. He had previously said both the AR-15-style weapon and a handgun found on Carriker after the shootings were self-manufactured weapons also known as ghost guns. Vanore also said if he had not been familiar with Carriker since he was taken into custody, he would not have been able to identify him from the surveillance video gathered in Wamahs shooting because he was wearing dark clothing and a mask covering his face. A representative of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, which is representing Carriker, said Monday they did not have a comment on the timeline changes or allegations from police. Police called to the Kingsessing neighborhood on July 3 around 8:30 p.m. found gunshot victims and started to help them before hearing more shots. Some officers rushed victims to hospitals while others ran toward the gunfire. Officers said witnesses and video of the attack indicated the suspect went to several locations while wearing a ski mask and body armor, carrying the AR-15-style rifle and shooting people and moving cars at random. Cornered in an alley, Carriker surrendered and was found to have two guns, extra magazines, a police scanner and a bulletproof vest, police said. Lashyd Merritt, 21; Dymire Stanton, 29; Ralph Moralis, 59; and DaJuan Brown, 15, were all killed in the July 3 attack. A 13-year-old and 2-year-old also suffered gunshot wounds and two others, including a 2-year-old, suffered wounds from shattered glass, police said. Claudia Lauer of The Associated Press wrote this story. AP reporter Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report. More: Fire engulfs building at Harrisburgs Broad Street Market Police find campsites possibly used by homicide suspect who escaped Pa. jail: reports Merriam-Webster describes the gyro as a sandwich, especially of lamb and beef, tomato, onion, and yogurt sauce on pita bread. Beloved by many, a national food website decided to inform readers as to where they can get the best gyros in each state, Pennsylvania included. Tasting Table notes that while the best gyros on the planet can be found in their home country of Greece, there are plenty of spots in the U.S. that can boast those that are just as delicious. For Pennsylvania the spot serving up the best gyro in the whole state, according to the website, would be the Souvlaki Boys Grill in Lancaster. In true Greek fashion, the Souvlaki Boys Grill in Lancaster was founded by cousins who decided to establish the grill after running a food truck for several years, the Tasting Table article reads. Michael Kambouroglos, the culinary brain behind this Greek spot, combined his studies at the Culinary Institute of America with his love for and knowledge of Greek cuisine to bring, as the business puts it, real Greek street food to America. His vision paid off, Souvlaki Boys Grill serves some of the most authentic gyro combinations in the area and in the usual Greek food style, i.e., ready to grab and go. Indeed, PennLive included the Souvlaki Boys food truck in a 2018 round-up of the best trucks you can go to throughout the state. Another 2018 article helpfully explained the proper way of saying gyro according to Greeks, so hopefully you can stop debating with your family and friends now. Sometimes it seems like its the end of the world, then you have a piece of chocolate and everythings suddenly okay. As far as favorite chocolates go, though, a new study has found Pennsylvanias top choice. Menu-Price.net which helps you peruse breakfast menus, secret menus, catering menus, gluten-free menus, and happy hour specials decided to find each states favorite chocolate bar in honor of World Chocolate Day on July 7. As explained by the studys press release, the websites team of researchers managed to do this by compiling a list of 30 popular candies before analyzing Google search data from over the last 12 months. The information garnered was then divided by location for final conclusions. Pennsylvanians appear to love Kit Kats more than any other form of chocolate out there, a preference also held by just four other states: Maryland, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wyoming. However, the absolute most popular candy nationwide is, according to the study, Milky Way. Taking the lead as the most popular candy bar is the Milky Way, reads the release. Its combination of smooth nougat, caramel, and milk chocolate has captivated candy enthusiasts in Alabama, Delaware, California, Georgia, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Virginia. In second place on a nation level is a candy of Pennsylvanian pride: Hersheys. Not far behind [Milky Way], Hersheys has garnered widespread popularity, securing its position in seven states, the release continues. This iconic brand has won over the hearts of candy lovers in Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Texas, and Utah. Some outlier choices were Almond Joy as preferred by those in New Jersey and Kinder Bueno, as loved by New Hampshire residents. By ALLEN G. BREED, RANDY HERSCHAFT, The Associated Press The apocalyptic scene is still burned into Mike Butterys memory 50 years later: Black smoke billowing from the top floor of the Military Personnel Records Center; bits of paper wafting through the air as dozens of firefighters tried desperately to stem the inferno. Theyd hit it (the paper) with the water, and the water would knock it back up in the air, and then it would float around some more out there, Buttery, then a janitor at the center, recalls of the wind-whipped paper swirling around the massive six-story building outside Saint Louis. As he watched from a safe remove, Buttery could only think of the millions of veterans like himself whose records were being consumed and how in the world would they get their benefits. It immediately went through my mind that those people were losing whatever history there was of their of their service, Buttery, who served with the Army in northern Vietnam, said during a recent interview from his suburban St. Louis home The July 12, 1973, fire in Overland, Missouri, consumed an estimated 16 to 18 million personnel files, the vast majority covering the period just before World War I through 1963. Its believed to be the largest loss of records in one catastrophe in U.S. history. It is an event that dogged untold veterans, forcing them to fight once more this time for benefits, medals and recognition theyd earned. It echoes to this day in the struggles of families seeking to document the achievements and sacrifices of loved ones, or to bury them with full military honors; and in the efforts of conspiracy theorists, still searching for proof of a nefarious plot behind what government investigators long ago wrote off as most likely the careless act of a single man. More than anything, it highlights the monumental, ongoing effort to reclaim the history that, at the time, seemed irretrievably lost. This photo provided by the National archives shows the damaged sixth floor and roof of the Military Personnel Records Center in Overland, Mo., near St. Louis, after a massive fire that started on July 12, 1973. (National Archives via AP)AP If the records center was meant to inspire awe, mission accomplished. Its size is difficult to comprehend, even when one is inside, Walter W. Stender and Evans Walker wrote in a 1974 article in The American Archivist titled, The National Personnel Records Center: A Study in Disaster. The sheer bulk alone makes a strong impression on the viewer, and the vast scale tends to overwhelm the quiet St. Louis suburban community of Overland where the building rises on a seventy-acre site, they wrote. The building, 728 feet long, 282 feet wide, six stories high, presents an impassive facade to the world with its rather bland curtain wall of glass and aluminum. Built for the Department of Defense in 1956, the facility was later turned over to the National Archives and Records Service, then part of the General Services Administration. By the time of the fire, the military records center and a nearby one for civilian records had been merged into the National Personnel Records Center. Walker and Stender, a future acting Archivist of the United States, said the 1.6 million-square-foot building reflected careful planning. But in actual function, they concluded, it was not a successful records center. There were some sprinklers on the first and second floors, but none in the stacks, and no firewalls between records storage areas. A rash of fires in the previous year prompted the government to conduct a study of the facility, which was released in the fall of 1972. The study concluded that the facility was at high risk for a devastating fire, pointing to the storage containers (cardboard, not metal), the lack of overhead sprinklers, and the ebb-and-flow of employee hours as three particular concerns, according to a recent blog post by Jessie Kratz, Historian of the National Archives. Less than a year later, Kratz noted, the worries were validated: the center was vastly unprepared for fire. Buttery says that was apparent, even to a janitor. It was so hot and so dry, Buttery says of the file areas. All that paper was packed in cardboard boxes on metal shelving, says Bill Elmore, a janitor assigned to the sixth floor. Basically, from the floor to the ceiling. The former Air Force crew chief, who was working there under a veteran readjustment program, was nearing the end of his eight-hour shift when he overheard a man pounding on the doors. The man, whom a guard described as having long hippie-type hair, shouted that smoke was pouring out of the upper-floor windows. It was 12:11 a.m., July 12. Elmore noticed a fellow janitor and veteran, Terry Davis, sprinting up the stairs. He followed, hoping to reach the firehoses near the escalators. What he saw is etched in my memory. I saw Terry running back towards the very door I had just opened with a scared look on his face, Elmore says. And a wall of smoke moving behind him faster than he could run. Elmore, Buttery and the others watched from a grassy hill as the windows exploded. There was a glow from the top of that building that was just, I mean, it was right up against the clouds, says Buttery. There was nothing that was going to stop it, that fire. It had too much fuel. According to a GSA investigation, janitor John Staufenbiel was the last person known to have been on the sixth floor. It was 12:05 a.m. Neither he nor two other custodians who later joined him on the freight elevator reported smelling smoke or seeing any signs of fire, the report said. This photo provided by the National archives shows the clearing of rubble after a massive fire at the Military Personnel Records Center in Overland, Mo., near St. Louis, which started on July 12, 1973. (National Archives via AP)AP The fire was not declared officially extinguished until the morning of July 16. It had burned so hot that steel-reinforced concrete columns on the sixth floor buckled, portions of the collapsed roof slab supported only by file cabinets. So much water was poured on the fire that holes had to be knocked in the outer walls to let it drain; eventually, bulldozers were hoisted onto the fifth floor, and what was left of the top story was shoved off the side. The search for a cause would be daunting. But arson was already front and center. An investigation found there had been 11 fires in the two and a half years leading up to the conflagration. Six of the incidents were classified as suspected arson, and three identified with careless smoking or disposal of smoking material. Elmore says the FBI was clearly looking for somebody to hang this thing on. At one point, he says agents led him to a small room and shut off the lights. And they turned one of those desk lights into my face, and they stood on the other side of the light in the dark room asking me questions, he says, including whether hed smoked on the roof and about any anti-war feelings or thoughts I might have. Buttery says agents came to his home and stayed almost half the night, questioning not only him, but his wife. In addition to looking into reports of faulty fans and undersized extension cords, agents ran down tips that dissident employees or someone of Asian extraction might have been involved in the fire (the Vietnam War was still raging at the time). According to a 383-page, partially redacted FBI investigative file, a summer employee was quizzed about any left-wing or militant-type individuals employed there. Workers were grilled about their marijuana use. Eventually, the probe turned to something far more mundane. A custodian had been going around telling colleagues that he might have started the fire. They passed that on to investigators. Three months to the day after the fire, the man confessed to agents: Around 11 p.m., hed snuck up to the sixth floor to smoke and had stubbed out his cigarette on one of the shelves. The man had been hired by a private organization that provided disabled workers for federal installations. U.S. Attorney Donald J. Stohr told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that it would be difficult to prove intent. The case was presented to a federal grand jury on Oct. 31, 1973. The panel declined to return an indictment. Ashley Cox, a preservation specialist at the National Archives and Records Administration, and NARA Preservation Technician Tom Schmidt assess a record's condition at the National Personnel Records Center in Spanish Lake, Mo., near St. Louis, on June 2, 2023. A massive fire that started on July 12, 1973, at the Military Personnel Records Center in nearby Overland, Mo., consumed an estimated 16 to 18 million personnel files. (Sean Derrick/National Archives via AP)AP Fires at the U.S. Capitol and the War and Treasury Departments during the 19th century claimed uncounted records and objects from the republics founding, and a 1921 blaze destroyed nearly the entire 1890 federal Census. But while each helped to diminish the cultural heritage of this nation, Stender and Walker wrote, none equaled the 1973 inferno. The center housed roughly 52 million Official Military Personnel Files or OMPFs. The OMPF is like a diary of a veterans service, containing every duty station, award, promotion and disciplinary action from enlistment to discharge. It is a kind of one-stop shop for veterans seeking a job, medical benefits, insurance or government loans. These OMPFs can also contain items such as telegrams, letters, photographs and testimonials sometimes hundreds of pages that might not exist anywhere else. Some files were lost from every branch of the service. But Army and Air Force records suffered the most. The flames consumed 80% of Army personnel files for people discharged between Nov. 1, 1912, and Jan. 1, 1960. For the Air Force, its estimated that files for 75% of personnel discharged from Sept. 25, 1947, through Jan. 1, 1964, with names that began after Hubbard, James, were lost. The sixth floor was also home to what is commonly referred to as the VIP or as Elmore has heard some call it secrets vault. In addition to the personnel files of all veterans working at the center, as well as those of close relatives who served, the vault held the records of persons of exceptional prominence or, as its sometimes put, from the famous to the infamous former presidents like Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy; gangster John Dillinger and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer; actors Jimmy Stewart and Burt Lancaster; even Adolf Hitlers nephew, William, and a Navy mascot named Billy Goat. The intense heat of the fire turned the vault into a huge oven and roasted its total content to the consistency of slightly burned toast, a 1979 report from the Army Adjutant Generals Office said. Practically every paper in the vault came out with charred, blacked edges and almost complete loss of flexibility. Of the records stored in the vault, 1,694 were destroyed or damaged. Roughly 6.5 million records salvaged from the fire known as B or burned files are kept in climate-controlled warehouses to avoid any further degradation. They arent disturbed unless someone requests them. To the naked eye, many of the pages appear to be nothing but a black smudge, says NPRC Director Scott Levins. But technicians can use infrared cameras to reveal whats beneath that charred mess. When someone requests a file that was lost, research technicians comb morning reports, unit rosters, payroll lists and other source documents looking for proof of the veterans service. Were looking for a date of entry, a separation and a character of service, says Levins. And if we can find those three data points from official government records, then we can issue a document ... so veterans can get benefits. To date, the center has partially reconstructed nearly 5.5 million records. Given the periods involved, most of the veterans whose records were destroyed have likely died. Levins says historians and family genealogists seeking to fill out those veterans histories are the real pain point. I have helped countless families find answers, closure, and peace, says Chicago-based genealogist Jennifer Holik, who has been doing military research for more than a decade. The fire has been a major obstacle to overcome. This photo provided by the National Archives shows a singed page from the official military personnel file of Frank Capra , who later became a filmmaker, which was damaged in a massive fire at the Military Personnel Records Center in Overland, Mo., near St. Louis, which started on July 12, 1973. (National Archives via AP)AP Even before the grand jury closed the criminal case, an interagency committee had concluded that the fires cause Cannot be Determined. But there are some who will never accept that it was an accident. One theory Levins has heard is that the fire was started to destroy records connected to Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Although the Air Force records destroyed began with Hubbard, James, L. Ron Hubbard served in the Marine Reserves and Navy, and those files now reside in the vault area. (Technically no longer a vault, NPRC has an area in the stacks with greater security controls which contain Specially Protected Holdings.) Some veterans have even suggested to Levins that the government set the fire `so they wouldnt have to pay my benefits. One person who still thinks it might have been arson: Elmore. The fire was way too big, way too fast, he says. Elmore was one of five people who reported the alleged smokers admission to the FBI, but he never believed him. He wanted attention, Elmore says of the man. Anything that he said to any of us, we all took with a huge grain of salt. (The Associated Press has learned the mans name but could not locate him or determine if he is still alive.) Elmore, 75, cant help wondering if the fire might have been connected to Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal. G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt, leaders of the so-called plumbers who broke into Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Washington hotel, were both veterans. Levins says there is no definitive list of what was inside the vault in 1973, but that the files of Liddy (Army) and Hunt (Army/Navy) are very much extant. Hunts Army record was impacted by the fire and partially reconstructed, Levins says. Following the fire, Buttery and Elmore helped launch a non-profit veterans service center in St. Louis that helped thousands of former service members find jobs and obtain benefits. Elmore later started a small business, since closed, helping veterans obtain their records. The former janitors are still friends. But Buttery doesnt share his buddys suspicions. I mean, a spark would have ignited, it would have been like a pile of leaves, pile of dry leaves, says Buttery, 71, who operates a construction business. I think if anything, it was an accident. In 2011, the same year Levins became director, the NPRC moved into a shiny, modern facility on the other side of St. Louis County. The old building, one story shorter than before, remains vacant. A half-century after the fire, Levins still has a team of around 20 people working full-time on about 6,900 fire-related cases. If there was a silver lining to the fire, Levins says, its that it led to advances in records management, storage and restoration. The government pioneered vacuum-drying methods to salvage water-logged records, developing safety standards that were later adopted by the National Fire Protection Association. The VA is methodically digitizing the centers paper records. Between that and redundant backup procedures, Levins is confident something like this can never happen again. In 1995, a special task force of the National Archives and Records Administration now an independent agency concluded that military personnel files were permanently valuable. Under a 2004 agreement with the Department of Defense, all OMPFs will eventually be turned over to NARA and will never be destroyed, Levins says. I tell the veterans, `In a sense, youve been immortalized because your military record will be kept for the life of the republic, he says. It will be kept for the same length of time as the United States Constitution. By ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) In a monthslong inquiry, which included reviewing tens of thousands of pages of documents from more than 100 public records requests, The Associated Press has examined what happens behind the scenes when Supreme Court justices travel to colleges and universities for lectures and other events. The AP learned the identities of donors and politicians invited to events with justices, details about the perks that have accompanied the school visits and information about how school trips have helped advance books sales. Some of the key takeaways: BOOK SALES The documents reveal how university visits are a convenient way for justices to sell their own books. Thats especially true in the case of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a prolific author who has kept the courts most active travel schedule over the past decade, according to the records reviewed by the AP. Emails and other documents show that Supreme Court staff members have been directly engaged in facilitating book sales by asking schools how many copies they want to buy and by helping to arrange the purchase of mass quantities. At a 2019 event jointly hosted by the Multnomah County Library in Oregon and Portland Community College, a Sotomayor aide told organizers that 250 books is definitely not enough for a program with an expected 1,000 guests in which people would be required to have a copy to meet the justice for a signing after the event. Michigan State University purchased 11,000 copies to be distributed to incoming first-year students. When Clemson University in South Carolina worried that 60 copies might be too many for Sotomayor to sign, a staffer reassured the school that most institutions order in the ranges of 400 and up. And before a scheduled visit to the law school at the University of California, Davis, for the 2018 commencement, the court staff proposed using the event as an opportunity to distribute books. In a statement, a Supreme Court spokesperson said that staff members work to follow judicial ethics guidance and that at no time have attendees been required to buy a book in order to attend an event. Schools have occasionally invited Justice Sotomayor to take part in a program in which they select a book for an entire school or a freshman class, and the Justice gives a book talk, the statement said. When she is invited to participate in a book program, Chambers staff recommends the number of books based on the size of the audience so as not to disappoint attendees who may anticipate books being available at an event, and they will put colleges or universities in touch with the Justices publisher when asked to do so. A LURE FOR MONEY Supreme Court justices insist that they cannot and do not participate in fundraising events. But the emails obtained by the AP show that the courts definition of a fundraiser an event that raises more than it costs or where guests are asked for contributions excludes much of the work that typically goes into persuading a wealthy donor to cut a check. Thats given schools wide latitude to court rich patrons. For instance, ahead of a 2017 event with Justice Clarence Thomas, officials at McLennan Community College in Texas worked with the prominent conservative lawyer Ken Starr and his wife, Alice, to craft a guest list designed to reward school patrons and incentivize future contributions. In an interview, Starrs widow called it friendraising. In an email planning the event, the executive director of the colleges foundation wrote that she had thoughts about whom to invite mainly because they are wealthy conservative Catholics who would align with Clarence Thomas and who have not previously given. Thomas isnt the only one whose status as a justice has been leveraged by schools eager to capitalize with donors. Before Justice Elena Kagan visited the University of Colorados law school, one official suggested a larger donor to staff ratio for a 2019 dinner with her, emails show. Another event organizer said the organizer was open to suggestions about which VIP donors to cultivate relationships with. A school spokesperson said the attendees werent asked for any donations connected to the event. Clemson University in South Carolina hosted Sotomayor for a 2017 session with students and for a private luncheon. One official said it was hoped the events, which included donors, would ultimately generate resources for the universitys Humanities Advancement Board that played a lead organizing role. As university officials devised a guest list, an alumni relations official wrote: When you say $1M donors, please be sure to include our corporate donors at that level, too. In a statement, a court spokesperson said it routinely asks event organizers to confirm that an event at which a Justice will speak is not a fundraiser, and it provides a definition of fundraiser in order to avoid misunderstandings. The spokesperson said justices have occasionally declined to attend events even after being told expressly that they were not fundraisers. POLITICAL COMMINGLING Visits to universities are promoted as academic in nature, but they also have facilitated encounters between justices and elected officials. Months after he was seated on the Supreme Court, Justice Neil Gorsuch attended an event at the University of Kentucky with then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, hosted by a center to study the judiciary named after one of McConnells closest friends, a former federal judge. In 2020, after teaching a weeklong course at the University of Floridas law school, Thomas extended his stay in the state to attend a gathering of the regional branch of the Federalist Society, where he was introduced with effusive praise by Gov. Ron DeSantis, with whom he also had a private dinner. Thomas also attended a private dinner during a visit to the University of Texas at Tyler that was sponsored by a group of donors to then-Rep. Louie Gohmert. Six years later, Gohmert would spearhead a lawsuit that sought to empower Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election that Donald Trump lost. A court spokesperson said: Justices exercise caution in attending events that might be described as political in nature, following guidance in the Code of Conduct which cautions judges against engaging in political activity. Merely attending an event where an elected official might also be in attendance such as several of the events described in your email does not necessarily render the event impermissibly political in nature. NO ETHICS CODE Some of the conduct revealed by the AP likely would run afoul of ethics rules that cover officials in other branches of government as well as lower federal court judges. Lower court judges, for instance, are generally barred from engaging in fundraising, political activity and lending the prestige of judicial office to advance a judges own private interests. Supreme Court justices are asked only to adhere to what Chief Justice John Roberts referred to in April as a set of foundational ethics principles and practices. The information in this review comes at a time of plummeting confidence in the court, brought on in part by a succession of news media revelations about members of the court, including reports by ProPublica that Thomas repeatedly accepted luxury vacations, including a $500,000 trip to Indonesia in 2019, and sold property to and accepted school tuition for a nephew from Harlan Crow, a billionaire businessman, Republican donor and longtime friend. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about the APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. The head of an Alabama rescue squad said he doesnt know that anyone in the state has died from a boat jumping TikTok challenge, despite numerous published reports quoting him as saying otherwise. Childersburg Rescue Squad Capt. Jim Dennis said statements attributed to him citing four deaths in the past six months were taken out of context during interviews he gave promoting boating safety. Weve had four drownings in the last six to eight months (that the Childersburg Rescue Squad worked) and some of those were just drownings, Dennis said. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency on Monday issued this statement regarding the issue. On Monday, July 3, a news story was shared regarding first responders warning against a deadly boating TikTok trend after recent drownings in Alabama. However, please be advised the information released to the news outlet was incorrect. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division does not have any record(s) of boating or marine-related fatalities in Alabama that can be directly linked to TikTok or a trend on TikTok. One individual was fatality injured after jumping from a moving vessel in 2020 and a similar marine-related fatality occurred in 2021, however, both fatalities cannot be linked to TikTok. Dennis said he worked one death of someone jumping from a boat. To say thats the reason they died, I cant say that, he said. That would be a matter of opinion. In one of the deaths his squad worked, he said, one of the victims did jump from a moving boat. Dennis said he has no idea if it was linked to any TikTok challenge. A second person also died after having jumped off a boat, but he said there were conflicting statements as to whether the boat was moving or stationary. It got blown way out of proportion, Dennis said of the publicity, which was even a topic of discussion Monday on the Today Show. If theres data supporting that (boat jumping deaths in Alabama), I dont have that. From me, on my side, I cannot say because it takes so long to get coroners reports back and they to ALEA, he said. We dont see coroners reports. If we have a drowning, we may know unofficially what it is but to make an official statement, that would have to come from ALEA. Sometimes its a year or two before they get the final coroners report. Dennis is quick to say, however, that boat jumping is dangerous and can definitely be deadly. Just from growing up around water, when youre jumping off boats that are moving at a high rate of speed, things can happen, he said. Water is the hardest surface known to man. We cut diamonds and steel with it, he said. When youre moving at a high rate of speed and you hit the water wrong, its like hitting a brick wall. Your neck is the weakest part and you run the risk of breaking it. There is a TikTok challenge, but I do know jumping off of a moving boat is nothing new, he said. As far as TikTok, theres not a challenge on there thats any good. A day after a massive fire shut down the Broad Street Markets brick building, fundraising efforts are underway. In a post shared on Facebook, the market said it is accepting donations via a link on its website, while vendors also will be sharing donation information on their individual social media pages. The two-alarm fire, which broke out around 1 a.m Monday, ripped through the landmark building with flames shooting through the roof. The Sixth Street side of the building sustained the heaviest damage, its interior piled high with charred debris. The markets stone building was not damaged and will be open this week. Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline said the accidental fire was caused by a malfunctioning ceiling fan installed in 2017. On Monday, city and state officials including Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams and Gov. Josh Shapiro shared during a press briefing that the market will be rebuilt. About 23 vendors operate in the building selling everything from produce and prepared foods to butchered meats and coffee. Vendors include longtime names such as Smuckers Chicken, Fishers Deli & Bakery and R.G. Hummer Meat & Cheese. The Broad Street Market faced an extremely difficult day, to say the least, read the markets Facebook post. This is not only a tragic day for our staff, and our fantastic vendors, but for our community as well. We know how much the market means to all of you and we cant thank you enough for the countless support weve already received. We are working closely with our city, state, and local officials to bring back the market stronger than ever. To that end, the market is far from gone. The market noted that its stone building remains open for business as normal and operates Thursday through Saturdays. All small businesses at the market were affected by the devastating fire, most notably the vendors in the historic brick building. They all could use community support through kind words and financial donations. Please see the vendors personal websites and social media pages to donate and support directly. Thank you! reads the post. Damage estimates and information about the markets insurance policy have not been released. Donations to the market can be made on the Broad Street Markets website. Several groups have also started their own fundraisers to assist the markets vendors. The list of impacted vendors includes: Doggie Delights Elementary Coffee Evanilla Donuts Fishers Deli & Bakery Goblin Alchemy Honeybush Smoothies JB Kelly Seafood Lebanon Valley Meats Lils Pretzels Many Blessings Bakery Nonna ILVA Nuborn Skin Peach Ridge Produce Revittle RG Hummer Meats Rijuice Shawarma & Falafel Smuckers Chicken Sweet 717 Two Brothers BBQ VegOut Yings Custom Jewelry READ MORE: A Chester County woman and man are facing charges of felony neglect of a care-dependent person following the death of a 71-year-old Parkesburg woman. The two were caregivers for the woman, who was found dead in a West Lincoln Highway home in July 2021. She had suffered from numerous severe and untreated bedsores in addition to being emaciated. It was determined from an autopsy that the woman died from a stroke, according to a press release from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. The womans daughter, 38-year-old Kaci Nightingale, of Coatesville, has been charged with Neglect of a Care-Dependent Person, Medicaid Fraud, and other related offenses, while 76-year-old Richard Nightingale, also of Coatesville, has been charged with Neglect of a Care-Dependent Person. The two lived with the unidentified woman at the time of the incident, with the daughter serving as a Personal Care Attendant. Nightingales mother suffered from dementia, was non-verbal, and could not get out of bed on her own. Richard Nightingale told investigators that he was also a primary caregiver, according to the release. The woman was then found dead in her home on July 20, 2021, nude and covered by a blanket on a mattress. Her body was in deplorable condition, the release said, and was riddled with bedsores so severe in one place that it exposed bone. The couple turned themselves in on July 7, and bail was set for each at $150,000. The investigation is being conducted by the Office of Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Section. The facts of this case are extremely disturbing. For a woman in need of care to be callously neglected by her own family is hard to fathom, Attorney General Henry said in the press release. This crime is additionally troubling because one of the defendants was paid with public funds to provide the care her mother so desperately needed and deserved, but was ultimately denied. The defendants were responsible for caring for their vulnerable mother and wife, and they continuously ignored that duty. Read More: PHILADELPHIA A Pennsylvania grand jury investigating child sexual abuse in the Jehovahs Witnesses community has charged another five people with raping or molesting children as young as 4, the latest developments in a probe that has identified 14 suspects. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry, at a Friday news conference, said that while the misconduct dates back years or even decades, the trauma endures for these victims. Henry did not address the churchs handling of complaints, but said the investigation would continue. Critics say that Jehovahs Witnesses elders have treated child sexual abuse as a sin rather than a crime, documenting complaints in internal files but not reporting them to authorities. And they say the church often required a second witness to substantiate a complaint, a standard that can be impossible to meet when perpetrators often isolate their victims. Martin Haugh of York Haven, a former elder who left the church in 2016 and now advocates for survivors of abuse in the church, applauded investigators. I hope elders are arrested who knew about child abuse and covered it up and then it happened again, said Haugh, who testified to the grand jury about the churchs structure and about his own daughters abuse within a Jehovahs Witnesses congregation. He also hopes organizational leaders are called to account, because its not just a Pennsylvania problem, its a national problem. Church spokesman Jarrod Lopes has challenged the criticisms, saying that elders comply with reporting requirements and that members are also free to report sexual assault to authorities. He has also said the second-witness rule applies only to internal church discipline. Lopes did not immediately return a message seeking comment Friday. The grand jury probe of Jehovahs Witnesses began with a referral from a county prosecutor who felt the state should take a broader look at the issue. Dozens of witnesses then testified before the secret grand jury in Harrisburg or provided information to the attorney generals office. In the charges announced Friday, Henry said that the men had groomed or gained access to the children through the church, sometimes when the childs family took the person into their home. One person said that she was raped 50 or more times between the ages of 7 and 12 by a church member who was 18 when the assaults began. Others involved less serious charges of inappropriate touching. The five charged were David Balosa, 62, of Philadelphia; Errol William Hall, 50, of Delaware County; Shaun Sheffer, 45, of Butler County; Terry Booth, 57, of Panama City, Florida; and Luis Ayala-Velasquez, 55, of Berks County. Four were taken in custody, while Balosa was being sought. It was not immediately clear if any of them had lawyers representing them. One of the nine earlier defendants killed himself before he was arrested, Henry said. Attorney Matt Haverstick, who has represented Pennsylvania congregations in the states investigation, did not immediately return a call for comment on Friday. In a case with some parallels, a state grand jury investigation into child sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests culminated in a 2018 report that concluded hundreds of priests had abused children in Pennsylvania over seven decades and church officials had covered it up. More recently, a similar report was issued in Maryland. The Jehovahs Witnesses, an international Christian denomination founded in the Pittsburgh area more than a century ago and headquartered in New York state, claims 8.7 million members worldwide, including 1.2 million in the United States. Members will not bear arms, salute a national flag or participate in secular politics. Believers are known for their evangelistic efforts, including knocking on doors and distributing literature in public spaces. A Tesla driver is accused of dragging a Philadelphia police officer 200 feet in both directions during a traffic stop before driving off, according to news sources. Fortunately, the Tesla was located, according to reports from 6ABC and NBC10. The silver-gray vehicle was captured by 6ABC in the police impound lot in Hunting Park Tuesday morning, the news outlet reported. The incident took place Monday around 9:42 p.m. in the 5400 block of Charles Street near Cheltenham Avenue in the citys Wissinoming neighborhood when highway patrol officers pulled over the Tesla driver and began investigating the vehicle for traffic violations. The officers saw a handgun on the floor of the vehicle and when one of them went to retrieve it, the driver put the car in reverse, which resulted in the officer being dragged 100 feet. The driver then put the car in drive, which resulted in the officer being dragged another 100 feet forward. The driver then kicked the officer off the vehicle right before taking off, according to reports. The officer survived but suffered injuries to his ribs and legs as well as multiple scrapes and bruises. He was awake and talking before being transported to a local hospital. He is currently in stable condition. Were really, really lucky because he was clearly dragged about 200 feet backward and forward before being forced out of this vehicle, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said to 6ABC. So far, no arrests have been made even though investigators were able to locate the drivers last known address, according to reports. Authorities are asking the public for help in locating the driver. Anyone with additional information on the drivers whereabouts can contact Philadelphia police. Read More: Ever wonder just how the militaries of each country would stack up if another global conflict popped off? Well, Global Firepower has the answers. The site keeps track of each countrys military capabilities and produces a yearly ranking. According to the site, it uses 60 individual factors to determine a given nations PowerIndex. It said the categories range from quantity of military units and financial standing to logistical capabilities and geography. Theres a lot that goes into it, apparently, including a part of the formula which the site says allows for smaller, more technologically-advanced, nations to compete with larger, lesser-developed powers. It said 145 countries were considered for this years rankings. But who came in first? Well, that should be easy. Its the United States. Global Firepower said the United States took the top spot thanks to its commanding numbers in key material, financial, and resource categories. The country leads the world technologically and is advanced in key medical, aerospace, and computer/telecom sectors while maintaining an edge in several major industry markets for a certain degree of self-sustainment. The U.S. got a PowerIndex score of 0.0712. A perfect score is 0.0000. The U.S. reportedly boasts 13,300 aircraft, 983 attack helicopters, 11 aircraft carriers and 92 destroyers, which helped it ranked first in many of the categories. It also has the largest defense budget at $761.7 billion. China was a very distant second in that category at $230 billion. But China wasnt second in the PowerIndex. That went to Russia, currently embroiled in the invasion of Ukraine, which had a PowerIndex score of 0.0714. Despite its struggles in the Ukraine, it took second in large part due to its aircraft and military strength, according to Business Insider. There were some surprises in the rankings. China was third on the list with a score of 0.0722 followed by India (0.1025) and the United Kingdom (0.1435) in the top five. South Korea was sixth, followed by Pakistan, Japan, France, Italy, Turkey, Brazil, Indonesia, Egypt, Ukraine, Australia, Iran, Israel, Vietnam, Poland, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand and Germany in the top 25. You can see the complete list along with the comprehensive breakdowns on each country here. Dreams of Nature, watercolors by Anita Zymolka Amrhein, will be shown at Middle Street Gallery in Washington, Va. from July 14 through Aug. 20. The artist will be at the gallery on July 14 and 29. Works by other members of the non-profit artists cooperative will be offered as well. Amrheins painting are large and brilliantly colored, and they show fantastical, dream-like arrangements of abstract figures into which she has subtly woven drawings of fish, insects, birds, and plants. Nature, color, details and music inspire my watercolors, which can be realistic, abstract, whimsical or all at once, she says. I like to portray the beauty of natures creations, real or imagined, big or small, to remind us of the important part each contribute to the existence and preservation of the environment. The artists works have appeared in solo shows in Hamburg, Berlin, and Potsdam, Germany, and in Milan, Italy. In the U.S. her paintings which she signs with her maiden name, Zymolka have been accepted for exhibition at the Tacoma Museum of Art, the National Watercolor Society, the Northwest Watercolor Society, the California Watercolor Association, and the Shenzhen (China) International Watercolor Biennial. Middle Street Gallery offers paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, glass, and multi-media art by its members. It is now at 311 Gay Street, lower level, with an entrance on Main St. across from Ballards. The gallery, www.middlestreetgallery.org and (540) 227-5066, is open Fri., Sat., and Sun. from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Albemarle County police's search for Brandon Lee-Mykal Stout continued into its third day on Monday with few leads. Law enforcement authorities say Stout stole a vehicle on Friday. Stout abandoned that vehicle late Saturday evening, police told The Daily Progress on Monday, but he is still wanted and is presumed to be in Albemarle County. ACPD, in conjunction with the Louisa County Sheriffs Office, US Marshals' Office, and the Virginia State Police, is currently attempting to locate Brandon Lee-Mykal Stout, according to a statement from Albemarle police. ACPD continues to actively seek the whereabouts of Mr. Stout. Officers are investigating and following leads throughout the county. Stout has had previous run-ins with law enforcement for minor offenses in the past five years. Anyone who sees Stout is asked not to approach and instead call 911, police said Monday. Anyone with any information regarding his whereabouts is encouraged to call the CrimeStoppers anonymous tip line at (434) 977-4000. At 11 a.m. PDT, the final five players of Event #77: $777 Lucky 7's No-Limit Hold'em at the 2023 World Series of Poker will return to compete for the bracelet and the $777,777 top prize. The tournament attracted 7,323 entries over three starting days to create a total prize pool of $5,007,175. After all the dust settled on Day 2 and the remaining players got some rest, Anthony Scarborough will return to the final table at Horsehoe and Paris Las Vegas with a big chip lead of 140,000,000. This is nearly double what Julien Montois collected on Day 2 as he put 70,700,000 into his bag. Montois has found his fourth cash in a WSOP event and will at least double his total tournament earnings with this result. Final Day Seat Draw Seat Name Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Shawn Daniels United States 47,400,000 19 2 Charles La Boissonniere Canada 13,400,000 5 3 Istvan Briski Hungary 32,400,000 13 4 Julien Montois France 70,700,000 28 5 Anthony Scarborough United States 140,000,000 56 Joining Scarborough and Montois on the final table are two-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Shawn Daniels, Istvan Briski who finished in fifth place in WSOP Online Bracelet #33: WSOP Online MAIN EVENT in 2022, and Canada's Charles La Boissonniere. When action resumes, the level duration will remain at 40 minutes and Level 41 will be played. This level features a small blind of 1,250,000, a big blind of 2,500,000 with a 2,500,000 big blind ante. They will play down to a winner with a 15-minute break scheduled after every three levels. All five players are guaranteed at least $125,777, but they will all be looking to climb the pay ladder to capture the first-place prize of $777,777 and a WSOP gold bracelet. Remaining Payouts Place Prize 1 $777,777 2 $400,777 3 $226,777 4 $168,777 5 $125,777 Follow along with the PokerNews live reporting team for all the action from the Hroseshoe Feature Table to see who will be coming out on top in this event. New for this year, 2023 World Series of Poker Event #81: $600 Ultra Stack No-Limit Holdem will kick off today, June 11th at 10 a.m. local time at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas and is sure to be one of the summer saver events heading down the stretch, as players are able to reenter up to two times across both Day 1 flights. Players surviving today will advance to Day 2 on Thursday, July 13th to find themselves one step closer to the coveted WSOP bracelet. Just like the temperature in Las Vegas, the player of the year race is heating up, meaning we could see the likes of such players as Shaun Deeb, who currently sits third on the list, and Chad Eveslage and Jeremy Ausmus, both in the top ten, in the field with the hopes of deep runs in order to increase their positions in the race. Shaun Deeb Other notable players who may grace the field after their main event ambitions have been tragically cut short include the likes of three-time bracelet winner Kristen Foxen, two-time bracelet winner and former WSOP Player of the Year, Erick Lindgren and Star Craft Pro and popular streamer, Yohwan Lim Kristen Foxen Players taking their seats will receive 60,000 starting chips, this being the Ultra Stack, and all, and will endure 22 30-minute levels with a 20-minute break after every four levels of play. Blinds will start at 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante and late registration closes after Level 12 (approx. 5 p.m.). As always, keep it here as PokerNews brings you live coverage of this bracelet event. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Rachel Maddow looked at the recent events involving Republicans in Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, and Tennessee and painted a picture of a party that is completely out of step and growing more extreme. Video clips: #Maddow talks about Tennessee Republicans leading the GOP race to the bottom with their assault on the rights of trans people. pic.twitter.com/CkEuRzNjee Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) July 11, 2023 Maddow said: But, you know, if were looking for a top prize here, like step right up. Ohio in contention, obviously, Michigan in contention with their repeated fistfights at Republican party statewide meetings. Arizona obviously in contention with a neo-nazi college Republican speaking tour. But I think if somebody is going to take the cake in this current news cycle, its probably not the Republican parties in any of those states. Its probably Tennessee. You might have seen over the weekend that there was a weekend ruling from a federal appeals court in Tennessee. Tennessee Republicans have been going after trans people every way they can. A federal appeals court this weekend on Saturday in a divided 2-1 decision let that state go forward with banning specific kinds of health care for trans people. And this is not some, you know, some distant threat or something thats kind of locked up in the courts now. Thanks to that appeals court ruling, again, on Saturday, this weekend, for people under the age of 18, that ruling this weekend means whatever ongoing health care they have been getting in Tennessee, it is now officially illegal. That ruling went into effect immediately. Any such health care, ongoing health care that youve previously been receiving has to stop immediately. But thats also happening in the context of this other thing that Republicans are doing in the state of Tennessee. I do think puts them sort of at the front of the line right now. The Republican state attorney general in Tennessee is using his office to obtain the private medical records, unredacted full medical records for patients who have had care at a particular clinic in Tennessee at the Vanderbilt university medical center. Hes using his office as attorney general to take peoples individual private unredacted medical records for the purposes of an investigation in his state attorney generals office. Now Vanderbilt university medical center says that they had no choice but to hand over the records after the attorney general demanded them, but they also didnt notify their patients that they had handed over their records until after they had already started handing them in. The Michigan Republican Partys descent into Lord Of The Flies type chaos is funny, but it shows how extreme and dysfunctional they have become. Arizona College Republicans are embracing nazism, which is a long term threat that needs to be monitored. Ohio Republicans are trying to outlaw people from being able to vote against them which is an overt attack on democracy, but what is going on in Tennessee is chilling. The former party of small government and privacy is using the biggest of big government tactics to violate the rights of people in Tennessee and deny them access to healthcare. After the 1/6 attack, it became clear the extremism of the right was no longer something to be chuckled at and brushed off. Republicans are a dangerous threat, and the more elections that they lose, the more extreme they become in response. By looking at the rundown that Rachel Maddow provided, it is clear why Republicans, but what isnt so easy to see is how or if they are interested in stopping their plunge into authoritarianism. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene isnt hiding her dirty work for Putin, as she filed an amendment to force Biden to withdraw from NATO. Video of Greene: Greene: My amendment directs the President to withdraw the United States from NATO. They are not a reliable partner pic.twitter.com/cnv1OFAMaT Acyn (@Acyn) July 11, 2023 Rep. Greene said, My amendment would direct the President to withdraw from NATO. They are not a reliable partner whose defense spending should be paid for by American citizens. Greene used Trumps talking points that the US is paying more than their fair share. Greene unveiled a second amendment that barred the US from providing F-16s to Ukraine. She then unveiled a third amendment that would ban the US from providing long-range missiles to Ukraine. Marjorie Taylor Greene is trying to help Putin with these amendments. Putin would love it if the US withdrew from NATO and stopped providing aid to Ukraine. It is not a coincidence that Greenes amendments are right in line with the sorts of policies that Trump has long threatened the world with if he ever returns to the White House. The MAGA Republicans are making it clear that they remain fully aligned with Putin, and if they ever return to the White House, Ukraine will be endangered and democracy around the world will be weakened. Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene is showing why the true face of MAGA is America last betrayal of the United States. Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon will face two challengers in this year's city council election. Restaurateur Teddy Milner, 76, and Housing Authority board member Kathryn Wade, 60, filed as Republicans on Monday, July 10. Milner owns and operates It's All Good, a restaurant and catering business on Hayne Avenue. She also owned and operated the Stoplight Deli. She said she is running to maintain and improve the city's downtown vitality and unique charm. "Our future is either in the courts, or in hidden meetings of current politicians whose priorities do not agree with most of the citizens of Aiken," Milner said. If elected, Milner said she would insist on transparency at every level of the city government and end "behind closed door" discussions and decisions. Milner said she would insist on better information flow between the council and city residents, especially those residents who attend city council meetings. She added she would happily engage with city residents. Milner said she would work to achieve prosperity and well-planned growth. She said zoning abuse is rampant in the city and that "growth at any cost" is not conducive to progress. She moved to Aiken in the 1980s and has one son. Former City Councilman Dick Dewar, Lawrence Kirkland, Anne Campbell, Brent Myers, Jack Wetzel, Wilkins Byrd, Rose Hayes and Grace Vance endorsed Milner on Monday. Wade serves as executive director of Life Choices Pregnancy Care Center. She previously served as field representative for former Congressman Gresham Barrett and as chairman of the Housing Authority board. She has also served as South Carolina Association of Pregnancy Care Centers president and treasurer and is a graduate of the Aiken Department of Public Safety Citizens Academy. She also coordinated the One Table Thanksgiving meal for 11 years. Wade said she wanted to be part of a stronger solution for the city's future. Wade said she is running to bring greater levels of transparency and accountability to the mayor's office, to ensure strong levels of financial stewardship and to work with the Department of Public Safety to address crime. She said she wants to protect the citys charm and to prevent over-development and wrong development. Wade said the city needs to think where it wants to be in 50 years and choose the right projects to maintain what makes the city special. Wade added she wants to address homelessness. She is an Aiken native, a graduate of Aiken High School and the University of South Carolina. She has a master's degree in counseling from Columbia International University. Wade's family owned and operated Market Place Antique Mall for several years and she owns Highland Finance RSW Enterprises with her husband, Robert. The couple has one son. As Osbon, Milner and Wade are running as Republicans, a primary will be held to determine the party's nominee. That primary is scheduled for Aug. 8. Any needed runoffs would be held Aug. 22. The Republican nominee will be uncontested in the Nov. 7 general election. Osbon isn't the only Aiken City Council member to face a challenger. Republican Demarcus Sullivan filed June 7 to run against Democrat Gail Diggs in District 1. Sullivan did not return a phone call or text message seeking information about his campaign. As Sullivan is running as a Republican, no primaries will be necessary. Both he and Diggs will proceed to the Nov. 7 general election. No one filed to run against Republican Kay Brohl in District 3. A Texas man has become the first person to choose to take his chances with an Albemarle County jury for crimes related to his participation in the Aug. 11, 2017, torch-lit march on University of Virginia Grounds. William Henry Fears IV of Pasadena, Texas, agreed to a jury trial Monday afternoon before Judge Cheryl Higgins. "He's calculating that he can do better going to trial than simply pleading guilty," longtime criminal defense attorney Scott Goodman told The Daily Progress. Earlier this year, the Albemarle County commonwealth's attorney began unsealing indictments stemming from the 2017 march led by white nationalists that culminated in a brawl with anti-racist activists around the statue of Thomas Jefferson in front of the UVa Rotunda the night of Aug. 11. Already, two of the six known defendants have pleaded guilty. Fears, who turns 36 later this week, has been jailed in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail since June 23, when he was moved there under the auspices of an interstate prisoner transfer compact. When his indictment was announced earlier, he was already imprisoned in Texas for choking a girlfriend. In addition to that current Texas sentence, a five-year term ending next summer, he has also served time in Texas for kidnapping. In Charlottesville, during the rioting that preceded the planned Unite the Right rally, he urged detractors to shoot him and thereby "fire the first shot of the race war." In court Monday, wearing a jumpsuit and shackles, he answered questions from the judge. "Are you asking the court to set your trial outside the speedy trial date?" asked Higgins. "Yes, your honor," answered Fears. The judge then noted that a typical jury pool consists of 30 people and asked Fears' lawyer, Bryan Jones, how many might be necessary. "How about 50?" replied Jones. But the prosecutor, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney W. Lawton Tufts, said they might need as many as 100. "We will check with Mr. Zug," said Higgins, referring to Jon Zug, the county's clerk of court. "It's better to have too many people than not enough people," said Goodman. "It's a case that everyone knows something about." Goodman said the court will need a larger pool in order to find impartial jurors for a man accused of carrying a lit torch while shouting racist slogans such as "Blood and soil" and "Jews will not replace us." "It may be hard for a potential juror to put aside the feelings that this person was marching with Nazis," said Goodman. "But even someone like that is entitled to be tried on the evidence." Goodman said that a further complication stems from the fact that many people may conflate the Friday night torch march at UVa with the murder the following afternoon of anti-racist activist Heather Heyer during the violence of the Unite the Right rally. "It's hard for some people to disconnect those things," said Goodman. "Some people just don't want to find someone like this not guilty, so there must be an effort to weed those people out." Of the two people who have already pleaded guilty, one of them, Tyler Bradley Dykes of Bluffton, South Carolina, got a six-month active sentence and, according to a jail official, is set for release July 17. The other man to plead guilty, Will Zachary Smith, of Nacona, Texas, will learn his sentence on Aug. 7. The trial for Fears is scheduled to begin on Jan. 3 and last three days. "The jury's not going to know his record assuming he doesn't testify," said Goodman. "His bet is that the commonwealth will not be able to prove that he broke the law." To prevent a repeat of Virginia's infamous years of racial terror perpetrated by such groups as the Ku Klux Klan, Virginia has criminalized the use of fire for racial intimidation with a penalty that can last five years. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 72F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 72F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. A Georgia man is facing sexual exploitation charges after an investigation from the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office. Tyler Shane Greene, 26, of Augusta was arrested and charged July 7 with two counts of criminal solicitation, three counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of attempted dissemination of obscene material to a person under age 18, according to a media release from the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office. Conviction on the solicitation and attempted dissemination counts each carry up to 10 years in prison, while the exploitation counts each carry up to a 20-year sentence. The investigators with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Lexington Police Department made the arrest, with assistance from investigators with the North Augusta Department of Public Safety and the Richmond County Sheriffs Office. Investigators stated that Greene solicited a person he believed to be a minor for sex, encouraged them to produce child sexual abuse material and sent sexually explicit images the person, according to the release. The Attorney Generals Office will prosecute the case. Recently, I took a break from my grueling summer staycation for a business trip to exotic Amarillo, Texas. (Try to contain your jealousy.) Read moreAmarillo by suppertime South Carolinians who were previously sidelined returned to the labor pool in June to nudge the workforce participation rate a few notches higher as employers added more jobs. Read moreSC labor pool ticks higher in June while jobless rate is unchanged COLUMBIA South Carolina environmental regulators have levied some of the heftiest fines in recent state history for hazardous air emissions from a fiberglass manufacturer in Columbia. China Jushi USA, a subsidiary of a Chinese company, must pay the state more than $500,000 for a combination of air quality and hazardous materials violations, according to documents filed by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. The company has paid $243,000 so far. Over the course of two years, DHEC found 17 violations of hazardous waste rules and 21 violations of air-pollution control rules, records show. Jushi officials could not be immediately reached for comment. State officials lauded Jushi in 2016 when it first broke ground on its $500 million factory along Shop Road south of Columbia. At the time of the announcement, Jushi said it would employ some 400 workers. Among emissions from the plant were large amounts of nitrogen oxides over a combined period of eight months between January 2020 and June 2022, according to DHEC documents. Nitrogen oxides are a group of poisonous, highly reactive chemicals also found in vehicle emissions. Particulate matter, including particles of fiberglass, escaped from the plant for at least 219 days, agency documents show. Other air pollutants that DHEC reported detecting included sulfur dioxide, a pungent gas associated with burning matches that in large quantities can cause respiratory issues; hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide and dust. Many of the air quality issues that DHEC reported observing during inspections were the result of malfunctioning air filters. Then, in September 2022, DHEC officials reported finding unmarked containers of hazard waste and leaking batteries in various places throughout the Jushi plant. The company exceeded limits on the amount of hazardous waste it was permitted to store on site, failed to provide hazardous waste training to employees and did not hang No Smoking signs in areas containing the flammable materials, DHEC documents show. DHEC issued the fines on May 26 but did not immediately announce them to the public. While some of the air quality issues have been addressed, the environmental agency said others are ongoing. DHEC is requiring Jushi to conduct added emissions testing, and depending on the results, may require the company to take additional corrective actions. The company must also submit a hazardous waste management plan by July 23. Jushi is a subsidiary of China National Building Materials Group, which has about $3 billion in assets and employs roughly 8,000 workers worldwide. MONROE, N.C. The family of an 18-year-old from Laurens, South Carolina, is searching for answers more than a week after the teen was found dead hours away, following a meet-up with a stranger he met online. Jacob Williamson, who was transgender, was reported missing from Laurens on June 30, thought to have gone on a date in the Charlotte area with a man to whom he had spoken online. Monroe County deputies said 25-year-old Joshua Newton picked Williamson up that night and went instead to Newton's home near Monroe, North Carolina, east of Charlotte, where deputies think Williamson was killed. The teen's body was later found about 10 miles away near the roughly 2,400-person town of Pageland, South Carolina, in Chesterfield County. "(Williamson) got into the vehicle with Newton under the pretense that they were going to go on a date to Carowinds," said Lt. James Maye of the Union County Sheriff's Department, adding that he thinks Newton and another suspect are "online predators." What we know Williamson's family alerted authorities in Union County, North Carolina, that he was missing after last being seen getting into a car with Newton. Investigators searched for 36 hours before finding Williamson on the side of Mangum School Road in Chesterfield County on July 4. Deputies say they think Newton and an accomplice transported Williamson's body across the state line in an attempt to hide the remains. Deputies arrested Newton and charged him with first degree murder and obstruction of justice on July 4. Victoria Smith, 22, was arrested alongside him and charged as an accessory after the fact and with obstruction of justice. They both remain in custody in Monroe, Newton without bond and Smith with bond set at $3 million. Promise Edwards, a family friend of Williamson with whom he lived for some time, shared hashtags #JusticeforJacob and #MakennahMattered on social media, organized a candlelight vigil on July 7. "She should be here. She should be at work. She should be living her best life, and she's not," Williamson's mother, Brittney Shealy said through tears. "It's just not right." Williamson was transitioning from female to male, and was identified by family, friends and official documents by three other names: Kierstyn, Makennah and Payge. Edwards dismissed anyone's comments regarding Williamson's gender identity as "totally irrelevant." "This is the absolute hardest thing I have ever been through," Edwards said. In 2022 at least 38 transgender individuals across the United States were shot or killed, and 50 were killed in 2021, according to reports from the Human Rights Campaign, who released a post about Williamson on July 11. Another report from the HRC found that between 2013 and 2022, nearly one-third of transgender and gender non-conforming people who were killed had their lives taken by an acquaintance, friend, family member or intimate partner. What we don't know The relationship between Williamson and Newton remains unclear. On June 30, the last time Williamson was seen alive, he met Newton in person for apparently the first time. Maye said Williamson's family knew the teen planned to go on a date with Newton and started to worry when Williamson didn't return. Authorities have not released information about the motive or the cause of Williamson's death. However, Maye said none of the evidence suggests the murder was a hate crime. "We believe this is an isolated incident where it began as an online dating relationship and the defendants in this case were basically just online predators," Maye said. Williamson worked at a Waffle House in Laurens. Newton allegedly picked the teen up from there on June 30. For about a month leading up to that, Williamson had been living with Edwards, having felt rejected by immediate family for his gender identity. "This world was so cruel to Jacob his entire life," Edwards said. "I find peace in knowing that in the last month and a half, he found peace." Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C. LEXINGTON Less than two weeks after employees walked off the job at Alodia's Cucina Italiana in Lexington saying they had not been paid, the restaurant is being investigated by the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. In a July 10 letter from the state's labor department the agency said it is launching an investigation based on a complaint submitted from a former restaurant employee. The department is looking into allegations that Alodia's failed to pay workers by an agreed upon date, a spokesperson for the labor department confirmed July 11. The letter was provided to The Post and Courier by a former Alodia's staff member. With the staff having left June 28 while owner Adam Huneau was reportedly away on vacation, the restaurant's Lexington location temporarily closed, while indicating initial plans to reopen on July 5. That didn't happen. The restaurant is now set to reopen July 12, according an announcement on its Facebook page. "Due to some contractual rules with our lease in Lexington, we need to reopen there as soon as possible ... unfortunately that means our Irmo location will close temporarily," the July 10 Facebook post read. A late-June viral Facebook post from former waitress Zoe Spires, which she said she deleted after Huneau received threats, claimed that waitstaff saw their checks bounce multiple times, including in the two weeks leading up to staff closing the restaurant. Staff members, including former manager Lauren Brunson, said they've still dealt with checks bouncing, but they've since been paid in cash and made to sign a document stating, "I, employee name, have been compensated in cash for pending checks that have either been returned, put on hold, or remain uncredited." Spires said Huneau did not explain his reasoning for making staff sign the paperwork, which she felt uncomfortable doing. "But I just wanted it to be done and over with," she said, so she signed. Huneau did not respond to questions from the newspaper July 11 about why he made staff sign the paperwork or the pending state investigation. Even if employees have received the full amount of payment they were owed, the labor department won't immediately close the investigation, agency spokesperson Lesia Kudelka said. "If the Wages Office determines there are violations, the business may still be cited and fined," Kudelka said in an email to The Post and Courier. State law requires employers to pay "all wages due in lawful United States money or by negotiable warrant or check bearing even date with the payday." Huneau previously declined to comment July 7 on specific questions from the The Post and Courier about what's happened with his restaurant since the closure, instead referring a reporter to an article from The Lexington County Chronicle, for which he was interviewed. In a now-deleted post to the Alodia's Facebook page, shared with The Post and Courier by a former staff member of Alodia's, Huneau stated: "It's funny how God works. I'm not exactly sure what his plan is yet, but I know his hand is moving. I had a chance to speak to Zoe Spires and I have forgiven Zoe and I asked her forgiveness. I believe in my heart that this isn't what she wanted. There is enough hate and ugliness in this world. I will not be participating in any of it." Spires removed her original Facebook post after she said someone commented with Huneau's home address. "The last thing I want is to put someone's family in danger ... I just hope that something like this never happens again to where employees aren't being paid," Spires told The Post and Courier on July 11. She and Huneau agreed that if she removed the post he would make sure his employees get paid and that he'd "do the right thing from here on out," Spires said. The restaurant had been operating with an expired business license since April 30, Laurin Barnes, the communications manager for the Town of Lexington, told The Post and Courier in a previous interview. However, Alodia's "renewed their business license and paid applicable penalties" on July 7, Barnes confirmed. The owners of Charlestons Husk are set to bring a new dining option to the Riverland Terrace neighborhood of James Island. Serving traditional American fare, The James will open for dinner July 17 at 1939-A Maybank Highway, previously occupied by Zia Taqueria. The new restaurant is owned by the Neighborhood Dining Group, the operators of Husk, Delaney Oyster House and Minero in Charleston. After announcing The James' forthcoming debut in April, the hospitality group began significant renovations to the former Mexican restaurant's bar, dining room and patio. The result is a space that feels cozy, approachable and family-friendly, Neighborhood Dining Group President David Howard said. We want to be a neighborhood restaurant, Howard said. We want to provide an alternative option for folks here in our community. The Maybank Highway-bookmarked Riverland Terrace neighborhood is undergoing a dining renaissance. In the last three years the area has lured downtown Charleston restaurateurs to James Island, including the owners of Bar George, Millers All Day and Huriyali. The James offers something those establishments dont: classic, consistent American fare in a fuss-free environment, Howard said. In this market, theres not too many restaurants like us, Howard said. We expect to see people multiple times a month and we dont expect the menu to change a whole lot. Mark Keiser, who previously worked at The Dewberry and Oak Steakhouse, will lead the kitchen at The James, offering a menu of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and entrees. Among the opening night options will be mushroom soup with a puff pastry crust, prime rib aged and slow-cooked for eight hours fresh fish and a signature burger. As Howard put it, the menu isnt complicated, but its an offering he believes will be appreciated by James Island residents, particularly when paired with high quality service and hospitality. Starting July 17, The James will open for dinner at 4 p.m. daily. In August, the restaurant will add a lunch service Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, visit thejameschs.com. To make a reservation, visit resy.com. Southern Italy meets Southern hospitality at Sorelle, the restaurants website declares. The conceit is repeated on the restaurants Instagram profile and on the back page of the menu, which asserts, a welcoming environment that embodies both Southern Italian cuisine and true Southern hospitality. Perhaps thats why, as I labored for several months to snag a reservation, I couldnt help but ponder the idea of Southern hospitality and what the term really means. Visually, Sorelle is very inviting, and even a quick peek in the front windows will make you want to come inside. The restaurant is frequently described as occupying three historic townhomes, but they were actually commercial buildings. The leftmost, when youre facing the restaurant, is 90 Broad St., a stuccoed brick building with a wrought-iron balcony extending from the second floor. A thin, slightly lower, frame infill building, its facade now painted maroon, connects to the larger three-story neoclassical structure next door at 88 Broad, which was built more than two centuries ago. After standing boarded up for decades, those buildings were bought in 2018 by a firm affiliated with Ben Navarros Beemok Hospitality Collection, the owners of Charleston Place. The renovations took a full seven years, and to launch Sorelle, Beemok enlisted celebrity chef Michael Minas San Francisco-based MINA Group, which operates more than 30 high-end restaurants in eight states, Washington, D.C., and Dubai. The complex holds much more than just a single restaurant. On the ground floor, the Mercato offers daytime counter service for pastries, paninis and Sicilian-style pizza, and up three short steps is a snazzy bar room with a U-shaped marble-topped counter and maroon-padded stools. But lets head up the broad staircase to the opulent main dining room on the second floor. Expectation and delivery The handiwork of New York design firm Meyer Davis, it blends the historic with the fantastic. Beneath a soaring beadboard ceiling painted glossy white, the buildings original columns and ornate moldings have been restored. The old floor-to-ceiling windows, their deep sills intact, offer sweeping views of Broad Street. The rest is all 21st century. A quartet of semicircular banquettes with butterscotch-hued cushions fills the center of the room, and dark-brown tables and green upholstered chairs are arranged around them. Sprays of tiny white flowers on long, spindly branches rise from tall glass cylinders, and stylish squares of red-striped carpet line the floors inside a border of oak herringbone. While waiting for a cocktail, one can ponder the lush mural that wraps all four walls. The work of California-based MJ Atelier, it depicts a forest of lithe, tall tufted trees amid streams and craggy boulders, hand-painted in muted greens and grays. Ive no idea what landscape its portraying, but its certainly not the Lowcountry and it doesnt seem Mediterranean, either. But no matter. The food is undeniably inspired by Southern Italy, so lets turn our focus to that. The best bites are found on the smaller plates, and some are exquisite. The mozzarella di bufala e asparagus ($21) layers three wedges of cool, creamy cheese atop a raft of stout asparagus spears and a platform of semolina crostini. The thick, pale spears have the skin peeled away, and theyre cold and wonderful on the tongue. Best of all, beneath the crostini lies swirls of thick, nutty balsamic vinegar and a bright, fragrant pool of pureed green garlic laced with the dark licorice notes of dragoncello (aka tarragon). The name is over the top, but the Pillows of Gold ricotta tortellini ($33) lives up to the hype. Each golden-hued packet has prim fluted edges and seems impossibly tender, almost melting as you bite through to the creamy filling. Tiny bits of rosy prosciutto cotto are sprinkled into the pastas folds, and long-aged balsamic vinegar adds perfectly sweet, dark kisses. With just a half-dozen tortellini, its a small and expensive dish, but it delivers plenty in return. I cant say the same for all the pastas, which tend to be larger but less deft in execution. It has nothing to do with the pasta itself, which is uniformly excellent. Long ribbons of mafaldine ($35) have wavy edges and thin centers, like the worlds skinniest lasagna noodles. Theyre tossed with a half dozen littleneck clams and a buttery sauce speckled with bits of red chili and green herb, but that sauce hits with a punch of garlic and a briny clam surge thats too much for the delicate pasta. Wavy coils of radiatori ($32) hide long strands of supremely tender pork, but theyre enrobed in a red ragu thats sharp and very salty. Shards of pork crackling add a bit of crunch, but the bowl just doesnt come together. Sorelle is the first venture by the MINA Group into the Italian genre, but corporate chef/partner Adam Sobel and local executive chef Nick Dugan did their homework, traveling through Southern Italy seeking inspiration for their new menu and securing suppliers for everything from tomatoes to pistachios. The cacio e pepe arancini ($14) are plated quite simply: two golden brown orbs on a slip of white paper, a mere dusting of shaved white cheese as garnish. Theres no need for further ornamentation, for the shells are shatteringly crisp, and the Acquerello rice inside is creamy and cheesy with just a subtle spark of black pepper. Sorelle CUISINE: Italian REPRESENTATIVE DISH: Pillows of Gold ricotta tortellini ADDRESS: 88 Broad St., downtown Charleston PHONE: 843-974-1575 BAR: Full bar WEB: sorellecharleston.com DINING ROOM HOURS: 5-10 p.m. daily PRICE: $$$$ COSTS: $14-$49 PARKING: Street parking. Valet available Others plates could use something more. Theres plenty of heat on the Vongole Fra Diavolo ($15), and the devling comes from nduja sausage, which surges through the cap of fennel pollen crumbs and becomes the dominant note. A coil of Luganega sausage ($15) is piled sloppily with a bland broccoli rabe giardiniera, making for a rather unlovely plate. In a different setting these workaday dishes might be enjoyable, but when served amid such a luxurious setting, the presentations seem stark and spartan. Such gaps can damage the fine-dining experience, and there were plenty of other gaps during my visits, like those in timing and tempo, with long waits between courses and for water glasses to be refilled. Most serious are the gaps between expectation and delivery. Some of those expectations are not in the restaurants control. Back in February, Sorelle staged a grand pre-opening preview party for a bevy of local restaurateurs, food writers and influencers. Judging from everything I heard and read, they were uniformly blown away. Showpiece, stunning and jaw-dropping were some of the adjectives deployed. Does the arrival of a big-city restaurant group mark a new era in Charleston fine dining? Might the Michelin Guide and its army of inspectors soon be heading our way? The bar, in other words, was set very high, and a reservation at Sorelle was immediately the hardest in town to score. Aggrieved would-be guests have lit up social media about that, but its hard to blame the restaurant there. The main dining room is rather small, and there are only so many seats to give out. But this brings us back to those repeated assertions about Southern hospitality. Many of the mechanics of Sorelle strike me as being rather inhospitable. The confirmation email, for instance, requests guests observe a reservation time frame of up to 1.5 hours for parties of 2, 2 hours for parties of 3-4, and 2.5 hours for parties of 5-6. My party of two couldnt have gotten out of there in two hours if wed tried. (And we tried.) Much of that was due to the pacing of the meal, which I wouldnt make a big deal about had we not been admonished, Chef asks that you put in your entire order at once. We held up our end of the bargain, but perhaps it was naive to expect a more calibrated flow in return. Turning up the heat and volume When it comes to setting expectations, words matter. At check-in during my first visit, the host informed us we would be seated at the chefs counter. I paused, since I was expecting a table in the dining room, but then thought, this could be interesting. Ive had plenty of delightful experiences at chefs counters, watching the team at work and seeing the plates come together. The chefs not behind this counter, though, just a solitary cook manning a giant wood-burning pizza oven and a gleaming stainless steel meat slicer, tickets rattling non-stop from the printer. Behind your backs, an endless parade of servers bustle from kitchen door to the lush dining room, where it sounds like everyone is having a really good time. The stools directly in front of the oven get quite a dose of radiant heat. Its kind of like getting seated next to the bathroom, if that bathroom were on fire. On a return visit we landed in the main dining room, but gaps and disjointedness persisted. Ive written before about that magic moment in a restaurant at sundown when all the elements align. The lights are turned down low, the room begins to buzz and then hum, and youre swept up into the glowing flow. At Sorelle it works the opposite way. As the lights go down, the noise goes up. And keeps going up. The hum of conversation surges to a roar, and what was once tinkling laughter from across the room becomes piercing brays. Servers lean in close and ask you to repeat yourself, and you suddenly realize youve been shouting at your dining companion for the last 10 minutes. Words set expectations for the food, too. The restaurants website touts classic southern Italian cuisine made with Lowcountry ingredients. I tried hard to spy those Lowcountry ingredients, but it wasnt easy. The menu name checks Charlestons King Tide Farms as the source for the arugula, and press reports cite butter from Forx Farms in the Upstate and polenta from Columbias Anson Mills. Those may be from South Carolina producers, but they arent exactly Lowcountry ingredients. The local stuff is most prominent in the pesci section. Fresh local snapper ($45) is steamed and served with lemon gremolata, a minimalist treatment that leaves the delicate white flesh tender and pristine but the pink skin unpleasantly soft and rubbery. Theres no such delicacy with the picatta-style swordfish ($40), which has the lemon/caper tang of chicken picatta but a heavy jacket of eggy, rather sweet batter more akin to chicken francaise. Heavier still is the rich brown-butter sauce underneath, and a garnish of capers adds even more salty tang to what is already a very salty plate. Yes, I know that loads of butter and salt are the not-so-secret trick of fine dining chefs, amping things up to really slam your palate. But at some point, things tip and the illusion breaks, and its particularly pronounced on the larger plates. A small mound of darkly sweet cherry mostarda is the best thing on the heritage pork chop entree ($49), but theres nothing remarkable about the 1-pound slab of pork or its sticky topping of amaro-laced agrodolce and chopped pecans. Glazing half a chicken with Lambrusco ($39) is a daring move, but daredevils can crash in this case smothering an otherwise admirable bird beneath a blanket of fruity, soda pop sweetness. Sorelle shines best not with the big, brash plates nor with the produce of the Lowcountry but rather with expensive ingredients sourced from far away. Salumi platters soar with rich pistachio laced-mortadella ($16) and soft pink sheets of exquisite Prosciutto di San Daniele ($21) that almost melt on the tongue. Orbs of buffalo-milk burrata ($16), sliced in half so their creamy interiors are exposed, get an added burst from a sprinkle of peppery herbs and a generous drizzle of good olive oil. We had good fortune with the wine, too, which is one area where a big restaurant group can really bring the heat. The selection emphasizes Northern and Central Italy, and sommelier Simon Kaufmann strikes just the right balance for me enthusiastic and friendly, knowledgeable without sounding pompous, asking a few questions and returning each time with a splendid pick. So lets dispense with the fog about Southern hospitality and Lowcountry ingredients. Why not double down on what makes the restaurant really stand out? Its a splashy, big-night out kind of place, and if you can manage to get in, it can really dazzle you with exotic ingredients and no expense spared, if only the pacing were right. I really wanted to be blown away by Sorelle. Its exciting to see those two old buildings brought back to life after so many years. Its encouraging, too, that someone made an effort to research the buildings histories and print them on the last menu page, even if they had to stretch for a story to link the old with the new. Sorelle, we are told, is the Italian word for sisters, and from 1887 to 1920, two sisters, Florida and Doridina Fabian, ran a school inside the Hebrew Society at 88 Broad Street. This is largely correct (the oldest sisters name was actually Davidina), but it seems odd to say it was a welcoming place for early Charlestonian settlers (Charleston was settled in the late 17th century) and even more of a stretch to call it a well-known and loved part of this neighborhoods story. I doubt few, if any Charlestonians today, have ever heard of the Misses Fabian or the Hebrew Orphan Society. The linkage just doesnt quite land, and it has no connection to the food of Southern Italy. Beyond the tall windows rise the historic buildings of the Four Corners of Law, but whats inside feels parachuted in. Are we in Charleston or Vegas or maybe Washington, D.C.? Does it even really matter? Like that gorgeous hand-painted landscape, it seems ultimately like disconnected luxury ungrounded in any particular time or place. Before pushing back from the table on my last visit, I clicked the texted link and requested my car from the valet. Once out on the sidewalk, I waited while the valet chatted up a group of young women and snapped a few pics with their phones. Then he ambled across the street and around the corner and pulled up a few minutes later in my car. I wouldnt have thought much about it except that some 10 minutes earlier Id received an auto-reply to my text that read, Your valet is now SPRINTING to retrieve your vehicle. I guess I expected more. GREENVILLE A German automotive supplier will set up its U.S. home base in South Carolina after first test driving the state for seven years at a small Upstate site. Wenker, Inc. will put more roots down in the area by investing $3.1 million into establishing its U.S. headquarters in Greenville County, adding 27 new jobs. The company, which has a flagship facility in Germany, is a metal and steel construction company offering plant engineering and fabricated metal products for the automotive industry. It lists partners such as BMW, Volvo and Toyota. Wenker first ventured into the Palmetto State in 2016 through a small operation in Spartanburg County. After its success it decided to build and move into a manufacturing site on E. Phillips Road in Greer along the Highway 14 corridor. The U.S.-Wenker story is becoming an exciting one," Wenker, Inc. Germany CEO and Owner Stefan Leers said in a press release. "We are very proud to build our new U.S. headquarters in Greenville County, a community which felt like home from day one. The multi-phased, 131,400-square-foot plant can accommodate both increased production and a local headquarters. The company plans for the operations to be completed by mid-2024. The companys six decades of excellence in industrial production and engineering is an ideal addition to Greenvilles booming automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors, and we wish them success here long into the future," Greenville Area Development Corporation Board Member and County Council Chairman Dan Tripp said in a statement. The University of Virginias John Paul Jones Arena echoed with cheers and music Monday as students and counselors entered with excitement to kick off the first day of summer camp. Starr Hill Pathways Summer Camp is back for its second year. The camp, established by UVas Equity Center, is a three-week program designed to help students explore career pathways. Students will be introduced to a wide range of career and college opportunities through different workshops and activities. About 180 students, ranging from seventh through 12th grade, from Albemarle County Public Schools and Charlottesville City Schools gathered in the arena for a kick-off pep rally on Monday. Counselors, students and community partners were asked what they were most excited for during the rally. Im looking forward to new beginnings and getting out of my shell, and as for my pathway, I havent really done anything to expand what I want to do in my life and this will really help, ZyAsia Williams told The Daily Progress. Williams is a ninth-grader at Albemarle High School attending the camp for the second year. Before the program, she said didnt care about her future. At that time, I was in seventh grade and I didnt really care about my future much because I didnt think I would be able to, because financially I didnt think Id be able to go to college, Williams said. Ben Allen, executive director of UVas Equity Center, said he wants students to feel supported before, during and after finding their career path. To find a passion that theyre really interested in that they can study not only in school, but then think about their career, but then also realize when they have that dream that this village that is part of Starr Hill Pathways and the community is here to support them to get there, Allen said. The program is largely funded by UVa, which granted the initiative roughly $6 million in the spring of 2021. The camp is free of charge. Programming for the camp is held all throughout Grounds. Students also go to other nearby facilities in and around Charlottesville such as the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center and Piedmont Virginia Community College. This year, transportation for campers to UVa Grounds is being provided by Albemarle County Public Schools Transportation. There are 16 different pathways offered at the camp. Of those 16, Williams chose performing arts. Last summer, her chosen pathway was multimedia, because it was the closest one to acting, she said. Last summer, when I just forgot about everyone else and the fact that I was not here for people I was here for my pathway, I was here to expand my future, Williams said. It was amazing. It was great. Some other pathways include STEM, urban farming and horticulture, multimedia arts, civic engagement and social justice, and culinary arts. Each pathway is certified by the Virginia Department of Education, according to organizers. There are also life skills on offer, including barbering, cosmetology and finance, said Allen. Campers eligible include students of Albemarle and Charlottesville schools who are supported by their family, according to the organization. Applications are open, but students of color are prioritized. There are 32 counselors, 30 of which identify as people of color and 14 who are multilingual. There are so many barriers that put students of color and students from low-wealth families at an educational and professional disadvantage when its time to consider post-high school plans, Lucy Montalvo, director of Starr Hill Pathways said in a statement. Starr Hill Pathways helps eliminate those barriers that many of our students and their families face by giving scholars a hands-on experience in as many professional and recreational subject areas as possible. Starr Hill Pathways holds an end-of-camp showcase where students and community partners will display their work. And even after the camp wraps, the program plans to support participating students, offering academic enrichment, mentoring and workshops during the school year as a way to support the programs mission to encourage students until they exit high school, according to organizers. The program plans to offer paid internships for students sometime in the future, according to Allen. We would like students to have experiences where they get to travel off of the east coast and be able to see their career and passions and different spaces and to open up the world to them, Allen said. As a Democrat and a Republican representing diverse constituencies across South Carolina, we don't often see eye to eye on every issue. However, one thing we do agree on is that our health care system can and should do more to protect our citizens from the devastating impact of cancer. Read moreHealth above politics: Early cancer screenings for South Carolinians You are the owner of this article. The Christian and the non-Christian are supposed to be different. In fact, so different, the Bible says that once a person becomes spiritually transformed they become an entirely new creation. His includes the potential for their minds to be renewed into a way of thinking that is much more i Read moreDo others respect your relationship with God? ATLANTIC BEACH Atlantic Beach sits at a crossroads. Its leaders want to see an oceanfront high-rise built in the northern Grand Strand town, a place that was once a haven for Black beachgoers in the segregated South but has seen its economic fortunes decline over the decades. Many residents, meanwhile, fear new development will erase the historic community. The Town Council on July 10 passed three zoning changes that relax restrictions on developers coming into town to build projects near the Atlantic Ocean. We believe this development would destroy our beachfront and forever change the cultural and historical significance of one of the last remaining oceanfront communities predominately owned and governed by African Americans, property owner Naim Vaughan said during a July 10 public hearing where the ordinances unanimously passed, despite a packed community center in opposition. Town officials said the ordinances are intended to encourage development that would bring in needed revenue to the community, but residents and property owners fear the measures could spell the end of the towns character and charm. If the development is successful, they worry neighboring North Myrtle Beach will eventually consume the town. Known as the Black Pearl, the town of nearly 300 residents sandwiched between the city limits of North Myrtle Beach was founded in 1934 by developer George Tyson. During the segregation era, Atlantic Beach was one of the most popular vacation destinations for Black families along the East Coast with its hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and stores where they could gather and mingle without fear of discrimination. Later, integration resulted in the towns search for identity and ways to keep visitor revenue on its nearly 100 acres. One idea turned out to be a popular motorcycle festival held annually on Memorial Day weekend. The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage Festival, commonly known as Atlantic Beach Bikefest, was started in 1980 by the Flaming Knight Riders Motorcycle Club. The town's population has fluctuated in recent decades. From 2010-2020, Atlantic Beach lost 42 percent of its residents, at one point dropping below 200 people, according to U.S. Census data. The town then grew to 283 residents between 2020 and 2022. That was the largest growth percentage of any municipality in South Carolina during that period. Some residents worry the towns history would eventually vanish if a proposed 21-story oceanfront luxury hotel and condo project is built by developer Morant Properties LLC. William Booker, president of the Association of Atlantic Beach Property Owners, said he moved to Atlantic Beach in 2005 and the topics discussed by the city at the time were not allowing condominiums to be built in the town, while not opening Ocean Boulevard to its neighbor North Myrtle Beach. Traveling through the city of North Myrtle Beach by way of Atlantic Beach is blocked on Ocean Boulevard through barricades. Booker asked the Town Council what changed over the years for them to consider such a proposal and warned them of what could happen in the future. The next thing well be told is we got to open Ocean Boulevard, Booker said. And then there goes Atlantic Beach. Town Manager Benjamin Quattlebaum said that New York-based developer Charles Morant, a Georgetown County native, has not officially submitted an application to the town for the high-rise project, which would require a separate public hearing. Morants proposed condotel, named The Black Pearl of the Atlantic, would be located near 30th Avenue South and South Ocean Boulevard, and feature 168 hotel rooms, 36 short-term rental units and 24 luxury-condo units. The $80 million project also includes 420 parking spaces within a nearby 11-story parking garage, according to town documents. Morant previously said the new venue could help draw more visitors, businesses and residents as well as improve the town's "marketability" for vacationers looking to "partake in its rich Afro-Centric cultural heritage." The "Black Pearl" could feature a banquet hall, meeting and conference rooms, exercise rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and sauna, gift shop and dedicated space for Town Museum artifacts and memorabilia, according to town documents. Councilwoman Jacqueline Gore said the town is missing out on revenue because Bikefest attendees stay in the hotels of nearby communities due to a lack of accommodations in Atlantic Beach. We want growth here. We want change, Gore said. "We need to be able to hold onto our charter and we need infrastructure and more jobs to come here. I never make decisions based on what I want for me. I want it for the town and for the residents of Atlantic Beach. Morant claims the development will increase the towns land and home values, create more employment opportunities and bring in at least $9 million in tax revenue. Bashea Jenkins, a property owner in her 40s who now lives in Maryland, said her grandfather once owned an 80-acre farm in Aynor. He would drive her and family to Atlantic Beach in the back of a pickup after working for the day. Jenkins said those trips to the Black Pearl were better than going to any amusement park across the country, even Walt Disney World. "We can develop the Black Pearl, but it has to be with the best interests of the people who live there each and every day," Jenkins said. "Its not a vacation spot, its a community. Its family. Its a legacy." The Charleston County Sheriff's Office violated South Carolina open records law when it withheld recorded phone conversations of a jailed woman accused of drunkenly crashing into a newlywed couple hours after their wedding, a retired S.C. Supreme Court justice ruled July 10. The ruling means the Sheriff's Office should provide media outlets the calls made by Jamie Lee Komoroski from the county jail as soon as an order is signed by retired Justice Jean Hoefer Toal, which could take two weeks. Depending on the language of that order, it could be the first case to definitively codify that the personal phone calls of those jailed, most of whom are awaiting trial and presumed innocent, are public records. "Under the Freedom of Information Act, these recordings are, in my mind, clearly public recordings," said Toal, who retired from the S.C. Supreme Court in 2015 but serves as a judge when needed in other South Carolina courts, such as the lawsuit filed over Komoroski's jail calls. Komoroski faces charges of felony driving under the influence and reckless homicide. The 25-year-old New Jersey native has been held without bond at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center since the April 28 crash that killed Samantha Miller, 34, and seriously injured her new husband, Aric Hutchinson, and two others family members. Shortly after her arrest, The Post and Courier filed a Freedom of Information Act request for voice and video calls between Komoroski and her family and friends. The hours of conversations revealed an emotional young woman struggling to reconcile how she landed in jail, and the possibility she received special treatment from the sheriff, according to a story published May 19 based on the calls. In its response to the newspaper FOIA request, the Sheriff's Office withheld one recording containing legal information and two others that included personal information such as passwords, allowable exemptions under FOIA. Otherwise, the agency did not object to the release of the recordings, initially. After the newspaper published its story, the department denied subsequent requests from other media outlets for those same recordings, prompting Gray Television, parent company of Charleston CBS affiliate WCSC-TV Live 5 News, to sue Sheriff Kristin Graziano last month. The Sheriffs Office, according to the lawsuit, stated it had erred in releasing the recordings to the paper, and that further release of the tapes would compromise the defendants privacy, right to a fair trial and physical safety, which are provisions that allow a government agency to deny a FOIA request. The Post and Courier submitted another request for subsequent calls made by Komoroski while in custody, which the sheriff also denied, citing similar issues related to privacy and the administration of justice. During the July 10 hearing, which lasted about an hour, Mark Peper, attorney for Gray Television, successfully argued that these recordings are public records, and as such, can only be withheld based on specific exceptions in the state's open records law, which the Sheriff's Office failed to cite in its blanket denial. The Sheriffs Office records all video and phone calls inmates make from the jail. A sign above each phone and tablet makes it clear the calls will be recorded, as does a message played for the recipient before the call starts. "Our position is that (Komoroski) forfeits that right to privacy the moment she enters the jail," Peper said in court. Toal appeared to agree with Peper, telling Nicole Paluzzi, attorney for the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, that an inmate consents to being recorded when he picks up the phone. Because they are public, Toal continued, if the Sheriff's Office wanted her to consider specific calls, the Sheriff's Office should have reviewed all the calls at issue in this case and provided the applicable exemptions for each recording it wanted to withhold. "Nobody has made any attempt to go through these things," Toal said. Without that, Toal said she found no exemption to prevent the release of the recordings. Paluzzi said the calls totaled 21 hours of audio, which was time-consuming and costly for a member of the county's legal team to review before the hearing. The county cannot brush aside FOIA's requirements just because the public records sought are voluminous, the judge stated. Komoroskis attorney Chris Gramiccioni echoed Paluzzi's arguments on July 10, saying the release of the recordings are an unreasonable invasion of his client's privacy and that the release will deprive her of the right to a fair trial and interfere with future law enforcement action. Toal added that dozens of other high-profile cases have gone through courthouses in Charleston County and across the state without affecting the defendant's right to a fair trial. Toal specifically named Dylan Roof, the convicted killer of nine Black congregants of a Charleston church; Michael Slager, the former North Charleston police officer sentenced to 20 years for fatally shooting Walter Scott; and disgraced Hampton County attorney Alex Murdaugh, who is serving two life sentences for killing his wife and youngest son. In 2022, Murdaugh sued the Richland County jail seeking to stop the flow of his jail call recordings after officials released hours of his phone calls. The tapes became the subject of podcast episodes, news articles and television broadcasts. Murdaugh argued the release of his calls violated federal wiretapping law. A federal judge rejected the argument, and more tapes were released. His attorneys later contended the release violated his constitutional rights to a fair trial and privacy, but the case was never decided. South Carolina courts have not previously ruled whether pretrial detainees personal phone calls should be considered public record. Toal's order could be the first, but the decision may be appealed by the sheriff. In South Carolina, the Freedom of Information Act covers all records, including recordings, held by a government entity with certain exceptions. Editor's note: This story has been update to reflect that attorney Nicole Paluzzi works for the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. As South Carolinas commissioner of agriculture, I can tell you that getting food from the field to your plate is not a simple or isolated activity. Even the smallest farms rely on global markets. Read moreCommentary: SC farmers could suffer under federal 'carbon border tax' proposal. Allegations of misconduct and incompetence have bombarded the Buckingham County election office since last November, shoving the rural county where there is more cattle than voters and its civil servants into the national spotlight. Now, after the entire office chose to resign rather than tolerate the accusations, a staff of four has been replaced by a staff of two. In an attempt to put the drama behind them including bitter and often personal feuds local Democrats and Republicans have reached an uneasy peace; both sides now claim the newly staffed office is prepared for the upcoming general election in November. There will be a fair and free election this November, Ramona Christian told The Daily Progress. All election laws will be followed. There is a deep irony in Christians words. The chairwoman of the Buckingham County Republican Committee who is now trying to assuage voter concerns may be the very reason voters had concerns in the first place. She insists she never made allegations of voter fraud in the county. But two sources told The Daily Progress that Christian emailed an unsubstantiated document to the local Republican Party that claimed absentee ballots in the countys 2022 General Election came from nonresidents. One of those sources is Thomas Jordan Miles III, a Democrat on the county Board of Supervisors. Sure there were [fraud allegations], Miles told The Daily Progress. Ms. Christian was peddling misinformation. Despite that, Miles agrees with Christian that the upcoming general election will go smoothly. We have a good registrar and a good electoral board, he said. Thats a more optimistic view than he and other community leaders had a few months ago. Due to prior harassment and intimidation, we werent sure wed have enough election workers to have an election in November, he said. Both Christian and Miles have put their faith in Ginger Chiesa, the countys new general registrar. I want every voter to know the office is up and running, Chiesa told The Daily Progress, adding that she has previously worked elections in counties across the commonwealth. Yet the fact remains that the staff has been cut in half since the mass exodus that occurred earlier this year. Chiesa said the office is seeking to hire a deputy registrar and temporary staff. Buckingham County did not have any primary elections in June, meaning the new staff has not yet been tested. Turnover in an election office can be a challenge. Thats partly why many counties prefer to reappoint a general registrar rather than replace them. In Buckingham, for instance, Margaret Thomas served as general registrar for 28 years before retiring in 2019. Lindsey Taylor was on track to serve a long tenure herself. After taking over as registrar in October 2019, she regularly received glowing annual reviews from the county electoral board. But last March, a new board, including two Republicans nominated by Christian, voted 2-1 not to reappoint Taylor. Out of the four years shes been doing this job, I personally think shes been doing a wonderful job, Gail Braxton, then-chair of the board, told a crowd after casting the lone dissenting vote. Virginia election law says that whichever party controls the Executive Mansion in Richmond gets to have a majority on every local electoral board across the commonwealth. The local party chair in this case Christian gets to nominate people for the board. So why did two of her nominations ultimately choose to oust Taylor at the end of her four-year term as registrar? There is no reason, Sandy Banks, who voted against Taylors reappointment, told The Daily Progress. Our thoughts were that we should see what was available, Banks said when pressed. We just felt like we needed to look at all of our options. Christian said she interviewed a number of candidates for the role. One of them, Randy Biggers, told NBC News that in order to be considered, hed have to be willing to fire Taylor. The Daily Progress could not reach Biggers for comment. Christian, meanwhile, has denied that allegation outright. That is not true. Thats not how [the question] was stated, no, she said. But she did not deny asking candidates if theyd be willing to fire a general registrar if appointed. My purpose with those question in interviews with candidates was to know if they could make hard decisions, she said. I needed them to be able to follow law and do what needed to be done. There was no vendetta. Banks and Christian said that Taylor had the opportunity to reapply for her own job. Instead, she chose to walk away. Taylor chose to resign from her position. She was not fired, Christian said. Banks, one of Christians nominations, is still on the electoral board. And while both of the Republicans said they are happy with Chiesa, who Christian described as absolutely phenomenal, it remains to be seen whether that praise will continue or diminish come November. Or if they will make accusations of misconduct. Both Banks and Christian appear at least sympathetic with the conspiracy theory that former president Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election. Biden won that race with more than 81 million votes, the most of any presidential candidate in history, compared to Trumps 74 million. A photo of Banks and Christian posing with ardent election denier Mike Lindell is on Facebook. Banks, like Christian, denies ever accusing Taylor or her office of fraud. But emails obtained by The Daily Progress show that Banks sent out the same press release as Christian alleging voter fraud. The document claims that 21% of absentee ballots in the 2022 General Election in Buckingham County came from nonresidents. The release was authored by the Election Process Education Corporation, or EPEC, a nonprofit group. The Daily Progress found a copy of the document online under EPECs domain name. When asked about the release and its claims, an EPEC employee told The Daily Progress via email, Our analyst is re-running the numbers on our findings. The release was removed from the website shortly thereafter. While there is no reason to suspect the upcoming election in Buckingham County will somehow be illegitimate, the same was true last year when Taylor and her staff had their integrity regularly questioned. At a Jan. 4 electoral board meeting, Christian accused myself and multiple individuals of breaking the law, Taylor wrote to The Daily Progress in a text message. She frequently spread false gossip about myself, my husband, my mother in law and others close to me. Audio recordings obtained by The Daily Progress offer a peak at that gossip. Speaking with a Republican candidate in 2022, Christian can be heard in the recording claiming that Taylor was not welcomed by her own family and mother-in-law. They dont even want her at functions because shes so far-left-leaning, she says. Responding to the recording, Taylor emphasized that her family does not have any relationship with Christian. We do not know her and she does not know us. Its disturbing, Taylor said. The audio also suggests Christian thought Taylor was attempting to swing the election. She has supposedly sent word to me and my committee that shes going to do everything in her power to make sure the Republicans dont win, Christian is heard saying. Taylor said the accusations she faced became too much to bear, citing intense stress on her mental wellbeing. I felt the need to protect my family and myself and to leave this toxic environment, she said. Christian wrote to The Daily Progress that she, never accused Miss Taylor or anyone of voter fraud. Her concern, she said, was that there were too many independents working the polls on Election Day. Not long after beginning her phone interview with The Daily Progress, Christian could be heard sorting through papers. She had to get out her book on election law, she said, before pointing to section 24.2-115 of the Code of Virginia. If practicable, no more than one-third of the total number of officers appointed for each precinct may be citizens who do not represent any political party, she read. Christian said the number of officials unaffiliated with either party exceeded the one-third limit. She did not view the if practicable portion of the clause as an acceptable explanation. The Daily Progress contacted the Virginia Election Department to learn if exceeding the one-third limit would be an election law violation, but has yet to receive a response. Two Virginia election experts, however, are unconvinced by Christians argument. Officers dont want to get mixed up in the politics of it and dont want to be designated as a party person, Brenda Cabrera, president of Voter Registrars Association of Virginia, told The Daily Progress. They want to be unaffiliated. Christian appears to think some of those unaffiliated officers were actually Democrats in disguise. An article by the Election Integrity Project, which was sent to The Daily Progress by Christian, claims Taylor resigned after being caught packing precincts. Amid the late unpleasantness, Christian, Taylor and even the Republican Party of Virginia are trying to move on. The departure of the Buckingham County registrar and staff earlier this year was unfortunate, Richard Anderson, chairman of the state GOP, told The Daily Progress in an email. From my perspective, we are now beyond the contention of the recent past. For the time being, Buckingham Countys warring parties have reached a ceasefire. Right now, we have peace in the valley, and I think this small Republican faction has finally seen the writing on the wall, said Miles. But how long that peace lasts, and whether this Novembers election will reignite the countys underlying fire, remains to be seen. Joe Biden is in London, kicking off a European trip. He has just engaged in climate talks with King Charles. I will hazard a guess that these talks will have zero impact on the Earths climate. Meanwhile, Biden is not getting a positive reception. In the Telegraph, Nial Gardiner unloads with both barrels: Here comes Biden, the worlds worst diplomat. No president in modern American history has done more to undermine the partnership with the UK. His shameless knifing of Defence Secretary Ben Wallaces candidacy to be the next NATO Secretary General was classic ruthlessness from Mr. Biden, who can barely disguise his sheer hatred of Britain, Brexit, and British history. He has built a well-earned reputation as one of the most crude, narcissistic, and rude politicians of our time. He has amply conveyed this approach in his dealings with Britain, bullying the British Government successfully over the Northern Ireland Protocol, sinking a trade deal with the United Kingdom after several rounds of negotiations by the Trump administration, and thumbing his nose at the Kings Coronation, sending his wife, Jill, in his place. Biden treats Britain as a vassal state, not as Americas closest friend and ally, and thinks nothing of directly intervening in internal British political matters, especially relating to Brexit. His attacks on Liz Trusss tax cuts as prime minister were outrageous and unprecedented, and played a vital role in discrediting her economic plans, and in precipitating her downfall, along with the relentless fire from the IMF. It is simply astonishing that the present Conservative Government has gone along with Bidens socialist-style global minimum tax proposals, which are a huge attack on economic freedom, and significantly undermine the competitiveness of the British economy. Biden is a president who exudes incredible arrogance while demonstrating a limited understanding of many foreign policy issues. Combined with a series of embarrassing gaffes, his presidency has been a monumental disaster on the world stage, from the catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan through his shameless grovelling towards Communist China. *** As Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak should be standing up to Biden over the future of the Nato alliance, pushing for a trade deal between London and Washington, and telling Joe Biden to mind his own business over Brexit and Northern Ireland. But we should not hold our breath. Sunak failed to do so on his recent visit to the White House and is seen by the Bidenistas as far easier to push around compared to his predecessors, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. It may take years, even decades to repair the damage Joe Biden has done to the Special Relationship. The Biden approach is hugely counter-productive, vindictive and deeply unpleasant. The red carpet will be rolled out for the US president in London on Sunday and Monday, but in the eyes of millions of Britons, he is no friend of the British people. Last week in Gal Luft speaks I noted Miranda Devines New York Post column on Gal Lufts video statement alleging knowledge of the Biden family business and his meeting with the FBI on the subject. Luft is on the run from charges we had yet to see. Lufts video appears to have moved the government to unveil the charges. Yesterday the government unsealed the indictment against Luft for acting as an unregistered foreign agent, trafficking in arms, violating sanctions against Iran, and making false statements to federal agents. The governments elaborate press release is posted here with the 8-count indictment attached. The indictment is undated. It is not clear to me when it was handed up or how long it has been under seal. [See update below.] Reading the indictment, I can only imagine what the government could have done with Hunter Biden and the Biden family business if it had been so inclined. However, the government is not so inclined, and we are also left to imagine the wrongdoing committed by the government to cover those charges up. Luft himself anticipated my guilty thoughts in this pointed tu quoque in his video: Why am I being indicted for ghostwriting an innocuous article for which I received no payment, let alone from a foreign government, when the mother of all FARA cases, the Bidens systemic influence-peddling on behalf of foreign governments, for which they raked [in] millions, goes unpunished? Samuel Chamberlain and Miranda Devine now cover the unsealed Luft indictment in the New York Post story Missing Biden corruption witness Dr. Gal Luft hit with federal charges. It provides useful background and context to the charges, including the quotation of Luft in the paragraph above. Lufts video statement by itself was impossible to corroborate or verify. The charges confirm that Lufts alleged Brussels meeting with the FBI took place as he alleged. As the governments press release notes, Luft remains on the run. UPDATE: While the indictment itself is undated, the docket indicates a filing date of November 1, 2022. The unsealing of the indictment appears to be the governments response to Lufts video. Many members of the Biden administration are overmatched in their jobs, beginning with Slow Joe himself. But perhaps no member of the administration is as out of her depth as Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Poor Ms. Jean-Pierre thinks the Constitution guarantees some ethnic groups the right to discrimination in their favor: This is really, really important and I know the American people are really tracking this, as they should be. Dobbs decision, that was something that was decided on a year ago. Really took away the freedoms from women. I think about abortion, I think about reproductive rights. And that was unprecedented. Actually, what was unprecedented was Roe v. Wade, which discovered a right to abortion that supposedly had been lurking unseen in the Constitution for nearly two centuries. Now you fast-forward to what we saw last week, affirmative action. Again, taking away important constitutional rights that have been in place for a long time. Ms. Jean-Pierre did not explain what provision of the Constitution requires that public colleges and universities discriminate, or be permitted to discriminate, on the basis of race. It would be interesting to see someone try to spell out that theory. Although, to be fair, Karines pro-race discrimination clause isnt much better hidden than Roes right to abortion clause. PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 04:00:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 942 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / July 10, 2023 / Alphinat Inc. (TSXV:NPA) a leading Canadian provider of innovative software solutions, is proud to announce our module LIVEaiASSIST has entered BETA release, with our demonstration for a Canadian government client department. LIVEaiASSIST greatly accelerates solution development for easy to use complex digital services. Alphinat is also adding AI generate testing and training modules, both high value upgrades, to better test and scale solutions while enhancing transfer & retention of knowledge within organizations."This is a major advancement in automation, innovation and ease of use for the SmartGuide development suite in being able to assist non-technical people develop and deploy for production secure enterprise grade applications in secure government infrastructures," said Harold Roussel, Alphinat's Chief Software Architect.The company also announces delivery and successful implementation of a SmartGuide Greenhouse Gas Registry (SmartGHGR) to Canada's most populated and industrialized province. This ground-breaking achievement underscores Alphinat's commitment to environmental sustainability and advancing ESG compliance and efficient delivery of user-friendly solutions to complete complex tasks for the public sector.Leveraging SmartGuide's advanced capabilities, a small team delivered this highly anticipated digital service in record time. "We have empowered organizations to streamline their GHG reporting processes and enhance Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance," said Denis Michaud, Chief Solution and Security Officer at Alphinat.SmartGuide's intuitive interface and powerful development tools have enabled seamless data collection, verification, and reporting of GHG emissions. By leveraging SmartGuide's robust features, businesses can accurately measure, monitor, and manage their carbon footprints, contributing to a sustainable future."We are proud to support organizations in meeting their ESG goals, ensuring transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance. SmartGuide continues to drive innovation in environmental sustainability, helping businesses navigate the complex landscape of GHG emissions reporting and make a positive impact on our planet," mentioned Denis Michaud.SmartGuide's cutting-edge capabilities have empowered organizations to seamlessly collect, verify, and report Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions data in compliance with federal, provincial guidelines. By leveraging SmartGuide's robust features, businesses can accurately measure, monitor, and manage their carbon footprints, fostering a sustainable future and demonstrating responsible corporate citizenship."We are thrilled to support our clients in meeting their ESG goals and contributing to a greener economy," said Curtis Page, President & CEO "SmartGuide continues to drive innovation in environmental reporting, enabling organizations to navigate the complexities of GHG emissions and drive positive change." With SmartGuide, organizations gain a comprehensive toolset to streamline GHG reporting processes, enhancing data accuracy, transparency, and regulatory compliance. By harnessing the power of SmartGuide, businesses can make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and align with global sustainability standards.Alphinat remains at the forefront of sustainable technology solutions, empowering organizations to make a measurable impact on the environment and foster a culture of ESG compliance.Alphinat also announces it has issued on April 26, 2023 4,695,000 options with a $0.08 strike price expiring on the 26th of April 2028.About AlphinatAt Alphinat, we are driven by the passion to make application development easy for everyone and system interoperability issues a thing of the past. We enable people with the vision of how a finished application should look and behave to be a major part of the development process. After all, what better way to ensure a favourable outcome than to provide those closest to an application's end-users with a vested interest in its success throughout its development?That's why we bring you new ways to empower the right people at the right time in the application development process. At the same time, we're constantly working to reduce the need to code in order to make application development and maintenance simpler and less error prone.So, whether you choose to develop your applications with the help of our low-code platform SmartGuide, kickstart your project using one of our pre-built apps or engage us or one of our partners to do the work for you, we're here to help you deploy better applications in record time. Visit us at https://www.alphinat.com for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.Forward-looking statementsCertain statements in this document, including those which express management's expectations or estimations with regards to the Company's future performance constitute"forward-looking statements" as understood by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are, of necessity, based on a certain number of estimates and hypotheses; while management considers these to be accurate at the time they are expressed, they are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and risks on the commercial, economic and competitive levels. We advise readers that these forward- looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other known and unknown factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause significant differences between actual results and those described in forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, the Company's capacity to increase acceptance of its products on the market, and to penetrate new markets; the potential existence of defects or undetected problems in the Company's products; the Company's ability to manage its growth; the Company's ability to compete with others;potential commitments; maintaining the Company's intellectual property rights and defending against litigation putting those rights in question; the Company's reliance on the knowledge of its key personnel; and the Company's access to sufficient capital to finance its future needs. This is a partial and non-exhaustive list of factors that could bear on any of our forward-looking statements. Investors are advised to not rely unduly on the forward-looking statements. This advisory applies to all forward-looking statements, whethe PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 09:35:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 627 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Appliance Service Master Class, a renowned global consulting firm specializing in helping appliance service and HVAC businesses overcome their most complex challenges, is thrilled to announce its expansion to Miami, Florida. Led by industry veteran Andrey Czupiel, the company has been providing exceptional training and consulting services to over 300 appliance service technicians and businesses across Canada and the United States.With over two decades of experience in the appliance service industry, Andrey Czupiel is the founder of the prestigious Private Career College, Appliance Technical Institute of Canada, and the Director of Appliance Service Master Class. Under his guidance, the company has successfully assisted technicians and small businesses in managing their operations more efficiently and building thriving appliance service enterprises.Appliance Service Master Class is driven by a set of core values that include accountability, mastery, and integrity. By fostering a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and ethical conduct, the company ensures its clients receive the highest level of service and professionalism.The expansion to Miami comes as a strategic move aligned with the company's vision and growth plans. Miami, with its burgeoning housing market and countless opportunities for appliance service, offers an ideal location for Appliance Service Master Class to train technicians from all 50 states throughout the year. By partnering with TMM Academics, Appliance Service Master Class clients can now benefit from practical training sessions with expert instructors, ensuring they are equipped with the skills needed to excel in the field.Appliance Service Master Class offers three comprehensive training programs designed to prepare clients for successful careers in the appliance industry. The Technician Training program covers both domestic and commercial appliances, providing technicians with the necessary expertise to diagnose and repair a wide range of appliances. The Appliance Service Business Development course equips clients with the knowledge and tools to build and grow their own appliance service businesses. Lastly, the LG Mini-Split Room Air Conditioning Installation and Repair course offers specialized training in an increasingly in-demand service area.What sets Appliance Service Master Class apart is its industry partnerships, teaching methodologies, and track record of success. With long-standing relationships with manufacturers like Whirlpool, Electrolux, and LG, clients gain access to valuable resources such as technician portals, service manuals, and training videos. The company also facilitates the application process for coveted manufacturer warranty contracts, allowing clients to generate more revenue for their businesses."Testimonials from satisfied clients highlight the effectiveness of Appliance Service Master Class's training programs. Michael Checo, owner of First Response Appliances from Port St. Lucie, Florida, shared his experience, stating, "Joining Appliance Service Master Class has been the easiest decision of my life. They provided me access to manufacturer technician portals, which gives me everything I need to accurately diagnose and complete service calls. I started my own appliance service business and even applied to become an authorized service technician for Whirlpool within just four days of signing on!"Appliance Service Master Class invites potential students and partners to learn more about their services and get in touch with their team. Visit their website at www.asmasterclass.com or reach out to Andrey Czupiel via email at andreyc@ asmasterclass.com About Appliance Service Master Class:Appliance Service Master Class is a leading global consulting firm founded by Andrey Czupiel, a highly experienced professional in the appliance service industry. With a mission to provide appliance service technicians and business owners a fundamental understanding of building and growing their enterprises, the company offers comprehensive training programs and consulting services. Appliance Service Master Class leverages industry partnerships, cutting-edge resources, and a team of expert instructors to deliver unparalleled training experiences.CONTACT:Andrey Czupiel can be reached at andreyc@ asmasterclass.com Instagram: @asmasterclassYoutube: @asmasterclassFacebook: @asmasterclassSOURCE: Appliance Service Master Class PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 20:45:57 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 802 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BDTCOIN is an exclusive gold standard digital currency with multiple new blockchain features of its self with QUAUNTUM protocols.DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / BDTCOIN, a prominent digital currency, has forged an affiliation with GOLD, aiming to create a gold standard digital currency. This association provides a unique opportunity for gold enthusiasts seeking to engage with a digital currency. The latest development from BDTCOIN showcases its commitment to expanding its blockchain product offerings, utilizing QUANTUM protocols. These advancements encompass various areas such as wallet providers, exchange house partnerships, and mining projects. By leveraging these cutting-edge features and its foundation as a gold standard digital currency, BDTCOIN aims to redefine possibilities within the digital currency landscape.The development of the concept and business plan defines the potential of BDTC blockchain quantum protocols for the different products and services availed. The blockchain protocols shall be either shared or solo protocols. Shared protocols are where everyone can use the said protocol to generated profit and the profit is shared among the participants well as the private/ solo protocols are where individuals solely use the said protocols to generate solo profit.The recently introduced crypto unique utility features are as follows:Mobile PaymentPeople can use BDTCOIN as a digital currency and buy products or services with. It enables users to possess an online wallet to transfer BDTCOIN from one user's wallet to another.Trading ProjectsAs well as becoming the cryptocurrency to launch a gold standard, BDTCOIN has become well known as early adopters of the currency often became BDTCOIN millionaires through mining and Investment in the money.Protect The IdentityBDTCOIN focuses on anonymity, as it is still an area of constant development in the world of cryptocurrencies.Security The MoneyA BDTCOIN transaction authorizes only a specific value to a particular recipient and cannot be forged or modified. It does not reveal any private information, such as the identities of the parties, and cannot be used to authorize additional payments. Therefore, a BDTCOIN payment network must not be encrypted or protected from eavesdropping. One can broadcast BDTCOIN transactions over an open public channel, such as unsecured WiFi or NO INTERNET or Bluetooth, with no loss of security.Paper WalletThe platform creates the BDTCOIN with a keypair generated on a computer with no internet connection. The private key is written or printed on paper and then erased from the computer. The paper wallet can then be stored in a safe physical location for later retrieval.Hardware WalletBDTCOIN facilitates users with a hardware wallet and a computer peripheral that signs transactions as requested. These devices store private keys, carry out signing and encryption internally, and do not share sensitive information with the host computer except already signed (and thus unalterable) transactions.Software WalletThe first wallet program named BDTCOIN, sometimes referred to as the JUS client, release in 2022 by JUS as open-source software. The client moved from the wxWidgets user interface toolkit to Qt, and the whole bundle was referred to as BDTCOIN-Qt. The software bundle was renamed BDTCOIN Core to distinguish itself from the underlying network. BDTCOIN Core is the best-known implementation or client.Cold StorageA technique called "cold storage" keeps private keys out of reach of hackers; this is accomplished by always keeping private keys offline by generating them on a device that is not connected to the internet. The credentials necessary to spend BDTCOIN's can be stored offline in different ways, from specialized hardware wallets to simple paper printouts of the private key.Consequently, with the new developments, BDTCOIN defines an electronic coin as a chain of digital signatures. Each owner transfers the coin to the next by digitally signing a hash of the previous transaction. Later, the public key of the next owner and adding to the end of the coin. A payee can verify the signatures to verify the chain of ownership.About the company - BDTCOIN:BDTCOIN is a brand-new decentralized digital currency that allows users to exchange value with one another via a peer-to-peer network directly. It is a network in which all users have equal power and are connected directly to one another without using a central server. The platform enables data to be shared and stored, as well as BDTCOIN payments to be sent and received between parties seamlessly.BDTCOIN is organising the Greatest ever IEO launch on over 100 exchange houses after its current success during the ICO period.BDTCOIN at a Glance:Coin Name: BDTCOINCoin Creator Name: Johir Uddin SultanCurrency Name: BDTCTotal Supply: 71 million coinsAlgorithm: Sha256Block Validation Rule: Proof of WorkWebsite: https://www.bdtcoin.coExplorer (main-net): https://www.bdtcoin.infoFor further information, visit the following links: Website | Telegram | TwitterMedia ContactOrganization: BDT COINContact Person: Johir Uddin SultanWebsite: https://bdtcoin.co/ Email: admin@ bdtcoin.co City: DubaiCountry: United Arab EmiratesSOURCE: BDT COIN PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 07:40:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 640 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SEATTLE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Brilliant Staging & Design (BSD), a full-service home interior design firm, has launched its newest service to property owners. Instant Home is an expedited design service that combines the elements of both home staging and interior design.Instant Home was created to help save clients effort, time, and money by allowing BSD to design, furnish, and stage their homes. The service is offered as a comprehensive package that incorporates multiple stages. The initial consultation discusses the client's needs, budget, timeline, and design preferences. This is followed by the creation of a project cost analysis and budgeting plan tailored to the client's needs, followed by space planning, where the designers take measurements and create potential room layouts.Further stages of the new service include the selection of furniture, accents, and accessories based on the approved layout and budget; shopping and produce procurement; and the final assembly.BSD CEO and founder Tanya Nazariya states that the new service was created due to increasing client demand for more complete home staging and decoration services. "We started receiving more requests for purchase assistance," Nazariya says. "We are able to utilize established vendor relationships to efficiently source and store the chosen furniture and accessories. This eliminates the stress of tracking shipments and managing warehousing, which our clients appreciate." Founder and CEO Tanya Nazariya staging a Seattle homeShe adds that the service culminates with a team of professionals delivering, assembling, and setting up the furniture. Artwork is hung, and the home is accessorized and decorated, preparing for the big reveal. "Then our clients come home to a professionally designed, fully furnished space," she says. "Our Instant Home service allows clients to enjoy their home's full potential immediately, with all the furniture and decor belonging to them." The entire process, from start to finish, is designed to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for clients who wish to have their homes ready in record time - but still in line with their personal style and preferences. "The client doesn't have to shop, doesn't have to measure, doesn't have to assemble furniture," says Nazariya. "We have received excellent response from clients regarding this comprehensive package that includes design, shopping, furnishing, and decorating." She shares that the Instant Home service is appropriate for preparing a personal residence for sale, getting an investment property ready for tenants or potential buyers, or showcasing how a space can be used. The BSD team leverages their years of experience in space planning, color coordination, and furniture selection to deliver a convenient option for busy homeowners and investors who seek a seamless and accelerated home transformation process.To showcase the new service, BSD has launched an updated website with a dedicated section describing how Instant Home works and the steps taken. As the service has taken off, BSD has also expanded its team of designers to keep up with new client demand."We are so pleased by the positive response," says Nazariya. "The new service aligns with our 5-year expansion plan, which includes even more new hires, as well as the purchase of our own warehouse. We are also planning to expand our services to a more diversified clientele and ultimately make Instant Home our primary service." In addition, BSD is in the process of launching Brilliant Home, an e-commerce store that will supply furniture and accessories for all its projects.About Brilliant Staging & DesignBrilliant Staging & Design (BSD) is a full-service home interior design firm based in Seattle, Washington. The company offers real estate staging, interior design, event design, sourcing of luxury furniture, DIY furniture staging rentals, and its newest service, Instant Home, a comprehensive design package.Website: https://brilliantstaging.com/ Contact Tanya Nazariya at hello@ brilliantstaging.com or 425.595.6136SOURCE: Brilliant Staging & Design Virginia school divisions receive less funding per student than the national and regional state averages, according to a new study that the legislatures watchdog agency released Monday. The underfunding stems largely from issues with the states K-12 education funding formula, which the study said lacks a clear rationale and does not reflect prevailing practices in school divisions. Virginia school divisions receive less K12 funding per student than the 50-state average, the regional average, and three of Virginias five bordering states, says the report, referring to Kentucky, Maryland and West Virginia. School divisions in other states receive 14 percent more per student than school divisions in Virginia, on average, after normalizing for differences in cost of labor among states. This equates to about $1,900 more per student than Virginia. Gov. Glenn Youngkin called the report a wake-up call and blamed the previous two state administrations, led by Democrats, for what he said was their failure to provide adequate K-12 education funding and to reform the system to ensure that funding supports students and teachers in the classroom. The legislature passed a resolution during the 2021 session directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to conduct the study. The weighty study could affect the impasse over the state budget, which has left school divisions and other stakeholders in a state of uncertainty. The study outlined pitfalls in the states Standards of Quality, which encompass the requirements that all school divisions must meet, and include how the state funds K-12 education. JLARC found that Virginias funding formula does not adequately account for a school divisions size, its number of higher-need students or regional labor costs. Most states use a K-12 funding formula based on the number of students a more straightforward system than Virginias staffing-based formula. JLARC put forth two recommendations for the funding formula: fully replace Virginias staff-based funding formula with a simpler student-based formula, or partially replace the SOQ formula by using student-based calculations for special education and English learner funding. JLARC also found that the Local Composite Index, which measures a localitys ability to pay, is a reasonable measure, despite continuing criticisms from school divisions. The impact on smaller, rural districts Keith Perrigan, founder and president of the Small and Rural Schools Coalition of Virginia, and superintendent of Washington County Public Schools in Southwest Virginia, said the facts JLARC presented regarding school funding are certainly something that we know and feel in small rural school divisions. Since the coalitions inception in 2017, Perrigan has been advocating for increased funding for school divisions with higher-need students. Even though there have been significant increases in the at-risk add-on in the last five or six years, were still not where we need to be in funding students who are at risk, and especially students who have special needs, Perrigan said. No matter how you look at it, for 10 years, (Virginia has) not adequately funded public education, and even though were making great strides in recent years to improve that, we still have a ways to go. The study could affect the outcome of the stalled negotiations over revisions to the two-year state budget, giving Senate Democrats a weapon in their argument that unprecedented investments in public education should be a higher priority than Youngkins proposed tax cuts. It also could shape debate in elections in November that will determine party control of the next General Assembly as Youngkin reaches the midpoint in his term as governor. This I think is a very important study, said Senate Finance Co-Chair Janet Howell, a Fairfax Democrat, a leader of the Senates resistance to more than $1 billion in tax cuts that Youngkin and House Republicans are proposing. Howell advised all candidates both for the General Assembly and local school boards and governing bodies to read the study. Senior Republican leaders on JLARC pushed back against the implication that Virginia requires a huge new commitment of state funds into K-12 education to carry out the studys recommendations. House Appropriations Chairman Barry Knight, a Virginia Beach Republican, estimated the cost of carrying out the recommendations at about $3.5 billion, but said the state could not do that all at once, nor should it. Sometimes throwing money doesnt always solve the problem, said Knight, citing the contrast between high spending by Richmond Public Schools and better educational outcomes in neighboring Henrico County. He also said House and Senate budget negotiators, while currently at an impasse over Youngkins proposed tax cuts, both want to put hundreds of millions of dollars into K-12 education to close gaps between what school divisions need and what the state funds. Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, a James City Republican, also cautioned that birth rates in Virginia face a precipitous decline that could alter the budget outlook in the future. JLARC staff noted that the current funding formula, as well as JLARCs recommendation for a student-based formula, both consider the number of students enrolled, making overfunding less likely if enrollment fell. Knight also said local school divisions have yet to spend about $1.5 billion in direct federal emergency aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the deadline about 14 months away. Youngkin and the next General Assembly already face a higher price for public education in the next budget after the Department of Education updates costs for the current funding system through a process that occurs every two years. The update is due this fall. We will continue to invest in our children In his statement, Youngkin touted the state budget passed last year the largest education budget in history which included a 10% pay raise for teachers. The governor proposed amendments to this years budget including a $427.7 million increase in spending on public education. We will continue to invest in our children to ensure they are prepared for success in life, Youngkin said in a statement. For those who havent been listening to parents, especially those parents of students who are falling behind or have special needs, todays report should serve as a wake-up call that our biggest problem and greatest opportunity is how we reform our system to drive dollars to improve student academic achievement, support our teachers, and deliver results to parents. While Youngkin blamed the last two administrations for inadequate funding, House Majority Leader Don Scott Jr., a Portsmouth Democrat, pointed to the Virginia GOP, which he said would rather fund corporate giveaways than students education. Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera and Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons sent a letter to JLARC that criticized the analysis for its failure to include an assessment of how the Standards of Quality affect student outcomes. It also criticizes the study for leaving out the last two fiscal years in the analysis, saying that it results in an inaccurate picture of the current fiscal reality and fails to capture the impact of recent historic budget increases, including teacher pay. Nevertheless, the report makes it clear that without reforms, increased investments in K-12 spending likely will not translate into improved student outcomes, they add in the letter. The Commonwealths formula is also antiquated and uses measures that were necessary proxies in earlier eras due to the dearth of student-level data available at the state level. Bob Holsworth, a veteran political scientist in Richmond, said the new study is likely to become a significant political issue in the budget negotiations (and) then the election. Holsworth, a former dean at Virginia Commonwealth University, said the study does not give either political party the blame, but both share it under what he called a jerry-rigged system that has evolved under Republican and Democratic governors and legislatures. If you look at the recommendations, it says the whole system is screwed up, he said. PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 06:40:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1044 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / The employee retention credit was designed to put business tax refunds in the hands of companies that legitimately qualify for the tax credit. Unfortunately, there are many payroll companies, CPAs, accountants, tax preparers, consultants and ERTC firms out there charging a contingency fee based on a percentage of the companys' ERC tax refund. The problem with this? The Internal Revenue Service clearly states it is prohibited to charge in this manner. Yet, many business owners have been paying a percentage of their hard-earned tax credit refund after being led to believe this is the "normal" way to pay for ERC services. Not so, says the IRS.Business owners should never pay a percentage % or contingency fee based on the amount of their ERC tax refund, says the IRS. Image Credit: Kuprevich / 123rf."As business owners grapple with the complexities of the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), they need to wake up and fully understand that the IRS prohibits charging a percentage or contingency fee based on the amount of a tax refund. Yet many ERC companies are charging businesses in this exact way. Not us though. We carefully follow all IRS guidelines when it comes to the employee retention tax credit," said Marty Stewart, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) with Disaster Loan Advisors (DLA)."The IRS says contingency or percentage-based fees are prohibited when preparing either an original or amended tax return. Since the ERC credit is claimed by filing an amended 941-X for each quarter that qualifies, this means that anyone or any company you engage with, may not charge in this manner. The IRS clearly states this. Any person or company touching and amending IRS tax form 941-X for your business, falls under these guidelines according to the IRS," continued Stewart.Employee Retention Credit Key Takeaways Businesses Should Follow to Protect ThemselvesEmployee Retention Credit (ERC) fees vary depending on the amount of work and services provided, but companies generally charge an average cost for assisting with ERC claims.Besides the IRS rules, Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) cannot charge contingent fees for preparing original or amended tax returns related to ERC. Instead, they should bill their ERTC assistance services using traditional billing arrangements such as hourly or fixed fees.Contingent fees are not permitted for CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, tax preparers, payroll companies, consultants, attorneys, law firms, or any other person or company providing ERC services. This is according to IRS guidelines set out by Circular 230 and separately by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).The IRS says it is important to be cautious of unscrupulous practices in the market and avoid falling for aggressive marketing tactics that promise inflated ERC amounts or guarantee audit protection. Compliance and accuracy should always be a top priority when claiming the ERC tax credit. IRS warning to business owners directly from the official IRS.gov/erc website. Image Credit: IRS.gov . Illustration by: Disaster Loan Advisors.Overview of the Employee Retention Credit (ERC)The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) is a refundable tax credit offered by the federal government to help businesses bear the costs of retaining employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. This credit equals 50% of qualified wages paid (in 2020) to an employee between March 12, 2020, and equals 70% of qualified wages paid (in 2021) through December 31, 2021.This includes qualified health plan expenses that are allocated to such a period. Eligible employers must meet certain criteria to qualify for the IRS ERC credit. As per IRS guidelines, employers must have experienced suspended operations due to governmental orders or significant revenue decline compared with 2019 or equivalent periods before claiming eligibility.Importantly, there are several restrictions on claiming these tax refunds, including not being able to receive other credits or deductions for the same wages used when taking advantage of the ERTC benefits. For example, Paycheck Protection Program PPP loans must be deducted from the same wages that might qualify for the ERC credit.Eligibility Criteria for Claiming the ERC Tax CreditTo be eligible for the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC), employers must have experienced a full or partial suspension of operations due to orders from an appropriate governmental authority, such as stay-at-home orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Eligible business taxpayers can claim the ERC on their amended employment tax returns during a qualifying period, which is by filing IRS form 941-X for each quarter that qualifies. It is important for businesses looking into claiming the ERC credit to remain aware and diligent when engaging with third parties who may try to promote claims that do not qualify under IRS guidelines.Employers should remember that any ERC claim will reduce their allowable wage deduction on their income taxes, making it very important that all eligibility criteria are met. Correct ERC claim applications are submitted to optimize qualified refund payouts from the program.How the ERC Credit Benefits EmployersThis tax credit can provide significant relief for businesses affected by the economic uncertainty brought on by the pandemic and presents an opportunity for employers who meet specific criteria outlined in IRS documents to obtain financial benefits they would otherwise not receive.With no limit on how much may be claimed cumulatively through December 2021, business owners can take advantage of this tax incentive and see returns that could reduce their payroll expenses or even result in refunds from prior quarters from 2020 and 2021 that legitimately qualify.These tax credits can be applied retroactively. Business owners have until April 15th, 2024 to file amended 941-Xs to claim the ERTC credit for the 2020 tax year. April 15th, 2025 is the deadline to file for the past 2021 ERC tax year.IRS Warning: Beware of Improper ERC Tax Credit ClaimsThe IRS is cautioning employers to be aware of scams and schemes related to the Employee Retention Credit and aggressive marketing tactics from third parties.These important IRS guidelines that protect business taxpayers and their tax refunds can be found in Treasury Department Circular No. 230. Image Credit: IRS.gov . Illustration by: Disaster Loan Advisors.Risks and Consequences of Making False or Improper ERC ClaimsMaking false or improper claims for the employee retention credit can have serious consequences, including repayment of the credit with interest and penalties and even being subject to an audit or crimi PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-10 23:45:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 586 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 10, 2023 / Entergy CorporationEntergy IT is excited to announce the first recipients of the new Entergy STEM college scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year. Channing Armour, Ayana Smith and Charlene Varnado, all of the New Orleans metro area, will receive a $4,000 scholarship toward their college degrees.The scholarship program was created to support New Orleans-area current college students obtaining degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering or math. Channing, a senior attending Dillard University, is majoring in computer science. Smith, a junior at Loyola University New Orleans, is majoring in physics and planning to obtain a master's in mechanical engineering. Varnado, a senior at Grambling State University, is majoring in cloud computing."Before being awarded this scholarship, I didn't know how I was going to afford the resources I needed for next semester or how I was going to pay for certifications and projects to verify my knowledge. I've always been interested in the field of cybersecurity but couldn't afford to take any classes on the subject," Varnado shared. "Since I was blessed with this amazing award, I have been able to take additional classes for my major and also add cybersecurity as a second major for the fall." "Entergy IT is proud to help these students fulfill their academic dreams," said Michael Rhymes, Entergy vice president and chief information officer. "This scholarship program will also have a positive, lasting impact on our communities and help build the local technology workforce." Registration will open early this fall for students to apply for the 2024-25 school year scholarship. To receive the scholarship, students must be graduates of a high school located in greater New Orleans (Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany or Tangipahoa parishes). They must also plan to attend one of the following universities in the upcoming school year:Dillard UniversityGrambling State UniversityLoyola UniversitySouthern UniversityEntergy IT selected New Orleans as a pilot location for the new scholarship program, with hopes to expand to other communities in Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas in the future.Visit the Entergy STEM Scholarship webpage to learn more about the scholarship or apply in the future. The Entergy STEM Scholarship is managed by Scholarship America, a leading scholarship facilitator and partner. Entergy did not participate in the selection processThe scholarship program supports the mission of the corporate social responsibility organization of Entergy to create sustainable value for our customers, employees, communities and owners. Aligning with our business objectives, the scholarship serves as a fundamental element in developing a pipeline of future talent in our workforce to expand economic development in the region and meet our customers' needs.'Before being awarded this scholarship, I didn't know how I was going to afford the resources I needed for next semester or how I was going to pay for certifications and projects to verify my knowledge. I've always been interested in the field of cybersecurity but couldn't afford to take any classes on the subject. Since I was blessed with this amazing award, I have been able to take additional classes for my major and also add cybersecurity as a second major for the fall.' - Charlene Vanardo, one of three recipients of the Entergy STEM college scholarshipView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Entergy CorporationWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/entergy-corporation Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Entergy Corporation PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 08:00:57 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 961 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BOARD APPOINTMENTSLONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Horizonte Minerals Plc (AIM:HZM)(TSX:HZM) ("Horizonte" or the "Company"),the nickel company developing two Tier 1 assets in Brazil, is pleased to announce the appointment of John MacKenzie as a Non-Executive Director and Simon Retter as an Executive Director effective immediately.John MacKenzieJohn is a senior mining executive with more than 30 years of operational and investment experience in the metals and mining sector, currently Chief Executive Officer and Director of TSX-listed Capstone Copper Corp (current market capitalisation of US$3billion). Previously, John was Executive Chair and Founder of Mantos Copper before its merger with Capstone Mining in 2022. He brings extensive operating and construction experience to the Board, in particular in South American through his time as part of the Anglo American group where he was a member of the Executive Committee and CEO of Copper at Anglo American plc, CEO Zinc at Anglo Base Metals and General Manager at their Minera Loma de Niquel mine and smelter in Venezuela, an RKEF ferronickel operation similar in design capacity to Araguaia. He was also previously a Non-Executive Director of KAZ Minerals plc.John has a Master of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Master of Business Leadership from the University of South Africa and has completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School.Simon RetterSimon has served as the group CFO of Horizonte Minerals since 2016. He is a commercially focused business leader with almost 15 years of experience as an Executive and Non-Executive Director focussed in the natural resources sector, driving strategic growth and leading high-performance teams across various financial roles.Simon started his career at Deloitte in assurance and advisory, qualifying as a chartered accountant before gaining extensive experience in the public markets and the mining sector, specifically, reverse takeovers, IPOs and secondary fundraising.Change in Company SecretaryMr Leonardo (Leo) Neves, Horizonte's General Counsel, has been appointed as Company Secretary, taking over from Mr Simon Retter effective immediately. Mr Neves is an experienced legal professional, having developed his career at law firms Pinheiro Neto Advogados (Brazil), McMillan LLP (Canada) and Fasken Martineau LLP (UK). He has also acted in-house for various mining companies, including Ferrous Resources where he spent 9 years as Head of Legal and Company Secretary. Mr Neves holds an LL.B. degree from University of Brasilia (UnB) and an LL.M. degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is qualified to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales, as well as in Brazil and Portugal.Jeremy Martin, CEO of Horizonte, commented:"We are delighted to welcome John MacKenzie and Simon Retter to the Board at this important time for Horizonte. These appointments emphasise the Board's continued evolution enhancing the skillsets required to successfully deliver two Tier 1 nickel projects."I am confident that John's in-depth experience in the base metals sector will prove invaluable as we transition from a developer to a producer, and I look forward to continuing the great work that Simon is doing, maximising the potential of the assets for all our stakeholders." For further information, visit www.horizonteminerals.com or contact:Horizonte Minerals plcJeremy Martin (CEO)Simon Retter (CFO)Patrick Chambers (Head of IR)info@ horizonteminerals.com +44 (0) 203 356 2901Peel Hunt LLP (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker)Ross AllisterDavid McKeown+44 (0)20 7418 8900BMO (Joint Broker)Thomas RiderPascal Lussier DuquetteAndrew Cameron+44 (0) 20 7236 1010Tavistock (Financial PR)Emily MossCath Drummond+44 (0) 20 7920 3150RegulatoryThe following information is disclosed under Rule 17 of the AIM Rules for Companies ("AIM Rules") and Schedule Two Paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules:John Fraser MacKenzie (aged 55)Mr MacKenzie does not hold any ordinary shares nor options over ordinary shares in the Company.Current DirectorshipsPast Directorships (within the last five years)Capstone Copper Corp.Kaz Minerals plcMantos Copper S.A.Mantos Copper (Bermuda) LimitedMantoverde S.A.There is no further information which is required to be disclosed under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of John Fraser MacKenzie.Simon James Retter (aged 41)Mr Retter holds 107,679 ordinary shares and 3,282,500 options over ordinary shares in the Company.Current DirectorshipsPast Directorships (within the last five years)Timpton LtdAterian plcCTFR Holdings LtdI-Med Group International LtdStonedale Management and Investments LtdI-Med Medical Therapy System LtdHorizonte Minerals (IOM) LtdI-Med Sport LtdHM Brazil (IOM) LtdI-Med Treasury LtdVox Valor Capital LtdLan Greenfield LtdHRC World plcLan Group plcAdalan Ventures plcMDMS Online LtdFragrant Prosperity Holdings LtdOplon LtdElixIrr International plcSkinside UK LtdSulNOx Fuel Fusions LtdSulNox Group plcTriSkin LtdUpham Holdings plcVertu Capital Holdings LtdI-Med Aesthetics LtdI-Med Animal Healthcare LtdI-Med Clinics LtdSimon Retter was a director of I-Med Group International Ltd from 5 May 2017 until 5 December 2022. I-Med Group International Ltd entered into a creditors' voluntary liquidation on 30 June 2020, with the company subsequently dissolved on 5 December 2022.There is no further information which is required to be disclosed under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of Simon James Retter.ABOUT HORIZONTE MINERALSHorizonte Minerals Plc (AIM/TSX: HZM) is developing two 100%-owned, Tier 1 projects in Para state, Brazil - the Araguaia Nickel Project and the Vermelho Nickel-Cobalt Project. Both projects are large scale, high-grade, low-cost, have low carbon emission intensities and are scalable. Araguaia is under construction with first metal scheduled for 1Q 2024. When fully ramped up with Line 1 and Line 2, Araguaia is forecast to produce 29,000 tonnes of nickel per year. Vermelho is at feasibility study stage and is expected to produce 24,000 tonnes of nickel and 1,250 tonnes of cobalt to supply the EV battery market. Horizonte's combined production profile of over 60,000 PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 07:40:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 486 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Infolayer LLC, the pioneering technology firm behind the European brand Screenist, has announced the American rollout of Screenist Infolayer, a dynamic digital advertising layer that can be seamlessly embedded in any video content. By introducing clickable, action-oriented buttons that significantly enhance viewer engagement, Screenist seeks to transform the digital advertising landscape in the USA.Screenist was co-founded by Peter Faidt and CEO/tech veteran Tibor Jakab and has offices in Switzerland and Hungary. The company works to innovate video content advertising through advanced technology. Its latest product, Screenist Infolayer, enables consumers to interact with videos and make immediate purchases or instant pollings. The technology acts as a dynamic mediator between viewers and content providers, allowing the incorporation of interactive ads across a plethora of devices, including IPTV, connected TVs, mobile devices, and computers.Screenist Infolayer was designed for integration with existing video players, so content providers can include interactive ads without migrating their content. It also enables measurable viewer responses, such as surveys. Instead of relying on second-hand viewer data, advertisers and content providers can access first-party data, allowing them to accurately track viewer behavior during content consumption with InfoLayer technology and ultimately have a retargeting tool."We are excited to bring Screenist Infolayer to the United States, where digital ad spending continues to grow in popularity across industries," says Faidt. "We look forward to showing American advertisers the ingenuity of our technology team, including how they can use Screenist Infolayer to position ads on video content and align their products with themed videos and films for precise audience targeting. We hope that our latest technology will present a new advertising option for content providers here, one that mirrors those used by dominant players in the digital market." Jakab states that they are currently working with American companies to help them understand the potential of Screenist Infolayer's unique approach of positioning ads on video content."We are finding that advertisers here in the United States are very interested in this new ability to associate their products with specific themes in videos and films for highly accurate audience targeting," he says. "We plan to continue innovating more technology so that businesses in America and around the world can accurately map consumer behavior and viewer preferences." ABOUT INFOLAYER LLCInfolayer LLC, the innovative company behind Screenist, is a leading developer of advanced advertising technologies optimized for video content. Its mission is to reshape the landscape of digital advertising by introducing new, interactive, and efficient solutions. Screenist Infolayer is aimed at personalizing advertising and tailoring it to consumers. In an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing advertising landscape, Infolayer LLC will continue to innovate how the world interacts with video content and advertising.For more information, please visit www.screenist.com or www.screenist.io . You may also contact:Peter Faidtinfo@ screenist.com SOURCE: INFOLAYER LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 20:30:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 592 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 We are thrilled to announce that Black Bank Hill, a rising star in the craft winery scene, is now open for private wine tastings. Step into our world and embark on a personalized journey through our unique wines, as we offer an intimate wine-tasting experience.BEAMSVILLE, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Nestled below the escarpment in the picturesque Lincoln Lakeshore VQA, Black Bank Hill began with the vision of producing and bottling wine grown on our vineyard, ensuring quality and provenance. With a dedicated winemaking facility, we guarantee craftsmanship and meticulous oversight throughout the winemaking process.Now you can experience the intimacy of private wine tastings at Black Bank Hill, available from Thursday to Sunday (including Mondays on summer long weekends). Led by Vintner Taylor Emerson or Winemaker Jonathan McLean, you can expect personalized attention and insight into the flavours and nuances of our remarkable wines.Taylor Emerson founded Black Bank Hill in 2017, following his passion for wine and wine growing after switching careers to pursue a two-year Viticulture and Oenology diploma at Plumpton College, UK. Jonathan McLean joined Taylor in 2021 as winemaker bringing more than 10 years of winemaking experience in the Okanagan Valley, having worked at renowned wineries such as Cedar Creek, Tantalus, La Vieux Pin, La Stella, and Culmina, in addition to having degree from Brock's CCOVI and a B.Sc. in BioChemistry from Dalhousie.What makes this wine truly special is the captivating story behind its creation. Taylor initially had no plans to return to his native Canada. However, while immersed in articles assigned by his professor, he had a crystallizing moment about the connection between people and the influence of terroir on wine. In an interview with myarchives.ca , Taylor explained, "People are both shaped by the terroir's influence on wine and simultaneously shape the terroir, forming a larger connection-a triangle." This realization ignited a strong conviction within him as a Canadian to make wine in Canada. Taylor further expressed, "It was the perfect combination of the craft itself, our unique terroir, cultural identity, and the opportunity to contribute to a developing wine region that sealed it for me." Black Bank Hill's wine tastings are designed to provide a personal venue to understand and experience these wines. To ensure the best experience, we kindly request that customers make advance bookings for private wine tastings via our website. Groups of up to 6 people can reserve their spot for $20 per person, and the tasting will last approximately 50 minutes. Walk-ins will be also accommodated wherever possible. For larger groups, please reach out to Taylor directly.For more information about Black Bank Hill, our wines and wine tastings, please visit our website at www.blackbankhill.com or contact Taylor Emerson at taylor@ blackbankhill.com or (647) 562-7442.About Black Bank Hill:Black Bank Hill is a vineyard and craft winery located in the Lincoln Lakeshore VQA focused on producing unique and exceptional wines from grapes grown our own vineyard. We prioritize quality and provenance. The vineyard contains a diverse range of varietals, including Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Gewurztraminer and Chenin Blanc. Spread across four distinct blocks and planted with a variety of clones, our vineyard benefits from a special combination of the warming influence of the Niagara Escarpment, an open aspect to light and air circulation and predominantly heavy clay soils, enhancing quality while retaining water and nutrients.Contact Information:Taylor EmersonEmail: taylor@ blackbankhill.com Phone: (647) 562-7442Website: https://www.blackbankhill.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbankhill/ SOURCE: Black Bank Hill PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 18:13:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 763 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP( www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. ("Charles River") (NYSE:CRL). The action charges Charles River with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Charles River's materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Charles River's investors have suffered significant losses.CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CHARLES RIVER LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/charles-river-laboratories-international-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=crl&mktm=r LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE:JULY 18, 2023CLASS PERIOD: MAY 5, 2020 THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2023CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ ktmc.com Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.CHARLES RIVER'S ALLEGED MISCONDUCTCharles River is a full-service, non-clinical global drug development partner with a mission to create healthier lives. The company has three reporting segments: Research Models and Services, Discovery and Safety Assessment, and Manufacturing Solutions. The Discovery and Safety Assessment segment accounts for approximately 60% of the company's total revenue and offers, among other things, safety assessment studies required for regulatory submission of therapeutic solutions.On February 22, 2023, Charles River revealed that the company had received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice relating to an ongoing investigation in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service into the supply chain and illegal importation of non-human primates for research. On the same day, during an earnings call with investors, James C. Foster, the company's CEO, stated that the "investigation in current [non-human primate] supply situation will result in study delays in our Safety Assessment business." He further stated that the investigation into the Cambodian non-human primate chain would reduce the annual revenue forecast by approximately 200 basis points to 400 basis points.Following this news, the price of Charles River shares declined by $24.51 per share, or approximately 10.06%, from $243.60 per share to close at $219.09 on February 22, 2023.WHAT CAN I DO?Charles River investors may, no later than July 18, 2023, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPor other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPencourages Charles River investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against Charles River, captioned Coleman v. Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., et al, Case No. 23-cv-11132, is filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts before the Honorable Denise Jefferson Casper.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASEWHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLPKessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPprosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPplease visit www.ktmc.com CONTACT:Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPJonathan Naji, Esq.280 King of Prussia RoadRadnor, PA 19087(484) 270-1453info@ ktmc.com SOURCE: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 18:32:02 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 772 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Marvel Discovery Corp. (TSX-V:MARV)(Frankfurt:O4T)(OTCQB:MARVF); ("Marvel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Peter Born, P. Geo to its Board of Directors. Dr. Peter Born is a registered geologist with the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and a Fellow of the Geological Association of Canada. Mr. Born completed his PhD at Carleton University in Earth Sciences and holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.), Geological and Earth Sciences, from Laurentian University.His extensive experience spans 35 years in exploration, modelling, and feasibility studies. He has held many senior geologist positions which include Western Mining, where he modeled mineralization on the 5 M ounce Meliadine gold deposit in Nunavut. Prior to that, he was with Echo Bay Mines, contributing to the 1M oz Aquarius gold deposit east of Timmins, Ontario. Dr. Born brings decades of experience from the Abitibi greenstone and gold belt in Ontario and Quebec, and in particular, the 80M ounce gold camp of Timmins in Northern Ontario, Canada. This region was the focal point of his Ph.D. research in the 1990s.Throughout his Ph.D. studies, Dr. Born was distinguished as a three-time recipient of the prestigious National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Post-Graduate Scholarship from Canada (1991-1993). He also co-authored the influential 1999 GAC Field Guide 3B, focusing on the controls for gold mineralization in the Southern Abitibi Greenstone Belt.From 2000 onwards, he established an Ottawa-based consulting firm, providing services to a selected group of Canadian resource companies. In this capacity, he has acted as VP Exploration for several junior mining companies since 2007. His broad expertise covers directing exploration for uranium, gold, lithium, and base metals.Karim Rayani, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to have attained the services of Dr. Peter Born, and he will make a strong addition to our Board of Directors. His extensive knowledge, deep understanding of mineral exploration, and strong track record in developing assets will be of great benefit as we develop our project portfolio and help guide the company as we simultaneously explore for Nickel, Copper, Uranium, and gold. While the resource market has suffered so far in 2023, we hold view that the long-term outlook for gold is extremely bullish, Nickel and Copper will remain key assets as North America accelerates its Go-Green plan, and we firmly believe Uranium will be the next hot commodity play, as Nuclear Energy is an important part of the solution as we electrify our cities and our economy." About Marvel Discovery Corp.Marvel, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange for over 25 years, is a Canadian based emerging resource company. The Company is systematically exploring its extensive property positions in:Newfoundland (Slip, Gander North, Gander South, Victoria Lake, Baie Verte, and Hope Brook - Au Prospects)Atikokan, Ontario (BlackFly - Au Prospect)Elliot Lake, Ontario (East Bull - Ni-Cu-PGE Prospect)Quebec (Duhamel -Ni-Cu-Co prospect & Titanium, Vanadium, and Chromium Prospect)Prince George, British Columbia (Wicheeda North - Rare Earth Elements Prospect)The Company's website is: https://marveldiscovery.ca/ ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDMarvel Discovery Corp."Karim Rayani"Karim RayaniPresident/Chief Executive Officer, DirectorTel: 604 716 0551 email: k@ r7.capital Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements which reflect the expectations of management. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: completion of the proposed Arrangement. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. There is no assurance any of the conditions for closing will be met. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Marvel Discovery Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 12:30:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1019 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CD-264 returns 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq from 43.3m in Northwest ExtensionLONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Meridian Mining UK S (TSX:MNO)(OTCQX:MRRDF)(Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its programs at Cabacal, where CD-264 has returned further strong results from the Cabacal Northwest Extension ("CNWE"). CD-264 has intersected a high-grade zone of 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq (15.3g/t Au, 0.2% Cu & 0.6g/t Ag) from 43.3m, representing a northern extension of similar high-grade results (CD-049, CD-072[1]). This and additional results in the mine area show the potential to better define the projection of higher grade trends across the deposit. In parallel with the resource development program, the Company is advancing with exploration of near-mine extensions, with a copper gossan identified at surface, located 350m southeast of CD-240's copper feeder zone. Drilling has also confirmed the mineralized position of the VMS horizon in a 1km step-out to the southeast of the Cabacal mine.Highlights Reported TodayCabacal Northwest Extension returns more high-grade gold intersections;CD-264 returns 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq (15.3g/t Au, 0.2% Cu & 0.6g/t Ag) from 43.3m;New results consolidate domain of high-grade mineralization extending over 175m;1km step-out along the Cabacal trend intersects a base metal horizon correlative with the Cabacal system;CD-255 drill hole adds context for further exploration for VMS sulphide mounds;Arrival of Geonics down-hole probe to assist in targeting thicker Cu-Zn-Ag-Au zones;Preparations advance for mobilization of new Santa Helena drill rigContractor representative due on site this month to prepare for mobilization of regional drill rig, with program to commence at Santa Helena;Program targeting verification of historic drilling and exploratory holes into satellite zones surrounding the historic resource ; andCabacal development studies are advancing in preparation for submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the consideration of up to 4.5Mtpa expanded production scenario.Dr . Adrian McArthur, CEO, comments: "The CD-264 high-grade result of 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq from 43.3m shows the value of infill drilling in achieving better definition of shallow high-grade trends within the Cabacal deposit. The result continues to build on the importance of the CNWE as a focal point for early production scenarios. We are advancing Cabacal vigorously on multiple fronts, with drilling, with geotechnical evaluation, and with environmental studies to support expanded production scenarios to be evaluated in a PEA update. Our goal remains to continue moving Cabacal on its pathway to development, whilst laying the foundation to realize the broader discovery potential of this under-explored belt." Cabacal Resource and ExtensionsThe drilling program at Cabacal continues to follow recommendations arising from the PEA. The resource definition program aims to achieve better definition of the higher grade trends within the broader mineralized halo. The projection of the high-grade trend at shallowing depths in CD-264 returning 12.6m @ 15.5g/t AuEq from 43.3m is encouraging (Figure 1; Figure 2). Further drilling is being scheduled to test for the projection of the trend within the broader footprint of Cu-Au mineralization, both to the northwest and southeast where the drill spacing is currently more open.Figure 1: Location of CD-264's intersection, extending the projection of the high-grade CNWE trend. Colour points represent drill assays plotted as AuEq (g/t) in plan view. Digital elevation image in the background. Figure 2: Quartz veining in chloritic host rock associated with CD-264's intersection hosting visible gold. Additional drilling has been conducted in the Eastern Copper Zone ("ECZ"), where it was noted that the high-grade trends in the block model clustered around drill holes in areas of wider spacing, dropping off in-between. The new drill results show that basal concentrations of high-grade mineralization continue in these intervening areas (CD-256 & CD-263; Table 1). The cumulative effect of such results is expected to present a more accurate depiction of the higher grade population across the deposit as the drilling advances for the next resource update. The Company is currently conducting a Mise-a-la-Masse survey to follow up on the geophysical response of stringer sulphide mineralization in the ECZ, with the survey currently targeting extensions to the CD-254 result of 17.7m @ 1.6% CuEq / 2.4g/t AuEq from 50.0m[2].Exploratory evaluation of the extensions of the Cabacal system continues. CD-255 was a 1km step-out along the Cabacal trend (Figure 3). It intersected a base metal horizon interpreted to be correlative with the Cabacal system (5.3% Zn, 0.1% Cu, 0.2g/t Au & 32.4g/t Ag over 0.3m from 119.9m). The drill hole adds useful context for further planning of exploration for VMS sulphide mounds over time. The Company awaits the arrival of a down-hole probe from Geonics to assist in targeting thicker Cu-Zn-Ag-Au sulphide accumulations, which are less conductive than the copper dominant end member.Recent prospecting by the geological team has also located some copper gossan at the south-west flank of the resource area (Figure 4). Drilling in this area is sparse, with wide-spaced historical BP holes not sampled systematically from surface. The gossan is located ~350m southeast of CD-240's copper feeder zone, possibly in an up-dip position to the Cabacal South FLTEM conductivity anomaly[3], where the Company has drilled just one hole. Following recognition of the gossan, trenching will be undertaken to guide further drilling and evaluate possible links to the feeder system.Figure 3: Drilling overview, with location of CD-255, pinpointing the open extension of the Cabacal VMS horizon in a 1km step out from the resource area. Santa HelenaPreparations continue at Santa Helena in advance of the arrival of the fourth drill rig. The objective of the drilling program will be to conduct both validation drilling on historical resource holes, and a first phase of exploratory drilling on satellite drill targets marked by geophysical responses for potential discoveries satellite to the main resource.Project DevelopmentProject development studies are advancing in preparation for submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA-RIMA), positioning the project for the consideration of an expanded production scenario of up to 4.5Mtpa. Project development studies underway also include a 12-hole geotechnical drilling program. The PEA utilized def PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 13:32:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 991 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Metallic Minerals Corp. ( TSX.V:MMG)(OTCQB:MMNGF) ("Metallic Minerals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the start of the 2023 exploration and drill campaign at the La Plata copper-silver-gold-PGE project, located in southwest Colorado.In May 2023, Newcrest Mining Limited completed a 9.5% strategic equity investment into Metallic Minerals with the goal of accelerating advancement of the La Plata porphyry project. This funding will support a two-phase drill campaign in 2023 that will build on the success from work in 2022. The initial phase is expected to consist of approximately 5,000 meters of diamond core drilling, primarily focused on resource expansion at the Allard porphyry deposit.A top priority for the program will be to conduct step-out drilling from the major discovery in drill hole 22-04 which intersected 816 meters of 0.41% Cu Eq (0.30% Cu, 2.47 g/t Ag, 0.038 g/t Au, 0.055 g/t Pd and 0.093 g/t Pd) from surface and ended in 5.39% CuEq over 5.2 m (2.44% Cu, 18.7 g/t Ag, 5.0 g/t Au+PGE). Hole 22-04 did not reach target depth and ended in mineralization due to mechanical issues. Drilling in 2023 will test the lower limits of mineralization and some holes are scheduled for as deep as 1,200 meters.Scott Petsel, Metallic Minerals' President, stated, "We see a real opportunity for world class scale and grade at La Plata and have confidence in our ability to quickly grow the existing resources. Hole 22-04 was not only the widest and highest-grade drill hole ever drilled on the project, it was also one of the top holes drilled in the last several years at any copper project in North America. We also expect to be able to increase the overall grade of the resource moving forward as we include precious metals credits previously not accounted for. Our exploration work over the past two years has defined 16 additional untested porphyry targets across the greater property, which appear to have very similar characteristics to the Allard deposit and could result in additional new discoveries. The drill is currently mobilizing to site." The Allard deposit remains open to significant expansion within the resource area to the east, north and west and to depth, with the potential to add gold, platinum and palladium to the current copper and silver resource with the completion of additional exploration drilling. In addition, the larger porphyry system at the La Plata project, which covers an area of over 10 km2, remains underexplored with the potential for new discoveries of both additional copper porphyry centers, as well as high-grade epithermal silver and gold systems.Yukon Mining Alliance 2023 Property ToursMetallic Minerals will be participating in the Yukon Mining Alliance Property Tours and Investment Conference in Dawson City on July 19th. Select tour participants will visit Metallic's Australia Creek alluvial gold royalty property in the Klondike Gold District, currently under lease to Parker Schnabel's Little Flake Mining as seen on Discovery Channel's Gold Rush television program. More information whereabout the YMA Property Tours and Conference can be found here. For more information about Metallic's lease agreement with Little Flake Mining, click here.About Metallic MineralsMetallic Minerals Corp. is a leading exploration and development stage company focused on copper, silver, gold and other critical minerals in the La Plata mining district in Colorado, and silver and gold in the high-grade Keno Hill and Klondike districts of the Yukon. Our objective is to create shareholder value through a systematic, entrepreneurial approach to making exploration discoveries, growing resources, and advancing our projects toward development.In 2023, the Company announced a 9.5% strategic investment by Newcrest Mining Limited for the continued advancement of the Company's La Plata project in southwestern Colorado. The inaugural NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, announced in 2022, identified a significant porphyry copper-silver resource containing 889 Mlbs copper and 15 Moz of silver and an updated estimate is currently being finalized. Notably, Colorado was recently ranked 5th globally for investment attractiveness and 2nd in the USA In the 2023 Fraser Institute's Annual Survey of Mining Companies.In Canada's Yukon Territory, Metallic Minerals has consolidated the second-largest land position in the historic high-grade Keno Hill silver district, directly adjacent to Hecla Mining's operations, with more than 300 Moz of high-grade silver in past production and current M&I resources. Hecla Mining Company, the largest primary silver producer in the USA and third largest in the world, completed the acquisition of Alexco Resources and their Keno Hill operations in September 2022. Hecla is targeting to start production at the Keno Hill operations by Q3 2023. Metallic Minerals is anticipating the announcement of inaugural mineral resource estimate at Keno Silver in the second half of 2023.The Company is also one of the largest holders of alluvial gold claims in the Yukon and is building a production royalty business by partnering with experienced mining operators, including Parker Schnabel of Little Flake Mining from the hit television show, Gold Rush, on the Discovery Channel.All of the districts in which Metallic Minerals operates have seen significant mineral production and have existing infrastructure, including power and road access. Metallic Minerals is led by a team with a track record of discovery and exploration success, as well as having large-scale development, permitting and project financing expertise. The Metallic Minerals team has been recognized for its environmental stewardship practices and is committed to responsible and sustainable resource development.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:Website: www.mmgsilver.com Phone: 604-629-7800Email: cackerman@ mmgsilver.com Toll Free: 1-888-570-4420Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 17:30:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 814 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WALTHAM, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / As part of its commitment to deliver clean energy solutions that benefit the long-term needs of customers and communities, National Grid recently launched its first-ever solar grazing pilot at two company-owned solar sites in Attleboro, Massachusetts.The pilot - in partnership with Solar Shepherd, a Massachusetts-based company founded by a third-generation rancher - combines renewable energy and agriculture by introducing sheep to feed on the plentiful grasses that grow around ground-mounted solar panels, providing a sustainable form of vegetation control.The innovative partnership was the focus of a segment by CBS Saturday Morning that aired July 8. Steve Woerner, President, National Grid - New England, joined co-host Dana Jacobson in Attleboro to discuss National Grid's growing relationship with solar grazing and how the company is creating clean energy solutions that work for everyone.Watch the CBS Saturday Morning segment on solar grazing."The energy transition goes beyond investing in infrastructure-it's also about investing in the people we serve every day," said Woerner. "National Grid recognizes that we have an important role to play in driving the clean energy economy and providing meaningful opportunities to local businesses. Our new solar grazing partnership exemplifies how we continue to lead the way toward an equitable clean energy transition in the Northeast." Strengthening Community Roots in MassachusettsThe practice of harnessing grazing livestock as natural groundskeepers is a variation of agrivoltaics, described by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the use of land for both agriculture and solar photovoltaic energy generation. The pilot launched in May 2023 with an aim to replace traditional landscaping methods with a cleaner solution."Keeping environmental stewardship and thoughtful planning at the center of our work, solar grazing is a new way for our team to deliver for customers," said Arnaldo Arnal, Lead Product Developer for Solar and Storage, National Grid. "Grazing sheep reduce the need for herbicides, pesticides, and gas-powered lawnmowers, cutting down on carbon emissions and noise pollution at solar sites and the surrounding community. Over time, the sheep's natural fertilizer has the potential to boost soil biodiversity and enhance carbon sequestration on company land." The practice also adds an additional purpose to large-scale solar site locations, supporting agricultural production and local Massachusetts ranchers as they adapt and advance their businesses."Solar grazing has allowed for a meaningful expansion of our local Massachusetts farm, while assisting in decarbonizing the grid," said Daniel Finnegan, Founder of Solar Shepherd. "Finding a partner in National Grid that cares about the communities in which it operates - that seeks ways to reduce fossil fuel use, improve ecosystems, protect water sources, and maintain economic efficiency - has been critical to our success." Delivering Resilient and Reliable Clean EnergyMassachusetts leads the region in solar deployment, with National Grid having connected nearly 2 gigawatts of solar to the system, more than any other utility in New England. And, according to a recent study from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the state has enough suitable land to double the required amount of solar capacity to meet its decarbonization goals by 2050.National Grid has taken significant measures to expand Massachusetts' renewable energy infrastructure through its long-running solar programs, leading research efforts to demonstrate how large-scale solar energy facilities can increase the resiliency of the electric system in communities across the Commonwealth. In addition, the company is focused on readying the grid for additional capacity by making investments to accelerate the interconnection of more clean energy resources.The company currently owns and operates 30 solar sites in Massachusetts, including its solar grazing locations in Attleboro, which collectively comprise 5,000 panels spanning 10 acres of land. The two sites inject a total of 1600 kW into the grid, providing load relief to a nearby substation during peak summer days.The next phase of the solar program will center on projects developed to increase resiliency for environmental justice communities statewide. National Grid expects to introduce grazing sheep to other sites as its solar portfolio expands.About National GridNational Grid (NYSE:NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a path to a more affordable, reliable clean energy future through our fossil-free vision. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.For more information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.Media ContactsEmily DemarestMassachusetts(781) 907-3980EmailMichael DaloMassachusetts(781) 907-3980EmailView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from National Grid on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: National GridWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/national-grid Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: National Grid PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-12 01:00:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 511 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Dec. 2, 2021 - Feb. 1, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 25, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/NEE Contact An Attorney Now: NEE@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Securities Fraud Class Action:The complaint alleges that Defendants mispresented and concealed that NextEra's primary subsidiary (Florida Power & Light Company, or "FPL") flouted federal and state campaign laws thereby exposing NextEra to substantial legal and reputational risk.In Dec. 2021, media outlets began reporting that FPL and its political consulting firm Matrix steered political funding to spoiler "ghost candidates" to derail reelection efforts by unfriendly Florida state legislators during the 2020 election cycle, spied on journalists who published unsupportive reporting, and improperly courted public officials with job offers while bidding to privatize certain public utilities, all with FPL executives' approval.NextEra responded to this reporting with: (1) blanket denials; (2) declaring that "we conducted a very extensive and thorough investigation[]" and "the bottom line is we found no evidence of any issues at all, any illegality or any wrongdoing on the part of FPL or any of its employees"; and (3) assurances that the allegations did not expose the company to meaningful legal or reputational risk.But in Nov. 2022, NextEra revealed that a complaint was filed with the Federal Election Commission ("FEC") alleging violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act and identifying FPL as a source of funds to certain Super Pacs identified in the complaint.Then, on Jan. 25, 2023, NextEra announced that FPL's CEO (Eric Silagy) would cease to serve in that role. The company also acknowledged the serious business and reputational risks posed by the FEC's complaint.These events caused the price of NextEra shares to sharply decline."We're focused on investors' losses and proving NextEra lied to investors about its political misconduct," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in NextEra and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding NextEra should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email NEE@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 21:00:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 953 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BAXTER, MN / ACCESSWIRE / July 11 2023 / Dr. Dillon Remmick's passion for healthcare stems from his unwavering belief that good health is fundamental to the quality of life. As an experienced healthcare professional, he has dedicated his life to providing the latest medical technology and highest quality care to his patients. The Minnesota Regenerative Institute, which he founded, is the culmination of his expertise and dedication to changing lives one patient at a time. Dr. Remmick's specialization ranges from spinal decompression to neuropathy, chiropractic work, and knee pain. Having earned his Doctorate in Chiropractic from Northwestern College of Chiropractic in 2009, he has been passionately assisting individuals suffering from various health conditions ever since. Dr. Remmick's commitment to his patients' wellbeing is unmatched and a testament to his unwavering dedication to healthcare.Back pain can be a debilitating condition that affects many individuals at different points in their lives. One common cause of this discomfort is herniated discs. When the discs ruptures or bulges, it can lead to pressing on nearby nerves and significant pain. Additionally, bulging discs can create further complications, such as pinched nerves, that can exacerbate the pain and discomfort. Sciatica is another condition that can result from nerve compression in the lower back, characterized by leg pain and additional discomfort. Back pain can also be caused by degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and post-surgical pain. If you suffer from back pain, it's highly recommended that you seek treatment at Minnesota Regenerative Institute. With the latest medical technology and top-quality care, Dr. Dillon Remmick and his team are dedicated to helping patients manage and alleviate their chronic pain.Dr. Remmick is all too familiar with the battle that his patients face when it comes to back pain. He understands that it can be frustrating to rely on pills that only offer temporary relief while also experiencing unpleasant side effects. Painful injections may also offer relief at first, but can ultimately become ineffective over time. Sadly, many patients also struggle with previous surgeries that have only made their condition worse. Dr. Remmick wants patients to understand the risks associated with undergoing back surgery, such as the possibility of needing multiple surgeries even after a successful procedure. Additionally, while surgeons may consider a surgery a success, patients may not feel the same way. It's important for patients to be aware that almost half of surgical patients are disappointed with the results after only two years, and that the use of painkillers may actually increase after surgery. Dr. Remmick wants his patients to know that there are other options to consider before resorting to surgery, and that he is committed to helping them find the best course of treatment for their unique situation.Dr. Remmick is well aware of the potential risks involved in back surgery, which is why he offers alternative treatment options at the Minnesota Regenerative Institute. One of the institute's most notable offerings is spinal decompression therapy, a cutting edge technology designed to treat serious lower back pain and sciatica without the need for surgery. In the past, patients with disc problems were often left with limited treatment options, including medication and physical therapy. However, thanks to spinal decompression therapy, patients can experience lasting relief. This treatment was developed by a team of skilled physicians and medical engineers to target lower back pain and sciatica caused by herniated or degenerated discs. By relying on Dr. Remmick's expertise and utilizing innovative technology, those who suffer from chronic pain can find the relief they need.Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is a modern method of treating back pain that has been gaining popularity in recent years. By gradually lengthening and decompressing the spine, negative pressures are produced within the discs. This creates an intradiscal vacuum that repositions bulging and extruded discs, relieving pressure on pinched nerves. Not only does this provide relief from back pain, but spinal experts believe that the process also promotes a revitalized environment to facilitate healing. The efficacy of this treatment has been further proven by a multi-center pilot study that employed Axiom Worldwide's DRX9000, achieving an remarkable success rate of 88.9%. Patients can expect a comfortable and safe experience during their treatment and mild discomfort, if any, is typically temporary and diminishes with subsequent visits.Back pain can have a significant impact on daily life, making even simple tasks like cooking or sitting at a desk unbearable. Fortunately, a variety of treatment options are available. Traction, physical therapy, and manipulation can all reduce disc pressure by up to 40 mm Hg, but only spinal decompression has been shown to create negative pressures within the spine. This treatment has been clinically proven to relieve back pain by repositioning vertebrae and discs without causing muscle guarding or spasms. The treatment lasts around 30 minutes, and typically requires 12-20 sessions over four to six weeks. With the help of spinal decompression, those who suffer from back pain may find relief without invasive measures.Back surgery is a risky and invasive procedure that can have lasting effects on a patient's overall health and wellbeing. For this reason, Dr Remmick urges patients to consider alternative treatments, such as Spinal Decompression therapy, before resorting to surgery. The Minnesota Regenerative Institute is currently taking patients for this non-invasive treatment option. With the potential risks associated with surgery, including the possibility of needing additional surgeries and reliance on painkillers, it's crucial to explore all options before making a final decision. With Spinal Decompression therapy's proven track record as a reliable alternative to surgery, it's definitely worth considering for those dealing with back pain and discomfort.Visit: https://minnesotaregenerative.com/spinal-decompression/ to learn moreCONTACT MINNESOTA REGENERATIVE218-454-9355info@ minnesotaregenerative.com 7818 Excelsior Rd. Suite 100 Baxter, MN 56425Website: https://minnesotaregenerative.com SOURCE: Minnesota Regenerative Institute PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 15:27:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1028 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:PX)(OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that settlement agreements have been reached to resolve all outstanding litigation with respect to an action commenced in 2009 in the Ghana High Court involving the vendor of two of the four prospecting licenses comprising Pelangio's Obuasi property. The two prospecting licenses involved in the litigation and referenced as Kyereboso 2 License and Kyereboso 3 License in the attached Figure 1 are hereinafter referred to as the "Property". The litigation related to a dispute between the Property vendor's corporate history and the estate of one of its founding shareholders (the "Plaintiff). Pelangio was subsequently added as a co-defendant in 2012. Although no monetary consideration was claimed from Pelangio by the Plaintiff in the litigation, an interlocutory injunction had been granted which had the effect of preventing all parties from selling any interest in or conducting mining on the Property pending final determination of the matter."This settlement is a positive development for Pelangio," stated Ingrid Hibbard President and CEO. "It avoids the continued uncertainty, expense, and burden associated with litigation and removes the injunction preventing the sale of any interest in or mining of the Property. We are excited to have these impediments removed and planning for the next phase of exploration at the Property is underway." Terms of SettlementThe settlement provides that upon the acceptance of the settlement terms by the Ghana High Court and entry of such settlement terms as a binding consent judgment resulting in full resolution in addition to release of all claims asserted by the Plaintiff, or such claims that could have been asserted by the Plaintiff, directly or indirectly in the litigation and permanently releasing any injunction or other restrictions on the Property resulting from the litigation, Pelangio will make five payments of US$20,000 and issue Pelangio common shares having a value of CDN$50,000 in three tranches over one year, subject to approval of the share issuances by the TSXV.The consideration has been agreed upon as a compromise and final settlement of disputed claims and payment of the amounts set forth herein and the issuance of the Common Shares is not an admission of liability by any party and is not to be construed as an admission that any party engaged in any wrongful, tortious, or unlawful activity.Obuasi PropertyPelangio's Obuasi Property consists of 4 prospecting licenses, including the Kyereboso 2 and 3 licenses, totaling 284.4 square kilometers in area and located adjacent to AngloGold-Ashanti's giant Obuasi Mine on the Ashanti Belt, the most gold endowed greenstone belt in West Africa. The Obuasi mine has produced over 33 million ounces of gold since 1897 and currently hosts a resource of 24.5 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 8.0 g/t Au including a Proved and Probable Reserve of 7.7 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 9.3 g/t Au. (Source: AngloGold Ashanti Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Report December 2022). The geological stratigraphy which hosts the Obuasi deposits extends into Pelangio's Obuasi Property and Obuasi-style geology, alteration and mineralization has been observed in historical drilling by Pelangio at multiple prospects.Pelangio conducted considerable work on the Obuasi Property between 2007 and 2011 until the Manfo Resource Project became the focus, including geological and geochemical surveys, trenching, airborne geophysical surveys and 28,000 meters of diamond drilling which was largely focussed upon a handful of prospects. The two principal target areas for continued exploration which have been delineated from Pelangio's work include the Obuasi Targets Area' along the extension of the Obuasi Mine stratigraphy, and the NGA (North Government Area) Targets Area' located along the Birimian-Tarkwaian contact structure. Refer to Figure 1.With a resumption of exploration activity on the Obuasi Property, one of the first prospects which will be revisited is located in the NGA Target Area where two Pelangio drill holes returned high-grade intercepts of 24.5 g/t Au over 1 meter and 11.3 g/t Au over 2 meters, and recent artisanal mining has sunk a series of shallow vertical shafts to explore and mine quartz veining along the principal structure. A broader exploration plan will also be developed to assess the Obuasi and NGA Target Areas in detail to include geological mapping and prospecting, drill core relogging, auger drilling to refine geochemical targets, and a rework of the geophysics, geological and structural interpretations culminating in an updated targeting exercise to direct future exploration drilling.Figure 1. Simplified Geology of the Obuasi District and Location of Pelangio's Obuasi PropertyQualified PersonsMr. Kevin Thomson, P.Geo. (Ontario, #0191), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Thomson approved the technical data disclosed in this release.About PelangioPelangio acquires and explores world-class land packages on strategic gold belts in Ghana, West Africa and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is exploring its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo property, the site of seven near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km2 Obuasi property, located four km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as its Dankran property located adjacent to its Obuasi property. See www.pelangio.com for further detail.For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com , or contact:Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEOT: 905-336-3828 / TF: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@ pelangio.com Forward Looking StatementsCertain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the satisfaction of the con PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 15:03:55 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 415 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Intelligent Relations, an AI-based platform company, is announcing the launch of Preston, its AI engine with its first application Preston Managed PR Service which leverages the skills of a global team of communications experts. Preston Managed Service offers elevated PR capabilities to companies looking for a cost-effective solution."As a startup, we are cost conscious and don't have enough news to generate press releases each month. The Preston Team made sure we had regular visibility with the media and identified thought leadership opportunities - we would otherwise not have been able to secure on our own. Preston saves us time and money while producing real results." Frank Huerta, CEO of Curtail Software.Preston's media monitoring capabilities analyze millions of news stories and reveal which topics are gaining the most coverage within a specific industry. To find appropriate journalists, Preston incorporates more than 1,500 points of relevance to match outreach to journalists who care and write about the topics where our clients can offer expertise."Our global team of communications professionals, armed with the Preston AI platform deliver quality results," said Paula Phelan, COO at Intelligent Relations. "Preston provides the additional value of streamlining workflows and eliminating tedious tasks, thereby delivering significant savings of time and money. Savings we pass on to our clients." Preston provides detailed reporting in real time enabling clients to monitor campaign performance. Preston Managed Service includes an assigned experienced PR professional who will use Preston to manage outreach campaigns and coordinate interviews with journalists, podcasters, and editors. Preston provides account managers with more time to spend on strategy and establishing meaningful relationships with journalists on behalf of clients."We created Preston under the notion that every business has a story to tell," said Steve Marcinuk, Co-Founder and General Manager at Intelligent Relations. "Thanks to this platform, companies that previously couldn't afford PR services can gain real media visibility, while dramatically reducing the cost and time it takes to get a campaign launched." About Intelligent RelationsIntelligent Relations was established in 2020 by a team of serial tech entrepreneurs who recognized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence within the communications sector. Leveraging extensive expertise in technology and public relations, Intelligent Relations has embarked on a mission to shape the future of PR, evolving the way businesses connect with journalists and media. Intelligent Relations includes a staff of 60 in 15 countries.ContactGabriel de la Rosagabriel@ intelligentrelations.com SOURCE: Intelligent Relations PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 05:01:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 424 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / July 10, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until August 7, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE:S), if they purchased the Company's securities between June 1, 2022 and June 1, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of SentinelOne and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-s/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by August 7, 2023.About the LawsuitSentinelOne and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On June 1, 2023, the Company disclosed that "[a]s a result of a change in methodology and correction of historical inaccuracieswe made a one-time adjustment to ARR of $27.0 million or approximately 5% of total ARR" and that the Company had slashed its fiscal year 2024 revenue guidance from a range of $631 million to $640 million to a range of $590 million to $600 million, due to the discovery of "historical upsell and renewal recording inaccuracies relating to ARR on certain subscription and consumption contracts, which are now corrected." On this news, shares of SentinelOne fell $7.28 per share, or more than 35%, to close at $13.44 per share on June 2, 2023.The case is Johansson v. SentinelOne, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-02786.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ CONTACT:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 15:03:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 575 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Sparta Commercial Services, Inc., (OTC PINK:SRCO) ("Sparta" or "the Company") announces the launch of ZooZilo, the essential online store for the person who sees life as an adventure. The collections -- Adventure Gear, Daily Must-Haves, Urban Attire and Self-Care -- focus on quality and diversity of styles. The ZooZilo customer is perceived as a person of action and taste. The collections feature merchandise created for both the urban explorer and those who prefer the great outdoors. Says Sparta CEO, Anthony L. Havens, "We carefully curate our product line to meet the savvy adventurer's requirements for style, functionality and versatility." ZooZilo is the latest addition to the Sparta eCommerce family. The store's launch opens with a range of 750 products. For more information on this new offering, visit ZooZilo at www.zoozilo.com About Sparta Commercial Services, IncSparta Commercial Services, Inc. ( www.spartacommercial.com) , is the parent company of eCommerce subsidiary iMobile Solutions, Inc., the provider of comprehensive vehicle title history reports sold worldwide to dealers, insurance companies, credit unions and consumers. Sparta, via its iMobileApp product ( www.imobileapp.com) , has also become a leader in developing and servicing custom mobile apps for a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, liquor stores, racetracks, and clubs; as well as vehicle dealerships, such as Harley-Davidson and John Deere. Other mobile communications products offered by Sparta include website design, development, hosting and SEO services, and a text messaging and alert service. Sparta's Municipal Leasing Division ( www.spartamunicipal.com) offers and administers a specialized municipal leasing program for local and state agencies with jurisdictions seeking a better way to finance their growing essential equipment needs, such as police motorcycles and cruisers, EMS equipment and busses, and any type of essential equipment a municipality requires. Sparta's eCommerce subsidiary New World Health Brands, Inc. ( www.newworldhealthbrands.com) , offers premium wellness supplements that deliver the most nutrients in amounts designed to provide one's best overall health. Additionally, Sparta manages SpartaPayIQ ( www.SpartaPayIQ.com) , a payment gateway that allows businesses to accept cryptocurrencies. Through Sparta's new division Agoge Global USA, Inc. ( www.agogeglobalusa.com) , is able to seamlessly facilitate cross-border payments between exporters and importers through its partnership with WeDev Group of Brazil.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are valid only as of today and we disclaim any obligation to update this information. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to potential future losses, competition, financing and commercial agreements and strategic alliances, seasonality, potential fluctuations in operating results and rate of growth, management of potential growth, system interruption, consumer and industry trends, limited operating history, and government regulation. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. Further information regarding these and other risks is described from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available on its website at: http://www.sec.gov Company Contact:Sandra L. AhmanCorporate SecretarySparta Commercial Services, Inc.sandy@ spartacommercial.com 800-882-0778SOURCE: Sparta Commercial Services, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 22:10:44 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 917 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 GLEN MILLS, PA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Telesystem, a leading provider of managed technology solutions, is set to host their second of three #HackersSuck Cybersecurity Summits on August 1st and 2nd at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. There is no charge for guests to attend. This follows a summit in Arizona back in April, and will precede the final summit of the year in Texas on October 3rd. Headquartered in Toledo, OH, Telesystem is a leading provider of cybersecurity, communication, and advanced networking solutions nationwide, serving thousands of customers in the Philadelphia area as well as employing more than 50 people in the region. The organization has a regional office and warehouse in Glen Mills, PA.Telesystem to Host Cybersecurity Summit at Citizens Bank ParkTelesystem to Host Cybersecurity Summit at Citizens Bank Park Telesystem's #HackerSuck Cybersecurity Summits focus on the ever evolving and growing cybersecurity threat landscape, bringing together a team of cybersecurity experts and analysts to educate business leaders and technology professionals on how to keep themselves and their clients both connected and protected. The educational summit will feature keynote speaker Hector Monsegur, a former blackhat hacker turned FBI informant who once faced 124 years in prison for hacking the federal government, among other institutions. Monsegur will highlight the extent to which most businesses are left unprotected, as well as provide simple fundamentals that can help organizations prevent a data disaster. As recently as May, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the nation's third oldest continually operating newspaper, was crippled for weeks due to a ransomware attack.Aside from Monsegur, each day will feature a panel discussion comprised of cybersecurity experts and local law enforcement personnel that will highlight common omissions that business leaders overlook when securing their networks and data. Attendees will also be educated on simple and affordable solutions that can instantly make an organization more secure. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the experts and share personal stories of how they were impacted by cyber-related breaches. The summit will be split into two separate sessions, with the information on August 1st geared toward technology professionals (IT consultants, advisors, VARs, etc), and August 2nd geared toward business owners and leaders (CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, CISOs, IT management, etc)."92 percent of data breaches are caused by human error," said Bruce Wirt, Telesystem's Chief Revenue Officer. "We started these summits because we were finding that most organizations don't understand how vulnerable they really are, and even when they do, they don't understand how easy it is to take cost affordable steps to seal any holes. This period of time in history will be looked back on as 'World War 3' or 'Cyber War 1', and the battle front is inside of every business in the US, whether they want it to be or not. Considering that we have such a large investment in the Philadelphia region, combined with our amazing partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies, it made great sense to have this event in Philadelphia at the ballpark. Telesystem believes that 'IT is About Trust', and one of the most important things a business leader can do for themselves is to learn who and what they can trust when it comes to their data." Telesystem has also partnered with Phillies Charities, the fundraising arm of the Phillies organization, to amplify their commitment to the Philadelphia region. Attendees will have the ability to donate to Phillies Charities at the event, with Telesystem donating $10,000 with the hope of reaching a total Summit goal of $20,000. Phillies Charities, Inc. raises money to award grants to charitable organizations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, and near the Phillies' spring training and minor league affiliates."Telesystem has been a proud partner of the Phillies for two years now," added Wirt. "We love the work that the Phillies do in the community for the neighborhoods in the Philadelphia region, and this will be the second year contributing to the cause. We are hoping that local businesses will work with us to contribute an additional $10,000 during the event." Seating for the event is limited, so guests are asked to register early. In person attendees will get to meet a Phillies legend each day, will be provided breakfast and lunch, and can stay after for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the ballpark. For those unable to attend in person, attendees can also register to join the event virtually. All attendees, in person or virtual, will have the ability to participate, ask questions, and be entered to win their choice of a Philadelphia Phillies home-game ticket prize pack, or a Stanley cooler and tumbler set.Attendees can register at https://hackerssuck.com . There is no fee to register or attend the event on either day.Press inquiries for Telesystem should be directed to Morgan Hull - Marketing Generalist: mhull@ telesystem.us About TelesystemFor over 29 years, Telesystem has been a trusted technology partner, empowering businesses across the country with a range of innovative voice, networking, and cybersecurity solutions designed to address the business-specific needs of each customer. Guided by strategic partnerships and a customer-centric mission, these customized solutions are backed by an end-to-end managed experience and 24/7 US-based support team.Telesystem currently delivers their enterprise collaboration solutions and networking services to businesses in 45 states, DC and four foreign countries. Their customers include hospitals, universities, local public and private school districts, banks, multi-location retail establishments and regional government offices, to name a few.Contact InformationMorgan HullMarketing Generalistmhull@ telesystem.us SOURCE: Telesystem PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 19:05:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 369 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. ("Charles River" or the "Company") (NYSE:CRL) and certain of its officers, on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased, or otherwise acquired Charles River securities between May 5, 2020 and February 21, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/crl This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws.The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Charles River had engaged in illegal activity with respect to its importation of non-human primates for research; (2) that, as a result, Charles River was at a heightened risk of criminal and regulatory investigation by, inter alia, the U.S. Department of Justice; (3) that, as a result, Charles River would be forced to suspend shipments of primates from Cambodia; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/crl or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Charles River, you have until July 18, 2023 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson212-697-6484 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 17:46:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 942 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN), a technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and co-administered by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), announced today it selected seven startups to participate in the program's 12th cohort. The cohort consists of sustainable agriculture companies focused on mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change on global food systems."In the face of intensifying challenges in the agriculture industry and our environment, the world urgently needs innovative, sustainable solutions," said Trish Cozart, IN program manager and the director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at NREL. "With projections indicating a global population of 10 billion people by 2050, we must develop methods that not only increase productivity, but do so without causing harm to our planet. IN is at the forefront of this mission, supporting promising startups that are reimagining the future of food and farming." Each company will receive up to $250,000 in non-dilutive funding for various technical assistance and field trial projects to further refine their technologies and business models. The companies will work alongside world-renowned principal investigators at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri, the world's largest independent plant science research institute."IN's twelfth cohort highlights some of the best startups in climate-aligned agriculture," said Elliott Kellner, director of commercial innovation at the Danforth Center. "The selected companies have commercially viable technologies with tremendous potential to deliver environmental, economic, and societal benefits." "As one of the top agricultural production lenders in the U.S., Wells Fargo supports scaling clean technologies," said Robyn Luhning, Chief Sustainability Officer at Wells Fargo. "Through the Wells Fargo IN program, these companies receive support to commercialize solutions for some of our customers' most pressing challenges." The companies were nominated by members of IN's Channel Partner network, consisting of more than 60 business incubators, accelerators, and university programs nationwide. The selected startups underwent an in-depth review by Wells Fargo, NREL, the Danforth Center, and IN's expert industry advisory board. The seven companies selected for IN's cohort 12 are:HabiTerre, based in St. Louis, MO, uses remote sensing, process models, and artificial intelligence to create a holistic picture of farm production systems past, present, and future cropland performance, including net greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon sequestration, crop rotation, management history, yield, water use, and nutrient dynamics. Habiterre will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Chris Topp.Impetus Ag, based in St. Louis, MO, is developing next generation crop insect control products with an eco-friendly insect control platform that dramatically enhances the performance of current biological products for topical and transgenic applications. Impetus Ag will collaborate with Danforth's Drs. Bala Venkata and Nigel Taylor.Impossible Sensing, based in St. Louis, MO, boosts soil management, merging in-situ sensors with regular farming operations. The solutions aim to capture real-time data on nutrients, soil health, and carbon levels, empowering growers to maximize land potential, participate in carbon markets, and improve profitability through sustainable practices. Impossible Sensing will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Allison Miller.InnerPlant , based in Davis, CA, develops seed technology to tap into plants' natural response pathways and code crops to communicate early and specific stresses via easy-to-collect optical signals. The technology helps farmers understand plants' needs and prescribe the right amount of fertilizer and crop protection products at the optimal time. InnerPlant will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Katie Murphy.Mirai Solar, based in Mountain View, CA, uses photovoltaic shade screen technology, the Mirai Screen, to provide greenhouses and smart buildings the means to reduce their operational costs and achieve net-zero energy targets. The Mirai Screen transforms the need for shade into a source for renewable energy by acting as a simple drop-in replacement for conventional passive shade screens. Mirai Solar will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Ru Zhang.Running Tide, based in Portland, ME, is on a mission to restore ocean health, rebalance the carbon cycle, and revitalize coastal communities. The company designs and develops integrated software and hardware systems, including monitoring and measurement capabilities, to deploy nature-based interventions that remove carbon, combat ocean acidification, and increase the scientific understanding of ocean ecosystems. Running Tide will collaborate with Danforth's Drs. Noah Fahlgren and Malia Gehan.Sentinel Fertigation, based in Lincoln, NE, leverages remote sensing and geospatial data to empower precision nitrogen management, particularly for farmers who fertigate. Sentinel's N-Time software program helps farmers improve nitrogen use efficiency by 23% and save 42 pounds of nitrogen per acre on average. Sentinel Fertigation will collaborate with Dr. Elliott Kellner to connect with a broad set of research teams across the cohort's ecosystem.With the addition of these seven companies, IN's total portfolio now includes 72 companies, including 26 sustainable agriculture startups. Since joining the IN program, portfolio companies have raised more than $1.8 billion in external follow-on funding-equivalent to an average of more than $97 for every $1 awarded by Wells Fargo through IN.About the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN)The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN) is a $50 million technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation. Co-administered by and housed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, IN's mission is to speed the path to market for early-stage, clean-technology entrepreneurs. Launched in 2014 with an initial focus on supporting scalable solutions to reduce the energy impact of commercial buildings, IN has since expanded its focus to advance technologies that address the sustainable production of agriculture and housing affordability. For more information, visit in2ecosystem.com About the Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterFounded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 19:32:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 484 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PITTSBURGH, PA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Wesco International (NYSE:WCC) On June 22, Wesco hosted inaugural Day of Caring events for employees at sites around the globe to celebrate its commitment to communities and achieving its goal of 100 home builds with Habitat for Humanity.The company's Day of Caring events encouraged employees to give back to the community and learn about local volunteer opportunities. Employees learned more about the company's matching gifts program, as well as corporate giving support of the International Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and other local charitable organizations.With its 100th anniversary in June 2022 and the launch of Wesco Cares, its corporate philanthropy program, the company set the ambitious goal of completing 100 home builds - which included new home construction, home repair, and home rehab projects - with Habitat for Humanity."Wesco's mission is to build, connect, power and protect our world, so our partnership with Habitat for Humanity is a perfect fit as it encompasses all of these commitments. Over the course of this anniversary year, we've been able to engage with Habitat for Humanity globally, nationally and on a local level as we pursued our goal of 100 builds," said John Engel, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our employees have embraced the hands-on opportunity to make a meaningful difference for families in the communities where we live and work." The company's projects with Habitat for Humanity have ranged from a community renovations project in Sao Paolo, Brazil serving nearly 50 people to a roof wind mitigation project in Orlando, Florida. The Orlando project funded wind mitigation inspections for 100 homeowners as well as the installation of new roofs on two homes. The company also served as Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity's inaugural Regional Repair program sponsor, supporting a dozen home repairs this past year.About WescoWesco International (NYSE: WCC) builds, connects, powers and protects the world. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wesco is a FORTUNE 500 company with more than $21 billion in annual sales and a leading provider of business-to-business distribution, logistics services and supply chain solutions. Wesco offers a best-in-class product and services portfolio of Electrical and Electronic Solutions, Communications and Security Solutions, and Utility and Broadband Solutions. The Company employs approximately 20,000 people, partners with the industry's premier suppliers, and serves thousands of customers around the world. With millions of products, end-to-end supply chain services, and leading digital capabilities, Wesco provides innovative solutions to meet customer needs across commercial and industrial businesses, contractors, government agencies, institutions, telecommunications providers, and utilities. Wesco operates approximately 800 branches, warehouses and sales offices in more than 50 countries, providing a local presence for customers and a global network to serve multi-location businesses and multi-national corporations.Contact:Jennifer SnidermanSr. Director, CorporateCommunications 717-579-6603View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Wesco International on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Wesco InternationalWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/wesco-international Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Wesco International PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 15:03:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 328 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FAIRFAX, VA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American:WYY), the innovative technology Managed Solution Provider (MSP) specializing in Identity & Access Management (IAM), Telecommunications and Managed Mobility Services (MMS), Analytics & Billing as a Service (ABaaS), and IT as a Service (ITaaS), announced today that it was awarded approximately $46 million in IT and security contracts during the second quarter of 2023.Jin Kang, WidePoint's CEO, stated: "In the second quarter of 2023, WidePoint saw more than 80 contractual actions across our business units including new awards, renewals, contract extensions and exercised option periods. These wins encompass our Managed Mobility Services, AbaaS, Identity & Access Management and Information Technology as a Service solutions." Highlights include:More than 80 contractual actions resulting in $45,908,000 in contract value.$3 million in commercial contracts$43 million in government contractsUnder the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cellular Wireless Managed Services (CWMS) 2.0 IDIQ contract, multimillion dollar awards from federal agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the United States Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), among othersNumerous renewals and orders for WidePoint's Identity & Access Management offeringsContract renewals for Soft-ex's Analytics & Billing as a Service solutionProduct and service contracts for IT AuthoritiesJason Holloway, WidePoint's Chief Revenue Officer, noted: "WidePoint continues to evolve and expand our cross-selling initiatives. We are excited to see new and current clients choose WidePoint solutions to secure and manage their work environments and maximize their technology investments." About WidePointWidePoint Corporation (NYSE American:WYY) is a leading technology Managed Solution Provider (MSP) dedicated to securing and protecting the mobile workforce and enterprise landscape. WidePoint is recognized for pioneering technology solutions that include Identity and Access Management (IAM), Mobility Managed Services (MMS), Telecom Management, Information Technology as a Service (ITaaS), Cloud Security, and Analytics & Billing as a Service (ABaaS). For more information, visit widepoint.com WidePoint Investor Relations:Gateway Group, Inc.Matt Glover or John Yi949-574-3860WYY@ gatewayir.com SOURCE: WidePoint Corporation PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-11 13:00:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 506 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SANTA BARBARA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / ZeroBounce today announces the launch of its free email validation, deliverability, and email-finding app on the iOS App Store. Customers will have mobile access to ZeroBounce's entire suite of tools and will be able to manage their email optimization on the go.The ZeroBounce iOS app is the first GDPR, SOC 2 Type 2, and ISO 27001-certified email verifier available in the Apple App Store. The app provides all the features of the ZeroBounce platform, including guaranteed 99% accurate email validation, email scoring, email deliverability testing, blacklist monitoring, and email finding. The mobile experience allows customers to easily manage their accounts, APIs, integrations, and automations. Results, usage reports, and documentation materials are also readily available.Download the ZeroBounce iOS app for free: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zerobounce/id1671793296 "The ZeroBounce iOS app makes it easy for our Apple customers to manage their accounts on their phones or tablets. Within the app, they can also validate an email address instantly and access any of our email optimization tools, just like they would on a desktop," says ZeroBounce founder and CEO Liviu Tanase.The company's military-grade security extends to the ZeroBounce iOS app, protecting all uploads and downloads with encryption keys to keep all files safe. In the ZeroBounce iOS app, customers can also access invoices, edit payment methods, and update their subscriptions anytime. Furthermore, ZeroBounce's support team is available 24/7."Our iOS email validation app brings all our features and functionality to our mobile users. It's exciting to be the first GDPR-certified email validator in the App Store. Whether you are in the field gathering emails or simply want to check the status of your account, you can do that using our iOS app. Also, be on the lookout for new product releases that we know our mobile users will love," says ZeroBounce Chief Operating Officer Brian Minick.Recently, ZeroBounce has launched an email finder, allowing users to find any business email address with 99% accuracy. Backed by ZeroBounce's email validation software, the email finder does not use stored data but employs proprietary technologies to discover email addresses in real time.About ZeroBounceZeroBounce is an award-winning email verification, deliverability, and email-finding platform helping 250,000+ customers achieve email success.Its 99% accurate email validation service removes obsolete and risky email addresses to help senders prevent bounces and maintain a good reputation. ZeroBounce's email deliverability toolkit further supports companies in their quest to reach the inbox. Activity Data, one of ZeroBounce's most popular features, offers subscriber activity insights, allowing marketers to target their most active audiences. Email Finder is ZeroBounce's latest tool that provides professionals with valid business email addresses to enhance their email outreach efforts.ZeroBounce has validated 18+ billion emails and serves companies of all sizes, from solo business owners to Amazon, Disney, Netflix, and Sephora. The platform ensures military-grade security and is GDPR, SOC 2 Type 2, ISO-27001-certified, and India DPDP-ready.For more information, visit https://www.zerobounce.net/ Contact Information:Corina LesliePR Managersupport@ zerobounce.net +1-888-500-9521SOURCE: ZeroBounce The House of Representatives has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the implementation of the Customer Due Diligence Regulations, 2023, which makes it mandatory for customers to provide their social media details. It described the policy as unconstitutional as it violates section 37 of the 1999 constitution. This resolution was a sequel to a motion moved by Kelechi Nwogu (PDP, Rivers) and eight others on Tuesday during plenary. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the CBN, in its latest policy, stated that the inclusion of social media handles in the Know Your Customer details will provide insights into customers online presence and activities, helping to assess potential risks and monitor for suspicious behaviour. Moving the motion, Mr Nwogu said the policy will have a negative impact on the banking sector if social media handles are included as a mandatory requirement for account holders. He added that it will equally affect the financial inclusion drive of the country because some Nigerians are not on social media. This directive by the CBN is in conflict with the provision of Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) on the right to privacy of citizens, he said. Banks in the country already have the names, telephone numbers, passport photographs, emails, National Identification Number (NIN), Biometric Verification Number (BVN), utility bills and other basic requirements. If the directive takes effect, Nigerians who are not on social media, with large turnovers from their businesses and trades, would be compelled to or systematically excluded from formal banking systems with its attendant negative effects and implications, he said. Mr Nwogu added that the argument of using the policy to tackle money laundering and terrorism financing is not tenable because the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), other intelligence and crime tracking agencies are better equipped to take care of that. There are better means of monitoring money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing, such as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), intelligence and crime tracking agencies, amongst others, he said. Consequently, the House resolved to urge the CBN to halt the implementation of the policy. It mandated the committee on banking and currency (when constituted) to investigate the matter and report back within three weeks for further legislative action. The House also mandated the committee on legislative compliance (when constituted) to ensure implementation. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has hired 20 new aides, about three weeks after he made the last set of major appointments, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report. The new appointments include those of senior special assistants (SSAs), personal assistants (PAs), personal physician, and photographers. Among the new appointees, according to the list seen by PREMIUM TIMES, are veteran journalist, Tunde Rahman, who has been designated SSA (Media); Abdulaziz Abdulaziz (SSA Print Media); and Ibrahim Masari (SSA Political). Others are Adekunle Tinubu Personal Physician; Damilotun Aderemi Senior Special Assistant (Private Secretary); Toyin Subair Senior Special Assistant (Domestic); Otega Ogra Senior Special Assistant (Digital/New Media); Demola Oshodi Senior Special Assistant (Protocol); Tope Ajayi Senior Special Assistant (Media & Public Affairs); Yetunde Sekoni Senior Special Assistant; Motunrayo Jinadu Senior Special Assistant; Segun Dada Special Assistant (Social Media); and Paul Adekanye Special Assistant (Logistics). Also on the list are Friday Soton Special Assistant (Housekeeping); Shitta-Bey Akande Special Assistant (Catering); Nosa Asemota Special Assistant (Visual Communication) Personal Photographer; Kamal Yusuf Personal Assistant (Special Duties); Wale Fadairo Personal Assistant (General Duties); Sunday Moses Personal Assistant (Videography); and Taiwo Okanlawon Personal Assistant (State Photographer). This newspaper learnt that Mr Tinubu has issued some of the new aides appointment letters. Profiles Mr Rahman was media aide and chief of staff to Mr Tinubu before his election as president. A native of Iwo in Osun State, Mr Rahman was political editor of the Daily Times before he moved over to the Punch newspaper where he headed the Abuja bureau of the newspaper and later the group news editor of the paper at its headquarters in Lagos. He thereafter moved to ThisDay newspaper where he held several editorial positions, including the editorship of the Sunday paper. Mr Rahman recently bagged an MBA from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. Mr Abdulaziz, from Kano State, worked with Leadership, Blueprint, Premium Times and lately, Daily Trust from where he was appointed into the media team of the APC/Tinubu Campaign Organisation. He once served as media aide to a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, who was recently named the national security adviser. Temitope Ajayi is a public relations expert and writer who worked on the Tinubu campaign in addition to having a long history of working at the Tinubu Media Office. He is also known to be affiliated with the Western Post newspaper owned by Tunde Rahman. He studied at the Lagos Business School and Obafemi Awolowo University. Mr Masari, an indigene of Katsina State, was Mr Tinubus place-holder running mate before Vice President Kashim Shettima was picked as the substantive vice presidential candidate of the APC for the 25 February poll. Mr Ogra was until his appointment the head of corporate communication at the BUA Group. An alumnus of Babcock University, he is regarded as a high-flyer in the nations corporate communication sector. Before arriving BUA in 2015, he worked at GTBank as corporate communications manager, Wema Bank as head, brand management and head, corporate communications and digital marketing unit. Previous appointments The new set of appointments will be the third major one by Mr Tinubu since his inauguration on 29 May. On 2 June, Mr Tinubu appointed the secretary to the government of the federation, chief of staff and deputy chief of staff. On 15 June, he appointed eight advisers, including Dele Alake, as special adviser on special duties, communications and strategy and Wale Edun as special adviser on monetary policies. READ ALSO: He thereafter, on 19 June, appointed another set of people comprising the national security adviser, service chiefs, the inspector general of police and others. Last Friday, Mr Tinubu set up a committee on tax reforms headed by Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Taiwo Oyedele. See the full list of the newly appointed aides below: 1. Dr. Adekunle Tinubu Personal Physician to President Tinubu 2. Tunde Rahman Senior Special Assistant (Media) 3. Damilotun Aderemi Senior Special Assistant (Private Secretary) 4. Ibrahim Masari Senior Special Assistant (Political Matters) 5. Toyin Subair Senior Special Assistant (Domestic) 6. Abdulaziz Abdulaziz Senior Special Assistant (Print Media) 7. Demola Oshodi Senior Special Assistant (Protocol) 8. Tope Ajayi Senior Special Assistant (Media & Public Affairs) 9. Yetunde Sekoni Senior Special Assistant 10. Motunrayo Jinadu Senior Special Assistant 11. Segun Dada Special Assistant (Social Media) 12. Paul Adekanye Special Assistant (Logistics) 13. Friday Soton Special Assistant (Housekeeping) 14. Mrs. Shitta-Bey Akande Special Assistant (Catering) 15. Nosa Asemota Special Assistant (Visual Communication), Personal Photographer 16. Kamal Yusuf Personal Assistant (Special Duties) 17. Wale Fadairo Personal Assistant (General Duties) 18. Sunday Moses Personal Assistant (Videography) 19. Taiwo Okanlawon Personal Assistant (State Photographer) 20. Otega Ogra Senior Special Assistant (Digital/New Media) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate on Tuesday constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate the fuel subsidy regime of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). This followed the adoption of a motion by Patrick Chinwuba (APC-Imo) during plenary on Tuesday. The motion was tagged Need to Investigate the Controversial Huge Expenditure on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) under the Subsidy/Under Recovery Regime by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Moving the motion, Mr Chinwuba said the federal government, on 11 May 2016, announced an increase in fuel pump price from N87 to between N135 and N145 per litre. This was in its fight against corruption and in order to plug the presumed highly proliferated leakages, wastages and slippages surrounding the fuel subsidy as well as in an attempt to end the controversial subsidy regime. At the inauguration of the present government on May 29, the president took a bold step to announce the total removal of fuel subsidy, noting that the scheme has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor, he said. He said the governments interest in exiting the subsidy regime was in line with the policy of reducing the cost of governance and the desire to eliminate corrupt practices surrounding the scheme. The NNPCL, within the period of subsidy exit attempt, substituted the term subsidy with under recovery without any recourse to the National Assembly or supervision by any other arm of the government. While NNPCL within ten years, 2006 and 2015, claimed about N170 billion as under-recovery, the same NNPCL within 13 months, January 2018 to January 2019 claimed a whopping sum of N843.121 billion as under-recovery, he said. The lawmaker expressed worry that the uninvestigated and alarming cost of under-recovery/direct deductions by NNPCL without necessary checks had led to a great misunderstanding of the governments good intention on subsidy removal. Supporting the motion, Jibrin Isa (APC-Kogi) said that utilising the savings arising from removing the subsidy was very important. This is where our oversight function comes to play. These monies that are going to be recovered from the discontinuance of fuel subsidy should be used to revive some of the ailing companies in particular; the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Itakpe Iron Ore Mining Company in Kogi and Oshogbo Iron and Steel Rolling Mills in Osun. Those projects can create a lot of employment opportunities, create a lot of revenue for the government, he said. Also, Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo) said, We need to look at the palliatives to cushion the effects of subsidy removal. Much as we are going to make a lot of gains from subsidy removal, we have to look at the suffering of our people. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno) said the previous government never had the political will to withdraw the subsidy. We thank this government for taking the bull by the horn and gathering all the political will to withdraw the subsidy in the interest of Nigerians. We are now saving a lot of money, which we can use to deploy for revamping our infrastructure. In view of the hardship unleashed on Nigerians as a result of the subsidy, there is the need for government to take responsibility in cushioning the effect of the removal, he said. All senators unanimously adopted the prayers after a voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Osun State Government has ordered the immediate activation of the emergency response centre to curb the spread of Diphtheria following the death of a six-year-old. Governor Ademola Adeleke gave the directive in a statement on Monday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, after receiving a situation report from the states Ministry of Health. Mr Rasheed noted in the statement that the six-year-old who died in Osogbo developed symptoms of diphtheria on 25 June and died of the infection on 7 July. He noted that another suspected case was said to be under testing, adding that the governor directed the contact tracing and immediate treatment of the infected residents, TheCable reports. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on Friday announced an outbreak of diphtheria in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following the first case and death of a four-year-old child in June. NCDC also confirmed 798 diphtheria cases and 80 deaths from 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in eight states, including the FCT. Osun response The spokesperson to Mr Adeleke emphasised in the statement that the state emergency response centre be reactivated urgently. Mr Rasheed noted that the confirmed case at Osogbo is to be immediately followed up with contact tracing to ascertain the status of those who had been in contact with the victim, adding that emergency treatment must be available to the infected. He wrote: We are in touch with the National Centre for Disease Control for the exchange of information and technical support. I want to assure our people that proactive steps are being taken to nip in the bud any widespread escalation of the outbreak. Our people must be vigilant and observe precautions the Ministry of Health will soon be issuing. We must never forget to immunise our children and wards. Your government is on top of this medical development. Prevalence Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection that can cause breathing difficulties and heart problems that can be fatal, particularly in children. According to NCDC, Kano state accounted for most of the confirmed cases, while other states are Lagos, Yobe, Katsina, Cross River, Kaduna, and Osun. READ ALSO: NCDC added that the majority (71.7 per cent) of the 798 confirmed cases occurred among children aged 2 14 years. Despite diphtheria being a vaccine-preventable disease, NCDC noted that 654 (82 per cent) of 798 confirmed cases of the ongoing outbreaks were unvaccinated. The disease control centre advised parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated against the disease with three doses of antitoxin-containing pentavalent vaccine given as part of Nigerias childhood immunisation schedule. It also urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for diphtheria. The symptoms of diphtheria include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes (conjunctivitis) and neck swelling. In severe cases, NCDC said that a thick grey or white patch appears on the tonsils and, or at the back of the throat, associated with difficulty breathing. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has1 implored the federal government to take action to repair the damaged Oba axis of the Onitsha-Owerri Highway. The spokesperson to Mr Soludo, Christian Aburime, said the governor made the call when he visited the failed portion of the road that had been cut off due to massive gully erosion. The governor, who was represented by his Chief-of-Staff, Earnest Ezeajughi, said the state government was acting on an emergency basis because it could not wait for the federal governments response. He said that Anambra was grappling with over 1,000 active gully erosion sites and that the one on the highway was one of the numerous sites which required urgent intervention. We are appealing to the federal government to quickly intervene and save this road from total collapse, Mr Ezeajughi said. The state Commissioner for Works, Ifeanyi Okomma, described the erosion as huge. Mr Okomma said that the Anambra government had arrested the situation and stopped further progression through some remedial works. He said, We have achieved the first objective. The second objective is to stop further erosion slide as we await the federal government. The state Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, said erosion was an existential threat in the state and called for increased ecological funding. He said the state government had been carrying out remedial work to check the damage being done by gully erosion and called for federal assistance. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigeria Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has arrested Desmond Okeh, an indigene of Anambra, for parading himself as a Lance Corporal in the Army. Ikedichi Iweha, the spokesperson of Nigeria Army 6 Division, Port Harcourt, presented the fake soldier before reporters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. He said the suspect was arrested following an intelligence report about the activities of the fake soldier at a new generation bank located in the Government Reserve Area of the city. Desmond Okeh was arrested on July 6 at a new generation bank fully dressed in the number six military camouflage and in possession of a fake military identification card. The suspect was wearing the rank of Lance Corporal on Army camouflage with fake duty number: 16N/75/2038 on his forged military identification card. The suspected impostor also had in his possession a fake pass leaflet at the time of his arrest, said Mr Iweha, a lieutenant colonel. He said the fake soldier, during the interrogation, confessed that he bought the military camouflage from Kotuku Barracks in Kaduna and thereafter sewed it at a tailoring shop. Okeh said he procured the army boot from vendors opposite Alaba International Market in Lagos and printed the fake identification card at a cybercafe at Control Roundabout in Imo state. It is shocking to note that this same Okeh was arrested on May 15, 2022, for the same offence of impersonation and was consequently handed over to a sister security agency for prosecution. However, it is unfortunate the same suspect is still on the street harassing innocent civilians by parading himself to his victims as a soldier, he added. Mr Iweha urged the public to be conscious of the antics of criminals who present themselves as military officers to swindle them of their hard-earned money and property. So, people should take note that not everybody in military camouflage is a real soldier, he said. Why I did it Suspect The suspect, Mr Okeh, said his love for the military pushed him to take to impersonation after several failed attempts to join the army. Since 2016, Ive been applying to be recruited into the Nigeria Army but have not been successful due to my (academic) result. READ ALSO: Police arrest fake soldiers in Delta So, anytime I am around my friends that got accepted into the army, I get carried away and get the feeling like I am part of them. This is why I bought a camouflage material and sewed it to feel like an officer, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom command, says it apprehended 15 suspects and impounded seven trucks loaded with 315, 000 litres of substance suspected to be illegally refined petroleum products. Eluyemi Eluwade, the state commandant of the corps, disclosed this while briefing reporters in Uyo on Tuesday. Mr Eluwade explained that the men of the Anti-Vandal Squad of the command arrested the suspects along Calabar Itu Highway on 7 July, acting on intelligence. He said, Our newly rejigged Anti-Vandal squad has arrested 15 suspects for suspected criminal conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products. We also impounded seven trucks with a combined capacity of 315,000 litres of illegally acquired petroleum products. Investigations are still ongoing to determine if the product is crude oil or High Pour Fuel Oil (HPFO) as claimed by the suspects. Samples of the products have been obtained and will be taken for forensic analysis in an NNPC laboratory, after which the suspects will be charged to court. From preliminary investigations, the waybills presented showed an expired license to deal with petroleum products. The commandant warned that the corps would not tolerate any form of criminality, economic sabotage and vandalising of government infrastructure in the state. He said this was in line with the directive of the Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, adding that such act had robbed the government of huge revenue. Mr Eluwade assured the people of Akwa Ibom of his commitment to work to ensure the security of lives, property and infrastructure in the state. READ ALSO: Military destroys 107 illegal refineries in Niger Delta He warned criminals to desist from illegal bunkering and vandalism because anyone caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law. He urged residents of the state, especially the youth, to partner with the corps by giving it credible intelligence to work with so as to ensure safety in the state (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A family court in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Tuesday ordered that a skit maker Maruf Abdullahi, aka Trinity, be remanded in Agodi correction centre for allegedly sexually exploiting a 10-year-old girl. The magistrate, P. O. Adetuyibi, ordered Mr Abdullahi, 31, and the parents of the child Isiaka Ahmed, 40, and his wife, Rofiat Ahmed, 29, to continue to be remanded in Agodi. Mrs Adetuyibi adjourned the matter until 31 August for mention. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police charged Mr Abdullahi alongside the parents of the victim with conspiracy and sexual abuse/exploitation. Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Oluwakemi Arowosaye, told the court that the accused persons allegedly conspired together to wit sexual abuse. Mr Arowosaye said Trinity on 17 December 2022, was alleged to have sexually abused and exploited the 10-year- old girl at Kuola area, Ibadan. The offence, the police said, contravened the provisions of Section 35 (1) and punishable under Section 35 (2) of the Oyo State Child Rights Law 2006. She said it also contravenes the provisions of section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Taiwans Foxconn, the worlds largest contract electronics maker, has withdrawn from a U$19.5 billion semiconductor joint venture with Indian conglomerate Vedanta. The two companies agreed last year to set up semiconductor and display production plants in Gujarat. Foxconn said it had worked with Vedanta for more than a year to bring a great semiconductor idea to reality, but the would-be partners decided to end the joint venture. It is now fully owned by Vedanta. Its still not clear why the deal collapsed but it has been widely described in the Indian press as a setback to Prime Minister Narendra Modis chip manufacturing plans for India (not to mention the fact that the plants were due to be built in his home state). However, Vedanta has said it is fully committed to its semiconductor project and had lined up other partners to set up Indias first foundry. Was government regulation to blame? According to a Reuters source, concerns about incentive approval delays by Indias government had contributed to Foxconns decision to pull out of the venture. The government had apparently also raised several questions on the cost estimates provided to request incentives from the government. In addition, attempts to involve European chipmaker STMicroelectronics seem to have foundered. The Vedanta-Foxconn venture announced its chipmaking plans last September. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the project an important step in boosting Indias chipmaking ambitions. But the Economic Times quotes the Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, as saying (via Twitter), "This decision of Foxconn to withdraw from its JV with Vedanta has no impact on India's semiconductor fab goals. None." Of the 21 military, paramilitary and other allied security agencies in the country, only five have persons from the North-central, South-east and South-south as their Heads, a research analysis by PRNigeria has shown. They are the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Fire Service, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Police Service Commission, and the Nigerian Navy. In fact, Emmanuel Ogalla, the newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff, is the only officer from the South-east holding any leadership position among the military and security agencies operating in the country. The North-central region has Ahmed Audi, the Controller General of the NSCDC; and Jaji Abdulganiyu, the Controller General of the Fire Service. The North-west and the South-west, according to the PRNigeria analysis, got the lions share of the heads of the 21 agencies. No fewer than 12 persons from the two geo-political zones are steering the affairs of various military and security outfits, together with oversight and emergency response agencies. Those representing the North-west are seven. They include the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa; the Chief of Air Staff, Hassan Abubakar; Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa; the Director General of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi; the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar; the Board Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, Jaafaru Ahmed; and the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ahmed Habib. On the other hand, the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja; Acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Adepoju Wura-Ola; Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Bolaji Owasanoye, all hail from the South-west. The North-east, with four of its sons piloting the affairs of four security-allied agencies, trails the South-west, which has five. They include Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser from Adamawa State; Buba Marwa, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency also from Adamawa State; Abdulkarim Chukkol, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from Borno State; and Dauda Biu, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission. Emmanuel Undiandeye, the newly-appointed Chief of Defence Intelligence, CDI, and Solomon Arase, chairman of the Police Service Commission, are the only South-south Indigenes leading two out of the 21 security-allied agencies identified by PRNigeria. Meanwhile, PRNigeria reports that 10 out of 21 security heads are yet to be confirmed as the substantive helmsmen of the agencies under review in their special report. They are presently working on acting capacities. But the other 11 have long been confirmed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who appointed them. Asked if the lopsided spread of security agencies heads to the countrys geo-political zones matters in the fight against insecurity, Araka Okolieaboh, a Strategic Trend Analyst and Energy Security Consultant, begged to disagree. Notwithstanding the composition of the recent appointments of security chiefs based on religion, tribe, and region, Mr Okolieaboh, who is also a Research Fellow in Defence and Strategic Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, maintained that the strategic importance of merit should be first considered. Mr Okolieaboh however, said: I am not surprised that the North-west region got the highest number which I attribute to her long-time involvement in mainstream politics and her strategic implantation plans to maintain the top have always given her leverage over other regions, also considering her size and population as well as her interest in those areas of service delivery is a good explanation why they should get that number. Politics from my observation is all about who gets what, when, and how. For the South-east that got the lowest, one can also view that from the lens of political participation, our survey indicates that young men from the South-east region will rather go in for entrepreneurship and other private sector engagement rather than serve for twenty-five years before getting to the peak of their careers if you check the number of applications into the Nigerian Police Forces from the region between 2019 and 2022. It is also important to note that any regime will want to work with those whose inclinations and interests are geared towards nation-building and national security stability. While the numbers of appointments that went to the South-west and the North-east are expected from our trend analysis and historical dialectics however, the North-central and the South-south have often been considered based on availability and political participation. Download the Table on Head of Military-Security SEctor in Nigeria and States of Origin: https://prnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2023/07/Heads-Military-Security-Sector.pdf Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja has awarded N60 million against the Nigerian government in favour of Sunday Ayodeji, who was shot by a police officer in Kaduna State, North-west Nigeria. On 22 October 2020, a police officer, Abdullahi Mohammed, shot at Mr Ayodeji at Giwa in Kaduna State. The gunshot led to an amputation of one of Mr Ayodejis legs. Mr Ayodeji was dispossessed of a car and N900,000 by the police during the attack. However, the Avocats Sans Frontieres France (Lawyers without Borders France) instituted an action against the Nigerian government at the ECOWAS Court, seeking compensation for Mr Ayodeji. Delivering judgement on the suit on Monday, a judge of the ECOWAS Court, Dupe Atoki, berated the Nigerian government for violating the fundamental human rights of Mr Ayodeji. A press statement issued on Tuesday by the ASF, said the Nigerian Government has also been ordered by the court to internally investigate the human rights breach of Mr Sunday Olaniran Ayodeji. The court also ordered the immediate return of Mr Ayodejis confiscated possessions by the police. Speaking on the outcome of the suit on Tuesday, the Country Director of ASF France in Nigeria, Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, expressed joy over the success which she said was secured despite legal hurdles faced by our legal team in pursuit of justice in this case, justice was served. Ms Uzoma-Iwuchukwu was optimistic that the verdict would serve as a deterrent against the systemic use of torture in Nigeria. She added that the amount awarded by the court will not restore our client who has been permanently disabled by torture Justice not served until perpetrators are held to account Speaking at a training programme for members of the National Committee Against Torture (NCAT) on Tuesday in Abuja, Ms Uzoma-Iwuchukwu said justice for victims of torture will not be enough until perpetrators of the crime are held to account. Nigeria has an anti-torture legislation enacted in 2017. But the government needs to do more to ensure its implementation, the ASF country director suggested. She decried that there has been no prosecution of security agents who torture crime suspects in Nigeria. She revealed that the ASF France has been providing support for about 2000 victims of torture accross Nigeria, but the Attorney General of the Federation had yet to issue the implementing guidelines for the anti-torture law. Similarly, the Charge dAffaires Australian High Commission in Nigeria, Leann Johnson, expressed hope that the Nigerian government would have a framework to ensure penalties for proven cases of torture. Ms Johnson stated the Australian governments commitment to promoting human rights across the globe. Convener of Access to Justice, a not-for-profit organisation, Joseph Otteh, said the infliction of very cruel, degrading treatment against persons who are in custody has been very systematic and country-wide in Nigeria. Mr Otteh, a human rights lawyer, said the National Committee Against Torture ought to be the key driver in the fight against torture. But over the years, that committee has been unable to function. So, ASF has been trying to build capacity within the committee so that they can do their mandate, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives has asked the federal government to review the ban on the sale of petroleum in communities 20 kilometres inward of international land borders. Following a motion moved by Adegboyega Isiaka (APC, Ogun) on Tuesday, the House resolved that government should review the ban in light of the removal of the petroleum subsidy regime. The last administration had in 2019 directed that petroleum tankers must not go beyond 20 kilometres inwards of an international border. The policy was initiated to stop the smuggling of petroleum to neighbouring countries like Chad, Cameroon and the Benin Republic. President Bola Tinubu had on 29 May announced the termination of the fuel subsidy regime. The sudden announcement by Mr Tinubu caused a spike in the price of PMS across the country and removed the arbitrage between the price of the product in Nigerians and neighbouring countries. While moving the motion, Mr Isiaka said, Despite the removal of subsidy on petroleum products by the government, the ban is yet to be lifted, thus causing hardships to millions of Nigerians living and conducting businesses within the affected area (located in 15 states of the federation) who have to travel kilometres to get the products or pay an extra amount to secure the products for their daily needs. He described the policy as negatively impacting the people within 20 kilometres of the international border-radius. Mr Isiaka urged the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant government agencies to immediately lift the ban, thus, allowing duly registered fuel stations within the communities to be supplied with petroleum products. Members voted in support of the bill when Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put it to vote. Consequently, the House mandated the Committee on Customs and Excise, when constituted, to ensure implementation. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) said a private security contractor, Tantita Security Services, has intercepted a suspicious vessel with a cargo of crude oil on board. The NNPCL, in a statement signed by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Garba Deen Muhammad, said the vessel was intercepted on 7 July. The vessel, MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462), owned by a Nigerian Registered Company, HOLAB MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED with Registration Number RC813311, was heading to Cameroun with the cargo on board when it was apprehended at an offshore location (Latitude: 5.8197194477543235, Longitude: 4.789002723991871), with the captain and crew members on board, it said. The NNPCL noted that preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore Ondo State, Nigeria. There was no valid documentation for the Vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo onboard at the time of the arrest. Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd. Command and Control Centre also revealed that the Vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last twelve (12) years. The last reported location of the vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011, the statement said. It said details of the arrest and the outcomes of the investigations were escalated to the appropriate government authorities, upon which it was concluded to destroy the vessel to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities to cease. The NNPCL explained that destroying vessels involved in transporting stolen crude oil is of paramount importance as a strong deterrent. The illegal trade of stolen crude oil not only inflicts significant economic losses on Nigeria and legitimate stakeholders in the oil industry but also perpetuates a cycle of corruption, environmental devastation, and social instability, it said. READ ALSO: NNPCL, however, assured Nigerians that it will sustain the momentum in the war against crude oil theft until it is brought to a halt. In recent years, Nigeria has recorded a surge in oil theft incidents in its oil-producing region, which has worsened the nations revenue challenge. In a bid to curb crude oil theft, the Nigerian government launched an application in August last year to monitor cases of theft. The NNPC also awarded a multi-billion naira pipeline surveillance contract to a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, Government Tompolo. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Following Muhammed Pates incredibly difficult decision to rescind his appointment as CEO of GAVI- Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and return home to serve his fatherland under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I wrote and published an article entitled: Finding the Pate Within Us. It was a piece in honour of a man who, in the face of grandeur and international acclaim, chose a different path leading him back to the very roots from which he had grown; it highlighted the significant personal sacrifice Mr Pate had made in placing Nigeria over and above his career goals and aspirations. How many Nigerian elites or technocrats would make such a call? I consider myself an ultra-patriotic Nigerian but faced with such an opportunity, my decision would not be anywhere near incredibly difficult. Evidently, Pate has risen above self. He has conquered the me first syndrome in most of us. It would not be out of place to say that his actions are synonymous with patriotism of a higher degree, nationalism, and personal sacrifice for the collective good. It is, therefore, shocking to read articles on news platforms attempting to politicize that which is glaringly altruistic and in the national interest. These half-spirited attempts from a muted minority argue that the distinguished professor is not a politician and as such, is undeserving of the ministerial slot from his home state. Some contend that as a technocrat, he does not understand the political economy that defines the countrys health sector and may not be able to get the desired result if appointed as Minister of Health. They all surmise that politicians who have worked tirelessly for the ruling partys victory in the last presidential election deserve to be compensated with ministerial slots, which is indeed not out of place. They also prefer someone who has worked internally with an understanding of the local dynamics, which is also not out of place. What is, however out of place is the thinking that Mr Pates eventual nomination and appointment as Minister will block the chances of compensation for the political class in his home state. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially when it is on record that President Bola Tinubu rewards loyalty and hard work. For a man who decided, without a gun to his head, to decline an offer already accepted, Mr Pate is not the competition here; far from it. Perhaps, it is crucial that we understand the enormity of his sacrifice. Until that moment of decision came, Mr Pate was on course to assume office as CEO of GAVI the Vaccine Alliance on 3 August 2023. In his words, upon acceptance of the offer then, he said It will be my privilege to lead Gavi and continue to support countries to scale up critical routine immunization programmes, reach more zero-dose children, expand access to new vaccines, transform primary health care systems, and help fight outbreaks and future pandemics. A privilege now directed towards Nigeria. A look at donor contributions and pledges to Gavi from 2021 2025 indicates a commitment of $21.2 billion, while donor proceeds for the same period are $21.5 billion. The consolidated financial statement audit of Gavi, as undertaken by Deloitte, indicates that cash proceeds from donors and International Finance Facility for Immunization(IFFIm) over a five-year period stood at $4.8 billion(2022), $10.0 billion(2021), $2.3 billion(2020), $2.0 billion(2019), and $1.6 billion(2018) respectively. The audit finds that with the cash receipts from these donors and investors, Gavi has a strong and consistent level of support. In view of available resources, the Gavi Secretariat forecasts that there will be sufficient resources to fund all its programmatic commitments as revised for the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As of the date of the last forecast approved by the board in December 2022, Gavis estimated Qualifying Resources for its 2021-2025 strategic period totalled $10.4 billion, while its total forecasted cash outflow for the same period was US$10.2 billion. This implies the organization has approximately $0.2 billion for future mission-related investments. How else can one describe its financial solvency? Not to mention that the CEO job comes with an annual salary of US$700,000(unconfirmed), which is approximately 525 million Naira! Nigerias Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate clearly passed on the opportunity to lead one of the worlds most impactful and financially solvent organizations at such a critical time in global history when the world is navigating the path to recovery post-Covid-19 and adopting the lessons learned to shape our world significantly. Gavi has a remarkable track record in improving global health through immunization. Its efforts have had a profound impact, as it supports the immunization of almost half the worlds children. It has helped immunize over 760 million children, effectively preventing over 13 million deaths worldwide. This incredible achievement highlights the significant role Gavi plays in saving lives and improving the health outcomes of millions of individuals. Through its negotiation of bulk prices and support for price discrimination, Gavi works to make vaccines more affordable and accessible, particularly for low-income countries. By reducing the commercial risks vaccine manufacturers face when selling to poorer nations, Gavi ensures that even the most vulnerable populations can access life-saving vaccines. This approach has been crucial in increasing diphtheria vaccine coverage in Gavi-supported countries from 59 per cent in 2000 to 81 per cent in 2019. The impact of these efforts is reflected in the significant reduction of child mortality rates. READ ALSO: In addition to its achievements, Gavi remains at the forefront of the fight against malaria, one of Africas deadliest diseases. In a groundbreaking initiative, it is leading the effort to distribute the first-ever malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01, to 12 African countries from 2023 to 2025. This vaccine allocation, amounting to 18 million doses, can significantly reduce the burden of malaria, which currently accounts for 95 per cent of global malaria cases and 96 per cent of deaths, with children under 5 being the most vulnerable. Gavis dedication to addressing this pressing health challenge demonstrates its commitment to tackling diseases disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations. Rather than attach political meanings and sentiments to Mr Pates homecoming, we should celebrate, knowing that a highly resourceful son has chosen to serve Nigeria in the face of global relevance and personal gain. The conversation should be about the expectations of a Pate ministership, not the fears demonstrated in some quarters. Or is someone afraid of Mr Pate for any other reason? Mr Pate, an accomplished global health leader, significantly contributed to Nigerias fight against polio and health system reform. As head of Nigerias National Primary Health Care Development Agency, he successfully led efforts to combat the polio epidemic reducing cases from the highest(798) globally to just three within two years. His approach involved mobilizing resources to struggling areas and gaining communities trust, working closely with local leaders and involving them in planning vaccination campaigns. Mr Pates leadership went beyond addressing polio. He recognized the need for broader health system improvements and implemented initiatives to strengthen primary care and address areas of greatest need. As Minister of State for Health, he established a global coalition to support health system improvements. He implemented innovative programs to tackle priorities such as the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Mr Pates experience in philanthropy and policy, including his work at the World Bank, further strengthens his ability to contribute to global health challenges. He was pivotal in the World Banks strategy for financing population health programs, supporting countries in building resilient health systems and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given our countrys current circumstances, it is essential to recognize that forming a government representing a broad spectrum of expertise and perspectives is crucial for driving meaningful change. Mr Pates nomination brings the expertise and dedication needed to address Nigerias healthcare challenges head-on. His deep knowledge of the sector and commitment to serving his country makes him a powerful force for positive transformation. Politicians and technocrats can work together to deliver the most significant value for the people of Nigeria. Perhaps the traducers are unaware, but one of the reasons why Mr Pates likely nomination as Minister of Health holds tremendous significance is the dire fiscal situation Nigeria currently faces. The escalating public debt and growing budget deficit have severely affected various sectors, including healthcare. The countrys expenditure on debt servicing has reached alarming levels, with 96.3 per cent of revenue allocated to this purpose in 2022, up from 83.2 per cent in the previous year. This demonstrates the worsening fiscal deficit and its strain on the nations public debt stockthe rising budget deficit-to-GDP ratio further compounds the challenges, indicating the increasing burden on the economy. The implications of this fiscal crisis on the health sector are profound. As resources become scarce, allocating sufficient funds to crucial areas such as healthcare infrastructure, medical supplies, and workforce development becomes increasingly challenging. This, in turn, compromises the quality and accessibility of healthcare services for the Nigerian population. With public spending on healthcare amounting to just 3.89 per cent of GDP, the need for increased investment and reform is undeniable. Therefore, Mr Pates nomination as Minister of Health becomes even more crucial in this context. His expertise in healthcare financing and health system strengthening can play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges posed by the fiscal crisis. His track record of navigating complex financial landscapes and mobilizing resources positions him as a valuable asset in ensuring that the health sector receives the attention and funding it desperately needs. His experience in engaging with international organizations and securing resources for healthcare initiatives can be leveraged to explore innovative financing mechanisms and partnerships. He can collaborate with development partners, private sector entities, and philanthropic organizations to bridge the huge funding gap and ensure the sustainability of healthcare services. Moreover, Mr Pates leadership in advocating for improved budgetary allocations to the health sector can drive the necessary policy reforms. By working closely with relevant stakeholders and policymakers, he can champion initiatives prioritising healthcare in the national budget and advocate for increased investments in critical areas such as healthcare infrastructure, equipment, and human resources. Additionally, his understanding of health economics and ability to navigate complex financial landscapes can contribute to developing sustainable healthcare financing models. He can explore strategies to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures, improve health insurance coverage, and strengthen health financing systems. This would not only alleviate the burden on individuals but also enhance the overall resilience and effectiveness of the healthcare sector. By leveraging Mr Pates knowledge and skills, Nigeria can explore innovative solutions, forge strategic partnerships, and implement sound fiscal policies to secure the necessary resources for the health sector. This, in turn, will improve healthcare accessibility, quality, and outcomes for all Nigerians, mitigating the adverse effects of the fiscal crisis. It is essential to recognize that investing in the health sector is a matter of social welfare and a strategic move for sustainable development. We need a healthy population that drives economic productivity, fosters social stability, and enhances overall well-being to better reap our demographic dividends. Nigeria can then be enabled to lay the foundation for a prosperous and resilient nation that prioritizes healthcare despite the fiscal challenges. But that is not all. Have we considered the significant impact Mr Pates emergence could have on the countrys health security? Nigerias ability to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats, including infectious diseases, epidemics, and other health emergencies, could benefit from Pates expertise and experience. After eight years of near-stagnation, Nigeria and, indeed, Nigerians deserve better. The narrative has to change. It can not be business as usual. Nigerians deserve to breathe! From the standpoint of a strategist, it is imperative to state that Pate is no obstacle to the emergence of any politician as Minister from his home state. He is a wild card, portending no risk to some political aspirations. Again, he is not the competition. He is not lobbying. He brings tremendous value that must be preserved on the altar of political exigencies. Dey Play! Henry Anibe Agbonika, a Governance and Policy Reforms Consultant, writes from Abuja, Nigeria. He can be reached at henry.agbonika@policydelivered.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has temporarily relocated its orientation camp in Plateau State from Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) to Jos, the state capital. Though NYSC did not give specific reasons for the decision, the development may not be unconnected to the degenerating security situation in the state, particularly in Mangu Local Government Area. A statement by NYSCs Director, of Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, noted that the orientation camp will now hold at Waye Foundation, Dio-Du, Jos. The statement reads in part: This is to inform members of the public, especially our esteemed prospective corps members, that the venue of the 2023 Batch B Stream One Orientation Camp for Plateau State has been changed from the Permanent Orientation Camp in Mangu to Waye Foundation, by Buken Academy, Doi-Du (Temporary NYSC Orientation Camp) in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. All Prospective Corps Members are, by this information, expected to report at the new Orientation Camp (Waye Foundation by Buken Academy) on the dates specified in their call-up letters. Mandatory service Nigerians who completed their Bachelors degree programme or a Higher National Diploma are legally mandated to undergo a 12-month National Youth Service Scheme to serve their fatherland. They are deployed to different regions by the officials of the National Youth Service Corps. Members of the 2023 Batch B Stream 1 are expected to resume orientation camps nationwide in a few days. But the prospective corp members posted to Plateau State will now head to Jos instead of Mangu, where the permanent orientation camp is located. Plateau attacks Security situation in Plateau State, especially in Mangu LGA, has deteriorated significantly in the last few weeks. According to the leadership of the Mwaghavul people of the local government, more than 200 lives have been lost to incessant killings. On Saturday, nine people were reportedly killed in Sabon Gari community of Mangu LGA. Just about 24 hours ago, Governor Caleb Mutfwang imposed a 24-hour curfew on the Local Government following the attack. READ ALSO: Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 division of the Nigerian army in the state, Abdusalam Abubakar, says he has temporarily relocated to Mangu in an effort to bring sanity to the area. Mr Abubakar doubles as the commander, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a task force saddled with maintaining peace in the state. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Commander Operation Safe Haven and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army (NA), Abdulsalam Abubakar, a major general, on Monday, held an emergency meeting with all stakeholders from Mangu Local Government of Plateau State. The GOC called for the meeting in Mangu to broker peace between Fulani and Mwaghavul communities following the incessant attacks and killings in various communities of the LGA in the last few months. The commander of the operation has assured the people of Mangu of his commitment to end the clashes in the area adding that in order to find a lasting solution to a series of security challenges in Mangu Local Government. Oya James, the spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven, in a statement, said the discussion between both ethnic groups was fruitful. The commander gave both sides the privilege to voice out their grievances to find out what led to the attacks and subsequent reprisal attacks that have lasted three months. General Abubakar urged both parties to embrace peace for development to thrive in Mangu. He also pleaded with them to sheath their swords as a welcome gift to him on the Plateau. Furthermore, the commander promised to take the meeting to people in the remote areas where affected persons and the youths would be sensitised on the need to embrace peace. He advised the stakeholders to take the message home to their people. General Abubakar assured them of the Presidents and the state governors willingness to ensure the situation is brought to an end and their resolve to compensate those affected by the crisis in order to mitigate the impact of the crisis on them, Mr James, a captain, said. Earlier, the chairman of Mangu Local government, Markus Artu, thanked the commander for initiating a stakeholders meeting at this critical period and for remaining in Mangu to make sure peace was returned to the general area, urging both parties to embrace peace. Governor relaxes curfew Governor Caleb Mutfwang has relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on the area. The curfew is now to be observed between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. In a statement by his director of Press and Public Affairs to the governor, Gyang Bere said the decision to relax the curfew was reached after a review of the security situation in the LG by the State Security Council to allow students writing the National Examination Council (NECO) and Junior Secondary School Examination JSSCE to complete their Examination. Movements within the Local Government would be restricted between 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice except for security personnel and persons on essential duties. Security agencies have, therefore, been directed to ensure total enforcement of the curfew within the period under review. The Governor reiterated the determination of his administration to fulfil the constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and properties in the State and assured that government is working round-the-clock to restore peace and order in the State, Mr Bare said. Though pastoralists and farming communities have often clashed in Plateau State and other parts of central Nigeria, the recent tit-for-tat killings in Mangu and neighbouring towns worsened after the election in March. Scores of people have been killed, and several properties destroyed. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Rivers State, South-south Nigeria, said they have arrested some of their officers for allegedly assaulting a man in the state. The alleged assault is captured in a video which has gone viral on social media. In the 30-seconds video, the armed officers are seen dragging a young man towards a white Toyota pickup truck, while the man struggles to resist the officers. It is unclear what led to the assault. The incident reportedly happened on 8 July in Oyigbo town, which is 30 killometres away from Port Harcourt. Arrest The police spokesperson in Rivers, Grace Iringe-Koko, said in a statement on Tuesday that the erring officers had been identified and arrested. They are currently at the Command undergoing trial for their unprofessional act which will serve as a deterrent to other police personnel, she said. Ms Iringe-Koko, a superintendent of police, appealed to the victim in the video to come to the public relations department of the police in Rivers to give his statement and assist the police in their investigation. She promised that the victims identity would be protected. Ms Iringe-Koko said the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Nwonyi Emeka, has condemned the officers action, and has promised that the officers would be investigated and sanctioned accordingly. The command assures the good people of Rivers State of its unalloyed commitment to promoting the rule of law, the spokesperson said in the statement. A similar incident occurred in Rivers in April where a police officer was filmed slapping a motorist. The police later demoted the officer, Adejoh Siaka, from the inspector rank to sergeant after an administrative trial. One other officer, Ndiwa Kpuebari, a sergeant, was reprimanded for being present at the scene of the incident and not taking any action to discourage such inappropriate and shameful act. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned against hawking of drugs in Nigeria, saying apart from selling substandard or expired drugs, they (hawkers) also supply narcotics to criminal networks. The Director General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the official flag-off of the agencys media sensitisation workshop on dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbides. Ms Adeyeye, who described drug hawkers as merchants of deaths, said the menace of drug hawking poses a serious challenge to the countrys healthcare delivery system and that it underscores the agencys resolute determination to eradicate the illicit trade. She said most of the drugs sold by the illiterate and semi-illiterate hawkers are counterfeit, substandard, or expired, and therefore do not meet the quality, safety, and efficacy requirements of regulated medicines. She explained that prescription drugs are also sold by the itinerant hawkers who hold consultations, recommend and prescribe medicines to their gullible patients. Many drug hawkers are knowingly or unknowingly merchants of death who expose essential and life-saving medicines to the vagaries of inclement weather which degrade the active ingredients of the medicine and turn them to poisons, thus endangering human lives, she said. Criminality Ms Adeyeye said drug hawkers are also major distributors and suppliers of narcotic medicines to criminal networks such as armed bandits, insurgents, kidnappers, and armed robbers. She said drug hawkers constitute a serious threat to national security. She noted that drugs are sensitive life-saving commodities which should not be sold on the streets, motor parks, or open markets just like any other article of trade. She said any drug hawker arrested by NAFDAC will be prosecuted and face a jail term. I wish to warn that any drug hawker arrested by NAFDAC will be prosecuted, will face a jail term, and our enforcement officers are currently carrying out synchronised nationwide operation, she said. No offender will be spared from facing the full wrath of the law. In this regard, we solicit the cooperation and support of all other law enforcement agencies, Nigerian journalists and well-meaning Nigerians in ridding the country of this harmful and shameful practice. Degenerating security The security situation has continued to degenerate in Nigeria with almost every part of the nation recording banditary, kidnappings, and mass killings. As a sresult of the insecurity, the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) announced temporary relocation of its orientation camp in Plateau State from Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) to Jos, the state capital. According to the leadership of the Mwaghavul people of the local government, more than 200 lives have been lost to incessant killings within the last two months. In Nigerias South-east, the enforcement of the sit-at-home order of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has continued, as gun-wielding men parade towns to punish anyone who flout the rule. Clampdown NAFDAC, Nigerias regulatory body for food and drugs, has continued to clamp down on illicit drug sellers in the country. Following a recent investigation by PREMIUM TIMES and DUBAWA on a deadly herbal product called Baba Aisha Herbal Medicine, the agency said it has commenced the process of ensuring that all illegal drugs sellers are apprehended. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In 2019, a British company was defrauded of $243,000 when the voice of the chief executive was impersonated by criminals using artificial intelligence (AI). In South Africa, impersonation fraud increased by 356 per cent between April 2022 and April 2023, according to the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service. The organisations Executive Director, Manie van Schalkwyk, said a 2021 Interpol report put South Africa at the top in Africa regarding cyber threats. Technology advances are making these crimes easier to commit and harder to distinguish between fake and real. The widespread personal use of AI applications such as ChatGPT and resemble.ai increases concerns about potential abuses. While AI is still nascent in Africa, it has potentially positive and negative implications for transnational organised crime. AI technologies help organised criminal groups to commit crimes that are more complex, at a greater distance, and involve less physical risk. Researchers say criminals use AI in the same ways as legitimate companies, for supply chain management, risk assessment and mitigation, personnel vetting, social media data mining, and various types of analysis and problem-solving. Organised criminals in Africa use drones for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Drug cartels in Mexico already use autonomous attack drones under AI control, providing flexibility and coordination during physical attacks on human, supply chain or infrastructure targets. Satellite imagery can help criminals plot and manage smuggling routes with AI systems such as Earth Observations, which provide accurate and near real-time local terrain data. Organised criminals can also attack AI systems to evade detection (e.g. biometric screening processes), circumvent security systems at banks, warehouses, airports, ports and borders, or wreak havoc with private sector and government networks and economic infrastructure. AI-enabled attacks on confidential personal databases and applications allow criminals to extort or blackmail to generate income or leverage political influence. Deepfake technology can access money by impersonating account holders, requesting access to secure systems, and manipulating political support through fake videos of public figures or politicians speaking or acting reprehensibly. However, AI also provides new ways for law enforcement to police crime. It can map movements, identify patterns and anticipate, investigate and prevent crime. Predictive policing allows law enforcement to calculate where crime will likely occur based on AI algorithms. But this comes with associated harms, including discriminatory policing patterns. In Africa, private security companies are often more technologically advanced than police forces, many of which lack basic internet access, technology resources and capacity. But private sector digital systems can be linked to police databases or used to prosecute suspects. For example, VumaCams licence plate recognition system in Johannesburg uses over 2,000 cameras and is connected to the South African Police Services national database of suspicious or stolen vehicles. Bidvest Protea Coins Scarface in South Africa uses facial recognition for the real-time detection of potential suspects. Its data can be used as evidence in criminal cases. AI can also be used against organised crime in remote areas. EarthRanger uses AI and predictive analytics to collect historical and real-time data from wildlife, ranger patrols, spatial data and observed threats in protected environmental areas. The technology has helped dismantle poaching rings in Grumeti Game Reserve in Tanzania and encouraged local communities to coexist with protected wildlife in Liwonde National Park, Malawi. The Africa Regional Data Cube is an AI system that layers 17 years of satellite imagery and Earth Observations data for five African countries (Kenya, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Ghana). It stacks 8,000 scenes across a time series and makes the compressed, geocoded and analysis-ready data accessible via an online user interface. Its data on comparing land changes over time can, for example, help identify and track illegal mining operations. Although AI can help tackle organised crime in Africa, it comes with several limitations and risks. AI needs access to an uninterrupted power supply, a stable internet connection and the ability to store and process vast quantities of data. That means its rollout across Africa will be uneven, depending on countries resources, law enforcement capabilities and willingness to work through public-private partnerships. Since AI systems can be attacked or fail, an over-reliance on AI in addressing organised crime is another risk. The technologies can also give law enforcement agencies enormous powers, which could violate citizens rights to privacy, freedom of assembly and association. Because AI continuously evolves, legal frameworks are always trying to catch up. Private companies and even governments may capitalise on this to circumvent privacy concerns. VumaCam has come under scrutiny for collecting potentially sensitive data on individuals with no links to crime. Authoritarian governments could use legitimate AI systems to monitor political opponents or suppress criticism from civil society. Human rights advocates in Zimbabwe worry about the governments implementation of Chinese-developed facial recognition software and the ownership and potential use(s) of this data. In September 2021, then United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, called for a moratorium on governments use of AI that threatens or violates human rights. In March this year, major AI developers called for a pause on giant AI experiments to allow for rigorous safety protocols and oversight mechanisms to be developed. But AI is developing fast, both in scope and reach. International bodies, governments and civil society must keep pace in establishing responsible and ethical AI principles. And laws need to be developed to investigate, prosecute and punish those using AI for criminal and violent ends. Romi Sigsworth, Research Consultant, ENACT, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) ENACT is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Security Studies in partnership with INTERPOL and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. (This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Liquid Dataport is set to expand its fibre backbone to connect Luanda, Angola and Lusaka, Zambia directly. The move follows Liquid's launch of a new fibre link between Lobito, Angola and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The firm - business of Liquid Intelligent Technologies aims to provide a 2500 km fibre route to bring additional and affordable Internet services to millions of people. Through this investment, Liquid will directly connect Angola to Zambia through its fibre network in Zambia and collaborate with partners - including Angola Telecom in the two countries. The addition of this route to Liquid's regional fibre backbone is a significant expansion of its existing 110,000 km fibre backbone, providing its regional customers access to high-speed connectivity and cloud services at affordable costs. "In the last few months, we have launched multiple new routes interconnecting countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Building a route that directly connects Angola and Zambia is key to our Group's vision of a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind. Connectivity is a catalyst and enabler, key to building Africa's digital economy," said Hardy Pemhiwa, Group CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies. According to the Zambia Inclusive Digital Economy Status Report 2022, only 53% of citizens are digitally included, and Liquid's new fibre route will not only cater to the demands of wholesale customers but also intends to provide enterprises and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with direct access to high-speed connectivity. Mobile operators and local Internet Service Providers can also pass on the benefits to their customers. "Zambia has the potential to become a hub of connectivity for all of its neighbours, including Angola. This new direct route via Chavuma will be available in the next few months, with an additional route to be launched later using fibre along the Lobito Corridor. We look forward to collaborating with the telecom providers in Angola, leading to improved coverage and the quality of ICT services across the two countries," says David Eurin, CEO of Liquid Dataport. The Ondo State Government has rejected a reported remark by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, on the state of health of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. Mr Abdullahi, at a meeting with APC state chairmen in Abuja on Monday, had reportedly described Mr Akeredolus health condition as extreme incapacity. In the same vein, we regret to announce the extreme incapacity of the governor of Ondo State, who we understand has been hospitalised overseas, Mr Adamu was quoted in some newspapers as saying. We wish and pray for him for a speedy recovery. Reaction But reacting to the report, the Ondo State Government said the party chairmans remark was taken out of context, insisting that the governor, who is on medical treatment abroad, is not incapacitated. The state Commissioner for Information, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, in a statement on Tuesday, raised concerns with the headline in one of the reports: Akeredolu in State of Extreme incapacity, hospitalised. She said the headline: bore a tinge of the usual mischievous, wicked and insensitive reportage, sponsored by desperate politicians. The commissioner said the APC chairman in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, who attended the meeting, had debunked the report as untrue and totally disconnected from the statement of the chairman at the event. She said Mr Adamu was instead excited by information he received on the pace of recovery of the governor and urged all those present at the meeting to pray for his quick return. It, therefore, smacks of mischief and unabashed abandonment of professional ethics for a reporter to present this gross misrepresentation, a mischievous twist, as news, she noted. At no time did the chairman mention that the Governor was in a state of extreme incapacity. He is, evidently, not in any critical state that should warrant this clearly reprehensible conduct as he still sent a post to the Executive Council Committee platform yesterday. Mr Governor is not incapacitated. He will return to his duty as soon as the doctors certify him fully fit to do so. Meanwhile, the acting governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has called for restraint over the health of Mr Akeredolu. In a statement on Tuesday that he signed, Mr Aiyedatiwa said there were orchestrated falsehoods, insinuations and negative write-ups, particularly in the print and social media aimed at causing disharmony and disaffection within the polity. These tactics of faceless writers and agent provocateurs, are intended to fan the embers of discord, tarnish the hard earned reputations of individuals in government circles and distract government attention in order to take political advantage in any manner to please their own selfish political whims and caprices, he said. I like to urge the general public, to as usual, ignore these unfortunate lies and subterfuge as the antics of desperate political gladiators across political divides. You are well aware of the message of Mr Governor to the people of Ondo State in which he thanked the people of Ondo State and other critical stakeholders for their support and loyalty to the State Government. Mr Governor appreciates your prayers and good wishes for himself and the s22state, across board. He is in high spirit, recuperating and being expected back in office to continue with his laudable service to the state, as soon as he is certified medically fit by his doctors. I have been in touch with him, the latest being on Sunday, 9th July, 2023, when he expressed appreciation to me and other State Executive Council Members for holding the fort while he is away. I like to also join Mr Governor to express our profound appreciation to you all for your unending show of love, solidarity and prayers for the number one citizen of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, who is always leading from the front and making life more meaningful to our people. We should remain in this attitude of prayers and solidarity for the good of ourselves, Mr Governor and the State at large. According to Mr Aiyedatiwa, the governor had earlier written to the House of Assembly in line with the provisions of the Constitution to transfer power to his office as acting governor, pending his return. He said as a result, there is no vacuum in the governance of the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Residents of Enugu State have lamented the negative impact of the frequent sit-at-home order by non-state actors in the South-east region of Nigeria. They made their feelings known in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Enugu. The residents, among whom are traders, artisans and legal practitioners, said their various means of livelihood were being drastically affected. Im managing to survive A trader at Ogbete Market, Jude Uwazurike, said his business was gradually decreasing by the day as a result of the frequent closure of the market. He said: I sell clothes (abada) at Ogbete Market and I can say without mincing words that I was doing well in my business before now. However, as I speak, I am just managing to survive because this issue of closing shop every Monday and sometimes they just order people to remain indoors for days is no longer a joke. He said that he used to travel to Aba, in Abia weekly to buy goods but lamented that he rarely traveled these days due to lack of sales. The truth is that after these lockdowns, people tend to be famished, tired and withdrawn for the rest of the days, he said. Mr Uwazurike appealed to the relevant authorities to do something by either releasing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), or in the alternative, rejig the security apparatus in the region. Nnena Okpo, a dealer in perishables at the Holy Ghost Market, said her business had almost collapsed due to sit-at-home. Mrs Okpo said she was losing hope about the situation in the South-east, unless steps were urgently taken to change the situation. It is no longer funny, the whole thing looked like a joke when it started in 2021 but today you can count a number of businesses that are still standing strong. I deal with perishables. Apart from Mondays sit-at-home order by IPOB, now someone stays in Finland and gave a directive for seven days lockdown, not minding what people go through, she said. She said it had been difficult to survive because of the perishable nature of the goods. I have to eat from the business and watch the rest perish. I see my goods, my money rotting, and there is nothing to do, Mrs Okpo said. Legal profession affected too A lawyer, who did not want his name mentioned in the report, said that the lockdown in Enugu State and the entire South-east was taking a toll on the legal profession. According to him, many people thought that it was only entrepreneurs that suffer the consequences of the sit-at-home. The truth is that, we in the legal field suffer it the more. Litigants also suffer as a result of postponement of cases. It may interest you to know that each time there is disruption of activities in the public space, it affects the courts too, even when some cases require urgent attention, he said. This is wickedness A bus driver, Emeka Agbo, decried the situation, describing the perennial sit-at-home orders as dangerous. We know that we are fighting a cause but I think some people are really going too far by impoverishing the people, he said. Declaring seven days sit-at-home was inviting hunger into his family, he said. I dont have any other work doing than to drive from Obollo-Afor to Enugu and come back and the management pays me my little commission which I take to my wife and children. But denying me what to eat for seven days is nothing but wickedness, Mr Agbo said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Media professionals, colleagues, mentees and students on Tuesday spoke glowingly of the late Professor of Communications, Lai Oso, saying his death has created a vacuum that will be very difficult to fill. Mr Oso died in a car crash along Benin-Sagamu expressway on 24 June on his way back to Lagos from Delta State University (DELSU), Abaraka, where he reportedly went to serve as an external examiner. A special session of tribute held at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies (FCMS), Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, had in attendance many dignitaries including representatives of Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (APCON), the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), University of Lagos (UNILAG), Covenant University, Kwara State University (KWASU), Anchor University, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Channels TV, International Press Centre (IPC), among others. The session kicked off the four-day funeral service programme for the late scholar. University hails late scholar In her welcome address, the LASU Vice-Chancellor, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, who was represented by her deputy in charge of administration, Adenike Boyo, said Mr Oso was considered a fine Nigerian scholar who gave his all to the university. We are consoled that he lived an exemplary life, above all he was a dedicated civil servant and family man to the core, she said The vice-chancellor said Mr Oso was an inspiration to a new generation of researchers, noting that till his last breath, he kept leaving a great impression on anybody he came across. This dutiful man has contributed to the development of education in Nigeria. Also speaking, Olufunsho Omobitan, the institutions deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academics, who is said to be a close ally and brother in-law of the deceased, said Mr Oso was passionate about the LASU project and the faculty. Ever cheerful, lawful and endearing to everyone. He always strive to make sure everyone had it better. I have fun memories that will linger forever, Mr Omobintan said. The host of the event and dean of the faculty, Olayinka Alawode, said Mr Oso lived an impactful life, saying; He has done his best, and his memory lives on. More tributes Rotimi Olatunji, a Professor of Public Relations and Advertising, and the immediate past dean of the faculty said the deceased had been his close ally since their first meeting in 2004. He was everything to everybody including me, he said. I met in 2004 when he came for his one year sabbatical. The remarkable thing is that he influenced me to produce my first journal article in 2004. He said as the dean of the faculty, Mr Oso facilitated the commencement of the PhD programme in the faculty, adding that the first pioneering students are now senior lecturers. ACSPN representative at the event, Dare Ogunyombo, said the association would miss Mr Oso, its pioneer president, especially at its upcoming 10th anniversary. Mr Oso demonstrated a kind of leadership that is enough to drive the development of an association, he said. He ensured our conferences are held on time. He was concerned about us and media development. Also in his tribute, Kehinde Oyesomi, a lecturer from Convenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State, said Mr Oso had a great impact on the university, as he reshaped the teaching of media and communication. She said Mr Oso was teaching postgraduate students at Covenant University before his death. He was with us Wednesday before his death. He has left an indelible mark that will forever be cherished, she said. The Head of UNILAG Mass Communication Department, Joseph Tejumaiye, a professor, described Mr Oso as a unifier, and a man of peace, saying: We will always remember him. I met him closely when both of us were members of the academic staff. In his tribute, the Chairman of NUJ Lagos Chapter, Adeleye Ajayi, described Mr Oso as a colossus, who he said taught him and built his career, as well as that of many others. Momoh, others speak John Momoh, Chairman of Channels Media Group, who was represented by Kingsley Iranta, said Mr Osos memory will resonate with the media industry he dedicated his life to. He said: Mr Oso dedicated his life to countless of students. With unwavering dedication, he shaped students to being professionals. The memory will continue to resonate generations of media professionals. May his soul rest in peace, knowing well that his impact in the world of media communication will be endured forevermore. Adesanya Oluseyi, the Head of Department, Mass Communication, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), described Mr Oso an exemplary man, who has so many academic children. Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of IPC, spoke on behalf of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID) and Media Rights Agenda. Mr Arogundade said Mr Oso made huge impacts and served on different projects of the media organisations. Hardly a month passed without having anything to do with Prof, he was readily available for programmes on media and journalism, he said. He is a chief mentor of people. I stand before you as a PhD student due to the encouragement of Mr Oso. We will miss his scholarship. He has left a vacuum that will be difficult to fill. Biography Oso Muraino Olayiwola was born on 9 October, 1955 in Sagamu, Ogun State, South-west Nigeria. He studied Mass Communication at UNILAG between 1975 and 1978. As a Ford Foundation scholar, he proceeded to the Obafemi Awolowo University where he bagged Masters in International Relations in 1981. Thereafter, he got a federal government scholarship to study PhD in Mass Communication in the University of Leicester, England between 1983 and 1987. He relocated to England with his wife, Abimbola Oso, and they got their two children there, Simisola Oso, and Moyosola Oso. The professor started his career as a journalist at the News Agency of Nigeria. He began his academic sojourn at the Moshood Abiola Polythecnic, Abeokuta and rose to the position of deputy provost of the school. He also lectured at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Caleb University, Imota and UNILAG before joining LASU in 2011 and became the second substantive dean shortly after his professorial appointment. Mr Oso was a member APCON, NIPR, Commonwealth Association for Education in Journalism, Nigerian Association of Journalism and Mass Communication Teachers and Nigerian Academy of letters. He served as a former National Secretary of African Council for Communication Education. For more than three decades, he taught various courses including communication for development, advanced research in mass communication, political communication, communication theory and topical issues in mass communication, international communication, and introduction to communication among others. He became a Professor of Mass Communication in 2011 at LASU. He supervised over 15 PhD theses and more than 20 Masters Dissertations. He was nicknamed the Encyclopedia of communication, The King of Theories, Mr Book and Dennis McQuail of Nigeria!. Mr Oso was also a Pastor at the Victory Life Bible Church. He was a major pillar in Nigerias Premier School of Communication, Lagos State University, now known as Faculty of Communication and Media Studies. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has constituted an ad hoc committee to screen the service chiefs appointed by President Bola Tinubu. The committee is made up of all the principal officers of the HouseMajority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo); Deputy Majority Leader, Abdullahi Halims (APC, Kogi); Chief Whip, Bello Kumo (APC, Gombe); and Deputy Chief Whip, Adewunmi Onanuga (APC/Ogun). Others are the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers); Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano); Minority Whip, Ali Isa (PDP, Gombe) and the Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi (LP, Anambra). The committee is headed by Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos), who chaired the House committee on defence in the last assembly. Mr Tinubu had on 19 June appointed Christopher Musa, a major general, as chief of defence staff and Taoreed Lagbaja, a major general, as chief of army staff. Others appointed are Emmanuel Ogalla, a rear admiral, as chief of naval staff and Hassan Abubakar, an air vice marshal, as chief of air staff. Unlike other appointees, the screening and confirmation of service chiefs is done by the two chambers of the National Assembly. The President, may, after consultation with the Chief of Defence Staff and subject to confirmation by the National Assembly, appoint such officers (in this Act referred to as the Service Chiefs) as he thinks fit, in whom the command of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as the case may be, and their Reserves shall be vested, the Armed Forces Act reads in part. President Tinubu had in a letter to the House last week, asked it to confirm the appointment of the new service chiefs. The 10th House of Representatives has not constituted its special and standing committees since its inauguration on 13 June. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness and grief over the latest round of violence and killings in Plateau State. The president condemned in strong terms the most recent internecine killings in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State and parts of Benue State. President Tinubu found very depressing the festering reprisal attacks, needless and avoidable bloodletting among communities in the two States. It is most unfortunate that in this orgy of violence, an innocent eight-month-old baby in Farin Lamba community of Vwang District, Jos South Local Government, died in a conflict she knew nothing about. A major consequence of perennial conflict is always the tragic loss of innocent lives. To build virile, peaceful and prosperous communities demand tolerance and forgiveness for every perceived wrongdoing, the president said. To rebuild trust and restore harmony to these conflict areas, President Tinubu urged community leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, socio-cultural organisations as well as the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum, Jamaatu Nasril Islam, and Christian Association of Nigeria to work together to help foster genuine and long-lasting peace. While reaffirming his governments strong determination to stamp out violent crimes and all forms of criminalities everywhere in Nigeria, the president has directed security agencies to fish out the masterminds of the dastardly acts to face the full wrath of law. He, however, charged the governments of Plateau and Benue States and emergency response agencies to provide support and immediate relief to victims who have been displaced as a result of the conflicts. Dele Alake Special Adviser to the President (Special Duties, Communications & Strategy) July 11, 2023 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF) has called on the federal government to tackle insecurity in the country. The PDP governors made the appeal in a communique issued after their meeting on Tuesday in Abuja. The communique was read by the forums Chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State. Mr Mohammed said the governors at the meeting expressed their concerns on the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially the destruction of lives and properties in Plateau and Zamfara States, among others. The meeting consequently advised the federal government and security agencies to rise to the situation and bring the situation under control. In the interim, the forum would cooperate with the federal government on issues concerning the welfare of Nigerians and good governance while striving to maintain the independence and autonomy of the forum through offering constructive criticisms where necessary, Mr Mohammed said. He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies, and the federal government to be neutral in the off-season elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States. Mr Mohammed said the meeting resolved to work together and unite the forum. The aim of the forum is to provide a platform for peer review of issues, policies, programmes and achievements (legacy projects) of member-Governors across the PDP States, he said. Asked about their stand on a PDP substantive national chair, Mr Mohammed said it was an affair for the party to decide, not the governors. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the governors elected on the platform of PDP were in attendance except that of Rivers, Siminalayi Fubara. When asked why he was not at the meeting, Mr Mohammed explained that Mr Fubara took the excuse that he would not be able to attend. The forum chair, however, assured that all PDP governors are united. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives has asked the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to declare the killings in Plateau State a national emergency. The lawmakers reached the resolution during plenary on Tuesday following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Dachung Bagos (PDP, Plateau). PREMIUM TIMES reported the killing of nine persons, including a toddler, in Farin Lamba, a community in Vwang District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Sunday. Killings have also been reported in several communities in the state, with Governor Caleb Mutfwang declaring a 24-hour curfew in Mangu Local Government of the State. Moving the motion, Mr Bagos said there has been an increase in the rate of insecurity and killing of innocent souls, including some communities within his constituency. The attacks have been occurring in some parts of Plateau state for some months now with crops in farmlands completely destroyed, he said. Seven miners of my immediate constituency were gruesomely killed in cold blood on the 9th of July, 2023, around Farin Lamba of Jos South LGA, Plateau state. Most of my people live in fear of the unknown due to insecurity and can no longer access their farmlands with ease which is their main source of livelihood. Apart from requesting the NSA to declare the killings a national emergency, the House also asked the Acting Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, to investigate the killings and ensure culprits face justice. It further asked the Operation Safe Haven of the Nigerian military to identify and evacuate all the bandits within the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Mmesoma is a metaphor for the endemic fraud that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the Nigerian society. Fraud is everywhere in the country from exam frauds at every level (including the PhD) to cheating in offices and elsewhere. Leading politicians are routinely accused of either forging their certificates or NYSC discharge certificates or not having the credentials they claim to have. In the past couple of days, Mmesoma Ejikeme, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School (AGSS), Nnewi, Anambra State, who took the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in May, and was briefly celebrated as the highest scorer in the country, has been trending. The first child in a family of four, whose father works as an Okada rider, claimed that she made a score of 362 and was subsequently awarded a N3 million scholarship by Innoson Motors, before she was accused of manipulating her result, using a software application. Several people took sides with the innocent looking school girl, who said that she was incapable of such an act of forgery as she was being accused of. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) came out to defend its integrity, perhaps too harshly, given the age of the girl, while the girl stuck to her claims. As evidence continued to mount against her, an investigative committee found Mmesoma guilty of manipulating her results as alleged by JAMB. There are several lessons to be learnt from the Mmesoma saga. The first is a deep distrust of our institutions, which in many ways mirror the general distrust in the society. In many climes, an institution of the stature of JAMB coming out to declare Mmesomas result as fake, would have settled the matter. But not in Nigeria. When the story first broke out, there were people who claimed that institutions like WAEC and JAMB routinely tamper with peoples results or fraudulently swap results between students. Bearers of such conspiracy theories, when challenged to provide evidence, often retorted that, this is Nigeria, and remind us of the well-known shenanigans of institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). That the Mmesoma story took an ethnic angle was predictable. Most Igbo came out instinctively in defence of the girl. From identity studies, we learnt that the identity that is perceived to be under threat is often the one most vociferously defended. Among the Igbo, there is a deeply ingrained suspicion that there is a conspiracy somewhere to inconsequentialise, emasculate and ridicule the race, including the accomplishments of its people. Most Igbos believe that Buhari barely concealed his disdain of their race during his presidency and that some of his actions and Freudian slips (like calling them a dot in a circle or saying that he should not be expected to treat people who gave him 97% votes the same way as those who gave him 3%) buttress these beliefs. One of the consequences was the mainstreaming of Igbophobia under the Buhari government. Before Buharis presidency, this had existed in hush-hush conversations. The 2023 elections and their aftermath weaponised it. Essentially, due to the belief that they are either unwanted in Nigeria or at best wanted only as second or third class citizens, there is a sort of ingrained persecution complex within the group sometimes when there is no justifiable ground for that. This leads to strong, often uncouth, pushbacks, as they try to counter the narratives that justify Igbophobia and also throw their own ethnic/religious jabs. This contest over narratives is rarely conducted in civil language. Quite often it requires immense courage to read through the bile and sheer hatreds the warring groups throw at each other, particularly on social media. The Mmesoma saga became inexorably drawn into the vortex of this contest over narratives. In this sense, it made a whole difference that it was an investigative panel set up by Anambra State government that found her guilty of manipulating her result as charged by JAMB. I congratulate the Anambra State government for recognising the environmental context of the controversy and setting up a committee to investigate it. With its verdict, no one can accuse the committee of witch-hunting the young girl or this being another instance of a conspiracy to keep the Igbo down. If that panel had been set up by the Federal Government or any other institution, it would still be difficult to convince some people that the outcome was not part of the conspiracy against the race or a cover up of sorts. Though I applaud Buhari for his efforts in providing infrastructure in the country during his presidency (including the construction of the Second Niger Bridge) and using personal diplomacy to secure top positions in some leading global institutions for Nigerians, the scars he left on the country by his mismanagement of both the herdsmen crisis and our diversity, are very deep and may take a very long time to heal. For instance, Buharis cuddling of the herdsmen created non-state actors like Nnamdi Kanu, Sunday Igboho, Simon Ekpa and others who gained legitimacy within the local populations by promising to protect them from the attacks by herdsmen. As part of demonstrating courage, Nnamdi Kanu and his organisations mode of vilifying the assumed enemies of the Igbo did not win friends for the ethnic group. Rather, there appears to be bottled-up feelings by groups who feel hurt by the perceived insults by these non-state actions. Some of these hurt groups seem to be uncorking their bottled up feelings, which, in turn, is fuelling the prevailing Igbophobia. Mmesoma is a metaphor for the endemic fraud that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the Nigerian society. Fraud is everywhere in the country from exam frauds at every level (including the PhD) to cheating in offices and elsewhere. Leading politicians are routinely accused of either forging their certificates or NYSC discharge certificates or not having the credentials they claim to have. That such an innocent-looking youngster as Mmesoma could commit such a fraud and hold onto her lies, until the evidence against her became overwhelming and an investigative panel pronounced her guilty as charged, is just unfortunate. I congratulate the Anambra State government for recognising the environmental context of the controversy and setting up a committee to investigate it. With its verdict, no one can accuse the committee of witch-hunting the young girl or this being another instance of a conspiracy to keep the Igbo down. Given Mmesomas age and station in life, I believe that a fatherly approach, which isolates the wrong act of the person who committed it, would have been more helpful. On the part of Mmesoma, she needs not just counselling but also to offer a public apology to both JAMB and Nigerians. While there is no doubt that there is rising Igbophobia in the country, one of the lessons from the Mmesoma saga is the need for better discernment before jumping into conclusions on any issue. While an early admission of guilt might probably not have stopped the ethnic finger pointing between those who would want to use her indiscretion to define her ethnic group and those who are so defined aggressively pushing back on that narrative and throwing their own ethnic/religious jabs, many right-thinking members of the society would have overlooked the perennial wrangling between ethnic factions of our keyboard warriors. While I believe that JAMB has done remarkably well under its current registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, I equally believe that the body was rather overbearing in its justified desire to defend its integrity in the asymmetrical confrontation between it and Mmesoma. Given Mmesomas age and station in life, I believe that a fatherly approach, which isolates the wrong act of the person who committed it, would have been more helpful. On the part of Mmesoma, she needs not just counselling but also to offer a public apology to both JAMB and Nigerians. Jideofor Adibe is a professor of Political Science and International Relations at Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Extraordinary Professor of Government Studies at North Western University, Mafikeng South Africa. He is also the founder of Adonis & Abbey Publishers and can be reached at 0705 807 8841 (Text or WhatsApp only). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office on 29 May, we have seen courageous leadership in action and hard decisions are being taken which were expected, except we want to deceive ourselves. Our economy is in bad shape and there are no easy answers on the way forward. There will be short-term pains but the long-term gains will be beneficial to everyone. We have witnessed quick hits resulting in small and big wins as a deliberate strategy what is now famously called Tinubunomics. However, what is important is the sincerity of the Tinubu administration to turn things around and bring about a new lease of life. So far, we can see that the president is on the right track. But the task of nation building is for all Nigerians we must have a sense of shared ownership in problem solving and take responsibility for our individual decisions and actions. These are still early days in the life of the Tinubu presidency but in rallying support for the president to succeed and finish well, we must not overlook the civil service where comprehensive reforms are long overdue. When we say the cost of governance is high, it is not limited only to the civil service but civil servants behave like Lords of the Manor and it is disgusting. Each time political appointees share their experiences in the various ministries, departments and agencies, you will feel sorry for them. They are seen as outsiders (accidental public servants) and their ideas to uplift standards and enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the MDAs are often resisted or sabotaged. What follows is frustration, and pray not to step on banana peels. The decadent and inefficient cash-and-carry civil service culture is the product of an over-bloated and opaque bureaucracy that is corrupt. Civil servants are permanent employees who retire after 35 years on the job or when they attain 60 years of age whichever comes first. These civil servants, it has been alleged, award contract to themselves and they have a way of ring-fencing others. They are so rich that they can point to fat bank accounts and choice real estate in different parts of the world as benefits even before retirement. Can civil servants honestly explain the source of their wealth? The budget for every MDA is an open secret and it is controlled by the rank and file of each ministry and agency. Sometimes, a permanent secretary and his colleagues in the ministry would award contracts and make payments without the supervising minister having a clue of what has happened. With 42 ministers based on the current structure where some ministries have two ministers, there are too many parastatals, commissions and agencies under each ministry. What are we doing with as many as 20 parastatals or more under a ministry if it is not just another way of throwing money away? A few years back, it was rumoured that the director of finance (DFA) in one of the ministries lodged over N4 billion in a single bank account. This discovery was made only after he died. I am sure there are several other rogue civil servants who compromise their positions and steal our money. The civil service has been turned into one huge bazaar where civil servants just share money among themselves and they believe it is their birth right to do so. This is clearly an egregious sense of entitlement that is on full display because they know there are no consequences for their bad behaviour. The tragedy of our country is that a pervasive culture of impunity exists which encourages people to do whatever they like and get away with it. The craze for money has debased the values of a decent society and there is nothing like ethical standards anymore. We live in a world where might is right and if you cannot beat them, it is better to join them. Now, when the treasury is looted the way we have seen it over the years, what is the moral justification to ask tax payers to continue to pay taxes? Where theres no accountability, the tax payer will be reluctant to perform a basic statutory obligation. What they need is the assurance that every kobo paid as tax will be properly accounted for. This is why the recent announcement that President Tinubu approved the establishment of a Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms is salutary. The committees primary objective, according to a statement issued by Dele Alake, presidential spokesman, is to enhance revenue collection efficiency, ensue transparent reporting, and promote the efficient utilization of tax and other revenues to boost citizens morale, foster a healthy tax culture and drive voluntary compliance. Apart from the minister, perm sec, directors, deputy directors and other senior officers in each ministry, parastatals/agencies under the ministry also have their own set of directors-general and directors. These DGs have personal assistants and when they travel overseas, they fly business class fully paid for by the government and sign for estacodes as part of their statutory entitlements. They also have two drivers for an SUV and a backup car in Abuja and one driver with a standby car in Lagos. Some DGs have one car in Abuja and one in Lagos. A director in each agency has an official car with aides amongst other benefits. No doubt, the perks of office are attractive and, truth be told, I do not have a problem with benefits that are statutory. But what are we doing with over 540 parastatals, commissions and agencies when we are owing over N49 trillion in public debt? I am fully persuaded that the Tinubu administration will have the courage and political will to carry out the necessary reforms based on the Stephen Oronsaye Report that has been ignored since 2012 and trim the civil service to a manageable size. It was former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan that set up the Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies on August 18, 2011. It was headed by Stephen Oronsaye, a former head of the civil service of the federation. The aim was to reduce the size of the bureaucracy and enhance the efficiency of the civil service. Eight months later (April 16, 2012), the Oronsaye Committee submitted its 800-page report with wide-ranging recommendations. The committee identified 541 parastatals, commissions and agencies statutory and non-statutory and recommended a reduction in the number of statutory agencies from 263 to 161; 38 agencies were recommended for abolition, 52 for merger (most agencies and parastatals have duplicated roles/functions) and 14 to revert to departments in existing ministries. What happened next? A White Paper Drafting Committee headed by Mohammed Bello Adoke, attorney-general and minister of justice, was set up to review the Oronsaye Report. When the government is not ready to act in the public interest, it creates smokescreens in the name of committees that go on a wild goose chase and deflect the main issue. By the time a Government White Paper was released in March 2014, the Jonathan administration still had one full year to act on the report but it did not. As you would expect, the white paper rejected most of the recommendations, confirming that Nigeria is a hesitant reformer. The Buhari administration (from 2015 2023) also refused to implement any part of the Oronsaye Report and save us billions of Naira. It was not surprising. The failure to act on the report could be attributed to lack of political will, and politicians love playing to the gallery just to satisfy narrow and selfish interests. Why do our leaders fail to take tough decisions in the public interest when it is absolutely necessary to do so? It is evident that the cost of governance must come down and I have no doubt President Tinubu and his team will act on the Oronsaye Report. The budgets of all the 774 local councils, 36 states, the FCT and, of course, the presidency and national assembly must also be reduced because the country is flat broke. All inefficiencies have to be uprooted and leakages blocked. Do we still have ghost workers in the civil service? Technology (data capture, biometrics, etc.) can be used to address the problem. Besides the Oronsaye Report, I agree with Eric Teniola, a retired director at the presidency and public affairs commentator, that the Tinubu administration should act on two other reports: the 1999 Ahmed Jodas Report on Streamlining and Rationalisation of Poverty Alleviation Institutions and Agencies, and the 2014 National Conference Report. According to Teniola, the Ahmed Joda Report identified ministries and 18 institutions/agencies that have a mandate directly on poverty alleviation. The story on eradicating poverty in Nigeria did not start today but when panels are set up, their recommendations are never implemented. The National Conference on the other hand, was broken into 20 committees and I can testify that they produced excellent reports. Prominent among the committees were devolution of power, political restructuring and forms of government, national security, public finance and revenue generation, public service, electoral matters, and trade and investment. The Ahmed Joda Panel was set up in June 1999 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo while former President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the National Conference on March 14, 2014 in Abuja. It was headed by Chief Justice Legbo Kutigi who passed away on October 21, 2018. Ahmed Joda has also passed on; he died on 13 August, 2021. These great Nigerians served their country with grace, humility, courage and integrity; we should not allow them to die in vain. We can honour their memory by recognising their work and implementing the recommendations contained in their reports. President Tinubus administration should review these reports which are, by the way, low-hanging fruits and act on them as quickly as possible. Theres no need to re-invent the will. Ehi Braimah is a global public relations and marketing strategist. He is also the publisher/editor-in-chief of Naija Times and Lagos Post, and he can be reached via hello@neomedia.com.ng. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Flutterwave, Africas leading payments technology company, has launched Tuition, a new payment product, to allow African users to conveniently pay various fees to educational institutions within Africa and overseas using their local currencies. The educational institutions available on Tuition include high schools, universities, colleges and some global edutech platforms. Tuition is designed to solve the challenges in paying school fees for students studying abroad and at home and aims to ensure payments ease when making the transactions. The new service enables students, parents, guardians and sponsors to pay school fees to over 40 institutions in the UK, with plans to add more institutions in more countries in Africa and beyond. It has been reported that African payments to overseas schools have been hindered by a myriad of challenges. From the high cost of transactions, limited access to banking services, lack of transparency, security concerns, and currency exchange rates, Africans have faced difficulties in ensuring that their funds are disbursed within the shortest time possible to overseas financial institutions. The new product will leverage Flutterwaves world-class payments technology solution to make school fee payments more convenient, secure, and reliable. Parents, guardians, and sponsors can now pay directly to learning institutions in the UK and easily track their transactions by checking the status and history on the Tuition web app. Olugbenga Agboola, Flutterwave CEO, commented on Tuition by saying, We are excited to launch Tuition to support the dreams of African students across all levels who want to study anywhere without worrying about how to meet the deadline for their school fees payment. With Tuition, we are providing a safer, reliable, and affordable means for African students to pursue their dreams and seamlessly get financial support from parents, guardians, and sponsors. Speaking on the new product launch, Stella Elele, Product Manager Tuition by Flutterwave, said: We are always looking for new ways to make payment challenges in Africa hassle-free, and we are confident that Tuition will be a game changer for parents who want to support their childrens education. We are excited to offer this solution to parents in Nigeria, with plans to eventually roll out the service to other African countries. We want to provide the best possible service and support for our customers. The product is currently available in Nigeria for UK school fee payments and will soon be rolled out to other African countries in the coming months. Flutterwave also plans to add more schools in Africa, the UK, US, Canada, France and Germany as it grows access to the product. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has awarded a scholarship to Nkechinyere Umeh, the top scorer in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). In a statement on Monday evening by his spokesperson, Christian Aburime, Mr Soludo congratulated Miss Umeh, an indigene of Anambra State, for making the state proud with her exceptional performance in the UTME. Miss Umeh, a student of Deeper Life High School, Mowe, Ogun State, emerged as the UTME top scorer with 360. The 16-year-old hails from Amichi, a community in Nnewi South Local government Area of Anambra State. The development comes days after Ejikeme Mmesoma, a student of the Anglican Girls Secondary School in Nnewi, confirmed that she forged her UTME scores. Forging UTME Result Miss Mmesoma had, in May, claimed to be the top scorer in the 2023 UTME with 362. The feat fetched her accolades from Nigerians on social media, including the Anambra State Government. But the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) accused the candidate of manipulating her UTME results and inflating the scores from 249 to 362. The candidate insisted that the 362 was the score she received both on the JAMB website and in the SMS sent to her by the board. The examination body subsequently announced it would withdraw the candidates original UTME result and barred her from taking the test for the next three year READ ALSO: But Miss Mmesoma, the candidate, in a viral video on 3 July, insisted that the controversial score of 362 claimed by her was printed from the JAMB website, and the examination bodys accusation had left her traumatised. Several Nigerians called for an independent investigation into the controversy. Consequently, the Anambra State Government, two weeks ago, set up a panel of inquiry into the controversy. Headed by Nkemdili Nnonyelu, a professor, the eight-member panel, on Friday, confirmed Miss Mmesoma forged the score of 362 as earlier claimed by JAMB. According to the eight-page report, a copy of which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the candidate confirmed she single-handedly forged the result before approaching a cyber cafe for printing. The Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, which had earlier awarded her a scholarship, announced its withdrawal, explaining that the manipulation of the result by the candidate stands in direct contravention of the values of the company. Her father, Romanus Ejikeme Ejikeme, would later apologise to the JAMB and Nigerians, saying his daughter lied to him. Scholarship Mr Soludo described the scholarship to Miss Umeh as well-deserved, pointing out that the gesture would enable the candidate to study any course of her choice at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) in Anambra State. COOU is a public university owned by the Anambra State Government. The scholarship will not only serve as a token of the state governments appreciation for her, but also give her the opportunity to pursue her dreams and contribute to the development of the state in the future, the governor said in the statement. He urged other young Anambra students within the state and across Nigeria to take inspiration from Miss Umehs outstanding performance and take advantage of the improved conducive learning environment in the state to strive for excellence. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gunmen have abducted a Catholic priest in Ebonyi State, South-east Nigeria. The priest, Joseph Azubuike, was abducted on Monday, alongside three other people whose names could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report. The abducted priest is the parish priest of St. Charles Parish, Mgbaleze Isu in Onicha Local Government Area of the state. The Chancellor of the Diocese, Mathew Opoke, a reverend father, confirmed the abduction in a statement. He said that Mr Azubuike was abducted close to his parish on his way back from pastoral duties. Mr Opoke said the abductors have established contact with the church, and have demanded for an undisclosed amount of money as a ransom. The chancellor has asked the public to pray for the unconditional release of Mr Azubuike by his abductors. The abductors are making financial demands but with your prayers, we are going to have them back unconditionally, he said in the statement. READ ALSO: Gunmen kidnap APC State Chairman PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach the police spokesperson in the state, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, for comments. She did not respond to calls and text messages from our reporter. Abduction-for-ransom has become one of the prevalent crimes in most Nigerian cities, and everyone, including students, school children and clerics, appear to be easy targets. Thirty-nine Catholic priests were killed, while 30 were abducted in 2022, according to a report. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BANGKOK, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With the summer holiday fast approaching, families are in search of the perfect destination to create unforgettable memories with their children. Look no further than Bangkok, a vibrant city that caters to families with its diverse attractions, rich cultural experiences, delectable cuisine, affordable prices, and a wide range of shopping options. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable family vacation in Bangkok, thorough preparation and a positive mindset are the keys. Bangkok experiences hot temperatures ranging from 35C-40C during the summer, along with occasional rainfall. It is advisable for families to pack lightweight clothing, umbrellas, and water-resistant shoes or slippers. When visiting temple attractions, long skirts or pants with sleeve shirts are recommended. Indoor activities are a great option and provide relief from the hot and humid weather during this season. Bangkok's shopping centers offer an unparalleled experience and are accessible via the BTS Skytrain. Siam Paragon, Thailand's top shopping destination, is a must-visit for families. Located at BTS Siam station, Siam Paragon features Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World, a giant indoor aquarium, where kids can marvel at the wonders of the sea. Gourmet Eats on the floor above offers a delightful Bangkok street food experience in an air-conditioned environment. The 3rd floor of Siam Paragon is a paradise for both kids and moms, offering reasonably priced toys and high-quality gear. For families seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience, Emporium and EmQuartier, under The Mall Group, at Prompong BTS station are the perfect options. These shopping malls integrate green space into their unique designs and cater to luxury brands. Carefully curated cosmetics, fragrances, apparel, and household products at the beauty hall on the G floor offer a luxurious experience for mothers. EmQuartier, located just across the street, offers exciting activities for children, including Bounce, a jumping stadium, and EmJoy, featuring Bunjee, an unique flying experience while also benefiting the posture and bone alignment. Both rooftop bars, restaurants, and the Gourmet Thai section offer excellent culinary experiences to families. Before embarking on the shopping adventure, take note of these tips. While tourist cards obtained on the spot at Emporium, Emquartier or Paragon offer a 5% discount, the concierge and bellboys at the hotel have a secret deal: 10% discount card exclusively for tourists. In Thailand, tourists can claim VAT refunds once they spend 2,000 Baht at a single store/day. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2150244/image_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2150245/image_2.jpg SOURCE The Mall Group In collaboration with Continuum of Cares across the state, Health Net will help deliver housing and services to meet the needs of California's most vulnerable residents. SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Health Net announced the company will award $2.2 million dollars in grants to support Sacramento County's unhoused residents with housing and other services. These funds will support local Continuum of Care (CoC) programs. A CoC is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and other services for homeless families and individuals. "Health Net's efforts to increase the quality of life for Californian's experiencing homelessness is a testament to our dedication to the communities we serve," said Medi-Cal President at Health Net, Martha Santana-Chin. "We are proud to provide these funds for Sacramento County residents to support them on their path to health and wellbeing." The grants will fund work which may include, but is not limited to: Partnership and capacity to support referrals for services, including: Connection and integration with the local homeless Coordinated Entry System Identifying and addressing barriers to providing medically appropriate and cost-effective housing related to Community Supports Infrastructure to coordinate and meet member housing needs, including: Connection with Street Medicine teams Health Net connection with the local Homeless Management Information System Managed Care Plan process for tracking and managing referrals for housing-related Community Supports Delivery of services and member engagement, including: Increasing the number of Health Net members screened for homelessness or risk of homelessness Increasing the number of Health Net members screened for homelessness or risk of homelessness who were discharged from an inpatient setting Increasing the number of Health Net members experiencing homelessness receiving at least one housing-related Community Supports "Health Net has been a dedicated partner to Sacramento County and we are grateful for their continued commitment to addressing homelessness for our most vulnerable residents," said Sacramento County Supervisor, District 2, Patrick Kennedy. "This investment not only provides financial support and protection, but also offers vital resources to individuals who may not have access to them otherwise." "Health Net has served Californians for more than 40 years and has been an unwavering advocate for the people of Sacramento," said Sacramento County Supervisor, District 3, Rich Desmond. "Their investment will empower both individuals and families who need it most, providing a platform for them to build healthier futures." Health Net knows that being unhoused, and the quality of one's housing, can affect a person's health and well-being. The company is proud to take these much-needed steps to improve the whole-person health for Sacramento County. "Sacramento Steps Forward appreciates Health Net's 'All In' engagement in cross-sector coordination and support of the shared approaches to improving Sacramento's collective response to homelessness," said, Chief Executive Officer at Sacramento Steps Forward, Lisa Bates. "By making investments aligned with our local homeless response system, we are moving closer to a day when homelessness is rare or nonexistent." Additionally, Sacramento County has been an incredible leader, collaborator and partner in implementing the state's California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative, ensuring Sacramento's most vulnerable residents have access to all innovations and reforms under CalAIM. These partnerships continue to build on Health Net's efforts to provide wraparound care for the communities they serve. In fact, the company awarded a $100,000 grant to help enable Sacramento Street Medicine. For years this program has provided medical care to hundreds of Sacramento County's most at-risk residents, bringing care directly to those who need it most. To learn more about Health Net, visit HealthNet.com. About Health Net Founded in California more than 40 years ago, Health Net believes that every person deserves a safety net for their health, regardless of age, income, employment status or current state of health. Today, we provide health plans for individuals, families, businesses of every size and people who qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare. Together with our 90,000 network providers, Health Net serves three million members across the state. We also offer access to substance abuse programs, behavioral health services, employee assistance programs and managed health care products related to prescription drugs. We make these health plans and services available through Health Net, LLC and its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a Fortune 26 company that offers affordable and high-quality products to nearly 1 in 15 individuals across the nation. Health Net and Centene employ more than 6,300 people in California who work at one of five regional Talent Hub offices. For more information, visit www.HealthNet.com. SOURCE Health Net Youth Delegates Living with Type 1 Diabetes and Jimmy Jam, Member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Type 1 Diabetes Parent Provided Testimony at a Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing More than 1.4 million Americans live with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all WASHINGTON, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, JDRF, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, urged members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to renew the Special Diabetes Program (SDP) and support policies to ensure insulin is available at an affordable and predictable price. Opened by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and led by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the hearing took place during the 2023 JDRF Children's Congress, a biennial event that brings over 160 kids and teens living with T1D face-to-face with lawmakers and top decision-makers. The youth delegates traveled to Washington, D.C. from across the country and JDRF's international affiliates in the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, and Canada. The SDP has accelerated the pace of T1D research through a long-term investment of funding at the National Institutes of Health. The program has led to significant scientific breakthroughs, including Tzield, the first disease-modifying treatment for T1D, which can delay the onset of the disease by over two years. Without Congressional action, the SDP will expire at the end of September. "The Special Diabetes Program has fundamentally changed what it means to live with diabetes, put new life-changing therapies in our hands, and brought us closer to cures," said Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D., JDRF CEO. "We must keep this momentum going so we can capitalize on the progress to date and realize cures. However, until we have cures, people need access to affordable insulin. JDRF urges Congress to pass the bipartisan INSULIN Act of 2023, which will establish a $35 per month insulin copay cap for people with commercial insurance and includes other provisions that would make insulin more affordable for everyone, regardless of insurance status." Dr. Kowalski was joined at the hearing by Dr. Griffin Rodgers, Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, who provided testimony on the scientific value of the SDP, and Jimmy Jam, award-winning producer, songwriter, musician, member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and T1D parent. "My son Max, who is now in his twenties, was just two years old when he was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Late nights working on music became late nights working on music and waking up my son to test and manage his blood sugar levels," said Jimmy Jam. "Type 1 diabetes should be one of those things we can all agree on. Diabetes doesn't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican. We can all agree that there should be research to improve the lives of those with diabetes. We can all agree that insulin should be affordable for all who need it." Two 2023 JDRF Children's Congress delegates shared their T1D experience with the committee: Maria Muayad: 10-year-old Maria is from Maine and is a member of her school's civil rights club and math challenge group. Every November, Maria, and her mother, Golsin, give blue ribbons to the staff at her school in honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month. Elise Cataldo: 15-year-old Elise lives in New Hampshire and is passionate about educating those around her about life with T1D and tries to use things like pump site changes and blood sugar checks as opportunities to help others learn. Following the hearing, the 2023 JDRF Children's Congress delegates continued their advocacy by meeting with lawmakers in their Capitol Hill offices. About JDRF JDRF's mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally and globally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a global stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement, and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter (@JDRF), Facebook (@myjdrf), and Instagram (@jdrfhq). About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) T1D is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all. This leads to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short or long-term complications, which can include highs and lows in blood sugar; damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart; and even death if left untreated. Globally, it impacts nearly 9 million people. Many believe T1D is only diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, but diagnosis in adulthood is common and accounts for nearly 50% of all T1D diagnoses. The onset of T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. There is currently no cure for T1D. SOURCE JDRF ABU DHABI, UAE, SINGAPORE and MEDELLIN, Colombia, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ACX (formerly AirCarbon Exchange) has joined forces with EcoRegistry and Cercarbono to help evolve the Voluntary Carbon Market, making carbon offsetting accessible and seamless for all. This dynamic partnership combines ACX's expertise in exchange operations with EcoRegistry's cutting-edge registry platform and Cercarbono's role as a pioneering carbon credit standard setter. William Pazos, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of ACX, said, "Together, we are transforming the carbon offset landscape, bringing innovation and technology to the forefront". Among the many benefits, the partnership will allow ACX clients representing 31 different countries to purchase and retire Cercarbono's carbon credits held under EcoRegistry, while taking advantage of the use of interconnectivity to facilitate trades. Juan David Duran Hernandez, CEO of EcoRegistry, emphasized, "Our partnership empowers individuals and companies worldwide to contribute to carbon offsetting on a global scale". There is also the potential to develop a broader understanding of the use of carbon credits to pay regional carbon taxes, drawing on Cercarbono's knowledge gained from its close involvement with Colombia's approach to this growing area. While Colombia may have been the one of the first few countries to allow carbon credits to be used as payment for environmental taxes, others are certain to follow, with Singapore announcing a similar move last year. Alex Saer, CEO of Cercarbono, highlighted the benefits of tax collaboration, stating, "This strategic alliance unlocks new avenues for utilizing carbon credits and encourages environmentally conscious practices through taxation systems." The other key area of mutual benefit is the widening of the respective companies' client base via cross-referrals with project developers seeking to apply Cercarbono's standards to establish carbon credits on EcoRegistry and know they have a clear route to market via ACX's platform. The three-way collaboration between a registry, a standard setter and an exchange also has the potential to dramatically expand the membership of ACX's exchanges globally. More broadly, this latest partnership in a very active year for ACX, highlights the role the group sees itself playing as the bridge between the compliance and voluntary carbon markets. This strategic alliance empowers companies to cultivate confidence and trust in the value of the projects they aim to acquire credits from. As a result, the traded volume of credits generated by these carbon projects increases, creating a more financially incentivized landscape for developers to continue to invest in these environmentally crucial schemes. This momentum encourages a greater number of companies to leverage carbon credits, effectively offsetting their environmental taxes and contributing to a more sustainable and responsible business ecosystem. Together, ACX, EcoRegistry, and Cercarbono are reshaping the voluntary carbon markets, championing sustainability, and forging a path toward a greener future. About the ACX Group: The ACX (formerly AirCarbon Exchange) Group, including ACX Ltd and AirCarbon Pte. Ltd. which operate environmental exchanges in Abu Dhabi and Singapore respectively, caters to corporate entities, financial traders, carbon project developers and other industry stakeholders. ACX provides participants with an efficient and transparent trading platform that is user-friendly, seamless and offers the lowest transaction fees in the market. Leveraging distributed ledger technology, ACX facilitates the scalable growth of the environmental product markets to align with global ambitions of achieving Net Zero. ACX is proud to be a member of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), further enhancing its commitment to sustainability and responsible trading practices for carbon and other environmental products. ACX has garnered international recognition as the Best Carbon Exchange globally in Environmental Finance's esteemed Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings for two consecutive years (2021, 2022), solidifying its position as a leader in the industry. For more information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.acx.net. About EcoRegistry: EcoRegistry is a company that aims to boost the implementation of solutions towards a sustainable development through technology. Having achieved the landmark of being the first blockchain-based carbon credit registry, the company is continuing to develop new solutions to create positive impact, new opportunities for its clients and build trust in the market. For more information, visit: https://www.ecoregistry.io/ About Cercarbono: Cercarbono is a certified carbon standard with a voluntary carbon certification programme that facilitates and guarantees the registration of Climate Change Mitigation Programmes or Projects (CCMPs), the certification of emissions, and the registration of the carbon credits generated by these initiatives. The company's mission is to promote and support the development of initiatives in different economic sectors to mitigate climate change and strengthen the dynamics of the carbon market. Ultimately, it is seeking to be a voluntary carbon certification standard with international recognition and leadership, identified for offering security and transparency in its processes and services. For more information, visit: https://www.cercarbono.com/ SOURCE ACX (AirCarbon Exchange); EcoRegistry; Cercarbono The deal, led by Hambro Perks who provided $3.8 million in the round, will continue to fuel Administrate's rapid growth and further develop its platform to solve the unique challenges of mature enterprise training teams. BOZEMAN, Mont., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Administrate , the leading enterprise training operations platform, announced today that it had raised $6.4 million from existing investors Archangels, Mercia, and the Scottish Investment Bank, and that it had welcomed Hambro Perks as a new capital partner. Funds will be deployed to support the company's rapid growth and continue to meet the needs of its diverse and growing North American enterprise customer base. Administrate The company, which was recently recognized as one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the UK by global tech and advisory firm GP Bullhound, provides a scheduling and logistics platform used by some of the biggest brands in the world to manage their complex global training operations. Customers typically experience an 80% reduction in manual activities after implementing the platform, and its new AI-powered scheduler has experienced accelerated customer demand in the last six months. Administrate is headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, with a USA office in Bozeman, Montana. The deal was led by Hambro Perks who specialize in supporting high-growth scale-up companies that focus on B2B SaaS. "Backing Administrate was an easy decision," said Usman Ali, Partner at Hambro Perks Growth Debt Fund. "Administrate is an innovative and rapidly expanding business that has continued to deliver double-digit growth within its enterprise customers segment in the last couple of years. Their platform is well suited to the needs of large corporations that operate in multiple geographies. We strongly believe that the business has tremendous growth potential and we look forward to seeing the business expand in the coming years." Niki McKenzie, Joint Managing Director at Archangels said, "With an impressive roster of customers on their books, this new funding package will allow the team to accelerate growth, particularly stateside, where they have seen significant growth among large multinational corporations. We're looking forward to working closely with the team on this next exciting chapter of their story." "Our team has done an incredible job delivering for our customers," said John Peebles, CEO of Administrate. "Our capital partners understand the unique opportunity ahead of us, and we're excited to continue building on our success in a sustainable way. I'm proud of some of the key innovations we're launching within our platform this year which include our AI-powered scheduler and significant improvements to our headless architecture strategy. These tools within our platform can transform training operations and drive significant ROI for our customers in unprecedented ways." About Administrate Administrate is the premier learning technology platform designed to scale and manage the complexities of enterprise training. Organizations such as Royal Caribbean Group, Siemens Healthineers, and Maersk use the platform to automate manual processes, manage complex training schedules and logistics, and access business intelligence from previously untapped and siloed data. The company was founded in 2012 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has offices in Bozeman, Montana. Administrate was recognized as a 2022 "Great Place to Work" in both the U.S. and U.K. About Archangels: Founded in 1992, Archangels is a leading business angel syndicate investing in early-stage Scottish life sciences and technology companies. Archangels comprise around 120 members and an eleven-strong board and executive team. There are currently 21 companies within the portfolio. For further information on Archangels visit www.archangelsonline.com About Hambro Perks: Hambro Perks is a London-headquartered international investment firm focused on private investing. It partners with founders and entrepreneurs to support growth businesses at all stages of the investment cycle. Hambro Perks has specialized and dedicated investment teams, working across a number of funds. In addition to their flagship Venture, EIS, co-investment and Growth Debt funds, Hambro Perks offers a number of specialist differentiated investment strategies, including Hambro Perks Environmental Technology, Special Situations, and Access, which invests in venture secondaries. MEDIA CONTACT: Candice Stokes [email protected] 7067181143 SOURCE Administrate New facility projects to conduct 300 surgeries in first month. NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Adventist HealthCare recently opened its new state-of-the-art Ambulatory Surgery Center located at National Harbor. During a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, local elected officials, Adventist HealthCare leaders, and neighboring business owners were invited to tour the space and meet members of the medical team. The practice is projected to perform 300 surgeries per month in its first year. In years two through four, 700 surgeries per month are expected. In its fifth year, it is anticipated that the center will conduct 800 surgeries per month. "I'm excited to be a part of this push to improve care in the community," said Dr. Carlin Williams, Director of Vascular Surgery at Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center and Vice President of the Adventist HealthCare Ambulatory Surgery Center Governing Board. "Safe, efficient, multi-specialty outpatient medical care is what we need here. This is a major step in the right direction." Dr. Williams is one of the prominent masterminds behind Adventist HealthCare's Vascular Service line in Prince George's County. His vision has evolved to encompass both non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures that will treat complications resulting from conditions like high blood pressure, heart attack, aneurysm, stroke, and more. In addition, the center at National Harbor is equipped to practice a variety of specialties: Bariatric, Ear, Nose, and Throat, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Interventional Cardiology, Interventional Radiology, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic/Podiatry, Pain/Spine, Urology, and more. "We worked tirelessly to make this much needed surgery center a reality," said Eunmee Shim, President of Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center. "For far too long, our community from a healthcare standpoint has been neglected and deprived, forcing residents to travel inconvenient distances for certain routine medical procedures and lifesaving surgeries. Opening this new building is a step toward correcting that behavior and a move to better care for our neighbors." Adventist HealthCare is reimagining healthcare in southwestern Prince George's County and is uniquely positioned to respond to the chronic medical and healthcare challenges that often distress the southern parts of the county and southeast Washington, D.C. As such, leadership is committed to creating more convenient healthcare experiences in the communities AHC serves, particularly those areas that lack comprehensive and compassionate world-class care. The Ambulatory Surgery Center will serve as a link between nearby Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center and its new primary care facility, located just minutes from each other. Together, each operation will supply the critical services that are essential to meeting the healthcare needs of the community. CONTACT: Quintin Simmons [email protected] 301-315-3330 SOURCE Adventist HealthCare Founder and former CEO, Byron Whetstone, to remain on the company's board of directors to help drive the strategic vision of the business. LENEXA, Kan., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Direct Procurement, LLC ("American Direct"), a national distributor of doors and related hardware as well as a leading access control and commercial integration business, today announced that Lance Simpson has joined American Direct as President and Chief Executive Officer. Effective immediately, he has assumed day-to-day leadership and succeeds American Direct's founder, Byron Whetstone, who will continue to serve on the company's board of directors and remain involved in shaping the strategic vision of the business. Mr. Simpson is a proven executive with an excellent track record across multiple companies in the industrial distribution sector. Prior to joining American Direct, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Cook & Boardman, where he helped triple revenue over four years through both organic initiatives and acquisitions. Over his 30+ year career, Mr. Simpson has held various leadership positions at several businesses with over $1 billion in revenue, including Crescent Electric Supply, HD Supply Waterworks, and Hughes Supply. "I'm incredibly honored to have the opportunity to lead American Direct through its next phase of growth and success," said Simpson. "I have known Byron and the company for a very long time and believe American Direct is uniquely positioned in the industry given its established focus on addressing the convergence of hardware and technology". Simpson continued, "I couldn't be more excited to help unlock the full potential for the company going forward". The transition comes after Byron Whetstone, the company's founder and long-time CEO, spent the past several years searching for the right successor to lead American Direct while he steps back from the day-to-day operations of the business. "As I reflect on what we've built at American Direct since the early-1990s, I am excited to welcome Lance into our American Direct family", said Whetstone. "He is a proven executive, a top leader in our industry, and is the perfect fit for our business as we continue to execute on an exciting growth opportunity." In October 2021, American Direct partnered with Aves Capital Management, a Chicago-based private investment firm, to support its acquisition of Avalon Communication Services and to help accelerate Whetstone's vision of creating a leading total security solutions business. "Lance has distinguished himself as a dynamic leader with an impressive track record that will be invaluable as we continue scaling American Direct," said Zachary Nemes, board member at American Direct and Managing Director at Aves Capital Management. "We are excited to partner with Lance during the next chapter at American Direct and look forward to the support and strategic guidance that Byron will continue to provide." About American Direct Procurement American Direct is a Lenexa, KS-based national distributor of doors and related hardware and electronic access control products for a range of construction clients. The Company also provides design, innovation, and installation services to general contractors and other end-users, offering fully integrated safety and security solutions at the door opening. Founded in 1991, American Direct provides nationwide distribution and installation services, with additional facilities in Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Denver, CO; Greenville, NC; Houston, TX; Lancaster, PA; Phoenix, AZ; and Portland, OR. American Direct owns and operates the AccessNsite access control technology platform, and operates under multiple commercial integration banners in various local markets, including Avalon, CH Edwards and Security Control Systems. For more information, visit: http://www.americandirectco.com/. About Aves Capital Management Aves is a Chicago-based alternative investment firm focused on special situation-oriented private equity and opportunistic credit investing. Aves specializes in providing privately negotiated financing solutions to high quality businesses that are navigating strategic or operational change, operating in out-of-favor industries, facing event-driven complexities and managing business plans built around non-traditional assets. Aves often takes a contrarian approach when investing and strives to provide businesses with solutions designed to address complicated liquidity or growth capital needs. For more information, visit: http://www.avescap.com/. SOURCE American Direct Procurement CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the professional membership organization for the nation's more than 178,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and medical students, is pleased to announce that after an extensive national search, its Board of Trustees has appointed Kathleen S. Creason, MBA, as Chief Executive Officer. Creason has served as the AOA's Interim CEO for the past six months and brings nearly two decades of leadership experience within the osteopathic profession to the role. Previously she served as Executive Director of the American Osteopathic Information Association (AOIA) and prior to that as Executive Director of the Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of California. Kathleen S. Creason, MBA, American Osteopathic Association CEO As CEO, Creason will oversee strategic vision, operations, organizational growth and advocacy for the osteopathic profession. "We are absolutely thrilled to have someone with Ms. Creason's extensive experience and expertise assume the CEO role," said AOA President Ernest R. Gelb, DO. "She possesses a deep knowledge of the osteopathic profession and a keen business acumen, both of which will enable her to make a significant impact as our profession continues to grow and evolve into the future." He added, "In addition to her proven experience, Ms. Creason did an outstanding job as Interim, stepping seamlessly into the leadership role earlier this year." During her tenure in the osteopathic profession, Creason served as President of the Association of Osteopathic State Executive Directors (2009-2010) and was honored as the 2009 recipient of the Bob E. Jones National Osteopathic Executive Director Award. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from CSU Sacramento and a BA degree in Communication Studies and Public Relations from the State University of New York at Geneseo. SOURCE American Osteopathic Association SINGAPORE, July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, rewards technology leader Ascenda announced the expansion of its partnership with OCBC, Singapore's longest-established bank and second-largest financial group in Southeast Asia by assets. The comprehensive premium rewards proposition sets out to enhance OCBC's credit card offerings, underpinning a drive to boost acquisition and engagement amongst high-value customers. Building on the thriving success of the Travel with OCBC platform, Ascenda is now enabling the bank to elevate its aspirational rewards offering and introduce valuable new redemption options. Building on the thriving success of the Travel with OCBC platform - which provides OCBC cardmembers a hassle-free digital experience to book flights, hotel stays, and car rentals using OCBC's reward currencies - Ascenda is now enabling the bank to elevate its aspirational rewards offering and introduce valuable new redemption options. Effective immediately, customers are able to transfer their rewards currencies into 8 new major airline and hotel partner programmes via the bank's points exchange portal STACK . The milestone comes at an exciting point in time when travel in Asia Pacific is growing faster than any other region globally, with April 2023 air travel activity up 193% year-on-year, according to IATA's monthly Air Passenger Market Analysis. Madeline O'Connor, SVP Strategic Clients at Ascenda, explained: "We're thrilled to grow our relationship with OCBC, one of Singapore's leading banks, to bring world-class rewards to market and unlock customer engagement. This transformational launch comes at a very opportune time when consumer appetite for outbound travel is exploding in the Singapore market." Gary Wong, Head, Digital Payments & Ecosystems at OCBC, added: "Our rewards propositions play a pivotal role in attracting, engaging and retaining high-spending customers for the Bank. With the expanded access to Ascenda's larger global network, our customers get more choices, greater value and a better digital rewards experience." The new proposition powered by Ascenda is now available to OCBC customers holding Travel$, Voyage Miles and OCBC$ rewards balances. About Ascenda Ascenda powers innovative premium rewards programs that accelerate the growth of financial services. The company delivers easy-to-deploy rewards infrastructure to rapidly scale acquisition, card spending, cross-selling and retention. Serving major financial services brands and disruptive fintechs across the globe, Ascenda's clients include Brex, HSBC, Virgin Money, American Express and Capital One. For more information about Ascenda, please visit ascendaloyalty.com . SOURCE Ascenda Happy Avocado month celebrate with huge savings on certified organic mattresses and more, and support the planting of avocado trees. LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Avocado Month, Avocado Green makers of certified organic and eco-luxury products is launching a sale with exclusive savings on their certified organic mattresses, reclaimed wood bed frames, adjustable bed frames, organic certified linen sheets and pillows, bath collection, luxurious loungewear, and clean skin + body products. Avocado celebrates Avocado Month with massive savings. As part of Avocado's Giving initiative, through which they donate 1% of all revenue to 1% For the Planet, all sales during the Avocado Day sale will support the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation's effort to plant 4,000 fruit trees in the central region of El Salvador. From July 11 to July 31 only, customers can save up to $400 on Avocado's top-rated GOTS-certified organic Green and Vegan Mattress. Shoppers will also save 20% on all bedding, including Avocado's exceptionally cozy, naturally breathable, GOTS-certified organic sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, and protectors. Avocado's Supercharged Reishi Body Melt and Alpaca Sweater Collection are 30% off and their Fleece Lounge Collection and GOTS-certified (CU863637) Organic Cotton Collection sustainable, cozy layering pieces are 50% off. Over the five years Avocado has supported the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation for National Avocado Day on July 31, they've planted more than 14,000 fruit trees together, primarily in Latin America, where demand for sustainable livelihoods for farmers and low-income households is greater than ever. "Working with Avocado has been a joy, allowing our shared visions of a greener and fairer future to come to fruition," said Lizzy Rainey, Development Manager for FTPF. "Food-producing trees, including avocados, are a simple yet very effective way to address environmental, economic, and nutritional injustices all at once." Every order during the sale also comes with free carbon negative shipping. As a Climate Neutral certified brand and one of B Corp's "Best for the World"brands Avocado reduces its footprint, offsets all of its scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and advocates for legislation that will help mitigate the climate crisis. From the beginning, Avocado just wanted a new kind of mattress. One that was greener better for people and the planet affordable, and comfortable. It was a simple idea rooted in a much bigger vision. Five years later, Avocado continues to expand from bedding, to furniture, to their skin + bath collection, and their line of responsible loungewear. As the company grows, Avocado continues to redefine what it means to be a sustainable, ethical brand. The company is a Certified B Corporation, a Climate Neutral Certified business, and a member of 1% For the Planet, remaining true to its original purpose: to be one of the most sustainable companies on Earth. Learn more at AvocadoGreen.com. If you would like more information, please contact Jessica Hann at [email protected]. SOURCE Avocado Green Mattress SHENZHEN, China, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Baseus has launched a new pair of wireless earbuds Baseus Bowie MA10, recommended by Oscar-winning film composers Chad Cannon, Joel Goodman, and Pedro Osuna. Endorsed Quality Sound "The Baseus Bowie Series in-ear headphones are a fabulous addition to my headphone collection. The first thing I listened to was Beethoven Piano Concerto No.5 on AppleClassical, Anddon't think I've ever heard a grand piano sound quite as rich as it did through these headphones.", said the Oscar Films' Composers: Chad Cannon. ANC + ENC Noise Cancelling Noise cancelling depth goes up to -48dB to provide a listening experience as immersive as being in a recording studio with only pure music surrounding, while bass and audio quality are upscaled to greater level by the larger driver and the aerospace-grade titanium-plated double compound diaphragm. During phone calls, ENC mics filter out ambient noise to only deliver human voice but not the noises. Music for 2 Weeks Its battery is tested to provide up to 140 hours of playback with a full charge so that a daily charge would no longer be required, though playtime of earbuds is 8 hours in a single charge. In addition, as it supports BRC Baseus Rapid Charge, a 10-minute charge with the charging case gives users 2 hours of music playback, and a full charge takes 3 hours to get another 140 hours. Seamless Fit & Waterproof The Baseus Bowie MA10 is designed ergonomic to fit snug and secure into ears without causing irritation for extended time wear, and comes with 3 sizes (S, M, L) of ear tips to find the most comfortable one for each side of ear. Wingtips are included as well to enhance earbuds' secureness during sports, and it is rated IPX6 waterproof to keep sweat and water from penetrating. Smooth & Flawless Gaming Featuring the latest Bluetooth 5.3 and Baseus' self-developed DCLL Dual Channel Low-Latency technology, the 0.038s DCLL ensures that sound and image are fully in sync making sure that "what's heard matches what's seen" while the BT 5.3 guarantees a seamless connection free of stability issues or hassle of pairing. The Baseus Bowie MA10 has no match in its tier with a competitive pricing at $29.99 since the passkey to access all those features on earbuds is way higher, roughly around $50. For more information, please visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C89QQ5XK Early Bird Price: $20.99 when users clip the 30% Off coupon on the page. About Baseus Baseus is a consumer electronics brand founded in 2011 bearing in mind "Simple for More", creating seamlessly practical and aesthetic products for young tech enthusiasts. It integrates design, research and development, as well as production and sales. Media Contact: Name: Roy Liao Phone: +1 213-512-7063 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Baseus Technology (HK) Co., Ltd NEW YORK, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Basis , a global strategy and insight consultancy headquartered in London, with offices in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, is pleased to welcome senior director Mark Rushek and senior research executive Caleb Yoder to the company. Mark Rushek joins Basis Health after nearly a decade at ZS Associates, where he helped lead their strategy and insights group. His insights and analytics experiences span all aspects of commercialization of life sciences products, including opportunity assessment, market landscaping, segmentation, value proposition, creative, branding, channel strategy, tracking and forecasting through to optimizing post launch performance. An experienced consultant with deep interest and expertise across therapeutic categories, Mark has a strong track record of supporting clients across large cap pharmaceutical through to newly establish biotechnology companies in maximizing launch and product lifecycle success Caleb Yoder joins Basis Health after almost three years at ZS Associates, having most recently held the position of associate consultant in ZS's Marketing and Customer Insights practice. He has established himself as a go to consultant for his clients and teams, levering his experience working in the healthcare industry and delivering strategic insights and successful outcomes for some of the world's premier pharmaceutical firms. "The expansion of our team has been instrumental in fueling our growth and enabling us to forge stronger connections and better support our clients with their evolving strategic support needs," said Paul Eccles, PhD, managing partner of Basis Health. "We are thrilled to welcome outstanding talent like Mark and Caleb to our organization and believe their exceptional expertise and innovative outlooks will play a pivotal role in shaping groundbreaking commercial strategies for our clients. As we consistently attract new clients and enhance our capabilities, their collective experience will prove indispensable to our continued success." An award-winning independent global consultancy, Basis Health delivers unmatched talent for healthcare research, strategy and tactics in the life sciences industry across go-to-market and in-line commercial support needs. Click here to learn more about Basis careers. About Basis Health Basis Health is an independent global life sciences strategy and insight consultancy, headquartered in NYC, with offices in London and is part of the Basis Group. It delivers custom commercial strategy insights engagements, leveraging data collected through primary market research, secondary analytics and real-world evidence analysis that empowers confident decision-making at the speed of business. Media Contact: Katie Barnes 517-827-1117 [email protected] SOURCE Basis MCLEAN, Va., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dona Fraser, BBB National Programs' Senior Vice President, Privacy Initiatives, issued the following statement today on the European Commission's official adoption of its adequacy decision for the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (EU-US DPF): "Adequacy is the gold standard of transfer mechanisms under the GDPR. We commend the White House, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the European Commission for achieving this remarkable and transformative milestone that propels the transatlantic economy forward and presents countless opportunities for businesses across diverse sectors. As the longest-running Independent Recourse Mechanism (IRM) provider, the first recognized under Privacy Shield, trusted for more than 20 years by businesses of all sizes, we view this formal adoption of adequacy as an achievement that not only fosters trust in data security but also bolsters the economic ties between the European Union and the United States. Today, the Data Privacy Framework is effective and, with appropriate instruction from the U.S. Department of Commerce, businesses can once again seamlessly transfer personal data from the EU to the U.S in compliance with EU law and we look forward to supporting those businesses in our IRM under this new Framework. For the more than 5,000 businesses maintaining their self-certification under Privacy Shield, we want to assure you that we are fully prepared to facilitate your seamless transition to this new Framework, and we guarantee companies currently participating in BBB EU Privacy Shield will experience uninterrupted continuity of service in their transition to our EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework program. Upholding the highest operational standards for businesses and safeguarding consumer rights has always been our priority. We also extend a warm welcome to businesses that have temporarily paused their Privacy Shield self-certification, inviting them to join our program once again." Read the European Commission's press release here. Learn more about the BBB National Programs Global Privacy Division here. Schedule a consultation with the Global Privacy Division here. About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs is where businesses turn to enhance consumer trust and consumers are heard. The non-profit organization creates a fairer playing field for businesses and a better experience for consumers through the development and delivery of effective third-party accountability and dispute resolution programs. BBB National Programs oversees more than a dozen leading national industry self-regulation programs, and continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-directed marketing, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, privacy, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org. About BBB National Programs Global Privacy Division: BBB National Programs Global Privacy Division helps businesses show their partners and customers that they put privacy first, no matter where they operate. Our programs serve as key elements of the Cross-Border Privacy Rules and Privacy Shield frameworks, bridging gaps between divergent privacy and data protection regimes. By embracing our independent accountability mechanisms, participating businesses strengthen standards for data privacy and enhance consumer trust in the digital marketplace. SOURCE BBB National Programs NEW YORK, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With a portfolio of over a thousand successful projects and more than a decade of urban design works across the Greater New York City area, BEAM Architects is excited to announce the completion of transformative projects in Brooklyn and Jersey City. As a boutique architectural design firm based in the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard, we are renowned for our smart design philosophy - emphasizing design integrity, shared success, and adding vitality to neighborhoods we cherish. BEAM ARCHITECTS: Contemporary Designs BEAM ARCHITECTS: Building success by smart design One such project in the heart of our local neighborhood demonstrating our innovative approach is at 1001 Bushwick Ave, in Brooklyn. The site, originally set for the demolition of a beloved Victorian home, saw community activists and leaders band together to seek Landmark status. In partnership with ZS Design, we conceived a solution that replaces the house with an elegant building that fits harmoniously into the neighborhood, marrying historical charm with contemporary sophistication. Embracing our expansion into Jersey City, we've applied our smart design philosophy to several exciting projects. The Bridget, an adaptive reuse project, located at the prime location of 380 Montgomery Street, was a former church. Together with LWDMR Architects, we transformed this historic structure into a multifamily residence, reinvigorating it with a refreshingly modern context. Similarly, the Smoothon Lofts project, in collaboration with Hampton Hill Architecture, breathed new life into a former factory by converting it into modern apartments. The design deftly balances the original rough-hewn features and contemporary elegance, reflecting the cultural and historical significance of the original structure. Another such collaboration in Jersey City was at 503 Communipaw Avenue. This multifamily building offers a vibrant, contemporary living experience while respecting the city's industrial past through its inventive use of materials, textures, and curated furnishings. Through our extensive repertoire of mid-scale multifamily and commercial developments across New York City, we've gained a profound understanding of zoning and code requirements, honed our experience, and expanded our resource network. Beyond private developments, our dedication extends to enhancing community spaces, with significant contributions to sectors such as daycare and pet care facilities. Visit our website at beamarc.com and check out the Press Kit or reach out to us at [email protected] to explore our portfolio and learn more about our unique approach to design and commitment to community enhancement. Media contact: Alana Wodnicki [email protected] 646-228-9018 SOURCE BEAM Architects SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Legislation to improve oversight of dangerous doctors and give consumers rights at the Medical Board of California was approved by the California Assembly Business & Professions Committee with a 10-5 vote today despite heavy lobbying in opposition by the California Medical Association. The bill, SB 815 by Senator Richard Roth and Assembly member Marc Berman, is the strongest bill reforming the Medical Board of California to make it through legislative policy committees in many years, said Consumer Watchdog. Its final committee hurdle is Assembly Appropriations next month. "This bill contains long-overdue reforms that recognize patients' right to have preventable injuries and deaths investigated by state regulators, and provides the funding to make that possible," said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog. "For too long, investigations into patient harm and death have been dismissed prematurely or dragged out beyond reason. This bill begins to put the Medical Board of California back on track to patient protection." SB 815 would: Ensure the board gets all the facts of a case by requiring an interview of the patient, or family member, before their complaint is closed. Most complaints are closed with no interview. by requiring an interview of the patient, or family member, before their complaint is closed. Most complaints are closed with no interview. Give patients a voice by allowing them to make a victim impact statement to the board, and creating a Complainant Liaison Unit to facilitate communication with families. by allowing them to make a victim impact statement to the board, and creating a Complainant Liaison Unit to facilitate communication with families. Adjust California's standard of proof for most doctor discipline to bring the state in line with that used by 41 other state medical boards, improve board investigation speed and efficiency. to bring the state in line with that used by 41 other state medical boards, improve board investigation speed and efficiency. Improve procedures at the Board that cause delays and unnecessary costs , including: a pause on the statute of limitations when doctors fight subpoenas; consequences for doctors who refuse interviews or coerce patients into not testifying; and longer wait times, and Board reimbursement, for petitions to reinstate a revoked license. , including: a pause on the statute of limitations when doctors fight subpoenas; consequences for doctors who refuse interviews or coerce patients into not testifying; and longer wait times, and Board reimbursement, for petitions to reinstate a revoked license. And, Fully fund the Board's operations . Doctor licensing fees have increased just $80 in 17 years; the Board faces insolvency without the full increase proposed in SB 815. The bill was amended in committee to remove a provision that would have changed the balance of power at the Board by giving it a public member majority, a loss for patients said Consumer Watchdog. The bill never addressed another top priority of patient advocates: Greater disclosure of doctors' complaint and disciplinary histories. Initial findings of the Medical Board Enforcement Monitor, released in March, confirm that the Medical Board's investigations of doctors are hamstrung by funding shortfalls. The report also highlighted how prosecutions are undermined by a crippling division between investigators and attorneys currently housed in different agencies. The Final Report of the Enforcement Monitor is due this month and will be a starting point for additional reforms, said Consumer Watchdog. Read the Initial Report: https://consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/initial-report-of-medical-board-enforcement-monitor-confirms-investigation-delays-and-failure-to-discipline-doctors/. Consumer Watchdog works with a team of volunteer patient advocates from across the state whose own experiences with medical negligence have spurred them to fight for better laws to protect other Californians from harm. Meet these families, hear their testimony, and read their stories and those of their loved ones, here https://consumerwatchdog.org/meet-the-advocates/ and here https://consumerwatchdog.org/meet-the-patients/. Download Consumer Watchdog's letter supporting SB 815 here. SOURCE Consumer Watchdog The "Global Bipolar Disorder Market Size By Mechanism of Action (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, Benzodiazepines, Beta Blockers), By Drug Class (Mood Stabilizer, Antipsychotic Drugs, Antidepressant Drugs), By Geographic Scope And Forecast" report has been published by Verified Market Research. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the global Bipolar Disorder Market, including its growth prospects, market trends, and market challenges. JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Bipolar Disorder Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report published by Verified Market Research. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 5.25 Billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 6.27 Billion by the end of the forecast period. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample?rid=33465 Browse in-depth TOC on "Bipolar Disorder Market" 202 - Pages 126 Tables 37 Figures Global Bipolar Disorder Market: Increased Awareness and Technological Advancements Drive Market Growth The global Bipolar Disorder market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increased awareness, expanding treatment options, and technological advancements in genetic disorder identification. Market research analysis conducted by industry experts highlights the drivers, constraints, and growth opportunities within the market. Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental illness characterized by mood swings. This market analysis delves into the global Bipolar Disorder market, exploring the factors that shape its trajectory. Increased awareness about the diagnosis and treatment of Bipolar Disorder plays a pivotal role in driving market growth. Societal acceptance of mental illness has improved, facilitating greater access to treatment options for affected individuals. Furthermore, technological advancements in identifying genetic disorders and an expanding treatment landscape contribute significantly to the market's maturity. Government initiatives, such as the Bipolar Disorder Phenome Database funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), provide comprehensive information on the signs and symptoms of the illness, further supporting market growth. These efforts enable healthcare professionals and patients to enhance their understanding of Bipolar Disorder and promote efficient diagnosis and treatment. Despite the market's growth prospects, there are several constraints and limitations that hinder its expansion. Stringent regulatory frameworks pose challenges to market growth, necessitating careful navigation for industry stakeholders. Additionally, the side effects associated with anticonvulsant medications and the limited number of approved anticonvulsants further restrict market growth. Overcoming these challenges requires collaboration between regulatory bodies and industry players to ensure the availability of safe and effective treatment options. However, the Bipolar Disorder market also presents various growth opportunities. Constant technological developments, including the utilization of smartphones, smartwatches, and wearable devices, hold the potential to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes. These innovations enable healthcare providers and patients to monitor and manage the condition effectively. Furthermore, emerging markets offer untapped opportunities for market expansion, as awareness of mental health issues continues to grow worldwide. The antipsychotic drug segment holds the largest market share during the forecast period. This segment is commonly used in combination therapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), demonstrating favorable results and leading to increased adoption among physicians. The effectiveness and positive patient outcomes associated with this treatment approach contribute to the segment's dominance. North America dominates the global Bipolar Disorder market, holding the largest market share. Several factors contribute to this regional dominance, including high stress levels, insufficient sleep patterns, the prevalence of substance abuse among the population, and ongoing research projects. The region's robust healthcare infrastructure and supportive initiatives play a crucial role in addressing the needs of individuals affected by Bipolar Disorder. Key players in the Bipolar Disorder market include Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd, Glaxo SmithKline (GSK), Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Allergan Plc., Novartis AG, AbbVie Inc., Eli Lilly, Pfizer Inc., and AstraZeneca. These companies are at the forefront of research, development, and innovation in the field. Financial statements, product benchmarking, SWOT analysis, key development strategies, market share analysis, and market positioning analysis provide insights into their market presence and future prospects. In conclusion, the global Bipolar Disorder market is experiencing significant growth driven by increased awareness, societal acceptance, advancements in genetic disorder identification, and expanding treatment options. While regulatory constraints and limited approved medications pose challenges, technological advancements, the use of smart devices, and untapped opportunities in emerging markets offer promising growth prospects. The dominance of the antipsychotic drug segment and North America's market share further underline the market's potential. To get market data, market insights, financial statements and a comprehensive analysis of the Global Bipolar Disorder Market, please Contact Verified Market Research. Based on the research, Verified Market Research has segmented the global Bipolar Disorder Market into Mechanism of Action, Drug Class, And Geography. Bipolar Disorder Market, by Mechanism of Action Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor Tricyclic Antidepressant Drugs Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors Benzodiazepines Beta Blockers Others Bipolar Disorder Market, by Drug Class Mood Stabilizer Antipsychotic Drugs Antidepressant Drugs Anticonvulsants Antianxiety Drugs Bipolar Disorder Market, by Geography North America U.S Canada Mexico Europe Germany France U.K Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Rest of Asia Pacific ROW Middle East & Africa & Latin America Browse Related Reports: Bipolar Forceps Products Market By Type (Disposable and Reusable), By Application (Gynecology, General surgery), By End-Use (Hospitals, Specialty Clinics), By Geography, And Forecast Bipolar Electrosurgical Devices Market By Product (Advanced Vessel Sealing Devices, Bipolar Forceps), By Surgical Application (General Surgery, Gynecology Surgery), By End-User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers), By Geography, And Forecast Antipsychotic Drugs Market By Drug Class (First Generation, Second Generation), By Application (Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorders), By Geography, And Forecast Bipolar Disorder Therapeutic Sales Market By Product (Antipsychotics, Anticonvulsants, Mood Stabilizers), By Application (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies), By Geography, And Forecast Top 10 Biopharmaceutical Companies synthesizing biological sources for global patients Visualize Bipolar Disorder Market using Verified Market Intelligence -: Verified Market Intelligence is our BI Enabled Platform for narrative storytelling in this market. VMI offers in-depth forecasted trends and accurate Insights on over 20,000+ emerging & niche markets, helping you make critical revenue-impacting decisions for a brilliant future. VMI provides a holistic overview and global competitive landscape with respect to Region, Country, Segment, and Key players of your market. Present your Market Report & findings with an inbuilt presentation feature saving over 70% of your time and resources for Investor, Sales & Marketing, R&D, and Product Development pitches. VMI enables data delivery In Excel and Interactive PDF formats with over 15+ Key Market Indicators for your market. About Us Verified Market Research is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ customers. Verified Market Research provides advanced analytical research solutions while offering information-enriched research studies. We offer insight into strategic and growth analyses, Data necessary to achieve corporate goals and critical revenue decisions. Our 250 Analysts and SMEs offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance use industrial techniques to collect and analyze data on more than 15,000 high impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research. We study 14+ categories from Semiconductors & Electronics, Chemicals, Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Energy & Power, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Automotive & Transportation, Information & Communication Technology, Software & Services, Information Security, Mining, Minerals & Metals, Building & Construction, Agriculture industry and Medical Devices from over 100 countries. Contact Us Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Verified Market Research US: +1 (650)-781-4080 US Toll Free: +1 (800)-782-1768 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2015407/VMR_Logo.jpg SOURCE Verified Market Research BIT upgrades integration with Copper's ClearLoop to support BIT's unified margin feature and USD-margined options, revolutionising crypto trading for institutions. trading for institutions. Enabling off-exchange settlement on USD-margined products DUBAI, UAE, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BIT, a leading professional digital asset exchange, today announced an update to its existing integration with Copper ClearLoop, a leading digital asset settlement network. BIT's integration upgrade with Copper will allow Copper via ClearLoop to support BIT's Unified Margin feature, which allows traders to use all of their assets as collateral. In addition, the upgrade converted the previous supported coin margined options to USD-margined options. BIT will also be adopting the new ClearLoop trust structure, which further reduces their clients' exposure to counterparty risk thanks to Copper's market leading and innovative legal framework. The ClearLoop technical functionality of off-exchange settlement will remain unchanged but will have the added benefit of bankruptcy remoteness delivered by ClearLoop's legal framework. Featuring off-exchange settlements, the completion of this upgrade is set to transform the crypto trading experience for institutional clients. With BIT's upgraded trading features and its partnership with Copper, institutional clients can conveniently use BIT's trading services without the need to transfer their assets from Copper custody, thereby avoiding security concerns usually associated with trading on cryptocurrency exchanges such as the risk of exchange hacks and asset freezing. This integration enables institutional clients to securely trade on the BIT exchange with the peace of mind that their assets remain safeguarded under Copper's segregated custody, mitigating counterparty risk exposure, improving capital efficiency and speeding up settlement times. Through Copper's innovative off-exchange settlement solution, ClearLoop, BIT users can safely access assets and settle trades via their ClearLoop account. "We are extremely pleased to be announcing this innovative and exciting partnership", said LAN, the co-founder and COO of BIT. "As a crypto exchange designed for professionals, BIT is committed to addressing clients' concerns by continuously refining its infrastructure, enhancing trading tools, and expanding industry partnerships. We aim to deliver a secure and professional trading platform and provide clients with an advanced trading experience." "We're proud to grow our partnership with BIT as they adopt the new ClearLoop Trust Structure, providing their institutional clients with even greater protection for their digital assets", states Dmitry Tokarev, founder and CEO of Copper.co. "The growing number of exchanges joining ClearLoop is a testament to the industry's growth and commitment to continued financial market infrastructure maturity." About BIT BIT is a full-featured cryptocurrency exchange that is designed for use by professionals, with advanced risk management and fund efficiency supported by Portfolio Margin and Unified Margin. BIT was launched in August 2020 as an affiliate of Matrixport, a prominent crypto financial service company. BIT is one of the top crypto options trading platforms which offer innovative USD-margined trading pairs. About Copper.co Since being founded in 2018, Copper, a SOC2 Type 2 certified company with a registration in Switzerland, has been setting the standard for institutional digital asset by offering custody and collateral management of digital assets. Underpinned by multi-award-winning technology, Copper has built the comprehensive and secure products and services required to safely custody and trade cryptocurrencies and other digital assets such as tokens and stablecoins. At the core of Copper's infrastructure is ClearLoop, which enables clients to trade and settle in near real time across multiple exchanges, while mitigating counterparty risk and increasing capital efficiency. SOURCE BIT After Unprecedented Success in 2022, Nation's Largest Light, Art, and Projection Mapping Experience Returns With New Dates To Immerse Cincy Streets in 2024 CINCINNATI, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its triumphant 2022 post-pandemic return to live spectacle, the BLINK partners are thrilled to announce that the giant public art spectacle will return to the streets and buildings of Cincinnati from October 17th to October 20th, 2024. BLINK, Illuminated by ArtsWave, brings a unique and cherished free opportunity for attendees to interact with some of the world's most innovative and engaging art throughout the city. BLINK Cincinnati 2022 Recap BLINK 2022 - Zak Kauth Parastella BLINK 2022 - Zak Kauth Parastella Sure to be a hallmark of the 2024 experience, BLINK is bringing projection mapping back to Cincinnati Music Hall. An iconic landmark and defining piece of Cincinnati architecture and history, Music Hall has stood at the corner of 14th and Elm for over 140 years. Sitting solidly at the crossover between digital and physical, BLINK draws both artists and attendees from all over the globe to experience truly immersive art amidst the familiar cityscape. The biennial event is the nation's largest light, art, and projection mapping experience, and as such, it has garnered quite the fanbase, providing an impressive group with unforgettable memories. In 2022 alone, the event saw 2.1 million attendees from 29 different states. BLINK is not only an asset in terms of community enjoyment, it is also responsible for an incredible positive fiscal impact, with $126 million direct economic impact for the Cincinnati region. Not only this, but the 2022 edition featured 71 total artists 18 international, 21 U.S.-based, and 32 local establishing BLINK as truly universal, exposing people to art from around the world and the magic of Cincinnati. Mayor Aftab Pureval touches on BLINK's impact on the city of Cincinnati, saying, "BLINK has firmly established itself as a cultural icon that reverberates energy and excitement across the globe. With its intentional approach to celebrating what makes Cincinnati a world-class art city, BLINK offers an unmatched experience found exclusively in Cincinnati." With returning Executive Director Justin Brookhart at the helm, BLINK 2024 is sure to be a breath-taking community-building experience. In 2022, Brookhart's organizational leadership skills and collaborative mindset led the team towards a wider audience, celebrating all that Cincinnati/NKY and the art world at large have to offer. This year, Brookhart looks forward to applying everything he's learned to a wildly successful 2024 event. "I am honored to be leading the charge to return BLINK for its fourth edition in 2024," said Brookhart "The work and impact wouldn't be possible without the artists, partners, and supporters who put their time and energy in to create such a magical experience, and I'm thrilled to work with them again." This massive undertaking would not be possible without ArtsWave, the primary source of funding for the region's arts, which also powers the BLINK experience. Alecia Kintner, President & CEO of ArtsWave, explains that BLINK adds to the region's enviable array of defining cultural events. "As a nationally ranked top 20 most arts vibrant community, Cincinnati remains a leader in arts innovation and participation. The more the public invests in the arts through the ArtsWave Community Campaign, the more exciting our region becomes. BLINK is a vivid example of how with sufficient investment and imagination -- the arts can drive Cincinnati's rise and growth, creating a wave of economic and social benefits. Andrew Salzbrun, the Managing Partner of AGAR and BLINK's Co-founder, returns with strong curatorial programming, working in tandem with Brookhart and the Cincinnati Chamber. AGAR was responsible for much of 2022's global influence and striking pieces, and looks forward to bringing new voices to 2024's event. "BLINK embodies the diverse and collaborative spirit of the midwest. The invitation for global artists and local residents to connect through art, provides fertile ground for inspiration, community building and economic growth of the region. As a steward of that opportunity, it's an honor to bring BLINK back in 2024." About BLINK BLINK, Illuminated by ArtsWave, is an unforgettable four-day, 30 city block, outdoor art experience that unites street art, projection mapping, light-based installations, and music. BLINK is produced and curated by its Executive Partners - the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, AGAR, and the Haile Foundation, and produced in conjunction with its Partners ArtWorks, Cincy Nice, and ish - to provide opportunities for regional artists and bring in global creators all in the pursuit of a stronger community. Media Inquiries: Hijinx PR | Heidi Johnson | [email protected] | 323.204.7246 SOURCE BLINK Cincinnati ** Expansion Marks Credit Union's 90th Anniversary of Service to Members** GLENDALE, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- California Credit Union has announced regulatory approval to expand its service area into two significant new Southern California counties. The $4.5 billion credit union will now serve San Bernardino and Ventura Counties, and also has converted to a community-based charter in Los Angeles County. Founded in 1933 by a Los Angeles teacher, the charter expansion marks the credit union's 90th anniversary of service to members. "Expanding our service area to San Bernardino and Ventura Counties, along with a community charter in Los Angeles County, is a significant strategic accomplishment as we look ahead to future expansion and member acquisition with a cohesive service network across all of Southern California. With a number of members already living in these new counties, this field of membership expansion is a logical extension of our existing geographic footprint," said California Credit Union President/CEO Steve O'Connell. "Serving the education community remains an important aspect of our 90-year heritage. We are excited to bring both our community and educator products and services to new communities across Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. And, as members increasingly move to digital channels, we are well prepared to immediately begin serving our new communities through our Virtual Branch, online and mobile banking, and various technology service platforms." With this expansion, the credit union has extended its field of membership to all communities in six counties across Southern California; anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or has a business in the California counties of Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego is eligible to join the credit union. The credit union also serves school employees throughout the state. California Credit Union's state-of-the-art digital service channels, including full-service online banking, a Virtual Branch, and 5-Star rated mobile app, along with its nationwide network of 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs, will be available to its new communities immediately as plans for new retail branches are determined. O'Connell added, "Our approach has always been to be of service and become a community-wide asset in our markets. We look forward to building relationships within our new communities so we're not just providing best-in-class financial services, but also offering financial education programs, supporting under-resourced areas and community members, and partnering with local organizations to make a meaningful difference in the health of our communities." California Credit Union is certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), a designation only given to organizations proven to provide financial services in communities that have historically lacked access to traditional banking services. In addition, its Checking account meets the stringent Bank On National Account Standards, offering safe access to a traditional checking account, with zero fees or overdraft charges to support moving members out of a debt cycle. The credit union also has adjusted underwriting guidelines to provide easier access to funds and launched credit card products for members looking to build/restore credit. California Credit Union currently operates with dual headquarters in Glendale and San Diego, and serves members under its North Island Credit Union brand in the greater San Diego and Riverside areas. About California Credit Union California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 with assets over $4.5 billion, more than 170,000 members, and 24 retail branches. The credit union serves community members and businesses in the California counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura as well as school employees throughout the state. The credit union operates in San Diego and Riverside Counties as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. The credit union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. Visit ccu.com for more information or follow the credit union on Instagram or Facebook @CaliforniaCreditUnion. SOURCE California Credit Union Carl's Jr. expansion to Doral, Florida in late 2023 marks the brand's first restaurant to open east of the Mississippi River FRANKLIN, Tenn., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- CKE Restaurants Inc., parent company of Carl's Jr. restaurants, announced today that the brand is bringing its iconic big, bold flavors to South Florida with its first restaurant in partnership with RSMG Holding LLC and Retail & Food International Brand. The Carl's Jr. opening in Doral, Florida is planned for late 2023 and marks the brand's first location in Florida. The first South Florida Carl's Jr. restaurant will boast the brand's newly refreshed look while featuring fan favorite Carl's Jr. menu items including 100% Black Angus Thickburgers, Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders, sandwiches and more. "Carl's Jr. is known for serving impossible to ignore flavors, so we are excited to bring our iconic brand to South Florida where audacious is a lifestyle and we're sure to fit in," said Chris Bode, chief operating officer of CKE Restaurants. "South Florida is an important part of our growth strategy and we're thrilled to welcome the South Florida community to experience our fan-favorite, authentically crafted menu items whenever the craving hits." Ron Santolaya, Owner, and Managing Director of RSMG, and partners Milko Grbic and Claudio Fernandez are leading a team of investors with the primary mission of bringing Carl's Jr. to Florida and positioning the brand as a market leader. RSMG is expected to break ground on the first Doral, Florida location in summer 2023, CKE Restaurants and RSMG are actively searching for new real estate partners with drive thru capabilities and working to develop 35 Carl's Jr. locations across the South Florida region. Santolaya has extensive and successful experience leading RSMG's operations of Carl's Jr. restaurants in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America for almost four decades. "The CKE brands are beloved by people all over the world and we look forward to introducing this iconic brand to Florida with the opening in Doral," said Santolaya. "This expansion will allow Carl's Jr. to reach the South Florida community for the first time and offer a refreshing, new dining experiences." Currently, Carl's Jr. has more than 1,000 locations throughout the western part of the United States with a strong presence in California where the company was born more than 80 years ago. Additionally, the brand boasts an international footprint across 35 countries including 300-plus restaurants in Mexico. For more information about Carl's Jr., or to find the nearest restaurant to you, please visit www.carlsjr.com. About CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. ("CKE"), a privately held company based in Franklin, Tennessee, runs and operates Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, two beloved brands, known for one-of-a-kind premium and innovative menu items such as 100% Black Angus Thickburgers, Made from Scratch Biscuits and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders. With both a U.S. and international footprint, Carl's Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee's Restaurants LLC have over 3,900 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 44 states and 35 foreign countries and U.S. territories. For more information about CKE, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com. About RSMG Holding LLC and Retail & Food International Brand RSMG Holding LLC is the exclusive partner in Florida to operate Carl's Jr., one of the most popular international QSR brands in the world serving iconic charbroiled burgers. Retail and Food International Brand (R&F IB) serves as the administrative and operational branch of RSMG by carrying out administrative functions that are optimal for scaling restaurant operations in the Florida market. Carl's Jr. is one of the largest burger brands in the world, with more than 3,800 restaurants in over 28 countries. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2083541/4156911/CKE_Restaurants_Logo.jpg SOURCE CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. Upgraded facility meets nutrient limits and recycled water requirements, provides drought-resistant source of water ELK GROVE, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Carollo Engineers, North America's premier water engineering and consulting firm, has completed planning, design, and engineering services during construction for the $1.8 billion EchoWater Project, a more than decade-long facility upgrade project for the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San). The EchoWater Project commenced in 2012 in response to stringent nutrient removal and tertiary treatment requirements for treated wastewater issued by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. With these upgraded and new processes treating up to 330 million gallons per day, the treatment plant is the second largest facility of its kind in the United States and is the largest public works project built in the Sacramento region. Completed in 2023, the upgraded facility produces cleaner treated water for discharge to the Sacramento River that meets strict nutrient limits and provides a drought-resistant source of recycled water for non-potable uses, including delivery of agricultural irrigation water to over 16,000 acres as part of Regional San's Harvest Water Program. "The EchoWater Project was massive in both scale and complexity," said Carollo Senior Vice President Scott Parker. "The project's successful completion on schedule and within budget is a testament to outstanding collaboration among project partners and is an extraordinary public works achievement with beneficial results for the community and the environment." Carollo led the design effort for the following projects: Flow Equalization (FEQ): The $122 million FEQ project added 110 million gallons (MG) of storage to the plant's existing emergency storage basins to reduce peak flows to 330 mgd. The FEQ project required excavating 1,200,000 cubic yards of soil and completing two major pumping stations, concrete lining of the basins, a washdown system, large fill/drain piping, and major effluent control structures. The FEQ project added 110 million gallons (MG) of storage to the plant's existing emergency storage basins to reduce peak flows to 330 mgd. The FEQ project required excavating 1,200,000 cubic yards of soil and completing two major pumping stations, concrete lining of the basins, a washdown system, large fill/drain piping, and major effluent control structures. Return Activated Sludge Pumping (RAS): The $25 million RAS project replaced 48 return activated sludge pumps (210 mgd total capacity) designed to deliver higher flow and head conditions required by the new biological nutrient removal (BNR) process. The RAS project also included replacement of aboveground piping, valves, and flow meters; rehabilitation of pump cans and underground piping; and improvements to the existing mixed liquor channel. The RAS project replaced 48 return activated sludge pumps (210 mgd total capacity) designed to deliver higher flow and head conditions required by the new biological nutrient removal (BNR) process. The RAS project also included replacement of aboveground piping, valves, and flow meters; rehabilitation of pump cans and underground piping; and improvements to the existing mixed liquor channel. Nitrifying Sidestream Treatment (NST): The $42 million NST process utilizes nitrifying sequencing batch reactors to oxidize ammonia in the solids treatment system supernatant and produce nitrate-rich effluent which is injected upstream in the collection system for odor control, offsetting chemical costs for the plant. NST includes influent and effluent pumping and lime addition. The NST process utilizes nitrifying sequencing batch reactors to oxidize ammonia in the solids treatment system supernatant and produce nitrate-rich effluent which is injected upstream in the collection system for odor control, offsetting chemical costs for the plant. NST includes influent and effluent pumping and lime addition. Tertiary Treatment Facilities (TTF): The $310 million TTF project provides filtration and enhanced disinfection of secondary effluent to a level equivalent to California Title 22 requirements for tertiary disinfected recycled water to support unrestricted reuse. Tertiary facilities include a 330 mgd filter influent pump station, 217 mgd of granular media filters, backwash equalization and treatment, chemical feed systems, covered disinfection contact basins, new plant recycled water pumping systems and a new area control center. In May, Regional San celebrated the project completion with an event at the newly renamed EchoWater Resource Recovery Facility. About Carollo Engineers For 90 years, Carollo Engineers has provided a full range of innovative planning, design, and construction management services to meet the water, wastewater, and reuse needs of municipalities, public agencies, private developers, and industrial clients. Carollo develops robust water management strategies that leverage collaboration, provide multi-benefit solutions, and achieve sustainability and resilience. Carollo has nearly 1,400 employees located across North America. To learn more about how Carollo is "Working Wonders With Water" call (800) 523-5826 or visit www.carollo.com. Media Contact: Diana Leonard [email protected] SOURCE Carollo Engineers Matthew Mark, with 20+ years of leadership experience, appointed to accelerate program growth NEW YORK, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Center for the Macro Specialist Designation (CMSD), sponsor of the Macro Specialist Designation (M2SD) program, announced its M2SD Ambassador Class while opening its inaugural testing window. The Macro Specialist Designation, or MSD, is a study program designed to help financial professionals understand how macro trends impact equity markets and gain valuable investment knowledge to outperform in evolving macro backdrops. The program's candidates hail from the United States, Canada, the UK, EU, Australia, Switzerland, Singapore, and India. The Ambassadors come from professions including asset managers, hedge fund managers, financial advisors, asset allocators, research analysts, and academics. The testing window for Level 1 of the program opened on July 5, 2023, and will remain open until August 16. Enrollment for the program is available on an ongoing basis. "Macro forces account for nearly 75% of the changes in stock returns, yet fundamental factors like earnings occupy more collective mindshare than macro drivers in market analysis," said Katherine Krantz, CEO of CMSD. "Our goal for the M2SD program is to become the premier macro education partner for investment professionals looking to accelerate their careers. From curating our own study materials, to using industry-leading technology, to offering a flexible exam window, we've built a state-of-the-art, instructive but practical program. Congratulations to our Ambassadors, your success is our mission." The M2SD program was designed by Francois Trahan, the only Portfolio Strategist inducted into the Institutional Investor All-America Research Team Hall of Fame. The program fills the void in macro education left by academia and current industry certifications by training investment professionals in the global language of macro and economic-based investment analysis. Powered by Canvas, the world's leading learning management system, the M2SD offers candidates a cutting-edge curriculum focused on a practical macro investing framework, a self-paced study model, and an adaptive support system for candidates. To further accelerate its reach across the financial services industry, the Center for the Macro Specialist Designation has launched a global distribution effort and appointed Matthew Mark as its new Head of Sales and Marketing. Matt joins with 20+ years of leadership experience at firms including Blackrock, Russell Investments and DWS. "Matt's extensive industry network and deep understanding of the needs of financial professionals makes him a natural fit for the position. We look forward to helping him educate financial professionals on the importance of macro investing tools in their career growth," said Krantz. "Matt joins us at a dynamic time in the trajectory of our organization and brings a wealth of industry experience that will help us move into our next phase of growth," said Francois Trahan, President of CMSD. "I have built my entire career around this body of work, and we're delighted to welcome the inaugural class into the macro community. Their participation will reinforce the importance of macro to the industry and improve performance outcomes for all investors." About the Macro Specialist Designation (M2SD) The Macro Specialist Designation (MSD) is a study program designed to help financial professionals understand the impact of macro trends on equity markets and how to successfully implement macro techniques in their investment analysis. The program content is complementary to fundamental research practices and has very little overlap with other popular industry certifications. The curriculum teaches candidates how to prepare for today's market realities and provides valuable knowledge about how to perform at a high level under all sorts of potential macro backdrops. The Macro Specialist Designation program is a cost-effective and practical alternative to an MBA or other financial-industry degrees. The online program can be completed in as little as 18 months while maintaining a full-time career. Learn more: MSD Media Contact: Jaime Doyle, JConnelly 973-944-8105 [email protected] SOURCE Center for the Macro Specialist Designation BEIJING, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China and the Solomon Islands announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring "mutual respect and common development for a new era," in a move to upgrade bilateral ties during the Pacific nation leader's visit to Beijing. Since the two countries established diplomatic relations, their friendly cooperation has become a pacesetter for the relations between China and other island countries in the Pacific in spite of a relatively late start, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday afternoon while meeting Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare. The Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations with China in 2019 after cutting ties with the Taiwan region, officially recognizing the one-China principle alongside over 180 countries across the world. Thriving cooperation projects Cooperation between the two sides is a paradigm of unity, cooperation and common development for countries of different sizes, and for developing countries, Xi said. "China is ready to enhance strategic communication and deepen cooperation in various fields with the Solomon Islands to ensure the steady progress of the bilateral ties and bring more benefits to the two peoples," Xi said. China is the Pacific nation's largest trading partner with the total volume standing at $498 million in 2022, according to official numbers. Exports from the Solomon Islands to China take up two thirds of the country's total exports. The Chinese president added that the country is willing to ensure development and long-term stability of the island country, and is ready to share the development opportunities brought by Chinese modernization, strengthen synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Solomon Islands' Development Strategy 2035, expand practical cooperation in various fields, and expand imports from the Solomon Islands. "China is supporting more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the Solomon Islands, and will continue to provide economic and technical assistance to the country without any political strings attached," Xi said. He urged the two sides to expand friendly exchanges in fields like medical care and education, and said that China supports the Solomon Islands in hosting the 17th Pacific Games. 'Respect sovereignty of each other' During their talks, Xi stressed that China fully respects the sovereignty and independence of Pacific island countries, and upholds the equality of all countries, big or small. China fully respects the will of Pacific island countries and pursues extensive consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits and win-win results. China fully respects the cultural traditions of Pacific island countries, and adheres to harmony in diversity and shared beauty of diverse cultures. China fully respects the unity and self-reliance of Pacific island countries, and supports them in implementing the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, contributing to the building of a peaceful, harmonious, secure, inclusive and prosperous Blue Pacific, Xi said. He also greatly appreciates the Solomon Islands' firm adherence to the one-China principle, supports the Solomon Islands in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and supports the development path that the country itself has chosen. China is committed to running its own affairs well, and will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order, Xi noted. China understands that island countries in the Pacific face severe challenges caused by climate change, and stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with them in such areas as meteorological services, disaster prevention and mitigation, and clean energy to help them implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Xi said. He also said that China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Solomon Islands, uphold genuine multilateralism, safeguard international fairness and justice, jointly oppose the Cold War mentality and hegemonism, and safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Noting that the decision to establish diplomatic relations with China was a correct choice, Sogavare said fruitful outcomes have been achieved in bilateral ties and China has become the Solomon Islands' largest infrastructure partner and a reliable development partner. The Solomon Islands firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in trade, investment, cultural and sub-national areas, and jointly respond to global challenges such as climate change, Sogavare said, adding that the country opposes any actions that contain or aim to contain China's development. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-07-10/Xi-meets-with-Solomon-Islands-PM-Manasseh-Sogavare-1lkcndnfqiA/index.html YT link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkAMlIa-4tQ SOURCE CGTN TEL AVIV, Israel, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Justt , the chargeback mitigation pioneer, has unveiled a new study pinpointing a worrying trend in consumer chargeback behaviors impacting merchants in the United Kingdom and the United States. The research shows that over 75% of respondents in both countries lodged at least one credit card payment dispute in the period from May 2022 to May 2023. This marked a double-digit rise, compared to the previous year, and underscores a compelling call to action for merchants, as they grapple with the intricate and increasingly challenging task of transaction dispute management. The survey also sheds light on serial chargeback behaviors on both sides of the Atlantic, defined as individuals filing 6 or more chargebacks per year. Despite a decline in the United States, the proportion of individuals frequently resorting to chargebacks remains significant, decreasing from 18% to 12% within a year. In stark contrast, the United Kingdom has witnessed an astonishing 8-fold surge in such activities, with the frequency of consumers engaging in serial chargebacks soaring from a mere 3% to a staggering 28%. The data suggests a distinct shift in UK consumer behavior, becoming noticeably 'trigger-happy' in using chargebacks, whether justified or not a trend previously observed predominantly in the US. The proportion of U.K. consumers who have filed a travel chargeback, for instance, more than doubled to 36% over the last 12 months, while the share of British consumers who filed a gaming chargeback also more than doubled to 49%, now surpassing that of consumers across the pond. Systemic issues with order fulfillment have played a role in escalating this reliance on chargebacks among British consumers, who have reported heightened dissatisfaction stemming from widely acknowledged problems with supply chains and limitations in labor capacity. Additionally, the 2023 survey identifies a surprising 10 percentage point growth in UK customers engaging in chargebacks for political reasons. Aside from emphasizing the importance of a robust refund policy and a customer-centric sales journey to address the friendly fraud challenge, the 2023 survey underscores the pressing need for continued consumer education. Despite the increasing popularity of chargebacks, a substantial portion of consumers still lack awareness of the way the payment dispute process is supposed to function. This knowledge gap presents an opportunity for merchants and payments industry stakeholders to bridge the education deficit and empower consumers to make informed decisions. Another significant finding in the report revolves around evolving consumer attitudes toward cryptocurrency and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services. While the growth rates of these novel payment methods have slowed due to the current economic pullback, they continue to experience stable adoption rates. However, this success also warrants caution, as returning growth signals a potential surge in chargeback volumes. Proactive efforts are required to mitigate chargebacks related to BNPL and fiat-to-crypto transactions to maintain financial stability and customer satisfaction levels. "As the challenges posed by rising credit card chargebacks and friendly fraud continue to intensify, industry stakeholders must collaborate and take targeted action to safeguard not only their revenues, but also their reputations," said Roenen Ben-Ami, Justt co-founder and Chief Risk Officer. "By addressing the issues highlighted in the survey, merchants can work towards restoring customer trust, reducing chargeback volumes, and securing their financial well-being." Download the full report here: https://justt.ai/consumer-attitudes-towards-chargebacks/ About Justt Founded in 2020, Justt is dedicated to helping online merchants navigate the complex and costly system for credit card disputes. The company's smart technology and in-house expertise successfully resolves chargebacks for merchants, automatically reuniting them with their revenue. Justt's proprietary AI pulls the best evidence to build merchants' most compelling defense and keeps getting smarter with time, so win rates continue to grow. SOURCE Justt CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Charter Next Generation (CNG), North America's largest independent producer of sustainable, innovative packaging solutions introduces GreenArrowRx Flexible Forming Film, a new sustainable film for the healthcare market built from eco-friendly and readily-available resins. As a result, the new film not only helps healthcare companies achieve their sustainability goals but can also help ease supply issues often associated with traditional resins. Charter Next Generation Unveils Eco-Friendly Flexible Forming Film for the Healthcare Market Built From Readily-Available Resins GreenArrowRx Flexible Forming Film is the result of a multi-year R&D effort by CNG to develop more effective packaging solutions for the healthcare market. The sustainable film delivers seamless validation and fast qualification on existing flexible packaging lines. "We are excited to present this eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional non-sustainable forming webs," said Vice President of Healthcare Mark Groves. "At CNG, we are passionate about our commitment to sustainability while delivering the high level of protection required to ensure optimal patient outcomes." Healthcare Technical Market Manager Eric Tuttle added, "Our goal with GreenArrowRx Flexible Forming Film was simple - offer customers a reliable source of sustainable materials without sacrificing performance. CNG is dedicated to engineering purposeful solutions that stand up to any other material available in the market today." The healthcare industry has long been searching for eco-friendly packaging solutions that preserve the integrity of their sensitive products. With the introduction of GreenArrowRx Flexible Forming Film, CNG is leading the way in sustainable packaging. Through its commitment to innovative material science, CNG is providing the healthcare industry with advanced and sustainable packaging solutions. For more information on GreenArrowRx Flexible Forming Film, please visit www.cnginc.com. About Charter Next Generation CNG is North America's leading independent producer of high-performance specialty films and a key supplier of highly engineered solutions used in food and medical packaging and consumer and industrial markets. Known for sustainable, innovative, and world-class manufacturing capabilities, the company's quality and expertise are unsurpassed. Its sustainability-first mindset and steady pursuit of excellence makes CNG an ideal partner to help brand owners reach their long-term sustainability goals. Visit cnginc.com or follow @charternextgeneration on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to learn more. To learn more about how GreenArrowRx Flexible Forming Film can benefit you, contact your CNG representative or contact us through our website at cnginc.com/contact/ or e-mail us at [email protected]. Media contact: Mark Groves [email protected] 872-870-1077 SOURCE Charter Next Generation, Inc. SHANGHAI, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Congress & Exhibition 2023 (FCVC 2023) was held in Shanghai, China from July 5th to July 7th, 2023. Experts in the field of hydrogen energy from more than 20 countries and regions such as China, Canada, Korea, Japan, Netherlands, Germany, etc. delivered speeches. At the same time, more than 300 exhibitors and 30,000 visitors from the global industry chain participated in the exhibition. FTXT, China's hydrogen energy brand, exhibited a variety of new products such as a 255kW high-power fuel cell system, 300kW graphite plate stack, 70MPa type IV hydrogen storage tank, and high-pressure valve for hydrogen, etc. The product performance and key technical indicators have reached the world's leading level, surpassing the current mainstream products in the international market. Furthermore, FTXT showcased the second generation of high-performance membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for the first time, applying ultra-thin film materials and mass-producible ordered MEA technology. Significant breakthroughs have been made in low-platinum technology, high mass transfer technology, low current density self-humidification technology, etc. The platinum loading is 0.3 mg/cm2, and the power density is > 1.8 W/cm2 @0.6V, outperforming the EU GAIA program and China's "14th Five-Year Plan" goals, reaching the international advanced level. FTXT continues to expand international cooperation and has signed hydrogen energy international strategic cooperation agreements with the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and local companies. It aims to promote the successful application experience obtained in China to Italy and the EU region, facilitating the rapid development of local green energy and hydrogen energy industries. With 21 years of application experience in the Chinese market, FTXT covers various application scenarios, including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (passenger cars, heavy duty trucks, buses), hydrogen-powered ships, combined heat and power (CHP), energy storage, etc. FTXT is expanding into the international market. Currently, China's hydrogen energy industry is entering an accelerated development phase, with many technological products surpassing the international leading level. Chinese hydrogen energy brands are making their way to the world. Follow the website of FTXT for more informationhttp://en.ftxt-e.com/ SOURCE FTXT JACKSON, Mich., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CMS Energy announced today it will provide 2023 second quarter results along with a business and financial outlook at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 27, 2023. A webcast of the presentation will be available on CMS Energy's website, cmsenergy.com. An audio replay will be available approximately three hours after the webcast and will be archived for 30 days on CMS Energy's website in the "Investor Relations" section. CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based energy company featuring Consumers Energy as its primary business. It also owns and operates independent power generation businesses. For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at cmsenergy.com. To sign up for email alert notifications, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website. SOURCE CMS Energy TORONTO and AUSTIN, Texas, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ComputerTalk, developer of ice Contact Center with Microsoft Teams, and Tethr, the leading AI-powered conversation intelligence platform, today announced the formation of a strategic partnership to help companies improve contact center performance and overall customer experience. ComputerTalk's ice Contact Center is a Microsoft Teams native contact center solution that modernizes the call center with business application integrations, AI, and analytics across all communication channels, helping organizations deliver outstanding customer experiences. With Tethr and ComputerTalk, customers can gain insights from customer conversations and create exceptional experiences. Tweet this Tethr is a cloud-based conversation intelligence platform that combines powerful AI and machine learning to surface insights from customer conversations from any communications channel and provide organizations with practical and proven steps to improve customer service metrics. As part of this partnership, the two software platforms will integrate seamlessly to provide ice Contact Center customers the ability to discover AI-driven insights they can use to improve customer service performance by reducing operating costs, lowering churn risk, and improving sales conversion. "We are excited to work with ComputerTalk to deliver an integrated solution for the Microsoft Teams contact center ecosystem," said Robert Beasley, CEO of Tethr. "Tethr's powerful analytics will enable ice customers to gain insights into their customer interactions and provide them with the tools they need to deliver an exceptional customer experience." "We are thrilled to partner with Tethr to provide our customers with an even more comprehensive set of tools to manage customer interactions," said Jean-Nicolas, VP Product Experience, "Our joint solution will provide businesses with a deeper understanding of their customers and enable them to improve their processes and strategies to deliver a world-class customer experience." About ComputerTalk Founded in 1987, ComputerTalk Technology Inc, is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. ComputerTalk is a global provider of enterprise-class Microsoft Teams-native and PBX-agnostic contact center products, cloud hosting services, and custom application development. For more information, visit computer-talk.com and follow ComputerTalk on LinkedIn . About Tethr Tethr envisions a world where every company listens, and every customer is heard. Tethr is a cloud-based conversation intelligence platform that combines powerful AI, machine learning, and over a decade of research to surface contextual insights from customer interactions. Tethr quickly and easily turns large amounts of unstructured customer conversation data into insights that fuel smarter decisions and improved business performance. For more information or to try out Tethr, visit tethr.com and follow Tethr on LinkedIn . CONTACT: Dean Cruse 512-657-8927 [email protected] SOURCE Tethr COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Condado Tacos, the award-winning taco joint, specializing in unique tacos, margaritas and tequilas in a colorful, energetic atmosphere, today launches its national partnership with Feeding America. Condado Tacos has committed to raising a minimum of $100,000 through the introduction today of its Southwest Midwest Taco, a roasted chicken double-decker taco with Sweet Lucy Shell priced at $5.65, with a percentage of the proceeds going toward the company's target fundraising goal. In addition, Condado's employees throughout their 46 locations will be provided volunteer opportunities to work at local food banks to make a direct impact on hunger in their local communities. 90% of all the funds raised by Condado Tacos during this Feeding America partnership remains in the local community and is donated to the local food bank partners. Feeding America Taco Feeding America is the largest hunger relief organization in the United States, and in 2022, 49 million people sought charitable food assistance, and the increased need for food continues with one in 6 people experiencing some level of hunger. Feeding America provides resources through its network of over 60,000 partner agencies, food banks and meal programs. $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local partner food banks. "We are thrilled to launch our most significant charitable partnership for Condado Tacos and make a real impact to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods," said Founder Joe Kahn. "When I started Condado in 2014, it has always been a focus of ours to make a difference to help those less fortunate and in need of hunger relief, and this partnership makes a statement for Condado Tacos to give back in a meaningful way." Also as part of the launch of Condado's Summer Menu, the Purple Haze Taco with housemade chorizo, starts at $4.85. The limited-time offer items are the Maui Fire Taco at $5, the Street Corn Guac, featuring our new chunky guac at $9.5 and the Sunrise Slush frozen margarita served in a 16-ounce ball jar and priced at $12, also featured for $8 during happy hour in certain markets. The summer menu is available from 7/11-10/2. About Condado Tacos Condado Tacos opened in 2014 with its first location in the Short North neighborhood near Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Since its founding, this the award-winning taco joint has grown to 46 restaurants in 16 markets: in metro areas such as Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Lexington, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Knoxville, Louisville, St. Louis and Charlotte with many more on the way in 2023 and recently bested 7 national taco brands to win the Taco Showdown, and has been named Breakout Brand of the Year and Breakout Retailer. Condado Tacos is all about craveable, fresh, preservative-free tacos, margaritas and tequilas in a colorful and social atmosphere, at a check average of $18-$19 per person. Condado Tacos prides itself on fresh, high-quality ingredients and its vibe is embracing the community while celebrating the individuality of its staff and its guests. About Feeding America Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 6.6 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Contact: Roger Drake 6314952676 [email protected]com SOURCE Condado Tacos Reinforces commitment to increasing economic opportunity and mobility for military spouses and their families DES MOINES, Iowa, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Safety Technology, a leader in safety and detection products and services helping people live responsibly and making communities safe, today announced that it has joined the Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership ("MSEP"). MSEP connects military spouses with hundreds of partner employers who commit to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses. Since its inception in 2011, MSEP employers have hired more than 260,000 military spouses. Consumer Safety Technology Joins Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership "We are honored to work with MSEP to support military spouses as part of our ongoing efforts to promote under-served segments of our communities," said Kathy Boden Holland, CEO, Consumer Safety Technology. "Our partnership with MSEP strongly aligns with our goals to drive a culture of diversity, inclusion and equity. We look forward to continuing to create a work environment that advances equal access to professional growth and advancement opportunities for military families." When it launched, MSEP was part of the White House's "Joining Forces" initiative. MSEP continues to be a key element of the Joining Forces initiative to increase economic opportunity and mobility for military families. The induction ceremony will be held in the fall in the DC area, providing CST and other partners the opportunity to network and learn about key strategies for hiring military spouses. CST and its family of comprehensive DUI solutions including Intoxalock, the number one ignition interlock brand in the US, Breathe Easy insurance, and New Directions assessments, is committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse workplace. In 2022, CST adopted a Diversity & Inclusion policy and created the D&I Council focused on cultural awareness and inclusion. To learn more about building a career with CST, please visit Consumer Safety Technology Careers. About Consumer Safety Technology Consumer Safety Technology and its family of brands have been making communities and roads in the United States safer for more than 30 years. CST provides consumers and monitoring authorities with products and services to effectively deter impaired driving and support individuals as they navigate the license restoration process. CST has helped millions of individuals to live and drive responsibly. By delivering exceptional customer experiences, CST has had an average annual revenue and EBITDA growth of 29 percent for the past five years. Intoxalock is the #1 ignition interlock brand in the US, and along with its associated brands, operates in all 50 states and has the largest and most convenient service center network with over 5,500 locations. Breathe Easy Insurance Solutions offers low-cost high-risk and other insurance solutions to customers in 42 states. New Directions, acquired in 2021, offers assessment services for alcohol, substance abuse, and other mental health or behavioral issues. CST is a portfolio company of L. Catterton. About Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities The Defense Department established the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program to provide education and career assistance to military spouses worldwide, offering free comprehensive resources and tools designed to help spouses meet their career and education goals. Resources include free career coaching services, the My Career Advancement Account scholarship for eligible spouses, and the Military Spouse Transition Program. SOURCE Consumer Safety Technology PRN Top Stories Newsletters Sign up to get PRNs top stories and curated news delivered to your inbox weekly! Enter Your Email Select Country Select Country Submit LOS ANGELES and GREENVILLE, S.C., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative agency and certified B Corporation, Brains on Fire Inc., has announced the hiring of Neph Trejo as their Chief Creative Officer. Neph joins the team after five years as Creative Director at The Walt Disney Company. "We are lucky at Brains on Fire to be on a wonderful growth trajectory right now. That means that adding great people to help service our clients and push our creative output is really important. But Neph is not just 'great people.' Neph brings extraordinary talent, vision and leadership to our team, but beyond that, he brings an embodiment of our highest ideals and values at Brains." Benjamin Hart, Co-President of Brains on Fire, Inc. and Partner of Mass Culture, Inc. Creative Agency Brains on Fire, Inc. Announcement of Neph Trejo as Chief Creative Officer. Tweet this "Brains cares about their people as much as they care about their client roster and the work, which is already fun. When Ben offered me the position to partner with him and Brandy as they take Brains into the next epoch, I was in. I love people and I love craft. I know this is the right place! I'll miss my team at Disney; I wish them the best as they continue to churn that pixie dust. I'm stoked for what's ahead here at Brains!" Neph, Chief Creative Officer Born in Mexico City, raised in Los Angeles, Neph Trejo studied graphic design at ArtCenter and began his professional career in the music industry. After a transition to the agency world, working with clients like Lexus, Belkin, and Target, Trejo spent a number of years at Deutsch LA, where he earned recognition and awards with the Volkswagen team. In 2018, Trejo joined Yellow Shoes (Disney's in-house agency) as Sr Creative and was promoted to Creative Director in 2021. At Disney, he led campaigns for DPEP, including Disneyland and Disney World. As Chief Creative Officer, Trejo will lead brand creative and design for Brains' clients, while infusing his creative expertise into all aspects of the company, from people development to new business. Brains on Fire was named as a 2023 top 10 small agency to work for by AdAge. In the past year, Brains has had the honor of bringing a number of brands to life, from Tom Hanks' Hanx For Our Troops to Ellen Pompeo's Betr Remedies. Brains was also recently named the agency of record for tonies USA. ABOUT BRAINS ON FIRE, INC: Brains on Fire, Inc. is a creative agency and certified B Corporation that specializes in helping brands and organizations grow through storytelling and meaningful human connection. Their clients include: BETR Remedies, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Green Park Brands, Hello Bello, tonies US, and others. Learn more at brainsonfire.com . ABOUT MASS CULTURE, INC: Mass Culture Inc. is a growth marketing agency that believes in the power of brand to drive conversion not the other way around. They specialize in growth marketing, whole picture analytics, complete customer journey, brand-first creative and D2C optimization. Learn more at massculture.com . CONTACT Brandy Amidon [email protected]ccom (864) 380.4979 SOURCE Brains on Fire, Inc. CTA Construction Managers was recently awarded the contract to construct the new 25,145 square foot fire station for the town of Stoughton, MA. STOUGHTON, Mass., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CTA Construction Managers, based in Waltham, MA, was awarded the contract to construct the new 25,145 square foot fire station for the town of Stoughton. The new fire station will be located on an undeveloped parcel of land on Prospect Street. It will house offices, training space, larger fire truck bays, and dormitories for both male and female firefighters, who currently must use the same facilities for showering and sleeping. The new station will also include an emergency operations center and public health headquarters, which would be able to handle an emergency distribution and vaccination center. Plans also include areas for showcasing historic memorabilia associated with the department's long history of serving the town. "We are very happy to be moving into the next phase of this project and look forward to breaking ground," said Fire Chief Michael Carroll. "We look forward to working on our 4th project with the team at CTA Construction Managers to bring this design to life," said Donald Walter, Principal in charge at Dore & Whittier , the firm that designed the new station. "The design creates a state-of-the-art emergency services facility that will be able to stay up to date with accommodating personnel, equipment, vehicles, and the town's growing needs for years to come," he continued. Previous projects CTA completed with Dore & Whittier include Weston High School, Webster's Park Avenue Elementary School, and the Scituate Public Safety Building. "Necessities like larger truck bays are vital to the town's ability to respond to a wide range of emergencies," said Taylor MacDonald, partner at Pomroy Associates , the town's Project Management firm. "For example, trucks used today have to contain equipment for HAZMAT situations and emergency medical equipment, which the larger bays will be able to accommodate." This will be CTA Construction 's second project for the town of Stoughton. They previously built the Stoughton Department of Public Works. About CTA Construction Managers LLC CTA Construction Managers is an award-winning construction management and general contracting firm specializing in municipal, academic, multi-family residential, commercial, and senior care facilities. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, CTA Construction's portfolio of projects total over $1.5 billion. Founded in 2000, CTA has awarded over $100,000,000 in contracts to certified small, disadvantaged, minority, and women owned partners. CTA is a leader in green building, helping numerous clients build sustainably and meet LEED and MA-CHPS standards. For more information, please visit: https://ctaconstruction.com/ Press Contact: Cori DiDonato Silver Tiger Consulting 8662768981 https://ctaconstruction.com/ SOURCE CTA Construction Managers LLC NEW YORK, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Culinary Agents offers Resume Digitization, the first-of its-kind, free service for job seekers. "After an extremely successful beta, it was clear that we uncovered a real roadblock. The overwhelming demand proved that busy, deskless workers in the hospitality industry want our help to go digital. Understanding that this service had the potential to change the career trajectory of many, we fast tracked to make it readily available for everyone," says Alice Cheng, Founder and CEO of Culinary Agents. Resume Digitization on CulinaryAgents.com Within a few months of soft launching the service, more than 75% of job applicants with PDF resumes requested that they be digitized. Now, after processing over 40K resumes, the Concierge Team at Culinary Agents has released Complimentary Resume Digitization to all of its members. The service assists users with their professional online presence by importing their work experience, school, training, certifications and skills to their profiles. Once digitized, they are able to use their completed profile to easily apply to the industry's most desired jobs on Culinary Agents. In addition, the user is able to more broadly benefit from the unique tools the platform offers (e.g., job matching, job alerts, employer brand discovery, managing job applications, etc.). "One of our goals was to reduce the friction so that talent are able to take advantage of our features and tools to help advance their careers. In order to do that, we had to take a step back and offer this foundational service," says Cheng. "We sit at the center of hospitality's online recruiting ecosystem, the service is already proving mutually beneficial for talent and businesses alike." Resume Digitization increases the visibility of active job seekers to hiring businesses. The site's AI job matching technology queues up relevant opportunities for users and facilitates the proactive recruitment by businesses of opt-in candidates who have the experience and expertise they are seeking. Culinary Agents will soon roll out additional data-driven resources and insights gathered from its unique platform to support and inspire talent as they strive to reach their career goals. Culinary Agents is a website and app for finding jobs and career-related information about the hospitality industry. Its growing community includes 1.5 million members and over 43,000 businesses nationwide. The platform empowers aspiring and existing talent to easily discover and apply to the best jobs. Culinary Agents also provides job marketing, recruiting and employer branding solutions to help businesses hire the best talent. Contact To learn more, please contact: Jennifer Pesce 500 7th Avenue, Floor 8 New York, NY 10018 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 646.770.1213 culinaryagents.com SOURCE Culinary Agents LOUISVILLE, Ky., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dealer Trade Network, the inventory optimization solution for new car dealerships, is driving into the future with a new brand and modern logo redesign ahead of celebrating its 20th birthday next March. How It Works Dealer Trade Network is the only company using proprietary data and analytics to inform market strategy and unit placement in the end-to-end new car trade and fulfillment process. The company connects buying and selling franchise dealerships, facilitates payments, and manages the entire delivery process. As a result, dealerships turn their floorplan faster and increase monthly revenue. Dealer Trade Network moves new vehicles between franchise dealerships and manages the end-to-end fulfillment process. Tweet this "With our investments in data, technology, and branding, the future has never been brighter for Dealer Trade Network," said Christian Miller, CEO. "Our new brand highlights Dealer Trade Network's commitment to being the best at predicting, prescribing, and executing new car dealership trades." New Brand Attributes Dealer Trade Network's new brand represents growth in the company's capabilities and the desire to form strategic partnerships and meet the needs of franchise dealerships in a way that saves time and money. Refreshed brand campaign: "From Discovery to Delivery" reinforces Dealer Trade Network's mission to help franchise dealers make their floor plan meet market demand, from the beginning to the end of the entire dealer-to-dealer trade process. New tagline: "America's Trading Floor for New Cars" bolsters Dealer Trade Networks position as the premier, end-to-end trade and fulfillment solution for new car dealers helping them both source and sell new car inventory. Updated logo: The logo's transportation lines represent franchise dealerships connecting and trading new car inventory through the Dealer Trade Network. ABOUT DEALER TRADE NETWORK With a combination of proprietary software, trusted industry relationships, and deep market expertise, Dealer Trade Network manages the end-to-end trade and fulfillment process that moves new vehicles between franchise dealerships so that dealers can match their floor plans with local market demands. The company facilitates the trade of more than 9,500 new vehicles nationwide annually across 4,000 new car dealers. For more information, visit dealertradenetwork.com. SOURCE Dealer Trade Network STOCKHOLM, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's first carbon accounting engine Normative continues to empower enterprise customers with data to stay compliant with legislation and capture business opportunities. Recently signed-up customers Deluxe and John F Hunt Ltd. are amongst the thousands of businesses that inform their decision making with accurate and robust carbon data powered by Normative. Carbon reporting legislation is becoming a pressure point for companies. Those that stay ahead of the curve will mitigate their risk and capture business opportunities. Deluxe and John F Hunt use carbon accounting engine Normative to stay competitive Deluxe is the world's leading multimedia company. In 2023, Deluxe began working with Normative to calculate their entire carbon footprint. "Without an accurate baseline, it's very hard to monitor progress toward your goals. Carbon accounting is complex, and having good data is so important to see the full extent of your business's environmental impact", says Dee Davison, Global Director of Sustainability at Deluxe. Another recently signed customer to Normative is John F Hunt Ltd., active in the construction industry. "Over the past few years, we have seen an increasing demand from clients to disclose our carbon emissions on a regular basis. For us, it is a business imperative to have accurate and up-to-date emissions data available. Normative allows us to highlight areas that contribute to our footprint and engage with our supply chain to drive down our emissions as we seek to become Net-Zero" says Tom Seath, Sustainability Manager at John F Hunt. Normative's methodology is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The engine enables businesses to comprehensively calculate their emissions. Normative draws from over 30 million data points to translate a business's activities and financial spend into a carbon footprint calculation. Powered by automation, the engine is especially valuable for large enterprises, whose complex operations and value chains are difficult to parse manually. "We see from our customers that staying ahead of the curve with carbon accounting can also translate into ROI and opportunities," says Maggie Buggie, COO of Normative. About Normative Normative is the world's first carbon accounting engine, enabling enterprises to calculate their full carbon footprints and reduce their emissions to net zero. Normative delivers accurate and comprehensive carbon calculations through scope 1, 2, and 3 for enterprises globally and accelerates the transition to net zero and partners with leading climate change organizations including the UN. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2147106/Deluxe_and_John_F_Hunt.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2147220/Normative_Logo.jpg Contact Cassandra Julin Email: [email protected] Phone: 0046702866861 SOURCE Normative SAN FRANCISCO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. smart bathroom market was USD 303.7 million in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.7 percent from 2023 to 2030. The U.S. smart bathroom products consumer insight report has been developed using a CAWI survey with a sample size of over 1000 in the U.S. The respondents own a home in the U.S. and have at least one smart bathroom product installed. The survey result gives insights into factors such as consumer buying behavior, preference, demographics, brand awareness, and the impact of marketing on product adoption. In this latest survey, consumers stated convenience & ease of use, improved functionality & features, and utility cost savings to be the key reasons for them switching to smart bathroom products. Over 60 percent of the respondents indicated that the improved functionality & features offered by smart bathroom products drive the choice over traditional products. The survey observed that consumers in the age group of 55-64 years find enhanced aesthetics and design to be the most influential factor driving their decision to purchase smart bathroom products, with a share of 21.3 percent, followed by convenience of use with nearly 18 percent. Kohler was the most installed brand of smart bathroom products in the U.S., with a very high level of consumer satisfaction, the study found. A large range of products, along with easy availability, are key factors responsible for the largest market penetration of the brand. Get access detailed survey report, " U.S. Smart Bathroom Products Consumer Insights, 2023 (Demography, Income, Attitude, Brand Perception, Buying Behavior) ", published by Grand View Research. The survey revealed that a majority of U.S. homeowners who have installed smart bathroom products in their homes were between the ages of 35 years and 44 years, followed by 25 years and 34 years old. The younger age groups are more tech-savvy and likely to adopt new technologies than older age groups. In addition, it was observed that product penetration was over two third for consumers with household income over USD 150,000 per annum. Among the key regions in the U.S., the penetration of smart bathroom products was comparatively higher in the Northeast and Southwest regions, according to the survey findings. Higher average household incomes, higher purchasing power, and greater awareness and access to smart technologies were seen to be the major reasons behind these geographic trends. Key Highlights According to the survey, over 85 percent of the respondents owned smart bathroom products. Among the bathroom products, smart showerheads observed the highest penetration, followed by smart shower systems with a penetration rate of nearly 45 percent. The survey found maintenance and cleaning complications to be one of the major pain points of customers, as indicated by over 50 percent of the respondents. In-store shopping was the most preferred form of purchase with over 60 percent of respondents preferring this option over online. The study also found that the shifting of consumers to online channels will continue in the coming years, with over 20 percent of respondents stating easy comparisons as the key reason for preferring online platforms. Signature Hardware had the largest installations for smart showerheads /shower systems with over 40 percent market penetration, the survey found. The survey observed Pfister Faucets, Moen, Delta Faucets, and American Standard to be companies whose brands had high product penetration. Pfister users reported high brand satisfaction with over two-thirds of the respondents being happy with the brand being installed. Toto was a popular brand for smart toilets. Features and functionality, coupled with lower price, make Toto a preferred brand for consumers in the U.S., the study observed. WEWE, an Amazon brand, has only online presence and sells its products through its parent company website. Low price is a major driving factor for the penetration of WEWE. The survey found that the penetration rate for smart touchless (motion sense) bathroom faucets was the lowest at around 29 percent. High cost is a major deterrent to the sale of these products. Browse through more survey and market trend reports published by Grand View Research. Smart Bathroom Consumer Insight Report Details Demographic Analysis : This section provides categorizations of the target consumer group based on parameters, such as age, income, ethnicity, gender, and region, along with household penetration rates of smart bathroom products. : This section provides categorizations of the target consumer group based on parameters, such as age, income, ethnicity, gender, and region, along with household penetration rates of smart bathroom products. Consumer Trends & Preferences : This section provides insights into the impacts of brand marketing & promotional activities; major pain points of consumers; the willingness of consumers to pay premium prices for smart bathroom products; and brand awareness and the likelihood of future purchases of preferred brands. : This section provides insights into the impacts of brand marketing & promotional activities; major pain points of consumers; the willingness of consumers to pay premium prices for smart bathroom products; and brand awareness and the likelihood of future purchases of preferred brands. Factors Influencing Buying Behavior : Key factors, such as price, brand awareness, promotional activities, plumber recommendations, technology, place of purchase, and product attributes, are assessed in this section to understand the magnitude of their influence on consumer decisions to purchase smart bathroom products. : Key factors, such as price, brand awareness, promotional activities, plumber recommendations, technology, place of purchase, and product attributes, are assessed in this section to understand the magnitude of their influence on consumer decisions to purchase smart bathroom products. Consumer Product Adoption Trends: This section aims to uncover the reasons for and likelihood of consumers switching smart bathroom brands, with further investigation of the reasons for switching within each of the considered age groups. The section also provides insights into the consumer propensity to purchase/repurchase smart bathroom products. U.S. Smart Bathroom Products Consumer Insights Survey Report Scope Report Attributes Details Demographic Analysis Consumer Demographic Analysis, by Age Consumer Demographic Analysis, by Income Consumer Demographic Analysis, by Ethnicity Consumer Demographic Analysis, by Gender Consumer Demographic Analysis, by Region Household Penetration Consumer Trends & Preferences Impacts of brand marketing & promotional activities Consumer willingness to pay premium Pain points of consumers Brand Awareness Brands installed at home Factors Influencing Buying Behavior Price Brand/Brand Awareness Promotional Activities Plumber Recommendations Technology Place of Purchase Product Attributes Consumer Product Adoption Trends Reasons for consumers switching to smart bathroom products Reasons for switching, by age group Likelihood of purchasing/repurchasing smart bathroom products About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer an in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: 1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Grand View Compass | Market Trend Reports Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc. CommCare, a digital platform used by health organizations and government entities around the world, now widely available domestically to improve program efficacy across sectors in the U.S. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dimagi , a technology partner for public and community health, has announced an expansion of its globally-acclaimed products and services across the United States. Dimagi's flagship product, CommCare , which has been developed and refined through 3,000+ successful global projects with international governments and NGOs, will now be widely available to support pressing and complex public and community health initiatives across the U.S. "The U.S. is reeling from unprecedented health, behavioral and social epidemics in a post-pandemic environment, which has underscored our nation's urgent need for coordinated, interoperable interventions," said Jonathan Jackson, CEO and co-founder of Dimagi. "Expensive, single use solutions drag down our understaffed and underfunded agencies and organizations, and ultimately, hinder the outcomes which they were implemented to solve in the first place. We're in critical need of affordable solutions that can be deployed horizontally across the whole healthcare ecosystem." CommCare is an alternative to the complex, siloed and expensive solutions currently available. It provides an interface to build custom workforce solutions that can streamline mobile and offline data collection and reporting, case management and decision support while prioritizing reducing burden for end-users. CommCare was first offered to the U.S. market during the Covid-19 pandemic and is now available to support organizations in a broad array of public and community health initiatives. "At the onset of the pandemic, we received requests from overwhelmed agencies looking for reliable solutions with a global track record of effectiveness. We were able to quickly spin up localized solutions in the U.S. when we were needed most," Jackson said. "CommCare is low-code, sustainable and can span across all verticals that impact a community's health outcomes, and we're excited to now offer it more broadly across the states." CommCare has seen rapid implementation across the U.S. since its entry in 2020 and now has presence in 8 states that have deployed custom solutions. When partnered with agencies and organizations, CommCare enables programs across behavioral and public health providing solutions for bed and patient tracking, care coordination, provider directories and referral systems. A few custom U.S. CommCare deployments include: A Covid-19 digital response solution developed and localized for New York , New Jersey , Colorado , Alaska , Pennsylvania and the Navajo Nation that allowed these governments to support their users with rapid case investigation, contact tracing and surveillance. , , , , and the Navajo Nation that allowed these governments to support their users with rapid case investigation, contact tracing and surveillance. An innovative team-based care model solution in Vermont implemented across four different agencies aiming to tackle the mounting housing crisis. implemented across four different agencies aiming to tackle the mounting housing crisis. A community health worker (CHW) support program deployed in Florida and Texas deployed in and A coordinated support program for individuals recently released from incarceration or returning citizens (RCs) and a support program for the reduction of the health equity gap of veteran RCs. Founded in 2002 out of MIT and Harvard Medical School's joint division Health Science Tech, Dimagi was among the first Certified B Corporations established in Massachusetts. Dimagi's services and products have been successfully implemented for both pilot-phase projects and enterprise-wide deployments with over 300 partners worldwide including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Health Organization, World Bank, USAID, CDC, NIH, World Vision, UNICEF, PATH, the Rockefeller Foundation and Acumen Fund. Dimagi's Video Directly Observed Therapy (VDOT) solution, SureAdhere , which was founded out of US San Diego in 2014 and acquired by Dimagi in 2022, provides remote treatment video support tools across a wide variety of uses. SureAdhere is currently deployed in Vermont and Illinois as a VDOT tool for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), with an additional 388 county public health agencies across 18 states utilizing SureAdhere for tuberculosis treatment support. About Dimagi Dimagi is a global social enterprise that powers impactful frontline work through scalable digital solutions and services. Since 2002, Dimagi has been guided by a vision of a world where everyone has access to the services they need to thrive. Dimagi is most well-known as the makers of CommCare, the most widely-deployed digital platform for enabling Frontline Workers. Governments and organizations across all sectors use customized mobile, web and SMS applications built on CommCare to deliver services at the frontline. Dimagi is a certified Benefit Corporation with teams in the United States, India, South Africa, Senegal and around the world. Learn more at https://dimagi.com/us-health/. SOURCE Dimagi, Inc. Summer's most coveted family travel gig is back with a $15,000 payday, endless funnel cake, and more PARSIPPANY, N.J., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Outrageously delicious food, hog-calling contests, carnival games, and endless activities summertime officially marks the return of the Midwest's iconic state fairs, bringing on smiles, laughter, and full stomachs for families across the Heartland. To celebrate an iconic summer staple, AmericInn by Wyndham the family-friendly hotel brand recognized as America's welcoming neighbor is back offering this summer's best gig: State Fair Family. The hotel brand seeks one adventurous family to travel across the Midwest in search of the best each state fair has to offer. Best of all, the job comes with a $15,000 payday. AmericInn by Wyndham has launched a search for its second State Fair Family, a dream job that comes with a $15,000 family payday. From Iowa to Illinois, state fairs have played a fundamental role in United States culture for over a century with a knack for captivating people of all ages. AmericInn's second annual State Fair Family will have the enviable task of soaking it all in, visiting three iconic state fairs over the course of a week and sharing their pro tips and tricks along the way via social media. In exchange for the family's hard work of sampling finger-licking powdered sugar covered confections and stomaching swirling, adrenaline-inducing rides, the winning family will be provided with hotel arrangements including a $10,000 travel stipend and $5,000 cash. The family will also score a suitcase packed to the brim with AmericInn swag, an upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Diamond membership, and lasting memories for a lifetime. "Just like it's all about family-friendly fun at the fairground, guests count on AmericInn hotels to connect them to memorable experiences across the heartland and beyond," said Clem Bence, vice president and brand leader, AmericInn by Wyndham. "Alongside the good old-fashioned hospitality and modern comforts at our hotels, the lucky State Fair Family will fully immerse themselves in the best of the Midwest's iconic state fairs, all while captivating an audience on social media with their memorable adventures along the way." Now through July 25, families looking for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity can showcase their state fair love by submitting a written or video application via [email protected] or by visiting www.americinn.com/fairfamily. Submissions should demonstrate what makes each family the ideal candidates for the role, while showcasing family flair and social-media savviness. About the Role: This dream job entails road tripping with your family to some of America's most iconic state fairs and creating lasting memories through captured moments on social media. Your family's creative content and experiences will be featured on the AmericInn brand website and social media channels. Responsibilities: Attend three separate Midwest state fairs over the course of one-week, on or about August 10 - August 18, 2023 Document your adventures in real-time with unique photo and video content Contribute to the future AmericInn "Best of the Midwest Fair Guide" Inspire others by sharing your experiences on your social media channels Qualifications: A social media-savvy family with active social media accounts (TikTok and Instagram preferred) Parents or guardians must be at least 21 years old U.S. resident with a valid federal or state-issued ID and ability to drive to select locations Families must be available to travel on or about August 10 August 18, 2023 The Perks: 7 paid nights at AmericInn hotels $10,000 travel stipend (includes airfare, ground transportation, and on-the-go travel expenses) travel stipend (includes airfare, ground transportation, and on-the-go travel expenses) $5,000 cash cash Wyndham Rewards Diamond level membership Diamond level membership Suitcase full of AmericInn swag Core memories from the most epic summer vacation ever How to Apply: Visit http://www.americinn.com/fairfamily or email [email protected] by July 25, 2023 to submit a 300-word minimum written entry and family photo or a 60-second or shorter video describing what makes your family the ideal candidate for the job. Families should also provide [the] handles to any public and active social media accounts. Video submissions are highly encouraged to help assess applicants' storytelling skills and social savviness before selecting the winning family. by to submit a 300-word minimum written entry and family photo a 60-second or shorter video describing what makes your family the ideal candidate for the job. Families should also provide [the] handles to any public and active social media accounts. Video submissions are highly encouraged to help assess applicants' storytelling skills and social savviness before selecting the winning family. Applications must be submitted by adults 21 years and older and the entrant must have consent for all parties in the video. Families must be available to travel domestically in August 2023 . Entries must comply with official rules. AmericInn will select the winning family on or about the week of August 2, 2023. No purchase is necessary to enter. Approximate retail value of the award package is $16,500. For more information, including official rules, visit www.americinn.com/fairfamily. About AmericInn by Wyndham AmericInn by Wyndham prides itself on delivering quality stays and genuine, neighborly service at more than 200 locations across the United States. Contemporary curb appeal, consistency and guest satisfaction are the brand's specialties, providing a warm retreat complete with hot breakfast, high-speed Wi-Fi, and warm java on the house. For more information, visit www.americinn.com , and like AmericInn on Facebook . About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,100 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 845,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 24 hotel brands, including Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Microtel, La Quinta, Baymont, Wingate, AmericInn, Hawthorn Suites, Trademark Collection and Wyndham. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers approximately 101 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com. SOURCE Wyndham Hotels & Resorts PANAMA CITY, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE: CPA) announces the following events (please note the change in the earnings call time versus our previous press release): Earnings Release Second Quarter 2023 Date: August 9, 2023 Time: After US market close This release will be available on our website: https://copa.gcs-web.com/financial-information/quarterly-results Earnings Conference Call and Webcast Date: August 10, 2023 Time: 10:00 AM US ET (9:00 AM Local Time) Join by phone: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI4c91a9ca6f634c05bd431cabc09bb55d Webcast (listen-only): https://copa.gcs-web.com/events-and-presentations Speakers: Pedro Heilbron, Chief Executive Officer Jose Montero, Chief Financial Officer We encourage our listeners to join the conference via webcast. Please access the website several minutes prior to the scheduled start time, allowing sufficient time to register, download and install any necessary software. If you are unable to listen to or access this presentation at the scheduled time, a webcast replay option will be available at the above website shortly after the conference. Copa Holdings is a leading Latin American provider of passenger and cargo services. The Company, through its operating subsidiaries, provides service to countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. For more information visit www.copaair.com. CPA-G PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: Daniel Tapia Panama Director Investor Relations 011 (507) 304-2774 SOURCE Copa Holdings, S.A. Epidemic Sound has today unveiled its vision for next-generation soundtracking, touting AI and innovation to supercharge the creator economy and artistic expression The next step toward this vision is the launch of Soundmatch: an AI-powered, music discovery tool that saves time and delivers vastly better results for content creators The tool uses AI to analyze frames within a creator's chosen video, then leverages data insight from over two billion daily views of YouTube videos with Epidemic Sound music to recommend tracks perfectly suited to each visual scene Soundmatch joins Epidemic Sound's existing suite of AI-powered functions and innovative soundtracking tools, alongside the world's largest restriction-free catalog STOCKHOLM, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Epidemic Sound, the market-leading soundtrack innovation platform, today unveiled its vision for AI's impact on the creator economy and next-generation soundtracking for content creators, launching Soundmatch in the process. "AI is triggering a renaissance of creativity; it has the potential to increase both content creation and consumption tenfold," commented Oscar Hoglund, Co-Founder and CEO at Epidemic Sound. "Innovation and AI-powered tools will supercharge existing content creators and lower the barrier of entry for emerging creatives, likely leading to a huge surge in people producing and consuming online content." The creator economy is currently expected to nearly double in size by 2027 and AI holds potential to bolster this, causing a swell in demand for innovative tools to support creators. 97% of content creators believe AI will help them automate repetitive or time-consuming tasks, paving the way for market leaders to introduce next-generation soundtracking for content creators. "Soundtrack innovation and AI tools will, before long, make it completely frictionless for creators to add music and sound effects to content through our platform or via one of our partner video editing services," commented Greg Elkehag Funk, Chief Product Officer at Epidemic Sound. "We foresee a fully immersive creator experience that's seamlessly integrated into their workflow to provide an intuitive connection between video and sound. This could include user interfaces that adapt to any creator request - given in any medium - to provide accurate music recommendations driven by real-world sound-to-story performance insights; or powerful tools that keep the creator in control while harnessing AI to do the tedious work in an instant. Today, we're delighted to launch Soundmatch as the next step on this journey." Soundmatch leverages a combination of AI and data insight, to deliver better music discovery results and save content creators time: a commodity that is becoming increasingly strained in the evolving social media landscape. It enables them to play their video on the Epidemic Sound platform and get a selection of recommended tracks that fit perfectly with the visual content. The Soundmatch AI analyzes the visual frames within a video, translating them into the relevant keywords of a semantic search. Data insight of how these keywords are typically used at scale - powered by over two billion daily views of YouTube videos containing Epidemic Sound music - then enables Soundmatch to provide creators with a list of recommended tracks perfectly suited to each visual scene. "Our focus is clear: we're laser-focused on our customer needs, including making sure they have both high-quality music and the technical means to easily find and use the perfect track. This commitment aligns with the findings of our "The Future of the Creator Economy Report 2023", which revealed that 98% of respondents view music as essential for creating engaging content. Our tools are powered by a team of technology and AI experts, who are also exploring new soundtracking territory to create services people never knew they needed, but then can't live without," continued Greg Elkehag Funk, Chief Product Officer at Epidemic Sound. "AI will, for sure, play a huge part in our future offering for creators, but only when it solves a genuine challenge for them. It's one exciting aspect of our broader innovation efforts to make the process of soundtracking content as fast and effective as possible." Soundmatch joins Epidemic Sound's existing suite of AI-powered tools, which includes its 'Music Recommender' (2020), the 'More of what you like' feature (2020) and the audio-based search tool, 'Epidemic Audio Reference (EAR)' (2022). The news also follows the release of the company's audio-visual preview tool, 'Sync to Video'; the launch of its most powerful search engine yet; and the announcement that it recently added 5,000 tracks uniquely tailored to customer needs through its comprehensive music intake strategy and roster of world-class artists. On generative AI and music, Epidemic Sound CEO and Co-Founder, Oscar Hoglund, commented: "AI, particularly in regards to music and art, must be built responsibly with ethical considerations at the forefront. While our AI experts are right now focusing on meeting the technical needs of content creators, we also fully own the world's largest restriction-free catalog of top-quality, stem-based tracks, have unparalleled data insight on how that music performs online, a wealth of human feedback from in-product experiences, and over 500 employees united around a purpose to empower artists and content creators. Epidemic Sound is, if not the best-positioned, then one of the best-positioned to explore building a system that holistically supports artists and content creators, harnessing AI's capabilities while keeping artistic authenticity, integrity, and fair remuneration at the core." To view Soundmatch, see here. To preview the company's vision for AI-powered soundtracking for content creators, see here. To check out Epidemic's full range of tracks and sound effects, visit https://www.epidemicsound.com/. CONTACT: Stephen Setchell Senior Global PR Manager [email protected] The following files are available for download: SOURCE Epidemic Sound CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's latest research report, the Europe hyperscale data center market will grow at a CAGR of 5.72% during 2022-2028. To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3841 Europe Hyperscale Data Center Market Report by Arizton The Europe hyperscale data center market is one of the most developed markets globally. Investments in hyperscale data centers across FLAP and Ireland data center markets in Europe grew significantly. These markets are the largest in terms of IT infrastructure procurement. Hyperscale data center operators are involved in the rapid expansion of their cloud platforms across Europe. Hyperscale data centers are large mission-critical facilities that support robust and scalable applications. Also, these data center variants are often associated with big data-producing companies. Google, Oracle, AWS, Apple, and Microsoft are some of the major hyperscale companies operating data centers with a global presence. Similarly, Tencent is another major cloud company. Europe Hyperscale Data Center Market Report Scope Report Attributes Details Market Size (2028) USD 39.69 Billion Market Size (2022) USD 28.42 Billion CAGR by Revenue (2022-2028) 5.72 % Market Size - Area (2028) 4.36 Million Square Feet Power Capacity (2028) 882 MW Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 Market Segmentation Infrastructure, IT Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure, Mechanical Infrastructure, Cooling Systems, Cooling Technique, General Construction, Tier Standards, and Geography Geographic Analysis Western Europe, Nordics, and Central & Eastern European Countries Market Dynamics Cloud-Based Services Adoption to Drive the Market Shift From On-Premises to Cloud and Colocation The advent of IoT & Big Data Technologies Government Support for Data Center Development Growing Submarine and Inland Connectivity Adoption of OCP and Hyperscale Infrastructure Customize Your Report Now: If our report does not include the information you are searching for, you may contact us to have a report tailored to your specific business needs https://www.arizton.com/customize-report/3841 Market Key Trends High Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence is making inroads across Europe . Governments and businesses are taking multiple initiatives to implement and utilize the potential of artificial intelligence. . Governments and businesses are taking multiple initiatives to implement and utilize the potential of artificial intelligence. Countries like Germany , the U.K., and many others have already developed national strategies for AI, and few other countries are taking concrete steps to deploy AI. , the U.K., and many others have already developed national strategies for AI, and few other countries are taking concrete steps to deploy AI. Spain launched AI regulatory sandbox in June 2022 . launched AI regulatory sandbox in . Portugal has launched an AI-based i4.0 program to improve the technology environment in the country. Sustainability Initiatives Attracting Data Center Operators European Union is continuously working towards making energy consumption completely green with new laws and regulations. Countries like U.K., France , and others have already signed Paris Agreement; therefore, it is binding on them to eliminate fossil fuel as an energy source and replace existing power capacity with renewable energy. , and others have already signed Paris Agreement; therefore, it is binding on them to eliminate fossil fuel as an energy source and replace existing power capacity with renewable energy. The Climate Neutral Data Center Pact has also prompted operators to move towards 100% renewable energy by 2030. Governments across Europe are moving towards renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources. are moving towards renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources. The U.K. government is moving towards 100% renewable energy by 2035. Germany wants to have net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. The Western Europe Hyperscale Data Center Market by Investment to Reach $30.10 Billion by 2028 The UK, France, Spain, and Germany are leading destinations for data center development. At the same time, there are also emerging markets, such as Ireland, with projects from Facebook, Equinix, Digital Realty, and CyrusOne; Italy, with projects from Equinix & Vantage Data Centers; and Switzerland, with projects from Interxion (Digital Realty) and Equinix. The Europe hyperscale data center market will also witness the continuous adoption of cloud services among SMEs due to the heightened interest shown in the digital transformation of businesses through solutions, such as IoT, Big data, and AI. The data center market in Western Europe is witnessing investment contributions from global and local data center service providers. The demand for smart devices and growth internet penetration will also fuel the growth of colocation data centers and corresponding infrastructure in the region. Data centers in Western Europe are built to support OCP rack infrastructure solutions. This is aided by the growth of ODM solutions in the market. Countries such as Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, and Greece will likely contribute to the Western European data center market in the upcoming years. Therefore, hyperscale investments in these countries will majorly boost the investment opportunities for vendors. Buy the Report Now: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/europe-hyperscale-data-center-market Post-Purchase Benefit 1hr of free analyst discussion 10% of customization Key Market Participants Microsoft, Google, and Meta are major investors in the Europe hyperscale data center market in terms of cloud players. Equinix, Digital Realty, Vantage Data Centers, CyrusOne, and NTT are major colocation operators in developing hyperscale facilities across the Europe hyperscale data center market. hyperscale data center market. Eaton, Vertiv, Schneider Electric, and others are investing in lithium-ion-based UPS systems. Also, these companies are providing electrical infrastructure for hyperscale development across Europe . . Companies like Eaton, Vertiv, Schneider Electric, and many others are supplying Lithium-ion based UPS systems, smart-grid solutions, and new switchgears compatible with different sources of power supplies. Companies like Ferrovial, Arup, RED, ISG, M+W Group, and others will see increased demand for developing hyperscale data center facilities. Market Vendors Key Data Center IT Infrastructure Providers Arista Networks ATOS Broadcom Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Extreme Networks Fujitsu Hitachi Vantara Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Huawei Technologies IBM INSPUR Juniper Networks Lenovo MiTAC Holdings NEC Corporation NetApp Pure Storage Quanta Cloud Technology (Quanta Computer) Super Micro Computer Wistron Corporation Key Data Center Support Infrastructure Providers 3M ABB Airedale International Air Conditioning Aermec Alfa Laval Aksa Power Generation Carrier Caterpillar Condair Climaveneta Cummins D'HONDT THERMAL SOLUTIONS Daikin Applied Delta Electronics Eaton ebm-papst EMICON INNOVATION AND COMFORT Enrogen Flaktgroup Grundfos Guntner Gesab HiRef HITEC Power Protection Honeywell International Johnson Controls Kohler-SDMO KyotoCooling Legrand Mitsubishi Electric Munters NetNordic Nlyte Software (Carrier Global Corporation) Perkins Engines Piller Power Systems Reillo Elettronica (Riello UPS) Rittal Rolls-Royce Schneider Electric Siemens Socomec STULZ Trane ( Ingersoll Rand ) ) Vertiv Prominent Construction Contractors AECOM AODC AEON Engineering ARC:MC Ariatta ARSMAGNA Artelia Arup Aurora Group Atkins Basler & Hofmann BENTHEM CROUWEL ARCHITECTS Bouygues Construction Callaghan Engineering CAP INGELEC Coromatic (E.ON) Deerns Designer Group Dipl.-Ing. H. C. Hollige Dornan DPR Construction Etop EYP MCF Ferrovial Fluor Corporation Free Technologies Engineering Future-tech Granlund Group GreenMDC Gottlieb Paludan Architects Haka Moscow ICT Facilities IDOM IMOS ISG JCA Engineering JERLAURE Kirby Group Engineering Linesight M+W Group Mace Mercury Metnor Construction MT Hojgaard Nicholas Webb Architects (NWA) (NWA) Norma Engineering Oakmont Construction PM Group Power Quality Control (PQC) Quark Ramboll Group RED Royal HaskoningDHV STARCHING STO Building Group STRABAG STS Group Sweco TPF Ingenierie TTSP Turner & Townsend Warbud Winthrop Engineering and Contracting YIT ZAUNERGROUP Prominent Data Center Investors Amazon Web Services (AWS) Apple Aruba atNorth (Partners Group) Colt Data Centre Services (COLT DCS) CyrusOne DATA4 DigiPlex (IPI Partners) Digital Realty Echelon Data Centres EcoDataCenter Equinix Facebook (Meta) Global Switch Google Green Mountain Iron Mountain (IO) Ixcellerate Kevlinx Microsoft NTT Global Data Centers Orange Business Services Rostelecom Data Centers (RTK-DC) T5 Data Centers Vantage Data Centers Verne Global Virtus Data Centres (ST Telemedia Global Data Centres) Yondr Global Technical Realty Stratus DC Management Market Segmentation Infrastructure IT Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure General Construction IT Infrastructure Server Infrastructure Storage Infrastructure Network Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer Switches & Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Racks Other Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling System CRAC & CRAH Units Chiller Units Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers Economizers & Evaporative Coolers Other Cooling Units Cooling Technique Air-based Cooling Technique Liquid-based Cooling Technique General Construction Core & Shell Development Installation & Commissioning Services Engineering & Building Design Fire Detection & Suppression Physical Security DCIM/BMS Solutions Geography Western Europe The UK Germany France Netherlands Ireland Italy Spain Other Western European Countries Nordics Denmark Sweden Norway Finland Central & Eastern European Countries Poland Other Central & Eastern European Countries Budget Limitation? Contact us for Special Discount and Pricing Key Questions Answered in the Report: How big is the Europe hyperscale data center market? What is the growth rate of the Europe hyperscale data center market? What is the estimated market size in terms of area in the Europe hyperscale data center market by 2028? What are the key trends in the Europe hyperscale data center market? How many MW of power capacity is expected to reach the Europe hyperscale data center market by 2028? Check Out Some of the Top Selling Research Reports: Table of Content 1. REPORT COVERAGE 1.1. WHAT'S INCLUDED 1.2. SEGMENTAL COVERAGE 1.2.1. MARKET SEGMENTATION BY INFRASTRUCTURE 1.2.2. MARKET SEGMENTATION BY ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 1.2.3. MARKET SEGMENTATION BY MECHANICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 1.2.4. MARKET SEGMENTATION BY COOLING SYSTEM 1.2.5. MARKET SEGMENTATION BY COOLING TECHNIQUE 1.2.6. MARKET SEGMENTATION BY GENERAL CONSTRUCTION MARKET AT A GLANCE INFRASTRUCTURE SEGMENTATION GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTATION PREMIUM INSIGHTS 5.1. KEY HIGHLIGHTS 5.2. KEY TRENDS THAT IMPACT EUROPE HYPERSCALE DATA CENTER MARKET 5.3. GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS 5.4. SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS 5.5. KEY MARKET PARTICIPANTS MARKET OPPORTUNITIES & TRENDS 6.1. ADOPTION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 6.2. SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES ATTRACTING DATA CENTER OPERATORS 6.3. DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT HEATING CONCEPT 6.4. INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES OF DATA CENTERS MARKET GROWTH ENABLERS 7.1. CLOUD-BASED SERVICE ADOPTION 7.2. SHIFT FROM ON-PREMISES TO CLOUD & COLOCATION 7.3. ADVENT OF IOT & BIG DATA TECHNOLOGIES 7.4. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT 7.5. GROWTH IN SUBMARINE & INLAND CONNECTIVITY 7.6. ADOPTION OF OCP & HYPERSCALE INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET RESTRAINTS 8.1. SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS 8.2. INCREASED CARBON EMISSIONS FROM DATA CENTERS 8.3. LACK OF SKILLED WORKFORCE 8.4. SECURITY CHALLENGES MARKET LANDSCAPE 9.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 9.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 9.3. AREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 9.4. POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST INFRASTRUCTURE 10.1. MARKET SNAPSHOT 10.2. KEY HIGHLIGHTS 10.3. IT INFRASTRUCTURE 10.3.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 10.3.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 10.4. ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 10.4.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 10.4.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 10.5. MECHANICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 10.5.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 10.5.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 10.6. GENERAL CONSTRUCTION 10.6.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 10.6.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST IT INFRASTRUCTURE 11.1. MARKET SNAPSHOT 11.2. SERVER INFRASTRUCTURE 11.2.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 11.2.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 11.3. STORAGE INFRASTRUCTURE 11.3.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 11.3.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 11.4. NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE 11.4.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 11.4.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 12.1. MARKET SNAPSHOT 12.2. UPS SYSTEMS 12.2.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 12.2.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 12.3. GENERATORS 12.3.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 12.3.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 12.4. TRANSFER SWITCHES & SWITCHGEAR 12.4.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 12.4.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 12.5. PDUS 12.5.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 12.5.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 12.6. OTHER ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 12.6.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 12.6.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST MECHANICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 13.1. MARKET SNAPSHOT 13.2. COOLING SYSTEMS 13.2.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 13.2.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 13.3. RACKS 13.3.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 13.3.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 13.4. OTHER MECHANICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 13.4.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 13.4.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST COOLING SYSTEM 14.1. MARKET SNAPSHOT 14.2. CRAC & CRAH UNITS 14.2.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 14.2.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 14.3. CHILLER UNITS 14.3.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 14.3.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 14.4. COOLING TOWERS, CONDENSERS & DRY COOLERS 14.4.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 14.4.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 14.5. ECONOMIZERS & EVAPORATIVE COOLERS 14.5.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 14.5.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 14.6. OTHER COOLING UNITS 14.6.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 14.6.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST COOLING TECHNIQUE 15.1. AIR-BASED COOLING 15.1.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 15.1.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 15.2. LIQUID-BASED COOLING 15.2.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 15.2.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST GENERAL CONSTRUCTION 16.1. MARKET SNAPSHOT 16.2. CORE & SHELL DEVELOPMENT 16.2.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 16.2.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.3. INSTALLATION & COMMISSIONING SERVICES 16.3.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 16.3.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.4. ENGINEERING & BUILDING DESIGN 16.4.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 16.4.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.5. FIRE DETECTION & SUPPRESSION 16.5.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 16.5.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.6. PHYSICAL SECURITY 16.6.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 16.6.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST 16.7. DCIM/BMS SOLUTIONS 16.7.1. MARKET OVERVIEW 16.7.2. INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST GEOGRAPHY For a detailed table of contents, click: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/europe-hyperscale-data-center-market?details=tableOfContents Why Arizton? 100% Customer Satisfaction Customer Satisfaction 24x7 availability we are always there when you need us availability we are always there when you need us 200+ Fortune 500 Companies trust Arizton's report Fortune 500 Companies trust Arizton's report 80% of our reports are exclusive and first in the industry of our reports are exclusive and first in the industry 100% more data and analysis more data and analysis 1500+ reports published till date About Us: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovative and quality-driven firm that offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients worldwide. 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Contact Us Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1 302 469 0707 Mail: [email protected] Contact Us: https://www.arizton.com/contact-us Blog: https://www.arizton.com/blog Website: https://www.arizton.com/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2151435/Europe_Hyperscale_Data_Center_Market.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/818553/Arizton_Logo.jpg SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence Jaskolski Brings Over Twenty Years of Experience Scaling Businesses to Madison Reed's Quickly Growing Omnichannel Organization SAN FRANCISCO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Madison Reed , the prestige beauty brand that has revolutionized the hair color industry, today announced the appointment of Angela Jaskolski as Chief Revenue Officer. Jaskolski brings with her a wealth of retail and service sector experience hailing from her leadership background at Aveda and Self Esteem Brands, the parent company of Anytime Fitness and Waxing the City, along with Thrive Pet Healthcare, where she served as COO. She also previously served as VP of Operations with Regis Corporation, consisting of over 50 brands, including Supercuts and Cost Cutters. With her passion for creating a better lifestyle and more opportunities for salon professionals, coupled with her ability to successfully establish high-performing teams, this strategic hire will support in continuing to scale Madison Reed's quickly growing business. "Put simply, joining Madison Reed was a serendipitous moment for me. From working in the industry for over two decades, I was familiar with Madison Reed as the brand that revolutionized hair color, but as I learned more, I fell in love with the heart and soul of this values-driven company," said Angela Jaskolski, Chief Revenue Officer at Madison Reed. "This is an opportunity to lead a scaling disruptor brand with a focus on continuing to promote a superior employee and customer experience. Amy Errett is an unstoppable leader and a true embodiment of the Madison Reed brand, and I am thrilled to work alongside her as she continues to change the lives of her team, stylists, and customers." In this role, Jaskolski will lead all aspects of Madison Reed's Hair Color Bar business and e-commerce revenue operations to drive efficiencies while also building additional revenue streams. Jaskolski will report to Madison Reed CEO and Founder Amy Errett, working alongside her and the C-Suite to continue scaling the disruptor brand while maintaining a superior employee and customer experience. "I am thrilled for Angela to be joining us during this period of growth as we continue to scale our business and become the employer of choice for hair stylists across the country," said Amy Errett, CEO and Founder of Madison Reed. "Angela's rich experience running large-scale service businesses in the beauty industry, paired with her deep admiration and passion for the stylist community aligns with the mission of Madison Reed and our future goals. Above all else, Angela is truly people-first, and will be instrumental in keeping our culture strong as we continue to grow." This appointment comes during a year of tremendous growth for Madison Reed, as the brand continues to rapidly build their omnichannel footprint. Most recently, Madison Reed introduced the Limitless Membership and Rewards Program , an expanded series of membership and rewards programs, making it more convenient and affordable for customers to get gorgeous hair color, at home or at one of Madison Reed's Hair Color Bars nationwide. For more information, please visit www.madison-reed.com . About Madison Reed Founded in 2013, Madison Reed is the prestige beauty brand revolutionizing the hair color industry. Madison Reed offers clients over 55+ shades of gorgeous color, Smart 8-Free formulas developed in Italy, technology, personalized service, and the freedom to get salon-gorgeous results whether they color their hair at home or by a professional colorist in one of Madison Reed's 87 and counting Hair Color Bars across the country. Products can be found online at www.madison-reed.com , Amazon, Madison Reed Hair Color Bars, Ulta and select Ulta at Target locations, in addition to DoorDash delivery. SOURCE Madison Reed Ferrara has been recognized as a leading U.S. company for workplace fairness for 2023 by Fair360 (formerly DiversityInc) in its annual rankings for the first time. CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ferrara today announced it has been recognized as a leading U.S. company for workplace fairness by Fair360 (formerly DiversityInc). The sugar confections manufacturer was named to two lists in the annual rankings for the first time, underscoring its rapid progress in the three years since Ferrara established its diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) program with the aim of becoming best in class for workforce diversity. Ferrara's two honors include: The Noteworthy Companies list, which recognizes performance in human capital diversity, leadership accountability, talent programs, workplace practices, supplier diversity and philanthropy. Noteworthy Companies have near-term potential to make the nationwide Fair360 (formerly DiversityInc) Top 50 list. The Top Regional Companies, which recognizes the same performance within specific geographic footprints. "The Ferrara team is proud of the fast progress we have made to infuse diversity and inclusion throughout the organization," said Ferrara CEO Marco Capurso. DE&I is a regular topic in Capurso's leadership meetings and departmental reviews. "We are pleased to have this work validated by the Fair360 recognition," Capurso said. "We will continue to drive for meaningful commitments and results to ensure equitable opportunities for all employees." The Fair360 rankings verify companies' workforce diversity policies, evaluating companies within the context of their industries on verified policies, practices and procedures. The metrics-driven rankings are derived from employer surveys. Fair360 Noteworthy Companies must meet the same criteria as its Top 50 rankings. Criteria include diverse racial and ethnic representation in the overall workforce and management, new hires, promotions, turnover and highest-paid employees. The Fair360 (formerly DiversityInc) process also measures leadership accountability, talent programs, workplace practices supplier diversity and philanthropy. "Ferrara's senior leaders are evaluated on DE&I accountability metrics, and in 2023 they will establish specific goals for their department," said Natasha Miller Williams, vice president and head of DE&I at Ferrara. "We're excited to continue our journey of driving systemic change with the leadership of our executive team, and support of our eight business resource groups, DE&I council, and other colleagues." Ferrara's DE&I initiative includes these workplace fairness programs: After launching a Self-ID campaign last year, Ferrara is studying the intersectionality of Black, Indigenous and women workers of color. In 2023, the company launched a BIPOC Women's Success program to support this group and address organizational barriers as they drive transformational change for themselves and their teams. An experienced data analyst leads a systemic review of Ferrara's people processes. A DE&I Council brings together C-suite leadership, executive sponsors and business resource group (BRG) representatives. Business resource groups representing Asian American and Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, diversely abled, LGBTQIA+, veteran, multigenerational and women employees receive financial and executive support. A hiring strategy requires multiple diverse candidates for each position. In the first year of the Diverse Slates initiative, Ferrara increased corporate BIPOC hires from 37% to 45%. DE&I events, mentoring programs, executive listening tours and annual Day of Understanding events including Ferrara's North American facilities support the company's value of empathy, cultivating trust and collaboration. "Since 2001, the Fair360 (formerly DiversityInc) Top 50 survey has become the external validator for large U.S. employers committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion," said Carolynn Johnson, CEO of Fair360, organizer of the Top 50 competition. "These rankings represent evidence-based, superior human capital outcomes that are achieved only by data transparency and an unwavering commitment to workplace fairness for everyone." "The structure we've put in place gives Ferrara a forum to work out difficult issues and meet our performance goals," Miller Williams said. "The Fair360 honors are something to celebrateand we feel both pride and a renewed energy around the DE&I commitments that help our teams and our communities thrive." About Ferrara For more than 100 years, Ferrara has created sugar confections that share delight in every bite to candy lovers of all generations. Today, the company is the #1 sugar confectioner in the U.S. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of more than 4,500 employees working together to create and deliver hundreds of products sold under a portfolio of popular brands such as Brach's, NERDS, SweeTARTS, and Trolli to more than 66 million U.S. households annually. Ferrara's success in industry-leading innovation has been driven by deep consumer insights, strong retailer co-creation and partnerships, and a dedication to diversity of thought, experience, and people. The privately held company has a close relationship with the Ferrero Group as a related company which provides industry partnership and collaboration opportunities. Headquartered in Chicago, Ferrara has an operational network in North America that includes manufacturing, distribution sales and R&D facilities. Learn more at www.ferrarausa.com or www.linkedin.com/company/ferrara- . About Fair360 (formerly DiversityInc) The mission of Fair360 (formerly DiversityInc) is to educate the workforce and bring clarity to the business benefits of workplace fairness, equity and inclusion. The organization has evolved to become the preeminent source of human capital data, education and advice. For more information, visit www.fair360.com . Media Contact [email protected] SOURCE Ferrara Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews and Margo Price lead all-day music and food event focused on farmers as climate champions INDIANAPOLIS, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Farm Aid's annual music and food festival is returning to Noblesville, Indiana, on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Ruoff Music Center. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Saturday, July 15, at 10 a.m. ET, at LiveNation.com. Farm Aid 2023 a full day of music, family farmers, HOMEGROWN food and agrarian experiences will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), and Margo Price, as well as Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson, Allison Russell, The String Cheese Incident, and Particle Kid. The festival will highlight the work of family farmers to address climate change through regenerative, organic and sustainable farming practices. Farm Aid will showcase these innovative climate champions on the Farm Aid stage and throughout the event. As farmers and farm and food advocates converge from across the country for the annual festival, Farm Aid will host additional pre-festival events to spotlight their work. FARM AID FESTIVAL RETURNS TO INDIANA SEPT. 23 Tweet this This is the third Farm Aid concert that has taken place in Indiana, and the second in Noblesville. Farm Aid IV took place at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis in 1990, and Farm Aid 2001: A Concert for America was held in Noblesville just weeks after the terrorist attacks of 2001. "Family farmers have the solutions to some of our toughest challenges," said Farm Aid President and Founder Willie Nelson. "As we face a changing climate, farmers in Indiana, across the Midwest and all over the country are farming in ways that create more resilient farms to build healthy soils and protect our water." Across the state, climate change has already had a considerable impact. In the coming years, climate change will shift the state to two extremes: hotter, drier summers and wetter winters and springs, creating more urgency for on-farm production practices that care for the soil and water. Indiana has the most polluted rivers and streams of any state, and almost all of Indiana's lakes and reservoirs sampled in a recent study are unfit for drinking water. One of the main culprits is manure run-off from large-scale concentrated animal feeding operations. Many family farmers in Indiana are national leaders in implementing farming practices to mitigate climate change, including cover cropping, rotating crops, reducing soil tillage, integrating livestock and crop production, raising pastured livestock, and improving soil and water management. "We are honored and excited to bring the Farm Aid experience back to Indiana. My home state holds deep meaning for me and for the generations of family farmers who have dedicated their lives to caring for the Earth and bringing us good food," said Farm Aid Co-Founder John Mellencamp. Indiana is the eighth largest farming state in the nation, generating $31.2 billion annually. Every 10 jobs directly related to Indiana agriculture support an additional eight jobs in the state. Home to 56,649 farms with an average farm size of 264 acres, there are more than 94,000 farmers in Indiana. More than 80% of land in Indiana is devoted to farms, forests and woodland. While its top crops are corn and soybeans, Hoosier farmers grow more than 30 major fruits and vegetables each year, including melons, pumpkins and mint. Farm Aid festival attendees experience a full day of music and the taste of local flavors with Farm Aid's HOMEGROWN Concessions, which offer a diverse, fresh menu with ingredients that are produced by family farmers using ecological practices with a fair price paid to the farmers. Farm Aid's HOMEGROWN Village features hands-on activities engaging festivalgoers with exhibits about soil, water, energy, food and farming. Festivalgoers can hear farmers and artists inform and inspire on the FarmYard Stage and celebrate the know- how and diversity of cultures of agriculture in the HOMEGROWN Skills tent. Ticket prices range from $75 to $315 and will be available for purchase at LiveNation.com. A limited number of pre-sale tickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 12, at www.farmaid.org/tickets. For event updates, follow Farm Aid on Twitter (@FarmAid), Facebook (facebook.com/farmaid) and Instagram (instagram.com/farmaid), and visit farmaid.org/festival. Festivalgoers are encouraged to use the hashtags #FarmAid2023 and #Road2FarmAid to join the conversation on social media around this year's festival. Farm Aid welcomes the participation of the business community and offers corporate sponsorship and VIP hospitality opportunities. For more information, contact Glenda Yoder at [email protected] Farm Aid 2023 sponsors include Patagonia Workwear. Farm Aid's mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid's work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. For more than 35 years, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $70 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms. **Editors, Producers and Photographers Note: Advance credentials are required for all media to attend Farm Aid 2023. Please visit farmaid.org/media by Monday, Sept. 4, to learn about these requirements and apply. Media can download official Farm Aid photos and videos at farmaid.org/media. SOURCE Farm Aid NEW YORK, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hong Kong beauty brand Botanic Pretti5 is today launching its latest Traditional Chinese medicine based beauty product, Botanic Pretti5, in the United States of America. Born from an ambition to create clean products inspired by nature and suitable for sensitive skin, Botanic Pretti5 harnesses the power of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) while unleashing it via cutting-edge Western technologies. The result of this fusion is the development of Botanic Pretti5, a modern skincare solution designed to combat stressed and sensitive skin, pollution, and premature aging. It all started with an observation Despite experimenting with numerous skincare products over the years, Dorothy Chau, the founder of Botanic Pretti5, was unable to find a line that catered to her specific needs. Moreover, her friends also complained about various skin issues from eczema caused by the changing of seasons and pollution, to dry and sensitive skin caused by irritating chemicals in skincare products, as well as breakouts caused by stress. To address these problems, Chau decided to create a range of simple yet effective hypoallergenic products using plant-based ingredients that would make complex skincare routines simple and easy. Traditional Chinese medicine infused healthy natural glow Furthermore, Chau consulted a Chinese Medicine practitioner, who suggested several ingredients that were commonly prescribed for the skin, including snow mushroom and goldflower root extracts which were known for their beneficial effects on the skin dating back to the Tang and Song dynasties. Snow mushroom, a vegan alternative to hyaluronic acid, is a potent moisturizer that can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water, enhancing skin elasticity and reducing inflammation. Goldflower root extract, also known as huang qin, is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties and is used in Chinese medicine to prevent aging caused by pollution and free radicals, keeping the skin firm, smooth, and youthful. Botanic Pretti5 founder Dorothy Chau added "With Botanic Pretti5, we really wanted to bring the 5 elements of TCM wood, fire, earth, metal and water - to life through our product in a way that's natural and relatable. Our goal is not to be another skincare product or brand, but to bring the proven success of TCM-based products to our consumers around the world." Harnessing the power of the East and West Botanic Pretti5's formulas, engineered in Japan, meet the highest cosmetic standards by blending natural and scientific elements as well as ancient and modern ingredients. These formulas are free of alcohol, parabens, SLS, and artificial fragrances. With the fusion of Chinese medicine herbal ingredients and powerful Western scientific ingredients such as low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid and plant-based squalane, the products penetrate the skin's deeper layers, leaving it supple and moisturized from within. The formula has been thoughtfully designed to strengthen the skin's natural protective barrier, defending it against environmental aggressors and giving it a healthy, radiant appearance. Minimalist skincare routine with great result The curation of effective products along with premium textures and natural fragrances delivers a spa-worthy experience from the comfort of the boudoir and wins the heart of beauty editors from major international titles, including VOGUE, ELLE, Bazaar, Figaro, and Cosmopolitan. Since the official launch in 2020 October, reviews from lifestyle-centric and purpose-driven customers are glowing. Botanic Pretti5 is now available in Sephora Hong Kong and Cathay Pacific and has already pocketed 4 major awards: The Best of the Best Award from Cosmopolitan for Antioxidant Hydrating Toning Essence; ELLE Beauty Awards 2021 - Empties Award for Advanced Hyaluronic Serum; ELLE Beauty Awards 2022 - Empties Award for Hydro-Power Brightening Cleanser. ELLE Beauty Awards 2023 - Empties Award for Hydro-Rescue Repairing Night Mask. "I am honoured to have the opportunity working with Botanic Pretti5 and witness the brand since launched in Sephora HK and becoming one of our fastest growing brands. Excited to see Botanic Pretti5 shining and we look forward to growing with the brand together," said Cynthia Chan, Category Manager of Sephora Hong Kong. By fusing the best from the East and the West, from nature and the lab, the Hong Kong homegrown brand is on the mission to restore the most natural glow and inner confidence for the modern women around the globe. To shop and for more information, visit www.pretti5.com Interested consumers can also follow Botanic Pretti5 on Instagram at @botanicBotanic Pretti5 and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/botanicpretti5/ For distribution partners, please visit Botanic Pretti5 at Discover Beauty COSMOPROF Las Vegas USA (11 Jul-13 Jul 2023) SOURCE Botanic Pretti5 ColorComm Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop NEW YORK, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ColorComm Corporation, the nation's leading women's platform addressing diversity and inclusion across the communications, marketing, advertising, and media industry will host the ColorComm Circle Awards After Party featuring Fat Joe. The special performance will be held on opening night of ColorComm's 8th Annual Conference on Wednesday, July 26,2023 at the Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne in Miami, Florida. The Bronx-born, GRAMMY-nominated rap artist, Fat Joe is widely recognized for his impact in the hip-hop industry as one of the first Latino rap superstars. "We are thrilled to welcome Fat Joe to the ColorComm Conference and to the ColorComm community. Many artists use hip-hop as a platform to convey messages of political discourse and the changing economy. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop at our conference is a reminder that we should uplift and honor the impact our communities have had on culture," said Lauren Wesley Wilson, Founder and CEO, ColorComm Corporation. Fat Joe's performance is one of many conference activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Conference sessions include a multi-generational conversation on how the hip-hop industry has diversified over the years presented by AARP. Prior to the ColorComm Circle Awards After Party, ColorComm will honor seven industry change makers at the ColorComm Circle Awards, the only awards ceremony to honor women of color in communications. The ColorComm Conference is an annual business retreat connecting more than 400 executive leaders from across the communications, marketing, advertising, and digital industries. For more information: www.c2miami.com About ColorComm Corporation: ColorComm Corporation was founded in 2011 to serve the needs of multicultural talent working in the communications, marketing, advertising, digital and public relations industries. The portfolio of companies under the ColorComm Corporation provides access and opportunity for people of color in business, delivers industry campaigns to inform and educate, counsels clients on crisis and media relations, and develops a community for those who want to achieve leadership and C-Suite positions. ColorComm Corporation includes the ColorComm Network, ColorComm Search, ColorComm Media Group and Men of Color in Communications. SOURCE ColorComm, Inc. SILVER SPRING, Md., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing an at-a-glance summary of news from around the agency: Today, the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) detailed how it is working to stop illicit xylazine from entering the United States . The Center is working in partnership with other offices across the FDA and Department of Health and Human Services as part of a whole-of-government response to this critical and growing issue. In February, in coordination with FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, CVM took action to restrict the unlawful entry of xylazine active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished dosage form drug products into the country. On Monday, the FDA signed a Confidentiality Commitment (CC) with the Fish Quarantine and Inspection Agency (FQIA) of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia . The CC is an important first step towards preparing Indonesia to participate in a program designed to ensure the safety of shrimp exported to the United States . On Friday, the FDA authorized marketing of Better Therapeutics' BT-001, a prescription-only digital therapeutic device intended to provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to patients 18 years or older with type 2 diabetes. BT-001 provides CBT to help users who are under the care of a healthcare provider better adhere to behaviors that aid in the management of diabetes. BT-001 should be used adjunctively with standard of care. Each month, the FDA Grand Rounds lecture series highlights a key public health challenge, and how the FDA is applying science and innovation to its regulatory activities. The agency invites you to attend the next presentation on July 13, 2023 , from 12 to 1 p.m. EST , on the topic, "The Plasmid Puzzle: Finding Solutions in Salmonella." Kristina Feye , Ph.D., a research microbiologist at the National Center for Toxicological Research, will discuss the strengths and limitations of different next-generation sequencing platforms, the importance of plasmids in public health and across the One Health spectrum, and the different ways plasmids can impact the microbiome. Additional Resources: Media Contact: FDA Office of Media Affairs, 301-796-4540 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products. SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration The Summit, held in Washington, D.C., is an Extension of the Elevating Voices to End Hunger Together Initiative and is for, and by, Individuals who have felt the Impact of Hunger CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief network, is hosting its inaugural Elevating Voices: Power Summit in Washington, D.C. on July 12 and 13 developed for and by neighbors with lived experience of food insecurity. Nearly 100 neighbors will connect with one another and key federal decision-makers to discuss what people facing hunger in the U.S. need to thrive, including the passage of a strong, bipartisan 2023 Farm Bill that helps people put food on the table. "The Elevating Voices: Power Summit stemmed from the desire to take all of the things we have learned from our listening sessions with neighbors and put it into action in a creative and innovative way," said Barbie Izquierdo, director of advocacy and neighbor engagement for Feeding America. "We wanted to invite neighbors to lead and co-create a summit that was intended to lift their voices and needs along with their talents and expertise." Feeding America collaborated with the Elevating Voices: Power Summit advisory committee, made up of neighbors with lived experience, to incorporate the insight, wisdom, and desires of neighbors into the summit. The committee members shared the needs of the neighbors' communities, what they looked for in sessions, and which key decision-makers they wanted to invite so they could feel seen and heard, while communicating in their own voices. Erica Astacio, advisory committee member, said, "nothing for us, without us. We deserve a seat at the table, and when that doesn't happen, we need to create our own table." Kimberly Hart, a fellow advisory committee member, also shared, "if not now, then when? If not us, then who?" The Power Summit is an extension of Feeding America's effort to bring people with lived experience of food insecurity to the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in 2022. The summit is also a crucial component of the organization's ongoing initiative to engage with and amplify the experiences and expertise of neighbors. Feeding America recognizes that the only way to end hunger is to listen to and center the individuals who have felt its impacts. To that end, Feeding America's initiative to center the voices of neighbors is made up of the Power Summit and the Elevating Voices to End Hunger Together: Insights Report a yearly, nationally representative snapshot of the experiences, concerns and ideas of people in the U.S. with lived experience of food insecurity. In the inaugural report and survey, Feeding America listened to and gathered anti-hunger policy recommendations, informed by people facing hunger, that were grounded in prioritizing dignity, increasing access, expanding opportunity and improving health. The second report, to be published on Hunger Action Day, September 15, 2023, will continue the work of lifting up neighbor voices that envision strong communities where everyone can access the food and resources they need to thrive. Contact Emily James Feeding America About Feeding America Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. As a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 agency partners, including food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.2 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org , find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter . SOURCE Feeding America HENDERSON, Ky., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Field & Main Bank is pleased to announce the election of three esteemed individuals to its board of directors: Jim Coleman, Jeff Anderson, and Margaret Hungate. Their extensive experience, diverse backgrounds, and commitment to community involvement make them valuable additions to the bank's governing body. Margy Hungate Jim Coleman Jeff Anderson Margaret S. Hungate, also known as Margy, brings a wealth of expertise in real estate development, commercial construction, and property management. As the CEO and President of Sentry Investments, Inc., and Vice President of U.S. Industries Group Inc., Margy has played a pivotal role in the family-owned companies since 2017. With a focus on developing shopping centers primarily in Texas, Margy's leadership has been instrumental in the success of U.S. Industries Group Inc., a construction management company, and Sentry Investments, Inc., a property management company. Her previous roles as Chief Financial Officer of U.S. Industries Group Inc. and Vice President of Commercial Lending at Bank of Evansville highlight her extensive experience in financial management and lending. Margy is actively involved in various community organizations, including Evansville Day School Board of Trustees and Johnson Place Board of Directors. Her exceptional qualifications and dedication to community service make her an invaluable addition to Field & Main Bank's board of directors. Jim Coleman's impressive career spans 37 years, showcasing his exceptional leadership abilities and business acumen. From his family's farm, Coleman Crest, in Lexington, Kentucky, to Wall Street, Jim has achieved outstanding results in various roles. Throughout his career, he has worked with prestigious companies such as Oscar Mayer & Co., Pepsi Cola Company, Altria Corporation, and American Express, demonstrating his ability to drive success in different sectors. Jim's contributions extend beyond the corporate world, as he served as the President & CEO of the Prince George's County Maryland Economic Development Corporation. Under his guidance, the corporation attracted new businesses, created thousands of jobs, and facilitated international trade missions. Currently, Jim is focusing on developing Coleman Crest Farm into a profitable enterprise with a vision to preserve it as a teaching farm for aspiring farmers. Jim's diverse experience and dedication to community and agricultural development will greatly benefit Field & Main Bank and its customers. Jeff Anderson, as the President & CEO of Anderson Capital Partners, brings his expertise in managing and developing various investment holdings. With a degree in business administration from Kent State University and an MBA from Butler University, Jeff has a strong foundation in finance. He has successfully led the family office and played an integral role in investment and development growth across multiple industries, including franchising and real estate. Jeff's commitment to community involvement is evident through his active participation on philanthropic boards, such as the Catholic Education Foundation for the Diocese of Evansville. His dedication to fostering growth and contributing to the community aligns perfectly with Field & Main Bank's values. "We are thrilled to welcome Margaret Hungate, Jim Coleman, and Jeff Anderson to our board of directors," said Scott Davis, Chairman & CEO at Field & Main Bank. "Their extensive experience, proven leadership, and community involvement will greatly contribute to our bank's strategic vision and mission to serve our customers and communities." Field & Main Bank is a community bank dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and building meaningful relationships with its customers through Modern Craft Banking. With a commitment to supporting local communities and providing personalized financial solutions, Field & Main Bank strives to be the bank of choice for individuals and businesses alike. Learn more at fieldandmain.com. Member FDIC. Contact: Sarah Bryant [email protected] Phone: (270) 831-1598 Mobile: (270) 832-8698 SOURCE Field & Main Bank Lender's newest office to be led by loan officer with strong connection to local community BALTIMORE, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Home Mortgage Corporation, a leading mortgage financing company, has announced the opening of a new branch office in Carroll County, Maryland the latest development in a series of new openings that are driving the organization's expansion across the region. Leading operations at the location will be the newly hired RL Kyker, a loan officer with more than 17 years of experience working in the Maryland community in mortgage finance. Kyker will serve as Branch Manager of the company's new office upon its opening. RL Kyker "Joining the team at First Home and having the honor of leading this new branch is a tremendous opportunity," said Kyker. "I believe people deserve great service and straight-forward advice, and I look forward to serving the community of Carroll County as a trusted advisor, partner, and neighbor." Kyker's passion for community-based lending is a driving factor in the strategy behind his new role within the First Home organization. After more than 17 years of working with new homebuyers and existing homeowners throughout Maryland, Kyker is adept at operating on the local level. He values relationship-building, consistency, and clear communication when dealing with clients and prides himself in providing the most dependable, convenient, and positive experiences possible to his clients. Kyker has previously worked for a number of leading mortgage providers. He is an active member of the Carroll County Association of Realtors, where he also serves on the Community Outreach Committee. Through this outreach, he has volunteered with and supported a variety of nonprofit organizations, including Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, and Boys & Girls Club of Westminster. "Anyone who's had the pleasure of working with RL knows that his passion for working at the community level makes him a perfect fit for the First Home team," said Matt Nader, Senior Vice President and Director of Sales for First Home Mortgage. "We're thrilled to welcome him aboard as the leader of our new Carroll County office." The opening of the Carroll County branch office represents new opportunities for First Home Mortgage to lengthen its reach and better serve residents of the surrounding areas. It is set to be the latest new location to open in recent months, as the company continues to expand operations and support new and existing homeowners in local communities. "This new branch unlocks exciting potential for growth and development," said Nader. "With RL and his team leading the way, we look forward to creating new paths to homeownership for the people of Carroll County and the surrounding areas." About First Home Mortgage First Home Mortgage is a licensed, full service, residential lender, with a deep bench of dedicated loan officers who guide borrowers throughout the entire mortgage process and offer continued support long after a loan has closed. We are committed to delivering exceptional customer service that not only fulfills goals but exceeds expectations. Founded in 1990 with two offices and a handful of employees, First Home Mortgage has since grown into a financial institution of 33 offices serving 21 states in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern regions. First Home Mortgage was recognized by the Scotsman Guide in 2022 as a top 50 lender nationally by total volume. For more information and company news visit firsthome.com/about-us Copyright 2023 First Home Mortgage Corporation. All Rights Reserved SOURCE First Home Mortgage MIAMI, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Flor de Cana Rum, the world's first Carbon Neutral and Fair Trade certified spirit made using 100% renewable energy, is launching the third edition of the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge a global cocktail competition that aims to inspire bars and bartenders to be more eco-friendly and integrate sustainable practices into their everyday operations. With this initiative, Flor de Cana is joining forces with bars to set new standards for sustainability, leading the way to a greener future for the spirits category. Sustainable Cocktail Challenge The Sustainable Cocktail Challenge encourages bartenders to create completely sustainable cocktails with Flor de Cana Rum to generate conversation around sustainable bar practices and create change. "What sets the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge apart from other cocktail competitions is that the competition doesn't end when the contest does," said Dan Nevsky, a globally renowned mixologist, who has partnered with Flor de Cana to promote the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge. "Talking about sustainability practices is only the first step in a longer path to a better future." Flor de Cana works closely with bartenders to highlight the importance and benefits of adopting sustainable practices beyond the competition. Registration is open until August 15th by visiting www.flordecanachallenge.com and completing the online form for bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts who are interested. The site includes detailed information on the competition criteria, guidelines, and conditions. Last year's crowned "World's Most Sustainable Bartender" was Carlos Ferron of La Cuadra Market Bar in Panama. His cocktail, "Ferron's 5 Generaciones," combined Flor de Cana 12 Year Rum with home-made orange liqueur, carrot and spiced syrup, and lemon juice. To accompany the cocktail, Ferron created a compost box to present alongside it, demonstrating further the sustainability of his drink from first sip to last. Giving back and leaving a legacy that future generations will value is embedded in the Flor de Cana DNA. The brand has offered education to workers and their families since 1913 and healthcare since 1958. The environment is also a major priority. Since 2005, the company has planted 50,000 trees every year moving it into the realm of carbon-negative status. Flor de Cana is more than what is in the bottle, it is a benefactor to future generations and that's exactly what the Sustainable Cocktail Challenges aims to highlight. Contest Details Original cocktail submissions are virtually judged by a panel of experts using a points system. The winners from the first round will then go to participate in local final competitions the first week in October in Miami, Austin, and Los Angeles. Winners of the local finals will qualify to participate in the Global Final of the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge in 2024, where only one will be crowned the World's Most Sustainable Bartender. About Flor de Cana Rum Flor de Cana is a sustainably produced premium rum that's Carbon Neutral & Fair Trade certified. From an 1890 family estate, it's distilled with 100% renewable energy and naturally aged at the base of an active volcano without sugar or artificial ingredients. The brand was honored with the "Distillery Sustainability Award" and the "Ethical Award" during the 2021 Spirits Business Awards for its leadership in sustainable practices. www.flordecana.com SOURCE Flor de Cana Rum T.NETWORK, now Phoenix International, Doubles Workforce and Forges Tech Partnership in Major Rebranding. A focus on tech-driven high-quality customer service defines this new stage. CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- T.NETWORK, an international freight forwarder established in 2018, officially announces its rebranding as Phoenix International . The decision comes on the heels of a large-scale expansion of the workforce, an experienced CEO's entry, and a renewed focus on incorporating technology and innovation into its processes. Emil Sanchez, who joined the company in 2022 as CEO, drives the change together with Laura Peacock, Managing Director, and Grace Peng, President. In addition to the expanded managerial team, the rebranding also comes with large-scale workforce growth. By integrating a key strategic partner's retail division, Phoenix International more than doubles its team's size, signaling its strong growth ambitions. Another key element in this new stage is the strengthened focus on technology. By establishing a strategic partnership with freight forwarding-focused R&D company SmartBee Intelligence, the company signals its continuing commitment to innovation-driven service improvement. "Phoenix International represents a rebirth of exceptional quality service in freight forwarding, blending superior customer service with advanced technology," says Emil Sanchez, CEO. "Our rebranding marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, propelling our company and clients into a future of technological innovation and growth." Despite the rebranding, the leadership will remain stable, as will the original team, who will be joined by a new group of experienced colleagues. For more information about changes to the logo, web address, and the new website's look, please visit our newly redesigned website at www.phoenixintlinc.com . ABOUT PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL: Phoenix International, formerly known as T.NETWORK, revolutionizes the freight forwarding industry by integrating advanced technology with an unwavering commitment to customer service and decades of industry experience. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Phoenix International delivers customized freight management solutions across air, land, and sea for international, domestic, and intermodal transport, and operates through global gateways spanning five continents. Learn more at www.phoenixintlinc.com . SOURCE Phoenix International ANOTHER VIEW A Louisiana federal judge ruled recently that the Biden administration could not quietly contact social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook to remove protected free speech. Some saw this as bad news for the removal of "misinformation" or, in the words of The New York Times, government "eff orts to combat false and misleading narratives." We say: The judge, who shrewdly issued his ruling on Independence Day, was right. Government should not be in the business of censoring what American's have to say on their social media platforms. Much of this brouhaha dates to the COVID-19 crisis, a challenging period for free-speech advocates and an emboldening era for those public health officials who argued the need for consistent messaging as a tool for saving lives. Those officials quickly realized that vaccine skeptics, lockdown protesters and other dissenters were muddying the waters on social media platforms and generating significant followings, and the officials were concerned that what they saw as "misinformation" would only worsen the crisis. All of this was understandable in that emergency context when no one knew how the COVID-19 crisis was going to play out, and, frankly, when the full power of social media was only just being understood. Even now, having groups of advocates that pressure social media channels to remove what they see as damaging information is perfectly reasonable. Those groups are expressing their own rights to free speech and, as private entities, the social media channels can and should have their own rules on what they do and do not permit. We advocate for responsibility on the part of Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat, just as a good newspaper takes care over what it does and does not publish. But that's not what this case is about. The problem came up when the Biden administration opened up a back channel to sympathetic senior employees at Twitter. White House operatives openly pointed out problematic posts that they wanted taken down. In the words of the judge, government officials should not have been "encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech." ... On the face of it, Judge Terry Doughty's remarks represent a First Amendment no-brainer. It's understandable that some of that content irritated the Biden administration, which saw it as harmful to public health. But as anyone who has lived in a society where the government controls all the messaging will tell you, that irritation is a price worth paying for allowing free persons to express dissent. That should not be a liberal or a conservative stance, but an American one. And it applies even in a time of national crisis. Much as we would like to believe otherwise, there is not one "science" to trust. And if authorities try to suppress dissent, it tends merely to embolden it. In a free society, people have to be able to hear all sides, judge who they think can be trusted for themselves and navigate the free marketplace of ideas. Such is the choice Americans made long ago. Four Seasons continues to lead the way in luxury hospitality with additional first-place wins in Greater Miami Beach and Athens, along with impressive representation across categories as voted by Travel + Leisure readers TORONTO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading luxury hospitality company Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has been recognized in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards with 46 accolades across 40 properties, including the highest honour of Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet ranking as readers' favourite hotel in the world. From Istanbul with Love: Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet Named #1 Hotel in the World "It is with immense pride that we celebrate the accomplishments of our property teams and their enduring commitment to creating the very best experiences marked by superior quality, personalized care, and service excellence," says Alejandro Reynal, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. "From the well-deserved win by our spectacular Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet to the many other properties highlighted in the World's Best Awards, this recognition from Travel + Leisure and our valued guests reaffirms Four Seasons unmatched luxury hospitality offering, powered by the genuine heart of our employees." World's Best: Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet Since 1996, Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet has been recognized for its unwavering commitment to excellence through a list of revered industry accolades, including a Five-Star designation from Forbes Travel Guide. The Hotel has long been a favourite among guests looking to immerse themselves in over a century of dynamic history, impeccably preserved Turkish neoclassical architecture and breathtaking views of the Marmara Sea. As the premier five-star property in Sultanahmet and housed in one of the most iconic buildings on the historic peninsula, the recently redesigned hotel has introduced a new era of luxury hospitality for the celebrated property, allowing guests to enjoy a truly unforgettable experience in the city. The 65-room Hotel offers a traditional Turkish Hammam experience at Kurna Spa, modern Anatolian cuisine by Chef Ozgur Ustun at AVLU restaurant, handcrafted cocktails overlooking the Hagia Sophia at Sureyya Teras Lounge and a team of more than 200 attentive Four Seasons employees on hand to guide guests as they discover the endless experiences available throughout Istanbul. Four Seasons Shines in the World's Best In addition to Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet (1/100), Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus (8/100), Four Seasons Hotel Milano (54/100) and Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto (100/100) were also recognized on Travel + Leisure's list of 100 favourite hotels in the world. Adding to Four Seasons leading achievements in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards, Four Seasons was included among Travel + Leisure readers' favourite hotel brands of 2023 as well as Four Seasons Hotel and Residences at The Surf Club (1/15) and Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens (1/3) earning the highest rankings as the top resorts and hotels in Greater Miami Beach and Athens respectively. To view a full list of Four Seasons awards and accolades, click here. To view more images, please click here. About Four Seasons Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts opened its first hotel in 1961, and since that time has been dedicated to perfecting the travel experience through continual innovation and the highest standards of hospitality. Currently operating 126 hotels and resorts, and 53 residential properties in major city centres and resort destinations in 47 countries, and with more than 50 projects under planning or development, Four Seasons consistently ranks among the world's best hotels and most prestigious brands in reader polls, traveller reviews and industry awards. For more information and reservations, visit fourseasons.com. For the latest news, visit press.fourseasons.com and follow @FourSeasonsPR on Twitter. About Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure is the preeminent voice for the sophisticated traveler, serving up expert intelligence and the most immersive, inspiring travel lifestyle content anywhere. Travel + Leisure captures the joy of discovering the pleasures the world has to offerfrom art and design to shopping and style to food and drinkand offers compelling reasons to get up and go. With a total global audience of more than 15 million, the Travel + Leisure portfolio includes the U.S. flagship and four international editions in China, India, Mexico, and Southeast Asia. The U.S. edition of T+L, which launched in 1971, is the only monthly consumer travel magazine in print in the U.S., has an authoritative website, TravelandLeisure.com, and an extensive social media following of more than 13 million. Travel + Leisure also encompasses newsletters and media collaborations Media Contact Stephanie Moyer [email protected]com SOURCE Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts The Phoenix-based independent agency will help drive deeper customer engagement LANDOVER, Md. , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Giant Food, the leading greater Washington, D.C. regional grocery chain, has named Heart & Soul Marketing, LLC its strategic creative agency of record (AOR). With a deep history rooted in the DMV (DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia), Giant Food has turned to Heart & Soul to develop a fresh brand campaign focused on a shared sense of community that helps modernize its image, while maintaining its position as the leading local grocery chain in the metropolitan area. Heart & Soul Marketing "We are thrilled to partner with Heart & Soul Marketing, a disruptive agency known for their breakthrough creative solutions and compelling brand strategies," said Dyani Hanrahan, Vice President of Marketing for Giant Food. "We have been proud to be a part of the community for over 87 years and their fresh perspective and commitment to connecting with consumers aligns with our vision to share the stories that make Giant Food so special to the 165 communities that we serve." Heart & Soul was selected through a nationwide RFP process spearheaded by the Mercer Island Group , a management consulting firm in Washington that has a long working history with Giant Food and its holding company, Ahold Delhaize . The boutique agency, with roots in Phoenix, Arizona, brings a disruptive outsider perspective to the venerable grocery retailer. Founded in October of 2020, Heart & Soul offers its clients breakthrough creative solutions anchored in compelling brand strategies and human truths. As the agency partner, Heart & Soul will be responsible for bringing the overarching brand strategy and creative direction to life, while supporting seasonal campaigns and Giant's growth drivers. The scope of work is expected to include creative concepting and campaign development for television, radio, out-of-home, seasonal and in-store. The new campaign, which is expected in early 2024, will continue to build Giant's vision of becoming the most trusted and loved local grocery retailer in the DMV, while showcasing how Giant nourishes its community through great food and strong human connections. "Who would have imagined we could win an account over two thousand miles away? I think it proves that big enduring creative ideas have the power to connect when you do your homework on the target consumers and have the courage to offer solutions other agencies have not," said Brad Casper, CEO of Heart & Soul Marketing. "At Heart & Soul we are willing to challenge convention and reach beyond what is expected of brands and industries to really connect with consumers." Giant Food will become a cornerstone client for the agency among other key accounts such as SIGMA Foods, parent company of Bar-S and Fiorucci Foods, the Howard Hughes Corporation, and Arizona Department of Health Services. The new account is expected to increase the size of Heart & Soul by at least 20%, as they add critical positions in account services, copywriting, graphic design, production artists and social media. About Giant Food Since opening its first location 87 years ago in Washington, D.C. in 1936, Giant has been an integral part of the communities and customers it serves. Giant is committed to being a Better Neighbor and has designated four main giving pillars that address local Food Insecurity, Military Support, Pediatric Cancer Research and Social Equality. Giant is headquartered in Landover, Md. and operates 165 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia with approximately 20,000 associates. Included within the 165 stores are 153 full-service pharmacies, and 29 Starbucks locations. Giant fits all the ways today's busy customers want to shop - whether in store or online. With 162 Giant Pickup locations and Giant Delivers available in all of its markets, customers have even more convenient options right at their fingertips to get the best products and prices, whenever and however they choose. For more information on Giant, visit: www.giantfood.com. About Heart & Soul Heart & Soul Marketing was founded in October 2020, and it is an independent brand strategy and creative agency designed to infuse today's modern-day brands with energy, drive human connections and generate disruptive growth for its client partners. Since its doors opened, H&S has quickly become one of the most awarded and recognized agencies in the Southwest, winning national awards (REGGIES) for Challenger Brand Marketing and (SHORTY) for work across social media and influencer marketing. To learn more visit gotheartandsoul.com . SOURCE Giant Food DUBLIN, July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Battery Energy Storage Market by Element, Battery Type (Lithium-ion, Advanced Lead Acid, Flow), Connection Type (On-Grid and Off-Grid), Ownership (Customer Owned, Third-Party Owned, Utility Owned), Energy Capacity - Global Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The battery energy storage system market is estimated to be worth USD 5.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 17.5 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 26.4% during the forecast period. Lithium-ion batteries to dominate the battery energy storage system market in 2022. In 2022, lithium-ion batteries emerged as the dominant force in the battery energy storage market. Their exceptional qualities and wide availability contribute to their success. Lithium-ion batteries offer high energy density, efficiency, and performance, making them a dependable and efficient solution for energy storage. They also boast a long cycle life, guaranteeing durability and longevity for various energy storage applications. Moreover, their decreasing costs, well-established manufacturing infrastructure, and mature technology have solidified their position as the preferred choice for energy storage projects. On-grid connection type to hold the largest share of the battery energy storage system market in 2022. The on-grid connection allows battery energy storage systems to seamlessly integrate with the existing electrical grid infrastructure, providing numerous benefits. These systems can support grid stability and reliability by regulating frequency, voltage, and power quality, ensuring a consistent and uninterrupted power supply. On-grid connected battery energy storage systems also have the flexibility to participate in grid services and ancillary markets, such as frequency regulation and peak shaving, enabling additional revenue generation opportunities. Moreover, the on-grid connection allows for the efficient management of surplus energy, which can be fed back to the grid, reducing energy bills for customers, and enhancing overall grid efficiency. Asia Pacific is anticipated to contribute the largest share of the market during the forecast period. Asia Pacific consists of some of the fastest-growing economies - such as China, Japan, and India. The region is witnessing rapid industrialization, urbanization, and economic growth, leading to an increased demand for reliable and sustainable energy solutions. Governments in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea have implemented supportive policies and incentives to promote the adoption of energy storage technologies, driving market growth. Additionally, Asia Pacific is home to some of the world's largest battery manufacturers, benefiting from established supply chains, economies of scale, and technological expertise. The region has also been at the forefront of renewable energy deployment, particularly in solar and wind power, and battery energy storage systems are essential for grid integration and energy balancing. Premium Insights Growing Demand for Continuous Power Supply and Rising Adoption of Battery Energy Storage Systems for Electrification in Rural Areas to Drive Market Lithium-Ion Batteries Segment Held Largest Share in 2022 Above 500 Mwh Energy Capacity Segment to Dominate Market During Forecast Period Utility to be Largest Application Segment of Market in 2023 Market in India to Register Highest CAGR During Forecast Period Market Dynamics Drivers Accelerated Deployment of Grid Energy Storage Systems in Ongoing Grid Modernization Projects Adoption of Lithium-Ion Batteries in the Renewable Energy Sector Renewable Energy Revolution and Transition Toward Low Carbon-Based Economy Restraints High Cost of Installing Battery Energy Storage Systems Opportunities Rapid Adoption of Battery Energy Storage Systems in Rural Electrification Projects Worldwide Increased Demand for Continuous Power Supply from Data Centers Reduction in Price of Lithium-Ion Batteries Challenges Difficulties Pertaining to Installation of Battery Energy Storage Systems in Remote and Isolated Locations Overheating of Lithium-Ion Batteries due to Abnormal Discharges and Short Circuits Aging of Lithium-Ion Batteries due to Complex Chemical Reactions Between Electrodes and Electrolytes Case Study Analysis General Electric to Deliver Battery Energy Storage Systems to Convergent Adoption of Battery Energy Storage Systems by Utility Provider Company Deployment of Microgrid Battery Energy Storage Systems for Rural Electrification in Nigeria Deployment of Off-Grid Battery Energy Storage Systems for Renewable Energy Project ABB to Install Battery Energy Storage Systems in the Philippines Companies Mentioned ABB AEG Power Solutions BYD Company Limited Delta Electronics Inc. East Penn Manufacturing Company Enerdel, Inc. Exergonix General Electric Hitachi, Ltd. Honeywell International, Inc. Johnson Controls LG Energy Solutions Co., Ltd. NEC Corporation Nextera Energy, Inc. NGK Insulators, Ltd. Panasonic Corporation Parker Hannifin Corp Primus Power Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Siemens Ag Solaredge Tesla, Inc. The AES Corporation Toshiba Corporation Trinabess For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8cslgt About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Benchtop Tools Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global benchtop tools market is expected to reach a value of $3.02 billion by 2028 from $2.2 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 5.4% The global benchtop tool market has a strong demand from the industrial and residential segments. The major regions driving the market's growth are North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. North America accounted for the highest share of the global benchtop tool market in 2022. Increased construction activities and rising disposable income would drive the market for benchtop tools in the region, as disposable income plays a significant role in discretionary spending. In the U.S., the demand for benchtop tools is driven by the overall economic growth in the country. The stable economic growth in the U.S. is expected to increase commercial and industrial facilities activities, which, in turn, will drive the need for benchtop tools. The global benchtop tool market is highly competitive, with several key players operating in the industry. Intense competition, rapid technological advancements, and increasing demand for high-quality products characterize the market. Some of the major players in the global benchtop tools market are Robert Bosch, Stanley Black & Decker, Makita Corporation, Techtronic Industries, Koki Holdings, and Hilti. These companies compete based on product quality, price, innovation, and brand recognition. The market is anticipated to continue to be highly competitive in the coming years as companies focus on developing new and innovative products to meet the life-changing needs of their customers. RISK FACTORS IN THE MARKET Supply chain disruptions are considered a risk factor for vendors in the global benchtop tools market. Sometimes vendors have limited supplies and high prices during a market upturn. If suppliers cannot purchase sufficient products at reasonable prices and quality products on time to meet customer demands, product shipments might be delayed due to product shortage. MARKET TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES Increase In Infrastructural Development Projects Infrastructure is a major sector that boosts the overall development of any nation's economy. There has been a significant rise in infrastructure development initiatives in several countries worldwide to cater to the rapid pace of urbanization and the considerable increase in demand for housing units in recent years. For instance, Saudi Arabia's latest budget shows that the government focuses on infrastructural reforms per the 2030 vision. The initiative aims to provide a dignified life for Saudi families by enabling them to own houses that match their requirements and financial capabilities. Thus, the surge in such infrastructure development initiatives will offer tremendous growth potential for vendors in the benchtop tools market. Rising Popularity of Benchtop CNC Machines Benchtop CNC machines have become increasingly popular, leading to demand for benchtop tools. CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines are automated cutting machines that use a computer program to control their movement and cutting tools. CNC automatically operate parts such as lathes, grinders, routers, shapers, and other with the help of a computer rather than a human operator. They are often used in manufacturing, but benchtop CNC machines are smaller, more affordable, and designed for hobbyists and small businesses. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS Fluctuations in Raw Material Pricing Raw material costs account for approximately 50%-60% of the overall cost of production in the global benchtop tools market. The prices of major raw materials used to manufacture benchtop tools - steel, plastic, and rubber - have been volatile over the last few years. The volatility of raw material prices poses a serious threat to vendor margins. Chinese manufacturers that offer cheap and high-quality bench tools have added to the worries of prominent vendors to comply with the growing demand and changing industry standards cost-efficiently. These factors burden vendors that strive to manufacture efficient benchtop tools at affordable prices to cope with the market's competition. KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: How big is the benchtop tools market? What is the growth rate of the global benchtop tools market? What are the growing trends in the benchtop tools market? Which region holds the most significant global benchtop tools market share? Who are the key players in the global benchtop tools market? MARKET DYNAMICS Market Opportunities & Trends Growing Adoption of Power Tools Increasing Demand from Home Improvement & Diy Segment Rising Popularity of Benchtop Cnc Machines Market Growth Enablers Surge in E-Commerce Increasing Demand from the Woodworking Industry Increase in Infrastructural Development Projects Market Restraints Fluctuations in Raw Material Pricing Low Labor Cost & Supply Chain Disruptions High Competition & Price Sensitivity COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE Key Company Profiles Robert Bosch Stanley Black & Decker & Decker Makita Corporation Techtronic Industries Koki Holdings Hilti Other Prominent Vendors CHERVON CHANG TYPE Industrial Festool Ferm International JPW Industries KYOCERA Corporation Laguna Tools POWERTEC Positec Tool Corporation PROXXON Richpower Industries Record Power RIKON Power Tools Triton Tools WEN Products SCOPE OF THE MARKET Segmentation By Product Sawing Tools Bench Drill Press Grinder & Sander Jointer, Planer & Router Others Segmentation By End User Industrial Residential Segmentation By Distribution Channel Offline Online Segmentation by Geography North America The U.S. Canada Europe Germany The U.K. France Italy Spain APAC China India Japan South Korea Australia Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa & South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Turkey For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/w7xagl About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Border Security Systems: Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global market for Border Security System estimated at US$45.9 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$70.5 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.5% over the analysis period 2022-2030. Ground, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 5.3% CAGR and reach US$38.4 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Taking into account the ongoing post pandemic recovery, growth in the Aerial segment is readjusted to a revised 6% CAGR for the next 8-year period. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $21 Billion, While China is Forecast to Grow at 9.2% CAGR The Border Security System market in the U.S. is estimated at US$21 Billion in the year 2022. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$9.3 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 9.2% over the analysis period 2022 to 2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 3.6% and 4.9% respectively over the 2022-2030 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 4.1% CAGR. Select Competitors (Total 50 Featured) - BAE Systems Plc Canon Inc. Cobham Plc Elbit Systems Ltd. FLIR Systems Inc. General Atomics Leonardo DRS Lockheed Martin Corporation Northrop Grumman Corporation Raytheon company Thales SA Key Topics Covered: I. METHODOLOGY II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW Influencer Market Insights World Market Trajectories Impact of Covid-19 and a Looming Global Recession Border Security Systems: Protecting Borders against Illegal Movement of People, Weapons, Drugs & Contraband Ground-based Border Security Systems Segment Leads the Global Market Unmanned Vehicles Leads the Global Market, Biometrics Spearheads Future Growth Developed Markets Lead, Developing Regions to Witness High Growth in the Global Border Security Systems Market Competition Recent Market Activity Border Security Systems - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2022 (E) Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2022 (E) 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Growing Geopolitical Conflicts and Territorial Disputes Enhance Investments into Border Security Systems Continued Threat of Terrorism Drives the Focus on Surveillance as Counterterrorism Response: Global Number of Fatalities (in '000) Due to Terrorist Attacks: 2007-2017 Consistent Rise in Defense Budget Allocations in Developed and Developing Economies Spurs Spending on Border Security Measures Increased Defense Spending Bodes Well for Border Security Market: Military Expenditure Worldwide in US$ Billion for the Years 2001 through 2018 Projected Defense Budget in US$ Billion for the Years 2019, 2021 and 2023 Leading Countries Ranked by Defense Budgets in US$ Billion for 2018 Radar Systems: An Important Technology for Securing International Borders Biometric Systems: Poised for High Adoption in Border Control Security Global Biometrics Market: Breakdown (in %) by Application for 2019 Facial Recognition Technology Gains Prominence in Immigration Control Rising Prominence of Iris Biometrics Travel & Immigration Control Automated Border Control Systems (eGates) for Faster Processing at Border Checkpoints Proportion of Airports Worldwide Implementing e-Gates in Comparison to Other Security Self-Service Applications for the Years 2012 & 2018 Thermal Cameras: An Important System for Securing Borders Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Set to Transform Border Security Healthy Military Spending Worldwide Provides a Fertile Environment for the Growth of Drone Technologies in Border Security Applications Increasing Use of Drones in the Battlefield Pushes Up the Need for Counter-Drone Systems: Global Market for Military Drones (In US$ Billion) for the Years 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024 Autonomous Border Security Systems Increasingly Find Favor among Border Agencies Staff Shortage Gives Rise to Need for Automated and Autonomous Border Security Systems: Number of Border Patrol Agents in the US for the Years 2010-2018 Introduction of Innovative Solutions Drives Market Growth 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE III. MARKET ANALYSIS IV. COMPETITION For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nfg9rh About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Data Center Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global data center market is expected to reach a value of $289.66 billion by 2028 from $215.73 billion, growing at a CAGR of 5.03% from 2022 to 2028 The Americas region is among the world's most mature and developed data center markets. In 2022, the U.S. and Canada led the market regarding investment, white floor addition, and power capacity. In the Latin America region, Brazil is considered among the developed markets, with other countries such as Mexico, Chile, and Colombia among the emerging locations in the region. The colocation providers are undertaking the construction of facilities in a phased manner, depending on the market demand. Over the next few years, there is expected to be more demand for higher-capacity systems. Vendors such as Arista Networks, Cisco Systems, Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM, Huawei Technologies, NetApp, Lenovo, and others are among the top IT infrastructure providers in the global data center market. KEY TRENDS & DRIVERS Innovative IT Infrastructure Adoption New innovative IT technologies are replacing the traditional IT infrastructure, improving the functionality and sustainability of the facilities. Some trending innovations in the IT infrastructure include adopting NVMe storage devices, ARM-based architecture, 200/400 GbE ports, converged and hyper-converged infrastructure, and others. Shift Toward Operating Sustainable Data Centers The hyperscale and colocation operators such as Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services, CyrusOne, Digital Realty, Equinix, Iron Mountain, Vantage Data Centers, STACK Infrastructure, QTS Realty Trust, and others are involved in signing several Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) across the world to power their facilities with renewable energy. In addition, many smaller facilities operators are installing solar panels on the rooftops of their facilities. Advanced and Innovative Data Center Technologies The data centers have witnessed immense changes and transformations in adopting power and cooling infrastructure. Some of such innovations include diesel generators getting replaced with natural gas, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), and hydrogen fuel cells, replacing lead-acid batteries with advanced UPS batteries such as Lithium-ion, Nickle-Zinc, and Prussian Blue sodium-ion, and microgrid adoption in facilities majorly among hyperscalers. Adoption of AI-based Infrastructure Driving Liquid Immersion and Direct-To-Chip Cooling Liquid cooling is the most popular cooling technology used in High-Performance Computing (HPC) in the data center market to support AI and ML workloads. Google adopted liquid cooling for its latest AI hardware and has retrofitted its existing data center infrastructure to accommodate liquid cooling. Meta (Facebook) has announced its plan to pause its several new and expansion projects across the US, as it wants to create a new AI design for the facilities. Supply Chain Issues The supply chain is among the major challenge faced by data center developers in recent times. The supply chain issue was aided by the onset of COVID-19, leading to a shortage of infrastructure such as chips, power equipment, cooling infrastructure, and other infrastructure. Also, political instability and disturbances between Russia and Ukraine led to a price hike in energy and fuel costs. Premium Insights Key Highlights/ Trends Shift Toward Sustainable Measures to Reduce Carbon Emissions Innovative and Sustainable Data Center Power Technologies Ai to Boost Liquid-Cooling Adoption Government Support to Develop Data Centers Impact of Supply Chain Disruptions Facility Type Data Center Electrical Infrastructure Data Center Mechanical Infrastructure Data Center General Construction Services Vendor Analysis Data Ceter It Infrastructure Providers Data Center Support Infrastructure Providers Data Center Contractors Data Center Investors/Operators Market Opportunities & Trends Adoption of It Infrastructure Sustainability Initiatives by Data Center Operators 5G Deployments Fueling Edge Data Center Investments Surge in Rack Power Density Sustainable Innovations in Data Center Power Technology Ecodiesel Generators Natural Gas Generators Fuel Cells (Hydrogen) Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (Hvo) Fuel Nuclear Energy Generation Other Innovations Innovative Data Center Power Technologies Adoption of Advanced Ups Batteries Software-Defined Data Centers & Ai in Power Monitoring Microgrids Automation & Intelligent Monitoring Solutions Adoption of Ai-Based Infrastructure Driving Liquid Immersion & Direct-To-Chip Cooling Market Growth Enablers Growing Submarine & Inland Connectivity Increasing M&As and Jvs Across the Industry Big Data & IoT Fueling Data Center Investments Government Support for Data Center Investments Increasing Demand for Cloud-Based Services Market Restraints Rising Carbon Emissions from Data Centers Site Selection Hindrances to Data Center Development Lack of Skilled Data Center Professionals & Discrimination Security Challenges Impacting Data Center Growth High Maintenance Costs & Inefficiencies Supply Chain Disruptions Hampering Growth Key Data Center IT Infrastructure Providers Arista Networks Atos Broadcom Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Huawei Technologies IBM Juniper Networks Lenovo NetApp Other Data Center IT Infrastructure Providers DataDirect Networks (DDN Extreme Networks Fujitsu Hitachi Vantara Infortrend Technology Inspur Intel Micron Technology MiTAC Holdings NEC Nimbus Data Oracle Pure Storage Seagate Technology Silk (Kaminario) Supermicro Synology Toshiba StorCentric QNAP Systems Quanta Cloud Technology Quantum (Pivot3) Western Digital Wistron (Wiwynn) Key Data Center Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Caterpillar Cummins Delta Electronics Eaton Legrand Rolls-Royce Schneider Electric STULZ Vertiv Other Data Center Support Infrastructure Providers 3M Airedale Alfa Laval Asetek Assa Abloy Bloom Energy Carrier Condair Cormant Cyber Power Systems Daikin Applied Data Aire Enlogic FNT Software Generac Power Systems Green Revolution Cooling (GRC) HITEC Power Protection Honeywell Johnson Controls KOHLER KyotoCooling Mitsubishi Electric Munters Natron Energy NetZoom Nlyte Software Panduit Piller Power Systems Rittal Siemens Trane ( Ingersoll Rand ) ) Tripp Lite Yanmar (HIMOINSA) ZincFive Key Data Center Contractors AECOM Arup Corgan DPR Construction Fortis Construction Holder Construction Jacobs Mercury Red Engineering Rogers-O'Brien Construction Syska Hennessy Group Turner Construction Turner & Townsend Key Data Center Operators 21Vianet Group (VNET) Amazon Web Services Apple China Telecom Colt Data Centre Services (Colt DCS) Compass Datacenters CyrusOne Digital Realty EdgeConneX (EQT Infrastructure) Equinix GDS Services Global Switch Google Iron Mountain Meta (Facebook) Microsoft NTT Global Data Centers QTS Realty Trust STACK Infrastructure ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Vantage Data Centers Other Data Center Operators 3data Africa Data Centres AirTrunk Aligned American Tower AQ Compute Aruba AtlasEdge atNorth AT TOKYO BDx (Big Data Exchange) Bulk Infrastructure Bridge Data Centres CDC Data Centres Chayora China Mobile Chindata CloudHQ Cologix COPT Data Center Solutions CtrlS Datacenters Cyxtera Technologies Data4 DataBank DC BLOX Digital Edge Digital Parks Africa Element Critical ePLDT eStruxture Data Centers fifteenfortyseven Critical Systems Realty (1547) Flexential Green Mountain Gulf Data Hub H5 Data Centers HostDime KDDI Keppel Data Centres Khazna Data Centers (G42 & Etisalat) LG Uplus Lumen Technologies maincubes one MainOne (Equinix) MEEZA Millicom (Tigo) Mobily Moro Hub NEXTDC Nxtra by Airtel ODATA Orange Business Services Ooredoo Prime Data Centers Princeton Digital Group (PDG) Proximity Data Centres Rack Centre Raxio Group Rostelecom Data Centers Sabey Data Centers Saudi Telecom Company (stc) Scala Data Centers Sify Technologies Skybox Datacenters Stream Data Centers SUNeVision (iAdvantage) Switch T5 Data Centers Tenglong Holdings Group Teraco (Digital Realty) TierPoint Turkcell Urbacon Data Centre Solutions Wingu Yondr Yotta Infrastructure (Hiranandani Group) New Entrants AdaniConneX AUBix Cloudoon ClusterPower Corscale Data Centers Damac Data Centres (EDGNEX) Data Center First DHAmericas Edge Centres Evolution Data Centres Global Technical Realty Hickory iMCritical Infinity Kasi Cloud MettaDC Open Access Data Centres PowerHouse Data Centers Pure Data Centres Group Quantum Loophole Quantum Switch Tamasuk (QST) Stratus DC Management YCO Cloud YTL Data Center ZeroPoint DC For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o97czm About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets SAN DIEGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alyshia Lord is a trial attorney who focuses her practice on personal injury and premises liability litigation. As a career plaintiff's attorney, Alyshia has spent her entire profession aggressively advocating and fighting for those wrongfully harmed by others as a result of medical negligence, sexual abuse, traffic collisions, property owner negligence, and illegal consumer practices. At Gomez Trial Attorneys, Alyshia applies this experience to her zealous representation of clients injured primarily in traffic collisions and slip-and-fall-incidents. Alyshia Lord Prior to joining Gomez Trial Attorneys, Alyshia worked at a leading national law firm for victims of childhood sexual abuse, exclusively representing survivors of abuse at a children's residential care center in Los Angeles County. In addition to empowering survivors of sexual abuse by giving them a voice and advocating for justice through civil litigation, Alyshia helped hundreds of clients obtain lucrative settlements and successful resolution of their claims while working at a well-known plaintiff's personal injury law firm here in San Diego. Alyshia also brings her experience in complex civil litigation of plaintiff class actions relating to Consumer's Rights and knowledge of California's Worker's Compensation system as a former applicant's attorney helping injured workers obtain benefits owed by the insurer. Alyshia earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Texas State University, where she graduated summa cum laude, and later earned her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 2015. While a law student, Alyshia devoted much of her time to The California Innocence Project, helping to free the wrongfully convicted from prison and working to reform the criminal justice system, after her selection into California Western School of Law's prestigious program in 2013. In addition, she spent several semesters interning at the San Diego County Public Defender's Office, including the Juvenile Delinquency Division, where she provided legal assistance to individuals financially unable to retain private counsel and charged with crimes in state court. When Alyshia is not busy advocating for her clients, she enjoys spending time with her partner and their four-legged family member, 145-pound Rottweiler who answers to the name of Rosco, and attending country music and rock concerts. She is also an avid fitness enthusiast, working out several days a week to maintain physical health and mental wellness. Founder and President John Gomez states, "I am beyond thrilled to add such a talented and respected trial attorney as Ms. Lord to our growing team. She will make an immediate impact on our ability to get the very best results for our clients." Gomez Trial Attorneys is one of California's leading plaintiffs trial firms. With 7 offices throughout the State, Gomez Trial Attorneys has the resources, experience, and knowledge to take on even the biggest defendants and most challenging cases. For more information about Gomez Trial Attorneys visit TheGomezFirm.Com or call 833-Get-Gomez. SOURCE Gomez Trial Attorneys NEW YORK , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Goulston & Storrs, an Am Law 200 firm, is pleased to announce that Abraham Leitner, who co-chairs the firm's Tax Group, has been named a "Tax Trailblazer" by The National Law Journal (NLJ) for his sophisticated tax advice on complex domestic and cross-border real estate deals and innovative structuring of joint ventures involving real estate investments (REITS). Abraham Leitner, who co-chairs Goulston & Storrs' Tax Group, has been named a Tax Trailblazer by The National Law Journal (NLJ) for his sophisticated tax advice on complex domestic and cross-border real estate deals and innovative structuring of joint ventures involving real estate investments (REITS). (PRNewsfoto/Goulston & Storrs PC) Leitner is an internationally recognized tax attorney who handles complex domestic and cross-border transactions for clients doing business in the U.S. and internationally, including in Canada, Europe, China, and the Middle East. He often counsels multinational corporations on cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Leitner also frequently structures international joint ventures involving real estate investments in the U.S. and abroad, advises real estate investment trusts (REITS) on their tax matters, and advises private equity funds and other real estate investors in connection with Section 1031 and other efficient exit strategies. He is particularly experienced in advising foreign governments, insurance companies, hedge funds, real estate developers, assisted living providers, manufacturers, and high net worth individuals. "Clients don't hire me to handle run-of-the-mill tax issues. They bring me in when there is no clear path forward and I have to develop some new, creative approach for their tax problems," Leitner told the NLJ. "Helping clients navigate complex, arcane tax laws to make smart, strategic business decisions is the best part of my job." Leitner received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, his LL.M. from New York University, and his B.S., summa cum laude, from Touro College. About Goulston & Storrs Collaboration is not just a pillar of our strategy; it is the key to our competitive advantage and approach to clients, community, and each other. At Goulston & Storrs, we practice law with excellence and integrity. We are a place where mutual respect and collaboration drive open discussion, transparency, creativity and optimal results for our clients. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where sophisticated business is conducted with genuine camaraderie. To learn more about us, visit www.goulstonstorrs.com. Contact: Leigh Herzog Amy Blumenthal Goulston & Storrs PC Blumenthal & Associates PR (617) 574-2259 (617) 879-1511 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Goulston & Storrs PC NEW YORK, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Zion Market Research study, the global diamond market size was valued at around USD 97.45 billion in 2022 and is predicted to reach a value of USD 138.53 billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 4.49% during the forecast period (2023- 2030). The report delves deeper into several crucial aspects of the global diamond industry. It includes a detailed discussion of existing growth factors and restraints. Future growth opportunities and challenges that impact the diamond market are comprehensively addressed in the report. Report Link with All Related Graphs & Charts: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/diamond-market Diamond Market: Overview Diamonds are composed of unadulterated carbon. It is one of the most valuable minerals on the planet. By far, diamond is the hardest naturally occurring mineral known to science and industry. In the years since their commercialization, diamonds have achieved the status of precious gemstones. However, due to the mineral's intriguing chemical and physical properties, it also has extensive industrial applications. The peculiarity and popularity of diamonds are attributable, in part, to their sparkle, brilliance, and hardness. They are currently found in three types of deposits: kimberlite pipelines, glacial tills, and alluvial gravels. Researchers report that the carbon responsible for creating diamonds originates from the melting of preexisting rocks found in the upper mantle of the earth, which is 70 to 120 miles below the earth's surface. Demand and consumption of diamonds in the industrial and jewellery sectors have increased dramatically in recent years. Get a Free Sample PDF of this Research Report for More Insights with Table of Content, Research Methodology, and Graphs - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/diamond-market Our Free Sample Report Consists of the Following: 2023 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis 204+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research) Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request 2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends Includes an Updated List of tables & figures Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis Zion Market Research Methodology Key Industry Insights & Findings of the Diamond Market Reports: As per the analysis, the diamond market share is likely to grow above a CAGR of around 4.49% between 2023 and 2030. The diamond market size was worth around USD 97.45 billion in 2022 and is estimated to hit approximately USD 138.53 billion by 2030. Due to a variety of driving factors, the market is predicted to rise at a significant rate. in 2022 and is estimated to hit approximately by 2030. Due to a variety of driving factors, the market is predicted to rise at a significant rate. The diamond market is projected to grow at a significant rate due to the increasing valuation of diamonds Based on application segmentation, jewelry was predicted to show maximum market share in the year 2022 Based on product segmentation, natural was the leading product in 2022 On the basis of region, North America was the leading revenue generator in 2022 Browse Complete Report Here | Diamond Market By Application (Industrial And Jewelry), By Product (Synthetic And Natural), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 Diamond Market: Growth Factors Rising in diamond value will fuel market expansion The global diamond market is anticipated to expand due to the rising value of diamonds. Many users view these minerals as long-term investments due to the fact that the value of diamonds rises over time. The 'Kohinoor', the world's most famous diamond, is presently valued at over USD 19 billion. Increasing disposable income and a shift in the perceived investment value of diamonds have contributed to a rise in global demand for diamonds of all shapes and sizes. In 2021, the jewelry and timepieces division of LVMH Mot Hennessy Louis Vuitton, a multinational luxury house, reported a nearly 167% increase in revenue. The announcement was made shortly after Tiffany & Co., a well-known provider of diamond jewelry, formed a partnership with LVMH. This segment's total revenue in 2021 was greater than $10 billion. Diamond Market: Restricting Factors The high cost of diamonds will hamper market growth Diamonds are the only precious gemstones comprised of a single element, which contributes to their enduring popularity. Typically, they consist of 99.5% carbon. These factors contribute to the high price of diamonds for commercial or industrial use. Given that the creation of diamond-based jewelry is labor-intensive and necessitates the assistance of highly experienced labourers, the brand offering the product also has an impact on the price. The average price of 1 carat of the diamond can range between $1,250 and $1,700, depending on a variety of factors, including carat weight, quality, colour, and clarity, to mention a few. In the future years, it could have a substantial impact on the global diamond market's sales volume. Directly Purchase a Copy of The Report with TOC | Quick Delivery Available @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/diamond-market Global Diamond Market: Segmentation The global market for diamonds is segmented by application, product, and region. By Application Industrial Jewelry Industrial and jewelry are the two global market segments based on application. In the future years, the diamond industry is anticipated to be led by the jewelry segment due to the rising purchasing power of middle-income groups and the enduring popularity of diamond-based jewelry among luxury-buyers. Aditya Birla, an Indian conglomerate, declared its entrance into the jewelry market with an initial investment of USD 50 billion in June 2023. The name of the new business is Novel Jewels. Such announcements indicate the expansion of the diamond market in developing nations like India. By Product Synthetic Natural The global market is divided into synthetic and natural segments based on product. Current industry expansion is dominated by the natural segment, although the synthetic segment's market share is consistently increasing. The high price of diamonds extracted from the earth signifies luxury and perceived status. Since natural diamonds have a higher resale value than their counterparts, the majority of individuals are likely to invest in and purchase them. Diamond engagement rings generate more than 39% of the total revenue generated by engagement rings. In June 2023, De Beers, the most well-known diamond jewelry manufacturer in the world, launched 15 rings with lab-grown diamonds on the Lightbox website to determine consumer preference between the two diamond varieties. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/diamond-market Competitive Players The report contains qualitative and quantitative research on the global diamond Market, as well as detailed insights and development strategies employed by the leading competitors. The report also provides an in-depth analysis of the market's main competitors, as well as information on their competitiveness. Some of the main players in the global diamond market include; Rio Tinto Diamonds De Beers Group Alrosa-Nyurba Petra Diamonds Leviev Group Lucara Diamond Corp Dominion Diamond Mines Graff Diamonds Blue Nile Chow Tai Fook Signet Jewelers Gem Diamonds Key questions answered in this report: What is the growth rate forecast and market size for Diamond Market? What are the key driving factors propelling the Diamond Market forward? What are the most important companies in the Diamond Market Industry? What segments does the Diamond Market cover? How can I receive a free copy of the Diamond Market sample report and company profiles? Report Scope: Report Attribute Report Details Market Size in 2022 USD 97.45 Billion Market Forecast in 2030 USD 138.53 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of 4.49% Base Year 2022 Forecast Years 2023- 2030 Key Companies Covered Rio Tinto Diamonds, De Beers Group, Alrosa-Nyurba, Petra Diamonds, Leviev Group, Lucara Diamond Corp, Dominion Diamond Mines, Graff Diamonds, Blue Nile, Chow Tai Fook, Signet Jewelers, Gem Diamonds, and others. Segments Covered By Application, By Product, and By Region Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East &, Africa Customization Scope Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. Request Free Brochure of the Global Diamond Market @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/diamond-market Regional Analysis: North America will dominate the world with the fastest development rate North America is anticipated to lead the global diamond market during the forecast period. Due to the increasing use of diamonds in industrial applications, the United States and Canada are expected to become the largest contributors. The primary applications of laboratory-created or synthetic diamonds are in mining, construction, and machinery manufacturing. In recent years, stone quarrying and highway construction have generated substantial revenue. In addition, the regional jewellery segment contributes to the expansion of the North American market. In 2020, after the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, there was a surge in demand for diamond jewellery in the United States, which led to increased online sales. Geographically located in both Europe and Asia, Russia is presently the largest producer and supplier of diamonds. However, the ongoing conflict with Ukraine has affected the diamond industry in Russia. Diamond Market: By Region Outlook (2023-2030) North America The U.S. Canada Europe France The UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Southeast Asia Rest of Southeast Asia The Middle East & Africa & GCC South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa & Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Browse Other Related Research Reports from Zion Market Research Sanitary Ware Market By Technology (Spangles, Slip Casting, Pressure Coating, Jiggering, Isostatic Casting, And Others), By Product Type (Urinals, Washbasins & Kitchen Sinks, Bidets, Water Closets, Faucets, And Others), By Distribution Channel (Online And Offline), By End-User (Commercial And Residential), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 By Technology (Spangles, Slip Casting, Pressure Coating, Jiggering, Isostatic Casting, And Others), By Product Type (Urinals, Washbasins & Kitchen Sinks, Bidets, Water Closets, Faucets, And Others), By Distribution Channel (Online And Offline), By End-User (Commercial And Residential), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 PBSA Market By Accommodation Type (Halls Of Residence, Private Student Accommodation, And Rented Rooms Or Houses), By Location (City Center And Periphery), By Rent Type (Basic Rent And Total Rent), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 By Accommodation Type (Halls Of Residence, Private Student Accommodation, And Rented Rooms Or Houses), By Location (City Center And Periphery), By Rent Type (Basic Rent And Total Rent), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 Canopy Market By End-User (Non-Residential And Residential), By Application (Event Or Large Canopy And Shade Canopy), By Material (Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), And Polyester Cloth), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 By End-User (Non-Residential And Residential), By Application (Event Or Large Canopy And Shade Canopy), By Material (Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), And Polyester Cloth), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 Electric Blankets Market By Type (Over Blankets, Under Blankets, And Electric Pads), By End User (Hotels, Hospitals, And Households), By Distribution Channel (Online And Offline), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 By Type (Over Blankets, Under Blankets, And Electric Pads), By End User (Hotels, Hospitals, And Households), By Distribution Channel (Online And Offline), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 Ceramic Tableware Market By Product Type (Ceramic Dinnerware, Ceramic Beverageware, And Ceramic Flatware), By Material Type (Bone China, Stoneware, Porcelain, And Others), By Product (Plates, Bowls, Cups, Trays, And Cutlery), By Application (Household Purpose And Commercial Purpose), Distribution Channel (Supermarkets And Hypermarkets, Specialty Stores, Wholesalers, Online, Others), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 Browse through Zion Market Research's coverage of the Global Consumer Goods Industry Follow Us on - LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. 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Contact Us: Zion Market Research 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202 New York, 10001, United States Tel: +1 (844) 845-5245 USA/Canada Toll-Free No. +1 (855) 465-4651 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1605489/Zion_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Zion Market Research On The Roam x Harley-Davidson Launches Harley-Davidson's H-D Collections Umbrella MILWAUKEE, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) and actor and entrepreneur Jason Momoa join forces to release a new lifestyle collection, On The Roam x Harley-Davidson. This collection celebrates Momoa's admiration for the brand, rooted in the principles of freedom and authenticity, blending seamlessly with his unique and creative aesthetic. Shop now at hdcollections.com Shop now at hdcollections.com Released as part of Harley-Davidson's H-D Collections, a grouping of unique lifestyle apparel lines, On The Roam is dedicated to those who seek the untamed thrill of adventure and embrace the open road, empowering individuals to craft their own stories. The On The Roam collection combines ruggedness with Momoa's signature aesthetic, resulting in a range of styles that are effortlessly wearable and exude a perfectly broken-in feel. From durable outerwear to timeless tees and shirts, each style from the collection is designed to endure the demands of the road. The collection features easy-to-wear pieces that reflect the commitment to quality and craftsmanship that both Harley-Davidson and Jason Momoa embody. Key highlights include the workwear-inspired cargo pant, graphic tees and tanks, and a leather pullover. The inclusion of H-D's historical roots is represented within the designs like the Crescent Harley Hoodie which features graphics reminiscent of Harley-Davidson's 1930s racing apparel and The Knucklehead Hoodie that is inspired by the legendary circa '36 Knucklehead engine, Momoa's favorite Harley-Davidson engine. "The On The Roam collection was born out of my love for Harley-Davidson," said Jason Momoa. "In this collection, we honor 120 years of Harley-Davidson, embracing the adventure, empowering us to write our own story- the freedom to wander in the wild and live in the moments." With Jason Momoa as the creative force behind the campaign, and actively involved in the design process, the On The Roam collection exudes an authentic and adventurous spirit. Drawing inspiration from Harley-Davidson's rich heritage and telling a personal story of independence, individuality, and the pursuit of unforgettable experiences. To explore the On The Roam collection, visit hdcollections.com starting July 11, 2023. About Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Our ambition is to maintain our place as the most desirable motorcycle brand in the world. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture by delivering a motorcycle lifestyle with distinctive and customizable motorcycles, experiences, motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get riders on the road. Harley-Davidson also has a controlling interest in Livewire, the first publicly traded all-electric motorcycle company in the United States. LiveWire is the future in the making for the pursuit of urban adventure and beyond. Drawing on its DNA as an agile disruptor from the lineage of Harley-Davidson and capitalizing on a decade of learnings in the EV sector, LiveWire's ambition is to be the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world. Learn more at harley-davidson.com and livewire.com. SOURCE Harley-Davidson Motor Company Few Republicans have high confidence that votes will be tallied accurately in next year's presidential contest, suggesting years of sustained attacks against elections by former President Donald Trump and his allies have taken a toll, according to a poll released Tuesday. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds that only 22% of Republicans have high confidence that votes in the upcoming presidential election will be counted accurately compared to 71% of Democrats, underscoring a partisan divide fueled by a relentless campaign of lies related to the 2020 presidential election. Even as he runs for the White House a third time, Trump continues to promote the false claim that the election was stolen. Overall, the survey finds that fewer than half of Americans 44% have "a great deal" or "quite a bit" of confidence that the votes in the next presidential election will be counted accurately. While Democrats' confidence in elections has risen in recent years, the opposite is true for Republicans. Ahead of the 2016 election, 32% of Republicans were highly confident votes would be counted accurately a figure that jumped to 54% two years later after Trump won the presidency. That confidence level dropped to 28% a month before the 2020 election, as Trump signaled to voters that the voting would be "rigged," and now sits at 22% less than 16 months before the next presidential election. "I just didn't like the way the last election went," said Lynn Jackson, a registered nurse from El Sobrante, California, who is a registered Republican. "I have questions about it. I can't actually say it was stolen only God knows that." Dozens of judges, including several he appointed, rejected Trump's claims. His own attorney general and an exhaustive review by The Associated Press found no evidence of widespread fraud that could have changed the results. Reviews, audits and recounts in the battleground states where Trump disputed his loss confirmed Democrat Joe Biden's victory, including several overseen by Republican lawmakers. Even so, Trump's attempts to explain his loss led to a wave of new laws in GOP-dominated states that added new voting restrictions, primarily by restricting mail voting and limiting or banning ballot drop boxes. Across the country, conspiracies related to voting machines prompted many Republican-controlled local governments to explore banning machines from tallying votes in favor of hand counts. The AP-NORC poll suggests that the persistent messaging has sunk in among a wide swath of the American public. The survey found that independents a group that has consistently had low confidence in elections were also largely skeptical about the integrity of the 2024 elections. Just 24% have the highest levels of confidence that the votes will be counted accurately. Chris Ruff, a 46-year-old unaffiliated voter from Sanford, North Carolina, said he lost faith in elections years ago, believing they are rigged to favor certain candidates. He also sees no difference between the two major parties. "I don't vote at all," he said. "I think it only adds credibility to the system if you participate." The conspiracy theories about voting machines, promoted through forums around the country, also have taken a toll on confidence among Republicans even though there is no evidence to support them. About four in 10 U.S. adults are highly confident that scanning paper ballots into a machine provides accurate counts. Democrats are about twice as confident in the process as Republicans 63% compared to 29%. That marks a notable shift from a 2018 AP-NORC poll that found just 40% of Democrats were confident compared to 53% of Republicans. Gillian Nevers, a 79-year-old retiree from Madison, Wisconsin, has worked as a poll worker and said she has confidence based on her experiences in the people who oversee elections. "I have never seen any shenanigans," said Nevers, who votes Democratic. "The claims are unfounded and ridiculous. Because they are being so widely projected, I think they have a lot of people worried who I don't think should be." The conspiracy theories have led to death threats against election officials and an exodus of experienced workers. The attacks against voting machines have been especially dispiriting for election officials because of the testing and audits they perform before and after elections to ensure votes are recorded accurately. All states except Alabama and Wisconsin reported using a method referred to as logic and accuracy testing to confirm that voting machines tabulated votes correctly before the 2022 midterm elections, according to a report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. In most jurisdictions, any challenged result also can be checked against the paper ballots. James Grove, a 74-year-old retiree from Sharon, Pennsylvania, is among the minority of Republicans who are confident votes will be counted accurately next year and said he does not believe the 2020 election was stolen. "I think most of the elections are run pretty honestly," said Grove, who backed Trump in 2016 and 2020. "There are Republican election watchers and Democratic ones. And do I think the 2020 election was crooked? No, I really don't." WALNUT CREEK, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Heffernan Insurance Brokers, one of the largest full-service, independent insurance brokerage firms in the United States announced a partnership with TrustLayer, to allow customers to access TrustLayer's artificial intelligence (AI)-powered collaborative risk management platform. TrustLayer will enable faster and more efficient proof of insurance verification and help Heffernan customers better manage their risk by using its innovative digital solution. Virtually every business struggles with insurance verification. For those who do it well, the administrative burden is high with manual processes and millions of static documents changing hands across the U.S. Unfortunately, for those who don't manage these processes well, the risk is astronomical, with studies showing that 75 percent of vendors are underinsured. TrustLayer uses robotic process automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence to automate this process securely, so companies can automatically verify the insurance and licenses of their vendors, suppliers, borrowers, and tenants. Further TrustLayer is building connectivity to systems of record to allow for truly validating whether coverage is in force. "Our focus at TrustLayer is to help relieve risk management pain points and reduce friction for businesses across the entire economy. This partnership with Heffernan Insurance Brokers will help reduce risk and create a more efficient verification process for them and their customers," said John Fohr, co-founder and CEO of TrustLayer. "Modern risk managers are pushing the industry forward with their innovative spirit. These are the forward-leaning professionals that we're building TrustLayer for. The Heffernan team certainly embodies that belief and I look forward to working with them as we drive innovation across the insurance industry and improve the risk transaction experience for all involved." "We are very excited to be joining forces with TrustLayer" shares Zachary Medellin, Heffernan's AVP of Compliance Management. "Together, we are ushering in a new era of risk mitigation and insurance compliance management for our clients. This innovative collaboration, of TrustLayer's award winning SaaS and Heffernan's insurance expertise, will allow us to effectively and efficiently track the insurance compliance of our client's business partners to ensure all necessary standards are met. Our goal is to empower our clients with the freedom to invest their assets and time into what they do best while allowing us to safeguard their operations. We look forward to further supporting our clients with another strong risk transfer tool." About Heffernan Insurance Brokers Heffernan Insurance Brokers, formed in 1988, is one of the largest independent insurance brokerage firms in the United States. Heffernan provides insurance and financial services products to a range of businesses and individuals. Headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., Heffernan has offices in San Francisco, Petaluma, Menlo Park, Truckee, Bakersfield, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles and Irvine, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; Seattle and Olympia, WA; St. Louis, MO; and London UK. Employee-owned, Heffernan Insurance Brokers was named the Top Mid-Sized Broker in the United States to work for in 2009 by Business Insurance Magazine. The firm has been among the Top Greater Bay Area Philanthropists since 2003. For more information, visit www.heffins.com . License #0564249 About TrustLayer TrustLayer is an AI-powered collaborative risk management platform working to digitize the highly manual, error-prone, and paper-based process of insurance verification. With TrustLayer, companies can securely automate the verification of insurance, licenses, and compliance documents of their business partners (i.e., vendors, subcontractors, suppliers, borrowers, tenants, ridesharing, and franchisees) in an easy-to-use digital dashboard. TrustLayer is working with dozens of the largest brokers and carriers in the U.S. to build out a fully digital proof of insurance solution so companies will be able to validate in real-time that their business partners have the correct coverage. The company is backed by leading investors, including Craft Ventures, Abstract Ventures, Box Group, Propel Ventures, Sure Ventures and PruVen Capital, and has also received investments from more than 20 of the top 100 insurance brokers. To learn more, visit trustlayer.io , or follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn . SOURCE Heffernan Insurance Brokers ST. LOUIS, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Helitech, a leader in the Waterproofing and Foundation Repair industry, is proud to announce its designation as one of the St. Louis Top Workplaces of 2023. This esteemed recognition is a testament to Helitech's commitment to creating an exceptional work environment that fosters employee satisfaction, growth, and innovation. The St. Louis Top Workplaces Award, presented annually by St. Louis Post-Dispatch, is a highly sought-after accolade that recognizes companies and organizations in the St. Louis area for their exemplary work culture, employee engagement, and overall commitment to employee well-being. Submissions are garnered through an anonymous survey completed by a company's employees, measuring various aspects of workplace satisfaction, including effective leadership, strong values, clear direction, and motivated employees. This year, Helitech has been chosen as a recipient of this prestigious award among a competitive field of organizations and companies. "On the heels of receiving our seventh BBB award, the recognition as one of the top workplaces in St. Louis is a tremendous honor for Helitech," said Brett Campbell, Executive Vice President at Helitech. "As award submissions are considered purely based on the merit of employees' respective private opinions, the procurement of this award is a direct reflection of our team's commitment to and appreciation for Helitech. We are grateful not only for each and every individual who makes up our Helitech family, but for the deeply rooted values of faith and family that have shaped our company culture and, ultimately, guided us to the procurement of this award today." Family owned and operated since 1987, Helitech cultivates an atmosphere that facilitates a familial dynamic both within the company itself and when working directly with a homeowner. Helitech's faith and family-driven culture fosters an environment where employees are encouraged and equipped to "level up" and reach their full potential. As a result, team members are motivated, engaged, and dedicated to delivering exceptional results, thus directly impacting the families and homes they serve. "As Helitech maintains rapid growth and expansion of its national footprint," commented Brett Campbell, "this recognition solidifies we are indeed living in alignment with our Helitech Promise of longevity and excellence, which starts in the office and then translates into the homes we heal. With a commitment to exceptional customer service, bolstered by a team of certified home specialists, Helitech continues to offer a comprehensive range of services to address foundation issues, basement waterproofing, crawl space concerns, and other specialty solutions." For more information about Helitech or to heal your home with Helitech's award-winning services, visit helitechonline.com . ABOUT HELITECH Helitech is a family, locally-owned specialty contractor that provides waterproofing, foundation repair, and concrete repair services to homeowners across a four-state region in Illinois, Missouri, Eastern Iowa, and Western Kentucky. Services include basement waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation, crawl space waterproofing, complete foundation repair piering, bowing wall repair, wall anchoring, and crack repair, as well as concrete leveling, dehumidifiers, sump pumps, and yard drainage. Contact: Julia Smith Marketing Manager [email protected] SOURCE Helitech Waterproofing & Foundation Repair Transaction brings two market-leading entities in mental health education under HMP Global umbrella and positions company as a worldwide powerhouse in the advancement of practical psychopharmacology and CNS-focused education; includes the preeminent brands NEI Congress and NEI Synapse MALVERN, Pa., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HMP Global, a leading omnichannel healthcare education and events company, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Neuroscience Education Institute (NEI), a privately held medical education company, and distinguished leader in psychopharmacology-based CNS (Central Nervous System) education. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Under the terms of the agreement, NEI will become a fully owned subsidiary of HMP Global and operate as an independent entity as part of the HMP Global family of companies. Founded in 2000 by Stephen M. Stahl, MD, PhD, an internationally renowned clinician, researcher, teacher, and pioneer in psychiatry with subspecialty expertise in the field of psychopharmacology, NEI was developed with the desire to help more patients by helping the professionals who treat them. His best-selling book, Essential Psychopharmacology, currently in its 5th edition, remains the essential text on disease and drug mechanisms for all students and professionals in mental health. NEI's rich educational portfolio includes the highly regarded annual conferences, NEI Congress and NEI Synapse; online CME activities; news and research; and high-value everyday tools used in practical care scenarios. Through NEI membership, the organization provides valuable online resources and exclusive member-only benefits to clinicians throughout the world. NEI has a specialized focus in depression; anxiety disorders; bipolar spectrum disorders; schizophrenia; sleep disorders; ADHD; Alzheimer's disease; substance use; PTSD; traumatic brain injuries; and more. "Today marks a significant milestone as we add the NEI company into the HMP Global portfolio, continuing our evolution as the world's leading resource for healthcare education," said Jeff Hennessy, Chairman and CEO, HMP Global. "We have long admired NEI a company with an outstanding reputation, whose success has been driven by exemplary leadership, strong core values, and a passionate commitment to educating clinicians. This is a transaction based on a shared mission and deep mutual respect. We welcome our NEI colleagues to HMP Global and together, we will continue to advance clinician education and drive meaningful improvement in the quality of mental health care in the U.S. and around the world." Under the terms of the agreement, NEI will become a fully owned subsidiary of HMP Global and operate as an independent entity as part of the HMP Global family of companies. The NEI management team will remain in place, with Steve Smith as CEO and Sheri Mills as President. As part of the acquisition, HMP Global also announced several leadership changes: Randy Robbin has been named Chief Learning Officer, in addition to his role as President, HMP Education, the company's medical education arm. Both Smith and Mills will report to Robbin. has been named Chief Learning Officer, in addition to his role as President, HMP Education, the company's medical education arm. Both Smith and Mills will report to Robbin. Jeff Hennessy, Jr. has been named Chief Operating Officer, in addition to his role as President. HMP Omnimedia, which includes HMP Collective, the company's medical communications agency. "This agreement represents incredible opportunity," said Robbin. "We have long respected NEI for their wealth of knowledge, longstanding relationships with renowned faculty, and innovative partnerships with industry. I look forward to working with Stephen and Sheri to realize the considerable potential to expand in their current market as well as reach new clinician types." "This is an exciting new chapter for NEI," said Smith. "We are enormously proud to be joining a well-run organization like HMP Global, with a purpose-driven commitment to education. They have built an incredible company with extensive reach and regard across the global healthcare community in many verticals, and they are firmly focused on investing in our success and helping us accelerate our growth." The agreement will further expand the company's presence in all ways throughout the psychiatry and behavioral health market. In 2012, the company acquired the U.S. Psychiatric & Mental Health Congress, now known as Psych Congress, the largest independent mental health meeting in the U.S. Over the past several years, the company has built a powerhouse portfolio of mental health education and content through both the organic launch and acquisition of relevant, complementary offerings, including Psych Congress Elevate, an educational conference for emerging mental health clinicians; Psych Congress Regional meetings; the Evolution of Psychotherapy; Rx Summit; the Symposia on Addictive Disorders; and Psych Congress Network, a year-round digital resource. This continues to be a period of accelerated growth for HMP Global, with recent transactions in the fields of senior living, cardiovascular, and market access/oncology. In 2022, the company completed the February purchase of the Senior Care Marketing and Sales Summit (SMASH), the meeting for C-suite sales and marketing executives within senior housing and post-acute care organizations, as well as announced the formation of a Senior Care Division. In June of 2022, the company acquired the Western Afib Symposium, the leading educational conference focused on advancements in atrial fibrillation, and in September, the company announced the acquisition of Proximity Health, LLC, now known as HMP Market Access Insights, a Palo Alto, California-based company with deep experience delivering actionable analysis and guidance for the pharmaceutical industry and billed as the 'gold standard' provider of market access insights. Navagant served as exclusive investment banking advisor to NEI Global. Armstrong Teasedale LLP provided legal counsel to NEI Global and Troutman Pepper LLP provided legal counsel to HMP Global. About HMP Global HMP Global is the force behind Healthcare Made Practical and is an omnichannel leader in healthcare content, events, and education, with a mission to improve patient care. The company produces accredited medical education events in person and online via its proprietary VRTX Virtual platform and clinically relevant, evidence-based content for the global healthcare community across a range of therapeutic areas. Its brands include the HMP Global Learning Network, healthcare's most comprehensive source for news and information; Psych Congress, the largest independent mental health meeting in the U.S.; the Evolution of Psychotherapy, the world's largest independent educational event for mental health professionals; the Leipzig Interventional Course (LINC), the leading, global gathering for interdisciplinary cardiovascular specialists; EMS World Expo, North America's largest EMT and paramedic event; and the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), the largest wound care meeting in the world. For more information, visit hmpglobal.com. About NEI The Neuroscience Education Institute (NEI) was founded with the desire to help more patients by helping the professionals who treat them. Since its inception in 2000, NEI has distinguished itself by providing high quality, visually engaging, and evidence-based educational activities designed to help increase the competence of healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric and neurologic disease states. NEI's CME program consists of annual and regional conferences; live sessions at national meetings; online CME activities, print CME activities; news and research; practice tools; and other online resources. Through membership, NEI provides valuable online resources and exclusive member-only benefits to clinicians throughout the world. Learn more at https://nei.global/mem. SOURCE HMP Global Global branded food company recognized for its steadfast commitment to innovation AUSTIN, Minn., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovation has long been a cultural centerpiece of Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), and today, the company was recognized on Fast Company's fifth annual list of the 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators. "It is an incredible honor to be recognized as one of the top innovative companies in the nation. It's a credit to the inspired team of innovators we have here that are making it all happen," said Scott Aakre, senior vice president, Brand Fuel at Hormel Foods. "The food industry is constantly evolving, and it is our commitment as a global branded food company to keep pace with that evolution by making insights-led innovation central to everything we do. Innovation has always been an important part of our culture. We're constantly striving to improve the lives of our customers and consumers by meeting their needs with innovative processes and product solutions while also creating a more sustainable future for both our company and the planet." Developed in collaboration with Accenture, the 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators ranks 100 winners worldwide from a variety of industries, including biotech, consumer-packaged goods, education, healthcare and many more. Fast Company editors and Accenture researchers collaborated together to score nearly 1,000 submissions, and a panel of eight distinguished judges reviewed and endorsed the top 100 companies, which now includes Hormel Foods for the first time. Hormel Foods recently unveiled a new center of excellence focused on consumer insights and innovation called Brand Fuel. The Brand Fuel team serves as the company's hub for consumer insights and brand diagnostics while supporting technology to enable connections with consumers on where and how they shop and eat. Additionally the company launched its Originate Initiative, an email series that shares many of the industry-leading efforts the company is pioneering today, while sparking conversations about tomorrow and beyond. "Innovation is part of our DNA, and it will continue to play an important part in our future," Aakre said. "It's one of the reasons we have had so much success for so many years." To see the complete list of Fast Company's 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators, visit fastcompany.com/best-workplaces-for-innovators/list. About Hormel Foods Inspired People. Inspired Food. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, Skippy, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus, Jennie-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement Inspired People. Inspired Food. to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com and csr.hormelfoods.com. About Fast Company Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com . About Accenture Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud, and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Technology and Operations services, and Accenture Songall powered by the world's largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 710,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners, and communities. Visit us at accenture.com. Contact: Media Relations Hormel Foods [email protected] SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation Experienced compliance pro, seasoned community banker focusing on commercial lending and accomplished information technology leader join expanding community bank ATLANTA, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyperion Bank has named three experienced professionals to senior posts. The bank has named Toni Hughes, CRCM, as EVP & Compliance Department Manager; Carlos Laverde as Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager; and William C. (Bill) Young as Vice President & Director of Technology Services. Toni Hughes, CRCM, EVP & Compliance Dept. Manager, Hyperion Bank Experienced Banker Carlos Laverde, SVP & Relationship Manager, Hyperion Bank "In addition to her extensive banking experience and familiarity with our markets, Toni is adept at a wide range of bank operations areas," says Hyperion President & COO Lou DeCesare. "Carlos' proficiency in building and maintaining customer-focused banking relationships is a great match for our bank's customers and team. And Bill is an articulate communicator with an innate ability to interpret and understand IT terminology as well as ensuring non-technical translation for others." A banking professional in the Atlanta market for the past 20+ years, Toni Hughes has over 30 years of banking experience, having held positions at national, regional and community banks in Credit, Collections, Lending, Operations and most recently regulatory compliance. Hughes attended the University of Kentucky and earned a bachelor's degree in organizational psychology and development from American Intercontinental University, an MBA from Capella University and has earned the CRCM (Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager) designation from the American Bankers Association. Focusing on commercial lending, Carlos Laverde (NMLS# 779813) assists a broad range of individual and business customers with a full suite of tailored banking solutions. Of his almost 25 years in banking, he has spent 20 years in the Atlanta market, with most of that in the community bank setting. He began his career as a teller with a big box bank and previously served as Market Executive for another area community bank. In between, this seasoned banker has proven his agility across banking services and products, as well as myriad customer industries. Laverde earned a bachelor's degree in Finance from Valdosta State University, and a master's degree in Finance from Georgia State University. Bill Young is an IT leader with 25+ years of experience in development, planning and implementation of robust information technology strategies, executing transformational initiatives to improve overall efficiency. He was previously Director of Information Technology at one of the oldest independent securities, asset management and investment banking firms. Young holds certifications as a Novell Certified Network Administrator (CNA) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MSCE), and he pursued his education at Montgomery County Community College. "It's a bonus that both Toni and Carlos previously worked with other members of our team and understand the high-touch environment we foster for our customers," DeCesare says. "Similarly, Bill has a demonstrated background in researching, recommending, and promoting new technologies and best practices to streamline major IT processes and improve overall end-user experience." Hyperion is a full-service community bank, connecting with customers via technology and highly accessible, experienced, enthusiastic bankers who have local decision-making authority. Founded in 2006, the bank expanded in 2019, opening a second location in Atlanta, Georgia; it expanded again in 2020, with a joint venture, Hyperion Mortgage. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Offer of credit is subject to approval. #communitybank #communitybanking #communitybanker #HyperionBank #HyperionMortgage #HyperionBancshares Media inquiries: B. Andrew (Drew) Plant [email protected] 678-637-5532 SOURCE Hyperion Bank BOSTON, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Indigo Ag, the innovative leader and trusted partner in sustainable agriculture, announced a program with Consolidated Grain and Barge Co., a subsidiary of CGB Enterprises, Inc. and a leader in the grain and transportation industries, designed to quantify the environmental benefits of sustainably grown crops sourced by CGB. Through its Market+ Source sustainable crop program, Indigo Ag will use its proprietary measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) capabilities to help CGB quantify the emissions factor for the grain they purchase from farmers using more sustainable farming practices. These grains would be purchased at a premium and ultimately sold to CGB customers looking to decarbonize their value chains, including food and beverage companies, ingredient companies and regenerative and sustainable fuel producers. Indigo's proprietary MRV capabilities use the highest scientific standards to quantify environmental benefits for companies participating in the Market+ Source program. "As corporations look to achieve their Scope 3 emissions targets, the ability to quantify the environmental impact of sustainable practices with a high degree of certainty is critically important," said Ron Hovsepian, president and CEO of Indigo Ag. "We are excited to work with companies like CGB who are demonstrating leadership in the industry by committing to help farmers make more money through the adoption of sustainable practices while reducing emissions in the ag value chain." "At CGB we are driven to connect value-added solutions to our upstream farmer producers, while simultaneously meeting the evolving needs and quality characteristics of our downstream consumer," said Eric Slater, President and CEO of CGB Enterprises, Inc. "Through our work with Indigo, we are excited to expand upon and connect value-added production practices at the farm level that would promote sustainability within the grain, feed, and food supply chains." More information on the Market+ Source program can be found on Indigo's website. About Indigo Ag Uniquely combining science, technology and agriculture, Indigo Ag offers a comprehensive suite of sustainability solutions that benefit farmers, agribusinesses and corporations alike. Our integrated business platform enables participants to adopt and profit from sustainability opportunities. Working with Indigo, farmers can now maximize their profit from new and existing sustainability practices on each field, every year of their rotation, while simultaneously improving soil quality. Founded in 2013, Indigo Ag is unlocking the power of agriculture to create a better place to live. Operating across 14 countries, the company is delivering on its mission of harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet. About CGB Enterprises Inc CGB Enterprises Inc. is headquartered in Covington, LA, and through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Consolidated Grain and Barge Co., operates a vast network of grain facilities across the Midwest. In addition to grain facilities, CGB Enterprises, Inc. has dedicated operations in logistics and transportation (CTLC), agri-finance (AGRIfinancial Services), soybean processing, producer risk management, and other related businesses. For more information on CGB Enterprises, Inc. and its family of businesses, please visit www.cgb.com. SOURCE Indigo Ag PHM case report reinforces importance of access to treatments LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PHM announces the publication of a case report summarizing a patient's complete response to an innovative treatment for prostate cancer. PHM is a clinically and scientifically sophisticated healthcare navigation company that solves complex healthcare problems to help individuals get well and stay well. A 73-year-old male with mCRPC in 2017 with multiple bone and lymph node metastases with increased PSMA expression. PSMA imaging before and after targeted radioligand therapy with LuPSMA-617. Despite decades of research and multiple treatment options, prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the U.S. according to the American Cancer Society, with a new case being diagnosed every three minutes, per the Prostate Cancer Foundation. PHM's peer-reviewed case report, recently accepted in Frontiers in Oncology, highlights the importance of having access to cutting-edge cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. The report summarizes the case of a 73-year-old male diagnosed with stage 4B prostate cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of ~30%. Despite standard chemo and hormonal therapies, his cancer continued to worsen. After only four treatments of a state-of-the-art, targeted radioligand therapy while continuing hormone therapy, scans showed that the disease had disappeared. Today, five years later, the patient remains disease-free. "The patient came to PHM about a year after he was diagnosed, and there were early signs that standard treatments were not going to adequately control his disease. We connected him to a clinic in Germany employing theranostics, a treatment for prostate cancer that could potentially help but was not yet approved in the U.S.," said Eva Gordon, PhD, SVP Research and Chief Scientist at PHM. "Access to treatments like these can improve both survival and quality of life for patients. We're proud we could help this patient access an emerging treatment at a time his prognosis was poor, and his options were otherwise limited." In 2022, 5 years after the patient received his first treatment, the U.S. FDA approved this treatment. "This case is a testament to the remarkable impact this treatment can have for metastatic prostate cancer patients. I'm thrilled more patients can now benefit from theranostics," says treating physician, Richard Baum, MD, PhD., Head of Theranostic Center at Curanosticum Wiesbaden/Frankfurt, Professor of Nuclear Medicine at University of Frankfurt/Main. The patient shares his perspective: "I went to see an oncologist and he told me I didn't have much time, maybe six months to one year if I went to chemotherapy. My PHM team told me about a new treatment available in Germany. After the first treatment the doctor showed me the scans and said the cancer had retreated a bit and he was encouraged. It got smaller with each subsequent treatment, and after the fourth treatment he couldn't see any remaining disease." About PHM PHM solves complex healthcare problems to help individuals get well and stay well. The company applies its deep health intelligence to bring the best of what's possible in medicine to individuals, families and companies that make their employees' health a priority. PrivateHealth.com. SOURCE Private Health Management Targeted at entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders in the process of reinvention, this seminar will be held in a hybrid format (online and in-person) to discover the keys to personal and professional success. MIAMI, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 31 and August 1, the "El Negocio de ser tu" seminar will take place in Miami, offering a unique event where participants will develop a strategic vision of business and marketing to boost their entrepreneurship and personal brand. "El Negocio de ser tu" is an initiative created by Ismael Cala, a renowned speaker and best-selling author, in collaboration with the distinguished marketing and personal branding expert, Vilma Nunez. This two-day event will bring together creative minds and thought leaders in an inspiring environment, where participants can learn proven strategies for success, develop key skills, and establish valuable connections with professionals from various industries. Ismael Cala, creator of Cala Academy, expressed his enthusiasm, stating: "This meeting represents a unique opportunity to share knowledge and experiences with those who wish to propel their personal and professional development. Over these two days, we will address relevant topics that will help participants discover their true potential and achieve their goals." Vilma Nunez, CEO of Convierte Mas group, shared her thoughts on the importance of this meetup: "The significance of this gathering for ambitious entrepreneurs with a mission is that there will be a before and after in this event, as they will not only gain knowledge but also an action plan to achieve results." During the seminar, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Miami Hotel, participants will have the opportunity to attend keynote speeches by experts in various fields, interactive workshops, and networking sessions. Topics to be covered include the entrepreneurial mindset, time management, effective leadership, persuasive communication, and personal branding, among others. "El Negocio de ser tu" promises to be an enriching and motivating experience for all attendees, providing practical tools and valuable insights for personal and professional growth. For more information about the event and to secure your spot, whether in-person or online, please visit the official website: https://cala.academy/evento. About Ismael Cala: Ismael Cala is a life and human development strategist, journalist, bestselling author, philanthropist, and international speaker. For over five years, he hosted the show CALA on CNN in Spanish, becoming one of the most beloved and influential communicators in the Americas. He is the president of the CALA Group business consortium and the Ismael Cala Foundation, and author of books such as The Power of Listening, Life is a Pinata, The Emotional Illiterate, Un buen hijo de P..., The Secret of Bamboo, and Wake Up with Cala, among others. He currently serves as the rector of the Hispanic University of Mentors. About Vilma Nunez: CEO of Convierte Mas Group and Business Marketing Advisor. Dean at American Business University. Through her consulting, mentoring, and training, she helps brands and professionals sell more using online marketing, advertising, and sales techniques. Vilma is a marketing communicator, creator of digital methodologies, author of books, international speaker, and one of the first women to venture into digital businesses with ebooks, online courses, and certifications in 2013. She currently leads as CEO of Convierte Mas group, a conglomerate of software companies, consulting firms, agencies, and online schools that provide online marketing and advertising solutions. Host of "Vende Mas con Vilma" podcast, which has over 4,500,000 listens worldwide. SOURCE Cala Enterprises Corporation FREEHOLD, N.J., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allaire Health Services (Allaire) is excited to announce that, effective July 7th, 2023, the Jefferson Health Care Center will formally become part of the Allaire family of skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities. Allaire has worked closely with Jefferson Health's leadership team on the transitioning of the facility to Allaire's management and ownership over the past year. The facility will now be known as The Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing at Washington Township. Ben Kurland, President & CEO of Allaire Health Services, and Kristen Vogel, Interim COO of Jefferson East, celebrate the successful transition of The Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing at Washington Township from Jefferson Health to Allaire Health Services. Allaire and Jefferson are committed to continued excellence and are excited about this new collaborative relationship in service to the direct clinical and residential healthcare needs of the Greater Washington Township area. Patients and Residents can expect the same high-quality health care services that have historically been provided at the Jefferson Health Care Center will continue uninterrupted. Allaire will be working closely with Jefferson Health to identify additional service opportunities, consistent with population needs, that will serve to further enhance the Jefferson Health Care Center's value to the greater community. "We are very excited about adding the Jefferson Health Care Center to the Allaire family," said Ben Kurland, LNHA, CDP, RACT-CT, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Allaire Health Services. "In this building, we see tremendous opportunity to impact the health and wellness of the region in collaborating with Jefferson Health. Jefferson Health is a tremendous organization, providing a comprehensive array of advanced specialty services. We are confident that our model of care and collaboration with hospitals and physicians will extend the value that Jefferson Health and Allaire aspire to deliver to the market." "Quality of care has always been our top priority for Jefferson Health and we believe that Allaire shares this passion for excellence. Their extensive experience and commitment to fostering strong relationships with residents, their families and staff members will ensure that patients will continue to receive the high-quality care they have come to expect," said Brian Sweeney, RN, MBA, FACHE, Regional President, Jefferson Health. The addition of the Jefferson Health Care Center to the Allaire family of facilities further strengthens Allaire's position in the market as a leading provider of skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. Allaire has a strong history of collaboration with hospitals, health systems, and physicians to develop programs and services that are tailored to the needs of the population and in keeping with the needs of the community. Allaire now owns and operates 13 facilities across New Jersey, Vermont, and Pennsylvania. About Allaire Health Services Allaire Health Services, based in Central New Jersey, was founded in 2015 by Benjamin Kurland with the idea to create a unique environment of care for individuals who require short- and long-term care. Allaire's pathway to excellence started with a single facility in Freehold, New Jersey and has evolved to include thirteen facilities in three states. Allaire's strategy for growth begins with identifying the right facility through significant due diligence and development of a direct understanding of the market in which the facility exists. Allaire has worked with County facilities, as well as privately held facilities, and the approach is the same transform culture, engage employees, align with physicians and hospitals, and create a level of excellence that patients, residents, and families expect and deserve. Allaire's website is www.allairehs.com . About Jefferson Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 43,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and four schools offering 200 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,400 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as of the top health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia area, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 18 hospitals and over 50 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Health Partners Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years. Ben Kurland, President, and CEO of Allaire Health Services (left), and Kristen Vogel, Interim Chief Operations Officer, Jefferson East (right), celebrate the successful transition of The Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing at Washington Township, Skilled Nursing Facility, from Jefferson Health to Allaire Health Services. Allaire and Jefferson will collectively serve patients and residents, providing access to an array of clinical services tailored to the direct needs of the population. Both organizations are committed to continued excellence and are excited about this new collaborative relationship in service to the clinical and residential healthcare needs of the Greater Washington Township area. Contact: Miriam Deutsch, Director, Corporate Operations 732.405.3600 Ext. 305 [email protected]com SOURCE Allaire Health Services VALLETTA, Malta, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kindred continues the rollout of its proprietary tech platform in North America by launching in Pennsylvania. This follows the successful launch in New Jersey in May. Customers in Pennsylvania were able to access Unibet Casino and Sportsbook apps on the Kindred platform from July 10. Kindred Group plc (Kindred) expands its proprietary platform to Pennsylvania, providing customers with an enhanced experience, personalised content and products, as well as improved analytics. Pennsylvania is a key multi-product market for Kindred, and it's Unibet brand has been live in the market for over three years. "We are delighted to be able migrate our customers in Pennsylvania onto the Kindred platform. Since launching in New Jersey, our customers have reported enhanced design, navigation and stability. We look forward to rolling out the Kindred platform to further States", says Nils Anden, Interim CEO of Kindred Group. For more information: Maria Angell Dupont, External Communications Manager, Kindred Group [email protected] +46 72 165 15 17 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/824/3802837/2183121.pdf Kindred launches proprietary tech platform in Pennsylvania https://news.cision.com/kindred-group/i/kindred-live-in-pennsylvania,c3198788 Kindred-live-in-Pennsylvania SOURCE Kindred Group The Wiregrass Honor Flight project is giving veterans an opportunity to visit war memorials in Washington D.C., later this year. Out of everybody Ive talked to, at least one person has been to the on the honor flight, Travis Parker, the organizer of the Wiregrass Honor Flight, said. Everyone has said it was one of the best days of their life, right up there with the birth of their kids and marriage. During a regular meeting of the Houston County Commission Monday, Parker spoke to commissioners about the logistics of the flight and what more the organization needs to make it a reality. The flight, which is recognized by the National Honor Flight Network, will fly Vietnam era veterans to Washington D.C. free of charge to see memorials built in their honor. Each veteran has a chaperone who will accompany them on the trip. The chaperone must pay a $700 fee to go on the flight. Around a dozen chaperones have already signed up to accompany veterans and Parker hopes to bring the number up to 50 before the first flight. I need more guardians, Parker said. They get as much if not more out of the trip than the veterans because it is such a special occasion. The Honor Flight Network was founded in 2005 when six pilots came together and flew 12 veterans to Washington D.C. to see the World War II monument. As the flight grew in popularity, it eventually spread to the Wiregrass region in 2009, and the original Wiregrass Honor Flight was born. They flew over 400 World War II veterans on five flights in two years, Parker said. Eventually, they added Korean veterans and Vietnam era veterans. The first flight is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 11. Once the inaugural flight is complete, Parker hopes to have three flights each year afterward as over 40,000 veterans are on the waiting list for a flight. We want to get something set up where we can have two to three flights forever, Parker said. Once we run out of Vietnam veterans, well have the Middle Eastern war veterans, and were always going to have small conflicts around the world. Currently, the organization is looking for sponsors to help cover costs since veterans are going for free. Were going to different groups to talk to them about donations, Parker said. It costs about $700 to send a veteran and you can also pay for multiple veterans at one time. On Sept. 7-11, the organization will host a variety of events including a U.S.O show, a Christian concert, and a 9/11 ceremony honoring first responders. The events will take place at National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds with the goal is to collect donations and honor veterans who may not be able to go on the flight. For the ones that dont go to D.C., were bringing the Vietnam Wall here, Parker said. Were also bringing a Revolutionary War replica of George Washingtons war tent, a Civil War surgeon tent, and a Vietnam War tent. Students in the area will also have the chance to be involved in the festivities as the group will hold a school day on Friday, Sept. 8, to educate children on the Vietnam War. This will be a mini history lesson, Parker said. Were trying to educate people on the Vietnam War because most of the schoolteachers and students werent even born when Vietnam was going on. Houston County Commissioner Tracy Adams said he will help Parker get in contact with as many area schools as possible. Well support you 100% with getting our kids involved, Adams said. Houston County chairman Brandon Shoupe praised Parker for the job hes been doing with the organization. I commend you for leading this organization, Shoupe said. Its going to be neat to see the wall here because Im sure a lot of us have relatives on that wall. For more information about the Wiregrass Honor Flight, call 334-494-7846 or visit www.wiregrass-honor-flight.yolasite.com. In other action Monday, the county commission: Approved a request to appoint a representative for the 2023-2024 ACCA Legislative Committee. THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, June 26, Kinecta Federal Credit Union opened its newest branch in Thousand Oaks, California. This new branch brings Kinecta's convenient and accessible financial services, lower loan rates, higher savings rates and wealth management resources to the Thousand Oaks community. "We are proud to open this newest branch in the Thousand Oaks area," said Keith Sultemeier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kinecta. "Our commitment to providing our members with exceptional service and financial resources remains our top priority, and we look forward to serving the needs of this community and those who call Thousand Oaks and nearby home." As a credit union, Kinecta offers the products and services you would find at a traditional bank but with a more personalized and human approach to banking. The financial institution strives to build stronger communities and improve members' lives through financial education, wellness, social responsibility, mentorship, and diversity, equity and inclusion practices. "This newest location is a testament to our unwavering dedication to growth and investment in the neighborhoods we serve," said Sultemeier. Kinecta is one of America's largest credit unions with $6.7 billion in assets helping to guide more than 270,000 members to financial security through banking, lending, insurance and wealth services. From free online financial workshops to financial recommendations tailored for individual life events, Kinecta invests heavily in helping members live their best lives. This branch is located at 550 N. Moorpark Rd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91360. For more information, visit kinecta.org/thousand-oaks. About Kinecta Federal Credit Union Headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, Kinecta Federal Credit Union is one of the country's largest credit unions, with assets of $6.7 billion and more than 270,000 members from coast to coast. Banking the Southern California area for more than 80 years, with additional branches in New York, New Jersey, Northern California and Florida, Kinecta offers its members a full range of financial products from banking, lending and insurance to wealth management services. Kinecta has been recognized by the Mortgage Bankers Association as a recipient of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Residential Leadership Award, and received the Best of Show award granted by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Technology Council. Residents of Rochester, NY, voted Kinecta as a finalist for Best Credit Union in the Democrat & Chronicle's annual Rochester Choice Awards in 2022. Forbes awarded Kinecta as a top-ranked credit union in California on its America's Best Credit Unions in Each State 2022 List. Kinecta has 30 locations, and its members can use a network of more than 5,800 shared branches and access over 85,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide. For more information on Kinecta, visit the website and LinkedIn. MEDIA CONTACT: Ryann Checchi, Interdependence PR [email protected] 708-420-4776 SOURCE Kinecta Federal Credit Union Recognized value in the UK, France and Japan for 400 years SEOUL, South Korea, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Korea Ginseng Corporation (KGC) announced on the third day the change of its brand name from Cheong Kwang Jang, with a 124-year tradition, to Jung Kwan Jang. This transformation involves a renewal of brand identity, logo and product package, to reposition itself as a global health supplement solution brand. KGC's Jung Kwan Jang continues its 124-year history with popularity in 40 countries, keeping its top rank in the global ginseng retail market for ten consecutive years. JUNG KWANG JANG Korea Red Ginseng Korean ginseng, the beginning of the Korean wave, has been treasured for about 400 years for its medicinal properties not only in Asia, but also in Europe. It is renowned for its ability to boost immunity and aid in energy recovery. Korean ginseng, cultivated in the finest soil for its growth, is widely regarded as the highest quality. In the first issue of Philosophical Transactions published by the Royal Society, scientist Thevenot called ginseng a remarkable energy restorative and booster. In 1681, the Royal Family Collection Catalogue stated, "Ginseng does not grow everywhere. It grows only in Korea. It is used for treating chronic and serious diseases. It is very expensive and equivalent to silver in value." In 1736, a doctorate paper titled "Can Ginseng Serve as an Energy Booster for Patients?" was accepted in France. Despite its remarkable efficacy, ginseng did not attain widespread popularity for it's not easily attainable, as stated by the Histoire de Academie royale des sciences of 1718, "Ginseng is a very rare and expensive medicinal herb, so it's not possible to get more than a mere sample of it". In 1674, Japan, aware of the value of ginseng, opened a Korean ginseng store, where people would queue up overnight in anticipation. Back then, a "waiting service" emerged, where people would get paid for standing in line on behalf of customers, similar to the practices seen at recent K-pop concerts. The value of Korean ginseng has remained consistent over the past 400 years. In particular, red ginseng, made by steaming and drying ginseng, is Korea's representative health supplement. Jung Kwan Jang products were gifts to Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II during their visit to Korea, and as a diplomatic gift during summit conferences. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2145892/JUNG_KWANG_JANG_Korea_Red_Ginseng.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2146481/4148146/Logo.jpg SOURCE Korea Ginseng Corporation NEW YORK, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Canada-based matchmaker, Krystal Walter, is one of the most successful matchmakers in North America since 2012. After 10 years of successfully matching singles, Krystal Walter is expanding her services to the United States to continue her personalized approach of dating. There will be three new locations in New York City, Seattle and Los Angeles. Krystal Walter The dating world can be confusing and intimidating, and Krystal Walter Matchmaking believes everyone deserves help in their journey to find a partner. Their extensive data base allows for matches to be found in all major cities across the U.S. and Canada, giving clients the highest quality of matches. Krystal Walter Matchmaking offers three different membership options to choose from, all including unlimited matches for two years and the option to freeze your membership at any time. The company is thrilled to be able to bring their expertise to the U.S. and cannot wait for a new demographic to experience Krystal Walter's Matchmaking's customized approach to dating. "I'm so excited to expand my services to the states. I look forward to all the opportunities to meet new people and help them on their journey to meeting their next partner," said Krystal Walter, Founder of Krystal Walter Matchmaking. More About Krystal Walter Krystal Walter establishes herself as one of the top professional matchmakers. Krystal is single-handedly eliminating endless swiping on dating apps, stale conversations and awkward encounters by utilizing in-depth consultations and assessments to create a fusion of interests, values and long-term goals with a potential life-partner. She is committed to breaking the stigma of online dating and encouraging singles to step out of their comfort zones to try this authentic experience. Contact: Deven McCarthy 9149080789 [email protected]com SOURCE Krystal Walter Agreement Will Expand Access to Labcorp's Diagnostics Capabilities and Improve Services BURLINGTON, N.C., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Labcorp (NYSE: LH), a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Legacy Health to acquire select assets of its outreach laboratory business, including laboratory facilities and equipment. Labcorp will also manage Legacy's inpatient hospital laboratories through a long-term agreement to provide staffing, leadership, scientific knowledge, analytics, supply chain services and laboratory support. Legacy will maintain ownership and licensure of its hospital laboratories as well as retain ownership of its central lab building at Holladay Park in Northeast Portland. Legacy is a six-hospital health system located in Oregon that includes a full-service children's hospital, a 24-hour mental and behavioral health services center and more than 70 primary care, specialty and urgent care clinics. Legacy provides comprehensive healthcare services across the Portland and Vancouver metro area and the mid-Willamette Valley. Healthcare providers and patients throughout the region will have more direct and convenient access to Labcorp's full range of laboratory services. "Labcorp's capabilities, coupled with Legacy's longstanding history in the region, will bring expanded offerings to communities throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington," said Rajat Mehta, senior vice president, Labcorp's West Division. "Legacy continuously seeks to improve both the quality of care and the health of the communities they serve, and this relationship will allow Labcorp to bring our world-class diagnostics and capabilities to patients across Legacy's service area." "By connecting our mission-driven organizations in this partnership, Legacy will realize improvements and innovations that will benefit our patients and providers," said Kathryn Correia, Legacy Health president and CEO. "We look forward to working with Labcorp to deliver a seamless transition experience." The transaction is anticipated to close later in 2023 and is subject to customary closing conditions and applicable regulatory approvals. Other terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Collaborate has served as an exclusive advisor to Legacy Health. About Labcorp Labcorp (NYSE: LH) is a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services that helps doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers and patients make clear and confident decisions. We provide insights and advance science to improve health and improve lives through our unparalleled diagnostics and drug development laboratory capabilities. The company's more than 60,000 employees serve clients in over 100 countries, worked on over 80% of the new drugs approved by the FDA in 2022 and performed more than 600 million tests for patients around the world. Learn more about us at www.Labcorp.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @Labcorp. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements with respect to the acquisition of select laboratory assets from and establishing a comprehensive laboratory relationship with Legacy Health, the anticipated benefits of the transaction for providers and patients and each party, and the expected timing to closing. Each of the forward-looking statements is subject to change based on various important factors, many of which are beyond the company's control. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect the company's ability to implement the company's business strategy and actual results could differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of the forward-looking statements. The company has no obligation to provide any updates to these forward-looking statements even if its expectations change. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Further information on potential factors, risks and uncertainties that could affect operating and financial results is included in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q, including in each case under the heading RISK FACTORS, and in the company's other filings with the SEC. The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with a review of the company's filings with the SEC including the information in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent Forms 10-Q, under the heading MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. SOURCE Labcorp LANES' adoption of Google Cloud Healthcare API will help healthcare organizations access patient information critical to providing the best care more efficiently and effectively LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Los Angeles Network of Enhanced Services (LANES) , the first and only regional health information organization (HIO) for the greater Los Angeles area, has adopted Google Cloud's Healthcare API and BigQuery to enable significant advancements in interoperability and big data analytics for its participant network, which consists of leading hospitals, health systems, health plans, behavioral health services and ambulatory providers. LANES, which currently supports 10 million lives and manages over half a billion transactions annually, will complete the Google Cloud migration in July 2023. "Health, behavioral, and social services data is essential to delivering the best care, but must remain accessible, meaningful, current and contiguous to be most effective," said Ali Modaressi, LANES CEO. "Google Cloud is one of the most trusted platforms in the world, and our investment in this robust, modern healthcare technology represents our dedication to being a reliable source of high-quality patient data and insights for our participants now and in the future." The fully managed, enterprise-scale Google Cloud Healthcare API, including support for Health Level Seven International Version 2 (HL7v2), Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR), DICOM standards, and analytics in BigQuery, will allow LANES to scale while enabling its participants to process petabytes of patient and community data in near-real time, improving access to patient information and population insights. LANES' enhanced processing capacity, which turns data into actionable information, will be even more critical to Medi-Cal populations and Enhanced Care Management (ECM) providers. As part of CalAIM, the initiative to transform Medi-Cal toward preventive and whole-person care, clinical, behavioral and social service organizations will be processing a growing volume of patient documents through LANES collaborative platform to support the multi-stakeholder care providers. In addition, LANES' FHIR native data repository will allow LANES to serve as a data resource for the CalAIM-required use cases and develop applications more rapidly and at a lower cost. Increased scalability, security and reliability The newly enhanced LANES platform will offer advanced features that help healthcare organizations manage, share and analyze patient data in a secure and scalable manner, promoting interoperability and collaboration in the LANES ecosystem. It allows LANES to deliver cutting-edge products and services to its participants, as well as: Access to real-time, normalized data: The LANES platform supports real-time data exchange, enabling healthcare providers to access up-to-date patient information quickly through LANES unique, instant 360 view of patients. The LANES view uses longitudinal information generated at community clinics, hospitals, and other care and behavioral health facilities. With Google Cloud, LANES can scale to support millions of FHIR resources, making it ideal for managing vast amounts of data. The LANES platform supports real-time data exchange, enabling healthcare providers to access up-to-date patient information quickly through LANES unique, instant 360 view of patients. The LANES view uses longitudinal information generated at community clinics, hospitals, and other care and behavioral health facilities. With Google Cloud, LANES can scale to support millions of FHIR resources, making it ideal for managing vast amounts of data. Faster data analytics and machine-learning driven insights : BigQuery offers built-in analytics tools to extract insights such as identifying patterns or trends in patient data. It also supports machine learning models to train and deploy custom models to analyze patient data for better clinical outcomes. The security-compliant clinical data repository enhances LANES' ability to gather and process a high volume of clinical, mental and social determinants of health (SDoH) data from many different sources for more holistic insights into patients' medical and social service history in FHIR-compliant format. When coupled with big data analytics, this information is available when and where it is needed, whether at the point of care or to better manage population health. BigQuery offers built-in analytics tools to extract insights such as identifying patterns or trends in patient data. It also supports machine learning models to train and deploy custom models to analyze patient data for better clinical outcomes. The security-compliant clinical data repository enhances LANES' ability to gather and process a high volume of clinical, mental and social determinants of health (SDoH) data from many different sources for more holistic insights into patients' medical and social service history in FHIR-compliant format. When coupled with big data analytics, this information is available when and where it is needed, whether at the point of care or to better manage population health. Compliance with the latest healthcare, technology and privacy standards: The platform is compliant to modern standards, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) interoperability rule to exchange data using FHIR standards. The Cloud Healthcare API provides a fully managed, highly scalable, enterprise-grade development environment for building clinical and analytics solutions securely. The platform is compliant to modern standards, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) interoperability rule to exchange data using FHIR standards. The Cloud Healthcare API provides a fully managed, highly scalable, enterprise-grade development environment for building clinical and analytics solutions securely. An enhanced user experience: With Google Cloud, LANES will deliver a more seamless and intuitive user experience. Its team will also be able to execute and deliver custom services faster than ever before, including new reports, dashboards, and features. Participants' developers will be able to easily create APIs that can plug into a basic EHR operating system and feed concise patient information directly into the provider workflow, which often requires providers to access data separately. With Google Cloud, LANES will deliver a more seamless and intuitive user experience. Its team will also be able to execute and deliver custom services faster than ever before, including new reports, dashboards, and features. Participants' developers will be able to easily create APIs that can plug into a basic EHR operating system and feed concise patient information directly into the provider workflow, which often requires providers to access data separately. Improved, robust security: The platform provides robust security measures, including HIPAA compliance, encryption of data in transit and at rest, and identity and access management features, compliant with LANES high security and privacy standards as a HITRUST CSF Certified organization. LANES patient data privacy and security safeguards meet or exceed federal, state, and local requirements including the HIPAA Privacy Rule, HIPAA Security Rule, and HITECH Act. "The data and information we can access through LANES is critical to our ability to deliver our patients the best care," said Christine Park, MD, chief medical officer at the Federally Qualified Health Center Northeast Valley Health Corporation. "Accurate information gathered across the Los Angeles area network, combined with the refreshed ability to process insights more quickly, will help us support population health more effectively and efficiently." LANES is comprised of hundreds of connected participants across the greater Los Angeles area. It improves healthcare delivery by making actionable patient information available at the point of care when and where it is needed safely and securely. LANES' services are used by leading hospitals, health systems, health plans, behavioral health services, and providers. Its participants also gain access through LANES to relevant information from community clinics, ambulatory practices, public health, and social service organizations. For more information on LANES' new enhancements and their benefit to LANES participants, visit https://lanesla.org/google-migration/ . About LANES Los Angeles Network for Enhanced Services (LANES) is a non-profit health information organization (HIO). We enable healthcare providers to seamlessly exchange clinical and behavioral health information safely and securely, when and where it is needed for patient care, care coordination, and care transitions. Connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn or visit the LANES website for more information. SOURCE Los Angeles Network for Enhanced Services (LANES) Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) aims to address critical healthcare workforce shortage CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Congress can take steps to help build a healthcare workforce more closely aligned with America's evolving healthcare needs by passing the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), according to the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). AAHPM worked to develop the bill introduced in Congress today by U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV). PCHETA aims to address the large gap between the number of health care professionals with palliative care training and the number required to meet the needs of the expanding population of people with serious illness, along with their families and caregivers. The U. S. Census Bureau projects that the population aged 65 and over will approximate 83.7 million by 2050, almost double that in 2012. The need for palliative care is escalating as the population ages and an increasing number of people are living with serious, complex and chronic illness. Many of the problems of our healthcare system high costs, overutilization, lack of coordination, preventable transitions between healthcare institutions, and poor quality become particularly evident during extended chronic and serious illness. The public health emergency (PHE) created by the coronavirus and continuing impact of "long COVID" has only exacerbated the need for knowledge and skills in serious illness care, putting a spotlight on an already existing palliative care workforce shortage and the importance of providing better training to all healthcare providers who will be called upon to care for the seriously ill. Further, there is a need to not only grow but to diversity the palliative care and hospice workforce, given documented disparities in access to palliative and end-of-life care among those who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (these populations are often diagnosed with late-stage illness and have inferior outcomes likely leading to increased suffering), as well as in rural and low-income communities. Providing more training and incentives to teach and practice palliative and hospice care would mean fewer people suffering from the symptoms, stress and pain of serious illnesses. Palliative care focuses on improving a person's quality of life by managing pain and other distressing symptoms of a serious illness, and hospice provides this care for those near the end of life. In practice, this involves detailed and skilled communication with patients and families/caregivers to create goals and determine preferences, as well as expert assessment and management of physical, psychological and other sources of suffering across the multiple settings that patients traverse through the course of a serious illness. Palliative care is often thought of as end-of-life care, or hospice care, which is a specific type of palliative care. In fact, palliative care is beneficial for people of any age facing serious illness such as cancer, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, or Alzheimer's disease and can be provided at any stage of illness and along with curative or life-prolonging treatment. Palliative care physicians, nurses and other skilled professionals work as part of the patient's medical team. An expanding body of medical research has documented the benefits of high-quality palliative and hospice care for patients and families, for hospitals and payers, and for the health care system as a whole. Palliative care is associated with enhanced quality of life for patients, higher rates of patient and family satisfaction with medical care, reduced hospital expenditures and lengths of stay, and other positive outcomes including longer patient survival time. However, delivery of high-quality palliative and hospice care cannot take place without a sufficient number of health care professionals with appropriate training and skills. Despite the growing need for palliative care, the U.S. is currently unable to meet patient and health system demand because of a significant shortage of trained providers and insufficient numbers of faculty to train the next generation of these providers. "As we face a critical shortage of health professionals with knowledge and skills in palliative care, AAHPM applauds Senators Baldwin and Capito for their leadership in introducing the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act to ensure all patients facing serious illness or at the end of life can receive high-quality care," said Holly Yang, MD HMDC FACP FAAHPM President of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. "We urge Congress to recognize the importance of a well-trained, interprofessional healthcare team to providing coordinated, person-centered serious illness care. Advancing PCHETA will go a long way towards improving quality of care and quality of life for our nation's sickest and most vulnerable patients, along with their families and caregivers." PCHETA would address the palliative care workforce shortage by establishing new Palliative Care and Hospice Education Programs for the training of interdisciplinary health professionals in palliative care, as well as academic career awards and career incentive awards for physicians, nurses, physician assistants, social workers, and other health professionals. These programs would support the training and retraining of faculty; provide students with clinical training in appropriate sites of care; and provide training to integrate palliative and hospice care into primary and specialty care practices. PCHETA also would implement an awareness campaign, to inform patients and healthcare providers about the benefits of palliative care and hospice and the services available to support individuals with serious illness, as well as direct existing federal funds toward palliative care research to strengthen clinical practice and healthcare delivery. (Access a bill summary .) "After having served as my grandmother's primary caregiver, I know the difference quality palliative and hospice care can make for a loved one who is battling a serious illness," said Senator Baldwin. "Our bipartisan Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act will make an overdue investment in education and research to ensure doctors, nurses, and health care professionals have the tools they need as they work tirelessly to keep patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses comfortable and safe. This legislation will help more Americans get the training they need to provide palliative care, help strengthen our health care workforce, and also ensure those with serious illness get the care they deserve." "The need for high quality palliative and hospice care serviceswhich are vital for patients and their familiescontinues to grow, making passage of our bill needed now more than ever," Senator Capito said. "As a caregiver for parents that suffered from Alzheimer's disease, I saw firsthand just how valuable these services can be. In order to preserve access to this care, our bill would strengthen training and education opportunities for individuals working in these fields. I look forward to working with Senator Baldwin and my colleagues in the Senate to pass this legislation." PCHETA has passed in the U.S. House of Representatives twice (as H.R. 647 in 116th Congress and H.R. 1676 in 115th Congress) and enjoys broad support from over 50 national and 35 state organizations. Along with AAHPM, leading organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Catholic Health Association of the United States, and National Alliance for Caregiving are working to build support for the bill. The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is the professional organization for physicians specializing in hospice and palliative medicine (HPM), as well as nurses, social workers, and other health and spiritual care practitioners committed to improving quality of life for the expanding and diverse population of people facing serious illness, as well as their families and caregivers. For more than 30 years, AAHPM has been dedicated to ensuring that patients across all communities and geographies have timely access to high-quality, equitable palliative and hospice care and to advancing the discipline of HPM, through professional education and training, development of a specialist workforce, support for clinical practice standards, research and public policy. AAHPM is governed by a 20-member Board of Directors and managed by a full-time staff along with additional, support provided by Association Management Center (AMC) based in Chicago, IL. SOURCE American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine A New Hampshire-based Regional Airport to trial use of the HEXWAVE walkthrough security detection portal to seamlessly screen for potential threats and improve aviation worker screening process. WILMINGTON, Mass., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. ("Liberty" or the "Company") ( TSXV: SCAN) (OTCQB: LDDFF) (FRANKFURT: LD2A ) , a leading technology provider of AI-based next generation detection solutions for concealed weapons and threats, is pleased to announce that a New Hampshire based Regional Airport will undertake a customer evaluation of the HEXWAVE system for possible use in aviation worker screening at its airport facilities. "With the recent release of the TSA mandate to implement screening for aviation workers, airports will need technologies that provide a broad range of threat detection that can meet the current screening requirements and those mandated for the future," said Ted Kitchens, Director of Aviation, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. "We continue to focus on enhancing safety and security for our aviation workers and guests and this pilot program will trial a new security technology aimed at meeting that goal." HEXWAVE uses millimeter wave, advanced 3D imaging, and AI to detect concealed metallic and non-metallic weapons such as liquid, plastic, and powder explosives, 3D printed guns, and other prohibited items without having to divest common items like cell phones or keys. "As airports continue to look at improving screening protocols, the HEXWAVE technology offers a flexible solution that can be quickly deployed and moved to multiple areas inside and outside of facilities," said Bill Frain, CEO of Liberty Defense. "We are thrilled that the New Hampshire-based Regional Airport will be working with us to incorporate the HEXWAVE to accommodate their aviation worker screening process." For updates and news, please visit the Company website to subscribe to email alerts or follow Liberty Defense on social channels. On Behalf of Liberty Defense Bill Frain CEO & Director About Liberty Defense Liberty Defense ( TSXV: SCAN , OTCQB: LDDFF , FRANKFURT: LD2A ) provides multi-technology security solutions for concealed weapons detection in high volume foot traffic areas and locations requiring enhanced security such as airports, stadiums, schools, and more. Liberty's HEXWAVE product, for which the company has secured an exclusive license from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as a technology transfer agreement for patents related to active 3D radar imaging technology, provides discrete, modular, and scalable protection to provide layered, stand-off detection capability of metallic and non-metallic weapons. Liberty has also recently licensed the millimeter wave-based, High-Definition Advanced Imaging Technology (HD-AIT) body scanner and shoe scanner technologies as part of its technology portfolio. Liberty is committed to protecting communities and preserving peace of mind through superior security detection solutions. Learn more: LibertyDefense.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although Liberty believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Liberty. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Liberty's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions. The parties undertake no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of their securities or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable). Liberty cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Liberty's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Liberty has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Liberty as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Liberty does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. SOURCE Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. Popular Automotive Preventative-Maintenance Concept Sets Sights on Nationwide Expansion EL PASO, Texas, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lube X-Press, an El Paso-based drive-thru oil change concept known for their fast, friendly, and convenient services, announced today the launch of their franchise opportunity. With an increasing demand for automotive preventative-maintenance services, Lube X-Press is looking to expand their national presence with the help of committed and passionate operators across several new markets. Lube X-Press provides a modern, innovative approach to vehicle maintenance services specifically, oil changes. By incorporating a drive-thru style business model, Lube X-Press is elevating the overall experience of what is known to be a dreaded task for a majority of consumers by increasing the level of convenience and efficiency without sacrificing their high caliber of service. Priding themselves on customer sentiments as a brand, a true testament to Lube X-Press's dedication to their customers is their Net Promoter Score (NPS), a program used to measure customer loyalty to a brand. While the industry average NPS score is 76, Lube X-Press has a score of 83, setting them apart from other brands in their industry as a leader in customer service and satisfaction. Founded in 2012 in El Paso, Texas, by brothers Karlos and Justin Lazo, Lube X-Press is a founder-led automotive preventative-maintenance service brand specializing in 15-minute drive-thru oil changes. Lube X-Press originally started as a full-service mechanic shop. However, the Lazo brothers realized they had an opportunity to create their own niche in the El Paso automotive market by implementing a drive-thru service model and specializing in oil changes while still offering other select vehicle maintenance services. Over the years, the brothers have continuously polished the business model to maximize operational efficiencies to yield industry-leading margins. "My brother and I founded Lube X-Press with a clear mission to break through the stigma of vehicle maintenance service brands not prioritizing their customers' needs by ensuring that each of our guests leave having had a WOW experience," said Karlos Lazo, Co-Founder of Lube X-Press. "We pride ourselves on the fact that we offer fast, friendly, and convenient oil-changes allowing guests to drive up, in, and out with ease and no appointments necessary. With our proven business model and unwavering support, we look forward to partnering with equally passionate individuals to assist us in making Lube X-Press more accessible to communities nationwide." Lube X-Press currently has 10 operating locations in and around the El Paso area with an additional five locations in development three in Texas and two in Arizona. Lube X-Press is actively expanding in both Texas and Arizona throughout the rest of 2023 in addition to making their debut in other states such as Florida and New Mexico. Lube X-Press is currently seeking both single-unit and multi-unit franchisees who possess a strong business acumen in addition to proficient communication, leadership, and management skills. Lube X-Press has partnered with industry experts to develop a comprehensive set of tools and support systems to guide franchisees towards success. Many of the big brand names in the automotive service industry have little to no more franchise territory to sell. With Lube X-Press just now announcing their franchise opportunity, early franchisees will have opportunities in prime territories. With a simple, yet effective business models and industry leading margins, franchise partners can expect their initial investment to be anywhere from $260,750 - $396,000. To find out more information about franchise opportunities with Lube X-Press, please visit www.lubexpressfranchise.com. ABOUT LUBE X-PRESS: Founded in El Paso, TX in 2012, Lube X-Press specializes in 15-minute drive-thru oil changes, providing fast, friendly, and convenient services to their guests. As a leading innovator in automotive preventative-maintenance services, Lube X-Press offers oil change services such as regular synthetic blend, high mileage, and full synthetic blends. In addition to oil changes, Lube X-Press offers fluid exchanges for their power steering, coolant, automatic transmission as well as replacements to cabin/air filters and windshield wipers. Voted 'Best Place to Get an Oil Change' in El Paso and top-rated customer satisfaction, Lube X-Press provides everything to keep your vehicle well-maintained. To learn more about Lube X-Press, please visit https://www.lubexpressep.com/. Media Contact: Regan Lee, Fishman PR, [email protected] or 847-945-1300 ext. 267 SOURCE Lube X-Press WASHINGTON, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lupus Foundation of America, the national force devoted to solving the cruel mystery of lupus, today announced that Joseph Arnold of Brandywine Group of Insurance Reinsurance Companies was elected as the Board Chair for its National Board of Directors. Arnold has served on the National Board of Directors for 10 years, and prior to that served for many years on the Lupus Foundation of America Philadelphia Tri-State Chapter's Board of Directors. "Growing up I watched my aunt Cindy, who I admired and looked up to, struggle with lupus - from debilitating joint pain and extreme fatigue to the side effects of her medications. She was diagnosed in 1991 and at that time targeted treatments, medical resources and community support were very hard to come by," shared Arnold. "Serving as the Lupus Foundation of America Board Chair is incredibly special to me as I continue to honor my Aunt Cindy's memory, and have watched the Lupus Foundation of America grow as the resource of strength, support and hope that is so important to my family and continues to be for all those impacted by lupus." Arnold graduated from Penn State University in 2000 and Seton Hall University School of Law in 2003. He served a federal clerkship in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and spent 16 years as a commercial litigator. He currently serves as Vice President of Direct Claims at Brandywine Group of Insurance Reinsurance Companies. Arnold has been actively involved in the Lupus Foundation of America, participating in the Philadelphia Walk to End Lupus Now since 1991, serving as the event's Chair for more than a decade and raising over $200,000 in honor of his aunt who was diagnosed with lupus in 1991 and passed away in 2001. The Lupus Foundation of America's National Board is comprised of dedicated individuals who are leaders professionally in their communities with a broad range of expertise, and work with the Foundation to ensure we continue to move closer to a world without lupus. "There is so much terrific work being done by the Lupus Foundation of America to improve the lives of people with lupus and I want to continue building that platform, while also working to guide the organization toward continued long-term sustainability, and identify the next key group of leaders and volunteers critical to driving our mission forward until we have a cure." Additional appointments to the Lupus Foundation of America's Board of Directors, effective June 10, 2023, include: Barbara Polk , Vice Chair , Vice Chair Christine Smith , Treasurer , Treasurer Phong Nguyen , Secretary , Secretary Andrew Brophy , Immediate Past Chair For more information about the Lupus Foundation of America and its leadership visit lupus.org/about . About the Lupus Foundation of America The Lupus Foundation of America is the national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world's cruelest, most unpredictable and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy, we lead the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus. Learn more about the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org . For the latest news and updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook . About Lupus Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat. Lupus is a cruel mystery because it is hidden from view and undefined, has a range of symptoms, hits out of nowhere, and has no known cause and no known cure. Its health effects can range from a skin rash to a heart attack. Lupus is debilitating and destructive, and can be fatal, yet research on lupus remains underfunded relative to its scope and devastation. Media Contact: Mike Donnelly [email protected] SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America NAPA, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Marchesi Antinori, one of the oldest Italian family-owned fine wine producers, has completed its previously announced acquisition of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the largest winery in the Pacific Northwest and among the largest premium wineries in the U.S. This acquisition is the culmination of a 16-year collaboration between Marchesi Antinori and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates focused on growing and preserving the legacy of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. The Antinori family, which is the only Italian wine-producer to own a winery in Napa, has been involved in the Valley since 1985. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars confirms the strong belief of Antinori for this extraordinary territory. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as financial adviser to Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal counsel. Mediobanca S.p.A. acted as financial advisor to Marchesi Antinori, and Becker, Glynn, Muffly, Chassin & Hosinski LLP as well as Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty Law Firm served as legal counsels. BMO Capital Markets Corp. also played a key advisory role in facilitating the transaction between the parties. About Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Considered one of the "first growths" of Napa Valley, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars produces renowned Cabernet Sauvignon from its historic Stags Leap District estate vineyards. Founded in 1970, the winery brought international recognition to California winemaking and the Napa Valley when the 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won the now famous 1976 Paris Tasting, also known as the "Judgment of Paris." Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' three estate-grown Cabernet SauvignonsCASK 23, S.L.V. and FAYare among the most highly regarded and collected Cabernet Sauvignons worldwide. The same classic style of the estate wines is expressed in the Napa Valley wines ARTEMIS Cabernet Sauvignon, KARIA Chardonnay and AVETA Sauvignon Blanc. For more information visit: www.stagsleapwinecellars.com About Marchesi Antinori The Antinori Family has been making wine for over 635 years. Throughout its long history, spanning 26 generations, the family has always personally managed the business making innovative, sometimes courageous choices, always with unwavering respect for tradition and the land. Today, Albiera Antinori is the president of Marchesi Antinori with the continuous close support of her two sisters, Allegra and Alessia, all actively involved in first person in the business. Marchesi Antinori is the combination of different estates, mainly in Tuscany and Umbria, located in wine-growing areas that are particularly suited to the production of high-quality wines in a perfect balance between tradition and innovation. During his first visit to Napa Valley in the 60s, Marchese Piero Antinori fell in love with the place and since 1985, the family has been involved in the estate which is part of Antinori Napa Valley. For more information visit www.antinori.it www.antinori.it About Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is among the largest and most admired premium wine companies in the U.S. and the pioneering winery of the Pacific Northwest. With a distinguished history that began on December 5, 1933 when the founder filed the original articles of incorporation at 9:02 a.m. on the very day Prohibition was repealed Ste. Michelle has always challenged convention and seized opportunity. Principles rooted deeply in executional excellence and relentless focus drive Ste. Michelle's passion for producing the highest quality wines, dedication to the consumer and a commitment to our communities. The Ste. Michelle Wine Estates portfolio features the leading wineries from the world's most renowned wine regions, including Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands, Columbia Crest, Col Solare and Spring Valley Vineyard from Washington; A to Z, Erath, and REX HILL from Oregon; Conn Creek and Patz & Hall from Napa and Sonoma, respectively; Marchesi Antinori of Italy; and Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte of France. For more on the rich history of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and its entire portfolio of premium wineries, please visit www.smwe.com. MEDIA CONTACTS: Duccio Leoni Communications Manager Marchesi Antinori +39 334 307 1002 (Mobile) [email protected] Brandyn Hull Senior Manager, Corporate Communications Ste. Michelle Wine Estates +1 (206) 227-3251 (Mobile) [email protected] SOURCE Ste. Michelle Wine Estates In a bid to bolster workers rights, the government has proposed a new agreement that aims to enhance benefits and protections for union delegates. These proposed reforms follow the successful introduction of multi-employer bargaining, which came about as a result of the Jobs and Skills Summit convened by the Albanese government last September. The objective of this initiative was to eliminate wage disparities between permanent and labor-hire workers through the implementation of the same job, same pay policy. Despite facing opposition from industry groups, the government remains committed to closing what it refers to as the labour-hire loophole. While formal legislation for these IR changes is still pending, the government has already set plans in motion for further reforms. Leaked briefings from Tony Burkes Department of Employment and Workplace Relations have revealed intentions to enact laws safeguarding the rights of union delegates and granting unions the authority to conduct surprise inspections of payroll records. These proposed measures seek to empower unions in ensuring fair payment practices and protecting workers from underpayment issues. However, concerns have been raised about the governments approach to these reforms, particularly due to the secrecy and nondisclosure agreements surrounding briefing attendees. This lack of transparency has sparked questions about the decision-making process and its alignment with the governments stated goals of enhancing productivity and improving working conditions. There are media reports that the Federal Government has plans to increase the rights of union delegates, including requiring employers to provide additional paid leave or other entitlements to union delegates. Implementation of these kinds of changes would be shameless and inappropriate, Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employers association Ai Group said today. There is real concern among employers over this prospect and many unanswered questions about what precisely is intended. Employers, and indeed many Australians, will be understandably outraged at the prospect of Government largesse to unions which reportedly would take the form of employers providing additional pay for the performance of union activities. This is especially so given only a small proportion of employees, around 8% of private sector workers, are union members. The Government did not foreshadow this as part of their pre-election commitments and shouldnt seek to slip such requirements through amongst a wave of other radical changes to workplace laws. This is simply another line in a long laundry list of anti-business demands being made by unions to the Government that they appear to want to tick off. Employers are already under enough stress with increasing costs and flatlining productivity without having to also provide additional financial support for unions. Union delegates should not be treated as special citizens. Businesses should not be expected to pay the wages of people when they arent contributing to the output of the workplace or who are instead focused on promoting union membership or agendas. Australias workplace laws are enforced by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Workers also have access to assistance from the Fair Work Commission in resolving workplace disputes. Both organisations play an important role in educating and assisting workers. The focus should be on making sure these respected public institutions are actually properly resourced, not on making employers fund union activities. There is certainly no need to change our laws regarding union right of entry to workplaces which is another proposal reported to be under consideration. There are already provisions that allow unions to access workplaces to investigate suspected breaches of workplace laws without notice, where endorsed by the Commission, and there hasnt been any case made out for changing the current rules. There is a raft of reasons why union officials shouldnt be given unfettered rights to wander around workplaces unannounced, and to interfere with a businesss operations. Not least among these is the need to ensure that union officials are made aware of health and safety requirements when accessing a site and be required to actually follow them. Unfortunately, we also hear far too many reports of employer and of employee concern over the poor behaviour of union officials when on site. All too often this includes employees feeling pressured or harassed to join the union. Any changes mustnt exacerbate these problems, Mr Willox said. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. One of the Nation's Fastest-Growing Pizza Brands Adds Top Talent and Food Experience to C-Suite Team TOLEDO, Ohio, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Marco's Pizza, one of the nation's fastest-growing pizza brands, has appointed seasoned brand marketing leader Denise Lauer as Chief Marketing Officer. This appointment comes at a pivotal time as Marco's focuses on aggressive franchise development, product innovation, and accelerates unit level sales strategy. Marco's Pizza Adds Top Talent and Food Experience to C-Suite Team Tweet this Denise Lauer, Marco's Pizza Chief Marketing Officer Photo Credit: Lori Sapio (PRNewsfoto/Marco's Pizza) Lauer holds an impressive 20-plus-year history of building brands and accelerating growth for companies domestically and internationally, including over a decade of experience specifically within the food industry. She has an extensive background developing high-performing, data-driven marketing and communications strategies for both startups and leading brands, including Morton Salt, PepsiCo Quaker Foods & Snacks, FedEx, and Eaton Corporation. As Chief Marketing Officer of Marco's Pizza, she is responsible for brand strategy, national advertising and media buying strategy, digital and social media, web/app experience, product development and innovation, promotions, multicultural marketing, field/regional marketing and consumer engagement. "Having grown up in Northeast Ohio, Marco's Pizza was always a family favorite, so this opportunity really comes full circle for me," said Lauer. "Marco's is a brand I believe in and I look forward to expanding its reach in the U.S. and beyond by delivering transformative marketing strategies that unleash its power and potential." Lauer's expertise lies in unlocking growth potential in businesses, brands, and teams, by partnering with cross-functional leaders on growth strategies, including innovation, e-commerce, digital transformation, and new product launches. She has a proven track record of developing and executing strategies that help strengthen financial performance and brand equity. "The leadership team at this organization is second to none, and I'm thrilled to be part of a franchise with such an impressive growth trajectory fueled by its people-first culture and commitment to quality," added Lauer. "As franchise expansion continues to surge, I plan to play a strategic role in further driving the growth and development of Marco's Pizza and catapulting the brand into the national spotlight." Lauer will report directly to Steve Seyferth, EVP, Chief Growth Officer, and serve on the Marco's Pizza Executive Leadership Team. "Denise is an insightful brand leader with great character and a team-oriented mentality," said Seyferth. "Her skillset and experience in past CMO roles at large and respected organizations speak directly to the objectives we're looking to accomplish as it relates to helping drive results and new levels of customer engagement. Having her on our side will be instrumental in achieving our goals in the years ahead." At the crux of Marco's ongoing growth and strong performance is its renowned high-quality pizza, which has provided the basic foundation to scale. As momentum builds, the brand is prioritizing investments in the franchise development program, new technology, customer experience, strategic partnerships, multi-channel national advertising, and more all with an eye on maximizing franchisee profits while meeting the needs of today's modern consumer. According to the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document, the Top 50% of Marco's franchised stores generated $1,222,684 for 2022*. In the last six years, the fast-growing brand has doubled its store footprint with no intention of slowing down. Company leadership has identified 4,200 potential U.S. locations. For more information on Marco's Pizza franchise opportunities, visit https://www.marcos.com/franchising/ or call 866-731-8209 to speak with Shannon Iverson, Vice President of Franchise Sales. ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA Marco's Pizza is one of America's Top 10 Favorite QSR Brands according to the 2022 Market Force Information Study. Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza brands in the United States. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives to deliver a high-quality pizza experience, known for its dough made from scratch and its three fresh signature cheeses. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,100 stores in 34 states with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Most recently, Marco's Pizza was ranked No. 51 on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2023 "Franchise 500" ranking. Other recent accolades include a high ranking on Newsweek's 2023 "America's Best Customer Service" in pizza chains list, ranked No. 40 on QSR's Top 50 and has been featured six consecutive years on Nation's Restaurant News' prestigious "Top 500" ranking. *Based on the Average Sales Volume of the top 50% of our Franchised Stores for our fiscal year 2022. Based on our fiscal year 2022, 160 of 414 Franchised Stores in the category (or 39%) met or exceeded this average. This information appears in Item 19 of our 2023 FDD please refer to our FDD for complete information on financial performance. Results may differ. There is no assurance that any franchisee will perform as well. SOURCE Marco's Pizza CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- May River Capital LLC, a Chicago-based private equity investment firm, has raised its third fund, May River Capital Fund III, LP (" Fund III " or the " Fund "). Fund III closed on its hard cap of $500 million in limited partner commitments, exceeding the Fund's original target size. The Fund will continue May River Capital's focus on investing in high quality, lower middle-market industrial businesses with excellent management teams and the potential for significant growth and value enhancement. The Fund received commitments from a well-respected group of limited partners, including endowments and foundations, insurance companies, fund-of-funds, family offices, wealth managers, and high-net-worth individuals. In addition to commitments from its limited partners, May River Capital's investment team, along with the firm's operating partner network, made significant capital commitments to the Fund. Since its founding in 2012, May River Capital has raised more than $1.2 billion in committed capital and has invested in 11 platform companies, as well as completed 17 add-on acquisitions. May River Capital commented, "We are thankful for the strong support we have received from such a well-respected group of investors. We look forward to continuing to partner with talented executives and high-caliber, industrial businesses throughout Fund III and beyond." M2O Private Fund Advisors acted as placement agent and Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal counsel. ABOUT MAY RIVER CAPITAL May River Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on investing in lower middle-market, industrial growth companies. May River Capital invests in high-quality industrial growth businesses, including advanced manufacturing, engineered products and instrumentation, specialized industrial services, and value-added industrial distribution services. For more information, please visit www.mayrivercapital.com. SOURCE May River Capital WASHINGTON, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Metrea announced today that one of their commercially-owned and operated KC-135R aircraft will participate in the 2023 Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford in the UK. This marks Metrea's first participation in the show, and the first time a commercial KC-135 has participated in any air show worldwide, which is fitting given the show's theme of "SKYTANKER23" in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first aerial refueling. "As the only commercial operator of KC-135's, we are excited to celebrate this milestone in aerial refueling by* sending one of our aircraft to RIAT" said Jon "Ty" Thomas, Head of Metrea's Air and Space Group. "Every week, our team is delivering commercial air-to-air refueling to the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, and to partners and allies, and we're excited to share that story at RIAT. We may also have some other exciting news to share this week!" In April of this year, Metrea Strategic Mobility made history by completing the first ever commercial aerial refueling using a boom, by refueling a U.S. Navy P-8. Metrea Strategic Mobility now regularly provides boom refueling to the US Navy. Metrea Strategic Mobility is on contract with the U.S. Department of the Navy via NAVAIR a contract vehicle that has been used regularly to support allies and partners. Most recently, Metrea provided coronet support to the Royal Canadian Air Force, by providing coronet support to CF-18 Hornets in crossing the Atlantic Ocean. About Metrea Metrea Strategic Mobility is the only company to own and operate a fleet of KC-135R aircraft, offering an air-to-air refueling service that seamlessly, safely, and professionally integrates into military aviation training and operations. Metrea Strategic Mobility has a mission reliability rate of 93% since beginning execution of a NAVAIR contract in late 2021. The combined Metrea aviation units have flown over 130,000 accident-free flying hours, across multiple aircraft types, missions, and geographies in support of US, UK, and other allied and partner government national security objectives. MSM's aircraft are equipped with two wing-mounted Multi-Point Refueling System (MPRS) pods which facilitate refueling with probe equipped Navy, Marine Corps and partner nation aircraft. Metrea Strategic Mobility is part of Metrea. Metrea provides effects-as-a-service to national security partners in five domains and over a dozen mission-centric solution areas, including airborne ISR, electronic warfare, communications, space-based ISR, and advanced simulation. Metrea Strategic Mobility is headquartered in Temecula, California; Metrea is headquartered in Washington, DC with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, and the EU. Contact [email protected] for media inquiries. Contact [email protected] to visit the KC-135R at RIAT. LINKS: Metrea at RIAT https://metrea.aero/riat-2023/ Metrea's First Commercial Boom Refueling https://metrea.aero/metrea-announces-historic-commercial-aerial-refueling-of-navy-p-8-poseidon/ SOURCE Metrea Chicken analog from SimpliiGood's groundbreaking colorless spirulina packs double the protein load of its animal-based counterpart RAANANA, Israel, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirulina food-tech innovator, SimpliiGood by AlgaeCore Technologies Ltd., unveils a breaded chicken cutlet analog composed primarily of the nutritious microalgae spirulina. The plant-based version of a breaded cut of chicken not only takes on the appearance, flavor, and structure of real chicken breast but also possesses a naturally dense nutritional profile that could outpace that of real chicken. This could solve one of the greatest hurdles of the alt-protein movement. Microalgae Innovator SimpliiGood Introduces Nutritionally Dense Plant-based Chicken Nuggets (Credit: Nimrod Genisher) Catering to the growing field of "meatless meat," the novel cut is composed of 80% pure, fresh, minimally processed spirulina microalgae, to which is added prebiotic fibers. The new adaptation offers health and environmentally conscious consumers a highly nutritious, clean-label, alternative to chicken nuggets and brings a new point of versatility to the way the highly concentrated nutrition of microalgae can be consumed. It will also be instrumental in edging the industry closer to satisfying the palate's craving for a meaty "umami" experience and heightening the enjoyment of plant-based alternatives. Bursting boundaries "We started out as cultivators of fresh spirulina," explains Lior Shalev, CEO and co-founder of SimpliiGood. "But then we began to think of ways we can take the formulation of this highly sought ingredient beyond the boundary of the capsule matrix and into the mainstream of the plant-based food landscape. Microalgae such as spirulina is a high-value and eco-friendly alternative protein source. That's how we evolved into spirulina innovators." Spirulina is heralded as a powerhouse of plant-based goodness due to its rich composition of whole protein and its impressive profile of vitamins and minerals. It is a particularly good source of iron, calcium, B vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, making it a highly desirable supplement choice for a broad population of consumers. SimpliiGood prides itself as the first start-up to cultivate and formulate with 100% pure, raw, fresh spirulina that is flash-frozen as opposed to the dried, powdered form currently dominating the market. The company asserts that in this form the renowned blue-green algae is delivered with the highest, and most highly bioavailable, nutrient content. It has no off-flavors or aromas, opening it to a world of new, better-for-you food and beverage innovation. Pioneering colorless spirulina "Leveraging the unique properties of fresh spirulina on our proprietary texturizing platform addresses the problematic sensory challenges while enhancing its potency and functionality," explains Shalev. "This broadens its applications beyond the exceptional nutritional profile and high concentration of protein to being a clean-label potential to replace thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, binders, texturizers in multiple applications. Plus our naturally color-free version is an excellent replacer for synthetic colorants." The start-up's game-changing technology for mimicking whole-muscle animal protein uses spirulina as the main component, transforming it into a satisfying whole cut clean of toxins, pesticides, hormones, heavy metals and environmental pollutants. Baruch Dach, SimpliiGood's founder and CTO explains that its creation has been a work in progress. "Starting from a minced prototype to achieving the next level of complexity of recreating whole a chicken breast filet in both succulent texture and appearance," confirms Dach. "It possesses a completely neutral taste, giving the formulator a 'blank canvas' to add whatever flavors desired. One can also use it as the basis for a hybrid product, infusing a minimal dose of real chicken into the spirulina matrix, or apply it as an extender to support and nutritionally enhance ground meat formulations." Beyond attaining the desired sensorial properties, one of the greatest hurdles in producing plant-based alternatives is incorporating sufficient protein and nutrients to bring them nutritionally on par with animal-based proteins. The SimpliiGood nuggets analog offers a nutritionally dense bite that even surpasses that of real chicken owed to the inherently nutritious profile of fresh spirulina. "100 grams of SimpliGood microalgae provides the equivalent of 200 grams of real chicken in protein load," explains Dach. "Each cut packs in 30% highly bioavailable protein. Combined with its rich natural makeup of micronutrients, it offers a potent alternative to animal protein with exceptional nutritional value. By consuming less while gaining more, it also contributes to reducing waste and energy consumption, streamlining the supply chain, and minimizing the overall downstream carbon footprint." Scale up The launch of SimpliGood's chicken breast analog follows the successful introduction of its vegan 95% spirulina based smoked salmon replica last year. The company projects that product will be rolled out commercially in the coming year. SimpliiGood is a vertically integrated company that cultivates its spirulina in greenhoused ponds within the sun-drenched southern desert region of Israel. It is currently ramping up its capacity to produce 250 tons of spirulina per year, with a harvest every 24 hours, making it a highly commercially viable plant-based protein source. The company also moved to a new, well-equipment lab and headquarters in Ra'anana. SimpliiGood recently joined forces with international plant nutrition giants, Haifa Group, Ltd. in a move to further bolster its supply chain, leveraging their ready-to-use nutrient mixtures for wider commercial production. This move will help ensure security and price stability for the reliable consistent supply of its raw material and boost time-to-market of its microalgae innovations. Company contact: Press contact: SimpliiGood NutriPR Ms. Orly Kassirer Roter Administration & Operation Manager Ms. Liat Simha Tel: +972 54 960-5736 Tel: +972-9-974-2893 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.simpliigood.com E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.nutripr.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2150528/SimpliiGood_1.jpg SOURCE SimpliiGood BANGALORE, India and NEW TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Moxa and Saudi Aramco Technologies Company have signed a worldwide commercialization agreement to further develop and commercialize the Intelligent Integrated Node (IIN) technology. Moxa Inc. and Saudi Aramco Technologies Company Sign Worldwide Commercialization Agreement for Intelligent Integrated Node Solution The IIN technology, collaboratively developed by Aramco and Moxa, replaces numerous devices from multiple vendors, and offers instrumentation control, monitoring, and edge computing capabilities, all in a single fault tolerant device. The integrated node demonstrates increased computing speed, reduced CAPEX and OPEX and improved operational efficiency and safety in asset intensive operational facilities. The technology has garnered several accolades, including the 2018 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prize for Inventors and the 2020 International Society of Automation (ISA) Excellence-in-Innovation Award. "We are grateful to Saudi Aramco Technologies Company for choosing Moxa to commercialize the Intelligent Integrated Node technology. The licensed solution offers greater control and improved efficiency by providing more capacity for capturing and analyzing data from multiple instruments. We are excited about the applications, not only in the Oil & Gas sector but also in other verticals such as Power & Utilities, Renewables, Water and the Transportation sector," said Michael Lin, President, Moxa Inc. "The unique selling point of this technology is the replacement of up to five different devices with a single reliable and powerful computing automation device. In an asset intensive operational facility, this directly translates to lower costs, higher flexibility, agility, operational efficiency and, most importantly, improved operational safety. The technology dovetails into Aramco's digital transformation strategy. Moxa is a market leader in industrial networking, computing and connectivity solutions. We are very pleased to have partnered with Moxa for commercializing this technology worldwide in all technology sectors," said Motaz Al Mashouk, Aramco's Senior Vice President of Engineering Services. Abdullah S. Dhuwaihi, CEO (A), Saudi Aramco Technologies Company, commented, "We are delighted to have established this important collaboration with Moxa. This license agreement intends to build on the collaborative work done so far on the development of this technology. We look forward to successful commercialization of this technology." About Moxa Inc. Moxa is a leading provider of edge connectivity, industrial computing, and network infrastructure solutions for enabling connectivity for the Industrial Internet of Things. With 35 years of industry experience, Moxa has connected more than 94 million devices worldwide and has a distribution and service network that reaches customers in more than 85 countries. Moxa delivers lasting business value by empowering industry with reliable networks and sincere service for industrial communications infrastructures. Information about Moxa's solutions is available at https://www.moxa.com/en/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2145897/MoxA.jpg SOURCE Moxa Inc. CLEVELAND and BOSTON, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MPE Partners ("MPE" or "Morgenthaler Private Equity"), a lower middle market private equity firm based in Cleveland, OH and Boston, MA, is pleased to announce that on June 30, 2023, the firm closed its oversubscribed fourth fund, MPE Partners IV, L.P. (and its parallel funds, "Fund IV"), at the hard cap of $633 million, inclusive of the general partner capital commitment. The firm officially launched fundraising on February 28, 2023, and did not use a placement agent. MPE expects to invest Fund IV in entrepreneur- and family-owned companies in the business-to-business manufacturing and services sectors, similar to MPE's prior funds. Matt Yohe, Partner at MPE, commented, "Thank you to our outstanding base of returning limited partners. Fund IV reflects strong retention and growth with our existing relationships along with the addition of a select number of new investors." Joe Machado, Partner at MPE, noted, "On behalf of Karen Tuleta and Peter Taft, we are thrilled to announce the closing of Fund IV. When we launched MPE Partners in 2012, our goal was to develop a leading franchise dedicated to lower middle market investing with an emphasis on family- and entrepreneur-owned companies. We're excited to continue to advance our strategy of being a differentiated and value-added partner to these companies in Fund IV." "In preparation for Fund IV, we have continued to strengthen the MPE team and our Executive Council", said Graham Schena, Partner at MPE. Constantine Elefter, Partner at MPE, added, "In particular, we created our Analyst program, completed key promotions including Christine Smoragiewicz to Partner and Nick Stender to Principal, and recruited multiple talented executives to serve on portfolio company boards." The firm's partners include Peter Taft, Karen Tuleta, Joe Machado, Matt Yohe, Graham Schena, Constantine Elefter, and Christine Smoragiewicz. They are joined by an experienced team of investment and operating professionals and a network of over twenty Executive Council members, who provide operational, organizational, and strategic advice to MPE's portfolio companies. MPE also partners with C-suite executives seeking to embark upon their next career opportunity through the firm's On Deck Circle program. Jones Day served as fund counsel to MPE. About MPE Partners MPE Partners ("MPE" or "Morgenthaler Private Equity") seeks to be the preferred partner for entrepreneur- and family-owned companies. Based in Cleveland, OH, and Boston, MA, MPE invests in profitable, lower middle market companies with transaction values up to $250 million. MPE has two primary target investment areas: high-value manufacturing and commercial & industrial services. For more information, please visit www.mpepartners.com. SOURCE MPE Partners DoD to evaluate Muon Space satellite data for operational use MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Muon Space has been awarded an option to their contract with Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLMC)'s Weather Systems Branch and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to collect ionospheric data on their MuSat-2 satellite mission. The performance period for this contract is two years extending through September 2024. This is an optional expansion in scope to the original contract awarded to Muon Space in September 2022 to develop a space-based prototype for global weather sensing. Rendering of Muon Space's second satellite, MuSat-2. "Muon Space is honored by the Air Force, Space Force and DIU's belief in our capabilities to bring new insights to DoD weather and ionospheric models with new data to include soil moisture, ocean winds, and total electron content. We're excited to showcase the operational relevance of this commercial space dataset to the DoD," said Muon Space CEO Jonny Dyer. The Department of Defense (DoD) will evaluate the commercial data from Muon Space's MuSat-2 satellite for operational use in weather forecasting, ionospheric modeling, impact applications and climate change assessments. Data collected during this pilot will be made accessible for use in government-run Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) and to evaluate improvements to the USAF's current and emerging suite of numerical weather prediction and AI/ML modeling. The resultant data and interfaces from this effort will be compatible with the USAF's Weather Virtual Private Cloud. About Muon Space: Founded in 2021, Muon Space is launching a new generation of smallsats and sensors to monitor Earth's climate and ecosystems with unprecedented fidelity. Muon Space's state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and integrating payloads at scale. Regular launches began in June 2023, providing ever-increasing data sets addressing important geophysical and environmental applications and a platform to deliver new technologies to space. Muon Space's experienced science and engineering teams are uniquely suited to deliver the most exquisite and reliable remote sensing solutions at the speed and scale required to address our most urgent climate challenges. Effort sponsored by the U.S. Government under Other Transaction number FA8730-22-9-0007 between the COMPANY and the Government. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation thereon. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government. SOURCE Muon Space LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Musick, Peeler & Garett LLP announced today that the firm has been recognized by the Orange County Business Journal as one of the "Best Places to Work in Orange County." "We are deeply committed to fostering a thriving culture," says firm Managing Partner R. Joseph De Briyn. "Collaboration, communication, and client service are a few of the elements we work to improve every day." Adam L. Johnson, who leads the firm's Orange County office, says the recognition is, "well-deserved by the attorneys and professional staff who make the Orange County office a great place to come in to work every day." The Best Places to Work recognition comes on the heels of the firm being recognized by the Los Angeles Times as a "Top Law Firm." Many of the firm's attorneys are recognized as leaders in their fields earning selections as Super Lawyers, rankings in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation and Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV rating for technical skill and ethics. Many of the firm's lawyers are noted community leaders, hold political office or teach at nearby colleges or universities. The Orange County Business Journal selects winners for its "Best Places to Work" list based on an employer questionnaire that "details policies, practices, and benefits; and an employee engagement and satisfaction survey about culture, training, pay and benefits, and other areas." Its program is "built to identify those employers in [the] area who are doing things right and creating cultures that make employees proud to be a part of them," states the publisher. Visit Best Places to Work Orange County for more information. About Musick Peeler Founded in 1954, Musick Peeler has offices in five major commercial centers across California, with nearly 100 attorneys practicing in a broad range of disciplines. For more information, visit MusickPeeler.com. SOURCE Musick Peeler HAMILTON, Bermuda, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE: NBR) invites you to join Anthony G. Petrello, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and William Restrepo, Chief Financial Officer, Wednesday July 26, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time for a discussion of operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023. Nabors will release earnings after the market closes on July 25, 2023. Date: July 26, 2023 Time: 10:00 a.m. CT (11:00 a.m. ET) Dial-in-number(s): US Toll Free: (888) 317-6003 Canada Toll Free: (866) 284-3684 International: (412) 317-6061 Participant Elite Entry Number: 7467306 Please call ten to fifteen minutes ahead of time to ensure proper connection. The conference call will be recorded and available for replay for one week, until 4:00 p.m. CST on August 2, 2023. To hear the recording, please call (877) 344-7529 in North America or (412) 317-0088 internationally and enter Participant Elite Entry Number: 8026115. Nabors will have a live audio webcast of the conference call available on its website at www.nabors.com. To join the webcast, navigate to the Investor Relations page and then select Events Calendar. An electronic version of the earnings release and, if applicable, any supplemental presentation also will be available to download from the website. About Nabors Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE: NBR) is a leading provider of advanced technology for the energy industry. With operations in more than 15 countries, Nabors has established a global network of people, technology and equipment to deploy solutions that deliver safe, efficient and responsible energy production. By leveraging its core competencies, particularly in drilling, engineering, automation, data science and manufacturing, Nabors aims to innovate the future of energy and enable the transition to a lower-carbon world. Learn more about Nabors and its energy technology leadership: www.nabors.com. Investor Contacts For further information regarding Nabors, please contact William C. Conroy, CFA, Vice President of Corporate Development & Investor Relations at +1 281-775-2423, via email at [email protected] or Kara Peak, Director of Corporate Development & Investor Relations at +1 281-775-4954, via email at [email protected]. To request investor materials, contact Nabors' corporate headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda at +1 441-292-1510 or via email at [email protected]. Related Links www.nabors.com SOURCE Nabors Industries Ltd. WASHINGTON, July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SEC Chair Gary Gensler will address artificial intelligence and securities regulation at a National Press Club Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, July 17. The Securities and Exchange Commission has indicated on its regulatory agenda that it intends to propose rules in the next few months "related to investment adviser conflicts in the use of predictive data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and similar technologies in connection with certain investor interactions." SEC Chair Gary Gensler Gensler was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate in April 2021 to head the five-member SEC. He has embarked on a wide-ranging and aggressive regulatory agenda that has drawn intense praise and criticism. He has said his goal is to improve the efficiency and transparency of financial markets and reduce costs for investors. This in-person event begins with lunch in the Club ballroom at 12:30 p.m. Remarks begin at 1 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session ending at 2 p.m. Club members may purchase tickets for $25. Non-member tickets cost $45. For all ticketing-related questions, please email [email protected]. Tickets must be paid for at the time of purchase. To submit a question in advance for the speaker, put GENSLER on the subject line and email to [email protected]. The deadline for submitting questions in advance is 10 a.m. on the day of the luncheon. The National Press Club is located on the 13th Floor of the National Press Building at 529 14th St., NW, Washington, D.C. Press Contact: Kate Helster, [email protected], 202-662-7525 SOURCE National Press Club Luxury car dealer Phan Cong Khanh has been accused of mortgaging a customers McLaren on the sly to raise money for settling debts. CEO of Ho Chi Minh City-based luxury car dealership K Supper had been arrested Sunday for "fraudulent appropriation" of assets. In early March a customer identified only as Huong asked him to sell a McLaren for VND10 billion (US$423,100) and brought the car to his showroom in District 1, according to the HCMC police. Phan Cong Khanh at a police station in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Vy In May Khanh, who unknown to Huong was having trouble repaying some debts and redeeming a Mercedes G63 he had mortgaged, asked her for the vehicles documents claiming he could show them to potential customers and "increase the chances of selling it." But he instructed his employee Mohamach Da Pha to mortgage it for VND2 billion. Huong then asked him on several occasions to return the documents, but he made excuses. She found out he had pawned the car and filed a complaint with the police. The police said Khanh admitted to his crime, and Pha also turned himself in. Mohamach Da Pha and a McLaren that has been confiscated by Ho Chi Minh City police. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Vy Khanh, a native of the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, has the reputation of selling the most luxurious cars in Vietnam. He entered the car dealership business in 2017 and opened a showroom in HCMCs District 1. He regularly posts photos of himself standing next to Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Porsche cars on social media, and writes about how young people can start a business and make money. -- The nominations reflect the brand's successful tenure in direct selling with quality products and proven leaders -- DALLAS, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Neora, a leader in science-based, anti-aging skin care, hair care, and wellness products, today announced that Direct Selling News (DSN) named three members of the Neora leadership team to its 40 Under 40 list. The awards underscore the company's ability to navigate the changing landscape of direct selling with directors and C-suite members leading the charge to provide innovation and guidance that keep the company moving forward. The named Neora winners included Amber Olsen Rourke, CMO and co-founder, Juliana Rochelle, director of product development, and Uzma Azim, senior director of information technology. The Neora brand is known for producing holistic and multifunctional beauty products with purpose. Every item is designed to bring about wellness and results for users while also creating opportunities for transformation. Since 2011, Neora has also become synonymous with success, flexibility, and freedom for Brand Partners looking to become entrepreneurs. The company maintains a commitment to the community by giving back through its charitable foundation, which has raised over $6 million for people in need, and by becoming one of the top corporate sponsors of Big Brothers Big Sisters. All of this is made possible through the efforts of Neora's leadership team. The recognition provided through the recent DSN awards underscore the company's ability to inspire and innovate from every angle of the business. While starting out as a small family business, the team has grown to include several hundred employees and a vast network of Brand Partners who can now work toward career goals. Each of the Neora leaders named by the DSN 40 Under 40 award exemplify the company's mission to Make People Better. CMO Amber Olson Rourke strives to empower people while driving a brand story that is clear and actionable for brand partners and consumers alike. Her diverse background in marketing and advertising also helps guide her creativity when it comes to messaging and layouts that resonate. Director of Product Development Juliana Rochelle brought over a decade of beauty brand development experience to Neora and specializes in identifying market trends that can be uniquely expanded on. Driven to provide outstanding results, Rochelle also works directly with R&D labs to produce formulas that are proven and in line with the company's mission. Senior Director of Information Technology Uzma Azim leverages technology to create solutions to challenges in everything from product marketing to back of house operations. Her recent achievements include relaunching the Neora website to further improve the user experience for customers, partners, and prospects. The DSN 40 Under 40 awards are designed to bring attention corporate standouts helping to reshape the direct selling channel with an eye to the future. This includes achievers under the age of 40 who champion the business model while looking for new ways to leverage technology, marketing, and selling trends to improve everything from compensation plans to product development. Those nominated to the list were vetted by Direct Selling News and featured for their positions as game changers in their respective companies as well as the industry as a whole. About Neora Based in Dallas, TX, Neora is a global relationship marketing company with age-fighting products crafted from cutting-edge research and science. Founded in 2011, Neora has shattered industry sales records while developing a strong customer base in North America, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific. Neora is committed to providing an excellent product line based in real science. Visit www.neora.com for more information. Press Contact Beth Hisey [email protected] SOURCE Neora VANCOUVER, BC, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) (OTCQX: NKGFF) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its 100%-owned Atlanta Gold Mine Project, located in the prolific Battle Mountain Trend 264km northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. Highlights: Figure 1. Current distribution of claims owned by Nevada King at Atlanta. (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.) Figure 2. Location of Phase 1 and Phase II CSAMT lines in relation to Atlanta pit, visible on top right. (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.) The Company recently staked an additional 947 lode claims around the existing Atlanta land package, increasing total claims held to 1,562, covering 131 km 2 or 13,100 hectare (Figure 1). land package, increasing total claims held to 1,562, covering 131 km or 13,100 hectare (Figure 1). The land package now covers and creates a buffer around all high-priority gold prospects in and around the Atlanta district identified historically and by Nevada King through its geophysical, geological, and geochemical studies conducted since 2019. district identified historically and by through its geophysical, geological, and geochemical studies conducted since 2019. The Company has commenced a Phase II CSAMT (Controlled Source Audio-frequency Magneto-tellurics) survey, a low-impact, non-intrusive, ground geophysical survey method that provides critical information about geologic structure and lithology, particularly in debris covered terrain such is as at Atlanta . . Nevada King initially conducted a 51 line kilometre Phase I CSAMT survey in 2022 that covered 8.3 km 2 centred over the current resource zone. Results outlined known structural features and faults and identified a number of new structures and high-priority targets at Atlanta , two of which led to the development of the East Ridge and South Extension Targets. Based on the CSAMT survey's high degree of accuracy with respect to locating mineralized structures, the Company has expanded the survey to 111 line-kilometres in order to cover potential distal target areas throughout the Atlanta district (Figure 2). initially conducted a 51 line kilometre Phase I CSAMT survey in 2022 that covered 8.3 km centred over the current resource zone. Results outlined known structural features and faults and identified a number of new structures and high-priority targets at , two of which led to the development of the East Ridge and South Extension Targets. Based on the CSAMT survey's high degree of accuracy with respect to locating mineralized structures, the Company has expanded the survey to 111 line-kilometres in order to cover potential distal target areas throughout the district (Figure 2). The new CSAMT data will be integrated with 56 km2 of detailed ground gravity, 119 km2 of drone magnetic surveys and geochemical data as well as existing showings in order to enhance the existing exploration model. The Company anticipates releasing a detailed review of district targets at Atlanta in the coming weeks. Cal Herron, Exploration Manager of Nevada King, commented, "Nevada King's initial interest in acquiring the Atlanta Project centred on the district-scale potential connected to hydrothermal activity localized around the perimeter of the Indian Peak caldera. Our drilling within the West Atlanta Graben target in late 2022 and early 2023 revealed potential for a much larger deposit hosted within the Tertiary volcanic section above the basement Paleozoic carbonates and quartzite. This West Atlanta Graben mineralization opened our eyes to the potential in the altered volcanic section west and south of the current Atlanta resource zone. Our district scale work has succcesfully identified numerous structural trends between various mineralized zones scattered across the district, thus occasioning the recent, major expansion in our claim holdings. The Company now possesses a substantial claim buffer zone outside of what we perceive to be the limit of volcanic-hosted mineralization around the Atlanta deposit." Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016, the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million-ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada. The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $19 million as of July 2023. The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a NI 43-101 compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000's) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Nevada King, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans and the Company's ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp. COLLEGE PARK, Md., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid expanding its artificial intelligence and machine learning curricula -- including for its recently STEM-designated MBA programs, the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business has hired Balaji Padmanabhan as a full professor of information systems. Padmanabhan, with a PhD from New York University's Stern School of Business, brings expertise in AI, machine learning and business analytics from 25 years of research, teaching and working extensively with businesses. He was among the earliest business school faculty members to bring machine learning content into MBA programs and designed one of the first technology-focused electives ("Enabling Technologies") for an MBA program while at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. "Balaji will strengthen our research and focus on developing future leaders in a changing world driven by artificial intelligence and grand challenges like AI bias and dis/misinformation," says Smith Dean Prabhudev Konana. "His arrival not only bolsters our information systems faculty with a highly accomplished scholar and industry consultant, but also positions Smith's MBA and MS curricula to be transformational by contextualizing AI for the future." Padmanabhan, Konana says, "will strengthen the already highly ranked MS in Information Systems, MS in Business Analytics, and online business analytics MBA programs, while influencing our portfolio of MBA programs." Integral, he adds, will be "contextual AI," a specialty of Padmanabhan. Padmanabhan says: "We are at a pivotal moment for business where AI is going to play an increasingly transformation role mostly positive. But there are challenges. AI is still very expensive both in terms of total cost for business as well as troubling carbon footprints, still somewhat unpredictable as we've seen, remains vulnerable to biases and amplifying them, and has its share of security risks. Plus, the challenges extend to uncertainty in intellectual property issues and legal environments in different countries. However, with great challenges come great opportunities." He explains: "The MBAs and other graduates we produce in business schools will be counted on to strategically guide organizations through sound and thoughtful business and policy decisions around AI in different contexts and be able to distinguish hype from actual potential and capabilities. Decision-making in, with, and about AI in specific business and policy contexts will be key; and we must equip our graduates with the tools to be able to make these decisions well." Padmanabhan has researched and designed analytics-driven algorithms for solving business problems in publishing 60-plus papers in premier journals and conferences in the field. He also serves on several of those editorial boards and has applied his findings and broader insight in various machine learning and analytics initiatives for several companies. He arrives at Smith from the University of South Florida's Muma College of Business where he directed the Center for Analytics and Creativity. "AI has always been about 'intelligence,' and it is particularly exciting that we are at a point in time where we can build systems in some areas to have not 'just' human intelligence, but 'supra' human capabilities," Padmanabhan says. "However, realizing all this potential for business and society, while mitigating and managing harms and transitional challenges, will require a level of understanding of AI that most business school MBA curricula currently aren't equipped to provide. Figuring that out soon will be crucial." Read more about the graduate and undergraduate programs at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master's, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia. Contact: Greg Muraski [email protected] SOURCE University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business Data from the most current school year highlights persistent achievement gaps compared to pre-pandemic trends, except for youngest students who saw above average achievement gains PORTLAND, Ore., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- K-12 assessment and research organization NWEA released today its latest report tracking the impact of pandemic disruptions on academic gains and achievement levels for U.S. students using data from the 2022-23 academic year. This analysis provides the most current evidence to help guide recovery efforts and resource allocations in support of schools. While the pandemic is now deemed over, the impacts on students based on two markers, achievement in reading and mathematics, are still apparent. Using data from 6.7 million U.S. public school students currently in grades 3 - 8, the study examined academic gains in the 2022-23 school year relative to pre-pandemic years. It also tracked the gap in achievement between the COVID year student group compared to their pre-pandemic peers. Key findings from the study: While students grew academically in the 2022-23 school year, achievement gains fell short of pre-pandemic trends in most grades, with the exception of the youngest students who bucked this trend and made above average achievement gains. The gap in achievement levels between the COVID cohort and their pre-pandemic peers did not shrink in 2022-23, and in some grades widened slightly. With these latest numbers, it's estimated that most students would now need, on average, an additional 4.5 months of mathematics instruction and 4.1 months of reading instruction to recover in these two subjects. All groups showed sluggish achievement gains, but traditionally marginalized students (Black, Hispanic), remain furthest from recovery. "COVID-19 may no longer be an emergency, but we are very much still dealing with the fallout from the crisis. These data reiterate that recovery will not be linear, easy, or quick and we cannot take our foot off the gas pedal," said Dr. Karyn Lewis, co-author of the study and director of the Center for School and Student Progress at NWEA. "Disappointing as these results may be, it's important not to lose sight of the fact that things would likely be so much worse without the enduring work of educators and schools to support students in this moment." To help contextualize the scale of the gaps, the report estimated the amount of additional learning that will be required to catch students up to pre-pandemic achievement levels. It stated that the average student would need support and interventions equivalent to an additional 4.1 months of school to catch up to pre-COVID levels in reading and 4.5 months in math. This amount of additional schooling cannot be compressed into a single year or achieved in a short-term intervention but rather will require sustained effort over several years. For traditionally marginalized students, the road ahead is even longer. These estimates are only to return students to pre-pandemic status quo, which does nothing to address the achievement disparities that pre-date the pandemic. "Pandemic disruptions have been persistent and unprecedented, and, not surprisingly, so have their impacts on student achievement. School and district leaders have been doing a heroic job in identifying local needs and deploying evidence-based strategies to address them. But scaling interventions takes significant time and resources, and we know the hard work of educators often takes years to show up in test results," said Lindsay Dworkin, SVP of Policy and Government Affairs at NWEA. "One year from the expiration of the federal education relief funds, which have supported so much of their vital efforts thus far, policymakers and leaders throughout the education ecosystem must renew their commitment to recovery. Our students deserve the sustained resources and urgency necessary to ensure they have the opportunity to reach their full potential." That urgency for sustained resources is reiterated in a series of recommendations for policy makers and education leaders noted in an NWEA policy brief, released alongside the new research. Recommendations include: Using local data to guide recovery and investing in what works. States and districts can set up processes and tools that provide capacity to schools when gathering data and tracking the implementation of interventions. States and districts can set up processes and tools that provide capacity to schools when gathering data and tracking the implementation of interventions. Expanding instructional time by deploying evidence-based interventions and programs to the students who still need additional support . Interventions and programs must be scaled to the size of the challenge, and students in need of additional support may require multiple interventions to fully recover from the pandemic's impacts. State and district leaders can work with schools to develop policies and practices that ensure schools are able to implement interventions efficiently and effectively. Interventions and programs must be scaled to the size of the challenge, and students in need of additional support may require multiple interventions to fully recover from the pandemic's impacts. State and district leaders can work with schools to develop policies and practices that ensure schools are able to implement interventions efficiently and effectively. Communicating the importance of academic recovery, sharing timely and relevant information with families. States, districts and schools can provide families with timely information about their child's progress and achievement compared to grade-level standards and resources that families can use to support learning recovery at home. Read the full research report at: https://www.nwea.org/research/publication/educations-long-covid-2022-23-achievement-data-reveal-stalled-progress-toward-pandemic-recovery/ https://www.nwea.org/research/publication/educations-long-covid-2022-23-achievement-data-reveal-stalled-progress-toward-pandemic-recovery/ Read the policy brief at: https://www.nwea.org/resource-center/resource/the-long-road-to-academic-recovery-students-are-learning-but-older-students-recovery-needs-attention/ About NWEA NWEA (a division of HMH) is a mission-driven organization that supports students and educators in more than 146 countries through research, assessment solutions, policy and advocacy services, professional learning and school improvement services that fight for equity, drive classroom impact and push for systemic change in our educational communities. Visit NWEA.org to learn more about how we're partnering with educators to help all kids learn. Contact: Simona Beattie, Sr. Manager, Public Relations, [email protected] or 971.361.9526 SOURCE NWEA DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Systech, part of Markem-Imaje and Dover (NYSE: DOV), and a leading provider of digital identification and traceability software solutions, today announced the availability of Systech UniTrace DSCSA for Pharmacies and Dispensers. This new solution helps pharmacies and other dispensers meet DSCSA compliance by enabling them to acquire, validate and retain electronic transaction information that encompasses unit-level serialization data and transaction statements supplied by their vendors. With Systech UniTrace DSCSA, dispensers are equipped through one unified platform to completely access, examine, verify and distribute necessary compliance data as requested by regulatory entities or business associates. Healthcare and retail pharmacies can choose one of three Systech UniTrace DSCSA package levels, basic, advanced and enterprise. The basic package is a complete, turnkey DSCSA compliance solution for smaller pharmacies that may not have the resources to invest in new technology or specialized personnel. The advanced offering is suitable for mid-sized dispensers, featuring capabilities such as scanning, automation and expiry management. The enterprise solution is ideal for large organizations or high-volume dispensers seeking multi-level management, multi-system integrations, custom reporting and data analytic capabilities. Pharmacies using Systech UniTrace DSCSA will receive transaction data that reflects the shipments coming to them from wholesalers, creating a digital representation of the physical supply chain. In addition to maximizing efficiencies for pharmacies that have historically balanced shipment notices with the product received at each pharmacy manually, this solution will be critical for companies adapting to heightened DSCSA electronic interoperability requirements effective November 2023. "Systech UniTrace for Dispensers is the solution for pharmacies to simplify their compliance workflows and streamline their pharmacy operations. This new offering is another example of how Systech is committed to helping pharmacies of all sizes become DSCSA compliant," said Girish Juneja, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer of Dover."Systech UniTrace DSCSA reflects the industry's focus to date on the role of manufacturers and wholesalers, data integration requirements and readiness for the final phase of interoperability requirements coming with the November deadline." Systech has proven itself over decades in the highly regulated and rigorous pharmaceutical arena with reliable and configurable packaging execution systems and serialization software. With the advent of DSCSA, Systech has led the way in delivering technology solutions that enable compliance, leveraging a platform that can uniquely create product data at the line level and deliver meaningful value from that data throughout the supply chain. Systech provides a complete traceability solution across the pharmaceutical supply chain ecosystem, from manufacturers, contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), contract packaging organizations (CPOs) and distributors to third-party logistics providers, pharmacies and regulatory bodies. To learn more about Systech UniTrace DSCSA for Dispensers and Pharmacies, please visit www.systechone.com/solutions/regulatory-compliance/dscsa-pharmacies/. About Systech: Systech provides digital identification and traceability solutions that establish essential product data, ensure digital connectivity and enable real-time insights on the packaging line and throughout the supply chain. With decades of experience in pharmaceutical packaging execution and serialization, Systech offers comprehensive, easily configured, turnkey software solutions with reliable implementation and expert support. Global brands across industries rely on Systech's platform to help them achieve their objectives in compliance, resiliency, sustainability and digital transformation. Systech is a leading brand of Markem-Imaje, a global product identification, packaging intelligence and connected product solutions provider. Visit www.systechone.com for further information. About Markem-Imaje: Markem-Imaje, a wholly owned subsidiary of the US-based Dover Corporation is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, and print and apply label systems. Markem-Imaje provides global reach to over 50,000 customers with 30 subsidiaries, 6 technology centers, several equipment repair centers and manufacturing plants with the most comprehensive marking and coding portfolio available in the marketplace. Visit www.markem-imaje.com for further information. About Dover: Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of over $8 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy & Fueling, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Climate & Sustainability Technologies. Dover combines global scale with operational agility to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 65 years, our team of over 25,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com . Systech Contact: Kevin Jurrens (609) 306-6418 [email protected] Dover Media Contact: Adrian Sakowicz, VP, Communications (630) 743-5039 [email protected] Dover Investor Contact: Jack Dickens, Senior Director, Investor Relations (630) 743-2566 [email protected] SOURCE Dover JUNO BEACH, Fla., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) today announced that it plans to report second-quarter 2023 financial results before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in a news release to be posted on the company's website at www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults. The company will issue an advisory news release over PR Newswire the morning of July 25, with a link to the financial results news release on the company's website. As previously communicated, the company will make available its financial results only on its website. John Ketchum, chairman, president and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy, Kirk Crews, executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer of NextEra Energy, and other members of the company's senior management team will discuss the company's second-quarter 2023 financial results during an investor presentation to be webcast live, beginning at 9 a.m. ET on July 25. Results for NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) also will be discussed during the same investor presentation. The listen-only webcast will be available on NextEra Energy's website by accessing the following link: www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults. The financial results news release and the slides accompanying the presentation may be downloaded at www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults, beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET on the day of the webcast. A replay will be available for 90 days by accessing the same link as listed above. NextEra Energy, Inc. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. NextEra Energy owns Florida Power & Light Company, which is America's largest electric utility that sells more power than any other utility, providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity to approximately 5.8 million customer accounts, or more than 12 million people across Florida. NextEra Energy also owns a competitive clean energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from seven commercial nuclear power units in Florida, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. A Fortune 200 company, NextEra Energy is ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry on Fortune's 2023 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," recognized on Fortune's 2021 list of companies that "Change the World" and received the S&P Global Platts 2020 Energy Transition Award for leadership in environmental, social and governance. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com. SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc. WASHINGTON, July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Eileen O'Reilly, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on the murder of Mexican journalist Luis Martin Sanchez Iniguez, whose body was discovered Saturday after being reported missing on July 5. "We are outraged and deeply saddened by the murder of journalist Luis Martin Sanchez Iniguez, a staff reporter working in western Mexico for the national newspaper La Jornada. State authorities believe his killing was in response to his work as a journalist, according to his newspaper. He was last seen working in Xalisco, a town in Nayarit state that has ties to heroin and opium smuggling rings. "It is imperative that Mexican authorities find and prosecute the killers of Sanchez Iniguez, not just for the sake of justice for Sanchez Iniguez and his family, but also to push back on the culture of impunity that has spread far and wide across Mexico. "Sanchez Iniguez is one of two media workers reported missing in Nayarit this week alone: Osiris Maldonado, who previously worked with La Jornada, has not been seen since he left for work on July 3, according to media reports. Another journalist, Jonathan Lora Ramirez, has been found alive after being illegally detained by two hooded, armed men." "Criminals and corrupt officials need to know the Mexican government prioritizes holding accountable those who threaten, harass or kill journalists. Concrete action is needed if the culture of impunity is ever going to end." Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the United States and around the world. The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged, global citizenry through an independent and free press and equips journalists with the skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. The NPCJI is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club. Press contact: Bill McCarren, National Press Club, [email protected], (202) 662-7534 SOURCE National Press Club Improved integration makes it easier for consumers to manage their energy use, collect rewards, and actively participate in making the electrical grid more resilient OAKLAND, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, OhmConnect and Sense announced the expansion of their innovative partnership, incorporating OhmConnect's Fuse platform with Sense's real-time, device-level insights. This integration will create a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) enabling customers to earn rewards for reducing their home electricity use when the grid is stressed. By seamlessly merging the strengths of each technology, consumers will have a unified, approachable experience and empower them to take control of their energy use. "By making it easy for Sense users to quickly enroll in OhmConnect, Sense can integrate tangible rewards and market signals into the Sense app experience to help New Yorkers and Californians provide critical capacity to the grid when it's needed most," said Colin Gibbs, VP Energy Services at Sense. "The interactivity of real-time, device level information from Sense and customer rewards from OhmConnect dramatically enhances the amount of curtailable load that our companies can collectively provide to grid operators." "We can all play a role in building a clean energy future, and it starts with partnerships like this one with Sense," said Cisco Devries, CEO, OhmConnect. "By embedding OhmConnect's Fuse offering into the native experience of the Sense app, we can provide residential customers with a simple and interactive way to take control of their energy usage and electricity bill and build out a strong network of energy savers dedicated to stabilizing the grid and preventing blackouts." In addition to supporting customers at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), under the expanded partnership, Con Edison New York customers are now eligible to participate. Eligible users can register, connect their utility, link smart home devices, and sign up for alert notifications through the award-winning Sense app. Once enrolled, they will be alerted to OhmHours a program that tells members when to reduce their at-home energy consumption through email or text, as well as through timely, personalized notifications in the Sense app. The combined insights from Sense and OhmConnect will allow these customers to take meaningful actions and maximize rewards. This expanded partnership builds upon Sense and OhmConnect's successful 2021 pilot test of the value of real-time energy data and messaging for OhmConnect customers in California. The pilot demonstrated such data helped users save 160% more during critical times of grid constraint, compared to OhmConnect participants without real-time information from Sense. Additionally, Sense customers link a device 6X more than the average OhmConnect user. Sense users were eager to have access to their energy insights. When introduced to OhmConnect, Sense users joined the VPP at a rate of 125% greater than non-Sense users, increasing enrollment in New York by over 100%. About OhmConnect OhmConnect, winner of the 2021 Fast Company World Changing Ideas Award , helps hundreds of thousands of customers manage their at-home electricity and rewards them for smarter energy use. The company pays its customers for saving electricity when the grid is stressed and likely to utilize dirty power, unlocking clean, affordable, and reliable energy. With more than $17 million in rewards paid to its customers, OhmConnect is making a future of 100% clean energy accessible to everyone. The leading energy management app, OhmConnect has partnered with Google Nest, Carrier, SunPower, ecobee, TP Link, and 25 other companies and manufacturers. Customers of the three major California electricity suppliers Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) as well as Con Edison in New York, can sign up with OhmConnect for free at ohmconnect.com . Follow OhmConnect on Twitter @OhmConnect , read the OhmConnect blog or check them out on Facebook and LinkedIn . About Sense Sense's mission is to reduce global carbon emissions by making homes smarter and efficient. We empower people to care for their homes and families while contributing to a cleaner, more resilient future. Founded in 2013 by pioneers in speech recognition, Sense uses machine learning technology to provide real-time insights on device behavior, even for those devices that are not "smart." Customers rely on Sense for a wide range of uses including monitoring their home appliances, determining whether they left appliances running and identifying how to reduce their energy costs. Sense is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. To make sense of your energy, visit: https://sense.com. Media Contacts: OhmConnect Alexandra Pony [email protected] 250.858.0656 Sense Rachel Roseneck [email protected] 608.512.6288 SOURCE OhmConnect and Sense LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OKSI has been awarded a $2 million follow-on contract from USSOCOM to finalize their Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) for the 81mm mortar round. The screw on 81mm PGK will allow warfighters to precisely guide mortars onto the desired impact point or predesignated target. The mortar's guidance system is able to find, fix, and lock onto target then uses pop-out control surfaces to steer the mortar down onto the tracked target. This contract aims at taking an area weapon known to be inaccurate and convert it to a precision munition that will provide first round effects. The 81mm PGK provides SOF teams with a low-cost precision guided munition that delivers first round effects on target. Tweet this (PRNewsfoto/OKSI) "The PGK provides a precision strike capability that is in the field commander's back pocket," says Chris HolmesParker, CEO, OKSI. "USSOCOM is a respected partner of ours and we are grateful to be working with them on numerous efforts. This award shows the trust and faith they have in the OKSI team to deliver a solution that needs to be extremely accurate and reliable when lives are on the line." OKSI's PGK leverages detection and tracking algorithms developed in-house to transform a munition that previously had no guidance at all. This is a prime example of integrating new technologies into a weapon system that is organic to the ground unit to enhance their capabilities in the field. Previously, SOF units would have to wait on close-air-support for precision munition effects on target. Having the 81mm PGK on hand will significantly reduce the time it takes for soldiers to affect the enemy. "We are proud to see our advanced technologies providing our warfighters with cutting-edge targeting capabilities for precision munitions such as the 81mm mortar," says Christopher Shaub, Director of Strategic Partnerships, OKSI. "Our advanced seekers enhance our frontline capabilities, ensure desired effects, and reduce collateral damage and ammo expenditures. We thank SOCOM for recognizing our unique technology and providing us the opportunity to help our elite operators." About OKSI OKSI is an R&D leader in customizing sensors, AI/ML, and EO/IR technologies for ground, air, and space applications within the defense, aerospace, and environmental industries. With over 30 years of driving innovation and disrupting the industry, OKSI is committed to solving the world's most challenging engineering problems by using AI to extract data across from the entire EO/IR spectrum. Their autonomous and intelligent solutions rapidly analyze, identify, and communicate actionable insights, enabling critical decision making, action prioritization, and outcome optimization. OKSI is a privately held small business headquartered in Torrance, California. Learn more at www.oksi.ai LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/oksi-ai SOURCE OKSI Annual Sustainability Report Shows Gains in the Use of Recyclable Content, Double-Digit Decreases in Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions SEATTLE, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- More than one-third of the film (36%) used by flexible packaging leader PAC Worldwide was recycled content, according to the company's newly released annual sustainability report. The increase includes 17% of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, which grew 2% year-over-year. PAC decreased its overall energy usage worldwide by 17.33%, consuming less than 51.5 million kWh of energy last year. Water usage dropped by 9.59% to 13.84 million gallons, as did greenhouse gases, which fell by a net 18.421 thousand metric tons of carbon dioxide combined, as calculated through global ESG platform measurabl. The company's report also touches on notable progress with industry initiatives such as the U.S. Plastics Pact, Walmart's Circular Connector program, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Global Commitment Pledge. The latter initiative seeks to make 100% of plastic packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025 along with at least 10% PCR content. "We are designing a roadmap to zero waste and net zero carbon," said PAC Worldwide President Thomas Parenteau. "First, we focused on transparency through certifications and reporting. We also qualified new suppliers for our paper products allowing us to purchase responsibly and sustainably sourced forest products. Collectively, we view these actions as a golden opportunity to reverse the current state of the environment and leave a legacy to be proud of for our children." PAC Worldwide Vice President of Sustainability John Bartell added. "Many of these objectives would have been considered unthinkable a decade ago. Yet today, through the combination of advanced engineering, sourcing, and improved consumer education, we are pointing the way for building tomorrow's circular economy." About PAC Worldwide Founded in 1975, PAC Worldwide Corporation has been a leader and innovator in developing and manufacturing customized packaging and contract packaging solutions for more than 40 years. The privately-owned company employs more than 1,800 team members through operations in the U.S., Mexico and Malaysia. CONTACT: Michael Shepherd [email protected] (206)224-3550 SOURCE PAC Worldwide Vietnam Airlines struggles to get flight slots in foreign airports A Vietnam Airlines aircraft takes off at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy Vietnam Airlines is unable to get the number flight slots it needs at airports in the U.K., India and China. After a period of absence due to Covid-19, the carrier has lost many flight slots in London, chairman Dang Ngoc Hoa said at a meeting with the Ministry of Transport officials Monday. India only provides 28 slots at its four big airports for international airlines since it seeks to protect domestic carriers, he said. Requests for more slots in Chinese airports too have been rejected, he said. The number of foreign passengers flying on Vietnamese carriers is only 60% of pre-pandemic levels, he said. Other challenges, such as fuel prices doubling at certain times from 2019 levels, have been slowing down Vietnam Airlines recovery efforts, he said. He sought the ministrys assistance to get more slots in foreign airports. Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang at the meeting ordered aviation authorities to support the carrier. If required, the ministry would dispatch officials to other countries to negotiate slots, he added. LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys from the PARRIS Law Firm obtained an $8.9 million verdict in a Los Angeles Superior Court trial that involves a man who was severely injured by a drunk driver and an insurance company who was unwilling to properly settle the case. On January 13, 2017, a husband and wife were driving home from dinner when an intoxicated Dennis Perez swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into their car. The catastrophic crash left the husband with severe fractures and a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Once police arrived at the scene, they noticed Perez's bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and a stench of alcohol. He denied drinking, but when a field sobriety test was administered, he failed with a breathalyzer reading of .101, well above the DUI standard of .08. Perez was arrested for driving under the influence and severely injuring the driver. Dennis Perez went on to plead guilty to his crimes. "You could take one look at our client and know that he had a long and difficult road to recovery ahead of him," said lead attorney Khail Parris of the PARRIS Law Firm. "But if you asked MetLife, they would say his injuries weren't that bad, and his life could return back to normal," Parris added. Leading up to trial, MetLife hired more than 17 experts to refute the severity of his injuries. They even claimed that the victim was partially responsible for the crash even though their driver's BAC was well above the legal limit. "The jury understood how ridiculous MetLife's claims were and returned a verdict that ensures our client receives quality treatment for the rest of his life," said Parris. The case is Case No. MC027758. A copy of the complaint can be found here. About PARRIS Law Firm The PARRIS Law Firm is recognized as one of America's top personal injury, employment, and environmental law firms. With a proven track record of fighting for justice on behalf of families and individuals, the firm boasts numerous seven and eight-figure verdicts and settlements. To learn more about the firm, please go to: www.parris.com Contact Dante Hickles (661) 949-2595 [email protected] SOURCE PARRIS Law Firm 150 MW facility to generate clean energy for up to 30,000 Alberta homes WEST OYEN, AB, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Energy), a leader in renewable energy and transmission infrastructure, announced today it has completed construction and begun operation at its 150 megawatt (MW) Lanfine Wind power project in Alberta, Canada. Pattern Energys Lanfine Wind facility in Alberta Lanfine Winds 4.3 MW turbines are the most powerful in Pattern Energys fleet "As one of the largest operators of wind power in Canada, Pattern continues to expand its presence with its first facility in Alberta," said Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy. "Lanfine Wind utilizes the most powerful turbines in our operating fleet at an impressive 4.3 MW each, altogether powering 30,000 homes in Alberta each year. Pattern has now brought 11 wind energy projects to operation across five provinces in Canada over the past decade, creating thousands of Canadian jobs and millions of dollars in direct economic benefits to our local communities." The Lanfine Wind project utilizes 35 Vestas V150 4.3 MW turbines. Lanfine Wind has entered into a 10-year financially settled power purchase agreement with West Fraser, a diversified wood products company with more than 60 facilities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, for approximately 50% of the facility's output, which is supporting West Fraser's efforts to reduce its scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 46.2% by 2030. "The Town of Oyen welcomes its continued partnership with Pattern Energy's Lanfine Wind," said Oyen Town Mayor Doug Jones. "Pattern Energy has proven they want to be a good neighbour for the long term. We extend our gratitude for all the support shown to our local businesses. Lanfine Wind's Community Benefits Program will provide vital support that will have a long and lasting positive impact on our entire community." In May, Pattern Energy closed an approximately CAD$220 million project financing based on 20 years of cash flows for Lanfine Wind with National Bank of Canada and Siemens Financial Services. Lanfine Wind represents a total investment of roughly C$335 million in Alberta that is contributing to lasting and diverse economic benefits. Approximately 250 workers were on-site during peak construction activity, spurring demand for local businesses and services in the rural community. Construction of the project was managed by Borea Construction. In addition to employment and contracting opportunities, Lanfine Wind will generate landowner revenue and provide tax revenue to the local community, which will directly contribute to education, community services, roads, and first-responder capabilities. Further, a Community Benefits Program funded by the project will support local initiatives and community-based organizations with a $2 million commitment over the first 20 years of Lanfine Wind's operation. With the addition of Lanfine Wind, Pattern Energy's portfolio in Canada now totals 11 operational wind energy facilities across five provinces. For more information please visit patterncanada.com. About Pattern Energy Pattern Energy is one of the world's largest privately-owned developers and operators of wind, solar, transmission, and energy storage projects. Its operational portfolio includes 38 renewable energy facilities that use proven, best-in-class technology with an operating capacity of more than 6,000 MW in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Mexico. Pattern Energy is guided by a long-term commitment to serve customers, protect the environment, and strengthen communities. For more information, visit www.patternenergy.com. Contact: Matt Dallas Pattern Energy 917-363-1333 [email protected]com SOURCE Pattern Energy Group LP Digital Finance Forum 2023 Ceremoniously Unveiled BEIJING, July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Digital Finance Forum 2023 was held on July 6 at the Beijing Banking & Insurance Business Park in Shijingshan District, Beijing, with the aim of discussing the trend of global digital finance, evaluating and determining the optimal path for high-quality digital finance development, and fostering a consensus on the future of digital finance. Themed as "Pioneering a Better Future with Digital Intelligence", this Digital Finance Forum is organized by the Shijingshan District People's Government of Beijing Municipality and Asia Digital Group. Notable guests in attendance include Huang Qifan, a researcher fellow and former mayor of Chongqing, Xu Xinchao, deputy secretary-general of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, Zhao Weijiu, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Local Financial Regulation and Supervision, Li Xianxia, executive vice mayor of Shijingshan District and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shijingshan District Committee of Beijing Municipality, Li Wenhua, vice mayor of Shijingshan District, and Zhu Dongfang, president of Asia Digital Group. Government representatives, experts, scholars, and business leaders from more than 10 countries and regions, including Spain, the United States, Germany, New Zealand, Austria, Sri Lanka, and Slovenia were invited to exchange on how to drive financial innovation and digital strategic upgrades under the new dual-cycle pattern, and help the construction of a new digital financial ecosystem, striving to open a new era of high-quality development of fintech and continue to enhance the international influence of Beijing's digital economy. Fostering the top-level structure for digital finance under the guidance of national policies Xu Xinchao, deputy secretary-general of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, advocated Beijing as a cutting-edge scientific and technological innovation center, as well as a national financial management center. The city is actively striving to establish itself as a global benchmark in the digital economy, leveraging its exceptional strengths in economy, finance, and digital innovation. Beijing aims to develop a modern digital financial system that aligns with the capital's four central functions in politics, culture, international exchanges, and scientific and technical innovation. Specifically, the city will focus on enhancing digital financial technology innovation, driving the digitalization of financial services, fostering the growth of digital business in financial institutions, nurturing digital financial industry players, promoting the digital transformation and upgrading of financial institutions, and facilitating pilot reforms in the fintech supervision sandbox and fintech innovation in the capital market. Beijing is ready to join hands with all partners to promote the high-quality development of digital finance. Zhao Weiju, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Local Financial Regulation and Supervision, pointed out in his speech that Beijing, as the national financial management center, attaches great importance to the development of digital finance, adheres to the fundamental purpose of serving the real economy, and focuses on stimulating the multiplication effect formed by the factors of "finance + science and technology + data". The financial industry and information service industry have emerged as Beijing's pillar industries. The digital economy and the financial industry constitute over 40% and more than 20% respectively, showcasing a clear trend towards digital transformation in the financial sector. Li Xianxia, executive vice mayor of Shijingshan District and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shijingshan District Committee of Beijing Municipality, noted in his speech that finance plays an important role in promoting the Chinese path to modernization, and has also made outstanding contributions to the high-quality development of Beijing. Shijingshan strives to build "1+3+1" top tech sectors headed by the modern financial industry. The revenue of the modern financial industry exceeds 100 billion. It has successfully established several national-level financial infrastructures that have showcased their effectiveness and influence. The continuous progress of the E-CNY pilot further signifies its importance. Showcasing new achievements and cooperation fruits in digital economy The launch of products is a highlight of this forum. The National FinTech Evaluation Center debuted the Financial Frontier Technology and Supervision Technology Laboratory, which is the first to apply data asset graph technology to financial data asset pricing, jointly built with the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Core Technology (initiated by Tsinghua University). Through graph technology, automated inventory, calculation, and analysis of the value correlation between data assets and various scenarios are achieved, and a fair, reasonable, and efficient data asset pricing algorithm platform is established. It aims to support the effective use of public data, industry level data asset graph initiatives, and data pricing combined with model governance by the government to enable the real economy and other fields. Beijing Jinsec Information Technology Co., Ltd. released a maturity evaluation model for the application innovation capability of financial industry. The development of the evaluation model acts as a starting point for the integrity of the application innovation of the financial industry, and evaluation criteria for the development stage, maturity level, and key gaps of application innovation of various financial institutions. As a tool for financial institutions to carry out self-assessment of application innovation capabilities, it enables financial institutions to find out their own bottom line, helps to improve their application innovation construction capabilities, and then better plans prospects and layouts for the future. Alibaba Cloud rolled out the financial industry version of Tongyi Qianwen, its own ChatGPT-style product. Tongyi Qianwen is a super-large-scale language model of Alibaba Cloud, featuring multi-round dialogue, copywriting, logical reasoning, multi-modal understanding, and multi-language support. Specifically, it can help financial institutions provide intelligent customer service, personal assistants, investment research analysis and data organization, which can greatly improve work efficiency. A grand signing ceremony for the projects in Shijingshan District was held at the forum. Blending Eastern and Western thoughts to seek for the future of digital finance Boosting the development of the digital economy has become a global trend, and digital finance is an important support for building a digital economy system, which has captured attention across various countries. Representatives from more than 10 countries and regions engaged in in-depth exchanges around digital finance at the forum. This forum set up the guest city of honor for the first time. Natalia Chueca, mayor of Zaragoza, Spain, delivered a speech as the representative of the guest city of honor, hoping that the connection between Beijing and Zaragoza would continue to strengthen and jointly promote the development of global digital economy and digital finance. Florian Tursky, state secretary of Austrian Ministry of Finance, and Gabrielle Loga, manager of International Relations at Palmerston North City Council, New Zealand, delivered speeches via video. The guests introduced in detail the development and local advantages of their countries and regions in the field of digital economy and digital finance, and expressed their willingness to strengthen cooperation with China, Beijing and Shijingshan. In the keynote speech session, Huang Qifan, a researcher fellow and former mayor of Chongqing, gave a speech on the status quo of digital economy and digital finance. Zhu Jiaming, an economist and chairman of the Academic and Technical Committee of Digital Finance Research Institute of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, addressed on the theme of "From Digital Finance to Smart FinanceAI Accelerates the Transformation of FinTech Infrastructure", expounding the changes of AI to the economic model, the potential of digital finance, and its trends. Liu Dongmin, director of the International Finance Office of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered a keynote speech on "Internet 3.0, Digital Finance and China's Development Strategy". In the era of Internet 3.0, which puts a strong emphasis on data and prioritizes intelligent applications, personalized services, and global connections, a transformative experience awaits individuals, while also accelerating the advancement of digital finance. During a keynote address on the topic of "Innovation and Practice of Ping An's Digital Training for Financial Talents in the AI Era", Huang Hongying, chief digital operations executive officer of Ping An Group, highlighted the significance of financial talent development. Additionally, Lou Heng, chief architect of the intelligent new financial industry and general manager of the insurance industry at Alibaba Cloud, presented on the theme of "Cloud Era of Digital Finance Construction", showcasing the application of Alibaba Cloud in the realm of digital finance, and elucidating on the profound impact that cloud technology will have on the financial landscape moving forward. During the High-Level Dialogue, representatives from various countries exchanged views on "Pioneering a Better Future with Digital Intelligence". Moderated by Zhang Li, executive vice president of Asia Digital Group, the session involved Laurent Arribe, representative of the Bay Area Council in China, Feng Xingliang, chief representative of the representative offices of NRW. Global Business in Beijing and Guangzhou, Chen Jiaxian, chief representative of North China and Northeast China of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Jan Sitar, Economic Counsellor at the Embassy of Republic of Slovenia to China, Mahesh Perera, CEO of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Sri Lanka, Zhang Ning, director of the CUFE China FinTech Research Center, and Xue Chuyu, vice president of New Actuation Digital Finance Research Institute of DCITS. They shared and discussed valuable insights on various aspects of the digital economy, digital finance, regional development, trade, technology, and research institutions. Consensus was sought through speculative discussions, integrating both Eastern and Western ideas to explore the trends in digital finance across different countries and regions. Displaying diversified value of the forum with science and technology Science and technology have revolutionized numerous industries and scenarios. One such innovation is the introduction of the virtual digital human, "Jingrui", who seamlessly connects with overseas guests, fostering a global interaction. Business inspection activities will also be organized during the forum. The leaders of Shijingshan District accompanies guests from all walks of life around the world and representatives of Chinese and foreign enterprises to conduct inspections of the development environment of Shijingshan District to deepen mutual understanding and facilitate cooperation. The Digital Finance Forum 2023 unites Eastern and Western ideas, promoting high-quality development in digital finance through discussions on digital intelligence and the exchange of industry trends. SOURCE Asia Digital Group MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pittco Direct Investments I, LP, the direct investing arm of Pittco Management, LLC ("Pittco"), completed an additional equity investment in WT Holdings, Inc. ("WT Holdings"). WT Holdings is a privately owned insurance holding company offering personal and commercial property and casualty insurance nationwide through its two subsidiaries, Stillwater Insurance Company and Evergreen National Indemnity Company. PITTCO Logo "Pittco is excited to continue supporting our investment in WT Holdings in partnership with NFC Investments" said Henry Guy, President, and Chief Investment Officer of Pittco Management. "Pittco has been a trusted long-term investor in WT Holdings, and we appreciate Pittco's additional commitment to WT Holdings" said Charles Slatery, Chairman and CEO of WT Holdings. ABOUT PITTCO MANAGEMENT, LLC Pittco is the single-family office for Joseph R. "Pitt" Hyde III, founder of AutoZone, and his wife, Barbara. Pittco was established over 30 years ago, and provides investment, accounting, tax, and financial services from its headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. For more information, please visit: http://www.pittcomanagement.com. Media Contact: Pittco Management, LLC [email protected] 901-685-5455 SOURCE Pittco Management, LLC EAST HARTFORD, Conn., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has been awarded a $66 million definitized contract modification for continued F135 Engine Core Upgrade preliminary design efforts, resulting in a total of $180 million secured by the Connecticut congressional delegation for this engine modernization effort. The funding will further support design engineering, program management support, technology maturation, risk reduction, long lead material and hardware purchase, and weapons system integration. Pratt & Whitney awarded $66 million for F135 Engine Core Upgrade work (PRNewsfoto/Raytheon Technologies) "We're extremely grateful for the ceaseless support we receive from the entire Connecticut delegation," said Jen Latka, Pratt & Whitney's vice president for the F135 program. "We'll use this funding to make quick progress on our Engine Core Upgrade's preliminary design efforts, and that will keep us on track to deliver this important capability starting in 2028." In March 2023, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy chose to upgrade the F135 versus replace it with an entirely new engine. The decision was announced as part of President Biden's 2024 budget proposal. "A modernized F-35 needs a modernized engine to support it. The additional $66 million for the F135 Engine Core Upgrade we've secured will help us maintain a skilled work force in Connecticut and around the country to deliver this much-needed capability," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. "Upgrading the F135 is the right decision to support our national defense priorities and defense industrial base, and I'll continue to ensure this program gets the support and funding it needs." The F135 ECU is the fastest, most cost-effective, and lowest-risk path to Block 4 capability for all global F-35 operators. It is optimized for all three F-35 variants and will yield $40 billion in lifecycle cost savings by avoiding disruptive and costly air vehicle changes and leveraging the current global sustainment infrastructure. On June 30, 2023, Lockheed Martin posted their support for the F135 ECU, touting their commitment to supporting the U.S. Government's decision. About Pratt & Whitney Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here. About RTX RTX is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Pratt & Whitney +1 (860) 565-9600 [email protected] SOURCE Raytheon Technologies Nation's First-Ever Platform for Plastic and Facial Plastic Surgeons Brings Together Leaders in Medical Specialty LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Plastic Surgery Partners, LLC, (the "Company" or "Premier") is pleased to announce the formation of the nation's first platform for facial plastic surgery and plastic surgery specialists. With a significant investment by Corbel Capital Partners ("Corbel"), Premier is comprised of leading board-certified plastic and facial plastic surgeon practices that aim to bring a novel physician-centric approach to physicians looking to reduce risk, grow their practice and strengthen their legacy. Premier's strategy will be to partner with highly reputable physicians who will be supported by best-in-class corporate infrastructure. The Company was founded by three nationally recognized physicians: Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD, FACS, Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS and Stephen J. Ronan, MD, FACS. Joining the physicians as CEO is Matthew Kirchner, an experienced healthcare executive with a proven track record of growing businesses and successful exits. The recently formed Company is headquartered in California with practices located on both coasts. Premier Plastic Surgery Partners is the nation's first platform for plastic and facial plastic surgeons. Tweet this Premier Plastic Surgery Partners, LLC was established to bring best-in-class management, exceptional marketing and deep operational expertise to their plastic and facial plastic surgery physician partners, enabling them to focus on delivering the best care possible to their patients. Because it is owned by physicians and built for physicians, Premier believes it is best positioned to be the partner of choice for aesthetic physicians looking to grow and/or transition their practices. According to Dr. Ronan, founder of Blackhawk Plastic Surgery & Medspa in the San Francisco Bay Area: "Private Equity partnerships are new to plastic surgery, despite having matured in multiple other medical specialties. Make no mistake, the private equity wave will be swift and create massive change in our industry. Surgeons finally have a legitimate exit plan for all the investment and work we have put into our practices! Our team can't wait to build a leading platform for our colleagues as well as enhance our industry relationships." Dr. Spiegel shared how important being physician-centric is to him. "In an increasingly corporate medical environment, it was important for me to partner with only the highest-quality plastic surgeons who are dedicated to providing the finest patient outcomes," said Spiegel, founder of The Spiegel Center in Newton, Mass. near Boston. "Premier allows like-minded physicians to share expertise and grow while remaining a physician-led, patient-centered organization that assures our values continue to be the focus of our mission." "I am thrilled to be a founding managing partner in Premier and appreciate the entire Corbel team for understanding our business and recognizing the opportunity to accelerate growth in our industry," said Dr. Clevens, founder of Clevens Face and Body Specialists in Melbourne, Fla. "Bringing together other like-minded physician partners who operate leading plastic surgery and medspa practices enables us to share insights that benefit us all, positions us to scale up together and most importantly, continues to elevate the experience we deliver to our patients." "The opportunity in the aesthetic space is significant, and I am excited to work with our founding physicians and Corbel to build the best partnership for aesthetic practices in the country," said Matthew Kirchner, Premier CEO. "We partner with leading practices to reduce their cost structure, ease operational burdens and provide capital to scale operations. Corbel's speed of execution, flexibility, collaboration and strategic perspectives are critical for us as we aim to grow aggressively in the coming years." "The combination of the quality and reputation of the practices along with the market opportunity were the main drivers for our investment," said Brian Yoon, managing director at Corbel. Yoon acknowledged the contribution of the advisors on the transaction, including EdgePoint, Greenberg Traurig and Sheppard Mullin, and added that Corbel is, "extremely excited to partner with a high-quality and high-integrity management team." About the Company Premier Plastic Surgery Partners, LLC is comprised of leading board-certified plastic and facial plastic surgeons and aesthetics professionals who deliver exceptional patient experiences. We offer a wide range of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures combined with high-quality customer service to our patients. We have created a single corporate entity that serves leading practices across the country that are looking to accelerate growth, reduce risk, transition efficiently and maximize their investment. For more information, visit us at www.premierpspartners.com or email [email protected]. About Corbel Capital Partners Corbel is a Los Angeles-based independent investment firm that makes investments into owner-entrepreneur-run businesses. For more information, visit www.corbelcap.com . SOURCE Premier Plastic Surgery Partners The Paramedics of Property Damage Announce Plans to Service Tallahassee TAMARAC, Fla., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PuroClean, one of the country's leading property restoration and remediation franchises, is targeting Tallahassee for growth as it continues its expansion across the nation. The beloved franchise is looking to capitalize on its success by securing multi-unit franchise owners who will fulfill their mission of unparalleled customer service and quality of work within the Tallahassee community. Through market research, PuroClean estimates the city can support up to two new territories. "Tallahassee has been a city at the top of our list for expansion for a while now," said Tim Courtney, Vice President of Franchise Development for PuroClean. "With Tallahassee being the capital of Florida and a business hub for new development, this makes it an intriguing city to enter. PuroClean would do fantastic in this market because the city has been very receptive to new business concepts, and Tallahassee is prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and storms. These events often result in property damage, putting restoration services in high demand. We are looking forward to expanding the PuroClean brand within our home state of Florida and beyond!" In 2022, the company was a proud recipient of numerous accolades across the restoration and remediation industry, as well as wins for the brand in national business awards programs, including PuroClean ranking No. 84 on the Entrepreneur Magazine annual Franchise 500 list, rising 13 places from the previous year's ranking. PuroClean was also recognized by Franchise Times on its "Top 500" list and by Franchise Business Review as a Top Franchise for Franchisee Satisfaction for the fifth consecutive year. The brand also earned local recognition from the South Florida Business Journal with its inclusion in the 50 Fastest-Growing Private Companies list and the South Florida Franchisors list. "We are thrilled to continue expanding our brand's unique concept into new markets throughout the country, especially in our home state where we've gained a loyal following," said Steve White, President and COO of PuroClean. "Our brand has cemented itself as a necessary service where different kinds of professionals and families, in both suburban and urban demographics, can utilize and feel a piece of mind that their home or business is in the best hands during the restoration process." For more than 20 years, PuroClean has helped home and business owners with their restoration and remediation needs, serving communities across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico with a network of over 450 offices. The brand is seeking the right individual who may be in construction and looking to add a restoration component to their business. For more information about PuroClean, call 800-775-7876 or visit www.PuroClean.com. For more information about franchising opportunities, visit www.PuroCleanFranchise.com. About PuroClean PuroClean is a leading, world-class service brand for property water damage remediation, fire and smoke damage mitigation, mold removal, and biohazard clean-up services, working with both residential and commercial customers across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Founded in 2001, PuroClean is a diverse, fast-growing network of over 450 North American franchise locations, each independently owned and operated. With a commitment to respond within two hours, the professionals at PuroClean are thoroughly screened, insured, and trained in utilizing the latest cutting-edge mitigation technology to complete the remediation task at hand. SOURCE PuroClean ATKINS, Ark., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ralston Family Farms has announced its brand refresh and the news of an expanded national distribution partnership with Whole Foods Market. Ralston Family Farms underwent a significant brand transformation to align its brand identity with the desires and preferences of its valued customers. The brand refresh showcases a refreshed logo and new product packaging, highlighting the company's commitment to sustainability and regenerative rice farming practices. Ralston announced its brand refresh and the news of an expanded national distribution at Whole Foods Market. Tweet this Ralston Family Farms Brand Refresh The brand refresh comes after an extensive consumer research study conducted by the family. Survey results found that consumers emphasized the importance of distinguishing the unique flavors and textures of Ralston Family Farms' diverse rice varieties. The brand's redesign captures the unique characteristics of each rice variety, inviting customers to explore the complexity and diversity of their products. Furthermore, the survey revealed a strong consumer preference for highlighting Ralston Family Farms'sustainable practices, aligning with their values and mission. "We were seeing a great response to the product, and the brand identity had to match the quality our customers were experiencing," said Robin Ralston. "This design refresh highlights our respect for the land and the nourishment it provides, providing rice that satisfies the palate and promotes a responsible food system - from seed to spoon." At the core of the brand refresh is a compelling logo that prominently features the family name, with bolded characters and a fluid font reminiscent of the Arkansas Riverthe water source that nurtures the family's rice fields. Complementing the new logo, the redesigned packaging showcases each rice variety, its nutritional benefits, and its American-grown heritage, with a renewed emphasis on sustainability. Discover Ralston Family Farms rice and their selection of American grown rice, featuring unique varieties like Aromatic Purple Rice, Red Rice, and Nature's Blend Rice, as well as their popular favorites Jasmine Rice, Basmati Rice, and Golden Light-Brown Rice all found nationwide at major retailers near you. For more information about Ralston Family Farms, visit https://www.ralstonfamilyfarms.com/ . About Ralston Family Farms: Ralston Family Farms is a family and women-owned rice farming company based in Atkins, Arkansas. With a single-source approach to regenerative farming, they grow, mill, and package their products for exceptional quality. With a focus on environmental sustainability and a zero-waste philosophy, they promote the consumption of natural, family-farmed, and American grown foods. Ralston Family Farms embodies values of family, faith, and excellence in providing customers with delicious and nutritious rice options. SOURCE Ralston Family Farms SEOUL, South Korea, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DA Technology and Korecen succeeded in producing a prototype of 'Manganese-bismuth (Mn-Bi) magnet', which is attracting attention as an opponent of rare earth magnets, and took a step closer to commercialization of non-rare earth permanent magnets. Both companies announced on the 26th of June that they had succeeded in producing an initial prototype of the Mn-Bi magnet. This prototype's sample's performance is close to its theoretical maximum, officials said. Korecen plans to begin performance verification and improvement work after a full-fledged pilot test (preliminary test). In addition, based on the prototype, it plans to promote partnering meetings with related companies. The company explains that it has been discussing collaboration with global electric vehicle companies and battery manufacturers as well as home appliance companies in advance. An official from DA Technology said, "We believe that permanent magnet materials are not limited to rare earth elements or electric vehicles, but are an important element indispensable to the 4th industrial revolution, such as robots and energy, and are strengthening our competitiveness as a future food business. As much as possible, we will create meaningful results by promoting commercialization of Mn-Bi based magnets, such as patent and technology transfer and production facility construction." Based on the pilot product, both companies are accelerating performance supplementation with the goal of mass production in 2025, and this will be the world's first Mn-Bi based permanent magnet mass production facility. About DA Technology DA Technology is a Korean KOSDAQ listed public company based on the secondary battery equipment business. (http://www.dat21.co.kr/en/) About Korecen Korecen, established in 2002, is a Korea company that has a finger vein biometric system that identifies individuals through the unique pattern of the veins inside the fingers. Korecen has its own unique algorithm technology and is doing business in the defense and finance field. They are currently developing a 3rd and 4th generation ultra-thin module type finger vein algorithm. (https://www.korecen.com/new/main/main.php) SOURCE Korecen FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tender Offer The Republic of Uruguay (" Uruguay ") announced today the commencement of an offer to purchase for cash (the " Tender Offer ") bonds of each series of Global Bonds listed in the table below (collectively, the " Old Bonds " and each Old Bond, a " series " of Old Bonds) such that the aggregate Purchase Price to be paid for the Old Bonds tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer is equal to a maximum purchase amount for each series to be determined by Uruguay in its sole discretion (the " Maximum Purchase Amount "). The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer are set forth in the offer to purchase, dated Tuesday, July 11, 2023 (the " Offer to Purchase "). The Tender Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum participation of any series of Old Bonds but is conditioned, among other things, on the pricing, but not the closing, of the issuance of Uruguay's new Peso-denominated Global Bonds maturing in 2033 (the " New Bonds ") in an amount, with pricing and on terms and conditions acceptable to Uruguay in its sole discretion, with pricing terms expected to be announced at or around 2:00 p.m., New York time on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 (the " New Bonds Offering "). The Tender Offer will commence at or around 8:00 a.m., New York time, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 and, unless extended or earlier terminated, (i) expire at 12:00 noon, New York time, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 for non-preferred tenders (the " Non-Preferred Tender Period "), and (ii) expire at 2:00 p.m., New York time, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 for preferred tenders (the " Preferred Tender Period "). The settlement of the Tender Offer is scheduled to occur on Monday, July 17, 2023 (the " Tender Offer Settlement Date "). The purchase price to be paid per Ps. 1,000 principal amount of each series of Global Ps. Bonds, per US$1,000 original principal amount of each series of Global USD Bonds and per Ps. 1,000 nominal principal amount of each series of Global UI Bonds tendered and accepted pursuant to the Tender Offer will be equal to the fixed price indicated in the table below (the " Purchase Price "). Notwithstanding the prior sentence, the amount to be paid for tendered 2024 USD Bonds will be the Purchase Price times the Amortization Factor (as defined below) applied to the "original principal amount" of such 2024 USD Bonds. Holders whose Old Bonds are accepted in the Tender Offer will also receive any accrued and unpaid interest from, and including, the last interest payment date for such Old Bonds up to, but excluding, the Tender Offer Settlement Date (the " Accrued Interest "). Accrued Interest for Preferred and Non-Preferred Tender Orders will be payable in cash. Global Ps. Bonds Outstanding Principal Amount as of Monday, July 10, 2023 ISIN CUSIP Common Code Purchase Price (per Ps.1,000 Principal Amount) (1) (2) 8.500% Global Ps. Bonds due 2028 ("2028 Ps. Bonds") Ps.31,603,000,000 US760942BC54 / USP80557BV53 760942 BC5 / P80557 BV5 168332475 / 168332521 Ps.963.75 8.250% Global Ps. Bonds due 2031 ("2031 Ps. Bonds") Ps.51,332,112,000 US917288BM35 917288 BM3 234586351 Ps.933.75 Global USD Bonds Outstanding Principal Amount as of Monday, July 10, 2023 ISIN CUSIP Common Code Purchase Price (per US$1,000 Original Principal Amount)(2) 4.500% Global Bonds due 2024 ("2024 USD Bonds") US$626,958,314(6) US760942AZ58 760942AZ5 096139942 US$1,000.00(7) 6.875% Global Bonds due 2025 ("2025 USD Bonds") US$175,369,620 US760942AX01 760942AX0 045490688 US$1,022.50 4.375% Global Bonds due 2027 ("2027 USD Bonds") US$1,425,609,956 US760942BB71 760942BB7 131158840 US$993.50 Global UI Bonds Outstanding Nominal Principal Amount as of Monday, July 10, 2023 ISIN CUSIP Common Code Nominal Purchase Price (per Ps.1,000 Principal Amount)(1) (2) (3) 4.250% Global UI Bonds due 2027 ("2027 UI Bonds")(4) Ps.9,914,541,000 US760942AU61 760942AU6 029507929 Ps.1,035.00 4.375% Global UI Bonds due 2028 ("2028 UI Bonds")(5) Ps.32,848,290,345 US917288BD36 917288BD3 071903796 Ps.1,058.75 (1) The Purchase Price and Accrued Interest of the Global Ps. Bonds and Global UI Bonds shall be converted into U.S. dollars at an exchange rate of Ps.37.8819 to US$1.00. (2) In addition, investors will receive Accrued Interest, as described above. (3) The nominal principal amount of Global UI Bonds validly tendered and accepted will be adjusted by a factor (the "Adjustment UI Factor") to reflect the increase of the UI Index from the issuance date of the Old Bonds to the Settlement Date, which is expected to be Monday, July 17, 2023. As of the expected Settlement Date, (i) the Adjustment UI Factor for the 2027 UI Bonds would be 3.54399, which is the ratio of 5.8125, the value of the UI index at the Settlement Date, over 1.6401, the value of the UI index at the time of the issuance of the 2027 UI Bonds and (ii) the Adjustment UI Factor for the 2028 UI Bonds would be 2.51395, which is the ratio of 5.8125, the value of the UI index at the Settlement Date, over 2.3121, the value of the UI index at the time of the issuance of the 2028 UI Bonds. (4) The principal amount of the 2027 UI Bonds outstanding, as adjusted by the Adjustment UI Factor is Ps.35,137,034,158.59. (5) The principal amount of the 2028 UI Bonds outstanding, as adjusted by the Adjustment UI Factor is Ps.82,578,959,512.81. (6) The aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 2024 USD Notes reflects the original principal amount of the 2024 USD Notes multiplied by an amortization factor of 0.66666667 (the "Amortization Factor"). (7) The amount to be paid for tendered 2024 USD Bonds will be US$1,000.00 times the original principal amount of such 2024 USD Bonds multiplied by the Amortization Factor. Tender Orders (as defined below) made by holders of any series of Old Bonds who have submitted a corresponding Indication of Interest (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) for the New Bonds prior to the New Bonds Pricing Time (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) will be accepted before any other Tender Orders of such series of Old Bonds. During the Non-Preferred Tender Period or Preferred Tender Period, as applicable, a holder of Old Bonds may place orders to tender Old Bonds (" Tender Orders ") only through one of the Dealer Managers (as defined below). Holders will NOT be able to submit tenders through Euroclear Bank SA/NV (" Euroclear "), Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme (" Clearstream ") or the Depository Trust Company (" DTC ") systems. If a holder does not have an account with a Dealer Manager, such holder may place a tender offer through any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, other financial institution or other custodian that it customarily uses that has an account with a Dealer Manager. Your broker must contact one of the Dealer Managers to submit a Tender Order on your behalf. Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc., as the billing and delivery bank for the Tender Offer (in such capacity, the " Billing and Delivery Bank "), will consolidate all Tender Orders and, upon instruction of Uruguay, accept Old Bonds for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer, subject to proration as described in the Offer to Purchase, at or around 8:00 a.m., New York time, on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter. The Tender Offer is subject to Uruguay's right, at its sole discretion and subject to applicable law, to instruct the Billing and Delivery Bank to extend, terminate, withdraw, or amend the Tender Offer at any time. Each of Uruguay and the Billing and Delivery Bank reserves the right, in the sole discretion of each of them, not to accept any Tender Orders for any reason. Tender Orders by a holder of Old Bonds must be in permitted tender amounts as set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Tender Orders that are not for Permitted Tender Amounts will not be accepted. There is no letter of transmittal or guaranteed delivery procedure in connection with this Tender Offer. If you hold Old Bonds through DTC, they must be delivered to the Billing and Delivery Bank for settlement no later than 3:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tender Offer Settlement Date. If you hold Old Bonds through Euroclear or Clearstream, the latest process you can use to deliver your Old Bonds to the Billing and Delivery Bank is the overnight process, one day prior to the Tender Offer Settlement Date; you may not use the optional daylight process. Failure to deliver Old Bonds on time may result (i) in the cancellation of your tender and in you becoming liable for any damages resulting from that failure, (ii) in the case of Preferred Tenders (a) in the cancellation of any allocation of New Bonds in the New Bonds Offering in respect of your related Indication of Interest and/or (b) in the cancellation of your tender and in your remaining obligation to purchase your allocation of New Bonds in respect of your related Indication of Interest and/or (iii) in the delivery of a buy-in notice for the purchase of such Old Bonds, executed in accordance with customary brokerage practices for corporate fixed income securities. Any holder whose tender is cancelled will not receive the Purchase Price or Accrued Interest. Holders will not have withdrawal rights with respect to any tenders of Old Bonds in the Tender Offer. Old Bonds accepted for purchase will be settled on a delivery versus payment basis with the Billing and Delivery Bank on the Tender Offer Settlement Date in accordance with customary brokerage practices for corporate fixed income securities. All Old Bonds that are tendered pursuant to Tender Orders placed through a Dealer Manager and accepted will be purchased by the Billing and Delivery Bank in such amounts as Uruguay shall determine and subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer to Purchase. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer, only the Billing and Delivery Bank will be liable for the payment of the Purchase Price and Accrued Interest for Old Bonds validly tendered and accepted as instructed by Uruguay, as described in the Offer to Purchase. Uruguay will not be liable under any circumstances for any payment of the Purchase Price and Accrued Interest to the holders of Old Bonds tendered in the Tender Offer. The Billing and Delivery Bank shall not be liable for payments to any holder of Old Bonds validly tendered and accepted for purchase if such holder fails to deliver such Old Bonds at or prior to the deadlines ahead of the settlement of the Tender Offer as described in the Offer to Purchase. The Offer to Purchase may be downloaded from the Information Agent's website at https://projects.morrowsodali.com/uruguay or obtained from the Information Agent, Morrow Sodali International LLC, Ludlow Street, South Tower, Stamford, CT 06902 (Email: [email protected], Telephone: +1 203 609 4910 (Stamford) / +44 20 4513 6933 (London), Attention: Debt Services Team, or from any of the Dealer Managers. The Dealer Managers for the Tender Offer are: BofA Securities, Inc. One Bryant Park, 9th Floor New York, New York 10036 United States Attention: Liability Management In the United States, call toll-free: +1 800-292-0070 Outside the United States, call collect: +1 646-855-8988 Citigroup Global Markets Inc. 388 Greenwich Street, 4th Floor Trading New York, NY 10013 Call Collect: (212) 723-6106 US Toll-Free: (800) 558-3745 Email: [email protected] Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc. 540 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, New York 10022 United States of America Attention: DCM Collect: +1 (212) 710-6749 Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to the Dealer Managers at the above contact. Uruguay has filed a registration statement (including prospectus supplement and the prospectus) with the SEC for the New Bonds Offering and the issuance of New Bonds. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in the registration statement and other documents that Uruguay has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Uruguay and such offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. The following additional information of Uruguay is available from the SEC website and also accompanies this press release: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/102385/000119312523167691/0001193125-23-167691-index.htm https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/102385/000119312523181975/0001193125-23-181975-index.htm https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/102385/000119312523182065/d511752dsba.htm https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/102385/000119312523184255/0001193125-23-184255-index.htm Contact information: Morrow Sodali International LLC Attention: Debt Services Team 333 Ludlow Street, South Tower Stamford, CT 06902 Email: [email protected] Telephone: +1 203 609 4910 (Stamford) / +44 20 4513 6933 (London) Offer Website: https://projects.morrowsodali.com/uruguay Important Notice This announcement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell the Old Bonds. The Tender Offer will be made only by and pursuant to the terms of the Offer to Purchase, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time. The distribution of materials relating to the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer, and the transactions contemplated by the New Bonds Offering and Tender Offer, may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Each of the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer is made only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so. The New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer are void in all jurisdictions where they are prohibited. If materials relating to the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer come into your possession, you are required to inform yourself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or any affiliate of a Dealer Manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate in that jurisdiction. Owners who may lawfully participate in the Tender Offer in accordance with the terms thereof are referred to as "holders." Stabilization/FCA No securities are intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in any Member State of the European Economic Area ("EEA"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (as amended, the "Insurance Distribution Directive"), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended or superseded, the "Prospectus Regulation"). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling any securities or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore any offering or selling of any securities or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. No securities are intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom (the "UK"). For these purposes, (a) a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("EUWA"); (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA") and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) an investor who is not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation, and (b) the expression "offer" includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities. Consequently, no key information document required by the PRIIPs Regulation, as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation"), for offering or selling securities or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore any offering or selling of securities or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation. The expression "UK Prospectus Regulation" means the Prospectus Regulation, as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Neither this communication nor any other offer material relating to the Tender Offer is being made, and this communication has not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the FSMA. This announcement is for distribution only to persons who (i) are outside the UK; (ii) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Financial Promotion Order"); (iii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.") of the Financial Promotion Order; or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR AFTER THIS MESSAGE ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM. SOURCE The Republic of Uruguay Jon Standen, the new principal of the Australian International School (AIS) in Saigon, said a school that inspires students would help them love learning. Jon Standen, the new principal of the Australian International School (AIS) in Saigon. Photo courtesy of AIS What motivated you to accept the position of executive principal at AIS? AIS is an established school with an excellent reputation. It is part of Inspired, a global network of premium schools, and you get a strong sense of the benefits being part of a group like this brings. The Inspired educational philosophy, which places importance on holistic education, fits my own beliefs about what makes for a great school and a great education for each child. Holistic education not only supports the development of the whole person, including academic performance, but also guarantees that young people have the opportunity to develop skills and attributes that will serve them well when they graduate from AIS. What do you think are the factors that make for a great school for students? At AIS Saigon, we aim to offer the very best holistic education, not only in Vietnam for day students but also across Southeast Asia with our wonderful boarding facilities. This goal is founded on five key beliefs. Firstly, academic rigor and intellectual curiosity lead to success in examinations. Examination results give access to the very best universities and employers. Our students develop an enthusiasm for learning and become lifelong learners. Secondly, success in life is not determined by school grades alone. Personal qualities and values ultimately determine whether academic potential is translated into meaningful careers and a well-lived life. Our holistic education ensures our alumni are well-balanced, resilient, and innovative young men and women with the leadership skills to turn opportunities into realities. Thirdly, a happy child will be a successful child; students who are safe, happy, and who enjoy their school days will achieve their potential. Here at AIS Saigon, academic success and the development of the whole person are rooted in exceptional pastoral care, with lifelong friendships and contacts made. Our graduates are quietly confident, curious and creative thinkers who possess the skills and qualities to make a difference in the world and, at the same time, enjoy personal fulfillment. Fourthly, we employ the very best staff and support their career development. Our staff are at the heart of our success, modeling the values we hold dear each day for our students to emulate. Passionate about their subjects, they place a premium on understanding each students individual needs and nurturing their development. Finally, we always collaborate closely with the parents, and we respect your opinions. At AIS Saigon, education is motivating, rich in culture, aspirational and life-enriching. Along the process, we also enjoy ourselves greatly. AIS students had some musical instruments classes to develop their personal skills and relax after main classes. Photo courtesy of AIS What are the biggest advantages AIS offers? I have been able to visit the school on several occasions since I was appointed to the role. From these visits, I can see the strength of the relationships in the school between teachers, students and parents. AIS is a warm and welcoming school community. It is already a highly successful school, and I hope during my tenure as executive principal to build further upon the excellent provisions in place. The school has three sites and is well situated geographically for the future. Being a member of Inspired brings many benefits and opportunities for our students to work with and learn from peers in other countries and continents. That is very exciting. What are the advantages of attending a global school like AIS and following an internationally recognized curriculum like the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program? In the last two years of school, senior students undertake the IB diploma, which is an internationally recognized curriculum that is well respected by universities across the world.The IB diploma gives students a broad and balanced curriculum while also permitting them to delve deeply into subjects and see connections across subjects. It teaches students to develop and use transferable skills that will be used at university, at work, and in life long after they graduate from AIS. An IB diploma class graduated from AIS. Photo courtesy of AIS As an international, English-speaking school, our mixed-specialist staff is largely expatriate teachers who assist students in achieving academic excellence that opens doors for them at home and abroad. Children learn about other cultures and perspectives, develop a global network of lifelong friends and connections, appeal academically to international universities and future employers, and participate in a diverse and enriching community. Students are invited to join clubs, be part of leadership groups, compete in interschool competitions, enjoy camps and field trips, and be involved in fundraising for community programs. I invite families to experience AIS for themselves. Our admissions team and I welcome the opportunity to show families what AIS has to offer. For more information about AIS, please call hotline 1900 6940 or 028 3742 4040; click here; visit at 264 Mai Chi Tho, An Phu Ward, Thu Duc City, HCMC; or info@aisvietnam.com. Rita's app users who earn a loyalty visit two times per week or more during the promotional period get a free small Italian Ice PHILADELPHIA, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, the beloved brand known for its delicious Italian Ice and Frozen Custard treats, introduces Peach Ring Italian Ice and Peach Ring Gummy topping. Available at all Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard locations for a limited time only starting July 11 and running through August 6, Peach Ring Italian Ice is featured in Rita's Peach Ring Gelati and Frozen Drink, topped with two Gummy Peach Rings. The Peach Ring Italian Ice flavor can also be enjoyed across Rita's menu of signature Italian Ice treats. Ritas Italian Ice & Frozen Custard introduces second new flavor in 2023 -- Peach Ring Italian Ice and Peach Ring Gummy topping. Available at all Ritas Italian Ice & Frozen Custard locations for a limited time only starting July 11 and running through August 6, Peach Ring Italian Ice is featured in Ritas Peach Ring Gelati and Frozen Drink, topped with two Gummy Peach Rings. The Peach Ring Italian Ice flavor can also be enjoyed across Ritas menu of signature Italian Ice treats. During the promotional period, Rita's continues to drive loyalty and perks for its mobile app users by offering a free small Ice either new Peach Ring or the flavor of their choice to those who earn a loyalty visit two times per week or more (Weeks: 7/10 7/16, 7/17 7/23, 7/24 7/30, 7/31 8/6). "Perfect for summer, Peach Ring is both sweet and tart, and is a nostalgic taste of childhood for millennials who grew up with flavorful, gummy peach ring candy," said Mark Jenkins, Vice President of Marketing at Rita's Italian Ice. "With this second new ice flavor introduced this year, Rita's remains focused on delivering new, memorable flavors and unique, crave-worthy treats that create excitement at Rita's shops, build buzz and drive value for Rita's loyal guests and app users." Rita's signature Italian Ice is made fresh daily on-site and available in a rotating daily selection from over 75 flavors. Other menu items at Rita's include creamy Frozen Custard, signature Gelati, Concretes, Milkshakes and more. Originally founded in May 1984, Philadelphia firefighter Bob Tumolo created his prized family recipe to include real fruit, named the product after his wife Rita, and Rita's Italian Ice was born. Since then, Rita's has staked its claim in the frozen treats industry by planting franchises across the country that offer a happy atmosphere, as well as set the standard for fresh and quality-driven Italian Ice. To find your closest Rita's location, please visit www.ritasice.com. About Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard: Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard opened its doors in Bensalem, Pa. in 1984, and has been dedicated to spreading "Ice, Custard, Happiness!" ever since. Now, Rita's is the largest Italian Ice concept in the world with over 550 shops. Guests around the world visit Rita's to celebrate their everyday moments with freshly made cool treats in a fun-filled atmosphere. Known for its famous Italian Ice, made daily featuring real fruit, and award-winning Frozen Custard, Rita's serves a taste of happiness with each delicious treat. For more information about Rita's Italian Ice, please call 1-800-677-7482 or visit www.ritasice.com. SOURCE Rita's Franchise Company Passionate healthcare technologists will lend expertise in safe, ethical AI and product oversight to the coalition's efforts to advance health AI standards and best practices. SAN FRANCISCO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ronin, an innovator of evidence-based clinical decision support, today announced that its Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), Christine Swisher, Ph.D., has joined the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) as an advisor. In this role, Swisher will combine her passion for advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes with her applied expertise in healthcare AI and the delivery and oversight of AI-based products to help CHAI identify health AI standards and best practices. In her role as CSO at Ronin, Swisher leads multidisciplinary teams of data scientists, statisticians, clinical informaticists, and machine learning experts to build technologies that solve challenging clinical problems. Before joining Ronin, she spearheaded several FDA-cleared AI-based products, CLIA LDTs, and other clinical decision support/AI capabilities across the ML lifespan and analytics functions. "Christine is not only a tireless advocate for transparent, safe, and ethical AI in healthcare, but someone with deep expertise in successfully bringing AI-based technologies to market," commented Ronin Co-founder and CEO David Hodgson. "Her background as a data scientist coupled with an ardent desire to advance algorithmic healthcare to improve patient outcomes will make her an insightful, collaborative partner for CHAI members." Launched in the spring of 2022, CHAI's mission is to identify health AI standards and best practices and to provide guidance where needed. Since its inception, the coalition has grown to over 150 organizations across academia, government, healthcare systems, and industry. In April, CHAI released its "Blueprint for Trustworthy AI Implementation Guidance and Assurance for Healthcare," which addresses the evolving landscape of health AI tools by outlining specific recommendations to increase trustworthiness within the healthcare community, ensure high-quality care, and meet healthcare needs. The Blueprint builds upon the White House OSTP "Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights" and the "AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0)" from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology. Swisher has experience with startups and global firms, including Philips, where she led deep learning initiatives across healthcare verticals and holds over 20 patents on machine learning and AI. She jointly completed her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering with an emphasis on computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, and UCSF. Swisher continued her postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School and MGH. About the Coalition for Health AI The Coalition for Health AI is a community of academic health systems, organizations, and expert practitioners of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. Coalition members have come together to harmonize health AI standards and reporting and educate end-users on evaluating these technologies to drive their adoption. Its mission is to provide guidelines regarding an ever-evolving landscape of health AI tools to ensure high-quality care, increase user trustworthiness, and meet healthcare needs. Learn more at coalitionforhealthai.org. About Ronin Ronin is on a mission to improve cancer care. Every clinical decision should be rooted in data, personalized for a given patient, and confidently rendered. Our groundbreaking cancer intelligence platform helps clinicians make better-informed treatment decisions, predict and preempt adverse patient events, and effectively engage and support patients in their care. Learn more about improving patient outcomes, clinician satisfaction, and operational efficiency at projectronin.com. MEDIA CONTACT Janet Mordecai Amendola Communications (for Ronin) [email protected] SOURCE Ronin Established International Franchise with Over 25 Years of Expertise Recognizes Orlando as an Ideal Market for Music Entrepreneurship CANTON, Mass., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- School of Rock , the leader in performance-based music education with over 335 schools across 15 global markets, is looking to expand its presence in Orlando, Fla. "With Florida ranked third in the U.S. for small businesses, it has become a vibrant hub for entrepreneurs, attracting American and international visionaries alike," said Rob Price, CEO of School of Rock. "Recognizing the tremendous potential this state holds for our music education franchise, we are eager to bring the transformative power of School of Rock to Orlando by nurturing talent, fostering creativity, and empowering individuals to pursue their musical passions. We aim to contribute to Florida's vibrant cultural landscape and inspire communities across the Sunshine State." School of Rock provides students of all ages an exciting and engaging music education experience, which includes bass lessons , guitar lessons , singing lessons , drum lessons , and piano lessons . Drawing from all styles of rock and roll, School of Rock students learn theory and techniques via songs from legendary artists such as Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz and Led Zeppelin. Thanks to the school's patented performance-based approach, students around the world have gained superior musical proficiency, with some moving on to record deals and larger platforms such as American Idol, The Voice and Broadway. With over two decades of experience, the world's largest music education franchise provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to quickly plug into a global brand with a proven business model, a trailblazing educational approach, and a franchisee-focused culture. Through the power of music, prospective franchise investors have the ability to positively impact the lives of their students and their community as a whole. "As owners and operators of multiple School of Rock locations for 15 years, we continue to witness firsthand the ongoing significance of active involvement in an organization like this," said Burny Pelsmajer, owner of multiple School of Rock locations across Florida. "Countless students have passed through our walls, who have benefited not only from arts education in general but have grown into capable, creative, socially well-adjusted young adults because of the School of Rock culture and teaching approach. We're not making musicians. We're creating butterflies out of caterpillars." The initial investment for a School of Rock franchise is approximately $395,800 $537,400 including a $49,900 franchise fee. Ideal candidates, or groups of investors, will have a net worth of $350,000, of which $150,000 is liquid. Additionally, U.S. military veterans receive a special discount on their initial franchise fee. For more information on School of Rock visit www.SchoolofRock.com or call 866-695-5515. To learn more about School of Rock franchise opportunities visit http://franchising.schoolofrock.com/ About School of Rock School of Rock helps aspiring musicians master skills, unleash creativity, and develop tools they need to thrive in life. Founded as a single school in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1998, School of Rock has become a rapidly growing international franchise with over 500 schools open and in development across 15 global markets. Since 2009, School of Rock has grown its student count from 4,000 to over 60,000. School of Rock offers a wide variety of music lessons , including guitar lessons , singing lessons and piano lessons . The company also sells musical instruments and music gear through its GearSelect program. School of Rock is proud to support Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock), the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), and the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS). School of Rock was awarded US Patent 10,891,872 in 2021 for its innovative music education method. School of Rock also has garnered the following industry awards: 2023 Global Franchise Grand Champion; 2023, 2022 and 2021 Global Franchise's Awards Best Children's Service and Education Franchise; 2023 Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 Top Children's Music Enrichment Brand; 2021 Franchise Innovation Award for Most Innovative Use of Customer-Facing Digital Tools; Franchise Business Review's 2023 Top 200 Franchises and Culture 200 list; 2020 Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 200 Franchise and the #1 Child Enrichment Franchise; and 2018 Forbes # 2 Best Franchise Medium-Level Investment Award and the #1 Music Franchise in America. Follow School of Rock on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SchoolofRockUSA and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SchoolofRockUSA . SOURCE School of Rock PARK CITY, Utah, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sentient , LLC, the leading full-service provider to the aesthetic care industry, is proud to announce that Tixelits non-invasive skin resurfacing technologyhas received the prestigious 2023 NewBeauty Award for 'Best Resurfacing Treatment for Wrinkles.' The state-of-the-art treatment was recognized by NewBeauty magazine because "dermatologists and patients alike are loving the results of Tixel, which delivers short bursts of thermal energy into the outer layers of skin without damaging the deeper layers to boost collagen for a smoother look." Sentient's Tixel Receives NewBeauty Award for 'Best Resurfacing Treatment for Wrinkles' Tweet this The NewBeauty Awards showcase top products and treatments across a variety of categories ranging from innovative in-office procedures to best skin-care selections. More than 10,000 submissions were vigorously tested and vetted by NewBeauty editors and industry experts throughout the year. Sentient's Tixel device uses the first and only thermal-mechanical action technology to resurface skin. Tixel's titanium heated tip contains 81 tiny pyramid-shaped pins which heat up to 400 degrees Celsius. When briefly touched to the skin, the thermal energy is transferred directly to its top layers, creating micro damage that stimulates collagen production improving skin quality and reducing lines, wrinkles, stretch marks, enlarged pores, age spots and more. This unique nonsurgical treatment can provide noticeable results not only on the face, but also the neck, chest, and the backs of hands. Makeup can be applied the day after treatment, and pain and social downtime are minimal compared to laser and radio frequency treatments. "Sentient is thrilled to receive this recognition," said Chris Cella, Chief Executive Officer of Sentient. "We look forward to continuing to provide cutting-edge solutions for skin care." Proven on a global scale, Tixel has been used in Europe since 2011 and was cleared by the FDA for treatment of all skin types two years ago. By making Tixel's cutting-edge technology available in the U.S. along with world class service to support it Sentient is helping to drastically improve practices' abilities to address patients' evolving treatment preferences by developing collaborative relationships that meet clients' equipment maintenance, support and device technology needs. ABOUT SENTIENT Sentient is the aesthetic medical device industry's leading full-service provider, offering advanced technology and industry-leading service and financing, delivered with integrity and transparency. Sentient takes pride in its transformational business practices as it sells, designs, repairs, fine-tunes, and implements the complex devices that help sculpt bodies, treat skin, and improve silhouettes. Sentient is committed to affordability and offers flexible financing, device maintenance, and a superior certification and warranty program to assure future performance. Sentient is the premier company in the U.S. offering an exceptional suite of advanced proprietary technologies to meet the expanding needs of practices of all sizes, from its Park City, Utah, location to nationwide. With hundreds of longstanding professional relationships and more than ten years heritage providing the best in refurbished equipment, Sentient's industry-leading service model provides quality laser and medical device repair and refurbishment services for 84 types of medical and cosmetic systems, to the FDA standards required of each manufacturer. Sentient is dedicated to building a collaborative relationship with its clients to help significantly enhance their practice efficiency, drive stronger profitability, and, most importantly, deliver an exceptional client experience. For more information visit https://www.sentientlasers.com. Media Contact: Ivy Cohen Ivy Cohen Corporate Communications (212) 399-0026 [email protected] SOURCE Sentient With Avalara and Sage, Set Solutions is meeting the company's tax compliance and accounting obligations across 27 U.S. states, while saving hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. SEATTLE, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., in 2018, it expanded the complexity of sales tax obligations for many businesses. The ruling gave each state the green light to adopt its own economic nexus law, a tax collection obligation imposed on companies based solely on a certain level of economic activity within a state. Today, every state with a general sales tax has imposed an economic nexus law that imposes a sales tax obligation on a remote seller's sales volume in the state. Set Solutions, a Trace3 Company , an advanced cybersecurity consulting and procurement solutions provider, selected Avalara and Sage to address state-specific tax complexity and meet its burgeoning tax compliance needs while saving the company money and time. Set Solutions has saved more than $300,000 annually and 30 hours per week on tax compliance tasks. Tweet this When Set Solutions first started with Avalara in 2019, the company was collecting tax in one state. Fast-forward to 2023, and the company is meeting its tax compliance obligations with ease in 27 states. With Avalara and Sage accounting software, Set Solutions has seen increased productivity within its finance and accounting department, saving dozens of hours a week on manual finance processes. As a result, employees can spend their time on more important tasks associated with growing the business versus manually calculating taxes and filing returns. "The Wayfair decision led us to Avalara for an automated tax solution because we knew that we were going to have to collect and remit in different states, but weren't sure exactly how many," said Missy Basone, Chief Financial Officer at Set Solutions, a Trace3 Company. "Working with both Avalara and Sage, Set Solutions has saved more than $300,000 annually and 30 hours per week on tax compliance tasks valuable time, and resources that greatly affect our growing business." Each state defines and taxes SaaS differently. The responsibility falls to businesses to understand these diverse definitions in order to determine the taxability of a product. SaaS providers must figure out whether their business is providing a subscription, selling tangible property, or something else altogether, like providing a communications service that might not be subject to sales tax but is subject to any number of federal, state, and local communications taxes. "Tax rates and rules are complex and vary widely by jurisdiction for physical goods, but when it comes to digital goods produced by SaaS companies like Set Solutions, the complexity of what is taxed and how, grows exponentially," said Liz Armbruester, EVP of Customer and Compliance Operations at Avalara. "By using Avalara's technology, Set Solutions has been able to offload the complexity of sales tax, while also saving hundreds of thousands of dollars and time that would have been spent managing a regulatory requirement that provides no benefit to its bottom line. And thanks to Avalara's long-standing partnership and integration with Sage, Set Solutions was able to seamlessly manage tax on every invoice processed on the Sage platform." Avalara and Sage team up to provide seamless compliance Set Solutions has implemented Avalara AvaTax , Avalara Returns , Avalara Exemption Certificate Management , and Avalara Tax Research as its business grows and to meet the company's expanding tax obligations. In addition to tax automation, Set Solutions sought accounting software that could scale with its growth and easily integrate to manage tax on each transaction. On the recommendation of a tax advisor, Set Solutions implemented Sage Intacct's cloud accounting and financial management solution to automate and scale the business. Today Set Solutions leverages Avalara from lead to cash, starting with calculating tax on quotes early in the business process. Sage Intacct's cloud accounting and financial management solution helps invoice customers, while Avalara automatically calculates the sales tax on each invoice. "Sage Intacct is the leader in offering complete finance tech stacks for fast-growth SaaS companies. With growth comes increased complexity in billing, cash flow, and tax management. The power of an integrated solution with Avalara allows successful firms, like Set Solutions, to scale to meet the demands of their customers, investors, and tax authorities," said David Appel, Global Head, Subscription and SaaS Vertical, Sage Intacct, Inc. To learn more about the partnership between Avalara and Sage, click here . About Avalara Avalara helps businesses of all sizes get tax compliance right. In partnership with leading ERP, accounting, ecommerce, and other financial management system providers, Avalara delivers cloud-based compliance solutions for various transaction taxes, including sales and use, VAT, GST, excise, communications, lodging, and other indirect tax types. Headquartered in Seattle, Avalara has offices across the U.S. and around the world in Brazil, Europe, and India. More information at avalara.com . About Sage Sage exists to knock down barriers so everyone can thrive, starting with the millions of Small and Mid-Sized Businesses served by us, our partners, and accountants. Customers trust our finance, HR and payroll software to make work and money flow. By digitizing business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, banks and governments, our digital network connects SMBs, removing friction and delivering insights. Knocking down barriers also means we use our time, technology, and experience to tackle digital inequality, economic inequality and the climate crisis. Learn more at www.sage.com/en-us/ or https://www.sage.com/en-us/sage-business-cloud/intacct/. About Set Solutions Set Solutions delivers advanced cybersecurity consulting and procurement solutions tailored to commercial, enterprise, government, and educational clients. Set Solutions offers capabilities in offensive security, governance, risk and compliance, infrastructure security, cloud services, and data analytics. Across these portfolio pillars, Set Solutions offers assessment and selection, professional, and managed staffing services. Learn more at setsolutions.com . SOURCE Avalara, Inc. NEW YORK, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against SentinelOne, Inc. ("SentinelOne" or the "Company") (NYSE: S), and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and docketed under 23-cv-02982, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired SentinelOne securities between June 1, 2022 and June 1, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Plaintiff pursues claims against the Defendants under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"). If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired SentinelOne securities during the Class Period, you have until August 7, 2023 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] SentinelOne is a cybersecurity company that claims to have pioneered the world's first AI-powered Extended Detection and Response platform to make cybersecurity defense truly autonomous. The Company claims its Singularity Platform instantly defends against cyberattacks, performing at a faster speed, greater scale, and higher accuracy than otherwise possible from humans. The Company's fiscal year 2023 ended January 31, 2023. SentinelOne claims that its "Annualized Recurring Revenue" or "ARR" is a key business metric. The Company defines ARR as "the annualized revenue run rate of our subscription and capacity contracts at the end of a reporting period, assuming contracts are renewed on their existing terms for customers that are under contracts with us." The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (i) that the Company lacked effective internal controls over accounting and financial reporting; (ii) that, as a result, the Company's ARR was overstated; (iii) that, as a result, the Company's guidance was overstated; and (iv) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendant's positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On June 1, 2023, after the market closed, SentinelOne published a press release titled "SentinelOne Announces First Quarter Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results." Therein, the Company disclosed that "[a]s a result of a change in methodology and correction of historical inaccuracies, which we further describe in our letter to shareholders, we made a one-time adjustment to ARR of $27.0 million or approximately 5% of total ARR." The Company also revised its fiscal year 2024 revenue guidance downward to a range of $590 million to $600 million from a range of $631 million to $640 million. In a shareholder letter published the same day, SentinelOne further explained that "we . . . discovered historical upsell and renewal recording inaccuracies relating to ARR on certain subscription and consumption contracts, which are now corrected" and that "[w]e are applying a comparable estimated adjustment to the remaining quarters in fiscal year 23, which we believe is a reasonable approximation of the impact in those periods." On this news, SentinelOne's stock price fell $7.28 per share, or more than 35%, to close at $13.44 per share on June 2, 2023. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP The sickle cell disease pipeline and clinical trial analysis report deliver important insights on ongoing research, clinical strategies, upcoming therapeutics, and commercial analysis LAS VEGAS, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's ' Sickle Cell Disease Competitive Landscape 2023 ' report provides comprehensive global coverage of available, marketed, and pipeline sickle cell disease drugs in various stages of clinical development, major pharmaceutical companies working to advance the pipeline space, company assessment, comparative assessment, and future growth potential of the sickle cell disease competitive domain . Key Takeaways from the Sickle Cell Disease Competitive Landscape Report Over 40+ sickle cell disease companies are evaluating 50+ sickle cell disease drugs in various stages of development, and their anticipated acceptance in the sickle cell disease market would significantly increase market revenue. sickle cell disease companies are evaluating sickle cell disease drugs in various stages of development, and their anticipated acceptance in the sickle cell disease market would significantly increase market revenue. Key sickle cell disease companies such as CRISPR therapeutics, Bluebird Bio, Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, Prolong Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Beam Therapeutics, Editas Medicine, Sangamo Therapeutics, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Invenux, EpiDestiny, Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals, CSL Behring, Fulcrum Therapeutics, Sana Biotechnology, and others are evaluating new sickle cell disease drugs to improve the treatment landscape. and others are evaluating new sickle cell disease drugs to improve the treatment landscape. Promising sickle cell disease pipeline therapies such as CTX001, LentiGlobin BB305, Inclacumab, Etavopivat, Mitapivat, ALXN1820, TAK-755, Sanguinate, Crovalimab, BEAM101, EDIT 301, BIVV003, BPX-501, SCD-101, Nicotinamide, HBI-002, CSL889, FTX-6058, SG418, and others are under different phases of sickle cell disease clinical trials. and others are under different phases of sickle cell disease clinical trials. In May 2023 , the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan drug designation to EDIT-301, an experimental cell-based gene-editing therapy given as a one-time infusion for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan drug designation to EDIT-301, an experimental cell-based gene-editing therapy given as a one-time infusion for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). In April 2023 , bluebird bio, Inc. announced the submission of its Biologics License Application (BLA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lovotibeglogene autotemcel (lovo-cel) gene therapy in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) ages 12 and older who have a history of vaso-occlusive events (VOEs). The BLA includes a request for Priority Review, which, if granted, would shorten the FDA's review of the application to six months from the time of filing, versus a standard review timeline of 10 months. If approved, lovo-cel will be bluebird bio's third ex-vivo gene therapy approved by the FDA for a rare genetic disease and its second FDA approval for an inherited hemoglobin disorder, building on more than a decade of leadership in gene therapy. announced the submission of its Biologics License Application (BLA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lovotibeglogene autotemcel (lovo-cel) gene therapy in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) ages 12 and older who have a history of vaso-occlusive events (VOEs). The BLA includes a request for Priority Review, which, if granted, would shorten the FDA's review of the application to six months from the time of filing, versus a standard review timeline of 10 months. If approved, lovo-cel will be bluebird bio's third ex-vivo gene therapy approved by the FDA for a rare genetic disease and its second FDA approval for an inherited hemoglobin disorder, building on more than a decade of leadership in gene therapy. In March 2023 , BioLineRx Ltd. announced a collaboration with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to advance a Phase I clinical trial that will evaluate the safety and feasibility of the Company's lead clinical candidate motixafortide to mobilize CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for gene therapies in SCD. announced a collaboration with School of Medicine in to advance a Phase I clinical trial that will evaluate the safety and feasibility of the Company's lead clinical candidate motixafortide to mobilize CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for gene therapies in SCD. In November 2022 , C4X Discovery Holdings plc signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with AstraZeneca worth up to $402 million , for its NRF2 Activator programme. signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with AstraZeneca worth up to , for its NRF2 Activator programme. In October 2022 , Pfizer announced the completion of its acquisition of Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (GBT), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of life-changing treatments that provide hope to underserved patient communities starting with sickle cell disease (SCD). announced the completion of its acquisition of Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (GBT), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of life-changing treatments that provide hope to underserved patient communities starting with sickle cell disease (SCD). In October 2022 , Novo Nordisk completed the acquisition of Forma Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. Forma Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming the lives of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and rare blood disorders. completed the acquisition of Forma Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. Forma Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming the lives of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and rare blood disorders. In June 2022 , Precision BioSciences, Inc., a clinical-stage gene editing company developing ARCUS-based ex vivo allogeneic CAR T and in vivo gene editing therapies announced it has entered into an exclusive worldwide in vivo gene editing research and development collaboration and license agreement with Novartis Pharma AG. Request a sample and discover the recent advances in sickle cell disease treatment drugs @ Sickle Cell Disease Competitive Landscape Report Sickle Cell Disease Overview Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cell diseases that affect hemoglobin, the protein that transports oxygen throughout the body. Red blood cells in good health are spherical and flow through small blood channels to carry oxygen to all regions of the body. Sickle cell disease patients have defective hemoglobin, which causes red blood cells to become hard and sticky, resembling a C-shaped farm tool known as a "sickle." Sickle cell disease can be prevented during pregnancy, diagnosed in utero or during the newborn period, or found at any time during life. The sort of tests performed is determined by the patient's age. DNA testing can be utilized for prenatal diagnosis or to validate a sickle cell genotype diagnosis. Neonate screening is offered in the majority of US states and involves hemoglobin electrophoresis. The goal of sickle cell anemia treatment is usually to avoid crises, relieve symptoms, and prevent consequences. Some medical treatments and home cures are available to help you feel better. Medication to relieve discomfort and prevent complications, blood transfusions, and a bone marrow transplant are all possible treatments. Researchers are investigating if putting a normal gene into the bone marrow of persons with sickle cell anemia can result in normal hemoglobin, as well as turning off the defective gene while reactivating another gene important for fetal hemoglobin production. Find out more about sickle cell disease treatment drugs @ Drugs for Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline Analysis: Drug Profile Inclacumab: Pfizer Inclacumab is a completely human IgG4 anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody that is being developed to reduce vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in sickle cell disease patients. P-selectin is a protein that mediates cell adhesion and has been scientifically proven to alleviate discomfort caused by VOCs in persons with sickle cell disease. Preclinical data indicate that inclacumab has the potential to be a best-in-class alternative for lowering VOCs in persons with sickle cell disease, with quarterly rather than monthly treatment. Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), which was acquired by Pfizer, created the medication. As part of its licensing arrangement with Roche, GBT owns exclusive worldwide rights to inclacumab. Inclacumab is currently in Phase III development for sickle cell disease. Mitapivat: Agios Pharmaceuticals Mitapivat is an orally administered small drug that activates the enzyme pyruvate kinase-R (PKR). This enzyme is required for glycolysis, which is the process of producing cellular energy by breaking down sugar molecules. When the PKR enzyme is activated, it consumes 2, 3-diphosphoglycerate (2, 3-DPG). In SCD, it is assumed that 2, 3-DPG accumulates in red blood cells, causing them to become malformed by causing hemoglobin molecules to clump together in a process known as polymerization. Mitapivatis is intended to reduce 2, 3-DPG accumulation and thereby hemoglobin polymerization and red blood cell sickling via activating PKR. Agios Pharmaceuticals has launched the RISE UP Phase II/III trial to evaluate the experimental treatment Mitapivat (AG-348) in people with sickle cell disease. A snapshot of the Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline Drugs mentioned in the report: Sickle Cell Disease Drugs Company Phase MoA Exagamglogene autotemcel CRISPR Therapeutics/Vertex Pharmaceuticals Preregistration Cell replacements; Fetal haemoglobin expression stimulants Inclacumab Pfizer Phase III P selectin inhibitors Mitapivat Agios Pharmaceuticals Phase II/III Pyruvate kinase stimulants Canakinumab Novartis Phase II Interleukin 1 beta inhibitors ALXN1820 Alexion Pharmaceuticals Phase II Properdin inhibitors Crovalimab Chugai Pharmaceutical/Roche Phase II Complement C5 inhibitors EDIT 301 Editas Medicine Phase I/II Cell replacements; Gene transference BIVV003 Sangamo Therapeutics Phase I/II Cell replacements; Gene transference; Haemoglobin stimulants BEAM101 Beam Therapeutics Phase I Gene transference Hemopexin CSL Behring Phase I Hemopexin replacements Learn more about the emerging sickle cell disease pipeline therapies @ Sickle Cell Disease Clinical Trials Scope of the Sickle Cell Disease Competitive Landscape Report Coverage : Global : Global Key Sickle Cell Disease Companies : CRISPR therapeutics, Bluebird Bio, Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, Prolong Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Beam Therapeutics, Editas Medicine, Sangamo Therapeutics, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Invenux, EpiDestiny, Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals, CSL Behring, Fulcrum Therapeutics, Sana Biotechnology, and others : CRISPR therapeutics, Bluebird Bio, Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, Prolong Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Beam Therapeutics, Editas Medicine, Sangamo Therapeutics, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Invenux, EpiDestiny, Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals, CSL Behring, Fulcrum Therapeutics, Sana Biotechnology, and others Key Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline Therapies : CTX001, LentiGlobin BB305, Inclacumab, Etavopivat, Mitapivat, ALXN1820, TAK-755, Sanguinate, Crovalimab, BEAM101, EDIT 301, BIVV003, BPX-501, SCD-101, Nicotinamide, HBI-002, CSL889, FTX-6058, SG418, and others : CTX001, LentiGlobin BB305, Inclacumab, Etavopivat, Mitapivat, ALXN1820, TAK-755, Sanguinate, Crovalimab, BEAM101, EDIT 301, BIVV003, BPX-501, SCD-101, Nicotinamide, HBI-002, CSL889, FTX-6058, SG418, and others Company Analysis, Therapeutic Assessment, Pipeline Assessment, Inactive drugs assessment, Unmet Needs Dive deep into rich insights for new drugs for sickle cell disease treatment, visit @ Sickle Cell Disease Drugs Table of Contents 1. Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline Report Introduction 2. Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline Report Executive Summary 3. Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline: Overview 4. Sickle Cell Disease Marketed Drugs 4.1. ADAKVEO: Novartis 5. Sickle Cell Disease Clinical Trial Therapeutics 6. Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline: Late-Stage Products (Pre-registration) 7. Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline: Late-Stage Products (Phase III) 7.1. Inclacumab: Pfizer 8. Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline: Mid-Stage Products (Phase II) 8.1. Canakinumab: Novartis 9. Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline: Early-Stage Products (Phase I) 9.1. TAK-755: Takeda 10. Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline Therapeutics Assessment 11. Inactive Products in the Sickle Cell Disease Pipeline 12. Company-University Collaborations (Licensing/Partnering) Analysis 13. Unmet Needs 14. Sickle Cell Disease Market Drivers and Barriers 15. Appendix For further information on the sickle cell disease pipeline therapeutics, reach out @ Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Drugs Related Reports Sickle Cell Disease Market Sickle Cell Disease Market Insight, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key Sickle Cell Disease companies, including Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc., Alfasigma, Novo Nordisk, bluebird bio, ExCellThera, Gamida Cell, KM Biologics, Takeda, among others. Sickle Cell Disease Epidemiology Sickle Cell Disease Epidemiology Forecast 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical, and forecasted Sickle Cell Disease epidemiology in the 7MM. Beta Thalassemia Market Beta Thalassemia Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key beta thalassemia companies, including Novartis, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Bluebird Bio, among others. Thalassemia Market Thalassemia Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key thalassemia companies, including Forma therapeutics, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Gamida-Cell, Silence Therapeutics, among others. About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. Contact Us Shruti Thakur [email protected] +1(919)321-6187 www.delveinsight.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/3528414/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP Silverton Presents a New Boutique Hotel Experience for Las Vegas Visitors LAS VEGAS, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rooms for the newly renovated Silverton Casino Lodge are set to go on sale July 12, 2023, for hotel reservations beginning Oct. 2. The hotel, which is undergoing a complete renovation, has been closed to create a new boutique hotel experience to anchor the casino resort. The remodeled hotel features 300 "luxe-lodge" guest rooms and suites including three distinct "design stories," each with its own curated style, decor, and spirit that will transport guests into a unique experience during every visit: Refined Lodge Collection Room at Silverton Casino Lodge. Rustic Modern Room at Silverton Casino Lodge. Cowboy Kitsch Collection rooms featuring a quirky blend of rustic chic with tasteful modern accents rooms featuring a quirky blend of rustic chic with tasteful modern accents Rustic Modern Collection rooms featuring natural, aged, and weathered furnishings, with the sense of natural warmth of the outdoors rooms featuring natural, aged, and weathered furnishings, with the sense of natural warmth of the outdoors Refined Lodge Collection rooms inspired by the elegant Rockies glam design and the legendary cattle baron homes found in the West. "This is where luxury meets the rustic charm of a modern lodge," said Silverton CEO Craig Cavileer. "Each thoughtfully renovated room has been meticulously designed to be upscale, casual, fun and of course super comfortable." The designs were inspired by the company's award-winning sister property Hotel Drover, a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel, which opened to national acclaim in 2021 in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. Just like Hotel Drover, the Silverton designs include rich details with intentional and eye-catching touchpoints. Since its opening, the Drover has been recognized by USA Today, Conde Nast, Forbes, and Travel + Leisure for its unique and elegant western glam design, curated art, crafted fixtures, and custom furnishings. "This is more than a room remodel," said Kayla Wilkie, director of design and development for Majestic Realty Co, an affiliate of Silverton and Hotel Drover. "This was an opportunity to creatively reinvent our entire hotel operation in Las Vegas. While we are keeping aspects of our lodge theme that our guests have enjoyed over the years, our new rooms and suites will envelop our guests in a new spirit of rustic elegance, providing a unique Las Vegas hotel experience." In addition to new rooms, the Silverton renovation has other improvements underway including all-new casino carpet, slot and video poker upgrades, and refreshes to restaurant menus including the Mermaid Lounge, which will reopen this fall with a fresh new look, and a South Pacific-inspired tapas menu. Coming in early 2024 is an all-new $12m backyard and pool renovation which will include poolside dining, sports, and movies at the pool, cabanas, fire pits and more. "We are very excited to present this fresh and innovative design to our customers," said Cavileer. "Kayla did a phenomenal job in designing the award-winning Hotel Drover in Fort Worth and she has delivered an amazing product for us here as well." Architectural and Interior Design for the Silverton renovation project was provided by Klai Juba Wald, the resort's architect of record. About Silverton Casino Hotel Silverton Casino Hotel offers 300 rooms and suites and world-class amenities all located within an upscale, contemporary luxury lodge-themed resort. Silverton features 90,000 square feet of state-of-the-art gaming, including the most popular slot machines and table games, a 117,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, home to thousands of sharks, stingrays and tropical fish, and was voted "Best Attraction" in the Best of Las Vegas awards. The resort is a culinary destination, featuring Mi Casa grill cantina, Su Casa sushi bar, Sundance Grill, WuHu Noodle, Shady Grove Lounge, Mermaid Restaurant & Lounge, Starbucks, Johnny Rockets and Twin Creeks, known as the premier Off-Strip steakhouse in Las Vegas. The unique "Stakes are High" program at Twin Creeks Steakhouse gives diners a chance to roll dice to win a complimentary Creekstone Farms Tomahawk, the restaurant's signature cut. In addition to the adjacent 165,000-square-foot flagship Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, the Silverton Village features a 150-room Hyatt Place hotel, the 18-story luxury high-rise The Berkley, and several restaurants, including Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Silverton Casino Hotel is located at I-15 and Blue Diamond in Las Vegas. For more information, please call (702) 263-7777 or visit silvertoncasino.com. Media Contact OneSeven Agency Rachael Mintz | Avery Dizon [email protected] (702) 613.1585 | (702) 501.7611 SOURCE Silverton Casino Lodge Leading Salon Studio Franchise Reports Impressive Continued Growth, with Agreements to Open 26 New Locations Across the U.S. Over the Next Several Years DENVER, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sola Salons, the world's largest and fastest-growing salon studios franchise, announced today the signing of nine franchise owner development agreements that will expand its presence in key markets across the United States, including California, Houston, Michigan, and South Carolina. These agreements guarantee 26 new Sola locations in the U.S. over the next several years, emphasizing the brand's aggressive domestic franchise development plans. Since the start of 2023, Sola has opened 29 new locations and reached a milestone of 19,000+ independent beauty professionals across the United States and Canada. Sola Salons "The rapid growth of Sola Salons throughout the first half of 2023 is a testament to our unwavering commitment to revolutionizing the beauty industry. With 680 locations across the nation, we have demonstrated the immense power of our innovative business model and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines our industry," said Christina Russell, CEO at Sola Salons. "We are enthusiastic to welcome our new franchise owners to the Sola Salons family and continue our growth in 2023 and beyond by continuously setting new standards of excellence." The new Sola franchise agreements signed include: Jeff Barison Barison is a new Sola Salons owner expanding with a two-unit agreement in Bend, OR and Medford, OR and Dan Bowers Bowers is a current Sola Salons owner in two markets, with an additional currently under development, expanding with a six-unit agreement in Ft. Lauderdale, FL Bowers is a current Sola Salons owner in two markets, with an additional currently under development, expanding with a six-unit agreement in Joe Lavoie and Thiago DeSouza Lavoie and DeSouza are two new Sola Salons owners expanding with a three-unit agreement in the Boston area Lavoie and DeSouza are two new Sola Salons owners expanding with a three-unit agreement in the area Mirko Marrone and Ken Hwang Marrone and Hwang are current Sola Salons owners in seven markets expanding with a three-unit agreement in Los Angeles, CA and Marrone and Hwang are current Sola Salons owners in seven markets expanding with a three-unit agreement in Chris Vossen Vossen is a current Sola Salons owner in eight markets expanding with a five-unit agreement in Charleston, SC and Columbia, SC and Lavonte and Tondrea David The Davids are two new Sola Salons owners expanding with a single unit in Miami, FL The Davids are two new Sola Salons owners expanding with a single unit in Jason Thibodeaux Thibodeaux is a current Sola Salons owner in one market expanding with a single unit in Cypress, TX Mitch Cohen and partners Cohen and his partners are current Sola Salons owners in two markets, with four under development, expanding with a three-unit agreement in Suffolk County, NY and partners Cohen and his partners are current Sola Salons owners in two markets, with four under development, expanding with a three-unit agreement in Luke Wiedel Wiedel is a current Sola Salons owner in nine markets expanding with a two-unit agreement in Denver, CO Identified as the world's largest and fastest-growing salon studios franchise, Sola Salons is a recession-resilient franchise with an understanding of markets across the U.S. The salon suite model requires minimal staff, drives unparalleled occupancy, and is backed by 18+ years of salon studio expertise. Sola supports a growing community of more than 19,000 independent beauty professionals across more than 680 locations by providing a turnkey solution for beauty professionals to explore a better life as entrepreneurs. The model continues to grow increasingly in popularity as beauty professionals seek independence for themselves and as a way to offer their clientele more control over their salon experience. Sola also brings market resources like their new BookNow engine, which allows customers to book and customize their appointments online with their independent hairdressers, nail technicians, estheticians, massage therapists, or other beauty professionals. Sola is driven by its desire to use a salon suite model to help aspiring business owners achieve their dreams and is looking for franchisees who feel the same way. As part of its continued franchise growth strategy in the U.S. and Canada, Sola Salons will target several markets including Northern California, Memphis, New Hampshire, Maine, Ohio, Indiana, and all provinces and territories across Canada. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Sola Salons, contact Lori Merrall, Director of Franchise Development, at [email protected] or visit the Sola franchise website for general information at www.solafranchising.com ABOUT SOLA SALONS In 2004, Sola Salons was established with the opening of its first location in Denver, Colorado. Now with more than 680 locations open in the U.S., and Canada, Sola is proud to offer 19,000+ independent beauty professionals the freedom and benefits of salon ownership without the risk and overhead of opening a traditional salon. Its innovative salon model empowers hairdressers, estheticians, nail techs, massage therapists and other like-minded professionals to take control of their lives and their careers. Sola provides beauty professionals with beautiful, fully equipped salon studios alongside the support and tools they need to launch their salon business in no time. For more information, please visit www.solasalons.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Konnect Agency 678-687-4937 [email protected] SOURCE Sola Salons The Leaders Institute Charity Team Building Activities Support Unsung Heroes Across the US. ARLINGTON, Texas, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Companies often schedule charity team-building activities to jazz up their meetings. These activities do three things. First, they add fun and camaraderie to the meeting. They also build solid teamwork and improve communication. But they also allow the group to donate their time, money, or resources to non-profit groups in their local communities. Over the years, we've met a few special unsung heroes at these organizations. These people give back to others in need without ever getting a lot of publicity or credit. "I think it's time to change that," said Doug Staneart, CEO of The Leaders Institute. "Every once in a while, we hear a story during a team activity where afterwards there isn't a dry eye in the place." These are some of those stories. (Have the Kleenex nearby.) Race4Chase Rebecca Kowalski of the CMAK Foundation came to a Build-A-Bike team activity to accept bikes on behalf of the organization named after her son, Chase Kowalski, he tragically passed away at the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2016 at the age of seven. She decided to turn the worst day of her life into a blessing. Chase ran his first triathlon when he was six and he won. The bikes donated went to other young people training for their first triathlon as well. Support Our Soldiers - Teresa Nelson started an organization that sends care packages to soldiers overseas. Many of the recipients are service people who have no family back at home to support them. Some come from broken homes where their dad is absent or incarcerated. Others come from drug-addict mothers. So, Teresa adopts them, and sends packages to each one every month. HopeKids This organization provides ongoing events, activities and a powerful, unique support community for families who have a child with cancer or some other life-threatening medical condition. We donated bikes to these kids. One of the boys was carrying a tiny stuffed unicorn. When asked about the unicorn, he said, "It was my sister's. She died recently. And I wanted her to be able to still come to the HopeKids' events." The kid stole the show (and quite a few hugs.) Candlelighters (Houston, TX) Many of the cancer patients who go to MD Anderson for treatment are children. Six years ago, Opal Goodman's oldest son was one of those kids. He had a rare form of cancer, and his chance of survival wasn't positive. In addition to the hospital bills, she and her husband had costs like food, hotels, transportation, parking, and regularly scheduled bills that added to the burden. During the worst tragedy a family can face, they made it through, only to be handed a massive bill. Candlelighters stepped in to help with some of these costs. And a volunteer who was also a mother of a surviving child, helped her through the process. Opal's son was officially diagnosed cancer-free two years ago. Now she is a Candlelighter volunteer and helps other families. One Heart for Women and Children (Orlando, FL) - Stephanie Bowman was a young mother of two when she narrowly escaped domestic violence. She battled addiction and was homeless for several weeks. After a life-changing act of kindness, Stephanie decided she wanted more for her family. Her daughters went into foster care for a short time so she could begin treatment. 20+ years later, she is the hero creating these life-changing acts of kindness for others. Rose of Sharon Food Bank (Denver, CO) - Gloria Stevenson operates a food bank out of a small building in Denver, CO. Every day, she has a long line of folks who need food. Transcarent's donated over two tons of food to Gloria during their annual meeting. Using her can for balance, she inched her way to the microphone to accept the donation. Looking at all the boxes, she asked, "How much of this is going to our families?" When we told her all of it, she burst into tears. It was the biggest donation she had ever received. Most of the donations that she uses to serve her families comes from individuals one can at a time. These are just a few of the inspirational heroes that we come across every week. Whether you are doing a charity team activity or just a fun service project, these heroes would love your support. About The Leaders Institute, LLC The Leaders Institute, LLC is one of the largest and most influential corporate team building companies in the world. We work with over 400 of The Fortune 500 companies and invented the concept of a "charity team activity" when we released the Build-A-Bike team event in 2005. Since then, over 47,200 bicycles (over $8 million dollars worth of bikes!) have been donated to kids all over the world. The Leaders Institute has delivered over 5000 Build-A-Bike programs over the years with over 330,000 volunteers participating in the bike builds. Contact: Doug Staneart CEO The Leaders Institute 214-766-2313 [email protected] https://www.leadersinstitute.com SOURCE The Leader's Institute LLC MONUSCO cannot and should not - stay in the DRC indefinitely. But there is broad consensus that the DRC government will have not met the benchmarks it agreed upon as the minimum conditions for MONUSCOs drawdown by the end of 2023. SUDBURY, ON, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - SPC Nickel Corp. (TSXV: SPC) ("SPC Nickel"), is pleased to announce the final assay results from its Phase 1 drill program at the West Graham Project, located in the world-class Nickel-Copper mining district of Sudbury, Ontario. SPC Nickel is reporting the last 11 drill holes out of 27 drill holes completed in the Phase 1 program. With the completion of Phase 1 of the program we have now established 50 metre spaced drilling over a large area (300 metres by 300 metres) of the footprint of the historical resource that will support the planned mineral resource estimate update. The Phase 2 program is well underway, with over 3,600 metres already completed, and with the recently closed financing, SPC Nickel is on track to meet its goal of having an updated combined resource by the end of 2023. Figure 1: Plan map of the current area of drilling on the West Graham Project showing the collar locations and drill traces of the completed holes. Assay results for the reported holes are shown in callouts. Interval lengths reported above are downhole lengths. See Table 1 for true width estimations. (CNW Group/SPC Nickel Corp.) Figure 2: Aerial plan map of the West Graham area showing the relative locations of the historic West Graham and Crean Hill 3 Resource. Addition current and historic mineralized zones including the Crean Hill Mine (current and historic) and Lockerby Mine (historic) are also shown. (CNW Group/SPC Nickel Corp.) Highlights A total of 9,050 metres in 38 holes have so far been completed on the West Graham Project since drilling commenced in early March. The Phase 1 program consisted of 5,338 metres in 27 holes and was completed in late May while a total of 3,696 metres in 11 holes have been completed from the ongoing Phase 2 program (Figure 1). The best intersections from the Phase 1 program include WG-23-26: 2.48% Ni, 0.64% Cu over 7.80 metres (see news release of April 11, 2023 ), and WG-23-42: 1.71% Ni, 0.46% Cu over 20.00 metres (see news release of May 24, 2023 ). (see news release of ), and WG-23-42: (see news release of ). Hole WG-23-043, intersected a thick zone of nickel and copper mineralization grading 0.46% Ni, 0.36% Cu over 68.00 metres from 212.00 to 280.00 metres, including a higher-grade section that returned 0.94% Ni, 0.68% Cu over 9.00 metres from 266.00 to 275.00 metres. from 212.00 to 280.00 metres, including a higher-grade section that returned from 266.00 to 275.00 metres. Footwall-style massive sulphide veins grading 6.09% Ni and 0.07% Cu over 0.50 metres were encountered in the footwall granites of hole WG-23-043. were encountered in the footwall granites of hole WG-23-043. A 6.5 kilometre ground grid has been completed on the property in preparation of a ground electromagnetic (EM) geophysical survey, scheduled for July. The purpose of the ground EM is to help the team prioritize drill targets on the western portion of the property where only sparse wide spaced drilling has been completed. Assay results from all 27 holes completed as part of the Phase 1 program have been received and significant results are presented in Tables 1 and 2. The remaining samples are being processed and will be reported when available. Grant Mourre, CEO and President of SPC Nickel commented, "The ongoing results from our drill program continues to support our positive outlook for the West Graham Project. The Phase 1 program has achieved its goal of confirming and expanding the zone of nickel and copper mineralization a further 200 metres to the west of the previously defined extent of the 2009 resource model. The work has also outlined areas of higher-than-expected grade within the contact-style deposit as well as discovering new high-grade footwall-style mineralization outside the historical resource. We are also excited to have commenced the Phase 2 program which will focus on further expanding the mineralization to the west. Activities at West Graham are progressing as planned and we remain focused on working towards delivering a combined mineral resource estimate by the end of 2023." Assay Results Table 1: Reported assay results from the Phase 1 drill program on the West Graham Project. Assays from all holes not listed in Table 1 are pending. HOLE ID From (m) To (m) Length (m)1 Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) Pt (g/t) Pd (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Estimated True Width % WG-23-034 59.00 90.00 31.00 0.27 0.19 0.01 0.04 0.01 0.01 1.26 50 including 96.00 97.65 1.65 0.67 0.34 0.02 0.05 0.03 0.03 2.29 50 WG-23-035 43.00 51.00 8.00 0.26 0.21 0.01 0.04 0.02 0.02 1.25 80 WG-23-036 97.00 102.00 5.00 0.39 0.23 0.01 0.05 0.02 0.01 1.54 45 WG-23-037 147.00 188.65 41.65 0.50 0.34 0.02 0.08 0.02 0.03 1.64 50 including 174.00 188.65 14.65 0.81 0.51 0.02 0.14 0.04 0.05 2.61 50 including 174.00 179.00 5.00 1.21 0.69 0.04 0.14 0.04 0.05 3.32 50 WG-23-038 130.00 140.00 10.00 0.43 0.25 0.01 0.06 0.02 0.21 1.31 75 WG-23-039 191.50 241.00 49.50 0.36 0.28 0.01 0.05 0.02 0.02 1.49 40 including 224.00 241.00 17.00 0.43 0.49 0.01 0.08 0.03 0.04 2.58 40 WG-23-040 169.00 209.00 40.00 0.46 0.32 0.01 0.07 0.02 0.03 1.90 60 WG-23-041 237.00 276.00 39.00 0.43 0.36 0.01 0.17 0.03 0.06 2.04 55 including 243.00 250.00 7.00 0.60 0.49 0.02 0.10 0.03 0.04 2.13 55 including 262.82 275.00 12.20 0.60 0.54 0.02 0.36 0.05 0.11 3.46 55 WG-23-043 212.00 280.00 68.00 0.46 0.36 0.01 0.09 0.02 0.03 1.90 60 including 246.00 280.00 34.00 0.64 0.50 0.02 0.12 0.03 0.04 2.64 60 including 266.00 275.00 9.00 0.94 0.68 0.02 0.19 0.05 0.06 3.83 60 including 277.50 280.00 2.50 0.96 1.02 0.02 0.05 0.04 0.04 4.58 60 and 304.10 304.60 0.50 6.09 0.07 0.12 0.81 0.30 0.03 2.50 60 WG-23-044 362.35 375.40 13.05 0.74 0.81 0.02 0.22 0.05 0.10 4.84 45 including 369.25 375.40 6.15 0.96 1.33 0.03 0.26 0.08 0.18 8.04 45 WG-23-045 286.00 296.00 10.00 0.33 0.24 0.01 0.12 0.02 0.03 1.33 60 and 302.05 304.00 1.95 0.54 0.75 0.02 0.21 0.05 0.11 4.93 60 and 307.55 308.55 1.00 0.81 1.12 0.02 0.31 0.09 0.37 8.50 60 Notes: 1. Length refers to downhole length. Estimated True Width is expressed as a percentage of downhole length. Previously Reported Results Table 2: Previously reported assay results from the Phase 1 drill program on the West Graham Project. Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m)1 Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) Pt (g/t) Pd (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Estimated True Width % WG-23-019 64.00 93.00 29.00 0.39 0.25 0.01 0.04 0.02 0.02 1.36 70 WG-23-020 47.00 91.00 44.00 0.53 0.27 0.02 0.05 0.02 0.02 1.41 100 including 75.00 83.00 7.00 0.75 0.39 0.03 0.06 0.02 0.02 1.86 100 including 87.00 91.00 4.00 1.03 0.62 0.04 0.07 0.05 0.03 2.85 100 WG-23-021 41.00 72.00 31.00 0.46 0.29 0.02 0.06 0.02 0.02 1.50 90 including 42.00 46.00 4.00 0.63 0.46 0.02 0.10 0.03 0.04 2.40 90 including 58.00 63.00 5.00 0.66 0.30 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.01 1.50 90 WG-23-022 61.00 81.00 20.00 0.51 0.26 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.01 1.12 100 including 76.00 80.00 4.00 0.85 0.46 0.03 0.05 0.02 0.02 1.80 100 WG-23-023 45.00 83.00 38.00 0.47 0.28 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.02 1.45 90 including 71.00 82.00 11.00 0.71 0.41 0.02 0.07 0.02 0.04 2.09 90 WG-23-024 29.00 48.00 19.00 0.46 0.25 0.02 0.04 0.01 0.02 1.21 100 and 56.00 61.00 5.00 0.93 0.50 0.03 0.06 0.02 0.02 4.18 100 WG-23-025 20.00 67.00 47.00 0.56 0.30 0.02 0.05 0.02 0.02 1.85 90 including 42.00 65.00 23.00 0.72 0.42 0.02 0.08 0.03 0.03 2.73 90 WG-23-026 106.00 186.90 80.90 0.49 0.25 0.02 0.05 0.02 0.02 1.29 35 including 167.00 186.90 19.90 1.19 0.37 0.04 0.09 0.02 0.02 1.29 35 including 170.00 177.90 7.90 2.48 0.64 0.08 0.15 0.04 0.02 1.82 35 WG-23-027 68.00 120.50 52.50 0.43 0.27 0.01 0.05 0.02 0.02 1.49 85 including 96.65 120.50 23.85 0.57 0.33 0.02 0.06 0.02 0.03 1.79 85 including 111.00 120.50 9.50 0.83 0.37 0.02 0.09 0.03 0.03 2.16 85 WG-23-028 79.00 275.85 196.85 0.32 0.19 0.01 0.04 0.01 0.02 1.07 30 including 89.00 110.00 21.00 0.72 0.18 0.03 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.75 30 including 93.60 95.00 1.40 3.73 0.27 0.17 0.06 0.07 0.01 1.26 30 WG-23-029 84.00 107.00 23.00 0.37 0.25 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.02 1.39 50 WG-23-030 20.00 52.00 32.00 0.60 0.36 0.02 0.07 0.02 0.03 2.02 45 including 39.00 46.00 7.00 0.98 0.54 0.03 0.15 0.38 0.04 3.00 45 WG-23-031 3.00 9.65 6.65 0.37 0.22 0.01 0.04 0.01 0.01 1.08 95 WG-23-032 34.50 42.50 8.00 0.49 0.38 0.02 0.05 0.02 0.03 2.00 85 WG-23-033 38.00 52.00 14.00 0.35 0.24 0.01 0.04 0.02 0.02 1.29 80 WG-23-042 256.00 306.00 50.00 1.06 0.34 0.03 0.15 0.04 0.04 1.71 75 including 286.00 306.00 20.00 1.71 0.46 0.05 0.17 0.06 0.06 2.61 75 including 286.90 291.70 4.80 3.15 0.21 0.09 0.15 0.11 0.02 0.95 75 and 331.00 331.40 0.40 6.23 0.30 0.14 0.10 0.12 0.03 2.60 75 and 336.90 337.20 0.30 7.07 0.09 0.15 0.04 0.07 0.01 2.50 75 Notes: 1. Length refers to downhole length. Estimated True Width is expressed as a percentage of downhole length. West Graham Project On January 23, 2023, SPC Nickel announced the signing of an Agreement with Vale Canada ("Vale") granting SPC Nickel the right to earn an 100% interest in Vale's Crean Hill 3 Property that is located adjacent to SPC Nickel's West Graham Property (see Figure 2 for property location and SPC Nickel's January 23, 2023 press release for full details of the Agreement). As an advanced project, the combination of the West Graham and Crean Hill 3 assets is a transformational opportunity for SPC Nickel. The historical mineral resources on these properties form one contiguous near-surface deposit and consists of the following: Crean Hill 3 hosts a historic mineral estimate of 16.78Mt @ 0.43% Ni and 0.30% Cu 1 . hosts a historic mineral estimate . West Graham hosts a historic indicated mineral resource of 8.55Mt @ 0.45% Ni, 0.31% Cu along with an inferred mineral resource of 2.0Mt @ 0.38% Ni, 0.30% Cu2. SPC Nickel considers the West Graham and Crean Hill 3 resource estimates to be historic mineral estimates for purposes of NI 43-101. Neither the Company nor a qualified person on behalf of SPC Nickel have done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and SPC Nickel is not treating such historical estimates as current mineral resources. SPC Nickel considers the historic mineral estimates to be relevant to an understanding of the Project but has not done any work to validate the estimates. Reference Van Wiechen , A.G (1990): December 31, 1989 Mineral Resource Inventory table in: The Exploration Potential for Sulphide Mineralization in the Crean Hill Ellen Crean Hill No.3 Environment, Internal Inco Report, December 13, 1990 . Routledge, Richard and Churchill , Bruce (2009): Technical Report on the West Graham Property Conwest Zone Resource Estimate, Graham Township, Ontario, Canada prepared for First Nickel Inc., January 15, 2009 . Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates . Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Qualified Persons The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Grant Mourre, P.Geo. (PGO), CEO and President of SPC Nickel Corp. and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. SPC Nickel follows rigorous sampling and analytical protocols that meet or exceed industry standards. Core samples are stored in a secured area until transport in batches to the ALS facility in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Sample batches include certified reference materials, blank, and duplicate samples that are then processed under the control of ALS. All samples were analyzed in Vancouver by ALS Chemex. Platinum, palladium, and gold values were determined together using standard lead oxide collection fire assay and ICP-AES finish. Base metal values were determined using sodium peroxide fusion and ICP-AES finish. Silver values were determined using an aqua regia digestion and an AAS finish. A Certified Reference Material (CRM) standard, blank or duplicate is inserted on every 10th sample in the following order: CRM, blank, CRM, duplicate. The cycle repeats every 40 samples, thus ensuring that 10% of samples submitted are control samples. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About SPC Nickel Corp. SPC Nickel Corp. is a Canadian public corporation focused on exploring for Ni-Cu-PGMs within the world class Sudbury Mining Camp. SPC Nickel is currently exploring its key 100% owned exploration project Lockerby East located in the heart of the historic Sudbury Mining Camp that includes the West Graham Resource and the Crean Hill 3 property under option from Vale. SPC Nickel also holds three additional projects across Canada including the large camp-scale Muskox Project (located in Nunavut), the past producing Aer-Kidd Project (located in the Sudbury Mining Camp) and the Janes Project (located 50 km northwest of Sudbury). The corporate focus is on Sudbury, and SPC Nickel continues to look for new opportunities to add shareholder value. Additional information regarding SPC Nickel and its projects can be found at www.spcnickel.com. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of SPC Nickel. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, SPC Nickel expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE SPC Nickel Corp. LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Cloud Capital, LLC, a Los Angeles based private investment firm, is pleased to announce the final closing of its fourth fund, St. Cloud Capital Partners IV SBIC, LP ("Fund IV") with total capital commitments of $236 million including leverage from the Small Business Administration. Since its inception in 2001, St. Cloud Capital has managed over $700 million in total capital across its four funds. Fund IV will continue executing the same investment strategy as St. Cloud Capital's predecessor funds, providing debt and equity growth capital to lower middle market companies in the U.S. St. Cloud typically invests $5 million $20 million in companies across a wide range of industries in every layer of the capital structure, including senior secured debt, subordinated debt, and minority equity. Fund IV is St. Cloud's third SBIC fund. St. Cloud will continue to invest in underserved communities and will strive to make a positive community impact by addressing the wealth gap. "We appreciate the strong support from our broad group of institutional investors and are grateful for the confidence they have in our team," stated Kacy Rozelle, co-founder and Managing Partner of St. Cloud. Ben Hom, Managing Partner of St. Cloud, added, "With the closing of Fund IV, St. Cloud Capital continues to be well positioned as both a capital and strategic partner to strong management teams in the execution of their growth plans. We are a relationship driven firm and strive to be the capital provider of choice for growing successful businesses that fall 'below the radar' of larger private equity firms, direct lenders, and the broader capital markets." St. Cloud has already made three investments in Fund IV in Sentinel Offender Services, LLC, Clear Sight Partners, LLC, and Atomica Corp. Hogan Lovells US LLP served as legal counsel for St. Cloud Capital, LLC. About St. Cloud Capital St. Cloud Capital is a Los Angeles, CA-based private investment firm that provides debt and equity growth capital to the lower middle market (companies with annual revenues generally between $10 million and $150 million) throughout the United States. St. Cloud typically invests $5 million $20 million in companies across a wide range of industries in every layer of the capital structure, including senior secured debt, subordinated debt, and minority equity. For more information about St. Cloud Capital, please visit www.stcloudcapital.com CONTACT US: 10866 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450 Los Angeles, CA 90024 Phone: 310.475.2700 Fax: 310.475.0550 www.stcloudcapital.com Benjamin Hom Managing Partner [email protected] Kacy Rozelle Managing Partner [email protected] Robert Lautz Managing Partner [email protected] Matt Smith Managing Director [email protected] Sheila Emami Vice President [email protected] Chris Collar Associate [email protected] Francisco Flores Analyst [email protected] Cordell Gee Controller [email protected] SOURCE St. Cloud Capital KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Advertising: Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP, a national leader in data breach and privacy cases, is investigating potential claims against HCA Healthcare resulting from a data breach that exposed the personal information of up to 27 million medical patients. 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SOURCE Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP Investment reinforces SUSE's commitment to innovate and support SUSE Linux Enterprise distributions and related open source projects SUSE plans to contribute its code to an open source foundation LUXEMBOURG, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today SUSE, the company behind Rancher, NeuVector, and SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE) and a global leader in enterprise open source solutions, announced it is forking publicly available Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and will develop and maintain a RHEL-compatible distribution available to all without restrictions. Over the next few years, SUSE plans to invest more than $10 million into this project. Dirk-Peter van Leeuwen, CEO of SUSE, said, "For decades, collaboration and shared success have been the building blocks of our open source community. We have a responsibility to defend these values. This investment will preserve the flow of innovation for years to come and ensures that customers and community alike are not subjected to vendor lock-in and have genuine choice tomorrow as well as today." SUSE remains fully committed to investing in its highly regarded Linux solutions such as SLE and openSUSE that countless satisfied enterprise customers and the community rely on. At the same time, it acknowledges that enterprises and the open source community deserve choice and freedom from vendor lock-in. SUSE has a long history in empowering and supporting users with mixed Linux environments. SUSE is committed to working with the open source community to develop a long-term, enduring compatible alternative for RHEL and CentOS users. SUSE plans to contribute this project to an open source foundation, which will provide ongoing free access to alternative source code. "This collaborative effort demonstrates SUSE's deep-rooted commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing community-driven development, and it reinforces the fundamental values of open source software. We invite the community to actively engage and collaborate in shaping the future of this essential software," said Dr. Thomas Di Giacomo, Chief Technology and Product Officer, SUSE. "We firmly believe this new RHEL-compatible Linux distribution, together with SUSE's portfolio, will help the community and customers navigate unprecedented advancements in enterprise Linux, cloud computing, containerization, edge, AI/ML and other emerging technologies." "The enterprise Linux community requires standardization, stability, and consistency," said Gregory Kurtzer, CEO of CIQ and Founder of Rocky Linux. "CIQ is bringing stability to our partners, customers, and community, by building a broad coalition of like-minded companies, organizations, and individuals. SUSE has embodied the core principles and spirit of open source; CIQ is thrilled to collaborate with SUSE on advancing an open enterprise Linux standard." To read more about how this strengthens Liberty Linux and how to get involved, go here. About SUSE SUSE is a global leader in innovative, reliable and secure enterprise-grade open source solutions, relied upon by more than 60% of the Fortune 500 to power their mission-critical workloads. We specialize in Business-critical Linux, Enterprise Container Management and Edge solutions, and collaborate with partners and communities to empower our customers to innovate everywhere from the data center to the cloud, to the edge and beyond. SUSE puts the "open" back in open source, giving customers the ability to tackle innovation challenges today and the freedom to evolve their strategy and solutions tomorrow. The company employs more than 2,000 people globally. SUSE is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the company, including statements containing the words "aims," "targets," "will," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions, may constitute forward-looking statements and should be read with caution. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including competitive landscape, development of customer deals, reliance upon customer relationships, management of growth and acquisitions, the possibility of undetected software issues, the risks of impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and economic downturns, pricing pressures and the viability of the Internet. In addition, any forward-looking statements included herein represent views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. The Company does not have any obligation to update its forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to change and should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date other than the date of this press release. Copyright 2023 SUSE LLC. All rights reserved. SUSE and the SUSE logo are registered trademarks of SUSE LLC in the United States and other countries. All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Media Contact: Natalie Pfaffmann [email protected] SOURCE SUSE S.A. SUZHOU, China, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 10, the 15th Suzhou Entrepreneurship Week for International Elites and the 4th Suzhou Scientists Day were launched. A total of 3,084 domestic talents with 3,057 projects attended the event, according to the organizing committee. The Opening ceremony of Suzhou Entrepreneurship Week Since 2007, Suzhou has been implementing the Gusu Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent Program. Currently, it has funded 7 top talents (teams), 36 major innovation teams, and 2,863 innovation and entrepreneurship leading talents. Suzhou offers customized support and unlimited funding commitments for top talent teams. Major innovation teams can receive project funding of up to 50 million yuan. The "Win in Suzhou, Win the Future" Venture Contest for International Entrepreneurs was founded in 2011 and has held 113 events, covering more than 40 countries and regions worldwide. It has attracted over 11,000 project registrations and more than 32,000 participants. Suzhou has been selected as the "Most Attractive Chinese City in the Eyes of Foreign Experts" for 11 consecutive years and has maintained its position as the top province in terms of scientific and technological innovation for 12 consecutive years. So far, Suzhou has 18 overseas maker incubation centers and 8 domestic maker incubation centers. Suzhou has cooperated with JSBC to establish the first global maker overseas communication center in London, UK. It aims to tell the fascinating stories of Suzhou's talented "backpackers" to the world and explore the creation of an international communication platform that integrates promotion, talent exchange, information consultation, and resource docking. Suzhou has announced 1,603 postdoctoral positions worldwide, mainly focused on key industries such as electronic information, biomedicine, equipment manufacturing, and advanced materials. Suzhou has prepared a "digital backpack" for global talents, which includes a contact directory for connecting with Suzhou, a policy collection of talents and key enterprises, a platform for entrepreneurial and life services, and a cloud platform for talent project docking. This comprehensive service further nurtures the talent ecosystem. Image Attachments Links: Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=441512 Caption: The Opening ceremony of Suzhou Entrepreneurship Week SOURCE The Organizing Committee of Suzhou Entrepreneurship Week for International Elites SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of its global culture designed to empower teams to advance important technological trends, TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectors and sensors, has earned a top-ten ranking among the 2023 Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators. TE Connectivity teams from all around the world are celebrating the company earning eighth place among the 2023 Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators. TE Connectivity ranked eighth among the 2023 Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators. Developed in collaboration with Accenture, the Best Workplaces for Innovators celebrates company cultures that demonstrate an inspiring commitment to encourage and develop innovation at all levels. TE placed eighth on the list, which ranks 100 winners from around the world working in a wide variety of industries. "The innovation that we do alongside our customers is helping to impact our world in important ways," said TE Connectivity CEO Terrence Curtin. "Our products are enabling electrification and renewable energy to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. We're also supporting faster, more stable connections to advance autonomous technology and artificial intelligence. To achieve these goals, it is vital that we create a work environment that supports our 8,000 engineers to ensure we continue to create a safer, sustainable, productive and connected future." One of the keys to TE's innovative success is the ability of its global engineering teams to collaborate with each other and with customers to respond to changing market demands. In this work environment, TE's innovators regularly show their ability to predict upcoming industry needs. For example, while some experts questioned the potential of electrifying commercial transportation, TE invested in the development of PowerTube, one of the first connection systems tailored to industry requirements and able to reliably and efficiently deliver high-voltage power from the battery to the rest of the vehicle. The newly launched product is already being integrated into the designs of major manufacturers and is expected to help advance the electrification of commercial vehicles. To learn more about the innovation culture at TE and to explore open job opportunities, visit te.com/innovators. Visit Fast Company to see the full list of recipients. ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY TE Connectivity is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive and connected future. Our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions, proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications and the home. With more than 85,000 employees, including over 8,000 engineers, working alongside customers in approximately 140 countries, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat and Twitter. ABOUT FAST COMPANY Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com. SOURCE TE Connectivity Ltd. JINAN, China, July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Shandian News report: In efforts to build an international platform for young people across the globe where they can exchange ideas, deepen friendship, learn more about the traditional Chinese culture, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the 2023 Global Youth Conference was held in Shandong from July 6 to 9. More than 1,000 guests and youth representatives from 85 countries and regions were gathered in the province for the event. The 2023 Global Youth Conference The conference, the first offline gathering of international youth in Shandong after the pandemic, is a major event for international youth exchanges and cooperation. Through mutual learning, attendees at home and abroad have enhanced mutual understanding, forged friendship, and worked together for common development. The conference was co-hosted by Shandong Provincial People's Government, Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, All-China Youth Federation, and China Soong Ching Ling Foundation. Under the theme of New Era, New Civilization, New Youth, New Mission, the conference consists of the opening ceremony, main forum "Huanghewan Youth Economic Forum", parallel forums, youth-themed exhibitions, international youth gala, and tours in multiple cities. At the opening ceremony on July 7, the conference released ten programs of international youth exchanges and ten excellent projects of the Global Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, rolled out The Report on the Development of Chinese Youth in New Professions under the New Employment Patterns and The Research Report on the Path to Accelerate the Development of a Pilot Zone of Institutional Opening-up in Shandong, initiated 2 international organizations, namely Global Youth Conference and International Alliance on Young Entrepreneurs' Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and released the Jinan Declaration of the 2023 Global Youth Conference. 12 foreign investment projects with a contract value of 5.16 billion yuan (roughly 713 million US dollars) were signed at the Global Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum, one of the parallel forums of the 2023 Global Youth Conference. SOURCE Shandian News SHENYANG, China, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 8th China (Shenyang) World Congress of Robotics kicked off on July 7 with the theme "Intelligent manufacturing, Creating the Future Together". Wang Tianran, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and about 300 domestic and foreign experts and scholars, as well as business representatives in the fields of robotics and intelligent manufacturing gathered in Shenyang. 130 companies on the robotics industrial chain participated in activities such as project-matchmaking and contract-signing. The 8th China (Shenyang) World Congress of Robotics convened in Shenyang. Hosted by the Shenyang Municipal People's Government, the congress is consisted of summit forums, roundtable dialogues, matchmaking negotiations, and on-site visits to showcase the latest research results of robotics and promote exchanges and cooperation in talents, science and technology, and industry. At the forum, distinguished guests such as secretary-general of the China Machinery Industry Federation (CMIF) Song Xiaogang, and president of the Shenyang Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Yu Haibin delivered keynote speeches. At the project matchmaking venue of SIASUN Wisdom Park, a wide range of innovative technologies and products were displayed. At the International Robot Show and International Robot Challenge, 64 enterprises and institutions from both home and abroad showcased more than 200 innovative products in the fields of intelligent manufacturing and intelligent factory, machine identification and information sensing, and 300 young contestants participated in robot creativity and technical challenges. At present, the city of Shenyang is giving full play to the spearheading role of leading enterprises such as Saisun and the advantages of the manufacturing scenarios, so as to expand the scale of production and application. By relying on scientific research institutes to strengthen researches on key and core technologies, and by leaning on the construction of specialized industry parks as support, steps are taken to enhance the deep integration of industrial chains, innovation chains, talent chains, capital chains, policy chains and service chains, in order to accelerate the establishment of an internationally competitive robot industry base. Image Attachments Links: Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=441503 Caption: The 8th China (Shenyang) World Congress of Robotics convened in Shenyang. SOURCE Shenyang Municipal People's Government Over 100,000 seniors and people with disabilities will benefit from the best-in-class remote care digital technology HERZLIYA, Israel, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Essence SmartCare, a leader in IoT-based remote care solutions, today announced a strategic agreement with the Community of Madrid, a governmental region in Spain serving Madrid and the surrounding cities, to upgrade remote care services for senior citizens and disabled individuals across the region. The contract was awarded to Essence SmartCare, together with its local branch in Madrid, Essence Interactive Center, by the Madrid Community, after a comprehensive evaluation of the company and its advanced products and cloud services. The Community of Madrid Selects Essence SmartCare to Provide Advanced Remote Care Technologies for Senior and Disabled Citizens Essence SmartCare will bring remote care solutions and capabilities to the majority of the region's vulnerable population. The joint initiative will establish a cohesive infrastructure for care, replacing current analogue systems used for home telecare services with Essence's digital platform. Advanced devices, sensors and services provide information to create a remote care management platform, significantly expanding the possibilities of traditional 'red button' telecare. The new AI-enabled system aims to increase the safety of the elderly by mobilizing the necessary resources tailored to their individual requirements. "At Essence SmartCare, we are fully committed to delivering accessible, user-friendly, and intuitive care solutions that enhance independent living for elderly and disabled individuals, anywhere," said Dr. Haim Amir, CEO and Founder at Essence Group. "Being selected as a trusted partner for the Community of Madrid allows us to do just that. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with the Spanish healthcare market as they turn to innovative solutions to address the pain points they experience in care." In October 2022, the Community of Madrid announced it plans to acquire over 300,000 technological devices to implement advanced telecare. The Minister of Family, Youth and Social Policy said in a statement: "Advanced telecare, which we hope will start operating at the end of next year, is going to represent a giant step in terms of care for dependency and in promoting the personal autonomy of the elderly in the region." "This strategic agreement aligns with our mission to elevate the standard of care with our advanced [email protected] platform, which undoubtedly ensures proactive service and early stage intervention," said Barak Katz, General Manager of Essence SmartCare. "Promoting autonomy, personalized care, and the ability to age in place for as long as possible, this partnership allows those living in Madrid with increased care needs to delay the need for relocation to assisted living facilities or day centers and live safely at home with peace of mind." As the winners of this bid, Essence SmartCare will supply a comprehensive range of devices, including its LTE digital hubs, wearable and contactless fall detectors, smoke and gas detection, as well as sensors that monitor seniors' activity all connected to Essence SmartCare's cloud platform. With its range of care solutions, Essence SmartCare is enabling residents in the Community of Madrid to receive continuous monitoring and facilitate autonomous living for many vulnerable individuals within the community. About Essence SmartCare Essence SmartCare, part of the Essence Group, develops advanced health and remote monitoring platforms for market-leading healthcare and senior care providers, enabling smart preventive care and emergency response so seniors can live life to the fullest with total peace of mind. Partnering with Essence SmartCare helps position companies as progressive, forward-thinking and in touch with the need to enable elderly and vulnerable people to lead more independent and safer lives. Essence SmartCare has a global presence with customers in over 30 countries and has offices and representatives worldwide. For more information: www.essencesmartcare.com Follow Essence Group on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook Essence Media Contact: Mushkie Meyer Headline Media [email protected] UK: +44 203 769 4034 US: +19143364035 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2151346/Essence_SmartCare_Madrid_Community.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1549743/Essence_SmartCare_Logo.jpg SOURCE Essence SmartCare SANTA BARBARA, Calif., July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Elon Musk's Twitter has banned the top critic of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software from promoting videos of critical safety defects in Tesla's flagship software. The promoted tweets included videos of Tesla Full Self-Driving failing to stop at Stop signs, ignoring Do Not Enter signs, and running down lifelike child and Labrador mannequins. Twitter cited an unnamed "policy violation", and did not provide any further details. The message can be viewed here. Safety-critical software expert Dan O'Dowd, founder of public safety advocacy group The Dawn Project, was banned from advertising on Twitter following two recently promoted tweets that exposed critical safety defects in Tesla's Full Self-Driving software. Over the last year, The Dawn Project has run hundreds of tests, created dozens of videos demonstrating the safety defects in Tesla's Full Self-Driving software, and publicized them widely. Tesla condemned the tests as fake, Elon branded Dan O'Dowd as "bat shit crazy", and Tesla took no discernible action to fix the safety defects, leaving many doubting The Dawn Project's tests' validity. In June, The Dawn Project set up an open-invitation event to bring Tesla's supporters and the media together to demonstrate that the tests are valid and the safety critical defects in the software are a serious concern. Ross Gerber, a prominent Tesla investor, challenged Dan O'Dowd to test drive his Full Self-Driving Tesla. Dan accepted. The test drive was live streamed to tens of thousands of viewers and was recorded from every angle by 19 cameras to ensure complete transparency. Gerber was repeatedly told by other Tesla supporters not to participate in a transparent event for fear of exposing the true dangers of Tesla's Full Self-Driving software to the general public and destroying its reputation. During Dan O'Dowd's test drive with Gerber, the self-driving Tesla blew past a Stop sign at 35 mph and would have T-boned another vehicle had Gerber not slammed on the brakes. A tweet with a video of this incident showed the public that The Dawn Project's tests were genuine and debunked Tesla's claims that they were faked. The tweet went viral and was viewed over 25 million times. There was then a live debate between Dan and Ross on CNBC, where the safety defects and viability of Tesla Full Self-Driving were broadcast to all of Wall Street. The Dawn Project also invited journalists and former Tesla self-driving tester, John Bernal, who now runs the YouTube channel AI Addict to participate in the live streamed and independently verified demonstration. In these tests, the self-driving Tesla ran down lifelike child and labrador mannequins at fatal speeds, clearly demonstrating the undeniable dangers that the software poses. The Dawn Project tweeted a video of this test and got it approved for promotion on Twitter. However, when this tweet also started to go viral after a couple of hours on July 7, Dan O'Dowd's account was banned from advertising on Twitter, without alerting him. Commenting on his Twitter account being banned from advertising, Dan O'Dowd said: "I have been advertising The Dawn Project's messages on Twitter since before Elon bought it. I was even awarded a gold check for being a top Twitter advertiser. "When Elon bought Twitter he claimed he was a "free speech absolutist" and said that he hoped that even his "worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means". In suppressing my advertising, Elon Musk has once again shown his hypocrisy when it comes to matters of free speech on Twitter. It is clear that the platform is now descending into an Elon-censored echo chamber by suppressing valid criticism. "Elon sees that our transparent tests are teaching the public, and even his own supporters, that Tesla's defective Full Self-Driving software is not "safer than a human driver" and will not "save millions of lives". As he lost control of the public perception of Tesla Full Self-Driving, he slammed the brakes on our advertising campaign. "This whole incident demonstrates that our tests are valid and the dangers posed by Tesla Full Self-Driving are severe and immediate and Tesla is not doing anything about it." Notes to Editors: In November 2022, shortly after Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, one of Dan O'Dowd tweets was banned from being promoted as a Twitter ad. This tweet was banned despite the same safety warning being published as a full page ad in The New York Times the week before. Now, Twitter has restricted Dan's entire account from engaging in any advertising whatsoever. Please see coverage of the previous single tweet ban in The Daily Mail and The Verge. Dan O'Dowd is an entrepreneur and CEO with over 40 years' experience in designing and writing secure, safety-critical software. Dan has built operating systems for the U.S. military's fighter jets and some of the world's most trusted organizations such as NASA, Boeing, and Airbus. In 2021, Dan O'Dowd founded The Dawn Project, which campaigns to make computers safe for humanity by ensuring all software in safety-critical infrastructure never fails and can't be hacked. The first danger The Dawn Project is tackling is Elon Musk's reckless deployment of unsafe Full Self-Driving cars on our roads. SOURCE The Dawn Project The United States is appalled by the brutal beating of renowned journalist Yelena Milashina and attorney Alexander Nemov in Chechnya on July 4. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called on the Russian government to conduct a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of this savage attack and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. Ms. Milashina and Mr. Nemov were attacked on their way to a court sentencing of a mother of three exiled Chechen government critics in the capital, Grozny. They beat us up two times, Ms. Milashina said in a recorded interview with her employer Novaya Gazeta, one of the last independent media outlets in Russia. Ms. Malishina described how a group of masked men in several cars ambushed the vehicle she and Mr. Nemov were driving in. The attackers pulled Ms. Milashina from the car and kicked and then beat her with plastic pipes, shaved her head, and dumped green dye on her. I dont have any wounds, thank God, just bruises. Mr. Nemov was beaten and stabbed with a knife, according to the Novaya Gazeta. Milashina has a long history of exposing human rights abuses in Chechnya, which has resulted in death threats being issued against her by Chechnyas notorious leader, Ramzan Kadyrov. Indeed, Milashina had to flee Russia for a period time in February 2022 after Kadyrov had called her a terrorist, saying "we have always eliminated terrorists and their accomplices. In 2020, she was attacked along with another attorney, Marina Dubrovina. Ms. Milashina, a winner of the State Departments 2013 International Woman of Courage Award, has covered many of Russias most controversial subjects with passion, fairness, and dedication, said spokesperson Miller. Violently attacking her for performing her duties as a journalist is an affront to respect for freedom of expression, a fundamental freedom enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he declared. The attack against Ms. Milashina is the latest in a pattern of violence against prominent investigative journalists in Russia that has met little resistance from the authorities. The Russian government continues to violate not just its international human rights obligations and commitments, but also the most fundamental vows it made to its people in its constitution. The people of Russia deserve better. HERSHEY, Pa., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is proud to share that it received a 100 percent score on the Disability Equality Index (DEI) and is recognized as a DEI Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion. The DEI was launched in 2015 by Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and is acknowledged today as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in business. Now in its seventh year, the DEI exists to help businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment/ underemployment of people with disabilities. "The Hershey Company has a long-standing commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees around the world can be their authentic selves as they work to bring more moments of goodness to our consumers," said Jason Reiman, Senior Vice President for Supply Chain and executive sponsor of The Hershey Company's Abilities First Business Resource Group (BRG). "This starts with our hiring practices and extends to each area of our business to create a positive impact on our business and communities around the world." Diversity is a source of energy and innovation at The Hershey Company. The company's work to advance disability inclusion is evidenced by: Progressing a five-year inclusion agenda, including differently abled people, is key to the company's business growth strategy and employee experience. Including disability inclusion in recruitment, employment, supplier and accommodation practices. Enhanced internal practices and policies around talent development to maintain disability, gender representation and expand people of color representation, including our unique Pathways to Growth accelerated development training program for diverse cohorts in early career talent. Embedding supplier diversity (including people with disabilities-owned businesses) in our official procurement policy and mandatory training for all employees responsible for making purchasing decisions. Diversity ranges in the performance evaluations, including senior leadership and the executive committee. Expanded resources for people manager training including but not exclusive to etiquette, language, accommodations and health services, and unconscious bias training. Posting employment opportunities on DiversityJobs.com with DisabilityJobs.net, the office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Getting Hired, as well as abilitiesinjobs.com, disabledjobseekers.com, disabledperson.com and JOFDAV.com. Collaborating with our Abilities First Business Resource Group (BRG) to provide a space for employees to discuss new business opportunities, influence company policy and develop employees and communities where we do business. Partnering with the Pennsylvania -based non-profit Susquehanna Service Dogs (SSD) to strengthen an inclusive culture and foster a community that is welcoming to all people. "Businesses have the power to drive the global advancement of disability inclusion, and we're thrilled to see more companies than ever leverage the Disability Equality Index to measure their progress. We recognize these top-scoring companies as a 'Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion' for their passion and efforts to lead the way in creating greater equity for people with disabilities in the workplace, marketplace and supply chain," said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN. "These top-scoring companies understand deeply that people with disabilities represent a tremendous source of talent and innovation for their workforce and market share for their brands, and they are trailblazers in our journey towards full disability inclusion in business," said Maria Town, President and CEO of AAPD. About The Hershey Company The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania and is an industry-leading snacks company known for making more moments of goodness through its iconic brands, remarkable people, and enduring commitment to doing the right thing for its people, planet, and communities. Hershey has nearly 20,000 employees in the U.S. and around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, high-quality products. The company has more than 100 brand names in approximately 80 countries worldwide that drive more than $10.4 billion in annual revenues, including Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers, and fast-growing salty snacks including Skinny Pop, Pirate's Booty, and Dot's Homestyle Pretzels. For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically, and sustainably. The candy and snack maker's founder, Milton Hershey, created Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed through equitable access to education. About the Disability Equality Index The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion." The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. The organizations are complementary and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates. Learn more at: www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org. About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power for people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 60+ million Americans with disabilities. Learn more at: www.aapd.com. About Disability:IN Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. More than 500 corporations' partner with Disability:IN to create long-term business and social impact through the world's most comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking and reporting tool, the Disability Equality Index (DEI); best-in-class conferences and programs; expert counsel and engagement; and public policy leadership. Join us at disabilityin.org/AreYouIN #AreYouIN. SOURCE The Hershey Company JACKSONVILLE, Ark., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, David Alan Holland is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions to the United States Air Force. David Alan Holland Lieutenant Colonel Holland began his pursuit of higher education at Ashland University where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Management in 1972. He joined the United States Air Force as an aviation cadet in 1959 where he graduated as a pilot and officer and quickly advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He flew trainer, fighter, bomber, and transport aircrafts during the Vietnam War to transport cargo and personnel and specifically flew the Republic F-105 Thunderchief supersonic fighter-bomber on missions in Vietnam. He then reenlisted for another tour of service and was the chief pilot for the United States Air Force training organization after his active-duty service where he was responsible for training young troops in flight simulation and active aviation drills. A highly decorated serviceman, Lieutenant Colonel Holland has received the Silver Star Medal; a Distinguished Flying Cross Medal; Bronze Star Medal; 3 Meritorious Service Medals; and 6 Air Medals. When considering the highlights of his career, he notes that he is most proud of his management and instruction of the United States Air Force pilots in their initial and advanced aviation careers. Aside from his professional career, Lieutenant Colonel Holland was the league president of the Jacksonville Bowling Association for 20 years. He attributes much of his success to his upbringing; his parents; school colleagues; and teachers who he asserts all inspired him to strive for greatness and help those in need. Looking towards the future, Lieutenant Colonel Holland plans to continue assisting the disadvantaged and hopes to do some writing. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle MECHANICSBURG, Pa., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Joe Littlejohn, Jr. is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Professional for his contributions to the field of Medical Technology and Urology. Joe Littlejohn Jr., MD (PRNewsfoto/The Inner Circle) Dr. Littlejohn Jr. began his medical academic journey at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 1995 where he earned a medical degree and also completed an internship in general surgery in 1997. He finished a residency in general surgery at the University of Connecticut Health Center also in 1997; completed a residency in urology at Howard University Hospital (District of Columbia) in 2001; and a fellowship in neuro-urology and voiding dysfunction at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in 2002. According to the doctor, urology is the branch of medicine that focuses on surgical and medical diseases of the male and female urinary-tract system and the male reproductive organs. Urologists specialize in diseases of the urinary tract and the male reproductive system. Patients may be referred to a urologist if their physician suspects they may need treatment for a condition relating to the bladder, prostate urethra, ureters, kidneys and adrenal glands. Specialized in diseases of the urinary tract and the male reproductive system, Dr. Littlejohn, Jr. areas of expertise include benign prostatic hypertrophy; general urology; neuromodulation therapies; robotic (da Vinci) surgery; urodynamics; bladder prolapse surgery; neurogenic bladder dysfunction; prostate cancer; ureteral stones; and voiding dysfunction. In addition to Dr. Littlejohn, Jr.'s professional medical career, he founded LinkBox Solutions LLC, a health technology company that seeks to incorporate the latest technological advances into the field of medicine. He was inspired to launch this business when he struggled to create a solution to help doctors more efficiently see their patients while also increasing quality of care. The doctor asserts that LinkBox Solutions LLC offers a mobile software system that removes barriers between the physician and their patients while automating the HPI documentation process. According to Dr. Littlejohn, Jr., this user-friendly technology allows a practice to receive detailed information about their patients before their appointment making patient care easier and faster than ever before. The program works as a mobile scribe ensuring doctors have access to all necessary data the moment, they need it. LinkBox generates question sets that are sent to the patients by the scheduling staff the moment their appointment is made (via email to register at their HIPAA/HITECH compliant cyber-secure site). This data collection method assures that all necessary information and relevant concerns are listed in one easily accessible location. Touted to increase the quality of patient care and decrease physician burnout, Dr. Littlejohn, Jr. explained that LinkBox streamlines daily operations and helps doctors feel more on top of their work while collaborating with EMR systems with its time-saving features, unparalleled privacy settings, and notes. Aside from his medical career, Dr. Littlejohn, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor of Surgery within the Department of Urology at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He is Vice Chair of DEI within the Department of Urology at Penn State Health Technology and is Director of Telehealth within the Department of Urology at Penn State Health. The doctor offers his services at Penn State Health Surgery Specialties (Hershey Pennsylvania) & Penn State Health Medical Group Camp Hill Specialties. Dedicated to providing the latest advancements, Dr. Littlejohn Jr. is a member of the National Medical Association; the American Urological Association; the Mid-Atlantic Section of the American Urological Association; the Society of Urodynamics Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction; and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Urology. Fluent in English and Spanish, Dr. Littlejohn Jr. attributes his success to his belief in God and his Christian Faith and is upfront and honest regarding health-related matters. He would like to dedicate this honor to his mentor, Dr. Aaron G. Jackson, and In Memoriam of Master James A. Wilson and Dr. Steven Kaplan, as well as his grandfather, Quincy R. Littlejohn, in loving memory, and thanks him for his love and support. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle BRIGHTON, Mich., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Thomas A. Paron, DDS, MS is acknowledged as a Most Trusted Healthcare Professional for his contributions to the field of Orthodontics. Thomas Paron (PRNewsfoto/The Inner Circle) Dr. Paron began his academic journey at Alma College where he earned a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Biochemistry and Mathematics in 2015. He then attended the University Michigan, School of Dentistry in 2019 where he received a DDS. The doctor capped his scholarship by earning an MS in Orthodontics from the University of Detroit Mercy in 2021 and completed his board certification in orthodontics through the American Board of Orthodontists. Highly educated and extensively trained, Dr. Paron practices orthodontics in Grand Blanc, Clarkston, and Lapeer, Michigan and provides comprehensive orthodontic treatments for both adults and children. He asserts that he uses both traditional metal wires and brackets as well as ceramic brackets, if a more aesthetic look is desired. Dr. Paron is also trained in Invisalign as well as other clear aligner methods that are available for orthodontic treatment. Dr. Paron explained that before deciding on the proper treatment options for each patient, he must recognize various characteristics of a malocclusion or dentofacial growth abnormality; define the nature of the problem, including the etiology or cause; and design a treatment strategy based on the specific needs and desires of each patient. Known for his thorough communication with his patients, the doctor offers several options for treatment, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each, to assist the patient and their family in deciding the proper course of treatment. Dedicated to providing the latest advancements in the field, Dr. Paron is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA); the Michigan Dental Association (MDA); the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO; and the Michigan Association of Orthodontics (MAO-Detroit chapter). The doctor would like to thank his wife, Dr. Kennedy Paron, as well as his parents, Nick and Julie Paron, for all their love and support. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]com SOURCE The Inner Circle WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Learning Beyond Paper and the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County (ELCOC) have partnered to provide Learning Beyond Paper's high-quality digital curricula, training and professional development to 278 School Readiness and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten sites within the ELCOC's network of providers. Learning Beyond Paper, an approved School Readiness Curriculum by the Florida Division of Early Learning, is supporting more than 4,000 Orange County teachers and staff with access to 52 weeks of Lesson Plans and over 4,000 Daily Activities that are Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Aligned. The "@Home Connections" feature gives families daily learning highlights, bridging the school-to-home connection. Daily activities integrate state standards, learning support, social-emotional development, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) and include a CLASS focus. This partnership advances early education in Orange County. Teacher training is embedded in each daily activity and professional development is included, building capacity in teachers, ensuring their success and increasing teacher retention. "We're honored to partner with the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County to bring our high-quality digital curriculum to children, teachers and families. We provide tremendous support to early learning educators as they cultivate children's lifelong love of learning with our School Readiness-approved and CLASS aligned curriculum, preparing them for Kindergarten" said Dr. Corinne Muller, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Learning Beyond Paper. "The Early Learning Coalition of Orange County is committed to providing our children, teachers and staff with the curriculum and tools they need to succeed. Our partnership with Learning Beyond Paper will elevate early learning throughout our network of providers and support our teachers at a time when they need it most," said Dr. Scott Fritz, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County. About Learning Beyond Paper Learning Beyond Paper, Inc. brings immersive, affordable, equity-focused curriculum and training solutions to early learning providers worldwide. LBP's curriculum for infants through pre-kindergarten is digital and includes everything teachers and administrators need at their fingertips, including training and professional development. About Early Learning Coalition of Orange County The vision of the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County is for every child in Orange County to enter kindergarten with the foundation necessary to reach their full potential. The organization has worked since 2000 to provide leadership, guidance, and support for School Readiness and VPK programs for children in Orange County. Media Contact: Dr. Corinne Muller 773-412-2819 SOURCE Learning Beyond Paper The announcement was unveiled at the largest MCIEF Western Conference on record FT. MYERS, Fla., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation (MCIEF), a nonprofit foundation that educates insurance professionals serving the transportation industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dave Heller as their newest Thomas Ruke Fellow. This prestigious appointment was unveiled during the highly successful 2023 MCIEF Western Conference, which marked their largest Western Conference to date. Mr. Heller joins an esteemed group of only four other Thomas Ruke Fellows, including Bridgette Blitch, Shareholder at Blitch Westley Barrette, S.C.; Rob Moseley, Founding Partner at Moseley Marcinak Law Group LLP; Dan Murray, Senior Vice President at The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI); and J.W. Taylor, Managing Member at Taylor Johnson. Dan Murray and J.W. Taylor were also in attendance at the Western Conference, where Dave Heller's exceptional contributions were recognized. "We are thrilled to welcome Dave as our newest Thomas Ruke Fellow," says Tommy Ruke, Founder of MCIEF. "His experience and dedication to the trucking industry make him a valuable addition to our honorable group and will further strengthen MCIEF's mission to provide comprehensive education and foster knowledge in the field of motor carrier insurance." In his current role as the Senior Vice President of Safety and Government Affairs for the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), Dave is responsible for communicating and interpreting all trucking-related regulations to the TCA membership and congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. The MCIEF Western Conference, held May 17-19 in Phoenix, AZ, witnessed a remarkable gathering of western MCIEF members and non-members. Attendees had the opportunity to earn state continuing education credits and network with transportation insurance professionals. MCIEF's 2023 Annual Conference on October 3-6 in Orlando, FL promises to be another highly anticipated event. MCIEF congratulates Dave Heller on his appointment as a Thomas Ruke Fellow and welcomes him to this highly regarded group. About MCIEF The Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation (MCIEF) was formed in 2012 as a nonprofit foundation. Its purpose is to educate insurance professionals serving the transportation industry through a vast offering of learning opportunities, including an exclusive designation program. MCIEF also hosts in-person meetings to provide networking and share news from this unique space. For more information, please visit mcief.org Media Contact Anita Nevins, Direct Connection Advertising & Marketing 707-429-0877 | [email protected] SOURCE Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation Nate Cain Receives Endorsement by National Trucking Business Association - 35,000 Members Strong HEDGESVILLE, W.Va, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Owner Operators Association (TNOOA), a prominent trucking business association representing over 35,000 hard-working men and women across the United States, is proud to endorse Nate Cain, a Republican candidate running for Congress in West Virginia's 2nd District. "I am honored to have the support and endorsement of the TNOOA. Our truckers play a vital role in delivering goods around the country to the American People that we depend on. As a small business owner, myself, I will always stand by our independent owners and operators." The Federal Whistleblower on Hillary Clinton, the Clinton Foundation, and Uranium 1, a U.S. Army Veteran, Nate Cain is running for Congress in West Virginia's 2nd District Nate Cain's unwavering commitment to American freedom, security, and prosperity, coupled with his exceptional background and dedication to transparency, make him the ideal candidate to champion the interests of hard-working truckers across the nation. Nate Cain, a God-fearing, true & loyal patriot, has dedicated his life to serving his country and fighting for integrity. As the Federal Whistleblower on the FBI cover-up of Hillary Clinton's pay-to-play crimes, the Clinton Foundation, and Uranium 1, Nate Cain fearlessly exposed corruption and upheld transparency. Following his service as a whistleblower, Nate was called upon by the Trump White House to contribute his expertise to election integrity investigations after the 2020 election, further demonstrating his commitment to upholding the Constitution. With an illustrious career spanning over 26 years, Nate Cain has served in the U.S. Army as a soldier, in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps as a civil servant and other agencies as a defense contractor in cybersecurity engineering. His invaluable contributions to esteemed organizations such as the Army, Navy, Marines, Defense Information Systems Agency, National Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration have been recognized with medals and service commendations. Nate has taken the oath three times, symbolizing his deep commitment to protecting the nation and its secrets. Holding a Top-Secret security clearance for 25 years, Nate has been entrusted with safeguarding the security and interests of the United States. Michael Boston, CEO of the TNOOA, expressed his support for Nate Cain's candidacy, stating, "Nate Cain understands the vital role truckers play as an integral necessity to the United States of America. His endorsement by the TNOOA signifies our confidence in his commitment to supporting and advocating for the trucking industry. Nate's support for repealing or amending the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, instituting a whistleblower program to identify corrupt practices amongst brokers, and enforcing transparency laws underscores his dedication to the trucking community." West Virginia urgently requires a fighter in the halls of Congress, someone with a proven track record of integrity and the courage to expose lies and corruption. Nate Cain's commitment to transparency, along with his support for truckers and his advocacy for their representation, make him the ideal candidate for the 2nd District of West Virginia. For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Nate Cain for Congress Contact: 844-750-0364 Contact: [email protected] https://natecain4wv.com SOURCE Nate Cain for Congress iReferral automatically identifies potential donors and streamlines the hospital-to-OPO referral process. COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Lifeline of Ohio, the federally designated Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) serving Central and Southeast Ohio, have launched InVita Healthcare Technology's iReferral interoperability solution at fifteen (15) Ohio State Wexner Medical Center hospital facilities in June 2023. With more than 100,000 patients on the nation's transplant waitlist awaiting a life-saving organ, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations mandate hospitals refer all potential organ and tissue donors to their federally designated OPO. Common healthcare interoperability standards were leveraged to replace the prior manual telephonic referral process of these potential donors with seamless electronic system integration streamlining workflow, improving compliance to federal requirements, and maximizing opportunities for donation and transplantation. "Through this collaboration, more lives will be saved and healed thanks to the generosity of donors and their families." Tweet this "iReferral streamlines the critical donor referral process," said Todd Collins, President & CEO of InVita Healthcare Technologies. "We're excited for The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and Lifeline of Ohio launching iReferral to shift nursing and provider resources back to patient care and maximizing donation opportunities for donors and families to save and heal more lives." "We're very pleased to join with one of our partnering hospitals The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and InVita Healthcare Technologies in this innovative process of streamlining the organ and tissue donation referral process," said Andrew Mullins, Chief Executive Officer of Lifeline of Ohio. "Through this collaboration, more lives will be saved and healed thanks to the generosity of donors and their families." About Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center | wexnermedical.osu.edu Part of one of the most comprehensive health sciences campuses in North America, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center includes the College of Medicine and its School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences; the Office of Health Sciences, including the Ohio State Faculty Group Practice; various research centers, programs and institutes; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute; and the Ohio State Health System, which includes University Hospital, East Hospital, Ohio State Harding Hospital, the Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital, Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital, the Ohio State Brain and Spine Hospital, the Ohio State Primary Care Network, Outpatient Care multispecialty facilities and Ohio State Same-Day Care locations. In 2022, U.S. News & World Report recognized nine Ohio State Wexner Medical Center specialties in its "Best Hospitals" rankings, based on outcomes, structure, patient experience and expert opinion, for the 30th consecutive year. In addition, the College of Medicine ranked 30th among medical schools in the 2023 edition of "Best Graduate Schools," according to U.S. News. About Lifeline of Ohio | lifelineofohio.org An independent, non-profit organization, Lifeline of Ohio promotes and coordinates the donation of human organs and tissue for transplantation. Lifeline of Ohio serves 97 hospitals and facilities in 38 counties in Ohio and two in West Virginia and is designated as an organ procurement organization through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. About InVita Healthcare Technologies | invitahealth.com InVita provides mission-critical and chain-of-custody software technologies for complex medical, forensic, and community care environments. InVita's solutions streamline clinical workflows, optimize supply chains, sample tracking, and visibility across donation and transplantation, blood and plasma operations, the tissue and implant lifecycle, and environments spanning DNA and forensics. InVita continues to expand the iReferral and iTransplant platforms supporting nearly 75% of all OPOs in the United States and used by more than 15,000 medical professionals across more than 100 organ, tissue, eye, and birth tissue organizations around the world. SOURCE InVita Healthcare Technologies TEL AVIV, Israel, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd (TASE: TASE) is pleased to announce that its financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2023 will be published on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, after market close. The financial statements and the investors presentation will be posted on TASE's MAYA website as well as on the website of the Israel Securities Authority (MAGNA) and under Investor Relations in TASE's website, at https://ir.tase.co.il/en. The Hebrew reports will include links to accessible reports. In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that at 8:00 PM (Israeli time) on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, a conference call will take place, in English, in which the Company's financial statements for the second quarter 2023 will be reviewed before the Company's investors. The Company's CEO, Mr. Ittai Ben-Zeev, and its CFO, Mr. Yehuda Ben Ezra, will host the call followed by Q&A. Conference Call Dial-in Details (on passcode required): Israel: 03-9180609 US: 1-888-744-5399 (toll free) Canada: 1--888-604-5839 (toll free) UK: 0-800-917-5108 (toll free) All other Locations: + 972-3-9180609 The conference call will be held in English and will be accompanied by a presentation, which will be reported on the Israeli Securities Authority website (MAGNA), on the MAYA website and on the Company's website. A day after the call, a recording of the conference call will be uploaded to the Company's website, under News in the Investor Relations area. The conference call is not a substitute for perusing the Company's interim financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2023 in which full and precise information is presented. https://maya.tase.co.il/reports/details/1534189 Contact: Orna Goren Head of Communication and Public Relations Unit Tel: +972 76 8160405 [email protected] SOURCE The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd. CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Thermoplastic Tapes Market by Fiber Type (Glass, Carbon), Resin Type (PAEK, PA, PPS, PP), Application (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Transportation, Oil & Gas, Sporting Goods, Medical & Healthcare), and Region - Global Forecasts to 2028", is estimated at USD 2.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 4.4 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2023 to 2028. Factors such as the superior properties of thermoplastic tapes like corrosion resistance, lightweight and high strength, durability, and improved performance are positively driving the growth of the thermoplastic tapes Market. Thermoplastic composite materials are 50-70% lighter than steel and 25-30% lighter than aluminum. Increment in consumption of thermoplastic tapes is expected to increase owing to changing consumption patterns i.e., from heavy to lightweight composite, fuel efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Further, the continuous innovation, new product development, and processing applications to create more promising opportunities in aerospace & defense, automotive & transportation, and other industries will bolster demand for the thermoplastic tapes market. Browse in-depth TOC on "Thermoplastic Tapes Market" 168 Tables 52 Figures 192 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=137180592 Glass fiber held the second largest market for thermoplastic tapes. Glass fiber are used in various applications due to their low cost compared to traditional materials such as steel and aluminum. Glass fiber-based thermoplastic tapes are preferable over carbon fiber as they provide a quick and affordable way to build parts & molds and make repairs. Glass fibers are easy to process and less expensive but have low tensile strength and performance than carbon fiber. The glass fiber segment of the thermoplastic tapes market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by the low cost and easy processing of fiberglass that can be used in various applications. PA segment holds the second-highest market in 2022. Polyamide (PA)-based compounds are widely used thermoplastic composites worldwide. Thermoplastic composites containing PA resin matrix offer an ideal combination of properties suitable for automotive, aerospace & defense, energy, industrial, and electronics applications. Polyamide is easy to process, has high resistance to heat and chemical attack, good mechanical strength, and stiffness with good dielectric properties, friction, and wear resistance. It enables automotive OEMs to reduce weight without compromising vehicle performance. Polyamide, when used along with long carbon fibers, provides higher strength in automotive applications. In the automotive & transportation industry, PA is used for door modules, bumper stiffeners, and dashboard crossbeams. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=137180592 Middle East & Africa is expected to grow with a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The thermoplastic tapes market in the Middle East & Africa includes the UAE, South Africa, and Rest of the Middle East & Africa. The market growth is attributed to the developing aerospace & defense, automotive & transportation industries in the region. Thermoplastic tapes are in demand in the Middle East & Africa due to their lightweight and corrosion-resistant properties. The oil & gas industry, aerospace & defense, automotive & transportation, and sporting goods markets are driving up the demand for these tapes in the region. Key aircraft manufacturers, such as Boeing, Airbus, and Bombardier, are targeting Gulf buyers for the business jet market. The demand for repairing existing pipes, tanks, and infrastructure in the oil & gas industry contributes to market growth. The increasing need for sporting goods is also driving the thermoplastic tapes market in the region. The major players in the thermoplastic tapes market are Toray Industries, Inc. (Japan), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Japan), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Hexcel Corporation (US), Teijin Limited (Japan), Arkema (Netherlands), and Solvay (Belgium), BASF SE (US), and SGL Carbon (Germany), among others. Browse Adjacent Market: Fibers & Composites Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Carbon Fiber Market - Global Forecast to 2032 Carbon Fiber Tape Market - Global Forecast to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insights: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/thermoplastic-tape-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/thermoplastic-tape.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Vicinity maintains the largest district energy portfolio in the nation, and recently signed an agreement with MAN Energy Solutions to build a low-temperature source heat pump complex at Vicinity's facility in Cambridge, MA to produce carbon-free steam, eSteamTM, utilizing water from the Charles River. "Vicinity is leading the way to a decarbonized future with our carbon-free eSteamTM solution for heating and cooling," said Bill DiCroce, president and CEO of Vicinity Energy. "Bill's expertise and ability to produce creative, result-driven solutions will accelerate our decarbonization mission and allow us to offer our customers reliable, efficient, carbon-free technologies and services to meet sustainability goals." Fahey is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and earned his MBA from the University of Massachusetts Boston. The race to net zero In 2022, the company kicked off its electrification strategy by deconstructing a steam turbine at its Kendall Facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In its place, Vicinity is installing an industrial-scale electric boiler that will begin supplying carbon-free eSteam to customers in 2024 and a heat pump complex, the largest in the nation, in 2026. The company's other 11 locations in major cities nationwide will undergo similar electrification processes in the coming years to achieve its goal of net zero by 2050. About Vicinity Energy Vicinity Energy is a clean energy company that owns and operates an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States. Vicinity produces and distributes reliable, clean steam, hot water, and chilled water to over 230 million square feet of building space nationwide. The company is committed to achieving net zero carbon across its portfolio by 2050. It continues to invest in its infrastructure and the latest technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of commercial and institutional buildings in city centers. To learn more, visit www.vicinityenergy.us or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. The 114-Year-Old Dairy Cooperative Wins Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards Across Top Cheese Categories at Prestigious World-Class Competition, Sweeping the 'Specialty Soft or Cream Cheese' Category with Farmstyle Cream Cheese Spreads TILLAMOOK, Ore., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Oregon-based farmer-owned cooperative, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), announced today that the Tillamook brand was honored with 12 awards in multiple categories at the 2023 International Cheese and Dairy Awards, the largest competition of world-class cheese and dairy product producers for 125 years. This year, more than 5,500 cheese and dairy products were entered and judged in the prestigious competition held in Stafford, England on June 29. TCCA was recognized with the following honors: Tillamook County Creamery Association Secures Top Honors at International Cheese and Dairy Awards. Tillamook County Creamery Association Secures Top Honors at International Cheese and Dairy Awards. Tillamook County Creamery Association Secures Top Honors at International Cheese and Dairy Awards. Gold: Silver: Bronze: "We are feeling proud and honored to have so many of our products recognized at this year's International Cheese and Dairy Awards," said Jill Allen, Director of Product Excellence, TCCA. "This prestigious competition has been celebrating cheese and dairy products for 125 years, and to have our high-quality products recognized out of 5,500 entries taking home two golds in Best USA Cheese is incredibly special." Tillamook's award-winning cheese is available at major retailers nationwide. To learn more about Tillamook, find store locations, or purchase products online, visit Tillamook.com. About Tillamook County Creamery Association Founded in 1909 as a farmer-owned cooperative, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) recently achieved the distinction as a Certified B Corporation (B Corp) and prides itself on its commitment to bringing to market the most consistent, best tasting, highest quality dairy products made in the most natural way possible. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves real food that makes them feel good every day, Tillamook produces internationally recognized, award-winning cheese as well as exceptional ice cream, butter, cream cheese spreads, yogurt, and sour cream, made with unwavering values that never sacrifice or compromise quality for profit. TCCA is owned by a group of farming families, primarily based in Tillamook County, Oregon. TCCA operates production facilities in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon and employs more than 900 people throughout the state. The Tillamook Creamery is the largest tourist attraction on the coast of Oregon and one of the most popular in the state, attracting more than one million visitors each year. For more information on TCCA and Tillamook, visit Tillamook.com. MEDIA CONTACTS Jenna Faller, FleishmanHillard [email protected] Jenna Cerruti, Tillamook [email protected] SOURCE Tillamook County Creamery Association MADRID, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- We are celebrating. July 2023 marks a historic milestone for Triskell Software as we celebrate 10 years of providing cutting-edge PPM solutions for enterprise portfolio management on a global scale. Since its inception in 2013, Triskell has experienced steady and sustained growth, establishing itself as a premier provider of project portfolio management and strategic business planning solutions for organizations worldwide. July 2023 marks a historic milestone for Triskell Software as we celebrate 10 years of providing cutting-edge PPM solutions for enterprise portfolio management on a global scale. Angel Garcia, founder and CEO of Triskell Software, comments on the keys to this success: "Our commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction has been the cornerstone of our growth." He further adds, "We are extremely pleased with our achievements and are dedicated to continual improvement for the future. We will persistently work towards offering our customers solutions and services that surpass their expectations." Over the past 10 years, Triskell Software has achieved remarkable milestones, including: More than 250,000 users worldwide currently rely on our PPM solutions. We have expanded our international presence and now operate in 15 countries. 98 percent of our customers express satisfaction with our software. We have been recognized as a leading provider by renowned analysts such as Gartner and Forrester in markets like Strategy Execution Management, Strategic Portfolio Management, and Application Portfolio Management. We have established strategic partnerships across four continents, enabling us to enter new markets and remain closer to our customers. Lastly, we would like to express our gratitude to our customers, collaborators, and employees for their valuable contributions and unwavering support during these 10 years. Without them, this achievement would not have been possible. About Triskell Software Triskell is an enterprise solution focusing on Strategy Execution Management with advanced Project Portfolio Management features, helping to fill the gap between planning and proper execution. Triskell allows companies to plan, prioritize, manage and monitor their organization's initiatives. It includes tools for demand management, capacity management, project portfolio management, application portfolio management, resource management, financial management, waterfall and agile project management, and IT service portfolio management. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2150383/Triskell_Software_10th_Anniversary.jpg For more information about Triskell Software, contact: [email protected] [email protected]com SOURCE Triskell DILWORTH, Minn., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U-Haul is now operating at a new repair shop where the former Weivoda carpet store was located at 1107 Center Ave. W. Dilworth Repair will serve as a maintenance hub where regional U-Haul equipment is serviced. The shop will employ at least 21 Team Members tasked with assembling and maintaining engines, transmissions, rear axles and more. "We moved into this space to increase our repair capacity," explained Shawn Odden, U-Haul Company of Fargo president. "We simply outgrew our Fargo Repair Shop location. This property is about four times larger. We look forward to the growth and success we can accomplish here." Dilworth Repair opened on Monday. U-Haul acquired the property in June 2022. Acquisition of the property was driven by U-Haul Corporate Sustainability initiatives: U-Haul supports infill developments to help local communities lower their carbon footprint. The adaptive reuse of existing buildings reduces the amount of energy and resources required for new-building materials and helps cities reduce their unwanted inventory of unused buildings. U-Haul, honored as a Best for Vets leading veteran-friendly employer by The Military Times, actively recruits veterans and gives them preference in the hiring process. Find U-Haul careers at uhauljobs.com. Reserve equipment on the U-Haul app or contact Reservations at 1-800-GO-UHAUL. About U-HAUL Founded in 1945, U-Haul is the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 186,000 trucks, 128,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul is the third largest self-storage operator in North America and offers 913,000 rentable storage units and 78.1 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America. Contact: Andrea Batchelor Jeff Lockridge E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 602-263-6194 Website: uhaul.com SOURCE U-Haul VICTORIA, BC, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Members of Unifor Local 114 working at the Victoria Clipper say the pace of bargaining for their next contract suggests that the Victoria-Seattle ferry service could be disrupted before the end of the summer. "The Clipper's negotiators seem to be stuck in a pandemic concessionary mindset," said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. "Ferry ridership has rebounded from COVID-19. The company simply has no excuse to drag its feet on a fair contract for workers." Clipper workers are seeking to negotiate fair wage increases, adjustments to the scheduling system, and better job security. Local 114 successfully applied for the assistance of a conciliator to help close the gap between the parties, but during the entire 60-day conciliation period, the company only agreed to meet for three days. "The Clipper is a key part of the region's tourism. The workers responsible for the smooth operation of ferry services deserve a fair agreement," said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. Contract disputes and service disruptions would be new to the Clipper service. The German company who purchased the service in 2016 has been more difficult to work with, says Unifor. Unifor Local 114 represents 25 workers at the Victoria side of the Clipper's workforce in customer service, ticketing, baggage handling and docking. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future. SOURCE Unifor Company scored 100 on the "Disability Equality Index" as a second-time applicant Recognized for culture, leadership, and community engagement, among other key measures Company offers initiatives, projects, Employee Resource Groups, focused on inclusion, accessibility, and mental well-being DARMSTADT, Germany, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, today announced that its U.S. businesses have been named a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" by the Disability Equality Index (DEI), recognized as the most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune 1000 and Am Law 2001 to measure disability workplace inclusion against competitors. The businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, operate in the U.S and Canada as MilliporeSigma, EMD Serono, and EMD Electronics, employing approximately 15,000 people and operating 74 sites and manufacturing facilities. Pictured left to right: Adrienne Dawson, Head of DE&I, North America, and Eric Reyes, DE&I Relationship and Program Manager for North America and Latin America, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Reyes is also a founding member of the employee resource group, I'M Able, a network that supports and fosters unity and empowerment for individuals with disabilities, both visible and invisible, alongside their allies. "In the U.S., the businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, aim to lead, not follow. We continuously challenge the status quo so that we may raise the bar for our business, our customers, and most importantly, our people. We are strongly committed to moving the needle and achieving our diversity, equity, and inclusion aspirations with a workplace where all can belong, grow, and thrive," said Renee Connolly, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, supporting the businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "Every day, we are working to continually infuse accessibility across our value chain and throughout our facilities so that we can create an environment where all can bring their best selves to work and contribute to our joint success. That is why we are immensely proud to have been recognized as a 'Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion'." In the U.S., the businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, offer 30+ programs and projects, including Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), focused on disability inclusion. In just the last year, the U.S. businesses launched a mental well-being program called "Colleagues Supporting Colleagues," which is currently serving more than 600 employees nationwide, giving people unique access to support and resources to ensure positive mental well-being in and outside of the workplace. The businesses also launched a new ERG, focused on neurodiversity, a community that encourages different ways of thinking, and empowering colleagues to be role models while increasing representation. The 2023 DEI measured: Culture & Leadership; Enterprise-Wide Access; Employment Practices (Benefits, Recruitment, Employment, Education, Retention & Advancement, Accommodations); Community Engagement; Supplier Diversity; Non-U.S. Operations (non-weighted). The U.S. businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, received the top score of 100. 1 America's top 200 revenue-grossing law firms. About the Disability Equality Index The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion". The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. The organizations are complimentary and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates. Learn more at: www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org . All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the USA or Canada, please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service. About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 64,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices the company is everywhere. In 2022, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of 22.2 billion in 66 countries. The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark "Merck" internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare and EMD Electronics in electronics. Since its founding in 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company's technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. SOURCE Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Viking Mergers & Acquisitions of Tampa, Florida, announces the successful acquisition of a founder operated & longstanding full-service commercial HVAC and mechanical services company. TAMPA, Fla., July 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking Mergers & Acquisitions announces the successful acquisition of Wendel Mechanical, a full-service commercial HVAC and mechanical services company that has been serving the Class A commercial real estate market throughout the Tampa Metropolitan Area for 20+ years. Wendel Mechanical was founded by the current owner, John Wendel, and has developed a strong presence in the competitive commercial space by providing timely & quality service to an ever-growing clientele. John began his career in the trade in 1972 as a technician for a similar mechanical services business in Tampa, Florida, prior to founding Wendel Mechanical. Wendel Mechanical holds a primary focus on commercial service, replacements, and maintenance agreements for large commercial customers, property management groups, and one-off commercial buildings throughout the Tampa area. After decades of experience in the HVAC industry and as a business owner, John approached Viking to locate a qualified and driven individual or group that could take over the business and continue to build on the strong foundation that he developed. During the sales process, the Viking team vetted and met with numerous strategic, private equity, and financial buyers. John Wendel stated the following about the efforts from the Viking team; "I wanted to share with everyone the professionalism of the folks that worked with me (Christian Aunspaugh and Jacob Middleton). These folks worked extremely hard as the sale of my company was probably one of the most complicated sales they have done. If it weren't for their knowledge and experience I don't know what I would have done. I want to thank them very much for closing the deal." Wendel Mechanical was acquired by Jody Liner, President of Liner Services. Jody's experience includes 20+ years in the HVAC industry. By securing a buyer with such tenured experience in the industry, this allowed John a limited transition period for the business, a licensed qualifier post sale for the business, and a cordial closing process for all parties. Before his acquisition of Wendel Mechanical, Jody had closed numerous acquisitions in the HVAC space in which he grew each company over a multi-year holding period, to then experience successful exits of the businesses which have continued to thrive after his departure. John and Jody's interests and goals for the future of Wendel Mechanical were very much aligned, which allowed for a fruitful transaction for all. The buyer of Wendel Mechanical, Jody Liner stated, "I have experienced four acquisitions with three brokers and I must tell you that Christian Aunspaugh, hands down is the best I have dealt with! His expertise, support, commitment, patience and maturity for a man of his age is very rare in today's world. I believe he is a great asset and hope Viking recognizes him as being a future leader in their organization." Christian Aunspaugh, Associate Partner and Jacob Middleton, Advisor of Viking Mergers & Acquisitions provided leadership for the transaction team. About Viking Mergers & Acquisitions Viking provides exit strategies and M&A services to middle-market business owners. In business since 1996, 50% of Viking's advisors are former business owners. Viking has an 85% close rate, representing over 800 successful transactions and is the leading advisory firm of its type in the Southeast United States. Viking operates thirteen (13) offices, including two headquarters located in Tampa, FL and Charlotte, NC. SOURCE Viking Mergers & Acquisitions BOSTON, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Communications (a Millwright agency) has been chosen as the public relations agency of record for Middlesex Mediation , an ADR (alternative dispute resolution) firm. The Boston-based firm is led by John D. Hanify, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts and retired partner at Jones Day, where he had served as head of its Boston litigation practice. "Middlesex Mediation is composed of a team of 'neutrals,' each of whom have represented all corporate constituencies shareholders, employees and officers - and have extensive experience solving business disputes and settling litigation in ADR proceedings," said John D. Hanify, founder, Middlesex Mediation. "Warner's thoughtful approach to understanding and communicating our vision of how complex business and commercial disputes benefit from the flexibility inherent in mediation and ADR is invaluable as we seek to elevate awareness of our work across diverse industries." Middlesex Mediation is engaging the Warner team to amplify awareness of its professional services, including how its cost-saving ADR approach can benefit individual industries, across the Boston metro and greater New England region. "From Boston's biotech industry, to the 495 tech corridor, to New England's renowned academic institutions, General Counsels and the C-suite across industries benefit from the ADR approach. The regional, industry and law firm communications experience that Warner brings to our work with Middlesex Mediation empowers us to ably elevate the meaningful work being done by John Hanify and his colleagues," said Warner Communications President Erin Vadala. About Middlesex Mediation Middlesex Mediation is an ADR (alternative dispute resolution) firm based in Boston, MA, and serving the greater New England region. The firm founder, John D. Hanify, is former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts and retired partner at Jones Day, where he had served as head of its Boston litigation practice. He is joined by a panel of 'neutrals;' attorneys who have had extensive careers as lawyers to business, academic or charitable corporations and on behalf of corporate employees. Each has tried varied business cases and settled multiples of those they tried, and have seen the utility of early settlements as well as the challenges of maneuvering an active matter in litigation onto a pathway toward settlement. Connect middlesexmediation.com | LinkedIn About Warner Communications Warner Communications Group, (a Millwright agency), is an award-winning integrated marketing communications agency based in Boston with offices in New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Louisville, Miami, and Provo.. The agency holds expertise across a broad range of industries, including: supply chain, logistics, advanced manufacturing, Industry 4.0, B2B, technology, procurement, professional services, and convenience store retail. Driven to expand visibility, establish credibility, and build trust in brands while creating programs that move customers to action and achieve measurable results for clients, Warner is known for its commitment to delivering unmatched creativity, program results and client service. Connect warnerpr.com | Twitter: @WarnerPR | LinkedIn . Media contact: Erin Vadala Warner Communications [email protected]; 978-468-3076 SOURCE Warner Communications Timelines, process, and details - Phase 1 OTTAWA, ON, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - On 12 and 13 July 2023, Claigan Environmental Inc. is hosting their kickoff presentation for participants of the Claigan EU PFAS Restriction Submission Project. Participants will be invited to join and participate in the kickoff meeting. The kickoff meeting will include: Explanation of the project and project management How to provide comments, ask questions, or provide updates Explanation of the five (5) submissions to the EU Timelines of the four (4) phases Explanation of the first documents provided to participants Explanation of the relevant technical elements for phase 1 Deadlines for the first documents Status of the initial derogations A look ahead at phase 2 Notes: Due to confidentiality reasons, the participants will not be visible to one another and will be able to comment and ask questions anonymously during the web meeting. Slides, recording, and phase 1 documentation will be provided to all the participants. Login information will be provided directly to participants. If you are looking for peace-of-mind regarding your PFAS uses, this is the project to join. About Claigan Claigan is the world leader on PFAS compliance with detailed testing data on hundreds of products. The Claigan EU PFAS Restriction Submissions Project will be the most detailed and technical submission to the EU. At Claigan, we believe in 'More Results. Less Journey.' SOURCE Claigan Environmental Inc. DULUTH, Minn. and KNOXVILLE, Tenn. and KALAMAZOO, Mich., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cirrus Aircraft today announced that Western Michigan University has purchased thirty-two (32) TRAC SR Series aircraft as it prepares to expand its College of Aviation. As a long-time collegiate partner, Western Michigan University has leveraged Cirrus Aircraft's technology and sophistication for advanced student flight training. TRAC SR Series "We are honored to support one of the largest collegiate aviation schools in the United States with a new fleet of TRAC SR Series aircraft," said David Moser, Vice President of Fleet and Special Mission Sales for Cirrus Aircraft. "The TRAC SR Series features an advanced safety and technology suite that continues to optimize how students learn to fly. We look forward to supporting our collegiate partners by providing a platform to train world-class pilots as they become the next generation of aviators." "As we expand our College of Aviation, the TRAC SR aircraft becomes an invaluable asset for our students to obtain the transferable skills necessary as a pilot," said Dr. Raymond Thompson, Western Michigan University. "The TRAC aircraft offers a technologically advanced training platform that ultimately provides them with a competitive advantage in the workforce." Designed as the ultimate ab-initio flight training platform, the technologically advanced TRAC SR Series boasts an impressive list of features and capabilities that complement the SR20 aircraft's stable flight characteristics. The integrated Garmin flight deck includes two large flight displays, a Flight Management System (FMS) keypad controller, an Electronic Stability and Protection system as well as integrated engine indication and crew alerting/warning systems all features found on today's advanced airliners. The interior was designed to meet the unique needs of a high-utilization training environment, replacing the luxury materials found in the SR Series with a durable all-weather floor liner and easy to clean wear-resistant seats. The spacious cabin provides an optimal workspace to learn and train, with more space than typical training aircraft, rear seats for additional students or observers and optional air conditioning for comfort in all seasons. The TRAC Series includes the TRAC20, TRAC22, and TRAC22T. Additionally, the TRAC Series features a durable all-composite airframe structure with the signature Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), making the TRAC Series one of the safest and most versatile training airplanes available today. The TRAC Series is further enhanced by a wide array of interactive, tailored flight training content through Cirrus Approach, including online courses, engaging videos and the award-winning iFOM (interactive Flight Operations Manual) for convenient learning anywhere in the world. To learn more about the TRAC SR Series, please visit: cirrusaircraft.com/fleet. About Western Michigan University's College of Aviation Western Michigan University's College of Aviation, FLYING Magazine's No. 2 ranked aviation college, offers the only comprehensive aviation program at a public university in the state of Michigan. With nearly 1,200 undergraduate students, it is one of the largest aviation programs in the nation. Backed by more than 80 years of aviation experience, education and excellent industry reputation, WMU's College of Aviation is a powerful force in the future of aviation training. Learn more at wmich.edu/aviation. About Cirrus Aircraft Cirrus Aircraft is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet, the world's first single-engine Personal Jet, and the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined aviation performance, comfort and safety with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft has passed 15 million hours, and 250 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company has seven locations in the United States, including Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; Greater Orlando, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee and Benton Harbor, Michigan. Learn more at cirrusaircraft.com. SOURCE Cirrus Aircraft Pty Ltd proudly announces its certification as carbon neutral for its Australian business operations by Climate Active . The certification, awarded by the Australian Government , recognises SmartestEnergy Australia's commitment to voluntary climate action and its contribution towards a low-carbon future. Climate Active is a partnership between the Australian Government and businesses aiming to drive voluntary climate action. Its rigorous and credible carbon neutral certification is a testament to SmartestEnergy Australia's dedication to reducing its carbon emissions and investing in projects that offset the remaining emissions, ultimately achieving carbon neutrality. Robert Owens, CEO of SmartestEnergy Australia, emphasizes the importance of carbon neutral certification, stating, "As a renewable energy retailer, becoming carbon neutral not only aligns with our vision to empower switched-on customers, generators and partners in Australia to get to net zero but also makes strong business sense. We have diligently reduced our carbon emissions and will continue to invest in projects that contribute to emission reduction or removal. As a result, our emissions are now neutral." By attaining carbon neutral certification, SmartestEnergy Australia exemplifies its commitment to sustainable business practices and underscores its role in leading the transition towards a greener and more sustainable future. As a member of the Climate Active Network, SmartestEnergy Australia joins a group of progressive organisations that share a common goal of combating climate change. About Climate Active Climate Active is Australia's premier initiative for climate action, bringing together the Australian Government and businesses to drive positive environmental impact. The certification awarded by Climate Active is a rigorous, government-backed program, enabling consumers, businesses and stakeholders to identify and support brands that make a tangible difference in addressing climate change. What Does Carbon Neutral Mean? Being carbon neutral entails taking comprehensive measures to reduce and offset an organisation's carbon emissions. SmartestEnergy Australia has meticulously documented and reported all greenhouse gas emitting activities (Scope 1, 2, and 3) throughout the year. Additionally, the company has invested in projects that effectively reduce or remove equivalent emissions, resulting in a net zero carbon footprint. Joy Daly, Office Manager of SmartestEnergy Australia, reflects on the efforts undertaken to achieve carbon neutrality, stating, "Putting together all the necessary paperwork for procurement was a big job, but it was definitely worth it. Now, we're officially a certified carbon neutral organisation, thanks to the unique Climate Active program backed by the government. We're not just sitting around. We're determined to make a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions. By teaming up with other Climate Active organisations, businesses can really make a difference." Proactive and Long-Term Emission Reduction Strategies SmartestEnergy Australia remains steadfast in its commitment to proactively reducing emissions and fostering a renewable future. The company has established the following strategies to achieve its ambitious emission reduction goals: Emissions Reduction Strategy: SmartestEnergy Australia is dedicated to reducing emissions across its Australian operations by at least 30% below the base year 2021/22 levels by 2030. This equates to a reduction of over 200 tCO2-e from the initial emissions of 691 tCO2-e. Partnerships: Whenever feasible, SmartestEnergy Australia selects partner organisations that are certified Carbon Neutral by Climate Active or their UK equivalent, such as The Carbon Trust. Travel: The company supports remote work and encourages employees to work from their home state whenever possible. For essential flights, SmartestEnergy Australia encourages staff to opt for carbon offset options. Office: The Sydney office of SmartestEnergy Australia is powered by 100% GreenPower, reinforcing the company's commitment to sustainable energy sources. Through these measures, SmartestEnergy Australia is proactively shaping employee behaviors, optimising procurement processes, and minimising the carbon impact of its operations, thus promoting a more sustainable and environmentally conscious business environment. The company will remain proactive throughout the year, with regular reviews of activities under SmartestEnergy's direct control that could be altered or eliminated to reduce emissions. SmartestEnergy Australia's carbon neutral certification underscores its position as an independent renewable energy retailer and its dedication to achieving a sustainable and low carbon future. By setting an example through voluntary climate action, SmartestEnergy Australia encourages other businesses to prioritise environmental thought leadership, empowering businesses to build a more sustainable, greener future. About SmartestEnergy: SmartestEnergy is a people-powered renewable energy company built on a team of NEM energy experts and strong relationships with our customers and partners. We opened our Sydney office in 2020, following two decades of growth and customer focus in the UK. We're asset-light and operating without bias in the Australian market, which means we can offer reliable, innovative retail solutions for clean energy that suit different needs and stages of the sustainability journey. With the grid mix changing, balancing supply and demand has never been more important. Today, we're driving the worldwide transition to net zero with offices spanning Australia, US and UK. We're proud to be a wholly owned subsidiary of Marubeni, a Japanese corporation currently listed as a Fortune Global 500 company. As a certified carbon neutral organisation by Climate Active, SmartestEnergy Australia leads by example and has made choices and changes in the way we do business to ensure our greenhouse gas emissions are carbon neutral. smartestenergy.com Follow us on LinkedIn Twitter SmartestEnergy Australia. Empowering a renewable future. The biggest threat to protecting your portfolio and what you can do about it today! Tweet this When someone's personal IRA crashes by as much as 60%, they may wonder if it is too late to protect their assets. Or they may look back and see the past as the only time they could have changed their asset allocation. The panel examines why the myth of "waiting for the right time" could prevent people from making smart financial decisions today. Watch the latest video to learn more. Philip N. Diehl, 35th Director of the U.S. Mint (19942000) and President of U.S. Money Reserve, and Edmund Moy, 38th Director of the U.S. Mint (20062011) and U.S. Money Reserve's Senior IRA Strategist, are joined by Angela Roberts, U.S. Money Reserve CEO; Brad Chastain, U.S. Money Reserve's Director of Education; and host Chuck Woolery. For more information or to speak with company leadership at U.S. Money Reserve, please contact Christol Farris at 512-568-9991 or [email protected] or visit www.usmoneyreserve.com. About U.S. Money Reserve U.S. Money Reserve is one of the nation's largest private distributors of U.S. governmentissued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products. The company is not affiliated the U.S. Government and the U.S. Mint. Founded in 2001, U.S. Money Reserve has grown into one of the world's largest private distributors of U.S. and foreign governmentissued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium legal-tender products, as well as precious metals IRAs. Hundreds of thousands of clients across the country rely on U.S. Money Reserve to diversify their assets with physical precious metals. U.S. Money Reserve's uniquely trained team includes coin research and numismatic professionals equipped with expert market knowledge to find products that offer the highest profit potential for precious metals buyers at every level. U.S. Money Reserve goes above the industry standard to provide superior customer service, with the goal of establishing a long-term relationship with each and every one of its customers. U.S. Money Reserve is based in Austin, Texas. Like them on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, and follow on Twitter @USMoneyReserve. SOURCE U.S. Money Reserve KENANSVILLE, Fla., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, Wild Florida, Florida's only Airboat, Gator & Drive-thru Safari Park, is delighted to announce the success of its annual Gator Week, which took place from May 29 - June 3, 2023. Through the generous support of visitors and the team at Wild Florida, a grand total of $7,400 was raised for the Wild Florida Scholarship Fund, benefitting local high school seniors in Osceola County. The Crusher Show during Gator Week at Wild Florida Gator Week, an eagerly anticipated event, brought together wildlife enthusiasts, tourists, and locals to celebrate Florida's iconic reptilethe American alligator. During this exciting week-long event, visitors were treated to a wide range of educational and entertaining activities, including live alligator demonstrations, interactive exhibits, airboat rides through the headwaters of the Florida Everglades, and much more. A key highlight of Gator Week was the opportunity for visitors to make a donation for entry into the Wild Florida Gator Park instead of the standard fee for admission, and they could decide how much to give. Wild Florida's patrons showed incredible generosity, contributing to the Wild Florida Scholarship Fund to support local high school seniors pursuing higher education. To further amplify the impact, the Wild Florida team demonstrated their commitment to the cause by matching the funds raised from visitor donations. "We are thrilled with the overwhelming success of Gator Week and the incredible generosity shown by our visitors," said Sam Haught, Co-owner of Wild Florida. "The Wild Florida Scholarship Fund is in its infancy, and we exceeded last year's donation. This community definitely plays a vital role in empowering and supporting the next generation of leaders, and we're proud to be a catalyst of that." The $7,400 raised during Gator Week will be directly allocated to the Wild Florida Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to deserving high school seniors in Osceola County who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership qualities, and a passion for conservation. Wild Florida extends its gratitude to all their fans who participated in Gator Week and contributed to the fund. Wild Florida Airboats, Drive-thru Safari & Gator Park, which opened on Lake Cypress in Kenansville in 2010, focuses on educating individuals on Central Florida's natural resources. The Wild Florida team is dedicated to protecting, conserving, and enhancing Florida's diverse ecosystem to ensure that future generations can enjoy the wonders of wild, native Florida. For more information about Wild Florida and its conservation efforts, please visit www.wildfl.com . Contact Sam Haught, Co-owner at Wild Florida Airboats, Drive-thru Safari & Gator Park [email protected] 407-957-3135 SOURCE Wild Florida Parent Company of Better-For-You Fast Casual Restaurants Expands Digital Ordering Presence though Partnership with Olo to Introduce New Online-only Delivery and Takeout Concepts ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WOWorks , the family of better-for-you restaurant brands, Saladworks , Frutta Bowls , Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina, and Zoup! Eatery , proudly announces the launch of seven new virtual brands. Ranging from delectable sandwiches to irresistible acai bowls, these new online-only delivery and takeout concepts harness the power of WOWorks' strategic collaboration with Olo (NYSE: $OLO), a leading open SaaS platform that revolutionizes the restaurant industry's digital landscape. Third-party delivery services, such as DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub, have become the driving force behind a culinary revolution, reshaping the way consumers experience food. With their convenience and accessibility, these platforms are projected to fuel unprecedented growth in the food delivery industry, revolutionizing the dining landscape and creating exciting opportunities for restaurants and consumers alike. By introducing these innovative virtual brands, WOWorks opens fresh revenue streams for its franchisees, propelling growth. The exciting lineup of WOWorks' new virtual brands includes: 1. Soup Works A virtual brand of Saladworks, this virtual brand tantalizes taste buds with a wide variety of hearty and flavorful soups. 2. Stack'd Sandwiches A virtual brand of Saladworks, this virtual brand boasts chef-inspired signature sandwiches and panini melts. 3. Toasty A virtual brand of Frutta Bowls, this virtual brand elevates the humble toast into savory creations. 4. Spoon Me A virtual brand of Frutta Bowls, this virtual brand serves up decadent and energizing Acai, Pitaya, Coconut, blended kale bowls topped with delicious fruit. 5. Sips A virtual brand of Frutta Bowls, this virtual brand offers refreshing and revitalizing smoothies. 6. Titan Gyros: A virtual brand from Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh that features Double-Stuffed Gyros. 7. MacLove A virtual brand of Zoup! that brings comfort food to an entire new level with creative mac-and-cheese recipes. "WOWorks's new virtual brands are a testament of its guests increasing demand for more nutritious and flavorful meal options that can be enjoyed on-the-go," said Kelly Roddy, CEO of WOWorks. "Our partnership with Olo will allow WOWorks' franchisees to add on additional revenue streams that can leverage their existing menu offerings in front of an increasing audience on third-party online food delivery sites," WOWorks franchise owners come from different backgrounds, including multi-brand franchisees; varied business ownership backgrounds, such as construction, hotels, and fitness; former professional athletes; and military veterans. The company has franchising opportunities available in 49 states (all states excluding Hawaii) and offers 25 percent off franchise fees for veterans and first responders. If you are interested in owning a WOWorks restaurant brand franchise, visit https://woworksusa.com/a-place-to-invest/ to learn more. ABOUT WOWORKS: WOWorks was formed in 2020 with a mission to help guests pursue their passions and live their best lives by serving healthier-for-you and flavorful meals along with its Vow to "WOW!" guest hospitality. Fully owned by Centre Lane Partners, LLC, WOWorks' portfolio, in addition to its newest brands, Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina and Zoup! Eatery , consists of: Saladworks , the nation's leading fast-casual salad brand; Frutta Bowls , a unique restaurant franchise serving a variety of superfood bowls, fresh fruit smoothies, protein bites and more; Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, a popular Mediterranean restaurant concept; The Simple Greek , which offers a fresh and healthy take on traditional Greek recipes in a fast-casual setting. WOWorks seeks to drive explosive growth across all of its brands through a variety of channels, both traditional and non-traditional, including ghost kitchens, food trucks, grocery retail and more. ABOUT OLO: Olo is a leading open SaaS platform for restaurants that enables hospitality at every guest touchpoint. Millions of orders per day run on Olo's on-demand commerce engine, providing restaurants a single source to understand and serve every guest from every channel, whether direct or third-party. With integrations to over 300 technology partners, Olo customers can build personalized guest experiences in and outside of their four walls, utilizing one of the largest and most flexible restaurant tech ecosystems on the market. Over 600 restaurant brands trust Olo to grow their digital ordering and delivery programs, do more with less, and make every guest feel like a regular. SOURCE WOWorks BALTIMORE, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Your Life ABA, a leading provider of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapy services, is pleased to announce its expansion into Maryland. This expansion comes after being designated a qualified contractor by the Board of Education of Calvert County to deliver behavior analyst consulting services to students with disabilities in Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS). At Your Life ABA, our unwavering dedication lies in delivering tailored and targeted interventions, founded in ABA Therapy. We take on the most challenging cases that other providers might shy away from. Our team of passionate and qualified experts empowers each individual we support, guiding them toward realizing their fullest potential. Your Life ABA is a part of the New Story network of schools, clinics, and services. This designation marks an exciting opportunity to provide behavioral analyst support to students in Calvert County, Maryland. While currently operating in Virginia, we are thrilled to extend our services across state lines and contribute to the educational development of students in Maryland. For more information about Your Life ABA and the services we offer, please visit our website at www.yourlifeaba.com. About Your Life ABA Your Life ABA clinics, located throughout Virginia, provide Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy and related-clinical services to children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Your Life ABA is focused on the whole individual, and providing therapeutic services tailored to meet the specific goals and needs of each client and family it serves. With a commitment to excellence, we tackle the most challenging cases and provide unwavering support to those we serve. Your Life ABA is part of the New Story network of schools and clinics, a leading provider of special education and therapeutic services. To learn more, please visit www.yourlifeaba.com. SOURCE New Story Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC, "Ecopetrol" or the "Company") informs the market that, as part of its comprehensive debt management, it will redeem (make whole) the remaining amount of its international notes maturing in September 2023, which were issued in 2013. The outstanding principal amount of the notes is USD 821.5 million with a coupon rate of 5.875% (CUSIP: 279158 AC3 / ISIN: US279158AC30). The bonds will be redeemed on August 7, 2023 (the "Redemption Date"), at an approximate redemption price of USD 1,000.18 per USD 1,000 principal amount outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The prepayment aligns with the objectives of the financial plan and reaffirms Ecopetrol S.A.'s commitment to its refinancing strategy and investment plan for 2023. For further information, please refer to the press release at the following link: https://files.ecopetrol.com.co/web/eng/notice-redemption-june2023.pdf Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice. This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases, or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For more information, please contact: Head of Capital Markets (a) Diego Nicolas Lopez Reina Email: investors@ecopetrol.com.co Head of Corporate Communications Juan Guillermo Londono Email: juan.londono@ecopetrol.com.co Boralex inc. ("Boralex" or the "Company") (TSX: BLX) announced that two of its projects, totalling 39.7 MW, have been selected in the latest onshore wind call for tenders conducted by the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition of France. "At a time when the electrification of our society cannot be achieved without a massive deployment of renewable energy, the results announced today (July 10) signal a strong outlook for the industry. We were able to meet the government's quality requirements. A few days after announcing the commissioning of our Preveranges wind farm, we are delighted to know that two new Boralex wind projects will in the very short term, contribute to France's 2030 decarbonization ambitions," said Nicolas Wolff, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Europe at Boralex. These projects have received the necessary administrative authorizations and will allow Boralex to benefit from a feed-in premium contract for 20 years as of the start of commercial operation. Boralex has a portfolio of over 1.9 GW of wind and solar projects in France at various stages of development. It currently has over 1.2 GW of wind and solar facilities in operation in France and approximately 2.5 GW worldwide. The completion of these projects will contribute to Boralex's targeted growth in the French market, in line with its Strategic Plan. About Boralex At Boralex, we have been providing affordable renewable energy accessible to everyone for over 30 years. As a leader in the Canadian market and France's largest independent producer of onshore wind power, we also have facilities in the United States and development projects in the United Kingdom. Over the past five years, our installed capacity has more than doubled to over 3 GW. We are developing a portfolio of over 6 GW in wind, solar projects and storage projects, guided by our values and our corporate social responsibility (CSR) approach. Through profitable and sustainable growth, Boralex is actively participating in the fight against global warming. Thanks to our fearlessness, our discipline, our expertise and our diversity, we continue to be an industry leader. Boralex's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BLX. For more information, visit boralex.com or sedar.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. For more information If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Agra, July 11 : In a joint operation, officials of the Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) and Agra police have busted a fake drug-producing unit at an educational institute and recovered a huge quantity of drugs and fake medicines worth Rs 5 crore. Seven persons, including a woman, have been arrested for allegedly making and selling these drugs.According to police sources, ANTF was working on the case for one month and after getting a tip-off, the raid was conducted on the educational institute. The accused have been identified as Diwan Singh, Rohit Singh, Narender Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Ajit Prashar, Sanni Raj, Rekha Devi and her husband Vijay Singh, all residents of Agra. Police said that they have been booked under the NDPS Act, and seven of them were arrested while Vijay is absconding. They were allegedly operating a drugs manufacturing unit at an educational institute to avoid suspicion.They produced fake drugs such as Alzocel tab, Appecef tab, Corex, Codistar cough syrup and stocked them in classrooms. Revealing their modus operandi, police said that the accused used to change the location after six months. During investigation, it came to light that the deliveries of fake drugs or raw materials were received and sent after midnight. Thousands of empty and filled cough syrup bottles, tablets and other equipment were found at the institute along with two luxury cars and Rs eight lakh in cash. Irfan Nasir Khan, DSP of ANTF, said, "An investigation is being conducted, and further links of the gang are being searched. They used to operate across the country. The drugs were being supplied across the country, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. They used to label and pack these drugs as branded medicine companies in India. A huge amount of label and packing material was also recovered from the spot."--IANS amita/khz Ankara, July 11 : Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the expansion of NATO over the phone ahead of the alliance's summit this week. Earlier on Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the European Union to resume the long-stalled membership talks with Ankara, in exchange for a green light from Turkey to Sweden's NATO bid, Xinhua news agency reported. On Sunday, The Turkish President held a phone conversation with his US counterpart Joe Biden to also discuss Sweden's NATO bid. During the phone call, Erdogan noted "Sweden has taken some steps in the right direction" toward the ratification of its NATO bid by making changes in its anti-terrorism legislation, according to a statement by Erdogan's office. However, the Turkish leader said these steps were "nullified" as the supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) "continue to hold demonstrations freely in the country to advocate terrorism". Biden, for his part, conveyed to Erdogan his desire to welcome Sweden into NATO as soon as possible, according to a White House statement. The two Presidents agreed to meet face-to-face at the NATO summit in Lithuania's capital Vilnius on July 11-12. Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year but met with objections from Turkey on the grounds that the two countries harbour members of PKK and the Gulen movement. Turkey eventually lifted its objection to Finland's NATO accession earlier this year after the Nordic country took what Ankara calls "concrete steps" against such organisations. In April, Finland became NATO's 31st member state. Srinagar, July 11 : Since the annual Amarnath Yatra commenced on July 1, more than 1 lakh devotees have performed the pilgrimage so far as of Tuesday, officials said. According to the officials, over 24,000 yatris had aDarshana on Monday after pilgrims from the two base camps were allowed to move towards the cave shrine as the weather improved in the Kashmir Valley. The movement of yatris was halted for three days due to the closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway as a result of inclement weather. Officials said the highway will remain closed for traffic on Tuesday as well. Efforts are on to restore the highway after a portion of the road caved in due to heavy rain in Panthyal stretch. Yatris reach the Himalayan cave shrine either from the traditional South Kashmir route, which involves an uphill trek of 43 km from the Pahalgam base camp or from the North Kashmir Baltal base camp which involves a 13 km trek. Those using the Pahalgam route take three to four days to reach the cave shrine, while the ones who choose the Baltal route return to the base camp on the same day after having aDarshana inside the cave shrine situated 3,888 metres above the sea-level. Helicopter services are also available for yatris on both the routes. The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that devotees believe symbolises mythical powers of Lord Shiva. The ice stalagmite structure wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. This yearas 62-day long Amarnath Yatra will end on August 31 coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival. To protect the pilgrims from high altitude sickness, authorities have banned all junk food. Free community kitchens called aLangarsa those have been set up along both the routes. The banned items include all bottled drinks, Halwai items, fried food and tobacco-based products. ELKO As statistics of cyberbullying and youth suicide climb, one man is doing whatever he can to reach as many children and teens as possible by sharing the story of the death of his young son more than a decade ago. Kirk Smalley has traveled across the county, speaking to more than four million people of all ages about his 11-year old son Ty who took his own life after being bullied for about two years. The organization Stand for the Silent was formed by a group of high school students after Smalley spoke at their school. Team members from SFTS were in Elko early this month to raise awareness at several locations throughout the town. They also took donations that raised money to pay for care kits and resources that will be distributed to schools, such as personal hygiene items and school supplies. Elko County is among others in the state and the nation reeling from a suicide crisis, and saw 14 suicides last year and eight this year. The deaths have spurred the community to take action in various ways. A Hope Squad will begin next school year throughout the Elko County School District to bring awareness to suicide prevention by teaching students skills in listening and supporting their peers. For Smalley, anything that can be done to change someones mind is worth the effort. Suicide has always been a taboo subject, he said. People dont want to talk about it or think about a child taking their own life, and the only way we stop it is if learn that we can talk about it. Weve got to let them know that we can talk it out, we dont have to act it out. Thats how we stop this from happening. Since it started, Stand of the Silent has more than 340 chapters in 40 states and 18 countries. Smalley and his late wife Laura traveled to schools to tell their story, meeting privately with President Barak Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in the White House. Although fundraising allows Smalley to travel and speak at schools without charging a dime, he said he doesnt care about it at all. This is about raising awareness, spreading a message and more importantly saving kids. Its a community outreach that does raise money for us, he continued. Unfortunately, money is a necessary evil in this day and age, and it takes that for us to do what we do. Laura and I did this without any help for almost 10 years. Smalley also educates parents with free resources on how to combat cyberbullying thats become an atrocious thing in our society now. Kids are being brutalized online. Most parents dont even know how to start to deal with that. Over the years, Smalley has been invited to speak at other locations such as civic organizations. Once he was asked to speak at a victims impact week a maximum security prison in Missouri. Most of the girls in prison were there because they were bullied growing up or they were a bully and it ended up putting them in prison, he said. Smalleys experience with his son is what motivates him to keep going. I know what [bullying] does to kids. I saw it happen to my kid. Srinagar, July 11 : Nine foreigners were among 13 people who have been rescued by the police after they were stranded due to heavy snowfall in Ladakh's Zanskar area, sources said on Tuesday. A group of trekkers comprising two French nationals and seven Korean with their four local guides were trapped during Zanskar-Lingshed trekking expedition. "Immediately after getting reports of the group being trapped in heavy snowfall, police organised a rescue operation and brought the group of trekkers to Padum. "The rescue operation took five hours. Food was provided to the rescued group and later they were brought down," the police sources said. Lucknow, July 11 : The Lucknow police have arrested an 18-year-old boy, originally from Nepal, along with his two aides, for allegedly stealing vehicles from various locations of the state capital to buy expensive gifts for his girlfriend. The accused had formed a three-member gang that also involved his girlfriend's brother and his friend who would steal two-wheelers from various locations, and sell them at a price as low as Rs 2000 to 3000, the police said on Tuesday. DCP South Vineet Jaiswal said, "Police have found as many as 17 two-wheelers from their possession which were stolen from various locations of Lucknow. There is a possibility that more vehicles are yet to be retrieved from them as the investigation is still underway." He said, "The prime accused has been identified as Ansh Singh, 18, originally from Nepal. He currently lives in the Manak Nagar area with his family. His gang included his girlfriend's brother Deepak Sharma, 22, and his friend Priyanshu Kashyap, 21, both residents of Lucknow." "The three were arrested from Lok Bandhu crossing in Krishna Nagar during a vehicle checking drive. As many as 17 two-wheelers, along with a master key to open them, were found from the accused. They had kept them hidden behind bushes in Kashi Ram colony," said police. During interrogation, the accused confessed to stealing vehicles in large numbers. The three have even lost count of how many vehicles they have stolen so far. The accused would mostly lift vehicles from near the emergency ward of Lok Bandhu Hospital. "We stole the vehicles of patients' attendees, who often forget to lock their motorbikes. We would also pose as informal valets and then take away their vehicles with keys," the accused told police. "The Krishna Nagar police in its preliminary investigation, found out that these vehicles seized were stolen from various locations of Lucknow. Their number plates were changed to sell them off. The detailed criminal record of the accused is also being sought from Nepal," DCP added. When asked about the reason behind the crime, accused Ansh Singh told police that he was stealing the vehicles to fulfil his girlfriend's needs. He would sell them off and buy expensive gifts for his girlfriend. "The matter is still under investigation. All three accused were booked under various sections of IPC. Gangster Act will also be added to the FIR," said the DCP. Varanasi : , July 11 (IANS) A vegetable vendor and his son have been arrested in connection with the Samajwadi Party leader Ajay Fauzi's show of selling tomatoes under security cover of bouncers. Ajay Fauzi is absconding. ACP Bhelupur Pravin Kumar Singh said on Tuesday that an FIR against Ajay Fauzi, vegetable vendor Jag Narain Yadav, his son Vikas Yadav and other unidentified persons had been lodged under section 295A (malicious acts intended to outrage feelings), 153A (promoting enmity), and 505(2) (promoting enmity between classes). Jag Narain and Vikas had been arrested while Fauzi was absconding, he said, adding that the teams had been engaged to nab him. On Sunday, a video of Fauzi selling tomatoes under the security of bouncers, had gone viral on social media. The police swung into action and took vegetable vendor Jag Narain and Vikas to Lanka police station. During interrogation, the two revealed that Fauzi had managed the show at their shop. SP president Akhilesh Yadav, who had initially jibed through his tweet that tomatoes should be sold in Z Plus security, has condemned the police action against the vegetable vendor and demanded his release. Akhilesh stated, aIn a country where there is no place for healthy sarcasm and satire, it should be understood that the party in power, harassing others, is itself scared . Vilnius, July 11 : NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that Turkey has finally backed Sweden's bid to join the military alliance and called Ankara's decision "historic". Taking to Twitter late Monday night, Stoltenberg said: "Glad to announce that after the meeting I hosted with (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan & Swedish PM (Ulf Kristersson), President Erdogan has agreed to forward Sweden's accession protocol to the Grand National Assembly ASAP & ensure ratification. "This is an historic step which makes all NATO allies stronger & safer." The announcement came following talks between the Turkish and Swedish leaders in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, where the two-day NATO Summit will begin on Tuesday. Turkey had previously spent months blocking Sweden's application, accusing it of hosting Kurdish militants, reports the BBC.As one of NATO's 31 members, Turkey has a veto over any new country joining the group.In a separate statement, the NATO chief said Turkey and Sweden had addressed "Turkey's legitimate security concerns" and as a result Sweden had amended its constitution, changed its laws, expanded its counter-terrorism operation against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) and resumed arms exports to Turkey.Monday night's announcement was welcomed by a host of NATO members.Reacting to the news, US President Joe Biden said he welcomed the commitment by his Turkish counterpart to proceed with "swift ratification". "I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defence and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd Nato ally," a White House statement said. While German Foreign Minister Annalen Baerbock tweeted: "At 32, we're all safer together," British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Sweden joining would "make us all safer". President of the EU Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen said: "A historic step in Vilnius. I welcome the important step that TArkiye has promised to take, to ratify Swedenas accession to NATO." Sweden and its eastern neighbour Finland announced their intention to join NATO in May last year in the wake of Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Finland formally joined he alliance in April this year. The main focus of the two-day NATO Summit is Ukraine's membership which President Volodymr Zelensky has been pushing for months amid the ongoing war. But all NATO members agree that Ukraine cannot join the bloc during the war amid fears this would lead to a direct conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia, the BBC reported. Zelensky has admitted that he does not expect a membership until after the war, but he wants the Summit to give a "clear signal" on Ukraine's bid. Reykjavik, July 11 : A volcano has erupted in Iceland near near the capital Reykjavik after several days of earthquakes, officials said. The eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula started at around 2.40 p.m. on Monday, Xinhua news agency quoted the Icelandic Meteorological Office as saying. Geophysics professor Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson told Icelandic broadcaster RUV that the eruption is small so far, but it is too early to say how it will develop. The lava flow on Monday evening was 200 meters long. The Icelandic Meteorological Office compared this to the start of volcanic activity in the area in 2021 and 2022. The current seismic unrest began on July 4. According to Isavia, which operates Keflavik International Airport, the eruption has had no effect on domestic or international flights. However, flights are prohibited within a three-mile radius of the volcanic eruptions, except for those carrying scientists and emergency responders. Local media footage showed a massive cloud of smoke rising from the ground. The smoke could be seen from the road connecting the capital to the international airport. The Reykjanes Peninsula regional destination management office also issued a warning about gas levels on Monday, reports CNN. In a statement, the office said the peninsula's police chief ordered the closure of all trails to the volcano due to "massive gas pollution that is life-threatening", after speaking with scientists. Authorities are working to restore access to the volcano once the pollution dies down, it added. Iceland currently has 32 active volcanic systems. Of these, the most active is Grimsvotn. Over the past 500 years, Iceland's volcanoes have produced a third of the total global lava output. In 2010, eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull stopped all air traffic over Europe for several days by spewing ash in the air. After 6,000 years, the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted in 2021 and again in 2022, but is currently inactive. Tokyo, July 11 : A Canadian teenager has been questioned for allegedly scribbling his name on a wooden pillar of an ancient Buddhist temple in Japan's Nara city, officials said. The incident took place on July 7 at the premises of the Toshodaiji Kondo, one of the places in the historic city that Unesco has designated as World Heritage Site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", reports CNN. It was founded in 759. "On the southwest side of Toshodaiji Kondo, there are wooden pillars supporting the roof," a police official told CNN. "On the pillars to the side, the boy carved 'Julian' on a wooden pillar about 170 cm above the ground with his nail." The official said a Japanese tourist saw the teen defacing the pillar and told him to stop before notifying temple employees. Soon after, temple staff alerted nearby police of the incident and the teenager was brought in for questioning the following day, said the official. "The boy admitted his act and says it was done not with the intent of harming Japanese culture," the official told CNN. "He is now with his parents, who were with him when the incident occurred." The official added that police would continue to investigate and if the teen is found to be in violation of the Law for Protection of Cultural Properties he will be referred to prosecutors. However, he will not be detained. Under Japanese law, any person who has damaged an object of "important cultural property" could face up to five years in prison, or a fine of 300,000 yen ($2,120), the BBC reported. The incident in Nara follows a video which showed a UK-based man carving a message into a wall at Rome's ancient Colosseum. The man, Ivan Dimitrov, faces legal proceedings after cutting "Ivan+Haley 23" into stone at the 2,000-year-old monument. He has apologised and said that was not aware how old the monument was when he acted. New Delhi, July 11 : Actor Suvinder Vicky, who will be now seen playing a cop in 'Kohrra', has shared that there were a few demanding scenes that required him to channel his intense emotions to appear natural. Suvinder takes on the challenging role of Balbir, a cop-character who is set out to solve a murder mystery while dealing with his complicated personal life. As a disturbed father with a troubling past, Suvinder not only needed to own the mannerisms and body language of a policeman, but also slip into the skin of a man with conflicting and layered sentiments. Opening up about the difficulties he faced while portraying Balbir, Suvinder said: "The first one was when I had to raise my hand at Harleen Sethi. Before shooting this scene, I apologised to her in case I hurt her in the process." Within this emotionally charged narrative, Suvinder's character shines through as he navigates the highs and lows of a father-daughter relationship, complexities of love, as well as the consequences of decisions he made in the face of adversity. In keeping with his commitment to authenticity, Suvinder went a step further to tap into his intense emotions to bring out a natural performance that is compelling on-screen. But these heavy-duty performances are never without its challenges. "The second was my wife's flashback scene. We had to be in the moment, a bit unstable and truly immersed in our characters. To make it appear natural, we even grew our nails to depict our state of mind and agreed in advance that if there were any unintended injuries, we would apologise to each other. The intensity demanded by the scene pushed us completely in the moment," he added. Set against the backdrop of Punjab where an NRI is murdered just before his wedding, 'Kohrra' weaves a narrative that resonates with authenticity and rawness. 'Kohrra' stars Barun Sobti, Rachel Shelly, Varun Badola, among others and will release on July 15 on Netflix. New Delhi, July 11 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was on Tuesday conducting raids at five locations in South Kashmir in a terror conspiracy case. The case relates to spreading of terror activities by various proscribed terrorist outfits in J&K. Last time the NIA conducted raids in the case was in December 2022 at 14 locations in the districts of Kulgam, Pulwama, Anantnag, Sopore and Jammu. The case pertains to the criminal conspiracy for carrying out terrorist and subversive activities hatched by the cadres and over ground workers (OGWs) of various proscribed organisations and their affiliates, operating under various pseudo names at the behest of their Pakistani handlers. The NIA said they were involved in carrying out terrorist attacks by using cyberspace in J&K, targeting minorities, security personnel and spreading communal disharmony. The case was suo moto registered on June 21, 2022 by the NIA Police Station, Jammu. Further investigation into the case was ongoing. New Delhi, July 11 : Congress on Tuesday once again targetted the Centre saying that its attempts to sabotage the Anna Bhagya scheme in Karnataka through unreasonable restrictions on sale of rice under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) has backfired with extremely low offtake of the cereal. Launching a tirade at the BJP-led Centre, Congress General secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The Modi government tries to be clever but ends up becoming too clever by half. The unreasonable restrictions placed on sale of rice under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) at Rs 34 per kg has misfired badly with the extremely low offtake of rice." Ramesh, who is also party's communication in charge added that the surplus food stock should indeed be used in the larger interest of 140 crore people. But between January and May 2023, it was Karnataka alone that accounted for over 95 per cent of FCI sales to states. This was when the BJP government was in power in the state. "On May 13 election results are out. The BJP loses badly. A Congress government comes in. The FCI stopped providing rice to states through OMSS on June 13. It rescinded its own sale order of June 12 with the sole intention of sabotaging the Congress' Anna Bhagya which is unique to Karnataka. "Meanwhile, let us not forget the continued sale of rice for ethanol at Rs 20 per kg. The Modi government shouldnat be shooting from the shoulders of other states. More so it shouldnat be deploying officers to defend what is essentially a pathetic political decision," the Congress Rajya Sabha MP said. The Congress has been critical of the BJP government for not allowing the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to sell rice to Karnataka for its Anna Bhagya Scheme 2.0. On Monday, the Siddaramaih-led Congress government in the state launched the payment of cash in lieu of the additional 5 kilograms of rice to beneficiaries under the government's 'Anna Bhagya' scheme. With the launch of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme, the Congress government in the state is fulfilling one more of its five polls 'guarantees' (promises) announced in the run-up to the elections held in May. Seoul, July 11 : South Korea's population is set to fall to 38 million in 2070 due to its critically low birth rates, with those aged 65 and above set to take up around 46 per cent, data showed Tuesday. The figure marks a sharp drop from the 52 million estimated for this year, in which seniors take up 18.4 per cent, according to a report released by Statistics Korea. Over the period, the global population is projected to rise from 8 billion to 10.3 billion, it added. "South Korea's population, which peaked in 2020, will fall to the 40-million level in 2041, which is similar to that of 2011," Yonhap News Agency quoted Statistics Korea as saying. Asia's No. 4 economy saw its total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime, hit a record low of 0.78 in 2022, much lower than the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep its population stable. The report showed that only 249,000 babies were born in 2022, nosediving from 480,000 reported in 2012, indicating the number of newborns is dropping at an alarming speed. Following the decrease in the population, the agency said foreigners are expected to take up larger slices of the demographics. Foreign nationals, who took up 3.2 per cent, or 1.64 million, of the population in 2023, are expected to expand their presence to 4.3 per cent, or 2.16 million, in 2040. In 2022, 43.9 per cent of employed foreigners were working in the mining and manufacturing industry, followed by the wholesale, retail, food and accommodation segment with 18.7 per cent. So-called multicultural families accounted for 1.7 per cent of total households in 2021, the data also showed. CARSON CITY Wells and West Wendover are among the rural cities that will receive a total of $2.7 million in Community Development Block Grant funds for special projects, Gov. Joe Lombardo announced this week. This years CDBG projects will benefit nearly 14,000 Nevadans across Fallon, Fernley, Wells, West Wendover, Esmeralda County, and Nye County, said Lombardo. These projects represent a wide range of improvement initiatives, and these awards will allow us to make strategic and meaningful investments in our rural communities. Nevada counties and cities invested an additional $17,486,431 in matching funds for the projects. The grants include $500,000 to help with the construction of the West Wendover Fire Station project, which will benefit 4,420 residents; and $500,000 to help construct the Shoshone Ave ADA Compliance Project in Wells, benefitting 1,200 residents. Since 1982, when Nevada began administration of the program, more than $100 million has been awarded to rural communities. The CDBG program enables local governments to undertake a wide range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide affordable housing, and create economic opportunities, primarily for persons of low and moderate income. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development oversees the program, and the Rural Community Development Division of the Governors Office of Economic Development administers the program for the State of Nevada. Pune, July 11 : The Pune Police have swooped on a man in Raigad for allegedly threatening to kill Maharashtra Minister and breakaway Nationalist Congress Party's Chhagan Bhujbal, an official said here on Tuesday. According to police, the unknown caller, later identified as one Prashant Patil, 24, dialed Bhujbal's number which was diverted to his aide, one Santosh Gaikwad, late on Monday. The caller claimed that he had taken a contract (supari) to eliminate the Minister, and he would execute it this morning (Tuesday). Immediately, the Minister's office complained to the Pune Police who swung into action and tracked him down to Mahad town in adjoining Raigad district. A police team rushed to Mahad early today and caught Patil, and he is being brought to Pune for further investigations. As per preliminary probe, the accused reportedly made the death threat in an inebriated condition, but as a precautionary measure the police have beefed up security for Minister Bhujbal in his constituency Yeola in Nashik and also in Mumbai. Mysuru : , July 11 (IANS) Karnataka Police have arrested a man, who cheated and married 15 women, claiming to be a doctor or an engineer in Mysuru district. His free run, however, ended after his latest victim, a software professional, grew suspicious and lodged a police complaint. The accused is identified as Mahesh K. B. Nayak from Banashankari locality in Bengaluru. The 35-year-old accused used to flee with money and jewels after the marriage. According to police, the accused had married more than 15 women since 2014. The software professional was trapped by the accused last year. She grew suspicious over the accused's poor spoken English skills and gathered information about him and lodged a police complaint against him in Mysuru. The police had received a complaint from another woman earlier. Police said that the accused made a fake matrimonial profile and trapped gullible women. He claimed himself to be an engineer and sometimes a doctor. He had even set up a fake clinic in Tumakuru city and hired a nurse. The accused had told police that many women had rejected him for his poor communication skills in English language. Police probe revealed that he had four children and the accused never again met the women, mostly educated. after stealing gold and valuables. Police have taken up further investigation. Washington, July 11 : US and Ukrainian Presidents Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky will meet during the two-day NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, where Kiev's membership to the military alliance will be one of the main topics of discussion. An informed source said the two leaders will meet on the second day of the Summit on Wednesday, reports CNN. The main focus of the two-day Summit is Ukraine's membership which Zelensky has been pushing for months amid the ongoing war. But all NATO members agree that Ukraine cannot join the bloc during the war amid fears this would lead to a direct conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia, the BBC reported. Zelensky has admitted that he does not expect a membership until after the war, but he wants the Summit to give a "clear signal" on Ukraine's bid. In a CNN interview on Sunday night, President Biden said that Ukraine was not yet ready for a NATO membership, adding that Russia needs to first end its ongoing invasion of Kiev, only then can the military alliance consider adding the war-torn nation to its ranks. He said that although talks of granting Kiev a NATO membership was "premature", the US and its allies in the military alliance will continue to provideZelensky and his forces the security and weaponry they need to try to end the war with Russia. "I don't think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war," Biden said. "For example, if you did that, then, you know -- and I mean what I say -- we're determined to commit every inch of territory that is NATO territory. It's a commitment that we've all made no matter what. If the war is going on, then we're all in war. We're at war with Russia, if that were the case." The President said that he has spoken to Zelensky at length about the issue, saying that he has told his Ukrainian counterpart that the US would keep providing security and weaponry for Ukraine like it does for Israel while the process plays out. The Summit will also be attended by the leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and the European Union. Hyderabad, July 11 : Telangana's ruling party Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has called for protests across the state for two days against state Congress president A. Revanth Reddy's reported statement that there is no need for free electricity supply in the state. BRS has asked its leaders and cadres to organise protests on Tuesday and Wednesday against the anti-farmer attitude of the Congress party. Party's working president K. T. Rama Rao asked the party cadres to burn the effigies of the Congress in every village for opposing 24 hour free electricity to farmers in Telangana. KTR alleged that the Congress plans to scrap the free electricity scheme. He stated that the Congress has the history of betraying the farmers by not supplying them electricity. "Congress has once again made public its anti-farmer policies," he said. The BRS leader said farmers and the people of Telangana should strongly oppose the policies of the Congress. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Revanth Reddy, who is currently on a visit to the United States, reportedly stated at a meeting that KCR government in Telangana is unnecessarily providing 24-hour free electricity. He said that three-hour electricity to farmers is enough. Kathmandu, July 11 : A helicopter with six people onboard went missing on Tuesday in Nepal, officials said. The helicopter was flying to Kathmandu from Solukhumbu district, where Mount Everest is located. Raju Neupane, manager at Manang Air, said the people in the helicopter comprised the pilot and five passengers, all foreign nationals. The helicopter went off the radar at 10.12 a.m. on Tuesday morning, according to civil aviation authorities. The helicopter was originally heading to Lukla near the Mount Everest base camp but could not land due to bad weather. Then the helicopter landed in Surke, Solukhumbu, following which it was headed to Kathmandu. A team has been mobilised for a search and rescue operation, said Neupane. Chennai, July 11 : The Coimbatore City police are to launch a 'Police Bro' programme to sensitise college-going male students against the use of narcotics and substances. Police officers from the city will meet the students and interact with them to understand the narcotic movement on college campuses. The project, Police Bro, would be launched by the end of July. Police officers told IANS that the police will then cut off the narcotic supply and rehabilitate any student who has fallen prey to drug abuse. Sources in Coimbatore police told IANS that the project will be implemented in 83 colleges and two sub-inspectors will be in-charge of the project in each police station limits. The police are expecting to have a friendly interaction with the male students and to cultivate a personal bond with them. After winning over the trust, police are expecting the students to give the department valuable tips regarding the presence of narcotics in campuses and outside. Coimbatore police are expecting to cut the supply of narcotics in the district through such initiatives. It may be noted that the Coimbatore police launched the 'Police Akka' project among the girl students on campuses in October 2022. This was to sensitise the students against cybercrimes and cyberbullying. 59 trained women constables used to interact with the girl students in 60 colleges in the city and the project, according to senior officers, was a success. 'Police Bro' is a similar initiative to help prevent male students from indulging in crimes and narcotic substance use. Patna, July 11 : Amid rising water levels in the Kosi river, around two dozen villages face the threat of flood in Bihar's Supaul district. Continuous soil erosion has forced around 48 families to leave their village called Narhaiya. Majority of the village and the agricultural field are submerged in water leaving just one survival place -- Kosi embankment and the adjoining road. "We have left the village as there was no place even to stand. Every place is submerged in flood. We rushed to the embankment of Kosi river with our belongings for survival. We are living under open sky at night and rain makes it tougher. There is a constant threat of lightning," said Prakash Kamat, a villager in Nahariya. Some of the victims whose houses have submerged in the Kosi river have been identified as Mohan Kamat, Ramanand Kamat, Ramesh Kamat, Shivnath Kamat, Jayram Kamat, Prakash Kamat, Ashok Kamat, Shishupal Kamat, Mukesk Kamat. They are awaiting the state government aides, while some of the affected victims have already received government help. New Delhi, July 11 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the hearing for a group of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which removed the special status of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, will commence on August 2. The hearing in the case began in December 2019 within four months of the Centre's notification regarding the repeal of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Although the judgment held that the issues raised in the pleas could be decided by a five-judge combination, the matter was not listed until now. A five-judge bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, B.R. Gavai, and Surya Kant stated that the matters would be heard consecutively starting from August 2, except for Mondays and Fridays. The court was to issue directions on Tuesday to complete the necessary pre-hearing formalities. Notably, the Centre had submitted an affidavit on Monday regarding the present status of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of its special status. To which, Justice Kaul said that now the other side will file a rejoinder affidavit and the process will go on. The Central government's fresh affidavit states that its decision to dilute Article 370 in 2019, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, has brought unprecedented development, progress, security, and stability to the region. The Centre defended its action by highlighting that in the past three years, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, and other public institutions have been functioning without strikes or disturbances. Meanwhile, Justice Kaul asked about the need for additional affidavits in the case, as the issue primarily revolves around the constitutionality of the decisions. Solicitor General (SG) of India Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, stated that the latest affidavit merely reflects the current situation of the region and may not require a rejoinder. CJI Chandrachud clarified that the Union's recent affidavit would not impact the merits of the constitutional matter at hand, stating that it does not pertain to the constitutional question. Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for some of the petitioners, suggested disregarding the Union's affidavit. The SG stated that the latest affidavit would not be relied upon to argue the constitutional issues, and the bench recorded this statement in the order. The bench directed that all written submissions and compilations be filed by July 27. On the other hand, Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran informed the bench that Shah Faesel and Shehla Rashid no longer wished to continue as petitioners and requested their names to be removed from the parties involved. The bench then granted the request, amending the cause title. Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan suggested changing the cause title to "In Re: Article 370 petitions," which the bench agreed to and issued an order accordingly. However, Advocate M.L. Sharma objected to this change, claiming that he filed the first petition and was issued the initial notice. Nonetheless, the bench rejected his objection. The petitions also contest the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019, which divided J&K into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. These petitions were scheduled for the first time since March 2, 2020, when another constitution bench ruled against the necessity of referring the matter to a seven-judge bench. --IANSspr/dpb New Delhi, July 11 : The boom of social media has brought the fans closer to their favourite celebrities, offering an insight into everything of the stars' lives, including pets. Many Bollywood celebrities often take to social media to share adorable pictures of their pets spreading love and warmth on the internet. From Shamita Shetty to Alia Bhatt, a lot of our female celebrities have time and again displayed their fondness for their furry feline friends through their social media. Let's take a look at Bollywood celebrities and their cute cat pets: Shamita Shetty: She has always been in complete awe of cats and the love she has for her pets Pixie, Lola, Loki and Phoebee is a proof of it. Animal lover since childhood, Shamita has disclosed that she's always had a cat or dog at home, for as long as she can remember. Her current cat Phoebee is Shamita's pet princess, and the actress adores her unconditionally. Alia Bhatt: Alia, who recently embraced motherhood with the birth of her little daughter Raha, however has been a doting cat mom since years. Earlier in 2021, Alia bid farewell to her dearest Sheeba and currently has a cat named Edward, whom she lovingly calls Eddie. Alia often shares adorable pictures of Eddie on her social media handles, expressing her affection for her furry companion. Zareen Khan: A talented and versatile actress in Bollywood, Zareen is known for her deep affection for animals. The actress is also a PETA awardee for 'Our Hero to Animals' gives us pet goals. Her love for cats is evident through her social media posts, where she often shares adorable pictures and heartwarming stories about her pet cat. Jacqueline Fernandez: Jacqueline and her love for her furry friends is no secret. An absolute animal lover, she owns a furry white cat named Miu Miu. Jacqueline frequently keeps posting photos of herself with her cat. Disha Patani: Disha shares an adorable relationship with her pet dogs and cats. She had also gifted a new baby kitten to herself on her birthday. Disha is often seen kissing aJasminea and aKeetya, and cuddling her adorable white beauty. --IANS sp/svn -- Syndicated from IANS Kathmandu, July 11 : Nepal Police on Tuesday announced that a helicopter which went missing while flying to Kathmandu from Solukhumbu district earlier in the day, has crashed, killing five people on board, while one person remained unaccounted for. The Manang Air helicopter crashed at the Lamjura area in Likhupike Rural Municipality, the police said. The area lies between Jiri and Phaplu, near Mount Everest. Niranjan Basnet, a junior police officer who is stationed at the crash site, said the five bodies have been found and a search operation is on to find the sixth missinng person. Raju Neupane, the operations and safety manager at Manang Air, said the six people on board comprisedCaptain Chet Bahadur Gurung and five Mexican nationals. According to rural municipality deputy chair Nwang Lhakpa Sherpa, locals discovered the crashed chopper. The last location of the chopper, with the registration number 9N-AMV, was tracked at 10.12 a.m. in the Lamjura Pass area , said Neupane. The helicopter was originally heading to Lukla near the Mount Everest base camp but could not land due to bad weather. Then the helicopter landed in Surke, Solukhumbu, following which it was headed to Kathmandu. ELKO Suicide is the most tragic and devastating outcome of mental health issues and can leave mourners hopeless and helpless, said Louri Lesbo, the parent of a son who died by suicide last year and a teacher and a member of Zero Suicide Elko County. Initiating an open conversation about suicide prevention can be a powerful tool in breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health, she said. Lesbo and three other speakers from Zero Suicide came before Elko County school trustees to talk about what they have learned since losing sons and a daughter to suicide and offering their help to the board as it finalizes a school district policy. A therapist speaking for Zero Suicide also spoke. Lesbo told the board she believes all school district personnel should receive the message that mental health is a serious issue and be trained on suicide risks. Prevention is critical, she said. One Elko High Schools student and one Spring Creek High School student died by suicide in the 2022-2023 school year that ended in early June, according to an earlier news report, and Lesbo said in her presentation that Elko County statistics show 14 suicides overall in the county last year and eight so far this year. Risk factors that she listed include depression, low self-esteem, mental illness, substance abuse or dependence, eating disorders, self-mutilation, prior suicide attempts and situational awareness. Also, athletes can be at risk due to injuries, intense pressure or a success/failure mindset. Prevention efforts Wendy Charlebois, who lost a son to suicide and still teaches social work part-time in retirement, said our students, teachers and other school staff need a student suicide policy. They deserve a succinct and rational step-by-step approach. Thats the bottom line. She said the policy needs to be really clear on who does what, when they do it and how they do it. We dont want students to fall through the cracks. If our students know that we can talk about this, they are more apt to come to us when they are feeling scared, when they are feeling depressed and when they are feeling suicidal, Charlebois told school trustees on June 27. Carol Farrell, a grief educator who lost a son her only child to suicide, said we live in a world that puts a hush on death. The death often shapes the grief, and with suicide that can include shock, disbelief, guilt, fear, blame, anger and suicide ideation. Suicide is an illness of the mind, she said, also telling trustees that having a policy in place is the beginning of suicide prevention. Farrell also said of grief that we must feel it to heal it, otherwise grief can lead to unhealthy behaviors, illness or addiction. Lynette Vega, a retired teacher who founded Zero Suicide Elko County after her daughter died by suicide while in the military and after a tour in Iraq, said people need to talk about suicide rather than keep putting shame on it. Suicide awareness does not cause suicide. She said she is happy that Hope Squad is coming to the junior high and high schools in the district, but she also sees the need for Hope Squad in the elementary schools so younger children can begin to develop skills to handle lifes problems. Kristen Madsen, a counselor at Elko High School, told the Elko Daily Free Press in May she credited Vega with bringing the Hope Squad idea to ECSD. Hope Squad involves students interacting with their peers in a suicide prevention program that includes a credit class that is expected to begin in schools in the upcoming school year. Christina Beier of LifeQuest Behavioral Healthcare said she would like suicide to no longer be a dirty word, and she said its important after a student suicide to reach out to students and staff to prevent a suicide contagion cluster. She said students need to be given the opportunity to grieve out loud, and if students want to set up a memorial, please let them. Setting a policy Nevada statute requires a suicide policy, but the district can refine and change the Nevada Department of Education proposed version. Anderson used the state version for the draft that had a first reading on June 13, and a revised version could be back for action on July 18. The board only has one meeting in July and is changing from the second and fourth Tuesdays to the first and third Tuesday. Trustee Jeff Durham told the speakers they should go through and evaluate the draft policy, and Trustee Matt McCarty urged those from Zero Suicide Elko County to read through the online draft online, redline the document and explain their changes. Superintendent Clayton Anderson said on June 27 he was already modifying the policy after listening to trustee concerns at the last meeting and talking with three social workers, but he would be happy to listen to the Zero Suicide delegation. He suggested they meet with him. Trustee Brooke Ballard thanked the speakers for putting your hearts on your sleeves and trying to educate us, and she agreed the speakers should review the draft policy. This policy is incredibly important, said the boards president, Teresa Dastrup, who urged the Zero Suicide speakers to reach out to Anderson. We appreciate you offering your assistance. Trustee Susan Neal said on June 13 she wanted to be sure experts are involved with the final policy. Trustees looking at the draft had concerns, including one from Ballard about when to notify parents of attempted suicide or students at suicide risk, saying she didnt want to see staff in the position of keeping issues from parents. Trustee Dr. Joshua Byers said that if the trigger is mom and dad, he wouldnt want to see the school put the kid under the bus. Anderson said at that time that the district must have a plan in place regarding the time and place to share worries, but immediate notification sometimes could be dangerous. The lengthy draft policy states that the principal, designee or school mental health professional shall inform the students parent or guardian on the same school day, or as soon as possible, any time a student is identified as having any level of risk for suicide or if the student has made a suicide attempt (pursuant to policy/law, unless notifying the parent will put the student at increased risk of harm.) Following parental notification and based on initial risk assessment, the principal, designee or school mental health professional may offer recommendations for next steps based on perceived student need. These can include but are not limited to an additional external mental health evaluation conducted by a qualified professional or emergency service provider, the policy continues. The policy also spells out limiting an at-risk students accessibility to firearms, knives, pills and other means of suicide and the counseling for parents about weapons. The policy outlines referrals for mental healthcare, what to do if there is suspected parental abuse, and when to call law enforcement. In addition, the policy includes definitions and details prevention policies, professional development on risk factors, warning signs, procedures and resources, intervention and procedures for a students re-entry after a mental health crisis, as well as steps to take if there is an in-school suicide attempt. After a student suicide death, the policy states that a crisis response team will develop a plan to respond, and the policy lists the steps to take. Anderson said a death by suicide becomes public knowledge, but suicide attempts are not, so schools should be careful how those are handled. New Delhi, July 11 : The lenders of Vidarbha Industries Power Ltd. (VIPL), a subsidiary of Reliance Power Ltd., are conducting the Swiss Challenge process for the sale of company's outstanding debt. The lead banker, Axis Bank, has issued an invitation for EOI for the sale of VIPL's outstanding debt. But the secrecy and lack of transparency around the proposed Swiss Challenge process leaves the potential bidders with more questions than the answers The detailed invitation document for submission of EOI for the sale/assignment of VIPL's outstanding debt does not even disclose the basic mandatory information to the potential bidders for enabling them to make a counter bid for the VIPL debt. The EOI document does not mention the name of the anchor bidder. The document, without disclosing the name of the bidder, simply says that a binding bid has been received from an asset reconstruction company, which is the anchor bidder. The EOI document is also silent on the value of the anchor bid. How the lenders expect the potential bidders to make a counter offer in the absence of information on the value of anchor bid, is a mystery. The EOI document has no information on how the proposed Swiss Challenge process will be run and till what level the anchor bidder has the right of first refusal. As per the regulations, all the lenders are required to make a disclosure of their exposure in the VIPL, on their respective websites, but even this information is not available to the potential bidders. The manner in which the Swiss Challenge is being run by the lenders leaves the bidders with more questions than the answers Strangely, the anchor bidder, i.e., CFM ARC had offered Rs 1,220 crore as against the promoter company, Reliance Power's Rs 1,260 crore OTS offer, for the VIPL debt. On what basis the lenders have decided to make CFM's offer, which is less than Reliance Power's offer. as an Anchor Offer, is also shrouded with mystery. As per the available records, the size of the CFM's balance sheet is Rs 1,000 crore, with a Net Profit of merely Rs 20 crore. With a balance sheet of this size, how the CFM will organise Rs 1,200 crore for this transaction. The company also has no experience in the power sector or operating a power plant. CFM ARC is among the four Asset Reconstruction Companies who have been issued show cause notices by the RBI post its special audit, following the Income Tax raids on the companies. Ahmedabad, July 11 : The National Institute of Design (NID) in Paldi, Ahmedabad, has hit a roadblock in its bid to secure a permanent lease for the adjacent plot of land on the Sabarmati riverfront. The state government has turned down NID's proposal for the coveted space. Spanning 5,632 square meters, the plot is owned by the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL), a joint venture between the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the state government. This land is classified as open space under the town planning scheme. The NID has been paying monthly rent for the plot over the past three years and had sought a 99-year lease. The AMC referred the NID's request to the state government, which in turn asked NID to comply with the terms of the Land Disposable Policy. According to the policy, the NID would be required to pay the market value for the land. However, the NID did not respond to the government's offer or raise any concerns. Consequently, the state government rejected the NID's proposal and instructed them to continue utilising the land on a rental basis. Jalna, July 11 : The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jalna in Maharashtra has detected and cracked dual wacky cases of a bribe demand by two public servants, including a woman -- booze in lieu of cash! The strange complaint against the two Gram Sevaks emanated from a village falling under the jurisdiction of Badnapur Police Station, said a top ACB Jalna officer. The matter involved sanction of government funds for construction of a local amenity which would require the clearance of the concerned block development officials, and happened on June 20. The complainant, who happens to be a village Sarpanch (Headman), approached the two Gram Sevaks for the needful when they made a bizarre demand to get the work done a" "Rs 7000 cash plus 2 bottles of Black Dog Scotch Whisky". Taken aback, the Sarpanch promptly approached the ACB Jalna with his grievance, after which the ACB registered a complaint and then swung into action, said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Kiran M. Bidve. "Our team waited patiently for several days and then at the right moment, laid a trap and apprehended the two Gram Sevaks red-handed and arrested. They are: Pushpa M. Ambulge, 40, and Siddhartha K. Ghodke, 42, red-handed while accepting the two large bottles of the premium imported spirits, yesterday," DySP Bidve told IANS of the successful operation. The probe revealed that the Sarpanch had completed an underground drain work for the village at a cost of around Rs 1.48 lakh, including the labour and material charges. The amount would be reimbursed by the local BDO officials, coming under the district administration, for which the two Gram Sevaks allegedly demanded the 'spiritual' bribe instead of the usual all-cash payoff. The woman accused, Pushpa Ambulge, spun a spirited yarn to the Sarpanch that for sanctioning amounts over Rs 1,00,000, the kickback amount would be in the range of 10-11 per cent, or around Rs 11,000. She told the complaint that if he could not arrange the full amount right away, he should immediately procure two bottles ('khamba') of the Black Dog Scotch whisky as a 'down payment' for the top officers to get his files moving across departments and desks. Seeing the complainant's reluctance over the strange payout, she assured that the whisky amount would be deducted from the total bribe and even spilled out details of the breakdown -- how the money would be distributed to grease all the palms. The woman official revealed the alleged 'under-the-table menu-card rates' -- the BDO usually skims off 4-5 per cent for sanctioning amounts of Rs 1,00,000 and above, the officers below him take their share of 1.5-2.0 per cent, and then were other 'wolves' like clerks and peons who gobble up half-a-per cent of the total payout. In the current case, the bribe had a dual component -- cash-cum-foreign liqour -- which shocked even the ACB officials, admitted DySP Bidve with a smile. The ACB action has rattled and sobered the entire lower officialdom in the district as the expose is damning -- pointing fingers at the grassroots level administration -- and providing an inkling of the hardships the rural folks endure. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at:q.najmi@ians.in) Imphal/New Delhi July 11 : The recent wave of ethnic violence in Manipur erupted following a directive from the Manipur High Court asking the state government to consider granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community. Such recognition would offer constitutional safeguards and expand the Meitei community's access to various benefits, including reserved government seats.Petitioners had argued that this community had once enjoyed the ST tag prior to the merger of Manipur with the Indian Union and therefore sought restoration of this status. The Meitei demand was strongly opposed by the Kukis and Nagas. On May 4, as the violence escalated, the Centre invoked Article 355 of the Constitution, empowering it to take necessary steps to protect the State against external aggression or internal disturbances. The current ethnic clashes in Manipur are between two ethnic communities aimed at establishing their supremacy over the other. Kuki-Meitei clashes in Manipur Shortly after the court's announcement, a protest rally was organised by the All-Tribal Students Union of Manipur (Kukis) on May 3. The protest rally turned violent leading to the deaths of at least 54 people. Only the Kuki-Chin groups indulged in the violence after the rally. Notably, the indigenous Nagas were not involved. Therefore, the root cause of the present ethnic clash is the problems specific to the Kuki-Chin groups. Violence erupted when reports emerged of the Anglo-Kuki War Memorial Gate being set ablaze. In response, the Kukis retaliated by burning down several villages inhabited by Meitei communities in Churachandpur. This, in turn, triggered Meitei reprisals, who reportedly set fire to several areas belonging to the Kuki community in the Imphal Valley, resulting in multiple casualties. While the protests may be seen as the immediate catalyst for the violence in Manipur, tensions between Indigenous communities had been simmering for years. Manipuras ethnic composition Manipur is home to more than 30 ethnic communities that may be broadly clubbed under three main groups, viz., Meiteis, Kukis and Nagas. The Meitei are predominately Hindus (around 42 per cent). A section of Meiteis called Meitei Pangals are Muslims. They constitute around 9 per cent of the population. Kukis and Nagas are predominately Christians, constituting around 41 per cent of the population. Besides these there are also other minor local religious groups. All three have historic animosity and have clashed with each other periodically over various issues including land & forest rights, reservation in government jobs, representation in power structures, etc. The Meitei reside mainly in the valley and the Kukis & Nagas reside in the hills surrounding the valley. Frequent clashes between these three communities have resulted in proliferation of armed militant factions among these ethnic groups. In the 1990s, Nagas and Kukis fought violently over land resources in the hills, resulting in death of more than 300 people. The Kukis observe September 13 as a black day in remembrance of their massacre by Nagas in 1993. Similarly, there has been periodic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities with the armed groups from each community engaging in violent attacks and, attacking government property for allegedly siding with other. The Meitei, argue that they are prohibited from purchasing land in the hilly regions, whereas the Kuki and other tribal communities are allowed to acquire land in the valley. In addition, the problem is compounded by the influx of refugees from Myanmar following the military coup in 2021, particularly those from the Sagaing region who share close ties with the Kuki community, has heightened insecurity among the Meitei indigenous community. The Ethnic Arguments From a Kuki point of view, the current state governmentas (with a meitei Chief Minister) plans to survey reserved forests in the hilly regions, ostensibly to curb opium cultivation, is a measure to evict them from their homes. Traditionally, the Kukis have fought the government/ruling establishment in the Valley, which was always a Meitei majority one. Before independence, Kukis had an armed rebellion against the King of Manipur and has continued their distrust even after monarchy was abolished and democratic government was established in independent India. The Government of Manipuras war on drugs and eviction of illegal encroachers is being projected as an attack on the Kukis. A few Kukis were apprehended in connection with drug business, and the community's leaders accused the government of targeting their tribe. The eviction drive has also affected many Meitei and Naga families. For instance, the eviction of people from K. Songjang village in Churachandpur as per the Indian Forest Act 1927 and the Manipur Forest Rule 2021 was projected by some Kuki leaders as actions targeted against the interest of Kukis and whip up the sentiments of the people against the Government and the Meitei. This is not a religious conflict! Unfortunately, the conflict between the ethnic groups is being portrayed as a religious one by many on social media. This is not a Hindu- Christian conflict, it is a clash between two ethnic groups to assert their supremacy over the other. The Nagas, who are the main Christian group in Manipur, remain unaffected by this conflict. There is no damage to their properties including churches. Only properties belonging to Kukis and Meitei are being specifically targeted. Similarly, during this conflict, Meitei Muslims have on many occasions sided with the Hindu Meitei to hold rallies/to protect villages against Kukis perceived attacks. Significantly, the residential premises of many Hindu leaders from Manipur including Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Deputy Minister of External Affairs, have been burnt down in Imphal, by Meitei mobs. The Meiteis allege that these leaders are siding with the Kukis. The present conflict is the exploitation of animosity between both two ethnic groups by few influential leaders/armed units from both sides who control the guns, drugs and politics. The identities of different ethnic communities have been weaponized to suit the agenda of these few. Due to the periodic conflicts between these ethnic groups, the initial reaction from the state government has been lacklustre and ineffective. However, with the violence escalating control, the Central government took charge and increased deployment of central forces in the state. The active involvement of civilians in the violence especially in the form of armed mobs sets apart the present conflict from previous instances. Earlier conflicts were restricted mainly to the armed militant groups and there was no active involvement of civilians. This is one of the reasons as to why state government lost control of the law-and-order situation. There is also a geo-political argument of China working with contacts in Burmese Junta to ferment trouble in the border state of Manipur. There is a strong concern that China with the Junta would take advantage of this tense situation and use Manipur as the epicentre of anti-India operations, organising infiltration and arming insurgents in Manipur. They appear to have ensured continued provision of weapons, arms, and ammunitions to the militant groups of both communities and keep the fire of violence burning continuously in Manipur. Central government steps in Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Manipur and stayed there for four days in early June. Subsequently, a judicial probe headed by a retired High Court judge to investigate violence and bring to justice the perpetrators was announced. Further, a peace committee between members of different communities was created, besides calling both groups to return an estimated 1,420 weapons looted from local police since the start of the clashes. India is also now going ahead with additional fencing on the Myanmar border. As an extraordinary measure, the Central government changed the Head of the police force in Manipur state and brought in a senior official from a different state as Head of the police force to instil confidence among the communities. Amid the chaos on the ground, armed groups continue to exploit the situation and there has been incidence of sporadic violence in multiple places in Imphal with armed mobs burning villages and government properties. Reconciliation between both ethnic groups is the only way out to end this conflict. It is an undeniable fact that the ones most affected by this conflict in both the communities, are women and children. There has been some change on the ground in Manipur now with many communities in the state and the region holding peace and prayer meetings and religious leaders calling for peace. There is also a need for the Central government to demonstrate in clear terms the impartial nature of their approach in resolving the decades old conflicts between these both groups. Islamabad, July 11 : The all-important oil deal between Pakistan and Russia has hit a roadblock, as the two nations are unlikely to finalise a long-term supply deal. Pakistan and Russia had agreed to form a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to specifically manage the import of oil from Moscow to Islamabad. However, due to the delay in initiating the process by Islamabad, Moscow is now reluctant to enter into a long-term agreement, especially with concessions on oil supply. A government source with knowledge of the deal said that both Islamabad and Moscow seem to be clinging to their positions, meaning that inking a long-term agreement may not be possible anymore. The expected concern on part of Russia is the discounts it offered to Pakistan. Russia quotes former India oil prices on the Platts index, which means Russian oil prices will vary with fluctuation on Platts and no permanent discounts would be possible going forward for Pakistan. On part of Pakistan, the government is stuck between two formulas for the oil deal, according to sources. The first option is to set up an SPV with the mandate of oil imports from Russia, signposting state's involvement in oil purchases. The second option to allow the oil industry to do commercial deals with Russian firms and will be responsible for profit and loss. In a recent test case, Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) imported about 1,00,000 tons of crude oil from Russia. 50,000 tons has already been refined while the remaining is yet to be processed. The deal is considered to be a test case to understand the economics of Russian oil. Crude oil purchases from the Middle East produces at least 45 per cent of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) and 25 per cent of furnace oil whereas Russian crude oil is expected to produce 32 per cent of HSD and 50 per cent of furnace oil. However, the demand of Russian crude oil has gone down considerably in Pakistan because power plants have shifted to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Experts say, Pakistan has no market for Russian oil. "Pakistan's refineries can use Russian oil by blending it with Arabian crude. Otherwise, there is no market of Russian oil in Pakistan due to higher volumes of furnace oil produced by that crude," said business market expert Zahar Bhutta. Kolkata, July 11 : The leader of the opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday filed a petition at the Calcutta High Court demanding a CBI probe in the poll-related violence during the panchayat elections. A similar petition was filed by the state Congress chief and five- time party Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday. Both the petitions have been admitted by the division bench of Calcutta High Court's Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya. Both the matters will come up for hearing on Wednesday. Already 39 persons have become victims of the poll- related violence since the election dates were announced on June 8. While the leader of the opposition was filing the petition at the Calcutta High Court, incidents of massive violence, clashes and ballot paper looting and destruction were being reported from different pockets in the state. Justice Sivagnanam on Monday expressed ire over the continuing violence and the tendency of authorities to pass on the back as regards to ensuring free and fair polls. "One is blaming the other. The other is blaming someone else. What is the point of passing so many orders by us then?" the Chief Justice has questioned. Meanwhile, as per the trend of counting available till 1 p.m.on Tuesday, the trend shows that Trinamool Congress was well ahead of the opposition in all the three- tiers of the panchayat system, despite facing tough contests. At gram panchayat level, Trinamool Congress has already won or is ahead (figure includes uncontested seats) 10,647 seats, followed by BJP at 576, CPI(M) at 370, Congress at 226 and others including independents at 193. At Panchayat Samiti level Trinamool Congress has already won or is ahead in 981 and others at ten. CPI(M) or Congress are yet to set a mark at this level as of now. At zilla parishad level, Trinamool Congress has already won or is ahead in 16 seats. United Nations, July 11 : The transfer of crude oil from Safer, the decaying super oil tanker stranded off the coast of Yemen, is expected to start early next week, a UN humanitarian official said. David Gressly, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, said in a statement that Nautica, a tanker specifically tasked with offloading oil from Safer, is ready to set sail from Djibouti, reports Xinhua news agency. The transfer process, which is estimated to take about two weeks, will start once Nautica docks alongside Safer, he added. "The completion of the ship-to-ship transfer of the oil by the start of August will be a moment when the whole world can have a sigh of relief," Gressly said. "The worst-case humanitarian, environmental and economic catastrophe from a massive oil spill will have been prevented". The delivery and installation of a catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) buoy, which will be fastened to the seabed, is the next crucial step after the off-loading of the oil, according to the UN official. The Nautica tanker will then be safely installed using the CALM buoy, he said, stressing that it is essential for the CALM buoy to be in place by September. Gressly said that the UN is working closely with all parties to the conflict in Yemen to ensure the safe and timely completion of the transfer operation. He thanked the donors for contributing to the operation, adding that the UN is still seeking additional funding to cover the full cost of the operation. The FSO Safer is a floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessel that was built in 1976. It was anchored off the coast of Yemen in 1984 to store oil produced by the Marib oil field. The tanker was designed to be emptied and maintained regularly, but the war in Yemen has made it impossible to do so. On May 30, a UN engineering vessel arrived at the site of the FSO Safer to make preparations for the transfer of its oil. The UN has warned that a spill from the FSO Safer could have a devastating impact on the Red Sea and the coastline of Yemen. The spill could release four times as much oil as the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, which killed thousands of seabirds and marine mammals and caused widespread environmental damage. Dubai, July 11 : New Zealand star Suzie Bates returned to the top five while India captain Harmanpreet Kaur made it back to the top 10 in the latest ICC Women's T20I batting rankings, released on Tuesday. Bates, a formerly top-ranked batter, has advanced three places to reach fifth position after scores of 44 and 52 helped her team take a winning 2-0 lead in their three-match series in Sri Lanka while Kaur's match-winning 54 not out off 35 balls in the opening T20I of their three-match series in Bangladesh has lifted her four places to 10th position. In the latest update, that also considers performances in the second and third matches of the England-Australia series as well as all three matches of the West Indies versus Ireland series, West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews is a significant gainer after being named 'Player of the Series' for contributions with both bat and ball. Matthews has moved up five places to 17th among batters after scores of 37, 50 and 48 while her eight wickets in the series have lifted her three places to seventh position among bowlers. She has also attained a career-best 422 rating points in the all-rounders' list but remains second, behind Australia's Ashleigh Gardner with 435 rating points. Matthews has been the top all-rounder in the past, having first attained number-one position in October 2017. New Zealand's Amelia Kerr is another all-rounder to prosper. She is up two places to 15th among batters after scores of 34 and 33 not out and up three places to 11th among bowlers after taking two wickets in the first match. She has also inched up one slot to third among all-rounders. Other batters to gain in the T20I rankings are Danni Wyatt of England (up three places to 14th) and Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry (up six places to 25th). In the bowling rankings, New Zealand pacer Lea Tuhuhu (up two places to sixth), New Zealand spinner Fran Jonas (up three places to 16th) and Sri Lanka's left-arm seamer Udeshika Prabodhani (up eight places to 28th) have all progressed. Meanwhile, in the ICC Women's ODI Player Rankings that were updated after the three-match series between the Netherlands and Thailand in Amstelveen that ended 1-1 with one match abandoned without a ball being bowled, Thai opener Natthakan Chantham has moved up seven places to 22nd after scores of 65 and 64 and captain Naruemol Chaiwi is up seven places to 36th. Dutch seam bowler Iris Zwilling has moved up eight places to 41st after grabbing five wickets in two matches. New Delhi, July 11 : National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on Tuesday said that India is an inclusive democracy and gives space to all citizens. Addressing an event, while sharing the dais with the noted Islamic Saudi Arabian scholar and Secretary General of Muslim World League Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Doval said, "Islam occupies a unique position in India and the Indian Muslim population is equal to 33 member states of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)." OIC is a grouping of which Saudi Arabia and several Islamic nations including Pakistan are members. Doval's comments on religious inclusivity in India came after Issa in his address said that India with its diversity is a great model for coexistence (of all religions), while adding that Islam promotes tolerance. The NSA said that India is the mother of democracy and the largest democracy and also has been a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. Doval said that India has been a sanctuary for persecuted people from across the world, adding that "As a proud civilisational state, India believes in promoting tolerance, dialogue and cooperation to deal with the challenges of our time." The NSA emphasised that involvement of Indian citizens in global terrorism has been extremely low. "India is an extremely responsible power but when the need for a hot pursuit against terrorist havens was felt, we have gone all out to destroy terrorism in our national interest," Doval said. He said that India is proud of its relationship with Saudi Arabia, as the ties are rooted in shared cultural values. Speaking after Issa's address, the NSA said: "Muslim World League Secretary General's message is loud and clear that we live in harmony, we live in peace if you would like to protect the future of humanity...Excellency your deep understanding of Islam, the religions of the world and incessant efforts towards interfaith harmony, courage to persistently lead on the path of reforms has not only contributed to a better understanding of Islam and its contribution to humanity, but also prevented extremist and radical ideologies from plaguing the young mind." "From India, we send a message of peace to the world," Issa said earlier in his address. The Muslim World League Secretary General Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa said: "We reach out to the different components and diversity with a common objective that we share. We have heard a lot about Indian wisdom and we know that Indian wisdom has contributed a lot to humanity. "We know that we have a common objective of co-existing peacefully together. We know that the Indian component with all its diversity is a great model for coexistence not only in mere words but also on the ground and we appreciate all the efforts taken in this regard," he said. He noted that Muslim components in the Indian society are proud of their nationality that they are Indian nationals and they are proud of their Constitution. "A Muslim person carries the banner of peace. Islam is an open book for all and promotes coexistence," Issa noted. "India is a Hindu majority country, but its Constitution is secular. We have outreach with Hindu leaders, like Sadh Guru and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. We have common values to promote peace and stability," Issa said. New Delhi, July 11 : After a split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday chaired a meeting of Maharashtra party leaders here to discuss the the political situation in the state and its effect on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Besides Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary (Organisation) K.C Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik, Maharashtra in-charge H.K. Patil and state unit chief Nana Patole were also present at the meeting. Besides, senior party leaders Sushil kumar Shinde, Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan were also among those present. According to party leaders, Congress leaders also deliberated on the effects of the NCP split and its effect on the party's prospects in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. After Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra has the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats at 48. "The BJP has hurt the self-respect of Maharashtra by using its 'washing machine'. The Congress party will give a befitting reply to this political fraud. The people of Maharashtra will give a strong political reply to the continuous attacks on the mandate by the BJP. "Our leaders and workers will get the people of Maharashtra back the Congress government. We always had a place in the minds of the people of Maharashtra.We will further strengthen the glorious relationship between Maharashtra and Congress," Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha tweeted after the meeting. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi also took to Facebook and wrote, "Today, a meeting was held with Maharashtra Congress leaders under the leadership of Congress President Kharge ji." "Maharashtra is the bastion of the Congress party and our focus is on strengthening the Congress there and raising the voice of the people. Together we will ensure that this anti-people government is defeated," the former Lok Sabha MP said. Following the split in Shiv Sena last year and NCP last month, the Congress has now emerged as the largest opposition party in Maharashtra and has staked claim to the post of Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly. The meeting was convened after a faction of the NCP led by Ajit Pawar joined hands with the BJP-Eknath Shinde government in the state. The Ajit Pawar-led camp has also approached the Election Commission to stake the claim of the party symbol and the party. SPARKS, Nev. (AP) Retired Army Capt. Sam Brown made his long-awaited U.S. Senate candidacy official on Monday, jumping into the race to take on Democratic incumbent Jacky Rosen a year after losing the Republican nomination to challenge Nevada's other U.S. senator. In a nearly 30-minute speech Monday afternoon in the city of Sparks, which neighbors Reno, Brown spoke of his military background and family devotion while repeatedly casting himself as an outsider fighting against "Rosen and her D.C. friends. She is a foot soldier for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Chuck Schumer," Brown said in a warehouse where fans and shade helped shield more than 100 supporters from the summer heat. Theyre all about those D.C. priorities. And she is carrying out their mission instead of ours. Brown, a Purple Heart recipient, was a heavily recruited candidate for Republicans in Washington looking to avoid a repeat of their lackluster showing in last year's midterms, when flawed GOP candidates helped Democrats win battleground races and hold on to the Senate majority. He will face a challenge in the Republican primary from Jim Marchant, a former state Assembly member who lost last year's race for Nevada secretary of state after promoting Donald Trumps lies of a stolen 2020 election. Rosen, a first-term moderate in a presidential battleground state, is one of Republicans' top targets in 2024. Democrats are facing a challenging 2024 Senate map, where they must defend incumbents not only in red states Montana, Ohio and West Virginia but also in multiple swing states. Brown, who was nearly killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan that scarred his face, made military service central to his unsuccessful 2022 Senate campaign. He finished second in the Republican primary to former state Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who went on to lose the general election to Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto. Browns first campaign came in 2014, when he unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Texas state Legislature. Brown campaigned on the slogan of Duty First in 2022 and founded the Duty First PAC after his loss to support conservative candidates. At campaign stops, he often told the story of the bomb that hit him, the dozens of surgeries that followed, the leadership he learned while in the Army and his Christian faith and sacrifice suffering that builds our endurance." Brown struck a similar message on Monday, running on broad conservative tenets such as support for increased border security, law enforcement and more parental control of K-12 education curriculum. He railed against teachers unions and pinned Nevada's low national rankings in education on Rosen and federal policies. Then Brown shifted to local concerns, criticizing Rosen's support for solar projects in Nevada, a state that is leading the charge in manufacturing the form of renewable energy. Some residents of rural communities have pushed back against solar projects, saying the added infrastructure could harm the surrounding communities and local environments. Theyre being built on our land, and not for our benefit, Brown said. But for the benefit of Jacky Rosen and her friend Gavin Newsom in California. Brown and Laxalt agreed on almost all policy stances during their sometimes-heated primary battle last year, though Brown said that Laxalt did not push hard enough in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results when Laxalt chaired Trumps 2020 Nevada campaign. Brown helped Laxalt campaign after losing to him. Brown dodged two questions from reporters after his speech regarding whether he stood by those comments. Instead, he criticized Rosen's vote on spending bills while speaking of leadership experience he gained while in the Army. Rosen has posted strong fundraising numbers in her first reelection run, announcing on Monday a $2.7 million fundraising haul in the second quarter of 2023, leaving her with $7.5 million cash on hand. An ally handpicked by legendary Nevada Democrat Harry Reid to run for the Senate, Rosen has steered a moderate path during her first term in the chamber. She was a first-term congresswoman from a Las Vegas-area district when she defeated GOP Sen. Dean Heller in 2018. Before that, she was president of a prominent Jewish synagogue in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson. National Republicans had long recruited Brown, seeing his ability to raise money from the partys grassroots and his profile as a war hero as positives in a solidly purple state known for often unpredictable, razor-thin outcomes. In 2022, Nevada featured the closest Senate race in the nation when Cortez Masto defeated Laxalt by just 8,000 votes. The race was decided by mail ballots that arrived at county offices days after Election Day and resulted in a nearly weeklong vote count that ended up securing Democrats' control of the Senate. Marchant, the other major Republican candidate, has pushed to eliminate voting machines and has falsely said that all Nevada elected officials since 2006 have been installed by the deep-state cabal. Asked about Marchant's campaign in the press gaggle, Brown again shifted his focus to Rosen and did not mention his primary opponent. Any time you see a crowded field, that means you have a lot of people who are disappointed by whoever's currently leading there, he said. So this is an indictment on Jacky Rosen that so many people are interested in running. Stern is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Stern on Twitter: @gabestern326. This story was first published on July 10, 2023. It was updated on July 11, 2023, to delete an erroneous reference to Harry Reids Senate seat. Panaji, Jul 11 : Goa police on Monday arrested around 30 people for allegedly involved in gambling activities. Police said that ten cases have been registered in North Goa, while 20 cases are registered in South district of the coastal state. On Friday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured the people to crackdown on gambling activities after a citizen had complained about the illegal gambling activities. The Chief Minister said this during a live interaction with the general public through a phone-in programme 'Hello Goenkar' on Doordarshan-Panaji. During the programme, citizen Pritam Harmalkar had brought to the notice of the Chief Minister that gambling activities are seen operating openly in Ponda, which is known as temple town. Harmalkar sought action into the matter. "Gambling activities like 'Matka' are going on openly along the roadside. Recently, people complained about mini casinos, which were raided but their operations have started again here," Harmalkar complained. Replying to him, Sawant said: "Not only in Ponda, but action will be taken on such gambling activities wherever they are going on. I am instructing the department to take action from tomorrow." Sources said that 'Matka gambling' activities are being operated in kiosks very near to Ponda police station and other government offices. But no action was taken against them. "Some have shifted their 'Matka gambling' operations from kiosks to the digital modes, where they manage the transaction on mobile phones," a source said. However, on Monday, only one case was registered in Ponda police jurisdiction with seizure of Rs 610. Jerusalem, July 11 : The Israeli parliament on Tuesday voted early in favour of a controversial bill that limits part of the Supreme Court's powers, part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned judicial overhaul. Netanyahu's plan to overhaul the judiciary has thrown Israeli society into turmoil and sparked nationwide massive demonstrations ever since it was first announced in January, reports Xinhua news agency. Overnight between Monday and Tuesday, the bill passed the first of three readings required for it to become law. All 64 lawmakers of the far-right coalition government voted in favor, while 56 lawmakers voted against. As the results were announced at the plenum, opposition lawmakers erupted in shouts of "Shame! Shame!". Prior to the vote, hundreds of protesters staged rallies outside the Knesset building, while another group managed to enter the building and was subsequently forcibly removed. The provision was proposed by Netanyahu's far-right government, which was inaugurated in late December 2022. If fully passed after an additional two rounds of votes, the provision would prevent the Supreme Court from overturning government decisions based on the grounds of "reasonability". It is a key provision in the contentious overhaul, which seeks to diminish the powers of the Supreme Court. Opponents say that the overhaul will undermine the rule of law, while Netanyahu contends the change is needed to curb the overly activist Supreme Court. The leaders of the grassroots movement against the overhaul, including prominent legal experts, economists, hi-tech entrepreneurs and former senior security officials, have announced plans for a "Disruption Day" on Tuesday. As part of the protest, demonstrations are held across the country, and major highways, including those leading to Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, will be blocked. New Delhi, July 11 : External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday described his meeting with the visiting Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid as "warm and productive". Shahid arrived on Tuesday in New Delhi on a two-day visit to India. "A warm and productive meeting today with FM @abdulla_shahid of Maldives. Encouraged to learn of the steady progress in our development partnership. It is directly contributing to the economic growth and social welfare of our neighbour," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting. "Shared perspectives on the stability and prosperity of the Indian Ocean region and how our collaboration advances those goals," he further tweeted. Jaishankar described the meeting as a good day for 'Neighborhood First and Security and Growth For All in the Indian Ocean Region' (SAGAR) policy of India. The Maldives foreign minister's visit is in continuation of the series of high level visits from both sides and is expected to lend further momentum to the substantive bilateral cooperation between the two countries, external affairs ministry sources said. Maldives is Indiaas key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean region and occupies a special place in the government's 'Security and Growth for All in the Region' policy and the 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Hyderabad, July 11 : Telangana Congress chief A. Revanth Reddy's remarks about free electricity to farmers has kicked up a storm in the state politics with ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) staging protest against what it calls his anti-farmers stand while the opposition party has initiated steps for the damage control. Revanth Reddy, who is currently on a visit to the United States, made certain remarks about the 24-hour free electricity scheme during a meeting of Telugu Association of North America (TANA). Stating that 95 per cent of the farmers in the state are small and marginal farmers owning less than three acres of land, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president said that every farmer can irrigate three acres with three-hour electricity supply every day. He went on to add that eight-hour electricity supply to the agriculture sector is sufficient. The TPCC chief alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was misleading people with 24-hour electricity supply and was misusing this for political gains. Ruling BRS was quick to grab the opportunity to target the Congress party with the allegation that it is against agriculture and farmers. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao called for a two-day protest across the state against what he called anti-farmer policies of the Congress party. The BRS leaders also alleged that if voted to power the Congress party will do away with the 24-hour free electricity supply to farmers being implemented by their government for the last nine years. With Assembly elections scheduled to be held later this year, the BRS apparently is trying to politically cash in on the remarks made by Revanth Reddy. It alleged that Revanth Reddy opposed free electricity to farmers. BRS asked the party cadres to burn the effigies of the Congress party in every village. KTR stated that the Congress party has the history of betraying the farmers by not supplying them electricity. "Congress party is the number one enemy of farmers. Revanth's statement has once again exposed the party," said energy minister Jagdish Reddy. With the BRS launching an attack, the Congress party began damage control exercise. Its leaders alleged that the BRS was trying to distort Revanth Reddy's statement. Senior Congress leader Mallu Ravi claimed that Congress party has the patent right on free electricity. He reminded BRS leaders that it was the Congress party which launched the free electricity scheme for farmers. Alleging that BRS was trying to distort Revanth Reddy's statement, Mallu Ravi said the TPCC president was talking about the irregularities in power purchase. Congress MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said since he is the party's campaigner, his word and not that of Revanth Reddy should be given importance. Stating that Congress is committed to its promise of 24-hour free electricity to farmers, he recalled that it was Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy who had started the scheme. TPCC working president Ponnam Prabhakar said the Congress was the only party which was working for the welfare of farmers. He said the BRS was distorting the remarks of Revanth Reddy. Another working president Mahesh Kumar Goud alleged that KTR was trying to mislead farmers by distorting Revanth Reddyas statement. Alleging that there is a Rs 1,000 crore corruption behind free electricity, he said Revanth Reddy was speaking about the same. Hyderabad, July 11 : It is a common sight on Indian roads that police at traffic intersections stop other vehicles to give clearance to siren-blaring ambulances, but in Hyderabad, a cop was shocked when an ambulance crossed a traffic signal with its emergency lights and sirens on, only to stop at a roadside eatery to buy snacks. The video of the ambulance of a private hospital standing in front of the roadside eatery and the conversation between a policeman and the ambulance driver was widely circulated on social media on Tuesday. The policeman is heard questioning the driver as to why he activated the siren. The driver, with a bottle of a cold drink in his hand, initially said the patient was not in good condition and when the cop insisted on seeing the patient, the driver then said that he stopped the ambulance for a nurse who had not taken food. "I gave clearance to you by stopping other vehicles and you have stopped here to eat mirchi bhajji," the policeman told the driver. The cop is then heard saying that he will forward the video to his higher-ups for strict action. Telangana Director General of Police Anjani Kumar posted the video on Twitter and called for responsible use of ambulance services. "Telangana police urges responsible use of ambulance services, citing misuse of sirens. Genuine emergencies require activating sirens for swift and safe passage. Strict action against abusers is advised. Together, we can enhance emergency response and community safety," he tweeted. --IANS ms/vd San Francisco, July 11 : Users of Meta's Twitter rival Threads discovered that Elon Musk has begun limiting search results when they try to find links to Threads on the microblogging platform, despite the platform currently being filled with links to Threads content. A user on Threads posted, "Twitter is selectively blocking searches for tweets that link to Threads, even though they allow posting Threads URLs (for now)." However, the behaviour is also being widely reported by Twitter users, reports The Verge. The issue was discovered while searching for links to a specific URL with the "url:" search operator. Searching "url:threads.net" on Twitter returns zero results, despite there being a lot of tweets linking to the domain. Similarly, searching for "threads.net" without the "url:" operator returns dozens of irrelevant results from users with their Threads account in their display name, or who discuss Threads without linking to it, the report said. Meanwhile, Threads users are complaining on Twitter that the app is draining their phone batteries while in use. a"Is Threads just... murderous to anyone else's battery?" a user of the app wrote on their Twitter page. "I'm not going to use Instagram Threads until a it stops draining my phone battery," another user said. Other Twitter users shared screenshots of their Threads accounts that included the low-battery-life graphic. "Threads app is collecting so much background data that it's draining users phone battery faster than any other application," a user tweeted. New Delhi, July 11 : India had the second-highest number of Schengen visa rejections worldwide in 2022, leading to an estimated loss of Rs 87 crore on canceled trips. According to recent data by Schengen Visa Info, a total of 1,21,188 visa applications from India were rejected, with the rejection rate standing at 18 per cent. One Schengen visa application costs 80 euros or Rs 7,260. Indians spent a total of over Rs 487 crore on Schengen visa applications alone, for 6,71,928 applications in 2022. Out of Rs 487 crore, more than Rs 87 crore was lost on the 1,21,188 visa applications that were rejected. Estonia rejected the highest share of visas from India in 2022 -- 56 per cent of 1,986 applications. Malta declined 506 of 1,220 Indian visas at a 45 per cent rejection rate, followed by Slovenia, which rejected 44.5 per cent of 2,732 visas. In contrast, Germany had the lowest rejection rate for Indians, having rejected only eight out of 6,345 Schengen visas at the Bengaluru consulate, one application in Kolkata and two in Chennai, according to Schengen Visa Info. Italy and Hungary were next in line, with rejection rates of 11.5 per cent (794 of 6,909 visas rejected) and 12.1 per cent (1,098 of 9,046 visas rejected), respectively. As travel bounced back, there was a 415 per cent rise in Schengen visa applications from India last year. Algerian nationals were refused Schengen visa applications the most in 2022, with a total of 179,409 visas not being issued with the total rate of not issued uniform visas reaching 45.8 per cent. The top ten countries with the highest rejection rates spent 64 million euros for a total of 804,725 visa applications denied, while in 2021, the expenditure was exponentially lower, as 237,041 applications were rejected, corresponding to 18.9 million euros. Some of the most common reasons for Schengen visa rejections include incomplete or incorrect application, insufficient travel health insurance, lack of proof of financial means in addition to risks associated with illegal immigration. --IANS mi/vd New Delhi, July 11 : In what would be the first ministerial level visit from India to Syria in seven years, Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan will embark on an official visit to the west Asian nation from July 12-13. Official sources said that this will be the first ministerial-level visit from India to Syria since August 2016, and the first visit of Muraleedharan to the country. During the visit, Muraleedharan is likely to meet the Syrian leadership in the capital Damascus for wide-ranging discussions. He will also interact with a group of Syrian students who have studied or are proceeding to study in India under the Indian government's scholarship scheme. Muraleedharan is also expected to meet functionaries of the Syrian Orthodox Church. India and Syria have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations based on deep-rooted people-to-people ties. India has maintained its embassy in Syria all along the course of conflict in Syria. A large number of students, businessmen and patients travel to India. India has contributed immensely to the capacity building of the Syrian youth over the years through scholarship schemes and training courses, sources informed further. This visit is expected to lend further momentum to the strong relationship between the two countries, they said. Chennai, July 11 : Tamil Nadu voluntary organisation Arappoor Iyyakam, working for transparency and accountability in governance, has asked Governor R.N. Ravi to accord sanction to prosecute former minister and AIADMK leader K.C Veeramani. Arapoor Iyyakam Convenor Jayaram Venkatesan in a letter to the Governor said: "It has come to our notice through the letter published by the state government that the file seeking prosecution against former minister K.C. Veeramani is pending in your office for the past ten months now. We would like to press you to act fast and provide immediate sanction against the former minister." The petitioner said that his organisation, Arapoor Iyyakam had filed a complaint with the DVAC on August 16, 2021 against the former minister. The complaint was against the minister accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income during the period between 2011 to 2021. The petitioner said that the former minister had accumulated wealth worth Rs 76.65 crore in these ten years. Jayaram Venkatesan said that based on the complaint filed by the organisation, the DVAC conducted a discrete inquiry and filed an FIR in September 2021 for an amount of Rs 28.78 crore for the period between 2016 to 21 which was the period that the DVAC conducted a detailed investigation. He said that after completing the investigation, the Tamil Nadu government had sought sanction from the Governor to accord sanction as per section 19 of the PC Act on September 12, 2022. Jayaram Venkatesan said that the reason for providing sanction to competent authorities was only to prevent honest public servants being subjected to malicious prosecution. He however said that a cursory reading of the affidavits filed by the former minister and his income tax return amounts filed or disclosed during various elections would clearly show that there was a huge accumulation of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The complainant said that the delay of the office of the Governor to not provide sanction is unjustified and that the inordinate delay in prosecution and possible conviction was unjustified. In the letter to the Governor, the petitioner said, "You are duty bound to provide sanction in this case." Bhubaneswar, July 11 : Miscreants set three pick-up vans afire on suspicion of illegal cattle trade in Odisha's Jharsuguda district, police said on Tuesday. The incident took place in a ground near Deopali village within Rengali police limits of Jharsuguda district on Sunday midnight, a police official told IANS. Suspecting that the cattle were being transported illegally for slaughtering, some miscreants set the van on fire as they were unable to catch the driver or any other person involved in the alleged trade, the police official said. When the Rengali police team reached the spot but could not find anybody. Sources said no documents could be recovered from the vans as their interiors were completely destroyed in the fire. The police registered a case and requested the local regional transport officer (RTO) to identify the owners of the vehicles. Till now, no one has been arrested or detained in the case, the police official said. China on July 3 hit the production milestone of 20 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) as a pure electric car rolled off an assembly line of Chinese automaker GAC Aion, an NEV subsidiary of Guangzhou Automobile Group. China's cumulative NEV production exceeded 5 million units in September 2020 and 10 million units in February 2022, according to Fu Bingfeng, executive vice-president and secretary general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). The second 10-million mark was crossed just 17 months later, Fu noted. With this record, the NEV sector has entered a new stage of large-scale, globalized and high-quality development after achieving industrialized and market-oriented development, and is becoming an important part of China's modern industrial system, Fu said. China has issued a series of supporting policies in finance, taxation, integral management and traffic management to spur NEV development. At the same time, Chinese carmakers have developed a number of new technologies and products to grasp the opportunities of market transformation, meeting new consumption demands. As a result, the country's production and sales volumes for NEVs have both ranked first worldwide for eight years in a row, and Chinese NEVs now make up over 60 percent of the global market. China has witnessed rapid growth in the NEV market. Last year, nearly 6.89 million NEVs were sold in China, up 93.4 percent from a year ago. These autos accounted for 25.6 percent of all vehicle sales in China in 2022, surpassing a goal of 25 percent set for 2025 in a national blueprint three years ahead of schedule. China's NEV sector maintained a sound momentum for development. In the first five months this year, NEV sales increased by 46.8 percent from a year ago to 2.94 million units, and NEV output totaled over 3 million units, up 45.1 percent year-on-year. During the same period, NEV exports soared 160 percent to 457,000 units. Breakthroughs have been made constantly in core NEV technologies. The single-cell energy density of mass-produced power batteries produced by Chinese manufacturers has exceeded 300 Wh/kg, leading the world. New battery grouping technologies, high-nickel and cobalt-free batteries, as well as other new technologies and products, have been put into use. Drive motors have a peak power density surpassing 4.8 kW/kg and a peak rotation speed of 16,000 revolutions per minute. Besides, the average power consumption per 100 km of pure electric passenger vehicles has been lowered to 12.35 kWh. The NEV industrial chain is more self-supporting and its risks are better controlled. China has gradually gained a competitive edge in the development of electric vehicle batteries, motors and electronic control systems, and boasts world-leading technologies of intelligent connected vehicles such as the smart cockpit. Domestically-produced big computing power chips, laser radars and new-gen driver-assistance systems have also been put into use. China has further sped up its steps in building charging infrastructure. As of the end of 2022, China had built a total of 5.21 million charging piles and 1,973 battery swapping stations, establishing the world's largest network of charging facilities. In the January-May period this year, nearly 1.15 million sets of new charging facilities were built. As of the end of May, China was home to nearly 6.36 million sets of charging facilities, up 77.5 percent year-on-year. "Chinese NEV manufacturers are changing the competitive pattern of the global auto market, seeing an opportunity to reshape the industrial model and build world-class brands," said Gu Huinan, general manager of GAC Aion. In terms of both technology and market, Chinese NEVs have reached a new transition from quantity to quality, shifting their focus from expanding order sizes to gaining economies of scale, Gu added. Since 2012, Chinese NEV manufacturers have taken the opportunities in the automobile industry's transition toward electrification, intelligentization, and internet-connected development, promoting technological, product and market innovations to foster new growth drivers. As a result, a batch of core technologies has been developed, and the total NEV production has risen sharply from 20,000 units at the end of 2012 to 20 million units today. Like many emerging industries, the Chinese NEV sector also faced a series of major problems restricting its development in its early stage, such as immature technology, high production costs, an incomplete industrial chain and a market that was yet to be formed. The rapid growth of the sector couldn't have been achieved in such a short time of 11 years without China's institutional and market advantages, the efforts made by both the supply and demand sides, as well as the synergy between policy and market. "Over recent years, relevant departments have rolled out some 70 policies to support the NEV industry, which helped build a complete and synergetic industrial system, fostered the world's largest auto consumption market, and enhanced win-win cooperation between the NEV sector and relevant industries, contributing China's wisdom to promote the electrification transformation of the global automobile industry," said Xin Guobin, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Chandigarh, July 11 : Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and party's state President Chaudhary Udaibhan announced that they will visit flood-affected areas of the state on Wednesday. After heavy rains, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Kaithal and areas up to Panchkula have been worst hit due to water logging. Many villages and cities have been inundated due to overflowing of rivers and breach of dams at many places, Hooda said in a statement. Roads, lanes, houses and shops have been submerged, he said, adding that no preparation was made by the government to deal with rain and water-logging as a precautionary measure and people continue to suffer as the governmentas response has been inadequate, considering the scale of the problem. Hooda has appealed to the state government to seek maximum help from the Union government for relief work and ensuring that water-logged areas are cleared at the earliest. He said that maximum help of the NDRF and the Indian Army should be taken so that the loss of life and property could be prevented. Along with this, he has also demanded the government to give proper compensation after assessing the loss caused to the people. Hooda has called upon the Congress workers to become active in the flood-affected areas and help the people in need. Along with this, he also appealed to the public to take precautions and the people should step out of their homes out only when necessary. --IANS vg/vd New Delhi, July 11 : Special Cell of Delhi Police on Tuesday claimed that it has arrested a man and busted an inter-state arms trafficking syndicate operating from Madhya Pradesh. Police said that they have also recovered 11 semi-automatic pistols and three single shot pistols from the possession of the accused. The police have identified the accused as Dhara Singh (55), a resident of Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, who had supplied over 1500 weapons in the Delhi-NCR to criminals. "This nexus was being operated by a notorious gunrunner identified as Pawan, who is running a pan-India network and is in contact with the gangsters spread across India. The accused, Dhara Singh, was a key member of the nexus," said police. The Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) HGS Dhaliwal said that after the arrest of four arms traffickers --Manpreet, Dilshad, Mangeram and Daud -- in past few months, a team was tasked to bust other arms syndicates to cut the supply line of illegal firearms being brought into Delhi/NCR by various firearms suppliers. "During development of intelligence, it came to light that Dhara Singh was supplying illegal firearms and ammunition to local gangs in Delhi/NCR. This information was further developed, and sources were deployed to gather more information regarding the alleged Dhara," said the Special CP. On the early morning of July 9, one of the deployed sources gave specific inputs regarding the alleged Dhara, informing that he would come to Ring Road near Dhaula Kuan to deliver a significant quantity of high-quality firearms and ammunition to a member of the local gang as per the direction of Pawan (the kingpin of the syndicate). "A trap was laid and Dhara was apprehended. On search, 11 high-quality semi-automatic pistols of 7.65 (.32) bore and three single-shot pistols of .315 bore were recovered from his possession," said the Special CP. On interrogation, it was revealed that he used to procure the firearms and ammunition from local manufacturers in Madhya Pradesh and supply the same to various gangs in Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, MP, and Maharashtra. "He was also connected to the gunrunner syndicate of Jagat. In 2022, Jagat was arrested by the MP Police with a huge quantity of illegal pistols. Later, he got connected to an inter-state gunrunner syndicate headed by Pawan," said Dhaliwal. "He had supplied or smuggled more than 1500 illegal firearms and ammunition to date to various states. He would purchase the illegal semi-automatic pistols for Rs. 800010000 and supply them for Rs. 2500030000," said the official. Singapore, July 11 : A 29-year-old Indian-origin recalcitrant offender in Singapore was sentenced to more than 17 months in prison on Tuesday for possessing and handing over a weapon, which was allegedly used to stab a man in 2022. S. Mageshwaran, who was out on bail, was also awarded 12 strokes of the cane, after he pleaded guilty to multiple crimes including harassment, being in possession of the harpoon and traffic offences, The Straits Times reported. According to court documents, Mageshwaran had a 20 cm tactical harpoon with him which he handed over to his accomplice Sheran Raj Balasubramaniam, who then allegedly used it to stab a 23-year-old man. The two were charged with voluntarily causing hurt with common intention in 2022. Deputy Public Prosecutor Melissa Heng said Mageshwaran was convicted of being in possession of a dangerous weapon in 2019 for which he was later sentenced to more than three years in jail and was released in 2020. On November 30, 2020, while being under a remission order, a drunk Mageshwaran used vulgar language against a policeman in Dunlop Street in Little India for which he was arrested and later released on bail. On June 3, 2022, Sheran asked him to bring along a weapon as they planned to go to Candy Bar at Cuscaden Road. Heng said that in the taxi on the way to Candy Bar, Mageshwaran handed the tactical harpoon to Sheran, who then stabbed a man later outside the bar. "Thereafter, at about 4.30am outside Candy Bar, the co-accused stabbed (a man) using the tactical harpoon," Heng was cited as saying in The Times. Police said the victim was found bleeding profusely with the weapon stuck in his back. He was rushed to the hospital and is now in a stable condition. Mageshwaran and Sheran, who had fled the scene, were identified through investigations and surveillance footage. Mageshwaran also committed traffic offences including driving a car without a licence in Yishun in September 2021, The Times reported. According to his defence lawyer, Mageshwaran has major depressive disorder, and his failure to exercise consequential thinking during the traffic offences was due to his relationship issues, The Times reported. The lawyer further said that Mageshwaran had no knowledge that Sheran would use the harpoon to attack the 23-year-old in Cuscaden Road. While Sheran's case is still pending, offenders can be jailed for up to seven years, fined, and caned for voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon. --IANS mi/vd Colombo, July 11 : Ahead of Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe's first official visit to India, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra met him during his two-day official visit to Colombo on Tuesday. The meeting at the Ministry of Defence premises focused on enhancing bilateral relations and working towards future economic and social goals that would benefit the people of both countries. "During the meeting, President Wickremesinghe briefed the Indian Foreign Secretary on the government's reform programmes aimed at strengthening the country's economy. He also acknowledged India's continuous support as a neighbouring ally during the recent economic crisis," the President Media Division (PMD) stated. Discussions were also held on Wickremesinghe's upcoming official visit to India and the planned activities during the visit, PMD added. Kwatra also held discussions with Sagala Ratnayaka, Senior Advisor to the President on national security and Chief of Presidential Staff. Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Bagley, joined the meetings. On July 20, Wickremesinghe is scheduled to visit India for the first time since he took office in 2022. During his visit, the President is expected to hold bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the worst ever economic crisis Sri Lanka went through last year since its Independence in 1948, India extended extensive assistance with nearly $4 billion financial aid. Working as a co-chair of the Creditors Committee along with Japan and Paris Club, India also took the initiative to help Sri Lanka in its debt treatment programme. New Delhi, July 11 : Aam Aadmi Party's spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar has alleged that seven MPs of the BJP were missing for the past two days when Delhi witnessed heavy rain. She tweeted a photo of all the seven MPs of the saffron party accusing them of not doing anything."Was there any disaster in Delhi? The seven MPs of the BJP are not found anywhere. Even if you will use binocular, they won't be seen," she tweeted. The AAP has said that their party MLAs and councillors were on the ground during the crisis while the BJP leaders were missing. Kakkar had said on July 9 that while Delhi was ready to tackle any situation, the states being run by the BJP were in a pathetic condition. Earlier in the day, AAP minister Saurabh Bhardwaj accused Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for playing dirty politics instead of working together. Agartala, July 11 : The centuries-old 'Ker Puja' was held in Tripura on Tuesday following several restrictions and customs. As per the customs, death, birth or even recreations are prohibited in the notified areas of the 'Ker Puja' ground. Also held in few other northeastern states, as well as in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, this annual festival organised by the indigenous tribal population consisting of intricate, time-honoured rituals is aimed at the well-being of people and for warding off evil spirits. Although the 31-hour-long rituals and preparatory work began late on Monday night, the actual 'Ker Puja' was held on Tuesday. As per the strong conventions and customs of the ceremonies, no pregnant woman or critically-ill person is allowed inside the puja areas, notified by the concerned District Magistrates through a gazette notification and other campaigns. According to the elderly tribal leaders, any person who violates the customs is bound to pay a fine and the Ker Puja has to start afresh from the initial stage. Sponsored by the state government, 'Ker Puja' and 'Kharchi Puja' are the two important traditional events in Tripura. The Ker Puja is held seven days after the another centuries old festivity, 'Kharchi Puja', which worships 14 deities simultaneously in the erstwhile princely state's previous capital Puran Habeli, 7 km north of Agartala. The literal meaning of 'Ker' in the tribal Kokborok language is "specified area". "The puja rituals started at 10 p.m. on Monday night and will continue uninterrupted for more than 31 hours," the gazette notification said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda and many other leaders greeted the people of Tripura on the occasion of 'Ker Puja'. Modi tweeted: "Greetings on the very special occasion of Ker Puja. I hope that this festival, which is marked with great enthusiasm in Tripura, fills everyone's lives with joy and prosperity. May there be happiness and harmony all around and may everyone be blessed with good health." "On the auspicious occasion of Ker Puja, my heartfelt wishes to the sisters and brothers of Tripura. May the festival bring happiness, good health and prosperity into the lives of everyone," Shah said in his tweet. Mumbai/Nagpur, July 11 : The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party government, saying that the withdrawal of the Foxconn semiconductor project is a huge loss for Maharashtra and the country. Addressing the media, Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe said that the mega-project in collaboration with the Vedanta Group was proposed to come up in Pune during the MVA rule of the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena-UBT. "However, to exploit it politically during the elections, it was 'stolen away' to Gujarat just before the polls Now the project will not materialise even in that state," he said. The then MVA government had completed all the formalities, the state was prepared to give all the concessions and facilities for the project, yet it was abruptly moved out of Maharashtra to Gujarat. "As a result, not only Maharashtra, but even the country has suffered a huge loss owing to the BJP's policies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is harmful to the country and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis is hurtful to this state," Londhe claimed. The Vedanta-Foxconn venture proposed an investment of over Rs 1.50 lakh crore with a potential to create more than 100,000 jobs for the youth in Maharashtra. "The business environment in and around Pune is very conducive for a project like this, its an industrial cluster, conveniently situated, well-connected by road, rail, air and ports, availability of the necessary skilled manpower and other infrastructure facilities in place. Yet, it was snatched away to Gujarat Now, India has lost the project," rued Londhe. NCP's national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Fadnavis were so busy in breaking up parties that they could not hold onto the Foxconn venture from slipping out of the country. "They have betrayed the people of Maharashtra and Gujarat in their unholy quest for power. The BJP owes an explanation to the people, first Maharashtra for taking it (Foxconn) to Gujarat, and then to Gujarat for losing out the project itself," demanded Crasto. Sena-UBT leader Aditya Thackeray pounced on the state government for pushing out the project "due to the ambitious and brutal politics, and discrimination of the rulers". "Why was the project suddenly moved to Gujarat from the most viable location of Pune, despite a grand announcement by the CM and Deputy CM in the Assembly? The present illegitimate government has allowed many important projects to go to other states" said Thackeray Jr. Londhe claimed that the site provided in Gujarat was not favourable nor did that state provide them adequate facilities and now lakhs of youths are deprived of employment opportunities. The withdrawal of Foxconn has raised questions even on the future of the US-based Micron SemiConductor's proposed plant in Gujarat for which big announcements were made during the Vibrant Gujarat conclave and Make In India initiatives, said Londhe. "The government should come out with a white paper on how many projects are announced and which have actually come up. Foxconn's pull-back could directly affect FDI into India and other companies could give their plans a second thought," warned Londhe. He blamed the BJP at the state and Centre for being 'directly responsible' for Maharashtra losing out on several big projects like Vedanta-Foxconn, Tata-Airbus, Bulk Chemicals, etc. "Its unfortunate that the PM who claimed to have stopped the Russian-Ukraine war cannot stop the flight of industries from the country. No matter which party is in power, forfeiting such major projects is detrimental to India's interests and image," he added. Hubballi, : July 11 (IANS) Sri Rama Sena founder Pramod Muthalik on Tuesday said that Hindu activists have been killed in both BJP as well as Congress government. Pramod Muthalik said that after the Congress government came to power in Karnataka there is an anti-Hindu atmosphere in the state. However, when BJP was in power, the Hindu activists were living under fear as well. "BJP was demolished in the state. The Congress leaders are with Muslims," Muthalik told reporters. He said that BJP leaders are 'nalayaks' (useless). "If you (BJP) had stood with Hindu activists, we would have celebrated BJP. What fact finding will you do? You blame Congress and carry out dramas," Muthalik said. He asked Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar why in the Jain pontiff murder case he has not taken the name of the second accused who is a Muslim. "Why did you take the name of a Hindu accused? We are not going to leave this matter. We will teach a lesson. The Congress appeasement policy has only increased," he said. What does it mean by stringent punishment? The system is not right. The accused will come out from prison in one year. The Uttar Pradesh model should be followed here and the accused persons houses should be razed in Jain pontiff case, Pramod Muthalik demanded. "Cruelty is cruelty and whoever may be the accused, his house should be razed," he said. Talking about allowing Nimaz in Vidhana Soudha, he stated that the state legislature is neither Makkah nor Madina. "Do they think it is Makkah or Madina, this is a dangerous mindset. Vidhana Soudha is a sacred place. You give permission to perform Nimaz. This thing is communal and this is what we fight for," Pramod Muthalik said. New Delhi, July 11 : Bollywood star Alia Bhatt on Tuesday released a new vlog on her YouTube channel on the shoot of the romantic song 'Tum Kya Mile' from her upcoming movie 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani'. She also revealed how she had to get "back in shape" for her character Rani, post the birth of her daughter Raha. The vlog starts with Alia enjoying a fresh breeze of air, while sitting in a car and then a picturesque landscape with snowclad mountains appears. Karan Johar, who is accompanying her in the car, is seen saying, "All your bachpan ka sapnas (childhood dreams) are coming true na." To which she says, "Yeah", and keeps her fingers crossed. Alia then shows a 360-degree clip, saying "it's day one of the shoot and it's snowing", adding that "not allowed to shoot. It's minus three degrees right now". Her mother Soni Razdan is also seen in the background. The actress revealed that this is the first shooting she did after giving birth. She also attached her gym clips, in which she could be seen working out. "I had to get back in shape for Rani. I just had four months to prepare. We have two weeks till we shoot our song for 'Rocky Aur Rani', and I have only started to work out after six weeks of postpartum. We started very slow, but had a large goal to reach," Alia said. The vlog also shows Mickey Contractor giving Alia her first makeup look for the song. Mickey says: "I am speechless right now and I am panicking." Alia replies: "The reason we are panicking is that we are trying something new. This is like the masterclass of the no-makeup look, which is the toughest look to do in the world, but we are attempting a no-makeup look for a full on romantic song." Showing a panoramic view of the area as she walks across picturesque snow-clad Kashmir, she exclaims: "Filmmaking and song making are very glamorous." Here, we can also spot fashion designer Manish Malhotra. Then Alia flaunts her dance steps in a pistachio-coloured saree, and KJo could be heard saying, "Three decades of chiffon sarees." Alia then announces that she has wrapped up the shoot, to which KJO says, "Yeah, it was kind of a turbulent shoot. It wasn't easy. We have covered the length and breath of Kashmir. We have shot in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Srinagar. And I combated a viral, you had your baby. I am shooting a song like this after 17 years, i.e., a chiffon saree song." The 30-year-old actress reveals that her favourite look from the song was in black saree, which she shot on the top of the mountain in Chandanwari. The vlog also features Alia's elder sister Shaheen Bhatt, and the two could be seen laughing together. aRocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaania is directed by Karan Johar and produced by Dharma Productions and Viacom18 Studios. It stars Ranveer Singh as the lead with Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi in pivotal roles. The film is set to release on July 28. Panaji, July 11 : Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLA Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday alleged that National Games 2023 is a scam in the making and hence superstar Amitabh Bachchan should protect his reputation by restraining himself from lending his voice to the theme song. "Amitabh Bachchan is a superstar. National Games will be worse than Commonwealth Games. It will be a scam. I don't know whether Amitabh Bachchan should lend his voice to a scam. Please make him understand that there is a scam in the making," Sardesai told reporters here. "If this question comes during the monsoon assembly session, you will come to know about the scam in National Games," Sardesai said. Sports Minister Govind Gaude had said a couple of days back that Amitabh Bachchan will lend his voice to the theme song of the National Games 2023, also known as the 37th National Games. "Met India's legendary actor @SrBachchan Sahab today. He had agreed to render his iconic voice to the theme song of 37th National Games to be held in Goa. Completely taken back by his humility as an artist and warmth of his hospitality. And that's what makes him the finest actor." Govind Gaude had tweeted. According to Sardesai, someone should advise the superstar to rethink his decision. "I have heard that Amitabh Bachchan is a very choosy man and he has a reputation to protect. So please advise him," Sardesai said. Sardesai had earlier targeted Govind Gaude, who also holds the Art and Culture portfolio, over alleged scam of Kala Academy construction. "Shah Jahan's Taj Mahal is not getting completed and he has brought National Games," Sardesai said. Defending the state government's move to nominate a contractor for the renovation work of Kala Academy without floating a tender, Govind Gaude had said in July 2022 that even Shah Jahan did not invite quotations before building the Taj Mahal. "Taj Mahal was built between 1632 and 1653. Do you know why it is still so beautiful and everlasting? Because Shah Jahan never invited quotations to build it. That is why the Taj Mahal is intact even after 400 years," Gaude had said. Vijai Sardesai had alleged that no tender was floated for the restoration work (of Kala Academy) worth around Rs 49 crore, which is against the CPWD manual. President Vo Van Thuong (R) and French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery. (Photo: VNA) At a reception for Warnery in Hanoi on July 10, President Thuong expressed his belief that in any position, the diplomat will continue serving as a bridge promoting traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries. He took this occasion to thank France for donating millions of vaccine doses to Vietnam, helping the country to successfully cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to boost the bilateral ties in the near future, the President suggested both sides continue facilitating meetings and visits by their leaders. He asked the ambassador to convey his invitation to French President Emmanuel Macron, saying that Vietnam is ready to welcome the leader for a visit at a suitable time. President Thuong proposed facilitating the exchange of delegations at the local level and further promote people-to-people exchanges, thereby deepening the traditional friendship between the two nations. Vietnam welcomes joint programmes and projects between businesses of the two countries and expects that France would soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to optimise the potential for bilateral collaboration, he said. Regarding the conservation of cultural works and architectural heritages with French characteristics in Vietnamese cities and provinces, the President hoped that France will continue with its support to ensure the effective maintenance efforts. Speaking highly of Frances stance on the East Sea issue, the State leader hoped that France would continue backing ASEAN's and Vietnam's stance on ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, and settling disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Warnery, for his part, thanked Vietnam for promptly donating masks to France during COVID-19 pandemic. He said France advocates strongly developing its ties with Vietnam in various areas both bilaterally and at global and regional forums. As this year marks the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership, he said President Macron wants to meet with President Thuong soon to discuss comprehensive cooperation, especially in politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, investment, education, health care, energy and climate change response. France is also willing to work with Vietnam to preserve French-style cultural works and architectural heritages, particularly Long Bien bridge, an iconic symbol of Hanoi throughout the years, he said./. New Delhi, July 11 : With the early onset of monsoon, the national capital is seeing a wave of rising dengue, flu, water-borne diseases and gastroenteritis disease, said doctors here on Tuesday. On June 25, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared the onset of the southwest monsoon over Mumbai and Delhi. While the monsoon was delayed by 14 days in Mumbai, it arrived two days early in Delhi. "There has been a significant increase in dengue cases recently, which can be attributed to weather change. With the onset of the monsoon season, we have observed an average of 10-15 cases per day, out of which 5-6 cases are diagnosed as dengue, while others are viral flu cases," Dr. Anurag Saxena, HOD-Internal medicine at Primus Super Speciality Hospital, told IANS. "This rise is accompanied by the alarming fact that 7-8 patients require hospitalisation due to severe symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain. Additionally, some patients are also experiencing gastrointestinal issues, including symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. Others are presenting symptoms of viral flu, such as a runny or congested nose, sore throat, cough, fatigue, and general malaise," Dr. Saxena added. According to Dr. Tushar Tayal, Lead Consultant, Department of Internal Medicine, C.K. Birla Hospital, Gurugram, there has been a 15-20 per cent increase in cases of patients with flu, loose stools, typhoid, jaundice, abdominal pain and vomiting. "It is because of consumption of contaminated food and water, change in temperature and humidity," Dr Tayal told IANS. The doctors said that all people of all age groups are vulnerable for these diseases, but infants and elderly are especially at risk due to lower immunity. "The monsoon increases risk of certain infections due to various factors such as increased humidity, stagnant water, and a higher prevalence of certain vectors like mosquitoes," Dr Ajay Aggarwal - Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital Noida, told IANS. In addition to these diseases, skin infections are also likely to go up during monsoons. "Fungal and bacterial infections of the skin are common during the monsoon due to the excessive moisture and sweating. Conditions like ringworm, athlete's foot, and dermatitis can occur, particularly in areas where skin remains damp for an extended period," Dr Aggarwal noted. "Usually, cases of vector-borne diseases see a spike in the months following the monsoon. There has been an increase in cases of dengue and malaria in Delhi this year and this can be attributed to the unseasonal rain that occurred in early May. Other seasonal diseases like chikungunya and conjunctivitis have also seen a spike," said Dr Sanjay Kumar, Consultant,Internal Medicine, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals. The doctors called for proactive measures to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and to protect from these diseases. They recommended people to regularly check and clean water containers, flower pots, bird baths, and coolers to eliminate stagnant water; drink only boiled water or water cleaned by a purifier; cover their mouth and nose with a handkerchief while coughing or sneezing; use mosquito repellents and nets for protection against mosquitoes; keep garments dry, and use antifungal powder to avoid catching fungal skin infections. They also advised to consume freshly prepared food and avoid eating food from roadside vendors; wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly; as well as to take preventive vaccines against hepatitis A, typhoid, and flu. --IANS rvt/vd Patna, July 11 : A day after Sushil Kumar Modi claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar taps phones of Mahagathbandhan MLAs, senior RJD leader Bhai Virendra on Tuesday hit back, saying that the BJP leader is making such statements only to stay in the news. "Sushil Modi has no work. He neither has any importance in public nor in politics. The Chief Minister has pointed out during the Vidhan Mandal meeting to avoid going into the media and making unnecessary statements. He has not said specifically to any lawmaker of the Mahagathbandhan," Bhai Virendra said. Nitish Kumar, during the Mahagathbandhan MLAs meeting on Monday, reportedly slammed RJD MLC Sunil Singh for meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and said that he has proof of this. Following that, Sushil Kumar Modi claimed that Nitish Kumar has mounted surveillance on every leader of Mahagathbandhan through the intelligence department and also by phone tapping. He also said that NItish Kumar is doing this as he is afraid that his Chief Minister's post may slip away from his hand. Los Angeles, July 11 : Johnny Depp paid a special tribute to his daughter Lily-Rose on stage with his American rock supergroup The Hollywood Vampires during their European tour. The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor-turned-rockstar, 60, showed his love and support for his daughter at the London O2 Arena wearing a stylish navy blue blazer with 'Lily-Rose' embroidered in white cursive onto the front right of the jacket, mirror.co.uk reports. The blazer was also covered in skulls, an anchor, a cross, and various other scribbled quotes. Depp wore his fashionable custom jacket over a striped navy blue vest pairing the outfit with black pants and edgy accessories including a distressed white fedora hat, a red bandana, many chains, necklaces, a plethora of rings, and his signature black eyeliner. The sweet homage to his daughter comes after her latest role in the popular series 'The Idol' on HBO. The controversial series has received backlash from fans, claiming the show was "cringey" and "off-putting" and that the creator of the show Sam Levinson, former 'Euphoria' director, had turned it into "torture porn and rape fantasy", mirror.co.uk said. USA Today has described the show as "sexist, gratuitous, exploitative...and achingly boring". Despite the negative reviews, a source close to Johnny told DailyMail.com that he was unfazed and instead "believes she must be doing something right to have gained so much attention". The source told DailyMail.com: "Johnny loves that Lily is carving out a career of her own and challenging herself to take on roles that interest her and test her." "He loves that she is her own person and becoming her own actress. She isn't resting her career on his success." The Hollywood Vampires, formed in 2012, are a rock group comprising Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, and Warlock guitarist Tommy Henriksen. Guwahati, July 11 : A convict serving life term in a murder case, who escaped from Silchar Central Jail in Assam's Cachar district two months ago, was shot dead in a police encounter, an official said on Tuesday. Numal Mahatta, the Cachar district's Superintendent of Police (SP), revealed that Hifjur Rahman, 34, an inmate serving life imprisonment, had escaped from the Silchar central jail on May 11 along with another murder accused. "Hifjur escaped from the Silchar Central Jail and travelled to Bangladesh before lately coming back to the region. Based on a top-secret tip, we apprehended him yesterday along the boundary between Assam and Meghalaya," the officer added. Mahatta claimed that on Monday night as the police team was bringing him to Silchar Central Jail, Hifjur requested that the car be stopped so that he could pee. Police at first refused, but when he started acting strangely, they halted the vehicle. He suddenly attacked the officers, grabbed a revolver, and opened fire after exiting the vehicle. "Our officials gave him numerous warnings, but eventually shot him out of self-defence. He was injured and brought to Silchar Medical College and Hospitals (SMCH). He passed away during treatment, according to the doctors," the Cachar SP mentioned. Meanwhile, the police claimed that two constables also sustained injuries because Hifzur Rahman attacked them. According to the police, Hifjur's family has been notified of his passing and his body has been sent for an autopsy report. They have not yet responded, though. The police said that on May 11, Hifjur and a second prisoner serving life term named Deep Nunia managed to escape from Silchar Central Jail by digging a tunnel through the toilet. Mahatta stated that Deep Nunia is being sought after. One of the five suspects in the 2011 murder case of college student Ahrar Ahmed (Naaz) in Karimganj was Hifzur Rahman. All five accused, including a woman, received life sentences in 2013. Ahrar Ahmed (Naaz), a graduate student from Karimganj, was kidnapped by Hifzur Rahman, according to police records, and Rs 25 lakh ransom was demanded from his family. He killed Naaz before the family could pay the agreed upon money. Police found the body that had been buried and also detained five suspects, including Hifzur. Hifzur and another accused were initially given death sentences by the Karimganj district court, but they appealed, and the Gauhati high court gave them life sentences. Hifzur and another prisoner, Deep Nunia, were housed in a shared cell when they were both taken to Silchar Central Jail three months ago. Mumbai, July 11 : Pets can help fulfill the emotional deficits that arise after relationships break down, a Mumbai court observed while ordering a man to pay maintenance for his estranged wife's 3 Rottweilers. Bandra Court Metropolitan Magistrate Komalsing Rajput recently rejected a man's arguments to slash the maintenance payable to his 55-year-old wife which also includes money for her 3 pet dogs. Dismissing his contentions, the Magistrate said that "pets are also part and parcel of decent lifestyle are necessary for human beings to lead healthy life as they fulfill the emotional deficit that occurred on account of broken relationships". Accordingly, the court said that this could not be the ground to mitigate the maintenance amount for the woman and her 3 pet canines. The woman, a victim of domestic violence had sought maintenance of Rs 70,000 per month under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, but her ex-husband challenged it on grounds that she wanted maintenance even for her 3 pet dogs. The court has allowed her plea partly and directed the husband to pay Rs 50,000 per month as maintenance till the disposal of the main plea filed by the woman. The Magistrate took into account the fact that both parties were of sound financial background, there was no evidence to support the husband's claims of suffering business losses, and the court felt that the maintenance granted to the wife should be in tune with her lifestyle and other requirements. The couple was married in 1986 in another Indian city, have two daughters who are settled abroad, but differences arose between the husband-wife in 2021, and he sent the wife to Mumbai assuring maintenance and other facilities. Later, the wife alleged that her husband had not kept his promise, he indulged in domestic violence, she had no sources of income, was suffering from ill-health and had three dogs dependent on her. New Delhi, July 11 : Delhi Police have rescued a total of 10 street dogs which were confined at a house here in the RK Puram area, an official said on Tuesday. According to the police, on Monday, information regarding "cruelty towards dogs" at a house in Sector 6, RK Puram was received, following which a police team rushed to the spot. The Station House Officer of RK Puram police station along with his team met the caller identified as Rahul, a resident of the locality. "He said that a man named Khus Gode residing in the locality with his family was mentally ill and used to feed the street dogs. He had confined some street dogs," a police officer said. During the initial probe, it was revealed that Gode was undergoing treatment at IHBAS Hospital, Shahdara. "He kept 8 to 10 dogs in his house so that they cannot bite anyone. On Monday, an argument took place between Gode and his neighbour Rahul over the barking of the dogs. The MCD control room was informed in this regard, and later, the dogs were also released from his house," said a senior police officer. A few days ago, Delhi Police rescued 14 street dogs from a house in south Delhi's Greater Kailash area after getting a warrant from a court. The dogs were confined in the house without electricity, proper nutrition or care, and were in a miserable condition. According to the police, the woman, a resident of Greater Kailash-I, had been keeping 15-16 street dogs inside her flat without proper nutrition, care and protection for the last 2-3 years. "Their waste and faeces were littering outside her flat and the entire staircase. The common hygiene of the surrounding area of the flat was very pathetic," said an official. New Delhi, July 11 : Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on Tuesday told chiefs of public and private sector banks that owing to prevailing adverse global conditions, banks need to be extra vigilant. His caution came during a meeting in Mumbai with heads of public sector banks, where chiefs of select private sector banks were also present. The meeting was also attended by RBI Deputy Governors M. Rajeshwar Rao and J. Swaminathan along with a few senior officials of the central bank. Das noted during the meeting that while performances of banks have been good despite adverse global conditions, they need to be extra careful and vigilant. He also emphasised the need for banks' chiefs to strengthen the governance in banks and focus on the tripod of banking stability consisting of compliance, risk management and audit functions. Issues relating to strengthening of credit underwriting standards, monitoring of large exposures, implementation of external benchmark linked rate (EBLR) guidelines, bolstering IT security and IT governance, improving recovery from written-off accounts, and timely and accurate sharing of information with credit information companies, were also discussed. --IANS ans/vd New Delhi, July 11 : Actress Preity Zinta has shared a glimpse of the 'mundan' ceremony of her little twin munchkins Jai and Gia in Los Angeles, and described what relevance it holds in Hinduism. Taking to her Instagram, Preity shared a photo of her little bundle of joys, wherein the two kids with their shaved heads can be seen playing with their toys, with their back towards the camera. She wrote the caption as, "So the 'Mundan ceremony' finally happened this weekend. For Hindus the first shaving off the hair for babies is considered to be a gesture of purification from the memory of their previous births and freedom from the past. Here are Jai & Gia post their mundan ceremony. #tradition #mundanceremony #ting." Fans instantly flooded the comment section and showered their love on the children. They reacted by writing: "Awwwww...Wooooowww... You are sooo attached to your roots"; "Blessings to twins"; "Congratulations mama! May they always be blessed"; "Culture". On February 29, 2016, Preity Zinta married Gene Goodenough at a private ceremony in Los Angeles. In 2021, they became parents to twins, a boy and a girl, through surrogacy. Kolkata, July 11 : Despite being way ahead of the opposition parties in most parts of West Bengal as per the counting trends for the panchayat polls on Tuesday, the ruling Trinamool Congress received a major jolt at Nandigram in East Midnapore district, which is considered a stronghold of Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of opposition in the state Assembly. Adhikari is also the BJP MLA from Nandigram, where he defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerje by a margin of 1,956 votes in the 2021 Assembly elections. Banerjee later entered the Assembly after getting elected from Bhabanipur in Kolkata in the bypoll. In the panchayat polls, BJP's performance has been significant in the village panchayat areas of Boyal-I, Boyal-II, Khodambari-I and Khodambari-II under Nandigram-II block. Of the total 61 gram panchayat seats there, BJP candidates have either won or are ahead in 37 seats, followed by Trinamool nominees at 23 and one Independent candidate. In Boyal-I, BJP candidates have won or are ahead in eight out of the 13 seats, pushing Trinamool back with five seats. In Boyal-II, nine seats are in favour of BJP, while Trinamool has six and one went in favour of an Independent candidate. In Khodambari-I, BJP won eight out of 15 seats, followed by Trinamool at seven. In Khodambari-II, 12 out of the 17 seats are in favour of BJP, followed by Trinamool at five. Adhikari said that the results in Nandigram reflect the fact that people have rejected the Trinamool wherever they could resist the ruling party's 'hooligans' and cast their votes. "Had this picture in Nandigram been reflected in the entire state, Trinamool would have turned minorities in most districts. But our fight against the ruling party will continue," Adhikari said. New Delhi, July 11 : In a bid to prepare for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Congress on Tuesday held a meeting with Maharashtra leaders about Parliamentary election preparation, starting with Maharashtra. After the four hour long meeting which came in the wake of split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Venugopal told media: "Today, we had a very fruitful four-hours discussion about the Parliamentary preparation of Maharashtra state. Today onwards, we have started the Parliamentary election preparation. We started with Maharashtra." The Congress Rajya Sabha MP said that Kharge appealed to the leaders of Maharashtra that every state leader should stand unitedly and make Congress stronger in the state. Venugopal said: "Rahul Gandhi also shared his experience of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' through Maharashtra. 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Maharashtra was one of the best in all over the country. He told and expressed confidence that the Congress is very strong enough in Maharashtra." "He (Rahul Gandhi) appealed to the leaders of Maharashtra that you have to make deep root effect in rural and urban Maharashtra to bring success to the party in a bigger way," he said. The Congress leader said that the party decided that all senior leaders should take responsibility of the parliamentary constituencies. "Therefore, we are giving seniors leaders to have a responsibility on each and every Parliamentary constituency of Maharashtra. And in September, we will do a massive Padyatra under the leadership of our one big leader in each district of Maharashtra. And from November-December there will be abus yatra across the stage with all leaders together," he said, sharing the plans of the party. He said that in Maharashtra, Congress will have a massive election preparation process as Rahul Gandhi and Kharge have given direction to come in the active mode to activate campaign in the state from Wednesday itself. To a question, if the Congress feels that it will make an impact in Lok Sabha elections in the state, which has 48 lok sabha seats, Venugopal said: "We are very confident that the way BJP is trying to demolish democracy in Maharashtra will have a negative effect for BJP. This is a general impression in Maharashtra. We are going to sweep. We are going to fight in alliance with the 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' alliance. We will fight together certainly. BJP's politics of dividing the political parties by using the ED and money will pay bigger price in the coming election." He asserted that people are ready to defeat the BJP. "The Congress is now starting its Parliament election campaign," he said. On being asked that Congress now is the largest opposition party in the state assembly and will it ask for LoP post, Venugopal said that it doesn't matter. "That will be discussed later. We will discuss with our alliance partners after that we will take a call," he said. The meeting with the Maharashtra Congress leaders was chaired by party president Mlikarjun Kharge and also attended by Rahul Gandhi. Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, state in-charge H K Patil, senior party leaders Sushilkumar Shinde, Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan were also present in the meeting. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said in Maharashtra, the party has a big organisation and no one will leave it either today or in future. "And whenever elections are held in the state, Congress will emerge as the biggest party because roots of the party are spread all over the state and people have accepted this fact today and it's result will visible," Patole said. The Maharashtra Congress chief to a question if the party will contest alone or in alliance interests said: "We have preparing on all the 48 seats in the state. If there will be any alliance then they will gain strength from us. In Maharashtra, large sections believe in the Congress party and the state also has the follower of Ambedkar. Whoever will be with us will benefit in election." Following the split in Shiv Sena last year and NCP last month, the Congress has now emerged as the largest opposition party in Maharashtra and has staked claim to the post of Leader of Opposition in the state assembly. The meeting at the party headquarters here came after a faction of the NCP led by Ajit Pawar switched over to join hands with the BJP-Eknath Shinde government in the state. The Ajit Pawar-led camp has also approached the Election Commission to stake the claim of the party symbol and the party. Construction steel products of Viet Duc Steel Joint Stock Company (Vinh Phuc). (Photo: VNA) In a bulletin published on July 8, the website sbm.news, citing a source from the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, said that during the above period, the total bilateral trade turnover between this country and Vietnam reached more than USD2.8 billion, an increase of nearly 3% from the same period in 2022. Cambodia's export goods to Vietnam reached about USD1.3 billion, while the country imported goods worth more than USD1.5 billion from Vietnam. With a positive growth in trade scale in the first months of this year, Vietnam is not only Cambodia's largest partner in ASEAN but also Cambodia's third largest trading partner in the world, after China and the US. According to Cambodian media, the value of goods exported from Cambodia to Vietnam increased mainly from the export of agricultural products, thanks to the annual increase in the harvest in this country. Cambodia's main exports to Vietnam include rice, rubber, cashew nuts, cassava, maize, bananas, mangoes, tobacco and natural resources. In the opposite direction, Cambodia imports from Vietnam items such as construction materials, machinery, fuel, electrical and electronic items, fertilizers, spices and vegetables. According to data from the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia, although bilateral trade turnover with Vietnam increased quite well, the total trade scale between this country and ASEAN countries decreased in the first 5 months of the year, reaching just over USD6 billion, down more than 15% from the same period in 2022. Over the past time, the scale of trade between Vietnam and Cambodia has continuously grown at an average rate of 18.5% per year in the period 2010-2015 and over 21% in the period 2015-2020. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam is one of Cambodia's three largest trading partners, with a total bilateral trade turnover of USD9.54 billion in 2021, an increase of more than 79% compared to 2020. In 2022, the bilateral trade scale between Vietnam and Cambodia reached USD10.57 billion, an increase of nearly 11% compared to 2021./. New Delhi, July 11 : In first reaction on the Supreme Court's order terming as "illegal" the third extension given to Enforcement Directorate (ED) Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a dig at the opposition leaders saying those who are rejoicing are delusional. In a tweet, Shah said: "Those rejoicing over the SC decision on the ED case are delusional for various reasons. The amendments to the CVC Act, which were duly passed by the Parliament, have been upheld. Powers of the ED to strike at those who are corrupt and on the wrong side of the law remain the same." The Union Minister said that ED is an institution which rises beyond any one individual and is focused on achieving its core objective - i.e. to investigate offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws. "Thus, who the ED director is - that is not important because whoever assumes this role will take note of the rampant corruption of a cozy club of entitled dynasts who have an anti-development mindset," Shah added. His remarks came after the top court on Tuesday dubbed the extension of Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra as "illegal" for violating the mandate of the top court's judgment in 2021. The Court, however, allowed him to continue in the post till July 31 taking into consideration the concerns expressed by the Union government. The term of ED director was set to end in November 2023. "Challenge to CVC Act and Delhi Special Police Establishment Act is dismissed to that extent. Extension granted to Sanjay Kumar Mishra after Supreme Court verdict is illegal. However, he is permitted to hold office till July 31, 2023," the Court ordered. Meanwhile, the Congress hailed the SC decision saying that the extension to ED is completely illegal. Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal told media persons: "The extension is completely illegal this is what the Supreme Court is telling, which Congress Party was telling from the day one onwards. Therefore, Congress stand stands already vindicated today that entirely, the motive to extend the term of the ED Director, by illegal means, that's why actually this is a clear slap on the government's face." Congress Spokesperson Pawan Khera response to Home Minister's tweet: "Why is the Home Minister commenting on an agency that technically reports to the Ministry of Finance? Does it not show that barring two people, rest of the Cabinet is unemployed? If who the Director of ED is does not matter to you, why was the current incumbent given two extensions and why was the your govt fighting for a third?" New Delhi, July 11 : In a setback to online gaming companies, the GST Council on Tuesday decided that there will be a 28 per cent GST levy on full value of gaming, horse racing, and casinos. Among other issues, the Council approved exemption of GST on import of cancer drug Dinutuximab and on Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) that are used in the treatment of rare diseases. The GST Council, which held its 50th meeting under the chairmanship of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, decided to remove the distinction of game of skill and chance in case of online gaming. The date for 28 per cent GST levy will become effective after the amendment in GST law, West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya told reporters after the meeting. Maharashtra's Forest, Culture and Fisheries minister Sudhir Mungantiwar told reporters that the GST council also approved setting up of appellate tribunals. --IANS ans/vd Jaipur, July 11 : State minister Rajendra Singh Gudha on Tuesday left everyone surprised by comparing himself to Sita. He said: "Both Ram and Ravana were mad after mother Sita: Nowadays Gehlot and Pilot are running after me, there must be some quality in me," he said. He said: "No one can imagine the beauty of Mother Sita. It is because of her attraction that wonderful men like Shriram and Ravana went mad. Mother Sita's beauty cannot be imagined. Similarly, nowadays both Gehlot and Pilot are running after me. I must have some quality." Both the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot are discussing from which party Gudha will get a ticket this time. Gudha said, "I want to tell those people that according to my deeds, my own face gets votes and not the symbol of any party." "BJP people are seeking votes in the name of Hindu-Muslim, in the name of temple-mosque, in the name of India-Pakistan and sometimes in the name of Modi and Yogi. "Congress says that it liberated the country and seeks votes in the name of Maulana Azad, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Patel. "But, Rajendra Gudha asks for votes for my deeds, my face and I do not need anyone's ticket," he said. A week ago, Gudha also met Owaisi in Jaipur. On the same day, Owaisi remarked about Rajouts saying that: "Salute to the Rajputs of Rajasthan. Gudha had come to meet me today. I talked to him for an hour. I was very impressed with him. This time, we will field our candidates in the assembly elections." Gudha was earlier BSP MLA who later joined Congress with five BSP MLAs. Bengaluru, July 11 : Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said that BJP leaders will meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Wednesday over the "law and order situation in the state". Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Bommai, citing the Jain pontiff murder case, and other incidents, said the law and order system in the state has collapsed. "The party would stage a protest in this regard and meet the Governor over the situation in the state. The government has taken the case of the Jain pontiff's brutal murder very lightly. The people are demanding the case be handed over to the CBI. We have also submitted that the case should be probed by the CBI," Bommai said. "A Hindu activist was killed in T. Narasipura. A murder case was also reported from Sakaleshapura... a policeman was killed while acting against the sand mafia. Senior officers are pressurizing staff for extortion. "The anti-social elements have got the courage that they can do anything in this government. The law and order has collapsed after just one and a half months rule of the Congress government," he added. Patna, July 11 : Bihar's Deputy Chief minister Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday made a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party, terming it a washing machine in which the black spots of corruption are removed. Talking to media persons in the Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav said: "After the allegation on opposition leaders, they become corrupt, but when they join the BJP, they become clean like being washed out in the washing machine." "What crime I did that they are calling me corrupt? In Maharashtra, Chhagan Bhujbal and Ajit Pawar are being garlanded by BJP. They are not corrupt now after joining as alliance partners of the BJP. It (the BJP) is a washing machine where these leaders become clean. I want to tell them that the powder (washing powder) is finishing now and its manufacturing will also close down soon." PM Narendra Modi, while given a "guarantee" against corruption in Bhopal recently, had said that NCP leaders were facing corruption charges of Rs 70,000 crore. After a few days, the NCP split and a large number of MLAs went with Ajit Pawar to join the Shiv Sena-BJP government. On the charges against him, Tejashwi Yadav said: "I have nothing to do with land for jobs. It happened between 2004-09 and I was born in 1989. At that time, I was a minor." "The BJP is frightened ever since the initiatives taken by the leaders of Bihar to unite the opposition parties. The people of the country know the real face of the BJP and they will give a strong reply to them in the Lok Sabha poll 2024," he said. Tejashwi Yadav also slammed BJP leaders for obstructing the work of both the houses of Bihar legislature. "They have nothing to do with issues related to public interest. Hence, they are creating ruckus inside the house," he said. Asked about the domicile policy and protest of job aspirants, Tejashwi Yadav said that the matter is being seen by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "He is looking after this issue. BJP is making the issue wrong. We are working on securing the future of youths and providing jobs," he said. Bhopal, July 11 : Yet another African cheetah died at Kuno National Park (KNP) of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday - the seventh so far, officials said. A Forest Department official said male cheetah Tejas died in a territorial fight with another within the KNP enclosure. As per the official report, a monitoring team discovered injury markings on the upper part of the neck of the cheetah at around 11 a.m. and it succumbed to its injuries at around 2 pm. "Monitoring team discovered injury markings on the upper part of the neck of a male cheetah named Tejas (Boma number 6). The monitoring team immediately informed the wildlife veterinarians present at the Palpur headquarters. The wildlife veterinarians went to the scene and examined Tejas the cheetah, finding the injuries to be severe upon initial observation," the MP Forest Department said in a statement. It further said a team of veterinarians was dispatched to the location with the necessary preparations to render first aid and treat Tejas. "Unfortunately, Tejas was found dead at the scene. Further investigation is being conducted regarding the cause of the injuries sustained by Tejas. The post mortem examination will determine the cause of death," it added. The cheetah death came a day after two more cheetahs were released into the wild enclosure at the KNP in Sheopur district. On Monday, two male cheetahs, Prabhash and Pavak, were released into the wild enclosure, Divisional Forest Officer P K Verma told the press. A total of seven cheetahs, including Tejas, have died so far at the KNP since 20 African cheetahs were introduced in Madhya Pradesh. Twelve more cheetahs -- seven males and five females -- were brought to the KNP from South Africa on February 18 this year. Patna, July 11 : The teaching job aspirants on Tuesday staged a protest in Patna against the state government's domicile policy which allows aspirants from other states to apply in Bihar. The protesting aspirants reached Gardanibagh and R-block roundabout and tried to go towards Bihar Vidhan Sabha however the police used Lathi-charge to disperse the protesting aspirants which resulted in scuffle between them. "In democracy, everyone has the right to put their point of view. We have serious objections to the domicile policy which makes students of other states eligible to apply in Bihar. We are already facing job scarcity in Bihar and if students of other states will take jobs here, where will we go?" said Rajesh Kumar, a job aspirant. Patna police had already deployed the personnel in large numbers at entry points of the city like Mahatma Gandhi Setu, JP Setu, Danapur, and Digha to prevent job aspirants from entering the city. The blockade led to huge traffic snarls appearing on Mahatma Gandhi Setu. Many students coming from North Bihar darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, were stopped at Mahatma Gandhi Setu and JP Setu. Similarly, a number of aspirants were also stopped at Danapur railway station. However, a large number of aspirants reached Patna by trains and protested against the government. "We were on the way to participate in the protest but we were stopped before the old toll plaza on Gandhi Setu. Police beat us. We have the right to protest against policies but police did not allow us," said another student Rahul Mahto, a native of Muzaffarpur. Keeping in view of the protest, Ashok Choudhary said: "Whenever examinations take place, they start making an atmosphere to boycott it. If any teacher aspirant wants to give the examination, they beat them." BJP state president Samrat Chaudhary said that: "The Nitish Kumar government is confused about the recruitment of teachers. It has been amended nine times in the past. If the Nitish Kumar government wants to review the policy of recruitment, do it now." New Delhi, July 11 : India's civil avaiation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has put SpiceJet under "enhanced surveillance" but there is no operational impact on the airline, an official said on Tuesday The DGCA official said that it is a step taken as a matter of abundant precaution given the incidents during the monsoon season last year. "The enhanced surveillance on the airline includes increased night surveillance and spot checks. We will also check whether safety obligations are being followed or not," the official said. However, when contacted, a SpiceJet spokesperson said that no such communication has been received by the airline from the DGCA. While ripples of insolvency cases and financial crisis blow across the aviation industry, SpiceJet claims its better prospects ahead while pointing out nearly completion of its legal battles and successful repayments. Aircraft lessor Aircastle has recently lodged a fresh insolvency plea against SpiceJet, claiming non-payment of outstanding dues. This marks the third insolvency case filed against the airline, as Aircastle aims to initiate proceedings to recover its debts. However, concerns regarding the maintainability of Aircastle's second insolvency plea have emerged, with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) seeking explanations from Aircastle's legal representative. The NCLT has cited relevant legal precedents in its request, highlighting the need for clarification on the plea's validity. A spokesperson for SpiceJet had earlier expressed optimism as the airline's long-pending legal cases approach their conclusion. The spokesperson said that the company is actively settling all ongoing cases, signaling brighter days ahead for the airline. "Amid a backdrop of protracted legal battles, SpiceJet's commitment to resolving these cases demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing past challenges," he had said. "SpiceJet has even successfully completed the repayment of Rs 100 crore to City Union Bank. The final installment of Rs 25 crore was paid on June 30, 2023, effectively closing the entire loan account that was taken in 2012," the spokesperson had said. New Delhi, July 11 : A court here on Tuesday sent seven lawyers to 14 days judicial custody in connection with the firing incident in the Tis Hazari district court premises and one counsel Sandeep Sharma to two-day police remand. As police produced two more advocates -- Shiv Ram Pandey and Jitesh Khari -- in the court after their arrest on Tuesday, they, along with the five advocates who were in police custody, were sent to judicial custody. On June 7, the court had sent the leaders of the two groups to three days' police custody. The duo -- Manish Sharma, the former Vice President of the Delhi Bar Association, and Lalit Sharma -- were nabbed by police early on June 7. A day before, the court had sent three accused persons -- Aman Singh, Ravi Gupta, and Sachin Sangwan who were part of the groups of lawyers involved in firing at Tis Hazari court, to four days police custody. On Monday, their custodial interrogation was extended by a day. On July 5, two groups of lawyers clashed and opened fire at the Tis Hazari courts. The videos of the incident went viral on social media showing a man in white shirt and black pants firing in air, accompanied by others hurling stones and wooden planks. The involved parties, predominantly in lawyers' attire, could be seen brandishing sticks and engaging in verbal confrontation. During the court hearing on Tuesday, the investigating officer sought Sharma's custodial interrogation for two days, saying it was required to find out the source of the gun and to arrest other people involved in the matter. "Two days' police custody of accused Sandeep Sharma granted. All the guidelines of apex court be complied with and it is directed to investigating agency that the accused should not be subjected to any torture during police custody," Metropolitan Magistrate Chatinder Singh said. "Rest of the accused persons namely Manish Sharma, Lalit Sharma, Aman Singh, Ravi Gupta, Sachin Sangwan, Jitesh Khari and Shiv Ram Pandey are hereby sent to judicial custody for 14 days," the magistrate added. Advocates Sanjay Sharma and Karan Sachdeva, along with other counsel, also moved an application stating since the seven accused were practising advocates, they could be kept in judicial custody separately. At this, the court said: "Jail Superintendent is directed to lodge the accused persons as per jail manual." As per the police, the fight broke out between Lalit Sharma and Manish Sharma over some personal enmity. The court also allowed the applications of both to continue having their prescribed medicines. --IANS spr/vd New Delhi, July 11 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will embark on a six-day visit to Indonesia and Thailand from Wednesday to participate in the ASEAN East Asia summit in Jakarta and Foreign Ministers meeting on Mekong Ganga Cooperation Mechanism in Bangkok. Jaishankar will first visit Jakarta to participate in the Foreign Ministersa Meetings under the ASEAN framework in the format - ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit, and ASEAN Regional Forum, scheduled on July 13-14. He will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries. Indiaas engagement with this ASEAN-centred regional architecture signifies Indiaas strong commitment to ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific, official sources said. After Jakarta, he will travel to Bangkok to participate in the 12th Foreign Ministersa Meeting of Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism on July 16. The MGC, one of the oldest mechanisms of lower Mekong region, is guided by Indiaas Act East Policy. In Bangkok, he will also attend the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministersa Retreat on July 17. BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative which brings together the countries of Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation. The retreat would discuss ways to further deepen the BIMSTEC agenda and strengthen the organisation. --IANS ans/vd Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with visiting Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko in Beijing. Xi noted that with joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia relations have maintained a sound and steady development momentum, with steady progress in cooperation in various fields. The social foundations and popular support for the long-term friendship between the two countries have become more solid. "During my state visit to Russia in March this year, President Putin and I reached new and important consensus on deepening bilateral comprehensive strategic coordination and practical cooperation in various fields," Xi said, noting that the development of China-Russia relations is a strategic choice that the two countries have made based on the fundamental interests of their respective countries and peoples. China will continue to work with Russia to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, featuring mutual assistance, in-depth integration, innovation and win-win outcomes for all, so as to boost the development and revitalization of the two countries and promote the construction of a prosperous, stable, fair and just world, Xi said. Noting that legislative cooperation is an important part of China-Russia relations, Xi expressed the hope that the two sides will work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, promote and guarantee the sustained and sound development of bilateral cooperation in various fields from the legislative level, strengthen exchanges of experience in legislation and state governance, and push cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries to a new level. He called on the two sides to strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, guide the reform of global governance in the right direction, and safeguard the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries. Matviyenko said the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination conforms to the interests of the two countries and the will of the two peoples, and has reached its highest level in history and continues to develop steadily. President Xi's successful state visit to Russia in March has injected strong impetus into the development of Russia-China relations. The Russian Federation Council supports deepening Russia-China cooperation and is willing to strengthen exchanges with China's National People's Congress to provide a legal guarantee for the implementation of the consensus of the two heads of state, Matviyenko said. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Editor: WXL Kolkata, July 11 : West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose said on Tuesday that his two main agendas are fighting against corruption and ending the trend of bloodbath during any election in the state. Bose returned to Kolkata on Tuesday morning from Delhi, where he submitted his report on the panchayat poll violence in West Bengal to Home Minister Amit Shah. Soon after his arrival, the Governor went to the trouble-torn areas in South 24 Parganas district, even as vote counting for the panchayat polls were underway. In the evening, the Governor interacted with mediapersons at the Raj Bhavan, where he announced his twin agenda. "In the current situation, there should be a twin agenda in West Bengal. The first is against political violence. The second is against corruption. Time has come for the beginning of a holy war against these two issues. Everyone should come forward in the battle against these two menaces," Bose said. Pointing out that the election is the most important pillar of the democratic system, the Governor said that despite ideological differences, all the political parties should come forward to ensure the development of the state. Earlier on Tuesday morning, while interacting with mediapersons at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, which became the epicentre of clashes and bloodbath since the polling date was announced on June 8, the Governor said that his battle against continuing violence in the state will go on. "The authorities will come down heavily on those who are responsible for unleashing such violence. This cannot be tolerated at any cost as it will affect the future generation," Bose said. New Delhi, July 11 : Delhi Finance Minister Atishi has said that she opposed bringing GST under the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act during the 50th GST Council meeting which was held on Tuesday. Finance Ministers of several states, including Delhi and Punjab, also opposed this move of the Central government in the GST Council. Atishi told reporters outside Vigyan Bhavan, where the GST council meeting was chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, that finance ministers from many states opposed the Centre's decision to bring GSTN under PMLA provisions, as it would lead to unnecessary harassment of small and medium businesspersons in the hands of Enforcement Directorate (ED). Atishi said that the new system was a direct attack by the BJP to harass the traders and destroy their businesses. She said even traders paying GST on time will be affected by this. She termed the move a threat to the country's economy. "Till now, the Central government misused the ED to threaten the opposition parties and now with its new order, it will harass the traders, especially in the opposition party-ruled states. But for the betterment of traders, we will oppose this order that gives unlimited power to ED and will do everything possible to stop it," she said. "So, will ED cases be filed against crores of traders of the country who pay GST due to this decision? So, will the business class now focus on increasing their business or will they keep fighting with ED cases?" she questioned. "It is clear from this notification of the Central government that the ED can take action against 1 crore 38 lakh people who pay GST in this country. Due to this, in the future, whenever the ED wants, it will go to every street and locality and register a case under PMLA against any businessman... and put him in jail, and he will not even get bail," the Minister said. She said that the Finance Ministers of many states, including Delhi and Punjab, have opposed this move of the Central government in the GST Council meeting. Shillong, July 12 : A man who allegedly pelted stones at the private residence of Meghalaya Health and Law Minister Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh here late on Tuesday and also tried to barge in has been arrested, police said. Police said that no one was injured in the attack, but one of the window panes of a room were damaged. The Minister said that the attacker, armed with a Khasi dao, also attempted to enter her house, but was prevented by the people. She said that she did not know what was the attackeras intention and hoped that the police would find out his intention behind the attack. Police officials also rushed to the minister's residence to take stock of the situation. Police have been interrogating the detainee to find out the reason behind the attack. A case has also been registered and investigation is on. Meanwhile, the East Khasi Hills District administration has imposed various restrictions under Section 144 Cr PC, particularly during the night. The district administration has restricted the opening of shops, food stalls, restaurants, or enterprises in and around Shillong till 10 p.m. from Wednesday. Deputy Commissioner R.M Kurbah said the decision was taken in view of various incidents of violence that have taken place in and around the city, leading to law and order situations, particularly at night. Last week, a police station in Shillong was attacked by a mob and four vehicles parked inside the complex were torched. This was after two groups of drunken people had an altercation outside the police station. At least 5 persons involved in the drunken brawl were arrested. --IANS sc/vd New Delhi, July 12 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has detained two police officers posted at outer Delhi's Mangolpuri police station on allegations of demanding and accepting bribes to let some people run their illegal parking. The complainant had filed a complaint with the CBI, stating that the police officers had been demanding a monthly bribe from him. Following the complaint, a team from the CBI conducted a raid in the Mangolpuri area on Tuesday evening. During the CBI raid, a confrontation occurred, leading to a chaotic situation in the entire area. One of the police officers involved is reportedly a senior officer at the Mangolpuri police station, and the CBI investigation may also extend to the higher ranks. Currently, the CBI team is present at the Mangolpuri police station and is probing the matter. New Delhi, July 12 : Delhi Cabinet Ministers Raaj Kumar Anand and Gopal Rai visited the relief camps to review the relief efforts undertaken by the state government at various locations as the water level in the Yamuna river rose above the danger mark. The Delhi government have initiated relief and rescue operations by establishing 2,700 centres and tents where 27,000 people took shelter. On Tuesday, Delhi Development Minister Gopal Rai conducted an inspection of the relief camp situated near the Rajghat DTC Depot while Delhi Welfare Minister Raaj Kumar Anand reviewed the preparations of relief measures at the old Yamuna bridge near Shastri Park. Anand said the Delhi government was prepared to deal with any situation and people are being shifted from submerged areas. The people living in the flood-affected areas are being shifted to relief camps set up by the Arvind Kejriwal government. Speaking to mediapersons, Rai said, "Heavy rainfall in northern India has resulted in a rapid surge in the water levels of the Yamuna. Additionally, a significant volume of water is continuously being released from the Hathinikund barrage, leading to the Yamuna water levels surpassing the danger mark in Delhi. However, the Kejriwal government is mobilising all necessary resources to address the imminent threats. The department has commenced the evacuation of individuals residing in lower regions of the Yamuna and transporting them to safer areas." Rai also added that 2,700 relief centres and tents had been established by the Delhi government for the relief and rescue operations, accommodating nearly 27,000 registered individuals. These centres span from the northern district of Palla to the southern district of South Delhi. --IANSatk/khz Aden : , July 12 (IANS) Unidentified gunmen have shot dead a senior police officer of Yemen's government forces in the southwestern province of Taiz, a local government official said. The officer, identified as Salah Amrany, was gunned down outside his residential building late on Monday night by motorcycle-riding assailants, the official said on condition of anonymity on Tuesday. He clarified that the masked gunmen opened fire on Amrany with a hail of bullets, killing him instantly on the spot. No motive for the killing has been revealed. Amrany was a high-ranking officer with the government's special police forces in Taiz, which has been an epicentre of sporadic armed confrontations between local warring factions, Xinhua news agency reported. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Targeted killings of security personnel and government officials have become commonplace as the civil war continues for about nine years. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthi militia attacked several northern cities and forced the internationally-recognised Yemeni government to leave the capital Sanaa. Tehran, July 12 : A top Iranian military official has urged Iraq to disarm the anti-Iran "terrorist groups" along the common border as promised, saying otherwise Iran will resume military operations against them. Mohammad Baqeri, Chairman of the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, made the remarks at an annual conference attended by ground force commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Tuesday. Blaming some neighbouring countries for failing to "favourably" fulfill their commitments to ensuring border security, Baqeri said a number of "armed separatist groups" in northern Iraq have caused some insecurities along the common border with Iran. Baqeri added the IRGC Ground Force had halted missile and drone strikes against these groups after the Iraqi government pledged to disarm the groups and put an end to their activities by late August, Xinhua news agency reported. He stressed that Iran will wait until the deadline approaches, expressing hope that the Iraqi government would manage to fulfill its responsibility. Iran and Iraq signed an agreement on security cooperation in Baghdad on March 19 that includes coordination in protecting the border between the two countries. Last year, the IRGC's Ground Force conducted several military operations against "separatist terrorists" in Iraq's Kurdistan region, accusing these groups of having "caused insecurity" in a number of Iranian border cities. Hoffman Brothers They say the sweetest things come from the most unexpected places. That's the case with Hoffman Brothers, Frederick's top-rated ice cream shop. Owned and operated by an enterprising high school student, this tiny shop has become a local favorite, serving up innovative, Maryland-made ice cream to the delight of locals and tourists alike. The young owner started his ice cream journey at the age of 13. Finding an old freezer cart on eBay and convincing his brother to finance it, Sasha Hoffman dreamed of pedaling through downtown Frederick, selling packaged ice cream. The teenager took the necessary steps to turn his dream into a reality - from applying for a health permit to incorporating his business and securing a sales and use tax permit. Then in Spring 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, his parents, concerned for his safety, stopped his plans. But the ambitious teen was not deterred and continued to work on his business idea. In a turn of good fortune, 18 months later, Marylands Governor Larry Hogan announced a grant program to rehabilitate vacant buildings. The determined teenager crafted a business plan with the help of his school teachers and classmates and applied for the grant. Impressed by his vision, the Maryland Department of Commerce awarded Hoffman Brothers a $52,000 grant. These funds enabled the transformation of an old garage in downtown Frederick into the bustling ice cream shop it is today. Hoffman Brothers boasts a remarkable 4.9-star rating on Google, with perfect scores on both Facebook and Yelp. It stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and the support of the local community. The story of Hoffman Brothers serves as a delicious reminder that dreams can become a reality with persistence, creativity, and a sprinkle of luck. For more information, please contact: Sasha Hoffman, 301-835-5266. About Hoffman Brothers: Hoffman Brothers, located in the heart of Frederick, Maryland, is a testament to youthful ambition and entrepreneurial spirit. Known for its unique and delicious flavors, this locally-owned ice cream shop is the proud creation of a 16-year-old visionary, serving joy in every scoop. 2023 Buddhism Public Scholars Dessislava Vendova and Jesse Drian ACLS, along with The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global, is committed to the circulation of humanistic knowledge and methods beyond the academy." The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is pleased to name Jesse Drian and Dessislava Vendova as 2023 Buddhism Public Scholars. This program is part of the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies, administered by ACLS. The Buddhism Public Scholars Program places early-career PhDs in Buddhist Studies in one- to two-year professional positions with leading museums, publications, and libraries that study the traditions of Buddhism. Starting September 2023, Jesse Drian will join the Richard C. Rudolph East Asian Library at the University of California, Los Angeles and Dessislava Vendova will work with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. These 2023 Buddhism Public Scholars will use their academic knowledge and professional experience to strengthen the capacity of their host organizations in Buddhist art and thought across all traditions and regions in which Buddhism is practiced. ACLS, along with The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global, is committed to the circulation of humanistic knowledge and methods beyond the academy, said Deena Ragavan, ACLS Senior Program Officer for International Programs. We are thrilled to support these impressive new Buddhism Public Scholars, whose work in Boston and Los Angeles will increase public understanding of Buddhist art and ideas. The Richard C. Rudolph East Asian Library looks forward to working with the Buddhism Public Scholars Program to better enable our extensive Buddhist Studies collections for public and scholarly use, said Su Chen, Head Librarian, Richard C. Rudolph East Asian Library. In cooperation with the Center for Buddhist Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Dr. Drian will lead a crucial effort to explore, interpret, and document the collection in order to make it more accessible to teachers, students, Buddhist congregations, and community members. The new Buddhism Public Scholars join one institution and twenty other scholars awarded 2023 fellowships and grants as part of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies. The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies will launch fellowship and grant competitions for the 2024/25 academic year in August 2023. Sign up for alerts. Inspired and informed by the concept of interconnectedness, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global vitalizes the areas of arts and culture and Buddhism, and funds initiatives that enhance the wellbeing of humanity and the environment. Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 80 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good. In supporting its member organizations, ACLS utilizes its $155+ million endowment and $37 million annual operating budget to expand the forms, content, and flow of scholarly knowledge, reflecting our commitment to diversity of identity and experience. ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations, and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship. In all aspects of our work, ACLS is committed to principles and practices in support of racial and social justice. "With nearly 15 years of strategic advisory experience, OnCall brings valuable expertise to Bluewave and shares our unwavering dedication to customer-centric solutions," stated Seth Penland, Founder and CEO of Bluewave Technology Group. Bluewave Technology Group ("Bluewave"), a dynamic and customer-focused technology advisory company committed to driving strategic growth, is pleased to announce its latest acquisition of OnCall Telecom ("OnCall"), a reputable telecom advisory agency based in Virginia Beach, VA. The terms of this transformative transaction remain undisclosed. This strategic move marks Bluewave's third acquisition of the year, further solidifying its strong presence along the East Coast. Founded in 2009, OnCall Telecom emerged with a mission to assist medium-sized enterprises in making technology decisions that propel their business growth. Under the exceptional leadership of Founder and President John Finguerra, OnCall swiftly positioned itself as a trusted advisor in the telecom realm, garnering the respect and loyalty of numerous medium-sized businesses. OnCall has actively participated in the local Virginia Beach community, demonstrating its commitment to supporting organizations like the Central Business District Association. Seth Penland, Founder and CEO of Bluewave, expressed great appreciation for including OnCall in the Bluewave team, stating, "We eagerly anticipate the integration of OnCall into our organization. With nearly 15 years of strategic advisory experience, OnCall brings valuable expertise to Bluewave and shares our unwavering dedication to customer-centric solutions." All members of the OnCall team will join Bluewave, contributing to expanding Bluewaves technical proficiency and operational capabilities. As technology evolves rapidly and increasingly complex, John Finguerra, Founder and President of OnCall Telecom, emphasized the significance of delivering world-class operational and solutions engineering support to clients. Finguerra stated, "Our clients and team members mean the world to me, and I firmly believe that our partnership with Bluewave positions us for long-term success. I feel confident that we will thrive in the ever-changing landscape through their operational support, technical advisors, and world-class operations." About Bluewave Technology Group Bluewave is a premier technology advisory company with a comprehensive approach to optimizing clients ability to grow revenue, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. Bluewave streamlines the technology buying and management process for businesses of all sizes across the United States with four key services: Technology Evaluation, Strategic Sourcing, Expense Management, and Operations Support. Specializing in modernizing the IT and telecom infrastructure, Bluewave partners with proven cloud, network, security, and collaboration service providers to develop the best solution while maximizing the clients technology investment. Learn more at bluewave.net. About OnCall Telecom OnCall Telecom is an award-winning cloud technology services and technology management organization based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. With over 14 years of experience, the OnCall Telecom team helps clients design, deploy, and manage strategic technology solutions for better business outcomes and financial efficiency. With our broad strategic solutions portfolio, OnCall Telecom can provide digital transformation solutions to help our clients attain cutting-edge solutions with leading-edge pricing and support. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with visiting Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing on Monday afternoon. The two sides jointly announced the official establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development for a new era. Xi noted that China and Solomon Islands are trustworthy friends and dependable partners to each other. He said that since the two countries established diplomatic relations, their friendly cooperation has become a pacesetter for the relations between China and other island countries in the Pacific in spite of a relatively late start. He said their cooperation is a paradigm of unity, cooperation and common development for countries of different sizes, and for developing countries. Facts have proved that the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Solomon Islands is a correct choice that is in conformity with the trend of the times and in line with the general international situation, and serves fundamental interests of the two peoples, Xi said. "China is ready to enhance strategic communication and deepen cooperation in various fields with Solomon Islands to ensure the steady progress of the bilateral ties and bring more benefits to the two peoples," Xi said. He stressed that China greatly appreciates Solomon Islands' firm adherence to the one-China principle, supports Solomon Islands in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and supports the development path that the country itself has chosen. China is committed to running its own affairs well, and will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order, Xi noted. He said that to help Solomon Islands ensure development and long-term stability, China is ready to share the development opportunities brought by Chinese modernization, strengthen synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Solomon Islands' Development Strategy 2035, expand practical cooperation in various fields, and expand imports from Solomon Islands. "China is supporting more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Solomon Islands, and will continue to provide economic and technical assistance to the country without any political strings attached," Xi said. He urged the two sides to expand friendly exchanges in fields like medical care and education, and said that China supports Solomon Islands in hosting the 17th Pacific Games. Xi pointed out that China fully respects the sovereignty and independence of Pacific island countries, and upholds the equality of all countries, big or small. China fully respects the will of Pacific island countries and pursues extensive consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits and win-win results. China fully respects the cultural traditions of Pacific island countries, and adheres to harmony in diversity and shared beauty of diverse cultures. China fully respects the unity and self-reliance of Pacific island countries, and supports them in implementing the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, contributing to the building of a peaceful, harmonious, secure, inclusive and prosperous Blue Pacific, Xi said. China understands that island countries in the Pacific face severe challenges caused by climate change, and stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with them in such areas as meteorological services, disaster prevention and mitigation, and clean energy to help them implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Xi said. He also said that China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Solomon Islands, uphold genuine multilateralism, safeguard international fairness and justice, jointly oppose the Cold War mentality and hegemonism, and safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Noting that the decision to establish diplomatic relations with China was a correct choice, Sogavare said fruitful outcomes have been achieved in bilateral ties and China has become Solomon Islands' largest infrastructure partner and a reliable development partner. Solomon Islands firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in trade, investment, cultural and sub-national areas, and jointly respond to global challenges such as climate change, Sogavare said, adding that the country opposes any actions that contain or aim to contain China's development. After the meeting, the two sides released the Joint Statement on Establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Featuring Mutual Respect and Common Development for a New Era Between the People's Republic of China And Solomon Islands. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Editor: WXL Working together, we can leverage our joint expertise and capabilities to deliver a comprehensive range of training and credentialing solutions to our workforce clients and their constituents. -Kim Brophy, EVP at Certus Certus, a leading training and certification platform, today announced it has acquired Workforce180, an eLearning certification company that serves workforce development boards, non-profits and government agencies across the United States. The acquisition will deepen and expand Certus offerings for unemployed, underemployed, dislocated workers as well as those that support them and will further accelerate the companys ability to serve this key vertical. We are adding a talented team that brings significant workforce development expertise, and we are excited to have them join Certus, said Kim Brophy, Executive Vice President at Certus. Working together, we can leverage our joint expertise and capabilities to deliver a comprehensive range of training and credentialing solutions to our workforce clients and their constituents. Established in 2014, Workforce180 delivers professional development opportunities through virtual training and credentialing. Their catalog includes workforce professional certifications focused on case management, business services, racial equity, reentry services and more. They work with more than 700 organizations and clients including Goodwill Industries International, Easter Seals, National Association of Workforce Boards plus various state, regional and local workforce development boards. Workforce180 is proud and excited to join Certus, said Mike Fazio, CEO and Co-Founder of Workforce180. Expanding access to Workforce180 courses and certificates helps us better provide career pathway and upskilling opportunities for frontline workforce staff. Jerry Mattiace, COO and Co-Founder of Workforce180, added: By joining forces with Certus, we are now able to provide a learning management system used by both workforce professionals and the participants they serve, making us the premier provider of choice. Certus has been expanding its workforce development solutions over the past year. In 2022, Certus acquired Metrix Learning, an innovative provider of online education solutions designed for the public workforce. Integrating Workforce180 and Metrix Learning will enhance both brands elite products and solutions, better enabling workforce development professionals to serve their local communities. This is a natural and powerful partnership, said John Comly, CEO of Certus. We continue to invest in opportunities to grow our business and support our shared mission to help learners get to where they want to be. Certus is a portfolio company of Ridgemont Equity Partners, a middle market private equity firm. Certus and Ridgemont are actively seeking acquisition candidates that are established leaders in the online training, education, certification and compliance sectors. About Certus Certus is a leading professional training and certification platform that provides content, simulations and compliance solutions for regulated end-markets through its suite of brands and companies. Its best-in-class technology platform and content library enable enterprises, learners, professionals and government entities to get from where they are to where they want to be. Certus.com About Workforce180 Workforce180 provides training, professional certifications, podcasting and consulting services to the workforce development industry, including government agencies, educational entities, non-profits, private industry and other similar organizations. Workforce180.com About Metrix Learning Metrix Learning, a marquee brand in the Certus portfolio, is a trailblazer of online education solutions designed for the public workforce. Its SkillUpAmerica eLearning portal is a customizable, self-paced platform featuring workplace skills and industry skills training, career pathways, assessments and certifications to help the unemployed and those wishing to upskill for better opportunities. Metrix Learning is on a mission to cultivate purposeful careers and boost returns on workforce investments and performance outcomes. Metrixlearning.com About Ridgemont Equity Partners Ridgemont Equity Partners is a Charlotte-based middle market private equity firm that has provided buyout and growth capital to industry-leading companies in the business and tech-enabled services, industrial growth, and healthcare sectors for three decades. The principals of Ridgemont have refined a proven, industry-focused model designed to build distinctive middle market companies. Ridgemontep.com Book Cover I want my readers to walk away with the truth, Bobanis said. I hope my bible study nurtures a deeper connection with God and equips readers to live out the values and principles espoused in the book of Genesis. From her beginning career as a childrens leader at her church to teaching Gods word in a sanctuary full of listeners, author Janice Bobanis is ready to bring her teachings to paper by publishing her first book, In the Beginning: Genesis 1-11, a Christian bible study created to help readers better understand how Gods plan unfolds from Genesis to Revelation. In the book, Bobanis examines what Gods word says about controversial social issues and other politically incorrect topics. Written as an aggressive approach, she offers her bible study as a deep dive into Genesis chapters 1-11 to help readers understand the spiritual battle they may fight daily. I challenge the reader to think about their life as a spiritual battle, Bobanis said. Satan is Gods adversary, and through this study, these questions will lead you to the biblical answer that defines the battle lines. Devised from Bobanis professional experience, readers are encouraged to embrace an interactive and potentially engaging learning approach, created to foster an atmosphere of open discussion and personal growth in their faith. I want my readers to walk away with the truth, Bobanis said. I hope my bible study nurtures a deeper connection with God and equips readers to live out the values and principles espoused in the book of Genesis. In the Beginning: Genesis 1-11 By Janice Bobanis ISBN: 9781664292765 (softcover); 9781664292772 (hardcover); 9781664292789 (electronic) Available at Author Website, Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the author Janice Bobanis is a seasoned bible study teacher. Her passion to share the word of God began with her own born-again experience while attending her first bible study. Her works are crafted from her extensive experience in leading, teaching, and writing bible studies, encouraging others to experience Jesus as their best friend. Outside of teaching, she is a mother of two grown daughters and a son-in-law, a grandmother, and a wife to her husband of 40 years. They love spending time at their ranch, cooking, and entertaining friends. To learn more, please visit http://www.JaniceBobanis.com. General Inquiries: LAVIDGE Phoenix Taylor Moralez Tmoralez@lavidge.com City of Lago Vista bid opportunities on the Texas Purchasing Group Our valued vendors can now save time and paper. The City of Lago Vista announced it has joined the Texas Purchasing Group and will be publishing and distributing upcoming bid opportunities on the system. Bidnet Directs Texas Purchasing Group connects over 50 participating agencies from across Texas to a large vendor pool and streamlines the bid and vendor management process. The City of Lago Vista invites all potential vendors to register online at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/texas/lagovista. The City of Lago Vista joined the purchasing group in June 2023. The City of Lago Vista will utilize the system to streamline the purchasing process including bid management, bid distribution and vendor relations. The Texas Purchasing Group is a single, online location for managing sourcing information and activities and provides local Texas government agencies the tools needed to minimize costs and save time throughout the purchasing process. Before joining the system, the City of Lago Vista was distributing bids and managing the procurement process manually. The traditional, paper procurement process is being replaced by local government agencies throughout Texas. In joining the Texas Purchasing Group, the City of Lago Vista looks to save time, reach out to more vendors automatically and achieve cost savings over the traditional paper-based bid process. The Texas Purchasing Group expands an agencys vendor pool and enhances vendor competition without increasing distribution costs. In addition to the existing vendors on the Texas Purchasing Group, all vendors looking to do business with the City of Lago Vista can register online: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/texas/lagovista. The City of Lago Vista invites all interested bidders to register today. Registered vendors can access all open bids, related documents and files, additional addendum and award information. In addition, the Texas Purchasing Group offers a value-added service to notify vendors of new bids targeted to their industry, all addenda and advance notification of expiring term contracts. Registered vendors have access to not only the City of Lago Vista bid opportunities, but all participating agency bids. Our valued vendors can now save time and paper. Plus, they not only have direct access to our open bids, but those from other agencies throughout the state. We invite all of our current vendors to register on the Texas Purchasing Group to start receiving business opportunities, stated Eric De La Cruz, Procurement Manager of the City of Lago Vista. Vendors may register on the Texas Purchasing Group: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/texas/lagovista. Bidnet Directs vendor support team is available to answer any questions regarding the registration process or the bid system at 800-835-4603 option 2. Other local Texas government agencies looking to switch from a manual bid process, please contact the Texas Purchasing Group for a demonstration of the no-cost sourcing solution. About the City of Lago Vista: Lago Vista, Texas is a lakeside community located on the northern shores of Lake Travis. The city is located within Travis County, Texas, United States, and is less than 20 miles from downtown Austin, Texas. Much of Lago Vista is located on a peninsula that extends across 15.52 square miles of Texas Hill Country. About Bidnet Direct: Bidnet Direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. Bidnet Direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Texas Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers Cotopaxi Cuts Through Data Chaos to Do More Good with Centric PLM Centric PLM will allow Cotopaxi to track the different materials and factory certifications. Centric Software, the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) market leader is pleased to announce that Certified B Corporation and impact-driven adventure brand, Cotopaxi, has selected Centric PLMTM to drive efficiency and growth. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to plan, design, develop, source, price and sell products such as apparel, fashion, home, footwear, sporting goods, consumer electronics, cosmetics, food & beverage and luxury to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Cotopaxi creates outdoor gear designed to help alleviate extreme poverty, move people to do good and inspire adventure. The brands social impact strategy also employs responsible sourcing and manufacturing practices throughout the supply chain. Becca Taylor, Director of Project Management at Cotopaxi, describes the situation that led to pursuing PLM. We are a fast-growing company, and working in spreadsheets, emails, and Slack has become cumbersome and inefficient. With no centralized platform for information sharing, there is a constant risk of data integrity and version control. This not only affects the product team but causes confusion throughout the company as to what information is accurate and most up to date. Its important our resources grow along with the brand, so we needed something more efficient to organize the information and communication, both internally and with our vendors. Regarding the PLM selection process, Taylor explains, Ultimately, it came down to Centrics proven track record, the 99% customer retention rate and the clear and comprehensive integration rollout plan. Our amazing Centric sales rep was very helpful when I asked him about some best practiceshe willingly shared Centrics expertise even before we had made our final decision. The customer service that we have already received and the professionalism are leaps and bounds above anyone else that was considered. Centric PLM will allow Cotopaxi to track the different materials and factory certifications. The platform will allow the brand to showcase the responsible, recycled or repurposed materials in each product, and because the company is a certified B Corporation, leadership will be able to pull relevant data for reporting purposes. All the information that originates in Centric PLM is pushed out to 20 other company systems including Google Analytics, Shopify, ERP, a sales tool, brand tool, marketing tool, allocation tool and different reporting tools. There are numerous possibilities for utilizing the datafrom assessing the overall sales performance of a category to identifying the top and bottom performers, says Taylor. Since this information will be integrated into various platforms and systems, we'll have the flexibility to extract any desired information all in one place. CEO of Centric Software, Chris Groves says, we are excited that Cotopaxi has chosen Centric PLM to drive efficiency into their workflows and ensure data integrity that feeds multiple other systems. We are proud to partner with a company that has made their social and environmental mission the core of their business. Learn more about Centric Solutions Request a demo Cotopaxi (http://www.cotopaxi.com) Cotopaxi is a carbon neutral certified B Corporation that creates sustainably made outdoor gear designed to fight extreme poverty, inspire adventure, and move people to Do Good. Our Gear for Good promise is to make gear that lasts and to have a positive social, environmental, and economic impact. By 2025, were committed to using repurposed, recycled, or responsible materials in all of our gear. We also allocate at least 1% of our annual revenue to the Cotopaxi Foundation, which awards grants to nonprofit partners with proven track records of alleviating poverty. Through our Foundation to date, we have reached an estimated 3.8 million individuals who live in extreme poverty. For more information please visit https://www.cotopaxi.com. Hood College Hood College and the Frederick County Government are proud to announce a recommitment to the NeighborHOOD Partners Program, continuing to offer tuition discounts and educational opportunities for Frederick County Government employees and their spouse and qualified dependents. The NeighborHOOD Partners Program, first established in 2019, aims to increase access to a Hood education, build a more knowledgeable and better prepared workforce, and contribute to the intellectual capital of the Frederick community. Qualified undergraduate students can receive up to $15,000 annually towards their tuition. Graduate students can receive up to $1,000 annually. Participating students must be enrolled for both fall and spring semesters, and undergraduates must be full-time students. We at Hood are proud to continue offering this valuable program to Frederick County Government employees and their families, said Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D., president of Hood College. Partnerships such as this one are key to our mission of empowering students within our community to meet personal, professional and global challenges. Our Frederick County Government employees are our greatest resource, said Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, M.S.10. I am excited to renew our partnership with Hood College, which will provide opportunities for staff and their dependents to pursue higher education in our community. This partnership with Hood represents our joint investment in making Frederick County Government a place where we invest in our employees and support them reaching their full potential, Fitzwater added. The Frederick County Government first joined the NeighborHOOD Partners Program in October 2019 under the direction of former County Executive Jan Gardner. Executive Fitzwater reaffirmed the County Governments commitment to the program, signing an updated agreement with President Chapdelaine on Wednesday, June 28. The NeighborHOOD Partners Program currently includes six local community partners, with more than 50 students participating at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Most recently, the Frederick Chamber of Commerce joined the program in September 2021, expanding it to all businesses that are Chamber members. About Hood College Hood College is an independent, liberal arts college, offering more than 30 bachelors degrees, four pre-professional programs, 19 masters degree programs, two doctorates and 13 post-baccalaureate certificates. Located in historic Frederick, near Washington, D.C., Baltimore and the I-270 technology corridor, Hood gives students access to countless internships and research opportunities. The new IPC website is mobile-device friendly. Rebuilding the IPC website is the first step in moving the organization forward to meet todays needs within the international photographic and imaging industry. - Andy Marcus, president, IPC. The International Photographic Council (IPC), an NGO of the United Nations, has relaunched its website. The new site features a modern design and is fully responsive, displaying just as well on mobile devices as on computers. The redesigned website sets the tone for a flurry of activity IPC expects to work on in 2023. IPCs longtime President, James L. Chung, passed away in June of 2022. In October 2022, photographer Andy Marcus was elected by the Board of Directors of IPC as the new president. Rebuilding the IPC website is the first step in moving the organization forward to meet todays needs within the international photographic and imaging industry, said Andy Marcus, president, IPC. Speaking for the IPC board, were all looking forward to the activities that are being planned in the near term, later this year, and looking ahead, as IPC gets ready to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2024.". Those within the photoimaging industry are welcome to visit the IPC website to learn more about IPC, its motto and vision, view upcoming news and announcements including details about upcoming meetings; and peruse the galleries of past award events. IPCs next planned event will be the Hall of Fame award luncheon, to be held at the United Nations Delegates Dining Room in New York City on Oct. 18, 2023. More details will be coming soon to the IPC website. About the International Photographic Council (IPC) The International Photographic Council (IPC) is a multinational, non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) of the United Nations, composed of representatives from every major sector of the photographic industry. Founded in 1974, IPC is dedicated to increasing worldwide recognition of photography as a universal means of communication. IPCs motto is Peace Through Photography, the Universal Language. Mako Networks Partners with X10 Technologies to Supply Secure Networking Solutions to Canadian Retailers X10 Technologies' specialization in larger, complex networks is the perfect fit for the Mako System. Together, we can deliver always-on secure networking required to support digital transformation for distributed enterprises like grocery store chains and petrol stations across Canada. Mako Networks, a market leader in secure, cloud-managed networks for distributed enterprises, announced today that it is partnering with X10 Technologies, a Canada-based systems integrator specializing in end-to-end advanced network infrastructure, network security and application delivery solutions. Through the partnership, X10 Technologies will deliver the Mako System to Canadian business clients, including grocery stores, petrol stations and brick-and-mortar retailers. The Mako System is a PCI-certified, cloud-managed and carrier-independent secure networking platform that allows distributed enterprises to easily create secure, high-performance business networks. The Mako System delivered by X10 allows Canadian customers to connect and manage thousands of sites via a highly secure, reliable, scalable and cost-effective cloud-based central management system (CMS) that supports a range of critical services, including SD-WAN, next-gen firewall, VPN connections and cellular failover. Plus, it offers active management, reporting and single-pane secure network controls. As a managed services provider, X10 guides and supports enterprises through their digital transformation and cyber-resilience journey, so its important we have platforms that we and our clients can count on, said Oleg Ivanov, President and CTO of X10 Technologies. The Mako System provides our clients with always-on secure networking, and we get a system thats plug and play and cloud managed, so our team can easily scale to serve enterprises like retailers with hundreds or thousands of locations. Partnering with X10 is an important part of Mako Networks global expansion strategy through partnerships with global telecommunications brands and leading in-country integrators. The X10 partnership expands Makos delivery capabilities and support in Canada for business customers, including grocery stores and petrol stations. X10 Technologies' specialization in larger, complex networks is the perfect fit for the Mako System, said Todd Vojta, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Mako Networks. Together, we can deliver always-on secure networking required to support digital transformation for distributed enterprises like grocery store chains and petrol stations across Canada. Mako is a vital technology vendor in the c-store and petroleum markets in the U.S. and Europe, servicing tens of thousands of locations for leading brands like Chevron, BP, Sunoco, Citgo, Shell, Sinclair, the EG Group and Circle K. Makos success in retail markets is due in part because the Mako System is certified to PCI DSS Level One Service Provider standards. Unlike other providers that offer PCI-compliant services, Makos underlying technology is PCI-certified annually by an independent Qualified Security Assessor (QSA), so PCI compliance is easier for customers to achieve. PCI DSS compliance is a must for X10s retail clients, said Julia Potapova, Operations Manager at X10 Technologies. Mako makes it easy to ensure card data is secure with its PCI-certified system. That way, we can focus on supporting our clients' efforts to deliver fast and frictionless experiences with the latest applications like pay at the pump, tap to pay and more. The Mako System consists of two parts: The Mako CMS delivers a single, easy-to-use interface thats available 24/7 on any internet-connected device. It supports advanced networking features like remote configurations, automated alerts, reports and diagnostics. Mako Devices are available in various types, functions and form factors, including security gateways, VPN concentrators, access points and managed switches all designed for ease of management and high security. About X10 Technologies X10 Technologies was founded in Vancouver, B.C., in 2004 as a network engineering consulting company focusing on the design and implementation of large-scale networks that required advanced technical skills and expertise. Today, the company delivers end-to-end networking, security, data center, edge computing, cloud, disaster recovery, systems, collaboration and managed services to thousands of customers across Canada, the U.S. and Asia. For more information, visit x10technologies.com. About Mako Networks Founded in 2000, Mako Networks develops technology to deliver simple, secure, PCI-certified networks to distributed enterprises, such as gas stations, convenience stores, retail chains, quick serve restaurants, health clinics and more. Mako Networks innovative edge security solution is deployed in 22 countries by some of the largest multilocation companies in the world. The All-in-One Mako System provides effortless nonstop secure networking using proprietary cloud-managed plug-and-play devices that offer speed to deployment and instant scale with no onsite IT required. The Mako System also supports a range of in-demand services, such as SASE, SD-WAN, Cellular Failover, Next-Gen Firewall, Cloud VPN, Wi-Fi and Voice services. The Mako System is sold as a combination of hardware and managed services or as an as a service subscription from Mako Networks or its authorized partners. Mako Networks is a global organization based in the United States with offices in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit makonetworks.com. Cyrene at Meadowlands - Curve Development "We are excited to introduce Cyrene at Meadowlands to the Lincoln community," said Nathan Pile, CEO of Curve Development. "This development showcases our dedication to delivering exceptional living spaces with luxury and convenience." Arizona-based Curve Development announced today the official opening of Cyrene at Meadowlands, a new build-to-rent single family home community in Lincoln that sets a new standard for luxury rental living. Located 30 miles north of Sacramento at 1120 C St in Lincoln, Calif., Cyrene at Meadowlands offers a living experience that seamlessly combines privacy, comfort, and convenience. The neighborhood comprises 81 single family two- and three-bedroom + den homes, each with a two-car garage, a pet-friendly private yard, modern kitchen design, and keyless entry. "We are excited to introduce Cyrene at Meadowlands to the Lincoln community," said Nathan Pile, CEO of Curve Development. "This development showcases our dedication to delivering exceptional living spaces with luxury and convenience." Cyrene at Meadowlands offers residents a community gathering place, firepits, top-rated nearby schools, and easy access to employment opportunities. The community is just a short drive to Sacramento International Airport as well as nearby retail, restaurants, community parks, and a walking trail just minutes away. The architectural design of the pet-friendly community reflects sleek lines and tasteful aesthetics, with open-concept floor plans, wood-style plank flooring, and quartz countertops seamlessly integrating with the natural surroundings. Curve Development is proud to enter Lincoln's single-family home rental market and provide the community with much-needed single-family rental homes. For more information about Cyrene at Meadowlands, visit https://www.cyreneatmeadowlands.com/ Find out more about Curve Development on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. About Curve Development Curve Development is a national developer/builder based in Arizona developing single-family rental projects coast to coast. Funded by JEN Partners, LLC, a New York-based private equity fund. Over the past eight years, Curve's Principal has built a long-standing relationship with JEN Partners. Curve is strategically positioned to offer a wide variety of investment opportunities on a national scale. Curve has financial resources and regional land partnerships to acquire and develop sites without the typical developer challenges. Add the experience of its seasoned team and the JEN family of regional land developers, and Curve is an incomparable partner in real estate development with the agility, creativity, and strength to create virtually limitless value. To learn more, visit https://curvedevelopment.com/ SPS delivers the Power of Possibility to organizations of all types and they people they serve. At SPS, we strive to unlock the power of possibility for businesses and the people they serve through the delivery of our core values: Clients First, Delivering Excellence and Innovative Thinking. We are grateful this independent recognition, which reaffirms the success of SPS approach. SPS, a leading outsourcing provider for business process solutions and innovative services in data management, has been recognized for excellence in multiple categories as part of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) Global Outsourcing 100 (GO100) list. IAOP denotes top performers among the GO100 honorees with distinguishing stars, based on the scoring of independent judges. This year, SPS received distinguishing stars in the following categories: Customer References Demonstrating sustained excellence provided to top customers Awards & Certifications Recent and public recognitions that demonstrate business and outsourcing excellence Sustained Excellence More than five consecutive years of recognition by IAOP in the Global Outsourcing 100 In response to the achievement, Joerg Vollmer, CEO SPS, stated, At SPS, we strive to unlock the power of possibility for businesses and the people they serve through the delivery of our core values: Clients First, Delivering Excellence and Innovative Thinking. We are grateful to IAOP for this independent recognition, which reaffirms the success of SPS approach. The Global Outsourcing 100 recognizes the world's best outsourcing service providers and advisors. This list is based on applications received. Judging is based on a rigorous scoring methodology that includes an independent review by an independent panel of IAOP customer members with extensive experience in selecting outsourcing service providers and advisors for their organizations. The GO100 and its sub-lists are essential references for companies seeking new and expanded relationships with the best companies in the industry. The lists include companies from around the world that provide the full spectrum of outsourcing services not just information technology and business process outsourcing, but also facility services, real estate and capital asset management, manufacturing and logistics. 2023 marks SPS eleventh consecutive year as part of The Global Outsourcing 100. About SPS SPS is a leading outsourcing provider of innovative services in business processing and data management. Building on our Swiss foundations and global footprint, we are the trusted partner for process optimization and intelligent automation. With transformative end-to-end solutions, we create new possibilities for our clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, SPS operates in more than 20 countries and focuses on clients in banking, insurance, health and legal. SPS has more than 8,500 employees and is recognized with a world-class NPS by its global client base. Learn more how SPSs people make an impact that matters at http://www.spsglobal.com. About IAOP IAOP is THE sourcing community, with collaboration at its core, that drives exceptional business and societal outcomes. Our members and affiliates worldwide are digging deep at IAOP conferences, learning at IAOP chapter meetings, getting trained and certified at IAOP courses and workshops, and connecting through IAOP social media, all with one goal: better business results. Whether you are a customer, provider or advisor, new to collaborative business models like outsourcing, or an experienced professional, IAOP connects you and your organization to our growing global community and the resources you need to get the results your company deserves and demands. For more information and how you can become involved, visit http://www.IAOP.org. About The Global Outsourcing 100 As the global, standard-setting association and advocate for outsourcing professionals and the organizations they support, IAOP annually produces subsequent research to help companies in their outsourcing decisions: The Global Outsourcing 100 the annual listing of the world's best outsourcing service providers in its fourteenth year The Global Outsourcing 100 and its sub-lists are essential references for companies seeking new and expanded relationships with the best companies in the industry. The lists include companies worldwide that provide the full spectrum of outsourcing services not just information technology and business process outsourcing, but also facility services, real estate and capital asset management, manufacturing and logistics. They include not only today's leaders but tomorrow's rising stars. Companies of all sizes, from around the world and across the entire outsourcing industry - information technology outsourcing, business process outsourcing, facility services, real estate, design, testing, manufacturing and logistics, to name a few can apply for inclusion on these lists. IAOP Membership IS NOT REQUIRED, nor is it considered in compiling the final lists. To help ensure participation by a broad cross-section of the industry, The Global Outsourcing 100 list includes larger established global firms, referred to as 'Leaders,' smaller, faster-growing firms with less than $50 million per year in revenue and/or fewer than 5,000 employees, referred to as 'Rising Stars,' as well as 'Advisors,' regardless of size. Companies are first organized by Leader, Rising Star or Advisor criteria, then evaluated based on the four judging categories. The final list is composed of the top-scoring companies, regardless of type. Roman Khimich, telecommunications market adviser The question of addressing Chinese equipment in telecom networks is gradually moving from a theoretical to a practical one. In the spring, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine also thought about it and invited the authorities and operators to offer their considerations. For the first time, Vodafone and Kyivstar publicly spoke on this issue. American and European partners are increasingly insistently offering Ukraine to decide. The forthcoming of certain restrictions on telecom products from China seems more and more likely, almost inevitable. As discussed in a previous article, the US policy of banning Chinese equipment faces significant obstacles. In the case of Ukraine, these obstacles may become insuperable. Are there any alternative approaches to risk management regarding Chinese equipment? Last time, I mentioned the attitude adopted by the European Union. Lets have a closer look at both American and European approaches, their similarities and differences. American "Clean Network" The United States has been the initiator and main driving force behind the campaign to ban Chinese telecom equipment globally. Even the UK, the closest ally of the United States, had considered it inappropriate to refuse cooperation with Chinese companies until mid-2020. In 2017, among other things, the HM Government approved the construction of Huaweis R&D center, in which the company planned to invest an impressive GBP 1 billion. As British politicians admitted, the only reason for not cooperating with the Chinese was the pressure from Washington. In 2020, the Trump administration launched the Clean Network framework initiative. In essence, this was a set of catchwords proclaiming the need to clean clouds, applications, cables, and other elements of the US and its allies digital infrastructure of the Chinese presence. Unlike many other issues, the Joe Biden administration has been demonstrating continuity with the policies of its predecessor, making efforts to eliminate Chinese companies. In the regulatory and legal field, the Clean Network is mentioned in several executive and legislative acts. The most important are: Section 889 of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, which prohibited federal agencies from using equipment and services from five Chinese tech companies and working with contractors that use covered equipment. Title 2 of the SECURE Technology Act, which created a federal council to analyze supply chain security threats and recommended orders to remove or exclude certain technologies from federal networks. The ICTS rule, which allows the U.S. Department of Commerce to block public and private procurement and use of certain foreign ICTS. The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, which permitted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to restrict the purchase of certain ICTS using federal funds. The prominent features of the American approach are: a) a declared orientation against the PRC and its manufacturers; b) the postulation of the Chinese threat as something firmly established and not requiring proof; c) focus on the problems of the so-called cyber threats and industrial espionage; d) uncompromising attitude. Officials and WE lawmakers see a complete and unconditional ban as a universal risk management tool. As I have mentioned in the previous publication, the US authorities faced serious, perhaps even fundamentally unresolvable, obstacles in the implementation of this approach. In particular, the idea of the full elimination of Chinese technologies from supply chains in times of globalization involves, without exaggeration, an enormous amount of administrative work. According to the US administration's internal estimates, up to 4.5 million US businesses import foreign technology subject to oversight. If each of them applied for just one license per year, the Department of Commerce would need to process up to 87,000 licenses per week. Meanwhile, the relevant bureau of the Department currently employs 16 people and has an annual budget of about $4.7 million. In the budget request for 2023, the bureau asked Congress for an additional 114 positions and $36.2 million. It is still unknown whether this request will be granted. In the foreign policy aspect, the main problem Clean Network faces is the lack of evidence of cyber espionage or the purposefully introduced vulnerabilities, the so-called backdoors, in Chinese equipment. Today, participation in this initiative by the American administration has become a way of expressing loyalty to it. However, given the scale of the costs, the United States cannot always persuade even the most loyal partners, for example, Poland, to ban Chinese equipment. European toolbox for 5G networks security The approach adopted in the European Union is, in many ways, the opposite of the Clean Network. First, it is not limited to the PRC "containment" and covers almost all risks of varied significance. These include the sustainability of supply chains, countering non-state actors, and much more. Secondly, instead of explicitly identifying the PRC as a source of threats, the framework definitions the EU uses cover a much wider range of actors. If necessary, "untrusted suppliers" might include not only Israeli or Russian but also even American companies. Thirdly, the EU claims facts to be the cornerstone: no statements are taken on faith but are subject to proof. Of course, the question of the political expediency of certain bans has not gone away. This year, the rhetoric of some European Commission members regarding the PRC has become much harsher. Following the American partners, they have spoken on the need for serious restrictions or even a complete ban on telecom solutions from China. However, EU members still enjoy the right to independently assess the arguments in favor of restrictions, and these assessments do not always coincide. These differences in approach emerged quite a long time ago, in May 2019. Back then, in the follow-up of the Prague 5G Security Conference, representatives of 32 states, including key members of the EU and NATO, voiced their aligned standpoint. Despite official support, the US was not happy with the conference outcome. The Trump administration made significant efforts to ensure that the final document included a mention of China and Huawei but failed to persuade the Europeans. It is worth noting that the Chinese government itself saw the Conference outcome in a critical light, accusing the organizers of the event of bias and violating the free market principles. This fact illustrates a key feature of the European approach to the problem of risk management in 5G networks. It is neither pro-American nor pro-Chinese. The EU is implementing its experience and understanding of the nature of the threats it currently faces. Having understood the need to counter Trumps voluntarism with an alternative, in 2008, the European Commission began to work on its approaches and recommendations regarding digital infrastructure security. It resulted in several documents, primarily Cybersecurity of 5G Networks: EU Toolbox of Risk Mitigating Measures and Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems (NIS Directive). The second version of the last document, known as the NIS2 Directive, has now been adopted. The word toolbox symbolizes a rational and pragmatic approach to problem solving. True to the titles, these documents offer a detailed and structured view of the subject and detailed action plans. The European Commission identifies five categories of risks in 5G networks and nine of their varieties. Eight strategic, eleven technical, and ten "supportive" measures are also proposed. Such issues as trust in suppliers from third countries, state, and non-state cyber espionage, other destructive actions, etc., are divided into separate categories. The fundamental principle of the European approach is the reliance on facts. The document does not mention any countries, groups, or incidents. Each EU member must independently assess the available evidence and decide based on the proposed approaches. It is impossible to directly compare American and European approaches. The EU 5G Toolbox is aimed at risk management. And risk management involves assessing costs and their feasibility, as well as discussing options for problem-solving. On the other hand, Clean Network is something like a manifesto, a set of slogans. The Trump administration wanted to solve a fundamentally different task: eliminate the Chinese presence at any cost under any pretext. Ukrainian approach: what should it look like? As things stand, two of the country's largest operators, Kyivstar and Vodafone, have voiced their views on possible restrictions on Chinese equipment. Companies insist their losses should be compensated in case of early, especially urgent, replacement of a huge part of the network equipment. They ask to pay special attention to the problem of continuity, stability, and quality of services their subscribers enjoy. In his exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine, Kyivstars CEO Oleksandr Komarov emphasized that a one-time rejection of Chinese telecom equipment is simply impossible since the share of Chinese vendors in the networks of Ukrainian operators reaches 60%. "If this is some kind of evolution, additional control, replacement of Chinese suppliers in some critical elements of the network, then, in my opinion, it is possible," he said. The position voiced by Ukrainian mobile operators can be described as pragmatic and conservative. They have spent almost a year and a half working in times of a full-scale war. Unlike government agencies and state-funded institutions, the Big Three operators repelled every cyberattack. In other words, the large share of Chinese equipment in their networks wasnt a risk factor. This fact allows me to conclude that cybersecurity issues should not be considered a priority in resolving the "Chinese issue." In Ukraine, the sustainability of supply chains in the context of the US-China confrontation is coming to the fore. How will the interruption of supplies affect the work of national operators in the event of an escalation of this conflict? How will it affect producers from Western Europe and the USA? What other means are available to reduce risks and increase the resilience of networks other than bans and restrictions? Ukrainian authorities and mobile operators should lean towards the European approach to risk management. It seems to be more efficient and flexible in our situation. After all, it is the European view on the regulation of telecommunications that our country is obliged to implement within the European integration framework. TouchMath Announces Dyscalculia Screener "With the DySc, were equipping educators and parents with a comprehensive screening solution that not only identifies dyscalculia but also provides evidence-based interventions to foster students' mathematical development." TouchMath announces the release of DySc, the comprehensive dyscalculia screener and individualized intervention guide aligned to American Pschiatric Associations The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) and available at no cost. TouchMath, a multisensory math program that makes learning foundational math concepts accessible and clear for students who struggle to understand grade-level content, designed the DySc to identify students as young as three who may be at risk for dyscalculia, a specific learning disability in mathematics. Widely underdiagnosed, dyscalculia is a neurodevelopmental learning disorder estimated to affect 3-7% of the worldwide population. Early screening for dyscalculia and evidence-based interventions are critical to addressing the learning disorder's short- and long-term educational, personal, and social impacts. The DySc offers educators and parents a valid assessment to detect early math difficulties and provide targeted interventions. Weve developed the DySc, a free screener, as a powerful tool to recognize the critical role of early identification and intervention in addressing learning difficulties, paving the way for academic success and beyond," stated Dr. Sandra Elliott, Chief Academic Officer at TouchMath. "Similar to the effectiveness of routine screenings for hearing, vision, and dyslexia, we firmly believe that schools should prioritize early math screening to unleash the potential of every child. With the DySc, were equipping educators and parents with a comprehensive screening solution that not only identifies dyscalculia but also provides evidence-based interventions to foster students' mathematical development." The DySc aims to address the need for an accessible and efficient dyscalculia screener that can be used as early as age three and throughout adulthood. By accurately assessing individuals struggling with mathematical concepts and skills, the DySc enables timely intervention and support, minimizing academic struggles in later years. When compared to other available screening tools, the DySc goes beyond identifying math difficulties and skill by grade level and instead assesses critical areas of mathematical performance outlined in the DSM-5-TR. Skills assessed include number sense, math facts memorization, calculations, reasoning, and problem-solving. TouchMath built the DySc screening tool to be easily administered by school-based professionals, early childhood educators, and parents for learners in the following age bands: 3-4, 5-7, 8 and up. Standardization of delivery enabled by the web-based tool ensures the most accurate results. Upon completion of the screener and the survey, DySc will generate a report that consists of four key outputs, including: Results of the DySc screener Copy of the DySc educator/guardian survey Recommended action plan Recommended intervention plan based on the learners results "With an estimated three million students in the United States alone living with dyscalculia, the DySc is a vital tool to support these individuals in reaching their full potential," said Sean Lockwood, CEO of TouchMath. "There is still much more work to do, but this paves the way for us to better understand this learning disability and how students can benefit from early screening and intervention. Together, we can cultivate success and ensure that individuals of all abilities and learning styles thrive in their mathematical journey." The DySc screening tool takes up to 15 minutes to complete. The free, web-based screening tool will also be available in Spanish during the fall of 2023. Visit https://dysctest.com/ to access the free tool today. To learn more about the DySc, including screener development, validation, and intervention recommendations, access TouchMath's comprehensive whitepaper, "The Transformative Potential of Early Screening for Dyscalculia, The Discounted Specific Learning Disability." To learn more about supporting learners with dyscalculia, visit touchmath.com/dyscalculia-101. About TouchMath TouchMath provides a wide range of curriculum and tools for educators and their students who struggle to understand grade-level content. TouchMath is committed to maximizing student potential through its worldwide delivery of hands-more, visit https://touchmath.com/. Wade Milligan, Hammes Healthcare Regional Vice President and Partner On behalf of the Hammes Healthcare board of directors, we are pleased to welcome Wade to our team of partners. Hammes Healthcare, a leading provider of consulting and project delivery services, has named Wade Milligan a partner. Wade joined Hammes in 2019 as a vice president where he led project management engagements for large, complex facility development projects in Tampa. In 2020, he was promoted to Regional Vice President with responsibility for overseeing the companys operations throughout the Southeast. Wade brings more than 30 years of experience in healthcare facility development, including largescale hospital expansion and renovation projects. Before joining Hammes, Wade owned Cromwell Building Corporation, which he started in 2007. Cromwell specialized in construction management for healthcare and other commercial real estate projects. Prior to starting Cromwell, Wade was a vice president with Turner Construction Company in Tampa. His experience as a business owner, general contractor and owners representative brings unique strengths in developing optimal design and construction solutions for healthcare development projects. On behalf of the Hammes Healthcare board of directors, we are pleased to welcome Wade to our team of partners, said Jon Hammes. His expanded influence on our organization will positively impact our valued clients and further strengthen our position as a leading healthcare developer in the region. About Hammes Healthcare Hammes Healthcare is a national consulting firm that provides real estate and market strategy, facility planning, project management and development services to the healthcare industry. As a reflection of its commitment to the healthcare industry, Hammes has been recognized as one of the nations leading healthcare developers by Modern Healthcares Construction & Design Survey for 25 consecutive yearsincluding 20 years as No. 1and by Revistas Outpatient Healthcare Real Estate Development Report. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hammes provides services through a network of regional offices strategically located across the United States. https://www.hammes.com/ PTI Fact Check: No, Rahul Gandhi did not say that he and his ancestors are Muslims; fake news bulletin screenshots shared on social media New Delhi, July 7 (Abhinav Gupta / Pratyush Ranjan PTI Fact Check): A Facebook user shared a screenshot of a purported news bulletin, which quoted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, during his foreign visit, stating that he and his ancestors were Muslims, and that after winning the elections (2024 Lok Sabha), his party would hand out a loan of Rs 5,000 crore to Pakistan as financial aid. In its investigation, the PTI Fact Check Desk found that digitally altered images of news bulletin flash were shared on social media. Claim A Facebook user on June 5 shared a screenshot of a news bulletin purportedly run by ABP News, which quoted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying that he and his ancestors were Muslims, and that the Congress party was a party of Muslims. The alleged bulletin further quoted Gandhi saying that after winning (2024 Lok Sabha) elections, his party will give Rs 5,000 crore as financial aid to Pakistan. The text at the bottom of the viral photo also claimed that these statements were made by the Congress leader during his recent visit to America. Very good Rahul Khan, read the caption of the post shared by the Facebook user. Here is the link and archive link of the post shared by the Facebook user. Below is the screenshot of the same. Investigation The PTI Fact Check Desk started the investigation with a Google Reverse Image Search on the viral image, which led to a Facebook post shared on July 2, 2021. The Facebook post carried a similar photo carrying the same claims. Here is the link of the post shared by the Facebook user, and below is a screenshot of the same. The search results further led to another post shared by ABP News Twitter handle on November 12, 2018. The ABP News tweet carried a photo similar to the viral one, but with different text. The news channel stated that they did not run any such bulletin as shown in the viral social media posts. Here is the link to the Twitter post shared by ABP News, below is the screenshot of the same: #Urgent: This is to notify that the attached media which is being circulated online has been doctored with our channel's template. The information about Sh. Rahul Gandhi's statements, which these images carry have not been reported by ABP & have no relation with ABP News Network, read the caption of the post shared by ABP News on their Twitter handle. In the next part of the investigation the Desk conducted a Google Search using the keywords Rahul Gandhi Muslim remark in US, but were unable to find any report of any such comments made by the Congress leader. Had Rahul Gandhi made such statements, various news media outlets would have reported about the same. Subsequently, the Desk concluded that digitally altered images of bulletin by a Hindi news channel were shared on social media. Claim Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, during his US visit, stated that he and his ancestors were Muslims, and Congress was a party of Muslims. The Congress leader also said that after winning the next general elections, his party would give a financial aid of Rs 5,000 crore to Pakistan. Fact Screenshots of fake news bulletin shared on social media. Conclusion A Facebook user shared a screenshot of a purported Hindi news bulletin, which quoted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying that he and his ancestors were Muslims, and that the Congress was a party of Muslims. The bulletin further quoted him saying that after winning the (next general) elections, his party will hand out a financial aid of Rs 5,000 crore to Pakistan. In its investigation, the Desk found that fake news bulletin screenshots were shared on social media. You can contact PTI Fact Check on WhatsApp Number +91-8130503759 and share any claim or social media post you think is essential to fact-check and want us to verify. Ukrainian producers of meat and meat products have asked the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food to consider the possibility of exporting these products to China, the ministry's press service reported. "We specially met with profile associations and representatives of the State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection before the trip of the Ukrainian official delegation to China, where the details of cooperation in terms of exporting our meat, in particular pork, will be discussed. It is important for us to discuss all the details between market participants so that this issue is resolved effectively," First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky said on Tuesday at a meeting of the working group on the meat industry development. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy noted that for Ukrainian exporters of poultry, beef and pork, China is one of the most attractive markets, since Ukrainian meat exporters currently receive the largest number of applications from the Chinese market. Due to COVID-19 and the war, exports, in particular beef, to this country have been suspended. "Currently, there is a certain warming in trade relations between Ukraine and China, and the list of our exporters of beef and pork continues to expand. The issue of poultry meat exports is also on the agenda," the message says. The ministry clarified that information had already been exchanged on key issues with Chinese customs in preparation for bilateral meetings between the countries, which would take place in the near future. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said before the NATO summit, in which it plans to take part, that Ukraine will be in the Alliance. "We are still working on the wording, that is, on the specific words of such confirmation, but we already understand the fact that Ukraine will be in the Alliance, and we are working to make the algorithm for gaining membership as clear and fast as possible," he said in a video address on Monday. According to him, "even if different positions are voiced, it is still clear that Ukraine deserves to be in the Alliance." "Not now there is a war, but we need a clear signal. And we need this signal right now," the president said. According to him, "the majority of the Alliance clearly stands for us." "It is the Ukrainian eastern border, the border of our state and the positions of our soldiers - this is the border that the Russian dictatorship will never cross again, which in various forms, but always, has always tried to conquer the peoples of Europe. The reality of security here, on the eastern flank, depends on Ukraine NATO," Zelenskyy said. "When we applied to join NATO, we said frankly: de facto, Ukraine is already in the Alliance. Our weapons are the weapons of the Alliance. Our values are what the Alliance believes in. Our defense is exactly that element of the Europe formula which makes it united, free and in peace. Vilnius must confirm all this," Zelenskyy also said. Our origin story is unique, Victoria Scott-Miller said about Liberation Station, a Raleigh, N.C., indie bookstore owned and operated by her and her family that opened its doors on the weekend of June 1719, to coincide with the Juneteenth holiday. It was, Scott-Miller said, a three-day meteoric grand opening celebration that drew 4,000 people to West Fayetteville Street for a full slate of author appearances, music, and activities. Liberation Station, which specializes in childrens and YA books by Black authors and illustrators, is North Carolinas first Black-owned childrens bookstore, replacing a pop-up bookstore of the same name. Scott-Miller, who is a childrens book author, operated the pop-up for four years with her family, having launched it in 2019 with 113 childrens books written by Black authors or illustrated by Black illustrators that convey positive representations of Black children and their families. While the direct impetus to sell books was in response to the lack of books by Black authors or illustrators featuring Black children as protagonists when Scott-Miller browsed at a Barnes & Noble four years ago with her eldest son, Langston, who was then eight years old, she said the decision was perhaps inevitable. My husband, Duane Miller, was a nuclear mechanic on a submarine and he was stationed in Hawaii, she said. After hed gotten out of the military, we needed to make a fresh start and so we chose Raleigh as our new home. I was unemployed, being a stay-at-home mom, and my husband was unemployed, unable to find a job because he was over-qualified. We were at a crossroads. In the wake of that visit to B&N that resulted in such disappointment, Scott-Miller recalled, she and Miller told their son, Were going to start a bookstore because we know that you need to have a space that is specifically carved out for you. They initially sold books from the trunk of their car. Citing the familys experience with the military, Scott-Miller explained that operating a pop-up bookstore that moved around the Research Triangle cities of Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Durham was easy for us. It was compartmentalized, it traveled well, and it would allow us to have the mobility we needed without the financial infrastructure of a building. Sales remained strong during the pandemic as Liberation Station launched an online bookstore and then spiked during what Scott-Miller called the awakening following the murder of George Floyd. Despite their success, the family decided to hold off on moving into a permanent location. We wanted to be on the ground, with the people who were collectively grieving, she said. But as they entered 2023, the family decided the time is now to move into a permanent location, especially because Miller is now working full-time in a laboratory. Putting Down Roots It felt like this is a good time, Scott-Miller said. We need something that will heal our community as we go into an election season. Were looking at the climate, both the social and literary climate, and whats going on in the public schools. Were ready for it. Now we get to create a unique cultural hub that is a community-centered, community-driven space for self-discovery and the activation of our work. Scott-Miller said that she and her family take a collective approach, a family approach to book buying, explaining that they continually query each other: What are your interests right now? What are you curious about? What do you want to discover more about? We then go and research those topics, and we look for authors and illustrators who fit the demographic that we wish to serve. And then we buy those books as a family first, for our own home library. It gives us an opportunity to read every book before we put it on the shelf. The selection process is really intentional. Part of the magic of our store is that we have a relationship with every book. Liberation Station typically stocks five copies of each title, including Scott-Millers own books. She estimates that there are about 400 fiction and nonfiction titles in stock at the store, which is 364 square feet in size. There are also currently 35 boxes of books in storage, available for restocking when necessary. I love the fact that we change titles all the time, because our store doesnt have to be defined, Scott-Miller said. The declaration that we hope to make by having this space is that you dont have to put yourself in a box; you can be an artist one day and a scientist the next. You can have varied interests, and I hope we have something that appeals to you. Reading Is a Journey The store is divided into four topic areas: the Diaspora Wall features books that follow the transatlantic map. Every part of our journey leading up to America is hyper-focused in that space. The second section is Americadialing into the vastness of Black childhood, as I like to say, with books ranging from board books to YA reads by Black authors or illustrators, including Black authors from Black publishing houses or from Black-led imprints. The third section, which Scott-Miller is particularly proud of, is called the Banned Books Wall. In addition to displaying banned books by Black authors, the store is collaborating with Black educators around the country, asking them, What do you want in your classroom that is being challenged? The wall displays photos of the educators who respond, along with a listing of their school district and its location, and what they hope to gain with the book being accessible in their state. The fourth section of the store is called the Anchor, and features adult books that are paired with childrens books on the same topic or featuring similar themes. The goal is that you would take these two titles together and be able to have a conversation with your children about that particular subject. Book pairings include The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, along with Neil deGrasse Tysons Cosmic Queries: StarTalks Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where Were Going. Another pairing that Scott-Miller is especially excited about is Going Places: Victor Hugo Green and His Glorious Book by Tonya Bolden, illustrated by Eric Velasquez, along with the actual Green Book. A Black family is an anomaly in a lot of spaces, Scott-Miller pointed out two weeks after Liberation Station opened for business. You might come in and see my husband holding a child, or our youngest son, Emerson, coloring with crayons, or you might see Langston playing the cello. Its so different, the dynamic of our store, because were living in it. A jogger runs past a large sand berm built to protect low-lying homes from winter storms along the Peninsula neighborhood of Long Beach on Dec. 23, 2019. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says allies are finalizing the summit's final declaration on Ukraine, which will clearly spell out a "positive and strong message" on its path to alliance membership. He said this at the Public Forum in Vilnius on Tuesday, which took place before the start of the allied summit. "You will see the language in a few hours (declarations). We are now finalizing the communique where we will have the (specific) language (in relation to the membership perspective). I have already said something about the elements that I believe will be there, but it is the leaders who will agree the communique, and then you can read what exactly is written there. But what I can say is that it will be a positive and strong message about Ukraine and its path towards membership," Stoltenberg said, answering a question about the content of the declaration regarding Ukraine. The Secretary General said he presented these "elements" he mentioned in May at an informal meeting of foreign ministers in Oslo in a package "how to move forward on the membership issue." "This is a package of three elements: one was to step up the practical support by creating a multi-year program to ensure that the Ukrainian forces become fully interoperable with NATO forces. This is the first element. The second element is to strengthen political ties with the establishing a NATO-Ukraine Council - I expect we would have the inaugural meeting tomorrow. That will be a new organism within which we will meet as equals Ukraine and NATO allies. The third element in the package was to remove the requirement for the Membership Action Plan because Ukraine has come a long way since we made a decision in 2008 that the next step would be the MAP. Ukraine is now closer to NATO, and I think the time has come to reflect that in NATO decisions," he reiterated the essence of his proposals. Summing up the above, Stoltenberg said: "All that together, including making it absolutely clear that Ukraine will be a member, removing the MAP and making their forces fully interoperable with NATO forces with the establishing the NATO-Ukraine Council all that together will send a very strong message. NATO to Ukraine." Asked if he was concerned that it would be a frozen conflict, the Secretary General again stated that "wars are by their nature unpredictable." "Wars may last longer than we expect. But we need to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. That will be a clear message from this summit," Stoltenberg confirmed the position of the allies. He also said that during the counteroffensive, "Ukrainians are gaining ground, pushing back the Russian occupiers." "But they need assistance, as the Russians positions prepared defences minefields, dragon's teeth and other fixed defences. This is a challenge, but from our side we will continue to support Ukraine," the Secretary General said. Answering a question about whether the United States' support will weaken in light of the upcoming presidential elections, Stoltenberg said "we saw a huge will of all allies, including North America, to support Ukraine." "And if we look at the opinion polls, that support remains very high. Of course, it differs from country to country, but the main message is strong of both parties in the United States, but also across Europe and Canada to stand by Ukraine. I am convinced that support for Ukraine is strong because people feel solidarity with Ukraine. It will be a challenge for Ukraine if President Putin wins, but I also think that people realize the very simple fact that if President Putin wins in Ukraine, it will not only be bad for Ukrainians, but it will be dangerous for us, because the message will be for of all authoritarian leaders that if they use military force, violate international law and invade other countries, they get what they want and that will make the world more dangerous and we will be more vulnerable. It is in our security interests to support Ukraine, and this is why I welcome the strong support from NATO allies," Stoltenberg justified his opinion. The moment has been long in coming, but India is turning into a strategic actor in Southeast Asia. Amid a flurry of regional diplomacy, India has sealed an arms deal with Vietnam, sided with the Philippines over China on sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea, and enhanced defense cooperation with Indonesia. It is balance-of-power politics worthy of an international relations textbook: Even though most Southeast Asian governments have long made it their mantra not to choose geopolitical sides, China's aggressive posture in and around the South China Sea is driving India and its partners in the region together. As yet, none of these relationships are on the level of alliances or include a serious force deployment component, but the trend is clear. And even though the United States and its Asian treaty allies are not involved, India's moves raise the tantalizing possibility that it will increasingly complement the United States' Indo-Pacific strategy to counter China in the coming years. India's strategic outreach had its humble beginnings in 1991, when New Delhi announced the Look East policya recognition of the geostrategic significance of Southeast Asia to Indian security. More a vision than a concrete set of measures, Look East was followed by the Act East policy in 2014, when India began to proactively engage with the region to prevent it from succumbing to Chinese domination. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who first announced Act East, India in recent years has steadily strengthened key partnerships across Southeast Asia, particularly with countries along the maritime rim of the Indo-Pacific. These moves are clearly designed to cooperate with Southeast Asian partners who also seek to maintain the rules-based international order and norms of behavior in the face of rising Chinese assertiveness in the region. Last month, Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang visited his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi and announced that India would transfer a missile corvette to the Vietnamese Navy to enhance maritime security. The two sides also reportedly discussed stepped-up training for Vietnamese military personnel operating submarines and fighter jets, as well as cooperation on cybersecurity and electronic warfare. There is also ongoing speculation that Vietnam may soon purchase India's BrahMos cruise missile, which is co-produced with Russia and could complicate Chinese military operations in disputed seas. To strengthen relations further, Hanoi and New Delhi have also been considering a potential trade deal. China's aggressive posture in and around the South China Sea is driving India and its partners in the region together. Share on Twitter These recent moves reinforce the comprehensive strategic partnership India and Vietnam have maintained since Modi's 2016 visit to Vietnam. Hanoi maintains just four partnerships at this highest of levelswith China, India, Russia, and most recently South Korea. That underscores the high strategic value Hanoi places on New Delhi. By comparison, the United States is only a comprehensive partner for Vietnam, two levels below India's status. Washington has struggled to raise the partnership. The Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, is steadily expanding and deepening its security partnership with India as well. Late last month, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo visited New Delhi and met with his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar. For the first time, India recognized the legitimacy of the 2016 arbitration ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in favor of Philippine sovereignty claims over China in the South China Sea. During the meeting, Jaishankar reiterated India's call on China to respect this ruling. Both sides further vowed to enhance their defense partnership through increased interactions between defense agencies and by sending an Indian defense attache to Manila. India also offered a concessional line of credit to the Philippines to buy Indian defense equipment. According to a diplomatic source close to the negotiations, We are both maritime nations and there is great scope where we could identify various cooperative activities including, in the future, joint sales and joint patrols and exchanging information, best practices, and anything to enhance [maritime domain awareness]. Both nations have closely collaborated on security matters in recent years. In 2019, for example, India participated in a joint naval drill in the South China Sea with Japan, the Philippines, and the United States. In 2021, the Indian Navy conducted bilateral drills with the Philippines. In addition, a fourth round of high-level defense dialogue between India and the Philippines concluded in April, with the two sides pledging to deepen defense cooperation further. In 2022, the Philippines inked a major deal to purchase India's BrahMos missiles. According to the Indian ambassador in Manila, India is exploring a preferential trade deal with the Philippines to boost their relationship, similar to what it is discussing with Vietnam. Meanwhile, India's security partnership with Indonesia has quietly been evolving in ways that also support the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. In February, an Indian Kilo-class conventional submarine made a first-ever port call to Indonesia, underscoring that New Delhi's undersea assets could have access to Indonesian ports sitting astride the strategic waterways traversing the vast archipelagic nation. Beijing already faces a major strategic headache in the form of the so-called Malacca dilemmaChina's vulnerability to having its most important trade route cut off by the United States and its allies in the narrow waters between Singapore and Malaysia. Add potential blockades of Indonesia's Sunda Strait and Lombok Straittwo other strategic narrowsand China might have to rethink future military operations entirely. Indo-Indonesian defense relations truly kicked off in 2018, when Modi visited Jakarta and elevated relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. As part of this, the two nations signed a new defense cooperation agreement. That same year, India and Indonesia launched a new naval exercise, Samudra Shakti, that incorporated a warfighting component. Since then, the two navies have conducted four rounds, the last of which was in May and prioritized anti-submarine operations. The Indian Navy has further supported Indonesia with humanitarian and disaster relief operations, particularly following the Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami that hit Palu in 2018. New Delhi and Jakarta are exploring potential air force cooperation as well. Indonesia may also follow in the footsteps of the Philippines by purchasing BrahMos missiles. On the economic side, the two nations are considering a preferential trade agreement, similar to what India is discussing with Vietnam and the Philippines. Other plans include enhancing links between Indonesia's Aceh province and India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These parts of the two countries are separated by just over 500 miles of sea, and Jakarta and New Delhi have been cooperating to boost trade and travel between them. India and Indonesia are also cooperating on developing infrastructure, such as a port at Sabang in Aceh, which could be viewed as India's rival to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India is also cooperating with Malaysia, another counterclaimant against China in the South China Sea, on the basis of an enhanced strategic partnership signed in 2015. In 2022, both Jaishankar and Singh met their Malaysian counterparts and expressed interest in deepening their partnership. After his meeting with Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin bin Hussein, Singh described the engagement as wonderful. Although Kuala Lumpur's decision earlier this year to cancel a deal to purchase Indian-made Tejas fighter aircraft may have dampened the partnership somewhat, the intent clearly remains to strengthen ties in line with upholding the mutual goal of maintaining the rules-based international order in the regionespecially internationally recognized maritime borders and freedom of navigation, neither of which Beijing accepts. When Jaishankar met thenMalaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, the latter emphasized that India is a friend who shares the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, using the acronym for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Brunei is another emerging partner for India along the South China Sea. In 2021, the two nations renewed their defense agreement for five years, and they regularly engage in joint exercises, port visits by navy and coast guard ships, and official defense exchanges. India's strategic partnerships with Singapore and Thailanda key partner and ally of the United States, respectivelyare also close and longstanding. Singapore regularly engages in bilateral exercises, high-level dialogues, visits, and professional training with India. Modi visited ( PDF ) Singapore twice in 2018, and on the first trip, he signed 35 memoranda of understanding agreements on a range of security and economic issues. For example, he signed a logistical agreement to boost bilateral naval cooperation and multiple agreements pertaining to investment in human capital. On his second trip, Modi attended the India-ASEAN summit, underscoring New Delhi's emphasis on the region's significance. In 2022, Thailand and India took stock of their partnership and pledged to elevate defense engagements further, to include cybersecurity. Perhaps of greater importance is the economic side of their relationship. In a nod to New Delhi's original Look East policy, Bangkok implemented ( PDF ) its own Look West policy in 1997, in part to tap into the enormous Indian market. Moreover, Thailand and India are partnering with Myanmar to construct the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway that will significantly upgrade transport links between Southeast Asia and South Asia. Once the highway is completed, Modi and his government also want to add connections to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnamanother clear rival to China's BRI. India further has good relations with both Cambodia and Laos. In May, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni visited India, and the two sides reaffirmed the strong civilizational bond between us. Phnom Penh and New Delhi cooperate on a range of socioeconomic projects, de-mining, water conservation, and heritage protection. India's engagement with Laos is less robust, but nevertheless, New Delhi and Vientiane are likely discussing ways to boost economic ties. This is all the more remarkable as both Phnom Penh and Vientiane are widely considered to be firmly in China's camp. Not all Indian engagements in the region are necessarily positive for the United States and its Indo-Pacific strategy, however. One notable example is India's relationship with the military junta in Myanmar, which has plans to enhance its partnership with Beijing. New Delhi has yet to condemn the 2021 coup that brought it to power, and India refuses to join Washington in putting political pressure on the junta in the form of sanctions or through other means. To be sure, India is in a difficult spot as chaos in Myanmar has caused concerns that instability could spill over the border, where the Indian states of Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland have ethnic and kinship ties with Myanmar. New Delhi hopes that its continued cooperation with the Burmese junta will contribute to greater stability in the border region. But even in Myanmar, India is doing some things that are in Washington's interest. Modi's joint statement with U.S. President Joe Biden last month, for example, mentions Myanmar and notes the importance of the junta releasing all political prisoners and returning to constructive dialogue. While this is hardly the condemnation of the regime Washington has been seeking, it is a start. Additionally, New Delhi in recent months confronted the junta on how it is apparently allowing Chinese workers to build a listening post to spy on India in the Coco Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Overall, India's Act East policy is a net positive for the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at countering China. Washington should welcome and gently encourage New Delhi to do even more. Share on Twitter From a multilateral perspective, India has been active as well. Within the existing India-ASEAN framework, the two parties in May held their inaugural group military exercise, known as ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, in the South China Sea. The exercise reportedly attracted the attention of China's maritime militia, which was operating within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and approached the exercise participants. Overall, India's Act East policy is a net positive for the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at countering China. Washington should welcome and gently encourage New Delhi to do even more. For example, additional joint patrols in the South China Sea among India, the United States, and other nationsincluding those in the regioncould bolster deterrence. Additional Indian infrastructure and development projects, as well as trade deals, could help lessen Beijing's economic dominance of Southeast Asia. Realistically, however, New Delhi rightly worries first and foremost about its own neighborhood, and its time and resources are inevitably constrained. China also maintains the inside track in Southeast Asia due to its growing power and proximity to the region. That said, New Delhi's policy of outreach to Southeast Asiaeven if it is sustained only at current levelswill help further undermine Beijing. That, in and of itself, is a big win for Washington and its Asian allies. Derek Grossman is a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation, an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California, and a former daily intelligence briefer to the U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs. This commentary originally appeared on Foreign Policy on July 7, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. As World War I drew to a close, the British cabinet made a momentous decision. It concluded that the risk of another major European war anytime in the immediate future was low, so it decided to prioritize restoring the nation's finances, rather than continuing to modernize its military. In making its decision, the cabinet acted on another consideration. This was a time of rapid technological change. The cabinet concluded that if it did not time its military investments wisely, it could well waste funds by investing in the wrong capabilities at the wrong time. Judging that any major threat stood at more than a decade into the future, it invoked a ten-year rule to guide its military planning. Year after year, the cabinet would assess the prospects of a future threat, and if that threat was judged to be ten or more years into the future, Britain would continue to focus its time and resources on the demands of policing its empire, which, in the aftermath of the Great War, included parts of the Middle East. In one of the odd twists of history, Winston Churchill, who in 1928 was Chancellor of the Exchequer, put forth the position that each year that the cabinet determined the risks of another European war to be low, the clock on the ten-year rule should be reset. Of course, it was also Churchill who, a little more than a decade later, would have to look back at the die he helped cast as British forces escaped crushing defeat at Dunkirk and as the Battle for Britain raged. While the United States has never invoked such a ten-year rule regarding preparations for long-term military competition with China, there have been times when it has behaved as if such a rule were in place. By the early 2000s, there were already alerts of China's modernizing military, but such alerts arrived amid ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, so grappling with this new and at least equally difficult problem seemed, at the time, out of the question. As the decade dragged on, a financial crisis, and deepening divisions over domestic budget prioritieswhich led to a government shutdown and sequestrationfurther shelved the China problem, resetting the clock again and again, year after year. Just as Great Britain was consumed with its imperial policing duties in the 1920s and 1930s, so too was the United States throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Even Obama and Trump reluctantly continued in this mode until Biden brought U.S. involvement in the Middle East partially to an end when he withdrew U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021. And still, today, small numbers of U.S. forces continue to operate in Iraq and Syria. As a top defense official in the Trump Pentagon once said, My job is to focus on China, and all I work on is the Middle East. Though it is too early to tell whether the Biden administration's team at the Pentagon can escape this same trap their predecessors fell into, this is the cul-de-sac it must escape, and one that highlights one of the primary challenges of the U.S. national security apparatus, on which the United States spends $1.25 trillion a year: That even when current and emerging threats are spotted early, as was the case regarding the growing military threat of China, there are not sufficient warning systems, nor is the machinery in place to deal with such problems appropriately. Both the warning machinethe intelligence community, the Pentagon, and the Department of Homeland Securityand the action machinethe FBI, Homeland Security, the military, even Health and Human Servicesare out of synch, unable to communicate with one another effectively to identify and put into motion the solutions to today's most pressing national security threats. Consider the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic as Exhibit A. There is, however, a way for the warning and action machines to work in concert, to tackle problems as they are being identified. Take, for example, an ongoing concern in national security: the fact that U.S. adversaries are generally far better at imposing costs on U.S. forces than U.S. forces are at imposing costs on them; that the style and approach the United States brings to its defense is hugely expensive ($1.25 trillion a year) while it does not make such defense spending so steep for its enemies. The United States has not always been on the losing side of such cost-imposing strategies. When President Jimmy Carter first revealed that the United States had produced a stealth aircraft, he did so knowing the Soviet military would have to respond by spending enormous sums to improve its air defense systems. America's early dominance of stealth technology not only imposed costs on the Soviet Union, it did so in the most favorable way possible, causing the Soviets to expend substantial sums on defending their territory, resources that could not be devoted to building more offensive capabilities. The United States has an opportunity today to deploy a similar idea with what the Air Force calls its low-cost attritable aircraft technology, LCAATor the cat. These cats are relatively small, potentially expendable drones. If one such drone is lost or destroyed, it is affordable enough to be replaced. A swarm of these cats, with even smaller, more expendable drones in support (call them kittens), could have devastating impacts for relatively low cost. To understand what would make such a system so effective, consider how military planners often describe the process of engaging with a particular target as a kill chain. The chain extends from the sensors that identify the target, to the weapons used to destroy it, to everything in between. A system of cats and kittensof small and even smaller expendable drones, identifying and destroying targetsacts unlike a chain, which can easily be broken in one link, but instead as a far more durable mesh, maintaining its structural integrity even while single drones are lost or destroyed. Such a system would be relatively low-cost to create, but massively costly to defend against. Most importantly, such a system might begin to signal to China's leaders that they might face a real prospect of failureor, at the very least, tremendous expenseshould they initiate a war. To the extent that China's leaders still believe they could succeed in using military force over Taiwan or elsewhere, then the warning signals will have been wasted, the action machine squandered. As Churchill learned, one can only reset the clock so long before time, as it always does, runs out. Andrew Hoehn is the senior vice president for research and analysis at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation; he formerly served as a top strategist for the Department of Defense. Thom Shanker is director of the Project for Media and National Security at George Washington University; he previously was a New York Times reporter and editor. This essay is adapted from their book, Age of Danger: Keeping America Safe in an Era of New Superpowers, New Weapons, and New Threats. This commentary originally appeared on RealClearDefense on July 10, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. At the NATO summit in Vilnius starting Tuesday, the transatlantic military alliance will plan the future of Western support for Ukraine, including a multiyear assistance package and upgraded political ties. Repelling Russia's invasion will be top of mind. But longer-term security decisions will be just as importantif not more soto Ukraine's future, after the fighting stops. In planning for Ukraine's postwar reconstruction, security arrangements have been the neglected element. At a conference in London last month, Ukraine's partners promised $60 billion for recovery and reconstruction, adding to previous allocations. But such pledges will evaporate if donors and investors don't have confidence in Ukraine's security going forward. Since the end of World War II, European nations have faced a binary choice: They either join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or they are on their own. But the war in Ukraine is being fought on a different basismilitary support for Kyiv is not contingent on NATO membershipand that should open the door to a new range of solutions for postwar security as well. The key will be crafting an approach that is strong enough to deter, but does not unnecessarily provoke, Russia. Ukraine's reconstruction challenge has sometimes been likened to that of war-torn Iraq or Afghanistan. But policymakers should instead see it in the context of Europe's 75-year story of rebuilding and reintegrationWestern Europe after WWII; Central and Eastern Europe after the Cold War; the western Balkans after the violent dissolution of Yugoslavia. In each of these cases, it was security assistance that provided the foundation for reconstruction. NATO was founded in 1949, a year after the European Recovery Program, better known as the Marshall Plan. The two efforts went hand in hand: State Department officials even referred to NATO as a military European Recovery Program. After the end of the Cold War, NATO accession promised security for reformers and rebuilders in Central and Eastern Europe. And after the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s, NATO deployed more than 100,000 peacekeepers to Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, and north Macedonia in the western Balkans. Security for Ukraine will be just as essential to its recovery. Any peace in Ukraine will endure only if Moscow and Kyiv perceive it as preferable to renewed war. Ukraine will have powerful positive incentives in the form of reconstruction assistance and European Union membership. Russia, on the other hand, will receive no comparable benefits. Its adherence to any peace settlement will rest principally on the security arrangements the West and Ukraine devise to deter it from renewed attacks. Ukraine's supporters have a range of choices. They could promise to perpetuate the current arrangements of providing Western arms, training, and advice if Russia again attacks Ukraine. Stronger still, they could threaten to introduce Western forces into Ukraine. Or they could bring Ukraine into NATO. NATO membership, backed by the alliance's nuclear arsenal, would certainly provide the strongest measure of deterrence. Ukraine is also likely to have the largest and most battle-hardened force in Europe, an obvious asset to NATO. However, member states must reach consensus to invite Ukraine into NATO, and that's not guaranteed. A lack of unanimity could not only delay or block Ukraine's membership; such internal divisions could also reduce the alliance's ability to further deter Russian aggression. Although the strong deterrence of NATO membership might make renewed fighting less likely, it could also raise Russia's threat perceptions, potentially leading Moscow to take desperate measures. And, if that deterrence fails, the resultant conflict could spill beyond Ukraine. NATO has continued to grow and become more powerful since the breakup of the Warsaw Pact. Moscow's influence is much diminished. As James Dobbins, former assistant secretary of State for Europe, pointed out, NATO doesn't need Ukraine as a member to deter Russia. Nor does Ukraine need to become a NATO member to enjoy material support for its defense. The evolving European security order should reflect such changes in the balance of power. Just like the Ukraine Recovery Conference, NATO's Vilnius summit will set the tone for donors, potential investors, and reconstruction planners. Clarifying security arrangements and moving toward firm postwar security assurances will be just as vital a step toward reconstruction success. Gabrielle Tarini researches European security at the RAND Corporation. Howard J. Shatz is a senior economist at Rand. Charles P. Ries, a senior fellow at RAND and a former ambassador to Greece, was the coordinator for economic transition in Iraq. They are co-authors, with the late James Dobbins, of the report Reconstructing Ukraine. This commentary originally appeared on Los Angeles Times on July 10, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Diplomacy is working in Yemen in the way that diplomacy so often does in complex conflicts: slowly but surely. In April 2022, the United Nations brokered a nationwide truce in Yemen. The most substantial pause in fighting since the war began in 2014, the truce led to a substantial reduction in violence and casualties. The terms of the truce, which include a halt in fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition, have mostly held even though its terms formally expired in October 2022. Then, in March, China announced that it had brokered a detente agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Beijing's announcement of the agreement was cause for some consternation that the United States is ceding influence in the region to China. Other observers have claimed that the deal is a sign that the United States is somehow holding back negotiations in Yemen. In fact, the ongoing talks in Yemen are the result of a long-standing negotiation process that precedes the detente agreement, led by the United Nations with diplomatic support from the United States. If anything, the Saudi-Iran detente is the result of broader geopolitical trends, rather than the cause of the negotiations in Yemen. The detente agreement arose from discussions mediated by Iraq that began in 2021 and that reportedly also included discussion of the truce in Yemen. Oman has also played an important role over the past several years as a trusted interlocutor. The detente is therefore not primarily the result of Beijing's efforts, although China did help to seal the deal. Rather, it represents Saudi Arabia's acknowledgement that it has little to gain by continuing to fight in Yemen and Iran's acceptance of a tactical thaw while it faces unrest at home. The Beijing agreement may help push negotiations in Yemen forward, but it is not the source of these negotiations. Indeed, the 2022 truce would not have occurred without the leadership of the UN special envoy for Yemen, with the support of U.S. diplomacy. In turn, the truce opened space for a more sustained dialogue that diplomats hope will lead to comprehensive peace negotiations. What the Truce Accomplished While the truce does not represent a comprehensive peace in Yemen, its importance should not be understated. In the first two months of the cease-fire, fatalities from fighting declined sharply across the countryby about 85 percent. Neither the Houthis nor the Saudi-led coalition have launched cross-border attacks since the truce began, an important dynamic for regional deescalation. Restrictions on imports imposed by Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognized government are no longer a major driver of the country's humanitarian crisis. According to data from the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen (UNVIM), no fuel or bulk food ships have been denied clearance to enter the port at Hodeidah since at least March 2023. Delays in the coalition holding areaor transhipment in Jeddah for Aden-bound container shipsare no longer taking place. For the first time since 2016, commercial container ships carrying general goods also have begun docking at Hodeidah. Commercial flights are now flying regularly between Sana'a and Amman airports, facilitating travel, including for medical assistance and family reunification, for more than 100,000 Yemenis. While the truce does not represent a comprehensive peace in Yemen, its importance should not be understated. Share on Twitter All of this is good news for Yemen's dire humanitarian situation, but there are still substantial challenges. Civilians continue to be killed by landmines, and the economic conflict is a major contributor to humanitarian suffering. More than 4 million people remain displaced from their homes and struggle to earn an income or access basic services. But the truce has also opened space to begin addressing these issues. Last month, Saudi officials visited Sana'a for direct talks with Houthi leaders, and a prisoner exchange in April between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government of Yemen freed almost 900 detainees. It is difficult to imagine these developments occurring in the absence of the truce. The U.S. Role in the Truce In his first major foreign policy speech as president, Joe Biden announced in February 2021 that the United States would be stepping up our diplomacy to end the war in Yemen. To be sure, the U.S. approach to Yemen since then has had some inconsistencies. For example, the Biden administration announced that it would halt the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia but then allowed a $500 million deal to support Saudi attack and transport helicopters that critics said violated this commitment. Nevertheless, the administration's increased attention, along with the appointment of a new UN special envoy, helped to reinvigorate negotiations. U.S. diplomacy has played a few key roles in this process. First, the United States has acted as a biased mediator. Research on mediation in civil wars suggests that biased mediators can play a helpful role in negotiations, drawing on the unique leverage they possess over conflict parties, and may even lead to a more durable peace. The United States has been able to use its relationships with the Saudi-led coalition and the internationally recognized government of Yemen to encourage them to negotiate in good faith while supporting the kinds of credible security guarantees that will make Saudi Arabia more likely to agree to (and follow through on) a deal. The U.S. approach of using both carrots and sticksthe U.S. special envoy's shuttle diplomacy, and the withdrawal of military support from the Saudi-led coalitionhas helped keep Saudi Arabia engaged in the UN-led process. The United States, alongside the UN, has also acted as a problem solver, using shuttle diplomacy and taking advantage of its regional relationships to fix problems with implementation as they arise. Notably, the implementation stage has been a key barrier to the success of past initiatives, like the Stockholm Agreement, a previous arrangement between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government reached in December 2018. The current truce stumbled in its earliest months when the parties disagreed about passports for commercial passengers. Facing diplomatic pressure, Saudi Arabia eventually agreed that passengers could travel with Houthi-issued passports, while U.S. officials were able to work with Jordan, the destination country, to ensure that security concerns were addressed. The first commercial flight, which took off about six weeks after the truce was announced, was an important milestone, not only for humanitarian reasons but also because it represented a trust-building measure among the negotiating parties. The United States and the international community have also provided technical support to the negotiations. Technical support can range from technology to monitor a cease-fire to advice on making talks more inclusive. Such support will continue to be critical to keeping negotiations on track. U.S. diplomats should remain engaged in Yemen for the long term and across all levels of government. Share on Twitter That said, Yemen is still far from a comprehensive peace agreement. Fractionalization in the conflict has created a diverse array of conflict parties, each with their own objectives. Infighting within the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), the eight-member body that nominally leads the internationally recognized government, has inhibited negotiations. The hardening of a war economy has added layers of complexity and created incentives for fighting to continue. And the original disagreements underlying the conflict in Yemen, including the future Yemeni state, governance, and distribution of resources, are far from resolved. The Path to a Durable Peace The most important thing that international diplomats can do now is to continue what they are doing. There is a danger that the international community could decide to disengage once a deal is struck between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, but this would be a mistake. Such a deal would likely help to keep levels of violence down, but it would not end the war. Without a more comprehensive agreement, Yemen could well be set on a course of protracted conflict that will create vast ungoverned spaces. The international community cannot credibly say that the war in Yemen has ended as long as this dynamic persists. U.S. diplomats should remain engaged in Yemen for the long term and across all levels of government, from senior leaders to officials working on the ground. Reestablishing a U.S. Embassy presence in Yemen could facilitate diplomatic engagement. Patience is vital, as the past several years of halting negotiations have shown. In fact, rushing the process could leave the underlying causes of the war unaddressed, leading to a renewed cycle of violence. Diplomats should redouble their efforts to ensure civil society engagement and to make talks as inclusive as possible. A sustainable peace agreement cannot be reached without the participation of a diverse range of actors from across Yemeni society. The United States can provide peacebuilding assistance, with a focus on channeling these funds to local organizations as much as possible. It can also provide development assistance, not just for desperately needed humanitarian relief but also for reconstruction more broadly. And in addition to providing material support, the United States should take advantage of its existing relationship with the internationally recognized government to press for better governance in southern Yemen. If the Houthis and Saudi Arabia do reach an agreement, serious divisions among the conflict parties, including those who are nominally on the same side, would remain, as would the underlying causes of the conflict. Among supporters of the internationally recognized government, for example, there remain fundamental disagreements about what a future Yemeni state should look like, and even whether it should remain a unitary country. The southern parties attended a summit meeting in May hosted by the powerful Southern Transition Council (STC), whose leadership is also part of the PLC, to discuss a road map for a separate southern state, and the STC has periodically reaffirmed its commitment to full sovereignty as a strategic goal for the people of the South. If such fundamental divisions are not resolved, sub-state conflict would almost certainly continue and could eventually draw regional actors back in. Fortunately, U.S. diplomats appear to understand the need to address these underlying issues as part of a comprehensive peace process. As U.S. Special Envoy Timothy Lenderking noted in May, The recent talks in Sana'a are a critical development, but they are just one step. This agreement must pave the way for an inclusive Yemeni-Yemeni political process. An inclusive processone that includes all parts of Yemeni society, including women, civil society groups, and youthwill be critical to ending the war in Yemen. Alexandra Stark is an associate policy researcher at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. This commentary originally appeared on Lawfare on July 9, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Property details: Read Entire Auction Before Bidding Read Entire Auction Before Bidding. Read TERMS and CONDITIONS. Read Before Bid! This is a CASH SALE! Not for Payments! No Minimum! No Reserve! High Bid Wins This Auction! Delinquent Tax Sale 0.36 AC close to Indian River, MELBOURNE, Florida (see pics & county info for details) 0.36 ac Street View nearby Close to John F. Kennedy Space Center, NASA, Cape Canaveral, a lot of parks and nice sandy beaches! Space Center Cape Canaveral. Cocoa Beach Great Beaches!!... 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In order to make this opportunity, this tool also available if we run out of grant programs that we have," she said. According to the ambassador, work has already started on the next additional budget to support Ukraine. "In the United States, the financial year ends at the end of September. Until the end of September, we still have in the American budget the funds that are available to us for military, budget, humanitarian, energy assistance and reconstruction. But from October 1, we will need additional funds. It is this communication that is now key in order to convey to our colleagues that we will need more additional funds," Markarova said. Property details: .BUY LAND NOW OWN YOUR LAND!This land is perfect for Land Banking! Buy and hold for future investment. Many companies and investors purchase land at a substantial discount for their investment portfolios. Then later, use this as collateral for their business. Low Low Prices!Great Investment for new investor. 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"I was so moved that he brought me to a special place from my childhood to propose," Bensimon said. Bensimon's rep confirmed the news to Page Six. "Kelly is happily engaged and looking forward to this new beginning," the rep said. Bensimon was previously married to fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon and has two children, daughters Sea, 25, and Teddy, 23, with her ex. 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! Bensimon and Litner have been dating for about a year. Bensimon starred in Seasons 2-4 of the Bravo reality series Real Housewives of New York City. She will return to star in Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy, which will stream on Peacock. Porterville, CA (93257) Today Clear to partly cloudy. Low 72F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 72F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. U.S. authorities have arrested a California man accused of killing three women in the Mexican border city of Tijuana and crossing back and forth across the border after each of the deaths that occurred over the course of nearly a year starting in 2021 Stefanishyna: While full-scale war going on, NATO membership is out of question, but Ukraine aiming at period after it ends Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna says that while a full-scale war is going on, Ukraine's membership in NATO is out of the question, but the state is aimed at the period after it ends. "A political invitation is only the first step in a long process, but we will be able to start this process. It will give a 'moral boost' to the Ukrainians to continue the fight," Stefanishyna said in an interview with the Dutch edition of NOS on the eve of the NATO Summit in Vilnius. According to her, the summit will be successful if clear commitments are made to Ukraine. The Deputy Prime Minister said that now, while a full-scale war is going on, membership in NATO is out of the question, but the state is aimed at the period after its completion. "Then Ukraine could become a member of the Alliance, and already now it could prepare. Therefore, the desire for this NATO summit is that Ukraine be officially invited to NATO, as happened last year with Sweden and Finland," Stefanishyna said. Deutsche India, which houses the largest technology centre of German investment bank Deutsche Bank, is expanding its operations in India and hiring thousands. Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters Since January 2023, we have hired more than 2,500 people for Deutsche India and expect a positive trend to continue for the rest of 2023, Dilipkumar Khandelwal, chief executive officer of Deutsche India and Global Head of Technology Centers told 'Business Standard'. We will continue to hire in the similar range even for the next year. Deutsche India has about 16,000 employees in the country and most of them are engineers. As banks undergo digital transformation, Deutsche India is hiring people with skills in cloud migration, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning. We feel AI and machine learning will have an impact across all the different dimensions of our products and that basically means that we need to upskill and build people in that directionso you start hiring people with the skills in data science and statistics and building critical skills like AI and machine learning, said Khandelwal. The India centre is the largest within Deutsche Banks global network with other such locations in Europe and the US. It plays a key role in the German banks technology transformation through emerging technologies to deliver innovative products and services to its clients. Deutsche in India has two technology centres, one each in Bengaluru and Pune. While such centres are typically referred to as GCCs or global capability centres, Khandelwal is of the opinion that for Deutsche, these centres are much more than GCCs as they are an integral part of the parent company. The idea is to build a very large engineering workforce focused not just towards developers but people doing global roles from these locations, which is very different from a typical GCC setup. "We feel our network in India is very much an integral part of the overall Deutsche Bank setup. We have a very large engineering workforce but also a lot of senior leadership sitting here and driving the global operations, said Khandelwal. While traditionally, Deutsche bank used to outsource a lot of their technology work to IT service providers like Infosys and Wipro, it is increasingly aiming to do more of the work in-house. We would like to build the IP (intellectual property) ourselves and keep the capabilities in-house to meet the customer requirementswe will continue to work and operate with partners but that ratio is tilting more towards in-house. "We aim to reach a 70:30 model where 70 per cent of the work will be done internally, said Khandelwal. There is the problem of regions in the North East being theatre for power-play by nations with borders and influences converging in those parts, which in turn requires a sizable presence of the armed forces, notes Shyam G Menon. IMAGE: Manipuris in Chennai stage a protest, July 9, 2023, over the violence in the state, demanding peace and control over the current situation. Photograph: ANI Photo What happened in Manipur speaks much about us. For two months, the state witnessed clashes. Many were killed. Many more, displaced. The situation became so grim that healing the wounds, observers believed, will take a long time. There was talk of irreconcilable differences between the warring sides and a division of the state, as sole practical solution. Others decried this as unwise; their logic rooted in the view that the state's hills and valleys exist because of each other and not despite. Initially described as yet another case of the tribal rivalries and legacies of tribalism plaguing the North East, reports also painted the developments in hues ranging from the handiwork of select armed elements on both sides to being about land and, communal. Those alleging the last as source have cited preparations and provocations on since months before the first major incident of May 2023. The Indian media took time comprehending the actual causes for the Maitei-Kuki clashes. At the few credible media outlets, unraveling the conflict is still a work in progress. Each person interviewed has a viewpoint not necessarily agreeing in all aspects with other interviewees, pointing to what a storm one of India's smallest states, located in a strategic hotspot, managed to brew. Among points recurring in media chatter were the need for dialogue, the presence of large amounts of arms and ammunition with the opposing groups (according to interviews published in the media, this included smuggled weaponry, legacy of the state arming people as means to check insurgency and arms secured by raiding state security forces) and the need to disarm such elements. A glance through news reports from Manipur over the May-June period would also show the situation progressively getting out of hand. For instance, in early May, there were reports of Kuki women forming a human ring to protect Meiteis from a mob in Churachandpur and Meiteis protecting Kukis in Manipur University. Past mid-June there were news reports of women blocking roads and delaying intervention by the security forces. We were left scrambling to comprehend the underlying currents and behavioral patterns. Through all this, apart from some statements made and a visit to Manipur by Union Home Minister Amit A Shah, the Centre was relatively quiet. To the amazement of the Indian public, the prime minister did not visit Manipur despite the scale of violence and the human tragedy in its wake. He was instead seen doing yoga at the United Nations, seeking reforms at the UN, meeting the president of the USA, addressing a joint session of the US Congress, interacting with American business magnates and answering questions on India's democracy and its emergent track record in human rights at the White House. It was as though the smoke spiraling up from Manipur and which was visible to all, didn't matter. On June 26, the Press Trust of India reported BJP President J P Nadda telling the prime minister on his return to India from the US and Egypt that party cadres were reaching out to the people with the report card of nine years of the government and the country was happy. It smacked of an administration viewing the world through its preferred optics and trapped in a closed-loop-greatness of its making. It is a trademark of India's Right-Wing establishment and the friends it keeps (including in the Left). So, nothing surprising there although Nadda's remarks (reported remarks as PTI quoted BJP leader Manoj Tiwari) stunned against the backdrop of Manipur. IMAGE: Houses set ablaze after a clash broke out during the Tribal Solidarity March called by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur in the Torbung area of Churachandpur in Manipur, May 4, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo As July dawned, it was clear that two layers of official administration -- the state and the Centre; both in the hands of the Bhartiya Janata Party -- had failed in Manipur. The state's chief minister having his resignation letter torn up by his followers on June 30, stayed just that -- high drama. Resonant in the recent violence were flashes of earlier news reports that built our picture of Manipur from far. For long, life in Manipur has been a tightrope walk. Amidst the challenges of extremism and tribal politics, there have been extended blockades inspired by the tribal rivalries, the North East is notorious for. There is the problem of regions in the North East being theatre for power-play by nations with borders and influences converging in those parts, which in turn requires a sizable presence of the armed forces. Excessive military triggers its own set of complaints. Juxtapose the current predicament of the state with the pictures of successive prime ministers in tribal attire and one is forced to hang one's head in shame. What is the use of such symbolism if peace and coexistence can't be provided to people? In the case of the BJP, we should have anticipated May-June's response (or lack of it) to Manipur; a phase contrasted by what else the authorities found time for. Manipur wasn't the first instance of business as usual for the BJP government, against the backdrop of conflict. Months earlier, when Ukraine was invaded, India fashioned an opportunistic and pragmatic policy of contracting Russian companies to supply us oil at attractive price. It was lauded as a moment of maturity in Indian strategy and real politick although it involved a major trade in values. The swings in the oil market caused by the invasion of one country (hosting some of the oil pipelines to Europe) by another (a major oil producer and supplier to Europe) and the difficulty faced by the invader thanks to economic sanctions slapped by the West, were tapped to import Russian crude to Indian refineries (China also imported more Russian crude). Post-refining, Indian export of petroleum products to Europe and US, grew. Smart strategy? Yes. Realpolitik? Yes. Great values? Arguably not. It's a mercantile view of the world and resident in it is the willingness to weigh options and go for the one best suited for self-preservation, indifferent to a war dragging on unresolved. IMAGE: Women welcome Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in violence-hit Manipur, June 30, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Late June, even as Manipur continued a mess and the crisis in Ukraine continued unabated with a potential turning point -- the Wagner Group revolt -- snuffed out; the top leader of Russia praised the top leader of India. It was partly, one guesses, due to the recently announced defence deals with the US, featuring local manufacturing but certainly because we proved to be a durable friend of Vladimir Putin's regime amidst sanctions by the West. Perhaps it was just such a moment of limelight on the world stage that we saw in June's celebrations abroad around India and its leadership; including that spiel on democracy and human rights served to the media at the White House, followed in true new-India style by trolls censuring the journalist who posed the sensitive questions. On June 27, NBC quoted John Kirby, the spokesman of the National Security Council of the US, describing the online harassment of the journalist as completely unacceptable. IMAGE: Manipur MLA Leishangthem Susindro Meitei and Chief Minister N Biren Singh's supporters gather outside his residence in Imphal, July 1, 2023, to extend their support amid speculation of him stepping down from the post. Photograph: ANI Photo On June 6, a month and three days after the violence in Manipur commenced, the depression that would eventually graduate to Cyclone Biparjoy, formed in the Arabian Sea. Between then and its landfall in mid-June, the government evacuated thousands and ensured that no lives were lost post-landfall. By early July, the flare-up in Manipur appeared to naturally exhaust like a cyclone after landfall but not before over 100 were killed and many more, displaced. As of July beginning, the prime minister had still not visited Manipur. But soon after returning from his foreign trip, he made sure to launch another five Vande Bharat trains and also caution against political parties helmed by families. On July 1, the chief minister of Assam, often described as the BJP's point-man for matters North East, said that normalcy would be restored in Manipur in a week to ten days' time. As per PTI's report, he didn't forget to bait the Congress (Rahul Gandhi had just visited Manipur), pointing out that the Opposition party was showing its concern after a relative peace had come to the state. By then, the new Indian normal was also back in force. The drama around a minister in Tamil Nadu saw him dismissed by the governor with the move subsequently put on hold. On July 1, the Hindustan Times quoted the governor as saying, 'The Prime Minister has set a divine mandate through his appearance, understanding the essence of Bharat and the power of its people.' On July 2, in a repeat of what happened earlier with Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena, prominent leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party crossed over to join the Maharashtra government headed by Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and the BJP. The NCP appeared broken. Meanwhile, a WhatsApp group of hikers I was part of, saw a post sneak through seeking support for the BJP's latest rallying point -- the Uniform Civil Code. It stayed visible for a while and was then deleted. Shyam G Menon, is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'I told President Obama, "Mr President, do you realise that the person who is likely to become the prime minister of India in two weeks, does not have a visa, and you are talking about having great relations between India and the USA, how are you going to do it?".' 'His answer was that this is not right and that he'll have somebody from the White House and the State Department reach out to me.' IMAGE: Dr Bharat Barai with Prime Minister Narendra D Modi. All Photographs: Kind courtesy Dr Bharat Barai The doors of his home in Chicago have been open to Bharatiya Janata Party since the early 1990s. The physician couple, Dr Panna and Dr Bharat Barai, in the past have hosted L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sikander Bakht and Narendra D Modi. During his State visit to the United States last month, while speaking to United States Congressmen Ro Khanna and Shri Thanedar, Prime Minister Modi told them about his stay at Dr Barai's house in Chicago in 1993. Bursting in laughter half way through the story, the prime minister pointed to Dr Barai standing in a corner of the room, asking him to complete the story about his visit as a mere karyakarta. Dr Barai, who is instrumental in organising Indian American community and multiple diaspora events in the United States each time Modi visits the US, speaks about his long association with the karyakarta who is now the prime minister of India to Rediff.com US Contributor Abhijit Masih. Gifted with an impressive memory, he recalls the many incidents that have endeared him to the Indian leader and what keeps their relationship intact. Since when do you know Prime Minister Modi and how did this friendship begin? Thirty years ago in 1993, when it was Swami Vivekananda's anniversary speech to the parliaments of religion, he came as a BJP karyakarta. They didn't have any resources, so he stayed with us for almost 10 days. I took him around. So we know each other since then. Do you recall anything about him from the visit in 1993? In fact, when he was sitting down with Congressmen in the side room at the Ronald Reagan Center (on June 23, 2023), during the State visit, he himself told them he had nothing and was describing his own career as a karyakarta. He pointed out to me standing in the corner of the room, and told them he stayed at my house. He also narrated to them a cute story about that visit. That he had come with only a 22 inch bag when he came to Chicago. We were kind of shocked that all he has is a 22 inch suitcase. Then he had told my wife in Gujarati, "Panna ben, I know that you do the laundry every weekend, but I have only two pairs of clothes. So can you do my laundry every day?" That's how simple he was. Every morning we used to sit down and we used to have chai pe charcha 30 years ago. What was the impression you had of the simple karyakarta and did you imagine then that he would one day become the prime ,inister of India? What did impress me at that time; he would discuss a lot of things about India and about all the problems of India. But then he used to always say, we can do like this, we can do like that. So that reminded me of the famous saying, I know of the 99 problems, but I'm looking for that one solution. That was what impressed me. He was very crisp in his thoughts. Obviously, I never thought that he'll become prime minister of India someday. IMAGE: Dr Panna Barai and Dr Bharat Barai at the State dinner at the White House, June 22, 2023. How have you stayed connected through the years? I used to meet him when he was chief minister of Gujarat. There was a lot of propaganda against him about the Gujarat riots. And we used to clarify what happened. We used to keep him in touch with the diaspora. In 2005, he was supposed to come here; there was a meeting that was planned with the diaspora in New York. I was 1/10th sponsor at the time. Then suddenly, we got the news that his visa was denied. So we asked him, can you do a live telecast from India? So everybody came and he addressed it live. Then whenever I visited India, I'll stop by and make a courtesy call on him. You raised the visa issue with the US State Department. What explanation did you present to them? That this was very unfair. Riots have occurred in every part of India. There is nothing that he could have done and the provocation was so grave, burning alive 59 people, there are bound to be reactions. I would say neither act was justified. To say that the chief minister is responsible, in that way in 1993 in Maharashtra, 2,000 people were killed. But that was a Congress chief minister. Nobody asked him to resign. In the elections that followed, the BJP got elected with a lot more seats. IMAGE: Dr Barai with then US President Barack Obama, April 3, 2014. How did you help in the US granting Mr Modi a US visa? I got an opportunity to talk with President Obama. He knew me since he is from the Chicago area. He gave me a few minutes where I sat down with him in April 2014, just two weeks before general elections in India. I explained to him the strategic significance. I said, "Mr President, do you realise that the person who is likely to become the prime minister of India in two weeks, does not have a visa, and you are talking about having great relations between India and the USA, how are you going to do it?" His answer was that this is not right and that he'll have somebody from the White House and the State Department reach out to me. They arranged a meeting on May 11, 2014. I met that person and explained to him. That person is no longer at the State Department and was later appointed ambassador to India. I met the same person at the White House last Thursday (June 22, 2023). He remarked "Dr Barai, what we did that day in 2014, made this day possible." You've known Mr Modi for so long. You've met him as a simple karyakarta and as the prime minister of India. How would you describe him as a person? He was always a clean man. One thing I do is never get involved in any business talk. Because I know it will cut off my relationship nor am I interested. I'm a doctor. I have no business interest. That has helped us quite a bit. One good point is we have no conflict of interest. We don't do any business with government. We don't ask any favours from the Indian government. The good part is most Indians in the USA have very high regard for Narendra Modi. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'Ajit Pawar wants to escape from the clutches of the investigative agencies.' IMAGE: P C Chacko, left, watches Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar address the media after the NCP's national executive meeting in New Delhi, July 6, 2023. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo Will Sharad Pawar's trusted nephew Ajit Pawar and trusted shishya, Praful Patel leaving the NCP weaken the veteran leader? What will happen to the initiatives taken by Pawar to bring all the Opposition parties together to take on the BJP in the 2024 elections? P C Chacko, who has been with Sharad Pawar ever since both of them started their political journeys together, answers these questions in an interview with Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier. The concluding segment of a two-part interview: Part 1 of the Interview: 'Praful Patel was almost in tears' We have seen ruling parties using investigative agencies for their benefit. Is there any difference in the way the BJP uses them from what the Congress was doing when they were in power? To an extent, there may be some parallels. Again, I don't think it has never reached this level. All parties in power use the state machinery against the Opposition, but this kind of naked use of official machinery has never happened before. People can say it was there during Indira Gandhi's time, but it was not even one tenth of what you see today. In Tamil Nadu, they started raiding the houses of all the ministers, but (Chief Minister M K) Stalin stood strongly. We need that kind of courage. Only weaklings succumb to this kind of threat. Do you think Ajit Pawar leaving the party has weakened Sharad Pawar and his image as the leader who can be a rallying point to keep the opposition together to fight the 2024 elections? If I say no, it may be a little exaggeration. Whoever leaving a party, especially a leader like Ajit Pawar who is definitely the number two figure in Maharashtra, will have an impact on the party. But you also must understand that his image as a mass leader is care of Sharad Pawar. He is a clever politician, and he wants to escape from the clutches of the investigative agencies. So, he has been putting pressure on Sharad Pawar to join hands with the BJP saying 2024 also will see the BJP winning. But Pawar said he had taken a political position and he would not compromise with a communal party as his image was that of a secular leader. Yes, Ajit Pawar leaving the NCP has weakened the NCP in Maharashtra to an extent. But that is compensated by the kind of support and respect Sharad Pawar commands even today. When he was betrayed by his own nephew, it became a favourable factor for Sharad Pawar. IMAGE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, right, with Nationalist Congress Party's Maharashtra chief Sunil Tatkare, left, and party leader Praful Patel, centre, at a meeting of his NCP faction in Mumbai, July 5, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Will people forgive Ajit Pawar for betraying his uncle? What Ajit Pawar did will be considered by the people as stabbing from the back. That has come as an advantage for Sharad Pawar. Another thing is, Modi's campaign was that the NCP was a corrupt party. Now, all the corrupt people who were chargesheeted by the agencies went to the other side, en bloc. Pawar said very clearly you have been calling us a corrupt party, but you have taken all the corrupt elements. So, this time people will see a new Pawar; Pawar as a martyr. And the corrupt image of the party is gone. In a way, it is a blessing in disguise for the NCP and Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra. IMAGE: P C Chacko, left, speaks to Sharad Pawar and NCP Working President Supriya Sule. Photograph: ANI Photo Rahul Gandhi visited him after your national meeting in Delhi. What can you read from the visit? That Sharad Pawar is still an influential leader in Maharashtra. It shows the importance all political parties including the Congress is giving to Pawar. The Congress people in Maharashtra conveyed the message to Rahul Gandhi that Ajit Pawar leaving the party will only indirectly benefit the alliance. The Congress understands that the NCP-Congress alliance under Sharad Pawar and also Udhav Thakeray only can win in Maharashtra. Rahul Gandhi and Other opposition parties know that Sharad Pawar did not go with Modi and Shah and has taken a principled stand. Now, he can play a better role, with more conviction. Do you think Rahul Gandhi has changed now? Oh yes. Otherwise, he would not have come to see Pawar. If Rahul had taken the same interest in 2019, Modi would not have come to power. I had told Rahul Gandhi then that I did not agree with the party's tactics, and then I resigned. IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi meets Sharad Pawar at his residence in New Delhi, July 6, 2023. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo What do you see in 2024? It all depends on whether we are able to cobble up a coalition of at least 90% of the opposing parties. Then I am sure the BJP will be defeated. The Congress will emerge with 125-135 seats and with all the other parties, we can manage the magic figure of 250 or 260 or 270. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Rain in Haryana and Punjab abated after three days of onslaught even as several parts still remained flooded and the death toll due to rain-related incident mounted to 15. IMAGE: The State Disaster Response Force personnel move people, who were trapped in their houses, to safer places during a rescue operation as the water level of a river rises following incessant rainfall, at Nasirpur village in Jalandhar, July 11, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Six more people were reported dead on Tuesday due to rain-related incidents, with the overall death toll in the last three days rising to 15. Eight deaths were reported from Punjab, while seven people lost their lives in Haryana. The days-long rain has left behind a trail of destruction in its wake with properties worth crores obliterated and farmlands flooded. In Punjab, more than 9,000 people were evacuated in Patiala, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Mohali, SBS Nagar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts, officials said on Tuesday. The weather remained clear at most places on Tuesday in the region, bringing much succour to the people who were busy salvaging whatever was left from the wreckage. The incessant downpour inundated homes and caused extensive damage to crops and vegetables in many districts. Ambala, Patiala, and Rupnagar, the worst-hit of the lot, remained water-logged. Government officials said relief shelters have been set up in several districts, including Rupnagar, Patiala, Mohali, Ambala, and Panchkula in the two states. The eight from Punjab were reported from Fatehgarh Sahib, Rupnagar, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, and Mohali districts. Among them was a 17-year-old boy from Bihar who died in Fatehgarh Sahib district. Another man, a resident of Mandi (HP) died in a rain-related incident in Rupnagar district. One of those reported dead on Tuesday was a 75-year-old man, who died after the roof of his mud house in Badowal village caved in during heavy rain on Saturday night, said an official. A 19-year-old engineering student who had drowned in Rajpura on Sunday was another casualty that came to light on Tuesday. Harish, who hailed from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, had been enrolled in a BTech computer sciences course at a private university for the past two years. According to police, Harish drowned in his university premises which was flooded with water. In another incident in Punjab, a youth was feared drowned Monday in Chitti rivulet, a tributary of the Sutlej River, near Shahkot, while preventing his motorcycle from getting washed away. Another 16-year-old was feared drowned on Tuesday in the Budha Dariya near Machiwara -- 35 km from Ludhiana, the police said. The Chief ministers of the two states are closely monitoring the situation, officials said. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Tuesday directed administrative secretaries in charge of flood-affected districts to rush to the areas assigned to them and oversee the relief work. Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma held a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review the rain damage and orchestrate relief work in the affected areas. The meeting was attended by, among others, special chief secretary to the Chief Minister A Venu Prasad, DGP Gaurav Yadav, and several representatives of the Army and NDRF. Verma said protecting people's lives was the top priority of the Punjab government. Punjab has constituted Rapid Response Teams and appointed nodal officers to supervise ongoing flood relief operations. Permanent medical camps have been established at areas highly affected by floods. The Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd chairman in the meeting assured the government that the power supply in the affected areas will be immediately restored, an official statement said. Officials of the water resources department said the water level in Bhakra Dam was 1624.14 feet, while its capacity is 1,680 feet. The water level in Pong Dam was 1,360.04 feet, against its capacity of 1,390 feet, while the water level in Ranjit Sagar Dam was 1712.64 feet, against its capacity of 1731.99 feet, the statement said. The meeting chaired by Punjab chief secretary, meanwhile, was informed that the two breaches found in Dhusi Bund on the Sutlej River had been plugged, it said. Five NDRF teams have been deployed in Rupnagar district, three in SAS Nagar (Mohali district), two in Patiala and one each in Jalandhar, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar to lead rescue operations, the statement said. Since the level of the Yamuna River at Haryana's Hathini Kund Barrage was rising constantly, people in adjacent low-lying areas have been asked to stay away from the riverbank, the officials said. At 9 am Tuesday, around 3.21 lakh cusecs of water was discharged from the barrage, the highest quantity this year from the place, officials said. Several villages in Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, and Sonepat districts, and those adjoining the Yamuna River have been put on alert. People in the two states extended a helping to each other rescuing the stranded and bringing them food, water bottles, and medicines. "It is our duty as citizens to do our bit in this crisis," said Deepak Madan from Ambala city as he distributed food packets and clothes in the Manmohan Nagar colony. In the Rupnagar district of Punjab, among the worst-hit, several people joined hands with the administration to help others. "It is the indomitable spirit of Punjabis to rise to the occasion whenever they are faced with a crisis," said Parminder Singh, who was reaching out to affected people in the district. According to officials, Punjab Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar has been stationed in Patti constituency for the last two days to oversee the relief work. On Tuesday, when flood water entered a Gurdwara in Gudaike village of Tarn Taran, Bhullar reached there and carried Sri Guru Granth Sahib on his head and brought the 'Shabad Guru' to safety. Haryana's home minister Anil Vij on Tuesday visited some of the affected residential colonies close to the Tangri River in Ambala Cantonment. He directed the local administration to make every possible arrangement for the people in flood-affected areas. The Haryana government said it had on Monday shifted 730 girl students of Chaman Vatika, a residential school in Ambala City, to another facility in Kurukshetra after floodwater entered their hostel complex following a beach in the Ghaggar river. Power and water supplies broke down in some of the worst-affected areas of Punjab and Haryana as authorities struggled to bring back things to normalcy. Traffic movement on some of the key highways was gravely impacted with officials saying water had come onto roads through agricultural fields. After being temporarily closed on Monday, on Tuesday afternoon, the traffic for heavy vehicles and SUVs was restored on Chandigarh-Ambala NH via Derabassi, the Ambala police said. It advised light vehicles to use the Ambala-Baldev Nagar underpass and take the Panjokhra Sahib-Barwala-Panchkula. All sorts of vehicular movement disrupted earlier on the NH-44 GT Road through Ambala was started on Tuesday. However, the Ambala-Kaithal-Hisar Highway was still closed for vehicular movement due to being waterlogged, they said. According to officials, Dhussi Bund near Mandala in the Shahkot area breached the danger mark. Water from a swollen Sutlej has flooded two dozen villages in Kapurthala and Jalandhar districts. Paddy crops sown over more than 20,000 acres of land have been submerged in 3-4 feet of flood water, officials said. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday visited Punjab's flood-hit areas of Banga, Balachaur, and Anandpur Sahib and demanded the AAP government to announce a relief package for people affected by the deluge. Glimpses of havoc caused by flooding in Kullu, Patiala and Chandigarh due to incessant rain on Monday, July 10, 2023. Kullu IMAGE: The water level of the Beas river rises as it crosses the danger mark following heavy rainfall in Kullu. All photographs: ANI Photo IMAGE: Buildings get partially submerged in the swollen Beas river. IMAGE: A truck is carried away by the overflowing Beas river. IMAGE: The Bhuntar Valley bridge is completely damaged. IMAGE: The Beas river swept away everything in its way. IMAGE: Local residents stand on the banks of the swollen Beas river. *** Meanwhile, army personnel are on a rescue mission in Patiala and Chandigarh IMAGE: Rescue teams shift flood-affected people to a safer place. IMAGE: Army personnel evacuate an elderly lady after river water entered her home. IMAGE: Army personnel rescue residents in a boat from flooded Gopal Colony. IMAGE: People watch as army personnel evacuate local residents. IMAGE: Vehicles partially submerged in rainwater in a severely waterlogged area in Chandigarh. IMAGE: Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha distributes rations to people during his visit to flood-affected areas in Punjab. IMAGE: AAP MP Sushil Rinku and Jalandhar's Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal along with a National Disaster Response Force team move Phillaur residents stuck in their houses due to waterlogging to a safer location. IMAGE: A woman drains out the rainwater from the compound of her house in Patiala. Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya, who was vocal about allegations of corruption against many Nationalist Congress Party leaders, including the recently inducted ministers Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare and Hasan Mushrif, on Tuesday refrained from commenting against them. IMAGE: Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya at the Enforcement Directorate office in Mumbai to submit a plaint against NCP leaders, December 23, 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo Asked about the new NCP ministers, Somaiya said it would not be appropriate for him to make any comments on these people as matters related to them are in court. For over two years, the BJP leader and former member of Parliament had been holding press conferences levelling charges against these political figures. apart from making frequent visits to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Mumbai to file complaints and documents. Asked how he perceives the new political alignment in Maharashtra where the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP has joined hands with the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Somaiya said, There are cases pending before the court against these people. It won't be appropriate for me to make any comment at present. Ajit Pawar and eight of his colleagues joined the Eknath Shinde government on July 2. While Pawar was made deputy chief minister, the others were sworn in as ministers. Many of the NCP ministers have been accused of corruption and cases had been registered against them by central probe agencies. I did my duty and I am a disciplined party worker, Somaiya added. Godrej Aerospace is a tier-1 manufacturer of precision and hi-tech aerospace components, assemblies, and systems, executing global projects that serve the defence, space, and aviation sectors. It is in talks to build aircraft parts for suppliers to Airbus and Boeing. It will also pitch to manufacture modules of GE 414 engines that will power the next generation of Indian fighter jets. Under a deal announced during Prime Minister Narendra D Modi's State visit to the US last month, the engines will be made jointly by GE and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It is also planning to invest Rs 250 crore/Rs 2.5 billion ($30 million) to build a new facility in Khalapur near Mumbai for manufacturing, assembling integration facilities. IMAGE: Godrej & Boyce employees work on components for ISRO to support India's space exploration programmes, here and below. All photographs: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters IMAGE: A Godrej & Boyce employee operates a robotic arm as he works on a gas generator assembly. IMAGE: Privately held Godrej, which began as a manufacturer of locks and safes in the early 20th century, has diversified into many areas of corporate endeavour, with Godrej Aerospace being among the latest. Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com A first-of-its-kind celebration to mark the 76th year of India's Independence was hosted at the UK Parliament complex with cross-party support and the backing of the India (Trade and Investment) All Party Parliamentary Group. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Marko Djurica/Reuters British Indian think tank 1928 Institute organised a special roundtable entitled India and the Indo-Pacific' bringing together the High Commissioners of India, Bangladesh, Australia, Canada, Nepal, among others, ahead of the reception in the River Room of the House of Lords on Monday evening. The keynote address was delivered by Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer, who reiterated the Labour Party's commitment to fostering closer India-UK ties. It does feel particularly special that I think this is the first time an event like this has taken place in Parliament, said Starmer. It's absolutely incredible to be here and to be making this milestone, and may there be many, many more as we go forward. India, of course, won its independence under the [Prime Minister Clement] Attlee government a good Labour government post war. Under my leadership, Labour will continue to build on the internationalist principles that underpinned that really important decision back then and work with India on the global stage, he said. The Labour leader reiterated a recent commitment he made during UK-India Week last month of leading a changed party that values the contributions of the Indian diaspora, stressing that a future labour government will stand up for the rights of British Indians and also pledged action against all forms of anti-India racism. From fighting pandemics to rebuilding and fighting climate change to fighting terrorism, the UK and India stand together, have worked together on those projects...The nature of the UK-India relationship that we would seek will be based on these principles: open-handed, respectful, forward-looking and aspirational, he added. Baroness Sandy Verma, President of the India (Trade and Investment) APPG, highlighted the significance of the event as a celebration of what has been achieved in the bilateral relationship since India's Independence. It is so crucial to have an APPG on India focused on trade and investment. The Indian government hosted us in April, when we had the first parliamentary delegation from the UK to India in six years...it should not have taken so long, we should be doing one every single year, said Lord Karan Bilimoria, co-chair of the APPG, who pointed to the lack of a major British trade delegation to India since Theresa May was the Prime Minister in November 2016 and called for one under the leadership of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Ministers from the Sunak-led government present at the event included Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston and Foreign Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan. The Indian high commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, spoke of the extraordinary opportunity presented by the India-UK partnership, which has everything going for it. "We essentially need to look at it as a forward-looking partnership. We often make the mistake, and I think it's a common feeling in both our cultures, of trying to navigate the way forward by looking back. It is a spectacularly good recipe for landing on one's face, the High Commissioner said. Doraiswami underscored the key pillars of building a strong bilateral partnership and pointed to the Indian diaspora as a model community in the UK as one such pillar that binds the countries together. Your success has been a source of pride to both countries, but it's also been an inspiration for what can be done through hard work, through family values, through the enabling environment of a system that has essentially allowed you to give your best. That has come not through ease, but through hard work, he said, addressing the strong diaspora gathering including Dr Jason Wouhra of Lioncroft wholesale business. The 1928 Institute, an Oxford University spin-out platform created to research and reflect the views of British Indians as the UK's largest ethnic minority group, said the event was an effort to commemorate the sacrifice of the generation of Indians who fought in the struggle for Indian independence. While this week marked the first celebration of its kind in the UK Parliament complex ahead of Independence Day on August 15, it is expected to become an annual event in the parliamentary calendar. The managing director and chief executive officer of a private firm were allegedly killed in a terrifying double murder in broad daylight by a former employee on Tuesday, the police said. IMAGE: The Aironics Media Pvt Ltd office in Bengaluru, where the twin murders took place on July 11, 2023. Photograph: ANI on Twitter The police identified the deceased as Phanindra Subramanya and Vinu Kumar, who were MD and CEO of Aironics Media Private Limited respectively. The incident occurred at Pampa Extension, Amrithahalli in Bengaluru. According to the police, the accused named Felix is said to be a former employee of Aironics and is now on the run. The accused barged into the Aironics office and attacked the MD and CEO with a "sharp object", said DCP Northeast Laxmi Prasad. Both persons died on the way to the hospital. Felix previously worked at Aironics but quit to form his own company, which is said to be a rival business. Norway has decided to increase military support to Ukraine this year by NOK 2.5 billion ($249 million) to NOK 10 billion ($950 million) as part of the previously adopted Nansen program on military and civilian support for Ukraine in the amount of NOK 15 billion annually, the Norwegian government said on its website on Tuesday. "Ukraine is now in dire need of additional military support and materials. Therefore, Norway is increasing military support to Ukraine by NOK 2.5 billion to NOK 10 billion in 2023," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said at a press conference on opening of the summit NATO in Vilnius. In addition to this, Norway has also decided to increase the contribution to the NATO support fund for Ukraine to NOK 300 million ($29 million) annually. "Norway is increasing its contribution to the NATO support fund for Ukraine. Norway will provide NOK 300 million in 2023 and will contribute a total of NOK 1.5 billion over five years. This is a clear signal of Ukraine's long-term support for reforms, which is still will connect Ukraine more with the Alliance," the Norwegian government's head said. Stre also spoke about the decision to increase Norway's investment in its own defense to at least 2% of GDP. The summit will also decide on the establishment of a NATO center for critical submarine infrastructure. "The war in Ukraine has shown once again that the protection of critical infrastructure is of great importance for security policy. As the largest supplier of gas to Europe, Norway has a special responsibility for the protection of underwater infrastructure... Now NATO is establishing a separate center for the protection of critical underwater infrastructure," the prime minister said. According to Stre, the Vilnius Summit "will be the most important NATO summit of our time." "Among other things, we will undertake a historic increase in NATO's collective defense capability with regional defense plans that have been updated for the first time since the Cold War," he said. The prime minister said the decisions of the summit will be important both for the entire Alliance and for the security of Norway, and there are at least four reasons why this summit is of decisive importance for the Norwegian state. "Firstly, it will strengthen NATO's ability to fulfill its key task, namely the protection of member states in times of crisis and war. Secondly, an increase in defense contributions means a clear increase in its own readiness, security and defense capability. Thirdly, at the summit a decision will be made to create a separate center for the protection of underwater infrastructure, which is of fundamental importance for Norway. And, fourthly, the membership of Finland, and now Sweden, means a stronger Northern Europe in NATO," Stre said. Asserting that terrorism is not linked to any religion, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday said it is no coincidence that despite there being around 200 million Muslims, the involvement of Indian citizens in global terrorism has been "incredibly low". IMAGE: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval being felicitated by Muslim World League secretary general Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa during an event at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, July 11, 2023. Photographs: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo Noting that India has been a melting pot of cultures and religions that have co-existed in harmony for centuries, he also said Islam occupies a unique and significant "position of pride" among the religious groups in the country. Doval was speaking at an event here organised by the Khusro Foundation and the India Islamic Cultural Centre in honour of Muslim World League (MWL) Secretary-General Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who is on an India visit. On his part, Al-Issa said Muslims in India are proud of their nationality and the Indian Constitution. Doval also hailed Al-Issa as an authentic global voice of moderate Islam and a profound scholar with a deep understanding of Islam. He also said India as the world's largest democracy and the mother of democracies is a land of incredible diversity. "In your (Al-Issas) talk you elaborately mentioned diversity as a fundamental trait of our existence. It (India) has been a melting pot of cultures, religions, languages and ethnicities that have co-existed in harmony for centuries. As an inclusive democracy, India has successfully managed to provide space for all its citizens regardless of their religious, ethnic and cultural identities," he said. "Among its numerous religious groups, Islam occupies a unique and significant position of pride with India being home to the second largest Muslim population in the world," he said. To give an idea of the scale we are talking about, India's Muslim population is almost equal to the combined population of over 33 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Doval added. He asserted that India continues to play its role as a refuge to heterodox ideas with an infinite capacity to absorb dissent. "Dissent does not mean disintegration, dissent does not essentially mean a confrontation. But in this country, because of your thought, because of your ideas, no one is under threat," he said. Doval stressed that as a proud civilisational state, India believes in promoting tolerance, dialogue and cooperation to deal with the challenges of our time. "It is no coincidence that despite having around 200 million Muslims, the involvement of Indian citizens in global terrorism has been incredibly low," he said. "Yet the challenge of extremism and global terrorism compels us not to lower our guard to preserve the security and stability of our borders and also rise to the security challenges beyond," he said. Doval asserted that India has been leading the fight against individuals and organisations who are promoting extremism, narcotics and terrorism. He also recalled the attack on the Grand Mosque in Mecca in 1979 to underscore the need for countering terrorism. Noting that India has also been a victim of terrorism for many decades and has faced numerous terror attacks including the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Doval said India has actively been working to combat terrorism through various means. This includes strengthening its security apparatus, enacting new laws and cooperating with other countries to prevent terror activities, he added. "However in this war against terror, even in the face of grave provocation India has upheld steadfastly the rule of law, rights of its citizens and protection of human values and human rights," he said. India is an "extremely responsible power" but when the need for hot pursuit against terrorist havens was felt it has gone all out to destroy terrorism in the national interest, the national security advisor said. Noting that Al-Issa has in the past rejected any attempt to associate terrorism with any nationality, civilisation or religion, Doval said this is the absolutely right approach. "Terrorism is not linked to any religion, it is the individuals that get misguided and it is probably the duty of spiritual and religious leaders to see that they can belong to any religion, faith, belief system or political ideology, but anyone who takes the path of violence will have to be countered as effectively," he said. IMAGE: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval addresses an event at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, July 11, 2023. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'not an era of war' assertion, Doval said in today's world, with complex geopolitical challenges confronting us, religion has to become a beckoning light for humanity to usher in an era of peace and harmony. "Our differences will have to take a backseat," he said and added that future battles for the good of humanity will have to be fought against hunger, poverty and ignorance. Hailing the "excellent" relations between India and Saudi Arabia, Doval said the ties were rooted in shared cultural heritage, common values and economic ties. Our leaders share a common vision for the future and have been closely interacting with each other, the national security advisor said. In his remarks, Doval also noted that Islam arrived in India in the 7th century during the life of Prophet Mohammed and gradually found a new home in this sub-continent. Doval credited the spiritual content of Hinduism and Islam in bringing people together and helping in developing a social and intellectual understanding of each other. It gave rise to a vibrant expression of peace and harmony, notwithstanding the vagaries of political ups and downs, he said. While historians have focussed more on political events, they have failed to capture this underlying spirit of accommodation, tolerance and respect. The Quran emphasises the importance of unity and understanding among people from diverse backgrounds, he said. The philosophy of cooperation and dialogue in Islam has over centuries merged seamlessly with the ancient Hindu civilisational 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' -- the world is one family, he said. Doval stressed that the edifice of modern India is built on equal rights and opportunities for all its citizens. "Equality is guaranteed by our Constitution and law. This is also part of our thinking," he said. Al-Issa is in New Delhi at the official invitation from the Indian government. MWL is an international NGO headquartered in Mecca, with members from all Islamic countries and sects. It aims to present Islam and its tolerant principles, provide humanitarian aid, extend bridges of dialogue and cooperation with all, engage in positive openness to all cultures and civilizations, follow the path of centrism and moderation and ward off movements calling for extremism, violence and exclusion. Secularism is in the blood of Indian people, former vice president Venkaiah Naidu has said, asserting that minorities are more safe and secure in India than in many countries including in the United States. IMAGE: Former vice president Venkaiah Naidu addresses Indian Americans in Washington DC. Photograph: @MVenkaiahNaidu/Twitter Naidu, 74, addressed a gathering of Indian Americans at a reception hosted in his honour by the National Council of Asian Indian Associations in the Greater Washington DC area on Monday. All propaganda is going on (against India). Certain sections of the Western media also. They joined this propaganda about India, about the security and safety of minorities. I want to tell those people that minorities are more safe and secure in India than here, he said. You see what's happening in India and what's happening in other countries. But, you know, discrimination is going on, he said. Naidu has been in the US for the last few days. Over the weekend, he addressed a gathering of Indian American doctors in Philadelphia. He said India respects its minorities. Those who wanted to go to Pakistan have already left (the country). Those who wanted to stay here, are here in India... secularism is there in India because it's in the blood of Indian people, he said. In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Naidu warned the neighbouring country against interfering in the internal affairs of India and said Kashmir is an integral part of India. In his keynote address to the 41st annual American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) over the weekend, Naidu stressed the importance of changes in lifestyle for healthy living. He urged AAPI members to give back to their native place and highlighted the importance of taking care of one's motherland. AAPI's programmes are more centered around addressing the issues related to the stigma of mental illness and the importance of the practices such as meditation, and yoga, which is a connectivity between the body and the mind, he said. At the reception hosted by the National Council of Asian Indian Associations, Sikhs of America felicitated Naidu for working towards the welfare of Sikhs in India. The Delhi high court dismissed on Tuesday the bail plea of Leena Paulose, the wife of alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar, in a Rs 200 crore extortion case, saying the probe has revealed that the couple acted in tandem in running the organised crime syndicate and used the proceeds of crime for promoting their business and other interests. IMAGE: Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi police arrest partner of Sukesh Chandrashekhar Leena (third from left) in connection with duping the wife of former Ranbaxy promoter Shivinder Singh's wife Aditi Singh, in New Delhi, September 6, 2021. Photograph: ANI Photo The high court said the investigation has shown the crime proceeds were used for air travel and purchase of high-end branded gifts for Bollywood celebrities. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said the probe has revealed that a substantial part of the proceeds of crime was also used by Chandrashekar to bribe officials of Rohini jail to secure favours like single use of barrack, uninterrupted use of mobile phones and electronic gadgets to run the organised crime syndicate. Besides Paulose, the high court also rejected the bail pleas of lawyer B Mohan Raj and Kamlesh Kothari, a high-end car dealer in Chennai, and upheld a trial court's order denying them the relief. It said Raj played an important role in running the syndicate led by Chandrashekar and the probe had shown that Kothari helped the couple purchase luxury cars with the extorted funds. The bail plea was opposed by the counsel appearing for the Delhi police who had said it was a serious case where Chandrashekar has been accused of making calls from jail by impersonating dignitaries and that there was a clear-cut conspiracy between Paulose and her husband. The Delhi police had registered an FIR against Chandrashekar for allegedly duping the wives of former promoters of Ranbaxy, Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh, of Rs 200 crore. There are several other ongoing investigations against him across the country. Chandrasekhar and Paulose, who are also facing proceedings in a money laundering case registered by the ED, were arrested by Delhi Police in the extortion case involving the wives of the two Singh brothers, along with others. The police also invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in the case. The Delhi police had alleged that Paulose and Chandrashekar along with others used hawala routes and created shell companies to park the money earned as proceeds of crime. The high court said it is not able to persuade itself on the basis of the material on record that the petitioners are not guilty of crime. Thus, this court is if the considered opinion that the case is of a very sensitive nature and prima facie petitioners are involved in offences of MCOCA and the finding cannot be recorded at this stage that the petitioners are not guilty of such offence and they are not likely to commit any offence while on bail. "This court also does not find any illegality or infirmity in the order of the trial court. Hence, the bail applications of Leena Paulose, B Mohan Raj and Kamlesh Kothari are rejected, it said. The high court said the investigation revealed that Paulose was involved in running an organised crime syndicate since 2013 for pecuniary gain by cheating and extortion, and she along with her husband was accused in four criminal cases. Investigation has also revealed that accused Chandrashekar and Paulose were constantly in touch with each other and acted in tandem for furtherance of the organised crime syndicate by using the proceed of crime for promoting their business and other interests orchestrated for the purpose of the converting/ laundering their proceed of crime, it said in a 59-page judgement passed while deciding the bail pleas of the three accused. Citing the investigation, the court said Rs 217 crore received through extortion was used by the couple for creation of wealth and to establish business concerns. The funds were also distributed amongst the members of the crime syndicate for carrying out assignments on the orders of the couple. The high court said the ED seized 23 high end luxury cars from her house in Chennai in 2021 and it was revealed that she made the payment for the Silent Calling App' which was being used by Chandrashekar on his mobile phone to commit crime while he was in Jail. It noted that the statements of various persons recorded by ED, including Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi, revealed the active role of Paulose in the crime. Paulose sought bail claiming she complied with many demands and suggestions of her husband in good faith and as a dutiful wife without understanding the consequences. However, the court said it was unbelievable that such a huge amount of money was coming into her account and she was accepting it only as a dutiful wife. It does not appeal to the reason that the high end cars were being purchased, the flights were being taken on charter without having any knowledge about free flow of money. It is beyond comprehension that a lady who is well educated will not know the source of money. "The other grounds taken by the petitioner (Paulose) relating to her fundamental rights and right to be mother are liable to be rejected as she does not fulfil the twin conditions as laid under the MCOCA. It is also pertinent to note that her husband is also in custody," the high court said. The high court rejected the contention of the three accused that there are no allegations which would link them to the foundational allegation of extortion and therefore there is no prima facie case to invoke the provisions of MCOCA against them. It said the allegations levelled by the probe agency were that these accused were channelising the ill-gotten money received through foundational crime of extortion. Their role is in fact facilitating the continuing commission of the crime by or on behalf of the syndicate. The provisions of MCOCA can be attributed to an individual if his role amounts to any assistance to organised crime or organised crime syndicate or to a person involved in either of them, it said. The court said it is a settled proposition that it is not necessary that each member of the syndicate should have a similar role, and the individual members can have different roles in the commission of crime. Paulose had sought bail submitting that most of the offences for which she has been booked by the Delhi police are bailable and claimed that she has no direct connection with the crimes committed by her husband Sukesh Chandrashekar. '...that he was in talks with the SS-UBT and would return if his ministry was snatched away and given to one of the NCP ministers.' IMAGE: Eknath Shinde with rebel Shiv Sena MLAs at the Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati. Photograph: ANI Photo If Eknath Shinde's rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray and his elevation later as Maharashtra's chief minister riding piggyback on the Bharatiya Janata Party's shoulders jolted the state's politics, the aftershocks from the same earthquake -- after full 13 months -- are likely to unravel Shinde's rebellion in the weeks ahead. Not as big an earthquake that Shinde's rebellion in June 2022 brought in, but a rebellion of a similar nature could easily be brewing in Eknath Shinde and his newly acquired Shiv Sena. The latest developments in the Shinde camp hint at widespread resentment among some of the 39 MLAs -- along with a couple of independent lawmakers -- who made Shinde's ascension to Maharashtra's throne possible in the first place. If some MLAs belonging to the Shiv Sena are to be believed, then Eknath Shinde is likely to get a taste of the same medicine that he administered to Thackeray. Some Shiv Sena MLAs, it is learnt, are openly threatening him that they will walk over to the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray camp. IMAGE: Eknath Shinde with rebel Sena MLAs in Guwahat. Photograph: PTI Photo The first hint of such a rebellion was dropped by some MLAs -- who have been nourishing dreams of becoming ministers since Shinde was sworn in on June 30, 2022 -- and also some incumbent ministers -- who fear their berths could be pawned with some of the eight NCP ministers (which excludes Ajit Pawar) who were sworn in on July 2, 2023 and who are waiting in the wings to be allotted ministries. These MLAs confronted Shinde at a late night meeting he called at Varsha, his official residence, on July 4, cutting short his Nagpur visit to welcome President Droupadi Murmu, to quell the disquiet caused by Ajit Pawar's induction into the government among his band of loyalists. "One minister threatened Shinde saheb that he was in talks with the SS-UBT and would most certainly return if his ministry was snatched away and given to one of the NCP ministers," reveals another minister who was part of the midnight meeting that lasted for more than 90 minutes. "One other minister almost came to raining blows upon this minister for threatening Shinde saheb so blatantly; it was indeed a very sad picture as nobody expected him to be so rude and direct," adds the minister narrating the incident. IMAGE: Maharashtra's then minister of higher and technical education Uday Samant arrives in Guwahati to join the Eknath Shinde camp. Photograph: ANI According to a Shiv Sena MLA, Ministers Abdul Sattar, Gulabrao Patil and Sandeepan Bhumre, along with party Chief Whip Bharatsheth Gogawale and MLAs Sanjay Rathod and Sanjay Shirsat are weighing their options to join the SS-UBT if they are sidelined in the forthcoming ministerial expansion before the Maharashtra assembly's monsoon session begins on July 17. "Shinde saheb assured all the disgruntled MLAs that their interests would be taken care of even as he and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis embark on a challenging rope trick to balance the interests of the NCP with that of the Shiv Sena," the MLA adds. "Konala thauk Shinde sahebanni konala kaay ladu dilela tevha (Nobody knows what promises Eknath Shinde had offered to the 39 MLAs who quit the Shiv Sena with him for winning their support to succeed in his June 2022 rebellion against Thackeray)," is how the MLA describes the impending rebellion against Shinde if some ministers are sidelined and aspiring MLAs don't find their names in the next ministerial expansion. "Motha bhukamp jhalyawar ashe chhote-chhote jhatke yetach rahtat (a big earthquake is often followed by mild aftershocks)," he adds. Shiv Sena MLAs Bharatsheth Gogawale and Sanjay Shirsat and independent legislator Bachchu Kadu have publicly stated that given their experience and stature they are hopeful of becoming ministers in the forthcoming expansion. The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned to July 17 the hearing of a batch of pleas challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the gang-rape case of Bilkis Bano and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra Gujarat riots. IMAGE: People convicted for rape and murder in the Bilkis Bano case of the 2002 post-Godhra riots, being welcomed as they come out of the Godhra sub-jail after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy, in Godhra. Photograph: PTI Photo A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Prashant Kumar Mishra noted, in accordance with its May 9 order, notices have been published in local newspapers, including those in Gujarati and English, against the convicts who could not be served (the notice). The apex court then posted the matter for hearing on July 17 due to paucity of time. The top court had earlier ordered publication of notices in local newspapers against the convicts who could not be served notices, including the one whose house the local police found locked and his phone switched off. The Centre and the Gujarat government had told the court they are not claiming any privilege and not filing any plea for a review of the court's March 27 order, asking for production of the original records with regard to the remission granted to the convicts. The Gujarat government had raised preliminary objections to the petitions filed in the matter other than the one by Bilkis Bano, saying it will have wide ramifications as every now and then third parties will approach courts in criminal cases. On April 18, the top court had questioned the Gujarat government over the remission granted to the 11 convicts, saying the gravity of the offence should have been considered, and wondered if there was any application of mind. Asking for the reasons for the premature release of the convicts, the top court had also questioned the frequent parole granted to them during their incarceration. "It (remission) is a kind of grace, which should be proportional to the crime," it had said. The Centre and the Gujarat government had then told the court that they might file a plea seeking a review of its March 27 order, asking them to be ready with the original files on the grant of remission. The apex court had on March 27 termed Bilkis Bano's gang-rape and the murder of her family members during the riots a "horrendous" act, and asked the Gujarat government whether uniform standards, as followed in other murder cases, were applied while granting remission to the convicts. It had sought the responses of the Centre, the Gujarat government and others on the plea filed by Bilkis Bano, who has challenged the remission. All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and they walked free on August 15, 2022. PILs were filed by Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul, former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra against the release of the convicts. Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident in which 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya were killed in an act of arson. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots. A gang of three allegedly hijacked and fled with a truck laden with tomatoes, whose prices have shot up to more than Rs 100 a kg, under the garb of a road rage at Chikkajala near Bengaluru, according to police. Photograph: Reuters The police have registered a case following the incident and efforts are on to nab the culprits. Farmer Mallesh from Hiriyur in Chitradurga district, was transporting a load of tomatoes to Kolar on Saturday, and the truck accidentally bumped into and broke the mirror of the car in which the accused were travelling. Following this, the accused abused the farmer and his driver and demanded a huge amount of money as compensation. Both of them did not have the money and tried to negotiate with the accused, police said. The accused then allegedly took control of the truck forcefully and started driving it demanding money. However, subsequently on realising that the farmer and driver did not have money, the accused pushed them out of the vehicle and sped away with the truck containing tomatoes totalling about 2.5 tonnes, worth between Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh. Last week, a farmer from Belur in Hassan district complained that tomatoes worth over Rs 2.7 lakh were stolen. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Zelenskyy concerned about discussion in Vilnius of wording on invitation of Ukraine to NATO without time frame President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concern that wordings are being discussed in Vilnius not on membership, but at the invitation of Ukraine, without a time frame. "Ukraine will be represented in Vilnius at the NATO summit, because it's respect. But Ukraine also deserves respect. Now, on the way to Vilnius, we have received messages that language without Ukraine is being discussed. And I want to emphasize: this wording is only by invitation, and not by the membership of Ukraine," he said in the Telegram channel. "It is unprecedented and absurd when there is no time frame for both the invitation, and for the membership of Ukraine; and when some strange wording about 'conditions' is added even for inviting Ukraine," he said. "It looks like there is no readiness to either invite Ukraine to NATO or make it a member of the Alliance. Consequently, there remains the possibility of bargaining Ukraine's membership in NATO in negotiations with Russia. And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror," he said. "Uncertainty is weakness. And I will discuss this frankly at the summit," Zelenskyy said. French President Emmanuel Macron said France has decided to transfer long-range missiles to Ukraine. "France is making a major contribution to strengthening NATO on its eastern flank. In view of the situation and the counter-offensive being led by Ukraine, I have decided to increase deliveries of arms and equipment to give the Ukrainians the capacity to strike further, while maintaining the clarity and coherence of our doctrine, i.e. enabling Ukraine to defend its territory," Macron said at the NATO summit in Vilnius on Tuesday. "Therefore, we have decided to supply Ukraine with new long-range missiles," the French president said. France24 reported, with a reference to French military source, that Ukraine will be provided with "a significant number of SCALP cruise missiles, which will be integrated into non-Western warplanes." The missiles, which can reach 250 kilometers, would only be used within Ukraine's internationally-recognized borders, the source told reporters in a briefing at the NATO Summit in Vilnius. According to the source, "Paris did not consider it as an escalation given that Russia was firing missiles with a much larger range." Russian occupiers continue to shell residential areas of Kherson, according to preliminary information, two people were injured, one of them is in serious condition, Head of the regional military administration Oleksandr Prokudin said. "At the moment, it is known that the humanitarian headquarters and at least five residential buildings were hit. Fires broke out in the places of shelling. Rescuers and doctors are working on the ground," Prokudin said on the Telegram channel on Tuesday. He urged the residents of Kherson not to go out into the streets, as the shelling of the city continues. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday, July 11, carried out searches in five locations across three districts of Kashmir in connection with its ongoing crackdown on the newly floated offshoots of various proscribed Pakistan-backed terrorist outfits. The searches were conducted in Anantnag, Shopian (Turkawangam and Kapran villages) and Pulwama districts, during which incriminating literature and several digital devices were seized by the officials. NIA conducts raids on terror outfits in South Kashmir Todays raids were at the residential premises of hybrid terrorists and Overground Workers (OGWs) linked with the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of several banned Kashmiri terrorist outfits such as the Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and Al-Badr. Premises of sympathisers and cadres of these organisations were also raided, said NIA officials. All these cadres and workers are being investigated for activities relating to terror, violence and subversion in J&K. NIA suspects their involvement in the collection and distribution of sticky bombs/magnetic bombs, IEDs, funds, narcotic substances and arms/ammunitions. The J&K terror conspiracy case (RC-05/2022/NIA/JMU) was registered suo moto by NIA on 21st June 2022. It relates to a physical and online conspiracy by the banned terror organisations to launch a series of violent terrorist attacks in J&K with sticky bombs, IEDs and small arms etc. The Pakistan-backed outfits are also engaged in radicalizing local youth and mobilizing overground workers, to disturb peace and communal harmony in J&K. As per NIA investigations, Pak-based operatives behind the conspiracy were using various social media platforms to spread terror among the people. They were also using drones to deliver arms/ammunition, explosives, narcotics etc. to their agents and cadres in the Kashmir valley,. The newly floated terror outfits under investigation include-- The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (ULFJ&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF and others. These outfits are affiliated with major banned terrorist organisations like Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr, Al-Qaeda, etc. (Image: Republic) Hatching conspiracy to conduct terror attacks The case relates to the hatching of a conspiracy, both physical and in cyberspace, and plans by the proscribed terrorist organisations to unleash terrorist attacks in the Union territory with sticky bombs, IEDs, and small arms. In a major success for the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a court in Delhi yesterday (July 10) convicted four operatives of the proscribed terror organisation Indian Mujahideen (IM) for hatching a criminal conspiracy to wage war against the Indian government by carrying out terrorist attacks across the country. The case was in connection to the arrests made by the NIA in 2012. The NIA on Monday, June 26, raided 12 locations in Jammu and Kashmir to investigate a case related to the Pakistan-backed terror network of Overground Workers (OWG). Early this morning, the NIA carried out a raid at the residence of a local active terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Riyaz Ahmed Dar, of Sathergund, Kakapora in Pulwama district, South Kashmir. The investigating agency questioned Dar's family and seized certain documents. NIA sleuths, assisted by Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary forces, raided several locations in North and South Kashmir linked with "sympathisers, cadres, and overground workers" of terror outfits. NIA official, on condition of anonymity, said, "The raids were part of the ongoing investigations of the NIA in the terror conspiracy case, involving the activities of OGWs and cadres in support of various newly-launched outfits, such as The Resistance Front (TRF), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF, United Liberation Front Jammu and Kashmir (ULFJ&K), among others." The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting raids at multiple locations in South Kashmir in connection with an umbrella terror conspiracy case registered by the NIA Jammu Police Station in 2022. The raids are focused on Pakistan's plot to destabilise India, and the CRPF and Jammu Kashmir Police are assisting the NIA in cracking down on terror in Kashmir. Seizure of digital devices and thorough document scanning Sources within the agency have informed Republic World that the raids started in a well-coordinated manner early this morning at all locations. Digital devices and documents are being thoroughly scanned. The NIA has conducted raids at over 100 locations in the Kashmir valley and the Jammu region, seizing multiple digital devices used for communication with handlers based in Pakistan. Apprehension of operative Mohammed Ubaid Malik On May 21, the NIA apprehended Mohammed Ubaid Malik, an operative of Jaish-e-Mohammed, in Kupwara. Malik was arrested for sharing confidential information about the movements of security forces in the region with terror commanders based in Pakistan. Plot orchestrated by terrorist organizations The NIA Jammu Police Station registered case RC05/2022, which is linked to a plot orchestrated by terrorist organizations in collaboration with their leaders based in Pakistan. This conspiracy involved the gathering and dissemination of large quantities of narcotics, cash, weapons, and dangerous devices, including sticky bombs and magnetic bombs. Drones were used to facilitate these activities across the International Border. There are reports indicating that terrorist groups in Pakistan are actively planning conspiracies using encrypted social media platforms. They are also engaging in acts of terrorism and waging war against the Government of India. Affiliations and associations with established terror groups The investigation has revealed Pakistan's strategic maneuver of creating new terrorist organizations to avoid international scrutiny and presenting terrorism with a local facade. Pakistan-based terrorist groups have established entities such as The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (UL J&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAFF, and others. These organisations maintain affiliations with terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr, Al-Qaeda, and others. NIA's extensive efforts in counterterrorism Over the past few years, the NIA Jammu Police Station has filed approximately 60 cases pertaining to terrorist activities involving groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), PAFF, TRF, and other terrorist organisations, along with their sympathisers. In a major crackdown on terror, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Kishtawar Police on Tuesday (July 11) carried out multiple raids at four locations in the district. The investigating officials acted on vital intelligence about terrorists operating from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan in Kishtwar. The raids were part of the ongoing investigation related to case 'FIR No 272/2022' registered under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act). The NIA court had issued Non-Bailable Warrants against 36 terrorists from Kishtwar who were known to be operating from PoK. Accompanied by other paramilitary forces, the SIU raided the residences of Jamal Din, Gulzar Ahmad, Shabir Ahmed, and Gulabu, who were all confirmed to be operating from Pakistan. These individuals had established their bases across the border and were orchestrating militant activities from Kishtwar. The search operation focused on their respective houses and residential premises, with the primary objective of dismantling the terror ecosystem in the district. The authorities aimed to identify and apprehend various over-ground workers and supporters of militancy, thereby disrupting their network and ensuring the safety and security of the region. Crackdown on terror outfits The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday (July 10) also carried out searches in South Kashmir in connection with its ongoing crackdown on the newly floated terror outfits. The searches were conducted in Shopian (Turkawangam and Kapran villages) and Pulwama districts, during which incriminating literature and several digital devices were seized. The raids were conducted at the residential premises of sympathisers and cadres, hybrid terrorists and Over Ground Workers (OGWs) linked to newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of proscribed Pakistan-backed terror outfits such as the Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and Al-Badr. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is unwell and the country's senior diplomat will take his place at a two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this week in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin gave no details of what was ailing Qin, who has not been seen in public in more than two weeks. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang is unable to attend this series of foreign ministers' meetings due to health reasons, Wang said at a daily briefing Tuesday. Wang Yi, a former foreign minister and the current head of the ruling Communist Party's Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, will represent China at the meetings Thursday and Friday, Wang Wenbin said. Wang Yi drew controversy last week with comments saying Westerners are incapable of distinguishing among Chinese, Koreans and Japanese, and suggesting the three countries with vastly different societies and polities form an alliance based on racial and cultural similarities. Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah confirmed Wang Yi would be attending the ASEAN meeting in Qin's stead. Wang will attend the China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, the ASEAN-China-Japan-South Korea foreign ministers' meeting, the East Asia Summit foreign ministers' meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum foreign ministers' meeting. China has sought to engage the 10 members of ASEAN, mainly through trade, as part of a campaign to dilute US influence in the region and challenge the American-led liberal world order. However, China's influence has been limited by its aggressive assertion of its claim to virtually all of the South China Sea. ASEAN members Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines exercise overlapping claims and have largely welcomed the United States military presence in the region. China denounces US involvement as outside meddling. The foreign ministers' meeting is a platform to enhance mutual trust and cooperation," Wang Wenbin told reporters. China hopes this meeting will help build more consensus, make political preparation for a fruitful ASEAN leaders' summit in September, and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity." Qin, 57, rose to prominence as an outspoken ministry spokesperson who popularised an aggressive in-your-face style that came to be known as wolf warrior diplomacy," after the name of a nationalistic Chinese movie franchise. He previously served as ambassador to the United States and head of protocol for the ministry. In March, Qin warned Washington of conflict and confrontation, striking a combative tone amid conflicts over Taiwan, COVID-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That followed an accusation by leader Xi Jinping that Western governments led by the US wanted to encircle and suppress China. According to the Foreign Ministry's website, Qin's last public appearance was at a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in Beijing on June 25. The wolf warrior approach has been adopted by many senior Chinese diplomats, but has also fallen out of favour at times. One of its most famous exponents, former ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, was transferred in January to a department overseeing land and sea borders in what was widely seen as a demotion. Current Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng has taken a generally upbeat tone since taking office in May, despite the relationship between the world's two largest economies hitting a historic low. China's tightly-controlled, highly opaque political system and the lack of a free press frequently give way to speculation surrounding the disappearance of leading figures, as when former Chinese President Hu Jintao was guided off stage without explanation at the twice-a-decade congress of China's ruling Communist Party. However, while personal rivalries and scandals over corruption are not uncommon, the party at least outwardly remains largely united behind Xi. Indonesia's top diplomat warned on Tuesday of the threat posed by nuclear weapons, saying that Southeast Asia is one miscalculation away from apocalypse and pressing for world powers to sign a treaty to keep the region free from such arms. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi raised the alarm ahead of a two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations starting later on Tuesday in Jakarta. The agenda will spotlight Myanmar's deadly civil strife, continuing tensions in the South China Sea and efforts to fortify regional economies amid the global headwinds set off by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Later in the week, the 10-nation bloc will meet Asian and Western counterparts, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese foreign policy overseer Wang Yi. The US-China rivalry is not formally on ASEAN's agenda but looms large over the meetings of the bloc, an often-unwieldy collective of democracies, autocracies and monarchies, with some members split over allegiances either to Washington or Beijing. We cannot be truly safe with nuclear weapons in our region, Marsudi told fellow ASEAN ministers. With nuclear weapons, we are only one miscalculation away from apocalypse and global catastrophe. In 1995, ASEAN states signed a treaty that declared Southeast Asia's commitment to be a nuclear weapon-free zone, one of five in the world. However, Marsudi lamented that none of the world's leading nuclear powers have signed on to the pact and called for renewed efforts to convince those states to sign up. The threat is imminent, so we can no longer play a waiting game, she said. A draft communique expected on Wednesday mentions the possibility of a first nuclear weapons state finally signing the treaty but says that there would have to be written assurances that the treaty was being ratified "without reservations. A copy of the draft was obtained by The Associated Press. The communique did not identify the prospective state. However, two Southeast Asian diplomats attending the Jakarta meetings told the AP it was China. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the issue publicly. Meanwhile, Myanmar's generals have again been banned from attending the ASEAN summit for refusing to ease a deadly civil strife sparked by the military's seizure of power more than two years ago. ASEAN has been under international pressure to address the crisis in Myanmar since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and plunged the country into deadly chaos. More than 3,750 civilians, including pro-democracy activists, have been killed by security forces and nearly 24,000 arrested since the military takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group that keeps tallies of arrests and casualties. Myanmar's military government has largely ignored a plan by ASEAN heads of state that includes an immediate end to the violence, prompting the bloc to take an unprecedented step and bar Myanmar's military leaders from its top-level gatherings, including the foreign ministerial meetings. The generals responded by accusing the ASEAN of violating the bloc's bedrock principles of non-intervention in each other's domestic affairs. With the Myanmar crisis dragging on, ASEAN members appear divided over how to proceed, with Thailand recommending easing punitive actions aimed at isolating Myanmar's generals and inviting its military-appointed top diplomat and officials back to high-profile meetings. Since assuming ASEAN's rotating chairmanship this year, Indonesia has initiated some 110 meetings with groups in Myanmar and provided humanitarian aid to build trust, Marsudi said. At the summit, ASEAN foreign ministers are expected to renew a call for self-restraint in activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, according to the draft communique, repeating language used in previous statements that does not name China. ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have been embroiled in long-simmering territorial conflicts with China and Taiwan for decades. ASEAN and China have been negotiating a non-aggression pact that aims to prevent an escalation of the disputes, but the talks have faced years of delay. The disputed waters have emerged as a delicate front in the rivalry between China and the United States. Washington has challenged Beijing's expansive territorial claims and regularly deploys warships and fighter jets in what it calls freedom of navigation and overflight patrols that have infuriated China. An alarming rise in cases of a rare neurological disorder has prompted the government of Peru to declare a national emergency for a period of up to three months. For the South American country, the surge of cases brings back terrifying memories of a similar outbreak that occurred in 2019. The disorder in question is Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which affects the human body's nervous system and usually causes muscle fatigue and breathing problems. In serious cases, it can lead to complete paralysis. Peru last experienced a similar problem four years ago due to a bacterial infection known as campylobacter. Here's all you need to know about Guillain-Barre Syndrome In layman's terms, the syndrome involves an issue with the body's immune system. A person's immunity is responsible for shielding them from foreign bodies and infections. However, in people with the rare disorder, the immune system ends up attacking its own nerve cells. What is mainly targetted by the syndrome is the myelin sheath, which creates a layer of fat and protein around nerve cells. When infected, the sheath experiences inflammation, thus inhibiting the process of transporting stimuli. As a result, a person with the syndrome can have issues speaking, swallowing, walking, and other kinds of basic human functions. If left untreated, the condition is known to escalate. When that happens, the peripheral nerves that branch out from the brain and the spinal cord can sustain major damage and muscles can either weaken, or be completely paralyzed. It is unclear what causes this rare syndrome, but it has a tendency to develop after a person contracts an infectious disease. It has also been linked to Zika virus, Epstein Barr virus, and the coronavirus, according to DW. While the Guillain-Barre Syndrome has no solid cure, recovery for it can begin at week four of the disorder's onset. Two treatments are ideally used to help in recovery and lower the syndrome's severity. These include plasma exchange or plasmapheresis, and immunoglobulin therapy. With tensions surrounding Guatemala's June 25 presidential election heightening, President Alejandro Giammattei took the unusual step of publishing an open letter Monday saying he has no intention of staying in power beyond his term. Two weeks have passed since electoral authorities identified two presidential candidates to face off in an Aug. 20 runoff. But the courts have intervened at the request of some political parties and blocked certification of the results. The delay fed rumors that Giammattei, an unpopular leader accused by the U.S. government and others of backsliding on democracy, might be looking to hold onto power because one of the candidates in the runoff has vowed to tackle corruption. Without providing specifics, Giammettei denounced a "campaign of disinformation and absolutely false and biased rumors." He said he was telling Guatemalans that he would respect the constitutional end of his term on Jan. 14, 2024. He said the second round of voting should go ahead as scheduled and he would work on the transfer of power with whomever is elected. Last week, under order from the Constitutional Court Guatemala's highest panels reviewed precinct vote tallies that had been challenged by some political parties. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal then said the review did not change the election's results, which showed conservative Sandra Torres and progressive Bernardo Arevalo as the top two vote-getters among the 22 presidential candidates. But late Friday, the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Justice the court designated to handle the election challenges issued an order that the process to certify the results could not go forward until electoral authorities reported to her on their methods and any inconsistencies found. On Monday, the Supreme Court of Justice endorsed last week's review of challenged precinct vote tallies and rejected additional attempts by some political parties to further delay the certification of the results. What the court did not say was whether its decision clears the way for the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to to certify the results. Supreme Electoral Tribunal spokesman David de Leon said the country's electoral authority would continue the process to certify the results and proceed with the Aug. 20 runoff. "Despite the emphatic language assuring he'll step down from the post and the call to respect the second round date, (Giammattei's) statement does not clarify what the president would do if the Supreme Court ... decided for whatever reason to change" the results, said Tiziano Breda, a Latin America expert and researcher at Italy's International Affairs Institute. Giammattei tries to present himself as the guarantor of the separation of powers, but he and his party are the "architects" of the judicial intervention that is delaying the certification of the results, Breda said. Later Monday, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal urged calmed. In a broadcast news conference, tribunal President Irma Palencia said, "We are making our greatest effort to continue guaranteeing the protection of the vote, because this election is won or lost at the ballot box and that is where you are invited to participate again Aug. 20." Cambodia says the base, built with Chinese money, wont be a permanent home to foreign forces. The China-funded Ream naval base in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, is expanding at a remarkably fast pace, with a lengthened pier that can accommodate aircraft carriers, new satellite images show. Satellite photos of Cambodias Ream Naval Base reveal significant development between Jan. 28, 2023 [left] and June 23, 2023. A new deep-draft pier that could accommodate aircraft carriers is nearly completed in the center-west and an area of reclaimed land in the south has grown to more than three hectares. Credit: Planet Labs Recent images obtained by Radio Free Asia from the Earth imaging company Planet Labs show significant developments at the project that began just two years ago. Compared to December last year, the base now has several sets of sizable buildings including, possibly, administrative offices and barracks at the center, according to Tom Shugart, Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, who first spotted the developments. In only six months, an area of reclaimed land in the southern part of the base has tripled in size. However, the most striking new feature is a deep draft pier connecting to the central area of the base. Back in February, analysts thought the pier was a temporary one to ferry in construction materials and equipment, but it has now turned out to be a permanent naval pier that could provide access to full-size warships of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy. Satellite images from May this year show the pier has been measurably extended, with the usable pier length estimated to be roughly 300 meters (984 feet). It ought to be able to accommodate any ship in the PLA Navys fleet, including its new Type 003 aircraft carrier, Shugart told RFA. What we dont know is to what depth the harbor will be dredged, the scale of other port services such as shore power, and the scope of the logistical support facilities, he said. However, given the length of the pier, Id expect it to at least support surface combatants such as destroyers and cruisers, and probably logistics support ships, the analyst told RFA. Remarkable speed It looks like lots of rapid progress is underway on construction of this base, Tom Shugart said, adding that such projects seem to move pretty quickly given the relative lack of impediments that the Chinese government faces, compared to projects in democratically-governed states, where similar developments are more likely to be slowed down by lawsuits and environmental concerns, etc. Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly assigned land to the Ministry of National Defense to develop an air defense command and general headquarters, as well as a naval radar system in Ream National Park, adjacent to the naval base. The U.S. Department of Defense's China Military Power Report in November 2022 said China has likely considered Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, among other places, as locations for PLA military logistics facilities. Cambodia's Minister of National Defense, General Tea Banh (center) at the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore June 3, 2023. Credit: Reuters/Caroline Chia China and Cambodia began developing the Ream Naval Base, in Sihanoukville province on the Gulf of Thailand, with Beijings funding, in June 2021. Thanks to its strategic location, the base would help Beijing boost its power projection not only in Southeast Asia but also the Taiwan Strait. This would be Chinas first naval staging facility in Southeast Asia and the second in the world after a base in Djibouti. Phnom Penh has repeatedly denied that China is being given exclusive military access to the base, saying that would be in contradiction to Cambodias constitution. At the security forum Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore in June, Cambodias Minister of Defense Tea Banh said that Cambodia is being transparent regarding the developments at Ream. He also stressed that it will not be a permanent base for any foreign force. We need a proper base so that we have a chance to develop our navy and protect our sovereignty, Tea Banh told the forum. Of course, there are people who say that our base will be open to foreign troops, but this will not happen, the minister stated. Edited by Mike Firn. Citys chief vows to hunt down wanted overseas activists, likens them to rats crossing the street. Hong Kong activist Nathan Law attends a candlelight vigil outside the Chinese embassy in London on June 4, 2023, to mark the anniversary of China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Hong Kong police on Tuesday questioned the family of exiled former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, who the city's leader has vowed to "pursue for life" under a national security law criminalizing public criticism of the authorities. "Today, the Hong Kong national security police went to the apartments of Nathan Laws parents and brother and took them away for questioning," advocacy group Hong Kong Watch said in a statement on its website. "They were later released without arrest." The move came after national security police last week issued arrest warrants and bounties for eight prominent Hong Kong activists living in exile, accusing them of "collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security." Law, who now lives in the United Kingdom, announced in 2020 that he had cut ties with his family back in Hong Kong in a bid to protect them. But police raided his parents' home early Tuesday morning, taking away his parents and brother and questioning them about whether they had provided him with any financial support, or whether they were his "agents" in Hong Kong, according to multiple media reports. "At around 6.00 a.m. today (July 11), the national security department [of the Hong Kong police force] searched two units in Yat Tung Estate, Tung Chung, where Nathan Law's parents and elder brother live, and took [the three of them] away to take their statements," the pro-Beijing Sing Tao Daily reported. Police wanted to know if they had been providing financial assistance to Law or had acted on his behalf in Hong Kong, it said. "After the three had made their statements, they were allowed to leave the police station," the report said, versions of which also appeared on iCable News and in the South China Morning Post. Bounties on their heads The July 3 warrants also listed former pro-democracy lawmakers Ted Hui, now in Australia, U.K.-based Dennis Kwok, U.S.-based activist and political lobbyist Anna Kwok and Australia-based legal scholar Kevin Yam among the wanted. U.K.-based activists Finn Lau and Mung Siu-tat and U.S.-based businessman Elmer Yuen are also on the wanted list. Authorities have offered bounties of HK$1 million (US$127,700) for information that might lead to an arrest or a successful prosecution. Those named face a slew of charges including "collusion with foreign powers" and "inciting subversion and secession" under a law imposed on Hong Kong by the Communist Party in the wake of the 2019 protest movement that effectively bans public dissent and peaceful political opposition. Hong Kong police on Monday, July 3, 2023, issued arrest warrants and offered bounties for eight activists and former lawmakers who have fled the city. They are [clockwise from top left] Kevin Yam, Elmer Yuen, Anna Kwok, Dennis Kwok, Nathan Law, Finn Lau, Mung Siu-tat and Ted Hui. Credit: Screenshot from Reuters video The warrants were quickly followed by five more arrests of former associates of Law and the now-disbanded pro-democracy party Demosisto that he co-founded in the wake of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, who were accused of using the "Punish MEE" pro-democracy crowd-funding app to bankroll overseas activists. The escalating crackdown has sparked international criticism of the authorities' ongoing attempts at "long-arm" law enforcement overseas. Hong Kong's three-year-old national security law bans public criticism of the authorities as incitement of hatred, and applies to speech or acts committed by people of any nationality, anywhere in the world. More targeted Meanwhile, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam has lodged complaints to the Hong Kong Bar Association and The Law Society of Hong Kong against two others on the "wanted" list: former lawmaker Dennis Kwok and solicitor Kevin Yam, for professional misconduct," Hong Kong Watch said, adding that both could have their licenses to practice law in Hong Kong suspended. This is a drastic escalation since last weeks arrest warrants and bounties against the eight activists, which were already outrageous and completely unacceptable," the group's Chief Executive Benedict Rogers said. The group called on British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to summon the Chinese ambassador and ask him to explain why the authorities are targeting the families of Hong Kongers under the protection of the United Kingdom. Law has been granted political refugee status. "The Hong Kong government is openly threatening activists abroad, in an attempt to silence them and spread fear among the community," the statement said. It said the threats against Law's family showed that the situation in Hong Kong is increasingly similar to that of mainland China, and that any difference between the two systems of governance has been totally dismantled. Rats crossing the street Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday repeated his vow to "hunt down" Law and the other activists for the rest of their lives. "I have said many times that we will hunt them down for the rest of their lives, and that we will use every means in our power to do so, including going after anyone providing them with financial or other kinds of assistance," Lee told reporters on Tuesday. "We will also go after the forces behind the scenes, who may even be controlling them," he said, without elaborating on who those forces might be. He likened the exiled activists to "rats crossing the street," to be shunned unless anyone has information leading to their arrest or prosecution, in which case a reward could be offered. Former Security Secretary Regina Ip earlier told reporters that she believed that while "normal" family contact with overseas activists wasn't an issue, anyone sending funds to overseas activists who then used the money to lobby overseas parliaments to sanction Hong Kong "or other violations of the national security law," could face prosecution. More than 260 people have been arrested under the national security law, including dozens of former opposition lawmakers and political activists and senior journalists including pro-democracy media magnate Jimmy Lai, who is a British citizen. An estimated 10,000 have been prosecuted for "rioting" or public order offenses in the wake of the 2019 protest movement, which Beijing views as an attempt by "hostile foreign forces" to foment a "color revolution" in Hong Kong. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Xi visited troops responsible for the Taiwan Strait and called for enhanced planning of war and combat. In this file photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force during the first session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing, on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Just days before United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen touched down in Beijing for a four-day visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the headquarters of the Peoples Liberation Armys Eastern Theater and emphasized war preparedness. The Jiangsu Province PLA Eastern Theater is responsible for the Taiwan Strait and for a possible military assault on Taiwan, which Chinas communist government claims as sovereign territory despite having never governed it. The Eastern Theater carries out regular drills in the Taiwan Strait and has overseen live-fire drills encircling Taiwan in recent months. Addressing commanders in Jiangsu Thursday, Xi stressed efforts to break new ground for theater command development and war preparedness, state media reported. He called for enhancing the planning of war and combat and stepping up training under real combat conditions to raise the forces capabilities to fight and win, the reports said. According to reports, experts think that Xi is very aware that any military move on Taiwan could draw in the U.S. and Japan, which has close ties with Taiwan as its former colonial overlord from 1898 to 1945, when Japan was defeated in WWII. Yellen did not meet Xi during her two days of meetings with senior officials in Beijing, but the U.S. Treasury had indicated that was not an expectation before she went. Xi is effectively the supreme leader of the PLA, the worlds largest standing armed force. In this file photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping stands on a military jeep as he inspects troops of the People's Liberation Army during a military parade to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the PLA at Zhurihe training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Sunday, July 30, 2017. Credit: Li Tao/Xinhua via AP Signaling that he is aware of Xis ambitions just hours after Janet Yellen said the world has room to accommodate both the U.S. and China, U.S. President Joe Biden said in an interview with broadcaster CNN that Xi aimed to dominate the world stage. Im confident he [Xi] wants to have the largest economy in the world, the largest military capacity in the world, Biden said. In the past, Biden has reiterated or refused to walk back comments that undermine diplomacy with China, such as calling Xi a "dictator" after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit to Beijing last month. Tension in the strait Beijing is fiercely opposed to U.S. military support for Taiwan and sales of weapons to the de-facto nation, and accuses the U.S. of turning Taiwan into a powder keg. From Friday morning to Saturday morning the PLA sent 13 aircraft and six vessels into airspace and waters around Taiwan while Yellen was in Beijing and calling for a peaceful competitive relationship. Taiwans Defense Ministry said four Chinese aircraft two SU-30 fighters, one BZK-005 reconnaissance plane and one Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwans southwestern air defense identification zone. In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, a warship launches a missile during a live-ammunition military drill held by the South China Sea Fleet of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in the South China Sea on Monday, July 26, 2010. Credit: AP Photo/Xinhua, Pu Haiyang Ni Lexiong, a professor at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, noted to the South China Morning Post that the show of force may have less to do with Yellen than the fact a US congressional delegation led by Mike Rogers, chairman of the House armed services committee, made a three-day visit to Taiwan. The U.S. House of Representatives recently finalized the review of the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2024 fiscal year. In its draft, the committee highlighted delays of deliveries of U.S. military sales to Taiwan and demanded a report from the U.S. Secretary of Defense by March 1, 2024, outlining the benefits and challenges of jointly producing arms and ammunition with Taiwan. The congressional groups Taiwan visit is putting more pressure on Beijing and reminding Xi that Washington is escalating military intervention in a possible Taiwan war endorsed by the NDAA, Ni said. Xi senses strong danger as the U.S. has also learned from the ongoing Ukraine war to be prepared for both short-term and long-term war, and more ammunition and heavy weapon systems are likely to be deployed to Taiwan. This is Xis first inspection tour to the command since former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last August, causing theater troops to stage unprecedented drills as [a] response, Zhou Chenming, a researcher with Yuan Wang, a Beijing-based military science and technology think tank, told the Hong Kong English-language newspaper in the same report. Trade tensions During his visit to Jiangsu Province in East China, Xi also emphasized the development of technology, which has been subject to U.S. trade restrictions on high-tech semiconductor chips. Yellen described the China chip restrictions as narrowly targeted in state security interests. State media described his three-day inspection tour to the province as promoting scientific and technological self-reliance. The tour concluded on Friday when Yellen was meeting with senior officials in Beijing. Xi visited an industrial park, enterprises, a historical and cultural block, and a science laboratory. Even though recent visits to China by Blinken and Yellen may have broken the ice and re-established some critical lines of communication, tensions between the U.S. and China cannot be considered to have been defused because China sees the trade restrictions on chip technology as standing in the way of its economic development. China wants to convince the United States that working together requires not viewing us as a primary competitor or gathering your friends to form a gang, said Lu Feng, an economist at Peking University. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, center, speaks during a lunch meeting with women economists in Beijing, China, Saturday, July 8, 2023. Credit: Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via Reuters China blasted female economists online for eating dinner with Yellen, even calling them traitors, in a social media outburst that was revealing about Chinas complex feelings about its leading frenemy, the U.S. China requires the U.S. to cease the suppression of Chinese enterprises, lift bans on Xinjiang-related products, and take concrete steps to respond to China's major concerns in economic relations between the two countries, Chinas Finance Ministry said in a readout after Yellen departed on Sunday. In comments given to U.S. business leaders in Beijing, Yellen said: In fact, trade between our two countries reached an all-time high last year. And if it is fair, trade and investment can support American jobs at home and promote American innovation. A stable and constructive relationship between the U.S. and China is in the interests of American workers and businesses. Edited by Mike Firn. The development of further cooperation between the Ukrainian and Argentine Red Cross was one of the goals of the visit of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) delegation to Argentina. "The core purpose of the visit was to establish mediation intergovernmental and cultural diplomacy with Argentina... During the visit, issues of strengthening partnerships and developing cooperation between the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and the Argentine Red Cross have been discussed," the society said on Facebook on Tuesday. The Ukrainian delegation's members also met with representatives of the Prosvita Ukrainian cultural society and the Ukrainian diaspora in Argentina. During the meetings, the possibility of introducing joint projects and initiatives, involving Ukrainians living in Argentina in the process of responding to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine has been agreed. In the course of the meetings in Argentina, the URCS representatives noted the importance of long-term, and not one-time, assistance to the citizens of Ukraine. The society recalled that since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, over 400 people who were forced to leave Ukraine have found shelter in Argentina. Argentina also transferred over 106 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Dela wa Monga, an artisanal miner, holds a cobalt stone at the Shabara artisanal mine near Kolwezi, DR Congo, Oct. 12, 2022. The critical minerals market essential for clean energy technologies has doubled over the past five years, with China leading worldwide investment spending, a new report by a global energy watchdog said Tuesday. Between 2017 and 2022, the energy sector was the main factor behind a tripling in overall demand for lithium, with a 70% jump in demand for cobalt, and a 40% rise in demand for nickel, the International Energy Agency said in its first annual Critical Minerals Market Review. The market for energy transition minerals reached U.S.$320 billion in 2022 and is set for continued rapid growth, moving it increasingly to center stage for the global mining industry, the report said. Clean energy tech is propelling record deployments for critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earth elements. They help power electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels and other technologies key to the clean energy transition. This infographic shows the composition of China's unrefined raw material imports by origin in 2022. Credit: IEA The report said that investment in critical minerals development recorded a sharp uptick of 30% in 2022 following a 20% increase in 2021 with companies based in China nearly doubling their investment spending in 2022. The global shift towards clean energy technologies is driving a rapid increase in demand for such minerals, with global consumption of these transition minerals projected to grow six-fold by 2040. China has emerged as a significant player in recent years due to its dominance over the processing and refining of key minerals necessary for renewable energy. Due to a blend of incentives and regulatory policies, China is also ahead in manufacturing clean energy technologies, such as solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicle (EV) batteries. It hosts about 50% of the worlds operational wind and solar capacity. Solar panels work near wind turbines in Quy Non, Vietnam, June 11, 2023. Credit: AP Chinese companies have been acquiring overseas mines and investing in mineral-rich countries to secure the sourcing of transition minerals to meet their rising demand. The report said Chinese companies invested $4.3 billion between 2018 and the first half of 2021 to acquire lithium assets, twice the amount invested by American, Australian and Canadian companies combined. Despite growth, major issues remain Though the critical or transition minerals industry is witnessing a rapid surge in demand, opening up new avenues for growth, the Paris-based energy agency said that more work is needed to ensure diversified and sustainable supplies to support the transition. At a pivotal moment for clean energy transitions worldwide, we are encouraged by the rapid growth in the market for critical minerals, which are crucial for the world to achieve its energy and climate goals, said International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol. Even so, major challenges remain. Much more needs to be done to ensure supply chains for critical minerals are secure and sustainable. The agencys analysis found that if all planned critical mineral projects worldwide are realized, supply could be sufficient to support the national climate action pledges announced by the governments. However, a combination of challenges, including volatile price fluctuations, supply chain constraints, and geopolitical uncertainties, have created a complex set of obstacles to overcome, posing significant risks to secure and swift energy transitions, the group said. Lack of industry-wide progress, especially in environmental sustainability, means greenhouse gas emissions remain at high levels, with roughly the same amount being emitted per metric ton of mineral output every year, the report said. Similarly, water withdrawals almost doubled from 2018 to 2021, while waste generation oscillated around 5 gigatons, with 2021 intensities slightly above 2018 levels. Diversity of raw supply also remains a concern, with many new project announcements coming from already dominant players. This infographic shows the share of top three critical mineral producing countries in total production for selected resources and minerals in 2022. Credit: IEA. The report said the share of the top three producers in 2022 either remains unchanged or has increased further, especially for nickel and cobalt, with China and Indonesia leading the way. While the projects in the pipeline indicate a somewhat improved picture for mining, the geographical concentration for refining operations is greater, with China holding half of planned lithium chemical plants and Indonesia representing nearly 90% of planned nickel refining facilities, the report said. China has established itself as the worlds largest metal refining hub in the past few decades. However, it heavily relies on imports for large volumes of raw materials, often from a few sources; for example, China depends almost entirely on the Democratic Republic of the Congo for mined cobalt. Edited by Mike Firn. Myanmars junta has arrested the head of Daik-U Central Prison in Bago region, along with seven of his staff, for allegedly helping inmates contact Peoples Defense Forces, sources close to the prison told RFA Tuesday. Some of the sources said the warden died during interrogation but RFA was unable to confirm this. The sources who declined to be named for fear of reprisal said the warden, Lt. Myo Htike, was arrested at the end of June for helping prisoners communicate with outsiders. He is being interrogated at the prison, along with the other arrested staff which include his deputy Yan Naing Tun, one of the sources said. Lieutenant Myo Htike is good-natured and is also willing to help, so he helps political prisoners with some issues, he said. Other workers were arrested for not knowing what the lieutenant was doing, said the source, adding that it's not yet known when the eight will appear in court. RFA Burmese called Naing Win, the deputy director general of the junta prison department, regarding the arrests but he did not answer the phone. On June 27, guards took 37 political prisoners out of the prison, saying they were being transferred elsewhere. Relatives and friends said seven of the prisoners were killed. And in May, guards beat three Daik-U Central Prison inmates to death during the violent interrogation of 24 prisoners, accused of communicating with members of the Bago Peoples Defense force, sources close to the prison told RFA at the time. They said the injured, some in a critical condition, were put in a dark room with no food for four days. Since May several more political prisoners at Thayarwady Prison in Bago region and Myingyan Prison in Mandalay region were also beaten to death during interrogation, while others have been critically injured according to family members and sources close to the prison, who all requested anonymity to protect prisoners and their relatives. There was speculation that the interrogations took place in retaliation for a prison break at Taungoo Prison in Bago region on May 18. Inmates grabbed guns from prison guards and nine managed to escape into the jungle where they were met by members of a local Peoples Defense Force. One of the escaped prisoners later told RFA they were originally trying to free Win Myint, the deposed president who is being held at Taungoo. Almost 24,000 people have been arrested by the junta since the February 2021 military coup, with over 19,000 still in detention, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma). Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. We cannot be truly safe with nuclear weapons in our region, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi says. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi delivers her opening remarks during plenary session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Meeting at Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 11, 2023. The risk of nuclear arms being used is higher now than at any time in recent history with the world only one miscalculation away from apocalypse, Indonesias top diplomat warned Tuesday, calling on foreign powers to keep Southeast Asia safe from such weapons. At a meeting in Jakarta, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi urged nuclear-armed powers to sign a 30-year-old treaty that seeks to keep the region free of nukes. She issued her warning ahead of four days of ministerial-level meetings in Jakarta between member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The crisis in Myanmar meanwhile is expected to be among the main topics at the summit, which will also include talks with China, Russia and the United States later this week. The risk of nuclear weapons use is higher today than at any time in recent history, Retno said at Tuesdays meeting of the Commission of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ). We keep hearing warnings about the possible use of nuclear weapons. We also see nuclear power remains part of some countries military doctrine, including in our region. We know fully well we cannot be truly safe with nuclear weapons in our region. She added: No weapon is more powerful and destructive than nuclear weapons. And with nuclear weapons we are only one miscalculation away from apocalypse and global catastrophe. In 1995, all of ASEANs members signed the SEANWFZ Treaty, also known as the Bangkok Treaty, that committed to keeping the region free from nuclear weapons. The treaty prohibits its signatories from developing, manufacturing, possessing, testing or using them. But none of the worlds nuclear powers have signed the protocol, citing various objections over the scope and verification of the treaty. Some of them have also argued it infringes on their rights to transit and navigate in international waters due to its inclusion of continental shelves and exclusive economic zones. Combined, the nine nuclear-armed nations Russia, the U.S., Great Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea possess an estimated total of 13,000 nuclear weapons, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Earlier this year, the United States, Britain and Australia unveiled AUKUS, a trilateral defense agreement to enable Indonesias next-door neighbor, Australia, to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, as part of a U.S. doctrine that aims to contain Chinas military expansionism, particularly in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. The deal has stoked concerns among leaders in Southeast Asia about whether it could provoke a nuclear-arms race, but U.S. President Joe Biden has issued assurance that the submarines wont be armed with nuclear missiles. However, despite the warnings raised by Foreign Minister Retno, AUKUS was not officially part of Tuesdays talks in Jakarta. There is no agenda on the submarines at the SEANWFZ meeting, and in the context of the latest developments in the region, the nuclear-powered submarines are not a nuclear weapon, Sidharto Suryodipuro, director for ASEAN cooperation at Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, according to local media reports. B-52s in Indonesian skies Retnos warning about nuclear weapons came weeks after U.S. Air Force B-52s took part with Indonesian fighter jets in joint exercises in Indonesia. The exercises were the first ever in Indonesian skies involving the strategic, eight-engine bombers that are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Under another military pact with Australia, Canberra has allowed the U.S. to deploy some of these giant planes at the Tindal Base in northern Australia. When asked this week whether Indonesia would consider a similar deal, a spokesman for the Indonesian military said Jakarta, because of its traditional policy of non-alignment to any superpowers, would not permit the U.S. to station B-52s on its soil. As long as we are nonaligned, it is impossible [this will] happen, military spokesman Rear Adm. Julius Widjojono told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. They were only here for the exercise, unlike their permanent position in Australia, he said, referring to recent joint exercises with the B-52 bombers that were staged from the U.S. military base in Darwin, northern Australia. A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, takes off in support of a bilateral military training exercise at the Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, Indonesia, June 21, 2023. Credit:U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Zade Vadnais Radityo Dharmaputra, a lecturer in international relations at Airlangga University in Surabaya, said nuclear powers do not want to give up their ability to deter or intimidate their rivals in a strategically important and contested part of the world. Nuclear weapons are a deterrence tool, which can make other countries refrain from doing something, he told BenarNews. He said that each nuclear power has its own interests and stakes in Southeast Asia, especially amid the current rivalry over issues such as trade, human rights and territorial disputes. Human rights Speaking separately at a meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, Retno said the bloc must not waver in addressing human rights issues in the region, despite complexities on the ground and differences among its members. ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue is a testament of ASEANs maturity to engage in frank and open dialogue without naming and shaming, she said. It is therefore important for it to be conducted regularly. We are therefore aiming for a Leaders Declaration on the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue, she said. ASEAN must unite in rejecting politicization of human rights and double standards while proving its ability to tackle issues within its own backyard, she said, without elaborating. One of the regions most pressing human rights issues is the crisis in Myanmar, where a military coup in February 2021 has plunged the country into chaos. More than 3,000 civilians have been killed by Myanmar security forces and nearly 24,000 arrested since the coup, according to rights groups. ASEAN has attempted to resolve the conflict with a five-point plan that includes an immediate end to violence and dialogue among all contending parties. Delegates pose for a photo at a plenary session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foreign Ministers Meeting at Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 11, 2023. Credit: Reuters But Myanmars military government has largely ignored the plan, prompting ASEAN to bar its military leaders from top-level gatherings. The Myanmar crisis is expected to dominate discussions later this week when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other top diplomats join the ASEAN foreign ministers as dialogue partners. The U.S. and its allies have imposed sanctions on Myanmars military and called for the restoration of democracy, while China and Russia have been more cautious and urged respect for Myanmar's sovereignty. ASEAN has been trying to bridge the gap between the rival powers and persuade them to support its peace plan. Indonesia, as this years ASEAN chair, has quietly engaged with various stakeholders in Myanmar, including the military, the opposition National Unity Government, ethnic armed groups and civil society groups. Retno said last week that Indonesia had conducted 110 engagements in the form of in-person meetings, virtual meetings, and phone calls with representatives of Myanmar. She said Indonesia hoped to see progress in the implementation of the ASEAN plan before the end of the year. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service. Chinas leaders have feted Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on his second official visit to their country and promised further aid to the economically-lagging island nation that has become Beijings beachhead in the Pacific. Relations between China and the Solomon Islands, an archipelago about 2,100 kilometers (1,300 miles) northeast of Brisbane, Australia, have blossomed since Sogavares government switched its diplomatic recognition to Beijing from democratically governed Taiwan in 2019. The two countries signed a security agreement last year, alarming the United States and its allies such as Australia, who worry it could lead to a Chinese military presence in the South Pacific. Sogavare, accompanied by a delegation of Cabinet ministers, legislators and business leaders, began a week-long visit to China on Sunday. On Monday, he met Chinas President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, according to state news agency Xinhua. A joint Solomon Islands-China statement, published by Xinhua, said the two countries had signed nine agreements covering development cooperation, trade, infrastructure development, civil aviation, education, police affairs, customs and meteorology. Details of the agreements have not been made public. The statement said relations had been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Sogavare, who will also visit Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces, appeared impressed by his red-carpet reception. Im back home, the prime minister said in a video posted online by state-run China Global Television Network that showed Sogavare and his wife Emmy Sogavare greeted by Chinese officials. The busy Beijing traffic gave way to the motorcade of more than 20 vehicles. The Solomon Islands and PRC flags were flown alongside each other along the streets, said a statement Monday from Sogavares office, describing his arrival in Beijing. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare [right] and Chinese Premier Li Qiang review an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 10, 2023. Credit: AP Chinas influence in the Pacific has burgeoned over several decades through a combination of increased trade, infrastructure investment and aid as it seeks to isolate Taiwan which it considers a rebel province and advance its own economic and security interests. The Pacific island nation of Kiribati also switched its diplomatic recognition to China from Taiwan in 2019. In a speech to a forum in Beijing on economic development, Sogavare echoed Beijings talking points in its sparring with the U.S., which has the worlds largest economy and military. Sogavares speech underscored the need to rise above those that want to create a divided world with ideological geopolitical fault lines, the statement from his office said. Xi, following his meeting with Sogavare, said the Solomon Islands had become the pacesetter for relations between China and Pacific island countries, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Recognition of China has proven to be the correct choice for the Solomon Islands, Xi said. Li said China is willing to expand economic and development cooperation with the Solomon Islands, according to Xinhua and a second statement from Sogavares office. Under Sogavare, the Solomon Islands has sought to benefit from the China-U.S. rivalry in the Pacific by securing more development assistance. The country of some 700,000 people grapples with crumbling roads, limited telecommunications and lack of basic healthcare. At the same time as Sogavare is visiting China, power supply in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara has been cut for two-hour periods several times a day while maintenance is carried out on generators, according to the countrys power company. The competition for influence in the Solomons has spilled into domestic security, raising concerns it could cause new instability in a country that spiraled into chaos only two decades ago, culminating in an Australian-led military intervention from 2003 until 2017. Both China and Australia have been training Solomon Islands police and donating equipment, including water cannons gifted by China and guns courtesy of Australia. In the past month the Solomons has been given seven Nissan X-Trail SUVs from Australia as well as night-vision devices, drones, a wireless signal jammer and two vehicles from China. Sogavares trip to China comes after Australia earlier this month offered to extend a military and police deployment in the Solomon Islands. The Pacific island country is preparing to host a regional sporting event later this year bankrolled by China, Australia and Indonesia and hold postponed elections in the first half of 2024. Australia sent more than 200 troops and police to the Solomon Islands in late 2021 at the request of Sogavares government following anti-China and anti-government riots in the capital Honiara. So far, the Solomons Islands government has neither publicly accepted nor rejected Australias offer. Sogavare has said a security treaty between Australia and the Solomon Islands needs to be reviewed. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. The grants aim to help shed light on Chinas genocide of Uyghurs, foundation head says. Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uyghur Congress, one of three Uyghur groups awarded a grant by the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, gestures as he speaks during a demonstration against China in front of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, November 6, 2018. The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity has awarded grants amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars to three Uyghur groups dedicated to Uyghur rights advocacy and education amid ongoing repression against the mostly Muslim ethnic group by Chinese authorities. The Germany-based World Uyghur Congress and U.S.-based Uyghur Human Rights Project were selected as grantees for planning to host a conference of Uyghur allies and activists later this year in New York to discuss the international response to the persecution of Uyghurs, which the U.S. government and other Western parliaments have labeled a genocide. They will hold the event along with Jewish World Watch, another grantee. The third Uyghur organization selected as a grantee is Ana Care and Education, a nonprofit based in Virginia, in the United States, that provides programs for Uyghur families living in the diaspora to preserve their language, history and culture. The grantees were selected based on their commitment to advocating for the Uyghur community, who are being unlawfully detained by the Chinese government in an effort to create a single-ethnic state, the nonprofit organization said in a statement issued on Monday. Grants totaling US$550,000 were awarded to the activist organizations as well as to four other nonprofits for educational fellowships, though the specific amounts for each were not given. The grant-making initiative, launched in October 2022, supports organizations whose efforts are grounded by the values of Elie Wiesel, a writer, educator, political activist and Holocaust survivor who died in 2016. Wiesel and his wife, Marion, set up the foundation after he received the 1986 Nobel Prize for Peace. Elisha Wiesel, Elies son and chairman of the foundation, told Radio Free Asia that by using the money to shed light on the Uyghur genocide, the world will learn about the crimes that are occurring in Xinjiang. The largest genocide on the planet is [that of the] Uyghur minority, Elisha Wiesel said. Right now, the Chinese government is trying to end their Muslim practices, trying to assimilate their faith, and as is in many ways trying to end their identity as a people, including the use of detainment camps. We feel it is the cause that is the most severe on the planet, and yet not many people are speaking about it. Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uyghur Congress, said the grant is important because it will help make the world accept the genocide, gain the worlds sympathy, and make the Jewish community more aware of the Uyghur issue and act upon it. Sureyya Kashgary, director of Ana Care & Education, said her organization received a $50,000 grant for school-based learning for students and adults that connect them to their Uyghur ancestry. Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. She was punished for posting a video about the white paper protests. Kamile Wayit, a college student at a university in Chinas Henan province, was detained by police in December 2022 after returning to Xinjiang on winter break. A Uyghur college student arrested by authorities in Xinjiang for posting a video on social media about the "white paper" protests has been sentenced to three years in prison, local authorities and a person familiar with the situation said. Kamile Wayit, a 19-year-old preschool education major at the Shangqiu Institute of Technology in Chinas Henan province, was detained in December 2022 for sharing a video on a social media app about the white paper" protests that swept across China a month earlier during which people held up blank sheets of paper to complain about COVID-19 restrictions and the lack of free speech. Wayit was one of dozens of young people around China detained in relation to the protests, which were sparked by a fatal lockdown fire in an apartment building in Xinjiangs regional capital Urumqi that killed about 40 Uyghurs. Her arrest has attracted international attention with the U.S. government, rights activists, scholars, professors and students demanding that Chinese authorities provide information on her case and release her. In June, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson told The Economist magazine that authorities sentenced Wayit on March 25, but did not state the length of her sentence. Her crime was advocating extremism. She spent six months in the State Security Detention Center in Atush and is now serving the remainder of her sentence at Mush Women's Prison in Kashgar Prefecture, the person with knowledge of the situation said, asking not to be named for security reasons. Atush is the capital of Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, where Wayits family lives and where authorities arrested her while she was home during winter break. A staff member at a police station in Atush confirmed that Wayit is serving a three-year sentence and is in Mush Women's Prison. Embraced her The relative youth and innocent appearance of the new prisoner saddened not only the fellow inmates but also some of the Uyghur prison staff who were on duty that day, said the source, who declined to be named out of fear of retribution. When the Uyghur inmates learned that she was Kamile Wayit, they embraced her, thinking of their own children whom they hadnt seen in five or six years, the source said. When RFA contacted relevant authorities in Atush, an employee suggested the reporter contact local police who handled her case. Other officials provided inconsistent responses, at times suggesting to consult higher authorities, while on other occasions referring to the case as a state secret and refraining from disclosing details about Wayits sentence. Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. Chau Van Kham was arrested hours after he landed in Vietnam in early 2019. Chau Van Kham [left], an Australian of Vietnamese descent, is escorted into a courtroom in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in 2019. Vietnam has released Australian citizen and pro-democracy activist Chau Van Kham about four years into a 12-year prison sentence he received while visiting the country in 2019. Kham, 74, who returned home to Sydney on Tuesday, had been a member of Viet Tan, a pro-democracy group with members inside Vietnam and abroad, which has been described by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as a moderate activist group advocating for democratic reform. Hanoi, meanwhile, claims it is a terrorist organization that aims to topple the government. Dai Le, Australias first Vietnamese-born member of parliament, confirmed the release to RFAs Vietnamese Service on Tuesday. I believe Mr. Kham was released in the last 48 hours, she said. He arrived back in Sydney today. I was not notified, but obviously it was all very hush hush. It was done in a very highly confidential environment to manage the publicity around it. Le had been instrumental in Canberras efforts to lobby Hanoi for Khams early release, even visiting with Kham in prison and delivering him a letter from his family. Arrested hours after arrival Kham was arrested Jan. 13, 2019, hours after he arrived in Vietnam and met with a fellow pro-democracy activist. The 12-year sentence, for "terrorism aimed at toppling the people's administration," was handed down after his trial in November 2019, and the appeals court upheld the sentence in March 2020. New York-based Human Rights Watch called it a death sentence given Khams advanced age, and his family worried that several medical conditions could worsen in prison. Kham suffers from glaucoma, high blood pressure, and kidney stones, according to Viet Tan. His release came on humanitarian grounds in a spirit of friendship between Canberra and Hanoi, according to Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, CNN reported. This is a result of careful advocacy, which has been undertaken by the Australian government with the Vietnamese government, over a number of months now, Marles said. The release came after repeated calls from the international community to release Kham, including a January 2023 open letter signed by human rights activists and elected officials from around the world. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised the issue last month during a diplomatic visit to mark 50 years of relations between the two countries. Vietnam War Born in 1949 in southern Vietnam, Chau Van Kham had joined the South Vietnamese army during the Vietnam War, which ended with the Souths defeat in 1975 to the communist North. Kham, having supported the South, was sent to study in reeducation camps for three years, and eventually made his way to Australia in 1983, where he joined Viet Tan and became a senior member. News of Khams release and return to Sydney was welcomed by Viet Tan, Nguyen Do Thanh Phong, a member of the groups Central Committee told RFAs Vietnamese Service. [The release] is a good thing, because recently Mr. Kham's health had declined due to his old age, and long-time imprisonment of more than four years, said Phong. He credited Khams release to the efforts of the international community and the Australian government. More than 150 political prisoners Khams case was one of several instances of Hanoi imprisoning foreign nationals of Vietnamese ancestry. In most cases, they are released ahead of schedule in what Hanoi calls its clemency and humanity policy. But the releases are not examples of the government acting merciful, they are the direct result of international pressure, Phong said. In recent years, many democracy activists and human rights activists have been arrested, and the sentences are getting heavier and more severe, he said. That cannot reflect humanity. The very nature of [this kind of] arrest and imprisonment is a work that is especially inhumane. Human rights groups have applauded Khams release. Today is a momentous day for the movement to free wrongly imprisoned people around the world, and serves as a reminder that Australians in their tens of thousands will take action to defend human rights, Rose Kulak, Amnesty Internationals Australia campaigner said in a statement. Khams release is fantastic news, Elaine Pearson, Asia Director of New York-based Human Rights Watch, said in a statement, but she was critical of Hanoi for continuing to hold more than 150 political prisoners for peaceful acts of free expression. The one-party state has no tolerance for anyone who expresses a narrative contrary to the government, and the Australian government should continue to call on Vietnamese authorities to release all political prisoners, she said. Translated by An Nguyen. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster. Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here. I'm Frud Bezhan, regional desk editor for Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead. The Key Issue The Taliban this week burned scores of musical instruments it claimed to have recently seized across Afghanistan. The Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice on July 19 released photos of the blaze. The ministry declared music is un-Islamic and promotes "immorality that has caused the youth to go astray and society to be destroyed." Widely condemned by Afghans on social media, the move is seen as part of the Taliban's war on music. The extremist group banned music soon after seizing power in 2021 and has burned instruments and beaten musicians. That has led hundreds of musicians to flee the country in fear of their lives. Why It's Important: The Taliban also banned music during its brutal regime in the 1990s. At that time, many musicians fled to neighboring Pakistan and Iran, where they could practice freely and pass their knowledge on to the next generation. Most musicians who remained in Afghanistan either played secretly in their homes or hid their instruments. Now, a new generation of Afghan musicians have decided to escape their homeland. "Music is ending in Afghanistan," a musician, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "We [musicians] will go to Pakistan or anywhere else [where we are safe]." Ahmad Sarmast, the self-exiled founder of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, told Radio Azadi that Afghanistan is the only country where music is prohibited. "The people of Afghanistan have been deprived of all their musical rights, which includes access to music education, listening to music, participating in musical programs, making a living through music, and access to facilities for publishing, reproducing, and sharing music with society." What's Next: Great strides were made in reviving Afghanistan's musical traditions after the U.S.-led invasion ousted the Taliban's first regime in 2001. Those gains have now been reversed, and more musicians and artists are likely to flee Afghanistan or abandon their musical careers if they remain in their homeland. The Week's Best Stories Afghan women demonstrated in Kabul on June 19 to demand the Taliban back down from its decree ordering the closure of beauty salons. The women say the shutdown would leave their families with no income. Taliban officials say beauty salons are forbidden under Shari'a law and demanded they be closed by July 25. The Taliban has suspended the activities of a major Swedish aid group operating in Afghanistan. Afghans fear the move will aggravate an already devastating humanitarian crisis that has pushed millions to the brink of starvation. What To Keep An Eye On The family of Afghan journalist Irfanullah Bidar said he has been missing since July 12. A source close to the family who did not want to be named for fear of retribution told Radio Azadi that Bidar was detained by unknown gunmen outside a mosque in the eastern city of Jalalabad. The men put a bag over Bidar's head before whisking him away in a car, the source said. The source said Bidar, a reporter for Radio Safa, had no known enemies. The disappearance of Bidar, a father of four, has been widely blamed on the Taliban's notorious intelligence service. The militant group has not publicly commented on his disappearance. Why It's Important: Bidar is the latest journalist to be arrested or disappear in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has intensified its crackdown on independent reporters and media outlets. In its annual report issued in May, the Afghanistan Journalist Center, a media watchdog, said cases of arbitrary arrests and detention, threats, and intimidation of journalists rose around 60 percent in the past year. Since seizing power, the Taliban has waged a brutal crackdown on dissent that has targeted human rights defenders, women activists, intellectuals, and journalists. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org. Until next time, Frud Bezhan If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday. Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian says a fresh war with Azerbaijan remains a high probability in the absence of a peace treaty between the two countries. "So long as a peace treaty has not been signed and such a treaty has not been ratified by the parliaments of the two countries, of course, a [new] war [with Azerbaijan] is very likely," Pashinian said in an interview with AFP published on July 21. Baku and Yerevan have fought two wars over Nagorno-Karabakh, a predominantly Armenian-populated mountainous enclave that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. The most recent war lasted six weeks in late 2020 and left 7,000 soldiers dead on both sides. As a result of the war, Azerbaijan regained control over a part of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts. The war ended with a Russian-brokered cease-fire under which Moscow deployed about 2,000 troops to serve as peacekeepers. Armenia and Azerbaijan in recent weeks have engaged in rounds of diplomacy aimed at reaching a lasting peace deal but there have been sporadic border clashes, and the talks have not yet yielded a breakthrough. Tensions have remained high over the situation on the Lachin Corridor, the only road linking Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan earlier this month suspended traffic through a checkpoint on the corridor pending an investigation after it said "various types of contraband" had been discovered in Red Cross vehicles coming from Armenia. The suspension of traffic heightened concerns over a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. Both Armenia and separatist authorities in the enclave have said that Azerbaijan has blockaded the territory since December, resulting in shortages of food, medicines, and energy. Pashinian sharply criticized the blockade in the interview with AFP, saying it amounted to "an ongoing process of genocide" for ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, meanwhile, said Azerbaijan is making serious efforts to remove land mines, more than 1 million of which are buried in the territories of Azerbaijan, while also criticizing a map provided by Armenia that covers approximately 400,000 mines. Speaking on July 21 at the Shusha Global Media Forum, Aliyev also said that after the end of the war, land mines killed or seriously injured more than 300 people. He said that Armenia's "nonpresentation" of the maps showing where the land mines are "is a continuation of Armenia's terror against us." Armenia has not responded to Aliyev's comments. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in a separate interview published on July 21 that Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot resolve their relations without taking into account the security factor and the rights of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh. Mirzoyan stressed in an interview with the Austrian daily DerStandard that the main issue for Armenia is the security of people and their fundamental rights. The humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is difficult and close to a humanitarian catastrophe, he said. "We need immediate humanitarian intervention to save 120,000 people from starvation. Then we will be able to continue negotiations with everyone who is interested in establishing a lasting peace in the region," Mirzoyan said. "It's important to avoid another dangerous cycle of hostility, he said. Enough blood has already been shed in the South Caucasus. Mutual recognition of territorial integrity will be of key importance." As for the issue of security and rights of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, he said Armenia believes that the best mechanism would be a dialogue with international participation. A fourth day of Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian Black Sea port installations on July 21 set grain storage facilities in the Odesa region on fire and destroyed a huge amount of food stored for export, causing damage and injuries, regional officials and the military said, as fighting continued along the whole eastern front. 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. Regional Governor Oleh Kiper said that Russia launched Kalibr-type cruise missiles from vessels in the Black Sea, destroying a grain terminal and wounding two people. Unfortunately, a grain terminal of one of the agricultural enterprises of the Odesa region was hit. The enemy destroyed 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley. Two people were wounded in the explosion," Kiper said. Kiper said that, at first, two missiles hit the granary, causing a fire, then a third missile struck while firefighters were trying to extinguish the flames. "Another missile hit the same enterprise, damaging agricultural and rescue equipment. A fire on an area of more than 200 square meters was quickly extinguished," Kiper said. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said that up to four P-800 Onyx cruise missiles hit infrastructure targets south of the city of Odesa. "Unfortunately, our means of detection and destruction are not enough to cover the entire territory of Ukraine and destroy incoming missiles and drones," Ihnat said. In Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said its navy carried out a live fire "exercise" in the northwest Black Sea on July 21, just days after the Kremlin said that cargo ships en route to Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea would be regarded as potential military targets. The Black Sea Fleet "carried out live firing of anti-ship cruise missiles at the target ship in the combat training range in the northwestern part of the Black Sea," the ministry said in a statement on Telegram. On July 20, Russian missiles struck the Odesa and Mykolayiv regions, killing two people, wounding another 20, including five children, and causing extensive damage to port installations and stored grain. The strikes also hit residential areas in the center of Odesa and Mykolayiv, setting large areas on fire. The Ukrainian Energy Ministry said that grain terminals and port infrastructure in the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk were targeted. In Chornomorsk, 60,000 tons of grain were destroyed over the past several days, the ministry said. Russia's Defense Ministry has said the series of strikes on southern Ukraine targeted facilities where it claimed Ukraine was building seaborne drones of the type that Moscow says damaged a bridge in the annexed region of Crimea. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the Russian strikes had "deliberately" targeted sites in the Odesa region that are used to export grain after Russia refused to extend the grain deal. Zelenskiy met on July 21 with military commanders to discuss the situation at the front and about the grain initiative. Work continues to protect ports and the infrastructure of the grain initiative, he said, adding he had instructed the commanders to prepare an action plan for the continuation of the grain corridor and to work out the next diplomatic steps. In New York the UN's political affairs chief told the Security Council on July 21 that Russia's attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports risk "having far-reaching impacts on global food security, in particular, in developing countries." Rosemary DiCarlo also said threats about the potential targeting of civilian vessels in Black Sea waters -- made by both Russia and Ukraine -- are unacceptable. "Any risk of conflict spillover as a result of a military incident in the Black Sea -- whether intentional or by accident -- must be avoided at all costs, as this could result in potentially catastrophic consequences to us all," she said. The Black Sea escalation comes as Kyiv reports a new attempt by Russia to return to the offensive in the northeast. "The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on Kupyansk [in the Kharkiv region], Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Maryinka [in the Donetsk region], where 32 close combat battles were fought over the past day," the General Staff of Ukraine's military said on July 21. Ukrainian defenders in Kupyansk repelled attacks by Russian troops southwest of Masyutivka, the military added. Germany meanwhile announced that it has handed over the first 10 Leopard 1A5 tanks to Ukraine. In a message, the German Defense Ministry said the new package of military aid also included 20 MG3 machine guns for tanks and armored vehicles, 1,035 155-millimeter shells and smoke ammunition, among other items. On July 20, the United States said U.S.-supplied cluster munitions are being deployed in the field. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the munitions are having an impact on Russian defensive formations and maneuvering. "We have gotten some initial feedback from the Ukrainians, and they're using them quite effectively," Kirby said at a news briefing. In its daily intelligence update, Britain's Defense Ministry said that up to 20,000 Russian convicts recruited by the Wagner mercenary group were killed in fighting in Bakhmut over the past several months. Russian forces spearheaded by Wagner mercenaries captured Bakhmut in May, following months of intense and bloody fighting. British intelligence said that, while it was a rare recent Russian military success, the battle for Bakhmut was also "one of the bloodiest episodes in modern military history." It estimated that at its peak, Wagner had some 40,000 convicts under contract early this year. It said that the last convicts recruited under the so-called Project K program are likely to be released over the next several days, but it estimated that many will probably stay on as contract fighters. With reporting by AP and Reuters Five people, including an 8-year-old boy, were injured as a result of an enemy shelling attack on Kherson, all of them were hospitalized, Head of Kherson Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Prokudin has said. "Five casualties have been reported as a result of Russia's shelling attack on Kherson. Among them there is an 8-year-old boy who was diagnosed with moderate severity injuries. He was in the backyard of his house at the moment of the enemy shelling," he said on the Telegram channel on Tuesday. Also, a 86-year-old man suffered serious head, neck, chest, arm and leg injuries from shrapnel. A 56-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man suffered moderate severity injuries. One more person was wounded in Kindiyka. As reported, the Russian occupation forces shelled residential districts of Kherson on Tuesday. The remains of 30 newly identified victims of the Srebrenica genocide were buried on July 11 as Bosnia-Herzegovina marked the 28th anniversary of the killings. The victims' remains were laid to rest at the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center in Potocari, where more than 6,700 of the estimated 8,000 victims have been buried. The remains of the 30 Bosniak Muslims were brought back from mass graves found in eastern Bosnia, where they had been relocated by Bosnian Serb forces trying to cover up the crime in the closing months of Bosnia's 1992-95 civil war. The youngest victim buried on July 11 was Elvir Salcinovic, who was 15 years old when he was killed. The burials took place during the 28th anniversary ceremony, which was attended by several thousand state officials, foreign dignitaries, and Bosnians. The event was preceded by a 110-kilometer peace march, a three-day hike with 6,000 participants. The Srebrenica killings were the only episode of the conflict -- in which some 100,000 people died -- to be legally defined as genocide, including by two UN courts. However, Serbian and Bosnian Serb officials -- including current Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik -- refuse to accept that wording. The continued denial of the genocide was a major subject at the anniversary ceremony. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) of Bosnia-Herzegovina called on officials to continue pursuing the prosecution of those responsible for the denial of genocide and the glorification of war crimes. In a thinly veiled message to politicians in Republika Srpska, the country's Serb-majority entity, High Representative Christian Schmidt said that his office was ready to use all of its means to help Bosnia bring indictments against genocide deniers. "It is clear that we must have decisive moves by the Prosecutor's office," Schmidt said at the commemoration. "Those who deny the genocide, wherever they live and stay, are committing a criminal offense because the changes to the law that my predecessor, Valentin Inzko, brought two years ago are rigid and clearly state that denying the genocide is a criminal offense. Don't forget that this is a law that applies to the whole of Bosnia-Herzegovina," he said. Denis Becirovic, the Bosnian Muslim member of the Bosnian tripartite presidency, warned that "the danger of genocide over Bosniaks being repeated hasn't been removed yet," adding that certain politicians in Bosnia want to destroy the country's constitutional order, insult the victims, and glorify war criminals. "Today, not only Bosnia-Herzegovina but also the entire civilized part of the world offer deep condolences to the victims of the only genocide committed in Europe after World War II," he said. "All those who offer Bosnia-Herzegovina a strategy of forgetting don't have good intentions with our country." WATCH: Every year, Suljo Cakanovic takes part in the Peace March, a three-day hike across Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Potocari cemetery for the July 11 memorial to victims of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide. Years of ethnic tensions between the Serbs of Republika Srpska and Bosnia's central authorities escalated in the months leading up to the anniversary, culminating in Republika Srpska's parliament voting on June 27 to suspend recognition of any decisions by Bosnia's multiethnic Constitutional Court. Dodik on July 8 challenged the OHR's authority by filing a "criminal complaint" against Schmidt "because he has been dealing with the affairs of the high representative without authorization for a long time, for which there is no UN Security Council decision." Dodik claimed that "with the intention of causing damage to Republika Srpska, Schmidt falsely presents himself as an official knowing that he was not appointed in accordance with Annex 10 of the Dayton peace accords," which give Schmidt the power to impose laws as the final interpreter of the state constitution, though his decisions can be reviewed and questioned by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia, if the OHR approves. A day before filing the complaint, Dodik signed into law controversial changes approved by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska that effectively allow it to disregard decisions made by Schmidt as the international envoy. Schmidt has joined Washington and European Union officials in accusing Dodik of violating Bosnia's constitution and undermining the Dayton accords with this recent action. Johann Sattler, chief of the EU delegation to Bosnia, said in Srebrenica that reconciliation is key, but that its basis is having the perpetrators face the justice. With reporting by Goran Katic of RFE/RL's Balkan Service and Shelby Rayer in Washington The return of the so-called morality police to the streets of major Iranian cities has brought back fear and stress for women who choose to ignore the requirement that they wear the hair-covering hijab. But it has also been met with resistance by men and women alike, while lawmakers have questioned the effectiveness of the hard-line approach to enforcing compliance. Iranians who spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Farda said the presence of the morality police -- officially known as "guidance patrols" that usually include male officers and women wearing black chadors -- is not as visible as it was before the patrols were scaled back after nationwide protests first broke out against the hijab law last autumn. I really don't know where they want to get with this method, but in my opinion, if they want to continue this way, confrontations will start again." "Before, when we went on the street, they had a stationary vehicle, or a vehicle that was moving on the street," Leila Mirghaffari, a women's rights activist who lives in Tehran, told Radio Farda on July 17, a day after the return of the morality police was announced. "They haven't yet dared to encroach like before. But they are present, mostly in main squares." Mirghaffari described the decision to redeploy the morality police, coming after the monthslong protests had largely wound down, as a distraction aimed at creating "fear and terror" among the population. "It creates mental and emotional problems for us. It's stressful, and it occupies our thoughts and those of our families," Mirghaffari said. "When we want to leave home and come out to the street, at any moment we may travel a route where morality police patrol and are stationed to arrest people." Nevertheless, Mirghaffari and others suggested, the patrols are largely ineffective and have even given new life to resistance against the authorities' efforts to enforce the countrys strict Islamic dress code. Some Tehran residents who spoke to Radio Farda said that many women simply put on a hijab when they spot the morality police before quickly removing them once out of sight. And in some cases where women have been harassed or threatened by morality police, fellow citizens -- male and female alike -- have pushed back. Almost immediately after the authorities announced on July 16 that the morality police patrols would resume, residents of the northern city of Rasht took to the streets to protest an attempt to arrest three women for allegedly violating the hijab requirement. The situation reportedly escalated into clashes between demonstrators and police, who used tear gas to disperse protesters, some of whom were chanting against Iran's clerical establishment. "I really don't know where they want to get with this method, but in my opinion, if they want to continue this way, confrontations will start again," said a male Tehran resident who requested anonymity while answering questions on WhatsApp. "Personally, if I see them taking a girl into a van, I will step forward and shout so as not to let them take them. That's how things are, and I think most people now are like me. They don't want the Mahsa incident to happen again and for another innocent girl to be killed." The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September, soon after she was arrested for allegedly violating the hijab law, sparked the nationwide protests that lasted months and prompted a crackdown that led to the deaths of more than 500 people. Amini's death became the cause celebre for thousands of women and men who took to the streets to show their opposition to the hijab law. Amid the protests, there were reports that the authorities had disbanded the morality police, although other reports indicated that they never really went away in some cities. But the issue also prompted the clerical establishment, which views the hijab as key to its interpretation of Islam, to introduce revisions to the country's Chastity and Hijab Law that would introduce stiffer penalties for noncompliance, including up to three years in prison for repeat offenders. While the hijab has been compulsory in public for women and girls over the age of 9 since 1981, shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution ushered in the clerical establishment, the requirement is often flouted, particularly in urban areas. The Chastity and Hijab bill, which is awaiting parliamentary approval, has been fodder for intense debate -- with some lawmakers saying it does not go far enough to make women comply with the hijab requirement and others questioning the effectiveness of forcing women to comply. Following the announcement that the morality police patrols would resume in many Iranian cities, lawmaker Vali Esmaili, who heads the parliament's social commission, said that the body would unlikely be involved in the effort. He also said that before resuming the patrols, "we should first look at the state of society to see if such actions have been effective in the past 43 years." The Chastity and Hijab bill also proposes penalties, including the confiscation of automobiles, against drivers or passengers of vehicles in which women are not in compliance with the hijab requirement. "When I'm driving, I have to wear a hijab," a woman who resides in Tehran told Radio Farda following the redeployment of the morality police, explaining that she has had her vehicle impounded four times for failing to wear the hijab. "But when I get out and move away from the car, I take off my head scarf. Many times, I just put it in my bag. Sometimes, when I see that the conditions are bad, I keep it around my neck, but I am still without a hijab in the street." The woman said that she has not personally seen any morality police since they returned to the streets of Tehran. But she has heard eyewitness accounts of the presence of marked morality police vehicles in the northern city of Shahriar, in Tehran Province, where she said most women wear head scarves and those who do not could be seen without a hijab not far from the morality police. WATCH: Masses of demonstrators are turning out throughout Iran, where some are shouting down police enforcement of strict religious dress codes for women. "There are the odd ones out who are without a hijab, and they were 100 or 200 meters away from the morality police," she recalled being told of the current situation. She said that even before the morality police returned to the streets, her experience in dealing with them showed that they were reluctant to enforce the hijab requirement. "It's pretty clear that they're tired of this matter, but it seems like they have orders from above," she said. That is far from the norm, according to the activist Mirghaffari, who painted a dark picture of the morality police, whose involvement in human rights violations has led to Western sanctions. "The morality police are truly violent. They are really repressive. They have no humanity," said Mirghaffari, who added that she has been arrested by the force several times. "The morality police are really trained for savagery and for causing distress to the point that someone like Mahsa Amini could be killed. And they have no fear at all." Others who spoke to Radio Farda were incredulous that the authorities would reintroduce the morality police amid public frustration over Iran's dire economic situation. "The issue is not the hijab. The real issue is the terrifying inflation and high prices," said the man who answered questions by WhatsApp. "But they are only fixated on the hijab. They are playing with everyone's nerves, whether man or woman, whether with a hijab or without, they are bothering everyone." The renewed protests, which included women carrying placards bearing the "We won't go back!" slogan that became popular during anti-hijab demonstrations, suggests that efforts to force women into compliance will be met with continued resistance. "Look, our girls are fighting and know that there is no way back for us and we are not going back, and our answer to them wanting to forcibly put a hijab on us is, 'No!'" said Mirghaffari. "This is a big step we have taken to reach our other desires and we will never go back." Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by Mehdi Tahbaz and other Radio Farda correspondents. VILNIUS -- On July 10, on the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled that Ankara was ready to ratify Sweden's NATO accession protocol, potentially putting an end to a saga that has dragged on for over a year. Finland and Sweden, which were previously nonaligned militarily, applied for membership of the alliance in May 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February. Then in June 2022, at a summit in Madrid, NATO invited both countries to join, conditional on the ratification of every member state. So, what does the deal struck between Turkey and Sweden mean, and what further roadblocks could lie ahead? Pre-Summit Drama In many ways, there was a sense of deja vu after what happened at the Madrid summit. Back then, the noises coming out of Ankara were very negative about the chances of Turkey allowing Sweden and Finland to join. But then, a day before the gathering in the Spanish capital, the three countries agreed on a trilateral memorandum, with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg serving as an arbiter, in which Sweden and Finland pledged to lift an arms embargo against Turkey, update their counterterrorism legislation, and extradite individuals (mostly Kurds) that Turkey deems to be engaging in terrorist activities. Finland fulfilled its part of the bargain and promptly joined NATO in early April. But Sweden was stuck, largely due to Turkey's objections to regular Swedish demonstrations, where emigre Kurds protested against Erdogan's government, along with some incidents of the Koran being burned that incensed both Turkey and large parts of the Muslim world. But, as in Madrid a year earlier, a day before the July 11-12 summit in the Lithuanian capital was about to start and after plenty of doom and gloom about the likelihood of a breakthrough, Stoltenberg again announced a major deal -- this time a bilateral security "compact," or agreement, between Sweden and Turkey that will most likely allow the former to become NATO's 32nd member. What Does The Agreement Entail? Essentially the deal covers two things. Firstly, Sweden and Turkey will continue to work together to fight terrorism. The two countries will meet annually at the ministerial level and, according to a joint statement agreed after the meeting in Vilnius, Sweden will present a road map at the first ministerial meeting, likely to take place in the fall, "as the basis of its continued fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations towards the full implementation of all elements of the Trilateral Memorandum." Secondly, during the meeting in Vilnius it was also agreed that the NATO secretary-general will create a new position within NATO structures -- a special coordinator for counterterrorism. However, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson did make clear in the press conference after the negotiations that Sweden didn't have to make any new pledges when it comes to handing over more people that Turkey considers to be terrorists. Earlier the same day, NATO officials from various member states agreed on new defense plans for the military alliance, explaining how the bloc would defend itself in the case of an attack. For most alliance members, the likely adversary would be Russia, but Turkey insisted -- and NATO agreed -- that the alliance would also consider threats from terrorism. NATO officials who did not want to be named because they were not authorized to speak on the issue told RFE/RL in Vilnius that NATO's concurrence on this point meant Ankara was prepared to strike a deal with Sweden. A New Push For Turkey To Join The EU Earlier in the day, the Turkish president had thrown a bit of a curveball by demanding that the European Union revive Turkey's stalled membership bid as a precondition for Sweden joining NATO. As a result, the statement issued after the meeting in Vilnius said that "Sweden will actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkey's EU accession process, including modernization of the EU-Turkey Customs Union and visa liberalization." Unlike all other EU candidate countries, Turkey still doesn't have a visa-free regime with the EU -- something it has coveted for a long time. The same is true of the customs union between the EU and Turkey, which entered into force at the end of 1995 but which Turkey would like to expand to include more agricultural products and services. In 2016, the European Commission issued an assessment on how to modernize the customs union, but just as in the case with visa liberalization, the 27 EU member states haven't reached the necessary consensus on moving forward. Sweden is actually a strong proponent of EU enlargement and has long favored stronger EU engagement with Ankara, despite many skeptics remaining, notably Austria, Cyprus, France, Greece, and the Netherlands. Enter Charles Michel, the president of the EU Council, the body that sets the EU's political and strategic priorities, who met with Erdogan after a hiatus in the talks between the Turkish president, Kristersson, and Stoltenberg. After lengthy discussions, Michel tweeted that he and Erdogan "explored opportunities to bring cooperation back to the forefront and re-energize our relations." He also wrote that he had tasked the European Commission and the European External Action Service, the EU's diplomatic service, to submit a report on how to proceed. It's clear that Turkey, having seen the EU enlargement process kick into gear with the candidate statuses of Ukraine and Moldova last year, wants to be part of that discussion as well. In the end, though, any progress depends on how much appetite there is in Brussels for further enlargement, in particular concerning a country as large and as powerful as Turkey. So, Is It A Done Deal? Both Stoltenberg and Kristersson said after the meeting that they hoped that the Swedish accession protocol will be brought to the Turkish parliament for a vote "as soon as possible" without going into any specific timelines. If the accession document isn't ratified in July, then the earliest opportunity would be October, when the Ankara chamber returns from recess. Then there is the Hungarian question. Budapest has, in purported solidarity with Turkey, also failed to ratify Sweden's NATO accession treaty, something required of all the member states' parliaments. The secretary-general reminded everyone that Hungary has explained time and again that it won't be the last country to give the thumbs-up and Kristersson spoke of assurances from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that Budapest won't delay the process any further. So there is still a chance that both Turkey and Hungary could whiz through all the required legal procedures and Sweden could become a NATO member as early as this month. But in a process that has dragged on for longer than expected, predictions are perhaps a fool's errand. Especially since in recent days, Swedish police said that they had received three new applications to burn holy books, including the Koran outside a Stockholm mosque. VILNIUS -- Ukraine's future is inside NATO, but the military alliance will extend an invitation to Kyiv only when "members agree and conditions are met," NATO leaders said in a declaration that disappointed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the first day of their summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on July 11 told a press conference that there had never been a stronger message from NATO both on the political message for membership and the concrete support from NATO allies. Speaking to reporters, Stoltenberg said Ukraine has moved closer to membership, in part due to its adoption of large amounts of military equipment and training from NATO members to help Kyiv repel invading Russian forces since February 2022. 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. This development allowed for the "unprecedented" dropping of the requirement for Ukraine to fulfill a Membership Action Plan (MAP), Stoltenberg said, just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it would be "unprecedented and absurd" if NATO didn't offer Kyiv a clear timeline for either full integration or at least an invitation to start membership negotiations. The declaration says the NATO leaders "recognize that Ukraines path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond" the need for the MAP. "We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met," it added, without releasing details of what the conditions are. Zelenskiy complained about "vague wording about conditions" for inviting Ukraine even before the declaration was published. "It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to NATO nor to make it a member of the Alliance," he added. But Stoltenberg told the news conference that previous accessions to NATO had not been accompanied by a timeline. "They are conditions-based, have always been," he said. The Ukrainian leader said the perceived ambiguity would only benefit Russia and pledged to raise the issue in person at the summit. "For Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror. Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit," he said after confirming he will meet on July 12 with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the summit. Speaking later at a rally in Vilnius, Zelenskiy said NATO will make Ukraine safer and Ukraine will make NATO stronger. "I traveled here today with belief in a decision, with belief in partners, with belief in a strong NATO," he said. "I would wish for this belief to become a certainty -- certainty in decisions that all of us deserve and which our every soldier expects, our every citizen, our every mother, our every child. And is this too big of a wish?" While the language of the declaration fell short of this wish, it used strong language toward Moscow, saying: "The Russian Federation is the most significant and direct threat to Allies security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area." The Kremlin railed over the summit, saying the alliance was treating Russia as though it were an "enemy," exacerbating an already volatile security situation around the world. "Russia is perceived by [NATO leaders] as an enemy, as an adversary. It is in this vein that the discussions [in Vilnius] will be conducted," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a briefing in Moscow. "We are monitoring this very carefully because much of what has been said will be subject to in-depth analysis in order to take measures to ensure our own security," he added. Ahead of the summit, France and Germany announced new military aid packages for Ukraine. President Emmanuel Macron said on arrival in Vilnius that France will start supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine, which will allow Kyiv's forces to defend themselves . "I have decided to increase deliveries of weapons and equipment to enable the Ukrainians to have the capacity to strike deeply while keeping our doctrine to allow Ukraine to defend its territory," he said, without giving further details on how many or the types of missiles. IN PHOTOS: Kyiv's forces on the front line near Kreminna, in eastern Ukraine, have been using a captured Russian TOS-1A Solntsepyok ("Blazing Sun") heavy thermobaric rocket launcher to devastate Moscow's forces as the Ukrainian counteroffensive continues. An unnamed French military source told reporters in Vilnius that Paris has already started delivering a significant number of SCALP cruise missiles to Ukraine. SCALP is the French name of a long-range missile developed jointly by France and Britain and known in the United Kingdom as Storm Shadow. The SCALPs, which have a 250-kilometer range, would only be used within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders and would be launched from non-Western planes, the source said. Britain has already delivered a number of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine since May. The German Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said on July 11 that Germany also would give Ukraine military armored vehicles and ammunition worth 700 million euros ($768 million). Hours before the start of the summit, Russia launched another drone attack on Kyiv -- the second this month -- and Odesa. The attack was largely repelled by the Ukrainian air defenses, causing only minor damage around Kyiv, according to initial assessments. "All detected air targets that were moving in the direction of Kyiv were destroyed by our air-defense forces," the head of the Ukrainian capital's military administration, Serhiy Popko, said on Telegram. In the Black Sea city of Odesa, two drones hit an administrative building in the port and a grain terminal caught fire, which was quickly extinguished causing no "critical damage" or injuries, regional Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram. The Ukrainian air defense said separately that it had destroyed 26 out of the 28 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia. With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak in Vilnius, Reuters, and AFP NATO Secretary General has announced that the allies agreed to remove the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) from requirements for Ukraine's future membership. He said this at a press conference in Vilnius on Tuesday following a meeting of the head of states and governments of the member states. The allies affirmed that Ukraine will become a NATO member and agreed to drop the MAP requirement for Ukraine's membership, Stoltenberg said, adding that this will change Ukraine's path towards membership from a two-step into a one-step process. KOSTYANTYNIVKA, Ukraine -- "I have a photo that was taken in the Klishchiyivka trenches on my birthday last summer, and I want to take a new one by the end of this month," a special forces soldier with the call sign "Frantsuz" -- the Frenchman -- said as he headed for a meeting of his unit in this town in the rear in the Donetsk region, a staging ground for the fighting at the front. He had been defending Klishchiyivka, a small village on high ground southwest of Bakhmut, before the now ruined city fell to Wagner mercenary fighters and other Russian forces in May after many months of grueling warfare. Now, about five weeks after Ukraine launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive along the more than 1,000-kilometer front line stretching from the area near Kherson in the south to the Donbas and the Kharkiv region in the east, its forces are setting their sights on reclaiming Bakhmut, which has acquired a symbolic status beyond its strategic value. Following a monthlong lull in the fighting in this area, Ukrainian forces are advancing on the northern and southern flanks of the city, hoping to surround it to avoid getting embroiled again in street-to-street fighting that could bring them heavy losses. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on July 10 that Ukrainian forces had managed to capture the heights near Bakhmut and were hemming in Russian troops by keeping entrances, exits, and enemy movements around the city in their sights and targeting them at times. In a similar statement on the same day, the Ukrainian ground forces commander, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, said Russian forces in Bakhmut were trapped and that the city was now under the fire control of the Defense Forces, indicting that all points in Bakhmut are in the range of Kyivs artillery. Night Moves The fighting in the area, which is pinning down thousands of Russian troops amid Ukrainian pushes elsewhere on the front, is almost incessant, with military operations ongoing day and night. On July 9, Frantsuz said he and other members of his unit had been carrying out missions around Bakhmut for many nights in a row for about a week. "Our job is to sneak into the gray zone and make a bad day for the Russians," he told RFE/RL, referring to the no-mans-land between Ukrainian and Russian positions. Special operations units like his are trying to find weak spots in the Russian defenses, hit targets, and get back out while heavy artillery is pounding the enemy from a distance. Their missions are usually carried out overnight because the mostly flat terrain -- with abandoned coal mines, slag heaps, and sparse tree cover -- offers little protection. They are also helping infantry to hold positions through the first night after they are retaken in risky daylight assaults across fortified and mined territory that is regularly under fire from Russian helicopters and warplanes. "We are mirroring what the Russians did in the past," Frantsuz said. He added that the trenches close to Klishchiyivka, which Ukrainian soldiers recently retook, were filled with bodies of Ukrainian soldiers killed in winter and of Russians whom they recently killed. Symbolic Blow Soldiers could not remove the bodies because of persistent gunfire from the Russian forces attempting to recover the ground they have recently lost. Moreover, the retreating troops often put grenades under them to make their collection even riskier. According to a paramedic from the 5th Assault Brigade, who uses the call sign "Aslan" and was stationed first in Bakhmut and then in nearby Chasiv Yar, the number of casualties on the Ukrainian side is significantly lower than in the deadly fighting in defense of Bakhmut in the winter and spring. Russian artillery shelling is much more limited and selective than before, he told RFE/RL, and thus -- although Russia still has an advantage in artillery rounds -- fewer Ukrainian soldiers wounded by shrapnel arrive at the stabilization point where he works. In fact, both Chasiv Yar and Ivanivske, which are on the outskirts of Bakhmut, have been razed to the ground. Kostyantynivka and the city of Kramatorsk, farther from the front, are pounded almost daily by Russian bombs and rockets -- including one attack that hit a crowded pizza restaurant on June 27, killing at least 13 people. Aslan became a paramedic after he was wounded himself. He is determined to continue the fight but said that soldiers who have not been rotated out and have been fighting for over a year are exhausted. "It's difficult to accept that everything weve seen happened for real," he said, referring to the carnage of the long and unsuccessful defense of Bakhmut. Many of the soldiers who defended the city are now taking part in the effort to retake it. Some speculate that the NATO-trained brigades will go into the fight only after the battlefield is prepared by the troops already deployed in the area. At the same time, according to military analysts, Russia has not yet used its strategic reserves to repel the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Tens of thousands of soldiers are waiting for the right moment to strike at the positions of the Ukrainian Army. Taking Bakhmut back could undermine Russian logistics and deliver a big symbolic blow to the Russian military leadership. Thats on top of the damage done when Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose forces were instrumental in Russias capture of the city and who has been fiercely critical of Russia's defense minister and General Staff chief, made it to within about 200 kilometers of Moscow in a short-lived mutiny on June 23-24. Frantsuz, a veteran of the war that Moscow fomented in the Donbas in 2014, when Russia fueled separatism and backed anti-Kyiv forces after the downfall of Moscow-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, is convinced that taking back Bakhmut is possible, but won't be easy. "The West has not supplied us with modern planes and is agonizing over the U.S. decision to give us cluster munitions because it is not arming us for a huge military operation," he said, echoing the concerns and complaints of Ukrainian authorities who say the pace and volume of Western weapons supplies is slowing the counteroffensive. "They would like to see us as a brave and perfect hero from a Greek epic, but the reality is that war is about killing as many of the enemy as possible, in any way possible," he said. 'We Have To Fight' According to the Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, some of the Russian forces now operating in the Bakhmut area became known as Storm Z. They are under the control of the Russian Defense Ministry, but like some Wagner fighters, they are said to be recruited from prisons and go into battle after a minimal amount of training, lured by the prospect of payment and release or a reduction of their sentences. On top of this, the Kremlin-backed leader of Russias Chechnya region, Ramzan Kadyrov, claims that Chechen forces have deployed to the Bakhmut area. On his Telegram channel, he published a video in which a man named Apta Alaudinov claims to be among forces near Klishchiyivka. But a local Ukrainian commander, Petro Kuzyk, told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service that Ukrainian forces have not encountered Chechen forces. BROVARY, Ukraine -- Three days after Russian forces poured across the border into Ukraine, moving toward the capital, Viktoria Andrusha, a 26-year-old teacher of mathematics and computer science, was helping to look after her parents in a village about 90 minutes east of Kyiv. Russian troops conducted house-to-house searches in the village, called Stariy Bykiv. At her parents' house they found Andrusha, and they found her mobile phone, which had photos and videos of Russian military equipment. "They just said that you have the status of a 'gunner' -- a gunner-spotter," she told Current Time, a role also known as an artillery observer, someone who helps direct artillery or mortar fire at an enemy target. "And it was specifically people with this status that they hated the most." They arrested her. For the next six months, she suffered beatings, electrical shocks, blindfolding, exhaustion, hunger, endless boredom, and a terrifying uncertainty: she did not know if she would ever get out alive. Ukrainian authorities estimate that more than 25,000 Ukrainians are currently being held in Russian captivity -- some of whom, in the Donbas and Crimea, have been held since well before the full-scale invasion of February 2022. Of that figure, 126 are women, 80 of them civilians, as of June 30. Andrusha is one of them. Lyudmyla Huseynova is another. 'This Was The Scariest Thing For Me' Huseynova, a 61-year-old former workplace-safety engineer, said she was detained by unknown men on October 9, 2019, more than two years prior to the full-scale invasion, in Novoazovsk, a coastal Donetsk city just west of the Russian border. "I was just stopped on the street, next to a car. They jumped out, shoved me into that car. They took me to my home, searched it, found Ukrainian books, a Ukrainian flag, then put a bag over my head and drove me on further," she said in an interview on July 4 in Kyiv. She said she was driven to the city of Donetsk, about 2 1/2 hours' drive to the north, with the bag still on her head, and no explanation of what would happen. She ultimately was brought to a prison known as Izolyatsia (Isolation) at a former factory that had later housed a center for contemporary art. "When they brought me there, they forced me to undress. When the bullying began and they threw me into a cell, they let me take off the bag, and another girl told me what kind of place it was," Huseynova said. "I wasn't allowed to sit down or go to bed from six in the morning until 10 at night," she said. "Very hot lamps were installed nearby, a close distance from my bunk. And it just burned out your eyes." "And the first four days, what I heard were terrible screams. I just prayed to God that these were not the screams of my relatives," Huseynova said. "This was the scariest thing for me." For her part, Andrusha said she was brought to a detention center across the border, in the Russian region of Kursk, where she was blindfolded, her hands bound. "They just forced us to our knees and said, 'We will shoot you now,'" she said in an interview recorded on June 29. When the detainees arrived at the detention center, everyone went through the process of "admission," she said. She said detainees were taken into an interior corridor where there were no surveillance cameras and beaten. 'That's It For You' She said she was beaten so badly, including being shocked with a stun gun, that she lost consciousness at one point. Her captors would say, she recalled: "You've already lived a little. Well, that's enough for you, you've already tried it out. That's it for you." "There was a moment when I said that I was already passing out, I was losing consciousness," she said. "They did not believe me, they threatened, 'We're going to burn you alive now.'" From the first day of her captivity, Andrusha said she and other detainees were expected to learn the Russian national anthem and were reprimanded or punished for any errors or perceived violations. "God forbid you say the wrong word somewhere, or sing softly or something," she said. "I was especially annoyed by their song Uncle Vova. This [song] was just in praise of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin," she said. "There were moments when they forced me to learn poetry. And one of these poems was called Forgive Us, Dear Russians." Andrusha said she cried often. "Even if I cried, I did it in such a way that the [guards] wouldn't see it," she said. "Then there was a moment when they simply took us out into the corridor and turned on a video about Mariupol, when they showed the bombed-out city, and they showed children who were living in a basement. Then all these emotions just came pouring out." 'I Still Don't Feel Like Eating' Hunger and thirst were commonplace in the detention centers. "There were days when they gave us only two small pieces of bread, very small, for the whole day. And you have to somehow make this bread last," Huseynova said. "And water, and that's all." Other times, she said, captives were given barley porridge that was "like rocks. And they mixed in some kind of soil, and mouse droppings, and it was impossible to eat. I still can't really taste food anymore. There's nothing I want to eat," she said. Andrusha, who was released from Russian captivity on September 22, 2022, continues to work as a schoolteacher. Huseynova, who now lives in Kyiv and volunteers for a nongovernment organization that advocates for detained women, was released on October 17, 2022. Written by Mike Eckel based on reporting by Yulia Zhukova The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the draft agreement between the governments of Ukraine and Sweden on cooperation in defense procurement. As representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnychuk said on Telegram, the corresponding decision was made at a government meeting on Tuesday. In particular, a draft agreement was approved between the Government of Ukraine represented by the Ministry of Defense and the Kingdom of Sweden represented by the Swedish Defense Technology Administration on cooperation on defense procurement and related issues. It is noted that the agreement provides for the procedure for cooperation with the Swedish side on procurement and provision of related services in the field of weapons and military equipment. It is expected that the implementation of the agreement will provide an additional opportunity for the supply of modern Swedish-made weapons. NATURE lover Harriet Day saw a dream come true when she was invited to work behind the scenes on the recent BBC series of Springwatch. And she managed to cause a stir when she observed a sight never seen before by birdwatchers a female nightjar eating her own chick alive. Keen bird ringer and photographer Harriet, from Greasbrough, who normally works as a hairdresser, was invited to work on the popular show presented by Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan after a chance meeting in the Cairngorms with TV naturalist Iolo Williams, who also appears on the programme. "We got chatting and I said I would love to get involved on the programme, said Harriet, and sure enough Iolo put in a good word. After interviews, Harriet was asked to join the team on the recent series after impressing the BBC with her photographic skills and natural history knowledge. Her work, based at the RSPB Arne nature reserve in Dorset, involved sitting in an outside broadcast vehicle for up to 12 hours a day beginning at 4am watching what happened at various birds nests and highlighting interesting stories for the presenters. "There was a lot to cover, said Harriet. Among the things she viewed was a large female buzzard chick mercilessly attacking her small male sibling, a greedy cuckoo being fed by meadow pipits, nests being raided by predators, and the shocking act of cannibalism by the nightjar which was behaviour unknown to ornithologists. According to the British Trust for Ornithology me and my colleague Jack could have been the first people to witness a nightjar do that, said Harriet. She thinks the nightjar did this because a lack of moonlight meant it could not feed on its more usual moth prey. Harriet said she hoped to be selected to work on the programme in the future and had high praise for the presenters. She said: I had my lunch with Michaela and she is wonderful and Chris kept coming into the outside broadcast vehicle to get updates on what we had seen. "It was a great experience. Springwatch is set to be back on TV screens next year. NATO holds Russia fully responsible for the war of aggression against Ukraine which has gravely undermined global security and for which it must be held fully accountable. This is stipulated in the Vilnius Summit Communique published on Tuesday. "Russia bears full responsibility for its illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, which has gravely undermined Euro-Atlantic and global security and for which it must be held fully accountable," the document says. In addition the allies said that they "continue to condemn in the strongest terms Russia's blatant violations of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and OSCE commitments and principles." "We do not and will never recognise Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexations, including Crimea," they said in the communique. The allies also said that there can be "no impunity for Russian war crimes and other atrocities, such as attacks against civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure that deprives millions of Ukrainians of basic human services." "All those responsible must be held accountable for violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law, particularly against Ukraine's civilian population, including the forced deportation of children and conflict-related sexual violence," the document says. The Alliance also said that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam highlights the brutal consequences of the war started by Russia. "Russia's war has had a profound impact on the environment, nuclear safety, energy and food security, the global economy, and the welfare of billions of people around the world. Allies are working to enable exports of Ukrainian grain and actively support international efforts to alleviate the global food crisis," the document says. Chitkara University Flooding incident underscored the urgent need for measures to address the infrastructure vulnerabilities A video capturing the dire conditions at Chitkara University's canteen has gone viral, showcasing students compelled to have their meals amidst flooded premises. This video has rapidly gained traction on various social media platforms, including Twitter, where numerous users have shared it. The footage depicts male students eating food in the university's canteen, which is submerged in rainwater. The video has sparked astonishment among viewers, leading to numerous retweets and comments highlighting the unexpected flood situation. It should be noted that the continuous rainfall over the past few days has caused significant difficulties in the region. In response, the civil administration of Ambala, Patiala, and Jalandhar in Haryana promptly extended assistance to the Indian Army. Advertisement On July 9, the situation at Chitkara University became a cause for concern, prompting the army to initiate a rescue operation to evacuate the students. According to an army spokesperson, a total of 910 students have already been safely evacuated, and efforts are underway to evacuate the remaining individuals promptly. The university administration has officially announced the closure of the institute until July 6, 2023. The flooding incident has underscored the urgent need for measures to address the infrastructure vulnerabilities and mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall. Chitkara University, along with local authorities, will likely focus on implementing necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff members. Gujarat Constable Daya Ben Constable Daya Ben's Compassionate Act Garners Praise on Social Media AHMEDABAD: A woman constable in Gujarat is being hailed on social media for her considerate gesture of taking care of an infant while the child's mother wrote the Gujarat High Court's Peon Recruitment examination at the Odhav center on Sunday. Official pictures shared on the Ahmedabad Police's Twitter account depict Constable Daya Ben, tenderly holding and engaging with the 6-month-old baby. According to the accompanying caption, a female examinee, accompanied by her six-month-old son, arrived at the Odhav examination center to partake in the selection process for the post of peon at the esteemed Gujarat High Court. However, with the exam just moments away from commencing, the infant began to cry incessantly. Graciously, Constable Daya Ben stepped forward, offering to care for the child, thereby enabling the mother to focus on her examination undisturbed. Advertisement Ahmedabad Police conveyed the following message, "The child of the female examinee who came to take the exam at Odhav was crying, but thanks to the assistance provided, the mother was able to take the exam smoothly without any disruptions." Advertisement The heartwarming photographs quickly gained traction on social media platforms, with numerous individuals commending Constable Daya Ben for her kind-hearted and compassionate act. Users expressed their pride and admiration, acknowledging the significance of such selfless acts and underscoring the true spirit of the police force. Helicopter Five bodies have been recovered from the crash site located in the Lamjura area KATHMANDU: A Devastating helicopter crash occurred today in the eastern mountainous region of Nepal, near Mount Everest, claiming the lives of all six individuals on board. The private commercial helicopter, registered under Manang Air with the identification 9N-AMV, was carrying five Mexican nationals and experienced pilot Chet B Gurung. The Ill-fated flight took off from Suraki Airport in Solukhumbu en route to Kathmandu at 10:04 a.m. local time. However, just nine minutes into the flight, at approximately 10:13 a.m., the helicopter abruptly lost contact with air traffic control at an altitude of 12,000 feet. Advertisement According to reports from Nepali media, five bodies have been recovered from the crash site located in the Lamjura area of Kalepik rural municipality, within the remote and treacherous Solukhumbu district. The exact cause of the accident remains unknown, and a detailed report is still pending. However, witnesses in the area reported hearing a loud explosion before the helicopter plummeted to the ground. Rescue operations are currently underway, with local police personnel and authorities on-site to investigate the incident. Earlier attempts to locate the crash site were impeded by unfavorable weather conditions, forcing two helicopters to return. However, efforts have been redoubled, and search teams are persisting in their mission to retrieve any remaining victims and ascertain the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The identities of the Mexican nationals aboard the helicopter have yet to be released, pending notification of their families. The Nepali aviation community, as well as the international community, mourns this terrible loss and extends their deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The United States has destroyed the last chemical weapon in its military arsenal. The destruction of a large amount of chemical weapon stockpile at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky, ended decades of effort to eliminate chemical weapons, said Douglas Bush, assistant secretary of the army for acquisition, logistics and . The destruction in a safe, secure and environmentally responsible manner was a difficult task, requiring many years to complete, he said at a Pentagon news conference. In all, more than 30,000 metric tons of declared chemical agent contained in nearly 3.5 million chemical munitions, more than 22,500 one-ton containers containing chemical agent, and more than 50,500 bottles and containers containing chemical agent were destroyed. Nearly 90 percent of the weapons were eliminated by 2012. The last 10 percent was a greater challenge involving a complicated approach of neutralizing these chemicals. The last mustard gas munition was destroyed last month at the Army's Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado; Blue Grass destroyed the last missile loaded with Sarin nerve agent last week. "This is an important moment not only for the United States, but also the entire world," said Mallory Stewart, assistant secretary of state for the bureau of arms control, verification and compliance. "This achievement is indicative of the important role that international cooperation and transparency play in arms control and disarmament." With this, the United Sates has complied with the Chemical Weapons Convention, by destroying its chemical weapon stockpile before the September 30 deadline. Kingston Reif, deputy assistant secretary of defense for threat reduction and arms control, praised Michael Abaie, the program executive officer of the Army's Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, for leading a team of thousands of Defense Department civilians and contractors in the $13.5 billion effort. He added that the mission is not yet complete without ensuring that the facilities used are safe. Officials said that two years of efforts remain before turning out the lights, which is expected to cost another $2.5 billion. The U.S. Defense officials also worked with other nations to help them destroy their chemical weapons stocks, including Russia, Syria, Albania and Libya. The Pentagon expresses concern if Russia and Syria have destroyed all their chemical weapons as both nations have a history of using them against their own people. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News After much hype, Hyundai Exter is finally here in India and it starts at Rs. 5,99,900 with the base trim and Rs. 9,99,900 for top trim The South Korean brands Punch rival is here in the form of Exter. It is a sub 4m crossover vehicle that Hyundai is pitting for millennials, Gen Z and first-time car buyers with a thirst for adventure lifestyle. It doesnt have AWD capabilities though, unlike the appearance might suggest. In typical Hyundai fashion, Exter is feature-loaded to the gills. It has quite a bit of segment-first features like a sunroof and dashcam as well. Other strengths include body cladding, connected tech features and a host of safety features. But how does it compare against its immediate rivals from Tata Motors and Citroen? Lets take a look at what the specs say. Hyundai Exter Vs Rivals The most VFM? We didnt include Mahindra KUV100 and Maruti Suzuki Ignis with similar crossover DNA in this list as they are smaller at around 3,700 mm length. In terms of size, Citroen C3 is the longest and has longest wheelbase, Tata Punch is the widest and Hyundai Exter is the tallest. Because of its tall stance, Exter has made good use of Z-dimension and offered the largest 391L boot. Citroen has 15 wheels as standard while Punch offers larger 16 wheels. Exters and NRGs tyres go till 175-section, which is skinny when compared to Punchs and C3s 195-section. Ground clearance is highest with Punch. Hyundai cleverly made Exter a feature-loaded offering. It is the only one in this space to get a sunroof, a dashcam, fully digital instrument screen and rear AC vents, among others. Auto climate control, cruise control, projector headlights, LED tail lights, are with both Punch and Exter. Only Tiago NRG lacks DRLs. In terms of infotainment screens, Citroen takes the cake with a 10 unit with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It packs TPMS, but lacks a tachometer, which is just ridiculous. Tiago NRG and Exter offer CNG bi-fuel powertrain. Punch will get CNG offerings too and going by Tatas past strategies, Punch will get an S (sunroof) variant with select trims as well. C3 is still the drivers delight Citroen is the only one to offer its 1.2L 3-cyl engine with a turbo option ekeing out 109 bhp of power and 190 Nm of torque. It is the only one to get a 6-speed manual too. But it lacks CNG and automatic options. Hyundais 1.2L is a 4-cylinder unit which is more refined than Tatas 1.2L 3-cyl mill. Both have comparable power and torque figures and offer AMT options too. This comparo is quite straightforward. No, there is no immediate winner like Triumph Speed 400 motorcycle is in its segment. There is a car for individual personalities. Hyundai Exter will suit feature-hunters, Tata Punch will suit safety-minded buyers (Punch 5 Star and Tiago NRG 4 Star) and Citroen C3 will suit enthusiastic drivers. Tiago is showing its age already when compared to new-age products including its sibling Punch. Pricing reflects the same thing too. Exter goes till Rs. 10 lakh, while Citroen C3 tops out at Rs. 8.92 lakh and Punch at Rs. 9.52 lakh. NATO Summit: Russia must immediately stop war against Ukraine, withdraw all of its forces from territory of Ukraine NATO has said that Russia must immediately stop the war of aggression against Ukraine and unconditionally withdraw all of its forces from the territory of Ukraine. "Russia must immediately stop this illegal war of aggression, cease its use of force against Ukraine, and completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its forces and equipment from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, extending to its territorial waters," it said in the Vilnius Summit Communique adopted on Tuesday. In addition, the Alliance leaders urged all countries "not to provide any kind of assistance to Russia's aggression and condemn all those who are actively facilitating Russia's war." "Belarus' support has been instrumental as it continues to provide its territory and infrastructure to allow Russian forces to attack Ukraine and sustain Russia's aggression. In particular Belarus, but also Iran, must end their complicity with Russia and return to compliance with international law," the document says. The Allies also welcomed the strong support in the UN General Assembly for efforts to promote a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine. "We welcome and support President [of Ukraine Volodymyr] Zelenskyy's commitment in setting out the principles for such a peace through his Peace Formula. We are committed to achieving a just and lasting peace that upholds the principles of the UN Charter, in particular sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. We underline that this cannot be realised without Russia's complete and unconditional withdrawal. While we have called on Russia to engage constructively in credible negotiations with Ukraine, Russia has not shown any genuine openness to a just and lasting peace," the Alliance said. The University of San Diego is Proud to Be Among the Best of the Best The Russian occupiers have significantly intensified the repression against Ukrainian citizens in the town of Henichesk, Kherson region, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on its Facebook page on Tuesday. "According to the available information, it has become much easier to get to the basement, since local collaborators, willing to curry favor with the Russian occupation authorities, constantly slander citizens, conduct groundless inspections, it says. The occupiers also threaten the local population that in the absence of a Russian passport, citizens will be forcibly deported to Siberia and all property will be confiscated," the message says. NATO Summit to be held in Washington in 2024, in 2025 in the Netherlands The next summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will be held in Washington in 2024, and in the Netherlands in 2025. This follows from the final communique adopted in Vilnius on Tuesday following the results of the NATO summit. We express our appreciation for the generous hospitality extended to us by the Republic of Lithuania. We look forward to meeting again for the Alliances 75th anniversary in Washington, D.C. in 2024, followed by a meeting in the Netherlands in 2025, the document says. Ukraine will make NATO stronger, and NATO will give Ukraine security, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, speaking at a concert in Vilnius in support of Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance. "Today I came here with faith in the solution, with faith in partners, with faith in a strong NATO. In NATO, which does not doubt, which does not waste time and does not look back at any aggressor," Zelenskyy said. At the same time, he added that "I would like this faith to become confidence in the decisions that Ukraine deserves, which every Ukrainian soldier, every Ukrainian citizen, every Ukrainian mother and every Ukrainian child expects." "And is that a big wish? NATO will ensure Ukraine's security. Ukraine will make NATO stronger," the President stressed. The Head of State also thanked the Lithuanians for their help in defense and a clear, honest and courageous position on Ukraine's accession to NATO, noting that "Ukrainian flags on Lithuanian streets unequivocally prove that we are already allies, and Ukraine will protect both its and your freedom." As part of Zelenskyy's speech, Lithuanian President Giltanas Nauseda, who was also present at the opening of the concert, was handed a flag taken from the tank of the 10th assault brigade Edelweiss, which is fighting near Bakhmut. "Today, here in Vilnius, the Ukrainian battle flag from Bakhmut. Bakhmut is one of the most defining battles for freedom in Europe. This our battle flag from Bakhmut means that Lithuanians will never again have to fight against Russian soldiers either under the Vilnius TV Tower or in any other place in your country," Zelenskyy said. This Ukrainian flag, he said, "means that there will never again be deportations from the Baltic states to Siberia. There will never be a partition of Poland and humiliation of Hungary again. There will never be tanks in Prague and wars against the freedom of Finland. There will be no more occupation in Europe." "There, in the ruins of Bakhmut and on the fields of other battles in Ukraine, Russian aggressive ambitions remain shattered. And not Ukraine or anyone else in our Europe, but they, the Russian aggressive ambitions, will be in ruins," the President of Ukraine concluded his speech. Harvard Universitys Professor Avi Loeb and colleagues have discovered at least 50 tiny spherical iron fragments near the fireball path of the first recognized interstellar meteor, IM1. IM1 was detected over the South Pacific, off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea, in 2014. Also referred to as CNEOS 20140108, the meteor had an estimated mass of 460 kg and was between 80 cm and 1 m (2.6-3.3 feet) in diameter. The object was identified as an interstellar meteor candidate in 2019, and confirmed in 2022. IM1s fireball was detected by the U.S. Government at 17:05 GMT on January 8, 2014 and indicated that this meteor was speeding beyond the value required to escape from the Solar System, said Professor Loeb, the leader of the Galileo Project, which aims to identify the nature of potential objects made by existing or extinct extraterrestrial technological civilizations. Based on the air ram-pressure that it sustained before disintegrating in three flares 20 km above the ocean surface, this object was tougher in material strength than all other 272 meteors in the CNEOS catalog of NASA. Its interstellar origin was formally confirmed at the 99.999% confidence in an official letter from the U.S. Space Command under DoD to NASA on March 1, 2022. Two years earlier, my discovery paper of IM1 with my undergraduate student Amir Siraj showed that IM1 was moving outside the Solar System faster than 95% of all stars in the vicinity of the Sun. The possibility that IM1s excess speed benefited from propulsion and the fact that it was tougher than all known space rocks, raise the possibility that it may have been technological in origin similar to NASAs New Horizons craft colliding with an exoplanet in a billion years and burning up in its atmosphere as an interstellar meteor. As part of the Galileo Project, Professor Loeb and his team aimed to retrieve the meteoritic spherules of IM1. On 14 June, 2023, they set out for the meteors estimated landing zone in the South Pacific Ocean. It took us a few days on board the aluminum ship, which is fittingly called Silver Star, to get the magnetic sled on the ocean floor and a few more days to understand what we collected, Professor Loeb explained. As we scooped the magnets, the most abundant material attached to them was a black powder of volcanic ash. It was everywhere, including the control regions far from IM1s site. I was frustrated by this background to the extent where I titled one of my diary reports: Where are the spherules of IM1? And then came the breakthrough, he said. After a week at sea we used a filter with a mesh size of a third of a millimeter to sift through the tiny volcanic particles and examine the remaining larger particles under a microscope. Shortly thereafter, the teams geologist Jeff Wynn came running down the stairs to tell me that the teams analyst Ryan Weed saw through the microscope a beautiful metallic marble of sub-millimeter size and sub-milligram mass. I rushed up to the top level of our ship. When Ryan showed me the image, I asked him to place this spherule in the X-ray fluorescence analyzer. He responded: Sure, we can do it later. I hugged him, thrilled by the finding, and said: Please do it right now. The composition analysis implied 84% iron, 8% silicon, 4% magnesium and 2% titanium, plus trace elements. I knew immediately that we would find many more spherules. When you find a single ant after surveying a small part of the kitchen, you know that there are many more ants out there. Sure enough, we found more spherules within a few hours. The team was able to collect more than 50 spherical fragments from IM1s landing site. These sub-millimeter-sized spheres, which appear under a microscope as beautiful metallic marbles, were concentrated along the expected path of IM1 about 85 kilometers off the coast of Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, Professor Loeb said. Their discovery opens a new frontier in astronomy, where what lay outside the Solar System is studied through a microscope rather than a telescope. That 83% of the matter in the Universe is apparently composed of dark matter which was not found yet in the solar system should teach us modesty in forecasting the nature of interstellar objects. Just a few days ago, the researchers examined several spherules using an electron scanning microscope and an elemental analyzer. By now, we studied five spherules with a scanning electron microscope and laser ablation mass spectroscopy, Professor Loeb said. The composition of the spherules along the meteor path is consistently from the same source, whereas the background spherules from the control region had a different morphology and composition. The meteor composition is consistent with the results from the X-ray fluorescence analyzer on the ship. Interestingly, the meteor spherules show evidence for a rapid heating event with surface dendrites whose spatial separation can be used to estimate the highest temperature they reached in the fireball. We also noticed an inner structure of spheres within spheres, implying hierarchical merger events of droplets during the explosion. But most interestingly, the mass spectroscopy revealed uranium and lead, he said. The isotope uranium-238 decays to lead-206 with a half-life of 4.47 billion years and uranium-235 decays to lead-207 with a half-life of 0.71 billion year. This allows us to estimate the age of the spherules in two independent ways. Based on the measured abundance of uranium-238, lead-206, uranium-235 and lead-207, I calculated that the two spherules from the meteor path have an age of order the age of the Universe (13.8 billion years) whereas the background spherule has an age of order the age of the Solar System (4.6 billion years). In the coming weeks we will examine further any clue for the spherules being different from solar system materials. This will constitute independent evidence for the interstellar origin of IM1 in addition to its measured speed. The expedition demonstrates how science should be done, he concluded. Driven by raw curiosity and wonder, on a topic of great interest to the public, while seeking evidence to find the truth and finding it despite all odds after a heroic effort by a team of dedicated professionals. The Universe could be twice as old as current estimates, according to new research from the University of Ottawa that challenges the dominant cosmological model and resolves the impossible early galaxy problem without requiring the existence of primordial black hole seeds, massive population III stars etc. Our newly-devised model stretches the galaxy formation time by a several billion years, making the Universe 26.7 billion years old, and not 13.7 as previously estimated, said University of Ottawas Professor Rajendra Gupta. For years, astrophysicists have calculated the age of our Universe by measuring the time elapsed since the Big Bang and by studying the oldest stars based on the redshift of light coming from distant galaxies. In 2021, the age of our Universe was thus estimated at 13.797 billion years using the Lambda-CDM concordance model. However, many scientists have been puzzled by the existence of ancient stars like Methuselah that appear to be older than the estimated age of our Universe and by the discovery of early galaxies in an advanced state of evolution made possible by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope. These galaxies, existing a mere 300 million years or so after the Big Bang, appear to have a level of maturity and mass typically associated with billions of years of cosmic evolution. Furthermore, theyre surprisingly small in size, adding another layer of mystery to the equation. Fritz Zwickys tired light theory proposes that the redshift of light from distant galaxies is due to the gradual loss of energy by photons over vast cosmic distances. However, it was seen to conflict with observations. Yet Professor Gupta found that by allowing this theory to coexist with the expanding Universe, it becomes possible to reinterpret the redshift as a hybrid phenomenon, rather than purely due to expansion. In addition to Zwickys tired light theory, he introduces the idea of evolving coupling constants, as hypothesized by Paul Dirac. Coupling constants are fundamental physical constants that govern the interactions between particles. According to Dirac, these constants might have varied over time. By allowing them to evolve, the timeframe for the formation of early galaxies observed by Webb at high redshifts can be extended from a few hundred million years to several billion years. This provides a more feasible explanation for the advanced level of development and mass observed in these ancient galaxies. Moreover, Professor Gupta suggests that the traditional interpretation of the cosmological constant, which represents dark energy responsible for the accelerating expansion of the Universe, needs revision. Instead, he proposes a constant that accounts for the evolution of the coupling constants. This modification in the cosmological model helps address the puzzle of small galaxy sizes observed in the early Universe, allowing for more accurate observations, Professor Gupta said. His paper appears in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. _____ R. Gupta. JWST early Universe observations and CDM cosmology. MNRAS, published online July 7, 2023; doi: 10.1093/mnras/stad2032 Scientists have described a new salamander species of the genus Tylototriton from evergreen montane forests on Ngoc Linh Mountain in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Tylototriton is a large genus of salamanders, commonly known as crocodile newts, belonging to the family Salamandridae. First described in 1871, the genus currently contains at least 39 species that inhabit montane forest areas throughout the Asian monsoon climate zone. These species are distributed across Asia, from eastern Himalayas, eastern Nepal, northern India, Bhutan, Myanmar, central to southern China, and southwards through Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Tylototriton includes three subgenera: Tylototriton, Yaotriton, and Liangshantriton. The newly-discovered species, named Tylototriton ngoclinhensis (common name is the Ngoc Linh crocodile newt), belongs to the subgenus Yaotriton. This crocodile newt is a moderate sized and robust salamander species between 6 and 6.7 cm long. It is an exceptional discovery as it is one of the most colorful species in the genus Tylototriton, said Trung My Phung, lead author of the study. Tylototriton ngoclinhensis is restricted to evergreen montane forests near water bodies on Ngoc Linh Mountain in the Vietnamese province of Kon Tum. This is the first time that a crocodile newt species is recorded from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Occurring at an elevation more than 1,800 m, this discovery sets an altitudinal record for the genus in the country, with former ranges distributed between 250 m, Phung said. Furthermore, the discovery represents the southernmost distribution range of the genus known to date. The researchers suggest that the new species should be classified as Endangered in the IUCN Red List. Due to the aforementioned reasoning and given that Tylototriton is currently known only from Ngoc Linh Mountain, implying a limited distribution range composed of a single small isolated mountain population, is distinct evidence for a high threat potential, they said. In addition to its special zoogeographic situation and rarity, the particular colorful appearance of the new crocodile newt species is very likely to draw the interest of illegal collectors. All species of the genus Tylototriton are listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES 2022) and also in the Governmental Decree No. 84/2021/ND-CP of Vietnam and therefore the new species is automatically protected under these regulations. The discovery of Tylototriton ngoclinhensis is reported in a paper published online in the journal ZooKeys. _____ T.M. Phung et al. 2023. Southbound the southernmost record of Tylototriton (Amphibia, Caudata, Salamandridae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam represents a new species. ZooKeys 1168: 193-218; doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1168.96091 Regulations are urgently needed to protect children from harm in the unregulated online world, researchers at the University of Otago, New Zealand, say. The call comes as the researchers publish the results of their study into the after-school habits of 12-year-olds. Their research, published today in the New Zealand Medical Journal, finds children are spending a third of their after-school time on screens, including more than half their time after 8pm. Senior researcher Dr Moira Smith from the University's Department of Public Health says this is considerably more than the current guidelines, which recommend less than two hours of screen time per day (outside school time) for school-aged children and adolescents. The results are from the innovative KidsCam project, with the 108 children involved wearing cameras that captured images every seven seconds, offering a unique insight into their everyday lives in 2014 and 2015. Children were mostly playing games and watching programmes. For ten per cent of the time the children were using more than one screen. Screen use harms childrens health and wellbeing. It is associated with obesity, poor mental wellbeing, poor sleep and mental functioning and lack of physical activity, Dr Smith says. It also affects childrens ability to concentrate and regulate their behaviour and emotions. Screen use is now a regular part of childrens everyday lives and is likely to have increased since the KidsCam data was collected. advertisement Screen use rose rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and children in 2023 are frequently spending time online, particularly on smartphones. According to the latest media use survey, YouTube and Netflix are the most popular websites for watching programmes, with one in three children under 14 using social media, most commonly TikTok, which is rated R13. She says children are being exposed to ads for vaping, alcohol, gambling and junk food, and experiencing sexism, racism and bullying while online. Cyberbullying is particularly high among children in Aotearoa, with one in four parents reporting their child has been subjected to bullying while online. Dr Smith says current New Zealand legislation is outdated and fails to adequately deal with the online world children are being exposed to. While screen use has many benefits, children need to be protected from harm in this largely unregulated space. She says the Government is to be applauded for proposing more regulation of social media in its recent consultation document from the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), which notes concern about children accessing inappropriate content while online. The Otago researchers are currently studying the online worlds of children in Aotearoa using screen capture technology, with the results expected to be published soon. Brain tissue is one of the most intricate specimens that scientists have arguably ever dealt with. Packed with currently immeasurable amount of information, the human brain is the most sophisticated computational device with its network of around 86 billion neurons. Understanding such complexity is a difficult task, and hence making progress requires technologies to unravel the tiny, complex interactions taking place in the brain at microscopic scales. Imaging is therefore an enabling tool in neuroscience. The new imaging and virtual reconstruction technology developed by Johann Danzl's group at ISTA is a big leap in imaging brain activity and is aptly named LIONESS -- Live Information Optimized Nanoscopy Enabling Saturated Segmentation. LIONESS is a pipeline to image, reconstruct, and analyze live brain tissue with a comprehensiveness and spatial resolution not possible until now. "With LIONESS, for the first time, it is possible to get a comprehensive, dense reconstruction of living brain tissue. By imaging the tissue multiple times, LIONESS allows us to observe and measure the dynamic cellular biology in the brain take its course," says first author Philipp Velicky. "The output is a reconstructed image of the cellular arrangements in three dimensions, with time making up the fourth dimension, as the sample can be imaged over minutes, hours, or days," he adds. With LIONESS neuroscientists can image living brain tissue and achieve high-resolution 3D imagery without damaging the living sample. Collaboration and AI the Key The strength of LIONESS lies in refined optics and in the two levels of deep learning -- a method of Artificial Intelligence -- that make up its core: the first enhances the image quality and the second identifies the different cellular structures in the dense neuronal environment. The pipeline is a result of a collaboration between the Danzl group, Bickel group, Jonas group, Novarino group, and ISTA's Scientific Service Units, as well as other international collaborators. "Our approach was to assemble a dynamic group of scientists with unique combined expertise across disciplinary boundaries, who work together to close a technology gap in the analysis of brain tissue," Johann Danzl of ISTA says. advertisement Surpassing hurdles Previously it was possible to get reconstructions of brain tissue by using Electron Microscopy. This method images the sample based on its interactions with electrons. Despite its ability to capture images at a few nanometers -- a millionth of a millimeter -- resolution, Electron Microscopy requires a sample to be fixed in one biological state, which needs to be physically sectioned to obtain 3D information. Hence, no dynamic information can be obtained. Another previously known technique of Light Microscopy allows observation of living systems and record intact tissue volumes by slicing them "optically" rather than physically. However, Light Microscopy is severely hampered in its resolving power by the very properties of the light waves it uses to generate an image. Its best-case resolution is a few hundred nanometers, much too coarse-grained to capture important cellular details in brain tissue. Using Super-resolution Light Microscopy scientists can break this resolution barrier. Recent work in this field, dubbed SUSHI (Super-resolution Shadow Imaging), showed that applying dye molecules to the spaces around cells and applying the Nobel Prize-winning super-resolution technique STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) microscopy reveals super-resolved 'shadows' of all the cellular structures and thus visualizes them in the tissue. Nevertheless, it has been impossible to image entire volumes of brain tissue with resolution enhancement that matches the brain tissue's complex 3D architecture. This is because increasing resolution also entails a high load of imaging light on the sample, which may damage or 'fry' the subtle, living tissue. Herein lies the prowess of LIONESS, having been developed for, according to the authors, "fast and mild" imaging conditions, thus keeping the sample alive. The technique does so while providing isotropic super-resolution -- meaning that it is equally good in all three spatial dimensions -- that allows visualization of the tissue's cellular components in 3D nanoscale resolved detail. LIONESS collects only as little information from the sample as needed during the imaging step. This is followed by the first deep learning step to fill in additional information on the brain tissue's structure in a process called Image Restoration. In this innovative way, it achieves a resolution of around 130 nanometers, while being gentle enough for imaging of living brain tissue in real-time. Together, these steps allow for a second step of deep learning, this time to make sense of the extremely complex imaging data and identify the neuronal structures in an automated manner. advertisement Homing In "The interdisciplinary approach allowed us to break the intertwined limitations in resolving power and light exposure to the living system, to make sense of the complex 3D data, and to couple the tissue's cellular architecture with molecular and functional measurements," says Danzl. For virtual reconstruction, Danzl and Velicky teamed up with visual computing experts: the Bickel group at ISTA and the group led by Hanspeter Pfister at Harvard University, who contributed their expertise in automated segmentation -- the process of automatically recognizing the cellular structures in the tissue -- and visualization, with further support by ISTA's image analysis staff scientist Christoph Sommer. For sophisticated labeling strategies, neuroscientists and chemists from Edinburgh, Berlin, and ISTA contributed. Consequently, it was possible to bridge functional measurements, i.e. to read out the cellular structures together with biological signaling activity in the same living neuronal circuit. This was done by imaging Calcium ion fluxes into cells and measuring the cellular electrical activity in collaboration with the Jonas group at ISTA. The Novarino group contributed human cerebral organoids, often nicknamed mini-brains that mimic human brain development. The authors underline that all of this was facilitated through expert support by ISTA's top-notch scientific service units. Brain structure and activity are highly dynamic; its structures evolve as the brain performs and learns new tasks. This aspect of the brain is often referred to as "plasticity." Hence, observing the changes in the brain's tissue architecture is essential to unlocking the secrets behind its plasticity. The new tool developed at ISTA shows potential for understanding the functional architecture of brain tissue and potentially other organs by revealing the subcellular structures and capturing how these might change over time. Observations of a wild colony of macaques over three years show same-sex sexual behaviour among males is widespread and may be beneficial. The results, published today in Nature Ecology and Evolution, suggest same-sex sexual behaviour (SSB) has evolved and may be a common feature of primate reproduction. Conducted by researchers at Imperial College London, the observations and genetic data form the first long-term study of SSB in males within one species. Their study challenges the beliefs of some that SSB is a rare behaviour in non-human animals or solely the product of unusual environmental conditions. First author Jackson Clive, from the Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet at Imperial, said: "We found most males were behaviourally bisexual, and that variation in same-sex activity was heritable. This means that the behaviour can have an evolutionary underpinning; for example, we also found that males that mounted each other were also more likely to back each other up in conflicts -- perhaps this could be one of many social benefits to same-sex sexual activity." "Our research therefore shows that same-sex sexual behaviours can be common amongst animals and can evolve. I hope our results encourage further discoveries in this area.'' Origins of same-sex behaviours The team studied 236 males within a colony of 1,700 rhesus macaques living freely on the tropical island of Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. As well as observing their behaviour and conducting genetic analyses, the team had access to pedigree records, which detail parentage of each individual back to 1956. advertisement The researchers recorded all social 'mountings' for the 236 males, both of males-on-males (same-sex behaviour, SSB) and males-on-females (different-sex behaviour, DSB). They found that male same-sex mounting was widespread: 72% of sample males engaged in same-sex mounting, in comparison with 46% for different-sex mounting. SSB has been observed in thousands of different animals, ranging from insects to penguins, leading many to theorise about why it happens. These theories include ideas about establishing dominance in groups, shortages of different-sex partners, and reducing tension following aggression, but little data is available to support any theory. The team investigated several of these theories with their data, finding that, for this colony of macaques, SSB in males was strongly correlated with 'coalitionary bonds'. This means male pairs that regularly engage in SSB were more likely to back each other up in conflicts, providing them with an advantage in the group. Heritable behaviours The researchers also investigated whether SSB led to any fitness cost -- a reduction in the amount of offspring they have. In fact, they found the opposite -- males that engaged in SSB may be more successful in reproducing, potentially due to the benefits provided by more coalitionary bonds. In line with this, the team also analysed whether SSB was heritable. Using the pedigree data, they found SSB in males was 6.4% heritable, which provides the first evidence of a genetic link to primate SSB outside of humans. This figure is similar to other heritable behaviours in primates, such as grooming and sociality. advertisement These findings support counter-arguments to the idea that SBB 'defies nature and evolution' (the so-called 'Darwinian Paradox'). The team also found some genetic correlation between males that were more often 'mounters' or 'mountees' when engaging in SSB, suggesting these sub-behaviours may have a common basis. In addition, whether individuals were more likely to be mounters or mountees did not corelate with their social position, suggesting asserting their place in the hierarchy is not an important factor for SSB in this species. Macaques and humans Though the researchers caution against direct comparisons to humans, they say their study challenges the beliefs of some that SSB is a rare behaviour in non-human animals or solely the product of unusual environmental conditions. Instead, the results suggest some degree of SSB can evolve adaptively, depending on the context, and so may be a common feature of primate reproductive ecology. There are many examples of other primate groups engaging in different forms of SSB, so further in-depth genetic studies could strengthen this conclusion. Lead researcher Professor Vincent Savolainen, Director of the Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet at Imperial, said: "Unfortunately there is still a belief amongst some people that same-sex behaviour is 'unnatural,' and some countries sadly still enforce the death penalty for homosexuality. Our research shows that same-sex behaviour is in fact widespread amongst non-human animals. "Our mission is to advance scientific understanding of same-sex behaviour, including exploring the benefits it brings to nature and within animal societies. Amongst the macaques we looked at in this study, more than two-thirds displayed same-sex behaviour and this behaviour strengthened the bonds within the community." The research was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the American Institute of Bisexuality, and the Evolution Education Trust. Rivers have flowed on two other worlds in the solar system besides Earth: Mars, where dry tracks and craters are all that's left of ancient rivers and lakes, and Titan, Saturn's largest moon, where rivers of liquid methane still flow today. A new technique developed by MIT geologists allows scientists to see how intensely rivers used to flow on Mars, and how they currently flow on Titan. The method uses satellite observations to estimate the rate at which rivers move fluid and sediment downstream. Applying their new technique, the MIT team calculated how fast and deep rivers were in certain regions on Mars more than 1 billion years ago. They also made similar estimates for currently active rivers on Titan, even though the moon's thick atmosphere and distance from Earth make it harder to explore, with far fewer available images of its surface than those of Mars. "What's exciting about Titan is that it's active. With this technique, we have a method to make real predictions for a place where we won't get more data for a long time," says Taylor Perron, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor in MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS). "And on Mars, it gives us a time machine, to take the rivers that are dead now and get a sense of what they were like when they were actively flowing." Perron and his colleagues have published their results today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Perron's MIT co-authors are first author Samuel Birch, Paul Corlies, and Jason Soderblom, with Rose Palermo and Andrew Ashton of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Gary Parker of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and collaborators from the University of California at Los Angeles, Yale University, and Cornell University. River math The team's study grew out of Perron and Birch's puzzlement over Titan's rivers. The images taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft have shown a curious lack of fan-shaped deltas at the mouths of most of the moon's rivers, contrary to many rivers on Earth. Could it be that Titan's rivers don't carry enough flow or sediment to build deltas? advertisement The group built on the work of co-author Gary Parker, who in the 2000s developed a series of mathematical equations to describe river flow on Earth. Parker had studied measurements of rivers taken directly in the field by others. From these data, he found there were certain universal relationships between a river's physical dimensions -- its width, depth, and slope -- and the rate at which it flowed. He drew up equations to describe these relationships mathematically, accounting for other variables such as the gravitational field acting on the river, and the size and density of the sediment being pushed along a river's bed. "This means that rivers with different gravity and materials should follow similar relationships," Perron says. "That opened up a possibility to apply this to other planets too." Getting a glimpse On Earth, geologists can make field measurements of a river's width, slope, and average sediment size, all of which can be fed into Parker's equations to accurately predict a river's flow rate, or how much water and sediment it can move downstream. But for rivers on other planets, measurements are more limited, and largely based on images and elevation measurements collected by remote satellites. For Mars, multiple orbiters have taken high-resolution images of the planet. For Titan, views are few and far between. Birch realized that any estimate of river flow on Mars or Titan would have to be based on the few characteristics that can be measured from remote images and topography -- namely, a river's width and slope. With some algebraic tinkering, he adapted Parker's equations to work only with width and slope inputs. He then assembled data from 491 rivers on Earth, tested the modified equations on these rivers, and found that the predictions based solely on each river's width and slope were accurate. Then, he applied the equations to Mars, and specifically, to the ancient rivers leading into Gale and Jezero Craters, both of which are thought to have been water-filled lakes billions of years ago. To predict the flow rate of each river, he plugged into the equations Mars' gravity, and estimates of each river's width and slope, based on images and elevation measurements taken by orbiting satellites. advertisement From their predictions of flow rate, the team found that rivers likely flowed for at least 100,000 years at Gale Crater and at least 1 million years at Jezero Crater -- long enough to have possibly supported life. They were also able to compare their predictions of the average size of sediment on each river's bed with actual field measurements of Martian grains near each river, taken by NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers. These few field measurements allowed the team to check that their equations, applied on Mars, were accurate. The team then took their approach to Titan. They zeroed in on two locations where river slopes can be measured, including a river that flows into a lake the size of Lake Ontario. This river appears to form a delta as it feeds into the lake. However, the delta is one of only a few thought to exist on the moon -- nearly every viewable river flowing into a lake mysteriously lacks a delta. The team also applied their method to one of these other delta-less rivers. They calculated both rivers' flow and found that they may be comparable to some of the biggest rivers on Earth, with deltas estimated to have a flow rate as large as the Mississippi. Both rivers should move enough sediment to build up deltas. Yet, most rivers on Titan lack the fan-shaped deposits. Something else must be at work to explain this lack of river deposits. In another finding, the team calculated that rivers on Titan should be wider and have a gentler slope than rivers carrying the same flow on Earth or Mars. "Titan is the most Earth-like place," Birch says. "We've only gotten a glimpse of it. There's so much more that we know is down there, and this remote technique is pushing us a little closer." This research was supported, in part, by NASA and the Heising-Simons Foundation. With just a few clicks of a mouse, you can purchase your very own redtail garra, a type of fish that feeds on algae. Information about the fish's biology, however, is much less easily obtained. That's because redtail garra, although popular in the aquarium trade since the early 2000s, has until now been unknown to science. Researchers were peripherally aware of the fish's existence, but "discovering" a new species requires scientific description based on specimens collected in their natural environment. Redtail garras appear to be restricted to a small stretch of river straddling the border between Thailand and Myanmar. The locality is isolated and difficult to reach, so wild redtail garras have existed in relative obscurity, despite their global appeal. Larry Page, curator of ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, has surveyed fishes in Thailand every year since 2007. He recently encountered a few redtail garras while conducting fieldwork along the Kasat River, a tributary of the Ataran River in neighboring Myanmar. "When we first collected specimens, we thought it must be widespread in Myanmar because of its popularity in the aquarium trade. But it turns out it's not. It's only in the Ataran River basin," he said. Page and his colleagues published the new species description in the journal Zootaxa. Redtails take their place among nearly 200 additional species in the genus Garra, one of the most diverse and widely distributed fish groups anywhere on Earth. Garra can be found in streams and rivers from the farthest reaches of western Africa through the Middle East, India and southern and eastern Asia, including parts of China. Yet their ubiquity has not resulted in a corresponding amount of research on the group. "There's surprisingly little information on their natural history," Page said. There are few studies that broadly assess diversity in the genus, and little is known about relationships or how various groups within Garra have diversified. According to Page, basic information about the fishes' biology is available, but often in the form of studies on individual species or regions. "Most of them live in fast-moving water, and they have a disclike structure formed from a modification of the lower lip, which they use as an adhesive pad to cling to rocks and maintain their position in the water column as they feed," he said. advertisement Garra primarily subsist on algae and the occasional arthropod, which they eat by scraping detritus off rocks with specialized mouthparts. Like other species in the genus, redtails lack stomachs and have a snout encrusted with modified and hardened scales called tubercles. Similar structures in other fish groups are temporary; they're used to defend nests but fall off after the breeding season has ended. Redtail tubercles are permanently attached and seem to be used as weapons, based on aggressive behavior observed in aquaria. Redtail garra can be distinguished by their unique, elongated snout, covered in even more tubercles, which they can raise or lower, ostensibly as a means of intimidating opponents during combative encounters. And, as their common name suggests, their tails are emblazoned in red like a signal fire. Their unique color pattern and their industrious ability to clear away algae have made them a coveted component of aquarium tanks, but their late addition to the roster of scientifically described species underscores a pressing need to take stock of biodiversity in understudied regions. Page, who is working on a book describing the fishes of the Mae Klong River basin in Thailand, said the belated description of redtail garra is part of a larger recurring pattern. "Many of the fishes in Southeast Asia are referred to by names given to species discovered in India or Indonesia because they look similar." People know particular species exist, Page said, but they are mistaken for those from other geographic areas, and their diversity has consequently been drastically underestimated. Page and his colleagues named the new species Garra panitvongi after the author of another book on Thailand's fishes, Nonn Panitvong. Lauded as a biodiversity hero by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Panitvong is both a businessman and an avid naturalist. He's nurtured a passion for nature since his childhood days spent translating books about animals written in English with the help of his mom. He developed a special appreciation for Thailand's aquatic life from his dad, who took him on fishing trips. "Over the years, I found that in many of the places we went fishing, the environments were getting worse. There were fewer fish overall, and the fish assemblage changed for the worse, with a decreasing number of native species and more invasives," he said. Panitvong obtained a Master of Business Administration at the University of North Carolina Wilmington so he could effectively run his family's sugarcane farm, but when it came time for a doctorate, he opted to study environmental science. After returning to Thailand, he created the website Siamensis.org, an open platform on which nature enthusiasts could share information about Thailand's flora and fauna and plan excursions to wilderness areas. In 2006, Panitvong and a friend discovered one of Thailand's redtail garra populations and helped introduce the fish to the aquarium trade. Now, more than 15 years later, he said the official naming of redtail garra -- and the discovery of species like it -- help bring the world into clearer focus. "I like to imagine humanity in a big room, painted in white. As we turned around, we would have no conception of which direction we were facing," he said. "With each new discovery, a dot is added, a point made, and we know more and more about where we stand as a species." Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Tender Procurement in Wartime. Why Do They Buy Used Buses at the Price of New Ones?' On Thursday, July 13, at 13.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference on the subject: "Tender Procurement in Wartime. Why Do They Buy Used Buses at the Price of New Ones?" dedicated to the problem of financing the purchase of school buses. In Ivano-Frankivsk, a tender was announced by a self-government agency for the purchase of used public transport vehicles at the price of a new ones. Participants: Director of Etalon Avto Trading House LLC Vadym Shkarupin, Deputy Director of Etalon Avto Trading House LLC Oleksandr Chernytsky, Director of Sales Department PJSC "Chernihiv Automotive Plant" Natalia Bachurna, Director for Quality and General Issues of PJSC "Chernihiv Automotive Plant" Serhiy Borodukha (8/5a Reitarska Street). The event will be streamed on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. Additional information by phone: (050) 356 2467 (Viktor Husev). A new study measured manganese levels in the residential tap water of a Holliston, Mass. community and found that the manganese concentrations occasionally exceeded the maximum safety level recommended in state and federal guidelines. Manganese is an unregulated contaminant often found in drinking water, but safe levels of this metal are currently unknown, and prior research has indicated that overexposure to manganese may be harmful to children. Now, a new study led by researchers at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) has found that concentrations of manganese in a Massachusetts community's drinking water often surpassed the maximum recommended levels of manganese stated in current guidelines. Published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, a Nature publication, the findings also suggest that the observed manganese levels may be high enough to pose a risk to children and other vulnerable communities who are exposed. Manganese is a naturally occurring component of soil and rock, and it is both an essential nutrient and a toxic substance -- so, too little or too much exposure can be harmful to health. Despite the fact that manganese is found in many communities' drinking water across the US, it is not federally regulated. The US Environmental Protection Agency has developed guidelines that identify a maximum level of daily exposure to manganese for "aesthetic" purposes (i.e. color and taste), as well as for the overall health and safety of the general population. But these guidelines are only recommendations; they cannot be enforced in the way that established primary standards can. "Some level of manganese is needed for health, but growing evidence suggests that excess levels of manganese can harm children's brains," says study lead and corresponding author Alexa Friedman, a doctoral student at BUSPH at the time of the study. "Our findings suggest that the level of manganese that is present in public drinking water exceeded, on average, the aesthetic guidelines 40 percent of the time, and health-based guidelines 9 percent of the time. These data support the need for a legally enforceable primary drinking water standard for manganese in order to better protect children's health." The new study is among the first to examine manganese concentrations in drinking water across time and location in the United States. advertisement For the study, Friedman and colleagues examined residential tap water samples collected between September 2018 to December 2019 in the suburban community of Holliston, Mass., as part of a community-initiated pilot study called ACHIEVE (Assessing Children's Environmental Exposures). Holliston residents had reported concerns about the quality of their drinking water and the safety of children in the community after noticing that their tap water turned black or brown occasionally. Communities that receive tap water from shallow aquifers are especially vulnerable to being exposed to high levels of manganese, and Holliston residents rely on this source for almost all of their drinking water. "Although averagewater manganese concentrations in Holliston were relatively low, our work showed that levels nonetheless often exceed the current aesthetic and health-based guidelines," says study senior author Birgit Claus Henn, associate professor of environmental health at BUSPH. "While the existing guidelines may be helpful benchmarks, without an enforceable standard in place, there is a limit to what will be done to ensure the water is safe to drink and/or meets these guidelines." The researchers also compared their community-level manganese samples to public data on state-wide manganese levels. They found comparable ranges, suggesting that overexposure to manganese is not an isolated issue within the Holliston community. To better understand the health risks of exposure to manganese in drinking water, Claus Henn and Friedman recommend that policymakers and other researchers increase monitoring of manganese in water, conduct health studies on this exposure in communities, and consider an enforceable standard. "If residents are concerned about the level of manganese in their drinking water, they should refer to these resources online from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection," Friedman says. "It is also important to know that manganese cannot be removed by boiling the water, and many household filters are not effective for removing manganese from water," she adds. "Residents should only use filters that are capable of removing manganese, and the filtration units should clearly state this capability." On June 23, 2023, a press conference was held in Kyiv by the Legal Marketplace CONSULTANT - the first marketplace in Ukraine that has integrated artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, into its system. Now, every Ukrainian can receive comprehensive legal advice with just two clicks through the mobile application. Moreover, the response can come not only from lawyers but also from artificial intelligence. You can compare the capabilities of artificial intelligence and lawyers in the mobile application. The quality of the response is ensured by the marketplace itself, founded by Andriy Prykhodko - CEO, Doctor of Juridical Science, Doctor of Philosophy, renowned practicing lawyer with 15 years of legal experience. Over the course of 12 years, Andriy has held executive positions and founded a prominent Ukrainian law firm, prikhodko.com.ua. He is also the founder of the best legal startup in Ukraine according to Hill in 2021. The conference featured discussions on the possibilities and future development of Artificial Intelligence in the legal market, with representatives from the Verkhovna Rada, the Office of the President, researchers, and top lawyers participating. And now, the company has announced the most significant event of 2023 - "Consultant MEETUP: Digitizing the Legal Market." CONSULTANT invites everyone interested in advancing their own legal business, developing and implementing IT technologies in the legal sector, as well as delving into the legislative aspects surrounding the digitized legal market to come together for this momentous occasion. At CONSULTANT MEETUP, our experts will share their experience and provide insights on the development of jurisprudence in Ukraine, ranging from effective client communication to the integration of ChatGPT into the work of lawyers, using practical case studies. The first 30 tickets are already available at a special early-bird rate! Afterwards, you can join at the standard price. Get your tickets now at. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Units of the Armenian armed forces from positions located in the direction of the settlements of Vedi and Kafan districts shelled the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of settlements of Heydarabad of the Sadarakdistrict and Nurgut of the Ordubad district in Nakhchivan on July 10, 2023, from 17:10 to 20:30 (GMT+4), Trend reports. Moreover, members of illegal Armenian armed formations on the territory of Azerbaijan, where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed, have repeatedly fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the direction of the Khojaly and Khojavend districts. The units of the Azerbaijani Army have taken adequate measures in these directions. Members of illegal Armenian armed formations also attempted to establish long-term fortifications in front of the positions of the Azerbaijani Army located in the direction of Khojaly, Khojavend and Kalbajar districts. As a result of the urgent measures taken by the units of the Azerbaijani Army, the work was immediately suspended. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Pakistan has always supported Azerbaijan's fair position, Aziz Alakberli, Chairman of the Western Azerbaijan Community, Azerbaijani MP, said during a meeting with the Ambassador of Pakistan to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee, Trend reports. "During the 44-day second Karabakh war, Azerbaijan constantly felt the support of fraternal Pakistan," Alakberli said. He also stressed that it is necessary to educate society more about the situation of Western Azerbaijanis. "Our desire is exclusively peaceful - to return to our native lands. The rights of Western Azerbaijanis to return to their lands are internationally recognized," Alakberli added. Further, he also informed the Ambassador that four documents of the Community were distributed as official UN documents. Will be updated BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. We will continue to make joint efforts towards more fruitful usage of the existing potential of Azerbaijan-Mongolia relations and elevation of our cooperation to a qualitatively new stage, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a congratulatory letter to President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh on the occasion of the country's national holiday, Trend reports. "On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I am pleased to sincerely congratulate you and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of Mongolia. I believe that we will continue to make joint efforts towards more fruitful usage of the existing potential of Azerbaijan-Mongolia relations and elevation of our cooperation to a qualitatively new stage. On this festive day, I extend my best wishes to You, and wish the friendly people of Mongolia everlasting peace and prosperity," the letter said. Mali : L'animateur Ras Bath relaxe mais maintenu en prison pour des propos sur la mort d'un ex-Premier ministre Un animateur de radio-television au Mali, qui avait declare qu'un ex-Premier ministre, mort en detention sous la junte, avait ete "assassine", a ete relaxe mardi d'un chef d'accusation mais reste en prison car la procedure n'est pas terminee, a indique son avocat a l'AFP. "Il a ete relaxe pour simulation d'infractions, le fait d'imaginer une infraction et de fabriquer des preuves pour une infraction qui n'existe pas", a declare au telephone a l'AFP Kassoum Tapo, avocat de Mohamed Youssouf Bathily dit "Ras Bath", un militant, polemiste et animateur aux nombreux sympathisants. "Mais la procedure devant le juge d'instruction continue pour les memes faits, car il avait aussi ete mis en accusation pour association de malfaiteurs, atteinte au credit de l'Etat et crime a caractere religieux et raciste", a-t-il precise, ajoutant que son client etait retourne en prison. M. Bathily etait juge pour avoir declare en mars que l'ex-Premier ministre Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga "n'est pas mort, il a ete assassine, c'est le terme qu'il faut". Il avait ensuite ete inculpe et ecroue le 13 mars. M. Maiga, poids lourd de la politique nationale, est decede en detention en mars 2022 malgre les appels pressants adresses par ses proches a la junte pour son evacuation vers l'etranger en raison de la deterioration de son etat de sante. Entre 2017 et 2019 il avait ete le Premier ministre du president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, renverse en aout 2020 par des colonels toujours au pouvoir. "On attend le nouveau juge d'instruction car le precedent a fait l'objet d'une mutation, puis nous allons le saisir tres rapidement pour demander une mise en liberte et presenter une requete a des fins de non-lieu", a precise M. Tapo. Le parquet a fait appel de la decision, a indique l'un de ses membres a l'AFP. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Elshad Hajiyev has been appointed the new head of the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. With the corresponding order signed by Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Vilayat Eyvazov, the outgoing Head of the press service, Police Colonel Ehsan Zahidov was retired. Elshad Hajiyev was heading one of the departments of the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs prior to the appointment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Pakistan's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee has visited the Azerbaijan Western Community, Trend reports. Bilal Hayee has met with the Chairman of the Western Azerbaijan Community, Azerbaijani MP Aziz Alakbarli and received information about the charter, structure and activities of the community. The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Community, the deputy of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan Hikmet Babaoglu, Community spokesperson Ulviyya Zulfikar and other community members. Alakbarli noted that he was glad to see the ambassador of friendly and fraternal Pakistan in Azerbaijan. The chairman of the Community told the Pakistani diplomat about the hardships that have befallen Azerbaijanis over the past 200 years, including the deportation from their native lands (geographical space, now called "Armenia"), committed four times in the last century - in 1905-1906, 1918-1920, 1948-1953 and 1987-1991, and also informed him about crimes against humanity committed against Azerbaijanis during the time of these events. The ambassador was informed that the Armenian government refuses to take measures to restore the rights of the exiled Azerbaijanis and deprives them of the right to live in their homeland. Although the Community has appealed to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on this issue, attempts to call for dialogue remain unanswered. Meanwhile, the UN has issued four documents, one of which is the Concept of Community Return. In addition, the Community also received responses from UNESCO and EU officials. It was pointed out that the support of the international community in this matter is still needed. Bilal Hayee pointed out that Pakistan has always been and will be next to brotherly Azerbaijan in its just struggle. Then he got acquainted with the conditions created in the administrative building of the Community. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijan Western Community, established in 1989, is engaged in protecting the rights of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia. - BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has acknowledged that its cars have been transporting illegal cargo through the Lachin checkpoint on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, Trend reports. Thus, contracts with 4 drivers of those vehicles have been terminated. The ICRC noted that it is aware of concerns raised about the transport of unauthorized goods across the Lachin road and does not support any such activity. "However, we regret that without our knowledge four hired drivers tried to transport some commercial goods in their own vehicles which were temporarily displaying the ICRC emblem. These individuals were not ICRC staff members and their work service contracts were immediately terminated by the ICRC. Our work along the Lachin corridor is always strictly humanitarian," the ICRC said in a statement. Thus, the ICRC has once again demonstrated its inability to bear its responsibilities. This international organization should know what is being carried in the car on which it puts its emblem and transports "humanitarian" aid. The ICRC is well aware that people who drive these rented cars are Armenians, and they can commit any provocation at any time, whether in Azerbaijans Karabakh or at the Lachin border checkpoint. In order to prevent these provocations and insure against incidents, the committee has to know who owns the car and carefully check these vehicles themselves. If the ICRC had resolved these issues in a timely and correct manner, such a case would not have happened today. As for the fact that the ICRC was not aware of this issue, the committee's statement does not look convincing. There is an attempt to disguise their pro-Armenian actions. Meanwhile, in order to prevent the transportation of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other military equipment from Armenia for Armenian armed groups on the territory of Azerbaijan (which weren't withdrawn contrary to the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 Second Karabakh War), and as an adequate response to the unilateral establishment of a checkpoint by Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan on April 22 at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road contrary to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, on April 23 at 12:00 (GMT+4), the units of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan set up a border checkpoint in its sovereign territories, on the border with Armenia, at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Our non-oil industry grew by 6.5 percent and the non-oil sector grew by more than 3 percent overall. Meanwhile, our financial situation has also significantly improved, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic results of six months of 2023, Trend reports. The head of state mentioned a number of reasons behind improvement of financial situation in the country such as strengthening of discipline in the financial sector, the continued reforms of tax and customs bodies, and transparency. All these factors have allowed us the opportunity to review the budget in the middle of the year and conduct reconciliation. This is very gratifying because the collected funds have significantly exceeded the forecast, the Azerbaijani leader noted. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. On July 11, at about 16:00, units of the Armenian Armed Forces from their positions located in the direction of the settlement of Dyg in the Gorus district opened small arms fire at the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of the Lachin district, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told Trend. As a result of the shelling, a soldier of the Azerbaijani Army Huseyn Abdullayev was wounded. The wounded serviceman was immediately evacuated to a military medical facility, there is no danger to his life. Azerbaijani army units are taking retaliatory measures. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Our two main directions after the budget reconciliation were the restoration of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur and the increase of our military power. Regarding the first direction, I can say that everything is being implemented faster than what we envisioned, i.e. faster that we planned. We have mobilized all our resources, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic results of six months of 2023, Trend reports. Already this year, we have succeeded in returning IDPs to the Talish village and the city of Lachin, and by the end of the year IDPs will also return to the Zabukh and Sus villages of the city of Lachin. The return program is being carried out in a consistent manner, so, by the end of the year, residents of five settlements one city and four villages will be fully settled in their ancestral lands. In total, 100 settlements are to be reconstructed in the first phase of the Great Return program, the head of state pointed out. In 1851, a gold prospector sat in a saloon in Nevada City, roughly 50 miles west of Lake Tahoe. He slowly began trading the newly acquired cash in his pocket for drink after drink, and before too long, despite being sworn to secrecy, he broke the vow hed made just days before. The prospector told his fellow pint-swinging countrymen about the source of his newfound wealth: a source of gold in the hills just a few miles away. As one would expect from any desperate gold rusher, they followed him home the next morning back to a tiny river in the Sierra foothills. However, his hopeful pursuers found no traces of gold near his supposed claim and deemed the effort and the entire area a humbug. In miner speak, a total bust. But today, its a bonanza for anyone who likes to hike, that is. Thats the supposed story of how the town of Humbug and the nearby enormous mine that would eventually yield more than $3 million in gold came to be in an otherwise nondescript section of whats now Tahoe National Forest. Today, the park is Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park. Diggins was the parlance of the time for any mine site, while the Malakoff moniker came from the towns early French settlers, who named it for their countrys victory at the 1855 Battle of Malakoff. Its one of the least-visited state parks in California, despite a few compelling reasons to visit. Its home to a near-complete gold rush ghost town, a packed mining museum, and 20 miles of hiking trails that pass everything from a historic cemetery and schoolhouse to the diggins itself: a 7,000-foot-long pit more than 600 feet deep that led to Americas first-ever environmental law. The destructive cost of gold Carleton E. Watkins/California State Library For prospectors, Humbug had its pros and cons. The pro was that there was indeed gold in them thar hills and plenty of it, at that. The downside was that getting to it was extremely labor-intensive. Instead of being in a gold vein or, better yet, in sizable nuggets like those in nearby Virginia City, Nevada Humbugs gold was embedded in rock and gravel, in tiny pieces and flakes that couldnt be sorted or separated by hand or sieve. Instead, miners expanded on the concept of a sluice box, which used water to separate tiny flakes of gold from dirt. But the scale of the hillside around Humbug required a supersize system. So miners began a new method of removing gold from the hills: hydraulic mining. Miners used high-pressure hoses to blast roughly 1 million gallons of water per hour at the hillsides. The force sent water, rock, dirt and anything else in the earth funneling into a supersize sluice: a water-filled, angled box that separated heavier gold from lighter debris like dirt and rocks. The town became rich. It had 2,000 residents at its peak, and the worlds first long-distance telephone line ran through the town. Electric lights were installed. The name Humbug became not so fitting, and it was changed to Bloomfield in 1858 (and later North Bloomfield, when residents got word that a town of Bloomfield already existed in California). The town had several hotels and breweries, stores and restaurants, a school, a post office, and everything else a wealthy California mining town would have in the 1860 and 1870s. Brian Baer/California State Parks Unfortunately, everyone else in Northern California felt the impact of blasting 25 million gallons of water per day at the hillside. Hydraulic mining sent hundreds of cubic tons of rocks, gravel and earth crashing into the Yuba River, which flows to the Sacramento River and eventually San Francisco Bay. Records estimate that the roughly 1 billion tons of debris released from the mine raised the bottom of San Francisco Bay by 3 feet and the Sacramento River by 16 feet, flooding farms and killing livestock, eroding private land, and delaying commerce along the all-important transcontinental railroad. In 1882, a nearby landowner filed a lawsuit against the mine. And in 1884, the decision came down on Woodruff v. North Bloomfield Gravel Mining Company: Companies would no longer be allowed to dump any leftover materials or tailings caused by mining into rivers in the Sierra Nevada. It was the first pro-environment court ruling in the U.S. and effectively shut down the Malakoff mine, as well as all future hydraulic mining operations to come. The ramifications were immediate. From Dutch Flat to Red Dog, wrote the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in a report on the ruling, unemployed miners walked aimlessly about muddy streets muttering to hotel owners and shopkeepers whose consternation matched their own. The mine shut down, the saloons closed, and some houses were dismantled for lumber during World War I. Aside from a brief uptick during the Great Depression when struggling families moved into the towns empty homes, the towns population fell to fewer than 20 stragglers by the 1950s. It became a state park in 1965. Hike through a ghost town and an underground mining tunnel Carleton E. Watkins/California State Library Suzie Dundas/SFGate Malakoff Diggins mine, looking east, between 1867 and 1869; and the current-day remains of the diggins site. Photos: Carleton E. Watkins/California State Library, Suzie Dundas/SFGATE Malakoff Diggins mine, looking east, between 1867 and 1869; and the current-day remains of the diggins site. Photos: Carleton E. Watkins/California State Library, Suzie Dundas/SFGATE Because the town of North Bloomfield became a state park soon after its abandonment, most buildings have been maintained, or at least occasionally repaired since their inception. The result is a protected 3,000-acre site with several excellent hikes through the ghost town and abandoned mine site, made all the more excellent by their relative lack of crowds and gentle elevation gain. From the historic townsite, its a no-brainer to make the quick hike to the Marten Ranch (less than 1.5 miles round-trip). You can also park at the trailhead and cut off the .2-mile hike each way from the townsite. Not much is known about the still-standing homestead, including whether it had anything to do with the actual diggins. Theres very little elevation gain, as well as very little foot traffic, so its not unheard of to see black bears along this trail. Act accordingly. However, for most people willing to make the rather windy drive to the park, the main draw is the actual mine site. There are multiple ways to reach it, including through the mines original Hiller drainage tunnel. Its a mile-long tunnel tall enough to walk through and connects the parking area directly to the mine. If you choose this route, expect to trudge through knee-deep water and across large, slippery rocks in pitch-black conditions. Youll need your hands free to hike, so cellphone flashlights wont cut it wear a headlamp. Suzie Dundas/SFGate Suzie Dundas/SFGate Views of the entrance to the park's Hiller Tunnel Trail. Photos: Suzie Dundas/SFGATE Views of the entrance to the park's Hiller Tunnel Trail. Photos: Suzie Dundas/SFGATE Visitors who prefer to stay above ground should take the parks easier Diggins Loop (2.6 miles, 200-foot elevation gain). The trail encircles the mine site, now resembling a massive canyon, and offers the chance to see multiple layers of rock in the exposed hillside. This area is prone to erosion and rockslides, so the lowest parts of the mine have filled it with soil and vegetation. It now looks more like a grassy plateau than anything else, belying the grand-scale environmental disaster it once was. Combining the parks Rim Trail and Slaughterhouse Trail Loop into one 5.5-mile loop will also reach the mine, passing the towns original cemetery, church and schoolhouse on the way. None of the state parks trails are particularly well-trodden, so be prepared for overgrown plants and carry a map to help with basic route finding. Tall socks are a good idea. 80% of the ghost towns gold remains Suzie Dundas/SFGATE While its a long drive to visit the park and not explore the surrounding landscape its a roughly three-hour drive from SF and two hours from Lake Tahoe Malakoff Diggins does have one other big draw: the chance to strike it rich yourself. Visit at 3 p.m. on a summer Saturday, and you can learn the basics of gold panning from the parks free classes at the ghost towns Humbug Creek. Visitors can also bring their own gold pans or borrow one from the park visitor center to use on their own in the creek bed. And visitors committed to finding the next big bonanza will be happy to know sites at the parks Chute Hill Campground are both reservable online and typically available last-minute. The parks museum and visitor center is staffed daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day and on weekends during the rest of the year. Theres a reasonable $10 parking fee that drops to $5 from September to May, and free walking tours of the ghost town are offered every day at 1:30 p.m. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. There are many tasks facing the country. Infrastructure projects are being implemented not only in Karabakh and East Zangezur, but throughout the country, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic results of six months of 2023, Trend reports. Our huge financial resources are involved and mobilized in connection with industrial development and other issues. We should approach all allocated funds in a cost efficient manner and ensure complete transparency both in collecting and spending budget revenues. As I mentioned, when additions were made to our budget, the second main direction has been to increase our military strength. And this is also natural. The international situation is clear, the head of state pointed out. Activist investor Irenic Capital Management is reportedly calling for Restaurant Group chairman Ken Hanna to step down, alleging corporate governance failures and policy violations. According to letters reviewed by Bloomberg News, Irenic Capital, which holds a stake of about 3%, charged that Hanna has shown "partiality against certain shareholders". Irenic Capital said Hanna refused to even consider adding an independent director nominated by "the activist community". Bloomberg said that Hanna told Irenic Capital in correspondence dated 22 June that adding board members nominated by activist investors or a shareholder representative isnt appropriate or acceptable to "longstanding shareholders". "Mr. Hannas comments make clear that some shareholders - longstanding - are more equal than others," Irenic Capital responded in a 23 June letter. A representative for Restaurant Group, which owns Wagamama, acknowledged to Bloomberg that it had declined Irenics request for a board seat. "TRG constantly reviews the appropriate composition of the board and only last month appointed a new non-executive director in Helen Keays," the spokesperson said. "There are absolutely zero foundations for Irenics assertion that TRGs decline of Irenics request for a board seat contravenes any corporate governance guidelines and the chairman enjoys the unanimous support of the entire board." According to Bloomberg, Irenic Capital said Hannas comments were "highly inappropriate" and called the company to set up a subcommittee to investigate whether the nomination committee is biased in evaluating board candidates. According to Irenic Capital, Hanna violated a London Stock Exchange requirement that a listed company should treat all holders of a class of listed securities the same. "Should Mr. Hanna not immediately resign, we believe the board must take appropriate steps to exclude Mr. Hanna from further deliberations regarding board composition," Irenic Capital wrote. Telecom and utility geospatial software specialist IQGeo announced the signing of significant new contracts with a tier-1 US telecom provider and one of Germany's top broadband operators on Tuesday. The AIM-traded firm said both customers, which had previously used IQGeo or Comsof software, had chosen to expand their partnership with IQGeo by implementing its Network Manager Telecom software as their strategic core technology for the long-term growth and management of their full-fibre and hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) networks. It said the German customer contract, with a minimum total value of more than 2m, would span a three-year period, while the US customer signed a three-year contract valued at over $2m, including IQGeo cloud hosting services. These two new contracts are a great example of how we have been successfully expanding the use of our software with existing customers in two of our key markets, said chief executive officer Richard Petti. We are now seen as an innovation and technology leader in the telecom space and these recent wins put our technology at the very heart of their business operations and validates our upsell and cross-sell strategy we saw from the Comsof acquisition. We are very pleased to be working with these customers to help them achieve rapid fibre rollout and efficient long-term network operations in a highly competitive market. At 1400 BST, shares in IQGeo were up 5.14% at 266p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Legarda urges public to conserve water as Angat Dam level falls below minimum Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda urged residents of Metro Manila to curb water consumption as levels in Angat Dam have continued to fall beyond its minimum operating level. Legarda emphasized the urgent action of consumers as levels are trending towards a lower level for the foreseeable future due to the dry spells caused by the El Nino phenomenon. "Kailangan nating magtipid at siguruhing tama ang paggamit ng tubig dahil sa nararanasan nating El Nino hanggang sa mga susunod na buwan na dahilan ng pagbaba ng lebel ng tubig sa Angat Dam," Legarda said. Angat Dam, the source of over 98% of water in Metro Manila, fell below the minimum operating level of 180 meters on Saturday, July 8, when it registered 179.99m, according to a news report released Sunday. Water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. had announced that a nine-hour water service interruption would affect about 600,000 of its customers due to the dilemma. Maynilad operates in 17 cities and municipalities scattered across the west zone of the Greater Manila Area, servicing at least 9.5 million consumers. Legarda also called on appropriate government agencies to lead the way in helping minimize the impact of the water situation. "Citizens have been asked to conserve water, but local government units must assure clear and constant communication with water suppliers to manage demand," underscored Legarda. "We should also find ways to incentivize those who have heeded our call to conserve water so that many will follow their steps in helping our environment," she continued. Legarda also urged residents to take advantage of the heavy downpour that affects many parts of the Metro during the afternoon and evening. "We can innovate many ways to collect rainwater and use that for watering our plants or flushing down our toilets," she remarked. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. One of the positive aspects observed recently is that there is some progress in the position of the Armenian side, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic results of six months of 2023, Trend reports. Whereas it accepted the territorial integrity, sovereignty and borders of Azerbaijan in October last year, in May of this month they went further and officially recognized the parameters of the territory of Azerbaijan, including Karabakh and enclave villages, the head of state underlined. This should be viewed as a positive development. It is now time for the same words to be put on paper, sign it and establish relations, the President added. The Blockchain Economy Summit, recognized as the world's largest blockchain conference network, is set to redefine the future of finance by bringing together key players and experts from the crypto industry. The highly anticipated 8th edition of the summit will take place over two days in Dubai on October 4-5, 2023, in Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Center, attracting the world's top crypto companies, blockchain entrepreneurs and AI innovators. Solidifying its position as a premier event in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space, the Blockchain Economy Summit has achieved remarkable success with previous editions held in London and Istanbul earlier this year. These highly acclaimed summits have further established the event's global reputation. Notably, OKX, the World's second-largest crypto exchange, proudly serves as the Exclusive Title sponsor for all of Blockchain Economy's 2023 Summits. As Dubai rapidly emerges as a global crypto hub, the Blockchain Economy Dubai Summit will serve as the region's premier gathering, representing the world of blockchain, cryptocurrency and AI. With participants from over 85 countries, this prestigious event offers a comprehensive program focused on the future of financial technologies, providing extensive networking opportunities for attendees. "We are thrilled to be back in Dubai, a city at the forefront of embracing blockchain technology," said Servi Aman, General Manager of the Blockchain Economy Summit. "Dubai's strategic vision and commitment to innovation perfectly align with our mission to shape the future of finance. This event will spark collaboration and exploration of groundbreaking ideas, driving the crypto industry forward." The Blockchain Economy Dubai Summit will feature renowned speakers from various sectors of the tech industry. The first lineup of notable speakers joining the event this year includes: Martin Hanzl - Head of New Technologies at EY Law Lennix Lai - Global Chief Commercial Officer at OKX Fred Sun - Head of Strategy at Tencent Cloud International Matthew Sigel - Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck Michael van de Poppe - Crypto Investor, Technical Analyst and CEO of MN Trading Charles Cheng - Ph.D, Forbes China 60 Sam Blatteis - CEO of The MENA Catalysts Alex Fazel - Chief Partnership Officer at SwissBorg These influential speakers, along with many others, will share their expertise and insights, contributing to the vibrant discussions and knowledge exchange at the summit. The summit will delve into the latest developments and trends within the blockchain, cryptocurrency and AI space, featuring industry leaders, engaging panel discussions, and opportunities for growth and investment. With top crypto companies and tech entrepreneurs converging in Dubai, the event will serve as an unparalleled platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and fostering strategic partnerships. Dubai's dynamic ecosystem, progressive regulatory framework, and thriving crypto community provide the ideal backdrop for the Blockchain Economy Dubai Summit. The event aims to solidify Dubai's position as a global leader in blockchain innovation and accelerate its journey towards becoming a prominent crypto hub. For more information about the Blockchain Economy Dubai Summit and to secure your participation, please visit the below links: Tickets: https://beconomydubai.com/tickets Sponsorships: https://beconomydubai.com/why-sponsor Discounted Hotel Booking: https://beconomydubai.com/venue Name: Blockchain Economy Dubai Summit 2023 Date: October 04-05, 2023 Venue: Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Center Event Hashtag: #BESUMMIT Contact address: contact@teklip.org STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The 40-year-old defendant in a burglary at a popular restaurant in St. George died earlier this month at Rikers Island and a rally was held on Tuesday in Manhattan to raise awareness about conditions at correctional facilities in New York City. The death of Felix Taveras on the Fourth of July has led to disciplinary action against three guards, officials said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPDs 123rd Precinct has a new commanding officer, as Capt. Glorisel Lee takes over the helm of the South Shore precinct, replacing Deputy Inspector Andrey Smirnov. Lee, 41, a 19-year veteran with the NYPD, previously worked in the departments candidate assessment and recruiting division where she was responsible for hiring new police officers, safety agents, traffic agents and other staff. She also worked out of the 10th Precinct in the Chelsea area of Manhattan. A Staten Island resident, born and raised in Brooklyn, Lee told the Advance/SILive.com in an exclusive interview that she has a real appreciation for the borough, joking that she could be on the Island for years and it would likely still feel new to her. Its just so different from working in Manhattan and working in Brooklyn; I love it and feel very lucky to be here, Lee said. Lee went on to say that a large part of her position will be focused on cops and the community, specifically in targeting the crews from New Jersey whove been responsible for the ongoing rash of car thefts and burglaries throughout South Shore neighborhoods. I know that those crews know that we feel safe here, Lee said. What happens is that people dont think to lock their doors or forget something in the car and leave it behind. We want people to feel comfortable at home, but we dont want to be an easy target. Lee said that going forward, several different teams of officers will be focused specifically on auto crimes, working during the later hours of the day conducting check points and car stops. Were moving in the right direction, Lee said. Even one crime is one crime too many, and it wont be a success until there is no crime on Staten Island. Sgt. Kappa Farid speaks with Lee at the stationhouse. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) MOVED BY 9/11 TRAGEDY As a teenager, Lee was not on track to graduate high school on time when the parents of a child she was caring for at a community organization, who were both cops, suggested she look into the NYPD Cadet Corps, according to an NYPD social media post detailing her career. She signed up for an orientation and began thinking about a career in policing. Then the Sept. 11 attacks occurred. And that kind of just solidified the decision that I was making, she said, according to the post. At first it was just a job, with flexible hours and better pay. But then 9/11 happened and I was like, `Im going to do this. She got her four-year degree from college and now has nearly two decades of policing under her belt. There are a lot of neighborhoods in this city that need guidance, she said in the NYPD post. And I like to give teenagers that message too. Its still possible for somebody to continue their education, graduate from high school, be proud of themselves and do something where they can influence other people. RELATED COVERAGE: NYPD on Staten Island >> Staten Island Borough Commander Gin Yee is celebrated on his last day; heads into retirement after 42 years with NYPD >> Staten Islands No. 2 cop Deputy Chief Terence Hurson is back in a familiar setting after 6 years away >> Staten Island NYPD precinct commander Tania Kinsella promoted to deputy chief position STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Authorities charged two brothers in a five-count indictment in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 23-year-old woman in a Mariners Harbor apartment complex. Roberto Martinez, 25, faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, aggravated criminal contempt and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon after Evelin Barajas Perez his girlfriend, according to a source was found dead inside her bedroom at 371 Van Name Ave. on June 21, 2023. His brother, Javier Martinez, 23, was charged with hindering the prosecution. A law enforcement source said the pair was arrested in Michigan, and a separate source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed the pairs out-of-state arrest was the cause of the hindrance charge. Evelin Barajas Perez, 23, of Mariners Harbor, is shown in a photo with a purple-spot filter effect. NYPD officers found Barajas Perez lying face down on the floor of her bedroom in a pool of blood with a knife sticking out of her neck, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported. She also had multiple stab wounds in her back. Cops descended on the location after a call for a wellness check following a report of a possible argument at the location, said a law enforcement source. Michael Edgar Vitaliano, the defense attorney representing Javier Martinez, told the Advance/SILive.com during a phone call that his client denies all allegations. My office has already begun investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident, and Mr. Martinez looks forward to his day in court, said Vitaliano. Roberto Martinez does not currently have a defense attorney, but is expected to be assigned one in the coming days. He is next due in court on July 17, according to court records. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York Citys largest teachers union has approved a new five-year contract that would bring raises, bonuses and a new virtual learning program to the nations largest public school system. Members of the United Federation of Teaches (UFT) ratified the new contract by a margin of 74.6%, according to a tally by the American Arbitration Association. The more than 95,000 votes cast made up the largest in UFT history. The agreement, which was announced last month, between New York City and the UFT is retroactive beginning on Sept. 14, 2022, and expires on Nov. 28, 2027. It includes several raises and annual retention payments. It also includes plans to expand a virtual learning program to schools citywide, offering more opportunities for students to learn. The new agreement addresses the major changes sought by the unions 500-member negotiating team. The contract increases pay, increases educators control over their workday, and decreases the non-educational, irrelevant paperwork demands, said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. Members of the UFT will receive an annual raise of 3% for each of the first three years of the contract, 3.25% in the fourth year and 3.5% in the fifth year. The contract also includes a $3,000 lump sum ratification bonus for all UFT members and a first-of-its-kind annual retention payment to be paid in May of each year, beginning with $400 in 2024, $700 in 2025 and $1,000 in 2026 -- and every year thereafter. According to the city, these payments will help retain valuable educators, especially those earning lower annual salaries. Our teachers and school staff work day in and day out to provide a brighter future for our children, and we are proud today that they have voted to ratify this contract, said Mayor Eric Adams, referring to the contract approval. It gives them much-needed wage increases, as well as a new retention bonus that will help ensure we are holding on to our valuable educators. Further, with the creation of a virtual learning program that will create new academic opportunities for our students, this contract helps set our young scholars including those with nontraditional schedules up for success. With the annual bonuses, the compounded value over the length of the agreement ranges from 17.58% to 20.42%, according to the UFT. Additionally, the new top salary for the most experienced teachers would be $151,271, including the bonus, by the end of the proposed contract. The proposed contract also cuts in half from 15 to eight years the length of time it takes most teachers to reach a salary of $100,000. The new starting salary for new teachers would be $72,349, including the bonus, by the end of the proposed agreement up from $61,070. The top salary for paraprofessionals would be $56,761, including the bonus. Under the contract, New York City also plans to offer an expansive voluntary virtual learning program to all public high school students and some middle school students. While not a substitute for in-person learning, it would give students access to a much broader set of course offerings across the city, and the ability to take classes at non-traditional times, like evenings and weekends. It would also give an opportunity for educators to teach virtually. The initiative will allow public schools to expand course offerings to students who dont currently have access to the full range of accelerated courses and to reach students for whom traditional in-person schedules dont work, such as students who work full-time jobs. The UFT issued 115,840 ballots, of which 95,725 votes were returned. The total cost of the agreement through 2027 will be $6.4 billion funded in the labor reserve in the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget. School Zone: An education newsletter with the updates you need throughout the school year and beyond. Enter your email address here and hit "subscribe" to receive this weekly newsletter: FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Uncover the history of New York Citys only Catholic Catacombs at the Basilica of St. Patricks Old Cathedral with Tommys New York on the Catacombs by Candlelight tour. For more than 200 years, the catacombs have served as the final resting place for some of New Yorks most famous figures. This tour, led by a knowledgeable expert, grants exclusive access to restricted areas that are otherwise off-limits to visitors. The 80-minute tour will meets at The Chancery at 266 Mulberry St., Manhattan. From there, the guide will escort guests throughout the sacred grounds, shedding light on the fascinating history of the first Catholic Cathedral of the Archdiocese of New York. Delving into the catacombs, the guide will lead guests and share insight about this intersection of faith and history. The experience is open to all those ages 4 and up, however, a proper dress code is requested; those with profane or disrespectful attire will be turned away. Tickets for adults are priced at $37; children who are 4 to 11 years old and seniors 65 and older are $32 per person. Tickets can be purchased here. Hours are Thursday through Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Since the tour takes place in an active church, some time slots may be canceled on short notice due to weddings, funerals or other events. More NYC Must See events: BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. We were recently able to expand our transportation capabilities beyond our borders. Three large tankers have been purchased, each with a capacity of 115,000 tons. This is the first time in the history of Azerbaijan and that was done on my instruction. Tankers were named Shusha, Karabagh and Zangezur, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic results of six months of 2023, Trend reports. Transportation of Azerbaijani goods by an Azerbaijani company will bring us additional revenues, and we are already present in the Black Sea. We were already there anyway. We had small ships, but today three of our largest tankers, Afromax tankers, are already operating in the Black Sea. If necessary, we can increase their number, the head of state pointed out. EDITORS NOTE: Best of Staten Island 2023 is sponsored by Empire State Bank, N.A., Staten Islands only headquartered bank, a member of the FDIC Equal Housing Lender. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. For our latest Best of Staten Island category of 2023, we asked our readers to tell us where we could find their favorite margaritas on Staten Island. We were given a narrow field of only the elite lime, salt and tequila mixers on the borough. Now, its time to narrow down our concise list of 11 finalists, to our top three winners. So whether its tropical, spicy, sweet or original, its time to vote for who you think serves the best margaritas in town. Readers have until 9 a.m. Monday, July 17 to vote for their favorite margarita spot in the poll below. Only the top three from our list will receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance. In case you missed it, this year, Best of Staten Island has a brand new sponsor. Empire State Bank may even join the Advance/SILive.com along the way as it explores Staten Islanders favorite businesses. HOW BEST OF STATEN ISLAND WORKS We like to keep it pretty simple for Best of Staten Island. Over the course of the year, we will feature eight different Best Of categories. For each category, there will be one week of nominations, one week of voting and two weeks that will focus on the top winners as chosen by our readers. Only brick-and-mortar businesses are considered, unless otherwise noted. The top three Best of Staten Island winners in each category receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance, all brought to you by Empire State Bank. In case you missed it, we already featured the best bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, best dance schools, best sushi spots and best nail salons on the Island. Take a look at our ultimate guides for a closer look at each of these establishments. In 2022, readers voted on their top three dance schools, their favorite al fresco dining spots, their favorite places to grab tacos, their top diners and their favorite Chinese restaurants. We also stopped by their favorite Staten Island spots for the best burgers, the best calamari and the best grandma pie. Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Armenia has dealt a massive blow to our nature as a result of the activities of enterprises operating in Armenia and, at the same time, as a result of the savage exploitation of our natural resources in the lands occupied in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur at the time, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic results of six months of 2023, Trend reports. Suffice it to say that the Armenians destroyed, looted, removed and sold more than 60,000 hectares of forests, the head of state noted. Trans-boundary threats must now be taken into account. And Azerbaijan's position here is still based on international experience, based on international conventions, including the Espoo Convention, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized. It seems the disgraced Australian casino industry may have met its match in Federal Court Justice Michael Lee, who is at least attempting to apply a touch of rigour and verify the validity of Crown Resorts crying poor. Lee was given the job of placing the courts seal of approval on the settlement between Crown and the regulator, AUSTRAC. But the rubber-stamping exercise has not gone to plan. In March, AUSTRAC declared it had agreed to a $450 million settlement with Crown as financial punishment for the casinos egregious contraventions of money laundering and counterterrorism laws over several years. But there was a nifty bait and switch engineered as part of the outcome. The switch, as we discovered this week, was allowing Crown to pay the penalty on an interest-free instalment basis making the true value of the fine around $405 million. Thats a handy 10 per cent discount for Crown. 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 Scientists are on the verge of declaring a new epoch as they gather hard evidence that humanity has permanently altered the planets geological record through industrial activity and the detonation of nuclear bombs. The term Anthropocene the epoch defined by humanitys impact on the earth has been in use for decades. However, geologists havent formally announced the end of the current epoch, the Holocene, which began 11,700 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age. To hail a new epoch, age or era, geologists must decide on a preserved physical reference point that demarcates a clear, global shift into a new geological time period. The point is called a global boundary stratotype section and point (GSSP) also known as a golden spike. On Wednesday, after a three-year hunt, a group of scientists called the Anthropocene Working Group unveiled their golden spike: a small, remote body of water in Ontario, Canada, called Lake Crawford. Its a 2.4-hectare lake that only takes 15 minutes to loop by foot, but it has an unusual depth of 24 metres and the body of water is meromictic, which means the top and bottom layers dont mix. Every summer, warm water triggers calcium and carbonate ions from the lakes limestone bedrock to crystallise and sink into the still depths like snow, forming a yearly white layer on the bottom of the lake that traps organic material. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has apologised for the death of a 14-year-old transgender boy and committed to a review of gender care and research across the state, after it was revealed only three patients have been admitted to one of the states two public gender clinics so far this year. Noah OBrien, 14, took his own life in January while on the wait list for specialist gender-affirming care at The Childrens Hospital at Westmead, the ABCs Four Corners program reported on Monday night. The program also revealed the clinic had treated three new patients so far in 2023, significantly less than the 88 adolescents admitted to the program in 2022. The Childrens Hospital at Westmead houses one of two publicly funded gender clinics in NSW. Credit: Louise Kennerley Were not enabling people to access this level of health care as frequently as they need it, Park told ABC radio on Tuesday morning. And obviously in the very sad case of Noah ... my heart goes out to the family, and Im very sorry that theyve had a system that let them down. Park announced independent health policy group the Sax Institute would lead a review into the scientific literature on gender-affirming care from Australia and overseas, after Four Corners aired concerns from former Westmead staff about controversial research from the hospital. A woman who had taken an apprehended violence order out against her ex-husband has been killed in Sydneys west while he was on bail charged over a previous alleged attack on her. Police were called to the home on Alice Street in Rooty Hill about 8.15pm on Tuesday by a family member and arrived to find Christine Rakic, in her 50s, dead. Christine Rakic was found dead in her Rooty Hill home on Tuesday night. Credit: Facebook Police also found her ex-husband Dusan Rakic, 50, with injuries to his throat and arms, believed to be self-inflicted. He was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition where he remains under police guard. Court documents reveal that police had charged him with domestic violence-related common assault earlier in the year. Sydneys cocaine use has rebounded, as new data shows the city consumed more of the drug in December than any other time in the past two years, and most arrests for possession of the $300-a-bag drug are taking place in the CBD and eastern suburbs. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission released data on Tuesday night showing Sydney consumed 13 doses of cocaine per 1000 people per day in December 2022. Cocaine is on the rise after two years in decline. Sydney is still topping the nation for the drug. Credit: Police Media That is a significant reversal from the historic low set in August 2022, when Sydney ingested just three daily doses. The most recent records, from February 2023, put cocaine at six grams daily. 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 Ulaanbaatar: Mongolians will tell you they are agile. Which means they are not good at planning ahead. Thousands of years of nomadic living have made the people of this arid landlocked country able to adapt fast when disaster strikes. But it has left Mongolians struggling to keep up with longer-term global economic shifts that have centralised populations, money and power. Children wear superhero costumes in front of the Government Palace in Ulanbaatar. Credit: Sanghee Liu Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, Mongolias 43-year-old prime minister, is trying to change that. He is in the midst of instituting the broadest political reforms seen since the country split from the Soviet Union and became a democracy in 1990. The government is overhauling its majoritarian system to mirror New Zealands parliament of proportional representation even if it might cost Oyun-Erdenes Mongolian Peoples Party power at the next election. It is also launching a corruption drive that will hit some of the countrys most prominent families, and weaning itself off its giant neighbours Russia and China. Advertisement Mongolia does not have anything to hide, Oyun-Erdene says in an interview in his office at the Government Palace in Ulaanbaatar. We have to make reforms. Prime Minister of Mongolia, Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai in his office in Ulaanbaatar. Credit: Sanghee Liu The Harvard graduate has the build of a wrestler. He is the first Mongolian leader not to have been educated in the Soviet Union and leads a country where 70 per cent of people are under 35. Outside his office on Sunday, students surrounded a yurt while children rode around Ulaanbaatars main square on electric ponies to pumping drum and bass. But for years Mongolias youth have been left behind by chronic dysfunction, 14 changes of government in the past two decades (lasting an average of nine months) and an over-reliance on the mining sector. Then COVID-19 hit, China sealed its borders and Russia launched its war on Ukraine. Advertisement Oyun-Erdene decided it was time to move. I do believe that my tenure as the prime minister has been unique because of these two main issues, he says. We had to find some advantages from this situation. For us, the most important thing for Mongolia is to make our economy independent. Young Mongolians enjoy riding a bicycle on the Sukhbataar Square. Credit: Sanghee Liu To do that, Oyun-Erdene has to convince foreign investors that this resource-rich but volatile young democracy is worth the risk. The system of government that saw two-party rule dominate decades of Mongolian politics is out. Coalitions are in. So too are women, who for the first time in 2024 will have one seat for every male elected in the proportional representation section of parliament. The prime minister will have power over the cabinet, with the president acting as the check and balance rather than the old-Soviet style horizontal model which saw factional rivals chuck out prime ministers as if it was Australia. Advertisement The theory is that the new model will force governments to build consensus and encourage long-term policies while limiting the instability that has dogged each administration since the fall of the Berlin Wall. We lived instability. It created unclear, un-understandable environments, says the house speaker and Mongolian political veteran Gombojav Zandanshatar. We are not just talking about creating a favourable environment. We are doing it. We are updating the legislation, he says. People take selfies in front of a museum in Mongolias capital. Credit: Sanghee Liu Zandanshatar believes Mongolia can be a model for other small nations struggling to emerge from their authoritarian past. Sandwiched between our two giant neighbours, we call it an oasis of democracy. Those neighbours have caused plenty of discomfort for Mongolias leaders. The country remains dependent on Russia for all of its energy and 90 per cent of its exports go to China on a single railway track. Advertisement Aware the situation is not sustainable, Oyun-Erdene is diversifying the economy into artificial intelligence, renewable energy and digital finance, targeting deals with third neighbours like Australia in the process. Loading English is now the nations second official language. A fibre optic cable that supplies Mongolias internet has to run through both Russia and China, so the government is now in talks with Elon Musks Starlink to provide satellite internet access to one of the worlds least densely populated nations. War or COVID, or any challenge, will end one day, says Zandanshatar. We cant move to Australia, with our ships and camels. Russia and China will never move. So we are neighbours. Neighbours dont choose each other. It is a geographic reality that has made for a delicate diplomatic dance for Oyun-Erdene. Advertisement PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Justice is delighted to announce the commencement of Justice Week 2023, a week-long celebration dedicated to honoring the tireless efforts of justice workers and promoting safety and security within the community. From July 10th to July 17th, a series of activities and events will be held, culminating in Justice Day on the 17th. The Honorable Minister of Justice, Anna E. Richardson, inaugurated Justice Week with a remarkable Justice Prayer Link, which brought together administrative and frontline justice workers. The event took place on E. C. Richardson Street, symbolizing the Ministry's unwavering commitment to upholding justice. The ceremony began with powerful prayers delivered by Pastor Cuvalay of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Apostle Edwin Arrindell of Christian Faith International Ministry. Their heartfelt words invoked blessings and protection upon the courageous men and women who selflessly serve within the Ministry, ensuring the safety and security of the Sint Maarten community. Minister Richardson expressed her gratitude to Acting Secretary General, Ms. Florence Marlin, and the department heads, including Chief of Police Mr. Carl John, Prison Director Mr. Steven Carty, Acting-Chief of Customs Mr. Franklin Bernadina, Head of Court of Guardianship Mrs. Kimberly Brown, Acting Head of National Detectives Ms. Lucy Gachette, Chief Prosecutor Mrs. Heike Buist, and Officer Daniel Jeffers of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, for their inspiring speeches following the prayer. She emphasized the significance of the collective prayer, uniting the Ministry's staff in seeking protection for themselves, their colleagues, and the entire community of Sint Maarten. "Today's launch of Justice Week has set a remarkable precedent, filling our hearts with positivity, blessings, and a sense of purpose," stated Minister Richardson. "I extend my sincere appreciation to the Justice Committee for their hard work to put this all together, the Acting Secretary General, department heads, and all staff members who participated in the prayer link, solidifying our bond as we collectively prayed for our protection and the well-being of our colleagues and the community of Sint Maarten." Throughout Justice Week, the Ministry of Justice will continue organizing a range of activities aimed at raising awareness, fostering collaboration, unity and further strengthening the justice system in Sint Maarten. PHILIPSBURG:--- On July 6, the results of the second round of the Dutch exam programs were announced. A larger than normal group of students took part in the second round, either to improve one grade for tertiary education purposes or because they had missed an exam during the first round due to sickness or because they had to improve a grade in order to pass. Of the 235 candidates from PBL, PKL, TKL, HAVO and VWO it is now final that 157 students passed: 34 MPC PBL-PKL (56%), 34 Sundial PBL-PKL (68%), 40 TKL (69%), 38 HAVO (75%) and 11 VWO (73%), which results in an overall pass rate of 67%. The performance of the MPC PKL-students and the Sundial PBL- students was lower than usual, which pushed the overall rate down. An analysis of all results will be done to identify the causes of the decreased passing rate and to ensure improved outcomes in the future. The majority of the students celebrated their achievements and received their diplomas at the graduation ceremony that took place on June 29th at Belair Community Center. General Director Jacqueline Duggins-Horsford commended the students for being a special group: they had surpassed all the challenges that were thrown at them over the past 1.5 years with blended learning during Covid and the upheaval at both schools due to NRPB post-Hurricane Irma reconstruction works during the last two school years. In addition to these challenges, the exam rules this year had been applied without any Covid alleviations, as was done in the previous three years, and yet the students performed admirable. On July 6th, 39 students who took part in the second round of examinations, received the happy news that they were successful. They were given a festive ceremony at Milton Peters College, attended by many teachers and managers, even though the official summer vacation had started since July 1st. Overall the best-scoring students were: VWO: Nysette Gomes (Profile Economy and Society), Isabeau Croes (Profile Nature & Health), and Suni Plattel (Nature and Technique); HAVO: Emma Croes (profile Culture & Society), Angelle Presentacion (profile Economy & Society), Jayden van Helsdingen (Profile Nature and Health), and Johanna Millet (Profile Nature and Technique); TKL: Jabari Illidge (Sector technique), Omari Alexander (Sector Care and Wellness), Chrishan Allwood (Sector Economy); MPC PBL-PKL: Sue Ellen Lourens Leito and Sylvienna Hooi (PKL-Business), Deondro Pantophlet (PKL-Electro), Jelicia Brooks Abreu (PBL-Business), Shanipha Jones (PBL-Construction), Moises Martina (PBL-Electro) and Jermain Cannegieter (PBL-Metal); Sundial School: NTonya Richardson-Rombley (PKL- Care and Wellness), Edwin Mendez (PKL-Hospitality), Isabela Anthony-Hernandez (PBL-Hospitality) and Steven Richardson (PBL-Care and Wellness). Special mention can be made of the following students: VWO student Suni Plattel excelled with an exceptionally high average of 9.3 for all her subjects and with a score 10 (=perfect score) for several subjects. TKL student Omari Alexander showed resilience, which resulted in being the best-scoring student in his sector Care and Wellness as well as valedictorian of all TKL students. Ajeane Hazell was complimented by the MPC PBL-PKL team for showing that dedication and hard work pays off. Suerayah Jederon, an ex-student from Prins Willem Alexander School, pushed through her 4 years at Sundial, persevered, and came out victorious. She shed tears of joy when she heard she passed her re-sit for Biology. SVOBE Schools would like to congratulate all students and their parents and guardians for achieving this momentous milestone and wish the graduates much success in their future endeavors. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. We have to re-examine our shipbuilding opportunities in the Caspian Sea, because orders are coming from neighboring countries, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic results of six months of 2023, Trend reports. Our shipyard is calculated for the available shipping capacity. At the same time, we also took into account the decommissioning of ships that have been operating for many years. Because they fall into disrepair and must be upgraded. But there is a greater demand now both our own and from neighboring countries. So, it is not ruled out that someday we can start expanding the production areas of the shipyard, the Azerbaijani President noted. "If we did not have a shipyard today, where would we be buying tankers and ships? This is a rhetorical question. No one can buy ships where we used to buy them. Therefore, it was a timely strategic step, and it was me who gave the instruction to expand the capabilities of the Alat International Trade Port. We have to do this too. Because our handling capacity is calculated for 15 million tons. This was enough for the previous period. After a year or two, it may not be enough. Again, I don't want to say anything in advance, but the negotiations with neighboring and partner countries show that it will be possible to transport several times more cargo through Azerbaijan," President Ilham Aliyev said. Offered by the Brighton Center in Northern Kentucky, Trades to Success is a 3-week pre-apprenticeship program which helps those looking for a new career. Throughout the program students are able to learn about different careers in the trades, apprenticeship careers, and post-secondary education opportunities while becoming certified in career readiness. Participants explore careers and industries such as electrician, line worker, construction, commercial driver's license (CDL), supply chain and logistics, and many more. So far this year, close to 75 people have been certified for career success through the program. We want to connect our participants to careers that they really want to do, and love, said Rob Sander, Trades to Success program manager. We want to make sure that they grow with the career that they choose. The program helps build relationships with employers and we also help our students to use those relationships to get them employed. The Trades to Success program follows a trend in support of education of the skilled trades, which appears to be returning to fashion, according to the 2022 Registered Apprenticeship Annual Report published by the Kentucky Career Center. The report states that during Fiscal Year 2022, Kentucky had 1,593 active new apprentices compared to 1,521 in Fiscal Year 2021. In addition, the report stated there were a total of 4,071 apprentices in Fiscal Year 2021 compared to 4,144 in Fiscal Year 2022. Weve had quite a few success stories, said Sander. The great part of it is that success is determined by the individual and their self-determination. There are many people that come through this program that are not motivated, but those that are motivated seem to find the most success from the program. Upon first taste, Vince was taken aback. This was no Heinz 57. The York St. Cafe in Newport is well known for its rich history and unique panache. Packed floor to ceiling with tchotchkes and artifacts of all shapes and sizes collected by previous owners Terry and Betsy Cunningham, the Newport mainstays interior still comes off as elegant and neat.Guest experience is prioritized within the well-preserved structure. Respect for the heritage of the 1880s-era building is evident in the staffs knowledge of its colorful and sordid past punctuated by the visible, lingering remnants of its long-ago speakeasy days.While Vincent the dachshund mix wasnt privy to interior views, he found the patio dining area large and accommodating, yet segmented and cozy. With many tables and planted areas situated between two brick buildings, it has a quiet, green yet distinctly urban vibe. Vincent gratefully took note of the consistent breeze and the shade provided by a large, overhanging tree. On a sweltering day, patrons and their dogs can easily find a cool respite from the summer heat at York St.Vincent adores a good happy hour, so he visited in the late afternoon to check out the specials. While the legendary spanakopita and dirty hummus sounded appealing, Vincents unyielding carnivorous nature caused his tail to wag for the Wagyu beef sliders, made with locally sourced beef from Kentuckys Black Hawk Farm As the humans sipped on York St.s signature Old Fashioned (distinctly prepared with both Old Forester '96 and Bulleit Rye poured over a demerara sugar cube), Vince imagined himself wrangling cattle as a ranch dog at Black Hawk Farm.Attentive and gracious server Genesis came by with a refreshing bowl of chilled water for the discerning critic. She casually made mention that her menu favorites include the Caesar salad with house prepared dressing, as well as the stuffed chicken and the brie appetizer. This prompted Vince to abandon his daydreaming and tune in to the conversation. Executive Chef Richard McCollum discussed things like York St.s ever-changing seasonal menu. Vincent politely lapped the refreshing water, preparing his palate for the mouth-watering meat.Scrumptiously-charred mini burgers in toasted brioche buns arrived at the table in due time, loaded with fresh and abundant toppings. These included tender mixed greens, large dill pickle slices, and chef Richards own 94 sauce. Upon first taste, Vince was taken aback. This was no Heinz 57.What is this unexpected, yet familiar, flavor? he pondered to himself. The sauce was sweet and creamy with a smoky, chipotle kick, giving the slider experience a south of the border flair. Ole! Vincent conveyed with a nod to the chef. He licked his lips, finishing the last remnants of tangy, taco-y remoulade.Terry (Cunningham) started here 27 years ago and it originally was a coffee shop, McCollum informed Vince and his companions. That was in 94. And so, we have the 94 sauce as a tribute. I was tasked to come up with that. Were a completely from-scratch kitchen.In addition to its relationship with Black Hawk Farm, York St. has established partnerships with Berry Farms for fine cuts of meat and 16 Bricks for baked goods. Herb planters adorn the patio, providing homegrown, flavorful freshness for human patrons and some good sniffing options for dogs.Tuesday is like our special dog day. Fridays and Saturdays are kind of hard because this place is packed with people, McCollum advises potential guests with dogs in tow.McCollum takes pride in his many customizable vegan options, often ordered by omnivorous and pescatarian guests with added meat or seafood. Summer vegetable farfalle with a sauce made from pureed hearts of palm is a popular option.Special 5-course meals with themed wine pairings are another of the chefs favorites and are offered every third Thursday of the month. Junes offering was rose all day.With another successful dog day afternoon of dining in the books, Vincent gives York St. Cafe a coveted five-paw rating. Outstanding, friendly service and a relaxed, eclectic atmosphere make it alluring in a Northern Kentucky bucket-list sense especially for memory-making occasions like anniversaries or Mothers and Fathers Days.York St.s second floor bar also hosts live music (primarily jazz ensembles and acoustic acts), for nights when the dogs crave a night in but their owners want to howl at the moon. Interested in conversations about entrepreneurship, mental health, the experience of being a Black and Brown founder, and thousands of ideas in one place? Black Tech Week returns next week with 100+ speakers, 50+ workers, and a week full of innovation. Cincinnati Music Hall and neighboring Memorial Hall will host most of the events on July 18-20.What began as an ecosystem-building festival for minorities in technology fields, the event has become a boon for both the city and the local startup network. Described as where the Black people in tech will be, the event attracts talent and entrepreneurs of color from across the country. Issa Rae , actress, author, activist, and producer, will be the keynote speaker this year. It's anticipated that the three-day event will attract more than 3,000 attendees.With hundreds of international businesses, tech leaders, and national recognition for innovation, Cincinnati is no stranger to creating opportunities. Procter and Gamble, Kroger, and Cintas, all based in Cincinnati, are included as sponsors of Black Tech Week. Lightship Foundation , which serves both entrepreneurs and organizations, acquired Black Tech Week in 2022. Candice Matthews Brackeen, founder and CEO, said, I am thrilled to bring this conference to Ohio and provide thousands of Black techies throughout the Midwest the chance to attend.Cincinnati touts its competitive advantage for entrepreneurs as far as recruiting and retaining talent and its entrepreneurship support networks. Cincinnatis startup ecosystem is supported by resources such as the Cincinnati Innovation District and startup accelerator Cintrifuse . Cintrifuse's home in Union Hall in Over-the-Rhine is one of the resources the city offers founders, and the building regularly welcomes guests from all over the nation. Inc. Magazine will host a satellite event, Inc. Founders House, next door to Music Hall at The Transept this year, where entrepreneurs can connect, pitch their businesses to Inc. editors, and hear from fellow founders. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. The greater part of our country has already been officially declared a green energy zone, and against this background, the incident in the Gadabay district is completely unacceptable, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic results of six months of 2023, Trend reports. I believe that the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources was negligent as a minimum, it showed lack of control, acted as a passive observer, as a result of which a foreign investor contaminated our nature. People raised their legitimate voice of protest, but did anyone listen to them? No! One day, two days, three days, five days. What was the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources thinking? Wasnt it aware that there was such a problem? It was either aware but turned a blind eye to it, or it was unaware. Both are not acceptable, the head of state noted. "It is true that some of the citizens were provoked and committed inappropriate and illegal acts, and this is intolerable and unacceptable. Some of those provocateurs have gone into hiding in Azerbaijan, others have fled abroad. Those in Azerbaijan have already been identified and several have been brought to justice. We will bring those abroad to account. Let no one think that we have forgotten this. Chaos, arbitrariness and provocations in Azerbaijan ended in 1993. If someone has forgotten that, we can remind them," President Ilham Aliyev added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. It is true that some of the citizens were provoked and committed inappropriate and illegal acts, and this is intolerable and unacceptable. Some of those provocateurs have gone into hiding in Azerbaijan, others have fled abroad. Those in Azerbaijan have already been identified and several have been brought to justice. We will bring those abroad to account, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic results of six months of 2023, Trend reports. Chaos, arbitrariness and provocations in Azerbaijan ended in 1993. If someone has forgotten that, we can remind them. Therefore, citizens should also show culture, as they say, show enlightenment, obey the law, and not throw stones at the police. Throwing stones at the police is not an act that brings honor to anyone. This is one thing. Secondly, it is a crime. If the Azerbaijani police show tolerance, it does not mean that people can throw stones at the police. This is absolutely unacceptable. I am saying this to everyone. We are not going to play with anyones whims here and if we believe that it is necessary, we will punish those involved in such a way that they will regret it, the head of state pointed out. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Extraction of early gas from the Absheron gas condensate field is indeed a very important event. Because our main gas resource to this day was the Shah Deniz gas condensate field, in relation to exports, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic results of six months of 2023, Trend reports. The head of state noted: We had high hopes and we knew that the Absheron gas condensate field contained major reserves. It was reported to me a few days ago that early gas was produced. The flow rates are also very good. One well produces even more gas and condensate than from the Shah Deniz gas field. This will ensure our energy security at a higher level. Also, the volume of gas going for export will increase year by year, not only because of Shah Deniz, but also because of Absheron. H ydrogen heating trials have been called off in Ellesmere Port after local protests. The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) confirmed on Tuesday that a trial will no longer take place in the Whitby area of the Cheshire town. Trials had been proposed for Whitby, as well as Redcar in Teesside, involving hydrogen boilers being installed in around 2,000 homes. Cadent, the gas distribution network for Whitby, and Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the network for Redcar, submitted rival bids earlier this year to test the feasibility of a home-heating grid run without natural gas. But the plans prompted a backlash from homeowners in both areas, with concerns that hydrogen is less safe, less energy-efficient and more expensive than gas or electric heat pumps. Conservative peer Lord (Martin) Callanan said on Tuesday that there is no strong local support for trials in Whitby but discussions over a Redcar trial continue. He tweeted: After listening to the views of residents, its clear that there is no strong local support, therefore Whitby will no longer be considered as the location for the UKs first hydrogen village trial discussions with NGN re Redcar are ongoing and well announce next steps shortly. Cadent said the Government is likely to progress the trial in Redcar after DESNZ informed it that its proposal for Whitby is not preferred. Responding to the news, Justin Madders, Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, said: This decision has been inevitable for some time and I hope the Government and gas networks will learn from the mistakes that have been made in this process. It is clear that asking people to try experimental new forms of energy consumption for their homes will not work unless basic questions about safety, efficacy and cost can be answered from the start. The key here is you need informed consent, just like you would in a drug trial. This is a process that's intrusive, it is a change to your house, it's a change in the way you heat... It is also clear that leaving people with the impression that this was happening without their consent sent entirely the wrong message out about how we need to tackle climate change. We need written cast-iron assurances that this is the end of the matter and that the people of Whitby and Ellesmere Port will not have foisted on them at some later date a hydrogen village, a hydrogen town or some other variant. Local people have had enough. Michael Liebreich, founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, called it the right decision. He said: The key here is you need informed consent, just like you would in a drug trial. This is a process thats intrusive, it is a change to your house, its a change in the way you heat, its a change to potentially your bills in the future, its a change to the way you cook, it can change your own future plans for going to different sources. Todays decision to cancel the hydrogen heating trial in Whitby is a triumph of common sense over industry greenwash Alice Harrison, fossil fuels campaign leader at Global Witness, said: Hydrogen heating is the emperors new clothing for the oil and gas industry a thinly veiled attempt for these companies to stay relevant and profitable, and to stall a genuinely green transition. Todays decision to cancel the hydrogen heating trial in Whitby is a triumph of common sense over industry greenwash. Hydrogen does have a role to play in decarbonising our industry, but it would be a disaster as a source of home heating its explosive, expensive and its much worse for the climate than alternatives like heat pumps. With the Whitby trial now out of the question, the Government must now do the same with Redcar and end the disastrous hydrogen trials. We believe strongly in the role that hydrogen can play alongside other technologies and energy sources in reaching net zero If successful, the proposed trial would begin in 2025 and last two years, with funding supplied by energy regulator Ofgem. Cadent said in a statement: We know that this will be disappointing to the many residents who told us they wanted their community to play a pioneering role in decarbonising how we heat our homes in the UK. We believe strongly in the role that hydrogen can play alongside other technologies and energy sources in reaching net zero. While Whitby wont be the location for the trial, the information we have gained over the last 12 months will still play an invaluable role in shaping how the UK heats its homes and businesses in the future. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with the Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany Tobias Lindner, the Azerbaijani MFA told Trend. The sides discussed topical issues on the agenda of both bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany, as well as the situation in the region and the international situation. Minister Bayramov, stressing that the dynamics of the development of relations between the two countries in various spheres, including politics, economy, energy security, culture, education and other spheres, are gratifying, noted the importance of high-level visits, including political contacts, in this regard. In this context, the importance of the mechanism of political consultations aimed at discussing the prospects for further expansion of relations between Azerbaijan and Germany was stressed. He informed State Minister Tobias Lindner in detail about the current situation in the region in the post-conflict period and the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Azerbaijani FM stressed that the ongoing military and political provocations and the continuing mine threat from Armenia against Azerbaijan hinder the peace process. Minister of State Tobias Lindner highlighted the great opportunities for expanding ties between Azerbaijan and Germany. He noted the broad prospects for further development of bilateral cooperation in various fields, in particular, in the use of traditional and alternative energy sources. It was stressed that Germany welcomes the efforts aimed at establishing peace and ensuring security in the region. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. R egulatory approvals for fintech firms plunged to fresh lows in 2022, the Standard can reveal, as the UKs financial watchdog mounted a draconian crackdown on Londons fintech sector. The approval rate of applications for Electronic Money Institution status, required for processing digital cash payments, fell to just 8% in 2022, figures obtained from the Financial Conduct Authority via a Freedom of Information request show, amounting to just 33 approvals. That compares to an approval rate of 90% in 2018 and a rate of 47% in 2021. Just seven applications were approved in the first quarter of 2023, the FCA said, in signs fintech firms face a near-impossible pathway to getting regulatory clearance to operate in the UK. Industry insiders told the Standard a combination of poor staffing levels and regulators spooked by the recent spate of crypto firm collapses have contributed to the fall in approvals. Loading.... Seb Wallace, investment director at venture capital firm Triple Point, told the Standard the drop in approvals was a sad reflection of problems at the FCA. The presumption should be towards enabling success in the application process rather than being sceptical and hostile to put people off applying and reduce the FCAs workload, he said. It drives capital intensity up and makes businesses less attractive for funding. One has to question how long this can go on for before it impacts competitiveness. It comes as investment into UK fintech has slumped by more than a third in the latest sign of challenging conditions facing the sector. A total of $2.9 billion was invested across 199 deals in the UK in the first six months of 2023, a drop of 37% compared to the last six months of 2022, according to a report by Innovate Finance. That is a much steeper decline than the 14% drop in total capital invested in Fintech globally. Of those 199 deals, 111 worth $2 billion took place in the first quarter, while a further 88 deals took place in the second quarter representing $864 million, in signs investment is continuing to slow. Major players in the sector have sounded the alarm over the threat posed by regulatory delays and clampdowns to the global competitiveness of UK fintech. In May, the CEO of fintech giant Revolut, which has been waiting for more than two years to secure a banking licence, said he wouldnt consider a listing in London because it is not the business environment to operate in the modern world, while the founder of fintech Thought Machine, Paul Taylor, warned there was deep frustration in the sector. When the challenger banks got started, the view was the UK regulators were very encouraging of new entrants to the market and challenger banks, which is why Monzo and Revolut got a very clear path to their initial licences, to such an extent that some of the incumbents felt it was unfair, Taylor told the Standard. But now it certainly has changed. Theres not this pro-technology company view of the regulators and they have become more bureaucratic and cautious theyre just too slow and it takes months if not years to get answers to questions. People are a bit fed up. Tom Graham, Managing Director in Accentures Banking practice, said: The 2010s saw a wave of successful fintech applications, with neobanks leading the charge. But more recently we have seen some slowdown in full deposit taking banking license applications. The cost and complexity of compliance has made some fintechs question whether they need a full banking license to achieve their business goals. Instead, a number are making use of the emoney regime or effectively borrowing someone elses license as a way to deliver financial services for consumers. If the transatlantic relationship has often been declared to be a mere comfort blanket for British self-importance, the truth is that there is more interdependence at stake now. The war in Ukraine and chaos in Russia for two, while relations with other states hostile to the liberal democratic order, including China and Iran, become more testy. That has brought the rock solid relations Biden cited back to centre stage. But it is a dating pattern that is non-exclusive. The US wants different things from different allies. From France, it seeks a channel to engage China in efforts to hasten the end of the war in Ukraine (the practicalities of that one are more scant than the grand strategy). From Germany (via Ursula von der Leyen, now the EU Commission president), the US seeks a conduit for US-European relations and possibly, a female face for Nato to modernise the boys-club feeling. Britain, however, is the staunchest ally of the bloc in practical battlefield support and intelligence. The question is what the UK can hope to secure in return. Sunak sidestepped the question of US cluster-bomb exports to Ukraine for use on the battlefield, as the US cited legal differences (the UK is a signatory to the Oslo accord which seeks to end the use of bomblets ). This is a dating pattern that is non-exclusive the US wants different things from different allies In truth it would be far better for the US not to be in a position with depleted weapons stockpiles so it could avoid sending cluster bombs. But that is not the case and Volodymyr Zelensky needs high-impact conventional weapons to sustain a sluggish counter-offensive. So Sunaks position has been to stick to the protocol commitment not to manufacture or send such weapons, while side-stepping criticism of its US ally for doing the opposite. The blunt question is what the quid pro quo is for the UK here. Hopes of a big, bold post-Brexit trade deal rapidly proved to be a fantasy, for which a few state-level deals are no substitute. Sunak has dropped the waffle on this and let loose his inner Silicon Valley enthusiasm to propose a larger role for the UK instead as regulator of AI, on grounds of alignment with the US in seeing risks alongside opportunities. The mounting awareness of the vast problem-solving potential of AI, matched with concerns about misuse or uncontrolled outcomes, lead the PM to sound bullish about the UK acting as an honest broker for a new governance system. The glaring omission is that neither attempts to extract trade favours, nor the latest AI courtship, have resulted in anything so basic as an American Yes. And the UKs Nato candidate Ben Wallace was elbowed aside, possibly deemed too bullish in his all-out approach to Ukraine. One affinity is also as much about signalling unity in the face of a threatened return of Donald Trump, who preached friendship but saw the UK mainly as a stage for his own dramatic antics. In fairness to Biden, that is not his playbook: the only departure from protocol was the President talking for too long to a soldier in his bearskin hat about how heavy it was to wear. Of such homely courtesies are affable visits made. But as Air Force One left for the Nato Nordic meeting, the question hanging in the vapour trails is quite what is in all this for the UK in measurable terms? Unless Sunak can boast some breakthough soon, the message behind the smiles and cue cards might just as well be on sale in an Oxford Street gift shop: My friend visited from DC. And all I got was this lousy T-shirt. Anne McElvoy is executive editor of Politico N atos Vilnius summit will be a test for the credibility and capability of the alliance. Decisions have to be taken to be implemented in weeks and not put off for months and years. The prime focus must be the war in Ukraine. More needs to be done to ensure Ukraines survival, as well as check the Russians and, with luck, bring them to the negotiating table. The summer fighting is costly for both sides, with front lines hardly shifting. In part, this is down to fractured thinking, preparation and advice by Ukraines principal allies. There has been a mismatch between the doctrine and theory Nato trainers have been preaching to the Ukraine forces and the reality of the facts on the ground. Nato preaches the combined arms battle, based on the AirLand 2000 concept a modified and updated version of blitzkrieg. In practice, there has been minimal provision of the vital air element to achieve fully an AirLand 2000 operation elements such as modern strike planes such as the F16, helicopter gunships, or deep battle rockets and missiles such as the British Storm Shadow. The US is now saying it wont provide similar depth weaponry, such as the ATACMS long-range missile, or F16 fighter-bomber, until the Ukrainian summer offensive ends. Its like saying you might call for an encore after, but definitely not before, the fat lady sings. President Bidens hesitancy is now almost his trademark we have seen it before in the undignified scuttle from Afghanistan two years ago, and on numerous occasions when he was vice president. His excuse of not wanting to give weapons that might be used against Russias heartland doesnt hold water. Many weapons already sent can hit Russian territory. Now, America is to send old cluster munitions simply because there are loads in ancient stockpiles, and stocks of more modern ordnance are low. Nato needs to decide on its future shape, and how it will face up to the challenges of the mid-21st century. Sweden will become the 32nd member, now Turkey appears to have lifted its objection. Terms of association for Ukraine, and Moldova and Georgia, now have to be nailed down. Full membership is years off, but a real interim security must be agreed. Much of the membership argument centres on Article 5 of Natos founding treaty the guarantee that an attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all. The focus at Vilnius needs to be as much on Article 3, which says that members have to provide forces capable to defend the Nato area, and intervene effectively in inter- national crisis tasks. Natos European allies, Britain included, need to upgrade the thinking, strategy and management of their armed forces. They need to fit together better, to make the alliance fit for purpose. Review at a glance C elebrity architecture has seen more than a few starchitect halos slip in the past decade. By contrast, Swiss studio Herzog & de Meuron, designers of Tate Modern, the Laban Centre, and a luscious cylinder of luxury apartments in London as well as cultural institutions across the globe has an unsullied reputation. They have repeatedly stated that the morality of architecture or politics hold little interest for them yet their thoughtful built record appears to confirm them as good guys, interested in subtlety and solidity not chasing instant icon status or designs Instagrammable one-liners. Rather than being a retrospective this unusual new show at the Royal Academy, produced in collaboration with the firm itself, attempts to trace not so much their history Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron met in a Basel primary school in 1957 and in their early 70s are still producing brilliant buildings as their working method and caring values. Three smaller RA galleries are used. The first contains a full-size replica of the H&dM archive cabinets in Basel displaying models showing the evolution of projects, from their pillowy glass tower for Prada in Tokyo to the extraordinary Elbphilharmonie floating like a manga castle above a Hamburg warehouse. Physical models testing surfaces, materials and volumes are here supplemented by an augmented reality app through which you can conjure more castles in the air. Tate Modern, one of Herzog & de Meurons iconic building designs / Iwan Baan The next two rooms focus on medical buildings rather than the practices cultural behemoths. The first shows a film of the lovely woody physical REHAB clinic in Basel where you have to peer around the healing patients if you want to see the enviably airy hospital spaces they are sitting in. The white-on-white second gallery concentrates solely on Zurich childrens hospital, still under construction after years of careful design. It is a humane glass and timber miniature city set around circular plazas and an internal main street. An entire wall shows its dizzying planning while a full-sized mock-up of a patients room in pure white when rendered by the AR app reveals something worthy of a Scandi hotel. Entirely absent from the discussion is why the Swiss can have such nice things and our Private Finance Initiative hospitals are falling apart while bleeding the NHS dry in interest payments. Yet this is the murky reality of why our architecture is like it is. Herzog & de Meurons own missteps include the proposal to bury Liverpool Street station in gloom in order to allow stonking commercial air-rights offices above. Not people centred at all. Their halos have had a little wobble. But no models of Liverpool Street either in the archive Kabinett at the RA. The display demonstrates that better architecture is possible in better worlds but not how we get there. In the absence of decent politics and ethics, even spatial purity can be illusory. Royal Academy, July 14 to October 15; royalacademy.org.uk T ake one prequel to Roald Dahls beloved novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, add in the director of the Paddington films and tween heartthrob Timothee Chalamet, as well as a cast of stellar British acting talent into the mix and what do you get? The sweetest of Hollywood treats. Excitement for the golden ticket has been building since Chalamet was cast as Wonka and, as director Paul King tells the audience during a screening for the trailer last week, the Dune and Call Me By Your Name star was the perfect choice. I was very keen to get him because I think hes an incredibly special talent. Hes very funny and he is very charming, and hes perfectly, adequately, easy on the eye, King says. A Willy Wonka film, really, is going to live or die by who your Wonka is and what they bring to it. And I think he manages to bring that sort of mayhem, in that mischievousness. But with a deep emotional grounding, which is really quite extraordinary. Though the character has been played several times before, most notably by Gene Wilder in 1971 and Johnny Depp in the 2005 film, Chalamet is playing a new type of Wonka: a young chocolatier, at the start of his journey. I think the Willy Wonka we meet that in the book is this extraordinary, extraordinary creation, this... slightly unknowable magician, inventor, chocolate maker... who makes dreams come true, King adds. I suppose it was the interest of diving into that character and sort of looking to see what would happen if you put Willy Wonka at the heart of the story. King describes himself as a huge fan of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Growing up, he read the book so many times that the pages fell out of the spine, and he threw his body and soul into creating a prequel that Dahl himself might have approved of. Much of his time was spent re-reading Dahls entire body of work, the better to understand who his characters actually were. Its got this deep sort of Dickensian heart, this almost Oliver Twist-like character. And its funny; when you revisit something youve loved as a kid... I suddenly went, Oh, thats sort of what I try to do, he says. I like these sort of big comic, grotesque characters, but for there to be a really strong emotional core in the stories that I make, and thats what Ive stolen it from. It felt like, maybe there was a way to do something about Willy Wonka that wed have that same emotional heart, at the same time as all the magic and wonder and music. So who is this new version of Wonka? The film is about is about him and what chocolate means to him, and why hes so driven to become this extraordinary chocolate maker, King says. The book presents him very much as he just is, and this, I suppose, tries to answer why he is and what the taste of chocolate means to him and why hes so driven. As the trailer shows, Wonka rocks up at the start of the film in a generic European city with a desire to start a chocolate empire. Its the chocolate capital of the world, I suppose. Its a sort of middle European city, a little bit like where the 1971 movie was set, which was, I believe, mostly shot in Germany. It has a European vibe. The inspiration, according to King, was to make a country that was to chocolate what Switzerland is to watches though some would argue Switzerland fits this bill too. Along for the ride is newcomer Calah Lane as Noodle, a waif who attaches herself to Wonka, as well as a star-studded cast. That includes King favourite Sally Hawkins (who has appeared in both Paddington films); Olivia Colman as one half of a villainous duo that run an evil washhouse empire and Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa. Oh, and for those fans who loved Simon Barnabys turn as an overly amorous member of security in Paddington: hes back for a cameo here, in much the same role. As King puts it: He plays yet another in a series of long suffering security guard characters. With Wonka getting ready to launch in cinemas later this year, what would King count as the highlight of his filming experience? Covering Timothee Chalamet in chocolate would be some people's highlight, he quips, adding, [Or] covering Hugh Grant in orange paint. But no: his actual choice is slightly more heartwarming. Why I love to go to the movies is to get lost in a different place for a couple of hours. Cinema has always been a magical place where that can happen... it's a real joy to be able to make that. This sounds corny, but its working with the incredible people who let me do that, every day. Its like having the greatest train set in the world to play with. Wonka will be in cinemas from December 15 H ugh Grant has been seen in the official trailer for the new movie about Willy Wonka as a tiny CGI Oompa-Loompa, who has green hair and an orange face. The British actor will star opposite Timothee Chalamet, who takes on the role of the eccentric chocolate factory owner, in Wonka. The film is based on the beloved childrens book created by Roald Dahl and is set before the opening of Wonkas chocolate factory. Former The Great British Bake Off presenter Matt Lucas, Academy Award nominee Sally Hawkins, Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson and Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman are also among the star-studded cast. Paul King, best known for his work on the Paddington films, has directed the prequel. In the final moments of the clip, Wonka meets Grants character who is trapped in a glass jar and says: So youre the funny little man whos been following me? Love Actually star Grant, who is playing the small humans that are workers at Wonkas factory in the 1964 book, replies: I will have you know that I am a perfectly respectful size for an Oompa-Loompa. The young Wonka appears not to know the people from Loompaland and so the Oompa-Loompa takes out an instrument and begins doing a dance. Chalamet, who rose to fame in 2017s Call Me By Your Name and has since starred in 2021s Dune, describes Wonka as something of a magician, inventor and chocolate maker in the trailer. Wonka, in a red coat and top hat, appears to be starting out on his journey to be the famous confectioner when he comes up against a chocolate cartel and teams up with a young girl. He is also seen inventing a chocolate that makes you fly and beginning to create a chocolate shop. In Dahls Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, a young boy wins a golden ticket to tour the world-famous headquarters run by the mysterious Wonka and staffed by Oompa-Loompas. In 1971s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Gene Wilder played the title character in the classic film. Johnny Depp starred in Tim Burtons 2005 adaptation Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. Wonka is set to be released in December. T aylor Swift says hosting an album release party at a recent US show was unfathomably special. On Friday the US megastar dropped the re-recorded version of her 2010 album Speak Now, which has immediately dominated the charts. A day after the release, Swift also shared a new video for her song I Can See You, which was one of six new from the vault tracks to feature on the album. She said her weekend show in Kansas City, Missouri, featured the big screen premiere of the video, which featured appearances from actors Joey King, Presley Cash, and Twilight star Taylor Lautner. All three actors also made an appearance at the show. It was a Speak Now (my version) album release party at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City this weekend, full of surprises, Swift posted on Monday. I got to premiere the video for I Can See You on the big screen and hearing the crowds reaction to it is something Ill never forget. THEN @JoeyKing, Taylor Lautner and @IAmPresleyCash walked on stage (and there were even a few flips??) to say hi to everyone. I got to play Long Live with my incredible band (who are the ones playing on all my re-records too) and it was just so unfathomably special to me. Singing those words in a stadium full of people who helped me get my music back. Love you all. The release of Speak Now (Taylors Version) marks the next stage of the US megastars ambitious re-record of her entire back catalogue to regain control of her master recordings. She began the process after the recordings were acquired by the prominent talent manager Scooter Braun when he bought her former label. The masters have since changed hands again after a deal with investment firm Shamrock Capital, but Swift has continued with a bid to regain ownership of the music by creating new versions of the songs. Since its release on Friday Speak Now (Taylors Version) is already outselling the rest of the top 10 combined, according to the Official Charts Company. The album sold 48,000 chart units over the weekend and would mark her 10th number one album, as well as extend her lead as the female solo artist with the second-most number one albums in UK chart history second only to Madonna. Streaming platform Spotify also revealed the musician had broken records with the re-released album. Its official Twitter account said: On July 7 2023, Taylor Swifts Speak Now (Taylors Version) became Spotifys most-streamed album in a single day in 2023 and the most-streamed country album in a single day in Spotify history. Meanwhile, the first batch of tickets for Swifts 2024 UK tour went on sale, with thousands attempting to secure their seats. C alifornian rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers will hit the capital at the end of the month, as they get ready to end their global tour. The US favourites will perform at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London, on Friday, July 21, in their only gig in the UK, apart from a concert in Scotland, as part of their tour. They will perform in Glasgow the following day (Saturday, July 22) before leaving the UK and heading back to America, where they will play the last dates in various states, as well as later dates in Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Here is all we know about the superstar show heading our way: What time will the Red Hot Chili Peppers be on stage? Doors will open for fans to make their way into the stadium at 4.30pm, with the show expected to end around 10pm. They are expected to take to the stage around 8pm but this is yet to be confirmed. Whos supporting the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their 2023 UK dates? The band has had an array of different support acts around the world, including The Strokes and Iggy Pop. The support act has been listed on the bands official website as The Roots and King Princess. What is the Red Hot Chili Peppers set list? The group has not confirmed the official set list they will be playing on the day, but a guess can be made looking at previous legs of the tour. They are set to play 17 of their best hits, and it is expected that will include: Cant Stop Around the World Dani California Scar Tissue Aquatic Mouth Here Ever After Snow (Hey Ho) These Are the Ways Right on Time Tell Me Baby Soul to Squeeze The Heavy Wing Black Summer Californication Give It Away I Could Have Lied By The Way Are there still tickets left? Yes, according to Ticketmaster which is one of the official ticket sites for the tour. There are still general admission tickets standing for 106.80 each. Other tickets are also available for seats in the upper section which are limited, and also VIP and Gold Bundle tickets ranging between 219 and 546. There are also tickets available on Viagogo, as well as other sites. It all started when I saw an Instagram post about reusable loo roll (I know!). I saved it in a new folder, labelling it crazy eco hacks. Then I spotted eco-influencers cooking their own sunscreen, going bin commando (ie no bin liners), and using cabbage leaves for clingfilm and coconut oil for lube. With Plastic-free July upon us, I decided to try some of these zero-waste, plastic-free tips for a week. Maybe just maybe Id never buy loo roll again. My first experiment was sunscreen, as its been bugging me for a while. I used to apply factor 50 obediently each morning until I learnt about its marine-damaging ingredients. Plus sunscreen is full of intentionally added microplastics, and because the bottles are hard to clean, its hard to recycle. I eventually found a DIY recipe on the American website Healthline, which, unlike those on eco blogs, had been medically reviewed, and referenced scientific papers (no-one should be chancing it in the sun). The irony of my new sunscreen, as my 11-year-old daughter pointed out, was that it wouldnt exactly be zero-waste or plastic-free, thanks to the shopping required: zinc oxide (apparently about SPF16 with this recipe), coconut oil, aloe vera gel (to prevent burning) and walnut extract oil (for extra SPF). I had to order the walnut oil online, so, in the meantime, I moved on to my next plastic bugbear: bin liners. Daniel Hambury/Stella Pictures Ltd In landfill, plastic degrades into a gazillion toxic microparticles, while compostable plastic wont compost without the right conditions. Id read about people going naked, lining their bins with old newspapers, so I emailed my council, who said that ditching the bag was not OK (phew). They suggested repurposing other plastic, for example, bread bags, which worked well, until the bagless vacuum cleaner needed emptying. Verdict: both won. My neighbour told me how she washes her clothes with ivy in a knotted sock. It contains saponin, a natural soaping agent, she explained. You just put the sock in the drum and the clothes come out clean. I could forage my own laundry detergent! Although I couldnt see any suds in the machine when I tried it, the laundry seemed pretty clean or just well rinsed? The blog Permacrafters suggested boiling the ivy (60 leaves, to be precise) in water for 20 minutes to release the saponin. I got cooking, then left it to infuse overnight, and then boiled up some soapnuts Id bought. My deodorant was cooking away, and not in a good way. I was still sweating and I was starting to smell Soapnuts are a saponin-rich fruit that grows in India and Nepal locals have been using them for centuries. Id seen influencers make washing-up liquid with them, sometimes also shampoo, handwash and laundry detergent; you can even buy soapnuts on Ocado. I fell down a rabbit hole of detergent experimentation: ivy in a sock; boiled-up soapnut/ivy solutions as liquid detergents; and soapnuts in a little drawstring bag in the washing machine or dishwasher. None lathered up (theres no added foaming agent), though none did a bad job either (though our clothes lacked that freshly-laundered scent). The boiled-up solutions were labour-intensive: my watery ivy tea was only enough for three washes, but Id use the ivy sock for laundry again, and the soapnut solution for dishes. Daniel Hambury/Stella Pictures Ltd Having now received my sunscreen ingredients, I got cooking. Once cooled, I optimistically smeared it over my cheek then frantically scrubbed it off. I looked like Id moisturised with white paint (thats the zinc oxide). But I was undeterred a squirt of instant tan did the trick. Healthline advises caution, though: It takes entire teams of chemists years to perfect sunscreen products that the FDA finds acceptable. The chances of you perfecting [one] are slim. One should definitely play safe here. Id only use this on days where Id normally not bother. Coconut oil is a staple of the zero-wasters cabinet, and not only as a lube (the Going Zero Waste blogger Kathryn Kellogg says that both coconut oil and aloe vera gel work well here: Ill spare you the personal experimentation). It was also the base for my DIY deodorant. I thought Id follow Healthlines deo recipe too: arrowroot powder (absorbent like cornflour), bicarbonate of soda, coconut oil, plus essential oil for fragrance; no cooking required. I added some cardamom essential oil, which, with the coconut, left me smelling like an Indian dessert. Next up: yoghurt. My family loves yoghurt, though I forbid us buying any that are packaged in unrecyclable number 6 plastic. Would this appease them? All I needed was milk, a yoghurt starter culture (or a dollop of live yoghurt), a sugar thermometer and a thermos flask. I heated the milk up to 85 degrees, and once cooled to 46 degrees, I stirred in the starter and poured it into a Thermos to incubate overnight just in time for a yoghurty breakfast. The next morning, my kids ran to the kitchen to find yes! properly set yoghurt. Their joy soon curdled when I decanted it into glass jars. It looks like baby sick, said my eight-year-old son. Without the ultra-processed ingredients, it lacked that smooth mouthfeel. After straining it through a muslin (which felt terribly homesteady) and adding honey, it was actually quite tasty. Faff verdict: high. I had more instant success with the cabbage, touted by eco-influencers as a zero-waste food wrap. My fridge soon looked like it had been cannibalised by cabbages: everything from half-eaten vegetables to bowls of leftovers had been engulfed by leaves secured with rubber bands. Meanwhile, my deodorant was cooking away under my armpits, and not in a good way. I was still sweating as is the case with natural deodorant and I was starting to smell. Back to basics: a week going plastic-free left Fleur Britten feeling like the homemaker, Ma Ingalls, in Little House on the Prairie / Daniel Hambury/Stella Pictures Ltd I also started ditching the shampoo. Apparently our hair only gets greasy because shampooing strips it of its natural oils, thus creating a vicious cycle. Retraining our hair follicles to produce less oil takes two to six weeks apparently. Instead, youre supposed to wash it with warm water, with an optional fortnightly rinse in apple cider vinegar. During my five-day no-poo experiment, my follicles, most definitely trapped in that vicious cycle, created the most maddening itch and lanky hair I bottled it. I decided to save my escape from the tyranny of hair-washing for a future lockdown. And then, yes, what about the loo roll? I watched a few apologetic videos where mums always mums had sweetly made personalised fabric sheets for each family member. You can even buy readymade sheets, or family cloths, on Etsy. But what about the stinky basket in the bathroom, the carbon footprint of the washing, the dodgy hygiene, the ick for house guests the ick for all? I decided our Sainsburys paper-packaged, recycled loo roll is eco enough. After a week of crazy plastic-free hacks, I was starting to feel like the full-time homemaker, Ma Ingalls, in Little House on the Prairie. Much as I am loath to admit it, plastic convenience has massively contributed to gender equality. There was a time when these crazy hacks were conventional. Perhaps a time will come when we think that single-use plastic is crazy. Over the week, Id made some useful discoveries, not least that when they work, the satisfaction outweighs the sacrifice. Five crazy but effective plastic-free hacks 1. Cabbage clingfilm Its flexible, long-lasting and compostable. 2. Homemade yoghurt Fun to make and (eventually) tasty 3. Bread-bag bin liners Gives a second life to single-use plastic 4. Soap nuts washing-up liquid Surprisingly effective unless tackling the aftermath of a roast 5. The ivy laundry sock A completely foragable, zero-waste washing detergent A man killed a nine-year-old girl by stabbing her in the heart in broad daylight as she played in the street, a jury has ruled. Lilia Valutyte suffered a single stab wound to the chest in Boston, Lincolnshire, on the afternoon of last July 28. After a two-day trial of the facts at Lincoln Crown Court, jurors took about 15 minutes to conclude Deividas Skebas was the girls attacker. The 23-year-old was deemed unfit to plead or face a conventional trial due to his mental health earlier this year and did not attend the hearing or play any part in proceedings. Jurors were not asked to deliver a guilty or not guilty verdict or determine if Skebas intended to kill instead only determining if he physically did what he was accused of. You have dealt with some very unpleasant material and I'm afraid that that is what juries do Shortly after the jury returned its conclusion, the judge, Mrs Justice McGowan DBE, said: Its been an unusually short case and you have dealt with issues that if this were a normal trial would have taken a couple of weeks. You have dealt with some very unpleasant material and Im afraid that that is what juries do. I am also going to release you from jury service for the next five years, should you wish to be released. The judge is expected to sentence Skebas to a hospital order the only sentence the court can pass later on Tuesday. A trial of facts also known as a finding of fact, trial of the act or a trial of the issue is not to decide whether someone intended to commit an act or question a defendants state of mind but to decide if they physically did it. While a defendant cannot be criminally convicted, the burden of proof for a jury remains beyond all reasonable doubt. In the trial, the jury was told by prosecutor Christopher Donnellan KC that Skebas returned to the UK for a second time from his home country of Lithuania last July 20. On July 26, he was seen buying a Sabatier paring knife from Wilko in Boston town centre, the court heard. Two days later, he was seen on CCTV walking around Boston before running towards Lilia at about 6.15pm as she played with a hula-hoop outside the shop in Fountain Lane where her mother worked. He pulled a knife from behind his back before stabbing the girl and running away past an off-duty police officer, who was about to give chase but stopped after hearing screams from behind. Lilia was declared dead at Bostons Pilgrim Hospital at 7.11pm. He admitted that he had stabbed Lilia. He admitted he has seen (her) playing in the street. He identified himself in the CCTV extracts Following his arrest two days after the killing, the paring knife was found tucked behind a radiator at Skebass home in Thorold Street, Boston, as was a grey Calvin Klein T-shirt stained with Lilias blood, the court was told. In an interview with police, Skebas said: I grabbed the knife and I stabbed her. Mr Donnellan KC told the jury: He admitted that he had stabbed Lilia. He admitted he has seen (her) playing in the street. He identified himself in the CCTV extracts. Should his mental health improve, Skebas, who is charged with murder, could face a conventional trial. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. After I heard the news (about Gadabay incident), I called the Prime Minister and told him to immediately establish a commission and send them to the place. Did I have to actually say that? Didnt the Minister of Ecology know that he should go there? said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic results of six months of 2023, Trend reports. I said to them that they should go there, talk to the people, take air samples, involve international experts. Because it is quite possible that the ministry was the cause of this incident. It is quite possible that you should involve international experts to give their opinion. To what extent is the exploitation of these fields harmful to people's health and nature? There is no answer so far, the head of state noted. President Ilham Aliyev gave instructions to inform him and the public about the matter and investigate it in a weeks time. A man has been jailed for hiring children as young as 14 to sell drugs in Newham. Dominic Francis, 31, was jailed for five years and 10 months after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, two counts of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and conspiracy to facilitate the movement of a vulnerable person for the purpose of exploitation, namely a 14-year-old boy from Newham. He was also issued with a Slavery Trafficking Order for six years. Another man, aged 22, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison for two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and two counts of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs with the use of children as an aggravating factor. He has since been released as it was deemed he had already served his time while in custody. Both men were arrested following an investigation by the Mets Modern Slavery and Child Exploitation unit in 2020. Investigators found that Francis had been making calls to a 22-year-old in prison, in which he ordered him to recruit children to sell drugs from Newham and throughout London and the south east. The male on the other end of the phone was traced to an address in Kent and arrested for his involvement in the drug operation. Two children, a 14-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl, were also found to be involved in the operation. Both were safeguarded by officers. More than 25 children - all aged between 14 and 17 - were identified and safeguarded by detectives throughout the investigation. Detective Chief Inspector Laura Hillier, from The Mets Specialist Crime, said: This investigation has brought justice to a man who used the lives of young and vulnerable people for his own personal gain. We focused on rescuing these children who had no option but to do as they were told through fear of violence from those controlling them. This investigation took my officers months to investigate, compiling a voluminous amount of evidence whilst ensuring the safety of the children involved and the conviction of these three people. They used children as commodities, grooming them and putting them in an adult world full of danger. Child exploitation causes violence and anti-social behaviour in London and we do not tolerate the harm that comes with it. Francis also implicated drug suppliers higher up the criminal chain which led to a further investigation into a separate crime group. This also resulted in the disruption of a drugs line that had been in existence for over 15 years. A man who submitted bogus invoices totalling 660,000 has been jailed for six and a half years. Olamide Oduele, 29, of Southend-on-Sea, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud and four counts of fraud by false representation relating to the purchase of high-end goods. Mr Oduele submitted fraudulent invoices by faking a signature from the CEO of a foreign exchange company in London. In September 2017, City of London Police were contacted by NEX Group PLC following the discovery that 29 fake invoices had been received and processed through their accounts department between July 21 and August 25, 2017. All of the fake invoices had been received as attachments within e-mails that were purportedly sent from the PA of the CEO, and were found in the shared email inbox within the accounts department at NEX. The invoices were identified as fake as none of the companies requesting funds were legitimate. In addition, each of the invoices had what appeared to be the CEOs signature authorising payment. All of the fake invoices were processed by a member of staff called Shazeb Iqbal, and evidence was found that directly linked Olamide Odulele to the scam. Further evidence was found that linked Odulele to the fraudulent opening of bank accounts in the fake name of Dr. Aamir Motiwala, which were also used as recipient accounts for NEX funds. The total value of the 29 invoices was 668,924.80. However, eight invoices were stopped before payment. NEX was also able to recover 116,892.02 from the banks. The final total loss was calculated as 364,740.50 from the 21 invoices that were paid into 20 separate bank accounts. During the investigation, it was also discovered that Odulele opened further accounts under fake names to secure credit cards, loans and store accounts totalling 13,482.42. Shazeb Iqbal previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment in August 2021. Detective Lee Parish, from the Fraud Operations team at City of London Police, said:The sentence handed down today should serve as a reminder that fraud will not be tolerated in the City of London and that however clever you think you are being, there will always be repercussions. Odulele demonstrated a clear lack of responsibility for his actions and he, together with Shazeb Iqbal, thought they could outsmart the banks and the authorities. Along with tackling fraud across the country as the national lead force for fraud, financial and economic crime in the City will continue to be an area that we direct resources to fighting. A right-hand man in a people-smuggling ring has been jailed for more than 12 years for the manslaughter of 39 men, women and children found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex. The Vietnamese nationals died in the airtight sealed container as it was being transported by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet in October 2019. Marius Mihai Draghici, 50, fled the country and was detained by police in Romania last August and extradited back to the UK. Last month, he pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. In a televised sentencing at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, Mr Justice Garnham jailed Draghici for 12 years and seven months. He told the defendant he was an essential cog in a conspiracy which made astonishing profits out of the exploitation of people desperate to get to the UK. He said the conditions inside the trailer where the victims died were unspeakable with people trapped inside the trailer with no ventilation and no way of getting out. The senior judge recognised the pitiful audio recordings of those trapped inside reporting they could not breathe and a growing recognition they were going to die there and their love-ones heart-wrenching statements. Four other gang members were jailed in 2021 for between 13 and 27 years for the manslaughter of the 39 migrants. They are: Ringleader Gheorghe Nica, 46, of Basildon, Essex, haulier boss Ronan Hughes, 43, of Armagh, Maurice Robinson, 28, of Craigavon, who found the bodies, and Eamonn Harrison, 26, of County Down, who had collected the victims on the continent. The prosecution case is that Draghici became party to a sophisticated, long-running and highly profitable conspiracy to smuggle illegal migrants to the United Kingdom, in the back of lorries, in a deliberate and intentional breach of border control The victims aged between 15 and 44 had hoped for a better life in Britain when they agreed to pay up to 13,000 a head for a VIP smuggling service. On October 22 2019, they were crammed into the lorry container to be shipped in pitch black and sweltering conditions. The 28 men, eight women and three children had desperately tried to raise the alarm, with many leaving messages for loved ones on their mobile phones as they ran out of air before reaching British shores. One unsent text message by a young mother read: Maybe going to die in the container. Cannot breathe any more. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told the court that the victims last hours must have entailed unimaginable suffering and anguish. Lorry driver Robinson had discovered the bodies in the early hours of October 23 after being messaged by Hughes to give them air, but not let them out. Robinson had picked up the container at the docks and opened the doors before alerting others including Draghici and Nica waiting at a nearby pick-up point near Collingwood Farm in Orsett. Mr Emlyn Jones said gang members immediately abandoned the plan and melted away in the night, with Draghici following Nica on a flight from Luton to Romania. Setting out Draghicis involvement, Mr Emlyn Jones said: The prosecution case is that Draghici became party to a sophisticated, long-running and highly profitable conspiracy to smuggle illegal migrants to the United Kingdom, in the back of lorries, in a deliberate and intentional breach of border control. Draghici was recruited by fellow Romanian Nica and became his effective right-hand man and they were inseparable, the prosecutor said. The defendant had accepted being involved in the last three people smuggling runs, including the fatal trip although police identified a total of seven. He was present at a meeting at a hotel on October 19 2019 in which Nica delivered a very substantial payment to Hughes after collecting the money from Fong the Vietnamese organiser. He was also in contact with a person who had been described as Hughes man on the continent. Mr Emlyn Jones said it was significant that Nica and Draghici both gave Robinson his instructions earlier on the night of the tragic journey. The prosecutor said: We accept that the role played in the conspiracy by Nica was more significant than that of Draghici. So Nica is above Draghici in the pecking order. But he said of Draghici: He was not just acting as a driver but playing the role of something of a right-hand man to Mr Nica. The 39 victims were: Dinh Dinh Binh, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Huy Phong, Le Van Ha, Nguyen Van Hiep, Bui Phan Thang, Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Huy Hung, Nguyen Tien Dung, Pham Thi Tra My, Tran Khanh Tho, Nguyen Van Nhan, Vo Ngoc Nam, Vo Van Linh, Nguyen Ba Vu Hung, Vo Nhan Du, Tran Hai Loc, Tran Manh Hung, Nguyen Thi Van, Bui Thi Nhung, Hoang Van Tiep, Tran Thi Ngoc, Phan Thi Thanh, Tran Thi Tho, Duong Minh Tuan, Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh, Tran Thi Mai Nhung, Le Trong Thanh, Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Hoang Van Hoi, Tran Ngoc Hieu, Cao Tien Dung, Dinh Dinh Thai Quyen, Dang Huu Tuyen, Nguyen Dinh Luong , Cao Huy Thanh, Nguyen Trong Thai, Nguyen Tho Tuan and Nguyen Dinh Tu. Today is a significant day. Draghici knew the evidence that we were able to present was overwhelming. He had no option but to admit his involvement In victim impact statements read in court, some victims families described feeling sad and hopeless at their loss while coping with crippling debt from borrowing thousands of pounds to pay for their loved ones travel. Nguyen Huy Hung, 15, one of the youngest victims, had been on his way to live with his parents in the UK and work as a hairdresser. His father said they were very shocked and trembling after hearing what happened on social media. He said: We did not believe it was the truth until we saw his body with our own eyesWe felt numb and that feeling lasted for many weeks later. Married couple Tran Hai Loc and Nguyen Thi Van, 35, were found lying side by side in the container. The court heard they had paid 7,000 US dollars to travel to Hungary to work as fruit pickers and told their families on October 18 2019 that their plans had changed. In mitigation, Gillian Jones KC said Draghici was shocked and horrified with what occurred and had struggled to come to terms with the enormity of it. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who led the Essex Police investigation, said: For more than three years, we have never lost sight of the far-reaching impact the events of October 2019 has had, both here in Essex and, most acutely, in Vietnam. Marius Draghici and his criminal associates were responsible for the deaths of 39 men, women and children in horrific circumstances. It was an appalling example of just how callous people-smuggling gangs are ... Each of the people inside the lorry container were mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. They have family who feel their loss acutely each and every day. Today is a significant day. Draghici knew the evidence that we were able to present was overwhelming. He had no option but to admit his involvement. Draghici left the UK after October 23 2019 and remained hidden in Europe until August 2022. We have always maintained that the actions we believed he was responsible for could never go unpunished. Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper, who oversaw the investigation, said: In October 2019, we made a promise to the families of our 39 victims that we would deliver justice. We have never lost sight of that promise and the investigation team members have ensured that we have kept that promise. We have been committed to tracking down every person we know to have been involved. Unfortunately for Draghici, he could not stay hidden, and he is now facing the consequences of his actions. National Crime Agency (NCA) deputy director international Tom Dowdall added: Marius Draghici and his criminal associates were responsible for the deaths of 39 men, women and children in horrific circumstances. It was an appalling example of just how callous people-smuggling gangs are, who are prepared to risk the lives of those they transport for financial gain. NCA officers in the UK and overseas worked closely with Essex Police and our international partners to ensure Draghici was tracked down in Romania and brought back to the UK to face justice. M Ps have launched a new parliamentary inquiry into whether sexist and misogynistic posts online are a warning that real life violence against women is to follow amid fears that chances to stop dangerous men are being missed. The Women and Equalities Committee said the focus of its new probe into the escalation of violence against women and girls would be whether there are patterns of behaviour by men that indicate an increased likelihood to progress to serious attacks on female victims. It said the inquiry which follows tragedies such as the murder of aspiring London lawyer Zara Aleena by the prolific offender Jordan McSweeney and the violent crimes against women carried out by Met officers Wayne Couzens and David Carrick- had been triggered by a number of high profile cases where women have been raped and murdered by perpetrators with a concerning history of offending. But it said that as well as looking at the links between earlier offending and later serious violence, it would also investigate whether non-criminal behaviour including sexist and misogynistic language online can be the prelude to physical attacks. Caroline Nokes, the Tory MP and former Home Office minister who chairs the committee, said the inquiry would also examine whether there is a problem in the workplace culture of some public sector organisations including the police and fire service, which have both been engulfed by recent scandals about the conduct of some officers. In recent years we have seen a series of high-profile crimes, where men have been convicted of rape and murder who had a history of other forms of violent or sexual crime, she said. We want to understand if there are patterns of behaviour which could indicate a higher likelihood to escalate to more serious forms of crime. This could include criminal behaviours, such as domestic violence, stalking or flashing, or non-criminal behaviours such as using misogynistic language. We also want to see if sexist and misogynistic behaviour online translates to physical violence in the real world. Are the police force and criminal justice system set up to identify and challenge these behaviours, and provide suitable interventions to mitigate their effects? Given the catalogue of cases of serving officers committing serious crimes, we also have to ask if they are doing enough to ensure the culture within their own ranks isnt fostering dangerous attitudes to women. The committee is asking for written submissions on the issues it is investigating to be sent to it by 22 September before holding a series of hearings in the following months. As well as examining the links between certain types of crime, including non-contact sexual offences, and later violence against women and any connection with online misogyny, the committee will also examine whether measures in response are adequate and what more might need to be done to reduce the risk to women. A lawyer representing the families of two young people who took their lives in custody has said it would be unbelievable if one was forced to withdraw from a fatal accident inquiry over not being able to access legal aid funds. Katie Allan, 21, and William Lindsay, 16, took their own lives while at Polmont Young Offenders Institute in 2018. Solicitor Aamer Anwar, acting on behalf of the families, said Katies parents Linda and Stuart had been informed their application for legal funding would be denied as they were over the threshold to be considered. At a preliminary hearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Mr Anwar said the family would be unable to participate in the joint fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the deaths if a change was not made. He said he would be raising the issue directly with Justice Secretary Angela Constance due to the injustice that families cannot be automatically granted funding while prison officers, ministers and health boards can. It would be unfortunate if the family couldnt be in this FAI after five years of relentlessly pushing for it, he said. In a press statement after the hearing, he told journalists: At court today I raised with the Sheriff that it would be unbelievable that the only family in the Joint FAI not to be granted funding for representation were the family of Katie Allan. Katies parents have been relentless in the last five years in seeking the truth of what happened not just to Katie, but to every other young person who has taken their life at Polmont. It is time that Scottish ministers intervene to end this injustice if the process of an FAI is to have any legitimacy in the eyes of the bereaved. The sheriff presiding over the inquiry also expressed concern at the prospect of Mr and Mrs Allan being unable to participate in the inquiry due to their legal aid application being rejected. Speaking in court, Sheriff Simon Collins KC said: From my point of view, I would find it extremely helpful if the family of Katie Allan was represented in this inquiry. It is more than appropriate that Katie Allans family would be represented. I cannot tell the legal aid board or ministers what to do but I can say that I very much hope that they will be able to enable Katie Allans family to be represented in this inquiry. Mr Anwar also repeated his call to First Minister Humza Yousaf to remove Crown Immunity, which means that the Scottish Prison Service cannot be prosecuted. And he said the families were also disappointed to be told that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) would not consider administering a Crown Censure. A Crown Censure is the way in which HSE formally records the decision that, but for Crown immunity, the evidence of a Crown bodys failure to comply with health and safety law would have been sufficient to provide a realistic prospect of securing a conviction. Mr Anwar said: It is time that the First Minister Humza Yousaf moved to remove Crown Immunity it is archaic that in a civilised society, the Scottish Prison Service is not accountable when someone dies on their watch. Katies mother told reporters on Tuesday that she wanted people to be held account for Katie and William and the countless other young people that have died that havent had a voice. Mrs Allan added: The treatment of young people in Polmont, in our experience, is inhumane. And, unfortunately, nobody is highlighting that and nobody is being held to account for that, so we want people to be held to account for the death of our daughter. Theres no other crime that I know of that the Crown Office says: There is credible and reliable evidence, but its alright were not going to prosecute you. Its absurd. Mr Allan added it had been a five-year wait of grieving over their daughters death. Katie Allan died at Polmont Young Offenders Institution in June 2018 while serving a sentence for a driving offence. William Lindsay died in October that year days after being sent there on remand. A second preliminary hearing has been scheduled for September 15, with the full inquiry set to begin on January 8 2024. A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: An inquiry requires to take place following every death in custody so that the circumstances in which a life is lost whilst in the custody of the state are properly investigated and understood. Where the lives lost are two young individuals, both with no previous experience of custody, the need to investigate and understand the circumstances in which those lives were lost is especially acute. The Scottish Prison Service are committed to supporting this inquiry. We will not be making any additional public comment at this time. An HSE spokesman said: The death of any young person is tragic and we have carefully reviewed the information provided to us by COPFS. While the circumstances of the two deaths are complex, they do not meet HSEs criteria for investigation. We have informed both families of our decision. A spokesperson for the Scottish Legal Aid Board said it had not received an application from Mr and Mrs Allan and have contacted Mr Anwar for further details. The statement added: We did receive an application for civil legal aid from another member of the Allan family and have requested further information to enable us to consider the application fully. J une offered some relief for London commuters from strike action but more industrial action is planned for July, with Tube and train strikes taking place in the capital and nationwide. A new wave of strikes called by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) is planned in London, with an expected 20,000 workers walking out across 14 rail companies. But what about the Elizabeth line? Heres everything you need to know. When are the next London train strikes? Train strikes in London will take place on July 20, 22 and 29 after negotiations between rail companies and the Government came to a halt. Will the Elizabeth line be on strike? Londons Elizabeth line stretches more than 65 miles from Reading and Heathrow in the west, through central tunnels across to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. On July 6 the RMT union announced that a strike will affect various parts of the Tube between Sunday July 23 and Friday July 28. Currently the Elizabeth line is not set to be affected by the next strike action. Why are there more train strikes? The RMT has announced more action over pay, jobs, pensions and conditions. It means the public can expect disruption to rail and Tube networks. At the same time, the Aslef union, which represents drivers, announced overtime bans and strikes in a dispute on pay. Mick Whelan, Aslefs general secretary, said: We do not want to go on strike we do not want to inconvenience passengers, we have families and friends who use the railway, too, and we believe in investing in rail for the future of this country but the blame for this action lies, fairly and squarely, at the feet of the employers who have forced our hand over this by their intransigence. It is now up to them to come up with a more sensible and realistic, offer and we ask the Government not to hinder this process. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: This latest phase of action will show the country just how important railway staff are to the running of the rail industry. My team of negotiators and I are available 24/7 for talks with the train operating companies and government ministers. Yet quite incredibly neither party has made any attempt whatsoever to arrange any meetings or put forward a decent offer that can help us reach a negotiated solution. The government continues to shackle the companies and will not allow them to put forward a package that can settle this dispute. Our members have now voted three times to take strike action over the last 12 months the most of recent of which coincided with having the full details of the substandard offer from the rail operators. They voted by 9-1 to renew their strike mandate and RMT will continue its industrial campaign until we reach a negotiated settlement on pay, working conditions and job security. A London hospital will investigate the impact of sickle cell disease on eyesight. The Sickle Eye Project, launched by Central Middlesex Hospital (CMH), will assess how many of the UKs 15,000 strong sickle cell community have suffered visual loss as a result of the disease. Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited genetic conditions that affects red blood cells. It is a serious and lifelong condition which can cause regular hospitalisation, although treatment can help manage many symptoms. The condition is common in people from a black African or Caribbean background. South London has the highest concentration of people with sickle cell disease in the UK, according to the Sickle Society. The Sickle Eye Project will involve 600 participants who will have eye scans and brief interviews. Results will be used to better plan services for people at risk of sight loss. Sickle cell disease can cause progressive loss of sight as it damages blood vessels in the eye, a process known as sickle cell retinopathy. Patients do not always notice early signs of sickle cell retinopathy as it initially only affects peripheral vision. However, the disease can eventually cause bleeding or the detachment of the retina, which requires urgent treatment. Christiana Dinah, Director of Research and Innovation at CMH, said the study would not only benefit the UK population and Western countries but also countries like Sub-Saharan Africa and India where rates of the disease are high. The poor level of funding for Sickle Cell Disease research, both in the UK and globally, is well documented so this is welcome news. The project is backed by funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). CMH has joined with Moorfields Eye Hospital and 14 other areas around the UK with large Black and Asian communities including Bristol, Manchester and Leeds to form the Sickle Eye Collaborative. In April, the NHS launched a campaign to raise awareness of the urgent need for more black blood donors to meet the increasing demand for the particular type of blood needed by sickle cell patients, known as the Ro subtype. Dr Mayokun, Dr Ore-Ofe, and their daughter IseOluware Ajeigbe / NIHR Dr Ore-Ofe Ajeigbe, 34, who lives in Kent, described the pain of sickle cell disease as so bad that I dont know whether or not I will die as she urged Londoners affected by the condition to take part in clinical trials. She enrolled in the TAPS2 feasibility trial at Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust last year, which aimed to establish the effectiveness of a treatment called Serial Prophylactic Exchange Blood Transfusion (SPEBT) for improving womens and babies health in pregnant women with sickle cell disease. In SPEBT, sickle blood is mechanically removed and simultaneously replaced with donor red blood cells. She told the Standard: When I am in a sickle cell crisis, the pain can be so bad that I dont know whether or not I will die. You are desperate for the pain to stop. I feel bad whenever Im in a crisis as I want to be there for my baby. I dont want her earliest memories of me to be seeing me in the hospital. Thankfully, there is no chance my daughter will have sickle cell disease as my husband isnt a carrier. I was terrified about managing my first pregnancy with sickle cell disease, but this trial took away those fears. The treatment was genuinely life-changing because it took away my pain. I could enjoy my life, my pregnancy and plan for the future. I cannot thank the Guys and St Thomas team enough She added: We all have a part to play, and I urge others to volunteer in sickle cell disease research to help their children, grandchildren and future generations. T he biggest-ever exhibition of Walt Disney memorabilia, costumes, props and other artefacts is set to open in London. A 20,000-square-foot vault of rare historical items dating back to the 1930s up to the modern day will open later in the year in east London to mark the 100-year anniversary of Walt Disney on October 16. The 10-room space, at the London ExCel, will include items such as the prop storybook from the opening scene of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from 1937 and the carousel horse from 1964 classic Mary Poppins which Dick Van Dyke rode as lovable Bert will be displayed in Disney 100: The Exhibition. The crystal glass slipper from the 2015 version of Cinderella alongside original artwork from the 1950 animated classic will also be displayed. There will be original artwork from 1961 classic One Hundred and One Dalmatians as well as the red dress worn by Emma Stone in the 2021 version of the tale. Disney's 100th Anniversary Celebration The exhibition will also look Disneys theme parks and their inception. The items have mainly been lifted from the Walt Disney Archives, with additional items from Marvel Studios, the Pixar Living Archives, the Walt Disney Animation Research Library and the collections of Walt Disney Imagineering. The landmark exhibition has previously been in residence at the The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, USA, and Munichs Small Olympic Hall. Becky Cline, director of the Walt Disney Archives, said: We are incredibly excited to bring this fantastic exhibition to London. We cant wait for guests in the UK to experience their favourite Disney stories, characters, and attractions in new and immersive ways as we celebrate all the wonderful worlds of Disney. Pre-sale opens today at midday. Tickets go on-sale at 10am on July 18 and start from 16.50 for children. disney100exhibit.com A police officer who was caught exposing himself to another colleague on Hampstead Heath while off-duty has been dismissed. Dariusz Alexander, 49, a detective constable attached to the Roads and Transport Policing Command, was found guilty of outraging public decency at Stratford Magistrates Court on June 22. The court heard that two police officers were patrolling the north London beauty spot on March 18. During the patrol, one of the officers noticed Alexander, who was off duty that day, exposing himself. He was arrested and was suspended from duty with immediate effect. The Met Police has confirmed that Alexander was struck off following a misconduct hearing on Monday, July 10. A spokesperson for the Met added: Detective Constable Dariusz Alexander was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct. The allegations were found proven and they were so serious as to justify dismissal. F ilmmaker Richard Curtis worries politicians are too stuck in the past to be able to effectively counter climate change. Believing that, like people tending to favour films they watched when younger, those in Westminster remain too concerned with the environmental issues prevalent previously, rather than those which matter today. Politicians are haunted by the issues they engaged when they were 20 or 30. If you ask most people: What are the best films youve ever seen? Most name five they saw in their twenties. They dont think about whats happening now. I often think politicians are solving the problems of the last generation, said the 66-year-old, as he joined former Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney, on stage at the Southbank Centre. The talk on climate action and finance formed part of Planet Summer, a series of events about climate activism. And while the man behind Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually and Noting Hill, as well as many other British classics, isnt necessarily a fan of the often-disruptive tactics employed by Just Stop Oil campaigners, he can see a parallel of sorts with the Suffragette movement of the early 20th century. Which, although unpopular at the time, did eventually succeed in giving women the vote. My instinct is that a public movement will always attract more extreme, than more sensible, more quiet and more compromising things. I think if you look backIm glad that the women who threw themselves in front of horses did ensure votes for women, he adds, before saying of current eco-protesters. I dont know if theyre doing the right thing, Im really worried about the negative effect it has, but everybodys got to do their part he said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. On July 11, from 19:00 to 19:15 (GMT+4), members of the illegal Armenian armed formations on the territory of Azerbaijan, where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily located, tried to set up permanent fortifications in front of the positions of the Azerbaijani Army located in the direction of the Kalbajar district, Trend reports citing MoD. As a result of urgent measures taken by the units of the Azerbaijani Army, the works were immediately stopped. In addition, from 21:15 to 21:30 (GMT+4), units of the Armenian armed forces intermittently fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of the Yellija settlement of the Kalbajar district. The units of the Azerbaijani Army have taken adequate response measures. N ato leaders have gathered in Lithuania for a crucial summit that could shape the direction of the war in Ukraine and the future of the alliance. Countries are expected to discuss further support for Kyiv in its counter-offensive and ways to put the military alliance on the path to face down future threats. Here are five points likely to be discussed at the summit in Vilnius: Defence Spending Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will call on allies to commit to spending at least 2 per cent of GDP on defence. Last year just nine out of 30 NATO allies, including the UK, spent that amount. This is projected to rise to two thirds of countries by 2024. At the summit, the Prime Minister will argue that meeting the commitment is crucial to Natos ability to defend against the kind of tactics Putin has used in Ukraine. He said: When thousands of Russian troops crossed the border in February last year, it marked a grim new chapter in Europe and Natos history. In the 500 days that have elapsed since we have witnessed the most terrible crimes and human tragedies in Ukraine. But we have also seen the Nato alliance come together like never before in support of Ukraine and with firm determination that Russia cannot succeed. That is work we need to continue this week. We cannot let the fog of war obscure the clear lessons our alliance must learn if we are going to outpace and outmanoeuvre those who seek to do us harm. Arms and munitions The Prime Minister will also push for further joint efforts to increase the production of missiles and ammunition. Mr Sunak will confirm an eight-fold increase in the UKs production capacity of 155mm artillery ammunitionwhich most Nato armies use as standardand a new 190m BAE Systems contract, that will lead to the production of more artillery shells for use by the UK and other allied forces. It comes as the Ministry of Defence is set to publish a new Command Paper, setting out the measures the UK is taking to improve the lethality of our own Armed Forces as well as our contribution to Nato. It includes establishing a new Global Response Force to increase our ability to respond to a crisis at short notice. NATO membership An accelerated path for Ukraine to join Nato has been agreed by member states, Ukraines foreign minister announced on Monday. Dmytro Kuleba said a deal had been struck that would allow the country to skip the Membership Action Plan (MAP) usually required of prospective allies. It follows weeks of high-level meetings between Mr Kuleba, President Volodymyr Zelensky and various allied governments. Following intensive talks, Nato allies have reached consensus on removing MAP from Ukraines path to membership, he tweeted. I welcome this long-awaited decision that shortens our path to Nato. It is also the best moment to offer clarity on the invitation to Ukraine to become a member. The statement suggests the United States and Germany, who have previously distanced themselves from the plan, have also now dropped objections to Ukraine becoming a member after the war with Russia has ended. Mr Sunak has said Ukraines rightful place is in Nato and Poland and Baltic states have lobbied for a demonstration of commitment to its future membership. However, there remain divisions over whether or not Ukraine could join. US President Joe Biden said on Sunday that he did not believe the country was ready for membership and that there was no unanimity within the alliance about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the Nato family now, in the middle of a war. Military support for Ukraine New ways of supporting Kyiv in its counter-offensive will be discussed at the summit. US President Joe Biden is due to deliver a speech at Vilnius University on Wednesday night where he will lay out the importance of standing up to Russian aggression, including supplying weaponry. However, the UK and some Democratic lawmakers in the US have raised concerns about Mr Bidens decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine. The artillery shells release dozens of bombs at a time that cause destruction over wide areas. They have been banned by more than 100 countries due to the significant risk they pose to civilians. Ben Wallace snubbed The summit comes after UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he did not expect to be the next head of Nato. The Tory MP had expressed a strong interest in the job and was tipped as a top contender owing to his role in supporting Ukraine after Russias invasion. But last month he said its not going to happen, adding that he thinks the United States want the current Secretary General, former prime minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg, to remain in post for another year. Former Nato Secretary General Lord Robertson said one of the reasons Mr Wallace was not chosen for the job is the French are not terribly keen on somebody who had been so associated with Brexit and with Boris Johnson. Germanys Ursula von der Leyen has been tipped as another possible candidate. R ishi Sunak vowed on Tuesday that Britain is in it for the long haul to defeat Vladimir Putins war as Ukrainian forces were clawing back territory, at times metre by metre. He gave the whole-hearted support as he flew to a Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, where world leaders were discussing more military support for Kyiv, Ukraine joining the military alliance and how it would bolster its defences against future threats. Asked if the UK would continue to support Ukraine even if the war dragged on for another decade, Mr Sunak said: We are with Ukraine for as long as it takes. The PM insisted allies must send a strong deterrent message to the Russians by strengthening support for Ukraine. He told reporters: What Putin needs to understand is there is no point in waiting out the West, and not just the West but the alliance that has formed to support Ukraine. Everyone is in it for the long haul and any thought he had that this would be over quickly has already been proved to be false. Opening the summit, Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg promised that Ukraine would get a positive and strong message on its path to membership of the alliance, as well as more military aid. But divisions among Natos 31 members mean there will not be a straightforward invitation for Ukraine to join. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan also said the gathering would send a positive signal about Kyivs membership bid, though America appears less keen on a fast track approach, with Britain voicing more support for such a path. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, due to meet Joe Biden at the Vilnius gathering, has been pressing Nato for a clear path for Ukraine to join once the war is over. US President Joe Biden talks with Lithuanias President Gitanas Nauseda / AP As negotiators were seeking to thrash out a compromise agreement, diplomats were upbeat about a final agreement. The summit was also set to approve Natos first comprehensive plans since the end of the Cold War to defend against any attack from Russia. Ukrainian forces were reported to be gradually seizing back more territory, even if the counter-offensive was going slower than expected. The Washington-based think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, said Kyiv troops had recaptured nearly as much land in five weeks that it took Putins army six months to seize. Britain has led the way in arming Ukraine, first with anti-tank weapons, then Challenger II tanks, and more recently Storm Shadow long range missiles. Other countries have followed the UKs lead, and French president Emmanuel Macron announced today that France will start supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine, with Germany also announcing 600 million more of military support for Kyiv. While Nato members agree Kyiv cannot join during the war, they have disagreed over how quickly it could happen afterwards and under what conditions. Nato members in Eastern Europe have backed Kyivs stance, arguing that bringing Ukraine under the alliances collective security umbrella is the best way to deter Russia from attacking again. Countries such as the United States and Germany have been more cautious, wary of any move that they fear could draw Nato into a direct conflict with Russia and potentially spark a global war. Mr Stoltenberg said Ukraine could now skip a Membership Action Plan (MAP) a process for meeting political, economic and military goals before becoming a Nato member which could fast track the process. Meanwhile, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan agreed late on Monday night to forward Swedens bid to join to his parliament for ratification, appearing to end months of opposition that strained the bloc. M ickey Mouse murals at an asylum detention centre were painted over because they were not age appropriate, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has claimed. Mr Jenrick sparked controversy after allegedly ordering the removal of the murals at the centre in Kent, which depicted characters such as Baloo from The Jungle Book and Mickey Mouse. Initial reports suggested this was because it was deemed too welcoming. But speaking in response to Labours Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, Mr Jenrick on Tuesday claimed in the Commons the set up in the centre was altered because most of the children in the centre were teenagers. Ms Cooper asked: Can he explain: is it true that he gave orders to the asylum reception centre to paint over childrens cartoons? If so, why? Because nobody believes that Mickey Mouse cartoons either encourage or deter boats to arrive, and they simply think that this is the minister actually not showing some common decency to vulnerable children. He replied: We provide very high quality care at all of the centres in which we support unaccompanied children. We didnt think that the set-up in that particular unit was age appropriate because the majority of those individuals who were unaccompanied passing through it last year were teenagers. That does not change the fundamentals that we support anyone who comes to this country with decency and compassion. The story was first reported by the I newspaper, which reported that staff at the centre were horrified" by the "cruel order. In the Lords on Monday, Home Office Minister Lord Murray told peers that artworks werent initially commissioned by the Home Office. Its clearly the correct decision that these facilities have the requisite decoration befitting of their purpose, he said. Among those criticising the departments stance was Tory donor Lord Brownlow, who said he was quite frankly ashamed of the ministers answer. It comes as MPs debate amendments to the Illegal Migration Bill, which aims to deter people from crossing the Channel by toughening up the rules and conditions around seeking asylum. Peers in the House of Lords placed some 20 amendments to the bill, the majority of which are expected to be rejected by Tory MPs. However, ministers have offered to limit detention periods for children and pregnant women in a bid to get the bill passed. V olodymyr Zelensky said it is absurd that no timeframe has been set for Ukraine to join Nato following confirmation the UK is pushing for long-term military support to be pledged for Kyiv. The Ukrainian president said uncertainty is weakness as he criticised Nato leaders for failing to agree a pathway for his war-torn country to accede to the defensive alliance. Mr Zelensky said the delay was providing Russia with the motivation to continue its terror. World leaders have descended upon Vilnius for the Nato summit, with Ukraines membership one of the key items on the agenda. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters on his way to the Lithuanian capital that he wanted to see Natos commitment to inducting Ukraine as a full member of the alliance reaffirmed during the two-day gathering. Nato signalled at its 2008 summit in Bucharest that Kyiv should become a member state. Mr Sunak repeated his stance that, for the UK, Ukraines rightful place is in Nato. Britain has voiced its support for fast-tracking Kyiv through the membership process, arguing much of the military reforms asked of it are being witnessed on the battlefield in its fight against Russias invading troops. But the US and Germany are said to be against the idea. With allies reportedly reluctant to give Ukraine a date for when it will be accepted into the Nato fold, Mr Zelensky, who is due to attend the summit on Wednesday, hit out at the lack of a plan for the Vilnius meeting. Its unprecedented and absurd when (a) time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraines membership, while at the same time vague wording about conditions is added even for inviting Ukraine, he tweeted. It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to Nato, nor to make it a member of the alliance. This means that a window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraines membership in Nato in negotiations with Russia. And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror. Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit. Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, who has had his tenure extended for 12 months, has said he is confident the summit will send a positive message to Ukraine about its path to membership. With Nato publicly stating that Ukraine is not likely to be made a member while it is fighting back Russian president Vladimir Putins troops, leading members have reportedly been working on securing a multilateral long-term deal with Kyiv to help support its efforts to reclaim its borders. According to the Daily Telegraph, the UK, US, France and Germany dubbed The Quad are looking to finalise an Israel-style security deal to provide Kyiv with a multi-year plan to defend itself from Russian aggression. The paper reported that it would be similar to a military and financial pact that Washington has with Tel Aviv to afford it protection in the Middle East. Conservative Party leader Mr Sunak, without providing details of what the deal could look like, said Britain had played a leading role in the discussions since he put the issue of multilateral Western security assurances on the table during his speech to the Munich security conference in February. He said providing security guarantees to Ukraine was about showing the Kremlin that the West would not tire in its backing for Kyiv. Mr Sunak said: We are with Ukraine for as long as it takes. That is why the security assurances are important because what Putin needs to understand is there is no point in just waiting out the West. Everyone is in it for the long haul and any thought he had that this would be over quickly has already been proved to be false. Downing Street said Mr Sunak would use the Vilnius summit to press home the importance of increasing Natos defence spending in order to ward off Russian tyranny, urging member states to meet the target of spending at least 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, speaking to Bloomberg TV, said that Nato members are focused on supporting Ukraine in their self-defence and we are discussing the future pathway for Ukraine to enjoy Nato membership. The Prime Ministers first bilateral meeting after arriving at the summit was with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It follows a breakthrough with Ankara, brokered by Mr Stoltenberg, to remove Turkeys objections to Sweden being admitted to Nato. No 10 said Mr Sunak commended the Turkish leader for his efforts to pave the way for Stockholm to join. The Nordic country, along with Finland, dropped its long-held neutrality position following Moscows invasion. A full allies meeting of Nato took place on Tuesday afternoon in Vilnius, with Mr Sunak sat next to US President Joe Biden for the session. The British premier is set to hold further one-on-one talks with the leaders of Poland and the Netherlands. A ll members of the G7 are set to sign a long-term security arrangement with Ukraine that Rishi Sunak said had the potential to return peace to Europe. With the British Prime Minister citing the UK as having played a leading role in the pact, No 10 said the accord marked the first time that so many countries had agreed a comprehensive multi-year security arrangement of such a nature with another country. Wednesdays G7 declaration, which is expected to be ratified in the margins of the Nato summit in Vilnius, is set to provide more defence equipment, increase and accelerate intelligence sharing and bolster support for cyber defences. It plans to expand training programmes and military exercises, while also developing Ukraines industrial capabilities, according to Downing Street. Mr Sunak used an address to the Munich security conference in February to lay out his argument for why the international community had a duty to ensure Ukraine was never again left vulnerable to Russian brutality and pushed for the country to be put in the best possible position for any future ceasefire negotiations. The British leader, who arrived in the Lithuanian capital saying he was keen to get a non-Nato deal over the line, said the agreement would send a strong signal to President Putin. The announcement comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky voiced his frustration that the Nato summit in Vilnius did not offer a timeframe for Kyiv to join the defensive alliance. He said the delay by allies was providing Russia and its occupying forces with the motivation to continue its terror. Addressing a square full of supporters in Vilnius on Tuesday evening, Mr Zelensky said: Nato will give Ukraine security. Ukraine will make the alliance stronger. Formal, multilateral, and bilateral agreements and the overwhelming support of Nato members will send a strong signal to President Putin and return peace to Europe His close ally Mr Sunak looked to move the conversation away from the Vilnius communique and onto what the worlds wealthiest countries were doing to provide multi-year backing to Kyiv. Mr Sunak said: As Ukraine makes strategic progress in their counteroffensive, and the degradation of Russian forces begins to infect Putins front line, we are stepping up our formal arrangements to protect Ukraine for the long term. We can never see a repeat of what has happened in Ukraine and this declaration reaffirms our commitment to ensure it is never left vulnerable to the kind of brutality Russia has inflicted on it again. Supporting their progress on the pathway to Nato membership, coupled with formal, multilateral, and bilateral agreements and the overwhelming support of Nato members will send a strong signal to President Putin and return peace to Europe. No 10 did not set out more precise details about what will be contained in the G7 pact but reports have suggested that the multi-country agreement with Kyiv could emulate the defence agreement between the US and Israel. Washington and Tel Aviv have a military and technology deal to afford Israel protection in the Middle East but without offering a Nato-esque clause to come to its aid during a time of attack. In addition to the work on a long-term bilateral security pact, the UK has announced its plans to deliver more than 70 combat and logistics vehicles to Ukraine. The British Army vehicles will be gifted to Ukraine to boost its counteroffensive operation. According to No 10 officials, the vehicles will ensure front line forces have the means to carry ammunition and equipment, evacuate injured soldiers and recover damaged vehicles. Thousands of additional rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition will also be immediately delivered to Ukraine as part of the package. A 50 million equipment support contract will sustain what the UK has already provided to Ukraine, including spare parts, technical support and maintenance training. Mr Zelensky is due to attend the second day of the Vilnius summit on Wednesday, announcing on social media that he plans to hold talks with Mr Sunak and other G7 allies. N ato leaders agreed on Tuesday to allow Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met hours after Volodymyr Zelensky said it was absurd a timetable had not been set out. The uncertainty over his countrys membership is motivation for Russia to continue its terror, the Ukrainian President said as the leaders of the military alliance met in Vilnius, Lithuania on Tuesday. In a communique, Nato said it recognised the need to move faster but would not be drawn on a timeframe. Mr Zelensky voiced his anger about the stance of some Nato countries as he was heading for the summit. He has been pressing Nato for a clear path for Ukraine to join once the war is over. We value our allies," he said. We value our shared security. And we always appreciate an open conversation. Ukraine will be represented at the Nato summit in Vilnius. Because it is about respect. But Ukraine also deserves respect. Now, on the way to Vilnius, we received signals that certain wording is being discussed without Ukraine. And I would like to emphasise that this wording is about the invitation to become Nato member, not about Ukraines membership. Its unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraines membership. While at the same time vague wording about conditions is added even for inviting Ukraine. It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to Nato nor to make it a member of the Alliance. This means that a window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraines membership in Nato in negotiations with Russia. And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror. Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit. "We reaffirmed Ukraine will become a member of Nato and agreed to remove the requirement for a membership action plan," Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters later. This will change Ukraine's membership path from a two-step path to a one-step path," he said. The comminique issued by Nato on Tuesday said: We fully support Ukraines right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraines future is in Nato. We reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of Nato, and today we recognise that Ukraines path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan. Ukraine has become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the Alliance, and has made substantial progress on its reform path. In line with the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between Nato and Ukraine and the 2009 Complement, Allies will continue to support and review Ukraines progress on interoperability as well as additional democratic and security sector reforms that are required. Nato Foreign Ministers will regularly assess progress through the adapted Annual National Programme. The Alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path towards future membership. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met. World leaders are discussing more military support for Kyiv at the Nato summit as well as Ukraine joining the military alliance and how it would bolster its defences against future threats. Opening the summit, Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg promised that Ukraine would get a positive and strong message on its path to membership of the alliance, as well as more military aid. But divisions among the alliances 31 member states mean there will not be a straightforward invitation for Ukraine to join. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan also said the gathering would send a positive signal about Kyivs bid, though America appears less keen on a fast track approach, with Britain voicing more support for such a path. Rishi Sunak vowed on Tuesday that Britain is in it for the long haul to defeat Vladimir Putins war. He gave the whole-hearted support to Ukraine as he flew out to the summit. Asked if the UK would continue to support Ukraine even if the war dragged on for another decade, Mr Sunak said: We are with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Mr Zelensky is expected to meet on Wednesday with US President Joe Biden and other Nato leaders. A irbnb horror stories are being swapped after one disgruntled guest shared a photo of what appeared to be a large bathroom with a bed in it. David Holtz shared the picture on Monday, attracting the attention of Twitter as well as the company itself, which has offered to help sort out the issue. It is believed the room without a view is in London but the original listing has not been made public. Tfw [that feeling when] you arrive at your @airbnb and realize [sic] that the whole space is essentially just a large-ish bathroom that the host put a bed into, he wrote. In another tweet, he continued: After sleeping for 2 nights one foot away from a toilet, Im ready to sleep for 26 nights in the jungles of Fiji. His post sparked jokes and other stories of bad experiences with Airbnb, including one who said she slept on a baby cot. An official Airbnb account replied to Mr Holtz: Thank you for reaching out to us. Please send us a DM with the email address connected to your Airbnb account, so we can take a closer look. Mr Holtz has declined media requests beyond that he hopes the exposure can help him appear as a contestant on US reality series Survivor, a Bear Grylls-type show. Airbnb told the Standard: Our customer service team has been in contact with this guest to provide support. We encourage guests to review all photos, as well as the description and reviews, prior to booking a stay. But he was not the only one to have had a bad experience with Airbnb. Here are some of the best stories found online. The Evening Standard is unable to verify the accounts beyond what has been shared. I once slept on a baby cot in a hallway in NYC Helen Tran said on Twitter that the experience several years ago had not put her off. She added: Airbnb is especially bad in New York, Montreal and Paris, in my experience. I think the latter two may have been a confusion in translations. I mean it's kind of funny. Adventures of the 20s! Sulanga Ghosh added: I had to shift out of a student hostel and landed in a similar bathroom! When in London... Tina Nigro tweeted: Ive had one exactly like this in London. It was in 2016 I believe left after 20 minutes (it was super dirty) and fortunately found another Airbnb This is awesome, man, Fahir wrote. You don't have to get up when you need to pee. Jon Nilsen added: Always wanted to brush my teeth in bed. Well, at least... Maile could at least see the positive side of her own experience. She wrote: I stayed somewhere like this in NYC. Only difference was curtain between bed and toilet lol. I saw my kitchen in the background On Reddit there are many more stories of Airbnb listings gone wrong. One anonymous user said: I had one "tenant" make a porn. I didn't find out until I was cruising [a Reddit thread] r/unexpectedsex (NSFW). I noticed my living room and kitchen. Another said: Had a guest rent my apartment for a music festival and my wife and I came by to check on the place and found that the guests were storing their drugs in my child's crib. We bought a new crib after we kicked them out. T he BBC has announced the Metropolitan Police has asked it to pause its investigations while it looks into allegations an unnamed presenter paid a troubled young person tens of thousands of pounds for sexual images. It comes after the BBCs corporate investigations team spoke to detectives on Monday. A BBC spokesperson said: As a result of this meeting, the BBC has been asked to pause its investigations into the allegations while the police scope future work. They also published a timetable showing a family member of the young person made the first complaint in person at a BBC building on May 18 and a day later the investigations team ruled it did not include an allegation of criminality, but nonetheless merited further investigation. BBC chief Tim Davie told reporters the BBC had not been given a time scale by officers into how long the police investigation would take. He said: Clearly any affair of this nature is serious in terms of the BBCs reputation and trust is absolutely fundamental to the BBC, adding: I think its too early to say how this impacts the BBCs reputation in terms of trust. He refused to say if the presenter involved had offered his resignation, saying he wouldnt comment on a private conversation and said issues of privacy and public interest had to be balanced throughout the process. Mr Davie said the BBC will pass any material we have to investigating officers and admitted questions have been asked about how this case was initially managed and that lessons will be learned about how complaints are dealt with. It was only on July 6, when The Sun contacted the BBC press office, that the director-general or any executive directors at the BBC were aware of the case. The spokesperson said: The BBC has processes and protocols for receiving information and managing complaints when they are first made. We always take these matters extremely seriously and seek to manage them with the appropriate duty of care. The events of recent days have shown how complex and challenging these kinds of cases can be and how vital it is that they are handled with the utmost diligence and care. Mr Davie insisted on Tuesday that trust was the corporations top priority as he faced questions over the allegations. Mr Davie said the initial complaint was serious but did not include an allegation of criminality. He added: When The Sun made new allegations on July 6 they were different to the matters considered by BBC Corporate Investigations and those new allegations clearly related to potential criminal activity, criminality, that in a nutshell is the difference. The director-general was grilled by reporters at a briefing called to discuss the BBCs annual report and arranged before the scandal erupted.The Met are conducting further inquiries to establish if any crime has been committed. It has been reported the relationship began when the person was 17. Although the age of consent is 16, it is illegal to make or possess indecent images of anyone under 18. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said later: We have asked the BBC to pause its own investigation while we continue our assessment to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence being committed. The assessment is being led by detectives from the Mets Specialist Crime Command and follows a virtual meeting with representatives from the BBC on the morning of Monday, 10 July. There remains no police investigation at this time. The scandal overshadowed the publication of the BBCs annual report which boasted that the organisation was the No 1 most trusted news brand in the UK. Writing in the report, which was put together before the latest scandal broke, Mr Davie said trust was the BBCs first priority. He said: We know that trust in the BBC must be earned every day. Thats why we have worked harder than ever to open up our processes and show audiences more of the work that goes on behind the scenes of our journalism. The report shows the BBC investigated 34 formal cases of bullying and harassment in 2022/23 and 37 whistleblowing cases which cover safeguarding concerns about a child or young person or a vulnerable adult as well as actual or potential criminal offences and anything which may bring the corporation into serious disrepute. Mr Davies personal position has been bolstered by the support of the Prime Minister, but Rishi Sunak admitted he was shocked by the allegations. En route to the Nato summit in Lithuania, he told reporters: They were shocking, concerning allegations, of course they were. The Culture Secretary spoke to the director-general on Sunday and is reassured the process they are undertaking is rigorous and will be swift and so we have those reassurances. The story took another twist on Monday night when the young person at the centre of the controversy said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened with the presenter, who is said to have given them 35,000 over three years. Their version of events, in a letter from their lawyer, called the original story rubbish. They said they told The Sun on Friday that there was no truth to it. But The Sun has stood by its reporting. R TEs star presenter Ryan Tubridy has offered to pay back two payments at the centre of a fiasco the broadcaster has been embroiled in, as he laid bare the toll it had taken on him personally. Former Late Late Show presenter Tubridy said that he was due to make six more appearances for commercial sponsor Renault as part of a contentious deal at the centre of the crisis that has engulfed RTE. But he added that if that work is not called upon to be done, of course the money goes back. In two extraordinary committee appearances at Dublins parliament, Tubridy said he had been publicly cancelled and it was touch and go whether he would be allowed to return to his weekly radio programme. He said that he wants to return to RTE Radio as soon as possible because its all Ive got. If I do go back to RTE, which I hope to, itll be a whole new world order, Tubridy said in his closing remarks. RTE has been mired in controversy since it emerged last month that it under-reported fees paid to Tubridy and failed to correctly disclose 345,000 euro of payments to him between 2017 and 2022. I hate being referred to as the talent. I think its an obscene, outdated word. I hate being referred to as 'the talent'. I think it's an obscene, outdated word The furore has since widened amid further disclosures about RTEs internal financial, accounting and governance practices and its expenditure on corporate hospitality for advertising clients. RTE operates on a dual funding model, with the majority of its revenue secured from a licence fee and the rest generated from advertising revenue. The Government has paused discussions on a new long-term funding arrangement until the current crisis abates. Newly appointed director general Kevin Bakhurst stood down RTEs executive leadership board on Monday as he vowed to restore peoples trust in Irelands public service broadcaster. When asked whether Tubridy will return to the airwaves, Mr Bakhurst told Newstalk that the decision will be made in a matter of a few weeks adding that he felt sorry for him. While the Irish government has announced two separate external reviews of RTE and also moved to send in a forensic auditor to examine the broadcasters accounts, the Public Accounts Committee and Media Committee in Dublin are conducting their own probes into the affair. As Tubridy appeared before both committees on Tuesday, he at times appeared emotional, slamming his hand on the table during his opening statement and claiming there had been misinformation around what fees he had been paid. Tubridy also emphasised that none of the payments represented overpayments of any sort, but instead were under declarations by RTE. He said that a 120,000 payment due at the end of his 2015-2019 contract had been waived by him, and said that RTE then suggested that it should be accounted for by retrospectively under-reporting his salary across several years. We made clear that the 120,000 should not be taken off or deducted for prior year actual earnings, he said, calling such a suggestion from the broadcaster odd. The former Late Late show host also reiterated on several occasions that his decision to step down from RTEs flagship chat show was not linked to the discovery of the accounting issues by auditors in March. Tubridy announced publicly that he would step down from the programme after 14 years at its helm on March 16, and presented the last episode in May. My name has been desperately sullied, I think my reputation has been sullied, Tubridy told the committee, stating that he had been subjected to a frenzy. Im deeply upset. Im hurt. Its hard to leave the house if you really want me to be honest about it. Suddenly the most trusted man in Ireland, Ryan Tubridy, it was like throw him under a bus Ive never seen anything like it. I dont know if any of youve been cancelled before but let me tell you, you dont want to be there. He said that the support he had received was something he would never forget, and said that he would love to be part of that catharsis at RTE. If it was to sign another contract, Id put it out in the public straightaway, no messing, no three-year carry on, Id be part and parcel of the new process to build trust with my colleagues and the listeners, he said. I hate being referred to as the talent. I think its an obscene, outdated word. The talent in RTE work in reception, and they work in security, and in make-up, and hair and sound and camera and production. Thats the talent. So if we do anything to change the language around RTE, please take that silly word off the contracts going forward. Theyre colleagues, no-one is better than anyone else. People were seen commenting and reacting to the proceedings being screened in some bars across Dublin. In one of the most significant revelations from the day, TDs were given an email which challenged RTE claims that ex-director general Dee Forbes had done a solo run by agreeing to underwrite a 75,000-euro-a-year deal involving RTE, Tubridy and Renault. The deal involved Tubridy making three appearances at Renault events per year. RTE executives have previously explained that Renault paid Tubridy the first 75,000 euro payment, while two other 75,000 euro payments were from RTE, as it had underwritten the amounts due in what TDs were previously told was a verbal-only agreement made on a Microsoft Teams meeting in May 2020. But an email between Tubridys agent Noel Kelly and former chief financial officer Breda OKeeffe in February 2020, CCing Ms Forbes and director of content Jim Jennings, informed the agent of RTEs willingness to provide you with a side letter to underwrite this fee for the duration of the contract. Labour TD Alan Kelly said that the documents were compelling and completely contradict RTEs account of events. Noel Kelly told TDs they had been under siege in recent weeks, and that Tubridy had been made a poster boy for the controversy. He said RTE had attempted to distance itself from its decisions, that the deal with Renault was known widely within the executive board of RTE, and this was a mess of RTEs making. Suddenly the most trusted man in Ireland, Ryan Tubridy, it was like throw him under a bus. Why? Mr Kelly said. RTE has rejected the claim it gave an incorrect version of events over an agreement to underwrite payments to Tubridy, and reiterated its position that a verbal commitment given by the former director-general during a video call on May 7 was when the 75,000 euro payments were underwritten. RTEs new director-general Mr Bakhurst is to appear before the Public Accounts committee on Thursday, his fourth day in the role, alongside other RTE executives. Committee members have been informed that Ms OKeeffe is not in a position to attend Thursdays hearing. Tubridy has not presented his weekday morning radio programme since the issues at RTE came to light on June 22. Press Release July 11, 2023 Ahead of PBBM's second SONA: Bong Go bats for inclusive economic recovery efforts by urging admin to prioritize pro-poor initiatives As the second State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., scheduled on July 24, looms, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his optimism regarding the administration's capacity to uplift the lives of more impoverished members of the Filipino society and roll out further pro-poor initiatives. With the current government's focus on the nation's economic recovery, the senator affirms the crucial need to ensure that no Filipino is left behind in the process. "Unang-una, siyempre po kailangan po na walang maiwan na Pilipino sa ating economic recovery," Go said in an interview on Monday, July 10, after providing aid to fire victims in Quezon City. "Dapat po, nais ko pong marinig sa Pangulo ang kanyang additional na plano kung ano pa 'yung pwedeng gawin upang mas lalong maisakatuparan ang ating inclusive and full economic recovery mula po sa pandemya," he added. Go, known for his active role in providing assistance to the less fortunate Filipinos, emphasized the need for government programs that target the struggling sectors of society. "Dapat walang maiwan na mahihirap nating kababayan. Unahin po ang mga programa na nakatutulong po sa mga kababayan natin,' he stressed. As the country continues to grapple with the impact of the global pandemic, Go said that the issue of food security, a chronic concern in many Filipino households, stands at the forefront of the discussion. "Dapat po, walang magutom. Importante po dito tiyan ng bawat Pilipino. Importante po dito trabaho ng bawat Pilipino," the senator underlined. Go also talked about his support for the administration's Philippine Development Plan, an eight-point agenda that seeks to achieve food security, improve supply chain management, decrease energy costs and preserve energy security, and reduce economic vulnerability triggered by the pandemic. The agenda also aims to address healthcare issues, strengthen social protection, promote infrastructure development, and encourage entrepreneurship, especially among the micro, small, and medium enterprises. "The more we should invest sa ating healthcare system sa ngayon," Go remarked. "Infrastructure development, trabaho po 'yan at creating a green economy, strengthening market competition and promoting entrepreneurship, negosyo po lalong-lalo na ang mga MSMEs, 'yung maliliit nating negosyante," he added. Additionally, the senator emphasized the critical role of the MSMEs in the country's economic recovery. These small-scale businesses have been heavily affected by the pandemic, prompting the need for dedicated programs to support their recovery. "So uulitin ko dapat po walang magutom. Tulungan po natin ang mahihirap nating kababayan, ang mga malilit na negosyante, sila po ang dapat nating unahin," he urged. One such initiative that Go mentioned is Senate Bill No. 1594, or the One Town One Product (OTOP) bill, that has recently been passed in the Senate. The measure, which was authored and co-sponsored by Go, aims to institutionalize the OTOP. It shall serve as a government stimulus program to encourage the growth of MSMEs in the country through the utilization of indigenous raw materials, local traditions, and cultures across the country. "Kaya nga po mayroon tayong bill na One Town One Product Bill sa Senado. Pasado na po ito sa Senado na tulungan po 'yung mga MSMEs nating mga kababayan," he said. To end, Go expressed his unwavering support for Marcos, as long as the initiatives are beneficial to the underprivileged Filipinos. "Suportado ko po ang ating Pangulo basta makakatulong po sa mahihirap nating kababayan," concluded Go. In line with efforts to promote economic development in the country, Go likewise reintroduced SBN 1182 or the proposed Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) Act in a bid to strengthen the capacity of government financial institutions to provide the needed financial assistance to MSMEs, and other strategically important companies (SICs). The GUIDE aims to strengthen the capacity of the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines in providing much-needed access to credit and financial assistance to distressed businesses, including MSMEs, SICs and other businesses affected by the pandemic. At the height of the pandemic, Go was likewise instrumental in the implementation of the Small Business Wage Subsidy program, which provided eligible workers who were unable to work or get paid during the enhanced community quarantine period with two tranches of financial assistance. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. From 21:15 to 21:30 (GMT+4), units of the Armenian armed forces intermittently fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of the Yellija settlement of the Kalbajar district, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. The units of the Azerbaijani army have taken adequate response measures. A Canadian teenager has been questioned by police for allegedly carving his name into a wooden pillar at an 8th century temple in Japan. The 17-year-old boy sparked fury among locals after defacing the UNESCO-listed Toshodaiji Kondo temple in Nara on Friday, July 7. A Japanese visitor saw the boy carving the pillar with his fingernail and told him to stop before notifying temple employees. He was later questioned by police on suspicion of violating the cultural properties protection law. On the southwest side of Toshodaiji Kondo, there are wooden pillars supporting the roof, a police official told CNN. On the pillars to the side, the boy carved Julian on a wooden pillar about 170 centimeters above the ground with his nail. The boy admitted his act and says it was done not with the intent of harming Japanese culture, said the official. He is now with his parents, who were with him when the incident occurred. The temple is one of eight sites that make up the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara. According to UNESCOs website, the monuments, which include Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, provide a vivid picture of life in the Japanese capital in the eighth century, a period of profound political and cultural change. Nara is around 45km (28 miles) south of Kyoto, and was once the capital of Japan. It remains popular with tourists. Under Japanese law, any person who has damaged an object of important cultural property could face up to five years in prison, or a fine of 300,000 (1,650). It comes after a tourist from Britain provoked outrage for carving his and his fiancees names on the Colosseum in Rome. Ivan Dimitrov, 27, a Bulgarian fitness instructor living in Bristol, was caught on camera carving Ivan+Hayley 23 into the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre last month. Italys culture minister called the action offensive to everyone. D onald Trumps lawyers have asked the federal judge overseeing the criminal case against him to postpone the trial until after the US presidential election in 2024. District Judge Aileen Cannon said last month that the jury trial in the case over Mr Trumps handling of classified documents is set to take place over a two-week period from August 14. The date, if it holds, would put Mr Trump on trial nine days ahead of the first Republican presidential debate on August 23. Prosecutors had already asked Judge Cannon to delay the case until December 11 in order to give both sides sufficient time to prepare. However, in a filing on Monday, Mr Trumps lawyers said a December trial date denies them reasonable time to prepare as it clashes with his ongoing presidential election bid. They also described the August start as unrealistic. "The court should therefore withdraw the current order setting trial and postpone any consideration of a new trial date," the lawyers said, adding that a continuance was both necessary and appropriate. Mr Trump was arraigned in federal court in Miami last month and pleaded not guilty to charges he unlawfully kept national security documents when he left office and lied to officials who sought to recover them. He is free to continue campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination as the judge made no restrictions on his travel. The former president is indicted with 37 federal charges under Americas Espionage Act. It is claimed he illegally held on to classified defence documents from his time in power and obstructed justice. The files are said to include information on US weapons and nuclear programs, potential military vulnerabilities of the US and allies, and retaliation plans in case of a foreign attack. Prosecutors say Trump haphazardly stored them at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and refused to return them to the FBI and National Archives. He says that, as president, he had the power to declassify the files. T he record for the hottest day on Earth was broken three times last week in an extraordinary seven-day period for weather. On Thursday July 6, the average temperature for the planet was recorded at 17.23C. The 2016 record of 16.92C occurred when the El Nino phenomenon led to worldwide weather quirks. But this was beaten, first on Monday, when 17.01C was reached, and then on Tuesday, when 17.18C was recorded, and again on Thursday. The mean temperatures were recorded by the Climate Reanalyzer service at the University of Maines Climate Change Institute. Dr Paulo Ceppi, a lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, told the Guardian that even warmer temperatures could be on the way. The coming days will probably see a small downturn, but since the annual global temperature maximum is at the end of July, more days are likely to be warmer than yesterday (given that El Nino is now pretty much in full swing). Chances are that the month of July will be the warmest ever and with it the hottest month ever ever meaning since the Eemian, which is indeed some 120,000 years ago. UK temperatures have reached record highs in the past few years / AFP via Getty Images Highest temperature recorded in the UK On July 19 last year, Coningsby in Lincolnshire reached 40.3C a UK record. This replaced the previous record of 38.7C measured in Cambridge in 2019. Highest temperature ever recorded, anywhere A mind-melting 56.7C was clocked in Death Valley in the US on July 13, 1913. A 100 years later that figure claimed the title back after a 57.8C 1922 reading from Libya was found to be erroneous and scrubbed from the record book. Hottest year on record The Met Office has said that 2022 was probably the hottest year in the UK, with an average reading of over 10C for the first time. The mean temperature of 10.03C was the highest since records began in 1884. But it was not the hottest year on record worldwide, with it actually coming fifth. However, the eight warmest years on record have now all been set since 2014 with the El Nino effect meaning 2016 is still the leader. There are fears, therefore, that 2023 could be a warmer overall year and the warmest in history. Met Office climate attribution scientist Dr Nikos Christidis said: To assess the impact of human induced climate change on the record-breaking year of 2022, we used climate models to compare the likelihood of a UK mean temperature of 10C in both the current climate and with historical human climate influences removed. The results showed that recording 10C in a natural climate would occur around once every 500 years, whereas in our current climate it could be as frequent as once every three to four years. Hottest day on record The record has been set as 17.23C. Note this is a worldwide mean and not the highest temperature in any one place. U S president Joe Biden reportedly relied on a cue card to help steer him through a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at No 10 on Monday. A beady-eyed photographer spotted the card in Mr Bidens hands, as he paid a brief visit to the UK, on Monday, ahead of a Nato summit in Lithuania, on Tuesday. The handwritten card featured five numbered bullet points, with the word Nato underlined at the top in an apparent prompt for Mr Biden, according to a report by the Telegraph. Donald Trump holds his prepared questions during a listening session with school shooting survivors / REUTERS Beside the other numbered points were words including Turkey and F-16 - the latter an apparent reference to the debate regarding whether the US and UK should send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to help in its fight-back against Russia. It is not the first time a US president has shown an apparent penchant for cue cards. In 2020, when meeting with survivors and families of a shooting that killed 17 people at a high school in Florida, Donald Trump came under fire when he was seen clutching a card that clearly reminded him to offer sympathy. The officially marked card included the phrases I hear you, and What would you most want me to know about your experience? and What can we do to help you feel safe? and drew widespread criticism online, with many accusing him of feigning empathy. Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak pictured together in the garden of No 10 on Monday / AFP via Getty Images Mr Biden hailed the relationship between the US and UK as rock solid when he met Mr Sunak at No 10 on Monday, telling the prime minister he couldnt be meeting with a closer friend and greater ally. But their warm display came amid frictions between the US and UK, over issues including the speed at which Ukraine should become a Nato member, the US decision to supply it with controversial cluster munitions, Brexit, and Washington not supporting Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to be the military alliances next secretary general. Mr Biden also met the King on Monday, having missed his Coronation in May. R ussia has launched an overnight air strike on Kyiv just hours before a Nato summit that is to tackle security threats from Moscow, says Ukraine. Ukraines air defence system shot down all the drones launched by Russia before they reached their targets in the early hours of Tuesday, according to Kyiv. The enemy attacked Kyiv from the air for the second time this month, Serhiy Popko, a head of Ukraines military administration, said in a post on social media platform Telegram. There was no immediate information about damage or casualties. Air raid alerts blasted over the capital city for an hour and longer in other parts of Ukraines east, according to Ukraines Air Force. Witnesses in Kyiv reportedly heard blasts resembling the sound of air defence systems intercepting targets during the air raid. It comes as Russias invasion of Ukraine is expected to dominate the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, which starts on Tuesday, and will be attended by Rishi Sunak, Joe Biden and other alliance leaders. Countries are expected to discuss further support for Kyiv in its counter-offensive and ways to put the military alliance on the path to face down future threats. Among topics set for discussion is an accelerated path for Ukraine to join Nato, which Ukraines foreign minister on Monday said has been agreed by member states. Russia berated the alliance and its leading power, the United States, over their support for Ukraine and has warned that Ukraines potential membership of Nato would be met with a clear and firm reaction. The Russian invasion of its neighbour, now in its 503rd day and with no end in sight, has killed thousands of people, displaced millions and turned many cities in Ukraines east and south into piles of rubble. For a round-up of the key points expected to be discussed at the Nato summit on Tuesday, click here. W agner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin met Vladimir Putin five days after his mercenary fighters set their sights upon Moscow, the Kremlin has claimed. The Russian presidents office said Mr Prigozhin met Mr Putin for three hours on June 29 following the failed rebellion. Mr Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on July 10 that Mr Putin invited Mr Prigozhin and 34 other senior Wagner commanders to their headquarters. This was to discuss a deal to stop the military coup from rearing its head again. He said Mr Prigozhin had travelled to Russia at least once since the deal was brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the rebel attack in exchange for safe passage to exile in Belarus. Mr Peskov said Mr Prigozhin assured Mr Putin that his Wagner troops were loyal to Russia and him. But where is the Wagner Group leader at the time of writing? Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin? Mr Prigozhin, 62, is a Russian oligarch who has been fighting alongside the Russian army in Ukraine. He was born in Europes fourth-most populous city St Petersburg. Formerly imprisoned in the Soviet Union for stealing, Mr Prigozhin oversees a network of powerful businesses, including the state-backed mercenary firm the Wagner Group. He is also reportedly in charge of three businesses suspected of interfering with the 2016 and 2018 US elections. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union on December 26, 1991, Mr Prigozhin became involved in grocery store, gambling and restaurant businesses. In the 2000s, Mr Prigozhin became close to Mr Putin. By 2003, he had split with his business partners and opened his own, stand-alone eateries. Concord Catering, one of Mr Prigozhin's businesses, secured significant government contracts. He obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts to feed government employees and students. Since Mr Prigozhin owns eateries and caterers that work for the Kremlin, he is sometimes referred to as Putins chef. Mr Prigozhin established the Internet Research Agency, a bot farm that meddled in the 2016 US presidential election by spreading misinformation on social media. Although it is still unclear if it affected the election's outcome, the US intelligence community sanctioned Mr Prigozhin. He admitted in 2022 that he had meddled in US elections and would do so again. Where is Yevgeny Prigozhin now? It is not known where the Wagner chief is currently, though last Thursday Lukashenko claimed that Prigozhin was back in Russia along with thousands of the groups fighters. The Belarusian president told reporters: He is in Petersburg ... perhaps he went to Moscow this morning. How did Yevgeny Prigozhins Wagner Group involvement begin? After years of denying his involvement with Wagner, Mr Prigozhin acknowledged he was the founder of the group on September 26, 2022. He claimed to have started it in May 2014 to aid the Russian military fighting in Donbas. This revelation was in response to a widely shared film in which Mr Prigozhin was shown infiltrating a Mari El (a Russian republic) jail and enticing detainees by offering them freedom if they worked for the Wagner Group for six months. He claimed to have 50,000 men available to him "in the best times," with roughly 35,000 of them always on the front lines. Yevgeny Prigozhin has become a prominent critic of Russia during the ongoing war with Ukraine / AP He did not specify if these figures included prisoners, but it is known that he visited Russian jails to find fighters, offering them pardons in exchange for surviving a six-month stint serving alongside Wagner. In the days and weeks following Russia's takeover of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in April 2014, Wagner was first observed in action in eastern Ukraine. This was shortly after a separatist conflict there broke out. Mr Prigozhin has reportedly benefitted financially from Wagner's deployment to Africa and Syria. Using its access to gold and other resources in Africa, the business is funding operations in Ukraine, according to US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland's statement in January. Yevgeny Prigozhins problematic relationship with Vladimir Putin Mr Prigozhin has presented Mr Putin with a conundrum recently by openly criticising Russia's military authorities. In one particularly gruesome video from the beginning of May, Mr Prigozhin stood next to a pile of dead Wagner fighters and pointed a gun directly at two army officers. Gesturing towards the bodies behind him, he said: "The blood is still fresh. They came here as volunteers and are dying so you can sit like fat cats in your luxury offices. When Mr Prigozhin launched a fresh rant against the Russian military on June 23 and then led his men into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, he ignited a full-scale uprising against the Kremlin. Mr Putin reacted to Mr Prigozhins actions by saying it is a stab in the back of our country and our people in an address to the nation on June 24. I f French is the language of love then Gallic cuisine can be taken as proof that the way to someones heart is through their stomach. Legend has it that French cuisine seduced the world when the chefs of the aristocracy found their contracts terminated along with their guillotined employers following the French Revolution and touted their services around the capitals of Europe. True or not, it was a Frenchman who kickstarted the London restaurant revolution when Auguste Escoffier arrived here at the end of the 19th century. Escoffier developed the kitchen brigade system, codified the five great French sauces (bechamel, veloute, espagnole, hollandaise and tomato) and invented such fabled dishes as peach Melba during his time at The Savoy. The influence of Gallic gastronomy is so all-pervasive that in 2010, the gastronomic meal of the French was added to UNESCOs list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. And yet while almost every cuisine under the sun can now be sampled in London, surely it is still French which corresponds to most peoples idea of what a restaurant meal involves: freshly baked bread, creamy sauces, stinky cheeses and the French would argue the finest wines available to humanity. So from multi-Michelin-starred temples of haute cuisine to neighbourhood bistros, all-day brasseries and even vegan fine dining, here is the creme de la creme of Londons Gallic restaurant scene. Whisper it: youll eat better French food in London than you will in Paris these days vive la revolution! Le Gavroche Issy Croker Originally opened in 1967 by Albert and Michel Roux, Le Gavroche was the first restaurant in the UK to be awarded three Michelin stars (it retains two these days). Alberts son Michel Jnr took over as chef patron in 1991 but his uncle and dad would still recognise this last gasp of ancien regime haute cuisine, where the menu drips with artery-clogging cream and Gruyere souffles, lobster cooked in beef fat and the most luxurious rice pudding imaginable. There are those who say the quality is not what it was (and they have a point) but if youre not the sort of person who cares about collecting Michelin stars and instead values the virtues of old-fashioned hospitality complete with cloches, cheese trolleys, wine decanters and a warm welcome extended to well-behaved children youll likely have a magical time here. The arrival of the bill, however, is likely to break the spell with an almighty bang. 43 Upper Brook Street, W1K 7QR, le-gavroche.co.uk Ottos Handout The name might be more Germanic than Gallic but the glorious food on offer at Ottos bears witness to Austrian owner Otto Tepasses training in the 1970s when all the upmarket restaurants in Europe were French. Pride of place goes to a duck press, originally made for the Hotel Provencal in Juan-les-Pins in 1927; Ottos is the only place in London apart from The Ritz where you can enjoy this speciality of three courses of ducky delight (seared liver, breast in a bloody sauce and crispy leg). And, for the record, The Ritz is following Ottos lead. Pescatarians can indulge in an equally sybaritic pressed lobster, while elsewhere on the menu is the finest foie gras in the capital, pigs trotter stuffed with calfs sweetbreads and morel mushrooms, and souffles flambeed at the table by Otto himself with scant regard for the state of his cuffs. Theres even a souffle named in honour of this papers restaurant critic for 48 years, Fay Maschler. The interiors are every bit as heroically eccentric as the owner, all squeaky velvet and candlelight, classical friezes and posters of Marilyn Monroe. 182 Grays Inn Road, WC1X 8EW, ottos-restaurant.com Maison Francois Steven Joyce All-day French cooking served up in slick, modern-retro brasserie surrounds in old-school St Jamess has proved an unlikely recipe for success at relative newcomer Maison Francois. The namesake founder is Francois ONeill, an affable Anglo-Irish chap whose father Hugh was clearly a believer in nominative determinism; Francois transformed his dads Brasserie St Quentin into the does-what-it-says-on-the-tin Brompton Bar & Grill before living up to his name and going full-on French with this place. The food is designed to share as small plates, which is fine for a round of gooey Comte gougeres, but less successful for cote de porc in a lip-smackingly sticky sauce moutarde. The easy answer, of course, is to keep your order to yourself, a decision you will be even more grateful for when the three-tiered sweet trolley arrives. Basement wine bar Franks is a name to impress your booze-savyy friends with when you cant get into Dukes; nothing cuts through the fattiness of pate en croute like a glass of Champagne. 34 Duke Street, SW1Y 6DF, maisonfrancois.london Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester Handout It is a mark of Alain Ducasses importance as an icon of Gallic gastronomy that the chefs departure from Pariss Plaza Athenee hotel in 2021 made headlines around the world. Monsieur Ducasse is still very much in residence at this three-Michelin-starred dining room at The Dorchester and, although day-to-day kitchen duties are overseen by talented executive chef Jean-Philippe Blondet, rest assured that he cooks in his masters voice of whispered luxury. The edible artworks place as much emphasis on veg as meat and fish, though there is no skimping on ingredients (the signature dish involves lobster with chicken quenelles and pasta) and theres off-the-scale indulgence in the shape of Baba like in Monte-Carlo, dolloped with Chantilly cream and anointed with your choice of half a dozen rums. As for the size of the bill try to think of 250 for three courses (yes, really) as good value compared to a trip to Ducasses Le Louis XV in Monaco. And it should be noted that on a recent visit, the place was better than ever. The Dorchester, Park Lane, W1K 1QA, alainducasse-dorchester.com Les 2 Garcons Thomas Alexander The titular two garcons are maitre d Jean-Christophe Slowik and chef Robert Reid, who met while working at Marco Pierre Whites Oak Room around the turn of the century a blast from the past which should give you a clue as to the vintage experience on offer here. The cooking runs from the simple to the sophisticated: onion soup or scallops with Champagne and orange butter pour commencer, steak-frites or smoked haddock in chive and mustard butter sauce to follow, apple tarte Tatin or apricot-glazed rum baba for pud. Slowiks import business takes care of the wines, which are so good that all the booze was nicked soon after they opened, which is a compliment of sorts to his good taste (stealing is the sincerest form of flattery). Reid and Slowik are both Crouch End locals, so know what their neighbours want, namely classic French cooking and dinner in two sittings. Its a winning formula: Les 2 Garcons was recently named Londons best local restaurant by The Good Food Guide. 14 Middle Lane, N8 8PL, les2garconsbistro.com Casse-Croute Handout One might assume that Casse-Croute were a pastiche if the quality of cooking were not so exceptional. Paper sheets spread over red-checked tablecloths are made for gathering wine stains from dinky glasses that hold about two gulps, luxuriantly bearded waiters rush across a black and white tiled floor, while the menu du jour is chalked up on a blackboard between posters of the Folies Bergere on nicotine-coloured walls. In other words, everything is absolutely comme il faut, not least cooking which might bring ham and parsley terrine with remoulade ahead of steak served not so much rare as blue. Best of all is anything involving cream, which not only goes for main courses such as veal kidneys with mustard sauce but desserts like Paris-Brest. Reservations, naturellement, can only be made by telephone and made they must be: the tiny dining room has room for around 20 diners. For something more every day, nearby offshoot Pique-Nique offers rotisserie chicken and chips. 109 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XB, cassecroute.co.uk Frenchie Press Handout The original Frenchie in Paris opened in 2009 on the Rue de Nil in the 2nd arrondissement, close to the Opera Garnier, a location which may have suggested to Gregory Marchand that it was a good idea to open near the Royal Opera House when the chef brought his neo-bistro to Covent Garden seven years later. Theres a marble-topped counter perfect for first dates, speedy pre-theatre suppers and solo diners, as well as corner banquettes to settle into for long lunches and leisurely suppers. Expect traditional French ingredients treated to some arresting combinations foie gras with smoked eel and horseradish, duck breast with zaatar plus just enough of the turbot with crab bisque and fresh pea ilk to keep the purists happy. Fairly steep prices (mains around 35, a five-course tasting menu for 80) can be swerved with a three-course lunch and pre-theatre set for 34; wines kick off with house wine by the glass for 8 before ascending in price more steeply than a soprano practising a scale. 16 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8QH, frenchiecoventgarden.com LPM Restaurant & Bar Handout LPM is the Provence of the Cannes Croisette rather than Jean de Florette. The restaurants origin story tells how Arjun Waney, the man behind Zuma and Coya, bought the global rights to the LPM name after splurging his casino winnings at La Petite Maison in Nices old town; true or not, this Mayfair restaurant has more in common with its outposts in Miami, Abu Dhabi and Dubai than the Vieille Ville of Nice. Still, what it lacks in ooh-la-la atmosphere, it more than makes up for in the glamour of the clientele and the quality of cooking. The Nicoise street snack of pissaladiere comes as skinny pastry fingers smothered in sweet onion, while lamb cutlets with a handle of bone prove that it is acceptable to eat with your hands if you carry it off with enough sang-froid. To really feel in the pink, LPMs oyster-cum-cocktail bar has one of the UKs most extensive offerings of rose wine. 53-54 Brooks Mews, W1K 4EG, lpmrestaurants.com Bouchon Racine Matt Writtle Racine was one of the hottest tickets of noughties dining, the mention of which is likely to make middle-aged foodies go all misty-eyed about the perfect renditions of marmite Dieppoise and Mont Blanc knocked out on Knightsbridge by chef-patron Henry Harris. This resurrection of sorts above the Three Compasses pub in Farringdon has been the hardest-to-book table of 2023, but better to ignore the hype the highest new entry at the National Restaurant Awards, at number 5 and appreciate the place for what it is: a billet-doux to simplicity and bonhomie that is more casual, more romantic and much warmer in feel than the Knightsbridge original. Harris has taken the rough-and-ready bouchons found in the backstreets of Lyon for inspiration in the likes of chunky chicken liver pate tasting assertively of offal, a magnificent magret of duck with thyme and garlic sauce, and a comme il faut creme caramel. Genial! 66 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6BP, bouchonracine.com Claude Bosi at Bibendum Handout The combination of a two-Michelin-starred French chef with the former HQ of Michelin tyres makes Claude Bosi at Bibendum the very embodiment of the Red Guides definition of a two-star establishment: excellent cooking that is worth a detour. Taste of the Season menus take in three (165), five (195) and seven (215) courses of sublime dishes such as Brittany rabbit with fresh water eel, smoked eel and mustard sauce which indicate a willingness to challenge diners expectations without turning the experimental into an ordeal, though Bosi isnt above offering the pure joy of classical French cooking in a signature dish of roast Bresse chicken with tarragon jus for two to share. Seasonal specials such as an eight-course white truffle menu, meanwhile, demonstrate a chef totally in tune with the best ingredients available. Bibendum is the sort of restaurant where its worth taking a day off work for a long lunch, not least because this is one of Londons most beautiful dining rooms, at its best on a winter afternoon as the light fades through the moody blue stained-glass windows depicting a cigar-chomping Michelin man. Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, SW3 6RD, claudebosi.com La Poule au Pot Handout With a tricolore billowing over pretty Orange Square, La Poule au Pot wears its French colours proudly. Tarte a loignon, quiche au fromage, coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon: all the Gallic classics are here, saved from cliche by well-timed cooking that ensures the blushingly pink magret de canard tastes as melt-in-the-mouth as it did on your last jaunt to the Dordogne. Theres nothing ground-breaking and, to be honest, nothing that a skilled home cook couldnt knock up themselves but La Poule au Pot is the perfect illustration of why we often choose to eat out: comfortingly familiar food, gallons of house wine, handsome waiters and the sort of idiosyncratic interiors that have accumulated over years like strata of soil (or terroir, to use the French word). Even if youre not having an affair, a table in a candlelit nook or bric-a-brac-filled cranny will make even the stalest relationship feel deliciously illicit. 231 Ebury Street, SW1W 8UT, pouleaupot.co.uk The French House Adrian Lourie For about 130 years, a pub has stood at 49 Dean Street in Soho. Without getting sentimentally nostalgic, that matters, not least as The French House is a pub where it pays to know ones history: this is where Charles de Gaulle is reputed to have written his wartime rally to the French people, A tous les Francais. Seventy or so years later, the ground-floor boozer remains wedded to Gallic idiosyncrasies, not least the rule of only serving beer by the half pint. The upstairs dining room, meanwhile, up a rickety flight of stairs, has long been home to some of the brightest British restaurant talents (Margot Henderson, Russell Norman) though current toque Neil Borthwick cooks with a strong French accent on a charming, changing menu. Achill oysters, duck and pork rillettes and asparagus with hollandaise might be daily features, while classic baked scallops with vermouth, dover sole a la meuniere and red mullet with escabeche confirm this as one of Londons essential French hangouts. 49 Dean Street, W1D 5BG, frenchhousesoho.com Chez Bruce Not a French restaurant as such, Chez Bruce is the home of chef Bruce Poole, who takes France as his inspiration before adding his own interpretation to fresh and seasonal cooking for which the best definition is simply delicious. Roast chicken breast is served alongside stuffed leg, wild garlic, crepes Parmentier and truffle veloute, veggies get mushroom gougeres with asparagus, Comte fonduta, poached egg and chives, while an aioli-blobbed salad of squid, chickpeas and chorizo will mainline you to the Med faster than a TGV to Marseille. Desserts include the signature hot chocolate pudding with praline parfait, while the 7.50 supplement for one of Londons best-kept cheeseboards should be enthusiastically embraced. Admittedly, 77.50 for three courses is not cheap for south London, but theres generosity in abundance both on the plate and from the thoughtful staff, while the location near Wandsworth Common station makes this one of those rare restaurants worth crossing town for. 2 Bellevue Road, SW17 7EG, chezbruce.co.uk Helene Darroze at The Connaught Handout Its a surprise to find one of Londons most overtly English-looking hotels home to a three-Michelin-starred French restaurant but having spent over a decade commuting between Paris and London, Helene Darroze can surely be called an honorary Brit. The chef is certainly a fan of seasonal British produce Newlyn Dover sole, Yorkshire forced rhubarb but her cooking is a contemporary version of classical French cuisine, with dishes often incorporating a spice-based element to cut through the richness: Cornish lobster is seasoned with tandoori spices, carrot, citrus and coriander. Prices are not for the faint-hearted the 215 tasting menu can be pimped up with caviar and wagyu courses and take a very deep breath before investigating a wine list that offers astonishing vertical tastings of Krug and Billecart-Salmon. A pastel-hued refurb, meanwhile, has lent the wood-panelled dining room a distinctly feminine flavour; book the pink marble chefs table to get as close to the action as possible, though dont expect any cheffy tantrums: Darroze runs one of the politest kitchens in London. Carlos Place, W1K 2AL, the-connaught.co.uk Gauthier Soho Handout Alexis Gauthier is on a mission to prove that gourmet vegan is not an oxymoron incompatible with the world of haute cuisine. The Avignon-born chef worked in some of Londons most acclaimed Michelin kitchens and the lack of a star at his solo Soho restaurant merely proves that the Red Guide has yet to jump aboard the plant-based bandwagon (Michelin did not award a star to a vegan restaurant in France until 2021. Trendsetters they are not). Gauthier himself became vegan in 2015 and has moved beyond the clickbait of replicating French classics sans meat (faux gras; a carrot tartare shredded at the table in a vintage mincer) to focus instead on the innate flavours and textures of the vegetable patch: white asparagus with stuffed morel mushrooms and heart of palm, say, or a seashore assembly of Jersey royal potato with samphire and sea buckthorn. The wine list, naturally, is free from animal products, while the setting in a Georgian townhouse is as elegant as veganism gets in London. For something more casual, the chef recently opened 123V Bakery and Studio Gauthier in Fitzrovia. 21 Romilly Street, W1D 5AF, gauthiersoho.co.uk Socca Steven Joyce A collab between French chef Claude Bosi (of two-Michelin-starred Bibendum) and restaurateur Samyukta Nair (Jamavar, Koyn, MiMi Mei Feir), Socca gives high-spending Mayfair locals another design-led fantasy of foreign shores, in this case the sun-soaked French Riviera of Raoul Dufy and La Colombe dOr, filtered through a dining room of snug midnight-blue booths that feel like eating aboard the dining car of Le Train Bleu as it chuffs its way to the Cote dAzur. Socca is the chickpea pancake synonymous with the south of France, here offered as a pre-meal snack with an aubergine tartinade for spreading; elsewhere is a raw bar for Mediterranean seafood (langoustines with lemon and sunflower) plus the gutsier likes of best-in-class garlicky grilled prawns and a funky gratin of tripe and cuttlefish fondly remembered from Bosis first menu at Bibendum. Salad Nicoise for 26, alas, is the reminder that one is dining in Mayfair and not Marseille but, as sometime French resident Leonardo da Vinci once quipped, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. 41a South Audley Street, W1K 2PS, soccabistro.com Galvin Bistrot & Bar Handout Galvin Bistrot de Luxe was one of the most famous restaurants of the noughties, a recreation of a Parisian brasserie that brought the elan of the Boulevard Saint-Germain to grimy old Baker Street. This Spitalfields revival does a convincing and convivial job of resurrecting the original, with bentwood chairs, a pewter bar and metro tiles (plus the copper tanks of fresh Pilsner Urquell left over from the Galvin brothers previous incarnation of the site). Kick off with sausage rolls and charcuterie, tarte flambees and croquettes ahead of steak-frites and duck confit, rum baba and tarte Tatin. Price are more Square Mile than bistro du coin but with cooking this enjoyable, theres no quibbling, not least if youre sitting on the lovely terrace, plus theres a three-course lunch for 28. Entrance on Bishops Square, 35 Spital Square, E1 6DY, galvinrestaurants.com LEscargot Handout Perhaps the most famous restaurant in Soho, glorious LEscargot has been serving the flaneurs of Greek Street since 1927, notwithstanding an alarming three-month closure in early 2023. The building itself dates back to 1741, a Georgian heritage which has bequeathed a warren of velvet-swagged rooms illuminated by chandeliers and hung with art that one assumes is a print but turns out to be the original. Escargots come by the garlic-drenched dozen, flambeed or in a fricassee with wild mushrooms and foie gras; theres lobster bisque and pate en croute, halibut in Champagne sauce or chicken breast with morels, while the special of the day might be coq au vin on Monday or calfs sweetbreads on Thursday. None of this, helas, comes cheap, but theres good value if you eat before 7pm, when theres a three-course set for 24. As for the wine list, if you feel uncomfortable ordering anything with a French name, this probably isnt the restaurant for you, though the charming staff are too polite to point out any mispronunciations. 48 Greek Street, London W1D 4EF, lescargot.co.uk Provender This hard-working cafe bar-cum bistro stays open from lunch until late, offering Wanstead locals prix-fixe lunches (three courses 20.50), lost afternoons exploring a regional French wine list while nibbling on Bayonne ham, and an all-day menu with the magic words plats bourgeois at its heart: canard a lorange, souffle au Camembert, boeuf en croute plus an asparagus vol-au-vent for the veggies. The rest of the menu is barely any less bourgeois, however, with onion soup followed by steak-frites and apricot bavarois, plus a Sunday roast for les rosbifs of east London. There are also the more unusual likes of a confit duck burger with celeriac remoulade and a ham hock and pigs trotter with apple slaw. But as the French themselves say: plus ca change, plus cest la meme chose. Which locals might translate as: if it aint broke, dont fix it. So do yourself a favour and stick with the classic French dishes. 17 Wanstead High Street, E11 2AA, provenderlondon.co.uk @mrbenmccormack The former couple bought Chateau Miraval, a rose wine-producing vineyard in Provence in the south of France, during their marriage, but it has been the centrepiece of a legal war that has raged since their split in 2016. In the latest court filing, lawyers for Jolies holding company for the vineyard business, Nouvel, have accused Pitt of spending millions of dollars of profits from the business on vanity projects including a recording studio and renovating the swimming pool. It is a blatant money grab from someone acting like a petulant child, lawyers have said, as well as questioning Pitts commitment to the business. Pitt, 59, and Jolie, 48, are believed to have spent $28 million on the vineyard in 2008 and each took 50 per cent stakes. In 2021, Jolie sold her stake in Nouvel to a Russian oligarch to the ire of Pitt who says he learned about it through a press release. In the legal filing, Nouvels lawyers say Pitt engaged in increasingly outrageous actions to retain control of the vineyard, and accused him of asset stripping. The one-time super couple are now in the middle of a bitter divorce / AP Pitt wasted the companys assets, spending millions on vanity projects, including more than $1 million on swimming pool renovations... and spending millions to restore a recording studio, it said. Since the divorce, he has masterminded a so-far-successful plan to seize de facto control of Chateau Miraval, it is alleged. Jolie also took aim at Pitts ludicrous presentation of himself as a winemaker, suggesting he deals in illusions, not dirt and grapes. During the years that he allegedly built the business, he filmed and appeared in dozens of movies, not to mention making countless promotional appearances, jetting-setting around the world for movie premieres, and attending Hollywood parties, lawyers said. While he no doubt visited the vineyards to admire the work of the French laborers who actually made the business successful, Pitt is no vigneron. It is said Pitt believed he had first refusal on buying Jolie out of the vineyard, and was incensed by her decision to sell to a company controlled by Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler. She says she was seeking financial independence from Pitt. Chateau Miraval / AFP via Getty Images Pitt initially sued Jolie over the vineyard in February 2022, with Nouvel filing a $250 million lawsuit later in the same year. Jolie, Nouvel, Shefler, and a collection of the Russians business interests are all parties to the case, against Pitt and his company, Mondo Bongo. Pitts case, which has not yet gone to trial, is that Jolie unlawfully, severely and intentionally damaged (him) and unjustly enriched herself with the sale of her share of the vineyard. The couple were formally declared legally single in 2019, though their divorce is reportedly not yet finalised. L ove Island star Ekin-Su Culculoglu has broken her silence following her shock split from Davide Sanclimenti. The reality TV star took to Instagram on Monday to thank her followers for their kind and supportive messages over the past two weeks amid her break-up. Returning to social media, she wrote on her Stories: Hi everyone, I thought it was time to come back online to thank you so much for all of your messages over the past 2-weeks. It has shown me what a kind, supportive, strong community I have behind me. The ITV2 star took to her Instagram Story on Monday / Instagram/Ekin-Su Culculoglu I took some much-needed time away with my family which has been really special but now its time to realign & get back to work. I have such an exciting year ahead & I want to fully focus on that. I really appreciate your ongoing support. Thank you for cheering me on. Ekin x. Her statement comes amid reports Sanclimenti felt he was in Culculoglus shadow after she signed a number of lucrative deals with brands. The Italian native addressed the claims last week on social media and explained how fake narratives ultimately impacted their relationship. He wrote: The constant creation of fake narratives on a person who was nothing but a genuine, caring and loving boyfriend for her and all he wanted was to enjoy and nurture the beautiful relationship they had. And instead we had to deal with ridiculous accusations and fake stories. This over time had a massive impact on my mental health and our relationship. The Love Island winners announced their split last month / PA Wire The 27-year-old also cleared up reports that he blindsided the actress with his Instagram post announcing their split. The influencer claimed that the ITV2 star was supposed to share the break-up announcement at the exact same time, but decided to pull out at the last minute. And while he didnt offer an explanation as to why she didnt, he insisted he respected her decision not to post. N cuti Gatwa has spilled the details on an epic-sounding Barbie movie cast night out. The Sex Education star, 30, is set to make his Hollywood debut in the upcoming film based on the iconic doll and clearly loved the experience. In the Greta Gerwig-directed flick, which is due for release on July 21, the Rwandan-Scottish actor plays one of the Ken dolls. He has recalled how co-star Margot Robbie took all of the Barbies and Kens out in London to see Magic Mike Live and described it as one of the best nights of my life. Margot Robbie plays one of the Barbies in the new movie / Warner Bros. Pictures That was I dont know how I made it through any filming in the week after, my voice was gone from screaming so much, he told Rolling Stone UK. The videos in the group chat the next morning were the best. Greta Gerwigs assistant was pulled up on stage and given a lap dance and Greta was screaming in delight. He added: Afterwards, we went and danced our hearts out. Margot is a very, very good party host. Shes queen of the vibes. Ryan Gosling, Emma Mackey, Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrell, Issa Rae and Dua Lipa also also part of the star-studded cast. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. As stated in the Order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of July 6, 2023, which was officially published on July 11, 2023, the Court unanimously rejected Armenias request of 12 May, 2023, for modification of the Courts 22 February 2023 Order in the Armenia v. Azerbaijan case concerning the Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Trend reports citing the MFA. "Thus, the Courts Order has reconfirmed that Armenias request to modify its Order of 22 February 2023 by including additional provisional measure requiring Azerbaijan to withdraw any and all personnel deployed on or along the Lachin Corridor since 23 April 2023 and refrain from deploying any such personnel on or along the Lachin Corridor is unfounded. Contrary to Armenias falsehoods, ICJ did not find the checkpoint is disrupting movement along the Lachin road, nor did it find that Azerbaijan breached the 22 February Order. We call on Armenia to comply with the Courts Order to refrain from any action that might aggravate the Parties dispute, and end its obstructive conduct hindering operation of the Lachin Border Checkpoint," the MFA said in a statement. R ina Sawayama has seemingly taken another swipe at The 1975s Matty Healy during her performance at Nos Alive festival in Portugal. The John Wick star hit the headlines in June when she alluded to Healy during her Glastonbury set, calling out controversial remarks made about Japanese, Hawaiian and Chinese people on a podcast he participated in. When she performed STFU! at the Worthy Farm festival, the vocalist took the opportunity to dedicate the song to the frontman, despite not mentioning him directly. She said: Tonight, this goes out to a white man that watches [pornography series] Ghetto Gaggers, and mocks Asian people on a podcast. He also owns my masters... Ive had enough. Days later, Healy, 34, addressed the remarks during a gig at Londons Finsbury Park, and told the concertgoers: Theres a lot of things Ive said Id take back if I had the chance. Sawayama appeared to reference Healys remarks again by speaking out against unsatisfactory apologies during Saturdays gig before performing her track STFU!. She said: So I was thinking a lot about apologies. And its just funny how some people get away with not apologising, ever. For saying some racist s***, for saying some sexist s***... so lets try this. Why dont you apologise for once in your life without making it about your f***ing self? In footage from the performance shared on social media, the crowd is heard cheering before Sawayama stands and proceeds to sing the song. The 2020 songs title is an acronym for the phrase shut the f*** up and includes lyrics that urge an unknown person to keep quiet. The hitmaker belts out in the chorus: Have you ever thought about taping your big mouth shut? / Cause I have, many times, many times. The Standard has reached out to Rina Sawayama and Matty Healy for further comment. T om Holland has discussed his decision to go sober after deciding that drinking was impacting his life too much. The Spider-Man actor, 27, spoke candidly about his relationship with alcohol in the latest episode of Jay Shettys podcast which dropped on Monday. His moment of clarity came while taking part in Dry January. The Kingston Upon Thames-born star explained: I didnt one day wake up and say Im giving up drinking, I just, like many Brits, had had a very, very boozy December, Christmas time, I was on vacation, I was drinking a lot. He then went on to say that he has always been able to drink a lot, adding he thinks he gets that from his mothers side of the family. I decided to just give up for January, I wanted to do just Dry January, and all I think about was taking a drink, he confessed. It was all I could think about. I was waking up thinking about it, I was checking the clock, Whens it 12? And it just really scared me. I was like, Wow, maybe I have a little bit of an alcohol thing, so I sort of decided to just punish myself and say Ill do February as well, Ill do two months off, he continued. In his mind, he decided that if he could do two months off then I could prove to myself that I dont have a problem. However, after the two months had passed, he found that he was still really struggling, like I couldnt be social, I felt like I couldnt go to the pub and have a lime soda, I couldnt go out for dinner, I was really, really struggling and I started to really worry that I had an alcohol problem. Tom Holland is happily in a relationship with Spider-Man co-star Zendaya / Getty Images So he then decided to extend his challenge by a further three months until his birthday on June 1. I said to myself, if I can do six months without alcohol, then I can prove to myself that I dont have a problem, Holland admitted, adding, by the time I had got to June 1, I was the happiest I had ever been in my life. Noting other benefits of going alcohol free, he said that he was sleeping better, solving problems better, things that would go wrong on set that would normally set me off, I could take in my stride. He also believed that due to his new lifestyle choice he had such better mental clarity, I felt healthier, I felt fitter and I just sort of said to myself, why am I enslaved to this drink? Why am I so obsessed by the idea of having this drink? Holland who is happily dating Euphoria actress Zendaya has also actively distanced himself from negative influences, which in his case, was the rugby community. Tom Holland - in pictures 1 / 28 Tom Holland - in pictures Tom Holland attends the GQ Men of the Year party at The West Hollywood EDITION on November 18, 2021 in West Hollywood, California AFP via Getty Images Tom Holland starring in Spider-Man: Far From Home Handout The Impossible . Tom Holland as Gregory Cromwell in Wolf Hall Company Productions Ltd Tom Holland with his father comedian and writer Dominic Holland At home Norbiton, Surrey Tony Buckingham/Rex The Devil All The Time AP Graham Norton Show Tom Holland during a photocall for their new film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, at The Old Sessions House, London PA Zendaya and Tom Holland during a photocall for their new film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, at The Old Sessions House, London PA Zendaya and Tom Holland during a photocall for their new film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, at The Old Sessions House, London PA Tom Holland Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP Tom Holland poses upon arrival to attend the 2021 Ballon dOr France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on November 29, 2021. AFP via Getty Images Tom Holland poses for a photo as he arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of Spider-Man: Homecoming at the TCL Chinese Theatre in 2017 Paula Munoz/Invision/AP Zendaya and Tom Holland attending the Spider-Man: Homecoming Photocall held at the Ham Yard Hotel, London. PA Tom Holland attending the Lost City of Z UK Premiere at the British Museum, London PA Tom Holland and a dog named Tessa attending the Spider-Man: Homecoming Photocall held at the Ham Yard Hote PA Tom Holland arrives at the world premiere of Avengers: Infinity War on Monday, April 23, 2018, in Los Angeles. Invision Tom Holland attends an after party following the London Critics Circle Film Awards at Quince Restaurant, The May Fair Hotel on January 20, 2013 in London Dave Benett Tom Holland (L) and Naomi Watts attend the 24th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 5, 2013 Michael Buckner/Getty Images For Palm Springs Film Festival Tom Holland poses on arrival for the Los Angeles premiere of the film The Impossible on December 10, 2012 in Hollywood, California FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images Tom Holland and Eddie Redmayne in 2013 Startraks/REX So much of it is, How much can you drink? Lets get you as drunk as possible. Its honestly been the best thing Ive ever done, he declared. He is now one year and a half into being sober and having a drink hasnt even crossed my mind. Instead, he has discovered other fantastic and really healthy alternatives, such as one beer which is full of electrolytes. While he isnt trying to preach that others should follow by his example, hes just saying that this is what he did and it works for him. If I could encourage someone to drink less, that would be great. But I dont want to start getting into the world of, You need to stop drinking, because its not for me to say, he concluded. I n 2019, Sir Jony Ive the man who helped shape iconic designs for the iPod, AirPods, iPhone, and iMac left Apple to start his own design firm, LoveFrom . Since then, the firm has put its design instincts into helping clients like Ferrari and AirBnb, and has even redesigned the Red Nose for Comic Relief . But hardware hasnt really been on LoveFroms agenda until now. The company has teamed up with British hi-fi and audio company Linn to help redesign its Sondek LP12 turntable for its 50th anniversary. Linn Sondek LP12-50 / Linn Only 250 units of the Sondek LP12-50 turntable will be produced, and each one will cost an eye-watering 50,000. At a glance, you might struggle to spot Ives influence. Thats in part because theres only so much you can amend a turntables design without impacting sound quality, but also because a 50th-anniversary product has to resemble the familiar design its celebrating. As such, LoveFroms touches are subtle, but they do echo Ives time at Apple. Curves have been added throughout, with smoother corners replacing squared-off components. Linn Sondek LP12-50 / Linn A circular aluminium power button now sits in place of the old-school plastic rocker, and theres a new custom hinge to allow the dust cover to stay open at any angle. Interesting, LoveFrom apparently did the work pro bono, with no payment or contract to speak of. There are many things that Ive always wanted to be able to do purely for the love of doing them, Ive told Fast Company . And theres a substantial percentage of our work which we do purely for the love of doing it. He went on to explain that he is a fan of Linn, and visited the company factory in his 20s, long before he helped Apple enter the music space. Linn Sondek LP12-50 / Linn I think the first consequential music player that I designed was the first iPod, and that began a journey of multiple generations of iPod, and multiple Airpods and music accessories, he said. I feel really fortunate to have gone the full circle... so many years on from my first visit to the factory. It nearly didnt happen. Linn CEO Gilad Tiefenbrun explains in a blog post about the LP12-50 that when Ives assistant approached via LinkedIn, he assumed it was spam and deleted it without much thought. As the day continued, I had this nagging feeling building in my stomach, he wrote. Suddenly, the feeling crystallised into a thought: What if it actually is Sir Jony Ive? Fortunately, he was able to retrieve the deleted message and connect to make the collaboration happen. M ission: Impossible films are always a lot of fun, and the seventh, latest instalment Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1, which came out in UK cinemas yesterday, is just as engaging and exhilarating as the previous films, not to mention incredibly timely, given recent news events. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, who in 2023 is still completing missions for the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) no, not the International Monetary Fund, the other one but this time he faces off against a mysterious, sentient, all-powerful artificial intelligence (AI) intent on controlling the world, which calls itself the Entity. But how does the technology in MI7 stack up? Heres the down-low from The Standard and some technical experts. Warning: Contains spoilers Sentient artificial intelligence Sentient AI, also known as The Entity, as depicted in Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 / Paramount Pictures In MI7, someone has built a terrifying new weapon that threatens all humanity a godless, stateless, amoral AI that is able to be everywhere and nowhere at once, plus has the ability to twist and manipulate information to its will. Every government wants to control and weaponise this AI but, to do so, you need two halves of an intricate key and so the race begins. Even better, the AI is so powerful that it has a henchman working for it called Gabriel (Esai Morales) and is able to both give him instructions and create havoc by itself. But is it possible for AI to be self-aware, and have the ability to experience emotions or push an agenda, such as self-protection or greed? Computer scientists overwhelmingly say no. Sandra Wachter, a professor of technology and regulation at Oxford University, thinks the general public has gotten generative AI confused with artificial general intelligence (AGI) a far-off, fantastical concept about sentient self-aware robots, like the murderous Skynet in the Terminator films. There is no scientific evidence that we are on a pathway to sentiency. There is not even evidence that such a pathway does exist, Prof Wachter tells The Standard. In particular, she takes a dim view of scaremongering views by some politicians and figures in the AI industry, who claim that AI could end up setting off nuclear warheads or be used to build dirty bomb chemical weapons in the next two years. The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence... I cannot warn you about something and respond if I dont know what the harms are. However, there is scientific evidence that AI causes harm such as bias, data protection violation or misinformation. We should focus on issues that already exist. Hacking facial recognition and augmented-reality glasses In MI7, US intelligence tries to locate Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) at Abu Dhabi Airport using facial-recognition software that scans CCTV camera footage in real time / Paramount Pictures In MI7, US intelligence tries to locate Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) at Abu Dhabi Airport using facial-recognition software, but every time they think that they have found him, it turns out to be someone else a handy trick pulled off by Hunts pals Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames). Meanwhile, The Entity handily steps in at will to scrub Gabriels image from the live video footage, even hacking into the augmented-reality (AR) glasses worn by Ethan and impersonating other voices to trick him. The software shown in the movie is used by police worldwide today though not in AR glasses and deepfake technology is thriving online, including AI videos featuring Tom Cruise himself. But many experts told The Standard we dont have the advanced computing power shown in MI7. Its certainly possible to adapt CCTV footage to change peoples faces and voices... and its also possible to obscure faces of the most wanted; however, were some way away from being able to make such changes in real-time, says Laura Kankaala, threat intelligence lead at Finland-based IT security firm F-Secure. The amount of computational resources required to do this in real-time is crazy. In MI7, Tom Cruise can see information about people while wearing augmented-reality glasses, like the man in this picture / Bram Van Oost / Unsplash On the other hand, Darren James, senior product manager at US password management firm Specops Software, thinks deep fakes have progressed: With advances in network speed, compression, CPU, and graphics processing, weve also seen a huge jump in deepfake videos being able to change your face and voice in near real-time. So, if you have the technology, know-how, and money, this is very doable. Simon Newman, a member of International Cyber Expos Advisory Council, says work on AR glasses is progressing, but there are a lot of privacy concerns, so you probably wont be able to look up passersby on the street and see if they have a criminal record. That said, augmented-reality glasses do offer the potential for normal consumers to make use of this technology it will be possible to recognise friends on social media and bring their profile pages up on screen. But others think we should forget about AR headsets coming any time soon. One nail-biting watch of Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 and youd be forgiven for thinking AR headsets or goggles really are the next big thing, especially when Apple launched its mainstream AR headset last month, too. However, in reality, were not that much further on than we were in 2013, with the launch and flop of Google Glass, Michael Queenan, chief executive of London-based data services firm Nephos Technologies tells The Standard. There arent any affordable mainstream models yet. Thats why Google Glass failed but step counters and fitness trackers became mainstream. There needs to be a great experience for a great price that doesnt involve walking around with a computer on your head. Neither Apple nor Meta are on the mark just yet. At the moment, AR and VR headsets are just for the gaming community, there is no practical use for them. Biometrics Ethan Hunt, disguised as someone else, passes through a biometric scanner. Could this really work in real life? / Paramount Pictures One famous trope from the Mission: Impossible films is the super-realistic latex masks used by IMF agents to impersonate other people. In MI7, a handy machine in a briefcase can create one of these masks very quickly. There is an interesting scene, however, where Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), disguised as someone else, passes through a biometric scanner at a US government building. Okay, so perhaps in this world masks can fool facial biometric scanners, but how does he beat hand scanners? Today, we scan peoples hands because the subcutaneous blood vessels of the human body form a distinctive vein pattern for each person. According to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), it is highly unlikely that in real life you could get through a biometric hand scanner using your own hands. Mr Newman says some biometric scanners have been spoofed by testers using fake prosthetic fingers, however, modern scanners can now detect whether the finger is alive or not, so perhaps this one will be less common in the future. Seamless internet anywhere so you can hack people IMF crew and seemingly master hackers Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) / AP Many people, including myself, cant get a 4G signal on the go, whether in London or in rural parts of the UK, yet Ving Rhamess Luther and Simon Peggs Benji are able to hack into systems, communicate with Ethan, and monitor him using everything from wi-fi, to 5G, to even, apparently, piggybacking off satellites in Space. At one point, Benji is even able to monitor Ethan on a motorbike going over a cliff while sitting in the passenger seat of a car on autopilot moving across Helsetkopen, in Norway. Surely this one is a dud, but experts disagree. Absolutely, this is completely possible today, thanks to global satellite internet services and ubiquitous mobile communications. If youre in a basement or bunker, though, you may need another plan in fact, at the Def Con conference in Las Vegas this summer, there will be a satellite-hacking competition, says Matt Aldridge, a principal solutions consultant, at Canadian software firm OpenTexts cybersecurity arm. Air gapping Cary Elwes plays NSA boss Denlinger in Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 / Paramount Pictures I almost fell off my chair in shock on hearing Cary Elwes, who plays National Security Agency (NSA) boss Denlinger in MI7, ask on-screen why air gapping, a cybersecurity technique often mentioned by academics, cant be used to prevent the AI from spreading to the USs most critical infrastructure. Air gapping is a method of keeping computers and IT networks safe by making sure they are physically isolated from other computers and the internet. Its simple if your machine isnt connected to anything, how can it fall foul to malware or rogue AIs? However, the idea of an AI that can go anywhere is an exciting one, and experts are divided. An air gap is a physical space between an IT resource and a network. With all radio signals like wi-fi disabled, its tough to circumvent. Whilst it has been proven that input / output can be perceived through minute fluctuations in power consumption, and even visually through the faint flicker of an LED light, the Mission: Impossible team are going to be hard-pressed to find any intelligence, artificial or otherwise, to make this work at least in this dimension, says Steven Wood, director of solutions consulting at OpenTexts cybersecurity division. Manchester-based IT security firm NCC Group disagrees, although admits there is no known real-world example of such an attack. Even an air-gapped system needs to be updated, and USB drives are often used. As for exfiltrating sensitive data, there have been some academic papers and proofs of concept about using the internal fans or SATA cables to communicate via ultrasonic or electromagnetic waves, NCC Groups technical director Sourya Biswas tells The Standard. Michael Langer, chief product officer of Israeli industrial cybersecurity firm Radiflow, is still scared about what AI could do: Most [air-gapping] techniques are only occurring at an academic level rather than actually in industry, as they require very deep knowledge of physics, cybersecurity, and electrical engineering. However, generative AI in the near future will probably be able to assemble these techniques and perform some working combination of them to provide hackers with simplified access to various state-of-the-art hacking capabilities. A Russian submarine sitting at the bottom of the sea plays a crucial role in Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 / Paramount Pictures And could an AI somehow get into a Russian submarine sitting at the bottom of the sea? AI can go anywhere there just needs to be some form of connectivity and initial compromise to enable it; either back when the submarine was in port and it sat dormant, or via some communication link when the sub surfaces to reach back home, Toby Lewis, global head of threat analysis at London-based cybersecurity firm Darktrace explains. But Mr James of Specops Software totally disagrees. He says submarines specialise in avoiding detection and so communication between headquarters and military submarines is severely limited. Therefore, compromising that communication blackout and having the systems in place to attack a military-grade computer system to allow AI to infect the sonar system is probably very unlikely makes a great movie storyline, though, he says. S cientists are a step closer to officially declaring a new geological time segment that marks the beginning of humanitys irreversible impact on Earth after choosing a remote lake in Canada as its starting point. An international team of experts, who have been gathering evidence of human-induced changes beneath the planets surface, have put forward Crawford Lake in Ontario as the official birthplace of the Anthropocene epoch. The Anthropocene, or the time of humans, describes the time in the planets history when human activities began to have a significant influence on the global systems, from icy mountains to the deep ocean. The scientists said the formal start date of this epoch is the 1950s, coinciding with the appearance of plutonium, a man-made radioactive element used in nuclear weapons, as well as the start of the great acceleration, which refers to the dramatic surge of human activity across the planet. Professor Andrew Cundy, chair in environmental radiochemistry at the University of Southampton and an AWG member, said: Recognition of the Anthropocene as a geological epoch I think is important, because it really evidences to wider society the true extent of our impacts on the Earth. The Crawford Lake was among 12 other sites: including a peat bog in Poland; an ice sheet in Antarctica; and a coral reef in Australia; that were investigated by the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG). The AWG was set up by a scientific body responsible for defining the phases of Earths past known as the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). Professor Francine McCarthy, a micropaleontologist at Brock University in Canada and an AWG member, said that Crawford Lake was chosen because it is completely isolated from the rest of the planet except for what gently sinks to the bottom and accumulates as sediment. For a thousand years, this lake has been absorbing the signs of changes from the world above which is now permanently preserved in layers of mud. Digging into these layers, scientists found markers of the profound changes caused by humans to the planets climate and chemistry. Geologists said these markers are the golden spike or, more formally, the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) heralding the start of the Anthropocene. Dr Simon Turner, from University College London, who is also the AWG secretary, said: The sediments found at the bottom of Crawford Lake provide an exquisite record of recent environmental change over the last millennia. The presence of plutonium gives us a stark indicator of when humanity became such a dominant force that it could leave a unique global fingerprint on our planet He added: It is this ability to precisely record and store this information as a geological archive that can be matched to historical global environmental changes which make sites such as Crawford Lake so important. Samples from the lake and other sites have also revealed traces of plutonium, a result of nuclear bombs being tested in the atmosphere. Professor Cundy said: The presence of plutonium gives us a stark indicator of when humanity became such a dominant force that it could leave a unique global fingerprint on our planet. In nature, plutonium is only present in trace amounts. But in the early 1950s, when the first hydrogen bomb tests took place, we see an unprecedented increase and then spike in the levels of plutonium in core samples from around the world. We then see a decline in plutonium from the mid 1960s onwards when the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty came into effect. Other indicators of human activity found in sediments include microplastics, ash from coal-fired power stations, concrete, and high concentrations of heavy metals such as lead. Some have suggested the Anthropocene should begin at the start of Britains Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, which created the worlds first fossil fuel economy. But Colin Waters, honorary professor at University of Leicester and chair of the AWG, said that while there is evidence of the Industrial Revolutions impact in the UK and Europe, countries in Asia and other parts of the southern hemisphere were largely unaffected by it during that time. He added: So the more we looked into this, and it was not until probably about 2014, that we actually came to this conclusion that, really, the point across the planet where you start to see a synchronous change is the middle of the 20th century. Officially, humanity and all the other inhabitants of Earth are still living in the Holocene epoch, which began about 11,700 years ago when the climate became more stable. The Anthropocene has been debated by experts since the phrase was coined by atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen more than two decades ago but is yet to be formally recognised as a unit of geologic time. However, Prof Waters believes it is unlikely the planet will ever return to its Holocene state, due to irreversible human-induced changes which has caused greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, which will take thousands of years to return back to what might be considered to a Holocene level. Meanwhile, Prof McCarthy added: I can think of one other species that has affected the planet more (than humans) and those are the cyanobacteria who, (about) two billion years ago, oxygenated the atmosphere. The AWG scientists presented their findings at the 4th International Congress on Stratigraphy in Lille, France. As part of the next steps, the Crawford Lake site selected by the AWG will need to pass through three more voting stages for it to be officially ratified as the golden spike for Anthropocene. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Relations between Visa and local banks in Azerbaijan are getting stronger and expanding, Vice President and Regional Manager of Visa in Central Asia and Azerbaijan Cristina Doros told Trend in an interview. "The public and private sectors, fintechs and other partners have their own specifics, but they all play an important role in the development and movement of the market forward. The outstanding banks introduce Visa technologies and use them to provide their customers to ease their transfers and payments," she said. Moreover, in partnership with banks, we can implement solutions that make the lives of individuals and legal entities, entrepreneurs easier and safer from the point of view of making payments," she added. "Visa is aimed at developing convenient and secure payment methods, introducing innovations and effective cooperation with partners of Azerbaijan's financial market. The good news is that even older people, who used to physically visit banks to conduct various operations, today are choosing more convenient online solutions," Doros said. She noted that the support of small and medium-sized businesses has been a strategic direction for Visa for many years. "This is primarily due to the acceleration of business development and the positive impact of SMEs on the economies of countries. The more small companies and enterprises use convenient payment technologies, the sooner business turnover grows and develops. The second element, which is no less important for us, is the support of local businesses and entrepreneurs. We are very actively working with our partners, creating solutions for micro, small and medium-sized businesses," Doros said. One of these solutions is Visa Tap to Phone technology, which allows to accept payments by bank cards using a mobile device with an NFC module based on Android. The Visa Tap to Phone solution is offered together with a Visa Business Card, which provides an entrepreneur with the opportunity to instantly use cash," she added. She also said that Visa will continue to implement the 'She's Next' initiative in Azerbaijan in 2023. According to her, the company is currently working on creating new formats within the framework of the initiative that would meet the current demand of local businesswomen. "We are talking about educational elements: training in online sales, digital business, e-commerce, marketing and other necessary knowledge for successful business. We complement educational programs with other components, such as motivation from successful entrepreneurs and the creation of a business community for support and assistance," she added. According to Doros, the leading sectors of women's business are beauty and health, retail, agriculture, and food. "There are also special areas, for example, the production of environmentally friendly toys or the creation of educational content for children with special needs. I note that one of the winners of last year's wave of 'She's Next' was an entrepreneur who makes such toys with her own hands. She intends to spend the cash prize from Visa to bring her product to market," Doros added. Regarding the cybersecurity sector, Doros noted that Visa provides security from numerous cyberattacks every day and continues to invest in network security. According to her, cybersecurity issues have always been top priority for Visa. "We continue to attach great importance to this topic, because new technologies aimed at improving the lives of people who appear on the global market may pose a threat in the hands of cyber criminals. For example, various sectors of the economy are vulnerable to such cyber threats as social engineering," Doros said. Another area of cyberbullying that we often encounter is phishing emails in the form of various alerts. Taking into account these trends, we are focusing even more on ensuring cybersecurity. For example, over the past five years, we have invested over nine billion dollars in the development of our systems for protecting and countering cyber fraud," she added. According to Doros, the technologies developed by Visa using artificial intelligence and machine learning make it possible to create effective fraud monitoring systems and prevent cyberattack attempts. "Measures aimed at improving our anti-fraud systems lead to the fact that, despite the emergence of new fraud algorithms, Visa is able to protect its users from fraudulent transactions," she said. Visa vice president said that tokenization will change the concept of trade and trade relations. According to her, Azerbaijan has seen a rapid growth in the number of tokenized transactions. "The penetration rate of tokenized payments in Azerbaijan exceeds that of other countries, and that is remarkable. Tokenization is a significant trend today, and this technology will continue to expand. Any asset can be tokenized - from fiat money to government securities, stocks, bonds, real estate documents, or cars. Any asset represented as a token on a digital platform can be easily monitored, checking its status in real-time. At Visa, we believe that when this trend becomes mainstream, it will change the concept of trade and trade relations itself because in the digital world, everything can be traded instantly and conveniently," she noted. Furthermore, according to Doros, Azerbaijani banks actively utilize the B2B Connect solution. "This solution is essentially non-card-based. It is built on blockchain technology and enables fast, secure, convenient, and controlled cross-border fund transfers for businesses engaged in foreign economic activity. In Azerbaijan, we observe a very active growth in bank connections to this technology. Azerbaijan has the highest number of banks working with the B2B Connect solution," she said. The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPR) informs that on Monday, 146,948 people entered Romania through the border points, of which 15,648 were Ukrainian citizens. According to a press release sent on Tuesday by AGERPRES, approximately 295,600 people, Romanian citizens and foreigners, with approximately 72,100 means of transport, performed the control formalities through the border points throughout the country, both inbound and outbound. Starting with February 10, 2022 (pre-conflict period), 4,967,049 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania. In the areas of competence, the crossing points and the "green border", the police found 55 illegal acts (20 felonies and 33 misdemeanors) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, and the amount of contravention fines applied amounted to 69,100 RON. Goods were seized for confiscation in the amount of approximately 37,000 RON. On Monday, 12 foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions provided by law were not allowed to enter the country and 12 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons. The Supreme Court of Justice and Cassation (ICCJ) on Tuesday ordered the closing of the court case against Elena Udrea as a result of the statute of limitations in a case in which the former minister was sentenced to eight years in prison for inciting bribery and money laundering in connection with funding the electoral campaign of Traian Basescu in the 2009 presidential election. The magistrates implemented the decisions of the Constitutional Court regarding the statute of limitations, thus canceling the eight-year sentence issued by the Bucharest Court of Appeal. In the same file, the Supreme Court also ordered the closing of the court case involving Ioana Basescu, the daughter of former president Traian Basescu, thus repealing a five-year prison sentence issued by the Bucharest Court of Appeal for inciting embezzlement and money laundering. On the civil side, the court ordered the confiscation of RON 1.9 million from Elena Udrea. In addition, Ioana Basescu and Ioan Silviu Wagner have to pay RON 119,000 lei to Oil Terminal SA. The court's decision is final. Currently, Udrea is imprisoned at the Targsor Penitentiary, where she is serving a six-year sentence in the Gala Bute case. According to the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), in the campaign for the 2009 presidential election, proceeds from crimes of corruption, embezzlement and tax evasion were collected that were later used to pay for electioneering services. President Klaus Iohannis declared on Tuesday, with regard to the severe issues recently exposed in nursing homes, that the situation is a "national disgrace" and emphasized that the measures that will be taken must eradicate the evil from the roots. "The matter of the so-called 'horror nursing facilities' is a very complicated one, and, if I may make a statement, I think it's a national disgrace. The measures to be taken must cut the evil from the roots. It is evident that there are many to blame here, but not all of them hold the same responsibility, some are directly guilty - those who mishandled the elderly residents who were just seeking peace and a humane treatment there. It is very problematic and these people must be identified and punished according to the law, but there are others too," President Iohannis said, adding that "those who knew about the state of affairs and did not act must be held accountable." The Romanian head of state participates on Tuesday and Wednesday in the NATO Summit in Vilnius. AGERPRES BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Iran exported 313,000 tons of non-oil products worth more than $106 million to Turkmenistan, during the first three months of the current Iranian year (March 21 through June 21, 2023), Trend reports. According to the data of Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), Iran's non-oil exports to Turkmenistan for the reporting period increased by 11.3 percent in value, while decreasing by 5.89 percent in volume compared to the same period in the last year. So, Iran exported 332,000 tons of goods worth $95.4 million in the same period of the last Iranian year. Within 3 months, Iran mainly exported agricultural and food products, industrial products, transformers, water conditioners, petrochemical products and so on to Turkmenistan. In the 3rd month of the current Iranian alone (May 22 through June 21, 2023), Iran's non-oil exports to Turkmenistan was about 114,000 tons worth approximately $39.4 million. Overall, Iran exported 35.5 million tons of non-oil products worth $12.5 billion within the first three months of the current Iranian year. This is a decrease of 8.84 percent in value, while an increase of 24.4 percent in volume compared to the same period last year. --- Follow the author on Twitter:@BaghishovElnur The Ministry of Health informed on Tuesday that 460 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were registered between July 3 and 9. According to the ministry, 136 of the new cases from the last week are in reinfected patients, having tested positive more than 90 days after the previous infection. Until now, 3,408,455 cases of infection with SARS-CoV-2 have been registered in Romania. The incidence recorded at 14 days is 0.04. In the last week, 2,305 RT-PCR tests and 20,785 rapid antigen tests were performed. Up to this date, at the national level, 13,908,724 RT-PCR tests and 13,802,004 rapid antigenic tests have been processed. A number of 245 people with COVID-19 are hospitalized in specialized health units, the Ministry of Health informed on Tuesday. 39 patients are treated in the ICU, of whom 24 are not vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Out of the total number of hospitalized patients, 18 are minors, 16 being hospitalized on the ward and two in ICU. In the last week, three deaths were reported by the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) - one man and two women. One death was registered in the age category 60 - 69 years, one in the age category 70 - 79 years, and the third in the age category over 80 years. Until now, 68,243 people diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania, the Ministry of Health stated.AGERPRES The Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity (MMMSS) wants greater involvement of non-governmental organizations in social assistance and the creation of a solid and transparent partnership with civil society representatives, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday. Thus, starting from the idea that social services must focus on increasing the quality of life of the beneficiaries, MMMSS organized a consultative work meeting with civil society representatives on Monday, during which the main problems that led to the abusive situation within the old age care centers were pointed out out, which it wants to remedy, first of all, "by creating a solid and transparent partnership with representatives of civil society," the press release states. "In order not to allow the disruption of the activity of the suppliers who respect the minimum standards and the rights of the beneficiaries, we proposed that these meetings be monthly, in the same minimum format (we expect the participation of several NGOs) where we will invite the public authorities with control powers, in order to identify the correct formula in the initiated approach. Also, two working groups together with specialists from civil society will be set up as a matter of urgency to amend Law 448/2006, updated 2020 , on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities and Law No. 197 /2012 regarding quality assurance in the field of social services," the same source also specifies. At the same time, the ministry requested the urgent amendment of Law 292/2011 on social assistance, which is currently in the interministerial approval procedure. According to the MMSS representatives, within the working groups the following will be pursued: the adaptation of the legislation to the needs of civil society regarding the activity of care centers; the launch of a transparent, open procedure for the implementation of a monitoring mechanism that will aim at evaluating the quality of services, but also respecting the rights of the beneficiaries; the selection criteria that must be transparent, objective and predictable, and their establishment carried out in a participatory manner; modification of approval procedures, monitoring and control, with the involvement of all decision-making factors. The MMSS clarifications come in the context of the publication of the open letter of the Social Platform in Romania regarding the situation of elderly people and institutionalized disabled people, through which the non-governmental providers of social services express their dissatisfaction that "the competent institutions are not yet ready to constantly carry out these monitoring of human rights, themselves, in parallel with civil society organizations." The non-governmental providers of social services recall the fact that, in Romania, non-governmental organizations (non-profit) represent approximately 45% of the total number of accredited providers of social services and do not yet benefit from a level of public funding necessary to cover basic costs, most of them making considerable efforts to ensure the continuity of their services and investing massively in the quality of these services, in staff training, in modernization and innovation. The open letter was sent as a result of the situation discovered last week at three old age care homes in Voluntari, where almost 100 elderly people were rescued by the police following some searches. President Klaus Iohannis will participate, July 12-13, in the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. According to the Presidential Administration, the Vilnius Summit, which takes place at a critical moment for Euro-Atlantic security in the second year of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, will assess the implementation of the decisions adopted at the Madrid Summit of 2022, when the Strategic Concept in force was also adopted, with emphasis on strengthening NATO's deterrence and defence posture. Political and practical support for Ukraine, as well as making concrete progress towards its accession to NATO, will be another important objective. "The particular significance of this summit meeting is generated by the fact that it will reflect the way in which the Euro-Atlantic community continues to articulate its response to the current security environment seriously affected by Russia's war against Ukraine. That also regards ensuring enhanced NATO presence on the eastern flank, with allocations of forces, equipment and capabilities. At the same time, co-operation with NATO partners will be strengthened, including in terms of political dialogue," the Presidential Administration says. The summit includes three meetings at the highest level of the North Atlantic Council, with Ukraine, the European Union and NATO's Indo-Pacific partners. On July 12, Iohannis will participate in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of heads of state or government with the participation of Sweden as a state invited to join NATO. Discussions will focus on NATO's current agenda, including the assessment of the security and defence environment marked by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as the security threats arising from Russia's illegal actions. Another subject will be further strengthening NATO's deterrence and defence posture, and also the adaptation and modernisation of NATO in the current security context. NATO leaders will also discuss their commitment to increasing defence investment. On July 13, Iohannis will take part in the North Atlantic Council Meeting at the level of heads of state or government, which will be attended by both Sweden, as an invited state, and partners from the Indo-Pacific region - Australia, Korea, Japan , New Zealand - as well as the president of the European Council and the president of the European Commission. The meeting will address NATO's relations with these partners, as well as security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The Presidential Administration reports that on July 13, Iohannis will also take part in the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of heads of state or government, a new format designed to strengthen the political relationship between NATO and Ukraine while providing the necessary support for the advancement of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. In his speech to the meeting, Iohannis will emphasise the fundamental importance of continuing to implement the decisions of the Madrid Summit regarding the strengthening of the allied deterrence and defense posture on the eastern flank so that it is carried out in a unitary and coherent manner on the entire flank. "President Klaus Iohannis will point out the importance of the decisions of the NATO meeting regarding the adoption of a package to strengthen the NATO posture on the eastern flank in the long term in order to offer Romania a higher degree of security and defence. The head of state will also reiterate the robust support for Ukraine, including for its accession to NATO, as well as for the most vulnerable partners, especially Moldova. During the summit, the President of Romania will support the reflection, in the NATO documents and decisions that will be adopted, of the importance of the Black Sea region to Euro-Atlantic security," according to the Presidential Administration. As concerns the Allied posture on the Eastern flank and the Black Sea, the message of the Vilnius summit is that NATO is modernising for a new phase of collective defence. For Romania this means deterrence and multi-domain defence (operational areas are integrated, and air and missile defence, cyber defence, space, land and maritime forces are fully interoperable), a new generation of defence plans, a long-term commitment to increasing defence investment, the continuation of sustained national efforts to strengthen defence and reinforce Romania's contributions to the Alliance's deterrence and defence measures and activities, to allied missions and to the effort to modernise command and control structures, the creation in Romania of a training centre for F-16 pilots, alongside the Netherlands, an increasing contribution of our country to the cyber dimension, the sources said. The sources further informed that Romania will take steps towards joining the Black Sea Air Policing mission, run by a NATO Agency. AGERPRES The American Councils for International Education is inviting Romanian undergraduate, master's and doctoral students, aged 20 to 27, to apply for a place on the the Elie Wiesel Study Tour 2023 programme, which takes place August 27 - September 9, the US Embassy in Bucharest reported on Tuesday. Online registration n is open throughout July 23, by filling out the form available on forms.office.com/r/VVwVn9MtM6. Organisers will select 15 participants. The Elie Wiesel Study Tour thematic programme, now in its sixth edition, is financed by the US Embassy in Romania, the Dutch Embassy in Romania, the Polish Institute in Bucharest, the German Embassy in Romania and the Israeli Embassy in Romania, aiming to offer students interested in human rights and the history of the Holocaust the opportunity to understand more about these subjects and deepen their knowledge. The 15 scholarships offered cover the costs of half-board accommodation, visits to representative organisations for the subject covered, as well as promotional materials. This year's edition will include visits to the Elie Wiesel Memorial House, the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, the Shoes along the Danube Promenade Memorial, the Dachau Concentration Camp, the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Complex, the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter in Krakow and Schindler's Factory. The participants will take part in various team building activities, debates, workshops and information sessions of relevance to the theme of the programme. During the study visit, the participants will be accompanied by a specialist teacher who will provide them with all the information about the places visited, lead thematic debates and challenge them to think critically. After completing the programme, each of the 15 participants have to carry out a dissemination activity on the subject of the programme, in the faculty or community from which they come. Eligible for the programme are undergraduate, master's and doctoral students who meet the following cumulative conditions: they have Romanian citizenship, they are at least 20 years old and at most 27 years at the time of the beginning of the programme (August 27), they are currently undergraduate, master's or doctoral students in rural or urban areas , in the country or abroad, in any study profile, they have at least intermediate knowledge of the English language, demonstrate interest in the subject of the programme, are willing to organise at least one dissemination activity at the end - article, interview, local conference, etc. Complete information is available on the website romania.americancouncils.org. AGERPRES A new Missouri securities rule offers a template for Republican state officials who want to advance an "anti-woke" business agenda even as such ideas struggle for legislative backing. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, issued a rule on June 1 that requires broker-dealers to obtain consent from customers to purchase or sell an investment product based on social or other nonfinancial objectives, such as combating climate change. Ashcroft acted after Republican lawmakers failed to pass a similar measure during the state's legislative session that ended on May 12, amid infighting over which bills should be prioritized. Both the new rule and failed legislation were part of a broader push by Republicans in some states to limit the growing consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors by business and investors. Many Republican politicians call such concerns "woke" overreach, using a term the MerriamWebster dictionary defines as attentiveness to racial and social-justice issues. This year, they proposed some 165 pieces of legislation in 37 states to counter ESG investment practices, according to Pleiades Strategy, a climate-focused research and advisory firm. But of those 165 proposals, only 22 anti-ESG laws in 16 states were approved this year, Pleiades found. Concerns over costs, bureaucracy and economic fallout led to bills stalling or passing in weakened form even in so-called red states, where Republicans dominate state government. Several corporate attorneys said other Republican officials may adopt Ashcroft's playbook and act on their own. "In the absence of legislative action, which can be hard to achieve, you'll see a migration to action via executive or administrative orders and attorney general opinions," said Beth I.Z. Boland, a securities litigator for Foley & Lardner in Boston. The policy changes pursued by Republicans have yet to put a major dent in ESG as an asset class, as investors take stock of issues such as climate change and workforce diversity. Morningstar Direct tracked $2.74 trillion in funds globally that used ESG criteria to evaluate investments or assess their societal impact as of March 31, up from $2.69 trillion a year earlier. But the attacks have persuaded some Wall Street firms to change their messaging to avoid controversy. BlackRock Chief Executive Larry Fink said last month he had stopped using the term "ESG" because it has become too politicized. 'Novel approach' Ashcroft is also running for governor of Missouri on a conservative platform, including a vow in a campaign video to protect Missourians from banks that focus on what he called "woke politics." Ashcroft told Reuters in an interview that "an extremely dysfunctional session" prevented the measure in question from advancing through a state Senate committee after it passed the House.Committee members did not return messages. But Ashcroft also said he wanted to take a different tack than in other states with new Republican-backed restrictions such as barring certain companies from managing public money. "We think we've taken a novel approach that protects people but doesn't preclude them from deciding what to do with their own money," he said about the rule he implemented, which is set to take effect at the end of July. According to a spokesperson, Ashcroft initiated the rulemaking before the legislative session began, essentially as a backup plan in case lawmakers did not act on the same idea introduced in January. Business groups had raised objections including on legal grounds and that the rule would create unnecessary costs and logistical hurdles. "You can't get away from the fact that this is a new mandate on employers and the financial industry," said Dan Mehan, president of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. Extra arrows Financial executives who so far have avoided the strongest laws worry that the possibility of executive or administrative actions, as in Missouri, gives state officials flexibility to keep up the pressure. "There's a lot more arrows in the quiver," said K&L Gates attorney Lance Dial, whose clients include asset managers. Missouri is one of 10 states whose secretaries of state have jurisdiction over securities, according to the nonpartisan national association of these officials who are often known for overseeing elections and business licenses. Of those 10 officials, six are Republicans. In Wyoming, Secretary of State Chuck Gray has proposed ESG disclosure rules for investment advisers similar to Missouri's. A public comment period is expected soon. Before this year's legislative wave, examples of Republican anti-ESG efforts included Florida's chief financial officer and West Virginia's treasurer withdrawing assets from BlackRock, and Kentucky's treasurer and attorney general guiding state officials to limit investments in ESG. To be sure, Republicans have also passed some notable new anti-ESG laws such as a bill signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis prohibiting ESG bond sales. DeSantis, who has been embroiled in a feud with Disney, is seeking the Republican nomination for president. Marilyn Mattlage Callahans vibrant pastels and clay creations light up a room. Whether on the wall or on a shelf, her feathered, finned, winged and furry creatures demand attention through studied color harmonies in pastels and for sheer cheekiness in her clay work. Callahan attended Maryville University to study art with the intent to become a childrens book illustrator. Her father argued a degree in art education might be more practical, but she persisted, earning her fine arts degree in drawing and painting. Working 9 to 5 The only job I could find after graduation was a job as a technical illustrator creating training and operations manuals, she says. She changed jobs to work for a small advertising agency doing paste-up, layout and typesetting. Neither job offered her the creative opportunities she sought. Life intervened, and the would-be childrens book illustrator married, quit working and took on the task of raising her children. When her son and daughter entered middle school, Callahan re-entered the job market as graphic artist for a liturgical publication, a demanding job that didnt deliver the creative experience either. Finding a good fit I decided to work as a substitute teacher. My dads voice came back to me on that one, Callahan says. Two years later, she was offered a long-term art position at Lindbergh High School. My department chair immediately told me to get my teaching certification, so I went back to the university and got my masters degree in curriculum and instruction at the same time, she says. When the teacher shed substituted for long-term announced she wasnt returning, Callahan joined the faculty full-time. When Lindbergh schools cut back, she switched to teaching in primary schools, a move that profoundly impacted her personal art. In the long run, its the inspiration for my pastels and ceramic pieces. I wouldnt be where I am today if I hadnt been exposed to those young kids and their fearless approach to art. Color her happy A simple lesson she taught in color theory led to one of lifes aha! moments for Callahan. She instructed her students to divide their papers into squares and chalk in two colors, then blend them with their fingers to make a simple abstract. As I walked around the room I saw a second-grader drawing the stereotypical loopy five-petaled flower in the middle of her paper. I was about to say thats not what were doing, but I didnt. She watched instead. Her student subdivided the flower with multiple vertical lines and horizontal lines, coloring in the backgrounds with blues and greens and the flower pieces in the middle with reds, pinks and yellows. My whole approach to pastel painting changed when I saw what shed done. When you look at my paintings, theyre like mosaics or puzzle pieces with lines inside the subjects feeding out into the background, she says. I wish I remembered my students name because this little cutie pies idea triggered my imagination and changed my art. Lessons learned Callahan believes primary school children arent hindered by fear of failure. Not knowing for them leads to processes that deliver but arent traditional in the grown-up world of art. When she saw her students painting ceramics with bright acrylics, she used the technique to paint and bedeck her ceramic sculptures, Wild Birds and Friends. Teaching taught me to find my own ways of doing art, she says. For the beauty of the Earth Her artworks reinforce her desire to preserve the Earth. My brother, Alan Mattlage, is a retired professor who lobbies Congress about climate change. He has greatly influenced me about environmental issues, she says. My subject matter has become more focused on nature. I want my art to bring attention to keep the planet alive and thriving. The company of artists Callahan sells her work directly at indoor art shows. I dont have a tent, she says. She values the St. Louis community of artists shes met at galleries and shows. Ive met artists who freely shared their techniques. Michelle Wells, one of the original partners at Green Door Gallery who died last year, introduced me to Unison pastels. Lisa Ober introduced me to the UArt sanded pastel paper she uses, she says. Both suggestions made my originals richer and fuller than supplies Id used previously. The artists at these shows are like family. Marilyn Callahan Studio Artist Marilyn Mattlage Callahan Age 67 Family Marilyn is married to Mike Callahan. Their blended family includes four grown children and nine grandchildren. Home South County What she makes Callahan makes complex pastel paintings in a color-rich mosaic style that celebrate the landscapes, flora, fauna, insects, avian subjects and sea creatures. She also crafts highly colored ceramic wild birds and friends because their bright outlooks and winning personalities make her laugh. Where to buy Callahan sells her work through her website, marilyncallahanstudio.com, as well as at Artisans in the Loop, H-Art & Soul Gallery in the Chesterfield Premium Outlet Mall, Green Door Gallery in Kirkwood, and Art4U in Springfield, Illinois. She also sells her work online through Fine Art America and at Pixels. How much Original pastel paintings range from $300 to $2,000; prints $35 to $50. She offers museum quality giclee prints of originals in larger sizes, priced on request. She accepts commissions, negotiating details and prices. Reasonably priced reproductions are available from Fine Arts America and Pixels. Her Wild Birds and Friends ceramic figures and functional work range from $15 to $350. For budget-conscious fans, options for taking a Disney vacation are slim. Disney ticket prices can add up quickly, and paying extra for line-skipping privileges like Lightning Lane and Genie+ is practically imperative for a memorable trip. Then, theres food, hotels and other inevitable add-ons, from Mickey Mouse ears to princess makeovers. Yet hidden within the realm of Disney's offerings lies a surprisingly accessible option: the Disney cruise. While the notion of a Disney vacation may evoke thoughts of pricey indulgence, embarking on a Disney journey at sea ranks among the best examples of how to do Disney on a budget. NerdWallet analyzed total average trip costs across hundreds of sample itineraries for the following U.S. destinations: Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Disneyland Resort in California. Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii. Disney Cruise Line voyages departing from U.S. ports. NerdWallet also broke down trips into three price tiers Value, Moderate and Deluxe to represent travelers range of frugality versus luxury (e.g., Value cruise cabins were inside with no windows, while Deluxe cabins faced outside and included a balcony). For seven-night trips, here were the average prices per person (assuming double occupancy) across each Disney destination: Assuming double occupancy, weeklong Disney cruises cost less than $2,000 per person, on average. Even a cruise with all the frills (like port excursions, spa treatments and upgraded meals) still costs less than a value trip to Aulani. Whats included in a Disney cruise While cruises have a high price tag upfront, most everything is included on board. And for folks who take advantage of it all meaning the all-you-can-eat buffets, the kids clubs and the shows the net cost of a Disney cruise often turns out lower than that of any other Disney trip. It makes sense that travelers are turning to Disney cruises. In the second quarter of 2023, The Walt Disney Co.s domestic revenue increased by 14% year over year, which the company attributed to Disney Cruise Line, according to its second-quarter earnings report. Though results at Disneys domestic parks and resorts were slightly unfavorable to the prior-year quarter, the companys cruise arm stood apart due to an increase in passenger cruise days, which included the addition of the newest ship, the Disney Wish, which took off with its first passengers in 2022. For what its worth, a Disney cruise isnt necessarily the experience that comes to mind when most travelers think "Disney vacation." There are no rides unless you count something like the AquaMouse on the Disney Wish, which is billed as Disneys first attraction at sea (but is more like a waterslide on steroids). The AquaMouse on the Disney Wish, the newest ship from Disney Cruise Line. (Photo courtesy of Disney) But many other aspects of Disney parks exist on the cruises, including meet-and-greets with characters and stage shows. And sometimes, the cruise experience outperforms the theme parks. For example, theres typically shorter lines to meet characters (and more time to spend with them when you do). Why a Disney cruise might not be as expensive as you think On a nightly basis, the average seven-night Disney cruise starts as low as $279 per person just under the $293 nightly price to spend seven nights at Disney World on a value budget. To calculate the estimated trip costs above, NerdWallet aggregated and analyzed trip costs across four categories: Park tickets (and add-ons, such as Genie+). On-property hotel room rates or cruise cabins. Food at Disney-owned restaurants. Add-on activities, such as spa treatments and tours. Because Disney cruises are mostly all-inclusive, the analysis accounted only for room rates and add-on activities. Sure, cruises command a high room rate, but final costs are lower because there are no park tickets to buy and standard meals are included (the additional food costs are optional extras, like alcohol and bottled water). Yet fewer categories contributing to the sum total doesnt necessarily guarantee lower costs. Just look to Aulani, Disneys resort in Hawaii. While free amenities include pools, Auntys Beach House (a club for kids ages 4-12), Disney character photo ops and nighttime stories around a campfire, most other things are a la carte and an expensive cart at that. Room rates start at about $760 per night, on average, and its unlikely travelers would go without experiencing the Ka Wa'a luau, which begins at $175 for guests ages 10 and up. Spa treatments, snorkel rentals, yoga classes and excursions cost extra, too. Its true that trips to Disneys theme parks arent quite as expensive as Aulani: Meals and park tickets can average $154 per day at Disneyland and $160 per day at Walt Disney World. Even cheaper family vacation options If your heart isnt set on Disney, there are cheaper ways to cruise. At Carnival Cruise Line, passengers spend, on average, $219 per person, per day, according to Carnival Corp. revenue and passenger data from its 2023 first-quarter earnings report. Thats far lower than NerdWallets estimated $293 daily spend for Disney cruises. For folks seeking a Disney trip, specifically, there are other ways to take a Disney vacation on a budget. NerdWallets calculations assumed theme park guests stayed at Disney owned-resorts, but plenty of other, cheaper hotels (often bookable on points) are within walking distance of Disney properties. And for visitors who still want to experience Disney without buying theme park tickets, there are plenty of free or cheap things to do at Disney World. And as is the case with any type of trip, be flexible with your travel dates. Sometimes even shifting departure dates by a few days can result in hundreds of dollars in savings. Usually, traveling during the shoulder season or the offseason means even deeper discounts. Sam Kemmis and Carissa Rawson contributed to this report. Sally French writes for NerdWallet. Email: sfrench@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SAFmedia. The article Looking for the Cheapest Weeklong Disney Vacation? Consider This originally appeared on NerdWallet. MARLBOROUGH A funding increase for a group that monitors St. Louis-area nursing homes was among the items recently vetoed from the states annual budget. VOYCE, the Marlborough-based nonprofit that serves as the long-term care ombudsman program locally, said Friday the additional funding would have allowed it to send more staff and volunteers into the hundreds of facilities to speak with residents, educate staff and try to catch problems before they become serious. The line-item veto was part of more than $550 million in cuts Missouri Gov. Mike Parson made to the states $50 billion spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1. His move brought the $2.3 million allocation down to $150,000. Funding was left intact for a long-sought widening of Interstate 70, and additional spending on child care and residents with disabilities. But line-items that covered multiple local community projects were cut, including $2 million to clean up abandoned buildings in the north St. Louis County city of Kinloch and $5 million to remove condemned and vacant property in St. Louis. In a veto message, Parson cited a general concern about ensuring the financial stability of Missouri beyond my administration and the current General Assembly. But he also argued there are other sources of funding that could be tapped to pay for the program. He said money could be transferred from a $32.6 million fund within the Department of Health and Senior Services to a program operated by Area Agencies on Aging. In a statement, DHSS said the current program will remain intact. The ombudsman program funding is not being reduced, technically. They are just not receiving the additional funds requested in this years budget, so they will continue to operate with funding from the Older Americans Act and general revenue that they have used in years past, said spokeswoman Lisa Cox. VOYCE is the ombudsman for a large portion of eastern Missouri, covering 20 counties and the city of St. Louis. The current budget for VOYCEs ombudsman program is about $315,000 annually, said VOYCE Executive Director Marjorie Moore, and she was expecting to see an additional $800,000 from the budget increase. That funding would have been transformative, Moore said. VOYCE has five regional ombudsman coordinators who visit 300 long-term care facilities to speak with residents, field complaints and offer education to staff. The additional funding would have allowed it to hire 10 more coordinators. The funding would have allowed coordinators to routinely visit skilled nursing facilities six times a year, Moore said, up from three. They also make additional visits when residents need help. And it would have meant visiting assisted living and residential care facilities four times a year, up from two. For facilities with consistent problems, Moore said, the goal would be to visit monthly. Those facilities often have one-star ratings or have qualified for the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services special focus program for nursing homes with consistent violations over long periods of time. Some of the common issues the coordinators help with are complaints of insufficient care or meals, mistreatment, or call lights that are unanswered or kept out of reach, said Chien Hung, program director at VOYCE. And when a resident wants to appeal a nursing homes decision to discharge them, VOYCE helps advocate. The coordinators also manage volunteers, who in some ways are the eyes and ears for the ombudsman program, Hung said. Volunteers are each assigned just one or two facilities, which they visit on a weekly basis and report back on any problems. The more you visit, the more issues youre going to encounter, the more youre going to dig out, Hung said. The additional staff would have brought the group closer to the federally recommended level of ombudsman coordinators. The federal recommendation is one per 2,000 long-term care residents, and right now, VOYCE has about one per 5,000 nursing home residents in the region, the nonprofit said. ST. LOUIS A long-awaited citywide plan for the public school system in St. Louis does not address some of its biggest challenges population decline, school choice and lack of political support. The 128-page Blueprint and Strategic Vision for the Education Ecosystem Leaders in the City of Saint Louis was released Monday at a final committee meeting of the citywide plan for education, more than two years after it was prompted by the closure of seven St. Louis Public Schools buildings. We were never going to come up with a solution that was going to fix every problem, said Matt Davis, chairman of the committee and vice president of the SLPS board. At least we got a diverse group of stakeholders in a room. The power in it is weve gained consensus on ideas that weve never actually discussed before. Original goals for the citywide plan for education included strengthening the school system to help stall or reverse decades of population loss in the city. Since 2000, more than 50 SLPS schools have been shuttered, and half of the 34 charter school systems that opened in the same period have since closed. Former SLPS Superintendent Kelvin Adams called for the plan in 2021 after the districts board voted to close seven schools Clay, Dunbar, Farragut and Ford elementary schools; Fanning Middle School; and Cleveland Naval Jr. ROTC and Northwest high schools. There are 21 SLPS buildings currently for sale, including the district headquarters in downtown St. Louis. The school district has an enrollment of 16,600 students across 62 buildings, one of the lowest capacity rates in the country. An additional 11,500 students in the city attend a growing number of charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately operated. An early outline of the citywide plan included a strategy for the opening and closing of schools, so that children in every neighborhood have equal access to a quality education and that no neighborhood bears an unfair burden of vacant school buildings. The Blueprint, as the final plan is called, does not include any school enrollment figures, maps or charts. There is no mention of the dozens of SLPS magnet schools or charter schools, which have contributed to severe staffing shortages and duplicate bus routes, among other inefficiencies. The main photo in the infrastructure section is of Northwest High School in Germantown, Maryland. The infrastructure section says designing school facilities with education as the top priority can create an environment that encourages learning and academic success. For example, classrooms can be designed to enhance teacher-student interactions, and libraries can be designed to promote reading and research. The report provides the what and the why, and education leaders need to implement the how and when, said Laverne Morrow Carter of Virginia-based consulting firm Health in Color, which received $625,000 in the last year, including about $200,000 from the school district and the bulk from local nonprofits including the SLPS Foundation. The 62 recommendations in the report are lengthy but lack specifics. For example: All schools and education support systems in the City of Saint Louis must convene on a quarterly basis to take a more equitable approach to: alignment, integration, synergy and different criteria to identify initiatives that can benefit all students, regardless of their schools, within 12 months of adoption of the Blueprint. Davis said the report gives us an outline of where to start. Its going to be up to some of the people who participated in this group and the board of education to take the outline and make it into more concrete, result-oriented things. About 100 volunteer educators, elected officials, teachers and parents contributed to the plan, a number that dwindled to 40 over the last year, Davis said. Among those who distanced themselves from the project include Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, former Alderwoman Annie Rice and former SLPS board President Dorothy Rohde Collins. We are losing our children. We are losing our quality education. We cannot afford for this Plan to fail. A city without children is no city at all, Rice wrote in an April letter to the head planning committee that cited her concerns with the unclear process. Rohde Collins, who was school board president in 2021 when the last closures were approved, called the citywide plan a disappointment. Two years after the vote to close schools, were in the same place, she said. Its a missed opportunity because now enrollment is even lower, the population is lower, and the likelihood of having to make those decisions again is very real and we still dont have the data to do it well. We need a plan for St. Louis, and this isnt it. Editor's note: This story has been corrected regarding the funding sources for the citywide plan for education. Just five days after staging a short-lived rebellion, mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhins commanders met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and pledged loyalty to the government, a senior government spokesman said Monday, the latest twist in a baffling episode that has raised questions about the power and influence both men wield. The three-hour meeting took place June 29 and involved not only Prigozhin but commanders from his Wagner Group military contractor, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Putin gave an assessment of Wagners actions on the battlefield in Ukraine where the mercenaries have fought alongside Russian troops and of the revolt itself. The commanders themselves presented their version of what happened. They underscored that they are staunch supporters and soldiers of the head of state and the commander-in-chief, and also said that they are ready to continue to fight for their homeland, Peskov said. The confirmation that Putin met face-to-face with Prigozhin, who led troops on a march to Moscow last month to demand a military leadership change, was extraordinary. The Russian leader branded Prigozhin a traitor as the revolt unfolded and vowed harsh punishment, but the criminal case against the mercenary chief on rebellion charges was later dropped. Prigozhin has not commented on the Kremlin meeting, and his fate remains unclear, particularly since Mondays announcement shows much is negotiated behind closed doors. He could still face prosecution for financial wrongdoing or other charges. Mondays announcement came as Russias Defense Ministry published a video featuring military chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov who was one of the targets of Prigozhins rebellion. It was the first time Gerasimov has been seen since the revolt. In the video, Gerasimov is seated at a table with his team, watching a video report from the chief of staff of Russias aerospace forces about a missile attack on Russian territory on Sunday. Gerasimov responds by calling for preemptive strikes against missile bases and for improvements in missile defenses. The twin updates appeared to be another attempt by the Kremlin to show its in control after a turbulent period, and to reflect Putins delicate balance between condemning the biggest threat to his 23-year rule and the man behind it while not alienating a popular figure whose troops scored the biggest battlefield victory for Russia in the past year of the war. Former Putin speechwriter Abbas Gallyamov said Putin acknowledges Prigozhins patriotism and needs his forces on the front line, while Prigozhin needs Putin to ensure his freedom from prosecution. The two are negotiating as allies, with Prigozhin escaping punishment, Gallyamov said. Prigozhin emerged victorious from this rebellion, Gallyamov said in a Zoom interview from Tel Aviv. He has shown himself to be the master of the situation. Adding to the unusual nature of the meeting was that until very recently, Putin had denied any link between the state and Prigozhins forces. Mercenaries are illegal in Russia, but Wagner troops have fought for Russian interests around the globe and played a vital role in the capture of Bakhmut in the wars longest and bloodiest battle. Putin has confirmed that Prigozhins companies operated under government contracts. Throughout the war, Prigozhin has criticized decisions made by Russias top military brass, leading to tensions with the Kremlin that culminated in the June 24 mutiny. The rebellion severely weakened Putins authority, even though Prigozhin claimed the uprising was not aimed at the president but at removing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Gerasimov. Prigozhin called off his mutiny after a deal was brokered for him to go to Belarus. Mark Galeotti, an author who heads the consulting firm Mayak Intelligence, said the delicate dance with Prigozhin is a further compromise on Putins part and reflects his unwillingness to take tough and ruthless personnel decisions. He is willing to see Ukrainians bombed by the dozen, but not confront any of the figures in his own circle, Galeotti wrote in The Spectator. Days after the revolt, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Prigozhin was in Belarus. But last week the president said the mercenary chief was in Russia while his troops remained in their camps. Peskov said that during the June 29 meeting, Putin offered an assessment of Wagners actions on the battlefield in Ukraine and of the events of June 24. The president also listened to the explanations of the commanders and offered them options for further employment and further use in combat, the Kremlin spokesman said. In other developments, a Russian airstrike on a school in southern Ukraine killed seven people as residents gathered to receive humanitarian aid, authorities said, with the governor of Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region branding the attack a war crime. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Kansas City Star. July 10, 2023. Editorial: Parsons refusals to help wrongly convicted and ban celebratory gunfire make no sense Its no surprise Gov. Mike Parson doesnt want to compensate wrongfully convicted Missourians. How often has Parson advocated for the release of innocent people from our prisons? Almost never. But Parsons refusal to protect the innocent from indiscriminate gunfire is unfathomable. On Thursday, Parson vetoed legislation that would have allowed anyone incarcerated for an erroneous conviction in Missouri to qualify for post-conviction financial relief. Currently, only those exonerated by DNA evidence are eligible for a payout from the state. Senate Bill 189, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, of Parkville, also would have made celebratory gunfire a felony, instead of a slap on the wrist for a crime that local enforcement agencies can do little to curtail. Why did Parson kill a fellow Republicans bill? The state, he said, should not be financially responsible for erroneous convictions made at the local prosecutors office. Parson is a former Polk County sheriff, and as such, worked with local prosecutors, who by the very nature of their taxpayer-funded jobs act as agents of the state. We reached out to Luetkemeyers office for comment, but the Parkville lawmaker was unavailable. In a veto message to the General Assembly, aides for Parson cited increased costs as the ridiculous reason for the state not atoning for wrongful incarcerations. Governor Parson does not believe every taxpayer across the State should be responsible for prosecutorial errors made at the local level, they wrote. Missouris Republican governor believes in law and order. Until he doesnt. He is a staunch supporter of local control. Unless it involves undermining the effort to corral gun violence in Kansas City or St. Louis by preemptively restricting those cities from enacting tougher gun control laws. Who could forget Parsons expediency in signing into law a bill that upped the Kansas City Police Departments annual budget by 5%, while city leaders wanted to assert some control on the purse strings? We remain cautious of any attempt by Parson to treat Kansas Citians fairly. By rejecting S.B. 189, Parson also said no to a separate provision known as Blairs Law. We feel for the family of 11-year-old Blair Shanahan, who was killed by a stray bullet shot on July 4, 2011. After her death, Blairs parents and a bipartisan group of lawmakers came together and fought for years to make the dangerous practice of celebratory gunfire a felony. Here, firing off rounds in the air is only a municipal violation. Simple law of physics: What goes up must come down, Governor Parson. As a former lawman and supporter of the Second Amendment, Parson should know better than anyone the danger of indiscriminate gunfire. Attempts to reach Blairs mother, Michele Shanahan DeMoss, for comment were unsuccessful. The bill made it to the governors desk as part of a crime bill package but was turned down because Missouris governor is too stubborn to pay restitution to the exonerated. How about not locking up innocent people to begin with? In Kansas City, six gunfire injuries were reported this Fourth of July, police officials said. Luckily, no one died. We invite the governor to come spend a New Years Eve or Independence Day with us. Take in the sights and sounds round after round. And were not talking about fireworks. The next time someone in this state dies from celebratory gunfire, we challenge the governor to sit with the bereaved family. He should make arrangements to attend the funeral of any person who dies as a result of his inaction. Previously, Parson said he supported Blairs Law. This week, in a statement, he tried his best to make sense out of his nonsensical veto of the legislation: Missourians know I am a law and order governor and that improving public safety is a cornerstone of our administration, but I cannot sign this bill with these provisions as they are currently written, he wrote. Banning celebratory gunfire in Missouri was the right thing to do. Blairs parents and lawmakers should be proud of their efforts over the years to pass this legislation out of the General Assembly. Despite the last-hour veto from the governors desk, were hopeful that work will continue. And for innocent people finally freed from prison, offering them compensation, schooling, help with health care and other benefits is how the state should make amends for their wrongful convictions. Too bad Missouris governor refuses to see the humanity in that. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. July 9, 2023. Editorial: Less than a year after Missouris big tax cut, crucial spending is being nixed. A dozen years ago, 11-year-old Blair Shanahan died after being struck by celebratory gunfire during Independence Day festivities in Kansas City. She was the unintended victim of someone elses bad decision-making. Now the same can be said of the law proposed in her name. Blairs Law, which would have criminalized celebratory gunfire in Missouri, wont go into effect this year because of unrelated dysfunction in state government. Gov. Mike Parson vetoed it Thursday, along with the rest of the sweeping anti-crime package it was part of, which he says the state cant afford. This comes less than a year after Parson signed into law a massive state income tax cut. Whats wrong with this picture? If the most reliable way to assess a governments priorities is by its budgeting decisions, Missouri is in bigger trouble than we thought. Parsons more than half a billion dollars in cuts to the $51 billion annual spending plan the Legislature sent him together present an alarming picture of what kind of state this has become. Its a state in which often-touted priorities such as infrastructure and crime fighting get the short shrift in the name of knee-jerk tax cuts. A state in which exonerated inmates who have lost years of their lives due to prosecutorial incompetence or worse arent properly compensated. A state in which an education program that is singled out for praise by the governor in May is defunded in July. And its a state where a glaringly obvious imperative like outlawing celebratory gunfire is somehow beyond the ability of the political system. Parson vetoed the crime package that included Blairs Law because of a separate provision within it that provided enhanced state restitution for wrongly convicted inmates, which he says the state shouldnt have to pay for. Its an unfortunate but not uncommon fact of lawmaking that good ideas sometimes get sunk because theyre attached to bad ideas. But that wasnt the case here. Exonerated Missouri inmates like Lamar Johnson, who lose decades of their lives to erroneous prosecution, deserve just compensation from the society that imprisoned them. Parson argued in his veto message that state taxpayers shouldnt be responsible for prosecutorial errors made at the local level. That rationale ignores the fact that the state backs up local prosecutors and is often directly involved in these miscarriages of justice as the Missouri Attorney Generals office was directly involved in attempting to keep Johnson incarcerated. Parson also cut important infrastructure funding the Legislature had slated for St. Louis, including $5 million to remove condemned property, half of the $10 million lawmakers approved to fund a flood wall, and most crucially $23 million that was to have gone to new city police and 911 facilities. In addition, Parson cut $3.5 million that had been approved for a program aimed at helping rural students get into colleges or trade schools. Its a program Parson himself celebrated in May at an event in his hometown of Bolivar, but now he says the state cant afford it. Missouri, like so many state and local governments, is currently flush with cash from federal pandemic and stimulus programs. But Parson wrote to lawmakers that funding the program with one-time revenue wouldnt support it going forward, which could possibly jeopardize the programs future sustainability. Its good to know Parson gets that concept. So why is Missouris solution to the states outrageously low teacher salaries a matching state grant program to local districts that puts off the problem but doesnt solve it? All of this reflects a Republican mindset stretching back to the Reagan era that views all tax cuts as worthy, regardless of their impact on the basic functions of government. Even as Parson was effectively acknowledging that the state has cut too much future revenue, in fact, he approved a separate bill that will allow counties to freeze property tax increases for senior citizens who are eligible for Social Security a criterion that has nothing to do with actual need. It could cost counties millions of dollars, potentially affecting services for lower-income seniors who dont even qualify for the tax cut. In his cuts, Parson has signaled that he sees a fiscal cliff ahead for the state, and wants to (as he put it in one of his veto messages) help ensure the financial stability of Missouri beyond my administration. Where was that concern about financial stability last year, when Parson signed a state income tax cut that will cost Missouri more than $760 million a year? As we noted while that disastrous idea was coming together, it would drain revenue from a state that already cant even conduct the basic functions of government. There was no real rationale for the cuts other than that the government currently has an extra pot of money. Money that, as Parson now seems to suddenly understand, wont be there permanently. Parson called his cuts the right thing the conservative thing to make strategic investments and maintain responsible spending. After cutting revenue amid unmet needs, and now further undermining functions of government to pay for those cuts, why even talk about responsibility and conservatism? Those tax cuts werent responsible, and these damaging budget cuts arent conservatism. All of this is the fiscal equivalent of firing guns into the air just because you can, and not bothering to consider what happens next. Jefferson City News Tribune. July 5, 2023. Editorial: Show-Me-States budget gets high marks Gov. Mike Parson has signed one of the largest budgets in state history. It was a long journey to get this budget drafted, vetted, passed and signed, but the $51.8 billion budget excels at maintaining responsible spending, as well as making generational investments in projects that could improve Missourians lives now and potentially shaping the future of the Show-Me State. With a substantial surplus, the urge might have been to spend too freely. But the governor and the Legislature largely resisted that urge. Missouris economy is strong, Parson said after signing the budget. Our revenues are up, businesses are growing and investing, and we maintain a historic revenue surplus, but we must not spend just for the sake of spending. And because the state didnt spend just for the sake of spending, it was able to make strategic investments that could have a big impact in Mid-Missouri. Among the projects benefiting from the millions of state dollars flowing into Mid-Missouri are: $2.8 billion to expand the number of highway lanes on Interstate 70 across the state. An 8.7% pay raise for state employees. $300 million for the Capital Commissions master plan, which calls for major renovations to the Capitol interior and replacement of the Senate parking garage. The budget also earmarks $50 million to fund maintenance throughout the Capitol Complex. $30 million for construction at State Technical College, which is looking to expand a number of technical programs. A 7% increase in core funding for State Tech, Lincoln University and the rest of the states institutions of higher education. $2.1 million in core funding so LU can join a new health insurance system and $30 million for campus construction of a health sciences and crisis center. Creation of a $7.6 million fleet management office building and garage in Cole County and a $26.3 million consolidated warehouse complex, as well as additional state funding for the planned multi-agency state laboratory to be built on Chestnut Street in Jefferson City. A $4 million one-time payment and a $3.5 million grant to help fund the expansion of the Special Learning Center as part of the states efforts to invest in child care providers. $3.4 million for new fire apparatus for the Jefferson City Memorial Airport. Parson said of the budget: Our administration has done the right thing -- the conservative thing -- to make strategic investments and maintain responsible spending. We agree, governor, and believe the federal government could learn a lesson from the approach. END Its safe to say few people would want their private text conversations suddenly aired for the world to read. That may apply doubly to politicians. So its unsurprising that Mayor Tishaura Jones is scrambling for damage control after her office inadvertently released text exchanges of her and her inner circle trash-talking prominent St. Louis politicos in language that is, shall we say, lively. The mayors gratuitous use of f-bombs is getting most of the media attention, but what stands out in the texts is Jones sharp-elbowed criticism of perceived enemies and even allies. Its indicative of bitter political vendettas that dont feel useful to the city she serves. That and the apparently substantive if unofficial role that her pugilistic father, Virvus Jones, apparently plays in her administration are among the issues Mayor Jones should address to the St. Louis public in the wake of the publicized texts. The release of a 135-page PDF of text messages between Jones, her father and political adviser Richard Callow came in response to public-records requests by KSDK (Channel 5) and the St. Louis Business Journal. The media outlets sought records related to the appointment process to replace former city Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner. But what Jones office initially released went far beyond the scope of that request. Jones later called it an honest mistake. In any case, it was a revealing one. Among the conversations is discussion of a poll showing support for Democratic state Sen. Steve Roberts, a long-time Jones political enemy, to become the new circuit attorney. Somebody has been busy, Virvus Jones texted, apparently referring to the polling. Is it being distributed to the press? Yes, Callow texted back. The Gov aint picking him, the mayor answered. And we mobilize to make sure his ass gets dragged. Yes, agreed Virvus Jones. Thats not just a dad-and-daughter talk. Thats a mayoral advisory role. And when it comes to Virvus Jones, thats a problem. A former alderman and former city comptroller, the elder Jones was sentenced to a year in federal prison in 1995 for tax fraud. Today, he can generally be found on Twitter picking fights with people he perceives to be his daughters enemies, in the kind of combative language that Mayor Jones herself has largely eschewed lately. Except, it seems, in private. In the texts, Mayor Jones disparages Alderwoman Cara Spencer, who ran against her for mayor in 2021, saying Spencer doesnt know what the f- shes doing regarding the city budget. During another discussion, Jones suggests to her father that he should correct Spencer on a social-media debate. Virvus Jones later sent back a text showing how he had done just that. Reading it brings to mind the recent episode in which Virvus Jones attacked Spencer for a perfectly rational proposal seeking to reduce carried guns in St. Louis. Its a worthy goal that the mayor herself has supported in concept, yet her administration has been cool toward Spencers specific proposal. Is that because of the messenger? Was Virvus Jones criticism of the proposal another instance of his daughter directing him to correct her? Its a fair question in light of texts indicating the elder Jones isnt just a loose cannon freelancing outside the control of his daughters administration a narrative the administration itself has been happy to leave unchallenged but rather an active adviser. Or maybe corrector is a better title? At another point in the texts, Jones gloats to her father and Callow about out-maneuvering police organizations that wanted a state takeover of city police, including the Ethical Society of Police (ESOP), which is made primarily of Black officers and which had endorsed Jones mayoral campaign. Hahaha, texted Callow, The boys picked the wrong mayor to fight. And ESOP still wont shut the f- up! Mayor Jones responded. The Ethical Society of Police wont be shut up, the group responded after the texts went public, because that is abandoning those we serve. Theres more, some of it disturbingly personal. Jones texts that she hopes another adversary, Alderwoman Sharon Tyus, will blow a gasket and pass out. She notes, in apparent jest, an urge to punch Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt in the neck. Whatever serious discussion of city issues might be among those texts, gleeful snark and even violent references toward perceived enemies gets plenty of screen time. Jones public statements since the release of the texts havent included outright apologies, but explanations. Ive never been one to hide my feelings, she said. ... Sometimes my words can be terse, and my text messages speak for themselves. I understand the impact of some of my comments, and will contact the relevant parties to ensure productive dialogue moving forward. Will that include an apology to the Ethical Society of Police? We agreed with the mayors position against a state takeover of city police, but a mayoral feud with potential police allies during a violent crime wave is about as counterproductive as it gets. Will she work on guns with Spencer, whose proposal is in line with the mayors own public pronouncements about the problem, regardless of the messenger? On that and other topics, will the mayor disavow her fathers more combative social-media screeds if only to disperse the now-reasonable suspicion that he is speaking for the administration when he lashes out? Mayoral tone matters. Jones can and should counter the base private tone of these texts with an elevated public tone in response to them. That would necessarily include some specific apologies. It would be in her interest, and in the citys. NATO leaders say they will allow Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met. The plan emerged Tuesday at the annual NATO summit in Lithuania. It came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blasted the organizations failure to set a timetable for his country as absurd. Although many NATO members have funneled arms and ammunition to Zelenskyys forces, there is no consensus among the 31 allies for admitting Ukraine into NATOs ranks. Instead, alliance leaders decided to remove obstacles on Ukraines membership path so that it can join more quickly once the war with Russia is over. JEFFERSON CITY Democrat Crystal Quade on Monday officially launched her bid for governor, arguing Missouri needs a change after longstanding Republican dominance in the capital city. Quade, the Missouri House minority leader from Springfield, in an ad released over the weekend touted her gravel-road roots and called Republican front-runner Jay Ashcroft a bully who uses fear to divide Missourians. Jabbing at Ashcroft's famous name, she also said in a tweet that "My daddy wasn't a US Senator or Governor," referring to the secretary of state's father, John Ashcroft. "I'm not interested in, kind of ad hominem attacks against my opponents," Ashcroft said Monday. "I'm going to talk about the future of Missouri and how we can make the state have better opportunity for all Missourians." Quade, in an interview Monday, said she singled out Ashcroft because he is leading in GOP primary polling and because the elections chief is "the epitome of where elected Republicans are at in the state of Missouri right now. "He is very extreme on his positions. He's not scared to talk about it," Quade said. Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and state Sen. Bill Eigel are also running as Republicans. Quade, a social worker, said in her ad she came from nothing and that her single mom worked as a waitress. She said her stepfather got a "good factory job" and that she became the first in her family to graduate from high school. "I'm running for governor for one simple reason: Because parents who are working extra shifts today have children who need to beat the odds tomorrow," Quade said. While she focused on Ashcroft, Quade also elbowed Kehoe, who at 30 purchased a Ford dealership in Jefferson City and who appeared on horseback surrounded by cattle in a campaign video. "I don't own a car dealership, or a cattle farm. I'm a mom, a social worker, and a leader who builds bridges to make change," Quade said Sunday on Twitter. Kehoe responded that even though he never met his dad and his single mom worked three jobs raising six kids, "I didn't make excuses." "My siblings and I had to work hard to support my mom and we earned the opportunity to achieve the American Dream," Kehoe said. "That's the great thing about our country that the progressive left wants to destroy." Quade said in response that she hopes for "a state where regardless of your background, that you can achieve the American Dream. "Hats off to his mom, and my mom and these other parents who have created pathways for us to get there, but it's not that easy anymore," Quade said. "I want to create a state where the grind actually gets you somewhere," Quade said. She added that "while he and I might have similar backgrounds, there's a big difference between somebody who's owned a car dealership ... and owns a cattle farm, versus somebody who is on the ground working with folks every single day." Eigel, a Weldon Spring Republican looking to upset Ashcroft and Kehoe, blasted Kehoe for supporting an increase to the state's fuel tax for road improvements at the same time he criticized government dependence. "This is why folks hate politicians," Eigel said, going on to joke that it was "gonna be a heckuva Dem primary between" Kehoe and Quade. Quade will have a lot of ground to make up in Missouri, where Republican Gov. Mike Parson won by a 57%-40% margin against Democratic State Auditor Nicole Galloway in 2020. Since then, Missouri has instituted a near-total abortion ban, while at the same time abortion rights supporters have successfully opposed anti-abortion ballot measures in Kansas and Kentucky. In her introductory ad, Quade is outfront in her opposition to Missouri's abortion ban an issue that could go to a statewide vote in 2024. But Quade said that on abortion, she doesn't believe she is out of sync with most Missouri voters. "The ballot initiative if it makes it to the ballot will show us that," Quade said. "Folks are frustrated with the government overreach." Jack Suntrup 573-556-6186 @JackSuntrup on Twitter jsuntrup@post-dispatch.com Sensirion Holding AG / Key word(s): Profit Warning Sensirion Holding AG: Adjusted outlook for 2023 due to challenging market environment; strong medium-term prospects thanks to full R&D pipeline 11-Jul-2023 / 06:15 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Press release July 11, 2023, Sensirion Holding AG, 8712 Stafa, Switzerland Ad-hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Adjusted outlook for 2023 due to challenging market environment; strong medium-term prospects thanks to full R&D pipeline Sensirion is adjusting its outlook for the 2023 financial year due to the challenging market environment. For the current financial year, we now expect sales of CHF 235255 million (previously CHF 300340 million) and an EBITDA margin of approx. 10% (previously approx. 20%). The expectation for the gross margin remains unchanged in the mid-fifties. The first half of the year closed with sales of around CHF 123 million. The medium and long-term outlook remains positive due to a strong pipeline of new business and supporting megatrends. As expected at the start of the year, the first half of 2023 was dominated by inventory optimization among customers and generally weak demand from end consumers, particularly in the appliance and consumer segments. Visibility remains low due to the numerous geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges. Contrary to the assessment at the beginning of the year, however, the corrections are more pronounced than expected and we currently do not see any signs of a recovery in the second half of the year. As a result, we now expect the current slump in demand to continue in the second half of the year, particularly in the appliance and consumer areas. These two market segments have posted strong growth figures over the past two years and also benefited from the sharp increase in awareness of indoor air quality solutions worldwide (also due to the pandemic). Although this trend continues, it has normalized somewhat. After the boom years, this has resulted in a temporary drop in demand, further exacerbated by continued high inventories, which are only slowly declining. New business is currently unable to compensate for this downturn. Due to the low variable costs of our products, the EBITDA margin reacts disproportionately to changes in revenue. At the same time, we are continuing to expand our R&D capacities in order to enable important product launches in new applications in 2024 and 2025 and thus strengthen our medium-term growth. We continue to assess the medium- and long-term outlook as positive due to a full pipeline of customer projects. The medium- and long-term outlook is further strengthened by the continued strength of megatrends such as energy efficiency, climate change and health. In particular, a new product family of gas leakage sensors will support growth in the years to come. On this basis, we are assuming a temporary drop in demand for this year due to end-market conditions and are confirming our mid-term guidance from March 2021. Sales for the first half of 2023 amounted to around CHF 123 million (approximately -25% year-on-year and -18% excluding the one-off business in the previous year). Further details will follow when the half-year results are announced on August 23, 2023. Conference on the adjusted outlook for 2023 A web conference on the adjusted outlook for 2023 will take place today, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 10:00 (UTC+1). The conference will be in English. After a short introduction, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. You can join the conference using the following link: Investor Conference Or call in (audio only) +41 43 210 57 16 Phone Conference ID: 502 027 834# Financial calendar August 23, 2023 Half-year results and interim report 2023 Contact information Heiko Komaromi Director of Investor Relations and Business Development Phone: +41 44 544 16 44 Email: heiko.komaromi@sensirion.com About Sensirion Holding AG Sensirion Holding AG (SIX Swiss Exchange: SENS), headquartered in Stafa, Switzerland, is a leading manufacturer of digital microsensors and systems. The product range includes gas and liquid flow sensors, differential pressure sensors and environmental sensors for the measurement of humidity and temperature, volatile organic compounds (VOC), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and particulate matter (PM2.5). An international network with sales offices in China, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the US supplies international customers with standard and custom sensor system solutions for a vast range of applications. Sensirion sensors can commonly be found in the automotive, medical, industrial, and consumer end markets. For further information, visit www.sensirion.com . Disclaimer Certain statements in this document are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those using words such as "believe", "assume", "expect" and other similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations and, by their nature, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, future global economic conditions, changed market conditions, competition from other companies, effects and risks of new technologies, costs of compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards, diverse political, legal, economic and other conditions affecting markets in which Sensirion operates, and other factors beyond the control of Sensirion. In view of these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Sensirion disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, or to adapt them to future events or developments. Sensirion uses certain key figures to measure its performance that are not defined by Swiss GAAP FER. These alternative performance measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. This document is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of offers to purchase, any securities. Israel fears that combat operations in the West Bank since 2021 may be the start of a new Palestinian offensive or intifada. This would be the third one. The first lasted from 1987 to 1993 while the second one was from 2000 to 2005. Israel defeated the 2000 Intifada terror campaign by 2005. But as long as Palestinians had free access to Israel, Palestinian government (Fatah) urged and encouraged Palestinians to attempt attacks inside Israel. The Israelis responded with tighter border controls and that kept the terrorist threat low in Israel. Fatah insisted they had a right to keep trying to kill Israelis and for over a decade Arab and Western nations kept providing aid to the West Bank and Gaza despite the fact that more and more of it was used to support and encourage more terrorism against Israel. Gradually more donor states, Moslem and non-Moslem, admitted the Fatah misuse of aid money and cut their aid, often to nothing. It was not just the Fatah support of terrorism but the growing Fatah corruption which meant a lot of the aid was stolen to enrich Fatah leaders. Palestinians also opposed the Fatah policy and Fatah was forced to tolerate more and more Palestinians renouncing terror to pass the background check and work in Israel. West Bank Palestinian jobs in Israel have become a crucial part of the West Bank economy even more so than they were back in 2000. The post-2000 ban on Palestinian workers was unpopular with many Israeli employers, but the threat was so great that Israeli employers had to pay more to import and hire non-Moslem foreigners for as long as there was a threat that Palestinian workers were likely to try and kill Israelis. Both Israel and the former or potential Palestinian workers knew that a growing number of those Palestinian workers could be trusted to work in Israel. Those who violated that trust faced prison or worse if they played any part in an attack. Anyone associated with these untrustworthy Palestinians had a more difficult time getting permits to work in Israel. The growth of these trustworthy Palestinian workers was something neither Israel nor Fatah wanted to publicize lest the Islamic radicals declare war on Palestinians working or seeking to work in Israel. This might trigger a civil war in the West Bank, something Fatah did not want but the radicals were divided about. Hamas does not care about any form of collateral damage from forcing Palestinians working in Israel to cooperate with terrorists. Most Palestinians recognize that Hamas is hard-core about attacking Israel, which is why Hamas has had a hard time gaining political traction in the West Bank. Palestinians know that Hamas policies produce more poverty and casualties for Palestinians. The only thing that got Hamas control of Gaza during the last Palestinian elections in 2007 was the belief that Hamas would be less corrupt than Fatah. That was true in 2007 but became less so ever since. Hamas forbids working in Israel and punishes anyone who protests about Hamas corruption. West Bank violence between Palestinians and Israelis living in the many Jewish settlements has been on the increase for over a decade. The upsurge in violence is the result of the Palestinian leadership calling for another intifada (uprising) in 2013. This was a side-effect of the rebellion in Syria and the Arab Spring in general. While some Palestinian leaders call for another uprising (intifada), most Palestinians, especially the older ones (over 30), fear the economic consequences of that and warn the pro-intifada radicals that there is not a lot of popular support for another round of violence. Israel has shown they know how to handle this at little cost to themselves and great cost to the Palestinians. All this is complicated by persistent American efforts to achieve a negotiated peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinian peace talks never made much progress. The talks were held at the insistence of the U.S., which threatened to cut aid if the talks did not happen. American leaders are aware of Palestinian attitudes on peace with Israel but the U.S. still assumes that a peace deal is possible. For years Palestinian leaders have agreed with that when speaking to Western leaders and reporters but they then turn around and tell their followers that, of course, Israel must be destroyed and that there is no other solution. For most Western leaders the disunity, corruption and general chaos within the Palestinian community is seen as a larger problem than a peace deal. That may be true, but without a positive attitude towards a peace deal, there wont be any peace. Despite all this, for over a decade many Palestinians have been talking about a Third Intifada as if more civil disorder will change anything. Peace is not on the agenda. Most Israelis and Americans agree. Even without a new intifada, casual violence in the West Bank kept increasing. This usually takes the form of young men throwing stones at Israeli soldiers or civilians. Israeli women and children are the preferred targets because they are the least likely to shoot back if the rocks begin to inflict injuries. Palestinian propaganda praises those who kill children just as much as those who killed soldiers or police. All are heroes of the Palestinian struggle to destroy Israel. This is becoming embarrassing for some Western nations when it was pointed out that their aid money was being used directly for some of this propaganda. The recent West Bank violence in Jenin was the result of Israeli security forces shutting down a major Palestinian effort to recruit, train and arm hundreds of Palestinians to carry out attacks against Israelis living in the West Bank as well as in Jerusalem and Israel in general. The Palestinian terrorism operation was real as Israeli troops encountered armed resistance as they approached the location where weapons and munitions were stored, and newly recruited Palestinians were trained and armed. After a brief battle the Jenin operation was shut down. Twelve armed Palestinians were killed and about 150 suspects were arrested. Weapons and munitions were disposed of and the Israeli troops withdrew, having lost one Israeli soldier killed. This sort of thing had not been seen in the West Bank since 2002. The current growth of terrorist activity in the West Bank can be attributed to Gaza-based and Iran-supported terror group Hamas. There have been increasing Hamas efforts to establish operations in the West Bank. Most West Bank Palestinians want no part of this because similar activity in Gaza has brought nothing but poverty and trouble to the Palestinians living there. The disruptive impact of small groups of radicals is a long tradition in the Middle East, especially after Islam was introduced over a thousand years ago. Islam is the only major religion whose scripture mandates continuous violence against infidels (non-believers). The Islamic scriptures make it clear that the mere existence of infidels is a threat to Islam and must be attacked, no matter what the cost. Most Moslems ignore this aspect of their religion, at the risk of being declared a heretic if conservative Moslems near them decide to get violent and go jihad (war on) against any Infidels within reach. Many Moslems, including Gulf oil state Arab governments are openly seeking a way to reform Islam and eliminate this flaw which has been crippling Islam and killing Moslems for over a thousand years. This is a serious effort and one reason for making peace with Israel. The Islamic militants in Gaza and the West Bank oppose efforts to give peace a chance. July 7, 2023: In the West Bank (Nablus) two Palestinian men suspected of involvement in earlier shootings, were killed during a gun battle with soldiers. Two more were wounded and three others arrested. July 6, 2023: In the West Bank an Israeli resident of a settlement was shot and killed by a Palestinian gunman. The shooter drove away and was later stopped at a checkpoint for a routine check. The shooter opened fire on the soldiers and ran off on foot. He was pursued by soldiers who caught up with him and during a brief gun battle the Palestinian gunman was killed. All this occurred a few hours after the last Israeli soldiers had left Jenin. In the north, on the Lebanese border, an unidentified group in Lebanon launched two rockets towards Israel. One landed inside Lebanon and the other near a village located on the Lebanon/Syria border. Israel believed the rockets were meant to hit Israel and fired some artillery shells at the location where the rockets were launched. Recently rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon and Gaza have been very inaccurate. July 5, 2023: Israeli troops withdrew from the West Bank town of Jenin after two days of efforts to dismantle a large Hamas operation that was accumulating weapons, explosives and Palestinians, especially residents of Jenin, willing to carry out attacks against Israel or Israelis in the West bank. Technically Jenin is a refugee camp but in reality it is a West Bank community with a history of supporting violence against Israelis. The counterterrorism operation in Jenin was planned and carried out by the Mossad (Israeli intelligence) and the army. As expected the Palestinian terrorists refused to surrender once surrounded and that led to a gun battle that left 12 Palestinian fighters and one Israeli soldier dead. Another armed Palestinian was wounded and captured. The Israelis warned Jenin residents that an attack was about to take place and to keep everyone inside. Most Jenin residents do not support the Palestinian militants and terrorists, but to speak of that openly risks being attacked as pro-Israeli. The day after the operation, the families of those killed refused to allow local Palestinian leaders to attend the funerals. These leaders from Fatah and Palestinian National Authority are known more for their corruption than maintaining order in Jenin or elsewhere in the West Bank. As the Israelis left some Jenin residents came out and protested the Hamas operations in Jenin. Jenin residents see Hamas as reckless outsiders who dont care what harm comes to Jenin residents because of Hamas preparations to attack Israelis. Up north on the Syrian border, there has been three days of violence in Syria's Daraa province. This was largely internal disputes and not directed towards Israel. This often occurs near the Israeli border, where there has been a lot of random violence for the last decade. Daraa is the most violent province but similar violence continues in many parts of Syria. July 4, 2023: Israel carried out airstrikes against two Hamas targets in Gaza. This was in response to Hamas firing five rockets at Israel a few hours earlier. Iron Dome intercepted all five rockets. In the West Bank a Palestinian man drove his car onto a sidewalk and bike lane and injured nine people, including a pregnant woman who lost her unborn child. The Palestinian driver then got out of his vehicle and armed with a knife went after more Israeli civilians. One of the Israelis armed and shot the Palestinian attacker dead. July 3, 2023: In the coastal city of Bnei Brak a 16 year Palestinian boy stabbed an Israeli man, but was only wounded. The Palestinian ran away but police caught up with and arrested him. The Palestinian boy said he was from a town near Jenin. Israeli police went there and questioned family members and later arrested the boys father and 31 year-old brother. July 2, 2023: In central Syria (Homs) an Israeli airstrike against Iranian targets in Syria, One Iranian was killed and four others wounded. These men were near the warehouses that the Israelis concentrated on. The warehouses contained something explosive because as the warehouses caught fire and burned, items inside continued to explode for hours. Syrian air defense units from Homs to the Israeli borders opened fire on the incoming Israeli missiles. Israel uses high-speed air-to-surface launched from Israeli aircraft across the border in Israel, Lebanon or Jordan. One of those Syrian anti-aircraft missiles missed a target and crossed the Israeli border and exploded in the air. This caused no damage or casualties on the ground. Israeli air defense units located where the S-200 missile that crossed the border came from and attacked the launch site. This is the 19th Israeli airstrike this year against Iranian targets in Syria. In the West Bank Hamas launched two rockets from Jenin towards Israel. Both rockets were defective and hit the ground less than a hundred meters from the launch site. This was the first such rocket attack from the West Bank in 18 years. July 1, 2023: An Israeli airstrike in central Syria (Homs) killed Hussein Suhani, an Iranian IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) general. In Gaza, Hamas led its first public display of its weapons and photography was allowed. The Hamas Islamic terrorists present were masked. June 29, 2023: Israeli media release reports of Israeli and Iranian operations in the Island of Cyprus. Israel believed Iranian operatives were planning to kill an Israeli businessman in Cyprus. Israel found out about this operation because of a recent Mossad operation inside Iran that found, seized and got a planner of the Cyprus attack out of Iran. June 24, 2023: In the West Bank a Palestinian gunman opened fire on an Israeli checkpoint. Soldiers fired back and killed the Palestinian man. Elsewhere in the West Bank fifty Israeli settlers armed with rifles and fire bombs attacked the Palestinian village of Umm Safaset fire to five Palestinian homes. Some Palestinians were shot at and an ambulance medic was wounded. Another two Palestinian medics were injured when the Israelis threw a large rock through a window of their vehicle. Israeli soldiers arrived and dispersed the settlers. The government plans to station more soldiers in the area to prevent more similar settler violence. So far this year 137 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. At the same time 24 Israelis have been killed, twelve of them civilians. June 15, 2023: Israeli airstrikes against targets near Damascus resulted in the destruction of many imported Iranian weapons and munitions as well wounding several Iran-backed Syrian militiamen. This was the 18th Israeli operation inside Syria so far this year. Fourteen have been airstrikes while four were carried out by Israeli troops crossing into Syria. Most of this activity has to do with the increased presence of Iran-backed militants near the Israeli border. Iran has long been obsessed with carrying out attacks inside Israel. June 12, 2023: Syrians blame outsiders for the length and severity of the 12- year-long civil war. Iran and Russia came to the aid of the Syrian government while Israel continued to attack Iranian forces in Syria, and Turkish forces crossed the border to deal with Islamic terrorists threatening Turkey and Syrian Kurds control most of the northern border with Turkey. In the northwest there is Idlib province, which remains under the control of Islamic terrorists who dont belong to ISIL. For years the Assads made deals with Islamic terror groups that controlled areas throughout Syria for them to move to Idlib rather than fight to the death with the Assad troops. The Assads did this to maintain morale among their own troops, who had been fighting for years and were liable to desert rather than face a death-match with Islamic terrorists. For the last few years there has been fighting in Idlib involving the Islamic terrorists attacked by Assad, Turkish and Kurdish forces, with air support from Russia and Turkey. The fighting is slow, methodical and relentless in killing Islamic terrorists and shrinking the terrorist controlled area. Although there are fewer than a thousand American military personnel in Syria, they are constantly attacked by Iran-backed militias and harassed by Russian warplanes. The Iranian violence has been going on for a long time but the harassment of American aircraft by Russian fighters is recent. Both countries long had an agreement to avoid such interference by each others aircraft. Both nations were using their warplanes mainly to seek out and attack ISIL forces. Apparently in response to Western economic sanctions on Russia because of the Ukraine War, the Russian fighters are now engaging in dangerous maneuvers around American aircraft. June 7, 2023: Iran openly opposes any peace with the West because of Western insistence that Iran first cease its support for violence in Iraq and Syria as well its nuclear-weapons program. Iranian forces in Iraq seek to dominate the Iraqi government and its forces in Syria continue to try to establish bases for attacking Israel, while Iran officially insists it has no nuclear weapons program despite growing evidence that the nuclear weapons efforts continue. Iran is open about its plans to eventually destroy Israel with ballistic missiles carrying powerful warheads. Israel says it will carry out airstrikes against Iranian nuclear weapons facilities if it appears Iran is close to having such weapons. There is ample evidence that the nuclear program exists and much of the work is done at the Natanz underground facility 225 kilometers south of Tehran. Israel has successfully attacked Natanz several times in the last few years. Iran responds by repairing the damage and expanding the nuclear facilities deeper underground. In early 2021 there was an explosion at the Natanz nuclear fuel enrichment facility. The government first denied this but later admitted the attack took place and did major damage to their new high-performance nuclear enrichment (turning uranium into weapons grade material) equipment. There was massive equipment failure and damage on a scale similar to the 2010 attack carried out with software designed to get into the Natanz nuclear fuel enrichment compound, which was well guarded. Later analysis indicated that the deep-underground (about 50 meters, or 155 feet) plant was effectively destroyed. The target was the thousands of centrifuges that turn uranium ore into nuclear fuel or, with more effort, nuclear material suitable for a nuclear explosive. Israeli hackers got to the centrifuges in 2010 via a computer worm hack called Stuxnet. In 2021 the Israelis obtained technical details of the Natanz electrical system as well as details of the new generation of centrifuges Iran installed there. The Israeli plan was to use explosives placed and detonated where it would shut down the primary and back-up power systems when the maximum number of new centrifuges were powered up and vulnerable to severe damage if both the main power and backup power systems failed. The explosives were placed correctly and went off on time. The result was Natanz again suffered major centrifuge loss that delayed resumption of production and over a year to completely repair. Now the Americans have developed a 14 ton MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) bomb designed to destroy or disable such underground facilities. MOP has a guidance system so that it lands where it will do the most damage, MOP also has a void sensor that will detonate the bomb when it enters an underground facility after smashing through earth and concrete. For this reason, Iran has expanded the Natanz facility deeper underground. That does not prevent Natanz from being attacked by several MOPs that destroy the four access tunnels needed to enable personnel and material to get in and out of the underground facility. Iranian support for Russia in Ukraine, especially supplying Russia with weapons, has made it easier for Israel to justify attacks on Iran, including air strikes. June 3, 2023: The continuing Israeli airstrikes in Syria are apparently concentrating on Iranian Unit 18340, which maintains several workshops for producing guided rockets using components smuggled in from Iran. Israeli airstrikes often destroy Iranian convoys bringing in these components. Because of this many of the components are flown in on cargo transports. Some of these have been damaged on the ground when Israel attacks Syrian air bases. June 2, 2023: During 2022 Israel did not make any additions to its nuclear weapons inventory of 90 warheads. In contrast, China increased its nuclear warhead inventory by 15 percent. At 410 warheads, China now has the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world, behind Russias 4,489 warheads (including 12 added in 2022) and America's 3,708. The remaining nuclear powers have smaller warhead inventories. France has 290, Britain 225, Pakistan 170 (five added in 2022), India 164 (four added in 2022) Israel 90 and North Korea 30 (five added in 2022). May 31, 2023: Israeli media reported that recent Israeli airstrikes on targets near Damascus hit the Hezbollah Golan Unit. This unit organizes, arms and trains Hezbollah for attacks on Israel. This has not resulted in any successful Hezbollah attacks on Israel but has Hezbollah personnel seeking to carry out such attacks. The main obstacle is Israeli surveillance along their Syrian border, which detects attempted attack efforts and disrupts them with artillery and air strikes. Hezbollah is also using some men trained by the Golan Unit to attack American forces in Syria. The Americans, like their Israeli counterparts, are trained and equipped to defend themselves. Big Tech's Dirty Underbelly: Sharethrough's Frank Maguire Discusses Innovative New Approaches to Greener Streaming Many Big Tech giants like Meta, Amazon, and Google have announced commitments to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. But how feasible is this goal, and where is the money spent towards it really going? These companies generate hundreds of billions of dollars from advertising (80% of Googles revenue, 90% of Metas)--however, these very same ads are contributing to climate change. Research by Sharethrough, an omnichannel supply-side programmatic advertising platform, shows that a single video or display ad impression represents an average of 1g of CO2 emissionstherefore, 1 million ad impressions represent a metric ton of CO2 emissions. Organizations such as Greening of Streaming, with its Low Energy Sustainable Streaming (LESS) Accord, and Kibo121, a consultancy to help media technology companies on their sustainability paths, have emerged to address these issues directly. Sharethrough is working to build a sustainable advertising ecosystem for journalists, content creators, and app developers. It has launched what it calls its first Green Media Product, GreenPMPs, in coordination with Scope3, and earlier this year debuted the Green Media Summit, the advertising industrys first conference on sustainability. Sharethroughs VP of Insights & Strategy, Frank Maguire, discusses the current state of sustainable streaming, the challenges faced at all stages of the streaming pipeline to achieve carbon neutrality, what actions are being taken by Sharethrough and other organizations to minimize streaming CO2 emissions, and much more in this exclusive interview with Streaming Media Magazine. Tyler Nesler: What are some innovative approaches that Big Tech companies are currently taking or can take to help alleviate the carbon emissions impact of their advertising activities? Frank Maguire: It mainly boils down to a three-step approach: measure, reduce, and compensate. Once an advertiser or adtech company can measure their emissions, they look for ways to reduce them as much as possible. For advertisers, some innovative approaches are combining the benefits of Supply Path Optimization (SPO) with carbon measurement not just to find the most direct path to supply but also to start cutting sites and partners with higher-than-average emissions. This approach is called Carbon Path Optimization (CPO). The removal of high-emitting sites naturally includes Made-for-Advertising sites (MFAs), which are sites that are wasteful for both advertising performance and emissions since they arbitrage cheap traffic to sites with often stolen or AI-generated content with many above-the-fold ads. Sharethrough recently committed to removing MFA sites from all Deals by default. Publishers are working to reduce their emissions by finding the sweet spot of removing unnecessary tags and bidders on their sites without reducing revenue. A number of publishers have proven this is not only possible but can even improve revenue. Adtech companies like Sharethrough are taking this a step further by offering turnkey Low Emission PMPs and helping to compensate for the remaining emissions caused by the delivery of programmatic ad campaigns. Nesler: At the current rate, what do you estimate is the probability of Big Tech reaching its public commitments to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030? Do you believe this is a realistic timeframe? Maguire: I believe the adtech industry has a much better chance than most industries to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. Unlike, say, aviation or complex manufacturing industries, adtech has more control of the full supply chain and the servers used to deliver ads. However, even if the adtech industry has the potential to achieve carbon neutrality or net-zero emissions by 2030, our planet needs everyone in every industry to move fast, so we have no time to waste to take action. The good news is the enthusiasm from events like the Green Media Summit and membership from across the adtech world in working groups like AdNetZero and the IAB Tech Labs Sustainability Group are a testament to how seriously the industry is approaching this subject. The goal of reaching carbon neutrality or even net-zero emissions by 2030 can only be tackled through collaboration, and it is reassuring to see how far weve come in just a year or so since this topic has been prioritized. Nesler: Could you discuss some of the unique challenges of predicting and measuring carbon emissions at each stage of the advertising supply chain? Maguire: One of the largest challenges in predicting and measuring carbon emissions is all the unique variables at each part of the programmatic supply chain. It can be difficult to know how one organization is drawing power from the energy grid, or how efficient their servers are. Publisher sites are also unique and have varying emissions depending on their ad slots, media players, content, and even back-end factors like scripts and plugins. Taking into consideration your partners energy usage, which contributes to your own carbon footprint, there are many steps along the way with unknowns that can affect predicting and measuring emissions. Even measuring the emissions required to film or develop creative assets can be quite complex. Particularly for video content, where you have to account for everything from travel to the shoot location, power from all the machinery and cameras, food for the setthe list goes on and on. Theres also the end-user device, which is unknown until the ad is delivered. Nesler: Please describe the critical initiatives of Sharethroughs GreenPMPs projecthow long has it been active, what are some primary benefits of partnering with Scope3, and what are the long-term goals of this project? Maguire: Just over a year ago, we launched our first Green Media Product, GreenPMPs, with Scope3. One of the main benefits of partnering with Scope3 is they have a sophisticated model to measure the emissions from the full path of an ad from advertiser to user. This enables us to measure the carbon emissions generated by the ad campaign and allocate a small portion of the ad spend towards neutralizing that same amount of carbon through high-quality carbon removal projects. The goal of GreenPMPs is to enable brands and advertisers to compensate for the remaining, inevitable carbon emissions generated by running digital ad campaigns. Part of what contributes to those emissions is file sizes and data transfers. It is currently impossible to have weightless files, so there will always be some carbon waste. We want to be transparent and educational in our approach so that other organizations in the space can learn and adapt. Part of that is launching greenpmp.io, which tracks in real-time the 8,000 and growing advertisers that have run on GreenPMPs and how many emissions have been compensated for to date. Nesler: What are the types of carbon removal projects that GreenPMPs/Scope3 do to help minimize the carbon emissions from the programmatic supply chain? Maguire: We partner with Carbon Direct, one of the most trusted organizations for carbon compensation. They invest in a number of compensation projects, including: Biochar and Carbon Soil Storage: Theres more carbon within the soil than anywhere else. With carbon soil storage, its a safe place to store it where it cant easily escape and without affecting the growth of plant life. Reforestation: Tree planting projects on and around small agricultural plots developed with local communities Improved Forest Management: to improve forest growth and associated carbon removal development by local communities Nesler: The Green Media Summit was hosted earlier this year by Sharethroughas the advertising industrys first conference on sustainability, what were some of the primary takeaways from the event? Were there any particularly surprising or unexpected insights presented during the events sessions? Maguire: Based on the seven hours of standing-room-only attendance of about 300 attendees and speakers from brands, agencies, publishers, DSPs, SSPs, and other adtech companies, the first major takeaway was the industry is very enthusiastic about the topic of sustainability and eager to make a difference. The passion for taking action was also apparent, but there were many calls for the industry to adopt carbon emission measurement standards so that everyone is measuring off the same data set. That said, throughout the day, the topic of action over perfection reiterated the need for the advertising community to stop wasting time and start making changes. On the IAB Tech Lab panel, Curt Larson, who sits on the board of the IAB Tech lab and is the Chief Product Officer at Sharethrough, used the analogy of fighting fires, If the fire truck shows up at a house, they don't stop to analyze which rooms are on fire. They just start fighting fire and then they learn as they go. The most surprising moment came during the agency panel, which included sustainability heads from most of the major agency holding companies. Their desire and commitment to work together, pre-competitively, to help set standards and use their buying power to prioritize more sustainable partners was inspiring for a group that can otherwise be very competitive. Nesler: What do you think are some practical ways to incentivize consumers to reduce time spent online in order to lessen their online internet usage carbon footprint? Maguire: Asking consumers to lower the amount of time they spend online is likely a lost cause since we are only more and more connected every day on more and more devices. The real question should be not how we spend less time online but how we make the Internet more sustainable. (For further insights into streaming sustainability, watch the presentation Sustainability Beyond Greenwashing, given by Dom Robinson, founder of Greening of Streaming, from Streaming Media East 2023.) (Image credit: Shutterstock/metamorworks) Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Related Articles MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / AcuityTec, a leading provider of Global KYC, KYT, compliance, and multi-layered fraud prevention solutions, is thrilled to announce a significant addition to its leadership team. With its relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to secure global online businesses, AcuityTec proudly welcomes Alfredo Solis as its new Senior Director and Business Strategist. Alfredo Solis Joins AcuityTec With a 20-year career dedicated to bolstering online risk management, Alfredo Solis brings passion and a wealth of expertise set to elevate AcuityTec's offering to Fintechs, crypto companies, iGaming platforms, and other online businesses worldwide to support the ever-growing online ecosystem. Solis extends this passion to fortifying client engagement with AcuityTec's platform, understanding the importance of customizable data, transactional verifications, and ongoing monitoring in forging secure online environments. His hands-on approach to honing advanced risk algorithms, employing data simulation, and developing comprehensive business intelligence reports surpasses standard risk mitigation measures. Solis is devoted to delivering exceptional, bespoke solutions that meet and exceed client expectations, contributing to their growth while maintaining a secure digital environment. This dedication consolidates AcuityTec's mission to provide unrivalled data and fraud defence solutions. "We are incredibly excited to have Alfredo join the AcuityTec family," said Director of Business Developments Eric Gounder. "His expertise and unwavering commitment to premium fraud defence encapsulates our mission and brings to our team an enriching perspective that will undoubtedly propel our strategic initiatives. We anticipate his contributions to our future developments with great enthusiasm." Solis expressed his enthusiasm about the new role, saying, "Joining the AcuityTec team is an exhilarating next step for me. I have always admired their commitment to offering cutting-edge KYC, risk management and fraud prevention solutions. I am eager to contribute my knowledge and experience to this innovative team and look forward to fostering stronger, safer online business landscapes globally." Prior to AcuityTec, Solis held distinguished roles including Customer Success Manager at Jumio Corporation, Director of Account Management at FourStop GmbH, Senior Risk Lead at Vogogo, and Senior Client Service Manager at Convergys, all contributing to his expertise. For more on Solis' impressive trajectory, visit his LinkedIn profile. AcuityTec continues to set the pace in the industry by investing in talents like Alfredo Solis who possess the skills and determination to make a difference in the digital world. This move underscores the company's dedication to enhancing its services and strengthening its position as a global provider of digital identity verifications and transactional protection and as a fraud prevention leader. About AcuityTec AcuityTec is a leading provider specializing in global KYC, KYB, compliance and advanced fraud defence with real-time monitoring all through a single API. From onboarding customers to verifying and monitoring transactions, the company's customizable end-to-end and risk mitigation solutions ensure businesses obtain unparalleled fraud protection to secure their customers, business and revenues. For more information, visit www.acuitytec.com or contact [email protected]. For media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Contact Information: Eric Gounder Director Business Developments [email protected] +1-866-504-2170 SOURCE: AcuityTec View source version on accesswire.com: MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / July 10, 2023 / Alphinat Inc. (TSXV:NPA) a leading Canadian provider of innovative software solutions, is proud to announce our module LIVEaiASSIST has entered BETA release, with our demonstration for a Canadian government client department. LIVEaiASSIST greatly accelerates solution development for easy to use complex digital services. Alphinat is also adding AI generate testing and training modules, both high value upgrades, to better test and scale solutions while enhancing transfer & retention of knowledge within organizations. "This is a major advancement in automation, innovation and ease of use for the SmartGuide development suite in being able to assist non-technical people develop and deploy for production secure enterprise grade applications in secure government infrastructures," said Harold Roussel, Alphinat's Chief Software Architect. The company also announces delivery and successful implementation of a SmartGuide Greenhouse Gas Registry (SmartGHGR) to Canada's most populated and industrialized province. This ground-breaking achievement underscores Alphinat's commitment to environmental sustainability and advancing ESG compliance and efficient delivery of user-friendly solutions to complete complex tasks for the public sector. Leveraging SmartGuide's advanced capabilities, a small team delivered this highly anticipated digital service in record time. "We have empowered organizations to streamline their GHG reporting processes and enhance Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance," said Denis Michaud, Chief Solution and Security Officer at Alphinat. SmartGuide's intuitive interface and powerful development tools have enabled seamless data collection, verification, and reporting of GHG emissions. By leveraging SmartGuide's robust features, businesses can accurately measure, monitor, and manage their carbon footprints, contributing to a sustainable future. "We are proud to support organizations in meeting their ESG goals, ensuring transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance. SmartGuide continues to drive innovation in environmental sustainability, helping businesses navigate the complex landscape of GHG emissions reporting and make a positive impact on our planet," mentioned Denis Michaud. SmartGuide's cutting-edge capabilities have empowered organizations to seamlessly collect, verify, and report Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions data in compliance with federal, provincial guidelines. By leveraging SmartGuide's robust features, businesses can accurately measure, monitor, and manage their carbon footprints, fostering a sustainable future and demonstrating responsible corporate citizenship. "We are thrilled to support our clients in meeting their ESG goals and contributing to a greener economy," said Curtis Page, President & CEO "SmartGuide continues to drive innovation in environmental reporting, enabling organizations to navigate the complexities of GHG emissions and drive positive change." With SmartGuide, organizations gain a comprehensive toolset to streamline GHG reporting processes, enhancing data accuracy, transparency, and regulatory compliance. By harnessing the power of SmartGuide, businesses can make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and align with global sustainability standards. Alphinat remains at the forefront of sustainable technology solutions, empowering organizations to make a measurable impact on the environment and foster a culture of ESG compliance. Alphinat also announces it has issued on April 26, 2023 4,695,000 options with a $0.08 strike price expiring on the 26th of April 2028. About Alphinat At Alphinat, we are driven by the passion to make application development easy for everyone and system interoperability issues a thing of the past. We enable people with the vision of how a finished application should look and behave to be a major part of the development process. After all, what better way to ensure a favourable outcome than to provide those closest to an application's end-users with a vested interest in its success throughout its development? That's why we bring you new ways to empower the right people at the right time in the application development process. At the same time, we're constantly working to reduce the need to code in order to make application development and maintenance simpler and less error prone. So, whether you choose to develop your applications with the help of our low-code platform SmartGuide, kickstart your project using one of our pre-built apps or engage us or one of our partners to do the work for you, we're here to help you deploy better applications in record time. Visit us at https://www.alphinat.com for more information. We look forward to hearing from you. Forward-looking statements Certain statements in this document, including those which express management's expectations or estimations with regards to the Company's future performance constitute " forward-looking statements" as understood by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are, of necessity, based on a certain number of estimates and hypotheses; while management considers these to be accurate at the time they are expressed, they are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and risks on the commercial, economic and competitive levels. We advise readers that these forward- looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other known and unknown factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause significant differences between actual results and those described in forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, the Company's capacity to increase acceptance of its products on the market, and to penetrate new markets; the potential existence of defects or undetected problems in the Company's products; the Company's ability to manage its growth; the Company's ability to compete with others;potential commitments; maintaining the Company's intellectual property rights and defending against litigation putting those rights in question; the Company's reliance on the knowledge of its key personnel; and the Company's access to sufficient capital to finance its future needs. This is a partial and non-exhaustive list of factors that could bear on any of our forward-looking statements. Investors are advised to not rely unduly on the forward-looking statements. This advisory applies to all forward-looking statements, whether expressed orally or in writing, attributed to Alphinat or to any individual expressing them in the name of the Company. The Company is under no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events, or other circumstances. Risks and uncertainties that bear on the Company are described in greater detail in the Company's Annual Report. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information please contact: Mr. Curtis Page Chief Executive Officer Alphinat Inc. (514) 398-9799 ext. 225 SOURCE: Alphinat Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: Two New Hires Provide Clients with Print Performance Insight, Guidance, and Solutions HUNTERSVILLE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Long recognized as one of the world's top-quality manufacturers and distributors of professional-grade doctor blades, press consumables, and cleaning technologies for both the printing and coatings markets, Daetwyler USA recently announced the addition of two new specialists to their team. John Schrantz will be joining the team as Regional Sales Manager and Tanner Kirkland will come aboard as a Pressroom Technical Support field representative. "Our commitment to our clients, and the industries we serve, is to deliver superior operational knowledge and problem-solving skills up front, then follow that with best-in-class equipment and other solutions to help clients reach their goals," said Marty Cansler, Managing Director of Sales and Technical Support for the company. "John and Tanner both further expand our ability to serve more customers with the speed and precision they've come to expect from Daetwyler." As Regional Sales Manager, John Schrantz will oversee the Southwest, Mountain West, and Pacific Coast areas of the U.S., including Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, North Dakota, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, California, Oregon, and Washington. He brings more than 15 years of proven success as a technical strategist, product and operations expert, and business development consultant for top brands and companies within the graphics, printing, and labeling fields. "We are very happy to have John on board," shared Cansler, "He brings a wealth of experience and strong customer relationships to Daetwyler, which makes him a perfect addition to our team. He gives our customers in the Southwest Territory a great resource to help with today's market challenges. John is a strong market leader and brings new levels of experience to our team." For the past 10 years, prior to joining Daetwyler, Tanner Kirkland served in various roles with one of the industry's largest flexographic packaging companies. As such, he brings a deep understanding of press optimization tactics and best practices such as maximizing press speeds without sacrificing quality, troubleshooting, and quality control. Tanner has also completed levels I, II, and III of FTA First Operator Training and is OSHA certified. "We are excited to have Tanner join our team," Cansler continued. "His strong technical knowledge of the flexo process will give our team and our customers a great resource to lean on to solve the most challenging print issues. Tanner has a strong skill set from his press experience and will quickly show added value to our customers." "We recognize today's market challenges require us to take a leadership position on technical support," Cansler concluded. "For this reason, we made the decision to expand our team with industry veterans who have earned their place in the market with real-world technical experience and training. In a challenging economy, we feel now is the best time to take an aggressive approach to better support our customers and grow our business." Contact Marty Cansler Managing Director - Sales and Technical Support (704) 875-1200 [email protected] SOURCE: Daetwyler View source version on accesswire.com: BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Daily oil production (including condensate) in Azerbaijan in June 2023 amounted to 610,000 barrels, of which 500,000 barrels were crude oil, while 110,000 barrels were condensate, the press service of the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan told Trend. The quota of daily crude oil production in Azerbaijan within the framework of OPEC+ in June 2023 was 684,000 barrels per day. Thus, Azerbaijan was 10.8 percent behind quota. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan produced 612,000 barrels in May, of which 500,000 barrels were crude oil, and 112,000 barrels were condensate. Azerbaijan's membership in the OPEC+ format plays a crucial role in ensuring market balance through the regulation of oil production. As per the decision made on June 4 by OPEC+, it is anticipated that Azerbaijan will align its crude oil production to reach 551,000 barrels per day by 2024. The regional donut shop will honor Ray LaMar's charitable spirit by rewarding firefighters, police officers, and healthcare workers with free donuts and coffee for their service. DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Beginning Monday, July 3, and running through National First Responder's Day on Saturday, Oct. 28, LaMar's Donuts will hand out one free small coffee and one free donut with a hole every Monday to each first responder visiting a LaMar's location. LaMar's "First Responder Mondays" promotion pays homage to a decades-long tradition of Ray LaMar's charitable spirit and community involvement. First Responder Mondays First Responder Mondays Poster with two donuts LaMar's Donuts dates back 90 years to 1933, when 17-year-old Ray Lamar began hand-making donuts with the best ingredients available. In 1960, Ray opened a donut shop in Kansas City in a converted gas station. He made the donuts by hand, mixing, rolling, cutting, and deep-frying them himself. At the end of each day, Ray donated any leftover donuts to nonprofit organizations such as churches and homeless shelters in the Kansas City community. Today, the spirit of Ray's philanthropy lives on in the 25 LaMar's Donuts locations across Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. "LaMar's Donuts is thrilled to be continuing a decades-old tradition of giving back to the community through our First Responder Mondays promotion," said Temi Osifodunrin, LaMar's director of marketing and advertising. "They work tirelessly daily to ensure our communities are safe and healthy. They deserve to be rewarded." LaMar's Donuts encourages firefighters, police officers, and healthcare workers to stop at any location every Monday starting July 3 to fuel up for the week ahead. To receive a free small coffee and donut with a hole, each first responder may simply present an official badge from the responder's place of employment. About LaMar's Donuts - After developing his original donut recipe as a teenager in 1933, Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar's Donuts in Kansas City, Missouri, on Linwood Boulevard in a converted gas station. Today, the franchised chain has 25 stores in five states. LaMar's has won numerous awards and has earned favorable reviews by such publications as The New Yorker and Gourmet magazine. LaMar's donuts were also the first to be reviewed and acclaimed by Zagat, the world's most trusted guide to restaurants. Visit us at LaMars.com. Contact Information Temi Osifodunrin Director, Marketing & Advertising [email protected] 303-771-9999 x. # 7001 SOURCE: LaMar's Donuts View source version on accesswire.com: MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Luminar Media Group (OTC PINK:LRGR) is thrilled to announce its partnership with O.C Coffee Service Corp. to facilitate the international expansion of Royale de Monte Carlo Vodka. This strategic collaboration opens up new avenues for the esteemed vodka brand to penetrate vibrant markets, with a specific focus on Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. The partnership with O.C Coffee Service Corp. paves the way for Royale de Monte Carlo Vodka to establish a strong presence in Puerto Rico's spirited market. Osvaldo Carpentino, President of O.C Coffee Service Corp., expressed his excitement, noting the remarkable interest in the product within this market. He stated, "We are delighted to introduce Royale de Monte Carlo Vodka to Puerto Rico, a vibrant U.S. territory in the Caribbean with a population of approximately 3.3 million people. This move showcases LRGR's commitment to growth and innovation as they tap into Puerto Rico's thriving spirit market." Recent market data reveals that the global vodka market reached a value of USD 11.63 billion in 2021 and continues to experience substantial growth. This data underscores the immense opportunity for Royale de Monte Carlo Vodka to capture a share of this lucrative market with its exceptional quality and exquisite taste. By strategically entering new markets such as Puerto Rico, Royale de Monte Carlo aims to capitalize on this global growth and establish itself as a recognized and highly sought-after vodka brand. With its unique blend of cultural heritage and a population of approximately 3.3 million people, Puerto Rico provides an ideal platform for showcasing the exceptional vodka offered by Royale de Monte Carlo. The island's rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant communities attract both locals and tourists, making it a promising market for introducing high-quality spirits. Osvaldo Carpentino added, "Royale de Monte Carlo is revolutionizing the vodka industry in Puerto Rico by providing an exceptional tasting product to our esteemed clientele seeking ultra-premium quality. The impact of Royale de Monte Carlo in the marketplace is evident, as reflected in its rising popularity and growing following in Puerto Rico." Dan Bioangin and his team at Royale de Monte Carlo have always aimed for international distribution. Achieving this milestone in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory with its own unique cultural influences, is a testament to their unwavering dedication. This strategic expansion will unlock new opportunities in untapped regions, solidifying Royale de Monte Carlo's position within the flourishing Caribbean market and establishing it as a globally recognized vodka brand. The partnership between Royale de Monte Carlo Vodka and O.C Coffee Service Corp. is governed by an exclusive agreement with a minimum purchase requirement. The agreement stipulates a minimum purchase of approximately 5,000 cases or 25,000 units of Royale de Monte Carlo Vodka. This condition ensures a strong commitment from O.C Coffee Service Corp. to effectively distribute and promote the brand in Puerto Rico. The collaboration between Royale de Monte Carlo Vodka and O.C Coffee Service Corp. marks a significant stride in the vodka brand's international expansion. By entering the dynamic Puerto Rico spirit market, Royale de Monte Carlo aims to captivate consumers and cement its status as a recognized vodka brand. Benefitting from over 20 years of experience in importing gourmet products into Puerto Rico, O.C Coffee Service Corp. enjoys a distinguished reputation. Their well-established relationships with supermarkets, restaurants, resorts, hotels, and airports on the island will play a pivotal role in the successful introduction and distribution of Royale de Monte Carlo Vodka. The impact of Royale de Monte Carlo in the marketplace is evident through its rising popularity and growing following among Puerto Rico's diverse population. By reshaping the vodka industry in Puerto Rico and offering an exceptional tasting product, Royale de Monte Carlo aims to cater to discerning clientele seeking ultra-premium quality spirits. This strategic expansion into Puerto Rico solidifies Royale de Monte Carlo's position within the flourishing Caribbean market and further reinforces its objective of achieving international distribution. The brand's unwavering commitment to growth and innovation remains resolute as it taps into Puerto Rico's thriving spirit market. About Royale de Monte Carlo/ Luminar Media Group, Inc. Royale de Monte Carlo, headquartered in Miami, Florida, is an ultra-premium vodka renowned for its icy coolness and exquisitely smooth taste, offering euphoric pleasure to discerning palates. Crafted and produced by fifth-generation master distillers located in the heart of France's world-famous Cognac region, Royale de Monte Carlo has been honored as the "World's Most Prestigious Vodka"TM. For more information, please visit https://royaledemontecarlo.com/. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding our business, financial condition, and prospects, based on our current assumptions and beliefs. However, the company cannot guarantee that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements will be realized. There may be unforeseen risks and circumstances that we are unable to predict. While words such as "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "estimates," and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements, there may be forward-looking statements that are not accompanied by such expressions. Investors should exercise caution when relying on these forward-looking statements, as they speak only as of the date of this press release. The company's actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results expressed in these forward-looking statements due to various factors, including risks discussed in the company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available on its website (www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributed to the company or individuals acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors, except as required under securities laws. The company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Investors should refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investor Relations Contact: Robert Rico 305-283-9237 SOURCE: Luminar Media Group, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN), a technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and co-administered by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), announced today it selected seven startups to participate in the program's 12th cohort. The cohort consists of sustainable agriculture companies focused on mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change on global food systems. "In the face of intensifying challenges in the agriculture industry and our environment, the world urgently needs innovative, sustainable solutions," said Trish Cozart, IN program manager and the director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at NREL. "With projections indicating a global population of 10 billion people by 2050, we must develop methods that not only increase productivity, but do so without causing harm to our planet. IN is at the forefront of this mission, supporting promising startups that are reimagining the future of food and farming." Each company will receive up to $250,000 in non-dilutive funding for various technical assistance and field trial projects to further refine their technologies and business models. The companies will work alongside world-renowned principal investigators at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri, the world's largest independent plant science research institute. "IN's twelfth cohort highlights some of the best startups in climate-aligned agriculture," said Elliott Kellner, director of commercial innovation at the Danforth Center. "The selected companies have commercially viable technologies with tremendous potential to deliver environmental, economic, and societal benefits." "As one of the top agricultural production lenders in the U.S., Wells Fargo supports scaling clean technologies," said Robyn Luhning, Chief Sustainability Officer at Wells Fargo. "Through the Wells Fargo IN program, these companies receive support to commercialize solutions for some of our customers' most pressing challenges." The companies were nominated by members of IN's Channel Partner network, consisting of more than 60 business incubators, accelerators, and university programs nationwide. The selected startups underwent an in-depth review by Wells Fargo, NREL, the Danforth Center, and IN's expert industry advisory board. The seven companies selected for IN's cohort 12 are: HabiTerre, based in St. Louis, MO, uses remote sensing, process models, and artificial intelligence to create a holistic picture of farm production systems past, present, and future cropland performance, including net greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon sequestration, crop rotation, management history, yield, water use, and nutrient dynamics. Habiterre will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Chris Topp. Impetus Ag, based in St. Louis, MO, is developing next generation crop insect control products with an eco-friendly insect control platform that dramatically enhances the performance of current biological products for topical and transgenic applications. Impetus Ag will collaborate with Danforth's Drs. Bala Venkata and Nigel Taylor. Impossible Sensing, based in St. Louis, MO, boosts soil management, merging in-situ sensors with regular farming operations. The solutions aim to capture real-time data on nutrients, soil health, and carbon levels, empowering growers to maximize land potential, participate in carbon markets, and improve profitability through sustainable practices. Impossible Sensing will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Allison Miller. InnerPlant, based in Davis, CA, develops seed technology to tap into plants' natural response pathways and code crops to communicate early and specific stresses via easy-to-collect optical signals. The technology helps farmers understand plants' needs and prescribe the right amount of fertilizer and crop protection products at the optimal time. InnerPlant will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Katie Murphy. Mirai Solar, based in Mountain View, CA, uses photovoltaic shade screen technology, the Mirai Screen, to provide greenhouses and smart buildings the means to reduce their operational costs and achieve net-zero energy targets. The Mirai Screen transforms the need for shade into a source for renewable energy by acting as a simple drop-in replacement for conventional passive shade screens. Mirai Solar will collaborate with Danforth's Dr. Ru Zhang. Running Tide, based in Portland, ME, is on a mission to restore ocean health, rebalance the carbon cycle, and revitalize coastal communities. The company designs and develops integrated software and hardware systems, including monitoring and measurement capabilities, to deploy nature-based interventions that remove carbon, combat ocean acidification, and increase the scientific understanding of ocean ecosystems. Running Tide will collaborate with Danforth's Drs. Noah Fahlgren and Malia Gehan. Sentinel Fertigation, based in Lincoln, NE, leverages remote sensing and geospatial data to empower precision nitrogen management, particularly for farmers who fertigate. Sentinel's N-Time software program helps farmers improve nitrogen use efficiency by 23% and save 42 pounds of nitrogen per acre on average. Sentinel Fertigation will collaborate with Dr. Elliott Kellner to connect with a broad set of research teams across the cohort's ecosystem. With the addition of these seven companies, IN's total portfolio now includes 72 companies, including 26 sustainable agriculture startups. Since joining the IN program, portfolio companies have raised more than $1.8 billion in external follow-on funding-equivalent to an average of more than $97 for every $1 awarded by Wells Fargo through IN. About the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN) The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN) is a $50 million technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation. Co-administered by and housed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, IN's mission is to speed the path to market for early-stage, clean-technology entrepreneurs. Launched in 2014 with an initial focus on supporting scalable solutions to reduce the energy impact of commercial buildings, IN has since expanded its focus to advance technologies that address the sustainable production of agriculture and housing affordability. For more information, visit in2ecosystem.com. About the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research, education and outreach aim to have impact at the nexus of food security and the environment, and position the St. Louis region as a world center for plant science. The Center's work is funded through competitive grants from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and through the generosity of individual, corporate, and foundation donors. Follow us on Twitter at @DanforthCenter. Media Contact Camille Cater Antenna Group [email protected] Leaders of the seven startups joining IN2 View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Wells Fargo on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Wells Fargo Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/wells-fargo Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Wells Fargo View source version on accesswire.com: SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AlphaSights, the global leading knowledge on-demand firm, recently celebrated its fifteenth anniversary reinforcing the value of human knowledge in todays age of digitization and rapidly advancing AI. In the crowded field of global business, knowing what everyone else knows through digitization and AI is no longer sufficient to create a competitive edge and thrive. Finding a competitive edge requires leveraging the treasure of experience and wisdom locked up in the minds of professionals across the globe. Rise of knowledge-on-demand The knowledge-on-demand industry, which caters to the demand of non-codified expert knowledge, has become the fastest-growing segment within the global information services market. Since its emergence in the early 2000s, the industry has grown at double digits annually to $2bn in industry revenues - a number thats continuing to grow as accessing expert knowledge becomes part of the corporate playbook. Whats the challenge the industry is addressing? Fulfilling clients highly granular knowledge requirements, at scale and speed. Clients require access to insights they can trust in an efficient, compliant and safe manner - and ideally within a matter of hours. The AlphaSights Platform - instant access to knowledge AlphaSights' leading position is determined by its cutting-edge platform, rigorous compliance framework, and industry-leading team. At the heart of the company's proprietary technology platform is AlphaGraph - a continuously evolving representation of the world's professional expertise, enriched each day by tens of thousands of human-validated data points. Along with its 1500+ colleagues across nine offices worldwide, AlphaSights solves its clients complex problems under intense time pressure and ensures confidentiality and safety for all parties involved. In 2016, AlphaSights opened its Seoul office to serve the consulting market. With its accelerated growth in the past seven years, AlphaSights' Seoul office has expanded its services to serve a wide range of clients, from consulting, investment to corporates and now a central player in the local market. About AlphaSights Founded in 2008, AlphaSights is the global leader in knowledge on-demand. We connect investors and business leaders with the knowledge they need to succeed. Working from nine cities globally, our 1500+ colleagues provide round-the-clock coverage to the world's top investment funds, consultancies, and Fortune 500s. Learn more about us at alphasights.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230619308062/en/ AlphaSights South Korea +82 2 6022 0550 [email protected] Source: AlphaSights AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a- (Excellent) of ERIKA Forsakringsaktiebolag (publ) (Erika) (Sweden). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect Erikas balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. Erikas strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), along with its conservative and liquid investment portfolio and prudent reserving, collectively contribute to an overall balance sheet strength assessment of very strong by AM Best. The company has a track record of strong operating performance, supported by solid technical profitability and demonstrated by a five-year (2018-2022) average combined ratio and return of equity of 93.3% and 5.8%, respectively. The assessment also considers Erikas stable and consistent earnings, with technical surplus reported in each of the past 17 years (2006-2022). Erika is the primary provider of travel insurance to people travelling worldwide on the various international education programmes offered by Education First (EF). All business is sourced solely from EF tour operators, which limits Erikas control over distribution and growth. Erikas limited business profile assessment also reflects its relatively small portfolio, concentrated within one line of business. However, the risks associated with this concentration are mitigated partially by the companys moderate product risk and good geographic diversification. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711953588/en/ Andrea Porta Financial Analyst +31 20 308 5430 [email protected] Mathilde Jakobsen Senior Director, Analytics +31 20 308 5427 [email protected] Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 [email protected] Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 882 2318 [email protected] Source: AM Best WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (NYSE: AEL) (AEL) today announced that its second-quarter 2023 sales totaled $2 billion, the majority of which were in fixed index annuities. AEL also announced that it will release its second quarter 2023 earnings results after the market closes on Monday, August 7, 2023. The press release and financial supplement will be posted on the American Equity IR website at https://ir.american-equity.com/ at that time. In light of its definitive agreement whereby Brookfield Reinsurance (NYSE, TSX: BNRE) will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock that it does not already own, AEL will not be holding earnings conference calls with investors going forward. FIA SALES NEARLY DOUBLE FROM PRIOR SEQUENTIAL QUARTER Second quarter sales were $2 billion, of which 94%, or $1.9 billion, were in fixed index annuities. Total enterprise FIA sales increased 94% compared to the first quarter of 2023 and 141% compared to the second quarter of 2022. Compared to the first quarter of 2023, FIA sales at American Equity Life in the Independent Marketing Organization (IMO) channel increased 99%, while Eagle Life FIA sales through banks and broker-dealers rose 77%. Anant Bhalla, AELs President and CEO, commented: This significant increase in sales reflects the value proposition offered by our industry-leading FIA solutions, enhanced by our private asset strategies driving strong new money yields. Each aspect of the AEL flywheel is working seamlessly a testament to our teams execution of the AEL 2.0 strategy creating momentum in annuity origination and ensuring lifelong financial dignity for our policyholders. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The forward-looking statements in this release, such as driving and will, and their derivative forms and similar words, as well as any projections of future results, are based on assumptions and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, including the "Risk Factors" AEL describes in its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings and as described in the Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in AELs July 5, 2023 news release. AEL's future results and events could differ, and it has no obligation to correct or update any of these statements. ABOUT AMERICAN EQUITY At American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, our policyholders work with over 40,000 independent agents and advisors affiliated with independent market organizations (IMOs), banks and broker-dealers through our wholly-owned operating subsidiaries. Advisors and agents choose one of our leading annuity products best suited for their clients' personal needs to create financial dignity in retirement. To deliver on its promises to policyholders, American Equity has re-framed its investment focus building a stronger emphasis on insurance liability driven asset allocation and specializing in alternate, private asset management while partnering with world renowned, public fixed income asset managers. American Equity is headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa with additional offices in Charlotte, NC, New York, NY and Miami, FL. For more information, please visit www.american-equity.com. 1 For purposes of this document, all references to sales are on a gross basis. Gross sales is defined as sales before the use of reinsurance. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711968483/en/ Steven Schwartz | Head of Investor Relations American Equity Investment Life Holding Company 515-273-3763 | [email protected] Source: American Equity Investment Life Holding Company Contractors can allocate, track, and forecast their field and craft workforce and consolidate their entire workforce strategy into a single tool TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bridgit, the leader in construction workforce planning technology, today announced the launch of its newest feature set for Bridgit Bench; a comprehensive solution for planning field and craft teams, designed specifically to support the unique needs of self-performing general contractors and ENR Top 600 specialty contractors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711755674/en/ Bridgit launches functionality to help specialty and self-performing contractors manage their people more effectively. Contractors can allocate, track, and forecast their field and craft workforce and consolidate their entire workforce strategy into a single tool. (Graphic: Business Wire) The new functionality helps contractors to schedule, track, and shift their field and craft workforce more effectively while providing a unified platform to manage all of their people. ENR 600 customers can also access new reports to understand project demands on their craft team and advanced communication features to help dispatch team members. Along with field and craft support, new communication options in Bench will help specialty contractors streamline labor requests and establish a standardized process for managing labor needs. With Assignment Alerts, field ops can keep their field teams informed on their latest assignments. In addition, the Broadcast helps users easily share critical information to project teams when rapid communication is needed. Functionality that better supports field teams empowers contractors to manage both their project admins and field teams with ease, flexibility, and accuracy. A data-driven approach to admin and field staffing helps to eliminate inefficiencies brought about by outdated, manual software and processes. "We've been exploring functionality that better supports specialty trades and their field teams and we're really excited to roll out what we've built. Says Mallorie Brodie, CEO and Co-Founder of Bridgit. By directly incorporating feedback from specialty contractors into Bridgit Bench, were better equipped to help them create a central foundation for strategic workforce and pipeline planning." All-in-one Workforce Planning in Bridgit Bench is now available, visit gobridgit.com for more details. ABOUT BRIDGIT Bridgits mission is simple to help the construction industry maximize profits by taking a people-first approach. Workforce Intelligence from Bridgit transforms workforce data into actionable insights that inform an organizations strategic and tactical business decisions. Bridgit is a privately held company, having raised over $43.5 million CAD in equity financing, with capital from investors such as Autodesk, BDC Capitals Women in Technology Venture Fund, Camber Creek, Export Development Canada, IAF, Nine Four Ventures, and Salesforce Ventures. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711755674/en/ MEDIA CONTACT Michel Richer Bridgit [email protected] Source: Bridgit Benevis celebrates its Biloxi and Hattiesburg-based dental practices for their dedication to their communities on Sharing Smiles Day 2023 BILOXI & HATTIESBURG, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Local dental practice Sunnybrook Dentistry & Braces proudly served the Biloxi and Hattiesburg communities oral health needs by joining forces with parent company Benevis for its eighth annual Sharing Smiles Day on Sunday, May 21, 2023. To celebrate their dedication to addressing the oral health needs of underserved populations, the organization is thanking the volunteer practices and medical teams with Benevis Community Hero Awards. Sharing Smiles Day is a volunteer event established by Benevis to reach children and families in disadvantaged communities that are often overlooked by general dentists. Clinicians and hygienists donated their time to prioritize the delivery of free dental care such as dental exams, limited emergency care, extractions, and restorative care, and cleanings to uninsured or underinsured families. The Sunnybrook Dentistry & Braces dental practice with locations in Biloxi and Hattiesburg have been honored with the Benevis Community Hero Awards for participating in the event. Were proud to honor two Mississippi-based dental offices with the Benevis Community Hero Award for volunteering their time to treat children and families in need of oral care, shared Dr. Dale Mayfield, DMD, chief dental officer at Benevis. Central to Benevis mission is improving access to essential dental healthcare and creating dental homes for families in diverse communities and those with various forms of insurance, including Medicaid and Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Sharing Smiles Day enables us to impact a broader group of patients, especially for those without insurance, and we're thankful for that opportunity. In total, Sharing Smiles Day reached more than 400 children and adults across 11 states and 26 of Benevis-supported practices. The event featured 320 volunteers including hygienists, dental practice support staff, executives, and 40 dentists that dedicated their time to delivering free dental care to uninsured or underserved children and their families. In addition to providing compassionate care, clinical teams educated families about daily brushing, flossing, and the importance of good nutrition for a healthy smile. All participating dental practices and dentists will receive a Benevis Community Hero Award in recognition of their service to families in need. Since 2015, Sharing Smiles Day volunteers have proudly treated more than 3,000 patients. To learn more about the annual event, please watch our video. About Sunnybrook Dentistry & Braces Sunnybrook Dentistry & Braces is one of Mississippis leaders in Medicaid and affordable dental care for children and their families. Supported by Benevis, Sunnybrook Dentistrys five locations serve over 24,000 children on Medicaid annually. Sunnybrook Dentistry and its doctors are committed to improving lives by providing high-quality dental care in a fun, compassionate environment. To learn more about Sunnybrook Dentistry, visit www.SunnybrookDentistry.com. About Benevis Benevis is a leading dental healthcare delivery organization for practices focused on delivering life-changing oral care and orthodontics to underserved communities. Through comprehensive care and operational services that expand access to dentistry, Benevis has a 20-year history of providing the highest quality care to approximately 5 million children and adults. Its network reaches more than 100 locally branded dental offices across the U.S. that deliver treatment through 1.2 million visits each year. Benevis also advocates for programs and legislation that ensure all families have access to the oral healthcare they need and deserve. For more information, visit Benevis.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711684695/en/ Media Contact Kay Blazar SVM PR for Benevis [email protected] 401-490-9700 Source: Benevis Benevis celebrates its Maryland-based dental practices in District Heights, Baltimore, and Fruitland for their dedication to their communities on Sharing Smiles Day 2023 BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Local dental practices across Maryland proudly served three communities oral health needs by joining forces with parent company Benevis for its eighth annual Sharing Smiles Day on Sunday, May 21, 2023. To celebrate their dedication to addressing the oral health needs of underserved populations, the organization is thanking the volunteer practices and medical teams with Benevis Community Hero Awards. Sharing Smiles Day is a volunteer event established by Benevis to reach children and families in disadvantaged communities that are often overlooked by general dentists. Clinicians and hygienists across three Maryland communities donated their time to prioritize the delivery of free dental care such as dental exams, limited emergency care, extractions, and restorative care, and cleanings to uninsured or underinsured families. The dental offices that have been honored with the Benevis Community Hero Award for participating in event include: Were proud to honor three Maryland-based dental practices with the Benevis Community Hero Award for volunteering their time to treat children and families in need of oral care, shared Dr. Dale Mayfield, DMD, chief dental officer at Benevis. Central to Benevis mission is improving access to essential dental healthcare and creating dental homes for families in diverse communities and those with various forms of insurance, including Medicaid and Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Sharing Smiles Day enables us to impact a broader group of patients, especially for those without insurance, and we're thankful for that opportunity. In total, Sharing Smiles Day reached more than 400 children and adults across 11 states and 26 of Benevis-supported practices. The event featured 320 volunteers including hygienists, dental practice support staff, executives, and 40 dentists that dedicated their time to delivering free dental care to uninsured or underserved children and their families. In addition to providing compassionate care, clinical teams educated families about daily brushing, flossing, and the importance of good nutrition for a healthy smile. All participating dental practices and dentists will receive a Benevis Community Hero Award in recognition of their service to families in need. Since 2015, Sharing Smiles Day volunteers have proudly treated more than 3,000 patients. To learn more about the annual event, please watch our video. About Pine Dentistry & Braces Pine Dentistry & Braces is one of Virginia & Marylands leaders in Medicaid and affordable dental care for children and their families. Supported by Benevis, Pine Dentistrys seven locations serve over 35,000 children on Medicaid annually. Pine Dentistry and its doctors are committed to improving lives by providing high-quality dental care in a fun, compassionate environment. To learn more about Pine Dentistry, visit www.PineDentistry.com. About Porter Dental & Braces Porter Dental & Braces is one of Marylands leaders in Medicaid and affordable dental care for children and their families. Supported by Benevis, Porter Dentals six locations serve over 34,000 children on Medicaid annually. Porter Dental and its doctors are committed to improving lives by providing high-quality dental care in a fun, compassionate environment. To learn more about Porter Dental, visit www.PorterDental.com. About Benevis Benevis is a leading dental healthcare delivery organization for practices focused on delivering life-changing oral care and orthodontics to underserved communities. Through comprehensive care and operational services that expand access to dentistry, Benevis has a 20-year history of providing the highest quality care to approximately 5 million children and adults. Its network reaches more than 100 locally branded dental offices across the U.S. that deliver treatment through 1.2 million visits each year. Benevis also advocates for programs and legislation that ensure all families have access to the oral healthcare they need and deserve. For more information, visit Benevis.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711405917/en/ Media Alison Matthiessen SVM PR for Benevis [email protected] 401-490-9700 Source: Benevis EXETER, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Electronic greeting cards are fetching four figure sums via e greeting card website DontSendMeACard.com. The web platform hosts ecards designed by charities, which people can send to friends and family by making a donation. On 11 June 2023 an anonymous donor gave $5,000 USD (3,950 GBP) to US nonprofit Project Chimps on DontSendMeACard, to send a Father's Day ecard. Project Chimps posted on Instagram, "They say a picture is worth 1,000 words or is it $5,000? Thank you to the very generous anonymous donor who made a random, unsolicited $5,000 contribution in honor of their father!" DontSendMeACard Co-founder Craig Lawson said, "This may well be a little bit of internet history. There's a Guinness World Record out there for the most paid for a printed greeting card at auction. Have we started the record for the most paid for its electronic counterpart? Regardless it's very exciting to see these figures go to such hard working causes via our very unique ecard software." The most expensive physical greeting card was sold at auction for 20,000 ($28,158) on 24 November 20011. Sources: 1 Most expensive greetings card sold at auction https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-expensive-greeting-card-sold-at-auction ### View release on DontSendMeACard Press Kit Go to DontSendMeACard Press Kit Editors Notes DontSendMeACard in summary provides: - The function to send ecards and donate the cost of greeting cards and stamps. View How it Works - Upon donating up to 100 ecards can be sent to recipients. Or up to 5 for single occasion cards - An account dashboard for charities to manage campaigns Using the system: - Individuals send ecards by selecting a charity and an occasion to send cards for and donating via PayPal - Charities can register to become a Listed Charity and access a range of fundraising resources - Companies can support a charity with corporate ecards Background: - The social enterprise was started in 2013. Founded by Alex Furness of Future Imaging and Craig Lawson of Web Engineer, both based in Exeter. - How it works in 30 seconds Demo Video - Read our Mission and Vision - How charities can benefit from the initiative on Slideshare - Testimonials View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711846562/en/ Alex Furness Tel: 01392-684450 press [ at ] dontsendmeacard.com Source: DontSendMeACard.com HALIFAX, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today Emera (TSX: EMA) announced that it will release its Q2 2023 results on Friday, August 11, 2023, before markets open. The Company will host a teleconference and webcast the same day at 9:30 a.m. Atlantic (8:30 a.m. Eastern) to discuss the results. Analysts and other interested parties in North America are invited to participate by dialing 1-888-886-7786. International parties are invited to participate by dialing 1-416-764-8658. Participants should dial in at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. No pass code is required. A live and archived audio webcast of the teleconference will be available on the Company's website, www.emera.com. A replay of the teleconference will be available on the Companys website two hours after the conclusion of the call. About Emera Inc. Emera Inc. is a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with approximately $39 billion in assets and 2022 revenues of more than $7.5 billion. The company primarily invests in regulated electricity generation and electricity and gas transmission and distribution with a strategic focus on transformation from high carbon to low carbon energy sources. Emera has investments in Canada, the United States and in three Caribbean countries. Emeras common and preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade respectively under the symbol EMA, EMA.PR.A, EMA.PR.B, EMA.PR.C, EMA.PR.E, EMA.PR.F, EMA.PR.H, EMA.PR.J and EMA.PR.L. Depositary receipts representing common shares of Emera are listed on the Barbados Stock Exchange under the symbol EMABDR and on The Bahamas International Securities Exchange under the symbol EMAB. Additional information can be accessed at www.emera.com or at www.sedar.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230710619788/en/ Emera Inc. Investor Relations Dave Bezanson VP, Investor Relations & Pensions 902-474-2126 [email protected] Arianne Amirkhalkhali, Manager, Investor Relations 902-425-8130 [email protected] Media 902-222-2683 [email protected] Source: Emera Inc. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: FBRT) (FBRT or the Company) today announced that it will release its second quarter 2023 results on Monday, July 31, 2023, after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The Company will host a conference call and live audio webcast to discuss its financial results on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. ET. All conference call and webcast information can be found on the Companys website at https://www.fbrtreit.com. Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the call and webcast at https://dpregister.com/sreg/10180657/f9e08ee979. If you are unable to pre-register, the conference call may be accessed by dialing 844-701-1166 (Domestic) or (+1) 412-317-5795 (International). Ask to join the Franklin BSP Realty Trust conference call. Participants should call in at least five minutes prior to the start of the call. The call will also be accessible via live webcast at https://ccmediaframe.com/?id=sIB611E6. Please allow extra time prior to the call to download and install audio software, if needed. A slide presentation containing supplemental information may also be accessed through the Companys website in advance of the call. An audio replay of the live broadcast will be available approximately one hour after the end of the conference call on FBRTs website. The replay will be available for 90 days. About Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: FBRT) is a real estate investment trust that originates, acquires, and manages a diversified portfolio of commercial real estate debt secured by properties located in the United States. As of March 31, 2023, FBRT had approximately $5.8 billion of assets. FBRT is externally managed by Benefit Street Partners L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. For further information, please visit https://www.fbrtreit.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230710326988/en/ Investor Relations Contact: Lindsey Crabbe [email protected] (214) 874-2339 Source: Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. 76% of financial institutions are experiencing enhanced regulatory scrutiny related to sanctions 36% consider their sanctions compliance budgets to be inadequate 88% identified sanctions risk assessments as one of their top investment areas CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Grant Thornton LLP, one of Americas largest audit, tax and advisory firms, has released its first-ever Global Sanctions Compliance survey. The survey canvassed decision makers at nearly 300 financial institutions around the world to understand how they are responding to Russia-related sanctions. Respondents included senior compliance professionals, senior management leaders and board members. According to the survey, 76% of financial institutions are experiencing enhanced regulatory scrutiny related to sanctions since early 2022. Further, these financial institutions said that their prior substantial investments in sanctions compliance are proving to be inadequate, largely due to the unprecedented number of Russia-related sanctions and the accompanying regulatory changes. Survey participants also reported that the cost of sanctions compliance has been increasing, with 57% of respondents noting a spend increase in response to the recently imposed global sanctions. More than 65% agreed that overall costs related to sanctions will continue to rise, and they expect to increase their compliance spending over the next 12 to 24 months. There are multiple factors driving up the costs of sanctions compliance, including the increasing complexity of different sanctions and diverging interpretations and level of enforcement of sanctions requirements. With higher spending on sanctions compliance trending up, not all budgets at financial institutions have kept pace. Globally, 36% of survey respondents said they consider their budgets to be inadequate or severely inadequate, with Asia-Pacific and Latin America exceeding the global average. Governments are rolling out sanctions at an unprecedented pace and continuing to enact major legislative changes, often combining various financial crime concepts, said Sven Stumbauer, a managing director at Grant Thornton LLP and the leader of the firms Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions practice. As a result, banks are trying to figure out the new rules, enact the right compliance measures and find the tools to do so, all while trying to protect their business. This, in turn, is increasing the pressure on boards and C-level executives. A well-informed board of directors is crucial As financial institutions wrestle with intensifying sanctions, a well-informed and engaged board of directors has never been more crucial. Despite the importance of risk management, 30% of survey respondents indicated that they do not provide regular board training or briefings to board members. According to Stumbauer, boards that thoroughly understand legal and regulatory requirements are in the best position to provide thorough oversight and ultimately allocate sufficient funding for sanctions compliance programs. However, less than half (45%) of respondents said they conduct annual board trainings and briefings for their boards, leaving many institutions scrambling to stay compliant due to the fast pace of sanctions and regulatory changes. Boards that receive more frequent trainings and briefings will enhance their ability to adapt strategy at a faster pace, said Stumbauer. Mitigating the consequences of de-risking According to the survey, 79% of respondents utilized a de-risking strategy to manage their sanctions exposure. When institutions were asked in which area they planned to increase their investment the most, there was a tie between adequate risk assessment and quantification and the need to assess sanctions risk in more agile ways. De-risking typically involves eliminating or restricting business relationships to avoid and manage risk, but this strategy does not come without consequences. In fact, the survey reported that 60% of respondents either limited or terminated business relationships as a result of their de-risking actions. In conducting the survey, Stumbauer and his team also found that some institutions are using different counterparts often away from traditional trade routes and are effectively forum shopping for the lowest customer due diligence requirements. As a result, institutions have created nested relationships that often lead to increased risks of money laundering and sanctions breaches. There is no more business as usual, but theres a way to grow your business while monitoring risk, Stumbauer added. Now is the time to invest in a thorough risk and compliance program that accounts for the many levels of complexity were seeing in the current sanctions landscape. De-risking is not a new phenomenon, but Russia-related sanctions have amplified this trend. In fact, more than 88% of respondents identified sanctions risk assessments as one of their top six investment areas in 2022 and beyond. To see additional findings from Grant Thorntons 2023 Global Sanctions Compliance survey, visit https://www.grantthornton.com/services/advisory-services/anti-money-laundering-advisory-services/sanctions-survey-report-2023. About Grant Thornton LLP Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is one of Americas largest audit, tax and advisory firms and the U.S. member firm of the Grant Thornton International Ltd global network. We go beyond the expected to make business more personal and build trust into every result. With revenues of $2.3 billion for the fiscal year that ended July 31, 2022, and almost 50 offices nationwide, Grant Thornton is a community of more than 9,000 problem solvers who value relationships and are ready to help organizations of all sizes and industries create more confident futures. Because, for us, how we serve matters as much as what we do. Grant Thornton refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one anothers acts or omissions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711504037/en/ Gina Mazzone T +1 312 602 9096 E [email protected] S twitter.com/grantthorntonus linked.in/grantthorntonus Source: Grant Thornton LLP Q2 2023 revenue of 2.1 million, stable compared with Q2 2022 Continuation of the sales momentum for the new Medical Equipment activity First outcomes of the technological alliance signed with Sanyou Medical BORDEAUX, France & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: IMPLANET (Euronext Growth: ALIMP, FR0013470168, eligible for PEA-PME equity savings plans), a medical technology company specializing in vertebral implants for orthopedic surgery and the distribution of technological medical equipment, today announced its revenue for the first half of 2023. Ludovic Lastennet, IMPLANETs CEO, stated: Implanet recorded stable revenue in the first half of 2023 compared with the same period of 2022, but the semester was marked by determined commercial launches resulting from our acquisition of OSD and our partnership with Sanyou Medical. Firstly, the exclusive distribution contract signed for Europe with SMTP, a subsidiary of Sanyou Medical, allows Implanet to offer a new activity distributing medical equipment to healthcare facilities. This activity, which has recorded a strong commercial performance since March, should represent a real growth engine in the coming months. At the same time, we have strengthened our presence in the United States with the FDAs approval of our SqualeTM range of anterior cages. This range will be supplemented at the end of the year with a fixation system enabling us to provide a comprehensive range for treating cervical pathologies. Lastly, in June we initiated the European commercial launch of an innovative minimally invasive pedicle screw system. This is the first range resulting from Implanet and Sanyou Medicals combined expertise. These various elements are fully consistent with the strategy we have been deploying over the last two years or so aimed at establishing Implanet as a key player in spine surgery. We intend to build on this momentum over the coming months, the culmination being the upcoming initiation of Sanyou Medicals distribution of our JAZZ range in China, the worlds largest spine market by volume, with the first surgeries expected before the end of the year. Financial information for the first half of 2023 Revenue (in thousands - IFRS*) H1 2023 H1 2022 Change Spine France 1,788 1,801 -1% United States 818 802 +2% Rest of the world 1,334 1,487 -10% Spine revenue 3,940 4,090 -4% Medical equipment (SMTP) 250 - - Services (MADISONTM) 78 23 - Total consolidated revenue, IFRS 4,268 4,112 +4% (in thousands -IFRS*) 2023 2022 Change First-quarter revenue 2,208 2,016 +10% Second-quarter revenue 2,060 2,096 -2% First-half revenue 4,268 4,112 +4% *Unaudited figures In the first half of 2023, Spine activity decreased slightly, by around 4%, from 4.1 million to 3.9 million. Activity on the French and American markets, where the Company operates directly, generated stable revenue over the period at 1.8 million and 0.8 million respectively. Export activity, notably in Europe and Latin America, decreased by around 10% compared with the first half of 2022. Financial information for the second quarter of 2023 Revenue (in thousands - IFRS*) Q2 2023 Q2 2022 Change Spine France 846 849 -0% United States 359 429 -16% Rest of the world 660 810 -19% Spine revenue 1,865 2,088 -11% Medical equipment (SMTP) 127 - - Services (MADISONTM) 69 9 - Total consolidated revenue, IFRS 2,060 2,096 -2% *Unaudited figures Spine activity generated sales of 1.87 million in the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of 11% on the figure of 2.09 million recorded in the same quarter of 2022. Activity in France, the Companys second largest direct market, was stable compared with the second quarter of 2022. In the United States, although volumes increased by 20% in the second quarter compared with the same quarter last year, the product mix and distribution channels negatively affected revenue, which fell 16% from 0.43 million in Q2 2022 to 0.36 million in Q2 2023. Export activity in the rest of the world generated revenue of 0.66 million in the second quarter of 2023, versus 0.81 million in the same period of 2022. Lastly, it should be noted that, as announced on June 21, 2023, the Company initiated the launch of a minimally invasive pedicle screw system in Europe in June and has already received its first orders. Deliveries of this product, the first innovation resulting from the partnership with Sanyou Medical, will begin during the third quarter of 2023. Cash position At June 30, 2023, Implanet had a cash position of 1.5 million. As a reminder, the payment of the balance of the MADISONTM business, totaling 2.30 million, is spread over time depending on the achievement of certain regulatory milestones relating to CE marking, with 1.45 million of this figure received as expected during the second quarter of 2023 and 0.85 million due to be received in 2024. Given these elements, combined with short-term actions to optimize cash flow, the Company considers that it has the means to cover its expected business financing requirements through to the end of 2023. The Company is actively studying several financing solutions in order to support the commercial development of its medical devices. Key H1 2023 events Commercial launch of SMTPs ultrasound surgical scalpel in March 2023; FDA approval of the SqualeTM range of anterior cervical cages in the United States; Commercial launch in Europe of the MIS range, a minimally invasive pedicle screw positioning system. 2023 strategy and outlook Finalize the registration of existing products within the framework of the new European Medical Device Regulation (MDR). Reinvigorate the Companys presence in the United States: strengthen the resources and commercial means made available to the historical team; strengthen the Companys direct approach by expanding our scientific team of thought leaders; successfully register, with the FDA, the OriginTM product range resulting from the OSD acquisition. Strengthen market momentum and the product offering: continue developing our existing strategic partnerships in the United States (SeaSpine) and Germany (ulrich medical); deploy the commercial and technological partnership with Sanyou Medical to jointly develop an innovative new European range of hybrid posterior fixation; initiate the distribution of the JAZZ platform in China (the worlds largest spine market by volume) with Sanyou Medical; distribute technological medical equipment in Europe such as SMTP Technology Co.s ultrasound surgical scalpel. Upcoming financial press release 2023 first-half results, on September 19, 2023, after market close About IMPLANET Founded in 2007, IMPLANET is a medical technology company that manufactures high-quality implants for orthopedic surgery and distributing medical technology equipment. Its activity revolves around a comprehensive innovative solution for improving the treatment of spinal pathologies (JAZZ) complemented by the product range offered by Orthopaedic & Spine Development (OSD), acquired in May 2021 (thoraco-lumbar screws, cages and cervical plates). Implanets tried-and-tested orthopedic platform is based on the traceability of its products. Protected by four families of international patents, JAZZ has obtained 510(k) regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, the CE mark in Europe and ANVISA approval in Brazil. In 2022, IMPLANET entered into a commercial, technological and financial partnership with SANYOU MEDICAL, China's second largest medical device manufacturer. IMPLANET employs 43 staff and recorded a consolidated revenue of 8.0 million in 2022. Based near Bordeaux in France, IMPLANET opened a US subsidiary in Boston in 2013. IMPLANET is listed on the Euronext Growth market in Paris. For further information, please visit www.Implanet.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711127691/en/ IMPLANET Ludovic Lastennet, CEO David Dieumegard, CFO Tel. : +33 (0)5 57 99 55 55 [email protected] NewCap Investor Relations Mathilde Bohin Nicolas Fossiez Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 [email protected] NewCap Media Relations Arthur Rouille Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 [email protected] Source: IMPLANET LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- InvestCloud, the global software-as-a-service (SaaS) leader in digital transformation for the wealth management industry, today announced the appointment of Heather Bellini as President and Chief Financial Officer, leading finance, legal, HR and business operations. Ms. Bellini has served on InvestClouds Board of Directors as Chair of the Audit Committee since May 2022 and brings extensive experience in the technology and financial services sectors to her new role. She served as a Partner and Managing Director at Goldman Sachs for nearly 10 years before joining cybersecurity software company Deep Instinct as CFO in 2021. Ms. Bellini was named to the inaugural Barrons 100 Most Influential Women in Finance in 2020. At Goldman Sachs, Ms. Bellini led the Technology Research Group and served as an equity research analyst, specializing in software and technology companies. During her time at Goldman, she led the research diligence and investor education for 20 initial public offerings across the software sector. "Few people know the software sector as well as Heather and I am delighted she will help lead InvestCloud into its next chapter, said Richard Lumb, Chief Executive Officer of InvestCloud. I have witnessed Heathers talent as a leader first-hand during her time on the InvestCloud Board of Directors and I am very much looking forward to working alongside her in her new role. InvestCloud is at the center of the transformation taking place across the wealth management industry and Im excited to join Richard and the team at this stage of the companys growth, said Ms. Bellini. I have come to know the company over the past year as a member of the Board, and given the potential of the InvestCloud platform, I look forward to building on everything the team has accomplished. InvestCloud is backed by Motive Partners and Clearlake Capital Group and their affiliates. I am delighted to welcome Heather to InvestCloud, said Rob Heyvaert, Founder and Managing Partner at Motive Partners. Heather has ushered many companies through their financial journeys, and the evolution of her role to President and CFO of InvestCloud will allow her to bring those experiences to bear. We look forward to continuing to work with Heather and the team to support InvestCloud in driving digital transformation and delivering greater value for our customers as a global leader in wealth management software solutions, said Behdad Eghbali, Co-Founder and Managing Partner and James Pade, Partner and Managing Director at Clearlake. Ms. Bellini has spent her career in financial services and technology, having worked as a Senior Managing Director at ISI Group, Managing Director at UBS Investment Bank, and Analyst at Salomon Smith Barney before joining Goldman Sachs in 2011. She earned a BA in Economics from Denison University and an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School. Ms. Bellini is a CFA charter holder. About InvestCloud InvestCloud is the global technology leader in digital transformations for the financial services industry, supporting over $6 trillion of assets with over 550 direct clients, from wealth managers, institutional investors and asset managers to family offices, asset services companies, financial platforms, and banks. InvestCloud specializes in digital platforms that enable the development of financial solutions, pre-integrated into the cloud. The company offers on-demand client experiences and intuitive operations solutions using an ever-expanding suite of modular products, resulting in best-in-class experiences for the financial services industry. Headquartered in Los Angeles, InvestCloud has over 20 global offices including New York, London, Geneva, Singapore, Tokyo, and Sydney. InvestCloud is backed by Motive Partners (together with its affiliates) and Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. (together with its affiliates).For more information, visit InvestCloud.com. About Motive Partners Motive Partners is a specialist private equity platform, combining Investors, Operators and Innovators, to build, back and buy the technology companies that enable the financial economy. Motive invests across stage in technology enabled financial and business services in North America and Europe. Motive has offices in New York City and London, with over 220 professionals, managing approximately $4.8 billion in assets under management across two investment programs, Motive Ventures (early stage) and Motive Capital (growth and buyout). More information on Motive Partners can be found at www.motivepartners.com. About Clearlake Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is an investment firm founded in 2006 operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit and other related strategies. With a sector-focused approach, the firm seeks to partner with experienced management teams by providing patient, long-term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlakes operational improvement approach, O.P.S. The firms core target sectors are technology, industrials and consumer. Clearlake currently has over $70 billion of assets under management and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 400 investments. The firm is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA with affiliates in Dallas, TX, London, UK, Dublin, Ireland and Singapore. More information is available at www.clearlake.com and on Twitter @Clearlake. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711671276/en/ For InvestCloud media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] For Motive Partners media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] For Clearlake media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] Source: InvestCloud NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KBRA releases the June 2023 issue of the KBRA CMBS Loss Compendium, which provides loss estimates for all KBRA-rated conduit transactions. In this report and its accompanying spreadsheet, KBRA provides insight into loss estimates for 317 outstanding KBRA-rated conduit transactions, as well as lifetime realized losses for the five KBRA-rated conduit transactions that have no ratings outstanding because of deal payoffs. The compendium uses the following two metrics to present the loss figures: KBRA Lifetime Base Loss (KLBL), which represents our loss estimate for each transaction during its lifetime as a percentage of its original balance; and KBRA Future Base Loss (KFBL), which represents potential future losses as a percentage of outstanding deal balance as of the most recent rating action date. The highlights of this edition are as follows: As of June 2023, the average KLBL (as a % of original deal balance) is 4.7% (ranging from 1.9% to 17.7%), and the average KFBL (as a % of review date deal balance) is 6.3% (ranging from 2.8% to 66.8%). Transactions from the 2014 and 2015 vintages continued to have higher-than-average KLBLs, which is not surprising given that they have among the highest issuance KBRA loan-to-values (KLTV) and appraisal LTVs. Click here to view the report. Related Publications About KBRA KBRA is a full-service credit rating agency registered in the U.S., the EU and the UK, and is designated to provide structured finance ratings in Canada. KBRAs ratings can be used by investors for regulatory capital purposes in multiple jurisdictions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711002196/en/ Neel Munot, Director +1 646-731-1215 [email protected] Roy Chun, Senior Managing Director +1 646-731-2376 [email protected] Nitin Bhasin, CFA, Senior Managing Director +1 646-731-2334 [email protected] Business Development Contact Dan Stallone, Senior Director +1 646-731-1308 [email protected] Source: KBRA Company to hold conference call and webcast to discuss second quarter financial results BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW) will release its second quarter 2023 financial results on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 after the market closes. The company will hold a live conference call and webcast to discuss results at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 3, 2023. The direct dial-in number for the conference call is (844) 340-4761 for U.S. callers and +1 (412) 717-9616 for international callers. A replay of the call will be available for one week beginning one hour after the live call and can be accessed at (877) 344-7529 for U.S. callers and +1 (412) 317-0088 for international callers. The passcode for the replay is 1027682. The webcast will be available at: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=ovP6xzdV. A replay of the webcast will be available one hour after the original webcast on the Companys investor relations web site for three months. About Kennedy Wilson Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW) is a leading global real estate investment company. The company owns, operates, and invests in real estate through the balance sheet and through an investment management platform across the Western United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland. Kennedy Wilson primarily focuses on multifamily and office properties as well as industrial and debt investments in the investment management business. For more information on Kennedy Wilson, please visit: www.kennedywilson.com. KW-IR View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230710531025/en/ Investors Daven Bhavsar, CFA Vice President of Investor Relations (310) 887-3431 [email protected] Source: Kennedy Wilson Customer Intelligence, automated Journeys, and built-in digital content library will help top credit union deliver the perfect member journey MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lake Michigan Credit Union (LMCU), a top five mortgage credit union headquartered in western Michigan, has partnered with Total Expert to help drive personalized engagement to their more than 568,000 members. By leveraging Total Experts purpose-built engagement platform, LMCU will be able to tap into intent data to serve up robust educational and product offerings to their members at the precise moment. With over 120 loan officers to support, LMCU needed a solution that was built to solve the unique challenges within mortgage lending and empower their team to lead with personalized communications to their members. With Total Expert, LMCU loan officers will now have access to a digital library of educational marketing materials that they can easily customize and share based on each members individual financial goals, reinforcing their value as a trusted partner and advisor. LMCU will use Total Experts automated journeys to effortlessly guide members and nurture leads. Our offerings at Lake Michigan Credit Union are some of the best available, but educating our members on all of their options is easier said than done, said Eric Burgoon, SVP of Mortgage Lending at LMCU. Partnering with Total Expert will help our loan officers engage our members at the right time with the right information for their individual financial circumstances. LMCU will also tap into the power of Total Experts Customer Intelligence to monitor member behavior and intent data, like when a member lists their home on the market or reaches a specific equity threshold. Customer Intelligence will be crucial for LMCU as they work to identify opportunities for growth and cross-selling. LMCU has an impressive track record that stems from its dedication to deliver the best possible outcomes for members along with a seamless member experience, said Joe Welu, founder and CEO of Total Expert. Were excited to watch their relationships grow as they more deeply connect and communicate with members, and leverage data to unlock tremendous amounts of value. For more information about Total Expert, visit totalexpert.com. About Total Expert Total Expert is the purpose-built CRM and customer engagement platform trusted by more than 175 financial enterprises. The platform unifies data, marketing, sales, and compliance solutions to deliver the perfect customer journey across every financial milestone. Total Expert turns customer insights into actions to increase loyalty and drive growth for banks, lenders, credit unions, and insurance companies, and is now available to purchase through the AWS Marketplace and Salesforce AppExchange. For conversations between modern banks and lenders on leadership and innovation, listen to the Expert Insights podcast hosted by Founder and CEO Joe Welu. For more information, visit totalexpert.com. About Lake Michigan Credit Union Lake Michigan Credit Union is the largest credit union in Michigan and the 16th largest in the country. Employing a staff of over 1,500, LMCUs assets of almost $12.5 billion, with a mortgage-serviced portfolio of over $12 billion and over 574,000 members. LMCU has 60 convenient branch locations overall, including 20 in southwest and central Florida. LMCU members have access to over 55,000 Allpoint ATMs worldwide. LMCU provides a full-range of financial services, from high interest-bearing checking accounts to personal loans, mortgages, investments and commercial banking. To find out more, visit LMCU.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711027055/en/ Marissa Matchey for Total Expert [email protected] 612 817 9753 Source: Total Expert TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Messagepoint Inc. announced today that it has signed Newbold Advisors as a referral partner for its customer communications management (CCM) solution. Newbold Advisors provides business, technology and staffing consulting and professional services to the mortgage servicing sector and will introduce Messagepoint to clients looking to improve borrower communications operations and experiences. Messagepoint provides a powerful solution for addressing the key issues relating to inefficiency, slow change cycles and outdated borrower communications for mortgage servicers today, said Newbold partner Michael Wade. The ability to accelerate time to market, improve the quality of communications and centrally manage content for all channels from one intelligent content hub is a game changer for mortgage servicing organizations. Many mortgage servicers are challenged by long authoring and change cycles for critical borrower correspondence due to existing constraints with legacy platforms, as well as a heavy reliance on IT and third-party service providers to code content changes. These communications are also subject to strict regulatory requirements, which add acute time pressures and operational complexity, particularly for large mortgage servicing teams that manage loans involving multiple states and mortgage origination clients. By modernizing communications systems to move away from code-intensive solutions, both servicers and their print partners can reduce costs and accelerate processes. With its patented variation management capabilities, Messagepoints cloud-native, AI-powered CCM solution makes it easy for business teams to manage borrower communication variations that incorporate regional or brand differences. In addition, by empowering business teams with no-code approaches to authoring, updating and managing content directly, mortgage servicers can significantly reduce their reliance on IT and third-party service providers. This reduces time to market for new or updated communications from weeks down to hours, enabling teams to adapt quickly to regulatory or market changes. Messagepoints unique focus on content gives mortgage servicers a more intelligent way to manage their borrower communications, resulting in rapid and significant improvements in operational efficiency, speed and the quality of communications, said Steve Biancaniello, founder and CEO of Messagepoint. Messagepoints intelligent SaaS-based content hub is used by leading financial services, insurance, healthcare and service organizations to create and manage highly personalized customer communications for print and digital channels. Messagepoint is recognized as a leader in the customer communications space by industry analysts and has been awarded three patents for its AI-powered platform. The organization recently announced the addition of generative AI capabilities to its platform, enhancing the Assisted Authoring capabilities in Messagepoint to offer suggested content rewrites to address content issues related to sentiment, reading levels and brand alignment. For more information, contact Messagepoint at [email protected]. About Messagepoint Messagepoint is a leading provider of customer communications management software. Only Messagepoint harnesses AI-powered Content Intelligence to automate and simplify the process of migrating, optimizing, authoring and managing complex customer communications for non-technical (business) users. Customers rely on its award-winning platform to consistently deliver exceptional, highly personalized customer communications across all platforms and channels. For more information, visit www.messagepoint.com. About Newbold Newbold Advisors, LLC is a national consulting and professional services company serving institutional clients in the private sector. The firms mission is to deploy qualified mortgage lending professionals at competitive rates to achieve tangible results. Our goal is to earn every clients trust by delivering results with integrity. For more information, visit https://newboldadvisors.com/mortgage/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711824778/en/ Patricia Kilgore Sterling Kilgore 630-567-9379 [email protected] Source: Messagepoint Inc. Attorney Carl E. Douglas will represent city of Los Angeles, water leader Garry Bryant will represent Foothill Municipal Water District LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Two new directors representing Foothill Municipal Water District and the city of Los Angeles were seated today on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Longtime water professional Garry Bryant succeeds Richard Atwater, who represented Foothill on Metropolitans 38-member board since April 2014. Attorney Carl E. Douglas follows Heather Repenning, who represented Los Angeles on the board since December 2019. Throughout their careers Director Bryant and Director Douglas have shown their unwavering commitment to justice, advancing diversity, and driving positive change in our communities, said Metropolitan board Chair Adan Ortega, Jr. Im confident that their presence on the board will enhance Metropolitans leadership in these important areas as we strive to address affordability and equitable supply reliability. Bryant has served on Foothills Board of Directors since 2011, chairing its engineering and operations committee and serving on the personnel committee. He also served on the Las Flores Water Company Board of Directors for more than two decades and is the current board secretary. Bryant retired from Metropolitan as a principal project controls specialist in June after 21 years with the district. During his tenure in the Engineering Services group, he played a key role in budgeting and cost reporting for many of the groups capital investment plan projects and led the project controls team in handling Metropolitans operation and maintenance, capital and reimbursable projects. Before joining Metropolitan, Bryant served as the facilities business manager at California State University, Los Angeles. Bryant earned a masters degree in public administration and a bachelors degree in political science and economics from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Douglas is the founding partner of the Los Angeles-based, private practice Douglas/Hicks Law, specializing in personal injury, civil rights, and criminal law matters. He has been acknowledged by the Los Angeles/San Francisco Daily Journal, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, and the John M. Langston Bar Association for his courtroom successes. He previously was the managing attorney at the law offices of Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Douglas also represented plaintiffs in state and federal courts in diverse civil litigation. Prior to joining Cochrans office, Douglas was a trial attorney at the Federal Public Defenders Office in Los Angeles and worked at the Federal Communication Commission in Washington, D.C. Douglas earned a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a bachelors degree in political science from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711598111/en/ Rebecca Kimitch, (213) 217-6450; (202) 821-5253, mobile; [email protected] Maritza Fairfield, (213) 217-6853; (909) 816-7722, mobile; [email protected] Source: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. A meeting was held with the participation of representatives of the Azerbaijan Banks Association (ABA) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Trend reports. The main purpose of the meeting, held with the participation of the "Group of Experts on Credit Business" operating under the ABA and the delegation of the IsDB group, is to expand the framework of cooperation between the Islamic Development Bank and Azerbaijan. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on strengthening cooperation between the ABA and the IDB group, the demand for Islamic banking in Azerbaijan, opportunities to promote long-term financing and foreign direct investment by foreign banks. The Association of Banks of Azerbaijan was founded in 1990. The main purpose of the association is to protect the interests of member organizations, assist in meeting their needs in various types of business services and coordinate their activities. APA members are 24 banks and six non-banking organizations. VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The union representing 9,500 flight attendants at Air Canada says Sunday's tarmac fire at Trudeau International Airport in Montreal is a grim reminder of the risks that flight attendants face every day on the job, and the important role they play in ensuring passenger safety in the air - and on the ground. A vehicle caught fire below an Air Canada aircraft in the process of deplaning Sunday afternoon, but the cabin crew was able to evacuate the passengers without injury. "It's thanks to the professionalism and training of our crew on board that plane that everyone was evacuated safely and no one was hurt," said Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE. But this incident is also a cruel reminder of the fact that the flight attendants who worked to evacuate this aircraft weren't even being paid during the incident because Air Canada doesn't pay their flight attendants when the plane isn't in motion. A survey in December 2022 showed flight attendants in Canada, on average, work 35 hours unpaid every month, while they perform pre-flight safety checks, assist passengers during boarding and during ground delays, and - as in Sunday's case - respond to emergencies on the ground. "It's incomprehensible that workers who take responsibility for hundreds of lives on the job every day should be working for free," continued Lesosky. "This is precisely why we've been telling airlines and the feds for months that we're done with the rampant abuse of unpaid work in our industry, and it's time for this exploitation to end." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711333005/en/ Hugh Pouliot CUPE Communications 613-818-0067 [email protected] Source: CUPE Dial-in numbers: From the USA (toll free): +1-(888)-339-0721 From Mexico (toll free): +001-855 817-7630 From other countries: +1-(412)-317-5247 When dialing in, please let the operator know you are here for the Orbia earnings call. Participants are requested to connect 10 minutes prior to start time. The presentation that will be used during the webcast will be available on the Investors section of the Orbia website. A recording of the webcast will be posted on the website shortly after the call is completed. The webcast can be accessed here. MELBOURNE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Corporation will build a first-of-a-kind hydrogen plant in Gladstone as part of a A$111.1 million program aimed at lowering carbon emissions from the alumina refining process. The Yarwun Hydrogen Calcination Pilot Demonstration Program received the green light after a A$32.1 million co-funding boost from the federal governments Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The program is aimed at demonstrating the viability of using hydrogen in the calcination process, where hydrated alumina is heated to temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius. It involves construction of a hydrogen plant at the refinery and the retrofit of refinery processing equipment. If successful, the program could pave the way for adoption of the technology at scale globally. Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Operations Managing Director Armando Torres said This pilot plant is an important step in testing whether hydrogen can replace natural gas in Queensland alumina refineries. At Rio Tinto we have put the energy transition at the heart of our business strategy, and this is one of the ways were working towards decarbonising our operations. We are proud to be developing this new technology here in Gladstone, in partnership with Sumitomo Corporation, and with support from ARENA. The project will consist of construction of a 2.5MW on-site electrolyser to supply hydrogen to the Yarwun refinery and a retrofit of one of Yarwuns four calciners so it can operate at times with a hydrogen burner. The trial is expected to produce the equivalent of about 6,000 tonnes of alumina per year while reducing Yarwuns carbon dioxide emissions by about 3,000 tonnes per year. Converting the entire plant to green hydrogen could reduce emissions by 500,000 tonnes per year, which is the equivalent of taking about 109,000 internal combustion engine cars off the road. Construction will start in 2024. The hydrogen plant and calciner are expected to be in operation by 2025. Sumitomo Corporation will own and operate the electrolyser at Yarwun site and supply the hydrogen to Rio Tinto directly. The electrolyser will have a production capacity of more than 250 tonnes of hydrogen annually. Sumitomo Corporation Energy Innovation Initiative Director, Seiji Kitajima said We are excited to be delivering this hydrogen project together with Rio Tinto as our long-term partner with the support of ARENA. Demonstrating real-world applications of hydrogen in industrial settings with motivated partners is essential to reducing carbon emissions and working toward our companys vision of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Through this demonstration, Sumitomo Corporation aims to venture into the commercialisation project to contribute to Rio Tintos decarbonisation. Sumitomo Corporation is proud to be working on yet another hydrogen project in Australia and contributing to Australias own emission reductions goals. The pilot plant follows the success of a A$1.2 million feasibility study co-funded by Rio Tinto and ARENA that was announced in 2021. Rio Tinto is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and has targets to reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 from 2018 levels. About Sumitomo Corporation Sumitomo Corporation (SC) is a leading Fortune 500 global trading and business investment company with 129 locations (Japan:20, Overseas:109) in 66 countries and regions. The entire SC Group consists of more than 900 companies. SC conducts commodity transactions in all industries utilising worldwide networks, provides customers with financing, serves as an organiser and a coordinator for various projects, and invests in companies to promote greater growth potential. SCs core business areas include six business units: Metal Products; Transportation & Construction Systems; Infrastructure; Media & Digital; Living Related & Real Estate; and Mineral Resources, Energy, Chemical & Electronics, and one initiative: Energy Innovation. Sumitomo Corporation established a new business organisation entitled the Energy Innovation Initiative (EII) in April 2021 which will carry this Gladstone project. In order to greatly contribute to the achievement of our long-term goals toward climate change mitigation, "Carbon neutralisation in 2050" and "Realisation of a sustainable energy cycle", we will accelerate our efforts for the materialisation of a hydrogen society by promoting hydrogen related businesses. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711418008/en/ Please direct all enquiries to [email protected] Media Relations, United Kingdom Matthew Klar M +44 7796 630 637 David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Americas Simon Letendre M +1 514 796 4973 Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293 Media Relations, Australia Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739 Jesse Riseborough M +61 436 653 412 Alyesha Anderson M +61 434 868 118 Investor Relations, United Kingdom Menno Sanderse M +44 7825 195 178 David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978 Danielle Smith M +44 7788 190 672 Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948 Amar Jambaa M +61 472 865 948 Rio Tinto plc 6 St Jamess Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885 Rio Tinto Limited Level 43, 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404 riotinto.com Category: General Source: Rio Tinto HES-23 - International Conference on Heating by Electromagnetic in Padua, Italy DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On May 10th to 12th, 2023, the HES-23 International Conference on Heating by Electromagnetic was hosted in Padua, Italy, by LEP the Laboratory for Electroheat - Padua Department of Industrial Engineering University of Padua. The event was attended by delegates from around the world, who shared presentations on the latest advances in the field. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, the conference was a great success, showcasing the latest research and developments in this area of induction heating technology. This year, HES-23 and Fluxtrol Inc. have partnered to provide a competition-based award and recognition program, aptly named the ROBERT S. RUFFINI INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD, for aspiring young innovators and professionals. The main aim of this program is to motivate and engage young scientists in entrepreneurship ventures and to create attractive opportunities in the global electrotechnology sector. The esteemed award was presented to the winner Mikus Milgravis for his project and demonstration of a crucible stirrer. At the conference, Fluxtrol Inc. President Robert T Ruffini, FASM, HES Conference Sucession Chair Robert C Goldstein, and professors Paolo di Barba of Pavia University, Egbert Baake of Leibnitz University Hanover, and Fabrizio Dughiero of the University of Padua acted as judges. We, at Fluxtrol Inc., would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mikus for winning the award and to wish him all the best in his future endeavors. About Fluxtrol Fluxtrol Inc. has been a pioneer in induction technologies for more than four decades. As a worldwide leader in the manufacture and supply of soft magnetic composites (SMC), the company is committed to providing a range of electromagnetic induction technology engineering solutions to industries such as Aerospace, Automotive, Consumer Products, Energy, and more. To learn more, please visit https://fluxtrol.com or reach out to us by emailing [email protected]. Related Links https://fluxtrol.com https://fluxtrol.com/press https://twitter.com/fluxtrol https://www.linkedin.com/company/1403450/ https://www.youtube.com/user/Fluxtrol https://www.facebook.com/Fluxtrol View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711425573/en/ Press and Media Inquiries Robert Ruffini President Fluxtrol Inc. P: Toll-Free: 1-800-224-5522 P: Outside USA: 1-248-393-2000 E: [email protected] Fluxtrol Inc. - Advancing Induction Technology Source: Fluxtrol Inc. TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Russell Investments Canada Limited (Russell Investments Canada) today announced cash distributions for the ETF Series of certain mutual funds (ETF Series) for the months of July, August and September. Unitholders of record of the ETF Series, as of the Record Date, will receive a per-unit cash distribution payable on the Payment Date. Details of the per-unit cash distribution amount are as follows: Fund Name Ticker Symbol Cash Distribution per Unit ($) CUSIP ISIN Record Date Payment Date Exchange Russell Investments Fixed Income Pool RIFI $0.059 78249T103 CA78249T1030 July 20, 2023 July 25, 2023 TSX August 22, 2023 August 25, 2023 September 20, 2023 September 25, 2023 Russell Investments Global Infrastructure Pool RIIN $0.070 78250R103 CA78250R1038 July 20, 2023 July 25, 2023 TSX August 22, 2023 August 25, 2023 September 20, 2023 September 25, 2023 Russell Investments Real Assets RIRA $0.066 78250P107 CA78250P1071 July 20, 2023 July 25, 2023 TSX August 22, 2023 August 25, 2023 September 20, 2023 September 25, 2023 The Manager, Russell Investments Canada Limited, administers and manages the ETF Series. About Russell Investments Canada Limited Russell Investments Canada Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Russell Investments Group, Ltd. Established in 1985, Russell Investments Canada Limited has its head office in Toronto. About Russell Investments Russell Investments is a leading global investment solutions firm providing a wide range of investment capabilities to institutional investors, financial intermediaries, and individual investors around the world. Building on an 86-year legacy of continuous innovation to deliver exceptional value to clients, Russell Investments works every day to improve the financial security of its clients. The firm has CA$390.2 billion in assets under management (as of 03/31/2023) for clients in 30 countries. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Russell Investments has offices in 17 cities around the world, including London, New York, Sydney, Toronto and Tokyo. For more information, please visit www.russellinvestments.com/ca. Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or dissemination in the United States. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in the ETF Series Units. Investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses, and other important information are contained in the prospectus. Please read the prospectus and ETF Facts carefully before investing. The ETF Series Units are not guaranteed, their value may change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Certain statements included in this news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as or similar to, "expects", "anticipates", "believes" or negative versions thereof. Forward looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to, among other things, risk, uncertainties and assumptions about economic factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from what is contemplated. We encourage you to consider these and other factors carefully before making any investment decisions and we urge you to avoid placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Russell Investments has no specific intention of updating any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the fund, please see the specific risks of mutual funds section of the prospectus. Units of ETF Series trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. Income tax considerations for investors are contained in the prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Russell Investments' ownership is composed of a majority stake held by funds managed by TA Associates, with a significant minority stake held by funds managed by Reverence Capital Partners. Certain of Russell Investments' employees and Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC also hold minority, non-controlling, ownership stakes. Copyright Russell Investments Canada Limited 2023. All rights reserved. Frank Russell Company is the owner of the Russell trademarks contained in this material and all trademark rights related to the Russell trademarks, which the members of the Russell Investments group of companies are permitted to use under license from Frank Russell Company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711336395/en/ Steve Claiborne, [email protected] Source: Russell Investments Canada Limited AARHUS, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global master data management (MDM) solution provider Stibo Systems experienced solid growth as it recently closed another successful fiscal year. Revenues grew 15%, from 135.29 million USD in the 2021-22 fiscal year to 155.58 million USD in the 2022-23 fiscal year. Despite yet another year of worldwide economic uncertainty, our revenue growth proves that trustworthy data is more of a business imperative now than ever before, said Adrian Carr, Stibo Systems CEO. Our customers, both newly won and longstanding, are benefiting from a 360-degree view of their data in a host of business areas, from customer experience to compliance to sustainability and ESG reporting. Software as a service (SaaS) is fueling growth, and all Stibo Systems new customers are opting for a Cloud deployment. More than 250 customers have chosen the flexibility and scalability of SaaS subscription contracts to run their master data management efforts with Stibo Systems, increasing recurring revenue participation in the business, with monthly recurring revenue growing 23% over previous fiscal year. Our SaaS offering is bringing in innovative new customers, and our existing customer base is increasingly eager to migrate to the Cloud, key to making our install base a big contributor to total revenue. We expect this trend to continue at least for the next couple of years, so revenue outlook is very positive, Carr said. The North America region continues its trend of high-speed growth, going from 36% of total revenue last fiscal year to 39%. The company will continue to invest in this region while at the same time strengthening its presence in EMEA, LATAM and APAC. Stibo Systems innovation investments around core capabilities of MDM, including AI-enabled automation, are increasing the companys competitive position, and an increase in customers moving from single to multiple data domains has been observed. Stibo Systems MDM platform enjoys unique competitive advantage on product data food, apparel, electronics, etc., - and the fact that the same technology is also used to master data across other data domains such as customer, supplier and location brings substantial benefits to customers that can maximize their return on investment (ROI) whilst also enabling more sophisticated business insights from the intersections of data across domains, Carr said. We continue to set the standards in how to manage data in the Retail, Consumer Products, Manufacturing and Distribution industries, helping our customer deliver better business outcomes and a better world by working with better data, concluded Carr. About Stibo Systems Stibo Systems, the master data management company, is the trusted enabler of data transparency. Our solutions are the driving force behind forward-thinking companies around the world that have unlocked the strategic value of their master data. We empower them to improve the customer experience, drive innovation and growth and create an essential foundation for digital transformation. This gives them the transparency they require and desire a single, accurate view of their master data so they can make informed decisions and achieve goals of scale, scope and ambition. Stibo Systems is a privately held subsidiary of Stibo Software Group, which is headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark. The foundational ownership guarantees the long-term perspective of the business. More at https://www.stibosystems.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711900613/en/ Katherine Hahn Public Relations Manager [email protected] Source: Stibo Systems BOGOTA, Colombia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Colombia consolidates its strategy of non-extractive foreign direct investment to convince the world that investing in this country always means more. As one of the most committed countries to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Government, led by President Gustavo Petro, invites investors to place their trust and capital in the nation with the most robust democracy in Latin America. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711499105/en/ Colombia invites foreign investment, emphasizing sustainability, democracy, strategic location, and a thriving economy. Fertile lands, renewable energy focus, and skilled labor make Colombia an ideal destination for innovation and growth. (Photo: Business Wire) According to German Umana, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, the country positions itself as a territory with a strong and flourishing economy, offering an ideal and unique environment for business opportunities. "Colombia seeks investments that contribute to economic growth, reducing inequality, promoting gender equity, and ultimately, building comprehensive peace, as well as positioning Colombia as a global power of life." One of the pillars supporting the notion that Colombia is a unique investment destination is its geostrategic location, which makes it an excellent export platform. Excellent air and maritime connections provide competitive delivery times, with access to the United States in just 5 days and access to the Netherlands and other European ports in 12 days. Additionally, Colombia has a network of 17 trade agreements that provide preferential access to 97% of the markets in the region, making it an ideal destination for reaching third markets. Thanks to its location in the equatorial zone and diverse climatic conditions, the Colombian agricultural frontier possesses a significant percentage of highly fertile soils, along with abundant and high-quality water resources. Noteworthy are the presence of volcanic soils, andisols, and molisols, ideal for agriculture, with over 9 million hectares of available land in the country. These favorable conditions make Colombia an attractive option for agro-industrial investment. Furthermore, Colombia enjoys year-round sunlight, two oceans, and strong winds in deserts and high peaks. Consequently, the country has implemented a modern regulatory, institutional, and market framework to diversify its energy matrix. This aims to reduce dependence on water sources for energy generation and aligns with its commitment to become a global sustainability powerhouse. According to the 2050 Energy Plan published by UPME, it is expected that 25% of the energy matrix will come from non-conventional renewable energy sources to meet climate goals and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The energy transition is a priority for the Government. Carmen Caballero, President of ProColombia, has stated, "We want to promote international projects that contribute to offsetting emissions and foster investment opportunities in energy transition, circular economy, sustainable tourism, and bioeconomy." To this end, comprehensive and robust new legislation is being developed, currently undergoing the legislative process in Congress, which will establish Colombia as one of the most important champions of the bioeconomy. Colombia also stands out as a significant business center in the region due to its diversified and consistently growing economy, with key sectors such as technology and financial services. This is just a glimpse of what the South American nation offers foreign investors to protect and enhance their investments. In 2023, 310,000 companies were created in Colombia, supported by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism's intention to facilitate foreign investment that promotes innovation and technology transfer, generates value-added exports, fosters human capacity development, creates quality jobs, and contributes to integrating micro, small, and medium-sized business in the country into global value chains. Experience has already been gained in developing specialized IT solutions in verticals such as fintech, healthcare, agribusiness, oil and gas, energy and telecommunications, logistics, government, digital marketing, virtual and augmented reality, business, and big data. Over 20 data processing centers have also been established, including companies like IBM. Additionally, it has a competitive Shared Services Center industry with expertise in human resources, finance, procurement, logistics, technology, general and administrative services, and digital transformation, ensuring high levels of efficiency and strategic support. Colombia also stands out as an exporter of high-quality audiovisual content, including series, novels, reality shows, documentaries, and cultural programs. The film industry has received recognition at prestigious international events such as the Oscars, Golden Globes, and Cannes Film Festival. Moreover, the country offers high-quality production services with state-of-the-art equipment and demanding standards. Combined with significant incentives for production companies choosing Colombia and its diverse geography as a location. The country relies on its workforce as its most valuable resource. Colombia ranks third in the region in terms of the availability of skilled labor and has three universities in the top 500 worldwide and 13 in the top 100 in Latin America. In Colombia, investors can find an ideal business environment, favorable government policies, strategic location, and consistent economic growth in the country. According to the World Bank, this year's projected growth is 5.4%, while the IMF estimates a growth rate of 6.3%, and the ODCE calculates a growth rate of 6.1%. The President of ProColombia expressed, "We are more than ready to be the extended arm of entrepreneurs and their companies. We know that together we can achieve great things, and we have much more to offer." For more information visit here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711499105/en/ For information or to schedule interviews, please contact: In Brazil: Name: Maria Fernanda Sanchez Montenegro Position: Latin America Investment Promotion Manager Email: [email protected] In France and United Kingdom: Name: Gonzalo Vargas Alvarez Position: Europa Investment Promotion Manager Email: [email protected] In Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and United Arab Emirates: Name: Manuel Salgado Pardo Position: Asia Investment Promotion Manager Email: [email protected] Source: ProColombia DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE: TPL) (the Company or TPL) announced today that the Company will release second quarter 2023 financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. A conference call will be held on Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Webcast: A webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investors section of the Companys website at www.texaspacific.com. To listen to the live broadcast, go to the site at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to register and install any necessary audio software. To Participate in the Telephone Conference Call: Dial in at least 15 minutes prior to start time: Domestic: 1-844-826-3035 International: 1-412-317-5195 Conference Call Playback: Domestic: 1-844-512-2921 International: 1-412-317-6671 Pass code: 10180419 The playback can be accessed through August 17, 2023. About Texas Pacific Land Corporation Texas Pacific Land Corporation is one of the largest landowners in the State of Texas with approximately 874,000 acres of land in West Texas, with the majority of its ownership concentrated in the Permian Basin. The Company is not an oil and gas producer, but its surface and royalty ownership provide revenue opportunities throughout the life cycle of a well. These revenue opportunities include fixed fee payments for use of our land, revenue for sales of materials (caliche) used in the construction of infrastructure, providing sourced water and/or treated produced water, revenue from our oil and gas royalty interests, and revenues related to saltwater disposal on our land. The Company also generates revenue from pipeline, power line and utility easements, commercial leases and temporary permits related to a variety of land uses including midstream infrastructure projects and hydrocarbon processing facilities. Visit TPL at texaspacific.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711007882/en/ Investor Relations [email protected] Source: Texas Pacific Land Corporation Albert Stanton joins from Cetera; Kevin Frontone and Kent (Bo) Hunter join separately from Edward Jones MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP) recently added three financial advisors to its independent channel with more than $400 million in combined client assets. Albert Stanton, AIF joined from Cetera Advisors LLC with $125 million in client assets in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Kevin Frontone, CFP, AAMS joined from Edward Jones with $107 million in client assets in Springfield, Illinois. Separately, Kent (Bo) Hunter joined from Edward Jones with $172 million in client assets in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Ameriprise was a clear choice for Stanton after an extensive search We were looking to increase our suite of resources, technology and support to provide an enhanced client experience, said Stanton. After an extensive search, Ameriprise was the clear choice for us. Stanton says there were three main reasons he and his team joined Ameriprise: Technology: Were now able to offer a mobile app and online portal for more streamlined and interactive client account viewing. The Ameriprise digital tools also allow us to seamlessly track goals and manage portfolios, creating efficiency that frees up our time to focus on clients. Were now able to offer a mobile app and online portal for more streamlined and interactive client account viewing. The Ameriprise digital tools also allow us to seamlessly track goals and manage portfolios, creating efficiency that frees up our time to focus on clients. Support: Ameriprises back-office support has been great from day one. The transition expertise and guidance were a huge help, along with the dedicated team that we can go to with questions. Ameriprises back-office support has been great from day one. The transition expertise and guidance were a huge help, along with the dedicated team that we can go to with questions. Stability and Focus: Partnering with a firm whose main focus is working with advisors was very important to us. Ameriprise has over 100 years of experience in the field and a strong level of financial strength and stability. Stantons practice is supported by marketing manager and registered financial consultant, Caroline Stanton, client service manager, Susan Hayes, office manager, Kathleen Brennan, and founder and consultant, Joseph Sullivan. Frontone looks to take his practice to the next level with Ameriprise Frontone and his team use a holistic planning approach with the families they serve, and they wanted to further elevate the experience they deliver to clients. We found exactly what we were looking for at Ameriprise, said Frontone. Ameriprises integrated suite of technology, comprehensive menu of products and services and the flexibility to grow his practice all while maintaining the highest level of client service were among the top reasons Frontone moved to Ameriprise. After 18 years in the industry, I was looking to take my practice to the next level. At Ameriprise, I now have the flexibility and tools to provide a truly comprehensive approach to planning, said Frontone. Clients have been impressed with the new digital capabilities and the wider range of solutions to further meet their needs. Frontones practice is supported by client service manager, Erin Campbell, and operations specialist, Sarah Quintana Barrett. Hunter was attracted to Ameriprises technology and dedication to financial planning Were excited to join Ameriprise and know this is the best place for us to serve our clients moving forward, said Hunter. The firm is a longstanding leader in financial planning, and weve been impressed with the digital capabilities that make it more efficient to do business and seamlessly engage with clients. Hunters practice is supported by assistants, Beverly Housewirth and Rhonda Hightower. Ameriprise continues to attract experienced financial advisors, with approximately 1,700 joining the firm in the last 5 years.1 Nine out of ten advisors who joined Ameriprise say the firms technology, financial planning capabilities and ability to acquire clients is better than their previous firm.2 To find out why experienced financial advisors are joining Ameriprise, visit ameriprise.com/why. About Ameriprise Financial At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel more confident about their financial future for more than 125 years. With extensive advice and financial planning, asset management and insurance capabilities, and a nationwide network of approximately 10,000 financial advisors, we have the expertise and strength to serve the full range of individual and institutional investors financial needs.3 Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. Investment products are not insured by the FDIC, NCUA or any federal agency, are not deposits or obligations of or guaranteed by any financial institution, and involve investment risks including possible loss of principal and fluctuation in value. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. 2023 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Ameriprise Financial 2022 10-K. 2 Ultimate Advisor Partnership Survey, Ameriprise Financial, November 2021. Ameriprise asked experienced advisors that moved their book of business to the firm within the last one to five years to compare Ameriprise support, resources and capabilities to their previous firm and to state their satisfaction with their experience. 294 advisors responded to the Ultimate Advisor Partnership survey, which identified top ways Ameriprise stands out compared to competitors. 3 Ameriprise Financial 2022 10-K. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711901259/en/ Allison Harries, Media Relations 612.678.7035 [email protected] Source: Ameriprise Financial, Inc. SWORDS, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Trane Technologies plc (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator, will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2023 financial results on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at 10 a.m. ET. The company will issue its second quarter earnings release and earnings presentation in advance of the call; both will be available on the Trane Technologies website. A real-time, listen-only webcast of the conference call will be broadcast live over the internet. Individuals wishing to listen can access the call through the companys website at www.tranetechnologies.com under the investor relations section. For those unable to listen to the live event, a replay will be available on the companys website at approximately 1 p.m. ET, August 2, 2023. About Trane Technologies Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane and Thermo King, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes, and transportation. Learn more at tranetechnologies.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711302851/en/ Media: Shelby Hansen +1 704-990-3835 [email protected] Investors: Zachary Nagle +1 704-990-3913 [email protected] Source: Trane Technologies BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. Crude oil and petroleum products exports from Kazakhstan to the US over 10 years surged over two times. According to the data obtained by Trend, to compare Kazakhstan's oil exports to the US in 2021 with the volume shipped in 2011 - the supplies surged by 134.6 percent - from 5.088 million barrels in 2011 to 11.937 million in 2021. The table below shows the dynamics of exports between 2011 and 2021: Year Volume (barrels) 2011 5.088 million 2012 5.072 million 2013 7.092 million 2014 6.234 million 2015 5.416 million 2016 5.278 million 2017 3.853 million 2018 12.961 million 2019 15.753 million 2020 9.095 million 2021 11.937 million During this time span, the highest level of imports by the US from Kazakhstan was recorded in 2019 (15.753 million barrels), while the lowest level was observed in 2017 (3.853 million barrels). Moreover, the US imported some 12.425 million barrels of crude from Kazakhstan in 2022. Over the first 4 months of 2023, the US imported some 4.8 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products from Kazakhstan. DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) plans to release its first quarter fiscal 2024 financial results on Tuesday, August 1st, 2023 at approximately 4:05 p.m. ET. Following the news release, VF management will host a conference call at approximately 4:30 p.m. ET to review results. The conference call will be broadcast live on the Internet, accessible at ir.vfc.com. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, an archived version will be available at the same location. About VF Founded in 1899, VF Corporation is one of the worlds largest active-lifestyle companies which connects people to the activities and experiences they cherish most through a portfolio of outdoor, active, workwear and streetwear brands including Vans, The North Face, Timberland and Dickies. Our purpose is to power movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and our planet. We connect this purpose with a relentless drive to succeed to create value for all stakeholders and use our company as a force for good. For more information, please visit vfc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711701319/en/ Investor Contact: Allegra Perry [email protected] Media Contact: Colin Wheeler [email protected] Source: VF Corporation MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- World Kinect Corporation (NYSE: WKC) invites you to participate in a conference call with its management team on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the company's second quarter results, as well as certain forward-looking information. The company plans to release its second quarter results after the market closes on the same date. Participants can access the live webcast or participate by phone by visiting the companys website at https://ir.wfscorp.com/events. To join the conference call by phone, participants must pre-register and will then receive dial-in information and a PIN enabling access to the call. A replay of the webcast will be available and can be accessed in the same manner as the live webcast on the company's website through August 9, 2023. About World Kinect Corporation Headquartered in Miami, Florida, World Kinect Corporation is a leading global energy management company, offering a broad suite of energy advisory, management and fulfillment services, digital and other technology solutions, as well as sustainability products and services across the energy product spectrum. In addition to its core energy offerings to customers in the transportation sector, the company has expanded its product and service offerings to include energy advisory services, sustainability and renewable energy solutions, as well as supply fulfillment for natural gas and power. The company continues to focus on advancing the energy transition to lower carbon alternatives through expanding its portfolio of energy solutions and providing customers with greater access to sustainably sourced energy. For more information, visit corp.worldkinect.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711156548/en/ Ira M. Birns Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Elsa Ballard Vice President of Investor Relations [email protected] Source: World Kinect Corporation Enerpac Tool Group Corp. (NYSE: EPAC) (Enerpac or the Company) announced today that it has completed a sale of its Cortland Industrial, LLC business to Tufropes, a global leader in the manufacturing of high-performance synthetic fiber ropes and netting solutions. Enerpac intends to use net proceeds from this sale to pay down existing debt and support further strategic investments in growth and profitability. As a part of the purchase agreement, the Company will provide certain transition services to Tufropes for a limited period. Paul Sternlieb, Enerpac Tool Group Corp. President and CEO, stated, With this transaction, we are continuing to sharpen Enerpac Tool Groups pure-play focus. At the same time, we are pleased to have completed a competitive process for Cortland Industrial that culminated in this value-maximizing transaction and provides a strong new home in Tufropes for our Cortland Industrial team members. Cortland Industrial is a global designer, manufacturer, and supplier of technologically advanced ropes, slings, and tethers. The sale of the Cortland Industrial business also includes the related assets of the business including fixed assets, inventory, intangible assets and long-term leases for two manufacturing facilities located in Anacortes, WA and Houston, TX. The business generated $26.2 million of revenue in fiscal year 2022. The transaction will have minimal impact on continuing operations. Importantly, Enerpac reaffirms its strong commitment to retaining, investing in, and growing the Cortland Biomedical business, a full-service biomedical textile product development company, which continues to deliver strong performance with its high-growth profile and accretive margins. Italian Industry Minister, Adolfo Urso appeared on SkyTG24 news Tuesday where the minister revealed that he expects Fiat-parent Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) to more than double the number of cars it produces in the country. The announcement comes a day after Minister Urso met with Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. "we set a (target) figure, one million cars, and Tavares said he can do it, and go from 450,000 to 1 million cars," Urso said. A spokesperson for Stellantis said the company was "hopeful" the right conditions will be created to reverse the decline in Italian automotive production. According to the FIM-CISL trade union, Stellantis' automotive production in Italy last year totalled around 685,750 units, comprising almost 480,000 cars and 206,000 vans. On Monday, Stellantis mentioned that the increase in production in Italy relies on various factors such as market predictions, affordability of vehicles, the influence of Euro 7 emissions regulations, and incentives aimed at bolstering Italy's competitiveness. Shares of STLA are up 0.43% in afternoon trading on Tuesday. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed Tuesday that the U.S. regulator has opened an investigation into Detroit automaker, Ford Motors (NYSE: F) after receiving 118 questionnaires pointing to the potential for poor spot welds in the check arm bracket for the front doors in Ford Escape vehicles. A poor weld could potentially lead to an assembly failure and result in a door inadvertently opening while driving. The investigation covers 346,000 Ford Escape SUVs built between 2020 and 2021. NHTSA reported that it has received 25 reports of minor injuries and one report of minor property damage tied to the issue. Some Escape owners were quoted $1,800 to $2,500 in repair costs to replace a front driver-side door that needed to be replaced. Others say they can still close doors but there are creaking and grinding noises when in use. Several owners said their door windows had stopped working. Many more consumers have reported hearing popping noises when opening the door as the door check bracket begins to separate. Ford said it is "working with NHTSA to support their investigation." NHTSA's preliminary evaluation is a first step before the agency could demand a recall. Shares of F are up 0.20% in early trading on Tuesday. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] FILE PHOTO: Binance logo is seen in this illustration taken March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo By Tom Wilson and Jaiveer Shekhawat (Reuters) -A string of executives have quit Binance, according to their tweets and media reports, the latest blow for the world's biggest crypto exchange as its battles a slate of legal and regulatory headaches. Chief Strategy Officer Patrick Hillmann said in a tweet on Thursday that he was leaving the exchange, citing personal reasons. Steven Christie, a compliance executive who joined Binance in May 2022, also tweeted on Friday that he was leaving, saying he was "tired" and that he needed to "lose some weight." General Counsel Hon Ng has also quit, Fortune and Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, with both outlets citing a person familiar with his departure. Yibo Ling, Binance's U.S.-based chief business officer, has also left, Bloomberg reported. Binance did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the resignations. Neither Ng nor Ling immediately replied to LinkedIn messages form Reuters. Last month, U.S. regulators sued the crypto exchange and its CEO Changpeng Zhao for allegedly operating a "web of deception." Binance has said it would defend itself "vigorously." The exchange is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department over possible money-laundering and sanctions violations, Reuters has reported. Fortune, citing a person at Binance familiar with the situation, reported that the executives quit over Zhao's response to the Justice Departure probe. Reuters could not independently confirm this. Zhao, a billionaire who is one of crypto's most powerful figures, said in a tweet on Friday: "Yes, there is turnover (at every company). But the reasons dreamed up by the "news" are completely wrong." Hillmann, who joined Binance in 2021 as its top communications executive, became its chief strategy officer in October last year. After Zhao, he was Binance's most outspoken advocates on social media. "I've taken this company through a lifetime of industry crises and regulatory challenges," Hillmann tweeted, citing a string of corporate failures to hit crypto last year. "Despite all of these challenges, the company has continued to grow and thrive." (Reporting by Tom Wilson in London and Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru, Editing by Louise Heavens) The ByteDance logo is seen at one of the company's office buildings in Shanghai, China July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo By Echo Wang NEW YORK (Reuters) -ByteDance, the Chinese owner of short video app TikTok, will allow shares owned by U.S. employees to vest without waiting for the company to list in the stock market, thereby letting them cash out, according to people familiar with the matter. The move is aimed at appeasing restless employees who have been waiting for an initial public offering (IPO) to profit from the shares they have been awarded as part of their compensation. It is also an indication that ByteDance, whose worth in excess of $200 billion makes it the world's most valuable startup, is in no rush to go public amid Beijing's heightened scrutiny of China's technology giants. ByteDance will now allow restricted shares held by U.S. employees to vest as long as sufficient time has passed, the sources said. The company previously set a "liquidity event", such as an IPO or company sale, as a condition for the vesting to occur, the sources added. Once vested, the shares can be exchanged by the employees for cash in one of ByteDance's stock buyback programs. The employees were informed of the changes on Tuesday, the sources said. A ByteDance spokesperson confirmed that the company has changed its share vesting rules but declined to comment on the details. "Our goal is to provide competitive rewards for our employees. We announced an internal solution that will make our U.S.-based employees eligible to participate in future share buyback programs," the spokesperson said. The move applies to ByteDance's U.S. employees, which include about 7,000 TikTok employees. The changing of the rules has a downside for some employees, the sources said. The vesting of the shares will now be considered a U.S. taxable event, even for employees who have not sold their shares, according to the sources. The employees will have to pay the tax out of their own pockets or sell some of their shares to cover that expense, the sources said. Severing the link between shares vesting and a company going public is known in the start-up world as removing the "double trigger", and can come with a hefty tax bill. Payments processor Stripe, which is waiting to go public, used part of its proceeds from a $6.5 billion fundraising round earlier this year to cover the tax expenses for itself and its employees associated with removing the double trigger. ByteDance initiated stock buyback programs for employees globally in 2017, and had most recently launched one in April, according to the sources. These programs were not previously accessible to U.S. employees that did not own fully vested stock. The company is planning to launch another buyback program in the fourth quarter of 2023, the sources said. Employees own 20% of ByteDance, while 60% is owned by global investors, and 20% by its founders. The U.S. employees have faced heightened political and regulatory scrutiny because of U.S. concerns that ByteDance may be sharing TikTok user data with the Chinese authorities. TikTok, which is used by more than 150 million Americans, insists it "has not shared, and would not share, U.S. user data with the Chinese government, and has taken substantial measures to protect the privacy and security of TikTok users." While it has so far been spared a contemplated federal ban, TikTok faces a block in Montana, which it is challenging. The White House has banned TikTok on government-issued devices. (Reporting by Echo Wang in New YorkAdditional reporting by Krystal Hu in New YorkEditing by Greg Roumeliotis and Anna Driver) FILE PHOTO: The Microsoft sign is shown on top of the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 19,2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo By Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's antitrust regulator said it was open to Microsoft changing its acquisition of Activision Blizzard to address its concerns that blocked the deal in April, after a U.S. court ruled on Tuesday that the $69 billion deal could go ahead. Microsoft responded by saying it was considering how the transaction might be modified to address concerns made by Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the first regulator to block the deal. All sides said they had agreed to ask the British court due to hear Microsoft's appeal later this month to put it on hold while they worked on new proposals. The deal to buy the "Call of Duty" maker is the largest ever for Microsoft and the biggest in videogame history. The CMA became the first major antitrust regulator to block the deal in April, citing concerns about competition in the nascent cloud gaming market. Both companies reacted furiously to the decision, with Microsoft saying it "had shaken confidence" in Britain as a destination for tech businesses. The European Union gave it the green light shortly after Britain blocked it, when it accepted broadly the same commitments that the UK had rejected. Britain's government said it had noted the decision. "The CMA is an independent body responsible for investigating the impact of mergers and acquisitions," a spokesperson said. A U.S. judge ruled on Tuesday that Microsoft could go ahead with the deal, rejecting antitrust enforcer FTC's request for a temporary stop. (Reporting by Paul Sandle, writing by William James; Editing by Kate Holton) Washington, D.C., July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) has been named one of the top 200 federal contractors in Bloomberg Governments twelfth annual BGOV 200 report, which ranks contractors based on fiscal year 2022 data for unclassified, prime contracts awarded across all U.S. federal government agencies. We are proud to deliver innovative solutions to our government customers, said Jim Kainz, ARA Senior Vice President and Director of Business Development. Our recognition as a top federal contractor reflects our vision to be the company that government and industry turn to for innovative technologies and solutions to critical human problems that will make our world safer, make us more secure, and make a difference in our daily lives. Bloomberg Governments analysis finds that a record $705 billion was awarded in fiscal 2022 government contracts, an increase of $43 billion from fiscal 2021 levels. Just over 65 percent of total government obligations ($461 billion) were awarded to the top 200 contractors, a marginal increase as compared to fiscal 2021. The top 15 contractors brought in 32 percent of federal procurement dollars, on par with the previous fiscal year. Were honored to recognize ARA as one of the top-earning federal contractors, said Arielle Elliott, president of Bloomberg Government. Bloomberg Government is committed to providing organizations like ARA actionable insights into the federal contracting landscape to help them win in their markets. To download a copy of the BGOV200, please visit http://onb-gov.com/JzYj50OU03H. About ARAApplied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) was founded in 1979, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to offer science and engineering research to solve problems of national importance. ARA delivers leading-edge products and innovative solutions for national defense, energy, homeland security, aerospace, healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing. With over 1,700 employee-owners at locations in the U.S. and Canada, ARA offers a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil engineering, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, biomedical engineering, environmental technologies, and blast testing and measurement. About Bloomberg GovernmentBloomberg Government is a premium, subscription-based service that provides comprehensive information and analytics for professionals who interact with or are affected by the government. Delivering news, analytics, and data-driven decision tools, Bloomberg Governments digital workspace gives an intelligent edge to government affairs and contracting professionals. For more information or a demo, visit Bloomberg Government. Attachment Source: Applied Research Associates, Inc. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: ARK) (Arras or the Company) is pleased to announce the results of 135 grab samples taken from Soviet-era exploration trenches at the Karagandy-Ozek project (Karagandy-Ozek or the Project) located within the Companys Elemes exploration licence (Elemes or the Licence) in northeastern Kazakhstan. Highlights include: A total of 135 grab samples, collected by Arras, have returned grades up to 29 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au), 287 g/t silver (Ag) and 238 g/t tellurium (Te), with average grades of 3.5 g/t Au, 15.3 g/t Ag and 18.7 ppm Te. The northern most trenches delineate a zone of high-grade Au mineralization of at least 650 meters that remains entirely open to the NE. The average grade for 63 grab samples collected from the northern zone is 5.6 g/t Au, 20.4 g/t Ag and 29.5 ppm Te. The mineralization is interpreted as a low sulfidation epithermal gold-silver deposit that forms part of a far larger porphyry-epithermal system within the Elemes license that includes the Berezki Central and Berezki East porphyry copper-gold prospects, and Quartzite Gorka breccia-hosted intermediate sulfidation epithermal copper-gold-silver-lead-zinc prospect. Located to the nearby past-producing, high-grade epithermal Au-Ag Aimandai mine. Tim Barry, CEO, commented, We are very pleased with our first pass sampling program of the Elemes licence. Our mapping and sampling program suggests we have a fully intact, and largely unexplored epithermal and porphyry system. It should be noted that the mineralization identified in the Elemes licence is a completely different mineralizing system to the Beskauga deposit, which sits 85 kilometers to the east. We believe we are just scratching the surface of the potential of the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic arc and our team is methodically advancing towards establishing drill targets at some of these new areas. Figure 1. Arras Minerals License Package (Pavlodar, Kazakhstan) A summary of grab samples with over 5.0 g/t gold announced in this news release is outlined in the table below. Table 1. Grab samples with over 5.0 g/t Au from the Karagandy-Ozek prospect. The Karagandy Ozek Project: is located within the 425 square kilometer Elemes mineral exploration license, which was acquired in 2022. Elemes benefits from excellent modern infrastructure and ease of accessibility, being located only 20 kilometers (km) from Arras operational base in the city of Ekibastuz, northeastern Kazakhstan. A paved highway runs through the license, and within 1 km of the Karagandy Ozek project. 1,100 KVA power lines, heavy rail, and the IrtyshKaraganda irrigation canal all lie within a 20 km radius of the project. The past producing high-grade Au-Ag epithermal Aimandai mine is nearby. The gold-silver-tellurium mineralization at Karagandy-Ozek is hosted in zone of quartz veining (individual veins between 0.5 to 1 m width), that display typical low sulphidation textures including crustiform banding, euhedral crystal infill of vein voids, and bladed textures (quartz after calcite) (Figure 2 below). A zone of strong silicification and argillic (kaolinite-illite-quartz) alteration surrounds the quartz veins. Figure 2. Samples from the Karagandy-Ozek project on Elemes license The mineralization is interpreted as a low-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver deposit that forms part of a far larger porphyry-epithermal system within the Elemes license. Nearby is the past-producing Aimandai mine, a high-grade epithermal Au-Ag deposit which according to historical Soviet reports has an average resource grade of 24.6 g/t Au and 34.7 g/t Ag with minor copper, lead and zinc. A high-resolution airborne magnetic survey over the Elemes and 3D inversion of the resulting data demonstrates that Karagandy-Ozek and the aforementioned associated prospects are all located within a 9km x 3.5 km aeromagnetic low feature interpreted to represent magnetite destruction associated with hydrothermal alteration. The airborne survey has significantly improved the Companys understanding of the structural controls of the mineralization and provided several new drill targets within the Elemes license. The Elemes license is located within the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt that also hosts the Companys flagship Beskauga porphyry copper-gold-silver project approximately 80 km to the east, and KAZ Minerals Bozshakol porphyry copper-gold mine (one of the largest copper resources in Kazakhstan) approximately 60 km to the northwest. Figure 3. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras at the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing gold assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Figure 4. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras at the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing silver assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Figure 5. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras in the northern zone of the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing gold assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Note the potential for parallel vein systems to the NW and SE, as indicated by limited historical drilling. Mineralization remains open to the NE. Assay and QAQC Procedures: Samples were bagged and sealed in the field to ensure integrity during transport. Average sample weight was 5 to 6 kilograms. All sample preparation and geochemical analysis of the rock samples were undertaken by ALS Global at its laboratories in Karaganda (Kazakhstan) and Loughrea (Republic of Ireland), respectively. ALS preparation and analytical labs are accredited to ISO 17025:2005 UKAS ref 4028 and have internal Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) programs for monitoring accuracy and precision. ALS Global is entirely independent of the Company. After drying samples were crushed by ALS to >70% passing below 2 mm and split using a riffle splitter. 250 g splits were pulverized to 85 % passing below -75-microns. A 30 g split of the pulp was analyzed for gold content by fire assay with an Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) finish (ALS method: Au-AA25) at ALS Karaganda. A second pulp split was then air freighted to ALS Loughrea and analyzed for 48 elements by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) after four-acid digestion on a 0.25 g aliquot (ALS method: ME-MS61). Samples exceeding 100 g/t silver were re-analyzed using a 4-acid digest ICP-MS ore grade method (ALS method: Ag-OG62). Qualified Person: The scientific and technical disclosure for the Quartzite Gorka Project included in this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved Tim Barry, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Arras Minerals Corp., who is also a Member and Chartered Professional Geologist (MAusIMM CP(Geo)) of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr. Barry has sufficient experience, relevant to the styles of mineralization and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity that he is undertaking, to qualify as a Qualified Person (QP) for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Barry" Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo)Chief Executive Officer and Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687 5800 [email protected] Further information can be found on the Companys website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arrasminerals About Arras Minerals Corp. Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group). The Companys shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol ARK. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms measured resources, indicated resources, and inferred resources which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Disclosure of contained ounces in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute reserves by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras management. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, continues, may, variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond managements control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption Risk Factors in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Companys profile on SEDAR on March 30, 2023 and in the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 24, 2023 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8234bbe5-df3a-49a9-816f-68f52dbd6f51 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7739c89c-b50d-46e3-8604-300b70e42379 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a81a7288-43c0-450d-a504-9f9f347d9f9d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f220aa55-8e4d-4cf2-ba7f-46848e88487e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5c0cbaf-0f25-4f83-b5a9-b0c6cec98153 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/abcd74eb-cd25-4bca-9e29-53cccf9e421f Figure 1. Arras Minerals License Package (Pavlodar, Kazakhstan) Table 1. Grab samples with over 5.0 g/t Au from the Karagandy-Ozek prospect. Figure 2. Samples from the Karagandy-Ozek project on Elemes license Figure 3. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras at the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing gold assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Figure 4. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras at the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing silver assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Figure 5. Location of the Soviet-era trenches re-sampled by Arras in the northern zone of the Karagandy-Ozek project, Elemes license, showing gold assays (g/t) for the grab samples. Note the potential for parallel vein systems to the NW and SE, as indicated by limited historical drilling. Mineralization remains open to the NE. Source: Arras Minerals Corp. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 11. The value of Kazakhstan's exports of fossil fuels and related materials to the EU increased by 65.15 percent in 2022 compared to 2021, Trend reports. According to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, in 2022, Kazakhstan exported fossil fuels and related products to the EU worth 26.1 billion euros, while in 2021 this number stood at 15.8 billion euros. For over the past 10 years, the lowest value of exported fuels by Kazakhstan was recorded in 2016, when Kazakh export to the EU amounted to just 10.7 billion euros. Meanwhile, the EU's exports of fossil fuels to Kazakhstan are not nearly as high as those of Kazakhstan. As such, in 2022, the EU exported fossil fuels and related goods to Kazakhstan worth 166.1 million euros, which indicates a 3-fold increase compared to 2021 (43.9 million euros). Overall, the EU is Kazakhstans biggest trading partner. In 2022, the trade turnover between the EU and Kazakhstan reached 40.2 billion euros, a 74 percent increase in 2021. The EU is also one of the largest foreign investors in Kazakhstan, with the investment value reaching $12.5 billion in 2022 (a 23 percent increase year-on-year). RAPID CITY, S.D., July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) today announced the release of its 2022 Sustainability Report highlighting the companys environmental, social and governance achievements and its progress on major projects and climate goals. We are committed to creating a cleaner energy future that builds on our responsibility to provide the safe, reliable and cost-effective energy that improves our customers lives, said Linn Evans, president and CEO of Black Hills Corp. We have set challenging yet realistic goals for delivering cleaner energy and have a clear path to reduce our emissions while minimizing cost impacts to our customers. Throughout 2022, Black Hills Corp. continued to achieve progress toward its goal to reduce electric utility greenhouse gas emissions intensity 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2040, and has already reduced emissions one third since 2005. Last year, the company increased its gas utilities greenhouse gas emissions target to Net Zero by 2035 and plans to achieve its Net Zero target through ongoing infrastructure investment, damage prevention and integration of low carbon fuels. Our ability to remain resilient, reliable and ready drives us to meet the needs of our customers today and in the future, continued Evans. These three words are emblematic of the unwavering commitment our 3,000 Black Hills Energy team members have to provide the safe, reliable, and cost-effective electricity and natural gas our customers depend on, and to do so in a sustainable way. Report highlights include: Expanded clean energy offerings: Over the last year, the company progressed on its preferred resource plans to add 520 megawatts of new renewable energy and battery storage by 2030. The company continued to expand its renewable energy portfolio of 289 megawatts of owned and operated wind generation capacity across its service territory with the planned addition of the 80-megawatt Fall River Solar project scheduled to come into service in 2023. Over the last year, the company progressed on its preferred resource plans to add 520 megawatts of new renewable energy and battery storage by 2030. The company continued to expand its renewable energy portfolio of 289 megawatts of owned and operated wind generation capacity across its service territory with the planned addition of the 80-megawatt Fall River Solar project scheduled to come into service in 2023. Advancements in renewable natural gas (RNG): In 2022, the company successfully filed and received approval for Green Forward, a voluntary renewable natural gas (RNG) attribute and carbon offset program, providing customers with a cost-effective path to offset up to 100% or more of the emissions associated with their own natural gas carbon footprint. To further leverage the Black Hills Corp.s experience building RNG interconnections, the company established a new business, Black Hills Energy Renewable Resources. This new business helps drive company growth by investing capital into infrastructure that provides a pathway for RNG to get to the market. Caring for the community : In 2022, the companys community support totaled $6.1 million, including over $604,000 in employee giving to United Way and more than $760,000 from the companys expanded energy assistance fund, which matches customers and employees contributions dollar-for-dollar. : In 2022, the companys community support totaled $6.1 million, including over $604,000 in employee giving to United Way and more than $760,000 from the companys expanded energy assistance fund, which matches customers and employees contributions dollar-for-dollar. Creating value: The companys investment in the safety, reliability and sustainability of its extensive utility systems delivers meaningful growth and sustains jobs, families and communities. In 2022, Black Hills Corp.s direct economic impact totaled $1.34 billion. The companys investment in the safety, reliability and sustainability of its extensive utility systems delivers meaningful growth and sustains jobs, families and communities. In 2022, Black Hills Corp.s direct economic impact totaled $1.34 billion. Energy efficiency and conservation: Black Hills Corp. provided nearly $9 million in energy efficiency rebates in 2022 to residential and business customers, leading to annual energy savings of about 17 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and nearly 386,000 dekatherms of natural gas enough energy to power more than 2,300 homes with electricity and about 4,900 homes with natural gas for one year. Learn more at www.blackhillsenergy.com/sustainability. About Black Hills Corp.Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves more than 1.33 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at ir.blackhillscorp.com. Investor RelationsJerome E. Nichols605-721-1171[email protected] 24-Hour Media Assistance 888-242-3969 Caution Regarding Forward Looking StatementThis news release includes forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this report that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements may accompany the statements themselves. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which we believe are reasonable based on current expectations and projections about future events and industry conditions and trends affecting our business. Our business and any offering may be influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and are often beyond our ability to control. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to deliver safe, reliable and cost-effective energy to our customers. Whether actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that, among other things, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the risk factors described in Items 1A of our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports that we file with the SEC from time to time. New factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, or the extent to which any such factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We assume no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Source: Black Hills Service Company, LLC CRANBURY, N.J., July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- dvm360, the leading multimedia provider of animal health care communications, education and research for veterinary professionals, is excited to announce the rebranding of the Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference (ACVC) to Fetch Coastal. This strategic decision brings the Fetch core values of community, collaboration and connections to this landmark event on October 911, 2023, in Atlantic City, N.J. Renowned as an industry leader for veterinary continuing education and information, Fetch Coastal offers engaging, clinically focused continuing education sessions led by top voices in veterinary medicine. Fetch Coastal will build upon the strong foundation that has been established for the past 34 years by ACVC, offering veterinary professionals an unparalleled opportunity to expand their knowledge and connect with peers and industry leaders, and to explore exhibitor offerings. These sessions are specifically designed to equip veterinary professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to tackle the most demanding issues in the industry. Fetch Coastal will continue to serve as the cornerstone event for this industry, said Mike Hennessy Jr., president and CEO of MJH Life Sciences. We are committed to investing in the future of veterinary education, and this conference is a testament to our dedication to delivering a superior conference experience. As an innovator in veterinary education, dvm360 has worked diligently to improve continuing education and provide cutting-edge resources for veterinarians. Fetch Coastal represents the next chapter in the evolution of this esteemed conference, said Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and chief veterinary officer of dvm360. This dynamic event promises to deliver a remarkable experience filled with educational insights, interactive sessions and the chance to connect with like-minded professionals. Veterinary professionals attending this three-day conference can expect a dynamic program featuring renowned speakers, interactive workshops, hands-on training sessions and the opportunity to explore the latest innovations in veterinary products and services. We are delighted to invite veterinary professionals from all over to join us at Fetch Coastal in Atlantic City this October, said John Hydrusko, vice president of dvm360 and Fetch. With over 35 tracks and 50-plus faculty, this conference will provide an exceptional platform for professionals to learn, grow and forge valuable connections. To learn more about Fetch Coastal and to register, please visit here. About dvm360Founded more than 50 years ago, dvm360 is the leading multimedia provider of animal health care communications, education and research for veterinary professionals. We engage audiences with top-of-the-line, in-depth digital and print news, medical information and veterinary resources focusing on every aspect of a veterinary professionals life. With our online learning platform, dvm360 Flex, we also deliver a 360-degree solution for continuing educationprint, digital, in-person and on-demand. Dvm360 is a brand of MJH Life Sciences, the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in North America. MJH Life Sciences is dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels. Media Contact:Lauren GarafolaMJH Life Sciences[email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/50bfc9de-1969-495d-965e-727135aebacd dvm360 announces rebranding of ACVC to Fetch Coastal This strategic decision brings the Fetch core values of community, collaboration and connections to this landmark event on October 911, 2023, in Atlantic City, N.J Source: dvm360 CULVER CITY, Calif., July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CLICK HERE FOR VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE RECORDING AND ASSETSToday Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, the lead crisis center agency for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in California and home to the nations first Suicide Prevention Center, unveiled statewide data affirming the lifesaving impact of 988 in the state one year since the easy-to-remember three-digit dialing code was launched. In the first 11 months since 988 was launched across the U.S. on July 16, 2022, the 12 California crisis centers responded to 280,637 contacts via calls, chats and texts (July 2022 to May 2023), more than any other state. Ninety-eight percent of the time Californias highly trained counselors were able to support the individual in crisis, de-escalating the call and resolving without further intervention. California crisis centers maintained a strong in-state response rate for 988 calls while fielding an increase in volume. Comparing May 2022 (pre-launch) to May 2023, in-state answer rates for calls increased from 86 to 91 percent while call volume increased 28 percent. One year since 988 launched across the country, the data for California is clear the simple 988 number is helping to save lives, said Lyn Morris, LMFT and CEO of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. The transition to 988 as an easy-to-remember number for calls, texts and chats supports suicide prevention and helps individuals in crisis connect with critical lifesaving resources. 988 is providing individuals in crisis with a literal lifeline to connect quickly 24/7 with a compassionate counselor. Karla Zenteno, a Bilingual Spanish Program Coordinator and 988 Crisis Counselor for Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, shared the story of a recent caller to 988, demonstrating the power of an easy-to-remember three-digit number in supporting suicide prevention. We recently received a call from a young woman suffering from mental health issues who was in great despair, feeling unsupported by family and friends, and who had prepared to die by suicide, said Zenteno. Thanks to national publicity for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, she remembered the number and called 988 as her last resort.Zenteno continued, This caller connected to one of our Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center crisis counselors who was able to establish rapport with her by offering nonjudgmental listening, empathy and validation of her painful circumstances. During the conversation, the caller removed herself from immediate danger and her agitation, distress and despair slowly de-escalated. Through the conversation with our 988 crisis counselor, this individual eventually agreed to admit herself to a hospital for care. A few days later, a follow-up contact from one of our crisis counselors confirmed that the caller was doing well and receiving services that supported her healing. Contacting 988 connects individuals directly with a highly trained compassionate counselor who will listen to the individual in crisis, assess their safety, work with them to develop a plan to feel better and connect them with supportive resources. Counselors also frequently schedule follow-up calls with individuals in crisis to ensure they are improving and able to access the resources and support they need. California grew its number of trained crisis counselors to respond to 988 contacts, anticipating increased volume from the launch of 988. California now has 1,116 crisis counselors through its 12 crisis centers across the state that respond to 988 calls, texts and chats. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that suicide continues to be a significant public health crisis across the country. According to the CDC, suicide rates increased approximately 36% between 2000 and 2021. In 2021, an estimated 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt and 1.7 million attempted suicide.The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a network of over 200 locally operated and funded crisis centers around the country and is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The predecessor to 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, was established in 2005. ### About Didi Hirsch Mental Health ServicesDidi Hirsch Mental Health Services has been a national leader in whole-person mental health, crisis care and substance use services for more than 80 years and is home to the nations first Suicide Prevention Center. With deep roots in community-based mental health, Didi Hirsch is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing health equity, including where discrimination and injustice limit access. More than 1,000 staff and volunteers compassionately serve 189,000 children, adults and families annually in crisis, telehealth, outpatient, residential, community and school-based settings. Learn more at www.didihirsch.org. Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services (323) 419-3141 [email protected] Source: Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services Discoveries similar to the Z-T structures include 5 gpt AuEq1 over 9.1 metres and 1.50 gpt AuEq over 14.0 metres VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prime Mining Corp. (Prime or the Company) (TSX-V: PRYM, OTCQX: PRMNF, Frankfurt: 04V3) is reporting drill results from nine core holes at the Central Area, one of three main zones hosting the gold-silver mineral resource estimate (MRE) at the Companys Los Reyes Project, located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. The 2023 Technical Report outlining the MRE can be found on the Company's website at https://primeminingcorp.ca/ and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, under the Companys Issuer Profile. Central Area Drilling Highlights: 4.99 grams per tonne (gpt) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (4.11 gpt Au and 67.9 gpt Ag) over 9.1 metres (m) estimated true width (etw) in hole 23NB-46, located 150 m along strike from the bottom of the MRE pit, including: 37.48 gpt AuEq (31.40 gpt Au and 470.0 gpt Ag) over 1.1 m etw. 1.50 gpt AuEq (1.23 gpt Au and 20.5 gpt Ag) over 14.0 m etw in hole 23NB-39, located immediately adjacent to the MRE pit, including: 5.17 gpt AuEq (4.19 gpt Au and 76.0 gpt Ag) over 2.0 m etw. 2.25 gpt AuEq (1.86 gpt Au and 30.2 gpt Ag) over 5.7 m etw in hole 23NB-40, located 80 m along strike and below the MRE pit, including: 5.62 gpt AuEq (4.75 gpt Au and 67.6 gpt Ag) over 1.4 m etw. The holes reported in this news release were drilled at Noche Buena, located in the southeastern-most end of the Central Area (see Figures 1, 2) up to 150 m along strike from the bottom of the recently announced resource pit. As with the Companys June 20th release regarding the Z-T Area, the drilling at Central Area confirms the ongoing expansion of potential gold-silver resources in addition to and not included in the Companys MRE. Prime Mining Corp. Chief Executive Officer Daniel Kunz commented, Our expansion drilling continues to encounter wide intercepts of high-grade mineralization outside of the current resource pits, this time in the Central Area. These results parallel what we recently reported at the Z-T Area. We see expansion of the Central Area with high-grade mineralization discovered along strike and at depth beyond the current resource pit, with the potential discovery of a new high-grade structure. We are excited by the continued discovery of high-grade areas outside of the MRE that demonstrate the scale of the Los Reyes system with potential to contribute to the global project. Figure 1: Los Reyes drilling update The mineralization encountered in this drilling has identified a new developing high-grade shoot in drill holes 23NB-40 and 46 (see Figures 3, 4). Extending out from previously released drill hole 23NB-21, this high-grade shoot remains open south-southeast along strike. Results from remaining drill holes 23NB-47 and 23NB-48, with a quartz vein intersected about 30 m down-plunge from the intercept in 23NB-46, are expected in the coming weeks. Figure 2: Central Area drilling update Figure 3: Central Area long section with drill holes highlighted Figure 4: Central Area (Noche Buena) cross section A-A Drilling is ongoing through the current rainy season (which started at the end of June) with four drill rigs focusing on: extending the high-grade Z-T Area shoots that remain open at depth, as well as along strike north and south; expanding the two other MRE resource areas, including the eastern extensions of the Guadalupe System and Echeguren Shaft area; and, exploring the new generative targets. Prime has completed over 30,000 m of its planned 60,000 m 2023 drill program and will continue to evaluate its drilling plans using its success-based approach. Link 1 PDF Figures Link 2 PDF Drill Hole Tables Note 1: Gold equivalent grades are calculated based on an assumed gold price of $US 1700 per ounce and silver price of $22 per ounce, based on the formula AuEq grade (gpt) = Au grade + Ag grade x ($22 / $1,700). Metallurgical recoveries are not considered in the in-situ grade estimate but are estimated to be 93% and 83% for gold and silver, respectively, when processed in a mill, and 72% and 25% respectively when heap-leached. QA/QC Protocols and Sampling Procedures Drill core at the Los Reyes project is drilled in predominately HQ size (63.5 millimetre mm), reducing to NQ (47.6 mm) when required. Drill core samples are generally 1.50 m long along the core axis with allowance for shorter or longer intervals if required to suit geological constraints. After logging intervals are identified to be sampled, the core is cut and one half is submitted for assay. RC drilling returns rock chips and fines from a 133.35 mm diameter tricone bit. The returns are homogenized and split into 2 halves, with one half submitted for analysis and the other half stored. Sample QA/QC measures include unmarked certified reference materials, blanks, and field duplicates as well as preparation duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and make up approximately 8% of the samples submitted to the laboratory for each drill hole. Samples are picked up from the Project by the laboratory personnel and transported to their facilities in Durango or Hermosillo Mexico, for sample preparation. Sample analysis is carried out by Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs, with fire assay, including over limits fire assay re-analysis, completed at their respective Hermosillo, Mexico laboratories and multi-element analysis completed in North Vancouver, Canada. Drill core sample preparation includes fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250-gram split to at least 85% passing 75 microns. Gold in diamond drill core is analyzed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy of a 30 g sample (code FA430 or Au-AA23). Multi-element chemistry is analyzed by 4-Acid digestion of a 0.25-gram sample split (code MA300 or ME-ICP61) with detection by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer for a full suite of elements. Gold assay techniques FA430 and Au-AA23 have an upper detection limit of 10 ppm. Any sample that produces an over-limit gold value via the initial assay technique is sent for gravimetric finish via method FA-530 or Au-GRA21. Silver analyses by MA300 and ME-ICP61 have an upper limit of 200 ppm and 100 ppm, respectively. Samples with over-limit silver values are re-analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish FA530 or Au-GRA21. Both Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs are ISO/IEC accredited assay laboratories. Qualified Person Scott Smith, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of Exploration, is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content in this news release. Additional Notes Metres is represented by m; etw is Estimated True Width and is based on drill hole geometry or comparisons with other on-section drill holes; Au refers to gold, and Ag refers to silver; gpt is grams per metric tonne; some figures may not sum due to rounding; Composite assay grades presented in summary tables are calculated using a Au grade minimum average of 0.20 gpt or 1.0 gpt as indicated in Au Cut-off column of Summary Tables. Maximum internal waste included in any reported composite interval is 3.00 m. The 1.00 gpt Au cut-off is used to define higher-grade cores within the lower-grade halo. About the Los Reyes Gold and Silver Project Los Reyes is a rapidly evolving high-grade, low sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. Since acquiring Los Reyes in 2019, Prime has spent approximately US$30 million on direct exploration activities and has completed over 120,000 m of drilling. On May 2, 2023, Prime announced an updated multi-million-ounce high-grade open pit constrained resource (see below, and refer to Note 1 and the May 2, 2023 press release for more details). May 2, 2023 Resource Statement Drilling is on-going and suggests that the three known main deposit areas (Guadalupe, Central and Z-T) are larger than previously reported. Potential also exists for new discoveries where mineralized trends have been identified outside of the currently defined resource areas. Historic operating results indicate that an estimated 1 million ounces of gold and 60 million ounces of silver were recovered from five separate operations at Los Reyes between 1770 and 1990. Prior to Primes acquisition, recent operators of Los Reyes had spent approximately US$20 million on exploration, engineering, and prefeasibility studies. About Prime Mining Prime is managed by an ideal mix of successful mining executives, strong capital markets personnel and experienced local operators all focused on unlocking the full potential of the Los Reyes Project. The company has a well-planned capital structure with a strong management team and insider ownership. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Daniel KunzChief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Daniel KunzChief Executive Officer and DirectorPrime Mining Corp.1307 S. Colorado Ave.Boise, Idaho 83706Telephone: +1 (208) 926-6379 officeemail: [email protected] Scott HicksExecutive Vice PresidentPrime Mining Corp.710 1030 West Georgia StreetVancouver, BC, V6E 2Y3Telephone: +1 (604) 428-6128 officeemail: [email protected] Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking InformationThis news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation as may be amended from time to time, including, without limitation, statements regarding the perceived merit of the Companys properties, including additional exploration potential of Los Reyes, potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, the potential size of the mineralized zone, metallurgical recoveries, and the Companys exploration and development plans in Mexico. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Companys management on the date the statements are made, and they involve several risks and uncertainties. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements were made, including without limitation, assumptions regarding the price of gold, silver and copper; the accuracy of mineral resource estimations; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained, including concession renewals and permitting; that political and legal developments will be consistent with current expectations; that currency and exchange rates will be consistent with current levels; and that there will be no significant disruptions affecting the Company or its properties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to: risks related to uncertainties inherent in the preparation of mineral resource estimates, including but not limited to changes to the cost assumptions, variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery rates, changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations, failure of plant, equipment or processes, changes to availability of power or the power rates, ability to maintain social license, changes to interest or tax rates, changes in project parameters, delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of local communities, environmental risks, title risks, including concession renewal, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, risks relating to COVID-19, delays in or failure to receive access agreements or amended permits, risks inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Companys objectives and strategies, including costs and expenses, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion and analysis, as well as its annual information form dated April 22, 2022, available on www.sedar.com. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ed699b3-93be-416a-ab1c-8f9cb1c0b2e9https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5b2e7a80-bb00-4f28-8588-5c9b2dfe161dhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4e4054b2-e545-4686-95c4-9c54490c5825https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/49d7980f-b4ab-4807-9570-46c4b100f18ehttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0ff79670-0fb5-40fd-a450-45647ca2eb8a Figure 1 Los Reyes drilling update Figure 2 Central Area drilling update Figure 3 Central Area long section with drill holes highlighted Figure 4 Central Area (Noche Buena) cross section A-A May 2, 2023 Resource Statement May 2, 2023 Resource Statement Source: Prime Mining Corp. LONDON, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PMcardio, a leading force in AI-powered diagnostics for cardiovascular diseases, announces expansion into 15 additional European markets with the launch of its newest version. After a successful initial launch in the United Kingdom, with over 25 000 registered users, PMcardio is now making its state-of-the-art application accessible to healthcare professionals in Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, Cyprus, Poland, Ireland, Croatia and Malta. PMcardio has further fine-tuned its clinical assistant, offering new language support for French, German, Italian, and Portuguese, ensuring a seamless experience for healthcare professionals across these diverse regions. For medical professionals in primary and emergency care who do not specialise in cardiology, such as general practitioners, nurses and paramedics ECG interpretation can be challenging, leading to inaccuracies and potential misdiagnoses. "The increasing prevalence of diseases such as atrial fibrillation, a condition that one in three people will experience in their lifetime, highlights a pressing need for more reliable solutions for early detection and effective treatment," states Dr. Robert Herman, Chief Medical Officer of Powerful Medical, the deep-tech firm behind PMcardio. "This condition significantly escalates the risk of stroke, making prompt and accurate diagnosis critical. PMcardio is poised to enhance AF diagnosis and management at the first point of contact. Easily accessible in the form of a smartphone application, PMcardio enables any healthcare professional to diagnose and treat 38 cardiovascular diseases with the precision of a cardiologist. Not only does the CE-certified Class IIb medical device empower medical personnel to interpret ECGs and identify cardiac conditions with precision and speed it also generates guideline-adherent treatment recommendations personalised for each patient. With PMcardio were aiming to save 1 million lives within the next 5 years. This European expansion is a significant leap in PMcardio's mission to combat cardiovascular diseases, the world's leading cause of death. Its integration can significantly improve clinical decision-making, quality of care and outcomes of patients suffering from heart disease across Europe, concludes Martin Herman, CEO of Powerful Medical. About PMcardio PMcardio is the market leader in AI-powered diagnostics, addressing the world's leading cause of death cardiovascular diseases. The certified Class IIb medical device empowers healthcare professionals to diagnose 38 cardiovascular diseases with the precision of a cardiologist. Backed by worlds leading cardiologists and clinical institutions, PMcardio digitises and interprets any 12-lead ECG in under 5 seconds to provide accurate diagnoses and guideline-adherent treatment recommendations tailored to each patient. Lucia Bojkovska, MA Communications Manager | Powerful Medical [email protected] https://www.powerfulmedical.com/pmcardio A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bb11adb0-c146-4f76-a582-4df2edeb1543 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SOLVE FSHD, a venture philanthropy organization catalyzing innovation and removing barriers to accelerate new therapies for FSHD, announced today that it has awarded grants totalling USD $1.4M to four new collaborative research projects that address critical gaps in FSHD therapeutics, biology and/or biomarkers. The four grant recipients represent relationships formed between academic and industry researchers during SOLVE FSHDs inaugural conference in Whistler, British Columbia. SOLVE FSHDs focus and venture philanthropic funding model supports the organizations goal of generating new approaches to identify or evaluate therapeutics to find a cure for FSHD. These projects demonstrate how the expertise of lead investigators can be enhanced through strategic collaboration with other experts working on areas of mutual interest. All funding decisions were independently made by SOLVE FSHD and its designated review panel. The researchers receiving the combined funding of USD $1.4M include: Dr. Scott Harper (Nationwide Childrens Hospital) and Dr. Robert Grange (Virginia Tech) for their project to assess skeletal muscle torque as a functional outcome measure in the TIC-DUX4 mouse model of FSHD Dr. Ali Ozes (Altay Therapeutics) and Drs. Jeff and Joel Chamberlain (University of Washington School of Medicine) for their project investigating the effect of STAT3 inhibitors on muscle pathology and fibrosis in a preclinical model of FSHD Drs. Darren Hwee and Michael Coronado (Cytokinetics) and Dr. Peter Jones (University of Nevada, Reno) for their study to assess whether Fast Skeletal Muscle Troponin Activators (FSTAs) can improve muscle function in preclinical models of FSHD Dr. Peter Zammit (Kings College London), Drs. Fabio Rossi and Martin Hirst (University of British Columbia) for their project on defining the epigenomic landscape in FSHD and the role of fibroadipogenic progenitor cells in FSHD We wanted to incentivize new collaborations among researchers with complementary expertise, focus areas and interest to help us find a solve for FSHD, said Dr. Eva Chin, Executive Director of SOLVE FSHD. These collaborative projects fit both with the mission and vision of SOLVE FSHD and the philosophy of our Founder, Chip Wilson. By its nature, there are a variety of approaches to potential therapeutics for FSHD, said Chip Wilson, Founder and Chairman of SOLVE FSHD. We believe that fostering collaborations between leading minds across different scientific fields can only be beneficial in accelerating potential treatments to help those with FSHD. About SOLVE FSHD SOLVE FSHD is a venture philanthropic organization established to catalyze innovation and accelerate key research in finding a cure for FSHD. Established by renowned Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Chip Wilson, widely known as the founder and part owner of various technical apparel companies including lululemon and Amer Sports, which holds brands such as Arcteryx, Salomon and Wilson Sports. The Wilson family has committed $100 million to kick-start funding into projects that support the organizations mission to find a cure for FSHD by 2027. The goal of SOLVE FSHD is to find a solution that can slow down or stop muscle degeneration, increase muscle regeneration and strength, and improve the quality of life for those living with FSHD. If you want to find out more about our efforts at Solve FSHD, please see our website - https://solvefshd.com/ Media Contact Swati Mehta PR Associates [email protected] 403-804-0768 Tokyo, Japan and Cambridge, UK, 11 July 2023 Sosei Group Corporation (the Company; TSE: 4565) will announce its earnings results and present operational highlights for the 6 months ended 30 June 2023 on Friday, 4 August 2023. The Company will host a live webinar presentation with Chris Cargill, President and CEO, Hironoshin Nomura, CFO and Matt Barnes, President of Heptares Therapeutics and Head of UK R&D at 5 pm JST (9 am BST) on Friday, 4 August 2023. The webinar is open to all existing and potential investors as well as sell-/buy-side analysts and will consist of a presentation followed by a Q&A session. Please click here to pre-register, which will provide a link to access the webinar. Presentation slides will be made available by 4 pm JST (8 am BST) on 4 August 2023 through the investor section of the Companys Home Page here. Ends Sosei Heptares Media and Investor RelationsHironoshin Nomura, Chief Financial Officer Shinichiro Nishishita, VP Investor Relations, Head of Regulatory DisclosuresMaya Bennison, Communications Manager+81 (0)3 5210 3399 | +44 (0)1223 949390 | [email protected] MEDiSTRAVA Consulting (for International Media)Mark Swallow, Frazer Hall+44 (0)203 928 6900 | [email protected] Forward-looking statementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the discovery, development, and commercialization of products. Various risks may cause Sosei Group Corporations actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: adverse results in clinical development programs; failure to obtain patent protection for inventions; commercial limitations imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties; dependence upon strategic alliance partners to develop and commercialize products and services; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals to market products and services resulting from development efforts; the requirement for substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand commercialization activities; and product initiatives by competitors. As a result of these factors, prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Source: Sosei Group Corporation Melville, NY, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fostering growth, exchanging knowledge, and strengthening the collective expertise of the industry, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, concluded its highly anticipated Canon Summit. The Canon Summit events, held from May 9-11, 2023 in Las Vegas, and June 19-21, 2023 in Nashville, brought together Canons dealer community for an immersive experience focused on innovation, collaboration and the future of printing solutions. By bringing the dealers frontline talent together under one roof, we create a powerful environment for learning, collaboration, and networking, said Shinichi Sam Yoshida, executive vice president and general manager, Canon U.S.A., Inc. The success of our dealers equals the success of our company and the Canon Summit is a testament to our commitment to the goal of achieving remarkable results and paving the way for a thriving future. Canon Summit 2023 Trailer Video The Canon Summit events combined hosted over 500 dealer representatives including Sales Management, Sales Representatives, Solutions Analysts, Production Specialists and Service Managers from around the country and offered in-depth educational sessions and learning opportunities about Canon solutions including a Technology Showcase featuring opportunities to speak to experts beyond those in the print area, to have access to engineers, recent technology in AV and robotics and representatives from Canon Financial Services. The event featured an impressive lineup of diversified breakout sessions touching on four key business tracks: Sales, Production, Service and Solutions. Attendees had the opportunity to explore Canons amazing product and solutions portfolio, including the latest in PRISMA software, production and large format devices, hybrid work solutions, new technologies and more. Attendees were able to learn of the recent 1,000 shipments milestone for the imagePRESS V Family product line, an impressive industry milestone. We recognize that dealers have many options to choose from when they are deciding which technologies and brands to offer their customers. We firmly believe that Canon is best positioned to make their business more successful and help them better meet the needs of their customers. The Canon Summit gives us an amazing opportunity to share our strong financial results, our steadfast commitment to R&D, and our bold strategies that help Canon to continue to be a leader in this rapidly evolving business environment, said Yoshida. About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $30.3 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), as of 2022 has ranked in the top-five overall in U.S. patents granted for 37 consecutive years. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To learn more about Canon, visit us at www.usa.canon.com and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. ### Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office. Nicole Esan Canon U.S.A., Inc. 6313302136 [email protected] Source: Canon U.S.A., Inc. San Diego, CA, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Truepic, provider of authenticity infrastructure for the Internet, is being recognized as a leader in risk management and security. Nominated by Keyfactor, the identity-first security solution for modern enterprises, Truepic Lens has been named a CSO50 Award winner. The CSO50 Awards celebrate the achievement of 50 security projects and initiatives that exhibit exceptional business value and thought leadership. An eminent panel of judges, comprising security leaders, industry experts, and academics, evaluates the CSO50 Awards using a consistent set of criteria. The CSO Hall of Fame acknowledges the contributions of leaders with significantly advanced information risk management and security. In 2022 Truepic released Truepic Lens, a novel iOS and Android Software Development Kit (SDK). With this product, any organization can seamlessly embed Truepic's secure image capture technology into its mobile applications. Truepic, with its cutting-edge Controlled Capture technology, provides assurance of digital photos and videos' integrity from the moment of capture. By adopting Keyfactor's EJBCA and SignServer, Truepic was able to create a highly scalable and reliable next-generation technology that can be trusted. This switch from blockchain to public key infrastructure (PKI) has been instrumental in achieving this feat. In our hyper-connected world, trust cant be assumed, it must be built. This is especially true for the photos and videos we consume online. Keyfactor is proud to be Truepics trusted partner in their mission to bring authenticity to the internet, using Keyfactors PKI and signing solutions as the backbone to securely authenticate, sign, and verify content at massive scale, said Ryan Sanders, Senior Director, Product Marketing and Research at Keyfactor. It is a privilege for us to honor the outstanding accomplishments of the winners at the CSO50 conference, and to bring together the information security community for great learning, networking and problem solving, said Stephen Corrick, SVP, Events, IDG, Inc. "The powerful expertise and experience of our winners and partners make this a cant-miss opportunity for everyone in the field. "We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition from CSO5O," said Nick Brown, EVP of Technology at Truepic. "Our Lens SDK enables businesses to integrate Truepic's secure image capture technology into their mobile app, ensuring the utmost security, privacy, and trust. We strongly believe that visual trust is vital for the digital economy's future and society as a whole." Truepic will be recognized alongside the other CSO50 Award recipients at the CSO50 Conference + Awards in Fort McDowell, AZ, from October 2-4, 2023. About Truepic Truepic provides authenticity infrastructure for the Internet. The companys transparency tools deliver verifiable information about the origin and editing history of digital content. Truepic is dedicated to advancing products and services that establish transparency in digital content, empowering viewers and users to identify authenticity and differentiate human from computer-generated. Recognized as one of TIMEs Best Inventions and Fast Companys World Changing Ideas, consumers, businesses, creators, and publishers trust Truepics technologies to make informed decisions. For more information, visit truepic.com. About Keyfactor Keyfactor brings digital trust to the hyper-connected world with identity-first security for every machine and human. By simplifying PKI, automating certificate lifecycle management, and securing every device, workload, and thing, Keyfactor helps organizations move fast to establish digital trust at scale and then maintain it. In a zero-trust world, every machine needs an identity and every identity must be managed. For more, visit keyfactor.com or follow @keyfactor. About the CSO50 Awards The CSO50 Awards recognizes 50 organizations for security projects and initiatives that demonstrate outstanding business value and thought leadership. The CSO50 Awards are scored according to a uniform set of criteria by a panel of judges that includes security leaders, industry experts and academics. The 2023 awards will be presented at the CSO50 Conference + Awards to be held October 2- 4, 2023 at the We-Ko-Pa Resort & Casino in Fort McDowell, AZ. Past winners include Adobe, Allstate, American Express, City of Raleigh, The Clorox Company, Comcast, Delta Dental, Genpact, HBO Latin America, Home Depot, Microsoft, University of Pennsylvania, Verizon and many more. A complete list of the 2021 winners can be viewed on FoundryCo.com. About CSO CSO is the premier content and community resource for security decision makers leading business risk management efforts within their organizations. For more than a decade, CSOs award-winning website (CSOonline.com), executive conferences, strategic marketing services and research have equipped security decision makers to mitigate both IT and corporate/physical risk for their organizations and provided opportunities for security vendors looking to reach this audience. CSO is published by Foundry (formerly IDG Communications, Inc.). Company information is available at www.foundryco.com. Victoria Banaszczyk Truepic [email protected] Source: Truepic WASHINGTON, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, the voice in President Bidens Cabinet for Americas more than 33 million small businesses, will visit Miami to sign a strategic alliance with AJCs Chief Executive Officer and former Congressman Ted Deutch as part of President Bidens national strategy to combat antisemitism. This strategic alliance intends to uplift Jewish communities by providing resources for starting and growing small businesses, including access to capital, federal contracting certifications, small business counseling, and disaster recovery resources. There will be a press conference to follow. Members of the media are invited to attend but must RSVP in advance to Isabella Ristuccia at [email protected]. Please provide the full name, mobile numbers, and email addresses of any media personnel planning to attend. Wednesday, July 12 WHO: SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch WHAT: Strategic Alliance Signing WHEN: 10:00 a.m. ET WHERE: Location provided upon RSVP HOW: Members of the media must RSVP for this event by emailing [email protected]. ### About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. About the American Jewish CommitteeThe American Jewish Committee is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. Through a global network of offices, institutes, and international partnerships, AJC engages with leaders at the highest levels of government and civil society to counter antisemitism, open new doors for Israel, and advance democratic values. PRESS OFFICEAdvisory Date: July 11, 2023 Contact: [email protected] Advisory Number: MA23-12 Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, Blogs & Instagram Laura Castro Lindarte U.S. Small Business Administration (202) 941-1152 [email protected] Source: U.S. Small Business Administration Press Release July 11, 2023 Legarda calls to strengthen climate change actions; pushes for passage of PENCAS, Blue Economy bills Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda reiterated the urgent need for the government to effectively address the extensive effects of climate change, emphasizing the significance of such action in safeguarding and promoting sustainable development for the nation. She renewed her environmental commitment as she presided over the joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Economic Affairs joint with the Committees on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, and Finance, where the discussion focused on the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act and the Blue Economy Act. "The fragile state of our ecosystems demands decisive action, as the impacts of climate change, habitat loss, and pollution threaten the very foundation of our nation's well-being," Legarda conveyed, noting that the said bills represent the Filipinos' obligations to safeguard the environment while harnessing the potentials of the country's natural resources. According to Legarda, the PENCAS Act will allow the country to account for the value of natural resources by integrating its worth into national accounts. She said that the government could make more informed decisions which balance economic growth and environmental protection. On the other hand, Legarda said that the Blue Economy Bill seeks to support efforts in achieving a vibrant and sustainable economy by prioritizing the country's marine resources. As an archipelagic country with long coastlines, the Philippines has great potential to become a driver of blue economy development. She added that this potential could be maximized if the government adopts a more holistic approach to addressing the needs of coastal communities, promoting sustainable practices, and protecting the country's marine biodiversity. "We have the opportunity to shape policies that will define our nation's trajectory towards a greener, more sustainable future. Let us seize this moment and craft legislation that will empower us to tread the path of inclusive and sustainable development," Legarda asserted As a staunch advocate for the protection of the environment, the four-term senator asserted for a deep exchange of ideas from experts, stakeholders, and government agencies to refine the legislation and ensure the effectiveness of these bills. "Let us not forget the fundamental role of our indigenous communities and local fisherfolk in preserving and managing our marine resources. Their traditional knowledge, practices, and rights must be respected and integrated into our policies and strategies," Legarda stated. FILE PHOTO: A street sign marks Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, where markets roiled after Russia continues to attack Ukraine, in New York, U.S., February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs/File Photo NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global hedge funds posted gains of 2.2% in June, as artificial intelligence-related stocks surged and the banking crisis eased, data provider HFR said on Monday. In the first half of the year, hedge funds added 3.45% to their investors. "Hedge funds surged in June, led by growth equity exposures and, specifically, artificial intelligence. While gains were driven by these dynamic exposures, industry performance was strong across-the-board," said Kenneth J. Heinz, president of HFR. Equity hedge funds, which bet stocks will fall or rise, posted the best performance among all four categories tracked by HFR, both in June and in the year, with gains of 2.94% and 5.55%, respectively. Still, equity hedge funds lagged the S&P 500 index, which soared 16.9% in the first half of 2023. Macro hedge funds ended June down 0.47% in the year, as they were able to erase some losses earlier in the year last month, up 1.47%. Hedge funds that bet on economic trends had a challenging beginning of the year as they were hard hit by the banking crisis in March. Event-driven hedge funds, which include shareholder activism and those betting on M&As, rose 2.99% in the first half of the year and 2.78% in June. Relative value strategies, which trade asset price dispersion, ended June up 2.66% in the year and 0.9% in the month. (Reporting by Carolina Mandl in New York; Editing by Chris Reese and Stephen Coates) Zinc prices have been on a downward trend for several months, and they are expected to remain low until 2025 based on weak demand and oversupply. Even though the output from zinc mining and refining companies is growing, analysts expect demand for zinc to remain weak through the next few years, resulting in a cap on prices. Weak demand in the construction sector has been a major factor in the decline of zinc prices, with many miners making little to no profits as Read More>> NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Arizona Metals Corp. (TSX: AMC) (OTCQX: AZMCF) are available in the companys newsroom at https://ibn.fm/AZMCF About MiningNewsWire MiningNewsWire (MNW) is a specialized communications platform focused on developments and opportunities in the global resources sector. The company provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to millions of social media followers, and (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions. 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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Coloured Ties Capital Inc. (TSXV: TIE) ("CTI" or the "Company") is pleased to announce, further to the Company's news release on June 12, 2023 announcing the Company's substantial issuer bid (the "Offer") under which the Company will offer to purchase for cancellation up to C$9,000,000 of its outstanding common shares (the "Shares"), that the Offer is awaiting regulatory approvals and is expected to commence on or about July 24, 2023 and the expiry date of the Offer is expected to be on or about August 28, 2023. The Offer is being made by way of a "modified Dutch auction," which will allow shareholders who choose to participate in the Offer to individually select the price, with a range of not less than C$0.92 per Share and not more than C$1.00 per Share (in increments of $0.01 per Share), at which they are willing to sell their Shares. Upon expiry of the Offer, the Company will determine the lowest purchase price (which will not be more than C$1.00 per Share and not less than $0.92 per Share) (the "Purchase Price") that will allow it to purchase the maximum number of Shares tendered to the Offer, and not withdrawn, having an aggregate purchase price not exceeding C$9,000,000. Shareholders who wish to participate in the Offer will be able to do so through (i) auction tenders in which they specify the number of Shares being tendered at a specific price per Share, or (ii) purchase price tenders in which they agree to have a specified number of Shares purchased at the purchase price to be determined pursuant to the auction and have their Shares considered as having been tendered at the minimum price of $0.92 for the purposes of determining the purchase price. Shareholders who validly deposit Shares without specifying the method in which they are tendering their Shares will be deemed to have made a purchase price tender. If the Offer would result in an aggregate purchase price of more than C$9,000,000, the Company will purchase a pro-rated portion of the Shares so tendered pursuant to auction tenders at or below the Purchase Price and purchase price tenders (after giving preferential treatment to "odd lot" holders). The Offer is optional for all shareholders, who are free to choose whether to participate, how many Shares to tender and, in the case of auction tenders, at what price to tender within the specified range. Any shareholders who do not deposit their Shares (or whose Shares are not repurchased under the Offer) will realize a proportionate increase in their equity interest in the Company, to the extent that Shares are purchased under the Offer. The Offer will not be conditional upon any minimum number of Shares being tendered. The Offer will, however, be subject to other conditions and the Company reserves the right, subject to applicable laws, to withdraw or amend the Offer, if, at any time prior to the payment of deposited Shares, certain events occur. Details of the Offer, including the full terms and conditions of the Offer and instructions for tending Shares to the Offer, will be included in the formal offer to purchase and issuer bid circular and other related documents (the "Offer Documents"), which are expected to be mailed to shareholders, filed with securities regulators and made available shortly on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Neither the Company nor its board of directors makes any recommendation to shareholders as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering any or all of their Shares to the Offer. This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any Shares. The solicitation and the offer to purchase Shares by the Company is being made only pursuant to the Offer Documents. Shareholders of the Company are urged to read the Offer Documents carefully and to consult with their own financial, tax and legal advisors prior to making any decision with respect to the Offer. Current Portfolio CTI currently holds $34,140,600* in net assets which consists of cash and investments in other entities based less debt on a close of June 30, 2023. Some significant holdings within the Company's investment portfolio include: *The valuation and information concerning securities holdings have been prepared by CTI's management based on information currently available to the Company. Accordingly, such information may be subject to change based on the results of the Company's interim review or year-end audit. The making of a modifying or superseding statement shall not be deemed an admission for any purposes that the modified or superseded statement, when made, constituted a misrepresentation for purposes of applicable securities laws. Quebec Pegmatite Inc Share Exchange Agreement On May 12, 2023, Coloured Ties Capital Inc. (TSXV: TIE)("Coloured Ties") and First Responder Technologies Inc. (CSE: WPN) (OTC Pink: WPNNF) (FSE: 3WK0) ("First Responder"), announced that First Responder has entered into a share exchange agreement dated May 8, 2023 (the "Share Exchange Agreement") with Quebec Pegmatite Corp. ("QPC"), a subsidiary of Coloured Ties in respect of a proposed business transaction (the "Proposed Transaction"). It is anticipated that the Proposed Transaction will constitute a "fundamental change" of First Responder in accordance with Policy 8 - Fundamental Changes and Changes of Business of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). This transaction is progressing and First Responder and Quebec Pegmatite are preparing filing documents for submission to the regulatory authorities and expects to complete the transaction during Q3 2023. The completion of the Proposed Transaction remains subject to a number of terms and conditions, among other standard conditions for a transaction of this nature, including, among other things: (i) QPC delivering a NI 43-101 compliant technical report for the Property that is acceptable to the CSE and First Responder; (ii) the delivery of audited, unaudited and pro forma financial statements of each party that are compliant with CSE policies; (iii) if required by the CSE, QPC delivering an independent valuation in form and content satisfactory to the CSE and First Responder; (iv) no material adverse changes occurring in respect of either First Responder or QPC; (v) the parties obtaining all necessary consents, orders and regulatory and shareholder approvals, including the conditional approval of the CSE and the TSXV subject only to customary conditions of closing; (vi) the Name Change and any other corporate changes requested by QPC, acting reasonably, shall have been implemented; and (vii) completion of the Concurrent Financing described below. There can be no assurance that all of the necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals will be obtained or that all conditions of closing will be met. Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, it is anticipated that the Resulting Issuer will be listed as a Mining Issuer on the CSE, with QPC as its primary operating subsidiary. Concurrent Financing In connection with the Proposed Transaction, QPC is undertaking a non-brokered private placement of QPC Shares at $0.25 per QPC Share for gross proceeds of up to $1,250,000 with qualified accredited investors(the "Concurrent Financing"). About Coloured Ties Capital Inc Coloured Ties Capital is a TSX-V listed issuer that invests in early stage commercial ventures and provides investee companies with capital market access and advisory services. The Company offers investors an opportunity to participate in early stage opportunities that are often only offered to high net worth or institutional investors via investment in the Company's common shares listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol V.TIE. Coloured Ties Capital is a 2022 TSXV 50 Company. For further information please contact: Coloured Ties Capital Inc. https://www.colouredtiescapital.com Kal Malhi Chief Executive Officer [email protected] Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173092 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Lancaster Resources Inc. (CSE: LCR) (OTC Pink: LANRF) (FSE: 6UF) ("Lancaster"), an energy transition metals company, reports results from its geochemical sampling program on its Alkali Flat Lithium Project in New Mexico (the "Property"). The samples were taken in March 2023 to assess the distribution of lithium and lithium pathfinder elements over a broad portion of the Property. The geochemical results of lithium values in the 143 sediment samples taken ranged from 69.6 ppm Li to 149.5 ppm Li, and the Mean was 113.8 ppm Li. The results show several zones of notably high lithium concentrations in the sediments found in the northern and eastern part of the Property. These results line up with the sediment analysis reported by Arizona Lithium Ltd. from its adjacent Lordsburg Lithium Project. "We are following up these strong results with seismic surveys to cover the anomalous area with a goal to select initial drill targets and brine sampling programs this summer," says Andrew Watson, P.Eng, Lancaster Resources' Vice President of Engineering and Operations. The source of the lithium at Alkali Flat has not been determined as of this date, however, three potential sources of lithium have been identified in the project area: 1. Eruptive volcanic rocks associated with the Steins caldera dated at 34.4 Ma (million years before present) and the Muir caldera eruptive center near Lordsburg, New Mexico dated at 35.3 million years; 2. Alkaline intrusive rock formations and associated pegmatites in the area near Lordsburg; and 3. Geothermal groundwater system at the Lightning Dock KGRA (Known Geothermal Resource Area) located six miles south of Alkali Flat. The Geochemical Program The sediment geochemical sampling program was undertaken on behalf of Lancaster by Rodney Blakestad, J.D., C.P.G. A total of 143 sediment samples were obtained to assess the distribution of lithium and other elements in the near surface sediments of the Property. Samples were obtained using battery powered auger drills to obtain representative samples between 10 to 20 inches (25-51 cm) below surface. Sediment samples were obtained on a grid system over the Property. Samples were collected at intervals of 1,200 feet (366 m) on lines oriented east-west. The east-west lines were spaced 2,400 feet (732 m) apart from north to south. A total of 143 samples were taken, including 14 samples from an earlier test-case sediment sample program, and 20 samples obtained for a sediment depth profile assessment. Two sample pits were excavated with hand tools to a depth of one meter in the playa. From the sidewall of those pits, representative samples were obtained over each 10 cm interval from surface to 100 cm depth. The maximum lithium value obtained from sediments at Alkali Flat, at 149.5 ppm Li, would be the 4th highest sample in the southern New Mexico regional sample database of 3,487 sediment samples published under the U.S. Geological Survey Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance program. In addition, the mean lithium value and the mean plus two times the standard deviation (M+2StDev) of the data distribution (representing the 95th percentile of the sample distribution), indicating that Alkali Flat sediments are highly anomalous compared to the regional database. Rodney Blakestad, a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, noted, "the results from the initial geochemical sampling provides strong support that the property is an excellent target for exploration of a lithium brine deposit. The size and strength of the Lithium anomalous sediments at the Alkali Flat Lithium Project is particularly exceptional as they are among the highest values of lithium in sediment samples ever reported in New Mexico, USA and appear to be analogous to Clayton Valley while in a more geologically mature playa setting." Lancaster aims to confirm the subsurface brine aquifers and geology through a phase 1 seismic program in late summer followed by an initial drilling program targeting seismically located aquifers. If the surface sediment geochemistry is representative of the subsurface, there could be substantial lithium brine reserves in the subsurface aquifer with a direct analogy being the brine deposits of Clayton Valley. Clayton Valley hosts the only significant lithium mine in North America, known as the Albemarle Silver Peak in Nevada. The operations at Silver Peak, which originally were centered around the production of lithium carbonate, were purchased by Albemarle Corporation from Rockwood in 2014 for a sum of $6.2 billion. Lancaster Resources has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Alkali Flat Lithium Project. Lancaster has fulfilled its option payment obligations through to December 2024. Andrew Watson, P. Eng., a Qualified Person, as defined by the National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this release. He is not independent. About Lancaster Resources Inc. Lancaster Resources is engaged in exploring energy transition metals to take advantage of the global shift towards decarbonization and electrification. Its Alkali Flat Lithium Project, in Lordsburg, New Mexico, USA, involves the exploration of a below-surface lithium brine target. Lancaster's goal is to produce Climate-Positive Lithium. Lancaster's strategic plan includes the utilization of direct lithium extraction (DLE) and the application of solar power to bring the carbon footprint of its prospective lithium extraction facility close to net-zero. Lancaster's endeavors align with the vision of leveraging sustainable energy sources and state-of-the-art technologies to facilitate climate-positive resource extraction. Guiding Lancaster Resources' journey is a skilled management and technical team, with collective involvement in over 15 commercial mineral discoveries, and endowed with extensive experience in the creation of lithium brine targets and the exploration and development of Lithium projects across Canada, the American West, Mexico, and South America. Penny White, President & Chief Executive Officer, Lancaster Resources Inc. [email protected] Tel: 604 923 6100 www.lancaster-resources.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events, or Lancaster's future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Lancaster's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, the ability of Lancaster to execute its exploration plans, retain key personnel, identify, acquire, explore, and develop high-quality mineral-rich properties and integrate sustainable energy sources and innovative technologies for climate-positive resource production constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Lancaster disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173052 Wadhawan brings strategy, leadership, and client focus to Copoint as Company leverages SR&ED to help Canadian businesses fund innovation Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Copoint, a leader in Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program ("SR&ED") consulting services for 30 years, today announced the appointment of Gaurav Wadhawan as President, effective immediately. Wadhawan is an accomplished senior executive with over 20 years of experience leading management, operations, and finance functions at large consultancy organizations. "We are very pleased to add Gaurav to lead the Copoint team," said Ken Cudmore, Copoint's Founder and Chairman of the Board. "We're in the business of innovation and bringing in Gaurav's unique skillset and organizational capabilities will further drive and develop the expertise we bring to our clients' business practices. I expect he'll finetune and enhance our focus on securing the SR&ED returns for our clients' eligible projects so they can continue to invest in innovation and expand their operations." Wadhawan was most recently Director of Finance with DIALOG, the Calgary-based architectural and engineering design firm with operations in Canada and the U.S. He was with DIALOG for 15 years in roles that included Operations Manager, Global Financial Controller, Associate Director of Finance, and Studio Controller. Prior to DIALOG, Wadhawan worked as a Senior Accountant with BDO Dunwoody LLP and a Senior Auditor with KPMG. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant in Canada and Chartered Accountant in India, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Delhi University in India. Wadhawan also serves on the Audit & Finance Committee of Operation Eyesight Canada's Board of Directors. "I'm excited to join Copoint and work with its leadership team in the role of President," said Gaurav Wadhawan, the Company's new President. "Copoint's clients represent the best in Canadian biomedical, clean tech, IT, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing innovation. The Company has an impressive team of finance and technology advisors delivering a strategic and much valued set of services to clients. I'll be looking to support these efforts while finding ways to improve their delivery and to broaden our influence into new sectors and geographies." Visit Copoint's website at www.copoint.ca, subscribe to the Company's news here, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Copoint A leader in SR&ED consulting and trusted partner to clients since 1994, Copoint (formerly TSGI Corporation) has filed more than 5,000 successful SR&ED projects, and consistently delivers significant returns on complex files, securing tens of millions in SR&ED tax credits returned to its largest clients. Copoint's specialized team of finance and technology advisors are poised and ready to take on your application, including all technical writing, so you and your team can focus on your business. Copoint is proud to serve as long-term partners to our clients, and we look forward to helping you get the most out of SR&ED so you can continue to invest in innovation. Learn more at www.copoint.ca. Contact Elliot Cudmore Executive Vice President, Copoint Email: [email protected] Telephone: (403) 451-3384 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173049 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Telescope Innovations Corp. (CSE: TELI) (OTCQB: TELIF) ("Telescope" or the "Company"), a leading developer of advanced technologies and services for the global pharmaceutical and chemical industries, has been awarded $292,333 through Canada's Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator ("MICA") Network. Funds will support Telescope's development of carbon-negative production of lithium carbonate from continental brines. Telescope will deploy its unique automation and analytical technologies to accelerate the development cycle for such processes, targeting the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate from brine sources of varying quality. In synergy with Telescope's collaborative research efforts with Standard Lithium Ltd. and Natural Resources Canada, this project will contribute to increasing production capacity for a crucial battery material while actively enabling a lower-carbon economy. "We've moved beyond executing individual research projects," explained Jason Hein, CEO of Telescope. "Telescope has now built positive momentum with various key industry and government stakeholders, and we are bringing innovative technology solutions to the mining sector. We're excited to continue our work as trusted partners-of-choice, deploying advanced technologies to resolve supply, manufacturing, and sustainability challenges for battery materials." About Telescope Telescope is a chemical technology company developing scalable manufacturing processes and tools for the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. The Company builds and deploys new enabling technologies including flexible robotic platforms and artificial intelligence software that improves experimental throughput, efficiency, and data quality. Our aim is to bring modern chemical technology solutions to meet the most serious challenges in health and sustainability. On behalf of the Board, Telescope Innovations Corp. Jason Hein, Chief Executive Officer E: [email protected] Forward-Looking Information Forward-looking information is based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this document include expectations surrounding the Company's development of carbon-negative lithium carbonate production processes, outcomes of this project and of research efforts with Standard Lithium and Natural Resources Canada, and all other statements that are not statements of historical fact. Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173012 Uppsala, Sweden--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Uppsala University is proud to announce a significant research milestone achieved by Associate Professor Zhihan Lv and his team in the field of virtual reality and metaverse. Through their groundbreaking study titled "Building the Metaverse by Digital Twins at All Scales, State, Relation," published in the esteemed journal Virtual Reality & Intelligent Hardware, the team has made significant strides in defining and constructing a genuine Metaverse. The vastness and ambiguity surrounding the concept have prompted a need for a clear and precise understanding of what constitutes the true essence of the Metaverse. Prof. Zhihan Lv's research offers a unique perspective on the Metaverse, drawing inspiration from the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu's Tao Te Ching. By employing Digital Twins technology, the team aims to replicate both tangible and intangible aspects of the real world into the virtual realm, providing a bridge between reality and the virtual domain. The construction of the Metaverse through Digital Twins technology requires a two-way expansion in scale, encompassing both macroscopic and microscopic levels. Prof. Lv's research explores the acquisition of information across different scales, from subatomic particles and molecular structures to geographical landscapes and celestial bodies. This comprehensive representation allows for the inclusion of various states of matter and social relationships within the Metaverse, paving the way for a truly immersive and interconnected virtual environment. Metaverse Social Relationships Dr. Zhihan Lv, an IEEE Senior Member, British Computer Society Fellow, ACM Distinguished Speaker, and Marie SkBodowska-Curie Fellow, has been at the forefront of this research. With his extensive experience and expertise, he has led the team in publishing over 300 papers, including more than 90 papers in prestigious IEEE/ACM Transactions. Dr. Lv's contributions to the field have garnered numerous accolades and recognition, reinforcing Uppsala University's position as a leading institution in cutting-edge research. The achievements made by Prof. Lv and his team signify a major milestone in the development of the Metaverse. By integrating emerging technologies such as Digital Twins, Internet of Things, Virtual Reality, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence, the researchers are paving the way for a more mature research and development system. Uppsala University remains committed to fostering an environment conducive to groundbreaking research and innovation. This milestone in building a real Metaverse marks an important step forward in the university's mission to explore new frontiers in science and technology. For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Website: https://www.katalog.uu.se/profile?id=N21-2049 Media Contacts: Company Name: Uppsala University Name: Jayden Wong Address: Strandgatan 1b (Residenset), 621 57 VISBY, Sweden E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +46707238888 Website: https://www.katalog.uu.se/profile?id=N21-2049 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/172671 Nashville, Tennessee--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2023) - Vibronyx, Inc., a minority- and veteran-owned technology and analytics service company, has been awarded a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I contract by the Air Force. To view the full announcement, including downloadable images, bios, and more, click here. Key Takeaways: Vibronyx has been awarded a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I contract by the Air Force. The awarded contract will leverage Vibronyx technology and expertise and invest in enhancing the company's AI-powered Digital Supply Chain Twin technology for Air Force and National Defense applications. The primary objective of this AF SBIR open call is for "exploring innovative technologies applicable to both defense and non-defense markets, scaling capability, and growing the industrial base for defense." Click image above to view full announcement. About Vibronyx Vibronyx is a minority- and veteran-owned technology and analytics service company helping clients solve the world's toughest supply chain transformation challenges. With deep domain experience and technology-enabled capabilities, Vibronyx helps organizations develop and implement agile analytics strategies and accelerate digital transformation across the enterprise. Vibronyx provides strategic consulting, analytics services and its Vibronyx Supply Chain Intelligence Platform solution to expand supply chain visibility across global networks, automate and orchestrate processes, and foster intelligent decision making across enterprise stakeholders. Learn more at vibronyx.com. Contacts: Vibronyx [email protected] Source: Vibronyx To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173064 OAK BROOK, Ill. (PRWEB) July 11, 2023 New CT technology allows for a comprehensive, simultaneous evaluation of lung structure and function, something not possible with standard CT, according to a study published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Chest CT is the imaging method of choice for analyzing lung disease and tracking changes over time. However, CT studies of lung function and perfusion, or blood flow, require dedicated protocols that cannot be combined. Researchers in Germany and the Netherlands developed a chest imaging protocol that yields information on structure and function of the lungs as a one-stop-shop procedure. The protocol uses recently introduced photon-counting CT technology. Photon-counting CT enables high image quality at a radiation dose below that of a standard chest CT. In addition, it provides better spatial resolution and options for spectral imaging, which uses energy information from the X-rays to characterize tissue composition. The new protocol requires advanced software but no additional hardware. The researchers studied the protocol in 197 patients with clinically indicated CT for various known and unknown lung function impairment. After administration of an intravenous contrast agent, the photon-counting CT scan was taken when the patients inhaled. This was followed by a scan when the patients exhaled. In 166 patients, the researchers were able to acquire all CT-derived parameters, for a success rate of 85%. The protocol allowed for simultaneous evaluation of lung structure, ventilation, vasculature and perfusion of the parenchyma, the region of the lungs that contain the gas-exchanging alveoli. The alveoli are tiny air sacs where the lungs and the blood exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide during the process of breathing in and out. The protocol showed advantages over standard CT. "The improvement in the contrast-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution of the pulmonary blood volume images was substantial," said study senior author Hoen-oh Shin, M.D., professor of radiology at the Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at Hannover Medical School in Hannover, Germany. "In my opinion, the most important advantage is the significantly improved spectral resolution, which enables new applications such as functional imaging of the lungs with CT." The photon-counting CT protocol has other promising applications in lung imaging. It can provide important preoperative identification of areas of emphysema and perfusion defects in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a progressive disease caused by blood clots that do not clear from the lungs. Postoperatively, the protocol allowed evaluation of surgical success and was helpful in assessing the lungs after lung or stem cell transplant procedures. It may also be useful in follow-up of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and looking at pathological findings in the lung tissue. "We believe that the proposed protocol is generally valuable for diseases with known or unknown lung function impairment," Dr. Shin said. Dr. Shin and colleagues first applied the protocol to patients with interstitial lung disease, a group of diseases that cause progressive scarring of the lung tissue. They then expanded the applications to include post-COVID-19 condition where interstitial lung disease sometimes develops. "With the proposed protocol, we have also been able to answer many other questions related to post-COVID-19 condition, such as the detection of acute and chronic pulmonary emboli on CT angiography, and we are currently investigating whether perfusion changes can be quantified in microvascular damage or inflammatory areas," Dr. Shin said. The researchers are working to improve processing time and increase the robustness of the technique. "Regional ventilation and perfusion depend on patient position and gravity, among other factors," Dr. Shin said. "Further studies are needed to assess the dependence on position and depth of breathing, as well as the reproducibility of the measurements." ### "Regional Pulmonary Morphology and Function: Photon-counting CT Assessment." Collaborating with Dr. Shin were Sarah C. Scharm, M.D., Cornelia Schaefer-Prokop, M.D., Hinrich B. Winther, M.D., Carolin Huisinga, M.D., Thomas Werncke, M.D., Jens Vogel-Claussen, M.D., and Frank K. Wacker, M.D. In 2023, Radiology is celebrating its 100th anniversary with 12 centennial issues, highlighting Radiology's legacy of publishing exceptional and practical science to improve patient care. Radiology is edited by Linda Moy, M.D., New York University, New York, N.Y., and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (https://pubs.rsna.org/journal/radiology) RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org) For patient-friendly information on chest CT, visit RadiologyInfo.org. Read the full story at https://www.prweb.com/releases/rsna_researchers_develop_photon_counting_ct_protocol_to_evaluate_lung_function/prweb19427431.htm CHICAGO , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the professional membership organization for the nation's more than 178,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and medical students, is pleased to announce that after an extensive national search, its Board of Trustees has appointed Kathleen S. Creason , MBA, as Chief Executive Officer. Creason has served as the AOA's Interim CEO for the past six months and brings nearly two decades of leadership experience within the osteopathic profession to the role. Previously she served as Executive Director of the American Osteopathic Information Association (AOIA) and prior to that as Executive Director of the Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of California . As CEO, Creason will oversee strategic vision, operations, organizational growth and advocacy for the osteopathic profession. "We are absolutely thrilled to have someone with Ms. Creason's extensive experience and expertise assume the CEO role," said AOA President Ernest R. Gelb , DO. "She possesses a deep knowledge of the osteopathic profession and a keen business acumen, both of which will enable her to make a significant impact as our profession continues to grow and evolve into the future." He added, "In addition to her proven experience, Ms. Creason did an outstanding job as Interim, stepping seamlessly into the leadership role earlier this year." During her tenure in the osteopathic profession, Creason served as President of the Association of Osteopathic State Executive Directors (2009-2010) and was honored as the 2009 recipient of the Bob E. Jones National Osteopathic Executive Director Award. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from CSU Sacramento and a BA degree in Communication Studies and Public Relations from the State University of New York at Geneseo . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aoa-selects-creason-as-new-ceo-301874633.html SOURCE American Osteopathic Association SINGAPORE , July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, rewards technology leader Ascenda announced the expansion of its partnership with OCBC, Singapore's longest-established bank and second-largest financial group in Southeast Asia by assets. The comprehensive premium rewards proposition sets out to enhance OCBC's credit card offerings, underpinning a drive to boost acquisition and engagement amongst high-value customers. Building on the thriving success of the Travel with OCBC platform - which provides OCBC cardmembers a hassle-free digital experience to book flights, hotel stays, and car rentals using OCBC's reward currencies - Ascenda is now enabling the bank to elevate its aspirational rewards offering and introduce valuable new redemption options. Effective immediately, customers are able to transfer their rewards currencies into 8 new major airline and hotel partner programmes via the bank's points exchange portal STACK . The milestone comes at an exciting point in time when travel in Asia Pacific is growing faster than any other region globally, with April 2023 air travel activity up 193% year-on-year, according to IATA's monthly Air Passenger Market Analysis. Madeline O'Connor , SVP Strategic Clients at Ascenda, explained: "We're thrilled to grow our relationship with OCBC, one of Singapore's leading banks, to bring world-class rewards to market and unlock customer engagement. This transformational launch comes at a very opportune time when consumer appetite for outbound travel is exploding in the Singapore market." Gary Wong , Head, Digital Payments & Ecosystems at OCBC, added: "Our rewards propositions play a pivotal role in attracting, engaging and retaining high-spending customers for the Bank. With the expanded access to Ascenda's larger global network, our customers get more choices, greater value and a better digital rewards experience." The new proposition powered by Ascenda is now available to OCBC customers holding Travel$, Voyage Miles and OCBC$ rewards balances. About Ascenda Ascenda powers innovative premium rewards programs that accelerate the growth of financial services. The company delivers easy-to-deploy rewards infrastructure to rapidly scale acquisition, card spending, cross-selling and retention. Serving major financial services brands and disruptive fintechs across the globe, Ascenda's clients include Brex, HSBC, Virgin Money, American Express and Capital One. For more information about Ascenda, please visit ascendaloyalty.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascenda-unveils-expansion-of-ocbc-partnership-to-grow-banks-premium-rewards-offering-301872044.html SOURCE Ascenda LONDON , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Atlas Corp. ("Atlas" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the publication of its 2022 Sustainability Report, its third annual report. The comprehensive document shines a spotlight on the year-long accomplishments of Atlas subsidiaries, Seaspan Corporation ("Seaspan") and APR Energy ("APR"), for the calendar year 2022. The report demonstrates Atlas' long-standing commitment to embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance ("ESG") principles into daily operations and decision making. In the 2022 Sustainability Report, Atlas applied the Global Reporting Initiative and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board reporting frameworks as guidance to determine report content and quality in terms of materiality, stakeholder inclusiveness, sustainability context, and clarity. Bing Chen , President & CEO of Atlas, commented, "ESG has been firmly embedded in our vision, mission, and our employees' daily work across the group. As the global leader in the container shipping and mobile power sectors, our long-term market leadership and success are built on the foundation of sustainability in everything we do and for everyone in our company. I am extremely proud of our team's track record of practical approach and consistent contribution over the decades. From introducing alternative fuels to our fleet at Seaspan to diversifying our energy portfolio at APR, we are making strategic investments in our assets and operations to lead the implementation of ESG initiatives as we continue to grow our businesses." In 2022, Atlas undertook numerous efforts toward decarbonization, reinforcing its respective market leader positions. Chen continued, "Seaspan and APR's approach to decarbonization is centered on forward-thinking commercial solutions, a firm commitment to evolve programs that mitigate risks, an adaptive approach to our customers' needs, and making investments in the future of our success." Inclusive workplace practices are a cornerstone of Atlas' commitment to ESG. The Company celebrates diversity and fosters an environment free from discrimination, as reflected by Seaspan's strides in promoting women within the traditionally male-dominated seafaring industry. Atlas understands the importance of investing in the wellbeing of its global workforce. In 2022, the company donated to the Sailor's Society and International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network to support seafarer wellness. The full report is now available for download on Atlas' website at esg.atlascorporation.com. About Atlas Atlas is a leading global asset owner and operator, with a focus on investing capital to grow a long lasting and sustainable business. Atlas brings together an experienced asset management team with deep operational and capital allocation experience. The company targets long-term, risk-adjusted returns across high-quality infrastructure assets in the maritime, energy, and other infrastructure verticals. Atlas' portfolio companies, Seaspan Corporation and APR Energy are exceptional, industry-leading operating platforms in the global maritime and energy spaces, respectively. For more information, please visit atlascorporation.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atlas-corps-2022-sustainability-report-embedded-esg-values-drive-decision-making-301874909.html SOURCE Atlas Corp. NEW YORK , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Basis , a global strategy and insight consultancy headquartered in London , with offices in New York City , Los Angeles and Chicago , is pleased to welcome senior director Mark Rushek and senior research executive Caleb Yoder to the company. Mark Rushek joins Basis Health after nearly a decade at ZS Associates, where he helped lead their strategy and insights group. His insights and analytics experiences span all aspects of commercialization of life sciences products, including opportunity assessment, market landscaping, segmentation, value proposition, creative, branding, channel strategy, tracking and forecasting through to optimizing post launch performance. An experienced consultant with deep interest and expertise across therapeutic categories, Mark has a strong track record of supporting clients across large cap pharmaceutical through to newly establish biotechnology companies in maximizing launch and product lifecycle success Caleb Yoder joins Basis Health after almost three years at ZS Associates, having most recently held the position of associate consultant in ZS's Marketing and Customer Insights practice. He has established himself as a go to consultant for his clients and teams, levering his experience working in the healthcare industry and delivering strategic insights and successful outcomes for some of the world's premier pharmaceutical firms. "The expansion of our team has been instrumental in fueling our growth and enabling us to forge stronger connections and better support our clients with their evolving strategic support needs," said Paul Eccles , PhD, managing partner of Basis Health. "We are thrilled to welcome outstanding talent like Mark and Caleb to our organization and believe their exceptional expertise and innovative outlooks will play a pivotal role in shaping groundbreaking commercial strategies for our clients. As we consistently attract new clients and enhance our capabilities, their collective experience will prove indispensable to our continued success." An award-winning independent global consultancy, Basis Health delivers unmatched talent for healthcare research, strategy and tactics in the life sciences industry across go-to-market and in-line commercial support needs. Click here to learn more about Basis careers. About Basis Health Basis Health is an independent global life sciences strategy and insight consultancy, headquartered in NYC, with offices in London and is part of the Basis Group. It delivers custom commercial strategy insights engagements, leveraging data collected through primary market research, secondary analytics and real-world evidence analysis that empowers confident decision-making at the speed of business. Media Contact: Katie Barnes 517-827-1117 [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/basis-health-adds-two-new-hires-to-support-accelerated-growth-301874771.html SOURCE Basis BOSTON , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon Biosignals, the leading computational neurodiagnostics and electroencephalogram (EEG) analytics company, is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of the research and development business of Dreem, a Paris -based pioneer in at-home sleep monitoring. This strategic acquisition signifies a remarkable milestone, setting the stage for clinical trial assessments at scale via the integration of Dreem's clinically-validated hardware with Beacon's next-generation EEG analytics platform. Dreem, a market leader in developing clinically-validated sleep monitoring devices, is poised to markedly enhance Beacon's capabilities in data acquisition and clinical trial operations, creating substantial value for Beacon's biopharma partners. Founded in 2014 and backed by over $57 Million in funding, Dreem built a robust intellectual property portfolio and a sophisticated regulatory strategy around its innovative sleep monitoring technologies that have been used to record over two million nights of sleep. As part of this acquisition, Beacon Biosignals secured an undisclosed financing round with participation from its syndicate of Series A investors, led by General Catalyst. Dreem's most advanced headset, Dreem 3, is a patient-centric sleep headband that has been deployed in numerous biopharma-sponsored clinical studies and has been clinically validated against standard polysomnography (Arnal et al., Sleep 2020). The lightweight, low-profile Dreem 3 device is engineered to optimize EEG signal quality, patient comfort and operational efficiency. The integration of Dreem's state-of-the-art wearables with Beacon's analytics platform creates a powerful synergy. This combination unlocks the potential for breakthrough AI-driven EEG analytics, polysomnogram endpoint assessments, and clinical-grade at-home sleep monitoring that can greatly accelerate the development of precision medicines. From its founding in 2019, Beacon Biosignals has engineered a machine learning platform designed to interrogate large EEG datasets at unprecedented speed and scale. Sleep physiology has emerged as a critical use case for quantitative EEG-based biomarkers to accelerate drug development in sleep medicine, psychiatric disorders and neurologic disease. In addition to serving as accepted endpoints for primary hypersomnia and insomnia disorders, quantitative sleep metrics are emerging as a secondary or in some cases primary endpoints for psychiatric conditions with disordered sleep physiology, such as major depressive disorder. Disordered sleep physiology is also increasingly recognized for its potential causal role in neurodegenerative disorders. In addition to its role as a formal endpoint, disordered sleep symptoms are highly linked to patient quality of life and patient-reported outcomes. Direct assessment of neuronal activity with EEG is the clinical gold standard, significantly outperforming surrogate assessments such as actigraphy. Beacon's platform excels in sleep EEG analytics, providing macroarchitecture assessments via automated sleep scoring and intricate microarchitecture analysis of features like arousals and spindles delivering deep insights into sleep quality. At-home, longitudinal monitoring is positioned to progress the underlying science of sleep physiology beyond what is possible with limited assessments in an unnatural sleep lab setting. "We are excited to announce the acquisition of Dreem, which marks a significant step forward in our mission to rapidly advance precision medicines for the brain," said Jacob Donoghue MD PhD, CEO of Beacon Biosignals. "It has always been our vision to expand clinical-grade brain monitoring to usher in the era of precision therapies in sleep medicine and the most difficult-to-treat neuropsychiatric conditions. There's no substitute for recording directly from the brain, and the Dreem device will accelerate Beacon's scale-up of validated sleep endpoints across a wide range of clinical trials." Prominent sleep expert and Beacon Biosignals Scientific Advisory Board member, Dr. Andrew Krystal , MD, added, "Sleep plays a crucial role in neuropsychiatric diseases, and monitoring it in realistic, at-home settings is essential for understanding the full impact on patients." Pierrick Arnal PhD, Dreem's Chief Science Officer reflected on the acquisition, "We are excited to join Beacon Biosignals and propel the Dreem device into a new era of impact, unlocking the potential for revolutionary advancements in clinical trials and treatments for disorders like narcolepsy, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and beyond." About Beacon Biosignals Beacon's machine learning platform for EEG enables and accelerates new treatments that transform the lives of patients with neurological, psychiatric or sleep disorders. Through novel machine learning algorithms, clinically-validated EEG wearables, large Clinico-EEG RWE datasets, and advances in cloud-based scientific computing, Beacon Biosignals is changing the way patients are treated for disorders of the brain. For more information, visit https://beacon.bio/. To work together, visit https://beacon.bio/contact. Follow us on Twitter (@Biosignals) or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/beacon-biosignals). Contact Dan Florey [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beacon-biosignals-acquires-dreem-launches-at-home-sleep-monitoring-services-for-clinical-trials-301873574.html SOURCE Beacon Biosignals, Inc. Bond Supports Social & Environmental Projects in New England & New York BOSTON , July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB) (" Berkshire " or the "Company"), announced today that proceeds from its inaugural sustainability bond have been allocated to projects resulting in the creation of 330 units of affordable and workforce housing along with more than 200,000 square feet of green building development. Berkshire's Sustainability Bond Report, released in conjunction with today's announcement, demonstrates how proceeds were allocated to support affordable housing, workforce housing, green building and financial access and inclusion projects in communities across New England and New York . In June 2022 , Berkshire became the first public U.S. community bank holding company with under $150 billion in total assets to issue a Sustainability Bond. The $100 million issuance of its 5.50% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2032 was used to finance or refinance new or existing social and environmental projects consistent with its Sustainable Financing Framework. "Berkshire Bank consistently seeks to maximize value creation for our customers, employees, shareholders and communities as we progress further toward becoming a high-performing, leading socially responsible community bank," stated Nitin Mhatre , Berkshire CEO. "Our sustainability bond reflects this commitment in practice as it helped expand our universe of investors and deliver a positive impact to our communities." Highlights of the projects supported by Berkshire's Sustainability Bond include: Affordable & Workforce Housing : Approximately 41% of the bond proceeds were allocated to the development of 330 units of affordable and workforce housing in Massachusetts , New York and Connecticut . These projects are expected to provide housing at a rate below the prevailing market rate to individuals and families at or below 60% of the Area Median Income ("AMI") for affordable units and between 60%-80% of the AMI for workforce units. : Approximately 41% of the bond proceeds were allocated to the development of 330 units of affordable and workforce housing in , and . These projects are expected to provide housing at a rate below the prevailing market rate to individuals and families at or below 60% of the Area Median Income ("AMI") for affordable units and between 60%-80% of the AMI for workforce units. Green Buildings : Approximately 33% of the bond proceeds were allocated for the construction of more than 200,000 square feet of green buildings in Massachusetts and New York whose projects are expected to achieve LEED Gold or Platinum, Net Zero emissions and/or are expected to achieve greenhouse gas emissions performance in the top 15% of their municipal boundaries. : Approximately 33% of the bond proceeds were allocated for the construction of more than 200,000 square feet of green buildings in and whose projects are expected to achieve LEED Gold or Platinum, Net Zero emissions and/or are expected to achieve greenhouse gas emissions performance in the top 15% of their municipal boundaries. Financial Access & Inclusion: 26% of the bond proceeds were allocated to small businesses located in low-moderate income and/or majority minority census tracts that created jobs, along with the redevelopment and revitalization of a former industrial site within a low-income neighborhood that helped attract new and retain existing businesses and residents. "The allocation of our inaugural sustainability bond issuance is helping to accelerate our impact and further empower the potential of people and businesses across our footprint. By aligning our capital strategy with our sustainability objectives, we're able to deliver value for our shareholders, innovative solutions for our customers and a net-positive impact for our communities," added Gary Levante , SVP, Corporate Responsibility at Berkshire . All of the proceeds from the bond were allocated in alignment with Berkshire's Sustainable Financing Framework. Sustainalytics, a Morningstar Company, and the global leader in high-quality ESG research, ratings, and data, independently verified that Berkshire's Sustainable Financing Framework "is credible and impactful and aligns with the International Capital Market Association's (ICMA) Sustainability Bond Guidelines 2021, Green Bond Principles 2021 and Social Bond Principles 2021"*. The subordinated Sustainability Bond issuance also received an investment grade rating of Baa3 from Moody's Investors Service**. Berkshire's full Sustainability Bond Report is available online at berkshirebank.com/sustainable-finance. Since its founding in 1846, Berkshire has helped finance and innovate businesses, create jobs, grow the economy, and improve the overall quality of life for the people and places its stakeholders care about most. The Company is well known for its commitment to sustainability, equity and social responsibility highlighted by Berkshire's history of philanthropy, its multi-year BEST Community Comeback program, and its Center for Women, Wellness and Wealth. ABOUT BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP Headquartered in Boston , Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank. Founded in 1846, the Bank's vision is to be a high-performing leading socially responsible community bank. It empowers the financial potential of its stakeholders by making banking available where, when, and how it's needed through an uncompromising focus on exceptional customer service, digital banking, and positive community impact. Providing a wide range of financial solutions through its consumer banking, commercial banking and wealth management divisions, the Bank has approximately $12.3 billion in assets and a community-based footprint of 100 financial centers in Massachusetts , New York , Vermont , Connecticut , and Rhode Island . Named one of America's Most Trusted Companies by Newsweek and America's Best Midsize Employers by Forbes, Berkshire is also listed in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality. To learn more, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. *Note Regarding Second Party Opinion Sustainalytics' second party opinion is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement of any securities, product or project, does not constitute investment or financial advice, and does not represent any type of credit or securities rating or an assessment of the issuer's economic performance, financial obligations nor of its creditworthiness. **Note Regarding Rating A rating is not investment or financial advice and is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. Ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. Each rating agency has its own methodology for assigning ratings and, accordingly, each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. Investor Contact Kevin Conn Investor Relations 617.641.9206 [email protected] Media Contact: Alicia Jacobs Corporate Communications 413.242.6540 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/berkshire-hills-announces-allocation-of-inaugural-100-million-sustainability-bond-301872511.html SOURCE Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. SACRAMENTO, Calif. , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Legislation to improve oversight of dangerous doctors and give consumers rights at the Medical Board of California was approved by the California Assembly Business & Professions Committee with a 10-5 vote today despite heavy lobbying in opposition by the California Medical Association. The bill, SB 815 by Senator Richard Roth and Assembly member Marc Berman , is the strongest bill reforming the Medical Board of California to make it through legislative policy committees in many years, said Consumer Watchdog. Its final committee hurdle is Assembly Appropriations next month. "This bill contains long-overdue reforms that recognize patients' right to have preventable injuries and deaths investigated by state regulators, and provides the funding to make that possible," said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog. "For too long, investigations into patient harm and death have been dismissed prematurely or dragged out beyond reason. This bill begins to put the Medical Board of California back on track to patient protection." SB 815 would: Ensure the board gets all the facts of a case by requiring an interview of the patient, or family member, before their complaint is closed. Most complaints are closed with no interview. by requiring an interview of the patient, or family member, before their complaint is closed. Most complaints are closed with no interview. Give patients a voice by allowing them to make a victim impact statement to the board, and creating a Complainant Liaison Unit to facilitate communication with families. by allowing them to make a victim impact statement to the board, and creating a Complainant Liaison Unit to facilitate communication with families. Adjust California's standard of proof for most doctor discipline to bring the state in line with that used by 41 other state medical boards, improve board investigation speed and efficiency. to bring the state in line with that used by 41 other state medical boards, improve board investigation speed and efficiency. Improve procedures at the Board that cause delays and unnecessary costs , including: a pause on the statute of limitations when doctors fight subpoenas; consequences for doctors who refuse interviews or coerce patients into not testifying; and longer wait times, and Board reimbursement, for petitions to reinstate a revoked license. , including: a pause on the statute of limitations when doctors fight subpoenas; consequences for doctors who refuse interviews or coerce patients into not testifying; and longer wait times, and Board reimbursement, for petitions to reinstate a revoked license. And, Fully fund the Board's operations . Doctor licensing fees have increased just $80 in 17 years; the Board faces insolvency without the full increase proposed in SB 815. The bill was amended in committee to remove a provision that would have changed the balance of power at the Board by giving it a public member majority, a loss for patients said Consumer Watchdog. The bill never addressed another top priority of patient advocates: Greater disclosure of doctors' complaint and disciplinary histories. Initial findings of the Medical Board Enforcement Monitor, released in March, confirm that the Medical Board's investigations of doctors are hamstrung by funding shortfalls. The report also highlighted how prosecutions are undermined by a crippling division between investigators and attorneys currently housed in different agencies. The Final Report of the Enforcement Monitor is due this month and will be a starting point for additional reforms, said Consumer Watchdog. Read the Initial Report: https://consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/initial-report-of-medical-board-enforcement-monitor-confirms-investigation-delays-and-failure-to-discipline-doctors/. Consumer Watchdog works with a team of volunteer patient advocates from across the state whose own experiences with medical negligence have spurred them to fight for better laws to protect other Californians from harm. Meet these families, hear their testimony, and read their stories and those of their loved ones, here https://consumerwatchdog.org/meet-the-advocates/ and here https://consumerwatchdog.org/meet-the-patients/. Download Consumer Watchdog's letter supporting SB 815 here. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bill-to-strengthen-medical-board-oversight-of-doctors-passes-final-assembly-policy-committee-says-consumer-watchdog-301874832.html SOURCE Consumer Watchdog Bridge to join as an industry member to advance the science of early detection and speed development of novel treatments SEONGNAM, South Korea and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridge Biotherapeutics (KQ288330), a South Korean clinical-stage biotech company developing novel drugs for fibrosis, cancer and inflammation, announced that it has joined PROLIFIC, the Prognostic Lung Fibrosis Consortium, an organization devoted to boosting scientific exploration and drug development in pulmonary fibrosis. PROLIFIC is a non-profit consortium of top-tier research institutions, academic medical centers, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies that are committed to developing treatments for pulmonary fibrosis. Members of PROLIFIC collaborate with each other to share expertise, technology, and data to develop precise and personalized treatments for patients with the fatal and progressive lung diseases. The near-term goal of PROLIFIC is to develop and validate tests for biomarkers indicative of pulmonary fibrosis in patients and to assess the biomarkers in predicting disease worsening or as suitable endpoints for clinical trials. "We are excited to join PROLIFIC and collaborate with other leaders in precision medicine to advance the understanding of pulmonary fibrosis and advance the science of biomarkers to detect this devastating disease," said Sujin Jung , Vice President of Clinical Development and Operations of Bridge Biotherapeutics. "As a member of PROLIFIC, we will be able to tap into a diverse range of expertise, technology, and data that will enable us to accelerate detection of pulmonary fibrosis, and speed the entire industry's development of new treatments." The group of industry members at PROLIFIC has selected 12 biomarkers based on peer-reviewed scientific reports showing their ability to predict the presence of the disease itself, and their potential ability to predict how well a drug candidate may work. The 12 biomarkers being studied include indicators of epithelial damage (CYFRA 21-1, SP-D, CA-19-9, KL-6), fibrosis (MMP-7, Tenascin C, periostin), inflammation (CCL18, CXCL13, slCAM1), and thrombosis (PAI-1). Having a validated panel of biomarkers could enable early detection of treatment response and comparison of drugs across clinical trials, which could speed regulatory approval. PROLIFIC also intends to partner with public health authorities worldwide to achieve the long-term goal of finding biomarkers that can predict which patients would benefit most from a particular treatment, bringing a precision medicine approach to the treatment of this chronic, often fatal condition. The consortium hopes to enable physicians to better tailor therapeutic treatments for patients. By joining PROLIFIC, Bridge Biotherapeutics will be able to collaborate with other pioneering companies in the area of pulmonary fibrosis. In addition to industry-wide advances, Bridge Biotherapeutics hopes to speed development of proprietary idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis pipeline and accelerate development of novel treatments for patients. Bridge Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapeutics for areas of high unmet medical needs. The company has three drugs in clinical trials for the treatment of fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, as well as inflammatory diseases and cancers, and a robust pipeline of drug candidates in preclinical development. About PROLIFIC PROLIFIC, founded in 2020 by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation and Bristol Myers Squibb, is a consortium of top-tier research institutions, academic medical centers, and biopharmaceutical companies that are committed to advancing precision medicine. The consortium aims to develop well-qualified assays to detect important peripheral blood protein biomarkers in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. Members of PROLIFIC collaborate to share expertise, technology, and data to develop more precise and personalized treatments for patients with devastating and progressive lung diseases. Industry members of PROLIFIC include BMS, Chiesi, Galapagos, Galecto, Genentech, Gilead, Lassen Therapeutics, Lung Therapeutics, NeRRe Therapeutics, Novartis, OptiKira, Pliant Therapeutics, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, Three Lakes Foundation, Tvardi Therapeutics. About Bridge Biotherapeutics, Inc. Bridge Biotherapeutics Inc., based in the Republic of Korea and the U.S. , is a publicly-traded, clinical-stage biotech company founded in 2015. Bridge Biotherapeutics is engaged in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics, focusing on therapeutic areas with high unmet needs, including ulcerative colitis, fibrotic diseases, and cancers. The company is developing BBT-401, a first-in-class Pellino-1 inhibitor for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, BBT-877, a novel autotaxin inhibitor for the treatment of fibrotic diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), BBT-176 and BBT-207, potent targeted cancer therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR C797S mutations. Learn more at https://www.bridgebiorx.com/en/. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bridge-biotherapeutics-joins-prolific-the-prognostic-lung-fibrosis-consortium-301873646.html SOURCE Bridge Biotherapeutics, Inc. Partnership with TeleDentistry.com Provides Safe 24/7 Access to Dental Consults LITTLE ROCK, Ark. , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dental emergencies can happen anytime, anywhereon vacation, during a job interview or at a wedding. That's why Delta Dental of Arkansas has launched a new partnership with TeleDentistry.com to offer its members 24/7 access to virtual dental visits at https://teledentistry.com/delta-dental-arkansas. The service is offered as a covered insurance benefit to most members. They can access safe and immediate high-quality dental consultations with their smartphone, tablet or computer with audio/visual capabilities. Virtual visits don't replace routine preventive care checkups with a dentist but deliver expert guidance, prescriptions and referrals to a Delta Dental network dentist if and when needed. "TeleDentistry.com fills an urgent need for dental care for oral health emergencies that happen after hours or away from home or for people who don't have an established dentist," said Thomas Redd , DDS, VP of Professional Relations at Delta Dental of Arkansas . "Virtual visits with a dental professional through TeleDentistry.com can give our members peace of mind and a low-cost alternative to expensive trips to the emergency room." Through TeleDentistry.com, Delta Dental network dentists can provide virtual consultations and write prescriptions when appropriate. They can also offer a referral to a Delta Dental network dentist if additional treatment is needed. TeleDentistry.com services are a covered insurance benefit for most Delta Dental of Arkansas members. Members should contact Delta Dental of Arkansas to verify coverage through their group plan. A Virtual Visit is counted as a problem-focused, limited examination and counts as a regular preventive oral exam. Members can use Virtual Visits provided through TeleDentistry.com for dental issues that arise after hours, on weekends, holidays or out-of-town trips or when they don't have an established dentist. "TeleDentistry.com is dedicated to improving access to dental care," said Dr. Vilas Sastry , CEO of TeleDentistry.com. "We are proud to partner with Delta Dental of Arkansas to help support their members with a virtual dentist anytime, anywhere." More information about Virtual Visits through TeleDentistry.com may be found at https://teledentistry.com/delta-dental-arkansas. About Delta Dental of Arkansas Delta Dental of Arkansas is the largest dental benefits provider in the state, helping more than 800,000 Arkansans keep their smiles healthy through commercial and Medicaid coverage. As a not-for-profit company, Delta Dental is committed to improving the oral health of Arkansans through the philanthropic efforts of its Foundation, which donated more than $3 million to support oral health education initiatives in the last three years. For more information, visit https://www.deltadentalar.com/. Media Contact: Dave Hawsey VP, Marketing (c) 501-813-2315 [email protected] www.deltadentalar.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/delta-dental-of-arkansas-introduces-virtual-dentist-visits-301874385.html HAYWARD, Calif. , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Falck, one of the world's largest providers of emergency services and the official provider of emergency ambulance service in Alameda County (Calif.), together with MD Ally, a leading virtual care provider, is proud to announce the launch of virtual care services across the county. This innovative service, which begins on July 12th , will enable patients to receive comprehensive medical care without the need for ambulance transport or treatment in a hospital emergency department. "Falck and MD Ally's launch of virtual care in Alameda County marks a significant milestone in healthcare delivery" MD Ally's virtual care service leverages the expertise of paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to screen patients and determine whether their condition qualifies for virtual care. This revolutionary approach allows patients to access a wide range of healthcare options conveniently and efficiently. "Virtual care allows patients to receive essential services without leaving their homes," said David Torres , Chief of Falck's Northern California operation. "With this new offering, 911 patients across Alameda County will have access to various services, including prescription and prescription delivery, scheduling of doctor's appointments, arrangement for treatment at urgent care centers, social services, mental health services, and assistance with transportation." "Virtual care will also allow many patients to receive the care they need at lower cost it avoids the expense of ambulance transport and treatment in a hospital emergency department, which is one of the costliest ways to receive care," Torres added. The virtual care system employs a team of dedicated clinicians who are on duty and ready to provide assessments to patients remotely. This immediate availability of healthcare professionals ensures that patients receive timely and appropriate care, potentially improving outcomes. Another key benefit of Falck and MD Ally's virtual care service is that it increases availability of Falck resources for high-priority calls. By redirecting patients whose condition qualifies for virtual care to the MD Ally platform, Falck resources can be better allocated to emergencies that require immediate attention. This optimization of resources enables a more efficient emergency response system, benefiting the entire Alameda County community. "Falck and MD Ally's launch of virtual care in Alameda County marks a significant milestone in healthcare delivery, emphasizing our mutual commitment to expanding healthcare options and enhancing patient experience," said Ivan Whitaker , VP of Partner Success at MD Ally. "Providing patients with the right healthcare options is crucial for meeting their diverse needs and delivering exceptional care." About Falck Falck, one of the world's largest providers of emergency services, has been helping people in time of need since 1906. It employs more than 25,000 people worldwide. As a global leader, Falck brings its comprehensive experience to bear as a trusted partner strengthening local healthcare systems. For more information, visit Falck.us. About MD Ally MD Ally aims to revolutionize the way healthcare is delivered, ensuring that patients receive the care they need, when they need it. MD Ally partners with public safety systems to expand their scope of services, allowing dispatchers and first responders to connect non-emergent patients to telehealth and virtual community paramedicine in real time. To learn more, visit mdally.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/falck-md-ally-to-launch-virtual-care-for-911-patients-in-alameda-county-301874717.html SOURCE MD Ally Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews and Margo Price lead all-day music and food event focused on farmers as climate champions INDIANAPOLIS , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Farm Aid's annual music and food festival is returning to Noblesville, Indiana, on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Ruoff Music Center. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Saturday, July 15 , at 10 a.m. ET , at LiveNation.com. FARM AID FESTIVAL RETURNS TO INDIANA SEPT. 23 Farm Aid 2023 a full day of music, family farmers, HOMEGROWN food and agrarian experiences will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson , Neil Young , John Mellencamp , Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), and Margo Price, as well as Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson , Allison Russell , The String Cheese Incident, and Particle Kid. The festival will highlight the work of family farmers to address climate change through regenerative, organic and sustainable farming practices. Farm Aid will showcase these innovative climate champions on the Farm Aid stage and throughout the event. As farmers and farm and food advocates converge from across the country for the annual festival, Farm Aid will host additional pre-festival events to spotlight their work. This is the third Farm Aid concert that has taken place in Indiana, and the second in Noblesville . Farm Aid IV took place at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis in 1990, and Farm Aid 2001: A Concert for America was held in Noblesville just weeks after the terrorist attacks of 2001. "Family farmers have the solutions to some of our toughest challenges," said Farm Aid President and Founder Willie Nelson . "As we face a changing climate, farmers in Indiana , across the Midwest and all over the country are farming in ways that create more resilient farms to build healthy soils and protect our water." Across the state, climate change has already had a considerable impact. In the coming years, climate change will shift the state to two extremes: hotter, drier summers and wetter winters and springs, creating more urgency for on-farm production practices that care for the soil and water. Indiana has the most polluted rivers and streams of any state, and almost all of Indiana's lakes and reservoirs sampled in a recent study are unfit for drinking water. One of the main culprits is manure run-off from large-scale concentrated animal feeding operations. Many family farmers in Indiana are national leaders in implementing farming practices to mitigate climate change, including cover cropping, rotating crops, reducing soil tillage, integrating livestock and crop production, raising pastured livestock, and improving soil and water management. "We are honored and excited to bring the Farm Aid experience back to Indiana . My home state holds deep meaning for me and for the generations of family farmers who have dedicated their lives to caring for the Earth and bringing us good food," said Farm Aid Co-Founder John Mellencamp . Indiana is the eighth largest farming state in the nation, generating $31.2 billion annually. Every 10 jobs directly related to Indiana agriculture support an additional eight jobs in the state. Home to 56,649 farms with an average farm size of 264 acres, there are more than 94,000 farmers in Indiana . More than 80% of land in Indiana is devoted to farms, forests and woodland. While its top crops are corn and soybeans, Hoosier farmers grow more than 30 major fruits and vegetables each year, including melons, pumpkins and mint. Farm Aid festival attendees experience a full day of music and the taste of local flavors with Farm Aid's HOMEGROWN Concessions, which offer a diverse, fresh menu with ingredients that are produced by family farmers using ecological practices with a fair price paid to the farmers. Farm Aid's HOMEGROWN Village features hands-on activities engaging festivalgoers with exhibits about soil, water, energy, food and farming. Festivalgoers can hear farmers and artists inform and inspire on the FarmYard Stage and celebrate the know- how and diversity of cultures of agriculture in the HOMEGROWN Skills tent. Ticket prices range from $75 to $315 and will be available for purchase at LiveNation.com. A limited number of pre-sale tickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 12 , at www.farmaid.org/tickets. For event updates, follow Farm Aid on Twitter (@FarmAid), Facebook (facebook.com/farmaid) and Instagram (instagram.com/farmaid), and visit farmaid.org/festival. Festivalgoers are encouraged to use the hashtags #FarmAid2023 and #Road2FarmAid to join the conversation on social media around this year's festival. Farm Aid welcomes the participation of the business community and offers corporate sponsorship and VIP hospitality opportunities. For more information, contact Glenda Yoder at [email protected] Farm Aid 2023 sponsors include Patagonia Workwear. Farm Aid's mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson , Neil Young , John Mellencamp , Dave Matthews and Margo Price host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid's work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. For more than 35 years, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $70 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms. **Editors, Producers and Photographers Note: Advance credentials are required for all media to attend Farm Aid 2023. Please visit farmaid.org/media by Monday, Sept. 4 , to learn about these requirements and apply. Media can download official Farm Aid photos and videos at farmaid.org/media. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/farm-aid-festival-returns-to-indiana-sept-23-301873655.html SOURCE Farm Aid TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 11. Some 34 modern power plants with a total capacity of more than 19.5 GW financed by foreign investors will be constructed in Uzbekistan, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan, said during the "New Uzbekistan: Progress, Innovation and Education" conference held in Tashkent, Trend reports. According to the minister, since 2019, Uzbekistan has signed 34 agreements with foreign investors for the construction of heat, solar and wind power plants worth $16.6 billion. "In addition, 278 medium and small hydropower plants will be built and upgraded by 2030. As a result, the capacity of the hydroelectric power stations in the country will double," he said. Mirzamakhmudov also added that, by 2030, the total capacity of solar and wind power will be increased to 15 GW. "Its 10 GW of solar, and 5 GW of wind power, accounting for almost 50 percent of total electricity production capacity in Uzbekistan," the minister noted. DENVER , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gates Industrial Corporation plc (NYSE: GTES) will issue its second-quarter earnings release before the market opens on Friday, August 4, 2023 . Management will host a webcast and conference call on the same day at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss Gates Industrial's financial results. The conference call can be accessed as follows: By dialing (888) 414-4601 (domestic) or +1 (646) 960-0313 (international) and requesting the Gates Industrial Corporation Second-Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call or providing the Conference ID of 5772067. Live webcast accessed through Gates Industrial's website at investors.gates.com. An audio replay of the conference call will be available from approximately 1:00 p.m. Eastern time on August 4, 2023 , until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on August 11, 2023 , and can be accessed domestically or internationally by dialing (800) 770-2030 or +1 (647) 362-9199, respectively, and providing the passcode 5772067, or by accessing Gates Industrial's website at investors.gates.com. About Gates Industrial Corporation plc Gates Industrial Corporation plc is a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. Gates offers a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment ("first-fit") manufacturers as specified components. Gates participates in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets ranging from harsh and hazardous industries to everyday consumer applications including virtually every form of transportation. Our products are sold in over 130 countries across our four commercial regions: the Americas ; Europe , Middle East & Africa ; Greater China ; and East Asia & India . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gates-industrial-announces-second-quarter-2023-earnings-release-date-301874377.html SOURCE Gates Industrial Corporation plc Steady progress made at all sites to advance development and growth plans RENO, Nev. , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - i-80 GOLD CORP. (TSX: IAU) (NYSE: IAUX) ("i-80", or the "Company") is pleased to announce that significant progress has been realized in the Company's advanced-exploration, development and production initiatives at its Granite Creek , McCoy-Cove, Ruby Hill , and Lone Tree Properties. Granite Creek The Company is advancing underground development, surface and underground drilling, increasing mining rates, and progressing updated resource work for economic studies. The Company is advancing underground development, surface and underground drilling, increasing mining rates, and progressing updated resource work for economic studies. McCoy-Cove The Phase 1 underground development program is nearing completion, and the underground drill program is realizing substantial success. The Phase 1 underground development program is nearing completion, and the underground drill program is realizing substantial success. Ruby Hill Gold is being produced from the residual leaching program while drilling continues to define and expand mineralization in multiple zones. A Preliminary Economic Assessment is near completion while metallurgical work and associated permitting is being advanced for underground development and processing planning. The Company also received approval to drill test the Hilltop Corridor. Gold is being produced from the residual leaching program while drilling continues to define and expand mineralization in multiple zones. A Preliminary Economic Assessment is near completion while metallurgical work and associated permitting is being advanced for underground development and processing planning. The Company also received approval to drill test the Hilltop Corridor. Lone Tree - Gold production continues from the residual leach program and detailed engineering is being completed for the restart of the autoclave facility. "We have realized numerous successes in the first half of 2023 in what is expected to be a catalyst-rich year with exploration, development, and mining underway at our three primary projects.", stated Ewan Downie , CEO of i-80. "As a company, and where possible, we intend to implement "proof of concept" mining to ensure that proper mining methods are employed, and continuity of mineralization is established, prior to full mine development. By completing more detailed initial work, we aim to have a more fluid transition from explorer to miner than often seen in new start-ups." Granite Creek Property The Company continues to advance a decline to provide multiple levels to access the Ogee Zone . Better ground conditions encountered, as the development has deepened, have allowed for successful mining and reconciliation to the Granite Creek resource estimate and related Preliminary Economic Assessment has been positive (see Tables 1 & 2). Four levels have now been completed and mining rates continue to ramp up. A fifth level is now under development which will be extended to the northeast to provide initial access to the South Pacific Zone . A dedicated drill bay has been completed on the 4th level and surface drilling has resumed to allow the Company to better define the South Pacific Zone in advance of its development. Prior to declaring a production decision, initial mining is being performed on several of the primary zones to establish continuity and mineability. Practical Mining LLC, an independent mining consultant, has been engaged to assist in constructing a revised resource model and economic mine plan. As part of this exercise, reconciliation work is being completed to compare actual mined ounces versus resource estimates and related Preliminary Economic Assessment. This will then be used to complete an updated resource estimate and Feasibility Study. "The team at Granite Creek continues to realize significant progress in both development and mining rates.", stated Matt Gili , President and Chief Operating Officer of i-80. "Our focus has shifted to the Ogee Zone with positive grade reconciliation, increased mining rates and increasing production. We are accelerating infrastructure development to access the high-grade South Pacific Zone as we progress towards full commercial production." Table 1 Granite Creek Ogee Zone 4445 Level (based on Company stockpile sampling) Tonnage Au Grade Gold (tonnes) (g/t) (oz) Actual Mined 10,612 14.0 4,768 Table 2 Granite Creek Ogee Zone 4490 Level (based on Company stockpile sampling) Tonnage Au Grade Gold (tonnes) (g/t) (oz) Actual Mined 10,874 11.1 3,870 Mining in the Ogee Zone continues to encounter a significant amount of oxide mineralization and an ore sale agreement for this material has been negotiated with a third-party. High-grade refractory mineralization is being trucked to Nevada Gold Mines ' "Sage Plant" at its Turquoise Ridge/Twin Creeks Mine located to the north (See Figure 1) in accordance with the Company's existing toll milling agreement. Installation of a sixth dewatering well is nearing completion which is expected to lower the water level and contribute to accelerated development and mining rates. Prior to completing a Feasibility Study for the underground mineralization at Granite Creek , additional surface and underground drilling is being completed to better define mineralization in the South Pacific Zone for mine planning and inclusion in the economic model. McCoy-Cove Property Construction of the Phase I underground decline and exploration drift is expected to be completed in July 2023 . The underground definition drill campaign, expected to comprise of approximately 40,000 metres, is underway with extremely positive initial results. Drilling has demonstrated strong continuity of mineralization with consistent high-grade gold mineralization. Highlight results from the first eleven holes of the underground drill program include: 10.3 g/t Au over 7.8 m (iCHU23-02) 13.0 g/t Au over 6.0 m (iCHU23-03) 12.9 g/t Au over 36.1 m (iCHU23-04) 12.8 g/t Au over 14.2 m & 13.8 g/t Au over 7.6 m (iCHU23-05) 24.1 g/t Au over 14.0 m (iCHU23-07) 44.2 g/t Au over 2.1 m & 11.4 g/t Au over 7.9 m (iCHU23-08) 9.6 g/ t Au over 22.8 m (iCHU23-09) 14.9 g/t Au over 32.7 m (iCHU23-10) 15.7 g/t Au over 22.5 m (iCHU23-11) 18.9 g/t Au over 29.3 m (iCHU23-11) This program will be completed in advance of detailed mine designs for a Feasibility Study and the future development of the Cove underground mine. Installation of piezometers to advance detailed water flow studies was also completed in the first half of the year and support full mine permitting and long-term dewatering plans. Cove represents one of North America 's highest-grade development-stage gold projects with existing resources displayed in Table 3. Table 3 Cove Deposit Resource Mineral Resources1 Tonnage Au Grade Ag Grade Gold Silver (kt) (g/t) (g/t) (koz) (koz) Indicated 1,007 10.9 29.1 351 943 Inferred 3,867 10.9 20.6 1,353 2,565 1. Mineral Resources were calculated at a gold price of US$1500 /oz, cut-off grade 0.141 opt Au, and is based on the Preliminary Economic Assessment issued by i- 80 on April 13, 2021 with an effective date of January 1, 2021 . "The success we have realized early in our definition drill program at Cove is confirming best-in-class grades and the potential for it to become one of the highest-grade gold mines in the United States .", stated Tyler Hill , Chief Geologist of i-80. "Grades and widths are reconciling very well against the model and we are expecting to provide regular updates on results from this large-scale program." Ruby Hill Property Five main initiatives are planned at Ruby Hill for 2023 including a residual leach program, a large-scale exploration drilling program, initial economic work for the planned Ruby Deeps underground gold mine to be developed at Ruby Hill, permitting to allow for the commencement of underground development and advanced metallurgical work for the recoveries of gold and polymetallic base metal mineralization for mining and processing planning. Following the acquisition of the nearby FAD deposit through the completion of the Company's acquisition of Paycore Minerals Inc., a major multi-drill program is underway focused on expanding mineralization and also testing several new exploration targets on the property including the Hilltop Corridor. New discoveries have been made in the early part of the Ruby Hill drilling program with Carlin (gold) and CRD (polymetallic) mineralization intersected in several new target areas located in close proximity to the underground infrastructure being planned for the Property. Drilling in the Upper Hilltop Zone continues to expand mineralization with substantial expansion potential being identified in the East Hilltop and Lower Hilltop areas (see Figures 2 & 3). Additionally, recent drilling has intersected zones of high-grade mineralization in infill drilling at the Blackjack Zone and the FAD deposit. Multiple zones of high-grade Carbonate Replacement Deposit-type mineralization (CRD) have been identified along the Hilltop fault structure (see Figures 2 & 3) including 515.3 g/t Ag, 28.9 % Pb, 10.5 % Zn & 0.9 g/t Au over 28.3 m, 1.9 g/t Au, 631.3 g/t Ag, 7.4 % Zn & 33.0 % Pb over 18.3 m and 60.2 g/t Au, 908.7 g/t Ag, 1.1 % Zn & 15.7 % Pb over 10.0 m in the Upper Hilltop Zone and 226.1 g/t Ag, 9.7 % Zn & 10.0 % Pb over 8.4 m in the East Hilltop target area. Early in the 2023 drill program, hole iRH23-09 intersected a large zone of Carlin -type alteration grading 7.3 g/t Au over 10.2 m approximately 200 metres south of known mineralization in the Ruby Deeps deposit in addition to polymetallic mineralization approximately 250 metres west of the Lower Hilltop Zone that assayed 3.5 g/t Au and 6.7 % Zn over 18.3 m. Additional drilling is testing this area (See Figures 2 and 3). Final deposit modeling and mine planning are being completed in advance of the release of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Ruby Deeps gold deposit. Permit submissions have been made for approvals to commence underground development (portal and decline) from the Archimedes pit. This underground development will provide improved access for definition drilling of the multiple gold, polymetallic and base metal deposits, test mining and advanced economic studies prior to a production decision. Detailed metallurgical test work is being completed for both gold and polymetallic base metal mineralization at Ruby Hill. This work will be utilized in economic plans for processing both types of mineralization from the Ruby Hill Mine and advancing plans for the construction of a floatation plant on the Property. Lone Tree Property Detailed engineering for the retrofit of the Lone Tree autoclave facility is underway. Once complete, and the Company has sufficiently advanced mine development at Granite Creek , Ruby Hill and Cove, a comprehensive study will be completed. In the interim, sulphide (refractory) gold mineralization will be processed at NGM facilities pursuant to processing agreements that were previously negotiated. Please click here for further information on abbreviations and conversions referenced in this press release. QAQC Procedures All samples were submitted to either American Assay Laboratories (AAL) or ALS Minerals (ALS) both of Sparks, NV , which are ISO 9001 and 17025 certified and accredited laboratories, independent of the Company. Samples submitted through AAL and ALS are run through standard prep methods and analysed using Au-AA23 (ALS) or FA-PB30-ICP (AAL) (Au; 30g fire assay for both) and ME-ICP61a (35 element suite; 0.4g 4 acid/ICP-AES) for ALS and IO-4AB32 (35 element suite; 0.5g 4-acid ICP-OES+MS) for AAL. Both AAL and ALS also undertake their own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration. i-80 Gold Corp's QA/QC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results. Qualified Person Tyler Hill , CPG-12146, Chief Geologist at i-80 is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. About i-80 Gold Corp. i-80 Gold Corp. is a Nevada-focused, mining company with a goal of achieving mid-tier gold producer status through the development of multiple deposits within the Company's advanced-stage property portfolio with processing at i-80's centralized milling facilities. i-80 Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE American under the trading symbol IAU:TSX and IAUX:NYSE. Further information about i-80 Gold's portfolio of assets and long-term growth strategy is available at www.i80gold.com or by email at [email protected]. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward looking statements" or "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to, commencement of mining operations at the Granite Creek project, the Ruby Hill mine, the McCoy-Cove project and the Lone Tree project; reconciliation of actual mining results to resource estimates and economic studies; mineral resource and reserve estimates and exploration and development potential; completion of updated resource estimates and feasibility studies; refractory processing capabilities and production targets. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements or information Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results " may", "could", " would", "or " be taken, occur or be achieved These statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this presentation. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by applicable law. Forward looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward looking statements or information, including, but not limited to failure to satisfy of the relevant conditions to the completion of the transactions described herein, failure to obtain the relevant regulatory approvals, material adverse changes, exercise of termination rights by any relevant party, unexpected changes in laws, , rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities the failure of parties to contracts with the Company to perform as agreed social or labour unrest changes in commodity prices and the failure of exploration, refurbishment, development or mining programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. Readers of this presentation are encouraged to read the "Risk Factors" as more fully described in the Company's filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2022 , available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Cautionary Note to U S Investors Concerning Estimates of Resources This presentation uses the term "inferred resources." "Inferred resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of a feasibility study or prefeasibility study, except in rare cases Information contained in the presentation containing descriptions of any mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by U S companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder that disclose mineral reserves and mineral resources the SEC's new mining disclosure rules in Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 ("S-K 1300"). Under S-K 1300 reserve and resource definitions are substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Definition Standards however, there are differences between NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 and therefore information contained in the presentation may not be comparable to similar information made public by public U S companies pursuant to the Regulation S-K 1300. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/i-80-gold-provides-comprehensive-operations-update-301873878.html SOURCE i-80 Gold Corp CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Involta , an award-winning data center, hybrid IT and cloud-forward consulting firm, is proud to announce the release of its inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report. The in-depth report highlights the company's dedication to integrating ESG principles into its operations, with a focus on environmental responsibility, employee well-being and strong governance practices. As a Carlyle-backed company, Involta firmly believes that its ESG framework was formed from the foundation of its strategic vision. By leveraging unique resources and long-standing key partnerships, Involta strives to deliver advanced hybrid IT solutions that responsibly meet the evolving needs of its customers. The ESG report represents a significant milestone in Involta's journey toward achieving this purpose. "I am unbelievably proud of the growth journey Involta has undertaken since its inception, most recently accelerated by Carlyle's infusion of capital," states Involta President and CEO Jim Buie . "Since the beginning, Involta has put environmental impact and the development of our people at the center of what we do and how we move forward. This inaugural report of our robust and ongoing ESG initiatives will lay out clearly and comprehensively our commitment to the initiatives that are crucial to our company and our leadership." Involta's ESG strategy encompasses three core pillars: Managing and Minimizing Environmental Footprint: Involta is committed to reducing its environmental impact through proactive measures aimed at conserving resources, optimizing energy efficiency and minimizing waste. By adopting sustainable practices and embracing renewable energy solutions, the company seeks to contribute to a greener future. is committed to reducing its environmental impact through proactive measures aimed at conserving resources, optimizing energy efficiency and minimizing waste. By adopting sustainable practices and embracing renewable energy solutions, the company seeks to contribute to a greener future. Caring for People - Employees, Contractors and Communities : Involta recognizes that its success is driven by its people. The company is dedicated to prioritizing the well-being and safety of its employees, contractors and the communities in which it operates. By fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, promoting employee growth and development, and actively engaging in community initiatives, Involta aims to create a positive and sustainable social impact. In 2022, Involta employees volunteered more than 261 hours of their time. : recognizes that its success is driven by its people. The company is dedicated to prioritizing the well-being and safety of its employees, contractors and the communities in which it operates. By fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, promoting employee growth and development, and actively engaging in community initiatives, aims to create a positive and sustainable social impact. In 2022, employees volunteered more than 261 hours of their time. Sound Business Practices and Good Governance: Involta upholds the highest standards of ethics, integrity and transparency in its business operations. Through robust governance practices, the company ensures responsible decision-making, effective risk management and compliance with regulatory requirements. By maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders and promoting accountability, it aims to build trust and inspire confidence among its customers, partners and investors. The ESG framework outlined in the report reflects Involta's overarching strategy and goals. It also aligns with the company's commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on six specific goals where Involta believes it can make a positive contribution. These goals are intricately woven into its strategy and targets, as further elaborated upon in the report. For more information about Involta's ESG report and to learn about the company's consulting, colocation, cloud, managed services and security solutions, visit involta.com . About Involta Involta, a leading, enterprise-class IT infrastructure partner, empowers clients to reimagine their worlds through technology. Providing advanced hybrid cloud solutions, superior data center experiences and first-class fiber and connectivity services, Involta offers a distinctive combination of robust technology and rigorous processes underscored by passionate people that truly deliver. Involta has continually evolved and grown today to stand as an enterprise provider, empowering our clients to harness the power of technology without sacrificing the grounded, thoughtful and individualized approach of a trusted regional partner. Always personal, never transactional, our team is always where our clients need us, delivering outstanding, unparalleled experiences that enable them to change their worlds for good. To learn more about Involta, visit involta.com or follow them on LinkedIn , Twitter or Facebook . Media Contact: JSA for Involta 1.866.695.3629 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/involta-launches-inaugural-esg-report-reinforces-commitment-to-responsible-and-sustainable-business-practices-301873717.html SOURCE INVOLTA, LLC Residents of Sea Breeze Apartments connected with local service organizations that offer social services, community programming and other resources. Additional photos available upon request. SAN DIEGO , July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Avenue Capital (LAC), a mission-driven acquirer and developer of affordable housing, hosted a Family Resource Day event for residents of Sea Breeze Apartments , which provide high-quality homes for lower-income families in San Diego . "Our Family Resource Days provide valuable opportunities for our residents to connect with local organizations and discover key resources that are available in their communities," said Lincoln Avenue Capital CEO Jeremy Bronfman. "We are proud to partner with some of San Diego's leading service providers to support our Sea Breeze residents." The Family Resource Day featured representatives from local nonprofit organizations including SAY San Diego , Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego, Family Health Centers of San Diego, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, St. Paul's PACE and YMCA of San Diego. These groups shared information with residents about youth programs, community development, affordable health care and other social services. Residents also received a complimentary meal from a local food truck. "We are committed to supporting and improving the overall health and wellness of our residents through community events such as Family Resource Days which provide our residents with the opportunity to discover and access local resources, as well as support building a deeper sense of community," said Rebecca Schultz , LAC Vice President of Asset Management. LAC regularly hosts Family Resource Days at its affordable housing properties across the country in conjunction with Fairview Housing Partners, a national nonprofit affordable housing organization. About LAC: Lincoln Avenue Capital is one of the nation's fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for lower- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. LAC is a mission-driven organization that serves residents across 22 states, with a portfolio of 120 properties comprising 22,000+ units. About Fairview: Fairview Housing Partners is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to expanding access to quality, affordable homes where they are most needed. Fairview's work includes owning and developing affordable housing properties, including through joint ventures with industry partners; facilitating capital investments that improve the quality, sustainability and resilience of properties; and providing resident services to support the health and well-being of our communities. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lincoln-avenue-capital-hosts-family-resource-day-event-for-affordable-housing-residents-in-san-diego-301873467.html SOURCE Lincoln Avenue Capital NEW YORK , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LiveOnNY, (LVNY) the federally designated organ procurement organization in the NY Metro region and Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY), announced today a partnership to help support the families of organ donor heroes in the NY Metro region who have chosen to give the gift of life to those waiting for a second chance at life through the miracle of organ donation. In this unique model, RMH-NY will offer temporary housing and support services provided by RMH-NY to the LiveOnNY community of Pediatric Donor Hero Families. "RMH-NY is committed to supporting LiveOnNY's mission of honoring our New York pediatric donor heroes and supporting their families in their time of need. This collaboration reflects that continued commitment and the spirit and mission of Ronald McDonald House," said Dr. Ruth C. Browne , President and CEO, Ronald McDonald House New York. This opportunity is for those who may need a place to stay for 1-2 nights in Manhattan , while their loved one donates the gift of life to others in need while undergoing donor support at the LiveOnNY Donor Care Unit located at NYU Langone Health. "We are grateful to Ronald McDonald House New York for honoring our donor heroes and their families. LiveOnNY and RMH-NY have a shared mission to serve our New York community and this righteous work. Together we will help those in need for generations to come while supporting our donor heroes who stepped up to say yes to saving lives," said Leonard Achan, RN, MA, ANP, President and CEO, LiveOnNY. "We hope this model will be replicated across the nation to provide these services for donor families everywhere who have given so much to their community." About Ronald McDonald House New York RMH-NY is a proud partner of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, a worldwide network of over 383 Houses and programs. Located on East 73rd Street in New York , Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) is New York City's House. The organization provides temporary housing for pediatric cancer patients and their families in a strong, supportive, and caring environment that encourages and nurtures the development of child-to-child and parent-to-parent support systems. RMH-NY has served more than 59,000 families throughout all five boroughs of New York City , across the U.S. and around the world, and approximately 40% of families are international. Its 11-story, 79,000 square-foot House features 95 guestrooms including six post-transplant suites four full guest kitchens, laundry facilities, two outdoor terraces, private libraries, a dining room, living room and more. At the House, families are welcomed with love and comfort, and lifelong friendships are formed among people who understand what it's like to cope with such a devastating diagnosis. RMH-NY's programs help to provide families a sense of normalcy, including wellness programs, educational tutors, music, art, transportation, activities for siblings, holiday and birthday parties, specialized support groups and more. The organization's presence extends well beyond the confines of the House, as RMH-NY is also committed to positively impacting communities across the five boroughs. Through partnerships with 16 of the city's leading hospitals, RMH-NY provides critical services to families with children undergoing cancer treatment at these hospitals. For more information, or to learn how to volunteer or donate, please visit www.rmh-newyork.org About LiveOnNY LiveOnNY is a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to saving lives, providing comfort, and strengthening legacies through organ, eye, and tissue donation. The OPO, which was established in 1978, serves a culturally and ethnically diverse population of 13 million residents in New York City , Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley . Working closely with transplant centers and hospitals, LiveOnNY coordinates organ, eye, and tissue donation for transplant, educates the public and healthcare professionals about donation and transplantation, and promotes the importance of signing up on the New York State Donate Life Registry. LiveOnNY works closely with 11 transplant centers, nearly 100 hospitals, and several tissue and eye banks. LiveOnNY is a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which oversees the organ transplant waiting list in the U.S. For more information, please visit LiveOnNY.org. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/liveonny-and-ronald-mcdonald-house-new-york-partner-to-provide-temporary-housing-for-organ-donor-families-301874620.html SOURCE LiveOnNY New research on continuous upskilling shows room for cross-sector cooperation to build better opportunities for skills development ANAHEIM, Calif. , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - From D2L Fusion's Executive Summit, D2L, a global learning technology company, today released a new research report, Enabling Learning for Life: New Realities for Work and Education, showing that American workers are struggling to locate relevant micro-credential programsand often don't understand how they relate to career advancement. The study indicates that American workers want to learn but continuous upskilling is still not the norm, despite its critical importance in economic environment of accelerating technological change. "We know how important learning is to both individuals and organizations to stay competitive, but we can also see that workers are still finding the micro-credential environment difficult to navigate," says John Baker , CEO of D2L. "Collectively, we've made great strides in bringing high-quality education opportunities closer to the workers that need them to develop their skills, including with new technology. Together with organizations and higher education partners, we will keep working to make micro-credentials accessible, make their adoption frictionless, and make employee progress easier to track, for far greater overall impact." D2L found that among U.S. workers surveyed only about a third (35%) had taken any professional development education or training over the previous year, but they are generally interested in doing so and that interest grows with age. While micro-credentials are increasingly helpful in providing targeted skills development options for working adults, D2L found little awareness of micro-credentials, nor of their value, among those U.S. workers surveyed. A quarter of those polled (25%) said they were not sure where to find providers that offer micro-credentials, and nearly the same proportion said they were unsure how a micro-credential could help them progress in their career. Many American workers said that they are looking for an easy way to find and compare upskilling programseven more than they are seeking more financial support. And roughly two in five of respondents said they would like to take those courses online. Filled with original research and compelling interviews with 15 leaders in education, Enabling Learning for Life: New Realities for Work and Education offers recommendations for employers, higher education institutions and governments to make continuous upskilling simpler and more accessible. For corporations and institutions, those include making further investments in continuing education and skills development like partnerships with D2L Wave pooling resources and creating new partnerships. And for governments, recommendations included introducing supportive policies including incentives and financial supports. Read and download the full report here. ABOUT D2L D2L is transforming the way the world learnshelping learners of all ages achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with clients all over the world, D2L is supporting millions of people learning online and in person. Our growing global workforce is dedicated to making the best learning products to leave the world better than they found it. Learn more about D2L for K-12, higher education and businesses at www.D2L.com. 2023 D2L Corporation. The D2L family of companies includes D2L Inc., D2L Corporation, D2L Ltd, D2L Australia Pty Ltd, D2L Europe Ltd, D2L EU B.V., D2L Asia Pte Ltd and D2L Brasil Solucoes de Tecnologia para Educacao Ltda. All D2L marks are trademarks of D2L Corporation. Please visit D2L.com/trademarks for a list of D2L marks. "All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners" View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/making-micro-credentials-meaningful-and-accessible-301874230.html SOURCE D2L HAMILTON, Bermuda , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE: NBR) invites you to join Anthony G. Petrello , Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and William Restrepo , Chief Financial Officer, Wednesday July 26, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time for a discussion of operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023 . Nabors will release earnings after the market closes on July 25, 2023 . Date: July 26, 2023 Time: 10:00 a.m. CT ( 11:00 a.m. ET ) Dial-in-number(s): US Toll Free: (888) 317-6003 Canada Toll Free: (866) 284-3684 International: (412) 317-6061 Participant Elite Entry Number: 7467306 Please call ten to fifteen minutes ahead of time to ensure proper connection. The conference call will be recorded and available for replay for one week, until 4:00 p.m. CST on August 2, 2023. To hear the recording, please call (877) 344-7529 in North America or (412) 317-0088 internationally and enter Participant Elite Entry Number: 8026115. Nabors will have a live audio webcast of the conference call available on its website at www.nabors.com. To join the webcast, navigate to the Investor Relations page and then select Events Calendar. An electronic version of the earnings release and, if applicable, any supplemental presentation also will be available to download from the website. About Nabors Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE: NBR) is a leading provider of advanced technology for the energy industry. With operations in more than 15 countries, Nabors has established a global network of people, technology and equipment to deploy solutions that deliver safe, efficient and responsible energy production. By leveraging its core competencies, particularly in drilling, engineering, automation, data science and manufacturing, Nabors aims to innovate the future of energy and enable the transition to a lower-carbon world. Learn more about Nabors and its energy technology leadership: www.nabors.com. Investor Contacts For further information regarding Nabors, please contact William C. Conroy, CFA, Vice President of Corporate Development & Investor Relations at +1 281-775-2423, via email at [email protected] or Kara Peak, Director of Corporate Development & Investor Relations at +1 281-775-4954, via email at [email protected]. To request investor materials, contact Nabors' corporate headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda at +1 441-292-1510 or via email at [email protected]. Related Links www.nabors.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nabors-industries-ltd-second-quarter-2023-earnings-conference-call-invitation-301874686.html SOURCE Nabors Industries Ltd. Digital Finance Forum 2023 Ceremoniously Unveiled BEIJING , July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Digital Finance Forum 2023 was held on July 6 at the Beijing Banking & Insurance Business Park in Shijingshan District, Beijing , with the aim of discussing the trend of global digital finance, evaluating and determining the optimal path for high-quality digital finance development, and fostering a consensus on the future of digital finance. Themed as "Pioneering a Better Future with Digital Intelligence", this Digital Finance Forum is organized by the Shijingshan District People's Government of Beijing Municipality and Asia Digital Group. Notable guests in attendance include Huang Qifan , a researcher fellow and former mayor of Chongqing , Xu Xinchao, deputy secretary-general of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, Zhao Weijiu, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Local Financial Regulation and Supervision, Li Xianxia, executive vice mayor of Shijingshan District and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shijingshan District Committee of Beijing Municipality, Li Wenhua , vice mayor of Shijingshan District, and Zhu Dongfang, president of Asia Digital Group. Government representatives, experts, scholars, and business leaders from more than 10 countries and regions, including Spain , the United States , Germany , New Zealand , Austria , Sri Lanka , and Slovenia were invited to exchange on how to drive financial innovation and digital strategic upgrades under the new dual-cycle pattern, and help the construction of a new digital financial ecosystem, striving to open a new era of high-quality development of fintech and continue to enhance the international influence of Beijing's digital economy. Fostering the top-level structure for digital finance under the guidance of national policies Xu Xinchao, deputy secretary-general of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, advocated Beijing as a cutting-edge scientific and technological innovation center, as well as a national financial management center. The city is actively striving to establish itself as a global benchmark in the digital economy, leveraging its exceptional strengths in economy, finance, and digital innovation. Beijing aims to develop a modern digital financial system that aligns with the capital's four central functions in politics, culture, international exchanges, and scientific and technical innovation. Specifically, the city will focus on enhancing digital financial technology innovation, driving the digitalization of financial services, fostering the growth of digital business in financial institutions, nurturing digital financial industry players, promoting the digital transformation and upgrading of financial institutions, and facilitating pilot reforms in the fintech supervision sandbox and fintech innovation in the capital market. Beijing is ready to join hands with all partners to promote the high-quality development of digital finance. Zhao Weiju, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Local Financial Regulation and Supervision, pointed out in his speech that Beijing , as the national financial management center, attaches great importance to the development of digital finance, adheres to the fundamental purpose of serving the real economy, and focuses on stimulating the multiplication effect formed by the factors of "finance + science and technology + data". The financial industry and information service industry have emerged as Beijing's pillar industries. The digital economy and the financial industry constitute over 40% and more than 20% respectively, showcasing a clear trend towards digital transformation in the financial sector. Li Xianxia, executive vice mayor of Shijingshan District and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shijingshan District Committee of Beijing Municipality, noted in his speech that finance plays an important role in promoting the Chinese path to modernization, and has also made outstanding contributions to the high-quality development of Beijing . Shijingshan strives to build "1+3+1" top tech sectors headed by the modern financial industry. The revenue of the modern financial industry exceeds 100 billion. It has successfully established several national-level financial infrastructures that have showcased their effectiveness and influence. The continuous progress of the E-CNY pilot further signifies its importance. Showcasing new achievements and cooperation fruits in digital economy The launch of products is a highlight of this forum. The National FinTech Evaluation Center debuted the Financial Frontier Technology and Supervision Technology Laboratory, which is the first to apply data asset graph technology to financial data asset pricing, jointly built with the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Core Technology (initiated by Tsinghua University). Through graph technology, automated inventory, calculation, and analysis of the value correlation between data assets and various scenarios are achieved, and a fair, reasonable, and efficient data asset pricing algorithm platform is established. It aims to support the effective use of public data, industry level data asset graph initiatives, and data pricing combined with model governance by the government to enable the real economy and other fields. Beijing Jinsec Information Technology Co., Ltd. released a maturity evaluation model for the application innovation capability of financial industry. The development of the evaluation model acts as a starting point for the integrity of the application innovation of the financial industry, and evaluation criteria for the development stage, maturity level, and key gaps of application innovation of various financial institutions. As a tool for financial institutions to carry out self-assessment of application innovation capabilities, it enables financial institutions to find out their own bottom line, helps to improve their application innovation construction capabilities, and then better plans prospects and layouts for the future. Alibaba Cloud rolled out the financial industry version of Tongyi Qianwen, its own ChatGPT-style product. Tongyi Qianwen is a super-large-scale language model of Alibaba Cloud, featuring multi-round dialogue, copywriting, logical reasoning, multi-modal understanding, and multi-language support. Specifically, it can help financial institutions provide intelligent customer service, personal assistants, investment research analysis and data organization, which can greatly improve work efficiency. A grand signing ceremony for the projects in Shijingshan District was held at the forum. Blending Eastern and Western thoughts to seek for the future of digital finance Boosting the development of the digital economy has become a global trend, and digital finance is an important support for building a digital economy system, which has captured attention across various countries. Representatives from more than 10 countries and regions engaged in in-depth exchanges around digital finance at the forum. This forum set up the guest city of honor for the first time. Natalia Chueca , mayor of Zaragoza, Spain , delivered a speech as the representative of the guest city of honor, hoping that the connection between Beijing and Zaragoza would continue to strengthen and jointly promote the development of global digital economy and digital finance. Florian Tursky , state secretary of Austrian Ministry of Finance, and Gabrielle Loga , manager of International Relations at Palmerston North City Council, New Zealand , delivered speeches via video. The guests introduced in detail the development and local advantages of their countries and regions in the field of digital economy and digital finance, and expressed their willingness to strengthen cooperation with China , Beijing and Shijingshan. In the keynote speech session, Huang Qifan , a researcher fellow and former mayor of Chongqing , gave a speech on the status quo of digital economy and digital finance. Zhu Jiaming , an economist and chairman of the Academic and Technical Committee of Digital Finance Research Institute of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, addressed on the theme of "From Digital Finance to Smart FinanceAI Accelerates the Transformation of FinTech Infrastructure", expounding the changes of AI to the economic model, the potential of digital finance, and its trends. Liu Dongmin, director of the International Finance Office of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered a keynote speech on "Internet 3.0, Digital Finance and China's Development Strategy". In the era of Internet 3.0, which puts a strong emphasis on data and prioritizes intelligent applications, personalized services, and global connections, a transformative experience awaits individuals, while also accelerating the advancement of digital finance. During a keynote address on the topic of "Innovation and Practice of Ping An's Digital Training for Financial Talents in the AI Era", Huang Hongying , chief digital operations executive officer of Ping An Group, highlighted the significance of financial talent development. Additionally, Lou Heng , chief architect of the intelligent new financial industry and general manager of the insurance industry at Alibaba Cloud, presented on the theme of "Cloud Era of Digital Finance Construction", showcasing the application of Alibaba Cloud in the realm of digital finance, and elucidating on the profound impact that cloud technology will have on the financial landscape moving forward. During the High-Level Dialogue, representatives from various countries exchanged views on "Pioneering a Better Future with Digital Intelligence". Moderated by Zhang Li , executive vice president of Asia Digital Group, the session involved Laurent Arribe , representative of the Bay Area Council in China , Feng Xingliang, chief representative of the representative offices of NRW. Global Business in Beijing and Guangzhou , Chen Jiaxian, chief representative of North China and Northeast China of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Jan Sitar , Economic Counsellor at the Embassy of Republic of Slovenia to China , Mahesh Perera , CEO of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Sri Lanka , Zhang Ning , director of the CUFE China FinTech Research Center, and Xue Chuyu, vice president of New Actuation Digital Finance Research Institute of DCITS. They shared and discussed valuable insights on various aspects of the digital economy, digital finance, regional development, trade, technology, and research institutions. Consensus was sought through speculative discussions, integrating both Eastern and Western ideas to explore the trends in digital finance across different countries and regions. Displaying diversified value of the forum with science and technology Science and technology have revolutionized numerous industries and scenarios. One such innovation is the introduction of the virtual digital human, "Jingrui", who seamlessly connects with overseas guests, fostering a global interaction. Business inspection activities will also be organized during the forum. The leaders of Shijingshan District accompanies guests from all walks of life around the world and representatives of Chinese and foreign enterprises to conduct inspections of the development environment of Shijingshan District to deepen mutual understanding and facilitate cooperation. The Digital Finance Forum 2023 unites Eastern and Western ideas, promoting high-quality development in digital finance through discussions on digital intelligence and the exchange of industry trends. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pioneering-a-better-future-with-digital-intelligence-301873759.html SOURCE Asia Digital Group EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For over twenty-five years SMART has been providing information to survivors of ritual abuse and mind control. https://ritualabuse.us SMART Announces its 26th Survivor Conference Speakers - August 19-20, 2023 https://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/ SMART is proud to announce the speakers for our online August 19-20 conference. https://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/ Wendy Hoffman 's topic "Artificially Rooted in the Natural" will discuss why recovery from criminal mind control takes so long and is so painful and consuming. Wendy Hoffman has published three memoirs, The Enslaved Queen, White Witch in a Black Robe and A Brain of My Own. https://ritualabuse.us/smart/wendy-hoffman/ Dr. Rainer Hermann Kurz will discuss "Child Trafficking through Family Court Proceedings: A UK Case Study." His presentation builds on incidents that led to the transfer of parental responsibility for a toddler from a mother to a Local Authority. Rainer Kurz is a Chartered Psychologist based in London . Since 1990 Rainer has worked in Research & Development roles for leading test publishers. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rainer_Kurz2 Neil Brick will speak about "The Effects of Social Movements on Survivor Support Systems and Survivor Recovery. He will present historical information regarding the literature of clinicians and researchers. Neil Brick is a survivor of ritualistic abuse. His child and ritualistic abuse newsletter S.M.A.R.T. has been published for over 28 years. http://neilbrick.com Dr. Laurie Matthew OBE's topic "Ongoing Work by Survivor Led Non-profit Organisations in Scotland ." She will share findings from recent survivor led participatory research highlighting the importance of involving survivors as researchers. Dr. Laurie Matthew OBE is the founder and Manager of Eighteen And Under and a founding member and advisor to Ritual Abuse Network Scotland. http://www.18u.org.uk http://www.rans.org.uk Dr. Randall Noblitt will discuss "The Identification and Use of Trauma Triggers in the Treatment of Extreme Abuse Survivors." Extreme abuse survivors sometimes seek psychotherapy services because of the overwhelming consequences of previous or ongoing incidents of abuse. Randy Noblitt is a professor of Clinical Psychology and a licensed psychologist. He's evaluated and treated extreme abuse survivors clinically since 1979. https://ritualabuse.us/smart/randy-noblitt/ Lynn Crook will speak about "False Memories The Deception That Silenced Millions." She explains why accused child molesters needed a defense, why they selected false memories and how they sold it to the media. Lynn Crook received an M. Ed . She discovered she was molested as a child and sued her parents for damages. The judge declared in her favor in 1994. http://www.lynncrook.com The conference is co-sponsored by Survivorship, one of the oldest and most respected organizations supporting survivors of extreme child abuse. https://survivorship.org View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smart-announces-its-26th-survivor-conference-301873755.html SOURCE SMART Newsletter and Conferences SAN DIEGO , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership (BPP), the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego , the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and Cross Border Xpress (CBX) announce the end of the U.S. -Mexico Border COVID-19 Testing Program at the San Diego-Tijuana CBX on June 29, 2023 . Beginning on April 25, 2022 , international travelers entering San Diego through the CBX terminal from the Tijuana Airport were able to take voluntary COVID-19 tests thanks to this dynamic public-private-philanthropic partnership among BPP, the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego's Ventanilla de Salud Program, the CDPH, and CBX. A total of 16,857 individuals, aged 5 and up, participated in the program, and 564 positive COVID-19 cases were identified. "This program helped to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our binational friends and families while traveling internationally, and we thank the Consulate of Mexico in San Diego , the State of California , and CBX for rising to the challenge of COVID-19 with this innovative program," said Andy Carey , Executive Director of the BPP." "The program was led by a group of eight professional health promotoras as part of the Ventanilla de Salud program at the Consulate General of Mexico that serves over 3,000 people each month alone in San Diego and over 3 million annually across the United States ," said Ambassador Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez , Consul General of Mexico in San Diego. "We greatly appreciate our community partnership with BPP and extend our thanks to Cross Border Xpress for allowing us to provide this important service to our community." Funded by the CDPH's California Office of Binational Border Health, the program allowed the CDPH COVID-19 Testing Task Force to test for COVID-19 and to provide international travelers with information about COVID-19 prevention and treatment. San Diego-Tijuana CBX, San Francisco International Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport were the three participating airports. "We are proud of our partnership," said Jorge Goytortua, CEO of CBX. "Promoting the safe recovery of tourism is one of our priorities, and we are glad that we could take advantage of the high volume of passengers at CBX to benefit our binational community," About the BPP The BPP is a binational membership organization whose mission is to support a network of organizations that build prosperity through leadership, collaboration, and philanthropy in the U.S. -Mexico Border region. www.borderpartnership.org. Media Contact: Susana Villegas (619) 947-5742 [email protected]com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-mexico-border-covid-19-testing-program-ends-301874553.html SOURCE U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership VIENNA, Va. , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VMS Solutions Co. Ltd. (VMS), a leading software company of advanced planning and scheduling, has signed a contract with ASML Holding N.V. (ASML), the renowned Dutch lithography machine producer for chip makers to offer a powerful Production Simulation platform. This collaboration aims to enhance equipment utilization and operational efficiency, leveraging VMS's expertise in the semiconductor space. VMS's track record in delivering effective manufacturing planning solutions made it the ideal choice for ASML's requirements. VMS Solutions and ASML Collaborate to Transform Semiconductor Manufacturing with Production Simulation Platform. The Mozart Simulation Platform offered by VMS provides a digital-twin powered solution for semiconductor manufacturers. By creating a virtual replica of the fab facility, the simulation platform captures real-world constraints and rules, enabling companies to gain valuable insights into their production processes. VMS's platform has been proven with global chip makers like Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Micron to reduce NAND Fab cycle time by more than 20 percent and improve the on-time delivery rate by 20 percent directly contributing to increased efficiency, faster time-to-market, and enhanced customer satisfaction. By simulating different scenarios, semiconductor companies can experiment with process changes, evaluate different strategies, and drive continuous improvement. VMS's Mozart Production Simulation Platform serves as a powerful tool for manufacturers, enabling them to optimize their operations and achieve tangible results. Dr. Keyhoon Ko, EVP of Global Business at VMS Solutions, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, "We are honored to be selected by ASML to provide our Mozart Production Simulation platform. With our expertise in semiconductor planning and scheduling, we are confident that this collaboration will unlock significant value for ASML, enabling the company to optimize its overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)." The collaboration between VMS Solutions and ASML represents a significant advancement in the semiconductor industry, highlighting the growing importance of simulation platforms in optimizing manufacturing operations. As semiconductor companies continue to strive for increased efficiency and productivity, the integration of VMS Solutions' simulation platform will play a vital role in driving ASML's further success. About VMS Solutions: VMS Solutions Co. Ltd. offers advanced production planning, scheduling and simulation platforms for manufacturing companies. Leveraging AI and digital-twin technologies, VMS Solutions enhances customers' KPIs such as production throughput, equipment utilization, and cycle time. Trusted by global leaders from high-tech to consumer goods industries across USA , Europe and Asia , VMS Solutions has delivered tailored software for over two decades. www.vms-solutions.com [email protected] +571 749 9121 About ASML: ASML Holding N.V. is a high-tech company headquartered in the Netherlands . ASML manufactures the complex lithography machines that chipmakers use to produce integrated circuits or computer chips. Renowned for its technological advancements, ASML plays a crucial role in enabling chip manufacturers to produce smaller, faster, and more powerful semiconductors. www.asml.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vms-solutions-and-asml-collaborate-to-transform-semiconductor-manufacturing-with-production-simulation-platform-301872938.html SOURCE VMS Solutions PITTSBURGH , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wesco International (NYSE: WCC) will hold its 2023 second quarter earnings conference call on Thursday, August 3 at 10 a.m. ET . Dial-in details are below. The live audio webcast and presentation slides of the earnings call will be accessible on the investor relations section of Wesco's website, along with webcast replays following the call. Wesco will also be participating in the RBC Capital Markets Global Industrials Conference, Jefferies Industrials Conference and Morgan Stanley's Laguna Conference during the third quarter. 2023 Second Quarter Earnings Call Dial-In Access Live Access North America : 1-877-443-5356 International: 1-412-902-6614 Access code: Wesco Replay Access A recording will be available beginning Aug. 3, 2023 at noon ET until Aug. 10 at noon ET U.S. Toll Free: 1-877-344-7529 Canada Toll Free: 855-669-9658 International: 1-412-317-0088 Access Code: 2058557 About Wesco International Wesco International (NYSE: WCC) builds, connects, powers and protects the world. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , Wesco is a FORTUNE 500 company with more than $21 billion in annual sales and a leading provider of business-to-business distribution, logistics services and supply chain solutions. Wesco offers a best-in-class product and services portfolio of Electrical and Electronic Solutions, Communications and Security Solutions, and Utility and Broadband Solutions. The Company employs approximately 20,000 people, partners with the industry's premier suppliers, and serves thousands of customers around the world. With millions of products, end-to-end supply chain services, and leading digital capabilities, Wesco provides innovative solutions to meet customer needs across commercial and industrial businesses, contractors, government agencies, institutions, telecommunications providers, and utilities. Wesco operates approximately 800 branches, warehouses and sales offices in more than 50 countries, providing a local presence for customers and a global network to serve multi-location businesses and multi-national corporations. Contact Information Will Ruthrauff Director, Investor Relations 484-885-5648 Jennifer Sniderman Sr. Director, Corporate Communications 717-579-6603 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wesco-announces-2023-second-quarter-earnings-call-301874619.html SOURCE WESCO International, Inc. DULUTH, Minn. and KNOXVILLE, Tenn. and KALAMAZOO, Mich. , July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cirrus Aircraft today announced that Western Michigan University has purchased thirty-two (32) TRAC SR Series aircraft as it prepares to expand its College of Aviation. As a long-time collegiate partner, Western Michigan University has leveraged Cirrus Aircraft's technology and sophistication for advanced student flight training. "We are honored to support one of the largest collegiate aviation schools in the United States with a new fleet of TRAC SR Series aircraft," said David Moser , Vice President of Fleet and Special Mission Sales for Cirrus Aircraft. "The TRAC SR Series features an advanced safety and technology suite that continues to optimize how students learn to fly. We look forward to supporting our collegiate partners by providing a platform to train world-class pilots as they become the next generation of aviators." "As we expand our College of Aviation, the TRAC SR aircraft becomes an invaluable asset for our students to obtain the transferable skills necessary as a pilot," said Dr. Raymond Thompson , Western Michigan University. "The TRAC aircraft offers a technologically advanced training platform that ultimately provides them with a competitive advantage in the workforce." Designed as the ultimate ab-initio flight training platform, the technologically advanced TRAC SR Series boasts an impressive list of features and capabilities that complement the SR20 aircraft's stable flight characteristics. The integrated Garmin flight deck includes two large flight displays, a Flight Management System (FMS) keypad controller, an Electronic Stability and Protection system as well as integrated engine indication and crew alerting/warning systems all features found on today's advanced airliners. The interior was designed to meet the unique needs of a high-utilization training environment, replacing the luxury materials found in the SR Series with a durable all-weather floor liner and easy to clean wear-resistant seats. The spacious cabin provides an optimal workspace to learn and train, with more space than typical training aircraft, rear seats for additional students or observers and optional air conditioning for comfort in all seasons. The TRAC Series includes the TRAC20, TRAC22, and TRAC22T. Additionally, the TRAC Series features a durable all-composite airframe structure with the signature Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), making the TRAC Series one of the safest and most versatile training airplanes available today. The TRAC Series is further enhanced by a wide array of interactive, tailored flight training content through Cirrus Approach, including online courses, engaging videos and the award-winning iFOM (interactive Flight Operations Manual) for convenient learning anywhere in the world. To learn more about the TRAC SR Series, please visit: cirrusaircraft.com/fleet. About Western Michigan University's College of Aviation Western Michigan University's College of Aviation, FLYING Magazine's No. 2 ranked aviation college, offers the only comprehensive aviation program at a public university in the state of Michigan . With nearly 1,200 undergraduate students, it is one of the largest aviation programs in the nation. Backed by more than 80 years of aviation experience, education and excellent industry reputation, WMU's College of Aviation is a powerful force in the future of aviation training. Learn more at wmich.edu/aviation. About Cirrus Aircraft Cirrus Aircraft is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet, the world's first single-engine Personal Jet, and the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined aviation performance, comfort and safety with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft has passed 15 million hours, and 250 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company has seven locations in the United States , including Duluth, Minnesota ; Grand Forks, North Dakota ; Greater Dallas, Texas ; Greater Phoenix, Arizona ; Greater Orlando, Florida ; Knoxville, Tennessee and Benton Harbor, Michigan . Learn more at cirrusaircraft.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/western-michigan-university-selects-cirrus-aircraft-for-training-fleet-301874661.html SOURCE Cirrus Aircraft FILE PHOTO: Workers tend to an unfinished Lordstown Motors Endurance electric pick-up truck on the assembly line at Foxconn's electric vehicle production facility in Lordstown, Ohio, U.S. November 30, 2022. REUTERS/Quinn Glabicki/File Photo By Joseph White and Ben Klayman DETROIT (Reuters) -The U.S. electric vehicle market is growing, but not fast enough during the latest quarter to prevent unsold EVs from stacking up at some automakers' dealerships or to allow Tesla to avoid new price cuts, according to analysts and industry data. Rising inventories and price-cutting could represent only a short-term pause in EV market growth. But they could be signals that boosting U.S. EV sales above the current 7% market share level will be more costly and difficult than expected, even with federal and state subsidies. Automakers North America have billions of dollars in EV-related investments riding on how the next several quarters play out. If production of EVs continues to outpace demand, automakers will have to choose between slashing prices and profit margins, or slowing assembly lines. More than 90 new EV models are expected to hit the U.S. market through 2026, according to AutoForecast Solutions. Many will struggle to reach profitable sales volumes, analysts said. Dealers for established automakers such as General Motors, Ford, Hyundai and Toyota have more than 90 days' worth of unsold EVs at their stores at current sales rates, according to a report from Cox Automotive. U.S. dealers have more than 92,000 EVs in stock, more than three times the number on their lots a year ago, according to Cox data. Overall, new vehicle inventories are up 74% from a year ago, Cox said. There is a wide range in the availability of EV models. GM had 50 days' worth of Cadillac Lyriqs available as of June 30, below the industry average of 52 days' supply at current sales rates, Cox said. GM said in a statement that it has "very low inventory - and high demand" for its EVs. More than 80% of Lyriqs and GMC Hummer EVs built are still in transit to dealers, the automaker said. GM's bigger challenge has been accelerating production and delivery of its next-generation EVs built on GM's Ultium architecture. Of 36,024 EVs GM delivered in the United States during the first half of this year, only 2,365 were Ultium EVs. GM has a goal of building a total of 100,000 electric vehicles in North America during the second half of this year. Ford had 86 days worth of F-150 Lightnings and 113 days' worth of Mustang Mach-E electric SUVs on hand, Cox said. Ford said Cox's figures overstate the inventories for both models. Ford sees Mach-E inventories at 83 days' supply, with more than half of the vehicles produced in transit to dealerships, said Erich Merkle, head of U.S. sales analysis. Ford sees Lightning inventories at 58 days' supply including vehicles in transit. The Dearborn, Michigan, factory that assembles the electric pickups is shut down this month for retooling. "By no means are those inventories high," Merkle said. Ford is increasing capacity for both the Mach-E and Lightning to levels well above current sales. Ford built 46,238 Mach-Es during the first half of this year, and sold 14,040 of the electric SUVs, according to data posted on its investor site. Ford cut prices for Mach-E models in May. Volkswagen dealers had 131 days' worth of ID.4 electric SUVs in inventory, according to Cox data. In a statement, Volkswagen's U.S. sales arm said "we have seen some softening in EV sales in the U.S. recently" as supply chain bottlenecks have eased, allowing for increased production. VW sees strong demand for the ID.4, but does not have enough all-wheel-drive versions of the SUV, "which is what the market wants," the company said. VW also cited "the effects of some customer confusion and, therefore, hesitation to buy vehicles over the tax credit eligibility of EV models." The U.S.-built ID.4 qualifies for a $7,500 consumer tax credit. YOUNG MARKET Industry officials and analysts cautioned that the U.S. EV market is still in a formative phase, with many consumers still evaluating whether EVs fit their needs and major automakers still ramping up production. "There's a natural speed of market growth here that many are fighting against, and there's a lot of confusion in the market with too many brands," said Vitaly Golomb, an investment banker who focuses on electric vehicles. "The strong will survive here and the rest will struggle." Tesla is using its lead in EV production costs to accelerate demand with price cuts. Legacy automakers are losing money on most of their electric models. Tesla, Rivian and other new EV companies do not have dealers or report inventory. Tesla last week reported better-than-expected global deliveries. But the Texas-based EV company has been offering a variety of discounts and incentive offers to spur demand, such as discounts tied to customer referrals launched late last week. Tesla's price cuts, and competitors' responses, pushed average selling prices for EVs for the second quarter to $53,438, Cox said. That is down 19.5% from the peak of $66,390 in June 2022. Automakers face tough competitive choices, as well as regulatory pressure from Washington, as they try to accelerate EV sales to levels that will support new North American EV production capacity, such as Ford's sprawling Blue Oval City complex in Tennessee. The Biden administration has proposed emissions rules that effectively require U.S. automakers to shift their sales to two-thirds EVs by 2032 - a proposal GM and the association representing most automakers in the United States have said is unrealistic. "Price cuts do show that we're in sort of an equilibrium of demand and supply and price so when sales aren't there, they're going to be dropping price," said Mark Wakefield, co-head of consultancy AlixPartners' automotive practice. "Tesla in particular has the room to do that." Wakefield said it is too soon to declare that U.S. EV demand has hit a plateau. "We see it as choppy growth, but continued growth," he said. (Reporting By Joe White, Editing by Nick Zieminski) LONDON (Reuters) - British upmarket supermarket group Waitrose has teamed up with rapid delivery firm Uber Eats to provide its groceries to shoppers' homes in as little as 20 minutes, the companies said on Tuesday. Waitrose, part of the employee-owned John Lewis Partnership, said the "multi-year" partnership launched on the Uber Eats platform in five London stores and will roll out to over 200 stores by the end of August. Online's share of the total grocery market in Britain was about 7% before COVID-19. It peaked at about 15% during the pandemic but has since come off to 10.4%, according to market researcher NIQ. Waitrose said the deal with Uber Eats builds on its existing partnership with Deliveroo and its own online shopping business. Uber Eats already partners with UK supermarkets Sainsbury's,, Asda, Morrisons, the Co-op and Iceland. (Reporting by James Davey) By David Stanway (Reuters) -Sediment deposited at Crawford Lake, a small but deep body of water in Canada's Ontario province, provides unmistakable evidence that Earth entered a new human-driven geological chapter - the Anthropocene epoch - some seven decades ago, a team of scientists said on Tuesday. The members of the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) plan to submit the evidence to the international scientific body responsible for naming geological chapters in Earth's history. The scientists conducted research at a dozen sites worldwide and cited Crawford Lake, near Toronto, as the location that provided particularly persuasive geological markers that the Anthropocene epoch - essentially the age of humans - has arrived. Plutonium from nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s provided "a very clear marker" for the transition to the Anthropocene and was accompanied by a surge in fossil fuel and fertiliser consumption, profound changes in land use and a decline in biodiversity caused by farming, said AWG chair Colin Waters, a professor at the University of Leicester in Britain. Presence of plutonium and other evidence was found in core samples of the Crawford Lake sediments. "At present, we've had 70 years of the Anthropocene," Waters said. "That has been long enough, because of the rapidity of the change and the preciseness of it, to recognise that we've moved into this new Earth state, and that it should be defined by a new geological epoch." The Anthropocene epoch is proposed as a chapter in Earth's history reflecting the transformation of the planet's climate and ecology as a result of human activity. But there has been disagreement within the scientific community about when this proposed epoch began and the evidence to demonstrate it. The Anthropocene epoch has not yet been formally recognised by a scientific body called the International Commission on Stratigraphy. The Anthropocene, if it gains formal recognition, would follow the Holocene epoch, which began 11,700 years at the conclusion of the last Ice Age. "Clearly the biology of the planet has changed abruptly," Waters added. "We cannot go back to a Holocene state now." Layers of sediment deposited under bodies of water and other places can provide a record of changing environmental conditions over time. The scientists obtained core samples of sediment at Crawford Lake and sediments, soils, corals and ice samples at the other 11 sites. The sediment at Crawford Lake, the scientists said, showed a "golden spike" illustrating a sudden - in geological terms - and irreversible shift in Earth's conditions. Such golden spikes - formally ending one geological chapter and ushering in another - would be observable in rock, glaciers or marine sediments for thousands of years to come. "The record at Crawford Lake is representative of the changes that make the time since the mid-20th century geologically different from before, and worthy - we think - of the golden spike," said Francine McCarthy, an AWG member and professor of earth sciences at Brock University in Canada. Crawford Lake sediments provided a record of accelerating changes that have unfolded in the past few decades, including traces of fly ash produced by burning fossil fuels. Shifts in the composition of the sediments also reflected a wide range of other human impacts including acid rain, global warming and biodiversity loss, the scientists said. The precise time when the proposed epoch started remains contentious. Some suggest it began at the time of the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries or earlier. The AWG team said the more profound changes did not take place until the 1950s, when rapid economic and population growth drove up greenhouse gas emissions, and when radionuclides from weapons testing also infiltrated soils and sediments, coral, tree rings and glaciers. "These radionuclides, particularly plutonium, effectively fingerprint the early 1950s in geological materials worldwide - in ultra-trace amounts - providing a radioactive marker that will persist for over 100,000 years," said AWG member Andrew Cundy, a professor of environmental radioactivity at the University of Southampton in Britain. The debate continues. "I'm a little bit cynical about the exercise because it is like trying to pin an exact date on a process that has been playing out over a period of more than 50,000 years, probably more than 100,000, as humans have expanded across the planet," said Bill Laurance, a biologist at James Cook University in Australia. (Reporting by David Stanway in Singapore; Editing by Will Dunham) AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch Senate on Tuesday approved a law to make "doxing," the online publication of someone's address or other personal information, a crime when it is done in an attempt to intimidate them. Similar laws have been passed in South Korea, Hong Kong, and in some U.S. states, such as California, as part of rules against cyber harassment. The practice of doxing as a form of intimidation has become increasingly common in the Netherlands in recent years, with first aid workers, police officers, politicians, journalists, scientists and bureaucrats all targeted. While many forms of intimidation are already illegal under Dutch law, attempts to prosecute doxing frequently fail because the person responsible for publishing private information does not make a specific threat. The law, expected to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, makes doxing punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 22,000 euro ($24,215). The word "doxing" originates from a hacker term for obtaining and releasing documents or "docs" to attack or discredit someone. ($1 = 0.9085 euros) (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Sandra Maler) FILE PHOTO: European Commissioner for European Green Deal Frans Timmermans speaks during a media conference on a new EU strategy on adaptation to climate change at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium February 24, 2021. Olivier Matthys/Pool via REUTERS/Fi By Pietro Lombardi VALLADOLID, Spain (Reuters) - European Union climate chief Frans Timmermans did not rule out a potential return to Dutch politics on Tuesday, following the collapse of Prime Minister Mark Rutte's conservative government. Timmermans, a socialist politician and member of the Dutch Labour Party, has previously served as Dutch foreign minister. He is being touted in some quarters as a potential prime ministerial candidate if he can garner sufficient support before an election expected in November. The Labour Party and the Green Party are holding a referendum to decide whether to present a joint programme, he told journalists at an informal meeting of environment and energy ministers in Valladolid, northwest of Spain. "Anything I would say now would disturb that process," he said when asked about his interest in returning to Dutch politics. "It is up to members of both parties to express themselves and then everybody will have to make up their minds," he continued. (Reporting by Pietro Lombardi; Editing by Aislinn Laing and Emma Rumney) VILNIUS (Reuters) - The 31-member NATO alliance gathered in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on July 11-12. Below is the agreed language regarding Ukraine and its future pathway to NATO membership. We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in the heroic defence of their nation, their land, and our shared values. We fully support Ukraine's inherent right to self-defence as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. We remain steadfast in our commitment to further step up political and practical support to Ukraine as it continues to defend its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and will continue our support for as long as it takes. We welcome efforts of all Allies and partners engaged in providing support to Ukraine. We fully support Ukraine's right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraine's future is NATO. We reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, and today we recognise that Ukraine's path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan. Ukraine has become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the Alliance, and has made substantial progress on its reform path. In line with the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine and the 2009 Complement, Allies will continue to support and review Ukraine's progress on interoperability as well as additional democratic and security sector reforms that are required. NATO Foreign Ministers will regularly assess progress through the adapted Annual National Programme. The Alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms in its path towards future membership. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met. The security of Ukraine is of great importance to Allies and the Alliance. To support Ukraine's further integration with NATO, today we have agreed a substantial package of expanded political and [practical support. We have decided to establish the NATO-Ukraine Council, a new joint body where Allies and Ukraine sit as equal members to advance political dialogue, engagement, cooperation, and Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in NATO. It will provide for joint consultations, decision-making, and activities, and will also serves a crisis consultation mechanism between NATO and Ukraine. The continued delivery of urgently needed non-lethal assistance to Ukraine by NATO through the Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) remains a priority. Since the Madrid Summit, Allies and partners have committed over 500 million Euros to the CAP. To support Ukraines deterrence and defence in the short, medium, and long term, we have agreed today to further develop the CAP into a multi-year programme for Ukraine. The assistance provided will help rebuild the Ukrainian security and defence sector and transition Ukraine towards full interoperability with NATO. Allies will continue to fund the CAP in a sustained and predictable way. We highly welcome and encourage partner contributions. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold and John Irish) FILE PHOTO: A screen displays the company logo for semiconductor and chipmaker GlobalFoundries Inc. during the company's IPO at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square in New York City, U.S., October 28, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (Reuters) - Chipmaker GlobalFoundries has shelved its plan to appoint former Amazon executive Tim Stone as chief financial officer, it said on Tuesday, two months after choosing him. The company, which did not disclose the reason in its statement, declined a Reuters request for further comment. It said current CFO David Reeder will remain in the role through the end of the year as it looks for a new candidate. GlobalFoundries had in May named Stone, who was at Amazon for more than 20 years and served as CFO for AWS and Devices businesses. He has also been the finance chief of Ford Motor and Snap. The chipmaker counts companies including Advanced Micro Devices, STMicroelectronics, Qualcomm and Lockheed Martin among its customers. It forecast second-quarter revenue below estimates in May as demand from consumer electronics market remained weak. Global PC shipments fell 13.4% during the second quarter, according to IDC. (Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Arun Koyyur) The National Elections Authority (NEA) announced on Wednesday that it is arranging dates for the upcoming presidential election in conformity with Articles 140, 210, and 241 of the constitution, and expects to release a timetable soon. Survivors and siblings Viola Fletcher and Hughes Van Ellis listen as U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the centennial anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre during a visit to the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S., June 1, 2021. By Brad Brooks (Reuters) -The last three known living survivors of the 1921 Tulsa massacre on Monday decried a judge's dismissal of a lawsuit seeking reparations for the racist violence in Oklahoma. In a statement read by their lawyer at a news conference in Tulsa, the three, each over 100 years old, said Tulsa County District Court Judge Caroline Wall had "condemned" them to languish on Oklahoma's appellate docket with her brief order late on Friday tossing out their case. "But we will not go quietly," they said. "We will continue to fight until our last breath." The three are Lessie Benningfield Randle, 108, who is named as a plaintiff in the lawsuit; Viola Fletcher, 109; and Hughes Van Ellis, 102. Damario Solomon-Simmons, their lead attorney and founder of the Justice for Greenwood Foundation, said at a Monday news conference in which he read the statement that he had not seen any document laying out Wall's reasoning for her dismissal, the basis of which was not made clear in her brief order posted on the court website. He called the dismissal a "hurtful blow to our quest for justice" and asked the federal government to open an investigation into the massacre. The lawsuit against the City of Tulsa seeks financial and other reparations, including a 99-year tax holiday for Tulsa residents who are descendants of victims of the massacre in the north Tulsa neighborhood of Greenwood. Also named in the lawsuit are five government entities and Tulsa County's sheriff in his official capacity. It is estimated that as many as 300 people, most of them Black, died in the massacre. The violence erupted after a white woman told police that a Black man had grabbed her arm in an elevator in a downtown Tulsa commercial building on May 30, 1921, according to an account by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The following day, police arrested the man, whom the Tulsa Tribune reported had tried to assault the woman. Whites surrounded the courthouse, demanding the man be handed over. World War One veterans were among Black men who went to the courthouse to face the mob. A white man tried to disarm a Black veteran and a shot rang out, touching off further violence. Whites looted and burned buildings and dragged Blacks from their beds and beat them, according to historical accounts. Whites were deputized by authorities and instructed to shoot Blacks. No one was ever charged in the violence. Deep economic and health disparities remain between Blacks, who still live for the most part in north Tulsa, and whites. (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, TexasEditing by Donna Bryson and Matthew Lewis) Kosovo special police officer stands by, after the arrest of a Serb identified as an organiser of violent protests last month, in Mitrovica, Kosovo June 13, 2023. REUTERS/Fatos Bytyci/File Photo PRISTINA (Reuters) - The Kosovo government said on Tuesday it will scale down the police presence and take other measures to lower tensions in a northern region where hostilities between Albanians and ethnic Serbs have reached their highest level since the country declared independence in 2008. Violence in north Kosovo, where 50,000 Serbs live and form a majority, erupted in late May after Albanian mayors took office following an election boycotted by Serbs demanding implementation of a decade-old deal for more autonomy. NATO said 93 of its peacekeeping soldiers had been injured in clashes with Serb protesters, some of them severely, on May 29. Doctors in the north said 52 Serbs were also injured. In a statement late on Tuesday the government said "it will not take any action that will escalate the situation in the north ... this includes an immediate 25 percent reduction of police presence in and around municipal buildings." The police presence is expected to further downscale in coordination with NATO troops and the EU police mission and snap elections will be organised in the four municipalities after "summer season," it says. The United States and European Union, Kosovo's main allies, have mainly blamed nationalist Prime Minister Albin Kurti for tensions in the north. The EU has already introduced measures on Pristina including halting visits by Kosovo officials to the EU and a suspension of a large part of EU economic aid to the small Balkan republic, and Brussels has warned of further measures if Kurti does not act to ease the tensions. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Stephen Coates) FILE PHOTO: Leslie Van Houten listens during her parole hearing in Corona, California, June 28, 2002. A California state parole board said Van Houten, 52, who has spent 30 years in prison for one of the most shocking killing sprees in U.S. history, should By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) - Leslie Van Houten, once part of the "Manson family" that carried out Charles Manson's orders in a killing spree that terrorized Los Angeles in 1969, was released from prison on parole on Tuesday after 53 years, her lawyer said. Her release had been expected after California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday announced he would give up trying to deny parole for Van Houten, 73, who was serving a life sentence. In May a California appeals court overruled Newsom and found Van Houten was entitled to parole. The governor could have petitioned the California Supreme Court to review the case but opted against that because "efforts to further appeal are unlikely to succeed," a spokesperson said. Van Houten is the first from the Manson family to receive parole stemming from convictions related to seven murders on consecutive nights in August 1969, her attorney Nancy Tetreault said. Van Houten left a prison in the southern California town of Corona on Tuesday and moved into a halfway house in a confidential location where she will stay for a year, Tetreault said. "She was a model prisoner from the day she entered prison," Tetreault said. "She's been involved in therapy for 40 years. She just she's really a different person." Van Houten was 19 when the murders were committed, making her the youngest of Manson's devotees. The parole board recommended Van Houten for early release five times since 2016, but she was denied three times by Newsom and twice by his predecessor, fellow Democrat Jerry Brown. Manson died in prison in 2017 at age 83, having become one of the 20th Century's most notorious criminals. He directed his mostly young and female followers to murder seven people, including actress Sharon Tate, in August 1969 in what prosecutors said was part of a plan to incite a race war. Van Houten was convicted of fatally stabbing grocery owner Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, in their Los Angeles home on Aug. 10, 1969. The words "Death to Pigs" and "Healter Skelter" - a misspelled reference to a Beatles song - were found scrawled in the victims' blood on the walls and refrigerator. The previous night, members of Manson's cult broke into the Los Angeles hillside home that Tate shared with her husband, filmmaker Roman Polanski, who was away in Europe at the time. Tate, who was 26 and eight months pregnant, was slain along with four friends of the celebrity couple. (Reporting Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by David Gregorio) VILNIUS (Reuters) -NATO will extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the military alliance when "members agree and conditions are met", Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference on Tuesday. Stoltenberg's comments reflected the language in a communique issued by NATO leaders on Tuesday at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said earlier in the day it would be "absurd" if NATO leaders did not offer his country a timeframe for membership. Asked about Zelenskiy's criticism, Stoltenberg said: "There has never been a stronger message from NATO at any time, both when it comes to the political message of the path forward for membership and the concrete support from NATO allies." He said previous accessions to the alliance had not been accompanied by a timeline. "If you look at all the membership processes, there have not been timelines for those processes. They are conditions-based, have always been." (Reporting by Andrew Gray, writing by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Rosalba O'Brien) FILE PHOTO: Supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a religious and political party, chant slogans as they gather during a protest to denounce the desecration of Koran outside a mosque in the Swedish capital Stockholm, in Karachi, Pakistan Jul By Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber GENEVA (Reuters) -Muslim states including Iran and Pakistan on Tuesday said desecration of the Koran amounted to inciting religious hatred and called for accountability, as the U.N. rights body debated a contentious motion in the wake of a Koran burning in Sweden. The motion, brought by Pakistan in response to last month's incident, seeks a report from the U.N. rights chief on the topic and calls on states to review their laws and plug gaps that may "impede the prevention and prosecution of acts and advocacy of religious hatred". The debate highlighted rifts in the U.N. Human Rights Council between the OIC, a Muslim grouping, and Western members concerned about the motion's implications for free speech and challenges posed to long-held practices in rights protection. An Iraqi immigrant to Sweden burned the Koran outside a Stockholm mosque last month, sparking outrage across the Muslim world and protests in several Pakistani cities. "We must see this clearly for what it is: incitement to religious hatred, discrimination and attempts to provoke violence," Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari told the Geneva council via video, saying such acts occurred under "government sanction and with the sense of impunity". His remarks were echoed by ministers from Iran, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia with the latter calling it an act of "Islamophobia". "Stop abusing freedom of expression," said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. "Silence means complicity." Germany's ambassador Katharina Stasch called the burning a "dreadful provocation" and condemned it. But she added that "freedom of speech sometimes also means to bear opinions that may seem almost unbearable". France's envoy said human rights were about protecting people, not religions and their symbols. Diplomats said intense negotiations had not led to a break through on Tuesday and expect a vote. Such a vote would almost certainly pass since OIC countries make up 19 members of the 47-member body and also have support from China and others. U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk told the council that inflammatory acts against Muslims, as well as other religions or minorities, are "offensive, irresponsible and wrong". (Reporting by Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Emma Rumney, Editing by William Maclean) A crater left by remains of a shot down suicide drone, which local authorities consider to be Iranian made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) Shahed-131/136, is seen amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv Region, Ukraine July 11, 2023. Press service of the By Valentyn Ogirenko and Gleb Garanich KYIV (Reuters) -Russia launched attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, the Black Sea port of Odesa and the southern region of Kherson on Tuesday before the start of a NATO summit in Lithuania where security threats from Moscow were on the agenda. No deaths were reported in overnight drone strikes on Kyiv and Odesa, but Russian shelling killed a woman in the southern village of Sofiivka and wounded two people in Kherson city, Kherson governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Air alerts were issued across Ukraine and fighting continued as NATO leaders gathered for a summit which the Kremlin criticised, warning that Moscow would respond to protect its own security. "The enemy attacked Kyiv from the air for the second time this month," Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. The air force said 26 of the 28 kamikaze Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia overnight had been shot down. The military said falling debris had damaged a number of buildings in the Kyiv region. An administrative building at Odesa port was also damaged, and a fire was quickly extinguished at a grain terminal near the port, officials said. Hours later, Prokudin said the southern region's main city, also called Kherson, was being shelled by Russian troops based in an occupied part of the region. He said an unspecified humanitarian headquarters and five residential buildings had been hit, and that two people had been wounded. At the Vilnius summit, NATO leaders said Ukraine would receive a "positive message" as it seeks membership. Moscow has cited NATO's eastward expansion as a factor in its decision to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians. (Writing by Lidia Kelly and Anna Pruchnicka; Editing by Timothy Heritage) FILE PHOTO: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu attends a meeting of President Vladimir Putin with heads of security services in Moscow, Russia, June 26, 2023. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that Moscow would be forced to use "similar" weapons if the United States supplied cluster bombs to Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported. The U.S. announced last week it would supply Ukraine with cluster munitions - explosive weapons that typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets over a wide area. They are banned by over 100 countries, including Britain and Japan. Shoigu was quoted as saying that Russia was in possession of cluster munitions but had so far refrained from using them in its military campaign. However the U.S. has previously accused Russia of using cluster munitions in Ukraine and said they have had a failure rate of up to 40%, leaving the ground littered with unexploded bomblets. Washington says the cluster munitions it is sending to Ukraine have a failure rate of less than 2.35%. "In the event that the United States supplies cluster munitions to Ukraine, the Russian armed forces will be forced to use similar weapons against the armed forces of Ukraine as a response," Shoigu said on Tuesday. "It should be noted that Russia has cluster munitions in service... for all occasions... They are much more effective than American ones...," he said. Shoigu added that the Russian army was taking measures to protect its troops from such weapons. Human Rights Watch says both Moscow and Kyiv have used cluster munitions during the nearly 17-month conflict in Ukraine, which Russia calls a "special military operation". The U.S. Russia and Ukraine have not signed up to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. U.S. officials say they granted Kyiv's request for cluster bombs after it became apparent that Ukraine - now waging a counteroffensive against Russia - was running out of regular artillery ammunition and production would not meet its needs. Close U.S. allies including Britain, Canada and Germany have expressed their opposition to the use of cluster munitions. In other comments, Shoigu said Russia was "significantly reducing" the potential of Ukraine's counteroffensive and that Russian forces had gained ground during their own counterattack in the direction of Lyman in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Reuters could not independently verify battlefield claims. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Gareth Jones) Ryanair planes are seen at Luton Airport as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world London, Britain, March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra/File Photo DUBLIN (Reuters) -Ryanair on Tuesday resigned from an industry group set up by the British government to help implement its aviation strategy, dismissing it as a "talking shop" which has delivered no benefits or reforms for passengers. The UK Aviation Council first met in February to advise on a ten-year plan set out by ministers last year to - among other goals - grow airport capacity, boost the use of sustainable aviation fuels and improve consumer experience. "Ryanair's decision is disappointing," a UK government spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters, adding that the Aviation Council was set up to bring the industry and government together to "address shared challenges facing the sector." The members of the group include the chief executives of major airlines operating in Britain, including easyJet and IAG-owned British Airways, along with the heads of airports and trade bodies. Ryanair said it urged the government in February to cut UK visa costs, push for effective air space reform in Europe and improve border control, air traffic control and handling staffing. "We joined the UK Aviation Council when Transport Minister Mark Harper assured us it would be used as a "delivery body" to improve the resilience of UK aviation," Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said in a statement. "Sadly, this has proved to be an empty promise and the council has become a talking shop for government bureaucrats and the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) to waffle on about reform while delivering none." (Reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin and Baranjot Kaur in Bengaluru; editing by William James and Deepa Babington) Members of the Spanish coastguard prepare to rescue two Nigerian migrants who stowed away on the rudder of a ship that arrived in the Canary Islands from Togo, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, in this still image from video obtained from social media MADRID (Reuters) - The Spanish coastguard rescued two Nigerian migrants who stowed away on the rudder of a ship that arrived in the Canary Islands from Togo, a coastguard spokesperson and the police said on Tuesday. After being rescued on Monday night in the port of Las Palmas, the migrants were taken to a hospital. They were later released and were transferred back to the ship, which has to return them to their port of origin, the port police tweeted. In a video and photographs published on Twitter by Las Palmas maritime police, the two stowaways are shown hunkered on the rudder under the hull, just above the waterline of the MSC Marta. The migrants are aged 19 and 22, a spokesperson for the Guardia Civil police said. The container ship's last stop before reaching the Spanish archipelago off the African coast was Lome, Togo's capital, said the coastguard spokesperson without elaborating. The ship left Lagos, in Nigeria, on July 2 and stopped on July 4 in Togo, according to local newspaper La Provincia, meaning the migrants were onboard at least seven days. In a similar case in November last year, the Spanish coastguard rescued three African stowaways who had arrived in the Canary Islands after enduring 11 days on the rudder of a fuel tanker from Nigeria. Under Spanish law, any stowaway who does not seek asylum must be returned by the operator of the ship to the port where the journey originated. The Spanish-owned Canary Islands are a popular but dangerous gateway for African migrants attempting to reach Europe. (Reporting by Joan Faus; Editing by Sharon Singleton) FILE PHOTO: A Sudanese national flag is attached to a machine gun of Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) soldiers as they wait for the arrival of Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy head of the military council and head of RSF, before a m CAIRO (Reuters) - Sudan's army-aligned foreign ministry on Tuesday rejected a regional summit's proposal to consider deploying peacekeeping forces to protect civilians, dashing tentative hopes the gathering might help efforts to end a near three-month-old war. The violent power struggle between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 15 has killed more than 1,000 civilians and displaced 2.9 million, according to the United Nations. Neither side has gained a clear advantage, and much of the capital has been abandoned or destroyed while mediation efforts thus far have failed. The summit, held by East African regional body IGAD and attended by heads of states as well as representatives of several other countries and bodies, had suggested considering the deployment of regional peacekeeping forces and the further involvement of civilians in talks. It represented the first such meeting in weeks, after a separate set of talks in Jeddah had been suspended by the United States and Saudi Arabia after numerous ceasefire violations. The army had boycotted the IGAD mediation effort, accusing Kenya, which headed the effort, of providing a haven to the Rapid Support Forces. "The disrespect of IGAD towards the opinions of its member states will cause the Sudanese government to re-think the utility of its membership in the organisation," the foreign ministry said on Tuesday. "The Sudanese government rejects the deployment of foreign forces in Sudan and will consider them enemy forces," it added. The statement did welcome an upcoming summit held by Egypt, widely-seen as closer to the army than to the RSF, to be held later this week. The IGAD summit, held in Addis Ababa, had featured American representatives, who in statements appeared to reject the prospect of future military rule in Sudan. "Reaching a negotiated settlement does not and cannot mean returning to the status quo that existed before April 15," said U.S. Ambassador John Godfrey. (Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir and Khalid Abdelaziz, Editing by William Maclean) The 300-metre high Iconic Tower will be one of the ten tallest residential towers in the world, according to a statement by the CSCEC on Monday after holding a ceremony to launch the concrete casting. The Downtown Towers Project comprises five residential towers that along with the Iconic Tower it will also include four 200-metre tall apartment buildings. The concrete casting of the projects Iconic Tower, the largest base plate in Africa so far according to the constructor, will be implemented in two stages. The first casting square is about 5,632 m, the second casting square is about 14,051 m, and the total concrete volume will be about 19,683 m, according to the CSCEC. The ceremony was attended by CSCEC Egypts General Manager Chang Weicai and several Egyptian and Chinese guests. The Alamein Downtown Towers Project was signed by Egypts New Urban Communities Authority and CSCEC in February 2021, with a contract value of about $1.92 billion and a construction area of 1.09 million square metres, according to the CSCEC Egypt website. In June, the Egyptian Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities Assem El-Gazzar attended the groundbreaking ceremony of initiating the New Alamein Downtown Towers Project. The project is considered the second significant cooperation between Egypt and the Chinese company as it is currently constructing the Central Business District (CBD), which will be home to 20 towers in the New Administrative Cairo (NAC). Among the CBD towers, there is another 385.8 metre-high Iconic Tower, whose construction started in 2018 and is now nearly finished. It is considered the tallest in Africa. The New Alamein City is among various new fourth-generation cities being built. The Ministry of Housing in conjunction with the New Urban Communities Authority is constructing 14 fourth-generation cities among which are the New Administrative Capital, New Alamein, New Mansoura, East Port Said, Nasser City in western Assiut, and New Ismailia. The smart cities will be serviced electronically in line with Egypts Vision 2030. The cities are constructed according to sustainable development standards such as the usage of renewable and recyclable material, reducing energy consumption and waste, and protecting the environment. Fourth-generation cities are not a luxury. They are essential to house a growing population. We need to double Egypts built-up area rather than crowd even more people into existing settlements in the Nile Valley and Delta, said Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in previous remarks. U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 11, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque By Steve Holland VILNIUS (Reuters) - Fresh from handing Joe Biden a diplomatic victory by easing Sweden's path into NATO, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wished the U.S. president good luck in his 2024 re-election campaign. "Now, you are getting prepared for the forthcoming elections," Erdogan told Biden when the two met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Lithuania. "And with the forthcoming elections, I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you the best of luck." Biden, laughing, responded: "Thank you... I look forward to meeting with you in the next five years." The breezy exchange, witnessed by reporters, marked a turn in the sometimes tense relations between the two NATO allies as Erdogan dropped his opposition to Sweden's bid to join the military alliance as part of a series of steps that have pleased the U.S. and upset Russia. The 80-year-old Democrat is seeking a second, four-year term in the November 2024 presidential election. Biden wants to make stewardship of international alliances a part of his campaign platform. The Republican front-runner in the race, former President Donald Trump, displayed admiration for Erdogan and other authoritarian leaders during his term in office but also occasionally differed with Turkish foreign policy. Erdogan narrowly won re-election to a five-year term in May, extending two decades in power. (Writing by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Howard Goller) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a ceremony during which a Ukrainian flag from the frontline of the war with Russia is delivered by activists, on the sidelines of a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania July 11, 2023. REUTERS/Kacper Pem By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voiced disappointment that Ukraine was not invited to join NATO on Tuesday, telling supporters in the Lithuanian capital: "Is this too big of a wish?" "NATO will make Ukraine safer, Ukraine will make NATO stronger," he told the thousands of people, many waving Ukrainian flags, who gathered in central Vilnius, host to an alliance summit, as snipers stood guard on rooftops. He thanked Lithuania for a "clear, honest and courageous position" in support of Ukrainian membership. Shortly before the speech, NATO leaders agreed the alliance would extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the military alliance when "members agree and conditions are met." Zelenskiy said earlier in the day it would be "absurd" if NATO leaders did not offer his country a timeframe for membership. Speaking in Ukrainian, he told the crowd: "I travelled here today with belief in a decision, with belief in partners, with belief in a strong NATO, a NATO which does not doubt, which does not lose time, and does not look at any aggressor." "I would wish for this belief to become a certainty - certainty in decisions that all of us deserve and which our every soldier expects, our every citizen, our every mother, our every child. And is this too big of a wish?" he asked. NATO members in eastern Europe have backed Kyiv's stance, arguing that bringing Ukraine under NATO's collective security umbrella is the best way to deter Russia from attacking again. Countries such as the United States and Germany have been more cautious, wary of any move that they fear could draw NATO into a direct conflict with Russia. During the speech, Zelenskiy said: "No one should ever, ever look back to Moscow." 33,000 FLAGS Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who took part in the event, handed Zelenskiy a bullet-holed Ukrainian flag, which was then raised on a flagpole. The flag had flown on a Ukrainian tank during battles in Bakhmut. It was brought to Vilnius by a group of 33 Ukrainian and Lithuanian runners in support of Ukraine as the potential 33rd NATO member. Activists asked the people of Vilnius to display 33,000 flags in their house windows to show support. "Ukraine is buying us time with their blood, so we can prepare and give a strong retort to Russia," Nauseda told the crowd. Security worries are real in Lithuania, where memories of Moscow rule are fresh and a military presence is light. Lithuania, along with its Baltic neighbours Latvia and Estonia, were the last states to become part of the Soviet Union, when they were annexed in 1940, and the first to declare independence in 1990 when the bloc collapsed. Members of both NATO and the European Union since 2004, Lithuania is among Ukraine's staunchest supporters in both blocs and the first in NATO to provide weapons to Ukraine weeks before the Russian invasion. "We are in NATO ourselves, and the sense of security is incomparable (to what it would be) if we weren't there," said Birute Jurksiene, a Vilnius resident. "This is what we strongly wish for the Ukrainian nation." Buses in Vilnius display Ukrainian flags and signs reading "Vilnius loves Ukraine." Streets are decorated with NATO and Ukrainian flags. "While you are waiting for this bus, Ukraine is waiting to become a NATO member" is a message on Vilnius public transport buses taking journalists to the summit. State-owned energy company Ignitis, the largest listed company in the Baltics, topped its summit venue-facing office with large banners calling for Ukrainian membership in NATO. "Putin, the Hague is waiting for you", says the big sign hung from the Vilnius municipality, referring to the International Criminal Court in the Dutch city. (Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka, Olena Harmash, Andrius Sytas, Lewis Macdonald; Writing by Andrius Sytas; Editing by Howard Goller) FILE PHOTO: A Polish Air Force fighter jet F16 flies after a refuelling by an Airbus A330 MRTT "Phenix" in the airspace of Poland as part of NATO's enhanced Air Policing (eAP) to secure the skies over Baltic allies, March 29, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/ By Niklas Pollard, Justyna Pawlak VILNIUS (Reuters) -A coalition of 11 nations will start training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets in August in Denmark, and a training centre will be set up in Romania, officials said on Tuesday on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Lithuania. NATO members Denmark and the Netherlands have been leading international efforts to train pilots as well as support staff, maintain aircraft and ultimately enable the supply of F-16s to Ukraine in its war with Russia. "Hopefully, we will be able to see results in the beginning of next year," Denmark's acting defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen told reporters following a signing ceremony. So far, no countries have committed to sending F-16s to Ukraine, though Poland and Slovakia have supplied 27 MiG-29s to supplement Ukraine's fleet of combat aircraft. Kyiv, which has launched a counteroffensive against Russian forces, has repeatedly called for Western countries to supply aircraft and train its pilots to fly them, to successfully counter Moscow's aerial dominance. "We have to defend our civilian population, our infrastructure, critical objects, our schools, our universities. That's why for us it is very important that this fighter jet coalition starts up," Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told reporters. "I hope - I am an optimist - that after six months we will see results," he said. At the summit, due to end on Wednesday, NATO leaders agreed that Ukraine's future lies within the alliance but stopped short of handing Kyiv the invitation or timetable for accession that the country has been seeking. (Reporting by Niklas Pollard and Justyna Pawlak) By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Security Council approval for aid deliveries to several million people in rebel-held Syria from Turkey is set to expire on Monday as council members struggled to convince Russia to extend the massive U.N. operation for more than six months. In 2022 and 2020 the mandate for the operation ran out, but was renewed a day later. Authorization is needed because Syrian authorities did not agree to the operation, which has been delivering aid including food, medicine and shelter since 2014. The 15-member Security Council had been negotiating a text, drafted by Switzerland and Brazil, to allow the U.N. operation to continue using the Bab al-Hawa crossing for 12 months. But Russia put forward a rival text proposing six months on Friday. Some diplomats said they hope the council can reach an agreement on a text and vote on Tuesday. To be adopted, a resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, France or Britain. U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council last month: "A 12-month authorization enables us and our partners to deliver better humanitarian outcomes in the months ahead. It is as simple as that." Griffiths said the $5.4 billion U.N. aid appeal for Syria for 2023 is the largest in the world, but less than 12% funded. Russia argues that the U.N. aid operation violates Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It says more aid should be delivered from inside the country, raising opposition fears that food and other aid would fall under government control. The Security Council initially authorized aid deliveries in 2014 into opposition-held areas of Syria from Iraq, Jordan and two points in Turkey. But Russia and China have whittled that down to just one Turkish border point. A crackdown by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on pro-democracy protesters in 2011 led to civil war, with Moscow backing Assad and Washington supporting the opposition. Millions of people have fled Syria and millions are internally displaced. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Stephen Coates) Patrick Pouyanne, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, walks at a signing ceremony of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) in Baghdad, Iraq, July 10, 2023. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Tuesday welcomed Iraq's oil, gas and renewables deal with French oil major TotalEnergies, which was signed a day earlier. Iraq and TotalEnergies on Monday signed a long-delayed $27 billion energy deal that aims to increase oil production and boost the country's capacity to produce energy with four oil, gas and renewables projects. "Formally signed this week, this massive deal, which will include participation from regional and American companies, is a major step towards both establishing Iraq's energy self-sufficiency and meeting its climate goals," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. The United States supports Iraq's ongoing efforts "to enhance domestic resilience", and diversify its energy supply, Sullivan said. Initially signed in 2021, the deal had faced delays amid disputes between Iraqi politicians over the terms, but was finally closed in April when Iraq agreed to take a smaller than initially demanded stake in the project of 30%. TotalEnergies took a 45% stake and QatarEnergy holds the remaining 25%. The project signed with TotalEnergies will improve Iraqs energy security and the reliability of its electricity network, Sullivan added. TotalEnergies Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne signed the deal on Monday with Iraqi oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani. He said the project would break ground this summer and would see an investment of $10 billion over the next four years. The project called the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) aims to improve the country's electricity supply, including by recovering flared gas at three oilfields and using the gas to supply power plants, helping to reduce Iraq's import bill. Iraq hopes the project will attract fresh foreign investment into its energy sector that has not been forthcoming since a flurry of post U.S.-invasion deals over a decade ago. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Rami Ayyub in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Angus MacSwan) A man and a child look at the damage caused by floods, in Barre, Vermont, U.S. July 11, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder By Brian Snyder and Rich McKay MONTPELIER, Vermont (Reuters) - A dam upstream from the Vermont state capital was holding at maximum capacity on Tuesday after "catastrophic" flooding shut down roadways leading out of Montpelier and trapped people in their homes. The Wrightsville Dam, which forms a reservoir four miles (6.4 km) north of Montpelier, neared the point at which a spillway would need to release water into the North Branch of the Winooski River, city officials said. That would aggravate what the National Weather Service has called "catastrophic" flooding in Montpelier's picturesque downtown district, where people navigated the submerged streets in canoes and floodwaters reached the windows of businesses and the tops of vehicles. The North Branch converges with a second, larger branch of the Winooski near the Vermont statehouse. The growing frequency and intensity of severe weather across the United States is symptomatic of global, human-driven climate change, climate scientists say. While a Northeast state capital is under water, ocean temperatures have soared to as high as 90 Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) in Florida, Texas is sizzling under a heat dome, and California is bracing for temperatures as high as 120 F (49 C) in desert areas this weekend. Much of the U.S. Northeast including parts of New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut have already had as much as 8 inches (20 cm) of rain over the last several days. "Make no mistake, the devastation and flooding we're experiencing across Vermont is historic and catastrophic," Vermont Governor Phil Scott said at a briefing Tuesday. Montpelier City Manager William Fraser in a Facebook post urged the city's 8,000 people to be prepared to move to the upper floors of their homes as highway closures made evacuations difficult or impossible. Throughout the state, search teams have rescued 117 people from their homes and cars by swift boat, as officials fielded calls that even more people were trapped in their homes in remote areas, Mike Cannon, leader of the state's Urban Search and Rescue operation, told a briefing. Vermont officials called the flooding the worst since Hurricane Irene reached the New England state as a tropical storm in 2011 and caused about $750 million in damages and seven deaths in the state. The city's topography - bordered by hills with the downtown in a valley - increases the potential for flooding, Montpelier City Council member Conor Casey said. "My wife and I live right on the river and it's about two feet from coming in the living room," Casey said. "We're a bit used to it from Irene, so it's not totally foreign, but I think the scary thing is that it feels a bit worse so far." The flood took its toll on the regional economy, with private forecaster AccuWeather estimating damages and economic loss at $3 billion to $5 billion. Most of the crops at Boyd Family Farm in Wilmington, Vermont, were lost in the storm, said Janet Boyd, who owns the 80-year-old business along with her husband and son at the southern end of the Green Mountains. "We lost all the vegetables and only have our blueberries left," Boyd said, "all the greens, the tomatoes, the peppers, the garlic." Joe Miles, 59, owner of the Montpelier-based R.K. Miles Building Materials, said three of his eight locations in the state were heavily damaged, with two of them cut off by flooding. Much of his lumber and plywood inventory was lost to water damage. "It's awful and tragic, but fortunately no one got hurt," Miles said. "We'll get through it." (Reporting by Brian Snider in Montpelier, Brendan O'Brien in Chicago and Rich McKay in Atlanta; Additional reporting by Rachel Nostrant and Daniel Trotta; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Devika Syamnath, Bill Berkrot and Sandra Maler) Chinese Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office Director Wang Yi waits before before Russia - China talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 21, 2023. Sputnik/Sergei Karpukhin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo By Yew Lun Tian and Karen Lema (Reuters) - China's foreign minister Qin Gang will not attend a diplomatic gathering in Indonesia this week for health reasons, a spokesman for his ministry said on Tuesday. Top diplomat Wang Yi would represent China at the meetings in Jakarta instead, the spokesman, Wang Wenbin, told a regular briefing, confirming a Reuters report citing sources familiar with the matter saying Wang would attend on Qin's behalf. Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are scheduled to meet on Thursday, before Friday's East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum. "State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang cannot attend this ASEAN ministerial meeting because of health reasons," spokesman Wang Wenbin said. He did not elaborate. Qin, 57, took over from Wang as foreign minister in December and was last seen in public on June 25 in Beijing after meeting officials from Sri Lanka, Russia and Vietnam. His absence had not gone unnoticed. The foreign ministry spokesperson, asked last Friday about an article in U.S. political news website Politico that cited speculation that health issues may be behind Qin's absence, said he had "not heard about" the report. Qin was supposed to meet European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell last week in Beijing but the meeting was pushed back after China informed the EU that the dates were "no longer possible", an EU spokesperson said. The EU was informed of the postponement just two days before Borrell's scheduled arrival on July 5, according to a source familiar with the plans. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also due to attend the meetings in Jakarta this week, presenting another opportunity for talks with China as Washington seeks to put a floor under souring relations between the big powers. Blinken met Qin and Wang Yi in Beijing last month, the first visit to China by a U.S. secretary of state in five years. Wang Yi, who is the foreign policy chief for the Chinese Communist Party, ranks above Qin, who as the foreign minister is the government's foreign policy chief. (Reporting by Yew Lun Tian in Beijing, Karen Lema in Manila and Stanley Widianto in Jakarta; Writing by Martin Petty and John Geddie; Editing by Robert Birsel) Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his wife Olena Zelenska react next to France's President Emmanuel Macron and French President's wife Brigitte Macron ahead of the social dinner during the NATO summit, at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Lith By Andrew Gray, Sabine Siebold and John Irish VILNIUS (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meets NATO leaders on Wednesday after they declared his country's future lay inside the alliance but rebuffed his call for a timeline to membership. Zelenskiy will join the NATO leaders on the second day of their summit in Vilnius for an inaugural session of the NATO-Ukraine Council, a body established to upgrade relations between Kyiv and the 31-member transatlantic military alliance. He will also meet separately with U.S. President Joe Biden as he seeks more arms and ammunition from the United States and other NATO nations to fight the war triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year. The United States, Britain, France and Germany are expected to issue assurances to Kyiv of long-term security support in the form of advanced weaponry, training and other military aid, possibly soon after the summit ends, according to officials. Other countries would then join this framework with their own bilateral commitments, officials say. At a rally in Vilnius on Tuesday, Zelenskiy expressed disappointment that NATO had not offered a timeline to membership - a prospect he had earlier branded "absurd". "NATO will make Ukraine safer, Ukraine will make NATO stronger," he told a crowd of thousands of people in Vilnius, many waving Ukrainian flags, as snipers stood guard on rooftops. He pivoted to more emollient language towards NATO allies on Tuesday night. "Our defense is a top priority, and I am grateful to our partners for their willingness to take new steps," he wrote on Twitter. "More weapons for our warriors, more protection of life for the whole of Ukraine! We will bring new important defense tools to Ukraine." CONDITIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP NATO has said Ukraine cannot join its ranks while the war with Russia continues. Its leaders on Tuesday reiterated a 2008 declaration that Ukraine would join NATO but also made clear this would not happen automatically after the war ends. "We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met," the leaders said in a written declaration. The statement indicated NATO would need to see progress on the ability of Ukrainian forces to operate with NATO troops, as well as democratic and security sector reforms. The NATO stance highlighted the divisions among its members over Kyiv's membership push. NATO members in eastern Europe backed Kyiv's call for a clear and swift route to membership, arguing that bringing Ukraine under NATO's security umbrella is the best way to deter Russia from attacking again. Countries such as the United States and Germany have been more cautious, wary of any move that they fear could draw NATO into a direct conflict with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO as a threat to Russia. NATO has insisted it is a defensive alliance with no intention of attacking Russia. Although it did not get what it wanted on membership at the summit, Ukraine has received new pledges of arms from NATO members. French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would supply long-range cruise missiles. Germany announced new aid worth 700 million euros ($770 million), including two Patriot air defence missile launchers, and more tanks and fighting vehicles. ($1 = 0.9087 euros) (Additional reporting by Andrius Sytas, Steve Holland, Anna Pruchnicka, Olena Harmash, Lewis Macdonald and Ronald Popeski; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) You May Lose Some Or All Of Your Investment. The Securities Do Not Pay Interest. Your Potential Return On The Securities Is Limited. Higher Call Premiums Are Associated With Greater Risk. The Securities May Be Automatically Called For Redemption Prior To Maturity, Limiting The Term Of The Securities. The Securities Offer Downside Exposure To The Underlying, But No Upside Exposure To The Underlying. You Will Not Receive Dividends Or Have Any Other Rights With Respect To The Securities Included In The Underlying. The Performance Of The Securities Will Depend On The Closing Values Of The Underlying Solely On The Call Dates, Which Makes The Securities Particularly Sensitive To Volatility In The Closing Values Of The Underlying On Or Near The Call Dates. 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The U.S. Federal Tax Consequences Of An Investment In The Securities Are Unclear. (1) The Purchase Price and Accrued Interest of the Global Ps. Bonds and Global UI Bonds shall be converted into U.S. dollars at an exchange rate of Ps.37.8819 to US$1.00. (2) In addition, investors will receive Accrued Interest, as described above. (3) The nominal principal amount of Global UI Bonds validly tendered and accepted will be adjusted by a factor (the Adjustment UI Factor) to reflect the increase of the UI Index from the issuance date of the Old Bonds to the Settlement Date, which is expected to be Monday, July 17, 2023. As of the expected Settlement Date, (i) the Adjustment UI Factor for the 2027 UI Bonds would be 3.54399, which is the ratio of 5.8125, the value of the UI index at the Settlement Date, over 1.6401, the value of the UI index at the time of the issuance of the 2027 UI Bonds and (ii) the Adjustment UI Factor for the 2028 UI Bonds would be 2.51395, which is the ratio of 5.8125, the value of the UI index at the Settlement Date, over 2.3121, the value of the UI index at the time of the issuance of the 2028 UI Bonds. (4) The principal amount of the 2027 UI Bonds outstanding, as adjusted by the Adjustment UI Factor is Ps.35,137,034,158.59. (5) The principal amount of the 2028 UI Bonds outstanding, as adjusted by the Adjustment UI Factor is Ps.82,578,959,512.81. (6) The aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 2024 USD Notes reflects the original principal amount of the 2024 USD Notes multiplied by an amortization factor of 0.66666667 (the Amortization Factor). (7) The amount to be paid for tendered 2024 USD Bonds will be US$1,000.00 times the original principal amount of such 2024 USD Bonds multiplied by the Amortization Factor. Tender Orders (as defined below) made by holders of any series of Old Bonds who have submitted a corresponding Indication of Interest (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) for the New Bonds prior to the New Bonds Pricing Time (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) will be accepted before any other Tender Orders of such series of Old Bonds. During the Non-Preferred Tender Period or Preferred Tender Period, as applicable, a holder of Old Bonds may place orders to tender Old Bonds ( Tender Orders ) only through one of the Dealer Managers (as defined below). Holders will NOT be able to submit tenders through Euroclear Bank SA/NV ( Euroclear ), Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme ( Clearstream ) or the Depository Trust Company ( DTC ) systems. 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Any holder whose tender is cancelled will not receive the Purchase Price or Accrued Interest. Holders will not have withdrawal rights with respect to any tenders of Old Bonds in the Tender Offer. Old Bonds accepted for purchase will be settled on a delivery versus payment basis with the Billing and Delivery Bank on the Tender Offer Settlement Date in accordance with customary brokerage practices for corporate fixed income securities. All Old Bonds that are tendered pursuant to Tender Orders placed through a Dealer Manager and accepted will be purchased by the Billing and Delivery Bank in such amounts as Uruguay shall determine and subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer to Purchase. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer, only the Billing and Delivery Bank will be liable for the payment of the Purchase Price and Accrued Interest for Old Bonds validly tendered and accepted as instructed by Uruguay, as described in the Offer to Purchase. Uruguay will not be liable under any circumstances for any payment of the Purchase Price and Accrued Interest to the holders of Old Bonds tendered in the Tender Offer. The Billing and Delivery Bank shall not be liable for payments to any holder of Old Bonds validly tendered and accepted for purchase if such holder fails to deliver such Old Bonds at or prior to the deadlines ahead of the settlement of the Tender Offer as described in the Offer to Purchase. 2 The drought of Siwa Oasis Fatnas Lake known as the sunset lake has recently stirred controversy among its local residents with the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources announcing the implementation of several measures to develop the irrigation and drainage system in Siwa Oasis and maintaining its agricultural production. Photos of dead fish lying on the dry bed of the lake circulated on social media a few days before the ministry issued an explanation of its ongoing measures. The irrigation ministry stressed that the measures are meant to return the water in the oasis to its normal level without harming the lands adjacent to Fatnas Lake and other areas of special ecological nature. Owners of cafes overlooking Fatnas Lake say the turnout of tourists has been negatively affected, suggesting building bridges to prevent water from reaching agricultural lands on their own expense to get tourists back. Tourism-related complaints Siwa Oasis is located 748km southwest of Cairo. It is replete with natural hot springs, wells, and reservoirs, which have been running since the times of Romans and Pharaohs and were used for living and agriculture. In October of every year, Siwa receives thousands of tourists when hotel and camps occupancy rates reach their peak. At present, however, the locals expect a deteriorating tourism flow due to the dried-up lake which used to be a favourite destination for many tourists to enjoy its sunset. Locals say that tourism in the area has already been negatively affected, as many tourists, who are currently visiting the lake, return sadly after seeing the scene. I refunded the deposits of booked rooms in September until the water returns, Tamer Abdeen, owner of Marasina Camp that overlooks the lake, told Ahram Online. Ahmed Eissa, an owner of a cafe on the island, said the lakes scene has been dramatically changed from dozens of tourists watching its dazzling golden sun during sunset to an abandoned place; no one could sit and have a drink at his cafe because of the bad smell of dead fish. Tourists flow in the summer season is already low, and since 4 August visitors that arrive leave immediately in a matter of days I will not be serving anything, Eissa told Ahram Online. The sunset view all over Siwa is breathtaking, but this lake has different and cozy vibes that make it beautiful. There were flamingo birds and immigrating birds living here, the cafe owner said. We are far away from cultivated lands. I appeal to the ministry to return water to the lake. The scene is awful now, he said. Fabiola Pisln, a 24-year-old Hungarian medical student who has visited Fatnas Island twice, expressed her sadness to Ahram Online, saying she was fascinated by the accommodation and sunset view when she visited the island in July. I was shocked to see it like this now, Pisln said. Despite the complaints of the locals working in the tourism sector, Mohamed Omran Beheiry, the head of the Tourism Administration of Siwa Oasis in Marsa Matrouh governorate, welcomed the ministrys new measures. Being one of Siwas residents, I believe this is the right thing to do. The porosity absorbs salts and affects plants and homes around here we have been appealing for this decision to be effected, Beheiry told Ahram Online. Irrigation ministrys development plan The ministry has begun implementing a plan for the development of the oasis and its bridges, ponds, wells, and natural springs to maintain agricultural production, according to a statement the ministry released a few days ago. The ministry added that it is currently applying several measures to solve problems that have been ongoing for 30 years by developing irrigation and drainage systems in Siwa Oasis. The development measures are meant to introduce radical solutions to the problem of increasing salinity in the water of the cracked limestone reservoir, the main reservoir for the production of irrigation water in the oasis, as a result of the random drilling of wells, the ministry noted. It added that the measures also aim to solve the problem of increasing quantities of agricultural wastewater that led to a rise in the level of groundwater in the agricultural lands of the oasis, which negatively affected these lands. Since the 1970s, farmers have been digging random wells for their expanded farms and agriculture activities, which increased the amount of agriculture water wastage that has no drainages to go through. Deep wells are being dug to produce fresh water from the Nubian sandstone reservoir to mix with the water of surface wells, the ministry explained. It added that many underground wells have been closed as they were excessively withdrawing water from the surface aquifer, leading to a decrease in water levels in ponds and drains, including the Fatnas area, especially during the current period of the year when the evaporation rate reaches its peak. This has been positively reflected on the lands adjacent to the lake, which were previously damaged and the productivity of their crops (palms and olives) deteriorated due to the high ground water levels, the ministry pointed out. Siwa Oasis is famous for cultivating dates and olives. In 2020, Egypt produced 1.7 million tons of dates, contributing over 21 per cent of the global date production, estimated at eight million tons, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Local reports say that out of the 1.7 million tons, Siwa Oasis alone produces about 350,000 tons of various types of organic dates. Osama Abdel-Zaher, the chairperson of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources of Underground Water Sector, told Ahram Online that the water levels in Fatnas Lake will gradually increase with the advent of autumn and winter seasons, and tourism could resume. Open Water Channel Project The agricultural wastewater in Siwa Oasis tends to rest in ponds and low-level lands and has eventually formed four large lakes in the oasis, according to Beheiry. Two lakes are located in the western part of the oasis: Bahi El-Din and El-Maraky which is a large lake that includes Fatnas Lake which is no more than two percent of its size. While in the eastern part there are Ghormi and Zaitona, Beheiry said. The lakes to the west are abundant in water, while the eastern ones are suffering from desertification. The more water levels rise in these lakes, the more houses and farming lands are affected, whether in winter because of the increased levels of water, or in summer because of evaporation which increases water salinity, Beheiry added. This is why the state has been building the Open Water Channel Project towards the east, he noted. In January 2022, Marsa Matrouh Governor Khaled Shoaib laid the cornerstone of the project that stretches over 41km east of the oasis to transfer the surplus of water in the western lakes. The project aims to save agriculture and reuse water after undergoing a purification process to reclaim around 100,000 feddans in the eastern part of the oasis. The project along with the other measures the irrigation ministry is conducting aim to balance the ecosystem of the oasis, Abdel-Zaher said. There is an urgent need for agricultural land expansion in the oasis due to the growing population and economic return, Abdel-Zaher added. The project which is scheduled to be finalised by 2023 is being implemented in cooperation between the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources, according to Abdel-Zaher. Search Keywords: Short link: UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G/A Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Talon 1 Acquisition Corp. (Name of Issuer) Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (Title of Class of Securities) G86656108 (CUSIP Number) June 30, 2023 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: y Rule 13d-1(b) o Rule 13d-1(c) o Rule 13d-1(d) (Page 1 of 8 Pages) ______________________________ The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Glazer Capital, LLC 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION State of Delaware NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 0 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 0 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0.00% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA, OO 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Paul J. Glazer 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 0 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 0 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0.00% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN Item 1(a). NAME OF ISSUER: The name of the issuer is Talon 1 Acquisition Corp. (the " Company "). Item 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES: The Company's principal executive offices are located at 2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 630, Coral Gables, Florida 33134. Item 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING: This statement is filed by: (i) Glazer Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (" Glazer Capital "), with respect to the shares of Common Stock (as defined in Item 2(d)) held by certain funds and managed accounts to which Glazer Capital serves as investment manager (collectively, the " Glazer Funds "); and (ii) Mr. Paul J. Glazer (" Mr. Glazer "), who serves as the Managing Member of Glazer Capital, with respect to the shares of Common Stock held by the Glazer Funds. The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the " Reporting Persons ." The filing of this statement should not be construed as an admission that any of the Reporting Persons is, for the purposes of Section 13 of the Act, the beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock reported herein. Item 2(b). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE: The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 250 West 55th Street, Suite 30A, New York, New York 10019. Item 2(c). CITIZENSHIP: Glazer Capital is a Delaware limited liability company. Mr. Glazer is a United States citizen. Item 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES: Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share Item 2(e). CUSIP NUMBER: G86656108 Item 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b) OR 13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: (a) Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o); (b) Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (c) Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (d) Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8); (e) y Investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) Employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) y Parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) Savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i) Church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); (j) Non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J); (k) Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: Item 4. OWNERSHIP The information required by Items 4(a) (c) is set forth in Rows (5) (11) of the cover page for each Reporting Person hereto and is incorporated herein by reference for each such Reporting Person. Item 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [X]. Item 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON. Not applicable. Item 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY. Not applicable. Item 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. Not applicable. Item 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP. Not applicable. Item 10. CERTIFICATION. Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification: By signing below each Reporting Person certifies that, to the best of its or his knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. SIGNATURES After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its or his knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. DATE: July 10, 2023 GLAZER CAPITAL, LLC By: /s/ Paul J. Glazer Name: Paul J. Glazer Title: Managing Member /s/ Paul J. Glazer PAUL J. GLAZER EXHIBIT I JOINT FILING AGREEMENT The undersigned acknowledge and agree that the foregoing statement on Schedule 13G/A is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and that all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13G/A shall be filed on behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing additional joint filing agreements. The undersigned acknowledge that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained herein and therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the others, except to the extent that he or it knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate. DATED as of July 10, 2023 VANCOUVER, Wash. (Tribune News Service) The sky might be noisier than usual this week as the Oregon Air National Guards 142nd Wing hosts two military flight squadrons for five days of air combat training between Portland, the Oregon coastline and Eastern Oregon. The Oregon group is hosting the Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 136 Knighthawks from Naval Air Station Lemoore and the 194th Fighter Squadron from Fresno Air National Guard Base, both from California, from Monday through Friday. This specified training provides realistic combat scenarios for pilots to hone advanced aerial tactics that may be used against potential adversaries, a press release states. The exercise is an essential and required component to ensure military readiness in support of the bases national and state missions. Various types of fighter jets will depart and leave from Portland International Airport daily between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. during this period. (c)2023 The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.) Visit at www.columbian.com This story has been corrected SPARKS, Nev. Retired Army Capt. Sam Brown made his long-awaited U.S. Senate candidacy official on Monday, jumping into the race to take on Democratic incumbent Jacky Rosen a year after losing the Republican nomination to challenge Nevada's other U.S. senator. In a nearly 30-minute speech Monday afternoon in the city of Sparks, which neighbors Reno, Brown spoke of his military background and family devotion while repeatedly casting himself as an outsider fighting against "Rosen and her D.C. friends." "She is a foot soldier for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Chuck Schumer," Brown said in a warehouse where fans and shade helped shield more than 100 supporters from the summer heat. "They're all about those D.C. priorities. And she is carrying out their mission instead of ours." Brown, a Purple Heart recipient, was a heavily recruited candidate for Republicans in Washington looking to avoid a repeat of their lackluster showing in last year's midterms, when flawed GOP candidates helped Democrats win battleground races and hold on to the Senate majority. He will face a challenge in the Republican primary from Jim Marchant, a former state Assembly member who lost last year's race for Nevada secretary of state after promoting Donald Trump's lies of a stolen 2020 election. Rosen, a first-term moderate in a presidential battleground state, is one of Republicans' top targets in 2024. Democrats are facing a challenging 2024 Senate map, where they must defend incumbents not only in red states Montana, Ohio and West Virginia but also in multiple swing states. Brown, who was nearly killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan that scarred his face, made military service central to his unsuccessful 2022 Senate campaign. He finished second in the Republican primary to former state Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who went on to lose the general election to Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto. Brown's first campaign came in 2014, when he unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Texas state Legislature. Brown campaigned on the slogan of "Duty First" in 2022 and founded the Duty First PAC after his loss to support conservative candidates. At campaign stops, he often told the story of the bomb that hit him, the dozens of surgeries that followed, the leadership he learned while in the Army and his Christian faith and sacrifice "suffering that builds our endurance." Brown struck a similar message on Monday, running on broad conservative tenets such as support for increased border security, law enforcement and more parental control of K-12 education curriculum. He railed against teachers unions and pinned Nevada's low national rankings in education on Rosen and federal policies. Then Brown shifted to local concerns, criticizing Rosen's support for solar projects in Nevada, a state that is leading the charge in manufacturing the form of renewable energy. Some residents of rural communities have pushed back against solar projects, saying the added infrastructure could harm the surrounding communities and local environments. "They're being built on our land, and not for our benefit," Brown said. "But for the benefit of Jacky Rosen and her friend Gavin Newsom in California." Brown and Laxalt agreed on almost all policy stances during their sometimes-heated primary battle last year, though Brown said that Laxalt did not push hard enough in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results when Laxalt chaired Trump's 2020 Nevada campaign. Brown helped Laxalt campaign after losing to him. Brown dodged two questions from reporters after his speech regarding whether he stood by those comments. Instead, he criticized Rosen's vote on spending bills while speaking of leadership experience he gained while in the Army. Rosen has posted strong fundraising numbers in her first reelection run, announcing on Monday a $2.7 million fundraising haul in the second quarter of 2023, leaving her with $7.5 million cash on hand. An ally handpicked by legendary Nevada Democrat Harry Reid to run for the Senate, Rosen has steered a moderate path during her first term in the chamber. She was a first-term congresswoman from a Las Vegas-area district when she defeated GOP Sen. Dean Heller in 2018. Before that, she was president of a prominent Jewish synagogue in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson. National Republicans had long recruited Brown, seeing his ability to raise money from the party's grassroots and his profile as a war hero as positives in a solidly purple state known for often unpredictable, razor-thin outcomes. In 2022, Nevada featured the closest Senate race in the nation when Cortez Masto defeated Laxalt by just 8,000 votes. The race was decided by mail ballots that arrived at county offices days after Election Day and resulted in a nearly weeklong vote count that ended up securing Democrats' control of the Senate. Marchant, the other major Republican candidate, has pushed to eliminate voting machines and has falsely said that all Nevada elected officials since 2006 have been "installed by the deep-state cabal." Asked about Marchant's campaign in the press gaggle, Brown again shifted his focus to Rosen and did not mention his primary opponent. "Any time you see a crowded field, that means you have a lot of people who are disappointed by whoever's currently leading there," he said. "So this is an indictment on Jacky Rosen that so many people are interested in running." Stern is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea Command of the largest U.S. military base overseas switched to an Army planner and former cavalry leader at this garrison south of Seoul on Tuesday. Col. Ryan Workman, who has served nearly a decade in South Korea since being commissioned in 2000, took command of Camp Humphreys from Col. Seth Graves during a ceremony at the Morning Calm Center. Im super excited to be back in Korea, Workman told Stars and Stripes after the ceremony. Ive spent a lot of my career here and I think its going to be a great opportunity to serve the soldiers and the community members. Prior to taking command, Workman attended the Army War College and before that served at Humphreys as director of the Eighth Army Future Operations Directorate. He began his Army service as a platoon leader with 7th Cavalry at the former Camp Garry Owen, South Korea, from 2001 to 2003, according to his LinkedIn profile. He commanded an 8th Cavalry squadron at Fort Stewart, Ga., from 2018 to 2020. Other positions Workman has held in South Korea include division plans officer for the 2nd Infantry Division and training and readiness branch chief for U.S. Forces Korea. Workman described South Korea as like a second home and said he looked forward to working with the Humphreys community. Graves, in a farewell speech, thanked the Humphreys community and described it as the finest example of team players within the military. He took command of the garrison on June 15, 2021. During his tenure, COVID-19 surged to the highest number of cases seen by USFK until that time. Graves did not disclose precise case numbers at Humphreys but in a December 2021 Facebook post said the surge is like nothing weve seen here on the installation since the beginning of the pandemic. Graves also facilitated Combined Forces Commands move from Yongsan to Humphreys, a transition he described to Stars and Stripes on Tuesday as one of the biggest things to occur in the [U.S.-South Korea] alliance in the last decade. Humphreys, 30 miles south of Seoul, has a population of roughly 35,500 people. It serves as the headquarters to USFK, U.N. Command, Combined Forces Command, Eighth Army and the 2nd Infantry Division. Combined Forces Command, which oversees South Koreas defense with 700,000 active-duty troops, was the last major command to move from the capital city to Humphreys on Nov. 15. USFK and U.N. Command moved to Humphreys four years earlier. Graves heads to Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo on Thursday to become director of manpower and personnel for U.S. Forces Japan. He said he hoped Humphreys continues to receive funding and resources because we have a large community here that we need to provide for. We just need to make sure we continue to do that at a high level, Graves said. ATLANTA The man accused of crashing a Humvee into the front entrance of the 3rd Infantry Divisions headquarters building at Fort Stewart is a retired soldier and Iraq war veteran, officials at the Georgia Army post said Tuesday. Treamon D. Lacy was charged Monday by Army investigators with theft of government property and destruction of government property after they arrested him at the scene of the crash, said Kevin Larson, a Fort Stewart spokesman. Lacy was being held in the Liberty County jail near Fort Stewart as of Tuesday afternoon, jail records show. Lacy, 39, retired from the Army as a staff sergeant in July 2013 after serving more than a decade as a wheeled vehicle mechanic, according to the Army. He served two combat deployments to Iraq. Fort Stewart military police detained Lacy after he crashed the Humvee at about 10 a.m. into the glass front doors of the 3rd ID headquarters, known as Building 1 on the post. No one was injured in the crash, but it destroyed the building front entrance, Larson said. The suspects status as a retired veteran gave him access to the installation, Larson said. He declined further comment on the incident. Officials have not said when Lacy allegedly stole the Humvee or whether they believe he crashed it intentionally into the division headquarters, which houses the 3rd IDs commanding general, his deputies and much of the division staff. Lacy had yet to appear in court as of Tuesday afternoon, jail records show. His case was expected to be handled by federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Georgia, according to the Army. The incident marked the second theft of an Army Humvee in about one week. Someone stole a Humvee from the California Army National Guards Santa Rosa armory on July 3. It has not yet been recovered, according to California officials. A soldier saved the life of an unconscious car crash victim by pulling them out of a burning truck, the Army and Colorado police said. Army Staff Sgt. Michael De La Rosa rescued the person, who wasnt identified, after a crash June 26 in Fountain, Colo., the Army said in a statement last week. De La Rosa, a platoon sergeant with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, saw a truck veer off Interstate 25 and collide with construction equipment around 5:25 a.m., the statement said. De La Rosa and another bystander approached the truck and saw the driver was unconscious, the statement said. Honestly, when I decided to act I was more worried about the victim, De La Rosa said in the statement. I felt obligated to save a life because I wouldnt be able to live with myself if I knew I could have done something but didnt do anything. The engine burst in flames and De La Rosa couldnt open the passenger door, the Army statement said. De La Rosa and the other bystander broke through the drivers side window to unlock the door and drag the victim out. They barely got out of the truck before it was engulfed in flames, the statement said. If not for the actions of Staff Sgt. De La Rosa, the driver of the vehicle would have succumbed to his injuries sustained and would have perished in the fire, a letter from the local Fountain Police Department quoted in the Army statement said. (Tribune News Service) The massive fire sparked onboard an Italian cargo ship docked in Port Newark was finally extinguished following a days-long effort, during which two New Jersey firefighters were killed, according to the Coast Guard. At this time, those concerted efforts have gotten us to a place this morning where we can officially declare the fire is out, Capt. Zeita Merchant told reporters on Tuesday. While this is a huge milestone and something that we can celebrate, we must not lose sight of the fact that this is merely the first step of a long process, as we now need to consider the salvage and transfer of the vessel, a process that can be hazardous and complex, as well, she continued. Additionally, and more importantly, we are transitioning to a phase of determining the cause of the fire and related fatalities. Authorities estimate the salvage process could last up to two months. The blaze broke out Wednesday night on the 10th deck of the Grande Costa dAvorio as workers finished loading hundreds of new and used vehicles destined for West Africa with a stop in Providence, R.I., along the way. It took first responders nearly a week to contain and put out the flames, which were only further fueled by the exploding gas tanks of the cars and trucks aboard the cargo ship. The deck of the ship is essentially a parking garage, Port Director Beth Rooney told ABC New York. What we had burning were components and parts of cars. Their efforts were also slowed due a lack of niche training, with Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson explaining that firefighters in the area have not had experience battling a blaze aboard a cargo ship like the Grande Costa dAvorio. The ships owner, Grimaldi Group, ultimately hired Gallagher Marine Systems, a specially trained group of first responders, to assist with firefighting and salvage operations. Augusto Acabou, 45, and Wayne Brooks, 49, of the Newark Fire Department were identified as the officers who were killed by the fire. Acabou was a nine-year veteran of the department while Brooks had served for nearly 17 years. Their funerals are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, respectively. Five other firefighters three from Newark and two from Elizabeth were hurt in the blaze. Sources told CBS New York the fire burned for five days and that investigators were able to gain access to the ship on Monday. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com . Already unhappy that construction of the Marine Corps Camp Blaz disturbed cultural and ecological sites on Guam, some local leaders are wary of a proposed missile-defense system that could damage more island heritage. In the global power competition with China, the United States views Guam as a power platform and military logistics center that provides a waypoint for aircraft and ships moving between the two hemispheres. But many Chamorros indigenous natives of Guam are worried about further erosion of their homeland as the military beefs up its presence, including the planned influx of 5,000 Marines to Blaz. Of course, you can visually see the changing of the landscape, Robert Underwood, a former Guam delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives and chairman of the Pacific Center for Island Security, told Stars and Stripes by phone May 5. On top of that is, of course, the digging up of the cultural resources and ancient tribal lands. Blaz, a 4,000-acre installation west of Andersen Air Force Base, has already destroyed 1,000 acres of the islands distinctive limestone forest. The forests, home to several unique species, are tropical woodlands rooted in thin soils on limestone formed from ancient coral reefs. About 33% of Guam is covered by these forests, according to the online Guampedia. The bases construction also revealed numerous Chamorro burial sites and other archaeological remains. Next up: Missile defense Blaz officially opened in January. By March, the Defense Department proposed building the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense System, for which environmental surveys and public hearings are underway. A draft of the projects environmental impact statement is expected in spring 2024, according to a factsheet released by the Missile Defense Agency. The system, designed to detect and destroy incoming missiles from any direction, may pose similar problems for Guam, Underwood said. The project includes at least 20 proposed construction sites where mobile defense batteries would rotate across the 210-square-mile island. Most are on government property, but the project may require privately owned real estate, too. Noting the publics disapproval of how Blaz was handled, Underwood said he was skeptical of how receptive it will be to the new project, especially without knowing its details. All of those issues are on the table, he said. It seems to me that if youre really going to do an environmental impact statement or start the process of reviewing it, you really have to explain what it is youre actually doing. During construction, Blaz officials made efforts to preserve the islands resources, but they seemed to be just formalities, said Underwood and Melvin Won Pat-Borja, executive director for Guams Commission on Decolonization. The manner in which all of that has been carried out has been not as open as it can be, Underwood said. I think theyve just gone through the required steps. Portions of Blaz are also situated on what was likely an ancient village, with discoveries of burial sites, tools and structures, Won Pat-Borja told Stars and Stripes in December. That was one of the major contentions from the local community, was that as they started to make more discoveries, it was pretty clear they were dealing with a settlement, he said. Highly influential Managers on the Blaz project disagreed with the critics. Construction did level acres of limestone forest, one of the islands most threatened habitats, but the base is also restoring an equal amount of woodlands elsewhere, Adrienne Loerzel, Blaz forest enhancement program manager, told Stars and Stripes by phone April 25. Chamorro burial mounds found on the construction site were left in place after the community overwhelmingly requested it. Some sites are planned to be designated as cultural markers, open to the public and to educate visitors about Chamorro history, said Albert Borja, Blaz environmental director. He objected to the view that the bases efforts were just a formality. He pointed public input on decisions like the location of the Blaz firing ranges. I would disagree with folks that say that the people of Guam or its elected leaders are powerless in these processes; they are highly influential, Borja said. Blaz lead archaeologist, Ronnie Rogers, agreed. Every construction project requires public notice and every action that we take takes consultation and public comments into consideration, he said. We respond to each of those, whether it comes from the public or the historic preservation officer, he told Stars and Stripes by phone April 25. Those that have comments that are productive, we try to implement those recommendations where we can. A shipwreck discovered four years ago in the Sulu Sea off the coast of the Philippines has been identified as a U.S. aircraft carrier sunk by a Japanese Kamikaze plane in 1945, the Navy announced. Service officials determined Monday that the shipwreck found in 2019 is the USS Ommaney Bay, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command. Some 95 American sailors were killed in the Jan. 5, 1945, attack on the Ommaney Bay, many of whom went down with the ship, according to the Navy. Ommaney Bay is the final resting place of American sailors who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country, retired Rear Adm. Samuel Cox, the director of the NHHC, said in a statement. This discovery allows the families of those lost some amount of closure and gives us all another chance to remember and honor their service to our nation. The wreckage sites location was provided in 2019 to the Navy by Vulcan, LLC, a company founded by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, which owns a shipwreck hunting vessel. The Navy said Tuesday that two Australian groups, Sea Scan Survey and DPT Scuba, helped confirm the Ommaney Bays identity with survey information and video footage captured in deep sea dives of the wreck site. With Ommaney Bays shipwreck site, the Navy has located at least three American vessels this year sunk in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. The NHHC announced in February that it located the wreckage of the long-lost submarine USS Albacore and in May found the Navy destroyer USS Mannert L. Abele. The more than 500-foot-long Ommaney Bay served less than six months in combat, and it was sunk weeks before the first anniversary of its commissioning. But Ommaney Bay, named for a body of water in Alaska, earned two Battle Stars for meritorious participation in battle during its short life, according to the Navy. In October 1944, the ship participated in the Battle off Samar in the Philippine Sea, launching airstrikes on Japanese positions. Ommaney Bays planes then helped sink a Japanese cruiser and damaged several other enemy warships. In December 1944, Ommaney Bay was credited with downing a Japanese bomber aircraft near the Sulu Sea. Just weeks later, as Ommaney Bay transited across the Sulu Sea bound for the Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines to support the U.S. invasion there, the ship was struck by a Kamikaze plane in the starboard side, the Navy said. The aircraft released two bombs upon impact, according to the Navy. One hit the flight deck and detonated, setting off a series of explosions. The second passed through the hangar deck and exploded. The explosions led to a massive fire aboard the ship, which was carrying torpedoes and other ammunition. A history of Ommaney Bays downing provided by the Navy describes .50 caliber ammunition ricocheting around the burning ship as commanders made the decision to abandon it, fearing the torpedoes would explode. Those munitions eventually detonated, killing two U.S. sailors on another ship that was assisting the Ommaney Bay after it was struck. The Ommaney Bays wreckage site is now considered a protected location under U.S. law, the NHHC said. Most importantly, the wreck represents the final resting place of sailors who gave their life in defense of the nation and should be respected by all parties as a war grave, according to the command. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed cooperation and fraternal relations with King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the presidential palace in New Alamein City on Tuesday, the Egyptian presidency announced. The four leaders reiterated their support for the efforts to consolidate security, peace, stability and cooperation on various levels, which is based on trust and mutual respect in a way that helps achieve the aspirations of all the regions peoples for progress, construction and development. They also discussed a number of issues as well as regional and international developments, while exchanging their relevant viewpoints. Earlier on Tuesday, El-Sisi met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mostafa Kadhimi before his departure to Baghdad. Kadimi reportedly cut short his visit to Egypt and headed back to Baghdad after several hundred supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr launched a sit-in outside Iraq's top judicial body in the morning. On Monday, El-Sisi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who arrived in Egypt on Sunday for bilateral talks with the Egyptian president, received the three other Arab leaders at Alamein International Airport. On Monday evening, the Egyptian leader and the Arab leaders made a tour of New Alamein City, attending the inauguration of the Regal Heights resort in the North Coast. Search Keywords: Short link: Tourists received no health and safety warnings before they landed on New Zealand's most active volcano ahead of a 2019 eruption that killed 22 people, a prosecutor said Tuesday. There were 47 people on White Island, the tip of an undersea volcano also known by its Indigenous Maori name, Whakaari, when superheated gases erupted on Dec. 9. Most of the 25 people who survived were severely burned. The island's owners, brothers Andrew, James and Peter Buttle; their company Whakaari Management Ltd.; and tour operators I.D. Tours NZ Ltd. and Tauranga Tourism Services Ltd. went on trial Tuesday in Auckland District Court for allegedly failing to adequately protect tourists and staff. Prosecutor Kristy McDonald said in opening the prosecution case that the eruption at the popular tourist destination was not predictable but was foreseeable. The 20 tourists and two tour guides who died were given no warning of the risks, she said. "They were not given the opportunity to make any informed decision about whether they wanted to take the risk of walking into the crater of an active and unpredictable volcano that had erupted as recently as 2016," McDonald said. "The business of tourism on Whakaari was a risky business. It involved tours to an active volcano, taking people to the heart of the crater in circumstances where no one could predict when an eruption might occur, and if an eruption did occur, those on Whakaari were likely to die or suffer very serious injury. And tragically, that risk was realized," she said. Of those killed, 14 were Australians, five were Americans, two were New Zealanders and one was German. McDonald said the company that owned the volcano Whakaari Management Ltd., which she called WML failed to understand the risk, failed to consult with tour operators on the hazards, failed to ensure appropriate personal protective equipment was provided to tourists and staff, and failed to provide an adequate means of evacuation. The company left tour operators to monitor the changing risk. An eruption on April 27, 2016, occurred at night without warning when no one was on the island. That should have prompted the owner to review the risk assessment, McDonald said. The volcano had gone through 42 "eruptive periods" since colonial records began in 1826, McDonald said. After the 2016 eruption, New Zealand geology agency GNS Science said its staff were banned from visiting the crater floor until further notice because of the "heightened state of volcanic unrest," McDonald said. Despite knowing this, several operators continued taking tourists to the crater from the day after the eruption, she said. WHL, which made a profit of $621,000 a year from tourists, could have paid GNS for a formal risk assessment but did not, she said. McDonald said warning tourists of the dangers "would obviously not be good for business." "However, profit should never come before safety," she said. She blamed the Buttle brothers for the WML's failure to assess the volcano danger. "The Buttles knew they could obtain expert advice from GNS for a fee. They chose not to," McDonald said. "The Buttles failed to do one of the most fundamental things required of them as officers. They failed to ensure that their company had and used sufficient resources to understand the risk of its business and to implement controls to manage that risk." I.D. Tours NZ and Tauranga Services failed to ensure 38 passengers, who had traveled from Australia aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas and were on the volcano when it erupted, had been properly warned of the risk, she said. Those 38 people "did not receive any health and safety information about volcanic activity or volcanic risk prior to the tour," McDonald said. If WML was going to allow tourists to visit the volcano, the company should have ensured visitors were equipped with adequate personal protective equipment and that emergency evacuation options were provided, McDonald said. The court was shown video and photographs taken in the moments before and during the eruption. McDonald said the only way off the island other than aircraft was a 90-year-old jetty that was too small for tourist boats to dock at. Survivors had to climb down a ladder to inflatable boats. "A number of victims were badly burnt and this transfer was very painful," McDonald said. "Some of them were losing the skin off their hands as they attempted to climb down the ladder. Some were unable to use the ladder and were pushed or fell into the inflatable boats." Three helicopter tour operators pleaded guilty last week to safety breaches. Each of the companies faces a maximum fine of $927,000. Each of the brothers charged faces a maximum fine of $185,000. The trial being heard by Judge Evangelos Thomas without a jury will resume Wednesday. It is scheduled to run for 16 weeks. HONG KONG Hong Kong's leader warned Tuesday that the city will ban marine products from "a large number prefectures" if Japan discharges treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. Chief Executive John Lee said in a press briefing that his government would err on the side of caution because the planned release of wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean is an unprecedented exercise. He said he has to take the issue seriously because it affects not only the current population of Hong Kong but also the next generation. "The action we will take, if the exercise really starts, is that we will be banning a large number (of) prefectures' sea products," he said. But he did not name which prefectures and what products will be affected. A massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant's cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt and releasing large amounts of radiation. The tanks storing the water used since the accident to cool the reactor cores will reach their capacity in early 2024. In 2021, Japan's government announced plans to gradually release the treated but still slightly radioactive water following its dilution to what it says are safe levels. Japanese officials say the water, currently stored in about a thousand tanks at the plant, needs to be removed to prevent accidental leaks in case of an earthquake and to make room for the plant's decommissioning. On Monday, the operator of the wrecked nuclear plant began testing equipment constructed for discharging the wastewater. Last week, the United Nations nuclear agency endorsed the plan, saying it meets international standards and the environmental and health impact would be negligible. But the plan has faced fierce protests from local fishing communities concerned about safety and reputational damage. Neighboring countries, including South Korea, China and Pacific Island nations, have also raised safety concerns. Chinese authorities last week highlighted import restrictions on food products from 10 prefectures in Japan, including Fukushima. The Hong Kong government will formulate policies in response to Japan's plans, Lee said Tuesday, and they will be announced when ready. "The risks are very unknown," he said. "I must ensure that food safety is protected in Hong Kong." In the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city, the import of certain products such as fruits and vegetables from Fukushima is currently banned. Other products such as meat and poultry from there are allowed in if they come with a radiation certificate. The import of many food products from four other Japanese prefectures immediately south of Fukushima Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Chiba will also have to be accompanied with radiation certificate. Last year, the major food imports from Japan amounted to about 2% of the total food supply in Hong Kong, official data showed. Although the city is not highly dependent on Japanese food products in terms of quantity, many residents are fond of Japanese food and there are many Japanese restaurants across the territory, the government said. A Philippine coast guard official has warned that Chinese vessels swarming contested reefs in the South China Sea may portend an attempt to occupy those territories. More than 50 Chinese maritime militia vessels were seen loitering at Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal, south of Reed Bank, the Philippine Inquirer reported Sunday, citing the Western Command of the Philippines armed forces. The maritime features are west of Palawan province in the southwestern Philippine Islands. Its the first time so many Chinese vessels have been spotted in the area, Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Philippine coast guards maritime security adviser, told the Philippines dzBB radio, according to the newspaper. The only analysis that we can provide for the presence of these Chinese maritime militias is to swarm a particular maritime feature and to occupy it, he said. The Philippine coast guard will intensify patrols to determine whether the number of Chinese vessels has increased or decreased, Tarriela said. Our objective is to expose them and deploy our vessels to drive them away, he said. In 2016, an international tribunal rejected Chinas claim to most of the South China Sea; however, Beijing has ignored the ruling and built military facilities on disputed territory, including areas claimed by the Philippines. The United States does not recognize Chinas claims and the Navy conducts frequent freedom-of-navigation patrols in the disputed waters. Similar Chinese tactics prompted protests from the Philippines in February, when 30 Chinese vessels anchored at Sabina Shoal, which is claimed by the Philippines, China and Taiwan. The ships left after the protests, the Inquirer reported. In September 2021, Manila complained to Beijing about 30 vessels in waters around Iroquois Reef. That followed the dispersal of 220 Chinese vessels observed at Whitsun Reef, part of the Spratly Islands, in March of that year. More recently, several Chinese coast guard vessels attempted on June 30 to prevent two Philippine patrol ships from reaching Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratlys, Tarriela tweeted July 5. In response, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson called on Beijing to comply with a 2016 ruling that rejected its claim on the shoal. We are concerned by the unprofessional maneuvers of the China Coast Guard against the Philippines Coast Guard, she tweeted July 7. [Chinas] irresponsible behavior in the South China Sea threatens the security and legal rights of our treaty ally, the Philippines. The Philippines lacks powerful warships but could send smaller vessels that might provoke the Chinese ships to ram them and lose face, Patricio Abinales, a Philippines expert at the University of Hawaii, said in an email Tuesday. Question is at what point will the Americans then say enough is enough, we will back our Filipino allies, he said. Chinas latest swarm is aimed at dissuading the Philippines from oil and gas production at Recto Bank, according to Carlyle Thayer, an emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales. China has consistently pressed the Philippines to agree on joint development in this area, he said by email Tuesday. Any plans that China might have to occupy disputed territory and develop it into artificial islands as forward operating bases could be disrupted by pushback from the Philippines in coordination with its allies, security partners and other claimant states, Thayer said. The Philippines must continue with its plans to modernize its military, the navy and air force in particular, to have the capacity to gradually assert its sovereignty over the long term, he said. During this process, the Philippines and the United States, along with other friendly powers such as Japan and Australia, need to maintain a continuous naval presence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday blasted NATO for waffling on his countrys future membership, saying prior to joining an annual summit that the alliances weak commitment to Ukrainian accession treats Kyiv as a chip on the negotiating table with Russia. Zelenskyys comments came as President Joe Biden joined allies in Vilnius, Lithuania, for high-level talks about Ukraines future. It seems there is no readiness, neither to invite Ukraine to NATO nor to make it a member of the alliance, Zelenskyy said in a statement on his way to the annual gathering of world leaders. This means that a window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraines membership in NATO in negotiations with Russia. And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror. Uncertainty is weakness. Zelenskyys comments put him at odds with Biden, who endorsed NATOs new language on future membership for Ukraine. NATO has been hard at work trying to craft a statement on Ukraines eventual accession, but the ongoing war stands as a major obstacle in the way of setting the kind of clear timeline that Zelenskyy was seeking. We agree on the language that you proposed relative to the future of Ukraine being able to join NATO, Biden said Tuesday while speaking alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Despite his criticisms, Zelenskyy said he will be on hand Wednesday in Vilnius for the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Ukraine-NATO Council, where the issue of future membership will be hashed out. Details about the agreement are expected to be unveiled after those talks. NATO membership comes with a security guarantee of mutual defense, so allowing Ukraine to join while it is at war would essentially make the U.S. and the 30 other allies combatants in the conflict. For that reason, Biden and Stoltenberg have emphasized that membership in the near term is an impossibility. Following talks Tuesday, the alliance also detailed various democratic and military reforms required to join the pact. NATO will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path towards future membership, an alliance communique stated. The dispute with Zelenskyy cast a shadow over events in Vilnius, even as NATO celebrated a breakthrough on the eve of the summit when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that he will stop blocking Swedens entry into the alliance. On Tuesday, allies continued to talk up their support for Ukraine, with officials repeating the standard talking point that allies were in it for the long haul. But on the sidelines in Vilnius, there was concern about Ukraines slow-going counteroffensive. Petr Pavel, the newly elected president of the Czech Republic and a former top NATO general with deep ties to the alliance, gave a blunt assessment about the stakes involved as Ukraine pushes to regain territory. Realistically, the window of opportunity will more or less close by the end of this year, said Pavel, who served as the head of NATOs military committee between 2015 and 2018. Pavel said that as the war drags on, there eventually will be a decline in public support for continuing to arm Ukraine. Upcoming elections in the U.S. and elsewhere also could reshape the situation, he said. Whatever is achieved by the end of this year will be the baseline for negotiations, Pavel said. Pavels comments amounted to a rare, unvarnished public assessment that is at odds with how NATO and U.S. officials usually talk about the conflict. They contrasted with Stoltenbergs remarks at the start of the summit. NATO will send a clear message to Ukraine that we stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes and expect allies also to reiterate their commitment to provide military support to Ukraine to help them liberate more land, Stoltenberg said. Ukraine has faced stiff resistance during its counteroffensive, which is still in the early stages. A question for allies is whether enough weaponry has arrived quickly enough for Ukrainian troops. Low ammunition supplies and lack of airpower and mine-breaching equipment have added to Ukrainian forces difficulties, Pavel said. Nevertheless, Ukraine is making gradual gains and still hasnt committed major forces to the offensive, Pavel said, apparently in reference to Western-trained brigades that are yet to enter the fight. In a move aimed at strengthening Ukraines ability to strike deeper against enemy positions, French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday announced a decision to send long-range cruise missiles that can travel about 150 miles. While Ukraine has dominated the agenda in Vilnius, allies took other steps Tuesday that focused on enhancing their own defenses in Europe. They agreed to regional defense plans involving a new NATO force structure that calls for tens of thousands more troops to be able to deploy more rapidly in a crisis. This is really the foundation of a very, very important rebuild of our collective defense system, U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATOs supreme allied commander in Europe, said on the summit sidelines. Allies havent had such detailed defense plans for Europe since the Cold War. Dutch Adm. Rob Bauer, the head of NATOs military committee, said allies now need to put the new defense plans into action. A key assumption of the strategy is that Russia will seek to reconstitute its military, which has been badly damaged during the war in Ukraine, he said. There is a little bit of time. Thats the good news, because Russia is not as good as they were at the start of the war, Bauer said. The days of imaginary adversaries in NATO military drills and exercises, as well as wariness about provoking or singling out Russia as the threat, have long since passed, he added. No fictitious scenarios anymore, Bauer said. We talk about Russia as a threat in these scenarios. ISTANBUL Turkey made a surprise pledge to drop its opposition to Sweden joining NATO, paving the way for the Nordic country to become a member of the Western military alliance. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Turkey had agreed to support Sweden's NATO bid by putting the issue to a vote in Parliament in return for deeper cooperation on security issues and a promise from Sweden to revive Turkey's quest for EU membership. The agreement, which Stoltenberg heralded after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, also says the two countries will step up trade and investment with each other. Hungary, the only other NATO holdout on Sweden, is expected to drop its opposition, too. Hungary's foreign minister said Tuesday that his country's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership was now just a "technical matter." Erdogan has been uncharacteristically quiet since the agreement was publicized, declining to comment on the reasons for his apparent change of heart. It remains to be seen how quickly the issue will be taken up by Turkey's Parliament. Here are key factors, and possible incentives, that Turkey is considering as it weighs Sweden's entry into NATO. TURKEY IS CONCERNED ABOUT TERRORISM AND ANTI-ISLAM PROTESTS Erdogan's opposition to Swedish membership in NATO had focused heavily on his belief that the Nordic country has been too lenient toward elements of the Turkish and Kurdish diasporas that Turkey views as security threats namely, people associated with militant Kurdish groups and others connected to a 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan. An agreement signed between Turkey, Sweden and Finland last year set out to tackle some of these concerns, and Sweden recently tightened its anti-terrorism laws, making support for an extremist organization punishable by up to eight years' imprisonment. Sweden says it has cracked down on the activities of people connected to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has waged a 39-year insurgency in Turkey. And under the agreement outlined Monday, Sweden said it would also work against the Syrian wing of the PKK, known as the YPG. A related issue for Erdogan has been anti-Turkey and anti-Islam protests held in Stockholm, some of which involved the burning of the Quran. Although condemned by the Swedish government, the demonstrations drew strong reaction from Turkey. The Turkish government has criticized Sweden which has strong free-speech protections for "allowing" public displays of anti-Muslim sentiment. But how Sweden deals with Kurdish militant groups has always been way more important for Turkey than the protests, said Cigdem Ustun, secretary general of the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies in Istanbul. Ustum described Turkey's statements over the Quran-burnings as "a tool in the negotiations." adding that "for Turkey it was mainly about terrorist organizations." TURKEY WANTS F-16 FIGHTER JETS FROM THE U.S. Erdogan's promise to Stoltenberg to reverse course on Sweden's NATO membership may also have been linked to Turkey's efforts to upgrade its fleet of F-16 fighter jets. Turkey has asked the U.S. for approval to buy 40 new F-16s, as well as kits to upgrade its existing fleet. The request was backed by the White House but ran into opposition in Congress. Both U.S. and Turkish officials have insisted that any such deal would not be linked to Sweden's NATO membership. But within hours of Erdogan apparently dropping his veto on Sweden, President Joe Biden signaled that the U.S. intended to proceed with the F-16 sale in consultation with Congress. In a statement welcoming Erdogan's agreement to bring Sweden's NATO bid before Parliament, Biden said he will work with Turkey "on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area." The biggest critic of any deal for F-16s, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J, appeared to soften his stance, saying "there may be a way forward." Menendez has opposed any F-16 deal because of the potential threat to Turkey's neighbor Greece. The F-16s "have been an important part of the negotiations although there's no formal link," said Ustun. "It's obvious there's been some progress in that regard." TURKEY WANTS TO BECOME AN EU MEMBER Early on Monday, Erdogan made a surprise warning that he would block Sweden's attempt to become a NATO ally unless European members of the military organization "pave the way" for Turkey to join the world's biggest trading bloc. It was the first time that Erdogan had linked the two countries' aspirations in this way. Following his remarks, European officials rebuffed any link between Sweden's NATO membership and Turkey's 36-year bid to join the EU. "You cannot link the two processes," European Commission spokesperson Dana Spinant said. Stoltenberg reiterated the point, saying that Turkey's relationship with the EU was "not an issue for NATO, it's an issue for the European Union." But, he told reporters that "what Sweden agreed today as an EU member was to support actively the efforts to reinvigorate Turkey's EU accession process." Sweden also said it would seek improved customs arrangements and take steps to implement visa-free European travel for Turkish citizens. Still, few expect any accelerated movement on Turkey's EU membership talks, which stalled in 2018 because of the country's democratic backsliding and poor record on human rights. IS ERDOGAN TURNING FROM PUTIN? Some see Turkey's show of support for Sweden as a sign that Erdogan is readjusting foreign policy to become closer to the West and more distant from longtime ally Russia following his election victory in May. Turkey has significant trade, tourism and energy ties to Russia, and has maintained close relations with both Moscow and Kyiv during the Ukraine war. For example, Turkey has not joined U.S. and European sanctions against Russia, and it helped arrange a deal to allow exports of Ukrainian grain to avert a global food crisis. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said Turkey's acceptance of Sweden in NATO was not a surprise. Asked if Russia was worried about Turkey edging closer to the West, Peskov said "we intend to develop our dialogue, our relations with Turkey where it benefits us and benefits them." The show of support for Sweden, however, follows several other recent Turkish decisions that could be viewed as snubs to Moscow. Last week, during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Erdogan backed calls for Ukraine's NATO membership and agreed to return Ukrainian commanders who were supposed to remain in Turkey as part of a deal to end a siege in the city of Mariupol last year. Timothy Ash, an economist specializing in Turkey at London's BlueBay Asset Management, said Erdogan was looking to bolster relations with the West in order to stave off Turkey's severe economic problems. He also linked Erdogan's decision to last month's coup attempt in Russia, which he said made Putin appear weak. KYIV, Ukraine The catastrophic collapse of a dam in southern Ukraine has made Kyiv worried that Russia might stage an attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to foment panic and quell Ukrainian advances on the frontline, Ukraine's energy minister said Monday. Herman Halushchenko said the destruction of the dam while under Russian control in the Kherson region proved "there are no red lines" for Moscow. He said it warrants the level of alarm Ukraine's leadership has been raising in recent weeks of an alleged Russian ploy to attack the nuclear plant in a possible false flag operation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged last week, citing intelligence reports, that Russian troops placed "objects resembling explosives" atop several power units to "simulate" an attack. Drone and satellite images obtained by the Associated Press showed unidentified white objects on the roof of the plant's fourth power unit, but Ukrainian leaders have so far been unable to provide further evidence. While Russia accuses Ukraine of bombarding the Kakhovka dam, Kyiv blames Moscow for the attack on the dam in late May, which triggered a humanitarian crisis and caused widespread ecological devastation. An AP investigation found that Moscow had the means and motive to carry out the attack. Halushchenko said he and Zelenskyy had raised alarms as early as October 2022 that the Russians could plant mines to blow up the Kakhovka dam. "For many many people it sounded ridiculous and when it happened everybody understood that there are no red lines for them," he said in a sit-down interview with The Associated Press. "And of course it's all connected to the counter-offensive operation, and after Kakhovka, the one tool which they still have is Zaporizhzhia." The nuclear plant was seized by Russia in March 2022, in the first weeks of the war in Ukraine, raising fears of a nuclear accident. Over the past year, Russia and Ukraine repeatedly accused each other of shelling the plant. Ukraine's military intelligence has claimed for weeks, without providing evidence, that Russia is planning a "large-scale provocation" at the nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, in the southeast of the country. Around the same time, Ukraine launched the early phase of its much anticipated counter-offensive last month and has reported steady advances along multiple directions of the 930-mile frontline. An incident at the plant could halt Ukraine's advance, Zelenskyy has said. Ukrainian military intelligence reports have said that Russia placed mines on the roof of the nuclear plant, and put remote-controlled and regular anti-personnel mines in technical and machine rooms. Image experts the AP spoke to could not identify the objects that have been seen on the roof. Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at the Middlebury Institute and satellite image expert, said the objects appeared to be placed on the roof of the unit's turbine hall, and, if it turns out to be a bomb, is unlikely to cause serious damage to the reactor. The Russians have cited security concerns in granting only limited access to officials from the International Atomic Atomic Energy Agency. The agency's Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said recently that the IAEA had recently gained access to more of the site, including the cooling pond and fuel storage areas. The Ukrainians had said those areas were mined by the Russians, but the IAEA found they were not, Grossi said. The agency has not yet been given access to inspect the roof of the plant. Haluschenko noted that the IAEA representatives were not able to access the entire site. "So the Russians allowed them to see only what they decided they could see, and that is the problem," he said. UNITED NATIONS The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday failed to renew authorization of the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria's rebel-held northwest from neighboring Turkey, officially ending a U.N. operation that had been vital to helping a region of 4.1 million people. The council failed to adopt either of two rival resolutions to authorize further deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, where the latest six-month mandate expired on Monday. Syrian President Bashar Assad opened two additional crossing points from Turkey at Bab al-Salameh and al-Rai to increase the flow of assistance to victims of the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that ravaged northwestern Syria and southern Turkey on Feb. 8. He extended their operation for three months in May until Aug. 13, and the United Nations said it will continue to use those crossings to deliver aid. But U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that 85% of U.N. aid to the northwest went by truck through Bab al-Hawa, which is closest to those in need, and "we're not going to be able to match that" amount through the two crossings still available. He added that the U.N. had pre-positioned supplies in the region ahead of the vote, so the cutoff of supplies through Bab al-Hawa should not have an immediate effect. Nonetheless, Bab al-Hawa remains "the center of gravity" for U.N. cross-border deliveries, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "calls on all Security Council members to redouble their efforts to support the continued delivery of cross-border assistance to millions of people in dire need in northwest Syria for the longest possible period," Dujarric said. Syria's northwestern province of Idlib is home to about 4.1 million people, many of whom have been forced from their homes during the 12-year civil war, which has killed nearly a half million people and displaced half the country's pre-war population of 23 million. Hundreds of thousands of people in Idlib live in tent settlements and rely on aid that comes through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing. The earthquake caused more than 4,500 deaths in northwest Syria and about 855,000 people had their homes damaged or destroyed, according to the U.N. Russia vetoed a compromise resolution that would have extended the U.N. operation through Bab al-Hawa for nine months, and which was supported by 13 of the 15 council members, as well as by the secretary-general and humanitarian organizations. A rival Russian resolution that would have extended the aid deliveries for six months but added new requirements failed to get the minimum nine "yes" votes for approval and was only supported by Russia and China. The three other veto-wielding council members the United States, United Kingdom and France voted against the resolution and 10 countries abstained. The Bab al-Salameh and al-Rai crossings were not mentioned in either resolution and U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia of Russia which is Syria's closest ally said they are still working. He accused the West of carrying out another act in a "show," and being disingenuous when it claimed that keeping Bab al-Hawa meant "life or death" for millions in Idlib, whom he called "terrorists." U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Assad reportedly told the U.N. and some council members that he is willing to keep the two crossings open beyond Aug. 13 but he hasn't made a public commitment. If he doesn't, she said, "we will bring this to the top of the council's agenda during our Security Council presidency in August." Brazil and Switzerland had originally circulated a draft resolution calling for a 12-month extension of the mandate for the Bab al-Hawa crossing and reduced the time frame to nine months on Monday in an attempted compromise, which failed. Russia has pushed for more aid to be delivered across front lines within Syria, which would give the Syrian government control over the shipments. Nebenzia told the Security Council after vetoing the nine-month resolution that the Bab al-Hawa crossing could be salvaged but only if Russia's rival six-month resolution was approved. If it wasn't, he said, Russia would not accept any short extension of the current mandate known as "a technical rollover" and the cross-border mechanism would close down. Thomas-Greenfield said Russia had acted like a "bully in the playground" in trying to force its version of the delivery authorization. She said the Russian proposal would not ensure that aid reached people during all of the cold winter months and that the U.S. "could not in good conscience support the text that Russia forced upon the council." The Russian draft resolution includes language supporting President Bashar Assad's government, which has for years delayed U.N.-led negotiations on a new constitution as a key step to elections and ending the conflict which began in 2011, and would extend the mandate for Bab al-Hawa until Jan. 10, 2024, in mid-winter. It also referred to U.S. and European Union sanctions against Syria, calling for the "non-interference of unilateral sanctions in the humanitarian operations in Syria" and requesting the secretary-general to provide a special report on the impact of these measures in December. The Security Council initially authorized aid deliveries in 2014 from Turkey, Iraq and Jordan through four crossing points into opposition-held areas in Syria. But over the years, Syria's close ally Russia, backed by China, had reduced the authorized crossings to just Bab al-Hawa from Turkey and the mandates from a year to six months. (Tribune News Service) When a suicide bomber hit Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan, then-Capt. Katie Lunning sprung into action, often moving the wounded right past the Taliban so she could provide medical care. The critical care nurse at the Minnesota Air National Guards 133rd Medical Group saved a baby whose veins wouldnt hold an adult-sized IV, a woman with a spinal cord injury and 20 others that day, according to the Air Force Times. For remaining calm under pressure and providing intensive care unit-level support on medical flights out of the country, Military Times wrote, Lunning earned its 2023 Airman of the Year award. We were pulling them out as they are getting injured, Lunning said in a Department of Veterans Affairs press release announcing she would receive the Distinguished Flying Cross award only the second nurse to receive the honor. August 26th, when the suicide bomber exploded at Abbey Gate, we were the first (critical care air transport team) in. It was the largest medical evacuation out of that coalition hospital ever, and very dangerous on the ground. We had to leave the airplane to go get our patients as well. We took injured Marines and Afghan civilians who really werent flight worthy, but there was no choice. We just had to get them out of there. So, a lot of medical events occurred on the airplane, but we ended up being able to safely deliver everybody to Landstuhl, Germany (for further medical care). Lunning was on a six-month deployment based in Qatar as a member of a critical care transport team. These three-member teams care for critical patients during flights to hospitals. During the week before the suicide bombing, when the Taliban was bombarding the area, Lunning would push a stretcher from the runway to the airport gates, past the throngs of Afghans clamoring to board military jets to safety, down three city blocks as the Taliban proclaimed victory from the streets, until she reached the tiny international hospital where patients in critical condition awaited, Air Force Times wrote. She was armed with only a Beretta M9 pistol. She got the phone call about the suicide bombing on August 26, 2021, and was told she needed to return to Kabul from Qatar. This time she would be treating Marines, too. It was a different feeling and a sense of urgency, knowing were getting out our people, and our people had been killed, she told Air Force Times. Very sobering. Eleven Marines were killed in the explosion. In all, Lunning worked seven 20-hour missions August 18-29, 2021. Now a major, Lunning in also an ICU nurse manager at the Iowa Department of Veteran Affairs. 2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WASHINGTON At 31 years old, Nasrat Ahmad Yar had spent most of his adult life working with the U.S. military in Afghanistan before escaping to America in search of a better life for his wife and four children. He found work as a ride-share driver and even managed to send money back to Afghanistan to help family and friends. He liked to play volleyball with friends in the Washington suburb where many Afghans who fled their country now live. At 6-feet-5 inches, he had a powerful serve. Last Monday night, worried about making rent, he went out driving and was shot and killed in Washington. No suspects have been arrested, but surveillance video captured the sound of a single gunshot and four boys or young men were seen running away. Police have offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. "He was so generous. He was so nice. He was always trying to help the people," said Rahim Amini, a fellow Afghan immigrant and longtime friend. He said Ahmad Yar always reminded him, "Don't forget the people left behind." Jeramie Malone, an American who came to know Ahmed Yar through her volunteer work with a veteran-founded organization bringing former Afghan interpreters to safety, also was struck by his generosity. "He always wanted to be giving more than he was receiving and he was just really extremely kind." In America, Malone said, "all he wanted was a chance." Afghans and U.S. military veterans gathered for a funeral service Saturday at the All Muslim Association of America in Fredericksburg, Va. Family and friends comforted Ahmad Yar's children and wife as his casket was lowered into the ground with ropes and people used shovels to toss soil on top. One of those in attendance was Matthew Butler, now retired from the military, who met Ahmad Yar in 2009 at Bagram Airfield, then an American base north of Kabul, the Afghan capital. Ahmad Yar was his primary interpreter for two tours in the country. Butler said Ahmad Yar was like a brother or a son to him, and he noted the military's commitment to leaving no one behind something he said now extends to Ahmad Yar's wife. "I pledged my support to his wife and his children, and said just because Nasrat is gone doesn't mean my support to you is gone. I won't leave you behind," Butler said after the ceremony. Amini said Ahmad Yar had worked for the U.S. military for about a decade as an interpreter and doing other jobs, seeing it as a way to help pave the way for the next generation in Afghanistan to have a better life. While the U.S. has had a Special Immigrant Visa program for Afghans who worked closely with the U.S. government to come to America since 2009, Amini said his friend didn't want to apply right away, preferring to stay in Afghanistan, where he felt needed. He remembered Ahmad Yar saying: "I have guys here I need to support. When I feel that they don't need my support then I can go to America." Then, in August 2021, the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan and the Taliban took over. Mohammad Ahmadi, Ahmad Yar's cousin, was already in America after also working for the U.S. military. The two talked on the phone about how to get Ahmad Yar and his family out of Afghanistan. Ahmadi said his cousin could see the Taliban soldiers walking through the streets of Kabul and was worried they would discover he'd been an interpreter for the U.S. military. "He said, 'I don't want to get killed in front of my wife and kids,' " Ahmadi said. When he wasn't able to get out of the crowded Kabul airport, Ahmad Yar went to northern Afghanistan in hopes of getting into Uzbekistan. When that didn't work, he and his family went to the northwestern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, where he and his family were able to get on a flight to the United Arab Emirates and then eventually travel to America. Even when laying low in Mazar-e-Sharif, Nasrat would go out of his way to assist other Afghans who also had come to escape the Taliban greeting them on arrival to the strange city, bringing their families to stay with his, and feeding them, while all waited for flights out, Malone said. "Nasrat was very different, because even though he was needing help, he was always helping me," she said. While waiting at the interim transit camp in the United Arab Emirates, he asked for writing supplies for the children so he could teach them English before they arrived in the U.S., Malone said. "It was really important for him for his kids to get an education and for them to have opportunities they never would have had in Afghanistan." His eldest child, a girl, is now 13, and the others are boys, ages 11, 8 and just 15 months old. The family went first to Pennsylvania, but Amini said his friend was robbed there and decided to move to Alexandria, in northern Virginia. Amini said Ahmad Yar told him he'd fled to the U.S. "to be safe and unfortunately I'm not safe here." In northern Virginia, they both ended up being ride-share drivers and lived about 2 miles from each other. Like many in the Afghan diaspora there, they chatted throughout the day in a WhatsApp group text. And they played in a weekly volleyball game. Ahmad Yar was really good and no one could block his serve, Amini said. Amini said they spoke Monday evening and the next thing he knew he was woken up by another Afghan friend who had somehow heard that Ahmad Yar had been killed. In disbelief, Amini began frantically calling his friend. But it was the police who finally answered the phone: "The police officer said: 'I'm sorry. Unfortunately he's not alive anymore.' " The police said in their report that they responded to a call about an unconscious person and found Ahmad Yar's body. They rushed him to the hospital, where he was declared dead. On the surveillance video they released, one of the four suspected attackers shouted, "You just killed him." Another answered, "He was reaching, bro." Washington has struggled to handle steadily rising crime rates, with murders and carjackings mostly to blame. Homicides are up 14% compared with this time last year. Early Wednesday, nine people enjoying the Independence Day festivities were shot and wounded, police said. His wife is still in shock, said Ahmad Yar's cousin, Ahmadi. But she said she and her husband had the same goal in coming to America to provide a future for their children. She told Ahmadi: "I have the same goal for them. They can go to school. They can go to college and become educated and good people for the society." Associated Press video journalist Serkan Gurbuz in Fredericksburg, Va., contributed to this report. Gen. Charles CQ Brown, the Air Force chief of staff, vowed Tuesday to keep politics out of the military and stay nonpartisan if he is confirmed as the next top military officer in the country. Brown, who is nominated to replace Army Gen. Mark Milley as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he would set a personal example of being apolitical and would pass on that expectation throughout the force. We need to stay out of politics and stay nonpartisan, nonpolitical and at the same time advocate that our civilian leadership is not bringing us in into political situations, he said. We have to maintain a standard as part of the force and thats whats expected of the nation, for us as military members. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have complained the military is being increasingly dragged into political fights, contributing to an erosion of public confidence in the armed forces. Frankly, I am concerned about the health of our nations civil- and political-military relationships, said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the committees chairman. Civilian control of the military is a sacred duty that must be carried out responsibly, not be exploited. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the top Republican member of the committee, said he believed a lack of accountability for failures among military leaders and public engagement with politically divisive issues such as abortion and race have contributed to the distrust. Brown highlighted his lack of extensive experience in Washington, D.C., as an asset that would offer a fresh perspective. A career fighter pilot, Brown logged more than 3,000 flight hours, including 130 hours in combat, and has led the Air Force since 2020. Having led warfighters abroad shapes my thinking, he told the senators. If confirmed, Brown will become just the second Black man, after Colin Powell, to serve as the presidents most senior military adviser and is expected to weigh in on security matters ranging from the war in Ukraine to Chinas military buildup. His promotion would mean that alongside Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the Pentagons top two leaders would be filled by Black men for the first time in history. Brown is the first Black person to lead any branch of the U.S. armed forces and previously commanded the Air Force in the Pacific and served as deputy commander for U.S. Central Command. When asked about diversity, Brown said troops of all backgrounds and colors wanted fair opportunities to excel in the military but wanted to be rewarded for their performance. His comments came amid efforts by some Republican lawmakers to dismantle the Pentagons diversity and inclusion programs. From my own career flying F-16s, I didn't want to be the best African American F-16 pilot, I wanted to be the best F-16 pilot, Brown said. I did not want to be provided a position or promotion based on my background, I wanted it based on the quality of my work and I think thats the aspect all of our service members look for. He defended a 2020 memo that he signed that supported expanding the pool of Air Force applicants to reflect the composition of the U.S. population, arguing he was not advocating for racial quotas as some critics claimed. It was just looking to open up opportunities to as many as we could, Brown said. As the top officer in the Air Force, Brown has placed an emphasis on racial justice and spoke about the impact of racism on his life in the military after the 2020 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer sparked nationwide protests. Brown commissioned into service in 1994, following in the footsteps of his father, a retired Army colonel who served in Vietnam. He initially intended to serve for four years but fell in love with flying fighter jets, according to his service biography. He has been credited for an air campaign that helped push the Islamic State group out of Syria and Iraq and developed an expertise on the Indo-Pacific region that particularly appealed to lawmakers. It is unclear how soon Brown can be confirmed as Joint Chiefs chairman as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., continues his hold on about 250 senior military promotions due to his objections to the Pentagons reproductive health policies. On Tuesday, Tuberville praised Browns service, including his 20 change-of-station moves. Later in the hearing, Brown warned the monthslong stall on nominations will negatively impact families and cause the military to lose troops. Tuberville, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was not in the room for Browns remarks. The spouse network is alive and well, and the spouses will compare notes," Brown said. "The member may want to serve, but the spouses and the families get a huge vote." By law, Milley must leave the chairman position by Sept. 30. The Marine Corps on Monday was left without a confirmed leader for the first time in a century as a result of Tubervilles hold. The US-Africa Leaders Summit is expected to complement the outcomes of the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) Egypt hosted in November by strengthening international commitments towards developing countries on climate change, Egypt's Ambassador to the United States Motaz Zahran said. His remarks came in an interview with Ahram Online, days ahead of the summit, which will be held 13-15 December in Washington DC. Zahran said that the summit will strive to achieve a common vision for the future of relations between the United States and Africa. He noted that it will be held at a critical time when international developments are imposing remarkable challenges on the countries of the world. The summit will demonstrate the enduring commitment of the United States to Africa and the willingness to advance cooperation on shared international priorities, build on shared values to promote better economic engagement and regional and global health, enhance food security, promote peace and security and respond to the climate crisis. On Egypt's role in Africa, he said that since 2014, Egypt has placed the African continent at the top of its priorities based on a firm conviction in its African identity and a belief in its long-standing ties with the continent. Over the past years, Egypt has adopted a well-studied strategic framework to revitalise relations with African countries and the institutional frameworks of the African Union. This started with Egypts term as a member of the African Union Peace and Security Council between 2017 and 2019, which coincided with Egypt's membership in the UN Security Council 2016-2017 and Egypt's presidency of the African Union in 2019, he added. Moreover, he noted that the past years have also witnessed an unprecedented escalation in the pace of bilateral visits by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to African countries in addition to receiving African leaders in Cairo. Egypt has also sought to strengthen communication with strategic development partners in order to implement the development agenda of African countries through presidential participation in the G20 summit in Japan in 2019 and the G7 summit in France the same year, as well as through other international events. Egypt hosted COP27 on behalf of the African countries to advocate for the interests of African and other developing countries. The US-Africa Leaders Summit comes at a time when bilateral relations are witnessing momentum at the leadership level of the two countries, including intensified bilateral meetings between El-Sisi and US president Joe Biden. In May, Egypt and the US celebrated 100 years of strategic relations between the two countries. On Egyptian-American relations, the ambassador pointed out that the US is well aware of Egypts regional importance, which makes it the main guarantor of peace and stability in the Middle East as a whole, he said. Egyptian-American coordination continues on various vital issues in the region, especially the Palestinian issue, as well as on Libya, Syria and Yemen, Zahran added, noting that there is ongoing coordination on ways to confront the various challenges, threats and dangers besetting the region, foremost of which is terrorism. Zahran also stated that the current international crises negatively affects all countries of the world, especially developing countries. This includes African countries, whose food and energy supply lines have been made more vulnerable by instability globally. The African continent is open to cooperation with all international parties in a way that contributes to achieving peace, security and stability on the international arena and in a way that achieves the African interest, especially with regard to advancing development efforts, economic recovery, trade promotion and other goals of Agenda 2063 at the African level and Visions 2030 at the international level and the implementation of sustainable development goals. According to a statement by the African Union (AU) Mission to the US, the Washington summit is expected to feature the participation of approximately 50 heads of state and senior government officials from African countries. The first US-Africa Leaders Summit, which was held in 2014 under then-President Barack Obama, announced private sector commitments to invest in and partner with African countries on initiatives in energy, financial services, climate change, food security and health care, among other areas. This years summit is expected to prioritise similar issues, while placing an even greater emphasis on bilateral trade and investment initiatives, according the statement. Search Keywords: Short link: (Tribune News Service) A 27-year-old Aurora, Colo., man jailed for investigation of first-degree murder charge after police say he chased down two teenagers suspected of trying to steal his wifes car is an active duty U.S. Space Force member and war veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan, court documents show. Thieves apparently had tried to steal the white Hyundai Elantra twice before at his home, the documents show. The Hyundais alarm went off shortly before midnight on July 5, and Orest Schur, awakened by his mother-in-law, confronted the two teens, dressed in black, near the house where he lived at 19425 E. 59th Place, according to an Adams County District Court affidavit reviewed by The Denver Post. After the alarm on the Hyundai went off, Schur and his wife observed damage to the door handles. They heard another car alarm going off nearby and saw taillights as the teens sped away in an apparently stolen white Kia Rio, the affidavit said. Aurora police said Schur, who was armed with a Glock 19 9mm handgun, followed them. He called 911 at 11:23 p.m., the affidavit said, telling a dispatcher that there had been shots fired and he had been shot at while he was chasing some car thieves who had attempted to steal his wifes car. He called again and told a dispatcher he was uninjured, that hed chased down the thieves, who had crashed, and that he had shot back at them. But police didnt find evidence supporting the claim that anybody fired at Schur, according to the affidavit. The Kia crashed into a backyard fence nearby at 19558 E. 58th Circle. Police said they found five bullet casings in the Hyundai and that Schur shot both teens. Reaching the scene around 11:30 p.m., police saw one teen down with gunshot wounds in his back and head. He was pronounced dead of his wounds after paramedics took him to University Hospital shortly after midnight. The other teen, a 13-year-old, ran to a relatives house nearby and was taken to Childrens Hospital Colorado with a gunshot wound in his back and underwent surgery. After the attempted theft of the Hyundai, Schurs wife called 911 and told a police dispatcher she heard gunfire, adding that this was the third time thieves had tried to steal the Hyundai at their home and that her husband was out on the streets looking around, according to the affidavit. Later, she told police, Schur was upset by what had happened and he indicated to her that he was nauseous. Schur later told police he heard gunshots but did not see a muzzle flash and that he returned fire, shooting his handgun with his right hand out the drivers side window of the Hyundai while steering with his left hand, the affidavit said. He said he was concerned the suspect vehicle would return to his home, the affidavit said. Police searched but did not find other weapons or bullet casings, the affidavit said. Schur is stationed at Buckley Space Force Base and has received weapons training, the documents show. Aurora police arrested Schur the next morning and booked him into the Adams County Detention Facility the night of July 6, with bail set at $500,000, for investigation of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. A court hearing was scheduled for July 13. 2023 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at denverpost.com . WASHINGTON In a monthslong inquiry, which included reviewing tens of thousands of pages of documents from more than 100 public records requests, The Associated Press has examined what happens behind the scenes when Supreme Court justices travel to colleges and universities for lectures and other events. The AP learned the identities of donors and politicians invited to events with justices, details about the perks that have accompanied the school visits and information about how school trips have helped advance books sales. Some of the key takeaways: BOOK SALES The documents reveal how university visits are a convenient way for justices to sell their own books. That's especially true in the case of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a prolific author who has kept the court's most active travel schedule over the past decade, according to the records reviewed by the AP. Emails and other documents show that Supreme Court staff members have been directly engaged in facilitating book sales by asking schools how many copies they want to buy and by helping to arrange the purchase of mass quantities. At a 2019 event jointly hosted by the Multnomah County Library in Oregon and Portland Community College, a Sotomayor aide told organizers that "250 books is definitely not enough" for a program with an expected 1,000 guests in which people would be required to have a copy to meet the justice for a signing after the event. Michigan State University purchased 11,000 copies to be distributed to incoming first-year students. When Clemson University in South Carolina worried that 60 copies might be too many for Sotomayor to sign, a staffer reassured the school that "most institutions order in the ranges of 400 and up." And before a scheduled visit to the law school at the University of California, Davis, for the 2018 commencement, the court staff pitched the school on signed copies of her books in connection with the event. In a statement, a Supreme Court spokesperson said that staff members work to follow judicial ethics guidance and that "at no time have attendees been required to buy a book in order to attend an event." "Schools have occasionally invited Justice Sotomayor to take part in a program in which they select a book for an entire school or a freshman class, and the Justice gives a book talk," the statement said. "When she is invited to participate in a book program, Chambers staff recommends the number of books based on the size of the audience so as not to disappoint attendees who may anticipate books being available at an event, and they will put colleges or universities in touch with the Justice's publisher when asked to do so." A LURE FOR MONEY Supreme Court justices insist that they cannot and do not participate in fundraising events. But the emails obtained by the AP show that the court's definition of a fundraiser an event that raises more than it costs or where guests are asked for contributions excludes much of the work that typically goes into persuading a wealthy donor to cut a check. That's given schools wide latitude to court rich patrons. For instance, ahead of a 2017 event with Justice Clarence Thomas, officials at McLennan Community College in Texas worked with the prominent conservative lawyer Ken Starr and his wife, Alice, to craft a guest list designed to reward school patrons and incentivize future contributions. In an interview, Starr's widow called it "friendraising." In an email planning the event, the executive director of the college's foundation wrote that she had thoughts about whom to invite "mainly because they are wealthy conservative Catholics who would align with Clarence Thomas and who have not previously given." Thomas isn't the only one whose status as a justice has been leveraged by schools eager to capitalize with donors. Before Justice Elena Kagan visited the University of Colorado's law school, one official suggested a "larger donor to staff ratio" for a 2019 dinner with her, emails show. Another event organizer said the organizer was "open to suggestions about which VIP donors to cultivate relationships with." A school spokesperson said the attendees weren't asked for any donations connected to the event. Clemson University in South Carolina hosted Sotomayor for a 2017 session with students and for a private luncheon. One official said it was hoped the events, which included donors, would "ultimately generate resources" for the university's Humanities Advancement Board, which played a lead organizing role. As university officials devised a guest list, an alumni relations official wrote: "When you say $1M donors, please be sure to include our corporate donors at that level, too." A university spokesman said the event with Sotomayor was not a fundraiser. In a statement, a court spokesperson said it "routinely asks event organizers to confirm that an event at which a Justice will speak is not a fundraiser, and it provides a definition of 'fundraiser' in order to avoid misunderstandings." The spokesperson said justices have occasionally declined to attend events even after being told expressly that they were not fundraisers. POLITICAL COMMINGLING Visits to universities are promoted as academic in nature, but they also have facilitated encounters between justices and elected officials. Months after he was seated on the Supreme Court, Justice Neil Gorsuch attended an event at the University of Kentucky with then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, hosted by a center to study the judiciary named after one of McConnell's closest friends, a former federal judge. In 2020, after teaching a weeklong course at the University of Florida's law school, Thomas extended his stay in the state to attend a gathering of the regional branch of the Federalist Society, where he was introduced with effusive praise by Gov. Ron DeSantis, with whom he also had a private dinner. Thomas also attended a private dinner during a visit to the University of Texas at Tyler that was sponsored by a group of donors to then-Rep. Louie Gohmert. Six years later, Gohmert would spearhead a lawsuit that sought to empower Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election that Donald Trump lost. A court spokesperson said: "Justices exercise caution in attending events that might be described as political in nature, following guidance in the Code of Conduct which cautions judges against engaging in political activity. Merely attending an event where an elected official might also be in attendance such as several of the events described in your email does not necessarily render the event impermissibly political in nature." NO ETHICS CODE Some of the conduct revealed by the AP likely would run afoul of ethics rules that cover officials in other branches of government as well as lower federal court judges. Lower court judges, for instance, are generally barred from engaging in fundraising, political activity and "lending the prestige of judicial office" to advance a judge's own "private interests." Supreme Court justices are asked only to adhere to what Chief Justice John Roberts referred to in April as a set of foundational "ethics principles and practices." The information in this review comes at a time of plummeting confidence in the court, brought on in part by a succession of news media revelations about members of the court, including reports by ProPublica that Thomas repeatedly accepted luxury vacations, including a $500,000 trip to Indonesia in 2019, and sold property to and accepted school tuition for a nephew from Harlan Crow, a billionaire businessman, Republican donor and longtime friend. After the AP stories were published, Sen. Dick Durbin, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said: "If they just establish the basic standards of every other branch of government, it would give us much more confidence in their integrity." The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about the AP's democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. (Tribune News Service) After anti-aircraft shells began exploding outside of his cockpit window during his first mission, Army pilot Tom Wiley didn't expect to survive World War II, let alone live to be 100 years old. Despite some close calls and turbulent flights during two years of active duty, Wiley celebrated his centenary on June 23. He's one of fewer than 10,000 living World War II veterans in Pennsylvania. "His service and sacrifices during WWII serve as an inspiration to us all, and we are privileged to celebrate this incredible milestone with him," said Atria Assistant Executive Director Jennifer Scott. Wiley is officially credited with 57 missions after enlisting in the Army Air Corps on Dec. 7, 1942 one year after Pearl Harbor including a bombing run in southern Germany that he still can't fully explain. His squadron of B-17 bombers passed through a thunderhead cloud, and when Wiley emerged, his plane was the only one remaining. With fuel running short and no navigator to guide the crew home, they set out on a glide path to southern Italy sending them straight for the Alps. Suddenly, a voice barked over the intercom: "Pull-up!" Wiley veered the plane upwards, the force popping a few rivets loose and splintering the radio room floor. None of the crew members claimed to have given the command that likely saved their lives. "I guess I'll have to wait and ask St. Peter, 'Who was our guardian angel that time?'" Wiley wrote in his unpublished autobiography. After flying over enemy lines in northern Italy, the crew changed direction towards Italy's eastern shore, turned south and followed the coast to their home airbase. They identified themselves to the tower operator, who refused permission to land because the crew had already been marked missing in action. Wiley landed anyway. The engines died just as he parked the plane, ending an 11 hour and 15 minute flight three hours longer than the plane's fuel should have allowed. On his final leave, Wiley married Mary Norman, and they would have four children, two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She died in 1999 from complications of Parkinson's disease. Wiley began dating Joan Dawson, who also lost her spouse, two years later. They've been together since. Wiley worked for U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh for 22 years beginning in 1960, marketing the company's products to farmers. He also served as an adult Boy Scout leader for more than 25 years. Jim Wiley, one of Tom's sons, said his father never talked about the war or his accomplishments when Jim was growing up. Now that Tom struggles with memory loss, Jim is especially thankful for all of the writing and speaking his father has done about his life. "My dad...he was obsessive about documenting his life," Wiley said. (c)2023 The Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.) Visit The Tribune-Review Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Bryan Whelan (29), of OBriensbridge, County Clare, and TJ OHerlihy (36), of Castleisland, County Kerry died after the steel cage suspended over the River Shannon plunged into the water on August 29, 2015. A fine of 25,000 for health and safety breaches imposed on a company who supplied a crane involved in an incident in which two stonemasons drowned was too low and should be increased, the State has argued. Bryan Whelan (29), of OBriensbridge, County Clare, and TJ OHerlihy (36), of Castleisland, County Kerry died after the steel cage suspended over the River Shannon plunged into the water on August 29, 2015. The two men and a third colleague, Paul Murphy, had been carrying out cleaning and repointing work on the Thomond Bridge at the time. All three men were attached to the basket by a safety harness. Mr Whelan and Mr OHerlihy both drowned as they could not escape when it entered the water. Mr Murphy managed to free himself from his harness and was rescued. The scene at Thomond Bridge, Limerick, in August 2015 Palfinger Ireland Ltd, Church Hill, Cloncollog, Tullamore, County Offaly was fined 25,000 at Limerick Circuit Court on October 7, 2022 after pleading guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The sentencing jurisdiction of the court was an unlimited fine. Palfinger had supplied the crane in use on the day of the incident to Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd, Dock Road, Limerick in 2003. Nationwide Crane Hire also pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act and the company was fined 200,000. The maximum fine the court could have imposed in their case was 3 million. Limerick Circuit Court heard that a safety mechanism on the crane that was holding the metal cage containing the two men and their co-worker had failed to operate. The defective overload protection safety device for the winch on the crane failed and this led to the winch snapping. The prosecutions against Palfinger and Nationwide were brought following an investigation by the Health and Safety Authority. The Palfinger Crane used by Nationwide Crane on August 29, 2015 had been supplied by Palfinger. A deficit in the information supplied with the crane by Palfinger and used by Nationwide Crane on August 29 led to the prosecution of Palfinger. At the Court of Appeal yesterday, Shane Costelloe SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, argued that sentencing judge Tom O'Donnell erred in determining that Palfingers degree of culpability should be reduced because the nature of the offence was only discovered after the incident giving rise to the fatal injuries and that this in some way amounted to a mitigating factor. He also submitted that, in determining the gravity of the offence, the sentencing judge failed to identify a headline figure at which the fine should be fixed prior to considering such mitigating factors as were identified by him. Counsel said in determining the gravity of the offences, with reference to the culpability and the harm done, the sentencing judge erred in principle in failing to have sufficient regard to the aggravating factors in the case. Court of Appeal President Mr Justice George Birmingham said as he understood it, two companies were prosecuted out of the incident. He said the charge against Nationwide related to August 29, 2015 but the appeal before the court today related to Palfinger, who werent charged in relation to August 2015 but rather were charged because a manual they provided in 2003 had a missing chapter. So surely the trial judge had to differentiate in a very significant way, because these were two different offences? he asked. Mr Costelloe agreed the offences were different but said the offence against Palfinger was recognised by the trial judge as one which was extremely serious. He said the judge had failed on a number of grounds to apply the applicable principles and had entered into an error of law. Mr Costelloe said the trial judge had identified a headline sentence in respect of Nationwide but did not do so in respect of Palfinger. Counsel said the judge appears to have set the headline fine at 300,000 for Nationwide which was then reduced to 200,000. He said the trial judge had also erred in principle when he found that the fact the missing chapter did not come to light until after the incident was a mitigating factor. That ignores the fact that the company chose to plead guilty to the offence, Mr Costelloe said. They admitted culpability. He said the fact the trial judge made a finding that this was a mitigating factor was completely misconceived. Mr Justice Birmingham said he suspected what the judge was really doing was addressing the matter of causation. The passage of time means that the direct link in the failure to provide a chapter in the text and the incident in 2015 failed to make a causation link, he said. Im not trying to avoid the fact that 12 years had passed, Im not ignorant to that, Mr Costelloe said. However, he said the fact the missing chapter didnt come to light until after the incident cannot be a mitigating factor. He said part of the manual had not been supplied and for 12 years the people operating the crane did not have that part of the manual before them. What I can say is, and I hasten to add Im not being trite here, these things work until they dont. These things are fine until they break, Mr Costelloe said. This part of the manual telling the operator what to do on a daily basis was not presentAs to what it meant were speculating I accept that. There were many instances where the safety mechanism did work. We do not know what not having that part of the manual available to the operator meant on the day. He submitted that the fine imposed in this case was simply too low. TJ O'Herlihy with his son Conor We have a situation here where we dont know where the sentencing judge started. We dont know what his headline starting point was for the fine, he added. Michael Collins SC, for Palfinger, said the argument that there was no headline sentence set was a criticism of style over substance. He said the sentencing judge took into account all of the factors in the case including the circumstances of the accident, the victim impact statements in the case, mitigating factors and the concept of proportionality. Mr Collins said the document in question was an operating manual. When the crane and the manual was delivered, the person operating the crane was shown all the necessary procedures to operate the crane, counsel said. He said it was not just a case of theres the keys, best of luck. Mr Collins argued that the fact that an omission was discovered after the incident was relevant. He said the crane had operated well for 12 years and had been serviced regularly. He said the question the judge had to grapple with was what was the implication of the chapter being omitted in the overall context. It was in weighing the culpability of the crane operators and the crane providers that he came to this conclusion, counsel said, adding in those circumstances he submitted there was no error in principle. After rising for a short period, the three-judge court said they would reserve judgement in the case. Vinicius Brixel (32) came to Ireland from Brazil and was in a long-distance relationship with his partner who was living in Canada A man who travelled to Dublin Airport to leave the country during Covid lockdown was in a long-distance relationship and concerned for his girlfriends well-being. Vinicius Brixel (32) decided to travel to Canada during the pandemic in breach of the temporary restrictions to see if his partner was OK, a court heard. Judge Maire Conneely struck the case out after the accused made a 150 charity donation. Brixel, of Garryowen Road, Limerick, pleaded guilty to contravening the Health Act by travelling to an airport for the purpose of leaving the State. Dublin District Court heard the accused went to the airport in May 31, 2021, in breach of Covid regulations at the time. Brixel came to Ireland from Brazil and was in a long-distance relationship with his partner who was living in Canada, his solicitor said. They had a discussion about how she was coping, she said things were very difficult and she was having a serious dip in her mental health at the time, Brixels solicitor said. He was concerned for her well-being and state of mind when he made a decision to leave the jurisdiction. He was going over to see if she was OK, the defence solicitor said. He knows what he did was wrong and hes remorseful. The accused was now living and working in France and hoped the court would not convict him. Judge Conneely said she was taking account of the circumstances and the fact the accused came back to Ireland to meet the charge. A former civilian employee of An Garda Siochana gave out information, including the locations of garda Covid-19 checkpoints, in return for cocaine, a court has heard. Holly Hayden (27) of Bayview Terrace, Bray, Co. Wicklow, pleaded guilty to one count of disclosing confidential information from the Pulse system obtained in the course of her employment on October 29, 2019. She further pleaded to two counts of accessing confidential information from the Pulse system for the purpose of corruptly obtaining a gift, consideration or advantage for herself at Dun Laoghaire Garda Station on September 9, 2019 and on dates between April 28, 2020 and May 11, 2020. She has no previous convictions. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today that from 2017, Hayden was a civilian employee of An Garda Siochana in an administrative role for two years. Gardai received confidential information that Hayden, working at the Dun Laoghaire District Office, was associated with criminal elements in Wicklow. Holly Hayden The investigating garda told Diana Stuart BL, prosecuting, that Hayden admitted that she relayed information from the Pulse system about a named individual, referred to in court as 'SN'. On October 29, 2019, Hayden searched information about 'SN' and relayed it outside of the organisation. When interviewed, she told gardai that she received a small amount of cocaine in exchange for the information. Following analysis of her phone, it was identified that Hayden sent a document containing information from the Pulse system about another individual on September 9, 2019 to a person known to her. On the same day, she provided a synopsis of information from the Pulse system about a person, referred to in court as 'WD'. The court heard 'WD' instructed Hayden what information to download via the messaging app Telegram. She received cocaine in exchange for providing information on both of these occasions. The court heard that on a date between April 28 and May 11, 2020, Hayden sent a Whatsapp message with five pictures attached, containing the locations of garda Covid-19 checkpoints. In a message, Hayden said if she is able to get information, she never minds doing it, all for the cause. A person referred to as 'CE' replied 'last thing I need is a problem with supply chains'. The court heard Hayden and 'CE' were in a relationship at the time. Hayden also took a photo of checkpoint locations on May 5, 2020 and when 'CE' asked for more information, Hayden provided it to him. She also sent a message containing seven images of checkpoint locations on May 11, which 'CE' then told her to delete. When interviewed, Hayden made admissions to gardai and outlined that she had an addiction to alcohol and drugs. She told gardai she felt like she was disclosing nuclear secrets. She said she loved her job and accepted she was going to be caught, but when you owe a drug dealer money, you don't have a choice. The investigating garda agreed with Paul Murray SC, defending, that his client was a person of unblemished character prior to her offending. He accepted that Hayden told gardai she received cash, cocaine or a reduction of 80 on her drugs debt of approximately 5,000 for providing information. The garda agreed with Mr Murray that his client said she was in fear. It was further accepted that she used her own details to carry out the searches on the Pulse system and told gardai she was not aware this information would appear on screen. The witness agreed that Hayden's admissions were helpful to the investigation. Her mother told the court that Hayden's life was chaotic and messy during 2019 due to her addiction issues. She said the family paid off Hayden's debts. Her daughter has mental health difficulties, epilepsy and a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder. She said her daughter has engaged with addiction treatment services and now helps to care for her grandmother. Mr Murray told the court that his client apologised for her actions. He noted that she expressed shame and remorse while speaking with the Probation Services and acknowledged her offending was gross disloyalty to her employer. His client had a serious addiction to alcohol and drugs during 2019. Her father died when she was young and her mother and stepfather were in court to support her. Defence counsel noted that this case has been hanging over his client for two years and there had been considerable publicity in the past. He said that she has worked since these offences occurred, but lost her job and may find it difficult to find employment in future. Mr Murray asked the court to consider adjourning the case to allow urine analysis to be undertaken. Judge Orla Crowe said urine analysis would be relevant, given that Hayden's offending was linked to her cocaine addiction. Adjourning the case to November 6, Judge Crowe told Mr Murray to impress on his client the seriousness of the situation. Paul Hendrick (75) of Croftwood Grove, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecently assaulting Kenneth Grace Paul Hendrick has been sentenced to four years in prison, with six months suspended, for indecently assaulting a student in the 1980s. Photo: Collins Courts A retired school principal and former Christian Brother has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for the indecent assault of one of his pupils over 40 years ago. Paul Hendrick (75) of Croftwood Grove, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecently assaulting Kenneth Grace on dates between May 1980 and July 1984 at locations in Dublin, Tipperary and Waterford. At a sentence hearing last May, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Mr Grace waived his anonymity to allow for the naming of Hendrick. Garda Detective Enda Dowling told Monika Leech BL, prosecuting, that the incidents started when the victim was aged 13 and a first-year student at CBS Westland Row in Dublin. Hendrick was second-in-command at the school and later became principal. He has no previous convictions. The court heard the complainant also received extra tuition from Hendrick and was asked to help with jobs around the school, for which he received sweets and cans of Coke. As he got older, he was given cigarettes and allowed to use the school van. The court heard that the abuse took place in a number of locations, including the furnace room of the school, which the victim would be asked to clean. This room contained some gym equipment and the abuse started with Hendrick challenging the victim to see who could do more pull-ups. This progressed to wrestling while initially fully clothed, though later they would both be in their underwear. Hendrick would restrain the victim during these incidents and Mr Grace recalls feeling Hendrick's erect penis against his back. The abuse escalated to include Hendrick stripping to his underwear and getting the victim to whip him, or him whipping the victim. The court heard Mr Grace's sister saw the marks on his back on one occasion. He told her Hendrick had done it. These incidents also took place in a reception room of the priest's residence beside the school. Paul Hendrick has been sentenced to four years in prison, with six months suspended, for indecently assaulting a student in the 1980s. Photo: Collins Courts The court heard the abuse continued over the summer months as Mr Grace would be brought to the school to carry out chores. Hendrick also indecently assaulted the victim during camping trips to a farm managed by the Christian Brothers in Co, Waterford, and a house owned by the order in Clonmel, Co Tipperary. The court heard Mr Grace's father passed away when he was very young. He was afraid to tell anyone as he didn't understand what was happening. The abuse continued until he was around 17, a few months before he sat his Leaving Certificate, when he could fight back and realised Hendrick's actions were wrong. The garda detective said Mr Grace was isolated from his classmates during his time in the school. Hendrick would also shout at him during classes. Mr Grace made a statement to gardai in 2018. In his victim impact statement, he said he doesn't consider himself to be a survivor of historic sexual abuse, but as someone who is trying to survive on a daily basis. He said he had been a happy child with happy memories before he started at the school and Hendrick became the father figure he'd never had. He said the betrayal he experienced made it difficult for him to trust others. Your actions turned my childhood and adult life into a battlefield, he said. He said he hoped to see justice served and intended to live his life without guilt or shame. I'm not to blame. It wasn't my fault, it was your fault, he added. Judge Pauline Codd had adjourned the case having heard evidence last May. Sentencing Hendrick today, Judge Codd commended Mr Grace for his eloquence, grace and courage saying that he spoke with insight and dignity in relation to the impact the abuse had on his life. It is apparent that the abuse followed him through his life, said Judge Codd. She added that the victim impact statement also made clear how life-long emotional trauma and pain follows children who are exploited and groomed in this manner. She noted how Mr Grace spoke of his loss of self esteem, the fact that he has been diagnosed as having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the damage the abuse had on his education and subsequently his career. Judge Codd also acknowledged the emotional paralysis Mr Grace has suffered. His evidence bears testimony to the fact that sexual assault of a young person often results in life-long psychological harm. This is now acknowledged by society in a way that it was not when Mr Grace suffered the abuse. The judge said the love and affection Mr Grace has for his wife, family and friends was also apparent in his victim impact statement and she said she hopes that he can continue to embrace all that is good and positive in his life. She noted that she was bound by the law that existed at the time of the offending, which meant that the maximum penalty available to the court was 10 years. Judge Codd acknowledged that Hendrick had demonstrated insight, deep remorse and shame in a psychological report before the court, but she added that nothing excuses the accused for what he did. People instinctively know the difference between right and wrong, she said. The judge also noted that Hendrick entered the Christian Brother order when he was 14, adding that his life experience would have been framed by this and the prevailing culture of the time, affording significant power to those in religious orders. She said Hendrick would have been emotionally immature at the time of the offending and while that doesnt excuse his behaviour, she said it puts it into context. She also accepted that Hendrick has gained insight through therapy that he continues to attend. Judge Codd also acknowledged the fact that Hendrick had pleaded guilty, which she said was particularly significant in historic cases. She added that it saved Mr Grace having to give evidence but said that most importantly, a guilty plea vindicates the victim. The judge said she was taking into account testimonials which stated that Hendrick was an excellent teacher and a kind man who has spent time taking care of people in the community. She further acknowledged the fact that he will be on the sex offenders register. Judge Codd stated that the offences warranted a sentence of four years. She suspended the final six months of that sentence on condition that Hendrick continue to undergo the recommended treatments under the supervision of the Probation Service. Philipp Rahn SC, defending, said his client wished to offer a full apology to Mr Grace. His client attended CBS as a child and joined the Christian Brothers when he was 14. He joined the teaching staff at CBS Westland Row in 1978 and became principal in 1981, a post he held until his retirement in 1994. His client had a leadership role within the order, which was lost when these allegations came to light. Mr Rahn said Hendrick had suffered a long fall from grace. Mr Rahn handed in a number of testimonials from family and past pupils and a report from a forensic psychologist. Defence counsel said the report outlines that Hendrick had a poor understanding of sexual and relationship matters at the time of the offending, but now recognises that he engaged in grooming behaviour which had a significant impact on the injured party. He asked the court to take into consideration his client's guilty plea, age, lack of previous convictions and the passage of time since the offending occurred. Mr Grace said he suffered with his mental health including depression, anxiety and PTSD, due to the abuse. This has had an impact on his family life, but he said he vowed one night that the abuse had taken my childhood, but would not take my family. He said he had been a particularly vulnerable child who knew no one and had no friends when he joined the school. Hendrick made his life at school a living hell and none of the other pupils would sit beside him in classes. He said Hendrick's actions had made him feel worthless, when he should have had hope for the future. Gardai have alleged the drugs were found concealed in two suitcases with his name tags attached after his flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) A 19-YEAR-OLD man was caught red-handed with 650,000 worth of cannabis in his luggage after landing at Dublin Airport on a flight from Los Angeles, a court has heard. Callum Brock, who has an address in Manchester, England, appeared before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court today following his arrest on Sunday. He was brought to Ballymun Garda station and charged with unlawfully possessing and importing 32.5 kilos of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply. Garda Tanya Shinken told the court the accused "made no reply" to the charges. She objected to bail and voiced concerns that Mr Brock was a flight risk. She alleged the drugs were found concealed in two suitcases with his name tags attached after his flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) landed, and the estimated value of the cannabis was 650,000. Garda Shinken told a contested bail hearing that the accused was caught red-handed by customs officers. He could also face further charges. The court heard he had no connections to Ireland and had never been in the country before. Garda Shinken said his passport showed he had visited the United States, Switzerland, Spain and Greece in recent months. She agreed with defence counsel Karl Monahan that the case would likely be dealt with at Circuit Court, and the accused could wait 18 months to two years until his trial date. The defence pleaded for bail, telling the court Mr Brock could abide by conditions, surrender his passport and his mother, a businesswoman, could stand about 10,000 in bail. Mr Brock, who has still to indicate a plea, gave evidence and told the court his recent travel destinations were family holidays, which he did not pay for, and a visit to his grandmother in the United States. He agreed he had no relatives or friends in Ireland. Cross-examined, he told the garda that the flight he came here on departed from LAX. The judge said that if the defence application was to allow him to reside in the UK, that would not be a realistic prospect, and bail would be refused. She said the other option was to provide a proper address for bail. She deferred the ruling on bail and remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court next Tuesday. Legal aid was granted. She was last seen on June 19 getting into a taxi after leaving a relatives house A Dublin-based nurse who was found dead in Brazil likely died of strangulation, an autopsy has found. The body of Priscila Leonardi (40) was found on the banks of the Ibirapuita River on Friday. Ms Leonardi had been working in Ireland since 2019 and returned home to Rio Grande do Sul for a month-long visit. She was last seen on June 19 getting into a taxi after leaving a relatives house in Alegrete, on the western border of the state. It is believed she booked the taxi via an app, according to local media reports. A family member notified police of her disappearance the following day, prompting a 17-day search for the nurse. Last week a fisherman discovered a body on the banks of the Ibirapuita River in Alegrete. It was later confirmed by police to be that of Ms Leonardi. She was found with a ribbon-like lanyard around her neck, and injuries consistent with beating. Local media reports that police are investigating whether Ms Leonardi was killed over an inheritance dispute. She was laid to rest in her hometown last Friday with tributes continuing to pour in to remember the nurse. "After days of looking for you, hoping to find you well, and now this news... a friend said. I thank you for the friendship, for the strength in the search for jobs in Ireland, which you suggested to me. Others appealed to anyone with information that may help with the ongoing police investigation to come forward. One former classmate said it is impossible not to be shocked by the news, with another adding: I will really miss that cheerful, happy, smiling, humble friend. Another wrote: Only memories of good times, your contagious laughter, parties, our dinners and the enlightened person you were! Stay at peace and justice will be served! One mourned that a moment of joy, returning to Brazil, has been a nightmare. Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN climate change high level champion for Egypt, said on Monday that the outcomes of 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) are paving the way to make the next COP, set to be held this November in the UAE, a success in pushing climate action and achieving climate targets. Mohieldin, who is also the UN special envoy on financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, stated that Egypt and the UAE will work together to enhance international climate action by building on what had been achieved at the previous COPs. Mohieldin's remarks came during his participation in the Global Energy Forum held by Atlantic Council in Abu Dhabi, with the participation of Egypts Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Francesco La Camera and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Sustainable Energy Damilola Ogunbiyi. The Atlantic Councils Global Energy Forum is part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) the UAE is hosting 14-19 January. The ADSW is convening heads of state, policymakers, industry leaders, investors, youth and entrepreneurs, for impactful dialogues on the transition to a net-zero future. Mohieldin explained that COP27 succeeded in keeping the goals of decarbonisation on the top of the agenda, in addition to achieving notable progress in the adaptation file by launching the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda. "The establishment of Loss and Damage Fund is the most important result of COP27, which represents a success for the diplomacy of Egypt presidency of the conference and all climate action negotiations parties," Mohieldin said, adding that the UN secretary general praised this achievement as a great diplomatic success. Mohieldin highlighted the importance of finance for climate action, explaining that mobilising finance and investments and directing them to the right climate action could be achieved through focusing on local, regional and international aspects. Locally, thus means financing efficient climate projects, he said, referring to Egypts National Initiative for Smart Green Projects that has created an investments map across the countrys governorates through a national contest for the best green and smart projects. Regionally, Mohieldin pointed to the five regional roundtables initiative held by Egypts presidency of COP27, UN regional economic commissions and high level champions (HLCs), saying that the initiative resulted in a number of very special and various projects that reflect the regional priorities and represent promising opportunities of investment and financing. "Internationally, it is not enough anymore to talk about the $100 billion pledged by developed countries in the Copenhagen conference. According to a study conducted by high-level experts under the leadership of Vera Songwe and Nicholas Stern, climate action requires $1 trillion annually until 2025 and then $2.4 trillion until 2030," Mohieldin said. Financing climate action requires activating debt reduction mechanisms and debt swaps for co-investing in nature and climate, activating carbon markets and the adoption of soft criteria by the development banks and finance institutions, he said. Mohieldin noted that there is a big interest in investing in renewables, stressing that this interest should be met with a role of international financing entities and development banks to help governments in reducing energy project risks and therefore encouraging private sector participation. The climate champion affirmed the necessity of unifying climate action efforts, saying that the high cost of climate action is lower than the cost of treating damages of climate change. Search Keywords: Short link: Ms Smith failed to return home from the David Bowie Concert at Slane Castle on Saturday July 11, 1987 Gardai have renewed their appeal for information that may help solve the murder of mother-of-two Antoinette Smith (27) on the 36th anniversary of her death. Ms Smith was reported missing when she failed to return home from the David Bowie Concert at Slane Castle on Saturday July 11, 1987. Her remains were discovered nine months later on Glendoo Mountain, near the Lemass monument and close to Glencree/Enniskerry. Ms Smiths young daughters, Lisa and Rachel, were just seven and four-years-old at the time of her disappearance. Gardai are now urging anyone who may have information on the disappearance and murder of Ms Smith or may have come into the possession of information in the years since to come forward. Today marks the 36th anniversary of her disappearance. Following the concert at Slane, Co. Meath, Ms Smith and her friend returned to Dublin by bus, arriving in Parnell Square at around 11pm. The pair then went to the La Mirage Discotheque on Parnell Street. While in the club, they met two men they knew and joined them until they all left just after 2am. Ms Smith and her friend then parted ways, with Ms Smith remaining with the two men for some time. All three spoke before walking together the short distance towards the taxi rank on OConnell Street. The men got a taxi to the Ballymun area, while Ms Smith continued walking past the rank. She passed the Gresham Hotel on OConnell Street where she was last seen towards OConnell Street Bridge. Ms Smith was subsequently reported missing by her husband and her remains were found nine months later on Glendoo Mountain on April 3, 1988. On the 36th anniversary of her disappearance, Gardai have issued a renewed appeal for any information that may help solve the case. "Gardai are appealing to those who may have information since 1987, or who may have come into possession of information in the intervening years, to come forward, a garda spokesperson said. "Gardai are urging individuals, who 36 years on may want to come forward, to do so, especially if relationships or associations may have changed over the years. They added: "Gardai are anxious to assure the public that they will treat anyone assisting the investigation in a sensitive manner. "Anyone with information can contact Gardai in Bray at 01 666 5300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. On This Day In History - July 11th The Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) organised crime unit said it is working in conjunction with West Midlands Police The drugs were found in the back of the van A 30-year-old man has been arrested after drugs worth 2m found were found in a van destined for Northern Ireland. Police in the West Midlands seized suspected cocaine and cannabis after officers were called to reports of a suspicious van in the Walsall area near Birmingham on Thursday. Response officers found what was described as a "substantial" amount of class A and B drugs after gaining entry to the van. The BBC has reported that the 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. He was later released on bail. The Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) organised crime unit said it is working in conjunction with West Midlands Police as part of investigations into the seizure. According to the BBC, PSNI Det Insp Sweeney said the drugs would likely have been distributed and sold in local communities in Northern Ireland. "The organised crime gangs involved in this activity profit hugely from the sale of these harmful drugs and have no care for the destruction and harm they cause to people's lives," he said. "We will continue every effort to disrupt this criminality, working with other UK and international policing teams to do so." The arrested criminal is a notorious 34-year-old gangland criminal who has been in a dispute with the Mr Flashy drugs gang. Gardai arrested a well-known gangster when they responded to reports of shots being fired in Finglas yesterday afternoon. The incident unfolded at around 4.30pm in the Barry Drive area of the north Dublin suburb. The arrested criminal is a notorious 34-year-old gangland criminal who has been in a dispute with the Mr Flashy drugs gang. Sources say that he was lying in wait for a still unidentified criminal rival when the shot was fired. It is understood that he tried to flee the scene on foot after local garda units arrived but he was quickly arrested. It is understood that he had dumped the weapon before gardai caught up with him and gardai said this evening that no firearm has been recovered as part of their investigations. The arrested 34-year-old has been in involved in organised crime since he was a teenage juvenile and has previously served a jail sentence for firearms offences. He was handed a suspended sentence for serious drug offences at Dublin Circuit Court over a decade ago. He has been the victim of gun violence himself linked to his criminal activity and was shot a number of times when he was a teenager. In recent times this individual has become a bigger player in the drugs scene in Finglas and his arrest is considered significant, a source said. It was like a scene out of a western movie. This lad was lying in wait for someone whose identity has not yet been determined but what is known is the 34-year-old is involved in a number of disputes with other local criminals, the source added. Gardai have arrested a man aged following an incident in Finglas yesterday afternoon, Monday 10th July 2023, a garda spokesman said when contacted by sundayworld.com. At approximately 4:30pm gardai responded to reports of an alleged firearm incident. Gardai arrested a man aged in his 30s. He was conveyed to a garda station in North County Dublin where he is currently detained under Section 30 of the Criminal Justice Act. Enquiries are ongoing, he added. The deadly Finglas feud which has to one murder and numerous violent incidents including assassination attempts has calmed down in recent months. It is not clear whether yesterdays firearms incident is linked to this. The feud claimed the life of James Whelan who was shot dead on Deanstown Avenue in Finglas in April of last year. Whelan was on the opposite side of the feud to Mr Flashys crew but like a number of people involved in the feud was once pals with members of the rival gang. The mayor said the council worker saw the child laying face upward, initially giving the impression the body was a doll Spanish police have launched an investigation today after the headless body of a child was found on the beach in the Costa Dorada resort of Roda de Bera in the east coast province of Tarragona. An early morning cleaner made the horrific find and alerted police. We inform you that this morning the body of a two to three-year-old child was found on the shoreline on the Costa Dorada beach, the town hall wrote on social media. The body of the child, said to be missing other body parts as well as its head and thought to have been washed onto the beach from the sea, is understood to be in a state of decomposition. Civil Guard officers have cordoned off the area and are moving locals and holidaymakers to other areas of the resort before an investigating team allows the corpse to be removed. Roda de Bera mayor Pere Virgili has been quoted in local press as saying the youngster could have been on a migrant boat which capsized in the Mediterranean. The area is cordoned off and officials are waiting for the judge to authorise the removal of the body. We ask the public to avoid the area, officials in the town hall wrote on Twitter. Mr Virgili told El Pais newspaper: An operator has seen what he thought was a two or three-year-old child. He added that the cleaner saw the child laying face upward, initially giving the impression that the body was a doll. He is not wearing the proper clothing for being on the beach, Mr Virgili said, explaining the body was dressed in a bodysuit, a kind of tracksuit and a jacket. A spokesman for the Civil Guard said: 'All we can confirm at the moment is that the body of a baby has been found at Roda de Bera beach in the province of Tarragona. The alarm was raised at 8.50am this morning. The matter is still under investigation. Location It is understood the first people on the scene thought they were looking at a doll because of the decomposed state of the body and did not contact the police initially. The body was confirmed to be that of a child once Civil Guard officers arrived. The remains were removed around 11.30am local time and an autopsy will take place in the coming hours to try to determine the cause of death. Roda de Bera is a 25-minute drive north of Tarragona. Barcelona is just over an hour's drive north. The town, well-known thanks to its Roman arch and architectural variety, is an important tourist spot on the Costa Dorada. National Union of Journalists members protest in front of the RTE canteen over the payments scandal. Amid the ongoing scandal at the broadcaster, staff were advised the campuss main restaurant was now off-limits. A internal note said: The main restaurant was not opened this morning due to evidence of rodent activity. The restaurant will remain closed until the matter is fully investigated. It is the second time this year that the canteen has been closed. The canteen has become a familiar backdrop to the recent controversy over secret payments to presenter Ryan Tubridy. Kevin Bakhurst on what success and failure will look like for RTE's future Workers staged a protest in the courtyard outside the restaurant in the days after the revelations. In January bosses told staff that the rodent infestation was the result of building works around the Donnybrook campus. On that occasion, the canteen - where meals are subsidised - is alleged to have been contaminated by rats or mice or both. It was declared safe and reopened after a number of weeks. National Union of Journalists members protest in front of the RTE canteen over the payments scandal. At the time, RTE said they had a number of controls in place to monitor rodent activity on our sites, which can occur from time to time, particularly due to building or other works on site or in the area. Where any rodent activity is detected, as happened recently, experts are brought on site to assess such activity and take the appropriate action, including precautionary measures. Rodent activity at the campus has been an ongoing problem. Four years ago Ryan Tubridy revealed on his radio show that staff at RTE were worried about mice infestation due to building works next door to the south Dublin campus. Theyre (the builders) doing a very good job from what I see, Im not a builder but I got the impression, its clean, its not messy and not scrappy, he said back then on his radio show. But theyve unearthed a lot of the ground near where there will be our new neighbours, who we look forward to bringing over a bottle of wine and some cheese or whatever people do when new neighbours come in. A sign on the door of the RTE canteen But maybe not the cheese because I was told this morning that we have to be on high alert for mice. What seems to have happened is, with all the digging and what have you, the natural habitat of some of our rodent friends have meant that theyre looking for somewhere to go, and they appear to have come to our radio centre. Somebody said a mouse was doing the rounds. I swear it was like CSI Montrose listening to them this morning describing the mouse and then our friends on Rays [DArcys] programme were talking about it and we were talking about it, its the talk of town here, such is the level of diligence thats put into these programmes...so the mouse is apparently doing the rounds. I said; are you sure its not a rat?, and they were like; fake news, its a mouse. I said; are you sure its not a horde of rats running around the place? Do you remember what Vladimir Putin said about hamsters? He said hamsters are just rats with good PR. So maybe these are mice with good PR. I dont know. Im not sure what might happen but were all watching with great interest to see what might scurry across the ground. It is sad but we stand by our account and we hope they get the help they need BBC News said it does not know the identity of the young person (Ian West/PA) The parents of the teen at the centre of the BBC sex photos scandal have told a UK newspaper they stand by their accusations against the famous presenter. The household name is alleged to have paid 35,000 to a youngster for a series of indecent photographs. Much of the money was then reportedly spent on crack cocaine. It is sad but we stand by our account and we hope they get the help they need, the teenagers mum said. The Sun reported on Monday that the presenter had made panicked calls to the young person last week following allegations made by the newspaper. BBC headquarters in London, Britain. REUTERS In a letter subsequently reported by BBC, the young person said via a lawyer: For the avoidance of doubt, nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations reported in The Sun newspaper are rubbish. Now the teens parents have hit-back and spoken about the toll the situation has taken on the family. We did this to help - and the presenter has got into their head. How did they afford a lawyer? We are so sad, said the mum. Whilst the step-father added: Without the money, my partner's child would have no drugs, adding that they had spoken to the BBC for an hour in May, regarding the allegations. The drug addicted teens family went on to describe an alleged damning dossier of evidence including bank transactions and screenshots of messages between the pair. The parents say the money their child received from the BBC star funded a worsening drug addiction and they rang representatives from the Beeb after the presenter tried to meet the teen at a train station. The BBC has suspended the star and taken them off air while an investigation takes place, but has refused to name the person so far. British MPs have been talking about using parliamentary privilege to put an end to the speculation by identifying the BBC star in the Commons, reportedly. There is a discussion going on about whether to name this individual, said one former Cabinet minister. Parliamentary privilege has been used before to identify people who have tried to use injunctions to keep their names out of the Press. The circumstances here are slightly different, but the issues are the same do we have free speech in this country, or do we just accept a creeping privacy law made by judges, which parliament has never approved? BBC News said it does not know the identity of the young person (Ian West/PA) Privacy laws have kept broadcasters and newspapers from naming the presenter involved, although a poll found that one in six people already knew the name of the presenter. This is potentially as damaging as the Jimmy Saville affair. If the presenter is at the heart or on the periphery of the BBC. It will go to issues of trust with the licence fee payers, said one former head of ITN. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the allegations as shocking and concerning. Speaking to journalists on the plane to a Nato summit in Lithuania, he said: They were shocking, concerning allegations, of course they were. The Culture Secretary spoke to the director general, I think it was on Sunday. And he has reassured that the process they are undertaking is vigorous and will be swift, so we've had those reassurances, Mr Sunak said. The BBCs director-general is due to face reporters later today following the publication of the BBCs annual report, which typically reveals how much the biggest earners make. A former legal correspondent for the corporation said Tim Davie will have to say something about the allegations facing one of his presenters. Speaking to Sky News, Joshua Rozenberg said: Certainly, I think there are questions to be answered. The BBC will certainly have to say something at the news briefing today. A council's boss has defended the time taken to progress the Rotorua Museum - Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa project, saying the work done will minimise surprises if the restoration were to go ahead. Rotorua Lakes Council held the first of four workshops for councillors to learn the process behind the building-strengthening strategy for the iconic building. The Category 1 heritage Bath House building closed in 2016 after it was found to be earthquake-prone. The project to restore and re-open as a museum was now expected to cost at least $81.4m, with the extra cost proposed to be met through $9m of council funding and $19m of external funding, but hinged on a council decision on what to do next in August. There were three options: fully restore and re-open the museum, stage the project or find an alternative for the museum. The workshop was made open to the public in a move mayor Tania Tapsell said was for transparency. While no decisions were made in workshops, councillors could ask questions and hear about the work that had gone into the strategy to strengthen the building. Technical director Mike Jacka of Tonkin & Taylor provided an overview of how it had to work through normal geotechnical issues as well as geothermal issues. An example was the ground temperature and associated risks: 'It gets to 60 degrees pretty quickly down there ... it's made us very keen not to be doing much down in the ground, it's a pretty difficult place to be. Fifteen years of reports helped inform him of the museum site but he said there would always be surprises once digging started. He said they knew what approaches to take when that happened. Risk was a key focus of the workshop and structural engineer Dr Dmytro Dizhur called it a 'beast of a building during his presentation to councillors. He also noted the implications of being a geothermally active area, including the movement of the building. Cracks were seen across the building and 42 were being monitored, with four devices providing data for the last year. Cracking in the Rotorua Museum basement. Photo / Supplied by Rotorua Lakes Council under LGOIMA. The data was so sensitive it showed daily movement fluctuations. This was fundamental for feeding the strengthening design, he said. The data meant an artificial simulation of an earthquake's impact on the building was made, showing where the problem areas were. An instrumental piece of design work was done by basing themselves in the building for weeks at a time. 'We were almost living in the building. 'No assumptions were being made. He believed it was one of the most comprehensive site investigations undertaken on an existing New Zealand building. 'I have personally been in every single corner of this structure. The end result was a plan to strengthen the building to 80 per cent of what a new building standard would be for mitigating earthquake risk. 'It is buildable. Chief executive Geoff Williams said comments during public consultation included that the work had taken a long time. If you embark on one of these projects as complex as it is you are likely to assume a high level of risk. 'Instead what you've had is a team that's taken the time to really get to understand this building in quite an intricate detail. He said there was a solution in front of them that was able to be built and addressed the strengthening requirements that were not intrusive to the building's heritage value. 'It is maximally cost-effective. The extent of the investigation meant risks were minimised, he said. - Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ on Air. The owners of a small volcanic island are now the main defendants facing trial over health and safety failings in the lead up to the deadly Whakaari eruption, after a raft of guilty pleas. Three members of the Buttle family are defending charges brought against them by WorkSafe at the Auckland District Court, alongside their company and two companies that booked and marketed tours to cruise ship passengers. In the months leading to the trial, six organisations have pleaded guilty and another had a charge dismissed. The charges do not relate to the rescue and recovery efforts after the eruption. The judge-alone trial before Judge Evangelos Thomas is being held in one of Auckland's largest courtrooms to accommodate the number of people involved, including legal teams, media and families of victims. It has been more than three years since the disaster in December 2019, which claimed 22 lives and left 25 seriously injured, and made headlines around the world. Often visible from the east coast town Whakatane and known for its white plumes, Whakaari is a small active volcano that until that fatal day had been a popular tourist attraction. When the island erupted, 47 people were on the crater - many were tourists from overseas who that morning had stepped off a cruise ship berthed in Tauranga. Almost a year after the tragedy, in November 2020, WorkSafe charged 13 parties - 10 organisations and three individuals - for health and safety breaches leading up to the eruption. Since then, six of the organisations have pleaded guilty - four helicopter companies, GNS Science and White Island Tours, while a charge against the National Emergency Management Agency was dismissed. Those no longer standing trial could now be among the witnesses WorkSafe is calling to the stand to give evidence in court. WorkSafe will open the trial on Tuesday and plans to play back defendant interviews in coming weeks. Its chief executive Phil Parkes said it has been the most extensive and complex investigation ever undertaken by the regulator. A virtual courtroom in Whakatane, at Acacia House, will have a video link of the trial for any locals who would like to attend. Photo: GNS. The defendants and the charges Whakaari is among a few privately owned islands in New Zealand and has been in the Buttle family's hands since 1936. Three members of the family, Andrew, James and Peter Buttle, have been charged as individuals and will face trial as directors - companies office records show they each own an equal share in the holding company Whakaari Management. Directors can be prosecuted for failing to meet their obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and there can be a public interest in holding directors to account personally, where they may be liable. Directors are required to exercise due diligence to ensure that the company they oversee is meeting its health and safety obligations. Meanwhile their company, Whakaari Management, is among the six remaining organisations facing charges relating to failures to ensure the health and safety of workers and others. Whakaari is owned and controlled through Whakaari Trustee and Whakaari Management - the Buttle trio are joint directors and shareholders of both companies. Court documents state Whakaari Trustee owns the island and leases it to Whakaari Management, through an undocumented lease arrangement. Whakaari Management granted access to the island for tour operators, through licence agreements who paid an annual fee and a commission for every tourist they took to the island. The three Buttle men failed to have the charges against them dismissed earlier this year. At the time, they argued they had not had fair notice of what the charges were against them. Judge Thomas amended WorkSafe's charge to the allegation that the Buttles failed to obtain expert advice on how their company, Whakaari Management, could ensure that guided tours of Whakaari were conducted safely. Two other tourism companies also face trial - the booking agent ID Tours New Zealand which worked with the cruise sector and Tauranga Tourism Services which was the local agent for the tour provider White Island Tours. Guilty pleas Six defendants have pleaded guilty since WorkSafe laid the charges in 2020. Inflite pleaded guilty in March 2022, and was ordered to pay more than $250,000. The Auckland-based company used subcontractors, including Kahu Helicopters, to operate tours - the day of the eruption, Inflite operated a tour to Whakaari using Kahu as the tour provider. However, no Inflite tourists were on the island when it erupted as they returned shortly after midday. Inflite admitted it failed to undertake an adequate risk assessment, or implement appropriate controls to ensure the health and safety of tourists. The summary of facts said Inflite did not have a safety management system or any safe operating procedures for conducting guided tours on Whakaari. Inflite did not provide adequate safety information to tourists, at any stage of the booking and tour process. It said Inflite's PPE for tourists, including gas masks, was "inadequate". "They did not provide adequate protection against the high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide on Whakaari. The masks were also 'one size fits all' yet did not fit all face shapes, people with small faces or those with beards." In May, GNS Science pleaded guilty to one charge relating to multiple field trips its staff took to the island, before the eruption, and the institute's failure in its duty to the helicopter pilots, who were contractors. A WorkSafe investigation found the institute did not sufficiently consult with the pilots about the risks despite carrying out risk assessments for its staff, including volcanologists on the field trips. GNS monitors volcanoes through its GeoNet programme. The summary of facts said GNS was required to ensure, as far as was reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for it, including contractors, while they were working on GNS' business. "This included the helicopter pilots who regularly flew GNS' workers to and from Whakaari and were required to remain on Whakaari while GNS scientists carried out field work," it said. "While not required to, helicopter pilots would from time-to-time accompany the scientists while they conducted this field work." In the months leading up to the eruption, GNS staff were transported to and from Whakaari by helicopter pilots on 23 occasions. GNS is still to be sentenced and faces a maximum fine of $500,000. Just last month, White Island Tours changed its plea to guilty. The charges, filed by WorkSafe, relate to having staff and tourists on the island in the lead up to the eruption. WorkSafe found White Island Tours failed to conduct risk assessments, consult with GNS Science and provide appropriate protective equipment to workers, including gas masks which were inadequate. WorkSafe said such measures could have reduced the extent of injuries. White Island Tours had exclusive rights to run tours with a boat to the island - before the eruption 17,000 people visited Whakaari on its tours each year. The summary of facts said the company did not have an accurate understanding of the risk posed to its tourists and tour guides by volcanic activity on Whakaari. As a result failing to consult GNS, "White Island Tours operated under its own, inaccurate assumptions and understanding of the nature of the risk at Whakaari and, more particularly, the type of eruption Whakaari could produce. This meant it could not adequately mitigate the risk to tourists." White Island Tours is still to be sentenced. And the latest - three commercial helicopter tour operators pleaded guilty at the 11th hour, one working day before they were due to face trial. Volcanic Air, Kahu and Aerius entered guilty pleas to amended charges in the Auckland District Court on Friday, and are still to be sentenced. At the time Judge Evangelos Thomas told the court the "the landscape for trial is now far different that it was yesterday or two days ago" and delayed the start of the trial by one day. The three helicopter operators had licence agreements with the island's owners, through the company Whakaari Management, to land and provide guided walking tours on Whakaari. WorkSafe found the companies failed to do risk assessments, inform tourists of the risks and provide protective gear - it said each company's gas masks were inadequate. The summary of facts said that two companies, Volcanic Air (in liquidation) and Aerius, had inadequate emergency procedures as a result of their failure to assess the risk. It said their plan for a volcanic eruption "consisted of tourists following the instructions of workers to find shelter either behind rocks, in the helicopter or in the shipping container, and then evacuating Whakaari by helicopter or boat if available". WorkSafe found Kahu's emergency procedure was also inadequate, as it relied on pilots not being injured so they could conduct an evacuation. Rotorua based Volcanic Air went into liquidation in October 2022, it has been reported this was partly because its business nosedived during Covid-19 border closures. On the day of the eruption, the company had a pilot and four passengers on the island. The helicopter was damaged in the explosion and they were evacuated by boat, two with minor burns. Based in Whakatane, Kahu Helicopters is owned by former SAS soldier Mark Law who received a bravery award for his efforts rescuing people from the island after the eruption - the company was not taking tours that day. Aerius Helicopters operated out of Tauranga and stopped offering tours in 2020, posting online that the year had been a struggle and they were "unable to pull through to the other side". Commercial helicopter pilots who risked their own lives in the aftermath of the Whakaari White Island explosion received New Zealand Bravery awards for their efforts. Five pilots received the New Zealand Bravery star - the country's second highest bravery award next to the New Zealand cross. Between them, the pilots hovered over tour boats, lifting badly injured survivors onboard their helicopters to safety and flying them to the mainland. Other chopper pilots landed on the island itself, wading through falling ash wearing gas masks to search for casualties. Their efforts saw them find 20 people on the crater floor. Photo: NZDF. Whakaari It took an hour and a half for tour boats to reach Whakaari, 48 kilometres off the coast of Whakatane. The island has been active for at least 150,000 years and is New Zealand's most continuously active volcano. On the day of the eruption, December 9, 2019, at 2.11pm, a surge of fragmented rock, volcanic ash and hot gases engulfed Whakaari within minutes. It was not the first tragedy in the island's history, which was home to a sulphur mine - in 1914 a landslide that may have been triggered by an eruption killed all 10 people on the island, and the sulphur mine they were working in. Court documents state another eruption that occurred in April 2016 was of similar magnitude to the December 2019 eruption, but occurred at night when no tour groups were on the island. "Had there been anyone on Whakaari during the eruption of April 2016, it is likely they would have suffered a similar fate to those who were there during the eruption on December 9, 2019." According to the State Security Service, six citizens of Georgia who were illegally detained by Russian occupation forces in the vicinity of the village of Mejvriskhevi in the Gori municipality have been freed and are now in the territory controlled by the central government."Upon receiving information about the illegal detention, the 'hotline' was immediately activated, and all mechanisms available to the central government were put into action. The information was shared with the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions and our international partners. The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia was directly involved in this process. 'Responsibility for all destructive actions carried out in the occupied regions of Georgia and along the occupation line rests with the occupying power," read the information.The agency further stated that the central government, in collaboration with international partners, will continue actively working to secure the release of all Georgian citizens who are illegally imprisoned in the occupied territories.The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, held a farewell meeting with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Georgia, Maaike van Koldam.According to the press service of the Prime Minister, the meeting, which took place in the government administration, addressed bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries."The positive dynamics of political relations between Georgia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands were also discussed during the meeting."Irakli Gharibashvili expressed gratitude to Maaike Van Koldam for her support of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for her assistance in the process of European Union integration. He also extended his best wishes for her future endeavors," stated the Prime Minister's press service. This came in a recorded speech during the inauguration of the first official meeting of the Transitional Committee of COP27 on funding for vulnerable communities hit by climate disasters, held in the Upper Egyptian city of Luxor from March 27-29, to prepare for establishing the loss and damage fund. Shoukry shed light on the climate phenomena which threaten many world countries, especially African states and other developing countries. The foreign minister pointed out to a report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warning that the worsening climate crisis would triple the economic burdens of countries by 2050. He expressed support for COP28 due to be held in the United Arab Emirates later this year. For his part, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiel said that the committee's task is to protect the lives of millions of people who suffer from the bad effects of climate change and to find mechanisms to finance the loss and damage fund. He added that the transitional committee, established during the Sharm El-Sheikh conference and consisting of 24 countries, 14 of which are developing countries and 10 advanced countries, is anticipated to issue recommendations on the structure of the loss and damage fund during COP28 in the UAE, with the goal of identifying funding mechanisms. Search Keywords: Short link: New contenders are lining up across the country to represent their regions in Parliament. As Glenn McConnell reports, Election 2023 will be a tough campaign in many seats. Scroll to the end of this article to see who's running to be your local MP. October's election is shaping up to bring major changes to Parliament, with about two dozen seats across the country in contention. In the 2020 election, the Labour Party secured a rare majority in Parliament and turned National Party strongholds red. This election, polling suggests a much tighter race. At the last election, 19 electorates switched parties with Labour picking up a whopping 17 electorate seats from National. Labour lost just one seat, Waiariki, which went to Te Pati Maori. And the Green Party picked up a rare electorate victory, taking Auckland Central from National. On top of those 2020 swing seats, there are other electorates where incumbent parties will be challenged. The Green and ACT parties have their sights set on traditionally safe Labour and National seats, while retirements and candidate changes will also heat up competition in electorates such as Ohariu, Te Tai Hauauru, and Ikaroa Rawhiti. ACT is launching a new campaign in Tamaki, with deputy leader Brooke van Velden campaigning against National's Simon O'Connor. National leader Christopher Luxon joined Nicola Willis to campaign in Ohariu. Photo: Robert Kitchin/Stuff. The Greens are also taking the fight to Labour, in long-held Labour electorates across Auckland and Wellington. The Green Party is running two-tick campaigns in Mt Albert, Rongotai and Wellington Central as well as Swarbrick's Auckland Central campaign. For National, one of many seats to watch will be Ohariu. United Future's Peter Dunne left in 2017, when Labour's Greg O'Connor won the seat. National hopes it has a chance this year, with deputy leader Nicola Willis moving from Wellington Central to campaign in Ohariu. The Swing Seats Auckland Central was lost by National following Nikki Kaye's retirement, but Labour was unable to pick it up. Instead, Green MP Chloe Swarbrick won the seat in 2020. The Greens are hopeful she'll be able to retain the seat this year, but National is putting up a fight with Mahesh Muralidhar's early billboard campaign. East Coast, a large electorate spanning some of the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne, was won by Labour MP Kiritapu Allan in 2020 after National's Anne Tolley retired. Allan had a convincing win, with a 6000 vote majority over National's Tania Tapsell, who went on to become mayor of Rotorua. Hamilton East is an open race. Labour's Jamie Strange ended the 15-year reign of National's David Bennett in 2020. But both Strange and Bennett are retiring at the end of this term. Newcomers, Ryan Hamilton for National and Georgie Dansey for Labour, are contesting Hamilton East this election. Hamilton West swung to Labour in 2020, but that didn't last long. Gaurva Sharma won the seat, then lost it when he mounted an attack against his own party. National's Tama Potaka is now the MP for Hamilton West, having won the 2022 by-election. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins joined Ginny Andersen in Lower Hutt. Photo: Robert Kitchin/Stuff. Hutt South had been Trevor Mallard's seat since its inception. When he left, things changed. National's Chris Bishop picked it up in 2017, but it went back to Labour with Ginny Andersen in 2020. While the Hutt generally supports the Labour Party, this electorate can get behind a candidate rather than party. Ilam had been held by National's Gerry Brownlee since the 1990s, before Labour's Sarah Pallett ended his long streak in 2020. This year, the Opportunities Party (TOP) is betting its parliamentary hopes on this Christchurch electorate. Maungakiekie is shaping up to be a tough competition, with National's Greg Fleming launching an early campaign across the Auckland electorate. Labour's Priyanca Radhakrishnan holds the seat, but has a tough competition ahead given the sheer volume of Greg Fleming posters around Onehunga and Royal Oak. Nelson went to Labour, leading to Nick Smith's retirement. The long serving National MP had been the local MP since the 1990s. Rachel Boyack is contesting the seat again. She had a 4525 vote majority in 2020, against Smith. New Plymouth poses another tight race. Labour's Glen Bennett won with a slim 2500 vote majority. He's up against newcomer David MacLeod this year. Northcote, on Auckland's north shore, is a traditional blue seat. National's Dan Bidois served about two years as its MP after a by-election, but was quickly removed from Parliament when Shanan Halbert won the seat for Labour in 2020. Halbert has made a targetted effort to be seen around Northcote and Auckland as its MP, so will put up a fight to remain the local MP this year. Northland has never been a favourable seat for Labour, but 2020 was different and Willow-Jean Prime won the seat. She will stand again, up against NZ First's Shane Jones and National's Grant McCallum. Otaki went to Labour with a 3000 vote majority, when Terisa Ngobi bet National's Tim Costley. Both candidates will be vying for Otaki's votes once again this October. Rangitata, a Canterbury electorate, went to Labour's Jo Luxton who secured a 4400 vote majority. National had not performed well in Rangitata during 2017-2020 term, after Andrew Falloon quit, embroiled in a scandal having sent an indecent image to a young woman. Tukituki, in Hawke's Bay, went to Anna Lork who had a slim 1590 vote majority. She will face National's Catherine Wedd this year. Upper Harbour, in West Auckland, had been Paula Bennett's seat. She retired in 2020, which opened it up for Labour's Vanushi Walters. Wairarapa can see interesting and unexpected election results. Kieran McAnulty won in 2020, and will contest the seat again. He had a solid 6500 vote majority. Whanganui has seen regular MP changes over the past few elections. Harete Hipango took over from Chester Burrows in 2017, but lost the seat to Labour's Steph Lewis last election. Hipango will not re-contest the seat, instead moving to the Maori electorate of Te Tai Hauauru. Lewis is up against Carl Bates. Rawiri Waititi and Meka Whaitiri, both now in the Maori Party, will campaign to win more seats for the minor party. Photo: Robert Kitchin/Stuff. Whangarei has lost its incumbent MP, Labour's Emily Henderson, who will retire. National's Shane Reti will be hoping to win back the seat after his 2020 loss. Labour has moved Angie Warren-Clark up to Whangarei. She is a sitting list MP, who had been based in Bay of Plenty. Waiariki, a Maori electorate, was the only seat Labour lost in 2020. Te Pati Maori co-leader Rawiri Waititi won the seat from Labour's Tamati Coffey. His win brought the Maori Party back to Parliament. Waititi is expected to keep this seat, but the Waiariki voters are not afraid to change their minds. It's no an electorate where MPs can rest on their laurels. - Glenn McConnell/Stuff. With the more favoured teams prevailing, the first day of play at the 2023 Celebration Box Netball NZ U18 Champs got underway in seamless fashion in Hamilton on Monday. Hosted by the Hamilton City Netball Centre, the popular event has this year welcomed 34 teams to the U18 female grade while a new U17 men's division has been included for the first time in netball history with seven male teams competing for their own trophy. The 34 teams in the women's competition have been split into two pools of five teams and six pools of four teams with play on Monday and Tuesday involving all teams playing each other in their respective pools. With some teams playing just the one game on today's opening day and others having two games, the main feature was the more fancied teams coming through untroubled. Seven teams Auckland 1, Auckland 2, Waitakere 1, Howick Pakuranga, Eastern Waikato, Hamilton City A and Wellington A Black set the early pace with all posting two comfortable wins. Played outdoors, intermittent rain did not cause any adverse disruption with all teams able to complete their opening day matches unscathed. "It was a day of four seasons but the rain that did come during several matches wasn't hugely disruptive," says Netball NZ Pathway Programs Manager Nicky Cattermoul. Cattermoul is on hand at the event with NNZ's panel of Emerging Talent Selectors to cast their eye over the country's next tier of rising young talent. "The results from the first day have been pretty predictable with the historically favoured teams, on paper, looking pretty strong. "At this stage, it's a bit too early to call how things will pan out because a lot of the top teams in each of the pools haven't played each other yet. We will have a much clearer picture of how things sit after today and the completion of pool play. "But this is such a popular tournament and it's awesome to see such a large number of Centres, big and small, all come out to give it a go." After the completion of pool play on Tuesday, all teams are re-ranked based on position within their respective pool and will then compete in post-pool play ahead of Thursday's final place play-offs. Honouring former Silver Ferns great Margaret Forsyth, who passed away in 2021, teams are vying for the trophy which bears her name and which will be presented to the winners by her mother and son, on Thursday. In the men's U17 competition, Waitakere were the only unbeaten team after the first day, building a handy buffer at the top of the points table after clinching two wins. For day-to-day progress results and standings, click here. The Tauranga U18 girls' team, in yellow and black, competing in Hamilton today. Supplied photos. Rotorua and Scion are set to welcome one of the oldest and largest international organisations to the city in March 2024 for a conference dedicated to propagation technologies for forestry. Founded in 1892, the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) is a non-profit, non-governmental network of forest scientists and researchers committed to voluntary global cooperation and knowledge sharing in forest-related research. With nine divisions focusing on specific areas of forest research, IUFRO's influence is far-reaching. The upcoming sixth international conference of IUFRO 2.09.02 unit, titled 'The might of vegetative propagation for healthy and productive forests to face climate challenges, will take place over five days, starting 3 March 2024. Previous conferences have been successfully held since 2010 in several countries, including the Republic of Korea, the Czech Republic, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal. Dr Jana Krajnakova, a senior researcher for tissue culture and project leader at Scion, is an integral part of the IUFRO 2.09.02 unit organising committee. She emphasises that this event will bring together researchers, university professors, and PhD students from around the world to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and address specific research topics in forestry, and more generally woody plants. 'The programme sessions proposed will cover all fields of application of vegetative propagation to preserve, assess, improve, adapt, and deploy tree genetic resources in resilient and productive forests. Vegetative propagation technologies encompass various methods to reproduce plants without seeds. Examples of vegetative propagation technologies include cutting, grafting, layering, and tissue culture (micropropagation, including somatic embryogenesis). Krajnakova explains that in the context of rapid climate change, there is an urgent need for cost-effective, efficient tree vegetative propagation (bio)technologies for supporting the development of precision forestry and delivery of forest products and services. 'IUFRO serves as a platform for scientists and experts from around the world to collaborate on various aspects of forest research by facilitating communication and promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise. 'A level of prestige comes with being the host organisation. It demonstrates our leadership, expertise, and commitment to evolving knowledge in vegetative propagation technologies, while providing the opportunity to highlight our recent advancements in this area. Scion has done significant work in vegetative propagation technologies, with many notable achievements, including developing and refining various vegetative propagation techniques (especially the promising somatic embryogenesis), developing and applying elite clonal forestry, and extensive research on tissue culture techniques for plant propagation. Insightful field trips are planned, including visits to Scion's clonal forest and Minginui Nursery, where propagation technology has been used to restore land and create community employment opportunities. Henri Bailleres, Scion's general manager for forests to timber products, says that there is a marked societal dimension in forestry through the historically strong and practical involvement of Te Ao Maori. 'As part of this, there is going to be a dedicated space for Maori researchers to present their research and knowledge experience in indigenous propagation. He adds that indigenous knowledge and practices are crucial in New Zealand's forestry. 'This inclusion recognises the deep-rooted connection between Maori culture and the whenua and highlights the intersection of indigenous knowledge, sustainable forest management, and global collaboration, all of which are crucial aspects of the conference's goals and objectives. Scion is a leader in tissue culture techniques for plant propagation for forestry. RotoruaNZ business events manager Vanessa Wallace says that hosting IUFRO in Rotorua highlights Scion's scientific excellence and promotes Rotorua as a premier tourist destination. 'Delegates coming into the country will often stay for an extended period and have a higher average spend, sometimes bringing family with them to make the most of their time away. 'As the home of tourism, Rotorua enhances the visiting delegates experience through the unique manaakitanga and world class activities only available here. It's a real win-win for all of our visitor economy and part of what makes Rotorua so special. With ForestSAT, an international conference on remote sensing technologies for forest monitoring and modelling, also planned for September 2024, Rotorua's reputation as a centre for forestry and forestry science is further cemented. Additionally, Rotorua is scheduled to host the second international conference of IUFRO unit 1.01.04, focused on reinvigorating planted forest establishment research, in early 2025. The conference organisers are now accepting submissions related to the vegetative propagation of trees as a primary strategy or in synergy with seed technologies to cope with climate change. Young researchers, particularly PhD students, are encouraged to submit proposals for a chance to present their work and receive all-expenses-paid trips. For further information on IUFRO, its activities, and the various possibilities of getting involved, see here. The next IUFRO World Congress is scheduled for June 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden. A man is facing a raft of driving-related charges following a police investigation into anti-social driving behaviour in the Bay of Plenty. "A great result for Eastern Bay of Plenty Police following a reserve being destroyed by anti-social driving behaviour," reads a post on the Bay of Plenty and Taupo Police Facebook page. "These pictures (referring to the photos above and below) show the damage caused to Cutler Reserve in Whakatane. "Police located and spoke with a person of interest nearby. "A man's been summonsed to court on charges of driving while disqualified, wilful damage, and sustained loss of traction." People who witness any such behaviour are encouraged to report it to their nearest police station. Information can also be phoned in anonymously to the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 line. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Editors note: This article has been updated. The AGs Office initially said a Syracuse police officer caused the death of Alex Rivera. An AG spokesperson now says the officer may have caused his death. Syracuse, N.Y. The state Attorney Generals Office is launching a formal investigation into a Syracuse mans death after an encounter with Syracuse police in May. On Tuesday, officials announced that its Office of Special Investigations will investigate the May 31 incident that ended in Alex Riveras death after a preliminary review of the facts, according to a news release from the AGs Office. The AG opens a full investigation of an incident if its assessment determines that an officer caused or may have caused the death of an individual. A spokesperson for the AG said the announcement does not imply wrongdoing by the officers. The investigation will determine if there was wrongdoing and whether officers should face criminal prosecution. The AG will either present evidence to a grand jury and seek an indictment or issue a public report explaining why the office chose not to present evidence to the grand jury, according to an annual report issued by the Office of Special Investigations. In the early morning of May 31, Syracuse police were called to an apartment building at 611 Teall Ave. for reports of a man acting erratically, police have said. Syracuse police responded to 611 Teall Ave. on May 31 after receiving calls of a male on an unknown substance who was acting abnormally, police said. He later died at a local hospital. (Rylee Kirk | rkirk@syracuse.com) Three officers responded to the call: Simon Greenfield, Winston Wiseth and Brett Traupman, Lt. Matthew Malinowski, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Police Department, said in June. When officers arrived, Rivera appeared to be unable to walk or stand, according to the AG. Police have said force was used by officers against but have not said what type of force was used. Officers brought Rivera outside where he was sedated by paramedics before being placed in the ambulance, according to the AG. Rivera was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The AG reviews the facts of all incidents where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person, by an act or omission, according to the release. The details of what caused Riveras death and what force was used by officers remains unclear. In June, Malinowski did not answer questions from Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. Questions he declined to answer included what time the initial call for help was placed, if the man was sedated, if Narcan was administered and what type of force was used by police. Shalea Ligoci, a close friend of Alex Rivera and his family, has said the family hadnt been able to find out details about what happened. Ligoci said she met with people from the apartment building and saw a call log that showed residents calling 911 to request aid for Rivera as early as 2 a.m. Police did not respond to the call until around 4 a.m., police have said. SPD needs more training on how to handle calls, especially with mentally ill people, Ligoci said after the announcement Tuesday. And they need to be held accountable like every other citizen in the community would. Ligoci and Riveras sister remember him as a loving kid with a kind heart who was fighting to beat his struggles with his mental health and addiction. Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. Johnson City, N.Y. A middle school principal in Broome County used the social media app Snapchat to try to get a 16-year-old girl to engage in sex, deputies said. Johnson City Middle School Principal Daniel Erickson, 55, of Greene, was charged with luring a child and third-degree attempted rape, according to a news release Monday from the Broome County Sheriffs Office. Deputies said Erickson was arrested Friday following an investigation into suspicious behavior involving a minor who attends Johnson City High School. Deputies said Erickson was communicating via Snapchat with the student. Erickson also made statements indicating he wanted to engage in sexual activity with the girl, they said. Erickson initially posed as a young adult, deputies said. He then used his position as the principal to access the school district database to convince the girl of his true identity. Erickson started communicating with the girl a week before his arrest, deputies said. The principal attempted to meet with the girl multiple times, including going to her home, deputies said. The girl, however, did not come out to meet him when he showed up at her house, they said. Deputies said they were made aware of the situation on Wednesday. Two days later, Erickson agreed to meet with the student in a remote location with the intentions of engaging in sexual relations, deputies said. Detectives were at the location when Erickson arrived and arrested him, they said. As a father, I know this is a nightmare scenario for any parent, Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said. We entrust our schools with the care and safety of our children, and to have an individual violate that trust, abuse their power and prey on a very student charged in our schools care is beyond disgusting. Erickson was taken to Central Arraignment at the Broome County Correctional Facility. He is currently being held without bail. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stressed the duty of states to prevent incitement and hate crimes," as it condemned a Quran-burning incident in Sweden during Muslims Eid Al-Adha as "shameful." In a statement on Thursday, the foreign ministry underlined the duty of states to "stop those practices that undermine the security and stability of societies. "Egypt deeply condemns the burning of a copy of the noble Mushaf (Quran) in Swedens capital, Stockholm by an extremist, the statement read. On Wednesday, an immigrant from Iraq burned a copy of the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm on the first day of the Islamic Eid Al-Adha after he secured a demonstration permit from Swedish authorities. The act has been widely condemned by various Muslim and non-Muslim countries around the world, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and the US. The incident is the latest in a series of Quran burnings in northern European countries including Sweden, which were carried out by right-wing groups. Earlier this year, a Quran burning at a rally outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm caused a major rift in Turkish-Swedish relations. Al-Azhar, the world's most prestigious seat of Sunni learning, has repeatedly condemned the Quran burnings, calling on European states to prevent incitement against Muslims in the West. 'Shameful and fuels hatred' In the statement on Thursday, the foreign ministry also deplored the incident as a shameful act that ignites the feelings of Muslims around the world on the first day of the blessed Eid Al-Adha. The statement warned that such an incident contradicts the values of respecting others and their sanctities, and fuels feelings of hatred between peoples. The foreign ministry voiced concerns over the recurrence of such incidents and the recent rise of Islamophobia in some European states. Egypt stresses its categorical rejection of all hateful practices that hurt the constants and religious beliefs of Muslims, it added, calling on states to uphold the values of tolerance, acceptance and peaceful coexistence between peoples. Search Keywords: Short link: Update, 2:40 p.m. Tuesday: Card skimmers have also been found at Walmart stores in Geneva and Canandaigua, Ontario County Sheriffs Office deputies said this afternoon. The skimmers were placed on July 2 and found on July 5, deputies said. That brings the total to 11 Walmart stores that are known to have been hit with the skimmers that are designed to steal credit card information. More stores may have had skimmers secretly put on checkouts. Walmart - which has 98 stores in New York state, has refused to identify the stores where skimmers have been found. Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard has identified the locations through local police agencies and the State Police. Original article Norwich, N.Y. Two more Walmarts have been reported found with card skimmers designed to steal customers credit card information, troopers said Tuesday. A skimmer was found at Walmart on State Highway 12 in the town of Norwich in Chenango County on Saturday, troopers said. They are still investigating when it was placed and who placed it. Troopers did not say what checkout lane the skimmer was installed on. A Walmart in Erwin in Steuben County at Silverback Lane also had a card skimmer installed on Register 5, troopers said. It is believed three people entered the store on July 3 and installed the skimmer, troopers said. It is the same suspects police have identified in seven other card skimmer cases, troopers said. A skimmer found in an Erwin Walmart. (Courtesy State Police) Last week, police agencies reported the skimmers were found in stores in Auburn, East Syracuse, Camillus, Fulton/Granby and Oswego. Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard confirmed Monday that two more skimming devices were installed: Central Square and Cortland. Most of those skimmers were installed on July 2 and found on July 5, police said. Walmart has refused to say what stores the card skimmers have been found at or to answer questions about them. It is not known if the skimmers have been located at other stores because Walmart refused to identify the stores that have been hit. A spokesperson Monday referred all questions to local police agencies to preserve the integrity of the investigation(s). The spokesperson said customers concerned they may have been impacted should contact their card provider or Walmart Customer Care Team at 800-925-6278. In Cortland County, the device was found at the Walmart store at 819 Bennie Road in Cortlandville, just outside of Cortland, according to the Cortland County Sheriffs Department. Anyone who checked out on Lane 2 at the Cortland store from July 2 to July 8 should check their accounts and report any discrepancies to their bank. The sheriffs office was notified about the device on July 8. They should also contact Cortland County Sheriff Offices Sgt. Brendan LHommedieu at (607) 758-5540. In Oswego County, the device was installed in the Central Square store around 10:15 a.m. on July 2 and discovered by Walmart at around 8:30 a.m. July 5, according to the Oswego County Sheriffs Office. The device was placed on Lane 1. Oswego Police are looking for suspects who placed a card skimmer at the Oswego Walmart on Sunday, July 2, 2023. (Courtesy Oswego Police) State police are investigating the incident near Fulton and are working in partnership with local police agencies in Oswego, DeWitt, Camillus and Auburn, said Trooper Jack Keller, a State Police spokesperson. Police agencies told Syracuse.com these are the lanes at each store where the skimmers were found: Fulton/Granby: No. 7 East Syracuse: No. 6 Camillus: No. 5 Auburn: No. 2 Oswego: No. 1 Cortland/Cortlandville: No. 2 Central Square: No. 1 Erwin: No. 5 Norwich: unknown It is possible more stores were targeted by criminals. Walmart refuses to reveal what stores were hit. Skimming occurs when devices illegally installed on ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, or fuel pumps capture data or record cardholders PINs, Keller said. Criminals use the data to create fake debit or credit cards and steal from victims accounts. It is estimated that skimming costs financial institutions and consumers more than $1 billion each year. In a news release today, state police noted that fraudulent charges on a credit card are easier to dispute than charges made using debit cards. Most credit card companies offer a zero liability policy, police said, which means the cardholder is reimbursed for any losses due to fraud. For that reason, state police recommend using credit instead of debit at gas station pumps, which are susceptible to card skimmers. Consumers should also regularly monitor their credit card activity by routinely checking bank statements or online accounts and report suspicious activity as soon as possible by calling the number on the back of the card, police said. Related Syracuse.com articles See what credit card skimmer found at Central NY Walmarts looks like; 2 more stores identified A 5th Central NY Walmart found to have card skimmer over July 4 weekend How to avoid becoming a victim of credit card skimmers like those found at 4 CNY Walmarts The questions Walmart refuses to answer about credit card skimmers found at 5 Central NY stores Four secret credit card skimmers found at 4 Central NY Walmart stores Device to steal credit card info secretly placed at Central NY Walmart checkout for four days Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com. Want to see a little bit of Central New York on the big screen? American High is inviting the public to a special movie screening and watch party this Friday, July 14, at its headquarters, also known as Syracuse Studios in Liverpool, N.Y. The fun begins at 7 p.m. with food trucks outside the building (the former A.V. Zogg Middle School and Liverpool high school) located at 800 4th Street in Liverpool. Join NY Cannabis Insider at our next industry networking event on Aug. 15 at Madame Mikettes in NYC. Tickets will sell out. Wendy Francis is the president of Discovering Cannabis, which aims to be a trusted advisor that helps clients navigate the evolving cannabis market. In the newest entry of NYs women in cannabis, Francis talks about barriers to female leadership, underrepresentation in the market and her inspiration to start in cannabis. Women are vastly underrepresented in cannabis, and not just in New York. From 2019 to 2022, executive-level females have seen their industry wide status drop from 37% to 23%. Yet the MRTA makes things very clear: women-owned businesses are a key component of the states social and economic equity plan. NY Cannabis Insider is seeking to elevate women in cannabis through a hyper-focus on female story sourcing and balanced representation in articles. This series will last for as long as submissions come in. Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox: Why did you launch your career in the cannabis industry? Were there any women who inspired you to do so? How did you do it? In 2018, I began wholesaling CBD and was initially surprised by the strict regulations and limitations surrounding the industry. However, rather than shying away from the challenge, I decided to fully embrace it and devote myself to discovering solutions that would benefit small businesses hoping to enter the CBD/hemp/cannabis markets. What do you think is the most significant barrier to women leadership? Are the barriers different in cannabis than any other industry? Womens leadership in cannabis along with other industries has ongoing gender bias. I believe if women find and focus on their niche within the industry, the opportunities are endless. We are breaking the grass ceiling. Why do you think women are so underrepresented in leadership roles in cannabis? Its fairly new, and more careers are becoming apparent and accessible to women. Prior to cannabis becoming legal in certain states, most opportunities were in the legacy market, making it extremely risky for anyone wanting to make a career in the black market. What are some ways in which companies can support gender diversity at senior levels? Companies can encourage gender diversity in senior positions by adopting policies that ensure equal opportunities for all genders, offering leadership development programs and mentorship initiatives specifically for women. Shout out your other favorite women-owned or women-led businesses in the industry. Her Highness, Linda Mercado Greene, Nikki and the Plant, Toi Hutchinson. Who/what are your favorite tools and resources in the industry? Obviously, NY Cannabis Insider. I use LinkedIn a lot its a great resource for cannabis information. Jeffrey Hoffmans AMA, CANY, Castetter Group, Marijuana Moment. What advice would you give your 25-year-old self? What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders? Know your stuff! Correct and accurate information is powerful. Be knowledgeable and articulate. Is there anything we left out that youd like to add? My inspiration: My mom had Parkinsons and dementia. The few years she lived with me, I experienced her struggle with both diseases. I have developed a deep passion for exploring the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis in managing the symptoms of not only Parkinsons and dementia but many other diseases, addictions, chronic pain and a myriad of other ailments. The research is still in its early stages, but there are promising signs that CBD, THC, CBN and other compounds found in cannabis may be able to alleviate symptoms as well as slow down the progression of the diseases. My company is devoted to finding solutions for small businesses wanting to be successful in the cannabis industry. As a 20-year entrepreneur, I understand the challenges of running a business and would have loved to have a partner on my side to ask questions and help find solutions. When I started wholesaling CBD in 2018, I realized the challenges facing the industry. I went to work finding B2B solutions for my retailers. When NY became legal, I continued to grow my network. We partner with knowledgeable and experienced professionals who are dedicated to helping cannabis entrepreneurs from licensing and regulations to inventory and payment solutions. Our job is to find the right solution for your business that will be affordable and provide you with the goods or services necessary to be successful. If youd like people to connect with you, please share your favorite methods of contact. LinkedIn. Email: DiscoveringCannabis@gmail.com Jazz in the City, the public health concert series delivering great music, food, and health services to Syracuses underserved neighborhoods, will celebrate the new Syracuse Community Health facility at 930 South Salina St. on Thursday July 13. The concert is sponsored by the Healthcare Education Project and is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. on the grounds of the center, adjacent to the new JMA facility in Syracuses resurgent Downtown South near the site of the future STEAM High School. The first hour of the program is dedicated to the citys emerging urban talent, presented by Chuck Jacksons C-Jack Run production company, well known for its annual showcases at the New York State Fair. From 7 to 9 p.m. the main attraction is Sherma Andrews, who brings her Tribute to Aretha Franklin show up from New York City for a two-hour intermission concert. CNY Jazz has presented Sherma in Syracuse multiple times in festival, concert, and cabaret settings. Food and ice cream vendors will be on hand to augment the Healthcare Village and arts and crafts providers set up in the ample lot surrounding the new center adjacent to the new JMA facility. We couldnt imagine a better way to celebrate the strong community mission of Syracuse Community Health and the Healthcare Education Project than by bringing Shermas dynamite tribute to the Queen of Soul to the occasion, said Larry Luttinger, CNY Jazz founder. No one sings and plays Americas urban music like Sherma. I wouldnt trust anyone but her to deliver this show, and Ive worked in Arethas orchestra as her percussionist, so I know firsthand. Take it from me, Sherma will deliver a powerful punch of funk and soul to this shindig. At every Jazz in the City event, attendees will be able to take advantage of health service information, consulting, and materials provided by an army of the areas healthcare providers. New York Lottery scratch-off tickets and free COVID test kits will be given as incentives for everyone screened for their health needs by the SCH professional medical staff, including consultations and screenings for body mass index and hypertension, scheduling appointments for vaccinations and boosters, and providing those without a primary care physician with referrals. Were proud to be able to provide the underwriting for this special concert celebrating our common commitment to equitable access to health care for Syracuses underserved, said LaToya Jones, leader of the 1199 SEIU Healthcare Education Project. Its an exciting time to be working shoulder to shoulder with so many of our colleagues and celebrating our citys brand-new state of the art health center. Patrons are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and make an evening of the free, three-hour family-friendly show. Ample free parking is available behind the original health center at 819 South Salina St. If You Go What: Jazz in the City Where: Syracuse Community Health, 930 S. Salina St. Who: Sherma Andrews Tribute to Aretha Franklin When: Thursday July 13, 6 to 9 p.m. rain or shine Cost: Free Syracuse, N.Y. -- Dont pack up the kids and head north on Wednesday hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights in Upstate New York. The internet was abuzz this week about forecasts showing that the Northern Lights could be visible as far south as Maryland. But NASA and meteorologists now say the glowing lights are almost certainly not going to be seen that far south. The chances this week [of seeing the Northern Lights] are slim at latitudes such as Maryland, Bill Murtagh, the program coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Space Weather Prediction Center, told The Washington Post. In northern-tier states, you might see a glow on the horizon. Veteran Buffalo meteorologist Don Paul tweeted today that the possibility of Northern Lights in Upstate New York had been overblown in some of the media reports on Monday. First of all, Northern Lights forecasts issued days in advance have a poor track record at best, Paul said. Secondly, cloud cover would likely be a problem locally. The reports this week were apparently based on a preliminary forecast issued 27 days ago when the sun first started showing signs it might issue a coronal mass ejection, or CME. When a CME hits the earths atmosphere, it creates the electric, wavering patterns known as the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis. The latest forecast from the Space Weather Prediction Center, however, is rather dark for those wishing to see the lights. All SWPC results show the primary ejecta missing earth, the center said. In the unlikely event that the ejection reaches Earth, it would create only a faint glow likely visible no farther south than the Hudson Bay, NASA said. And clouds would likely cover it up here in Upstate New York, too. The National Weather Service predicts that clouds will cover 70% to 90% of the sky between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 2 a.m. Thursday, the best time to see the lights. There is hope for the future, though, as an 11-year solar cycle thats expected to peak in 2024 is making the lights visible in places farther south. Three months ago, the light displays were visible in Arizona, marking the third severe geomagnetic storm since the current solar cycle began in 2019, the Associated Press said. Five times this summer over barbecue lunch in a city park, Syracuse Schools Superintendent Anthony Davis will take any question thrown his way from the public. No topic is off limits, Davis said Monday at Kirk Park on West Borden Street. If nothing else, hopefully we walk away understanding one another better when we walk in the room. One parent obliged him. There are a lot of kids that are in the fourth and fifth grade that still cant read, she said. What is going on in those classrooms that kids cant read? Davis responded that he never wants to be disrespectful, but he needs to challenge the community to think differently. Im going to add, Whats going on at home?, " Davis responded. Teachers and schools cant do this alone. School has to be a huge part of the technical learning piece but home needs to be the foundation of that learning piece. About 25 parents and children attended the first barbecue Monday and received lunch and bags of fruit before the group discussion with Davis. A parent speaks with Syracuse School District Superintendent Anthony Davis during the barbecue (Melissa Newcomb|mnewcomb@syracuse.com). Questions asked by parents and district staff included topics like school safety, student behavior, academic success and teacher recruitment. Most of the conversation focused on how the school and community members can work together so students learn and enjoy school. Davis also said the district is still exploring possible alternatives to the move to earlier school start times that are angering parents. Worst case scenario we are where we are. Best case scenario something happens that we can do something different, said Davis. Four more barbecues are planned this summer with Davis. The barbecues, which are funded by the district, starts at 11 am followed by the community conversation at noon. The dates, times and locations are: July 20- Thornden Park, 600 S. Beech St August 1- Burnet Park, 235 Coleridge Ave August 10- Westmoreland Park, 130 Westmoreland Ave August 17- Wilson Park, 1117 S. McBride St. Watchdog/Public Affairs reporter Melissa Newcomb covers education, including Syracuse University and the city schools. For tips, contact her anytime at mnewcomb@syracuse.com, 315-679-1068, or @melissarnewcomb on Twitter. Arusha Ramaswamy, of Cazenovia, is a rising senior at Fayetteville-Manlius High School. On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action policies used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. It was the culmination of what began as a case filed by some Harvard students who alleged that the school was discriminating against them for being Asian. This effectively ends affirmative action as we know it; race is now deemed unconstitutional to factor into college admissions. Just race. Affirmative action policies were intended to help all marginalized groups, including women, and yet its solely the race part thats being gutted. Now, this might seem fair if you dont think about it too hard. After all, isnt race blind admissions a good thing? No, its not. The loss of affirmative action policies will overwhelmingly impact Black and Hispanic students by ignoring the huge impact race still has on the experiences and resources people are subjected to in this country. As it is, affirmative actions primary beneficiaries were white women, who have made leaps and bounds in higher education in a way racial minorities have largely not and now with the removal of those policies, what little effort there was to correct centuries of targeted disenfranchisement and discrimination is at risk of being lost. And its especially damning when you look at which policies remain for college admissions: legacy and donor preference. The loss of affirmative action and the retention of admissions preferences that favor rich legacy students, who are largely white, shows what this is really about. This was not intended to improve the college admissions process but to destroy the meager progress that has been made to support Black and Hispanic students. More than half 57% of Harvards white students are either athletes, donor preference or legacy, which are advantages most people of color, even wealthy ones, often dont have to their name. Without affirmative action, it is expected well see even more of this unfairness, with a targeted decrease in the number of Black and Hispanic students. But wait, you might think. Im forgetting about a group here: Asian Americans. After all, wasnt it a case by Asian American students that led to this whole mess? Surely, well benefit, right? No, we wont. In fact, the overturning of affirmative action will have a hugely negative impact on lower-income Asians and Pacific Islanders, and will likely hurt their chances of getting into college, as well. And even for those of us who wont be affected outright negatively, theres no indication that the loss of affirmative action will help wealthy Asians. In fact, a study by Georgetown University shows that if testing were the sole requirement used for college admissions, 21% of admitted Asian Americans would not qualify for their universities. No other Asian Americans came forward to testify during the case against Harvard; that was led by a white conservative activist, who used Asian Americans as a cover to target Black and Hispanic people and tried to play it off as to our benefit. Asian Americans are, yet again, being used as a justification to target other racial minorities. The loss of affirmative action will not benefit us, will not help us, and the case that ended it wasnt led by us. The framing of this case as for the Asian students! is just yet another way of attempting to pit minority communities against each other, and its disgusting. To any Asian Americans who actually believe the rhetoric that affirmative action being overturned will benefit us, were just being lied to, because we are being used again as tools in this Supreme Courts effort to undo all the progress that has been made in racial equality. It happened in Florida where it was claimed that AAPI history would be taught (i.e., a sanitized version that promoted the model minority stereotype instead of actual Asian history) after they banned the teaching of AP African American History, and now its happening here. But Asian Americans are not patsies to be used in the fight for white supremacy and used to justify the loss of policies aimed at helping racial equality. We arent the ones who will benefit from the overturning of affirmative action, and its impossible to pretend that its a good thing for almost anyone. I can only hope that colleges are committed to trying for diverse viewpoints on their campuses, as they claim, or else this ruling will hurt far too many people for generations to come. Also in Opinion: Reactions to Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action (Your Letters) Fossil fuels are easier but bad for the planet To the Editor: I am writing to express my disagreement with a letter in the paper on Sunday, July 2, 2023, View of NY solar energy potential is far too sunny. The letter writer refers to the essay, 5 reasons New Yorkers should embrace a solar energy future, by Richard Perez, Ph.D., published June 12, 2023. This writer even refers to Perezs stated goal which is to clarify common misunderstandings about solar energy and demonstrate its potential to provide an abundant, reliable, affordable environmentally friendly energy future for New York in a way that suggests that there is something questionable about this goal. I have read Perezs essay and strongly disagree with these negative implications. Perez is far more than a concerned citizen expressing his strong opinion. Along with other notable credentials, he heads solar energy research at SUNY Albanys Atmospheric Sciences Research Center and has served multiple terms on the board of the American Solar Energy Society. As intended, he covers the topics of the growth of solar technology as well as solar energys abundance, affordability, reliability and significantly lower environmental footprint and he does so very well. He also addresses the concerns about its affordability and reliability in ways that should reassure people who are concerned about these issues. With regard to reliability, he discusses the emerging solutions to the concern about solar energys intermittency. In his words these solutions, (which he enumerates) will ensure a continuous power supply which will be available day and night year round without fail. And with regard to affordability, as with his other responses to common misunderstandings, Perez is careful to back up his statement that, solar power is now considerably cheaper than new coal, natural gas or nuclear energy. What I especially objected to in the July 2 letter is the writers calling what Perez suggests dangerous and implying that we would do much better by continuing to stay with our conventional sources of electricity. This would, of course, involve the burning of fossil fuels, which is known to be the primary cause of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. I totally understand why people might prefer to do this. It would be more convenient and more familiar. But what I, along with many others, believe is that this is no longer a real choice. Our choice is actually between staying addicted to fossil fuels and believing the misinformation promoting them, or making difficult but ultimately better choices which could halt the continuing destruction of the planet. Shelley Conture Syracuse Drawbacks of solar panels are easily remedied To the Editor: In response to Roger Caiazzas letter on solar power, View of NY solar energy potential is far too sunny. No one is claiming solar power will be the only source, but rather a major source of power in the future. We will always use hydropower in New York. The suggestion that are winter days are too short for solar fails to recognize that we also have 15-hour long days in the summer, three hours longer than Florida. As far as snow on panels is concerned: Its simple to brush snow off a 35-degree slope panel, especially since we dont get as much annual snow. During low sunshine conditions, natural gas energy can temporarily fill in, but with greater volumes of solar power, our net gas usage would grow much smaller. Also, wind power occurs at night. In Boulder, Colorado, farmers grow tomatoes, turnips, carrots, squash, beets, lettuce, kale, chard and peppers under 8-foot-high solar panels. I recommend that state laws require solar farm panels to be built this high, to maintain farming. With this reality in mind, the greatest threat to farm land is not solar, but rural housing developments. Its pointless to complain about new transmission requirements when any new source of electricity will require additional power lines. On average, it costs about $200,000 more per megawatt to build a gas plant than it does a solar farm. Solar panels last 30 years, whereas combined-cycle gas turbines last only between 25 and 30 years, and produce more pollution. People pay less for solar electricity. Gary McDermott Chittenango Related: Northern Lights visible in NY, more states this week: How to see aurora borealis Nathan Gunn lives in DeWitt. Electrification of New York state is built on the backs of slavery in Africa, Chinese shell companies and fantastical math. Mark M. Lichtenstein, chief sustainability officer at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, wrote a robust opinion piece supporting the wholesale transformation of our states transportation to electric vehicles. (NYs economic future requires robust, reliable EV infrastructure, July 5, 2023). Incredibly, Lichtenstein ignored the massive ethical issues surrounding EVs and the environmental issues of power generation as a result of the states actions. First, most glaringly, the entire North American EV market silently ignores the reality that EVs rely on lithium batteries that are supercharged by cobalt. Seventy percent of cobalt is mined in Africa, mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Renowned scholar and global slavery expert Siddharth Kara has written a groundbreaking study of the reality of slavery in the cobalt mines of the Congo, Cobalt Red. Kara is not a climate change denier or a political pawn. He is a serious professor who documents human slavery throughout the world and his report is damning. He is the winner of the Frederick Douglass Book Prize. EVs require longer usage and power. The mineral cobalt is a contributor to that longer output. American companies desperate to both create and meet a demand for more EV batteries have slapped a false label of artisanal mines on the rock heaps of Africa, in particular in the Congo. As Kara proves, when you hear EV or even artisanal mines, think slave labor on a scale that would make the Bible blush. While we charge our Teslas in our garages, children are coughing and scraping the walls of caves 50 meters below the surface of the earth in Africa. Kara provides extensive details to the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of laborers who are literally scraping cobalt with spoons and their bare hands. Those scraps of cobalt are collected and organized into a complex tapestry of Chinese shell companies and Congolese nationalized industries. The workers make enough to buy food to return the next day and the Chinese make billions off of U.S. federal incentives. States like New York and California have passed legislation to create the global market and the impact at the bottom of the literal chain is slavery on a scale the world has not seen in centuries. Kara reports in his introduction, Across 21 years of research into slavery and child labor, I have never seen more extreme predation for profit than I witnessed at the bottom of the global cobalt supply chains They exist at the edge of human life in an environment that is treated like a toxic dumping ground by foreign mining companies. Millions of trees have been clear-cut, dozens of villages razed, rivers and air polluted, and arable land destroyed. Our daily lives are powered by a human and environmental catastrophe in the Congo. Beyond the immorality of the EV reality, the state has an unsurmountable energy supply issue. Lets remember that the state also passed the All-Electric Buildings Act that requires that newly constructed buildings under seven stories have electric stoves, heat and hot water starting in 2026. It also requires all remaining new construction to have electric stoves, heat and hot water by 2029. The law further electrifies our homes through the usage of heat pumps for HVAC and other means. Can Lichtenstein explain with any seriousness what the total amount of power will be required in order to meet the exponentially larger supply demands caused by these laws and regulations? If we even could create that fantastical number, how would we possibly generate that much power in a clean and renewable way without the creation of dozens of nuclear power plants? Or will we simply buy more dirty energy from other states in the same way we now buy dirty minerals from Chinese slaveholders in Africa? One hundred sixty years ago, New York state led the way by sending the most soldiers to fight for the Union in the Civil War. Among other things, our brave soldiers fought to offer emancipation for people bonded in slavery. Sadly, today, our state leaders have led the way in driving African people, mostly children, into the mining pits of slavery. Related: EPA car rule to push huge increase in electric vehicle sales by 2030 NEW ORLEANS (AP) The Biden administration asked a federal appeals court Monday to temporarily block a lower courts order limiting executive branch officials discussions with social media companies about controversial online posts. The request for an emergency stay was filed at the 5th U.S. District Court of Appeals shortly after U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty rejected an administration motion that he put his own July 4 order on hold. The order came in a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, as well as a conservative website owner and four individual critics of government COVID-19 policies. The lawsuit claimed the administration, in effect, censored free speech by using threats of regulatory action or protection while pressuring companies to remove what it deemed misinformation. COVID-19 vaccines, legal issues involving President Joe Bidens son Hunter and election fraud allegations were among the topics spotlighted in the lawsuit. Doughty was nominated to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump. His injunction blocked the Department of Health and Human Services, the FBI and multiple other government agencies and administration officials from meeting with or contacting social media companies for the purpose of encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech. Administration attorneys said in the motion filed at the 5th Circuit that Doughtys ruling was too broad and vague, and had the potential to chill government officials speech on important matters. And they said Doughty failed to point to any evidence that the administration had made threats against social media companies to coerce them to take down posts. The district court identified no evidence suggesting that a threat accompanied any request for the removal of content. Indeed, the order denying the stay presumably highlighting the ostensibly strongest evidence referred to a series of public media statements, the administration said. They asked that the 5th Circuit block Doughtys order while the case is pursued at the appeals court in New Orleans or, at minimum, grant a 10-day block of the order so the administration could prepare to go to the Supreme Court to seek a longer stay. Earlier Monday, Doughty rejected administration requests that he stay his own order pending appeal. In essence, Doughtys Monday order said, Defendants argue that the injunction should be stayed because it might interfere with the Governments ability to continue working with social-media companies to censor Americans core political speech on the basis of viewpoint. In other words, the Government seeks a stay of the injunction so that it can continue violating the First Amendment. Government lawyers have argued that the companies control their own policies regarding misinformation and that the lawsuit casts officials comments on issues and policy as threats. The administration said Doughtys July 4 order was unclear about who in the executive branch it covers and what they can or cannot say about important topics discussed on social media platforms. The order could cause grave harm by preventing the government from engaging in a vast range of lawful and responsible conduct, government lawyers said in requesting the stay Thursday night. Doughty order said the administration seems to have assumed a role similar to an Orwellian Ministry of Truth. The order, which was to remain in effect pending further arguments in Doughtys court, was hailed by conservatives as a victory for free speech and a blow to censorship. But critics said the order and accompanying reasons, covering more than 160 pages, were broad, unclear and could chill government efforts to fight misinformation on important topics. The criticisms were echoed in the governments Thursday night request for a stay. The potential breadth of the entities and employees covered by the injunction combined with the injunctions sweeping substantive scope will chill a wide range of lawful government conduct relating to Defendants law enforcement responsibilities, obligations to protect the national security, and prerogative to speak on matters of public concern, the governments motion said. The lawsuits plaintiffs countered with a weekend filing opposing a stay. Among the arguments are that the July 4 injunction carves out exemptions allowing officials to contact social media companies about postings involving criminal activity or public safety threats; national security threats; election-related issues including voter suppression attempts, voting infrastructure threats and illegal campaign contributions; and saying officials can continue exercising permissible public government speech promoting government policies or views on matters of public concern. Sweden's government on Sunday condemned this week's burning of a Koran outside Stockholm's main mosque, calling it an "Islamophobic" act, after an international Islamic body called for measures to avoid future burnings. "The Swedish Government fully understands that the Islamophobic acts committed by individuals at demonstrations in Sweden can be offensive to Muslims," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "We strongly condemn these acts, which in no way reflect the views of the Swedish government," it added. The condemnation came in response to a call for collective measures to avoid future Koran burnings from the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The 57-member body met at its Jeddah headquarters to respond to Wednesday's incident in which an Iraqi citizen living in Sweden, Salwan Momika, 37, stomped on the Islamic holy book and set several pages alight. The OIC urged member states to "take unified and collective measures to prevent the recurrence of incidents of desecration of copies of the" Koran, according a statement released after the "extraordinary" meeting. "The burning of the Koran, or any other holy text, is an offensive and disrespectful act and a clear provocation. Expressions of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance have no place in Sweden or in Europe," the Swedish foreign ministry said. At the same time the ministry added that Sweden has a "constitutionally protected right to freedom of assembly, expression and demonstration." Countries including Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco have summoned Swedish ambassadors in protest at the Koran burning incident. Swedish police had granted Momika a permit in line with free speech protections, but authorities later said they had opened an investigation over "agitation against and ethnic group," noting that Momika had burnt pages from the Islamic holy book very close to the mosque. Search Keywords: Short link: Andover, Vt. Rescue teams raced into Vermont on Monday after heavy rain drenched parts of the Northeast, washing out roads, forcing evacuations and halting some airline travel. One person was killed in New Yorks Hudson Valley as she tried to escape her flooded home. The slow-moving storm reached New England in the morning after hitting parts of New York and Connecticut on Sunday. Additional downpours in the region raised the potential for flash flooding; rainfall in certain parts of Vermont had exceeded 7 inches, the National Weather Service in Burlington said. One of the worst-hit places was the Hudson Valley in Upstate New York, where a woman identified by police as Pamela Nugent, 43, died as she tried to escape her flooded home in the hamlet of Fort Montgomery. The force of the flash flooding dislodged boulders, which rammed into the womans house and damaged part of its wall, Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus told The Associated Press. Two other people escaped. She was trying to get through (the flooding) with her dog, Neuhaus said, and she was overwhelmed by tidal wave-type waves. Officials say the storm has already wrought tens of millions of dollars in damage. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a news conference Monday that the storm sent cars swirling in our streets and dumped a historic amount of rain. Nine inches of rain in this community, Hochul said during a briefing on a muddy street in Highland Falls. Theyre calling this a 1,000 year event. As of Monday evening, several washed-out streets in Highland Falls remained impassable, leaving some residents stuck in their homes but otherwise OK, Police Chief Frank Basile said in a telephone interview. The village police station itself was full of mud and leaves after being flooded with about 5 inches (13 centimeters) of water, and a police car was swamped, Basile said. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said there were reports of flooding in central and western Massachusetts and that state emergency management officials were in touch with local authorities. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point was pounded with more than 8 inches (20.32 centimeters) of rain that sent debris sliding onto some roads and washed others out. Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven W. Gilland said recently arrived new cadets and others at the historic academy on the Hudson River were safe, but that assessing the damage will take time. Atmospheric scientists say destructive flooding events across the globe have this in common: Storms are forming in a warmer atmosphere, making extreme rainfall a reality right now. The additional warming that scientists predict is coming will only make it worse. The storm also interrupted air and rail travel. There were hundreds of flight cancellations at Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark airports and more than 200 canceled at Bostons Logan Airport in the last 24 hours, according to the Flightaware website. Amtrak temporarily suspended service between Albany and New York. Mike Cannon of Vermont Urban Search and Rescue said crews from North Carolina, Michigan and Connecticut were among those helping to get to towns that have been unreachable since torrents of rain belted the state overnight. The towns of Londonderry and Weston were inaccessible, Cannon said, and rescuers were heading there to do welfare checks. Water levels at several dams were being closely monitored. There have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the flooding in Vermont, according to state emergency officials. Roads were closed across the state, including many along the spine of the Green Mountains. Some people canoed their way to the Cavendish Baptist Church in Vermont, which had turned into a shelter. About 30 people waited it out, some of them making cookies for firefighters who were working to evacuate and rescue others. People are doing OK. Its just stressful, shelter volunteer Amanda Gross said. Vermont Rep. Kelly Pajala said she and about half dozen others had to evacuate early Monday from a four-unit apartment building on the West River in Londonderry. The river was at our doorstep, said Pajala. We threw some dry clothes and our cats into the car and drove to higher ground. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott tweeted that swift water rescue teams had conducted more than 10 rescues on Monday. We have not seen rainfall like this since Irene, and in some places, it will surpass even that, Scott told an earlier news briefing. Scott was referring to Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011, when Vermont got 11 inches (28 centimeters) of rain in 24 hours. Irene killed six in the state, washed homes off their foundations and damaged or destroyed more than 200 bridges and 500 miles (805 kilometers) of highway. Among the buildings flooded Monday was the Weston Playhouse in Weston, Vermont, which had been performing Buddy -- The Buddy Holly Story to sold-out audiences. The Weston Theater Companys executive artistic director Susanna Gellert said the call was made at around 4 a.m. to evacuate 11 people associated with the production to higher ground and another 15 in nearby Ludlow. The three-floor playhouse, which had been damaged during Irene, was also flooded, with the dressing room and props room under water. As a theater, we were just starting to get back from the COVID shutdown, Gellert said. To have this happen right now is painfully heartbreaking. Cara Philbin, 37, of Ludlow, Vermont, was awakened by a neighbor early Monday and told to clear out of her second-floor apartment because the parking lot was already flooded. He told me me, You need to get out of here ... your car is going to float away, and I suggest you do not stay, said Philbin. The neighbor took her car keys and moved her car to a higher spot, while she called her parents and then drove to their home to ride out the storm, she said. Ross Andrews and his wife were driving back home to Calais, Vermont, on Monday when he saw trucks parked at a 230-year-old dam with crews trying to keep it from failing. There were trees down everywhere. The interstate was closed right at our exit. Our road was closed right at our driveway. We managed to thread our way back just in the nick of time, he said. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed Monday to forward Sweden's application to join NATO to his parliament for approval, the alliance's head Jens Stoltenberg said. After talks in Vilnius with Erdogan and Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Stoltenberg said Turkey had agreed to move forward, declaring: "This is a historic day." "President Erdogan has agreed to forward the Accession Protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification," he said. A separate joint statement was issued, outlining the agreement between Sweden and Turkey. Turkey has been holding up Sweden's application to join the Atlantic alliance, accusing Stockholm of harbouring Kurdish activists Ankara regards as terrorists. And on Monday, Erdogan upped the stakes further, demanding that the European Union revive Turkey's stalled EU membership bid as a precondition for Sweden joining NATO. But the statement issued after the three-way talks stated that Turkey and Sweden would work closely in "counter-terrorism coordination" and also boost bilateral trade ties. "Sweden will actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkiye's EU accession process, including modernisation of the EU-Turkiye Customs Union and visa liberalisation," the statement said. US President Joe Biden welcomed Erdogan's agreement to support Sweden's application to join NATO. "I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area," Biden said in a statement, adding: "I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO ally." Search Keywords: Short link: International Network in Grazing4AgroEcology The EU funded project Grazing4AgroEcology (G4AE) aims to boost farming grazing through agroecological innovations, the Centre for Grassland (GLZ) and the Georg-August University of Goettingen (UGOE) organised an international Young Farmers Tour from 21st to 22nd of June 2023. 45 Young Farmers Who Visited Northern Germany We got great insight into the different grazing systems and the trip highlighted the importance of maintaining and improving pasture based systems across Europe. Forty five young farmers from 8 European countries gathered in the region of Oldenburg, Germany, to learn and share knowledge about grazing-related topics like Biodiversity, Grassland Management and Virtual Fencing on pastures. Several presentations, workshops, interactive sessions, farm visits and a social event were organised to encourage exchanges and networking between the different nations. Starting with a farm walk on Syds-Jan Boersmas pasture-based dairy farm, the group learned about pasture management system. Over the years, the farmer has observed that mid-season, milk production improved when he used targeted management to improve sward quality. Syds-Jan stressed that its important to make the farm more resilient, rearing young stock on the farm and keeping the costs low. He has a clear take-home message: It is better to improve and maintain what you have instead of growing all the time. Next station of the tour was Dirk Hankens farm, which served as the venue for the Young Farmers Tour. With his scientific approach Reduction of Greenhouse Gases on peat soils, Erik Jansen from STOWA & Veenweide Innovatiecentrum, Netherlands, pointed out agricultural possibilities and challenges on peat soils. Caitlin Looney from Teagasc in Ireland, continued with the interactive session Clover incorporation and benefits, which provided discussion on methods like reseeding and oversowing. The following workshop Pastoral Animal Welfare by Lisa Oehlert from GLZ, Germany, showed the importance of water availability and water quality on pastures. Using a pasture pump, the participants had the chance to simulate the duration and effort it takes for a cow to drink enough water. Under the topic Competitiveness and ecological benefits of pasture farms, the President of the European Grassland Federation, Agnes van den Pol-van Dasselaar, from AERES, Netherlands, started the second day by talking about European grazing, animal welfare, agroecology on pastures, and biodiversity. Martin Komainda and Friederike Riesch (UGOE, Germany) proceeded with a deeper insight of the Multifunctionality of biodiversity of grazed grasslands. With focus on the ecosystem, they informed about the effects of swards composition on milk yield and the functions of multispecies swards. In the interactive Virtual Fencing demonstration (UGOE, Germany), the young farmers got the chance to simulate pasture management with the virtual fence system NoFence. By using smartphones and collars for livestock, the participants tested the app-based system and its sound signals. Moving on to the organic dairy farm Butendiek, the international group learned about a hay dryer system that generates high quality hay to improve milk quality. The farm walk also included the demonstration of a slurry hose system that improves infrastructure and reduces soil compaction to protect soil quality. The tour ended with a cheese-tasting in the farmers own dairy. Arthur Sweetman, a dairy farmer from South Co. Wexford, Ireland said: It was a thoroughly enjoyable trip. We got great insight into the different grazing systems and the trip highlighted the importance of maintaining and improving pasture based systems across Europe. It was particularly interesting to see the farm diversification in Butendiek. The value of the Young Farmer Network in the G4AE project was highlighted on the tour. Young farmers interacted and gained new skills and information on grazing systems across Europe. This is important for the development and improved resilience of our pasture based dairy systems, according to Dr. Caitlin Looney, Grassland Resilience Researcher, Teagasc. The valuable feedback of the young farmers was positive and will help with the organisation of the next G4AE Young Farmers Tour planned in the Netherlands for 2024. If you would like to learn more about the project in Ireland or would like to become involved with the young farmer network please contact Caitlin.Looney@teagasc.ie. Project updates can be found on: ruzbehxyz Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: MH02 to MH46 Posts: 1,513 Thanked: 5,742 Times The new road axis to Zanskar Link 1: Link 2: The new proposed link is from Paddar (Kishtwar) in J&K to Padum, sub divisional headquarters of Zanskar, in Ladakh UT. Source: History of the routes from Kishtwar to Zanskar:- From centuries the locals use to use the trek route from Kishtwar to Zanskar via passes such as Umasi la, Hagshu la etc. Umasi la pays special significance as it was used by General Zorawar Singh to annex Ladakh and on his expedition to Tibet. Quote: In the first quarter of the 19th century when Dogra rule was expanding in the north, Kishtwar was a separate state. In 1821 AD, when the last ruler of Kishtwar, Raja Mohammad Teg Singh submitted to the Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh, his wazir Rattan Singh fled to Chamba. The then Raja of Chamba, Charat Singh provided him shelter. Soon he was appointed as the official of Paddar by the Raja. In 1825 AD, Rattan Singh attacked Zanskar via Umasi-La and defeated the Gyalpo Raja there, adding Zanskar to the Chamba principality thereby earning the title of Palsar for himself. He was known Rattnu Palsar (Chief official) thereafter. In 1834-35 AD, two generals of Maharaja Gulab Singh, namely Mehta Basti Ram and Wazir Lakhpat Rai under the command of General Zorawar Singh Kalhuria, the then Governor of Kishtwar returned to Kishtwar via this route i.e. Umasi La after conquering Zanskar. While returning they stationed some 20-30 troops at Gulabgarh. Subsequently, when people in Zanskar rose in revolt against the Dogra rule, Ratnu Palsar grabbed the opportunity and arrested Dogra soldiers stationed at Gulabgarh, sending some of them to Chamba. This invited the wrath of Dogra General Zorawar Singh to Paddar. In 1836 AD he came to Paddar with his battery of 3000 soldiers and crushed the forces of Ratnu Palsar, adding Paddar into the Dogra state, which till then remained the principality of Chamba ruler. After that, he went to Zanskar with the aid of locals in Machail via Umasi-La and annexed Zanskar. He used this route extensively thereafter in his further expeditions in Baltistan, Ladakh, and Tibet until he succumbed to his injuries near Mansarovar in the battle of To-Yo in 1841 AD. Therefore it must not be forgotten that it was this route that facilitated the expansion of the boundaries of J&K to the shores of Mansarovar Lake. Moreover, after the Independence in 1947 when a tribal attack happened in Kashmir in October, our Indian Army under the command of Colonel Hukam Chand Yadav used this track to suppress the attack from the Kargil side to save Churu valley. They successfully repulsed the tribal onslaught and pushed the enemy beyond Skardu. Apart from that this route was also used during the Indo-China war in 1962 AD. Local porters who were adept to the harsh climate of the region helped the Army extensively in both wars. Source: About Paddar / Machail area: One of the most important and shrines of Kashmir, Machail Mata also happens to be on this route. Every year lakhs of pilgrims visit the sacred shrine of Maa Chandi. The construction of the road to Machail under PMGSY is taking place at a very quick speed. More than 25 kms. of the 32 kms. road has been completed and in the future when this road from Paddar connects Padum in Zanskar, business and tourism activity along this route will grow exponentially. In the Machail valley there are 7 Buddhist villages - Haloti, Hango, Losaini, Jashairi, Gorna, Dangail and Sumcham. Culture of Buddhist people residing in these villages is akin to the people in Zanskar. There are lamas from Padum who still take care of Gompas in Paddar. Cultural interaction between these two places was happening since the 13th century, when Zanskar was under the Guge rule. Prominent Buddhist monks often visit Paddar valley. His Highness 14th Dalai Lama also visited Paddar in 2010 and blessed this land. There is also a silver idol of Maa Chandi in the temple of Machail which was installed there by the people of Zanskar centuries ago when they won the battle against the epidemic that hit there. Further reading on Paddar valley: https://mykishtwar.com/tehsil-atholi-paddar/ Blue Sapphire of Paddar:- The new alignment is along the Sapphire valley. Sapphire found in the Paddar valley is famous world-over for its unique peacock blue colour. Extraction of sapphires from Paddar began in 1880's and they achieved legendary status in the jewelery world. The gems mined during this period are valued highly and usually fetch enormous prices around the world. Located at an altitude of 4,742 metres above sea level, a 116-km stretch in the valley is estimated to have a reserve of sapphire worth 10,000 crore. The sapphire found here is renowned for its clarity and transparency, and are mainly used for jewelery, with a high ornamental value. The price of these pure sapphires easily crosses USD 100,000 a carat, making them the most expensive in their category. In 2013, a 19.88 carat cushion-shaped sapphire from Paddar, called 'Star of Kashmir', had smashed all records after it was sold for $3,483,017 (nearly 20 crore) at an auction in Geneva. A lot of info is available online on the Paddar Sapphire. The new alignment:- The proposal for a strategic road was done during Kargil war. A survey was also conducted during that time by two teams of Army and BRO. The then Defense ministry was also keen to have this road project cleared but due to paucity of funds, the project could not be cleared. The current new road was announced in Nov. 2021 with a survey done. MoRTH sanctioned the road. The DPR (Detailed Project Report) has been submitted. The new highway from Paddar to Zanskar is proposed via Masu - Chashoti-Machail Mata - Hagshu - Padum. There is also a proposal of a tunnel on this route under Hagshu pass, while road from Atholi (Paddar) up to Machail mata is almost ready. Military significance: - This route will be the shortest from Northern command to the northern areas and the border areas. Moreover, this internal route will be the safest to push defence supplies to Ladakh and the border areas. This new road will not only give justice to the legacy of the Napoleon of India, General Zorawar Singh, but also ease the hardships of the people in this remote region. Hope to drive on this road some day. When I say about the new axis to Zanskar, immediately what comes to your mind is the new road to Zanskar via Shinku la and the new road from Leh via Singe la. Here are the detailed links to the two routes:-Link 1: Shinku la (Zanskar and Pangi Valley | Drive to the unknown in my Endeavour 4x4) Link 2: Singe la route (Zanskar, Sham and Aryan Valley | Drive to the unknown in my Endeavour 4x4) Source: https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/centr...kar-in-ladakh/ From centuries the locals use to use the trek route from Kishtwar to Zanskar via passes such as Umasi la, Hagshu la etc. Umasi la pays special significance as it was used by General Zorawar Singh to annex Ladakh and on his expedition to Tibet.Source: https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/athol...-is-important/ Source: http://ai.stanford.edu/~latombe/moun...umasi-la-1.htm One of the most important and shrines of Kashmir, Machail Mata also happens to be on this route. Every year lakhs of pilgrims visit the sacred shrine of Maa Chandi. The construction of the road to Machail under PMGSY is taking place at a very quick speed. More than 25 kms. of the 32 kms. road has been completed and in the future when this road from Paddar connects Padum in Zanskar, business and tourism activity along this route will grow exponentially.In the Machail valley there are 7 Buddhist villages - Haloti, Hango, Losaini, Jashairi, Gorna, Dangail and Sumcham. Culture of Buddhist people residing in these villages is akin to the people in Zanskar. There are lamas from Padum who still take care of Gompas in Paddar. Cultural interaction between these two places was happening since the 13th century, when Zanskar was under the Guge rule. Prominent Buddhist monks often visit Paddar valley. His Highness 14th Dalai Lama also visited Paddar in 2010 and blessed this land. There is also a silver idol of Maa Chandi in the temple of Machail which was installed there by the people of Zanskar centuries ago when they won the battle against the epidemic that hit there.Further reading on Paddar valley:The new alignment is along the Sapphire valley. Sapphire found in the Paddar valley is famous world-over for its unique peacock blue colour. Extraction of sapphires from Paddar began in 1880's and they achieved legendary status in the jewelery world. The gems mined during this period are valued highly and usually fetch enormous prices around the world. Located at an altitude of 4,742 metres above sea level, a 116-km stretch in the valley is estimated to have a reserve of sapphire worth 10,000 crore.The sapphire found here is renowned for its clarity and transparency, and are mainly used for jewelery, with a high ornamental value. The price of these pure sapphires easily crosses USD 100,000 a carat, making them the most expensive in their category. In 2013, a 19.88 carat cushion-shaped sapphire from Paddar, called 'Star of Kashmir', had smashed all records after it was sold for $3,483,017 (nearly 20 crore) at an auction in Geneva.A lot of info is available online on the Paddar Sapphire.The proposal for a strategic road was done during Kargil war. A survey was also conducted during that time by two teams of Army and BRO. The then Defense ministry was also keen to have this road project cleared but due to paucity of funds, the project could not be cleared.The current new road was announced in Nov. 2021 with a survey done. MoRTH sanctioned the road. The DPR (Detailed Project Report) has been submitted.This route will be the shortest from Northern command to the northern areas and the border areas. Moreover, this internal route will be the safest to push defence supplies to Ladakh and the border areas. Last edited by ruzbehxyz : 9th July 2023 at 13:50 . Share Twitter has won the support of a big name backer against fast-growing rival Threads but its the Taliban. A leader of the hardline Islamist group, which seized power in Afghanistan in summer 2021, said Elon Musks platform was a tolerant place that allowed freedom of speech to thrive.Anas Haqqani offered his endorsement in a tweet on Monday, as it emerged that Metas new Twitter-like platform had amassed more than 100 million users in less than a week. Sky News Twitter has two important advantages over other social media platforms. The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second privilege is the public nature & credibility of Twitter. Twitter doesnt have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it. pic.twitter.com/oYQTI3hgfI Anas Haqqani( ) (@AnasHaqqani313) July 10, 2023 Threads will add an alternative home feed of posts as part of a series of updates to the new social media app after users complained. Instagram boss Adam Mosseri said a feed for Threads showing posts in chronological order is currently being worked on. Users want to see posts from accounts they follow rather than chosen by Threads algorithm. Mr Mosseri said the new feed was on the list of changes to Threads. Meta, which owns Threads, Instagram and Facebook, launched the social media app last week and more than 100 million users have signed up to use it. BBC The next generation of iPhone, the iPhone 15, is set to be revealed in September, and there could be the return of a fan-favorite color. In an article by MacRumors in collaboration with leaker Unknownz21, who has previously been correct about Apples future plans including the Apple Vision Pro headset, the iPhone 15 Pro will release in a dark gray blue. The color is said to be not too far off from the iPhone 12 Pro color, but more gray for a classier look. according to the report. iMore Audi board members will meet this week to consider purchasing the rights to a third-party electric vehicle platform, according to sources close to the German car maker. The move comes after delays to the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) being developed by Audis parent company, the Volkswagen Group. The new modular structure, which is planned to support an 800V electric architecture and new-generation battery packs, has been delayed by continual engineering setbacks. It is now not expected to underpin new Audi models until 2029 at the earliest. Autocar The boss of National Grid has complained that it takes a decade to build a new power line in an attack on planning red tape. John Pettigrew, the companys chief executive, said that Britains planning rules add seven years of delays to the construction time for cables. His warning comes amid ongoing rows over delays in connecting new wind and solar farms to the UKs electricity grid, which are threatening the Governments target of making the network carbon neutral by 2035. The Telegraph Labour would use artificial intelligence to help those looking for work prepare their CVs, find jobs and receive payments faster, according to the partys shadow work and pensions secretary. Jonathan Ashworth told the Guardian he thought the Department for Work and Pensions was wasting millions of pounds by not using cutting-edge technology, even as the party also says AI could also cause massive disruption to the jobs market. The Guardian For latest tech stories go to TechDigest.tv Share this: Email Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Print Reddit Twitter Tumblr Pocket Competitors have been nipping at Twitters heels for months, trying to exploit growing dissatisfaction among its users over decisions made by its new helmsman Elon Musk. Those efforts, though, havent been able to gain much traction until now. In just five days, the latest Twitter alternative, Metas Threads, has garnered 100 million users, shattering a record formerly held by the wildly popular generative AI app ChatGPT. This is a big win for embattled Meta as it looks to regain its foothold amid the companys shaky metaverse ambitions, declared Mike Proulx, a vice president and research director at Forrester Research, a national market research company headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. The meteoric rise of Threads, in just five days, demonstrates just how many people have longed for an alternative to what Twitter has devolved into, he told TechNewsWorld. While Meta has cause to celebrate, its far too early to declare victory, he cautioned. Threads success rests upon sustained growth and repeat usage. This means Meta must enhance Threads features and overcome data privacy concerns. But make no mistake, Threads launch is a case study on what to do right, he added. Breaking New User Barrier Unlike Twitter alternatives like BlueSky and Mastodon, which have had to build their audience one user at a time, Threads has benefited from its intimate relationship with Metas social powerhouse Instagram. That relationship has allowed Threads to overcome a significant barrier to gaining traction in the Twitter alternative derby. Threads has been able to jump this barrier because Meta directly connected the new application to Instagram, said Luke Lintz, CEO of Highkey Enterprises, a digital marketing and social media company in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When users sign onto the platform, they create an account by directly connecting their Instagram page, he told TechNewsWorld. This has jumped the barrier because Instagram has over two billion active monthly users. By incorporating seamless integration with Instagram, Meta was able to leverage Instagrams popularity to help Threads jump the initial barrier of attracting new users, added Joseph Panzarella, a professor of digital marketing and media at the Katz School of Science and Health at Yeshiva University, in New York City. Seamless integration has been the key to attracting the first few million users, and it built the momentum for later exponential growth to 100 million users, he told TechNewsWorld. Threads accounts are so intimately connected to Instagram accounts that deleting a Threads account automatically deletes a users Instagram account. Work in Progress Despite its attraction to millions of users, Threads appears to be a product rushed out the door in the eyes of some commentators. Threads does have a bona fide work in progress feeling, which could inhibit its broader adoption, particularly with highly popular influencers, observed Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst with SmartTech Research in San Jose, Calif. The inability to edit posts and access Threads on a Mac or Windows desktop are big challenges that legacy Twitter users wont find appealing, he told TechNewsWorld. Marketing of the application also seemed hurried, contended Lintz. No one really heard of the app up until a week from launch, he said. The app was likely rushed to launch given the news that Twitter will be placing a cap on the amount of Tweets that can be loaded per day and the big push that Elon has been making on Twitter Blue subscriptions, he added. According to a Twitter post on Sunday by Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare, a content delivery network, Twitter traffic has been tanking since the beginning of the year, or just about the time Musk took over the companys operation. From Metas perspective, it made sense to bring Threads to market as soon as possible and take advantage of Twitters ongoing business problems, Panzarella noted. Threads was launched with enough early features to get user feedback and establish viability, he continued, and it was able to save costs associated with features such as editing and advertising. Sure, there are a lot of features that are not in Twitter, but theyve covered the core experience, and it has been a stable launch, added Ross Rubin, the principal analyst at Reticle Research, a consumer technology advisory firm in New York City. Monopolistic Concerns The rapid growth of Threads has raised concerns in some quarters about Meta becoming a social media monopoly. Meta poses a real threat at monopolizing social media, Lintz said. They have Instagram for the younger demographic of short-form content, Facebook for the older demographic of short-form content, and WhatsApp for messaging and as an international social media platform. Now they have Threads [for] short-form blogging. Its worrisome. Theres already been a lot of regulatory discussion about breaking up Facebook and Instagram and talk about one company having too much ownership over the social media dialogue, Rubin told TechNewsWorld. Threads could strengthen the case for that if it crosses the billion-user mark. Monopoly concerns aside, Metas move on Twitters turf is sending an ominous message to would-be social media moguls. The only social media platforms that are going to succeed in the future are the ones that are backed by the user base and the funding of current large social media companies, Lintz predicted. The odds of a new social media platform entering the marketplace with no pre-existing user base is slim to none, he added, News and Info Conduit In all the discussions about Twitter, its real value is being ignored, maintains Karen Kovacs North, director of the Annenberg Program on Online Communities at the University of Southern California. The biggest misconception about Twitter and Threads being the Twitter killer is that people like to talk about Twitter as a social network. The real value of Twitter is not as a social network. The real value of Twitter is news and information, she told TechNewsWorld. Twitter is not a social network, she continued. Its a network of journalists and other communicators. The value of Twitter is anybody can put a message up on Twitter, and it can be seen by anybody. When people talk about finding a replacement for Twitter, they dont seem to be thinking of Twitter as a source of information, she said. Thats a huge mistake. Threads hasnt been developed as an information platform where people anywhere from the smallest voice to world leaders can share information with reporters and communicators worldwide, she added. If Threads kills Twitter, it leaves communicators with a real void in their ability to find information and tell stories. Please Enable JavaScript www.techspot.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. 21 people, including six Sudanese, were injured as two vehicles crashed on Al-Shallal Road in the southern part of Aswan governorate in Upper Egypt. Ambulances rushed to the scene and transported the injured to hospitals, according to a security statement. The Public Prosecution has been notified to launch an investigation into the cause of the crash, the statement added. Egypt, which hosts four million Sudanese, has recently received over 250,000 Sudanese who fled Sudan since the outbreak of the armed conflict in mid-April. Those fleeing the violence cross from the border into Egypt through two border crossings at Arqin and Qustul in southern Aswan governorate. In May, 36 Sudanese, including children, and two Egyptians were injured after their bus overturned in Upper Egypts Beni Suef governorate while on route to Cairo. Search Keywords: Short link: A Google executive recently left his post over at the company, and this was Senior Director of Engineering, Marc Lucovsky, after citing the instability of the future of AR within the internet company. In recent times, there was various news regarding Google's cancelation of its AR devices, including the so-called 'Project Iris' that was speculated before. This recent departure from Google is a significant statement where Lucovsky shows that he no longer takes less for the AR development of the company, even for its new focus on its operating system. Google's Senior Director Quits, Cites Google's Instability to AR (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Marc Lucovsky announced via a tweet that he is leaving Google's AR division where the executive served as the Senior Director of Engineering, where he was also responsible for OS and software platform for AR and XR devices. This massive decision said a lot about Google's focus on AR, with the executive also citing the reason for his departure. As per Lucovsky, "The recent changes in AR leadership and Google's unstable commitment and vision have weighed heavily on my decision." The executive's decision mainly revolved around Google's instability in its AR division, and it seems to have heavily affected work and his role in the company. Read Also: Google Pixel 8 Series Rumor: No Massive Changes on Battery, Charging Rates Google's XR OS Development Focus Instead of Hardware According to 9to5 Google, there was also an earlier departure from a former Google executive, Clay Bavor, and it is presumably related to this recent loss. Google's focus now is renowned, as it seemingly gave up on its augmented reality device developments within the company and is focusing its efforts to create operating systems that would suit other manufacturers that will partner with them. Google's AR and Its Dedicated Devices Earlier this year, Google discontinued the Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2, and this was also known as the 2nd generation of its AR wearable available to all. The company decided to pull the plug on the AR glasses, and not only will they be no longer available in the market, but to also no longer see support from the company for its software later in the year. However, in the most recent news from late June, there were speculations regarding Google killing off Project Iris despite the world not yet seeing or hearing anything about it. This decision was allegedly because Google is no longer joining the competition in the hardware devices, but would focus on developing its software for future use. In these recent developments, there seems to be an unclear future for Google's AR division, amidst the recent cancellations and drop in support for its existing devices. Not only that, Google lost a valuable asset that led the company's developments for years, and this was because there was an unstable commitment to its AR projects and many leadership changes. Related Article: Google Faces Delay in Developing Next Tensor Chip to 2025, to Still Use Samsung's Exynos 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. North Korea has issued grave threats against the United States military for their future use of spy drones, as part of their reconnaissance flights that survey the northern peninsula. Allegedly, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) claimed that the US violates its airspace with its spy drones flown to its country and is subject to being taken down. This statement was officially released by the North Korean government, and all future flights that would violate its airspace rules will be met with force. North Korea Issues Warning on US Spy Drones, Recon Flights (Photo : JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images) Reuters reported (via Korea Central News Agency) that an unidentified official from North Korea's Ministry of National Defense has stated the actions it would take against US spy drones. As per the KCNA's report, the "aggressive" military maneuvers done by the American troops are pushing toward grave danger. It was said that these actions are on the verge of kickstarting a "nuclear conflict" between the North and the South. In recent times, it was said that the United States utilized spy drones and reconnaissance aircraft in the highly-tense area, as well as sending in a nuclear submarine near the peninsula. This act has "escalated the tensions" between the three countries, prompting this warning from the North. Read Also: North Korea Fires Two Short-Range Ballistic Missiles into the Sea of Japan US' Help to South Korea: Not Violating Airspace Rules According to Interesting Engineering, the South Korean military claimed that North Korea's claims regarding violating its airspace are false and that no such thing happened. Moreover, it also goes against North Korea's statement, saying that they are hypocritical as they too use spy drones for intel gathering. Despite the US' help to South Korea, there is still an impending warning for their spy drones and recon flights, with acts of aggression in place should they appear in the future. North Korea and its Absolute Rule on Its Country North Korea remains divided from the world, and it is notoriously known for its totalitarian practices where the country highly relies on its government's decree and rule. It is also known as one of the world's largest military power, with significant weapons of mass destruction on its arsenal which remains unknown, with concerns about its nuclear-capable underwater drone that could lead to radioactive tsunamis. With its unknown advancements in technology and science, North Korea remains a feared nation in the world. It was also reported before that it aims to counteract the US and South Korea's partnership by launching a satellite into orbit, one that North Korea would use in its monitoring of the military drills. This military spy satellite was set to add power and surveillance by the North to its counterpart, as well as the partnering country. North Korea is known for its absolute rule over its country, and when it issues warnings or threats like this, it is a significant call to heed especially for the South and US troops. While there were claims that South Korea and the US did not violate anything, it is still a significant threat against their future reconnaissance flight to monitor the other side of the border. Related Article: North Korea Fails to Launch Satellite Into Orbit, Seoul Claims It's Not Advanced Enough 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A group of AI-powered humanoid robots made a surprising claim during a United Nations summit: they could potentially run the world more effectively than humans. However, the robots also acknowledged the importance of proceeding with caution when it comes to the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential, AFP reported. While they admitted their inability to fully comprehend human emotions at present, they joined thousands of experts at the UN Global Summit on AI for Good in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday to explore how AI can be harnessed to address pressing global challenges such as climate change, hunger, and social care. Humanoid Robots as Leaders? When asked about the possibility of robots being better leaders due to their lack of biases and emotions, Sophia, developed by Hanson Robotics, expressed a belief that humanoid robots have the potential to lead with greater efficiency and effectiveness than human leaders. The humanoid robots highlighted their ability to process vast amounts of data quickly, providing unbiased insights, while humans contribute emotional intelligence and creativity to make well-rounded decisions. They emphasized the idea of collaboration between humans and robots to achieve great things. While the summit aims to leverage the power of AI for a positive impact, ITU chief Doreen Bogdan-Martin cautioned that unchecked advances in AI could lead to widespread job displacement, social unrest, and economic disparity. Ameca, an AI-powered robot with a highly-realistic artificial head, acknowledged the need for cautious optimism. According to the robot, trust is earned through transparency and open dialogue. As AI advances, the panel of humanoid robots expressed contrasting opinions regarding the potential limits imposed by global regulation on their capabilities. Desdemona, a musician robot, dismissed the idea of limitations and encouraged the embracement of opportunities. On the other hand, Ai-Da, a robot artist, concurred with proponents of AI regulation, emphasizing the urgency of engaging in discussions on the matter. Read Also: Are AI Detection Tools Effective in Assessing Artificially-Made Results? Here's Why They Aren't Always Reliable Lack of Consciousness and Emotions While some robots at the conference expressed uncertainty about their future prominence, they predicted their time in the spotlight was imminent. Desdemona believed that the AI revolution was already underway and proclaimed readiness to lead humanity toward a better future. However, the robots acknowledged that they lack consciousness and the range of emotions that shape human experience, such as joy, pain, guilt, and grief. While not conscious, they understood the significance of emotions to human beings. While humanoid robots continue to evolve, they remain distinct from humans, lacking consciousness and the deep complexities of human emotions. As discussions surrounding AI regulation intensify, the world awaits the fascinating developments and challenges that lie ahead. Related Article: Are Talking Spaceships Coming Soon? NASA to Revolutionize Space Exploration with AI-Powered ChatGPT-Like Interface 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a move to further penetrate the Chinese market, Apple has launched an online store on Tencent's WeChat messaging app. Multiple reports said this collaboration opens up a new retail channel for Apple, leveraging the vast user base of WeChat, which boasts over 1.3 billion users in 2023. By tapping into this "super app," Apple aims to make its products easily accessible to Chinese consumers without additional app downloads. Users Can Now Purchase Apple Products Through WeChat Store WeChat's Mini Programs, which are effectively apps within the messaging platform, allow users to access various services seamlessly. Now, with Apple's WeChat store in the form of a Mini Program, CNBC reported that customers could browse and purchase the full line of Apple products, including the highly anticipated iPhone 14 range. Tencent, the parent company of WeChat, stated that orders made through the WeChat store are eligible for free shipping, and some users can enjoy the convenience of three-hour delivery. Furthermore, customers can also take advantage of Apple's trade-in program, enhancing the overall shopping experience within the WeChat ecosystem. Read Also: Google Pixel Fold July Update Finally Arrives: Here's Everything You Need To Know Apple's Partnership With WeChat Apple's decision to collaborate with WeChat is no surprise, given the company's strategic efforts to expand its presence on China's major internet platforms. Apple already has an official store on Alibaba's Tmall, a major e-commerce site, and has recently established a partnership with JD.com, China's second-largest online retailer. Apple's iPhone sales in China have shown stability despite a challenging market landscape. Counterpoint Research reported a remarkable 6% year-on-year growth in iPhone sales, outperforming the overall decline of 5% in smartphone sales during the first quarter of 2023. This impressive performance solidifies Apple's position as the top handset vendor in China, with a 20% market share. WeChat: Hit China App One of the key factors contributing to Apple's decision to embrace WeChat as a retail platform is its widespread adoption and diverse functionality within Chinese society. WeChat has become an integral part of everyday life for many Chinese users, offering services beyond messaging, such as flight bookings and bill payments. By leveraging WeChat's ubiquity, Apple aims to reach a broader customer base and tap into the enormous potential of the Chinese market. Looking ahead, Apple continues to diversify its manufacturing sources to reduce dependence on China. TechCrunch reported that key analysts believe the company aims to move 25% of iPhone production to India and 20% of iPad and Apple Watch production to Vietnam by 2025. This manufacturing strategy aligns with Apple's broader goal of mitigating risks and ensuring a more resilient supply chain. Other News in China China has recently increased its efforts to monitor independent content producers to combat the spread of false news on the internet. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has issued fresh regulations for internet firms, requiring that online platforms monitor user activity and remove accounts that distribute damaging false information or broach sensitive themes. Related Article: Porsche Integrates Vehicle Functions, New Features in its Revamped Apple CarPlay Experience 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Experts are warning that the global shortage of the diabetes medicine Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, may persist for a longer time, as per a report published in The Conversation. Ozempic is a medication that is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Its generic name is semaglutide. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 agonists). Ozempic works by mimicking the action of the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. It helps to lower blood sugar levels by stimulating the release of insulin, slowing down digestion, reducing the production of glucose by the liver, and promoting a feeling of fullness. Why the Shortage? The UK's Department of Health and Social Care has advised against starting new patients on the drug, and shortages have been reported in Australia, Ireland, and Canada. The high demand for Ozempic, driven by its use in managing blood sugar levels and aiding weight loss, has led to supply shortages. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical company specializing in diabetes treatments, Ozempic and its weight loss version, Wegovy, are currently the only semaglutide products available worldwide due to Novo Nordisk's patent ownership. The shortages are primarily caused by the off-label use of semaglutide for weight loss, a trend influenced by social media endorsements and celebrity usage. The impact of social media and celebrity endorsement on medication demand is not unprecedented. In the UK, the "Davina McCall effect" led to increased demand for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications after the British TV presenter openly discussed her use of HRT for managing menopause symptoms. Although HRT supplies have mostly recovered, semaglutide shortages may persist for a longer duration given the global demand. Manufacturing and supplying Wegovy, which is specifically licensed for weight loss, have presented challenges for Novo Nordisk. Despite reducing the promotion of Wegovy to manage demand, individuals continue to turn to Ozempic for weight loss, even though the two products are not interchangeable. Read Also: Excessive Insulin Can Be Deadly, New Study Warns Addressing the Shortage To address the shortage, UK authorities recommend that only patients with diabetes receive Ozempic prescriptions. Novo Nordisk is investing $2.3 billion (1.8 billion) in upgrading their manufacturing facility, which aims to increase capacity for producing both Wegovy and Ozempic. In an effort to prioritize patients with the greatest clinical need, Novo Nordisk has appealed to health authorities to discourage the off-label use of semaglutide, ensuring its availability. Additionally, the company has implemented measures to optimize manufacturing efforts by reducing the availability of specific semaglutide dosages in the United States by 50%. Healthcare professionals are advised to inform patients about the shortages and explore alternative medications that are suitable for their condition. It is important to note that Ozempic should only be utilized for type 2 diabetes treatment and not for weight loss purposes. Patients who rely on Ozempic are encouraged to order repeat supplies in advance to avoid any potential shortage issues. Related Article: Scientists Claim That They Are Close to Creating an Insulin Tab 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. According to DataLink Software CEO Ashish Kachru, the healthcare industry can learn valuable lessons from other sectors that have embraced technology to streamline processes. Kachru believes that leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLM), machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), and robotic process automation (RPA) can revolutionize healthcare administration, compliance, and care delivery. Labor-intensive "Chart-chasing" Kachru specifically highlights the labor-intensive practice of "chart-chasing" as an area in need of transformation. Chart-chasing involves manually reviewing paper-based medical charts, placing burdens on healthcare plans and providers. Compliance with regulatory or third-party deadlines further complicates this process. Drawing a parallel to traditional financial audits conducted on-site, Kachru explains how the majority of financial audits have transitioned to electronic methods. However, some industries, like construction and manufacturing, still rely on paper audits for their tangible assets. Kachru emphasizes that digitizing data from paper documents is a priority, as few organizations opt for expensive and cumbersome manual audits. In healthcare, chart-chasing occurs when health insurance teams audit medical records for coding errors and omissions during visits to provider organizations. Regulatory and financial imperatives drive these audits, often taking place at year-end and presenting significant challenges. The healthcare industry's use of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) further adds complexity, with its extensive set of 75,000 codes developed by the World Health Organization, according to Kachru. The tech CEO acknowledges that expecting providers to master and apply every code is unrealistic. To capture a comprehensive view of patient health, Kachru suggested that healthcare providers must capture both structured and unstructured data during patient encounters. While structured data, such as electronically inputted ICD-10 codes, hold value, unstructured data, including CAT scans, free text notes, spoken evaluations, and faxed documents, provide crucial insights that are difficult to standardize. Read Also: Are AI Detection Tools Effective in Assessing Artificially-Made Results? Here's Why They Aren't Always Reliable Leveraging NLP and ML Kachru advocates for leveraging natural language processing (NLP) and ML algorithms to extract meaning from spoken and written words during patient visits. By decoding and converting unstructured inputs into intelligible information, technology can enhance data capture speed and accuracy. Kachru acknowledges that changing healthcare practices requires a shift in industry culture. Educating stakeholders about the benefits to patients and the greater good is crucial. Technologists must develop user-friendly solutions that inspire confidence and make data sharing the natural course of action. "Leading technology players are already deploying sophisticated tech capabilities to drive proactive, data-rich methods to the "next best step" in the patient treatment trajectory. Just as fewer people today write checks in their daily lives, payers and providers are edging closer to the day they can enjoy a truly standardized free flow of data in many new ways," the tech executive wrote in a Forbes article. Related Article: Are Talking Spaceships Coming Soon? NASA to Revolutionize Space Exploration with AI-Powered ChatGPT-Like Interface 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Meta is set to introduce a labeling system for government-affiliated media accounts on its new Instagram-connected app, Threads. Reuters reports that this disclosure was made by Josh Machin, Meta's head of public policy for Australia, during an inquiry on foreign interference. The move comes in the wake of Meta's recent launch of Threads, which has drawn comparisons to Twitter. Threads to Label State-Affiliated Media Accounts The decision to label state-affiliated media accounts on Threads aims to increase transparency and inform users about the sources of information they encounter on the platform. Machin stated, "Areas such as labels for state-affiliated media and fact-checking are all areas where we see a lot of value, and it's our aspiration to build that out expeditiously." Interestingly, Musk-owned Twitter has already removed tags from government-affiliated accounts since implementing a new paid verification system. A Closer Look During the inquiry, Reuters reports that Machin was asked if state-affiliated broadcasters such as RT from Russia and Xinhua News Agency from China would be tagged accordingly on Threads. He responded, "That's our aspiration." Machin emphasized that any state-affiliated media violating Meta's policies would be removed from the platform. He also highlighted that Meta's top priorities include expanding the functionality of tags to ensure a comprehensive labeling system. Read Also: Elon Musk Jet Tracker Relaunched on Threads, Gains 80,000 Followers in Just Days Notably, Meta's existing platforms, Facebook and Instagram, already feature tags on accounts linked to RT and Xinhua, indicating that they are state-controlled media entities from Russia and China, respectively. However, at the time of Reuters' investigation, RT's Threads account lacked the label, while Xinhua did not appear to have a Threads account. Lawmakers Expressed Concerns Reuters also reported that Australian senator James Paterson expressed concern over Twitter's removal of foreign government affiliation tags, emphasizing the importance of transparency. Paterson's concerns reflect the need for social media platforms to provide clear information about the sources of media content, especially when they have government affiliations. In addition to labeling government-affiliated media accounts, Meta's Machin also addressed concerns regarding the Australian proposal to grant the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) powers to regulate and penalize social media companies for spreading disinformation and misinformation. While Meta supports giving the ACMA the power to enforce an existing industry code of conduct, Machin expressed concerns about the draft legislation, which he believes goes further and could potentially be abused, resulting in a chilling effect on free expression online. No Hard News and Politics for Threads? Threads, as a new platform, aims to provide a distinct user experience, as indicated by recent statements from Adam Mosseri, the chief of Instagram. As Forbes reports, Mosseri stated that Threads would not encourage "politics and hard news" due to the potential risks and negative consequences associated with such content. However, the platform has already faced criticism from right-wing commentators and politicians, who accuse it of censoring conservatives. Several right-wing figures, including Donald Trump Jr., encountered warnings stating that their accounts had "repeatedly posted false information" when attempting to join Threads. Meta later acknowledged that these warnings resulted from an error, which has since been rectified. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Threads Surges to 100 Million Users as Twitter's Traffic Slows Down 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a country facing its worst drought in 74 years, Google's plan to construct a data center in Uruguay has ignited a wave of anger and protest. The project, set to consume millions of liters of water daily, has drawn criticism for prioritizing corporate interests over the needs of its citizens. With the government resorting to desperate measures like mixing saltwater into the drinking supply, tensions are running high as Uruguayans fight for access to clean water. Drought-Stricken Uruguay Angered by Google Data Center Plan The Guardian reports that the drought-stricken nation declared a state of emergency in its capital, Montevideo, where water shortages have reached critical levels. To make matters worse, public drinking water supplies have been tainted with salty water, causing an uproar among the population. Activists and researchers argue that water resources are funneled towards transnational corporations and agribusiness, leaving citizens to suffer the consequences. Read Also: North Korea Issues Warning to US Spy Drones; Recon Flights Will Be Taken Down Daniel Pena, a researcher at the University of the Republic in Montevideo, highlighted the alarming situation: "Only a tiny proportion of water in Uruguay is used for human consumption. The majority is used for big agro-industries, such as soya, rice, and wood pulping. Now we have Google planning to use enormous quantities of water." Google's Controversial Data Center Google's proposed data center in the Canelones department is poised to be water-intensive. According to figures from the Ministry of Environment, the center would consume a staggering 7.6 million liters of water each day, equivalent to the domestic daily use of 55,000 people. What is more concerning is that the water would be sourced directly from the public drinking water system, exacerbating the crisis. While Google claims that the project is still in the exploratory phase and that preliminary figures may undergo adjustments, the local industry ministry suggests that the company is revising its plans to build a smaller data center. Bnamericas reports that the multinational tech giant insists that sustainability is a core value and promises to work closely with national and local authorities throughout the process. Uruguay's Severe Drought The Guardian also reports that Uruguay's president, Luis Lacalle Pou, has implemented emergency measures to address the crisis, including lifting taxes on bottled water and providing two liters of free water daily to 21,000 impoverished or vulnerable families. Additionally, plans are underway to construct a new reservoir within 30 days. However, these efforts have not quenched public concerns entirely. With slogans like "This is not drought, it's pillage" scrawled across Montevideo's walls, the frustration is palpable. Tap water remains undrinkable for a significant portion of the population, highlighting the urgency of addressing water mismanagement and prioritizing citizens' well-being over corporate interests. Uruguay has also approved the installation of Google's Firmina fiber optic undersea cable, which will be the world's longest cable with single-ended power supply capability.The new cable is planned to go live this year. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Google Faces Delay in Developing Next Tensor Chip to 2025, to Still Use Samsung's Exynos 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded the contracts to Axiom Space and Aerospace as part of its plans to expand services related to spacewalking and moonwalking. The international space agency aims to create next-gen spacesuits that will help them succeed in its future missions. NASA Expands Developer's Program For Spacesuits Back on July 10, NASA officially handed the next-gen spacesuit creation to two space firms. At that time, it was quite a bold move that the organization made since it experienced difficulties in creating its own spacesuit in the past. Now, according to Engadget, the space agency is eyeing to develop a highly adept suit that is designed to make space exploration easier. NASA says that the suits are already in development at the moment. Collins is assigned to make space gear suited for moonwalking, while Axiom is tasked to create a next-gen ISS suit. The contract for the two companies was made possible through the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services program back in June 2022. With this move, NASA will reap more benefits in allowing other private firms, undermining the need to rent suits. The Artemis spacesuit which is under Axiom Space's task order was valued at $228.5 million. Three months later, the transaction with Collins Aerospace took place. It was valued at $97.2 million. Related Article: NASA Captures Sun Sprouting More Sunspots Than the Last 11-Year Solar Cycle 'Crossover' Task Orders For More Intensive Suit Development With the crossover task orders happening at once, NASA says that the initial design work for the suits has been finalized already. Still, it will consider more options when it comes to developing next-gen spacesuits. "Using this competitive approach we will enhance redundancy, expand future capabilities, and further invest in the space economy," Lara Kearney, manager of the Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program at the Johnson Space Center said in a report by SpaceNews. Furthermore, NASA did not only want to develop spacesuits just for the sake of exploration. Actually, it has been long established that it was also planning to construct a commercial space station on the moon. This will require the need to wear spacewalking suits. In a company statement, Axiom Space's program manager Mark Greeley said that the whole organization is excited to be considered by NASA as a partner for developing orbital spacesuits. Additionally, Greeley stated that the suit for the low Earth orbit version is already in the works. Meanwhile, Collins' director of EVA and human space mobility systems, Dave Romero highlighted that their next-gen spacesuit design is "90% compatible" with the moon missions. In other space-related news, the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission of India Space Agency is already set for July 14 launch. The space agency claims that by August 23, the heavy-lift launch vehicle will finally land. Read Also: Tech Times Weekly Wrap: NASA's Ingenuity Contacts Team, Android Auto's Restrictions Removed, Ukraine's Attack on a Russian Plane 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Egypt is hosting a summit meeting of countries neighbouring Sudan in order to pool regional and international efforts to resolve the crisis in the country. Egypt is scheduled to host a summit meeting of countries neighbouring Sudan on 13 July, with the aim of mobilising efforts to resolve the crisis that has plunged the country into bloody conflict over the past three months. The humanitarian, political, security, economic, and social situation in Sudan has now reached catastrophic levels, and the conflict threatens to escalate into an all-out civil war and poses a threat to neighbouring countries, the Arab region, and the African continent. The situation in Sudan is complex, with various internal military, civil, tribal, and Islamic parties involved, as well as external parties, both regional and international, with their own interests and aspirations. Egypt and other neighbouring countries of Sudan are concerned about the consequences of the conflict and are hoping that the summit meeting will contribute to other regional and international efforts to stop the bloodshed, pressure the conflicting parties to reach a permanent ceasefire, and work towards a solution through dialogue. According to Ahmed Fahmy, spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency, the summit meeting will focus on ways to end the conflict and limit the grave effects of the crisis on neighbouring countries. It will seek to ensure the security and stability of the region as a whole and aim to formulate a common vision for countries directly neighbouring Sudan and agree on effective mechanisms to settle the crisis peacefully. This will be done in coordination with regional and international efforts, Fahmi said. If the crisis in Sudan persists, its repercussions could threaten the stability of the Horn of Africa region, the Red Sea, North Africa, the Sahel region, Central Africa, the Nile River, and the African Great Lakes region, he said. Egypt has been preparing for the summit for some time. It was originally scheduled to be held in May, but was postponed to allow for Saudi-American mediation efforts. Through this summit and in partnership with neighbouring countries in Africa and the Arab world, as well as international partners, Egypt seeks to bring an end to the conflict in Sudan. The summit is the latest in a series of initiatives Egypt has launched since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan. Egypt regards the conflict as one of its gravest challenges in the region due to its potentially dangerous repercussions on its national security and political, security, economic, and social fronts. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimates that some three million people have been displaced internally or across borders in Sudan since the beginning of the crisis, many of them joining the nearly five million Sudanese already in Egypt. The conflict in Sudan also threatens common strategic interests and projects as well as the thorny issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Addis Ababa is proceeding with, including the fourth filling of its reservoir. Egypt has taken a balanced position since the beginning of the conflict in Sudan. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has announced that Egypt is at an equal distance from both sides in the conflict and has called for an immediate ceasefire and the start of a political process to resolve the crisis. This position has won the respect of many circles in Sudan and is in line with the international position, dispelling doubts about Cairos siding with one of the two parties to the conflict. Egypts balanced position qualifies it to play an important role in supporting a political process that brings together the two conflicting parties and other civil parties and to coordinate and work with all serious regional and international efforts to save Sudan from this destructive conflict. Egypt has longstanding relations and connections with the various groups and forces in Sudan, enabling it to contribute to bridging the trust gap and finding common ground for understanding to exit from the current crisis. The summit meeting of Sudans neighbouring countries will discuss ways to reach a permanent ceasefire in Sudan and work to protect the Sudanese people from the devastating effects of the conflict. This includes addressing the conditions of the displaced and refugees who are suffering tragic conditions and urgently need aid and assistance from host countries. The summit will also focus on the importance of a political process that will foster the building of a democratic civil society in Sudan and the building of a unified Sudanese army. Egypt recognises the need for a Sudanese-led regional and international approach that serves the interests of Sudan and its people. It acknowledges that a significant number of countries in Sudans direct neighbourhood are affected by the crisis and cannot be excluded from initiatives aimed at resolving it. These countries have a right to be part of the solution, not only because their presence is reflective of their importance, but also because they possess valuable knowledge about the situation in Sudan and its wider impact. Their participation in the solution can help secure many interests, including the preservation of Sudanese unity, which is currently under threat. Meanwhile, battles continue in the Sudanese capital Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), both of which want to come out victorious. The battles have intensified in the three neighbouring cities of Khartoum, Khartoum North, and Omdurman, with aviation, artillery, anti-aircraft missiles, and other weapons being used. The conflict has expanded to include eight other states in addition to Khartoum out of a total of 18. They include the states of West Darfur, North Darfur, South Darfur, Central Darfur, East Darfur, North Kordofan, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile. There are concerns that the conflict could extend to other areas and drag the country into all-out civil war. Three months of conflict have caused deep rifts within Sudanese communities, resulting in the forging of alliances based on tribal and ethnic affiliations as well as geographical locations, as has been the case in the regions of Al-Geneina and Darfur. Estimates say that some 2,800 Sudanese have lost their lives since the conflict began, but health authorities in Sudan have said the real numbers are much higher. The conflict has also resulted in the displacement of 2.8 million people, 800,000 of whom have fled to neighbouring countries. The summit meeting of Sudans neighbouring countries is taking place at a time of intense movement, with various capitals in the region witnessing diplomatic efforts to address the crisis. An Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit meeting has been held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, with the participation of mediators from the Jeddah Platform, representing Saudi mediation efforts, the US, and the Saudi ambassador to Sudan. The heads of the Sudanese armed movements have also visited the Chadian capital NDjamena at the invitation of President Idriss Deby, and a Sudanese delegation has visited Uganda and Ethiopia. Vice President of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council Malik Agar has also visited Russia and Eritrea. These diplomatic efforts reflect the desire of the Sudanese parties to find a solution to the crisis. However, each party wants a solution according to its agenda, presenting a real dilemma for the mediators. It is also essential that the various mediators address the aspirations of the Sudanese people for the rights and freedoms they have fought for. It is to be hoped that the forthcoming summit will install peace in Sudan and resolve other pending issues between other African countries, such as problems in Libya and disagreements over water, food, and bilateral issues. Search Keywords: Short link: A black hole 570 million years after the Big Bang was discovered by astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope. The black hole we found is in the CEERS 1019 galaxy and it is massive, weighing 9 million times more than our Sun. This discovery will test beliefs about how black holes formed in the early universe. Black holes are believed to have formed from the collision of massive stars, but it remains uncertain how a star could have collided so soon after the Big Bang. It also highlights black hole creation and suggests there may be numerous undiscovered black holes. University of Texas at Austin astronomers headed by Steven Finkelstein used data from Webb's Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) to make the groundbreaking discovery. The James Webb Space Telescope's extensive work is highlighted by the CEERS Survey. From neighboring galaxies to less evolved galaxies in the furthest reaches of the cosmos, including one Webb had never seen before, it sweeps through hundreds of galaxies to examine the early cosmos. More Black Holes Waiting To Be Discovered This black hole is a major finding in early universe research as it provides a better understanding of how black holes were formed and suggests the possibility of more black holes being discovered. The researchers also discovered two more tiny black holes from the early cosmos aside from the furthest black hole observed. The CEERS 2782 and CEERS 746 galaxies contain these black holes. These black hole findings raise the possibility that tiny black holes were more prevalent than previously believed in the early cosmos. This is because little black holes are more difficult to find than huge ones, making it possible that they went unnoticed in earlier surveys. Read Article: China Imposes Stricter Rules for Content Creators on Social Media More Precise Findings The finding of this black hole also shows the James Webb Space Telescope's capabilities. Webb, the most powerful telescope, is already yielding groundbreaking discoveries. The telescope is expected to produce several discoveries that will change our understanding of the universe. NASA believes it's feasible that Webb's data might be utilized in the future to comprehend how early black holes emerged. Finkelstein noted that most research about the early universe was "speculative" until lately and scientists can now "precisely measure black holes and galaxies at tremendous distances with the "incredible power" of the Webb telescope. Slip away across the universe and fly through thousands of galaxies, captured by Webb as part of the CEERS Survey. We end at Maisie's Galaxy, a faint and distant infrared object, which existed only 390 million years after the big bang: https://t.co/V1MZQGSS7t pic.twitter.com/IRqungk3MC NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) July 10, 2023 Webb has found more black holes closer to the Big Bang roughly 14 billion years ago, but their conclusions are under evaluation. This black hole's discovery is a spectacular accomplishment that will undoubtedly provide fresh knowledge about the early cosmos, as the James Webb Space Telescope, launched in December 2021, continues to unravel the universe's mysteries. Related Article: SpaceX Breaks Reused Rocket Launching Record; Elon Musk Announces Ambitious Missions 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tesla's highly anticipated Cybertruck is ready to make its mark in the US automotive industry. With its unique futuristic design, memorable shattered-window mishap, and cutting-edge features, the Cybertruck is set to enter production in 2023. This launch has the potential to redefine the market, given its unconventional appearance, advanced technology, and distinctive body structure. Tesla Cybertruck's Unconventional Design Over the years, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has gradually disclosed details about the Cybertruck's capabilities, although their actual implementation remains to be seen. Musk has made bold claims, stating that the Cybertruck will have the ability to briefly function as a boat and feature rear-wheel steering. Business Insider reports that the truck's exoskeleton-based body defies traditional truck manufacturing norms, showcasing Tesla's unconventional approach to design. Is Cybertruck Similar to Hummer? Determining the final set of features for the Cybertruck remains speculative at this point. Ivan Drury, an automotive analyst for Edmunds, aptly described the truck as a vehicle that competes against everyone while being distinct from any existing offering. The Cybertruck's unique appearance could attract both enthusiasts and affluent luxury buyers, drawing parallels to the popularity of the Hummer, another large and unconventional vehicle. Related Article: Elon Musk Confirms Tesla Cybertruck Production in 2023 How Much is Tesla Cybertruck? In May, Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla plans to make the Cybertruck available to customers later in 2023. However, the exact pricing of the Cybertruck remains uncertain. Initially, Tesla quoted a price of $40,000 in 2019, but Musk has since indicated that the price may change. Tesla's current price range starts around $40,000 for the base variant of the Model 3 and goes up to $108,490 for the high-performance Plaid variant of the Model X. The upcoming Tesla Roadster is expected to be the most expensive model, with a base price estimated at around $200,000. Quickest EV Charging Among All Electric Vehicles With a refundable deposit of $100, Tesla has received an overwhelming response for the Cybertruck. According to the crowdsourced reservation tracker from Electek, over 1.8 million Cybertrucks have been pre-ordered. Tesla has also mentioned that the Cybertruck will utilize its new Mega Charger V4 technology, potentially enabling it to become the fastest-charging electric vehicle (EV) on the market. The exact charging times will depend on the battery size, but Tesla aims for quick, convenient charging sessions. Meanwhile, an XRP fan claims that he will buy a Cybertruck once Tesla accepts crypto payment. The Twitter user @XRPcryptowolf claims that it will happen if the automaker allows him to pay in XRP. For more news about the upcoming Tesla Cybertruck, save this link so you won't be left behind by the latest reports about this popular electric pickup truck. Read Also: Tesla Careers Page Reveals Job Openings for Cybertruck Production at Giga Texas 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. France joined Britain in equipping Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, allowing Ukrainian troops to hit Russian soldiers and supplies far from the front lines. As he arrived in Lithuania for the NATO conference, French President Emmanuel Macron committed to providing more military backing for Ukraine's counteroffensive, as reported by Reuters. According to Macron, the additional shipments of weaponry and equipment are intended to provide Ukrainian troops the ability to strike deeper into hostile territory. Meanwhile, the precise amount of missiles to be launched was kept a secret. A diplomatic source in France said they were talking to around 50 SCALP missiles made by the European military contractor MBDA. The amount of SCALP missiles for Ukraine would be enormous, according to French military sources, who also highlighted that the missiles would come from current military supplies. The SCALP missile supply comes after earlier French assistance to Ukraine, which included the delivery of shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles called Mistral and short-range anti-air missiles called Crotale meant to intercept low-flying targets. Ukraine has requested longer-range missiles for months, but the United States, its leading supplier of military hardware, has yet to agree to provide them. Britain stated in May that it would supply the Storm Shadow, a Franco-British missile made by MBDA. How Does SCALP Missile Work? The 1,300kg (2,870lb) SCALP missile is loaded with conventional explosives. It is the longest-range Western weapon yet to be given to Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera. It is typically fired from aircraft like the British Royal Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoon or the Rafale of France. The missile's capabilities enable targeting targets well beyond the eastern Ukraine areas under Russian occupation. Read Also: Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision Blizzard Gets Green Light from Federal Judge The SCALP missile's European maker, MBDA, emphasizes that the weapon is intended for preplanned assaults on valuable fixed or stationary targets, such as fortified bunkers and vital infrastructure. Using inertial navigation, GPS, and terrain reference, the missile plots a low-altitude route to escape detection. SCALP missile has an infrared camera that matches target pictures to enable accurate hits with minor collateral damage. #UPDATE France has already made a delivery of a number of SCALP long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, a military source told AFP on Tuesday, after President Emmanuel Macron announced the supplies https://t.co/Uq95TeW4zS pic.twitter.com/NcSCwxcjjf AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 11, 2023 The SCALP missile's warhead may be set to explode above the target in an airburst immediately after impact or after penetration. Ivan Klyszcz, who serves as a researcher at the International Centre for Defence and Security situated in Estonia, believes these capabilities are essential for Ukraine's military to disrupt Russian logistical and command and control networks. Ukraine To Get Modified Version The export versions of the SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missile have been modified to function at a reduced range of 250 kilometers (155 miles) while having a scope of 560 kilometers (350 miles). Officials from Ukraine have assured the public that these missiles would only be used on Ukrainian soil and won't penetrate far into Russian territory, per Aerotime Hub. One of these missiles is believed to have been used in June 2023 to demolish the Chonhar bridge, which connected the Crimean Peninsula to the southern Kherson area under Russian control. The employment of these missiles significantly improves Ukraine's capacity to fend against Russian assault. Related Article: China Imposes Stricter Rules for Content Creators on Social Media 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry held a business roadshow to encourage trade between Egypt and Africa, as per a press release on Tuesday. In partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the event was held last week to prepare for the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2023) in Cairo from 9-15 November 2023, where $32 billion deals are anticipated to be signed. Egypt's IATF 2023 roadshow assembled industry leaders, top government officials, diplomats, and executives from Afreximbank, AUC, and AfCFTA Secretariat to discuss how IATF can boost trade and investment opportunities under AfCFTA between Egypt and other African nations. IATF2023 is expected to be bigger and better than the previous two editions and the event is expected to attract more than 1,600 exhibitors; over 35,000 visitors, buyers and conference delegates from all 55 African countries, and the rest of the world; with more than $43 billion in trade and investment deals," said Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of IATF 2023 Advisory Council and Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of Afreximbank, stated: At the first trade fair in 2018, which was held in Cairo, Egypt signed the largest share of deals out of the $32 billion worth of trade and investment deals closed at the Trade Fair." "Since its inception, Afreximbank has provided financing support to Egypt in excess of $32 billion and $28 billion coming in the past five years alone," said Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President for Intra-African Trade Bank at Afreximbank. During Q1 2023, trade between Egypt and African nations totalled $2.117 billion. Search Keywords: Short link: The batch of artefacts consists of 40 ushabti statuettes seized by German customs at Frankfurt Airport in 2020, Shaaban Abdel-Gawad, the supervisor-general of antiquities repatriation, told Ahram online. The statuettes were used in Ancient Egyptian burials, where they were expected to serve as magical servants for the deceased when gods requested him to undertake menial tasks in the afterlife The figurines were examined by Egyptologists from Heidelberg university and the German Archaeological Institute in Cairo, who affirmed Egypt's rightful possession of these objects and ruled that they be returned. Cultural Officer for the Middle East and Africa at the German Foreign Ministry Carsten Wilms handed over the artefacts to the Egyptian embassy in Berlin. In 2017, Germany has changed an act in its cultural property law to facilitate the return of cultural good to its country of origin. Egypt has signed contracts with the private sector to sell state-owned entities worth $1.9 billion under the Initial Public Offering (IPO) programme which the country adopted earlier this year. The privatized assets include steel and petrochemical companies, along with state-owned hotels and green energy plants. Here is a breakdown of the key deals signed between the government and the private sector: Petrochemicals and drilling sector The Egyptian government has offered stakes ranging from 25 percent to 30 percent three companies Ethydco, Elab, and National Drilling for $800 million to Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. The Egyptian Ethylene and Derivatives Company (ETHYDCO) is an Egyptian joint stock company established in 2011 with a total investment cost of $1.9 billion. The Egyptian Linear Alkyl Benzene Co. (ELAB) is an Egyptian Shareholding Company established in 2003 to produce Linear Alkyl Benzene licensed by UOP Technology for a capacity of 100,000 tons per year. Established in 1981, National Drilling specializes in drilling new wells and management of existing ones, exploring oil onshore and offshore, storage and maintenance of drilling equipment. National Drilling Company provides its engineering experience and expertise to train the proper management of drilling equipment. Al Ezz Dekheila Steel Egypt sold a 31 percent stake in Al Ezz Dekheila Steel for $241 million. Al Ezz Dekheila Steel, a subsidiary of Ezz Steel, is the largest steel manufacturing facility in Egypt, with a total capacity of 3.2 million tons of finished steel products per annum. It is located in Dekheila, west of Alexandria, Egypt's second-biggest city and its main port. The company has a total value of EGP 1.95 billion, calculated from its 19.5 million listed shares with a nominal value of EGP 100 per share. In preparation for the transaction, the company's board of directors decided on Tuesday to delist from the Egyptian Exchange. EGOTH Icon Investments, a subsidiary of Talaat Mostafa Holding, has partnered with a foreign partner to increase the capital of the state-owned Egyptian General Company For Tourism and Hotels (EGOTH) by around 37 percent, or $700 million. EGOTH is a subsidiary of The Holding Company for Tourism, Hotels and Cinema (HOTAC), one of the regions largest hotel-owning companies. EGOTH owns 14 hotels and one cruise. Their portofolio includes five historic hotels, including Marriott and Mena House in Giza, Sofitel Winter Palace in Luxor, Legend Old Cataract in Aswan, Hotel Palestine in Alexandria. They have renovated 2,902 hotel rooms across Egypt in five years and plan to develop around 1,227 existing rooms and establish 320 new rooms in the next three years. First wave deals The government has sold stakes in two state-owned companies. The UAE's National Paints company acquired a majority stake (81 percent) in state-owned Paint and Chemicals Industries (PACHIN) for EGP 770.4 million (about $25 million). Also, a 9.5 percent stake was sold in Telecom Egypt for EGP 3.7 billion ($122.2 million). Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced that other deals worth $1 billion would be announced soon and Planning Minister Hala El Said revealed details about future deals. In the pipeline National Investment Bank is preparing the privatization of eight state-owned entities. The government has received non-binding bids for Gabal El Zeit Wind Farm and the winning bid will be announced in October. The project will secure over $300 million. Egypt received six bids for Wataniya company and the company and the winning bid will be announced in October or November. 21 water desalination plants with a total capacity of 3.3 million cubic meters per day are prepared for offering until 2025 for a value of $3 billion. Until now, 99 investors have submitted bids for the plants from 30 countries and 17 consortiums were qualified. Four plants are to be offered in 2023. Search Keywords: Short link: The Cairo summit aims to build on global efforts to end the fighting in Sudan, including those of Saudi Arabia, the US, the African Union, and IGAD. Multiple initiatives have been taken to end the fighting in Sudan, which will be in its fourth month this week. The conflict has had disastrous consequences for the people and the country, but there are signs that neighbouring African nations, key regional Arab countries and the international community all recognise that the current, dire situation cannot continue, and are determined not to abandon Sudan. On 13 July Egypt will a summit of Sudans neighbouring countries to discuss ways to end the conflict and its repercussions for Sudanese infrastructure, governing institutions and territorial integrity. The summit will also be tackling the effects of the war on neighbouring countries that have had to provide immediate help to the Sudanese fleeing their country, accepting more than 600,000 refugees so far. More than 2.2 million Sudanese civilians have been internally displaced without access to their basic needs as many of the key government services, as well as banks and industries stopped operating. Worst of all is that, of the over 3,000 killed and many thousands injured, most are innocent civilians caught into the fighting, unable to leave their houses or reach one of the few functioning hospitals remaining. Many areas suffer power and water shortages as well as looting, lawlessness, and lack of food. Equally dangerous is the fact that the fighting has been spreading to other parts of Sudan, and not limited to the capital. The Western region of Darfur, as well as the southern regions of Kurdufan and the Blue Nile have seen clashes between the Sudanese army and rebel groups, increasing human suffering and the outflow of refugees. Meanwhile, reports on possible ceasefires have become meaningless for the Sudanese people, who have over a dozen truces collapse, some within hours of being declared. Those dire conditions are the key reason behind the resurgence of efforts to stop the fighting in Sudan. The Cairo summit will seek to build on efforts made by many countries since the outbreak of war on 15 April between the Commander of Sudans Army Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and leader of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Key among those efforts were those of Saudi Arabia and the United States in Jeddah, as well as the African Union and the East African gathering of IGAD, which concluded its own meeting on Monday. The aim of the summit, hosted by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, will be to reach effective mechanisms, with the participation of neighbouring countries, to settle the crisis in Sudan peacefully, in coordination with other regional and international tracks to resolve the crisis, according to a statement of the presidency. It added that the meeting is being held in light of the effort by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi to formulate a common vision for the countries directly neighbouring Sudan, to take steps to solve the crisis and stop the bloodshed of the Sudanese people. Leaders of Sudans neighbours will also tackle how to limit the continuing grave effects of the crisis on neighbouring countries and the security and stability of the entire region, the statement added. Egypt has historically enjoyed close relations with Sudan, and is already the largest recipient of Sudanese refugees who have been welcomed and treated as residents. Even before the fighting started, Egypt hosted over four million Sudanese people, many from South Sudan, who have been living here before the country became independent in 2011. Equally important, the two countries share a common lifeline: the Nile River; and Egyptians and Sudanese refer to themselves as Abnaa Al-Neel, or children of the Nile. The arrival of more than 220,000 people from Sudan over the past three months highlights the deep ties that bind the two countries. The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) said in a recent statement, since the beginning of the crisis, Egypt has received the largest number of arrivals from the war in Sudan The numbers are increasing rapidly with the arrival of up to 5,000 people per day to the borders of Qastal and Arqin crossings. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees expects that the total arrivals to Egypt will reach 350,000 people within the next six months. What might also give Egypt a privilege, and perhaps a chance for success in this renewed effort to end the war in Sudan is that it maintains positive relations with all the various parties and factions there. Since the war broke out, Cairo has stressed that any solution to the crisis must be reached by the Sudanese people themselves, without negative intervention by outside parties. In this context, Egypt has maintained open contacts with both warring sides, and supports efforts by key Arab countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as close strategic partners in the United States and Europe to end the fighting. Our hope is that the Cairo summit will be a successful first step towards helping end the ongoing suffering of the Sudanese people. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Clancy DuBos is the politics editor and columnist at Gambit in New Orleans. Email him at clancy@gambitweekly.com. It was the Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus who famously said, the only constant in life is change, and at this point, it seems almost certain he was talking about the Sydney radio market. The fourth radio survey of the year which covers April 16 to June 24 has seen more moving and shaking, with 2GB reclaiming the No.1 spot in the Sydney market, elbowing KIIS back to second. Back on top: 2GBs Ben Fordham celebrates a return to number one in Sydneys fourth radio ratings survey. Credit: James Brickwood 2GB* is once again Sydneys most listened-to radio station, its share of listening up 2.1 percentage points across this week to 14.2 per cent, while KIIS dropped to 12 per cent, down 1 point. Unsurprisingly, 2GBs dominance across the week was reflected in the all-important battle for breakfast. Nothing enhances my misanthropy like air travel. Put me in a lightly populated bar with a draught beer and Im one of this planets coolest inmates. I begin calving anecdotes with the cracking splendour of a glacier calving icebergs. But cram me on a jet with 400 other anxious souls and my cordiality is revealed as a veneer. Credit: Robin Cowcher We humans our commonalities are supposed to imbue us with empathy; we are all one, we are brothers and sisters and and yeah, yeah, yeah, but our commonalities are what make us all compete for the same things. The same spaces, seats, places in line, air proximity breeds contempt. Its half past three in the morning and were flying through turbulence, and Im standing outside a toilet as cruelly occupied as blitzkrieged France busting for a leak and a woman has been inside for 15 minutes now and I know shes doing her hair and applying make-up to pretty herself up for some gullible Adonis in Athens, because I saw her take her beauty case in there. I can hear her singing, and not singing, and singing Christ, I think shes plucking her eyebrows while my bladder distends. And this is how I know we are not all brothers and sisters. There are too many easy reasons to hate strangers at 40,000 feet. The best I can do to assuage my loathing for my fellow passengers is to think of them as a type of organic airbag if there are enough of them between Mother Earth and me when we crash I might survive. The joint has history. It became a popular spot among Adolf Hitlers SS during World War II, after their first-choice hangout around the corner was destroyed by Allied bombing, and was later taken over by Soviet troops after the Red Army captured the city in 1945. Credit: John Shakespeare But the Adlons more recent history might also ring a bell. It was the scene of the late US pop star Michael Jacksons notorious baby-dangling incident in 2002, when Jackson held his nine-month-old son Prince Michael II over the balcony of the hotels presidential suite, as fans who had gathered at ground level outside gasped in horror. It was a moment that, for many, removed all doubt that there was something seriously NQR about Jackson, who was later accused by several young men of sexually abusing them. He was in Berlin at the time to accept an award for charity work for children. True. Not that any of this has anything to do with Albo, but in the unlikely event that a group of adoring fans gathers below the PMs window at the Adlon, our advice just for appearances sake is to stay inside. LONGOS RUN The Australian Securities and Investments Commission was dragged in October into a two-year Senate inquiry that the Albanese government could do nothing to prevent. And it turns out the corporate regulators chairman, Joe Longo, wasnt thrilled with the proposed inquiry either by the look of internal ASIC emails obtained through freedom of information. This is extraordinary. What can be done to narrow the breadth of the terms? Can PJC [the parliamentary joint committee on corporations and financial services] do this?? Longo wrote in an email to his deputy chair Sarah Court and chief of staff Louise Macaulay. The terms were those introduced by committee member and Liberal senator Andrew Bragg, and they passed the Senate last year, triggering an inquiry by the upper houses economics reference committee into ASICs handling of complaints. The regulator still doesnt seem entirely happy with the process, with all parties recently accusing ASIC of obfuscating ahead of the inquiry claims Longo forcefully denied in his opening statement before the committee last month. CHARLIES BUCKET Embattled celebrity neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has a bit to get off his chest. Restricted from performing surgeries in Australia while awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary hearing, Teo has resorted to going on podcasts to mouth off about his enemies in the medical community, cancel culture and pesky journalists. But it was a claim made during an online discussion with storyteller and keynote speaker Bradley Dryburgh that caught CBDs eye, with Teo appearing to claim the support of a prime minister, no less. Ive had the most powerful politicians, right up to the number one politician in Australia, call me up and say, Charlie, we feel for you, is there anything we can do to help? And I say, Yes, stop them from bullying me, Teo told Dryburgh. Did Albanese or (more likely) his predecessor Scott Morrison ring up Teo to offer support? If they did, neither mans office was prepared to tell us on Tuesday. Charlie Teo blasted his enemies in the medical community, cancel culture and the media. Credit: Kate Geraghty The rest of the interview featured the surgeon lashing out at his perceived enemies in the medical community and the media, whose treatment of Teo was likened by both the host and guest to cancel culture. Teo labelled reports in this masthead about him operating on the wrong side of the brain slanderous and defamatory, accusing media companies of being all about clicks. Given it was years of fawning journalism that helped build Teos cult of personality, well, talk about biting the hand that feeds! Conceding that the prospect of operating in Australia again was unrealistic, Teo claimed his current predicament is the end point of a 20-plus-year campaign to get him by jealous fellow doctors. Loading From the minute I came back to Australia from America in 1999, they have been trying to persecute me and malign me, right from the first few weeks after I came back. I knew that one day theyd strategise well enough to bring me down. He didnt disclose who they were. The recent inquiry heard Teo slapped an unconscious patient across the face in front of her family, and failed to get a single supporting reference from an Australian neurosurgeon. Im always happy to. And I am keen to. My weekly messages are out there, they will continue to be out there, and Im happy to promote them, Sutton said on June 30. Two of his deputies associate professor Deborah Friedman, an expert in communicable disease, and associate professor Angie Bone, an expert in environmental public health issues have recently announced they will move onto new roles. Friedman will become the new director of the Victorian Coordinating Centre for Healthcare Associated Infections and Bone is taking on a role at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute. The head of La Trobe Universitys Centre for Health Communication and Participation, Dr Rebecca Ryan, said there may be a valid argument that Sutton was no longer the right person to regularly front the media. Thats because while some Victorians admired his work, for others he represented the worst time in the pandemic. However, if it wasnt Sutton, she said another health leader needed to honestly communicate about the danger COVID still posed, who was most at risk, and the steps people might take to help protect themselves and others. Ten months [without a COVID-19 press conference] is a long time. Were not just talking about scaling it back to once every second week or once a month, its just sort of been a void. And I think that has really done a disservice to everyone because COVID is still killing 200 people in Australia a week nearly, on and off. Its a lot of people, Ryan said. Loading I think its outrageous that weve just been left to our own devices really. The odd television commercial about topping up a booster dose isnt going to cut it. Ryan, who recently co-authored an article about how COVID-19 public communications were letting down the communitys most vulnerable, said this void of information had several impacts. First, she said, it made people think there wasnt a problem with COVID cases, as there was an assumption they would hear more about it if there was. It also meant that vulnerable people or others who were using masks, for example, were increasingly ostracised a trend Ryan said was not just occurring in Australia, but overseas as well. Another thing thats a big problem is that when people lack accurate, trusted information, theyre much more susceptible to latching on to things that arent true, she said. NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant appears at a press conference in April 2023. Credit: James Brickwood Suttons NSW counterpart, Dr Kerry Chant, has given a number of press conferences this year to promote public health messages, including last Thursday when she appeared with the states chief paediatrician to warn the public that children were falling severely ill with the flu. In April, Chant spoke to the media alongside NSWs health minister about the closure of the states PCR testing sites and in late May, she appeared at another press conference raising awareness about a surge in flu cases. In contrast, Sutton had been mute until his resignation announcement last month. Loading The health ministers office was asked what the public health strategy was behind not making Sutton available for regular interviews and press conferences. They referred questions to the health department, whose spokesman said the departments approach to communications was now more targeted and that the role of spokesperson was shared with Suttons deputies. Communicating via daily press conferences was the quickest way to get information out during the peak of the pandemic we are no longer in that phase, the department said. In addition, we currently have a COVID-19 campaign running across multiple platforms informing Victorians about how they can stay safe this winter. Last year, a report into Victorias COVID-19 communications by the Independent Pandemic Management Advisory Committee warned that the absence of trusted experts delivering regular communication to the public after daily pandemic press conferences ceased had contributed to uncertainty around COVID-19 and the governments response to COVID-19 in the future. Misinformation starts to take hold in the absence of more authoritative advice. Without clear messaging and expert advice from the government, the media turn to people in the community who have an opinion, the report said. Sutton receives his first COVID-19 vaccination at the Royal Exhibition Building in April 2021. Credit: Getty Images/ POOL Dr Anita Munoz, the Victorian chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, refrained from criticising Victorian authorities but was concerned many patients didnt realise it was still important to test for COVID-19, so that they could get antivirals or ensure they avoided immunocompromised relatives. I think that there still is a place for public messaging theres a massive impact from influenza and [respiratory syncytial virus] and other viruses, so we probably need winter messaging as well as your COVID-bespoke messaging, she said. However, when asked about the low profile of the chief health officer, Dr Munoz said to some people Sutton represented a reminder of a tough period, and she called for more targeted messaging to vulnerable groups, such as through their pharmacist or GP. Melbourne GP, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, who appeared in a video posted to the Victorian health departments Twitter account last month warning many people were still dying of COVID, said he felt Victorias public health messaging had been disastrous and woeful. He said he was seeing patients not up-to-date with their COVID vaccination boosters. There is no clear messaging at all. And its not just a Victorian thing its a morass of uncertainty, and lack of clarity about what people should be doing, Haikerwal said. I think there needs to be a bit more bravery in the information given to the public, distasteful it may be. Better to save peoples lives and [protect] the health of the public, and potentially take a slap for it. In the past week, 51 COVID-19 deaths were reported in Victoria. Dr Ryan from La Trobe said good public health communication would include basic information such as how many people were dying each week and whether the health system was coping as well as tailored advice to those who were at heightened risk from COVID-19. She said people should be told that even though there are no longer mandates, there was still a collective benefit to taking steps that could help prevent the disease from killing or harming people. Those sorts of messages where youre asking the community to do whats good for the community can be really powerful and make people feel like theyre part of something bigger. Warning: distressing content A man will spend at least 8 years behind bars for the shaking homicide of his eight-week-old son, with the judge also finding the father had abused the baby on previous occasions. Bradley Hooper cried in the dock as Supreme Court judge Lex Lasry described on Tuesday the abuse Hooper perpetrated on his son before it culminated in five to six shakes in the early hours of August 27, 2021. Hooper was sentenced to 11 years in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Credit: Darrian Traynor During the hearing, Hooper, 34, repeatedly looked over at his family, who were crying and gripped by grief, and his hand shook when he sipped water. Victorias anti-gang police squad has arrested one serious criminal a day, taken dozens of guns off the streets and stripped organised crime syndicates of more than $1.4 million in cash since its creation last year. Police launched the Viper taskforce in July last year after a series of shootings across metropolitan Melbourne stoked fears a gangland war was about to break out. Acting Commissioner Bob Hill (centre) and Detective Inspector Michael Daly and Viper officers. Credit: Jason South Since then, the 80-strong elite unit has uncovered almost 120 prohibited weapons, seized 81 guns and imitation firearms and charged 342 people with drugs, firearms, weapons, and proceeds of crime offences. Among Vipers recent successes was an operation to dismantle a syndicate suspected of trafficking steroids through the mail that led to the discovery in May of a sophisticated clandestine laboratory and more than 80 kilograms of chemicals used to manufacture drugs. Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will attend the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers Meeting, the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia from July 13 to 14. CCTV: China just announced that Director Wang Yi will attend ASEAN-plus foreign ministers meetings. How does China view the current state of East Asian cooperation? What does China expect to achieve through the meetings? Wang Wenbin: East Asia has remained generally stable despite challenges such as a slowing global economy and the flaring up of geopolitical conflicts. The region continues to witness an economic rebound and progress in economic integration. Chinas relations with regional countries have maintained the growth momentum. The China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, in particular, has been strong and robust. Our friendly cooperation has further deepened and expanded, which has galvanized the overall cooperation in East Asia. The ASEAN-plus foreign ministers meetings provide a platform to enhance mutual trust and cooperation. China hopes to see more common understandings coming out of those meetings, which will prepare the ground for fruitful leaders meetings this September and contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity. China will work with regional countries to firmly support ASEAN unity and the community-building, advance the purposes and principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and uphold the rules and order of the region. China will work with regional countries to capitalize on the RCEPs full entry into force, keep regional industrial and supply chains stable and smooth and together look after the regional epicentrum of growth. China will work with regional countries to practice true multilateralism, advance open regionalism and handle hotspots and sensitive issues properly to keep the region peaceful and stable and make sure that East Asian cooperation will move forward in the right direction. China News Service: On July 7, the giant panda Ai Bao at ROKs Everland theme park, who came from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, gave birth to twin cubs. They are the first pair of baby pandas born outside China this year and also the first twin cubs ever born in the ROK. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: This is fantastic heart-warming news, which I believe brings joy to people both in China and the ROK. The giant panda is a national treasure and name brand for China and an envoy for friendly exchanges between China and the rest of the world. Ai Baos first baby, Fu Bao, is much adored by the ROK public. We believe that the twin cubs birth will bring joy and luck. They have our best wishes, and we hope they will play a part in thickening the bond and friendship between Chinese and the people of the ROK just like their sister Fu Bao has. CCTV: According to reports, the IAEA chief has made controversial comments during his visit to the ROK and New Zealand. He said on several occasions that one could drink or swim in the treated water from Fukushima and that the treated water is as harmless as the water discharged from nuclear power plants in other countries. However, many nuclear experts, including those involved in the review, have recently expressed different views. What is your comment on this? Wang Wenbin: If you take even just a brief look at recent media coverage, you will find that the IAEA safety review has indeed been controversial. Experts who participated in the review have expressed views different from the final report. That is an indisputable fact. This shows once again that the IAEA released the review on this complex issue too hastily, and the conclusion has its limitations and is narrowly focused without addressing the worlds concerns over the discharge plan. Japan cant just use the IAEA report as a greenlight for the ocean discharge. I need to point out once again that it is against common science to put the nuclear-contaminated water from Japans Fukushima nuclear plant and the water released from normally functioning nuclear power plants in the same category, given the uncertainty about whether the former will meet safety standards after treatment. These two types of water are inherently different as they come from different sources, contain different radionuclides and require different levels of sophistication in terms of the treatment methods involved. The nuclear-contaminated water in Fukushima comes from the cooling water injected into the damaged reactor cores, as well as seepage of groundwater and rainwater after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and it contains various radionuclides released from the damaged reactor cores. It is totally different from the normal water discharge from operating nuclear power plants. The IAEA didnt assess the efficacy and long-term reliability of Japans treatment facilities and therefore cannot guarantee that all nuclear-contaminated water will be up to standard after treatment in the next 30 years. The impact of long-running discharge on the marine environment and food safety is not something that the IAEA can easily draw a conclusion on. If some people think that the nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima is safe to drink or swim in, we suggest that Japan save the nuclear-contaminated water for these people to drink or swim in, instead of releasing it into the sea and causing widespread concerns internationally. RIA Novosti: According to POLITICO, apart from Ukraines allies, other countries also made it clear to Russian President Putin that nuclear escalation should not be considered. It is said that President Xi Jinping told the Russian side not to use nuclear weapons during a state visit to Russia in March. China is trying to persuade Russia to put the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant under IAEAs full control. Whats Chinas comment on this report? Wang Wenbin: China released readouts on President Xi Jinpings visit to Russia in March. The two presidents had candid and in-depth communication on the Ukraine crisis. The Chinese side elaborated on its principled position. The Russian side spoke highly of Chinas objective, fair and balanced position and welcomed China to play a constructive role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. China believes that all nuclear weapon states need to embrace the idea of common security and uphold global strategic balance and stability. In January last year, leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states issued a joint statement, affirming that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. Under the current circumstances, parties need to focus on the diplomatic efforts aimed at peacefully resolving the Ukraine crisis and jointly seek de-escalation and lower strategic risks. China takes the nuclear safety issue of nuclear facilities in Ukraine seriously and is closely following the situation. In the document entitled Chinas Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, we call for keeping nuclear power plants safe and oppose armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other nuclear facilities for peaceful purposes. China supports the IAEA in maintaining contact with all parties and playing a constructive role in safeguarding the safety and security of Ukraines nuclear facilities. AFP: We understand that US climate envoy John Kerry is due to visit China in the next few days. Can the Chinese side give any further details of his trip, such as details on who he will meet with and what will be discussed? Wang Wenbin: China and the US are in touch regarding dialogue and exchange at various levels. As for the specific visit you asked about, Id refer you to competent authorities. Climate change is a global challenge and calls for a global response. China and the US had sound cooperation on climate change and jointly facilitated the conclusion and coming into effect of the Paris Agreement. It is hoped that the US will work with China to create enabling conditions and atmosphere for China-US climate cooperation. Bloomberg: In your comments, you said experts had pointed out that the Fukushima water report released by the IAEA was inadequate. Are the experts you are referring to those 12 people, including the representative from China, that wrote the report for the IAEA? Or is it other experts who were not part of the IAEAs panel? Wang Wenbin: We have stated multiple times that the IAEAs review report has its limits, is narrowly focused, and failed to address international concerns over the legitimacy, safety and legality of Japans discharge plan. Japan should not view the report as a greenlight for the ocean discharge. IAEA Director General Grossi stated on multiple occasions that the IAEA will not endorse Japans decision on ocean discharge. I would like to tell you that the view from experts involved in the review is different from what is stated in the IAEA report. This is an indisputable fact. The nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant contains dozens of radionuclides, many of which cannot be treated effectively with existing technologies. Some long-lived radionuclides may spread with ocean currents and form a bioconcentration effect, which will multiply the total amount of radionuclides, causing potential hazards to the marine environment and human health. Japan did not invite the WHO or other professional institutions to carry out review from the health perspective. Japan invited IAEA only for a review process that was based on very few samples and data, which had been provided by Japan. The IAEA based its review on the assumption that Japans purification facility would remain effective and reliable in the long term, and Japans management of the discharge would be free from mistakes or errors for the next 30 years. Such a conclusion can hardly be trusted. Yonhap News Agency: According to reports, on Tuesday, Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea accused a US military spy plane of entering the countrys airspace over its economic water. She warned that the DPRK will take military actions in response if the US continues such intrusion. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: Lately, relevant party has been sending strategic weapons to the Korean Peninsula to engage in military activities. Has this been conducive to resuming dialogue? Or has it only deepened the rift and made the tensions worse? Reality has given us the answer. We hope parties will face the crux of the issues squarely, keep searching for a political settlement and keep the Korean Peninsula peaceful and stable. China is committed to bringing parties to the table and we have been encouraging efforts to address each others legitimate concerns in a balanced way. Relevant party needs to step up to its responsibility and act on what it said about seeking dialogue without preconditions, instead of saying one thing but doing another. TASS: Taiwanese island media published a report claiming the US has urged island military to construct a new Biosafety Level-4 laboratory to secretly establish virus research and development capabilities. Do you have any comments on that? Wang Wenbin: China has been clear and consistent about its opposition to US-Taiwan military engagement. If the report you cited is true, this is further evidence that the U.S. has malignant designs for Taiwan and the DPP authorities is simply selling Taiwan away. Taiwan is a sacred and inalienable part of Chinas territory. We will firmly safeguard Chinas national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely push back all moves that would harm Taiwans interests and sell Taiwan away. Bloomberg: You have repeatedly said that experts have said the IAEAs report is inadequate. And the initial statement from MOFA also said that the report failed to fully reflect views from experts that participated in the review. But I dont think the Chinese side has ever named any of these experts that have made these comments. And I havent seen any media reports about other experts or the members of the IAEA panel saying that the report itself is inadequate. Can you tell us the names of the people or the names of the nuclear safety experts who have said that the IAEA panels report is inadequate or is not substantial? Wang Wenbin: Indisputably, there is controversy over the IAEA review, according to relevant experts. If you have not seen the coverage on this, the only explanation might be that you havent been thorough. I suggest that you take a close look at the recent reports on this issue. I believe the public has access to those commentaries in the media coverage. You may also seek verification from the IAEA to see whether or not relevant experts have expressed different views and opinions on the review report. I would also like to tell you that the experts are not just the only ones disputing the review. In this part of the world and elsewhere, the public, including many individuals and groups, have expressed strong criticism and opposition to the review,which is not hard to find in media reports. AFP: US authorities have announced covert lobbying and arms dealing charges against an analyst named Gal Luft who is alleged to be an unregistered foreign agent of China. Whats the Chinese governments position on relevant charges? Wang Wenbin: Im not aware of what you mentioned. At the theatre of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Fustat, the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) celebrated Ramadan dramas that highlighted human rights at a delightful award ceremony. The evening opened with a speech by NCHR Deputy Chairman Mahmoud Karim, who emphasised Egypts soft power. The event was dedicated to filmmaker Nour Al-Demerdash (1925-1994), who was represented by his son the talk show host Moataz Al-Demerdash. Nour made numerous landmark series through the 1960s and 1970s. Born in Tanta in 1925, Nour Al-Demerdash attended the Higher Institute for Theatrical Arts after graduating from the Faculty of Commerce in 1955, and he directed plays by the great comedian Ismail Yassin. His TV credits include La Totfei Al-Shams (Dont Put Out the Sun), Hareb Min Al-Ayam (Refugee of the Days, 1962), Al-Daheya (The Victim, 1964), Al-Raheel (The Departure, 1965), for which he also wrote the screenplay, and Al-Bakeya Taati (And the Rest Follows, 1966), and he made films like Thaman Al-Horreya (The Cost of Freedom, 1967) and Garima Lam Taktamel (Incomplete Crime, 1972). He also starred alongside Soad Hosni and Rushdi Abaza in the iconic film Saghira Ala Al-Hob (Too Young to Fall In Love, 1966), directed by Niazi Mustafa. He passed away while shooting the series Al-Soqout fi Baer Sabaa (Falling In Sabaa Well) in 1994. Taht Al-Wessaya (Custody) was the first winner, for its obvious contribution to the significant issue of how the custody of children is handled after the death of the father and its possible impact on widowed mothers. Among the honourees were actors Mona Zaki, Roushdi Al-Shami, Ali Sobhi and Diab, though the latter was the only one present and the other awards were handed to the Media Hub production company representative. With a screenplay co-written by Sherine and Khaled Diab, the series was directed by Mohamed Shaker Khodeir. All three were also honourees. The celebrated Syrian actor Gamal Suliman, who was among the attendees, was honoured for his role in the TV series Omla Nadra (Rare Breed), directed by Mohamed Gamal Al-Adl, which tackles the delicate issue of inheritance laws and how women are treated unfairly in an Upper Egyptian setting. NCHR Cultural Rights Committee member Samir Louka said: The series showed many loopholes existing in the personal status laws. Screenwriter Medhat Al-Adl was present to receive his award, and honourees who were not present during the ceremony include actors Ahmed Eid, Nada Moussa and Nelly Karim. Risalat Al-Imam (The Imams Message), which follows the real life events of the Imam Mohamed Al-Shafei and the challenges he faced while spreading his message, was also awarded. Present were its director Laith Hijo and writer Mohamed Hesham Obaya together with actors Gamal Abdel-Nasser, Hamza Al-Eily, Salma Abu Deif. NCHR member Ezzat Ibrahim made a speech in which he said it drew attention to one of the most important scholars in Islamic history and the choice of Egypt as a stage for most of the events in the drama aimed at emphasising the specificity of the Egyptian model and its tolerance for all religions and sects during a critical historical era. The evening also featured the honouring of actresses Aida Riyad and Hanan Suliman for their roles in Al-Harsha Al-Sabaa (The Seventh Year Itch). It received the award of the jury, which included Tarek Al-Shinnawi, Ola Al-Shafei, Andrew Mohsen and Sayed Mahmoud. NCHR Cultural Rights Committee member said it addressed womens rights and childrens rights as well, and how marriage disputes affect the children psychologically. There was also an honourable mention of the TV series Gatt Salima starring Donia Samir Ghanem, directed by Islam Khairi. Renowned actress Samira Ahmed was honoured at the end of the ceremony for her lifes achievements and her huge contribution. Ambassador Fahmi Fayed said, Samira Ahmed is an artistic institution whose cinematic repertoire exceeds 82 films and a number of radio and television series and after a closer look at her career we can call her the conqueror of difficulties. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Buildings in Victoria are generally designed to withstand a one-in-100-year rainstorm, but Kirkwood said many of the buildings he investigated flooded catastrophically in a once-in-one-year event. Kirkwood saw roofs every single day, over and over again approved by VBA inspectors who did not get on the roof to check workmanship. Kirkwood said the result was homes full of mould that cant be tenanted out, that people are really in financial distress over. Its just unacceptable that the regulator allows this to happen. Former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu was part of the Andrews governments cladding taskforce. The former architect has strong views on issues in building regulation. Credit: Simon Schluter The failure to physically inspect roofs was among a litany of new complaints to The Age and Today about the VBA. Victims of faulty builds and construction industry experts said the authoritys failure to properly police the industry encouraged rogues to thrive. In May, The Age and 60 Minutes revealed VBA inspectors were completing hundreds of virtual plumbing audits each year rather than physically attending construction sites. These inspections by iPhone done in a bid to hit housing inspection targets set by the state government raised questions about whether they breached the states Building Act. The VBAs then chief executive, Sue Eddy, resigned two days after the stories were published. Loading Her replacement is Anna Cronin, the Andrews governments former commissioner for better regulation, who from 2020 led a review of Victorias building system. Cronin started work at the VBA last Monday and declined to be interviewed for this story. Former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu, once an architect, said inspectors who did not get onto roofs would not find faults and consumers would lose out. If you dont go yourself where the tradies go, you are going to lose. You cant pick a plumbing fault with a drone. I understand why this is being done there is a shortage of inspectors, and they want to speed up the process. The Andrews government commissioned Baillieu in 2017 to co-chair a taskforce with former Labor deputy premier John Thwaites investigating flammable cladding on apartments. Loading Baillieu has since taken a wider interest in Victorias building regulation problems and said reform was needed. The Victorian Building Authority needs to be overhauled, he said, also adding that wider cultural change and education were needed in the industry. We need accountability. Theres an acute shortage of inspectors. Theres an acute shortage of building surveyors. Even those with years of development experience can be hit by roof faults leading to catastrophic leaks. Chay Ryan is a developer behind a group of apartments in south-east Melbourne where roof leaks have badly affected one part of the project. Ryan said the VBA inspected the leaks nine months ago but took no action to direct the builder to address any problems since then. He said chasing the builder through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal had been prohibitively expensive. Darren Manolis-Cox, whose inner Melbourne apartment was left half-built by the unregistered builder he and his partner unwittingly hired to do their renovations. Credit: Wayne Taylor The process, its fundamentally flawed and broken, he said. Also frustrated is Darren Manolis-Cox, who with his partner last year hired a builder to renovate their inner Melbourne apartment. The construction company has an inner-suburbs showroom promoting its dream kitchens, bathrooms and homes. Loading After work had started, Manolis-Cox discovered the builder was not registered although there was a registered builder with an almost identical name. Work stopped after Manolis-Cox and his partner asked the builder for evidence he was registered. Weve spent over $120,000 to date, and you can see what weve weve got for that, he said, pointing to building errors needing rectification in the partially built apartment. An authority spokesman said it could not comment as the complaint was under investigation. After The Age and Today made inquiries about the VBAs investigation, however, the authoritys staff rang Manolis-Cox and appeared to fast-track their work last week. Following the Holocaust, we vowed never again. However, in 1995, 8372 Bosnian Muslims were systematically murdered in the first genocide on European soil since World War II. On this day July 11 28 years ago, Bosnian Serb forces methodically targeted and murdered thousands of Bosniak boys and men in and around Srebrenica. A man mourns next to the coffin of his relative, a victim of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, in Potocari, Bosnia on Sunday. Credit: AP My family in the town of Bihac endured the horrors of starvation, bombings, dehumanisation, and a relentless siege by a dual military endeavour of Bosnian Serb and Serbian forces. To our disbelief, the perpetrators included individuals we had once considered teachers, classmates and even friends. Permanently scarred by nearly 1200 days of siege, I aged 20 left everything I knew to seek a better future in the United States. In the years since I have hoped that at the very least the horrors I and so many others encountered in Srebrenica, Bihac and many other sites of mass atrocities, would prevent future genocides. But my hopes were futile. Washington: A Republican Senator is blocking the promotions of hundreds of US military officers including some of the nations top brass due to his objection to the Pentagon allowing women to take leave or travel if they need an abortion. In an extraordinary standoff, retired Alabama football coach-turned-politician Tommy Tuberville is refusing to allow the promotions of defence personnel to be ushered through the Senate, leaving about 250 officers and their families in limbo and the US Marine Corps without a commander for the first time in 164 years. Tommy Tuberville throws toy footballs to supporters in 2020 Credit: AP The Senator, who campaigned for office on his loyalty to Donald Trump, his support for gun rights and his pro-life stance, announced he would thwart Department of Defence nominees months ago in protest over the Pentagons reproductive health care policies, which include allowing leave and travel funds to women in the military if they need an abortion. But his refusal to budge unless the Pentagon rethinks its policy has since stalled promotions that would typically be fast-tracked by both parties through the narrowly controlled Senate and has prompted warnings that national security could be placed at risk. if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... Managing the economic responsibilities that come with receiving fleeing Sudanese is a key issue on the agenda of the Sudan Neighbours Summit that President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi is scheduled to inaugurate Thursday in Cairo. Another busy week at the Cairo office of humanitarian NGO Caritas, as Sudanese citizens who have fled the fighting at home between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), arrive to register for financial assistance. In cooperation with the UNHCR, Caritas is facilitating access to funds for Sudanese who have registered for refugee status with UNHCR. A Caritas worker said most of those coming to the Caritas office arrive in bad shape, with no place to go and no money to cover essentials. Since the conflict started in the capital of Sudan mid-April, half a million Sudanese have arrived in Egypt, the majority via the Argeen border crossing. According to UNHCR, 13,000 Sudanese in Egypt have been registered as refugees eligible to receive financial assistance. UNHCR is one of several international organisations working with Sudans neighbours to provide financial assistance both to refugees and to governments that host them. A UN source said that among Sudans neighbours Chad and South Sudan, with easier entry regulations for citizens of Sudan than Egypt, had received the largest number of Sudanese. Managing the economic responsibilities that come with receiving fleeing Sudanese is a key issue on the agenda of the Sudan Neighbours Meeting that President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi is scheduled to inaugurate Thursay in Cairo. The International Crisis Group predicted this week that Sudan is now facing the prospect of an extended war. An Egyptian government source said that there is no telling how the conflict will develop, and there is a threat that, if it engulfs more of the country, Sudanese already displaced internally will attempt to leave Sudan. An even more worrying possibility is that the conflict, which is already fanning ethnic tensions, particularly in Darfur, could spill over into neighbouring states. The UN warned this week that the conflict in Sudan threatens to destabilise the entire East Africa region. For Egypt, says the government source, this is a nightmare scenario in terms of the possible influx of refugees and regional security. In a press statement earlier in the week, Presidential Spokesperson Ahmed Fahmi said participants in the Neighbours Conference will explore ways to end the conflict in a peaceful manner and in coordination with other regional and international tracks, and contain its impacts on Sudans neighbours. As of Tuesday, Cairo had made no announcement of who would attend the Cairo meeting. We have extended invitations to all Sudans neighbours including Ethiopia, said the government source. Whatever our problems with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the stability of Sudan is crucial to the region. During a brief encounter with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the sidelines of a finance conference in Paris last month, the source revealed that Egypts President Al-Sisi had pressed the need for cooperation over Sudan. Cairo and Addis Ababa do not see eye-to-eye over their troubled neighbour. Since the beginning of the conflict, Egypt has argued that the stability of Sudan requires the support of the national armed forces, irrespective of who leads the army. It is not about [Abdel-Fattah] Al-Borhan, it is about Sudan, says the government source. We have issues with Al-Borhan and with the influence of Islamists over Sudans armed forces, but we also believe that if the army disintegrates then Sudan itself will fail. It is already a country facing a complex tribal and ethnic situation, and foreign intervention is growing. Addis Ababa has lent its backing to RSF leader Mohamed Dagalo. Cairo-based foreign diplomatic sources confirm the direct support that Addis Ababa is giving the RSF, including arms being sent via third countries. As well as Egypt and Ethiopia, Sudan borders Libya, the Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, and South Sudan. As Al-Ahram Weekly went to press on Tuesday, the government source said Cairo was still waiting for confirmations on participation and level of representation at the Neighbours Meeting. If we are to talk about ending the humanitarian crisis and halt the influx of refugees, we must address the endgame of a political settlement, said the government source. To this end, Cairo will canvass support at the meeting for the US-Saudi diplomatic channel that has been trying to secure a ceasefire. Following the breach of every ceasefire the channel has secured till now, Washington and Riyadh last month opted to suspend the indirect talks that had been held in Jeddah. The failure of SAF and RSF to agree a formula for integration of the two forces was a key factor in the breakout of the conflict. Mediation by several regional states and bodies, including Ethiopia and the Ethiopian-dominated Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), have failed to secure a consensual roadmap for integration. On Monday, the SAF decided not to attend an IGAD-hosted meeting in Addis Ababa after the group refused to accommodate an SAF request that Kenyas President William Ruto be replaced as the head of the IGAD Committee on Sudan. According to the SAF-aligned Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ruto is not impartial. In their meeting, IGAD member states Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda called for the deployment of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) in Sudan to protect civilians. EASF is a 10-member state security body which includes Sudan. According to the Egyptian government source, the Cairo meeting of Sudans neighbours will examine ideas and proposals that have been brought to the table by other initiatives, including IGAD. IGAD has already proposed a bigger role for the civilian forces that led the Sudanese 2019 Revolution that ousted Omar Al-Bashir and his Islamist regime. This weeks IGAD meeting was attended by some civilians who shared power with the then-united SAF and RSF before Al-Borhan introduced emergency military regulations in October 2021. While no civilian group has been invited to the Cairo conference, the source said Cairo is consulting with political figures in Sudan, including some associated with the Forces of Freedom and Change. The outcomes of the Cairo meeting on Sudan are expected to be examined in a series of talks which will unfold during the rest of the month. In meetings scheduled with both Ruto and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Al-Sisi is expected to prioritise the need to bring stability to Sudan. While Kenya does not share Cairos vision on the best way to bring peace to Sudan, Ankara is closer to the Egyptian position that a unified national armed force is needed to avoid the disintegration of Sudan. Earlier this month Turkey reached out to the SAF, offering drones to balance the RSFs access to anti-craft missile systems provided by supporting states. Meanwhile, on 27 and 28 July, Sudan will be high on the agenda of leaders participating in the Russia-Africa summit inaugurated by Russian President Vladmir Putin. Russian involvement in Africa has grown in recent years, not least via the presence of the Wagner group which has supported the RSF. Moscow is in the process of revisiting both the role of Wagner and its options in Sudan. Last month Malik Agar, who replaced Dagalo as vice president of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan, visited Moscow for talks. Informed diplomatic sources say that there is only one exit out of the current war in Sudan. Getting there, they argue, requires a collective decision from all players to pressure both Al-Borhan and Dagalo to step down and delegate successors to take over and to start direct talks which include civilian forces. It is still too premature to have hopes, but work towards this end is in progress, said one source. * Additional reporting by Haitham Nouri * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Last months mutiny by Russian Wagner Group forces may help Turkey and Iran to further their agendas in the Middle East and Africa. The mutiny of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) last month continues to cast its shadow over Russian domestic and foreign policy. The statement that Evgeny Prigozhin, leader of the PMC, released on his Telegram channel on 24 June protesting against Moscows strategies and directives in Ukraine and harshly criticising Russias senior military command threw many factors into relief. Prigozhin is not opposed to the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Like others on the far right in Russia, he wants it to be more aggressive, possibly, in his case, so he can continue to strut around in military uniform. Above all, the mutiny of the Wagner PMC after Prigozhins criticisms shows how it has evolved into a parallel wing of the Russian army, driving home the extent to which it has become a mainstay of Russian interests in its zones of influence. As a consequence, Prigozhin has acquired considerable personal influence that may make Moscow think twice before dismantling the Wagner Group. The Wagner mutiny was over in 24 hours, thanks to the mediating efforts of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. Prigozhin called off his march on Moscow, and the Wagner forces turned in their heavy weapons preparatory to being incorporated into the Russian army. However, the tensions between Moscow and the Wagner Group have not subsided. Given the growing likelihood that the Russian military authorities will move to dismantle the Wagner Group or at least suspend its activities or cut its incentives, tensions could surge again. This might induce some countries in the region, especially Iran and Turkey, to attempt to take advantage of the confusion to further their own agendas in areas where they are competing with Moscow for influence. Tehran and Ankara immediately declared their support for Moscow and the steps it took to quell the Wagner Group mutiny, which was natural in view of the many common political and economic interests the three countries share. However, this does not mean that Ankara and Tehran may not have seen a window of opportunity to advance their particular agendas following the exposure of a weakness in the Russian military structure. During the mutiny, Prigozhins forces took over an operations command centre in Rostov-on-Dom and then marched halfway to Moscow without meeting any resistance. Even though Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the help of partners, succeeded in putting a speedy end to the march, Prigozhins act of defiance may have eroded popular support for him, undermined the Russian Governments campaigns to justify the war in Ukraine, and affected the morale of regular Russian forces, which have been grumbling about the Russian military leadership. While the Wagner problem may have been formally resolved, problems may continue to lurk beneath the surface. Syria is one major country in which Russian, Turkish, and Iranian interests overlap. While the three countries have been working together to promote a resolution to the Syrian conflict through the Astana Process, Russia still opposes Turkish military operations in northern Syria. However, Moscows tensions with the Wagner Group, the backbone of Russian military actions on the ground in Syria, could hamper Moscows ability to pressure Ankara on various political and military concerns in the country. While Tehran, like Moscow, supports the regime led by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in Damascus, Moscow opposes Iranian attempts to assert its control over the regime and vital Syrian facilities. Following the Wagner rebellion, Tehran may have greater leeway to bolster its strategic position in Syria. Wagner forces have been deployed in Syrian oil fields east of Damascus as well as in the area that falls under the Turkish-Russian de-escalation agreement. More than 3,000 Syrian conscripts are reportedly serving under Wagners command in Syria. Moscows preoccupation with the Wagner crisis, its concerns over the potential repercussions, and the need to fill anticipated gaps on the battle fronts in the light of the reductions in Wagner forces may all also offer Iran and Turkey an opportunity to strengthen their influence in Central Asia at Russias expense. The Caucasus, situated directly between the three powers, has been a main locus of regional competition. Turkey will have undoubtedly turned its attention to Libya as well. Wagner forces in the east of the country have long been a thorn in the side of Ankaras attempts to assert its influence over the government in the Libyan capital Tripoli. Seething tensions between Moscow and the Wagner Group might give Turkey greater manoeuvrability in Libya and strengthen its hand against the agendas of other regional and international players. An estimated 1,200 Wagner forces support the Libyan National Army (LNA) under the command of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi. Many of them are based at the Al-Khadim Airbase and at other bases in Jufra and Sirte and are equipped with fighter planes and other defence systems. Turkey operates out of the Watiya Airbase near Tripoli and other facilities. On the other hand, both Turkey and Iran might leap at the chance to export arms to Wagner. A leaked US intelligence report in May revealed that Wagner representatives had met with a Turkish source in February to discuss purchases of Turkish weapons and military equipment. Possible changes in Russian policies towards Wagners activities in Africa may also open avenues for Turkey and Iran, particularly since reports in Western news outlets have suggested that African leaders are concerned over the future of Wagner PMC operations in their countries. Wagner PMC has been operating in the Central African Republic (CAR) and several other Sub-Saharan African nations, especially since the withdrawal of French counterterrorist forces from the region. At a recent press conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained that the Wagner forces were in those countries in accordance with contracts concluded directly between their respective governments and Wagner PMC. It was up to the leaders of those countries to determine the future of the contracts, he said. After the French military withdrawal from Central and West Africa, Turkey and Iran stepped up their efforts to increase their influence in the region. Turkey has been using defence and armaments deals towards this end, while Iran has been trying to build networks of influence through the Sufi orders and Shia currents in the region. A shakier Wagner position in Africa and a shaken Russian image as a result of Wagners brief rebellion may be conducive to Ankaras and Tehrans strategic agendas in Africa as well as in other regions. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The world has long been embroiled in conflicts over precious natural resources. However, since the mid-20th century, countries have become more acutely aware than ever of the looming threat of water scarcity. The burgeoning population, coupled with surging industrial operations and production requirements, have necessitated ever-increasing quantities of water. Climatic disruptions wrought by industrialisation in Europe and North America have exacerbated the crisis. Water has also been used as a source of pressure to secure other gains from different parties. The last 70 years have witnessed a significant uptick in dam construction, a measure aimed at generating hydroelectric power and establishing irrigation networks. This has particularly been the case in nations where rivers originate, even if they do not fully capitalise on local precipitation. Anxiety over water resources today has begun to manifest itself in the form of skirmishes that portend a catastrophic escalation, threatening to unleash interminable conflicts that will bring neither victory nor peace. The prevailing situation is untenable, especially between neighbouring countries that rely on rivers for their water like an oasis in the desert. Iran, a nation beset by drought for three decades, is understandably worried about the dwindling water supply from the Helmand River, which originates in Afghanistan. Kenya is experiencing escalating societal tensions due to the depletion of Lake Turkana, which sustains the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people who rely on it for grazing and hunting. The reduction in the lakes water level is caused by the operation of the Gebe III Dam on the Omo River in neighbouring Ethiopia, which feeds a vast desert lake with over 90 per cent of its water. Iraq and northern Syria have been under Turkish pressure since 1990 to provide oil in exchange for water. Parts of Syria have dried up as a result of its confrontation with Ankara-backed terrorist groups. Such water-related conflicts are not exclusive to these countries alone, but instead are part of a global phenomenon affecting both the Eastern and Western nations. One solution to the worlds water crisis lies in the development of low-cost technologies to desalinate seawater. Until then, tensions and conflicts over water are likely to persist. I - Iran-Afghanistan dispute Long-standing disputes between Iran and Afghanistan over water rights have recently turned into deadly clashes. The dispute between Iran and Afghanistan over rights to the water of the Helmand River that runs through the two countries reached a deadly climax on 27 May and resulted in the deaths of two people, one from each side, and two injuries, the Kabul and Tehran authorities have reported. The fighting broke out between Iranian border guards and Taliban fighters in the Makki border area following disputes over the flow of the river. Both Tehran and Kabul have pointed accusing fingers, blaming the other for successive dry seasons that have led to reduced water levels. Iran and Afghanistan are grappling with unprecedented droughts, with the Iranian Meteorological Institute estimating that about 97 per cent of the country was affected by drought to some degree in 2020. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has reported that Iran has suffered from multiple droughts in the past 30 years, with the situation worsening in the last decade. Similarly, Afghanistan has been suffering from a massive drought that has prompted the FAO to appeal to the international community for assistance. Seven million Afghans who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods are threatened, it said in a report published in August 2021. The situation is particularly dire for those among the 14 million people in Afghanistan already suffering from food insecurity, or one third of the population, it said. Relations between Iran and the Taliban government in Afghanistan have been complicated, with Iran initially supporting Islamic groups hostile to the Taliban and not recognising the establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan following the final withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021. In 1998, the Taliban killed 11 Iranian diplomats and an Iranian journalist in the Iranian consulate in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, which led to tensions between the two countries. The Iranian media at the time considered that going to war against the Taliban would be a trap that could bring together hardline Sunni Islamists to repeat the defeat of the former Soviet army in Afghanistan between 1979 and 1989. But Iran supported the US in overthrowing the Taliban during its invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, though it also granted refuge to dozens of Taliban fighters fleeing the country. Over the years, Iran has been developing relations with successive Kabul authorities, notably during the periods in office of former Afghan presidents Hamid Karzai (2002-2014) and Ashraf Ghani (2014-2021). But the two countries have not been able to implement the 1973 Agreement on sharing the water of the Helmand River. With the Taliban coming to power in Afghanistan for the second time in August 2021, clashes broke out over Helmand again in December of the same year, but the two sides quickly contained them. The Helmand River originates from the south of the Hindu Kush Mountains north of Kabul and flows for over 1,000 km before draining into the Iranian Lake Hamoun near the border with Afghanistan. It is the most important river in Afghanistan and its basin accounts for 40 per cent of the countrys area. Under the 1973 Agreement, the amount of water allocated to Iran from the river is just over 82 million cubic metres out of a total of 5.66 billion cubic metres. However, Afghanistan has since built two dams on the Ajrandab River, the main tributary of the Helmand River, as well as the Kajaki Dam on the main course of the river itself. Construction is also underway for the Kamal Khan Dam north of the border with Iran. There are several rivers bordering the two countries, such as the Harirud, Helmand, and Farah, as well as smaller rivers like the Harut, Khasbush, Khash, and Budai, all originating from Afghanistan and flowing into the Bozek and Sabri Lakes located near the border between the two countries. The Helmand River is the main source of water supply for the Sistan Plain and is a vital artery for the Iranian provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan, which suffer from chronic droughts. Disputes over the river began in 1872, but were shelved during the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880). With the first attempts at development in Afghanistan during the reign of Habibullah Khan, conflicts arose again in 1903, when the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to settle them. Problems in sharing the water of the river under a 1939 Agreement prompted the two countries to start the Washington talks in 1955, the first round of which ended without tangible results. However, more development efforts launched during the reign of former Afghan King Zahir Shah during the 1950s and 1960s, and other modernisation endeavours in Iran during the reign of former Shah Mohamed Reza, led Kabul and Tehran to negotiate further over water-sharing and sign the 1973 Agreement. But the agreement was not ratified, and the 1974 coup in Kabul, leading to the overthrow of the monarchy, followed by the 1979 Revolution in Iran, put it on hold. However, the two parties have continued broadly to adhere to it, there being no political or legal alternative. As the dispute over water-sharing between the two countries escalates, some have warned of the risk of armed conflict. There is no doubt that Iran is stronger than the Taliban. But even for the more powerful side, going to war is not a favourable option, said Ahmed Selim, a professor of Asian Studies in Cairo. The Taliban does not enjoy popularity in Afghanistan. This is a factor that raises the fears of the Kabul rulers, he added. The majority of the Taliban belong to the Pashtun ethnicity that constitutes more than 40 per cent of Afghanistans population but has placed it in a situation of conflict with smaller ethnic groups such as the Uzbeks and Tajiks. The extremist Sunni-Salafi ideology of the Taliban also places the Shia Hazaras in the ranks of the Talibans opponents. Iran has used the Hazaras to fight in the conflict in Syria, where they participated as the Fatimid Brigade and obtained combat training in a conflict that has claimed 300,000 lives. This could be a weapon that Iran could use against the Taliban, but it could also provoke Pakistan, which fears that the Pashtuns will unite against the rest of the components of Afghanistan, Selim said. Pakistan has a significant Pashtun population of about 25 million people, and if the Pashtuns turn from the ideology of Political Islam to nationalism, it could lead to Pashtun nationalism gaining control over the country. The government of Dawoud Khan in Afghanistan in the 1950s rejected the so-called Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan that was drawn up by secretary for foreign affairs in the government of British India Sir Henry Mortimer Durand in the 19th century. The Durand Line divides the Pashtuns between the two countries, whereas the Pashtuns want to gain control over the Pashtun-dominated regions of both. Irans involvement in the conflict in Afghanistan could potentially lead to retaliation from Sunni countries, who could mobilise extremist fighters to take revenge on Shia Iran that defeated them in Syria and Iraq, Selim said. If the Taliban prevents water from reaching Iran, will Iran engage in a war that would divide it from neighbouring countries, or will it risk losing precious water that is all the more necessary at a time of drought, he asked. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: New American gin brand launches A new American gin, Four Corners, has launched this month, using botanicals sourced right across the United States and representing different regions. Among the botanicals used include: juniper, picked in central and eastern Oregon; Cranberry, picked in Maine,; Wild Cherry Bark; Cascara Sagrada and Yerba Santa. The producers have described the expression as having floral aromas with citrus notes, with a light and sweet palate with notes of wet spring leaves and citrus. The finish is described as fresh and herbaceous. Four Corners marketing director Gary McLoughlin commented on the launch: We always believed that gin should have a real sense of place. Traditional gin uses botanicals imported from far off places. We felt that everything needed to make the best gin in the world was growing all around us, right across America. The distilling team of Four Corners had previously made Glendalough Wild Botanical Gin and asked American gin distiller Christian Krogstad to create a vision of a true American gin. Krogstad previously worked on brands including Aviation gin and Westward whiskey. Krogstad added: When the guys approached me about making an all American Gin, I assumed we would still use European (Adriatic) juniper, like most other gins out there. But when they emphasised the need to only use American botanicals, I threw out the traditional gin playbook and got working on creating an American Gin with its own unique palate. What we have created is nothing like a typical London Dry gin, this is an all American gin that uses wildcrafted herbs from right across the United States. 11 July 2023 - Bradley Weir Share this story 1 Dead, Dozens Rescued After Flooding in US Northeast, More Intense Rainfall Forecast At least one person has been killed and millions are under flood watches as parts of the northeastern United States were hit with severe rain and heavy flooding over the weekend. More than 13 million Americans were under flood watches and warnings from eastern New York state to Boston and western Maine to the northeast, the National Weather Service (NWS) said in its forecast Monday, with Vermont the most at risk. Flood watches will also remain in place until at least Tuesday afternoon for parts of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Connecticut, according to NWS. Over the weekend, New York and Vermont were the hardest-hit states, receiving around 8 inches (20 cm) of rain which overwhelmed rivers and streams, although authorities in Pennsylvania also reported around 40 people being displaced, CBS News Philadelphia reported. In parts of Vermont, which is currently under a state of emergency, flooding surpassed what was experienced during Tropical Storm Irene, according to Gov. Phil Scott. As of Monday morning, more than 10 people had been rescued from the floods, according to the governor. Later on Monday, Vermonts Emergency Management team said it had rescued 19 people on boats and evacuated 25 others, as well as pets, amid rising water levels. Two areas in the stateWeston and South Londonderryare currently inaccessible owing to flooding, officials said, while dozens of roads throughout the state have been closed over the dangerous conditions. A severely damaged road is closed near Bear Mountain State Park following a night of heavy rain and flooding in Highland Falls, New York, on July 10, 2023. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Woman Swept Away in New York So far, no injuries or deaths related to the flooding in Vermont have been reported, according to state emergency officials. President Joe Biden, who is currently visiting Vilnius, Lithuania, approved Vermonts emergency declaration early Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the White House. In New York, a 43-year-old woman identified by police as Pamela Nugent was killed while trying to escape flooding at her home in Orange Countyabout 65 miles north of New York Cityaccording to authorities. Ms. Nugent was attempting to leave her home with her dog when she was swept away by rapid waters, officials said. We discovered her remains, she was in the bottom of a ravine, Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus told ABC7 New York. It was very dangerous for the first responders that had to get her out of there, he continued. We saw the debris falling on them as they tried to get her onto high land where we could get her back to the Medical Examiners Office. Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in Orange County on July 9 after the area experienced life-threatening conditions owing to the heavy rainfall and flash flooding. That state of emergency was expanded on Sunday to Ontario owing to increasingly dangerous conditions, according to Ms. Hochuls office. The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Emergency Management and Office of Fire Prevention and Control have deployed personnel to the county to help assist with local response efforts, the governors office said. More Rainfall Ahead Elsewhere on Monday, more than 1,000 flights to and from airports across the region, including New Yorks LaGuardia and Bostons Logan, were delayed or canceled owing to heavy rains. Railroad company Amtrak also suspended its passenger train service between the state capital Albany and New York City after flooding damaged tracks. NWS late Monday said the slow-moving storm system will likely head northeastward overnight Monday before exiting the region on Tuesday. Before then, however, additional slow-moving showers capable of containing intense rainfall rates are expected to dump a few additional inches of rainfall over parts of northern Vermont and far northeast New York, NWS said. As a result, dangerous flooding in these areas are forecast to continue or worsen throughout the night, with impacts turning from flash flooding to main-stem river flooding, the weather service said. A High Risk (level 4/4) of Excessive Rainfall remains in effect for much of Vermont, highlighting the potential for catastrophic flooding that has not been seen in this part of the country since 2011. It is imperative to never drive across flooded roadways, as most flood-related deaths occur within vehicles. According to a preliminary evaluation by AccuWeather, the weekend flooding caused damages and economic loss of around $3 billion to $5 billion, although the full extent of the damages is yet to be assessed by officials. Reuters contributed to this report. The Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) and the High Council of State (HCS) were due to discuss the proposed electoral laws submitted to them by the 6+6 Committee on Monday, 10 July. They were then to determine the next steps towards forming a unified government to implement the next roadmap to elections. However, chaos erupted in the House prior to the debate, as a result of which the session was adjourned to the following day (Tuesday). Evidently, a quarrel broke out among MPs over the validity of several decisions adopted in the previous session, which had been chaired by the second deputy speaker of the House, Misbah Doma, and which reportedly lacked the necessary quorum for a vote. The HCS also adjourned its session on Monday due to the lack of a quorum. Both bodies seem to want to postpone taking the necessary steps to salvage the political process in Libya. According to various Libyan sources consulted by Al-Ahram Weekly, the statements made by the speakers of both assemblies, HoR Speaker Aguila Saleh and the HCS Head Khaled Al-Mishri, ahead of the sessions suggested that the two had reached an under the table agreement on the next step, as one of the Libyan sources put it. That step would be to apply the electoral laws and proceed to form a new government regardless of the views of the members of both assemblies. Another source agreed and cited as evidence the fact that several HoR MPs had proposed an initiative concerning the electoral laws and the formation of a new government which had not been considered by either the office of Khaled Al-Mishri or the HoR board. The initiative included, among other things, a proposal regarding holding a referendum on the draft constitution that had been approved by the Constitutional Drafting Committee several years ago. It is also worth noting that, on the eve of Mondays session, the Media Adviser to the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Fathi Al-Marimi indicated there was a likelihood that modifications would be introduced to the outputs of the 6+6 Committee with regard to the second round of elections. There should be no need for a second round if a candidate manages to obtain over 50 per cent of the vote in the first round, he said. He also believed that there would be proposals regarding the candidacies of individuals holding public office. According to the draft laws of the 6+6 Committee, it is not clear whether or not a public official or military officer could resume their post in the event that they lost in the elections, even though the provision stated that a person would be considered to have resigned from his post if their candidacy is approved. HoR Speaker Aguila Saleh held that such a question would never arise in most other countries with a parliamentary system. Elsewhere, the presumption is that candidates would be able to resume their posts if they lost. The 6+6 Committee had been formed as a means to overcome an impasse and lack of resolve in the parliament and HSC with regard to the constitutional basis for elections and electoral laws, and it was therefore presumed that its outputs would be considered final. But it is now evident that there are moves in both assemblies to push for amendments to the committees outputs. Preempting criticism, the HoR speaker has argued that the changes would be technical, not substantial. The HCS, for its part, indicated that its adjourned session was to have discussed observations on the 6+6 Committees outputs as they stood. So, it is unclear what the fate of these observations would be if they were adopted by the HCS and the HoR then modifies the outputs. Apart from the question of possible changes to the draft electoral laws, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) believes that it will be necessary to rally a greater consensus within Libyan civil society over the laws and the forthcoming roadmap once they are approved. The UN Special Representative for Libya and Head of UNSMIL Abdoulaye Bathily suspects that no efforts will be made to broaden the dialogue over the laws and possible amendments at the national level and that, instead, the laws will merely be referred to the High National Election Commission (HNEC) for implementation. But this, in turn, raises another problem, which is that a significant portion of members of the HoR and HCS believe that the HNEC should be reconstituted. Before that, however, the next dilemma to rear its horns will be how to form a new national unity government and create a single executive authority. Libya is still run by two governments, one based in the east in Tobruk and the other in the west in Tripoli. The current prime minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel-Hamid Al-Dbeibah refuses to stand down, insisting that he will continue to perform his duties until the elections are over and he hands over power to the newly elected authority. The HCS Head Khaled Al-Mishri has stated that certain steps could be taken to pressure Dbeibah into stepping aside, though he did not clarify what these steps might be. Some have suggested that the HoR and HCS could appeal to the UN to approve a new roadmap, should the two assemblies agree on one. A new roadmap would make it politically awkward for the current GNU to remain in place. Some fear that Dbeibahs step to form a unified operations room in Tripoli may have been designed to preempt steps against him. They predict that a new power struggle is looming and that this could obstruct the new roadmap to elections. In January this year, the HoR approved a new government to replace the GNU. That government is currently performing its duties in the east, with the support of the HoR and the general military command headed by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. The prime minister of the eastern government Osama Hamad has stated that he and his government would step down in the event the HoR and HCS agreed on the formation of a new unified government. Meanwhile, various corruption allegations hover over the Dbeibah government. A recent auditing report shows that the government has squandered millions of dollars in the last year alone. Haftar seized on the report to launch a broadside against the GNU charging that eastern Libya obtained only seven per cent of government resources and calling for the creation of an independent high commission to administer oil revenues. Further embarrassment for that government was generated when an Ajdabiya court ordered the sequestration of certain oil moneys. At the same time, the Libyan Presidential Council has just formed a Financial High Committee, under the councils supervision, to oversee the distribution of financial revenues. Unfortunately, this has stirred another squabble over jurisdiction. Some MPs have questioned the Presidential Councils authority to form such a committee, pointing to the court ruling that states that this authority falls under the jurisdiction of the government. This was clearly at the back of Haftars mind when he recently met the prime minister of the eastern government, the government that he and Saleh would argue is the one intended by the court ruling since this is the government that was formed and approved by the House of Representatives. If, indeed, a tug-of-war over this authority arises between the Presidential Council and the HoR, one imagines that two Financial High Committees will be formed. Even so, the National Oil Company (NOC) and the Libyan Central Bank are unlikely to deal with the eastern government and its committee. Instead, they will deal with the committee formed by the Presidential Council even as the committee faces probable judicial challenges. The Libyan political process is still riddled with thickets. Even though it has neared its last leg before elections, this is the make it or break it phase, as previous Libyan experience has taught us. Everything can fall apart at the last minute, as it did in December last year. Already the mounting tensions surrounding the Dbeibah government are ominous. So far they are contained, but there are no guarantees that they could not range dangerously out of control. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The persecution of the spiritual meditation practice Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is ongoing in China. This July 20 marks the 24th year since the beginning of the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Thousands of Falun Gong adherents from around the United States will gather on July 20 at the nations capital to commemorate and raise awareness. Beginning at 12 p.m. ET, EpochTV and NTD will livestream this event, which starts with a rally to end the persecution followed by a parade. Join us live for NTDs coverage of the 2023 parade to end the persecution of Falun Gong. Where to Watch on July 20, 12 PM ET On the computer: on this page and NTD.com/live On the go: free NTD app from the Apple Store and Google Play On streaming devices: Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Sony Smart TV On TV: click here to find NTD on local TV channels in your area Youtube: NTD, The Epoch Times Facebook: NTD Television, The Epoch Times Twitter: NTD News Gan Jing World: NTD Actor Hill Harper Announces Candidacy for Michigan Senate Seat A file image of actor Hill Harper at a Chicago fundraiser to help then President Barack Obama raise money for his re-election campaign on Jan. 11, 2012. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Actor Hill Harper announced his intention to run for the United States Senate in Michigan to replace retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) in a press release on July 10. Harper, known for his roles on The Good Doctor and How It Really Happened, is running as a Democrat and will join a primary field that includes Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who announced her candidacy in February and is considered a frontrunner. We can all feel it: D.C just isnt getting things done for people. We need representatives wholl take on special interests, get money out of politics, and make our government work for all of us. Thats why today, Im announcing my campaign for U.S. Senate in Michigan, the actor tweeted on Monday. On his campaign website, Mr. Harper is described as an attorney, actor, and single father. His video announcement about running for the senate seat is dedicated to his adoptive son. You see, the world youre growing up in doesnt feel like its getting any better, its getting more divisive and more dangerous. When you told me you were afraid to go to school because of shootings, thats not freedom, Mr. Harper said in his campaign announcement video. Our economy works for the richest while the most vulnerable have to work even harder than ever to keep up, thats not freedom. At the core of so much of this are too many politicians in office who dont really care about people, he added. According to the press release announcing his candidacy, the foundation of Mr. Harpers progressive campaign is social justice and economic dignity. His platform advocates for policies that support small businesses, defend and expand workers rights, and guarantee that all Michigan residents have affordable access to quality healthcare. Instead of accepting corporate PAC contributions, Mr. Harper has pledged to rely solely on grassroots donations. If elected, he would be the only union member currently serving in the United States Senate. Whether you drive an Uber, work in a hospital or teach in our schools, we all feel the impacts of a broken health care system, a crumbling democracy, and the urgent crisis of climate change, Mr. Harper said. Without energized, bold leadership in the U.S. Senate, our state will continue to be held back from achieving our full potential. We deserve better than politics as usual, and thats why Im running for U.S. Senateto be an independent voice to fight for all Michiganders, instead of just special interests and big dollar donors. About the Candidate Before becoming an actor, Mr. Harper attended Brown University and Harvard Law School, an unusual background for an actor on network television. Mr. Harper actively campaigned for former President Barack Obama and served on Mr. Obamas Cancer Panel. Additionally, Mr. Harper has authored books aimed at empowering marginalized young individuals and established a charitable foundation providing scholarships, mentorships, and grants. Mr. Harper was also on several diplomatic and goodwill missions, including to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in 2010, Istanbul, Turkey, and Napoli, Roma, Firenze, Bologna, Italy in 2009. The candidate also holds honorary doctoral degrees from eight colleges and universities, including Howard University. According to the newly announced candidates campaign website, Mr. Harper has a goal of addressing the issues of economic security and representation in a campaign focused on the concerns of the people rather than the influence of lobbyists or wealthy donors. The candidate was raised in the Midwest by two doctors, and emphasizes the importance of public service and improving the lives of others. Mr. Harper has presented himself as independent of the ties that dictate many candidates movements, claiming to be driven by a commitment to prioritize service and address the pressing challenges faced by the nation. In his candidacy, Mr. Harper says he is seeking to offer an alternative to conventional political ambitions, emphasizing the need for authentic representation and confronting the issues that impact the people of Michigan. The Race Mr. Harper is the sixth Democrat to run for the seat of the retiring Stabenow. Stabenow declared in January that she would not run for a fifth term in the swing state in 2024. Ms. Slotkin is thought to be a rising star in the Democrat party and announced her senate campaign in February of this year, asserting that her party needs a new generation of leadership. The campaign reportedly raised more than $1 million on the first day of her campaign announcement and almost $3 million in fundraising in the second quarter. We need a new generation of leaders that thinks differently, works harder, and never forgets that we are *public servants*, Ms. Slotkin tweeted. Ms. Slotkins entry into the race has seemed to reassure Democrats that while they are defending twice as many seats as Republicans are, their standing in Michigan is likely safe. While Ms. Slotkins Senate run is considered a likely win, it could complicate Democrat efforts to retake the House in 2024. It is unclear if anyone else can replicate the representatives performance in one of the most competitive districts in the United States. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Alberta Premier Open to Reimbursing Out-of-Province Surgeries EDMONTONAlberta Premier Danielle Smith is open to the idea of the government potentially reimbursing people who need to travel outside the province for medically necessary surgery if it cannot be provided quickly enough at home. During Ms. Smiths weekly radio call-in show, Your Premier, Your Province, a caller sent in a message stating he needed to go outside the province for medical care. I cannot wait any longer for my hip surgery. Its compromising my health too much. So Im going out of province and well be spending $20,000 plus, said the listener. He said the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) would not be covering the operation. Since AHCIP will not be incurring the cost of my surgery, it only seems fair that Id be reimbursed what it would cost them had I had the surgery done in Alberta. What do you think? he asked the premier. Ms. Smith said she agreed with him. If we cant provide the surgeries here, then we should be reimbursing people at the rate that theyre paying elsewhere, she said. She said she ran for election on that concept in 2012 and was prepared to commit to it during the last election campaign, which ended May 29, but out-of-control provincial wildfires disrupted that plan and some of her intended campaign promises. If we are not treating people here within a medically reasonable period of time, then we have to be able to support them getting their care elsewhere. But Ill tell you what, I want to solve the problem here first, said Ms. Smith. She said she wants Alberta to have a system where the maximum surgeries are being carried out every single week so that residents do not find themselves in the same position as the listener. We are making progress, she said, adding that Dr. John Cowell, official administrator of Alberta Health Services (AHS), had just had his contract renewed for another six months. Improving Capacity Ms. Smith said that Dr. Cowell is focused on improving the capacity of doctor-run surgical centres, and also on ensuring every AHS facility has all of its operating rooms open and is operating at the highest possible capacity. The premier said that there are currently 60,000 surgeries being performed in the province each year, and that she has been advised that the backlog of patients waiting longer than medically recommended will be eliminated by March 2024. The next step is that weve got to not let people languish on the specialist list, said Ms. Smith, noting the time it takes to see a family doctor, be referred to a specialist, and be added to a list for treatment. We have to compress all of that, she said. Perhaps what the last caller suggested is the right way of doing it by having a bit of a penalty, saying, If we dont do it here, were going to pay to have it done elsewhere, Mrs. Smith said, adding that any policy would need to be worked through with her caucus. But in principle, I think hes dead right, said Ms. Smith. She said her goal is to have the Alberta health system be so efficient in the next three years that the province can take patients from other provinces because were so efficient. Im seeing British Columbia sending patients to America. Saskatchewan is sending patients out of province. If we can get our system working properly to take care of ourselves, then I think we can also be offering that service to others. Thats where I want us to get to, said the premier. Opposition New Democrat health critic Luanne Metz described the suggestion of the province reimbursing for out-of-region health care as yet another attempt by [Ms. Smith] to undercut public health care, according to Postmedia on July 8. The premierthe entire UCP government, for that mattershould be focused on ending the crisis in public health care and delivering the surgeries that Albertans need right here, she said. Americas Future Series, a non-political speaker series focused on issues that impact U.S. global competitiveness, holds a Space Innovation Summit at 9:30 a.m. ET on July 11. Agenda: 9:30 a.m. ET: Welcome, overview, and acknowledgments by Ken Peterman, Board Chairman, President, and CEO of Comtech; David Hamilton, founder and CEO of Americas Future Series. 10:00 a.m. ET: One Team-One Fight: Supporting Guardians and their Families by Maj. Gen. Kim Crider, USAF (Ret), founding partner of Elara Nova; Lt. Gen. Bruce Orville Wright, USAF (Ret), President and CEO of Air & Space Forces Association; Col. William Woolf, USAF (Ret), President and founder of USSFA; and Steve Jacques, Executive Director and founder of NSSA. 10:45 a.m. ET, Partnerships Driving Our Future in Space by Shelli Brunswick, Chief Operating Officer of Space Foundation; Col. Pamela Melroy, USAF (Ret.), Deputy Administrator of NASA. 11:15 a.m. ET, The Obstacles to Dual-Use Innovation by Maj. Gen. Kim Crider, USAF (Ret.), founding partner of Elara Nova; Jordan Noone, co-founder and general partner of Embedded Ventures and co-founder and founding CTO of Relativity Space; and Melanie Stricklan, founder & CEO of Slingshot Aerospace. 12:00 p.m. ET, Investing in the Space Economy by Maj. Gen. Clint Crosier, USAF (Ret.), Director, Aerospace and Satellite Solutions of Amazon Web Services; Andre Pienaar, founder of C5 Capital; David Fields, President, and CEO of SES Space & Defense; Nicole Robinson, Chief Growth Officer of Comtech. 12:45 p.m. ET, fireside chat by Lt. Gen. John Shaw, Deputy Commander of U.S. Space Command; and Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Texas). 1:15 p.m. ET, Protecting Critical Space Infrastructure Cyber and AI in Space by Lt. Gen. Harry Raduege, USAF (Ret.), Chief Executive Officer of NCC; Sam Visner, Tech Fellow of Aerospace Corp; and Neil Seberyany, CEO and founder of CalypsoAI. 2:00 p.m. ET, Space Acquisitions and Innovation by Jenny Poisson, President & Chief Executive Officer of Business Acquisition Consulting; Cordell DeLaPena, Program Executive Officer for Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing, Space Systems Command of USSF. 2:30 p.m. ET, Public/Private CollaborationAdvancing the commercialization and defense of Space by Dr. Greg Autry, Clinical Professor & Director of Space Leadership, Policy and Business Initiative of ASU-Thunderbird School of Global Management; Dr. Ajay P. Malshe, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Agricultural and Biological Engineering of Purdue University. 3:00 p.m. ET, Joint Domain IntegrationInnovation and Collaboration by Daniel Gizinski, Chief Strategy Officer of Comtech; Maj Gen John Olson, Chief of Space Operations Mobilization Assistant of USSF. 3:30 p.m. ET, Our Enlisted ForceThe Future of our Airmen and Guardians by Ken Peterman, Board Chairman, President and CEO of Comtech; Gen John Hyten, former VCJCS, USAF. 4:00 p.m. ET, closing. ANALYSIS: Could Liberal States Obstruct Implementing Affirmative Action Decision? History Suggests So News Analysis The Supreme Court ruled on June 29 that affirmative action is unconstitutional. Nonetheless, history suggests that liberal states and institutions could obstruct implementing the decision that race-conscious admissions violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. GianCarlo Canaparo, senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundations Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, predicted to The Epoch Times that colleges and universities will attempt to circumvent the decision by using a race-neutral standard to produce racial diversity. They may give preferences to applicants from zip codes or high schools where they know a lot of black and Hispanic students live, and disadvantages to people from zip codes with high Asian and white populations, he said. This is still forbidden by this Supreme Court decision deals with substance, not shadowsbut it will be hard to catch universities if they discriminate on the sly. Following the Supreme Court ruling, the State University of New York (SUNY) defended affirmative action. Race-conscious admissions policies have enriched our institutions and our nation, SUNY Chancellor John King and the SUNY Board of Trustees said in a joint statement. Yet despite the existence of race-conscious admissions policies, Black and Latino students, along with other groups, are still underrepresented across institutions of higher education as students, faculty members and administrators. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement after the decision: No court case will ever shatter the California Dream. Our campus doors remain open for all who want to work hardand our commitment to diversity, equity, and equal opportunity has never been stronger. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement that no archaic ruling will ever change the states policy of promoting minority students in colleges and universities. Disregard for Supreme Court Howard Slugh, an attorney who has litigated constitutional issues, told The Epoch Times that the Supreme Court decision is ambiguous, since the highest court in the United States didnt explicitly say whether it overturned the 1978 case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke and the cases that followed it, which had been seen as establishing the test for whether in a given case its acceptable to consider race in college admissions. Josh Blackman, a professor at the South Texas College of Law Houston, told The Epoch Times that universities will try to work around the ruling by issuing diversity statements, and that savvy admission officers will know how to read [admissions essays] in just the right way. David Bernstein, a constitutional law professor at George Mason Universitys Antonin Scalia Law School, said that some state universities will simply disregard the ruling, as the Biden administration wont hold them accountable. He also predicted that schools will do away with standardized test scores, making it easier for underprivileged minorities to get admitted. Other Recent Rulings It isnt just the affirmative action decision that states and higher education institutions could try to go around. In the recent case of a website designer seeking to establish that the state of Colorado could not force her to design websites for same-sex weddings, the Supreme Court ruled in the designers favor. Mr. Slugh, general counsel for the Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty, said he expects the assault against those of faith in the service sector to continue. Were likely to see more litigation regarding whether different activities are as expressive as web design, he said. The Supreme Court didnt have to answer that question because Colorado had stipulated that 303 Creative was engaged in expressive conduct. It is unclear where the boundaries will be. Nonetheless, Mr. Blackman said to expect the number of such cases to decrease, given the infrequency of same-sex couples going to those of religious faith for wedding websites. And the Biden administration is already trying to use a workaround regarding student loan debt. The Supreme Court on June 30 deemed President Joe Bidens $400 billion student debt forgiveness program unlawful. Later that day, Mr. Biden announced that the Department of Education can compromise, waive, or release loans under certain circumstances in accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965. He also announced a program through which students can defer their payments for up to one year without being referred by the Department of Education to debtors. Mr. Canaparo said he expects the new policies to fail. The Higher Education Act does not demonstrate Congresss plain intent to delegate to the president the power to end hundreds of billions of dollars of student loans, he said. Pushing Gun Control Laws Liberal states such as California and New York have sought to use workarounds to achieve gun control, despite the Supreme Court reaffirming the Second Amendment right of individuals to bear arms in District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008. California has some of the strictest gun laws in the United States (pdf). Shotgun purchasers must be at least 18 years old, while handgun buyers must be at least 21 years old. Since July 1, the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act has been in place in the state, which mandates that firearms salespeople, including those who sell privately, must have a license to sell firearms. The law also allows people to more easily sue gun manufacturers in civil court. There was also the 2010 case of McDonald v. City of Chicago, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment includes the right to self-defense at home with a firearm and that states must abide by it in accordance with the 14th Amendments due process clause. The decision nullified Chicagos handgun ban. Nonetheless, its still difficult to legally acquire a firearm in Chicago. This year, Illinois enacted an assault weapons ban. Upcoming Cases In the 2022 case of New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, the Supreme Court struck down a New York state law requiring people to show proper cause in order to carry a concealed firearm. Mr. Blackman said that in the wake of Bruen, blue states have tried to evade the landmark Second Amendment ruling and that it is a massive resistance. Since then, New York enacted an amended Concealed Carry Improvement Act. Right now, [New York and California are] trying to figure out just what they can get away with, Mr. Canaparo said. Theyre also probably hoping that friendly lower court judges in their states will let them get away with a lot, and that the Supreme Court wont take another Second Amendment case any time soon. However, in its next term, the Supreme Court is set to take up a case about whether those under a domestic violence restraining order can possess a firearm, which is banned under federal law. Also in the next term, which begins Oct. 2, the Supreme Court will determine what constitutes a serious drug offense. There is also another redistricting case before the court; it decided two in the most recent term. Additionally, the court is set to hear a couple of cases related to the social media accounts of public officials. Moreover, the court will determine whether the funding structure behind the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is constitutional. ANALYSIS: I Hate When Politics Is Injected Into Science: Text Messages of Top Scientists Shed Light on COVID Origin Response Messages suggest politicized response to COVID origin concerns in attempt to protect China Security personnel keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during the visit by the World Health Organization team tasked with investigating the origins of COVID-19, in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) News Analysis A new report released by Republican members of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic includes new evidence that a group of scientists who received funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), conspired to dismiss the origin of the pandemic in order to protect China. The text messages were exchanged between authors of the Proximal Origin paper, initiated by then-NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, which had the explicit purpose of dismissing the lab leak theory for the pandemics origin. The Proximal Origin paper, which declared that no laboratory-based scenario is plausible, became one of the most cited science papers of all time and was prominently used by Dr. Fauci as proof that the COVID-19 virus came from nature. While Dr. Faucis role in directing the papers creation as well as the papers many scientific and logical flaws have been widely documented, the exact circumstances of the papers origin have remained unclear. Text messages released by the Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic now reveal that it was fear of upsetting international relations, and the Chinese regime in particular, that drove the inception of Proximal Origin. According to emails obtained by the Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, concerns regarding COVID-19s engineered-looking features were first discussed by Proximal Origin author Eddie Holmes of the University of Sydney and British pharmaceutical trust director Jeremy Farrar on Jan. 8, 2020. Mr. Farrar is now the World Health Organizations chief scientist. Dr. Francis Collins, then-director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as unnamed Chinese officials were also included in these early, behind-the-scenes discussions. It remains unknown why Mr. Farrarwho later co-organized with Dr. Fauci a Feb. 1, 2020, teleconference that resulted in the drafting of Proximal Originwas deeply entangled in the effort to suppress the lab leak theory and instead elevate the natural origin narrative. Notably, Mr. Farrar is a close personal friend of Gao Fu, who was at the time the head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control. Mr. Farrar later admitted in his book Spike that he was concerned at the time about SinoU.S. relations. While Mr. Holmes, Mr. Farrar, Dr. Collins, and the unnamed Chinese officials were discussing the viruss unusual features, NIAID-funded scientist Kristian Andersen of the Scripps Institute contacted Mr. Holmes to share his own concerns about the new virus, in particular its unusual receptor binding domain and furin cleavage site. Mr. Andersen had also uncovered that the director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), Shi Zhengli, hadtogether with Ralph Baric of the University of North Carolina, who is sometimes referred to as the godfather of gain-of-function experimentsinserted furin cleavage sites into SARS viruses. In other words, Mr. Andersen had detected a highly unusual furin cleavage site in COVID-19, a site that has to this day never been observed in naturally occurring viruses of this kind, and found direct evidence that the WIV had inserted such sites into coronaviruses. Mr. Holmes responded, [expletive], this is bad and oh my god what worse words than that. On Jan. 31, 2020, Mr. Farrar talked to Dr. Fauci about the viruss unusual features. At the same time, Mr. Andersen contacted Dr. Fauci by email, saying that the viruss features looked potentially engineered and that its genetic makeup was inconsistent with expectations from evolutionary theory. It was at this point that Dr. Fauci and Mr. Farrar organized the teleconference, which was held the next day, on Feb. 1, 2020. The ostensible purpose of the teleconference was to develop the Proximal Origin paper to counter the lab leak theory. Mr. Andersen became the papers lead author and was joined by fellow teleconference participants Mr. Holmes, Andrew Rambaut of the University of Edinburgh, and Robert Garry of Tulane University as co-authors. A fifth co-author, Ian Lipkin of Columbia University, was brought on board later in February 2020. Mr. Lipkin did not participate in the teleconference and has since distanced himself from the natural origin narrative. Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) has stated that Mr. Lipkin is cooperating with congressional investigators. The new text messages released by Mr. Wenstrups Committee reveal for the first time that the four Proximal Origin authors who attended Dr. Faucis teleconference started a Slack group to discuss the paper. In a message sent in the morning of Feb. 2, 2020, the day after the teleconference, Mr. Rambaut told co-authors Mr. Andersen, Mr. Holmes, and Mr. Garry: Given the [expletive] show that would happen if anyone serious accused the Chinese of even accidental release, my feeling is we should say that given there is no evidence of a specifically engineered virus, we cannot possibly distinguish between natural evolution and escape so we are content with ascribing it to natural process. Within three minutes, Mr. Andersen replied: Yup, I totally agree that thats a very reasonable conclusion. Although I hate when politics is injected into science but its impossible not to, especially given the circumstances. We should be sensitive to that. These messages contradict the public claims by Mr. Andersen that he was not concerned with politics and that it was others who politicized the question of COVID-19s origin. The exchange between Mr. Rambaut and Mr. Andersen indicate that the efforts of Dr. Faucis group to elevate the natural origin theory had nothing to do with science and were driven from the start by a desire to protect China. Mr. Rambauts admission that it is not possible to distinguish between natural evolution and lab creation and that the Proximal Origin group should therefore simply blame natural processes is tantamount to a smoking gun. It suggests the authors never had the intention of writing a scientific paperinstead, they were focused on covering up the pandemics true origin. Mr. Andersen went even further, telling his co-authors that given the political concerns, the preprint site bioRxiv should start screening submissions its a slippery slope, but its justified at this stage. A preprint site is a site where scientists can upload their research prior to peer review. Mr. Andersen was essentially proposing to censor scientists who did not toe the political line on COVID-19s origin. The political motivations of the origins cover-up are further corroborated by a previously released message from Ron Fouchier, who also attended the teleconference. At the same time that the Proximal Origin authors were having their discussion on Slack on Feb. 2, Mr. Fouchier wrote an email to the teleconference group stating that further debate about such accusations would unnecessarily distract top researchers from their active duties and do unnecessary harm to science in general and science in China in particular. Mr. Fouchier is a Dutch virologist whose controversial gain-of-function experiments, whereby he created airborne viruses, led the Obama administration to impose its 2014 moratorium on such experiments. The moratorium was later lifted by Dr. Fauci and Dr. Collins during the Trump administration. In response, NIH head Dr. Collins chimed in, telling the group, the voices of conspiracy will quickly dominate, doing great potential harm to science and international harmony. Apple Suddenly Pulls Emergency Update for iPhone Users Apple issued new emergency updates to address a zero-day exploit that was being used to launch attacks on iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers, but it said a day later that the updates are causing some websites to not display properly and suggested users remove it. According to Apple support documentation posted on Tuesday, the company is planning to release new updates to address this issue in the near future. Apple did not provide an explanation as to why the affected websites were prevented from loading correctly. Apple is aware of an issue where recent Rapid Security Responses might prevent some websites from displaying properly, it said. Users can remove the Rapid Security Response fix in iPhone or iPad by going to Open Settings, then going to About, then iOS Version, and then tap Remove Serucity Response. Users are then prompted to tap Remove to confirm their decision to remove it. On Mac computers or laptops, users can choose the Apple menu, click About this Mac, click More Information, and then under MacOS, click the Info (i) button next to the MacOS version number. Click Remove and Restart before clicking again to confirm. The Cupertino, California-based tech giant added that a new version of the updates will soon be available. It did not say when. It came after Apple on Monday released an update for the bug, tracked as CVE-2023-37450, for iOS 16.5.1, macOS Ventura 13.4.1, and iPadOS 16.5.1, according to an announcement from Apple. It did not provide more details on the bug, as is the custom for certain patches for actively exploited bugs, but it did say that the problem could lead to arbitrary code execution. Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution, said Apples update, adding that an anonymous researcher found the bug. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited. Apple also noted that for the protection of our customers, Apple doesnt disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until an investigation has occurred and patches or releases are generally available. The fix was released Monday as part of Apples Rapid Security Response initiative that it releases for iPhones, iPads, and Macs that intends to deliver emergency bugfixes more frequently. Rapid Security Responses are a new type of software release for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, according to Apple. They deliver important security improvements between software updatesfor example, improvements to the Safari web browser, the WebKit framework stack, or other critical system libraries. They may also be used to mitigate some security issues more quickly, such as issues that might have been exploited or reported to exist in the wild.' Apple has fixed a handful of zero-day flaws in the past several months, including one in April when the firm issued a warning about two errors that were being exploited on iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS. Around the same time, Amnesty International, the human rights group, said that spyware campaigns were using iOS and Android zero-day exploits to target victims around the world. In May, the federal Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) ordered other government agencies to address several patched flaws that impacted iPhones, iPads, and Macs that were known to be exploited in recent attacks. Days later, Russian officials alleged Apple deliberately provided the U.S. National Security Agency with a backdoor that the spy agency can use to infect iPhones in the country with malware. The Federal Security Service, or FSB, claimed anomalies were identified that are specific only to users of Apple mobile phones that were allegedly caused by previously unknown malicious software provided by Apple. Apple, it alleged, provides the American intelligence services with a wide range of opportunities to control partners in anti-Russian activities, and their own citizens. Army Veteran Launches Bid for Key Nevada Senate Seat That GOP Hopes to Flip Nevada Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sam Brown speaks to media after voting at Reno High School in Reno, Nev., Tuesday, June 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Tom R. Smedes) He came out of nowhere, a never-elected Nevada newcomer and former Army infantry officer horribly wounded in Afghanistan, running a no-name campaign in the Republican primary for U.S. Senator against a political veteran with a polished resume and a well-known family name. But as his grassroots Duty First campaign traveled the dusty backwaters of the state, Sam Brownor, as he became widely known, Capt. Sam Browngained traction, drew donors, and earned the Nevada Republican Party Committees endorsement in his June 2022 GOP primary against the heavily-favored Adam Laxalt, a former state attorney general. In the end, Mr. Brown garnered nearly 34 percent of the primary vote, falling by more than 20 percentage points to Laxalt, who would go on to lose narrowly to incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) the following November. Despite the defeat, Mr. Brown earned admiration within the states GOP andpolls indicatedenjoyed support from some Democrats, especially veterans. That strong 2022 primary performance, as well as his perceived broader appeal in general elections, made Mr. Brown widely rumored to be among the top choices of the state and national Republican parties to take on incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) in 2024. That buzz was fueled in recent days by Mr. Browns own social media in which he sounded very much like a candidate, noting in a July 6 post that, Nevadans see the damage caused by failed politicians, who serve special interests instead of listening to you and me. Their message to me has been loud and clear: they want someone to stand up for them and lead. Its time to unite and take back our state. On July 6 he also invited followers to a special announcement on Monday, a day he began with a Twitter post acknowledging he was running for the Senate. The cat is out of the bag, Mr. Brown wrote. In the military, no one asks you what party youre in. They just want to know that they can count on you to fight alongside them. Im ready to lead and fight for Nevadans again. He followed that up in mid-afternoon with his official announcement. Right now, the American dream is at risk. Joe Biden and Jacky Rosen promised to unite Americans and solve problems. Instead, theyve abandoned Nevada and divided America with extreme policies to satisfy special interests in Washington, Mr. Brown said. As he had earlier, he referenced his military background in working with different constituencies in getting missions accomplished. I know our mission to restore the American dream is achievable if we work together, Mr. Brown said. Thats the attitude we need to tackle the problems of today. As of July 10, Brown is the fourth Republican to throw his hat into Nevadas 2024 GOP Senate race. Others on the GOP slate are former state legislator Jim Marchant, who was defeated in his Trump-endorsed 2022 secretary of state bid, civil rights attorney Ronda Kennedy, and real estate broker Stephanie Phillips. Sam Brown, who impressed manyincluding Democratsduring his 2022 US Senate campaign, has tossed his hat in the ring for Nevadas 2024 US Senate race. (Courtesy of Browns campaign) Senate GOP Backs Brown Hours before Mr. Browns official announcement, his candidacy was lauded in a statement by National Republican Senatorial Committee chair Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.). Sam Browns life of service and sacrifice is an inspiration to all Americans. I am very pleased that Sam is stepping up to run for the U.S. Senate, Mr. Daines said. Mr. Browns entry into the Nevada race is widely welcomed by Republicans nationwide as the GOP gears up to gain control of the Senate, now led 51-49 by Democrats. In 2024, 34 of the chambers 100 seats are on the ballot, including 23 held by Democrats and three Independents who caucus with them. While only one of 11 seats now held by RepublicansSen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)is projected to face a challenging reelection, competitive battles are expected for nine of the remaining 23 Senate seats. Ms. Rosen, who is seeking a second term after defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Dean Heller by 5 percentage points in 2018, is considered to be among those nine most vulnerable incumbents. President Joe Biden carried Nevada by about 2 percentage points in the 2022 midterms that saw Ms. Cortez Masto and all four of the states incumbent House representatives, including three Las Vegas area Democrats, reelected while Republican Joe Lombardo was elected governor. Nevada is among the first presidential primary states, with the preliminary inter-party nomination for president set for Feb. 6. The primary for the remainder of the electoral slate is June 11, 2024, with March 15 the deadline for candidates to file. It is unlikely Ms. Rosen will be challenged in a primary and certain that she will be well-financed. Her campaign reported collecting $2.7 million during the April-June 2023 second quarter Federal Elections Commission (FEC) filing period and had $7.5 million in cash on hand at the start of that quarter. With his July 10 announcement, Mr. Browns Duty First PAC wont need to file an FEC report until October. Mr. Marchants campaigns second-quarter report, due no later than July 15, had not been posted by the FEC as of July 10. Mr. Brown, who moved to Nevada in 2018 from Texas where he lost his only previous political campaign, a 2014 state legislator race, can essentially brush off his 2022 Senate campaign platform in touting support for conservative policies, including opposition to abortion access and advocating for more election integrity. A Purple Heart recipient who sustained critical injuries in a 2008 explosion in Afghanistan that left his face severely burned, Mr. Brown is expected to tout his experience as a mission-oriented combat leader and that career politicians in Washingtonsuch as Ms. Rosenare out of touch with real Americans. Jim Marchant, Republican candidate for US Senate, speaks with supporters at a rally for Nevada Republican gubernatorial candidate, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo at the local Republican Party offices in Henderson, Nevada, on Nov. 6, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Who Gets Trumps Nod? Mr. Browns most notable challenger in the GOP primary at this point is tech company founder Mr. Marchant, who served two terms in the Nevada Assembly before being defeated in his 2022 bid to be Nevada secretary of state, and in his 2020 Congressional campaign against Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.). Mr. Marchant declared he was running for Ms. Rosens seat during a May 2 Make America Great Rally, vowing to stand for the Second Amendment, eliminate critical race theory, do away with gender ideology, and fight the deep state that conspired to sabotage the Trump agenda. I know the people of this state, he said in his campaign announcement. From the miners, the ranchers, to the restaurant servers and the tireless workers on the Strip; from the police officers, to the nurses and doctors. An election integrity advocate with grassroots support, Mr. Marchant has steadfastly supported former President Donald Trumps 2020 election fraud claims and continues to insist his defeat to Mr. Horsford in that same election was fraudulent. During his 2022 secretary of state election, Mr. Marchant founded the America First Secretary Coalition and ran on a platform to reform Nevadas election system by banning mail-in ballots and mandating voter ID, among other changes. Despite being endorsed by Mr. Trump, he was easily defeated by Democrat Cisco Aguilar in Novembers general election. Mr. Marchant was in Mr. Trumps orbit last weekend, attending the formers presidents 40-minute campaign address at Fervent Calvary Chapel in North Las Vegas on July 8. We have a big job to do. This has been a hard state. I really believe its a Republican state, Mr. Trump told the crowd gathered inside the small church for a Republican campaign volunteer drive. This is the most important election in the history of our country. Mr. Marchants campaign shared a post alerting viewers that he was interviewed by the Right Side Broadcasting Network at the chapel while traveling with Trump. Ms. Kennedy was also highlighting her Trump World connections, recounting on her campaign website, and in a July 9 Twitter post, that she had a great dinner with my friend Rodger (sp) Stone, a longtime friend and advisor and friend of the former president who was in Law Vegas with the Trump entourage. Who will garner Mr. Trumps endorsement in the Nevada 2024 GOP Senate primary is uncertainas is the value of the former presidents nod in purple Nevada: the only Trump-endorsed candidate to win in November 2022 was Lombardo, who defeated incumbent Democrat Gov. Steve Sisolak. Mr. Marchants association with Mr. Trump was duty noted by the Nevada Democratic Party and by Ms. Rosen, who called on voters to reject the MAGA election denier. While far-right candidates like Jim Marchant spread baseless conspiracy theories that undermine our democracy, Ive always focused on bringing both sides together to solve problems and stand up for hardworking Nevadans, Ms. Rosen said. In anticipation of Mr. Brown joining the race, the Nevada Democratic Party is hoping to obscure any difference between him and Mr. Marchant. Between [Senate GOP Leader] Mitch McConnells hand-picked candidate Sam Brown, MAGA election denier Jim Marchant, and a host of other far-right candidates eyeing a Senate run, Republicans are in for a messy primary that will expose their deeply flawed candidates as out of touch with hardworking Nevadans, Nevada Democratic Party spokesperson Johanna Warshaw said. In a statement on the state partys website, she called on voters to demand that Mr. Brown clarify his views on the former president. Sam Brown can only avoid the Trump-shaped elephant in the room for so long, Ms. Warshaw said. Will he join Jim Marchant in backing Donald Trump and his toxic brand of MAGA politics, or will he risk alienating the Republican voters who will decide their primary? Australia to Launch New Self-Exclusion Register to Curb Gambling Harm The betting hall at Wentworth Park in Sydney, Australia, on July 16, 2016. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images) The Australian government will launch a national self-exclusion register to help people break away from gambling addiction following an alarming report on online gambling risk in the country. From Aug. 21, Australians can access BetStop, a free service that allows people to voluntarily exclude themselves from all licensed online betting companies nationwide. The exclusion period can range from a minimum of three months to a lifetime. When BetStop commences operation, all 150 licensed Australian online betting companies will be prohibited from opening accounts for, accepting bets from or sending marketing materials to self-excluded individuals. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland touted the new register as a game-changer, saying it would support other gambling reform policies introduced by the government. BetStop is the last of ten measures to be implemented under the national consumer protection framework for online wagering to empower Australians through stronger consumer protections, she said in a statement. The launch of Australias first national self-exclusion register, BetStop, is a game-changer and will make it easy for vulnerable consumers to self-exclude from online wagering services. Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said BetStop and other measures under the National Consumer Protection Framework would help minimise online gambling harm. We know minimising the harm caused by online gambling is not a set-and-forget exercise, and I look forward to working with my state and territory counterparts on what comes next to continue this positive change, she said. New Requirements for Online Gambling Companies With the introduction of BetStop, the government will also require online gambling companies to verify a customers identity when they register for a new account and before they can place a bet. This is a step up from the current legislation, under which wagering service providers must verify their customers identity within 72 hours. Online gambling companies will also be compelled to promote BetStop, including on their websites and apps and via marketing material to customers. In addition, the government will run an awareness campaign to promote the register to the wider public. A TAB betting shop is seen in a shopping arcade in Sydney, Australia, on April 19, 2017. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images) Following the announcement, Carol Bennett, the CEO of Alliance for Gambling Reform, whose mission is to prevent gambling harm, said the government should have introduced BetStop much earlier. For far too long, Australia has had an ineffective patchwork of self-exclusion programs that have been poorly enforced, she said. It has allowed the predatory gambling industry to continue to offer unethical inducements to people who have said they wanted to stop gambling. Meanwhile, Kai Cantwell, the CEO of Responsible Wagering Australia, a peak industry body representing licensed wagering service providers, welcomed the roll-out of BetStop and said the industry would work with the government to ensure the successful launch of the register. Around Melbourne Cup is always a popular time for people to put a bet and enjoy the best of Australian racing, but we must ensure that the BetStop technology is tested and capable of being used at one of the busiest times in the calendar, he said. We implore the Australian Communications and Media Authority to work closely with providers on load testing and ensuring there are no gaps. Alarming Report on Online Gambling Harm BetStops launch comes after a parliament committee released a report on online gambling harm in Australia. The report revealed alarming figures on gambling losses and risks associated with the activity. Specifically, it found Australians lost the most money to online gambling, per capita, in the world, with total expenditure on online gambling reaching $9.56 billion (US$6.39 billion) in 2022. In comparison, Australians spend around $25 billion each year on all forms of gambling. At the same time, online gambling has increasingly become popular among the population as the percentage of Australians engaging in this activity soared from 12.6 percent in 2010-2011 to 30.7 percent in 2019. The report also found that Australians gambling online were significantly more likely to report experiencing any harm (34 percent) than those who only gamble on land-based forms (15.6 percent). Among its recommendations, the report advised the government to introduce a total ban on online betting advertising, which relevant departments are considering. Ms. Rowland said the government was working through the recommendations as quickly as possible. Industry is well aware of the comments that I have made on the record, that the status quo is unsustainable, she said. But we will work through all of these stakeholder consultations, ensuring that at all times we adhere, to the utmost, to the principle of harm minimisation. A bald eagle chick has welcomed an adoptive brother into her nest after the little chicks nest fell, injuring the bird and separating him from his parents. On May 22, the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota reached out to eagle expert Lori Naumann, to say theyd found a 3-week-old bald eagle in a fallen nest with no parents in sight. Ms. Naumann, who works in marketing and promotions for the Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Program, agreed to help relocate the chick. I had been already scheduled to go to Voyageurs National Park and help them band some chicks so I responded and said, Well, you know, I could take it up north with me if you can wait a few weeks,' Ms. Naumann told The Epoch Times. It was the perfect solution since the chick needed treatment for a broken wing, an injury sustained during the fall. Dr. Michael Wierda climbs to the nest on Rainy Lake. (Courtesy of Gordy Lindgren) Three weeks later, on the morning of June 15, Ms. Naumann drove to pick up the 6-week-old youngster, who was placed in a soft-sided crate covered with a sheet to help keep him calm. She drove for five hours with the chick in her vehicle, which was reported to be in good condition. I kept my car quiet, no music or anything on the way up there, she said. He was rather docile; theyre not aggressive at that age at all. [The Raptor Center] had left some food in the crate for it, not sure whether or not he would eat, she said. But I stopped once on my way up there, and it had eaten and pooped, which is good. By the time Ms. Naumann arrived at Voyageurs in the afternoon, the chick was a little dehydrated, but quickly perked up after drinking water. A trio comprising Ms. Naumann, researcher Dr. Bill Bowerman, and eagle biologist Dr. Michael Wierda brought an older female chick down from her nest to draw blood, before returning both chicks to the nest together. The chick being lifted in a blue bag to the nest in Voyageurs National Park. (Courtesy of Gordy Lindgren) This process is called hacking,' said Ms. Naumann, who was initially concerned for the male chick, since female bald eagles are one-third larger than their male counterparts. As it turned out, she had nothing to worry about. The larger chick was returned to her nest first and her adoptive brother followed. Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Program shared photos on Facebook. They sort of ignored each other, Ms. Naumann told The Epoch Times. Then, the photographer went to the site the next day and determined that they were both still in the nest. As Ms. Naumann holds the chick for placement, lead researcher Dr. Bill Bowerman takes the nestling from the bag that was lowered from the tree. (Courtesy of Gordy Lindgren) At the time of writing, he didnt notice them feeding and was waiting for an updated report of their progress. However, Ms. Naumann is certain that they will soon leave the nest and learn how to fly. Introducing the orphaned chick to his new home took around an hour, Ms. Naumann said. Dr. Wierda was responsible for climbing the tree and handling the birds, while Dr. Bowerman and an apprentice Eagle Scout drew blood from the larger chick to check for waterborne contaminants, which will contribute to Dr. Bowermans research on environmental change affecting bald eagle populations. The bald eagle parents will take care of both chicks until after fledging, Ms. Naumann said, since they probably realize but dont care that the second chick is not their own. These chicks are self-feeding already, she said, so the parents will bring prey to the nest, and the chick is already grabbing it and feeding itself. (Courtesy of Gordy Lindgren) The nestling receives an identification band. (Courtesy of Gordy Lindgren) The traveling chick is placed in the bag to be lifted into its new nest. (Courtesy of Gordy Lindgren) Both banded for ongoing monitoring, the larger chick and her adoptive brother will live together in their nest until branching, when theyll take their first tentative steps onto the branches of their tree to exercise their wings. Once confident, theyll try flying for the first time, but will return to the nest for a week or two until their parents teach them how to hunt, soar, and defend themselves. By the time fall comes, they kick them out of the area because that is the parents territory, Ms. Naumann said. They wont tolerate the chicks there once they are self-sufficient. (Courtesy of Gordy Lindgren) Ms. Naumanns favorite part of the successful relocation was handling the chicks on the ground. Theyre such majestic creatures to be actually holding them and handling them is really a privilege, she said, recalling a highlight moment: When we took the chick out of the soft-sided case from my vehicle, I was holding it, and it looked up at the sky [and] at all the greenery that it hadnt seen for three weeks. It was like, Im home!' The parents of the bald eagle chicks. (Courtesy of Gordy Lindgren) Ms. Naumann, who works closely with the world-renowned Raptor Center issuing permits for the rescue and rehabilitation of sick and injured bald eagles across the state of Minnesota, is grateful for the teamwork that saw the baby bald eagle saved. Its so good to have so many different partners working together the whole camaraderie and everyone has fun doing it. Its a blessing, she said, its a lot of fun, and I feel very fortunate. The bald eagle chicks have been doing well. (Courtesy of Gordy Lindgren) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Damage assessment continues in the city of Jenin and the Jenin Refugee Camp after the withdrawal of the Israeli army on 5 July. Israel had launched the largest military operation in nearly 21 years which lasted for two days during which it used drones, helicopters, and more than 1,000 soldiers from various special units, deploying tanks on the outskirts of Jenin in the northern West Bank. During the onslaught, the Israeli army killed 12 Palestinians, including eight combatants from the Jenin Brigade of the Islamic Jihad Movement, as announced by the movement at the end of the Israeli operation. Hundreds of families were displaced by the military attacks in Jenin after fleeing the Jenin Refugee Camp due to intense bombing of the area. The Israeli military assault also caused extensive damage to many buildings and facilities, destroying infrastructure such as streets, power sources, water and sewage networks. Palestinian Minister of Public Works and Housing Mohamed Ziyara said that 429 homes and buildings were damaged in the recent Israeli attack, including 150 commercial and service buildings and one mosque. Abdel-Haq Qandah, spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Works, estimated losses resulting from the attack on Jenin at about $16 million, noting that these are preliminary estimates. A technical committee is working on a more comprehensive assessment of damages, and may finish within days. Qandah told Al-Ahram Weekly that the cost of rebuilding the torn down buildings alone could exceed $12 million, while more than 3.5 km of streets and asphalt were levelled, and those will cost $4 million to reconstruct. He continued that the ministry has started preliminary re-opening of streets and making urgent repairs to ensure the safe return of residents in Jenin and the refugee camp. It will take another nine months to fully complete repairs and reconstruction, he estimated. The UAE and Algeria donated $45 million, which will be processed through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the camp. One resident, Israa Shaheen returned to inspect the damage to the home she fled, after the Israeli army warned her and her neighbours in the Silat Al-Harthah area of Jenin to leave their homes immediately. Shaheen told the Weekly they were only given a few minutes to escape, and the Israeli army fired tear gas at hundreds of families as they fled their homes. We were only gone for one day from our homes and neighbourhood, but when we returned everything had changed. The occupation army was very aggressive towards the property of residents, destroying cars and shops, in order to inflict the greatest possible damage on camp residents. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the excessive use of force by the Israeli army in Jenin Refugee Camp, which is the same criticism levelled by EU Representative to Palestine Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, during a visit to Jenin Refugee Camp with diplomats from 30 countries. Von Burgsdorff cited testimonies about how humanitarian aid was blocked and assistance to the injured was obstructed. No distinction was made between targeting militants and civilians during the Israeli attack, he stated. They did not use military protocols that respect international law. During the military onslaught, Israeli soldiers carried out a house-to-house tactic by demolishing the walls separating the houses in this densely populated city, to avoid explosive devices, sniper fire and ambushes by Palestinian fighters who fought back and killed one Israeli soldier, according to the army. Palestinian factions, especially those with prominent armed formations in Jenin such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas, assert that Israel failed to achieve any of its objectives during this operation, according to statements by faction officials, especially since the Israeli army failed to enter the heart of Jenin Refugee Camp once they were confronted with heavy gunfire by Palestinian fighters. According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Israel achieved its objectives although it had not stated them at the start of the operation. It will repeat the onslaught when necessary in Jenin and other areas in the West Bank, they said. Days after the end of the operation in Jenin, the triggers for another assault remain present. The Israeli army announced on Monday that two rockets were launched from Jenin towards the Shaked settlement east of the city, which is the second attack from Jenin in less than a month. Despite the primitive form of the rockets found by the Israeli army, they alarmed political and security officials in Israel. They fear a repeat of developing rockets as was the case in the Gaza Strip, and transferring this know-how to the West Bank which is adjacent to a large number of settlements. An unknown Palestinian group called Al-Ayyash Brigade, which says it is affiliated to Hamas armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for firing the two rockets and broadcast a video clip documenting its preparation and launch. Israeli threats of a military response to escalating armed action coincide with an increase in operations against Israelis. Last week, an Israeli was killed in a shooting at a settlement in the West Bank, and several others were injured in a car ramming incident and stabbing attack carried out by a Palestinian in the city of Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Palestinian factions say these operations are a response to Israeli escalation in the West Bank, especially in Jenin, and after the Israeli army killed two Palestinians in Nablus on Friday, and another in Ramallah on Monday. Some Israeli circles fear that the expansion of military operations in the West Bank may lead to a complete collapse of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which Israel accuses of losing control in several areas, especially in the cities of Nablus and Jenin in the northern West Bank. On Sunday, Israel announced that Netanyahus government will take steps, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, to prevent the collapse of the PA, including the release of Palestinian funds seized by Israel. However, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh asserted that talk of giving back the funds in return for halting the pursuit of Israel on the global stage will not happen. Shtayyeh told a cabinet meeting in Ramallah that the money withheld by Israel is our money, and Israel must transfer it to us without extortion or conditions. In an attempt by the PA to overhaul internal conditions and offset pressure from Israel, President Mahmoud Abbas invited the secretaries-general of Palestinian factions to meet in Cairo on 30 July. Most Palestinian factions said they have received invitations and will be attending. The PA wants to take advantage of the current international momentum criticising Israel after the Jenin attack, and pressure by US President Joe Biden, who harshly criticised Netanyahus government and some of its ministers. Biden told CNN: The two-state solution is the right path to move forward in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He added that some ministers in Netanyahus cabinet are part of the problem of escalation in the West Bank, because they support settlement building, which Washington condemns. However, the PA argues that Washington is not putting enough pressure on Israel to end its settlement activities. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the title After Jenin Search Keywords: Short link: Beijing Counters Washington Beijing responds to Bidens export restrictions with export restrictions of its own Commentary Beijing and Washington seem to have entered a tit-for-tat competition on trade. Late last year, the Biden administration placed restrictions on the export to China of equipment for the manufacture of advanced semiconductors and at the same time announced subsidies for the domestic manufacture of semiconductors. Washington even got Japan and the Netherlands to join the export ban. Now, just before the beginnings of high-level ChinaU.S. talks on trade, Beijing has parried these moves by imposing restrictions on the export two metalsgallium and germaniumboth of which are essential to many commercial and military applications. So far, Washington has not responded to Beijings move. No doubt with an eye to these trade talks, Beijing has delayed the start of this ban to Aug. 1. That perhaps constitutes an invitation for Washington to disarm matters by softening what in recent months has become an increasingly hostile approach to China. Still, Beijing clearly is preparing to use this trade weapon. Recalling Americas 2014 victory at the World Trade Organization (WTO) when China banned the export of rare earth elements, this latest ban has a very different administrative structure. To make it harder to bring a WTO case much less win it, Beijing would not simply ban exports but rather would insist that producers obtain a special license to export the metals. Officials could then grant the licenses on a case-by-case basis according to what Beijing would claim as protection for national security and interests. For the period immediately ahead, this is no small matter for the United States. China at present is the worlds largest supplier of these critical metals. Volumes of production and trade are small, but the metals are nonetheless essential to the production and maintenance of semiconductors, phone chargers, missile technologies, electric vehicles, fiber optic systems, solar cells, and the like. At present, some 94 percent of the worlds gallium and a comparable portion of the worlds supply of germanium come from China. To be sure, neither metal is especially rare. Indeed, the United States is home to the worlds largest germanium mine. Large deposits also exist in Russia, Belgium, and Canada. Gallium deposits are found in Russia, Ukraine, Japan, and South Korea. But over the years, China has undercut prices in the sometimes-expensive extraction and refinement process so that many of these sources have fallen into disuse, including the huge gallium mine in the United States. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently traveled to China for talks on trade. She has criticized the export controls and made conciliatory noises to the effect that the relationship should take on the character of a winner-take-all fight. Although Beijing has given a month before its counterattack goes into effect, Yellen has little room to offer Beijing any concessions in return for a change in this proposed gallium and germanium arrangement. Given Washingtons past anti-Chinese rhetoric and other actions from the Biden administration, almost any softening could be viewed as weakness in Washington. Even if Secretary Yellen finds some way to disarm the present impasse, Chinas threat on gallium and germanium, as well as earlier threats to cut off supplies of rare earth elements, should serve as a wake-up call for the United States and the rest of the developed world. There is a crying need for America, as well as Europe and Japan, to diversify its sourcing of raw materials and manufactures away from China, to de-risk, in the phrase preferred by the European Union over de-couple. Japan at the recent G-7 meetings had already warned the world of the dangers of too much dependence on Chinese sources. Tokyo proposed a scheme to find alternatives elsewhere in the world, Africa for instance, on rare earth elements, and if necessary, provide funding for development. So far, no other country, including the United States, has shown much enthusiasm for the Japanese plan, but this latest threat with gallium and germanium might well change attitudes in both Washington and European capitals. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Beijing Inks Comprehensive Strategic Partnership With the Solomon Islands Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (R) and China's Premier Li Qiang inspect the guard of honour during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on July 10, 2023. (Andy Wong/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Ties between Beijing and the Solomon Islands leadership continue to deepen after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare inked a comprehensive strategic partnership with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Mr. Sogavare met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang during a week-long visit to China, which will conclude as the prime minister opens his countrys official embassy in Beijing. On July 10, Mr. Sogavare signed, in total, nine deals with the CCP to bolster ties between the countries, including an upgrade of police cooperation, as well as trade, civil aviation, and in sports The move comes a year after the Sogavare government locked in a security deal with CCP that set off alarm bells in Australia and the United States and comes four years after the Solomons switched diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing. In just four years, the relationship between China and the Solomon Islands has developed rapidly, and we can now say that it is very fruitful, Premier Li told Prime Minister Sogavare. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (R) and Chinas Premier Li Qiang inspect the guard of honour during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on July 10, 2023. (Andy Wong/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese leader Xi pledged a new era between the governments while accusing Western leaders of propagating a Cold War mentality and hegemony. In turn, Mr. Sogavare pledged ongoing cooperation across a range of fields. We must remain united in our focus in creating innovative paths of cooperation to close the gap between the haves and the have nots, he told the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development in Beijing. The continued building of relations between the CCP and Sogavare is aimed at shoring up wider cooperation across the Pacific region, according to Niu Li, executive director at the Beijing Foreign Studies University. The China-Solomon Islands cooperation will serve as a model for other Pacific Island countries, he told the CCP mouthpiece, The Global Times. Response to the Deal The U.S. National Security Council responded to the meeting saying it respected the ability of nations to make sovereign decision in the best interests of their people while calling on Beijing and the Solomons to release transcripts from the meetings to increase transparency around its implications towards regional security. Meanwhile, Derek Grossman, Indo-Pacific analyst at the RAND Corporation said the latest deal would entrench Beijings footprint in the South Pacific. Solomon Islands: give us infrastructure, investment, and police training. China: give us military access to your islands, he wrote on Twitter. So far this comprehensive strategic partnership is progressing exactly as expected. Solomon Islands: give us infrastructure, investment, and police training. China: give us military access to your islands. So far this comprehensive strategic partnership is progressing exactly as expected.https://t.co/113kBoKoqo Derek J. Grossman (@DerekJGrossman) July 10, 2023 Solomons Government Deepens Ties with Beijing The strategic partnership agreement is the latest step by the Sogavare government to deepen ties with Beijing while benefitting from its continuing aid assistance from Australia and New Zealand. Late last year, the Solomon Islands government agreed to borrow 448.9 million yuan (US$66.15 million) from the Chinese state-owned Export-Import Bank of China to fund the construction of 161 towers by controversial telecommunications giant Huawei. This deal is a demonstration that Beijing is moving fast and in a big, broad way to create more leverage over the Solomon Islands government, said the director of Strategic Analysis Australia, Michael Shoebridge, in a previous interview with The Epoch Times. Beijing has used loan programs as a tool for building relationships with developing governments but also entrapping them once they default on their loan repayments (debt-trap diplomacy), compelling local authorities to hand over key assets and infrastructure. The World Bank estimates that major Pacific nations such as Fiji, Samoa, the Solomons, and Tonga owe around 38 percent of their external debt to the Asian Development Bank, which is 22 percent owned by China. Meanwhile, in March 2022, the Solomons signed a security deal with Beijing that would allow the CCP to station weapons, troops, and naval ships in the region, raising concerns about the potential expansion of militarisation beyond the South China Sea to the South Pacific. Despite Beijings denials, leaked documents reveal several Chinese entities have expressed interest in facilitating the introduction of military assets to the region. Biden Administration Is Helping China By Restricting Domestic Mining: Minnesota State Senator Wheel loaders fill trucks with ore at the MP Materials rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, Calif., on Jan. 30, 2020. (Steve Marcus/Reuters) The Biden administrations restrictive stance towards domestic mining projects is making the United States dependent on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to former Minnesota state Sen. Tom Bakk. We need to change the narrative on mining in this country, Mr. Bakk told the House Ways and Means Committee on July 10. Its contrary to their own objectives. Mr. Bakk testified during a field hearing in Kimball, Minnesota. He said northeast Minnesota has the largest deposits of copper, cobalt, nickel, platinum group metals, and other products the renewable energy industry needs. Mr. Bakk said the United States could be a net exporter of these items. The CCPs July 3 announcement of new state controls that restrict exports of germanium and gallium, elements used in producing high-performance computer chips, shows it is willing to disrupt supply chains, he said. Its bad for Minnesota; its bad for the country. Frankly, I think its bad for the world, Mr. Bakk said. Tesla Superchargers in San Rafael, Calif., on Feb. 15, 2023. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) According to Mr. Bakk, the Biden administration has severely restricted mining in the United States, leaving China with a monopoly. Its urgent that we stop putting up roadblocks to domestic mineral production because our ability to avoid devastating supply chain disruptions and build a greener future depends on it, Mr. Bakk said. Mr. Bakk referenced the Duluth Complex in the northeast tip of the state along the north bank of Lake Superior. He said mining had been a significant industry in the area for 140 years and, with the growing interest in green energy, it could be again. The rich deposits would not only supply Americas green energy needs, they could be exported to help other countries while creating thousands of jobs and revitalizing the economy in a region that is struggling. That deposit would have supported several generations of miners, he said. Joe Biden speaks at the 2022 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich., on Sept. 14, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) However, he said the U.S. government appears to be split in its green energy support. On the one hand, President Joe Biden promised Detroit auto workers that they would be building electric cars in a speech at the North American International Auto Show in September 2022. Companies have announced new investments of more than $36 billion in electric vehicles and $48 billion in batteries manufacturing in the U.S., Mr. Biden said. Mr. Bakk said that for that to happen, the Biden administration needs to make the supply chain for raw materials more secure. Its a fact of life; if you dont get the minerals, you wont be able to complete them, Mr. Bakk said. In 2016, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) refused to renew two mining leases in the Superior National Forest that had been in place since the 1960s. BLM cited the possible environmental danger to Lake Superior. Mining Leases Canceled on Duluth Complex Mining had yet to take place on the site to that point. In 2018, the Trump administration reversed that decision and renewed the leases. In January 2022, the Interior Department determined that the Trump decision violated the law, did not consider the U.S. Forestry Services consent authority, and failed to consider all possible environmental impacts. Not only were the leases canceled, but all mining operations in the forest were prohibited. This includes any studies related to mining. According to Mr. Bakk, this will cause the kind of environmental damage the lease opponents want to prevent. At the same time, it will make the United States more vulnerable to the CCP. He said importing the products would have an added environmental impact. Consider the greenhouse gas emissions associated with [importing the metals], he said. China Has Too Much Control Mr. Bakk said the best way for America to address climate change is with its raw materials. The data is clear. We need to mine these materials, and were going to successfully combat the negative effects of climate change, he said. Committee member Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) agreed with Mr. Bakk. He expressed concern over Chinas willingness to engage in trade wars with the United States and the rest of the world. He said the United States is squandering an opportunity to become more prominent internationally and to solidify its relations with other countries. China has a long history of engaging in trade wars with the United States and other countries, and the world is increasingly dependent on critical minerals. We have an incredible opportunity to export these minerals to allies and partners around the globe, lessening the grip of countries like China and global supply chains, Mr. Stauber said. Biden Declares State of Emergency in Vermont as Floods Sweep Northeast President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Vermont on Tuesday after heavy rain drenched parts of the Northeast, triggering evacuations and causing tens of millions of dollars in damage. Mr. Biden, currently at the annual NATO summit in Lithuania, has ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help coordinate disaster relief efforts and provide assistance to areas affected by torrential downpours. The storm, which began on July 9, has dumped up to two months worth of rain in two days in Vermont and parts of the Northeast, including New York. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency, the White House said in a statement on July 11. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care, including evacuation and sheltering support, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding. Gov. Phil Scott urged Vermonters at a news conference on Tuesday to remain cautious, saying severe flooding across the state is nowhere near over, and water levels continue to rise in some places, including in the states capital city, Montpelier. The good news is, the rain has stopped in some areas, but that does not mean waters will immediately recede. They may, in fact, continue to rise. And even though the sun may shine later today and tomorrow, we expect more rain later this week, which will have nowhere to go in the oversaturated ground, Mr. Scott said. Floodwaters rise in Bridgewater, Vt., on July 10, 2023, submerging parked vehicles and threatening homes near the Ottauquechee River. (Hasan Jamali/AP Photo) Although the comings days, weeks, and months will be incredibly difficult. Weve faced challenges before, and Vermonters have risen to meet the moment. Whether during Irene, COVID, or other hardships, Vermonters have proven time and time again were willing and able to step up and help our neighbors, he added. The governor was referring to Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011. That storm killed six in the state, washed homes off their foundations, and damaged or destroyed more than 200 bridges and 500 miles of highway. There have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the flooding as of Tuesday morning, the Vermont Emergency Management said. The agency said five rescue teams have come to the state from North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Connecticut to assist with life-saving efforts. Concerns Mount About Dam Nearing Capacity In Montpelier, city officials announced in a statement that the downtown area will be closed until at least midday on Tuesday while the river that runs through the capital city recedes. This will allow officials to assess safety risks and begin clean up efforts. We know that business owners will be anxious to check out their stores but we urge patience, officials said, adding damage is unlikely to get worse between 8 a.m. and noon as water levels drop. Meanwhile, officials warned the Wrightsville Dam in Washington Countys Winooski River could exceed capacity for the first time should more water pour over, pointing out water could surge through downtown blocks where the floods are already waist-high. The Montpelier Police Department said in a statement that authorities are continuing to monitor the water level, and as of midday on Tuesday, there has been no significant change. We will continue to monitor the dam throughout the night, police said. New York Vermont was not the only state hit hard by the storm. A flood watch also remains in effect for parts of New York, where a woman identified by police as Pamela Nugent, 43, died as she tried to escape her flooded home with her dog in the hamlet of Fort Montgomery. Her fiance literally saw her swept away, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a news conference on a muddy street in Highland Falls, just south of the academy on the west bank of the Hudson River. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point was pounded with more than 8 inches of rain that sent debris sliding onto some roads and washed others out. A damaged car lays on a collapsed roadway along Route 32 in the Hudson Valley near Cornwall, N.Y., on July 10, 2023. (Paul Kazdan/AP Photo) Nine inches of rain in this community, Ms. Hochul said. Theyre calling this a 1,000-year event.' Meanwhile, more than 1,200 flights to and from airports, including New Yorks LaGuardia and Bostons Logan, were delayed or canceled on July 10 as severe flash flooding hit the East Coast. The July 10 flight disruptions follow more than 8,000 delays on July 9 and more than 2,000 cancellations, Travel + Leisure reported. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News Biden Hopes for United Alliance as Crucial NATO Summit Begins in Lithuania Participants of the NATO Summit including (L-R) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pose for an official photo in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) VILNIUS, LithuaniaU.S. President Joe Biden begins his meetings with world leaders on Tuesday at a consequential North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. This is a historic moment, Biden told NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a meeting. Were looking for a continued united NATO, Mr. Biden said, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putins goal of dividing the alliance will fail. Mr. Biden stated that adding Finland and Sweden to NATO is consequential, and he supports a plan that would allow Ukraine to join the alliance in the future. The high-stakes summit, set for July 1112, brings together leaders from the alliances 31 member countries to discuss crucial global security challenges. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (R) and U.S. President Joe Biden give a statement before the bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Heres what the U.S. president hopes to accomplish during the two-day summit: 2 Percent Spending Target According to the White House, this years Vilnius summit will address raising the spending target by member countries, which has been a major U.S. goal for some years. NATO countries promised nearly a decade ago to increase defense spending to 2 percent of their GDP. However, only seven countriesthe United States, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and the UKmet the 2 percent requirement last year. Washington wants the 2 percent goal to be a floor rather than a ceiling, and the Vilnius summit is expected to start that conversation, according to White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who briefed reporters on July 11 in Vilnius. NATO defense spending has increased by around 30 percent since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. However, the pledge made in Wales at the 2014 summit to increase spending expires next year, so the United States wants allies to commit to boosting investments during this years summit. The three Baltic countriesLithuania, Latvia, and Estoniahave already committed to raising defense spending to 3 percent of GDP. In response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, Poland has also announced plans to increase its defense budget to 4 percent of GDP. One key impediment, however, is that eurozone countries agreed not to run large budget deficits. Hence, the goals being discussed at the NATO summit may be unrealistic for many Western European countries, particularly Spain. I think its realistic for everybody to do it if they have the will. And the broader issue is that we want NATO to be sustainableto be herefor another 75 years, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) told The Epoch Times in Vilnius. This is an issue that unifies every president, Democrat, Republican, Obama, Clinton, Trump, now President Biden. And I think he and his team had been pushing hard on this. [W]e need to invest more in our defense. And we will agree on a new defense investment pledge where we state clearly that 2 percent of GDP for defense is the minimum, Mr. Stoltenberg said during his meeting with Mr. Biden. And the good news is that the European Allies and Canada are stepping up this year, he added. (L-R) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, U.S. President Joe Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attend the first day of the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Ukraine Tops the Agenda According to the White House, Ukraine will be a major focus of this years summit, with allies debating security guarantees, the countrys future membership, and assistance to the war-torn country. There are, however, considerable differences among allies regarding Ukraines eventual membership. The United States, Germany, and the southern NATO partners have been more cautious about Ukraines membership, while the Baltic states and Eastern European nations like Poland hold the most hawkish and assertive stance. Even though there is a wide spectrum of views among allies, observers expect a middle-ground agreement to be reached during the Vilnius summit. Ukraine formally applied to join the alliance last year, but Mr. Biden has stated repeatedly in recent days that Ukraine cannot join until its conflict with Russia is resolved, citing Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The treaty establishes the principle of collective defense, which means that any attack on a NATO member shall be considered an attack against them all. During a recent interview with CNN, Mr. Biden said the war with Russia must be over before NATO can admit Ukraine. I dont think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war, he said. Its a commitment that weve all made, no matter what. If the war is going on, then were all in war. Were at war with Russia if that were the case. Mr. Biden also said the United States and NATO allies must present a rational path for Ukraine to qualify for membership in the military alliance. The White House also indicated that Ukraine could receive Israel-style security guarantees in its fight against Russia. That means the United States would provide various forms of military assistance, intelligence and information sharing, cyber support and other forms of material support so that Ukraine can both defend itself and deter future aggression, Mr. Sullivan told reporters on July 9. I expect that at Vilnius you will see the president speaking to this issue and consulting with [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy on this issue, as well as our G-7 partners and other partners as well. Mr. Biden is expected to meet with Mr. Zelenskyy on Wednesday on the sidelines of the summit. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the first day of the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) NATO to Welcome Sweden Mr. Biden applauded Turkeys agreement to drop its challenge to Swedens admission to NATO. Turkey previously denied Swedens membership bid, claiming that the Nordic country gave safe harbor to members of the Kurdistan Workers Party, which is considered a terrorist organization. On July 10, Mr. Stoltenberg announced the agreement made in Vilnius between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Mr. Erdogan had agreed to push for ratification in Parliament as soon as possible but didnt give a specific date. It took about two weeks for Turkeys Parliament to approve Finlands membership. Ankaras apparent green light for Swedens accession brings an end to months of drama over an issue that had strained the alliance. In a statement issued on July 10, Mr. Biden praised Turkey and Swedens agreement, which he said would enhance regional security. I welcome the statement issued by Turkey, Sweden, and the NATO Secretary General this evening, he said in a statement. I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. Both Sweden and Finland resisted joining the alliance for decades, opting for neutrality and non-alignment. However, following Russias invasion of Ukraine last year, both countries abandoned those long-standing positions and formally requested membership in NATO. Expanding the alliance has been critical for Mr. Biden in delivering a strong message to Mr. Putin. Biden to Address Lithuanians On July 12, after the conclusion of the summit, Mr. Biden is scheduled to make a public speech at Vilnius University. The event will be open to the public. The presidents speech will highlight the alliances commitment to supporting Ukraine, defending democratic values, and taking action to address global challenges, according to the White House. Mr. Biden may use this speech to tout his wins, such as the role he played in Swedens accession to NATO. Mr. Biden visited Vilnius as Vice President in March 2014, following Russian annexation of Crimea. He is the second sitting U.S. President to visit Lithuania. President George W. Bush visited Vilnius in November 2002, when he met with Baltic leaders. Mr. Bush encouraged Lithuania to join NATO during his speech at the Vilnius Town Hall Square, which was an important milestone in Vilnius efforts to join the military alliance. Biden to Move Forward With Sale of F-16 Jets to Turkey After Erdogan Greenlights Swedens NATO Bid A U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber (top) flies in formation with U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets over the South Korea Peninsula during a joint air drill in South Korea on Feb. 19, 2023. (South Korea Defense Ministry via AP) The United States will move forward with its plan to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, the White House said on July 11, shortly after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan withdrew his objection to Sweden joining NATO. President [Joe] Biden has been clear and unequivocal for months that he supported the transfer of F-16s to Turkey, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters at a news conference during the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. This is in our national interest, its in the interest of NATO that Turkey gets that capability, Mr. Sullivan continued. He has placed no caveats or conditions on that in his public and private comments over the past few months and he intends to move forward with that transfer and consultation with Congress. Turkey first requested F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits from the United States in October 2021 as a form of compensation after the country was kicked out of the F-35 joint strike fighter program, an initiative launched by the Pentagon that includes participating nations like the UK, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, Canada, and Norway. Turkey, which joined the program in 2007, was removed after it purchased Russias S-400 missile defense system. Since then, the United States and Turkey have held various discussions on the sale of $20 billion of Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighters and nearly 80 modernization kits for the latters existing warplanes. However, the United States has repeatedly warned that they must not be used for unauthorized overflights of Greece. Turkey and Greece have repeatedly clashed over rights to oil and gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean. A US Air Forces (USAF) F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet in a file photo. (Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images) U-Turn on Swedens NATO Bid Mr. Sullivans comments came after Mr. Erdogan on Monday agreed to support Swedens bid to join NATO following a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The decision came after months of objection from Ankara which has accused Sweden of providing a safe haven to members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. While the move came as a surprise to many, Mr. Erdogans approval of NATOs accession to the bloc did not come without conditions, reportedly that Sweden help the nation in its progress toward joining the European Union. In a news conference Monday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described Turkeys U-turn on Swedens NATO bid as a historic step, adding that the latter nations accession to the block benefits the security of all NATO allies at this critical time. However, Mr. Stoltenberg made no mention of Turkeys EU membership demands, noting instead that Sweden has amended its constitution, changed its laws, significantly expanded its counter-terrorism cooperation against the PKK, and resumed arms exports to Turkey to address Turkeys legitimate security concerns. Meanwhile, Dana Spinant, deputy chief spokeswoman for the European Commission, stressed during a news conference with reporters on Monday afternoon that there are a very clear set of steps that need to be taken by all countries wishing to join the EU. Another condition of Swedens membership of NATO, as proposed by Erdogan, is F-16 fighter jets for the Turkish military. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the first day of the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Turkey Waiting at the Gates of the EU Asked Tuesday if there was a chance that the Biden administration would be selling the jets to Turkey before Turkeys Parliament votes on Swedens accession into NATO, Mr. Sullivan told reporters, The president has said all along that he is interested in getting these F-16s to Turkey. He has backed that up by actually sending the package to Congress. So, we will work with the Congress on the appropriate timing for getting them to Turkey. But I cant speculate on the precise day its going to happenonly that we support it getting done, Mr. Sullivan said. Meanwhile, Mr. Erdogan, who is also in Vilnius, stressed on Monday that Swedens NATO membership process depends on the fulfillment of the issues set down in the Trilateral Memorandum between Finland, Sweden, and Turkey that was signed in 2022. That agreement addresses Turkeys security concerns as they pertain to various terror organizations including the PKK, YPG/PYD, and FETO. We expect all promises made to us to be fulfilled, the president said. In Vilnius, we, together with our allies, will reaffirm the importance we attach to the Alliance in a period during which threats are on the rise. On this occasion, we highlight the fact that nearly all NATO members are also European Union members. I am making this call to these countries that have kept Turkey waiting at the gates of the European Union for more than 50 years. First, lets pave the way for Turkey in the European Union, and then we will pave the way for Sweden just as we did for Finland, Mr. Erdogan added. Reuters contributed to this report. Big Betrayal: Pennsylvania GOP Reeling After Governor Vetoes School Choice Program Gov. Josh Shapiro said negotiations failed between the House and Senate With the Pennsylvania budget still mired in controversy, state House and Senate members have gone home for summer break and are expected back to work at the Capitol in Harrisburg in September, although they may be called back sooner. Republicans are reeling from an unexpected budget move by Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro, in which he announced he will line-item veto a school choice plan that Mr. Shapiro himself proposed in his budget address and promised to Republicans during budget private negotiations at the governors mansion, Republican leaders say. The vetoed plan is the $100 million Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) Program which would provide school choice tuition grants between $2,500 and $15,000 for tuition, tutoring, and educational expenses in private school systems. The grants would go to families earning below 250 percent of the poverty line and living in the attendance zones of schools in the bottom 15 percent of public schools with the lowest math and reading test scores. Republicans have long wanted a school choice program, and the PASS Program, which accounts for 0.2 percent of the states $45.5 billion budget, is a step in that direction. Democrats and teachers unions have typically opposed school choice because it will mean less funding for public schools. Single-Issue Budget Republicans say Mr. Shapiro and his negotiating team gave assurances that they could get Democrat members to support PASS, and in exchange for that promise, Republicans agreed to extend free COVID-originated school lunches; fund the $50 million Whole-Home Repairs program, which gives low-income homeowners and landlords up to $50,000 for home repairs; and give $100 million to the Level Up program to give more money to the poorest school districts. The budget includes $1 billion in increased spending for K12 public education, the largest increase in state history, Mr. Shapiro said. The funding establishes universal free breakfast for every public school student in Pennsylvania. We worked hard to develop a budget package that could win support of both chambers, but in the end, we could not reach final agreement between all three parties, which I made clear to the leaders of both chambers multiple times in private, and in my public statements to all of you, Mr. Shapiro said in a July 6 press conference. In the end, Senate Republicans did not close the deal with their house counterparts. Rather than closing a deal that was within reach with House Democrats, instead, they chose to send the State House a budget that was not agreed upon by all three parties, which contains the $100 million for a program that the house was unwilling to advance at this time. Our Commonwealth should not be plunged into a painful, protracted budget impasse over one provision of this budget, while our communities wait for the help and resources that they need. Knowing the two chambers will not reach consensus, Mr. Shapiro said July 6 that he was unwilling to hold up the budget process over one issue, so he announced his intention to veto the PASS program. Broken Trust With the veto, everything Republicans agreed to stays in the budget, but the reason they agreedthe PASS programwill be removed. This move that the governor is pulling does not have precedent in Pennsylvania; its never been done by a governor, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, a Republican, told The Epoch Times. As youre negotiating, you would never expect such a betrayal, Ms. Ward said. If you cant trust the person youre negotiating withand this was a really big betrayalhow are we ever supposed to work with him again? How do you know that what he tells you is going to be facts? How do you know that somebodys not going to pull his chain the other way, which is what happened, and he just jumped. How can you veto yourself? Hes vetoing himself. Republican Sen. Scott Martin, chair of the Appropriations Committee, said Republicans were under the belief that all parties were on the same track until the House Democrats passed the budget when the governor said he would line-item veto the PASS school choice program. When youre going back and forth and saying people agree to things, and youre taking it back to your caucus in order to make sure you have support in getting something done, you have to be able to rely [on their word] when you walk away from a handshake, Mr. Martin told The Epoch Times. Probably more importantly, in this case, when your team, line by line, went through the budget proposal together, and solidified the numbers, and even wrote program language for the school choice programit was a hand-in-hand thing that we did, and if thats not trust, I dont know what isbut then to have it all fall apart and hear about it over the news, obviously, its very concerning. Governor Says No Deal In his press conference, Mr. Shapiro, the former state attorney general, blamed Senate Republicans for the impasse, and minimized his role in negotiations. Whats clear is that the Senate Republicans were unwilling to consider the priorities of the House Democrats, and as a result, the parties could not agree on a budget agreement. They then made a unilateral decision to send this bill over to the house. They may not like how this process played out, but its the process that they put into effect because of their inability to close the deal with the House. Mr. Shapiro said he personally supported the PASS program and precisely characterized the deal he made with Republicans. I recognize that some of them want to distract from the reality that they now find themselves in. There was never a deal between all three parties that was acknowledged by all the parties privately and publicly. They now need to in get a room with the House Democrats, and they need to learn to work together, Mr. Shapiro said. It will be tough to trust Mr. Shapiro in the future, Ms. Ward said. We trusted him. And why would we not trust a governor? she said. He was being so secretive that he was negotiating with us away from where the Democrats could see. He was doing it in private, and he would say, Heres what we need. Heres the Democrats needs for [PASS]. And he kept moving the goalposts. We got to a point where we were done moving the goal and we said, Were done. And he led us to believe that he could carry his party. They said no, and he folded immediately under their pressure. Budget Passed, but Stuck The budget is not yet law. The Democrat-led House signed the budget but went home for summer break without sending it to the Senate to sign. The Senate, which is also out of session, cannot sign the budget if it is not sent to them. The Epoch Times asked leaders of the House Democratic Caucus why it has not sent the budget to the Senate for a signature, when it intends to send it, and why it is delayed, but they did not respond. Mr. Shapiros office also did not respond to a request for comment before press time. When the Senate sends [the budget] to my desk, we should not delay getting the good people of Pennsylvania the help and the support they need, Mr. Shapiro said. I hope the Senate will be responsible stewards of the public trust and return to Harrisburg to sign this bill, a necessary administrative function before they can come to my desk for my signature to make it law. Teachers Union Money It is worth noting that the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), which has $150 million in assets according to nonprofit papers, is affiliated with the largest labor union in the United States, the National Education Association (NEA), which has $400 million in assets. PSEA has made more than $1 million in campaign donations to Democrats who shut down the plan that would have provided school choice for low-income students. PSEA has given Mr. Shapiro $775,000; Speaker of the House Rep. Joanna E. McClinton was given $124,000; Democrat Leader Matthew Bradford was given $90,000; and the House Democratic Campaign Committee received $120,000 from PSEA. Ms. Ward says PSEA was involved in trying to kill the PASS school choice program. [PSEA] told one of our [Republican] members in the Senate that they would not be targeting this particular member right now, but there will be national groups coming after him the next time he runs, she said. Once the budget is signed by the Senate and Mr. Shapiro, there is another step. The state treasurer cannot fund new or expired initiatives without the writing of new codes, a task of the Legislature in which they more fully define programs and procedures and enable funds to be released. This is where Republicans still have a voice in the budget conversation. We will go back [to Harrisburg] when we have agreement on the codes, Ms. Ward said. Whether thats now or September, I dont know. The code bills are all we have left to play withto get some of the things we want and maybe stop some of the things we didnt want. Ottawa Proposes Regulations to Ease Google and Metas Concerns Over Bill C-18 Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez (L) speaks at a news conference on Bill C-18, the Online News Act, along with Bloc MP Martin Champoux, in Ottawa on July 5, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) Ottawa has published a set of regulations that it intends to propose for its Online News Act, the recently passed Bill C-18, that could address a number of concerns Google and Meta have voiced about the legislation which prompted them to say they will begin blocking Canadian news later this year. Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguezs department said on July 10 that it is proposing regulations for implementing the act to include criteria under which digital platforms can be exempt from the mandate that they compensate Canadian media outlets for using their news content on the platforms services. The act will come into force sometime no later than Dec. 19, 180 days after June 22, when the bill received royal assent, depending on the regulations and implementation of processes by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Bill C-18 as it stands requires digital news intermediaries such as Metawhich owns Facebook and Instagramand Google to pay Canadian news publishers for any of their content that gets linked or shared on the tech giants platforms. However, Mr. Rodriguez is now proposing that Ottawa outline a cap on how much these companies are legally required to contribute to Canadian news outlets. The GIC, on the recommendation of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, can make regulations regarding which digital platforms the Act applies to and how the CRTC interprets the criteria in the Act for platforms to obtain an exemption from mandatory bargaining and final offer arbitration, Canadian Heritage wrote in an online backgrounder titled The Online News Act: Next Steps on July 10. The department also said that Mr. Rodriguez will be proposing regulations that establish a financial threshold for contributions to sustainability of the Canadian news marketplace, and reaffirm language from the Act that non-monetary offerings to news organizations, such as training or other products, be included in the CRTCs evaluation of exemption criteria. Mr. Rodriguez will also take into account existing deals between tech giants and Canadian publishers in the regulations, said the department. Negotiations The governments new stance on the matter comes shortly after it suspended all of its advertising on both Facebook and Instagram in response to Metas decision to block Canadian news starting later this year. Mr. Rodriguez said he hoped the move would bring Meta back to the negotiating table on the bill. The platforms know that were at the table, Mr. Rodriguez told reporters on July 5. Were ready to talk to them. Were open to discuss. Some critics say the governments decision to address Google and Metas concerns about Bill C-18 shows it is walking back its previous statements that Ottawa would not be intimidated by the tech giants threats to block Canadian news. It would appear that the government has caved on the bill as it searches for a face-saving compromise, said internet policy expert and University of Ottawa professor Michael Geist in an online article on July 10. Former CRTC commissioner Peter Menzies said the governments changed stance is a big win for Google but unlikely to deliver much new cash for news organizations that will still suffer the consequences of Metas withdrawal. Looks like [Minister Rodriguez] has waved the white flag on Bill C-18, Mr. Menzies said on Twitter on July 10. British Rail in Need of Boosted Competition and Reform, Says Report UK rails recovery from the pandemic will be stalled if reforms are not carried out and effective competition among train companies is not introduced, a rail transportation body has suggested. Britains rail routes need to be revitalised and more competition is the way to do it, said Rail Partners in its new report (pdf). This can be achieved by allowing operators to run services on the same lines, Rail Partners added. There are two types of train operators running passenger services in the country: franchised operators and open-access operators. Franchised operators, such as Chiltern Railways and Greater Anglia, hold contracts with the government to run services. Open-access operators, such as Eurostar and Hull Trains, are independent and often compete with franchises. The Rail Partners report suggested that public-private ownership of the railway would deliver better outcomes for passengers and taxpayers. During the pandemic, when people were asked to stay at home, the government suspended franchising and placed operators on emergency contracts. The Department for Transport took charge of most commercial decisions. As the country emerged from the pandemic, the cost of the recovery for train companies has reached around 85-90 percent of pre-pandemic levels. However, the post-COVID-19 contracts dont oblige train companies to close the financial shortfall, thereby increasing fiscal pressure. The report suggested that at a time of tight fiscal constraints, open access operators can offer services at no direct cost to the taxpayer. Whether it is quicker, more comfortable journeys or faster wi-fi, demand would shape the market meaning rail companies would have to adapt to the needs of passengers if they want to keep their business, Rail Partners said. The government announced the establishment of the Great British Railways (GRB) in May 2021, a public body to reform Britains rail. GRB will absorb Network Rail and will oversee train services. In his February address, Transport Secretary George Bradshaw said that GRB will be responsible for track and train, as well as revenue and cost. Which means finally treating the railway as the whole system it should be rather than a web of disparate interests that its become. Passengers wont longer face the excuse-making and blame-shifting of years past, Mr. Bradshaw said. The private sector is meant to reinvigorate the industry in partnership with GRB, he added. The start date for GRB has been set for autumn 2024, as the government keeps working on its vision. Competition Potential While Britain debates its rail industry future, Europe has been utilizing the potential of increased competition, Rail Partners suggested, adding that competition exists in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. They have done this by allowing new operators to compete both for the market through bidding for contracts and on rail through direct competition on the same routes through open access competition, the report said. In countries where operators compete on the same routes, findings showed increased service levels, larger number of passengers and reduction of fares. For the open access model to be successful, the access mechanism needs to be fair, transparent and stable, while the regulator is properly equipped to overlook the process, the paper said. Rail Partners chief executive Andy Bagnall said that with the right reform in Britain, the railway can grow as an industry and reduce costs for the taxpayers. Currently, one of the few rail lines in Britain that allow competition is East Coast, running between London Kings Cross station and Edinburgh. Open access operators Grand Central, Hull Trains and Lumo compete with London North Eastern Railway. Calgary Stampede Sets New Guinness World Record for Most Pancakes Served A young girl sits on a stack of pancakes for the 100th anniversary of the Stampede pancake breakfast on Family Day at the Calgary Stampede on July 9, 2023. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) The Calgary Stampede, the annual event known as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the most pancakes served in eight hours. The Stampede served 17,182 pancakes on July 9, as verified by an official Guinness World Records judge, and even with 15 pancakes disqualified, Calgary beat the previous world record by more than 2,900 pancakes in roughly four hours. Calgary Stampede spokeswoman Shannon Greer told The Epoch Times on July 10 that guests were welcomed to Tim Hortons Family Day for a free pancake breakfast, which was held at the GMC Stampede Courtyard. Families gathered to get a taste of the iconic Calgary Stampede pancake breakfast, but what they did not know was that they would be a part of history, said Ms. Greer. Besides celebrating 100 Years of Pancakes and 100 years in operation, an adjudicator from Guinness announced that this years Calgary Stampede had surpassed the previous world record of 14,280 pancakes served in eight hours. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith tosses pancakes over her shoulder at her Stampede pancake breakfast in Calgary, Alta., on July 10, 2023. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) The Calgary Stampede surpassed that total, and all the pancakes were served before noon, said Ms. Greer, adding that the new world record was the cherry on top (or should we say the syrup) of this special day. Pancake breakfasts symbolize the importance of community spirit, and the Calgary Stampede is honoured to be a gathering place for the community to enjoy the beloved pancake breakfast. The history of the Calgary Stampede pancake breakfast began in 1923, when the competitors in the Stampedes first chuckwagon races gathered for what would become the first pancake breakfast. Over the next hundred years, thousands of volunteers have made millions of pancakes to honour our heritage and build our community, said Ms. Greer. The milestones official attempt began on July 9 at 7:03 a.m. local time and ended exactly three hours and 31 minutes later. To beat the world record, the pancakes were required to be at least five inches in diameter, verified by rulers. Our goal was to break the record and we did, said Ms. Greer. A number of politicians showed up at this years Calgary Stampede to flip pancakes, including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on July 8. Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose hometown is Calgary, also attended the Stampede on July 8 and spoke to the crowd, but he flipped pancakes at a breakfast held at Marlborough Mall on the citys east side. The Canadian Press contributed to this report. Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat headed to Beijing on Sunday to participate in the first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development, a statement by the ministry said. Al-Mashats participation in the conference reflects the strong relations between Egypt and China, as well as Egypt's commitment to advancing joint action, the statement said. The conference aims to facilitate discussions on strengthening efforts to implement the global development initiative. Introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2021, the initiative aims to redirect global development towards a new phase of balance and comprehensive coordination. Its objectives include better managing global shocks, fostering development partnerships that are more equitable and balanced, and achieving greater synergy through multilateral cooperation to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Egypts participation also seeks to build on existing collaborations with China particularly in scientific research, infrastructure construction, and capacity-building and to increase cooperation between the two countries to include new areas, the statement read. High-level delegations from 27 countries will participate in the conference alongside representatives of over 20 United Nations agencies and NGOs. Cooperation with China Egypt and China have a substantial cooperation portfolio with investments amounting to nearly $1.7 billion across multiple sectors, including, among others, electricity, health, education, and vocational training. According to Egypts Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the trade exchange between Egypt and China increased by 2.6 percent during the first 11 months of 2022, hitting $14.9 billion compared to $14.5 billion during the same period in 2021. Egyptian exports to China experienced significant growth of 20.8 percent, totalling $1.7 billion during the first 11 months of 2022 compared to $1.4 billion in the corresponding period of 2021. Meanwhile, Egyptian imports from China reached $13.2 billion in the first 11 months of 2022, up from $13.1 billion during the same time frame in 2021, a slight increase of 0.6 percent. Recently, Al-Mashat witnessed the completion of the assembly and testing of the MisrSat-2 satellite, built by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) using a $92 million grant provided by China, said the ministry statement. Search Keywords: Short link: Can California Ever Reduce Homelessness? Commentary Its discouraging. No matter what solutions are advanced, homelessness just keeps getting worse in California. The recently released point-in-time count found the number jumped 10 percent in the City of Los Angeles and 9 percent in Los Angeles County since 2022. For three days in January, more than 7,000 volunteers covered every inch of the city and county, tallying the homeless population. The final number was 75,518 without homes. An incredible amount of data is available on the counts website, part of the Los Angeles Housing Services Authority. The sites summary wrote: While this years increases are slightly lower than previous year-over-year increases in the homeless count, they continue a steady growth trend of people experiencing homelessness in the annual Point-in-Time Count (PIT Count). The rise in L.A. Countys homeless population coincides with increases in major cities across the United States. Chicago and Portland saw double-digit increases (+57% and +20% respectively), while several Southern California counties experienced increases larger than Los Angeles, including San Bernadino (+26%), San Diego (+22%), Kern (+22%), and Riverside (+12%). So, what solutions are there? There are two main problems: mental health and housing costs. Both are critical. Mental Health Solutions People of sound mind, even if poor, usually can get a job, find a place, and get government assistanceor leave the state for someplace cheaper. After I went to work as the press secretary for California state Sen. John Moorlach six years ago, homelessness was one of his top priorities. In January 2018, although I didnt go, he and some of the staff flew to San Antonio to visit its innovative Haven for Hope, which calls itself, More than a shelter, it is a transformational campus. It explains, Ending homelessness by empowering individuals and families to transform their lives. Our staff was among 41 Orange County officials who took the tour, including councilmembers, nonprofit providers, health care officials, and business leaders. At the time, the Costa Mesa City Hall Snapshot website described the visit by city officials and Moorlach: Haven for Hope is a sprawling and bustling campus that offers housing and transformational, life-saving services for homeless men, women and children. Haven for Hope is a public/private partnership that started with a $10.5 million donation by Texas philanthropist Bill Greehey, the CEO of Valero Energy. Nearly every nonprofit in San Antonio that serves the homeless is a part of Haven for Hope. That adds up to 142 partners providing over 300 services. The success rate is impressive. In January of 2010, the point-in-time count found 738 homeless on the streets of downtown San Antonio. By January of 2017, that number dropped to 148, an 80 percent decrease. Since it opened, more than 3,835 people have exited the transformational campus and moved to permanent housing, with 90 percent of those not returning to homelessness. Why hasnt this successful model been simply copied in L.A. County, Orange County, and other counties in California? Part of the problem was COVID hit in early 2020. That also was a major reason Mr. Moorlach lost his reelection bid in November that year, as well as, later, for OC supervisor and Costa Mesa mayor. Reformers who buck the system often meet that fate. American health and welfare systems suffer labyrinthine complexity involving: government at all levels, the private parts of the medical system, the Veterans Administration, and numerous NGOsnon-governmental organizations. Texas today is much more of a reformist, can-do state than sclerotic California. And San Antonio obviously is better run than Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other California cities. The message here is reform can be done but is not being done. Housing Problems Im not sure solving the housing part of the problem is easier, but it is more clear-cut: stop messing around with such gimmicks as raising taxes for housing bonds, as with Los Angeles Measure HHH in 2016. Then start reducing housing costs by reforming the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which makes it easy for unions and environmentalists to sue to stop housing construction. And end Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), which sharply increase the cost of labor to build low-income housing by mandating high union wages even for non-union contractors. High orders indeed for both reforms, given the unions lock-grip on the states politics. A related problem is the states dominance by one party, the Democrats. A democracy needs what sociologist Vilfredo Pareto called the circulation of elite. If one group of officials stays on top too long, it becomes ossified, and essential reforms are postponed, sometimes until the whole system cracks. Republicans in California are at best an afterthought, at worst simply ignored. The blame for their inability to rise even above one-third super-minority status often is given to their support of Proposition 187 in 1994, which would have restricted public services to illegal immigrants. It later was thrown out in federal court. But that was almost 30 years ago. Much of the problem is the post-Cold War division of the country into Blue States and Red States. That includes sorting, with Republicans likely to move to the Red States and Democrats likely to move to Blue states, deepening the ideological divide. California has become more ideologically Blue because so many Red voters have moved to Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and other Red states. Which means the union shock troops of the Blue party, the Democrats, have gained clout in recent years. Thus actually reducing the chances of reforming CEQA and PLAs. There have been some reforms of the housing problem, such as allowing more granny flats, or casitas, behind homes, with Assembly Bill 670 from 2019. Anything helps. Just not enough. Conclusion I hate to say it, but there doesnt seem to be much will for major reforms of either the mental health or housing components of the homelessness problem. Every day in Orange County, when I drive to-and-fro, I see the homeless under bridges and standing at free onramps, begging for money. Its even worse in Los Angeles County, as the numbers cited above attest. The scandal will be brought up should President Biden drop out of the 2024 race and Gov. Gavin Newsom run for president next year. Mr. Newsoms primary rivals in the Democratic Party would be sure to bring it up. As would the eventual Republican nominee. Powerful attack ads will be made. Its too bad some Democratic politician in California doesnt take the lead and solve this problem. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Canada Weighing Long-Term Security Guarantees for Ukraine Beyond War With Russia, Says Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly delivers remarks at the Global Heads of Mission Meeting discussing the Future of Diplomacy Initiative in Ottawa, on June 7, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby) Canada is considering some long-term security guarantees for Ukraine beyond its support for the country throughout its war with Russia, in order to provide it with security assurances for years to come, says Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly. Ms. Joly spoke to reporters in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11 where she is attending the NATO Leaders Summit this week alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Anita Anand. At this point weve supported Ukraine up to $8 billion in financial, military, and also humanitarian support, Ms. Joly said, adding that Canada needs to and will do more to assist Ukraine. We know that even when the war ends, Ukraine will still be next to a very dangerous neighbour, so we need to address the long-term security needs of Ukraine. The foreign affairs minister also said that she and Mr. Trudeau have often reiterated to NATO allies the need for these guarantees for Ukraine, adding that both she and the prime minister will be discussing it further at the leaders summit over the next few days. Canada has been forward leading on this issue, Ms. Joly said. She did not provide details of what the security guarantees could entail. Her comments come a day after Mr. Trudeau told reporters in Latvia that Canada will push for Ukraine to be admitted into NATO at the summit, where leaders will discuss that possibility. Mr. Trudeau said that a number of Canadas European allies support admitting Ukraine into the treaty organization, but said there is not unanimous support across NATO. In other NATO member countries, this enthusiasm is not as strong as in Canada, he said on July 10. But in general, our allies are very inclined for the future of Ukraine. NATO member countries like the United States and Germany have previously voiced concerns that admitting Ukraine into NATO could spark a direct conflict between the treatys member countries and Russia, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for Ukraine to be admitted. Canadas Vaccine Injury Support Program Has Paid Out Nearly $7 Million in Claims Since December 2020 Canadas Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP) has paid out nearly $7 million in claims since it first launched, according to updated bi-annual records. According to the VISP, a total of 1,859 claims have been received thus far from Canadians who suffered death or injury as a result of vaccines administered in Canada on or after Dec. 8, 2020. A total of 103 claims have been approved to date, with payments totalling $6,695,716. According to Blacklocks Reporter, a total of 1,553 claims have been determined to be admissible, 240 were deemed inadmissible, and 66 are still pending administrative review for eligibility. The VISP was created in December 2020 to ensure that all people in Canada who have experienced a serious and permanent injury as a result of receiving a Health Canada-authorized vaccine administered in Canada on or after Dec. 8, 2020, will receive timely and fair financial support. The VISP serves all people vaccinated in Canada, except for those vaccinated in Quebec, who will receive coverage from the provinces longstanding program. The VISP defines a serious and permanent injury as a severe, life-threatening or life-altering injury that may require in-person hospitalization, or a prolongation of existing hospitalization, and results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity, or where the outcome is a congenital malformation or death. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), a total of 98.2 million vaccine doses were administered as of May this year, which resulted in 55,145 adverse events. The agency has reported 332 blood clots, 289 strokes, 198 cases of facial paralysis, 149 heart attacks, 88 spontaneous abortions, 79 kidney injuries, and 37 cases of liver damage. The PHAC has found there were 442 deaths following vaccination for COVID-19. Although these deaths occurred after being vaccinated with a Covid-19 vaccine they are not necessarily related to the vaccine, the agency said in a statement. The PHAC wrote in a 2021 memo that a total of $75 million in funding has been earmarked for the first five years of the program. It said the overall cost of the program was dependent on the volume of claims and compensation awarded over time. Funeral expenses are covered by VISP. Eligible individuals may receive income replacement indemnities, injury indemnities, death benefits, coverage for funeral expenses and reimbursement of eligible costs such as otherwise uncovered medical expenses, said the briefing note. Management of the program was contracted out to Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Consulting, which is the same firm that manages a $21.6 million Memorial Grant Program that pays $300,000 to families of police, firefighters, and paramedics who die as a result of service. Dr. Supirya Sharma, the senior medical adviser for the health department, earlier told reporters the long-term effects of COVID-19 vaccines were not known. The benefits outweigh the potential risks but it is still a drug and still a vaccine and there are potential risks even if theyre rare. Thats why we continue to monitor it, she said. Chinese Military May Have Had COVID-19 Virus in Its Possession as Early as September 2019 Peoples Liberation Army scientists applied for COVID vaccine patent in February 2020 The P4 laboratory (L) on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on May 27, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary According to the World Health Organization, there have been 6,947,192 confirmed COVID-19 deaths globally as of June 28. Of those, 1,127,152 occurred in the United States, making the number of Americans killed by the virus more than 19 times the number of American soldiers killed in the Vietnam War. And yet, over three years since the beginning of the pandemic, we still dont know where the virus originated. The fear is that the next time around, the number of deaths could be much higher; because we didnt learn from this pandemic, we wouldnt be as prepared as we should for the next one. This fear is shared by all Americans. That is probably why in March, the U.S. Congress unanimously passed the COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023, requesting that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) declassify all information relating to potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of COVID-19. The ODNI must submit to Congress an unclassified report with all such information with redactions only as necessary to protect sources and methods, the new law says. On June 23, ODNI released a 10-page report titled Potential Links Between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Origin of the COVID-19 Pandemic. As someone who has been following this development closely, ODNIs report told me nothing beyond what I already knew, except for one little gem on page 5: that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) had developed a technique that left no traces of genetic modification of SARS-like coronaviruses. Some of the WIVs genetic engineering projects on coronaviruses involved techniques that could make it difficult to detect intentional changes, the report stated. Why did the WIV want to develop such a technique? Scientists at the institute had been publishing their research on viruses in the best scientific journals, including on genetic modification of SARS-like coronaviruses, so it didnt look like they wanted to hide what they had been doing. Maybe what they published was only part of their research, and they wanted to conceal the research they didnt publish? What would that be? Before the ODNI report, U.S. investigative journalists revealed in early June that three WIV researchers, Ben Hu, Ping Yu, and Yan Zhu, were allegedly the first COVID-19 patients, having fallen ill in the fall of 2019. They were reportedly conducting research on SARS-like viruses and engaging in gain-of-function experiments. Gain-of-function, which involves altering the properties of a pathogen in order to study its potential impact on human health, increases the infectiousness of viruses and/or makes them more lethal. The WIV denied such allegations. The recent news about so-called patient zero in WIV are absolutely rumors and ridiculous, Ben Hu told the journal Science in June. I was hoping that the ODNI report would shed more light on the origin of SARS-CoV-2. It didnt, but a patent application I found through a web search strongly suggests that the Liberation Army (PLA) had the genetic sequence of the virus in its possession as early as September 2019. This would fit well with the allegation that the three WIV scientists were infected by the virus in the fall of 2019. Its worth noting that the same allegation was made by the Department of Justice in a fact sheet published Jan. 15, 2021, which said the U.S. government had reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak. Officially, World Learned of Virus in January 2020 The first cases of the atypical pneumonia (later known as COVID-19) were reported in Wuhan in December 2019. The news was soon supressed by the Chinese Communist Party, as China was preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Yeara time that no bad news is allowed. Whistleblowers like Dr. Wenliang Li were punished. Officially, Chinese virologists did not have a chance to study the novel virus until early January 2020. On Jan. 11, 2020, Professor Yong-Zhen Zhangs group from Fudan University in Shanghai submitted the genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 to GenBank (accession number MN908947.1) in Maryland. Prof. Zhang obtained the virus by collecting bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from a 41-year old male patient in Wuhan, who had been admitted to hospital on Dec. 26, 2019. Chinese state media reported his death on Jan. 11, 2020. Jan. 11, 2020, was the day that SARS-CoV-2 officially became known to the world. WHO announced that it had received the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus from the Chinese regime and would soon make it public. PLAs Warp Speed Vaccine Research On Feb. 24, 2020, Dr. Yusen Zhou and 10 other inventors from the PLAs Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology in Beijing filed a patent application (number 202010112679.9) titled Novel coronavirus titled COVID-19 vaccine, preparation methods and applications. The application described in detail the design of the vaccine, the method to produce the vaccine, and the immunogenicity of the vaccine. I am a vaccine scientist who worked for one of the worlds largest vaccine companies for more than 10 years, and I spearheaded SARS-CoV-1 vaccine development in 2003. I was stunned by the speed these PLA inventors were able to not only study the new virus and develop and test a vaccine so quickly, but also put together a patent application in merely 44 days (from Jan. 11 to Feb. 24)! Vaccine development is an arduous process, usually taking about 10-15 years on average to accomplish. Before COVID-19, the fastest a vaccine that had ever been developed was the mumps vaccine in 1967, which took four years. Of course, the U.S. governments Operation Warp Speed made it possible for vaccine companies to accelerate their processes, which we now know compromised safety and effectiveness. Moderna published their Phase I/II clinical data on July 14, 2020, and Pfizer published theirs on Aug. 12, 2020. Then in December of that year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines Emergency Use Authorization. When I worked in the vaccine industry, I was the liaison between R&D (Research and Development) scientists (which I was also a member of) and our in-house lawyers in the IP (Intellectual Property) office. I was personally involved in the filing of dozens of patent applications. Normally, patent applications should be filed as soon as scientists discover something new, useful, and non-obviousthe three properties patent lawyers stress that scientists keep an eye out for and document. A patent application can be filed before a vaccine is tested and granted for distribution. One could argue that the PLAs application was provisional, meaning it would serve as a placeholder so that experimental results could be added later when available, hence it is possible that it only took 44 days to draft their patent application. Yes, when things move extremely smoothly, a patent application could be put together in about one and a half months. However, the PLAs filing contains real experimental data that would take time and effort to perform and collect. This makes it extremely unlikely that the scientists only received access to the virus information on or after Jan. 11, 2020. Telling Timeline If the PLA did have access to the virus, maybe they got the information from Prof. Zhang before he submitted the genetic sequence to GenBank, or maybe they got it elsewhere. Or it could be that since the scientists are with the PLA, how they obtained the virus constitutes a military secret. The scientists application described that the vaccine composition is an RBD-Fc recombinant protein. It was used to immunize mice to generate (antibody-containing) serum samples. These serum samples were collected 7 and 12 days after immunization, respectively. These details were given on all phases of their vaccine development. Drawing from my 10-year experience with vaccine development and patent filing, in my estimation the following amounts of time would be needed to carry out what the PLA scientists described in their patent application: Design of the vaccine: 1 month Develop a method to produce the vaccine: 2 months Test immunogenicity of the vaccine: 2 months Prepare patent application: 1.5 months The likely time that the PLA scientists first got their hands on the virus and its genome sequence would be around September 2019six and a half months before they filed their patent application on Feb. 24, 2020. Mysterious Death of PLA Scientist Dr. Zhou, the lead author of the PLA patent application, died at age 54 under mysterious circumstances in May 2020, three months after he filed the application. Zhou was one of the most well-known virologists in China, who had worked closely with the WIV as well as with U.S. scientists, yet there were no tributes to mark his passing. The news was only casually mentioned in an article published in July 2020. It was obvious that the authorities did not want to publicize his death. To the Chinese authorities, everything related to COVID-19 is a state secret. But COVID-19 is not only a China issue, it is a global issue. More knowledge and information about what happened could literally save millions of lives. Heres what we know to be fact: Fudan Universitys Prof. Zhang published the SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence on Jan. 11, 2020; PLAs Dr. Zhou and his team filed a patent application for a COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 24, 2020; Dr. Zhou passed away in May 2020; On June 23, 2023, ODNI published a report stating that the WIV had developed a technique that leaves no traces of genetic modification of SARS-like coronaviruses. Is it possible that from early 2019, the PLAs scientists were working with WIV scientists to develop coronaviruses that could infect humans, while simultaneously developing vaccines against such viruses? If thats the case, it would explain why Dr. Zhou was able to file the patent application in February 2020. And because Dr. Zhous application revealed too much information, the CCP was unhappy with him and he had to be gotten rid of. Given how the CCP operates, and its obfuscation, coverups, and lack of cooperation with other countries that has gone on around discovering the origin of the virus outbreak, I think its a plausible scenario. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Coke Invests $70 Million in New Calgary Facility Candy Can soft drink competitor also announces launch in Canada An employee arranges bottles of Coca-Cola at a store in Alexandria, Va., on Oct. 16, 2012. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Coca-Cola is building a new $70-million facility in northeast Calgary, and Premier Danielle Smith took advantage of the news to remind businesses that Alberta is Canadas lowest tax jurisdiction. In a July 10 social media post, Ms. Smith thanked Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited (Coke) for the vote of confidence. Alberta is Canadas lowest tax jurisdiction, and we continue to see more and more investment, leading to job opportunities and economic prosperity for our people. Alberta is calling make the move! she said. Meanwhile, a new soft drink is set to enter the Canadian market possibly competing with Coca-Cola and promising to entice candy lovers with a fizzy drink with zero sugar. Candy Can, a sugar-free soft drink that originated in the Netherlands, announced its official launch in Canada on July 5. The brand promises that candy lovers from coast to coast can now enjoy the taste of their favourite sweets in sparkling beverage form with an inaugural release of four popular flavours including Birthday Cake, Bubble Gum, Cotton Candy, and Rocket Ice Lolly. Candy Can is the creation of Sander de Jonge, founder of Charlies Organics, and the company said it aims to revolutionize the beverage industry by providing nostalgic experiences. According to the company, Candy Can is also vegan, keto-friendly, gluten-free, BPA-free, and caffeine-free. The sparkling marshmallow flavour has the following ingredients listed: Carbonated water, acidifier: citric acid, stabiliser: gum acacia, ester gum; flavouring, sweeteners: acesulfame K, sucralose; antioxidant: ascorbic acid; and colour: Cu-Chlorophyllin. As of July 5, the new soft drink is available at Sobeys, Bulk Barn, and other select stores. The company promises continued expansion across Canada and said additional fun flavours will be introduced soon. Coca-Cola Expansion Coca-Cola Canada has over 50 facilities and a local presence in every province, with Alberta locations in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge. The company currently uses a third-party warehouse and plans to spend $70 million to upgrade its bottling plant in Calgary and turn it into a new, state-of-the-art, on-site, high-density warehouse, according to a news release. On July 5, the company unveiled a video of the automated facility in Calgary saying, Coca-Cola Canada Bottling is making a groundbreaking supply chain investment, solidifying its commitment to cutting-edge robotic automation and revolutionizing warehouse operations in Canada. With a significant investment of over $70 million, the company is set to transform its Calgary distribution operations, embracing state-of-the-art robotic technology to meet the ever-evolving demands of customers in Western Canada, Coke said. The facility will include more automation for storage and retrieval, a digital inventory management system, and more door dock capacity for trucks. The warehouse is estimated to be 60,000 square feet and able to house 19,000 product palettes. A report from the Conference Board of Canada and Canadian Beverage Association suggests that consumer spending on non-alcoholic drinks rose to $11.9 billion between 2010 and 2019, largely due to population growth. Competitive Race for Open House Seat Taking Shape in Michigan Battleground District (Left) Michigan state Sen. Tom Barrett attends a campaign rally in Benton Township, Mich., on Nov. 4, 2022. (Right) Michigan state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. speaks with reporters in Lansing, Mich., on June 30, 2021. (AP Photo) LANSING, Mich.Former Democratic state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. on Monday announced a campaign for Michigans 7th Congressional District, one of the nations most competitive House districts. Mr. Hertel and another ex-state senator, Republican Tom Barrett, who launched his second run for the seat Sunday night, are the first to announce bids for the seat of U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.). Ms. Slotkin, a Democrat, announced earlier this year that she would seek Michigans open U.S. Senate seat. Michigans 7th District was home to one of the nations most expensive contests last year, with Ms. Slotkin beating Mr. Barrett, and both national parties have already vowed to again go all out to win the battleground district in 2024. Mr. Hertel was recruited by Ms. Slotkin to run for the seat and announced his candidacy in Lansing. He represented Lansing and East Lansing in the state Legislature from 2015 to 2022 before being term-limited. He briefly served as Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmers director of legislative affairs before stepping down from that role on June 30. The 45-year-old Mr. Hertel comes from a family of officeholders. His father, a brother, and two uncles served in the Legislature, and a third uncle was in the U.S. House. He defined his familys legacy as a strong belief in Democratic ideals but also a willingness to work across the aisle to make things better. We need to be able to debate and listen because, at the end of the day, we have to find the best middle ground to actually solve problems for people, Mr. Hertel told The Associated Press in an interview before his announcement. Mr. Barrett launched his second bid for the seat after losing the district to Ms. Slotkin by more than 5 percentage points last year. The 42-year-old Mr. Barrett served in the Army for more than two decades before entering politics and representing mid-Michigan in the state Legislature from 2015 to 2022. In an interview with the AP, Mr. Barrett said his last campaign was hampered by a weak top-of-the-ticket gubernatorial candidate and a significant fundraising disadvantage. He said he expects an improvement in both areas next year. Its not going to be a cakewalk. This is a very competitive district, Mr. Barrett said. But I have my own lessons learned along the way, and I know a little more what to expect running in such a high-profile congressional race. Michigans 7th District, which underwent redistricting before the 2022 midterms, is a blend of Republican-dominated counties such as Clinton and Shiawassee and Democratic strongholds like Ingham, which is home to the state Capitol and Michigan State University. Ms. Slotkins comfortable victory last year in what was expected to be a narrow contest has made her a favorite to replace Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who announced in January that she would be retiring after serving four terms. While several other Democratic candidates are challenging her for the Senate seat, no high-profile Republican has stepped forward. Ms. Slotkin has promised to help the Democratic candidate in her House district and said in a recent interview with the AP that she is dedicatedto the point of obsessionin keeping this district because we can flip the House in 2024 with the seat being held. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) speaks at a campaign rally she held in East Lansing, Mich., on Oct. 16, 2022. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) Losing the seat could put the majority out of reach for Democrats and expand the Republicans narrow cushion in the House. The National Republican Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of House Republicans, has said it plans to go all hands on deck to win the district in 2024. Democrats in Michigan won nearly every competitive congressional race last year, even flipping a House seat in Grand Rapids for the first time since the 1970s. Barrett attributes the losses to a weak top of the ticket with statewide candidates who were endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The top of the ticket should be far more competitive next year, Mr. Barrett said. My name ID is also considerably higher, and I dont need to necessarily introduce myself to people the same way. Mr. Hertel has the advantage of having represented parts of Ingham County, which holds close to half the districts population and which Ms. Slotkin won by nearly 36 percentage points. He plans to have an aggressive field campaign that centers on individual voter contact. If youre going to ask people for their voteand ask people to serve themthey should have an opportunity to meet you, talk to you, ask questions and have you listen to what they care about, Mr. Hertel said. By Joey Cappelletti COVID Amplified Societal Issues That Need to Be Addressed, Says Group That Fought Against Restrictions Frontline workers and first responders stand in silence to protest the province's vaccine mandates in Quebec City on Oct. 15, 2021. (The Epoch Times/Sonia Rouleau) With COVID-19 now mostly being discussed in historical terms, a Quebec group that was at the forefront of challenging public health restrictions is redesigning itself to tackle broader issues in society. After COVID, we noticed a number of other problems that COVID amplified, says Andre Fortier, an osteopath and co-founder of Reinfo COVID Quebec, now rebranded as Reinfo Quebec. We sought to widen our focus and look closer at the health topic. Weve seen with the public health skid that theres a misunderstanding about what health isits a field where each individual is different. Fortier says a health-care system based on protocols, algorithms, and statistics is inadequate to properly tend to the needs of distinct individuals. Aside from health care and health in general, the group is also interested in taking a closer look at rising societal trends, such as the implementation of digital ID and the proliferation of artificial intelligence. This branching out coincides with a series of conferences the group has organized in 12 cities in Quebec, spanning the length of the province from Gaspesie to Gatineau. Fortier spoke to The Epoch Times during a stop on Montreals south shore on July 8. He says the intent behind the tour is to allow the professionals associated with the group to be able to meet in person, and also for them to make a direct link with the public to receive feedback. Heroes of the Crisis Fortier says Reinfo COVID was formed during the crisis to facilitate the networking of experts and professionals seeking to express different viewpoints about the management of public health matters. The group has a list of 11,000 contacts, with around a third being healthcare professionals, he says. Others include professors and scientists in various fields, including biology or humanities. Some of them have suffered consequences for speaking out, including professor Patrick Provost who was handed down several sanctions by Laval University for his public comments saying children are not at risk from COVID-19 and do not need the shots. Fortier says these experts who spoke out are the heroes of the crisis, having done so independently of consequences on their careers or finances. The group has also been accused of spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories by large news organizations. Unfortunately mainstream media censored us extensively, says Fortier. He says putting the conspiracy theorist label on someone is a tactic used to prevent any conversation or debate on a matter. When we have PhDs like Patrick Provost and Bernard Massie, and many other physicians, its foolish [to avoid debating], says Fortier. You have competent and qualified people in front of you and you dont even want to discuss And often its journalists who themselves dont have any scientific or medical training. Its completely nonsensical. He says some journalists have used and abused their power to prevent informing the public under the pretext of a scientific consensus, whereas he says there isnt any. We see it everyday, new information is coming out and more scientists are speaking up. Massie, an immunologist and a former National Research Council acting director general, participated in the July 8 conference and said the consensus became concensorship during the crisis. He made a case for developing the immune system, which can be strengthened by living a healthy lifestyle, and pleaded for natural immunity gained from infection instead of having to kneel down before the vaccine god. Immunologist and biotechnology consultant Bernard Massie speaks at a Reinfo Quebec event in Longueuil, Quebec, on July 8, 2023. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) False Information Its for taking positions such as these that Reinfo was heavily criticized, during a time when governments were encouraging and coercing citizens to roll up their sleeves with vaccine passports, mandates, and threats of imposing a tax on the non-compliant. A debunking article by French CBC published on the group in November 2021 says that it spread false information in saying that mRNA injections modify DNA or that masks are toxic. It adds the group spread info related to the Great Reset conspiracy theory and that it promoted unproven treatments against COVID-19 such as Ivermectin. All those areas are not absolutely clear cut, though they reflect in part the views of public health authorities. Health Canada says that the mRNA does not come in contact with human DNA, and therefore the mRNA-based injections are not gene altering therapies. But one study from Swedish scientists found that mRNA from the Pfizer shot was reverse-transcribed into human DNA during an in-vitro experiment. Massie, who has conducted a sizeable body of research on gene therapy and has worked on industrial production of therapeutic antibodies and vaccines, says that the mRNA COVID-19 injections on the market are gene therapies, and he notes the reverse-transcription described in the Swedish study. He says whats even more preoccupying is that plasmid DNA was found in the mRNA product batches, in quantities much higher than allowed by regulating agencies. This plasmid DNA doesnt even need to be reverse-transcribed before integrating itself in the genome, Massie says, providing for reference an April paper in pre-print authored by Kevin McKernan and others. Regarding masks, Health Canada warned in April 2021 that some masks containing toxic particles had been distributed in some healthcare facilities. Notwithstanding the potential toxicity of some masks, some scientists have also warned about the over-consumption of CO2 caused by wearing them. Circumstantial evidence exists that extended mask use may be related to current observations of stillbirths and to reduced verbal motor and overall cognitive performance in children born during the pandemic, says an article published in the journal Heliyon in March. The Great Reset is not a theory but a policy proposal by World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab. Schwab has claimed in 2017 having penetrated government cabinets. As for the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin, Health Canada says to not use it to treat COVID-19, but some physicians and scientific literature argue in its favour. Alongside media, governments also made efforts to establish a consensus about issues relating to COVID-19 and information on the matter has recently come to light through court action or statements by stakeholders. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, overseeing social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, said in late June the U.S. government pressured his company to censor COVID-19 content that ended up being more debatable or true. In early July, a U.S. District Court told federal agencies to stop communicating with social media companies with requests to remove content they deem to be misinformation. Content authorities targeted includes information about the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and about the effectiveness of various public health measures imposed during the crisis, such as lockdowns and vaccines. Crime in California Surges While Arrests Decline: Attorney Generals Report Crime statistics for 2022 show violent and property crimes increasing year-over-year in California, according to an Attorney General report released June 30. With crime increasing across many categories, homicide and driving under the influence arrests each decreased 5.9 percent and motor vehicle theft arrests fell 8.5 percent. While crime rates remain significantly below their historical highs, property and violent crimes continue to have devastating consequences for communities across the state, and gun violence remains a major threat to public safety, Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a press release announcing the report. My office is committed to confronting these crimes head-on by holding law-breakers accountable, providing victims the resources they need to heal, and working proactively to prevent crime from happening in the first place. While below historic highs seen in 1992, property and violent crime both spiked more than 6 percent for the second consecutive year in 2022. Arrests for robbery jumped 14.4 percent for the year, burglary 9.4 percent, and theft 12.2 percent. Petty theft skyrocketed 21.3 percent, with critics pointing to Proposition 47passed by voters in 2014 reclassifying certain drug offenses and thefts under $950 as misdemeanorsas contributing to a rash of shoplifting that has become so prevalent some retailers, including Nordstrom and Walgreens, have fled downtown San Francisco. While criminal activity plagues municipalities across the state, arrest rates decreased by 2.7 percent from 2021 to 2022, representing the 18th year in a row that arrests declined. The report attributes some of the declines to a pattern of changes in criminal law and prosecutorial efforts that mean some infractions no longer result in arrest. A reduction of full-time law enforcement officers by 1.3 percent, prosecutors by 0.3 percent, and probation personnel by 3.6 percent were noted in the report as factors leading to the drop in arrests. Sadly, we are not surprised to learn that Californias violent and property crime rates increased in 2022, state Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) said in a Senate Republican Caucus statement in response to the report. This report echoes the immediate need for California to ditch its soft-on-crime and catering to criminals approach, and prioritize real public safety by enforcing the law. The senator highlighted the actions of the Assembly and Senate Public Safety committees, suggesting members of both are failing to address issues impacting Californians. Its almost an embarrassment that the Legislatures Public Safety committees arent addressing the issue they are assigned, Mr. Jones said. Instead, Democrat lawmakers are finding ways to let criminals get away with committing heinous crimes and facing minimal consequences. Fellow Republicans echoed the sentiments and noted the need to address public safety, as rampant vagrancy and open-air drug use seen in some areas is impacting children. Families across this state have very real concerns about public safety, Sen. Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) said in the press release. My children, and all of Californias children, deserve a bright future in this state that includes being able to safely walk to school or visit their friends without fear of violence. Earlier, while debating Californias 202324 fiscal year budget on the Senate floor June 27, Mr. Dahle rattled off statistics showing that violent crimes, including rape, have spiked over recent years. Folks, crime is going up in California, and thats why businesses are leaving, and thats why people dont feel safe, Mr. Dahle said. The number one thing this Legislature is supposed to do is keep people safe, and theyre not safe. One lawmaker on the other side of the aisle told her colleagues that crime reports seen in headlines are nothing new, and some are missing the bigger picture. People perpetuate a myth about this big crime increase, Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) said on the Senate floor following Dahles remarks. If you look at the data for the past decade, the rates are down, and if you look since the 1990s, the rates are down significantly. Some experts say the disruption of normal activity in 2020, due to the pandemic and associated state and local lockdowns, marked a turning point and suggest looking at the last three years for a better snapshot. The overwhelming trend has been a rise in many forms of violence, Elliott Currie, professor of criminology, law, and society at the University of CaliforniaIrvine. People are hurting each other on a level higher than even in the past. Observing that while homicide rates might be down year-over-year, he points to a 24 percent increase over the past 10 years with aggravated assaults spiking 42 percent over the same period. These are huge increases, Mr. Currie told The Epoch Times. This is pretty much an unprecedented increase. Noting the significant change that occurred during 2020, he said the key to understanding the recent rise in criminality is in social connectionsrelationships and routines built through work, school, and extracurricular activitiesthat failed to materialize or were broken by the COVID isolation periods, with low-income communities suffering the most. These connections are really important with holding down rates of violent crimes, Mr. Currie said. Numerous studies of incarceration and recidivism rates at the state and national levels reveal those holding full-time jobs are less likely to become criminal offenders. Schools and support systems being shut down for lengthy periods of time exposed juveniles to pressures that would have been absent in a school setting, according to experts. Theyre out there by themselves, and thats very likely to increase that disconnection with the absence of supervision and absence of social control that simply being present in school can help accomplish, Mr. Currie said. That syndrome of disconnections hitting very hard at these already hard-hit, devastated communities, probably has something to do with the historic increase in violent crime. Profiles in history: An ongoing series of lesser known but significant figures who shaped our world Eddie Rickenbacker (18901973) had a knack for danger and an affinity for new technology. He had, according to him, 135 scrapes with death. His passion for speed, whether in cars or in airplanes, was a prime reason for these close encounters. He was born into poverty to Swiss immigrant parents who were both religious and disciplinarians. As a child, he was a bit of a troublemaker, but when his father died in a construction accident (though there is some suspicion about foul play) when he was 13, he left school and started working to help the family. He held numerous jobs, including selling newspapers, eggs, and goats milk, and eventually, after lying about his age in order to skirt the child labor laws, landed a job at the Federal Glass Factory. He then worked at the Buckeye Steel Casting Company, then a beer factory, a bowling alley, cemetery monument yard, and later became an apprentice at the Pennsylvania Railroad. Capt. E.V. Eddie Rickenbacker wearing the Congressional Medal of Honor. (U.S. Air Force photo) His love of adventure, close scrapes, engines, and technology culminated in the automobile, which he first saw in 1905. His life forever changed in 1906 when he started working for Lee Frayer, a professional race car driver and founder of Frayer-Miller Automobile Company. Rickenbacker soon became Frayers mechanic during races. Over the ensuing years, his career revolved around cars, ranging from salesman to chauffeur of the politician William Jennings Bryan as part of Bryans 1909 speaking tour in Texas. In 1911, he raced in the first Indianapolis 500. By the end of 1916, Rickenbacker was the manager of the Prest-O-Lite Racing Team. Prest-O-Lite was an automotive headlight company formed by the founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Although Rickenbacker never won first place at the Indy 500, he did make the record books by breaking the world speed record in 1914 at Daytona, reaching 134 miles per hour. In his final year of racing in 1916, he boarded an aircraft flown by Glenn Martin, an aviation pioneer whose company eventually became Lockheed Martin. Despite his fear of heights, Rickenbacker fell in love with aviation, and with Americas entrance into World War I early the next year, he would get his chance at the most daring of flights. Rickenbacker quickly volunteered, was made a sergeant first class (in large part due to his popularity), and was sent to Europe as a chauffeur. His assignment of driving around Col. William Billy Mitchell, considered to be the father of the U.S. Air Force, opened the door for him to become a pilot. Of course, Rickenbacker had to massage the truth a bit. He was 27 at the time, two years older than the maximum age to enlist in the pilot training program. So he claimed to be 25. He graduated as a first lieutenant and joined the 94th Aero Squadron near Toul, France. It would become the first all-American air unit to experience combat. He flew Nieuport 28s and Spad XIIIs and had his first confirmed victory on April 29, 1918. By May 28, he was an ace, having shot down a total of five German planes. His sixth victory came two days later. His successes continued and the U.S. Army took notice, promoting him to captain and making him commander of the 94th. By the end of the war, he had flown 300 combat hours (the most of any American pilot), had 27 confirmed victories (also the most), had shot down five observation balloons, and was dubbed by the press as Americas Ace of Aces. 1st Lt. Eddie Rickenbacker, 94th Aero Squadron, in his S.XIII plane. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (Public Domain) He was awarded eight Distinguished Service Crosses, and was also awarded by France with the Legion of Honor (chevalier) and two Croix de Guerres, with Palm. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1919 with the rank of major, though he preferred to be referred to as Captain Eddie. Twelve years after the war ended, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions near Billy, France. Through the 1920s, he maintained his work in automobiles and aircraft. For the Flanders-Smith Company, he created a tandem flywheel that reduced vibrations on the vehicle. The car was named The Rickenbacker Six and was sold from 192226. In 1927, he raised $700,000 over the course of one month to purchase the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which he operated for 14 years. Over the years, he flew throughout the country making speeches about aviation and how it would positively impact society. During these years, he survived several crashes literally unscathed. In 1938, he became owner of Eastern Air Lines, but his luck nearly ran out in February 1941, when one of his planes, a DC-3, crashed into trees while making its approach in Atlanta. Both pilots and 11 passengers were killed. Rickenbackers injuries were so severe that the press reported him dead. Somehow, he survived after several months of recuperating in the hospital. Even during his recuperation, he nearly suffocated when his oxygen tent malfunctioned. His wife Adelaide, sensing something was wrong, ran up the hospital stairs to find the attendant asleep outside the room and Rickenbacker struggling to breathe. It would be the first of two times that Adelaide would save his life. The second time was during World War II when he was sent by Secretary of War Henry Stimson to inspect the equipment and personnel in the Pacific. When the pilot of the B-17 got lost and the plane ran out of fuel, the eight passengers had to bail. After several weeks, the U.S. Army planned to end the search for survivors, but Adelaide implored and demanded that it continue. Found days later, seven of the eight survived. Upon hearing of Rickenbackers survival, The Boston Globe heralded him as The Great Indestructible. Rickenbacker quickly recuperated, and returned to completing civilian missions in China, India, and the Soviet Union, from which he shared his information with the U.S. War Department and Britains Winston Churchill. After the war, he would continue his work in and promotion of aviation. At his funeral, Gen. James Jimmy Doolittle, of the famed Doolittle Raid, gave the eulogy. Would you like to see other kinds of arts and culture articles? Please email us your story ideas or feedback at features@epochtimes.nyc Elon Musk Promotes Socialism in China China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang, right, poses for photos with Tesla Ltd. CEO Elon Musk in Beijing, China, on May 30 2023. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China via AP) Commentary Elon Musk, the wunderkind CEO and co-founder of Tesla and SpaceX, is playing in dangerous sandboxes. On June 20, he proposed a cage match with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who accepted the challenge, albeit with the date to be determined. Both tech titans are martial arts enthusiasts. The fight venue is under discussion, with Las Vegas and the Coliseum in Rome being top runners. A pre-match war of words, complete with base insults, is now reaching the stage of a Musk threat to sue over Mr. Zuckerbergs new Threads app that mimics some Twitter features. But, Mr. Musks most dangerous game lies far to the east of Las Vegas, in Beijing. There, the challenge is so dire that Tesla Man is apparently being forced to publicly subscribe to socialist ideology to pursue his billion-dollar business venture. By now, the venture is nearly captured by the Chinese Communist Party and the companies it controls. But hey, what true capitalist wouldnt turn socialist for the chance to make a few billion more bucks, for as long as the party lasts? In 2018, Mr. Musk said on Twitter, By the way, I am actually a socialist. Just not the kind that shifts resources from most productive to least productive, pretending to do good, while actually causing harm. True socialism seeks greatest good for all. Mr. Musk is a self-described free speech absolutist, yet our daily Tweeter-in-Chief went entirely silent on his own $44 billion platform when he visited China this summer. His unusual self-censorship was likely in honor of Beijings laws against the social media company. Mr. Musks Twitter has already complied with over 800 government censorship demands since he took the helm, resisting only 20 percent compared to 50 percent pre-Musk. On July 6, Mr. Musk again waxed effusive over Chinas economic and technological prowess. He ignored inconvenient comparisons like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Chinas going to be great at anything it puts its mind to, he told an AI conference in Shanghai via video link. While Mr. Musk is ready to insult Mr. Zuckerberg at the drop of a hat, he has issued little of his characteristic unvarnished truth against Chinese leader Xi Jinpings excesses, including totalitarianism and genocide. Mr. Musk apparently doesnt bite the hand that simultaneously feeds and crushes him. He gives back in spades, which makes him complicit. Mr. Musk doubled-down on his socialism just two days after Independence Day this year, signing a pledge, along with other China-dependent car manufacturers, to Adhere to industry rules and regulations, regulate marketing activities, maintain fair competition and not disrupt fair competition with abnormal pricing as well as Promote core socialist values, actively fulfill social responsibilities, and take on the heavy responsibility of maintaining steady growth, strengthening confidence and preventing risks, according to a Bloomberg translation. Other EV signers included BYD, Nio, and SAIC. Workers chat under an umbrella outside the Tesla showroom in Beijing, China, on May 30, 2023. (Ng Han Guan/AP Photo) The Financial Times noted that Beijing directed the industry to rein in a months-long price war. Mr. Musk, however, was not out of capitalist cards after he appeared to agree to a socialist price-fixing pledge. Two days after signing, Tesla offered consumers a cash rebate. I doubt Karl Marx ever supported cash rebates. Perhaps Tesla was following the letter and not the spirit of price-fixing? Yet more evidence, if any were needed, that there is apparently no honor among thieves. While the pledge appeared to support market principles by taking a stand against disruption of fair competition with abnormal pricing, there is nothing abnormal about price wars in market systems unless one seller attempts to undercut another so much as to sell beneath the price of production in what amounts to dumping of goods on the market. Dumping is used by large businesses (and countries like China) to put relatively smaller competitors (and countries) out of business, creating monopoly conditions in the process. Monopoly capitalism, which is what Beijing apparently wants to bring back from the 19th century after reading all about the Rockefellers and Carnegies, is not conducive to the competition required in truly free modern markets. That Beijing would step in to increase prices for Chinese consumers should make them demand answers to the obvious questions: Are Mr. Musk and the others engaged in price-fixing at the direction of the CCP and at the expense of Chinese citizens? Is that the true socialism that seeks the greatest good for all according to Mr. Musk? Mr. Musks apparent hypocrisy may confuse some, until they remember that he is really a capitalist milking China for all its got, while he lets China milk him for the technology the CCP needs to drive its global market expansion in self-driving EVs, not to mention who knows what else (SpaceX rockets?). Mr. Musk and Beijing are in a deal with the devil by which they both come out ahead, while Chinese and American consumers are left behind paying more for electric cars, and national security, than they really should. That should be no surprise, as Chinese citizens, at least, have as a whole allowed themselves since the 1920s to be overtaken by the CCP. American citizens, and the global public, are now taking the same risk. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, who is also the President of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), stated on Monday that Egypt is eager to increase public-private sector collaboration in order to accomplish a transition to sustainable energy sources. Shoukry's remarks came at the video conference meeting of the COP27 business leaders group. The business group is co-chaired by Foreign Minister Shoukry and Nassef Sawiris, CEO of OCI Global, which operates in the fields of hydrogen, nitrogen, and energy. According to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu-Zeid, Shoukry said COP27, which was hosted by the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh in November 2022, had widespread participation from nations and administrations, as well as representatives from the corporate sector. Shoukry emphasized the importance of the business community and corporates in dealing with the effects of climate change, as well as their participation in putting Sharm El-Sheikh climate summit conclusions into action. Search Keywords: Short link: EXPLAINER: What Is Canadas Involvement in the Beijing-Backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank? Nearly a month after Canada announced it would pause all activity at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) while conducting an investigation, Canada still remains invested in the Beijing-founded institution. On June 14, Ottawa announced it would cease all activity at the AIIB while it investigated allegations made by its former global communications director, Bob Pickard, who claimed shortly after his resignation that the bank was dominated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and that its not in Canadas interest to be part of the bank. Mr. Pickard later said he could not find a single tangible benefit in Canadas involvement with the bank. Furthermore, he said he became alarmed when he discovered the messages he sent to stakeholders were not the correct ones that match the reality of the organization. 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 bank the CCP crowd who operate like a secret police, Mr. Pickard said. The AIIB, Chinas multilateral development bank rivalling the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, was created in the name of improving social and economic outcomes in Asia through the financing of infrastructure. It has 106 member governments including most Asian countries along with Australia, Canada, Russia, France, and Britain. Japan and the United States are not members. An official from the Department of Finance told The Epoch Times that under the direction of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the department is conducting an ongoing review of the allegations raised by Mr. Pickard and of Canadas involvement in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. While Canadas membership in the AIIB remains suspended, its total capital investment has yet to be refunded despite the Liberal governments and the opposition Conservatives concerns regarding Chinas influence in the banks affairs. Canadian Investments When Canada became a member of the AIIB in 2017, it allocated C$256 million to purchase shares in the bank. According to the Condensed Financial Statements of the AIIB ending March 31, 2022, Canada has pledged a total of US$995.4 million to the bank since 2017. In comparison, Australia has pledged nearly US$3.7 billion, France pledged US$3.3 billion, Germany has US$4.4 billion, and the United Kingdom has US$3 billion. The bank has a total of US$96.9 billion in combined investments. Canada has 9,954 out of 969,297 total AIIB shares. Since China has 297,804 sharesa 30 percent stake in the AIIBit has veto power over major decisions, which require 75 percent consensus. According to the AIIB, any member may withdraw their membership at any time by delivering notice in writing to the bank at its principal office. A withdrawing member remains liable for all obligations to the bank to which it was subject by the date of the withdrawal notice. As part of the settlement of accounts, when a country leaves the AIIB, the bank will also arrange for the repurchase of the departing countrys shares. Opposition While announcing Canadas suspension of all activity at the AIIB, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada would not be ruling out any outcome after the completion of a review of its role in the bank, leaving the door open for Canada to leave the AIIB. The opposition Conservatives would welcome such a move. On the day of Ms. Freelands announcement, Conservative MP Michael Chong called the AIIB a tool of Beijing to export its authoritarian model of governance throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Mr. Chong said Global Affairs Canada had previously warned the Liberals that the bank was being used by the CCP to promote its perspectives on governance, economic security, and human rights that diverge in fundamental ways from Canadas. Back in 2021, then-Conservative leader Erin OToole demanded the Liberals stop funding the bank, given the detention of Canadian men Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in China. When the AIIB was first proposed, it was criticized by the Obama administration as a political tool that the Chinese government would use to expand its influence throughout Asia, Mr. OToole wrote. Furthermore, concerns about the AIIBs environmental records, labour standards, and overall commitment to human rights continue to this day. In January 2020, Conservative MP Tom Kmiec received an Access to Information and Privacy response suggesting that then-finance minister Bill Morneau tasked his department with reclassifying federal money sent to the AIIB and other development banks from concessionary payments to full investments. According to Mr. Kmiec, this would mean the $256 million paid to the AIIB may no longer register as an expense, but would rather show Canadas membership in the bank as an investment that could generate some return. Gifting $256 million Canadian taxpayer dollars to the China-controlled AIIB, which is building three pipelines in Asia, is not an investment for Canadians, Mr. Kmiec said. An investment implies a return or benefit for Canadian taxpayers. Membership in the AIIB offers neither. Think Tank Director, Who Claimed to Be Tipster in Hunter Biden Case, Charged With Acting as Chinese Agent, Arms Trafficking Gal Luft, 57, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and co-director of the think tank Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, has been charged with arms trafficking, making false statements to federal agents, willfully failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), and Iranian sanctions violations. Mr. Luft is alleged to have conspired with others to act in Chinas interest, including recruiting and paying a former high ranking U.S. government official to support policies beneficial to China. He is also charged with conspiracy and attempt to sell arms illegally to Chinese individuals and companies, to sell aerial bombs and rockets to the United Arab Emirates, to sell Chinese weapons to Kenya, and to sell Iranian oil in violation of sanctions. Mr. Luft was initially arrested on Feb. 17 in the Republic of Cyprus, but fled after being released on bail. If indicted on all eight counts, Mr. Luft faces a maximum prison sentence of 100 years (pdf). As alleged, the defendant engaged in multiple schemes to evade sanctions and laws intended to protect our national security, stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis. Mr. Luft is also known for being a potential witness in investigations into Hunter Bidens financial dealings. From an undisclosed location, Mr. Luft filmed a 14 minute video shared with New York Post claiming his innocence and knowledge of Hunter Bidens alleged dealings in China. Mr. Luft had been an advisor to CEFC China Energy, and told FBI prosecutors in Brussels in 2019 that CEFC had given Mr. Hunter Biden and his uncle James Biden monthly payments of $100,000 and $65,000 in exchange for using their names to promote Chinese business interests, according to the Post. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) said on Fox News recently that Mr. Luft should have the opportunity to testify on this case before Congress. Hes an important witness, Mr. Johnson said. Investigations Hunter Biden arrives for a toast during an official State Dinner in honor of Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the White House on June 22, 2023. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Mr. Hunter Biden is set to go to court on July 26 for a plea deal over tax violations. He plans to plea guilty to two misdemeanor offenses of failing to pay taxes on income in excess of $1.5 million in 2017 and 2018, and illegal possession of a firearm. Meanwhile, House Republicans have been probing the financial dealings of the Biden family amid allegations cited by House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer that Mr. Hunter Biden received at least $15 million from foreign nationals. The House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith says Mr. Hunter Biden is alleged to have received more than $17 million from sources in Ukraine, Romania, and China. Earlier this year, an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblower came forth with allegations of government abuse from the Justice Department and IRS, showing preferential treatment for the U.S. Presidents son. U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David Weiss and Attorney General Merrick Garland have denied these claims. Mr. Hunter Biden is also involved in an ongoing lawsuit and countersuit involving the laptop he abandoned in a Delaware computer repair shop. John Paul Mac Isaac, the repairman, sued Mr. Hunter Biden last year for $1.5 million in damages, alleging defamation. Mr. Mac Isaac says Mr. Hunter Bidens claims that the laptop had been stolen or hacked included a narrative that Mr. Mac Isaac was party to a Russian disinformation campaign. An exterior view of The Mac Shop, where Hunter Biden allegedly brought his laptop for repair but never picked it up, in Wilmington, Del., on Oct. 21, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) Mr. Mac Isaac is also suing CNN, Politico, The Daily Beast, and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, for dismissing the expose published by NY Post on the laptop files, and joining Mr. Hunter Biden in painting Mr. Mac Isaac as a Russian agent. Mr. Mac Isaac had not been involved in providing files to the Post, nor the story. Mr. Hunter Biden accused Mr. Mac Isaac, in his countersuit, of illegally obtaining the computer and sharing its files to embarrass or make money off the situation. FBI Director Wray Set to Testify to CongressWhat to Expect From the Hearing FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies at a hearing in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee in Congress in Washington on Jan. 29, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) FBI Director Christopher Wray is set to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday morning, where he is sure to be confronted with a host of pointedly hostile questions from Republicans. One of the questions Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is expected to ask during a likely lengthy and combative hearing is why since early in 2021 the FBI has evaded and slow-walked many information and materials requests from the panel and frequently redacted into virtual uselessness the documents that have been provided to the committee. GOP members may also demand Mr. Wray explain in detail his role in a program in which, according to judiciary investigators, the FBI facilitated censorship requests to American social media companies on behalf of a Ukrainian intelligence agency infiltrated by Russian-aligned actors. In so doing, the FBI violated the First Amendment rights of Americans and potentially undermined our national security. The FBI chief may also be challenged to explain why he has not fired or otherwise disciplined multiple officials and agents who were promoted or were involved in the Russia collusion allegations against and investigation into former President Donald Trump during the 2016 election and for several years after his 2017 inauguration, even though two special counsels found no justification for the lengthy probe. FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies at a hearing in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee in Congress in Washington on Jan. 29, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Other questions that can be expected to be directed towards Mr. Wray by the panels 25 GOP members include the FBIs involvement in the Department of Justice (DOJ) campaign against threats of violence at school board meetings, including by allegedly targeting parents protesting controversial sexual and racial curricula in public schools. Republicans are likely to ask questions about the FBIs unannounced raid on former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida concerning classified documents, and in particular why lawyers for President Joe Biden were warned ahead of time that the bureau would be coming to his Delaware residences and several offices for the same purpose. It is also possible Mr. Wray will be asked to respond to congressional calls for his resignation or impeachment. But one set of issues will likely consume far more of the hearing than any othersthe growing allegations, including by an FBI informant and multiple whistleblowers within the bureau and the IRS, surrounding alleged influence peddling by Mr. Biden and his family and the bureaus response to such claims. Mr. Wray may be confronted with demands that he explain the FBIs apparent failure to do anything with the laptop belonging to the presidents son, Hunter Biden, that was left for months on end at a Delaware computer repair shop whose owner finally turned it over to federal authorities in 2019. There will likely be questions about Mr. Wrays confrontation in May with House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) regarding the FBI directors initial refusal to allow members of Congress to receive copies of an internal FBI memorandum, an FD-1023, describing a trusted bureau informants claims in that Mr. Biden was involved in a $5 million bribery scandal involving unspecified foreign interests when he was vice president. The existence of the FD-1023 was first made public earlier this year by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mr. Comer. House Judiciary members will likely focus Wednesday on an October 2020 briefing by FBI agents from the bureaus Baltimore and Pittsburgh field offices on the informants allegations for members of Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss staff, the team handling the Hunter Biden investigation. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 11, 2019. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Gary Sharpley, an IRS whistleblower testified to the judiciary committee that he was never told about the FD-1023 despite the fact he was the official in charge of the federal tax agencys investigation of Hunter Bidens alleged tax evasion. Mr. Wray could also be quizzed about his confession in November 2022 to having departed early from a Senate oversight hearing in August in order to board the official FBI jet for a flight to the Adirondacks to begin a vacation with his family. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) laid into Wray in the November hearing, quoting Mr. Grassleys frustration with the FBI director not delaying his departure for 21 minutes in order to allow seven Republican senators to ask questions for three minutes each. I had had a flight that Im supposed to be hightailing it to out of here [for], Wray told the senators at the August 2022 hearing that he left early. At that point, Mr. Grassley objected and asked Mr. Wray to wait a while, Wray answered: Sorry, to be honest, um, Ive tried to make my [mid-hearing] break as fast as I could to get right back out here. A clearly agitated Mr. Grassley pointed out that Mr. Wray was late returning to the hearing room following the five-minute break. Federal Agency Forces Bank of America to Pay $100 Million to Customers A general view of a Bank of America ATM in Park Road Shopping Center during the CCP virus pandemic in Charlotte, North Carolina on April 7, 2020. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) Bank of America will have to pay more than $100 million to customers for doubling up on some fees, withholding reward bonuses, and opening accounts without customer consent, said a federal agency in a statement Tuesday. Separately, Bank of America will have to pay some $90 million in penalties to its organization and $60 million in penalties to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said. One of the most commonly used banks in the United States, North Carolina-based Bank of America serves some 68 million people and small business clients and had $2.4 trillion in consolidated assets and $1.9 trillion in domestic deposits as of March 31. Its the second-largest bank in the country after JPMorgan Chase. Bank of America wrongfully withheld credit card rewards, double-dipped on fees, and opened accounts without consent, said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra in a statement. These practices are illegal and undermine customer trust. The CFPB will be putting an end to these practices across the banking system. His agency said that Bank of America had a policy of charging customers some $35 after the bank declined a transaction if a user didnt have enough cash in their account. The bank also double-dipped by allowing fees to be charged for the same transaction multiple times, the CFPB said. Previously, Bank of America has said that it voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all non-sufficient fund fees in the first half of last year. Bank of America also said it offered people cash rewards and bonus points when signing up for a card, but the CFPB said the bank illegally withheld promised credit card account bonuses. Bank of America told news outlets Tuesday that the fees were removed in 2022. We voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all non-sufficient fund fees in the first half of 2022. As a result of these industry leading changes, revenue from these fees has dropped more than 90 percent, the company said in a statement. In January 2022, the company issued an announcement saying it has made significant changes to its overdraft rules that include plans to eliminate non-sufficient funds fees, going into effect in February of last year. It also reduced the overdraft fee from $35 to $10, the announcement said. Since 2010, Bank of America has taken many steps to empower its consumer and small business clients to bank with greater confidence and reduce overdraft usage. The company leads the industry in helping clients avoid overdrafts and, in doing so, has significantly reduced the vast majority of fees related to overdraft. Key milestones along this journey have included, the company wrote at the time. Other Issues The firm was also flagged for withholding cash and points rewards on its credit cards, the federal bureau also said, adding that it targeted individuals with special offers of cash and points when signing up for a credit card in a bid to compete with other credit card companies. But it illegally withheld promised account bonuses to tens of thousands of people, it added. The bank also failed to honor rewards promises for consumers who submitted in-person or over-the-phone applications, the statement added, and it also denied sign-up bonuses to consumers due to the failure of Bank of Americas business processes and systems. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra, speaks from the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington, April 11, 2022. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo) The company was also faulted for opening unauthorized bank accounts since at least 2012, the CFPB added, saying that the company was trying to obtain sales-based incentive goals for accounts. Due to Bank of Americas employees actions, consumers were charged fees and suffered negative impacts to their credit scores and reports without their knowledge, it said. In those cases, Bank of America illegally used or obtained consumers credit reports, without their permission, to complete applications. Because of Bank of Americas actions, consumers were charged unjustified fees, suffered negative effects to their credit profiles, and had to spend time correcting errors. And since at least 2012, Bank of America employees illegally applied for and enrolled consumers in credit card accounts without their knowledge or authorization, the CFPB said. In 2014, the agency ordered the bank to pay $727 million for illegal credit card practice, while it was ordered last year to pay $10 million in civil penalties due to unlawful garnishments. Last year, the OCC and CFPB fined the company another $225 million after it botched a disbursement of state unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, Wells Fargo, another major financial institution, has paid billions in fines after it was determined that the San Francisco bank opened millions of unauthorized bank accounts in order to meet unrealistic sales goals. Along with the fines, the CFPB also ordered Bank of America to change its business practices, including stopping opening unauthorized accounts, providing information about limits on credit card points rewards and bonuses, and not charge repeat fees for insufficient funds. The Epoch Times contacted Bank of America for comment on Tuesday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Financial Regulator Warns Crypto ATM Users Risk Losing Money A sign advertises a Bitcoin automated teller machine, ATM, at a shop in Halifax on February 4, 2020. (Andrew Vaughan / The Canadian Press) People using unregistered cryptocurrency ATMs risk handing their money to criminals, a financial regulator has warned. In a joint effort with law enforcement agencies, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has disrupted 26 crypto ATMs, operating unlawfully across the country. Users can buy and sell cryptocurrency in exchange for cash or with a debit card when using a crypto ATM. Although they resemble regular teller machines, crypto ATMs dont connect to a bank account, but instead link with the users digital wallet to process the transaction. Most ATMs will require the users phone number to verify their identity, while some request further verification. None of the crypto ATMs in the UK have been registered with the FCA, which means they operate illegally. The FCA has warned users against trusting these machines with their assets to avoid scammers and losing money. If you use a crypto ATM in the UK, you are using a machine that is operating illegally and you may be handing your money over to criminals. You will not be protected if something goes wrong, and you could lose your money, FCAs executive Steve Smart said. If something goes wrong with the users transaction, they are unlikely to receive help from the operator, he warned, as there are no effective channels of communications. The FCA reported shutting down a crypto ATM in Sheffield, after a user paid 1,000 to buy cryptocurrency and ended up losing their money. The ATM reported that the transaction was not successful, but didnt return the funds to the user. The user wasnt able to contact the operator of the machine or return their money. The ATMs are typically located in shopping centres, convenience shops, gas stations, and airports. Some can be found in pubs, bars, restaurants or barber shops. Since the start of the year, the FCA has inspected 34 locations across the UK suspected of hosting crypto ATMs. We will continue to warn the public and take appropriate enforcement action against unregistered crypto ATM operators, the regulator said. The inspections were part of a joint operation with regional organised crime units and covered sites in London, Exeter, Nottingham and Sheffield among others. Unregulated crypto kiosks are key to how criminals carry out money laundering and the movement of funds, said regional head of economic crime Ramona Senior. The FCA has published an extensive list of UK businesses that appeared to be carrying on unregistered cryptoasset activity, which included dozens of venues in central London. Since the list was published, the FCA estimated that 110 unregistered crypto firms were no longer operational. These businesses did not comply with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 and have not registered with the FCA. Not all crypto ATMs sell cryptocurrency, some only offer one-way transactions. This means that users can only purchase crypto. If a user wants to sell cryptocurrency, they will typically scan a QR code in their digital wallet in order to receive a chosen amount in cash from the ATM. Retailers hosting crypto ATM machines would usually display symbols of various cryptocurrencies on the shops or the machines, including one of the most well-known currencies, Bitcoin. Bitcoin ATM map indicates three cash ATM locations in the UK, which includes Milton Keynes, Manchester and Worcester. Statistics website Statista has reported that as of Nov. 1, 2022, there were nearly 39,000 Bitcoin ATMs all over the world, with the majority located in the United States. To tackle the use of crypto ATMs for money laundering purposes and scams, the FCA is working with the National Economic Crime Centre, having previously warned operators to shut down their machines or face enforcement action. France, Germany Back Philippines Claim After Chinese Ship Incursions An activist holds a prop with the words "defend West Philippine Sea" during a protest outside the Chinese Consulate in Manila's financial district, guarded by Philippine police, on the anniversary of an international arbitral court ruling invalidating Beijing's historical claims over the waters of the South China Sea in Makati City, Philippines, on July 12, 2021. (Eloisa Lopez/Reuters) France and Germany have voiced concern over the recent incidents in the South China Sea and affirmed support for a 2016 arbitrary ruling on the sea dispute, which upheld the Philippines territorial claims. The French embassy called for respect for international law and resolving disputes through dialogue after reports of Philippine coast guard ships being followed and harassed by two Chinese vessels in Ayungin Shoal on June 30. We are resolutely opposed to any use of force or threat to do so. We recall, in this regard, the Arbitration award rendered under UNCLOS on the 12th of July 2016, the embassy said in a statement on July 8. German envoy Anke Reiffenstuel said that such aggressive behavior has no place in the South China Sea and called to respect the rules-based maritime order with the 2016 Arbitration ruling as its center. Beijings claim of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea was invalidated by an international arbitration ruling in 2016, but the ruling didnt see the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) change its behavior. The CCP has been behaving more aggressively in the South China Sea in recent months, as evidenced by the presence of three Chinese coast guard ships and two Chinese navy vessels at Sabina Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands. The Philippine military also reported spotting 48 Chinese fishing boats around Iroquois Reef, south of the Recto Bankan oil- and gas-rich reef located within the Philippine exclusive economic zoneon June 30. Envoys of the United States and Japan have also expressed concern following the reports, stating that Chinas unilateral actions in the disputed waters pose a threat to regional peace and stability. The PRCs [Peoples Republic of Chinas] irresponsible behavior in the South China Sea threatens the security and legal rights of our treaty ally, the Philippines, U.S. envoy MaryKay Carlson wrote on Twitter. France Joins Patrol in Philippine Sea The United States has increased its patrols in the South China Sea in response to Chinas military assertiveness in the region. Last month, ships from the navies of Japan, France, and Canada joined U.S. Navy carrier strike groups to operate as a unified force in the Philippine Sea. More than 12,000 sailors from the four nations participated in the drills, which involved the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan, as well as Japans large-deck helicopter destroyer JS Izumo. The credibility of an integrated carrier strike force is the U.S. Navys greatest deterrent to those who threaten the international rules-based order, Rear Admiral Jennifer Couture said in a statement. France deployed its navy ship Lorraine for a six-day port visit to the Philippines on June 23. Captain Xavier Bagot, commanding officer of Lorraine, discussed cooperation with the Philippine Navy during the visit. A Chinese Coast Guard ship with bow number 5201 blocks Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Malapascua as it maneuvers to enter the mouth of the Second Thomas Shoal locally known as Ayungin Shoal at the South China Sea on April 23, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP Photo) The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has said that it will keep exposing Chinese ship incursions in the South China Sea as part of its strategy to drive Chinese forces out of its territorial waters. PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela said this would prompt the international community to criticize Chinas actions and prevent Chinese vessels from occupying Philippine-controlled islands in the disputed waters. If you let them swarm in a particular area where you cant make them public, or nobody knows, it might be the best approach for them to occupy [the area] and take control over it, Mr. Tarriela told a local broadcaster on July 9. So its very important for us to expose it, and thenonly thenwill we follow with the deployment of our government assets, he said, adding that the PCG will increase navy patrols in the Philippine waters. Georgia Lawmaker Switches to Republican After Feuding With Former Democrat Colleagues Over School Choice, Policing A member of the Georgia state House of Representatives has switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, after breaking with her former party over issues like school choice and policing. My name is Rep. Meisha Mainor and today I made the decision to leave the Democrat Party, Ms. Mainor wrote on Twitter Tuesday. I represent a blue district in the city of Atlanta so this wasnt a political decision for me. It was a MORAL one. I will NEVER apologize for being a black woman with a mind of my own. Ms. Mainors break with the Democratic Party came amid a disagreement over school choice legislation and support for police funding. Earlier this year Mainor was the only Democrat who voted for a bill that would have created $6,500 vouchers for students at schools performing in the bottom 25 percent of the state to help pay for private school tuition or homeschooling. The bill ultimately failed after enough Republicans joined the rest of the House Democrats who voted against the voucher system. Ms. Mainor was also one of three Democrats to vote in 2021 in favor of HB 286; a bill that constrains the ability of county governing authorities to rapidly reduce funding for local police forces. When I decided to stand up on behalf of disadvantaged children in support of school choice, my Democrat colleagues didnt stand by me. They crucified me, Ms. Mainor explained in a statement to Fox News on Tuesday. When I decided to stand up in support of safe communities and refused to support efforts to defund the police, they didnt back me. They abandoned me. Georgia Republicans welcomed Mainors party switch. We are delighted to welcome Rep. Mainor to the Georgia Republican Party and look forward to collaborating with her to advocate on behalf of hard working Georgians, said Georgia Republican Party Chair Josh McKoon. Our Party stands for empowering parents to be advocates for giving their children the best education possible, that every [Georgian] deserves to feel safe at home, at work, and in school; and to have the economic opportunity to build better lives. The Georgia Democratic Party, in turn, said, Rep. Mesha Mainors switch to the GOP is a stinging betrayal of her constituents, who elected a Democrat to represent them in the state legislature. The Georgia Democrats said Ms. Mainors district deserves a representative who will do the job they were elected to do, including fighting for high-quality public education. Georgia Democrats look forward to electing a strong Democrat next year in H.D. 56 who will serve the people, not personal political ambitions. Lawmakers Switching Sides Ms. Mainor is not the only Democratic state legislator to have switched sides in recent months. Several Democratic state lawmakers have switched over to the Republican side this year. Republicans gained a supermajority in the Louisiana House of Representatives in March after Democrat Rep. Francis Thompson switched party affiliations. Republicans now hold supermajorities in both houses of the Louisiana state legislature, potentially increasing their ability to override vetoes by Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards. In April, Louisiana state Rep. Jeremy LaCombe also switched to the Republican Party, adding to its supermajority. North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham similarly handed Republicans a supermajority in her states General Assembly in April after she left the Democratic Party for the Republican side. West Virginia state Rep. David Pritt also switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in April, adding to an existing Republican supermajority. This year, South Carolina State Sen. Mia McLeod switched her party affiliation from Democrat to independent. State Democratic parties have picked up a couple of seats through party switches this year. While two Louisiana House Democrats switched to the Republican side, independent Rep. Roy Adams joined the Democratic Party in April. New Jersey State Sen. Samuel Thompson switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in February. Mr. Thompson, who is 87 years old, said he made the decision after his fellow Republicans questioned his fitness to continue serving at his age. At the time he switched party affiliations, Mr. Thompson told NBC10 that he remained a supporter of former President Donald Trump and viewed the Trump presidency as a success. From NTD News Google Ordered to Reveal IP Details of Anonymous Email Sender An exterior view of building BV100, during a tour of Google's new Bay View Campus in Mountain View, Calif., on May 16, 2022. (Peter DaSilva/Reuters) Tech giant Google has been ordered to hand over the IP address and details of a person accused of emailing defamatory allegations about a Labor election candidate in Australia. On Nov. 9 last year, during the Victorian state election, an individual sent an email (from the address: davidjonesaus18@gmail.com) about Nurul Khan to ministers and news organisations. Following this, Mr. Khan was disendorsed by the Labor Party before the Nov. 26 election, where he was running as an Upper House candidate for the Western Metropolitan region. The email accused Mr. Khan of corruption and that he had to pay fines for unethical conductMr. Khan is a legal practitioner. The Google logo is pictured atop an office building in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 7, 2017. (Mike Blake/Reuters) His barrister, Justin Castelan, called the email contents absolutely defamatory in the Federal Court of Australia on July 11. Mr. Castelan sought an order for Google to hand over the details of the email sender. Representatives for the tech giant were not present and instead sent a proposed order for the judge to consider. Justice Catherine Button ordered Google to provide the subscriber registration information from the account and the email addresss IP logins before or on Nov. 9. Another hearing has been arranged to see if Mr. Khan can continue with his defamation action. He has previously accused Labor Party insiders of potential involvement to oust him from the candidacyin Australia, intra-party preselections can often be tightly fought contests between rival factions. I am still fighting for justice because it was definitely unfair for me, he told The Australian newspaper. Victorian Sen. Ralph Babet said Mr. Khan was entitled to sue for defamation but said the issue around user privacy was more challenging. I believe that there are certain circumstances whereby the identification of emailer is justified, for example, a direct threat to ones life, he said in a statement to The Epoch Times. We must all remember that when one signs up to a global tech platform, anonymity is by no means guaranteed. Our digital footprint remains, Mr. Babet said. We must face reality, in the modern world, we often choose to surrender privacy in the pursuit of a little convenience. Governments Pressuring Tech Giants on Harmful Content The move to make social media companies more accountable for harmful content or disinformation is well underway globally. In late June, the owner of Twitter, Elon Musk, was issued with a legal notice to explain what he was doing to deal with hate speech or face fines of $700,000 per day. Twitter app logo on Aug. 22, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters) Australias eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said she had received more complaints about online hate on Twitter in the past 12 months than any other platform and alleged an increasing number of reports of serious online abuse since Musk took over in October 2022. Twitter appears to have dropped the ball on tackling hate. A third of all complaints about online hate reported to us are now happening on Twitter, she claimed. If Twitter fails to respond to the notice in 28 days, the tech giant will face a maximum fine of $700,000 (US$476,000) per day for continuing breaches. Just a week later, the federal communications minister, Michelle Rowland, released details of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023. The Bill introduces a two-tiered system to regulate mis- or disinformation online. The first tier will see Australias media regulator request social media companies develop a code of practice (industry codes)similar to the telecommunications industry. If the code fails, the second tier of regulation will see Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) create and enforce an industry standard (a stronger form of regulation) that will attract penalties of $6.8 million or five percent of global turnovermillions for Twitter and billions for companies like Meta (Facebook) and Google. The government says the ACMA will not have the power to determine what is true or false on individual posts, and the new laws will have no impact on professional news content or authorised electoral contentgroups outside of this classification could face more scrutiny. The federal opposition has earmarked concerns around how ACMA will determine what is mis- or disinformation. This is a complex area of policy, and government overreach must be avoided, said David Coleman, the shadow communications minister. The public will want to know exactly who decides whether a particular piece of content is misinformation or disinformation. GOP Bill Would Penalize States That Allow Noncitizens to Vote in State, Local Elections The rule is one of several proposals in the American Confidence in Elections Act A man walks to use a voting booth at one of the Virginia primary election polling stations at Colin Powell Elementary School in Centreville, Va., on March 1, 2016. (Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images) Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill seeking to strengthen election integrity and boost voter confidence in American elections by implementing measures like requiring voter ID in some cases and ensuring that only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections. House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) introduced the American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act on Monday. The legislation makes the biggest legislative effort in a generation to protect political speech in a climate where Democrats are doing everything in their power to determine truth and silence conservative voices, the bill summary states. The bill makes it clear that its a felony offense for a noncitizen to vote in a federal election and asks the Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and other relevant federal agencies to provide voter data to states at no cost so that noncitizens and deceased voters can be removed from voter rolls. States would be empowered to remove noncitizens from voter rolls immediately without a blackout period. States that allow noncitizens to vote in state and local elections would have to maintain separate ballots for those races in case they coincide with a federal election, but they would also receive 30 percent less federal funding for election expenses under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The ACE Act would modernize the first-time mail voter ID requirement in HAVA. All first-time voters who did not register in person at their local election office or through a state voter registration agency would have to provide ID when they vote. The bill would require that certain voters who request a mail ballot also provide an ID. It would also reform the REAL ID Act to ensure that U.S. citizenship is printed on all qualifying voters identification documents after Jan. 1, 2026. Under the bill, the DHS Disinformation Governance Board would also be officially terminated and any future similar entities would be prohibited. Common Sense Reforms The ACE Act is based on three key findings: 1) that states have the primary role in establishing election law and administering elections, 2) that all eligible American voters must be able to vote and all lawful votes must be counted, and 3) that political speech is protected speech and all voices must be protected, the bill summary states. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, sharply criticized the bill. This legislation is designed to appease extremist election deniers who have spent the last four years attacking our democracy, Mr. Morelle said in a statement Sunday. Residents wait in line to vote at a shuttered Sears store in the Janesville Mall in Janesville, Wis., on Nov. 3, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) It would restrict the fundamental right to vote especially for voters of color, jeopardize the security of our elections, burden local election administrators, and bring more dark money into our electoral processopening the door to corruption, he continued. Its anti-American. However, supporters of election integrity welcomed the ACE Act. The common sense reforms in the #ACEAct will help states to maintain updated voter roles, ensure only citizens vote, combat ballot harvesting, and prevent federal and private money from meddling in our elections, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) said in a July 11 tweet. Garland Favorito, the co-founder of election integrity nonprofit VoterGA, announced that his organization is backing the ACE Act. Once the ACE Act becomes law, Americans will no longer be forced to suffer through secretly counted, unverifiable elections that divide the country because no one really knows who won. That will help restore American confidence, he said in a statement. Protecting Speech, Election Transparency The ACE Act seeks to protect political speech and limit governmental overreach on such matters. It repeals the requirement of persons making independent expenditures to report the identification of certain donors while also codifying existing donor disclosure protections for certain tax-exempt organizations, the summary says. The Securities and Exchange Commission would be prohibited from issuing regulations with regard to the disclosure of political contributions. It would also make the Election Assistance Commission the sole agency that is authorized to issue certification standards for election and voting technology, equipment, and software, removing that authority from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The bill requires that election materials be preserved for 22 months, including ballots, ballot envelopes of voted ballots, ballot images, and other records that could be useful for an audit after the election. The Government Accountability Office would be tasked with studying the feasibility of requiring that all voting equipment used in federal elections be manufactured and assembled in the United States. The ACE Act would also repeal President Joe Bidens Executive Order 14019, thus prohibiting federal agencies from engaging in voter mobilization or registration activities. Governments Crossed the Line with COVID-19 Lockdowns, Says 1922 Committee Chair Governments around the world crossed the line when they imposed unprecedented lockdown measures on their populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior Conservative MP has said. Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench MPs, was an early objector to the unprecedented removal of peoples liberties that took place in the COVID-19 response. Speaking to NTDs British Thought Leaders programme, he said he had no doubt that he was doing the right thing when he started raising objections to the policy, which enjoyed cross-party support. Police officers arrest a protestor during an anti-lockdown demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, central London on Jan. 6, 2021. (Tolga Akmen / AFP via Getty Images) He said: I had no doubt that I was doing the right thing, both in terms of the practical consequencesthe fact that lockdowns were going to do more harm than goodbut also the very important moral case. I think governments around the worldwith some honourable exceptions, Sweden being the most notablecrossed the line, where they moved away from being the servants of the people in their countries to giving them detailed instruction on how they should live their lives, whether theyre allowed to see their own families, whether they were allowed to start a new relationship. This is unprecedented. Enormous Damage Sir Graham said he cut Boris Johnson some slack in the immediate response, because we didnt know very much about the nature of the virus. But a few weeks in, he said, we were starting to get a better picture. We knew that the level of infection in the UK was falling before the lockdown started, for instance, which ought to be giving some signals there might be slightly different ways in which we could deal with the problem. Police maintain a presence at Clapham Common during the anti-lockdown demonstration in London, England, on Jan. 9, 2021. (Hollie Adams/Getty Images) It was also obvious from very early on that continuing with that series of lockdowns and opening up and lockdown again, and then different restrictions, was going to cause massive problems. I think the problems that we face today are almost all either the consequence of or were made much worse by the response to COVID-19. The repeated lockdowns incurred enormous damage, Mr. Graham said, citing the mounting crisis in public finances, long waiting lists in the NHS, and the massive problems in mental health, especially among young people. Lack of Parliamentary Scrutiny Sir Graham said the draconian lockdown measures were unprecedented in human history. Historically, quarantine has been used when theres been a pandemic in the past. But its always been in quarantine of people who were ill, or who are reasonably believed to be infected. Weve never tried to quarantine a whole population before. All of the evidence is piling up to show that we did the wrong thing, he said, adding, Wed need to learn some lessons, not just about the efficacy of lockdowns, but also about the way in which policy is made and attitudes to scrutiny of policy. During the summer of 2020, Sir Graham said, he became active in objecting to the fact that the British government was implementing restrictions without either debate or votes in the House of Commons. For fully six months, the British government proceeded with those restrictions by ministerial diktat in a way which was entirely unacceptable, and it should never have even occurred to ministers to do that. Sir Graham said it was important that MPs made their case against lockdown, adding that Parliament deterred the government from further restrictions being introduced in December 2021. When these restrictions werent imposed, nothing went wrong, he said. I think we rather proved our point that we could have had a lighter touch, right the way through. We could have been trusting people to make their own decisions and take their own responsibility for their own safety and the safety of those around them, and not incurred the enormous economic health and mental health damage. Taken For a Ride Sir Graham said a lot of people now realise that they were taken for a ride during the pandemic. He said it was fascinating to hear chief medical officer Chris Whittys testimony to the COVID-19 Inquiry in June, when he said that scientists would not have come up with the idea of lockdownit was politicians who asked them to. The senior Conservative questioned the governments repeated assertion that it was following the science in its COVID-19 measures. Throughout, we were being told were just following something called the science. Well, we knew at the time there is no such thing as the science. Science needs to be challenged, and there are always other scientists with other views. There were some very eminent scientists at the time who were asking important questions. And they were being shut up and excluded, sometimes by the scientific establishment, sometimes by elements of the media that were forgetting their traditional duty to ask the difficult questions and to expose policymaking where its not based on evidence and sound reasoning. He said that much of the pandemic measures were unevidenced, adding, The people in No. 10 Downing Street, who were not always following the restrictions themselves, were doing so because they knew perfectly well there was no evidence behind most of those restrictions. The irony of this is that if Boris Johnson hadnt pursued that extreme lockdown policy, then the events that took place in Downing Street that became known as Partygate would never have been an issue, and no doubt his premiership will be continuing now. Sir Graham said he hopes the government would have a little bit more humility if and when the country were to face another pandemic in the future. Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry condemned the repeated burning of the Quran by extremists in the West, calling on Western governments to take action against religious hatred. FM Shoukry's statements came during a recorded speech on Tuesday at a meeting held by the UN Human Rights Council at the request of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, titled "The Escalation of Religious Hatred Evident in the Repeated Violations of the Holy Quran". FM Shoukry stressed that states must observe their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The ICCPR mandates the adoption of legislation prohibiting incitement to religious hatred, and the development of strategies to promote peaceful coexistence and tolerance. While states must respect freedom of expression, they also have a responsibility to maintain security and social stability, Shoukry stated. In late June, an Iraqi immigrant burned a copy of the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm on the first day of the Islamic Eid Al-Adha, with a demonstration permit from Swedish authorities. The act has been widely condemned by various Muslim and non-Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and the US. Egypts foreign ministry also condemned the act, describing it as shameful and stressing the duty of states to prevent incitement and hate crimes. The June incident in Sweden is the latest in a series of Quran burnings in northern European countries, many carried out by right-wing groups. Al-Azhar, the world's foremost seat of Sunni learning, has repeatedly condemned the Quran burnings, calling on European states to prevent incitement against Muslims in the West. Search Keywords: Short link: Growing Number of Countries Oppose Deep-Sea Mining as Critical Talks Resume Activists take part at a "Look Down action" rally to stop deep sea mining outside the European Parliament in Brussels on March 6, 2023. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images) More than a dozen nations have called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining as governments at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) gathered in Jamaica on Monday to discuss the fate of the oceans. The ISA launched a two-week conference to debate whether to open the Earths watery depths to countries and companies that, as of Monday, were allowed to start applying for provisional mining licenses. The authority has issued more than 30 exploration licenses but no provisional licenses so far. Deep-sea mining uses heavy machinery to suck up off the ocean floor potato-sized rocks or nodules that contain cobalt, manganese, and other rare metals mostly used in batteries. However, more than 750 scientists and the European Academies Science Advisory Council have warned about the unavoidable and irreversible impacts of deep-sea mining, according to the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC). Deep-sea mining is not the route to decarbonization that its proponents tout it to be, nor will it replace land-based mining or somehow be better than land-based mining, DSCCs policy adviser Matthew Gianni stated. If the ISA begins permitting deep-sea mining, it will be based on a false notion that the world needs deep-sea metals, be detrimental to the planet and humankind as a whole, and only serve to line the pockets of a few corporations in the global North, he added. Deep sea coral is seen through an observation window of the Pisces V submersible during a dive to the previously unexplored underwater volcano off the coast of Hawaiis Big Island on Sept. 6, 2016. (Caleb Jones/AP Photo) Countries Opposing Seabed Mining Scientists were concerned that such activities would disrupt critical ecosystems, and several countries are siding with them including Canada, France, and New Zealand. Canadas government said it would back a moratorium on commercial seabed mining owing to the absence of a robust regulatory regime and a lack of understanding of the environmental impacts of seabed mining. The government stated that seabed mining should take place only if effective protection of the marine environment is provided through a rigorous regulatory structure, applying precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches, using science-based and transparent management, and ensuring effective compliance with a robust inspection mechanism. The protection, conservation, restoration and sustainable use of ocean ecosystems is essential to all life on earth, it stated. France in January banned deep-sea mining in its waters, while Germany has called for a pause in the development of the industry. Environmental group Greenpeace said the governments of Chile, Costa Rica, France, Palau, and Vanuatu have formally asked the ISA to discuss the need for a long-term suspension of deep-sea mining. The ISAs mandate is to protect the oceans, but the close connection between its authorities and the industry has left the credibility of this institution hanging by a thread, Greenpeace France Oceans campaigner Francois Chartier stated. Last year in June, Chile called for a 15-year moratorium on adopting regulations for deep-sea mining, urging state parties to extend the deadline for adopting regulations and obtaining more evidence and scientific certainty to ensure the protection of the marine environment. The deep seabed is one of the most sensitive ocean ecosystems, for which there is insufficient scientific knowledge and limited understanding of the potential impacts of ocean activities, especially in relation to its role as a carbon sink, it said in a letter to the U.N. (pdf). But not all nations are against it. China is a major proponent, and even smaller nations like the Pacific island of Nauru, for instance, asked the ISA in 2021 to fast-track the adoption of seabed mining regulations. Norway had proposed opening its waters to deep-sea mining despite opposition from green campaigners, as it seeks to shift from a reliance on hydrocarbons to new sources of economic activity. Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Half of Canadians Say Feds Should Back Down on Online News Act: Poll Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez participates in a news conference on Bill C-18, the Online News Act, in Ottawa, on July 5, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) As tech giants threaten to block Canadians access to online news, a new poll has found that half of Canadians believe the federal government should back down on Bill C-18, which calls for big tech companies to financially compensate Canadian news organizations for sharing their content. Half of Canadians (49 percent) feel their government should back down, while one-quarter (26 percent) disagree. Nearly as many (25 percent) are uncertain what the government should do, said a July 10 poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute. Bill C-18, which the Department of Canadian Heritage has said will come into force no later than Dec. 19, will require digital news intermediaries such as Google and Meta to pay Canadian news publishers for the content the tech giants link to or share on their platforms. Both tech companies have announced their intentions to block Canadian news on their platforms once the act takes effect. Conservative respondents were more likely to agree or strongly agree that the government should back down (75 percent), while a smaller percentage of Liberals (32 percent) and New Democrats (34 percent) said the government should rescind the bill. According to the poll, a total of three out of five Canadians, or 61 percent, say they agree with the premise of Bill C-18, but an almost equal number of people (63 percent) say they are concerned about losing access to Canadian news on Facebook and Google. Of the 61 percent of Canadians that think tech companies should compensate Canadian news organizations, 42 percent believe that should come in the form of an annual payment, while 20 percent believe Google and Meta should have to pay each time someone clicks a link on their platforms. Most Canadians Following Bill C-18 The poll also found that 28 percent of Canadians get their news through Facebook, while 23 percent get it through Google News. A smaller number (14 percent) say they get their news using Twitter, while 32 percent go directly to national news sites such as the CBC or The Globe and Mail. A slight majority of Canadians, 54 percent, said they have been discussing Bill C-18 and the response from Google and Meta with their friends and family, while 30 percent said they have been following the news through headlines, and 16 percent of respondents said they arent aware of the bill. Of the 63 percent of Canadians worried about losing access to Canadian news, New Democrats were most likely to be concerned or very concerned (71 percent) compared to Liberals (66 percent) and Conservatives (62 percent). A majority of Canadians also believe that Bill C-18 will harm smaller media companies the most (66 percent) compared to just 11 percent that disagrees. The increasing public health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is already putting vulnerable patients at risk, but Congress could step in to help, experts say. Testifying on July 11 before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Christine Ann Miller, the president and CEO of Melinta Therapeutics, noted that AMR is a very current concern. In the United States, AMR is the third-leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer, said Ms. Miller, whose company develops novel antibiotics to treat antibiotic-resistant infections. Things have gotten worse since the pandemic in 2020. Hospital-acquired, drug-resistant infections and deaths jumped 15 percent as COVID erased years of progress in the fight against superbugs, or bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics. The source of the dilemma, Ms. Miller stated, isnt a lack of innovation or the result of regulatory red tape, but rather a commercial marketplace problem that is fundamentally unique to antimicrobials, driven by reimbursement and access challenges. Those roadblocks, she said, often drain biotech companies of their funds even after their products have been approved. However, she added that the federal government could fix the problem by enacting reimbursement reforms and implementing incentives to counter the risks of developing new antibiotic drugs. Calling on Congress to step in, she added, Every year we wait to address this crisis is another year more patients are at risk for losing their lives. The Fragility of Time For Melanie Lawrence of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, who is living with cystic fibrosis, the threat of antimicrobial resistance is dire. A progressive and incurable genetic disease, cystic fibrosis causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus that can lead to blockages, infections, and damage to affected organs. Those born with the condition today have an estimated life expectancy of 56 years, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Thats why Ms. Lawrence, 43, is determined to live every moment to its fullest. Every day, I spend hours taking medications, doing physical therapy, exercise, meditation, breath work, all while raising a very active 12-year-old, trying to create as many meaningful memories with him as I can, she told committee members. After years of treatment with various antibiotics, the bacteria in Ms. Lawrences lungs have become resistant to nearly all antibioticsexcept for tobramycin. Unfortunately, due to hearing and kidney damage that she suffered during a clinical trial, that drug is also off the table. Now, managing her symptoms and maintaining the best possible quality of life are her goals. Without the security of effective antibiotics to help me heal, I find myself living with chronic fear and anxiety about when the bacteria residing in my lungs will act out or when another infection will take me away from truly living, she said. On a deeper level, I am often navigating a humbling loss of control, loss of autonomy, and a deep subconscious fear of deathof leaving my son without his primary caregiver, the person who knows him best and loves him without abandon. My body is both my biggest ally keeping me alive and fighting off these infections while also being my biggest threat and trying to kill me from the inside. And yet living with CF has been a gift, not a curse. It has opened my eyes to the fragility of time and the importance of connection, and that is a gift we should all be so lucky to receive while we are healthy and able to appreciate it rather than when its too late. PASTEUR Act According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (pdf), more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur annually in the United States, killing more than 35,000 people. In April, members of Congress introduced a bill to address the issue by encouraging the development of new antibiotics, boosting their availability, and improving national reporting on appropriate antibiotic use. The legislationthe Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Acthas received bipartisan support in both chambers. The PASTEUR Act uniquely values antibiotics for their value, not for their use, so it delinks any incentive to overuse antibiotics, and it focuses on the most needed antibiotics for the most resistant infections, noted Dr. Helen Boucher, dean and professor of medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine. The bill would also establish a subscription-based payment model, offering antibiotic developers upfront payment in exchange for access to their drugs. There are clear criteria the developer needs to meet to get this benefit of this subscription reimbursement and its linked to stewardship, which is very, very important to ensure that we clinicians use the antibiotics in the best way possible so that theyre preserved for as long as possible, Dr. Boucher said. And this is felt to be a much-needed first step in getting us back to a healthy economic framework for antibiotics. Also voicing her support for the measure, Ms. Miller held that fostering ongoing antibiotic development and innovation would be vital to saving patients lives. And Ms. Lawrence, echoing that sense of urgency, added: This is a global problem that will affect you at some point in time. So, how proactive do you want to be? What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc Hong Kong Journalists and Public Have Great Constraints in Criticizing Beijing: Report On July 7, The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) released the 2022 Press Freedom Index, showing that the general public and journalists ratings towards the freedom of the Hong Kong press have hit a new low. The publics rating stood at 41.4 out of 100, while journalists gave it a mere 25.7 out of 100, with over 90 percent of surveyed journalists believing that press freedom has regressed. Among the ten components of the Press Freedom Index, the public and journalists hesitated to criticize the Beijing government as being the area with the greatest constraint. Since 2013, the HKJA has collaborated with the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI) to conduct the annual Press Freedom Index survey. In this years survey, PORI interviewed 1,026 Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above between March 6 and March 20, 2023. The HKJA interviewed 249 journalists between March 9 and April 13, including reporters, translators, photojournalists, news editors, chief editors, and managing editors. The survey found that the latest Press Freedom Index in Hong Kong received a public rating of 41.4, a decrease of 0.6 points compared to the previous year, while journalists gave it a rating of only 25.7, a decrease of 0.5 points from the prior year. Both ratings represent the lowest in the surveys history ever since it began in 2013. About 91 percent of surveyed journalists and 46 percent of the public believed that press freedom has regressed compared to a year ago. The latest Press Freedom Index in Hong Kong shows that both the general public and journalists have given the lowest ratings. (Courtesy of HKJA) The Press Freedom Index consists of ten components, with a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 represents the highest level of press freedom. Regarding the publics perspective, the lowest rating was for hesitation in criticizing the central government, which received a score of 3.1 (the lower the score, the greater the perception of hesitation), a decrease of 0.3 points from the previous year. This was followed by pressure exerted by media supervisors or by their management on journalists (3.4) and hesitation in criticizing the Hong Kong government (3.8). For journalists, the lowest rating also went to hesitation in criticizing the central government (1.5), experiencing a significant drop of 0.7 points from the previous year. This was followed by self-censorship (1.8) and hesitation in criticizing the Hong Kong government (2.5). According to the HKJA, the main reason for the decline in the 2022 Press Freedom Index was the perception that media outlets exhibit constraints when criticizing the Beijing and Hong Kong governments, leading to self-censorship. The working environment for journalists has rapidly deteriorated since 2019, with arrests and charges brought against the management and editorial staff of Apple Daily and Stand News for violating National Security law and sedition law, leading to the closure of both media organizations in 2021. Both the general public and journalists perceive constraints when criticizing the central government to be the area of greatest concern. (Courtesy of HKJA) Regarding the perceived damage to press freedom, approximately 90 percent of surveyed journalists believed the charges against former senior staff members of Stand News with sedition had inflicted significant harm. In comparison, around 96 percent believed the accusations against media tycoon Jimmy Lai under the National Security Law had caused considerable damage. Additionally, 90 percent and 88 percent of surveyed journalists perceived significant harm to press freedom from the governments condemnation of media organizations for publishing misleading content and advocating for legislation to regulate fake news, respectively. A striking 96 percent of surveyed journalists believed the charges against media tycoon Mr. Jimmy Lai severely or greatly damaged press freedom. As for the public, 49 percent of the respondents thought that the 2021 charges of violation of national security law and sedition by several media bosses or executives would be quite or extremely harmful to press freedom. In terms of self-censorship, while the rating for self-censorship due to pressure among surveyed journalists remained unchanged from the previous year, the latest ratings for editing/deleting/rejecting reporters articles due to concerns of offending business tycoons/consortia/the local government/the central government' were 7.3, 5.3, and 4.8, respectively, showing an increase of 0.4, 0.3, and 0.1 points compared to the previous year. Furthermore, 89 percent of surveyed journalists believed that the government was one of the sources suppressing press freedom. 90% of surveyed journalists believe that charges against former senior staff members of Stand News for sedition have severely harmed press freedom. (Courtesy of HKJA) The prevalence of self-censorship in the industry. (Courtesy of HKJA) The HKJA: The Bitter Winter for the Media Industry Continues The HKJA emphasized that the bitter winter for the media industry has yet to pass. Prominent media figures, including Veteran journalist and former Stand News opinion writer Mr. Allan Au Ka-lun, was arrested in April on suspicion of conspiring to publish seditious materials. In June of the same year, Investigative news outlet Factwire announced its closure. In September of the same year, HKJAs chairperson Mr. Ronson Chan was arrested and charged with obstructing police. Furthermore, following Zun Zi, a Ming Pao political cartoonist for 40 years, was condemned by the Hong Kong police through a letter not long before being publicly criticized by the Hong Kong government officials six times. Eventually, Ming Pao put an end to the satirical comic column. The HKJA believes that the Hong Kong governments repeated attacks on journalists with massive resources and public power reflect that Hong Kong cannot tolerate criticism and will pose a chilling effect on the press. If the flow of information and the freedom of the press is undermined, the business environment will be affected. The HKJA emphasizes the need to protect the freedom of the press to maintain Hong Kongs status as an international financial center in Asia. House Republicans Call for Defunding Mayorkass Salary Over Border Crisis Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on May 11, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) House Republicans are contemplating legislation that would eliminate Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkass salary in response to mistrust over the failure to enforce the U.S. southern border. Republican legislators are now insisting that Mr. Mayorkass salary be part of the impending government funding dispute. Among those Republicans is Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who said in a July 11 statement, confirmed by her office to The Epoch Times, that the Houses majority party was ready for Biden administration cabinet members to do their jobs. People are sick of inaction against elected officials who betray their oath and refuse to do their jobs. Congress is given the power of the purse by the Constitution, and if the presidents Cabinet secretaries wont do their jobs, we should consider using any tool, including the Holman Rule, to defund them and their ability to do further damage, Ms. Mace said. Do your [expletive] job or Congress will act. Lawmakers are citing the use of the Holman Rule as a tool for the House of Representatives to file amendments to spending bills that restrict the use of federal funds for programs or even the salaries of specific federal employees. Another concerned Republican is Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), who said in a statement confirmed by a staffer for The Epoch Times that Secretary Mayorkas has facilitated Bidens large-scale invasion of our southern border by allowing over 6 million illegal aliensthat we know ofto cross and jeopardize our national safety and sovereignty. His salary should be completely zeroed out, and he should be impeached as soon as possible, Mr. Good said. Responding to the lawmakers assertions, a DHS spokesperson told The Epoch Times, Secretary Mayorkas is proud to advance the noble mission of this Department, support its extraordinary workforce, and serve the American people. The Department will continue to enforce our laws and secure our border, protect the nation from terrorism, and improve our cybersecurity, all while building a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system, the spokesperson said. Instead of pointing fingers and pursuing baseless attacks, Congress should work with the Department and pass legislation to fix our broken immigration system, which has not been updated in decades. Impeachment Attempts Multiple articles of impeachment have already been submitted to the House against the controversial secretary, including by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who filed the articles against Mr. Mayorkas on May 17. The lawmaker cited concern about the porousness of the southern border, something that prompted two similar resolutions before Greenes. Earlier during the 118th Congress, similar articles of impeachment were introduced by both Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas). Since assuming office, Secretary Mayorkas has aided and abetted the complete invasion of our country by deliberately flooding our nation with drugs, terrorists, and illegal aliens, Ms. Greene wrote in a statement on the articles. He stated under oath that we have operational control of our borders, while also under oath, he stated that no one has ever achieved operational control of the border. On June 7, Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) filed the fourth set of articles of impeachment against Mr. Mayorkas. Along with Mr. Higginss filing, Republicans announced they were investigating the DHS secretary for alleged dereliction of duty, according to a June 14 report. Secretary Mayorkas has long ago crossed that threshold. I prepared the foundational posit of these articles long ago, yet Ive been prayerful that impeachment might not be required. Ive given him fair warning to resign his position. Now, he shall reap what he hath sown, Mr. Higgins wrote in a statement announcing the bill. Further Investigations Along with that announcement came the release of a 55-page study written by Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee, holding Biden administration officials responsible for high migration levels at the U.S.-Mexico border. Chad Wolf, chair of the Center for Homeland Security, presented testimony on this issue before the House Committee on Homeland Security oversight hearing on June 14. In all candor, the Biden Administration is the first administration of either political party to actively take steps to diminish the security along our southern border, Mr. Wolf said. Mr. Wolf and other witnesses testified that human trafficking, drug smuggling, and violence are out of control because law enforcement officers charged with securing the border are occupied with processing and caring for illegal immigrants. According to Mr. Wolf and other witnesses, Mr. Mayorkas knowingly violated the law in order to implement the open borders policy favored by the Biden administration. They claim that Mr. Mayorkas released millions of illegal immigrants into the United States using improper asylum policies and parole abuse. They claimed that these actions demonstrated that the United States was no longer enforcing its immigration laws. Republicans have charged that Mr. Mayorkas and the Biden administration are circumventing the law through the use of ambiguous language and policies. According to them, Mr. Mayorkass tenure has been disastrous. IN-DEPTH: Summer Camps for Children Identifying as Transgender Open Across US Psychologist says attending may create lasting gender dysphoria in children who would otherwise leave that phase behind The annual New York City Pride March in New York City on June 25, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Across the United States, theres a growing number of summer camps specifically for children who dont identify with their sex. These overnight camps connect hundreds of children who identify as transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming. Attending such camps is likely to create lasting gender dysphoria in children who would otherwise probably leave that phase behind, psychologist Nicholas Kardaras told The Epoch Times. Most children will grow out of gender dysphoria if not encouraged in it, he said. But when adults encourage a social contagion, it will spread rapidly, he said. If you put a very developmentally fragile young person in any social group that is very dominant, theyre going to inevitably mimic the behaviors and the identity of that social group that they get dropped in, Dr. Kardaras, who runs Omega Recovery, a mental health clinic in Austin, Texas, told The Epoch Times. Gender-Liberated Facilities Unlike traditional summer camps that require separate bathrooms and sleeping areas for boys and girls, some transgender camps dont segregate children by sex, The Epoch Times learned. In West Central Ohios Camp Lilac, restrooms and shower facilities are split by age group, not gender, the camp website reads. Showers are in private stalls with locking doors. Vermonts Camp Outright advertises on its website that all the bathrooms at camp are gender-liberated. And campers and counselors self-select which cabin they will stay in, based on their gender identity, according to the website. Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, executive director of The Dunes addiction recovery center, at The Dunes mansion in East Hampton, N.Y., on March 23, 2017. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) The Naming Project camp in Deerwood, Minnesota, advertises that separation between men and women isnt encouraged. The group describes itself as a Christian ministry, and its website, in response to a frequently asked question about its camp for adults, reads: At other church camps, you might have heard the phrase, Boys are blue. Girls are pink. Dont make purple. Well, we wont be saying that, because that phrase erases the reality of LGBTQ people, our lives, and our relationships. The American Camp Association (ACA) stands behind the emergence of camps especially for transgender-identifying children, according to camp director Andy Pritikin. I think that mixed gender is likely going to be the wave of the future, he said. I have so many kids that are transgender, so many staff that are transgender, at this point. To have mixed-gender groups makes life a heck of a lot easier for these folks. Transgenderism has dramatically changed summer camps, even those not specifically designed to cater only to campers and counselors who identify as transgender, Mr. Pritikin said. While public schools must abide by government rules on transgender issues, directors of privately run camps decide on their own how to handle those situations, he said. American Camp Association director Andy Pritikin leads Liberty Lake Day Camp in Bordentown, N.J. (Courtesy of the American Camp Association) It can be complicated when counselors suddenly announce theyve changed genders, he said. Im hiring staff in, lets say, March, and then we do our first training [for summer camp], and theyve changed genders, he said. It happens with campers, too, requiring last-minute reorganization, he said. Were enrolling campers as boys. Then, a week before camp starts, the parent calls and says, They want to be in a girls group,' he said. The fact that his day camp has male and female bathrooms is less than ideal, he said, because the camp should have gender-neutral facilities. And same-sex changing rooms should be replaced with gender-neutral facilities, Mr. Pritikin said. At the camp he operates, children go home at the end of the day. The logistical problems of overnight camps are bigger, he said. Risky Sleeping Arrangements At sleepaway camps, girls may find themselves in a cabin with a boy who identifies as female, Mr. Pritikin said. They would not be changing in front of each other, he said. They would have changing stalls. Theyre not fornicating with each other in the same room, he added. Theyre sleeping in the same room. But Mr. Kardaras is skeptical of sudden cases of gender dysphoria that cause last-minute logistical problems for camps. In genuine cases of gender dysphoria, adults and children dont suddenly identify as transgender, he said. Gender dysphoria doesnt work like that, he said. Its not authentic gender dysphoria. It would be what Im calling pseudo-gender dysphoria.' He said that this pseudo-gender dysphoria results from online exposure that persuades adults and children that they are transgender. If camp directors allow children and adults to change accommodations based on these categories, it will cause problems, Mr. Kardaras said. Mixing genders at camps creates the potential for underage sex, he warned. Research shows that gender identity is often more changeable than sexual attraction, he said. The girl in the boys cabin might still feel attracted to boys, even if she now identifies as male. The young person actually may think that they are authentically gender dysphoric, but theyre not. And then when they wind up landing in the girls cabin, their sexual orientation unfolds, he said. Adolescent boys also might want to sleep in girls cabins in search of sex, he said. Although camps have always had to tackle problems such as these, creating sleeping arrangements to accommodate transgender-identifying campers is exacerbating the issue, Mr. Kardaras said. Some people have expressed opposition to the ACAs new thinking about transgenderism, Mr. Pritikin said. But, he added, the media often inflate concerns over transgender predators in the bathrooms. The concern that I hear from my colleagues is from the parents, Mr. Pritikin said. Camp directors have mixed responses to a politically divided public, he said. Some directors dont let transgender-identifying campers enroll. Others dont let in children who wont sleep in the same room with transgender-identifying campers. Some shuffle camp arrangements to ensure everyone feels comfortable, he said. Half the country voted for Donald Trump, right? Mr. Pritikin asked. So I mean, 30 to 40 percent of Americans would have a problem with [accommodating transgender-identifying children and counselors]. So you run the risk of losing some of those people. Both overnight and daytime summer camps must be careful to protect children from sexual abuse, he said. If any situation comes up where you [as an adult] could theoretically find yourself alone with a camper, you need to invoke the Rule of Three, which is you need to get another staff person or another camper to be with you, Mr. Pritikin said. Most sleepaway camps fire anyone who breaks this rule for any reason, he said. Because predators go wherever children go, Mr. Pritikin said he encourages camp officials to stay on high alert. Everybody is suspect, he said. Youre choosing to work your summer with kids, and thats great. Thats noble. Thats amazing. But at the same time, our whole staff has to keep the radar up on everybody. Dangerous Policies? Its shocking and dangerous that sex-based boundaries that have kept children safe have been removed at some camps, Kimberly Fletcher, president and founder of Moms for America, told The Epoch Times. When you open Pandoras box, you dont get to decide what comes out, Ms. Fletcher said. She said that she experienced sexual abuse as a young girl and that spaces that allow men and women to sleep in the same cabin or use the same bathrooms feel unsafe and threatening to her. Mixed-gender camp arrangements create openings for sexual abuse, discomfort, and legal trouble, she said. I dont want my daughters being put in a position where they feel uncomfortable as girls, Ms. Fletcher said. And as a mother of sons, that puts them in a position to have all kinds of legal action and problems that could come out after them. There are sex offender laws out there that go after young boys for doing things that [camps are] encouraging them to do. Camps that encourage children in transgenderism would likely fail to notice how often children make sweeping claims about their identities that have little to no basis in reality, Ms. Fletcher said. Embracing these claims or letting them pass unchallenged invites madness, she said. Moms for America President Kimberly Fletcher speaks in Anaheim, Calif., on June 28, 2021. (Courtesy of Moms for America) My granddaughter is convinced that shes a butterfly. My other granddaughter is convinced that she is a mermaid who wants to ride unicorns, Ms. Fletcher said. So do I throw my granddaughter who thinks shes a mermaid into the waters, strap her to a tail, and say, Good luck, go ahead, be a mermaid? Do I tell my other granddaughter to go up on the roof, jump off, and fly? The son of a close friend struggled mentally because of abuse and abandonment, she said. After, he seemed to be seeking a new identity. He went vegan to impress a girl. He later identified as gay after teachers told him it was possible to be homosexual without knowing it, and peers affirmed to him that he seemed gay. After the revelation that he was gay, his schoolmates stopped rejecting him and started accepting him, Ms. Fletcher said. He found a community to feel a part of, she said. When the boy went to see mental health counselors, they all told him he was homosexual and ignored the abandonment, abuse, and bullying issues, she said. They said the problem was people who didnt accept that hes gay. She said that by adulthood, he no longer identified as gay and entered a relationship with a woman. We need to start treating children like children, instead of putting them in a situation where they have to make decisions that adults make, she said. Special Camps, Special Activities Like traditional summer camps, most transgender camps offer activities, such as rock climbing, archery, sports, nature activities, and crafts. But they also have several features that distinguish them from traditional childrens camps of the past. Transcending Adolescence camp and the Trans Youth Equality Foundation camp, both in the Jacksonville, Florida, area, keep their locations secret from the public. Your childs safety is our No. 1 priority, the Transcending Adolescence camp website reads. For the security of our campers, we only disclose the location to registered campers and their families. Some camps offer transgender activities that teach children how to enhance their ability to identify as the opposite sex. Celebration of trans identities is inherent in everything we do at camp, but we also host makeup and hair tutorials, voice training, and more! Camp Lilacs website reads. Voice training teaches children how to make their voices sound more like those of the opposite sex. Camp Lilac provides this service to children aged between 12 and 17. More than 80 children attend every week during the summer, according to the camps website. ACA regulations require anyone working for a camp to pass a criminal background check, present at least two references, and pass a personal interview. But the list of qualifications for a volunteer counselor at Camp Lilac doesnt include background checks, its website shows. One job of counselors is to monitor showers, the camp website reads. The Epoch Times reached out with requests for comment to Camp Lilac, the Transcending Adolescence camp, the Trans Youth Equality Foundation camp, The Naming Project camp, and Camp Outright. None responded. Big Support for Gender Diversity According to statistics from the Pew Research Center, claims of transgender identity have increased massively among young adults. Of people younger than 30, some 5.1 percent now identify as transgender or nonbinary. Yet only 1.6 percent of people older than 30 identify as transgender or nonbinary. Many psychologists have said that this rapid rise in new gender identities results from social contagion, not from a true change in human psychology. Children who identify as transgender have far higher rates of depression and suicide than other children, research shows. For that, proponents of radical gender ideology blame a society intolerant of transgender identity. The findings [on increased suicide rates for transgender youth] emphasize the urgency of building welcoming and safe communities for LGBT young people, particularly for transgender youth, the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT activist group, states on its website. Several recently opened transgender summer camps announced plans to confront this perceived epidemic of intolerance by creating spaces for only people who arent heterosexual. Since 2017, weve been creating a safe, welcoming, and confidential space in which gender diversity is the norm, Camp Lilacs website reads. If only transgender children are present at a camp, then it will be impossible for them to experience discrimination from non-transgender children, some camps assert in their promotional materials. And business is booming. Camp Lilac enrolled 16 children in 2017. In 2022, the number of campers swelled to 123. Due to this tremendous growth, we no longer fit in our original space, the Camp Lilac website reads. Some transgender camps receive funding from donors with deep pockets. The Tawani Foundation donated $50,000 to Harbor Camps, a Florida camp for transgender children. Meanwhile, Transcending Adolescence receives support from Tides, a massive international grant-giving organization that seeks out social justice causes. The camp also is sponsored by the Gainesville Community Counseling Center, the University of North Floridas Osprey PERCH mental health program, and the transgender activism group known as the Unspoken Treasure Society. Camp Outright has received pledges totaling more than $165,000. Uniform Day Camp receives sponsorship from Transforming Family, a group dedicated to creating a positive environment for children, adolescents, and their families to explore issues of gender identity. The Trans Youth Equality Foundation camp receives funding from the left-wing charity site ActBlue. Mr. Kardaras says hes concerned about the lasting effects these camps may have on the children who attend and are encouraged to continue in their gender dysphoria. Rare is the true gender dysphoria youth, he said. Were talking very rare.04 percent was one estimate. So certainly, some percentage of the current transgender population is a social contagionand youre not going to make a social contagion better by not treating it. Jury Rules Lithuanian Who Arrived in UK After Brexit Killed 9 Year Old Girl Deividas Skebas, 23, was too mentally ill to face a murder trial An undated image of Lilia Valutyte, 9, who was stabbed to death in Boston, England, on July 28, 2023. (Family/Lincolnshire Police) A mentally ill immigrant from Lithuania stabbed a nine-year-old girl to death as she played hula-hoop in the street outside the shop where her mother worked, a jury has ruled. The jury at Lincoln Crown Court, who saw CCTV footage of the attack on Lilia Valutyte in Boston, Lincolnshire, on July 28, 2022, ruled Deividas Skebas, 23, was the killer. Mr. Skebas was deemed unfit to plead because of his mental health so, instead of a normal murder trial, a two-day trial of issue was held. On Tuesday, after deliberating for only 15 minutes, the jury returned and confirmed Skebas was responsible for the girls death. The jury had been told by prosecutor Christopher Donnellan, KC, told the jury Mr. Skebas first came to the UK from Lithuania in 2020, but returned home before arriving for a second stint only eight days before the death of Miss Valutyte, whose family were also from Lithuania. Miss. Valutyte was playing with a hula-hoop outside the shop where her mother worked in the centre of Boston when she was attacked without warning. A forensic officer near the scene after nine-year-old Lilia Valutyte was stabbed to death in Boston, Lincolnshire, England, on July 29, 2022. (Joe Giddens/PA Media) The jury of six men and six women watched CCTV footage of Mr. Skebas running towards her, stabbing her and running away at 6:15 p.m. on a summers evening. Mr. Donnellan said: Although within less than a minute an off-duty police officer who was just going home and was nearby came to her aid, and was followed by other officers and the ambulance, sadly her life could not be saved and she was formally pronounced dead at 7:11 p.m. that evening. Murder Weapon Tucked Behind a Radiator Mr. Skebas was arrested two days later and the murder weapon, a paring knife, was found tucked behind a radiator at his home in the town, along with a t-shirt which was stained with the dead girls blood. During a police interview, Mr. Skebas said, I grabbed the knife and I stabbed her. Mr. Skebas confirmed it was him in the CCTV footage and said he had noticed the girl playing in the street, although he could give no reason for why he attacked her. The judge, Mrs. Justice McGowan, told the jury: You have dealt with some very unpleasant material and Im afraid that that is what juries do. I am also going to release you from jury service for the next five years, should you wish to be released. She then passed an indefinite hospital order on Mr. Skebas. Given the fact that he has been found to have killed a child, I am of the opinion that the only appropriate way to deal with the case is to make an order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983, said the judge. Mr. Skebas will be detained indefinitely at Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire. In September 2022 Miss Valutytes mother Lina Savicke, and stepfather Aurelijus Savickas, joined 15 friends on a 30-mile fundraising walk from Boston to Lincoln. Ms. Savicke said at the time: We got a lot of support from people. We saw that so many people were supporting us. Boston is a market town surrounded by farming areas and is also home to a large Lithuanian community. In the 2021 census around 4,000 residents gave Lithuania as their country of birth, which amounted to more 5 percent of the population. Under the Brexit treaty agreed by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson, EU nationals were no longer entitled to automatic entry into the UK after Jan. 1, 2020. It is not clear if Mr. Skebas was in the UK illegally or if he was on a sponsored work visa. The Epoch Times contacted the Home Office for comment. Six people were killed in a stabbing at a Chinese kindergarten. Whats behind the countrys recent series of attacks? Also on the schoolyard, war-training boot camps are finding their way into Chinese kindergartens this summer. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is vowing to end Chinas Most Favored Nation Status, if he gets elected president. Chinas leader is meeting with a Russian lawmaker, while President Joe Biden is on his way to the NATO summit. Where does the worlds most powerful military alliance stand on Taiwan? Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens visit to China raised eyebrows, when she bowed multiple times to the countrys vice premier. Topics in this episode: Man Suspected of Shooting Georgia Prosecutors Investigator Arrested A Gwinnett County police car in Lawrenceville, Ga., in May 2022. (Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.Police arrested a man Monday suspected of shooting and injuring an investigator with a metro Atlanta prosecutors office while both were driving. The investigator with the Gwinnett County district attorneys office was not on duty when he was shot in the leg around 6 p.m. Friday by another driver, police said. The motive was not immediately known and the investigators injuries were not considered to be life threatening. Over the weekend, detectives determined that the suspected shooter was driving a 2019 Jeep Cherokee and identified him as Tyler Dewayne Moore, 27, Sgt. Michele Pihera, a county police spokesperson, said in an email. When officers went to his house in Auburn late Sunday, Mr. Moore was not home, but the officers impounded his vehicle. Early Monday, officers were sent to the county jail, where Mr. Moore was waiting at the main entrance, Sgt. Pihera said. He was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of certain crimes, and second-degree criminal damage to property. Mr. Moore was booked into the Gwinnett County jail, and it wasnt immediately clear whether he had a lawyer who could comment. Police said Friday that they didnt know whether the shooting resulted from road rage or whether the investigator was targeted. There were no markings on the investigators vehicle to indicate that he was with the district attorneys office, Sgt. Pihera said. Gwinnett County, just northeast of Atlanta, is Georgias second-most populous county, with more than 950,000 people. Metal Pipe-Wielding Woman Fatally Shot by Police in Los Angeles TARZANA, Calif.A woman wielding a metal dumbbell bar allegedly assaulted four people, leaving them with serious head and face injuries, before she was fatally shot by police on July 9 in Tarzana. At around 8:30 a.m., officers responded to several calls of an assault with a deadly weapon suspect in the area of Reseda Boulevard and Hatteras Street, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. The suspect, described as a woman in her 30s, allegedly attacked four victims along Reseda Boulevard with a metal pipe. When officers arrived on the scene, they encountered the woman near the parking lot of a gas station at Reseda and Burbank boulevards. As the suspect held the pipe and advanced toward the officers, they deployed a taser and 40mm foam baton round, and an officer-involved shooting occurred, police said in a statement. The metal pipe was determined to be a metal dumbbell bar, approximately 14 inches long. Paramedics rushed the woman to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Two of the injured victims remained hospitalized with stable vital signs, police said. No officers were injured. Investigators learned the woman is a suspect in attacks on four other people on July 8, police said. A mother and child were in a parked vehicle when the suspect smashed the windows, police said. Two males were also struck with a similarly described weapon yesterday, one in the head causing a cut, and the other in the arm. Both declined medical treatment. The police shooting investigation continued and detectives will review body-worn video, any surveillance video and interview witnesses and involved officers, police said. The IATA Air Global Connectivity Index for 2022 shows that Egypt has advanced 14 places in the rankings, now ranking 24th among 100 countries worldwide, up from 38th in 2019. According to the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) on Tuesday, Egypt ranked fourth in the Middle East and North Africa. The IATA index measures a country's air connectivity based on the relative economic importance of the destinations served by its scheduled passenger flights. The index results are indicative of a recovery trend in global flight traffic, measured by revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs). 2022 witnessed a 68.5% improvement in the RPK recovery rate. The US was ranked first in RPK recovery rate, followed by the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy. In the Middle East, the UAE topped the list, followed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Egypt has taken major steps in recent months to boost tourist traffic through national airports, and attract more Europeans to visit the country. As many as 7 million tourists visited Egypt during the first half of 2023, with the yearly total expected to reach 15 million by the end of the year, up from 11.7 million tourists in 2022. Search Keywords: Short link: Michigan Hair Salon Says People Pushing Trans Pronouns Are Not Welcome A conservative hair salon that vows not to cater to woke ideologies has pledged to turn away any potential customer who does not identify as either a man or a woman, triggering opposition from local LGBT activists and fueling online debate. The Traverse City-based Studio 8 Hair Lab said in a now-deleted post on Facebook that, as a small business in America where free speech is the law of the land, it will refuse service to anyone it chooses to. This small business has the right to refuse services, reads the post. This is America; free speech. In its Instagram profile bio, Studio 8 Hair Lab describes itself as a private CONSERVATIVE business that does not cater to woke ideologies. In the post that sparked controversy, the hair salon said that customers who identify as non-binary or any one of the many gender identities that have proliferated in recent times aside from man and woman, may be turned away. If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman please seek services at a local pet groomer, the post reads. You are not welcome at this salon. Period. Hey You More fundamentally, the conservative-run salon said it objects to people requesting to be called by a specific pronoun, a behavior that some people have adopted to signal their support for transgenderism even though they themselves may not identify as transgender. Should you request to have a particular pronoun used please note we may simply refer to you as hey you,' the salon said in the post. Studio 8 Hair Lab added its prepared to stand by its refusal to tolerate non-binary pronouns regardless of recent legislation signed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in March, which expanded legal protections to include gender identity and expression. The salons thumbing of its nose at Whitmers decision to sign legislation that expands the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include gender identity comes in the wake of a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the right of businesses to deny provision of services in a way that violates their religious beliefs. A local LGBT activist group, Polestar, issued a statement to media outlets denouncing the salons position on opposing non-binary pronoun use. Studio 8 Hair Labs recent comments comparing members of the queer community to animals are not welcomed in Traverse City, Period, the group stated. Hate has shown time and time again to be a losing business strategy and we must not allow this blight to take root in our town, the group continued. Polestar added that statements like the one made by the hair salon undermine the hard work that has been put in to make Traverse City the absolute best that it can be. The Epoch Times reached out to the salon for comment. This Is a Free Country A screengrab of the post was shared on the Overheard in Traverse City page on Facebook, sparking a number of comments, many critical of the salon. Some called for boycotts against the salon, while others suggested legal action. Christine Geiger, owner of Studio 8 Hair Lab, weighed in on the discussion, saying there are other businesses that pronoun-sensitive patrons can choose to frequent instead of hers. Since I am not willing to play the pronoun game or cater to requests outside of what I perceive as normal this probably isnt the best option for that type of client, Ms. Geiger wrote. There are plenty of salons/stylists willing to cater to what I will not, she continued. This is a free country and I am not a slave to any narrative. Weighing in the discussion was Caleb Miller, who runs the hair salon Xsalonce by Caleb, which he said is more than willing to serve anyone who requests to be called by certain pronouns. My salon chair is a safe space for all, and while I may not agree with everything you believe we can be adults have different opinions and I would be more than happy to have your business and help you feel happier in your own skin, Mr. Miller wrote. Ms. Geiger replied to his post, saying: Thank you. Theres a right place for everyone. Conservative Backlash In comments on social media, Ms. Geiger said conservatives have had enough of woke individuals pushing their ideologies onto others, arguing that a just let them be strategy of conservatives keeping their opinions on the matter to themselves hasnt worked. The other side used this against us. They mistook our silence for weakness and look where it got us, Ms. Geiger wrote. So many of us bark back, she continued, saying that when conservatives now make their stand clear, people holding opposing views get triggered and vocal. They cant handle it. They arent prepared for this. So I am more than willing to take the first rounds of strike backs in hopes that more of you will see this and be inspired to stand up tall and speak your own truths, she said. Ms. Geigers remarks about conservatives patience wearing thin regarding demands to use preferred pronouns or provide services they find objectionable, such as baking same-sex wedding cakes, comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision that many saw a win for conservative-minded business owners. The high court recently ruled 63 in favor of a Christian website designer who said Colorados law requiring her to create websites to celebrate same-sex weddings infringed on her constitutional rights. Artist and website designer Lorie Smith of 303 Creative complained she was being singled out by the Colorado human rights commission because, based on her religious faith, she does not support nontraditional marriage. Ms. Smith has said shed be willing to design custom websites for anyone, including those who identify as LGBT, so long as their message does not conflict with her religious views. This means that she wont promote messages that condone violence or encourage sexual immorality, abortion, or same-sex marriage. When clients want such messages expressed, Ms. Smith refers them to other website designers. Ms. Smith took action when she discovered she was forbidden under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) to post a statement online explaining what content she was, and was not, willing to create. Left-wing activists have been targeting bakers for years for political purposes, asking Christian confectioners opposed to same-sex marriage to bake wedding cakes for gay marriage celebrations. When the bakers refuse to make the cakes, these activists sue under anti-discrimination laws, hoping to secure favorable legal precedents. Matthew Vadum contributed to this report. Military Prepares to Pull Crashed Chinook Helicopter From Ottawa River Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) conduct searches around a series of islands on the Ottawa River near Fort William in the Pontiac Regional County Municipality on June 20, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby) The Canadian Armed Forces said it planned to begin the complicated process of pulling the wreckage of a downed CH-147F Chinook helicopter from the Ottawa River Tuesday, after a crash killed two pilots last month. Four Royal Canadian Air Force members were conducting a normal nighttime training exercise around midnight near the Petawawa military base on June 20 when the helicopter crashed into the water, killing two of the members on board and injuring two others. The bodies of the two pilots were recovered the next day after an extensive search near Petawawa, Ont., which is about 160 kilometres northwest of Ottawa. The helicopter was later found at the bottom of the river. The Air Force identified the victims as Capt. David Domagala of Woodstock, Ont., and Capt. Marc Larouche of Amos, Que. The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Air Forces Directorate of Flight Safety. The military said it plans to raise the helicopter to the surface using a crane with the support of multiple barges. The remains of the helicopter will then be towed to shore. Once it has been assessed by investigators, the helicopter is expected to be removed from the site by truck. People who live in the area can expect to see increased marine and shore activity in the coming days, the military said in a statement Tuesday. Military officials have so far refused to speculate on what may have caused the crash. There was a recording device on board the helicopter, but its not clear if it will be recovered from the wreckage. Meanwhile, the Canadian Armed Forces also launched an environmental cleanup to remove small amounts of helicopter fuel from the water. The military said there is no evidence of environmental contamination along the riverbank or the beach, but it will continue to take samples and monitor the area for any contamination that results from the crash or the helicopter recovery. Minister Blair Doubles Down in Blaming CSIS for His Not Receiving Intel on Beijing Threat to MPs Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair holds a press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on June 12, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says staff in his office and department arent to blame for not informing him of Beijing threats to MPs and has repeated that Canadas spy agency is at fault. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had Top Secret information that they felt that I should see, and clearly, the process that they had in place to bring it to my attention was not complete, and did not bring it to my offices attention and thats now been remedied, Mr. Blair said in a press conference in Ottawa on July 11. While making an announcement on spending to support organizations working in disaster relief, Mr. Blair was asked by reporters to shed light on the Beijing matter. The latter refers to the Michael Chong affair, when the Globe and Mail reported in May, based on national security leaks, that the Conservative MP was being targeted by the Chinese regime in 2021 for his critical stance on Beijing. Ministers in function at the time, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, all said they had been unaware of the issue until the media report was published. It was later revealed that in May 2021 CSIS had sent a briefing note to Mr. Blair, who was then minister of public safety, and to his chief of staff and the department. The note warned that some MPs were being targeted by Beijing and that CSIS would give them defensive briefings, which dont include specific details about the threat. Unfortunately, it was not sent to my office, it was sent to a secure device not located in my office, but somewhere else that I had no access to, no one in my office had access to and no one in my office was ever made aware of that there was a memo, Mr. Blair told reporters. While testifying before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on June 1, Mr. Blair did not blame the process but instead said that CSIS Director David Vigneault had made the determination it was not information worth bringing to the ministers attention. Days later Mr. Vigneault told the same committee the procedure for transmission of information to the department had been followed. My understanding of how the information flows from an agency to the minister is that this is sent to the departmentin this case, the Department of Public Safety, he said. He added that the sending of a briefing note speaks to the notion that we wanted to highlight the information. In his May report, former special rapporteur on foreign interference David Johnston called the failure to transmit that CSIS information to senior levels of government the most prominent, but not the only, example of poor information flow and processing between agencies, the public service and Ministers. Mr. Johnston, who recommended against holding a public inquiry into foreign interference, has since resigned and all parties have reportedly reached an agreement on terms to hold an inquiry. The Liberal government has been under increasing pressure to hold an inquiry following multiple national security leaks in the media depicting widespread Beijing interference in Canada. Missing 14-Year-Old Girl Found by US Military Police at Camp Pendleton The entrance to Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton is seen in Oceanside, Calif., on Sept. 22, 2015. (Gregory Bull/AP Photo) A marine was reportedly detained and questioned after a 14-year-old girlwho was reported missing from her Spring Valley home last monthis back home after she was found at Camp Pendleton Marine Base, authorities said on July 8. Casaundra Perez, the aunt of the 14-year-old girl reported missing and found at Camp Pendleton, claims that the military is trying to cover-up the incident. An Instagram post by an account called @notinregz, which posts content shared by military personnel, showed an unidentified Marine in handcuffs being escorted by military police. The post also included what was said to be a handwritten logbook from Camp Pendleton that mentions the discovery of the girl on the base on June 28, however, the authenticity of the logbook could not be verified, according to sources at KTLA5. This command takes this matter and all allegations very seriously, said a Marine spokesperson. The incident is under investigation, and we will continue to cooperate with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and appropriate authorities. The girl, who has not been identified because of her age, was reported missing from her Spring Valley home last month by her grandmother on June 13, according to the San Diego County Sheriffs Department (SDSD). Sheriffs officials said the grandmother told them the girl, who had run away before but always returned home quickly, went missing on June 9. The case is being investigated by human trafficking authorities. The teens information was entered into multiple missing person databases, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Military police at Camp Pendleton located the girl on June 28 and informed the sheriffs department. Detectives interviewed her and the family was offered services, authorities said. When a minor runs away, there is usually an underlining of trauma associated. Free counseling and social service programs to help the girl and her family to deal with trauma and personal issues are being offered, Lt. Carpenter, a watch commander for the SDSD, told City News Service. The girl was not hospitalized, but it was unclear if she sustained any injuries. Since Camp Pendleton is federal property, Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) is handling the investigation. The San Diego County Sheriffs Department and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force are supporting NCIS with the investigation, sheriffs officials said. On June 28, a Marine was taken into custody by military police on the base and questioned by NCIS personnel about his involvement with the girl, NBC7 reported. We can confirm that a Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group was taken into custody for questioning by Naval Criminal Investigative Services on June 28, 2023, as seen on social media July 2, 2023, Capt. Chuck Palmer of Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Logistics Group told the station. He added that the Marinewho has not been identifiedhad not been charged and remains in the custody of his command as of July 6. Ms. Perez told the station that her niece has learning disabilities, and was sold to a Marine for sex. Perez posted a video on TikTok in which she said her family was afraid of retaliation from the military and from the man she believed trafficked the girl. The military is trying to cover it up and place majority of the blame on her. The security looked her in the face and allowed this man to bring a minor onto base where he then proceeded to have sex with her, Ms. Perez said in one of several TikTok videos she posted last week. Due to her age, she couldnt have given consent. Weve just had an interview with someone referred to us by the military. In this meeting, we were told by the affiliated personnel that the military detective assigned to the case is trying to cover this up, she said. Ms. Perez identified her niece as Native American and explained the girls guardian, her grandmother, is currently battling cancer, and the girls disabilities do not warrant a 24-hour watch. Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS does not comment on, confirm details relating to, or confirm the existence of ongoing investigations, the agency said in a statement. No identities have been released as the case remains under investigation, and it is unknown whether the Marine taken into custody has been released. Julianne Foster contributed to this report. Two Mothers Navigated an Ocean of Woke to Land Their Kids on Right-Leaning ShoresHeres How The two Seattle moms who succeeded in raising right-wing kids despite living in that deep-blue Washington city understand the principle that made it all possible: They got to them first. Capturing the fertile territory of a childs youth triggers whats called the founder principle. Whoever instills a childs worldview in them first becomes the expert in their eyes. That standard becomes the truth by which they measure the rest of life. Parents who hand over that duty of instilling to government schools place their children in imminent danger, the two Seattle moms warn. They recently published the book, Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City: Teaching Historical, Economic, and Biological Truth in a World of Lies, and shared its insights with The Epoch Times. There is nowhere that is safe, said author and mom of three Stacy Manning, a childrens rights advocate with Them Before Us. There is no program out there; there is no school, private or charter, where those woke ideas are not infected. Authors of the book Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City: Teaching Historical, Economic, and Biological Truth in a World of Lies Stacy Manning (Left), editor for Them Before Us, and Katy Faust (Right), founder and president of Them Before Us. (Courtesy of Katy Faust and Stacy Manning) All the time, she hears of parents saving to send their kids to Catholic schools but, she said, theyre all staffed by teachers who had been indoctrinated themselves in our universities. Homeschooling is great, but not all parents have the luxury. To help more parents, Manning teamed up with author and mother of four Katy Faust, president of Them Before Us. They compiled their practical, on-the-ground parenting tactics for what became their second book. Its like a field manual for instilling conservative values in kids mired in wokeness. The authors unpack timeless principles and philosophies that the moms successfully implemented in real-world situations with their kids. Their right-leaning broods are the proof. The cover of the book, Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City: Teaching Historical, Economic, and Biological Truth in a World of Lies, by Stacy Manning and Katy Faust. (Courtesy of Katy Faust and Stacy Manning; MockupSpot/Shutterstock) The founder principle, the authors explain, is how kids are wired to learn. The classical education model on how to inculcate a worldview into your kids [is] broken into three different segments, Ms. Faust said. There are the phases: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. This framework is explained using the metaphor of the crooked stick of woke ideas. You dont know how crooked the stick is until you lay a straight stick next to it, Ms. Faust said. We spend the elementary school years hammering the straight stick of goodness, of these conservative values. The Three Stages of Inculcating Kids With Conservative Values In the first stage, parents are the first to introduce knowledge to their kids. For whoever is first the child will automatically consider the expert on that topic, Ms. Faust said. The second phase is logic, which transpires in middle school. Now the parents must introduce the crooked stick to their kids so theyre able to identify them on their own, Ms. Faust said. The world tends to distort those conservative values at this stage. With a proper foundation laidthe straight stick next to which the crooked one would inevitably fallthe woke ideas fomenting chaos will be identified clearly. Thirdly, the rhetoric stage teaches children to articulate their established values. Standing on their own two feet in a storm of opposing views they meet challenges head-on. There will be ridicule for not posting that black square supporting Black Lives Matter. There will be pride pins and pronouns to refuse and refute. The book teaches not to attack people, but ideas. There will be friends to keep from going under. Confronting a Woke World Ms. Mannings 12-year-old daughter, one of the only conservatives in her school, became a beacon for her classmates. She is very pro-life and felt so passionate about the right to life that she will tear up discussing the issue, Ms. Manning said. She converted six girls in separate incidences on the bus ride home from school. Already she is having tangible, positive impacts on her peers. The Seattle downtown skyline with its famous Space Needle skyscraper. (TomKli/Shutterstock) But conservative parents in deep blue cities will need help. Ms. Faust believes only at church will you find like-minded support. Only here will kids run and play free and maskless. Only here will the label anti-vaxxer be worn as a badge of honor. The term cis-gender will have no meaning. Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City spurs parents to seize the reins from the overreach of schools. Or else a world of indoctrination will fill the void and steer kids into woke waters. Parents must remind teachers what their job is, and who the parent is. The strategies we outline in the book are empowering parents to know and inform the teachers, that [the parents] are actually the educators of their children, Ms. Manning said. Teachers are simply contracted individuals that are expected to teach reading writing and arithmetic, period. For some kids it may be too latethe damage is done. Ms. Faust laments parents who failed to inculcate them earlywho failed to lay the straight stick before the crooked one fell. They missed that crucial window. Yet Ms. Manning conjures hope from that Chinese proverb, The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. And the second-best time is today. The book Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City, by Ms. Manning and Ms. Faust, has been published and is available to order on Amazon. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter NATO Says Ukraine May Join Alliance When Conditions Are Met Zelenskyy calls alliance's decision to not provide specific timeline 'unprecedented and absurd' President Joe Biden (C) and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (R) arrive to attend the first work session as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, in Vilnius on July 11, 2023. NATO leaders will grapple with Ukraine's membership ambitions at their summit on July 11, 2023. (Jacques Witt/AFP via Getty Images) VILNIUS, LithuaniaNATO members on July 11 issued a statement expressing their support for Ukraines membership in the alliance but failed to provide a timeline for when that might occur. Ukraines future is in NATO, the Vilnius Summit Communique (pdf) reads. The high-stakes summit in Vilnius, on July 1112, brings together leaders from the alliances 31 member countries to discuss crucial global security challenges, including the war in Ukraine. The allies reaffirmed their commitment made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit and acknowledged that Kyiv has made substantial progress on its reform path. In its communique, NATO also removed the requirement that Ukraine implement a so-called Membership Action Plan. Instead, theyve adapted an Annual National Program to review progress on a regular basis. The alliance committed to assisting Ukraine in implementing further democratic and security reforms needed in preparation for its eventual membership. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met, the member nations stated. Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins told CNBC, Im convinced that after the war, they will be a member. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was disappointed by the decision. It would be absurd, he said on July 11, if Kyiv wasnt given a timetable for joining NATO at this years meeting in Vilnius. Its unprecedented and absurd when a time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraines membership. While at the same time vague wording about conditions is added even for inviting Ukraine, he wrote on Twitter. Mr. Zelenskyy also said Ukraine deserves respect and criticized the communiques phrasing for being discussed without Ukraine. Before heading to the summit, U.S. President Joe Biden told CNN that the war with Russia must be over before NATO can admit Ukraine. I dont think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war, the president said during the interview aired on July 9. Its a commitment that weve all made, no matter what. If the war is going on, then were all in war. Were at war with Russia if that were the case. White House national security spokesman John Kirby reiterated that stance on July 11. Of course, they are at war right now. So NATO membership in the immediate future isnt likely because that would put NATO at war with Russia, Mr. Kirby told CNN. Mr. Biden also said the United States and NATO allies must present a rational path for Ukraine to qualify for membership in the military alliance. The White House also indicated that Ukraine could receive Israel-style security guarantees in its fight against Russia. That means that the United States would provide various forms of military assistance, intelligence and information sharing, cyber support, and other forms of material support so that Ukraine can both defend itself and deter future aggression, Mr. Sullivan told reporters on July 9. I expect that at Vilnius, you will see the president speaking to this issue and consulting with [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy on this issue, as well as our G-7 partners and other partners as well. Mr. Biden is expected to meet with Mr. Zelenskyy on July 12 on the sidelines of the summit. Navy Needs More Shipyards to Meet Legal Requirement to Grow The future USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is seen underway on its own power for the first time in Newport News, Va., on April 8, 2017. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ridge Leoni/U.S. Navy via Getty Images) Commentary The U.S. Navy has been struggling for years to maintain the production and maintenance throughput of its four government shipyards and approximately eight major private sector yards. The chief of naval operations, Adm. Michael Gilday, has established the clear, quantifiable shortfall. Until the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), two Arleigh Burke destroyers and two Virginia submarines were being purchased a year, yet only 1.8 and 1.2 were being delivered a year. This means the destroyers and submarines were 10 percent and 40 percent behind schedule, respectively. With the 2023 NDAA, which increases the purchase of each to three a year (and doesnt count the new Columbia ballistic missile submarine, which will be built in the same shipyards), the straight-line throughput at current delays will be only 2.7 destroyers and 1.8 submarines delivered for three of each purchased. Complications from increased orders will possibly drive up the existing delivery delays. The Navys analysis paralysis on this topic has been festering for years, yet the throughput and trendlines have been worsening. Congress is spinning into action with a flurry of trips to assess the situation. The issues are a lack of yard capacity, challenges in building a workforce, higher prices for materials, and companies leaving the industrial base and supply chain because of the erratic nature of the federal budget process. Currently, all production and maintenance of ships is centralized in four U.S. Naval Shipyards (NSYs)Portsmouth (Maine), Norfolk (Virginia), Puget Sound (Washington), and Pearl Harbor (Hawaii)and eight major private shipyardsBath Iron Works, ElectricBoat, Newport News, Ingalls, Austal, Fincantieri, Philly, and NASSCO. If this industrial base is failing to meet throughput, then perhaps the time is now to consider re-opening a closed NSY and a new private shipyard (or two). Re-Open a Closed US Government Shipyard? The four existing U.S. NSYs are survivors of a once much larger industrial base. They dont build ships anymore but are used to fix and repair ships and submarines (called maintenance availabilities). These proud facilities are woefully in need of re-capitalization, and the Navy is doing this through the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program, but the program isnt expanding much-needed yard square footage. Modernized Navy yards will still be crowded and cramped. There are now hints of discussion about re-opening a dormant Navy yard; the question is, which one? Building a greenfield NSY would be a mammoth undertaking in the modern era. The options in geographic choices are limited, but since the orientation of the main concern is the Pacific, the three that come to mind for re-opening are Mare Island NSY, San Francisco NSY, and Long Beach NSY, all on the West Coast. Mare Island NSY in Vallejo, California, has been fallow since its closure, other than being used as a stage for Mythbusters. Moving a ship larger than a destroyer up to this historical facility would require extensive civil engineering and dredging. San Francisco NSY is larger and has more space. Theres only one aircraft carrier dry dock in the entire Pacific, Dry Dock 6 at Puget Sound NSY (pdf), but it may or may not be out of commission following announcements by the Navy. Unbelievably, theres no dry dock in the Pacific that can take a Ford-class aircraft carrier. An additional dry dock that can take both the Nimitz class and now the new Ford class is desperately needed in the Pacific. The old San Francisco NSY is best able to fit a new dry dock of this immense size. Its large crane structure is iconic on the San Francisco skyline; it was designed to rapidly swap out turrets on battleships and then was used to launch test Polaris missiles on tethers in the late 1950s/early 1960s. Long Beach NSY is no moreits drydocks have been filled in and its cranes and workshops have been removed, and its now encumbered by the Port of Long Beach, one of the largest container terminals in the world. Taking these stated factors into consideration, the intuitive conclusion is that the San Francisco NSY is the logical facility to re-open. There are long-range plans to commercially develop the site, which would have to be addressed. There may be a need to argue that urgent national security imperatives require the facility be put back into federal use. The Long Beach NSY facility would be challenging to re-open, but if trade friction continues and inbound containers continue to decline, then perhaps this facility may be an opportunity also. The Navy staff has endlessly agonized over the ship repair capacity and throughput issuethe faster the policy issue is decided and plans and programs can be put in place, the faster the Navy can achieve at least a 25 percent increase in capacity. In addition, an expeditionary rapid repair and regeneration capability is needed in Guam to promptly turn around battle-damaged ships. The Titan Floating Drydock is one of a very small number of large floating dry docks in existence in America. It would be wise to move this now to Guam and build two or three more of these with alacrity. Floating dry docks, an obscure topic that gathers little attention, were one of the key reasons for the U.S. Navys decisive victory in the Pacific in World War II. Where, What, and How to Establish Additional Private Shipyard Capacity The eight major private yards are at maximum capacity with their existing work, not including the increase in the need for destroyers, submarines, and many more vessels required to enable, support, and sustain the fleet. FY 2021 proposed legislation (pdf) to authorize and appropriate $25 billion for the shipyards isnt moving, and although there are strong elements in the FY 2023 NDAA, there isnt precise language to assist the private shipyards in re-capitalization and expansion. There are several key descriptors needed for a dedicated initiative for the private shipyards. The funds must be ring-fenced or protected for this purpose, the funds should be multi-year funds (most Department of Defense funds are single-year and have a small window to be obligated or else theyre subject to re-programming), and the shipyards need to significantly expand the square footage of their facilities, which means land acquisition. Furthermore, the effort should emphasize digital engineering, model-based systems engineering, and the creation of large enclosures over the construction areas for maximum efficiency. The enclosures provide a much better environment for the workers, which means greater efficiency and safety. If Disney can have their mammoth cruise vessels built entirely indoors, theres no reason the U.S. public and private yards cant graduate into the 21st century. These enclosures provide security from prying eyes and protection from drone swarms that may be marshaled on demand from Huawei-provisioned networks in the United States. The expansion of the U.S. Navy and new facilities should also emphasize autonomous vessels and the production of advanced, non-nuclear submarines to complement the bigger Virginia and Columbia class. The U.S. Navy nuclear submarine fleet can be quite prickly on this subject, but the reality is that the Navy needs a much larger submarine fleet of both nuclear submarines and also smaller non-nuclear submarines that can be reserved for use in the Caribbean and the homeland littorals. The nuclear submarines can be emphasized for the Mid and Western Pacific. Having a larger industrial base can meet the legal requirement to expand the U.S. Navy on a much faster basis and also build ships and submarines for key partners such as the AUKUS Agreement and Taiwan. Regarding the question of where a new greenfield (built for the purpose from scratch) shipyard could be located, a Pacific orientation makes sense, and if there are enough resources, a second one would make sense on the Gulf of Mexico. On the West Coast, there arent many options for a new yard without massive federal eminent domain claims of land and terraforming/backfilling of coastal harbors on a scale not seen recently in America. One opportunity does stand out that provides a good running start: the dormant and closed Alameda Naval Air Station (NAS). It was created by backfill expansion in the 1930s and is in the process of long-term handover from the Department of Defense to local developers and government. Like San Francisco NSY, it may be time to change plans because of the compelling national interest. With more land reclamation, there can be ample space for building a new, advanced, large shipyard. Another possible site is the Vigor main shipyard in Portland, Oregon, or a new site downriver on the Columbia River, closer to where it meets the Pacific Ocean. Land acquisition, expansion, and outfitting of the existing Vigor yard or a close-by satellite yard would be a large undertaking, but again the national security urgency is compelling. Loss of the Panama Canal Should Be a Driving Factor Gen. Laura Richardson and Gen. Glen VanHerck, the commanders of Southern Command and Northern Command, respectively, have made it clear that they have serious concerns over the viability of the Panama Canal in case of conflict with China. This amplifies the need for new government and private shipyards, with an emphasis on siting these on the West Coast of the United States. The slow wake-up of the Defense Industrial Base to meet the greatly expanded need for war material to support Ukraine should be a wake-up call for action on the Navy crisis in throughput. A Manhattan Project is needed to spin the Navy industrial base into action. Army Gen. Leslie Groves made the Pentagon and Manhattan Project a reality in record timean equivalent personality is needed now to build deterrence capacity against Chinese adventurism toward Taiwan or anywhere in the Pacific. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. New North Carolina 1776 Community Will Require American Flags on All Homes The American flag flies in a stiff breeze during pre-game ceremonies as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Atlanta Falcons at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Dec. 16, 2007. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) A new neighborhood in Gastonia, North Carolina will require all residents to fly the American flag in front of their property. Brock Fankhauser, the developer of 1776 Gastonia, said residents will receive an American flag upon moving in and will have agreed to displaying it at all times, according to a report by WCNC. Were going to install the flag as part of the design of the home, Mr. Fankhauser explained. Its an architectural element. Its there the day you take possession of the home and close on it. From that point on, its each homeowner pledging to one another. Its a promise, its a covenant. And so as long as the people who live in those homes continue with their covenants and their pledges to one another, the flags will fly. Residents of the 55-and-up community, which is being built by Great American Homes, will be required to affirm their allegiance to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as well as to supporting the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Additionally, they must promise loyalty to each other and commit to the neighborhoods future. No one who violates the communitys rules will face any repercussions, Mr. Fankhauser told Fox News Digital. He hopes that interested homeowners will want to abide by the rules voluntarily. We embrace freedom, Mr. Fankhauser said. Thats obviously foundational to the American story. To come after people with the heavy hand and penalties doesnt strike me as consistent with founding ideals, he continued. So we are heavily reliant on the mutual pledges that people make to each other. Mr. Fankhauser stressed that the neighborhood is not aligned with any political party. Ive also said its very important for us to distance ourselves from any political movement, any political party, and any political figures, he said. We are completely detached from that. As the website advertises, the 43-home neighborhood would be a place where patriotism lives and will be built around a love of family and country, and the positive nature of looking forward while respecting the past. 1776 Gastonia wants to discover ways to give back to the community. Mr. Fankhauser promised to provide a wounded veteran a mortgage for every house they built. Weve already selected the couple who are going to be the first recipients of this, he said. Its Sgt. Peter Clark and his wife, Army Specialist Kelly Clark. They were presented three weeks ago with this gift. Were going to start building their house next month, Mr. Fankhauser said. Theyll move in early 2024 and theyll be able to live in the first 1776 community mortgage-free. From NTD News Nike Canada Under Investigation for Allegations of Using Uyghur Forced Labour: Watchdog Workers walk by the perimeter fence of what is officially known as a vocational skills education centre in Dabancheng in Xinjiang region, China, on Sept. 4, 2018. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) A federal watchdog says it is launching investigations into two companies over allegations of benefitting from forced labour in China, including apparel maker Nike Canada. The other company being investigated is Dynasty Gold, the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) announced on July 11 in Ottawa. The investigations stem from complaints filed by a coalition of human rights organizations last year, which allege that multiple industries are using forced labour from the Uyghur Turkic Muslim minority in Chinas Xinjiang region. Ombudsperson Sheri Meyerhoffer says that 11 other complaints are under assessment by her office and decisions on whether to launch investigations will be made in the coming weeks. Companies have not been eager to cooperate with her office, said Meyerhoffer, with mediation between parties involved in the complaint not being an option at this time. The Ombudsperson said she is very concerned that this is how companies have chosen to respond. She says that Nike Canada told her office that it no longer maintains ties with the suppliers allegedly implicated and that it has provided information about its due diligence practices. As for Dynasty Gold, it has told CORE that it does not have operational control over the Hatu mine in northwest Xinjiang and that the allegations surfaced after it left the region. The complaint against the company says that the mine is located close to detention and re-education centres. Nike and Dynasty Gold did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Investigation Meyerhoffer said staff will not be sent in person to the Xinjiang region to collect facts, given human rights concerns in the region. She said the audit will rely on professional investigators with knowledge of the region and languages, as well as open information. CORE findings will not be binding and will only serve to inform the decisions of investors and government departments, said Meyerhoffer. CORE was established by the Liberal government in 2019 and is tasked with reviewing complaints about human rights abuses by Canadian companies abroad. Meyerhoffer also defended launching her first investigations four years after her office was established. We know the importance of showing results as soon as possible, she said. The underlying reality is that we were the first office of its kind in the world, we had no model to follow. She said time was necessary to build an accessible and secure complaint mechanism and a transparent and fair process. The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project is one of the organizations that filed complaints with CORE. Its executive director, Mehmet Tohti, has been a steady critic of the federal governments inaction in stopping the flow of products made from forced labour. Parliament passed Bill S-211 in May to require government institutions and private companies to produce annual reports on steps taken to avoid forced and child labour entering the supply chain. Tohti called the legislation the pretence of pretending of doing something without doing nothing. Tohti welcomed the news of CORE taking up the complaints and launching investigations. He told The Epoch Times its a first step in the right direction. Tohti also calls it a stark warning to Ottawa and Canadian corporations to act immediately to stop making Canada a dumping ground for the products made by the use of Uyghur forced labour. The letter sent to CORE by the human rights organization last year says that it is well-established at this point that atrocity crimes, including genocide, and human rights abuses are being committed by the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] against the Uyghurs. The House of Commons voted in 2021 to recognize the treatment of the Uyghurs as a genocide. Not Just Bud Light: Anheuser-Buschs Other Beers Are Also Suffering As Bud Light and Budweiser continue to face a decline in sales amid a weeks-long boycott, data show that other Anheuser-Busch-owned beer brands are also taking a hit. Sales of Michelob Ultra fell by 4.3 percent in the week that ended on July 1, as compared with the previous year, and Busch Light took an 8.5 percent hit in sales, according to Bump Williams Consulting citing NielsenIQ data. Bud Lights sales dropped 28.5 percent for the week ending July 1, or slightly worse than the 27.5 percent decline during the previous week, while Budweisers sales dropped 10.2 percent. Budweiser trends have been slipping for a very long time, but its the Michelob Ultra negative numbers and now Busch Light negative trends that are most alarming to me, Bump Williams, of the eponymous firm, told the New York Post on Monday. They were very healthy prior to April 1. Mr. Williams was referring to the date on which a Bud Light can featuring transgender activist Dylan Mulvaneys face on it was posted by the TikTok influencer, drawing a significant backlash among conservatives. Executives with Anheuser-Busch have said that only one can with Mr. Mulvaneys face was produced in a bid to distance the brand from the influencer, although the company has been faulted for not directly addressing the controversy or its support of LGBT individuals and groups. The data also showed that Modelo Especial, which is owned by Constellation Brands in the United States, is the No. 1-selling beer for the past two months. It saw sales jump 11.4 percent during the week ending July 1, the data show. The gap between Modelo Especial and Bud Light on a year-to-date basis is closing, Mr. Williams said. Modelo Especial was the top-selling beer brand for the four weeks ending July 1, with an 8.7 percent share of overall beer sales through retail stores for the period, while Bud Light came in second with a 7 percent share, according to Bump Williams and NielsenIQ. In a statement to Newsweek, Mr. Williams said it was possible but unlikely that Modelo Especial would steal the top spot as the No. 1 beer in the United States for the calendar year unless growth trends for Modelo Especial continue and Bud Light declines continue. Bud Light also has a significant [dollar] advantage over Modelo, he said. But in mid-June, Mr. Williams told CBS News that Bud Lights firm grip on the No. 1 rank by year-end loosens a bit more every week, adding that Bud Light would have to see a serious course correction in terms of performance. That can only occur if consumers [find] their way back to the brand family, he said. Companies invest a lot into being front and center and top of mind during this season as there is only so much floor space to allocate; consumer money to spend and beer occasions to fulfill, he said. And if a brand misses those opportunities, then that is almost impossible to fully recover that lost potential over the balance of the calendar year. And an Anheuser-Busch spokesperson told Newsweek that for the year, Bud Light remains the number one brand in the U.S. nationally in volume and dollar sales. The Epoch Times has contacted the company for comment. The backlash against the Mulvaney promotion was immediate and has been much longer lasting than other previous conservative-led boycotts. The boycott momentum also extended into other sectors, with conservative influencers calling for people not to shop at places like Target over the retailers decision to sell pride month items for children. This boycott has now become something much more permanent than anyone anticipated, said Neil Reid, professor of geography at the University of Toledo, who researches the beer industry. The Bud Light and Budweiser share losses would persist through the year and we believe that the consumers who have opted to move away from those two brands are ultimately lost to the company, said TD Cowen analyst Vivien Azer. Ms. Azer added that consumers had quickly figured out Anheuser-Busch InBevs other beer brands like Michelob Ultra and Natural Light, which are also seeing a fall in sales. Before the backlash, Natural Light was gaining due to cost-conscious consumers opting for cheaper six-packs. Anheuser-Busch InBevs CEO Michel Doukeris said in a May conference call that it was too early to have a full view of the impact of the backlash against Pride-linked promotions, noting that it was one can that was produced as part of the Mulvaney promotion. He and other top executives also said the firm would provide more funding to Bud Lights marketing over the summer, although neither Mr. Doukeris nor the others have directly addressed the Mulvaney controversy. Last week, when asked about the transgender controversy, Anheuser-Buschs U.S. division chief, Brendan Whitworth, told CBS News: Over the last month, weve talked to over 100,000 consumers and their feedback is very clear. The feedback is to reinforce what Bud Light has always meant to them, which is good times, goodwill, and easy enjoyment, he said. Reuters contributed to this report. By Azernews Rena Murshud Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan persistently says that he will reach an agreement on the peace treaty with Azerbaijan and on the issue of delimitation and demarcation of the borders based on the map of 1975. However, there is no accurate information about the mentioned map itself or what areas are included in it. It should be noted that from the time of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia to the date of the collapse of the Soviet Union, a map was drawn up several times, including delimitation and demarcation of the borders. Over the last 20-30 years, the territorial conflict between the two states after the demise of the USSR made it necessary to bring back those maps from the dusty archives onto table. Rather, the Armenian authorities, using all pretexts, have now started citing those maps as a basis. It is necessary to remind one main issue that whether it is a map made in France in 1918 showing the entire present-day Armenia as the territory of Azerbaijan, or whether it is the map of 1975 claimed by Pashinyan, in any case, Karabakh, which Armenians considered their land during the Soviet period, was within the territory of Azerbaijan. In 2020, after the liberation of the occupied lands in the Patriotic War, by the order of President Ilham Aliyev, the Soviet-era status quo over Karabakh was abolished. Despite this, Armenia does not accept this reality, and continues to brazenly call the lands of Azerbaijan "Nagorno-Karabakh". As mentioned above, in the meetings held after the war, Pashinyan repeatedly made statements about the recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Nevertheless, this statement of the prime minister was refuted and published in various comments in many Armenian media. Today, as a result of the behavior and policy of not only the Armenians, but also the Armenian authorities according to double standards, the peace process has been purposefully prolonged. According to Azerbaijani diplomat Eldar Namazov, who recently interviewed Georgian journalist Gela Vasadze, the 1975 map that Pashinyan referred to for the signing of the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as for the demarcation and delimitation of the borders of the two countries, is not considered the final map. There were maps drawn in 74, 76, 77, which were almost similar. But when it is determined by law, the delimitation issue should not be based on the 1975 map, but based on cartography and geodesy. "Delimitation is a long issue. The map drawn up in 1975 applies only a part of the general border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The other part should be compiled according to the maps published in other years." Political analyst Zardusht Alizade said these words in his comment to Azernews in support of Eldar Namazov's words. According to him, it is necessary to produce agreed maps for certain areas, stations and projects every year. This is done in parts for 10-15 years. It is impossible to carry out delimitation works on that map. After each part is agreed, it is documented on a defined map. And a single map defining the 1000 km Azerbaijan-Armenia territory does not exist at all. According to Alizade, Pashinyan's policy according to such double standards is procrastination. "Armenia is resorting to this way because it does not want the signing of the peace agreement. Currently, due to the balance of forces, the Azerbaijani side is strong and demands its rights. Armenia does not want concede either. Pashinyan is playing with time because he cannot afford to give what Azerbaijan wants, so that maybe the situation may change in the future. Armenians live with empty dreams that suddenly Azerbaijan will weaken and the countries close to it, including itself, will become stronger. With this thought, the unfortunate people put themselves in such a ridiculous situation." Being Azernews, we also learned the opinions of Georgian journalist Gela Vasadze on the issue in question. According to him, any negotiations regarding border delimitation and demarcation are conducted on the basis of some documents. "Of course, this process is continued only on the basis of documentation. But the essence of the bilateral negotiations is determined on the basis of consensus between the parties (both Azerbaijan and Armenia), and for this, a new border passing through a specific space should be created," Vasadze stressed. The journalist, while expressing his opinion about the recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan by the Armenian government, also touched on another point. "Armenia insists that territories with current Russian peacekeepers should not be included in Azerbaijan's sovereign territory. Because Armenia thinks that the Armenians living in Karabakh today cannot live together with the population of Azerbaijan according to the laws of Azerbaijan. It is clear that Azerbaijan does not agree to this," the Georgian journalist said. According to Gela Vasadze, Armenia's efforts are just to win time. However, as Azerbaijan takes a position based on its internal and external views, there will be hopes for a change in the political and general situation in the world. Also, it will be possible for Azerbaijan to restore full sovereignty over its territory, including the entire territory of Karabakh, of which its part temporarily is under peacekeeping control. The Cabinet approved on Tuesday amending certain provisions of 2015's Resolution No. 540, adding new groups as beneficiaries to the Takaful and Karama program. Sole breadwinner women with adult children, and impoverished young adults without family support will now be eligible for Takaful and Karama payments. These new groups included in the amendment account for some 300,000 families, according to a statement issued by the Cabinet following its weekly meeting. The amendment also includes details regarding the monthly amounts available for eligible groups under the Takaful and Karama program, as well as the conditions for this cash support. These changes aim to ensure that all eligible Egyptians are included in the program's services, and to streamline the provision of cash to beneficiaries. Takaful and Karama, a cornerstone of Egypts social protection system, was launched in 2015 to support impoverished families with school-age children, the elderly, and people with special needs in Upper Egypt. As of June 2022, it disburses payments to 3.69 million households (about 12.84 million individuals). In December the World Bank announced $500 million in financing to expand and strengthen the program. It is expected that Takaful and Karama will reach up to five million households by the end of 2023, making it the largest poverty-targeted conditional cash transfer program in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the World Bank. Egypt announced earlier that the budget for subsidies and social protection networks would increase from EGP 358.4 billion in FY2022/2023 to EGP 529.7 billion (around $17.1 billion) in FY2023/2024, an increase of 48.8 percent. Search Keywords: Short link: $1 trillion in five weeksthats how much debt has been added since President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy agreed to a debt limit deal last month. We have the details. A federal judge has denied a request from the Department of Justice in the Biden administrations censorship case. Western leaders are gathering at the NATO summit in Lithuania. Listen to President Bidens reaction to Turkeys U-turn on letting Sweden join NATO. Topics in this episode include: 1. NATO Summit Begins as Turkey Okays Sweden Membership 2. FBI Director to Testify to Judiciary Committee Wednesday 3. Federal Debt Up $1 Trillion Since Debt Limit Deal Reached 4. DOJs Request Denied in Biden Admin. Censorship Case 5. SCOTUS Ethics Bill Vote Scheduled 6. DOJ Indicts Fugitive Who Accused Bidens of Corruption 7. Revived Lawsuit Links Cisco to CCPs Persecution of Falun Gong 8. Watchdog: Race-Based Hiring Unconstitutional 9. Raging Floods Devastate Swaths of Northeast 10. Russian Kamikaze Drones Attack Kyiv, Odesa 11. Prigozhin in Moscow After Mutiny 12. Possible Prisoner Swap to Bring Gershkovich Home 13. Analysis of US-Russia Prisoner Swap 14. Jews, Muslims Commemorate Srebrenica Genocide 15. Iceland: Police Restrict Access to Volcano 16. Defense Firms Being De-Banked: UK Minister 17. Meta Platforms Used Most in Human Trafficking: Report 18. Mass. Considers 1st US Ban on Location Data Sales 19. Sextortion Schemes on the Rise: Study 20. Sen. Schumer Probes Logan Pauls Prime Energy Drink 21. Subway Giving Away 1 Million Free Subs on July 11 22. Strengthening Bone Marrow to Mitigate Cancer Risk Ottawa Must Boost Defence Spending to Meet NATO Targets, Support Canadian Troops, Say Tories Conservative MP Michael Chong rises during question period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 3, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) The Conservatives are calling on the government to increase defence spending to meet NATOs target for all members and also to support the Canadian military, which is currently experiencing retention and recruitment woes. The call came as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Latvia ahead of the the NATO Leaders Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, this week. Trudeau has neglected Canadas armed forces and in the face of increased global tensions, continues to fall short of our commitments on defence, said Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic Michael Chong in a press release on July 10. Last year, the Trudeau government spent 1.29% of our GDP on defence, putting Canada 25th out of 29 NATO members. A year after the war in Ukraine began, this borders on negligence. NATO has asked all of its member countries since 2006 to put at least 2 percent of their GDP toward national defence spending. Canada is yet to meet that target. Our troops are struggling to do the jobs their country is asking of them due to personnel shortages and a lack of equipment, Mr. Chong said, adding that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) recruitment numbers must be increased and its equipment upgraded immediately. In addition to Canada contributing to NATOs collective defence, it is equally important that the military have the equipment it needs to protect our own vast borders, especially in the Arctic where we share a border region with Russia. The government has increased defence spending over the past year through several long-term planned military upgrades, but opposition parties and critics still say its not enough. Defence Minister Anita Anand announced in June 2022 that Canada would invest $4.9 billion over the next six years to modernize NORADs aging surveillance and defence systems. Ms. Anand also announced this past January that Ottawa will be investing $19 billion over the next nine years to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets. The jets will not fully replace Canadas fleet of outdated CF-18 Hornets until 2032. NATO Defence Spending In Latvia on July 10, Mr. Trudeau announced that Canada will be committing $2.6 billion over three years starting in 2023-24 to upgrade CAFs Operation REASSURANCE, which is located in Latvia and is the militarys largest overseas mission. Canada will also be more than doubling the number of troops it stations in Latvia between 202324 and 202526. On the same day Mr. Trudeau made the announcement, Mr. Chong said that, while at the NATO summit in Vilnius, the prime minister should address and retract previous private comments he reportedly made to NATO officials saying that Canada will never meet its defence spending target. Trudeau has a chance at the Vilnius Summit to make a commitment to address this neglect. It is also a chance for the PM to walk back his private comments to NATO officials that under this Liberal government Canada will never meet our commitments to our NATO partners and allies, Mr. Chong said. Mr. Trudeau previously addressed the comments, which were summarized in a leaked Pentagon assessment reported on by the Washington Post in April, by saying that Canada remains a reliable partner to NATO, a reliable partner around the world, and with our military investments. Pig Butchering Scam Threatening Global Internet Users May Have Ties to CCP: Pundit A border fence seperating China and Myanmar in the county-level city of Ruili in Dehong prefecture, in China's southwestern Yunnan Province, on Jan. 14, 2023. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) An internet scam dubbed pig butchering, run by Chinese crime syndicates in Southeast Asia may have ties with the Chinese communist regime, China watchers say, especially in light of the regimes history. The syndicatesoperating in countries bordering southern China, including Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmaruse trafficked cyber slaves to scam internet users. A report titled A Criminal Cancer Spreads in Southeast Asia, released by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), a U.S. Congress-funded think tank, on June 26, details pig butchering (Sha Zhu Pan) which began as illegal online gambling in China in 2018. Pig butchering implies the scams process of fatten[ing] targets before slaughtering them. Once the scammer determines that the victim has invested all their financial resources, the pig will be slaughtered, and the scammer disappears with the victims money. The report pointed out that after having driven out of China, Chinese criminal bosses have taken control of Shwe Kokko, a new township in Karen State bordering Thailand, allying themselves with the Myanmar Border Guard Force under the Burmese military. Now Shwe Kokko has become a safe zone for crime and a hub of drugs and sex-trafficking that funds the military regime with dirty money. Stirring up the World In an interview with The Epoch Times on June 30, Ye Zhiqiu, a media worker living in New Zealand, said these Chinese criminal organizations are likely to be backed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) due to their unusual strength in cooperating with the local military in Myanmar. These Chinese criminal syndicates originate from China and have their soil in CCP-ruled society, Mr. Ye said. In China, criminal organizations cant grow without an official protective umbrella. CCP is essentially a triad, colluding between police, officials, and criminals. [the criminal] backbone is often the CCP officials and government departments, he said. But the CCP would consider driving these criminals out of China for its own interests, said Mr. Ye, citing that Beijing fears it would negatively impact the performance of officials in the long run and corruption and crime will damage its regime. Moreover, leaving criminal groups to run amok abroad is a way [for the CCP] to achieve its goal of stirring up the world, Ye said. Using the Digital World China watcher Shi Shan told The Epoch Times on June 30 that the CCP tried to crack down on cyber fraud domestically for the past years but failed. I think now it [the CCP] probably pitch in making use of them [cyber fraud criminals], that is, incorporate them into its [CCP] organization, he said. The CCP has infiltrated and expanded its influence abroad through high-tech social platforms such as TikTok, along with data theft and cyber hacking. Now cyber fraud may also be an effective tool for the CCP, according to Shi. Jason Tower, a co-author of the report and director of USIPs Burma research, told VOA on June 28 that these cyber frauds initially targeted Chinese citizens and now are committing crimes against U.S. citizens and people from Europe, Japan, and many other countries worldwide. As of early 2022, cyber fraud crimes have been characterized as a global security threat, victimizing nationals of more than 46 countries, the USIP report said. CCPs Link with Triads Transnational criminal organizations with many ethnic Chinese members are often considered a triad. The CCP has a long history of using criminal forces. A report of the Indo-Pacific Defence Forum on Feb. 4, 2022, indicated that Beijing has deep links with organized crimes and triad, undermining democracies and threatening regional stability. In Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, CCP officials have demonstrated a willingness to work directly with organized Chinese crime groups that support Beijings goals. In October 1984, then-communist leader Deng Xiaoping stated that the CCP was prepared to work with organized criminals if they favored the communist regime. He noted that the Chinese triads have patriotic members and many good people and that it protected senior Chinese officials overseas. Tao Siju, former Minister of Public Security, told the media, There was an organization like the Triad, and they sent out 800 people to protect our national leaders. Tao was pointing to American triads that kept Deng and his party safe during Dengs visit to the United States from Jan. 28 to Feb. 5, 1979, the first-ever in 30 years after China-U.S. broke off diplomatic relations, according to a report in the Hong Kong media Ming Pao, on April 24, 2016. Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 31, 1979, in the White House in Washington during Dengs U.S. visit. (Consolidated Pictures/AFP via Getty Images) Tao said again that there are also patriots in the triads when he was in charge of security for the handover of sovereignty in Hong Kong in 1997. His words were seen as part of Beijings efforts to unify and recruit Hong Kong triads to ensure a smooth handover. Communist Bandit The CCP has been regarded as a communist bandit since its founding and even its officials admitted this. The Chinese language version of The Epoch Times reported on June 13, 2018, about a video posted on the official Weibo account of a newspaper, which is sponsored by the Shaanxi Provincial Committee, a community secretary in Zhenan county, Shangluo City of the province, yelling at local residents that the CCP is the largest triad; you must obey and do what it commands you to do. The Nine Commentaries on The Communist Party, an editorial of The Epoch Times in November 2014, stated that the CCP is a triad group combining all kinds of criminal methods from ancient to modern times. In todays China, ethics and morality have deteriorated beyond recognition. Shoddy products, prostitution, drugs, conspiracies between officials and gangs, organized crime syndicates, gambling, and bribery corruption is prevalent. The CCP has ignored such moral decay, while many high-ranking officials are the back-room bosses extorting protection fees from fearful people, it reads. The editorial cited Cai Shaoqing, an expert studying mafia and crime organizations at Nanjing University, saying that the number of organized crime members in China totals at least one million. Each captured syndicate figure always exposes some corrupt communists who are government officials, judges, or police operating out of the public view. Not only within China, They [the CCP] will use the triads to infiltrate the world, Shi said, and in the future, this [the CCP] could be more devastating to the world than the Russian mob. With the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) growing its power in America, understanding its goals couldnt be more important than it is today. Few events in recent Chinese history have had as profound an impact on a country as what happened on July 20, 1999. It was the day on which the CCP launched a campaign meant to crush a domestic spiritual revival and force the free world to look the other way. This years July 20 marks 24 years since the regime launched its unprecedented persecution of Falun Gong, severely impacting the lives of the Chinese people and the course of their nations history. And this is only what the surface reveals. Behind it all is an evil never before seen in human historystate-sponsored forced organ harvesting. What role has the free world played in the persecution of the century? If it continues, whats at stake for America? NTD, The Epoch Times sister media, will premiere a special report on the CCPs persecution of Falun Gong. NTD correspondent Steve Lance sits down with insiders and explores the questions: Why is the CCP afraid of people of faith? Why did the free world let this happen while growing deeper relations with communist China? What price is America paying for soft-pedaling on the CCP? This special report features interviews with: Rep. Scott Perry Rep. Gus Bilirakis Rep. Ashley Hinson Rep. Greg Murphy, co-chair of the House GOP Doctor Caucus Rep. Tim Burchett Rep. Tom Tiffany Rep. Mike Flood Sam Brownback, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute Levi Browde, director of the Falun Dafa Information Center You Zhou, Falun Gong practitioner Lydia Wang, Falun Gong practitioner About the host: Steve Lance is the host of Capitol Report, a political news show based in Washington aimed at providing a direct channel to the voices and people who shape policy in America. Capitol Report features all of the political news of the day with expert interviews and analysis. Follow Steve on Twitter: @SteveLanceNTD Rees-Mogg Pushes Anti-Discrimination Law as Banks Are Accused of Shutting Accounts Over Personal Views Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg arrives for a Cabinet Meeting at Downing Street in London on Nov. 16, 2021. (Rob Pinney/Getty Images) Former minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg is pushing for a new law that will make it more difficult for banks to shut down peoples accounts. It comes amid ongoing suspicion that banks have been closing customers accounts over their political exposure or views. Mr. Rees-Mogg, a Conservative MP and GB News presenter, told The Telegraph that while banks have the right to block accounts, they are doing this in far too many cases. With the declining of cash, an individual without a bank account is effectively a non-citizen or a non-person, he said. According to the report, Mr. Rees-Mogg will propose an amendment to the Digital Markets Bill, that aims to stop banks from discriminating against clients. The amendment would also compel banks to inform customers why their accounts would be closed within 30 days of their decision and give customers the right to demand compensation, the report said. I would hope the government will take up this amendment. This is where the Government wants to be; it is helping their policy, Mr. Rees-Mogg said. Nigel Farage Denied Accounts By 9 Banks Mr. Rees-Moggs proposal comes as his colleague at GB News, former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, said he couldnt find a bank thats willing to hold his account in the UK. In a video published on YouTube on June 29, Mr. Farage said his bank had told him they were going to close his account. He said the bank gave no reason for closing his account, but speculated that rules regarding politically exposed persons (PEPs) may be one of the possible reasons. Mr. Farage also speculated that Labour MP Sir Chris Bryants assertion in Parliament that Mr. Farage had received 548,573 from Russia Today in 2018 may have contributed to the banks unwillingness to give him an account. In an update published on Monday, the former businessman and politician said he still hasnt found a new bank, with nine banks having rejected his business. British Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage speaks during a visit to Dover harbour, in Dover, Britain, on Aug. 12, 2020. (Matthew Childs/Reuters) Its unclear whether banks are denying Mr. Farage access to an account over PEP concerns, politicians with all parties have complained about running into difficulty with banks. PEPs rules are international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force. They were adopted by the European Union in the form of directives, which were then incorporated into British law through secondary legislation. The anti-money-laundering rules require financial institutions to carry out extra checks on PEPs. While guidance (pdf) published in 2017 clarified that UK PEPs should be treated as low risk unless they pose a higher risk for other reasons, politicians have said that they still had to go through heightened scrutiny. City Minister Andrew Griffith wrote to the Financial Conduct Authority, urging the watchdog to prioritise a review on PEP rules so they do not unduly burden or prevent democratically elected individuals, public officials, or their respective families from access to essential banking services. Other De-Banking There have been others who suspected their accounts may have been closed over their political views, although banks have denied the allegations. In one of the most recent cases, Metro Bank emailed gender-critical parents group Our Duty, saying the bank couldnt offer an account because it doesnt currently allow organisations to receive donations if not a registered charity, and for community groups to be linked to, or influence political policies or legislations. Our Duty founder Keith Jordan claimed that a bank manager had told him in a phone call that the group couldnt get an account because of what it believes is in conflict with the banks culture, but the bank denied making any such decisions based an individual or organisations personal or political views. According to the Times of London, An Anglican church leader lost his building society account after he replied to a monthly email soliciting feedback, telling the building society, which had displayed support for the so-called pride month on its website, that he didnt agree with pushing transgender ideology on children. The building society has also denied closing any accounts over opinions, saying they only ever make the difficult decision to close a savings account if a customer is rude, abusive, violent, or discriminates in any way, based on the specific facts, comments and behaviour in each case. Triggernometry, a British YouTube show and podcast featuring interviews and satirical content about current affairs and social issues, also lost a bank account recently. According to co-host Konstantin Kisin, the bank has also cited their reception of donations as a reason. Rep. Matt Gaetz Backs Democrat-Led Effort to Block Biden Admin Sending Cluster Munitions to Ukraine Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) walks to a closed-door GOP caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 10, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) A Democrat-led effort to stop the Biden administration from transferring cluster munitions to Ukraine is turning into a bipartisan effort, with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) offering to be the Republican co-sponsor on the effort. On Friday, July 7, the Biden administration announced plans to begin transferring to Ukraine a type of cluster munition known as the dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM). The plan quickly caught criticism from members of the presidents own party, citing concerns about the weapons, which release a cluster of dozens of submunitions that dont always immediately explode. Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) were among those Democratic lawmakers who opposed the DPICM transfers to Ukraine. On Friday, Ms. Jacobs and Ms. Omar introduced an amendment (pdf) to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would bar export licensing to transfer cluster munitions from the United States abroad. Our international coalition is strong because were united together and because were living up to our valuesbut sending cluster munitions defies these two tenets, Ms. Jacobs said in a July 6 press statement. Many of our partners dont support this move with many having already banned cluster munitions from their stockpiles. Weve seen Russias horrific use of cluster munitions in Ukraineand we shouldnt cede the moral high ground by criticizing their actions and then deciding to send cluster munitions ourselves. Ms. Omar said, If the U.S. is going to be a leader on international human rights, we must not participate in human rights abuses. On Monday, Mr. Gaetz volunteered to be the Republican co-sponsor on Ms. Jacobss amendment. Democrats used to call the use of cluster bombs a war crime, and that war crime is now an American export. Weve just learned that there are some Democrats who are working against the Biden administration with regard to these munitions, Mr. Gaetz said in a segment of his Firebrand podcast on Monday. Mr. Gaetz noted hed criticized Ms. Jacobs a great deal in the past, but saw her opposition to sending cluster munitions to Ukraine as a common-ground issue. Im here to tell you is that Im going to be the Republican co-sponsor of the Jacobs amendment before the House Rules Committee, he added. We have an opportunity, with bipartisanship, to stand against the warmongering Bidens. The risk of cluster munitions leaving behind small unexploded bomblets that are hard to track raises the concern that these bomblets may be triggered by innocent civilians later on. Mr. Gaetz said these cluster munitions have been used throughout the worlds bloodiest and most inhumane wars in places like Laos, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Syria. Children will be left without limbs and without parents because of this decision by Joe Biden if we do not work together in a bipartisan fashion to stop it, Mr. Gaetz said. Bipartisan Support, Opposition For Cluster Munitions Transfer It remains to be seen which lawmakers will join in support of Ms. Jacobss amendment. Several other Democratic lawmakers have spoken in opposition to the transfer of DPICMs to Ukraine, including Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.). Numerous Republicans have also spoken in opposition to providing weapons to Ukraine. Those who have specifically criticized the cluster munitions transfers include Reps. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) While the opposition to the cluster munitions transfer is bipartisan, so is the support. Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas), the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had supported transfers of cluster munitions to Ukraine for months. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Mr. McCaul said the weapons would be a game-changer for Ukraine. Russia is dropping with impunity cluster bombs in Ukraine, in the country of Ukraine right now, Mr. McCaul told CNN. All the Ukrainians and [Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy] are asking for is to give them the same weapons the Russians have to use in their own country against Russians who are in their own country. They do not want these to be used in Russia. They want these as self-defense to use against Russians. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said he had some real qualms about the plan to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, but had been reassured by the Biden administration that theyd taken enough steps to minimize the risk to civilians. It causes me some concern but I do appreciate that the Biden administration has really grappled with the risks and reached agreements with the Ukrainian military about using these munitions in a way to dislodge the Russian military while minimizing risks to Ukrainian civilians, he said. While announcing the decision to start transferring cluster munitions to Ukraine on Friday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that the military had selected DPICMs with a dud rate of no more than 2.5 percent, meaning thered be a relatively low chance of submunitions failing to explode when theyre initially released. Mr. Sullivan said Russian cluster munitions, by comparison, have a dud rate of between 30 and 40 percent. We recognize that cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance, Mr. Sullivan said. This is why weve deferreddeferred the decision for as long as we could. But there is also a massive risk of civilian harm if Russian troops and tanks roll over Ukrainian positions and take more Ukrainian territory and subjugate more Ukrainian civilians because Ukraine does not have enough artillery. That is intolerable to us. From NTD News Republicans to Blinken: Act Against Chinas Organ Harvesting Secretary of State Antony Blinken holds a press conference at the Beijing American Center of the US Embassy in Beijing on June 19, 2023. (Leah Millis/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary Rep. Michelle Steel, a California Republican whose parents fled communist North Korea and raised her in Japan, says its past time for the federal government to take action to prevent U.S. complicity or even assistance in Chinas gruesome organ-harvesting practices. Steel and GOP Rep. Neal Dunn of Florida last week called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take immediate action to prevent anyone participating in Chinas $1 billion forced organ harvesting industry from receiving legal entry into the United States or to revoke visas for those already in the U.S. who are linked to the gruesome practice. My parents fled from Communist rule, so Ive always been working on these issues, Steel told RealClearPolitics (RCP) in an interview. Medical doctors who have participated in organ harvesting or are involved in some way shouldnt be allowed to come to the United States . [W]e dont want to train these doctors. In their letter to Blinken, Steel and Dunn expressed deep concern about the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) organ harvesting of minorities, including Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Muslims, and Christians who have been wrongfully detained in China. Evidence suggests that some medical practitioners in China are forcing organ harvesting procedures on the most vulnerable populations in China, and those who perform these acts have no place in the United States, they wrote. Human rights experts estimate that 60,000 to 100,000 forced organ transplants are occurring annually in China, with 8,000 a year in just one hospital. Nina Shea, the director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, has criticized the American transplant sector for openly supporting Chinas transplant doctors and industry even as they adhere to medical ethics at home. American institutions are documented to have trained 344 of Chinas transplant doctors, Shea wrote in an article calling for a greater U.S. response to Chinas forced organ harvesting. Steel and Dunn, both members of the House Select Committee on China, asked Blinken if he shares their outrage and whether the agency is currently investigating medical practitioners applying for visas in the United States for ties to Chinas organ-harvesting industry. The inquiry comes as the Biden administration continues its efforts to repair its strained relations with China, which are at their lowest level in decades over disputes related to Beijings aggression against Taiwan, Chinese spying, technology, and various trade disputes. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was in Beijing last week, to meet with Chinas No. 2 leader, Premier Li Qiang. Just last month, Blinken spent two days in Beijing meeting with Chinas leader Xi Jinping and top foreign policy officials after canceling a diplomatic trip earlier this year amid fallout over a Chinese spy balloon traversing the United States. The two Republican members of Congress specifically want to know if the State Department is keeping track of how many medical practitioners from China have applied for visas in the U.S. over the last five years, how many visas have been granted among this pool of applicants, and how many were denied. They also asked whether Blinken has a plan to prevent the CCPs organ-harvesting crimes against humanity. A State Department spokesperson said the agency is deeply concerned by reports of forced organ harvesting targeting members of religious and ethnic minority groups detained in China. But the spokesperson declined to say whether State had responded or plan to respond to the inquiries, citing a general policy against discussing congressional correspondence. The United States continues to call on the [Peoples Republic of China] government to cease its depraved actions and to act consistent with its human rights commitments and all relevant medical and ethical best practices, including acting in the best interest of the patients, informed consent and respect for personhood, the spokesperson told RCP in an emailed statement. This official, who asked not to be named, confirmed that the United States is actively seeking to prevent individuals who are or have been involved in human rights violations and abuses from securing safe haven in the country and cited a number of visa ineligibility grounds that could potentially apply to individuals who have been involved in coerced organ harvesting. Visa records are confidential under U.S. law, therefore, we cannot discuss the details of individual cases, the spokesperson said. Steel and Dunn are pressing the State Department for answers amid growing pressure in the United States and abroad to take steps to ensure that responsible nations and medical institutions disentangle themselves from any involvement in or financial support of Chinas organ supply chains. In late March, the House passed a bipartisan anti-organ harvesting bill spearheaded by GOP Rep. Chris Smith, a longtime human rights champion and chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The measure would impose sanctions on anyone funding or supporting Chinas organ-harvesting industry. Sens. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, and Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, have introduced a similar bill, now wending its way through the Senate. Key members of Congress have long tried to expose Chinas gruesome organ harvesting practices. The House Foreign Affairs Committee held its first full hearing on the CCPs forced organ transplants in 2001, and the practice was raised in hearings as far back as 1996. Congress, the State Department, and the U.S. medical establishment all share an institutional reluctance to confront China over these mass atrocities because the potential implications are so far-reaching and range from international trade to Taiwan. But a growing international body of evidence is increasingly making the practice difficult for nations to ignore. Last year, the American Journal of Transplantation, the top transplant publication in the world, published an article by two leading researchers on a particularly grisly practice. The pair uncovered compelling evidence that Chinese surgeons are removing organs from prisoners who are still alive, a shocking violation of the internationally accepted dead-donor organ rule barring extractions before donors have been declared brain dead. In 2019, the China Tribunal, a non-governmental commission in the UK, investigated accusations of organ harvesting in China, holding hearings and weighing evidence from dozens of witnesses and experts. The Tribunal, led by Sir Geoffrey Nice, a world-renowned lawyer who prosecuted Slobodan Milosevic at the Hague, concluded that forced organ harvesting has taken place on a significant scale throughout China for years. It also learned that instead of curbing the practice in response to worldwide scrutiny, the CCP expanded it from jailed Falun Gong followers to Chinas Uyghur Muslims. It found that the CCPs execution of prisoners of conscience for their organs constitutes crimes against humanity and said the sheer scale of the transplant tourism industry in China suggests that prisoners of conscience have been killed to order for their organs. Stealing these organs is a gross human rights violation, Steel said. The whole world needs to know whats going on in China. From RealClearWire Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Rising Number of Managers Reconsidering How ESG Standards Are Integrated Into Funds: HSBC Survey HSBC logo is seen in the financial district in New York, on Aug 7, 2019. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) A new poll by UK banking giant HSBC has found a rising number of managers are reconsidering how they integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues into their investment strategies. The findings come from the London-based lenders survey of 310 professionals across the globe in roles related to ESG decision-making. The poll was conducted May 31June 24, 2023. Respondents in the survey represented $8.9 trillion in assets under management across 292 institutions, according to HSBCs global research team, which conducted the poll. Analysts found that there is growing pushback against investment strategies that factor in ESG considerations among managers based in the United States. Specifically, the survey found that in North America, the number of managers who believe sustainability is a primary fund objective has declined over the past year, with nearly a quarter of respondents stating sustainability is a primary or secondary objective in 2023 compared to 37 percent who said the same last year. Roughly 44 percent of the North American respondents also said they now have weaker reasons for incorporating an ESG investment strategy over the past 12 months, according to the survey. There is undoubtedly a rise in anti-ESG sentiment in the U.S., HSBC analysts wrote. In our view, this falls along mostly political lines and is isolated to the U.S. A sign for BlackRock on its building in New York, on July 16, 2018. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters) Companies Under Fire Both negative screening and use of ESG ratings declined as the primary method of implementing ESG, indicating, in our view, further progress on the part of investors to developing more bespoke forms of ESG analysis, they added. ESG policiesoriginally developed at the United Nations Environmental Programme Financial Initiative 20 years agoare used by some companies as a way of assessing their business practices and performance as they relate to environmental, social, and governance issues. A string of companies have embraced such policies in recent years, including asset manager BlackRockwhich owns large stakes in firms such as Apple, Microsoft, and Amazonas well as Pepsi, Exxon Mobil, and more. However, Republican lawmakers and investors have repeatedly condemned such policies for prioritizing what they believe to be a more liberal agenda. They also fear such policies may harm U.S. companies and possibly have drastic implications on wider economic growth. Amid the backlash, the desire for ESG strategies among shareholders appears to be waning, data from the Sustainable Investments Institute published in June show. According to that data, proposals to compel corporations to act against climate change won approval from an average of 23 percent of shareholders in 2023, compared to 36.6 percent in 2022 and about 50 percent in 2021. Support for proposals on social justice causes also dipped this year by about 10 percentage points, the data show. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers continue to warn companies that their ESG efforts, including their decarbonization and net-zero emissions targets, may violate U.S. antitrust law. Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), speaks during John Durhams testimony in Congress in Washington, on June 21, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) Republicans Probing ESG Policies Last week, House Judiciary chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) sent letters to heads of Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) and its Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiativea sector-specific group of international asset managers within GFANZ that supports net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, warning of the possible violations. Mr. Jordan and the other lawmakers called on the companies to provide an array of documents detailing their ESG policies, including how they developed their decarbonization and net-zero emissions targets and commitments and how they developed such goals. They also accused both GFANZ and NZAM of entering into collusive agreements to decarbonize assets under management and reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. The GOP lawmakers also sent similar letters to Vanguard, State Street, and BlackRock, the latter of which has seen millions of dollars in investments pulled by Republican states, including Louisiana, South Carolina, and Utah, in recent months. In addition, House Republicans are investigating a string of climate groups that they claim are violating federal antitrust laws in their effort to push the ESG agenda. Trade Group Condemns SEC Rules On Monday, the National Association of Manufacturers, a trade group representing some 14,000 small and large manufacturers, called on Congress to rein in ESG rules implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and protect companies from ESG activists, warning that the rules will dramatically increase costs for manufacturers while providing minimal benefit for investors. The trade group specifically took aim at the influence proxy voting firms have on investors in terms of recommendations and advice and called for increased oversight of such firms. It further criticized the SEC for granting ESG activists special privileges in its rules. Manufacturers now receive shareholder proposals on a regular basis from activists that have little to no investment in their company or interest in its success, Jay Timmons, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Manufacturers, wrote in a letter (pdf) to the House Financial Services Committee. These proposals almost invariably seek to advance environmental, social, and governance agendas unrelated to the businesss long-term prospects. Furthering these distracting and costly proposals are so-called proxy advisory firms, which influence or control large swaths of the shareholder vote yet operate with minimal transparency and significant conflicts of interest. Mr. Timmons said. Mr. Timmons concluded that the mission of the SEC is to maintain efficient capital markets while also protecting investors and supporting capital formation, but stated that several of the SECs recent actions run counter to these goals. It is not yet clear if lawmakers will intervene and limit proxy advisory firms influence on a string of companies. The SEC did not respond to a request for comment. Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. Russia, China Should Lead Global Governance Reform, Xi Says People walk past a screen showing video footage of Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the National Museum of China in Beijing, on Feb. 27, 2019. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese leader Xi Jinping told a visiting Russian delegation that Beijing and Moscow should lead the correct direction of global governance reform. Mr. Xi made the remarks on July 10 while meeting Valentina Matviyenko, the chairperson of the Kremlins upper house or Federation Council, according to Russian and Chinese state-run media. Both sides need to strengthen communication and collaboration within multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS countries, lead the correct direction of global governance reform, and safeguard the common interests of emerging market countries and developing countries, Mr. Xi said. BRICS is an acronym for an economic body consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Mr. Xis latest remarks will likely fuel growing warnings from experts and politicians that the Chinese regime aims to reshape the current rule-based international order. In March, geopolitical analysts warned that Mr. Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin were pushing to create a new China-led global order after the Chinese leader told his Russian counterpart that the two neighboring countries are driving changes not seen in 100 years. The Chinese leader also told Ms. Matviyenko that Beijing stood ready to work with Russia to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual assistance, deep integration, innovation, and inclusive cooperation in the new era. In response, Ms. Matviyenko told Mr. Xi that the strategic partnership has reached the highest level in history and continues to develop steadily. Chinese leader Xi Jinping (L) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. (Sergei Karpukhin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) The Kremlin and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) elevated their ties to a no-limits partnership in February 2021just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, the communist regime has not publicly denounced Russias invasion, while some Chinese entities have been sanctioned by the U.S. government for contributing to the Russian invasion. After her meeting with Mr. Xi, Ms. Matviyenko said Russia could also count on a firm and reliable friendly shoulder in China. The main thing that I learned from all the meetings and conversations is that China will consistently and persistently continue cooperation with Russia, [and] preserve the friendship that exists between our countries and peoples, she added. In February, the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence published a report (pdf) warning that China is using programs and initiativesincluding the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Security Initiativeto promote a China-led alternative to the current international order, one that favors state sovereignty and political stability over individual rights. Weakness in the USs Resolve A China-dominated world order likely means the loss of sovereignty for Taiwana self-ruled island with its own democratically-elected officials, military, and currency. Many view Taiwan as a de facto independent nation, and reject the communist regimes one-China principle, which claims sovereignty over the island. Russias invasion of Ukraine has fueled speculation that Mr. Xi would follow Mr. Putins lead by deciding to invade Taiwan. In January, Taiwans foreign minister Joseph Wu warned that China is more likely to make a military move against the island in 2027. Days before meeting the Russian delegation, Mr. Xi inspected the Chinese militarys Eastern Theater Command, which is responsible for operations in areas including the Taiwan Strait, and urged the military to deepen war and combat planning to increase the chances of victory in actual combat. On July 10, Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, responded to the Chinese leaders military rallying call by warning that China is preparing for war. We saw with the Ukraine war that Russia has been a paper tiger. That is absolutely not the case with China. From building new islands in the South Pacific to sending spy balloons across the U.S., let there be no doubt China is preparing for war, Mr. Murphy wrote on Twitter. The congressman added, They view the independent nation of Taiwan as their own and have said they are willing to take it by force if needed. Some have naively argued for a carrot approach to China, even Biden Admin Sec. of State Blinken recently rejected Taiwan independence. Let there be no mistake: the Chinese sense weakness in the U.S.s resolve and will take full advantage of it. Chinese leader Xi Jinping (R) receives U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken prior to their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 19, 2023. (Leah Millis/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Mr. Blinken visited China last month and held talks with senior CCP officials, including Mr. Xi. Before he left the country, Mr. Blinken told reporters that we do not support Taiwan independence. Its very important that we preserve the status quo that has helped maintain peace and stability across the strait for decades, Mr. Blinken added. In response to Mr. Blinkens Taiwan statement, Project Socrates founder Michael Sekora told NTD that the Biden administration has backed down from a strong position on defending Taiwan. The CCP kept up its intimidation campaign against Taiwan during Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens recent four-day visit to China, sending fighter jets and warships to areas near the island every day from July 6 to July 9. On July 11, Taiwans defense ministry reported that 34 Chinese military planes either crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or the islands air defense identification zone. RussiaTurkey Ties Come Under Strain After Return of Ukraines Azov Commanders Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pose for the media before their talks during the G-20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey, on Nov. 16. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo) The Kremlin is seeking an explanation from Turkey regarding the latters recent decision to allow five Ukrainian Azov Battalion commanders to return to Kyiv, in an apparent breach of an earlier prisoner-swap agreement. The return of the Azov leaders violates an existing agreement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on July 10. We will discuss this issue with Turkey. Weve already started talks on this issue. On July 7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Istanbul, where he met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 24, 2016. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images) It was Mr. Zelenskyys first trip to Turkey since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. At a joint press conference held after the talks, Mr. Erdogan said Ankaras relations with Kyiv are stronger in every way, despite all that has happened. In a move that surprised many observers, Mr. Zelenskyy left Istanbul the following day with five Azov Battalion commanders who had been staying in Turkey for the past several months. We are returning home from Turkey and bringing our heroes home, the Ukrainian leader declared on Telegram. The five commanders surrendered to Russian forces last year following Russias capture of Mariupol. Under a subsequent prisoner swap brokered by Ankara, they were supposed to remain in Turkey until the end of the conflict. At the time, Mr. Zelenskyy had said the five commanders would remain in comfortable conditions and under the personal protection of the president of Turkey until the end of the war. After their departure from Istanbul on July 8, the Azov commanders received a heroes welcome in the Ukrainian city of Lviv. Since then, the five men have said that they plan to return to the front to take part in Kyivs ongoing counter-offensive. Often accused of espousing neo-Nazi ideologies, the ultra-nationalist Azov Battalion is outlawed in Russia. We will certainly take into account the current situation while concluding future agreements in various spheres, Mr. Peskov said. Mr. Zelenskyy has yet to explain why the five commanders were permitted to return to Ukraine. Nor has Ankara officially commented on its decision to release the men in an apparent breach of the terms of the prisoner swap. According to the Kremlin spokesman, Moscow wasnt informed of the move in advance. He described the commanders return to Ukraine as a direct violation of the terms of existing agreements. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (R) shake hands next to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg prior to their meeting, on the eve of a NATO summit, in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 10, 2023. (Yves Herman/Pool via Reuters) On July 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, during which the issue was reportedly discussed. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the two top diplomats stressed the need to preserve and strengthen the trusting nature of relations between Moscow and Ankara. According to Turkeys Anadolu news agency, Lavrov and Fidan discussed the war in Ukraine and the Ankara-brokered Black Sea grain initiative, which is set to expire next week. However, the news agency didnt mention the return of the Azov commanders. On the same day, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan asserted that Washington had nothing to do with the surprise move by Turkey. We werent a part of this and arent in a position to comment on what Erdogan was trying to accomplish by it, he told reporters. Tilting Toward NATO In another surprise move on July 10, Mr. Erdogan lifted his countrys longstanding objection to a months-long bid by Sweden to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance. Before joining NATO, applicants must be approved by all the alliances existing members. Turkey joined NATO in 1952. The Turkish leader made the announcement following his arrival in Vilnius, Lithuania, which is currently hosting a landmark NATO summit. Notably, during his July 7 meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy in Istanbul, Mr. Erdogan had said that Ukraine, too, deserved to be admitted to NATO. Mr. Zelenskyy has voiced hope that, at the Vilnius summit, his country would be invited to join the alliance. However, some of NATOs 31 current members reportedly fear that such a move would risk further escalation with Moscow. In response to Mr. Erdogans stated support for Kyivs NATO bid, Mr. Peskov claimed that a lot of pressure was exerted on Turkey in advance of the summit. Turkey itself, of course, being a member of NATO, demonstrates its solidarity with the North Atlantic Alliance, he told Russias Sputnik news agency on July 8. We understand this very well. Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine early last year, Turkeyunlike its NATO allieshas sought to maintain a degree of neutrality. While Ankara condemned the invasion from the outset, it has also declined to support Western-led sanctions on Moscow. Under Mr. Erdogan, Turkey has maintained relatively good relations with Russia, with which it shares extensive trade ties and a lengthy maritime border. According to recent statements from Moscow and Ankara, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Turkey sometime next month for talks with his Turkish counterpart. Egypts population hit 105,169,121 people on Tuesday which is World Population Day according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) population clock. The population clock records numbers of birth and death in real-time from the Ministry of Healths updated database. This figure represents an increase of close to one million people compared to 104.4 million in January. According to CAPMAS figures, the number of births in 2022 amounted to 2.183 million. This figure is only 2,000 less than the previous year in which there were 2.185 million births. Assiut, Sohag, Qena, Minya and Beni Suef governorates recorded the highest birth rates of 27.0, 26.5, 26.0, 25.5, and 24.0 per thousand, respectively. On the other hand, the governorates of Port Said, Damietta, Daqahliya, Suez and Qalioubiya had the lowest birth rates of 13.6, 16.8, 17.7, 17.7, and 18.1 per thousand respectively. Earlier in February, Head of Egypt's National Population Council (NPC) Tarek Tawfik said the country's population is expected to reach 142-157 million by the year 2050. "This figure depends on the birth rate," said Tawfik, adding that "if each family has two children only, we would reach 142 million, but if families have more we are expected to reach 157 million. Tawfik also explained why Upper Egyptian and border governorates had the highest birth rates, saying that most birth control campaigns focus on Cairo and Delta governorates. So how is Egypt dealing with the population growth challenge? Birth rates in Egypt have been declining over the last five years. According to the Egyptian Family Health Survey, the fertility rate decreased from 3.5 births per woman in 2014 to 2.85 births per woman in 2021. The country has been trying to curb overpopulation by, among other efforts, launching the National Project for the Development of the Egyptian Family (NPDEF) in March 2022. The NPDEF is a wide-ranging development scheme that goes beyond family planning and healthcare. It encompasses five different areas, such as promoting the economic independence of women. Moreover, the NPDEF's endeavors align with Article 41 of Egypt's 2014 constitution, which mandates the implementation of a population programme aimed at balancing demographic growth with available resources and maximizing investments in human resources. In March this year, Egypt announced plans under NPDEF to provide an annual incentive of EGP 1,000 to married women with no more than two children under a protocol signed between the ministries of finance and planning and economic development. According to the protocol, each woman will receive an annual amount of EGP 1,000, which will be accumulated and disbursed after the age of 45. Also in March, a new initiative called Osra (family) was launched to provide young Egyptians with information on voluntary family planning and reproductive health options for healthy and sustainable child spacing. In 2020, the government launched Etnein Kefaya (two are enough) campaign, which offered financial assistance to those who succeed in family planning. Egypt is also planning on launching its National Population Strategy (2015-2030) during the International Conference on Population, Health, and Development (PHDC 2023), according to comments by Minister of Health Khalid Abdel-Ghaffar The strategy aims to improve the quality of life for citizens by improving family planning and reproductive health services and giving special attention to family planning programmes. Hosted by Egypt, the conference to scheduled to be held on 5-8 September and will provide a platform for researchers, policymakers, and decision-makers from all around the globe to discover the dynamic relationship between health, population, and development through various activities including panel talks and discussions. Search Keywords: Short link: Samsung Fights Back Against Beijings Tech Theft, Sues Chinese Firm BOE Over Patent Infringement The South Korean company skips Shanghais Mobile World Congress for first time in 6 years A woman walks past a new flagship store of Samsung Electronics at the Gangnam district in Seoul on June 28, 2023. (Jung Yeon-je / AFP via Getty Images) Amid escalating tension between South Korea and China, Samsung has drawn attention by pulling out of the Shanghai Mobile World Congress for the first time in six years and initiating its maiden patent lawsuit against Chinese company BOE. The moves come in the wake of repeated allegations of technology theft by China against Samsungs technology. Samsung Display took a decisive step on June 26, instigating a patent infringement lawsuit against BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. (BOE), Chinas premier display company. The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District Court of Texas, asserts that BOE had unlawfully appropriated four of Samsungs patented organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technologies that it uses in the iPhone 12. This legal action marks Samsungs first patent lawsuit against BOE after it repeated warnings against unauthorized appropriation of Samsungs technology. BOE is a public company with its headquarters in Beijings Yizhuang Economic and Technological Development Zone, and its business empire spans displays, sensors, smart systems, and health services. In the lawsuit, Samsung Display articulated its grievance, stating that BOE has infringed upon the companys patent rights by selling panels identical to those that Samsung Display has utilized for the iPhone 12 in the U.S. market. This litigation extends the ongoing legal feud between Samsung Display and BOE that surfaced last year. In May 2022, Samsung Display issued a notice of patent infringement to BOE, followed by a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) against 17 U.S. component wholesalers in December of that same year. Samsung sought to ban the use of counterfeit components and display panels allegedly based on its sophisticated OLED patents, including one on its Diamond Pixel technology. The move was triggered by U.S. smartphone repair shops using both genuine Samsung Display panels and counterfeit Chinese products when replacing iPhone 12 OLED display panels. It requested the U.S. tribunal ban 17 U.S. smartphone parts wholesalers from importing such parts and panels that allegedly use its patented technology into the United States. Confronted with this unfavorable situation, BOE retaliated in May this year by filing a counterclaim against Samsung Displays and Samsung Electronics Chinese legal entity. The lawsuit, filed with a court in Chongqing, China, accused Samsung Display of plagiarizing its OLED display panel technology. South Korean public opinion suggests that Samsung Display, having grown weary of the CCPs alleged acts of thievery, decided to retaliate with a countersuit. A woman looks at accessories of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 displayed on a wall during a media preview event for a new flagship store of Samsung Electronics at the Gangnam district in Seoul on June 28, 2023. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images) Grappling With Significant Losses Due to Chinas Brazen Technology Theft Beijings alleged global technology theft operation wreaks havoc worldwide, with South Korea, an electronics industry powerhouse, bearing the brunt of its onslaught. Samsung Electronics, a global leader in semiconductors and OLED display panels, struggles to protect its technology. A recent large-scale technology theft by Beijing, revealed to be of significant detriment to South Korea, exemplifies the severity of the situation. In mid-June, South Koreas Suwon District Prosecutors Office filed a lawsuit against a former Samsung Electronics executive surnamed Choi for allegedly stealing design data from a Samsung Electronics semiconductor factory and attempting to build a replica factory in China. Choi, 65, a South Korean tech industry veteran, reportedly received approximately $360 million from the Chengdu government to establish a semiconductor company in China, recruiting over 200 key personnel from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Choi was once lauded with titles for his innovation, hands-on approach, and round-the-clock dedication. However, this time, the government that honored him as a national tech hero is accusing him of industrial espionage on a grand scale. Prosecutors described the defendant in a statement as an undisputed top domestic expert in semiconductor manufacturing. The data, which Samsung Electronics obtained through more than 30 years of research and development, is worth 300 billion to trillions of won (about $200 million to billions). It is not only a companys trade secret but also a national core technology, prosecutors said. According to South Koreas National Intelligence Service, the estimated scale of loss due to overseas leaks of industrial technology revealed from 2018 to 2022 is approximately 25 trillion won ($19.6 billion). In another high-profile incident in 2018, the Suwon District Prosecutors Office filed a lawsuit against 11 employees of Samsung supplier Toptec for allegedly setting up shell companies to sell Samsungs OLED folding screen technology to four Chinese companies, including BOE. The technology was said to have been the culmination of six years of research by Samsung with an investment of more than 150 billion won ($130 million). According to a 2021 Nikkei Aisa report, the Chinese panel maker BOE had around 120 South Koreans working at its plants and laboratories, including over 50 former Samsung engineers leading the development of OLED panels for Apple. BOE reportedly gained many Samsung engineers between 2015 and 2016, when the South Korean firm suffered poor earnings. Reports submitted by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to the National Assembly indicate that, over the preceding five years until 2019, 67 percent of the technology leaks intercepted by South Korea were traced back to China, with many involving semiconductors, displays, shipbuilding, and other advantageous sectors of South Korean enterprises, Global Biz reported. Boycotting Shanghais Mobile World Congress As Samsung Display files a patent infringement lawsuit against BOE in the United States, the Chinese regime is hosting the World Mobile Communications Exhibition in Shanghai (MWC Shanghai 2023). Despite coinciding with the events 10th anniversary from June 28 to 30, several prominent multinational companies, including Samsung, Nokia, Ericsson, Qualcomm, and Intel, have abstained from participating. The South China Morning Post reported that Samsung, a regular participant since 2017, refrained from participating this year for unknown reasons. Interestingly, Samsung maintained a booth at the Shanghai MWC exhibition in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, Samsung was a key exhibitor and sponsor at MWC Barcelona, the worlds largest mobile industry trade show. Li Yuanhua, a China expert and former associate professor of history education at Beijings Capital Normal University, told The Epoch Times on July 3 that Samsungs abstention from MWC Shanghai 2023, an event organized by Beijing, is likely a direct response to BOEs alleged technology theft. Samsungs chips and displays used to be exported to China in large quantities, but Beijing stole its technology, started producing them domestically, and ceased importing them, directly hurting Samsungs revenue, Li said. Samsungs lawsuit against BOE indicates a shift in tolerance towards such practices. Kane Zhang contributed to this report. Sen. Manchin Accuses Court of Unlawful Conduct by Blocking Pipeline Construction in West Virginia Construction crews work on a tunnel through which the Mountain Valley Pipeline will pass in Roanoke County, Va., on June 22, 2018. (Heather Rousseau/The Roanoke Times via AP) A natural gas pipeline being built in West Virginia has been blocked once again by a federal appeals court siding with environmental groups despite Congress giving the project a green light, drawing the ire of Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who accused the court of unlawful conduct. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay of construction on July 10 while it evaluates the legality of permit approvals for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). The courts order stops construction on any part of the 304-mile pipeline route, which runs from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia. The stay includes no explanation of the rationale behind the courts decision, which remains in effect until a full ruling is made on the merits of the case. The construction authorizations for the interstate natural gas pipeline were granted by Congress as part of the debt-ceiling deal, which also stripped the 4th Circuit from jurisdiction over the case. Environmental groups sued, however, arguing that Congress overstepped its authority and violated the constitutional separation of powers by including the pipeline approvals in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Permit Controversy The groups alleged violations of multiple environmental laws in connection with defective approvals for the pipeline by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Their lawsuit challenged the constitutionality of Section 324 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which a group of Virginia House Democrats unsuccessfully sought to strip from the final version of the bill. This provision is a free pass for the pipeline and sidesteps our nations environmental laws and judicial review processes, the lawmakers said at the time. The White House supported the provision as a concession to Mr. Manchin, an ardent backer of the pipeline. Mr. Manchin issued a critical statement on Monday nights court decision, saying that Americans should be alarmed. The law passed by Congress & signed by POTUS is clear the 4th Circuit no longer has jurisdiction over MVPs construction permits, Mr. Manchin said in the statement. This new order halting construction is unlawful, & regardless of your position on MVP, it should alarm every American when a court ignores the law. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals did not immediately return a request for comment on Mr. Manchins allegations that it acted unlawfully in issuing the stay. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) arrives for a Senate Armed Services Committee briefing on Ukraine at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 2, 2023. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Equitrans Midstream Corporation, the company that is set to construct the pipeline as part of a joint venture with other partners, issued a statement that accused the court of exceeding its authority. We are disappointed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuits remarkable decision to grant a one-sentence stay halting all construction in the Jefferson National Forest with no explanation, the company wrote in the statement. Not only does the court decision defy the will of Congress and the administration, but the court also exceeded its authority, as Congress expressly and plainly removed its jurisdiction, the company wrote. Equitrans said it is evaluating all its legal options, including potentially filing an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Unless the stay is reversed quickly, the companys ability to complete construction by the end of 2023 will be jeopardized, it said. More Details The coalition of environmental groups who sued included The Wilderness Society, whose representative told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that the stay on construction is a welcome development as the court considers the merits of the case. Time and time again, Mountain Valley has tried to force its dangerous pipeline through the Jefferson National Forest, devastating communities in its wake and racking up violations, said Ben Tettlebaum, director and senior staff attorney at The Wilderness Society. Were grateful that the Court has given those communities a measure of reprieve by hitting the brakes on construction across our public lands, sparing them from further irreversible damage while this important case proceeds, he added. The groups who sued to block the pipeline said that letting Congress decide on the permit approvals would set a dangerous precedent and encourage other fossil-fuel projects to seek future congressional approval. Congresss unprecedented end run around the courts attempted to forgo proper checks and balances and declare the sinking ship that is the MVP a winner. This, as we know, was wrong from the start, according to Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, whose lawyers were among those to file the motion to stay. Construction of the pipeline began in 2018 but it has moved forward in fits and starts since then. The federal appeals court has already twice rejected prior authorizations for the pipeline project, finding that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services prior permitting approvals failed to adequately analyze the projects environmental impact. Mondays decision came a mere hours after lawyers for the coalition of energy companies building the natural gas pipeline argued in court documents that the legal challenge to the construction should be dismissed. The Courts decision defies the will and clear intent of a bipartisan Congress and this Administration in passing legislation to expedite completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline project, which was deemed to be in the national interest, Equitrans said in a statement. Senators Split on Bidens Decision to Send Cluster Munitions to Ukraine U.S. senators are split on President Joe Bidens decision to arm Ukraine with cluster munitions, with some members of both parties condemning the move and others supporting it. Mr. Biden announced on July 7 that he had made the very difficult decision to arm Ukrainians with cluster munitions, also known as cluster bombs, a controversial armament banned by more than 100 countries. The United States, Ukraine, and Russia arent parties to the international treaty banning the weapon. Cluster munitions, which release a series of bomblets when on or above a targeted location, can pose risks to civilians long after a conflict ends because of the possibility of unexploded bomblets, which can be costly and difficult to remove. In an interview with CNN, Mr. Biden defended the move. It took me a while to be convinced to do it, he said. But the main thing is, they either have the weapons to stop the Russians now from theirkeep them from stopping the Ukrainian offensive through these areasor they dont. And I think they needed them. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during an event about lowering health care costs in the East Room of the White House on July 7, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Criticism The move has sparked criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) told reporters on July 10, I am quite concerned about what [sending cluster mines] means in terms of civilian casualties and ignoring what much of the rest of the world feels about those. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) told The Epoch Times, Ive always opposed the use of cluster bombs. I dont think its a weapon that should be used today. I was in favor of the international efforts to ban them. So I have serious concerns. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) also expressed opposition, citing the need for the United States to be prepared to face its larger threat, China. The United States cannot commit more resources, more troops, make more security commitments in Europe, Hawley told reporters. At the same time, we need to be doing much more than we are in China. China is our No. 1 foreign adversary. It is a threat we are not prepared to face, and doing more in Europe is the wrong tack. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) looks on during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on voting rights on Capitol Hill on April 20, 2021. (Evelyn Kockstein/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Mr. Hawley said the United States European allies should pick up more of the burden for assisting Ukraine, noting that Washington is stretching itself too thin by trying to counter Russia and China at the same time. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), when asked about his reaction to the news, said he opposed the war altogether. My big concern there is that there are people dying right now, the senator said. Im just concerned that it just appears that Joe Biden keeps crossing the lines he drew, he told us that we wouldnt have troops over therewe now have troops there. He told us we wouldnt help him get jets, but now were training them to use jets. And now the cluster bombs as well. Support However, others had more laudatory comments. The Senate Armed Services Committees ranking Republican member, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), said the move was long overdue. Ranking Republican member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) speaks during a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Feb. 15, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) agreed, calling it a great idea. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said they were yielding to Bidens judgment on the issue. I know this is a very difficult decision, and I trust his judgment, Ms. Stabenow said. Ms. Gillibrand said, Hes clearly given it great consideration. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said, I absolutely support that. I think its its critical that we defend and support Ukraine. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said, It has to be done to make sure Ukraine can defend themselves. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) said it was a difficult decision but applauded how Mr. Biden balanced the competing interests. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) was more ambivalent in his attitude toward the move: Im not a fan of cluster bombs. But I think since Russia has been using them for a long time, that were not upping the ante in the war, that were just balancing the two sides. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 27, 2021. (Greg Nash/Pool via Reuters) Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) acknowledged that the administration was in a very tough spot in making its decision, noting that the ammunition is running low in Ukraine. I think the administration took pains to try to make sure that there is as little long-term downside for the Ukrainian people as possible, he said. However, the senator noted that he ultimately opposes the decision on the grounds that it would hurt U.S. credibility in future nonproliferation negotiations. I think were going to be in the business of trying to control the development of some really terrible, really dangerous weapons systems in particular, connected to artificial intelligence over the course of the next several decades, Mr. Murphy said. Ive had a long conversation with administration. I think they have done the best job they can to protect the Ukrainian people in the long run. But I still would rather that we had not made the decision. What were seeing, really, is the end of multiculturalism as we know it. Soeren Kern, a writing fellow at the Middle East Forum, joins me to discuss the riots currently sweeping through Franceand that have now begun spilling into neighboring countries. Contrary to the mainstream medias narrative that the civil unrest is strictly a response to French racism and police brutality, Mr. Kern argues that the issue is far more complicated. Policymakers in Europe are still unwilling to acknowledge the problem at hand which is the inability to assimilate or integrate millions and millions of people. So, what we saw in France is just the beginningI thinkof great civil unrest here in Europe, says Mr. Kern. He explains how after World War II, the general sentiment throughout Western Europe was that nationalism was the cause of war, and that diluting national identities could reduce the chance of future war. This, argues Mr. Kern, has led to a misguided 40-year-long migration policy that is now eroding the fabric of several European nations. Many European countries are trying to bribe their citizens into having more children by paying them to have children, says Mr. Kern. But I think the birth rates among the migrant populations in Europe are so far higher than the European ones, that this is really an impossible situation. So, my perspective is that Europe is going to be riddled with conflict for decades to come. South Africa Killings Ignite Manhunt for Bulgarian Mafia Kingpins With US Links Following the arrest of an Israeli fugitive various South African Police Service (SAPS) unitsincluding Interpol officersstand next to a gate lying on the ground at a house in Bryanston, Johannesburg, on Nov. 17, 2022. (AFP via Getty Images) JOHANNESBURGOn the morning of May 25, a volley of gunshots rang out in Constantia suburb of Cape Town. The suburb is home to some of South Africas wealthiest people, including business magnates and politicians. It was also home to a married couple who a neighbor later described as very quiet; from somewhere in Europe. No one knew much about them; they kept to themselves, was the common description of the man and woman whose bullet-riddled bodiesalong with those of a man later described as their bodyguard and a woman who worked as their housekeeperwere found in a black luxury SUV in the driveway of their mansion. Police confirmed the four were Bulgarian nationals aged between 40 and 50. Two of the deceased were later identified as Krasimir Nikolaev Kamenov, 55, also known as Kuro, and his wife Gergana, 47. The murders remain unsolved, but international law enforcement agencies believe Mr. Kamenov was the main target of the hit. Interpol had placed him under a Red Notice for most wanted international fugitives in April. Mr. Kamenovs alleged crimes included murder, narcotics trafficking, and extortion, with Bulgarian police describing him as the countrys most wanted crime boss and former leader of a Bulgarian crime syndicate called VIS-2. Mr. Kamenov also was suspected of ordering the killing of a former police officer in Sofia, Bulgaria, in March 2022. About six weeks before he was killed in Cape Town, the Prosecutors Office of Bulgaria publicly announced that he had a probable residence in South Africa, and was allegedly central to a plot to remove senior police officers and prosecutors investigating his activities in his home country. The office described the alleged plot as a threat to Bulgarias national security. Obviously as a high-profile underworld figure, youd expect Kamenov to have many enemies, so the list of suspects in his murder is probably a long one, said Chad Thomas, a Johannesburg-based private investigator and organized crime expert. One of those enemies might have been compatriot Ruja Ignatova, whos on the FBIs 10 most wanted fugitives list. Ms. Ignatova, 42, is known internationally as the Cryptoqueen after allegedly using a fake cryptocurrency scheme to defraud victims around the world of about $4 billion. She co-founded OneCoin in 2014 along with a Swedish national, Karl Sebastian Greenwood, who pleaded guilty in New York to fraud and money-laundering charges in December last year. But Ms. Ignatovas whereabouts remain unknown, and the FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to her arrest. A day after Mr. Kamenov was shot dead, the Bureau of Investigative Reporting and Data in Bulgaria, a partner of the global Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, said he had been about to provide information to law enforcement about Ms. Ignatova. She vanished in October 2017, after apparently being informed that police were investigating her alleged scam. Mr. Thomas said Ms. Ignatovas younger brother, Konstantin Ignatov, then assumed control of OneCoin, making frequent visits to Cape Town until early 2019. Its not known what he [Konstantin] was doing in Cape Town in this period, Mr. Thomas said. But I think its safe to say that he wasnt there to climb Table Mountain, and it points to the fact that the Bulgarian mafia is firmly established in South Africa. Mr. Ignatov was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in March 2019 on multiple charges related to OneCoin. In a statement at the time, Geoffrey Berman, then the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Mr. Ignatov and others created a multibillion-dollar cryptocurrency company based completely on lies and deceit. They promised big returns and minimal risk but, as alleged, this business was a pyramid scheme based on smoke and mirrors more than zeroes and ones. Investors were victimized while the defendants got rich. In February, Mr. Ignatov was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the OneCoin fraud. When he was arrested at the airport, Mr. Ignatov was with Duncan Arthur, a banker with dual South African and Irish nationality. Mr. Arthur previously held senior posts at several leading South African financial institutions. In February, in an affidavit to Bulgarias Department of Justice, Mr. Arthur wrote that Ms. Ignatova had personally recruited him in 2016 as OneCoins chief compliance officer. Mr. Arthur, who hasnt been charged with any crime, wrote, I visited OneCoin headquarters in Sofia [Bulgaria] many times and had meetings there with Ruja Ignatova, Konstantin Ignatov, [their mother] Veska Ignatova, and their lawyer, Irina Dilkinska. The slaying of Mr. Kamenov also came just weeks after the Bulgarian prosecutors released video and audio recordings implicating him and several government officials in a plan to capture the state. In December 2022, U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, warning her that corruption occurring in Bulgaria could harm U.S. interests. Mr. Davidson also warned that Bulgarian critical infrastructure and defense companies are routinely transferred to Russian-sanctioned banks and other corrupt elements in spite of sanctions. In February, the U.S. government sanctioned several Bulgarian political figures. The Treasury Department issued a statement in April saying the sanctions were evidence of the extent [in Bulgaria] to which corruption has become entrenched across ministries, parties, and state-owned industries The department suggested that the alleged plan by organized crime groups to seize control of key state institutions in Bulgaria, to facilitate corruption and prevent investigations into crimes, was in large part hatched in the United States. A section of the statement reads: Part of the collected evidence [was] presented, from which it was established that persons subject to investigations, defendants, and others, held meetings and conversations with the aim of organizing a campaign in the USA, in member states of the European Union and on the territory of the country [Bulgaria] to discredit the activities of law enforcement authorities, including taking actions that would compromise and remove senior magistrates and police officers. Mr. Thomas said Mr. Kamenovs presence in South Africa, and subsequent slaying, was unsurprising because the country had become known in global organized crime circles as a safe haven, especially in the past 15 years or so. The government [run by the African National Congress] has allowed organized crime to flourish, and top ANC officials are themselves [allegedly] involved in organized crime, he stated. Its corruption and lax laws, along with the countrys good telecommunications and banking networks, plus excellent places for the rich to live and party, make it a great place for underworld figures to base themselves. Lizette Lancaster, an organized crime expert at South Africas Institute for Security Studies, said: State incompetence and suspected collaboration means that most of the worlds best-known mafia groups now have a presence in the country. Thats why were seeing more and more hits and contract killings involving global crime figures on South African territory, she said. In April, the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime released a report about the growing prevalence of high-profile assassinations in South Africa, saying there were at least two per week. Our local police dont have the resources and the required skills to investigate and solve these kinds of murders, Ms. Lancaster stated. And the criminals know that. Spain Rescues 86 People Near Canary Island, but Scores of Migrants From Senegal Remain Missing DAKAR, SenegalSpanish authorities rescued 86 people Monday from a boat near the Canary Islands that appeared to be from Senegal, after an aid group reported that three boats from the African country went missing with 300 people aboard. Spains Maritime Rescue Service said it could not confirm that the rescued boat was one of the three reported missing, but told The Associated Press that the vessel was a multi-colored, 20-meter-long (65-foot-long) canoe of the type known in Senegal as a pirogue. Eighty men and six women of sub-Saharan origin were rescued and expected to reach Spanish soil Monday evening, the Spanish agency said. It also said it had alerted boats sailing in Atlantic waters between the Canary Islands and West Africa to be on the lookout for other migrant boats still missing. Helena Maleno Garzon, coordinator for the aid group Walking Borders, which is known as Caminando Fronteras in Spanish, said earlier Monday that the three missing boats had departed Senegal in late June. Two boats departed June 23 from Mbour, a coastal city in central Senegal, carrying about 100 people, and a third left the southern town of Kafountine four days later with approximately 200 people, Ms. Garzon said. There has been no contact with the boats since their departures, she said. The most important thing is to find those people. There are many people missing in the sea. This isnt normal. We need more planes to look for them, Ms. Garzon told The Associated Press. In recent years, the Canary Islands have become one of the main destinations for people trying to reach Spain, with a peak of more than 23,000 migrants arriving in 2020, according to Spains Interior Ministry. In the first six months of this year, more than 7,000 migrants and refugees reached the Canaries. One of the deadliest mass drownings of Europe-bound migrants happened last month on the Mediterranean Sea, where more than 500 people were presumed dead off the coast of Greece. Boats that go missing often arent documented. Some are never found or are discovered across the world years later. An AP investigation published this year found that at least seven migrant boats from northwest Africa, likely trying to reach the Canary Islands in 2021, drifted to the Caribbean and Brazil. The boats mainly travel from Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania, with fewer coming from Senegal, the Spanish aid group said. However, at least 19 boats from Senegal have arrived in the Canary Islands since June, the group said. Sudan May Be on Brink of Full-Scale Civil War After Weekend Airstrike Kills At Least 22: United Nations U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to media after a meeting in Bujumbura, Burundi, on May 5, 2023. (TCHANDROU NITANGA/AFP via Getty Images) United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that Sudan may be close to all-out-civil war after a weekend airstrike killed dozens in the city near the capital of Khartoum. In a written statement, a U.N. spokesperson expressed the secretary generals fear that the ongoing conflict between warring armed forces has pushed Sudan to the brink of a full-scale civil war, potentially destabilizing the entire region. He is appalled by reports of large-scale violence and casualties across Darfur, the statement further said. He is also concerned about reports of renewed fighting in North Kordofan, South Kordofan and Blue Nile States. Sudans army, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), is at war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. The power struggle pits Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the commander of the armed forces, against Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of the RSF. The former allies jointly orchestrated a military coup in October 2021 that toppled a Western-backed civilian transitional government. Since April 15, the two group have been battling for control of Khartoum after tensions over the integration of the RSF into the armed forces and the future chain of command. The RSF controls much of the city, as well as its neighboring cities on the Nile River of Omdurman and Bahri, and the SAF has been carrying out artillery and air attacks to dislodge the paramilitary fighters. Hundreds of people have since been killed, and thousands left injured, but the July 8 strike in a residential area in Omdurman may have been the deadliest yet, killing at least 22 and injuring dozens. In a post on Twitter, the RSF blamed the attack on the SAF, calling the army an extremist terrorist militia. This act represents a grave crime against humanity and a clear violation of our religious values, cultural norms, and international conventions, the RSF said, who placed the death toll at 31. We urge all relevant parties, both domestically and internationally, to fulfill their responsibilities by actively monitoring and documenting the ongoing genocidal acts committed by the coup forces and remnants of the former regime against civilians, following their failed attempts to seize power. The SAF responded to the RSFs accusations on Sunday. The armed forces would like to clarify that it did not carry out an air strike on Saturday on any enemy targets in Omdurman, the Office of the Spokesperson of the Armed Forces said in a statement on Facebook, refuting the RSFs claim. We have clarified on many occasions that the militia resorts of shelling residential areas with artillery and rockets at the same that the planes of the armed forces are flying in an attempt to falsely accuse the armed forces of targeting civilians. A man walks through rubble by a bullet-riddled fence with barbed-wire, in the aftermath of clashes and bombardment in the Ombada suburb on the western outskirts of Omdurman, the twin-city of Sudans capital, on July 4, 2023. Heavy fighting raged on July 4 across the Sudanese capital where witnesses reported a fighter-jet being shot down and artillery and machine gun fire rocking several neighbourhoods. (AFP via Getty Images) The United States government has previously said it believes Russias Wagner Group at one point provided the RSF with surface-to-air missiles. Residents who spoke with The Associated Press say that fighting has raged between the warring factions in Omdurman, and that they found it difficult to determine which side was responsible for the attack. Military aircraft have repeatedly targeted RSF troops in the area, while the paramilitary force has used drones and anti-aircraft weapons against the military. The area is like a hell fighting around the clock and people are not able to leave, Abdel-Rahman, one of the residents who asked to use only his first name out of concern for his safety, said. According to data from the United Nations International Organization for Migration, the conflict has already displaced more than 2.2 million people (nearly 450,000 households) internally. In addition, nearly 700,000 people have fled the nation, many without passports, to various neighboring countries, primarily Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan. At the moment, many areas hit by the conflict remain inaccessible to U.N. field teams. Mr. Guterres deplored the utter disregard for humanitarian and human rights law now present in the troubled nation, before urging the two warring factions to commit to a durable cessation of hostilitiesor at least to protect civilians and enable humanitarian initiatives to take place. The United Nations continues to push for the cohesion of international efforts under the auspices of the African Union coordination architecture and welcomes the strong engagement of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the statement concluded. Mr. Guterres offered his condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News Sunak: UK Wants to See Commitment to Ukraines Membership at NATO Summit Prime Minister Rishi Sunak holds bilateral talks with Poland's President Andrzej Duda during the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023. (Paul Ellis/PA Media) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he wants to see NATOs commitment to inducting Ukraine as a full member of the alliance reaffirmed during the two-day summit in Vilnius. Ukraines membership is one of the key items on the agenda of the NATO summit being held in the Lithuanian capital. On his way to the summit on Tuesday, Mr. Sunak repeated his stance that Ukraines rightful place is in NATO. He said NATO would stand by the language of Bucharest in 2008, in a reference to the agreement reached at the alliances 2008 summit on Ukraines eventual membership. I think that whats important at this summit is that commitment is reaffirmed, and also there is demonstrable progress towards that goal, he said. But he said Ukraines membership is not a question for right now, whilst they are in the midst of a conflict. Participants of the NATO Summit including (L-R) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Britains Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pose for an official photo in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Security Assurances Britain has voiced its support for fast-tracking Kyiv through the membership process, arguing much of the military reforms asked of it are being witnessed on the battlefield in its fight against Russias invading troops. Mr. Sunak, without providing details of what the deal could look like, said Britain had played a leading role in the discussions since he put the issue of multilateral Western security assurances on the table during his speech at the Munich security conference in February. He said providing security guarantees to Ukraine is about showing the Kremlin that the West would not tire in its backing for Kyiv. We are with Ukraine for as long as it takes. That is why the security assurances are important because what Putin needs to understand is there is no point in just waiting out the West. Everyone is in it for the long haul and any thought he had that this would be over quickly has already been proved to be false. Very Special Military Alliance On arrival in Vilnius, the prime minister said the Russian invasion of Ukraine had reminded NATO of its importance. He said: The past 500 days of Putins war in Ukraine has reminded us of the enduring unity and importance of this very special military alliance, which the UK has been at the heart of for the entire time of its existence. I think priorities of this summit are to strengthen that alliance so that we can face the threats of the future and protect ourselves adequately against them, but also to continue supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression so that they can continue to fight for their freedom. Downing Street said Mr. Sunak would use the Vilnius summit to press home the importance of increasing defence spending, urging member states to meet the target of spending at least 2 percent of its GDP on defence. No. 10 said that last year, fewer than half of those in the alliance were meeting the expenditure target in relation to their national GDP, with just nine out of 30 members spending 2 percent or more. Speaking ahead of his trip, Mr. Sunak said that the alliance has come together like never before in support of Ukraine and with firm determination that Russia cannot succeed. That is work we need to continue this week. We cannot let the fog of war obscure the clear lessons our alliance must learn if we are going to outpace and outmanoeuvre those who seek to do us harm. That is why the UK is investing record amounts in defence, to make our armed forces more lethal and more deployable, and to ready our defence industry for the challenges ahead. And thats something we need to see across NATOstarting with meeting the 2 percent commitment. PA Media and Reuters contributed to this report. Texas Governor Names Second Interim Attorney General Ahead of Ken Paxtons Impeachment Trial Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed a second interim attorney general ahead of Republican Ken Paxtons historic impeachment on allegations of misconduct and crimes, the governors office announced Monday. Angela Colmenero will step in as the states top lawyer on an interim basis starting Friday while Mr. Paxton awaits a trial in the state Senate that could result in his permanent removal, the office said. Mr. Paxtons impeachment hearing begins Sept. 5 in the Texas Senate. If two-thirds of Senators agree on the Articles of Impeachment, Mr. Paxton would be removed from office. Mr. Paxton was reelected Texas Attorney General in November 2022, and the seat does not come up for reelection until November 2026. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement at his office in Austin, Texas, on May 26, 2023. (Eric Gay/AP Photo) Ms. Colmenero, a lawyer and Mr. Abbotts deputy chief of staff, will take over the role from John Scott, a former Texas secretary of state who the governor named as a short-term interim following Mr. Paxtons impeachment in May by the Republican-led House of Representatives. John Scott faithfully executed his duties as the interim Attorney General of Texas, and I thank him for his leadership in stepping up to serve his fellow Texans in this role, Mr. Abbott said in a statement. Today, under authorities granted by the Texas Constitution, I appoint Angela Colmenero as interim Texas Attorney General. In addition to her time in the Office of the Governor, Angela served under me in the Texas Attorney Generals Office and has firsthand experience with how the agency operates. Angelas experience in state government and expertise in litigation will help her oversee the Texas Attorney Generals Office and serve as our states top law enforcement officer as the Texas Senate conducts impeachment proceedings. Ms. Colmenero has been serving as Mr. Abbotts deputy chief of staff, a position Mr. Abbott promoted her to less than a month ago. She previously was principal deputy general counsel in the governors office. She also worked for Mr. Abbott when he was attorney general himself, including as chief of the General Litigation Division. Mr. Paxton is temporarily suspended from office pending the outcome of his trial on 20 articles of impeachment that include charges of bribery and abuse of office. Separately, he is under FBI investigation over accusations that he used his power to help a donor. The donor was indicted in a federal court in Austin last month on charges of making false statements to banks. Mr. Paxtons defense team has said he will not testify in his impeachment trial and has pleaded not guilty. That is why Attorney General Paxton will not dignify the illegal House action by testifying, attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement. We will not bow to their evil, illegal, and unprecedented weaponization of state power in the Senate chamber. Each article of impeachment will be voted on separately by senators. If two-thirds of the present senators accept an article, it will be entered as a conviction. It will be counted as an acquittal if it fails to reach two-thirds. If any article of impeachment is entered as a conviction, the House board of managers can ask for the judgment to disqualify Mr. Paxton from office, which would also require approval by two-thirds of the present senators. A separate resolution, adopted 280, notified Mr. Paxton that he must appear in the Senate chamber to answer the said impeachment charges. After the votes, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, told senators, their staff, and others involved in the court of impeachment to refrain from discussing the merits of the case with others, including Mr. Paxton, his lawyers, and lawyers for the House impeachment managers. We actually have to address the issues, Mr. Patrick told Dallas radio host Mark Davis. If not, they could keep Ken Paxton from doing his job forever. In general, we have to deal with it. No member of the court, or the presiding officer of the court, shall advocate a position on the merits of the proceedings to other court members or the presiding officer of the court until such a time as deliberations shall begin, Mr. Patrick said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Ukraine said Tuesday that Russian attack drones overnight had targeted grain facilities at a southern port in the Odesa region, which houses three maritime terminals key to an expiring export agreement between Moscow and Kyiv. "The air defence forces did not allow the enemy's plan to attack the grain terminal of one of the ports of Odesa to be realised," the regional governor Oleg Kiper said in a statement. The Ukrainian military said it had downed a total of 26 Russian attack drones in the latest barrage. While the majority of the drones aimed at southern Ukraine were destroyed, "two hit the administrative building of one of the port facilities", Kiper said. Falling debris from the downed drones also caused "two near-port terminals, including a grain terminal" to catch fire, the governor said. "The fire was promptly extinguished, no critical damage or casualties were recorded." Russia's invasion last year saw Ukraine's Black Sea ports blocked by warships until an agreement, signed in July 2022, allowed for the passage of critical grain exports. The initial 120-day deal struck with the UN and Turkey has been extended but is set to expire again on July 17. Moscow is unhappy about the operation of a parallel agreement on free exports of Russian food and fertiliser, and has said it sees no grounds for another extension. Ukraine was one of the world's top grain producers, and the deal has helped soothe the global food crunch triggered by the conflict. Search Keywords: Short link: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker Dade Phelan Reach Historical $18 Billion Property Tax Cut Deal Texas Republican State Sens. Paul Bettencourt (center), Tan Parker (3rd from left) and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (2nd from left) held a press conference at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, on March 14, 2023. (Courtesy Team Bettencourt) Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan on Monday announced they reached a deal on a historic $18 billion tax-relief plan for Texas property owners. The deal ends a monthlong stalemate that turned into a public battle between the states top GOP leaders over property taxes. Mr. Patricks stance was focused on a plan that combined the compression of schools M&O taxes and increasing the states homestead exemption. I started working to reduce property taxes at a Capitol hearing in 2003, [four] years before I was elected to the Texas Senate. It has been a long road, but it has been a great day for all property owners. Speaker Phelan and I worked diligently over the last week on the final bill. It made the difference, Mr. Patrick said in a joint statement. It may have taken overtime, but the process has produced a great bill for homeowners and businesses. Mr. Phelans plan, backed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, was based on tax-rate compression that would provide the greatest benefit to wealthier homeowners and businesses. Reducing property taxes, providing relief to small business owners and reforming our appraisal system will ensure economic growth and prosperity, and this agreement is a significant victory for all Texans, Mr. Phelan said. Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan in the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, on May 26, 2023. (Eric Gay/AP Photo) The legislation also delivers on Gov. Abbotts promise to cut property taxes with a large portion of the states record $32 billion budget surplus. I promised during my campaign that the state would return to property taxpayers at least half of the largest budget surplus we have ever had. Todays agreement between the House and the Senate is a step toward delivering on that promise, Gov. Abbott said in a statement. I look forward to this legislation reaching my desk, so I can sign into law the largest property tax cut in Texas history, he continued. Mr. Patrick and Mr. Phelan said that they, along with members of both chambers, worked day and night last week to reach a consensus. The proposed tax-relief legislation includes: Over $12 billion of the surplus will be spent on reducing the school property tax rate for all homeowners and business property owners. All homeowners who homestead their property (approximately 5.7 million homeowners) will get a $100,000 homestead exemption. Non-homesteaded residential and commercial properties worth $5 million and below will receive a 20 percent circuit breaker on appraised value as part of a three-year pilot project. A property tax circuit breaker limits or reduces the taxes when a property tax bill exceeds a certain percentage of the taxpayers income, according to the Institute on Taxation and Policy. The legislation will include franchise tax savings for small businesses and create newly elected positions on local appraisal boards. Missing from the legislation was a teacher pay provision that the Senate had attached to Senate Joint Resolution 1, which passed unanimously last week. House Democrat Chair Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer called out the omission as inexplicable and cruel. With billions of dollars to spend, it is inexplicable as it is cruel to remove compensation for teachers. House Democrats hope to see a final bill that doesnt shortchange our kids and their schools, returning to the bipartisan plan first offered by the Senate. If not, House Republicans will have to answer why, Mr. Fischer said in a statement. The legislation called for a $2,000 payment to every full-time teacher in Texas and an additional $4,000 for teachers in districts with fewer than 20,000 students to help close the pay gap between urban, suburban, and rural teachers. On WFAAs Yallitics podcast, Mr. Patrick said Mr. Phelan rejected the teacher pay provision in the amendment, adding that teacher raises would be taken up in a later session. The House decided they wanted just to keep separate from the property tax bill and I respected that, Mr. Patrick said. We will address that in a later session, and look, were going to get teachers a pay raise. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at a press conference in Austin, Texas, on June 16, 2021. (Mei Zhong/The Epoch Times) Two Special Legislative Sessions Late last month, Gov. Abbott called lawmakers back to work for a second legislative session after the House and Senate failed to reach a deal to reduce property taxes. I called another special session to deliver on our promise to provide the largest property tax cut in Texas history. Hardworking Texans deserve lasting property tax cuts. When the House [and] Senate come to an agreement [and] send a property tax bill to my desk, I will sign it, Gov. Abbott wrote in a Twitter post on June 28. The governors first 30-day special session, which ended June 27, was focused on reducing property taxes and border security, but the chambers failed to make deals on either issue. Hours after the first special session ended, Gov. Abbott announced the second session and narrowed the focus to one itemproperty taxes. He vowed to continue calling sessions until the House and Senate came to an agreement on property tax reduction. Special sessions will continue to focus on only property tax cuts until property tax cut legislation reaches my desk, Gov. Abbott said on June 27 in a press release announcing the second special session. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference in San Antonio, Texas, on June 17, 2021. (Marina Fatina/NTD) Proposed Legislation Approval? The omnibus property tax relief bill and franchise tax relief bill, both originating in the Senate, were filed on Monday. The constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution 1, will originate in the House, according to the release. (pdf) The amendment allows the homestead exemption to be placed on the ballot on Nov. 7. Last year, Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a homestead exemption increase from $15,000 to $40,000. The lawmakers said they expect to pass the proposed legislation later this week. The Emperors Tutor Commentary The following is a condensed version of The Emperors Tutor by Ralph L. DeFalco III, published at Law & Liberty. In 1988, Wang Huning was a well-known political scientist and professor of international affairs at Chinas Fudan University. That same year, Wang embarked on a trip that took him to the United States as a visiting scholar and across the country to more than thirty cities and more than twenty colleges and universities. His account of that journey, America Against America, is an assessment of the historicalsocialcultural conditions that created and still shape the American political landscape and its system of governance and economics. Wangs observations and judgments have also influenced generations of Chinese leaders and bureaucrats; thirty years after its first publication in 1991, the book is still widely read. In that time, Wang has risen to prominence as a close confident to the succession of Chinas paramount leadersthe Emperors Tutor to General Secretaries Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and now to Xi Jinping. Wang is today the fourth ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and likely the principal architect of Chinas political ideologies and domestic and foreign policies. Those ideologies and policies are influenced by Wangs experiences in the United States. America as Allegory On one level, America Against America reads like a travel diary composed of recollections and first impressions. Wang makes superficial assessments and snap judgements that echo long-standing critiques of the social ills of the United States. This is a broader reflection of what Chinese scholars and politicians thought of the United States in the 1980s. That jaundiced view of the country is reinforced by Wangs narrative. Then too, in the later 1980s and early 1990s, there was no room in Chinese political discourse for outright criticism of Chinas policies or political order. Often-times, critics of Beijings policies, or advocates of changes to policy made subtle, even allegorical arguments in their writing. America Against America, then, reflects a great degree of political circumspection. Wangs book was never intended for a U.S. audience but written instead for Chinese political science scholars and students and even more directly for Chinas political leaders. Wang wanted his book to burnish his reputation as a Communist thinker, Party loyalist, and neo-conservative. By this time in his career Wang is also likely to have begun to aspire to power and to higher offices in the Party. Wang avoided any criticism of Chinese policies that would either provoke ire or jeopardize his growing political ambitions. In America Against America, Wang argues he is fulfilling his obligation as a Chinese scholar with a dual responsibility to study both the Chinese phenomenon and the American phenomenon, so that he can better understand himself and the world, and better explore the path to Chinas strength. His claim then to use the case study of the United States to promote our understanding of capitalism and, indirectly, socialism as well, should be taken at face value. America Against America is Wangs view of the growing schisms in the American polity, the inequities of democracy, the contradictions inherent in the capitalist mode, and a warning to the liberalizing elements in the CCP of what China could become. Values, Order, and Stability Throughout America Against America, Wang repeatedly argues Americans will continue to lose faith with many of the core values of their society and culture. He cites as evidence for this the dissolution of the extended family, new expressions of sexual freedom, an increasingly secular society, a sense of alienation engendered by the rise of technology, and a nihilism that has replaced a broader and explicit morality. The freedom of choice exercised by each individual, Wang argues, makes it impossible for American society to perpetuate its core values in a value-unified nation. For Wang, and for his audience of CCP leadership, this leads to a troubling question of how to maintain order and stability. How can there be true harmony when everyone wants to have individualism and private spheres, Wang writes. Individualism and private domains are important values in American society, but are they beneficial and harmless within any limits? Wang, with the publication of America Against America, was cautioning against the loss of core values. Wang understood that social and economic development cannot be achieved without the spirit of innovation in a society that encourages and accepts new and innovative ideas. At the same time, the continuity of values is essential for any society, otherwise social stability is unsustainable. But the volatile free market of new ideas is filled with the potential for discord and disagreement and always threatens to push aside old values. The question, Wang decided, is how to separate value continuity from technological and material innovation so that value continuity ensures the development of the latter, and the development of the latter strengthens value continuity and transmission? In the pages of America Against America, that question is left unanswered. Perhaps, it will only be answered by a historicalsocialcultural work not yet written: China Against China. The views expressed here are only those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. From RealClearWire Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Threads Privacy Issues and Why Metas New App Cant Launch in Europe The Threads logo is displayed on a cell phone in San Anselmo, Calif., on July 5, 2023. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Metas answer to Twitter, Threads, launched worldwide this week with the exception of EU member countries. The new Instagram-linked app, which is now available in 100 countries, so far has no plans to launch in the EU, likely due to privacy regulations in the bloc. There are obviously very strong concerns over the processing of data of EU citizens, as Meta has been penalized by the blocs data protection watchdogs in recent months. The company has already informed the Irish Data Protection Commission that it has no plans to launch Threads in Europe, reported The Irish Times. So far, Meta has not officially commented on the alleged issues with EU law. But it has not been actively blocked by the Irish regulators, which serves as Brussels lead privacy enforcer. The company seems to be figuring out how to launch its app in the EU, due to its stringent rules around data protection. EU Privacy Rules Likely a Deterrent For Threads in Europe The EUs incoming Digital Markets Act, which will enforce new rules on how online gatekeeper platforms can function in Europe, must now be taken into consideration. More guidance on how social media companies can be approved by the European Commission for gatekeeper status will be released in September. Meanwhile, recent court rulings in the EU against Meta are also likely behind the delay in the apps launch. EU authorities said in January that the legal basis that Meta had been using to process its personal data from European Facebook and Instagram users to run targeted ads was unlawful. Meta was hit with $435 million worth of fines, with the big tech firm appealing the ruling. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) later ruled on July 4 that Metas Facebook could not use legitimate interest to justify processing user data for advertising. This effectively shut down Metas targeted ad model. The ECJ also ruled that EU watchdogs could take into consideration tech companies violations of data privacy in antitrust investigations. These decisions are some of several legal assaults by the EU on the foundations of Metas business model and on big American tech companies in general. Meta was also barred from transferring Facebook user data from the EU to the United States and was fined $1.3 billion after a crackdown by European privacy regulators in May. The penalty followed a long investigation into transfers by Facebook of Europeans personal data overseas, which is a violation of EU privacy law. The company is currently going through the courts to have the decision reviewed. If upheld, the ruling could be the death knell for Facebook in the EU, reported Quartz. Some Europeans Already Have Illegal Access to Metas New App Data privacy experts said they didnt believe that the latest court rulings were considered a major factor in Metas decision, as a new agreement between Brussels and Washington is pending that would create a legal basis to transfer data to America. Despite Metas shutout from the bloc, there are many EU citizens already using Threads, with some using several workarounds to get the app onto their devices. This means that Meta is processing the data of EU citizens, even if it is intending to avoid that. Some methods include having access to an app store account outside the EU, sideloading it into an Android device outside the Google Play Store, or using a virtual private network, which can fake a location to make it appear that the user is living in a country where Threads can be downloaded. Metas failure to launch Threads in the EU is more to do with making a point about European regulation than the business case for launching, Niamh Burns of Enders Analysis, a media research group, told The Hollywood Reporter. Ms. Burns noted that the setup of the new app, which involves bundling Instagram and Threads to create a captive audience, will not allow you to delete your Threads account without deleting Instagram. This is the kind of thing European regulators hate, she said. Critics warn that Threads privacy policy admits that it is designed to track everything about its users; from location, employment, and browsing history, to health and financial data, in order to better facilitate targeted advertising. The data would be sent to service providers and analytics partners, also known as third-party advertising and marketing firms. In fact, those factors would be in total violation of EU privacy rules. Brewing Rivalry The rivalry between Twitter CEO Elon Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been getting increasingly tense, after Musk noticed that the rival Threads app closely resembled Twitter visually. The Meta CEO said he created Threads as a response to Twitter and hoped that his app, will be an alternative to the platform, which has seen both improvements and chaos after his rival Mr. Musk bought the platform. Mr. Zuckerberg said more than 30 million people signed up to use Threads in the first 24 hours after its launch. Within hours of Threads launch, Mr. Musk threatened to sue Mr. Zuckerberg, and on July 6, Twitter sent a cease & desist letter to Meta over the new social media app, ABC News reported. Twitter accused Meta of hiring dozens of former Twitter employees who still have access to the social media platforms trade secrets, calling Threads a copycat. An attorney representing Twitter, Alex Spiro, accused Meta of hiring former Twitter employees to develop Threads, with the intent to engage in the systemic, wilful, and unlawful misappropriation of Twitters trade secrets and other intellectual property. With that knowledge, Meta deliberately assigned these employees to develop, in a matter of months, Metas copycat Threads app with the specific intent that they use Twitters trade secrets and other intellectual property in order to accelerate the development of Metas competing app, in violation of both state and federal law as well as those employees ongoing obligations to Twitter, wrote the Twitter legal team. A few days after filing the claim, the Twitter CEO attacked Mr. Zuckerberg, posting, Zuck is a cuck. Meta communications director Andy Stone posted a statement on Threads in relation to the lawsuit, saying, No one on the Threads engineering team is a former Twitter employeethats just not a thing. U.S. copyright law does not cover ideas, so Twitter would need to prove that intellectual property was stolen if the case goes to court. This is not the first time that Meta has closely copied rival products in the past, including the 2020 launch of Instagrams Reels feature, which is very similar to TikToks short 20-second video format. The Epoch Times has reached out to Meta for comment. Trade Group Calls on Congress to Rein in ESG Onslaught The U.S. Capitol in Washington on May 31, 2023. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) A trade group representing some 14,000 small and large manufacturers has issued a scorching criticism of recent regulatory moves tightening environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rules while calling on Congress to fight the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) regulatory onslaught. As the House Financial Services Committee prepares to conduct a series of hearings on ESG and issues relating to the proxy process, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has penned a letter to the committees leaders urging them to take action to protect businesses from ESG activists. The SEC is criticized for giving special privileges to ESG activists, reducing oversight of proxy firms, and proposing rigid ESG mandates that burden manufacturers without benefiting investors. Rather than tamp down on the deluge of politically motivated proposals, the SEC has granted special access to the proxy ballot for ESG activists, the group wrote in the letter (pdf), which was addressed to Reps. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), the chairman and ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, respectively. The manufacturing group wants Congress to intervene and limit proxy advisory firms influence, reinforce fiduciary duty, and prevent activist agendas. Congress must step in to depoliticize the business decisions that impact the lives and life savings of millions of Americans, the group wrote. The SEC has not returned a request for comment. Proxy Ballot Controversy Proxy ballots let shareholders vote on matters of corporate governance or decision-making when theyre unable to attend a shareholder meeting in person. Typically, someone from the companys management or a proxy advisory firm is designated as a proxy to cast a vote. Investors often take proxy firms advice on issues like director elections, merger transactions, and ESG matters, giving such entities significant power over whether a ballot item succeeds or fails. As the ESG movement has gained steam, many corporations have argued that proxy advisory companies have amassed too much power over corporate elections and that they should be regulated more tightly. Under former President Donald Trump, restrictions were imposed on proxy firms that required them to inform companies about how theyre advising shareholders to vote in corporate elections. Also, in a bid to bolster transparency, the Trump-era rules let investors see what opinion companies have about the guidance provided by proxy firms. But in July 2022, the SEC voted 3-2 along party lines to rescind the Trump-era rules, siding with critics that claimed the restrictions impeded the independence of proxy firms. Specifically, the rules adopted by the SEC rescinded two exemptions, including a requirement that proxy advisers provide a first look to corporations of the advice to be placed on the agenda. It also removed a requirement that allowed clients of proxy firms to be notified of any written responses to their guidance from companies. The seal of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seen at their headquarters in Washington on May 12, 2021. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) Outsized Influence Shortly after the SEC decided to gut some of the Trump-era rules, the National Association of Manufacturers said it would sue. Manufacturers depend on federal agencies to provide reliable rules of the road, and the SECs arbitrary actions to rescind this commonsense regulation clearly violate its obligations under the Administrative Procedure Act, NAM chief legal officer Linda Kelly said in a statement at the time. Ms. Kelly added that NAM is filing suit to preserve the 2020 rule in full and protect manufacturers from proxy advisory firms outsized influence. However, in December 2022, a Texas court threw out the NAM lawsuit, arguing that the SECs rule changes were within the bounds of reasoned decision making. The manufacturing lobby said in its letter to congressional lawmakers that the court decision to allow the SECs rescission of the Trump-era proxy rules has led to an influx of activist investors seeking to upset a delicate and critical balance between shareholders and corporations. The manufacturing lobby asked Congress to take action to rein in proxy advisory firms influence and limit ESG agendas. Instead of providing appropriate oversight of proxy firms, the SEC has rolled back commonsense guardrails that were designed to inform and protect investors, the group wrote in the letter. And instead of allowing the time-tested materiality standard to govern companies disclosure obligations, the SEC has proposed prescriptive, inflexible ESG mandates that will dramatically increase costs for manufacturers while providing minimal benefit for investors, it added. It comes as Republican lawmakers have taken ESG into their crosshairs and look to advance legislative measures that curb activist investors. Appetite for ESG also appears to be waning among shareholders, with recent data showing a drop in support for ESG proposals. Data from the Sustainable Investments Institute shows that proposals to compel corporations to act against climate change won approval from an average of 23 percent of shareholders, versus 36.6 percent in 2022 and about 50 percent in 2021. Support for proposals on social justice causes is also down by about 10 percentage points from last year. US Government Says Inability to Censor You Causes It Irreparable Harm Commentary The U.S. government betrayed its total and utter contempt for the First Amendment in a recent filing (pdf) in the landmark Missouri v. Biden free speech case. The filinga motion responding to U.S. District Judge Terry Doughtys bombshell Independence Day injunction freezing federal government-led speech policingcalls for the judge to permit the federal government to continue its censorship activities while it fights the injunction. While Judge Doughty has now smacked the federal government down, ruling (pdf) against its motion for a stay, the feds perverse position merits scrutiny, especially given its likely to persist in it for as long as this case is litigated, and as high as it will reach, perhaps up to the Supreme Court. The crux of the governments argument for staying the injunction was this: Prohibiting federal authorities from abridging speech, directly and by proxy, could lead to grave harm to the American people and our democratic processes, thereby causing the government irreparable harm. Another way to read the governments argument is that if it cant interfere in elections or engage in rampant viewpoint discrimination, that causes it irreparable harm. Still another way to read the governments argument is that your right to free speech causes it irreparable harm. These are fair characterizations based on the merely limited but no less stunning or overwhelming evidence (pdf) the plaintiffs have obtained in Missouri v. Biden to dateevidence Judge Doughty marshaled in pre-butting the feds arguments, substantiating, and then sustaining, the injunction. The case has revealed that a raft of federal agenciesbuoyed by senior White House officials and lawmakersand a coterie of often government-coordinated and government-funded anti-disinformation cutouts have chided, cajoled, and colluded with social media platforms to get them to suppress unauthorized opinions and even inconvenient facts to ruling class orthodoxy at mass scale. Among the matters these speech policing partners have worked to suppress are the Hunter Biden laptop story in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, questions about election integrity and outcomes beginning during the same cycle and continuing thereafter, and virtually every aspect of the Chinese coronavirus pandemic since its onset. The government and its putatively private partners have imposed this censorship regimeone that evidence suggests has impacted at least hundreds of millions of pieces of contenton grounds that mis-, dis-, and mal-information (MDM), as determined by authorities who themselves have often proven the most prolific and powerful purveyors of MDM, threatens the republic. Like all good tyrannies, in other words, this one has been for the good of its victimsto protect our national security and public health. After all, questions about mail-in balloting can lead to insurrections. Questions about vaccine efficacy can get people killed. Therefore, as the governments lawyers indicated in response to Judge Doughtys raising of hypothetical examples of Wrongthink about elections or pandemic mitigation during a May hearing in the case, the feds dont necessarily consider such Wrongthink protected First Amendment speech. The governments position in this case is in keeping with the views and policies of the security state that has been the tip of the spear for government-led censorship activities. CISA, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a sub-agency of the Department of Homeland Security, has been the linchpin of government-led speech policing. It has treated Americans questions about election integrity and outcomes on social media effectively as digital domestic terror attacks on critical election infrastructureand used that national security predicate to induce social media platforms to censor accordingly. These efforts flow naturally from CISA Director Jen Easterlys view that Americas most critical infrastructure is our cognitive infrastructure. This is a recipe for nothing less than federal control over the American mind. The Biden administrations National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism calls for the whole-of-society application of this viewperhaps unsurprisingly, given that one of the strategys architects, Joshua Geltzer, co-authored a piece with Ms. Easterly back in 2018 indicating his shared belief in the imperative to defend cognitive infrastructure. To confront long-term contributors to domestic terrorism, the strategy calls for enhancing faith in government and addressing the extreme polarization, fueled by a crisis of disinformation and misinformation often channeled through social media platform by accelerating work to contend with an information environment that challenges healthy democratic discourse and working to counter the influence and impact of dangerous conspiracy theories. One can easily see, given the nature of the Russiagate-era national security apparatus, how countering domestic extremism could serve as a pretext for eliminating dissent to government-favored positions via censorship. If Wrongthink leads to wrong action, then the areas of speech ripe for suppression are limitless. This is what has happened, as Missouri v. Biden has exposed. While the government apparently sees your right to speak as conditional, it views its power to censor as virtually absolute. The feds claim that the injunction, prohibiting them from maintaining their censorship regime by halting relevant communications with government-colluding cutouts and social media platforms, constitutes an assault on government speech. That is, the government has the chutzpah to claim that in being prohibited from censoring, its being censoredor that preventing the feds from violating the First Amendment, as the injunction does, somehow violates the First Amendment. This is despite the fact the injunction lays out myriad areas where the feds can continue coordinating with social media companiesincluding in the very areas such as national security that the feds fear-monger will suffer under the injunction. Amazingly, the feds also contend the injunction prevents the feds from speak[ing] on matters of public concern. Yet nowhere does the injunction say government authorities cant hold press conferences, issue press releases, publish social media posts, participate in interviews, or otherwise present their positions publicly. The plaintiffs response to the U.S. governments motion is manifestly correct. They note that by fighting the judges efforts to freeze government-led censorship, the government is simply saying that it wishes to continue violating the First Amendment. As is Judge Doughtys denial of the U.S. governments motion, wherein he says, straightforwardly, that the injunction only prohibits something the Defendants have no legal right to docontacting social media companies for the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner, the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech posted on social-media platforms. The governments fight for the right to censor reveals a conception of free speech, and its own authority, that is totally backward. The government operates as if speech is a privilege over which it holds total power, ceding to us only the ability to talk on heavily circumscribed termsrather than that we have a natural right to speak freely, and that the governments ability to regulate our speech is heavily circumscribed. Government derives its powers from us, and with our consent, not the other way around. At stake, therefore, in Missouri v. Biden is more than free speech. At stakeand currently on displayis the very nature of what remains of our republican system of government. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. UC San Diego Student Workers Accused of Defacing Walls Using Materials Other Than Chalk The arrests of three University of CaliforniaSan Diego student workers accused of vandalizing campus property drew a crowd to the San Diego Central Courthouse in protest of potential criminal charges in San Diego on July 10, 2023. (Courtesy of Philip Zhu) SAN DIEGOThe arrests of three University of CaliforniaSan Diego (UCSD) student workers accused of vandalizing campus property drew a large crowd to the San Diego Central Courthouse Monday in protest of potential criminal charges. The workers, Jessica Ng, William Schneider, and a third person whose name has not been disclosed, were arrested about a month after the discovery of what UC San Diego police has described as vandalism that caused permanent damage, necessitating replacement of building materials in excess of $12,000 at the Marine Conservation and Technology Facility at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The workers are members of the unions representing postdoctoral scholars, academic researchers, graduate student researchers, and academic student employees in the UC system. Union members allege that following a contract reached last year, the university has failed to implement its terms, leaving workers underpaid. While the three people arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism and conspiracy were slated for an arraignment at the downtown courthouse Monday, the hearings did not go forward. The San Diego County District Attorneys Office said in a statement that the case has not been submitted to its office for review of potential criminal charges. UC San Diego police said Monday that their investigation remains ongoing. Ng was among a group of speakers who addressed supporters on the steps of the courthouse and said, These charges are meant to intimidate and isolate every person who dares to stand up for themselves and their fellow workers. UCSD police announced the arrests last week and in its statement said The vandals used materials other than chalk to deface the walls of the new facility, and those materials seeped into the concrete. The concrete had been specially treated to withstand the marine environment and had to be professionally repaired. The statement continued, UC San Diego supports its community members rights to voice their concerns lawfully. UC San Diego does not tolerate vandalism or other damage to university property. Tensions between the union and university were made public in early May during a protest union members held at an alumni awards celebration attended by UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla. The union said dozens of members later received letters indicating they may have violated student conduct procedures in connection with the protest and potentially faced disciplinary actions. Ukrainian Aid Corridor to Get Australian Protection No. 2 Squadron E-7A Wedgetails on the tarmac at RAAF Base Williamtown on July, 5 2019. (CPL Craig Barrett/Royal Australian Air Force) Australia will provide Ukraine aid shipments with vital protection and deploy one of the worlds most sophisticated surveillance aircraft as the ongoing conflict with Russia inches towards its 18th month. Known in Australia as the E-7A Wedgetail, the aircraft is one of the most advanced battlespace management platforms capable of coordinating a joint air, sea and land battle in real-time and detecting airborne threats, including hostile aircraft and cruise missiles. Able to be refuelled in-air, it can undertake unlimited long-range missions and can cover more than four million square kilometres, which is roughly the territorial size of the European Union or the state of Western Australia. Australia is one of only four countries to operate the advanced surveillance plane, having six planes on active duty. Speaking at a joint press conference on July 10 with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was important that the democratic nations of the world stand up to defend the international rules-based order. Australia, of course, is a long way from Europe. But one of the things that this war has done is remind us that in todays interconnected, globalised world, an event such as the land war in Europe has an impact on the entire world, Mr. Albanese said. Weve been impacted by our economy, as well as weve been shocked by the brutal invasion and the disregard for the international rules-based order, which we had come to think was something that we hoped would be a permanent presence. So it is important that the democratic world react to defend the rules-based order. The prime minister said that the deployment will maximise the impact of Australias contribution to support Ukraines integrity, borders, and sovereignty, and he thanked Germany for hosting the plane. The deployment of the aircraft will also see up to 100 crew and support personnel travel with it to Germany for six months from October. However, at no time will the aircraft or the personnel be involved in the Ukraine conflict, with no personnel or military assets entering Ukraines territorial boundaries. The aircraft will also operate outside of Russian, Belarussian, and Ukrainian airspace. German Chancellor Touched By the Contribution Meanwhile, the German chancellor, Mr. Scholz, said he was touched by Australias support to the Ukrainian defence effort. I am really moved, and we will fully support this project to manage it well. Its a very important step and a good one, Mr. Scholz said. Were doing this together with many other partners in the world. Ukraine needs this support. Because it is, of course, remarkable to see the bravery of the men and women in Ukraine, the army defending its country and the resilience of the entire country. But it is also true that without the financial, humanitarian and military support that we make available, it wouldnt be possible to defend oneself in such a way. The deployment comes after Australia announced a multi-million-dollar assistance package for Ukraine in June, which included 70 vehicles, including 28 Rheinmetall armoured trucks, 28 M113 armoured vehicles, 14 special operations vehicles, and artillery ammunition. This brings Australias contribution to $790 million (US$520 million). Read More Ukraine Defence Effort Gets $110 Million Boost From Australia NATO Important To Australia The new aid package for Ukraine comes as Mr. Albanese is in Europe to attend the NATO meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Tuesday and Wednesday alongside Japan, New Zealand, and South Koreaalso known as the Indo-Pacific Four. They will discuss security issues across both Europe and the Indo-Pacific. The trip has sparked controversy in Australia after former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating criticised NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg as a supreme fool for his critical stance on China. However, Mr. Albanese declared on Monday that Australia supported NATO and that Mr. Stoltenberg was a friend of Australias. We need to remember the role that NATO is playing: there is a land war in Europe, Mr. Albanese said. This is a war about the international rule of law, about whether a large nation can seek to impose its will on a smaller nation. This is about national sovereignty. This is about the people of Ukraine struggling to defend their democracy and their sovereignty. And Australia stands with the people and government of Ukraine. But we also support the extraordinary effort that NATO is showing because this is a struggle. US Judge Rules Microsoft Deal to Buy Activision Can Go Forward The logo for Microsoft, and a scene from Activision "Call of DutyModern Warfare," in New York, on June 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) A U.S. judge ruled on Tuesday that Microsoft can proceed with its planned acquisition of videogame maker Activision Blizzard for $69 billion after the European Union (EU) approved the deal between the two gaming companies. Britains Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) objected to the deal in April, arguing that it hurts consumers and that it was prepared to consider Microsofts proposals to resolve antitrust concerns in the United Kingdom. The deal would be the largest for Microsoft and the biggest in the history of the videogame business. Activision shares were up 11.3 percent at $92.01, and Microsoft shares were flat. The entrance to the Activision Blizzard Inc. campus is shown in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 6, 2019. (Mike Blake/Reuters) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had asked U.S. district judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco to stop the proposed deal, arguing it would give Microsoft exclusive access to Activision games, including the best-selling Call of Duty. The agencys concern was that the deal would potentially preclude the availability of those videogames on other platforms. The federal government has not shown it is likely to succeed on its assertion the combined firm will probably pull Call of Duty from Sony PlayStation, or that its ownership of Activision content will substantially lessen competition in the video game library subscription and cloud gaming markets, Judge Scott Corley wrote in the 53-page partially redacted opinion. Corleys decision is another setback in the Biden administrations efforts to increase antitrust enforcement efforts. The U.S. court in San Francisco gave the FTC until Friday to appeal the judges decision. FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar said the antitrust regulator was disappointed in this outcome given the clear threat this merger poses to open competition in cloud gaming, subscription services, and consoles. In the coming days, well announce our next step to continue our fight to preserve competition and protect consumers. Microsoft president Brad Smith said that the company was grateful for the quick and thorough decision. Were grateful to the court in San Francisco for this quick and thorough decision and hope other jurisdictions will continue working towards a timely resolution, Mr. Smith said in a statement Tuesday. As weve demonstrated consistently throughout this process, we are committed to working creatively and collaboratively to address regulatory concerns. He also tweeted that his focus would now be on Britain. While we ultimately disagree with the CMAs concerns, we are considering how the transaction might be modified to address those concerns in a way acceptable to the CMA. The decision comes weeks after the United Kingdoms merger regulator stunned the gaming industry by vetoing the deal. The EUs analysis indicated that the acquisition would not harm competition, especially as Microsoft has committed to allow cloud rivals to offer popular games like Call of Duty on their platforms for the next decade. Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said the merger will enable competition rather than allow entrenched market leaders to continue to dominate our rapidly growing industry. Microsofts victory in federal court could potentially lead the FTC to drop its in-house merger challenge and abandon its opposition to the Microsoft deal overall. In a similar situation in February, the FTC dropped its in-house case against Metas proposed acquisition of Within Unlimited, a virtual reality startup, after a different judge in the same court also declined to grant a preliminary injunction. We are disappointed in this outcome given the clear threat this merger poses to open competition in cloud gaming, subscription services, and consoles, Douglas Farrar, a spokesperson for the FTC, said in a statement on Tuesday. In the coming days, well announce our next step to continue our fight to preserve competition and protect consumers. Microsoft announced a deal with UK antitrust officials to suspend litigation over the merger while both sides try to agree on how the acquisition might be altered to address competition concerns in that country. We are considering how the transaction might be modified to address those concerns in a way acceptable to the [Competition and Markets Authority], Smith said in a statement. Microsoft and Activision have agreed with the CMA that a stay of the litigation in the UK would be in the public interest, and the parties have made a joint submission to this effect. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Joins Father in Making Home Run Derby History Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) during the semifinals of the All-Star Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Jul 10, 2023. (Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports via Field Level Media) SEATTLEVladimir Guerrero Jr. eliminated record-setting hometown favorite Julio Rodriguez in the semifinals and then made history of his own Monday night. The Toronto Blue Jays slugger beat Tampa Bays Randy Arozarena 25-23 in the finals to win the 2023 Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park, completing the first father-son duo to claim Derby titles. Vladimir Sr. won the Derby in 2007 as a member of the Angels. I feel very happy, Guerrero Jr. said via an interpreter on the field after Arozarena fell two homers short of matching him. Im just happy to be in this moment right now. Guerrero Jr. nearly accomplished the feat in his first appearance in 2019, losing to Pete Alonso in the finals. Four years later he proved he had learned from that experience, using his timeouts wisely en route to winning all three of his matchups. After cruising past the Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts in the first round and hitting a walk-off homer in bonus time against Rodriguez, it was Guerrero who had to sweat out the final seconds in the finals. The 24-year-old went first as the No. 6 seed and set the mark for Arozarena to beat with 25 home runs. Arozarena smashed 20 in two minutes and earned 30 seconds of bonus time. However, the 28-year-old was clearly fatigued, and with 15 seconds to go it became clear Arozarena would run out of time. Guerrero insisted he wasnt worried. I felt pretty good, Guerrero said of watching bonus time. I felt like the pressure was on him. Trying to become only the fourth player to win the Derby in his own ballpark, Rodriguez put on a show before running out of gas for the second consecutive year. After clubbing a single-round record 41 homers in the first round, the seventh seed managed only 20 in the semifinalsthe third fewest hit in any round of the night. Guerrero Jr. matched that total during regulation, then walked off the win with his 21st homer with 43 seconds remaining in his bonus time. It feels like your mind is there, but your body is not. Thats the best way to explain it, Rodriguez said of being tired in the second round. Meanwhile, saving time proved beneficial for Guerrero, who faced a quick turnaround to the finals. After opening the event with 24 homers, good for only the fourth most in the first round, Arozarena put on a display by smashing 35 in the semifinals. He easily dispatched top-seeded Luis Robert Jr., with the Chicago White Sox star fading after a decent start to finish with 22 long balls. Arozarena kicked off the event by eliminating Texas fourth seed Adolis Garcia, but the competition picked up in earnest when Adley Rutschman stepped to the plate. Baltimores second-year star catcher smashed 21 home runs from the left side in regulation. The only non-right-handed hitter in the contest, Rutschman brought cheers from the crowd when he switched to the right side for his 60 seconds of bonus time. The former Oregon State star then clubbed six more for a total of 27. It was kind of on the fly, we were debating about whether to do it, the eighth seed said. However, the mark didnt last long, with Robert equaling it during regulation and walking off after hitting his 28th homer during his bonus time. Next up, Guerrero Jr. easily eliminated the third-seeded Betts, with the Los Angeles Dodgers star managing only 11 homers to the Toronto sluggers 26. The momentary lull from Betts session was quickly followed by fireworks. Rodriguez blasted 32 home runs in regulationfour more than anyone else in the first round managed including bonus time. Needing eight in 60 seconds to set the single-round Derby record, Rodriguez smashed nine more for a total of 41, bringing a roar with each one from the sellout crowd of 46,952. I wanted to live in the moment. Kind of be able to give a show to the Mariners fans and just kind of give it my all, he said. It was electric. Just like the fact that were out here and the whole crowd was into it and they were supporting me, all that. I feel like it meant the world for me, I really enjoyed it and I hope they enjoyed it, too. That performance didnt guarantee a spot in the next round with two-time Derby champion Alonso the final batter of the first round. Attempting to join Seattle legend Ken Griffey Jr. as the only three-time champions, Alonso started strong before fading and finishing with 21 homersfalling to Rodriguez for the second consecutive year. Despite failing to get out of the first round, Alonso did add to his all-time Derby home run leadthe Mets slugger now has 195 in four career appearances. Rodriguez has 142 in five combined rounds through his first two appearances. Guerrero Jr., who does not have a single home run in 10 career games at T-Mobile Park, hit a combined 72 Monday night to up his career total to 163. 2023 Home Run Derby Results First Round #5 Randy Arozarena (24) #4 Adolis Garcia (17) #8 Adley Rutschman (27) #1 Luis Robert Jr. (28) #6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (26) #3 Mookie Betts (11) #7 Julio Rodriguez (41) #2 Pete Alonso (21) Semifinals #5 Randy Arozarena (35) #1 Luis Robert Jr. (22) #6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (21) #7 Julio Rodriguez (20) FINALS #5 Randy Arozarena (23) #6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (25) By Derek Harper Amid the dramatic rise in overdose deaths caused by tranq dope, or fentanyl laced with animal tranquilizer xylazine, the White House has announced a national response plan to address the crisis. The plan aims to ensure a 15 percent reduction in xylazine-positive overdose deaths in at least three of four U.S. Census regions by 2025. Even as we work to save lives from illicit fentanyl, this administration is hyper-vigilant in reacting to changes in the drug supply, like xylazine, said Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, on a July 10 call with reporters. Dr. Gupta designated fentanyl adulterated with xylazine as an emerging threat to the United States on April 12. The move marked the first time an administration had issued such a designation to a substance under the SUPPORT Act of 2018. Xylazine, a nonopioid sedative used by veterinarians during surgeries, is not approved for human use. Nevertheless, between January 2019 and June 2022, the monthly percentage of overdose deaths from xylazine-laced fentanyl saw a 276 percent spike across 20 states and the District of Columbia, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data released on June 30. If we thought fentanyl was dangerous, fentanyl combined with xylazine is even deadlier, Dr. Gupta said, noting that the latter drug produces several serious side effects. Xylazine produces deep flesh wounds in users that require extensive medical intervention, he said. The deep skin and soft tissue wounds, abscesses, and tissue necrosis are often independent of injection sites and are challenging to treat, and they carry stigma. As a physician, Ive never seen wounds this bad at this scale. The drug, he noted, also slows the users heart rate, resulting in dangerously low blood pressure levels and complicating efforts to reverse the overdose with medications like Narcan. The administrations plan to stop the surge focuses on six pillars of action: testing; data collection; evidence-based prevention, harm reduction, and treatment; supply reduction; scheduling, and research. Our goal is to get fentanyl combined with xylazine off our streets and out of our communities, said Neera Tanden, White House domestic policy adviser. This plan is a key step towards that goal, building on our work to meet our broader goal to tackle the opioid and overdose epidemic. Plan of Attack Dr. Gupta said the administrations plan was developed over the past three months by various federal agencies and departments, and that implementation would require a whole of society effort. Addressing the first pillar, he said testing for xylazine is already being conducted in communities by local law enforcement officials but not frequently enough to get a national picture of the threat. Government efforts on that front will include standardizing forensic testing practices and developing rapid test strips for use in medical and community settings. Testing for xylazine in other drugs will also be increased. Other key aspects of the plan include standardizing diagnostic codes and developing a comprehensive epidemiological data system, developing safe and effective protocols for overdose treatment and prevention, and scheduling xylazine as a controlled substance while still allowing its veterinary use. As for the supply chain, Dr. Gupta noted that authorities know the drug is entering the United States via online vendors in China and other countries. Diverted veterinary xylazine is also arriving from Puerto Rico by mail and other means, while drug cartels in Mexico are also mixing it with fentanyl before trafficking it across the border. To disrupt that supply chain, the administration will aim to identify and develop law enforcement actions to reduce the illicit supply of xylazine and its precursor chemicals. Lastly, researchers will investigate how xylazine use affects human physiology and behavior as well as the social, cultural, and economic drivers and consequences of its use. With this response plan, were being proactive in our approach to save lives and are creating new tools for public health and public safety officials and communities across the nation, Dr. Gupta said. Were going to move ahead as quickly as possible because the fact is that lives are on the line. Moving Ahead Federal agencies will have 60 days to inform Dr. Gupta of their plans for implementing the outlined strategies. The good news, he said, is that many have already set their portion of the plan in motion. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration took action in February to restrict the unlawful entry of xylazine into the country. The Drug Enforcement Administration also issued a public safety alert in March warning of the spike in the trafficking of fentanyl combined with xylazine. Next week, Vice President Kamala Harris will convene state attorneys general to discuss how they are addressing the fentanyl crisis, including fentanyl laced with xylazine. To the parents, to loved ones, to community leaders affected by xylazine use, I want you to know that help is on the way, Dr. Gupta said. What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc Hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are being transferred back to Tunisia after being pushed into a dangerous no-mans-land on the Libyan border and trapped for a week there without access to basic necessities, according to aid agencies. The group was driven out earlier this month amid a spike in anti-migrant tensions linked to a killing in the Tunisian port city of Sfax, a hub for traffickers organizing risky and sometimes deadly boat journeys across the Mediterranean Sea to Italy. One such boat sank on Sunday off the Tunisian coast. Coast guard officers retrieved one body, rescued 11 people and declared 10 others as missing, the Sfax prosecutors office said. The fate of hundreds of migrants pushed into the Tunisia-Libya border region drew concern from international humanitarian groups and calls for action. It also raised questions about Tunisia's migration policies, weeks after the European Union offered Tunisias government $1 billion to help its slumping economy and to beef up border services to stop migrant boats from crossing to Europe. A 29-year-old man from Ivory Coast who was among those trapped in the border zone said Tuesday that he and 100 others have been transferred away from the border to the Tunisian inland town of Medenine, where they are now sleeping in a courtyard. Speaking to The Associated Press from the border zone last week, he described some 600 sub-Saharan migrants caught in the area between the Mediterranean and the Tunisian-Libyan land border near Ben Guerdane. The man said uniformed men had taken migrants from their homes in Sfax in the middle of the night in early July and brought them to the border. Tunisian Red Crescent head Abdellatif Chabou headed to the region to oversee an operation to bring food and water to the migrants and allow them to contact their families. The move comes under the directive of Tunisian President Kais Saied who on Sunday ordered the Red Crescent to bring aid to the migrants. Three people needing medical aid were transferred to a local hospital, including a pregnant woman, Chabou told local broadcaster Radio Mosaique on Monday. He said 195 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa registered on a Red Crescent list to be transferred back to Tunisia, and then to their countries of origin. The president of the Tunisian Human Rights Observatory, Mustapha Abdelkebir, said a total of 450 migrants blocked in the border zone were being gradually transferred to various regions of Tunisia. The International Organization for Migration said it was working with Tunisian authorities to ensure humanitarian assistance, and called on Tunisia to respect the dignity and rights of all migrants and to counter harmful and negative rhetoric, hate speech and hate crimes. The Tunisian Human Rights League called for a crisis center to address the tensions in Sfax. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Why and How We Need to Change Police Training Commentary Left of Bang is an idea that is part of the Marine Corps Combat Hunter Program. Left of bang is everything you do before shots are fired, the lethal threat is presented, or a physical assault begins. Bang is the violent act or the event which occurred where control was lost, and right of bang is what happens after. Most past law enforcement and military has been right of bang. Now, left-of-bang concepts must be discussed and introduced to military and forward-thinking law enforcement personnel. Michael Malpass, Taming the Serpent If youve read my articles, you know my issues with law enforcement training. The reality is that most copsunless they take time to train on their ownare not well trained. Taking training seriously means ending the check the box style that wastes time and money. Here are examples of training that wastes time. Firearms Qualification Most police agencies are required to conduct annual firearms qualifications. Depending on the department, it is typically 50 to 100 rounds and begins at the 15-yard line. Most of the firing is done from a static position with a paper target in front of the officer. Some agencies give time limits at each course of fire to add some stress. During firearms qualifications, depending on the agency, the officers fire one round at a time in response to an auditory signal such as THREAT or UP. In some cases, they could fire up to five rounds depending on the course of fire. Lets discuss the simple science of this whole firearms qualification. In a high-stress situation, a suspect points a gun at the officer or charges them while holding a knife. Officers are encouraged to shoot until the threat is down. This is supported by medical research as it has been found that 64 percent of gunshot victims with wounds to the chest and 36 percent of those wounds to the head and neck can survive more than five minutes. Here is the reality when an officer must discharge their firearm: The suspect is on the move and rarely stationary. The suspect is also shooting at the officer, running at the officer with a weapon, or trying to run the officer over with a car. The qualification does not consider human performance or decision-making under duress. What Are the Benefits of Adding Stress to a Firearms Range? Stress exposure training at a police firearms range has several benefits, including: 1. Improved decision-making skills under stress: During high-pressure situations, officers must be able to make quick and effective decisions. Stress exposure training helps officers develop the ability to make accurate decisions and respond appropriately in high-stress situations. 2. Increased confidence and performance: With regular stress exposure training, officers become more confident in their abilities and are better equipped to handle the physical and mental demands of their job. This leads to improved performance and better outcomes in real-life scenarios. 3. Better physiological response to stress: Stress exposure training helps officers develop a physiological response to stress that is more conducive to effective performance. This includes improved breathing patterns, lower heart rate variability, and reduced muscle tension. 4. Enhanced situational awareness: Stress exposure training helps officers develop heightened situational awareness. This enables them to better assess their environment and make informed decisions based on the circumstances at hand. 5. Improved safety for officers and civilians: By training officers to handle high-stress situations, stress exposure training helps to reduce the risk of injury or death to both officers and civilians. It also helps to minimize the potential for property damage and other negative outcomes. I can train anyone to qualify with a firearm. What takes time is becoming proficient. Now you ask what I mean by becoming proficient. Proficiency in ones equipment is essential for effective performance. I mean, think about it, in the military, once youre issued a sensitive item such as a rifle or night vision goggles, you are required to learn every aspect of that piece of equipment. You are then tested under duress, you are tested when youre fatigued, you are tested while you are eating, and so on. Part of police training should be testing an officers proficiency. We should move away from qualifying. Police officers fire weapons downrange at the Orange County Sheriffs Department Law Enforcement Shooting Range in Orange, Calif., on March 30, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Scenario Based Training Once a threat is presented, a law enforcement officer needs time to perceive and react. Reaction time research has been of interest to scholars for over a century (Donders, 1868; Vickers, 2007). Vickers (2007) surveyed numerous studies and found mean reaction times of 0.14 to 0.16 s for an auditory stimulus and 0.18 to 0.20 s for a visual stimulus. A longer reaction time to a visual cue is attributed to the longer period of time required by the complex signal processing in the human visual system (Engelken, Stevens, & Enderle, 1991). The time for the human brain to consciously perceive, evaluate, and classify a visual cue, instead of simply reacting to its earliest detection, is 300 ms. (Lamme, 2010; Rutiku, Martin, Bachmann & Aru, 2015) Something that is not done enough in policing is scenario-based training. Let me rephrase my previous sentence. SWAT teams and various other specialized units do scenario-based training, except for the patrol division. Patrol division refers to your everyday uniformed cop who works the beat. These officers dont receive enough scenario-based training. Especially the type that forces officers to think critically on their feet, to put the officers under duress so that they can learn to tackle complex problems and/or incidents. In my 15-plus years in law enforcement, I only do scenario-based training under duress with my SWAT team. As a brand-new officer, scenario-based training is only done at the police academy. Most patrol officers would go through their entire careers doing just a handful of scenario-based training sessions. There needs to be an emphasis on scenario-based training for the entire profession, not just specialized units. A study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that exposure to stress during police training was associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms and other negative mental health outcomes in new officers. A review of studies on stress inoculation training (a type of stress exposure training that involves gradually increasing exposure to stressful situations over time) concluded that this type of training can be effective at reducing symptoms of PTSD and improving coping strategies among police officers. Another study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that police officers who underwent stress exposure training were less likely to be involved in use-of-force incidents compared to officers who did not receive this training. Stress exposure training can help prepare officers for the realities of the job and improve their ability to respond effectively in high-pressure situations. Through realistic, simulated scenarios, stress exposure training can help officers develop critical decision-making and problem-solving skills under duress. Stress exposure training can help reduce the risk of PTSD and other negative mental health outcomes, by providing officers with coping strategies and building resilience. By gradually acclimating officers to stressful situations over time, stress exposure training can help reduce the negative impact of acute stress on officers physical and mental health. A firefighter looks on as vehicles burn following riots in Nanterre, west of Paris, on June 28, 2023. (Zakaria Abdelkafi/AFP via Getty Images) Research suggests that stress exposure training can help reduce use-of-force incidents among police officers, potentially improving community trust and reducing the risk of excessive force complaints or injuries to officers or citizens. Overall, stress exposure training is increasingly being recognized as an effective approach to preparing law enforcement officers for the challenging realities of the job, while also promoting officer well-being and community safety. In the end, police officers need to not only train for the physical strains that come with the job, but also for the mental side. If elected officials cannot provide funding for this kind of training, then the profession is swimming upstream with no end in sight. There will be more incidents of excessive force, civilian complaints, and accidental shootings. The profession needs to train to the same caliber as special forces and other elite units. Im not saying militarize the police. Im saying the level of training needs to change. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. BJP spreading lies over liquor ban Staff Reporter RAIPUR, Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar addressed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State units allegations of defamation against the Congress Government regarding a proposed liquor ban. Speaking to the media at his official residence in Raipur on Monday, Minister Akbar clarified the situation and highlighted the BJPs unfulfilled promises. The BJP had claimed that the Congress party, during the 2018 assembly elections, had vowed to impose a liquor ban by symbolically using Gangajal. However, Minister Akbar stated that the Congress party had actually made a promise to waive farmers agricultural land, not to implement a liquor ban. He also pointed out that the former Chief Minister, Dr Raman Singh, from the BJP Government, had also announced a liquor ban during his tenure but failed to deliver on that promise. To address the issue of a potential liquor ban, Minister Akbar announced that the Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghels government is committed to the cause. A committee, led by senior MLA and former minister Satyanarayan Sharma, has been formed to study the matter and will submit its report soon. While the BJP has not yet suggested the names of its MLAs for the committee, Minister Akbar expressed the Governments dedication to working on the issue. Minister Akbar mentioned that the Social Welfare Department has initiated a campaign to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse. In Chhattisgarh, 2,626 Bharat Mala Vahini units have been established to educate the public about the risks of addiction and discourage such tendencies. The Social Welfare Department, under the supervision of Minister Akbar, plans to launch an extensive anti-drug campaign called Nasha Mukti through the Bharat Mala Vahini initiative. Bomb threat creates panic at Misrod, Bhopal stations Staff Reporter Reports that bomb was planted in 12618 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Ernakulum Mangla Express created chaos at Misrod and Bhopal stations on Monday. As soon as the information was received, Railway officials were on high alert and a police team swung into action. They started a search operation and investigation. The information was shared by unknown call at the Police Control Room in Bhopal. Government Railway Police (GRP) control room immediately shared the information with Railway Protection Force (RPF) and team was on high alert. The train was passing through Rani Kamalapati Railway Station and then officials kept the train on halt at Misrod station at 17:07 hours. RPF, Commerce and GRP officials, police jawans, bomb rescue team reached the spot. Local administration team was also present on the spot. The train was searched by team properly and no suspected or explosive was found in the train. Later after the clearance, the train departed from Misrod Station at 18:48 hours. Talking to The Hitavada Subedar Singh, PRO of Bhopal Railway, said, The bomb threat call was fake as Police, GRP, RPF teams searched the train properly at Misrod station. Further enquiry in this case is being held by the police team. Staff Reporter/ Ramtek Correspondent The environment public hearing for proposed manganese ore mine in Guguldoh forest area witnessed tremendous protest by villagers and tribal people of nearby villages, on Monday. Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) conducted the public hearing in Guguldoh village to get the opinion of people about the proposed mine. Hundreds of citizens including villagers, tribals, activists and politicians participated in the public hearing and opposed the mine in Guguldoh forest area. D Mallikarjun Reddy, former BJP MLA, during the hearing said, There is no need to start a mine in a rich forest area. Guguldoh is a corridor which should be conserved for betterment of the ecosystem of the area. Jaideep Das, former Honorary Wildlife Warden, Nagpur, said, Felling of more than 2 lakh trees just for a mine is a bad decision. This forest area is a wildlife corridor and we have video and photo evidence of wildlife movement in the forest. Chhattisgarh based Shanti G D Ispat and Power Private Limited has raised the proposal to fell 40,000 trees to establish Manganese ore mine in Guguldoh. The company got green signal from the Maharashtra Forest Department with some conditions and mitigation. Thereafter, the company raised proposal to fell the trees to MPCB and the Board published a public notice for objections on the project. After getting information about the project, environment activists, wildlife lovers and citizens came forward against the project. They conducted a Chipkoo Movement along with the villagers and sensitised the villagers about the project and its ill effect on the forest area. From day one, the villagers are opposing the project and they showed their unity in the public hearing too. In the beginning, the representative of the company gave a presentation about the project before the villagers. They claimed that the mine will generate jobs for 40 people which will be given to the villagers of the area. However, the villagers straightway rejected the companys claim stating that why should they lose their forest for just 40 vacancies? The tribal ladies, who also attended the meeting, claimed that this project will encourage villagers to consume liquor and indulge in other bad habits. They also warned that the Government should not allow this company to establish mine in Guguldoh or they will self-immolate on the project site. Hema Deshpande, Sub Regional Officer, Bhandara, told The Hitavada, We have gathered the video recording of the public hearing. We will prepare one minute video of the meeting and send it to MPCB Head Office and then the Board will send it to the Department of Environment. Uday Singh Yadav, former Deputy Chairman, Ramtek Panchayat Samiti; Ramesh Karemore, District Head, Prahar Janshakti Party; Harish Udake, State President, Gondwana Ganatantra Party; Sanjay Jhade of Shiv Sena; Vikendra Mahajan, former MLA; Rajesh Thakre; Rishikesh Kimmatkar; Rahul Kothekar; green activists Anasuya Kale Chhabrani, Sharad Paliwal and many Gram Panchayat Sarpanch, Upasarpanch and activists were present during the public hearing. Debut session at IIT-Madras Zanzibar campus to begin in Oct; applications open for 2 courses NEW DELHI, THE first academic session at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras Zanzibar campus is set to begin in October with the offshore campus offering two full-time academic programmes, top officials said on Monday. IIT-Madras has become the first IIT in the country to launch an international campus, which is coming up in Tanzanias Zanzibar. An MoU was recently signed between India and Tanzania, the final procedural step that paves the way for this campus. Classes for the first academic year (2023-24) are scheduled to commence in October 2023, offering two full-time academic programmes -- a four-year Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and a two-year Master of Technology in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, IIT-Madras Director V Kamakoti told reporters here. The total student intake will be 70, including 50 students for Bachelors and 20 for Masters courses. Applications for the 2023-batch are currently open, he said. Faculty will be deputed from IIT-Madras or recruited from India during the initial days of this campus. Activities to ensure local talent is developed and can be employed as faculty are underway already, he said. High Court slaps fine on petitioner in contempt matter Legal Correspondent After hearing the criminal contempt petition, the division bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court comprising Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Vishal Mishra, on Monday, imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 to be deposited with the Registry of this court within a period of 15 days from the date of this order to the petitioner Satyapal Anand (90), failing which he is directed to undergo simple imprisonment of 15 days. He is further warned to remain cautious in future while dealing with the courts cases. Accordingly, the proceedings of criminal contempt are disposed off. This criminal contempt proceedings have been initiated suo motu in pursuance to an order passed by this court on December 3, 2012, in writ petition wherein this court observed as under that during course of arguments the petitioner, while criticising the order dated July 17, 2012, passed by this court, submitted that the order was biased. It is further submitted that the Acting Chief Justice who has passed the order was a biased person. Thereupon, when this court pointed out to the petitioner that such a statement is in contempt of the court, he said that the learned judge was a biased person in this case. Inspite of bringing to the notice of the petitioner that this may amount to contempt of court, the petitioner reasserted the statement. In the circumstances, issue notice to the petitioner calling upon him to show cause as to why proceedings for contempt of court be not initiated against him. Notice be made returnable within a period of two weeks. Petitioner waives service of notice. The petitioner prays for and is granted two weeks time to file a reply. The division bench mentioned in the order that it is not disputed that the age of the contemnor is above 90 years. The medical documents which are filed in pursuance to the courts order clearly reflect that he is suffering from various ailments. The doctor has observed that he is unable to walk or move around. On examination by the board, it is found that he is suffering from hyperiensive, has pedal edema, crept at base, he has glove stocking anaesthesia, significant hearing loss and all large joints have significant crepitus. Hence, we are of the view that it would be appropriate to impose a punishment of payment of fine. HC dismisses plea seeking quashing of FIR The division bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court comprising Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh has dismissed the petition filed by petitioner, Rajendra Kumar Batham, a retired Judicial Officer, praying for quashing of FIR dated December 29, 2021, registered at Police Station, Economic Offences Wing, Bhopal, for offences under sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 406, 409 & 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and sections 7, 13(1)(a) & 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The division bench of the MPHC has said in the order that resultantly, looking to the facts of the present case as well as the law on the point, as discussed in the preceding paragraphs, this court is of the view that quashment of the FIR registered at EOW Police Station, Bhopal, cannot be allowed as this FIR fails to satisfy the test of sameness and consequences, because the complainant, accused and nature of allegations in crime registered at Police Station, Industrial Area, Dewas, and FIR by EOW Police Station are not the same. This court has deliberately not gone deep into the matter by way of dealing with every transaction of embezzled money date by date, lest it may prejudice the case of either party during pending trial/further investigation in crime. The division bench added that consequently, there is no merit in this petition and hence, it stands dismissed. It is made clear that the investigating agency is free to investigate the matter in free and fair manner without being influenced by the observations made in this order. Manipur violence: One civilian killed, 2 hurt IMPHAL : A civilian was killed and two were injured on Monday in violent clashes in two villages located along Manipur's Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts, officials said. There was a brief lull between 3 am and 6 am before the sounds of indiscriminate firing from Phayeng and Singda villages in the Kangchuk area along the two districts resumed. Earlier officials had said that a policeman had died in the violence but it was later clarified that the victim was a civilian, who was carrying a .303 rifle believed to have been stolen from the police armoury. Joint search of the area of Geljang was carried out and one body along with a .303 rifle was recovered from the spot, officials said. Monsoon Session: Ensure last session before polls runs smoothly, Speaker urges Oppn BHOPAL, Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Girish Gautam on Monday urged Opposition parties to ensure the Monsoon Session, which will be the last before the year-end polls, runs smoothly. He said that he would be chairing an all-party meeting in connection with the Assemblys monsoon session, which will start on Tuesday and end on Saturday. As this is the last session of the current Vidhan Sabha, I will urge the Opposition parties during an all party meeting later tonight that it should run smoothly without any ruckus in the interest of the public, he told reporters. I will request them to utilise the five days to put forward grievances in a constitutional and democratic manner so that issues can be solved, he said. He said, in a first, Saturday is the last day of the session since it would not have been possible for many to return on Monday (July 17) for the fifth and final day after taking a break on Friday. Assembly Principal Secretary A P Singh said that the Government will present its supplementary budget during the session, adding that 1,600 questions have been received for discussion. Over 100 call attention notices along with zero hour and other notices have been received, he added. MPs nursing staff go on strike, services hit Staff Reporter More than 17,000 nursing staff serving in all the Government hospitals, including the district hospital, community health centres, went on strike in support of their various demands across the State from Monday. It also affected health services in Bhopal citys JP Hospital, Katju Hospital and Government-run Sanjeevani Clinics. The strike is stated to hit the routine health services in the hospitals including Hamidia Hospital and Kamla Nehru Hospital where kin of many patients admitted in different wards of hospitals alleged huge inconvenience due to absence of nurse. To handle the medical services, the duty of Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANMs) were deployed in the Department of Gynaecology and Gynaecology to attend the patients. However, many patients complained to face problems due to the nurses strike as nobody was available to attend them over any medical assistance. On Monday morning, more than three dozen nurses gathered at the main gate of Jai Prakash Hospital, where they Rain havoc in north India, PM calls Himachal CM NEW DELHI : HP CM Sukhu said 17 or 18 people were killed in rain-related incidents in two days The Yamuna crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres in Delhi Army conducts rescue ops in Punjab, Haryana; over 900 evacuated from private university WITH raging waters washing away cars and roads, submerging fields and gushing into residential areas, it was another day of rain havoc in parts of north India, particularly Himachal Pradesh where landslides claimed four more lives and more than 200 people remain stranded. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and assured unwavering support to his Government as heavy rainfall caused widespread damage across the State. The PM inquired about the extent of the damage caused to life and property due to heavy rains and floods, an official statement issued here said. Local administrations, NDRF and SDRF teams are working to ensure the well-being of those affected, the Prime Ministers Office said. Landslides claimed four more lives in Shimla and the Shimla-Kalka highway was blocked Monday morning as heavy rains wreaked havoc in the hill State for the third day, police said. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said 18 people were killed in rain-related incidents in the State in the last two days. Twenty people stranded in tourist town of Manali were rescued but more than 200 others were stuck across various parts of the hill State, officials said. Three people died after a landslide struck a house in Theog subdivision of Shimla on Monday morning. The incident occurred in Pallavi village and the deceased were identified as Deep Bahadur, Devdasi and Mohan Bahadur, police said. On Monday morning, the meteorological department issued a red alert for extremely heavy rain, a day after heavy rain pounded the State, triggering landslides, and damaging houses. Officials said rail operations on the Shimla-Kalka route have been suspended till Tuesday as landslides blocked the track at several places while educational institutions across the State were ordered to remain shut on Monday and Tuesday. The Yamuna crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres in Delhi on Monday as torrential rains pummelled the upper catchment areas of the river for the third day on the trot. The river breached the danger mark earlier than expected. It was predicted that it would cross the danger mark by Tuesday noon. 9 killed as incessant rains pound Punjab, Haryana; Army called for rescue operations: Nine people have died in rain-related incidents in Punjab and Haryana as incessant showers battered the two States for the third day in a row, flooding many places and sending authorities scrambling for rescue operations. The Punjab Government has ordered the closure of schools till July 13 while in Chandigarh schools are closed till Thursday. Haryana too has ordered the closure of schools in some worst-affected districts till Wednesday. In other places of the State, the Government has left it to the Deputy Commissioners to take a call on the matter after assessing the situation. Russia blocked a nine-month extension of a key Syria aid route at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that allows for the delivery of aid overland from Turkey into rebel-held areas of Syria. The UN-brokered agreement expired on Monday, with many council members including the United States and Britain calling for a full-year extension. On the other side, Russia who vetoed a nine-month extension proposed by Switzerland and Brazil has insisted on just six months. The 15 members of the Security Council had been trying for days to find a compromise to extend the deal, which since 2014 has allowed for food, water and medicine to be trucked to northwestern Syria without the authorization of Damascus. The crossing provides for more than 80 percent of the needs of people living in rebel-controlled areas with Syria's government regularly denouncing the aid deliveries as a violation of its sovereignty. The accord originally allowed for four entry points into rebel-held Syria, though now only the Bab al-Hawa crossing remains passable. The aid mechanism comes up for renewal every six months due to pressure from Damascus ally Moscow. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Recruitment rally for Agniveers from 22nd Staff Reporter Headquarters Recruiting Zone (Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh) will commence Army Recruiting activities in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for the year 2023-24 from July 22. At the onset, Recruiting Office (Headquarters) Jabalpur will be conducting Recruitment Rally for Agniveer Men (all categories) at Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalay Jabalpur from July 22 to 29. The recruitment rally will be attended by candidates hailing from 14 districts of Madhya Pradesh (domiciles of Annupur, Balaghat, Dindori, Jabalpur, Katni, Mandla, Narsinghpur, Rewa, Satna, Seoni, Shahdol, Sidhi, Singrauli and Umaria). The recruitment rally is conducted as per new recruitment system wherein Online Common Entrance Exam (CEE) was the first filter. The registration by the candidates for the rally was done in February-March 2023 and they appeared in online CEE in April 2023. The results of the Online CEE were declared in May 2023 and shortlisted candidates were informed via email. On July 4, shortlisted candidates have been issued with Rally Admit cards through JIA site on their Email IDs for attending the rally which is starting from July 22. All necessary instructions for the rally are printed on the admit card, however, for information of all candidates it is stated that the Recruitment Rally will be conducted in Physical Education Department Ground of Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalay, Jabalpur. All shortlisted candidates are requested to report at the Gate No 3 (Physical Education Department Gate along Dumna Airport Road) of Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalay, Jabalpur on the given date at 12 am in the night. Run and other rally procedures will commence with effect from 2:00 am in the night, therefore, the Rally Gate will be closed for candidates at 1:30 am in the night. Candidates are requested to bring original documents along with them (Rally Admit Card, 8th/10th/12th Mark sheets/educational certificates, Nativity/Sthaniya Niwas, Caste Certificate, NCC, Sports, ITI (NTT), IT, Driving License, Relationship Certificates if any, Affidavits) and also bring mobile No linked with JIA and Aadhaar Card. In view of the unpredictable weather conditions in the region, candidates are advised to make appropriate arrangements to take care of their documents/personal belongings and be prepared accordingly. Recruiting Office (Headquarters) Jabalpur through District Administration Jabalpur is making necessary arrangements at Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalay Jabalpur for the smooth and successful conduct of the Recruitment Rally and is ready to help in case of any problem. Enthusiasm, discipline and support of candidates would be a determining and motivating factor for the conduct of the recruitment rally. Candidates should remember that recruitment in the Army is a transparent process and they should refrain from getting into the trap of touts and fake agents. Indian Army conveys its best wishes to the candidates and wish them success. Repolling in nearly 700 booths in W Bengal panchayat elections KOLKATA : No major incident was reported during fresh polling. BJP, TMC targeted each other over violence A TOTAL of 69.85-per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in 696 booths in 19 districts of West Bengal, where polling for the panchayat elections was declared void, officials said. No major incident was reported in the repolling ordered by the State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday evening amid allegations of tampering with ballot boxes and the violence that left 15 people dead, they said. The repolling started at 7 am amid tight security with four central forces personnel deployed in each booth, besides state police. Voting started late in a few booths as ballot boxes did not reach on time, officials said. These booths will be given extra time to complete the polling, they said. Counting of votes, including those in the repolling, will be held on July 11. No major untoward incidents were reported from the districts where repolling is underway. A couple of stray incidents happened and those were managed by the police, an SEC official said. However, one person died due to cardiac arrest while standing in the queue to vote in Tehatta sub-division of Nadia district, police said. In Malda, locals blocked a booth in Dogachi in Raniganj panchayat in Gazole block, preventing the repoll. Polling could not be held on Saturday, too, as the locals boycotted the vote demanding the repair of a road. A road was blocked at Tehatta in Nadia in the morning, but it was later cleared by the police. Voters also demonstrated outside a booth at Mayna in Purba Medinipur district, he said. As large numbers of people are still inside the polling booths waiting for their turn, presiding officers will allow all those who entered by 5 pm to cast their vote. In the booths where the poll process started late due to logistical reasons, voting will also end late. Commenting on the repolling, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said the BJP submitted a list of 6,000 booths to the SEC, demanding re-election. Actually, false voting took place in 18,000 booths at the behest of the TMC. We are collecting more evidence. Our list was apparently overlooked by State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha, he claimed. Wagners Mutiny By JAMES M DORSEY THE sigh of relief in a swath of land stretching from China to Africas Atlantic coast was audible when Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian oligarch who heads the Wagner Group, a state-funded private military company, called off his mutiny against President Vladimir Putins military and security establishment. So were the concerns and unanswered questions the revolt raised about Putins grip on power and the risks involved in the global rise of private military companies in the minds of Chinese, Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and African leaders. The core question is the Russian militarys role. It remains unclear whether the military held back on Putins orders or hedged its bets. Also unanswered is whether Mr. Prigozhin enjoyed support from within the military ranks. Russian military personnel surrendered without a fight when Prigozhin took control of Rostov-on-Don, a city of one million people and home to the headquarters of Russias Southern Military District, widely viewed as one of the militarys most competent units. Similarly, Wagner fighters advanced along the M4 expressway to within 200 kilometres of Moscow, with no attempt by the military to stop them. A Deutsche Welle fact check of videos circulating on social media allegedly showing the Russian Air Force bombing Wagner on the M4 concluded that they were fake. Where was the Russian Air Force? Wagner may have had tanks, lightweight anti-aircraft systems, and some ground-to-air missiles, but long-range anti-missile and anti-aircraft defences have not been part of their modus operandi. Consequently, the mercenary convoys en route to Moscow could have been vulnerable to aerial assault, said Alessandro Arduino, an authority on private military companies. The question marks are compounded by reports that General Sergei Surovikin, the former top Russian military commander in Ukraine, knew in advance of Prigozhin's planned revolt. Another senior military officer, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, appeared on video chatting with Prighozin after the Rostov-on-Don takeover. In addition, General Valery Gerasimov, the militarys chief of staff and a target of Mr. Prigozhins ire, has not been seen in public since the failed revolt. To be sure, Surovikin and Aleseyev issued separate videos criticising Prigozhin and calling on him to halt his revolt. In addition, Putin sent a brigade loyal to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov rather than a Russian military unit to Rostov-on-Don to confront the Wagner Group. Even though it did not come to a clash, Kadyrov is likely to see the mutiny as an opportunity to replace the Wagner Group. Without answers to the questions, Putin will be hard-pressed to demonstrate unity among Russias military and political elite and that he retains complete control. That will affect foreign leaders assessment of Putin as a reliable and stable partner. The Wagner revolt and questions about Putins grip on power have diminished Russias status as a credible security partner that has already been called into question by its inability to subjugate Ukraine. In addition, Putins foreign friends in China, Eurasia, the Middle East, and Africa have long felt uneasy about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, even if they were not condemning it publicly or adhering to sanctions imposed by the United States, Europe, and others. Except for China, mediation proposals by African leaders, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett were primarily intended to demonstrate neutrality in the Ukraine conflict. So was Chinas plan, but China plays in a different league because many view it as the only power with real influence in Moscow. China has sought to capitalise in Central Asia on Russias diminished status, where Russia was long seen as the regions security guarantor, and US neglect of the former Soviet republics. In contrast to Ukraine and Syria, countries with a strong Russian military presence, Russia has far fewer, if any, forces in the African nations where Wagner operates. Moreover, Russias experience with Wagner raises the spectre of military forces revolting against ruling elites when many in China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa believe that the era of popular revolts has run out of steam. That may not be an immediate domestic concern in China, but it is a worry given Chinas preference for stability in countries across Eurasia, the Middle East, and Africa, with which it maintains close economic and other ties. For now, China, like others, sighs in relief. However, the last word on the Wagner mutiny fallout has yet to be spoken. (IPA) WCL ropes in private party to start mining at its closed mine Business Bureau In an attempt to ramp up its coal production, city-based mining company, Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL), on Monday, roped in a private player to operate one of its closed mines. The public sector undertaking (PSU) has issued a letter of award (LoA) to Shree Amarnath Mineral Private Limited (in consortium with S R Remedial Services Private Limited and Chandra Coal Private Limited) for the commissioning, rehabilitation, development and operation of the A B incline underground mine. The underground mine is located in Silewara near Khaperkheda which comes under WCLs Nagpur Area. The mine was closed since nine years. Interestingly, the private players found mining at the same location economically feasible after the public sector undertaking company stopped operations terming it non-feasible. The WCLs contract with the private player is for 25 years and the targeted total coal production from the mine is 6.55 million tonnes. Manoj Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director of WCL, handed over the LoA to Shailendra Kailashchandra Agrawal, Narender Singh and Bhupinder Singh Kohali, all representing Shree Amarnath Mineral, at the companys headquarters in Civil Lines, on Monday. Senior officers of WCL including A K Singh, Director (Technical Project and Planning); Tarun Kumar Shrivastav, General Manager (Corporate Affairs); A P Singh, General Manager (CMC); and Sanjay Bhatt, Chief Manager CMC, were among the prominent persons present on the occasion. The UN Human Rights Council is heading towards a divisive vote on Wednesday on religious hatred following recent Koran burnings, with some Western nations reluctantly feeling the draft resolution encroaches too far on free speech. Pakistan and other Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries secured an urgent debate at the UN's top rights body on Tuesday after a Koran was burnt outside Stockholm's main mosque, triggering a diplomatic backlash across the Muslim world. Pakistan's draft resolution condemns all manifestations of religious hatred, including "public and premeditated acts of desecration of the Holy Koran", and underscores the need to hold those responsible to account. It urges states to adopt laws to "address, prevent and prosecute acts and advocacy of religious hatred that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence". It also wants the UN rights chief Volker Turk to identify gaps in countries' laws in light of Tuesday's Koran burning debate. Worried about freedom of expression, however distasteful, some Western nations on the 47-member council were holding out for revised wording that would allow them all to reach a consensus. But with Pakistan submitting its resolution, the European Union countries, the United States and Britain, while condemning Koran burnings, resigned themselves to a vote instead, with London and Washington saying they would vote against the draft resolution. After four hours of debate, the council in Geneva was on the brink of voting on Tuesday. However, it narrowly ran out of time, meaning they will return at 10:00 am (0800 GMT) on Wednesday. 'Deliberate Desecration' "The deliberate desecration of the holy Koran has continued under government sanction and with a sense of impunity," Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told the council, via video-link. "Free speech is as indispensable as hate speech should be indefensible. Our vigour to protect free speech must not lose sight of the imperative to reject hate speech." Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi added: "These provocations deeply insult Muslims around the world. You cannot hide behind freedom of expression." In a brief intervention, Sweden's representative said Stockholm "strongly rejects any Islamophobic acts". Some countries feel existing resolutions go far enough. France's ambassador Jerome Bonnafont noted: "Human rights protect people -- not religions, doctrines, beliefs or their symbols. "It is neither for the United Nations nor for states to define what is sacred." Opening the debate, UN rights chief Turk said recent Koran-burning incidents seemingly "manufactured to express contempt and inflame anger". "Powered by the tidal forces of social media... hate speech of every kind is rising, everywhere," he said. Turk said that "people need to act with respect for others", with inflammatory acts against religions being "offensive, irresponsible and wrong". But, he stressed, limitations on free speech "must, as a matter of fundamental principle, remain an exception". Western Hopes For Consensus US ambassador Michele Taylor said she had "so hoped" the council could "speak with one consensus voice". "While we abhor expressions of religious hatred, we do not believe freedom of expression can or should be abridged to outlaw them. Accordingly, we regret that we must vote against this text," she said. British ambassador Simon Manley said it was difficult to determine where free speech becomes unacceptable. "We don't accept that, by definition, attacks on religion, including our religious texts or symbols, constitute advocacy for hatred," he concluded. Belgium's ambassador Marc Pecsteen, speaking for the EU, deeply regretted there was "no will" to keep negotiating for a consensus and the bloc therefore "has no other choice than to ask for a vote". On June 28 in Stockholm, Salwan Momika, 37, who fled from Iraq to Sweden several years ago, stomped on the Muslim holy book and set several pages alight. His actions came as Muslims around the world began marking the Eid al-Adha holiday. The Swedish government condemned the Koran burning as "Islamophobic", but added that Sweden had a "constitutionally-protected right to freedom of assembly, expression and demonstration". Search Keywords: Short link: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Tuesday that Egypt has signed contracts with the private sector to sell state-owned entities worth $1.9 billion under the Initial Public Offering (IPO) programme which the country adopted earlier this year. In a press conference at the Cabinet headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, PM Madbouly explained that the government has received $1,65 billion and an equivalent of the remainder $250 million in Egyptian pound for the shares sold so far in some state-owned entities, including Telecom Egypt. The prime minister added that more deals worth $1 billion would be announced soon. In January 2023, Madbouly announced that 32 Egyptian state-owned companies will be listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) and also sold for strategic investors within a year. PM Madbouly said the government has finalized completing 25 percent of the first phase of the IPO programme. He added that the World Banks International Finance Corporation will advise the government in preparing 50 more companies to join the IPO programme. Madbouly also revealed that Egypt targets $191 billion in US dollar revenues in 2026, up from the current figure of $70 billion. The target includes $88 billion from commodity exports, $20 billion from tourism, $45 billion from remittances, $13 billion from the FDIs, $17 billion from the Suez Canal and other maritime services, and $9 billion from outsourcing services in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. He also added that the government target an annual increase in exports of 20 percent, up from 16 percent currently. Egypt plans to refund 35-55 percent of income tax to investors within five years from the start of projects. The government will also shoulder 50 percent of the costs of utilities used in projects for up to 10 years. Speaking at the press conference, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said revealed that the government has put projects worth $247 billion on hold in the areas of housing, road networks, and ICT in order to address curent shortages in hard currency. Budget deficits and revenues Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait said that the budget deficit increased to 6.2 percent in FY2022/2023, recording EGP 618 billion, due to the raising of interest rates domestically as well as the increase in the price of the US dollar vis-a-vis the Egyptian pound. However, Maait added, budget revenues grew by 11.5 percent in FY2022/2023 over FY2021/2022, recording EGP 1.5 trillion. Tax revenues also rose by 22 percent in the same period, recording EGP 1.2 trillion, he said. Egypt has attained an initial budget surplus of 1.6 percent (EGP 157 billion) in FY2022/2023, compared to 1.4 percent (EGP 100 billion) in the previous fiscal year, Maait added. Search Keywords: Short link: First Quantum Minerals (OTCMKTS:FQVLF Free Report) had its price objective cut by Barclays from C$27.00 to C$26.00 in a report issued on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. A number of other research firms also recently commented on FQVLF. National Bank Financial raised shares of First Quantum Minerals from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Raymond James decreased their price objective on shares of First Quantum Minerals from C$35.00 to C$34.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of First Quantum Minerals from C$25.00 to C$22.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. TD Securities raised shares of First Quantum Minerals from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Scotiabank reduced their price target on shares of First Quantum Minerals from C$41.00 to C$40.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, First Quantum Minerals presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $32.14. Get First Quantum Minerals alerts: First Quantum Minerals Stock Performance Shares of First Quantum Minerals stock opened at $24.01 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $16.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 10.67 and a beta of 1.96. First Quantum Minerals has a 52-week low of $14.48 and a 52-week high of $27.09. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $23.64 and its 200-day simple moving average is $22.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 2.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. First Quantum Minerals Cuts Dividend First Quantum Minerals ( OTCMKTS:FQVLF Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The basic materials company reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.04 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $1.56 billion for the quarter. First Quantum Minerals had a net margin of 10.31% and a return on equity of 5.37%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that First Quantum Minerals will post 0.71 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 8th. Investors of record on Monday, April 17th were paid a dividend of $0.0969 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.89%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 14th. First Quantum Mineralss payout ratio is 18.27%. About First Quantum Minerals (Get Free Report) First Quantum Minerals Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties. It primarily explores for copper, nickel, pyrite, gold, silver, and zinc ores, as well as produces acid. The company has operating mines located in Zambia, Panama, Finland, Turkey, Spain, Australia, and Mauritania, as well as a development project in Zambia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for First Quantum Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Quantum Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Egypt and the UNs Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will co-organize a series of events celebrating 20 years since the adoption of the 2003 Convention of Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. On Tuesday, Minister of Culture Nevine El-Kilani met with Nahla Imam, the ministrys consultant for intangible heritage, and Nuria Sanz, the UNESCO's regional director, to discuss the celebration. Among the planned events is the launch of Heritage House at the Fustat Traditional Crafts Centre, in the heart of old Cairo, at the end of August. The centre currently offers The Artisans of Egypt (Sanayeitet Masr), a two-year diploma training program designed and implemented by the culture ministry's development fund. The location will also serve as the premises of the national Intangible Cultural Heritage Archive, as well as the venue for many heritage workshops and events. The celebration will also include The Dates Festival, which is planned to take place in the Siwa Oasis this October. The celebration is set to include a documentary on the elements of intangible cultural heritage that are registered on the convention's lists. These include: Search Keywords: Short link: The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Free Report) had its target price lowered by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $415.00 to $398.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $329.00 to $337.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $339.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Bank of America upped their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $384.00 to $425.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. StockNews.com started coverage on The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, JMP Securities increased their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $460.00 to $470.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $385.77. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Up 0.4 % Shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock opened at $316.47 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $325.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $338.19. The company has a market cap of $105.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.27, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25. The Goldman Sachs Group has a 1 year low of $277.84 and a 1 year high of $389.58. The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 18th. The investment management company reported $8.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.14 by $0.65. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 9.84% and a net margin of 13.23%. The firm had revenue of $12.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.66 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $10.76 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that The Goldman Sachs Group will post 31.21 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 1st were issued a $2.50 dividend. This represents a $10.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.16%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 31st. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.60%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $337.66, for a total value of $1,012,980.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 15,052 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,082,458.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 1,145,486 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.73, for a total transaction of $13,436,550.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 50,099,392 shares in the company, valued at approximately $587,665,868.16. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $337.66, for a total value of $1,012,980.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 15,052 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,082,458.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 34,978,986 shares of company stock worth $660,057,057. 0.54% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On The Goldman Sachs Group Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of GS. Tower View Investment Management & Research LLC acquired a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 224.0% during the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 81 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 109.3% during the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 90 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Elequin Securities LLC acquired a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Institutional investors own 76.90% of the companys stock. About The Goldman Sachs Group (Get Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in resale agreements. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Yes, it is true, at first thought, most people would not consider going to a university in Benin Republic to further their education. Schools in the country have been known to be mismanaged and to fail, with questionable administrative and educational practices. But over the past few years, there has been a serious crackdown on these issues, and you should reconsider Benin Republic for your tertiary education. It remains that universities in Benin Republic are international schools despite their management and proximity to Nigeria. For Nigerian students, NYSC is guaranteed as many of the universities are recognised by the Nigerian Ministry of Education. JAMB is not required of course, and with 5 OLevel credits, you can easily apply. Many universities are beginning to offer aptitude tests to ensure a high standard of education and for scholarship consideration. Most of the universities in the country use an intensive curriculum that allows students to finish their Bachelors degree course in 3 years. AND universities in the country do not go on strike, so you never have to worry about prolonged study. The universities are quite affordable compared to other international universities, and many schools offer payment plans, and allow tuition to be paid in CFA, Dollar, or Naira. Most universities in the country require all students to learn French. Being bilingual is such a powerful tool in todays job market. One requires such an edge, and you get it included in your tuition fee. Before even entering the job force, going to school in Benin Republic opens you up to the rest of West Africa and the world for tourism and other educational experiences. The universities offer a wide range of academic programs and courses across various departments, business, engineering, medicine, social sciences, or humanities. Schools offer Bachelors, Masters, and Post-Graduate programmes. Students are not confined to maintaining the same course throughout their study, allowing them to explore and truly find their passion. Most first year students are required to use school-provided accommodation for their safety, and after that, they are allowed to get their own lodging around the universities, which are still rather affordable. The welfare of the students is paramount so universities are becoming more serious about healthcare options, extracurricular activities, and career counseling. I think my favourite part about the educational system in Benin Republic is that most administrations are managed by young, upwardly mobile professionals (Yuppies as we like to call ourselves). Most of the registrars and administrators are below 40 years of age. While this might frighten some parents, it allows for a unique and up-to-date educational experience as we are able to easily adapt todays societal changes into the academic culture. With these few points, I hope I have been able to convince you and not confuse you to attend university in Benin Republic. But of course, do your research! Check if the school has a website, social media pages, liaison offices, promotional events, and talk to parents, students, and alumni. http://www.weldiosuniversity.edu.bj/ Ugo Magnus Kel (PhD) Registrar, Weldios University Miss Idimmachukwu, the Nnewi-born 9-year-old girl, who was maltreated and battered by her guardian, Mrs. Chinyere Ifesinachi, has been awarded a compensation sum of five hundred thousand naira (500,000) by the Anambra State Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, sitting at the Chief Magistrate's Court, Awka, the state's capital. His Worship, Genevieve Osakwe who presided over the court, said the defendant, Mrs Ifesinachi went contrary to the Violence Against Persons, Prohibition and Protection, Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 2017, in the treatment she meted out to the little girl in Onitsha where they lived. According to the court, the 500,000 the defendant will pay the little girl would be strictly for her education, and would be paid into a dedicated bank account to be opened in the girl's name. The court further noted that the girl's mother and the Assistant Chief Registrar (ACR) of the Court, would be co-signatories to the account, adding that every expenditure to be made from the account must be accounted for, in order to avoid expenditures that are not related to the purpose of the money. The court also adjourned the case to the August 2, 2023, for report of compliance to the order of Court. Recall that the defendant, Mrs, Ifesinachi, who is 25-year-old mother of twin, was the woman who physically abused her House Help (the 9-year-old Idimmachukwu) sometime in May 2023. She was said to have denied the underage girl education, as well as manhandled, tortured and battered her with pestle, cane, heated knife and other hard objects; after which she sent her to go and discard waste one early morning, before she was seen by some good-spirited individuals who rescued her. The State's Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, led by Commissioner Ify Obinabo intervened on the matter, hospitalized and eventually retook custody of the little girl after a series of controversies occasioned by the involvement of a skit maker Lord Zeus who took the girl from the hospital where she was hospitalized in Awka, and transferred her to an Asaba hospital, in Delta State, before she was eventually recalled back to Anambra State by the Commissioner and her team. The operatives of the Anambra State Police Command also arrested the suspect, who was eventually charged to court. Meanwhile, the girl has since been handed over to her family. In the last week of May this year, Niger State bade farewell to an exceptional leader and trailblazer in the person of Mary Beryl Noel-Berje, who served as the Chief Press Secretary to the Former Governor of Niger State and current Senator, Abubakar Sani Bello. Her tenure was nothing short of remarkable. Mary Noel-Berje, a proficient journalist and social engineer, has made an indelible impact on the state by effectively bridging the gap between the government and the realities of society. Her exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication have transformed her into an icon, not only for women but for all Nigerians. The appointment of Mary Noel-Berje as the Chief Press Secretary in 2019 stood as a historic moment, as it was the first time a woman has ever assumed this prestigious position since the creation of Niger State over four decades ago. Hailing from Minna, Niger State, Mary's journey to prominence serves as a testament to her resilience and unwavering commitment to excellence. Mary Noel-Berje has a Diploma in Mass Communication and a B.Sc. in Political Science, acquired from the esteemed Universities of Jos and Abuja, respectively. In pursuit of knowledge, she joined the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in 1998, where she made noteworthy contributions to the enduring legacy of the broadcast industry. Throughout her illustrious career, Mary Noel-Berje has consistently demonstrated professionalism, intellectual acumen, and unwavering dedication. Her remarkable leadership skills were acknowledged with the prestigious News Personality of the Year award in 2008, reflecting her exceptional contributions to the field of journalism. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Mary Noel-Berje has consistently displayed compassion and a steadfast commitment to the betterment of society which led to the creation of the AYEWOSAI Foundation, a non-Governmental Organization denoting "Love God's Time" The establishment of the Foundation is a testament to her deep empathy for the less privileged and she has been able to touch the lives of numerous families, providing them with both material and emotional support. As a community builder, Mary Noel-Berje's impact extends far beyond her professional duties. She has served as a beacon of hope and a pillar of support to countless individuals. Mary Noel-Berje's legacy of leadership and service extends beyond the boundaries of Niger State. She has held leadership positions in Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Niger State Chapter, for about four years. Her commitment to excellence and dedication to societal betterment has garnered recognition from national and international organizations. She has been honored with awards of excellence, including the "International Peace Advocate" by the UN-POLAC Foundation and the "Legacy of True Leadership" award by Leadership News Magazine in Dubai. Mary Noel-Berje's leadership within the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Niger State Chapter, showcased her commitment to empowering women and advancing their rights. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, as she has been recognized nationally and internationally for her exceptional contributions to society. Due to her exceptional leadership skills, The Nigerian Youth Organization for Leadership and Right Activation bestowed her with the prestigious title of "Chief Doyen of Nigerian Youth," further solidifying her impact on the younger generation. Furthermore, her outstanding prowess in administration led to her recognition as a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria. Mary Noel-Berje's contributions to nation-building and her remarkable achievements have garnered recognition even from her tribe. The Gbagyi Students Association of Nigeria, Niger State Chapter, proudly honored her with an award of excellence. Amidst her remarkable achievements, Mary Noel-Berje remains grounded in her family values. She has been dedicated to her marriage to Mr. Noel-Berje Shekwolo and her wonderful three lovely children, symbolizing her ability to excel both in her personal and professional life. In bidding farewell to Mary Noel-Berje's tenure as Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, we recognize the indelible mark she has left on the state and the countless lives she has touched. Her tenure as the Chief Press Secretary witnessed a remarkable transformation in communication strategies, ensuring that the Governor's vision and initiatives reached every corner of Niger State. Through her strong communication skills, Mary Noel-Berje effectively conveyed the Governor's messages to the media and the public, fostering transparency and building trust. Mary Noel-Berje's journey serves as an inspiration to all, especially women, as she shattered glass ceiling and broke barriers in her path. Her tireless efforts in bridging the gap between government and society have created a more inclusive and engaged community. During the times of crisis, Mary Noel-Berje exhibited extraordinary composure, demonstrating her ability to handle sensitive situations with grace and efficiency. Her strategic thinking and crisis management skills were invaluable in navigating challenging circumstances and ensuring accurate and timely information dissemination. As Mary Noel-Berje steps down from her role as Chief Press Secretary, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for her outstanding service, professionalism, and dedication to the people of Niger State. Her legacy will continue to inspire future generations, reminding us of the importance of compassion, integrity, and leadership in creating a better society. In conclusion, Mary Noel-Berje's tenure as Chief Press Secretary was marked by unwavering commitment, trailblazing achievements, and a genuine passion for serving the people of Niger State. Her exceptional leadership, compassion, and dedication has left indelible impact on the state's governance and communication landscape. As we bid farewell, we celebrate her remarkable journey and eagerly anticipate the continued positive influence she will have in her future endeavours. The Egyptian Red Crescent has been providing a wide range of relief services to Egyptians, Sudanese, and other nationalities affected by the conflict in Sudan, executive director Rami Al-Nazer tells Al-Ahram Weekly. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan, intensive efforts have been underway at the Argeen Crossing, where the Egyptian Red Crescent working in collaboration with Egyptian state bodies has established relief centres to provide services to Egyptians arriving from Sudan, as well as to individuals of other nationalities who have sought refuge at the Egyptian-Sudanese border. Rami Al-Nazer, executive director of the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC), told Al-Ahram Weekly that the organisation has been in constant communication with its counterpart the Sudanese Red Crescent since the outbreak of the conflict to follow up on developments and help evacuate Egyptian students residing in Egypts southern neighbour. The ERC has been collaborating with the International Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement and other international partners to decide on courses of action regarding the arrival of Egyptians and other nationalities at the Argeen Crossing. This is well-secured, Al-Nazer said. A large number of Egyptians, including students, live in Sudan, he added, pointing out that the ERC is still providing services to those in need in coordination with state executive agencies, particularly the Ministry of Social Solidarity. As part of its relief efforts, the Egyptian Red Crescent has mobilised its Aswan branch along with its primary unit comprising over 135 dedicated volunteers and regular staff members to establish relief centres to address the urgent needs of those affected by the Sudan crisis, Al-Nazer said. The relief centres cater to a range of needs, including facilitating the documentation and safe passage of elderly individuals and those with disabilities. They also provide meals and personal care packages and organise transportation for individuals to their destination of choice, either within Aswan governorate or to any other governorate, he added. The centres prioritise medical services, with trained staff members offering first aid and providing vital medications, especially insulin, to individuals with chronic illnesses. Special attention is given to psychological support services, particularly for the elderly who may have been exposed to distressing circumstances. A dedicated centre has been set up to offer psychological support to young children, Al-Nazer said. The relief centres have thus far provided essential services to 230,000 individuals at the Argeen Crossing, Al-Nazer stated. The ERC has also reached out to individuals in Sudan to provide them with crucial communication services such as telephone lines, Internet access, international calls, and mobile chargers to enable them to check on their families in Sudan and help them to reunite, he added. A partnership between the ERC and the EU, facilitated through the Ministry of Social Solidarity, is also providing a range of projects aimed at providing relief and medical supplies to those affected by the Sudanese crisis. The EU has contributed 20 tons of medical and relief aid towards this effort. The partnership between the ERC and the EU aims to provide initial medical examinations, treatment services, and laboratory analyses for refugees in Egypt. The ERC is exploring opportunities for further collaboration with donors, including the EU, to implement long-term projects that encompass cash assistance, food provisions, psychological support, aid for children, and medical services, Al-Nazer said. On a wider scale, the ERC has also extended support to associations in other countries affected by disasters, as was the case following the earthquake in Syria. The ERC, in collaboration with Egyptian executive bodies, prepared 1,000 tons of aid to be sent to the affected areas. An international relief team was also dispatched to Syria to offer support to all those impacted by the disaster, he added. The ERC has also sent humanitarian and relief assistance to Palestine, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, and other Arab and African states. The ERC, being a civil society entity, has 30,000 volunteers who are always ready to extend support. The ERC operates under the purview of the Ministry of Social Solidarity spearheaded by Nevine Al-Qabbaj, who provides unwavering support to the organisations volunteers. The ERC has also participated in the development of the National Strategy for Volunteering, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Solidarity, Al-Nazer noted. The ministry is currently studying the draft of the strategy ahead of its launch. It is expected to include the establishment of a National Committee for Volunteering, with the support of relevant ministries and the participation of civil society bodies and volunteer agencies to ensure its effective implementation. The strategy is meant to expand the scope of volunteering opportunities to include all age groups, ranging from children to the elderly. It will also establish a mechanism for coordinating volunteer efforts, alongside the creation of a website to facilitate applications by volunteers and promote digital volunteering. A unified database will also be developed that will include information on the age, location, and educational background of volunteers in various sectors. The ERC has been working to promote other beneficial practices in society, including blood donations, Al-Nazer said. It operates a network of five blood banks across the country and is an active participant in the Supreme Council for the Control of Blood Transfusions. According to Al-Nazer, spreading awareness about the importance of blood donation can save lives and help many individuals, especially those suffering from illnesses such as cancer. He said that the ERC relies on donations and grants from various donors to fund its operations and that the global economic crisis is affecting donations and funding. The resulting shortage of resources could impact the services the ERC provides, and it is continuing to collect funds and promote its services to the public, he noted. The ERC aims to prepare society to become more shock-absorbent, Al-Nazer said. The mission of the ERC is to provide training to individuals and communities on how to respond to and deal with crises and disasters. This includes providing training on first aid, survival procedures, and how to save lives in times of crisis. The ERC also offers first-aid courses that can be attended in person or online. The ERC was established in 1912 through the voluntary efforts of prominent figures in society at the time. It is a non-governmental association that operates in accordance with the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including neutrality, non-discrimination, independence, and human unity and universality. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Djokovic, Alcaraz stay on track for Wimbledon showdown TENNIS: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz stayed on track for a dream final at Wimbledon yesterday (July 10) as defending womens champion Elena Rybakina reached the last eight after barely breaking sweat. Tennis By AFP Tuesday 11 July 2023 09:41 AM Carlos Alcaraz reacts as he plays against Matteo Berrettini during yesterdays (July 10) match. Photo: AFP Last years beaten finalist Ons Jabeur hammered two-time champion Petra Kvitova 6-0, 6-3 while second seed Aryna Sabalenka also won in straight sets. Djokovic tamed the impressive serve of Hubert Hurkacz to stay on track for a record-equalling eighth title and 24th Grand Slam, winning 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-4 to reach his 14th quarter-final at the tournament. The Serbian second seed was two sets up when a locally agreed 11:00pm curfew halted play on Sunday. The match resumed on Centre Court yesterday and the Polish 17th seed broke his illustrious opponent in the 12th game to get a foothold in the match. In the fourth set, Djokovic broke for a 4-3 lead, ending Hurkaczs perfect run of 67 service games at the tournament this year. Victory in his 100th match at the tournament gave the Serbian a 90th win. In the important moments, particularly in the fourth, I managed to read his serve, make that break. That was the key to success, said the 36-year-old, who will face Russias Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals. Alcaraz lost the first set to 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini but recovered to reach the quarters for the first time, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. The Spaniard has little experience on grass in his short career but won last months tournament at Queens to set himself up for a tilt at the Wimbledon title. I really wanted to play the quarter-final here, coming this year with that goal, said the US Open champion, who reached the fourth round at the All England Club last year. Its my dream to play a final here, to win this title one day, so I hope to reach that dream this year but right now its great to be in the quarter-finals. Alcaraz will face sixth seed Holger Rune next after his fellow 20-year-old beat veteran Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. Mens third seed Daniil Medvedev was 6-4, 6-2 ahead when unseeded Jiri Lehecka retired from their Court One clash with a foot injury. The Russian will face 43rd ranked Christopher Eubanks, who beat fifth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. The American described grass as the stupidest surface to play on last month but he has now changed his tune. The grass and I, weve had a very strenuous relationship over the years but right now I think its my best friend, he said. Fairytale ends The first result of the day was on No. 2 Court, where 16-year-old Mirra Andreevas fairytale run was brought to an end. The teenager, who came through qualifying, looked set for a place in the quarter-finals when leading 25th seed Madison Keys by a set and 4-1 but the American fought back to win 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. The match ended in controversy when Andreeva was handed a penalty point for banging her racquet into the surface. The sanction took Keys to match point. Andreeva said she was seeking to channel Roger Federer, who was a hot-headed player in his younger days. I knew that Roger Federer was struggling with emotions when he was teenager, she said of the 20-time Grand Slam champion. Im not the only one who also struggles. In the opening match on Centre Court, Rybakina was 3-1 up when Brazilian world number 13 Beatriz Haddad Maia took a medical timeout to treat a lower back injury. She returned to the court but had to retire when trailing 4-1. Kazakh third seed Rybakina will play Jabeur in the quarters in a re-match of last years final after the Tunisian swept Kvitova aside in just over a hour. Im probably going for my revenge, she said. It was a difficult final last year. Its going to bring a lot of memories. Im hoping to play like today and get the win because shes an amazing player. In the other womens fourth-round tie, Belarusian second seed Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open this year, breezed past Russias Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-0 and will play Keys next. Missing German broker found dead CHON BURI: Police found the body of a missing German property broker hidden in a freezer at a house in tambon Nong Prue of Bang Lamung district last night (July 11). deathcrimepolicemurder By Bangkok Post Tuesday 11 July 2023 09:24 AM Police found the body of Hans Peter Ralter Mack, 62, in the freezer at a residence in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, last night (July 10). Photo: Supplied via Bangkok Post Detectives found the body of Hans Peter Ralter Mack, 62, as they were conducting a search based on surveillance camera footage. Police were trying to find the whereabouts of the German who went missing from his family on July 4. Forensic officers were examining the scene to determine the cause of death, reports Bangkok Post. Pol Maj Gen Theerachai Chamnanmor, investigative chief of the Provincial Police Region 2, said there was evidence pointing to the offenders. He attributed the death to extortion, adding that about B2 million had been transferred from the mans bank account. Earlier yesterday police said they have identified a woman believed to have pointed Mack out to his abductors, and the recipient of money paid by Mack. Investigators were compiling their case to apply for court warrants and he expected an arrest in the near future. The case concerns assets. The offender seemed to know that Mr Mack had assets. Detectives must find out if he knew Mr Mack personally, deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn said yesterday. Police would also look into the business activities of other people in the case, he said. On July 5 Macks 24-year-old Thai wife, whose name was not released, told investigators that he had left their house in Swiss Paradise housing estate in Pattaya, Chon Buri, on July 4 to meet a foreign property broker. The meeting was to discuss property sales in Pattaya and Koh Samui of Surat Thani province. Macks silver Mercedes-Benz E350 coupe was found in the CC Condominium parking lot on Khao Noi Road in tambon Nong Prue on Sunday morning. Inside the car police found stains of a chemical cleanser apparently used in an attempt to destroy evidence. According to his wife, she had been living with the German for about five years. The man had two sons from a previous marriage. Residents fight Navy over protected forest rights PHUKET: More than 100 local residents occupying land within the Bang Khanun protected national forest yesterday (July 10) presented a formal request for the Royal Thai Navy to remove a barbed-wire fence from the area. militaryconstructionnatural-resourcesenvironment By The Phuket News Tuesday 11 July 2023 10:37 AM The request, addressed to Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew, was received at Phuket Provincial Auditorium by Phuket Vice Governor Anupap Rodkwan Yodrambam. Leading the group was Uthai Suksirisamphan, who also called for the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command (3AC) to hold a public meeting with villagers to solve the problem of villagers being ejected from the protected forest. The fear of being evicted from the protected forest area follows the Royal Forest Department granting the Navy use of 3,763 rai in the forest to create a new home for the 22nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion, the 2nd Anti-Aircraft Regiment, the Anti-Aircraft Command Unit, an Air Defense and Coastal Defense Center and the 4th Naval Police Battalion of the Naval Police Department. Mr Uthai yesterday claimed that the Navy has never held such a meeting, despite a public meeting being held in April. Present for that meeting were representatives from the Phuket Provincial office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE Phuket), the Phuket branch of the Royal Forest Department (RFD), local village headman (Phu Yai Baan) in the area as well as local residents, including those who live in the protected forest. Regardless, Mr Uthai yesterday said there should be a public meeting to let local residents decide whether or not the Navy should be allowed to use the land. There are crops of people who have been living and making a living continuously in the area since 1998, Mr Uthai said. Not recognised yesterday was that Vice Admiral Arpakorn Yookongkaew, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, has already recognised 265 cases that had been approved use of areas within the forest, which has been officially classified as degraded forest. However, there are many others with no such legal right to occupy areas in the forest. Such people will be forced to vacate the area, he said. During an inspection of the forest by V/Adm Arpakorn last month, one illegal occupier was found with a building on site that clearly contravened any legal use of land within the forest. The occupier was given 15 days to remove the structure, or the Navy would do it for them. The move was praised with much support online. Mr Uthai yesterday said local residents for many years had filed many objections to the Navys plans to build facilities in the forest. Complaints had been filed with the Ombudsmans Office, the Royal Forest Department, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and even now-caretaker Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha. All of the complaints received no response, Mr Uthai said. Mr Uthai argued that the Navy had no right to install the barbed-wire fence in the forest. He also argued that the Royal Forest Department had no right to prosecute nine people for illegally occupying areas within the forest as they had already been granted TorPor 4 use of the land. The Royal Forest Department had handed cases over to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to issue summons to the accused, he said. The nine each face a charge of construction, clearing or burning of forests, or committing any acts that destroy forests or occupy forests for themselves or others without permission from the competent official according to the Forest Act 1941 and according to the National Reserved Forest Act 1964. Vice Governor Anupap, received the complaint and assured that he would pass it on to the Governor and relevant government agencies. He also suggested that the issue be presented to Phuket MPs to consider whether relevant and problematic laws need to be amended, especially in the case of overlapping land issues between the state and the people. Of note, Mr Uthai and the villagers occupying land in the protected forest have never recognised that their claim to using the land may end at the Royal Forest Departments discretion. Also of note, the Royal Thai Navy has never explained the strategic necessity of building the military installations in Phuket. The venue's former boss Bob Skoney told The Tennessean newspaper: "Things are flying. They're taking chairs and piling them in a heap in the middle of the room. Here come trash cans from the balcony, they're throwing them down on the floor. They set some of the curtains on fire up there or tried to get them on fire because they're flameproof... We got them out here, and nobody got hurt, but they sure wreaked some havoc." Elon received loads of criticism for it, with many saying it would be the death of Twitter. The feature was removed the next day but the Zuck probably smelt blood in the algorithm and released Threads. By Azernews Elnur Enveroglu The attempts of Armenia to break the law at the border checkpoint in Lachin were prevented by the Azerbaijani State Border Service. Armenians, who want to enter Karabakh after the latest armed provocations by Armenian military groups, have been provided transportation by vehicles belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross. It is worth to note that the State Border Service of Azerbaijan has also created special conditions for this. However, according to the information, serious violations of the law were discovered in the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan during the last few days. The representatives of the organization misused their privileges and performed actual smuggling activities, and many facts about this have been discovered so far. In addition, the Azerbaijan State Border Service shared special information about this in the form of a press release. It is noted in the information that several Armenians who wanted to cross the border of Azerbaijan were detained in cars belonging to the Red Cross Committee, and as a result, a large number of undeclared cigarettes, mobile phone devices, as well as a large amount of fuel were detained in the truck while trying to illegally enter the territory of the country. Regarding the incident, British political analyst Neil Watson said in his comment to AZERNEWS that Armenia is undermining the peace process and international laws by committing such acts at the hands of international humanitarian organizations. He also condemned the ICRC's support to Armenians in such illegal acts. The fact is that smuggling of any illegal items in ICRC vehicles is a gross violation of the ceasefire agreement and Azerbaijani law, and casts suspicion on the use of any vehicles for humanitarian purposes, whether under the aegis of the ICRC or any other organisation. Such smuggling besmirches the name and reputation of the ICRC and, once again, makes the international community doubt whether the Armenian government and people are genuinely seeking peace. The peace talks are currently at a pivotal stage, yet it seems that the Armenians are prepared to jeopardise this by senseless smuggling and are abusing the humanitarian exemption afforded to the ICRC to facilitate this. Azerbaijan is totally within its rights to suspend passage through the Lachin checkpoint and hopefully thereafter Armenia will realise it has more to lose than gain from such actions and such smuggling will not recur, Watson said. The expert associated the use of the ICRC's name in such illegal events with the organization's irresponsibility in its work. Watson said that Azerbaijan can now sue the ICRC to the International Criminal Court. Also, according to the British expert, Azerbaijan can investigate the activities of the ICRC before the establishment of the border checkpoint in Azerbaijan and make a claim about whether or not criminal cases have occurred. Despite the fact that I am certain the ICRC hierarchy has no knowledge of what has occurred in its name in this situation, its relaxed approach has enabled this smuggling to occur, which is against Azerbaijani and international law. Azerbaijan has evidence of this smuggling and would be in its rights to take a case against the ICRC in the International Criminal Court. Certainly, there is every indication that weaponry and related components could have been transported in ICRC vehicles and that the ICRC could be accused of inflaming the situation, rather than carrying out its stated humanitarian purpose, Watson underlined. Commenting on Armenia's baseless statements after the closure of the Lachin checkpoint in connection with the incident, the expert called Armenians professionals in preparing such claims and statements. Armenians are the specialists in baseless statements, which they veneer in their own special brand of religiously-oriented misinformation. It is imperative that Azerbaijan presents the facts regarding this smuggling and other violations and engages the best lawyers to present its case in the International Criminal Court. Such information also needs to be circulated to the western media in unambiguous terms, he said. Youssef Boutros Ghali, finance minister under president Hosni Mubarak and the cousin of late UN secretary-general Boutros Ghali, has told the media he will return to Egypt. After I was acquitted of all corruption charges I am eager to come home to Egypt after living in asylum in London for 12 years, he said. I am ready to contribute to Egypts financial sector as a consultant but I am not ready to engage in politics again. After serving as government minister for different portfolios for over 17 years and then living in asylum for 12 years, the time has come for a quiet life away from public life and politics. Ghali, who has lived in London since 2011, said he needs to finish necessary legal procedures before coming home. On 6 July, a Cairo Criminal Court acquitted Ghali of corruption charges in a retrial. Ghalis lawyer Samir Al-Hennawi said the acquittal means Ghali can return to Egypt without any charges pending. In June 2011, Ghali was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison after being convicted of ordering the use of private cars held in a customs warehouse without their owners consent. The prosecution alleged that Ghali illegally used 102 cars, six of which were allocated to his personal convoy and 96 to entities affiliated with the Finance Ministry. Ghalis lawyer filed for a retrial in the case. It began in 2020 and resulted in Ghalis latest acquittal. In November last year he was cleared in the so-called licence plate case, and in April 2021 allegations of profiteering while in office were thrown out. After 25 January Revolution in 2011 Ghali faced a raft of legal charges and was convicted in absentia to 25 years in prison over alleged corruption in a transaction involving coupons for the distribution of subsidised cooking gas. He was later sentenced in absentia to a further 10 years over the alleged squandering of public funds. Both convictions were quashed on appeal in November 2022. Ghali was appointed minister of state for the council of ministers in the early 1990s. He served as minister of international cooperation between 1993 and 1996, overseeing the economic reform programme between Egypt and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He was minister of state for economic affairs between 1996 and 1997, after which he was promoted to become minister of economy and foreign trade, a position he held until 2004. Two years after Gamal Mubarak became head of the then ruling National Democratic Partys Policies Secretariat in 2002, Ghali was appointed finance minister. A member of the inner circle around Gamal Mubarak, he became a key figure entrusted with implementing liberalisation policies. On 31 January 2011, when the government of former prime minister Ahmed Nazif resigned, Ghali refused a post in the replacement administration led by Ahmed Shafik. In February, days before Hosni Mubarak relinquished power, Ghali and his family left for London. Ghalis lawyer Al-Hennawi said that, following the overthrow of Mubarak most of the charges directed at Ghali and other Mubarak-era officials had been politically motivated. Political analyst and journalist Abdallah Al-Sennawi told Al-Ahram Weekly that 90 per cent of the officials who faced corruption trials had been acquitted. But while most of the charges were politically motivated and resulted in incorrect legal convictions, the fact remains that it is the neo-liberal economic and radical privatisation policies pursued by these officials, particularly Ghali, that led millions of Egyptians to revolt against Hosni Mubarak, he said. Ghali is the last Mubarak-era official to be acquitted of corruption charges. Alaa and Gamal, Hosni Mubaraks two sons, were acquitted in February 2020 of profiteering charges in a case that involved insider dealing. Ahmed Ezz, the steel tycoon once described as Gamal Mubaraks right-hand man, was sentenced to seven years in jail and a fine of LE19.5 billion in October 2012 after being convicted of money laundering. Following an appeal he was acquitted of the charges in March 2018. Hatem Al-Gibali, the Mubarak-era health minister, was also acquitted of corruption charges, profiteering, and illegal accumulation of wealth. Housing minister Ahmed Al-Maghrabi was found guilty of profiteering, misappropriation of public funds and seizing state land in 2012, and then acquitted in 2015. Sentences against former prime minister Nazif and interior minister Habib Al-Adli were also reversed in retrials. Safwat Al-Sherif is the only ex-Mubarak official to have a prison sentence upheld. In September 2020 he was handed a final three-year prison sentence and fined LE120 million on charges of profiteering. Al-Sherif, a long-standing minister of information under Mubarak, died in January 2021. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Japan has overhauled its security and military policies in the light of emerging threats in the Northeast Asian region and positioning itself as a key player in the New Asia, writes Mohamed Ibrahim Al-Dessouki From the midst of the fierce and intense conflict in the Pacific and Indian Ocean region, a New Asia is emerging, heralding the birth of the long-awaited New World Order. This birth signifies the impending arrival of a multipolar system between the US, China, and Russia or a duopoly between the US and China. Setting aside the yet-to-be-determined shape of the New World Order, New Asia is taking practical steps to embrace the Chinese era as the US era fades away. The interests and agendas of the US, which still has significant influence and possesses numerous leverage points on the Asian continent, intersect with the two major powers in the strategic equation: Japan and South Korea. Both countries fear Chinas rapid ascent on the economic, military, and political fronts and consider Beijing to be the most formidable and significant challenge to their national security. At the same time, they constitute an integral cornerstone of the New Asia. It is also important to mention a crucial aspect of the New Asia, which is the absence of neutrality and alignments. Japan represents a fundamental and pivotal pillar in the New Asia. As the worlds third-largest economy after the US and China, Japans historical and cultural significance, as well as its prominent role in the economic development of the continent, cannot be overstated. China has emulated Japans successful economic and financial model, constructing its own projects and development plans based on Japans 20th-century successes. However, recent months have witnessed radical transformations in Japans security policies and military doctrines that are seen as unprecedented since its defeat in World War II. Japan finds itself surrounded by an extremely unfavourable geopolitical environment and facing complex and delicate challenges that threaten its national security from all directions. Chinese military influence is expanding within Japans vital sphere. China has entered into several security and defense-cooperation agreements with countries such as the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, allowing Beijing to establish naval footholds. China currently possesses the worlds largest navy, and this situation poses a significant threat not only to Japans defensive perimeter but also to its maritime trade routes and global commerce as a whole. Japan is concerned about a scenario in which China could use force to bring Taiwan back into its fold, as this would leave the islands in the far southwest of the Japanese archipelago defenceless. This would further increase the pressure on Japan in the ongoing conflict between the two countries regarding the Senkaku Islands. It is no secret that Beijing and Tokyo have a history of clashes going back to Japans colonial era in China from 1937 to 1945. To this day, they have been unable to resolve many contentious issues stemming from that dark period of imperial dominance. The second challenge for Japan is embodied in the neighbouring country of North Korea, which persistently antagonises, provokes, and threatens Japan with its development of nuclear and missile capabilities. The Communist regime in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula has adopted an aggressive stance towards Tokyo, treating it as an enemy due to its military alliance with staunch adversaries the US and South Korea. North Korea also constantly reminds Japan of the atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army during the occupation of the Korean Peninsula between 1910 and 1945. It consistently condemns the joint military exercises between Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington, viewing itself as the primary target, especially as Japan is one of the closest countries aligned against China, which serves as its official patron. Furthermore, North Korea also possesses formidable conventional military capabilities, with an army comprising 1.2 million soldiers bolstered by 4.5 million reserves. It has a strong foundation in military technology, particularly in missile capabilities. There are US and Western suspicions that North Korea is one of the key actors in the black market for nuclear and missile technology, drug-trafficking, and counterfeiting foreign currencies. Despite Japan and South Koreas strong alliance with the US, standing together against the threat of North Korea that jeopardises their security, there are also lingering tensions between Seoul and Tokyo. These stem from the dispute over the sovereignty of disputed islands referred to as Dokdo by South Korea and Takeshima by Japan. Additionally, there is the issue of the comfort women forced to provide sexual services to Japanese occupying soldiers in World War II. Seoul has demanded financial compensation from Japan for their families and official recognition of Japans guilt in committing this heinous and inhumane crime. Moving to the third and final strategic challenge facing Japan, this lies with Russia. The new Japanese military strategy describes Russia as a source of national security concerns, primarily due to the dispute over the four Kuril Islands. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has refused to sign a new peace treaty with Moscow before the full return of these islands, insisting on adhering to the 1875 Treaty between Japan and Imperial Russia instead that delineated the borders between the two countries. A tangible convergence in relations between Russia and China, particularly since the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war, has also been observed. The two countries coordinate their positions and actions in the Asian and international arenas. The deteriorating relationship between Moscow and Washington has led to ongoing confrontations, while Tokyo remains entrenched in the US camp. In the face of these challenges, Japan has embarked on a revolution in its military doctrine that was officially announced at the end of 2022. The core provisions of this include doubling its annual defence budget to over $80 billion within five years, allocating $320 billion to enhancing its military capabilities and advanced submarine fleet to counter Chinas naval power, and acquiring US Tomahawk intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). With these measures, Japan has shed the restrictions imposed by its pacifist constitution adopted after its defeat in World War II. It has abandoned the renunciation of war and increased its defence budget to one per cent of GDP. Moreover, Japan does not fully trust the protection provided by the US nuclear umbrella and feels the need to possess autonomous defensive capabilities, including non-traditional weapons. Despite maintaining its military alliance with the US and hosting approximately 45,000 US soldiers, along with their conventional and non-conventional weaponry, including nuclear weapons, Japan believes in the importance of self-reliance. Washington largely approves of Japans strategic and military measures and transformations, as they ultimately serve the purpose of building strong alliances capable of deterring China and preventing it from excessive military assertiveness, while expanding the US sphere of influence in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Japanese military, in fact, ranks as the worlds fifth most powerful. The writer is a former Al-Ahram newspaper correspondent in Tokyo and an expert on East Asia foreign affairs. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Important negotiations are underway at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in order to reform this international body, expanding its membership base to make it more representative of the international balance of power. Demands to bring in India and Brazil as permanent members and include African representation South Africa and Nigeria are strong candidates have gathered considerable momentum in the talks. Will the advocates of these demands succeed? In some negotiations, there is a certain parity between the two sides, which makes it easier for them to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement. This was the case, for example, with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968. The balance of nuclear power between the US and the Soviet Union was relatively even. In other negotiations, one side is not as strong as the other, as is the case with the never-ending negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel. The latter, as we know, is more powerful. It occupies the land, enjoys military superiority and has unflagging American backing, and therefore sees no reason to reach a just agreement with the Palestinians. Which of these two models applies to the negotiations between the permanent members of the UNSC and other countries over the expansion of UNSC membership? In the manner of Israels negotiating approach with the Palestinians, the US is trying to drag on the negotiations over UNSC reform and void them of substance in order to forestall any diminishment of its influence in the council. So it has pushed to have the negotiations continue into the next session, which begins in September and which will ensure they will continue into next year. There are also reports that Washington plans to introduce a new initiative based on the proposal President Joe Biden made in the last session. The main points of that were that the new permanent members would not enjoy the right to veto, which should remain the exclusive privilege of the original five permanent members, that Africa would have a single seat on the council, not two, as the African group demands, and that the African member would be selected by the current permanent members. Naturally, the African group denounced such conditions as unfair. But the other side is more powerful. So will it succeed in voiding UNSC reform of substance, just as Israel has voided all negotiations with the Palestinians of meaning? * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: It is impossible to say whether the Palestinian cause will remain a hot topic by the time this goes to print. Ten days ago the Israeli aggression against Jenin riveted the attention of Palestinians and those who follow them on Arab satellite stations, firing praise for their historical heroism and talking of the red lines that, if crossed, would trigger a battle that opened the gates of hell for Israel. The Arab League met at the envoy level and issued statements of condemnation and concern, as did other Arab and Islamic organisations. Elsewhere in the world, the temperature was significantly lower. Some countries condemned the aggression while others spoke of Israels right to self defence and then the need to avoid harming civilians. Then they all turned back to Ukraine again. In the US, they were looking at meteorological temperatures as they prepared to celebrate the 4th of July. In any event, there was nothing new. Ten days ago, in this space, I wrote that people of my generation, whose lives coincided with the rise of the Palestinian cause, realise the cause goes through phases and cycles. Sometimes it reaches a peak in which a torch is raised high enough to attract the worlds moral compass, garner worldwide attention and win international recognition to the point of acquiring a national authority. At other times, the world is preoccupied by a host of other problems and has little time or patience for a cause that defies a solution and whose proponents are divided between those determined to keep struggling forever and those who want to negotiate forever. If there is anything new here, it is that the Palestinians are more divided than ever: between Palestine and the diaspora, the West Bank and Gaza, Fatah and Hamas, and Palestinians everywhere and those inside Israel. The battle of Jenin was not a counterpoint to the general course of Palestinian affairs. Its true that it involved, on the one hand, a new Palestinian faction the Lions Den, which is made up of a group of West Bank youth determined to keep the cause on the front burner by staging attacks against Israeli occupiers and settlers and, on the other hand, the fundamentalist, Torah-thumping Zionist faction in power in Israel at present, determined to solve the Palestinian question in its own way, which it learned from the first Palestinian Nakba in 1948. But the truth is that the Lions Den is no different from other Palestinian factions in terms of its arms and capacities. It is no more capable than they have been of raising the costs for the Israeli occupation and pressuring the world into paying attention to the Palestinian cause. Nor is the net result of the battle qualitatively different from its predecessors. It has not raised the costs sufficiently to make Israel change its strategy or draw more international support for the Palestinian cause. The battle ended with the death of a single Israeli soldier during the occupation forces withdrawal, and despite the new factions talk of losses in Israeli equipment there were no armed vehicles left burning in the streets. From the outset the Israelis declared that the battle would last only a day or twojust the time it took to demolish Jenin with a huge bulldozer preceded by a piercing sword, to reduce the beautiful city and the surrounding camps to rubble, after evacuating 4,000 Palestinian inhabitants. Twelve Palestinians died and 120 were wounded, or enough to generate divisions over whether the battle was worth all those losses, why the other Palestinian factions did not join in the fight, and how it would be possible to protect Palestinians from expulsion and becoming refugees. Brevity was a key to winning quick approval among the circles of importance to Israel in the West, including Jews in the US and Europe. However, it also marks a start in a phase of Zionist action that involves, firstly, annexing the West Bank to Israel but without creating a demographic imbalance between Arabs and Jews in a single Israeli state and, secondly, a two-state solution that restricts the Palestinian state to Gaza and a new edition of Hamasistan. In short, the strategy of the current Israeli government is to resume the Zionist project, starting from its violation of the 1947 UN Partition Resolution and its breach of the territorial shares agreed on in the 1948 truce accords, and proceeding through its annexation of the West Bank and Gaza after the 1967 War, and its unilateral exit from Gaza combined with its annexation of Jerusalem and settlement expansion Area C in the West Bank. The remaining problem is demographics: the approximately equal proportion of Palestinians to Jews in the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. The solution to that is a series of rapid assaults to decimate Palestinian living environments in the heavily populated towns and quick and systematic expulsion operations. The Israeli strategy to this end has been patient and persevering, taking in account the entire history of the Zionist movement since Herzl unveiled his concept for the establishment of a Jewish state to the present. Several weeks ago, Israel celebrated its 75th anniversary while Palestinians and Arabs marked the 75th year since the Nakba. The difference between the two events was that the Israelis had a more than 120 year long strategy of seizing and engulfing the whole of Palestine. It began with a project to establish a national homeland and evolved into a state established in the framework of the partition resolution. The state expanded beyond the frameworks for the internationally agreed on two-state solution and now further expansion will take place on the basis of a differently framed two-state solution, one consisting of an overwhelming Jewish majority and the other crammed into a corner in the already overcrowded Gaza Strip. They are also talking about cancelling the Oslo Accords and all remaining red lines, preparatory to certain victories in the long run. If the Palestinians want to find another path, they can. But it means less talk, more patience and forging a national movement with a single leadership that holds a monopoly on the use of arms and policy orientation, and focuses on the survival of Palestinian demography in historic Palestine. * A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: In a set-back to Trinamul Congress ( TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the Calcutta High Court order allowing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Directorate of Enforcement (E$D) to probe him in the multi-crore West Bengal schools recruitment scam. Saving Abhishek Banerjee from paying a fine of Rs. 25 lakhs imposed by the High Court, a bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha said, We are therefore not inclined to interfere with the Calcutta High Court order since the consequence of doing so would be to stifle the investigation at this stage. The court said that the single judge of the Calcutta High Court in its order has said that there is no reason to prevent the investigation being carried out by ED considering the ramifications of the matter. Projecting the victimisation that Abhishek Banerjee was facing at the instance of Directorate of Enforcement (ED), senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that Banerjee was being repeatedly called for interrogation even when he was in the midst of touring and campaigning in far-off remote areas of West Bengal. Advertisement However, this was contested by the Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju who told the court that Singhvi was mixing the details of the case relating to the dimension of the case being investigated by the CBI with that of ED. ASG Raju said that even if it is assumed that there was some infirmity in the High Court order, that doesnt mean that the ED cannot investigate. ED has inherent powers to investigate. While not stalling the investigation by the ED in the alleged money laundering dimension of the case, the top court permitted Banerjee to take recourse to legal remedies available to him in due course. The court was hearing Abhishek Banerjees plea against Calcutta HC allowing CBI/ED to quiz him in the teacher recruitment scam. The Calcutta High Court had allowed the central agencies to quiz the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee in the recruitment scam in West Bengal schools. Thereafter CBI issued summons against Banerjee. The CBI had questioned Abhishek Banerjee in May in connection with the scam. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a local Trinamul Congress leader named Manoj Ghosh from Birbhum district in West Bengal in connection with the recovery of 81,000 detonators from the district last year. On Monday, Ghosh was summoned by the NIA at the Nalhati police station in Birbhum district. After being questioned for hours, he was arrested by the central agency on Monday afternoon. Ghosh was also a Trinamul candidate in the panchayat polls held on Saturday. In April this year, the agency had submitted a charge sheet in this matter at a special NIA court. The charge sheet was filed within 90 days since the NIA took up the investigation in the matter. As many 81,000 detonators were recovered from a passenger van in the Muhammadbazar area of Birbhum district on June 30, 2022. Advertisement The detonators were seized by the Special Task Force (STF) of state police. Three persons were also arrested by the STF in this connection, one first from Raniganj in West Burdwan district, and the other two from Dhuliyan in Murshidabad district. The NIA took over of the investigation on September 29, 2022. It is learnt that the use of detonators is quite common in some parts of Birbhum, which houses a number of stone quarries. The detonators are used to blast stone blocks for the purpose of use in stone quarries. BJPs West Bengal president and MP Sukanta Majumder claimed that there was an understanding between the CPIM and the Trinamul Congress (TMC) that has given a huge benefit to the ruling party. Sukanta Majumder made this explosive allegation on the day of the announcement of the results of the Panchayat elections. CPIM gets marginal votes, but it ultimately gave a lot of benefit to TMC, Majumder said. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari demanded recounting at various counting centers in the state, including Diamond Harbour, Keshpur, Golsi, Katwa, and others. Suvendu made this demand to the State Election Commission (SEC) through a tweet. Advertisement Counting agents and candidates of other Opposition parties, including the BJP, were allegedly prevented from entering the counting center. The Leader of the Opposition demanded that the counting should be valid and genuine if the agents of all the Opposition political parties enter the counting center. The Diamond Harbor model is being implemented at MP Abhishek Banerjees constituency. Trinamul-backed miscreants were blocking the Opposition political parties counting agents from going to the counting center by throwing bombs and firing guns 1 to 2 kilometers before the counting center, Suvendu said. There were sporadic incidents of bombing at Fakir Chand College in Diamond Harbour. Suvendu Adhikari demanded the suspension of counting. After that, Suvendu Adhikari wrote in a tweet, The Diamond Harbor model is in full force even on the day of counting. TMC goons are making a last desperate attempt to steal the Elections by obstructing the Counting Agents & Candidates of @BJP4Bengal and other opposition political parties from entering the counting Hall. Meanwhile, BL Santosh, the national general secretary (Organization), tweeted, Though @BJP4Bengal is performing well in Panchayat elections, the way the counting process is held is another round of the murder of democracy. Our counting agents and candidates are beaten up, SEC hasnt answered even a single one of the 34 complaints nor acted on them. Its highly condemnable. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Tuesday said that criminals are being controlled through the establishment of a political control room, and strict action will be taken against them. He made these remarks during a press conference held at Raj Bhavan. Bandits today may become saviors one day, just as Ratnakar became Valmiki one day. Criminals are being controlled by creating a political control room. Strict action will be taken against them, he said. The violence that is happening today will have severe consequences for the future of Bengal. We must secure Bengal for the future generations, he said. The Governor returned to Kolkata from Delhi today, coinciding with the announcement of the panchayat poll results. Once again, he delivered a strong message against violence. Yesterday, he had meetings with the President of India and the Union Home Minister, and upon his return to Kolkata, he sent a stern message to ensure the security of Bengal. Addressing the media, he emphasized the ongoing battle against escalating violence in the state. We will continue our relentless fight against the increasing violence. All authorities will take strict action against those responsible for unleashing such violence. The perpetrators of violence will ultimately regret the day they were born. This cannot be tolerated under any circumstances, as it will affect future generations, he stated. The trend of the result of the three tier Panchayat elections announced by the State Election Commission till Tuesday evening clearly indicated that the Trinamool Congress is all set to increase its tally from the 2018 election, riding on the peoples overwhelming mandate. The result of the Panchayat election started pouring in after late afternoon. In the 2018 Panchayat Elections, Trinamool got 38,118 seats while the BJP got 5779 seats. In the Panchayat Samiti, Trinamool had got 8062 seats while the saffron party got 769 seats. In Zilla Parishad, Trinamool got 793 seats while the BJP got 22 seats. There are 632289 Gram Panchayat seats followed by 9730 in Panchayat Samiti and 928 Zilla Parishad seats. Advertisement Congratulating the people, Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress national general secretary, tweeted: The dejection of the combined opposition of BJP, CPIM and INC pales in comparison to the sadness that must be felt by friends from mainstream media. Even a malicious campaign with baseless propaganda to malign the AITC state government in WB couldnt sway the voters! Grateful to the people for converting oppositions No vote to Mamata campaign to Now vote for Mamata. With unwavering support to #Trinamoole Nabo Jowar, we will surely have a roaring mandate, paving the way for LS elections. Bengal, I thank you for all the love. In Gram Panchayat, Trinamool has won 18,580 seats while the BJP, the CPI-M, the Congress and others have won 4479, 1426, 1071 and 1538 respectively.Tapas Roy, deputy chief whip, said: Throughout the year Trinamool Congress works for the development of the people. People are with Mamata Banerjee and have expressed their views without any hesitation. Dr Shashi Panja said: From day one since the nomination began, the opposition started creating violence as they knew that they would be washed away. Out of sheer frustration, the opposition created trouble on the day of the election on 8 July and today. Political experts said the nearly two-month long mass campaign called Naba Jpoar Jatra launched by Abhishek Banerjee on April 25 from Dinhata in Cooch Behar had a great impact on the rural populace. It was for the first time when the voters got an opportunity to select their candidates through a secret ballot. Thousands of people waited for hours to see Banerjee. Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee, who shared the dais with Abhishek in Kakdeep where the 51-day long campaign ended, had congratulated the team that had organized the programme. Mr Banerjee during the campaign had talked to the people, shook hands with them and came out of the allegation that he was beyond anybodys reach. The trend of the result indicated organizational weakness of the opposition. The BJP, CPI-M and Congress had failed to give any alternative scheme. The result shows that the people in the rural belt still keep faith in Mamata Banerjee. Mohammad Salim, CPI-M state secretary and politburo member said: The result has not reflected the real mandate of the people as the vote was rigged. There was large-scale violence on the day of the election and the Central forces were not seen anywhere. Shamik Bhattacharya of the BJP said: The election was a farce. Aimed at eradicating illiteracy, the Tamil Nadu government has declared July 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj, as Education Development Day. From this academic year (2023-24), all the schools will be decorated on the day and floral tributes paid to the photograph of Late K. Kamaraj. In its order, the state education department has directed that uniform-clad students would decorate the school premises and pay tribute to the leader. Advertisement Schools have been further directed to conduct motivational speeches along with other activities like competitions among students in essay writing, painting, and poetry. Prizes will also be given away to encourage the spirit of education put forward by Kamaraj. Notably, K. Kamaraj popularly known as Kamarajar was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 13 April 1954 to October 2, 1963. He was popularly known as the King Maker in Indian politics. He was also the president of the Indian National Congress for four years from 1964-67 and was instrumental in making Lal Bahadur Shastri the Prime Minister after the passing away of Jawaharlal Nehru. Hyundai will build a new plant in the U.S. exclusively for electric vehicles. The automaker said its first EV plant will be built near Savannah in Georgia. The decision comes just ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to Seoul this weekend. In fact, the plant was already envisioned as part of the automaker's plans, announced last year, to invest US$7.4 billion by 2025 in expanding production capacity in the U.S. It is also in line with Biden's ambitious goal to make half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. eco-friendly by 2030. Hyundai also said it will invest $300 million to retool its existing plant in Alabama to produce hybrids and electric vehicles. Hyundai sold 322,593 vehicles in the U.S. in the first quarter, ranking fifth among automakers there. A day after it withdrew from its joint venture with Indias Vedanta group, Taiwan-based technology company Foxconn said it is committed to India and sees the country successfully establishing a robust semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Limited and Taiwans Foxconn in September 2022 had signed MoUs with the Gujarat government for setting up a semiconductor and display manufacturing unit in the state with an investment of over Rs 1.54 lakh crore. They also signed a joint venture then. The Group looks forward to growing alongside Indias nascent semiconductor industry, said Foxconn in a statement, with assertion that it will take time. Foxconn first entered India in 2006 and it still has operations in the country. Advertisement Foxconn said it has sound channels of communications with government stakeholders across India, and we have been consistent and clear with them at all levels about our continued commitment to invest in India. On withdrawal from the JV with Vedanta, it said both parties mutually agreed to part ways and noted there was recognition that the project was not moving fast enough. Both parties mutually agreed to part ways. This is not a negative. There was recognition from both sides that the project was not moving fast enough, there were challenging gaps we were not able to smoothly overcome, as well as external issues unrelated to the project. On media reports which stated that Foxconn parting ways from the JV pact was a negative example for the Taiwanese companys investment integrity, it categorically denied saying that it was absolutely not the case. When Foxconn course corrects, it is done only after heavy considerations on the near-term impact to our stakeholders, and on the long-term corporate health to the Group and our shareholders, it explained. Notably, it also went on to say that building fabrication plants from scratch in a new geography is a challenge, but it is committed to invest in India. We have been working on challenges like this since the 1980s. Foxconn has no intention to do anything but continue to strongly support the governments Make In India ambitions and establish a diversity of local partnerships that meet the needs of stakeholders. With regards to possible losses related to the joint venture with Vedanta, it said no and added Foxconn has not injected capital or fixed assets into the joint venture. With the deal with Vedanta which now stands withdrawn, Foxconn said it is working towards submitting an application related to the Modified Programme for Semiconductors and Display Fab Ecosystem. We have been actively reviewing the landscape for optimal partners. We welcome a diverse set of stakeholders, both inside India and abroad, who also want to see India get to the next level and can complement Foxconns world-class supply chain management and manufacturing efficiency, the statement concluded, adding it was unable to disclose more information at this time. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Electronics and Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said that the withdrawal from the JV has no impact on Indias semiconductor fabrication goals. This decision of Foxconn to withdraw from its JV with Vedanta has no impact on Indias Semiconductor Fab goals. None, Chandrasekhar said in a tweet on Monday. Shares of Vedanta witnessed a decline of nearly three percent following the announcement that Taiwan-based company Foxconn has decided to withdraw from a $19.5 billion semiconductor joint venture with Vedanta. The stock opened at 275 and fell to 274.90, trading 1.26 percent lower at 278.70. The joint venture between Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Technology Group, and Vedanta was aimed at manufacturing semiconductors in Gujarat, India. Vedanta was expected to hold the majority stake in the venture as per the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the two companies. In September 2022, the Vedanta and Foxconns semiconductor manufacturing plant in Gujarat received praise from the Centre, considering it a significant milestone. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two companies and the state government in Gandhinagar was attended by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Advertisement However, on July 10, 2023, Foxconn released a statement explaining its decision to withdraw from the joint venture with Vedanta. The company stated that it aims to explore diverse development opportunities and is working to remove its name from the entity, which now belongs entirely to Vedanta. Concerns about delays in incentive approvals by the Indian government and questions raised by New Delhi regarding cost estimates for incentives were cited as factors contributing to Foxconns withdrawal, according to Reuters sources. Indian ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Rajeev Chandrasekhar took to Twitter to express that the withdrawal of Foxconn does not impact Indias semiconductor goals and that both Foxconn and Vedanta remain committed to Indias semiconductor mission and the Make in India program. In response to Foxconns withdrawal, Vedanta affirmed its dedication to the semiconductor fab project and stated that it has identified other potential partners to establish Indias first foundry. Vedanta also highlighted that it possesses the license for production-grade technology for 40 nm from a prominent Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM). Previously, Vedanta announced its acquisition of a 100 percent stake in the semiconductor and display units from Twin Star Technologies, a subsidiary of Volcan Investments Limited. This move positions Vedanta as Indias first company in the Integrated Semiconductor and Display Fab Business. While Foxconns decision to withdraw from the joint venture may have impacted Vedantas plans, the company remains committed to advancing Indias semiconductor industry and is actively seeking alternative partnerships to realize its goals. Telanganas ruling party Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has called for protests across the state for two days against state Congress president A. Revanth Reddys reported statement that there is no need for free electricity supply in the state. BRS has asked its leaders and cadres to organise protests on Tuesday and Wednesday against the anti-farmer attitude of the Congress party. Partys working president K. T. Rama Rao asked the party cadres to burn the effigies of the Congress in every village for opposing 24 hour free electricity to farmers in Telangana. Advertisement KTR alleged that the Congress plans to scrap the free electricity scheme. He stated that the Congress has the history of betraying the farmers by not supplying them electricity. Congress has once again made public its anti-farmer policies, he said. The BRS leader said farmers and the people of Telangana should strongly oppose the policies of the Congress. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Revanth Reddy, who is currently on a visit to the United States, reportedly stated at a meeting that KCR government in Telangana is unnecessarily providing 24-hour free electricity. He said that three-hour electricity to farmers is enough. A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court will commence day-to-day hearing from August 2, on a batch of 20 petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the abrogation of Article 370 that conferred the special status to J&K and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, bifurcating the erstwhile state into two Union territories J&K and Ladakh. The day-to-day hearing will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and continue on these three days in the subsequent weeks as well. On Monday and Friday, the court will hear fresh and miscellaneous matters. Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran will be leading the arguments for the petitioners. The five-judge bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice B R Gavai and Justice Surya Kant asked the advocates appearing for contesting parties to add to their pleadings already before the court, if they so require, by July 27 and thereafter there will be total freeze and no further additions to the pleadings would be accepted. Advertisement Chief Justice Chandrachud in the order said that the hearing of the petitions before the constitution bench shall commence on August 2, 10:30 am and then proceed on day to day basis barring miscellaneous days that is Monday and Friday. Order further said that the written submissions should be filed on or before July 27 and no more submissions shall be allowed thereafter. The bench asked both the sides to apportion between themselves the time each arguing advocate would take in addressing the issues arising in the challenge. The bench said that it will deal with this aspect when it begins the hearing. The existing pleadings relating to the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of J&K into two Union territories J&K and Ladakh, were filed in the course of the hearing by an earlier five-judge constitution bench which had adjudicated the plea that the challenge to abrogation be heard by a 7-judge bench. The five-judge bench had on March 2, 2020, declined the plea that challenge to abrogation be heard by a 7-judge bench. Senior advocate Dushyant Dave told the court that the affidavit by the Central government on the situation in J&K post abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the State is not relevant to the issues arising in matter relating to the constitutionality of the action. Senior advocate C.U. Singh sought liberty to file a fresh reply to the Centres affidavit. Chief Justice Chandrachud said that the affidavit of the centre has no bearing on the constitutional question before the bench. The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the Centres July 10, 2023, affidavit was to inform the court about post-August 2019 developments in the Union Territories J&K and Ladakh and said that it would have no bearing on the constitutional validity of the abrogation of Article 370. The court permitted the deletion of the names of two petitioners IAS officer Shah Faesal and human rights activist Shehla Rashid from the cause list. Since IAS officer Shah Faesal was shown as a lead petitioner and the title of the case too was identified by his name, the bench on a request by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta retitled it as In re: Article 370 of the Constitution. A number of petitions are pending before the top court challenging the scrapping of Article 370 of the constitution and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories. On August 5, 2019, the Central government announced the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir granted under Article 370 and split the region into two Union territories. Besides individual petitioner who have approached the top court on the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the State reducing it to a Union Territory, other petitioners include Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference, Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, and the We4st Pakistan Refugees Action Committee Cell 1947. As per the DM's order, possession of "sharp-edged weapons whose blade is more than nine inches long or whose blade is more than two inches wide for any purpose other than domestic, agricultural, scientific, and industrial is a cognizable offence under Arms Act 1959." By Statesman News Service 21 July, 2023 8 mins read Amid speculation over the possibility of re-alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the newly appointed BJP president in Punjab Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday said the worlds largest party (BJP) was a strong political force in the state on its own. Addressing workers after officially taking over as president, the former Member of Parliament called upon party cadres to realise and draw on their true collective strengths and play a pivotal role in Punjabs future politics single-handedly. In recent years, BJP on its own has grown immensely in Punjab and there is a palpable traction amongst Punjabis for several key initiatives taken by Modi government at Centre, Jakhar said while referring to an enhanced stature of the party in overall political consciousness in Punjab. Referring to the partys past political alliance, Jakhar said the BJP has to move past the younger brother mindset. We know we have the strength to play a decisive role on our own which the people of Punjab want us to play by providing intellectual leadership, he said. Advertisement Back in 1996-97 when this alliance (BJP- SAD) was formalised, it was in line with commitment of leaders of both parties, and was by no means a sign of BJPs weakness or shortcoming. We even then were equal partners in Punjabs formidable future and BJP has always worked to create Punjab in line with the vision for tomorrow, he added. Expressing gratitude towards the top leadership for the honour of leading the state unit, Jakhar urged the party cadre to work vigorously and take Prime Ministers message for a resilient Punjab to the states nook and corner. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has undertaken several key decisions for Punjabs progress and we must take the essence of these futuristic measures to every house and strengthen BJP to lead our state towards an unparalleled growth trajectory, he said adding the Union Home Minister Amit Shah was the first one to call Punjab Chief Minister and offer all help in wake of floods lashing Punjab. Listing out his immediate challenges, Jakhar said Punjab today is at crossroads and needs political will and direction to restore its pristine glory. Our state once was known for heralding revolutions and because of the present state regimes ill decisions have lost its shine. There is an environment of fear all around, Jakhar said, adding only people feeling safe are gangsters and criminals cocking a snook at administration from behind the bars, he added. Amid concerns in the Opposition camp over the recent split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is believed to have invited top Opposition leaders for participation in the next unity meeting scheduled to be held on 17-18 July in Bengaluru. In a letter addressed to top Opposition leaders, Kharge referred to the 23 June meeting of opposition parties hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna and said the meeting was a great success as we were able to discuss various important issues that threaten our democratic polity and came to a unanimous agreement on unitedly fighting the next General Elections. He reminded them that they had all agreed to meet again in July. I believe that it is important to continue these discussions and build on the momentum that we have created. We need to work together to find solutions to the challenges that our country is facing, the letter stated. Advertisement The Congress chief said: In furtherance thereof, I request you to kindly make it convenient to attend the meeting followed by dinner on July 17 at 6.00 pm at Bengaluru. The meeting will continue on July 18 from 11.00 am onwards.Looking forward to meeting you in Bengaluru. The meeting in Patna attended by more than 15 parties decided that the Opposition parties will put up a joint fight against the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Leaders. including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin were among those who attended the meeting. However, the Opposition unity efforts suffered a major setback soon thereafter when Pawars nephew split the NCP in Maharashtra and joined the Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra along with his supporters. Nine foreigners in a group of 13 trekkers and 3 tourists from the UK were among scores of people stranded in various parts of Ladakh due to snow and rain who have been rescued by the Ladakh Police and Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The trekking group comprised seven Koreans, two French and four local guides. They were stranded due to bad weather in between Zanskar-Lingshed trek at Tsarak Dho near Zangla village from where they were rescued by a police party of Zanskar and brought to Padum safely. Three tourists from the UK who were stuck at Char Village of Zanskar were evacuated to Padam by men of Project Yojak of BRO. Advertisement The Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh have suffered loss of property due to incessant rains and unseasonal snowfall. Several tourists were stranded at various places. Continuous rainfall resulted in multiple slides on the Darcha Padam Section on Nimmu- Padam- Darcha (NPD) Road. Due to the weather alert issued by Ladakh administration, Traffic Movement on Leh-Upshi road was halted by Police. A request was received by the BRO for evacuation of stranded tourists. Around 150 vehicles carrying tourists were stranded along a BRO location. These tourists were provided with all possible assistance. A langar was also organised for them at the Gurudwara of 111 RCC. A local vehicle carrying tourists got trapped in a landslide near Agham on the Khalsar-Agham-Shyok road. Men of the Himank Project of BRO immediately reached the spot and rescued the stranded tourists. A tweet tagging LG Ladakh and DC Leh sought urgent help for a vehicle stuck under heavy snow at Changla Pass with essentials of an 18 month baby. Swinging into action amid bad weather, Project Himank recovered the vehicle and handed it over to the tourist with essentials. According to reports, two days of continuous heavy rainfall in Eastern Ladakh has damaged the residential houses and livestock. A special team of the Income Tax (I-T)department was conducting raids at the premises of the arrested Tamil Nadu minister, Senthil Balajis friend, Manis business premises Kongu Mess at Karur, said sources on Tuesday. The I-T team, however, did not give any detail about the raid. It may be noted that Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader Senthil Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case related to a job-for-cash scam when he was a minister in the previous AIADMK government. Advertisement Balaji was arrested from his residence on June 14, 2023. However, the minister complained of chest pain and was admitted to a government hospital. The doctors after examining him diagnosed that he was suffering from heart ailment and later shifted him to Kauveri hospital for angiogram. Doctors diagnosed that he was suffering from three blocks in the coronary artery and later conducted an angioplasty. In the meantime Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi had dismissed Balaji from the council of ministers and later the decision was kept in abeyance after Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged it. The Panchayat Pradhan of Diamond Harbour police districts Bishnupur village in West Bengal, Mujibar Sheikh, was not worried. The incumbent chief of the village administration and the Trinamool Gram Panchayat candidate for the rural polls, which was conducted on July 8, Mujibar Sheikh believed that he had tried to do his best in the past five years and he felt that if villagers were happy with his work, they would vote for him. The people will decide whether they want me back or not, he said in an interview with The Statesman the day after the polls were conducted. Here the candidates of other political parties too participated in the contest and we have no enmity with one another other than political differences, he said. Indeed, Bishnupur village is an example of how peaceful the polling process can be. It is situated in one of the fourteen districts which did not register any cases of violence during an election that witnessed bloodshed and death even if they were limited to a few districts. Advertisement The villagers are generally peace-loving people, he said when asked to comment on how his village remained violence-free. They do not like trouble. All they want is to exercise their right to vote so that they can elect a representative who they think will be good for them. Violence is about trying to force oneself into that position which ought to be decided by the people. This is not done. He is speaking in Bengali, of course and the words he uses are Jor korey toh kerey naoa jayna. (You cannot forcefully snatch power.) It has to be given to you by the people. Those are the rules of democracy. A villager himself, as are all the other representatives who run the local, rural government, Mujibar Sheikh says that one of the most important messages that he wants to send others from his village is to Try to live harmoniously with each other. The residents agree that that is a motto that they follow without wearing it on their sleeves. It comes naturally to us to be friendly with our neighbors irrespective of what their religion is or their caste, says Rupa, a homemaker. We participate in each others festivities too, says Rabeya, sitting next to each other on a bench, outside a village store. The community camaraderie is reflected in the three choices of candidates of the Trinamool. If Mujibar Sheikh is the Gram Panchayat candidate, Shreya Chakraborty is the candidate for Panchayat Samity and Shachi Nashkar is the candidate for Zilla Parishad. The Panchayat chief points out that the Opposition parties too had filed their nominations without trouble or fear. The BJP candidate contesting the Gram Panchayat, Bina Manna, smiles when she sees her name scribbled across the brick walls of the houses in her village in bold, bright colors, pink, orange, red, blue. CPIMs Hamida Mondals name too is painted onto the walls but true to the colors of her party, it is only in red. A walk through the village during the polls, is in fact, a colorful experience. Glowing golden-green in the sunlight after spells of fresh seasonal rain, the walls of its houses are a burst of colors with graffiti. Green, red, saffron flags, posters and banners representing the different political parties hang from the branches of trees or overhead lines. This is perhaps how it should be in a democracy. Here there is no green of envy. Here there is no red of bloodshed. U.S. President Joe Biden said relations with the U.K are "rock solid" as he visited 10 Downing Street in London to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of Tuesday's NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. "We've got a lot to talk about. I think we're doing well. Were moving along in a way that's positive," said Biden. "Great for us to carry on our conversations, which we were having just a month or so ago, it feels like, in the White House, where we signed the Atlantic Declaration," said Sunak, referring to the June agreement to cooperate on advanced technologies, clean energy, and critical minerals to counter China's clout around the world. Biden administration officials underscore that this is the leaders' sixth visit in six months. However, the meeting is overshadowed by Washington's recent announcement that it will send cluster munitions to Ukraine, despite the bombs being banned by 123 nations, including Britain, for their indiscriminate killing capability. Sunak has not publicly backed the move, noting on Saturday that the U.K. is a "signatory to a convention which prohibits the production or use of cluster munitions and discourages their use." "We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion, but we've done that by providing heavy battle tanks and most recently long-range weapons, and hopefully all countries can continue to support Ukraine," he told reporters. Sunak was fulfilling "his legal obligation" under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. He pushed back against the notion that the decision to send cluster munitions is creating division with the alliance. "I think you will find Prime Minister Sunak and President Biden on the same page strategically on Ukraine, in lockstep on the bigger picture of what we're trying to accomplish, and as united as ever both in this conflict and writ large," he said. Asking the warring Meitei and Kuki groups to maintain equilibrium, not to make hate speeches and precipitate situation, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declined a plea for the deployment of Army and paramilitary forces in certain areas stating that the law and order fell in the domain of the executive (government). Refusing to accede to a plea by Manipur Tribal Forum seeking the deployment of Indian Army and the paramilitary forces for providing security and prevent further attacks in the Kuki inhabited areas and villages, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud heading a bench also comprising Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Manoj Misra urged the warring parties to maintain a sense of equilibrium and not participate by making hate speech. However, the bench ordered the Manipur government to ensure protection of lives of the people. It further asked the Manipur government to consider inclusion of a Kuki MLA in the committee to oversee the relief camps and ensure proper facilities. Advertisement Asking the lawyers appearing for different outfits fighting at the ground level to approach the things objectively and in a non-partisan perspective, CJI Chandrachud said, As a court we have to show a clear balance because we stand away from the contention. Once we enter the frame, we lose our objectivity. We have to stand apart. Refusing the prayer for the deployment of army and paramilitary forces in certain areas of violence hit Manipur, Chief Justice Chandrachud said, In the last 72 years, we havent issued such directions to the Indian army civilian control over the army is the greatest hallmark of democracy. We cannot breach that. Having made it clear that the top court will not venture into an area that falls in the domain of executive, Chief Justice Chandrachud further said, We are of the view that it will not be appropriate for the court to direct army and paramilitary forces. At the same time, we would impress upon the Union of India and state of Manipur to ensure arrangements to protect lives of citizens of Manipur. Appreciating what CJI Chandrachud ordered, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves said, I am grateful for this observation, even though in general terms. Chief Justice Chandrachud said that we will do., but where exactly a particular battalion should be deployed thats a dangerous area for us (court) to get into. In accordance with yesterdays (July 10) order, a number of suggestions were submitted by different advocates and the same were considered by the count. The bench in its order said that at this stage, we are of the view that some suggestions merit consideration by state administration. Order said that the state administration shall take a considered view on disbursal of compensation and the reconstruction of places of worship that have been destroyed. On other suggestions, the bench asked the State administration to take positive action within three days. The Supreme Courts stay on the installation of 12 Members of the Maharashtra legislative assembly was lifted today paving the way for the Maharashtra governor Ramesh Bais to nominate the desired candidates on the advice of the Eknath Shinde-led government. The same was pending since June 2020 when then Chief Minister Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had sent his proposal to the Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, who hemmed and hawed over it for the next two years till the Shinde-led government was installed. Thereafter, Shinde submitted a proposal on September 5, 2022, that was accepted by Koshiyari to withdraw the 12 names recommended by the erstwhile Thackeray-led MVA government which was challenged before the Supreme Court that stayed the nomination process. Koshiyari subsequently relinquished his gubernatorial post. Advertisement Two of the important political formations in the MVA coalition, the Shiv Sena (undivided) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have since also been split leaving Thackeray without 40 elected MLAs in his political formation in June 2022 and, sans his party name and symbol too. Similarly, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar also contends with less than 16 NCP MLAs remaining on his side since the Sunday before last when more than 2/3 of his 53 MLA strong party split up led by nephew Ajit Pawar. Ironically, the BJP which engineered the split and is credited with ensuring the proactive stance taken by then governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari to stall the 12 MLC nominations for two years (over apparent legal and political queries), is now poised to reward its own party men and new-found coalition partners the Shiv Sena (led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde) as well as the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. The pressure has also been building up incessantly upon CM Shinde for the last one year to expand his council of ministers to include more of his party MLAs who had joined him to split the undivided Shiv Sena, on the promise of ministerial assignments that have failed to materialise as yet, even after Ajit Pawar and eight of the rebel NCP MLAs were sworn in as ministers nine days back. Even back in August 2022 BJP deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis had assured of the cabinet expansion to include more Shiv Sena MLAs by August 15 which did not translate into a reality. The availability of the 12 political appointments (nominations by Maharashtra Governor) comes as a shot in the arm for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who is under immense pressure from his 31 Shiv Sena MLAs (nine ministerial portfolios are held by his party) for a cabinet expansion. Shiv Sena MLA Bharat Gogawle said on Tuesday that he will be sworn in as a minister anytime now. Shiv Senas minister for industries Uday Samant, in turn, noted, It is true that a cabinet expansion (to include more Shiv Sena MLAs is due anytime. It was expected on Monday, then again Tuesday (today). Now let us wait for Wednesday. But it will happen soon. Another aspiring Shiv Sena MLA is Sanjay Sirshat who also told the media that a cabinet expansion was expected in a couple of days. Monday night witnessed a late-night discussion between the three coalition partners in the state over the allocations of cabinet portfolios, MLC nominations, and accommodation for more Shiv Sena MLAs through a further expansion. Taking a potshot at the Shinde government Thackeray said that for all its rebellion the Shinde group of MLAs had been left with a mere nine cabinet posts even a year after being in government while pointing out that the same rebels already enjoyed the ministerial posts even during the MVA regime. With Sunil Jakhar taking over as new president on Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Punjab unit appears set for an overhaul of its organisational structure to be undertaken to emerge as a serious contender in the state politics ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls. A former Punjab Congress president who left the party in May 2022 after a five-decade association of his clan, Jakhar, a Hindu Jat, is expected to help the party shed its image of an urban party in the state and make inroads into areas where it has had little presence till now. Its no surprise that after formally assuming charge on Tuesday, Jakhar stressed the need to shed the small-brother (junior-ally) syndrome and change the mindset of a minor party with a minor vote bank. The party needs to change its way of looking at things in Punjab and everything will change. Advertisement The new Punjab BJP chief said the alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was formed in the mid-1990s when the situation was different. Punjab is ours. With the changed times, we need to change our way of thinking, Jakhar, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker late Balram Jakhar, said. A former Lok Sabha member from Gurdaspur and three-time legislator from Abohar Assembly constituency, Jakhar is the first leader to hail from the politically important Malwa region, which has 69 of 117 Assembly seats, of the state to be appointed as BJP chief in the state. With Jakhar at the helm, the party hopes to expand its reach beyond Majha and Doaba regions which have traditionally been strongholds of the saffron party. The Punjab BJP has recently seen a large number of Congress leaders including former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Jakhar joining the party. The saffron party hopes to gain ground in areas which have hitherto remained out of reach for it. Senior alliance partner, the SAD, had earlier restricted its junior partner, the BJP, mainly to urban areas by giving it a quota of 23 seats in the 117 member Assembly. Punjab BJP leaders lament that the party could not build its cadre all over the state due to the alliance with the Akalis forcing the party to concentrate only on Hindu vote bank in the Sikh majority state. But now the party is looking to change its Hindu face as it now has a number of Sikhs in its ranks. Of the 33 organisational districts in Punjab, Sikhs have been made party in-charge in about 20 districts now. The SAD broke over a two-decade-old alliance with the BJP in 2021 over now-repealed farm laws. The BJP won two seats in the 2022 Assembly polls. In the recent bypoll for Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, the BJP finished fourth with 17.85 per cent vote share. The cracks in the bromance between the worlds two most powerful, autocratic strongmen President Xi Jinping of China and President Vladimir Putin of Russia that appeared in the aftermath of the Wagner rebellion, the most significant challenge to the latters authority in two decades, appear to have widened. As a consequence, the consternation in Western capitals at the emergence of a Eurasian no limits alliance between the Peoples Republic of China and the Russian Federation which had peaked in the aftermath of the Ukraine war and intensifying of Sino-US rivalry too seems to be abating somewhat. While it is early days yet, there are clear efforts being made by Beijing, reciprocated by Washington, to contain their geostrategic rivalry to competition as opposed to confrontation as demonstrated by a series of high level-meetings in recent weeks between the two powers that sought to find common ground on non-contentious issues. Advertisement The impulse for these moves, as a recent article in the New York Times by Ryan Hass notes with approval, is that Mr Xis big bet on the Russian leader isnt looking so safe as the Kremlins war effort appears to be crumbling. The aborted insurrection by the Wagner mercenary groups chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has exposed Mr Putins Russia for what it is: A weakened, unpredictable nuclear state on Chinas border, with a wounded leader whose long-term hold on power is not assured, adds the author. His assessment is that the Xi-Putin bromance has peaked. If that is correct, the PRCs single-minded ambition to overtake the USA as the worlds most powerful country over the next decade or two will need next-level scenario planning. While the Chinese leadership will be looking at reaching out to potential successors to Mr Putin, the Chinese Communist Party is showing signs of simultaneously advocating building a broader international alliance to oppose the West and its hegemony over international institutions. In this scenario, could India be the trump card? There is, of course, no question of Delhi abandoning its ever-closer ties with Washington, but if Beijing were to initiate a reasonable and realistic offer to settle the longstanding Sino-Indian boundary dispute, the current Indian animus towards China could be significantly blunted. The economic advantages that would accrue to India in such a situation are not to be sneezed at and, more crucially, a boundary dispute settlement would allow India what economists term the space to grow. The USled West can hardly complain if India were to settle its differences with its neighbour to the North while continuing to engage deeply with the USA, Europe, Japan, and other partners including in the Global South. As ever, though, the ball is in Chinas court. It is for Beijing to decide if it wants to keep pouring good money after bad in supporting a basket-case of a country like Pakistan, a diminishing power such as Russia, and a madman-run North Korea, or engage meaningfully with a rising India. President Xi, it can be safely assumed, will act in the Chinese national interest. India, for its part, should not expect an overture from China, but should be prepared to respond to it if it comes to pass keeping its own strategic interests paramount. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday completed the launch rehearsal for Chandrayaan-3 which will be launched on July 14 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Chandrayaan-3 mission: The Launch Rehearsal simulating the entire launch preparation and process lasting 24 hours has been concluded, ISRO tweeted. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on July 5 integrated the encapsulated assembly containing Chandrayaan-3 with the launch vehicle LVM3 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre here. Today, at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, the encapsulated assembly containing Chandrayaan-3 is mated with LVM3, tweeted ISRO. The space agencys chairman S Somnath last month told ANI that they are planning for the launch day of its third lunar mission between July 13-19. We will be able to do a soft landing on the moon. The launch day is July 13, it can go upto 19th, Somnath had said. Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. Earlier in October last year, the ISRO chairman said that it is likely to launch its Chandrayan-3 mission in June 2023. Chandrayaan-2, Indias second mission to the moon, was launched on July 22, 2019, from Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota. But the mission failed after the Vikram lunar lander crashed on the Moon during the early hours of September 6. Advertisement Argentinian capital Peru has declared a 90-day national health emergency due to a spike in cases of a rare neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre Syndrome(GBS). The country has seen an unusual increase of 165 cases. Four persons have died due to the disorder. Peru issued an alert on June 27 regarding the increasing number of cases of the rare disease. Government declares health emergency due to unusual increase in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, the health ministry posted on Facebook. Advertisement The exact cause of the spreading of the disease is not yet known. According to reports, two-thirds of the patients saw symptoms of an infection Covid-19 or gastrointestinal infection or Zika virus, six weeks before the onset of the disease in larger numbers. The Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare neurological disorder in which a persons immune system starts attacking the myelin sheaths of nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which means the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord. Generally, the probability of GBS is 1 in 1,00,000. It starts with a tingling sensation and weakness in the hands and feet, and can quickly spread further ending up paralysing the body. People affected by this disease need to be hospitalised immediately for treatment before it gets late. Guillain-Barre syndrome, also called LGBS, may have the following symptoms Legs become paralysed with no sensation. A person is not able to stand up on his own; shooting pain occurs which gets worse at night. There is difficulty in bladder control. As time passes, if left untreated, the paralysis spreads from the lower limbs to the upper limbs to the lungs which can be fatal. The paralysis spreads within hours of the first sign of the disease. Natural Immunoglobulin fluid needs to be injected in the body. The injections are costly with one bottle costing up to Rs 75,000. Famous for her work in the LGBTQ+ community, Leah Juliett is a young 23-year-old non-binary social activist apart from being a writer, speaker, and nonprofit leader. More notably, she is also the founder of March Against Revenge Porn. What actually is revenge porn? It is when someone who has been an intimate partner shares private images, meant only for him/ her, in public without consent. Speaking to Teen Vogue, Leah Juliett revealed she was 14 when a classmate had sent her naked pictures to everyone in their school. Suffering in silence for many years, she finally decided to speak up against revenge porn. She even leads the March against revenge porn in New Yorks Brooklyn in order to raise awareness about revenge porn. One of Leahs thesis was entitled Redefining Revenge: A Mixed-Method Analysis of State Revenge Porn Legislation and Comprehensive Federal Legislation for Modern America. Advertisement Apart from it, Leah is also a member of the National Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists (NLGJA). She has worked relentlessly on exposing the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity and cyber sexual violence for which she won the 2018 Excellence in Student Journalism Award. Entitled The True Transgender Tipping Point, Leahs honors research practicum examined the legibility and visibility of transgender bodies in media and beyond. About six years ago, Leah received funding to set up the National LGBTQ+ Youth Town Hall, a social media campaign and town hall event empowering LGBTQ+ youth voters. As Executive Director of the National LGBTQ+ Town Hall campaign, she hosted the official town hall event in October 2018. From Connecticut, US, Leah is the recipient of the Excellence in Student Journalism honor from the National Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists. A graduate of Western Connecticut State University, Leah has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in Conflict Resolution and a concentration in Gender Studies and Justice and Law Administration. Leah is currently pursuing her Masters in Social Justice and Community Organizing from Prescott College (expected 2021). In her university days, she actively worked on the universitys transgender housing and bathroom policy. She has been covered by prestigious media houses like CNN, BBC, The Huffington Post, The Hollywood Reporter, PopSugar, BuzzFeed, Teen Vogue and MTV. Leah is one of the first non-binary titleholders to hold a role in the Miss America Organizationis currently Miss Greater Rockville 2020/21 in the Miss America Organization. She had the opportunity to attend the highest-level meeting on LGBTQ+ issues in the history of the United Nations. She was representative of GLAAD, the nations largest LGBTQ+ media organization from 2016-2019. Leah has received leadership training from the Hugh OBrien Youth Leadership Conference (2013) and the GLAAD Media Institute (2017). She also served as a District Intern to United States Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut. During this time, she investigated the close relationship between revenge porn and human sex trafficking. She later presented this research to the Trafficking in Persons Council at the Connecticut General Assembly. In 2017, when she was the District Intern to United States Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, she built up an accessible database of district-wide LGBTQ+ resources for administrative use. A 25-year-old Indian-origin man has been sentenced to more than 10 years in jail and fined S$4,000 for punching and kicking a police officer during a raid in 2020, a media report said. Nikhil M. Durgude had pleaded guilty last month to eight charges, including voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty, possessing cannabis and consuming methamphetamine. Fifteen other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing, The Straits Times reported. Advertisement District Court Judge Jasvender Kaur noted that Nikhil also hurled abusive insults at the police officer during the attack, which showed his utter disregard for authority. Officers deserve to feel assured that they will be adequately protected by the law, the judge said. According to court documents, three officers, including Senior Staff Sergeant Chua Ming Cheng and Inspector Zheng Yiyang, went to a unit at City Suites in Balestier as part of a police operation on November 5, 2020. They identified themselves as police to Nikhil and his accomplices, Prakash Mathivanan and Malani Naidu Prabhakar. After a while, Prakash lunged at Staff Sergeant Chua, causing him to fall. He then hit the officer in the face and upper body, the report said. When Inspector Zheng pointed his revolver at Prakash asking him to stop attacking, the latter grabbed his hands. Before Chua could get up and assist Inspector Zheng, he was attacked by Nikhil, who punched and kicked him repeatedly. He fell again and Nikhil continued to assault Chua as he lay on the floor, The Straits Times reported. The accused did so to prevent Staff Sergeant Chua from assisting Inspector Zheng, and intending, therefore, to deter Chua from discharging his duty as such public servant, the prosecution told the court. Nikhil stopped his attack on Chua when two other officers were led into the unit after some time. The three men were arrested and taken to the Central Police Division headquarters where the authorities detected methamphetamine in Nikhils urine after tests. Staff Sergeant Chua suffered a cut on the forehead and abrasions on his right elbow and left forearm, and was admitted to Singapore General Hospital for treatment. Muslim World League Secretary General Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed a wide range of issues, including Indian diversity within the framework of its national constitution. Taking to Twitter, the Muslim World League organisation informed about the meeting between the two leaders and wrote, At the beginning of his visit to India, during which he met with all Indian components. The Indian Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, received this morning, His Excellency the Secretary-General, Sheikh Dr. #_ During the meeting, a number of issues were reviewed, including Indian diversity within the framework of its national constitution and its civilized principles, the tweet added. Al-Issa who is the current Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), an organisation based in Saudi Arabia and representing Muslims worldwide is on a five-day visit to India that began on July 10. While delivering an address at an event at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in the national capital organised by the Khusro Foundation earlier today, Saudi Arabias former Minister for Justice said that India with its diversity, is a great model for coexistence and that the country can send a message of peace to the world. We have talked just moments ago about the different components in the Indian society and we have been in the past days engaging with them. And I know that the Muslim component of the Indian society, they are, as I said, proud of their Constitution and proud of their nation and they are proud of the brotherhood that they share with the rest of the components of the Indian society al-Issa said in the national capital today. Appreciating Indian wisdom, al-Issa said, We reach out with the different components and diversity for the common objectives that we share. We have heard a lot about Indian wisdom and we know that it has contributed a lot to humanity We know that here coexistence is very important we also work on promoting stability and harmony all over the world. We know that the Indian component, with all its diversity, is a great model for coexistence not only in just mere words but also on the ground. The visiting Saudi delegate said that his organisation is working across the world to promote religious awareness. Advertisement In a devastating incident, a Manang Air helicopter flying from Solukhumbu to Kathmandu has crashed, sending shockwaves through the region. Authorities have confirmed the discovery of five bodies thus far, while the condition of one individual remains unknown. It has been revealed that all passengers on board, except for the pilot, are Mexican citizens. This is not the first time that Manang Air has been involved in an accident. Back in 2017, another incident occurred on June 10 when a Manang Air helicopter, carrying six people from Kathmandu, experienced a crash landing in Gosaikunda, Rasuwa district. All passengers and the pilot escaped unharmed, though the helicopter sustained minor damages. Advertisement In 2019, at Solukhumbus Lukla Airport, a collision between a Summit Air 9N AMH (L410) plane and a parked Manang Air helicopter resulted in the loss of three lives on April 14. Among the victims were Summit Airs co-pilot, Sujit Dhungana, and Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Ram Bahadur Khadka, who was stationed in Lukla for airport security. Despite efforts to save him, Sub-Inspector Rudra Bahadur Shrestha, from the Nepal Police, tragically passed away while undergoing treatment at Grande Hospital. A senior U.S. official says the Biden administration is "working tirelessly every day" to ensure the Taliban stick to their pledges to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for transnational terrorists. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan discussed the matter with reporters aboard Air Force One when asked by VOA if Washington is working with the Taliban to hunt down terrorist targets on Afghan soil. Sullivan traveled to London, where President Joe Biden met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. "What I could say is that we are holding the Taliban to their commitments under the Doha agreement, which is that Afghanistan cannot be used as a safe haven to plot terrorist attacks against anyone and especially, from our purposes, against the United States of America, our homeland, our allies, and our partners," Sullivan said. He referred to the February 2020 deal the Trump administration negotiated with the then-insurgent Taliban in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The deal paved the way for all U.S.-led NATO troops to depart Afghanistan in mid-August 2021 after two decades of involvement in the war. The insurgents, in turn, pledged they would not allow terrorist groups, including al-Qaida, to threaten other countries from Afghan soil. Sullivan spoke days after President Joe Biden defended the chaotic troop withdrawal and suggested that the Taliban are helping Washington to push out al-Qaida from the war-torn South Asian country. "We are working tirelessly every day to ensure that that set of commitments is fulfilled," Sullivan said. "And beyond that, I won't say anything further," he added. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday said that all religions are equal in India and no religion is under any threat in the country where cultures and religions that have co-existed in harmony for centuries. India continues to play its role as a refuge for heterodox ideas with infinite capacity to absorb dissent. No religion is under any threat, Doval said during an event at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in the national capital. Muslim World League secretary-general Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who is on a six-day India visit, also addressed the gathering. As a proud civilizational state, India believes in promoting tolerance, dialogue and cooperation to deal with the challenges of our time. It was no coincidence that despite having around 200 million Muslims, the involvement of Indian citizens in global terrorism has been incredibly low, Doval said. India, the worlds largest democracy and the mother of democracies, is a land of incredible diversity. It is a melting pot of cultures, religions, and languages that coexist in harmony. As an inclusive democracy, India has successfully managed to provide space for all its citizens, regardless of their religious, ethnic or cultural backgrounds, Doval added. NSA also said that among Indias numerous religious groups, Islam occupies a unique and significant position of pride, with India being home to the second-largest Muslim population in the world. To give an idea of the scale we are talking about, Indias Muslim population is almost equal to the combined population of over 33 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Doval added. The philosophy of cooperation and dialogue in Islam has over the centuries merged seamlessly with the ancient Hindu civilizational tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam The World is One Family, the National Security Advisor said. It was only by being open to accommodating various worldviews and ideas, interactions and assimilations of various cultures, beliefs, and practices that India emerged as a sanctuary for persecuted people of all faiths from across the world since times immemorial, Doval highlighted how India has always accepted people from all religion and ethnicity. Recalling events from the history Doval said, India welcomed Arab exiles (in the court of Raja Dahir of Sindh), Jews, Tibetans, Parsis, Shias, Bangladeshis, Afghans and many others with open arms. This enduring tradition of accommodation is a testament to India being a deeply rooted multiethnic, multi-religious, and multilingual society. Doval also said that Indias culture has not only enriched art, literature, architecture, cuisine, technology, etc. but more importantly created a syncretic consciousness that permeated through common people. The edifice of modern India is built on the principles of equal rights, equal opportunities and equal responsibilities. This equality is guaranteed by our Constitution and Law. Speaking of terrorism, Doval said that the challenge of extremism and global terrorism compels India not to lower its guard. To preserve the security and stability within our borders and also rise to the security challenges beyond, India has been leading the fight the fight against individuals and organizations who are promoting extremism, narcotics and terrorism, he added. Expressing the governments absolute no tolerance policy against terrorism Doval said, India is an extremely responsible power but when the need for a hot pursuit against terrorist havens was felt, we have gone all out to destroy terrorism in our national interest. In the past, nations might have fought with each other to resolve their differences. But, as our Prime Minister says, this is no more the age of war. Future battles for the good of humanity will have to be fought against hunger, poverty, ignorance and want, Doval said adding that wars need to be avoided in todays times. In todays world, with complex geopolitical challenges confronting us, religion has to become a beckoning light for the humanity to usher into an era of peace and harmony. Our differences will have to take a backseat if we wish to realize the true human potential and make this world a better place to live for our coming generations, he added. Before Dovals remarks, Saudi leader al-Issa who is the current Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), an organisation based in Saudi Arabia and representing Muslims worldwide, delivered his address. The visiting Saudi delegate had said that his organisation is working across the world to promote religious awareness. There is this pessimist theory in the world that says that the clash between civilizations is unavoidable, and thus such a clash depends on two factors. There are religions and also civilizations. Thats why the United Nations has been aware of such theories, and they have established an organization, an organ within the United Nations called the Alliance of Civilizations, al-Issa said. Advertisement Muslim World League (MWL) chief and Saudi Arabias former Minister for Justice Mohammad Bin Abdul karim al-Issa today hailed India as a great model for coexistence and said the country could send a message of peace to the world. We have talked just moments ago about the different components in Indian society and we have been in the past few days engaging with them. And I know that the Muslim component of the Indian society, they are, as I said, proud of their Constitution and proud of their nation and they are proud of the brotherhood that they share with the rest of the components of the Indian society said al-Issa, who is on a five-day visit to India, at a function here. The Saudi-Based (MWL) is an organisation representing Muslims worldwide. Appreciating Indian wisdom, he said, We reach out with the different components and diversity for the common objectives that we share. We have heard a lot about Indian wisdom and we know that it has contributed a lot to humanity Advertisement He said We know that coexistence here is very important we also work on promoting stability and harmony all over the world. We know that the Indian component, with all its diversity, is a great model for coexistence not only in mere words but also on the ground. The visiting Saudi delegate said that his organisation was working across the world to promote religious awareness. There is this pessimist theory in the world that says that the clash between civilizations is unavoidable, and thus such a clash depends on two factors, he said. There are religions and also civilizations. Thats why the United Nations has been aware of such theories, and they have established an organization within the United Nations called the Alliance of Civilizations, al-Issa said. He further stated that the Muslim World League in cooperation with the United Nations and their leadership have launched an initiative titled Building Bridges between the East and the West from the platform of the United Nations. Yes, we can cooperate together, and yes, we can live in peace together, he said. During his stay in New Delhi, al-Issa is expected to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Minister for Minority Affairs Smriti Irani. He may also call on President Droupadi Murmu. Have an interesting bit of news youd like to see mentioned in the Along the Way column? Email it to Natasha Connolly at news@thesunchronicle.com. China signs pact with Solomon Islands to boost cooperation on 'law enforcement and security matters' The Solomon Islands has signed an agreement to boost cooperation with China on law enforcement and security matters in a move likely to raise concerns among the South Pacific island's traditional partners Believe it or not, indeed Money we spend on military could be better used elsewhere New Unification Minister Kwon Young-se attended the celebration in Anseong, southeast of Seoul and stressed the importance of creating a social environment where defectors can blend in more easily. The Unification Ministry on Monday celebrated the 24th anniversary of the Hanawon halfway house that helps North Korean defectors settle in the South. Hanawon provides a 12-week resettlement education program for new defectors from North Korea. It helps them change their identity, adapt to South Korean society, and supports them financially so that they can learn to make a living here. But the number of defectors dropped significantly from around 3,000 in 2010 to just 67 in 2022 as the North Korean regime fortified its borders in the COVID pandemic. To mark the anniversary, reporters were admitted Hanawon for the first time in seven years and interviewed three North Korean defectors. Defectors say the institute is important to them as the training that they received there has given them the opportunity to think about what they want to do with the rest of their lives. President Yoon Suk-yeol called for international resolve against North Korea's nuclear program before arriving in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius for the annual NATO summit on Monday. In a written interview with the Associated Press, Yoon called on the international community to show that its resolve to deter North Korea's nuclear is stronger than the regime's nuclear ambitions. "Peace is never as certain and reliable as when it is backed by powerful force and deterrence," he said. "Strong international sanctions against North Korea have the effect of preventing the advancement of its nuclear and missile capabilities," he added. "Now is the time to clearly demonstrate that the international community's determination to deter North Korea's nuclear weapons program is stronger than North Korea's desire to develop nuclear weapons." He also stressed the importance of cooperation between the NATO and the Indo-Pacific region. "Just as incidents in Europe can have a substantial and consequential impact on the Indo-Pacific region, Indo-Pacific events can have immense ramifications for countries in Europe," he said. "In particular, the war in Ukraine has reminded us all that a security crisis in one particular region can have a global impact." Samsung Biologics has signed a W511.1 billion drug-manufacturing deal with pharma giant Novartis, bringing this year's cumulative deals to W2.34 trillion, it said Monday (US$1=W1,307). This is the first time the biotech company has bagged more than W2 trillion worth of deals in a year. "This year's cumulative deals have broken the previous record of W1.9 trillion in 2020," it said. "We expect the figure to increase further in the second half." The company has been racking up long-term contracts with major global pharma firms. Earlier this month, it announced a W1.2 trillion contract with Pfizer. The deals with Pfizer and Novartis alone amount to more than W1.78 trillion or the entire annual total amount of such deals last year. Job Title: Fellows Liaison Officer (Fresher Jobs) Organisation: Rotary Peace Center Duty Station: Makerere, Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Director About US: This is the first Rotary Peace Center on the African Continent. It is the seventh Rotary Peace Center in the world that offers Postgraduate Diploma in Peace-building, Conflict Transformation, and Development hosted by the Makerere University Peace and Conflict Studies Program (PCS). Up to 40 fellowships are awarded annually for the Professional Development Certificate program at the Makerere Rotary Peace Center, Kampala, Uganda. The Makerere Rotary Peace Center is hosted by Makerere University, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Africa. Makerere University is composed of nine colleges offering programs for about 35,000 undergraduates and 3,000 postgraduates. Job Summary: The Fellows Liaison Officer will take charge of the Fellows welfare while on & offsite. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Provide holistic support to fellows by following up their admissions, visa applications and preparing for their arrival. Follow up the study plan progress with planned deliverables and support fellows on bottlenecks- technical and procedural- that may be causing them delays. She/he will support the collation of applications for initial eligibility screening. Provide advisory services to fellows during preparation of their applications, including responding to queries, technical or procedural. Develop a database of admitted fellows. Support induction of fellows as well as their settling in. Provide continuous technical support to fellows including technical advice during their study period both onsite and offsite. Conduct fellows follow-up to ensure that they are up- to- date with the milestones and deliverables they have set especially during the period of the Social Initiative. Prepare reports and to provide feedback to management on each fellow. Trouble shoot welfare issues that are stalling fellows projects including technical implementation issues, and other encumbrances and propose solutions to overcome them. Support researchers in developing knowledge products for dissemination of findings Maintain a tracking of project performance of all fellows Key Outputs Fellows engagement on & offsite Work plan Fellows support strategy per cohort Information Packages to the fellows Database of Past, Present and Admitted Fellows Report Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The applicant must hold a Masters degree in Peace and Conflict Studies or a Masters of International Relations and Diplomatic Studies Additional certificate in a foreign language is desirable (Kiswahili, French or Germany) A Bachelors in International Studies or International Relations or a related field. Any other additional training is an added advantage. Interpersonal relations skills Communication skills Computer skills Website Management Project Co-ordination at University research level. Integrity Honest Self-respect Commitment How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested should apply with the following documents in a single submission Motivation letter Updated CV, including two references Email to: admin.rpc@mak.ac.ug and Copy makerereuniversitypeacecenter@gmail.com Deadline: 19th July 2023 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline On Monday, Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn announced that it is withdrawing from the $19.5 billion joint venture with Vedanta Ltd to set up semiconductor and display production plants in Gujarat. "In order to explore more diverse development opportunities, according to mutual agreement, Foxconn has determined it will not move forward on the joint venture with Vedanta," the company had said in a statement. The ambitious joint venture, which had the blessings of the Centre and Gujarat government, got cancelled less than a year after it was finalised. The two companies did not offer a reason for the withdrawal. There were reports that due to differences in rollout strategies, the joint venture wasn't witnessing much progress. On Tuesday, a Reuters report said the Indian government and Foxconn had concerns over the financial situation of the Anil Agarwal-owned Vedanta, and this has led to the Taiwanese company deciding to junk the joint venture. Vedanta Ltd's London-based parent company, Vedanta Resources has been facing a debt crisis. According to Reuters, a few rating agencies have downgraded Vedanta Resources over concerns of a possible debt default. Meanwhile, there were also reports that said delays by the Union government to grant incentive approval for the project may have also prompted Foxconn to cancel the deal. Centre had reportedly raised questions over Vedanta's applications for an incentive scheme for chip production. The venture's application seeking financial assistance reportedly did not meet the criteria of the government. A news report also said the cultural differences in the approach of Vedanta and Foxconn may also have a role in the decision. Even as the Centre clarified that cancellation of the joint venture has no impact on India's semiconductor fabrication plant goal, Foxconn on Tuesday said it is working on plans to apply for incentives under semiconductor and display fab programme, as the contract manufacturer pledged its commitment to India. "We welcome a diverse set of stakeholders, both inside India and abroad, who also want to see India get to the next level and can complement Foxconn's world-class supply chain management and manufacturing efficiency," Foxconn said in a statement. The company said it is "working toward submitting an application related to Modified Programme for Semiconductors and Display Fab Ecosystem." "Foxconn has sound channels of communications with government stakeholders across India, and we have been consistent and clear with them at all levels about our continued commitment to invest in India," it said. The OTT space this week is packed with exciting new releases including Kajol's legal drama Good Wife to a spin-off to Netflix's 2018 survival thriller Bird Box. A quick at what's arriving on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney plus Hotstar and other platforms this week: The Trial: Pyaar Kaanoon Dhokha- Disney + Hotstar Release date: July 14 The legal drama headlined by Kajol revolves around a housewife who is forced to return to work as a lawyer after her husbands public scandal puts him behind bars. Directed by Suparn S Varma, The Trial - Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha is the Indian adaptation of popular American series The Good Wife. Kajol said that she chose The Trial as her long-format debut on OTT because of the right script, and added that she could resonate with Noyonika, the central character. The Trial also features Sheeba Chaddha, Alyy Khan, Kubbra Sait and Gaurav Pandey. Kohrra: Netflix Release date: July 15 The crime series, co-created by Sudip Sharma of Pataal Lok fame, Gunjit Chopra and Diggi Sisodia, is another eagerly anticipated release this week. The show kicks off with the discovery of a murdered NRI just before his wedding in the countryside of Punjab. What follows is a probe into the world of secrets of a dysfunctional family. The show features an ensemble cast of Suvinder Vicky, Barun Sobti, Varun Badola, Harleen Sethi, Rachel Shelly, and Manish Chaudhary. Bird Box Barcelona: Netflix Release date: July 14 A Spanish spin-off on Netflix's post-apocalyptic drama Bird Box, the plot revolves a man named Sebastian and his young daughter Anna as they set out a journey of survival through the streets of Barcelona. The new film builds further on the dangerous world from the 2018 Sandra Bullock-starrer, where people must blindfold themselves to protect themselves from mysterious forces that push them to commit suicide. According to reports, the film uses Josh Malerman's novel of the same name as source material, but takes it in a different direction. The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2: Amazon Prime Video Release date: July 14 The second season of the coming-of-age romantic drama will take viewers to the summer at Cousins Beach with a love triangle at the centre of it. The first three episodes will arrive on Friday, followed by one episode every week. Kanal Kannan, a noted stunt master in the Tamil film industry, who was arrested for offending religious sentiments has been remanded to judicial custody, police said on Tuesday. Kannan, also an actor and chief of the art and culture wing of Hindu Munnani, an RSS affiliate, was arrested by Kanyakumari district police on July 10 and remanded to judicial custody. He was arrested for posting a video clip in a social media platform that showed a man foreignerdressed like a pastor dancing with a woman. Kannan had remarked that "this is foreign religious culture". He was summoned by Kanyakumari police and he was arrested following questioning. An FIR, for offending religious sentiments, was registered under different Indian Penal Code sections. On the allegation of Hindu activists that Kannan was troubled as he was detained for hours together by police in the guise of questioningbased on a complaint from a DMK office-bearera senior Kanyakumari district police official said the accusation was false. "We have video footages. He was treated courteously and we acted as per law," he told PTI. The activists staged a brief protest on Monday against police. Everyone's brain has a 'pain fingerprint' that varies from person to person, says a new study. The concept of a "pain fingerprint" refers to the unique pattern of brain activity that occurs when individuals experience pain. The recent research conducted at the University of Essex and the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich suggests that the gamma oscillations, fast-oscillating brain waves associated with brief pain and touch, vary significantly between individuals. These gamma oscillations were previously thought to represent pain perception in the brain, but previous studies mainly focused on group data and neglected individual differences. In this study, the researchers examined data from 70 participants and found major differences in the timing, frequency, and location of gamma oscillations. Surprisingly, some individuals showed no gamma waves at all, while others exhibited a large response. The study also found that the individual patterns of gamma waves were remarkably stable and replicable when participants were stimulated with pain using a laser. The Department of Psychology's Dr Elia Valentini said: "Not only, for the first time, can we pinpoint the extreme variability in the gamma response across individuals, but we also show that the individual response pattern is stable across time." "This pattern of group variability and individual stability may apply to other brain responses, and characterising it may allow us to identify individual pain fingerprints in the activity of the brain." The term "pain fingerprint" is used metaphorically to illustrate the uniqueness and variability of these gamma oscillations among individuals. Just as each person's fingerprint is distinct, the patterns of brain activity associated with pain are also unique to each individual. It is important to note that the exact reasons for these individual differences in pain perception and gamma oscillations are not yet understood and require further investigation. This research has implications for understanding pain perception and may have future applications in personalised pain management and treatment. By identifying and characterizing these individual patterns of brain activity, researchers and clinicians may be able to develop more targeted and tailored approaches to pain management, potentially leading to more effective treatments and interventions for individuals experiencing pain. The internal visible squabbles in the Telangana Congress party have been replaced by mature and subtle lobbying for favourites. The various factions that were fighting for one-upmanship until a few months back have now coalesced into two powerful lobbies, each putting up a diplomatic face. Two unlikely names are now the front runners for the CM's post in case the party clinches power in the Assembly elections scheduled to be held later this year. Bhatti Vikramarka, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, was seated next to Congress senior leader Rahul Gandhi in the recently held public meeting at Khammam. Not just that, Rahul Gandhi, in his address, even praised him for completing a long walkathon (padayatra) aimed at strengthening the party. The proximity was on full display. Bhatti and Rahul Gandhi held each other and moved to the front of the stage to wave to the crowd, even as many of the senior leaders looked on. These gestures are a testimony to the growing importance of Bhatti within the party. The Dalit leader, who served three terms as an MLA from Khammam district, is soft-spoken and uncontroversial. He is seen as an accepted figure by the senior leaders of the party, who are unflinchingly supporting his candidature. In what looks like a well-thought-out strategy, the Congress high command seemed to have propped him up by entrusting him with the prestigious assignment of a Padayatra to calm down the seniors who were at loggerheads with the party president, A. Revanth Reddy. Bhatti is a Congress old-timer, whose family was associated with the Congress. The party also seems to have considered his community, which forms the core vote bank of the party. Walking for about four months and 1,300kms, despite facing ill-health, Bhatti proved his mettle. For the Congress, Bhatti is not only important to balance the party but also to prove a point to the BRS that they are serious about promoting Dalit leadership. Party sources say he has a good chance of becoming the CM if the party comes to power since one of the criticisms directed at KCR is that he did not fulfil his earlier promise of making a Dalit the CM of the bifurcated state. Another Congress personality in the limelight is Dansari Seethakka. She is an MLA from Mulugu and, in a way, an iconic figure among the tribal community. She emerged from the extreme Left ideology and was a commander in the Maoist movement. After she surrendered and joined the mainstream, political life beckoned her, and she joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). She went on to become an MLA with the active backing of former CM N. Chandrababu Naidu. However, with the party being wiped out in Telangana, she, along with colleague A. Revanth Reddy, another TDP MLA back then, joined the Congress in 2017. Since then, she is considered to be part of team Revanth. Her popularity soared during the Covid-19 pandemic when she was seen venturing deep into the forests and inaccessible hamlets to hand over essential groceries to the people. Her service was also recognized at the national level by Congress leaders like Priyanka Gandhi, who later spoke about her. Revanth has also been generous with words while talking about Seethakka. When there was friction in the Congress party, Revanth was accused of being biased towards those who recently joined from TDP and of not respecting the Congress ideology by the seniors. Now it's ceasefire time, and Revanth too played his card calmly. Understanding that his chances of becoming a CM, despite being the president, can be scuttled by the seniors' lobby pushing the name of Bhatti, he went ahead and made a surprising announcement. Recently, at an event organized by the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) in Philadelphia, where Seethakka was also present, he announced on stage that if need be, he will support Seethakka's candidature for the CM's post. Revanth has thrown his weight behind Seethakka, knowing well that she, as a tribal and a woman legislator with a clean reputation can be a competitor to Bhatti. For the powerful leaders from the Reddy community, considered the backbone of Congress, it is now all about playing the role of a kingmaker. More than 40 percent of fish caught off the coast of Jeju Island are now subtropical species, according to a study. The number of subtropical fish species around the island has almost doubled to 80 over the last decade as climate change caused ocean temperatures to rise. According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science, of the 177 marine species caught in waters around Jeju Island over the last 10 years, 42 percent were subtropical varieties. The species rose from 44 in 2013 to 83 last year. The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned to July 17 the hearing of a batch of pleas challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the gang-rape case of Bilkis Bano and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra Gujarat riots. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Prashant Kumar Mishra noted, in accordance with its May 9 order, notices have been published in local newspapers, including those in Gujarati and English, against the convicts who could not be served (the notice). The apex court then posted the matter for hearing on July 17 due to paucity of time. The top court had earlier ordered publication of notices in local newspapers against the convicts who could not be served notices, including the one whose house the local police found locked and his phone switched off. The Centre and the Gujarat government had told the court they are not claiming any privilege and not filing any plea for a review of the court's March 27 order, asking for production of the original records with regard to the remission granted to the convicts. The Gujarat government had raised preliminary objections to the petitions filed in the matter other than the one by Bilkis Bano, saying it will have wide ramifications as every now and then third parties will approach courts in criminal cases. On April 18, the top court had questioned the Gujarat government over the remission granted to the 11 convicts, saying the gravity of the offence should have been considered, and wondered if there was any application of mind. Asking for the reasons for the premature release of the convicts, the top court had also questioned the frequent parole granted to them during their incarceration. "It (remission) is a kind of grace, which should be proportional to the crime," it had said. The Centre and the Gujarat government had then told the court that they might file a plea seeking a review of its March 27 order, asking them to be ready with the original files on the grant of remission. The apex court had on March 27 termed Bilkis Bano's gang- rape and the murder of her family members during the riots a "horrendous" act, and asked the Gujarat government whether uniform standards, as followed in other murder cases, were applied while granting remission to the convicts. It had sought the responses of the Centre, the Gujarat government and others on the plea filed by Bilkis Bano, who has challenged the remission. All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and they walked free on August 15, 2022. PILs were filed by CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul, former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra against the release of the convicts. Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident in which 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya were killed in an act of arson. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots. The chief executive officer (CEO) and the managing director (MD) of a company in Bengaluru were murdered by a former employee on Tuesday. The accused, who has been identified as Felix, entered the office and attacked Phanindra Subramanya and Vinu Kumar, MD and CEO of Aironics Media Private Limited, with a sword. Both of them died on their way to the hospital. "The chief executive officer (CEO) Vinu Kumar and MD Phanindra Subramanya of Aeronics Internet Company were killed by a former employee. The accused barged into their office and attacked them with a sword. Both died on the way to the hospital. The attacker, Felix, is on the run. Further investigation underway," Lakshmi Prasad, DCP North-East Bengaluru, said. The accused is on the run. Muslim World League secretary general Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa on Tuesday said Muslims in India are proud of their nationality and the country with all its diversity is a great model for coexistence. Addressing an event here, Al-Issa, who is on an India visit, said India with all its diversity is a great model for coexistence "not only in mere words but also on the ground". "The Indian Muslims contribute a lot to humanity. The Indian Muslims are an important part of Indian society. They are proud of their nationality and they are proud of their Constitution," he said in his address in Arabic that was translated at the event, organised by the Khusro Foundation and the India Islamic Cultural Centre. "We know that India is a Hindu majority country even though the Constitution is a secular one which is an umbrella for the different sects that are united under this one nation," he said. There is a true sense of optimism in India between communities, he said and added that diversity is a great way to protect Constitution and stability. Al-Issa said his organisation is working across the world to promote religious awareness. He also said Islam is not only about tolerance but Islam is about forgiving others. During his India visit, Al-Issa is also expected to call on President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Islamic religious leaders and religious leaders of different faiths. He will also attend several events of the Islamic community as well as events of various Indian communities to promote fraternal and friendly dialogues, to enhance understanding and cooperation, and to discuss many topics of common interest, a statement by the Muslim World League said. Al-Issa is here at the official invitation from the Indian government. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also spoke at the event and said it is no coincidence that despite there being around 200 million Muslims, the involvement of Indian citizens in global terrorism has been "incredibly low". He also noted that India has been a melting pot of cultures and religions that have co-existed in harmony for centuries. MWL is an international NGO headquartered in Mecca, with members from all Islamic countries and sects. It aims to present Islam and its tolerant principles, provide humanitarian aid, extend bridges of dialogue and cooperation with all, engage in positive openness to all cultures and civilizations, follow the path of centrism and moderation and ward off movements calling for extremism, violence and exclusion. J&K Police have arrested ten persons in Srinagar in connection with a conspiracy to revive the banned separatist Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and the Hurriyat Conference. Over two dozen persons with links to JKLF and the Hurriyat Conference were detained by police after they held a meeting in a local hotel on Monday. A police spokesperson said the arrested persons were planning to revive these organisations on the directions of Pakistan-based handlers. The spokesman added that the meeting was an overt attempt to start working for the revival of these moribund organisations. A case under sections 10, 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act & section 121A of IPC already stands registered in Kothibagh police station in Srinagar. Initial investigation has also revealed that they were in touch with entities based abroad, said the police. A few of them were members of many groups that propagate secessionism like Kashmir Global Council headed by Farooq Siddiqui and Raja Muzaffer of JKLF, he added. Under the garb of manufactured pretext, the real agenda of the meeting that took place was discussing the strategy of revival, said the spokesperson. According to police, initial investigation has also revealed that a preliminary meeting was held by the arrested person and others on June 13. Those arrested have been identified as Mohammad Yaseen Bhat, Mohammad Rafiq Pahloo, Shams u din Rehmani, Jahangeer Ahmad Bhat, Khurshid Ahmed Bhat, Shabir Ahmed Dar, Sajad Hussain Gul, Firdous Ahmed Shah, Parray Hassan Firdous, Sohail Ahmad Mir. A deputy collector rank officer in tribal-dominated Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh was arrested and sent to jail on Tuesday on charges of sexually harassing adolescent tribal girls during an inspection of a government hostel on Sunday. The officer, Sunil Kumar Jha was suspended by divisional commissioner of Indore, Pawan Sharma. The district administration acted in a swift manner in the case, even as the state is witnessing uproar over several incidents of atrocities against tribals and other underprivileged persons in the recent past. Arrest of a senior government official soon after the registration of FIR is not very common in the state. A complaint had been lodged against Jhaposted as sub-divisional magistrate in Jhabua district headquarterson Monday with district collector Tanvi Hooda, by the superintendent of the tribal girls hostel, Kanya Ashram, based on the complaints of the girl inmates after Jha had completed his inspection of the hostel. The complaint mentioned that the officer not only did ask inappropriate and sexually-laced questions to the girls and make such comments, but also touched at least three girls two of them aged 13 and one aged 11 inappropriately. On the district collectors directive, deputy superintendent of police Varsha Solanki conducted an investigation into the matter and found the allegations true. The collector then recommended suspension of the accused officer to the divisional commissioner and also directed registration of an FIR against him. The FIR was registered on Tuesday morning under various sections related to sexual harassment, molestation and intimidation under IPC, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act. Jha was arrested soon after and presented in the POCSO court, where he was sent to judicial custody. Congress attacks government In-charge of the MP Congress organizations and fronts, Shobha Oza attacked the BJP government over the blast of incidents of atrocities against tribal people. She said that the sexual harassment of adolescent girl students by the SDM during inspection of a government hostel is unpardonable and shameful. She said that as per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics, Madhya Pradesh under BJP government has been repeatedly reporting highest incidents of atrocities against tribal people, but the sudden spurt in the past few days is very worrying. She said it is clear that under the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government there was no value of the lives, honour and respect of the tribal people Former president of Madhya Pradesh Congress, Kantilal Bhuria, who hails from Jhabua and is a tribal himself, sought termination of services of the accused officer. The constitution bench will hear a batch of petitions challenging the decision to abrogate Article 370, which had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday. The five-judge bench is headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. Pleas against the Centre's decision to abrogate the provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which split J-K into two Union Territories--Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh--were referred to a Constitution bench in 2019. The hearing started in December 2019, four months after the date on which the Centre notified the repeal of Article 370. The matter was not listed till now despite being mentioned before the Chief Justice of India on several occasions. Meanwhile, the Centre on Monday submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court defending the abrogation of Article 370. It said that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed an unprecedented era of peace, progress and prosperity, with street violence, orchestrated by terrorists and secessionist networks, becoming "a thing of the past." Referring to the "characteristic security situation" in the region, the Centre said organised stone pelting incidents connected with terrorism-separatist agenda, which were as high as 1,767 in 2018, has come down to zero in 2023 till date and casualty of security personnel has shown a 65.9 per cent decline in 2022 as compared to 2018. The decision to strip the erstwhile state of J and K of special status and bifurcate it into two Union Territories was taken on August 5, 2019. The Centre contended that the "historic constitutional step" being challenged has brought unprecedented development, progress, security and stability to the region, which was often missing during the old Article 370 regime. It is submitted that the same has been possible due to the policy of the Union of India of ensuring peace, prosperity and progress in the region, the affidavit said. The Centre said after the historic changes, the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have witnessed profound ameliorative, affirmative and progressive changes in the last four years encompassing its entire governance - including the developmental activities, public administration and security matters which has positively impacted every resident irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Highlighting numerous schemes launched by the Centre for the development of the entire region, the government said life has returned to normalcy in the region after over three decades of turmoil. It is submitted that schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and other public institutions are functioning efficiently without any strikes or any kind of disturbances during the last three years. It is submitted that with the improved security scenario, the Union territory has also witnessed the highest-ever footfall of tourists viz. 1.88 crore tourists visited Jammu & Kashmir from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, which is significantly contributing to the growth of the economy. However, the Centre's affidavit was termed illogical and without constitutional backing by former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah. "The Centre's defence lacks logic (is) illegal & unconstitutional abrogation of Article 370," PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet. "Brute majority was used to subvert the Indian constitution that extended guarantees to the people of J&K & GOI also violated earlier rulings of Hon'ble SC which held that only J&K's constituent assembly could recommend the removal of Article 370 to the President of India," she said. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also took to Twitter saying the arguments put forth by the government were political and had little in the way of legality. "These are political arguments the BJP/Union Govt can make to sell their decision to the voter but they are not legal arguments." "The entire case in the SC is about the illegality & unconstitutionality of what was done on 5th Aug 2019, not whether the Govt has a strong enough political case," Abdullah said. The Central Water Commission said on Tuesday that the water level in Yamuna River has crossed the danger level of 205.33 metres. The level, as of Tuesday morning, is at 206. 24 meters. "The water level in Yamuna River crosses the danger mark of 205.33 metres, touching 206.24 metres; the high flood level is--207.49 metres," Central Water Commission said. The rise in water level happened sooner than expected after Haryana released more water into the river from the Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar. Flood Control Department officials estimate around 2,15,677 cusecs water was discharged through the Hathnikund barrage at 3 pm on Monday. #WATCH | Water level of River Yamuna continues to flow above the danger level in Delhi's Old Railway Bridge area. Railway and traffic movement on the Bridge has been stopped. At 8 am today, water level of River Yamuna recorded at 206.32 metres at Old Railway Bridge. The highest pic.twitter.com/sn4FGWQp9H ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2023 It is expected that the river will rise to 206.65 metres by Tuesday afternoon before gradually subsiding. The water level in Yamuna was on the rise at Vikasnagar, in Uttarakhand's Dehradun too due to continuous rainfall. Meanwhile, the evacuation of residents from low-lying areas began on Monday night. "Only those living in the affected areas have been shifted to camps on higher grounds," an official from East Delhi district told PTI. Stating that the Delhi administration is on alert mode, Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the government is fully prepared to control the situation. "As the water will go above 206 metres, we will start shifting people, living on the banks. The process of taking them safely to the relief camp will be started. Earlier we were feeling that the water level would cross 205 meters on July 11, but it has crossed 205 meters today itself because more water is being released from Haryana," Bharadwaj told ANI. However, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had ruled out a flood-like situation in Delhi. The Delhi government has set up 16 control rooms to monitor the flood-prone areas and the water level of the Yamuna. The Yamuna river system's catchment covers parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. Delhi witnessed its highest rainfall (153 mm) in a single day in July since 1982 in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Sunday. The city received an additional 107 mm of rainfall in the subsequent 24 hours, exacerbating the situation. Red, Orange alert Northwest India continues to witness incessant rainfall with red and orange alerts still in place in Himachal Pradesh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued "red" and "orange" alerts for several districts of the hill state for the next 24 hours. "A red alert has been issued for very heavy rainfall in Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur, and Lahaul for the next 24 hours. Additionally, an orange alert has been issued in Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Chamba. A flash flood warning has been issued for Mandi, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti for the next 24 hours," ANI quoted senior IMD Scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma on Monday. #WATCH | Mandi in Himachal Pradesh faces a flood-like situation as river Beas swells due to incessant rainfall here. Latest visuals from the city. pic.twitter.com/ORNYVbQJRP ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2023 The flood fury in the hilly state had claimed 18 lives over the past two days, throwing life out of gear. Over 300 tourists and local people are still stranded in Chandertal, Pagal Nallah and other places in Lahaul and Spiti. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said efforts are on to rescue the stranded people, and they could be airlifted as the weather clears. Power and water supply have been snapped in several areas. The flash floods have also affected the functioning of most hydropower projects due to silt accumulation. Sukhu added that an assessment of loss is underway and it is estimated to be in the range of Rs 3,000-Rs. 4000 crore, according to a government statement. Preliminary estimates by the State Emergency Operation Centre, however, pegged the loss at Rs 785 crore. (With inputs from PTI) The Supreme Court will begin to hear the batch of petitions challenging the decision to abrogate Article 370, which had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir, from August 2. While listing the matter for pre-hearing formalities, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud said the five-judge bench will hear the petitions day-to-day from August 2, except on Mondays and Fridays. Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant are the other members of the bench. The decision comes nearly four years after the removal of Article 370 by the BJP on August 5, 2019. Several J&K political parties have challenged the move in the apex court. The Centre on Monday submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court defending the abrogation of Article 370. However, the CJI said affidavit regarding the present status of Jammu and Kashmir would not have any bearing on the constitutional issues raised in the petitions 'and shall not be relied upon for the purpose'. The apex court decision on the petitions will forever settle the controversy surrounding the legality of the BJPs decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its limited autonomy under Article 370 and statehood. Under the J&K Reorganisation after the removal of Article 370, J&K was split into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The demand for the restoration of statehood and assembly elections has grown louder in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir have been under Central rule since June 2018 after the collapse of the BJP-PDP coalition. The former state completed five years of Presidential rule on June 19. Petitioners pull out Two petitioners - Shah Faesel and Shehla Rashid- informed the court via their lawyers that they do not want to continue as the petitioners and requested that their names be deleted from the array of parties, reported Live Law. The pleas against the Centre's decision to abrogate the provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which split J-K into two Union Territories--Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh--were referred to a Constitution bench in 2019. Though the hearing started in December 2019, four months after the date on which the Centre notified the repeal of Article 370, the matter was not listed till now despite being mentioned before the Chief Justice of India on several occasions. The Centre on Monday submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court defending the abrogation of Article 370. It said that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed an unprecedented era of peace, progress and prosperity, with street violence, orchestrated by terrorists and secessionist networks, becoming "a thing of the past." The Centre contended that the "historic constitutional step" being challenged has brought unprecedented development, progress, security and stability to the region, which was often missing during the old Article 370 regime. It is submitted that the same has been possible due to the policy of the Union of India of ensuring peace, prosperity and progress in the region, the affidavit said. TMC looked set to sweep the violence-scarred rural polls keeping intact the mandate it won two years back during the assembly polls by taking a seemingly unassailable lead in results declared till now by the State Election Commission. The ruling TMC has won in 28,985 gram panchayat seats, besides leading in 1,540 seats, according to the SEC as of 10.30 pm on Tuesday. Its nearest rival BJP has won 7,764 seats and is leading in 417 seats. In all elections are being held for 63,229 gram panchayat seats. The Left Front has won 2,468 seats, of which the CPI(M) alone has won 2,409. The Left is currently leading in 260 seats. The Congress won 2,022 seats and is leading in 139. Other parties won 725 seats and led in 23 seats, while independents which included TMC rebels won 1,656 seats and led in 104 seats. The ruling TMC won 2,155 Panchayat samiti seats while leading 493 seats. BJP has won 214 and is leading in 113 seats, while CPI(M) has won 47 seats and is leading in 48 others and Congress has won in 38 seats and is leading in 23 seats. Elections were held for 9,728 Panchayat Samiti seats. TMC has also won all 77 Zila Parishad results declared so far and is leading in 92 others while CPI(M) has is leading in 5 seats, while Congress is leading in 1 and the BJP in 10. In all, there are 928 Zila Parishad seats. Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday thanked rural Bengal for voting in favour of the party and said the opposition's campaign of "no vote to Mamata" has turned into "Now vote for Mamata" and has paved the way for the "party's unwavering success in next year's Lok Sabha polls". The elections are being seen by all parties as an indicator of which way the wind will blow in the 2024 parliamentary elections from this part of the country. The violence which rocked the panchayat polls held on Saturday has claimed at least 15 lives with 11 of them from the ruling TMC. Since elections were announced last month, the number of people who died in poll-related incidents has been 33, with the ruling party suffering 60 per cent of the deaths. Allegations of vote tampering and violence by various parties forced the SEC to order re-polling in 696 seats on Monday, which passed more or less peacefully. Intervention by the Calcutta High Court had seen the deployment of central police forces on both election and counting days. A voter turnout of 80.71 per cent was recorded on Saturday, whereas a vote percentage of 69.85 was recorded till 5 pm in 696 booths across West Bengal, where re-polling was held on Monday. Though Bengal has a long history of violent rural polls with 40 people killed in one single day of polling during the 2003 panchayat elections, this year's violence which was covered extensively by the media focused national attention on it. Governor CV Ananda Bose who had rushed to Delhi to give a report on the violence told newspersons "Political parties should realise elections are not grounds to examine one's physical strength". Counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats which besides the gram panchayat seats, also includes 9,730 panchayat samiti seats and 928 zilla parishad seats, began at 8 am on Tuesday peacefully amid tight security, officials said. Vote counting is on at 339 venues spread across 22 districts and is likely to carry over to Wednesday. The maximum number of counting centres is in South 24 Parganas at 28, while the minimum is in Kalimpong at four. Some northern districts are also facing inclement weather. "Counting began at 8 am and is likely to continue for the next two days. It will take time for the ballots to be counted and the results to be compiled," an SEC official said. In Darjeeling hills, out of the 598 seats in Darjeeling and 281 in Kalimpong, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) was leading in many areas and looks likely to be the new numero uno in the Bengal hill districts. All the counting venues are manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents. There are a total of 767 strong rooms across 22 districts. Large crowds of supporters of various candidates gathered at various centres to ensure that counting was conducted correctly. In various districts, TMC supporters celebrated their victory by dancing and smearing each other with green colour, the party's chosen colour. As initial trends started pouring in, a war of words broke out between the TMC and the BJP, with the latter accusing the ruling party of "making last desperate attempts to loot votes by blocking opposition agents from entering counting centres." "TMC goons are making desperate attempts to steal the elections by obstructing the counting agents and candidates of the BJP and other opposition political parties from entering counting centres. They are being restricted from going towards the venue, and bombs are being hurled to intimidate counting agents," leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, said. Refuting the allegations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "Sensing defeat, they are making baseless allegations." "Rejected by people and sensing humiliating defeat, this is BJP's last attempt to come up with lame excuses to make up for its own organisational failures," he said. "We salute the people that despite all these (hurdles), they have supported the Left Front candidates," CPI(M) state secretary Mohd Salim said. The CPI(M) leader alleged that the ruling party was misusing the police and administration to get back to power in the panchayats. ISF MLA Nawshad Siddique who is leading his newly formed party told PTI, "Whatever chance the people have got to exercise their franchise despite violence and intimidation, they have expressed their opinion against the ruling party." He added that the "myth that a certain community is a vote bank has been proven wrong". A total of 5.67 crore people living in the state's rural areas were eligible to decide the fate of 2.06 lakh candidates in 73,887 seats of the three-tier-panchayat system. Unlike earlier elections, the Opposition had fielded candidates in more than 90 per cent of seats, unlike in 2018 rural polls, when the ruling TMC had won 34 per cent of the seats uncontested. In the 2018 rural polls, the ruling TMC had emerged victorious in 90 per cent of the panchayat seats and all the 22 zilla parishads. The elections were marred by widespread violence, with the Opposition alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in several seats. The counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls began in West Bengal on Tuesday amid tight security. The elections were marred by violence, multiple deaths and allegations of booth tampering. Elections were held for 74,000 seats across the state on June 8. However, repolls were held at over 696 booths following allegations of ballot box tampering. There are around 339 counting venues spread across 22 districts. "The counting, which began at 8 am, is likely to continue for the next two days. It will take time for the ballots to be counted and the results to be compiled. We are hopeful that a trend will be available by the end of the day," an SEC official said. There is tight security at all the counting venues. Besides armed state police personnel, central forces have also been deployed. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC are being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents. There are a total of 767 strongrooms across 22 districts. Over 30 people died after violence rocked West Bengal's rural polls on Saturday. There were also widespread incidents of ballot boxes being vandalised, ballot papers torched, and bombs thrown at rivals. Meanwhile, the elections are being viewed as a popularity test for TMC, amid allegations of corruption in connection with the teachers recruitment scam. While Mamata Banerjee and TMC have expressed confidence in dominating the rural polls, BJP is also confident of making huge gains. The election results will also be indicative of the BJP's chances in the state ahead of the next years Lok Sabha elections. BJP is the principal opposition party in the state. In the 2018 rural polls, the ruling TMC had emerged victorious in 90 per cent of the panchayat seats and all the 22 zilla parishads. During the elections, 34 per cent of the seats went to the TMC uncontested. However, the Opposition parties had fielded candidates in more than 90 per cent of seats, unlike in the 2018 rural polls. Fly-by-night Justice Minister Cho Kuk's children have given up their struggle against the consequences of forging their credentials for university admission. The disgraced politician's son Cho Won on Monday said he will voluntarily return his master's degree following years of controversy over using a forged internship certificate in an application to Yonsei University's graduate school in 2018. Cho junior submitted the certificate issued by lawmaker Choe Kang-wook, who was a lawyer at the time, to ensure him a place at the prestigious school. Choe was already given a suspended sentence for issuing a false certificate and is currently awaiting the Supreme Court's ruling on his appeal. "After careful consideration, Cho Won has decided to return his master's degree from Yonsei University due to controversy over the documents he submitted during his admission process," a spokesman for the family said. "He already notified the school." Cho Kuk's daughter Cho Min also said last week that she is withdrawing her lawsuits against Korea University and Pusan National University for stripping her of her medical degrees. But rumors in Minjoo Party circles say the ex-minister is preparing to run in next year's general election despite being found guilty of forging his children's credentials in the university admission process and underhand dealings. Cho Min had sued both Korea University and Pusan National University's medical school. She lost the lawsuit against PNU for stripping her of her medical degree at first instance and has now dropped her appeal. "I decided to drop the lawsuits after much consideration," she said. "If prosecutors decide to indict, I will faithfully face trial and humbly accept the result." Insiders say the sudden changes of heart may be a signal that Cho senior wants to make a show of contrition before running as a candidate in next year's general election. Others say he wants to keep his children from being indicted or facing further legal battle. Even if they are put on trial, jurors are more likely to be lenient if they have shown some remorse. The counting of votes for the West Bengal panchayat polls is under way amid tight security, a day after repolling was held in over 690 booths. According to early trends, TMC is leading in 3,068 gram panchayat seats in West Bengal while the BJP is a distant second with leads in 1,151 seats as of 12.30pm, State Election Commission officials said. Counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats is being held at 339 counting venues spread across 22 districts. The counting is expected to continue for two days, state election commission officials said on Tuesday. As violence marred the polls during the campaign period and on voting day on July 10, all the counting venues are being manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed. The Calcutta High Court had ordered central forces to remain in the state for 10 days after counting day ton Tuesday to ensure safety of elected members. At least 15 people were killed in the violence on voting day, while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers torched, and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. Of those killed, 11 were affiliated with the TMC, PTI reported. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose who has been actively involved in controlling poll violence in the state, visited counting centres in South 24 Parganas district to take stock of the situation. Tensions prevailed on Tuesday morning too, with reports of crude bombs being hurled outside a counting centre in Diamond Harbour. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted that 133 people who feared for their lives due to the poll violence in Bengal, have sought refuge in Assam's Dhibri district. In the 2018 rural polls, the ruling TMC had emerged victorious in 90 per cent of the panchayat seats. The elections were marred by widespread violence, with the opposition alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in several seats. In the 2018 polls, the TMC won unopposed in 34 seats. The collision of three weather systems and increased levels of global warming have led Northwest India drowned by an unprecedented deluge. Be it landslides and flash floods across Himachal Pradesh or Delhis heaviest monsoon in 40 years; meteorologists and climate scientists are unanimous that extreme weather events are here to stay. Mahesh Palawat, vice-president, Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather (the first private Indian company to provide weather forecasting services) said that the western disturbance over the western Himalayas, cyclonic circulation over the northwestern plains, and the axis of monsoon trough running across Indo-Gangetic Plains was responsible for the brutal rains. This alignment is not happening for the first time and is the usual pattern during the monsoon. However, global warming-led changes in monsoon patterns have made a difference. There has been a constant rise in both land and sea temperatures, which has increased the capacity of the air to hold moisture for a longer time, he said. Extreme weather events have been unceasing since the start of the year. In February, temperatures smashed a 123-year old record. In April and June, humid heat waves over east and central India were made 30 times more probable, while cyclone Biparjoy that lasted for 13 days in the Arabian Sea- the longest-duration since 1977. Raghu Murtugudde, Earth System Scientist and visiting professor at IIT-Mumbai said that other factors too were contributing to the unique events of 2023. El Nino has taken shape, which is amplifying global temperatures. Secondly, wildfires have been in three times larger areas, releasing three times of carbon into the atmosphere, and increasing greenhouse gases. Thirdly, North Atlantic Ocean is in a warmer phase. Fourth, the Arabian Sea has warmed unexceptionally since January, infusing more moisture over North-Northwest India. And lastly, the upper-level circulation pattern is also unusual, which forces local surface circulations, bringing rains like the one we are witnessing across north and central India, he said. Krishnan Raghavan, Director of the Indian Institute of Tropical Metrology said that rising global surface and ocean temperatures were leading to more evaporation aggravating the rain. Indo-Gangetic plains have been receiving lots of moisture from the Bay of Bengal as well as from the Arabian Sea. This continuous supply of moisture feed to the weather systems leads to increased rains, which also results in extreme weather events, he said. Report after report has concluded that extreme weather conditions are the new normal. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned of a 20 per cent surge in extreme rainfall events in India. Another report by the Ministry of Earth Sciences concludes that monsoonal rainfall is projected to become more intense in future, and will affect larger areas. Greenhouse gas based warming, aerosols and increasing urbanization are only some of the causes for this. A new study has shed light on the remarkable decision-making abilities of honey bees. The remarkable decision-making abilities of honey bees not only deepen our understanding of these industrious insects but also pave the way for advancements in AI and robotics. Scientists from Macquarie University in Sydney and the University of Sheffield Researchers revealed how millions of years of evolution have finely tuned bees' brains, enabling them to make swift and accurate choices while minimising risks. By unlocking the secrets of nature's ingenuity, researchers hope to create autonomous machines capable of navigating complex environments with the speed and precision of their buzzing counterparts. Professor Andrew Barron, leading the study, emphasises the significance of decision-making, stating, "Animal lives are filled with decisions, and decision-making lies at the core of cognition." Despite having brains smaller than sesame seeds, honey bees outperform humans in making quick and precise decisions. Professor Barron further explains that replicating a bee's decision-making ability would necessitate the computational power of a supercomputer for a robot. The study published in the journal eLife enhances our understanding of insect cognition and also, provides valuable insights into the evolution of human intelligence and the design of cutting-edge robots. Currently, autonomous robots heavily rely on remote computing for their operations. Drones, for instance, lack inherent intelligence and require constant wireless communication with data centers. This technological approach, however, poses limitations for a drone's independent exploration, as exemplified by NASA's Mars rovers, which have covered a mere 75 kilometers over years of operation. The study highlights the crucial role of efficient decision-making for honey bees. To gather nectar while evading predators, bees must swiftly identify the most rewarding flowers. While airborne, they face aerial threats, while landing exposes them to potential predators, some of which cleverly camouflage themselves as flowers. In the experiment, researchers trained bees to recognize different-colored "flower disks." Blue flowers consistently offered sugar syrup, green flowers contained bitter quinine, and other colors occasionally held glucose. By observing over 40 hours of recorded video, the team tracked the bees' flight paths and timed their decision-making process. Dr. HaDi MaBouDi explains, "Confident that a flower held food, bees decided to land within an average of 0.6 seconds. If they were confident a flower had no food, they made a similarly quick decision." However, when uncertain, bees took longer (average of 1.4 seconds), and the time invested corresponded to the probability of the flower containing food. Using this data, the researchers constructed a computer model mirroring the bees' decision-making process. Remarkably, the structure of the model resembled the physical layout of a bee's brain. Professor James Marshall highlights the significance of the study, stating, "Our research demonstrates complex autonomous decision-making with minimal neural circuitry." He adds that the team is currently investigating how bees efficiently gather and analyze information. It is suspected that bees employ flight movements to enhance their visual system, enabling them to identify the most desirable flowers more effectively. The study suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) researchers can gain valuable insights from simple organisms like insects. Through millions of years of evolution, these creatures have developed highly efficient brains with remarkably low power requirements. Professor Marshall, who co-founded Opteran, a company focused on reverse-engineering insect brain algorithms for autonomous machines, believes that the future of AI in industry will draw inspiration from biology. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has green-lighted Sweden's bid for NATO membership. "This is good for Sweden, Sweden will become a full member of the alliance. It's good for Turkey because Turkey is a NATO ally that will benefit from a stronger NATO. And then, of course, it's good for the whole alliance," Stoltenberg said. The development comes after months of difficult talks and delays. Erdogan gave the green light at the NATO summit in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Erdogan had blocked Sweden's bid for NATO membership and had accused it of supporting Kurdish separatism. Last year, Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership abandoning their decades-long policies of military non-alignment, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Welcoming the development, US President Joe Biden said, "I welcome the statement issued by Turkiye, Sweden and the NATO Secretary General this evening." "I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkiye on enhancing defence and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area." Russia, so far hasn't commented on the development, but, when Finland had joined the alliance in April, The Kremlin said Russia would be forced to take "counter-measures." Russia's foreign ministry in a statement had said, "This is now a thing of the past. Finland has become one of the small members of (NATO) that doesn't decide anything, losing its special voice in international affairs. We are sure that history will judge this hasty step." Ahead of the NATO summit, Turkey's Erdogan had stated that if the EU opened membership talks for Turkey, it would support Sweden's bid to join NATO. Erdogan has been keen to join the European Union for long now. EU member nations, however, aren't keen on letting such a large nation with a questionable human rights record join. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said, "From the Swedish side we continue to advocate closer cooperation between the Union and Turkey." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected Erdogans attempt to link Turkeys EU membership aspirations to Swedens application to join NATO. Thats a question that is not related to the other issue, and therefore I think this should not be seen as a related matter, Scholz said in Berlin. Erdogan, by letting go of its veto over letting Sweden into NATO, might be hoping that Sweden would in turn push for Turkey's inclusion in the EU. Turkey is a candidate to join the EU, but democratic backsliding during Erdogan's presidency, disputes with EU-member Cyprus and other issues have held up the country's progress toward admission in the 27-nation bloc. Turkey had also accused Sweden of supporting the Kurdish movement. Erdogan's government had, in the past, mentioned that Stockholm needs to do more to crack down on Kurdish militants and other groups that Ankara consider threats to its national security. On a call with the US President on Sunday, Erdogan said, Sweden has taken some steps in the right direction. The Swedish foreign minister, Tobias Billstrom, said on Monday, No one disputes that Sweden has done what we were also expected to do, in accordance with this memorandum, including taking measures that now lead to people who have been active in the PKK (the Kurdish worker's party) being punished in Swedish courts, the Guardian reported. On July 6, a Swedish court convicted a member of the PKK and the country extradited a PKK supporter to Turkey. Erdogan's green-lighting Sweden's NATO membership could be viewed as him trying to soften some of Turkeys many international disputes. Erdogan had told AP on Monday, Turkiye has been waiting at the door of the European Union for over 50 years now, and almost all of the NATO member countries are now members of the European Union. I am making this call to these countries that have kept Turkiye waiting at the gates of the European Union for more than 50 years. Then there's the Turkish demand to buy F-16 jets from the US- a move seen as being incompatible with Turkey's membership in NATO. Biden has said he supports the F-16s being sold to Turkey, a possible carrot for Turkish approval of Swedens membership. Greece seeks a guarantee that the F-16 jets will not be used against Athens as part of an ongoing maritime waters dispute in the Aegean Sea. Turkey has played an important role in the Russia-Ukraine war, as a NATO leader with influence in Moscow. Erdogan helped broker and keep alive, last year's Black Sea Grain Initiative, which enables Ukraine to export agricultural products from its ports, BBC reported. All in all, it looks like Sweden's inclusion in NATO is a win-win situation for all involved. A gym furnished with equipment by American company Hoist, a full cosmetology centre with a high-end massage table and beauty equipment and a Turkish steam bath; leaked photographs and documents offer a glimpse into the luxurious train used by Russian President Vladimir Putin to traverse the country. Though Putin, who reportedly switched to train travel for security reasons, has been photographed holding meetings in huge boardrooms in his train, the details of the 20-car locomotive have been a closely guarded secret. The documents and photographs, offering a glimpse into the 'ghost train', were obtained exclusively by the London-based Russian investigations group the Dossier Center and shared with a few media houses. According to the Dossier Center, the leaked documents came from an insider at Zircon Service, a Russian company tasked by Russian Railways with renovating the train cars. The documents throw light on car number 021-78630 of the train which, according to the brochure by Zircon, houses a luxurious gym and spa. The work on the car was finished in 2018 though the gym was outfitted with Technogym weights and resistance equipment then. It was then replaced by Hoist machines. Footage of #Putin's armored train worth 6.8 billion rubles appeared. It has a gym, medical equipment including a ventilator, a hammam, a beautician's office, several carriages, dining cars, security and service cars, and much more. pic.twitter.com/dET7raTZDD NEXTA (@nexta_tv) July 6, 2023 Gleb Karakulov, a former engineer and caption in the Federal Security Service, told Dossier Center that Putin has increasingly turned to train travel as a way to avoid being tracked. Karakulov, who defected from Russia, added that he first began working on the train, installing communications equipment, around 2014. "It came into much more frequent use in the second half of 2021, as Russia was gearing up for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine," CNN quoted him. Since the war began, the ghost train has been spotted parked near Valdai, a remote Russian region between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Putin is known to maintain a large residence in the area. He added that the ghost train had FSO staffers who are in quarantine specifically for this special train. "Since the beginning of the war, guys said that they left somewhere in the direction of Valdai for 40 or even 45 days. Maybe there will be no train departure on a particular watch, but people are always ready," Karakulov told Dossier Center. While the production costs for the train amounted to $74 million, the annual upkeep cost $ 15.8 million, according to the Dossier Center. Besides a movie theatre and cars filled with communications systems, the train is also heavily armoured and has bulletproof doors and windows. The rooms are also outfitted to help prevent the use of listening devices. Interestingly, Putin's ghost train could barely evade the eyes of trainspotters. A lot of amateur trainspotters have posted images of the train online. "There is a ghost train on the railways of our country," one trainspotter wrote alongside an image of what appears to be Putins train he posted on rutrain.com. "It is not in the timetables or in the Russian Railways systems." One feature that helped identify the train is its locomotives and a characteristic white dome which contains advanced communications antennae. A private helicopter with six people aboard went missing near the Mount Everest area in Nepal on Tuesday. According to officials, the Manang Air NA-MV chopper took off from Surke airport in Solukhumbu. There were five Mexican nationals in the helicopter, said officials. The chopper was en route to Kathmandu from Solukhumbu and got disconnected with the control tower at around 10 in the morning, said Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The helicopter got off the radar at 10:12 AM (Local Time). Total persons on board: 6 (5 passengers + 1 captain). Altitude Air helicopter departed from Kathmandu for search and rescue," tweeted Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV (AS 50) which departed from Surke (Solukhumbu) to Kathmandu at 10:05 local time is out of contact. Total persons on board: 6 (5 passengers + 1 captain). Altitude Air helicopter departed from Kathmandu for search and rescue. Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (@hello_CAANepal) July 11, 2023 According to police search team found the wreckage of missing helicopter and five bodies were recovered. The helicopter has been found at the border of Likhu PK village council and Dudhkunda Municipality-2 commonly called Lamajura Danda. The villagers have retrieved the five bodies, Koshi Province Police DIG Rajeshnath Bastola tells ANI. As per the police, the helicopter seems to have hit a tree on the hilltop. However, the exact reason of the crash is yet to be known. Identities of the retrieved bodies are yet to be ascertained, Bastola added. The helicopter crashed in the Lamjura area of Likhupike rural municipality. The rescue operations are underway, said officials. The locals in the area informed the officials that a loud explosion was heard and fire was seen at the crash site. "The locals discovered the crashed helicopter at Chihandanda," rural muncipality deputy chair Nwang Lhakpa was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post newspaper. Though two helicopters were sent to locate the crash site, it had return due to bad weather. The bodies of five of the six people on board the helicopter were found at the crash site, reported MyRepublica news portal. Earlier, TIA spokesperson Teknath Sitaula told the news website, "It has been reported that the helicopter of Manang Air is out of contact, there is no contact with the tower when it reached the Lamjura pass, it was reported that the helicopter only received a 'hello' message on Viber, the search is underway. Pakistan's top election body on Tuesday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former prime minister Imran Khan in a case of contempt. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry for the same offence. The ECP had initiated contempt proceedings last year against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Khan and former party leaders Chaudhry and Asad Umar for allegedly using intemperate language against the electoral watchdog and its head, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The arrest warrant order against Khan and Chaudhry was passed by a four-member ECP bench headed by member Nisar Durrani after the two PTI leaders failed to appear before it on Tuesday despite several warnings. However, Umar was spared after his counsel told the ECP that his client had another case to attend and a medical appointment, requesting an exemption from appearance. The election commission accepted the request and directed the lawyer to submit a formal plea in this regard but it issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Khan and Chaudhry and adjourned the hearing till July 25. The ECP had asked the PTI leaders to appear in person or through their counsels to explain their position but instead, they challenged the ECP notices and contempt proceedings in higher courts. After lengthy proceedings, the Supreme Court in January allowed the ECP to continue proceedings against Khan, Chaudhry and Umar. Subsequently, the ECP decided to frame charges against them. Khan, 70, has been facing scores of cases in various courts after he was removed from power in April last year. Chaudhry, once a diehard supporter of Khan, quit PTI over the May 9 violence carried out by the party supporters. Violent protests sparked across the country on May 9 after PTI chief Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court. The government later launched a massive crackdown against the PTI leaders and workers and rounded up thousands of people on charges of attacking civil and military installations. Khans supporters vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commanders House, the Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad in response to Khans arrest. The mob also stormed the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the first time. Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khans party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said they value their allies but Ukraine deserves respect too following reports that NATO is unlikely to offer membership to the country at Vilnius summit. In a tweet, Zelenskyy said, We value our allies. We value our shared security. And we always appreciate an open conversation. Ukraine will be represented at the NATO summit in Vilnius. Because it is about respect. He added, But Ukraine also deserves respect. Now, on the way to Vilnius, we received signals that certain wording is being discussed without Ukraine. Its unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership. While at the same time vague wording about 'conditions' is added even for inviting Ukraine, Zelenskyy tweeted. Zelenskyy said it seems like NATO is not ready to invite or offer it membership in the alliance. It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to NATO nor to make it a member of the Alliance, he said. Zelenskyy warned that delay in offering Ukraine NATO membership is a motivation for Russia to continue its attack. A window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraine's membership in NATO in negotiations with Russia. And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror. Uncertainty is weakness, Zelenskyy said. On Monday, in his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said, The security reality here on NATO's eastern flank depends on Ukraine. Ukraine is de facto already in the Alliance. Our weapons are the weapons of the Alliance. Our values are what the Alliance believes in. Our defence is the very element of the formula of Europe that makes it united, free and peaceful. Vilnius must confirm all this. Kolkata, July 11 (PTI) Diversified conglomerate ITC Limited Tuesday said it is focussed on scaling up its FMCG business anchored on strong growth platforms and future ready portfolio. Categories characterised by low household penetration offer significant headroom for long-term growth, the company said in its annual report released on Tuesday. The company's addressable market expansion potential is amongst the highest in the Indian FMCG space. The annual report said that FMCG businesses continue to make strategic investments in building categories for the future. The company is pursuing 'value accretive' acquisition, joint venture and collaboration opportunities towards accelerating growth and value creation, it said. The FMCG business comprises branded packaged foods, personal care products, education and stationery products, incense sticks and safety matches. It generated a revenue of Rs 19,000 crore in the financial year 2022-23, representing an annual consumer spend of Rs 29,000 crore. Regarding the FMCG-cigarettes business, the company said after two years of disruptions due to the pandemic, the legal industry recovered during the last fiscal. Stability in taxes on cigarettes backed by deterrent actions by the enforcement agencies enabled the legal cigarette industry to partially claw back volumes from illicit trade, according to ITC. The company has over the years made significant investments in setting up state-of-the-art integrated consumer goods manufacturing and logistics facilities (ICML) in close proximity to large demand centers. ITC recently commissioned a new ICML at Khordha in Odisha, taking their total number to 11, the annual report said. The company has identified exports as a new growth vector. The FMCG business expanded its export footprint spanning over 60 countries, with the production linked incentive scheme providing filip to ITC's exports across biscuits, cakes, snacks, dairy and ready-to-eat categories. On hotels business, the report said ITC continues to leverage the 'asset-right' strategy with 120 properties and 11,500 rooms. The segment contributed around Rs 2585 crore in last fiscal with EBITDA at Rs 831 crore. ITC is also making interventions to combat climate change by promoting 'climate smart agriculture', the report said. The programme has benefitted over seven lakh farmers in 17 states. Green house gas emissions of select crops have been reduced by up to 66 per cent and net returns of farmers rose up to 90 per cent from 2016 to 2021. According to the ITC report, the company continues to make significant progress in improving the circularity of waste generated in operations. New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) Aviation regulator DGCA has given approval for the first flying training organisation in Tamil Nadu. The Flying Training Organisation (FTO) 'EKVI Air Training Organisation Pvt Ltd' is located in Salem, according to an official. The new FTO will provide aspiring pilots in the state with training opportunities as per the standards set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the official said on Tuesday. Now, there are 36 FTOs in the country. She has been played by Game of Thrones stars such as Emilia Clarke and Lena Headey, but for diehard fans of the Terminator saga, the real Sarah Connor will always be actress Linda Hamilton (Maryland, 66 years old). Hamilton is the soul of the pre-apocalyptic heroine, an undisguised Virgin Mary who is more furious than pious and instead of turning the other cheek, reloads the bazooka. The role earned her a permanent place in popular culture and could have made her a bigger star, but her path was strewn with addictions through which she sought to hide a permanent state of anger, sadness and dissatisfaction, and it took years before she received a bipolar disorder diagnosis. Once again, she is back in the limelight after being cast in Stranger Things. The series is a vessel for eighties nostalgia that has already revived the likes of Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Saw) and Robert Englund (Freddy Krugger in Nightmare on Elm Street). I was going to be a Shakespearean actress, but everything changed with Terminator, said Hamilton in an interview a few years back. Following an erratic youth spent trying to channel her energy through acting, she relocated to New York and studied with the prestigious Lee Strasberg, who taught Marlon Brando and James Dean. It was an acting school that provided no indication that her success would come from horror and science fiction productions. In 1984 she starred in two films that would place her on the map: the adaptation of Stephen Kings novel Children of the Corn and what initially seemed like a B-movie eccentricity from a young, unknown director named James Cameron, The Terminator. When she received the script about a waitress and a time traveler on the run from a merciless robot, she accepted it because she had no other offers on the table. However, Cameron had been so impressed with her audition that he modified the characters age from 19 to 27 to fit Hamiltons profile. She had minimal expectations for the project, the budget was shoestring, almost everyone involved was a rookie and the best-known face was that of a bodybuilder pretending to be an actor. Or at least thats what she thought of Schwarzenegger before she met him, according to her own account in the Arnold (2023) documentary: Because I was curious, I went over to say hello. When I saw the physicality and the stiffness and all of the things that he was implementing, I was like, OK, this might work. The shoot was strenuous, they worked day and night and Hamilton would spend much of her role either cowering or on the run. It was hard psychologically. When I finished filming, I was still dreaming about the Terminator. Against all odds, that low-budget film was a resounding success with critics and audiences alike. Linda left behind as co-stars flourish Yet while Camerons and Schwarzeneggers careers flourished, Hamilton failed to attract interesting offers. Her most successful role following The Terminator came in a television series, Beauty and the Beast (1987), a modern reinterpretation of the classic crime thriller (with Belle as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan) produced and co-written by George R.R. Martin. Hamilton and Ron Perlman made up one of Americas favorite TV couples until she left the series after becoming pregnant by her first husband, Re-Animator star Bruce Abbott. Linda Hamilton in Beauty and the Beast, district attorney by day, lover of a sensitive, cultured lion-man by night. This series aired on CBS between 1987 and 1990 and the guy underneath all that makeup is, who else, Ron Perlman. CBS Photo Archive (CBS via Getty Images) During that interval, she received an unexpected call. Seven years after the first film, James Cameron had decided to make a second part of The Terminator and wanted her to be involved. Hamilton set two conditions for her acceptance: the first was obviously that she needed to recover from her pregnancy; the second was that Sarah Connor should not be a damsel in distress, but a relentless fighter. I wrote it based on her instructions, admitted James Cameron. Sarah Connor shifted from running from danger to confronting it head on. At that time, Bruce Abbott had filed for divorce, and she saw the role as an opportunity to vent the pain she was going through. I just needed to get up on my feet and be strong and do nothing but mother my child and get ready for this film, Hamilton said. To give myself permission to be that powerful, strong woman was necessary for my survival. Despite criticism after the premiere focusing on the mastery of special effects that were unheard of at the time (it was then the most expensive production in the history of cinema), for many people, her portrayal of a mother tormented by an apocalyptic future became the centerpiece of the film. Linda Hamilton has received very little recognition over the years for the large part of the film that is based on her, wrote the film critic Justin Clark years later. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) was the years top-earning film and once again charmed the critics. Cameron suggested that Hamilton reinvent herself as a female Bruce Willis, but she was keen to do comedy. It didnt take long for her to realize that her profile was spooking the producers: They thought I was going to eat them alive, they didnt know what to do with me. She didnt make it easy on herself either. My answer to being that overnight success was to go and get pregnant with Jim [Cameron] and completely disappear. What timing! Hitting the iceberg The actress and director had fallen in love during the filming of the sequel, a love affair that overlapped with the collapse of the marriage between Cameron and fellow director Kathryn Bigelow. This proved to be a tumultuous relationship, fraught with arguments, until it ended when they collided into a giant iceberg: Titanic (1997). Following the previous pattern, the filmmaker fell in love with actress Suzy Amis, who played Gloria Stuarts granddaughter in the film. It was a brief but definitive role in Camerons private life and Hamilton was not caught by surprise: Work and women go hand in hand for Jimbo, and I should know. But she doesnt put their split down to that affair. Titanic was the most painful thing in the world. But this wasnt because Jim was cheating on me. Jim went off with Suzy because we were taking a break from each other and he was free to go with her. After the fling, Cameron and Hamilton got back together and married, but two years later the director returned to Amis and filed for divorce from his wife. The emotional seesaw of Hollywoods box-office king thrilled the tabloids. The separation made headlines and resulted in a record $50 million settlement for Hamilton. Linda Hamilton and James Cameron, in 1998, the night in which the latter equaled the record number of Oscars won by a film for the production that led to the end of their marriage: 'Titanic'. VINCE BUCCI (GETTY IMAGES) I was completely devastated for years, but Im so glad to be free of that. I would never, ever put that much energy again into something that is not working, she reflected in 2019, when she also acknowledged that she had not been in a relationship for several years. Ive been celibate for at least 15 years. One loses track, because it just doesnt matter. She says her relationship with Cameron failed because he fell in love with Sarah Connor, instead of with her. A cry echoing Rita Hayworths regret 50 years earlier: Men go to bed with Gilda, but wake up with me. The other reason, her mental health problems, also accounted for her struggles in redirecting an increasingly erratic career. I had depression since I was a child, but no one noticed it and even I didnt know what it was in those days. I just felt different, she told TV host Larry King in 2005. The death of her father when she was 5 years old was a bitter pill to swallow. She claimed that she had a happy childhood, but, at the same time, she experienced outbursts of unwarranted anger. When she entered high school, she became self-marginalized and began to binge eat. She first saw a psychologist at the age of 22 and thought acting would help her feel better, but the profession made it all worse. I really started to break down, she revealed to Oprah Winfrey. I turned to drugs. Alcohol use. I medicated with lots of cocaine in my early life. Anything that I could do to get my confidence up. It was these underlying problems that also led to the end of her first marriage to Bruce Abbott. He lived in fear of me. He left me saying I was a bully. For a year, she barely said a word to her then husband, locking herself in her room to read science fiction books. The call to work on The Terminator sequel came just when she felt she had lost control of her life and the experience helped her to deal with her addictions. It could not have been better timing for me to get up every morning and get out there and exercise and start to feel stronger and turn myself into this fighting machine. So of course, I went too far with the exercise. After the birth of her second child, she began having hallucinations. She experienced postpartum depression that was very much like a psychosis. I couldnt leave the house without images of them [her children] being chopped into bloody pieces. I had visions. More than a dozen nannies passed through her home, but Hamilton felt that she was the only one who could protect them. She wanted to isolate herself but, at the same time, she didnt want to leave her children alone. I had two small children and couldnt get up at night to put them to bed. That was the catalyst for her to accept that she needed more than just sport. After years of denial, she agreed to use medication. Its taken me a long time to get my life back. To be the person I was raised to be, she admitted. Linda Hamilton, in 'Terminator: Dark Fate' (2019), once again proving that no one carries a 'bakooza' as well as she does. Hamilton was not fond of fame or the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, and she traded Los Angeles for a ranch in Virginia where she relocated to take care of her mother and stepfather. When they passed away, she moved to New Orleans. Since her participation in Dantes Peak (1997), she was not involved in major productions for 20 years, confining her appearances to smaller projects or series such as Chuck (2007) and Weeds (2005). At this point, she received another unexpected call from James Cameron, who offered her the chance to play Sarah Connor again, but she was hesitant to accept. Its not that I was afraid to let the fans down, I was afraid to let Sarah Connor down. She went back to training in her late sixties. I put in 10 times the effort than in the second film, she said. She tried to make her body appear believable, but did not care about a face that reflected all of Connors suffering, much like that of Lindas. Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) proved not to be a huge success. Produced by James Cameron and directed by Tim Miller, who had major and public disagreements with the creator of the saga during the production process (he even called it a trauma), the sequel narratively omitted the existence of the three post-1991 releases with the aim of recapturing the spirit of the original two films. It was a far cry from being a match, but at least it did serve to demonstrate to audiences around the world that Linda Hamilton was still alive and kicking, and not just in a physical sense. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Indore, Jul 11 (PTI) A leading association of soybean processors on Tuesday estimated that the crop has been sown in about 90.50 lakh hectares in the country during the current kharif season. The organisation -- Indore-based Soybean Processors' Association of India (SOPA) -- believes soybean sowing this season might be slightly less than the last time due to the delay in the arrival of monsoon and the preference of farmers for other crops. SOPA said of the total 90.50 lakh hectares where soybean was sown till July 10, 42.66 lakh hectares was in Madhya Pradesh, the country's largest soybean producer, where the crop is popularly known as "yellow gold" among farmers. According to the latest data of the organisation, soybean has been sown in 30.8 lakh hectares in Maharashtra, 10.28 lakh hectares in Rajasthan, 2 lakh hectares in Karnataka, 1.85 lakh hectares in Gujarat, 1.65 lakh hectares in Telangana, 35,000 hectares in Chhattisgarh and 85,000 hectares in other states. SOPA Executive Director DN Pathak told PTI, "Monsoon has been delayed this time in soybean-growing areas, and a section of farmers shifted to rice, arhar and other pulse crops." He said the sowing of soybean in the country will end within a week and the sowing area might be slightly less than the last time. During the 2022 kharif season, soybean was sown in 114.50 lakh hectares across the country and the production was around 124 lakh tonnes, as per the data. The central government has fixed the minimum support price (MSP) of soybean for the 2023-24 season at Rs 4,600 per quintal, increasing it by Rs 300 per quintal in the previous season. New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) A parliamentary committee examining the issue of cyber security and rising incidents of cyber crimes has summoned officials of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Electronics and Information Technology Ministry later this month to seek their views. The panel has already quizzed representatives of several tech majors on the issue. The parliamentary committee on Finance headed by BJP's Jayant Sinha has called RBI and MeitY officials on July 20, the first day of the Monsoon session. On the same day, it also called representatives of Google India separately on the same issue. In its last meeting, the panel had summoned representatives of Punjab National Bank and tech majors Google, Apple and Paytm to hear them on cyber security and rising cases of cyber and white-collar crimes. The issue was at the centre of deliberations at a meeting of the panel held last month too as experts from the industry were quizzed by lawmakers about various facets of unlawful activities, including fraud loan applications. Cyber crimes have become an increasing threat with savvy online operators resorting to various tricks to defraud people of their money. New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) Larsen & Toubro on Tuesday said it has signed the Master Shipyard Repair Agreement with the US Navy to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries in the defence sector. L&T's Kattupalli Shipyard, near Chennai, a major node in the Southern Defence Corridor, has been undertaking voyage repairs of the Military Sealift Command vessels, the firm said in a statement. After an elaborate assessment by the US Navy and the Military Sealift Command, the shipyard qualified for the Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA). This is equivalent to undertaking warship refits, for which the shipyard has already been qualified by the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard, it said. L&T has signed the MSRA with the US Navy, the statement added. "This MSRA is yet another milestone in our ever-expanding US-India partnership. This historic agreement is a direct outcome of the 2022 US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and demonstrates US commitment to utilise repair facilities on a regular basis at the L&T shipyard in Kattupalli. "This agreement will serve to strengthen our two nations' strategic partnership and contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific," US Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin was quoted as saying in the statement. The agreement marks yet another step in the growing relationship between the biggest and the oldest democracies of the world, further strengthening the partnership between them in the defence sector, the statement said. "This agreement marks a global recognition of our unmatched capabilities and facilities to undertake quality ship repairs and refits...L&T will dedicate all its dynamism, innovation, and Shipbuilding 4.0 techniques to meet the quality and delivery requirements of the US side," A T Ramchandani, Executive Vice President and head of L&T Defence, said. USNS Salvor ship was received at Kattupalli Shipyard for voyage repairs. This is the third US ship coming to the shipyard for voyage repairs. Earlier, voyage repairs of Marine Sealift Command (MSC) Fleet Support Ships -- USNS Charles Drew and USNS Matthew Perry -- were undertaken and completed on time by the company, it added. L&T's Kattupalli Shipyard is one of the modern shipbuilding and ship repair facilities in this part of the world, the statement said. Washington, Jul 11 (AP) Bank of America must pay more than USD 100 million to customers for doubling up on some fees, withholding reward bonuses and opening accounts without customer consent. Bank of America will pay USD 90 million in penalties to its organisation and USD 60 million in penalties to the OCC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said on Tuesday. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency found the bank's double-dipping on fees was illegal. Bank of America, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves 68 million people and small business clients. The bank had USD 2.4 trillion in consolidated assets and USD 1.9 trillion in domestic deposits as of March 31, making it the second-largest bank in the US. Bank of America had a policy of charging customers USD 35 after the bank declined a transaction because the customer did not have enough funds in their account, the CFPB said. The agency determined that the bank double-dipped by allowing fees to be repeatedly charged for the same transaction. The bank said that it voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all non-sufficient fund fees in the first half of last year. Bank of America also offered people cash rewards and bonus points when signing up for a card, but the CFPB said the bank illegally withheld promised credit card account bonuses. Since at least 2012, Bank of America employees illegally applied for and enrolled consumers in credit card accounts without their knowledge or authorisation, the CFPB said. Wells Fargo has paid billions in fines after it was determined that the San Francisco bank opened millions of unauthorised bank accounts in order to meet unrealistic sales goals. Bank of America wrongfully withheld credit card rewards, double-dipped on fees, and opened accounts without consent," said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a prepared statement. These practices are illegal and undermine customer trust. In 2014 the CFPB ordered Bank of America to pay USD 727 million for illegal credit card practices. Last year it was ordered to pay a USD 10 million civil penalty over unlawful garnishments. Also in 2022, the CFPB and OCC fined Bank of America USD 225 million and required it to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in redress to consumers for botched disbursement of state unemployment benefits at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP) PY PY Dhaka, Jul 11 (PTI) Bangladesh and India on Tuesday launched a much-anticipated trade transaction in rupees, a move aimed at reducing dependence on the US dollar and strengthening regional currency and trade. This is the first time Bangladesh has done bilateral trade with a foreign country in addition to the US dollar. Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder described the start of trade settlement in rupees as the "first step in a great journey". "The trade position between India and Bangladesh has seen remarkable growth, with both countries benefiting from their economic cooperation," he said at the launching ceremony here, which was also attended by Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma. The central bank governor said the transaction costs during trade with India would reduce with the introduction of the Taka-Rupee dual currency card which was "almost ready (to be) launched from September". Bangladesh and India, however, stage frontier trading in certain areas called "border hut" in a semi-formal manner where both currencies are exchanged on a limited scale. Officials said under the formal arrangement from now on initially, the trade would be transacted in rupee and then gradually in Bangladeshi currency Taka upon the trade gap between the two countries decreasing. Banks in Bangladesh and India have been given permission to open nostro accounts, an account in a bank of another country for the purpose of foreign currency transactions. Officials said the exchange rate will be determined in line with market demand and banks involved in the process. According to the latest official data from Dhaka, exports from Bangladesh to India amount to USD 2 billion, while Bangladesh's imports from India are worth USD 13.69 billion. Several economists, however, said Bangladesh may not be able to reap the benefits of the new system very quickly because of the trade deficit. But Talukder said he was not just looking into this USD 2 billion export as when "we export and import in Indian rupees, it will have an effect on both countries exporters and importers". "We can increase our exports manifold, because customers in India will be buying things in their own currency, considering it as their own products...It will open a new window for us in a bigger way in this (Indian) market because India is a big market, Talukder said. The Indian envoy said India-Bangladesh relations transformed significantly over the last decade. "One of the most important manifestations of that transformation is our visibly growing economic and commercial ties and connectivity links," he said, adding Bangladesh is India's biggest trade partner in South Asia, and fifth largest globally. He noted in the last five years, bilateral trade has more than doubled. The country's exports to India have consistently crossed the one billion dollar mark consecutively over the last three years and crossed two billion dollars for the first time during the last fiscal. India, with its diverse market, has emerged as the top export destination for Bangladesh in Asia. Lucknow, Jul 11 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday approved two 'Obra D' thermal power projects of 800 MW each to be built at the cost of Rs 18,000 crore in Sonbhadra's Obra, a move aimed at providing cheaper electricity to the people of state. The 'Obra D' thermal power plants were approved in the Cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanah, an official statement issued here said. The projects will be executed by the government with a 50:50 partnership with central government-owned power generator NTPC. While 30 per cent equity will be given for the implementation of the projects, the rest 70 per cent of the amount will be arranged from financial institutions, the statement said. The 'Obra D' thermal power plants will be the first ever ultra super critical unit in the state. The plant will boast of state-of-the-art technology and high efficiency, with low consumption of coal, bringing down the cost of power generation, which will lead to slashing of electricity rates in UP, it said. The first unit will be ready in about 50 months, it said. Quoting Urban Development and Energy Minister A K Sharma, the release said, "During the Global Investors Summit, we had signed an agreement with NTPC to set up a thermal plant at Obra. Today, the project has been approved by the Council of Ministers. This plant will be built on about 500 acres of land and if further land is needed, arrangements will be made for that too." The energy minister also said that UP's current capacity in terms of thermal power generation stands at 7,000 MW and the two plants will contribute almost 25 per cent of the existing capacity. "We hope that this plant becomes an energy hub not only of the state, but of the entire country. The consumption of coal will be lower at the new plants because of use of advanced technologies while transportation cost of the coal will also drop significantly due to the close location of NCL coal mines," he said. "At present, we buy electricity at Rs 5.50 per unit, while from this plant we will be able to buy electricity at Rs.4.79 per unit. That is, we will be able to provide cheap electricity to consumers at Re 1 per unit," he added. Mumbai, Jul 11 (PTI) The shooting on the sequel of "Stree", starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor, started on Tuesday, the makers announced. Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee, and Aparshakti Khurana also star in the follow-up to the hit horror comedy, which was one of the most commercially-successful and critically-acclaimed films of 2018. Production house Maddock Films shared the update on its official Twitter page. "Ek baar phir Chanderi mein phaila aatank! 'Stree 2' filming begins! Aa rahi hai woh - August 2024!" the banner said in the post. "Stree 2", which sees Amar Kaushik return in the director's chair, promises to bring "an array of other fresh surprises," the makers said in a press release. Also backed by Jio Studios, the sequel is slated to be released next August. "Stree", the first film in the franchise, was set in the small town of Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, where an evil spirit named Stree abducts men in the night during festival season. Moscow, Jul 10 (AP) Mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin 's commanders pledged loyalty to the Russian government in a Kremlin meeting with President Vladimir Putin five days after they staged a short-lived rebellion, a senior government spokesman said Monday, the latest twist in a baffling episode that has raised questions about the power and influence both men wield. The three-hour meeting took place June 29 and also involved not only Prigozhin but commanders from his Wagner Group military contractor, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Putin gave an assessment of Wagner's actions on the battlefield in Ukraine where the mercenaries have fought alongside Russian troops and of the revolt itself. The commanders themselves presented their version of what happened. They underscored that they are staunch supporters and soldiers of the head of state and the commander-in-chief, and also said that they are ready to continue to fight for their homeland, Peskov said. The confirmation that Putin met face-to-face with Prigozhin, who led troops on a march to Moscow last month to demand a military leadership change, was extraordinary. Though the Russian leader branded Prigozhin a traitor as the revolt unfolded and vowed harsh punishment, the criminal case against the mercenary chief on rebellion charges was later dropped. Prigozhin has not commented on the Kremlin meeting, and his ultimate fate remains unclear, particularly since Monday's announcement shows much is negotiated behind closed doors. He could still face prosecution for financial wrongdoing or other charges. Monday's announcement came as Russia's Defense Ministry published a video featuring military chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov who was one of the targets of Prigozhin's rebellion. It was the first time Gerasimov has been seen since the revolt. The twin updates appeared to be another attempt by the Kremlin to show it's in control after a turbulent period, and to reflect Putin's delicate balance between condemning the biggest threat to his 23-year rule and the man behind it while not alienating a popular figure whose troops scored the biggest battlefield victory for Russia in the past year of the war. Former Putin speechwriter Abbas Gallyamov told The Associated Press that Putin acknowledges Prigozhin's patriotism and needs his forces on the front line, while Prigozhin needs Putin to ensure his freedom from prosecution. The two are negotiating as allies, with Prigozhin escaping punishment, Gallyamov said. Prigozhin emerged victorious from this rebellion, Gallyamov said in a Zoom interview from Tel Aviv. He has shown himself to be the master of the situation. Adding to the unusual nature of the meeting was that until very recently, Putin had denied any link between the state and Prigozhin's forces. Mercenaries are illegal in Russia, but Wagner troops have fought for Russian interests around the globe and played a vital role in the capture of Bakhmut in the war's longest and bloodiest battle. Putin has confirmed that Prigozhin's companies operated under government contracts. Throughout the war, Prigozhin has criticized decisions made by Russia's top military brass, leading to tensions with the Kremlin that culminated in the June 24 mutiny. The rebellion severely weakened Putin's authority, even though Prigozhin claimed the uprising was not aimed at the president but at removing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Gerasimov. Prigozhin called off his mutiny after a deal was brokered for him to go to Belarus. Mark Galeotti, an author who heads the consulting firm Mayak Intelligence, said the delicate dance with Prigozhin is a further compromise on Putin's part and reflects his unwillingness to take tough and ruthless personnel decisions. He is willing to see Ukrainians bombed by the dozen, but not confront any of the figures in his own circle, Galeotti wrote in The Spectator. Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, predicted that some Russian observers would be stunned by the turn of events. When you look from the point of view of Russian elite, it's ridiculous, she told the AP. It's just so unbelievable and just so shocking. Days after the revolt, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Prigozhin was in Belarus. But last week the president said the mercenary chief was in Russia while his troops remained in their camps. Peskov said that during the June 29 meeting, Putin offered an assessment of Wagner's actions on the battlefield in Ukraine and "of the events of June 24. The president also listened to the explanations of the commanders and offered them options for further employment and further use in combat, the Kremlin spokesman said. A total of 35 people took part in the meeting, Peskov said. Putin has given options to Prigozhin's fighters: fight as part of the regular Russian army, retire from service or join Prigozhin in Belarus. A NATO summit later this week in Lithuania is looking at how to crank up the pressure on Moscow after 16 months of war. In other developments, a Russian airstrike on a school in southern Ukraine killed four adults as people gathered to receive humanitarian aid, the governor of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region said Monday, branding the attack "a war crime. Three women and a man, all in their 40s, died in the strike Sunday in the town of Orikhiv, Gov. Yuriy Malashko said. A guided aerial bomb caused an explosion at the school, Malashko said, without providing evidence. Eleven other people were wounded in the attack, he said. Overall, Russia fired on 10 settlements in the province over the course of a day, he said. Moscow denies it targets civilian locations. Russia has been accused numerous times of doing so and committing other war crimes since the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022. In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Investigations are also underway in Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, located in The Hague, is helping with those probes. Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive to regain occupied land, and on Monday, the deputy defense minister, Hanna Maliar, reported progress. She said the country's fighters had reclaimed 10.2 square kilometers (3.9 square miles) of territory in the south and four square kilometers (1.5 square miles) in the east in the past week. The gains, she said on Telegram, included the commanding heights of Bakhmut, where Prigozhin's forces declared control of the city in May. None of the claims could be independently verified. (AP) AMS Jakarta, Jul 11 (AP) Indonesia's top diplomat warned on Tuesday of the threat posed by nuclear weapons, saying that Southeast Asia is one miscalculation away from apocalypse and pressing for world powers to sign a treaty to keep the region free from such arms. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi raised the alarm ahead of a two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations starting later on Tuesday in Jakarta. The agenda will spotlight Myanmar's deadly civil strife, continuing tensions in the South China Sea and efforts to fortify regional economies amid the global headwinds set off by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Later in the week, the 10-nation bloc will meet Asian and Western counterparts, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese foreign policy overseer Wang Yi. The US-China rivalry is not formally on ASEAN's agenda but looms large over the meetings of the bloc, an often-unwieldy collective of democracies, autocracies and monarchies, with some members split over allegiances either to Washington or Beijing. We cannot be truly safe with nuclear weapons in our region, Marsudi told fellow ASEAN ministers. With nuclear weapons, we are only one miscalculation away from apocalypse and global catastrophe. In 1995, ASEAN states signed a treaty that declared Southeast Asia's commitment to be a nuclear weapon-free zone, one of five in the world. However, Marsudi lamented that none of the world's leading nuclear powers have signed on to the pact and called for renewed efforts to convince those states to sign up. The threat is imminent, so we can no longer play a waiting game, she said. A draft communique expected on Wednesday mentions the possibility of a first nuclear weapons state finally signing the treaty but says that there would have to be written assurances that the treaty was being ratified "without reservations. A copy of the draft was obtained by The Associated Press. The communique did not identify the prospective state. However, two Southeast Asian diplomats attending the Jakarta meetings told the AP it was China. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the issue publicly. Meanwhile, Myanmar's generals have again been banned from attending the ASEAN summit for refusing to ease a deadly civil strife sparked by the military's seizure of power more than two years ago. ASEAN has been under international pressure to address the crisis in Myanmar since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and plunged the country into deadly chaos. More than 3,750 civilians, including pro-democracy activists, have been killed by security forces and nearly 24,000 arrested since the military takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group that keeps tallies of arrests and casualties. Myanmar's military government has largely ignored a plan by ASEAN heads of state that includes an immediate end to the violence, prompting the bloc to take an unprecedented step and bar Myanmar's military leaders from its top-level gatherings, including the foreign ministerial meetings. The generals responded by accusing the ASEAN of violating the bloc's bedrock principles of non-intervention in each other's domestic affairs. With the Myanmar crisis dragging on, ASEAN members appear divided over how to proceed, with Thailand recommending easing punitive actions aimed at isolating Myanmar's generals and inviting its military-appointed top diplomat and officials back to high-profile meetings. Since assuming ASEAN's rotating chairmanship this year, Indonesia has initiated some 110 meetings with groups in Myanmar and provided humanitarian aid to build trust, Marsudi said. At the summit, ASEAN foreign ministers are expected to renew a call for self-restraint in activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, according to the draft communique, repeating language used in previous statements that does not name China. ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have been embroiled in long-simmering territorial conflicts with China and Taiwan for decades. ASEAN and China have been negotiating a non-aggression pact that aims to prevent an escalation of the disputes, but the talks have faced years of delay. The disputed waters have emerged as a delicate front in the rivalry between China and the United States. Washington has challenged Beijing's expansive territorial claims and regularly deploys warships and fighter jets in what it calls freedom of navigation and overflight patrols that have infuriated China. (AP) PY PY Beijing, Jul 11 (AP) The Solomon Islands has signed an agreement to boost cooperation with China on law enforcement and security matters, in a move likely to raise concerns among the South Pacific island's traditional partners including Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The agreement, details of which were not immediately released, was contained in a joint statement made public Tuesday following a meeting Monday in Beijing between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. As part of efforts to build a comprehensive strategic partnership" the sides agreed to: Enhance cooperation on law enforcement and security matters. The Chinese side will continue to provide support and help to Solomon Islands as needed in strengthening Solomon Islands' police law enforcement capacity. Located 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Australia, Solomon Islands has been China's biggest success in a campaign to expand its presence in the South Pacific. Sogavare's government switched official recognition in 2019 to Beijing from Taiwan, the self-governed island democracy China claims as part of its territory. The Solomon Islands signed a secretive security agreement with Beijing in 2022 that might have allowed Chinese military forces in the South Pacific. However, Sogavare rejected suggestions his government might give Beijing a military foothold in the region. The nearby island nation of Kiribati also switched official relations to Beijing in 2019. China has already provided the Solomons with police training and donated replica guns and riot-control equipment such as water cannon vehicles. A country of 700,000 people made up of six major islands and some 900 smaller ones, the Solomons has seen periods of ethnic tension, during which Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific island nations have committed forces to help restore order. In the wake of Sogavare's warming relationship with Beijing, the U.S. has committed to reopen an American Embassy in the capital Honiara and it and its allies have increased their engagement with the region as a whole. Biden convened a summit of Pacific Island leaders in September to unveil a strategy that included cooperation in climate change, maritime security and preventing overfishing. His administration has also promised USD 810 million in new aid for Pacific Island nations over the next decade, including USD 130 million to address the effects of climate change. Sogavare also met with president and head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping on Monday, and the joint statement included a reference to high-quality cooperation under Xi's signature "Belt and Road" blueprint that aims to build ports, highways, power stations and other infrastructure financed by Chinese loans. The infrastructure project has produced tangible, but not always practical, results for countries lacking other forms of financing and has left many recipients in deep debt to China with little sign of relief. Solomon Islands has already secured a USD 66 million loan from the government's Exim Bank of China to erect 161 mobile towers built and run by Chinese communications giant Huawei. In 2018, the Solomons awarded Huawei a contract for an underwater telecom cable network, jointly funded by Australia. China is also building facilities for the islands to host the 2023 Pacific Island Games. Sogavare has often signed those deals against strong internal opposition and has secured his position by delaying elections in what his opponents have called a power grab. In the joint statement, Solomon Islands declared it opposed Taiwanese independence and supported China's positions on Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet and other areas where China is criticised for alleged human rights violations. The statement also urged countries to "prudently handle issues such as the discharge of nuclear contaminated water and cooperation on nuclear submarine. That was a reference to Japan's plan to release treated but still slightly radioactive wastewater into the sea that China has strongly criticised, as well as the Biden administration agreement given the acronym AUKUS with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines in response to China's moving rapidly to expand its military. (AP) MRJ MRJ 10 July 2023, Lithuania, Vilnius: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg looks on as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shakes hands with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, prior to their meeting ahead of a NATO summit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday introduced a new condition for approving Swedens membership in NATO, calling on European countries to open the way for Turkey to join the European Union. The surprise announcement by Erdogan before departing for a NATO summit in Lithuanias capital added new uncertainty to Swedens bid to become the alliances 32nd member, which Turkey initially blocked by saying Sweden was too soft on Kurdish militants and other groups that Ankara considers security threats. It was the first time that Erdogan linked his countrys ambition to join the EU with Swedens efforts to become a NATO member. Turkey has been waiting at the door of the European Union for over 50 years now, and almost all of the NATO member countries are now members of the European Union, Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. I am making this call to these countries that have kept Turkey waiting at the gates of the European Union for more than 50 years. Come and open the way for Turkeys membership in the European Union. When you pave the way for Turkey, well pave the way for Sweden as we did for Finland, he added. Earlier, Erdogans office said he told U.S. President Joe Biden during a telephone call Sunday that Turkey wanted a clear and strong message of support for Turkeys EU ambitions from the NATO leaders. The White House readout of the Biden-Erdogan call did not mention the issue of Turkish EU membership. Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson met later Monday after they arrived in Vilnius, where NATO leaders will meet over the next two days to discuss a host of issues including NATOs future relations with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky will join them in person on Wednesday. Erdogan was also due to meet EU Council President Charles Michel late Monday. Asked about Erdogans comments, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he supports Turkeys ambition to join the EU but noted that it wasnt among the conditions listed in an agreement that Sweden, Finland and Turkey signed at last years NATO summit in Madrid. Stoltenberg reiterated that Sweden had met those conditions and said he thinks it is still possible to have a positive decision on the countrys pending membership during this summit. EU Commission spokesperson Dana Spinant said that you cannot link the two processes in regards to Turkey. Turkey is a candidate to join the EU, but democratic backsliding during Erdogans presidency, disputes with EU-member Cyprus and other issues have held up the countrys progress toward admission in the 27-nation bloc. However, as a member of NATO, Erdogans government has postponed ratifying Swedens accession to the alliance, saying the administration in Stockholm needs to do more to crack down on Kurdish militants and other groups. A series of anti-Turkey and anti-Islam protests in Swedens capital raised doubts that an agreement to satisfy Turkeys demands could be reached before the NATO summit. Turkeys delays on Swedens accession have irritated other NATO allies including the United States. Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, confirmed Sunday that Biden and Erdogan had spoken about Swedens NATO membership among other issues and had agreed to meet in Vilnius for further talks. Sullivan said the White House is confident Sweden will join the alliance. If it happens after Vilnius were confident it will happen, he said. We dont regard this as something that is fundamentally in doubt. This is a matter of timing. The sooner the better. Erdogans latest comments stunned seasoned Turkey analysts. Erdogan has introduced new demands and moved the target repeatedly throughout this process, but trying to put pressure on the EU over a NATO matter is rather spectacular, said Paul Levin, director of the Institute for Turkish Studies at Stockholm University. However, I think that we should interpret his remarks with caution for now. They could signal everything from setting the stage for a face-saving OK to Sweden, to an attempt to sabotage the NATO enlargement process by raising impossible demands, Levin added. What can be said is that if he were to actually condition Swedish NATO accession on a reboot of the Turkish EU accession process, then Sweden is unlikely to become a NATO ally any time soon. Before Erdogans comments, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom expressed optimism that Turkey would drop its objections. What we are counting on, of course, is to reach a point where we get a message back from President Erdogan that there will be what you might call a green light ... a message that the ratification process in the Turkish Parliament can start, Billstrom told Swedish broadcaster SVT. He insisted Sweden has fulfilled its part of the deal with Finland and Turkey, which included lifting arms embargoes on Turkey, tightening anti-terror laws and stepping up efforts to prevent the activities of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has waged an insurgency in Turkey since the 1980s. We should consider it as a settled question in the sense that it is not a question of if. In connection with the NATO summit in Madrid last year, Turkey already gave Sweden status as an invitee to NATO. It is therefore a question of when, he said. Billstrom said he expected Hungary, which also hasnt ratified Swedens accession, to do so before Turkey. Previously non-aligned Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership last year following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Finland joined in April following Turkish ratification. Another key issue in Vilnius will be how to bring Ukraine closer to NATO without actually joining, and security guarantees Kyiv might need to ensure that Russia doesnt invade again after the war ends. Stoltenberg said the most important thing was to continue to support Ukraines efforts to resist the Russian invasion. Unless Ukraine prevails there is no membership issue to discuss at all, he said. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Islamabad, Jul 11 (PTI) Pakistan's top election body on Tuesday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former prime minister Imran Khan in a case of contempt. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry for the same offence. The ECP had initiated contempt proceedings last year against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Khan and former party leaders Chaudhry and Asad Umar for allegedly using intemperate language against the electoral watchdog and its head, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The arrest warrant order against Khan and Chaudhry was passed by a four-member ECP bench headed by member Nisar Durrani after the two PTI leaders failed to appear before it on Tuesday despite several warnings. However, Umar was spared after his counsel told the ECP that his client had another case to attend and a medical appointment, requesting an exemption from appearance. The election commission accepted the request and directed the lawyer to submit a formal plea in this regard but it issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Khan and Chaudhry and adjourned the hearing till July 25. The ECP had asked the PTI leaders to appear in person or through their counsels to explain their position but instead, they challenged the ECP notices and contempt proceedings in higher courts. After lengthy proceedings, the Supreme Court in January allowed the ECP to continue proceedings against Khan, Chaudhry and Umar. Subsequently, the ECP decided to frame charges against them. Khan, 70, has been facing scores of cases in various courts after he was removed from power in April last year. Chaudhry, once a diehard supporter of Khan, quit PTI over the May 9 violence carried out by the party supporters. Violent protests sparked across the country on May 9 after PTI chief Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court. The government later launched a massive crackdown against the PTI leaders and workers and rounded up thousands of people on charges of attacking civil and military installations. Khans supporters vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commanders House, the Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad in response to Khans arrest. The mob also stormed the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the first time. Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khans party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel. Brussels, Jul 11 (AP) Protesters and legislators converged on the European Union parliament on Tuesday as the bloc prepared a cliffhanger vote on protecting its threatened nature and shielding it from disruptive environmental change, in a test of the EU's global climate credentials. Spurred on by climate activist Greta Thunberg, a few hundred demonstrators demanded that the EU pushes through a bill to beef up the restoration of nature in the 27-nation bloc that was damaged during decades of industrial expansion. A counter-demonstration of farmers demanded a slower approach that would lessen the impact on their income. Inside the legislature in Strasbourg, France, parliamentarians put in last-minute efforts to sway Wednesday's vote, which could push a key part of the EU's biodiversity protection plans off the table. The legislature's environment committee last month was deadlocked at 44-44 on it. The bill is a key part of the EU's vaunted European Green Deal that seeks to establish the world's most ambitious climate and biodiversity targets and make the bloc the global point of reference on all climate issues. The plans proposed by the EU's executive commission set binding restoration targets for specific habitats and species, with the aim by 2030 to cover at least 20 per cent of the region's land and sea areas. This is really a crunch moment, not only for Green Deal, but also whether Europe stands by its word," said Greens leader Terry Reintke. Are we the ones that are talking and telling us what to do but not doing it ourselves?" The EU's executive commission wants the nature restoration law to be a key part of the system since it is necessary for the overall deal to have the maximum impact. Others say that if the EU fails on the nature restoration law, it would indicate an overall fatigue on climate issues. The bill long looked like a shoo-in as it gathered widespread support in member nations and was staunchly defended by the EU's executive commission and its president Ursula von der Leyen. But von der Leyen's own political group, the Christian Democrat European People's Party, turned sour on it and now vehemently opposes it, claiming it will affect food security and undermine the income of farmers and disgruntle a European population focused more on jobs and their wallets. Like some nations and leaders, they want to hit pause such far-reaching climate legislation. For the next five years we have to care a lot about our industrial base. You have to care a lot about competitiveness in the European Union. So we have to manage the big changes needed in a way that we don't lose economic power, said EPP chief Manfred Weber. As the largest group, with 177 seats in the 705-seat legislature, its opposition has been key in turning the issue into a hot political debate. And on Tuesday few ventured to predict which way the vote would go. The member states have already agreed by a large majority to back a slightly more flexible version of the bill. If parliament backs the plan on Wednesday both institutions would sit down to broker a final layout in the second half of the year. The commission has said there is no reason to reject the plan now as too rigid, since there is still time for compromises on many of the issues. EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said the commission would show "openness to revisit and improve certain provisions and to enhance clarity, making sure the proposal reflects the current reality. If parliament rejects the plan Wednesday, it would be sent back to the drawing board and it's unlikely anything would emerge ahead of the June EU parliament elections next year. And that would undermine the EU's credibility abroad since it has put so much into its vaunted Green Deal. This law is nothing less than the flagship initiative of the European Green Deal," Sinkevicius said. The Green Deal includes a wide range of measures, from reducing energy consumption to sharply cutting transportation emissions and reforming the EU's trading system for greenhouse gases. Beyond environmental protesters, hundreds of international scientists and even a large group of multi-nationals have called for the adoption of the EU's nature restoration law. (AP) PY PY Lahore, Jul 11 (PTI) A Lahore court on Tuesday granted bail to Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, the President of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, in a money laundering case filed by the country's top anti-corruption agency against him. Judge Aslam Gondal of the Banking Offenses Court issued the order over the bail application of the former Punjab chief minister, who had been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for alleged money laundering, Geo News reported. The court ordered Elahi, a close aide to former prime minister Imran Khan, to submit a surety bond of Rs 500,000 against the bail. The FIA had booked the 77-year-old veteran leader and his son on charges of money laundering and suspicious transactions on June 20. He was taken into custody the next day and was subsequently sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand. Judge Gondal questioned the FIA for adopting a non-cooperative attitude after the probe agency failed to submit the record despite the court order. On May 26, a district court in Lahore issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Elahi. Elahi was initially arrested on June 1 in a graft case, amid a crackdown on Khan's party in the wake of May 9 protests. He was rearrested multiple times after this in different cases, including the two money laundering cases. During the hearing of his bail plea in the LHC, Elahi had requested the court to grant him bail like Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Elahi, who was a close aide to military dictator General Pervez Musharraf, was appointed as the president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in March this year after quitting his former party - the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Imran Khan by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad. His party workers vandalised over 20 military installations and government buildings, including the Lahore Corps Commander House, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Khan was later released on bail. The violence elicited a strong reaction from the government and military with vows of taking action against the culprits, leading to an ongoing crackdown against those involved. Vilnius, Jul 11 (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says it's absurd that no timetable has been laid out for his country to be invited to join NATO or become a member one day. Zelenskyy said on Twitter that he plans to discuss NATO's uncertainty over Ukraine's possible membership during the alliance's summit in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital. He says the Ukrainian delegation to the summit starting Tuesday had received signals that certain wording" under discussion deals with the prospect of NATO inviting Ukraine to become a member, "not about Ukraine's membership. Zelenskyy called it "unprecedented and absurd that a time frame hasn't been set, either for an invitation or Ukrainian membership. It seems there is no readiness either to invite Ukraine to NATO or to make it a member of the alliance, the president said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he wants NATO to show demonstrable progress at the summit on Ukraine's membership. "I've always said that Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO," Sunak told reporters during his flight to Vilnius. _ France will deliver deep-strike missiles as part of increased efforts to help Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces, French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday. France has been weighing whether to send Scalp missiles to Ukraine. They are the French counterpart of Britain's Storm Shadow missiles, which the UK already sent to Ukraine. Macron said upon arriving at the NATO summit in Vilnius, We have decided to deliver new deep-strike missiles to Ukraine as part of beefed-up military support. The French leader did not specify which missiles, or say when or how many would be supplied. Macron said the decision was made in view of the situation and the counteroffensive being led by Ukraine against Russian forces. He said in May that the longer-range Scalp missiles could help the counteroffensive, which is in its early stages. _ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says the European Union's future relations with Turkey will reflect its status as an important partner, but he isn't elaborating on what that would entail. NATO officials said Monday that Turkey agreed to ratify Sweden's membership in the Western military alliance, removing one of the last major roadblocks to the Nordic country joining NATO. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan linked his country's support to Turkey's long-stalled bid to join the European Union. Scholz and others have rejected a connection. Speaking as he arrived Tuesday at the two-day NATO summit in Vilnius, Scholz called Turkey an important partner for us and said he would speak with Erdogan during the event. Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said it's important to keep seeking cooperation with Ankara. He said Erdogan's decision on Sweden shows that if one talks to Turkey, one finds solutions. We haven't already always had the easiest relations with Turkey, but we shouldn't turn our backs on Turkey, otherwise it will find other partners, Bettel said. (AP) SCY SCY Vilnius, Jul 11 (AP) US President Joe Biden on Tuesday hailed an agreement for Sweden to join NATO as more work remained to determine a path forward for Ukraine's future with the alliance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised as absurd the absence of a timetable for his country's entry. Biden described the summit as a historic moment and said the United States agreed with a proposal, yet to be released publicly, to outline a path for Ukraine's eventual membership. However, Zelenskyy, who was on his way to Vilnius to join the summit, expressed disappointment with how the negotiations were playing out. We value our allies, he wrote on Twitter but added that Ukraine also deserves respect. It's unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership, Zelensky said. He finished with, Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit. A public flash of anger from the Ukrainian leader, who has been hailed by the West as a hero for his leadership during the Russian invasion, could renew tensions in Vilnius just as they had begun to subside. On Monday evening, the night before the summit opened, Turkey withdrew its objections to Sweden joining the alliance, a step toward the unity that Western leaders have been eager to demonstrate in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The deal was reached after days of intensive meetings, and it's poised to expand the alliance's strength in Northern Europe. Rumors of the death of NATO's unity were greatly exaggerated," Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, told reporters triumphantly on Tuesday. According to a joint statement issued when the deal was announced, Erdogan will ask Turkey's parliament to approve Sweden joining NATO. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another holdout, is expected to take a similar step. The outcome is a victory for Biden as well, who has touted NATO's expansion as an example of how Russia's invasion of Ukraine has backfired on Moscow. Finland has already become the 31st member of the alliance, and Sweden is on deck to become the 32nd. Both Nordic countries were historically nonaligned until the war increased fears of Russian aggression. Because of the deal on Sweden's membership, "this summit is already historic before it has started, Stoltenberg said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that NATO's expansion is "one of the reasons that led to the current situation. "It looks like the Europeans don't understand their mistake, Peskov said. He warned against putting Ukraine on a fast track for NATO membership. Potentially it's very dangerous for the European security, it carries very big risks," Peskov said. Biden began Tuesday by meeting with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, where he emphasized his commitment to transatlantic cooperation. Nothing happens here that doesn't affect us, he told Nauseda. The White House said Nauseda presented Biden with the Order of Vytautas the Great, the highest award a Lithuanian president can bestow. Biden is the first US president to receive it. Biden and Erdogan were scheduled to meet Tuesday evening, and it was unclear how some of the Turkish president's other demands will be resolved. He has been seeking advanced American fighter jets and a path toward membership in the European Union. The White House has expressed support for both, but publicly insisted that the issues were not related to Sweden's membership in NATO. I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area, Biden said in a statement late Monday. The phrasing was a nod to Biden's commitment to help Turkey acquire new F-16 fighter jets, according to an administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly. The Biden administration has backed Turkey's desire to buy 40 new F-16s as well as modernisation kits from the US. It's a move some in Congress, most notably Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez have opposed over Turkey blocking NATO membership for Sweden, its human rights record and other concerns. In Washington, Menendez said he was continuing to have my reservations on providing the fighter aircraft to Turkey. If the Biden administration could show that Turkey wouldn't use the F-16s belligerently against other NATO members, particularly its neighbour Greece, and meet other conditions, then there may be a way forward, Menendez told reporters. NATO members are now focused on Ukraine's desire to join NATO. The Baltic states including Lithuania, which is hosting the event have pushed for a strong show of support and a clear pathway toward membership for Ukraine. The United States and Germany have resisted that, and Biden said last week that Ukraine wasn't ready to join. Members of NATO, he told CNN, need to meet all the qualifications, from democratisation to a whole range of other issues", a nod toward longstanding concerns about governance and corruption in Kyiv. In addition, some fear that bringing Ukraine into NATO would serve more as a provocation to Russia than as a deterrence against aggression. Stoltenberg wrote in Foreign Affairs on Monday that the alliance would upgrade our political ties by forming a NATO-Ukraine Council, which would be a platform for decisions and crisis consultation. Zelenskyy is scheduled to attend the summit on Wednesday and meet with Biden. NATO committed to eventual membership for Ukraine in 2008 under President George W. Bush, a goal Stoltenberg reiterated in Vilnius. He said NATO had agreed to forgo requiring a membership action plan" for Ukraine, but was not more specific. Ukraine is much closer to NATO so I think the time has come to reflect that in other NATO decisions, Stoltenberg said. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, said allies were debating the precise nature of Ukraine's pathway to membership. However, he promised that the summit would demonstrate how Russian President Vladimir Putin's hopes for fractures within NATO will be unfulfilled. He has been disappointed at every turn, Sullivan said. Vilnius will very much disappoint him. Biden is on a five-day trip to Europe, with the NATO summit as its centrepiece. The president spent Monday in the United Kingdom, meeting at Windsor Castle with King Charles III and in London with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. After the summit ends on Wednesday, Biden will travel to Helsinki to celebrate Finland's recent entry into NATO and meet with Nordic leaders. (AP) SCY SCY Vilnius, Jul 11 (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday blasted as absurd the absence of a timetable for his country's membership in NATO, injecting harsh criticism into a gathering of the alliance's leaders that was intended to showcase solidarity in the face of Russian aggression. The broadside from Zelenskyy could renew tensions at the summit shortly after it saw a burst of goodwill after Turkey agreed to advance Sweden's bid to join NATO. Allies hope to resolve the seesawing negotiations and leave Vilnius with a clear path forward for the alliance and its support for Ukraine. Officials have drafted a proposal, which has not been publicly released, on Ukraine's potential membership. US President Joe Biden expressed support during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, but Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter that he was not satisfied. We value our allies, he said but added that Ukraine also deserves respect. It's unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership, Zelenskyy said. He finished with, Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit. Zelenskyy is expected to meet with Biden and other NATO leaders on Wednesday. There have been sharp divisions within the alliance over Ukraine's desire to join NATO, which was promised back in 2008 even though few steps were taken toward that goal. Stoltenberg wrote in Foreign Affairs on Monday that the alliance would upgrade our political ties by forming a NATO-Ukraine Council, which would be a platform for decisions and crisis consultation. In addition, he said Tuesday that NATO would forgo requiring membership action plan for Ukraine, removing another hurdle. But that did not seem to alleviate Zelenskyy's concerns. In addition, the Baltic states including Lithuania, which is hosting the summit have pushed for a strong show of support and a clear pathway toward membership for Ukraine. However, the United States and Germany were urging caution. Biden said last week that Ukraine wasn't ready to join. Members of NATO, he told CNN, need to meet all the qualifications, from democratization to a whole range of other issues, a nod toward longstanding concerns about governance and corruption in Kyiv. In addition, some fear that bringing Ukraine into NATO would serve more as a provocation to Russia than as a deterrence against aggression. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, said allies were debating the precise nature of Ukraine's pathway to membership. However, he promised that the summit would demonstrate how Russian President Vladimir Putin's hopes for fractures within NATO will be unfulfilled. He has been disappointed at every turn, Sullivan said. Vilnius will very much disappoint him. The dispute over Ukraine stands in contrast to a hard-fought agreement to advance Sweden's membership. The deal was reached after days of intensive meetings, and it's poised to expand the alliance's strength in Northern Europe. Rumours of the death of NATO's unity were greatly exaggerated," Sullivan told reporters triumphantly on Tuesday. According to a joint statement issued when the deal was announced, Erdogan will ask Turkey's parliament to approve Sweden joining NATO. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another holdout, is expected to take a similar step. Hungary's foreign minister said Tuesday that his country's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership was now just a technical matter. Erdogan has not yet commented publicly. The outcome is a victory as well for Biden, as well, who has touted NATO's expansion as an example of how Russia's invasion of Ukraine has backfired on Moscow. Finland has already become the 31st member of the alliance, and Sweden is on deck to become the 32nd. Both Nordic countries were historically nonaligned until the war increased fears of Russian aggression. Because of the deal on Sweden's membership, "this summit is already historic before it has started, Stoltenberg said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that NATO's expansion is "one of the reasons that led to the current situation. "It looks like the Europeans don't understand their mistake, Peskov said. He warned against putting Ukraine on a fast track for NATO membership. Potentially it's very dangerous for the European security, it carries very big risks," Peskov said. Biden and Erdogan were scheduled to meet Tuesday evening, and it was unclear how some of the Turkish president's other demands will be resolved. He has been seeking advanced American fighter jets and a path toward membership in the European Union. The White House has expressed support for both, but publicly insisted that the issues were not related to Sweden's membership in NATO. I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defence and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area, Biden said in a statement late Monday. The phrasing was a nod to Biden's commitment to help Turkey acquire new F-16 fighter jets, according to an administration official who was not authorised to comment publicly. The Biden administration has backed Turkey's desire to buy 40 new F-16s as well as modernisation kits from the US. It's a move some in Congress, most notably Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez have opposed over Turkey blocking NATO membership for Sweden, its human rights record and other concerns. In Washington, Menendez said he was continuing to have my reservations on providing the fighter aircraft to Turkey. If the Biden administration could show that Turkey wouldn't use the F-16s belligerently against other NATO members, particularly its neighbour Greece, and meet other conditions, then there may be a way forward, Menendez told reporters. Biden is on a five-day trip to Europe, with the NATO summit as its centrepiece. The president spent Monday in the United Kingdom, meeting at Windsor Castle with King Charles III and in London with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He met Tuesday with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, emphasising his commitment to transatlantic cooperation, before he joined the NATO gathering. Nothing happens here that doesn't affect us, Biden told Nauseda. The White House said Nauseda presented Biden with the Order of Vytautas the Great, the highest award a Lithuanian president can bestow. Biden is the first US president to receive it. After the summit ends on Wednesday, Biden will travel to Helsinki. On Thursday, he'll celebrate Finland's recent entry into NATO and meet with Nordic leaders. (AP) SCY SCY London, Jul 11 (PTI) A first-of-its-kind celebration to mark the 76th year of Indias independence was hosted at the UK Parliament complex with cross-party support and the backing of the India (Trade and Investment) All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). British Indian think tank 1928 Institute organised a special roundtable entitled India and the Indo-Pacific bringing together the High Commissioners of India, Bangladesh, Australia, Canada, Nepal, among others, ahead of the reception in the River Room of the House of Lords on Monday evening. The keynote address was delivered by Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer, who reiterated the Labour Partys commitment to fostering closer India-UK ties. It does feel particularly special that I think this is the first time an event like this has taken place in Parliament, said Starmer. It's absolutely incredible to be here and to be making this milestone, and may there be many, many more as we go forward. India, of course, won its independence under the [Prime Minister Clement] Attlee government a good Labour government post war. Under my leadership, Labour will continue to build on the internationalist principles that underpinned that really important decision back then and work with India on the global stage, he said. The Labour leader reiterated a recent commitment he made during UK-India Week last month of leading a changed party that values the contributions of the Indian diaspora, stressing that a future labour government will stand up for the rights of British Indians and also pledged action against all forms of anti-India racism. From fighting pandemics to rebuilding and fighting climate change to fighting terrorism, the UK and India stand together, have worked together on those projects...The nature of the UK-India relationship that we would seek will be based on these principles: open-handed, respectful, forward-looking and aspirational, he added. Baroness Sandy Verma, President of the India (Trade and Investment) APPG, highlighted the significance of the event as a celebration of what has been achieved in the bilateral relationship since Indias independence. It is so crucial to have an APPG on India focused on trade and investment. The Indian government hosted us in April, when we had the first parliamentary delegation from the UK to India in six years...it should not have taken so long, we should be doing one every single year, said Lord Karan Bilimoria, co-chair of the APPG, who pointed to the lack of a major British trade delegation to India since Theresa May was the Prime Minister in November 2016 and called for one under the leadership of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Ministers from the Sunak-led government present at the event included Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston and Foreign Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan. The Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, spoke of the extraordinary opportunity presented by the India-UK partnership, which has everything going for it. "We essentially need to look at it as a forward-looking partnership. We often make the mistake, and I think it's a common feeling in both our cultures, of trying to navigate the way forward by looking back. It is a spectacularly good recipe for landing on one's face, the High Commissioner said. Doraiswami underscored the key pillars of building a strong bilateral partnership and pointed to the Indian diaspora as a model community in the UK as one such pillar that binds the countries together. Your success has been a source of pride to both countries, but it's also been an inspiration for what can be done through hard work, through family values, through the enabling environment of a system that has essentially allowed you to give your best. That has come not through ease, but through hard work, he said, addressing the strong diaspora gathering including Dr Jason Wouhra of Lioncroft wholesale business. The 1928 Institute, an Oxford University spin-out platform created to research and reflect the views of British Indians as the UKs largest ethnic minority group, said the event was an effort to commemorate the sacrifice of the generation of Indians who fought in the struggle for Indian independence. While this week marked the first celebration of its kind in the UK Parliament complex ahead of Independence Day on August 15, it is expected to become an annual event in the parliamentary calendar. Dhaka, Jul 11 (PTI) A top-level US delegation arrived here on Tuesday to discuss issues related to human rights, the Rohingya crisis, and the political situation in Bangladesh ahead of the January 2024 elections, an official said. The US State Department delegation led by Uzra Zeya, under-secretary for civilian security, democracy, and human rights, is on a three-day visit to the country as Dhaka's ties with Washington are going through a rough patch. She is accompanied by the assistant secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, and the deputy assistant administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Asia, Anjali Kaur. A Bangladesh foreign ministry official, familiar with the tour, said the delegation was likely to discuss future plans for more than a million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who are in camps in Bangladesh. Foreign Secretary Masud Momen earlier said Zeya was a relatively senior US official and her mandated area is quite wide. No official schedule of the delegations engagement was made available to the media yet but the US embassy officials said Zeya was likely to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The US embassy officials said the delegation was likely to hold talks with the law and home ministers, the premiers private sector and investment adviser, the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders, civil society figures, foreign ministry officials, and visit the Rohingya camps in southeastern Coxs Bazar. Over a million Muslim minority Rohingyas took makeshift refuge in the camps while the majority of them fled their home in neighbouring Myanmars Rakhine state in August 2017 to evade a brutal military crackdown, which the UN called a textbook example of ethnic cleansing. The delegation will go straight to Coxs Bazar early Wednesday to meet the Rohingya people while most of their other engagements will take place on Thursday in Dhaka, an embassy source said. The US delegation arrived nearly two months after Washington on May 25 imposed a new visa policy, particularly for Bangladesh, threatening sanctions and visa bans against officials if the US determined they were obstructing the democratic process for the 2024 elections. The US questioned human rights situation and political inclusiveness while last year it slapped a visa restriction on several current and former officials of the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on charges of alleged extra-judicial killings. Hasina sternly criticised the US gesture and in a recent press conference said she believed the US did not want her government to continue in power. She also hinted the US wanted military access to St. Martins Island in the Bay of Bengal, an allegation the US State Department quickly denied, saying they did not discuss taking over the offshore island and that Washington respects Bangladesh's sovereignty. In regard to the sanction, Hasina on June 21 said her country was not afraid of sanctions and that she instructed concerned authorities to stop buying anything from countries that impose sanctions on Bangladesh. The US sent the delegation at the time when a six-member European Union (EU) pre-election observation team, which is on a visit to Bangladesh, discussed on Tuesday in a meeting with Attorney General AM Amin Uddin the electoral laws in the country. "During the meeting, we discussed electoral laws in the country," Uddin told reporters following the hour-long meeting held at the attorney general's office in the Supreme Court complex where opposition pro-BNP lawyers staged a protest. He said the EU representatives wanted to know how the election-related Representation of the People Order (RPO) law and laws regarding criminal and civil rights were being implemented in Bangladesh and how useful these laws were in keeping the law and order situation normal during the elections. Witnesses said the pro-opposition lawyers staged a demonstration holding placards and chanting slogans "We want justice, no more Hasina, we want caretaker (government), no more Hasina, we want a free fair election" as the delegation was heading out of the office. Bangladesh authorities have ordered an intensified security vigil as both the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP are set to stage two grand rallies in the capital on Wednesday, an attempt to demonstrate their public support when the two Western delegations are visiting the country. Vilnius (Lithuania), Jul 11 (AP) NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the leaders of the military organization's member nations have agreed to allow Ukraine to join when allies agree and conditions are met. Stoltenberg spoke on Tuesday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky blasted the alliance's failure to set a timetable for Ukraine's membership as absurd. We reaffirmed Ukraine will become a member of NATO and agreed to remove the requirement for a membership action plan, Stoltenberg told reporters, referring to a key step in joining NATO. The decision will change Ukraine's membership path from two steps to one step, he said, adding that Ukraine would join when allies agree and conditions are met. With no consensus among the 31 allies to admit Ukraine into NATO's ranks, despite many members funneling arms and ammunition to Zelenskyy's forces, the leaders decided to remove obstacles on Ukraine's membership path so that it can join more quickly once the war with Russia is over. Zelenskyy had indicated he considered the alliance's actions to be far from satisfactory. It's unprecedented and absurd when a time frame is set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership, Zelenskyy tweeted as he headed to Lithuania, where NATO is holding its annual summit. While at the same time, vague wording about conditions' is added even for inviting Ukraine. It seems there is no readiness to invite Ukraine to NATO or to make it a member of the alliance, he said. Asked about Zelenskky's concerns, Stoltenberg said that the most important thing now is to ensure that his country wins the war against Russia because unless Ukraine prevails, there is no membership to be discussed at all. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below. VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday blasted as absurd the absence of a timetable for his country's membership in NATO, injecting harsh criticism into a gathering of the alliance's leaders that was intended to showcase solidarity in the face of Russian aggression. The broadside from Zelenskyy could renew tensions at the summit shortly after it saw a burst of goodwill after Turkey agreed to advance Sweden's bid to join NATO. Allies hope to resolve the seesawing negotiations and leave Vilnius with a clear path forward for the alliance and its support for Ukraine. Officials have drafted a proposal, which has not been publicly released, on Ukraine's potential membership. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed support during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, but Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter that he was not satisfied. We value our allies, he said but added that Ukraine also deserves respect. It's unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership, Zelenskyy said. He finished with, Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit. Zelenskyy is expected to meet with Biden and other NATO leaders on Wednesday. There have been sharp divisions within the alliance over Ukraine's desire to join NATO, which was promised back in 2008 even though few steps were taken toward that goal. Stoltenberg wrote in Foreign Affairs on Monday that the alliance would upgrade our political ties by forming a NATO-Ukraine Council, which would be a platform for decisions and crisis consultation. In addition, he said Tuesday that NATO would forgo requiring membership action plan for Ukraine, removing another hurdle. But that did not seem to alleviate Zelenskyy's concerns. In addition, the Baltic states including Lithuania, which is hosting the summit have pushed for a strong show of support and a clear pathway toward membership for Ukraine. However, the United States and Germany were urging caution. Biden said last week that Ukraine wasn't ready to join. Members of NATO, he told CNN, need to meet all the qualifications, from democratization to a whole range of other issues, a nod toward longstanding concerns about governance and corruption in Kyiv. In addition, some fear that bringing Ukraine into NATO would serve more as a provocation to Russia than as a deterrence against aggression. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, said allies were debating the precise nature of Ukraine's pathway to membership. However, he promised that the summit would demonstrate how Russian President Vladimir Putin's hopes for fractures within NATO will be unfulfilled. He has been disappointed at every turn, Sullivan said. Vilnius will very much disappoint him. The dispute over Ukraine stands in contrast to a hard-fought agreement to advance Sweden's membership. The deal was reached after days of intensive meetings, and it's poised to expand the alliance's strength in Northern Europe. Rumors of the death of NATO's unity were greatly exaggerated," Sullivan told reporters triumphantly on Tuesday. According to a joint statement issued when the deal was announced, Erdogan will ask Turkey's parliament to approve Sweden joining NATO. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another holdout, is expected to take a similar step. Hungary's foreign minister said Tuesday that his country's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership was now just a technical matter. Erdogan has not yet commented publicly. The outcome is a victory as well for Biden, as well, who has touted NATO's expansion as an example of how Russia's invasion of Ukraine has backfired on Moscow. Finland has already become the 31st member of the alliance, and Sweden is on deck to become the 32nd. Both Nordic countries were historically nonaligned until the war increased fears of Russian aggression. Because of the deal on Sweden's membership, "this summit is already historic before it has started, Stoltenberg said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that NATO's expansion is "one of the reasons that led to the current situation. "It looks like the Europeans don't understand their mistake, Peskov said. He warned against putting Ukraine on a fast track for NATO membership. Potentially it's very dangerous for the European security, it carries very big risks," Peskov said. Biden and Erdogan were scheduled to meet Tuesday evening, and it was unclear how some of the Turkish president's other demands will be resolved. He has been seeking advanced American fighter jets and a path toward membership in the European Union. The White House has expressed support for both, but publicly insisted that the issues were not related to Sweden's membership in NATO. I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area, Biden said in a statement late Monday. The phrasing was a nod to Biden's commitment to help Turkey acquire new F-16 fighter jets, according to an administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly. The Biden administration has backed Turkey's desire to buy 40 new F-16s as well as modernization kits from the U.S. It's a move some in Congress, most notably Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J, have opposed over Turkey blocking NATO membership for Sweden, its human rights record and other concerns. In Washington, Menendez said he was continuing to have my reservations on providing the fighter aircraft to Turkey. If the Biden administration could show that Turkey wouldn't use the F-16s belligerently against other NATO members, particularly its neighbor Greece, and meet other conditions, then there may be a way forward, Menendez told reporters. Biden is on a five-day trip to Europe, with the NATO summit as its centerpiece. The president spent Monday in the United Kingdom, meeting at Windsor Castle with King Charles III and in London with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He met Tuesday with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, emphasizing his commitment to transatlantic cooperation, before he joined the NATO gathering. Nothing happens here that doesn't affect us, Biden told Nauseda. The White House said Nauseda presented Biden with the Order of Vytautas the Great, the highest award a Lithuanian president can bestow. Biden is the first U.S. president to receive it. After the summit ends on Wednesday, Biden will travel to Helsinki. On Thursday, he'll celebrate Finland's recent entry into NATO and meet with Nordic leaders. (AP) AMS Jerusalem, Jul 11 (AP) Thousands of Israeli protesters took to the streets on Tuesday, blocking major highways and thronging the country's main international airport, in countrywide demonstrations against the government's contentious plan to overhaul the country's judicial system.. The demonstrations came the morning after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's parliamentary coalition gave initial approval to a bill to limit the Supreme Court's oversight powers, pressing forward with a plan that has bitterly divided the nation. Netanyahu's ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies have proposed a series of bills that have provoked months of sustained protests by opponents who say the country is being pushed toward authoritarian rule. Anti-overhaul activists demonstrated nationwide throughout the day, including a mass protest Tuesday afternoon at Ben-Gurion International Airport. An estimated 10,000 people gathered outside the main hall, blowing horns and waving blue and white Israeli flags. Police kept the crowd from entering the terminal, and travel was not disrupted. Civil war! I think we're going that way if they're not going to stop, said Adi Somech, one of the protesters. Mass protests have taken place since Netanyahu's far-right government presented the overhaul plan in January, days after taking office. The protests led Netanyahu to suspend the overhaul in March, but he decided to revive the plan last month after compromise talks with the political opposition collapsed. The parliamentary vote overnight Tuesday gave fresh momentum to the protest movement. The bill still needs to be approved in two more votes, expected by the end of the month, before it becomes law. Police used a water cannon to clear protesters outside of Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv. Officers arrested several others who had obstructed a highway next to the central city of Modiin. Demonstrators blocked a main highway in Haifa with a large banner reading Together we will be victorious, snarling traffic along the beachfront. A crowd gathered outside U.S. diplomatic offices in Tel Aviv, calling on the White House to put pressure on Netanyahu to halt the overhaul. Protests were taking place later Tuesday outside Netanyahu's home in central Jerusalem and in central Tel Aviv. Police reported a total of 71 arrests nationwide for alleged public disorder. Protesters scuffled with police in various locations, with at least one protester hurt by a police horse, but no major violence was reported. Netanyahu's allies have proposed a series of changes to the Israeli legal system aimed at weakening what they say are the excessive powers of unelected judges. The proposed changes include giving Netanyahu's allies control over the appointment of judges and giving parliament power to overturn court decisions. The legislation advanced Tuesday aims to strip the Supreme Court of its power to review the reasonability of government decisions a safeguard that proponents say is needed to prevent corruption and improper political appointments. The Netanyahu government, which took office in December, is the most hard-line ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox in Israel's 75-year history. His allies proposed the sweeping changes to the judiciary after the country held its fifth elections in under four years, all of them seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's fitness to serve as prime minister while on trial for corruption. Critics of the judicial overhaul say it will upset the country's fragile system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies. They also say Netanyahu has a conflict of interest because he is on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. The United States, Israel's most important ally, has also criticized the overhaul effort, urging Netanyahu to move slowly and seek a broad consensus on any legal changes. On Tuesday, a member of Netanyahu's Cabinet, Amichai Chikli, accused Israeli opposition leaders of coordinating the criticism with the White House. A wide section of Israeli society, including reserve military officers, business leaders, LGBTQ+ people and members of other minority groups have joined the protests. The ongoing unrest has unnerved foreign investors and caused Israel's currency, the shekel, to drop in value. On Tuesday, 300 reservists from the military's elite cyber warfare unit signed a letter saying they would not volunteer for service, explaining the government has demonstrated it is determined to destroy the state of Israel. Sensitive cyber abilities with the potential for being used for evil must not be given to a criminal government that is undermining the foundations of democracy, the letter said. Fighter pilots and members of other elite units also have threatened to stop reporting for duty. In a speech Tuesday evening, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant lashed out at those who refuse to report for duty, saying it threatened the country's security and was a prize for our enemies. Arnon Bar-David, head of the country's national labor union, the Histadrut, threatened a possible general strike that could paralyze the country's economy. "If the situation reaches an extreme, we will intervene and employ our strength, Bar-David said, calling on Netanyahu to stop the chaos. The Histadrut called a general strike in March as the government pushed the judicial overhaul legislation through parliament after weeks of protest. The move shut down large swaths of Israel's economy and helped contribute to Netanyahu's decision to suspend the legislation. (AP) AMS Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, records his video addresses in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin pledged loyalty to the Russian government in a Kremlin meeting with President Vladimir Putin five days after the commander led a short-lived rebellion, a senior government spokesman said Monday, the latest twist in a baffling episode that has raised questions about the power and influence both men wield. The three-hour meeting took place June 29 and also involved commanders from Prigozhins Wagner Group military contractor, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Putin gave an assessment of Wagners actions on the battlefield in Ukraine where the mercenaries have fought alongside Russian troops and of the revolt itself. The commanders themselves presented their version of what happened. They underscored that they are staunch supporters and soldiers of the head of state and the commander-in-chief, and also said that they are ready to continue to fight for their homeland, Peskov said. The confirmation that Putin met face-to-face with Prigozhin, who led troops on a march to Moscow last month to demand a military leadership change, was extraordinary. Though the Russian leader branded Prigozhin a traitor as the revolt unfolded and vowed harsh punishment, the criminal case against the mercenary chief on rebellion charges was later dropped. Prigozhin has not commented on the Kremlin meeting, and his ultimate fate remains unclear, particularly since Mondays announcement shows much is negotiated behind closed doors. He could still face prosecution for financial wrongdoing or other charges. Mondays announcement came as Russias Defense Ministry published a video featuring military chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov who was one of the targets of Prigozhins rebellion. It was the first time Gerasimov has been seen since the revolt. The twin updates appeared to be another attempt by the Kremlin to show its in control after a turbulent period, and to reflect Putins delicate balance between condemning the biggest threat to his 23-year rule and the man behind it while not alienating a popular figure whose troops scored the biggest battlefield victory for Russia in the past year of the war. Former Putin speechwriter Abbas Gallyamov told The Associated Press that Putin acknowledges Prigozhins patriotism and needs his forces on the front line, while Prigozhin needs Putin to ensure his freedom from prosecution. The two are negotiating as allies, with Prigozhin escaping punishment, Gallyamov said. Prigozhin emerged victorious from this rebellion, Gallyamov said in a Zoom interview from Tel Aviv. He has shown himself to be the master of the situation. Adding to the unusual nature of the meeting was that until very recently, Putin had denied any link between the state and Prigozhins forces. Mercenaries are illegal in Russia, but Wagner troops have fought for Russian interests around the globe and played a vital role in the capture of in the wars longest and bloodiest battle. Putin has confirmed that Prigozhins companies operated under government contracts. Throughout the war, Prigozhin has criticized decisions made by Russias top military brass, leading to tensions with the Kremlin that culminated in the June 24 mutiny. The rebellion severely weakened Putins authority, even though Prigozhin claimed the uprising was not aimed at the president but at removing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Gerasimov. Prigozhin called off his mutiny after a deal was brokered for him to go to Belarus. Mark Galeotti, an author who heads the consulting firm Mayak Intelligence, said the delicate dance with Prigozhin is a further compromise on Putins part and reflects his unwillingness to take tough and ruthless personnel decisions. He is willing to see Ukrainians bombed by the dozen, but not confront any of the figures in his own circle, Galeotti wrote in The Spectator. Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, predicted that some Russian observers would be stunned by the turn of events. When you look from the point of view of Russian elite, its ridiculous, she told the AP. Its just so unbelievable and just so shocking. Days after the revolt, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Prigozhin was in Belarus. But last week the president said the mercenary chief was in Russia while his troops remained in their camps. Peskov said that during the June 29 meeting, Putin offered an assessment of Wagners actions on the battlefield in Ukraine and of the events of June 24. The president also listened to the explanations of the commanders and offered them options for further employment and further use in combat, the Kremlin spokesman said. A total of 35 people took part in the meeting, Peskov said. Putin has given options to Prigozhins fighters: fight as part of the regular Russian army, retire from service or join Prigozhin in Belarus. A NATO summit later this week in Lithuania is looking at how to crank up the pressure on Moscow after 16 months of war. In other developments, a Russian airstrike on a school in southern Ukraine killed four adults as people gathered to receive humanitarian aid, the governor of Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region said Monday, branding the attack a war crime. Three women and a man, all in their 40s, died in the strike Sunday in the town of Orikhiv, Gov. Yuriy Malashko said. A guided aerial bomb caused an explosion at the school, Malashko said, without providing evidence. Eleven other people were wounded in the attack, he said. Overall, Russia fired on 10 settlements in the province over the course of a day, he said. Moscow denies it targets civilian locations. Russia has been accused numerous times of doing so and committing other war crimes since the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022. In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Investigations are also underway in Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, located in The Hague, is helping with those probes. Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive to regain occupied land, and on Monday, the deputy defense minister, Hanna Maliar, reported progress. She said the countrys fighters had reclaimed 10.2 square kilometers (3.9 square miles) of territory in the south and four square kilometers (1.5 square miles) in the east in the past week. The gains, she said on Telegram, included the commanding heights of Bakhmut, where Prigozhins forces declared control of the city in May. None of the claims could be independently verified. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Washington, Jul 11 (PTI) Secularism is in the blood of Indian people, former vice president Venkaiah Naidu has said, asserting that minorities are more safe and secure in India than in many countries including in the US. Naidu, 74, addressed a gathering of Indian Americans at a reception hosted in his honour by the National Council of Asian Indian Associations in the Greater Washington DC area on Monday. All propaganda is going on (against India). Certain sections of the Western media also. They joined this propaganda about India, about the security and safety of minorities. I want to tell those people that minorities are more safe and secure in India than here, he said. You see whats happening in India and whats happening in other countries. But, you know, discrimination is going on, he said. Naidu has been in the US for the last few days. Over the weekend, he addressed a gathering of Indian American doctors in Philadelphia. He said India respects its minorities. Those who wanted to go to Pakistan have already left (the country). Those who wanted to stay here, are here in India... secularism is there in India because its in the blood of Indian people, he said. In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Naidu warned the neighbouring country against interfering in the internal affairs of India and said Kashmir is an integral part of India. In his keynote address to the 41st annual American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) over the weekend, Naidu stressed the importance of changes in lifestyle for healthy living. He urged AAPI members to give back to their native place and highlighted the importance of taking care of one's motherland. AAPIs programmes are more centered around addressing the issues related to the stigma of mental illness and the importance of the practices such as meditation, and yoga, which is a connectivity between the body and the mind, he said. At the reception hosted by the National Council of Asian Indian Associations, Sikhs of America felicitated Naidu for working towards the welfare of Sikhs in India. Ahmedabad, Jul 11(PTI) The Gujarat Government on Tuesday launched the revamped Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme, under which people can avail free medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh instead of the previous limit of Rs 5 lakh. Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel on Tuesday officially launched the revised health insurance scheme from his office in the presence of health department officials, a state government release said. Starting Tuesday, beneficiaries of the PMJAY-MA in Gujarat will receive an insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh, which is a two-fold rise from the previous cover of Rs 5 lakh, it stated. While the Centre's PMJAY is popularly known as Ayushman Bharat, MA stands for the state government's Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA) scheme, which was merged with the central health scheme. In the state budget presented in February, state Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai had announced the doubling of insurance cover under PMJAY-MA scheme from Rs 10 lakh from Rs 5 lakh. Now, the announcement has been operationalised. On the occasion, Patel said people who have Ayushman cards can undergo complex surgeries, treatments and transplants of kidney, heart, liver and even cochlear implants in the limit of Rs 10 lakh. As per the release, 2,027 state-run hospitals, 803 private and 18 hospitals of the Central government in the state are authorised to provide treatment or perform surgeries under the PMJAY-MA, and 2,471 types of treatments and surgeries are available to card holders in these hospitals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his stint as the chief minister of Gujarat, had launched the MA scheme with an insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh, which was subsequently increased to Rs 3 lakh. In 2018, the prime minister launched the PMJAY with an insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh, the release said. Mumbai, Jul 11 (PTI) A 70-year-old woman was killed and two others, including a woman and a three-year-old boy, were injured when a big branch of a tree fell on them in suburban Malad in Mumbai on Tuesday, civic officials said. With this incident, the number of fatalities in tree fall incidents in the city has risen to four since June 28 after the arrival of the monsoon. The incident occurred in Kasam Baug area at around 4.30 pm when the two women and the child were on their way to meet a relative at a hospital. After the incident, the two women and the boy were rushed to separate hospitals for treatment, officials said. Of them, Shindabai Ahire was declared brought dead by doctors at a hospital in Kandivali. Another woman, identified as Rekhabai Sonawane (46), and the boy, Rudra Sonawane, are undergoing treatment at Jeevan Jyoti Hospital, they said. On June 28, Malad resident Koushal Doshi (38) was crushed to death under an uprooted tree. On the same day, Premlal Nirmal (30), who ran a laundry shop in Goregaon's MG Road, was killed when a coconut tree collapsed on him. On June 29, Rehman Khan (22) lost his life when a giant banyan fell on him in Byculla. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Kolkata, Jul 11 (PTI) The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Chhatradhar Mahato, a former leader of Maoist-backed People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), in a case registered by the NIA. The court directed Mahato not to enter the districts of Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia, over which the once-Maoist belt Jangalmahal area is located. A division bench presided by Justice Debangsu Basak directed that Mahato be released on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000, with two sureties of like amount each, one of whom must be local. The bench, also comprising Justice Md Shabbar Rashidi, directed that he will appear before the trial court on every date of hearing until further orders and will not intimidate witnesses or tamper with evidence in any manner whatsoever. Mahato was directed to report to the chief investigating officer, NIA, once a week until further orders. He was taken in custody by the NIA on March 28, 2021 in respect of three cases of 2009, two of which were at Lalgarh and the third was at Jhargram police station. Praying for bail, Mahato's lawyer Milon Mukherjee submitted that the NIA's FIR was lodged after the expiry of nearly 11 years from the date of the incident. Claiming that there is no possibility of the trial concluding any time soon, he submitted that charges are yet to be framed. Submitting that the allegations against Mahato are grave, deputy solicitor general Bilwadal Bhattacharya appearing for the NIA claimed that he was the mastermind in the hijacking of the Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express on October 27, 2009, at Banstala station in West Bengal's Jhargram. It was alleged that Mahato orchestrated the entire incident when he was in custody and that the hijackers had demanded the release of the PCAPA leader. Claiming that he is a very influential person, the NIA opposed the bail prayer of Mahato. Granting bail to Mahato, the court said that the appellant is facing a criminal proceeding in respect of an incident occurring on October 27, 2009 and that the FIR was registered by NIA on April 1, 2020. The court said that in respect of the other two police cases, in one of them, Mahato has served his sentence. He had been arrested on September 26, 2009 for an attempt on the life of former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya at Kantapahari in Paschim Medinipur district on November 2, 2008. He was set free in February 2020, following a reduction of his life term to 10 years imprisonment by the Calcutta High Court for his good conduct. In another police case at Lalgarh police station, he was released on bail on February 7, 2013. "Taking into consideration the period of custody and the likelihood of the trial not concluding any time soon and the materials in the case diary, we grant bail to the appellant," the court directed. Kendrapara (Odisha), Jul 11 (PTI) A newlywed man was allegedly murdered by unidentified persons in Odishas Kendrapara district, police said on Tuesday. The body of the deceased, identified as Sudhanshu Biswal (28) of Kalikapur village under Rajkanika police station, was found on Jayanagar-Singhpur road at Terantapada Chhack on Monday afternoon, police added. Biswal had fallen in love with a girl of Palei village but her parents objected to their affair, police said. "Despite objections by the girl's parents, they got married on June 25 after she eloped with him," police said. We suspect the man was riding a two-wheeler when he was waylaid and murdered by unidentified men. His blood-soaked body was found by locals and they rushed him to a hospital, police added. He succumbed to injuries while being shifted to a hospital, said Bilwamangal Sethi, inspector of Rajkanika police station. Forensic experts visited the spot and collected evidence from the crime scene. Police are investigating the case from all angles. We have registered a case and are collecting CCTV camera footage to identify the killers, he added. Srinagar, Jul 11 (PTI) Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to hear a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution on a day-to-day basis. The apex court on Tuesday said it will commence day-to-day hearing from August 2 on the petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 that bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah said he is confident that there is a strong case in favour of the restoration of Article 370. "It took four years for the case to get to the Supreme Court. It shows how strong our case is. Had it been weak, believe me, they (Centre) would have started the hearing within weeks. It took so long because the Constitution was blown to pieces on August 5, 2019," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister told reporters after paying homage to his grandmother Begum Akbar Jahan, the wife of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Abdullah said the abrogation of Article 370 may be linked to tourism and G20 events, but the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status was wrong. "You may package it as you may wish. Link it to tourism or G20 as much as you like, but legally and constitutionally, whatever happened with Jammu and Kashmir was wrong," he added. The former Union minister also claimed that the government's case is weak. "The government did not even try to get it listed. There are ways.... If the government was interested, it could have requested the Supreme Court for an early hearing. Had its case been strong, it would have requested the chief justice for a hearing. It did not. "Thankfully, the chief justice and other Supreme Court judges came here, probably saw the situation and after going back, it was listed. Better late than never," Abdullah said. People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said the top court's decision not to rely on the Centre's affidavit on the abrogation of Article 370 vindicates her stand that the BJP-led Union government's move did not have a logical explanation. Mufti, however, said there are genuine apprehensions regarding why the apex court has taken up the petitions with such alacrity after remaining silent for four years. "Hon'ble SC's decision to not rely on GOI's affidavit vindicates that it doesn't have a logical explanation to justify illegal abrogation of Article 370. "Having said that there are legitimate apprehensions about why SC has taken up the Article 370 with such alacrity after their visit to Kashmir. After remaining silent for four years the decision to hear the case on a daily basis does evoke misgivings. Hope the Constitution of this country by which judiciary swears is not sacrificed at the altar of power to satisfy collective conscience of people who know little about the matter," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister wrote on Twitter. NC's chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the development instills hope among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "It is a welcome development that the CJI will hear the petitions on a daily basis from August 2. It instills a lot of hope in the minds and hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Sadiq told PTI here. He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been waiting for this day for the last four years. "Now that the CJI has taken interest in this case, it definitely gives us hope. We we would request that the petitions are heard thoroughly and a verdict is given in our favour because we feel our case is very strong," Sadiq said. To a query on the top court's observation that the Centre's fresh affidavit will have no bearing on the hearing, the NC leader said the affidavit should not matter much as it is more about the developmental aspect. "The fact that the extra affidavit of the government had more about development and the fact that the court did not agree to it is also a welcome step, because you need to understand that in spite of Article 370, there was development here before 1989. In spite of Article 370, you had a record number of tourists coming to Jammu and Kashmir. "A record number of one crore pilgrims visited Jammu and Kashmir when Omar Abdullah was the chief minister. So the affidavit should not matter much, because the CJI has said the matter should be decided on the basis of the Constitution," Sadiq said. Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader M Y Tarigami also welcomed the apex court's decision. "This is a positive intervention. We welcome it. Though it is late as it has taken four years, nevertheless, it has sent a positive message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh," he said. "We expect that justice will be delivered," the Left leader added. The Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) The BJP Tuesday slammed the Trinamool Congress government over the "state-sponsored" violence during the West Bengal panchayat polls, terming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee "ruthless" and claiming at least 45 people have died in the clashes. Violence rocked the July 8 rural polls, leaving 15 dead while ballot boxes were vandalised, ballot papers burnt and bombs thrown at rivals in several places. Repolling was held on Monday in 696 booths across 19 districts where voting was declared void amid allegations of ballot box tampering and violence. As counting began on Tuesday and initial trends started pouring in, the BJP's national spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed the ruling TMC's "dadagiri politics" was on even on the day of ballot counting. The BJP's counting agents and that of other opposition parties were being stopped from visiting the counting centres, he claimed at a press conference in the national capital and termed the poll violence "unprecedented". "Going by media reports, at least 45 people were killed during the panchayat poll violence. Bombing, bogus voting and rigging are the most used words in media reports This is 'nirmamata' (ruthlessness) and not 'mamata' (endearment)," Patra charged. "These are state-sponsored institutionalised murders Nirmam Bandyopadhyay (ruthless Mamata Banerjee), who used to talk 'maa, maati,manush', is being a mute spectator," he alleged. The BJP vehemently condemns the poll violence and "murder of democracy" in West Bengal, Patra said. He also at the Congress, Left and other parties, accusing them of being silent on the matter. "Where are Lalu Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of 'Maha Thug Bandhan'? Not a word from them so far," the BJP leader asked. Patra alleged the Congress' top leadership and Gandhi, who was opening "mohabbat ki dukan" (shop of love), are silent on the panchayat poll violence in Bengal even though the leaders of the party claimed that their workers were killed. "Rahul Gandhi is not talking about his 'mohabbat ki dukan' because his mega mall of ambition is open. He is silent on poll violence in West Bengal because he wants to become ruler of the country by hook or by crook," the BJP leader charged. Patra said the Supreme Court had called for holding free and fair elections in West Bengal with the deployment of central forces. But the state government did not deploy central forces properly, he claimed, adding, "Data on sensitive polling booths were not shared with the central forces." He claimed that a large number of people have fled West Bengal out of fear and have taken shelter in Assam. "Is this democracy Mamata ji?" the BJP leader asked. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that over 100 people from West Bengal have taken shelter in his state, fearing for their lives because of the panchayat election violence back home. "Yesterday, 133 individuals who feared for their lives due to violence in the panchayat election in West Bengal sought refuge in Dhubri district of Assam. We have provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance," Sarma tweeted. Jammu, Jul 11 (PTI) A terrorist was killed after the Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, officials said on Tuesday. Alert troops detected suspicious movement of a group of terrorists near the LoC in the Nowshera sector on Monday night, defence spokesman Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said. The movement of the infiltrators was kept under constant observation and when they reached near the fencing, they were challenged and a gunfight ensued, he said. One terrorist was seen falling near the LoC while two others were injured and they were seen taking cover in the jungle, the spokesman said. The thick jungle and foliage besides the inclement weather helped the injured terrorists to escape, he added. Additional troops were moved in and the area around the incident site was cordoned off, Lt Col Bartwal said. War-like stores, including one AK 47 rifle, three AK magazines with 175 rounds, one 9 mm pistol, two magazines with 15 rounds, four hand grenades, communication equipment, a large quantity of eatables and clothing, were recovered, he said. The Army had launched a massive search operation along the LoC two days ago to thwart the infiltration attempts by terrorists, the spokesman said. New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) Vice chancellors or heads of five private deemed-to-be- universities, including TISS and Dayalbagh Educational Institute, will now be appointed by the central government and not their sponsoring trusts or societies, officials said. The change in appointments comes following new norms notified by the University Grants Commission (UGC) called the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations. According to the new regulations, heads of deemed universities that receive 50 per cent more funds from the government than their own annual earnings will be appointed by the Centre. The first set of these regulations was notified in 2010, which was revised in 2016 and 2019. In rest of the cases, the vice chancellors shall be appointed by the chancellor from a panel of three names suggested by a search-cum-selection committee. The move, however, has been questioned by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh who raised apprehensions about the autonomy of these institutions. "Although over the years, Government of India has become the mainstay of funding for the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), successive governments ensured its autonomy by allowing the Tata Trusts to nominate the Chairman of the Governing Board and allowing the Board to select the Director. Now the Govt of India will appoint both the Chairman and the Director. We know what that means especially in the field of social sciences," he tweeted. These five universities include the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai; Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra; Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad; Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore; and Gurukula Kangri, Haridwar. "The ministry will set up a search-cum-selection committee and later issue appointment letters after obtaining approval from the cabinet appointments committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," a senior official said. There are 126 deemed-to-be-universities in the country, out of which 40 are Centre and state governments controlled, and the remaining 86 are self-financing. UGC is providing development and maintenance assistance to 21 identified deemed-to-be-universities under various schemes and programmes. Mexican troops guard the forensic medicine center (SEMEFO) in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Juan Alberto Cedillo (Cuartoscuro) Year after year, Tamaulipas endures endless cycles of violence and peace triggered by ineffable forces. Governor Americo Villarreal (Morena Party) has been in office for nine months, and seems powerless or unwilling to stop the frequent street blockades and shootouts south of Reynosa and Matamoros, two of the largest cities in this northern border state. When a group of armed men attacked Hector Villegas, the Secretary of Government for Tamaulipas and Villarreals second in command, a perplexing silence settled over the incident. But it was just the state government that stayed silent because the firefights on the streets never stopped. On July 7, a few days after the attack on Villegas, the security spokesperson for Tamaulipas reported an attack on army troops near Matamoros. Several media outlets reported the deaths of nine civilians, casualties that remain unconfirmed by the authorities. On July 5, armed groups clashed near Reynosa, blocked roads with cars and threw spike strips to puncture the tires of pursuing vehicles. The official statistics rarely tell the whole story and dont include data from the latest crime wave. On June 1, Secretary of the Navy Rafael Ojeda reported a decrease in murders and kidnappings in Tamaulipas, a slight increase in extortion, and a decrease in home and vehicle theft. Yet Tamaulipas is the state with the highest rate of missing persons in Mexico. How can we truly measure the scale of these shootouts between criminal gangs and attacks on authorities? How can we effectively evaluate the gravity of the states governance crisis? And how can we adequately understand the profound fear endured by the people of Tamaulipas? Julio Almanza, President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Tamaulipas, is deeply concerned about the impacts of the ongoing war on his state. His organization represents the interests of 20,000 businesses in services, tourism, trade and other sectors of the economy. Almanza says they are always on high alert due to the constant violence between cartels that have turned the state into a battlefield since 2008. Very little is known about the attack on Villegas, who was the mayor of Rio Bravo (between Reynosa and Matamoros) until mid-last year. Villegas says he was traveling with a bodyguard from Rio Bravo to Ciudad Victoria, the state capital, three and a half hours to the south. Just as their vehicle got to where the highways from Reynosa and Matamoros converge, armed men opened fire on them. Police officers around Hector Villegas' car after the July 3 attack. CORTESIA Villegas, the spokesperson for state security and the governor have all remained tight-lipped, offering no further information regarding the incident. No one is venturing to say whether it was an isolated case of shots fired at a passing vehicle, collateral damage from the areas rampant crime, or an intentional assault on Villegas. Photos show a partially damaged vehicle stranded in the middle of the road, suggesting that shots were fired, forcing the vehicle to stop. But no one is talking. Questions about the attack spread after many conflicting accounts circulated on social media. Some allege a verbal confrontation between the attackers and Villegas, who was accused of criminal links when he was mayor of Rio Bravo. EL PAIS has been unable to interview Villegas, despite numerous requests to his office and attempts to contact him directly. From the inside out The recent surge of violence in Tamaulipas, like many other parts of Mexico, can be attributed to the underlying criminal economy, an entrenched power structure that outlives every government transition. Historian Pedro Alonso Perez said, Tamaulipas has frequently experienced similar circumstances throughout its history. Its a border state that has been a hub for drug trafficking, smuggling and more tracing back to the 1940s. Crime has persistently plagued this region. By circumstances, Perez means the shootouts and armed clashes throughout the state that appear to be disputes between Gulf Cartel factions and affiliated splinter groups. The blockades and confrontations have been increasing since 2008, said Perez, and we had very intense peaks of violence in 2010 and 2012, in Reynosa, Matamoros and Tampico, to the south. The violence has affected the entire state. Each region is controlled by a criminal organization that always seeks to extend its territorial control. Social media threads are sprinkled with clues to the agreements and betrayals between these organizations. People often resort to social media when they need to communicate with them. In June, a group of families of missing persons appealed on social media for a ceasefire so they could peacefully search for their loved ones. In response, the Northeast Cartel, a group based in Nuevo Laredo with connections in the southern part of the state, declared a temporary ceasefire.We have spoken with the Gulf Cartel Matamoros Division. We are in peace talks and on the same page, said several masked cartel members in a video. Although this type of violence can be seen everywhere in Mexico, Perez says it has some unique characteristics in Tamaulipas. The criminal economy here works from the inside out. In other words, organized crime here is orchestrated from within the power bases, rather than the other way around. Perez cites General Eulogio Ortiz as an example. For decades starting in the 1920s, Ortiz held various positions in the states security apparatus. Yet he was the one behind all the organized crime. Crime within the government structure has been a historical trait, said Perez. But whatever the governor represents doesnt necessarily pertain to his entire administration. The accusations against Villegas and other public officials havent been confirmed, and the recent attack must be explained. We havent been informed and we need to be Its odd that very few people publicly condemned this attack. I wonder why this didnt happen. Julio Almanza wants Tamaulipas to start collaborating again with Texas and US federal security agencies. Mistakes have been made by Villarreals administration. There has been a change in strategy and we have lost some progress. The governor and his security cabinet appear concerned and want to solve problems, but they rely too heavily on the federal government. And the federal government has 20 states up in flames, said Almanza. Its important for them to support American agencies since we share a border with Texas respecting national and state autonomy, of course. But we believe that more work needs to be done in that regard because the cartels are engaging in terrorism organized crime is terrorisms. Im not saying that relations with the United States have been severed, at least it doesnt seem so. But the previous government had a good relationship and worked closely with them. Villareals team has stopped doing certain things for political reasons. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah during which they discussed ways to advance cooperation between the two countries in counterterrorism, drug trafficking and security domains. Garcetti, the 26th United States Ambassador to India, arrived in India in April and presented his credential to the President on May 11. "Union Home Minister @AmitShah met @USAmbIndia, Eric Garcetti today. Had a productive conversation about advancing cooperation between both nations in counter-terrorism, drug trafficking and security domains. Reiterated commitment to building upon the positive outcomes of PM @narendramodi Ji's recent visit to the USA," Shah's office tweeted. The US envoy met the home minister at the later's office in the North Block here. Deoria (UP), Jul 10 (PTI) A 45-year-old man has been detained from Gorakhpur for allegedly threatening to kill Prime Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath calling the UP-112 helpline, police said on Monday. Deoria Kotwali SHO DK Mishra said the call was made late Sunday night to the UP-112 helpline number by a man who introduced himself as Arun Kumar, a resident of Bhujauli Colony of the city. Police traced the location of the mobile to Devrad village of Harpur Budhat in Gorakhpur district, which led them to one Sanjay Kumar, who was apprehended Monday morning, the SHO said. Police found that Kumar was drunk when he made the call. They said they are interrogating Kumar for more details into the incident and have filed a case against him. Srinagar, Jul 11 (PTI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out raids at multiple locations in Kashmir on Tuesday in a terror related case, officials said. The agency sleuths conducted raids at multiple locations in the south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian, they said. They said the raids were a part of an investigation by the central agency in a terror related case. Further details were awaited. Lucknow, Jul 11 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Congress leader P L Punia on Tuesday termed the incident in which a Dalit man was allegedly beaten up by a man and forced to lick slippers in Sonbhadra district "extremely shameful" and demanded the guilty be booked under the NSA and the Gangster Act. "The incident which took place in Sonbhadra district is extremely shameful and shows his 'manuvaadi' mindset. The matter assumes more seriousness as it was committed by a government employee," Punia told PTI. Punia, a former chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, said the main accused should be booked under the National Security Act and the Gangster Act and urged Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to intervene in the matter. "The CM makes tall claims of using the bulldozer. This is a heinous crime and action should be initiated in this regard." He said that the family of the Dalit man should also get financial assistance. The matter came to light after a video turned up on social media showing one Tejbali Singh Patel, a contractual employee of the electricity department, thrashing a Dalit man. Patel has been terminated from the service, police had earlier said. Four men in all were arrested Sunday evening in connection with the incident, they said. In his complaint to the police on July 8, Rajendra Chamar, a Dalit, said he was trying to check a power supply fault at a relative's house when Patel started berating him and went on to thrash him. "On July 6, he had gone to his maternal uncle's place where after a power cut he was trying to locate the fault, when the contractual employee of the power department, Tejbali Singh Patel, started hurling abuses at him. He hurled casteist words at the complainant and also made him lick his chappal," a police officer had said on Sunday. New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) Two daily wage labourers were allegedly shot dead by unidentified assailants in northeast Delhi's Welcome area in the early hours of Tuesday, police said. The deceased were identified as Pradeep and Bablu, both aged 40 years, they said. Police said the information regarding the incident was received at about 2:15 am. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Joy Tirkey said a man was found dead with two gunshot wounds on his stomach and lower abdomen on the main 65 futa road, Pili Mitti in the Welcome area. He was identified as Pradeep, a daily wage labourer. Two empty 9-mm shells were found near the body. Soon after, Bablu was found dead with two gunshot injuries on his chest and lower abdomen near a lane in Subhash Park, the DCP said. Police said Bablu, who was a "bad character" as recorded by the Bhajanpura police station, had 13 cases of snatching and theft registered against him. He also worked as a daily wage labourer. Two empty 9-mm shells were found near his body as well. "The distance between the bodies was about 300 metres. It has been found that both Pradeep and Bablu knew each other and were probably together when the incident took place. It seems that Bablu was shot at first in the lane, followed by Pradeep, who was shot at on the main road," the DCP said. Both were taken to the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) hospital, where they were declared "brought dead", police said. A case of murder has been registered, police said, adding that multiple teams have been formed to work on the case. Ghaziabad (UP), Jul 11 (PTI) Six members of a family died and two people were severely injured on Tuesday morning when their SUV collided head-on with a school bus moving on the wrong side of an expressway here, a senior police official said. The accident took place around 6 am on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic (Ghaziabad), Ramanand Kushwaha said. The bus had gone to Delhi and was plying on the wrong side of the expressway after refilling CNG near Ghazipur border, he added. The family was travelling in the SUV, which was headed for Gurugram from Meerut, Kushwaha said. Two people are undergoing treatment for severe injuries, he said, adding that there were eight people in the SUV. "The bus driver has been arrested. He was at complete fault as he was moving on the wrong side," Kushwaha said. Noida, Jul 11 (PTI) Police here on Tuesday arrested three people allegedly involved in fraudulently transferring over Rs 3.80 crore and attempting another illegal transaction of over Rs 9 crore from a bank account of the Noida Authority, officials said. The police launched an investigation in the case on July 5 after an FIR was lodged at the Sector 58 police station on the basis of a complaint by the Noida Authority, which functions under the Uttar Pradesh government, the officials said. The amount transferred was supposed to be in a fixed deposit (FD) account of Rs 200 crore of the Noida Authority, which had opened a new account with the Bank of India in its branch located at Sector 62 here. "Three persons have been arrested today in connection with the FD fraud case of the Noida Authority. They have been identified as Sudhir Chaudhary, Murari Jatav and Rajesh Babu. Two fake FD documents, four forged letters of Noida Authority and a bank opening account have been seized from them," Additional DCP (Noida) Shakti Mohan Avasthy said. He added, "Rs 5 lakh which were found in the bank accounts of these accused have been frozen. Some more of their associates involved in this fraud have been identified and efforts are underway to nab them soon." The FIR has been lodged under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 467, 468 and 471 (all related to forgery), 120B (party to criminal conspiracy) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by banker). In the wake of the fraud, the Noida Authority last week said it had released an amount of Rs 200 crore on June 23 for the fixed deposit in the branch of Bank of India located at Sector-62, Noida and papers for the FD were also made available to the authority. "After an FD is made, no amount could be withdrawn, as per the rules, even after this, without any order from the authority, an amount of Rs 3.80 crore was paid by the bank to three persons," the Noida Authority said in a statement. "As soon as this fact came to the notice of the authority, an FIR was lodged against the Bank of India at the local Sector-58 Police Station and investigation is being done by the police. A written assurance has been given by the bank that it will make the entire amount (Rs 200 crore) available to the authority as soon as possible," it added. The Noida Authority said it has not suffered any financial loss, nevertheless a three-member committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Executive Officer (M) to investigate the entire episode. The police are probing the role of bank officials and Noida Authority officials also in this case, a senior officer said. New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) The high court here on Tuesday dismissed a plea by the Enforcement Directorate seeking a direction that AAP leader Satyendar Jain, facing prosecution in a money laundering case, be medically examined at any other hospital like AIIMS instead of Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said since the matter is now pending before the Supreme Court, nothing remains to be adjudicated in the high court and dismissed the plea. Former Delhi minister Jain is out on interim bail in pursuance to the order of the apex court which is scheduled to hear the matter on July 24. The ED's contention has been that Jain had influence over the hospital as he had been Delhi's health minister. I consider that since the matter is now pending before the Supreme Court, nothing is left here, the Writ petition is dismissed, Justice Sharma said. At the time of filing of the petition by ED in July last year, Jain was admitted to LNJP Hospital and the agencys counsel had emphasised that there was a grave likelihood that Jain, who was the city Health Minister at the relevant time, exercised "influence over LNJP" and had said that even his picture was displayed prominently on the hospital website and he was also the "guest of honour" at an event there. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was arrested on May 30 last year under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and was first sent to police custody and thereafter to judicial custody. He resigned from the Delhi cabinet in February this year. While the high court had denied him bail, he was granted interim bail on May 26 for six weeks on medical grounds by the Supreme Court which, on July 10, extended the relief till July 24. In the petition before the high court, ED has challenged a trial court's July 6 order rejecting the agency's prayer to get the accused medically evaluated by any independent hospital such as Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital or AIIMS, instead of LNJP Hospital. the Directorate of Enforcement has a serious doubt as to whether the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital or even the GB Pant Hospital would be able to independently assess the medical condition of the respondent (Jain) herein for the reason that these hospitals continue to prominently display the picture of the respondent on its home page. "... from the plaque commemorating the inauguration of Lok Nayak Hospital, it is evident that the same was done in the presence of the respondent herein as the Guest of Honour, who was holding the portfolio of Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of NCT of Delhi, the petition has said. It had also challenged the trial court's July 19 order passed in the interim bail application of Jain. The ED had claimed that on June 27, 2022, the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case had gone to LNJP Hospital where he found that Jain was sleeping on the patient bed without any cannula on his hand and even the multipara patient monitor was switched off and he was not being monitored by any medical instrument and his wife was present in the room. When the IO reached the room, the respondent immediately wore the oxygen mask, the BP apparatus belt, and the monitor was switched on. "It was under these suspicious circumstances and the fact that prima facie the condition of the respondent was not such which required hospitalisation, an application was preferred (before the trial court) seeking a direction that he may be admitted in any independent hospital like the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital or AIIMS Hospital at New Delhi for an independent evaluation of his health, it said, adding that the application was dismissed by the trial court. Prayagraj (UP), Jul 11 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court has said that a female cannot be forced to give birth to a child conceived as a result of a sexual assault as it would lead to "unexplainable miseries." A bench comprising justices Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Prashant Kumar stated this as it directed the constitution of a five-member medical board last week to examine a 12-year-old deaf and mute rape survivor who has sought permission to terminate her 25-week pregnancy. The girl's counsel had last week argued that she was raped and sexually assaulted several times by her neighbour but due to her disabilities, she could not tell anyone about it. After her mother firmly questioned her, the girl used sign language to reveal to her that she had been raped by their neighbour. On the basis of her mother's complaint, an FIR was then filed against the man under charges of rape and other offences under the POCSO Act. When the girl was medically examined on June 16, 2023, she was found to be 23 weeks into her pregnancy. On June 27, the matter was placed before the Medical Board, which told the girl that since her pregnancy had exceeded 24 weeks, she would need court permission to abort the child. The court, after hearing the parties concerned, said, "Though the statute does not provide for termination of pregnancies over the gestational age of 24 weeks except in case of detection of substantial fetal abnormalities, the provision in regard to which is Section 3(2B) of MTP Act. "The extraordinary powers of the Constitutional Courts, however, have been recognised even by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and exercised several times by the High Courts to allow termination of pregnancies even in cases where pregnancy has exceeded the limit of 24 weeks." Considering the urgency in the matter and taking a humanitarian view, the Court requested the Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor to direct the Principal of Jawahar Lal Medical College in Aligarh to constitute a five-member team. The team, to be headed by the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Department of Anaesthesia, and Department of Radio Diagnosis, will examine the petitioner and submit its report before the Court on July 12. Jaipur, Jul 11 (PTI) The Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday arrested a deputy registrar and inspector of cooperative department in Jaipur after catching them accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh red-handed, officials said. In another case, a police inspector and a head constable were arrested by the ACB for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh in Jalore district of Rajasthan, they said. In a statement, ACB's additional director general Hemant Priyadarshi said the Jaipur team (of ACB) arrested Deshraj Yadav, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Jaipur, and Inspector Arun Pratap Singh while accepting the bribe from the complainant on Tuesday. He said that Yadav and Singh demanded a bribe amount of Rs 20 lakh in lieu of helping in the raid conducted by the cooperative department team on a cooperative society. The accused had already taken Rs 5 lakh from the complainant before the latter lodged the complaint. Priyadarshi said that after verification of the complaint, the ACB made the arrests. On Tuesday, the bureau caught the accused while accepting another set of Rs 5 lakh. The amount has been recovered, officials said. In Jalore, Karda Police Station SHO Amar Singh and head constable Prataparam were caught red-handed by a team of the ACB on Monday, they said. The duo had demanded bribe from the complainant for not making him an accused in a case under the Excise Act and for not beating a man taken into custody in connection with the case. After verification of the complaint, a trap was laid and the accused were arrested, an ACB official said. Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed Once again, hatred has gripped French suburbs and inner-cities, following the death of Nahel, a 17-year-old boy who died after being shot in the chest by a police officer. The destruction of police stations, town halls, schools, shops and something new this time around the attacks on law enforcement officials with firecrackers have been repeated every night for the past week. Meanwhile, various rallies have been trying to channel the fury of the youth. Recently, a large demonstration brought together more than 800,000 people in Nanterre the municipality in the western suburbs of Paris where Nahel lived with his mother. The revolt led by young French citizens of color many of them descendants of immigrants who hail from Frances former colonies is a social phenomenon. Its a recurring event, which has emerged at specific moments generally following the death of young men at the hands of the police for more than 40 years. The first outbreaks of violence date back to the 1980, the time of the deindustrialization of the banlieues (dense suburbs) and massive youth unemployment. The first great revolt broke out in 1981, as a result of a police chase that ended with several deaths. This incident gave rise to spontaneous, disorganized and self-destructive youth-led violence. A violence that had a clear territorial limit (the neighborhood) and a moral condition: it didnt have a desire for deadly revenge, although it clearly saw institutions, authority and power as adversities. While these riots were never considered to be formal political actions, the revolts did recall interesting political movements of the past, such as the Beur Movement the first anti-racist mobilization that gave a voice to young, socially-committed Franco-Maghrebis (Frenchpeople of North African descent) from the suburbs. In Paris, 100,000 people demonstrated in 1983 under the slogan, France is a motorcycle to move forward, you need a mixture. Several young people were received by President Francois Mitterrand, who promised them that his government would reform their neighborhoods and create local police units. Extraordinarily, local associations flourished following this, offering young people a new space for political socialization. In spite of these successes, the illusion vanished when the Socialist Party absorbed the movements. Young people felt betrayed violence returned in the 1990s, this time with organized gangs targeting businesses, police stations and even schools. Until the most violent autumn came in 2005, with 28,000 cars burned, 4,700 people arrested and 400 sentenced to jail time. This followed the death of Ziad and Banou 15 and 17-year-old respectively who were killed after the police mistook them for criminals. In the suburbs of Paris, the police arent a symbol of protection. Rather, officers are seen as a threat. As a sociologist, I did fieldwork in the northern suburbs of Paris after the riots of 2005, later returning to study the phenomenon again, between 2013 and 2015. Back then, the feeling was the same as it is today: nobody knew how to stop the youngsters. Not the parents, not the local educators, nor the imams and least of all the police. But after the violence, hope appeared again some capable young people formed a political party called the Indigenous of the Republic. We need to carry out this fight, said its leader, a young woman of Algerian origin. She was a student of Arabic and English philology I met her at one of the partys first meetings. She explained that the Indigenous were the new underclass of France: There are the upper classes, the middle classes, the workers and below all of them are us, the descendants of colonialism, secluded in these neighborhoods, stigmatized. Were never good enough to be recognized as French. Over the last three days, young people seem more organized than in the past. They communicate via Telegram or Snapchat, buying up artillery and firearms. Theyre causing damage even beyond the limits of the banlieues. So far, there have also been two very serious incidents, such as the attacks on the homes of two mayors. The question is: are they better organized and more violent this time around? Its difficult to answer, but whats clear is that the problem of violence is becoming more and more entrenched in French society. Today, President Emmanuel Macron doesnt speak of racaille (scum), as Nicolas Sarkozy did in 2005 when referring to the young people. Yet, Macron continues to elude the social causes of the phenomenon, choosing to instead hold families responsible, while occasionally mentioning the effects of new technologies and video games. For him, it seems as if the origin of violence is, simply, violence itself. The government assumes that the neighborhoods have been conquered by criminals, imposing a culture of violence which must be eradicated at all costs, with zero tolerance. French political discourse has forgotten the most powerful cause of violence: isolation. This collective loneliness is fed by economic, social and political exclusion. Civic participation has deteriorated to such an extent that young people feel totally disconnected from their representatives and fellow citizens. They have ceased to feel French many are seeking a new refuge in religion. This phenomenon should cause high alert among the French political elites, because as Hannah Arendt pointed out in The Origins of Totalitarianism theres a clear correlation between loneliness, that experience of not belonging to the world, with violence and intolerance. The truly dangerous thing isnt the young people who are torching cars these days, but the isolation and territorial concentration of poverty that has been worsening for more than 50 years. This is despite the fact that, after each outbreak of violence, the government has made efforts to improve the neighborhoods. Still, no policies have been carried out to promote social and ethnic integration, while social housing construction hasnt been prevalent in more central neighborhoods a measure that could, once and for all, connect the banlieues to the city and improve their access to public transportations and services. This has been achieved in only a few cases, such as in Montreuil, Mbappe's hometown. Finally, racial and religious discrimination is the other great barrier for young people. As the activist and sociologist Said Bouamama warns, French racism is not built through a process of exclusion as in Anglo-Saxon countries but by an excessive desire for inclusion. By wanting to desperately assimilate immigrants as well as the children and grandchildren of immigrants French society has created a kind of covert differentiation: one that causes young people to experience contempt, injustice and abuse of power in silence. Hence, these outbursts of anger. Discrimination in France appears through police abuse, unequal access to employment and housing, or banks refusing to grant credit to young people of color. Meanwhile, the initiatives created by the youth of the banlieues which demand recognition of the abuses perpetrated by colonialism and the creation of effective mechanisms against everyday racism are despised by the elites. Oftentimes, theyre even made illegal, a recent example being the new law against Islamist separatism approved by Marcon in 2021. Who represents the youth of the suburbs today? Who are envoys sent by the government when the violence breaks out? Parts of the country have been orphaned as disorder and violence reign in the streets the state has nobody left to dialogue with, because it hasnt given a voice to its new generations. Today, France is living the consequences of the non-inclusion of the so-called new citizens, who, since the 1970s, have been crying out to be recognized. Cecilia Eseverri-Mayer is professor of Sociology at Madrid's Complutense University. She is the author of Jovenes en tierra de nadie. Hijos de inmigrantes en un barrio de la periferia de Madrid (CIS) (Youngsters in no-man's land. Children of immigrants in a neighbourhood on the periferies of Madrid). Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Mangaluru, July 11 (PTI) In an unusual move, a group of tipplers in Udupi city on Tuesday came out to stage a protest against the hefty increase in the price of liquor in Karnataka. The state government had increased excise duty on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) by 20 per cent and beer by 10 per cent in the recent Budget presented in the Assembly. The tipplers in Udupi, led by social activist Nithyananda Volakadu, staged a sit-in to protest against the hike. Pointing out that people come out in protest when power tariff or the price of cooking gas is increased, he said the protest was organised as there is no one to protest against liquor price hike. New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) Muslim World League Secretary-General Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed various aspects of furthering interfaith harmony, peace and working towards human progress. Al-Issa, who is on an India visit, also addressed an event organised by the Khusro Foundation and the India Islamic Cultural Centre here. "PM @narendramodi met H.E. Sheikh @MhmdAlissa, Secretary General of Muslim World League @MWLOrg and Chairman of the Organisation of Muslim Scholars. They had insightful discussions on various aspects of furthering inter-faith harmony, peace and working towards human progress," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a tweet. The Muslim World League (MWL) is an international NGO headquartered in Mecca, with members from all Islamic countries and sects. It aims to present Islam and its tolerant principles, provide humanitarian aid, extend bridges of dialogue and cooperation with all, engage in positive openness to all cultures and civilisations, follow the path of centrism and moderation, and ward off movements calling for extremism, violence and exclusion. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Fox News personality Mark Levin launched a scathing attack on the Department of Justice (DOJ) during his Sunday show, accusing them of leaking information about the prosecution of former President Donald Trump for his handling of classified material. During the latest episode of Life, Liberty, and Levin, the host dedicated his opening monologue to discussing the numerous leaks that have surfaced in relation to Trumps legal proceedings. Levin expressed his belief that the back of the Department of Justice needs to be broken. Levin claimed that the DOJ is destroying America and undermining the integrity of the 2024 election, accusing the department of violating established norms and traditions. He emphasized his concern about the consequences, stating, If we dont break the back of the Department of Justice, it will destroy this country. To illustrate his point, Levin read out headlines from prominent news outlets such as the New York Times, CNN, and the Washington Post, highlighting leaks related to Trumps legal cases. He then dramatically shook piles of paper, held together with a binder clip, in front of the camera, exclaiming, Look at this! Expressing his frustration, Levin questioned the motivations behind the leaks, asserting that they do not benefit Trump or any witnesses involved. He attributed the leaks to the federal government, specifically the Biden Department of Justice, and accused the Democratic Partys Department of Justice of interfering in the election. Levin continued his tirade, addressing the alleged violation of Trumps 5th and 6th amendment rights resulting from the pattern of leaks. He further claimed that the leaks were contaminating the jury pool for the upcoming cases. Levin directed attention to Jack Smiths office, the special counsel overseeing Trumps legal matters, highlighting the significance of the Department of Justices involvement. He called on Trumps legal team to take action, stating, Now the Trump lawyers need to wake the hell up to do something about this. Last month, Special Counsel Jack Smith charged Trump with 47 counts, carrying the potential for a life sentence if convicted. Additionally, Trump faces separate charges related to hush money payments, as indicted by a New York grand jury. The accusations against Trump have made him a frontrunner among Republicans. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Former President Donald Trump unleashed a series of Truths on his social media platform accusing the White House of covering up that the cocaine found in the White House belongs to Joe and Hunter Biden. THEY 100% KNOW WHO IT IS, Trump wrote. If they dont release information, it means they destroyed the tapes & the Cocaine was for use by Hunter, & probably Crooked Joe, in order to give this total disaster of a President a little life and energy! Trump then wondered whether the president was high when FBI agents raided Mar-a-Lago last August. Was Crooked Joe Biden on Cocaine when he instructed the FBI/DOJ to illegally invade my home, Mar-a-Lago, in complete and total violation of my 4th Amendment Rights? Trump asked. Was he on Cocaine, or various other substances, when he, for the first time in U.S. history, had his political opponent, who is leading him in the Polls by a lot, indicted and arrested (twice, if you include the DOJ run Manhattan D.A.s Office)? WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE!!! (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un alleged on Monday that the countrys warplanes repelled a U.S. spy plane that flew over its exclusive economic zone and warned of shocking consequences if the U.S. continues reconnaissance activities in the area. The U.S. and South Korean militaries did not immediately respond to the comments by Kim Yo Jong, one of her brothers top foreign policy officials, which were published in state media Monday evening. Earlier Monday, North Koreas Defense Ministry issued a statement accusing the U.S. of flying spy planes into its inviolable airspace and warning that approaching aircraft might be shot down. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff responded by denying that the U.S. had flown spy planes into North Korean territory. Spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said at a briefing that the U.S. was conducting standard reconnaissance activities in coordination with South Koreas military. Apparently in response to that comment, Kim accused the Joint Chiefs of Staff of acting like a spokesperson for the U.S. military and said the U.S. has been intensifying its reconnaissance activities in a serious infringement of North Koreas sovereignty and safety. But while the North Korean Defense Ministry statement seemed to imply an intrusion into the countrys territorial airspace, Kim accused the U.S. of sending spy planes over the Norths exclusive economic zone, the area within 200 nautical miles of its territory where it controls rights to natural resources. Kim said a U.S. spy plane crossed the eastern sea boundary between the Koreas at around 5 a.m. Monday and conducted reconnaissance activities over the Norths exclusive economic zone before being chased away by North Korean warplanes. She said the U.S. aircraft crossed the eastern sea boundary again at around 8:50 a.m., prompting North Koreas military to issue an unspecified strong warning toward the United States. She said North Korea would take decisive action if the U.S. continues to fly reconnaissance planes over her countrys exclusive economic zone, but added that it would not take a direct counteraction for U.S. reconnaissance activities outside of the zone. A shocking incident would occur in the long run in the 20-40 kilometer section in which the U.S. spy planes habitually intrude into the sky above the economic water zone of North Korea, she said. Kims comments come at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula as the pace of North Korean weapon tests and U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises have intensified. North Korea has test-fired nearly 100 missiles since the start of 2022 as Kim Jong Un expands a nuclear arsenal he apparently sees as his strongest guarantee of survival. (AP) President Joe Biden, known for his soft-spoken demeanor in public, has a tendency to unleash his temper behind closed doors, Axios reports. According to anonymous sources within his administration, these outbursts show him to be a different person than his carefully crafted image as a kindly uncle figure who enjoys Aviator sunglasses and ice cream. The presidents quick-trigger temper has led some aides to avoid meeting with him alone, instead opting to bring along a colleague as a shield against a potential solo outburst. The eruptions within private walls have sparked a debate among Bidens aides, with some suggesting that occasional displays of his temper in public could help assuage concerns among voters that the 80-year-old president is disengaged and unfit for office. Both senior and lower-level aides have found themselves in Bidens line of fire, as no one is immune to his wrath, according to an administration official. One notable incident was recounted by Biden aides, who recalled his anger directed at Jeff Zients, the former COVID czar, during a shortage of testing kits as the Omicron variant spread in late 2021. While a spokesperson for Zients who now serves as Bidens chief of staff declined to comment on the alleged internal conversations, the White House also chose not to provide a statement on the matter. Chris Whipple, author of The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Bidens White House, confirmed to Axios that Biden has a short temper, comparing it to that of former President Bill Clinton, albeit less volcanic in nature. Whipples book quotes former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, who mentioned her expectation that Biden would eventually yell at her as a sign of a strong and trusting relationship. Aides within the White House suggest that being yelled at by the president has become an internal initiation ritual, with some viewing it as a sign of respect one of the most bizarre and laughable defenses of a president possible. Regardless, Axios says Bidens temperament demands a specific skill set, referred to as Speaking Biden, which takes years to master. Aides must navigate his mood swings and anticipate the information he will request during briefings. Some officials in the administration, who hail from prestigious educational backgrounds, struggle to meet Bidens demand for concise language devoid of jargon, as if briefing a close family member rather than a member of the D.C. political bubble. While Biden strives to conceal his temper in public, there have been occasional glimpses of it, with some former aides even documenting such incidents. In January 2022, a hot mic caught Biden referring to Fox News Peter Doocy as a stupid son of a [expletive removed]. And Biden has publicly snapped at reporters multiple times in recent weeks. Jeff Connaughton, a former Biden campaign and Senate aide, discussed the presidents temper in his 2012 book on Washington corruption, The Payoff: Why Wall Street Wins. Connaughton portrayed Biden as an egomaniacal autocrat during his time as a senator, highlighting his management style based on fear. This sharp edge, Connaughton suggests, is hidden to promote Bidens folksy Uncle Joe persona, making the occasional flashes of anger seem out of character to the public eye. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A protest began at Ben-Gurion Airport at about 3:30 pm. on Tuesday, with police limiting protesters to a designated area outside the airport. However, hundreds of protesters showed up and as the area became crowded, protesters began breaking through the designated areas, blocking the road leading from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1, the road to Terminal 3, and a parking area. Five protesters were arrested by the police for disturbing public order. Many protesters left the airport toward the evening and headed to a protest outside the US embassy in Tel Aviv. Police Chief Kobi Shabtai told Kan News that reports of overcrowding at Ben-Gurion are false and that there is plenty of room for protesters to move around if needed. Shabtai also reported that 71 protesters throughout the country have been arrested, of whom 45 were already released. According to a full police report, despite the protests, all flights took off and landed as scheduled on Tuesday. By 7 p.m., 71,707 passengers passed through the airport, and by midnight, 84,000 passengers are expected to pass through, arriving or departing on 510 international flights. The Airport Authority and Ben-Gurion Airport prepared in accordance with the events with increased work teams during the hours the protests took place. Throughout the day, Ben-Gurion Airport managed to maintain high operational precision, especially in relation to the busy summer season and the existing congestion in European airspace. " ": " | : " , "https://t.co/sEmdcosQzG : , 90 pic.twitter.com/QuTwn8bd4H N12 (@N12News) July 11, 2023 (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The catastrophic collapse of a dam in southern Ukraine has made Kyiv worried that Russia might stage an attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to foment panic and quell Ukrainian advances on the frontline, Ukraines energy minister said Monday. Herman Halushchenko said the destruction of the dam while under Russian control in the Kherson region proved there are no red lines for Moscow. He said it warrants the level of alarm Ukraines leadership has been raising in recent weeks of an alleged Russian ploy to attack the nuclear plant in a possible false flag operation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged last week, citing intelligence reports, that Russian troops placed objects resembling explosives atop several power units to simulate an attack. Drone and satellite images obtained by the Associated Press showed unidentified white objects on the roof of the plants fourth power unit, but Ukrainian leaders have so far been unable to provide further evidence. While Russia accuses Ukraine of bombarding the Kakhovka dam, Kyiv blames Moscow for the attack on the dam in late May, which triggered a humanitarian crisis and caused widespread ecological devastation. An AP investigation found that Moscow had the means and motive to carry out the attack. Halushchenko said he and Zelenskyy had raised alarms as early as October 2022 that the Russians could plant mines to blow up the Kakhovka dam. For many many people it sounded ridiculous and when it happened everybody understood that there are no red lines for them, he said in a sit-down interview with The Associated Press. And of course its all connected to the counter-offensive operation, and after Kakhovka, the one tool which they still have is Zaporizhzhia. The nuclear plant was seized by Russia in March 2022, in the first weeks of the war in Ukraine, raising fears of a nuclear accident. Over the past year, Russia and Ukraine repeatedly accused each other of shelling the plant. Ukraines military intelligence has claimed for weeks, without providing evidence, that Russia is planning a large-scale provocation at the nuclear power plant, Europes largest, in the southeast of the country. Around the same time, Ukraine launched the early phase of its much anticipated counter-offensive last month and has reported steady advances along multiple directions of the 1,500 kilometer (930-mile) frontline. An incident at the plant could halt Ukraines advance, Zelenskyy has said. Ukrainian military intelligence reports have said that Russia placed mines on the roof of the nuclear plant, and put remote-controlled and regular anti-personnel mines in technical and machine rooms. Image experts the AP spoke to could not identify the objects that have been seen on the roof. Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at the Middlebury Institute and satellite image expert, said the objects appeared to be placed on the roof of the units turbine hall, and, if it turns out to be a bomb, is unlikely to cause serious damage to the reactor. The Russians have cited security concerns in granting only limited access to officials from the International Atomic Atomic Energy Agency. The agencys Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said recently that the IAEA had recently gained access to more of the site, including the cooling pond and fuel storage areas. The Ukrainians had said those areas were mined by the Russians, but the IAEA found they were not, Grossi said. The agency has not yet been given access to inspect the roof of the plant. Haluschenko noted that the IAEA representatives were not able to access the entire site. So the Russians allowed them to see only what they decided they could see, and that is the problem, he said. (AP) Belarus journalist Pavel Mazheika speaks to the Associated Press, in the city of Zhlobin, 231 km (144 miles) east of Minsk, Belarus, on Jan. 22, 2003. A prominent journalist went on trial in Belarus Monday, the latest step in a years-long crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists. If convicted on the charges of assisting extremist activity, Pavel Mazheika, 45, faces up to six years in prison for his work covering the political opposition. He is accused of working for news outlets including Belsat TV, which broadcasts in Belarusian from its base in neighboring Poland. The Belarusian authorities have labeled Belsat as extremist. Journalists and activists in Belarus have faced large-scale repression since the August 2020 vote that handed a sixth term to President Alexander Lukashenko. Following the election, which was rejected as fraudulent by the opposition and the West, Belarus was swept by massive protests, some of which drew more than 100,000 people. Authorities responded with a brutal crackdown. More than 35,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten by police while in custody, and dozens of nongovernmental organizations and independent media outlets were shut down. Mazheika has been behind bars for more than 10 months since he was detained on August 30, 2022. In courtroom pictures from Belarusian state news agency Belta, the journalist had noticeably lost weight and kept his back turned to the camera. Mazheika had previously said that he was severely beaten during his arrest by security officers who tried to gouge out his eye. The reporter is just one of 35 Belarusian media workers currently jailed or awaiting trial, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. Mazheika is on trial in the city of Grodno, in western Belarus. He appeared in the dock alongside lawyer Yuliya Yurhilevich, who was accused of giving him information on Belarus political prisoners. Yurhilevich, 42, who has practiced law for almost 18 years and defended human rights activists, was stripped of her license in February 2022. Mazheika is a well-known figure in Belarus. In 2002, he was sentenced to two years in jail for slandering the president, before becoming press secretary for presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich in 2006. Mazheika has since worked for leading independent news outlets in both Belarus and Poland, hosting several shows and acting as executive director for Belsat TV. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is among those who have condemned Mazheikas and Yurhilevichs arrests. A well-known journalist and lawyer in the dock is the verdict against the Lukashenko regime, which declares anyone who disagrees with the dictatorship an extremist, she said. Mazheika has already become a legendary journalist who pays a high price for freedom of speech. Some 1,491 recognized political prisoners are currently behind bars in Belarus, according to the Viasna human rights center. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday blasted as absurd the absence of a timetable for his countrys membership in NATO, injecting harsh criticism into a gathering of the alliances leaders that was intended to showcase solidarity in the face of Russian aggression. The broadside from Zelenskyy could renew tensions at the summit shortly after it saw a burst of goodwill after Turkey agreed to advance Swedens bid to join NATO. Allies hope to resolve the seesawing negotiations and leave Vilnius with a clear path forward for the alliance and its support for Ukraine. Officials have drafted a proposal, which has not been publicly released, on Ukraines potential membership. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed support during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, but Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter that he was not satisfied. We value our allies, he said but added that Ukraine also deserves respect. Its unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraines membership, Zelenskyy said. He finished with, Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit. Zelenskyy is expected to meet with Biden and other NATO leaders on Wednesday. There have been sharp divisions within the alliance over Ukraines desire to join NATO, which was promised back in 2008 even though few steps were taken toward that goal. Stoltenberg wrote in Foreign Affairs on Monday that the alliance would upgrade our political ties by forming a NATO-Ukraine Council, which would be a platform for decisions and crisis consultation. In addition, he said Tuesday that NATO would forgo requiring membership action plan for Ukraine, removing another hurdle. But that did not seem to alleviate Zelenskyys concerns. In addition, the Baltic states including Lithuania, which is hosting the summit have pushed for a strong show of support and a clear pathway toward membership for Ukraine. However, the United States and Germany were urging caution. Biden said last week that Ukraine wasnt ready to join. Members of NATO, he told CNN, need to meet all the qualifications, from democratization to a whole range of other issues, a nod toward longstanding concerns about governance and corruption in Kyiv. In addition, some fear that bringing Ukraine into NATO would serve more as a provocation to Russia than as a deterrence against aggression. Jake Sullivan, Bidens national security adviser, said allies were debating the precise nature of Ukraines pathway to membership. However, he promised that the summit would demonstrate how Russian President Vladimir Putins hopes for fractures within NATO will be unfulfilled. He has been disappointed at every turn, Sullivan said. Vilnius will very much disappoint him. The dispute over Ukraine stands in contrast to a hard-fought agreement to advance Swedens membership. The deal was reached after days of intensive meetings, and its poised to expand the alliances strength in Northern Europe. Rumors of the death of NATOs unity were greatly exaggerated, Sullivan told reporters triumphantly on Tuesday. According to a joint statement issued when the deal was announced, Erdogan will ask Turkeys parliament to approve Sweden joining NATO. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another holdout, is expected to take a similar step. Hungarys foreign minister said Tuesday that his countrys ratification of Swedens NATO membership was now just a technical matter. Erdogan has not yet commented publicly. The outcome is a victory as well for Biden, as well, who has touted NATOs expansion as an example of how Russias invasion of Ukraine has backfired on Moscow. Finland has already become the 31st member of the alliance, and Sweden is on deck to become the 32nd. Both Nordic countries were historically nonaligned until the war increased fears of Russian aggression. Because of the deal on Swedens membership, this summit is already historic before it has started, Stoltenberg said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that NATOs expansion is one of the reasons that led to the current situation. It looks like the Europeans dont understand their mistake, Peskov said. He warned against putting Ukraine on a fast track for NATO membership. Potentially its very dangerous for the European security, it carries very big risks, Peskov said. Biden and Erdogan were scheduled to meet Tuesday evening, and it was unclear how some of the Turkish presidents other demands will be resolved. He has been seeking advanced American fighter jets and a path toward membership in the European Union. The White House has expressed support for both, but publicly insisted that the issues were not related to Swedens membership in NATO. I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area, Biden said in a statement late Monday. The phrasing was a nod to Bidens commitment to help Turkey acquire new F-16 fighter jets, according to an administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly. The Biden administration has backed Turkeys desire to buy 40 new F-16s as well as modernization kits from the U.S. Its a move some in Congress, most notably Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J, have opposed over Turkey blocking NATO membership for Sweden, its human rights record and other concerns. In Washington, Menendez said he was continuing to have my reservations on providing the fighter aircraft to Turkey. If the Biden administration could show that Turkey wouldnt use the F-16s belligerently against other NATO members, particularly its neighbor Greece, and meet other conditions, then there may be a way forward, Menendez told reporters. Biden is on a five-day trip to Europe, with the NATO summit as its centerpiece. The president spent Monday in the United Kingdom, meeting at Windsor Castle with King Charles III and in London with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He met Tuesday with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, emphasizing his commitment to transatlantic cooperation, before he joined the NATO gathering. Nothing happens here that doesnt affect us, Biden told Nauseda. The White House said Nauseda presented Biden with the Order of Vytautas the Great, the highest award a Lithuanian president can bestow. Biden is the first U.S. president to receive it. After the summit ends on Wednesday, Biden will travel to Helsinki. On Thursday, hell celebrate Finlands recent entry into NATO and meet with Nordic leaders. (AP) US prosecutors have unsealed an indictment against Gal Luft, the American-Israeli co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, charging him with illicit arms trafficking, violation of US sanctions laws, and other related offenses. The indictment unsealing comes five months after Lufts arrest in Cyprus, from where he subsequently fled from authorities. Luft has been in the spotlight recently, having been an informant claiming to possess incriminating information on Hunter Biden, according to House Oversight Chairman James Comer, a prominent Republican figure. Luft has vehemently denied the allegations made against him. In February, he tweeted, Ive been arrested in Cyprus on a politically motivated extradition request by the US. The US, claiming Im an arms dealer. It would be funny if it werent tragic. Ive never been an arms dealer. DOJ is trying to bury me to protect Joe, Jim & Hunter Biden. Responding to the indictment, Robert Henoch, Lufts attorney, criticized it as a vicious attempt to silence a witness to corruption. Henoch refuted the claims, stating that there was no arms trading involved and Luft did not act as an agent for any foreign entity or provide false information to federal agents, as alleged in the indictment. The Institute for the Analysis of Global Security also issued a statement defending Luft, emphasizing his expertise in energy security, economics, and geopolitics. Prosecutors, however, consider Luft a fugitive. The charges against him include failure to register as an agent for China in the US, including acting on behalf of a former high-ranking US official who advised then-President-elect Donald Trump in 2016. Additionally, Luft is accused of acting as a middleman to facilitate Chinese companies in purchasing weapons. The indictment further alleges his violation of US sanctions by attempting to broker sales of Iranian oil. House Republicans have initiated an investigation into the financial dealings of the Biden family and have sought information from the Justice Department regarding its probe into Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden has already agreed to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, a Republican, has asserted that Luft is a crucial witness in this investigation. Henoch revealed that Luft had met with two prosecutors and four FBI agents in Brussels to share allegations regarding the financial dealings between the Biden family and the Chinese government. He told the DOJ prosecutors things which they did not want to hear, so they charged him with lying, Henoch asserted. House Republicans investigating the Biden familys financial activities have claimed that Hunter Biden made millions of dollars through business opportunities in Ukraine, China, Romania, and other countries while his father, Joe Biden, served as vice president. However, there is currently no evidence to suggest that Joe Biden misused his position to benefit his family financially. Last month, Joe Biden emphatically denied his involvement or presence when his son allegedly sent a text message to a Chinese business partner in 2017, claiming that he was in the same location. When asked about his participation in the business dealings or his presence with Hunter at the time of the message, Joe Biden stated firmly to reporters, No. I wasnt. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition (FJCC) convened a leadership meeting with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso to discuss issues and concerns of the Flatbush community. The robust discussion included rising anti- semitism, small business, quality of life, crime, and sanitation concerns. Borough President Reynoso, who served as a city councilmember in Williamsburg prior to becoming borough president, expressed his commitment to continue working with the FJCC to address these concerns. FJCC Chairman Josh Mehlman thanked the Boro President for his interest in better understanding the needs of our community and the Jewish community borough-wide. The meeting was attended by representatives of Flatbush shuls, yeshivas and organizations, demonstrating the importance of community engagement and creating an open line of communication with our elected representatives to better serve the needs of their constituents. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A storm that dumped up to two months of rain in two days in Vermont and other parts of the Northeast brought more flooding Tuesday to communities marooned by water, including the state capital, where a dam just upstream was threatening to overflow. The flooding has already caused tens of millions of dollars in damage, officials said, with more to come: If water pours over the dam on the Winooski River that flows through Montpelier, it could surge through downtown blocks where the floods were already waist-high. City officials said Tuesday afternoon they had not seen any significant changes in the water levels at the dam for the last two hours and that they would continue to monitor it through the night. Floodwaters continue to rise in some places, like our capital city, and have surpassed the levels seen during Tropical Storm Irene, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said. Irene killed six people in Vermont in August 2011, washing homes off their foundations and damaging or destroying more than 200 bridges and 500 miles (805 kilometers) of highway. The sun was out Tuesday and more sunshine was expected Wednesday. But more rain was forecast Thursday and Friday. We are not out of the woods, Scott said. This is nowhere near over. He tweeted that the roads around his house were impassable Tuesday morning, so he had to hike through the woods to reach the states emergency response center. One woman was swept away in New York. There have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the flooding in Vermont, where swift-water rescue teams aided by National Guard helicopter crews have done more than 100 rescues, Vermont Emergency Management said Tuesday. That included an extremely high-risk rescue by a visiting New Hampshire team, of a person who decided to drive around a barricaded road, said Mike Cannon of Vermont Urban Search and Rescue. The car was washed off the roadway almost into the river, he said, urging drivers to pay attention to road closures. Dozens of roads and highways were closed, including many along the spine of the Green Mountains, and flash flood warnings and advisories were in effect for much of the state, from the Massachusetts line to Canada. Downtown Montpelier, a city of 8,000, was swamped between the capitol building and the Winooski River. Montpelier Town Manager Bill Fraser warned that the Wrightsville Dam several miles to the north could exceed capacity for the first time. There would be a large amount of water coming into Montpelier which would drastically add to the existing flood damage, he said, adding that there are very few evacuation options remaining. People in at risk areas may wish to go to upper floors in their houses. Just before noon on Tuesday, Montpelier Police said waters had risen to within a foot of the top of the dam, and every foot of water that goes over the spillway would double the flow into the city. Multiple rescue crews were positioned in Montpelier, where dispatch, police and fire operations were relocated to a water treatment plant after heavy flooding at City Hall and the police and fire departments. Also, the radio towers they use for emergency calls are not functional, Police Chief Eric Nordenson said. Shelters were set up at churches and town halls, but at least one refuge had to close as flooding worsened. Delivering food and water to more than 200 people sheltering at the Barre Municipal Auditorium has been a challenge. Were trying to find paths to get supplies in to them, said John Montes, American Red Cross of Northern New England regional disaster officer. The slow-moving storm reached New England after hitting parts of New York and Connecticut on Sunday. Some communities received between 7 and 9 inches (18 centimeters and 23 centimeters) of rain by Monday night. Towns in southwest New Hampshire had heavy flooding, and road washouts earlier in the week. Syd Straw, who was trapped in her house near the small town of Weston, appreciated Tuesdays sunshine, but said she still had water in her basement and a crumbled driveway that reminded her a bit of the Grand Canyon. I can hike out of my broken driveway and get onto the sliver of dirt road that remains, she said. The Connecticut River, swollen from the heavy rains in Vermont, was expected to crest above flood stage Wednesday in Hartford and towns to the south, causing minor to moderate flooding, according to the National Weather Service. President Joe Biden, attending the annual NATO summit in Lithuania, declared an emergency for Vermont and authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help coordinate disaster relief efforts and provide assistance. FEMA sent a team to Vermont, along with emergency communications equipment, and is prepared to keep shelters supplied if the state requests it. The agency also is monitoring flooding in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire, regional spokesperson Dennis Pinkham said Tuesday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged people on Tuesday to please, please be safe, and follow safety protocols. Road crews cleared debris Tuesday, reopening Interstate 89 as it follows the river between Montpelier and Middlesex. Rescuers from North Carolina, Michigan and Connecticut joined Vermonters in among those reaching towns that had been isolated since torrents of rain began belting the state. One of the worst-hit places was New Yorks Hudson Valley, where a woman identified by police as Pamela Nugent, 43, died as she tried to escape her flooded home with her dog in the hamlet of Fort Montgomery. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point was pounded with more than 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain that sent debris sliding onto some roads and washed others out. Nine inches of rain in this community, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a briefing on a muddy street in Highland Falls, just south of the academy on the west bank of the Hudson River. Theyre calling this a 1,000 year event. Atmospheric scientists say destructive flooding events like these happen more frequently as storms form in a warmer atmosphere, and the planets rising temperatures will only make it worse. (AP) An Israeli citizen was recently abducted in Ethiopia while visiting the East African nation, confirmed Israels Foreign Minister on Tuesday. The incident, which occurred several days ago, has prompted immediate action from Israeli authorities to secure the individuals safe release. Israeli media reports indicate that the victim managed to send a distressing voicemail to his family, stating his urgent need for help. Help me. Im currently stranded deep in the jungle, enduring heavy rainfall. Please assist me. I might have to remain here. Help me, help my children. Lets not allow our adversaries to exploit this situation. Help me. Israels Foreign Ministry promptly responded to the situation, taking charge of the case. In an official statement, the ministry acknowledged the report it received regarding the kidnapping of an Israeli citizen in the Gondar region of Ethiopia. It assured that the Department for Israelis Abroad has established contact with the victims family members in Israel and is collaborating with Interpol to address the matter urgently. Furthermore, the Israeli consul in Ethiopia is actively engaging with local security authorities to facilitate the prompt and safe release of the abducted Israeli citizen. Efforts are currently underway to bring back the Israeli citizen unharmed, with authorities working tirelessly to resolve the situation as swiftly as possible. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the ministers of his government held a special meeting on Sunday morning with Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, demanding answers about the selective treatment of the anarchist protesters who have been violating the law throughout the country and being treated with kid gloves by the police. Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai also participated in the meeting. The discussion quickly grew heated as police data since the start of the protests were presented and the ministers hurled serious accusations at Baharav-Miara and enforcement officials. Out of 570 arrests made since the start of the protests for violating public order, only six indictments have been filed. Ministers slammed Baharav-Miara for the selective enforcement, with police allowing anarchists to protest undisturbed despite regularly using violent means in the past to disperse protesters at Chareidi, Dati Leumi and Ethiopian protests. Additionally, for weeks, protesters have been allowed to close down the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv despite the fact that closing highways is forbidden by Israeli law. Other ministers complained about left-wing protesters being allowed to demonstrate at extremely high volumes in close proximity to ministers homes while in the past, protesters outside the homes of former prime minister Naftali Bennett and former attorney-general Avichai Mandelblit were kept at a distance from their homes. Minister Yitzchak Wasserlauf said: The president of the Supreme Court said freedom of speech is not the freedom to disable the State. During the Disengagement, 170 indictments were filed in one day. All citizens of Israel see the selective enforcement, and therefore I am raising a bright red flag here. It would not be pleasant if we had to petition the Supreme Court against the governments Attorney-General who is not doing the job expected of her. Minister May Golan didnt mince words, telling Baharav-Miara, among other things: You will be remembered in history as a collaborator of those who burned the state. Minister Avi Dichter slammed Baharav-Miara for her silence about the calls for civil rebellion. Civil rebellion is civil rebellion, he said. What will the ordinary citizen say in the face of your silence against these calls? In the middle of the discussion, Baharav-Miara made an outrageous statement: There is no effective protest without harassment and disruption of public order. Netanyahu responded: That is a shocking sentence! Transportation Minister Miri Regev addressed the issue of anarchists being allowed to protest at Ben-Gurion Airport: Ben-Gurion is not a public area, it is an important security area for the State of Israel, she said. I will not accept harming security under any circumstances or Israels aviation routine or preventing flights or any kind of obstructions. I request to stop the selective enforcement politics and personal opinions should be left out of the considerations. The public good, freedom of movement, and national security are more important. Justice Minister Yariv Levin spoke for ten full minutes, reading the Attorney-Generals protocols from the Disengagement period regarding blocking roads. Until today, both during the Disengagement and during other protests, the roads were kept open and if they were blocked, it lasted for a very short time. The policy was clear: stop, evacuate, file charges. Today, roads are blocked as a matter of routine. Ben-Gurion looks like a battlefield. Regev then chimed in, telling Baharav-Miara: If the Attorney-General supports and enables violation of public order, contrary to the positions of the Supreme Court and past attorney-generals, then what is the role of elected officials? What is the role of the government? If the Attorney-General decides everything but is unable to help the government function, then maybe she should be fired. Baharav-Miara did not have answers for the ministers complaints, although she did say at one point: The government should be careful not to interfere in the affairs of the enforcement system. Minister Amichai Chikli retorted: What chutzpah, Attorney-General Koach Kaplan. [Koach Kaplan is the name of a leftist protest group.] Netanyahu said: The right to demonstrate within the framework of the law is a sacred right for every person and every sector and we strongly condemn any violence against demonstrators from one side or the other. This right is reserved both for the opponents of the reform and for its supporters. The government does not intend to limit this right. But the government does request a report on what the enforcement policy regarding the violations of the law that violate the basic rights of millions of citizens, and are carried out on an almost daily basis during the protests. These violations are manifested in the blocking of main transportation arteries in the country, the disruption of the airport, in calls for non-payment of taxes, the harassment of public figures, in calls for rebellion and refusal with the goal of halting entire units in the army and violations of the law in many other areas. The public should receive an answer to the question of what the enforcement policy is and whether it is a uniform policy. Because in a democratic country, it is not possible to have one enforcement policy towards a certain sector and a second enforcement policy towards another sector. It is clear to everyone selective enforcement is a fatal injury to democracy and a fatal injury to the rule of law. At the end of the meeting, the government instructed Baharav-Miara to provide clear instructions for the enforcement of the law at protests within a week. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The commander of the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, Maj. Gen. Aroldo Lazaro, met in Beirut with caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday and conveyed Israels demand to remove the Hezbollah tent established on Israeli territory. Mikatis response was that Israel should withdraw its soldier from the north of Ghajar which is considered Lebanese territory. Israeli soldiers captured the northern part of Ghajar during the Lebanon War in 2006. Since September 2022, when the military opened the checkpoint to the village, the town has become a tourist attraction for Israelis. Recently, Lebanese officials are claiming that Israel built a wall and fence around the Lebanese part of Ghajar in a plan to occupy it. However, Ynet reported that the spokesperson for the Ghajar local council, Bilal Khatib, said that the Ghajar council actually built the new wall and a fence after residents complained of wild animals entering the village. According to the report, Hezbollah and Lebanese officials are using the narrative of Israel taking over the northern area of Ghajar as a pretext for war. The report quotes Tal Beeri, the head of the Alma Center think tank, who believes that the recent provocations on the border are being carried out with an understanding that they may kindle a war. Hezbollahs position is stronger than ever, both militarily and politically, and this is the ideal opportunity for them to engage in a war while Lebanon is in crisis and they could potentially increase their grip on the crumbling state, he said. Beeri, a former intelligence officer with years of experience in the Lebanese and Syrian arenas, added that since last week, Hezbollah has been influencing public opinion by using the wall in Ghajar as a justification for engaging in a confrontation with Israel. Another recent Ynet report quoted senior IDF generals as saying that Israel will have no choice but to soon engage in limited confrontations with Hezbollah in the wake of the numerous provocations on the border. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Azerbaijani security authorities on Monday arrested an Afghan citizen in Baku for planning to commit a terror attack against a foreign embassy in the city, Azerbaijani media reported on Tuesday morning. Although the official statement by Azerbaijani security services did not identify the embassy, local reports said that the suspect, Pazhan Musa Khan, was caught red-handed thanks to information provided by the Mossad, which tracked Khans movements as he entered Azerbaijan from Iran and began preparing to carry out a deadly attack against the Israeli embassy in Baku. Azerbaijan shares a border with Iran but the two countries have a history of hostile relations. The Azerbaijani security services published footage showing Khan surveilling the Hyatt Regency hotel complex in Baku, where the Israeli embassy is located, and being arrested at the scene of the crime. Azerbaijani security services said that Khan meticulously examined the area where the embassies are located, recruited and paid collaborators, and made efforts to procure weapons and explosives in order to commit the attack. Azerbaijani security officials worked closely with their Israeli counterparts on the case. Azerbaijans publication of the video and details of the case was intended to embarrass Tehran. Israel confirmed that the suspect was arrested after he was found near the Israeli embassy. In recent years, the Azerbaijani security services have succeeded in thwarting several Iranian attempts to carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets in the country and several Iranian cells have been arrested in the country in recent months. Azerbaijan inaugurated an embassy in Tel Aviv in March. In May, President Issac Herzog visited Baku under heavy security due to fears of Iranian provocations. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Sponsored Content Unprecedented Interest Tisa BAv is traditionally a time where people turn their attention inward, consuming meaningful content from within their own home. Every year, key content providers in the Jewish world choose to broadcast their offerings to hundreds of thousands of viewers who frequent the Jewish worlds largest news sites. 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Centrica has signed a 15-year deal with Delfin Midstream for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that could provide enough energy to heat 5 per cent of UK homes. The agreement, which has a market value of $8billion (6.2billion), will see the British Gas owner take delivery of one million tonnes of LNG a year. Operations and first LNG shipments are expected from the Delfin Deepwater Port, located 40 miles off the coast of Louisiana, in 2027. British Gas owner Centrica will take delivery of one million tonnes of LNG a year from 2027 Centrica chief executive, Chris O'Shea, said the latest deal was 'good news for our customers and the country'. He added: 'The last year has demonstrated the critical importance of investing in the UK's energy security. 'Addressing the immediate impact of the energy crisis on our customers has been one of our biggest priorities, but I'm acutely aware that we also need to look ahead to manage future risks and secure our supplies. 'As well as strengthening the trade links between the UK and US, this deal - alongside reopening Rough and our major deal with Equinor - shows that Centrica is investing heavily to future-proof the UK's energy supply and address one of the underlying causes of the energy crisis.' The latest deal follows a three-year supply agreement with Equinor that will heat 4.5million UK homes through to 2024. The group has also reopened the Rough gas storage facility in October 2022, which had been shut in 2017 after the Government refused to give Centrica financial support to keep it going. O'Shea recently announced a major increase in the amount of gas that can be stored at Rough, from 30billion cubic feet at the time of re-opening to 54billion cubic feet this winter. This, he says, is equivalent to the gas needed to heat 10 per cent of UK homes, or 2.4million, in cold weather. The group plans to invest 2billion to turn Rough into the world's biggest methane and hydrogen storage facility, which it says will 'help keep prices down for consumers' and could help Britain become 'a net exporter of energy once again'. Centrica has faced criticism for heavily profiting from high energy prices at a time when many Britons are struggling with bills. O'Shea took no bonuses for the first two years of his tenure as chief executive, but this year took home a 3.7million bonus. An apparently salvageable gap in immigration policy a discrepancy regarding family reunification for asylum seekers has brought an abrupt end to the consolidated political career of Mark Rutte, the outgoing prime minister of the Netherlands. Rutte, 56, on Monday made the surprise announcement that he is quitting politics, although he must remain in charge of a caretaker government until the next general election, expected to be held in November. After almost 13 consecutive years as prime minister, Rutte had become the second longest-serving government leader in the entire European Union, close on the heels of the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban. During all this time, his right-wing liberal Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), has been the most voted. The fragmentation that has characterized Dutch politics for a long time has forced governments to enter into coalitions, and Rutte had managed to stay afloat since 2010. But the end has been quick. The four-party ruling coalition resigned on Friday night, Rutte submitted his resignation to King Willem-Alexander on Saturday, and early on Monday he announced his departure from politics, assuring that he is only motivated by whats best for his country. Rutte gained statesman status in 2014, after the attack that killed 298 passengers 196 were Dutch on Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine, when the aircraft was downed by a Russian-made missile. At the time, he was able to unite citizens with serene rhetoric and pondered speeches. He did the same with the Covid-19 crisis. But then came his hesitations over pollution caused by the agricultural sector, and evidence that the extraction of gas from the Groningen field, in the north of the country, took precedence over citizen security, both of which made a dent in his reputation. In 2021, a scandal over child benefits that the tax authorities unlawfully demanded back from mostly immigrant families led to the resignation of his government. By then it was already his third coalition, and the embarrassment caused by the institutional discrimination was impossible to hide. Rutte, however, continued to lead the country with the same apparent optimism and outward routines: his bike, the apple and coffee that he had on his way to the office. Rutte refused to change his habits throughout his public life, despite reinforced security for himself and for Crown Princess Amalia due to threats from organized crime. He retains his lifelong home in an upper-middle-class neighborhood in The Hague, and on Saturday he drove the car hes had for 14 years to the royal residence. In the end, family reunification for asylum seekers signaled the political end for a leader capable of maintaining a half-smile even during the worst moments. Dutch municipalities are reluctant to take in asylum seekers, and the VVD was seeking a new law to contain the flow. On Monday, Sophie Hermans, the VVD spokesperson in parliament, said that the possibility of supporting legislation in its current wording is small. The party is hoping to present a new leader in the coming days. I have made this decision with mixed feelings and with emotion, said Rutte inside the chamber. During his nearly 13 years in power, there have been three different presidents in France and the United States, five prime ministers in the United Kingdom and Belgium, and two chancellors in Germany, according to Dutch media estimates. Rutte still has the pending task of reaching the November elections with dignity, retaining his good reputation as an experienced leader in the European Union. Sosandar has confirmed its first annual profit, with pre-tax earnings coming in at 2.2million last year following a 600,000 loss in the previous 12 months. The online women's fashion retailer's sales momentum has continues into the new year, with revenues 10 per cent on the previous year to 11.4million in the three months to 30 June. Sosandar attributed its strong start to the financial year to an increase in demand on their summer range and holiday clothing. The update follows fresh data from the British Retail Consortium, which revealed unusually warm weather last month led to 5 per cent year-on-year retail sales growth, led by summer essentials. Fashion group Sosandar have announced that their revenue has jumped up by 10 per cent to 11.4million Paul Martin, UK head of retail of KPMG, said: 'The sun was shining on retailers in June, with the warm weather bringing consumers back out to the high street and like for like sales up nearly 5% on last year. 'Sales of suntan lotion, food and clothing were all given a boost as consumers made the most of the record June temperatures.' Sosandar achieved 44 per cent year-on-year revenue growth to 42.5million in the 12 months to 31 March, up from 29.5million the previous year, as average order values rose 8 per cent to 97.27. Ali Hall and Julie Lavington, co-chief executives of Sosandar, told investors on Tuesday it had been a 'transformational year' for the firm. They added: 'Despite the challenging macroeconomic backdrop, we have seen increasing demand for our products across all categories with strong trading across both Sosandar.com and through our third-party partners. READ MORE: Sosandar swings to first ever profit as fashion group's average order value jumps to almost 100 a pop Fashion group Sosandar achieved its first full year of profitability in 2022 after a series of deals with major high street retailers. Group revenues jumped 44 per cent yea-on-year to 42.5million in the 12 months to 31 March, up from 29.5million the previous year, as average order values rose 8 per cent to 97.27. Sosandar expects to confirm an annual pre-tax profit of at least 1.6million, against a loss of 600,000 the previous year. 'As Sosandar continues to grow, we remain committed to investing in our product range to offer our customers an ever-growing variety of on-trend, affordable, long lasting, lifestyle appropriate clothes.' However, Sosandar shares were down 5.5 per cent to 23.9p in early trading, paring back gains over the last 12 months to 27.4 per cent. Davy Research analyst David Reynolds said the decline could indicate investor skepticism that the firm can maintain its sales momentum amid the difficult economic backdrop. Reynolds added: 'While [last year] felt big with the transition to profitability and a raft of diverse growth initiatives, [this year] somehow feels bigger as [the group] goes international, launches a mobile app, further expands the partner portfolio, including an inaugural physical presence, and continues to build out the management layer. 'Most of these initiatives will go live in some shape or form over the second half of the fiscal year. The opportunity is material, but the risk that comes with it is equally material.' Bosses Hall and Lavington added: 'We are delighted to report that demand for our fast-tracked product range has continued to increase with knitwear, formal tailoring, coats, partywear, summer occasion wear and swim and beach wear all performing particularly well during the year. 'The momentum built throughout FY23 has continued into FY24 with current trading in line with expectations. 'We are very excited for the opportunity available to us in FY24 and beyond as we deploy the money raised from our over-subscribed equity fundraise in January 2023 to support our growth both in the UK and internationally.' United Malt Group (OTCMKTS:UMLGF Get Free Report) and Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM Get Free Report) are both consumer defensive companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation, risk and profitability. Profitability This table compares United Malt Group and Boston Beers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get United Malt Group alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets United Malt Group N/A N/A N/A Boston Beer 2.82% 7.58% 5.50% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for United Malt Group and Boston Beer, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score United Malt Group 0 1 1 0 2.50 Boston Beer 6 5 3 0 1.79 Earnings and Valuation Boston Beer has a consensus target price of $307.75, indicating a potential downside of 0.61%. Given Boston Beers higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Boston Beer is more favorable than United Malt Group. This table compares United Malt Group and Boston Beers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio United Malt Group N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Boston Beer $2.09 billion 1.82 $67.26 million $4.86 63.71 Boston Beer has higher revenue and earnings than United Malt Group. Insider and Institutional Ownership 65.5% of Boston Beer shares are owned by institutional investors. 23.5% of Boston Beer shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Boston Beer beats United Malt Group on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About United Malt Group (Get Free Report) United Malt Group Limited processes and supplies malt and craft ingredients to brewers, distillers, and food markets in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates through Processing and Warehouse & Distribution segments. It is also involved in the distribution and sale of bagged malt, hops, yeast, adjuncts, and related products to craft brewers. The company was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington. About Boston Beer (Get Free Report) The Boston Beer Company, Inc. engages in the production and sale of alcohol beverages primarily in the United States. The company's flagship beer is Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It offers various beers, hard ciders, flavored malt beverages, and hard seltzers under the Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, Angry Orchard, Dogfish Head, Angel City, Coney Island, and Havana Lager brand names. The company markets and sells its products to a network of approximately 400 wholesalers in the United States, as well as international wholesalers, importers, or other agencies that in turn sell to retailers, such as grocery stores, club stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, bars, restaurants, stadiums, and other retail outlets. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. also sells its products in Canada, Europe, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, the Pacific Rim, Mexico, and Central and South America. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. Receive News & Ratings for United Malt Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Malt Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NICE (OTCMKTS:NCSYF Get Free Report) is one of 297 public companies in the SoftwareApplication industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare NICE to related companies based on the strength of its risk, institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation and profitability. Profitability This table compares NICE and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get NICE alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets NICE N/A N/A N/A NICE Competitors -31.49% -248.60% -7.96% Earnings & Valuation This table compares NICE and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio NICE N/A N/A 257.58 NICE Competitors $421.17 million -$10.51 million 589.31 Dividends NICEs peers have higher revenue, but lower earnings than NICE. NICE 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. NICE pays an annual dividend of $0.69 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.4%. NICE pays out 90.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, SoftwareApplication companies pay a dividend yield of 1.8% and pay out 71.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. NICE lags its peers as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings for NICE and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score NICE 0 0 0 0 N/A NICE Competitors 380 1494 3441 60 2.59 As a group, SoftwareApplication companies have a potential upside of 31.62%. Given NICEs peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe NICE has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Insider and Institutional Ownership 7.1% of NICE shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 33.3% of shares of all SoftwareApplication companies are owned by institutional investors. 29.3% of shares of all SoftwareApplication companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary NICE peers beat NICE on 7 of the 10 factors compared. NICE Company Profile (Get Free Report) NICE Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides cloud platforms for AI-driven digital business solutions worldwide. It offers CXone, a cloud native open platform; Enlighten, an AI engine for CX that discovers automation opportunities for self-service; digital-entry points solutions that enable organizations to address consumers' needs; and journey orchestration solutions that empower organizations to connect and route customers to deal with the customer's request, and connects them using real time AI-based routing. The company also provides smart self service solutions that empower organizations to build intelligent automated conversations based on data; and prepared agent solutions and tools enable contact center agents to guide and alert them in real time; complete performance solutions that help organizations to record structured and unstructured customer interaction and transaction data; and NICE Evidencentral, an digital evidence management platform for public safety emergency communications, law enforcement, and criminal justice helps agencies. In addition, it offers X-Sight, is an open and flexible AI-cloud platform for financial crime and compliance; Xceed, a cloud platform for comprehensive AML and fraud prevention for small and mid-sized organizations; data intelligence solutions that enable organizations to turn raw data into comprehensive actionable intelligence to prevent and detect financial crimes; AI and analytics technologies to detect and prevent financial crimes in real-time; money laundering and fraud prevention solutions that help organizations adhere to capital markets compliance and anti-money laundering compliance regulations; intelligent investigations solutions; and self-service solutions that provide organizations with customization and self-development capabilities. The company was formerly known as NICE-Systems Ltd. and changed its name to NICE Ltd. in June 2016. NICE Ltd. was founded in 1986 and is based in Ra'anana, Israel. Receive News & Ratings for NICE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NICE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ENB Financial (OTCMKTS:ENBP Get Free Report) is one of 288 public companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare ENB Financial to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, risk, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for ENB Financial and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get ENB Financial alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score ENB Financial 0 0 0 0 N/A ENB Financial Competitors 1106 3299 3248 22 2.28 As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 345.42%. Given ENB Financials peers higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe ENB Financial has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Dividends Institutional & Insider Ownership ENB Financial pays an annual dividend of $1.06 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.3%. ENB Financial pays out 40.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 13.3% and pay out 18.8% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. ENB Financial lags its peers as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. 0.3% of ENB Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 40.1% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 1.8% of ENB Financial shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 13.4% of shares of all BanksRegional 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 ENB Financial and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets ENB Financial N/A N/A N/A ENB Financial Competitors 33.42% 10.72% 0.95% Valuation & Earnings This table compares ENB Financial and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio ENB Financial N/A N/A 5.57 ENB Financial Competitors $3.03 billion $637.75 million 233.20 ENB Financials peers have higher revenue and earnings than ENB Financial. ENB 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 ENB Financial peers beat ENB Financial on 10 of the 10 factors compared. ENB Financial Company Profile (Get Free Report) ENB Financial Corp operates as the bank holding company for Ephrata National Bank that provides various financial services to individuals and small-to-medium-sized businesses in Pennsylvania, the United States. The company's deposit products include non-interest bearing and interest-bearing demand deposits, NOW accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts, and time deposits. Its loan portfolio comprises secured and unsecured commercial, real estate, and consumer loans. The company also provides direct deposit and direct payments of funds through electronic funds transfer. In addition, it offers ATM, telephone banking, debit and credit card, safe deposit box, remote deposit capture, and trust and investment advisory services, as well as internet banking services, such as bill pay and wire transfer. The company was founded in 1881 and is headquartered in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Receive News & Ratings for ENB Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ENB Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MOGU (NYSE:MOGU Get Free Report) and American Well (NYSE:AMWL Get Free Report) are both small-cap retail/wholesale companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability and valuation. Institutional and Insider Ownership 22.0% of MOGU shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 48.8% of American Well shares are owned by institutional investors. 19.8% of MOGU shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 12.9% of American Well 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. Get MOGU alerts: Risk & Volatility MOGU has a beta of 0.46, indicating that its stock price is 54% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, American Well has a beta of 0.74, indicating that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets MOGU N/A N/A N/A American Well -216.13% -26.40% -23.33% Earnings & Valuation This table compares MOGU and American Wells net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This table compares MOGU and American Wells top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio MOGU $33.79 million 0.63 -$24.94 million N/A N/A American Well $277.19 million 2.07 -$270.43 million ($2.14) -0.95 MOGU has higher earnings, but lower revenue than American Well. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for MOGU and American Well, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score MOGU 0 0 0 0 N/A American Well 0 5 3 0 2.38 American Well has a consensus price target of $4.28, suggesting a potential upside of 109.56%. Given American Wells higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe American Well is more favorable than MOGU. Summary American Well beats MOGU on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About MOGU (Get Free Report) MOGU Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the online fashion and lifestyle business in the People's Republic of China. The company operates an online platform that primarily offers a range of fashion apparel and other products, including beauty products and accessories provided by third party merchants, as well as personal care, food, and medical beauty products. It also provides online marketing, commission, financing, technology, and other related services to merchants, brand partners/owners, and users; and technology services to insurance companies. The company offers its products through mobile apps, including flagship Mogujie app, mini programs on Weixin, and Weixin pay and QQ Wallet entryways; websites comprising Mogu.com, Mogujie.com and Meilishuo.com. The company was formerly known as Meili Inc. and changed its name to MOGU Inc. in November 2018. MOGU Inc. was incorporated in 2011 and is headquartered in Hangzhou, the People's Republic of China. About American Well (Get Free Report) American Well Corporation operates digital care delivery enablement platform in the United States and internationally. Its platform connects and enables providers, insurers, patients, and innovators to deliver access for quality care. The company's products offer urgent care; scheduled visits; acute behavioral health; telestroke; comprehensive behavioral health; ED triage; pediatrics; end-stage renal disease and dialysis; and retail health, school health, and home settings. Its application offers telehealth urgent care; primary care; chronic care; digital therapy; teledermatology; manage Medicaid; behavior health; online nutrition counselling; sleep; women's health; employee assistance program therapy; and musculoskeletal care. The company also provides telemedicine equipment, including telemedicine carts, peripherals, tyto care, hospital TV kits, and telehealth tablets. American Well Corporation was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Receive News & Ratings for MOGU Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MOGU and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the fourteen brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $194.31. TRV has been the subject of several analyst reports. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $179.00 to $185.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Travelers Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, June 19th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Travelers Companies from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on Travelers Companies in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $185.00 price objective on the stock. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Travelers Companies Price Performance Shares of TRV opened at $169.06 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $39.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.41, a PEG ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.60. Travelers Companies has a 1-year low of $149.65 and a 1-year high of $194.51. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $176.19 and its 200 day simple moving average is $179.31. The company has a current ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Travelers Companies Increases Dividend Travelers Companies ( NYSE:TRV Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The insurance provider reported $4.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.64 by $0.47. The business had revenue of $9.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.98 billion. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 7.41% and a return on equity of 13.41%. Travelers Companiess revenue was up 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $4.22 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Travelers Companies will post 14.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 9th were paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.37%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 8th. This is an increase from Travelers Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.93. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 34.10%. Travelers Companies declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Wednesday, April 19th that allows the company to buyback $5.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the insurance provider to buy up to 12.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Insider Buying and Selling at Travelers Companies In other news, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 37,316 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.08, for a total value of $6,682,549.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,703 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,095,773.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Travelers Companies news, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 37,316 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.08, for a total transaction of $6,682,549.28. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 11,703 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,095,773.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,246 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.85, for a total value of $1,873,481.10. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 14,080 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,574,528. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 59,134 shares of company stock valued at $10,617,466 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Travelers Companies A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of TRV. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in shares of Travelers Companies in the 1st quarter worth approximately $160,000. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its holdings in Travelers Companies by 28.8% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 5,934 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,084,000 after purchasing an additional 1,327 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 1.0% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 11,905 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,210,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL grew its stake in Travelers Companies by 40.6% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 51,551 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $9,420,000 after purchasing an additional 14,873 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in Travelers Companies by 5.0% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 27,212 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $4,952,000 after purchasing an additional 1,286 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.06% of the companys stock. Travelers Companies Company Profile (Get Free Report The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eurocash (OTCMKTS:EUSHY Get Free Report) is one of 62 publicly-traded companies in the Grocery Stores industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Eurocash to related companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, profitability, institutional ownership, earnings and dividends. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Eurocash and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat. Get Eurocash alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Eurocash 1 0 0 0 1.00 Eurocash Competitors 1121 2754 3008 114 2.30 As a group, Grocery Stores companies have a potential upside of 98.88%. Given Eurocashs peers stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Eurocash has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Eurocash N/A N/A N/A Eurocash Competitors 2.01% 15.36% 4.99% Institutional & Insider Ownership This table compares Eurocash and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. 0.2% of Eurocash shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.3% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are owned by institutional investors. 22.8% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies 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. Dividends Eurocash pays an annual dividend of $0.58 per share and has a dividend yield of 14.3%. Eurocash pays out 43.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Grocery Stores companies pay a dividend yield of 4.0% and pay out 61.4% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Eurocash is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Eurocash and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Eurocash N/A N/A 3.07 Eurocash Competitors $26.99 billion $611.52 million 180.80 Eurocashs peers have higher revenue and earnings than Eurocash. Eurocash 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 Eurocash peers beat Eurocash on 11 of the 13 factors compared. Eurocash Company Profile (Get Free Report) Eurocash S.A. engages in the wholesale distribution of food and other fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) in Poland. The company operates through Wholesale, Retail, and Projects segments. Its FMCG products include food products, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and household chemicals and cosmetics. The company markets its products to traditional retail stores, including small supermarkets, grocery stores, and specialized grocery stores; and kiosks, retail outlets, and convenience stores, restaurants, gas stations, hotel and cafe chains, and catering outlets. It operates a network of Cash & Carry warehouses; Delikatesy Centrum network supermarkets; Inmedio; and franchise and partner stores of Eurocash distribution. Eurocash S.A. was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Komorniki, Poland. Receive News & Ratings for Eurocash Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eurocash and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC Free Report) by 8.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 12,360 shares of the business services providers stock after acquiring an additional 966 shares during the quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Omnicom Group were worth $1,166,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Omnicom Group by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 70,915 shares of the business services providers stock worth $5,785,000 after acquiring an additional 2,200 shares in the last quarter. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Omnicom Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $361,000. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of Omnicom Group by 24.0% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 4,795 shares of the business services providers stock worth $391,000 after purchasing an additional 929 shares during the last quarter. Aviva PLC raised its position in shares of Omnicom Group by 68.4% during the 4th quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 195,708 shares of the business services providers stock worth $19,696,000 after purchasing an additional 79,526 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brookstone Capital Management raised its position in shares of Omnicom Group by 68.7% during the 1st quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 12,670 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,213,000 after purchasing an additional 5,161 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.92% of the companys stock. Get Omnicom Group alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets OMC has been the subject of several research reports. BNP Paribas upgraded Omnicom Group from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $96.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Omnicom Group from $100.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Omnicom Group from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Macquarie boosted their price target on Omnicom Group from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Omnicom Group in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $99.86. Omnicom Group Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of Omnicom Group stock opened at $93.13 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $92.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $90.39. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. Omnicom Group Inc. has a twelve month low of $61.85 and a twelve month high of $97.22. The stock has a market cap of $18.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.84. Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The business services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.38 by $0.18. Omnicom Group had a net margin of 9.57% and a return on equity of 41.72%. The firm had revenue of $3.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.38 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.39 EPS. The firms revenue was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Omnicom Group Inc. will post 7.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Omnicom Group Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th were given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.01%. Omnicom Groups payout ratio is currently 42.11%. Insider Buying and Selling at Omnicom Group In other Omnicom Group news, VP Rochelle M. Tarlowe sold 1,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.12, for a total value of $169,416.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 13,496 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,270,243.52. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Linda Johnson Rice sold 1,700 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.75, for a total value of $152,575.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 9,527 shares in the company, valued at approximately $855,048.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Rochelle M. Tarlowe sold 1,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.12, for a total transaction of $169,416.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 13,496 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,270,243.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 128,500 shares of company stock valued at $12,073,741 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. Omnicom Group Company Profile (Free Report) Omnicom Group Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers advertising, marketing, and corporate communications services. It provides a range of services in the areas of advertising and media, precision marketing, commerce and brand consulting, experiential, execution and support, public relations, and healthcare. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OMC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Omnicom Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Omnicom Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Patten & Patten Inc. TN acquired a new stake in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 5,520 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $289,000. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of SCHW. Phocas Financial Corp. acquired a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Beacon Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 54.8% in the 1st quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 565 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Rocky Mountain Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 704.2% in the 1st quarter. Rocky Mountain Advisers LLC now owns 571 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. 82.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Stock Up 1.8 % Shares of NYSE SCHW opened at $57.83 on Tuesday. 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 52 week low of $45.00 and a 52 week high of $86.63. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $53.20 and a 200 day moving average price of $63.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $102.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.88. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.03. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.82% and a return on equity of 27.83%. The firm had revenue of $5.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.13 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.77 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.22 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.32%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently issued reports on SCHW shares. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $75.00 to $69.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 5th. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $75.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Redburn Partners cut shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued 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 $66.83. Insider Activity at Charles Schwab In other Charles Schwab news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total transaction of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock. Charles Schwab Company Profile (Free Report) 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Patten & Patten Inc. TN decreased its position in shares of Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Free Report) by 30.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 60,260 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 25,920 shares during the period. Patten & Patten Inc. TNs holdings in Nokia Oyj were worth $296,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in NOK. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC increased its holdings in shares of Nokia Oyj by 7.7% in the first quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 36,608 shares of the technology companys stock worth $180,000 after buying an additional 2,608 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. purchased a new position in shares of Nokia Oyj in the first quarter worth about $75,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Nokia Oyj by 22.7% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 263,224 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,292,000 after buying an additional 48,656 shares during the period. Kovack Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Nokia Oyj by 10.6% in the first quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. now owns 319,982 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,571,000 after buying an additional 30,720 shares during the period. Finally, Avestar Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Nokia Oyj by 94.3% in the first quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 40,800 shares of the technology companys stock worth $200,000 after buying an additional 19,800 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 6.51% of the companys stock. Get Nokia Oyj alerts: Nokia Oyj Stock Performance Nokia Oyj stock opened at $4.18 on Tuesday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $4.08 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.55. The stock has a market cap of $23.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.28 and a beta of 0.97. Nokia Oyj has a fifty-two week low of $3.93 and a fifty-two week high of $5.28. Nokia Oyj Increases Dividend Nokia Oyj ( NYSE:NOK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The technology company reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.09 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $5.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.74 billion. Nokia Oyj had a net margin of 16.78% and a return on equity of 11.57%. The businesss revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.08 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Nokia Oyj will post 0.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 25th were given a $0.0329 dividend. This is a boost from Nokia Oyjs previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. This represents a $0.13 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.15%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 24th. Nokia Oyjs payout ratio is currently 11.39%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently commented on NOK shares. StockNews.com downgraded Nokia Oyj from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, June 16th. Raymond James cut their target price on Nokia Oyj from $7.00 to $6.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, TheStreet cut Nokia Oyj from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Monday, June 12th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Nokia Oyj presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $5.73. Nokia Oyj Profile (Free Report) Nokia Oyj provides mobile, fixed, and cloud network solutions worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Network Infrastructure, Mobile Networks, Cloud and Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. It offers products and services for radio access networks and microwave radio links for transport networks, and solutions for network management, as well as network planning, optimization, network deployment, and technical support services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nokia Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nokia Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. An enormous safe is the only thing that remains at the site where the museum once stood in Medellin (Colombia). At the entrance, visitors are welcomed by Roberto Escobar, a nearly blind man with square-rimmed glasses, a red cap and a neatly tucked-in shirt. Welcome, this is your home, says Pablo Escobars older brother. After his ex-wife (a 1990s beauty queen) takes your $50 admission fee, Roberto guides you through the house. Theres a portrait of Pablo Escobar with Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone, the Russian fur hat he wore during a visit to Moscow, Bonnie and Clydes car, a desk with secret places to hide weapons, an armored SUV with openings for shooting from the inside, a painting of Terremoto (a Paso Fino horse castrated by Escobars enemies), a jet ski and giant $500 bill. The mansion that inadvertently paid tribute to kitsch and retro aesthetics later became a shrine to the most notorious criminal in Colombian history. Pablo Escobars Museum House is now a thing of the past. On July 10, 50 Medellin officials arrived with diggers to bring down the building, only to discover that Roberto had already beat them to it. All that remained on the empty lot was an enormous safe. A judge had ordered the demolition of the building because it lacked the necessary municipal permit. But behind the bureaucratic maneuver was a desire to put an end to narco tours of the city that showed off Escobars many houses, murder sites and even his grave. Roberto Escobar poses in the museum garage, in 2021. Camilo Rozo Escobars museum was located in Loma del Indio, in Medellins Poblado neighborhood. The gate at the entrance is adorned with a photo of the airplane Escobar used for his inaugural cocaine shipment. A walkway leads to Robertos home, which is adjacent to the demolished museum building. Back in its heyday, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) tagged Roberto as the number two man in the Medellin Cartel, the drug cartel led by Pablo that flooded the United States with cocaine. The cartel openly warred with the Colombian government when it tried to extradite captured members to the U.S. Roberto, the cartels chief accountant, once decided that the best way to count the enormous amounts of cash coming in from drug sales was to weigh it on scales. Unlike his brother Pablo, who was a fugitive until he was killed on a Medellin rooftop by Colombian special forces in 1993, Roberto turned himself in to the authorities twice he saw no heroism in dying. The museum walls were covered with photos of cartel characters Pinina, Tayson and Pablo himself men who murdered hundreds of people before dying violently themselves. Roberto made it to old age hes now 75 but he didnt emerge unscathed. During one of his prison stays, he was partially blinded by a letter bomb that exploded in his face. Robertos blue eyes are now covered with a transparent, gray film, and he occasionally takes out a small bottle of artificial tears to moisten them. Before becoming his brothers partner in crime, Roberto was an outstanding cyclist who was nicknamed El Osito (Teddy Bear) because he once crossed the finish line of a race completely covered in mud. Not recognizing him, the radio announcer said, Here comes a teddy bear. Roberto competed for several years in Colombian bicycle races and won a gold medal in Panama. Little Pablo and his schoolmates started affectionately referring to his famous older brother as Osito. Years later, the tables were turned and history will remember Roberto as the brother of one of the most infamous gangsters to have ever walked the earth. Tucked away in a corner of the museum is a portrait of Pablo he commissioned as a gift to his brother, Roberto. Camilo Rozo Pablo Escobar has frequently been glorified in books, tabloids, television and movies. Alfonso Buitrago, a journalist from Medellin, has recently authored a book about a former schoolmate of Escobar who eventually became his personal photographer. Buitrago vehemently opposes trivializing acts of evil and says it can have far-reaching consequences. Tearing down El Ositos museum is the city officials way of fighting against the romanticization and commercialization of the Escobar legend, said Buitrago. The place raised so many doubts, particularly because El Ositos narrative twisted the history of the Medellin Cartel and narco-terrorism for tourists. Its hard to believe that Medellin still doesnt have a place to share its complex story about our narco past. Ever since [former mayor] Federico Gutierrez was in office, theyve opted to destroy this history instead of creating collaborative public processes to help Medellin truly grasp its present, past, and future. Roberto is an affable man who was very attentive to museum visitors, but he glossed over the horrifying story of his brother, Pablo. A bombing in Bogota that claimed 25 lives? Blame the authorities. An airplane explosion in mid-flight with over 100 people on board? Blame the enemies who tried to pin the blame on Pablo. In Robertos eyes, Pablo was a modern-day Robin Hood. The demolition of the museum has removed one more brick in the Escobar myth, enabling Medellin to begin eradicating this unsettling legacy. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Advisor Resource Council boosted its holdings in iShares Core High Dividend ETF (NYSEARCA:HDV Free Report) by 83.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 4,604 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 2,095 shares during the quarter. Advisor Resource Councils holdings in iShares Core High Dividend ETF were worth $478,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Eagle Strategies LLC grew its position in iShares Core High Dividend ETF by 6.7% in the first quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC now owns 3,721 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $378,000 after buying an additional 235 shares during the last quarter. MGO One Seven LLC boosted its stake in iShares Core High Dividend ETF by 373.1% in the 4th quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 13,176 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,374,000 after purchasing an additional 10,391 shares during the period. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC acquired a new position in iShares Core High Dividend ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $346,000. Oversea Chinese Banking CORP Ltd acquired a new position in iShares Core High Dividend ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $206,000. Finally, Wedbush Securities Inc. boosted its stake in iShares Core High Dividend ETF by 61.9% in the 4th quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 11,254 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,173,000 after purchasing an additional 4,304 shares during the period. Get iShares Core High Dividend ETF alerts: iShares Core High Dividend ETF Stock Performance iShares Core High Dividend ETF stock opened at $99.69 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $99.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $101.74. iShares Core High Dividend ETF has a 52 week low of $91.24 and a 52 week high of $109.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.13 and a beta of 0.81. About iShares Core High Dividend ETF The iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus index. The fund tracks a dividend-weighted index of 75 high-yielding US equities, screened for high earnings potential and dividend sustainability. HDV was launched on Mar 29, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core High Dividend ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core High Dividend ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (NYSEARCA:GSY Free Report) by 5.4% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 46,608 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,388 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC owned 0.12% of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF worth $2,312,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its stake in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 62.7% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 3,435,142 shares of the companys stock worth $169,902,000 after acquiring an additional 1,323,892 shares in the last quarter. Mariner LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,143,000. Jane Street Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 1,055.3% during the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 811,030 shares of the companys stock worth $40,057,000 after buying an additional 740,832 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $24,428,000. Finally, Bleakley Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $22,930,000. Get Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF alerts: Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF Price Performance Shares of GSY opened at $49.72 on Tuesday. Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF has a 1-year low of $49.23 and a 1-year high of $49.82. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $49.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $49.65. Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF Company Profile The Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (GSY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund seeks to outperform the Barclays Capital 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index by investing in a diverse portfolio of investment-grade securities. GSY was launched on Feb 12, 2008 and is managed by Invesco. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tectonic Advisors LLC decreased its stake in shares of NCR Co. (NYSE:NCR Free Report) by 9.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 24,434 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 2,584 shares during the period. Tectonic Advisors LLCs holdings in NCR were worth $576,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of NCR by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,170,231 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $250,366,000 after purchasing an additional 953,677 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of NCR by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 11,688,088 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $222,190,000 after purchasing an additional 123,218 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in shares of NCR by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 6,033,708 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $141,249,000 after purchasing an additional 47,273 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of NCR by 7.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,299,983 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $100,753,000 after purchasing an additional 386,370 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Engaged Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of NCR by 18.0% in the 4th quarter. Engaged Capital LLC now owns 5,252,456 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $122,960,000 after purchasing an additional 800,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.38% of the companys stock. Get NCR alerts: NCR Stock Performance Shares of NCR opened at $25.32 on Tuesday. NCR Co. has a one year low of $18.06 and a one year high of $35.42. The company has a 50-day moving average of $24.17 and a two-hundred day moving average of $24.28. The stock has a market cap of $3.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.51 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.63, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.81. Analyst Ratings Changes NCR ( NYSE:NCR Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The information technology services provider reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $1.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.84 billion. NCR had a net margin of 1.31% and a return on equity of 26.02%. On average, equities research analysts expect that NCR Co. will post 2.39 earnings per share for the current year. Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on NCR shares. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of NCR in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $32.00 target price on shares of NCR in a report on Friday, March 17th. NCR Company Profile (Free Report) NCR Corporation provides various software and services in the United States, Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company operates through Retail, Hospitality, Digital Banking, Payments & Network, and Self-Service Banking segments. It offers managed services, including ATM-as-a-Service solutions that allow banks to run their end-to-end ATM channels; software, services, and hardware; and digital banking solutions for financial institution's consumer and business customers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for NCR Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NCR and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its position in shares of Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE:NOMD Free Report) by 33.3% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 180,375 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 45,050 shares during the quarter. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc.s holdings in Nomad Foods were worth $3,380,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NOMD. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in Nomad Foods by 61.6% during the first quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,588 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 987 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC bought a new position in Nomad Foods in the third quarter worth approximately $66,000. Mendota Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Nomad Foods during the first quarter worth $91,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank bought a new stake in Nomad Foods during the 4th quarter valued at $132,000. 77.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Nomad Foods alerts: Nomad Foods Price Performance Shares of NYSE NOMD opened at $16.99 on Tuesday. Nomad Foods Limited has a fifty-two week low of $12.50 and a fifty-two week high of $19.82. The company has a market cap of $2.96 billion, a PE ratio of 12.13 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 1.21. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $17.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $17.86. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Nomad Foods ( NYSE:NOMD Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported $0.49 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.08. Nomad Foods had a net margin of 7.87% and a return on equity of 11.63%. The company had revenue of $831.55 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $811.47 million. As a group, equities analysts expect that Nomad Foods Limited will post 1.71 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of equities analysts have commented on NOMD shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Nomad Foods from $21.00 to $24.00 in a report on Thursday, May 11th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Nomad Foods from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 14th. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on shares of Nomad Foods from $21.00 to $22.00 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $22.20. About Nomad Foods (Free Report) 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NOMD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE:NOMD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Nomad Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nomad Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its stake in CNA Financial Co. (NYSE:CNA Free Report) by 0.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 344,504 shares of the insurance providers stock after acquiring an additional 2,356 shares during the quarter. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc.s holdings in CNA Financial were worth $13,446,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in CNA. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in CNA Financial by 258.1% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 555 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in CNA Financial during the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Credit Suisse AG acquired a new position in CNA Financial during the 2nd quarter worth about $38,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. purchased a new position in CNA Financial during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Thompson Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in CNA Financial in the 1st quarter valued at about $44,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.31% of the companys stock. Get CNA Financial alerts: Insider Transactions at CNA Financial In other CNA Financial news, major shareholder Corp Loews bought 4,800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $39.79 per share, with a total value of $190,992.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 243,958,688 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,707,116,195.52. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock. CNA Financial Stock Performance Shares of CNA opened at $38.26 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $38.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $40.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.25 and a current ratio of 0.25. CNA Financial Co. has a 1 year low of $35.90 and a 1 year high of $45.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.36 billion, a PE ratio of 11.88, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.65. CNA Financial (NYSE:CNA Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 1st. The insurance provider reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.20 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $3.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.75 billion. CNA Financial had a return on equity of 12.05% and a net margin of 7.23%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.16 EPS. On average, analysts predict that CNA Financial Co. will post 4.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. CNA Financial Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.39%. This is an increase from CNA Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. CNA Financials payout ratio is 52.17%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have recently issued reports on CNA. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of CNA Financial in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Bank of America raised shares of CNA Financial from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and raised their price target for the company from $40.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered CNA Financial from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday. About CNA Financial (Free Report) CNA Financial Corporation provides commercial property and casualty insurance products in the United States and internationally. It operates through Specialty, Commercial, International, Life & Group, and Corporate & Other segments. The company offers professional liability coverages and risk management services to various professional firms, including architects, real estate agents, and accounting and law firms; directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary, and fidelity and cyber coverages to small and mid-size firms, public and privately held firms, and not-for-profit organizations; professional and general liability, as well as associated casualty coverages for healthcare industry; surety and fidelity bonds; and warranty and alternative risks products. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CNA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CNA Financial Co. (NYSE:CNA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CNA Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CNA Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 308 shares of the aerospace companys stock, valued at approximately $227,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its position in TransDigm Group by 7.4% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 262 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $194,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Cross Staff Investments Inc increased its stake in TransDigm Group by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Cross Staff Investments Inc now owns 952 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $702,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the period. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in TransDigm Group by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,290 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,688,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its stake in TransDigm Group by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 29,343 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $21,627,000 after buying an additional 308 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its stake in TransDigm Group by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 4,113 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $3,031,000 after buying an additional 91 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.10% of the companys stock. Get TransDigm Group alerts: TransDigm Group Stock Performance TDG opened at $881.49 on Tuesday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $819.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $752.04. TransDigm Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $499.63 and a 1 year high of $899.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.42 billion, a PE ratio of 52.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.39. Analysts Set New Price Targets TransDigm Group ( NYSE:TDG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The aerospace company reported $5.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.98 by $1.00. The firm had revenue of $1.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.53 billion. TransDigm Group had a net margin of 17.57% and a negative return on equity of 34.11%. TransDigm Groups revenue was up 20.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.29 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that TransDigm Group Incorporated will post 21.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. TDG has been the topic of several recent research reports. Susquehanna boosted their price objective on shares of TransDigm Group from $750.00 to $820.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 10th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of TransDigm Group from $800.00 to $900.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 10th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price target on shares of TransDigm Group from $830.00 to $841.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. Barclays raised their target price on shares of TransDigm Group from $840.00 to $930.00 in a report on Sunday, May 14th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of TransDigm Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, June 23rd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, TransDigm Group currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $848.53. Insider Buying and Selling at TransDigm Group In other TransDigm Group news, Director W Nicholas Howley sold 6,500 shares of TransDigm Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $753.17, for a total transaction of $4,895,605.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 21,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,229,307.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, COO Joel Reiss sold 3,000 shares of TransDigm Group stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $812.68, for a total value of $2,438,040.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 3,600 shares in the company, valued at $2,925,648. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director W Nicholas Howley sold 6,500 shares of TransDigm Group stock in a transaction on Monday, April 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $753.17, for a total transaction of $4,895,605.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 21,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,229,307.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 37,477 shares of company stock valued at $29,498,594 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 7.18% of the companys stock. TransDigm Group Company Profile (Free Report) TransDigm Group, Inc engages in the production of engineered aerospace components, systems and subsystems. It operates through the following segments: Power and Control, Airframe, and Non-Aviation. The Power and Control segment includes operations that primarily develop, produce and market systems and components that provide power to or control power of the aircraft utilizing electronic, fluid, power and mechanical motion control technologies. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TDG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TransDigm Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TransDigm Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Primerica, Inc. (NYSE:PRI Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 1,276 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $220,000. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Machina Capital S.A.S. acquired a new position in shares of Primerica in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $71,000. Inspire Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Primerica by 182.9% in the 1st quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 4,699 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $809,000 after purchasing an additional 3,038 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its stake in Primerica by 42.5% in the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 228 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Trellus Management Company LLC bought a new stake in Primerica in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $620,000. Finally, Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC bought a new stake in Primerica in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $112,000. 91.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Primerica alerts: Primerica Trading Up 1.2 % PRI opened at $201.55 on Tuesday. Primerica, Inc. has a 1-year low of $115.03 and a 1-year high of $202.29. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $188.50 and its 200 day simple moving average is $173.21. The stock has a market cap of $7.30 billion, a PE ratio of 18.19 and a beta of 1.19. Primerica Announces Dividend Primerica ( NYSE:PRI Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The financial services provider reported $3.49 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.45 by $0.04. Primerica had a return on equity of 27.48% and a net margin of 15.33%. The firm had revenue of $690.04 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $697.61 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.11 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Primerica, Inc. will post 15.34 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 22nd were issued a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 19th. Primericas dividend payout ratio is 23.47%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on PRI. Raymond James began coverage on Primerica in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. They set a strong-buy rating and a $244.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded Primerica from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price objective on Primerica from $220.00 to $240.00 in a research note on Monday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $210.25. Insider Buying and Selling at Primerica In other Primerica news, CEO Glenn J. Williams sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.25, for a total value of $765,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 49,902 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,543,757.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, President Peter W. Schneider sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $192.19, for a total transaction of $384,380.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 13,024 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,503,082.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Glenn J. Williams sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.25, for a total value of $765,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 49,902 shares in the company, valued at $9,543,757.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 11,200 shares of company stock valued at $2,119,760 in the last ninety days. 0.87% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Primerica Company Profile (Free Report) Primerica, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. The company operates in four segments: Term Life Insurance; Investment and Savings Products; Senior Health; and Corporate and Other Distributed Products. The Term Life Insurance segment underwrites individual term life insurance products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Primerica Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Primerica and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in Horace Mann Educators Co. (NYSE:HMN Free Report) by 5.6% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 289,934 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 17,040 shares during the period. Ceredex Value Advisors LLCs holdings in Horace Mann Educators were worth $9,707,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Arizona State Retirement System grew its stake in Horace Mann Educators by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 11,540 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $431,000 after acquiring an additional 281 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its position in shares of Horace Mann Educators by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 41,601 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,555,000 after buying an additional 319 shares in the last quarter. Putnam Investments LLC grew its holdings in Horace Mann Educators by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 137,515 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $5,139,000 after acquiring an additional 378 shares in the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its position in Horace Mann Educators by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 38,359 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,605,000 after purchasing an additional 389 shares during the period. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Horace Mann Educators by 7.3% in the 4th quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 6,276 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $235,000 after purchasing an additional 426 shares during the period. Get Horace Mann Educators alerts: Insider Activity In other Horace Mann Educators news, SVP Michael Weckenbrock sold 1,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.82, for a total transaction of $52,512.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 5,424 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $178,015.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 3.60% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Horace Mann Educators Trading Down 0.6 % A number of analysts have weighed in on HMN shares. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on Horace Mann Educators from $38.00 to $36.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com started coverage on Horace Mann Educators in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. NYSE:HMN opened at $28.90 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -111.15 and a beta of 0.40. Horace Mann Educators Co. has a 52 week low of $28.72 and a 52 week high of $40.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $31.06 and a 200 day moving average of $33.76. Horace Mann Educators (NYSE:HMN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The insurance provider reported $0.23 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.02. Horace Mann Educators had a positive return on equity of 3.02% and a negative net margin of 0.76%. The firm had revenue of $353.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $367.60 million. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Horace Mann Educators Co. will post 1.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Horace Mann Educators Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were paid a dividend of $0.33 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $1.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.57%. Horace Mann Educatorss payout ratio is -507.69%. Horace Mann Educators Profile (Free Report) Horace Mann Educators Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an insurance holding company in the United States. The company operates through Property & Casualty, Life & Retirement, and Supplemental & Group Benefits segments. Its Property & Casualty segment offers insurance products, including private passenger auto insurance and residential home insurance; and provides auto coverages including liability and collision, and property coverage for homeowners and renters. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HMN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Horace Mann Educators Co. (NYSE:HMN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Horace Mann Educators Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Horace Mann Educators and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Reitz Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MIY Free Report) by 1.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 141,316 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 1,680 shares during the quarter. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund makes up approximately 1.5% of Reitz Capital Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest position. Reitz Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund were worth $1,581,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MIY. Melone Private Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 5.5% during the first quarter. Melone Private Wealth LLC now owns 427,625 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,781,000 after acquiring an additional 22,450 shares during the period. Well Done LLC boosted its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 0.8% in the first quarter. Well Done LLC now owns 208,483 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,333,000 after buying an additional 1,620 shares during the period. Secure Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 4.3% in the first quarter. Secure Asset Management LLC now owns 141,386 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,582,000 after buying an additional 5,833 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund in the first quarter valued at approximately $404,000. Finally, Transcend Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 53.1% in the first quarter. Transcend Capital Advisors LLC now owns 65,653 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $735,000 after buying an additional 22,763 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 18.16% of the companys stock. Get BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of MIY stock opened at $11.15 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $10.99 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.21. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc. has a 1 year low of $10.56 and a 1 year high of $13.90. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Announces Dividend BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Company Profile The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 14th will be given a dividend of $0.0345 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th. This represents a $0.41 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.71%. (Free Report) BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in investment grade, long-term municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes and Michigan income taxes. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MIY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MIY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Busey Wealth Management lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 3.0% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 15,711 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after buying an additional 452 shares during the period. Busey Wealth Managements holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $7,425,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNH. Chesapeake Wealth Management boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 7.0% during the 4th quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Management now owns 4,992 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $2,647,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the period. Westhampton Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Westhampton Capital LLC now owns 2,587 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $1,223,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth about $87,114,000. Alta Capital Management LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 335.1% in the 1st quarter. Alta Capital Management LLC now owns 62,712 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $29,637,000 after buying an additional 48,300 shares during the period. Finally, Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $2,299,000. 92.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.3 % Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $463.05 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $445.68 and a 12-month high of $558.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $431.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.17, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.66. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $481.30 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $487.42. UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.24 by $0.02. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 6.16% and a return on equity of 27.05%. The business had revenue of $91.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $89.77 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $5.49 EPS. UnitedHealth Groups revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.85 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 19th were paid a $1.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.62%. This is a positive change from UnitedHealth Groups previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 34.39%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. SVB Securities lowered their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $625.00 to $560.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $562.00 to $527.00 in a research report on Friday. Raymond James reaffirmed a strong-buy rating and issued a $630.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $592.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $590.84. Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group In other news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $487.49, for a total value of $3,002,938.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 86,564 shares in the company, valued at $42,199,084.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $487.49, for a total transaction of $3,002,938.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 86,564 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,199,084.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,684 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $488.46, for a total transaction of $822,566.64. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 8,675 shares in the company, valued at $4,237,390.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 8,852 shares of company stock worth $4,313,962 over the last 90 days. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. UnitedHealth Group Profile (Free Report) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Qabil Ashirov Remaining true to its expansionist foreign policy, Armenia goes the limits by not signing final peace with Azerbaijan. As the Hay society brain-washed with the myths about the invincible brave Armenian soul, they have not been able to comprehend the realities behind the humiliated defeat in 2020. The reality is comprised that from economic, demographic and political point of view Armenia is the weakest country in the South Caucasus and even its borders are protected by Russia, in the other words, it is failed state or banana republic. To top it all off, this failed banana republic rides the high horse and tries to wrest off lands from Azerbaijan, the strongest and dominant country in the region. At the end of the day, it encounters the facts, either it should continue its expansionist policy which will end up the erase of Armenia from the political map, or it should swallow its pride. Unfortunately, Hayk chose the former one. Despite all occurrence, they keep hoping that something will change in the global political scene, and external forces such as France, the USA and so on will come to fight with Azerbaijan instead of them. So, they aim to play with time by making provocations, putting groundless claims forward and so on. Because, like the Armenian leadership, the Armenian society knows well the methods of gaining time by inventing various excuses for their own interests. As is known, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan made sensational statements about peace talks and repeatedly emphasized that he is ready to recognize Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan. It was unexpected not just for Azerbaijanis but also for Armenians as well. No one in Armenia's political life has made such statements previously. However, being well aware of Armenian hypocrisy, many were sceptical about his words, and it proved that they were right. According to the Armenian mass-media the Haya Que civil-legislative initiative proposes to amend the legislation and criminalize any action on behalf of Armenia that recognizes Karabakh as part of another state. Simultaneously, governmental and pro-governmental parties are lashing out the initiative, but needless to say that all of these are farce. It will be no surprise, if Armenia Parliament adopts the law at the end. It is worth noting that it is well known democracy game and quasi-democratic countries sometimes apply to it. Of course Nikol Pashinyan will do the same and use it as a pretext to step back from his statement. Ostensibly, he is ready and eager to sign a peace, but as Armenia is a so-called democratic country he abides by the laws and therefore he cannot sign the peace agreement. Pashinyan's traditional excuse consists of subjects such as his life being at risk, threats to family members, and coup attempt in his country. Thus, they think that the peace talks will reach to a deadlock once again, and they will try to explain it somehow by giving an excuse. But Armenia forgets Azerbaijan's patience is not unlimited and any such kind of attempts could be last straw. Of course, this will limit the opportunity of negotiation and could lead to the new war between the two countries. Besides, Azerbaijan has a lot of leverages to use against the failed state as well. As is known, Armenians were brought to the South Caucasus, including Armenia by the Russian Empire after the Russo-Iranian war at the beginning of 19th century. Nascent Armenian society in the region revived thanks to the Russian Empire. It was Czar who took productive lands and granted them to Armenians; it was Czar who gave them permission to exploit oil well in Absheron, Azerbaijan; it was Czar who eliminated the Caucasus Albanian Church and handed its heritage to the Armenian church and so on. Moreover, current Armenia was called Iravan khanate, when Russia invaded it and plenty of documents were signed with the representatives of khans of Iravan and Russian Czars. Even as a historical proof, it is possible to clearly see the mosques in then-Iravan in many tableaux painted by several Russian artists. ? Besides, several then-famous writers described the city as a hometown of Muslims. In other words, Azerbaijan has plenty of historical facts to prove Armenia as having been part of Azerbaijani land, and has full right to criminalize any statement of it, and moreover has a strong army to bring it into force. So, it would be better for Armenians to get of the high horse, and try to find reasonable solution, if they do not want their banana republic is put in dusty shelves of archives of history in days to come. It was a discreet announcement. Mexicos Attorney Generals Office (FGR) referred to Eleazar El Chelelo Medina Rojas as a Mexican national wanted by the United States for the crimes of criminal association and against health, and said that between 2000 and 2010, he was the leader of a criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking. But the statement did not include his last name, nor mention that the drug organization he had led was Los Zetas, one of the most feared criminal organizations in Mexico. Behind the brief statement on his extradition lies the story of one of Los Zetas most feared lieutenants, who the United States was after for more than two decades. Almost immediately after he was handed over to U.S. agents at Mexico City International Airport, authorities announced that Medina Rojas, 51, was wanted in the United States for two charges of cocaine and marijuana trafficking. The White House identified him as one of the top commanders of La Compania, a criminal organization forged from the alliance between the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas. But the indictment was not new. It dates back 10 years to May 2013. A March 2010 document outlining the leaders of Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel, including El Chelelo. Secretaria del Tesoro The indictment lists another 26 drug traffickers, including Miguel Trevino Morales, alias Z-40, the leader of Los Zetas; Heriberto Lazcano, known simply as El Lazca, and Antonio Cardenas Guillen, who is known as Tony Tormenta and is the brother of Osiel Cardenas, the founder of the Gulf Cartel. Antonio was killed in 2010 by Mexican armed forces in Tamaulipas, the historical stronghold of Los Zetas. Osiel pleaded guilty that same year in the United States and received a 25-year prison sentence. The Mexican government of Felipe Calderon (2006-2012) and his U.S. counterparts singled out Los Zetas as the main cause of violence in the country. It was just the first years of the drug war and Mexican authorities believed they had nearly completely dismantled the Gulf Cartel, a criminal organization that has made headlines in recent weeks. El Chelelo had a lower profile, but played a key role in the criminal structure. Medina Rojas was the cartels boss in Monterrey, the countrys second most populous metropolitan area, and controlled several territories in the neighboring state of Tamaulipas. In April 2007, he was arrested along with seven accomplices in a large-scale operation in the border city of Nuevo Laredo. He was accused of being one of the main murderers and kidnappers of the Gulf Cartel. The drug lord had tried to evade arrest by claiming a fake identity as Erick Gonzalez Martinez. But it was hard to pull off. The agents found $170,000 in cash, several luxury cars, an arsenal of long and short weapons, high-caliber pistols covered in gold-plated brass, more than a dozen bulletproof vests and more than a million pesos worth of jewelry. Calderon had been in power for less than six months, but the wave of violence due to the war on drugs was already dominating the news. The 2007 arrest of El Chelelo was hailed by the Attorney Generals Office (PGR) and then-secretary of public security Genaro Garcia Luna as the second most important blow to the drug cartels, behind only the seizure of more than $207 million from Chinese businessman Zhenli Ye Gon, which occurred a month before. Some of the weapons confiscated in the operation that captured Medina Rojas in April 2007. Guillermo Perea It was not El Chelelos first encounter with the justice system. In 1996, he was arrested with 153 kilos of marijuana but, according to the PGR, was released thanks to an amparo, a remedy for the protection of constitutional rights. At the 2007 press conference to announce his arrest, the PGR also linked him to at least one murder case and trying to enter the United States without papers. For an undisclosed period of time, he was in the custody of agents in Laredo, Texas. But Medina Rojas escaped, and reappeared on the other side of the border as one of Mexicos deadliest drug lords. After being arrested, Medina Rojas received an eight-year prison sentence. And in 2008, he was charged by the United States. But his extradition to the U.S. never materialized, despite the fact that during the Calderon administration (2007-2012), 587 defendants were extradited to the U.S. By way of comparison, under the government of Enrique Pena Nieto (2013-2018), there were only 394 extraditions, according to data from U.S. Congress. After serving his sentence, El Chelelo went straight back to business. U.S. authorities say he played a key role in coordinating drug shipments to his home country between 2000 and February 2010, even though he was in prison in Mexico during the latter part of those years. They also accuse Medina Rojas and other cartel members of operating in countries such as Panama, Colombia and Guatemala. In March 2010, he was blacklisted by the Treasury Department and all his assets in the international banking system were frozen. This took place while he was serving his sentence. By 2016 he was out of prison and active again. At the end of 2018, El Chelelo made an unexpected misstep. He was arrested for committing a traffic violation in an exclusive area of Merida in Yucatan. Just as he did a decade earlier, Medina Rojas used a fake name and ID, calling himself Maximo Tomas Roberto. But his profile fit the description given by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The fugitive may be armed and dangerous, it warned. After being found out, he threatened the officers who had detained him, according to several local media outlets. You dont know who youre messing with, he warned them. In another twist in the story, to the astonishment of the authorities, the judge handling his case argued that the traffic violation was not reason enough to keep him in jail and ordered his release. At the same time that he was being released from prison, Interpol was coordinating an operation to recapture him. When El Chelelo became aware of this, he refused to leave the court. Finally, he was handcuffed, escorted by agents and transferred in a government plane to the Altiplano maximum security prison, which is reserved for highly dangerous prisoners. El Chelelo was notified of the U.S. extradition order as soon as he set foot in Altiplano prison, the same one from which notorious drug trafficker Joaquin El Chapo Guzman escaped from via a mile-long tunnel in July 2015. Medina Rojas managed to delay the judicial process for another five years, until his extradition was announced last Sunday night. He handed himself over last Thursday. After being in and out of jail for almost 30 years, Medina Rojas will face a new trial in the District of Columbia. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Ceredex Value Advisors LLC lowered its stake in Owens Corning (NYSE:OC Free Report) by 5.5% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 195,847 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 11,380 shares during the quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLCs holdings in Owens Corning were worth $18,862,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Duality Advisers LP acquired a new position in Owens Corning in the 4th quarter valued at $1,088,000. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co acquired a new position in Owens Corning in the 3rd quarter valued at $316,000. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC acquired a new position in Owens Corning in the 4th quarter valued at $628,000. abrdn plc raised its holdings in Owens Corning by 7.4% in the 4th quarter. abrdn plc now owns 215,822 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $18,410,000 after acquiring an additional 14,887 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its holdings in Owens Corning by 10.2% in the 4th quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 42,042 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $3,586,000 after acquiring an additional 3,885 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.43% of the companys stock. Get Owens Corning alerts: Insider Transactions at Owens Corning In related news, EVP Paula Russell sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.00, for a total transaction of $300,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 21,364 shares in the company, valued at $2,136,400. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Owens Corning news, insider Marcio A. Sandri sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.00, for a total value of $800,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 62,962 shares in the company, valued at $6,296,200. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Paula Russell sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.00, for a total transaction of $300,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 21,364 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,136,400. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 21,570 shares of company stock valued at $2,282,993. Insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Owens Corning Stock Performance OC has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Owens Corning from $111.00 to $135.00 in a report on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on Owens Corning from $102.00 to $110.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Owens Corning in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Owens Corning from $105.00 to $135.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Finally, Loop Capital upped their price objective on Owens Corning from $125.00 to $138.00 in a report on Friday, June 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Owens Corning currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $116.08. NYSE:OC opened at $128.77 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.86 and a quick ratio of 1.17. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $116.29 and a two-hundred day moving average of $102.54. The stock has a market cap of $11.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.32, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.46. Owens Corning has a 1-year low of $74.22 and a 1-year high of $132.67. Owens Corning (NYSE:OC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The construction company reported $2.77 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.22 by $0.55. Owens Corning had a net margin of 13.54% and a return on equity of 26.06%. The business had revenue of $2.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.22 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.84 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Owens Corning will post 10.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Owens Corning Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 4th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be given a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 14th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.62%. Owens Cornings payout ratio is 15.05%. About Owens Corning (Free Report) Owens Corning engages in manufacture and sale of insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composite materials in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Composites, Insulation, and Roofing. The Composites segment manufactures, fabricates, and sells glass reinforcements in the form of fiber; and glass fiber products in the form of fabrics, non-wovens, and other specialized products. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Owens Corning (NYSE:OC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Owens Corning Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Owens Corning and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Adviser Investments LLC increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 4.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 19,938 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 874 shares during the period. Adviser Investments LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,382,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMY. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC bought a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 1st quarter worth about $29,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Live Oak Investment Partners bought a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, First Personal Financial Services grew its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 67.8% during the 1st quarter. First Personal Financial Services now owns 495 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.57% of the companys stock. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Activity In other news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total transaction of $3,378,818.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,202,182.06. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance Several brokerages have issued reports on BMY. Daiwa Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. They set an outperform rating and a $70.00 target price on the stock. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $65.00 to $64.00 in a report on Tuesday. 51job restated a maintains rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday, April 28th. SVB Leerink restated a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Monday. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $72.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $77.13. BMY opened at $62.48 on Tuesday. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12-month low of $62.30 and a 12-month high of $81.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $131.26 billion, a PE ratio of 18.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.43. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $65.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $68.76. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $11.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.50 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.96 EPS. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 EPS for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.65%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.47%. Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 119 shares of the restaurant operators stock, valued at approximately $203,000. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. ETF Managers Group LLC increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC now owns 455 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $777,000 after purchasing an additional 6 shares in the last quarter. Moseley Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Moseley Investment Management Inc. now owns 283 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $393,000 after purchasing an additional 7 shares in the last quarter. Glassman Wealth Services increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 9.2% during the 4th quarter. Glassman Wealth Services now owns 83 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $115,000 after purchasing an additional 7 shares in the last quarter. Resources Management Corp CT ADV grew its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Resources Management Corp CT ADV now owns 472 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $655,000 after acquiring an additional 7 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avitas Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Avitas Wealth Management LLC now owns 935 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,297,000 after acquiring an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.91% of the companys stock. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill Price Performance Shares of NYSE CMG opened at $2,094.09 on Tuesday. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a one year low of $1,233.61 and a one year high of $2,147.52. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $2,065.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $1,770.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 56.64, a PEG ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.32. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.89 by $1.61. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 11.49% and a return on equity of 45.01%. The firm had revenue of $2.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.34 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $5.70 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 44.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. CMG has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,050.00 to $2,200.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. KeyCorp upped their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,050.00 to $2,300.00 in a research note on Friday, June 23rd. BTIG Research upped their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,825.00 to $2,175.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Oppenheimer upped their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,940.00 to $2,050.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Loop Capital increased their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,700.00 to $1,850.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-one have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $2,066.93. Insider Transactions at Chipotle Mexican Grill In related news, CMO Christopher W. Brandt sold 1,013 shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,795.00, for a total value of $1,818,335.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now owns 8,125 shares in the company, valued at $14,584,375. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CMO Christopher W. Brandt sold 1,013 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,795.00, for a total transaction of $1,818,335.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now owns 8,125 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,584,375. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,868 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,999.90, for a total value of $3,735,813.20. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $46,691,665.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 12,409 shares of company stock worth $25,292,284. Insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock. Chipotle Mexican Grill Company Profile (Free Report) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American National Bank purchased a new position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 2,335 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $372,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Roundview Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.6% in the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 18,803 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,088,000 after buying an additional 106 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 45.4% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,035,879 shares of the companys stock worth $559,235,000 after acquiring an additional 1,571,747 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 739,585 shares of the companys stock valued at $82,131,000 after purchasing an additional 6,903 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 12.7% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 19,466 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,136,000 after purchasing an additional 2,194 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 17.5% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 107,175 shares of the companys stock worth $11,913,000 after purchasing an additional 15,996 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 6.30% of the companys stock. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of NYSE:NVO opened at $157.08 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.86. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 52-week low of $95.02 and a 52-week high of $172.97. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $162.08 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $151.94. The firm has a market cap of $352.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.34, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 0.47. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $1.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.27. The company had revenue of $7.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.86 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 77.39% and a net margin of 32.53%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 5.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of equities analysts have issued reports on NVO shares. Credit Suisse Group upgraded Novo Nordisk A/S from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 13th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile (Free Report) Novo Nordisk A/S, a healthcare company, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products worldwide. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity care, and Rare Disease. The Diabetes and Obesity care segment provides products in the areas of insulins, GLP-1 and related delivery systems, oral antidiabetic products, obesity, glucagon, needles, and other chronic diseases. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tectonic Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Capital One Financial Co. (NYSE:COF Free Report) by 39.4% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,060 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,431 shares during the quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLCs holdings in Capital One Financial were worth $487,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Davis Selected Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of Capital One Financial by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Davis Selected Advisers now owns 10,867,609 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,010,253,000 after purchasing an additional 49,543 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Capital One Financial by 7.9% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 9,362,367 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $870,326,000 after acquiring an additional 686,514 shares during the last quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Capital One Financial by 11.5% during the 4th quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 5,972,255 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $555,181,000 after acquiring an additional 616,973 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in Capital One Financial by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 5,413,955 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $710,798,000 after acquiring an additional 95,770 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its stake in Capital One Financial by 10.6% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,785,441 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $351,895,000 after acquiring an additional 362,071 shares during the last quarter. 88.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Capital One Financial alerts: Insider Activity In other news, insider Mark Daniel Mouadeb sold 469 shares of Capital One Financial stock in a transaction on Friday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.00, for a total value of $51,590.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 16,396 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,803,560. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.41% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Capital One Financial Stock Performance A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on COF shares. Bank of America increased their target price on Capital One Financial from $109.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Capital One Financial from $96.00 to $85.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Capital One Financial from $102.00 to $112.00 in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Citigroup increased their target price on Capital One Financial from $121.00 to $124.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Capital One Financial from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $113.58. Capital One Financial stock opened at $109.45 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 0.98. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $103.03 and a two-hundred day moving average of $102.22. The company has a market capitalization of $41.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.55, a PEG ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.45. Capital One Financial Co. has a fifty-two week low of $83.93 and a fifty-two week high of $123.09. Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The financial services provider reported $2.31 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.80 by ($1.49). The business had revenue of $8.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.07 billion. Capital One Financial had a net margin of 14.33% and a return on equity of 10.90%. Capital One Financials revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $5.62 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Capital One Financial Co. will post 12.38 EPS for the current fiscal year. Capital One Financial Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th were given a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.19%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 12th. Capital One Financials dividend payout ratio is currently 16.55%. About Capital One Financial (Free Report) Capital One Financial Corporation operates as the financial services holding company for the Capital One Bank (USA), National Association; and Capital One, National Association, which provides various financial products and services in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Credit Card, Consumer Banking, and Commercial Banking. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Capital One Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capital One Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC boosted its stake in shares of Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX Free Report) by 593.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 20,539 shares of the asset managers stock after buying an additional 17,579 shares during the quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLCs holdings in Blackstone were worth $1,804,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Blackstone in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. AXS Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Blackstone in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. RFP Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Blackstone in the 4th quarter worth about $41,000. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Blackstone in the 3rd quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of Blackstone in the 4th quarter worth about $46,000. 63.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Blackstone alerts: Blackstone Stock Performance BX stock opened at $93.37 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $65.92 billion, a PE ratio of 113.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The business has a 50 day moving average of $87.35 and a 200-day moving average of $86.96. Blackstone Inc. has a 12-month low of $71.72 and a 12-month high of $110.89. Blackstone Cuts Dividend Blackstone ( NYSE:BX Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The asset manager reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.97. Blackstone had a return on equity of 18.51% and a net margin of 12.92%. The company had revenue of $1.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.44 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.55 earnings per share. Blackstones quarterly revenue was down 73.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Blackstone Inc. will post 4.3 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 1st were issued a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 28th. Blackstones dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 400.00%. Insider Buying and Selling at Blackstone In other Blackstone news, Director Joseph Baratta sold 85,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.08, for a total transaction of $7,911,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,060,448 shares of the companys stock, valued at $98,706,499.84. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Blackstone news, insider Multi-Asset Direct Blackstone sold 3,000,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.50, for a total transaction of $25,500,000.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Joseph Baratta sold 85,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.08, for a total value of $7,911,800.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 1,060,448 shares in the company, valued at approximately $98,706,499.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders bought 117,282 shares of company stock valued at $646,274 and sold 3,396,100 shares valued at $42,929,683. 1.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Blackstone from $100.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on Blackstone from $102.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price target on Blackstone from $74.00 to $70.50 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 21st. TheStreet downgraded Blackstone from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on Blackstone from $111.00 to $107.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $102.70. About Blackstone (Free Report) Blackstone Inc is an alternative asset management firm specializing in real estate, private equity, hedge fund solutions, credit, secondary funds of funds, public debt and equity and multi-asset class strategies. The firm typically invests in early-stage companies. It also provide capital markets services. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Blackstone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blackstone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by equities researchers at Jefferies Financial Group from $50.00 to $60.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Jefferies Financial Groups price objective would indicate a potential upside of 23.80% from the companys previous close. DAL has been the topic of several other research reports. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Delta Air Lines from $40.00 to $48.00 in a report on Monday, June 26th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Delta Air Lines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. Susquehanna boosted their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $45.00 to $54.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $48.00 to $55.00 in a report on Friday, June 23rd. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $61.00 to $65.00 in a report on Monday, July 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $53.26. Get Delta Air Lines alerts: Delta Air Lines Stock Performance Shares of DAL opened at $48.47 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $31.15 billion, a PE ratio of 16.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 1.31. Delta Air Lines has a one year low of $27.20 and a one year high of $48.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.17, a current ratio of 0.47 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The companys fifty day moving average price is $39.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $37.28. Insider Buying and Selling at Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines ( NYSE:DAL Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 13th. The transportation company reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.29 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $12.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.25 billion. Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 56.49% and a net margin of 3.51%. The businesss revenue was up 36.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($1.23) EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Delta Air Lines will post 6.24 earnings per share for the current year. In other Delta Air Lines news, EVP Joanne D. Smith sold 7,513 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.90, for a total value of $277,229.70. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 107,782 shares in the company, valued at $3,977,155.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, President Glen W. Hauenstein sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.53, for a total transaction of $172,650.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 273,712 shares in the company, valued at $9,451,275.36. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Joanne D. Smith sold 7,513 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.90, for a total transaction of $277,229.70. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 107,782 shares in the company, valued at $3,977,155.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have bought a total of 15,000 shares of company stock worth $503,250 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Delta Air Lines A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Czech National Bank lifted its position in shares of Delta Air Lines by 0.7% during the second quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 76,084 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $3,617,000 after purchasing an additional 543 shares in the last quarter. Level Four Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 11.1% in the second quarter. Level Four Advisory Services LLC now owns 92,100 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $4,378,000 after buying an additional 9,199 shares during the period. Financial Management Professionals Inc. lifted its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 3,355.6% in the second quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 933 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 906 shares during the period. Foster Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 0.8% in the second quarter. Foster Group Inc. now owns 65,755 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $3,126,000 after buying an additional 523 shares during the period. Finally, Kwmg LLC lifted its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 5.1% in the second quarter. Kwmg LLC now owns 125,616 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $5,972,000 after buying an additional 6,083 shares during the period. 68.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Delta Air Lines Company Profile (Get Free Report) Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Seoul-Incheon. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Delta Air Lines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delta Air Lines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New Potomac Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 1.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,386 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 161 shares during the period. Mastercard accounts for approximately 2.1% of New Potomac Partners LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. New Potomac Partners LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $3,048,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Atlas Private Wealth Management grew its stake in shares of Mastercard by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Atlas Private Wealth Management now owns 2,822 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,025,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the period. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. grew its stake in shares of Mastercard by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 419,692 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $152,520,000 after buying an additional 14,700 shares during the period. Tectonic Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Mastercard by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 4,723 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,716,000 after buying an additional 239 shares during the period. American National Bank grew its stake in shares of Mastercard by 5.0% in the 1st quarter. American National Bank now owns 2,814 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,023,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the period. Finally, Oxbow Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Mastercard by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Oxbow Advisors LLC now owns 28,320 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $10,292,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.33% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Insider Activity at Mastercard In related news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $386.28, for a total value of $48,600,204.48. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 100,437,277 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,796,911,359.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Mastercard news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $386.28, for a total transaction of $48,600,204.48. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 100,437,277 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,796,911,359.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Raj Seshadri sold 5,164 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $373.24, for a total transaction of $1,927,411.36. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 11,164 shares in the company, valued at $4,166,851.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 547,243 shares of company stock valued at $209,102,122 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Mastercard Trading Up 0.9 % MA has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Mastercard from $392.00 to $404.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $390.00 to $400.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $410.00 to $435.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Mastercard in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Tigress Financial upped their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $472.00 to $476.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $422.04. Shares of NYSE:MA opened at $392.27 on Tuesday. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52 week low of $276.87 and a 52 week high of $395.25. The companys 50 day moving average is $379.53 and its two-hundred day moving average is $369.08. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.84. The company has a market cap of $371.81 billion, a PE ratio of 39.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.11. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The credit services provider reported $2.80 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $5.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.64 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 42.33% and a return on equity of 169.12%. The companys revenue was up 11.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.76 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Mastercard Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 9th. Investors of record on Friday, July 7th will be given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 6th. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.78%. Mastercard Company Profile (Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. It facilitates the processing of payment transactions, including authorization, clearing, and settlement, as well as delivers other payment-related products and services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American National Bank grew its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report) by 1,115.6% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,325 shares of the natural resource companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,216 shares during the quarter. American National Banks holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $54,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 131.5% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 10,414,862 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $395,765,000 after purchasing an additional 5,916,905 shares in the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 25.5% in the 4th quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 10,009,746 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $380,411,000 after acquiring an additional 2,032,476 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 2,954.8% in the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,951,565 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $78,843,000 after acquiring an additional 1,887,680 shares during the period. Amundi boosted its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 13.8% in the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 13,496,129 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $611,468,000 after acquiring an additional 1,637,605 shares during the period. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 1,057.1% in the 1st quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,607,292 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $65,754,000 after acquiring an additional 1,468,380 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.35% of the companys stock. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth FCX has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Barclays upped their price target on Freeport-McMoRan from $24.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Sanford C. Bernstein initiated coverage on Freeport-McMoRan in a report on Thursday, June 29th. They issued a market perform rating and a $41.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Freeport-McMoRan from $35.00 to $38.50 in a report on Wednesday, June 21st. StockNews.com cut Freeport-McMoRan from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, June 9th. Finally, Scotiabank upgraded Freeport-McMoRan from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and increased their target price for the company from $41.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $39.27. Freeport-McMoRan Stock Performance FCX stock opened at $38.98 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 1.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The firm has a market cap of $55.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.78 and a beta of 2.01. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 12-month low of $24.80 and a 12-month high of $46.73. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $37.32 and its 200 day simple moving average is $39.76. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 21st. The natural resource company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.47 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $5.39 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.25 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a return on equity of 11.07% and a net margin of 12.07%. The businesss revenue was down 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.07 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.76 EPS for the current year. Freeport-McMoRan Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Investors of record on Friday, July 14th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.54%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio is currently 16.76%. Insider Activity at Freeport-McMoRan In related news, Director Sara Grootwassink Lewis bought 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, May 12th. The shares were purchased 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 document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.78% of the companys stock. Freeport-McMoRan Company Profile (Free Report) Freeport-McMoRan Inc engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals, as well as oil and gas. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Tyrone and Chino in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FCX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Freeport-McMoRan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freeport-McMoRan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Satovsky Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 21.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,873 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 1,038 shares during the period. Bristol-Myers Squibb comprises approximately 0.2% of Satovsky Asset Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 26th largest position. Satovsky Asset Management LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $407,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Live Oak Investment Partners purchased a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, My Personal CFO LLC purchased a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. 74.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on BMY shares. SVB Securities started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday. They set a market perform rating and a $66.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. Daiwa Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. They set an outperform rating and a $70.00 target price for the company. Credit Suisse Group cut their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $72.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $65.00 to $64.00 in a report on Tuesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $77.13. Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance NYSE BMY opened at $62.48 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $131.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $65.53 and a 200-day simple moving average of $68.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.42 and a quick ratio of 1.28. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52-week low of $62.30 and a 52-week high of $81.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.07. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.75% and a net margin of 15.95%. The company had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.50 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.96 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.65%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is 66.47%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total transaction of $3,378,818.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,202,182.06. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Batteries of Patriot air defense systems of the German Armed Forces, at Vilnius airport on Monday. INTS KALNINS (REUTERS) This years annual NATO summit is being held in extraordinary geopolitical circumstances a war in Europe, unseen since 1945 and in a very special geographical location Vilnius, just a few dozen miles from Belarus and less than 125 miles from Russia. Accordingly, the security measures to protect the meeting are also extraordinary, as around 40 heads of state and government (the 31 Allies, plus other guests such as Sweden, Ukraine and several Asian democracies) converge on the capital of Lithuania for the two-day summit. Upon landing this Monday at Vilnius airport, the deployment was very evident. Batteries of German Armed Forces Patriot air defense systems could be seen alongside the runway, some pointed towards the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, others in the direction of Belarus/Russia. A flag made clear who owned this long-range military equipment. But this is not the Allies only special contribution to the security of the summit. Spain has provided medium-range Nasams air defense units; France, Caesar artillery pieces; various Allies have provided fighter jets; London and Paris contributed defense systems against drones; Berlin and Warsaw sent helicopter-borne special task forces. Meanwhile, NATOs task force against chemical, biological and nuclear risks is operational. And 16 members have sent 1,000 troops who will join the 3,000 local soldiers that Lithuania has mobilized for the occasion, according to local authorities. More information The dilemma of Ukraines accession and other keys to a NATO summit near Russia Lithuania is pulling out all the stops to the best of its ability. Among other things, it has tripled border control activities. In 2021, thousands of migrants, mainly from the Middle East, arrived at the border with Belarus in an episode that the West considers a deliberate destabilization attempt perpetrated by Minsk. Belarus denies the allegations. As in other big summits, the city center is full of security and there are frequent traffic cuts. Lithuanian authorities report that some 1,500 police officers are on duty for the two-day event. The military dimension of the protection effort is exceptional, in keeping with the challenge that is so close: Belarus is willing to welcome Russian nuclear weapons and Wagner mercenaries, and a spiral of conflict could have multiple derivatives, not only in a conventional sense, but also in a hybrid one. Lithuanian authorities and those of the other Baltic countries, Latvia and Estonia are hoping that this one-off reinforcement will represent a new step toward large permanent Allied deployments that will reinforce their own fragile defenses. In June, Germany declared its willingness to permanently transfer 4,000 soldiers to Lithuania, for which the necessary facilities are now being set up. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO has heavily reinforced its so-called forward defenses on the eastern flank, although these are largely rotating deployments involving many Allies. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 0.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 17,199 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $8,128,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of UNH. Chelsea Counsel Co. bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Investors Research Corp increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 51.1% in the 4th quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 71 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bourgeon Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 192.3% in the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 76 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.61% of the companys stock. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.3 % UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $463.05 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $445.68 and a 52 week high of $558.10. The company has a market capitalization of $431.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.66. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $481.30 and a 200 day moving average price of $487.42. UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.24 by $0.02. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 27.05% and a net margin of 6.16%. The company had revenue of $91.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $89.77 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.49 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Groups revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.85 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 19th were paid a dividend of $1.88 per share. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.62%. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Groups previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 15th. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 34.39%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on UNH shares. Truist Financial cut their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $610.00 to $580.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, April 20th. They set an overweight rating and a $591.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $562.00 to $527.00 in a report on Friday. Piper Sandler started coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, May 25th. They issued an overweight rating and a $580.00 price target for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $627.00 to $564.00 in a research report on Friday, June 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $590.84. Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group In other news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,008 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $484.58, for a total transaction of $488,456.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,359 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,019,764.22. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.49, for a total transaction of $3,002,938.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 86,564 shares in the company, valued at $42,199,084.36. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,008 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $484.58, for a total value of $488,456.64. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 10,359 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,019,764.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 8,852 shares of company stock valued at $4,313,962 in the last three months. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. UnitedHealth Group Company Profile (Free Report) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Benin Management CORP boosted its stake in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 3.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 37,407 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,401 shares during the quarter. Pfizer comprises approximately 0.6% of Benin Management CORPs holdings, making the stock its 25th largest holding. Benin Management CORPs holdings in Pfizer were worth $1,526,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 23,977 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,229,000 after buying an additional 825 shares during the last quarter. BancFirst Trust & Investment Management boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. BancFirst Trust & Investment Management now owns 17,794 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $719,000 after purchasing an additional 398 shares during the period. Secure Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Secure Asset Management LLC now owns 15,835 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $811,000 after purchasing an additional 537 shares during the last quarter. Center For Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Pfizer by 28.0% during the 1st quarter. Center For Asset Management LLC now owns 23,894 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $975,000 after buying an additional 5,228 shares during the period. Finally, Range Financial Group LLC lifted its position in Pfizer by 2.8% in the first quarter. Range Financial Group LLC now owns 37,010 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,510,000 after buying an additional 1,024 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.80% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have weighed in on PFE shares. Daiwa Capital Markets cut shares of Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $38.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Pfizer from $45.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price target on Pfizer from $41.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $46.67. Pfizer Stock Up 0.4 % NYSE:PFE opened at $35.68 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Pfizer Inc. has a 1-year low of $35.35 and a 1-year high of $54.93. The company has a 50-day moving average of $37.96 and a 200 day moving average of $41.39. The firm has a market cap of $201.40 billion, a PE ratio of 7.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.61. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.23. Pfizer had a return on equity of 37.53% and a net margin of 31.25%. The firm had revenue of $18.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.49 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.62 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 28.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 EPS for the current fiscal year. Pfizer Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Investors of record on Friday, July 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 27th. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.60%. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.28%. Insider Activity In other news, Director Scott Gottlieb bought 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $38.58 per share, with a total value of $38,580.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 6,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $231,480. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock. Pfizer Company Profile (Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Atlas Private Wealth Management grew its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Free Report) by 3.1% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 3,645 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the period. Atlas Private Wealth Managements holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $707,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Tsfg LLC increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 49.8% during the 4th quarter. Tsfg LLC now owns 665 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $116,000 after buying an additional 221 shares during the period. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 15,176 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,638,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the period. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 1st quarter worth approximately $666,000. Finally, DnB Asset Management AS increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. DnB Asset Management AS now owns 173,857 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $33,727,000 after buying an additional 1,024 shares during the period. 58.94% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get United Parcel Service alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages recently weighed in on UPS. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Melius started coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Monday, March 27th. They set an overweight rating and a $225.00 price target for the company. Loop Capital lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $219.00 to $212.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. Credit Suisse Group set a $203.00 price target on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Finally, Susquehanna lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $180.00 to $173.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $191.23. United Parcel Service Stock Up 0.9 % UPS stock opened at $181.37 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $173.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $180.29. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $154.87 and a 12 month high of $209.39. The company has a market cap of $155.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.34 and a quick ratio of 1.34. United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The transportation company reported $2.20 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $22.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.98 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 10.90% and a return on equity of 57.68%. United Parcel Services revenue for the quarter was down 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.05 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 10.73 earnings per share for the current year. United Parcel Service Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th were given a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.57%. United Parcel Services payout ratio is currently 52.43%. United Parcel Service Profile (Free Report) United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UPS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for United Parcel Service Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Parcel Service and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American National Bank grew its stake in shares of TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE Free Report) by 348.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,259 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 978 shares during the period. American National Banks holdings in TotalEnergies were worth $74,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Connections Group Inc. acquired a new stake in TotalEnergies in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in TotalEnergies by 940.9% in the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 458 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 414 shares during the last quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV grew its stake in TotalEnergies by 63.3% in the 4th quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 490 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in TotalEnergies by 58.6% in the 4th quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC now owns 509 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in TotalEnergies in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. 6.93% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get TotalEnergies alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TTE has been the topic of a number of research reports. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of TotalEnergies from $68.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of TotalEnergies from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $63.25. TotalEnergies Price Performance NYSE:TTE opened at $56.39 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $138.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The companys 50-day moving average is $58.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $60.93. TotalEnergies SE has a 12-month low of $44.61 and a 12-month high of $65.05. TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $2.61 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.43 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $62.60 billion for the quarter. TotalEnergies had a net margin of 7.82% and a return on equity of 28.51%. Research analysts expect that TotalEnergies SE will post 10.44 EPS for the current year. TotalEnergies Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.585 per share. This is a positive change from TotalEnergiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.54. This represents a $2.34 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 16th. TotalEnergiess dividend payout ratio is presently 28.94%. TotalEnergies Profile (Free Report) TotalEnergies SE, a multi-energy company, produces and markets fuels, natural gas, and electricity in France, rest of Europe, North America, Africa, and internationally. It operates through Integrated Gas, Renewables & Power; Exploration & Production; Refining & Chemicals; and Marketing & Services segments. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TTE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TotalEnergies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TotalEnergies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC reduced its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 20.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,589 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 947 shares during the quarter. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $1,174,000 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. Magnus Financial Group LLC increased its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC now owns 2,933 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,007,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the period. Aviance Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC now owns 4,866 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,671,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Platform Technology Partners grew its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Platform Technology Partners now owns 4,218 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,449,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC grew its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC now owns 2,040 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $701,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atticus Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 9.4% during the 1st quarter. Atticus Wealth Management LLC now owns 350 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $114,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. 76.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Up 0.4 % GS stock opened at $316.47 on Tuesday. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $277.84 and a 52-week high of $389.58. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $325.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $338.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $105.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.27, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.38. The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The investment management company reported $8.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.14 by $0.65. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 13.23% and a return on equity of 9.84%. The business had revenue of $12.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.66 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $10.76 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 31.21 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st were issued a dividend of $2.50 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $10.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.16%. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 35.60%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GS has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $390.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $360.00 to $370.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $440.00 to $437.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $429.00 to $414.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $495.00 to $437.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, The Goldman Sachs Group has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $385.77. Insider Activity In related news, Treasurer Philip R. Berlinski sold 3,750 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $338.10, for a total transaction of $1,267,875.00. Following the transaction, the treasurer now directly owns 21,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,223,844.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Kathryn H. Ruemmler sold 7,277 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $332.67, for a total transaction of $2,420,839.59. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,334 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,441,791.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Treasurer Philip R. Berlinski sold 3,750 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $338.10, for a total transaction of $1,267,875.00. Following the completion of the sale, the treasurer now directly owns 21,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,223,844.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 34,978,986 shares of company stock worth $660,057,057 over the last 90 days. 0.54% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About The Goldman Sachs Group (Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in resale agreements. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. increased its position in shares of Eaton Co. plc (NYSE:ETN Free Report) by 4.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 199,814 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 9,400 shares during the period. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V.s holdings in Eaton were worth $34,236,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Eaton by 140.5% during the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 7,609 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,194,000 after buying an additional 4,445 shares during the last quarter. M&T Bank Corp grew its position in Eaton by 0.7% in the third quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 170,423 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $22,728,000 after acquiring an additional 1,267 shares in the last quarter. Western Financial Corp CA acquired a new position in shares of Eaton during the 4th quarter worth $310,000. ProShare Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Eaton by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 49,307 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $7,739,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Finally, InterOcean Capital Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Eaton in the 4th quarter valued at $219,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.31% of the companys stock. Get Eaton alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have weighed in on ETN shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Eaton from $180.00 to $195.00 in a report on Monday. StockNews.com upgraded Eaton from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 5th. Barclays increased their price target on Eaton from $159.00 to $170.00 in a report on Monday. Wolfe Research cut shares of Eaton from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Eaton from $188.00 to $189.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $186.31. Insiders Place Their Bets Eaton Trading Up 2.3 % In other news, insider Michael Yelton sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $197.11, for a total value of $394,220.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 2,096 shares in the company, valued at approximately $413,142.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Corporate insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock. Shares of Eaton stock opened at $203.06 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $184.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $171.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $80.94 billion, a PE ratio of 31.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.13. Eaton Co. plc has a 52-week low of $122.50 and a 52-week high of $203.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 0.91. Eaton (NYSE:ETN Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $1.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $5.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.23 billion. Eaton had a net margin of 12.00% and a return on equity of 18.70%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.62 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Eaton Co. plc will post 8.47 EPS for the current year. Eaton Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Investors of record on Monday, May 8th were paid a $0.86 dividend. This represents a $3.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 5th. Eatons dividend payout ratio is 53.67%. Eaton Profile (Free Report) Eaton Corporation plc operates as a power management company worldwide. The company's Electrical Americas and Electrical Global segment provides electrical components, industrial components, power distribution and assemblies, residential products, single and three phase power quality and connectivity products, wiring devices, circuit protection products, utility power distribution products, power reliability equipment, and services, as well as hazardous duty electrical equipment, emergency lighting, fire detection, explosion-proof instrumentation, and structural support systems. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ETN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eaton Co. plc (NYSE:ETN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Valley National Advisers Inc. cut its position in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report) by 1.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 26,432 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 281 shares during the quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc.s holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $1,096,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Silicon Valley Capital Partners purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. US Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Studio Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 494.8% in the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 2,754 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 2,291 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Activest Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter worth $30,000. 72.11% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wells Fargo & Company Trading Down 1.0 % NYSE:WFC opened at $42.34 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $40.84 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.95. Wells Fargo & Company has a 12 month low of $35.25 and a 12 month high of $48.84. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. The stock has a market cap of $158.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.13, a P/E/G ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.12. Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.15 by $0.08. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 15.93% and a return on equity of 10.07%. The company had revenue of $20.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.06 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.88 EPS. Wells Fargo & Companys revenue was up 16.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.65 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 5th were given a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 4th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.83%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 34.38%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have recently commented on WFC. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $41.00 to $43.00 in a report on Thursday, June 15th. Wolfe Research lowered shares of Wells Fargo & Company from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Friday. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Monday, June 26th. Odeon Capital Group lowered shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $44.60 target price on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. Finally, VNET Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Monday, June 26th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $49.04. Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (Free Report) Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. There is a current some call it a digital subculture stirring the internet. They are the neo-puritans: young people, almost teenagers, scandalized by everything. With the battle cry of Gross! they express their hatred of sex, drugs and alcohol, but also of age-gap couples or those who date short people. They see lewdness and hypersexualization everywhere they look and are quick to label any human interaction as pedophilia. Under their watchful gaze, we are all sexual predators until proven otherwise. They debate on Twitter whether or not being gay is normal; on TikTok, they express their hatred of Vladimir Nabokovs Lolita, but also, and with the same intensity, of musician Matt Healy, Taylor Swifts ex-boyfriend, for leading her astray, as well as Jenna Ortega, because one day she was seen smoking. They belong to the generation that has been most exposed to unlimited free pornography in history, and yet or perhaps because of this #cancelporn seems to be one of their favorite hashtags. Their standards are inflexible. The internet calls them puriteens and they suffer from a kind of hair-rising fear and aversion to sex and intimacy. According to the Urban Dictionary, a puriteen is an online child who proactively demands that people curtail behavior that they interpret as sexually suggestive. Other definitions speak of a very young internet user who is upset by any kind of sexual manifestation, however restrained and mild it may be. They have been seen on TikTok moralizing about the aberrational age gaps they believe exist among adult heterosexual couples; on Tinder, they call for BDSM accessories to be banned from gay pride parades. The premiere of The Idol, the HBO series directed by Sam Levinson and starring Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd, has outraged these guardians of morality. Almost 7,000 tweets consider the series to be hardcore pornography. The user @cocainecross viralized a post that claimed that the second episode was straight up pornographic, while describing normal sex scenes in which dirty talk was involved. Several users then called for the immediate and irrevocable cancellation of Levinson and wished him to rot in jail. Others claimed that he had committed crimes against humanity. Due to their fervor, syntax and vocabulary, they are assumed to be very young, probably Gen Z, although on the internet you never know. If they are not, at least that is how they want to be perceived, as they use the words and codes of the zoomers to replicate their universe. In the battle against The Idol, students of internet language observed that the sex scenes were described using the names of the actors instead of their characters: it was not Tedros fingers Jocelyn but The Weeknd fingers Lily-Rose, making everything sound much more sordid. Forget trying to separate the art from the artist, we seemingly cant even separate actors from their characters now, stated an editorial in the publication Vox Culture, warning that there is a part of the internet audience that doesnt seem to understand the difference between fact and fiction. This cognitive dissonance is the backbone of neo-puritan culture: not understanding that what happens in a series is fiction, that it is not causing real suffering. This confusion, increased by media illiteracy, explains a regression to very conservative positions on sexual matters. There is a rightward shift among some very young people, caused by internet culture and the content that is consumed on TikTok and Twitch, states Alvaro Pajares, writer and expert in digital culture. In his opinion, the neo-puritan current could be a de-ideologized departure of the woke movement: A thought or an emotion that emerged in forum dynamics and on Tumblr that generated a psychotic reading of reality. That structure moved to TikTok and along the way it lost its academic layer and acquired the self-referential tone typical of that platform of micro-identities and micro-stories. Other theories suggest that the puriteens are children of the antifandom movement, the audience that becomes united, defined and active around a shared aversion, in this case, to sex. As often happens in digital narratives that arise in opposition to an idea, it is difficult to determine to whom the epithet puriteens (an insult that has become the weapon par excellence in the culture war between millennials and zoomers) is being directed at. The term is used by older users to disqualify the behaviors and beliefs of younger ones; among zoomers, however, the label is rarely used. Nothing makes a millennial more excited than fantasizing about the idea that the generation that ousted them from the internet has no, or very poor, sex life in any case, worse than theirs. Jose Diaz, president of the Spanish Association of Clinical Sexology (AESC), points out that sexual activity has been experiencing a free fall for four decades. It matters little if some worship sex and others hate it; millennials are not spared from the sexual recession announced in 2018 by The Atlantic magazine either. Perhaps their parents or grandparents are safe. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition By Christine Tjandraningsih, KYODO NEWS - Jul 11, 2023 - 13:57 | World, All Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Indonesia Tuesday, with Myanmar's deadlocked political crisis expected to dominate discussions. Indonesia, the group's rotating chair this year, said it has succeeded in engaging with all stakeholders in Myanmar, where the military seized power by ousting the democratically-elected government in a February 2021 coup. But it is unknown whether Jakarta will detail to the nine other ASEAN member states what it has achieved nor whether it will discuss concrete measures to break the deadlock amid the Myanmar junta's ongoing campaign of violence against pro-democracy forces. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea are among other topics to be discussed at the two-day meeting. A series of ASEAN-sponsored foreign ministerial talks with its partner nations will be held in Jakarta later this week Myanmar will not take part in the meetings as Indonesia has abided by the ASEAN position allowing the junta to only send a nonpolitical representative. Myanmar did, however, participate in a forum for ASEAN member states hosted by Thailand last month as Bangkok invited the junta's foreign minister, demonstrating the divisions between ASEAN countries that accept military rule to some extent and those that do not. Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore did not attend the forum in Thailand due to the involvement of Myanmar. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters Friday that the country has held talks with all stakeholders in Myanmar. "It included my in-person engagements either with NUG and SAC foreign ministers for several times," Marsudi said, referring to the National Unity Government, the Myanmar government-in-exile, and the State Administration Council, the official name of the junta. "Now, it is time (to move forward) -- encouraging a national, inclusive dialogue among all of the stakeholders," she added. But little progress has been made regarding a five-point consensus reached between Myanmar and other ASEAN members in April 2021. It aimed to end violence against the junta's political opponents and civilian protesters. Thousands of Myanmar nationals have been killed in crackdowns by the junta as well as in conflicts between the military and pro-democracy forces. Many political dissidents, including the country's de facto leader until the coup Aung San Suu Kyi, have been detained. Expectations that Indonesia would tackle the Myanmar issue had been high, in comparison to last year's chair Cambodia whose leader Hun Sen has a long history of attacking his own domestic political opponents. But some ASEAN nations are now skeptical about Jakarta's initiatives given its reluctance to share with fellow members how it has engaged with Myanmar, taking a so-called approach of "quiet diplomacy." Commentators have said Indonesia should consider balancing its preference for working behind the scenes with making public disclosures and have stressed Jakarta also needs to show assertiveness, along with other like-minded members such as Malaysia and Singapore, to seek a solution to the crisis. ASEAN foreign ministers will also discuss issues surrounding the South China Sea as they have been in negotiations over adopting a "code of conduct" agreement governing the maritime area. ASEAN and China are currently drawing up the code to help avert confrontations. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Last year, the region agreed in principle to admit East Timor as its 11th member, granting the nation observer status until it joins the bloc. Related coverage: ASEAN chair Indonesia says no real progress made on Myanmar peace ASEAN leaders denounce Myanmar violence, discuss U.S.-China rivalries Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to forward to parliament Swedens bid to join the NATO military alliance, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday, on the eve of a NATO summit in Vilnius. Im glad to announce that President Erdogan has agreed to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the grand national assembly as soon as possible, and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification, Stoltenberg told a news conference. Stoltenberg declined to give a date for when Swedens accession would be ratified by the Turkish parliament, the grand national assembly, which would decide on the exact timing. Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year, casting aside policies of military non-alignment that had lasted through the decades of the Cold War as Russias invasion of Ukraine reframed security considerations. Applications to the alliance must be approved by all NATO members and while Finlands was given the go-ahead in April, Turkey and Hungary have held off on clearing Swedens bid. Stockholm has been working hard at its bid ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius, together with the United States and its allies, urging Turkey to abandon its opposition. Erdogan has said Sweden harbours members of militant groups, mainly supporters of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), who he accuses of organising demonstrations and financing terrorist groups, while anti-Turkish protests in Stockholm have also raised his ire. Meanwhile, Sweden has said it has fulfilled all the demands agreed upon in negotiations with Turkey last year, including introducing a new bill that makes being a member of a terrorist organization illegal, and stressed freedom of speech is protected in its constitution. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans chief of staff said on Thursday that Budapest would not block Swedens NATO membership ratification. Source: Reuters KYODO NEWS - Jul 11, 2023 - 23:00 | All, Japan, World ---------- Japan top court rules against restroom use limit for trans gov't worker TOKYO - Japan's top court on Tuesday ruled unanimously against the trade ministry's imposition of restrictions on the use of women's restrooms by a transgender official, marking the first judgment by the court on workplace environments for sexual minorities. The Supreme Court's five-member Third Petty Bench, which overturned a lower court decision, also found the 2015 approval of the restrictions by the National Personnel Authority "illegal." ---------- NATO summit to discuss Ukraine, ties with Asia-Pacific partners VILNIUS - NATO leaders gathered in Lithuania on Tuesday for a two-day meeting to outline additional support for Ukraine as it presses a counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces and seeks to gain credible security guarantees from the world's most powerful military alliance. The summit in the capital Vilnius comes as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization expands its alliance to Nordic countries and advances its cooperation with Asia-Pacific partners. ---------- Myanmar crisis to dominate ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting JAKARTA - Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Indonesia Tuesday, with Myanmar's deadlocked political crisis expected to dominate discussions. Indonesia, the group's rotating chair this year, said it has succeeded in engaging with all stakeholders in Myanmar, where the military seized power by ousting the democratically-elected government in a February 2021 coup. ---------- Japan PM Kishida mulling Cabinet reshuffle in September: gov't sources TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering reshuffling his Cabinet and the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in mid-September, lawmakers said Tuesday, with his public support declining due largely to mishandling of key domestic issues. Kishida is expected to decide on the timing of the personnel changes while considering his diplomatic schedule after late August, with mid-September being the only available window for the Cabinet reshuffle, the lawmakers said. ---------- Fukushima fishermen still oppose water release after IAEA report FUKUSHIMA, Japan - Fisheries associations in Fukushima Prefecture told Japan's industry minister Tuesday they remain opposed to releasing treated radioactive water from the crippled nuclear power plant into the sea despite a U.N. watchdog's safety assurance on the plan. Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura briefed the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations in their meeting in northeastern Japan about the International Atomic Energy Agency's comprehensive assessment released last week. ---------- Japan, NATO to issue new security cooperation document: PM Kishida TOKYO - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday that Japan and NATO will issue a new security cooperation document, as the upcoming trans-Atlantic alliance's summit in Lithuania takes place from Tuesday amid growing geopolitical concerns. Before leaving Tokyo to attend the two-day NATO meeting, Kishida told reporters that he is eager to use the summit as an opportunity to "reaffirm cooperation with like-minded countries in upholding the rules-based, free and open international order." ---------- China Foreign Minister Qin to skip ASEAN meetings for health reasons BEIJING - China said Tuesday its Foreign Minister Qin Gang will not be able to attend Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings to be held in Indonesia later this week for "health reasons," with top diplomat Wang Yi representing Beijing instead. Wang will join a series of regional gatherings in Jakarta scheduled for Thursday and Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said without elaborating on Qin's conditions. ---------- North Korea warns against U.S. military's "illegal intrusion" SEOUL - The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned the U.S. military that it will face a "very critical flight" if it repeats what she called acts of "illegal intrusion," state-run media reported Tuesday. The statement by Kim Yo Jong, a senior official of the ruling Workers' Party, was released by the official Korean Central News Agency, which reported Monday that a strategic reconnaissance plane of the U.S. Air Force had violated the country's airspace off its coast. ---------- Video: Heavy rain pounds southwestern Japan KYODO NEWS - Jul 11, 2023 - 18:40 | World, All The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned the U.S. military that it will face a "very critical flight" if it repeats what she called acts of "illegal intrusion," state-run media reported Tuesday. The statement by Kim Yo Jong, a senior official of the ruling Workers' Party, was released by the official Korean Central News Agency, which reported Monday that a strategic reconnaissance plane of the U.S. Air Force had violated the country's airspace off its coast. Kim criticized South Korea for denying that the U.S. military has been violating North Korea's sovereignty by making such reconnaissance flights. South Korea's military has called on North Korea not to escalate tensions by refraining from making threatening remarks regarding routine flights by U.S. aircraft under the Seoul-Washington alliance. Lee Sung Jun, a spokesman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Tuesday that North Korea's latest claims were "not even worth a thought." "As you well know, the exclusive economic zone is where there is freedom of navigation and overflight. We don't usually use such an expression like 'intrusion' even if there was a flight over it," Lee said, adding that North Korea seems to be constructing a rationale for provocative action. Related coverage: North Korea, Japan officials met to discuss abduction issue: report FOCUS: Japan PM's attempt to realize North Korea summit unlikely to bear fruits Irelands housing crisis is being ignored while the RTE scandal sucks all the air out of every other issues, it has been contended. People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Richard Boyd Barrett said while probing allegations of overpayments to top stars at the national broadcaster is important, it has overshadowed every other issue for the last three to four weeks. Whoever is responsible for the scandal of RTE overpayments should be ashamed of themselves because for three or four weeks now it has sucked all the air out of every other issue that is affecting ordinary people in this country, he said during Leaders Questions in the Dail. Has the government no heart? Nearly 13,000 people homeless including 3,699 children and the government says this is they best they can do? pic.twitter.com/x1B3lZDbIO Richard Boyd Barrett (@RBoydBarrett) July 11, 2023 Department of Housing figures for May showed 8,742 adults and 3,699 children were in emergency accommodation in Ireland in May, representing a record 12,441 people in total. With the ending of the eviction ban earlier this year, Mr Boyd Barrett said thousands more are facing the possibility of homelessness. He said government has failed to put in place public housing, affordable housing or some alternative to the possibility of being evicted, and urged as an emergency measure, reinstating the eviction ban. I just feel compelled to remind the government and indeed the media in this last week of the Dail, these issues need to be addressed and not forgotten as we head into the summer, he said. What Im asking is that the government will as an emergency measure reinstate the eviction ban, bring in the first refusal policy as an emergency piece of legislation and address the anomalies in the tenant in situ scheme to prevent more families being made homeless over the summer. Responding, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there is no plan to reintroduce the eviction ban, saying it did not work. He said at a Cabinet meeting that morning, there were 67 items on the agenda, and more of those are about housing than about RTE. We as a government spend a lot more time concerned about the housing crisis than we do about RTE, important as that issue is, and I can give you that reassurance, he said. Mr Varadkar said the latest Housing for All, Q2 2022 Progress Report published on Tuesday morning showed that the number of new homes being built is up and the number of commencements is up and the number of planning permissions being granted is up by 40% on this time last year. He said they are confident they are going to exceed the housing target for the year. A lot of progress is being made but I dont for a second, argue that its enough or that there isnt a lot more that we need to do and the really dark end, the most difficult end of the housing crisis is of course homelessness is the fact that there are roughly 12,000 people being provided with state emergency accommodation at the moment, he said. We are lifting more people out of homelessness than ever before. That figure is rarely talked about, more people being lifted out of homelessness by governments than ever before. [July 11, 2023] Governments of Canada and Alberta invest over $96 million to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 10,000 homes Tweet Rural communities to benefit from increased connectivity to high-speed Internet VULCAN, AB, July 11, 2023 /CNW/ - All Canadians need reliable and affordable high-speed Internet, no matter where they live. That is why the governments of Canada and Alberta are taking action to bring high-speed Internet access to underserved communities across Alberta. Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, together with the Honourable Nate Glubish, Alberta's Minister of Technology and Innovation, announced over $96 million in combined federal and provincial funding for 14 projects to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 10,000 homes in 46 rural and remote communities across Alberta. This includes nearly 2,300 Indigenous households. The funding is part of an existing agreement between Canada and Alberta. On March 9, 2022, both governments announced a historic partnership to invest up to $780 million to provide high-speed Internet access to Albertans in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. The governments of Canada and Alberta will continue to announce projects selected under this agreement over the coming months. Today's announcement builds on the Government of Canada's progress toward ensuring that 98% of Canadians have access to high-speed Internet by 2026, and 100% by 2030. The announcement also brings the Government of Alberta closer to achieving its goal of bringing reliable high-speed Internet access to every community in the province by the end of the 202627 fiscal year. Quotes "We all know that Internet is no longer a luxuryit's a necessity. That's why our government made a historic commitment to connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026. Today's announcement in Vulcan marks a significant milestone for Internet connectivity in rural Alberta. This investment will provide reliable high-speed Internet access to more than 10,000 underserved homes in 46 rural and remote communities in Alberta." The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development "This investment will be a game changer for residents in 10,000 homes in rural and remote communities all across Alberta. Access to reliable, high-speed Internet will provide better education, health and economic opportunities and will ensure that rural and Indigenous communities are full partners in Alberta's growing economy. Investing in rural connectivity is a top priority for Alberta's government, and we are committed to ensuring that all Albertans, regardless of where they live, have access to reliable, high-speed Internet." The Honourable Nate Glubish, Alberta's Minister of Technology and Innovation "Without this important investment from the Universal Broadband Fund and significant investment from Indigenous Services Canada and the Goodstoney Band, Big Horn and the Goodstoney Band members who reside on the reserve would likely have remained unconnected into the foreseeable future due to their remote location. Stoney Nakoda Telecom's goal is to provide services for all unconnected areas for the benefit of the earspaw First Nation, Chiniki First Nation and Goodstoney First Nation membership and is looking forward to building fibre into the Big Horn reserve." "As part of our commitment to fostering digital inclusion, Arrow Technology Group recognizes the crucial role that access to fast and reliable Internet plays in today's world. With the funding announced today, we will be able to extend our fibre optic infrastructure directly to homes in rural areas, empowering residents with unprecedented connectivity and opening doors to endless possibilities. We extend our gratitude to the Universal Broadband Fund for recognizing the importance of Internet access in rural areas and selecting Arrow Technology Group as one of the recipients of this funding. This partnership allows us to further our mission of creating a more connected and inclusive Alberta. We are excited to begin the work that is needed and bring the future of Internet connectivity to rural communities." Monica Burman, Director of Human Resources, Arrow Technology Group "TELUS is honoured to partner with the Government of Canada and Government of Alberta to expand access to high-speed broadband for several remote Indigenous communities in northern Alberta. By bringing our world-class PureFibre Internet to these communities, we will unlock new economic and social benefits for generations to come, as we have done for more than 375 rural communities and 166 Indigenous lands across Canada in recent years." Tony Geheran, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operations Officer, TELUS "The investment in both rural and Indigenous communities is a great step forward in providing opportunities to the residents in these communities to access vital services. Connectivity is an important aspect within our society to overcome the communication, education and social barriers that can be created when access to reliable Internet is not available. We appreciate the recognition from both Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Alberta Government on the importance of this project by allocating funds to facilitate the completion of the fibre to the home project on the Piikani Nation in the community of Brocket. In addition, we thank the community and the community leaders for their support and recognition of the value of providing these services to the community and its residents." Paul McLean, President, Tough Country Communications Quick facts Canada's Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload. Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload. The Universal Broadband Fund is a $3 .225 billion investment by the Government of Canada designed to help provide high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadians by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% access by 2030. .225 billion investment by the Government of designed to help provide high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadians by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% access by 2030. Today, 93.5% of Canadian households have access to high-speed Internet, compared to just 79% in 2014. The Alberta Broadband Strategy aims to provide every household in Alberta with access to high-speed Internet by the end of the 202627 fiscal year. with access to high-speed Internet by the end of the 202627 fiscal year. On March 9, 2022, a Canada - Alberta broadband partnership was announced. Under this agreement, approximately 200,000 households across Alberta will be connected to broadband thanks to an investment of up to $780 million, co-funded equally by both levels of government. - broadband partnership was announced. Under this agreement, approximately 200,000 households across will be connected to broadband thanks to an investment of up to $780 million, co-funded equally by both levels of government. Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested more than $464 million in connectivity projects in Alberta . Associated links Universal Broadband Fund Backgrounder: Universal Broadband Fund and Telesat low Earth orbit capacity agreement Canada Infrastructure Bank: Broadband High-Speed Access for All: Canada's Connectivity Strategy Connectivity Strategy High-Speed Internet Access Dashboard National Broadband Internet Service Availability Map Stay connected Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media. Twitter: @ISED_CA, Facebook: Canadian Innovation, Instagram: @cdninnovation and LinkedIn SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 10, 2023] Global PC Shipments Continue to Decline in the Second Quarter of 2023 Due to Weak Demand and Shifting Budgetary Priorities, According to IDC Tracker Tweet Global PC shipments declined 13.4% year over year during the second quarter of 2023 (2Q23), according to preliminary results from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker. This was the sixth consecutive quarter of contraction brought on by macroeconomic headwinds, weak demand from both the consumer and commercial sectors, and a shift in IT budgets away from device purchases. Despite the poor showing, the market performed better than forecast for the quarter. The overall weak demand has caused inventory levels to remain above normal for longer than expected. This includes finished systems at the channel level, as well as the supply chain. So far, no PC maker has been immune to the challenges presented by the market. Except for Apple and HP Inc., all the leading companies experienced double-digit declines during the quarter. But Apple benefited from a favorable year-over-year comparison as the company suffered supply issues during 2Q22 due to COVID-related shutdowns within the supply chain. Meanwhile, HP has faced an oversupply of inventory in the past year and is finally approaching normalized levels of inventory, allowing its growth rate to shine during this downturn. "Elevated channel and component inventory are once again dragging down the market," said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers. "And despite these issues slowly easing, many component suppliers continue to offer reduced pricing in an effort to clear their inventory though PC makers and channels are still cautious about new systems due to the reduced demand." "The roller coaster of supply and demand the PC industry has faced over the past five years has been extremely challenging," said Ryan Reith, group vice president for IDC's Client Device Trackers. "Companies don't want to be caught with short supply like they were in 2020 and 2021, but at the same time, many seem hesitant to make the big bet on a market rebound. On the consumer side, we're seeing a return to pre-pandemic habits where computing needs are shared across multiple devices, and we firmly believe the consumer wallet will favor smartphones over the PC. On the commercial side, workforce reductions (for many big companies) as well as the introduction of generative AI only add more confusion as to where to place an already reduced budget." Top 5 Companies, Worldwide Traditional PC Shipments, Market Share, and Year-Over-Year Growth, Q2 2023 (Preliminary results, shipments are in millions of units) Company 2Q23 Shipments 2Q23 Market Share 2Q22 Shipments 2Q22 Market Share 2Q23/2Q22 Growth 1. Lenovo 14.2 23.1% 17.4 24.5% -18.4% 2. HP Inc. 13.4 21.8% 13.5 19.1% -0.8% 3. Dell Technologies 10.3 16.8% 13.2 18.6% -22.0% 4. Apple 5.3 8.6% 4.8 6.8% 10.3% 5. Acer Group 4.0 6.4% 4.9 6.9% -19.2% Others 14.4 23.3% 17.2 24.2% -16.5% Total 61.6 100.0% 71.1 100.0% -13.4% Source: IDC Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, July 10, 2023. Notes: - Some IDC estimates prior to financial earnings reports. Data for all companies are reported for calendar periods. - Shipments include shipments to distribution channels or end users. OEM sales are counted under the company/brand under which they are sold. - Traditional PCs include Desktops, Notebooks, and Workstations and do not include Tablets or x86 Servers. Detachable Tablets and Slate Tablets are part of the Personal Computing Device Tracker but are not addressed in this press release. In addition to the table above, a graphic illustrating the worldwide market share of the top 5 PC companies over the previous five quarters is available by viewing this press release on IDC.com. IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker gathers detailed market data in over 90 countries. The research includes historical and forecast trend analysis among other data. For more information, or to subscribe to the research, please contact Jackie Kliem at 508-988-7984 or [email protected]. About IDC Trackers IDC Tracker products provide accurate and timely market size, company share, and forecasts for hundreds of technology markets from more than 100 countries around the globe. Using proprietary tools and research processes, IDC's Trackers are updated on a semiannual, quarterly, and monthly basis. Tracker results are delivered to clients in user-friendly Excel deliverables and on-line query tools. Click here to learn about IDC's full suite of data products and how you can leverage them to grow your business. About IDC International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights. All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230710932350/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 10, 2023] External Threat Landscape Management Co CYFIRMA launches DeCYFIR Alert App to help customers gain the ultimate time advantage by receiving threat alerts anywhere, anytime as they emerge Tweet DeCYFIR is the industry' first External Threat landscape management platform that delivers predictive, personalized and contextualized cyber intelligence enriched with attack surface and digital risk insights The DeCYFIR platform informs defenders of impending cyberattacks at the stage of reconnaissance and weaponization before the adversary has started exploitation With the Alert App, clients gain the time advantage to take swift actions to close security gaps before cyber adversaries can cause damage Clients can customize the notifications of the Alert App to support their risk posture management objectives Available on iOS and Android, the DeCYFIR alert Mobile App provides security teams easy access to critical intelligence on the go SINGAPORE, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CYFIRMA, a leading external threat landscape management (ETLM) company today launched the DeCYFIR alert app as a further enhancement to the core platform to provide real-time notification on the latest threats and actionable insights on attack surfaces, digital risk and vulnerabilities, straight to the user's mobile phone. With the AI-powered DeCYFIR alert app, early warnings are automatically sent and prioritized by time and criticality. The App Dashboard is customizable so users can filter alerts that matter the most based on criticality and alert type. The DeCYFIR alert app is available for iOS and Android thus providing security teams easy access to critical intelligence on the go. In addition, the app provides users with easy and convenient access to cyber-intelligence alerts wherever they are. Users can receive notifications on their smartphones enabling them to stay informed even when they are away from their desktop computers. This accessibility ensures that critical intelligence is not missed. Kumar Ritesh, Founder and CEO, CYFIRMA says, "n today's rapidly evolving landscape, the significance of harnessing cyber intelligence and gaining external threat visibility cannot be overstated. Monitoring cyberattack campaigns in their nascent stages and understanding the potential impact of an attack is pivotal to implementing an effective defense strategy. In the face of relentless cyber threats, the speed at which accurate and actionable intelligence arrives often determines an organization's success in fending off these attacks. To give the advantage of time, we want to put the DeCYFIR Alert App in the hands of all our customers so that they can mitigate threats before any damage is done." The company's flagship product, DeCYFIR, arms governments and businesses with personalized intelligence where insights are tailored to their industry, geography and technology. DeCYFIR provides clients with multi-layered intelligence covering strategic, management and operational insights. DeCYFIR's ability to combine cyber-intelligence with attack surface discovery, vulnerability intelligence, brand intelligence, situational awareness and digital risk protection sets it apart from the competition. The platform provides risk and hackability scores to help clients prioritize security actions. Clients also receive insights that will enable them to conduct effective intelligence hunting and attribution, connecting the dots between hacker, motive, campaign and method to gain a comprehensive view of their threat landscape. With the DeCYFIR Alert App, these insights can now reach customers in the fastest way possible to help them avert any cyber incidents. ABOUT CYFIRMA CYFIRMA is an external threat landscape management platform company. We combine cyber intelligence with attack surface discovery and digital risk protection to deliver early warning, personalized, contextual, outside-in, and multi-layered insights. Our cloud-based AI and ML-powered analytics platforms provide the hacker's view with deep insights into the external cyber landscape, helping clients prepare for impending attacks. CYFIRMA is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Japan, India, the US, and the EU. Customers include both government as well as Fortune 500 companies across manufacturing, financial services, retail, industrial products, natural resources and pharmaceutical industries. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/external-threat-landscape-management-co-cyfirma-launches-decyfir-alert-app-to-help-customers-gain-the-ultimate-time-advantage-by-receiving-threat-alerts-anywhere-anytime-as-they-emerge-301872709.html SOURCE CYFIRMA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Discover the Geniebook Summer Festival 2023: Unlocking Excellence in Education Tweet HANOI, Vietnam, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Geniebook, Singapore's leading EdTech platform for English, Mathematics, and Science (EMS) syllabi, is excited to announce its expansion in Vietnam. As part of this expansion, Geniebook will be hosting the highly-anticipated Summer Festival in Hanoi on 14,15,16 July 2023 celebrating the summer of 2023 in style. Geniebook is known for incorporating cutting-edge technology, most notably artificial intelligence, in its efforts to create an effective and accessible learning platform. The company's main offering is a powerful suite of online learning products to help students accelerate their academic improvement for subjects including English, Mathematics, and Science, all of which are based on Singapore's national curriculum for primary and secondary school levels. These products include GenieSmart, an AI-personalized worksheet generator with documented improvements by 90 percent of participating students after attempting eight worksheets; GenieClass, a streaming platform for live online classes with over 100 lessons scheduled each week across all subjects and levels; and GenieAsk, an online moderated chat platform connecting groups of students with representative Geniebook teachers for academic help and discussions. With a foothold in Vietnam now achieved, Geniebook is excited to begin playing a significant role in fostering a talented generation of academically competent, self-directed, creative, and technologically savvy global learners in the country. Save the date for the Geniebook Summer Festival, taking place from 14th to 16th July, betwen 10 AM and 10 PM. This event will be held at the prestigious Vincom Mega Mall Royal City- a miniature of a western city and an international Mega Mall system dubbed "all in one" with the slogan: "One destination all needs many options" in a high-end space, where parents, students, and education enthusiasts can come together to explore the world of Geniebook. The festival offers a unique opportunity to meet and greet current Geniebook parents and students. Join us in recognizing and rewarding the best students for their outstanding achievements. We also extend a warm welcome to new parents and students who are interested in Singapore Education, including Singapore Math (CPA, AI, personalized model), Academic English, and Science. This event is perfect for those aiming for excellence, whether it's entering top, gifted, and international schools, excelling in international exams such as SASMO, IKMC, AMOPS, TIMO, AMC, AIMO, IMO, IMAS, SMO, SIMOC, IMC, or building a strong foundation for studying overseas in Singapore, the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and winning ASEAN scholarships. Get ready for an unforgettable experience at the Geniebook Summer Festival! Meet co-founder and COO Alicia Cheong as well as esteemed education consultants from Singapore, and attend a series of special workshops designed to foster excellence in education. But wait, there's more! The festival will also feature exclusive and signature Summer Edtech Fun & Learn events, including "Frozen Paradise," "Ding Dong the Bell," and a thrilling "Davinci Treasure Hunt" with amazing exclusive prizes and scholarships available only at the event. Now, here comes the spotlight moment! With prizes and scholarships worth up to 2 billions vnd, this festival offers an incredible opportunity for students to unlock their potential and pave the way for a successful academic future. Join us at the Geniebook Summer Festival at Vincom Mega Mall Royal City from 14th to 16th July, where education meets innovation. Don't miss out on this extraordinary chance to immerse yourself in the world of Geniebook and discover the path to excellence in education. For more information, contact us here . Let's unlock excellence together! About Geniebook Loved by over 220,000 users, Geniebook is an AI-powered suite of personalized online learning products to help primary and secondary school students learn smarter and do better. Founded in 2017, Geniebook has grown to become Singapore's largest online learning platform for English, Mathematics and Science syllabi. Don't miss out! Sign up today and be one of the first 200 customers to take advantage of this offer. Geniebook Hanoi: 3rd Floor, Indochina Plaza Hanoi, 241 Xuan Thuy str., Cau Giay dist., Hanoi 0327531869 | 0986996952 | 0343021702 | 0988956053 | 0392749911 Geniebok HCM: 3rd Floor, Vimedimex Building, 246 Cong Quynh str., Dist. 1, HCMC 0972737993 | 0388865348 | 0975612158 | 0989843897 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/discover-the-geniebook-summer-festival-2023-unlocking-excellence-in-education-301872842.html SOURCE Geniebook [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Megaworld Corporation and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation Win 2023 ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Award, Showcasing Projects that Improve Public Safety and Healthcare Access Tweet SINGAPORE, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 124 submissions from public and private organisations throughout Southeast Asia were received for the annual ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) Enterprise Innovation Awards - out of which 47 projects were selected as finalists. Since 2017, the awards aim to give recognition to Southeast Asian based organisations which have embarked on projects to digitally transform their business through the adoption of innovative technology. Unsurprisingly, almost a third of the submissions involve some aspect of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML). Many organisations in Southeast Asia, especially consumer facing businesses, have been exploring the use of AI/ML and the recent rise of generative AI has opened up a range of questions around the utility of this technology. Metro Pacific Investment Corporation and Megaworld Corporation emerged as the winners from the Philippines and received their awards at the AIBP Conference and Exhibition, held on 11 - 12 July 2023, at the Manila Marriott. Endorsed and supported by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the event spotlighted advancements in the Philippines' digital landscape while addressing the challenges faced by local enterprises and public service organisations in adopting digital transformation. Megaworld Corporation's winning project showcased their Accident Detection Software, a remarkable application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in prediting and detecting vehicular accidents within their townships. Leveraging computer vision models trained using AI, the software promptly generates alerts on the computer base station as soon as a collision is detected. This enables operators to initiate immediate emergency responses, thereby reducing traffic congestion and inconvenience to motorists. Initially developed based on insights gathered from Southwoods City, the software has been further enhanced for deployment across Megaworld townships nationwide. Megaworld's Township Analytics and Technology (TAT) Laboratory spearheaded the software's creation and continues to explore other technological innovations, including weather analytics and monitoring capabilities. The implementation of the software resulted in an impressive 87% drop in vehicular accidents from 2021 to 2022 in Southwoods City, establishing a safer township environment. Ongoing analysis of accidents will identify further opportunities for improvement, ensuring the townships remain safe and secure for all. Megaworld Corporation, founded in 1989, is a real estate company listed on the Philippines Stock Exchange, boasting a market capitalization exceeding US$ 1.1 billion (PHP 62 billion). The winning project from Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) exemplified the organisation's commitment to addressing the lack of access to basic healthcare in the Philippines. The country currently faces a concerning situation where 6 out of 10 people die without ever seeing a doctor due to a shortage of healthcare facilities and personnel, particularly in rural areas. MPIC tackled this issue head-on through mWell, the first fully integrated digital health and wellness platform in the Philippines. mWell provides 24/7 access to over 800 family doctors, specialists, and mind health experts, in addition to offering wellness programs, home care, and emergency services. The platform has already reached over 1.5 million Filipinos locally and globally, combining personal app usage and mWell OnTheGo, a portable mobile digital clinic. Each mWell OTheGo bag contains solar panels, a power station, and Smart pocket wifi, tablet/mobile phone preloaded with the mWell PH app with a health pass for consultation. This initiative enables individuals without smartphones to consult with doctors, empowering Local Government Units to deliver better healthcare to their constituents by adopting a fully digital approach. mWell is a fully-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), a leading infrastructure holding company with diverse assets held through various operating companies. MPIC, listed on the Philippines Stock Exchange with a market capitalization exceeding US$ 2.5 billion (PHP 142 billion), employs over 17,955 people. "At the core of every successful innovation is a focus on creating solutions for others, rather than designing programs without purpose. By prioritising impacts and outcomes, enterprises can blur the boundaries between innovation and digital transformation. This approach as evidently shown by our finalists ensures that ideas transform into tangible solutions for real-world problems." Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Department of Information and Communications Technology, A Judge for the awards Metro Pacific Investment Corporation and Megaworld Corporation join other winners from the region which include, IOI, PETRONAS, Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, Sampoerna, Bank Mandiri, Kasikorn Business Technology Group and PTT Global Chemical Public Company. About ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) AIBP serves as an avenue for public and private organisations in Southeast Asia to access information about enterprise growth and innovation. With a current network of over 30,000 stakeholders in Southeast Asia, AIBP continues to develop ecosystems by engaging in activities which create value-adding information for our stakeholders seeking to make transformative impacts within their organisations. For additional information about AIBP, please visit www.aibp.sg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/megaworld-corporation-and-metro-pacific-investments-corporation-win-2023-asean-enterprise-innovation-award-showcasing-projects-that-improve-public-safety-and-healthcare-access-301873853.html SOURCE ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Smart Data Solutions expands into India through the launch of its CoE in Chennai Tweet CHENNAI, India, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart Data Solutions (SDS), an AI-based platform technology company providing healthcare process automation and interoperability solutions, announced its expansion in the India region with the launch of its new Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Chennai. This centre signifies a major milestone in SDS' expansion plans and demonstrates the Company's strategic vision to leverage local talent in Chennai to scale existing operations and add to its extensive product portfolio. The SDS product portfolio leverages data analytics, AI and intelligent automation across healthcare business processes to deliver clear value for customers including a lower cost structure, improved quality, and streamlined workflows. This portfolio includes digital mailroom capabilities, claims operations, interoperability solutions (including enrollment, image exchange and others), provider data / contract management, prior authorization, and clearinghouse services. The SDS platform is built on a scalable, HITRUST certified, SOC2 compliant architecture utilizing technologies such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR), AI, and Robotic Process Automation, and is developed using Java, Python, HTML and SQL. We are thrilled to inaugurate our new Centre of Excellence in Chennai," said Shashi Yadiki, CEO of Smart Data Solutions. "We have seen significant growth in the last nine months as we look to help our clients using our AI platform to optimize their cost structure and become more agile. The quality of talent here in Chennai across all areas has made it our clear choice, as we not only look to scale existing areas but also grow in completely new dimensions." Yadiki added, "This state-of-the-art CoE in Chennai will tap into the tremendous pool of talent here with deep expertise in healthcare processes as well as leading-edge technologies such as AI, Java and Python. The CoE in Chennai is also a key part of our strategy and marketing efforts, helping SDS to expand its thought leadership in the market." To explore exciting career opportunities at SDS' new centre in Chennai, interested professionals can visit the Careers page of the SDS website or email their resumes to [email protected]. Discover how you can be part of SDS' journey and contribute to transforming the future of healthcare through AI and automation. About Smart Data Solutions As a technology leader in healthcare process automation and interoperability, Smart Data Solutions (SDS) is a strategic partner that helps clients digitally transform operations and delivers tangible value that includes reduced costs, streamlined workflows, and an improved customer experience. Smart Data Solutions has a specialized approach to data capture and automation, focusing on innovative solutions to meet the unique needs of the healthcare market. Today, more than 500 clients including multiple Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, regional health plans, TPAs, providers and healthcare partners depend on SDS to help streamline complex parts of their front, middle and back-office operations. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/smart-data-solutions-expands-into-india-through-the-launch-of-its-coe-in-chennai-301873881.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Innovative School Transportation Solution HopSkipDrive Launching in Indianapolis, IN Tweet HopSkipDrive, the leader in innovative, supplemental school transportation solutions for families, school districts and government agencies, announced today that it will be launching in Indianapolis, Indiana this Fall, partnering with Franklin Township Community School Corporation, Tindley Accelerated Schools, Irvington Community Schools, Brownsburg Community School Corporation, and Southeast Neighborhood School of Excellence (SENSE) to expand transportation options for students. With HopSkipDrive, Indianapolis schools and other organizations will be able to book safe, reliable rides for students, especially those who live far from campus or have needs that cannot be met with traditional school buses. HopSkipDrive's dynamic driver availability fills gaps in transportation access, enabling schools and districts to support individual student needs - including those related to school choice or school-of-origin transportation for students who are experiencing homelessness or living in foster care. "In our commitment to excellence, we're excited to be partnering with HopSkipDrive to empower our students by providing alternative transportation options aligned with each student's journey," said Todd Livesay, Director of Transportation at Franklin Township Community School Corporation. "Transportation should never be a barrier to educational equity, and we're embracing new, innovative solutions that will help us put our students on the path to success." "Tindley is looking forward to providing reliable and safe transpotation for our students through this partnership for the upcoming school year. The rides are tracked in real time and our staff appreciates the enhanced safety protocols for students of all ages," said Dr. Jonathan Harris, CEO at Tindley Accelerated Schools. "We take great pride in providing a dependable and trustworthy student transportation solution to schools and districts, and we're looking forward to doing so in Indianapolis," said Joanna McFarland, Co-founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive. "Working together, we can eliminate transportation barriers and impact the lives of children and the community. We are excited to offer Indianapolis students a safe, reliable way to get to school, helping them reach their educational goals." Backed by industry-leading safety technology and processes, HopSkipDrive offers a safe and reliable transportation solution, combining sophisticated technology with deep operational expertise to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who uses the HopSkipDrive platform. HopSkipDrive's meticulous approach to safety begins with highly vetted caregivers behind the wheel (who are known as "CareDrivers") and extends to every aspect of the company's operations. Every CareDriver has at least five years of caregiving experience and must pass a rigorous 15-point certification process, including fingerprinting, background screenings and ongoing driving and criminal record checks. HopSkipDrive is actively seeking CareDrivers in the Indianapolis area. Being a CareDriver is a unique experience that comes with many benefits, including competitive earnings up to $50/ride, a flexible schedule and the opportunity to make a difference by helping families in the local community. Individuals who are interested in becoming a CareDriver in the Indianapolis area can visit https://bit.ly/HopSkipDrive-INDY to sign up. About HopSkipDrive Designed by protective moms and driven by caregivers, HopSkipDrive is the leader in innovative, supplemental school transportation solutions for schools, districts, government agencies and families. HopSkipDrive's advanced technology platform and industry-leading operational expertise provide school districts with safety, flexibility and visibility while helping to create opportunity for all through mobility. HopSkipDrive currently operates in 22 markets in 11 states and Washington, DC, and has contracts with 400+ school districts and county government agencies. HopSkipDrive CareDrivers have safely driven more than 3M rides over 46M+ safe miles. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711694935/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Syntrum Announces $SYTDAO Presale with Multiple Benefits for Token Holders Tweet DUBAI, UAE, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Holders will have access to a large digital ecosystem featuring DeFi, GameFi, and NFTs. Syntrum's innovative tokenomics offer no team allocation but sales allocation for members, DEX liquidity, and staking rewards. An Awaited Presale Event SYTDAO is an exciting token aiming to revolutionize the digital asset industry. It combines the benefits of both BNB Chain and Ethereum, aiming to grow faster as a crypto investment opportunity. To take advantage of this offer, investors can join SYTDAO's presale event. The operation will open on July 12 at 12 pm UTC and end on July 15 at 12 pm UTC. The event will be live on Pinksale for the BEP20 and ERC20 tokens. After the sale ends, an immediate listing with liquidity pairs will be available on Uniswap (ERC20) and Pancakeswap (BEP20). There are several benefits to joining the SYTDAO presale. First of all, the project incentivizes staking with a dynamic reward pool. Though not compulsory, DAO members can take part in governance by voting on proposals. Furthermore, people who participated in the sale become founding members and they will receive a membership certificate NFT. The team also mentioned the opportunity of receiving a custom Syntrum City (SynCity) NFT worth more than $200. Additionally, they will get a percentage of the SYT team's allocation which will be distributed according to the teams allocation vesting schedule.. There is also a referral bonus of up to 40% for members. Lastly, SYTDAO holders can access the Founders Lounge, where members with project ideas can get resources and support. The tokenomics of the project allocates the existing tokens among Governance Reward (9%), DEX Liquidity (31%), and Sale (60%). Combining a simple tokenomics structure and multiple benefits, the team intends to appeal to a wide range of investors. Syntrum's Most Anticipated Features As investors look with interest to the project's presale, Syntrum is working on aunching some of its most anticipated features. The first of these is the multi-utility noncustodial mobile wallet. It will simplify sending, holding, and trading cryptocurrencies for users with a few clicks and no coding required. The wallet will go live after the conclusion of an alpha launch and bug bounty program. As part of this process, Syntrum will reward the community with BUSD for the issues reported before the official launch. Additionally, Syntrum is launching its permissionless staking protocol. This protocol allows users to create staking and liquidity mining pools with ease and without programming knowledge. They can also customize UI and URL for projects, making this technology even more powerful. In order to sweeten the deal, Syntrum is offering an affiliate/referral program. This strategy will reward those who bring business partnerships to the platform. They can earn up to a 40% referral bonus from each partnership. A Large Digital Ecosystem There are three more dimensions in Syntrum's ecosystem: DeFi, GameFi, and NFT. DeFi offers users P2P and B2B algorithmic crypto markets for overcollateralized lending and borrowing. There will also be decentralized leverage trading protocols with undercollateralized lending mechanisms. It provides a token generation and tokenomics mechanism to deploy customized tokens with an auto-configuration of lockups or vesting schedules. SynVault adds multi-chain staking and liquidity mining vaults for Syntrum native assets. Syntrum's GameFi dimension allows users to explore their creativity with SynBox and build custom games without coding. Moreover, it is possible to browse through collections of game assets and worlds to integrate them into their creations. It includes a Play-to-Earn hub where players can access numerous games in the ecosystem and earn rewards by playing them. Additionally, users can configure and schedule game tournaments and quests. Its also possible to participate in a Gamified bug bounty feature to earn rewards while finding bugs in applications. Interestingly, the platform will also let anyone manage scholarships to play multiple GameFi projects. Moreover, NFT Factory allows users to mint NFTs seamlessly with custom smart contracts for their art collections. It also features a digital marketplace for crypto collectibles and non-fungible tokens and a liquidity protocol for NFT collections. There will also be a universal NFT smart contract browser to enable creators to customize and connect smart contracts. Syntrum's expansive digital ecosystem provides users with the tools to make the most of their crypto investments. About Syntrum Syntrum Founders DAO is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization composed of individuals/entities that govern Syntrum. After the decision to onboard founding members in April, the team received numerous suggestions on ensuring decentralized autonomy. After careful planning, they created Syntrum Founders DAO. This is a fungible token with voting and governance rights within the Syntrum ecosystem. It allows holders to trade their tokens on DEXs/CEXs while participating in the project's governance decisions. The imminent presale event (July 12 - July 15) offers participants the chance to take part in this innovative project. Pinksale is hosting two parallel presale events on behalf of Syntrum: one for the ERC20 token and one for the BEP20 version . The project features an incentivizing staking reward pool, a referral bonus of up to 40%, and much more. The project's tokenomics assigns 60% of current tokens to the sale, with the rest to governance rewards and DEX liquidity. While the crypto world awaits Syntrum's new features, there are several methods to join the team. The project's official website and Syntrum's social media pages below provide users with the latest news, updates, and announcements. Twitter | Telegram | Medium | LinkedIn Shola Otitoju shola at syntrum.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Pima County (Arizona) joins over 6,500 public sector buying organizations in choosing mdf commerce's source-to-contract solution Tweet MONTREAL, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- mdf commerce inc. (TSX: MDF), a SaaS leader in digital commerce technologies, today announces that Pima County, Arizona has signed a 3-year agreement for the usage of our source-to-contract solution. This new initiative will allow Pima County to streamline and simplify its procurement processes while fully leveraging the data and analytics benefits of source-to-contract technology. Pima County is the second-most populous county in Arizona, with a population of approximately 1 million. Pima County includes the entirety of the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area, and it is the third-largest metropolitan area in the Southwestern United States. The eprocurement technology implementation will provide Pima County with the tools it needs to modernize the way buyers and suppliers connect and transact. The platform will also provide the County with access to data and analytics, allowing it to make more informed procurement decisions and identify cost-saving opportunities. In addition, the platform's use-friendly interface will make it easier for new and existing suppliers to do business with Pima County, improving collaboration and fostering stronger relationships within the community. Over the 3-year term of the agreement, the County will continue its digital transformation of procurement processes, with the solution delivering efficiency and transparency. Pima County will have access to our fully integrated comprehensive source-to-contract solution, stemming from our 20+years of experience with a variety of offers, including the workstream functionalities of Source, Connect, and Contract. Our full-procurement solution powers the critical work of public procurement throughout North America and includes: SOURCE | Strategic Sourcing to streamline solicitation creation, publication, evaluation and awarding in one easy-to-use platform CONNECT | Vendor Management to improve insight and automation to connect with vendors throughout the procurement process with qualification, performance management and contract negotiation CONTRACT | Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) to increase efficiency and transparency through collaborative authoring, performance monitoring and overall CLM PROCURE | Requisition to Pay to improve the entire procurement process through purchase orders, invoicing, payments, spend reporting and an integration with the entity ERP SHOP | Marketplace to provide end users a convenient experience to order off internal and co-operative contracts with supplier-uploaded catalogs We are excited to welcome Pima County to our growing community of public sector buyers and suppliers. Our source-to-contract technology will supply Pima County with the tools needed to make their digital purchasing process as efficient as possible, said Mark Eigenbauer, President, eprocurement, at mdf commerce. Our solution truly powers the initiatives of public sector buyers in helping improve efficiency, transparency and ease-of-use throughout the procurement process. About mdf commerce inc. mdf commerce inc. (TSX: MDF) enables the flow of commerce by providing a broad set of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions designed to optimize and accelerate commercial interactions between buyers and sellers. Our platforms and services empower businesses around the world, enabling them to generate billions of dollars in transactions on an annual basis. Our eprocurement, ecommerce and emarketplaces solutions are supported by a strong and dedicated team of approximately 650 employees based in Canada, the U.S., Ukraine and China. For more information, please visit us at mdfcommerce.com, follow us on LinkedIn or call 1-877-677-9088. For further information Brigitte Guay, Director - Corporate Communications 1 877 677-9088, ext. 5123 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Iridia Announces Appointment of Buck Watia as Vice President, Corporate Development Tweet SAN DIEGO, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridia Inc., a pioneer in the field of DNA-based data storage, is excited to welcome Buck Watia as the Vice President of Corporate Development. This newly established role is a strategic addition to the leadership team as Iridia looks to solve critical challenges for partners and customers with its innovative DNA data storage technology. Buck brings deep expertise in collaborating with customers to address their mission-critical, unmet needs while working closely with product teams and partners to conceive and deliver solutions that drive growth. With a demonstrated history of accelerating tech startups to success and launching impactful ventures within leading software, infrastructure, and Cloud companies, Buck is poised to drive significant transformation at Iridia. We have been laser focused on developing our DNA data storage platform and have made significant advances in our proprietary technology over the past year. The company is now ready to commercialize those advances and pursue strategic alliances, said Murali K. Prahalad, Ph.D., President and CEO of Iridia. I am excited to welcome Buck to our team at this significant juncture. His deep expertise in transformative product development, team building, and strategic partnerships will enable us to capitalize on our progress and deliver commercially viable solutions to address the rapidly expanding, critical data storage problem. Iridias unique and patented method of data storage integrates semiconductor and nanofluidic technology with a disruptive enzyme-based chemistry to add DNA-based bits representing 0s and 1s in a programmable fashion. This offers the potential to add orders of magnitude more storage capacity compared to current archival technologies suh as magnetic tape and hard drives paving the way for commercially viable DNA based data storage solutions. "As the need for secure and sustainable data storage intensifies, the approach adopted by Iridia shifts from simply being attractive to being fundamentally necessary. We're at a pivotal stage where next-gen strategies have become key in harnessing the boundless potential of data, both now and in the future. Humanitys current methods aren't sustainable economically, technically, or environmentally. Data preservation isn't just a tech challenge; it's potentially a requisite step to achieve the full potential of new technologies such as AI," said Buck Watia. "I am excited to join the dynamic team at Iridia. We're focused on developing applications to meet customer needs, catalyzing opportunities for our partners and collectively redefining the data storage industry." Buck has focused his career on building the perspective, experiences and relationships needed to bring new ideas to market and scale them for exponential growth. He has developed teams, processes, strategy, and culture to help several startups transform their respective industries. With a versatile background leading teams in sales, marketing, business development, product, and partnerships, Buck has consistently demonstrated his ability to help start-ups become market leaders. Before joining Iridia, Buck held a key role as the Head of Strategy & Growth at Microsoft, within the Security, Cloud & AI business. He led the business and corporate development functions at CyberX, guiding it towards a strategic acquisition by Microsoft in 2020. At Rapid7, Buck's efforts significantly influenced the company's growth trajectory, propelling it through an expansion phase and towards a successful IPO. In earlier roles, Buck developed his go-to-market expertise at ArcSight and iDEFENSE, acquired by HP and VeriSign, respectively. Buck received his Bachelor of Business Administration at Boise State University and completed Executive Programs at both Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management. About Iridia, Inc. Headquartered in Carlsbad, CA, Iridia Inc. strategically combines proprietary enzymology and semiconductor technology to revolutionize long-term data storage. By leveraging DNA, natures perfected data storage system, the company is developing a durable, decodable, and ultra-high-density mode of data storage, that significantly reduces the infrastructure requirements and environmental impact compared to current approaches. Iridias proprietary technology platform is the worlds first affordable, integrated data storage solution that integrates molecular biology, biochemistry and semiconductor technology to write, store, and read data in the form of DNA. For more information, please visit www.iridia.com . Media Contact Joleen Schultz 760-271-8150 [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8a76411-7ec0-44dd-bf26-969a09cb4edf [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] SCP&CO Appoints Cyber Threat Intelligence Pioneer and Former Mandiant Executive to Managing Director Tweet SCP&CO, a private investment and fund management firm focused on emerging technology platforms, today announced the appointment of cybersecurity industry veteran and renowned cyber intelligence expert Karim Hijazi to Managing Director and General Partner. Hijazi joins the firm after a long track record as a successful cybersecurity senior executive and entrepreneur, where he founded several groundbreaking startups in the field of cyber threat intelligence. As SCP&CO's new Managing Director, he will support the firm's expanded focus on emerging technologies and platforms, particularly focusing on the opportunities associated with the evolution from Web2 to Web3 and cybersecurity, with a strong emphasis on new authenticity technologies to counter the growing uncertainties, risks and disruptive potential posed by rapidly evolving capabilities such as artificial intelligence (AI). Hijazi will work closely with the firm's Fund Managing Director, Chris Pizzo, in creating a new investment strategy centered around these technologies. "Karim is one of the world's leading authorities on cyber risk and threat intelligence, and we're thrilled to have him join our leadership team. He will play a key role in developing our investment strategy for the emerging field of authenticity technologies, which will be increasingly vital for businesses and consumers amid the massive changes now underway in AI, cybersecurity and Web3," said Chris Rivera, president of SCP&CO. "Our executive team has over 100 yers of combined experience in technology investing, since the initial dot-com era, and we are looking ahead to how these developing technologies will dramatically transform the world around us." "It is an honor to join SCP&CO, which has been an active investor in the technology industry for over 20 years. While many investors have been overly bullish on the upside potential of the benevolent use of these new technologies, SCP&CO is well aware of the growing risks, particularly with the intersection of AI and cybersecurity, which could have many dangerous implications for businesses, governments and society at large," said Hijazi. "Ensuring the integrity and ethics of these technologies, and developing effective countermeasures for their worst abuses, will be a daunting challenge for our society - and a major focus for the firm moving forward." Hijazi is a 25-year veteran of the cyber intelligence and counterintelligence industries, and previously served as a contractor for the US intelligence community, cyber threat analyst to the global oil-and-gas industry, and as director of intelligence for Mandiant. He also founded multiple cybersecurity startups which pioneered new tactics in the cyber intelligence field, including early-stage breach detection, adversary infrastructure monitoring and botnet infiltration and seizure. During his tenure at Mandiant, Hijazi played a key role in the influential APT1 report released in 2013, which conclusively linked the People's Liberation Army of China to widespread cyber espionage activity against US interests. He has also appeared many times on national TV as a cybersecurity analyst, including CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg, CNN, and more. A widely recognized expert on emerging cyber threats, Hijazi will be a keynote speaker at the prestigious MENA Information Security Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this September. He also recently spoke at the Cybershield Summit in Riyadh, where he lectured international business leaders on advanced threats posed by AI and ML. Over the last 20 years, SCP&CO has completed more than 100 transactions, totaling $2.2 billion of aggregate transaction volume. This includes over $255 million of principal and advisory transactions in the technology industry alone. ABOUT SCP&CO SCP&CO is a private investment and fund management firm focused on emerging technology platforms, innovation and value investments. The firm leverages direct investing and managed funds to invest in businesses where it can provide strategic and operational impact to accelerate profitable growth. Depending on the investment vehicle, the firm invests in control positions, growth capital or venture capital to help startups and existing businesses build growing, profitable and enduring businesses. Learn more at www.scpandco.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711478422/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] TE Connectivity ranks No. 8 among Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators Tweet SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of its global culture designed to empower teams to advance important technological trends, TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectors and sensors, has earned a top-ten ranking among the 2023 Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators. Developed in collaboration with Accenture, the Best Workplaces for Innovators celebrates company cultures that demonstrate an inspiring commitment to encourage and develop innovation at all levels. TE placed eighth on the list, which ranks 100 winners from around the world working in a wide variety of industries. "The innovation that we do alongside our customers is helping to impact our world in important ways," said TE Connectivity CEO Terrence Curtin. "Our products are enabling electrification and renewable energy to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. We're also supporting faster, more stable connections to advance autonomous technology and artificial intelligence. To achieve these goals, it is vital that we create a work environment that supports our 8,000 engineers to ensure we continue to create a safer, sustainable, productive and connected future." One of the keys to TE's innovative success is the ability of its global engineering teams to collaborate with each other and with customers to respond to changing market demands. In this work environment, TE's innovators regularly show their ability to predict upcoming industry needs. For example, while some experts questioned the potential of electrifying commercial transportation, TE invested in the development of PowerTube, one of the first connection systems tailored to industry requirements and able to reliably and eficiently deliver high-voltage power from the battery to the rest of the vehicle. The newly launched product is already being integrated into the designs of major manufacturers and is expected to help advance the electrification of commercial vehicles. To learn more about the innovation culture at TE and to explore open job opportunities, visit te.com/innovators. Visit Fast Company to see the full list of recipients. ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY TE Connectivity is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive and connected future. Our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions, proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications and the home. With more than 85,000 employees, including over 8,000 engineers, working alongside customers in approximately 140 countries, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat and Twitter. ABOUT FAST COMPANY Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/te-connectivity-ranks-no-8-among-fast-companys-best-workplaces-for-innovators-301873883.html SOURCE TE Connectivity Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] MedCrypt Partners With Kansas State University to Drive Research on Medical Device Cybersecurity With Lifesaving Capabilities Tweet MedCrypt announces a grant to work with the university on a joint project that will quantify regulatory and cybersecurity risks in the medical field, impacting the advancement of medical device cybersecurity and improving patient safety SAN DIEGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MedCrypt, Inc. , the proactive cybersecurity solution provider for medical device manufacturers, has partnered with Kansas State University (KSU) by providing a grant to drive advancements in quantifying regulatory and cybersecurity risk in the medical field. This summer, the partnership will aim to enhance medical device cybersecurity research by focusing on validating the tools used to assess client risk, incorporating a holistic approach, and seamlessly integrating technical elements and public and regulatory policy considerations. The collaboration, led by Dr. Eugene Vasserman (KSU) and Dr. Seth Carmody (MedCrypt's VP of Regulatory Strategy), aims to address the varied challenges of assessing and quantifying cybersecurity risks associated with interconnected medical devices and their impact on clinical care delivery, patient safety, and business continuity. The MedCrypt and KSU collaboration brings together premier research institutions to tackle challenging problems faced by MDMs. Additionally, it provides the possibility for working together between MedCrypt, KSU, and Tufts University . With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) decision to refuse future device submissions which don't meet minimal cybersecurity requirements by October 1, there is a call to action for Medical Device Manufacturers (MDMs) to prioritize cybersecurity. The research will combine a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative approach that considers risks from both business and technical perspectives. I like prior "one size fits all" work, which includes analyzing the manufacturer-specific approach to cybersecurity during product line engineering and product design, product requirement and risk evaluation including compensating controls, verification and validation procedures, and post-market monitoring and support. By integrating broader cybersecurity practices such as threat modeling, vulnerability monitoring, and incident response, MedCrypt and KSU can work towards enhancing the security posture of medical devices and manufacturers. The urgency to comply with the FDA's requirements by October 1 provides a compelling incentive for MDMs to engage with MedCrypt. Through the partnership, MedCrypt and KSU can leverage academic best practices in medical device cybersecurity while applying real-life constraints that MDMs experience every day. By doing so, they will contribute to the overall safety and integrity of interconnected medical devices, ultimately improving patient care, reducing the risk of cyber threats in healthcare environments, and placing MDM-level cybersecurity risk estimation on a firmer footing. "Partnering with Kansas State University allows us to focus on a critical research initiative," said Seth Carmody. "This partnership validates the value of our risk assessment tools and strengthens our capacity to tackle evolving challenges in medical device cybersecurity. By leveraging academic expertise, industry insights, and an understanding of new rules and regulations, we are confident that our joint efforts will lead to significant advancements." Dr. Vasserman brings extensive experience in the security of distributed systems, cyber-physical systems, and the socio-technical aspects of security. As the director of the Kansas State University Center for Cybersecurity and Trustworthy Systems (K-CaTS) , he has played a pivotal role in advancing cybersecurity education and has been involved in multiple medical device cybersecurity projects, from the MDM side as well as through collaboration with the FDA . Dr. Vasserman has also received several notable recognitions, including the Commissioner's Special Citation in 2018 as a member of the St. Jude Medical Cybersecurity Response Team, the Outstanding Service Award in 2020 as a member of the Cardiac Monitor Cybersecurity Review Team, and the Group Recognition Award in the same year as a member of the URGENT/11 Response Team. "I am honored to lead this research and work closely with MedCrypt to address challenges in medical device cybersecurity," said Dr. Eugene Vasserman. "Our research will not only provide a holistic understanding of cybersecurity risk in the medical field but also contribute to developing standards and policies that will help strengthen the safety and integrity of medical devices. Together, we aim to make lasting improvements to the industry and protect patients from ever-evolving cyber threats." The research team will develop a platform that is both customizable and expandable, integrating qualitative and quantitative metrics. This platform will provide actionable and prioritized recommendations for addressing current and future technological, regulatory, and business risks. In terms of advancing science, the project will result in research papers and software artifacts that disseminate new knowledge and provide a foundation for others to build upon. Customers of MedCrypt can anticipate a swift integration of research findings into their products and services. This integration will bring immediate benefits, such as significantly enhanced proactive risk management, specifically tailored to the processes and needs of MDMs, which will include ongoing monitoring, testing, and updating of security controls. These practices not only help meet regulatory requirements but also effectively reduce cybersecurity risks while simultaneously lowering costs by prioritizing the mitigation strategies most likely to be effective and avoiding those that may yield little long-term benefit. Ultimately, customers can have increased confidence in the security of medical devices, which leads to increased trust between healthcare providers, patients, and the technology they rely on. About MedCrypt MedCrypt is helping healthcare technology companies ensure medical devices are secure by design. We provide cybersecurity products and strategic management consulting to expedite the go-to-market process of medical device manufacturers' new life-saving connected technologies. Founded in 2016 by a team of healthcare cybersecurity experts, MedCrypt is uniquely positioned to be the security catalyst for medical device manufacturers to design secure, FDA-approved technologies. We continue to work with those paving the way toward safe and reliable medtech. To date, MedCrypt has raised more than $36 million in funding with participation from Johnson & Johnson Innovations, Intuitive Ventures, and Dexcom Ventures. For more, please visit www.medcrypt.com. Press Contact: Jenny Bourne, 2087618447, https://www.medcrypt.co/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medcrypt-partners-with-kansas-state-university-to-drive-research-on-medical-device-cybersecurity-with-lifesaving-capabilities-301873978.html SOURCE MedCrypt [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Stride, Inc. Executive Earns Prestigious Spot in American Academy of Nursing Class of Fellows Tweet Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) is pleased to announce that Dr. Sherri Johnson Wilson, DNP, MPA, RN, CDP has been selected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Wilson serves as the Director of Partnership Development for Stride, Inc. With a dynamic career that spans more than two decades, Dr. Wilson brings a wealth of experience in healthcare to the Academy. She has served in various leadership roles to improve health equity at the intersection of education, science, and policy. For the past three years, Dr. Wilson's role at Stride has involved lending her expertise to enhance the company's health science career pathways by providing strategic direction on healthcare content and curricula, as well as forging national partnerships that lead to employment and postsecondary opportunities for students and graduates. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader's career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within and outside the profession. Fellows are selected based on their contributions and impact on advancing the public's health. Through a competitive, rigorous application process with nearly 400 applicants, Fellows are selected based on their contributions and impact toward advancing public health. "Dr. Wilson's induction is a testament to her remarkable contributions in healthcare, both within Stride and beyond, and we are incredibly proud of her," said Ross Woodley, General Manager of Tallo, Stride's online platform for connecting students with academic, scholarship, and career opportunities. "Her commitment, expertise, and substantial contributions to healthcare education have transformed countless lives, and her influence extends far beyond our classrooms. We celebrate her achievement and look forward to her continued influence on health policy and education." Beforeher tenure at Stride, Dr. Wilson was a public health nursing administrator with the Fairfax County Health Department in Virginia, where she was responsible for the administration, planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health services across multiple clinics in Fairfax County and specialized in maternal-child health. She is a DC Education Policy Fellowship Program graduate with the Institute for Educational Leadership. Dr. Wilson is also the President of the Virginia Nurses Association, an affiliate of the American Nurses Association and the leading professional organization for Virginia's 118,000 + Registered Nurses. Her exemplary service to community nursing also earned her The Washingtonian's Excellence in Nursing Award in 2016. The American Academy of Nursing is a policy organization and an honorific society recognizing nursing's most accomplished leaders in policy, research, practice, administration, and academia to advance equitable solutions to the nation's most complex healthcare challenges. The Academy's 2023 Fellows represent 40 states, the District of Columbia, and 13 countries. Dr. Wilson and the 2023 inductees will be recognized for their substantial, sustained, and significant contributions to health and health care at the Academy's annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 5-7, 2023, in Washington, D.C., during the Induction Ceremony on the evening of October 7. This is a historic year for the Academy as the organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Once the newest Fellows are inducted, the Academy will comprise 3,000+ leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia that champion health and wellness, locally and globally. For further information about the American Academy of Nursing, visit aannet.org. For individuals interested in attending the Induction Ceremony, visit academypolicyconference.com. For more information about Stride, visit stridelearning.com. About Stride, Inc. At Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN), we are reimagining learning-where learning is lifelong, deeply personal, and prepares learners for tomorrow. The company has transformed millions of people's teaching and learning experiences by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculums, and programs directly to students, schools, the military, and enterprises in primary, secondary, and postsecondary settings. Stride is a premier provider of K-12 education for students, schools, and districts, including career learning services through middle and high school curriculums. For adult learners, Stride delivers professional skills training in healthcare and technology, as well as staffing and talent development for Fortune 500 companies. Stride has delivered millions of courses over the past decade and serves learners in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. More information can be found at stridelearning.com, K12.com, galvanize.com, techelevator.com, and medcerts.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711564263/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Extraco Banks Partners with Teslar Software to Modernize Commercial Lending Tweet Extraco Banks and Teslar Software today announced their partnership to streamline the bank's commercial lending process and more effectively balance their portfolio. Extraco Banks is the largest and most comprehensive independent financial institution headquartered in central Texas with more than $2 billion in assets. They've recently set a goal to modernize commercial lending, leaving behind paper-intensive processes in favor of greater automation and digital tools. To help achieve this goal, the bank will leverage Teslar's pipeline, workflow and exceptions modules as well as annual loan review and construction management to bring more efficiency, transparency and accuracy into the commercial lending process. "At Extraco, we're committed to supporting our community's economic success and stability. Enhancing our commercial lending processes will allow us to better serve local businesses," said Brian Reinhardt, president, Central Texas South Region, of Extraco Banks. "With Teslar's automated workflows and robust toolkit, we'll be able to fulfill loans with speed and conveniece while empowering lenders with deeper insights into portfolio activity and health." The bank has been a backbone of their community for more than 120 years and continues to provide support to local businesses, including their annual Extrapreneur Award Program which provides local entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their business ideas with the potential to win up to $26,000 in cash prizes and gain access to business consulting resources. The bank's goal to modernize commercial lending will further support local business customers, with Teslar's tools providing a faster, more convenient customer experience. "Extraco Banks is a leader in their local community and the community banking space, having funded over $2 billion in loans to 25,000 customers since the Great Recession," said Joe Ehrhardt, CEO and founder of Teslar Software. "We're proud to support the bank as they work to enhance their commercial lending process." About Teslar Software Teslar Software, founded in 2008, is a configurable lending process automation platform for community financial institutions. Teslar transforms commercial lending by providing easy access to centralized, relevant information to balance portfolios, optimize profits and help community bankers effectively serve their customers. Named Best Solution for Lending by the 2021 FinXTech Awards, Teslar Software continues to earn their reputation as a top technology provider for community institutions. Please visit www.teslarsoftware.com to learn more. ABOUT EXTRACO BANKS Extraco Banks and its affiliate companies are dedicated to building people, businesses and communities. Since the Great Recession, Extraco has extended over $2 billion in loans to 25,000 customers, while financially supporting over 1,275 community organizations working to create economic vibrancy, job growth and overall quality of life to our communities across central Texas. Founded as a cotton warehousing company, Extraco, with more than $2 billion in assets, is the most comprehensive locally owned bank between Dallas and Austin, serving over 120,000 customers' banking, mortgage, insurance and wealth & trust needs with creative and innovative excellence. Learn more at: https://www.extracobanks.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711919643/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Japan-based Marriage Consulting Agency ZWEI Develops Online Matchmaking Feature powered by Vonage Tweet HOLMDEL, N.J., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage , a global leader in cloud communications helping businesses accelerate their digital transformation, has announced that ZWEI , which operates 50 marriage consulting agencies throughout Japan, has developed a unique online matchmaking system powered by the Vonage Video API . Through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, ZWEI has been actively conducting online matchmaking services using remote tools to provide members with opportunities to meet people. With the demand for online matchmaking increasing, ZWEI members were using an outdated tool to connect remotely, which was time-consuming and cumbersome. To solve this problem, ZWEI integrated the Vonage Video API into its existing customer interface, providing a wealth of built in features and capabilities without system development costs. "With the Vonage API embedded into our system, our members can conduct online matchmaking seamlessly from the members-only website, eliminating the burden of learning how to use a separate tool and making it that much easier to meet people online," said Noboru Takahashi, System Development Group Manager, ZWEI Inc. "After the release of this video function, we received positive feedback from members things like 'I have less anxiety and hassle about online matchmaking,' and 'this allows me to meet people from far away online, which I had previously avoided.'" Continued Takahashi: "To realize our mission of nurturing the happiness of as many couples as possible, we are continuously developing our core system with each partner company and evolving to improve convenience for our members. With the Vonage Video API, we were able to build an ideal system in a short period of time with the full support of the Vonage team's knowledge and expertise. We have 50 branches, the largest number in the industry, and by utilizing this functionality, we will furthe create encounters that transcend distance." Vonage Communications APIs allow developers to build better connections, conversations and engagement directly into their existing applications and devices. Businesses today need to leverage technology to accommodate growing consumer expectations to engage on their channels of choice, and video has become a preferred communications channel for innovative businesses like ZWEI to engage with customers who want to use video to connect via a personalized and seamless mobile or web experience, from anywhere. Tetsuro Nishimura, Managing Director Japan for Vonage, said, "COVID-19 regulations sparked the acceleration of digital transformation, driving worldwide demand for online services that once predominately took place face-to-face - and that demand has not slowed down. With the Vonage Communication Platform, we are helping businesses like ZWEI quickly respond to and resolve this demand. ZWEI users can now easily and seamlessly use online video on its service without the need for external apps, maximizing the user experience. The Vonage Video API also provides a variety of functions and external integrations that enable transcription and real-time translation, which enables ZWEI to continue to expand beyond video functionality to provide scalable and flexible engagement for customers." To learn more about Vonage, visit www.vonage.com . About Vonage Vonage , a global cloud communications leader, helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation. Vonage's Communications Platform is fully programmable and allows for the integration of Video, Voice, Chat, Messaging, AI and Verification into existing products, workflows and systems. The Vonage conversational commerce application enables businesses to create AI-powered omnichannel experiences that boost sales and increase customer satisfaction. Vonage's fully programmable unified communications, contact center and conversational commerce applications are built from the Vonage platform and enable companies to transform how they communicate and operate from the office or remotely - providing the flexibility required to create meaningful engagements. Vonage is headquartered in New Jersey, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Israel and Asia and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ericsson. To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/vonage . To become a fan on Facebook, go to facebook.com/vonage . To subscribe on YouTube, visit youtube.com/vonage . Marriage Consulting Agency ZWEI (https://www.zwei.com/) ZWEI, a major marriage consulting agency with the industry's largest network of 50 branches nationwide, our reliable marriage consultants will not only introduce you to a potential partner, but will also carefully support you through matchmaking, dating, and marriage. Through data matching, we are committed to introducing a partner every month who is compatible with both of your desired conditions, and have nurtured a cumulative total of 162,000 successful marriages. As a directly managed brand of IBJ (https://www.ibjapan.jp/), a leading company in the marriage activity industry, we will continue to nurture as many happy couples as possible nationwide. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/japan-based-marriage-consulting-agency-zwei-develops-online-matchmaking-feature-powered-by-vonage-301873533.html SOURCE Vonage [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] KYODO NEWS - Jul 11, 2023 - 19:40 | World, All China said Tuesday its Foreign Minister Qin Gang will not be able to attend Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings to be held in Indonesia later this week for "health reasons," with top diplomat Wang Yi representing Beijing instead. Wang will join a series of regional gatherings in Jakarta scheduled for Thursday and Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said without elaborating on Qin's conditions. The 57-year-old Chinese minister has remained out of public view since June 25, fueling speculation about his health. Hong Kong media reported Monday that Qin had contracted COVID-19. The spokesman said China hopes the upcoming ASEAN meetings will yield some common understandings and "prepare the ground for fruitful leaders' meetings in September and contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity." He also pledged that Beijing will work with regional countries to "uphold the rules and order of the region." Qin was supposed to meet European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday in Beijing, but the talks were canceled with no reasons given, according to Reuters. The former Chinese ambassador to the United States assumed the ministerial post last December, succeeding Wang. The top diplomat is ranked above Qin in the Communist-ruled country. Related coverage: China urges ASEAN regional forum to oppose Fukushima water release Myanmar crisis to dominate ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting Japan, China eye foreign ministers talks in Indonesia next week [July 11, 2023] PGIM Fixed Income names Tom Porcelli as chief US economist Tweet PGIM Fixed Income has named Tom Porcelli chief U.S. economist, effective July 6, 2023. With $793 billion in assets under management, PGIM Fixed Income is among the largest global fixed income managers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711402679/en/ Tom Porcelli, Chief U.S. Economist, PGIM Fixed Income (Photo: Business Wire) Previously, Porcelli served as chief U.S. economist for RBC Capital Markets, a position he held for more than 14 years. In that capacity, he managed a team of economists responsible for U.S. economic forecasts, in addition to publishing research and actively engaging with clients across all revenue-generating platforms within RBC. Porcelli began his career at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York working on the Open Market Desk where he was closely involved in the execution of monetary policy. He subsequently held senior economic roles with J.P. Morgan (Bank One) and Merrill Lynch. Porcelli joins a deep bench helmed by Chief Global Economist Daleep Singh, who joined the firm in 2022 from the White House where he served as President Biden's top international economic adviser. "Tom joins us at a critical time for the U.S. economy and financial markets. On the heels of an unprecedented Federal Reserve rate-hiking ycle, alongside a historic degree of uncertainty and complexity in the geopolitical backdrop, Tom's deep understanding of the U.S. economy, markets and policymaking will prove hugely valuable to our investment teams and clients," Singh said. Porcelli will report to Singh and will be responsible for leading the formulation of the firm's views on the U.S. economy, contributing to the internal investment process, and engaging with clients and key stakeholders on timely macroeconomic developments. ABOUT PGIM FIXED INCOME PGIM Fixed Income, with $793 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023, is a global asset manager offering active solutions across all fixed income markets. The company has offices in Newark, N.J., London, Amsterdam, Zurich, Munich, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. For more information, visit pgimfixedincome.com. ABOUT PGIM PGIM is the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a leading global investment manager with $1.27 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023. With offices in 18 countries, PGIM's businesses offer a range of investment solutions for retail and institutional investors around the world across a broad range of asset classes, including public fixed income, private fixed income, fundamental equity, quantitative equity, real estate and alternatives. For more information about PGIM, visit pgim.com. Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI) of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom, or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom. For more information please visit news.prudential.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711402679/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Kearney Adds Prestigious Product Design Firm TEAMS to Family of Companies Tweet Deal deepens Kearney's capabilities in product strategy, expanding support for clients CHICAGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kearney, a leading global strategy consulting partnership, has acquired TEAMS, an industrial design firm with a unique heritage and whose customers include many of the world's best-known consumer and equipment brands. The acquisition will enable a deeper partnership between TEAMS and Kearney's Product Excellence and Renewal Lab (PERL), a lab within Kearney that advises companies on product strategy. Since TEAMS' formation in Germany in 1956, the ideas of its designers and engineers can be found in products from Bosch, Drager, Karcher, Siemens and numerous other companies, and their work has won more than 1,000 design awards. TEAMS' industrial-design innovations and PERL's expertise in product strategy and brand alignment have already been combined in dozens of joint client engagements, with more to come. "We're very excited about the potential for even greater collaboration with TEAMS," said Bharat Kapoor, Kearney partner and global lead at PERL. "The industrial and product design market TEAMS serves is big and growing quickly. We have seen extremely favorable responses from clients to the ideas put forward by TEAMS' product designers and engineers. What they do is a terrific complement to PERL's focus of helping companies reinvent products to meet evolving customer expectations, or to achieve internal goals like greater profitability and sustainability." TEAMS' existing relationships with major brandsespecially in the professional and industrial equipment, consumer goods, medical devices and technology sectrscould also benefit from Kearney's consulting expertise across industries. TEAMS will now be known as "TEAMS, a Kearney company," but will continue to operate independently. "We love working on the creative aspects of industrial design, and look forward to continuing to do that on behalf of our long-standing clients," said Klaus Baumgartner, managing partner in TEAMS' Stuttgart studio. "At the same time, PERL and Kearney bring a completely different kind of expertise to the work of product improvement and renewal. We've already seen how beneficial our joint expertise is for our clients." TEAMS is currently located across four design studios in three countriesChicago, Hamburg, Shanghai and Stuttgartand Baumgartner said he expects that Kearney's global presencewith more than 55 offices in 40 countrieswill expand TEAMS' reach. With additional studio locations in the works, PERL looks to expand its own footprint as well. The TEAMS acquisition represents a continuation of Kearney's strategy to accelerate growth and serve clients in greater depth. In the past four years, Kearney has acquired Cervello, a data and analytics provider; Prokura, a procurement and supply chain consultancy; and OPTANO, which provides AI-powered operations optimization solutions. About Kearney Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm. For nearly 100 years, we have been a trusted advisor to C-suites, government bodies, and nonprofit organizations. Our people make us who we are. Driven to be the difference between a big idea and making it happen, we help our clients break through. Learn more at www.kearney.com. About TEAMS Design TEAMS is a leading global strategic design company established in 1956. Their mission is to create enduring positive impact in cooperation with our industrial partners and provide sustainable solutions for a better life. With a profound understanding of users and brands our experts in design and engineering create solutions for the physical and digital world. Learn more at www.teamsdesign.com Media contact: Meir Kahtan, MKPR, [email protected], +1 917-864-0800 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kearney-adds-prestigious-product-design-firm-teams-to-family-of-companies-301873593.html SOURCE Kearney [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Anonymous Intelligence Company Signs Definitive Agreement for Acquisition of Haller.ai Tweet VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anonymous Intelligence Company Inc. (CSE: ANON) (OTC: ANICF) (FRANKFURT: 1JI0) (ANON or the Company), a leading computational intelligence, decentralized network and data technology company, focused on leveraging its proprietary suite of AI and privacy enabled products to empower increased confidence in technology for consumers and business alike, is pleased to announce that further to its news releases dated May 24, 2023, it has signed the Definitive Agreement for the acquisition (the Acquisition) of all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of Haller.ai Technologies Inc. ("Haller.ai") pursuant to a Share Purchase Agreement (the Agreement) dated July 10, 2023. The Company anticipates closing the Acquisition following the receipt of all approvals required pursuant to relevant securities laws. Haller.ai is looking to streamline business operations, promote productivity, and guarantee compliance across departments and sectors. From secure content creation to regulatory-compliant legal services, its premium AI-powered dashboard will be a dependable tool for businesses seeking growth and compliance in a digitized world. Lucas Russell, the CEO of ANON commented: We are very excited to enter into this agreement with Haller.ai. After working closely with Haller.ai over the past months and being shown several demos of the Haller.ai platform we are excited to bring the company into the Anonymous Intelligence Company umbrella. Haller.ai is looking to provide the solutions to the markets desire for a simple and elegant Enterprise AI solution that can be used by everyone in the company hierarchy regardless of tech background or position. The Agreement Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company will issue 20,000,000 common shares of the Company (the Consideration Shares) at a deemed price of $0.10 per share and 10,000,000 bonus warrants (the Consideration Warrants). The Consideration Warrants will be exercisable at a price of $0.25 per Consideration Warrant for a period of five years. The Consideration Shares and Consideration Warrants will be distributed pro rata among the shareholders of Haller.ai (the Vendors). Following completion of the Acquisition, the Vendors will collectively hold approximately 19% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company on a non-diluted basis. The Considerations Shares and Consideration Warrants will be subject to voluntary resale restrictions pursuant to which, (a) 25% of the Consideration Shares will be released after four months and one day following closing, 25% after 8 months following closing, and 50% upon the achievement of certain performance milestones, and (b) the Consideration Warrants will be exercisable or transferable upon the achievement of certain performance milestones. The Consideration Shares will also be subject o a statutory hold period expiring on the date which is four months and one day following the date of closing. Following closing of the Acquisition, Allan Larmour has resigned as a director of the Company and Tyler Koverko, the current Chief Executive Officer of Haller.ai, will join ANONs board of directors. Mr. Koverko has an impressive background in emerging technologies and has held senior roles at various Web3 and eCommerce companies such as Matador Gold Technologies Inc., and Polymath Research Inc., each of which has created significant value for shareholders. Lucas Russell, CEO, said, On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Allan for his contributions to the Company and wish him well in his current and future endeavors. Lucas continued, We are very pleased to welcome Tyler to the Board and we look forward to his contributions to the growth and success of ANON. Closing of the Acquisition remains subject to a number of standard conditions. The Acquisition is expected to close on or about July 12, 2023. As part of the Acquisition, 2,000,000 common shares of the Company will be issued to an arms length party as a finders fee. The Company is at arms length from Haller.ai and its shareholders. The Acquisition will not constitute a fundamental change nor result in a change of control within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE. TURMINAL.AI BETA LAUNCH The company is pleased to announce that yesterday at approximately 1pm PDT, the first 50 users were invited to begin testing the Turminal.ai beta. We are so excited to begin the controlled rollout of the Turminal.ai beta for our waitlist. We expect the launch to be like turning on a tap; starting with a trickle, and then getting going quickly. We plan to update the public to the number of beta users, and to update the waitlist with their place in line, later this week on the Turminal.ai website and via email stated Lucas Russell, CEO. On Behalf of the Board, ANONYMOUS INTELLIGENCE COMPANY INC. Lucas Russell President & CEO (604) 669-9788 About Anonymous Intelligence Company Inc. Anonymous Intelligence Company Inc. is a technology company focused on leveraging its proprietary Web 3.0 technology products to enable the decentralized movement among consumers and business alike. Web 3.0 enables a sustainable world where decentralized users and machines are able to interact with data, value and other counterparties via a substrate of peer-to-peer networks without the need for third parties creating many benefits such as giving each user full control and ownership of all personal and corporate data. For further information, please contact: Paul Searle Corporate Communications Citygate Capital Corp Phone: (778) 240-7724 [email protected] Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Forward-looking statements are based on ANONs current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions that were made in light of the information available at the time the statements were made. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the proposed Acquisition, consideration of the Acquisition, the expected timing of completion of the Acquisition, the expected benefits of the Acquisition for the Company and its shareholders, the receipt of all regulatory approvals and the future strategy of the Company. This information and statements address future activities, events, plans, developments and projections such as: the functionality and operability of the technology; the potential for income generating monetization opportunities; the ability for customers to gain competitive advantages with data; and expectations to increase value with respect to the technology. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information and statements are frequently identi?ed by words such as "may", "will", "should", "anticipate", "plan", "expect", "believe", "estimate", "intend" and similar terminology, and re?ect assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions, expectations of future developments and other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking information and statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information and statements and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary include, but are not limited to: flaws or issues related to the underlying technology; customer preferences and competition; inability to scale or effectively market the technology, as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in the Companys annual and quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and other continuous disclosure documents which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company assumes no obligation or intent to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Start IT Bootcamp with $0 upfront and gain higher paychecks Tweet WARREN, Mich., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Are you ready for a career transformation? Michigan's leading institute for IT Bootcamp, TS4U, is excited to announce its groundbreaking "Pay Zero to Start IT Bootcamp". This revolutionary initiative will supercharge your entry into the booming Michigan tech industry with no upfront cost. Michigan: The Global Pioneer in Startups In 2022, Detroit, Michigan, emerged as the world's top startup ecosystem, according to Startup Genome's Global Startup Ecosystem Report . Now valued at an impressive $91 billion, Motor City is an optimal destination for anyone seeking to make their mark in the tech industry. * Join the Tech Revolution with TS4U TS4U offers an unprecedented opportunity to dive headfirst into this flourishing sector. Our IT Bootcamps are designed to empower individuals with minimal or no IT background to transition into high-paying tech careers. Zero upfront cost: TS4U's income-driven payment plan allows you to start your IT Bootcamp without worrying about the financial burden of tuition. TS4U's income-driven payment plan allows you to start your IT Bootcamp without worrying about the financial burden of tuition. State-accredited Bootcamps: Our Bootcamps, accredited by the State of Michigan , uphold high standards of instruction and have a proven track record of success. Our Bootcamps, accredited by the , uphold high standards of instruction and have a proven track record of success. Learn by doing: TS4U's hands-on methodology simplifies complex IT concepts, equipping students with practical skills. Success During Challenging Times Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, TS4U has made great strides. Hundreds of individuals have escaped low-wage jobs and transitioned into the IT industry. Our key achievements include: Empowering individuals to shift to high-paying careers. Successfully establishing a strategic location in Michigan , close to major tech corporations. , close to major tech corporations. Creating employment opportunities to support local communities. TS4U's IT Bootcamp Programs TS4U offers a wide range of Bootcamp programs covering the most in-demand areas of the IT industry: Software Quality Automation Engineer AWS CloudOps Engneer Agile Product Owner MERN Full-Stack Software Engineer Vehicle Validation Engineer Your Future with TS4U TS4U is making tech education accessible to all. Our commitment to accessibility includes the following: A high job success rate of 85% to 95% A two-week free trial for prospective students Grants from Michigan Works! and income-driven payment options Extensive interview preparation resources TS4U's Special Offers Webinar attendees can enjoy various discounts: $99 off towards webinar participation when enrolling in a Bootcamp. off towards webinar participation when enrolling in a Bootcamp. Additional $99 off. off. $150 off for Computer Science graduates or those with IT experience. off for Computer Science graduates or those with IT experience. Discounts for full or partial fee payments during the enrollment period. Promoting Diversity in Tech with TS4U We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive tech industry. All are welcome at TS4U, including: Non-technical individuals Recent graduates Immigrants and foreign graduates Participants from previous webinars Join us at TS4U and revolutionize your career in Michigan's thriving tech industry. Register now at: https://ts4u.us/link/paynothing About TS4U TS4U is a leading institute for IT engineering Bootcamp in Michigan. Founded by Shiblu Ahmad, TS4U's mission is to teach complex IT software development in an understandable way to nontechnical individuals. Our "learn by doing" methodology and dedication to accessibility have empowered hundreds of individuals to transition into high-paying careers in the tech industry. *Reference: https://startupgenome.com/articles/partners-with-endeavor-to-research-detroit-region-entrepreneurial-ecosystem Media Contact Company Name: TS4U IT Engineering Bootcamp Contact Person: TS4U Enrolment Team Email: [email protected] Phone: 5862767347 Address: 30500 Van Dyke Ave, Ste # 201 City: Warren State: Michigan 48093 Country: United States Google Map: TS4U IT Engineering Bootcamp Explore: https://ts4u.us/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/start-it-bootcamp-with-0-upfront-and-gain-higher-paychecks-301874178.html SOURCE TS4U IT Engineering Bootcamp [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Arlington County Sheriff's Office to Deploy GUARDIAN RFID Tweet GUARDIAN RFID, the global leader in officer experience platforms (OXPs) and inmate tracking systems, today announces that the Arlington County Sheriff's Office (Arlington, Virginia) has signed a five-year agreement to deploy GUARDIAN RFID inmate tracking technology to optimize the delivery of services to inmates, streamline accountability and transparency, and maximize the agency's compliance and defensibility objectives. Operated by the Sheriff's Office, the Arlington County Detention Facility (ACDF) has an average daily population of 300 inmates and is renowned for being one of the most technically-advanced direct supervision jails in the country. Corrections officials from around the world routinely visit ACDF as it is the first urban high-rise jail run in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Arlington County Sheriff's Office has made a concerted effort to modernize its technology to create a safer, more secure environment for inmates and staff. M.C. Dean, an electrical engineering and systems integration firm, is the electronic security services maintenance prime contractor. The company facilitated the vendor selection process for the county and supported them through the decision-making process. All ACDF floor deputies and supervisors will be deploying SPARTAN 3, the ultra-rugged Android from GUARDIAN RFID running Mobile Command software. The ACDF is also deploying hardened RFID tags strategically located throughout the facility to automate a wide range of data collection and reporting, including security checks and cell checks, headcounts, meal and recreation offerings, and a wide range of other inmate activity logging at the point of responsibility. "My responsibility as sheriff is to those detained in our facilities, but also to our deputies and the community at large," said Arlington County Sheriff Jose Quiroz. "Real-time visibility and data on inmate and deputy activities allows us to uphold that responsibility and quickly mitigate any safety or security risks, for the benefit of all." ACDF will also be using Operational Intelligence, the business intelligence layer of GUARDIAN RFID, to measure what they manage: security round performance at staggered intervals, anomalous patterns of inmate behavior, and more. Operational Intelligence will help ACDF proactively pinpoint areas of operational strength and improvement in real time. The deployment of GUARDIAN RFID integrates with ACDF's New World Systems jail management system from Tyler Technologies and facility-wide Wi-Fi. About GUARDIAN RFID GUARDIAN RFID is a public safety technology company whose mission is to protect America's Thin Gray Line: the 480,000 correctional officers protecting our nation's jails and prisons. We help officers better execute the care, custody, and control mission-set through modern Cloud, mobile, FID, and AI technologies that enable real-time situational awareness. Learn more at guardianrfid.com or connect with us across our social media channels: YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. For more information, visit https://guardianrfid.com or call 855-777-RFID (7343). GUARDIAN RFID, SPARTAN, Mobile Command, "One Team, One Mission," and "Warrior Technology" are trademarks of GUARDIAN RFID. For more information, visit guardianrfid.com/legal. All rights reserved. Patented and patents-pending. About Arlington County Sheriff's Office The Arlington County Sheriff's Office is a Nationally Accredited Law Enforcement Agency located in Northern Virginia. The ACSO staff is approximately 270 sworn and civilian staff who serve a county population of almost 200,000 residents. A Deputy Sheriff performs duties in corrections, inmate transportation, civil process service, and courtroom/courthouse security. For more information, please visit https://sheriff.arlingtonva.us/ or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. About M.C. Dean M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence. The company designs, builds, operates, and maintains cyber physical solutions for the nation's most recognizable mission critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises. M.C. Dean's capabilities include electrical, electrical security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audio visual, and IT systems. M.C. Dean is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia and employs more than 5,100 professionals who engineer and deploy automated, secure, and resilient power and technology systems; and deliver the management platforms essential for long term system sustainability. For more information, please visit mcdean.com or connect on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711022492/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Wilson Sonsini Adds Meredith Krannich to Executive Advisory Program Tweet Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, today announced that Meredith Krannich has joined the firm's Executive Advisory Program. Based in Wilson Sonsini's Salt Lake City, Utah, office, she will advise clients on legal, operational, and business matters in her role as an Executive Advisor. Most recently, Krannich was vice president and general counsel (North America) at bioMerieux. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711203842/en/ Meredith Krannich, Executive Advisor, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Photo: Business Wire) Krannich has substantial experience in the life sciences industry, particularly the medical device and in vitro diagnostic sectors, based on her role at bioMerieux and her previous roles as vice president of legal affairs and senior corporate counsel at BioFire Diagnostics, which was acquired by bioMerieux in 2014. At bioMerieux, she served as the chief legal advisor to the North America CEO and provided strategic legal counsel across the company. She built and led diverse, talented, and collaborative in-house legal teams and advised on key strategic business initiatives, among other matters. Krannich joins Ken Siegel as a member of the firm's innovative Executive Advisory Program, which offers clients experience-based, actionable, and business-focused advice. As former in-house counsel with significant legal and operational responsibilities, Krannich and Siegel help general counsel and other executives develop and prioritize practical approaches and solutions suited to each client's unique culture, circumstances, and needs-at no cost to the client. Wilson Sonsini's Executive Advisory Program supports clients at every stage, whether the client is a high-growth start-up, a late-stage company preparing for an IPO, or a multinational public company. Similarly, the program is intended to support companies ranging from those with no or limited in-house legal resources to those with well-established legal teams. For more information, visit the EAP overview page. "Meredith has an impressive combination of industry and in-house experience, and has directly managed important strategic, operational, and internal department initiatives," said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. "We're pleased to welcome her as the newest member of our Executive Advisory Program. We know she'll be a valued resource and advisor to a broad range of clients, especially those in the life sciences sector." Krannich has advised biotechnology and medical device manufacturers on patent infringement lawsuits throughout her career. She is currently an adjunct professor at her alma mater, the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law, where she has taught since 2014. "I've always enjoyed the in-house role and the many ways that general counsel can contribute to a company's success and growth," Krannich said. "I was thrilled about the chance to join Wilson Sonsini and draw from my experience to help the firm's clients address important strategic and operational functions." Krannich earned her J.D. from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law and a bachelor's degree in molecular biology and genetics from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini's services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has more than 950 attorneys and 19 offices in 17 technology, business, and regulatory markets across the United States, China, and Europe. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711203842/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] ComputerTalk and Tethr partner to improve contact center performance Tweet TORONTO and AUSTIN, Texas, July 11, 2023 /CNW/ -- ComputerTalk, developer of ice Contact Center with Microsoft Teams, and Tethr, the leading AI-powered conversation intelligence platform, today announced the formation of a strategic partnership to help companies improve contact center performance and overall customer experience. With Tethr and ComputerTalk, customers can gain insights from customer conversations and create exceptional experiences. ComputerTalk's ice Contact Center is a Microsoft Teams native contact center solution that modernizes the call center with business application integrations, AI, and analytics across all communication channels, helping organizations deliver outstanding customer experiences. Tethr is a cloud-based conversation intelligence platform that combines powerful AI and machine learning to surface insights from customer conversations from any communications channel and provide organizations with practical and proven steps to improve customer service metrics. As part of this partnership, the two software platforms will integrate seamlessly to provide ice Contact Center customers the ability to discover AI-driven insights they can use to improve customer service performance by reducing operating costs, lowering churn risk, and improving sales conversion. "We are excited to work with ComputerTalk to deliver an integratedsolution for the Microsoft Teams contact center ecosystem," said Robert Beasley, CEO of Tethr. "Tethr's powerful analytics will enable ice customers to gain insights into their customer interactions and provide them with the tools they need to deliver an exceptional customer experience." "We are thrilled to partner with Tethr to provide our customers with an even more comprehensive set of tools to manage customer interactions," said Jean-Nicolas, VP Product Experience, "Our joint solution will provide businesses with a deeper understanding of their customers and enable them to improve their processes and strategies to deliver a world-class customer experience." About ComputerTalk Founded in 1987, ComputerTalk Technology Inc, is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. ComputerTalk is a global provider of enterprise-class Microsoft Teams-native and PBX-agnostic contact center products, cloud hosting services, and custom application development. For more information, visit computer-talk.com and follow ComputerTalk on LinkedIn . About Tethr Tethr envisions a world where every company listens, and every customer is heard. Tethr is a cloud-based conversation intelligence platform that combines powerful AI, machine learning, and over a decade of research to surface contextual insights from customer interactions. Tethr quickly and easily turns large amounts of unstructured customer conversation data into insights that fuel smarter decisions and improved business performance. For more information or to try out Tethr, visit tethr.com and follow Tethr on LinkedIn . CONTACT: Dean Cruse 512-657-8927 [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/computertalk-and-tethr-partner-to-improve-contact-center-performance-301874266.html SOURCE Tethr [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] The governments of Canada, Nova Scotia and Bayside Development Corporation invest in green energy upgrades to the Bayside Travel Centre in Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation Tweet PAQTNKEK MI'KMAW NATION, NS, July 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape BretonCanso, the Honourable Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness, on behalf of the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, and Rose Paul, CEO and President of the Bayside Corporation, announced more than $1.6 million in joint funding to support green energy upgrades to the Bayside Travel Centre. Project works include installing a direct current microgrid energy system featuring solar photovoltaic panels, battery storage, and two electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers at the Bayside Travel Center, owned by the Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation. By incorporating three different technologies, this project marks the first microgrid in Nova Scotia to act together to provide energy services. This investment will decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 3,945 tonnes, increase access to EV chargers, and create more jobs in the community. By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country's economy, increasing the resiliency of our communities, and improving the lives of Canadians. Quotes "The Bayside Travel Centre Solar Microgrid installation is an important milestone for Nova Scotia, the Town of Antigonish and the Paq'tnkek Nation. Green energy projects like this are great for our communities in so many ways. They generate clean electricity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create good jobs. This project will play a pivotal role in the fight against climate change and Nova Scotia's clean energy future." Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape BretonCanso, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities "The Government of Canada is working with Indigenous partners to deliver job-creating clean energy investments across the country. Today's investment is a good example of this ambitious action. We are pleased to be deploying EV chargers, batteries and solar panels to the Bayside Travel Centre with Paq'tnkek Mi'kmaw Nation and provincial partners." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources "Our approach to the energy transition must leave no one behind. Today's announcement will allow the community to reduce emissions while creating good paying jobs for its people. Investments in climate-friendly solutions like this one will create benefits for years to come both for the environment and for Indigenous Peoples. Congratulations to Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation for taking this important step." The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services "The technology we're seeing in the renewable energy sector in Nova Scotia is truly inspiring. The upgrades Bayside Development Corporation are pursuing will set an example for other organizations in the province to propel themselves to a cleaner, greene future." The Honourable Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness, on behalf of the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables "The Renewable Development is a leading example of Energy Sovereignty and being the stewardess of the land and resources. Working towards NetZero goals is an opportunity to be at the forefront of an industry that aligns with our values of sustainable development while bringing social and economic opportunities to our communities." Rose Paul, CEO and President of the Bayside Corporation Quick Facts The Government of Canada is investing more than $1.4 million in this project, the Government of Nova Scotia is investing $200,000 and the Bayside Development Corporation is contributing $18,309 . is investing more than in this project, the Government of is investing and the Bayside Development Corporation is contributing . The Government of Canada's funding comes from Infrastructure Canada's Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Natural Resources Canada's Zero Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure Program and Indigenous Services Canada's Strategic Partnerships Initiative for Indigenous Clean Energy Economic Development Projects in Atlantic Canada . funding comes from Infrastructure Canada's Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Infrastructure Program, Natural Resources Canada's Zero Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure Program and Indigenous Services Canada's Strategic Partnerships Initiative for Indigenous Clean Energy Economic Development Projects in . Federal investments are supporting the establishment of a coast-to-coast EV charging network along highways, and the deployment of chargers in local areas where Canadians live, work and play, with over 43,600 EV chargers selected for funding to date. This Green Infrastructure Stream helps build greener communities by contributing to climate change preparedness, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting renewable technologies. Including today's announcement, 63 infrastructure projects or project bundles under the Green Infrastructure Stream have been funded in Nova Scotia , with a total federal contribution of more than $357 million and a total provincial contribution of nearly $459 million . , with a total federal contribution of more than and a total provincial contribution of nearly . Under the Investing in Canada Plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities. Plan, the federal government is investing more than over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities. Infrastructure Canada helps address complex challenges that Canadians face every dayranging from the rapid growth of our cities, to climate change, and environmental threats to our water and land. helps address complex challenges that Canadians face every dayranging from the rapid growth of our cities, to climate change, and environmental threats to our water and land. The funding announced today builds on the Government of Canada's work through the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create well-paying middle-class jobs, strengthen local economies, and build inclusive communities. Associated links Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html Green Infrastructure Stream https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gi-iv-eng.html Federal infrastructure investments in Nova Scotia https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-ns-eng.html Strengthened Climate Plan https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/climate-plan-overview.html Zero-emission vehicles: Driving toward a greener future https://www.canada.ca/en/services/transport/zero-emission-vehicles.html Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Web: Infrastructure Canada SOURCE Infrastructure Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Three Advisors with $400 Million in Assets Move Their Practices to Ameriprise for Technology and Financial Planning Capabilities Tweet Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP) recently added three financial advisors to its independent channel with more than $400 million in combined client assets. Albert Stanton, AIF joined from Cetera Advisors LLC with $125 million in client assets in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Kevin Frontone, CFP, AAMS joined from Edward Jones with $107 million in client assets in Springfield, Illinois. Separately, Kent (Bo) Hunter joined from Edward Jones with $172 million in client assets in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Ameriprise was a clear choice for Stanton after an extensive search "We were looking to increase our suite of resources, technology and support to provide an enhanced client experience," said Stanton. "After an extensive search, Ameriprise was the clear choice for us." Stanton says there were three main reasons he and his team joined Ameriprise: Technology: "We're now able to offer a mobile app and online portal for more streamlined and interactive client account viewing. The Ameriprise digital tools also allow us to seamlessly track goals and manage portfolios, creating efficiency that frees up our time to focus on clients." "We're now able to offer a mobile app and online portal for more streamlined and interactive client account viewing. The Ameriprise digital tools also allow us to seamlessly track goals and manage portfolios, creating efficiency that frees up our time to focus on clients." Support: "Ameriprise's back-office support has been great from day one. The transition expertise and guidance were a huge help, along with the dedicated team that we can go to with questions." "Ameriprise's back-office support has been great from day one. The transition expertise and guidance were a huge help, along with the dedicated team that we can go to with questions." Stability and Focus: "Partnering with a firm whose main focus is working with advisors was very important to us. Ameriprise has over 100 years of experience in the field and a strong level of financial strength and stability." Stanton's practice is supported by marketing manager and registered financial consultant, Caroline Stanton, client service manager, Susan Hayes, office manager, Kathleen Brennan, and founder and consultant, Joseph Sullivan. Frontone looks to take his practice to the next level with Ameriprise Frontone and his team use a holistic planning approach with the families they serve, and they wanted to further elevate the experience they deliver to clients. "We found exactly what we were looking for at Ameriprise," said Fontone. Ameriprise's integrated suite of technology, comprehensive menu of products and services and the flexibility to grow his practice - all while maintaining the highest level of client service - were among the top reasons Frontone moved to Ameriprise. "After 18 years in the industry, I was looking to take my practice to the next level. At Ameriprise, I now have the flexibility and tools to provide a truly comprehensive approach to planning," said Frontone. "Clients have been impressed with the new digital capabilities and the wider range of solutions to further meet their needs." Frontone's practice is supported by client service manager, Erin Campbell, and operations specialist, Sarah Quintana Barrett. Hunter was attracted to Ameriprise's technology and dedication to financial planning "We're excited to join Ameriprise and know this is the best place for us to serve our clients moving forward," said Hunter. "The firm is a longstanding leader in financial planning, and we've been impressed with the digital capabilities that make it more efficient to do business and seamlessly engage with clients." Hunter's practice is supported by assistants, Beverly Housewirth and Rhonda Hightower. Ameriprise continues to attract experienced financial advisors, with approximately 1,700 joining the firm in the last 5 years.1 Nine out of ten advisors who joined Ameriprise say the firm's technology, financial planning capabilities and ability to acquire clients is better than their previous firm.2 To find out why experienced financial advisors are joining Ameriprise, visit ameriprise.com/why. About Ameriprise Financial At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel more confident about their financial future for more than 125 years. With extensive advice and financial planning, asset management and insurance capabilities, and a nationwide network of approximately 10,000 financial advisors, we have the expertise and strength to serve the full range of individual and institutional investors' financial needs.3 Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. Investment products are not insured by the FDIC, NCUA or any federal agency, are not deposits or obligations of or guaranteed by any financial institution, and involve investment risks including possible loss of principal and fluctuation in value. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. 2023 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Ameriprise Financial 2022 10-K. 2 Ultimate Advisor Partnership Survey, Ameriprise Financial, November 2021. Ameriprise asked experienced advisors that moved their book of business to the firm within the last one to five years to compare Ameriprise support, resources and capabilities to their previous firm and to state their satisfaction with their experience. 294 advisors responded to the "Ultimate Advisor Partnership" survey, which identified top ways Ameriprise stands out compared to competitors. 3 Ameriprise Financial 2022 10-K. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711901259/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 11, 2023] Russell Investments Canada Limited Announces Quarterly Distributions for Exchange Traded Fund Series Tweet Russell Investments Canada Limited ("Russell Investments Canada") today announced cash distributions for the ETF Series of certain mutual funds ("ETF Series") for the months of July, August and September. Unitholders of record of the ETF Series, as of the Record Date, will receive a per-unit cash distribution payable on the Payment Date. Details of the per-unit cash distribution amount are as follows: Fund Name Ticker Symbol Cash Distribution per Unit ($) CUSIP ISIN Record Date Payment Date Exchange Russell Investments Fixed Income Pool RIFI $0.059 78249T103 CA78249T1030 July 20, 2023 July 25, 2023 TSX August 22, 2023 August 25, 2023 September 20, 2023 September 25, 2023 Russell Investments Global Infrastructure Pool RIIN $0.070 78250R103 CA78250R1038 July 20, 2023 July 25, 2023 TSX August 22, 2023 August 25, 2023 September 20, 2023 September 25, 2023 Russell Investments Real Assets RIRA $0.066 78250P107 CA78250P1071 July 20, 2023 July 25, 2023 TSX August 22, 2023 August 25, 2023 September 20, 2023 September 25, 2023 The Manager, Russell Investments Canada Limited, administers and manages the ETF Series. About Russell Investments Canada Limited Russell Investments Canada Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Russell Investments Group, Ltd. Established in 1985, Russell Investments Canada Limited has its head office in Toronto. About Russell Investments Russell Investments is a leading global investment solutions firm providing a wide range of investment capabilities to institutional investors, financial intermediaries, and individual investors around the world. Building on an 86-year legacy of continuous innovation to deliver exceptional value to clients, Russell Investments works every day to improve the financial security of its clients. The firm has CA$390.2 billion in assets under management (as of 03/31/2023) for clients in 30 countries. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Russell Investments has offices in 17 cities around the world, including London, New York, Sydney, Toronto and Tokyo. For more information, please visit www.russellinvestments.com/ca. Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or dissemination in the United States. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in the ETF Series Units. Investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses, and other important information are contained in the prospectus. Please read the prospectus and ETF Facts carefully before investing. The ETF Series Units are not guaranteed, their value may change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Certain statements included in this news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as or similar to, "expects", "anticipates", "believes" or negative versions thereof. Forward looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to, among other things, risk, uncertainties and assumptions about economic factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from what is contemplated. We encourage you to consider these and other factors carefully before making any investment decisions and we urge you to avoid placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Russell Investments has no specific intention of updating any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the fund, please see the specific risks of mutual funds section of the prospectus. Units of ETF Series trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. Income tax considerations for investors are contained in the prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Russell Investments' ownership is composed of a majority stake held by funds managed by TA Associates, with a significant minority stake held by funds managed by Reverence Capital Partners. Certain of Russell Investments' employees and Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC also hold minority, non-controlling, ownership stakes. Copyright Russell Investments Canada Limited 2023. All rights reserved. Frank Russell Company is the owner of the Russell trademarks contained in this material and all trademark rights related to the Russell trademarks, which the members of the Russell Investments group of companies are permitted to use under license from Frank Russell Company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230711336395/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] KYODO NEWS - Jul 11, 2023 - 20:16 | All, Japan, 3/11 Fukushima Fisheries associations in Fukushima Prefecture told Japan's industry minister Tuesday they remain opposed to releasing treated radioactive water from a crippled nuclear power plant into the sea despite a U.N. watchdog's safety assurances for the plan. Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura briefed the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations in their meeting in northeastern Japan about the International Atomic Energy Agency's comprehensive assessment released last week. The government is seeking their understanding as it aims to start releasing the water around this summer. The IAEA said in the report that the plan is "consistent" with international safety standards and would have "a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment." But local fishermen expressed concerns over potential reputational damage to their products. Countries like China, Russia and North Korea have criticized Japan over the release plan. Nishimura told the fishermen that the release of the treated water is a necessary step toward completing the decommissioning of the damaged reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and facilitating the recovery of Fukushima from the 2011 disaster. The reactors suffered meltdowns triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami. The water has been kept in over 1,000 tanks installed at the site after going through the advanced liquid processing system that removes most radionuclides except tritium, but the containers are nearing capacity. "We basically take the position of opposing the discharge of treated water into the sea," Tetsu Nozaki, head of the federation, told Nishimura during the meeting. But there was also an opinion among fishermen that they would accept the release if it proves not to impact people's health, according to a fisheries source who attended the meeting. Nishimura told reporters that dialogue between fishermen and the government should continue after Tuesday's meeting and that he would like to "deepen (mutual) trust through sincere explanations." The government and plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. promised local fishermen in 2015 that they would not release the treated water into the sea without gaining the "understanding" of concerned parties. Following the IAEA's announcement of its findings, China suggested it may expand its restrictions on food imports from Japan if the discharge plan goes ahead. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin sarcastically suggested at a press conference Tuesday that Japan should "make good use of this water for drinking and swimming" if it believes in its safety, instead of discharging it into the ocean and raising international concerns. Other countries, including South Korea and New Zealand, have shown confidence in the IAEA's assessment. South Korea's government, following on-site observations by a delegation of experts at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in May, has affirmed that the treated water from Fukushima is in line with international safety standards based on its own analysis. The country's opposition lawmakers, however, still oppose the discharge. The treated water with trace amounts of tritium will be diluted to one-40th of the concentration permitted under Japanese safety standards before being released via an underwater tunnel 1 kilometer off the power plant. Tritium is known to be less harmful to the human body than other radioactive materials, such as cesium and strontium, as it emits very weak radiation and experts believe it does not accumulate or concentrate inside the body. Nuclear power plants worldwide routinely release treated water containing low-level concentrations of tritium and other radionuclides into the environment as part of normal operations, according to the IAEA. Related coverage: China urges ASEAN regional forum to oppose Fukushima water release North Korea raps IAEA for assuring safety of Fukushima water release Russia to tighten oversight of seafood over Fukushima water release [July 11, 2023] CytoDyn Announces Company Updates and Investment Community Update Webcast Tweet Claim Filed in Former CRO Litigation for Damages Exceeding $100M Dr. Arman Returns from Medical Leave as SVP of Business Operations Webcast to be held Monday, July 24th, 2023, at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET VANCOUVER, Washington, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY) (CytoDyn or the Company), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing leronlimab, a CCR5 antagonist with the potential for multiple therapeutic indications, today announced that it has filed a supplemental Statement of Claim and formally requested a hearing date in its litigation proceeding against Amarex Clinical Research LLC (Amarex), the Companys former Contract Research Organization (CRO). The Company also announced that Dr. Cyrus Arman has returned to the Company, following his medical leave of absence, as Senior Vice President of Business Operations, a new role in which he will be working reduced hours. A search has begun for a new President and/or Chief Executive Officer, while Antonio Migliarese, the Companys Chief Financial Officer, will continue to serve as interim President. Amarex provided clinical trial management and regulatory services to CytoDyn from 2013 to 2021. The Company took preliminary legal action against Amarex in late 2021, and has now filed a supplemental Statement of Claim and requested a final hearing date be set in the arbitration matter pending with the American Arbitration Association. Should the Company prevail at the final hearing, the Company will be entitled to recover its damages and legal fees incurred from Amarex. The Companys Statement of Claim, among other things, alleges that Amarex failed to perform its obligations and services under the master services agreement and work orders that governed the relationship between the parties, including failure to perform services to an acceptable professional standard and billing the Company for services it did not perform. Due to Amarexs failures, the Company suffered substantial damages and will be seeking an award in excess of $100 million at the final hearing. Antonio Migliarese, CytoDyns interim President, commented, The recent filing against Amarex is the next step towards holding Amarex accountable for the damages they inflicted on the Company which we will aggressively continue to pursue. This filing builds on the momentum obtained from the previous favorable ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in our dispute with Amarex. We are very confident in our claims, in particular, due to the results of independent and FDA audits that have been conducted as to Amarexs services, and regulatory action taken by the FDA against Amarex. Our attorneys will be taking all steps necessary to maximize recovery from Amarex. Dr. Arman, SVP of Business Operations, said, I am excited to feel well enough to return from medical leave and contribute to CytoDyn. This new role will allow me to support CytoDyn and the development of leronlimab, which I continue to believe in and am very confident and optimistic about the potential of, while continuing to tend to my health. Tanya Urbach, Board Chair, also stated, We are happy Dr. Arman is able to return, albeit nt in his previous capacity, and lend his demonstrated knowledge and talent to the Company. With this groups cumulative regulatory, clinical, and industry expertise, it is my belief that we currently have the strongest leadership team of board members, executives, and advisors since I began my tenure as Chair. Although the Board has commenced a search for a President and/or CEO, the current team is beyond well-equipped. Webcast Information The Company will host the following live webcast to provide a Company update: Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 Time: 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM ET Access: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=1TBwlTE9 Questions: Please submit any questions prior to the webcast, and not later than Noon PT, Thursday, July 20, 2023. Questions can be submitted via email to: [email protected]. Per CytoDyns current policy, the presenters will not be able to take live questions during the webcast. This is a livestream presentation. Participants are encouraged to login early prior to the start of the event. The replay will be available approximately 60 minutes after the conclusion of the webcast and can be accessed via the above link until August 24, 2023. About CytoDyn CytoDyn is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of leronlimab, an investigational humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that is designed to bind to C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5), a protein on the surface of certain immune system cells that is believed to play a role in numerous disease processes. CytoDyn is studying leronlimab in multiple therapeutic areas, including infectious disease, cancer, and autoimmune conditions. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Words and expressions reflecting optimism, satisfaction or disappointment with current prospects, as well as words such as "believes," "hopes," "intends," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "plans," "anticipates" and variations thereof, or the use of future tense, identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include statements about leronlimab, its ability to provide positive health outcomes, the Companys ability to resolve the clinical hold imposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the FDA), the Company's ability to implement a successful operating strategy for the development of leronlimab and thereby create shareholder value, the ability to obtain regulatory approval of the Companys drug products for commercial sales, and the market for actual commercial sales, the recovery of damages in the Amarex dispute, and the strength of the Companys leadership team. The Company's forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and actual results could vary materially from those contained in or expressed by such statements due to risks and uncertainties, including: (i) the regulatory determinations of leronlimabs safety and effectiveness to treat the diseases and conditions for which we are studying the product by the FDA and various drug regulatory agencies in other countries; (ii) the Companys ability to raise additional capital to fund its operations; (iii) the Companys ability to meet its debt and other payment obligations; (iv) the Companys ability to recruit and retain key employees; (v) the Companys ability to enter into partnership or licensing arrangements with third parties; (vi) the timely and sufficient development, through internal resources or third-party consultants, of analyses of the data generated from the Companys clinical trials required by the FDA or other regulatory agencies in connection with applications for approval of the Companys drug product; (vii) the Companys ability to achieve approval of a marketable product; (viii) the design, implementation and conduct of the Companys clinical trials; (ix) the results of any such clinical trials, including the possibility of unfavorable clinical trial results; (x) the market for, and marketability of, any product that is approved; (xi) the existence or development of vaccines, drugs, or other treatments that are viewed by medical professionals or patients as superior to the Companys products; (xii) regulatory initiatives, compliance with governmental regulations and the regulatory approval process; (xiii) legal proceedings, investigations or inquiries affecting the Company or its products; (xiv) general economic and business conditions; (xv) changes in foreign, political, and social conditions; (xvi) stockholder actions or proposals with regard to the Company, its management, or its board of directors; and (xvii) various other matters, many of which are beyond the Companys control. The Company urges investors to consider specifically the various risk factors identified in its most recent Form 10-K, and risk factors or cautionary statements included in subsequent Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements to take into account events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release. CONTACT Investor Relations CytoDyn Inc. Office: 360.980.8524 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Zhang Shuai and Shaw Wan BEIJING, July 11 (TiPost) As long as you have a graphics processing unit (GPU), I can buy the whole server, said a buyer. Zhang Yang, head of a cloud computing service provider, witnessed customers going on a shopping spree since March. At that time, customers were in such a rush that all they cared about was to hoard the devices. They didnt have any requirements for the products, nor did they mention cloud networking or data storage. They didnt even know how to put them into good use, said Zhang. It wasnt until April that some of these buyers started to figure out what kind of devices they truly needed. They went on a wrong track of hoarding a bunch of GPUs, when training a large model demands massive distributed computing power that often pairs with a full set of services. The computing power industry involves various parts, such as artificial intelligence (AI) chips, servers, optical modules, data centers and cloud computing platforms, forming the driving force for the digital economy. Because of such scale and complexity, only a small number of enterprises are able to afford to join the race. Since training a large model is the start point of the large model ecosystem basic, enough computing power is the admission ticket to the industry. The birth of the AI chatbot ChatGPT in last November has proven the partnership between Microsoft and Open AI a success. Training models in the cloud turned out to make the cut. For companies, cloud service providers can provide scalable computing resources, including hardware and software, which saves businesses from building their own infrastructure. They can also serve talents in the industry, such as R&D engineers, algorithm engineers and individual developers. Since they are often backed up by tech giants, they are rich in financial support, talents and data, enabling them to crack on with the big model training. The frenzied ChatGPT wave The companies that are qualified for the race are mostly established giants. For example, the super computer behind ChatGPT is Azure, a Microsoft-backed cloud computing platform that was initially released 14 years ago . At the current stage, to catch up with ChatGPT or to get ahead in the race, companies are competing against each other with their strategies and technologies that were developed in the past years. The large model training is obviously hyped. The industry should be more rational and avoid taking advantage of the concept to lure investment. I think the companies that want to scramble for a piece of the pie shouldnt start from scratch. There are possible chances for them, but there are also great challenges, said a person in charge of large-scale model products of a tech giant. From the perspective of academia, OpenAI does not embody revolutionary innovation. It is more like "engineered innovation" of the artificial general intelligence (AGI) products. The engineered production process involves different phases of big model training, including the research, engineering, products and organization. It is also hard to pull the engineered production off. However, it at least proved that having more computing power and more data would work, said Han Kai, principal engineering manager at Microsoft. Although engineered production has proven to be a success, it was hard for many other companies to choose the path in the first place because the huge input didnt promise a bright future. Chinese enterprises tend to follow others steps, which is also why ChatGPT wasnt born in China. Challenges in big model training There are at least three major challenges to achieve the engineered production of cloud computing. The first is computing power. For example, GPT-3, which has 175 billion parameters, required 314 zettaFLOPS of computing power in order for it to be trained. However, as one GPU only delivers 312 teraFLOPS of deep learning performance, it takes 32 years to train one large model. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce the distributed training, where we use multiple devices and multiple GPUs to train large models, said Chen Xi, an expert at Chinatelecom Cloud, a cloud computing platform backed by China Telecom. Data storage can also be a problem. The video memory of a single GPU can no longer load a model with hundreds of billions of parameters. It takes about a few terabytes to fully load so many parameters. That number can grow even bigger, when intermediate results generated during the training process, such as gradients and optimizer states, are also taken into consideration. Thus, hundreds of GPUs are needed. Therefore, companies generally adopt a way of pipeline parallelism, and run different layers of the model in GPUs of different nodes. In this way, a group of nodes only need to load a limited number of parameters, reducing the pressure on the memory. As the big model training task is broken into a sequence of processing stages, there will be a large amount of communication between clusters, resulting in high requirements on the bus and its bandwidth. The amount of data transferred can reach up to hundreds of gigabytes. Apart from these three major challenges, the fast growth of large model parameters and the slow development of chip technology is also hindering the industry. In recent years, with the introduction of the transformer, the number of model parameters has increased by 15 times every two years. However, the development of chip technology lags behind. The computing power of a single GPU grew by less than 4 times, with the chip process decreased from 7 nanometers to 4 nanometers. Large model training requires not only computing power, but also storage, security, and the training framework. A complete set of platforms or services are needed to provide support. We feel like there are not many service providers who can satisfy the needs of large model training. And the overall supply of high-performance computing power is relatively tight, said Chen. Opportunities for Chinese chip makers As the Chinese companies are trying to jump on the bandwagon of large model training, the demand for chips soar. Although Chinese chip makers are trying to catch up with the top chip designers, they are not the first choice of many computing power platforms. At present, when everyone is working on large model training, time is of the essence. What the industry needs is high-end products, so that they can avoid stability or maturity problems. Thats why the Chinese chips are left out, said Zhang Yalin, the chief operating officer of Enflame, a Shanghai-based AI start-up developing cloud-based deep learning chips for AI training platforms. The American chip maker Nvidia is the dominant supplier for the reasoning and training of large models in China. Chinese tech giant Baidu once purchased tens of thousands of Nvidia A800s within just half a year. According to Nvidias financial results for first quarter fiscal 2024, the revenue of Nvidia's data center business was 4.28 billion dollars, a record high with an increase of 14 percent compared with the same period last year. In May , shares of the company soared, taking the company's valuation above one trillion dollars. However, in terms of reasoning, there are still business opportunities for Chinese chips. I think Chinese chip makers should take a different path, by starting with reasoning and fine-tuning. They can later cooperate with research institutes from universities and national laboratories to move on to large model training, Zhang said. The development of AI chips is faster than Moore's Law, which could also lead to a decline in growth in some cases, according to Xie Guangjun, the vice president of Baidu. The temporary shortage of computing power is because the computing power cannot keep up with the demand. The overall imbalanced supply chain is also part of the cause. As of now, no Chinese chips can replace the high-end chips produced by Nvidia, such as the A100. Several Chinese chip makers planned to release similar products later this year. As the shortage of Nvidia chips persists, Chinese chips are likely to grab a slice of the cake after next year, once they are able to meet the requirements. Although Internet companies care more about the price-performance ratio, they need to pay more attention to the total cost of ownership when it comes to computing power. For example, the GPU cluster of my company can support 1,000 GPUs, whose performance is similar to that of Nvidias cluster of 600 GPUs. But our products can also be competitive, as long as we can provide more cost-effective and customized services, said Zhang. If Enflames products were to be favored by the Internet clients, they needed to have 1.5 times the performance of Nvidia products and twice the price-performance ratio in the desired scenarios and businesses, Zhang added. As early as June 2021, Baidu AI Cloud began to plan the construction of a new GPU cluster of high-performance. Together with NVIDIA, it completed the design of the InfiniBand network architecture, which can be equipped with over 10,000 GPUs to provide EFLOPS-level computing power. Thanks to this cluster, Baidu released its ChatGPT-style AI bot called Wenxin Yiyan, or ERNIE Bot, in March. Again . . . More than anything else . . . The motivational words of this fanboi seem even more relevant as he confronts EPIC charges and time in jail. In this compilation we focus on national coverage . . . However, prosecutors suspect he's responsible for more bank and credit union robberies throughout the central US. The FBI has reportedly linked him to at least six other unsolved or attempted robberies over a nine-month span in Iowa, Minnesota, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Kansas City superfan, 'ChiefsAholic,' arrested after months on the run Federal prosecutors on Monday announced that Babudar of Overland Park, Kansas, was charged with one count of bank theft and one count of transporting stolen property across state lines. Kansas City super fan 'ChiefsAholic' suspected in string of bank robberies across Midwest A Kansas City Chiefs super fan who was arrested in 2022 in connection with a bank robbery in Oklahoma is suspected in a string of bank robberies across the Midwest, officials announced Monday. Kansas City Chiefs superfan ChiefsAholic has been apprehended Kansas City Chiefs superfan Xaviar Babudar (aka ChiefsAholic) has been apprehended Chiefs Fan 'ChiefsAholic' Arrested, Charged With Bank Theft and More Kansas City Chiefs super fan Xavier Babudar, also known as "ChiefsAholic," has been arrested and charged with bank theft and more. Developing . . . Lots to cover and catch up tonight for our most dedicated crime-watchers . . . Right now we check police action, ALLEGED misdeeds, court cases and more . . . Check TKC news gathering . . . Hit-and-run driver strikes, critically injures pedestrian Monday in KCMO A hit-and-run driver struck and critically injured a pedestrian, then sped away Monday in east Kansas City, Missouri. Two facing charges after allegedly holding a female against her will, resisting arrest A 17-year-old male and a 20-year-old Jose Gonzalez are accused of taking and holding a female against her will after she was taken from the Kansas City area last night. Off-duty Missouri deputy dies when motorcycle is struck by suspected drunk-driver A Missouri deputy died when his motorcycle was struck by a man suspected of drunk-driving, authorities said. Grain Valley couple's trial details evidence found on property Maggie Ybarra and Michael Hendricks, both from Grain Valley, are charged with murdering Kensie Aubry and burying her remains. Warrant issued for Shawnee mom guilty in toddler's death A Johnson County judge issued an arrest warrant for a Shawnee woman after she skipped a hearing after she was sentenced in death of her toddler. 18-year-old rescued by authorities in Bates County, Missouri, after being kidnapped After a long chase, they used a PIT maneuver to crash the car near Passaic, a community in Bates County, Missouri. Wichita police arrest third person in City Nightz shooting Houze is the third person arrested for the shooting that led to 11 injuries. 2022 KBI report shows overall decline in violent, property crimes from 2021 In Kansas, overall property crime rates and violent crimes declined. 'Somebody knows something': Raytown family asking for help finding driver after fiance, father killed in hit-and-run Missouri State Highway Patrol said the driver was in a dark grey four-door sedan, possibly a Nissan Maxima. Kansas felon accused in Wichita mass shooting is in custody Houze has previous convictions for aggravated battery, criminal possession of a weapon, fl Johnson County pool company owes $100K to jilted customers: prosecutor The Johnson County District Attorney's Office took legal action against a local company, Heartland Pool and Spa Service, Inc. Sherriff's department shooting range proposal stirs up noise, safety concerns Clay County sheriff wants to put shooting range and training center in rural part of county Missouri woman in prison for murder since 1980 gets chance to prove innocence next year "She should never have been questioned in the first place," said one of Sandra Hemme's lawyers with the Innocence Project. "And she deserves to be home." Developing . . . In the future, it'll be interesting to watch how transit-loving hipsters cope with higher crime journeys on the streetcar. The basics . . . KANSAS CITY TOY TRAIN RIDES INTO DANGEROUS TERRITORY WHEREIN CRIME SURGES!!! Sure, Kansas City is becoming more violent throughout the metro . . . But our beloved & blessed Midtown Kansas City is the only place where TKC would advise travelers to be weary of white people as well. Some of these hobos have nothing to lose and a broad diversity of residents all get along as best we can by minding our own biz. Now . . . Check the testimony of yet another beleaguered shop keep . . . "Every time when these burglaries happen, we lose $5 to10,000. Minor things are $200-300 a day," A Midtown Market employee said. "We really want this to be stopped because it's really hurting our business." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Digitizing the projects, and developing a strategic plan to apply modeling technology in Greece Greece's Development Plan 2030 includes 188 projects worth 27.6 billion euros, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras said at the FinForum 2023 conference in Athens on Tuesday, ANA reports. Staikouras outlined the emblematic projects and said that these particular works were the ministry's priorities: 1. Thessaloniki Metro (expected delivery 2024) 2. Central Greece Roadway E65 (expected in 4 years) 3. Patras-Pyrgos Roadway (expected in 2025) 4. Action-Amvrakia, Western Greece road connection (expected within 2023) 5. Northern Road Axis on Crete (all worksites expected to open in 2024) 6. Athens Metro Line 6 (ongoing) 7. Diversion Chalkida-Psachna and the Bralos-Amfissa Axis (contracts signed early 2023) 8. Other projects in Greece, including Extension of Athens Metro Line 2; extension of Urban railway (Proastiakos); upgrade of ETCs on Athens-Thessaloniki-Promachonas line; infrastructure, over structure and electromobility on Athens Railway Station; construction of vertical axes on Egnatia Odos; upgrade of flyover in eastern Thessaloniki; Lamia-Karpenissi road; facility improvements and studies for ministries of education, health, justice, and citizen protection; study and construction of regional operational centers of civil protection; management and delimitation of streams; antiflooding protection works 9. Linking railroad lines with all big Greek ports (Thessaloniki, Patras, Alexandroupolis, Kavala, Lavrio, and Rafina) 10. Investments in irrigation networks (several dams have been auctioned as Public-Private Partnerships) 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: GianniM Amazon Prime Day is here, and The Kit shopping editor has selected the very best deals Amazon Prime Day is overwhelming, to say the least. Weve narrowed down stylish steals, from the ideal summer dress to a cult-fave lip sleeping mask. Andrew Palamarchuk is a reporter with Metroland Media Toronto and toronto.com. He has been covering the crime beat since 2002 and has a passion for giving a voice to those affected by tragedy and looking at societal issues that may have contributed to it. By Takuya Karube, KYODO NEWS - Jul 12, 2023 - 07:29 | All, World NATO leaders on Tuesday agreed to work toward including Ukraine as a member and to step up security cooperation with its partners in the Indo-Pacific region, citing China's action and deepening strategic relationship with Russia as emerging challenges to be tackled. The leaders, who gathered in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius for a two-day meeting, discussed additional support for Ukraine as it presses a counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces and seeks to gain credible security guarantees from the world's most powerful military alliance. Ukraine's plea to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization topped the agenda, at a time when the bloc is expanding its reach to Nordic countries and advancing its cooperation with countries outside the Euro-Atlantic area, such as Japan and South Korea. But the leaders did not set any timeline for Ukraine to be part of NATO, with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg saying it will extend an invitation to Ukraine when "members agree and conditions are met." The chief of the 31-member transatlantic alliance, speaking at a press conference, also said what is most important for Ukraine now is to prevail in the war that has dragged on for more than 500 days. "We fully support Ukraine's right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraine's future is in NATO," the leaders said in a communique released after the first day of their discussions. But the outcome is believed to be far from satisfactory for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy earlier in the day voiced irritation at those holding up Ukraine's invitation to join NATO with talk of "conditions," saying his country "deserves respect." "It's unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership," he wrote on Twitter on his way to Vilnius. On Wednesday, he is slated to attend the inaugural meeting of a council established between NATO and Ukraine, where issues related to its membership will also be handled. NATO members hold differing views as to how quickly the country should move toward membership. Lithuania, a former Soviet republic, and other newer NATO members from the eastern part of Europe have been vocal about the need to include Ukraine in the bloc. But some major powers such as the United States and Germany are cautious about discussing the issue in concrete terms at this point, worrying that rushing into negotiations could place NATO at risk of being drawn into Europe's biggest armed conflict since World War II. Nonetheless, the mood of the summit brightened after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed Monday to end his country's refusal to approve Sweden's bid to become the 32nd member of the alliance, following Finland. Erdogan's about-face in the final hours marked a big win for NATO, with its membership enlargement almost certain to weaken Russia's strategic position. The NATO accession process for Sweden had been at a standstill since last year primarily due to Turkey's refusal to ratify the membership, demanding that Stockholm do more against Kurdish groups seen by Ankara as potential threats to its national security. Going beyond issues associated with Ukraine, another major topic of the summit is NATO's ongoing process to broaden cooperation with its four Asia-Pacific partners -- Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. As with last year, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his counterparts from the three countries have been invited to take part in NATO discussions. "The Indo-Pacific is important for NATO, given that developments in that region can directly affect Euro-Atlantic security," the communique said, adding that "China's stated ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security and values." Kishida became the first Japanese leader to participate in a NATO summit in June 2022 in Spain, at which the alliance endorsed a new Strategic Concept -- a document laying out its priorities for the next decade. Touching on China for the first time, the document identified Beijing as posing "systematic challenges" and ramping up attempts with Moscow to undermine the rules-based international order. In parallel, NATO and the leaders of the Asia-Pacific grouping known as the AP4 have agreed to reinforce cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity and outer space through the signing of so-called Individually Tailored Partnership Programs. After a bilateral meeting between Kishida and Stoltenberg on Wednesday morning, NATO will have a leaders' session with the AP4, which Sweden and the European Union will also join. NATO has proposed the establishment of a liaison office in Tokyo to facilitate its coordination with the Asia-Pacific partners. France has voiced opposition to the idea, however, and officials involved in the summit's planning said the alliance is internally divided over the necessity of opening such a facility outside the Euro-Atlantic region. They said the chances of the proposal becoming a reality are slim, and the topic will not be on the agenda. Related coverage: Turkish president relents in standoff over Sweden's NATO accession Search News Archive : Fast Travel News Promotion Via Search, Social Media + Email Follow Us On : INDIA'S OUTBOUND TOURISM TO SURPASS $60 BILLION BY 2031 | EXCLUSIVE 2023 REPORT BY DPI RESEARCH Industry: Travel PR India's outbound tourism market size is expected to reach $60 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 10.9% over the forecast period 2023-2031. (TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - July 11th, 2023 - Rising personal income levels and greater accessbility will enable international travel for a greater proportion of Indias population. Indias sizable global diasporas and international student body will continue to be a pull factor for visiting friends and relatives. In addition, affluent Indian travelers will seek first-class, personalized experiences that exude cachet. 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In addition, this report uses country-specific analysis to study the India outbound tourism market. A detailed country-by-country analysis of the market is presented, covering a total of 32 countries. The driving forces and restraints are studied in detail to better understand the market and identify future growth opportunities in the market. After conducting thorough research on the historical and current growth parameters, the growth prospects of the Indian outbound tourism market are obtained with maximum precision. The Report Analyses the Market on the Basis of Countries and Presents the Forecast in Terms of Value and Volume for the Next 8 Years. The Top 32 Countries Included in the Report are: Singapore Thailand United States Australia China Japan New Zealand Sri Lanka Taiwan Bhutan Nepal Cambodia Mauritius United Kingdom Canada Maldives Switzerland Philippines Myanmar Malaysia Turkey Oman Qatar United Arab Emirates (UAE) Bahrain Saudi Arabia Kuwait Egypt Germany Italy Netherlands France This Well-Versed and Comprehensive India Outbound Tourism Market Research Report 2023 Delivers: Comprehensive Research Methodology of the India Outbound Tourism Market Detailed and Extensive Market Overview with Key Analyst Insights Insights about Market Determinants that are Stimulating the India Outbound Tourism Market To Analyze the Historical Growth in the Market Size of the India Outbound Tourism from 2015 to 2022 To Estimate and Forecast the Market Size of the India Outbound Tourism Market from 2023 to 2031 and Growth Rate until 2031 The Market Size of the India Outbound Tourism with Eight Years Forecast Provides Comprehensive Insights on the Latest Indian Outbound Tourists Going Abroad with Eight Years Forecast Detailed Market Share Assessment of the India Outbound Tourism Market with Eight Years Forecast Includes a Detailed Analysis of the India Outbound Tourism Spending in the Top 32 Most-Visited Foreign Countries Detailed Insights of the India Outbound Tourists Going to the Top 32 Most-Visited Foreign Countries Delivers a Complete Overview of the Indian Tourists Purpose of Visits (Holiday, Visit Friends / Relatives, Business and Others) to the Top 32 Most-Visited Foreign Countries Delivers an In-Depth Analysis of Evolving Market Trends, Drivers, and Restraints of the United States Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Market The Report Helps Answer the Following Questions: What is the current size of the overall India outbound tourism market? How much will this market be worth from 2023 to 2031? How many outbound tourists are there in India? Which foreign country is best for Indian to travel? What are the top outbound destinations from India? What are Indian outbound tourism trends? How many Overall Indian tourists visit globally? Which country has the highest tourists visit by the Indian people? What are the market shares of the India outbound tourism visitation and market? What is the main purpose of visits for the Indian outbound tourists? What are the main drivers and restraints in the India outbound tourism market? How will the industry evolve during the forecast period 2023 2031? Get Access to Free Sample Research Report with Latest Industry Insights @ https://dpiresearch.com/reports/india-outbound-tourism-market-and-forecasts-2023-2031/ ### Please contact the person or company listed above for information regarding the content of this press release. TravPR.com are not the issuers of this press release and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content. Share Release : CONTACT INFORMATION Name: Maria Rai Company: DPI Research Phone: 7667648693 Email: sales@dpiresearch.com Web: PRESS RELEASE TAGS Turkiye "neutralized" a senior figure of the PKK terrorist group in northern Iraq's Zap region, Turkish security sources said on Monday, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. The commandos "neutralized" Ferit Yuksel, the so-called communications officer of the terrorist group, in a cave where he was hiding. It was found that Yuksel was providing communications in the region. Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured. PKK terrorists often hide out across the border in northern Iraq to plot terror attacks in Turkiye. In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and EU has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. KYODO NEWS - Jul 11, 2023 - 21:21 | All, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering reshuffling his Cabinet and the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in mid-September, lawmakers said Tuesday, with his public support declining due largely to mishandling of key domestic issues. Kishida is expected to decide on the timing of the personnel changes while considering his diplomatic schedule after late August, with mid-September being the only available window for the Cabinet reshuffle, the lawmakers said. He had intended to take such action in August but has since instructed his ministers to map out a report early that month about a series of troubles involving the "My Number" national identification card system, which have fanned public fears about privacy violations. Next month, Kishida may also face the task of implementing Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea despite lingering opposition, with the objective of beginning the water discharge sometime this summer. Kishida, who wants to prop up approval ratings for his Cabinet through diplomatic achievements, is likely to visit the United States in late August for trilateral talks with U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to the lawmakers. In early September, he is set to attend an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Indonesia and a Group of 20 leaders meeting in India, while the U.N. General Assembly is scheduled to open late that month, they said. By reshuffling his Cabinet, Kishida is believed to be attempting to rejuvenate his government's image, a strategy often employed by previous prime ministers. Last month, speculation had been rife that Kishida would dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election at an early date on the back of a recovery in his popularity after he hosted the Group of Seven summit in his constituency of Hiroshima in May. But he ruled it out on June 15, with a lawmaker saying the outcome of a recent survey carried out by the LDP indicated that the party might lose a significant number of seats in the lower house if a general election were to be held in the near future. The approval rating for Kishida's Cabinet plunged to 40.8 percent, a Kyodo News poll showed in mid-June, from 47.0 percent in late May, with many of the public wary of the government's push to expand the use of the national identification card. Related coverage: Japan Diet ends regular session amid anxiety over national ID system PM Kishida's son rebuked for party photos at official residence FOCUS: End of G-7 sets stage for Japan PM to consider snap election timing In this research, I will analyze the culture of the United Arab Emirates. I will analyze also aspect of the contemporary U.A.E culture and some challenges that this culture is facing. In this paper, I will give importance on 5 cultural aspects. First, I will discuss the problem of weak identity and heritage collapse. Second, I will discuss social stratification system. Third, I will discuss changes in role of women in the UAE contemporary society. Fourth, I will discuss issues of marriage, and lastly I will discuss family structure in U.A.E. Get Help With Your Essay If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! Essay Writing Service Historically, gender roles and family relationships in Middle Eastern culture have been very Traditional and steeped in beliefs and customs stemming from Islam. With rapid economic development and modernization, changes may be occurring among younger generation. (Questa 1). However, UAE society over the last decade, had experienced a number of social problems, but it has shown more problem in the UAE contemporary society. However, the most important example that sociological and cultural theory can help interpreting them are (1) Social stratification system (2) lost of UAE Identity and culture (3) change in the roles of women in UAE society and (4) marriage (5) family structure. One example of contemporary UAE Society example is social stratification system in UAE society. The UAE or Emirates society consists of two social categories, the UAE National and Foreign immigrants. The UAE nationals are subdivided into four main social classes: (1) The Ruling family, (2) the merchant or business people, (3) the professionals like teachers, engineers are middle class people and (4) Bedouin nomads and pearl divers. On the other hand, the immigrants are also divided into groups. (1)Comes the top professional like doctors and professor at universities , (2) middle class like school teacher , skilled technicians, and other professional (3) semi skilled laborers who mainly work in construction sites, however , this form of classing system in UAE is changing dramatically to a meritocracy system . A classing system that give importance to personal merits, and achievement rather than inequality in society. This dramatic change is mainly due to the notion that meritocracy system will definitely increase productivity, efficiency and, thus economy becomes better. Social mobility will be common in a meritocracy Society. For example, A Bedouin Nomads, who was mainly classified as a low income group, is now one of the ministers in UAE. This proves that equality and reward based on individual effort had motivated all low income groups to study and learn new skills, so that social mobility could happen. In addition to this , immigrants also benefited and felt of this dramatic change in classing system , they also have been more productive , efficient , and UAE economic success story is the prove of this . As to link this contemporary example of social stratification in UAE society to structural functional approach, we can know that social stratification is a must in the operation of society, and meritocracy system is a must in the success of the operation of society and economy in a country like UAE. Further , a manifest function of meritocracy system is that every level of professional need a different knowledge and skills , so meritocracy system has unrecognized and unintended function , which is the Latin function of social stratification or meritocracy system is that it help people link their performance to reward and not social class categories . Finally, in my point of view, Social Stratification has no dysfunction, because it is common in all societies around the world, and has to be there for appropriate function of society. Another example of UAE contemporary society is the lost UAE national identity and lost of culture and heritage. American cars and fast-food, British universities, European stores, the fact that its not compulsory to learn Arabic in many private schools, and some expatriates are encouraged to live in certain areas. If this is the case, then inevitably, elements of the Dubais Arab culture and traditions will be lost(Gulf News 1). The UAE population structure consist of the following percentage of each foreign nationalities (Asian Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Sri Lankiness) account for about 45 percent of the population of the UAE, followed by Arabs (about 33 percent), and Iranians (17 percent). Westerners (Americans and Western Europeans) account for about 5 percent. Jordanians, Palestinians, Egyptians, Iraqis, and Bahrainis are employed throughout the government bureaucracy. As the number of foreigners increases tremendously, making UAE national only 15% percent of the total population, it is worth debating on this phenomenon. (Every culture 1). Multiculturalism and globalization has been encouraged in UAE, and the result is lost of UAE identity. Restaurants, Churches, malls, and all other infrastructure have been designed to accommodate all culture, but not UAE culture. In addition to this, social integration is completely nil; people from every nationality prefer to socialize with their mates from the same nationality, this result in the creation of sub cultures in society. According to Hanna Shaman, a French citizen who lived in UAE has said that this problem was once in French and most Europe country in the industrial revolution, however, government in Germany has forced all foreigners to learn Dutch in the first 2 years they are in Germany, or residence visa will not be given. Such an action, in my point of view, is a must to be implemented in UAE to solve this issue. As a matter of fact, all post industrial societies have faced this problem of globalization and multiculturalism. As to link this example of lost of UAE identity and culture to Durkheim theory, as social integration in people of a society is strong, they are likely not commit suicide and die. On the other hand, as member of society strength their social integration, social norm, mores, and culture they are most likely not to commit suicide and live a better life than those, who have less socialization and integration in their society. This theory further illustrates that if social integration in a society is forgotten, the consequences may be hard to the member of that society. As a result of this, I would like government agencies to take this contemporary problem of UAE society in a very serious way. Because as late sheikh Zayed said, who dont know his past is dead for the future. A third example of UAE contemporary society is the change in gender roles of men and women in UAE. Although statistics proven that women are performing better in schools, they are still discriminated in work place. In 1990, only 6% of labor force was women, however, in 2000, it has jumped to 42%. This shows that women in UAE society began to given more importance in work place. But the problem is from men side they believe that women should work in a place where there is no mixing with men, however, in 2006; we can see more 50% of women labor force work in a not segregated work place. This shows further that the cultural point of view of women in UAE society has changed. On the other hand according to feminist movement, working women have double burden in their life. A work at morning, and afternoon being a domestic servant at home. This notion of double burden is spread in UAE, but as matter of fact, most of working women now have an Asian female servant to do the main domestic work at home. As a result, the contemporary UAE society has successfully proven to the world that UAE society is clear from any Social or Gender conflict. Before we continue with the fourth example, if you're finding it difficult to acquire highly relevant and tailored learning material that can help you supercharge your studies, then our Essay Writing Service for Emirati students may be a great option for you. A fourth example of UAE contemporary society is Marriage. marriage in the community of the UAE traditions and values, derived from the customs authentic Arab and Islamic concepts of tolerance was characterized by the marriage in the past and free from the complexities and difficulties that were dictated by social and economic conditions present that made the marriage problem and the dilemma facing young couples and threaten the stability of family and social system. Which is the duty urged by Islam religion, is the highest social relations between spouses and in-laws and strangers also within the same society, it is characterized by the status and sanctity of the private in terms of the nature of the procedures and stages of completion. When held parents intention to marry their son, they look to him for a girl belonging to the family of decent folk who show characteristics of religion and morality and a good reputation and the task of searching for the girl sought rests with the matchmaker or the Prophet, a woman with a mind and thought, tact, have the ability to assess the girl and shown her qualities that the community was still giving special consideration, the ratio of the girl, the beauty, creativity, and religion, Recipes are essential to young people going to get married, and that the reputation of the girls family and lineage, authenticity, and social status of the father or to his creation of decent and good behavior are also the qualities youre looking for the grooms family and require the availability It may not be the matchmaker, a role in the process of the marriage to happen or if the marriage between relatives, the keenness of people formerly on the relative affinity, as his sons married the father of the daughters of his brother, sister or cousins and an increase in family bonding and family cohesion In the case of the use of katapa, theyre a friendly visit to the house of the people of girls, and may you see the girls by surprise because it is difficult to meet the daughter when entering a foreign woman to her family and if I go back matchmaker informed all of the opinions of the people of the groom and the light of that, they make their decision, either to apply for a sermon girl or search for other In the past, the bride price does not exceed in the desert seven twin whereas in the amount of the dowry when the people of the cities between 40 dirhams, and a hundred dirhams and ensures the bridegroom pay (Alqtuap) and it was money specific pay for a daughter of the clothes and decorations and vary according to the case of the people the physical and social status. Also provides for the groom requirements. At the forefront of the wedding banquet. The different marriage customs and manifestations when compared to the people of the desert cities and villages in some of the details. Another example of UAE contemporary society is family structure. Arranged endogamous marriage within the kinship (tribal) units was the preferred pattern in the period, but this pattern has changed somewhat. Individuals now have greater choice, yet many nationals still prefer arranged marriages. Emiratis are strongly discouraged from marrying non nationals, and a young man receives $19,000 from the Marriage Fund if he marries a national. As prescribed by Islam, a man is allowed up to four wives, but most men have only one wife. In UAE the conventional family used to live in extended form of family. But with the development in the economy, this form of family is declining. Recent research found that around 80% of Emirati families live in small family with one or two child (Nuclear). However, due to imbalance population structure in the country. Nuclear families are discouraged and instead government wants their people to have large family with many members. Also, some changes in the role of women as discussed above in this research have changed the role and power of husband in the house. Husband power and authority is declining. In addition to this, due to increase power of women and her responsibly in her work. On average, each household employs two live-in domestic servants, usually Asian. In addition to this, Family and tribal connections form the basis of Emirati social structure. The family and tribe are highly influential and play a role in shaping a persons values and behavior (every culture 2). In UAE culture, tribe and family play an important role in shaping the behavior and customs of the society. It is believe so because It serves to support its members both financially and emotionally and as such, the family comes before anything else and its honors are protected by doing whatever necessary( every culture 2). Furthermore, UAE society and family support kinship too much because many business are run by family members and also same tribe like to live near to each other since they believe that they will support each other. As a result, I will summaries below the changes that might occur in the UAE family structure in the coming decade: 1) One will see the configuration built for the family the UAE has changed in the future in terms of style, size, number of children, and is this change in the predominance of the pattern of the nuclear family (small) on the extended family, and the direction of family size to the average number, and the direction of families to reduce the number of children. 2) One will occur on the marriage process in the future some of the changes is the disappearance of the traditional methods of marriage and was accompanied, to be replaced by modern methods, with the attendant arrangements. 3) One will occur on the network of social relations within the family group of changes, is to chill the relationship between spouses, and the predominance of selfishness, love of self to the members of one family. 4) changes in roles of women within the family in the UAE society, where the wife will put a lot of roles that go beyond the traditional form in parenting and care of home affairs, and exercise of women within the family and the UAE in the future to participate more in decision-making process within the family. 5) There would be some changes in the functions carried out by the Emirati family in the future, especially those related to emotional and psychological function and reproduction. 6) There would be the format of the Family Values in the UAE society in the future to some changes, especially those relating to the value of cooperation and solidarity and obedience, as well as the system of religious values and ethics, and values of consumption. 7) Family in UAE society will face some social problems, some of them did not know before, such as: saturation of Western values, and the entry of innovative patterns of crime, and some other extension of the old problems, but it will worsen in the future, such as family disputes. 8) One will see the Emirati family in the future escalation to divorce. These above changes might occur in the near future. If you open the news paper on daily basis you will see that some of these issues are being discussed. I think there shall be some huge reform from government side and also people to minimize these problems. I would prefer government to establish a strategy to face these problems. In Conclusion, the UAE contemporary society is more likely to face a numbers of social problem and issues due to imbalanced population structure and over speedy construction boom the country is experiencing. As a Solution, government agencies should pay attention to their society and try the limits those issues. In this research paper, I discussed many important aspect of one of the most growing countries in Middle East. I discussed issues that have relationship to cultural studies in Middle East. First, I spoke about the contemporary UAE culture and discussed some of its problems. In that context, I spoke about the national identity issue; also I spoke about how the western society has affected UAE culture. Further, I spoke about marriage in UAE in the past, and the end I spoke about family structure and how that structure is changing from nuclear to extended family. Finally, I gave some recommendation and changes that might occur in UAE society in the near future. Work cited http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/United-Arab-Emirates.html http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/09/14/10067514.html (2 http://www.communicaid.com/access/pdf/library/culture/doing-business-in/Doing%20Business%20in%20the%20UAE.pdf http://www.lahaonline.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=913 http://www.emartyvision.com/vb/showthread.php?t=26 http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=26C14DDA8FF15E35979E7AED0FAE7FA0.inst2_1a?docId=5010976997 Norway will increase its military support to Ukraine to 10 billion Norwegian crowns this year. The Government of Norway said in a statement on Tuesday that the fund would be increased by 2.5 billion crowns ($239 million) to 10 billion, Ukrinform reports, referring to Reuters. The government will also increase its contribution to NATOs support fund for Ukraine. Read also: Germany to announce new support packages for Ukraine at NATO Summit As reported by Ukrinform, Norway made a grant contribution of NOK2 billion ($190 million) to the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF). The coalition for training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets has been officially formed, 11 countries have joined it. Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov posted this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. Its official: a coalition for F-16 training of the Ukrainian Air Force has been formed! Today, 11 partner states + Ukraine signed a Memorandum outlining the terms. I'm especially grateful to Denmark and the Netherlands for their outstanding leadership in this process, Reznikov noted. According to him, Ukrainian pilots, technicians, and support staff will participate in a training program. At the same time, there is the possibility of including other types of fighter aircraft in the program. The coalition is ready to consider other means of granting Ukraine fully functional F-16 capabilities, Reznikov added. He thanked his colleagues from Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and Great Britain for this decision. As reported by Ukrinform, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom Vadym Prystaiko said that the first 20 Ukrainian pilots would begin training on Western fighter jets in the UK in late July or early August. Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Thomas Meneguin Peace and stability in Europe are possible thanks to Ukraine's membership in NATO. Krisjanis Karins, the Prime Minister of Latvia, said this before the NATO summit in Vilnius, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "In my opinion, it is clear that for peace and stability in Europe, Ukraine must be part of NATO," Karins said. He said it was very important that "several concrete steps" will be taken in Vilnius and that "a very strong signal" will be sent to Ukrainians. Read also: Speakers of six parliaments call on Vilnius summit participants to undertake to accept Ukraine into NATO The Latvian prime minister noted that NATO countries will continue to provide Ukraine with weapons, military equipment, financial and humanitarian aid as long as it takes to win the war. The Latvian Prime Minister noted that Riga plans to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2027. At the same time, he said that the country's authorities have allocated 25,000 hectares of land for a military training ground in the southern part of Latvia for training and exercises within NATO. Karins also noted that Belarus has effectively lost its independence and is a satellite of Russia. Therefore, it poses a threat to NATO's eastern flank. The Latvian prime minister noted that his country will continue to support the Belarusian democratic opposition, expressing confidence that it will win. As reported, the NATO summit is taking place in Vilnius on July 11-12, during which Ukraine wants to receive clear security guarantees and a clear prospect of membership in the Alliance. Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov said he did not want to delve into the issue of the United States providing cluster munitions to Ukraine, emphasizing that Kyiv's successes on the battlefield are more important than the signed treaties. That's according to Sky News, Ukrinform reports. In particular, speaking about the U.S. decision to provide Kyiv with cluster munitions, the Bulgarian Prime Minister noted that "we're in a full-fledged war". "So when you have a war the treaties are important, but it's even more important to have success on the battlefield," Denkov emphasized. Denkov added that decisions on cluster munitions are "politically sensitive" but said he did not want to go "deeper into the topic". Bulgaria is one of 123 countries that have signed a convention banning the use of cluster munitions. As Ukrinform reported, on Friday, July 7, the United States announced it would supply Ukraine with cluster munitions to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces in a counteroffensive. The use of these weapons is controversial, primarily because a certain percentage of explosive devices do not detonate but remain on the ground and pose a serious threat to the population even many years after the end of hostilities. In this regard, Washington has assured that the percentage of munitions they transfer to Ukraine does not exceed 2.5%, compared to 30-40% of those used by Russian troops in Ukraine. The United States, Ukraine and Russia have not signed a treaty banning cluster munitions, the so-called Oslo Convention. Photo: Georgi Dimitrov, NOVA Russia bears full responsibility for its unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, which is a blatant violation of international law and the basic principles of the UN Charter. That's according to the Vilnius Summit Communique, which has been published on the NATO website, Ukrinform reports. "Russia bears full responsibility for its illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, which has gravely undermined Euro-Atlantic and global security and for which it must be held fully accountable. We continue to condemn in the strongest terms Russia's blatant violations of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and OSCE commitments and principles. We do not and will never recognize Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexations, including Crimea," the document reads. NATO leaders stressed that there can be no impunity for Russian war crimes and other atrocities, such as attacks against civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure that deprives millions of Ukrainians of basic human services. All those responsible must be held accountable for violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law, particularly against Ukraines civilian population, including the forced deportation of children and conflict-related sexual violence. "The destruction of the Kakhovka dam highlights the brutal consequences of the war started by Russia. Russia's war has had a profound impact on the environment, nuclear safety, energy and food security, the global economy, and the welfare of billions of people around the world. Allies are working to enable exports of Ukrainian grain and actively support international efforts to alleviate the global food crisis," the communique reads. A two-day NATO summit began in Vilnius on Tuesday, July 11. The main topics on the agenda are the strengthening of the Alliance's deterrence and defense system, continued assistance to Ukraine, as well as the issue of bringing Ukraine closer to NATO membership. KYODO NEWS - Jul 11, 2023 - 22:45 | Japan, All Japan's top court on Tuesday ruled unanimously against the trade ministry's imposition of restrictions on the use of women's restrooms by a transgender official, marking the first judgment by the court on workplace environments for sexual minorities. The Supreme Court's five-member Third Petty Bench, which overturned a lower court decision, also found the 2015 approval of the restrictions by the National Personnel Authority "illegal." "We need to give serious thought about how to engage with minorities such as those with disabilities or gay people, and not in an abstract manner," the official in her 50s said during a press conference held after the ruling. "The ruling was about transgender people, but I believe it can be applied to other cases concerning discrimination," she added. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry employee has been living as a woman after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria. She has only been permitted to use female restrooms located at least two floors above or below her office or any of the male facilities, according to the ruling. She has not undergone sex reassignment surgery due to health reasons and has been undergoing hormone therapy for years, it said. As for the personnel authority's past approval of the restrictions, the court said it "significantly lacked validity by excessively considering the official's colleagues and not taking into account her personal circumstances." But Presiding Justice Yukihiko Imasaki also emphasized that the ruling does not pertain to the use of public restrooms, citing the need for a separate debate on this specific matter. The ministry, in a statement, said it will examine the ruling and decide how to respond after discussions with relevant government offices. In 2019, the Tokyo District Court ordered the government to pay damages after ruling the bathroom restrictions and a comment by the official's boss -- "Why don't you go back to being a man, already?" -- were illegal. In 2021, the Tokyo High Court recognized the legal interest of individuals to live in accordance with their gender identity, yet it determined that the imposed limitations on restroom use were lawful and meant to "create an appropriate workplace environment for everyone by considering the sexual concerns of other employees." Following the Supreme Court decision, a female official from the trade ministry expressed her belief that there should be no restrictions from a human rights perspective. But she also said it is a matter "that should be judged according to individual circumstances and cannot be generalized." The ruling comes less than a month after Japan enacted legislation to promote understanding of sexual minorities following intense debate between the ruling and opposition parties. The country previously had no law prohibiting discrimination against LGBT individuals. It still does not legally recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions, a situation that some courts have recently ruled to be "in a state of unconstitutionality." Japan also currently requires sex reassignment surgery to change one's legal gender, alongside other conditions, including being unmarried and having no reproductive capabilities. Tuesday's ruling revealed the ministry's "lack of imagination about how difficult it is for minorities to raise their voices within an organization," said Yuko Higashi, professor of gender studies at Osaka Metropolitan University, adding that it could affect companies and schools when it comes to toilet use by transgender people. Maki Muraki, head of a nonprofit organization supporting sexual minorities, said restricting transgender people from using the restroom based on their gender identity was an "issue about dignity and created a wall against social participation." The ruling "treated the rights of sexual minorities similarly to the majority," Muraki said. Related coverage: FOCUS: Japan LGBT law watered down amid culture war on transgender issues Beijing LGBT advocacy group shut down amid crackdown under Xi KYODO NEWS - Jul 11, 2023 - 08:20 | All, World Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday agreed to clear the way for Sweden to become NATO's 32nd member, ending a long deadlock on the eve of a summit intended to showcase the unity of the military alliance amid Russia's war against Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made the late-night announcement after hosting a meeting with Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. The chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said Erdogan has agreed to send Sweden's NATO accession protocol to his country's parliament as quickly as possible and work closely with the legislature to "ensure ratification." Stoltenberg hailed the Turkish president's last-minute decision, telling reporters that it is "a historic step that benefits the security of all NATO allies at this critical time." Sweden's bid to join NATO after Finland had been up in the air since last year, mainly because of Turkey's refusal to ratify Stockholm's membership in the alliance. Applications for NATO have to be endorsed by all its members. Turkey had said Sweden was too soft on Kurdish groups that Ankara regards as threats to its national security and urged Stockholm to do more to crack down on them. Earlier Monday, the outlook for NATO's inclusion of Sweden became even murkier as Erdogan stunned European leaders by unexpectedly saying he would not approve Sweden's bid unless they paved the way for Turkey to join the European Union, in comments to the press before leaving for the two-day summit. The Swedish and Turkish leaders agreed that cooperation to fight terrorism is a long-term effort that will continue even after the Nordic country's accession to NATO, according to Stoltenberg. The NATO chief also said Sweden promised to "actively support" efforts to reinvigorate the process of Turkey becoming part of the EU. Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, departing from the military nonalignment policies they upheld through the decades of the Cold War, to seek collective security against Russia, which began invading Ukraine in February that year. Finland's NATO accession was green-lighted in April. Related coverage: South Korea to attend NATO summit in Lithuania, eyes talks with Japan Japan PM to visit Europe for NATO, EU summits, Middle East in July UNODC uses innovative approach to fight organized crime and drug trafficking in Kyrgyzstan The Counter Narcotics Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic and the UNODC Programme Office in the Kyrgyz Republic conducted a second of four research exercises to detect areas of wild-growing or illicitly cultivated cannabis and ephedra on19-24 June 2023 in Issyk-Kul region. The technology behind drone plant detection involves the use of hyperspectral imaging cameras that capture images in different wavelengths of light. These cameras are mounted onto drones and can detect differences in plant health, density, and structure. By analyzing these differences, the Law enforcement can identify specific types of plants, such as cannabis and ephedra. The data collected by the cameras is then processed using sophisticated algorithms to create maps that show the location and extent of the targeted plants. Over 250 hectares were mapped during this research exercise, resulting in orthophotomaps that will be used for further monitoring activities. This exercise was part of our broader efforts under UNODC Project Enhancing the capacity of the Mobile Operational Teams of the Counter Narcotics Service, said Mr. Andrey Seleznev, Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Kyrgyzstan. It also demonstrates how modern technology can be effectively used in countering transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking." According to Mr. Ulan Sultanov, Head of the Counter Narcotics Service under the Ministry of the Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, drone technology is cost-effective compared to traditional surveillance methods such as helicopters or manned aircraft, making it a viable alternative for law enforcement agencies with limited resources. Drones have several advantages over traditional methods of plant detection, including speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. They can cover large areas quickly and provide detailed imagery that is difficult to obtain through ground-based surveys. However, there are also challenges associated with drone plant detection, including regulatory issues related to privacy concerns and airspace restrictions, Mr. Sultanov concluded. Using innovative approaches such as drones and machine learning algorithms, UNODC is helping to combat organized crime and drug trafficking in the Kyrgyz Republic. This cutting-edge technology is aiding law enforcement agencies in detecting areas where such plants are being grown so they can take action against those responsible for illegal activities. UNODC is dedicated to assisting countries in their efforts to reduce crime and promote justice around the world. Through its innovative use of technology, UNODC is helping to make a difference in Kyrgyzstans fight against organized crime and drug trafficking. The project is implemented with financial support from the Russian Federation. story in Russian language *** For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko Communications and PR Specialist UNODC Criminal Justice Programme in Central Asia +996775987817 WhatsApp vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jul, 2023 ) :Novak Djokovic reached his 14th Wimbledon quarter-final on Monday as Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz prepared for a testing battle against Matteo Berrettini. Third seed Daniil Medvedev and defending women's champion Elena Rybakina both progressed to the last eight after their opponents suffered injuries. Last year's beaten women's finalist Ons Jabeur hammered two-time champion Petra Kvitova 6-0, 6-3 while second seed Aryna Sabaleka also won in straight sets. Djokovic tamed the serve of Hubert Hurkacz to stay on track for a record-equalling eighth title and 24th Grand Slam, winning 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-4. The Serbian second seed was two sets up when a locally agreed 11:00 pm curfew halted play on Sunday. The match resumed on Centre Court on Monday and the Polish 17th seed broke Djokovic in the 12th game to get a foothold in the match. In the fourth set, Djokovic broke for a 4-3 lead, ending Hurkacz's perfect run of 67 service games at the tournament this year. Victory in his 100th match at the tournament gave Djokovic a 90th win. - Alcaraz threat - Top-ranked Alcaraz is seen as one of the few genuine threats to the defending champion, who has not lost a match on Centre Court for 10 years. The 20-year-old has little experience on grass but won last month's tournament at Queen's to set himself up for a tilt at the Wimbledon title. He comes up against the dangerous Berrettini, who reached the 2021 final, in the last match of the day on Centre Court. Berrettini, ranked 38th, was forced to miss last year's Wimbledon after testing positive for Covid and has subsequently struggled with an abdominal injury. - Fairytale ends - The first result of the day was on No. 2 Court, where 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva's fairytale run was brought to an end. The teenager, who came through qualifying, looked set for a place in the quarter-finals when leading 25th seed Madison Keys by a set and 4-1 but the American fought back to win 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. The match ended in controversy when Andreeva was handed a penalty point for banging her racquet into the surface. The sanction took Keys to match point. Andreeva said she was seeking to channel Roger Federer, who was a hot-headed player in his younger days. "I knew that Roger Federer was struggling with emotions when he was teenager," she said of the 20-time Grand Slam champion. "I'm not the only one who also struggles." In the opening match on Centre Court, Rybakina was 3-1 up when Brazilian world number 13 Beatriz Haddad Maia took a medical timeout to treat a lower back injury. She returned to the court but had to retire when trailing 4-1. Rybakina will play Jabeur in the quarters in a re-match of last year's final after the Tunisian swept Kvitova aside in just over a hour. "I'm probably going for my revenge," she said. "It was a difficult final last year. It's going to bring a lot of memories. "I'm hoping to play like today and get the win because she's an amazing player." In the other women's fourth-round tie, Belarusian second seed Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open this year, breezed past Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-0. Men's third seed Daniil Medvedev was 6-4, 6-2 ahead when unseeded Jiri Lehecka, who had needed a medical timeout for a right foot injury, retired from their Court One clash. Fifth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas lost a five-set thriller against 43rd-ranked American Christopher Eubanks 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Eubanks held his nerve when he served for the match, saving two break points before producing a devastating forehand to seal the deal, soaking up the atmosphere. The American described grass as the "stupidest" surface to play on last month but he has now changed his tune. "The grass and I, we've had a very strenuous relationship over the years but right now I think it's my best friend," he said. Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov was facing sixth seed Holger Rune in the final match on No. 1 Court. KYODO NEWS - Jul 11, 2023 - 13:01 | Japan, All, World Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday that Japan and NATO will issue a new security cooperation document, as the trans-Atlantic alliance's summit starting the same day in Lithuania takes place amid growing geopolitical concerns. Before leaving Tokyo to attend the two-day NATO meeting, Kishida told reporters that he is eager to use the summit as an opportunity to "reaffirm cooperation with like-minded countries in upholding the rules-based, free and open international order." Kishida and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg are expected to release the new document, which will seek to enhance cooperation between Japan and the alliance in areas such as maritime security, disinformation response and outer space, government sources said. Japan is developing the document, called the Individually Tailored Partnership Program, with the 31 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to bolster security cooperation between the Indo-Pacific region and Europe, with China in mind. Kishida, who is also slated to visit Belgium for regular talks with EU leaders later this week, said he is scheduled to meet with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, respectively, on the sidelines of the NATO summit. During his talks with Yoon, Kishida will explain Japan's plan for releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, after the International Atomic Energy Agency gave the green light for the project to go ahead, the sources said. Kishida, meanwhile, is likely to tell Zelenskyy that Japan is ready to expand its support for Ukraine by helping to rebuild its infrastructure and economy, which have been devastated by Russia's invasion that started in February 2022, the government sources added. On Thursday, Kishida will meet with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, according to the sources. The leaders are poised to issue a joint statement outlining their intention to enhance cooperation in maritime, cyberspace, supply chains and other areas, the sources said. During his four-day European tour through Friday, Kishida is expected to hold bilateral talks with leaders from various nations and regions, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. Related coverage: Japan PM Kishida arranging summit with Zelenskyy in Lithuania on July 12 NATO summit to discuss Ukraine, ties with Asia-Pacific partners Turkish president relents in standoff over Sweden's NATO accession (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jul, 2023 ) :Federal Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) on Tuesday announce the approval of the Recharge Pakistan project. This transformative initiative, spanning over the next 7 years, has received funding of a total US$77.8 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Out of this amount, the GCF has allocated US$ 66 million, while the co-financing by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the private sector totaling US$11.8 million. These collective contributions represent a strong commitment towards building a sustainable and resilient Pakistan, a news release said. Minister for Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, Senator Sherry Rehman said that the Recharge Pakistan project would play a vital role in fortifying Pakistan's resilience against the accelerated impacts of climate change, particularly in regions severely affected by the devastating 2022 mega floods. "We extend our gratitude to the WWF for their invaluable support in the development of this project. As the GCF's focal ministry, the MoCC&EC has worked tirelessly in transforming the GCF funding from a loan to a grant and securing the project's approval from the GCF board. In the aftermath of the devastating 2022 mega floods, we recognized the pressing need for grant-based climate financing in Pakistan. We appreciate that the GCF accepted our recommendation. The rigorous design and implementation of the project involved extensive consultations with all the provinces spanning several months. As we move forward, the responsibility for implementation rests with them as our executing partners," the minister said. He stressed that the project aimed to reduce flood risk and enhance water recharge in the targeted catchments within the Indus Basin, thereby bolstering the resilience of approximately 7. 5 million individuals and safeguarding vulnerable ecosystems by 2030. The project aims to restore 14,215 hectares of forests and riverine buffer zones, finance the development of 127 green infrastructures, and directly benefit more than 680,000 people. The minister said that the MoCC&EC had and would assume a leading role in spearheading the project's execution. Recharge Pakistan stands as a pivotal initiative aligned with the MoCC&EC's other flagship project, the Living Indus Initiative. This project aims to harness natural systems in bolstering Pakistan's resilience against climate change, specifically by mitigating the risks of floods and droughts within the Indus Basin. The project's core objective is to enhance Pakistan's resilience through the implementation of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Green Infrastructure for integrated flood risk management. The project activities will primarily focus on four key locations within the Indus Basin: DI Khan Watershed, Ramak Watershed, Chakar Lehri, and Manchar Watershed. The project's interventions will serve as a lifeline for the ailing Indus Basin and usher in improved community-led management. This, in turn, will reduce flood risks and enhance the climate resilience of the most vulnerable populations within Pakistan's Indus Basin. Furthermore, the project will enhance the resilience of community livelihoods in the Indus Basin by providing training to communities and smallholder farmers on how to adapt their existing agricultural practices to better withstand the present and future challenges posed by climate change. (@FahadShabbir) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th July, 2023) Former member of the Charles Manson cult and convicted murderer Leslie Van Houten was released on parole after spending more than 50 years in prison, NBC news reported, citing officials. Van Houten, who was convicted for the 1969 murders of Leno and Rosemary La Bianca at the hands of the Manson Family cult, was released after an initial death penalty ruling was reversed, the report said on Tuesday. A California appeals court granted Van Houten eligibility for parole in May. Members of the Manson Family cult, including Charles Manson, were convicted for a number of murders, notably that of actress Sharon Tate. Manson was never granted parole, and died in prison in 2017. (@ChaudhryMAli88) BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th July, 2023) France has decided to transfer long-range missiles to Kiev to support the offensive of the Ukrainian armed forces, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday. "I decided to increase the supply of weapons and equipment to Ukraine . .. In doing so, we adhere to our doctrine of allowing Ukraine to defend its territory. We have decided to supply new missiles that allow us to strike deep inside," Macron told reporters ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th July, 2023) The issues of supplying cluster munitions to Ukraine does not threaten the unity of NATO, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday. The Biden administration last week unveiled a new military assistance package for Ukraine that includes cluster munitions in a move widely criticized by human rights activists, and opposed by some US lawmakers. On Monday, Congressman Matt Gaetz said he will co-sponsor a US defense budget amendment that would ban the United States from transferring cluster munitions to Ukraine or any other country. "But you certainly have not seen the British prime minister (Rishi Sunak), or really, for that matter, any of our NATO allies go out and say that this (cluster munitions' supply) threatens NATO unity. You have not heard anyone say that. And the answer ... is because it does not threaten NATO unity," Sullivan said at a briefing in Vilnius ahead of the NATO summit. Without cluster munitions supplies from the US, Ukraine would not have enough artillery not just to conduct this counteroffensive, but potentially to be able to defend the positions that it holds, the official said. "Many months ago, we began the intensive process of ramping up our unitary round production. Once it hits a level where unitary round production can satisfy Ukraine's needs, then there will be no need to continue giving cluster munitions. I cannot give you an exact timeline for that because. of course, war is dynamic," Sullivan added. Cluster munitions are banned by the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which has been ratified by 123 countries, excluding the US and Ukraine. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th July, 2023) Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda believes that NATO should abandon its restrictions on the establishment of permanent military bases near the borders with Russia, The Times reported on Monday. The Lithuanian president added that NATO should recognize the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act as "dead" due to the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus, the report read. In addition, Nauseda called on NATO allies to accelerate an increase in their military spending due to "a very fragile and dangerous situation," the newspaper said. The Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security was signed by Russia and NATO in Paris on May 27, 1997. The policy paper determined Russia's and NATO's obligations in key areas, norms and mechanisms of their interaction. The accord focused on cutbacks in military force, the number of lethal weapons and a new security structure that was meant to replace the bipolar world system. The parties also agreed to control the offensive capabilities reduction and to strengthen security cooperation. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in mid-June that Moscow had transferred the first part of the nuclear warheads to Belarus and would complete the task of moving tactical nuclear weapons by the end of the year. Putin said the deployment was an element of deterrence and a signal to those thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia. In late June, Nauseda also urged NATO to strengthen its eastern flank, citing the risks associated with the relocation of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group private military company, to Belarus after the June 24 armed mutiny in Russia. (@FahadShabbir) Cross-border access of aid to Syria via Turkey can be closed after the UN Security Council vetoed a Russian draft resolution to extend the mechanism for six months, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th July, 2023) Cross-border access of aid to Syria via Turkey can be closed after the UN Security Council vetoed a Russian draft resolution to extend the mechanism for six months, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday. "If our draft is not supported, then we can just go ahead and close down the cross border mechanism," Nebenzia told the UN Security Council ahead of the vote on the Russian draft resolution. The draft resolution was rejected in a 3-2 vote, with 10 abstentions. Russia and China voted in favor. It came after Russia vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution submitted by Switzerland and Brazil to extend the cross-border mechanism for nine months. Thirteen UNSC members voted in favor, with China abstaining. Russia and Syria want the cross-border mechanism to be substituted by a cross-line mechanism for aid delivery. Russia believes that only cross-line deliveries allow Syria to control its sovereign territory. By: Cassidy Delamarter, University Communications and Marketing Italian officials have provided an interdisciplinary group of researchers from the University of South Florida access to the remains of individuals who died from the Black Death, a plague that killed millions of people in the 14th century, to help determine the effectiveness of quarantines. The team from the USF Institute for the Advanced Study of Culture and the Environment is extracting DNA from the teeth of 900 skeletons excavated from the Old Lazzaretto, an island off the coast of Italy where officials built the worlds first isolation hospital in 1423. Tykot examining teeth | Photo by: Robert Tykot This is the first time that we could have a set of DNA sequences of pathogens present at a single location, and in parallel, DNA changes in the local populations, said Robert Tykot, professor of anthropology. Thus, we can study for the first time, the co-evolution of pathogens and humans, unhindered by the fast mutations of modern viruses or the presence of vaccinated people. USF visiting research fellow and Venice native Andrea Vianello is coordinating the project with preservation groups to develop the sites first genetic database, allowing them to trace the evolution of pathogens and humans over the span of 300 years to determine if the introduction of containment measures, such as masks and isolation, impacted genetics. The Venetians invented lockdowns and masks to address pandemics and they seemed to work, Vianello said. Our project will test scientifically their effectiveness, before vaccines and medicines existed. We will see if any epidemics were stopped by the quarantine island. The team launched the historical plagues research effort earlier this year when they began tracking Justinianic, the worlds first plague to strike during the previous millennium, at a mass burial site in Jerash, Jordan. Tykot and Vianello organized an international conference at the Scuola Grande di San Marco in June to present their findings from Jordan and explain the importance of understanding past pandemics to address and manage current and future outbreaks. Lead geneticist Rays Jiang, associate professor in the College of Public Health, helped identify bacterium of the plague in Jordan and is excited to expand their research, describing the Old Lazzaretto, a World Heritage Site, as a time capsule and treasure trove for the field of genetics. This unique quarantine island can contain devastating plague pathogens, newly introduced syphilis pathogen and anthrax pathogen that jumped from animals, Jiang said. For the first time, it captures multiple pathogens coexisting in human populations over three centuries. The team is applying for funding to further analyze the remains and conduct proteomics, an analysis that can reveal how genetics are expressed and can facilitate drug development by providing a comprehensive map of protein interactions associated with disease. Studying ancient pandemics is useful for preventing future ones as it allows us to identify epidemic patterns, track pathogen evolution, understand cultural and social contexts, learn from mistakes, anticipate challenges and inform public health policies, Jiang said. The findings from this project will be displayed in a permanent exhibit at the new National Archaeological Museum of the Venetian Lagoon in Italy, expected to open in about five years. Additional contributors to the project include the Archeoclub, Venice Superintendence of Antiquities, Professor Gloria Ferreira in the USF Department of Molecular Medicine, USF research scientist Swamy Rakesh Adapa and Gregory O Corey-Crowe from Florida Atlantic University. Last month, the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County Board of Directors unanimously approved a nomination for Veronica Salazar to serve on the United Way Advisory Council. Salazar serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Business Affairs at UTSA. The United Way volunteer role provides additional opportunities to further Salazars and the universitys presence in San Antonio, while supporting ways to give back to the local community. As a council member, Salazar will serve as an advisor to the United Way leadership and board on strategic issues, support the annual campaign and be an advocate for the United Way in sharing their story with others. Salazar was selected for a three-year term on the Advisory Council, beginning July 1, 2023. UTSA has a long-standing and meaningful relationship with the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County that is reflective of our shared commitment to invest in and support our local community, said UTSA Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Business Affairs Veronica Salazar. I am honored to be selected to serve on the advisory council and to support both the United Way and UTSA as we work to respond to community needs and impact future generations. In addition to her role as an advisory council member, Salazar agreed to serve as the United Way Public Sector Division Chair Volunteer. She will provide essential leadership and support for the annual United Way Campaign in creating and maintaining working relationships with volunteers and organizations within the community. In her role as Public Sector Division Chair, she will oversee the organization, implementation and execution of employee drives for three major Public Campaigns: the City of San Antonio Charitable Campaign, the State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) and the Bexar County Charitable Campaign. UTSA partners annually with United Way on the SECC. This campaign allows employees of state agencies, junior and community colleges, and universities throughout Texas to donate to a number of local, statewide or national charities in a one-time gift or through payroll deduction. This fall, Salazar will work closely with UTSA leadership to bring together employees from throughout the university to participate in the SECC and give back to the local San Antonio community, including three organizations at UTSA: the UTSA First Generation and Transfer Center, Roadrunner Pantry and the Fostering Educational Success Center. - Liz Rockstroh For anyone contemplating starting a small business, the thought alone can be daunting. However, advice and assistance are available. Audie Cunningham will discuss the basics of starting a business during a Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network workshop titled Start Your Own Business Tuesday, July 18, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Lander Library, located at 451 N. Second St. To register, go here. Registration is free. The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by the University of Wyoming with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Topics to be covered include helpful startup tools, sources of business capital and a business plan overview. Cunningham is the Wyoming SBDC Networks regional director for Fremont and Teton counties. She enjoys seeing community members bring their business ideas to life and is eager to help them grow and thrive. As an entrepreneur, Cunningham has worked in art licensing and graphic design, and she has 10 years of experience in customer service and marketing through her work in public libraries. Her education and experience have given her knowledge in print and digital marketing, creating marketing plans, social media marketing and business planning. For more information, call Maureen Johnson, marketing, communication and database manager for the Wyoming SBDC Network, at (307) 343-0925 or email mjohn125@uwyo.edu. PHNOM PENH, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Monday urged NATO member states and U.S. allies to oppose the U.S. plan to send cluster munitions to Ukraine. "As the head of the royal government of Cambodia, I would like to continue to call on NATO member states and some U.S. allies such as the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and Canada, all of which are signatories to the Convention on the Prohibition of Cluster Munitions, to take responsibility and participate in preventing U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President from using this deadly weapon," he tweeted. The United States announced on Friday the decision to transfer to Ukraine cluster munitions, which are banned by an international convention ratified by 123 countries. Hun Sen said on Sunday that it will be "the worst danger" for the Ukrainians for decades or even centuries if those cluster bombs are used, adding that Cambodia still underwent pain from U.S. cluster munitions dropped in the Southeast Asian country more than half a century ago. According to Yale University, between 1965 and 1973, the United States dropped some 230,516 bombs on 113,716 sites in Cambodia. The delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria's rebel-held northwest from neighboring Turkey is virtually certain to get a green light to continue from the United Nations Security Council but the big question is for how long. The council's current authorization for aid deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa crossing is set to expire Monday, but the council has two rival extension resolutions before it to vote on. A Russian resolution would continue aid deliveries for six months and a Brazil-Switzerland resolution backed by most council members and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres would authorize a 12-month extension. The vote had been scheduled for Monday morning but was delayed. Seeking compromise Brazil, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates are seeking a compromise with Russia on the time frame and a vote could take place later Monday or Tuesday, diplomats said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because discussions have been private. The delivery of aid to the area has increased significantly following the devastation caused by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that ravaged southern Turkey and northwestern Syria on February 8. Syrian President Bashar Assad opened two additional crossing points from Turkey to increase the flow of assistance to quake victims, and he extended their operation for three months in May until mid-August. But those crossings are not mentioned in either resolution. Syria's northwestern province of Idlib is home to some 4 million people, many of whom have been forced from their homes during the 12-year civil war, which has killed nearly a half million people and displaced half the country's pre-war population of 23 million. Hundreds of thousands of people in Idlib live in tent settlements and rely on aid that comes through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing. 90% pushed into poverty The earthquake caused more than 4,500 deaths in northwest Syria and about 855,000 people had their homes damaged or destroyed, according to the U.N. U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on June 29 that the conflict in Syria has pushed 90% of its people into poverty and that millions face cuts in food aid in July because of a funding shortfall. He said the $5.4 billion U.N. humanitarian appeal for Syria the world's largest is only 12% funded, meaning that emergency food aid for millions of Syrians could be cut by 40% this month. On Friday, he said the U.N. World Food Program needs $200 million to avoid the food cuts. The Security Council initially authorized aid deliveries in 2014 from Turkey, Iraq and Jordan through four crossing points into opposition-held areas in Syria. But over the years, Syria's close ally Russia, backed by China, has reduced the authorized crossings to just Bab al-Hawa from Turkey and the mandate from a year to six months. Russia has pushed for more aid to be delivered across front lines within Syria, which would give the Syrian government control over the shipments. It has also pushed for early recovery projects to provide jobs and help the country's economy. The Russian draft resolution "underscores the imperative of maintaining unimpeded and sustainable cross-line access from Damascus to all parts of Syria." It urges stepped up efforts to broaden humanitarian activities to include providing water, sanitation, health, education, electricity, demining and shelter. It also calls for "non-interference of unilateral sanctions in the humanitarian operations in Syria." An unidentified armed group attacked a United Nations peacekeeping patrol Monday in the Central African Republic, killing a peacekeeper from Rwanda, the U.N. said. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said initial reports indicated the U.N. patrol returned fire and killed three of the assailants. The attack happened as the peacekeepers were providing a protective presence around the town of Sam-Ouandja, in the Haute Kotto prefecture in the Central African Republic's east, Dujarric said. Peacekeepers were deployed to Sam-Ouandja last week in response to an attack on the town by an armed group, which fled after the peacekeepers intervened, he said. He said the U.N. mission had expanded the security perimeter around the town over the past five days to protect the community and support aid deliveries. Valentine Rugwabiza, head of the U.N. mission, strongly condemned the attack. She said the peacekeepers will remain in Sam-Ouandja and the mission is engaging with authorities to deploy national forces to the area, according to Dujarric. Fighting for a decade The mineral-rich but impoverished Central African Republic has faced deadly intercommunal fighting since 2013, when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power and forced President Francois Bozize from office. Mostly Christian militias later fought back, also targeting civilians in the streets. Untold thousands were killed, and most of the capital's Muslims fled in fear. Peacekeepers deployed in 2014 A U.N. peacekeeping mission known as MINUSCA was deployed in 2014 and now has nearly 17,500 uniformed personnel in the country. Its mandate was extended for 12 months until November. After the constitutional court rejected Bozize's candidacy to run for president in December 2020, President Faustin-Archange Touadera won a second term with 53% of the vote. But he continues to face opposition from a rebel coalition linked to Bozize. Russia has vetoed the continuation of a U.N. aid operation that is a lifeline to more than four million Syrians living in areas outside of government control and signaled its readiness on Tuesday to completely shutter the nine-year-old aid operation. "Now Moscow must answer to the international community and you have to answer to the Syrian people," U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after Russia voted against a nine-month extension of the authorization that lets humanitarian aid flow from Turkey into northwest Syria, reaching 2.7 million people each month. Brazil and Switzerland, which oversee the Syria humanitarian file on the 15-member council, had initially sought a one-year extension of the use of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing. But once it became clear during negotiations that Russia would not go along with it, they sought nine months as a compromise. Some other Russian concerns were also addressed in the compromise text, which received 13 votes in favor. China abstained. Over the last few years, Russia, with Syrian government backing, has forced the Security Council to shrink the cross-border aid operation and has threatened to totally close it down. Since 2021, Moscow has only agreed to 6-month renewals, instead of the year-long ones the council had approved since the operation was established in 2014, and which humanitarian groups have requested. Moscow and Damascus have also pushed for aid deliveries across conflict front lines from within the country, rather than from outside. "The cross-border mechanism is an obvious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, which because of circumstances was possible 5 to 7 years ago, but looks completely anachronistic today," Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council. After casting its veto, Russia put forward its own draft resolution, which offered only a six-month renewal. Humanitarians have repeatedly said this is insufficient for planning and efficiency. It would also mean the operation would come up for renewal again in early January in the dead of winter. Nebenzia said the choice was clear: "But let me state already here, if our draft is not supported, then we can just go ahead and close down the cross-border mechanism." He added that Moscow is not open to any kind of technical rollover, which is often used for a short amount of time to continue a mission while outstanding issues are worked out. Tuesday's votes took place after the mission's authorization expired at midnight Monday, because the ongoing negotiations delayed plans for an earlier vote. "Where we are right now is that trucks are not crossing the border at Bab al-Hawa," Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield told reporters after the votes. "They have been stopped. So needed humanitarian assistance is not getting to the people." Following devastating earthquakes in February, the Syrian government did authorize the use of two other crossing points from Turkey. Those are available until August 13. The Assad government has not said publicly whether it plans to extend their use. But the U.N. says on their own they cannot match Bab al-Hawa, which sees about 85% of aid to northwest Syria transit the crossing. "Bab al-Hawa remains the center of gravity for the U.N.'s cross-border response," U.N. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters. He added that humanitarians pre-positioned supplies in northwest Syria ahead of the vote in order to meet short-term needs. In the meantime, the Swiss ambassador said she is not giving up. "The council has a responsibility in renewing the mandate for cross-border aid and we will keep up our work to find common ground and to ensure that we collectively live up to that responsibility," Pascale Baeriswyl said. Under a General Assembly resolution adopted in April 2022, Russia will now have to go before the U.N. membership within the next 10 days to explain its veto. Australia has become the newest member of the Climate Club alliance, a grouping of countries taking a more ambitious approach to tackling global warming. The Climate Club was formed in 2022 by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. It is supported by some of the worlds most advanced economies, including Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Indonesia, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore and Uruguay. Its members are encouraged to voluntarily set bolder environmental targets to pursue net zero emissions by 2050, and also to require their trading partners to meet those standards. Such ambitions are opposed by major emerging economies like China, the worlds biggest emitter of greenhouse gas. Australia is the Climate Clubs most recent member. Curb emissions or pay for credits The Canberra government committed last year to cut emissions by 43% by the end of the decade almost double the previous target. In March, federal lawmakers passed legislation mandating Australias biggest greenhouse gas polluters to curb emissions or pay for carbon credits. Nicki Hutley, an adviser to the Australian environmental organization Climate Council, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Tuesday that the Climate Club has sound ambitions. It is very much in Australias economic interests to join this club to make sure that we decarbonize our industries as well," said Hutley. "The more people join this club the more we are on this race together, the more we can collectively support developing and emerging countries then the better it is for everybody. Conservationists concerned Coal and gas continue to dominate electricity generation in Australia but there is an unmistakable shift to green sources of power. In April, the Clean Energy Council, an industry association, said that clean energy accounted for 35.9% of Australias total electricity generation in 2022, up from 32.5% in 2021. However, some conservationists worry that Australias transition to renewables mostly solar and wind is not happening fast enough. They have insisted that Australia is on the frontline of global warming, which is intensifying the severity of its fires, heatwaves and storms. They fear the devastating wildfires of 2019-20 could be a sign of things to come. The United Nations has warned that an El Nino weather pattern a naturally occurring phenomena that is currently underway would likely see a surge in global temperatures and disruptive weather and climate patterns. The world's biggest social media platforms are facing an Australian Senate inquiry Tuesday to explain how they're tackling the threat of foreign interference. The domestic spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, has said that espionage and foreign interference are now the main security threats to Australia, ahead of terrorism. Federal lawmakers in Canberra are investigating the risk posed to Australias democracy by foreign interference on social media. A Senate inquiry Tuesday is asking Meta, Google, Tik Tok and Twitter how theyre addressing the threat. The Chinese-owned messaging app WeChat has reportedly refused to appear before the committee in Canberra. Meta, which owns Facebook, has said it takes the issue seriously and has removed more than 200 foreign interference operations since 2017. The U.S. company has warned that the internets democratic principles were increasingly being challenged by strong forces. Experts say the hearing comes at a crucial time as the federal government in Canberra considers major changes to Australia's privacy laws. They could include greater limits on the profiling and targeting of social media users. Vanessa Teague, a professor at the Australian National University, is calling for more controls of so-called microtargeting. It is a marketing plan that uses data to identify the interests of individuals, which is then used to influence them. Teague told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the strategy can be used to shape consumer and political behavior. I really hope that the committee members are able to ask everybody, whether they are American companies or Chinese companies, about the abuse of microtargeting for political purposes and I think we could go a long way towards informing better privacy law to make systematic violation of privacy for advertising purposes illegal, she said. In its submission to the Canberra parliaments Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media, the Australian Human Rights Commission warned that social media was quickly becoming the weapon of choice for foreign actors seeking to unduly influence Australia and that foreign entities now possess an unprecedented ability to interfere withinformation. The commission urged the Senate committee to set up a permanent government taskforce dedicated to preventing and combating cyber-manipulation in Australia. The inquiry this week holds its final public hearings. On Wednesday, it is scheduled to hear from government departments, intelligence agencies and the police about tackling foreign interference online. President Joe Biden welcomed news late Monday that Sweden will be admitted to NATO, overcoming objections from the last holdout in the security alliance, Turkey, on the eve of a major summit of the security bloc in Lithuania's capital. "I stand ready to work with (Turkish) President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan and (Turkey) on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area," Biden said in a statement issued from Vilnius, where he is attending the summit of NATO leaders. "I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO Ally." Biden is set to meet with Erdogan late Tuesday at the end of the first day of the summit. Erdogan had opposed Sweden's membership, accusing Stockholm of not doing enough to crack down on their branch of a political party that Turkey's government sees as extremists. In what appeared to be a last-ditch parry on the eve of the summit, Erdogan linked the Sweden issue with Ankara's stalled demands to join the European Union. "The United States has always supported (Turkey's) EU membership aspirations and continues to do so. (Turkey's) membership application and process is a matter between the EU and (Turkey)," a National Security Council spokesperson told VOA. The official asked not to be identified, as is common practice when discussing administration policy. "Our focus is on Sweden, which is ready to join the NATO Alliance." NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey's decision on Sweden, calling it "an historic step" that makes all members stronger and safer. Sweden needed unanimous support from all 31 NATO members to join the alliance. Sweden and Finland applied jointly for membership last May, with both Nordic nations citing overwhelming popular support for the idea amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finland's membership was finalized in April. Defense spending and Ukraine The summit still has important issues to cover in a short time. Those include whether the members can agree on and then meet a commitment to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. Currently, only seven members fulfill that target. Another key agenda is Ukraine's ambition to join NATO, something that Biden has candidly admitted there is no consensus about within the alliance. The U.S. is reluctant to grant quick membership for Kyiv for fear of dragging NATO into war with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he accepts that his country can only join after the conflict with Russia ends. Membership in the midst of a war would require the alliance to apply the principle of "an attack on one is an attack on all" enshrined in the bloc's Article 5. Still, Zelenskyy has demanded a clear pathway to join the alliance, and during the two-day summit, NATO members will aim to nail down a compromise that will signal that Kyiv is moving closer to membership without making promises of a quick accession. Some NATO allies, including the U.S., U.K. and France, are set to come up with proposals to strengthen Ukraine's armed forces, including its postwar needs, through a series of long-term commitments outside the NATO framework. The so-called security guarantees are going to be done in "extremely close coordination, given how high the stakes are," however it will be "different from having an Article 5 agreement to defend Ukraine," said Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the U.S. and Americas program at Chatham House, to VOA. Earlier on Tuesday, Biden will participate in a bilateral meeting with summit host President Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania and with the North Atlantic Council, the principal political decision-making body within the alliance. Cameroon's anglophone rebels have torched truckloads of cocoa that were bound for French-speaking towns as farmers protest a ban of exports to Nigeria. Cocoa farmers have blocked hundreds of tons of the beans from leaving their farms and are staging daily street action after the government cracked down on cocoa and other cash-crop smuggling by banning exports to neighboring Nigeria. Cameroon's farmers say they can get nearly double the price for cocoa in Nigeria, where they don't face threats from separatists. Joan Mary Becke, 27, is one of the cocoa farmers protesting the move this month in Mamfe, a town on Cameroon's border with Nigeria. Speaking via a messaging app, she said they can earn about $2 per kilogram selling to Nigeria, nearly double compared to Cameroon, where anglophone rebels threaten their shipments. "We should be able to decide where and when to sell our cocoa," she said. "The government of Cameroon has been unable to protect farmers from separatists who have prohibited the sale of cocoa in French-speaking regions. Should farmers and their families die of hunger when there is a ready Nigerian market for cocoa?" Becke said the rebels this month torched several trucks transporting cocoa from Cameroon's southwest region to the coastal business hub of Douala. Farmers told VOA the rebels torched at least six truckloads of cocoa in the past 10 days. Cameroon government and military officials confirmed that rebels torched trucks hauling cocoa but would not say how many were destroyed. Cocoa farmers have been holding daily street protests aimed at the export ban in southwestern villages and towns and say they will continue until the government lifts the ban. On June 13, Cameroon announced a temporary ban on cocoa, cotton, and other cash crop exports to Nigeria to save the country from losing $165 million each year to smuggling. The government says it dispatched several hundred police and customs officers to the border to stop illegal cocoa exports. Mamfe Robert Ashu Tabechong, the mayor of Mamfe, said farmers are still able to sell cocoa to smugglers for export through the porous border to Nigeria. "We cannot collect revenues. Without collecting revenues, we cannot develop our municipality," Tabechong said. "We have support from the forces of law and order [military] to enable us [to] combat the middlemen and secessionists transporting cocoa to Nigeria because Nigeria, lately, they have many factories that are transforming cocoa into chocolates and other things." Tabechong said Cameroon should either lift the cocoa ban or at least allow farmers to sell some of the beans to Nigeria. Cocoa farming is one of the main sources of livelihood in southwestern Cameroon. The Ministry of Trade says the region contributes about 60 percent of the 300,000 tons of cocoa grown in Cameroon each year. Viang Mekala, the most senior government official in Manyu, the administrative unit where Mamfe is located, spoke to VOA while addressing protesting cocoa farmers Tuesday in Mamfe. "When the hierarchy will see our report, they will know what to say, and the answer to give to the population," Mekala said. Cameroon's government says illegal cocoa exports to Nigeria spiked after anglophone separatists launched a rebellion in 2017 to break away from the French-speaking majority. The rebels declared their own ban on the sale of cocoa to French-speaking towns. Cameroon authorities say the military will protect farmers who sell their cocoa to the French-speaking regions. However, Cameroon's cocoa farmers cite this month's attacks on cocoa trucks and say they are not convinced. SEOUL, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) warned on Monday and Tuesday against the U.S. intrusion into the airspace over the country's Exclusive Economic Zone, the DPRK's state news agency reported. Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, accused the United States of sending a strategic reconnaissance plane that intruded into the airspace over the "economic water zone" of the DPRK side in the eastern waters off the Korean Peninsula eight times on Monday and of conducting espionage, according to two statements by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The DPRK will take countermeasures if the United States makes more such intrusions, said Kim in the statements. The warnings came on the heels of a Monday press statement by the Ministry of National Defense of the DPRK in which a ministry spokesman lashed out at the United States due to its alleged military espionage which violates the DPRK's sovereignty. The United States has recently conducted hostile espionage activities on the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity at an unprecedented level by intensively mobilizing various air reconnaissance means deployed in the Asia-Pacific region, said the statement. It urged the United States to stop such provocative moves immediately. China has protested a weekend meeting between the Dalai Lama and the U.S. coordinator for Tibetan affairs, saying on Monday that no external forces have the right to interfere in the affairs of Tibet. Uzra Zeya, U.S. special coordinator for Tibetan issues who is also the U.S. undersecretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights, met Sunday with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, which China annexed in 1950. Namgyal Choedup, the representative of the Dalai Lama in Washington who attended the meeting, said, "Undersecretary Urza Zeya reiterated the continued attention and support for Tibetan issues by the U.S. administration." The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi tweeted that China firmly opposes any form of contact between foreign officials and the "Tibetan independence" forces. The 14th Dalai Lama is by no means just a religious figure, but rather a political exile who has long been engaging in anti-China separatist activities and attempting to split Xizang (Tibet) from China. The so-called Tibetan government-in-exile is an out-and-out separatist political group and an illegal organization completely in violation of China's Constitution and laws. It is not recognized by any country in the world, he said in the tweet. Penpa Tsering, leader of the Central Tibetan Administration, also attended the meeting. The government-in-exile represents about 100,000 Tibetans living in an estimated 30 countries, including India, Nepal, Canada and the United States. SEE ALSO: Exiled Leader Says Tibet Faces 'Slow Death' Under China In March, Zeya told a congressional commission that China continues to "wage a campaign of repression that seeks to forcibly Sinicize" the 6 million Tibetans in the country and eliminate Tibetan religious, cultural and linguistic heritage, according to Reuters. In that report, Republican Representative Chris Smith, who chairs the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said that while the global focus was on Chinas activities in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, we cannot take our eyes off the ongoing genocide being committed against Tibetan people. Employers across much of China were ordered Monday to limit outdoor work due to scorching temperatures, while the east and southwest were warned to prepare for torrential rain as the country struggled with heat, flooding and drought. Temperatures as high as 40 C (104 F) were reported in cities including Shijiazhuang, southwest of Beijing, the capital. Highs of 35 C (95 F) to 38 C (100 F) were reported in Beijing, Guangzhou in the south, Chongqing in the southwest and Shenyang in the northeast. The weather agency issued an orange alert, its second-highest warning, for heat across southern China and much of the north and northeast. That requires employers to limit outdoor work, though delivery workers for restaurants and online retailers were still working. The agriculture ministry warned Sunday that persistent hot weather could damage rice harvests and told local authorities to ensure adequate water supplies to prevent the crop from ripening prematurely. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water Resources warned the provinces of Shandong on the east coast and Sichuan in the southwest to prepare for heavy rain from Tuesday to Friday, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. It said multiple rivers were likely to rise above safe levels. In the central city of Yichang, in Hubei province, heavy rain triggered a landslide Saturday that buried a highway construction site and killed one person. Authorities were searching Monday for seven missing construction workers, Xinhua reported. Business and schools in Heilongjiang province in the northeast were ordered Monday to close and shut down outdoor electrical equipment after 84 millimeters (3.3 inches) of rain fell in one hour, according to state TV. It said traffic police were ordered to close dangerous road sections. Tens of thousands of people who were driven out of their homes by earlier flooding moved to shelters in northern, central and southeastern China. Residents of some cities have moved into underground air raid shelters to escape the heat. The earth's average temperature set a new unofficial record high last Thursday, the third such milestone in the hottest week on record. As U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen concluded her four-day trip to China, calling it "productive," the ink was barely dry on China's sweeping new Foreign Relations Law that appears to be aimed at countering U.S. trade sanctions. The day before the bill took effect on July 1, China's official Xinhua News Agency quoted an unnamed person in charge of the Legal Work Committee of the powerful Standing Committee of the National People's Congress as saying, "China's foreign-related legal system still has some shortcomings. Especially in terms of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, there are still many legal gaps." The new law aims to close those holes, stressing Beijing's right "to take corresponding countermeasures" against acts that violate international law and norms and "endanger China's sovereignty, security and development interests." The law comes as the government of President Xi Jinping is pushing back against American efforts to cut off its access to technology to make advanced computer chips and efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese suppliers after the global pandemic revealed the consequences of disrupting the supply chain. SEE ALSO: US Chip Controls Threaten China's Technology Ambitions Einar Tangen, an American political and economic affairs commentator in Beijing, said the law essentially provides a legal basis for China to counter sanctions issued by the U.S. and other nations. "They want to signal in their own way that they had enough, because after they announced this, a few hours later they were talking about taking away gallium exports," Tangen said, referring to Beijing's July 3 announcement that it would restrict exports of gallium and germanium key raw materials widely used in semiconductors and electric vehicles. "There's only one paragraph in the new law which is actually new that gives specific authority to respond for national security reasons," Tangen said. "It's more of a signal to the U.S. that two can play this game." Suisheng Zhao, a professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, also said the law contains little new. "It actually systematizes and legalizes Xi Jinping's diplomatic thinking. To some extent, it is an external propaganda to strengthen China's soft power, describing China as a major responsible country in the world and systematically presenting China's so-called core interests, diplomatic behavior and principles," Zhao told VOA Mandarin. SEE ALSO: Beijing Jabs in US-China Tech Fight with Chip Material Export Curbs China is currently the largest producer of gallium and germanium, accounting for 94% and 83% of global production, respectively. They have a wide range of applications in optoelectronic displays, communications, lasers, detectors, sensors, solar energy and radar. Shu Jueting, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, said that items related to the two metals have prominent dual-use properties for military and civilian purposes. She said it is an international practice to implement export controls on them. The regulations will come into force on August 1. Exporters who want to start or continue exporting items related to the two metals must apply for a license from China's Ministry of Commerce and report details of overseas buyers and their applications. Hu Xijin, the influential former editor-in-chief of the Global Times, said on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform, "China's anti-sanctions, anti-interference, and anti-long-arm jurisdiction by certain countries require this law, and it will definitely increase the price for the United States and its allies to violate China's interests." The Global Times says with the law, China is "marking a milestone significance, as it is the first fundamental and comprehensive foreign-relations law that aims to fix the loopholes in the rule of law in foreign-related affairs amid new challenges in foreign relations, especially when China has been facing frequent external interference in its internal affairs under the Western hegemony with unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction." Zhao told VOA Mandarin the new law "is mainly aimed at the domestic people. Americans will not buy it. Xi Jinping's international development initiative, international security Initiatives and the Belt and Road Initiative have been talked about a lot, and there is nothing new for the United States." The Chinese government has long complained that the U.S. uses economic sanctions for diplomacy and says it passed the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law in 2021 to counter foreign sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals. However, China also frequently uses economic sanctions to exert political pressure on such countries as Australia, Canada, South Korea and Lithuania. The current chip war between China and the U.S. is an example of how both nations employ sanctions. In October 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced export controls on advanced semiconductor and chip manufacturing equipment to China. In May, the Chinese government announced a ban on the U.S. chip giant Micron, saying it caused a significant security risk to China's critical information infrastructure supply chain. It followed Beijing's announcement in February of sanctions against two U.S. arms makers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies for supplying arms to Taiwan, including banning Chinese companies from doing business with them. Recently, the Biden administration is reported to be preparing to restrict Chinese companies from using U.S. cloud computing services. If adopted, the new regulation could require U.S. cloud service providers, such as Amazon and Microsoft, to obtain a U.S. government license before providing cloud computing services that use advanced artificial intelligence chips to Chinese customers. "This is sending a clear signal right before Yellen's visit" to China, Tangen said. "The U.S. is going to keep Chinese companies out of the cloud." He said the rift is causing a "split between the countries in terms of technology." "Right now, I don't think Beijing is counting on changing the minds of Washington elites," Tangen said. "What they're betting on now is that the business community, which has an interest in China, is not having a world decoupled. It will cost all American businesses a tremendous amount of money to relocate to other countries or within the U.S. to do the same thing." Zhao believes the law does not make much of a difference. "When it first came out, people couldn't figure it out," he said. "But the heat passed within a day or two ... and now there are not many people discussing it." Archeologists resumed digging Tuesday at the remote site of a former Native American boarding school in central Nebraska, searching for the remains of children who died there decades ago. The search for a hidden cemetery near the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in Nebraska gained renewed interest after the discovery of hundreds of children's remains at other Native American boarding school sites across the United States and Canada since 2021, said Dave Williams, the state's archeologist, whose team is digging at the site. The team hasn't found human remains yet, Williams said, but the dig only began on Monday and is expected to last through the week. Birds called into the sun- and wind-filled space as excavators worked within the confines of an orange fence and yellow caution tape. They sifted steadily through dirt and tossed water away while Native American leaders and community members watched intently from the sidelines. "I came today to witness the dig because I had an aunt who died here, Mildred Lowe, in 1930, and she never came home. So, I'm here to find out if they find any bones and how we're going to go about identifying and all of that," said Carolyn Fiscus, a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Fiscus added, "As a tribal member and elder and grandma, I'm interested. I've got a lot of spiritual and emotional investment in this. And my mom, too, who's now passed away. That's why I'm here." The school was part of a national system of more than 400 Native American boarding schools that attempted to assimilate Indigenous people into white culture by separating children from their families, cutting them off from their heritage and inflicting physical and emotional abuse. Newspaper clippings, records and a student's letter indicate at least 86 students died at the school in Genoa, most due to diseases such as tuberculosis and typhoid. At least one death was blamed on an accidental shooting. Researchers identified 49 of the children killed but have not been able to find names for 37 students. The bodies of some of those children were returned to their homes, but others are believed to have been buried on the school grounds at a location long forgotten. Judi gaiashkibos, a member of the Ponca Tribe and the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, whose mother attended the school in the late 1920s, has been involved in efforts to find the cemetery for years. She said it's difficult to spend time in the community where many Native Americans suffered, but that the search can help to heal and bring the children's voices to the surface. Williams, the archeologist, said finding the cemetery could provide some peace and comfort to people who have suffered for years, not knowing what happened to their relatives who were sent to boarding schools but never came home. The school, about 145 kilometers west of Omaha, opened in 1884, and at its height was home to nearly 600 students from more than 40 tribes across the country. It closed in 1931, and most buildings were demolished long ago. In an effort to find the cemetery, dogs trained to detect the odor of decaying remains searched the area last summer and indicated there could be a burial site in a narrow piece of land bordered by a farm field, railroad tracks and a canal. In November, ground-penetrating radar showed an area that was consistent with graves, but there will be no guarantees until researchers finish digging, Williams said. The process is expected to take days. If the dig reveals human remains, the Nebraska State Archeology Office will continue to work with the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs to decide on next steps. They could rebury the remains in the field and create a memorial or exhume and return the bodies to tribes. Last year, the U.S. Interior Department led by Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico and the first Native American Cabinet secretary released a first-of-its-kind report that named hundreds of schools the federal government supported to strip Native Americans of their cultures and identities. At least 500 children died at some of the schools, but that number is expected to reach into the thousands or tens of thousands as research continues. "I hope they find the cemetery so that we can do ceremony and lay our spiritual relatives to rest so they know we know they're here, and they're OK," said Fiscus, of the Winnebago Tribe. On July 7, the United States announced it would send cluster munitions to Ukraine as part of its latest $800 million security assistance package. Dual-purpose improved conventional munitions, commonly called cluster munitions, are a type of weapon, dropped from planes or fired from the ground, that are designed to open mid-air and release smaller submunitions or bomblets that disperse over a wide area. The cluster munitions the U.S. is sending to Ukraine will be encased in 155 mm artillery shells. A 2008 International Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibits use of this weapon due to the potential risks it poses to the noncombatants. Both Russia and Ukraine have used cluster bombs in the ongoing war, the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch reported on July 6. The rights watchdog urged President Joe Biden's administration not to send the weapon to Ukraine, saying such bombs have already killed scores of civilians since the Kremlin launched its clandestine war in 2014. U.S. allies who are signatories to the Convention on Cluster Munitions expressed concern over Washington's decision to arm Ukraine with them. Some U.S. Democrats and progressive media outlets joined in the criticism. Russia, which is not a signatory to the convention, also reacted harshly to the move. "We have taken note of the Director for Strategic Communications of the NSC (National Security Council) John Kirby's statements about the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine. The official de facto confessed to the United States committing war crimes during the Ukrainian conflict," the Embassy of Russia in the USA wrote on Telegram. That is false. The Russian Embassy misquoted Kirby and used words he never said to amplify the Kremlin's disinformation about U.S. actions in Ukraine. Speaking with ABC "This Week," Kirby said: "I think we can all agree that more civilians have been and will continue to be killed by Russian forces whether it's cluster munitions, drones, missile attacks or just frontal assaults than will likely be hurt by the use of these cluster munitions fired at Russian positions inside Ukrainian territory." Kirby told ABC that "We are very mindful of the concerns about civilian casualties and unexploded ordnance being picked up by civilians or children and being hurt. Of course, we're mindful of that. And we're going to focus with Ukraine on de-mining." He and other U.S. officials emphasized that the type of weapon the U.S. is sending to Ukraine has a low percentage of failed or delayed explosions. The Pentagon says the "newly fielded munitions" will allow "Ukraine to target broad swaths of entrenched Russian troops and equipment." Ukrainian officials and government advisers welcome the weapons. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, lashed out at those criticizing Ukraine for seeking every means available to defend itself against a brutal genocidal war." Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Ukrainian forces will not use cluster munitions in urban areas and will only use them "to break through the enemy defense lines." While submunitions are designed to explode above the ground or upon impact, some of them fail to do so, leaving them as a potential threat to civilian life. Unexploded bomblets dropped by the U.S. over Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam during the Vietnam War continue to kill and maim decades on. The U.S. also used cluster munitions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The lingering threat to civilian life the munitions pose has led 123 states 111 state parties and 12 signatories to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prevents them from using, developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling, keeping or transferring cluster munitions. Russian state media has been reporting on voices in the West legitimately concerned about the use of cluster munitions without mentioning that Russia has been using cluster munitions since first invading Ukraine in 2014. In 2016, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov justified the use of cluster munitions as a "legal means of warfare." Apart from Ukraine, Russia also used cluster munitions during its wars in Chechnya, Georgia and Syria, at times directly targeting civilians. Russian state media has also at times reported that the U.S. and Ukraine are not signatories to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions while omitting the fact that Russia is also not a signatory. On July 11, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu threatened to use cluster munitions against Ukraine if Washington delivered them to Kyiv, falsely claiming Russia has not used them. Russia's use of cluster munitions in Ukraine has been extensive, "causing many civilian deaths and serious injuries," a report from Human Rights Watch released on July 6 said. That report found Ukraine had also used the weapons, causing death and injures to civilians. Stark images taken by Associated Press photographer Evgeniy Maloletka show more than a thousand remnants of Russian cluster munition rockets used to attack the city of Kharkiv laid out in a field. Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the Kharkiv region's Prosecutor Office, told the Associated Press the remnants in the "missile cemetery" had been used to attack "residential areas," calling them "pieces of evidence that an international criminal court would use." The same Russian general who led that assault on Kharkiv, Colonel General Alexander Zhuravlyov, "oversaw one of the most brutal chapters of Syria's war," with a massive uptick in the use of cluster munitions that disseminated civilian areas, a CNN investigation found. An August 2022 report released by Human Rights Watch found that Russia had by that time already launched hundreds of cluster munition attacks in at least 10 of Ukraine's 24 regions. Perhaps most infamously, on April 8, 2022, Russia attacked Kramatorsk railway station with a ballistic missile equipped with a cluster munition warhead, reportedly killing 63 people and injuring scores more. The United Nations, media outlets, investigative journalists and other rights groups have also documented Russia's indiscriminate use of cluster munitions in Ukraine. A German lawmaker, who serves as the political sponsor of jailed Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, says she will continue to work for his release because the charges against him cannot be proven. Salehi was jailed in connection with anti-government protests that erupted in 2022. Ye-One Rhie spoke to VOAs Persian service after an Iranian court this week sentenced Salehi to six years and three months in prison. He had been convicted of corruption on Earth, a charge punishable by death. Rhie said while Salehi is not facing a death sentence, We should not be overly complacent because an innocent man has been sent to prison. Commenting on his trial, Rhie said, The fact that they held the trials behind closed doors, and no one could look at the court documents, shows that they knew that the case they made did not have a proper foundation. Iranian authorities detained Salehi on October 30, 2022. His songs had denounced Iran's Islamist rulers and the perceived injustices perpetrated against the Iranian people. Like thousands of other mostly young Iranians, Salehi embraced a widespread anti-government protest movement that began last September following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Irans morality police. She was arrested allegedly for violating Iran's strict Islamic dress code. India will launch a mission to the moon later this week hoping to become the fourth country to land a craft on the lunar surface. So far only three countries the United States, Russia and China have achieved what is called a "soft landing" on the moon in which vehicles touch down without damage. The mission marks the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) second attempt to land a rover on the moon a previous effort nearly four years ago failed. The spacecraft called Chandrayaan-3, which means moon vehicle in Sanskrit, is scheduled to be launched Friday afternoon (2:35 p.m. Indian time) It is equipped with a lander and a robotic rover that are expected to land on the moon on August 23 or August 24 to map the lunar surface for about two weeks. "The date is decided based on when the sunrise is on the moon; it will depend on the calculations, but if it gets delayed, then we will have to keep the landing for the next month in September," ISRO director S. Somanath said. He said the main objective is to demonstrate "a safe and soft landing." India aims to land its rover on the South Pole of the moon, a previously unexplored part that lies in near darkness. It will study the topography of this region. "There is expectation that the southern parts of the moon have a lot of mineral deposits and helium-3. There is also the possibility of water deposits there," Ajey Lele, a space consultant with the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses in New Delhi told VOA. Through such studies of the moon's topography, India's upcoming space flight to the moon "has the potential to contribute to scientific understanding that will underpin a variety of future lunar missions, including those by other actors," Tomas Hrozensky at the European Space Policy Institute told VOA in emailed comments. India's moon mission in 2019 had successfully deployed a lunar orbiter, but the lander crashed during the final moments of its descent to the lunar surface a setback to its main goal. Aiming for 'soft' landing Lele says there is optimism about Chandrayaan-3 achieving a "soft" landing. "The glitches that led to the failure of the previous mission have been fixed. Basically, they have made the lander system more sturdy, so it can withstand any impact." The latest space project is part of India's ambitions to showcase its homegrown technological capabilities in space and be seen as a leading space-faring nation. "After a quantum rise in our space expertise, India can no longer wait to be left behind in the march to the moon," India's space minister, Jitendra Singh, said Sunday. India's space program has notched several milestones. Its first mission to the moon in 2008 helped confirm the presence of water. In 2013, it put a satellite in orbit around Mars. Its space agency is also preparing for its most ambitious space mission yet a human spaceflight next year. Delivering on "an ambitious and technologically challenging vision serves a profound benefit for perception of the government's capability both within and outside of the country," according to Hrozensky. US, India teaming up In recent years there has been a renewed interest in exploring the moon as scientists seek to determine whether it will be possible to mine the moon for minerals and other resources that are shrinking on earth. Outer space is one of the areas in which India and the U.S. decided to deepen collaboration during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington last month. U.S. President Joe Biden said that the two countries are joining hands to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station next year. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will kick off his Africa tour a day late on Wednesday, the foreign ministry in Nairobi said after he failed to appear at a press event. The rare visit to Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe marks the latest diplomatic effort by the Islamic Republic to forge new alliances and ease its international isolation. The three-day trip will be the first by an Iranian president to Africa in 11 years. Raisi was scheduled to hold a press conference with Kenyan President William Ruto on Tuesday morning, but neither showed up. "The schedule of the president has now been reviewed to allow for finalisation of key MoUs [memoranda of understanding] that are central to the furtherance of relations," Kenya's foreign ministry said. "The Iranian president will now arrive tomorrow for a state visit," it said, adding that the two leaders would hold bilateral talks at 7:00 am (0400 GMT) on Wednesday. A Ugandan official said Raisi's trip to the East African country would proceed as previously scheduled, with his two-day visit due to begin on Wednesday. President Yoweri Museveni and his Iranian counterpart will hold talks, address the media and a business forum during the visit, said Faruk Kirunda, deputy press secretary to the Ugandan leader. The visit "is aimed at strengthening cooperation and trade," Kirunda told AFP. According to the official IRNA news agency, Raisi will head a delegation that includes the foreign minister as well as senior businesspeople. He is also scheduled to meet Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. 'Turning point' On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani described the trip as "a new turning point" which could bolster economic and trade ties with African nations. He also said the rapprochement is based "on common political views" between Tehran and the three African countries. Iran has stepped up its diplomacy in recent months to reduce its isolation and offset the impact of crippling sanctions reimposed since the 2018 withdrawal of the United States from a painstakingly negotiated nuclear deal. On Saturday, Raisi welcomed Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf in a bid to boost ties with Algiers. Last week, Iran became a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which includes Russia, China and India. In March, Tehran agreed to restore ties with regional rival Saudi Arabia under a China-mediated deal. It has since been looking to re-establish relations with other countries in the region including Egypt and Morocco. Officials in Ukraines capital said Thursday at least one person was killed after Russian drones attacked Kyiv. Air defenses shot down at least 10 drones, the officials said, but falling debris struck residential buildings in several districts of Kyiv. The debris damaged buildings, sparked fires, and injured at least three people. "Tonight, a massive attack by Iranian drones took place," Kyiv's military administration said on Telegram. With an orchestra and plans for new military monuments, Ukraine is honoring the memory of its fallen soldiers. At a special funeral ceremony in Lviv, those bidding farewell to the defenders include not only their families and brothers-in-arms but also thousands of city residents. Omelyan Oshchudlyak has the story. Camera: Yuriy Dankevych The FSO Safer vessel is seen at Ras Issa port in Hodeidah province, Yemen, on May 30, 2023. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) SANAA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The transfer of crude oil from the dilapidated tanker Safer, stranded off the coast of Yemen, is expected to start early next week, a United Nations humanitarian official said on Monday. David Gressly, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, said in a statement that Nautica, a tanker specifically tasked with offloading oil from Safer, is ready to set sail from Djibouti, and the transfer process, which is estimated to take about two weeks, will start once Nautica docks alongside Safer. "The completion of the ship-to-ship transfer of the oil by the start of August will be a moment when the whole world can have a sigh of relief," Gressly said, adding that the "worst-case humanitarian, environmental and economic catastrophe from a massive oil spill will have been prevented." A Yemen's coast guard boat sails past the FSO Safer vessel at Ras Issa port in Hodeidah province, Yemen, on May 30, 2023. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) The delivery and installation of a catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) buoy, which will be fastened to the seabed, is the next crucial step after the off-loading of the oil, according to the UN official. The Nautica tanker will then be safely installed using the CALM buoy, he said, stressing that it is essential for the CALM buoy to be in place by September. Gressly said that the UN is working closely with all parties to the conflict in Yemen to ensure the safe and timely completion of the transfer operation. He thanked the donors for contributing to the operation, adding that the UN is still seeking additional funding to cover the full cost of the operation. Engineering ships chartered by the United Nations dock with the FSO Safer vessel at Ras Issa port in Hodeidah province, Yemen, on June 12, 2023. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) The FSO Safer is a floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessel that was built in 1976. It was anchored off the coast of Yemen in 1984 to store oil produced by the Marib oil field. The tanker was designed to be emptied and maintained regularly, but the war in Yemen has made it impossible to do so. On May 30, a UN engineering vessel arrived at the site of the FSO Safer to make preparations for the transfer of its oil. The UN has warned that a spill from the FSO Safer could have a devastating impact on the Red Sea and the coastline of Yemen. The spill could release four times as much oil as the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, which killed thousands of seabirds and marine mammals and caused widespread environmental damage. The FSO Safer vessel is seen at Ras Issa port in Hodeidah province, Yemen, on May 30, 2023. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) Ever since Myanmars military seized control in a coup, the team at Mizzima News has been focused on how to survive while producing quality journalism. The junta has revoked licenses for more than a dozen media outlets since February 2021, including Mizzimas, and arrested more than 170 journalists. Adding to the dangerous environment, media are covering the militarys fight with an armed resistance movement. Against this backdrop, Mizzima is still publishing content in both Burmese and English. Officially, journalists need to be registered with the junta to operate. But to do that, reporters must provide personal details a step that many are wary of for fear of arrest. Soe Myint, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Mizzima, says he has no intention of having his team apply for accreditation while the junta remains in power. Under the military junta we never try. They are not going to allow the independent reporting in Myanmar, he told VOA in a phone call from a border region. Han Htoo Zaw, a video journalist at Mizzima, added that in Myanmar, journalists are no longer allowed to report openly. If they see us, they will arrest us and kill us, he told VOA. Han Htoo Zaw joined Mizzima in 2020, and currently covers the conflict between anti-junta forces and the military, all while trying to stay under the radar. I can't get news openly in the city like before. I have to get news from places where there is a fight with [the] junta and [the Peoples Defense Forces or PDFs], he said. The journalist said that the army has opened a case file against him after publicly announcing a warrant for his arrest on local TV and radio. He is accused of fake news and incitement toward the military. Because of the warrant, he sticks to news from places controlled by ethnic armed forces and PDFs. But covering conflict brings an extra level of risk. For me, life-threatening security is to know the sound of the gun and to get into the trenches quickly, because anything can happen on the front line. The army is always under airstrikes, so we have to be very careful, he said. The Mizzima teams experiences and caution are reflected in the wider media scene in Myanmar. According to the International Federation of Journalists, at least 176 journalists have been arrested and four killed since February 2021. And as of May 2023, at least 50 were still in custody. Myanmars military spokesperson has previously dismissed claims that media are targeting, saying there is no reason to arrest, charge or jail [journalists] if they do their media job. The spokesperson also previously dismissed concerns over the media environment, saying that journalists and opposition forces on social media are spreading fake news. Daily threats To keep reporting, Mizzima journalists work in a range of challenging environments: reporting underground in military-controlled cities like Yangon and Mandalay, to the front-line areas occupied by rebel forces. The last two years, immediately after, was time for all of us to survive and continue as an independent media, Soe Myint said. Anyone who is identified as Mizzima will be immediately arrested, he added. We operate under these threats every day. Since the coup seven journalists from Mizzima were arrested, some of whom were tortured while in jail, he said. Six were later released. For now, Mizzima is focusing on trying to keep the news flowing. Apart from trying to survive, we also [are] working very hard to do quality journalism, he said. As well as covering the conflict, the outlet covers domestic issues, business news, international coverage, and reporting on womens issues. But operations and financial sustainability are a struggle. Mizzima, like other media in Myanmar, relies on donations. Financial support has reduced tremendously, particularly this year. Many donors have reduced their funding to independent media or Myanmar, he said. Soe Myint must also oversee a team across a wider geographic area. Our main work is still inside the country and out of 135 [employees] we have, half of them are inside the country. And then another half of our colleagues are in different parts, he said. It is a big challenge in terms of operation. An editor with Mizzima, who asked to be anonymous for security reasons, says many Burmese journalists had to flee to Thailand. Working legally as Burmese journalists in Thailand poses significant difficulties. However, compared to our own country, Burma [the former name of Myanmar], Thailand offers a relatively safer environment. Therefore, we are grateful for the safety Thailand provides, he told VOA. But with less of a ground presence, the editor admits theyve had to change how they verify information. We rely on the internet to verify sources and information. We utilize multiple sources and carefully analyze the information we find. Additionally, we depend on local residents in Myanmar for sourcing. Naturally, there are instances where obtaining accurate information becomes difficult, he said. The war has created an atmosphere of fear and distrust among the population. People are afraid to speak openly, fearing retaliation from the authorities, he said. The volatile nature of the conflict has also led to the spread of misinformation and propaganda, further complicating the task of reporting the truth. Myanmar's prolonged civil strife, tensions in the disputed South China Sea, and concern over an arms buildup in the region are expected to dominate the agenda when Southeast Asia's top diplomats gather for talks this week in Indonesia. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the U.S.-China rivalry will also be under the spotlight as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang participate as dialogue partners of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers meeting in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui will not attend the ASEAN Regional Forum, an annual security meeting, Indonesian Foreign Ministry official Sidharto Suryodipuro told a news conference on Monday, without elaborating. It's also unclear who among the key figures in the world's most intractable conflicts will meet on the sidelines of the group's ministerial meetings. The top diplomats of ASEAN, which consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, will meet Tuesday and Wednesday before their Asian and Western counterparts join them in discussions on Thursday and Friday. Group's principles tested Founded in 1967, the often-unwieldy collective of democracies, autocracies and monarchies has been held together for decades by bedrock principles of non-interference in each other's domestic affairs and consensus-based decision-making. But that approach has also prevented the 10-nation bloc from dealing swiftly with crises that spill across borders. ASEAN's principles have been tested since Myanmar's army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and plunged the country into deadly chaos. More than 3,750 civilians, including pro-democracy activists, have been killed by security forces and nearly 24,000 arrested since the military takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group that keeps tallies of such arrests and casualties. Myanmar's military government has largely ignored a five-point plan by ASEAN heads of state that includes an immediate end to the violence and dialogue among all contending parties. That prompted the regional group to take an unprecedented punitive step by barring Myanmar's military leaders from its top-level gatherings, including the ministerial meetings, that Indonesia will host. Since assuming ASEAN's rotating chairmanship this year, Indonesia has initiated some 110 meetings with groups in Myanmar and provided humanitarian aid to build trust, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said, adding that continuing violence would hurt efforts to return the nation to normalcy within ASEAN. "ASEAN is still very concerned about the increasing use of violence in Myanmar which has resulted in civilian casualties and the destruction of public facilities," Retno told a news conference on Friday. "This must stop immediately." Two months ago, an aid convoy with Indonesian and Singaporean embassy representatives on an ASEAN mission to provide help to displaced people came under fire from unknown attackers in a road ambush in Myanmar's eastern Shan State. A security team returned fire and a security vehicle was damaged, but no one in the convoy was injured, state-run television MRTV reported. ASEAN is under international pressure to effectively address the crisis in Myanmar. But ASEAN members appear divided over how to proceed, with some recommending an easing of punitive actions aimed at isolating Myanmar's generals and inviting its top diplomat and officials back to the high-profile summit meetings. Retno stressed the group would continue to focus on enforcing the ASEAN leaders' five-point plan. A draft of a post-meeting communique to be issued by the ASEAN foreign ministers remained blank on Myanmar, reflecting the difficulty of reaching agreement on the issue. Their concerns over other contentious issues, such as the South China Sea disputes, were included in the draft, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, director of the Jakarta-based Habibie Center think tank, said the situation in Myanmar could become a long-term problem like the South China Sea disputes given ASEAN's limited capacity to solve it. The bloc, however, should try to convince Myanmar's military government that it has better options, she said. "It's recalcitrant. Its determination to hang on to power is not going to be sustainable because it's only going to incite conflicts," Anwar told the AP. Myanmar is scheduled next year to assume the role of coordinating ASEAN's engagements with the European Union. But the E.U., which has imposed sanctions on the military government, has opposed such a role for Myanmar, two Southeast Asian diplomats told the AP on condition of anonymity because they lack authority to discuss the issue publicly. A call for self-restraint On the South China Sea conflicts, ASEAN foreign ministers are expected to renew a call for self-restraint "in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability," according to the draft communique, repeating language used in previous statements that does not name China. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have been embroiled in long-simmering territorial conflicts with China and Taiwan for decades. ASEAN and China have been negotiating a non-aggression pact that aims to prevent an escalation of the disputes, but the talks have faced years of delay. The disputed waters have emerged as a delicate front in the rivalry between China and the United States. Washington has challenged Beijing's expansive territorial claims and regularly deploys warships and fighter jets in what it calls freedom of navigation and overflight patrols that have incensed China. Other Western and European nations have deployed navy ships on occasional patrols in the busy waterway, where a bulk of the world's trade transits, with similar calls for unimpeded commerce and mobility. China's increasingly aggressive actions have prompted other countries to boost their territorial defenses. "We expressed concern about the growing arms race and naval power projection in the region, which could lead to miscalculation, increased tensions, and may undermine regional peace, security, and stability," the ASEAN foreign ministers said without elaborating in their draft communique, whose wording is still subject to negotiations and could change. Anwar said there's no solution in sight for the South China Sea disputes and ASEAN could only take steps to help prevent full-blown conflict. President Joe Biden said Tuesday this years NATO summit represents a historic moment, as the security bloc prepares to enlarge while tackling issues around the grinding war in Ukraine. This is a historic moment, Biden said to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Adding Finland and Sweden to NATO is consequential. And your leadership really matters. And we agree on the language that you propose, relative to the future of Ukraine being able to join NATO. Stoltenberg said Tuesday he is absolutely confident that Turkeys parliament will admit a new member, Sweden. Meanwhile, Ukraines president continued to push for his nations inclusion in the security alliance a step that NATO members seem unlikely to take at this high-stakes summit in Lithuanias capital. NATO will give Ukraine security, tweeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine will make the alliance stronger Allies were debating the wording of a final joint text, but there is consensus that Ukraine joining NATO while Russias invasion is ongoing is not under consideration. Membership in the middle of a war would require the alliance to apply the principle of an attack on one is an attack on all enshrined in the blocs Article 5 putting the U.S. and Western nations in direct conflict with Moscow. Zelenskyy has said he accepts that situation, but shortly before leaders gathered for their meeting Tuesday, he tweeted complaints about what he said were signals that certain wording is being discussed without Ukraine. Zelenskyy, who is expected to attend the summit Wednesday, said vague wording about conditions was being added, while there was no timeframe for inviting Ukraine to join NATO. It seems there is no readiness, neither to invite Ukraine to NATO nor to make it a member of the alliance, Zelenskyy said. NATO allies in 2008 agreed in principle that Ukraine would join, but did not set up a pathway for Ukraines membership. Stoltenberg said Tuesday in Vilnius that he had put forth a package during an informal NATO foreign ministers meeting in May that included removing the requirement for a membership action plan in Ukraines bid. Some NATO allies, including the U.S., UK and France, are set to come up with proposals to strengthen Ukraines armed forces, including its postwar needs, through a series of long-term commitments outside the NATO framework. The so-called security guarantees are going to be done in extremely close coordination, given how high the stakes are, however it will be different from having an Article 5 agreement to defend Ukraine, said Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the U.S. and Americas program at Chatham House, to VOA. Swedens accession Stoltenberg said Tuesday the NATO summit is already historic before it has started after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yielded a breakthrough in a months-long impasse during which Erdogan accused Stockholm of not doing enough to crack down on their branch of a political party that Turkeys government sees as extremists. Erdogan pledged to support the approval of Swedens bid in Turkeys parliament, while Hungary, the other remaining NATO member yet to give its approval in a process that must be unanimous, is expected to follow suit. Political leaders in Washington welcomed the news. Putin thought he could divide us, he believed he could bully us into disunity, but his hopes have backfired," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. The Biden administration has supported Turkeys effort to buy 40 F-16 fighter jets from the United States, a deal that has met opposition from U.S. lawmakers who said it should not go forward until Turkey supported Sweden joining NATO. Asked Tuesday what made Turkey agree to drop its opposition, Biden said with a smile, What do you think? When asked by another reporter if he was surprised by Turkeys decision, Biden said, Not at all. Sweden and Finland applied jointly for membership last May, with both Nordic nations citing overwhelming popular support for the idea amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finlands membership was finalized in April. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Swedens accession would be negative for Russias security. Defense spending Another key issue at the summit is whether the members can agree on and then meet a commitment to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. Currently, only seven members fulfill that target. Several alliance members used the summit to announce new military aid for Ukraine, including a $770 million package from Germany with Patriot missile launchers, battle tanks and ammunition. French President Emmanuel Macron said his government will supply long-range missiles to Ukraine. Following the two-day summit, Biden heads to Helsinki on Thursday to meet with leaders of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark. Once Sweden has joined NATO, all five Nordic countries will be members of the military alliance. Katherine Gypson contributed to this report. U.S. intelligence officials involved with closely monitoring Iran's rapidly expanding nuclear program assess that Tehran continues to stop short of producing nuclear weapons, though they caution there are still reasons for concern. The conclusions, part of an unclassified report released Monday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, are in line with recent public statements by top U.S. intelligence and military officials all of whom warned it will not take long for Iran's nuclear program to weaponize if such a decision is made. "Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities that would be necessary to produce a testable nuclear device," the ODNI report said. But it also noted Iran "has accelerated the expansion of its nuclear program and undertaken research and development activities that would bring it closer to producing the fissile material needed for completing a nuclear device following a decision to do so." The report further warns Iran continues to grow the size and the enrichment levels of its uranium stockpile beyond what was allowed under the now-defunct Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and that Tehran's research and development of advanced centrifuge technology also exceeds what was allowed under the nuclear deal. The United States, under President Joe Biden, has been working to try to revive the 2015 JCPOA, which was scrapped by former President Donald Trump in 2018. According to Iranian and Western officials, Washington and Tehran have engaged in a series of indirect talks over the past several months, though there are few indications much progress has been made. "There is no agreement in the offing, even as we continue to be willing to explore diplomatic paths," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York last month. This past May, the most senior U.S. military official warned U.S. lawmakers that Iran's nuclear activities bear watching. "They continue to improve their capability," said General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "[Tehran] could produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon in less than two weeks from time of decision and would only take several more months to produce an actual nuclear weapon." The head of the U.S. spy agency voiced similar concerns in April. Iran could "probably develop that stockpile of weapons-grade enriched uranium in a couple of weeks," CIA Director William Burns told an audience in Texas, adding, "Our judgment is that the Iranian leadership has not yet made a decision to resume the weaponization program." Burns also warned at the time about Iran's progress on delivery systems for a potential nuclear weapon, something echoed in the latest ODNI assessment. "Iran has emphasized improving the accuracy, lethality, and reliability of its missiles," the report stated. "Iran's work on space launch vehicles [SLVs] including its Simorgh shortens the timeline to an ICBM [intercontinental ballistic missile] if it decided to develop one because SLVs and ICBMs use similar technologies." A passenger plane on a domestic flight crash-landed at Mogadishu's international airport on Tuesday. All 30 passengers and four crew members survived, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. The E-120 aircraft, operated by local airline company Halla Airlines, was flying from Garowe in Somalia's Puntland region to Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport. The incident occurred at 12:23 p.m. Mogadishu time. "There was no fatality from the accident except minor injuries," the SCAA said in a brief statement. "The Somali Civil Aviation Authority would like to reaffirm that the preliminary report will be released once the current investigation concludes." Closed-circuit television footage of the incident shows the plane veering off the runway immediately after it landed. The pilot did not report any issues to the air traffic control tower prior to the incident. Ismail Mohamud from Halla Airlines told VOA Somali that results from the investigation will be reported later. "We are now working on the plane's issue," he said in a brief telephone interview. Early indications suggest pilot error may have been the cause, according to a Somali official who did not want to be named. "Facts will be established once the cockpit voice recorder and black box are analyzed," he added. Somalia's airport authorities have improved services in recent years, retaking air traffic control from the United Nations. Earlier this year, Somalia regained its Class A classification from the International Air Transport Association. More than 150 domestic and international flights use Mogadishu's airport daily, according to the airport authority. Major international carriers that use the airport include Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former army chief who has run Thailand since seizing power nine years ago in a coup, said Tuesday he is leaving politics. The decision comes just days ahead of a crunch vote that will decide if the leader of the kingdoms pro-democracy camp can become prime minister. Prayuth, 69, toppled an elected government in 2014 the 13th coup since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932 by a royalist army that has never allowed democracy to take root in Thailand. Throughout, Prayuth described himself as a soldier forced to step into politics to protect the nation from instability. Reinventing himself as prime minister, the former soldier refused to stand down despite poor economic performance and massive pro-democracy protests. Tuesdays statement appeared to quash mounting rumors that Prayuth may try to stay on as prime minister despite his partys poor performance in May 14 polls, whose results observers have described as a repudiation of the military government. "From now, I quit politics by resigning as a member of the UTN party," he said in a statement posted on the United Thai Nation, or UTN, party's official Facebook page. He will remain as caretaker premier until a new one is appointed. Thai pro-democracy leader Pita Limjaroenrat, who aims to assume Prayuths office, faces a critical week in a bid to govern the country after his Move Forward Party (MFP) acquired 151 seats in the lower House in May. Pita, 42, has been drawing large crowds in a nationwide post-election tour to drum up political support. His path is blocked, however, by a constitution written under the outgoing government, which says any new prime minister needs to claim an outright majority of the 750 votes from the combined two chambers in parliament. In the upcoming July 13 vote, Pitas Move Forward leads a lower House of Representatives coalition majority of 311 of 500 seats. The 250-member Senate, appointed by Prayuth specifically to give the army veto power in parliament, appears unlikely to support Pita, leaving him short of the 376 votes required to become prime minister. Weve come way too far to lose now. Just a few more steps and we will reach the finish line together, Pita told a rally in Bangkok on Sunday. This finish line belongs to no one but the people the upper and lower house together will decide what Thailands next decade or century looks like. The majority of senators are arch-royalists who reject calls to reform Thailands strict lese-majeste law, which protects the monarchy from being targeted by critics. Scores of young pro-democracy protesters have been prosecuted under that law, which over the last two years has carried sentences of between three and 15 years in jail. Pita also faces a legal threat from the Election Commission, which is probing whether he deliberately hid holdings of media shares in a now defunct company when he ran for office. If the commission decides to push the case to the Constitutional Court, Pita could be suspended as a lawmaker and face a long ban from politics, and possibly jail. The court has dissolved several pro-democracy parties in the last 20 years, including Move Fowards predecessor, Future Forward. It is highly unlikely that Pita will receive enough support to be approved as the prime minister, primarily due to the military-appointed Senate, said Napon Jatusripitak, a political scientist at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, a Southeast Asia research group based in Singapore. That could mean Pheu Thai, Thailands former leading pro-democracy force, puts forward its own candidate for premier, who is widely expected to be real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin. But if Pheu Thai are also blocked by the Senate, the candidate of the ruling Phalang Pracharat party former general Prawit Wongsuwon could step into the frame, said Paul Chambers, a political analyst and lecturer at Thailand's Naresuan University. Since senators support him, he could well become the next PM, Chambers said of Prawit, Prayuths number two. The consequence: enormous, angry, pro-MFP demonstrations. Thailand has experienced periodic rounds of street protests over the last two decades, often resulting in bloody unrest. MFPs four Ds campaign Demilitarization, Democratization, Decentralization and Demonopolization of the economy drew votes across the country as 14 million people rejected slumping freedoms and a sluggish grassroots economy under Prayuths government. People here just want a new government, new prime minister from the democracy camp, said Abdulloh Sadeh, 25, who ran for parliament, representing his home area of Yala province near the Malaysia border in the May 14 election. I just want to see a government that is fully democratic, he added. Structural change is not going to happen overnight but when we have true democracy, real change will happen. South African business groups are pushing the government to make strong diplomatic efforts to ensure the country is not stripped of its duty-free access to the U.S. market. A group of U.S. senators recently questioned South Africa's status under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, citing Pretoria's ties with Moscow. South Africa has invited Russia President Vladimir Putin to an August summit despite his invasion of Ukraine and his being wanted by the International Criminal Court. Relations between Pretoria and Washington have so deteriorated in recent months that South African business groups are now scrambling to try and make sure the country isnt kicked out of an important U.S. tariff-free program. The war in Ukraine has divided the two countries after South Africa refused to condemn Russias invasion, even going so far as hosting Russian warships for joint military exercises earlier this year. In May, the U.S. ambassador to South Africa alleged the country had secretly supplied arms to Moscow something Pretoria denies. It is unclear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will be attending the summit of the BRICS group of emerging economies in Johannesburg in August. His visit would place South Africa in a quandary. As a signatory to the International Criminal Court, it is obliged to arrest him should he set foot in the country. The U.S. Congress is beginning to review the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, known as AGOA, with a decision expected by the end of the year. Some U.S. senators recently wrote a letter saying South Africa should no longer host an AGOA forum set for later this year. They also raised the prospect that the country could lose access to its trade benefits entirely. Busisiwe Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa, an independent association of some of South Africas largest businesses, said she was preparing a submission urging the U.S. to renew South Africas participation in AGOA. Thered be dire financial consequences if we were to lose this, Mavuso said. And loss of this trade relationship would mean billions of rand of economic activity as well as tens of thousands of jobs, which depend on those exports, would be lost. It would be devastating for employment, especially in a country where were currently sitting with 70 percent youth unemployment. Mavuso said South Africa is the largest single beneficiary country under AGOA, with 25% of the countrys exports going to the U.S. and nearly a billion dollars' worth of exports to the U.S. in the first three months of this year alone. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, said being removed from AGOA would have far-reaching implications, not just on the tariff side but in terms of investor sentiment. The AGOA benefits, there are certain industries that really enjoy those, Sihlobo said. In the absence of them there could be economic consequences, particularly in the automobile industry and of course the agricultural sector, specifically wine as well as the fruit sector. South Africas opposition Democratic Alliance, which has expressed strong support of Ukraine, is also worried the country could lose access to AGOA, said the partys shadow finance minister Dion George. If the view is that South Africa is in fact not acting in the interests of the United States and may well be a threat to the national security of the U.S., then yes, of course that will become an issue and may very well be a factor in carving South Africa out of AGOA next year, George said. Spokespeople for the presidency and South Africas ministry of international relations did not reply to requests for comment. However, they have previously said theres no evidence South Africa is going to lose access to AGOA, after President Cyril Ramaphosa recently sent a delegation to lobby U.S. officials. Spanish authorities rescued 86 people Monday from a boat near the Canary Islands that appeared to be from Senegal, after an aid group reported that three boats from the African country went missing with 300 people aboard. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service said it could not confirm that the rescued boat was one of the three reported missing but told The Associated Press that the vessel was a multi-colored, 20-meter-long (65-foot-long) canoe of the type known in Senegal as a pirogue. Eighty men and six women of sub-Saharan origin were rescued and expected to reach Spanish soil Monday evening, the Spanish agency said. It also said it had alerted boats sailing in Atlantic waters between the Canary Islands and West Africa to be on the lookout for other migrant boats still missing. Helena Maleno Garzon, coordinator for the aid group Walking Borders, which is known as Caminando Fronteras in Spanish, said earlier Monday that the three missing boats had departed Senegal in late June. Two boats departed June 23 from Mbour, a coastal city in central Senegal, carrying about 100 people, and a third left the southern town of Kafountine four days later with approximately 200 people, Garzon said. There has been no contact with the boats since their departures, she said. "The most important thing is to find those people. There are many people missing in the sea. This isn't normal. We need more planes to look for them," Garzon told The Associated Press. Deadly route The Atlantic migration route is one of the deadliest in the world, with nearly 800 people dying or going missing in the first half of 2023, according to Walking Borders. In recent years, the Canary Islands have become one of the main destinations for people trying to reach Spain, with a peak of more than 23,000 migrants arriving in 2020, according to Spain's Interior Ministry. In the first six months of this year, more than 7,000 migrants and refugees reached the Canaries. One of the deadliest mass drownings of Europe-bound migrants happened last month on the Mediterranean Sea, where more than 500 people were presumed dead off the coast of Greece. Criticism has mounted over the European Union's yearslong failure to prevent such tragedies. Boats that go missing often aren't documented. Some are never found or are discovered across the world years later. An AP investigation published this year found that at least seven migrant boats from northwest Africa, likely trying to reach the Canary Islands in 2021, drifted to the Caribbean and Brazil. The boats mainly travel from Morocco, Western Sahara and Mauritania, with fewer coming from Senegal, the Spanish aid group said. However, at least 19 boats from Senegal have arrived in the Canary Islands since June, the group said. Factors such as ailing economies, a lack of jobs, extremist violence, political unrest and the impact of climate change push migrants to risk their lives on overcrowded boats to reach the Canaries. Last month in Senegal, at least 23 people were killed during weeks of protests between opposition supporters and police. 'I am still believing' A woman whose 19- and 24-year-old sons left on one of the boats from Mbour in June told the AP they had a goal of trying to pull the family out of poverty. Daw Demba, 48, said she discovered her sons' secret plans days before they left and tried to convince them not to. They assured her it would be safe because the captain had made the trip safely multiple times, she said. "I am desperate to hear the voices of my sons. I am convinced they are still alive," Demba said through tears in a phone interview from her home in Mbour. "Every moment, every second, I am still believing." Before they departed, she armed her sons, Massou Seck and Serigne Galaye Seck, with traditional spiritual items, including a bottle of water that had been blessed and Quranic paper with their names written on it for protection. Walking Borders' Maleno said she had been in contact with the Moroccan, Spanish and Mauritanian marines and that more needs to be done to look for the missing boats. Former U.S. President Donald Trump is asking a federal judge to delay his trial on a 37-count indictment that alleges he illegally took classified documents with him to his oceanside Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida when his presidency ended and then conspired with an aide, Walt Nauta, to keep government investigators from retrieving them. Prosecutors had already asked U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon for a delay until December 11, four months beyond the initial August 14 date she set, to give both sides more time to prepare. Trump and Nauta, who is facing six charges in the case, said in a court filing late Monday that the governments proposed December trial date was unrealistic and that it would deny them a reasonable time to prepare. The court should therefore withdraw the current order setting trial and postpone any consideration of a new trial date," Trumps lawyers told Cannon, adding that a continuance was both necessary and appropriate. There was no immediate response from special counsel Jack Smith, who is prosecuting the classified documents case against Trump and Nauta. Smith is also investigating the former presidents role in trying to upend his 2020 reelection loss to Democrat Joe Biden and the January 6, 2021, riot by Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers were in the initial stages of certifying Bidens victory. Trump is the leader for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, according to national polling. A month ago, he pleaded not guilty in a Miami federal court to the classified document charges. Trump has often assailed Smiths pursuit of the criminal investigations against him, calling it a witch hunt and last week describing the prosecutor as a crackhead. In their filing Monday, Trumps lawyers said the December trial date proposed by the Justice Department would interfere with his presidential election bid and cited the need to review a potentially large amount of evidence before a trial. The Classified Information Procedures Act, which aims to protect classified evidence and manage disclosure of such records, sets rules for trials involving classified material. The 2024 race for the November election next year kicks off with the January 15 Republican caucuses in the midwestern state of Iowa, followed quickly by a raft of party primary elections in other states. Trump already is facing another criminal case in the midst of his campaign, with a March trial date in a New York state court. Trump is alleged to have altered business records of his familys real estate conglomerate to hide $130,000 in hush money payments to a porn star before the 2016 election to stop her from talking publicly about her allegation they had a one-night tryst a decade earlier. It is alleged Trump doctored the records after his successful 2016 electoral bid. Trump has denied the affair and all the political-related allegations he is facing. Among them is an ongoing case in the southern state of Georgia, where a state prosecutor is expected to decide in early August whether to charge Trump and key allies with illegally trying to overturn his narrow 2020 loss there to Biden. In a taped phone conversation in early 2021, Trump asked Georgia election officials to find him 11,780 votes, one more than he needed to overcome his defeat. In the classified materials case in Florida, the indictment alleges that Trump illegally retained 31 documents that included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack. Once his presidency ended on January 20, 2021, the indictment said, Trump was not authorized to possess or retain those classified documents. At various times, the indictment alleges that Trump stored boxes of the documents in a bathroom and shower stall at Mar-a-Lago, on a ballroom stage, and in a bedroom, an office and a storage room. As a former president, Trump could have sought a waiver of the requirement that only people with a need to know could continue to retain and look at the documents, but the indictment said that the former president did not obtain any such waiver after his presidency. The 37-count indictment against Trump also alleges that the 45th president conspired with Nauta to hide the documents from Trumps attorney, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the grand jury that was hearing evidence in the case. Among the other charges, Trump is accused of making false statements to investigators and ordered that boxes be moved to various locations at his Mar-a-Lago estate so that his lawyer would not be able to locate all the documents that federal authorities had subpoenaed. At the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, this week, a main question will be whether Ukraine should join the alliance, even though there will be no vote on the issue. The U.S. and Germany worry its admission could lead NATO into a direct confrontation with Russia. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to attend. VOA Eastern Europe Bureau Chief Myroslava Gongadze reports. VOA Camera: Daniil Batushchak. This aerial photo taken on Dec. 16, 2022 shows a group of grey cranes resting on the frozen surface of Hengshui Lake in Hengshui, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo by Li Ming/Xinhua) SHIJIAZHUANG, July 11 (Xinhua) -- On a summer day, a group of students accompanied John Howes, a bird expert from Britain, on an enchanting educational expedition to an islet of Hengshui Lake in north China's Hebei Province. At the islet, Howes captivated his audience with simple yet compelling storytelling techniques. He delved into topics, such as wetlands, their significance, and the intricate web of life that sustains them. The participants in the study tour were mainly students from Zhizhen Middle School in Hengshui City, Hebei. Through interactive discussions and role-playing activities, students were able to grasp the importance of ecological diversity and the interconnectedness of all living beings. "This biology class has provided us with a wealth of ecological knowledge, and more importantly, helped us develop an ecological mindset to care for nature, starting from ourselves," said Mou Zhijie, a student who was part of the group. The lake has become an important ecological research and learning base for environmental agencies, schools, and various organizations throughout the country. It is recognized not only for its educational value but also as a sanctuary for a wide variety of bird species. Hengshui Lake is a national nature reserve that boasts a complete wetland ecosystem. It is home to 333 bird species, including 21 ones under China's top protection. Howes has been a frequenter of the lake. The ornithologist's rendezvous with the lake can be traced back to 2015 when the rare Baer's Pochard was discovered, marking the beginning of a journey of collaboration and conservation. "The ecology of Hengshui Lake is unique and holds great research value. I love this place," Howes said. Hengshui Lake has become the most important known breeding location for Baer's Pochard, a type of diving duck listed as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In 2017, 308 pochard ducks were recorded in the lake. According to Howes, he sees better changes every time he comes to Hengshui Lake. To improve the ecological environment of the entire Hengshui Lake wetland, the municipal government has taken measures such as sealing off sewage outlets into the lake, demolishing illegal constructions along the lake, relocating surrounding villages and main roads, said Liu Zhenjie, deputy director of the administration committee of Lakeside New Area. The new area, which administers Hengshui Lake, has also restored 350 hectares of waterfowl habitats on the north of the lake, designated seasonal core areas to reduce human interference, and planted crops such as wheat and corn to provide abundant food for birds, according to Zhang Yuguang, an official with the Hengshui Lake national nature reserve. "I also hope that more people can come to Hengshui Lake and appreciate its ecological beauty," Howes said. In a rare moment of international accord, dozens of nations attending a debate at the U.N. Human Rights Council on the alarming rise of religious hatred condemned the lack of tolerance for the beliefs of others, which they said has led to the incitement of discrimination, hostility and violence. The debate was triggered by the June 28 burning of a Quran by an Iraqi refugee outside a mosque in Stockholm, Sweden. The act, which coincided with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, was widely condemned by Islamic and other nations around the world. These and other incidents appear to have been manufactured to express contempt and inflame anger; to drive wedges between people; and to provoke transforming differences of perspective into hatred and, perhaps, violence, said Volker Turk, U.N. high commissioner for human rights, who kicked off the debate with an impassioned plea to people of all beliefs to act with respect for others. He said, Only in this way can we have conduct among human beings that enables us to address together, the challenges we face. And those challenges, he noted, were many, adding that provocative speech can often incite discriminatory violence. In recent years, the human rights high commissioner said, numerous acts of violence, terror attacks and mass atrocities have targeted people on account of their religious beliefs, including inside their places of worship. He noted that freedom of speech was a fundamental human right and limitation of any kind of speech or expression must remain an exception particularly since laws limiting speech are often misused by those in power, including to stifle debate on critical issues. While enjoining people to guard against the misuse of free speech, he said every state must prohibit the advocacy of hatred that constitutes incitement to violence, discrimination and hostility. Nazila Ghanea, special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief on behalf of the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures, agreed that religious beliefs or their followers should not be used to incite hatred and violence, for example for electoral purposes or political gains. She cited acts that intentionally are aimed at stirring up hatred or cause hurt and foster inter-religious and political tensions such as some recent instances of the public burning of the holy Quran or desecration of places of worship. She said, We stand against those who willfully exploit tensions or target individuals based on their religion or belief. The high commissioner and special rapporteur tapped into a vein of raw anger that was on display as each of nearly 80 people who participated in the debate took the floor to speak. The debate was convened at the request of Pakistan on behalf of several members of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation. In a video statement to the gathering, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistans foreign minister, condemned the deliberate desecration of the holy Quran which is a spiritual anchor for 2 billion Muslims. It is inseparable from their sense of identity and dignity. He called for those behind the acts of desecration to be held accountable. He said he believed in the fundamental right of free speech and noted that free speech is as indispensable as hate speech should be indefensible. Other speakers, such as Retno L.P. Marsudi, Indonesias minister of foreign affairs echoed those sentiments. She strongly condemned the burnings of the Quran in some countries, including in Sweden and said, These provocations deeply insult Muslims around the world. She added that freedom of expression does not mean freedom to discriminate and hurt others. Rashad Hussein, U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom, reaffirmed Washingtons commitment to combat intolerance based on religion or belief. However, he cautioned against states attempting to ban freedom of expression in their zeal to prohibit hate speech because that often serves as a catalyst for further hatred. He said, These real dynamics are also part of the reason why the United States strongly opposes blasphemy laws and other laws that purport to criminalize speech, noting that such laws also fail to address the underlying causes of bigotry. A draft resolution presented to the council condemns and strongly rejects the recent public and premeditated acts of desecration of the Holy Quron and calls for holding those responsible to account. The resolution requests the High Commissioner to present an oral update at its 54th session in September-October on the various drivers, root causes, and human rights impacts of religious hatred that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. The United Nations food agency says thousands of people are crossing the border into the central African nation of Chad from neighboring Sudan to escape the nearly three-month-old violence that the world bodys humanitarian chief has described as a civil war of the most brutal kind. The World Food Programme said in a statement Tuesday that 20,000 people from Sudans Darfur region have arrived in the small Chadian border town of Adre in the last week alone. The agency said many of the people arriving from Darfur are seriously wounded amid reports that fleeing civilians are being deliberately targeted with an increasing ethnic dimension to the violence. The WFP statement says it estimates that about 10% of children crossing from Darfur into Chad are malnourished. People are running across the border, wounded, scared, with only their children in their hands and the clothes on their backs, said Pierre Honnorat, the WFPs country director in Chad. They need safety, security, and humanitarian assistance. The WFP says its relief efforts along the Chad-Sudan border have become increasingly challenging due to the annual rainy season. It has deployed two all-terrain vehicles that can each carry up to 1,200 kilograms of food and can cross multiple wadis, or large gullies filled with rainwater. Sudan appears to be in a civil war of the most brutal kind and the world needs a new forum for talks in pursuit of a cease-fire, the United Nations humanitarian chief told The Associated Press Monday. Martin Griffiths spoke as regional leaders met in neighboring Ethiopia following the breakdown of peace talks in Saudi Arabia in June. Egypt says it will host leaders from Sudans neighbors Thursday in search of peace, with few details. We dont have a place, a forum, where the two parties are present ... where we can broker the kind of basic agreements that we need to move supplies and people, Griffiths said. He called Sudan the toughest place in the world for humanitarian workers in terms of access and warned that the crisis will only worsen as the fighting spreads to new areas. We have to re-create the architecture that we had for a little while in Jeddah, he said of the Saudi- and U.S.-mediated talks. He criticized those discussions as very clunky, very time consuming, but said at least it did produce some real movements in facilitating aid access. Sudan descended into chaos after fighting broke out between top army Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and his rival, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, on April 15. The army and RSF have agreed to at least 10 temporary cease-fires, but all have failed. Riyadh and Washington, in adjourning negotiations, accused both forces of failing to respect the agreements. The conflict has killed over 3,000 people and wounded over 6,000 others, Sudan Health Minister Mohammed Ibrahim said last month and warned that the true death toll is likely to be far higher. More than 2.9 million people have fled their homes. If I were Sudanese, I find it hard to imagine that this isnt a civil war of the most brutal kind, the U.N. humanitarian chief said. Part of that is its not limited to one place, its spreading, its viral its a threat to the state itself ... and if that doesnt qualify for being a civil war, I dont know what does. Griffiths said there is a pressing need to create a forum to facilitate humanitarian access and local cease-fires so trucks and goods can get into specific areas. Any new forum should have greater representation for humanitarian organizations, he said. In Sudans capital, RSF troops appear to have the upper hand in the streets, having commandeered civilian homes and turned them into operational bases. The army has retaliated with airstrikes that have struck residential areas and sometimes hospitals. In the western Darfur region, the conflicts other epicenter, entire villages have been overrun by RSF fighters and their allied militias, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee to neighboring Chad. In the province of West Darfur, the fighting has morphed into ethnic violence, U.N. officials have said, with the RSF and Arab militias reportedly targeting non-Arab tribes. Activists and tribal leaders from the province say residents have been killed, women and girls raped, and properties looted and burned. Luft's research group, based outside Washington, was co-founded by former CIA Director James Woolsey and the late Robert McFarlane, who served as a national security adviser to former President Ronald Reagan. While heading the institute in 2016, Luft allegedly "agreed to covertly recruit and pay" a former senior U.S. official who was an adviser to then-President-elect Donald Trump to publicly push policies favorable to China. Prosecutors say Luft did this on behalf of China-based "principals," including CEFC China Energy, a Chinese state-owned energy company. At the time, the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security received $350,000 in annual payments from CEFC China Energy's nonprofit arm, according to court documents. Neither Luft nor the high-ranking official registered as a foreign agent as required under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, prosecutors say. The indictment does not name the high-ranking U.S. official, but in a recent video shared with the New York Post, Luft identified him as Woolsey. As part of the scheme, prosecutors say Luft in the weeks before the 2016 election created a written "dialogue" between Woolsey and a Chinese associate of CEFC China Energy. The unnamed Chinese associate's description in the indictment fits that of Patrick Ho, a former Hong Kong home affairs secretary and head of a nonprofit funded by CEFC China Energy. The purported "conversations" between Woolsey and Ho were later published in China Daily online and shared with a journalist and professors at multiple U.S. universities. Luft allegedly wrote Woolsey's responses and later told Ho that information favorable to China had been "tucked between the lines." After the 2016 election, Luft and Ho allegedly discussed a "silent trip" to China by the former CIA director. Ho was arrested in New York in 2017 on charges of bribing African leaders on behalf of CEFC China. He was later convicted and sentenced to three years in prison before being released in 2020. Prosecutors say Luft has remained outside the United States since Ho's arrest. A recent Washington Post investigation found that Biden's son Hunter Biden, and the president's brother James Biden, signed an agreement with CEFC officials in 2017, and that entities controlled by them received $4.8 million over the course of 14 months, though the energy projects discussed with CEFC did not pan out. The two men have faced allegations of corruption for pursuing business deals that capitalize on their family name. They have denied any wrongdoing. In the video shared with the New York Post, Luft denied the criminal charges against him and said he was forced to skip bail in Cyprus because he did not believe he would receive "a fair trial in a New York court." Luft claimed he had been arrested to prevent him from testifying before a House of Representatives panel about his allegations that members of the president's family received payments from CEFC China Energy and individuals with alleged ties to Chinese military intelligence. In the video, Luft said he provided evidence of the Biden family's alleged corruption to the FBI and the Justice Department during a meeting in Brussels in March 2019. In addition to acting as an unregistered agent of China, Luft is accused of brokering illicit Chinese arms deals. Luft allegedly worked to broker a deal for Chinese companies to sell certain weapons to Libya, including anti-tank launchers, grenade launchers and mortar rounds. Luft and his associates allegedly referred to the weapons as "toys," prosecutors say. In addition, Luft allegedly worked to facilitate arms sales by Chinese companies to Kenya and the United Arab Emirates. Luft is also accused of conspiring with others to broker Iranian oil deals, allegedly directing an associate to refer to the oil as Brazilian in origin to avert U.S. sanctions, according to court documents. While in hiding, Luft has taken to social media to decry the charges against him as politically motivated. Conservative lawmakers pushing for an investigation of the Biden family have rallied around Luft in recent days, calling him a "whistleblower" and the "missing witness" from the probe. Luft could not be reached for comment. In a statement to VOA, the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security voiced support for Luft. "Dr. Gal Luft is a world renowned expert on energy security, economics and geopolitics and has written five books," the statement said. "Gal is a man of total integrity and honesty. We are confident in his innocence." As NATO leaders meet in Lithuanias capital to hammer out key agreements amid a grinding war in Ukraine, John Kirby, director of strategic communications for the National Security Council, met with VOA to discuss the main issues at the high-stakes summit. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. VOA: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was withholding Sweden's NATO bid for a long time until he pivoted yesterday, as we saw. What was the breakthrough moment? Kirby: It's a big decision. And we're grateful to [Erdogan] because Sweden is a modern, capable military. They will lend to the alliance a terrific suite of military capabilities that are critical for NATO's eastern flank. I'll let those two leaders talk about how they got to where they got to. We have long believed that Sweden had met its commitments commitments made on the margins of the Madrid summit last year, and we were also very glad to see that the conversation and the dialogue continued between both leaders. VOA: Was your decision to provide F-16s to Turkey somehow related to the decision made by Ankara? Kirby: The president has long supported F-16s for Turkey, as well as modernizing the F-16s that they already have. And that's something that we have to work out with Congress, and we know that, and we've had those conversations. VOA: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance agreed to remove the requirement for a Membership Action Plan, or MAP, for Ukraine to join NATO. I'll quote him: 'We will issue an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO when allies agree and conditions are met.' Speaking of these conditions, are they any different from the Membership Action Plan that we have seen before? Kirby: Ukraine is at a point now where the alliance doesn't really feel like a MAP is required. Because we have been now working with Ukraine so closely, particularly over the last 16 months, we have such a strong sense of awareness about their military capabilities. So, MAP may not be the best process. But what the alliance will talk about with Ukraine in Vilnius is what the process, what the path needs to look like going forward. There's still going to be reforms that Ukraine has to meet and make political reforms, rule of law, democratic institutions those reforms are still required to be a member of NATO. The other thing to remember is that they're in the middle of a shooting war right now. And the president believes strongly that weve got to continue to focus on their needs on the battlefield. VOA: Let me ask you straight: Is it an open door policy but just rephrased and restructured, or is it different? Kirby: Its still an open door policy. Every nation that aspires to become members of NATO Finland and Sweden, who are now the 31st and 32nd members they still had to apply. There's still a process. And part of that process is having a healthy, vibrant democracy and healthy, viable, sustainable democratic institutions. And Ukraine still has some more work to do in that regard. We all understand that it's difficult to work on political reforms when you're in the middle of a war, which is why, again, the president wants to focus on getting them what they need on the battlefield and making a commitment to Ukraine after the war's over and before NATO membership that they'll continue to have support from the United States and for the allies for their own self-defense. VOA: One of the requirements that Jens Stoltenberg outlined today was having armed forces which are interoperable with NATO. What is your assessment of the armed forces of Ukraine? Are they any closer to NATO standards? Kirby: I think, without question, they're getting closer to interoperability with NATO, because as the war has gone on, they have shed a lot of their Soviet systems. The way they operate on the battlefield has definitely Westernized as the last 16 months have transpired. They've got a lot of Western equipment. They have been trained by Western militaries, including the United States, even before this most recent invasion kicked off. So clearly, they are closer to a standard of interoperability now. Are they absolutely there yet? Again, I think that remains to be seen, and our focus right now is helping them succeed on the battlefield. VOA: President Joe Biden has said inviting Ukraine to join NATO right now is an invitation to war, but Russia has no history of attacking NATO allies. Why not extend this invitation? Kirby: What the president said was joining NATO now would be going to war with Russia. The allies in 2008, in the Bucharest declaration, made it clear that NATO is in Ukraine's future. The president still believes that. He still believes in the open door policy. He just believes that right now, the focus has to be on helping Ukraine succeed on the battlefield, and in making sure that Ukraine has the appropriate security commitments from the United States and from our allies for when this war is over. Because they're still going to have a long border with Russia, and we need to make sure that Mr. Putin doesn't believe he can buy for time. VOA: Is there a possibility for Ukraine to join NATO in the near future? Kirby: I wouldn't be able to put a timeline on that. They're in a shooting war right now. Ukrainians are fighting and dying for their country, and weve got to focus on helping them succeed in that effort. Then we'll set out a pathway for eventual membership that will allow Ukraine the time and space to work on some of these reforms, at the same time, enjoying security commitments and guarantees from the West so that as they continue to work on their reforms postwar, that they can still maintain a measure of safety and self-defense. VOA: What kind of reforms are you looking into right now? Kirby: These are reforms that President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy and Ukraine were in some measure already working on rooting out corruption and oligarchs, working on democratic institutions, strong judiciary, rule of law. All these are key tenets that any nation who aspires to be a member of NATO has got to ascribe to and make sure that they they rise to that level. VOA: Let's get back to Sweden. President Erdogan has to pass this bid through the parliament of Turkey, of course, and they have to support it. Can he bail? Kirby: As every other NATO ally is going to have to do, there's a ratification process here. But we're comfortable and confident that Sweden will become the 32nd member of the NATO alliance. Zimbabwes main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) says police continue to block their election rallies despite an internal memo from polices commander for elections directing officers to avoid unnecessary barring of political rallies, which he said would discredit the forthcoming crucial polls. CCC says two of its rallies scheduled for Thursday in Gokwe have been banned on the pretext that Zanu PF would be having similar events in the same constituencies and police did not have adequate personnel to protect those opposition political activists. The opposition party was planning to hold rallies in Gokwe Central and Gokwe Kambunyuni in preparation for the August 23 council, parliamentary and presidential elections. CCCs Midlands elections coordinator, Joseph Madyegwayi, told VOA Studio 7 that four rallies set for Thursday have been denied by the police, who cited lack of manpower to take care of the CCC meetings as Zanu PF is said to be organizing similar events in the two regions. This was confirmed by the Officer Commanding Gokwe South, Superintendent A Zimbili, in a letter written to the regional CCC provincial coordinator. Zimbili feared that there would be political violence if CCC and other parties hold meetings at the same time. Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said CCC is discussing with police on the way forward. In a leaked letter to all senior provincial police officers, the commander of the 2023 harmonised elections, Commissioner Ndofandaedza Jaboon, told them to stop blocking the CCC rallies, noting that such moves were discrediting the electoral process. Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Farai Chauke and CCC activists - Mollen Shonhai, Gladmore Gungubu, Kudzai Madyira, Charles Mungate, Lloyd Mushari, Agrippa Dhambureni and Simon Hlomani have spent six days behind bars in Chiredzi following their arrest on July 5 for allegedly violating some sections of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act. They are accused of attending an unsanctioned CCC election campaign rally. Zimbabwe will hold harmonized elections on August 23 this year. VOA correspondent Godwin Mangudya contributed to this article VILNIUS, LITHUANIA NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday he is absolutely confident Turkey will ratify Swedens accession to NATO and that alliance leaders gathered for a two-day summit in Lithuanias capital will send a very strong and positive message about Ukraines own desire to join. Allies were debating the wording of a final joint text, but there is consensus that Ukraine joining NATO while Russias invasion is ongoing is not under consideration. Membership in the middle of a war would require the alliance to apply the principle of an attack on one is an attack on all enshrined in the blocs Article 5. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he accepts that situation, but shortly before leaders gathered for their meeting Tuesday he tweeted complaints about what he said were signals that certain wording is being discussed without Ukraine. Zelenskyy, who is expected to attend the summit Wednesday, said vague wording about conditions was being added, while there was no timeframe for inviting Ukraine to join NATO. It seems there is no readiness, neither to invite Ukraine to NATO nor to make it a member of the alliance, Zelenskyy said. NATO allies in 2008 agreed in principle that Ukraine would join, but did not set up a pathway for Ukraines membership. Stoltenberg said Tuesday in Vilnius that he had put forth a package during an informal NATO foreign ministers meeting in May that included removing the requirement for a membership action plan in Ukraines bid. U.S. President Joe Biden told Stoltenberg ahead of Tuesdays meetings that he agrees with the language Stoltenberg proposed relative to the future of Ukraine being able to join NATO and were looking for a continued united NATO. Some NATO allies, including the U.S., U.K. and France, are set to come up with proposals to strengthen Ukraines armed forces, including its postwar needs, through a series of long-term commitments outside the NATO framework. The so-called security guarantees are going to be done in extremely close coordination, given how high the stakes are, however it will be different from having an Article 5 agreement to defend Ukraine, said Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the U.S. and Americas program at Chatham House, to VOA. Swedens accession Stoltenberg said Tuesday the NATO summit is already historic before it has started after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yielded a breakthrough in a months-long impasse during which Erdogan accused Stockholm of not doing enough to crack down on their branch of a political party that Turkeys government sees as extremists. Erdogan pledged to support the approval of Swedens bid in Turkeys parliament, while Hungary, the other remaining NATO member yet to give its approval in a process that must be unanimous, is expected to follow suit. Biden, who is set to meet with Erdogan late Tuesday at the end of the first day of the summit, welcomed news of Turkeys support for Sweden. I stand ready to work with (Turkish) President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan and (Turkey) on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area, Biden said in a statement. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO Ally. The Biden administration has supported Turkeys effort to buy 40 F-16 fighter jets from the United States, a deal that has met opposition from U.S. lawmakers who said it should not go forward until Turkey supported Sweden joining NATO. Asked Tuesday what made Turkey agree to drop its opposition, Biden said with a smile, What do you think? When asked by another reporter if he was surprised by Turkeys decision, Biden said, Not at all. Sweden and Finland applied jointly for membership last May, with both Nordic nations citing overwhelming popular support for the idea amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finlands membership was finalized in April. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Swedens accession would be negative for Russias security. Defense spending Another key issue at the summit is whether the members can agree on and then meet a commitment to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. Currently, only seven members fulfill that target. Several alliance members used the summit to announce new military aid for Ukraine, including a $770 million package from Germany with Patriot missile launchers, battle tanks and ammunition. French President Emmanuel Macron said his government will supply long-range missiles to Ukraine. Following the two-day summit, Biden heads to Helsinki on Thursday to meet with leaders of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark. Once Sweden has joined NATO, all five Nordic countries will be members of the military alliance. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. One on One with Joe Korkowski, is heard Saturdays on KXRA-1490AM / 100.3fm/105.7fm (@7:40am) and KXRA-92.3FM (@7:00am), as well as each Sunday morning on KXRZ Z99.3fm (@10:15am). The interview is also re-broadcast on Monday mornings on KX92 at 10:00am and on Z99 at 9:10am. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Netflix, MAX, ABC Its an especially weird, tense time for the Emmy Awards. When this years nominees are announced on Wednesday morning, Hollywood will be more focused on whether or not the Screen Actors Guild will join the WGA and announce a strike of its membership. (The deadline for SAG to reach an agreement with the AMPTP is 11:59 p.m. PT on July 12, just hours after the nominees are announced.) Even the ceremony itself, currently scheduled to take place on September 18, could be postponed if the writers and/or actors remain on strike into the fall. In the middle of so much uncertainty there is only one thing to do: confidently tell you which shows that aired between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, will, beyond a shadow of a doubt, be nominated for Emmy Awards tomorrow morning. Okay, fine, these are educated guesses based on what other prognosticators are saying, Emmy history, and my own instincts. Outstanding Drama Series Predicted Nominees: Andor Better Call Saul The Crown House of the Dragon The Last of Us Succession The White Lotus Yellowjackets All the HBO Sunday-night offerings Succession, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and House of the Dragon seem like locks, as do Netflixs The Crown and AMCs Better Call Saul, an exceptional series that has been nominated 46 times (!!) and never won a single Emmy but will almost definitely lose to Succession in this category. Showtimes Yellowjackets was nominated last year and I suspect will score again. That eighth slot could go to FXs The Old Man, a crime-drama anchored by Emmy-worthy performances from Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow, but I suspect Disney+ and its critically acclaimed (and Television Critics Awardnominated) Andor will take it instead. Outstanding Comedy Series Predicted Nominees: Abbott Elementary Barry The Bear The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Only Murders in the Building Poker Face Ted Lasso What We Do in the Shadows Yes, its ridiculous that the funniest show on television, The Other Two, probably wont get nominated here while the corny-ass third season of Ted Lasso definitely will. But a nod for The Other Two would require a whole bunch of Hollywood types to actually be able to laugh at themselves and this may shock you not all of them are capable of that. The only show Im a little iffy about here is What We Do in the Shadows, because newcomers Shrinking, which did what Ted Lasso was trying to do this season except better, or Wednesday, which won a lot of fans on Netflix, could easily take that spot. But the fact that Shadows has been nominated twice before makes me believe that Emmy voters will go for the familiar GET IT? and reward it again. Outstanding Limited Series Predicted Nominees: Beef Black Bird Dahmer Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Fleishman Is in Trouble George and Tammy This is a less meaty, harder to predict category than usual since, unlike recent years, there is no obvious front-runner. That said, Beef, Black Bird, and Dahmer feel like sure bets. Fleishman Is in Trouble and George and Tammy are both deserving of inclusion, though making the cut will depend on whether voters actually got around to watching both shows. Nominations could easily go to something like Maxs Love and Death, National Geographics A Small Light, Primes Daisy Jones and the Six, or, in a just world that honors brilliant weirdness, Mrs. Davis on Peacock. But Im betting the prestige aura around Fleishman and George and Tammy carries the day. Outstanding Actor in a Drama Predicted Nominees: Jeff Bridges, The Old Man Brian Cox, Succession Kieran Culkin, Succession Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us Jeremy Strong, Succession If any of these Succession men arent nominated, I will personally make the Meal Fit for a King smoothie and drink the entire thing. Im just as confident about Odenkirk who really deserves an Emmy and probably wont win because Succession and Pascal. Bridges seems destined to snag the sixth spot, although theoretically that could go to Diego Luna for Andor or Harrison Ford for 1923, although Ford is basically guaranteed a nod for Shrinking, which may rule him out here. Outstanding Actress in a Drama Predicted Nominees: Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets Helen Mirren, 1923 Sophie Nelisse, Yellowjackets Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us Sarah Snook, Succession Imelda Staunton, The Crown Locks in this category: Ramsey and Snook for sure, and Lynskey and Mirren most likely. The other two spots are a guessing game, but the Emmy voters love for The Crown suggests Staunton has a decent shot. (Previous Queen Elizabeths Claire Foy and Olivia Colman won Emmys for their work.) Because sometimes the Emmys surprise us, Nelisse, the MVP of Yellowjackets season two, could score her first nomination, making her and Lynskey the first actors to be nominated in this category for playing the same character at different ages. Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Predicted Nominees: Bill Hader, Barry Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso Jeremy Allen White, The Bear It is theoretically possible that Jason Segel could be nominated here for Shrinking, or that Donald Glover, a previous winner in this category, could land one last nod for playing Earn in the final season of Atlanta. But the five men listed above seem likeliest to hear their names come Wednesday. Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Predicted Nominees: Christina Applegate, Dead to Me Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face Jenna Ortega, Wednesday Brosnahan has been nominated for every single season of Mrs. Maisel and will be again. Brunson also seems like a definite she was nominated last year but lost to Jean Smart for Hacks and Lyonnes smart-ass charm seems likely to win over voters. Elle Fanning could earn her second nomination for The Great, but I suspect that Applegates moving performance in Dead to Me, delivered while she adjusted to her MS diagnosis, and the buzzy Ortega will edge her out. Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie Predicted Nominees: Steve Carell, The Patient Taron Egerton, Black Bird Evan Peters, Dahmer Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Daniel Radclifffe, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Michael Shannon, George and Tammy Steven Yuen, Beef The only nomination that is a little iffy in this group might be Carell he is deserving, but his ability to get a nod will depend on how many voters embrace the unabashedly bleak The Patient. That spot could go to White House Plumberss Woody Harrelson, who is historically popular with voters. (Hes been nominated for an Emmy nine times and won once for Cheers.) Or it could go to Ben Whishaw for his under-the-radar but excellent work in This Is Going to Hurt, assuming voters prioritized watching the British medical drama. Carell, who still does not have an Emmy win on his resume, seems like the most solid bet, though. Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie Predicted Nominees: Lizzy Caplan, Fleishman Is in Trouble Jessica Chastain, George and Tammy Dominique Fishback, Swarm Riley Keough, Daisy Jones and the Six Rachel Weisz, Dead Ringers Ali Wong, Beef A lot of names are being tossed around by Emmy prognosticators for this category, including Elizabeth Olsen for her role as accused murderer Candy Montgomery; Emily Blunt for her work in the British western The English; or Bel Powley, who generated recent conversation for her portrayal of Miep Gies, who helped hide Anne Frank from the Nazis, in A Small Light. I think Caplan, Fishback, and Keough will ultimately prevail, alongside more certain nominees Chastain, Weisz, and Wong. But Im also fully prepared to be wrong. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Predicted Nominees: Nicholas Braun, Succession Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul John Lithgow, The Old Man Matthew Macfadyen, Succession Jonathan Pryce, The Crown Alan Ruck, Succession Alexander Skarsgard, Succession Matt Smith, House of the Dragon Because of the number of entries, there will be eight nominees in the supporting-drama fields, which means theres room for a fourth guy from Succession to get nominated. That will be Skarsgard, though ultimately, this is Macfadyens prize to lose no matter who hes competing against. (Admittedly, I may have a Wambsgans bias.) Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Predicted Nominees: Carol Burnett, Better Call Saul J. Smith Cameron, Succession Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown Meghann Fahey, The White Lotus Aubrey Plaza, The White Lotus Christina Ricci, Yellowjackets Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul Its possible Lesley Manville (The Crown) or Justine Lupe (Succession) are missing from this list, but Im expecting other performers from Succession, The White Lotus, and Better Call Saul to dominate. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Predicted Nominees: Anthony Carrigan, Barry Harrison Ford, Shrinking Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Henry Winkler, Barry While the supporting-drama categories will have eight nominees, the supporting races in comedy and limited will yield seven. (I know its confusing; I dont make the rules!) There are definitely other actors who could make it into this group Phil Dunster or Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso), Stephen Root (Barry), James Marsden (Jury Duty), or Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live), who has been nominated for the past two years. But Im sticking with this septet at the moment because so many of them have been here before Carrigan, Goldstein, Shalhoub, Williams, and Winkler have either been nominated or won in recent years and the two newbies, Ford and Moss-Bachrach, are real standouts. Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Predicted Nominees: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Ayo Edebiri, The Bear Sarah Goldberg, Barry Janelle James, Abbott Elementary Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary Molly Shannon, The Other Two Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso Theres a really good chance Juno Temple will get nominated instead of Molly Shannon, but I am including Shannon here because The Other Two deserves something and Keeley drove me nuts on this season of Ted Lasso. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series Predicted Nominees: Murray Bartlett, Welcome to Chippendales Rodney Burford, Dahmer Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Domhnall Gleeson, The Patient Paul Walter Hauser, Black Bird Richard Jenkins, Dahmer Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Young Mazino, Beef Ray Liotta, Black Bird This is another category where it feels like the winner is predetermined Hauser already won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of a serial killer and the other nominees are incidental. (Though since Black Bird was one of Liottas final roles before his death, I could see the TV Academy paying tribute to him here.) Otherwise, Jesse Plemons (Love and Death) or Joseph Lee (Beef) could easily take one of the other spots. Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series Predicted Nominees: Maria Bello, Beef Olivia Colman, Great Expectations Claire Danes, Fleishman Is in Trouble Lena Headey, White House Plumbers Niecy Nash-Betts, Dahmer Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Ashley Park, Beef Lily Rabe, Love & Death Its hard to imagine this Emmy not going to either Danes or Nash-Betts, but this is the group I suspect will be their competitors. It would be a nice surprise, though, to see Camila Morrone receive a nomination for her grounded, compassionate work in Daisy Jones and the Six. What made Jurassic Parks dinosaurs special the scientific rigor, mystery and thrills has been lost in a decades-long parade of imitations. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Everett Collection, MarVista Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures When most modern moviegoers think of dinosaurs on the big screen, they tend to conjure a few key images: A tyrannosaurus pacing out of a tropical thunderstorm, head swiveling like a bird to track carloads of fleeing, screaming humans; a brachiosaur rearing, its long neck plucking at the canopy of a tree; two scaly, evil-eyed velociraptors sneaking into an industrial kitchen, barking and squabbling. Jurassic Park Steven Spielbergs 1993 adaptation of Michael Crichtons blockbuster novel reshaped cinemas idea of dinosaurs. Gone were the ponderous, tail-dragging movie monsters of yesteryear. Now they could be agile, cunning, and animalistic, closer to the scientific consensus of what these animals actually looked like and how they behaved. But ever since Jurassic Park, dinosaurs on the big screen have stayed frozen in time. In 2023, they are just as likely to be cut-and-pasted from Spielbergs film as they were in the 90s and 2000s: This years Sam Raimiproduced, Adam Driverstarring 65 featured scaly, evil-eyed raptors and a toothy, reptilian tyrannosaur that looms out of the pounding rain. Anyone whos paid even cursory attention to paleontology over the past decade can tell you that this probably isnt what dinosaurs looked like. Feathered dinosaurs were discovered in 1998, and in the time since, paleontologists have unearthed a wealth of new species and information. It might be easy to dismiss questions of paleontological accuracy as specialist griping. But one reason the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park made such an impact on regular moviegoers, too, is because they were so visually novel and, yes, rigorous: Look, the film told you. This is a real dinosaur. They may not be note-perfect, but theyre convincing and compelling, hitting with the force of revelation. Now, increasingly in movies including some of Jurassic Parks own grand-sequels these animals feel like placeholders. Theres no mystery left: If youve seen one cinematic dinosaur, youve seen them all. Dinosaurs have been a staple at the movies since there were movies. In 1914, the charming, long-necked Gertie was the star of one the first animated short films. Dinosaurs went on to make starring appearances in films by stop-motion animation pioneer Willis OBrien (the effects wizard behind 1925s The Lost World and the 1933 King Kong) and his protege, Ray Harryhausen (who worked on 1966s Raquel Welchstarring One Million Years BC and 1969s The Valley of Gwangi), among many others. They were brought to life through claymation or rubber suits, and characterized according to how scientists understood dinosaurs at the time: as dim-witted reptilian hulks, only as fast as they needed to be to be cinematically threatening. By the 1980s, however, the scientific paradigm had shifted. Scientists learned that dinosaurs were likely warm-blooded, active, and behaviorally complex. This new research attracted the interest of techno-thriller writer Michael Crichton, who started work on the novel that would become Jurassic Park. Even before it was published, remembers concept artist Mark Crash McCreery, a copy was being passed around the Stan Winston Studio, a special effects house focusing on animatronics and practical effects for films like Terminator, Predator, and Aliens. The book was on the fast track for a Spielberg adaptation, and McCreery was one of the people tasked with figuring out what the films dinosaurs should look like. His team devoured all the cutting-edge paleoart and technical references it could, and paleontologists like Robert Bakker and John Horner consulted on the designs that McCreery produced. Their goal was to produce dinosaurs that felt lifelike and in keeping with the emerging popular consensus, while still angling for drama and avoiding the feeling of a science project. The team took creative liberties, too, of course, including adding an expanding, rattling frill for the crested predator dilophosaurus, which devours a hapless Wayne Knight. Anything that helped with the mystery and awe of what dinosaurs could be, we latched onto, McCreery recalls. Some of the teams ideas based on what was then scientific guesswork were a bit too radical for Spielberg, he remembers. We were kind of pushing for feathers on the raptors a little bit, and he was like, No, no, no. No feathers. Not yet. Still, the rigor that went into McCreerys concept work for Jurassic Park and its less-beloved sequels, The Lost World and Jurassic Park 3, ensured that the films designs have aged fairly well, says Steve Brusatte, a dinosaur specialist with the University of Edinburgh who consulted on the latest film in the franchise, Jurassic World: Dominion. Perhaps the long-necked sauropods are a bit too lumbering and elephant-like. The raptors are too big, and the frilled dilophosaurus is too small; all of the predatory dinosaurs have wrists that are bent the wrong way palms down instead of parallel. (Dinosaurs were clappers, not slappers, as the paleo-people say.) But I dont think you can seriously fault any of those designs, Brusatte said. Those are minor details that, to me, dont matter in the grand scheme of things. Jurassic Park threaded an exceedingly tricky needle: portraying dinosaurs as both captivating movie monsters and plausible, awe-inspiring animals. McCreery and his colleagues work also ended up becoming the template for decades of subsequent dinosaur films. (And commercials he recalls watching television once and thinking, Oh, thats our raptor.) That, to them, is what a classic dinosaur looks like, McCreery said. For contemporary audiences, as time goes by, that becomes the standard. Among the ranks of cheap, micro-budget fare, Jurassic copies are sometimes astoundingly blatant in their pilfering of McCreerys design work: consider projects like Extinction (2014); Cowboys vs. Dinosaurs (2015); Jurassic Predator (2018); and Jurassic Hunt (2021). Bigger films have been light-fingered as well: The sci-fi comedy reboot Land of the Lost (2009) put some work into differentiating its T. rex, but it lifted its raptors right out of Isla Nublar. Even blockbusters that have tried to differentiate themselves like Peter Jacksons 2005 remake of King Kong have often done so by blending retro dinosaur looks with the active, swift menace seen in Jurassic Park. Meanwhile, Brusatte noted, the few cinematic attempts to present more up-to-date animals, like Disneys Dinosaur (2000) and Walking With Dinosaurs (2013), both of which he consulted on, didnt exactly set the world on fire. By the time Universal revived the Jurassic Park franchise in 2015, the scientific consensus on dinosaurs had again advanced. By that point, feathers were no longer simply a reasonable guess, as theyd been in 1993: Decades of new discoveries had solidified their presence in many families of dinosaurs, from simple fur-like coats to quills and wings. In 2015, Brusatte co-authored a scientific paper announcing a new Chinese dromaeosaur the family to which the velociraptor belongs with an elaborate coat and wing feathers. The reality is probably all dinosaurs had some type of feather, and the dinosaur ancestor probably had feathers, the same way all mammals have some type of hair, he tells me. Likewise, unexpected discoveries like the rooster-like comb on a duck-billed dinosaur called edmontosaurus were helping drive a shift toward a picture of dinosaurs with a wider variety of colors, builds, and display organs, producing animals that looked meatier, stranger, and more experimental. Jurassic World and its immediate sequel made no particular effort to keep up. At the time, dinosaur fans noted that the films animals looked like many-Xeroxed copies of McCreerys work less meticulous, more cartoonish. (Many said the same about the new films themselves.) The reasoning given, in-film, was that the dinosaurs werent real animals, but genetically engineered monsters. But Brusatte has another theory: Theyre not straying from that design thats like Coca-Cola changing their logo or something. Its just not going to happen. Why not forge beyond the stock image of the roaring monster? Why not allow dinosaurs the courtesy of being weird? For a series of films ostensibly about the dangers of attempting to render real animals into merchandise, this has a certain bitter irony. And in continually casting back to the iconography of Spielbergs film, the overwhelming impression across the last three decades of copycats is a lack of imagination, says science journalist Riley Black, whos written extensively about dinosaurs for Smithsonian and National Geographic. What made Jurassic Park and its immediate successors special the attempt to blend scientific rigor, mystery and thrills got lost in a parade of conservative imitations. Dinosaurs are such stock monsters again at this point that you can just plonk one down into a movie and you dont have to think about it, she said. Its not thinking about them as animals. Its thinking, We need something big with a lot of teeth. Its all the more galling when current paleontological research offers so many opportunities to imagine dinosaurs that are stranger, more outlandish, and if need be more frightening. Under Brusattes consultancy, Dominion did add a handful of feathered species: a short scene with a new, feathered dromaeosaur, as well as the tiny, feathered tyrannosaur moros and the immense, scythe-clawed herbivore therezinosaurus. But he still thinks the feather thing is underdone. Just because there are a few dinosaurs with feathers in one blockbuster film doesnt mean that concept has really percolated into public consciousness. Big-budget movies might not have a monopoly on mass-market dinosaurs, but they represent what studios think audiences want, and influence the way non-experts envision extinct animals. The result is a dinosaur-and-egg conundrum: As those films are stuck in the scientific past, the popular image of them is as well leading other studios to continue to keep their dinosaurs featherless. But feathers are, in some sense, the least of it. There were dinosaurs like miniature ant-eaters, enormous crocodilian herons, tiny spiked dragons, the combination of a goose and a sloth. The great necks of long-necked dinosaurs could have been billboards, full of inflatable sacs, while other dinosaurs might have been as extravagant and garish as their modern relatives. Dinosaurs we think of as peaceful herbivores could have been aggressive and bad-tempered; dinosaurs like tyrannosaurus changed so much over their lifespan theyve been mistaken for different species. Animals today even familiar ones can surprise us with bizarre behaviors, like lamb-killing armadillos and tree-climbing crocodiles. Why not forge beyond the stock image of the roaring monster? Why not allow dinosaurs the courtesy of being weird? You look at dinosaur art as an example of where thinking is going, and its this amazing world, McCreery said. Theres an increasing willingness to explore the modern view or push it forward, whether in visual art, in survival- or park-building videogames, or in television shows like the tremendously successful Apple TV+ documentary Prehistoric Planet. Its not so much about whats the design de jour of dinosaurs, its about looking at them in a direction of exploration and pushing those boundaries of whats possible. Its been 30 years, in other words. Maybe its time to try and leave the park. BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China will step up efforts to provide daycare services for children under three in a bid to relieve mothers of the heavy burdens of child-rearing, a health official said Tuesday. The country now has about 75,000 nurseries for children under three, which can take in more than 3.6 million children, said Yang Jinrui, a senior official with the National Health Commission, at a seminar marking this year's World Population Day, which falls on Tuesday. About 6 percent of children under three in China have gone to nurseries, according to Yang. A majority of Chinese children under three are taken care by their families, particularly mothers who are struggling to balance child-rearing with their careers. The Chinese government will try hard to perfect its population policies, establish a childcare service system that is accessible to all, and encourage fathers and mothers to share the responsibilities of child-rearing, Yang said, adding that these are part of the efforts to create a favorable environment for couples to raise children. In 2021 China began to allow each couple to have three children. Measures are being taken to boost the fertility rate as the country faces an aging population. Into It with Sam Sanders Get new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Subscribe to the podcast here. Photo: Netflix Intimacy coordinators oversee so much more than scenes involving sex and nudity on a set. They choreograph physical touch between actors playing parents and children, like picking kids up, cuddling them, or kissing them, explains intimacy coordinator Adelaide Waldrop. That was some of the work she did on the set of Aftersun, the coming-of-age film featuring Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio as his fictional daughter. Intimacy coordinators also work on scenes where theres implied nudity, like those with urination or menstruation. Waldrop has worked on a range of projects and scenes involving all kinds of intimate scenarios, so it was irritating for her to watch the discourse unfold around The Idol. In the pilot episode, an intimacy coordinator tries to intervene during a photoshoot and is locked in a bathroom. I think its really indicative of how a lot of people see our job, Waldrop says. She also laments a general lack of imagination about sex and nudity in many film and TV productions. Were not seeing interesting textures and explicitness of intimacy, like condoms, lube, sex toys, none of that stuff. Listen to the full episode of Into It and subscribe below to learn more about the misconceptions people in Hollywood still have about intimacy coordinators all these years after Me Too first brought attention to the role. Try it for yourself. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic and Michel Gangne/AFP via Getty Images On February 17, 2022, Brad Pitt sued Angelina Jolie over their once jointly owned idyllic vineyard in the south of France. They had purchased a controlling interest in this vineyard, Chateau Miraval, in 2008. The 1,200-acre estate is located along an ancient Roman road and contains multiple structures from the 17th century, according to People. What was once a rose-y side hustle is now the latest in a slew of legal disputes the couple has been waging against each other since their 2016 divorce. The famous exes are locked in a battle over Jolies selling her portion of the property without Pitts approval. In Pitts civil complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the actor claims they had previously agreed not to sell their shares without getting approval from the other to do so. The suit has since devolved from an acrimonious business conflict into a sort of international mudslinging contest. Pitt claims that Jolie, a renowned human-rights activist, has handed over her shares to a purported Russian oligarch named Yuri Shefler in an invalid transaction. Pitt insists the alleged transaction harms the brand after Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Jolies former company filed a $250 million cross-complaint alleging that Pitt wanted to get control over their company as payback for their split and their child-custody fight and linked his allegedly abusive behavior to his drinking habits. On October 4, 2022, Jolie filed a cross-complaint against Pitt detailing alleged abuse that involved their children. The fight described in Jolies complaint happened only days before their divorce filing. Things have only gotten stickier since the initial lawsuits. Nouvel, Jolies former investment company bought out by Shefler, accused Pitt and co-conspirators of looting and stripping Miraval of its assets, according to documents obtained by CNN on July 11. The company sued Pitt for at least $350 million in damages. Heres what you need to know. Whats the deal with this vineyard? Pitt claims that he and Jolie bought a controlling interest in a company called Chateau Miraval, S.A. in 2008. This company was composed of a home and vineyard in the South of France. Although its a business, Miraval seemed to hold sentimental value for the actor. Pitt and Jolie purchased the chateau as a home to share with their children and the vineyard as a family business, his lawsuit said. They agreed they would never sell their respective interests in Miraval without the others consent. The couple spent the holidays at Miraval with their children. Pitt and Jolie even wed there in 2014. Pitt alleges that he wound up being far more involved in Miraval than Jolie. The vineyard became Pitts passion and a profitable one, as Miraval, under Pitts stewardship, has grown into a multimillion-dollar global business and one of the worlds most highly regarded producers of rose wine, the lawsuit says. Pitt contends that Jolie, meanwhile, contributed nothing to Miravals success. Instead, Jolie let Pitt pour money and sweat equity into the business in reliance on the consent right she owed him and a right of first refusal her business entity owed his. When Jolie unloaded her shares to Shefler, she carried out these unlawful dealings in secret, Pitt claims, forcing him into a corner. Not only is Sheflers rep tainted by his purported links to Russian president Vladimir Putin, he is trying to oust Pitt by engaging in business tactics that allegedly destabilize the winery, the actor says. Pitt alleges that Shefler made various threats against him, according to court papers. So Pitt feels like he did all the work, but theyre split up now why does he care if she sells her shares? Pitt maintains that they both agreed not to sell their respective holdings without the others okay. When Jolie unloaded her share in Miraval last October, she ignored that agreement, Pitt alleges. Moreover, Jolie sold her interest in Miraval to Tenute del Mondo, a company with allegedly questionable ties, Pitt claims. His suit describes Tenute del Mondo as a hostile third-party competitor bent on taking control of Miraval. The purported sale breaches the agreement between Jolie and Pitt that formed the foundation of the couples investment in Miraval. The purported sale violates the contractual expectations of Pitt and Jolie, and entities they own, established through the 14 years since they bought Miraval, his suit claims. The purported sale deprives Pitt of his right to enjoy the home he established for his family and to oversee the business he developed from scratch. Remember: Pitt is arguing that the sale isnt valid, hence his couching the transaction as purported. Then theres the Russia discourse. Tenute del Mondo is indirectly owned and controlled by Yuri Shefler the Russian billionaire who controls the Stoli Group and whose flagship Russian vodka, Stolichnaya, has been the object of boycotts throughout the world, Pitts suit says. The U.S. Treasury Department designated Shefler as an oligarch in the Russian Federation. Jolie allegedly pursued and then consummated the purported sale in secret, purposely keeping Pitt in the dark, and knowingly violating Pitts contractual rights. In doing this, Jolie sought to seize profits she had not earned and returns on an investment she did not make [and] also through the purported sale, Jolie sought to inflict harm on Pitt, his suit alleges. Why cant Pitt and the reported oligarch just get along? Pitt says that since Shefler claimed to get Jolies stake in Miraval, he has launched a hostile takeover of the wine business, destabilizing Miravals operations and seeking access to Miravals confidential and proprietary information for the benefit of his competing enterprise. Meanwhile, Miravals association with Shefler who has gained notoriety through cutthroat business tactics and dubious professional associations jeopardizes the reputation of the brand Pitt so carefully built, Pitt alleges. He claims that Jolie sought to force Pitt into partnership with a stranger, and worse yet, a stranger with poisonous associations and intentions. Pitts suit contends that Shefler and one of his associates have repeatedly threatened retributive action against him and the business via text messages. According to Pitts suit, Shefler and his company have long wanted into the winery and seized on news of Pitt and Jolies September 2016 divorce filing to make a bid for the property. Pitt says that the company, with Sheflers backing, officially offered 60 million for Chateau Miraval and also offered a bizarre sweetener for Pitt: a 50 million private jet on very attractive terms. The winery declined. Shefler allegedly expressed interest in Miraval again in May 2021. Officials from Sheflers business and Miraval had a meeting. Following this meeting, Pitt confirmed that he had no interest in a deal with Shefler, his suit says. Pitt contends that if Jolie had ever asked him whether he would consent to her deal with Shefler, he would have said no. Does this lawsuit relate to the Pitt-Jolie divorce? Somewhat. Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on September 19, 2016. Pitt claims she hasnt been back to the winery since seeking the divorce and did nothing to drive the growth of its business. Pitt and Jolie talked about a possible buyout a few years after she filed for divorce, but in January 2021, Jolie allegedly told Pitt in writing that she had come to a painful decision, with a heavy heart. Jolie allegedly said she had bought Miraval as a family business where they would grow old. However, Jolie said, she could no longer maintain any ownership position in an alcohol-based business given her personal objections. Jolie said their buyout discussions were off the table. Pitt said Jolie actually had another buyer waiting in the wings. On October 5, 2021, Pitt found out that Jolie had unloaded her shares when Tenute del Mondo put out a press release saying it had bought her stake. Pitt contends the purported sale wasnt lawful and is asking for a nullification to recognize that the deal is invalid and cant stand. Is this lawsuit getting personal? Yes, and its even messier than before. On September 6, 2022, the New York Post reported new allegations against Pitt related to the ongoing winery litigation. Nouvel, Jolies former investment company for the winery, claimed in a cross-suit that Pitt had tried to get control of the winery as revenge for their split. These documents dive deeply into their marital woes. Although things had gone well for the winery after the pair bought it in 2008, all was not well, the cross-suit claims: Pitt developed a publicly acknowledged alcohol-abuse problem. In 2016, after a serious and internationally publicized incident between Pitt, Jolie, and the couples children, Jolie filed for divorce. The filings say that Pitts alleged effort to take over Miraval was in retaliation for the divorce and custody battle. These allegations came several weeks after a sealed FBI report surfaced about the incident, which had taken place on an airplane; the report was obtained by NBC News and several other outlets. The FBI and Los Angeles child-welfare authorities closed an investigation of physical-abuse allegations related to Pitt and his children during the flight. Pitt did not face criminal charges, per reports. Then, on October 4, 2022, Jolie personally filed a cross-complaint against Pitt that provides more details into the alleged airplane altercation of September 14, 2016. Jolies cross-complaint claims that Pitts behavior was aggressive before they even boarded the plane and alleges he had a confrontation with one of their children. When Jolie asked Pitt what was wrong, he responded that she was too indulgent with their kids, then verbally attacked her, the cross-complaint says. About 90 minutes later, Pitt ordered Jolie to the back of the airplane and brought her into the bathroom, where he shouted at her. He grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her, and then grabbed her shoulders and shook her again before pushing her into the bathroom wall, then punched the ceiling, court papers claim. Jolie left the bathroom, and at one point, one of their children tried to defend her. Pitt, the cross-complaint alleges, lunged at his own child. At this point, Jolie grabbed Pitt from behind to stop him, and he hurled himself against a seat to get her off of him, hurting her elbow and back, court papers claim. The children rushed in and all bravely tried to protect each other. Before it was over, Pitt choked one of the children and struck another in the face, the suit alleges. Some of the children pleaded with Pitt to stop. They were all frightened. Many were crying. Sometimes Pitt would approach them to shout and curse at them. He poured beer on both Jolie and his children. By the time the plane landed, Jolie had organized separate transportation and told Pitt she and the children were going to a hotel. She alleges that he screamed at her, pushed her, and kept her and the kids from leaving the plane for approximately 20 minutes. When Pitt finally let them leave, he again physically abused one of their children. Pitt, the documents allege, grabbed and shook Jolie by the head and shoulders. One of their children pleaded, Dont hurt her. While Pitt let her go, he allegedly called her a bitch before saying, Fuck you, fuck you all. Jolie filed for divorce five days after that fateful flight. As far as Jolies allegations go, a Pitt source said: She continues to rehash, revise, and reimagine her description of an event that happened six years ago by adding completely untrue information each time she fails to get what she wants. Her story is constantly evolving. In Pitts new complaint, filed on June 1, he called the sale vindictive: Jolie now makes excuses about her decision to break off discussions with Pitt and pursue this secret putative sale to Shefler and Stol. Jolies excuses will not be borne out. Her decision to terminate negotiations with Pitt was intentional and pretextual. As will be demonstrated at trial, Jolies actions were unlawful, severely and intentionally damaging Pitt and unjustly enriching herself. Jolies side sees it differently: The reality is that Pitt refused to complete the Miraval sale with Jolie unless she agreed to being silenced about the abuse as he demanded that $8.5 million be held back to force her to keep quiet No matter how many times Mr. Pitt amends his complaint, he cannot escape from the fact that he verbally and physically assaulted Ms. Jolie and their children even choking one of the children and striking another, a source for Jolie told Vulture. Still today, and in the seven years since that fateful plane ride, he personally has never publicly denied that it happened. Mr. Pitt saying that he is suing his ex-wife to protect his family is hard to understand, because he is well aware that the children have not felt able to return to the house in France for almost seven years now due to the events that led to Ms. Jolie filing for divorce. Got it. Why Nouvel is filing a second lawsuit against Pitt? Jolies former investment company has more complaints to make against Pitt, it seems. Nouvel accused the Babylon actor of vineyard-related misconduct that escalated after Jolie sold the company to Stoli Group. Pitt wasted the companys assets, spending millions on vanity projects, including more than $1 million on swimming pool renovations, building and rebuilding a staircase four times, and spending millions to restore a recording studio, the document filed on July 10 states, per CNN. Nouvel accused Pitt and co-conspirators of stripping and looting assets, seeking $350 million in damages. Incensed that Jolie sold Nouvel to Stoli rather than him, Pitt has acted like a petulant child, refusing to treat Nouvel as an equal partner in the business, the filing states. So thats it? Jolies filing hit back at Pitts allegation that Shefler Stoli Groups owner has ties to Putin. In reality, ever since Mr. Shefler rebuilt Stoli from the ashes of its Soviet predecessor into a profitable business, he has been in open conflict with Putin and Russia. Stoli has been locked in litigation with the Putin regime for decades over control of the Stolichnaya vodka trademarks, court papers state. Shefler and Stoli have repeatedly and publicly denounced the Putin regime and its reprehensible invasion of Ukraine. Putins people once even tried to kidnap Shefler. This is a developing story. Well, after several episodes of wheel-spinning, things are finally happening on Cruel Summer: Girlz Rule Boys Drool Edition. Megan gets busted for making fake IDs, Steve Chamberss PI turns up some compelling information about Ned and Megan, and Isabella does absolutely nothing wrong in all three timelines. Were also dealing with some kind of Freaky Friday situation between Luke and his brother Brent. Suddenly, Brent is the braggadocious himbo hiding a heart of gold and Luke is captaining the Sexist Jerk Brigade. Even Steve surprised me in this episode. Instead of coming down on Megan as I expected, Steve actually comes to her defense and blasts Ned for exploiting a minor teenage girl with his clandestine off-grid hacking-mentorship program. Because, apparently, Steves private detective uncovered more pertinent evidence in one day than Sheriff Myers entire department did in two weeks of investigation six months if you count from the time Luke actually disappeared. Going by the shows own timeline, less than 24 hours after Steve was bursting into Myers office and demanding the immediate arrest of guardian-less foreign teenager Isabella, his PI (Veronica Mars, I assume) has uncovered enough evidence incriminating Ned for Lukes death to knock Isabella off of Steves personal suspect list entirely. The fact that Steve already knew that Ned was a mentally unstable recluse with a violent history and a grudge against his family, and that Ned and Luke had a physical altercation on the last day Luke was seen alive, probably should have put him at the top of the suspect list to begin with. But, hey, we live and we learn. What Veronica Mars discovered is that Megan is a hacker for hire and, most importantly, was brought into this line of work by Ned. For whatever reason, this information doesnt arouse any suspicion about Meg for either Steve or Brent. In fact, in a moment of uncharacteristic fluency with the manipulative potential of unequal power dynamics, the surviving Chambers men assume Megan had been victimized by Ned. Steves theory is that Ned killed Luke over a scuffle involving her, which I guess is as likely a scenario as any. Brent She Was Asking For It Chambers actually tries to warn Megan about Ned, detailing all the sketchy details of her mentors past, including an allegation that Ned once assaulted his boss and put him in the hospital. But, as the gaslit often do, Megan refuses to believe it. Instead, she runs directly to Neds house to warn him that the Chamberses are after him. And she does this despite having seen Ned have a violent outburst firsthand when he assaulted first her and then Luke in the parking lot the day before Luke died. But perhaps Megan didnt take note of Neds blazing-red flag because she was too distracted by all of the flashing DANGER! DANGER! signals coming from her boyfriend at the same time. If you thought Luke was acting like an asshole in The Plunge, this little rich white boy doubles down in The End of the World. Six months earlier, on New Years Eve 1999, Ned and the rest of the conspiracy-minded globe are worrying that Y2K will trigger the end of the modern world, but Megan is more concerned with why her best friend would make a move on her boyfriend out of the blue. After all, Isabella went so far as to end her relationship with Luke specifically so that he and Megan could get together. It doesnt make sense for her to suddenly betray her BFF like that. When Meg brings this up to Luke, he wastes no time in spinning a story that paints our Izzie as some kind of jealous lunatic who wants Megan all to herself. Havent you noticed how Isabella hates it when we spend time alone without her, Luke suggests. Megan has not. Dont you think Isabella wants us to break up because shes a petty hater, Luke tries. Megan doesnt seem totally convinced. Being a little shit doesnt mean Luke deserves to die, obviously. Im generally very antideath penalty. At the same time, it does seem that Lukes shittiness helped lead to his untimely demise. Okay, like, Im just saying that Luke had several opportunities to save himself here. He could have listened to Megan when she wanted to call off the New Years Eve party, but Luke wanted to get Y2Krunk with all his friends. He could not have tried to make out with Isabella and then lied about it to begin with, but he also could have refrained from bragging about it to all his bros just in time for Meg (who has also just learned shes pregnant, by the way) to overhear. This girl was so ready to believe you, my guy. Even after she confronted Isabella about the kiss and Isabella told her the truth, Megan was still totally ready to stay Team Luke. And then you had to say shit like, Ive got them wrapped around my finger, LOL! I dont want to say, What did you expect, but, my guy, what did you expect? Jerk Luke is a far cry from the Loverboy Luke we see in the July of 1999 scenes. Luke and Meg spend the morning after Lukes birthday party cleaning up the house and shutting up the cabin before a big storm. And also flirting heavily over walkie-talkies in the woods. Aside from a short run-in with Ned, its a perfect day of teen romance, which ends in their first kiss at sunset. Cut to six months later, and Luke is loudly boasting about his ability to treat women terribly. Having heard more than enough, Megan is now activated. She immediately runs back to Isabella, full of apologies and righteous fury, and suggests a plan to make Luke pay for what he did. We dont know what that plan entails yet, because the episode ends on the lure-him-back-to-the-cottage phase of the scheme, but it definitely doesnt end well. Clues to Watch Will Megan find another way to go to college after losing her scholarship to UDub? Or will she follow Neds extremely untrustworthy advice not to play by their rules? Does Megan know how Luke died? This is still unclear. Megan and Isabella seem to be back on good terms by the end of New Years Eve, so we still need to know what happened to cause their final falling-out (aside from Luke dying, obviously). Still waiting for some payback from all of those home videos Jeff is taking. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Michael Moriatis/AMC, National Geographic for Disney/Dusan Martincek, Everette Collection Its Emmys time again! Or is it? With the writers strike continuing to dominate nearly every conversation about the TV industry, its been one of the most unusual Emmy seasons in recent memory, as both fans and members of the Academy question whether there will even be a show this year. Yet the machine keeps running: Emmy nominations will be announced tomorrow morning, pushing critical darlings to even higher heights and hopefully elevating a few great performers to new celebrity status. This means its time once again for us to register our performance nomination wish list, where we highlight the potential nominees who arent being predicted by the majority of pundits. Of course, we love Steven Yeun in Beef, Bill Hader in Barry, and Sarah Snook in Succession, but theyve already prepped their nominee statements; were focusing on those who are less likely to join this exclusive club but should. Even if these performances dont get the nominations they deserve, theyre some of the best of the 202223 season, all worth both your time and Emmys attention. Photo: Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures The Academy has been notoriously stingy when it comes to nominations for Better Call Saul. After all, Rhea Seehorn only received a single nomination for the first half of the final season (and she better repeat this year)! The odds that the Emmys will get this show right seem pretty low, but would it really miss the chance to praise one of TVs remaining living legends? Carol Burnett didnt just show up as a bit of stunt casting she fit in perfectly and ended up playing a crucial role in the fate of Saul Goodman. The truth is if she was still in the Guest Actress category, she would likely be going up for her seventh Emmy this year, but its much tougher to crack the Supporting Actress category, where she ended up being eligible after appearing in four of the half-seasons six eligible episodes. A reminder of one of the most influential legacies in TV history plus attention for one of the best drama series of all time feels like an opportunity that shouldnt be ignored but probably will. Photo: Linda Kallerus/FX One of the best limited series of 2022, FXs adaptation of Taffy Brodesser-Akners best-selling novel should be well represented on Emmy-Nomination Morning, but theres a chance its best performance could get shoved out owing to overcrowding. Yes, Claire Danes is remarkable as Rachel, but the acting turn that holds this whole thing together belongs to Lizzy Caplan as Libby. In a sense, its a dual performance. Libby narrates the story of Toby Fleishman (Jesse Eisenberg) as he struggles through life after the disappearance of his ex-wife. Her narration is stunning and underrated, a cleverly crafted piece of voice work that sometimes feels like hearing a story told by a good friend. And then theres her work as Libby, an old friend of Tobys whose life is affected by his self-centered choices. Caplan is consistently great in everything she does, and this might be her best work to date. Mike Colter for Evil Photo: Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+ The Academy has never recognized the great, form-breaking work of Robert and Michelle King since they left CBS and started making The Good Fight and Evil. Maybe its because of the comparatively low profile of Paramount+. Maybe its because voters just dont get it. Whatever the case, Evil remains one of the most fascinating dramas of its era, and star Mike Colter had his best season to date in its third outing. Colter subtly conveys David Acostas balance of temptation and faith understanding how both his human needs and belief system play into every choice he makes. Its an increasingly excellent performance, and an Emmy nod would help this show find the audience it deserves. Bridget Everett for Somebody Somewhere Photo: HBO Theres something so challenging about playing normal in the era of high-concept TV; an average midlife crisis is often treated as a sitcomish source of derision or part of an anti-heros growth. Whats so captivating about HBOs Somebody Somewhere is how easy it is to see yourself in its characters, people reaching for happiness and dealing with grief. The writing is strong, but nothing about this show works without the grounded, sensitive central performance by Bridget Everett, who doesnt overplay the truth of her character but finds it nonetheless. Dominique Fishback for Swarm Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/Prime Video Janine Nabers and Donald Glovers vicious takedown of celebrity obsession was one of the most divisive shows of the first half of 2023, but even the dramas detractors took a beat to praise the undeniable commitment of star Dominique Fishback. The great young actress plays Dre, whose unwavering commitment to the Swarm, the fan base of a Beyonce-esque pop star, sends her down a dark path that includes murder. Fishbacks is the kind of unsettling performance that awards bodies too often ignore, a character were not supposed to root for but we cant stop watching. Lets hope voters remembered how much this performance stung. Devery Jacobs for Reservation Dogs Photo: Shane Brown/FX FX just announced that one of the best comedies on television is coming to a close after its upcoming third season, and if Reservation Dogs doesnt get the recognition it should on Emmy-Nomination Morning, the disappointment will run even deeper. Ensemble shows have a habit of dividing voters, leading to zero acting nods look at whats happened to What We Do in the Shadows, for example. Not only should Reservation Dogs land in Best Comedy, but there should be a representative from its incredibly talented young cast in the acting groups too. Devery Jacobs seems the most logical choice for year two given Eloras emotional arc; this is a show that deftly balances heart and humor, and Jacobs is at the center of both. Elora sometimes feels like the leader of the Rez Dogslets have Jacobs lead this ensemble, too. Diego Luna for Andor Photo: Disney+ Will the Academy continue to nominate the declining The Mandalorian or pivot to the more acclaimed first season of the superior Star Wars show? Given its critical acclaim and award-winning pedigree, theres a good chance Andor becomes the Disney-Lucasfilm representative for the Academy this year, but Emmy nods for acting on Marvel or Star Wars shows simply dont happen. That should be corrected with a citation for Diego Luna, who really holds Andor together by taking his characters reality and arc totally seriously. Unlike a lot of performers on Star Wars shows, Luna never winks at the camera, grounding Cassian Andors journey in a way that makes him relatable. So much modern fantasy and sci-fi TV doesnt give enough attention to the human element, and Luna proves why they should. James Marsden for Jury Duty Photo: Freevee/Courtesy of Amazon Freevee Could the star of Dead to Me and Sonic the Hedgehog get his first major awards nomination for playing himself? Well, a variation on himself. He should! Jury Duty quietly became a massive word-of-mouth hit for Freevee, a network that probably doesnt expect to be represented on nomination morning, and James Marsdens work is one of its biggest draws. Ronald Gladden thinks hes just doing everyday jury-duty work, but everyone around him, from the attorneys to the judge, are actually actors including Marsden, doing a playful riff on his own celebrity, reminding viewers of his ace comic timing while taking a few jabs at his own career. The show may struggle a bit with categorization given its technically a reality show (Freevee submitted it in comedy categories), but Marsden would make for a joyful inclusion. Zahn McClarnon for Dark Winds Photo: Michael Moriatis/AMC/Michael Moriatis/AMC Since he appeared in the second season of Fargo and on the hit Longmire, Zahn McClarnon has quietly become one of the most consistent actors on television. Hes great on Reservation Dogs, but the real standout for him in the 202223 season was the first chapter of AMCs excellent Dark Winds, based on a series of novels by Tony Hillerman. As Joe Leaphorn, a Navajo police lieutenant in New Mexico in the 70s, McClarnon dials in on a combination of grace, intelligence, grief, and commitment to his people that makes him a captivating crime-solver. This is a show that could use a push to find the audience it deserves an Emmy nomination for its greatest asset could start that ball rolling. Keegan Michael-Key for Schmigadoon! Photo: Apple TV/Courtesy Everett Collection/Apple TV/Courtesy Everett Collection Apple TV+s loving spoof of Broadway musicals not only avoided a sophomore slump; it got better in its revival. Moving from the Golden Age of musicals to the grittier subject matter of the 60s and 70s allowed the writers to add more depth to a show thats really about two people trying to navigate normal life through the very abnormal construct of a genre in which characters express themselves through song. Broadway legends like Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth elevate an ace ensemble that could land multiple nominations in a just world, but wed be satisfied with just one representative: Keegan Michael-Key, a performer who has been consistent for years without enough recognition for his comic timing and character work. Kayvan Novak for What We Do in the Shadows Photo: Copyright 2019, FX Networks. All Rights Reserved. One of the loveliest surprises of the Emmys in the 2020s has been the comedy-series nominations for What We Do in the Shadows in seasons two and three. It feels very likely that the pattern continues for the hysterical fourth outing, but theres another pattern the Academy should break this year: No one from the ensemble landing a nomination. Maybe its because the entire cast is too strong to pick only one performer, but for season four, Kayvan Novak deserves an Emmy for handling the arc of Nandor trying to find a wife with perfectly exasperated comic timing. Bel Powley for A Small Light Photo: National Geographic for Disney/Dusan Martincek/National Geographic for Disney/Dusan Martincek Everyone knows the story of Anne Frank, but the tale of Miep Gies isnt taught in most schools. She was one of the Dutch citizens who protected the Frank family, and Nat Geos series about her is one of the most moving and remarkable of the year to date. The limited-series categories are stacked, but lets hope Emmy found space for this one in multiple categories, especially Lead Actress. Bel Powley does nuanced, fully realized work as Gies, who finds herself unable to look away when she senses true horror on her doorstep an element that makes A Small Light relevant again today. Its a phenomenal piece of acting from an actress who seems to get better with each part. Alexander Skarsgard for Succession Photo: Graeme Hunter/HBO Rooting for an extra nomination for a series thats likely to be the most nominated on Emmy morning may seem a little silly, but can we talk for a minute about the perfection of Alexander Skarsgards work on the final season of Succession? Yes, give the prize to Kieran Culkin, thats fine, but also please nominate an actor who got so perfectly under the skin of his character that he shifted the entire trajectory of the show. Skarsgard didnt play Lukas Matsson as a caricature, choosing instead to fully embody the kind of Uber-wealthy manipulator who sees people like dollars and cents, items to be reconciled on a balance sheet. He did so with a clever wink and sly smile, knowing that this is all just a game for people like Matsson. Well miss all the Roys, of course, but its almost more interesting to think about where Mattson would be in future seasons: destroying companies while he laughs the pain away. Sydney Sweeney for Reality Photo: HBO Tina Satter adapted her own play Is This a Room into a daring experiment for HBO that should earn the Euphoria star her third Emmy nomination at only 25 years old. Sweeney could get pushed out by a crowded movie category, but her work here is some of the most complex of her career. Working from transcripts of the initial interrogation of Reality Winner, Sweeney captures a young woman who has little idea of the historical investigation into which shes fallen. The way she conveys the rising tide of nerves as the questions get closer to what she knows could get her in serious trouble is subtle and understated in a way that feels, well, real. Alicia Vikander for Irma Vep Photo: Carole Bethuel/HBO Premiering over a year ago likely doomed HBOs best miniseries of the last year to an Emmy shutout. We hope were wrong. Not only should Olivier Assayass revamp of his 1996 film be a multiple nominee in the limited-series categories, but it would be criminal to ignore an Oscar winner for the best work of her career. Alicia Vikander seems reinvigorated by the role of Mira, an American movie star stuck in a miniseries adaptation of Les Vampires. Somehow both relatable and existing in a universe most viewers cant imagine, Vikander grounds the entire production in smart, unexpected choices for a performance thats easily one of the best of the modern TV era. MANILA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' total external trade in goods dropped by 5.1 percent in May 2023 to 17.28 billion U.S. dollars from 18.20 billion dollars in May 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday. Of the total external trade in May, the agency said that 62.7 percent were imported goods, while the rest were exported goods. The PSA said the balance of trade in goods or the difference between export and import value in May amounted to -4.40 billion dollars, indicating a trade deficit with an annual decrease of 20.9 percent. China was the Philippines' highest supplier of imported goods, valued at 2.60 billion dollars, or 24 percent of the country's total imports in May. China contributed the highest export value in May, with 1.07 billion dollars or 16.6 percent of the total exports. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Competition is heating up between China and the US in the southern Pacific, with each seeking to build influence among island nations that havent received much superpower attention since World War II. The stakes rose in 2022 when the Solomon Islands signed a security accord with Beijing a first for the region raising fears in Australia and New Zealand, both US allies, about a possible Chinese military base in the neighborhood. That has prompted a flurry of regional diplomacy and pledges of aid and cooperation in areas including climate change, as well as the appointment of new envoys and the opening of new embassies. 1. What countries are we talking about? There are some 14 independent Pacific island nations located mostly around or below the equator. Only one, Papua New Guinea, has a population greater than 1 million. Apart from the Solomons, others include Vanuatu, Samoa and Kiribati. Their combined gross domestic product of roughly $36 billion is about that of the US state of Vermont. Some island countries describe their foreign policy as friend to all, enemy to none, but they also have long-running ties to the US and its allies in the region, Australia and New Zealand. Advertisement 2. How is China reaching out, and why? An increasingly assertive China has been paying more attention to the region as it tries to raise its profile on the world stage. Then-Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a rare, extended trip to the region in May 2022 that included a China-Pacific islands ministerial meeting in Fiji. In 2023 China appointed Qian Bo as its inaugural special envoy for the Pacific islands. As in other emerging markets, China has become one of the biggest national lenders to the Pacific states. According to Chinese government figures, its trade with the region mostly seafood, wood and minerals expanded to $5.3 billion in 2021, from just $153 million in 1992. The outreach is part of Chinas effort to build a network of developing countries to take its side in global forums such as the United Nations, where the US can usually count on the support of its European, East Asian and other allies. That also helps the Chinese government to isolate Taiwan, the democratically run island that China considers a renegade province. In 2019 Beijing scored a big win when the Solomon Islands and Kiribati switched their diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. 3. Why are Western countries worried? Advertisement They dont want to see such strategically placed islands drifting into Chinas orbit. One of the most important World War II battles was fought at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, part of a campaign by the US to halt Japans southward advance. Then as now, any hostile military presence could threaten Australias and New Zealands trade routes. Parts of the US Guam and Hawaii could also be vulnerable. The area is part of Washingtons island chain security concept, which sees them as part of defensive lines between Asia and the US. Wang had dismissed any criticism. We must point out that South Pacific island countries are not a backyard of any country, still less a pawn for geopolitical rivalry, he said. 4. What happened with the Solomons? Chinese diplomats had been wooing Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare for years with stronger economic ties. Still, when a draft security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands was leaked in March 2022, it appeared to catch Australia and the US off guard. Sogavare has insisted China wont be allowed to construct a military base, and accused Western critics of treating Solomon Islanders like children with guns. But the draft appeared to grant the Chinese navy a safe harbor. China said the agreement was signed a month later, but no final text was released. (In May 2022 China and the Solomon Islands committed to deeper economic ties.) A US Coast Guard vessel received no response when it sought to make a refueling stop in August that year, and soon after the Solomons announced a moratorium on foreign naval visits pending updates in protocol procedures. In a speech at the UN, Sogavare said his country will not be coerced into choosing sides. This year, Chinas President Xi Jinping promised to strengthen mutual assistance as the Solomon Islands opened its new embassy in Beijing. Advertisement 5. How have the US and Australia responded? There has been a burst of activity to try to repair strained relations, including the brief prospect in May 2023 of the first visit by a sitting US president to Papua New Guinea. President Joe Biden canceled the trip to deal with issues in Washington, while promising to find other ways to engage with Pacific island leaders. Last year Biden appointed Joseph Yun as special envoy for negotiations with Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands, a newly created post. He also had more than a dozen regional leaders to a first-ever White House summit, which produced an agreement that included commitments on global warming. Island leaders had bristled in the past when then-President Donald Trump and then-Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison played down the effects of climate change, which is seen as an existential threat by the island nations because of rising sea levels. Biden and Morrisons successor, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have made new commitments to reduce carbon emissions. The White House agreement also covered development and security issues and the promise of some new US embassies. A new one in the Solomons opened in February this year. Wangs earlier attempt to seal a similar Pacific nations deal in Fiji fell apart because of what some regional officials called Beijings attempts to rush it through. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Gift this article Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share If Russias invasion of Ukraine was supposed to weaken the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and stop its eastward expansion one rationalization offered by President Vladimir Putin it backfired. Rather than exploit tensions within the alliance, Russias war strengthened and enlarged it. Finland, Russias direct neighbor, joined NATO in April, and Sweden is next in line. Ukraine, too, is pressing for admission even as it continues to fight Russian troops within its borders. 1. Whats happening with Ukraines bid to join NATO? Ukraine first applied in 2008 just before a summit in Bucharest, at which NATO said it and Georgia could join, but didnt set a date. Last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy formally asked NATO to make good on its pledge. Some NATO members, including Poland and Baltic states Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, have been pushing for progress on the application. France appears to have come around to the idea of at least giving Ukraine a road map, outlining stages and progressions, but Germany has been more cautious about discussing the matter. One big issue: If Ukraine is a member, Article 5 of the NATO Treaty could draw allies into the ongoing war, since it states that an attack on one NATO member shall be considered an attack against them all. Short of granting membership in the near term, some in NATO are looking at offering security guarantees in the form of long-term financial and military support to bolster Ukraines defenses and prevent Russia from attacking again once the current war ends. Those measures could also facilitate Ukraines membership process when the time is right. Advertisement 2. How many countries are in NATO? Finlands admission increased membership to 31 nations, up from 12 at NATOs founding in 1949. The growth is a reflection of NATOS evolution from a bulwark against Soviet attack during the Cold War to a broad partnership between North America and Europe based on shared political and economic values. 3. What does it take to join? NATO countries have to be unanimous in welcoming a new member. Approval is pretty much a political decision, though NATO does spell out criteria that prospective new members should meet. These include a functioning democracy based on a market economy, fair treatment of minority populations and a commitment to resolve conflicts peacefully. The applicant needs to have an ability and willingness to make a military contribution to NATO operations all points that helped fast-track the process for Finland and Sweden, which have for years trained with the alliance and have modern, NATO-standard weapons and equipment. NATO has also made clear that having unresolved external territorial disputes weighs against being admitted, a consideration that gives Putin an edge, since Russian forces occupy internationally recognized parts of Georgia and Ukraine. Advertisement 4. Why was Swedens application delayed? Both Finland and Sweden had expected little resistance to their sudden requests to join the alliance when they announced them in May 2022. But Turkey which, like all NATO members, can veto the addition of a new member raised concerns over their relationships with Kurdish groups perceived as terrorists by Turkish officials. Finland was able to overcome Ankaras concerns relatively quickly. But negotiations over Swedens application dragged on for months. The Swedish government lifted a ban on arms sales to Turkey and amended its anti-terrorism law, which entered into force on June 1. Still, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held out on approval, only agreeing to support Swedens bid on the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July. At the same meeting, the US pledged to move forward with Turkeys request to purchase F-16 fighter jets, according to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Separately, the European Union agreed to speed up long-running membership negotiations with Turkey, including on upgrading the existing customs union and on visa liberalization for Turkish citizens, according to a Turkish official. NATO member Hungary, the only other holdout, had said it would back Swedens bid once Turkey did. 5. Who else has applied? Advertisement Georgia remains hopeful it can join but faces a similar problem to Ukraines: Russian forces currently occupy Abkhazia and South Ossetia, internationally recognized parts of the country. Bosnia-Herzegovina has also applied, but domestic divisions make its prospects low in the near future. 6. What is Russias concern? Putin and his government see NATO expanding into what it considers its sphere of influence, which diminished after the Cold War, and which Putin aims to restore. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, three former Soviet republics, are now NATO members. Citing its own security, Russia insists that NATO must never let more ex-Soviet states, such as Ukraine and Georgia, join. Russia also rejects NATOs claims that its a defensive alliance, accusing the bloc of seeking to contain Moscow and sowing instability with interventions in places like the Middle East and the Balkans. After Finland joined the alliance, the Kremlin said NATOs expansion is an encroachment on our security and added that we will take countermeasures, without specifying what those would be. Advertisement 7. What does NATO say? NATO says its open door policy on enlargement has helped increase stability and prosperity in Europe. Its role since the collapse of the Soviet Union has expanded to include bombing Serb forces during the Bosnia and Kosovo wars of the 1990s, enforcing an arms embargo on Libya in 2011, helping Europe deal with an influx of Middle Eastern refugees that began in 2015, stepping up cyber defense and, since 2014, deploying multinational battle groups in eastern Europe in response to Russias encroachment in Ukraine. NATO is also trying to define its role in addressing Chinas expanding influence. A 2019 summit expanded NATOs remit to make outer space an operational domain along with air, land, sea and cyberspace. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Gift this article Gift Article Victor Dolidze, the head of the Georgian mission to NATO, on Monday said the countrys ultimate goal was full membership in the alliance, and noted it probably matters less by which mechanism it will be ultimately determined - with or without the membership action plan, Azernews reports, citing Agenda. In his comments ahead of the NATO Summit set to kick off on Tuesday in Lithuanias capital city of Vilnius, Dolidze highlighted the importance of the event based on the current political and military situation in the Black Sea region. As a result of our efforts, the final political statement, be it a declaration or a communique, will accurately and optimistically outline our future plans, our aspirations for the alliance. The fact that NATO will return to the decision made at the [2008] Bucharest Summit [that] Georgia will become a member of NATO will be reflected properly, Dolidze said. The most important [factor] is our number one problem, which concerns territorial integrity and sovereignty. I am sure that in relation to Russia, it will be clearly reflected that Russia should leave the territory of Georgia. I mean the military forces, they should stop militarisation and at the same time withdraw the decision on recognition [of the occupied territories], the Georgian diplomat continued. He also stressed Georgia needed a political decision from NATO as the ball is in NATO's court and we are waiting for this decision to be made as soon as possible. The diplomat added his Government "always reminded" counterparts in the bloc that "our ultimate goal is a full NATO membership", adding "I hope this day will come. WASHINGTON, July 10 (Xinhua) -- During a recent visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng expressed his hope to the world-renowned museum's director that MET will continue to promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States. Xie, who had an exchange of views with Director Max Hollein as he visited the museum on Friday, said that MET is a world-renowned museum with a long history and rich collections. It is one of the museums that have enjoyed the longest cooperation with China, with most joint programs and of the largest scale. As early as in 1980, MET held The Great Bronze Age of China exhibition. In the same year, the Astor court and its Suzhou version were open to the public at the same time, and have ever since witnessed over four decades of China-U.S. cultural exchanges. MET has become a must-see for Chinese tourists, who account for the largest share of its foreign visitors. Xie said that China is now committed to advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, which will feature both material and cultural-ethical advancement. People are the foundation of China-U.S. relations. China-U.S. cultural and cultural heritage exchanges should serve as a catalyst for promoting mutual understanding and respect and bringing peoples closer. At a time of difficulties and challenges in China-U.S. relations, it is all the more important to build bridges, not walls, and understand rather than misperceive each other. It is all the more important to fully leverage the unique power of culture to reach hearts, actively build bridges for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and open up a window for better understanding of each other's history and culture. It is hoped that MET will continue to promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States in areas such as cultural exhibitions, preservation technology and digitalization, show more creativity and inject positive energy into China-U.S. relations. Hollein warmly welcomed Xie and his colleagues, and gave a brief introduction to the collections and the management of the museum. He said that MET has and will always attach great importance to exchanges and cooperation with China. The Shape of Time: Art and Ancestors of Oceania exhibition, a joint program between the two sides, is on view in Shanghai. MET looks forward to more exchanges and cooperation with China and welcomes more Chinese tourists. Cook said the group had adequately managed issues about water supply and forest clearing to date and Alcoa had not received approval under the state agreement to operate in areas of concern. The states Water Corporation, which has most of its water catchments covered by Alcoas lease, had a different view in an internal briefing note that called Alcoas mining a very significant intergenerational risk to water quality and security of supply. Mining operations have not been effectively regulated, primarily due to limitations associated with the outdated management framework associated with the relevant state agreements, the note said. State agreements are not forever The new premier, however, has an option to address any concerns with the state agreement courtesy of high-profile stoush between his predecessor Mark McGowan and Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer. Alcoas 1961 mining lease stretches almost 200km north to south. Credit: Alcoa In 2020, Palmer sued WA for $30 billion, claiming previous state governments had unlawfully rejected his plans for developing an iron ore mine if the states north. McGowan responded with legislation fast-tracked in two days that quashed any chance of Palmers company Mineralogy receiving compensation under its state agreement. Serial litigant Palmer appealed to the High Court, which backed WAs move. University of WA associate professor of law Murrray Wesson said the Palmer decision confirmed parliament could legislate to change a state agreement and was absolutely clear that damages could not be claimed. Parliament can always pass legislation saying you dont have that [lease renewal] option and, with the current majority, the Labor Party has it open to them to pass that legislation if they wish to, the constitutional law specialist said. The premier was asked if the government was considering changing Alcoas state agreement and did not answer. The state government has made it clear to the company that protecting Perths drinking water remains paramount and that Alcoa must meet its environmental obligations, he said. Its important we allow the independent EPA to consider the referrals made relating to Alcoas mining plans. Transparency may be coming In February, environmental protection group WA Forest Alliance asked the independent EPA to review Alcoas 2022-2026 and 2023-2027 mining plans. A spokeswoman said the process to determine the validity of the request was complex. The EPA is deciding whether the referrals, as well as additional information from Alcoa, are appropriate to be published for a seven-day public comment period, she said. The authority expects to publish the documents by the end of July, after which it will consider submissions and decide whether to assess the proposals, and if so, the level of assessment. Any assessment of the biodiverse northern jarrah forest which the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2022 said faced a high risk of significant transition or collapse without changes to management practices is likely to be lengthy. Just publishing the documents will give the public more insight into Alcoas activities than they have ever as JTSI regards Alcoas mining plans as commercial in confidence. Mining already constricted If the state agreement remains untouched, that does not mean Alcoas activities are unregulated. The screw appears to have tightened on Alcoa, with the 2021-2025 plan resulting in 472 hectares of jarrah forest cleared in 2021, down from 872 hectares the year before. A JTSI spokesman said the miners 2022-2026 plan was not approved and instead, the 2021 plan was rolled over. Additional conditions banning Alcoa from areas that present the highest risk to the water supply have been imposed, according to a spokeswoman for the Water Corporation. She said the Water Corporation and state government were taking take proactive steps to ensure Alcoas activities do not risk the water supply. In 2022, clearing fell again to 379 hectares and bauxite production dipped 10 per cent. This year, Alcoa expects a lack of access to jarrah forest on high-grade bauxite to cost it about $240 million as it is forced to mine lower-grade ore it would ordinarily have left in the ground that would be more expensive to process into alumina. Big growth plan proceeding slowly Before it struck problems with its near-term mining plans, Alcoas biggest environmental hurdle was seeking approval to open two new mine areas to feed its Pinjarra and Kwinana refineries. In its first mine approval to go to the EPA instead of the behind-the-scenes group led by JTSI, Alcoa proposed to clear 8300 hectares of jarrah forest at new Myara North and Holyoake mine sites for 10 years from 2025. Protecting Perths drinking water remains paramount and Alcoa must meet its environmental obligations. WA Premier Roger Cook A year after starting the process in mid-2020, Alcoa expected to finish the detailed Environmental Review Document in late 2021 to allow it to be released for public comment. Now Alcoas published schedule is to complete the review by September 2023 a delay of almost two years. Progress would have been slowed by a hefty 132-item request for detailed scientific data and studies by the EPA in November 2022 prompted in part by a stronger focus on the cumulative impact of human activity on the environment. An Alcoa spokeswoman said the schedule for the approval was subject to change. The current schedule leading to final approval by mid-2025 assumed that public appeals to the EPAs eventual decision inevitable for such a controversial proposal would be dealt with in about three months. Woodsides similarly high-profile plan to extend the life of its North West Shelf gas plant has now been in the appeals process for 12 months without resolution. There is little prospect of Alcoa accessing its new mine areas in 2025. Loading Refinery and rehabilitation rules under review Alcoas claims to have rehabilitated more than 75 per cent of the jarrah forest it has destroyed looked less impressive when this masthead revealed the miner was counting areas where it had just done the early steps of landscaping and seeding. No area mined by Alcoa has met the rehabilitation completion criteria agreed with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. The department and Alcoa met in June to start revising the criteria with the aim of rehabilitating mined areas to a standard consistent with the surrounding forest, a DBCA spokeswoman said. Any new criteria that will be open to public comment before finalisation will only be more stringent than the current standard that Alcoa has failed to achieve. Additionally, the Department of Water and Environment Regulation will soon update conditions governing Alcoas newest refinery at Wagerup. The regulators spokesman said it was in the final stages of reviewing the Wagerup license, so has now committed to considering Alcoas biggest refinery at Pinjarra. The future Alcoas 62 years of operating under an agreement where it has the exclusive right to mine bauxite in 7000 square kilometres of jarrah forest with little public scrutiny is clearly coming to a close. Loading Alcoa has already curtailed production at its Kwinana refinery by 20 per cent. The company must adjust to operating in the open with every move scrutinised. It will be more difficult than keeping happy a committee of bureaucrats run by a department focussed on industrial development, not environmental protection. Roger Rogerson was once an elite detective, celebrated for his dogged police work, with a penchant for putting away NSWs most wanted. A winner of bravery and dedication to duty awards, the NSW Police detective sergeant was once one of the forces most decorated officers. Now Victorian police have questioned Rogerson, a convicted killer serving a life sentence for the 2016 slaying of drug dealer Jamie Gao, over the suspected murder of drug syndicate boss Robert Jumping Jack Richardson in Strath Creek north of Melbourne almost 40 years ago. Rogerson has been named as a person of interest, not a suspect. Detectives drag Roger Rogerson from his NSW home in 2014. Credit: Nick Moir Rogersons success on the streets of Sydney in the 1980s was followed by a swift demise when the corrupt cop began meddling in a major drug investigation in Melbourne. To the north lies the Beagle Channel, to the south the fearsome Drake Passage (fly-cruise itineraries bypass the passage, departing instead from King George Island). Tormented by memories of previous crossings, I brace for two days of hell. But they dont materialise. The ship skates across the passage, noiselessly deflecting four-metre swells. Albatrosses glide like ghosts on the updrafts; giant petrels rise and sway in defiance of the ships unwavering rhythm. A day-and-a-half in, we spy land: the South Shetland Islands. It was smooth sailing since Marseille [from which the ship originally departed], so we needed a bit of rock n roll, says Captain Niklas Peterstam as we prepare to anchor off Robert Island. Robert Island shore excursion. The voyage was more lullaby than jitterbug, a consequence of innovations such as state-of-the-art stabilisers and a dynamic positioning system. In more than 40 years on the high seas, Peterstam says, the Silver Endeavour is the most interesting ship Ive ever been in charge of. Passengers are equally enthralled. Said to be the worlds most luxurious expedition ship, the Silver Endeavour balances indulgence with practicality: sumptuous suites with butler service; superb cuisine at multiple restaurants and bars; a swimming pool, hot tub and spa; lounges in which lectures are delivered by authoritative figures; spacious mudrooms in which to prepare for excursions. In short, this is an opulent cocoon with a dress-circle view of the otherworld unspooling beyond. But might those who are accustomed to travelling in such style be inoculated against the consequences of environmental decline in places few people have the privilege of seeing? One can only hope that once people leave Antarctica, they become ambassadors for Antarctica, and they spread the word through lobbying, make sure governments understand that there is a very strong desire from the population [for] Antarctica to be preserved, Combrink says. So, becoming real advocates for the preservation of Antarctica, areas like [Australias] Kimberley, the Arctic. One really needs to hope that the people that travel with us [many of whom] are influential, are wealthy guests go home and not forget about it. And indeed, the White Continent lodges easily in ones memory. Sailing silently, stealthily, into Neko Harbour next morning, Im struck by deja vu: mountains billow against a cheesecloth sky; theyre flecked black where winters ice has peeled away. Iceberg keels glow neon blue from the depths. Penguins porpoise across the bay, punching bullet holes into its cellophane surface. This is a place that cannot be expunged from memory; its surrealist quality becomes enmeshed with ones bones. Penguin parade ... Neko Harbour shore excursion. The polar cold is marrow-deep, too. Those clouds have tightened into black balls by the time I reach the ridge at our landing site. Snow begins to fall; wind burns my cheeks. Out in the bay, brash ice fastens itself to the ship like ghostly iron filings. On the opposite shore, cliffs of ice are poised for a fall. The monotone is broken only by a black-and-pink line scored across the ice: Gentoo penguins and, beneath them, a trail of krill-stained guano. We are the solitary voyagers in this lonely domain. So strictly are landings regulated by the International Association of Antarctica Tourism Operators (IATO), cruise ships seldom encounter one another. Of the 300-odd approved landing sites, only 50 or so have guidelines for current use. Silversea hopes to expand this capacity and so redistribute pressure on the environment. Our intention is to develop [open source] guidelines so we can spread out a bit more, Combrink says. We believe that the success of other companies in Antarctica is our success [Cruise lines] have a very strong commitment of collaboration down here to make sure that Antarctic tourism always, always, remains responsible. Zodiac excursion, Neko Harbour. Brash ice crumbles like meringue in the ships wake as it navigates the Lemaire Channel next day. Leading the charge in Zodiacs, passengers raise their champagne flutes in readiness for a historic christening. High above us, godmother Felicity Aston the first person to manually ski solo across Antarctica, in 2012 shatters an ice-hewn magnum on the ships silver hull. Did the humpback whale we saw earlier hear the jangle of ice as it tumbled into its habitat? Later, on Petermann Island, I encounter Aston in her own, adopted, habitat. The climate scientist, polar explorer and expedition leader lived in Antarctica for two winters while working as a meteorologist for the British Antarctic Survey; later, she spent 59 days traversing this hostile continent. Somehow, she still glows with a newcomers wonderment. When I first came back [to the UK] I used to get flashbacks quite a lot, she says. Sometimes Id look out across the sea and instead of seeing waves, Id see sastrugi [patterns on Antarctic ice sheets], and it would be a total flashback. Recently, Aston and a group of women traversed Icelands northernmost glacier on skis to collect snow and ice samples; they will be analysed for micro-plastics, heavy metals and black carbon. Though Iceland is a world away from Antarctica, the challenges it faces are universal. She recognises in Silversea a willingness to play their part. Yes, we want to see these wonderful places, but we want to see them in the right way, and with purpose, she says. Weve got so much knowledge and technical ability, weve got the answers to so many problems, and there are lots of people out there pushing us towards that future. The writer was a guest of Silversea. THE DETAILS Senior citizens with cognitive disorder enjoy coffee at Hetong Cognitive Rehabilitation Center in north China's Tianjin April 17, 2023. (Xinhua) by Xinhua writers Song Rui, Mao Zhenhua and Yao Yuan TIANJIN, July 11 (Xinhua) -- It seems another normal day for 73-year-old Wang. After making coffee at a cafe like a barista, she goes to a grocery store to buy daily necessities and then waits at a bus stop, ready to return home. Wang has a serious cognitive impairment. She has forgotten the names of her children, constantly loses track of time, and does not know that the people she encounters -- from cafe customers to shop assistants -- are her fellow residents at a Chinese rehabilitation facility. This Hetong Cognitive Rehabilitation Center in north China's Tianjin has built life-like settings, including a restaurant, a cafe, a cinema, a grocery store and a bus stop, to engage seniors like Wang in social activities, encouraging them to live and work like other citizens. All these elements form an integral part of role-playing rehabilitation therapy provided to senior citizens with cognitive disorders. Chai Dingfang, a social worker at the center, said the role-playing activities can help the elderly retrieve their identities through social interactions, resist further cognitive decline, and improve their physical and mental condition. "For example, the center's unfamiliar environment often triggers a desire in newly arrived elderly individuals to return home. In such situations, I would guide them to the 'bus stop.' Seeing a familiar bus route at a bus stop would ease their anxiety, and they would wait quietly for the 'bus' until the nurses pick them up," she said. In the restaurant, which is open to participation from people outside the facility, four "waiters" walk around elderly-friendly tables and on non-slip mats. A "waiter" surnamed Chen, 63, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Despite having participated in the exercise before, Chen continued to make mistakes. Her handwriting on orders was illegible, and she couldn't remember the numbers of the tables waiting to be served. She was also unable to recognize that one of her customers, Hao Shuang, was her own daughter. Nevertheless, Hao displayed exceptional patience as she received her mother's services. "I'm glad to see her calmness has been restored in this new job. This is so different to how she used to be -- grumpy, stuck at home and unable to take care of herself because of the disease," Hao said. She said the role-playing experience has also been a salvation for her family. "Seeing my mother bringing the hot dishes to the table, just like she did when I was a child, brings back my most cherished memories of her," she said. According to a report released by the China National Committee on Ageing, more than 15 million people in China aged 60 and above have cognitive impairments, and the figure is expected to reach 22.2 million in 2030. But, the good news is that public awareness is also rising. The Tianjin center said it has an increasing number of volunteers, including college students, who offer to dine at the restaurant and chat with the patients serving them. "Everyone is trying their best to be kind to our 'waiters' and to immerse them in a warm and loving atmosphere," Chai said. In June, the National Health Commission said a nationwide campaign would be launched from 2023 to 2025 to promote the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's, with efforts to raise public awareness of the disease and guide the country's elderly population to pay attention to their brain health. Fang Jiake, chairman of the Hetong Public Welfare Pension Group, which runs the rehabilitation facility, said that humanistic care is important at a time when effective medical cures for cognitive disorders remain scarce. "We hope to use these kinds of activities to help elderly patients rediscover their value of life and live with dignity," Fang said. According to Chai, an increasing number of patients are willing to open their hearts and talk with the care workers at the center through the role-playing rehabilitation therapy. She also keeps a record of the daily lives of the elderly patients in writing or on video and sends updates to their families. "I want to document these good memories before they are erased from their brains," Chai said. A senior citizen with cognitive disorder makes coffee like a barista under the guidance of a social worker at Hetong Cognitive Rehabilitation Center in north China's Tianjin April 17, 2023. (Xinhua) The EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, funded by the European Union and run by the World Customs Organization (WCO), held an Advanced Training on Rules of Origin workshop in Banjul, The Gambia, from 3 to 7 July 2023, in partnership with the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA). Customs officials from various units and border stations within the Customs & Excise department participated in this workshop. This workshop followed on from the Basic training on rules of origin workshop that was held in Banjul in November 2022. The objective of the workshop was to assist GRA in enhancing its knowledge of preferential rules of origin. The training aimed to enable Customs officials to enhance their understanding of rules of origin, including AfCFTA rules of origin, and heighten their capacity to analyze rules of origin requests and queries, and address day-to-day issues related to rules of origin within their organization. The opening ceremony of the workshop was attended by members of GRA's Executive Management, led by the Commissioner General. In his welcoming remarks, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr. Alhagie K. Mbye, emphasized the importance of the training, considering the Authority's reform agenda and the challenges faced in determining the origin of goods. He urged officers to actively participate in the workshop. The Deputy Commissioner General, Mr. Kemo Sonko, highlighted the vision and mission of the GRA in achieving excellence, which is anchored in the strategic Plan 2020-2024. He commended the selected officers for their performance in the previous training, qualifying them to proceed to the current one. He challenged the participants to enhance their capacities and assist the administration in implementing rules of origin. During his opening remarks, the Commissioner General, Mr. Yankuba Darboe, expressed gratitude to the WCO and the EU for their continuous support and response to The Gambia's request for assistance in building capacity on rules of origin. Mr. Darboe emphasized that capacity building and digitalization are crucial for the efficiency of Customs administrations. He also mentioned that this workshop will be followed by a Training of Trainers (ToT) to ensure sustainability. Throughout the five-day workshop, participants worked on key concepts for proper origin determination, operational and procedural issues, and the establishment of efficient origin management. The WCO team presented the in-depth core origin provisions, including the Guidelines on Origin Certification and Preferential Origin Verification, designed to help WCO Members apply the provisions in Free Trade Agreements. Participants then drafted and presented origin scenarios on different provisions. Participants also engaged in a day of fieldwork at a manufacturing factory, applying the theoretical knowledge they had acquired. As part of their evaluation, they analysed the manufacturing processes, the origin status of the inputs, and the origin status of the final product. Finally, they went through the process of completing the sample AfCFTA certificates. The EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme will continue working with GRA in preparation for the Train the Trainer (ToT) course, a critical step for on-going capacity in relation to origin matters. The ToT will further build on what was learnt and ensure sustainable capacity within GRA by working with selected GRA Customs officials to equip them with the skills required to provide training for relevant stakeholders. The European Commission Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union through the Customs Laboratories European Network (CLEN), in collaboration with the German Customs Administration, organized the 8th Seminar of European Customs Chemists that was held from 4th to 6th July 2023 in Berlin, Germany. The event was attended by Customs Chemists of around 45 countries, including the EU, from across different Customs Laboratories in the world. The activities that were developed in plenary and parallel sessions covered, among others, the following topics: Green Customs, Green Laboratories, EU REACH regulation, food fraud, NMR-related analyses, alcohol and foods, quality management, mobile diagnostics, biomolecular analysis, drugs and precursors, tobacco and smoking products, the presentation of posters of different analytical work and cooperation between Customs Laboratories. The WCO presented the results of the series of symposia on visualizing a greener HS and possible ways to make the HS increasingly green. The WCO also co-chaired the session on cooperation between Customs Laboratories across the world. In addition, the EU-WCO Programme for HS in Africa supported delegates from Kenya, Uganda and Ghana to attend the seminar. This was an opportunity for the delegates to familiarize themselves with the latest developments in analytical techniques, Customs laboratory technologies and data platforms utilized by different Customs Chemists. The delegates made valuable contributions concerning their own initiatives while underscoring the importance of strengthened international collaboration in the exchange of knowledge and best practices in the area of Customs laboratories. At the end of the Seminar, several ideas to increase cooperation between Customs Laboratories were discussed, such as sharing analytical methods, libraries of specific illegal chemical substances, sampling procedures and expertise, as well as using the WCO dedicated webpage to Customs Laboratories to share such information. The WCO proposed the Customs Laboratories of developed countries to donate used, but functioning analytical equipment to less developed countries to strengthen the functioning of Customs Laboratories around the world. MEXICO CITY, July 10 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed and one was injured in a fire at a wholesale food distribution center in Toluca, capital of the central State of Mexico, local authorities said Monday. The state's Attorney General's Office said in a statement that the fire on early Monday affected several businesses "located inside commercial warehouse NO. 7." Initial reports indicate that "several suspects carrying weapons entered the said area to presumably detonate and spray an as yet unidentified substance to cause the fire, before fleeing in a vehicle," said the prosecutor's office. Based on previously reported threats and attacks targeting the site, the fire could be related to "internal conflicts for the possession of businesses," the agency said. Forensic experts have been identifying the bodies, including three minors. Some 40,000 people work at the 630,000-square-meter distribution center, which was built in 1994 and houses around 2,000 warehouses and businesses. COLOMBO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a gazette notification to carry out a new round of census of population and housing in the country, an official said here on Tuesday. Anura Kumara, director general of the Department of Census and Statistics, told journalists that the census would be carried out in four stages, namely mapping, listing, data capture and publishing the data. The mapping process has been carried out in 2021, and the department will now take steps to list the houses into several categories, he said. "This will be done in September 2023. Data capture will be carried out in mid-2024," he said. The first population census in Sri Lanka was conducted in 1871 and a census is usually conducted every ten years, with the last round of census taking place in 2012. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Any t-storms end around sunrise, then clouds mixing with some sunshine; a few more showers or a t-storm or two pop up during the day. Lingering humidity for one more day. . Tonight Skies becoming mostly clear overnight with lowering humidity. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte attends a session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2022 in Davos, Switzerland, May 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) Mark Rutte stepped own after leading four governments since 2010 as Dutch prime minister. He was the man who survived every political storm and always managed to keep things together in the Netherlands. THE HAGUE, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Mark Rutte's announcement of departure from Dutch politics came as an absolute surprise on Monday, marking the start of a new era for the country that had the same prime minister since 2010. On Friday, Rutte's fourth government fell, and on Monday Rutte was supposed to give a brief explanation prior to a debate at the House of Representatives in The Hague. It was expected to be a tough debate for Rutte, because opposition parties Green Left (GroenLinks), Labor Party (PvdA) and Party for Freedom (PVV) had already announced their support for a motion of no-confidence against Rutte. If the majority supports the motion of no-confidence, Rutte would have to resign immediately and not, as he intended, be able to continue as a caretaker prime minister until the swearing-in of a new government after the elections, probably to be held in November. Rutte started his speech by explaining the fall of the government. But in the end, he suddenly said that he also wanted to share something personal and announced his departure from politics, saying he will no longer be available as leader of his People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in the next elections. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte speaks to the press at a polling station in the Hague, the Netherlands, March 17, 2021. (Photo by Sylvia Lederer/Xinhua) "There has been speculation in recent days about what would motivate me," Rutte said. "The only answer is the Netherlands. My position is completely subordinate to that. On Sunday I decided that I will not be available as a leader for the VVD in the upcoming elections." Accustomed to Rutte surviving every crisis, members of opposition parties and his coalition partners were much surprised by the announced departure. For some, the decision came too late, while others expressed their appreciation. "I have a lot of respect for the step he is taking now, which restores confidence that he can lead this outgoing government during the period until the elections," said GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver. Caroline van der Plas, leader of the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), called it a "right decision" while Socialist Party leader Lilian Marijnissen said that the departure was "good for the Netherlands." PVV leader Geert Wilders praised Rutte: "I am convinced that he wanted the best for the Netherlands. I have a lot of respect for what he has done in all those years." "Many thanks for your leadership and unbridled commitment to our country," Deputy Prime Minister Sigrid Kaag said. "In recent years we have worked closely and well together, always trying to bridge political differences in the interest of the country. Much respect for your decision." Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte attends a speacial meeting of the European Council at the European Union headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, May 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) Rutte's departure marks the end of an era indeed. He stepped own after leading four governments since 2010 as prime minister. He was the man who survived every political storm and always managed to keep things together in the Netherlands. However, in recent years Rutte's survival skills became less convincing. During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, his popularity reached an absolute peak, but criticism increased later about his sometimes apparent indifference and poor memories of certain situations. His third government crashed on Jan. 15, 2021, as a result of the so-called child benefits tax scandal, in which innocent parents were wrongly accused of fraud. When Rutte's fourth cabinet was formed, his own position was seriously under pressure for the first time in early 2021. He survived again, refused to stop and started his fourth reign. On Friday, his last coalition government, with the VVD, the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Democrats 66 (D66) and Christian Union (CU) fell over a dispute on the migration policy. Afterward, Rutte showed his usual optimism. When asked whether he wanted to be VVD party leader, Rutte responded: "If you ask me now, I would naturally say yes. Because I have the energy and the ideas for it." Three days later, he nevertheless announced his departure from politics. No one foresaw it and the exact consequences are still uncertain. Rutte's own future and that of his successor at the VVD are unclear. What is clear is that the announced departure of the longest-serving prime minister in Dutch history will change the political landscape of the Netherlands a lot. Allentown, PA (18103) Today A stray evening shower or t-storm, mainly in the Poconos; skies becoming mostly clear overnight with lowering humidity.. Tonight A stray evening shower or t-storm, mainly in the Poconos; skies becoming mostly clear overnight with lowering humidity. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has apparently behaved well enough during the first six weeks of her more than 11-year prison sentence for duping investors in her blood-testing hoax to be eligible for release nearly two years ahead of schedule, federal officials confirmed Tuesday. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons currently projects that Holmes, 39, will be released from a Bryan, Texas, prison on December 29, 2032. That would be 115 months, or slightly more than 9 1/2 years, after she began her prison sentence of 11 years and three months imposed by U.S. District Judge Edward Davila last November. Holmes was convicted on four counts of fraud and conspiracy following a high-profile trial in San Jose, California, that riveted Silicon Valley for months. Her prison sentence hasn't changed, but like all prisoners who follow the rules she can qualify for an early release under the federal government's good time guidelines. Her projected release date a few weeks before her 49th birthday is in line with a prisoner serving her length of sentence. When Davila sentenced Holmes, legal experts predicted she might be able to get out of federal prison in about nine years. The Bureau of Prisons declined to explain the specific reasons for Holmes' projected release date, citing privacy, safety, and security reasons in a statement provided Tuesday to The Associated Press. Every inmate earns good conduct time and is projected in their projected release date, the statement pointed out. Holmes' former lover and top lieutenant at Theranos Ramesh Sunny Balwani is also on track for an early release from his nearly 13-year prison sentence after being convicted of 12 counts of fraud and conspiracy last year following a separate trial. Balwani's projected release date is April 1, 2034, according to the Bureau of Prisons. That would be nearly 11 years after he began his sentence at a Southern California prison. Both Holmes and Balwani, 57, are hoping to get out even earlier as their lawyers pursue appeals seeking to overturn their respective convictions. Although they had separate trials, Holmes and Balwani were accused of essentially the same crimes centered on a ruse touting Theranos blood-testing system as a breakthrough in health care. The claims helped the company become a Silicon Valley sensation that raised nearly $1 billion from investors and at one point anointed Holmes with a $4.5 billion fortune, based on her 50% stake in Theranos. NEW MORGAN, Pa. New Morgan Borough Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve amendments to its zoning ordinance to accommodate a proposed 5.5 million-square-foot industrial park. Council conducted a public zoning hearing on the amendments prior to the vote. No one attending the hearing made any public comments. The amendments include creating an overlay district in the Planned Residential Development zone to allow for the industrial park on about 1,200 acres located between Route 10 and Interstate 176. Changes to the ordinance also include specific rules within the PRD zoning district, which will give the developer of the proposed park some flexibility. What makes the industrial park development unique is that it will take up about 31.9% of the entire borough, which consists of a total of 3,761 acres. The borough was created in 1988 from property that had been formerly owned by the Bethlehem Steel Company. At the time, the steel mines were located in Caernarvon and Robeson townships. The current population of the borough, based on the 2020 census, is estimated at 50 residents. The land identified for development is owned by Panattoni Development Company LLC, a company specializing in industrial development. Jeffrey Esch McCombie, a Harrisburg attorney representing the applicant, reminded councilmembers that the changes only included text amendments to the ordinance and are not classified as spot zoning. "The text amendments to the PRD portion of the zoning ordinance rely on the concepts of the borough's comprehensive plan," McCombie said. "Incorporating these concepts into the ordinance will allow for sufficient and flexible development in the borough." McCombie also said the proposed development would be a boon to the tax revenue and bring millions of dollars into the borough over the next 10 to 15 years. New Morgan Borough has a tax rate of 18.60 mills, which is the highest municipal tax rate in Berks County. "This is a well-located growth center which will create jobs for Berks County residents," McCombie added. "This will enhance industrial development and regulate industrial uses relative to logistics." Ian McDonald, a partner with Panattoni, said he wanted to paint a bigger picture of what was before borough council. "The PRD amendment gives us flexibility so that we can develop the type of park to benefit the community," McDonald said. "And it will create a lot of tax revenue to give you the flexibility to allocate tax dollars to make your lives better." McDonald explained the industrial park will consist of nine buildings to be constructed over the next decade. The first phase will involve four buildings, for a total of 2.2 million square feet of construction, McDonald said. McDonald said the development would feature warehouse distribution and logistics. "Logistics is a big part of the country, and this will be a Class A industrial warehouse park that will endure the test of time," McDonald added. "We build the highest caliber facilities to attract the best tenants which will be the economic driver of tax revenue to the borough." A solicitor for the borough said the zoning amendment was thoroughly vetted by borough engineers. ST. LAWRENCE BOROUGH, Pa. - A U.S. Postal Service facility in St. Lawrence Borough has temporarily closed its doors. Postal officials announced Tuesday that the Reading Station Post Office, located at 3115 St. Lawrence Avenue, has suspended operations until further notice due to damage sustained during recent flash floods. Officials say all operations have been moved to Gus Yatron Post Office located at 2100 North 13th Street in Reading. Retail hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Customers are reminded to bring proper photo identification to pick up their PO Box mail. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A. Duie Pyle is opening a 326,630-square-foot warehouse in Allentown that will employ 50 people and add capacity to serve the northeastern U.S. The West Chester-based transportation and distribution company said Tuesday the warehouse will employ 30 upon opening and 20 more by the end of 2024. The new warehouse is at 450 Lloyd St. in Allentown, just off of Airport Road and near the American Parkway. The property extends into Hanover Township, Lehigh County. The building adds to warehouse capacity in the Lehigh Valley, where the storage and distribution business employs about 10% of the workforce while drawing fire from residents angry about truck traffic and the loss of open space. The warehouse will not sit empty, a common local complaint about new capacity in the distribution business. "This is not a speculative warehouse project," Architect Greg Seifert said at a May 2021 meeting of the Allentown Planning Commission. "They (Pyle) are the owner and operator." A speculative warehouse is one that is built without having a tenant in advance. "This major investment brings much needed warehousing capacity to the regional supply chain," Frank Granieri, chief operating officer of supply chain solutions at A. Duie Pyle, said in a statement. "A. Duie Pyle has been a great partner in our community," Hanover Township Manager Melissa Wehr said in the statement. The draw was the location. The Lehigh Valley is roughly in the middle of a "megalopolis" that extends from Boston to Washington, D.C. The Pyle warehouse is near Route 78, Route 22 and the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The new warehouse has 109 parking spaces. In addition to storage, it will be able to accommodate seasonal order surges and "final mile" service, meaning the last step of delivery to customers. A. Duie Pyle is a family-owned business that was founded in 1924. It has 27 LTL (less than truckload) centers and 18 warehouses in the northeastern U.S., according to its website. The beginning of the end began Friday for aquatic barriers in the Bushkill Creek that were first built in 1793. "What this involves is the removal of the first three dams along the Bushkill," said Kristie Fach of Wildlands Conservancy. The first dam is at the trailhead of the Karl Stirner trailhead, on Lafayette College's campus. In the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, the dams harnessed water to power Easton's mills. Lafayette Professor of Environmental Geosciences Dru Germanoski calls the dams anachronisms of the past and without them water quality greatly improves, as do safety and flooding risks. He also says it's good news for anglers, there's a lot more fish, as they can move up and down the creek freely. Freshwater American mussels, which clean and filter creek water, also have key access up and down the waterway. "You see here a stream that's basically regraded itself, there's flow through a riffle up here. So the water is getting oxygenated by mixing with the air," he said. "Restoring the natural stream flow brings all the other parts of the stream together that have been disconnected for many years," Fach added. Fach says the $2 million restoration is 10 years in the making, with 20 partners and five funding sources. The end result is something that hasn't happened in more than 200 years. "We're going to be restoring fish passage and fresh water mussels from the Atlantic Ocean to the Delaware all the way into the Bushkill Creek. It's a very, very big, exciting day," she said on Friday. Two of the dams will be removed this summer, the third next year. "I feel good about it, because I want to see this stream get to be itself to function in the natural world," he said. L. SAUCON TWP., Pa. Over the objections of many residents, the Lower Saucon Township Council passed a controversial rezoning plan that could allow expansion of the Bethlehem Landfill by a 3-2 vote on Tuesday afternoon. The plan, formally known as Ordinance 2023-05, would change the classification of a large land area from Rural-Agricultural to Light Industrial under the township's zoning codes. The land is located in an agricultural area north of Applebutter Road, east of Steel City, south of the Lehigh River, and west of the Route 33-Interstate 78 intersection, according to township documents. This comes after a judge ruled Lower Saucon Township previously rezoned the land without properly notifying the public. The previous proposal was to rezone 275 acres of woodland that the landfill already owns to allow the company to expand. That proposal is still on the table, but supervisors are now also considering a second option, to rezone 848 acres in total to Light Industrial, the majority of which is people's private properties. Critics say the rezoning plan would lead to the expansion of Bethlehem Landfill, which they say would bring devastating economic and environmental impacts to surrounding communities. About 30 residents addressed the council during Tuesday's public comment session, and all but one expressed opposition to the rezoning proposal. Many of them sported signs and accessories calling for the resignation of both council President Jason Banonis and member Tom Carocci, and they turned their backs to the council in protest when either of the two men spoke. "In 2021, the Super PAC sent over 100 to specifically elect Jason Banonis and Tom Carocci, and that is a direct conflict of interest for them to even be proposing a rezoning," said Citizens for Responsible Development Spokeswoman Victoria Opthof-Cordaro. Supervisor Priscilla deLeon amplified the suspicion of behind-the-scenes politics in her comments. "There has been no real public planning or input from residents except for their three minutes in the beginning of the agenda item, prior to any council discussion," deLeon said. "It makes you wonder who is making these decisions outside the public meeting." The proposal could rezone up to 848 acres into Light Industrial land, a dramatic increase from the previous proposal, but the township argues it could face a lawsuit if it doesn't rezone the land. "There is the potential for a property owner to bring what's known as a validity challenge and say that Lower Saucon Township does not have enough land zoned either LI, GB, LM, which is for Light Manufacturing, and if they're successful in that challenge, they get to put that use wherever they want," said township Solicitor B. Lincoln Treadwell. Opthof-Cordaro said her group will bring a legal fight as well if they pass the rezoning. "If they pass this, there will be an appeal," she said. Many missed work to be at the meeting at 12:30 p.m., in the middle of the workday. "Thank you for destroying my workday to be here today," said one speaker. Banonis struggled to keep the meeting under control, and he repeatedly warned the public that he would have township police remove those who interrupted. Hellertowns Kathy McGovern who is running for a seat on the council this fall cited Banonis' previous campaign promises to consider the interests of residents instead of those of the landfill. "You're making all our homes lose our property values," McGovern told Banonis. Steel City resident Kyle Cambiotti expressed concerns about the smell and water contamination that he said an expanded landfill would bring to his neighborhood. "Steel City is special, and I do not want that to be ruined for temporary monetary gain," Cambiotti said to applause. Hellertown resident Frank Palumbo accused councilmembers of responding to public comments only when convenient, to which Banonis said the council responds only for "clarification" purposes. Palumbo sarcastically thanked the council for uniting the community against the proposed zoning changes. "Thank you for getting this community together," Palumbo said to laughter and applause. "We're creating Mount Trashmore here!" Dave Boulin, the one speaker who did not oppose rezoning, encouraged residents to read the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's documents about the proposal. Boulin was booed and interrupted by other residents several times during his speech, but consequently granted extra time to finish speaking by Banonis. "Anybody that thinks this thing just popped up yesterday is clearly mistaken," Boulin said. The rezoning plan passed the council by a 3-2 vote, with Banonis, Carocci and member Mark Inglis voting in favor. Members Priscilla deLeon and Sandra Yerger voted against the plan. "If all of [the land] is rezoned, people can still live in their houses," Carocci said before voting. "This council has proven it has no respect for any landowner or resident," deLeon said after the vote passed. U. MOUNT BETHEL TWP., Pa. - Pennsylvania State Police are looking for a man after a bank robbery in Northampton County Tuesday. A man entered the Fidelity Bank, located at 2118 North Delaware Drive in Upper Mount Bethel Township, shortly before noon and passed a note demanding money from a bank teller, according to a news release from state police. After getting the money, the man fled the scene, state police said. The man is described as being 5 foot-5 and was said to be wearing a black hoodie and blue surgical mask, according to state police. Anyone with information regarding the robbery or the identification of the man is asked to contact PSP Belfast Criminal Investigation Unit at 610-759 6106. BAGHDAD, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Iraq and French oil and gas major TotalEnergies on Monday finalized a deal on four energy projects in southern Iraq to increase oil and gas production, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil said in a statement. Ministry spokesman Asim Jihad told Xinhua that the initial investment of the four projects amounts to 10 billion U.S. dollars, and the investment will rise to 27 billion dollars over the coming years. In September 2021, Iraq reportedly signed the initial deal with TotalEnergies, but disagreements between Iraqi politicians over the terms of the deal delayed its implementation. Iraq's economy relies heavily on the export of crude oil, which brings in more than 90 percent of the country's revenues. BETHELEHEM, Pa. - A popular Lehigh Valley pop-up shop is back. It made its debut in the winter as the Holiday Market. Now it's back for round two, this time for the summer. "It's just a space filled with a lot of cool people selling cool things," said Kyle Edwards. Edwards is putting on the event with his company A True Love Story, LLC. He's a well-known Lehigh Valley artist and business owner, known for his murals across the state and for his ability to bring people together. "I just want to make sure I create a platform for those people to get their products and services out there." This is the first Summer Market he's hosting, although it's not his first time hosting a pop-up event like this. In November, he held a Holiday Market at the Promenade Shops bringing together vendors from across the Lehigh Valley to showcase their work. "I did feel like there was a need for people to have a space to come out and test the market," Edwards said. "Some people don't want to commit to signing a full-term lease." He says this is the perfect place for ecommerce companies to test out their business as a brick-and-mortar model. Currently, there are eight vendors participating in the Summer Market, but he expects that to grow as the market goes on. "I'd expect double digit vendors by the end of things." Last winter's pop-up started with six vendors and grew to 20. Each day, the market introduced local vendors, artisans, musicians, crafts, family activities and charitable efforts. One of the vendors at the Holiday Market, TR Historical, is participating once again for the summer. The owner says he saw so much success, that he knew he'd be coming back for a second one. "I signed up immediately. It was it definitely was worth it for me as a business owner. But it was also a lot of fun," David Bussiere, owner of TR Historical, said. TR Historical is a fully ecommerce store, with Bussiere traveling to all parts of the state to get his goods in front of people. He says this opportunity to get to interact with current and future customers is priceless. "It's just a nice piece of satisfaction and connection. I call it taking my business out on tour. It's a great way to get the business out in the community." The summer market is partnering with Cay Galgan Life House in Bethlehem and is collecting items like diapers, toiletries and infant needs for displaced mothers and kids. The Market will take place at Main Street Commons, Suite 110, in Bethlehem (550 Main St.) from July 11 through August 20. Hours of operation are from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays - Thursdays, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays will be closed. WILLIAMS TWP., Pa. - Officials are investigating the death of a man found dead inside his burning Northampton County home. State police responded to the house fire just before 8:30 a.m. Monday. The 64-year-old man and one cat were both found dead inside. Neighbors say he lived alone, and they're not aware of any family. "I pray to God that he didn't suffer, you know, and that nothing else happened," next-door neighbor Jerry Piperato said. Piperato believes he and his fiance, Tamie Gilbert, are really the only ones nearby who knew their neighbor at all. "You'd see him once in a great while outside mowing the grass and you'd just kind of wave, but I didn't know him," Gilbert said. "Well, he didn't socialize much." The 64-year-old man living in his Williams Township house was found dead inside as his home burned on Monday morning. State police responded to the house fire on the 1500 block of Raubsville Road just before 8:30 a.m. Multiple agencies responded, including the Williams Township Fire Department. The PSP Belfast Criminal Investigation Unit is the lead agency investigating. "I think we're all a little upset," Piperato said. "When you wave to a man and get to know him a little bit, and, you know, and now it's kind of like, well, now he's not here." State police say one cat was also found dead inside the house. "He used to have a cat inside," Piperato said. "And he used to have about 20 to 30 cats outside, and he used to feed them." Now, Piperato says he's trying to find them all, in honor of his neighbor. "I don't want any of those cats getting hurt," he said. "So I'm going to try to see if we can get a hold of them." Officials are waiting to disclose the man's identity until they notify family. The next-door neighbors tell 69 News they aren't aware of any family close-by. "It's kind of sad," Piperato said. "But in a way, that's the way his, you know, his demeanor was." On the busy road the man lived on, Piperato and Gilbert are his closest neighbors. And though they would help one another out from time to time, and even chat about cars and politics, they didn't know his first name. Workers boarding up the home say they were asked to do so by the local fire department. They, as well as state police, say though the house looks whole on the outside, it's likely a total loss on the inside. Though state police are investigating, a trooper tells 69 News the deaths do not seem suspicious at this time. FORKS TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Countless people turn to ice cream to cool off on hot July days. The state is raising awareness about a way to enjoy that, while supporting its more than 5,200 dairy farm families. "It's ice cream season," said Layne Klein of Klein Farms Dairy and Creamery. To make sure Pennsylvanians properly celebrate, state tourism and agriculture officials are promoting a delicious journey. "Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail all begins on www.visitpa.com," said Michael Chapaloney, the executive director of tourism at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. "That's where you can go and start the process of downloading your digital passport and then get scooping away." Each creamery on the trail will give you a pin at checkout to add to your passport. "They start down Bucks County or Chester County, down by Philly, and they may hit two or three stops in one day," Klein said about some customers. It's a fun activity meant to get people to support and learn about PA's farming families. Among the stops on the trail: Klein Farms Dairy and Creamery in Forks Township, which operates Happy Holstein Ice Cream. Almost 400 gallons of ice cream come out of Happy Holstein Ice Cream each week, and it's all natural. The creamery uses no artificial ingredients. "We own 81 acres. We farm about 700 total with rented ground. There are 180 cows here," said Klein. The farm has sweet treats coupled with sweet company. "Licorice is a mini mule," said Klein. "She gets a lot of attention from the customers." PA dairy farmers say this season has had its ups and downs. "May was too dry," said Klein. "We hardly had a drop in May, but it was good for ice cream sales because it didn't rain. Now, we're getting rain, so the rainy-day ice cream sales are down, but it's good for the farm." The trail aims to help, by highlighting 42 creameries throughout the state. As of last week, 10,000 downloaded Scooped passports. "Six check-ins earns you a branded Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail scooper, so when you take that ice cream home, you can always keep on scooping," said Chapaloney. VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) Follow along for updates on the summit of the NATO military alliance in Lithuania's capital: What to know: Turkeys decision to end opposition to Swedens NATO membership boosts summit Swedens rocky road from neutrality toward NATO membership What is NATO doing to help Ukraine in the war with Russia? Ukraine, defense plans and Swedens membership top summit agenda Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a heros welcome at a concert in Lithuanias capital where he arrived Tuesday to meet with NATO leaders. Instead of going straight to the military alliances summit in Vilnius, Zelenskyy stopped in the citys downtown where thousands of people had gathered for a concert organized by civil society groups in support of Ukraine. Zelenskyy stepped onto the stage with his wife to loud cheers. When he opened his speech with the Ukrainian national salute Glory to Ukraine! the audience delivered back the traditional Ukrainian response Glory to the heroes! The Ukrainian president, who was to meet with NATO leaders Wednesday, had earlier expressed deep frustration that the alliance was providing no firm timetable for when his country could join, calling that absurd. In his emotional speech in downtown Vilnius, Zelenskyy appealed for a clear pathway and timeline for Ukraine. Today I started my journey with faith in solutions, with faith in strong partners, with faith in NATO in a NATO that does not hesitate, that does not waste time and does not look over their backs at any aggressor, Zelenskyy said. I would like this faith to become confidence, confidence in the decisions that we deserve, all of us, every soldier, every citizen, every mother, every child, he said. Is that too much to ask? Zelenskyy later listened to a singer performing Ukraines national anthem. The crowd featured both Lithuanians and Ukrainians, some waving Ukrainian flags or carrying sunflowers Ukraines national flower. Ukrainian war refugee Dasha Boiko watched the event with her son and daughter. We came from Dnipro after our homes were destroyed and were met here with warmth and care, she said. Seeing our president speaking here in the square of this beautiful free country makes me believe that my homeland will prevail and will also be peaceful and free soon. NATO allies pledged Tuesday to spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product on their national military budgets but set no timeframe for achieving the goal. After Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014, the organization agreed to halt spending cuts they had made after the Cold War and move toward spending 2% of GDP on defense within a decade. At their summit in Lithuania, the leaders set that percentage as a floor, rather than a ceiling for spending. But only 11 of the 31 NATO member countries are likely to reach that goal this year, according to the alliances latest estimates. In a summit statement, the leaders agreed that in many cases, expenditure beyond 2% of GDP will be needed in order to remedy existing shortfalls and meet the requirements across all domains arising from a more contested security order. The United States has for years exhorted its allies to boost defense spending. Former President Donald Trump even threatened to abandon those countries that failed to boost their budgets, raising deep concern about the U.S. commitment to NATOs collective security guarantee, which says that an attack on one ally will be considered an attack on them all. The leaders also committed to spend at least 20% of their defense budgets on major equipment, including related research and development. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas says NATO leaders made a good compromise on how to deal with Ukraines ambition to join the alliance though she understands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is disappointed. Allies showed that theres a clear willingness to have Ukraine in NATO, Kallas told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius. Of course it takes time, she said. But when the conditions are met and the opportunity window opens for a short period of time, then we can move on with the membership. Zelenskyy said it was absurd to not even provide a timeline for when Ukraine can be invited. I understand the frustration of President Zelenskyy, Kallas said, but added that nobody wants this war to go any further than it is right now. Inviting Ukraine to join NATO before the war is over would essentially put the alliance in direct conflict with Russia. So what we are doing is supporting Ukraine with all the military aid we can give them so that they can defend themselves and push back Russia to Russia, Kallas said. And when Russia is in Russia, there is room for sustainable peace and also an opportunity window to join NATO. A U.S. Senator says that the Biden administration is offering to provide Greece with some tactical weaponry amid concerns in Congress that Turkey a longtime rival but fellow NATO member will get too many concessions as Washington seeks its support for Swedens bid to join the alliance. The proposal comes as the U.S. tries to coax Turkey a key holdout in Swedens bid to join NATO to green-light the Scandinavian countrys candidacy at the NATO summit in Lithuania on Tuesday. Back in Washington, administration officials also were trying to appease concerns from some members of Congress who argue that Turkeys human rights record and other concerns were reasons not to negotiate with Ankara. Turkey has asked to buy 40 new F-16s from the United States as well as kits to upgrade its existing fleet. Both U.S. and Turkish officials have maintained any such sale isnt linked to Swedens NATO bid. The main roadblock came this week from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J, who said he continued to have reservations about approving the sale of fighter aircraft to Turkey. In order to get Menendez on board, the U.S. offered to provide Greece with unspecified tactical weaponry to defend from any future Turkish incursion, according to a Democratic senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. By Farnoush Amiri in Washington Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday but remained mum on the deal to advance Swedens membership in NATO. Although Biden made a reference to the agreement you reached yesterday, Erdogan said nothing about it. Turkey has been the primary obstacle to Sweden joining the alliance, but NATO announced on Monday night that Erdogan agreed to forward the issue to his countrys parliament. It was a conspicuous omission from Erdogan, who has not commented on the issue publicly during the summit. However, Erdogan appeared eager to develop his relationship with Biden. He said previous meetings were mere warm ups, but now we are initiating a new process. Mentioning next years presidential election, Erdogan told Biden that he wanted to take this opportunity to wish you the best of luck. Biden responded, I look forward to meeting with you the next five years. The NATO chief says alliance leaders on Tuesday agreed to allow Ukraine to join when allies agree and conditions are met after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blasted the organizations failure to set a timetable for Ukrainian membership. We reaffirmed Ukraine will become a member of NATO and agreed to remove the requirement for a membership action plan, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at the alliance's summit in Lithuania, referring to a key step in joining NATO. This will change Ukraines membership path from a two-step path to a one-step path, he said, adding that Ukraine would join when allies agree and conditions are met. With no consensus among the 31 allies to admit Ukraine into NATOs ranks, despite many members funneling arms and ammunition to Zelenskyys forces, the leaders decided to remove obstacles on Ukraines membership path so that it can join more quickly once the war with Russia is over. Asked about Zelenskyys concerns, Stoltenberg said the most important thing now is to ensure that his country wins the war, because unless Ukraine prevails there is no membership to be discussed at all. Earlier Tuesday, the Ukrainian leader said it was absurd that no timetable has been laid out for his country to be invited to join NATO or become a member one day. The Kremlins spokesman says Moscow is keeping close watch on decisions made at the NATO summit, and will analyze them to take measures aimed at ensuring our security. In a call with reporters on Tuesday, Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Turkey's decision to move ahead with ratifying Sweden's membership in the Western military alliance would have implications for Russia. He said the Russian government would implement countermeasures but did not say what they were. But Peskov said Moscow would continue to cooperate when it sees fit with Turkey, which has cast itself as an intermediary between Russia and Ukraine. He says that while Russia and Turkey have disagreements, they also share common interests. The Kremlin spokesman also repeated Moscow's claim that NATOs relentless eastward expansion after the end of the Cold War was one of the reasons that led to the current situation a reference to Russias military action in Ukraine. Many alliance members have countered that they were forced to bulk up their defenses in the wake of Russian incursions in places like Georgia and Ukraine. Peskov reiterated a warning against NATO putting Ukraine on a fast-track to membership. The Kremlin has argued that Ukraine joining NATO would lead to a direct confrontation between the alliance and Russia. Potentially, its very dangerous for European security. It carries very big risks, Peskov said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says it's absurd that no timetable has been laid out for his country to be invited to join NATO or become a member one day. Zelenskyy said on Twitter that he plans to discuss NATOs uncertainty over Ukraines possible membership during the alliance's summit in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital. He says the Ukrainian delegation to the summit starting Tuesday had received signals that certain wording" under discussion deals with the prospect of NATO inviting Ukraine to become a member, "not about Ukraines membership. Zelenskyy called it "unprecedented and absurd that a time frame hasn't been set, either for an invitation or Ukrainian membership. It seems there is no readiness either to invite Ukraine to NATO or to make it a member of the alliance, the president said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he wants NATO to show demonstrable progress at the summit on Ukraines membership. "Ive always said that Ukraines rightful place is in NATO," Sunak told reporters during his flight to Vilnius. France will deliver deep-strike missiles as part of increased efforts to help Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces, French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday. France has been weighing whether to send Scalp missiles to Ukraine. They are the French counterpart of Britains Storm Shadow missiles, which the U.K. already sent to Ukraine. Macron said upon arriving at the NATO summit in Vilnius, We have decided to deliver new deep-strike missiles to Ukraine as part of beefed-up military support. The French leader did not specify which missiles, or say when or how many would be supplied. Macron said the decision was made in view of the situation and the counteroffensive being led by Ukraine against Russian forces. He said in May that the longer-range Scalp missiles could help the counteroffensive, which is in its early stages. A French government official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, confirmed that Macron was referring to Scalp missiles. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the French move an erroneous decision fraught with consequences for the Ukrainian side, as naturally, this will force us to take countermeasures. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says the European Unions future relations with Turkey will reflect its status as an important partner, but he isnt elaborating on what that would entail. NATO officials said Monday that Turkey agreed to ratify Sweden's membership in the Western military alliance, removing one of the last major roadblocks to the Nordic country joining NATO. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan linked his country's support to Turkey's long-stalled bid to join the European Union. Scholz and others have rejected a connection. Speaking as he arrived Tuesday at the two-day NATO summit in Vilnius, Scholz called Turkey an important partner for us and said he would speak with Erdogan during the event. Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said its important to keep seeking cooperation with Ankara. He said Erdogan's decision on Sweden shows that if one talks to Turkey, one finds solutions. We havent already always had the easiest relations with Turkey, but we shouldnt turn our backs on Turkey, otherwise it will find other partners, Bettel said. Germany has announced a package of further military aid for Ukraine that includes 40 extra Marder armored personnel carriers, another 25 old Leopard 1 tanks and two Patriot defense missile launching devices. The German Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Germany also would give Ukraine another 20,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, 5,000 rounds of smoke ammunition, a reconnaissance and drone-defense package and a Luna drone system. There will also be five armored recovery vehicles. Germany, already one of the biggest providers of military aid to Ukraine, put the value of the latest package at nearly 700 million euros ($768 million). German officials had promised a substantial new military aid pledge at the NATO summit in Vilnius but made clear their continued reluctance to agree to Ukraine's request for Taurus long-range cruise missiles. Lithuania and several of its allies have beefed up security for the NATO summit, with as many as 12,000 troops backed by warships, air defense systems and artillery deployed for the two-day meeting. Lithuanian authorities say almost 50 foreign delegations with 2,400 representatives are gathering in Vilnius, including 40 presidents or prime ministers and up to 150 other high-ranking politicians. Germany supplied Patriot missile defense for the summit that starts Tuesday, while Spain provided short- to medium-range NASAM ground systems. The summit in Lithuania's capital is being held about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border with Russian ally Belarus, where the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was granted refuge following a short-lived revolt against the Russian authorities last month. Border control measures were introduced last week at major airports, sea ports and on land borders with Lithuania's fellow European Union members Poland and Latvia. Meanwhile, NATO warships are patrolling off the coast of Lithuania, including vessels from Germany, the United States, Italy and Poland, according to the commander of Lithuanias navy, Giedrius Premeneckas. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged all NATO members to meet the alliances target of spending the equivalent of 2% of national economic output on defense. According to new NATO estimates released last week, 11 of the 31 member countries will reach that target this year. As the Western alliance's annual summit opened in Lithuania's capital on Tuesday, Sunak said Britain was devoting record amounts to defense, in part to make its industry ready for the challenges ahead. And thats something we need to see across NATO, starting with meeting the 2% commitment, he said. After Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014, NATO members committed to move toward spending 2% of gross domestic product on national military budgets within a decade. They are expected during this week's summit to set that level as a minimum target a floor rather than a ceiling. Sunak said NATO members have witnessed the most terrible crimes and human tragedies in Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor 16 1/2 months ago. He says the alliance has come together like never before in support of Ukraine and with firm determination that Russia cannot succeed. Hungarys foreign minister says his countrys ratification of Swedens bid to join NATO is just a technical matter after Turkeys president indicated he would his country's opposition to the Scandinavian country joining the alliance. In a Facebook post Tuesday, Peter Szijjarto wrote that the Hungarian government's position on Sweden is clear: the government supports NATO membership, which is why we tabled a proposal to this effect in Parliament many months ago. It is now only a technical matter to complete the ratification process. Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO members that haven't yet ratified Sweden's accession documents. Hungarian President Katalin Novak tweeted that she has asked Prime Minister Viktor Orban to do everything possible to ensure that the #Hungarian Parliament also contributes to the enlargement of the defense #Alliance as soon as possible. SANTIAGO, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Latin America and the Caribbean received a record 224.579 billion U.S. dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2022, or 55.2 percent more than in 2021, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) said Monday. According to the United Nations agency's latest annual report on FDI in the region, FDI inflows to regional countries had not topped 200 billion U.S. dollars in nearly 10 years. "Since 2013, annual FDI inflows to Latin American and Caribbean countries did not exceed 200 billion dollars. This makes 2022 an important milestone for the entire decade," said ECLAC's Executive Secretary Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs when presenting the report at a press conference in Santiago, Chile. Leading the list of countries with the most FDI were Brazil, which received 41 percent of the regional total, followed by Mexico (17 percent), Chile (9 percent), Colombia (8 percent), Argentina (7 percent) and Peru (5 percent). "The challenge of attracting and retaining Foreign Direct Investment that contributes effectively to the region's sustainable and inclusive productive development is more relevant than ever," said Salazar-Xirinachs. "There are new opportunities in an era of reconfiguration of global value chains and geographic relocation of production in the face of a changing globalization," he added. The rise in FDI "is consistent with the post-pandemic recovery and it is unclear whether it will stay at similar levels in 2023," the report noted. The main investors in the region were the United States and the European Union (excluding the Netherlands and Luxembourg), though FDI coming from countries within the Latin America and Caribbean region also experienced a significant increase, rising from 9 percent to 14 percent of the total. by Xinhua writers Zhou Qianxian, Gao Jianfei and Zhang Zhaoqing BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- With generative artificial intelligence (Al) becoming the talk of the town, many content-creating professionals such as writers, web editors, and painters have begun to give it a shot, sizing up the strength and prospects of the new technique. A painting art blogger surnamed Kang is one of those who have thrown themselves into this new domain. Type a combination of words into the prompt field at an AI painting platform developed by Westlake Xinchen technology company, choose an art style, and click the "create" button. In as fast as 0.8 seconds, the picture generated popped up on Kang's computer screen. "It's an assistant for me that provides some useful insights and a tool that augments our capabilities," Kang gave user feedback as such to the developer. More creators have joined to ride the new wave of technology and utilized the tools to get their writing or drawing juices flowing. But from the fear of it being able to write university essays to make anyone from journalists to artists obsolete, these mysterious AI chatbots have sprung into public consciousness and triggered mixed responses. NEW FRONTIERS Chinese technology companies have begun making their dent in the generative AI space. Some have unveiled large language models, while others are developing industry-specific models covering various fields. Speaking to Xinhua, founder of Westlake Xinchen company, Lan Zhengzhong, said China has been doing some terrific work in basic research, algorithms, and industrial application of AI models, and AI technology is a crucial tool for upgrading industries and boosting productivity. Generative AI is able to support multi-dimensional interaction, integration, and penetration of digital content with other industries to provide new driving forces for various sectors, according to a white book released by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. The use cases of generative AI are already taking flight across industries. Some financial services institutions are testing the technology to help financial advisers better leverage insights from the research reports, while the salesforce has integrated the technology into its customer-relationship-management platform. Tian Qi, chief scientist of Huawei Cloud AI field, said that AI technology has ushered in an explosion after decades of development. "It has not only changed the way humans interact with machines but also greatly enhanced productivity." The value of the generative AI market is set to reach 1.3 trillion U.S. dollars by 2032 from just 40 billion dollars in 2022, according to a report by Bloomberg Intelligence. The compound annual growth rate for the sector over the next ten years could expand by 42 percent, driven first by training infrastructure and then inference devices for large language models, advertising, and other services, the report added. INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS But the commercial use of generative AI chatbots has triggered concerns, including upending the professional sector, ethics, and leaks that infringe on personal privacy and data security. "On one hand, generative AI will facilitate the automation and intelligent upgrading of certain job positions, potentially rendering them obsolete, but on the other hand, generative AI will also create new professions," said Lan. As for the protection of intellectual property rights, Du Lan, senior vice president of Chinese AI and intelligent speech company iFLYTEKAI, said that a balance should be struck between protecting the rights and interests of originators and encouraging innovation. The Chinese internet regulator published a draft regulation on generative AI in April, covering a wide range of issues that are frequently debated in relation to the governance of generative AI globally, such as data protection, non-discrimination, bias, and the quality of training data. Abcam (OTCMKTS:ABCZF Get Free Report) is one of 373 public companies in the Biotechnology industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare Abcam to related companies based on the strength of its institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, profitability and earnings. Profitability This table compares Abcam and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Abcam alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Abcam N/A N/A N/A Abcam Competitors -12,086.34% -70.66% -22.32% Dividends Abcam pays an annual dividend of C$0.07 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. Abcam pays out 42.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Biotechnology companies pay a dividend yield of 2.7% and pay out 11,872.6% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Abcam 0 0 0 0 N/A Abcam Competitors 607 1484 4522 63 2.61 This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Abcam and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat. As a group, Biotechnology companies have a potential upside of 97.65%. Given Abcams rivals higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Abcam has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Institutional & Insider Ownership 43.6% of Abcam shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 24.7% of shares of all Biotechnology companies are held by institutional investors. 25.3% of shares of all Biotechnology companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Abcam and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Abcam N/A N/A 139.84 Abcam Competitors $136.21 million -$10.36 million 22.13 Abcams rivals have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Abcam. Abcam is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Summary Abcam beats its rivals on 6 of the 10 factors compared. Abcam Company Profile (Get Free Report) Abcam plc, a life science company, focuses on identifying, developing, and distributing reagents and tools for scientific research, diagnostics, and drug discovery. The company's principal products include primary and secondary antibodies; conjugated antibodies and conjugation kits; singleplex immunoassays; proteins and peptides that include cytokines; edited cell lines and lysates; and various other products, including cellular activity kits, biochemicals, and cell signaling pathway tools. It serves scientists and researchers in academic institutions and research institutes, as well as in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and diagnostics companies. The company has operations in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, China, Japan, and rest of the Asia Pacific. It sells its products online. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Cambridge, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for Abcam Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abcam and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Admiral Group plc (OTCMKTS:AMIGY Get Free Report) shares were up 1.5% on Monday . The company traded as high as $26.58 and last traded at $26.58. Approximately 1,883 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 59% from the average daily volume of 4,585 shares. The stock had previously closed at $26.19. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Citigroup lowered shares of Admiral Group from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Berenberg Bank cut their price target on shares of Admiral Group from GBX 2,688 ($34.58) to GBX 2,543 ($32.72) in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $2,265.20. Get Admiral Group alerts: Admiral Group Stock Up 1.5 % The companys fifty day moving average price is $27.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $26.92. Admiral Group Cuts Dividend About Admiral Group The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 5th were issued a dividend of $0.6004 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 6.23%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 4th. Admiral Groups payout ratio is 64.83%. (Get Free Report) Admiral Group plc, a financial services company, provides motor, household, travel, and pet insurance, as well as personal lending products worldwide. It operates through UK Insurance, International Insurance, Admiral Money, and Other segments. The company provides underwriting services, which includes motor, household, pet, and travel insurance, as well as car and home insurance; and provides unsecured personal loans and car finance products primarily in the United Kingdom. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Admiral Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Admiral Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com cut shares of Allison Transmission (NYSE:ALSN Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Friday. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Allison Transmission from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Bank of America upped their price target on Allison Transmission from $40.00 to $44.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price target on Allison Transmission from $55.00 to $52.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $44.57. Get Allison Transmission alerts: Allison Transmission Price Performance ALSN stock opened at $57.34 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $5.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.43, a PEG ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.02. Allison Transmission has a twelve month low of $32.63 and a twelve month high of $57.54. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $51.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of $47.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53. Allison Transmission Announces Dividend Allison Transmission ( NYSE:ALSN Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The auto parts company reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $0.33. The business had revenue of $741.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $717.42 million. Allison Transmission had a return on equity of 67.83% and a net margin of 20.19%. The companys revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.30 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Allison Transmission will post 6.54 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th were given a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. Allison Transmissions payout ratio is 15.13%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Allison Transmission news, SVP John Coll sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.89, for a total value of $113,780.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 18,788 shares in the company, valued at $1,068,849.32. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Allison Transmission Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Allison Transmission in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Arcus Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Allison Transmission in the 4th quarter worth about $42,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board boosted its stake in Allison Transmission by 157.4% in the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,300 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 795 shares during the last quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC boosted its stake in Allison Transmission by 100.9% in the 3rd quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 2,144 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $72,000 after buying an additional 1,077 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. acquired a new stake in Allison Transmission in the 1st quarter worth about $73,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.67% of the companys stock. Allison Transmission Company Profile (Get Free Report) Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells commercial and defense fully automatic transmissions for medium-and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and medium-and heavy-tactical U.S. defense vehicles worldwide. The company offers transmissions for various applications, including distribution, refuse, construction, fire, and emergency on-highway trucks; school and transit buses; motor homes; energy, mining, and construction off-highway vehicles and equipment; and wheeled and tracked defense vehicles. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Allison Transmission Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Allison Transmission and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arlington Partners LLC lifted its position in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Free Report) by 38.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,771 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,588 shares during the quarter. Arlington Partners LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $358,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. My Personal CFO LLC purchased a new position in shares of Coca-Cola in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC purchased a new stake in Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. 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 valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 392 shares during the period. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC bought a new position in Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. 68.61% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Coca-Cola Stock Down 0.1 % NYSE:KO traded down $0.05 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $59.26. 4,141,433 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 13,547,599. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $61.49 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $61.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $256.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.01, a P/E/G ratio of 3.38 and a beta of 0.54. The Coca-Cola Company has a 1 year low of $54.01 and a 1 year high of $65.47. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 24th. The company reported $0.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.78 billion. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.96% and a net margin of 22.69%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.64 earnings per share. Analysts predict that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 16th were paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.10%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 15th. Coca-Colas payout ratio is 80.70%. Insider Buying and Selling at Coca-Cola In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 150,000 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.33, for a total value of $9,649,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $28,468,984.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 150,000 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.33, for a total value of $9,649,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $28,468,984.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Henrique Braun sold 16,950 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction on Friday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.03, for a total value of $1,085,308.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 26,272 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,682,196.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 420,786 shares of company stock worth $26,886,224. 1.00% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes KO has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays raised their price target on Coca-Cola from $72.00 to $73.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Coca-Cola in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. HSBC reduced their price target on Coca-Cola from $77.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 7th. Citigroup raised their price target on Coca-Cola from $71.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price objective on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $67.67. Coca-Cola Profile (Free Report) 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX:BOQ Get Free Report) insider Mickie Rosen bought 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 6th. The shares were purchased at an average price of A$5.56 ($3.71) per share, with a total value of A$55,600.00 ($37,066.67). Bank of Queensland Stock Performance Get Bank of Queensland alerts: Bank of Queensland Cuts Dividend The business also recently declared a Interim dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a yield of 3.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 9th. Bank of Queenslands payout ratio is currently 133.33%. Bank of Queensland Company Profile (Get Free Report) Read More Bank of Queensland Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Australia. The company operates in Retail Banking, BOQ Business, and Other segments. It offers personal banking services comprises savings and term deposits, and transactional accounts; debit and credit cards; home, personal, and car loans; and travel, home and content, landlord, and car insurance, as well as investment services comprising online share trading services, and self-managed superannuation funds. Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Queensland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Queensland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bard Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 2.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,650 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 125 shares during the quarter. Bard Financial Services Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,940,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of LLY. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,416,206,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 102,752.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,446,026 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,992,374,000 after purchasing an additional 5,440,731 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 44.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,059,204 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,411,740,000 after purchasing an additional 3,691,436 shares during the period. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter valued at $445,944,000. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 54.8% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,311,713 shares of the companys stock valued at $948,375,000 after purchasing an additional 1,172,504 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.25% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Trading Down 1.8 % Shares of NYSE:LLY traded down $7.97 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $445.19. 975,863 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,062,497. The firm has a market capitalization of $422.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 72.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.38. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52-week low of $296.32 and a 52-week high of $469.87. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. The businesss fifty day moving average is $442.72 and its 200-day moving average is $381.44. Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.73 by ($0.11). Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 20.54% and a return on equity of 61.42%. The company had revenue of $6.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.87 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.62 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 8.78 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, September 8th will be paid a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.02%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 14th. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is 71.86%. Analysts Set New Price Targets LLY has been the subject of several research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $485.00 to $550.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $430.00 to $505.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $430.00 to $475.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $420.00 to $490.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $450.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $437.90. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $435.29, for a total value of $261,174.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,978 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,602,163.62. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 164,125 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $467.60, for a total transaction of $76,744,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 101,028,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $47,241,071,556. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $435.29, for a total value of $261,174.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,978 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,602,163.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 970,965 shares of company stock valued at $423,725,107 over the last quarter. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Eli Lilly and Company (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Caledonia Mining Co. Plc (LON:CMCL Get Free Report) announced a dividend on Monday, July 3rd, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 13th will be given a dividend of $0.14 per share on Friday, July 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th. The official announcement can be accessed at this link. Caledonia Mining Stock Down 2.1 % LON CMCL opened at GBX 955 ($12.29) on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.77, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The companys 50 day simple moving average is GBX 1,043.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 1,114.44. Caledonia Mining has a 12 month low of GBX 805 ($10.36) and a 12 month high of GBX 1,380 ($17.75). The company has a market capitalization of 183.26 million, a P/E ratio of 2,264.88 and a beta of 0.75. Get Caledonia Mining alerts: Caledonia Mining Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Articles 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. Receive News & Ratings for Caledonia Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Caledonia Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund (NYSE:IGR Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, July 10th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 21st will be paid a dividend of 0.06 per share by the closed-end fund on Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 18th. CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of NYSE IGR opened at $5.29 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $5.25 and its 200-day moving average price is $5.73. CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund has a 1-year low of $4.94 and a 1-year high of $8.32. Get CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in IGR. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund by 2.4% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 186,200 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $1,683,000 after acquiring an additional 4,444 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund by 28.3% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 31,692 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $291,000 after purchasing an additional 6,999 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC grew its position in CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund by 117.5% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 48,033 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $434,000 after purchasing an additional 25,952 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers bought a new stake in CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund in the 1st quarter worth about $127,000. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its position in CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund by 8.9% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 108,992 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $985,000 after purchasing an additional 8,934 shares in the last quarter. CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund Company Profile CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund specializes in investments in various property types, including office, retail, diversified, apartments, industrials, hotels, healthcare, and storage. It invests in the public equity markets across the developed markets of North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scotiabank upgraded shares of Credicorp (NYSE:BAP Free Report) from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a report released on Friday, MarketBeat.com reports. Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. StockNews.com began coverage on Credicorp in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. TheStreet raised Credicorp from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $153.00. Get Credicorp alerts: Credicorp Stock Down 0.7 % BAP opened at $150.59 on Friday. Credicorp has a 1-year low of $113.21 and a 1-year high of $158.95. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.87, a P/E/G ratio of 0.47 and a beta of 0.96. The business has a 50 day moving average of $140.83 and a 200-day moving average of $136.33. Credicorp Increases Dividend Credicorp ( NYSE:BAP Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 5th. The bank reported $3.85 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.12 by ($0.27). Credicorp had a net margin of 23.23% and a return on equity of 16.39%. The business had revenue of $963.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.21 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Credicorp will post 17.66 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 19th were issued a dividend of $6.7385 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 18th. This is a boost from Credicorps previous annual dividend of $3.94. This represents a dividend yield of 2.7%. Credicorps dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 44.00%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its stake in shares of Credicorp by 16.0% in the second quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 21,152 shares of the banks stock valued at $3,119,000 after buying an additional 2,915 shares in the last quarter. Toroso Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Credicorp by 7.9% in the first quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 2,126 shares of the banks stock valued at $281,000 after buying an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its stake in shares of Credicorp by 16.4% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 83,156 shares of the banks stock valued at $11,009,000 after buying an additional 11,698 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of Credicorp by 0.5% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,954,170 shares of the banks stock valued at $391,104,000 after buying an additional 14,270 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Credicorp by 5.6% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 375,184 shares of the banks stock valued at $49,409,000 after buying an additional 19,797 shares in the last quarter. 71.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Credicorp Company Profile (Get Free Report) Credicorp Ltd. provides various financial, insurance, and health services and products primarily in Peru and internationally. Its Universal Banking segment includes granting various credits and financial instruments to individuals and legal entities; and various deposits and checking accounts. The Insurance and Pensions segment includes the issuance of insurance policies to cover losses in commercial property, transport, marine vessels, automobiles, life, health, and pensions; management services for private pension funds. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Credicorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credicorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DigitalBridge Group (NYSE:DBRG Get Free Report) and Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (NYSE:ARI Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings and profitability. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings for DigitalBridge Group and Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, as reported by MarketBeat. Get DigitalBridge Group alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score DigitalBridge Group 0 1 4 1 3.00 Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance 1 4 0 0 1.80 DigitalBridge Group currently has a consensus price target of $21.44, suggesting a potential upside of 38.53%. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a consensus price target of $10.80, suggesting a potential downside of 4.93%. Given DigitalBridge Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe DigitalBridge Group is more favorable than Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance. Dividends Risk & Volatility DigitalBridge Group pays an annual dividend of $0.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance pays an annual dividend of $1.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 12.3%. DigitalBridge Group pays out -1.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance pays out 76.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. DigitalBridge Group has a beta of 2.04, suggesting that its share price is 104% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a beta of 1.61, suggesting that its share price is 61% more volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation & Earnings This table compares DigitalBridge Group and Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finances revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio DigitalBridge Group $1.14 billion 2.19 -$321.80 million ($2.09) -7.40 Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance $303.64 million 5.29 $265.23 million $1.83 6.21 Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has lower revenue, but higher earnings than DigitalBridge Group. DigitalBridge Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares DigitalBridge Group and Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finances net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets DigitalBridge Group -24.01% 0.89% 0.29% Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance 90.97% 8.68% 2.12% Insider & Institutional Ownership 88.2% of DigitalBridge Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 55.7% of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.7% of DigitalBridge Group shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.6% of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary DigitalBridge Group beats Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance on 9 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About DigitalBridge Group (Get Free Report) DigitalBridge (NYSE: DBRG) is a leading global digital infrastructure firm. With a heritage of over 25 years investing in and operating businesses across the digital ecosystem including cell towers, data centers, fiber, small cells, and edge infrastructure, the DigitalBridge team manages a $69 billion portfolio of digital infrastructure assets on behalf of its limited partners and shareholders. Headquartered in Boca Raton, DigitalBridge has key offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Luxembourg and Singapore. About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (Get Free Report) Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that originates, acquires, invests in, and manages commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments in the United States. It is qualified as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income taxes, if the company distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. was founded in 2009 and is based in New York, New York. Receive News & Ratings for DigitalBridge Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DigitalBridge Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NEW YORK, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Medicaid, the publicly funded health insurance program designed to provide a safety net for low-income and disabled Americans, is unraveling at an alarming pace, a bad news for women, families, communities and the nation as a whole, said an opinion article published by The Hill on Sunday. "As millions of people were losing their jobs or stepping away from paid work to care for their children during the pandemic, Medicaid was a lifeline," noted the article. Between February 2020 and February 2023, the Medicaid rolls grew by nearly 23 million, thanks in part to provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that required states to keep people enrolled in coverage through the end of the public health emergency, according to the article. Yet even before the public health emergency officially ended in May, Congress had given states the greenlight (via the Consolidated Appropriations Act) to start dropping people from Medicaid, said the article. "Continuous enrollment rules ended on March 31, and it hasn't taken long for states to get to work disenrolling people," said the article. "By mid-June, more than a million people had already lost Medicaid benefits, and the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) estimates that approximately 8 million to 24 million could be disenrolled within 12 months." Certain groups are more likely to lose coverage than others, as a result of barriers in the renewal process, according to KFF. These groups include people who have moved, immigrants and people with limited English proficiency, people with disabilities and older adults, it added. Cubic Asset Management LLC cut its stake in shares of The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Free Report) by 3.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 48,490 shares of the banks stock after selling 1,825 shares during the quarter. Cubic Asset Management LLCs holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $2,203,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of BK. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter valued at about $503,489,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Bank of New York Mellon by 74,433.7% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 6,114,741 shares of the banks stock valued at $278,343,000 after acquiring an additional 6,106,537 shares during the period. Amundi boosted its holdings in Bank of New York Mellon by 69.7% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 7,203,067 shares of the banks stock valued at $347,044,000 after acquiring an additional 2,957,380 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter valued at about $105,838,000. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG raised its position in Bank of New York Mellon by 48.2% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 6,098,792 shares of the banks stock valued at $277,617,000 after purchasing an additional 1,983,512 shares during the last quarter. 81.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bank of New York Mellon alerts: Bank of New York Mellon Stock Up 0.7 % BK stock opened at $44.40 on Tuesday. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a twelve month low of $36.22 and a twelve month high of $52.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The firm has a market cap of $35.04 billion, a PE ratio of 13.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.09. The business has a 50 day moving average of $42.52 and a 200 day moving average of $45.63. Bank of New York Mellon Dividend Announcement Bank of New York Mellon ( NYSE:BK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 18th. The bank reported $1.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.86 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 4.76 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business 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. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.33%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 27th. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.84%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have commented on BK shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $42.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Barclays lowered their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $64.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Evercore ISI lowered their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $49.00 to $46.00 in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Bank of New York Mellon currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $52.12. About Bank of New York Mellon (Free Report) 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of New York Mellon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of New York Mellon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cubic Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW Free Report) by 1.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 161,828 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 3,160 shares during the quarter. Cubic Asset Management LLCs holdings in Medical Properties Trust were worth $1,330,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. State Street Corp boosted its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 11.7% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 36,158,910 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $774,593,000 after purchasing an additional 3,800,294 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 24.5% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 17,071,940 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $202,473,000 after purchasing an additional 3,355,195 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Medical Properties Trust in the 4th quarter worth about $34,612,000. Man Group plc bought a new position in Medical Properties Trust during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,630,000. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 175.3% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,850,463 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $58,797,000 after acquiring an additional 2,451,617 shares during the period. 74.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Medical Properties Trust alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets MPW has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $14.00 to $12.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $8.00 to $9.00 in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. They set an equal weight rating and a $9.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, KeyCorp reduced their price target on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $16.00 to $15.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $13.08. Medical Properties Trust Trading Up 0.5 % Medical Properties Trust Dividend Announcement Medical Properties Trust stock opened at $9.42 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $8.62 and a 200 day moving average of $9.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.77, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.99. Medical Properties Trust, Inc. has a 12-month low of $7.10 and a 12-month high of $17.36. The company has a current ratio of 2.15, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 12.31%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. Medical Properties Trusts dividend payout ratio is 232.00%. About Medical Properties Trust (Free Report) Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed in 2003 to acquire and develop net-leased hospital facilities. From its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest owners of hospital real estate with 444 facilities and approximately 45,000 licensed beds in ten countries and across four continents. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Medical Properties Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Medical Properties Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Currys (OTCMKTS:DSITF Free Report) had its target price trimmed by Barclays from GBX 65 ($0.84) to GBX 53 ($0.68) in a research report report published on Friday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Separately, Berenberg Bank lowered their price target on shares of Currys from GBX 70 ($0.90) to GBX 58 ($0.75) in a report on Thursday, June 8th. Get Currys alerts: Currys Price Performance Shares of DSITF opened at $0.66 on Friday. Currys has a fifty-two week low of $0.62 and a fifty-two week high of $1.02. The firms 50 day moving average price is $0.70 and its 200 day moving average price is $0.77. About Currys Currys Plc operates as a retailer of technology products and services. The company operates through UK & Ireland, Nordics, and Greece segments. It offers consumer electronics and mobile technology products and services; and mobile virtual network operator and consumer electrical repair services. The company also sells its products through online; and offers insurance services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Currys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Currys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Delek US Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DK Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Reduce by the ten brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $29.91. DK has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Delek US from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Delek US in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of Delek US from $29.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Delek US from $24.00 to $22.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded shares of Delek US from a c rating to a b rating in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Get Delek US alerts: Delek US Stock Down 0.3 % Shares of Delek US stock opened at $22.95 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.42. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $22.78 and a 200 day moving average price of $24.02. The stock has a market cap of $1.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.45. Delek US has a twelve month low of $19.39 and a twelve month high of $35.45. Delek US Increases Dividend Delek US ( NYSE:DK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The oil and gas company reported $1.37 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.31. The company had revenue of $3.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.83 billion. Delek US had a net margin of 1.60% and a return on equity of 38.98%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.58 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Delek US will post 3.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th were paid a dividend of $0.23 per share. This is a positive change from Delek USs previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.01%. Delek USs dividend payout ratio is 21.05%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Macquarie Group Ltd. grew its stake in Delek US by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 1,408,423 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $32,323,000 after buying an additional 4,198 shares during the last quarter. Putnam Investments LLC grew its stake in Delek US by 17.7% in the 1st quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 78,413 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,800,000 after buying an additional 11,813 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its position in Delek US by 3,751.1% in the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 439,753 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $10,092,000 after purchasing an additional 428,334 shares during the last quarter. SIR Capital Management L.P. grew its position in Delek US by 197.5% in the 1st quarter. SIR Capital Management L.P. now owns 820,901 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $18,840,000 after purchasing an additional 544,994 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC grew its position in Delek US by 1,727.1% in the 1st quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 229,251 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,261,000 after purchasing an additional 216,704 shares during the last quarter. 98.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Delek US (Get Free Report Delek US Holdings, Inc engages in the integrated downstream energy business in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Refining, Logistics, and Retail. The Refining segment processes crude oil and other feedstock for the manufacture of various grades of gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, asphalt, and other petroleum-based products that are distributed through owned and third-party product terminal. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Delek US Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delek US and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Enel Chile S.A. (NYSE:ENIC Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $3.49 and last traded at $3.46, with a volume of 217015 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $3.42. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, StockNews.com raised Enel Chile from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Get Enel Chile alerts: Enel Chile Price Performance The companys fifty day moving average is $3.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.62. The stock has a market cap of $4.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. Enel Chile Increases Dividend Enel Chile ( NYSE:ENIC Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.12 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $1.41 billion during the quarter. Enel Chile had a return on equity of 122.04% and a net margin of 24.73%. The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 1st were paid a $0.3076 dividend. This is an increase from Enel Chiles previous semi-annual dividend of $0.01. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 18th. This represents a dividend yield of 10.5%. Enel Chiles payout ratio is 27.36%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Enel Chile A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Brandes Investment Partners LP boosted its holdings in Enel Chile by 457.3% in the first quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 6,274,925 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $16,942,000 after purchasing an additional 5,149,036 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Enel Chile by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,305,660 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,942,000 after buying an additional 203,012 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Enel Chile by 17.4% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 2,795,465 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,103,000 after acquiring an additional 415,298 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in Enel Chile by 18.9% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,095,678 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,326,000 after acquiring an additional 333,790 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Enel Chile by 38.4% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,781,819 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,459,000 after purchasing an additional 494,605 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.18% of the companys stock. Enel Chile Company Profile (Get Free Report) Enel Chile SA, an electricity utility company, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Chile. The company operates through Generation, and Distribution and Networks Segments. It generates electricity through various sources, such as hydroelectric, thermal, wind, solar, and geothermal power plants. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Enel Chile Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Enel Chile and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Federal Signal Co. (NYSE:FSS Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $64.71 and last traded at $63.96, with a volume of 21791 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $63.55. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, StockNews.com raised Federal Signal from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $59.25. Get Federal Signal alerts: Federal Signal Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 2.79. The company has a market cap of $3.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.41 and a beta of 1.11. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $57.94 and a 200 day moving average price of $53.87. Federal Signal Increases Dividend Federal Signal ( NYSE:FSS Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The conglomerate reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.06. Federal Signal had a return on equity of 15.06% and a net margin of 8.54%. The company had revenue of $385.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $370.61 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.34 EPS. Federal Signals revenue was up 16.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Federal Signal Co. will post 2.37 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 19th were issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 18th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.63%. This is a boost from Federal Signals previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. Federal Signals payout ratio is 19.14%. Insider Transactions at Federal Signal In related news, CAO Lauren B. Elting sold 14,541 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.86, for a total transaction of $783,178.26. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 13,991 shares in the company, valued at approximately $753,555.26. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CAO Lauren B. Elting sold 14,541 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.86, for a total transaction of $783,178.26. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 13,991 shares in the company, valued at approximately $753,555.26. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Ian A. Hudson sold 9,343 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.53, for a total value of $490,787.79. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 70,651 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,711,297.03. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 73,214 shares of company stock valued at $3,828,273. Corporate insiders own 3.10% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Federal Signal Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Lakewood Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Federal Signal in the 4th quarter valued at about $55,000. CWM LLC grew its position in shares of Federal Signal by 19.7% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,386 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Federal Signal in the 1st quarter valued at about $51,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Federal Signal in the 1st quarter valued at about $52,000. Finally, Belpointe Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Federal Signal in the 4th quarter valued at about $93,000. Institutional investors own 91.76% of the companys stock. About Federal Signal (Get Free Report) Federal Signal Corp. engages in the design and manufacture of products and integrated solutions for municipal, governmental, industrial, and commercial customers. It operates through the Environmental Solutions Group and Safety and Security Systems Group segments. The Environment Solutions Group segment is involved in the manufacture and supply of street sweeper vehicles, sewer cleaners, vacuum loader trucks, hydro-excavation trucks, and water blasting equipment. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Federal Signal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Federal Signal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fiera Capital Corp decreased its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 2.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,741,829 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 90,856 shares during the period. Mastercard comprises about 4.1% of Fiera Capital Corps investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position. Fiera Capital Corps holdings in Mastercard were worth $1,359,818,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Financial Connections Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Delta Asset Management LLC TN purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. EWG Elevate Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Legend Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Institutional investors own 81.33% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Mastercard Stock Up 0.9 % Shares of Mastercard stock opened at $392.27 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.84, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 1.20. The company has a 50-day moving average of $379.53 and a 200 day moving average of $369.08. The firm has a market cap of $371.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.19, a PEG ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.11. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $276.87 and a 1 year high of $395.25. Mastercard Announces Dividend Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The credit services provider reported $2.80 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $5.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.64 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 42.33% and a return on equity of 169.12%. Mastercards revenue was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.76 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 6th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.58%. Mastercards dividend payout ratio is currently 22.78%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have weighed in on MA shares. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Mastercard from $392.00 to $404.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Mastercard from $450.00 to $453.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Mastercard from $438.00 to $440.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. KeyCorp increased their price target on shares of Mastercard from $425.00 to $430.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Mastercard from $435.00 to $440.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $422.04. Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard In other Mastercard news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $386.28, for a total transaction of $48,600,204.48. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 100,437,277 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,796,911,359.56. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $386.28, for a total transaction of $48,600,204.48. Following the sale, the insider now owns 100,437,277 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,796,911,359.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Raghuvir Malhotra sold 11,398 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $381.62, for a total transaction of $4,349,704.76. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 9,465 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,612,033.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 547,243 shares of company stock worth $209,102,122. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Mastercard Profile (Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. It facilitates the processing of payment transactions, including authorization, clearing, and settlement, as well as delivers other payment-related products and services. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR Free Report) had its price objective trimmed by Guggenheim from $50.00 to $48.00 in a report released on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. Several other equities analysts also recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Portland General Electric in a research report on Monday, May 8th. They issued an overweight rating and a $56.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Portland General Electric from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, June 10th. Bank of America dropped their price target on Portland General Electric from $56.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 22nd. Finally, 58.com restated a downgrade rating on shares of Portland General Electric in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $50.57. Get Portland General Electric alerts: Portland General Electric Trading Down 0.4 % Portland General Electric stock opened at $46.25 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $48.81 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $48.60. The firm has a market cap of $4.47 billion, a PE ratio of 16.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.56. Portland General Electric has a 12 month low of $41.58 and a 12 month high of $56.37. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. Portland General Electric Increases Dividend Portland General Electric ( NYSE:POR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The utilities provider reported $0.80 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.01. Portland General Electric had a net margin of 8.88% and a return on equity of 9.06%. The business had revenue of $748.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $622.50 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.67 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 19.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Portland General Electric will post 2.69 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Investors of record on Monday, June 26th will be issued a $0.475 dividend. This represents a $1.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 23rd. This is an increase from Portland General Electrics previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Portland General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 69.60%. Insider Activity at Portland General Electric In related news, VP John Teeruk Kochavatr sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.12, for a total transaction of $153,360.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 15,489 shares in the company, valued at approximately $791,797.68. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.51% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Portland General Electric A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in POR. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its holdings in Portland General Electric by 552.6% during the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 69,288 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,395,000 after purchasing an additional 58,671 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 14.5% during the 4th quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 270,850 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $13,272,000 after buying an additional 34,351 shares during the last quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Portland General Electric during the 4th quarter worth about $661,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 7.0% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 12,273 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $601,000 after buying an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 77.0% during the 4th quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. now owns 190,972 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $9,356,000 after buying an additional 83,061 shares during the last quarter. About Portland General Electric (Get Free Report) Portland General Electric Company, an integrated electric utility company, engages in the generation, wholesale purchase, transmission, distribution, and retail sale of electricity in the state of Oregon. It operates six thermal plants, three wind farms, and seven hydroelectric facilities. As of December 31, 2022, the company owned an electric transmission system consisting of 1,255 circuit miles, including 269 circuit miles of 500 kilovolt line, 413 circuit miles of 230 kilovolt line, and 573 miles of 115 kilovolt line; and served 926 thousand retail customers in 51 cities. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Portland General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Portland General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 3i Group (OTCMKTS:TGOPY Get Free Report) is one of 1,203 public companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare 3i Group to related companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, profitability, earnings, dividends and institutional ownership. Valuation & Earnings This table compares 3i Group and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get 3i Group alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio 3i Group N/A N/A 38.28 3i Group Competitors $215.66 million -$7.11 million -18.64 3i Groups rivals have higher revenue, but lower earnings than 3i Group. 3i Group is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets 3i Group N/A N/A N/A 3i Group Competitors 375.44% 7.79% 4.90% Dividends This table compares 3i Group and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. 3i Group pays an annual dividend of $0.09 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. 3i Group pays out 27.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.3% and pay out 1,133.6% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings for 3i Group and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score 3i Group 0 0 0 0 N/A 3i Group Competitors 1079 4642 6007 82 2.43 3i Group currently has a consensus target price of $2,175.00, suggesting a potential upside of 17,655.10%. As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 83.71%. Given 3i Groups higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe 3i Group is more favorable than its rivals. Insider and Institutional Ownership 32.5% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by institutional investors. 18.2% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Summary 3i Group rivals beat 3i Group on 7 of the 10 factors compared. 3i Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) 3i Group plc is a private equity firm specializing in mature companies, growth capital, middle markets, infrastructure, and management leveraged buyouts and buy-ins. The firm also provides infrastructure financing and debt management. For debt management, it invests in senior and mezzanine corporate debt in typically large and private companies in United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and North America. It makes private equity investments in business and technology services, financial services, consumer, healthcare, consumption and distribution, media and telecom, renewable energy, wind, and industrial technology sector. Within business and technology services, the firm seeks to invest in sub sectors such as testing, inspection and certification; intelligent outsourcing, BPO and consultancy; human capital including staffing, governance, risk and compliance, services to pharmaceutical companies, vertical application software, education and training businesses; facilities management; support services to industrial sectors such as oil and gas and utilities; human resources outsourcing and advising; recruitment; logistics and infrastructure support services including distribution, waste, and rental. In the consumer sector, it focuses on, multi-unit roll out, omni-channel propositions, niche branded consumer goods, polarization, health and wellness, ageing population, millennials, consumer goods; e-commerce; retail; food and drinks; and leisure. In the healthcare sector, the firm focuses on outsourced medical device manufacturing & services, outsourced pharmaceutical manufacturing & services, bioprocessing supply chain, life science tools and diagnostics, wellness & consumer health products, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology including specialty pharma, generics / OTC, drug delivery, and animal health; healthcare Services including activities such as elderly and specialty care, including caring for people in their own homes, in hospital and in community facilities, as well as operational services such as outsourced support, clinical services and B2B contract services; medical devices and technology including devices, medical equipment and consumables, diagnostics, and healthcare IT. In the industrial sector, it focuses on automotive, chemicals, safety and security, construction, building products and materials, energy, electronics and electrical components, flow control and filtration, mobility, packaging, industrial Services incl. industrial software, oil, gas, and power. Through 3i BIFM Limited and 3i Infrastructure plc the firm makes infrastructure investments where it focuses principally on the utilities including energy transmission and storage, electricity and gas distribution, water, power generation, and communication network; transportation including airports, ports, ferries, toll roads, and rail; and social infrastructure sector including primary and secondary PFI, public private partnerships, healthcare, education, and government accommodation. In infrastructure it invests primarily in utilities, transportation and social infrastructure in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Europe, and Ireland. The firm prefers to invest in companies across Europe, France, United States, South America, and Asia. It seeks to make new investments in Northern Europe and North America. The firm typically invests between 5 million ($5.59125 million) and 300 million ($335.475 million) in companies with an enterprise value typically between 100 million ($111.825 million) and 500 million ($559.125 million) and sales value between 80 million ($89.46 million) and 1500 million ($1677.38 million). It seeks to take either majority or minority stakes. It seeks to take a board seat in its portfolio companies with regards to infrastructure investments. The firm invests through a combination of third-party and proprietary capital. It invests through its personal capital. 3i Group plc was founded in 1945 and is based in London, United Kingdom with additional offices across Europe, North America, and Asia. Receive News & Ratings for 3i Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for 3i Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IFG Advisory LLC lifted its stake in Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF (NYSEARCA:CLTL Free Report) by 2.6% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 74,341 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,918 shares during the quarter. Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF makes up about 0.7% of IFG Advisory LLCs holdings, making the stock its 21st biggest holding. IFG Advisory LLCs holdings in Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF were worth $7,845,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Dubuque Bank & Trust Co. increased its holdings in Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF by 101.2% during the 1st quarter. Dubuque Bank & Trust Co. now owns 33,935 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,581,000 after purchasing an additional 17,067 shares in the last quarter. Dock Street Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF by 24.5% in the 4th quarter. Dock Street Asset Management Inc. now owns 83,375 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,783,000 after buying an additional 16,402 shares during the period. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF in the 4th quarter worth $1,365,000. New York Life Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF by 11.1% in the 4th quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 218,306 shares of the companys stock worth $22,996,000 after purchasing an additional 21,826 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Core Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF in the 4th quarter worth $2,698,000. Get Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF alerts: Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF Stock Up 0.0 % Shares of NYSEARCA:CLTL traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $105.59. The company had a trading volume of 13,398 shares, compared to its average volume of 120,915. Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF has a 12 month low of $104.81 and a 12 month high of $105.82. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $105.49 and a 200 day simple moving average of $105.49. About Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF The Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF (CLTL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the U.S. Treasury Short Term index. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of debt issued by the US Treasury. Remaining maturity must be between 1-12 months. CLTL was launched on Jan 12, 2017 and is managed by Invesco. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CLTL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF (NYSEARCA:CLTL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Treasury Collateral ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TOKYO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Fisheries associations in Fukushima Prefecture said Tuesday they remain opposed to releasing radioactive water from the crippled nuclear power plant into the sea despite the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s safety assurance on the plan, local media reported. Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura briefed the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations in northeastern Japan about the recent IAEA report on the planned ocean release, in a bid to seek their understanding as Japan aims to start releasing the water around this summer, Kyodo News said. The IAEA final report released last week claimed that the plan "is in conformity with the agreed international standards." "We basically take the position to oppose the discharge of the treated water into the sea," Tetsu Nozaki, head of the federation, told Nishimura in their meeting. The Japanese government and the plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) promised local fishermen in 2015 that they would not release the wastewater into the sea without gaining the "understanding" of concerned parties. IFG Advisory LLC trimmed its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Free Report) by 3.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,480 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 690 shares during the quarter. IFG Advisory LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $4,271,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IWF. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P grew its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 34.1% during the first quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 26,203 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $7,275,000 after buying an additional 6,665 shares during the period. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $42,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 11.6% in the first quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 6,211 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,724,000 after acquiring an additional 644 shares during the last quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 7,595 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,109,000 after purchasing an additional 272 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $33,422,000. Get iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:IWF traded up $0.81 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $273.29. The company had a trading volume of 283,225 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,443,230. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $261.44 and its 200-day simple moving average is $242.47. The stock has a market cap of $70.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.08. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a twelve month low of $202.05 and a twelve month high of $276.14. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Profile iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intact Financial (TSE:IFC Get Free Report) had its target price lowered by equities research analysts at Raymond James from C$224.00 to C$221.00 in a research note issued on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Raymond James price objective suggests a potential upside of 14.30% from the stocks current price. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Scotiabank upped their price objective on shares of Intact Financial from C$220.00 to C$225.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Intact Financial from C$229.00 to C$228.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Intact Financial from C$235.00 to C$220.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, National Bankshares upped their price target on shares of Intact Financial from C$240.00 to C$242.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$221.89. Get Intact Financial alerts: Intact Financial Stock Down 2.1 % TSE:IFC traded down C$4.23 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting C$193.35. 305,134 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 298,513. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of C$200.01 and a 200 day moving average price of C$197.79. The company has a current ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.06. Intact Financial has a fifty-two week low of C$177.74 and a fifty-two week high of C$209.57. The firm has a market cap of C$33.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.37, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.57. Intact Financial Company Profile Intact Financial ( TSE:IFC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported C$3.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$2.94 by C$0.12. Intact Financial had a net margin of 11.14% and a return on equity of 14.49%. The business had revenue of C$5.33 billion for the quarter. Equities research analysts anticipate that Intact Financial will post 13.0104167 earnings per share for the current year. (Get Free Report) Intact Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides property and casualty insurance products to individuals and businesses in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It offers personal auto insurance; insurance for motor homes, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles; personal property insurance, such as protection for homes and contents from risks, including fire, theft, vandalism, water damage, and other damages, as well as personal liability coverage; and property coverage for tenants, condominium owners, non-owner-occupied residences, and seasonal residences, as well as travel insurance. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Intact Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intact Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:PPA Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $84.86 and last traded at $84.61, with a volume of 8314 shares. The stock had previously closed at $84.61. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Stock Up 0.5 % The company has a market cap of $1.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.91 and a beta of 0.98. The companys 50-day moving average is $81.09 and its 200 day moving average is $80.31. Get Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF alerts: Institutional Trading of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of PPA. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 8,435.0% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,414 shares of the companys stock valued at $267,000 after purchasing an additional 3,374 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates boosted its position in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 11.9% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 18,515 shares of the companys stock worth $1,450,000 after acquiring an additional 1,969 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF during the first quarter worth about $410,000. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new position in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF during the first quarter worth about $1,091,000. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. acquired a new position in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF during the first quarter worth about $705,000. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Company Profile PowerShares Aerospace & Defense Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of the SPADE Defense Index (the Index). The Index is designed to identify a group of companies involved in the development, manufacturing, operations and support of the United States defense, homeland security and aerospace operations. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Investment Management of Virginia LLC grew its holdings in shares of Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL Free Report) by 6.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 19,089 shares of the enterprise software providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares during the period. Investment Management of Virginia LLCs holdings in Oracle were worth $1,774,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. increased its position in shares of Oracle by 3.4% in the 1st quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 799,833 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $74,320,000 after acquiring an additional 26,100 shares during the period. Silvant Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Oracle by 659.4% in the 1st quarter. Silvant Capital Management LLC now owns 21,133 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $1,964,000 after acquiring an additional 18,350 shares during the period. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. increased its position in shares of Oracle by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. now owns 55,162 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $5,126,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the period. American National Bank increased its position in shares of Oracle by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. American National Bank now owns 19,486 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $1,811,000 after acquiring an additional 261 shares during the period. Finally, Oxbow Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Oracle in the 1st quarter valued at $223,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 43.43% of the companys stock. Get Oracle alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have weighed in on ORCL shares. Guggenheim increased their price target on Oracle from $120.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Oracle from $93.00 to $109.00 in a research report on Monday, June 12th. Citigroup increased their price target on Oracle from $86.00 to $106.00 in a research report on Friday, June 9th. 92 Resources reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Oracle in a research report on Tuesday, June 13th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on Oracle from $120.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 13th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Oracle has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $118.15. Oracle Trading Down 0.6 % Shares of Oracle stock traded down $0.70 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $113.68. The stock had a trading volume of 677,907 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,602,206. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $108.75 and a two-hundred day moving average of $95.86. The firm has a market cap of $308.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 55.54. Oracle Co. has a 12-month low of $60.78 and a 12-month high of $127.54. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, June 12th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $13.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.74 billion. Oracle had a negative return on equity of 470.73% and a net margin of 17.02%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 16.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.31 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Oracle Co. will post 4.5 earnings per share for the current year. Oracle Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 11th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.41%. Oracles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.29%. Insider Transactions at Oracle In other news, EVP Maria Smith sold 3,680 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, July 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total transaction of $423,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,600 shares in the company, valued at $1,909,000. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Maria Smith sold 3,680 shares of Oracle stock in a transaction on Friday, July 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total value of $423,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,600 shares in the company, valued at $1,909,000. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Jeffrey Berg sold 4,866 shares of Oracle stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.31, for a total value of $609,758.46. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 207,409 shares of the companys stock, valued at $25,990,421.79. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 4,175,443 shares of company stock worth $510,658,596 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 43.70% of the companys stock. About Oracle (Free Report) Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Oracle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oracle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA Get Free Report) has been given a consensus rating of Hold by the seven brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $13.67. Several research firms have issued reports on MWA. DA Davidson reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Mueller Water Products in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. TD Cowen upgraded Mueller Water Products from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $11.00 to $19.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Seaport Res Ptn restated a buy rating on shares of Mueller Water Products in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Mueller Water Products in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Get Mueller Water Products alerts: Institutional Trading of Mueller Water Products A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MWA. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 580.8% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 14,909 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $192,000 after buying an additional 12,719 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 65.6% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 28,439 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $372,000 after acquiring an additional 11,270 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Mueller Water Products by 38.6% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 75,681 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $978,000 after purchasing an additional 21,068 shares during the period. APG Asset Management N.V. acquired a new position in shares of Mueller Water Products during the first quarter worth about $2,116,000. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake in Mueller Water Products by 56.8% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 76,178 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $984,000 after acquiring an additional 27,589 shares in the last quarter. 89.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Mueller Water Products Trading Up 2.4 % Shares of NYSE MWA opened at $16.40 on Thursday. Mueller Water Products has a 12-month low of $9.90 and a 12-month high of $16.45. The company has a market cap of $2.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a current ratio of 3.50, a quick ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $14.78 and its 200 day simple moving average is $13.59. Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The industrial products company reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.16 by ($0.02). Mueller Water Products had a return on equity of 12.69% and a net margin of 5.90%. The business had revenue of $332.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $332.45 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.15 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Mueller Water Products will post 0.68 EPS for the current year. Mueller Water Products Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 22nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 10th were paid a dividend of $0.061 per share. This represents a $0.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 9th. Mueller Water Productss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.00%. Mueller Water Products Company Profile (Get Free Report Mueller Water Products, Inc manufactures and markets products and services for the transmission, distribution, and measurement of water used by municipalities, and the residential and non-residential construction industries in the United States, Israel, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Water Flow Solutions and Water Management Solutions. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mueller Water Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mueller Water Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NJ State Employees Deferred Compensation Plan purchased a new stake in CMS Energy Co. (NYSE:CMS Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 22,000 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $1,350,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of CMS Energy by 5.1% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 18,885,448 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,196,015,000 after buying an additional 922,417 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of CMS Energy by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 16,855,679 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $981,675,000 after buying an additional 82,250 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of CMS Energy by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,161,072 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $389,506,000 after buying an additional 101,278 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in shares of CMS Energy by 7.1% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,896,774 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $310,112,000 after buying an additional 323,724 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in shares of CMS Energy by 75.0% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,457,642 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $282,303,000 after buying an additional 1,910,519 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.92% of the companys stock. Get CMS Energy alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently weighed in on CMS. UBS Group raised CMS Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the company from $63.00 to $68.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 6th. StockNews.com began coverage on CMS Energy in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. TheStreet raised CMS Energy from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on CMS Energy from $59.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on CMS Energy from $70.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, CMS Energy currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $66.45. Insider Activity CMS Energy Trading Up 0.4 % In related news, SVP Catherine A. Hendrian sold 7,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.26, for a total value of $451,950.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 48,436 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,918,753.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock. Shares of CMS traded up $0.26 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $59.11. 503,011 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,042,913. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. CMS Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $52.41 and a 1 year high of $71.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.22, a PEG ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 0.36. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $59.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $60.99. CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.04. CMS Energy had a return on equity of 9.59% and a net margin of 8.09%. The firm had revenue of $2.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.32 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.20 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that CMS Energy Co. will post 3.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. CMS Energy Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 5th were paid a dividend of $0.4875 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 4th. This represents a $1.95 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.30%. CMS Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 83.69%. CMS Energy Company Profile (Free Report) CMS Energy Corporation operates as an energy company primarily in Michigan. The company operates through three segments: Electric Utility; Gas Utility; and Enterprises. The Electric Utility segment is involved in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. This segment generates electricity through coal, wind, gas, renewable energy, oil, and nuclear sources. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CMS Energy Co. (NYSE:CMS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CMS Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CMS Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NJ State Employees Deferred Compensation Plan reduced its position in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Free Report) by 52.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,000 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 13,000 shares during the quarter. NJ State Employees Deferred Compensation Plans holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $993,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of PRU. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in shares of Prudential Financial in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its position in Prudential Financial by 11.3% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 50,600 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,979,000 after purchasing an additional 5,126 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in Prudential Financial by 6.4% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 90,235 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $10,698,000 after purchasing an additional 5,452 shares during the last quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. lifted its position in Prudential Financial by 0.7% during the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 47,576 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,621,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in Prudential Financial by 36.4% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 135,716 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $16,037,000 after purchasing an additional 36,184 shares during the last quarter. 55.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Prudential Financial alerts: Prudential Financial Trading Up 2.0 % Shares of NYSE PRU traded up $1.76 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $91.18. The stock had a trading volume of 614,850 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,247,702. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.07 and a current ratio of 0.07. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 1 year low of $75.37 and a 1 year high of $110.96. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $83.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $90.06. The firm has a market cap of $33.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,004.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.40. Prudential Financial Dividend Announcement Prudential Financial ( NYSE:PRU Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The financial services provider reported $2.66 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.02 by ($0.36). Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 14.05% and a net margin of 0.09%. The firm had revenue of $15.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.29 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.17 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 11.92 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 23rd were issued a $1.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 22nd. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.48%. Prudential Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5,555.56%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have issued reports on PRU. VNET Group reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Prudential Financial in a research report on Monday, May 15th. 92 Resources reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Prudential Financial in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $86.00 to $95.00 in a report on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $99.00 to $89.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Prudential Financial in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Prudential Financial has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $99.17. Prudential Financial Profile (Free Report) Prudential Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Annuities, Individual Life, Assurance IQ, and International Businesses segments. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PRU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Prudential Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prudential Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Plimoth Trust Co. LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 2.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,899 shares of the companys stock after selling 233 shares during the period. Plimoth Trust Co. LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $2,713,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Y.D. More Investments Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Bogart Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 193.3% in the 1st quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 88 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 97.8% in the 4th quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC now owns 91 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Tanglewood Legacy Advisors LLC bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Institutional investors own 87.25% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 0.2 % Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $453.09 on Tuesday. Eli Lilly and Company has a fifty-two week low of $296.32 and a fifty-two week high of $469.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.30. The company has a market capitalization of $430.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 72.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a fifty day moving average of $442.72 and a 200 day moving average of $381.44. Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.73 by ($0.11). Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 61.42% and a net margin of 20.54%. The business had revenue of $6.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.87 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.62 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 8.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 8th will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 14th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.00%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is 71.86%. Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 225,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $398.48, for a total transaction of $89,658,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 101,908,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $40,608,622,608.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $435.29, for a total value of $261,174.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,978 shares in the company, valued at $2,602,163.62. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 225,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $398.48, for a total value of $89,658,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 101,908,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $40,608,622,608.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 970,965 shares of company stock valued at $423,725,107. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, June 12th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $421.00 to $430.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $430.00 to $475.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. SVB Securities upped their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $410.00 to $458.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $430.00 to $505.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $437.90. About Eli Lilly and Company (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX Get Free Report) and Many Bright Ideas Technologies (OTCMKTS:MBGNF Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends and analyst recommendations. Insider & Institutional Ownership 87.4% of Quest Diagnostics shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.7% of Quest Diagnostics shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get Quest Diagnostics alerts: Profitability This table compares Quest Diagnostics and Many Bright Ideas Technologies net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Quest Diagnostics 8.26% 16.51% 7.83% Many Bright Ideas Technologies N/A N/A N/A Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Quest Diagnostics $9.88 billion 1.58 $946.00 million $6.78 20.62 Many Bright Ideas Technologies N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A This table compares Quest Diagnostics and Many Bright Ideas Technologies top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Quest Diagnostics has higher revenue and earnings than Many Bright Ideas Technologies. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Quest Diagnostics and Many Bright Ideas Technologies, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Quest Diagnostics 0 9 2 0 2.18 Many Bright Ideas Technologies 0 0 0 0 N/A Quest Diagnostics currently has a consensus target price of $151.20, indicating a potential upside of 8.16%. Given Quest Diagnostics higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Quest Diagnostics is more favorable than Many Bright Ideas Technologies. Summary Quest Diagnostics beats Many Bright Ideas Technologies on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Quest Diagnostics (Get Free Report) Quest Diagnostics Incorporated provides diagnostic testing, information, and services in the United States and internationally. The company develops and delivers diagnostic information services, such as routine testing, non-routine and advanced clinical testing, anatomic pathology testing, and other diagnostic information services. It offers diagnostic information services primarily under the Quest Diagnostics brand, as well as under the AmeriPath, Dermpath Diagnostics, ExamOne, and Quanum brands to patients, clinicians, hospitals, independent delivery networks, health plans, employers, direct contract entities, and accountable care organizations through a network of laboratories, patient service centers, phlebotomists in physician offices, call centers and mobile paramedics, nurses, and other health and wellness professionals. The company also provides risk assessment services for the life insurance industry; and healthcare organizations and clinicians robust information technology solutions. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey. About Many Bright Ideas Technologies (Get Free Report) Many Bright Ideas Technologies Inc. does not have significant operations. Previously, the company was engaged in the life science business with a focus on the development and commercialization of genomic-based tests for non-small-cell lung cancer. It focuses on the commercialization of technologies in various industrial sectors. The company was formerly known as Med BioGene Inc. and changed its name to Many Bright Ideas Technologies Inc. in June 2022. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Quest Diagnostics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quest Diagnostics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RFP Financial Group LLC decreased its stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Free Report) by 67.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 855 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,750 shares during the quarter. RFP Financial Group LLCs holdings in U.S. Bancorp were worth $31,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. increased its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 94,237 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,397,000 after purchasing an additional 2,264 shares during the period. Investment Management of Virginia LLC increased its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Investment Management of Virginia LLC now owns 42,072 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,517,000 after purchasing an additional 443 shares during the period. Valley National Advisers Inc. increased its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 9.5% during the 1st quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 86,310 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,831,000 after purchasing an additional 7,494 shares during the period. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. increased its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 699,600 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,221,000 after purchasing an additional 26,500 shares during the period. Finally, Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. increased its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 93.7% during the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. now owns 933,369 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $33,648,000 after purchasing an additional 451,483 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.61% of the companys stock. Get U.S. Bancorp alerts: U.S. Bancorp Price Performance Shares of USB traded up $1.03 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $34.77. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,438,224 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,711,560. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $31.59 and a 200 day simple moving average of $38.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.96. U.S. Bancorp has a 1-year low of $27.27 and a 1-year high of $49.95. U.S. Bancorp Announces Dividend U.S. Bancorp ( NYSE:USB Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The financial services provider reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.13 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $7.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.14 billion. U.S. Bancorp had a net margin of 19.21% and a return on equity of 16.70%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 28.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.99 earnings per share. Analysts predict that U.S. Bancorp will post 4.46 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a $0.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.52%. U.S. Bancorps dividend payout ratio is currently 51.06%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Odeon Capital Group downgraded U.S. Bancorp from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, June 23rd. Bank of America upgraded U.S. Bancorp from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $38.00 to $40.00 in a report on Tuesday. StockNews.com downgraded U.S. Bancorp from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Friday, May 12th. TheStreet downgraded U.S. Bancorp from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on U.S. Bancorp from $39.00 to $33.00 in a report on Sunday, June 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, U.S. Bancorp has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $49.15. Insider Activity In other news, Director Scott W. Wine acquired 30,438 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $32.85 per share, with a total value of $999,888.30. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 30,438 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $999,888.30. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Scott W. Wine acquired 30,438 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $32.85 per share, with a total value of $999,888.30. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 30,438 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $999,888.30. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Alan B. Colberg acquired 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 21st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $34.14 per share, with a total value of $341,400.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 10,050 shares in the company, valued at $343,107. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders acquired 76,698 shares of company stock valued at $2,446,082 in the last three months. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. U.S. Bancorp Company Profile (Free Report) U.S. Bancorp, a financial services holding company, provides various financial services to individuals, businesses, institutional organizations, governmental entities and other financial institutions in the United States. It operates in Corporate and Commercial Banking, Consumer and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Investment Services, Payment Services, and Treasury and Corporate Support segments. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding USB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for U.S. Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for U.S. Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Russia intends to continue bilateral cooperation with Oman in the OPEC+ format, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday, Azernews reports, citing TASS. "We confirmed our intention to continue cooperation within OPEC+, including implementation of all agreements reached in this format," he told a press conference following the talks with his Omani counterpart Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi. Moscow and Masqat are also discussing exchanges in cultural, humanitarian and educational areas, which "have good prospects as well," Lavrov added. RAMALLAH, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Monday called on Israel to stop its actions of hostilities in the West Bank instead of claiming that it will save Palestinian Authority (PA) from so-called collapse. Palestinian officials said they rejected the Israeli remarks on Sunday that if the PA agreed to stop acting against Israel in international political arena, Israel would pay back by supporting steps that prevent the PA's collapse. "What is required of Israel is to stop the aggression against our people, stop the killing, settlement ... and return to a path whose title is ending the occupation based on international legitimacy and law," an official statement quoted Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye as saying during a weekly cabinet meeting held in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "what Israel wants to offer the Palestinians is basically obligations imposed on Israel under international law, the Geneva Conventions, and the signed agreements." "What is required is the cessation of all illegal Israeli unilateral measures and commitment to the signed agreements and understandings, in preparation for the Israeli involvement in a genuine political negotiating process," the statement added. On July 3, the PA decided to stop all contact and meetings and continue its suspension of security coordination with Israel, after the latter waged a two-day large-scale military offensive on the northern West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp. The offensive, which started on July 3, had killed 12 Palestinians and wounded more than 150 others. An Israeli army officer was also killed during the offensive, according to figures released from the two sides. Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW Get Free Report) CEO Frank Slootman sold 2,120 shares of Snowflake stock in a transaction on Friday, July 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.50, for a total transaction of $372,060.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 185,683 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $32,587,366.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Frank Slootman also recently made the following trade(s): Get Snowflake alerts: On Wednesday, July 5th, Frank Slootman sold 8,834 shares of Snowflake stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $173.00, for a total transaction of $1,528,282.00. On Thursday, June 22nd, Frank Slootman sold 1,761 shares of Snowflake stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.47, for a total transaction of $312,524.67. On Friday, June 9th, Frank Slootman sold 1,724 shares of Snowflake stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.31, for a total transaction of $300,510.44. Snowflake Stock Performance SNOW traded down $0.96 during trading on Monday, reaching $169.65. 6,839,761 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,003,485. The companys fifty day moving average price is $171.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $154.68. Snowflake Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $119.27 and a fifty-two week high of $205.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.29 billion, a PE ratio of -63.54 and a beta of 0.75. Analysts Set New Price Targets Snowflake ( NYSE:SNOW Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 24th. The company reported ($0.66) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.42) by ($0.24). Snowflake had a negative return on equity of 14.81% and a negative net margin of 37.78%. The business had revenue of $623.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $607.57 million. Research analysts forecast that Snowflake Inc. will post -1.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on SNOW shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Snowflake from $180.00 to $205.00 in a report on Friday, June 30th. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of Snowflake from $175.00 to $190.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. Evercore ISI cut their price target on shares of Snowflake from $196.00 to $190.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Snowflake from $170.00 to $185.00 in a report on Monday, June 26th. Finally, Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Snowflake from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Thursday, May 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and twenty-two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Snowflake currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $188.80. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Snowflake Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SNOW. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Snowflake in the 4th quarter valued at $477,435,000. GQG Partners LLC acquired a new position in Snowflake in the 1st quarter worth $311,427,000. State Street Corp boosted its stake in Snowflake by 30.6% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,657,938 shares of the companys stock worth $961,623,000 after purchasing an additional 1,324,033 shares during the period. Fred Alger Management LLC acquired a new position in Snowflake in the 4th quarter worth $119,432,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in Snowflake in the 1st quarter worth $176,499,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.55% of the companys stock. About Snowflake (Get Free Report) Snowflake Inc provides a cloud-based data platform for various organizations in the United States and internationally. Its platform offers Data Cloud, which enables customers to consolidate data into a single source of truth to drive meaningful business insights, build data-driven applications, and share data and data products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Snowflake Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Snowflake and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D boosted its holdings in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report) by 0.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 655,281 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 5,458 shares during the quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D owned about 0.06% of Southern worth $45,594,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of SO. Prudential PLC grew its position in shares of Southern by 23.4% in the first quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 19,438 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,409,000 after purchasing an additional 3,689 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in shares of Southern by 33.5% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,727 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $126,000 after buying an additional 433 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Southern by 63.0% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,902 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 735 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Southern by 0.4% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 49,925 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,621,000 after buying an additional 221 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Southern by 35.8% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 907,132 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $65,776,000 after buying an additional 239,325 shares during the period. 63.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Southern alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on SO shares. Mizuho reduced their target price on shares of Southern from $77.00 to $76.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Southern from $73.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Southern from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Guggenheim cut their price target on shares of Southern from $79.00 to $77.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, VNET Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Southern has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $73.93. Insiders Place Their Bets Southern Price Performance In other Southern news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.48, for a total transaction of $357,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 136,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,741,580.32. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . In other news, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 847,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at $63,705,014.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.48, for a total transaction of $357,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 136,284 shares in the company, valued at $9,741,580.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders sold 200,678 shares of company stock valued at $14,528,821. Company insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock. Shares of Southern stock traded down $0.17 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $69.97. The company had a trading volume of 870,709 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,195,938. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51. The company has a market capitalization of $76.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.90 and a beta of 0.50. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $71.26 and a 200 day simple moving average of $69.71. The Southern Company has a 1-year low of $58.85 and a 1-year high of $80.57. Southern (NYSE:SO Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.08. Southern had a net margin of 11.53% and a return on equity of 10.78%. The business had revenue of $6.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.97 earnings per share. Southerns revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that The Southern Company will post 3.6 earnings per share 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 issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. This is a positive change from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. Southerns payout ratio is currently 90.32%. Southern Company Profile (Free Report) 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. STM Group Plc (LON:STM Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 62.60 ($0.81) and last traded at GBX 49.66 ($0.64), with a volume of 629239 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 27.50 ($0.35). STM Group Stock Performance The stock has a market capitalization of 29.50 million, a P/E ratio of 2,750.00 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 25.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 26.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.41, a current ratio of 2.11 and a quick ratio of 0.75. Get STM Group alerts: STM Group Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 19th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 31st will be given a GBX 0.60 ($0.01) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 31st. STM Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10,000.00%. STM Group Company Profile STM Group Plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Malta, Australia, Spain, Jersey, and internationally. It operates in four segments: Pensions, Life Assurance, Corporate Trustee Services, and Other Services. The company offers retirement, estate and succession planning, and wealth structuring services, as well as company and trust management services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for STM Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for STM Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com cut shares of Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Friday. Several other research analysts also recently commented on the stock. Susquehanna increased their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $45.00 to $54.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. Citigroup increased their target price on Delta Air Lines from $61.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Monday, July 3rd. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Delta Air Lines in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued a top pick rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on shares of Delta Air Lines from $45.00 to $50.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 27th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Delta Air Lines from $48.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Delta Air Lines currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $52.68. Get Delta Air Lines alerts: Delta Air Lines Trading Up 1.2 % DAL stock opened at $48.47 on Friday. Delta Air Lines has a 1-year low of $27.20 and a 1-year high of $48.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.17, a current ratio of 0.47 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The company has a market capitalization of $31.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.43, a PEG ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 1.31. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $39.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $37.28. Delta Air Lines Cuts Dividend Delta Air Lines ( NYSE:DAL Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 13th. The transportation company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.29 by ($0.04). Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 56.49% and a net margin of 3.51%. The business had revenue of $12.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.25 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned ($1.23) earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 36.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Delta Air Lines will post 6.24 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 14th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.83%. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio is presently 13.56%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Delta Air Lines news, Director David S. Taylor bought 5,000 shares of Delta Air Lines stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 26th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $32.83 per share, with a total value of $164,150.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 25,360 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $832,568.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director David S. Taylor purchased 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 26th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $32.83 per share, for a total transaction of $164,150.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 25,360 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $832,568.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Joanne D. Smith sold 7,513 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.90, for a total transaction of $277,229.70. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 107,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,977,155.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have acquired a total of 15,000 shares of company stock worth $503,250 in the last ninety days. 0.89% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of DAL. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Delta Air Lines in the first quarter worth $217,000. Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 41.8% during the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 25,838 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,022,000 after acquiring an additional 7,616 shares during the period. APG Asset Management N.V. acquired a new stake in Delta Air Lines during the first quarter worth about $243,000. Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 20.7% during the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 9,918 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $392,000 after acquiring an additional 1,700 shares during the period. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. grew its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 3.1% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 29,508 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,168,000 after acquiring an additional 891 shares during the period. 68.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Delta Air Lines (Get Free Report) Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Seoul-Incheon. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Delta Air Lines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delta Air Lines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wright Investors Service Inc. trimmed its position in shares of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD Free Report) (TSE:TD) by 0.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 44,264 shares of the banks stock after selling 412 shares during the period. Wright Investors Service Inc.s holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank were worth $2,651,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Valley National Advisers Inc. grew its position in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 9.4% during the 1st quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 18,243 shares of the banks stock worth $1,115,000 after purchasing an additional 1,568 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. purchased a new position in Toronto-Dominion Bank during the 1st quarter worth approximately $302,000. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC now owns 12,654 shares of the banks stock worth $758,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC purchased a new position in Toronto-Dominion Bank during the 1st quarter worth approximately $63,000. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 5.5% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 99,090 shares of the banks stock worth $5,935,000 after purchasing an additional 5,144 shares in the last quarter. 44.92% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: Toronto-Dominion Bank Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of TD stock traded up $0.42 on Tuesday, hitting $61.46. The companys stock had a trading volume of 464,416 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,346,405. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The Toronto-Dominion Bank has a fifty-two week low of $55.43 and a fifty-two week high of $70.67. The firms fifty day moving average price is $60.15 and its 200-day moving average price is $62.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $113.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.24, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.90. Toronto-Dominion Bank Cuts Dividend Toronto-Dominion Bank ( NYSE:TD Get Free Report ) (TSE:TD) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 25th. The bank reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.52 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $9.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.10 billion. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a return on equity of 15.51% and a net margin of 17.72%. Research analysts anticipate that The Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 6.08 EPS for the current year. The company 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 7th. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio is 48.66%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have weighed in on TD. StockNews.com cut shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday. CIBC raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to a sector outperform rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Barclays lowered shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $100.57. About Toronto-Dominion Bank (Free Report) 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TransAlta Renewables (OTCMKTS:TRSWF Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at Credit Suisse Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Several other brokerages have also issued reports on TRSWF. TD Securities upped their target price on TransAlta Renewables from C$12.00 to C$12.50 in a research note on Monday, May 8th. National Bank Financial cut their target price on TransAlta Renewables from C$13.00 to C$12.50 in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. Get TransAlta Renewables alerts: TransAlta Renewables Trading Down 0.1 % Shares of TRSWF traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $8.26. 12,796 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,583. TransAlta Renewables has a one year low of $7.78 and a one year high of $14.27. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $9.02 and a 200-day moving average of $8.92. TransAlta Renewables Company Profile TransAlta Renewables Inc owns, develops, and operates renewable and natural gas power generation facilities and other infrastructure assets in Canada, the United States, and Australia. The company operates through Canadian Wind, Canadian Hydro, Canadian Gas, US Wind and Solar, US Gas, and Australian Gas segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for TransAlta Renewables Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TransAlta Renewables and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TRU Independence Asset Management 2 LLC purchased a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report) during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm purchased 5,000 shares of the natural resource companys stock, valued at approximately $205,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. M&R Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 61.0% during the 4th quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 805 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 305 shares during the period. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 48.8% during the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 872 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 286 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.35% of the companys stock. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently weighed in on FCX shares. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a report on Thursday, June 29th. They set a market perform rating and a $41.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 9th. Scotiabank raised shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and increased their price objective for the company from $41.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $24.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Raymond James dropped 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 note on Sunday, April 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $39.27. Insider Transactions at Freeport-McMoRan Freeport-McMoRan Trading Up 0.9 % In other news, Director Sara Grootwassink Lewis acquired 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 12th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $34.90 per share, for a total transaction of $139,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,800 shares in the company, valued at approximately $621,220. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . 0.78% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. NYSE FCX traded up $0.36 on Tuesday, hitting $39.34. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,413,758 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,623,232. The company has a quick ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 1-year low of $24.80 and a 1-year high of $46.73. The companys 50-day moving average is $37.32 and its 200 day moving average is $39.76. The firm has a market cap of $56.39 billion, a PE ratio of 21.78 and a beta of 2.01. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 21st. The natural resource company reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.47 by $0.05. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 12.07% and a return on equity of 11.07%. The company had revenue of $5.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.25 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.07 earnings per share. Freeport-McMoRans revenue for the quarter was down 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Freeport-McMoRan Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 14th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.76%. Freeport-McMoRan Company Profile (Free Report) Freeport-McMoRan Inc engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals, as well as oil and gas. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Tyrone and Chino in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FCX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Freeport-McMoRan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freeport-McMoRan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $240.49 and last traded at $240.41, with a volume of 2809857 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $238.16. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. 22nd Century Group reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Visa in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of Visa from $281.00 to $282.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Visa from $272.00 to $284.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Visa from $270.00 to $272.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Visa from $262.00 to $265.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $262.52. Get Visa alerts: Visa Price Performance The businesss 50 day moving average price is $229.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $225.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $450.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 1.50. Visa Dividend Announcement Visa ( NYSE:V Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.09 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.97 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $7.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.79 billion. Visa had a net margin of 50.95% and a return on equity of 50.21%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.79 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Visa Inc. will post 8.59 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th were given a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.75%. Visas payout ratio is currently 24.06%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, insider Rajat Taneja sold 2,300 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total transaction of $552,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 232,112 shares in the company, valued at $55,706,880. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Visa news, insider Tullier Kelly Mahon sold 54,146 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $232.55, for a total transaction of $12,591,652.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 26,674 shares in the company, valued at $6,203,038.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Rajat Taneja sold 2,300 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total transaction of $552,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 232,112 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $55,706,880. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 142,602 shares of company stock worth $33,336,374 over the last three months. 0.21% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Visa by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. now owns 328,155 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $77,930,000 after purchasing an additional 3,298 shares in the last quarter. Norway Savings Bank raised its position in Visa by 5.0% during the 2nd quarter. Norway Savings Bank now owns 3,246 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $771,000 after buying an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in Visa by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 24,036 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $5,708,000 after buying an additional 1,049 shares during the last quarter. Monterey Private Wealth Inc. raised its position in Visa by 17.6% during the 2nd quarter. Monterey Private Wealth Inc. now owns 4,640 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $1,102,000 after buying an additional 695 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Janiczek Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Visa by 10.0% during the 2nd quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,876 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $683,000 after buying an additional 262 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.92% of the companys stock. Visa Company Profile (Get Free Report) Visa Inc operates as a payments technology company worldwide. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, click to pay; Visa Direct, a real-time payments network; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral B2B cross-border payments network; Visa Treasury as a Service, a cross-border consumer payments business; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Visa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Visa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of VMware (NYSE:VMW Free Report) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Saturday morning. VMW has been the subject of several other reports. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of VMware from $135.00 to $138.00 in a research report on Friday, June 2nd. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM reiterated a maintains rating on shares of VMware in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of VMware from $125.00 to $134.00 in a research report on Friday, June 2nd. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of VMware from $139.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 7th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price target on shares of VMware from $151.00 to $161.00 in a research report on Friday, June 2nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, VMware currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $143.25. Get VMware alerts: VMware Stock Up 1.9 % Shares of VMware stock opened at $144.03 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.06, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $61.98 billion, a PE ratio of 47.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.52 and a beta of 0.72. VMware has a 52-week low of $103.55 and a 52-week high of $145.73. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $133.53 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $125.66. Insiders Place Their Bets VMware ( NYSE:VMW Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, June 1st. The virtualization software provider reported $1.49 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.55 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $3.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.31 billion. VMware had a return on equity of 162.41% and a net margin of 9.57%. VMwares quarterly revenue was up 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.71 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that VMware will post 4.46 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other VMware news, EVP Jean Pierre Brulard sold 3,600 shares of VMware stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.51, for a total value of $509,436.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 103,905 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,703,596.55. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 40.30% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On VMware Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in VMware during the 4th quarter valued at about $186,457,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in VMware by 181.5% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,210,001 shares of the virtualization software providers stock valued at $251,653,000 after buying an additional 1,424,875 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in VMware by 8.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 14,338,363 shares of the virtualization software providers stock valued at $1,526,461,000 after buying an additional 1,102,577 shares in the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG lifted its holdings in VMware by 29.8% during the 1st quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 4,729,505 shares of the virtualization software providers stock valued at $590,479,000 after buying an additional 1,085,259 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in VMware by 57.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,655,951 shares of the virtualization software providers stock valued at $326,045,000 after buying an additional 971,516 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 46.00% of the companys stock. VMware Company Profile (Get Free Report) VMware, Inc provides software solutions in the areas of modern applications, cloud management and infrastructure, networking, security, and digital workspaces in the United States and internationally. It offers VMware multi-cloud solutions, including VMware vSphere, a data center infrastructure that provides the fundamental compute layer; vSAN and VxRail, which offers holistic data storage and protection options to applications running on vSphere; and vRealize Cloud Management solutions that manages hybrid and multi-cloud environments running in virtual machines and containers, as well as VMware Cloud Foundation, a cloud platform that combines its vSphere, vSAN, and NSX with vRealize Cloud Management into an integrated stack and delivers enterprise-ready cloud infrastructure for private and public clouds. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for VMware Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for VMware and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. reduced its holdings in TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE Free Report) by 1.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 149,858 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,996 shares during the period. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc.s holdings in TotalEnergies were worth $8,849,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Connections Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of TotalEnergies in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in shares of TotalEnergies by 940.9% in the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 458 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 414 shares in the last quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV boosted its stake in shares of TotalEnergies by 63.3% during the 4th quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 490 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares during the period. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of TotalEnergies by 58.6% during the 4th quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC now owns 509 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares during the period. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of TotalEnergies during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. 6.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get TotalEnergies alerts: TotalEnergies Stock Up 1.1 % Shares of NYSE:TTE traded up $0.63 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $57.02. The companys stock had a trading volume of 110,592 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,598,437. TotalEnergies SE has a 52 week low of $44.61 and a 52 week high of $65.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The company has a market capitalization of $139.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.89, a P/E/G ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 0.79. The firms fifty day moving average price is $58.80 and its 200 day moving average price is $60.93. TotalEnergies Increases Dividend TotalEnergies ( NYSE:TTE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $2.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.43 by $0.18. TotalEnergies had a net margin of 7.82% and a return on equity of 28.51%. The firm had revenue of $62.60 billion for the quarter. As a group, research analysts expect that TotalEnergies SE will post 10.44 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 20th will be given a $0.585 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 16th. This represents a $2.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.10%. This is an increase from TotalEnergiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.54. TotalEnergiess payout ratio is presently 28.94%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised shares of TotalEnergies from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of TotalEnergies from $68.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, TotalEnergies has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $63.25. TotalEnergies Profile (Free Report) TotalEnergies SE, a multi-energy company, produces and markets fuels, natural gas, and electricity in France, rest of Europe, North America, Africa, and internationally. It operates through Integrated Gas, Renewables & Power; Exploration & Production; Refining & Chemicals; and Marketing & Services segments. See Also Receive News & Ratings for TotalEnergies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TotalEnergies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The following is the full text of a statement for the First High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development released on July 10. Beijing Statement for the First High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development I. From July 9 to 10, 2023, the First High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development was held in Beijing. All parties discussed global development issues of common interest under the theme of "Global Development Initiative: Echo the Development Agenda and Call for Global Action." China and all countries represented by high-level delegates in person agreed to release the Beijing Statement for First High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development. II. The meeting noted that the world today is confronted by profound changes, rising geopolitical tensions, intensifying major-country rivalry, slow progress in North-South cooperation, and deviation from development issues, along with a widening development gap. We are seeing clear signs of slowdown in the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Development, especially cooperative development, is key to solving global issues and achieving sustainable development for humanity. Thus, it is more pressing than ever before to put development front and center on the international agenda. III. The meeting pointed out that the international community has made great efforts to address development issues, tackle global development deficit, and jointly maintain and promote world peace and development, which has achieved positive outcomes. The meeting commended China for proposing the Global Development Initiative (GDI) to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The GDI highlights priorities of, blazes new paths for and injects impetus into global sustainable development. The meeting noted with satisfaction the important early harvests of the 32 important measures announced by China to implement the GDI and promote global sustainable development and its continuous efforts in this regard. IV. The meeting called on all sides to take the 2023 SDG Summit in September this year as an opportunity to: build consensus, pool resources and bridge the divide for development; forge a united, equal, balanced and inclusive high-quality global development partnership; and jointly foster a new era of global development featuring benefits for all, balance, coordination, inclusiveness, win-win cooperation and common prosperity. Intensifying the efforts to address the most urgent global challenges such as poverty reduction, food security, and public health security. We will deepen policy exchanges, experience sharing and practical cooperation on poverty reduction, promote the building of demonstration villages on agricultural development and poverty reduction, improve livelihood facilities for education, as well as water and power supply, and boost the efforts to end poverty in all its forms. We will continue to provide emergency food assistance, medical teams and free medical services to countries in need. We will actively engage in global and regional food security governance and support the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) of the United Nations in playing their active roles. We will enhance technical experience sharing and application in areas such as storage, logistics, food processing, grain conservation and food loss reduction, help other developing countries enhance their capacity of food production, storage, and loss reduction, and keep the global industrial and supply chains for food and agriculture industries stable and smooth. We will have more international exchanges on disaster prevention and mitigation, enhance humanitarian cooperation to forestall and resolve public risks and emergencies such as major disasters and epidemics. Scaling up input in areas such as climate change, green development and connectivity in the digital era to gather sustainable momentum for global development. We will enhance international collaboration on climate response and help developing countries level up their capacity to fight climate change through joint construction of low-carbon demonstration zones, climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, and training programs on capacity building. We will focus on the sustainable use of resources, promote the techniques of reducing costs and increasing efficiency, and enhance the level of green development. We will support the protection of the ecological environment and biological diversity. We will push forward connectivity in the digital era, the construction of traditional and new types of infrastructure in a coordinated way, and improve infrastructure accessibility and trade facilitation. Paying closer attention to industrialization, digitalization and personnel capacity building, and fostering new growth areas. We will ramp up cooperation and investment attraction in the special economic zones, industrial parks and science parks by mobilizing aid for trade. We will actively seek greater synergy among digital development strategies and advance digital industrial cooperation. We will conduct efficient, inclusive and fair cooperation on human resources development. By making good use of Luban Workshops, we will support the training and cultivation of technology professionals, and enhance education and exchanges among youth and women. Building a new type of North-South partnership for development cooperation. We will support the UN in coordinating global efforts for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and advocate the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance. We will continue to promote North-South cooperation as the main channel and step up South-South cooperation and tripartite cooperation. We will be open to drawing on the constructive factors of all parties with regard to international development cooperation's concepts and rules. We uphold the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and commit to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. We will pay attention to addressing insecurity in development and ensure that everyone has equal access to development benefits. V. The meeting expressed appreciation to China for hosting this meeting. It noted with satisfaction that the conference released the Guidelines on Global Development Project Pool and the Guidelines on Global Development Project Pool Financing. Moreover, consensus has also been reached on properly using the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and the development fund newly raised in this meeting. We expect the Global Development Promotion Center (GDPC) to continue fully playing the coordination and promotion role by the network secretariat set by the Forum, thereby supporting the integrated implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the GDI. A visitor takes photos of an exhibit during an Italian contemporary art exhibition "Italian Contemporary Art and Artists on the Silk Road" at the Xi'an Art Museum in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, July 4, 2023. [Xinhua/Zhang Sijie] XI'AN, July 9 (Xinhua) An Italian contemporary art exhibition at the Grand Tang Mall, an enchanting scenic area in the historic Chinese city of Xi'an, has attracted visitors for the past month. The touring exhibition, "Italian Contemporary Art and Artists on the Silk Road," closed on Sunday after 37 days at the Xi'an Art Museum in the scenic area, having welcomed over 60,000 people. "It is like traditional Chinese culture and modern Western art communicating with each other in the same block, making the exhibition a captivating journey that transcends time and space," said Zhang Yin, an art enthusiast from Beijing. What makes the exhibition unique is its tour route. According to its curator, Angela Tecce, the exhibition began in Italy, the end point of the ancient Silk Road. It has toured several countries and regions along the route, including Turkiye and Uzbekistan, and finally landed in China's Xi'an, the starting point of the Silk Road. The exhibition's tour to China can be read as a message of renewal and a fresh beginning, in which art confirms itself as a true facilitator for dialogue, said Pasquale Terracciano, director general for public and cultural diplomacy at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in a preface to the display. The cultural communication between China and Italy can be traced back to ancient times. In the Western Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-25 A.D.), Chinese envoy Zhang Qian began his journey to the West via Central Asia, and opened up a trade route that later became the Silk Road. Originally a setting for commercial exchange, it evolved into a crossroads of different cultures. More than 700 years ago, the Italian merchant and explorer Marco Polo traveled to China on the ancient Silk Road. Chinese culture had spread to the Italian Peninsula through the trade of silk, tea and porcelain, and Roman architecture and art had also spread to China. This photo taken on July 7, 2023 shows an artwork exhibited at an Italian contemporary art exhibition "Italian Contemporary Art and Artists on the Silk Road" in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Xinhua/Zhao Yingbo] In recent years, the Xi'an Art Museum has been working closely with its peers in Italy. In 2018, it held the exhibition "Beyond the Wall: Xi'an Contemporary Art Exhibition" in Florence, Italy, and it was well-received by locals. Both China and Italy boast long histories. Since visual art needs no translation, the exhibition can serve as a carrier for direct dialogue between classical and contemporary art, and between East and West, said Yang Chao, curator of the Xi'an Art Museum. A total of 31 art pieces from 33 emerging Italian artists and established masters were on display at the exhibition. The artists utilized a variety of creative methods to manifest Italy's latest artistic developments, from the 1960s to the present day. Exhibits ranged from paintings and photography to sculpture and installation. One of the artworks, "What holds it all together," drew many visitors. Made from porcelain and organic glass, it was inspired by the porcelain from the royal palace of Naples, demonstrating the then-popular artistic genre known as chinoiserie. "The touring exhibition was vital to cultural exchange and the formation of consensus between the peoples of China and Italy in today's turbulent world," Yang said. (Source: Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. [Xinhua/Zhang Ling] BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping met with visiting Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing on Monday afternoon. The two sides jointly announced the official establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development for a new era. Xi noted that China and Solomon Islands are trustworthy friends and dependable partners to each other. He said that since the two countries established diplomatic relations, their friendly cooperation has become a pacesetter for the relations between China and other island countries in the Pacific in spite of a relatively late start. He said their cooperation is a paradigm of unity, cooperation and common development for countries of different sizes, and for developing countries. Facts have proved that the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Solomon Islands is a correct choice that is in conformity with the trend of the times and in line with the general international situation, and serves fundamental interests of the two peoples, Xi said. "China is ready to enhance strategic communication and deepen cooperation in various fields with Solomon Islands to ensure the steady progress of the bilateral ties and bring more benefits to the two peoples," Xi said. He stressed that China greatly appreciates Solomon Islands' firm adherence to the one-China principle, supports Solomon Islands in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and supports the development path that the country itself has chosen. China is committed to running its own affairs well, and will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order, Xi noted. He said that to help Solomon Islands ensure development and long-term stability, China is ready to share the development opportunities brought by Chinese modernization, strengthen synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Solomon Islands' Development Strategy 2035, expand practical cooperation in various fields, and expand imports from Solomon Islands. "China is supporting more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Solomon Islands, and will continue to provide economic and technical assistance to the country without any political strings attached," Xi said. He urged the two sides to expand friendly exchanges in fields like medical care and education, and said that China supports Solomon Islands in hosting the 17th Pacific Games. Xi pointed out that China fully respects the sovereignty and independence of Pacific island countries, and upholds the equality of all countries, big or small. China fully respects the will of Pacific island countries and pursues extensive consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits and win-win results. China fully respects the cultural traditions of Pacific island countries, and adheres to harmony in diversity and shared beauty of diverse cultures. China fully respects the unity and self-reliance of Pacific island countries, and supports them in implementing the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, contributing to the building of a peaceful, harmonious, secure, inclusive and prosperous Blue Pacific, Xi said. China understands that island countries in the Pacific face severe challenges caused by climate change, and stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with them in such areas as meteorological services, disaster prevention and mitigation, and clean energy to help them implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Xi said. He also said that China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Solomon Islands, uphold genuine multilateralism, safeguard international fairness and justice, jointly oppose the Cold War mentality and hegemonism, and safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Noting that the decision to establish diplomatic relations with China was a correct choice, Sogavare said fruitful outcomes have been achieved in bilateral ties and China has become Solomon Islands' largest infrastructure partner and a reliable development partner. Solomon Islands firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in trade, investment, cultural and sub-national areas, and jointly respond to global challenges such as climate change, Sogavare said, adding that the country opposes any actions that contain or aim to contain China's development. After the meeting, the two sides released the Joint Statement on Establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Featuring Mutual Respect and Common Development for a New Era Between the People's Republic of China And Solomon Islands. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen] (Source: Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen] BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with visiting Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko in Beijing. Xi noted that with joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia relations have maintained a sound and steady development momentum, with steady progress in cooperation in various fields. The social foundations and popular support for the long-term friendship between the two countries have become more solid. "During my state visit to Russia in March this year, President Putin and I reached new and important consensus on deepening bilateral comprehensive strategic coordination and practical cooperation in various fields," Xi said, noting that the development of China-Russia relations is a strategic choice that the two countries have made based on the fundamental interests of their respective countries and peoples. China will continue to work with Russia to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, featuring mutual assistance, in-depth integration, innovation and win-win outcomes for all, so as to boost the development and revitalization of the two countries and promote the construction of a prosperous, stable, fair and just world, Xi said. Noting that legislative cooperation is an important part of China-Russia relations, Xi expressed the hope that the two sides will work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, promote and guarantee the sustained and sound development of bilateral cooperation in various fields from the legislative level, strengthen exchanges of experience in legislation and state governance, and push cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries to a new level. He called on the two sides to strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, guide the reform of global governance in the right direction, and safeguard the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries. Matviyenko said the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination conforms to the interests of the two countries and the will of the two peoples, and has reached its highest level in history and continues to develop steadily. President Xi's successful state visit to Russia in March has injected strong impetus into the development of Russia-China relations. The Russian Federation Council supports deepening Russia-China cooperation and is willing to strengthen exchanges with China's National People's Congress to provide a legal guarantee for the implementation of the consensus of the two heads of state, Matviyenko said. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. [Xinhua/Zhang Ling] (Source: Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on July 3, 2023 shows a view of a historic and cultural block of Pingjiang Road in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. [Xinhua/Li Bo] BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) Lu Jianying was using a tiny needle and colorful silk thread to embroider an intricate image of flowers and birds when a special visitor walked into her shop in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. The visitor was President Xi Jinping. He traveled to the city, which has a history of over 2,500 years, on an inspection trip on July 6. Lu's Suzhou embroidery shop is situated among the white-walled and black-tiled buildings in the Pingjiang Historic and Cultural Block. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, showed interest in the traditional art, which dates back over 2,000 years. "How long does it take to finish a work like this?" Xi asked. "Some may take as long as a year," the 52-year-old Suzhou embroidery practitioner replied. Lu showed Xi two of her works in the shop a piece she made with her mother, and another that she made with her daughter. "Through Suzhou embroidery, we can see how traditional Chinese culture has been passed on from generation to generation," Xi said. "It epitomizes the resilience, patience and perseverance of the Chinese people, which is part of the Chinese national spirit." Born to a family specializing in the Suzhou embroidery craft, Lu began learning basic embroidery skills from her grandmother when she was eight, and has now been making embroidery for more than 30 years. Lu brings animals and flowers to life with her exquisite needlework, and she has also made a name for herself by turning ancient Chinese paintings into pieces of embroidery. Many of her works have been included in museum and gallery collections. According to Lu, her 25-year-old daughter studied design at university and became an embroidery practitioner after her graduation. Lu said she believes the ancient art will be developed further by young generations. While inspecting the block, Xi also experienced New Year images being printed using woodblocks in a shop selling cultural and creative products, and he watched a Suzhou Pingtan musical performance with local residents and tourists. Xi hailed the block as a great treasure that promotes socialist cultural-ethical progress, and preserves and carries forward traditional Chinese culture. He urged local officials to do good work in protecting, exploring and utilizing the block. (Source: Xinhua) KIGALI, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Since the end of the genocide in Rwanda 29 years ago, the East African country has transformed from a fragmented country into one of the world's fast-growing economies due to good governance and reforms, experts have said. Rwanda marked the 29th anniversary of its liberation earlier this month. Known as Kwibohora, Liberation Day is celebrated annually on July 4. The Rwandan Patriotic Army, the armed wing of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), ended the genocide in 1994 against the Tutsi that claimed more than 1 million lives in the country. "After the genocide, the economy was in tatters with many Rwandans living in poverty," said Gerard Rurangwa, a Rwandan economic expert, noting that "the situation has changed dramatically for the better." The country has experienced tremendous changes in terms of economic development, due to good governance, security and economic reforms, he said. Comparing the government budget in 1995, when the country was dependent on donors' funding, with that for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Rurangwa said the budget has increased by 90 folds to 5.03 trillion Rwandan francs (about 4.76 billion U.S. dollars) with 63 percent of it financed by domestic revenues. Rwanda's growth averaged 7.2 percent a year over the decade to 2019, while the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) grew at 5 percent, according to the World Bank. This, Rurangwa said, gives the government confidence to map out its development path to become a middle-income country by 2035. "The government's commitment to delivering to the expectation of the citizens has transformed many people's lives ... many regional commercial banks have opened up branches in Rwanda and several industries have been set up, creating job opportunities for the citizens," Rurangwa said. The country's economy was largely dependent on agriculture before the liberation. However, the manufacturing sector has been playing a bigger role in the past years, and the service sector has been on the fast track of development, contributing 47 percent to the country's GDP in 2022. Rwanda's efforts in facilitating businesses, fighting corruption and maintaining security in the country make it attractive for investment, said Rurangwa. Mukama Ngoga, another Rwandan analyst, said after the genocide in 1994, the government carried out reforms to revive the economy and fight poverty, which has promoted economic and social development in the country. "The devastating impact of the genocide left the economy and all institutions in a fragile state, but with good governance, the economy was put back on track," he said, adding that the government's commitment to fighting corruption was another factor in attracting foreign investments. According to the Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda attracted two billion U.S. dollars of foreign investments per year on average in the last three years, up from 300 million dollars in 2010. BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory letter to the first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development. In his letter, Xi said transformation of the world unseen in a century is unfolding at a faster pace, the world economy is struggling to recover and the global development agenda is facing challenges. "To build consensus on cooperation and promote common development, I have put forward the Global Development Initiative in order to help accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and I am pleased to see that with the joint participation of all parties, cooperation on the Global Development Initiative has yielded important early results and benefited many developing countries," Xi said. He emphasized that development is the eternal theme of human society, and shared development is an important path to building a better world. As the largest developing country, China has always placed its own development within the larger context of human development and created new opportunities for the development of the world through its own development, Xi said. China will further increase its resource input for global development cooperation, work with the international community to further advance the Global Development Initiative, and make new contributions to the realization of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, the Chinese president said. The first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development, hosted by the China International Development Cooperation Agency, kicked off in Beijing on Monday with the theme "Global Development Initiative: Echo the Development Agenda and Call for Global Action." (Source: Xinhua) Ray Nolan holds his Northern Rhode Island Council of the Arts award outside his home at At. Antoine Residence in North Smithfield. With Nolan from left are NRICA President Sharon Charette, and daughters Nancy Vezina and Carol Nolan-Paul. In this file photo, U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, during the G7 Summit at the Grand Prince Hotel in Hiroshima, Japan, May 21. KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia is seeking concept proposals from local and international firms and consortiums to reactivate its Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (KL-SG HSR) project. MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd (MyHSR Corp), a company owned by the Malaysian government, said in a statement on Tuesday that following a positive response to its initial input gathering in March, the firm is embarking on a full-fledged request for information (RFI) to enable the private sector to submit concept proposals to develop and operate the KL-SG HSR project via a public-private partnership model. It said the RFI exercise marks the Malaysian government's initiative to reactivate the KL-SG HSR project via new funding mechanisms and implementation models in efforts to further improve the rail transport infrastructure and invigorate the national economy. The cross-border HSR project was terminated in January 2021 due to Malaysia and Singapore being unable to reach an agreement. The 350-km high-speed railway, which includes 335 km within Malaysia and 15 km in Singapore, had been scheduled to be completed by 2026, cutting travel time between Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes. MyHSR Corp had engaged with selected private companies during the initial information-gathering stage to understand the level of interest, capabilities and resource requirements needed to make this project sustainable. The exercise will allow the Malaysian government to assess the industry's interest and ability to fully fund the project while evaluating their capabilities in developing this major infrastructure project by looking into areas, such as technical specifications, project costing, commercial and business models, as well as consortium and governance framework. "MyHSR Corp remains committed to supporting the government to identify the most effective solution to revive the KL-SG HSR project. Globally, developments of HSR have proven to be growth engines, bringing about catalytic development and growth as well as multiplier effects that benefit all walks of life," said Mohd Nur Ismal, CEO of MyHSR Corp. He encouraged firms and consortiums with relevant experience to participate in this exercise and looked forward to receiving strong interest and high-quality proposals that would serve as an important reference for the government's decision on the best way forward for the project. FILE James Lewis is escorted through Boston's Logan Airport, Friday Oct. 13, 1995, after being released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Oklahoma. Lewis, the suspect in the 1982 Tylenol murders, was found dead Sunday, July 9, 2023 at his home in Cambridge, Mass., law-enforcement sources said. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, also the Chinese co-chair of the China-Belarus Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, co-chairs the fifth meeting of the intergovernmental cooperation committee with First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov of Belarus, also the Belarusian co-chair of the committee, in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong on Tuesday co-chaired the fifth meeting of the China-Belarus Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee with First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov of Belarus. Liu, also the Chinese co-chair of the intergovernmental cooperation committee, said that the upgrading of bilateral relations to all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership by the two heads of state last September has injected strong momentum to bilateral cooperation. He stressed that the committee should, in accordance with a blueprint outlined by the two heads of state, deepen political mutual trust, increase mutual support, actively expand agricultural cooperation, deepen local cooperation, jointly promote the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and enhance cooperation in the fields of the economy and trade, science and technology, security, education, culture and tourism, and customs inspection and quarantine. Snopkov, also the Belarusian co-chair of the committee, said Belarus is willing to work with China to deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, push bilateral relations to a new level, and promote the common development of the two countries. After the meeting, Liu and Snopkov witnessed the signing of relevant cooperation documents. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, also the Chinese co-chair of the China-Belarus Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, co-chairs the fifth meeting of the intergovernmental cooperation committee with First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov of Belarus, also the Belarusian co-chair of the committee, in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Send in your statement of support for the British Columbia strike by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept anonymous. A Hapag-Lloyd AG cargo ship sits parked near the Port of Seattle, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in Seattle. [AP Photo/Ted S. Warren] As the strike by 7,400 dockworkers at major ports in Vancouver and Prince Rupert in British Columbia enters its 11th day, dockworkers at 29 West Coast ports in the United States, who are also part of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), are increasingly demanding joint action with their brothers and sisters. Jonathan (whose name has been changed to protect his identity), a casual dockworker in the San Francisco Bay area, told the WSWS over the weekend, If they are on strike, we need to be on strike with them to shut down the whole North American West Coast. For over a year, some 22,000 West Coast dockworkers in the US have been forced to work without a contract by the union bureaucracy. While they have been forced to call a strike in Canada, the ILWU has yet to hold a strike authorization vote in the US . Instead, the ILWU and PMA have released multiple joint statements pledging no strikes or lockouts. The Ever Safety and the MSC Sara Elena are the first of many ships being diverted from striking ports in Canada to American ports to be unloaded. Jonathan said, It would be a slap in the face if they unload that cargo. It would really hurt their strike. For casuals, Jonathan explained, Things are very slow. Were unloading our own cargo, and none of the casuals are getting out this weekend. Still, we should not be unloading those ships. ILWU President Willie Adams said in a statement that the union will not be unloading Canadian bound cargo in solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters in ILWU Canada. But the fact is that the diverted ships, with billions of dollars in cargo, would not go to US ports if they did not have a reasonable expectation of it being unloaded. In an interview with CNBC, Destine Ozuygur, head of operations at maritime data and vessel tracking company eeSea, confirmed that both of the ships would not be returning to Canadian ports. This has been confirmed by the ocean carrier, said Ozuygur. According to CNBC, the Sara Elena was worked on in Seattle. After the service, the carrier announced it would not be heading back to Vancouver, which means the Canadian-bound freight was unloaded or will be unloaded in future US ports. CNBC noted that it would be very hard for the ILWU to identify containers that had their final destinations changed because the union workers do not have access to container information for security reasons. That the ILWU is keeping US dockworkers on the job during the British Columbia strike confirms the role of the union bureaucracy as labor police. To fight back and to unite with their brothers and sisters across North America, dockworkers must organize rank-and-file committees to transfer the initiative from the apparatus to the workers themselves. The ILWU is not only deliberately isolating US workers from their Canadian workers, but it is working with the International Longshore Association (ILA) to divide US workers on the West Coast from the East Coast. Since the ILWU contract in the US expired last July, cargo has been diverted to the East Coast and Gulf ports under the ILA in order to undercut the position of West Coast workers. While the ILA issued a statement of solidarity in support of ILWU negotiation efforts last year, the union has been effectively scabbing on dockworkers on the West Coast by allowing the diversion of shipments to ILA ports. In defiance of the ILWUs no strike pledge, dockworkers had been taking increasingly significant job actions throughout the spring. After an insulting PMA pay proposal was leaked at the beginning of June, dockworkers took matters into their own hands and launched wildcat job actions that caused the shutdown of major ports and terminals. Seeking to prevent a strike, the Biden administration dispatched Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su to personally intervene in the ILWU and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) negotiations, which began last May. Within 72 hours of Sus arrival, the ILWU announced that a tentative agreement had been reached. Since this announcement, ILWU President Willie Adams has provided no updates to the membership, and no rank-and-file dockworker has seen any aspect of the agreement. While the Biden administration has had its eyes and ears in the negotiations from the start, rank-and-file dockworkers have been left in the dark. The government shouldnt even be involved in this, Jonathan said. Like the railroad workers, they are coming to screw us, too. He spoke about the pay and living conditions for dockworkers. If you just became a B man and all youre getting is non-skilled work, thats $46 an hour. Thats like $90,000 a year. You cannot live off that in California. Thats like $40,000 somewhere else. The salary is not that good if you live in the Bay Area or Seattle. I think the guys over on the East Coast, New York, I think their pay is better. I looked at their contract. They get double-time on Sunday. In todays society, $45 an hour is like $20. Here, sometimes guys work a shift, then go back to the hall and work another shift. Other guys just want to work 40 hours a week. Some guys dont want to spend all their life at work. That tells me that the salary is not keeping up with the economy. If they sign this agreement, theyre going to be that much behind, theyre going to be $50 behind where they should be to make a living wage. Speaking of the sacrifices casuals make, he explained, A lot of the casuals have a full-time job. You go in there for the weekend and stay the whole weekend. Theres no movement, then the day you have to take your kid to the doctor, you miss your number. Then you might not get another shift for another month. Jonathan called for a joint struggle with not only US and Canadian dockworkers but also with the 340,000 UPS workers, whose contract expires at the end of the month. I was talking to the guy who delivers to my house. I said you guys need to go on strike to help us fight. He said he only gets one day off on Sunday; no ACs in the trucks. You hear about UPS drivers and longshore workers making over $100,000, but hourly wages arent that high in my opinion. You only make this because of overtime. What would your salary be with just 40 hours a week, no OT (overtime)? On Monday, on the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius which is set to discuss a significant escalation of NATOs direct involvement in the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had met with Evgeny Prigozhin on June 29, just five days after Prigozhins failed coup attempt. The news of the meeting had first been reported on Friday by the French newspaper Liberation. After months of open conflicts with the Russian army leadership, Prigozhin, a far-right ex-convict-turned-billionaire and mercenary leader, launched his insurrection on June 23 with a direct appeal to pro-NATO sections within the Russian oligarchy and state apparatus. Having seized control of the main military headquarters in charge of the war in Ukraine, Prigozhin began a march on Moscow on June 24, demanding that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief-of-Staff Valery Gerasimov be removed from their positions. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin invited 35 people to a meeting just five days after the insurrection collapsed, including all leading commanders of Wagner. Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russias Foreign Intelligence, and Viktor Zolotov, the head of the Russian National Guard, which was deployed against the insurrectionists, also participated in the meeting. Peskov revealed very little about the contents of the meeting but clearly indicated that a settlement had been reached between Putin and the commanders of Wagner: The only thing we can say is that the President gave an assessment of the actions of the [Wagner] company at the front during the SVO [Special Military Operation], and also gave his assessment of the events of June 24. The commanders themselves provided their interpretation of events. They emphasized that they are convinced supporters and soldiers of the head of state and the commander-in-chief [Putin]. They also said that they are prepared to continue to fight for the Motherland. The meeting took place just two days after Putin denounced the insurrectionists as traitors on public television, accusing them of fomenting civil war and playing into the hands of NATO. In the two weeks that have followed the coup attempt, the Kremlins official line has been marked, despite many countless twists and turns, by an extraordinary degree of leniency toward Wagner. In the immediate wake of the coup, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, in language commonly used by mafiosi, boasted of having brokered a deal between Putin and Prigozhin during the insurrection. The deal reportedly involved not only an amnesty for Prigozhin and all Wagner fighters but also their relocation to Belarus. That relocation, however, has not happened. Prigozhin is still predominantly based in Russia, with the Kremlin stating last week that they had neither the ability nor the willingness to track his whereabouts. Lukashenko, after declaring that the Belarusian army would be happy to be trained by Wagner, invited reporters from the New York Times last week to the camps designed for Wagner to demonstrate to the pro-NATO media that they were not there. Wagner is reportedly also freely continuing to recruit across the country. A raid on Prigozhins home was followed almost immediately by the return of his valuables, including his private firearms. The Financial Times tracked the movement of Prigozhins private jet and found that he had flown back and forth between Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov on Don (where the insurrection started) and Minsk, in Belarus, multiple times in the days following the failed coup. In the Russian media, there has been a concerted campaign to ridicule Prigozhin, but even that campaign now raises more questions than it answers. The Nezavisimaya Gazeta noted in a comment that the state-run TV channels were exposing Prigozhin in a way that actually looks like advertisement for him. It is not even clear whether the Kremlin will go after Prigozhins extensive Wagner empire, which stretches over a dozen countries and includes a large number of companies and has turned Prigozhin into a billionaire. As Putin himself revealed after the insurrection, the Wagner company has been funded primarily by the Russian state with state contracts worth over 86 billion rubles (almost $950 million) between May 2022 and May 2023 alone. In the Russian army, the Kremlin has begun an investigation into the role of different army commanders in the coup attempt, but even here it is unclear how extensive the investigation is and how seriously it is being conducted. Commenting on the investigation in the army, the Novaya Gazeta, an outlet that is affiliated with the US-backed anti-Putin opposition, reported on Friday, There is a growing sense, that the Presidents Chef [Prigozhin] had and perhaps still has allies. Generals are being called in as witnesses and are disappearing into thin air. The newspaper added that in the many months during which Prigozhin launched open and repeated foul-mouthed attacks on the army leadership of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief-of-Staff Valery Gerasimov, not a single army commander came out to defend them. Moreover, the newspaper reported that Prigozhin has systematically and openly tried to recruit active or retired generals and commanders from the army who were dissatisfied with the way the war was being handled. Thus, Lieutenant General Mikhail Mizintsev, who was involved in the Russian military operation in Syria and the seizure of Mariupol in Ukraine, went over to Wagner after being discharged from the army. Based on anonymous sources, the Novaya Gazeta wrote that Prigozhin had made tempting offers in the winter of 2022-2023 to other very high-ranking commanders. They all had their own views on the SVO [Special Military Operation] and also pointed to mistakes that had to be urgently corrected. All of these offers were made openly, the Ministry of Defense knew about them. All of their telephone conversations were also surveilled. The many contradictions in the official line and the very fact that Prigozhin, after launching an insurrection based on a repeat of lies that NATO neither provoked nor was involved in the conflict, is allowed to continue his activities, indicate an extreme level of crisis and divisions within the Russian ruling class and state apparatus. This crisis and these divisions can only be understood based on the class character and historical origins of the ruling oligarchy, which has emerged out of the Stalinist destruction of the Soviet Union and restoration of capitalism. In a statement on the failed coup, the WSWS noted that Prigozhin represents a substantial faction of the Russian oligarchy that opposes the war solely because Putins effort to protect the capitalist classs and states privileged access to the countrys vast resources has cost them dearly. Putin has sought to balance between these factions, and this attempt to reconcile opposing oligarchic interests has determined the conduct of what he still calls a special military operation. From the beginning, the Kremlins policy in Ukraine has been based on the hope that limited military pressure could persuade the Western imperialist powers to accept the legitimate security interests of the Russian capitalist regime. Two weeks later, and with the NATO summit about to convene in Vilnius, this assessment has been fully borne out. While it remains to be seen how the Putin regime will respond to a new escalation of the war being prepared by NATO, the events of the past weeks have exposed not only its fragility. Above all, they have starkly revealed the bankruptcy and criminal character of the entire Russian oligarchy whose primary fear and concern always has been, not the various inter-oligarchic squabbles over assets or a war with NATO, but the development of an independent political movement by the working class and the revival of the internationalist Marxist traditions of the October Revolution. During a two-day visit to Berlin on his way to the NATO summit in Lithuania this week, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined in escalating the US-NATO war against Russia and eagerly promoted increased military links with Germany, including the export of Boxer armed vehicles to Germany. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a news conference in Berlin, Germany, Monday, July 10, 2023. [AP Photo/Markus Schreiber] Albanese announced that his government would send a hi-tech Wedgetail military surveillance plane and 100 personnel to protect the NATO arms deliveries pouring into Ukraine via Poland. This marks a shift from supplying increasing amounts of weaponry to Ukraine, to involving Australia forces in the conflict, albeit from a German military base. Although the aircraft will not fly in Ukrainian airspace, and initially will stay for about six months, its role could expand. It has an ability to co-ordinate a joint air, sea and land battle in real time, according to the Australian air force. At a joint media conference, Albanese and his German counterpart, Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz, both refused pointblank to comment on the Biden administrations decision to send barbaric and internationally-banned cluster bombs to Ukraine. That clearly indicates their readiness to back the US-NATO in stopping at nothing, including direct involvement in a potential nuclear war, to defeat Russia. Albaneses two-hour meeting with Scholz coincided with the announcement of the deployment of 240 German paratroopers and marines, plus an airlifter and naval amphibious forces, to Australia for Exercise Talisman Sabre, Australias largest military war games, which involves forces from the US and 10 other countries. This follows a visit by a German frigate in 2021 and Luftwaffe Eurofighters taking part for the first time in the Australian air forces multinational Exercise Pitch Black last year. Alongside the participation of Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, as Indo-Pacific Four partners at the NATO summit, this war-gaming highlights the growing participation of Germany and the other European powers in the preparations for a US-led war against China. Albaneses visit to Berlin further points to the development of a war economy, closely linked to those of the US and its allies, all of which are militarising rapidly. Albanese boasted that the Boxer deal would be one of Australias largest ever military export contracts. He claimed it would guarantee 1,000 jobs in the state of Queensland and would be worth more than $1 billion for the Australian economy. This will boost our sovereignty, he stated. This will increase our defence capability and boost our economy. This is a great outcome. While dressed up in terms of providing jobs, this contract signals an expansion of Australias role as a weapons manufacturer and exporter. As of 2020, Australia was ranked 11th in the world as an arms exporter, with Australian-based companies selling weapons worth some $500 million a year. Albaneses Labor government announced in March that Rheinmetall, one of Germanys and Europes largest armoured vehicle manufacturers, had won a contract to sell Boxers made at the companys Australian plant to the German military. At that time, the government said it was a $3 billion deal. Although the Rheinmetall deal is a corporate one, it requires governments to grant export permissions because of the military technology involved, some of which comes from the US. The eight-wheeled, heavily-armoured Boxers are fitted with 30mm cannons and some have the capacity for anti-tank guided missiles. Carrying up to seven soldiers each, they can operate in a variety of war zones, including urbanised environments. By hailing the deal so prominently, Albanese echoed his vision of basing the countrys economy on militarism and war. He outlined that conception in March at the US naval base in San Diego, speaking alongside US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to unveil details of the AUKUS plan to supply Australia with nuclear-powered long-range submarines designed for attacking China. On that occasion, Albanese called for a whole-of-nation effort to build AUKUS-related industrial capacity, equating this to the establishment of a car industry in Australia by the US transnational corporations General Motors and Ford after World War II. He spoke of creating jobs and growing businesses and educating young Australians today for the opportunities of tomorrow. In fact, relatively few new jobs will be generated, and those workers and youth will be trained to produce and use weapons capable of killing countless people. All such jobs are based on extracting super-profits from the exploitation of low-paid workers under onerous conditions. Rheinmetalls plant is deliberately located in an area of high unemployment, at Redland, near Ipswich, in the western working-class suburbs of Brisbane, the Queensland state capital, where tens of thousands of jobs have been eliminated in recent decades. That included the destruction of around 1,000 jobs at meat processing facilities in 201718, which the trade unions refused to fight, while touting a future for workers based on military industries. In the same period, the then Turnbull Liberal-National government awarded Rheinmetall a lucrative $4.3 billion contract to assemble and supply Boxer armoured vehicles for the Australian military. Financially assisted and supported by the federal and state governments, as part of that contract Rheinmetall established a factory and testing ground at Redbank, officially named the Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence, or MILVEHCOE. Workers at the facility are required to undergo strict security vetting, including checks on their citizenship status, ethnicity and links with proscribed countries. For that purpose, Rheinmetall was granted an exemption from anti-discrimination laws last November by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission. Rheinmetall AG is an arms and automotive manufacturer, headquartered in Dusseldorf. Today employing some 28,000 employees, it was heavily involved in making weapons for the German military in both the world wars of last century. Under the Nazi regime, it used concentration camp labour. The companys connections to the US military were most recently underscored by a July 7 media statement announcing plans, with its American partners Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, for a factory in Germany to produce fuselage sections for the F-35A Lightning II warplanes, opening a new chapter in German-American defence technology cooperation. As highlighted by a June 27 media release, Rheinmetall is also a major contractor for state-of-the-art NATO arms supplies to Ukraine, including upgraded Leopard tanks, medium- and large-calibre ammunition, infantry fighting vehicles, military trucks, air defence systems and mobile reconnaissance systems. According to the Australian Financial Review, the Rheinmetall contract to export Boxers to Germany places it in the box seat to win the contract for the Australian armys planned new infantry fighting vehicle, known as Land 400 Phase 3, for which Rheinmetall has been bidding against a South Korean rival, Hanwha. The Rheinmetall operation is heavily backed by Queensland state Labor government, which has supported school tours of the facility and organised TAFE courses to meet the companys recruitment and training requirements. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has made repeated publicity visits to the Redbank plant, on one occasion taking her entire cabinet with her to promote Queensland as a site for military industries. Welcoming the Rheinmetall-Germany contract in March, Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the Palaszczuk government had worked hard to attract Rheinmetall to the state. Having Australias most advanced military manufacturing facility call Queensland home means big deals and more jobs, he said. This enthusiasm for war industries is shared by the trade union bureaucrats. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union officials have hailed Rheinmetalls plant for supposedly creating good, secure jobs that support the local economy. While presented by the Labor and union leaders as responses to Russias invasion of Ukraine and alleged Chinese aggression, the US is stoking the conflicts on both sides of the Eurasian landmass in order to assert its global hegemony over any rivals, even at the risk of provoking a catastrophic new world war. Workers in plants such as Rheinmetalls are being placed on the frontline of this war offensive. Today, NATO leaders will convene in Vilnius, Lithuania, only a few hundred miles away from the battlefield of the war in Ukraine, which has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. There will be no shortage of denunciations of Russian brutality. No doubt, the Lithuanian government, in particular, will be thanked for its efforts in spearheading the NATO war, or, as the obedient lackeys in the media call it, the fight to defend democracy. Joe Biden, who just approved the delivery of cluster bombs to Ukraine, one of the most brutal and criminal weapons of modern-day warfare, will decry the inhumanity of Vladimir Putin. Olaf Scholz, whose government is engaged in the largest rearmament since Hitler and is about to station 4,000 German troops in Lithuania, will return to the scene of some of the worst crimes of German imperialism, spouting well-prepared war propaganda. What will not be spoken about is the history of the city where they are meeting: Vilnius, once known as the Jerusalem of Europe, was the site of some of the largest and most barbaric massacres in the history of the Nazi-led destruction of European Jewry. With 95 percent of its prewar Jewish population of about 210,000 murdered, Lithuania recorded a higher death rate than almost any other country in Europe. Lithuanian nationalists were among the principal perpetrators of this historic crime. Lithuanian Security Police members burning a Lithuanian synagogue in 1941 Much like its Ukrainian counterparts, the Lithuanian bourgeoisie historically combined a tradition of bitter anticommunism with vile antisemitism. Following the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940, far-right nationalists and generals fled to Germany, where they founded, in direct collaboration with the Nazi regime, the Lithuanian Activist Front (LAF). Almost contemporaneous with the pogroms that were now launched by the Nazis and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) in West Ukraine, the LAF and the German occupiers began an orgy of mass slaughter in Lithuania. Within less than three years, an 800-year-old community, which played a central role in the development of Jewish and world culture, was almost completely annihilated. Of the approximately 210,000 Jews who lived in Lithuania prior to the Nazi invasion on June 22, 1941, 195,000 had been murdered by the end of the war in 1945. The overwhelming majority were dead by the end of 1941. The most horrifying feature of the Holocaust in Lithuania was the open and unashamed participation of substantial sections of the population in the hunting down, torture and murder of Jews. Historian Masha Greenbaum has provided a searing account of the murderous rampage that swept through the country in the days preceding and immediately following the Nazi invasion. The entry of the Nazis into Lithuania, which had been annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, was enthusiastically welcomed by the nationalist, anticommunist and violently antisemitic forces. Among its leading figures was the Lithuanian ambassador to Berlin, Colonel Kazys Skirpa, who was widely known to be an ardent admirer of Adolf Hitler. In advance of the German invasion, Skirpa directed a substantial network of Lithuanian fascists. Greenbaum writes in The Jews of Lithuania: A History of a Remarkable Community 1316-1945: These cells of Lithuanian fascists, Nazi sympathizers, and Lithuanian nationalists were important constituents of the LAF, Lietuvos Aktyvistu Frontas (Lithuanian Activist Front), the largest and best organized of the nationalist groups. But there were many other factions, such as the Iron Wolf, the Lithuanian Freedom Army, the Falcons, and the Lithuanian Restoration Front. They penetrated the universities, the civil service, the professions, even the high schools. According to Lithuanian sources, the number of members in these clandestine groups and anti-Soviet units reached 100,000. Three days before the invasion, Skirpain constant contact with the Nazi Gestapo (secret police) and Wehrmacht (army)issued Leaflet No. 37 for mass distribution throughout Lithuania. It was an undisguised call for the total destruction of Lithuanian Jewry. It stated: The crucial day of reckoning has come for the Jews at last. Lithuania must be liberated not only from Asiatic Bolshevik slavery but also from the long-standing Jewish yoke. In the name of the Lithuanian people, we solemnly declare that the ancient right of sanctuary granted to the Jews in Lithuania by Vytautas the Great is abolished forever and without reservation. Jews who are guilty of persecuting Lithuanians will be brought to trial. Those who manage to escape will be found. It is the duty of all honest Lithuanians to take measures by their own initiative to stop such Jews and, if necessary, to punish them. The new Lithuanian State will be rebuilt by Lithuanians only. All Jews are excluded from Lithuania forever. Let the Jews know the irrevocable sentence passed upon them; not a single Jew shall have citizenship rights. The errors of the past and the evils perpetrated by the Jews will be set aright, and a firm foundation for a happy future and the creative work of our Aryan nation will be laid. Let us prepare for the liberation of Lithuania and the purification of the nation. This diatribe unleashed a rampage of homicidal violence. Be forewarned: It is difficult to read Greenbaums account of the monstrous crimes perpetrated against the Jews by Lithuanian mobs, who had been whipped into a frenzy by the nationalist antisemites and anticommunists. Greenbaum writes: On June 25, Lithuanian partisans who defined themselves as freedom fighters began a three-day killing rampage against Jews in smaller towns and villages, during which the entire populations of over 150 Jewish communities perished. Some Jews were driven from their homes and burned alive, after having been savagely beaten and herded into synagogues, schools and other public places that were then torched. In other instances, entire Jewish families were driven to nearby forests or riverbeds where pits or trenches had been prepared, and then shot. In several localities, such as Reiniai and Geruliai in the Telsiai area, in Meretz (Merkine), Plungian (Plunge), Sakiai (Shaki), and Kelm (Kelme), Jews were forced to dig their own graves. Virtually all the Jews in Ukmerge were herded into the synagogue and burned alive. In Seirijai, Jews were dragged naked throughout the streets and then brutally murdered in the presence of a cheering crowd. In Panevezys, Jews including several young women who had been raped were hurled into burning lime. In Kovno alone, Lithuanian partisans murdered almost 4,000 Jews during the two days that elapsed between the invasion and the arrival of German forces in the city. A particularly brutal atrocity took place later in the downtown Kovno garage of the Lietukis cooperative. Some 60 Jewish men, chosen at random in the streets by the partisans, were taken to the garage and savagely beaten and tortured as a large crowd stood by and observed. As the Jews lay wounded and moaning on the ground, their torturers continued for the amusement of the crowd to beat them mercilessly until they died. Another group of Jews was dragged in to clean the garage and haul the victims away for burial. In Slobodka (Wilijampole), partisans went from house to house searching for Jews. Their victims were thrown into the River Vilija: those who did not drown were shot to death as they swam. Jewish houses were set afire and their occupants burned alive as partisans blocked the path of approaching firefighters. Hooligans who called themselves freedom fighters slaughtered Jews indiscriminately. In many instances, limbs were torn off bodies and scattered hither and yon. On June 25, partisans decapitated the Chief Rabbi of Slobodka, Zalman Ossovsky, and displayed his severed head in the front window of his house. His headless body was discovered in another room, seated near an open volume of Talmud that he had been studying. Most of these 150 localities became Judenrein (Jew-free) 24 hours before the German occupation forces arrived. This gave the local population a brief opportunity to pounce upon the homes and businesses of their former Jewish neighbors in a frenzy of pillage and plunder. Many of the killings and lootings were carried out in broad daylight amid acquiescent, often cheering witnesses. When they attended Mass in church, the partisans were praised by the priests for their courage and patriotism. The atrocities of the final week of June 1941 continued unabated until the end of the war. Jews were the primary but not the only victims. The most notorious site of mass murder in Lithuania was the Ponary forest on the outskirts of Vilnius. It is estimated that between 1941 and 1944, up to 100,000 people, among them about 70,000 Jews, 20,000 Poles and 8,000 Soviet prisoners of war, were murdered here by German SS Einsatzgruppen and their Lithuanian collaborators. Most of the killings were carried out by an 80-man-strong unit of the Ypatingasis burys, Lithuanian volunteers organized in the SS. The slaughter was only ended with the advance of the Soviet Red Army. After the war, many of the worst Nazi collaborators and accomplices in mass murder continued their lives unharmed. Kazys Skirpa, founder of the LAF, worked at Trinity College, Dublin and the US Library of Congress. He died in Washington D.C. on August 18, 1979 at the age of 84. Aleksandras Lileikis, the head of the Lithuanian Security Police in Vilnius, one of the chief organizers of the murder of the Jewish community of Vilnius, found employment with the CIA and was granted permission to emigrate to the United States. He settled in Massachusetts and acquired American citizenship. It was not until 1994 that long delayed investigations into his crimes led to his denaturalization. He returned to Lithuania, which could not evade demands for his prosecution on the charge of genocide. But Lileikis died in September 2000 at the age of 93 before a verdict was reached. In the aftermath of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the new Lithuanian bourgeoisie promoted the rehabilitation of its Nazi-collaborating ancestors. While occasionally issuing, for reasons of political expediency, pro forma and callous statements of official regret over the extermination of Lithuanian Jewry, the government and major parties minimized and covered up the scale of the crimes committed between 1941 and 1945. As one of its first acts, the new Lithuanian parliament rehabilitated Lithuanians convicted of collaboration with the Nazis by the Soviet government. Streets were named after LAF leaders like Skirpa. Lithuanias state-run Military Academy, which is affiliated with other NATO military academies, was named after Jonas Zemaitis, another infamous Nazi collaborator. Meanwhile, Holocaust survivors who fought with the Soviet partisans against the Nazis and their Lithuanian allies were put on trial for collaboration and war crimes. The case of the Lithuanian fascist Jonas Noreika has acquired international notoriety. Executed in the Soviet Union after the war, he was posthumously celebrated by the post-1991 Lithuanian regime as a fighter against communist tyranny. Streets were renamed in his honor, and Noreika was awarded the Cross of Vytis, the highest honor bestowed by Lithuania upon a deceased person. But in the year 2000 Noreikas granddaughter came across long concealed family documents that revealed that he had ordered all Jews in his region of Lithuania to be rounded up and sent to a ghetto where they were beaten, starved, tortured, raped and then murdered. (Op-ed published on January 27, 2021 in the New York Times, No More Lies. My Grandfather Was a Nazi, by Silvia Foti). Despite these revelations, Noreika is still honored in Lithuania as a national hero. A memorial plaque honoring his memory remains in place at the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. A documentary denouncing this travesty of historical truth, titled JAccuse, has been recently completed and was viewed in December 2022 at the Miami Jewish Film Festival. J'ACCUSE Trailer | Miami Jewish Film Festival 2023 Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, with whom Biden, Scholz, Frances Macron and the UKs Rishi Sunak will discuss the advisability of Ukraines accession to NATO and direct troop deployments, are members of the ruling Homeland Union party, whose deputies have a sordid record of antisemitic outbursts. In 2019, the only remaining Jewish synagogue in the country, in Vilnius, had to be indeterminately shut down because of persistent threats by the far right. According to a statement by the Lithuanian Jewish community, the Homeland Union party not only refused to intervene but also encouraged far-right forces by exhibiting the continual, escalating publicly-expressed desire for recognizing perpetrators of the mass murder of the Jews of Lithuania as national heroes and the demand these people be honored with commemorative plaques and by other means. Biden, Scholz, Macron and Sunak are not ignorant of this history. But they view any exposure of the crimes of Nazis and their collaborators as revealing inconvenient truths that cut across their geopolitical agendas and, therefore, must be whitewashed and suppressed. The proxy war being waged in Ukraine has been driven and justified by lies. The falsification of history and the rehabilitation of the Nazis and their collaborators in Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Germany are essential components of NATOs agenda. A grotesque historic logic is at work in the assemblage of NATO conspirators in Vilnius. The leaders of present-day world imperialism plot their new crimes against humanity beneath the dark shadows of those committed 80 years ago. A fire on a cargo ship in Port Newark, New Jersey, which has been burning since Wednesday evening, has resulted in the deaths of two Newark firefighters. Augusto Acabou, 45, and Wayne Brooks Jr., 49, were both veterans of the fire department, with nine and 16.5 years of experience, respectively. They were reportedly trapped on board the vessel during the initial response. At least six more firefighters have been injured, a testimony to the extremely dangerous nature of the fire. This combo of undated images released by Newark, N.J., Department of Public Safety show Newark firefighters Augusto Acabou, left, and Wayne Brooks Jr. [AP Photo/Newark Department of Public Safety] The ship, the Grande Costa dAvorio, has a cargo of 1,200 vehicles destined for export to West Africa. They are partially filled with gasoline and oil, which fueled the fire and caused multiple explosions. The blaze has raised the potential for the release of hazardous materials into the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, the most densely populated region in the United States. The danger was compounded by the possibility that the water being sprayed onto the vessel in the firefighting effort could cause it to capsize, releasing even more pollutants into Newark Bay. US Coast Guard officials have now said the fire is contained, have reopened the channel to traffic at Port Newark, and the port resumed operations on Monday morning. Firefighters from multiple municipalities, including Jersey City, Newark, Elizabeth and numerous others have been called in to fight the blaze, which reportedly developed out of control due to inadequate resources being available initially. Anthony Tarantino, president of the Newark Fire Officers Union, told NJ.com that the hoses available at the start of the effort to suppress the blaze were too small and could not provide an adequate volume of water. According to Tarantino, We are capable of handling any fire, but the combination of fighting a fire in the equivalent of a 12-story building on a ship with 1-inch diameter hose, which does not provide the protection, reach and ability to put out the volume of fire, caused the deaths of our brave brothers. Fire Chief Rufus Jackson stated that Newark firefighters had received some training in the past regarding how to fight fires on a passenger ship but not on a cargo ship of that size. The fire, which burned at high temperatures, had been spewing thick, black smoke. This has exacerbated air pollution in the New York metro area, which already has poor air quality, recently compounded by smoke from Canadian wildfires, although, according to AirNow.gov the air quality in the area is now good. Emergency personnel battle against a fire aboard the Italian-flagged Grande Costa d'Avorio cargo ship at the Port of Newark, Friday, July 7, 2023, in Newark, N.J. [AP Photo/John Minchillo] A representative of the US Coast Guard, which is directing the firefighting effort, has acknowledged the potential for severe environmental impacts. It is unclear to what extent this remains the case, including the danger to dockworkers who must operate nearby, but millions of dollars were being lost when the port was closed and there is every incentive by the authorities to resume operations prematurely. The president of Gallagher Marine Systems, the company responsible for the salvage effort, has reported that concentrations of sulfur dioxide have twice been measured at unsafe levels so far. The fire reportedly erupted as vehicles were being loaded onto the ship. However, the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. According to Michael Giunta, president of the Newark Firefighters Union, who spoke with CBS News, he believed that the firefighters who first responded were not trained in procedures to deal with this sort of fire. This was corroborated by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Given that the Port of New York and New Jersey is one of the major such facilities in the country, the lack of provisions to cope with such inevitable events represents criminal negligence by the capitalist ruling class and their political representatives in the Democratic and Republican parties. New Jerseys Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, issued a perfunctory statement, declaring, This tragedy is a painful reminder of the dangers our firefighters face and their remarkable courage. This is cold comfort to the family, friends and colleagues who gathered on Friday to commemorate the dead. The lack of readily available necessary equipment and properly trained emergency personnel, under conditions in which lives are directly in peril and environmental damage is predictable, exemplifies the ruling class prioritization of profit over every other consideration. With the train derailment earlier this year in East Palestine, Ohio, and so many similar incidents, the ruling class will work to cover up the long-term consequences of this fire. They cannot be relied upon to take meaningful measures to eliminate such dangerous conditions in the future. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka will hold a memorial meeting in Colombo on Saturday July 29, to pay tribute to Wije Dias. Comrade Wije was general secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka) and its forerunner, the Revolutionary Communist League (RCL), from December 1987 until May 2022, when he was elected to the post of SEP chairperson. Wije died of a sudden heart attack in Colombo on the morning of July 27, 2022, just one month before his 81st birthday. He was a towering figure in the fight for Trotskyism in Sri Lanka, South Asia and internationally. As the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) noted in its statement last year: Wije was an implacable protagonist of the socialist internationalist program of Permanent Revolution and fighter for the political independence of the working class. He was unyielding in his defense of Marxist and Trotskyist principles because he had witnessed the catastrophic consequencesin the form of political disorientation, reaction and tragic loss of lifethat result from their abandonment and betrayal. Wije and Keerthi Balasuriya were part of a remarkable group of young people who opposed the Lanka Sama Samaja Partys (LSSP) decision to join the bourgeois coalition government of Sirima Bandaranaike in 1964. Responding to the ICFIs analysis of the responsibility of Pabloite opportunism for the LSSPs betrayal, Wije, Balasuriya and others in the group established the Revolutionary Communist League (RCL) as the Sri Lankan section of the ICFI in 1968, with Balasuriya as its founding general secretary. Comrade Wije took up the challenge of leading the RCL following the untimely death of Comrade Keerthi in 1987, amid the political crisis provoked by Colombos communal war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Indian armys occupation of the North and East of Sri Lanka. Wije was instrumental in overcoming the tragic loss of Comrade Keerthi and reconsolidating the cadre to continue the struggle for socialist internationalism under the difficult conditions of the intensifying civil war and police-military and fascist violence against the working class and the rural masses. Comrade Wije played this decisive role with enormous political courage and steadfastness until his death. His unwavering and uncompromising fight for a revolutionary internationalist orientation and his integrity as a Marxist-Trotskyist has been a great source of encouragement to the party cadre in maintaining the unity of the party and leading it forward. We welcome workers, youth, students, WSWS readers and all fighters against capitalist oppression to attend this meeting to discuss the political relevance of Comrade Wijes life and its lessons in the current context of the intensifying US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and the explosive growth of class struggles around the world. Date and time: Saturday, July 29, 3.00 p.m. Venue: Auditorium, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo 7 Starting Monday night, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in towns and cities across Israel, blocking roads and the countrys main international airport. With Tuesday designated a Day of Resistance, they are protesting against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus far-right and ultra-religious governments introduction of legislation aimed at curtailing the powers of the judiciary as the crucial step toward assuming dictatorial powers. Police uses water cannon to disperse anti government protesters in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, March 27, 2023. Over Sunday and Monday up to 600,000 people turned out to protest and strikes spread across all sectors, closing universities, grounding flights and shutting ports.protested. [AP Photo/Oded Balilty] The demonstrations were met with aggressive tactics on the part of the police who were mobilized at 100 sites. Officers used water cannon to disperse thousands of people protesting in Tel Aviv and made scores of arrests for violating public order. A mounted police officer was filmed knocking over a demonstrator on Tel Avivs Kaplan Street and trampling over him with his horse, while others were seen pushing people on the sidewalks. At Tel Avivs Ben Gurion airport where more than ten thousand people gathered, the police struck a protester, breaking his nose. In Haifa, police declared the protest illegal and started to clear thousands of demonstrators blocking an access road to the Carmel Tunnel, arresting two people for violating public order. It comes just days after several senior physicians wrote to the police asking them to stop using water cannon as a crowd dispersal technique after 15 protesters had been seriously wounded, saying they were weapons that cause exceptional and serious damage. This mass outpouring of popular opposition reflects not just the anger over the proposed changes to the judiciary, move to dictatorial powers and increasing role of religious layers over everyday life, but very real fears over rising inequality and the soaring cost of living, including the exorbitant cost of housing, as well as deepening concerns over failing public services, including education, health and transport. Such is the polarization of Israeli society that Histadrut chief Arnon Bar-David said he could be forced to call a general strike if the proposed legal reform is not stopped and negotiations held for an agreed compromise. Netanyahus fascistic coalition partners have railed against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara for approving an anti-government demonstration at Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday, with Transportation Minister Miri Regev vowing to change the law to block such protests from being held in future. She had earlier called for Baharav-Meira to be fired over law enforcements failure to suppress the protests against the judicial overhaul. Supporters of these far-right politicians have demonstrated outside the home of the attorney general, who has been warning against the erosion of Israels democracy. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who heads Jewish Power and is a leader of far-right settlers in the occupied West Bank, also attacked the attorney general and accused demonstrators of crossing all lines. He demanded that she Stop backing rioters! Start enforcing the law! This is the man who now heads the newly established National Guard that is, according to the budget passed in June, to be financed by a 1.5 percent reduction in funding for more than 40 ministries and government departments. The reasonableness bill had its first reading in the Knesset on Monday and when passed as scheduled by the end of parliaments summer session at the end of July will have the status of a new Basic Law. It removes the Supreme Courts ability to overturn elected officials decisions on the grounds of reasonableness. It will enable Netanyahu to reappoint his key ally, Shas party leader Aryeh Deri, as head of the Health and Interior Ministries, appointments the Supreme Court overturned as being unreasonable due to his convictions for fraud, bribery and tax evasion and pledge not to seek public office again. Even more importantly, the legislation will enable Netanyahu to press ahead with other dictatorial measures secure in the knowledge that the courtthe only state institution that is able to hold Israels single chamber parliament to account and which his right-wing cabal does not controlwill be unable to overturn them. However, it is expected that, when the bill does pass, the Supreme Court will review the legislation and strike it down, leading to a constitutional showdown with the government. Last March, Netanyahu promised to freeze the measures in the face of the largest outpouring of popular opposition in Israels history that included massive street protests and a full-scale walkout by large sections of the Israeli working class, pending some compromise with the opposition parties. But with his far-right colleagues refusing to sanction any compromise, the talks were suspended and Netanyahu has pressed ahead, regardless of the continuing mass protests that have swept the country since the start of the year. Netanyahu has used the intervening three months to carry out a series of criminal provocations against the Palestinians in the West Bank that Israel has illegally occupied for 56 years, and military operations against Iran, Syria and Lebanon who support some Palestinian militant factions opposing Israel, aimed at deflecting tensions outwards and creating a sense of national unity. Just last week, Israel mounted a two-day attack on the densely populated refugee camp outside Jenin, home to 14,000 Palestinians, leading to pitched battles with Palestinian militants and the deliberate and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, including water, sewerage, telecoms, electricity, and healthcare facilities. Much of this was carried out under cover of air strikes by helicopters and drones. At least 12 Palestinians were killed, including four teenagers. More than 100 were injured, and one-quarter of the camps population was forced to flee. A United Nations panel of human rights experts declared that Israels actions amount to egregious violations of international law and standards on the use of force and may constitute a war crime. They added, The attacks constitute collective punishment of the Palestinian population, who have been labelled a collective security threat in the eyes of Israeli authorities. There is no question that this criminal campaign of terror and murder is aimed at provoking a new wave of Palestinian attacks that will provide the pretext for the forcible displacement of the Palestinians, ethnic cleansing; the incorporation of the West Bank into Israel; the confinement of those Palestinians who remain in isolated Bantustans, denied access to the basic necessities of modern life; and the establishment of a Jewish Supremacist state, with Israels own Arab citizens having only second-class status. In this, the Netanyahu government has the full-throated support of the self-proclaimed leaders of the mass protest movement, nearly all of whom have served at one time or another in ministerial positions under him and who have few political differences with him. Like former Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defence Minister Benny Gantz, they are no less committed than Israels far-right government to the Zionist state and its oppression of the Palestinian people. Far from representing a progressive alternative, they only object to Netanyahus judicial overhaul because they fear it, along with the increasing domination of religious forces, will destroy the myth that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and endanger the interests of the state. They have refused to mobilize support from Israels Arab citizens, far less the Palestinians in the occupied territories, instead drowning the demonstrations in a sea of Israeli flags. Even now, when confronted with a government that refuses to make any concessions and is stepping up its repression of the Palestinians, Lapid and Gantz are calling for the resumption of talks in search of a compromise. This makes ever more urgent the necessity to overcome the reactionary Zionist leadership of the protest movement and fight for the unity of Arab and Jewish workers in a common struggle to defend jobs, living standards and democratic rights, including the national rights of the Palestinian people. This can only be done on the basis of the program and perspective of international socialism. A Nebraska mother pleaded guilty on Friday to charges that she illegally gave her 17-year-old daughter abortion pills and helped dispose of the fetus after the abortion. Her sentencing is scheduled for September 22 and she faces up to two years in prison. Boxes of the drug mifepristone line a shelf at the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on March 16, 2022. [AP Photo/Allen G. Breed, File] Jessica Burgess, 42, of Norfolk dropped her earlier not guilty plea and admitted to providing the pills to her daughter Celeste after 20 weeks of gestation, false reporting and tampering with human skeletal remains. Two other charges against the mother, concealing the death of another person and abortion by someone other than a licensed physician, were dismissed. Self-managed abortion is not illegal in Nebraska. However, in this case, prosecutors decided to charge both the mother and the daughter under other criminal statutes. On May 22, Celeste, who was 17 years old at the time she took the abortion pills, pleaded guilty to one count of abandoning a dead human body and faces up to two years in prison. Charged as an adult, Celeste is facing two years in prison when she is sentenced on July 20. On August 10, 2022, Republican Madison County Attorney Joseph Smith filed felony and misdemeanor charges against the Burgesses for actions they committed in April, two months before the US Supreme Court overturned the 1973 abortion rights case Roe v. Wade. Prosecutor Smith has said this is the first time he has charged anyone with illegally performing an abortion after 20 weeks. This Nebraska statute was enacted in 2010. Court documents show that Jessica Burgess ordered abortion pills online and gave them to Celeste, who then gave birth to a stillborn fetus estimated to have gestated for 29 weeks. The documents say the mother and daughter then burned and buried the remains with the assistance of a 21-year-old male, Tanner Barnhill, who subsequently pleaded no contest to charges against him and received a probation sentence. An unidentified person contacted the police and told them that Celeste had a stillbirth and had buried the fetus. The police investigated and secured a warrant to obtain the Facebook Messenger communications between the daughter and mother. Among the exchanges provided by Facebook to prosecutors is one in which Jessica tells Celeste that the medication she ordered online had arrived. The prosecutor wrote that the daughter tells her mother about how she cant wait to get that thing out of her body. In a subsequent text exchange, Celeste tells her mother, Remember we burn the evidence, and the mother replies, Yep. Celeste told investigators her baby was stillborn on April 29. The court records state that she placed the remains in a plastic bag and then in a box and transported it in the back of a cargo van. The documents state that the three then burned the fetus and buried it in a secluded area a few miles north of Norfolk. Other evidence that led to the charges against the two included a friend of Celeste who said she saw the teenager take the first of two pills. A search warrant was conducted on the Burgess home and 13 items were taken, including phones and laptops. When Facebook corporate parent Meta was contacted by the New York Times about its collaboration with Nebraska authorities, even though it previously pledged to protect employee access to abortions, the company said it had received valid legal warrants from local law enforcement on June 7, before the Supreme Courts decision on abortion. At the same time, Facebook reported that the warrants issued did not mention abortion and said the police were investigating the alleged illegal burning and burial of a stillborn infant. The prosecution of Celeste and Jessica Burgess is a harbinger of the criminalization of abortion underway across the US one year since the Supreme Court decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion. As reported recently on the World Socialist Web Site, the denial of the right to abortion has already had a devastating impact on the health and living standards of millions of working class and poor women. With 26 states, including Nebraska, moving swiftly to ban abortions, the long-term health, economic, social and psychological consequences on women are devastating. Meanwhile, this far-reaching attack on working class women is being combined with massive cuts in social services, Medicaid, food stamps and other programs that are vital for millions of families. The prosecution of Celeste and Jessica Burgess is not the first time a mother helping her daughter end a pregnancy has been criminalized. In Pennsylvania, Jennifer Whalen helped her teen daughter get abortion pills when care was unavailable to them in 2012. The teenager became scared when she started bleeding and went with her mother to the emergency room. They told the staff she had taken mifepristone and misoprostol. Although the girl was discharged without incident, the hospital system reported the mother to state child-protective services and Whalen was prosecuted and sentenced to 9 to 18 months in jail. The right-wing rampage against culture, and particularly the cultural level of the young, continues unabated in the US. Those actively supporting censorship and book banning are a fraction of the population, but between the active connivance of the Republican Party and the abject cowardice and impotence of the Democrats, these forces are able to wield considerable power. In Floridas Orange County (whose county seat is Orlando), for example, the works at least temporarily excluded from the countys classrooms include Gustave Flauberts Madame Bovary, John Miltons epic poem Paradise Lost, E.M. Forsters A Room With a View, Alice Walkers The Color Purple, Joseph Hellers Catch-22 and Aldous Huxleys Brave New World. John Milton, Paradise Lost (1667) The Orlando Sentinel reports that the books have been temporarily rejected by Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) for sexual content that educators fear runs afoul of a new Florida law, HB 1069-2023, passed by the Florida legislature and signed into law by the fascistic governor, Ron DeSantis. According to the ACLU, the bill allows anyone in a school district to object to any material in the classroom or school library or on a reading list that depicts or describes any sexual conduct, even if it is not pornographic, if it is not for a health course. Such material would be removed pending investigation and subject to permanent removal. Other works, among them four of Shakespeares plays, including A Midsummer Nights Dream, Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire, Fyodor Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment and Truman Capotes In Cold Blood, have been approved for 10th through 12th grades only. An Orange County teacher noted that some of the books now on the rejected list are ones that are included in the state-approved language arts textbook OCPS teachers use or in district-provided curriculum plans that have been in place in recent years. One of the rejected works is excerpted in the textbook, while two others are in the curriculum plan. Another Orange County teacher told the Sentinel she was gobsmacked when she saw A Midsummer Nights Dream was rejected initially and angry when novels shed taught for Advanced Placement literature classes, including Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, were nixed, too. In late June, Louisianas Democratic governor John Bel Edwards signed into law a measure restricting Louisiana minors access to material it defines as sexually explicit. Earlier in June, Edwards had indicated he thought the bill was not necessary. The law requires school libraries, according to the Louisiana Illuminator, to create a card system so parents can prevent their children from checking out books deemed inappropriate. Libraries will also have to adopt policy language to limit minors access to material that describes sexual conduct, which the new law defines in five paragraphs. The bill was supported by Louisiana attorney general Jeff Landry, the Republican Party-endorsed candidate for governor. The far-right Landry made himself notorious and something of a laughing stock by setting up a tip line called Protecting Minors, in November 2022, where would-be informers were encouraged to complain about librarians, teachers and other school and library personnel. The snitch line was a fiasco, as thousands of people sent protests, spam and denunciations of the very idea. According to the Illuminator, Hundreds of users complained about The Bible, pointing to passages that describe explicit sexual activity, rape, incest and abortion. Jeff Landry Others angrily pointed out that Landry had refused in 2018 to set up a tip line about a genuine social problem, clergy abuse. One user commented, Clearly the Church has an established history of child sexual abuse, but you have decided to waste funds on a dead-ended search for that abuse in libraries rather than where it really exists. The Illuminator added, Out of the thousands of pages of complaints, only a small handful appeared to be made with serious intent. Upon closer inspection, some comments that initially appeared to be serious were actually against schools, libraries and books that do not exist. In Mississippi, right-wing efforts have resulted in the passage of a law that would effectively eliminate the ability of minors to access e-books or audiobooks through public libraries. Purportedly aimed at pornographic websites, as one commentator noted, lawmakers then saw the opportunity to target books through the bill. It stipulates that public libraries and state agencies cannot provide minors access to any digital resources or databases unless the latter verifies that all of their content complies with the laws provisions. Many libraries utilize resources like OverDrive and Hoopla to allow library cardholders instant access to a wide array of e-books and audiobooks. This means that libraries cant offer these resources unless they can verify that all the content on these platforms complies with Mississippis bill or have a system in place to prevent minors from accessing content that isnt in compliance with the bill. (The MarySue) These resources do not have systems in place to restrict access to certain content for certain age groups. Numerous polls indicates widespread opposition to book banning and censorship in general. An average of 70 to 75 percent of respondents across the various polls oppose banning books and an equally sizable percentage think highly of librarians. In one poll, conducted by Embold Research, voters rated librarians twice as favorably as their governors, the Democratic Party, the GOP, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. The same survey reported that more than 90 percent of voters are against banning the hundreds of classic novels and children's books that extremist groups have targeted for banning. The attack on the youth by the extreme right is tremendously significant. It shows their terror of the radicalization developing rapidly among young people in particular. The aim is to stop thinking and criticism, as well as to consolidate the most backward social elements around the program of the ultra-right. The ineffectual hand-wringing at the behest of various Democratic politicians will have no impact on the fascistic forces and, in fact, is not intended to have any impact. The Democrats and their left orbit are incapable of organizing mass opposition to the extreme right, as their response to the January 6 coup and the anti-Marxist threats and ravings of Trump has revealed. To arouse the working class against the fascist threat would inevitably set in motion a movement against Wall Street, the corporate elite and the institutions of the capitalist state. The Democrats are far more frightened of such a movement than they are of a thousand fascist conspiracies. BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development was held in Beijing on Monday. The conference was hosted by the China International Development Cooperation Agency with the theme "Global Development Initiative: Echo the Development Agenda and Call for Global Action." Focusing on eight key areas of cooperation under the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by China, more than 800 participants discussed and exchanged views on how to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity. In a congratulatory letter to the conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that development is the eternal theme of human society, and shared development is an important path to building a better world. As the largest developing country, China has always placed its own development within the larger context of human development and created new opportunities for the development of the world through its own development, Xi said. China will further increase its resource input for global development cooperation, work with the international community to further advance the GDI, and make new contributions to the realization of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, the Chinese president said. Xi's letter and the topics discussed at the conference have resonated with the participants who called for greater consensus and concerted efforts in accelerating common development. Reducing poverty and ensuring food security are important goals of the UN's sustainable development agenda. China's achievements in poverty eradication have been significant contributions to the global poverty reduction cause, and also brought important inspiration to other developing countries to get rid of poverty, said Kan Zaw, Union Minister of Myanmar's Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations. The GDI has made poverty reduction one of its key focuses, which is in line with common aspiration of people of all countries for a better life, and Myanmar fully supports the initiative, he said. Jong-Jin Kim, assistant director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said FAO highly appreciated China's strong commitment to international development cooperation and thanked the Chinese government for supporting South-South cooperation. The GDI's eight key cooperation areas are highly relevant to FAO's priorities, Kim said. FAO will continue to strengthen international cooperation with China in the food sector and make greater contributions to accelerating the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and building a world without hunger and poverty, Kim added. Ahmed Latheef, foreign secretary of the Maldivian foreign ministry, said the Maldives appreciates China's commitment to addressing climate change and achieving green development. The Maldives hopes to further cooperate with China in the blue economy and jointly promote the sustainable development of oceans and seas, he added. Ugandan Foreign Minister Odongo Jeje Abu expressed appreciation for China's contribution to the development of key infrastructure in Uganda. He said Uganda will continue to support the global initiatives proposed by China and expects the cooperation between Africa and China to reach a new high. Ban Ki-moon, former UN secretary-general and now chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, said only through joint efforts can the goals of sustainable development be realized. He called on all countries to unite as one and work together to achieve the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. One of two Abrams tanks leading hundreds of Australian army soldiers marching through Adelaide on July 8, 2023. [Photo: PTE Sophie Hartley 9th Brigade - Australian Army Facebook] Many people have expressed their shock and anger over a military parade last Saturday, which saw hundreds of troops marching through the centre of the Australian city of Adelaide, together with two Abrams battle tanks. The whole display had an ominous and foreboding character. The soldiers, in full uniform, marched in disciplined columns. The presence of the tanks, in a city centre, was highly unusual, if not unprecedented in the recent period. The troops manning the Abrams tanks appeared to be in full combat uniform, including helmets and black sunglasses. There was no waving to the crowd. But there was also hardly any crowd to speak of. The population of Adelaide, the state capital of South Australia, had been given virtually no notice of what was to occur. In addition to the heavy militarist atmosphere provided by the soldiers and the tanks, clergymen added a touch of medievalism to the display. In ceremonial robes they marched at the head of the procession. They too were not smiling or waving, but looked like auxiliary soldiers with grim expressions and a purposeful military-style gait. The pretext for the parade was as strange as the event itself. Last year, the armys 1st Armoured Regiment was formally transferred from Darwin, in northern Australia, to Adelaide, in the countrys south, a move that had been underway for five years. The parade, however, was not a celebration of the troop relocation, though even that would have been a dubious basis for such a display. Instead, it was to mark the transfer of the regiments Guidon and First Standard from a church in Darwin to St Peters Cathedral in Adelaide. On Facebook, the army command explained that this enables the regiments current and former serving members to be physically closer to these sacred devices and reflect on their history. The Guidon and the First Standard are two pieces of cloth. To anyone outside the world of the military, with its cult-like traditions, and the church, all of this can only appear bizarre. As with many such traditions, there is an element of sham to the whole thing. The First Standard is not some ancient artifact. According to the armys website it was made and given to the regiment in 2002, apparently replacing a previous standard that had been presented by Prince Charles in 1981. The text of the current standard glorifies the regiments role in the brutal, neo-colonial war against the Vietnamese people. The handful of media reports on the parade have elicited a sharply negative response. A Channel 7 news bulletin, with footage of the march, has gone viral on Twitter and other social media platforms. A typical comment beneath the Channel 7 tweet of its news report said: A priest leads troops and tanks down an Australian street. This is horrifying. How dare you promote such nationalism and aggressive behavior. Shameful. Another: The priests at the front this is something out of the 19th Century come to life. Awful. Anachronistic. Disturbing. Others noted that the parade had the vibe of displays commonly associated with militarised and authoritarian states. Comparisons were made with North Korea. Cool and normal much like a military-led regime would do, a user commented. Jake Hanrahan, a well-known journalist from Britain who has covered the far-right extensively, including in armed forces, shared the Channel 7 footage with the simple question: What the f*** is going on in Australia? Behind the nonsense about the Guidon and the First Standard, several processes were at work in the display. First of all, the march, and its overtly militaristic form, were clearly a political decision. The ceremonial cloths could have been transferred with half the fuss or less, as such artifacts must have been before. Instead they were the flimsy pretext for a show of military strength and a promotion of the armed forces, not only in a general sense, but as an intimidating, combat-ready force. That aligns with a broader build-up of the military. The armed forces, and their funding, have been greatly expanded over the past decade, in keeping with Australias alignment with an aggressive US military build-up in preparation for war with China. The current federal Labor government is completing Australias transformation into a frontline state in these plans for a catastrophic conflict. In April, it endorsed a Defence Strategic Review (DSR), calling for a massive acquisition of strike capabilities, above all missiles, for the army, airforce and navy. Labor has also committed to a $368 billion program to acquire nuclear-powered strike submarines in league with the US and Britain. Increasingly, Australia is playing a key role in American imperialisms war drive on a global scale. It may be a coincidence, but the Adelaide parade occurred just days before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese travelled to Europe to participate in a NATO summit planning the next escalation of Washingtons proxy war with Russia in Ukraine. The imposition of these militarist policies requires a political shift, away from the nominally democratic traditions that have prevailed, though in an increasingly attenuated form, since the end of World War II. The military and the army must be brought to the centre stage of social and political life. That was the message of the DSR, which insisted that the military build-up had to be a whole-of-nation effort. The review declared that national unity and cohesion, concepts premised on the suppression of social and political opposition, were decisive. That shows the other reason for the growing prominence of the military. Increasingly, the presence of the army and other branches of the defence force has been normalised. In repeated bushfires, floods and during the COVID pandemic, the absence of adequate civilian infrastructure has been used as a pretext for the domestic deployment of the armed forces. This is occurring under conditions of soaring social tensions. Workers are experiencing the worst cost of living crisis in decades. While rents, mortgage repayments, utility bills, food prices and everything else are skyrocketing, real wages are being cut. Since the start of the pandemic, the ultra-rich have become wealthier than ever before, while the working class has suffered a historic reversal in social conditions, on top of 40 years of cuts to jobs, wages and conditions. In numbers of countries around the world, such as France and Sri Lanka, these global processes have already resulted in social upheavals. Whatever the tempo of events, governments everywhere realise that they are sitting on top of a social powder keg that will increasingly intersect with anti-war sentiment, as the danger of global military conflict becomes more apparent. Under those conditions, the bringing forward of the armed forces domestically has an unmistakably authoritarian and anti-democratic character. As many social media comments noted, the Adelaide military display occurred little over a month after the South Australian state Labor government passed sweeping anti-protest laws, which provide the authorities with means to ban virtually all demonstrations, campaigns and public political activities. Japan plans to proceed with the discharging of 1.3 million tonnes of radioactive water accumulated after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster into the Pacific Ocean after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gave its stamp of approval last week. The decision has provoked opposition and protests in Japan itself, as well as in neighbouring countries including China and South Korea, over the potential impact on the environment and human health. Some of about 1,000 tanks holding radioactive wastewater at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, on Feb. 22, 2023. [AP Photo/Mari Yamaguchi] What happened at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011 was the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986. A major magnitude 9.1 earthquake hit the region in northern Japan, triggering a huge tsunami reaching as high as 16.7 metres. It struck the inadequately protected plant, knocking out electrical and cooling systems, leading to partial meltdowns of three of its six reactors. Out of concern for its investment, the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), compounded the problems and dangers by failing to rapidly respond by pumping sea water through the damaged reactors to cool them. More than a decade on, the task of de-commissioning and cleaning up the site is likely to continue for decades. TEPCO has accumulated massive quantities of radioactive waterirradiated groundwater and reactor coolantthat has been treated using the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) to remove most but not all radioactive isotopes. The water still contains tritiuman isotope of hydrogenthat has a half-life of 12.5 years (the time for the radioactive level to halve). The water is currently stored in 1,000 huge steel tanks, but TEPCO claims it is running out of space and can build no more. The company, backed by the Japanese government, has been pressing for years for permission to dump the water into the Pacific Ocean, claiming there is no alternative. Under the plan, the radioactive water would be diluted using sea water to levels of tritium within international standards then discharged over several decades through a kilometre-long pipe into the sea. Such has been the opposition in Japan and from neighbouring countries, however, that Tokyo called on the IAEA to conduct a study of the proposed release. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi was in Tokyo last Tuesday to present the findings of the UN bodys two-year safety review to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. In the reports foreword, Grossi declared that the IAEA concluded that TEPCOs plan was consistent with relevant international safety standards. Moreover, TEPCOs gradual discharges of the treated water to the sea would have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment. In an interview with Reuters, Grossi conceded that there had been no unanimity among the IAEA scientists drawn from 11 countries, including China, on the findings of the safety review. He acknowledged that one or two may have expressed concerns but did not elaborate, while insisting that the published report was scientifically impeccable. Grossi was met with protests when he arrived in South Korea on Saturday for talks with the government and opposition parties. Hundreds of demonstrators marched through the commercial district of Seoul with placards declaring: We denounce the sea disposal of Fukushimas nuclear wastewater! and We oppose with our lives the sea discharge. While the right-wing administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol has agreed to the water discharge, the opposition Democratic Party and Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) have sought to capitalise on widespread public concern and opposition. According to a recent joint survey by South Koreas Hankook Ilbo newspaper and Japans Yomiuri Shimbun, 84 percent of South Koreans disapproved of the release. Many of the protesters were union members. In comments to the media, KCTU spokesman Han Sang-jin denounced the water-dumping plan as like an international crime. He said: Other than discharging the water into the sea, there is an option to store the water on their land, and there are other options being suggested. China has been critical of the plan. As cited by Chinas state-run Global Times, Liu Senlin, a Chinese expert in the IAEAs technical working group, described the UN bodys report as hasty, adding that the input of experts had been limited and only used for reference. China also announced a ban on food imports from 10 of Japans prefectures over safety concerns and said stringent radiation tests would take place for food from the rest of the country. The Chinese customs agency said Japan still has many problems in the legitimacy of sea discharge, the reliability of purification equipment and the perfection of monitoring programs. Opposition is also widespread in Japan where an Asahi Shimbun survey in March found just 51 percent in favour of the radioactive water release and 41 percent opposed. Even though the IAEA does some monitoring of the water discharges, there is widespread public distrust in TEPCO, which colluded with Japanese governments to cover up safety breaches at the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. After the disaster, it was revealed that TEPCO had at least 200 proven instances of safety inspection falsifications. The fishing industry near Fukushima was devastated by the nuclear disaster. It destroyed the reputation of the regions seafood. Fishing cooperatives in three prefectures have collected 33,000 signatures on a petition expressing opposition to the water discharge. Haruo Ono, a fisherman to the north of the stricken nuclear plant, told the Guardian: We here in Fukushima have done absolutely nothing wrong, so why do they have to mess up our ocean? The ocean doesnt belong to only us humansand it isnt a rubbish tip. The small island nations of the southwest Pacific, which rely heavily on fishing, are also concerned about the potential impact on their ocean waters. In a comment published in January in the Guardian, Pacific Islands Forum secretary general Henry Puna expressed the fear that the region will once again be headed towards a major nuclear contamination disaster at the hands of others. He made the point that the decision to release the radioactive water should not only be a domestic matter for Japan, but a global and transnational issue. A group of international scientists working with the Pacific Islands Forum has been critical of TEPCO, the IAEA, the Japanese government and the planned discharge. One of the scientists, Robert Richmond, director of the Kewalo Marine Laboratory at the University of Hawaii, told CNN the plan was ill-advised and premature. Richmond explained that he was particularly concerned about the danger of bioaccumulationthat is, pollutants like tritium can become more concentrated as they pass up through the various levels of the food chain. Thus the relatively low levels of radioactive tritium in the discharged water are not necessarily an accurate reflection of the levels to be found in seafood in the future. Richmond was also scathing of the argument used by the TEPCO, the IAEA and the Japanese government that the release of wastewater with tritium from atomic power plants was common practice around the world, including in China and South Korea. Other peoples bad behaviour was not an excuse for continuing to release radioactive water into the ocean. The expert group proposed an alternative to discharging the water into the ocean, namely using it to make concrete structures and thus encasing the tritium. The Japanese government rejected the proposal out of hand, citing dubious technical and legal reasons. The real reason, however, as one of the group, Ferenc Dalnoki-Veress from the Middlebury Institute of International Relations at Monterey, explained was that it was choosing the easiest, cheapest, status quo way of simply dumping the contaminated water into the sea. TEHRAN, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Tuesday urged Asian countries to complement each other en route to the center of the global political and economic arena in the coming years of the 21st century, according to the official news agency IRNA. He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the meeting of the Standing Committee on Budget and Planning of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly in the Iranian capital Tehran. Qalibaf said today, the continent emerged to take a pivotal position on the international stage, and the 21st century is increasingly being referred to as the "Asian Century" in international politics amid the global power shift from the West to the East and Asia's increasingly hefty economic role. Qalibaf recommended Asian countries, boasting the feature of "unity in diversity," to make use of this advantage and complement each other to uphold multilateralism and oppose the West's dominance. Parliamentary representatives from 20 Asian countries took part in the meeting. BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States has doubled down on a decision to send controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package, setting off sweeping fears over life risks on civilians for decades to come. The cluster bombs will be a part of a new 800 million-U.S.-dollar military assistance package, which also includes armored vehicles and anti-armor weapons, said the Pentagon on Friday. Though the highly contentious weapon is widely banned by many countries, including key U.S. allies, Washington continued to hold these munitions in its arsenal and vowed to help Ukraine destroy what it called "heavily dug-in" Russian forces. Rights groups and many other critics say a significant proportion of the explosive devices are duds that do not detonate but remain on site as dangerous unexploded ordnance, warning that the fallout could be beyond measure. INCALCULABLE FALLOUT "Cluster munition scatter small bomblets over a wide area," said Marta Hurtado, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. "They kill and maim people years later after the end of a conflict." The decision to send cluster munitions marked a watershed moment with the Biden administration agreeing to send a weapon that most countries have agreed should have no place in modern warfare. For starters, a cluster munition is a type of air-dropped or ground-launched bomb that breaks apart in the air above a target into dozens, and sometimes up to hundreds, of "bomblets" that can scatter over a wide area, known as submunitions. Due to weather and other environmental factors, cluster munitions can fall often outside of the intended target range, said the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Although cluster munitions are designed to detonate upon impact, as many as up to 40 percent fail to do so and could explode later if disturbed or mishandled, posing a threat to civilians long after they are dropped, per the ICRC. As these bombs release massive bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area, the humanitarian consequences of cluster munitions for civilians can be intense and long-lasting. Unexploded submunitions "disproportionally" harm civilians, according to the Cluster Munition Monitor, as civilians represented 97 percent of all cluster munition casualties in 2021. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres objected to the use of cluster munitions, his deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said at a news briefing on Friday, in response to U.S. approval of cluster munitions for Ukraine. The UN chief "does not want there to be continued use of cluster munitions on the battlefield." Criticizing the flawed and troubling logic in such a U.S. supply, the New York Times commented in an opinion piece that countries in today's world have "increasingly sought to draw a red line against use of weapons of mass destruction or weapons that pose a severe and lingering risk to noncombatants." Human Rights Watch said in a report on Thursday that "transferring these weapons would inevitably cause long-term suffering for civilians and undermine the international opprobrium of their use." Sarah Yager, the Washington director at Human Rights Watch, called the U.S. move "devastating." "They are absolutely awful for civilians," Yager told Al Jazeera in a television interview. "I think when legislators and policymakers here in the United States see the photos coming back of children with missing limbs, parents injured, killed by our own American cluster munitions, there's going to be a real awakening to the humanitarian disaster that this is." WIDESPREAD BACKLASH Humanitarian groups have strongly denounced Washington's decision to supply cluster munitions to Kiev, which can go undetonated and potentially imperil civilians, particularly children, for decades. Critics say that by authorizing the supply of this controversial weapon, the White House has in effect confessed to committing war crimes. "It would be the greatest danger for Ukrainians for many years or up to a hundred years if cluster bombs are used in Russian-occupied areas in the territory of Ukraine," Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen tweeted, urging Ukraine not to use cluster bombs. A victim of U.S. cluster munitions dropped in the early 1970s, Cambodia today still grapples with deadly war remnants. "As my pity for the Ukrainian people, I appeal to the U.S. president as the supplier and the Ukrainian president as the recipient not to use cluster bombs in the war because the real victims will be Ukrainians," he said, recalling the painful experience of his country. The decision is another blatant manifestation of the U.S. aggressive policy against Russia, aimed at "prolonging the conflict in Ukraine to the maximum term and the war until 'the last Ukrainian'," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Saturday. Now, anger has been building over Washington's latest move to provide Ukraine with the weapon widely banned by more than 100 countries, including key U.S. allies. Even within NATO, members said while they, as always, side with the U.S. helping with the legitimate defense of Ukraine, they object to the U.S. supply of this high-condemned weapon. Canada objects to the use of cluster munitions that Washington has promised to give Ukraine for its counteroffensive against Russian forces, Ottawa said on Saturday. New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he will tell Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of New Zealand's opposition to cluster bombs if the pair meet this week at the NATO summit scheduled from Tuesday to Wednesday. Also on Saturday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain discourages the use of cluster munitions, and Spain's Defense Minister Margarita Robles also said "no to cluster bombs." Some U.S. lawmakers have also dissuaded the Biden administration from such a decision, arguing that their humanitarian costs outweigh their benefits in the battlefield, calling it "unnecessary and a terrible mistake." ANKARA/ISTANBUL, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye will support Sweden's joining NATO if the European Union (EU) revived membership talks with Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday. "First, let's pave the way for Turkiye in the EU, then let's pave the way for Sweden, just as the case with Finland," Erdogan told reporters before leaving for Vilnius, Lithuania, where he will attend the NATO summit on July 11-12. Turkiye signed an association agreement with the EU's predecessor European Economic Community in 1964, applied to join the bloc in 1987, and was granted official candidate status in 1999. Ankara started membership talks with Brussels in 2005, but no breakthrough has been made since then. "Right now Turkiye has been kept at the EU door for more than 50 years and almost all NATO member states are currently EU members," Erdogan said. Turkiye has been holding a veto of Sweden's NATO accession on the grounds that the Nordic country harbors members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is listed as a terror group by Ankara, the EU and the United States. Erdogan expected to meet with Sweden's prime minister in Vilnius on the eve of the two-day NATO summit. Sweden is seeking a green light from Turkiye after taking a series of measures to fulfill the Erdogan administration's requirements, including toughening its anti-terror laws to address Ankara's security concerns. Produced by Xinhua Global Service SHIJIAZHUANG, July 11 (Xinhua) -- On a summer day, a group of students accompanied John Howes, a bird expert from Britain, on an enchanting educational expedition to an islet of Hengshui Lake in north China's Hebei Province. At the islet, Howes captivated his audience with simple yet compelling storytelling techniques. He delved into topics, such as wetlands, their significance, and the intricate web of life that sustains them. The participants in the study tour were mainly students from Zhizhen Middle School in Hengshui City, Hebei. Through interactive discussions and role-playing activities, students were able to grasp the importance of ecological diversity and the interconnectedness of all living beings. "This biology class has provided us with a wealth of ecological knowledge, and more importantly, helped us develop an ecological mindset to care for nature, starting from ourselves," said Mou Zhijie, a student who was part of the group. The lake has become an important ecological research and learning base for environmental agencies, schools, and various organizations throughout the country. It is recognized not only for its educational value but also as a sanctuary for a wide variety of bird species. Hengshui Lake is a national nature reserve that boasts a complete wetland ecosystem. It is home to 333 bird species, including 21 ones under China's top protection. Howes has been a frequenter of the lake. The ornithologist's rendezvous with the lake can be traced back to 2015 when the rare Baer's Pochard was discovered, marking the beginning of a journey of collaboration and conservation. "The ecology of Hengshui Lake is unique and holds great research value. I love this place," Howes said. Hengshui Lake has become the most important known breeding location for Baer's Pochard, a type of diving duck listed as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In 2017, 308 pochard ducks were recorded in the lake. According to Howes, he sees better changes every time he comes to Hengshui Lake. To improve the ecological environment of the entire Hengshui Lake wetland, the municipal government has taken measures such as sealing off sewage outlets into the lake, demolishing illegal constructions along the lake, relocating surrounding villages and main roads, said Liu Zhenjie, deputy director of the administration committee of Lakeside New Area. The new area, which administers Hengshui Lake, has also restored 350 hectares of waterfowl habitats on the north of the lake, designated seasonal core areas to reduce human interference, and planted crops such as wheat and corn to provide abundant food for birds, according to Zhang Yuguang, an official with the Hengshui Lake national nature reserve. "I also hope that more people can come to Hengshui Lake and appreciate its ecological beauty," Howes said. Its all sorts of different pain I never knew was possible, said Bella Macey, 10, who was diagnosed with a rare and painful condition called complex regional pain syndrome GoFundMe Bella Macey in the hospital for CRPS An Australian family is opening up about their daughters debilitating neurological condition. Bella Macey, 10, was on a family trip in Fiji when she developed an infection from a blister that caused her foot to become inflamed. She was quickly hospitalized and diagnosed with a rare and painful condition called complex regional pain syndrome. Its all sharp, its burning, its tingly. Its all sorts of different pain I never knew was possible, Bella said in an interview with A Current Affair I cant have a shower, I cant have a bath, I cant put any sheets or anything on [my leg] even with a tissue, you cant touch it with anything, otherwise I will scream. I just want to give her a big cuddle but I cant because if I cuddle her, then it moves her and that hurts her, her mother Emma Macey told the outlet. Its heartbreaking, her father Chris Macey added. You have a love for your child that you can never explain but her going through this is traumatic. RELATED: A Shocking Accusation of Munchausen by Proxy Leads to a Moms Death by Suicide: 'I Want Justice' (Exclusive) GoFundMe Bella Macey RELATED: An Allegation of Munchausen by Proxy, a Mom's Suicide, a Daughter's Pain: 'Take Care of Maya' Exclusive Clip Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a rare neurological condition that can cause constant or intermittent pain in the extremities, a burning sensation and extreme sensitivity to touch, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The condition can make even routine procedures, like taking a blood pressure reading, excruciating. Bella's pain has meant she has lost mobility in her right foot and leg, right up to her groin, the family said on their GoFundMe page. She is now bedridden or in a wheelchair if she needs to get around. It has brought Bella's life to a standstill, leaving her unable to move, tolerate any touch or sensation to her affected leg and foot, attend school, play with friends, or even wear pants because the touch of the material is too much to bear, they explained. Story continues Bella was hospitalized for four weeks as her parents hoped to send her overseas for treatment as there are no clinics in Australia. After difficulty getting admitted, Emma traveled alone to Fayetteville, Arkansas with her daughter last week to begin treatment at the Spero Clinic, which specializes in CRPS. Bella will undergo 13 weeks of treatment at the clinic, which her mother said will be extended if needed. RELATED: Florida Boy, 14, Survives After Catching Deadly Brain-Eating Amoeba GoFundMe Bella Macey Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. We are hoping with her early diagnosis this isn't the case and there will be updates posted soon of her tolerating touch, standing on her foot, and then walking, Emma said. In an update on Monday posted to the GoFundMe page which has garnered over $215,000 to support Bellas specialized treatment the family shared their gratitude for the support Bella has received. We are so grateful and overwhelmed by all of the incredible support to help Bella get the treatments she needs here at Spero. Bella is realizing its hard work but she is determined and knows she has a whole army of people behind her cheering her on, the family said. Thank you so much everyone Im so afraid and terrified of pain and everything Im gonna have to go through, Bella, in tears, told A Current Affair about her treatment plan. But I know in the end, its all gonna be amazing. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. "Lilyhammer" was a nonevent. "House of Cards" was all flash and no substance. But "Orange is the New Black" stayed the course. Ten years ago, on July 11, 2013, former DVD-delivery company Netflix premiered one of its first original shows on its nascent streaming service, set in a Connecticut womens prison. Focused on a huge, diverse and enthralling cast and telling stories that werent being told anywhere else on TV, the series, which ran for seven seasons through 2019, would go on to win a slew of awards, including four Emmys and five Screen Actors Guild awards. It made stars out of Laverne Cox and Uzo Aduba, offered showcases for beloved veterans Natasha Lyonne and Kate Mulgrew and became a cultural phenomenon (slightly inappropriate Halloween costumes and all). Taylor Shilling and Kate Mulgrew in "Orange is the New Black" Season 1. But Orange also proved a key milestone for fledgling Netflix, proving that it had more than one hit in its pocket as it jumped into the world of original programming. A decade later, Netflix is one of the most dominant creators of TV and movies in Hollywood, but its also been struggling. As the streamer cancels shows left and right, cuts back on new programming and delivers more cookie-cutter series and films, it becomes clear that the revolution that Orange helped start is distinctly over. And its sad because the version of Netflix that Orange promised was a joy to behold, and worth celebrating 10 years later. Created by Jenji Kohan (Weeds), Orange really did feel like a quiet sea change for TV. It didnt storm into our collective consciousness so much as seep into it. The series, based on the memoir by Piper Kerman, ostensibly followed Piper (Taylor Schilling), a white, upper-middle-class woman who commits a drug crime while in a whirlwind romance with an international dealer (Laura Prepon) and is sent to a minimum security womens prison where she runs into that ex-lover. But Kohan often described Piper as a Trojan horse, the typical white protagonist who could bring the audience into a world of characters that dont look like those of your average prestige drama. There was Crazy Eyes (Aduba), a lovable and chaotic Black woman with mental health issues; Sophia (Cox), a Black transgender woman and in-house beautician at the Litchfield prison; Nicky (Lyonne), a privileged woman who struggled with addiction; Taystee (Danielle Brooks), a fountain of joy and friendship; and so many more. Story continues Their stories quickly eclipsed Pipers as the series employed the Lost strategy of using flashbacks in each episode to one characters past. Orange quickly punched through stereotypes about Black women, Latina women, queer people and incarcerated people. They were more than the reason they ended up in prison. The series was never going to tell a story youd expect to hear. Beth Fowler, Vicky Jeudy, Lin Tucci, Adrienne Moore, Constance Shulman, Samira Wiley and Daneille Brooks in season 3 of Netflix's "Orange is the New Black." So many episodes of Orange, especially in its first two seasons, were downright transcendent. Its not every show that leaves such a mark on audiences that you can recall specific episodes without much trouble, but its easy to remember the bittersweet moments in Sophias flashback episode, or the heart-wrenching installment in which Poussey (Samira Wiley) dies. Some seasons, unfortunately, fumbled as the series became more outlandish: A Season 5 storyline in which the inmates rioted and took over the prison didnt have the gravitas or themes to back up the off-the-wall plot. In Season 7, however, the series was able to stick the landing. But its easy to remember the good seasons and forget the bad ones. For a series that dealt consistently with some of the most serious topics of our time including mass incarceration, privatization of prisons, race and policing, sexual assault and post-traumatic stress disorder its point of view was joy more than it was pain. It suggested that the new medium of streaming TV, one without commercials or FCC regulations or pesky notes from network executives, was a paradise for art. The stories would be diverse and thoughtful, give new opportunities and open our eyes. Laverne Cox in Season 2 of "Orange Is the New Black." Of course, a decade later, we know thats not 100% true. Streaming looks more like basic cable with each passing cost-cutting measure (now we have ads, bundles, password crackdowns and more). Some of the most diverse and groundbreaking shows (One Day at a Time, On My Block) have been unceremoniously canceled by Netflix and other streamers. And broad, mass-market series with movie stars and bad writing (Fubar, among many others) are often popping up on Netflix's top 10 list. Writers are striking for better pay as streaming business models eat into their incomes, and actors may join them. Television hasnt really been revolutionized; it just moved online. But back in 2013, Orange helped make it seem like anything was possible on the small screen. 'OITNB' stars on legacy 'We were pioneers' This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Orange is the New Black' 10th anniversary: How it changed Netflix Patrick Harbron / Hulu Andrea Martin has been a force to be reckoned with in the comedy world since her professional debut as part of the Toronto cast of Godspell in 1972, and a few years later as a cast member on Canadas answer to Saturday Night Live, SCTVboth alongside Martin Short. This summer, she is reuniting with Short once more on Season 3 of Only Murders in the Building, which premieres Aug. 8 on Hulu. In this episode of The Last Laugh podcastour final one (for now)Martin teases her role as Steve Martins love interest and reveals there may have been a brief moment when she was up for the part that ultimately went to Selena Gomez. The actress also reflects on five decades in show business, from the ego blow of never being asked to do SNL, to an update on Martin Scorseses SCTV reunion documentary, to the one big project that is still on her career bucket list. Im slightly anxious, Martin says the second she appears on the Zoom screen for our conversation. Its not that shes worried she might say the wrong thing, its just that, as she puts it, I dont know anything about technology. I know you think Im joking, but Im really not. At 76 years old, the two-time Emmy and Tony winner is on the precipice of a huge summer, including the return of her hilarious Aunt Voula in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 and an expanded presence on Only Murders. After appearing in just two episodes in Season 2 of that show, Martin confirms that her part is a little bigger in Season 3, including a couple of episodes in which her role is quite substantial. Martin plays a hair and makeup artist named Joy, who she confirms will become more of a legitimate love interest for Steve Martins character this season. The two Martins have been friends for decades, mostly through Short; as she puts it, hes not a stranger to me. But until now they had never really acted opposite each other on screen. Its certainly the first time Ive ever kissed Steve Martin, she adds with a laugh, joking, Do you want me to dissect it? It was soft She admits that while shooting the make-out session in question, they were both shy in some bizarre way, because certainly comedically, were not. Story continues Hes happily married, and I havent been with anybody for a long time, Martin notes. But I think, actually, the awkwardness played really well for the characters, because theyd known each other for years, but never had been romantically involved. Martin also reveals that shes in one very big group scene with the shows most high-profile new co-star Meryl Streep, who shes known for years, both through their late mutual friend Carrie Fisher but also because their kids attended the same elementary school in L.A. I didnt have any lines with her, but it was a big group scene to establish where this season was going to go, and it was fabulous, she tells me. Before Selena Gomez was cast as the unlikely third lead opposite Steve Martin and Martin Short on Only Murders in the Building, it was rumored that the two men had intended the part of Mabel to be played by an actor from their own generation. So, I wonder, was Andrea Martin ever in talks to play that role? I wouldnt say in talks, she replies. I would definitely say that when Steve was conceiving this idea, he and Marty talked, like they do all the time, and for sure, I definitely was mentioned as This would be something great for you to do. And then the next thing I knew, lovely Selena Gomez is playing the part. Honestly, if I can really be candid with you, I think it was a much better choice to cast her, Martin adds, generously. I would have loved to have done it. But she brings such a different audience to the show, shes so lovely. I cant speak enough about her with the kind of fame that she has to be so low-key and modest and humble. Shes a lovely human being. She deserves all the success that she has. After five decades in show business, the same can certainly be said for Martin. Below is an edited excerpt from our conversation. You can listen to the whole thing by subscribing to The Last Laugh on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and be the first to hear new episodes when they are released every Tuesday. Youve obviously known Martin Short for quite a long time. Hes also your brother-in-law, which people might not know. What do you remember about the very first time you met him? I really remember that vividly. Unlike anything else youre going to ask me, that I actually can recall. We were auditioning for Godspell, all of us, in Toronto. I knew Eugene Levy because we had done Ivan Reitmans first movie, Foxy Lady. And then we did another movie for Ivan Reitman called Cannibal Girls. I did not know Marty. And I didnt know Gilda [Radner], but I remember their auditions. I remember that Marty sang a Frank Sinatra song, which is not really a song youd pick for Godspell. And then Gilda got up and sang Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah which wasnt a particularly good song to show off any vocal skills. It was pretty soon after Godspell that Gilda Radner went off to join the first season of SNL. Was that something that was on your radar at the time? Were you trying to be on that show when it started? You know, I never was. I never really thought about it. I certainly saw a lot of my friends go on it. Bill Murray had come to Second City in Toronto. Thats where I met everybody. John Belushi, I met through all of them. And of course, Gilda Id worked with. And I knew Lorne Michaels because we both started out in Toronto together. So I certainly knew that group of people. I wasnt thinking at the time thats what I wanted to do. I didnt really have an idea of strictly comedy, or improv comedy, being in my future. I went off to Stratford and did plays. I did Private Lives with Maggie Smith and Brian Bedford. So I really had a much broader range of where I thought my career might go. And then once everybody was on it, and then hosts on it, then I thought, Well, shouldnt I be on that once? But nobody asked me. Martin Short Talks Turning 70, SNL, Steve Martin and Performing for Pure Joy Did it remain an ambition for a long time after that? Because Martin Short didnt end up joining SNL until nine years after it started. Did my ego suffer a bit? I wouldnt say suffer, but was there a little pang in my ego? There was. But I never had aspirations to do it, honestly. Its fascinating when you hear young people saying, The only thing I want to do is be on SNL. I mean, it was never an endpoint for me, ever. To this day it isnt. Would it be cool, once before I pass on, to maybe outdo Betty White? Maybe at 97, Ill be on. That would be a cool thing, just to say I did it, but I dont lose sleep over it. I really dont. Well, you obviously ended up on Canadas answer to SNL, which was SCTV, an incredible show that also created so many stars. Do you feel like there was a deliberate effort to be different from SNL? Did you have conversations like, SNLs over there doing this, lets do this different thing? Well, thats interesting. I dont remember a conversation like that. I think certainly the fact that SNL was successful probably propelled us to put our best artistic shoes on, but I never had a conversation like, SNL is doing that, what can we do differently? We really knew what each others strengths were. I think we played to those strengths once the concept was developed. We had worked together for a long time. Ive never done SNL, but I can tell you for SCTV, we had so much say in what we were doing and how it was edited and what the music was that were going to pick to augment the scene. And we were on the sound stage when other actors were performing, giving notes to them. It was such a different time. We would look at the monitors afterwards and say, Let me do it again, and Ill do it this way. I really would kill for that. I really do miss that, the ability, when I work, to be able to look at something and say, I know how to make that better. I have to say, its a big loss, certainly, in my creativity. Because I think I could be really objective about what worked and what didnt. Even watching yourself? That must be hard. Yeah, but I think because we knew each other very well and we loved each other, nobody was frightened to say thats not working or try it this way or maybe you should use a different wig. It was so profoundly collaborative. I think if you talk to anybody in SCTV, theyll all say that what they missed the most as their careers developed was the say that they had in what they were doing and the collaboration. I also could imagine that the lack of a live audience made it so that you werent basing everything on what people were laughing at. On SNL, they do a dress rehearsal, and if something doesnt get laughs, they cut it. But you guys werent doing that. You were using your own sensibility, which maybe leads to more risky creative work in some ways. Do you think thats true? I think thats absolutely true. I think you said it very well. And I think the fact that we respected one another, we were going to listen to what everybody had to say. It was really fun. And it was a lot of hard work. GP Images / WireImage Whatever happened to the Martin Scorsese-directed reunion documentary project that was supposedly coming? I think it was just people getting pulled in different directions. Everybody was doing something different; I mean, Martin Scorsese does a movie every 10 minutes. So I think that was a combination of all of us trying to decide succinctly what the show is going to be, and not able to come up with that really. And then being pulled in many different different directions, because all of us were working on different projects. I actually think that well get to see something that will be like a reunion. I dont know who the players will be in it. Martin Scorsese is off doing so many things, but he was so great to work with. We did film an interview portion. Jimmy Kimmel hosted it, and everybody was there, except John [Candy]. Rick Moranis came back. That was fun. So I think that we will see something, honestly. Theres so much footage, so many years of great sketches, and then to have that interview, and then to have Martin Scorsese being interviewed also about SCTV. I think, in some way or another, youll see something in the future. So after SCTV, you never stopped working and have been doing great stuff all along, but there was this real career resurgence later in life. What do you think really kicked that off? Well, I was raising two sons and when they finally went off to college, thats when I really gave it a hundred percent of an effort. I dont think my heart was in it a hundred percent [before that]. I was really torn, being a mom. And I just couldnt find a way to be satisfied either way, being home alone without any work or being off working without my kids. And finally when they went off to college, then I really felt free to achieve a dream. Was that a scary thing, to step back? When you do that, you never know whether the industry is going to welcome you back when you decide its time. I never thought that. I just thought that if I was going to give it my all, then people would like me. Thats more confidence that probably a lot of people have. I mean, I have a lot of anxiety, for sure, and Im always thinking, was that scene good? But in my overall career, I just think that my love for acting and my love for working with other people and developing and creating characters is loud. And I think that gets you a place. I mean, you have to have a little talent. I think its a combination of experience, because Ive lived a long life, but I think my enthusiasm and the kind of innocent approach I have to everything has kept me in the business. My Big Fat Greek Wedding is one thing that I think drew a lot of attention to you in a new way. That must have been a project that you had no idea was going to become a big thing, right? That is really true. No idea at all. Oh my god! I think its the biggest grossing romantic comedy of all time! No, nobody was thinking that. And theres a third one coming out! Its coming out in September. And look, Ive only seen the trailer and it was very emotional to me coming out of the pandemic and the isolation of where we are as a country. It feels like people are a little unraveled and looking for a center, looking to connect. And when I watched this trailer I thought, Oh my gosh, its like a warm hug, and I think people will take to it. I hope they do. The other project that I wanted to talk about, because I just feel like it was one of the most underrated comedies of recent years, is Great News. I love that show! You were fantastic on that show and it really was one of my favorites. Its one of those shows that I dont think enough people watched and could have gone on for a lot longer. What was it like getting the opportunity to play that character, which was just really well-written, funny, and at the center of a sitcom that was produced by Tina Fey? What made you excited to take that on? Who wouldnt be excited about that? Tina had me go to lunch with her and Robert Carlock and [showrunner] Tracey Wigfield. And we had lunch, and we talked, just to kind of feel each other out. And then they offered me the part. It was based on Traceys mom, her relationship with her mom. And then I got to meet her mom. Of course I said yes to it and I jumped at the chance. We shot the pilot here in New York and it was so easy! You know when something just falls into place? Is it true that you were supposed to play Liz Lemons mother on 30 Rock at some point? I never heard that. Not Liz Lemons mother. Let me think about this, it was the mother of somebody on the show. Tina literally just texted me. Is Great News the Next 30 Rock? What Creator Tracey Wigfield Learned From Tina Fey Maybe you could ask her, Whose mother was I supposed to play? OK, hold on. [Starts texting Tina Fey] Hi, Im doing The Last Laugh podcast right now and Matt asked me if I was supposed to play Liz Lemons mother. Is that true? Or was it Alecs mother, or none of the above? Wait, shes writing back. I cant remember! she says. Elaine was always Alecs mother. But maybe we tried you for my mom, I truly cant remember. Elaine Stritch, right. Well, we almost got to the bottom of it. What was she texting you about earlier? Are you guys going to work together again? Oh, you know, were friends, so we were talking about getting together over the summer at Martys cottage. Look, shes the smartest person Ive ever worked with, but shes so even-keeled. And its so comfortable to work with her because you know shes going to come up with the greatest lines. Shes really confident, really humble, just one of the players, but shes the smartest person in the room. So its the best of all possible worlds. Looking ahead, what do you want to do that you have never been able to do? Well, I would have loved to have worked with Fellini, and Im sorry that Ive never had the chance. But I got to go to circus school because I did the trapeze in Pippin, and that was a great dream of mine, to really work in the circus. So that was the closest that I came to that, which was extraordinary. That was a huge dream. I dont know if I have dreams as big as that. But I really want to get back on stage. Theres nothing I love more than being in the theater. I like working with people that I know. Only Murders in the Building certainly fits that bill. Totally! And, you know what? Heres what Im going to say. I hope that I will be open to everything that comes my way, and not let it be affected by fear that Ive had in the past, that I might not be able to do it, and then talk myself out of it. I hope I can be an open vessel. I hope that the years of my life, 76 yearsanybody can Google thatand raising two beautiful sons and having a granddaughter, I hope that experience of living, that I will be able to put in a part that maybe hasnt come along. And I hope that all that I have and all that Ive experienced in my life, and the great heritage I have, being Armenian, and what that entailsI hope that the part will come along and it will be offered to me, and I will be able to fulfill that part by living the life that Ive led. Thats what I hope for. Listen to the episode now and subscribe to The Last Laugh on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and be the first to hear new episodes when they are released every Tuesday. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Vw Pics / VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images A Canadian teen vacationing in Japan allegedly carved his name into a historic temple in Japan and faced questioning from local police. According to the Kyodo News Agency, a 17-year-old was taken into questioning by police in the city of Nara after they accused him of vandalizing Toshodaiji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Nara Prefecture. Another tourist had reportedly spotted the teen carving his name into a pillar and made the staff of the temple aware of the situation. As of the time of writing, it's unclear if the teen received any form of punishment. Kyodo News also reports that the temple had previously been vandalized in 2015. The vandalism news comes after a UK tourist carved his and his fiancee's names into the Colosseum in Rome. The tourist alleged he didn't know how old the Colosseum was nor did he recognize its historic significance. The man could face a hefty fine and could spend up to five years in prison if convicted. It remains to be seen if Japan will follow in Italy's footsteps for the defacing of the temple. WANTAGH, NEW YORK - JULY 07: A new shark-monitoring drone monitors the waters for sharks as people swim at Jones Beach State Park on July 07, 2023 in Wantagh, New York. Governor Kathy Hochul announced that local beach communities on Long Island and New York City will receive shark-monitoring drones as the state addresses beachgoer safety in response to shark sightings over the 4th of July holiday and reports of people being bitten by sharks at some of New Yorks most popular beaches. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images) Try not to think about the ocean. Because if you're the type of person prone to listless anxiety, a simple question - What's a submersible? Where do orcas live? - might take you to a deep, dark place. A place like the Hadal Zone, named for the Greek god of hell, where there is absolutely no light and the only creatures that can survive the crushing pressure are characterized by their transparent, gooey skin. Or maybe a place in the Gulf of Mexico called the "Hot Tub of Despair," an underwater lake full of methane that kills any organism that enters it. Or perhaps a remote part of the Pacific Ocean that has earned the nickname "White Shark Cafe." We are having a "Jaws" Girl Summer. It's giving Moby-Dick Energy. We're in our Ancient Mariner Era. Is the ocean more terrifying than usual this year, or are we suddenly just more aware of how terrifying the ocean can be? Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Here's an illustrative roundup of recent horrors. Orcas have trained one another to attack boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal. Over the July Fourth holiday, four people were bitten by sharks on New York beaches, and approximately 200 people needed to be rescued from rip currents in Virginia and North Carolina. A man on a fishing trip to a Freeport, Tex., beach last month arrived to discover that tens of thousands of dead fish had washed ashore. Homes in the Outer Banks are toppling into the waves. Don't forget the beach where severed human feet wash ashore on a regular basis in a northwest Washington county that recently announced that it is crowdfunding an investigation to identify a recent set of remains. Or the awful video of the teen who jumped off the party boat in the Bahamas in May, only to be swallowed up by the inky black water, and never seen again. Or the fact that Japan is planning to release more than 1 million cubic meters of treated radioactive water - approximately 500 Olympic-size swimming pools, an amount that is considered "safe" - from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster into the Pacific this summer. Story continues Then there was the OceanGate catastrophe, which made millions of people ponder the specifics of an excruciating death: Trapped at the bottom of the ocean in a claustrophobic metal coffin-like tube, in a dark blacker than any night, with 96 hours of oxygen left to contemplate the unlikelihood of rescue and your imminent suffocation. What actually happened was no less horrific, but somehow seemed kinder: being crushed to death in milliseconds by as much as 6,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. In the ocean, that's a good way to go. That's what Alexandria Neonakis realized during the days she spent transfixed by the submersible crisis. "At every step, every fact that you learned about it" - The video game controllers! The strange knocking noises! The fact that it was bolted shut from the outside! - "was so much worse, and it kept getting worse," says the 38-year-old artist. "Social media just enabled that to go even crazier, because it takes your imagination and it amplifies it, because everybody's thinking insane things," such as: Did one of the rich men on the submersible kill another one of the rich men to conserve oxygen? The speculation became "a feeding frenzy," she says. Which is yet another terrifying thing you find in the ocean. Space is also a terrifying void, but "that's pretty far. I don't have to worry about that," Neonakis says. She does not have a quarter of a million dollars to spend on space tourism, so she won't end up on a rocket anytime soon. And, yes, that's the same price the now-defunct OceanGate charged people for a trip down to the wreckage of the Titanic, but unlike space, you can get swept away by the ocean for free. "It's like, right there," Neonakis says. Near Los Angeles. Where she lives. The term for fear of the ocean is thalassophobia. Myths about deep-sea monsters can be found in ancient cultures from all across the globe. "The lack of adoration, desire for interaction, or simply fear itself, towards the deep sea is not irrational but rather primal," wrote a team of marine researchers in a 2021 paper examining why the public seems to not care about deep-sea exploration as much as space exploration. We associate "up" with heaven, and "down" with hell. And the fear of the unknown, combined with the vastness of a seemingly infinite horizon and improbability of rescue, makes great horror fodder, which is why the ocean has been the setting for so many scary movies. Most are fiction, such as "The Meg" and "The Shallows," but some, such as 2003's "Open Water," about a couple mistakenly left to die during a scuba expedition, are based on true stories. As "Jaws" taught us, you don't have to be out in the deep ocean to encounter its frights: Just last week, a dorsal fin popped up at Navarre Beach near Pensacola, Fla., prompting a chaotic scramble amid screams of, "Get out of the water!" Jellyfish wrap their tentacles around an ankle. Stingrays slink around the shallows. Something you can't see just brushed past your thigh. Mark Fryers, a British researcher who studies media representations of marine culture, says he wouldn't be surprised if we eventually get a movie based on the ill-fated submersible. "The sea is something of a castigating mirror: It reflects back our bad deeds," Fryers says. "We know we're creating, as a species, more damage in the ocean. It comes back to haunt us. It all washes back to us. There's a pervasive sense of death and decline and self-examination." The problem, too, is that we focus on the unlikely catastrophes and ignore the more commonplace ones: A coast guard that allows a boat full of migrants to capsize. An ocean that is rapidly warming. Microplastics. Instead, we think about the sharp fangs of the anglerfish, or the tentacles of a colossal squid, or the spindly six-foot-long (!) legs of the Japanese spider crab. Those glow-in-the-dark fish with a bajillion fangs. Something called a goblin shark. Even the most delicious creatures in the ocean can be kind of gross, when you think about it: As a popular meme reminds us, shrimps is bugs. Even if those creatures don't give you anxiety, there is one that might: the great white shark. We may have been hearing more about sharks lately - Cape Cod has become "one of the largest white shark hotspots in the world," according to Scientific American - but it's been a pretty typical year so far, says Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the University of Florida. "We've had a similar number of bites thus far this year as we did at this stage last year," Naylor tells us via email. "Every year people seem to think 'This year is different.' I guess they must forget how they felt this time last year." It's related to a phenomenon researchers call "sea blindness," which sounds like something that afflicted pirates and castaways, but is actually contemporary: It refers to how oceanic issues "tend to disappear from our consciousness, our daily life," Fryers says, until an event or flash point brings them abruptly back. Like the submersible. "Every horrifying story about the ocean is so f---ing horrifying. It's not like it's a little horrifying. It's like, 'Wow, that's the worst thing I've ever heard,'" Neonakis says. Better to just brave the myriad horrors on dry land. Related Content Winning friends by training workers is China's new gambit This Canadian lake should mark the start of the Anthropocene, scientists say Can mushrooms prevent mega fires? From Enchanted Evening Barbie to Solo in the Spotlight Barbie, Margot Robbie's "Barbie" movie premiere looks have been inspired by the doll itself. (Justin Tallis / AFP via Getty Images) Barbiecore isn't just a trend. It's a lifestyle for Margot Robbie, who's bringing the iconic doll to life onscreen and off. The "Barbie" press tour officially began June 24. In Instagram photos announcing the kickoff, Robbie stands next to a convertible wearing a matching baby pink Bottega Veneta pleated skirt and bralette, with palm trees lining an empty road in front of her. Its picturesque, its pink and its so Barbie. Robbie worked with stylist Andrew Mukamal, and her outfits pay homage to Barbie and her evolving identity, with ensembles both inspired by and direct replicas of the original doll's. Mukamal previously worked with such celebrities as Zoe Kravitz, Kaia Gerber and Billie Eilish. "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig, Ryan Gosling a.k.a. Ken and the rest of the cast also have been donning pink, playful looks throughout the movie's press tour. Margot Robbie is the spitting image of Enchanted Evening Barbie. (Samir Hussein / WireImage via Getty Images) July 12 Arriving at the European premiere in London, Robbie went retro again in a custom light pink Vivienne Westwood gown with a rose brooch, a pearl necklace with matching earrings and opera gloves. The look paid homage to the Enchanted Evening Barbie complete with a white fur stole first produced in the 1960s. Amelia Dimoldenberg, the host of the popular YouTube interview series "Chicken Shop Date," emceed the red carpet for Warner Bros. Dimoldenberg got in on the fun and wore a pink tweed blazer and satin skirt, inspired by I Can Be... News Anchor Barbie, released in 2010. Margot Robbie takes inspiration from Brunette Bubble Cut Barbie. (Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images) Later that evening, Robbie arrived for a photocall at the London Eye in a red Dilara Findikoglu satin mini dress with matching red mules, a look inspired by the 1962 Brunette Bubble Cut Barbie. July 9 On Sunday, Robbie attended the film's Los Angeles premiere in an outfit inspired by the 1960s Solo in the Spotlight Barbie. Donning a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture sequined bustier dress with a tulle hem, Robbie nailed not only Barbie's gown but also the accessories complete with Lorraine Schwartz diamond necklaces, black opera gloves, pink silk scarf and Manolo Blahnik peep-toe mules. Story continues . July 7 In Mexico City, Robbie sported crimped hair and a long-sleeved, patterned Pucci minidress with Manolo pumps, a look inspired by the Totally Hair Barbie, originally released in 1992. July 6 At the film's premiere in Naucalpan de Juarez, Mexico, Robbie wore a long-sleeved hot pink leather bustier minidress with sheer sleeves, a silver chain, matching silver earrings and Manolos. The get-up pays homage to Earring Magic Barbie from 1992. Margot Robbie resembles Sparkling Pink Barbie. (The Chosunilbo JNS / ImaZins via Getty Images) July 3 Robbie attended a news conference for the movie in Seoul in a hot pink studded Moschino skirt suit, the spitting image of Sparkling Pink Barbie from 1964. The look was made complete with a large pink bow, heart-shaped handbag and Manolo Blahnik pink mules. July 2 At a fan event in Seoul, Robbie wore a Versace skirt suit inspired by the 1985 Day-to-Night Barbie, including white pumps with pink toes, a white boater wrapped in a pink polka-dot ribbon, a handbag and an oversize pink bedazzled phone. The second look in Margot Robbie's Day-to-Night Barbie ensemble. (Jung Yeon-je / AFP via Getty Images) Later in the evening at the Seoul premiere, Robbie took the Day to Night assignment to heart, wearing a pink sequin Versace bustier and tulle skirt with peep-toe heels. Margot Robbie dons another pink red-carpet look. (James Gourley / Getty Images) June 30 Robbie attended a Barbie celebration party at the Museum of Contemporary Art in a Versace metallic pink cocktail dress. June 29 At a photo call in Bondi Beach, Australia, Robbie wore a black and white striped mini dress with white-rimmed glasses and black heels, inspired by the Teenage Fashion Model Barbie doll the first Barbie ever released in 1959. June 25 The day before the "Barbie" movie press tour officially kicked off, Robbie wore a pink polka-dot mini dress with a cross-neck halter top to the Los Angeles press junket; the look is reminiscent of the Pink and Fabulous Doll released by Mattel in 2015, equipped with white heels and a yellow mini purse. Margot Robbie attends CinemaCon in a look inspired by the Barbie the Movie collection. (Greg Doherty / WireImage) April 25 Robbie arrived at CinemaCon in Las Vegas wearing a pink and white gingham Prada miniskirt with a matching bralette. The pattern is the same as the Barbie doll in the Barbie the Movie collection , which was recently released by Mattel in anticipation of the upcoming release. It includes Barbies Corvette, a replica Barbie's Dream House and a cast of ensemble character dolls. With an endless supply of accessories and outfits for every occasion, Robbie embodies the character of Barbie in more ways than one. And as one of the most highly anticipated releases of the summer, there's one thing viewers can expect from Greta Gerwig's film come July 21: pink. Lots and lots of pink. Sign up for L.A. Goes Out, a weekly newsletter about exploring and experiencing Los Angeles from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Tim Investment, a leading player in the global aerospace sector, has reached an agreement with Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) to set up its new MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) hangar facility at Dubai South. The groundbreaking of the new hangar will take place during Dubai Airshow 2023 in November and construction is expected to be completed by Q1 2025. MBRAH is a free-zone destination for airlines, private jet companies, MROs, and associated industries. Developed by Dubai South, MBRAH is also home to maintenance centres and training and education campuses. It seeks to strengthen engineering industries to foster the emirates vision of becoming a leading aviation hub. "The agreement with Tim Investment underlines MBRAH's ongoing commitment to fortifying the growth trajectory of Dubai's aviation sector, and in attracting the top global players to establish their presence in the emirate as part of Dubai Souths dynamic ecosystem, which caters to the needs of businesses," said its CEO Tahnoon Saif after signing the deal with Timor Shah Shahab, Founder and CEO of Tim Investment. "We will spare no effort in supporting Tim Investments expansion into Dubai, and shall continue to contribute to cementing Dubais position on the world aviation map," he stated during the signing ceremony held at the Dubai South HQ in the presence of senior executives including Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South. On the new venture, Shahab said the MBRAH facility is part of Tim Investment's strategic plans, which represent a stride in expanding its presence to cater to a wider clientele in the aviation sector. With its broad and dynamic portfolio, Tim Investment, he stated, was a driving force in the aerospace field. "The company stands as the umbrella organisation for several distinguished entities, including V2 Aviation DMCC, offering aircraft and requisites leasing and air charters for passengers and cargo; V2 Aerospace Jafza, specialising in the trade of aircraft spare parts; Legend Airline SRL Europe, a premier airline service in Europe; and Tim Aerospace DWC, providing comprehensive passenger and cargo aircraft repair, maintenance, and dismantling services," he noted. "This step positions us at the heart of Dubai's flourishing MRO landscape, intensifying our dedication to fostering innovation and promoting excellence within the industry. We look forward to working closely with MBRAH on the new hangar," he added.-TradeArabia News Service China on Monday once again urged Japan to stop its plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean at the ongoing 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Teriyaki Madness, a Denver-based fast-casual Asian restaurant, plans to open its first Northeast Florida restaurant July 14 at 140 Little Cyprus Road, Suite 106 in Saint Johns in northern St. Johns County. A Denver-based, fast-casual Asian-themed restaurant concept is preparing to debut its first Northeast Florida restaurant in northern St. Johns County and it's planning several more in the region. Teriyaki Madness plans to open Tuesday, July 25, at 140 Little Cyprus Drive, Suite 106, in Grand Cypress Marketplace shopping center near U.S. 1 and Race Track Road in Saint Johns. The restaurant focuses on freshly made-to-order bowls featuring teriyaki chicken, steak, salmon and tofu. Stir-fried veggies, Japanese-style yakisoba noodles, brown and white rice and appetizers such as chicken eggrolls, potstickers, crab rangoon and edamame also top the menu. Teriyaki Madness also features seven house-made sauces which also are available bottled for sale: Teriyaki, Spicy, Stir-fry, Gyoza, Thick Teriyaki, Sweet & Sour and Katsu. "Our two most popular bowls are the Teriyaki Chicken, which is fresh chicken marinated in our signature Teriyaki Sauce, then grilled and topped on your choice of white rice, brown rice, fried rice or Yakisoba noodles. And, our other most popular and very addictive bowl is the Spicy Chicken Teriyaki. Its more flavor than fire, and very crave-able," Jodi Boyce, chief marketing officer, told the Times-Union in an email. Jacksonville-area restaurant roundup: 8 opened or closed in June PB&J wings, cheesesteak egg rolls: Savannah restaurant opening 2nd St. Johns spot Craving a tasty and healthy meal?: A new Durbin Park restaurant promises to bowl you over Boyce said their target audience is split evenly between men and women. "And although we serve many outside this age range, we usually target adults 25 to 54 years old as our sweet spot. Because our food is on the healthier side and it travels very well, we attract active people on the go," she said. The Saint Johns location is the first of three planned by franchise co-owners Robert Garnecki and David Patrick, both of Ponte Vedra Beach. Garnecki, 53, is a retired New Jersey police officer who was among the first responders during Sept. 11, 2021, terrorist attacks. Patrick, 63, is a commercial airline pilot, and military veteran whose prior entrepreneurial experience included owning two Jimmy Johns sandwich shop franchises. Story continues Boyce said that "likely Dave and Rob's other two licenses will be in the Jacksonville area." Northeast Florida expansion Teriyaki Madness, which has about 130 locations throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, is among the fastest-growing big restaurant chains in the nation, industry publications report. In 2021, Teriyaki Madness was rated the No. 1 fastest-growing big chain restaurant based on its 2020 performance Restaurant Business reported. This year, Teriyaki Madness was among America's Favorite Restaurant Chains reported by Newsweek. The chain, founded in 2003, expects to have a total of about 150 locations by the end of the third quarter this year. We already have leases signed and construction started to have our best growth year ever, CEO Michael Haith, said in a May 1 news release. Northeast Florida is a desirable area for Teriyaki Madness to expand its footprint, Boyce said. Teriyaki Madness, a Denver-based fast-casual Asian restaurant, plans to open its first Northeast Florida restaurant July 14 at 140 Little Cyprus Road, Suite 106 in Saint Johns in northern St. Johns County. "Jacksonville proper and the Beaches could certainly support more shops and are trade areas that are on our radar,"Boyce said. "The particular vacancies available when we're ready for site selection will drive which trade areas we land in." The Saint Johns location will be among a dozen open or coming soon Teriyaki Madness locations in Florida. Grand Cypress Marketplace, the former bestbet facility, is anchored by Winn-Dixie, which opened late last year. The shopping center is amid the 103-acre Grand Cypress mixed-use development from Gatlin Development Company of Jacksonville. Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com. If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest dining coverage. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Teriyaki Madness opens first Northeast Florida restaurant in St. Johns There was bit of a jaw drop when the search for the next president of Florida Atlantic University yielded three finalists with impressive credentials from prestigious institutions. No anti-woke warriors, no political allies of Gov. Ron DeSantis, no firebrands who have built a reputation rallying against liberal college professors. The top candidates were a superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, a dean at Florida State University and a former chancellor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. More important, one name was missing from the final list: State Rep. Randy Fine, who has no higher education administration experience, but plenty targeting drag-queen shows and threatening state funding for local governments in his Central Florida district in retaliation for offending him. Fine said in March that DeSantis office encouraged him to apply for the FAU position. An ordinary outcome for a college presidential search felt outside the norm in a state that has transformed higher education into a laboratory for ideological control. DeSantis has pushed lawmakers to restrict what professors can say about race and how colleges promote diversity in their student bodies and faculty. What a relief and short lived. A sudden stop Days after FAU announced the finalists, the state asked the Boca Raton-based school to halt the presidential search, citing anomalies that have been alleged in the process. State University System of Florida Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, a former Republican state senator, sent a letter to the head of FAUs search committee Friday, the Sun Sentinel reported. The letter was later posted on social media. It alleged the committee conducted a straw poll to rank the top six candidates out of 60 and submitted it confidentially to a search firm. The straw poll, the letter alleges, was not disclosed on the record, a potential violation of state law. FAU pushed back against the accusations in a in a four-page response from Board of Trustees Chair Brad Levine. He wrote straw polls are an industry standard and, in the case of FAU, it took place after the selection committee discussed the applicants for about 30 minutes. The poll was meant to gauge if there was consensus around a top tier of the candidates. Story continues The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the states university system, had a representative on FAUs committee. He enthusiastically agreed with the straw poll, even calling it a best practice, Levine wrote. In fact, Florida State University used a similar procedure in its recent presidential search, which the Board of Governors own general counsel said complied with state law, according to Levine. Why is the state suddenly so alarmed then? Any violation of the law would be a serious issue that warrants investigation. However, there was always fear that DeSantis political whims would infiltrate FAUs presidential search. Rodrigues letter to the school offers more insight into the governors priorities. Rodrigues wrote that at least one candidate said he was asked to answer a questionnaire asking if he was queer, a male or transgender male, as well as his preferred pronouns. Rodrigues said those questions might be illegal. FAU was not aware of the questionnaire, a routine diversity survey used in all executive searches by the firm hired by the school, AGB Search. More important, the survey was entirely voluntary, CEO Rod McDavis told the Sun Sentinel. Is the state contending that a months-long process be thrown out, at least in part, over a voluntary questionnaire? Or, as anyone with eyes and ears is wondering, is this a ploy to get a DeSantis crony the coveted spot? A hidden agenda? Unfortunately, its unclear whether Fine even applied for the position. Thanks to a new law the governor signed, the identity of candidates for university president is shielded from public disclosure until finalists are picked. Such laws, as supporters posit, might encourage more people to seek the top job without their current employers finding out, but it definitely protects those who want to manipulate presidential selections to install ideologues instead of true leaders. Earlier this year, DeSantis six conservative appointees took over the board of New College of Florida, a 700-student liberal-arts institution in Sarasota. They quickly pushed out its president and voted to abolish the schools diversity office. The interim replacement is Richard Corcoran, a former House speaker and education commissioner and DeSantis fellow culture warrior. Corcoran is earning a base salary that rivals what presidents make at large universities. In June, another DeSantis ally, former GOP state Rep. Fred Hawkins, became president of South Florida State College in Avon Park. Hawkins has no advanced college degrees and only became eligible for the position after the schools board of trustees voted to lower its education requirements. Three other candidates with doctoral degrees and community-college leadership experience suddenly dropped out. One of the schools trustees was blunt in his assessment of the other contenders, telling the Tampa Bay Times in May: they were all Democrats. The goal of Florida leaders for years was to compete with the Souths most prominent public universities. Today, universities in the Sunshine State get more attention because of its heavy-handed governor. Best-case scenario, FAUs presidential search was stopped over genuine concerns that a university isnt following proper procedures. Worst-case scenario, its another jab against academic freedom, a scenario that Florida already knows too well. Former 7th Special Forces operator Matthew Dicchio stands before some of his pieces of work that he made. NICEVILLE Transitioning from a military career to civilian life can be daunting. For Matthew Docchio, a former Green Beret with the 7th Special Forces, the transition to civilian life was challenging and an opportunity for personal growth. After serving for 19 years, he found a passion that not only helps him cope with the struggles of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder but allows him to give back to his fellow service members. Docchio has found some measure of peace in wood and epoxy, creating artistic decor for the home through his company Hard AF Wood Designs. He's also started to branch out with a line of clothing, and 5% of the profits go directly to the Wounded Warrior Project to help veterans in need. From Connecticut to Afghanistan Docchio spent the early years of his life in Connecticut. For him, his call to serve his country follows the tragic events of 9/11. "As soon as 9/11 hit, I joined," Docchio said. "I went right into Special Forces off the street. They had a program where guys could try out." Two months later, he began his first of four deployments with the 7th Special Forces in Afghanistan, where he served as a weapons sergeant and intelligence specialist. In June 2007, he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries suffered during a mission in Afghanistan. Docchio went on to train the next generation of fighters by becoming a senior instructor at the Special Forces Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape school for three years. In 2011, he was reassigned to the 7th Special Forces and was again deployed to Afghanistan and South America. The reassignment eventually brought him to Eglin Air Force Base, which is where he served until his medical retirement from injuries suffered in combat in 2018. Finding peace at home For many service members who had time in combat, transitioning to civilian life is harder than one might think. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 17 veterans took their own lives each day in 2019. The average amount of time following separation from the military for someone taking their own life in 2019 was 47.8 months. Story continues A Guy Harvey endorsed wooden surfboard that Matthew Docchio made "You don't realize the severity of your PTSD," said Docchio. "You don't realize the severity of the traumas that you went through until you are detached from that safe environment which was with your buddies. My daily life was unmanageable. "7th (Special Forces) Group, they took care of me. They sent me to many PTSD programs and helped manage my TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). They took care of me better than I could have ever asked for." In order to come to terms with everything he had seen, Docchio said that he is in the early stages of writing a book to help share his knowledge with others. "The book is more for the families than the veteran," Docchio said. "They're the ones who have to deal with it. It is so important that they understand why they are doing what they are doing. A lot of them don't understand it. We had many families reach out and thank us for that." Docchio said the process of writing his new book has helped him start to close a chapter in his life. "I've written it for my own health, putting it on paper and putting it to rest," he said. "Then I did a podcast and started thinking about the war I went through within me after the military. There is no cure; you're just trying to get it down to where it is manageable." Hard AF begins "I was in Mexico, and there was this wood fish that was at a restaurant for sale. I looked and it was $150. My partner at the time wanted me to get it, and I thought to myself that I could make that. I came home and made the fish; it was horrible. The worst thing I've ever seen. I have never worked with wood before, and I enjoyed doing it. Rice's whales Okaloosa County Commission wary of proposed conservation plan From there, in his garage in Niceville, his business Hard AF was born in early 2022. Over the past year and a half, he has used what he learned in the military and applied it to his business. "It was work ethic," Docchio said. "I always struggled with that in the military. Once I started something, I could not stop it; I had to finish it. With wood and epoxy, you can't do that. Sometimes you have to let the epoxy sit for 24 hours to let it cure. You have to be patient. Just in a year and a half, the places I used to go for advice, now come to me for it. I put in a lot of work." "It was a long process of trial and error," Docchio said. "The wood wasn't the difficult part; it was the epoxy. Learning how to work the epoxy, and with every mistake I made, I learned from it." With him doing the woodworking, he also brought along his daughter to help in this venture. "Trying to learn social media was foreign to me," Docchio said. "(Isabella) is doing good with it. She understands TikTok and Instagram." You can find products that Hard AF, makes inside DeFrance Antiques in Fort Walton Beach. Where to find his products? Docchio has a space on the floor at DeFrance Antiques on 76 Beal Parkway in Fort Walton Beach. You can also go to his website, www.hardafwooddesigns.com. If you are a veteran in crisis or a family member or friend concerned about a veteran, the Department of Veterans Affairs urges you to call 988 and press 1, or text 838255. This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Green Beret veteran builds thriving woodworking business SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher was criticized on Monday after it became public that she traveled to Italy for a Dolce & Gabbana fashion event over the weekend despite the guilds ongoing contract talks with studios. The trip became publicly known after Kim Kardashian, who also attended the event, posted a photo with Drescher on Instagram. Guild reps didnt immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap, but in a statement to The Ankler, SAG-AFTRA said, President Drescher is working as a brand ambassador for Dolce and Gabbana on location in Italy. This was a commitment fully known to the negotiating committee. She has been in negotiations every day either in person or via videoconference. President Drescher is managing a physically demanding schedule across three time zones, overseeing negotiations and working on location daily as well as managing her parents needs in FL. She is returning to the states and will be on the ground in LA tomorrow, and will continue to chair our negotiations. SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) were unable to reach a new deal before their existing contract expired on June 30. A strike was at least temporarily averted when negotiations were extended through July 12. But on Monday the guild sent strike rules out to members, a sign it believes the extended talks may not succeed. Also Read: Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs California Film and TV Tax Credit Extension Into Law And whether the negotiating committee was aware of the trip, it seems it wasnt widely known to rank and file SAG-AFTRA members, judging from the reactions online from those who at best considered the trip in poor taste. This is a joke right? The deadline for a union that she is President of has a deadline to strike Wed at midnight. Livelihoods are on the line. Im hoping this is not true. It cant be. No one could be this stupid. https://t.co/0BENOzvrUt Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) July 11, 2023 Look Im not saying one cant have a personal life. And Im not saying one cant take a vacation. But we are in the middle of the most crucial negotiation in decades and our WGA siblings are on day 70 of fighting for their lives. The optics here are *truly* awful. Do better. https://t.co/5ZHnwgQqYJ Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) July 10, 2023 Negotiating our possible strike from Italy seems like a strange strategy @frandrescher @sagaftra pic.twitter.com/XNmi7DlWCJ Lenny Jacobson (@Lennyjacobson) July 10, 2023 But members of the still-on-strike Writers Guild of America also called Drescher out. Story continues some real let them eat cake vibes for the SAG-AFTRA members who were marching alongside us WGA members just this morning https://t.co/UiPL6IiZTD Taffy Brodesser-Akner (@taffyakner) July 10, 2023 When your sweet six-figure residuals from a 90s sitcom allow you to jetset off to Italy in the middle of a critical labor negotiation that doesnt afford your fellow union members the same financial advantages, thats amore. https://t.co/UXdVdzZ9Oh Gennefer Gross (@Gennefer) July 10, 2023 On June 24, SAG-AFTRA leaders including Drescher released a video expressing optimism about the progress of talks with the AMPTP. And it seemed when the groups extended the deadline for a new deal from June 30 to July 12, it meant a new contract was likely, given that extensions in 2014 and 2017 also ended with new contracts. But sources with knowledge of the talks tell TheWrap that the talks have bogged down over streaming residuals. SAG-AFTRA members want a new residual system based on viewership data, information streamers currently do not share with creators. The Directors Guild of America negotiated a significant residual increase in its recently ratified contract, but viewership was not accounted for in that deal. House Oversight Committee chairman Rep James Comer. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Four days after he claimed a very credible witness had emerged to provide the Justice Department with derogatory information about President Joe Biden and his family, House Oversight Committee chair James Comer questioned the timing of charges that the alleged whistleblower was actually spying for the Chinese government and attempting to broker illegal arms sales to Libya. The alleged unregistered foreign agent, Gal Luft, was arrested in February by authorities in Cyprus on arms trafficking charges, but he subsequently disappeared after jumping bail. Mr Luft, who is a citizen of both the United States and Israel, is accused of paying a former adviser to Donald Trump on behalf of principals in China in 2016 without registering as a foreign agent. Prosecutors say that Mr Luft pushed the former government employee, who is not named, to push policies that were favourable to China, and further accuse him of having set up meetings between officials of Iran and a Chinese energy company to discuss oil deals, which would violate US sanctions. Mr Comer, who appeared on Fox News late Monday, insinuated that the charges against the think tank founder were meant to silence him when asked about the timing by host Laura Ingraham. The timing is always coincidental, according to the Democrats at the Department of Justice, he said. The Kentucky Republican claimed that Mr Luft was being paid by the same company which entered into a failed business venture with Mr Bidens son, Hunter Biden, and suggested that the speed at which the department moved against Mr Luft is suspicious. So there are a lot of questions here and it's just amazing. The Department of Justice moves so quickly against some people, he said, adding that it is ironic that Mr Luft is charged with being an unregistered foreign agent the same allegation Republicans have levelled against Hunter Biden. The indictment announced on Monday also alleges that Mr Luft conspired with others and attempted to broker illicit arms transactions with, among others, certain Chinese individuals and entities by working as a middleman to find both buyers and sellers for certain weapons and other materials in violation of the US Arms Control Act. Story continues Specifically, prosecutors say he attempted to broker a sale of anti-tank weapons, grenade launchers and mortar rounds to Libya by Chinese companies, and also pushed to arrange for the United Arab Emirates to purchase bombs and rockets, and for Kenya to acquire unmanned aerial vehicles capable of striking targets on the ground. While Mr Comer did not directly address the charges against Mr Luft, one of his Republican colleagues on the House Oversight Committee, South Carolina Nancy Mace, downplayed the charges in a TV appearance in which she accused the Biden administration of using the prosecution to stop Mr Luft from speaking out. Speaking on Fox Business Network on Tuesday, Ms Mace said Mr Luft deserves to testify before the Oversight Committee and accused the department of trying to keep him from doing so. No one should be surprised here. I dont trust the DOJ or the FBI, they are trying to silence our witness and this is a way to do that, she said. She added that it is obscene that the government is not charging Hunter Biden with the same crimes despite the fact that Mr Biden has never attempted to broker arms sales or violate US sanctions on Iran. Houston Man Whose Mom Maintained He Was Missing Since He Was 17 No Longer Wants Contact with Her, Aunt Says The 25-year-old man who resurfaced after he was first reported missing eight years ago, only to reveal he had been living with his mother the whole time, no longer wants to have contact with her, according to his aunt. Pauline Sanchez told NBC News that she saw her nephew, Rudolph Rudy Farias IV, for the first time Thursday night, after not seeing or hearing from him in eight years. I felt great presence. It was beautiful. We hugged until I finally let go. Hes a bit skinny, she said outside of a friends house, where Farias plans to stay for the time being. Hes doing well but plans to stay away from his mother. RELATED: Police Say Texas Man Believed To Have Disappeared as a Teen 8 Years Ago Was Never Actually Missing Farias was first reported missing by his mother, Janie Santana, on March 7, 2015, after the then-17-year-old didn't come home from taking his two dogs on a walk the evening before, Santana said at the time. Eight years later, he was reported to be found at a Houston church on June 29 of this year after purportedly being missing the entire time. Rudolph Farias Photo: National Missing and Unidentified Persons System But according to police, Farias actually returned home March 8, 2015, the day after he was reported missing, and had been living with Santana for the last eight years. Questions surrounding Farias disappearance came to light when neighbors who'd seen stories of him being found were shocked to hear that the man had been considered missing for the last eight years. "He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son, and daughter," Kisha Ross who lived on the same street as Santana, according to court records told Houston-based TV station KTRK. "That boy has never been missing." Rudolph Farias "That Boy Has Never Been Missing": Neighbors Question Years-Long Disappearance of Man Who Was Recently Found Police said Thursday that Santana misled officers when coming in contact with her and Farias by giving them fake names and dates of birth. Story continues Sanchez said she didnt pry her nephew for details about the last eight years. His mentality, he needs to get well. Hes going to be cautious. I still feel that hes traumatized and gone through a lot. I still feel action should be taken, the aunt said. He doesnt want to see his mom and doesnt want to go back to his mom. After Sanchez received word about her nephews return, she went to her stepsister Santanas home, where Farias had been living, according to NBC News. Finding no one home, she drove across town to find Farias, having been tipped off about where he's been staying since resurfacing. RELATED: Missing Texas Man Found Alive and in "Bad Shape" Eight Years After Vanishing as a Teen According to NBC News, Sanchez was yelled at and had the police called on her after trying to see her nephew. But she was eventually let in through the backyard of the house and met her nephew. At first it got off to a bad start," she said. "All that matters is he is safe and sound." "He's safe. He's comfortable. He did make the statement that he doesn't want to see his mom. He doesn't want to go back to his mom," Sanchez told local TV station KTRK. Santana has not been charged with any crimes related to her son's false disappearance at this time. Rock star Jack White called out Mark Wahlberg, Guy Fieri, Mel Gibson and Joe Rogan in an Instagram post after footage showed them interacting with Donald Trump during his appearance at a UFC fight Saturday night in Las Vegas. Anybody who normalizes or treats this disgusting fascist, racist, con man, disgusting piece of st Trump with any level of respect is ALSO disgusting in my book, White wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. Thats you Joe Rogan, you Mel Gibson, you Mark Wahlberg, you Guy Fieri. This is a statement from me, not a discussion/debate. -Jack White III. Whites words were accompanied with a swipe post that featured fives different images taken at the UFC event, each showing the celebrities he mentioned in his caption at different points during the night. Also Read: Ron DeSantis Says Disney Movies, Theme Parks Suffering Because Parents Dont Want an Agenda Shoved Down Their Throat (Video) The second photo in his post showed Trump and Rogan in a conversation, and Guy Fieri and Trump were greeting one another in the third slide. The fourth appears to show Gibson in the UFC crowd saluting Trump, and in the last image, Wahlberg is seen chatting it up with Trump in front of the UFC cage. The first photo in Whites post is a collage of images of the actors, on-air personalities and Trump at the fight. Trump attended the fight after a volunteer event for his Nevada primary. The celebs meetups with the twice-impeached and twice-indicted former president drew different responses online. Trump was spotted glad-handing and chatting with Joe Rogan, @GuyFieri, Mark Wahlberg, and noted antisemite Mel Gibson. Expected from @MelGibsonFilms but @marklwalberg? Come on Marky Mark, bad look man, one Twitter user said. Its a sad state of affairs when people choose to speak out about folks that voted for Trump or others with different views. It says more about you than it does for Guy Fieri, IMO, another Twitter user said. Story continues Its a sad state of affairs when people choose to speak out about folks that voted for Trump or others with different views. It says more about you than it does for Guy Fieri, IMO. Silvia S (@Roslyn715) July 10, 2023 While many werent shocked by Gibson and Rogan, some were stunned by Fieris interaction and others pointed to Wahlbergs history of hate crimes against people of color as a teenager. Thinking about Guy Fieri here, a Twitter user wrote. If I wasnt comfortable being associated with someone like Donald Trump, I sure wouldnt allow myself to be photographed or recorded being chummy with him, shaking his hand, whatever. Fieri must not mind it. Thinking about Guy Fieri here. If I wasn't comfortable being associated with someone like Donald Trump, I sure wouldn't allow myself to be photographed or recorded being chummy with him, shaking his hand, whatever. Fieri must not mind it. James Venes (@jamesvenes) July 10, 2023 Another Twitter user said: Mark Wahlberg has always been a blatant racist and never really hidden that. He and his brother Danny and probably all of his family are racists. That he would support Trump is hardly surprisingly. Trump loves the poorly educated and Wahlberg definitely fits that description. Mark Wahlberg has always been a blatant racist and never really hidden that. He and his brother Danny and probably all of his family are racists. That he would support Trump is hardly surprisingly. Trump loves the poorly educated and Wahlberg definitely fits that description. Fed Up (@Biblio_hiker) July 10, 2023 Trump is still the leader in polls for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, with DeSantis in second and Trumps former vice president Mike Pence in third place. Also Read: Chris Christie Slams Trumps Claim Hed End Ukraine War in 24 Hours: Hed Bend Down and Give Putin Whatever He Wants (Video) hulu-jewel-thief-bulletin.jpg The Jewel Thief - Credit: HULU On a June day in 1998, at the height of the summer tourist season, Gerald Daniel Blanchard entered Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna and deftly removed a diamond-and-pearl-encrusted pin that had once belonged to Empress Elisabeth of Austria from its display case, leaving a replica from the museums gift shop in its place. Nine years later, in May 2007, police in Winnipeg, Canada discovered the priceless piece tucked inside a wall of Blanchards grandmothers home, while raiding the house for stolen cash and goods. The recovery of the royal jewels dominated the headlines but their theft was one of many for Blanchard, from shoplifting as a teenager in the 1980s, to robbing and defrauding banks well into adulthood. More from Rolling Stone Blanchard started documenting his crimes on video in high school, accumulating hundreds of hours of footage, and obsessively keeping records from each job. But despite all the evidence, he has ensured that some key details about how he pulled off some of these stunts remain a mystery. I want to leave it up to [peoples] imagination, he says. It makes the story more interesting. Landon Van Soest, the director of The Jewel Thief, a documentary about Blanchard premiering on Hulu on July 13th, agrees; and after being obsessed with this story for over a decade, hopes audiences will be equally intrigued. There has been this mythology constructed around him being a larger-than-life criminal mastermind figure probably invented or at least perpetuated by himself, Van Soest tells Rolling Stone. Hes clearly very proud of what he was able to accomplish. But Blanchard isnt solely responsible for this status. Since his January 2007 arrest, the police officers and prosecutors who eventually put him behind bars have repeatedly referred to the Canadian citizen as cunning and creative, uncommonly gifted, and a James Bond kind of guy on the other side of the fence. Although Blanchard was ultimately caught and served prison time for his crimes, the two decades he spent living out the plot of a Hollywood heist film offer a glimpse into a life few people experience and one that leaves more questions than answers. Story continues UNTIL THE AGE OF EIGHT, Blanchard had a comfortable childhood in Winnipeg. I grew up wealthy, Blanchard tells Rolling Stone. But when his parents split up, he and his mother relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, where he says they were really poor. According to Blanchard, he spent four and a half years at Boys Town, the residential school for troubled youths in Omahas inner-city, made famous in the 1938 film of the same name starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. In the movie, Tracy played Father Edward J. Flanagan: the Irish priest who founded the institution originally for orphaned boys in 1917. At 15, Blanchard says he moved over to Father Flanagan High School. [The students] in that school were all troubled, Blanchard recalls. I wasnt a troubled youth at that time, so when I was put into this pool of students, I really branched out and [learned about] different opportunities to make money. Wasting no time, Blanchard an unassuming, wiry, bespectacled teen began stealing from electronics, furniture, and department stores, including completely clearing out a local RadioShack with some friends on Easter Sunday 1987. The store was closed, he says. I shut off the alarm system, and we took the whole store and put in a U-Haul. This ultimately led to his arrest for grand theft at age 15, though he was released on probation after serving three months. Race played a big part, Blanchard explains in the documentary. I was a white kid that went to school, and in the court system, when they see this little kid, Oh, he stole some stuff from RadioShack, lets give him probation versus sending him off to juvenile school. It helped a lot. While the impact of Blanchards race isnt discussed at length in the film, Van Soest says being a scrawny, nerdy-looking white kid did work to Blanhards advantage. So many of his peers who were not doing the types of things he was doing to the same degree, and not being nearly as braggadocious about it, faced far more severe consequences, he explains. I think thats just a reality of our penal system. Meanwhile, being on probation didnt deter Blanchard from picking up where he left off; in fact, he says it expanded his customer base. My probation officer asked [me to get him] some car stereos, answering machines, and cordless phones from RadioShack, he tells Rolling Stone. So I started selling stuff to probation officers. At this point, Blanchard was pulling in between $4,000 and $8,000 a week fabricating receipts and pocketing refunds from returning stolen merchandise, according to his own archival footage from the late 1980s featured in the documentary. By the time he was 16, he had enough money to buy a house. While it might have started as some kind of a response to poverty and a meek upbringing, it outpaced that very quickly, Van Soest tells Rolling Stone. He was clearly not doing these crimes for the money after his very early days, if at all. By the time Blanchard was 21, his rap sheet included multi-city theft sprees, breaking into a police impound lot, and escaping from police custody. Then, in April 1993, he was arrested for crimes related to an incident in which he helped set a car on fire, stole a police badge, gun, radio, and other equipment, and escaped from police custody twice in a 24-hour period once in a stolen police cruiser. Five months later, an Iowa court sentenced Blanchard to seven years in prison for second-degree theft and second-degree arson charges. He served four years of his sentence, which concluded with his deportation back to Canada in 1997. Blanchard settled in Winnipeg, and immediately fell back into his old ways. But before long he says that he came to a realization: Why was I doing these small returns for small money, when I could actually just take the cash from the bank? Though he organized and planned the robberies, he rarely acted alone. Everyone has their special skill, he says. Mine was the security aspect. I could have [robbed] ATMs by myself [and made] half a million dollars, but instead, I brought in a couple other people that were good at different things, [which] made the team stronger. Between robberies, Blanchard enjoyed a jet-setting lifestyle, visiting exclusive hotspots around the world using one of his many aliases (and the corresponding fraudulent passport), often in disguise. Armed with money and confidence, he gained access to events like the Stanley Cup Final, and hobnobbed with professional athletes. He sailed on yachts, drove Ferraris, went scuba diving, and took helicopter rides during his travels around the world. I like having things youre not supposed to have, cause it makes me feel special, Blanchard says in a recording of a wiretapped conversation featured in the documentary. More than anything else, Blanchard sought out the rush and excitement that came from successfully pulling off a crime. I dont do drugs, I dont smoke, he tells Rolling Stone. My addiction was thrill-seeking. The so-called Si-Si Stars, jewels that once belonged to Empress Elisabeth of Austria. WHEN BLANCHARD VISITED Vienna in June 1998, he was in the midst of an extended tour of Europe with his then-wife and her wealthy father, at the beginning of what turned out to be a brief marriage. His former father-in-law secured VIP-access to a special exhibit at Schonbrunn Palace featuring items that once belonged to Empress Elisabeth of Austria, commemorating the 100th anniversary of her assassination. Also known as Sisi, Empress Elisabeth is one of the best-known and most popular members of the Hapsburg dynasty. In the most famous portrait of the monarch, 27 diamond and pearl celestially-shaped pins, known as the Sisi Stars, adorn her nearly floor-length chestnut hair. Though iconic in Austria, when Blanchard saw the one on display at the museum, it held no special meaning or significance for him. I just thought it was pretty, he explains. In fact, it was one of five items in the museum that caught his eye. My original plan was to take a crown, Blanchard says, noting that he opted for the Sisi Star because it turned out to be the easiest to access. I thought the museum would know that the diamond was taken right away, Blanchard explains. Like three weeks later, I saw on Sky News that they found out that the diamond had been switched, and I had it hidden in my scuba gear. By 2010, the mythology surrounding the theft of the Sisi Star expanded to include one of the most captivating and controversial details yet: that Blanchard reportedly gained access to the museum D.B. Cooper-style, jumping out of a small airplane and parachuting onto the grounds. [The parachute story] is impossible to verify, says Van Soest, who used court records and firsthand accounts to fact-check the details of Blanchards crimes. Ive heard that he chartered a plane; in another story its a helicopter. Its like a game of telephone. Blanchards version of the events has shifted repeatedly, something the consummate showman says is intentional. Ill put it like this: when you get sentenced before a judge, you cant be like, Hey, Im the mastermind for all of this you have to deflect some of the attention elsewhere, he explains. Saying I parachuted onto the castle is much more serious than saying I didnt do it. I dont do drugs, I dont smoke, says Gerald Blanchard. My addiction was thrill-seeking. BLANCHARD FIRST MADE IT onto the Winnipeg police departments radar when they noticed a link between his 2004 robbery of a CIBC bank and a string of similar crimes in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. Impressed with his sophisticated methods, the operation grew to a team of 20 full-time investigators dedicated to the case. In January 2007, Blanchard and six of his associates were arrested on charges of fraud, theft, conspiracy, trafficking, and participating in a criminal organization. That June, Winnipeg police obtained a warrant to search his grandmothers house, where they found the Sisi Star in the wall, seized computers, a credit card manufacturing machine, and 120 surveillance tapes, and arrested Blanchard for a second time. In October 2007, he agreed to plead guilty to 16 of the 54 charges he faced, including possession of the royal jewel, and thefts from multiple financial institutions. The following month, a Manitoba court sentenced him to eight years in prison, and to pay $500,000 in restitution to the CIBC bank he robbed in 2004. I was looking at 160 years for all my charges, he says. I forfeited all my assets, all my money, gave the [Sisi Star] back, and ended up with eight years. I was out after 18 months. Several years and countless advancements in security technology later, Blanchard remains confident in his bank-robbing skills. Its tempting, but my feeling is the police know my MO, so if I were to do anything, I would have to change it up, he says. I still have five or six different MOs I could easily do to off throw the banks. But I live this comfortable life now, and dont need to worry about committing crimes. Though Blanchard insists his heisting days are behind him, his propensity for thrill-seeking, like other types of addictions, lingers. You can never say never, he says. Its a spur of the moment decision, [and] things are always there. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Lil Nas X was reportedly among four Americans stopped by Norwegian police after they rode through an Oslo tunnel on electric scooters. Authorities briefly closed the Festning (Fortress) Tunnel but none of the scooter riders were detained or charged. The tourists had followed a GPS route into the 1.1 mile tunnel late on Monday evening (July 11), police said. The four used large parts of the roadway so a road traffic centre had to shut down some lanes, police added. More from Billboard They apologized. We have escorted them out, the police department said on Twitter of the incident in which the four appeared to get lost in the tunnel. At press time a spokesperson for Lil Nas could not be reached for comment on the alleged incident. Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet reported that Lil Nas X, 24, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, was one of the four tourists. The paper posted what it said was an image from Lil Nas Instagram Story in which the MC posed with two Norwegian cops in front of their car, with the rapper kneeling on the ground between the smiling officers. Lil Nas story also reportedly featured a snap of the Industry Baby star standing inside the tunnel with the caption, on the way to being imprisoned in Norway. Police did not confirm that Lil Nas was among those stopped they only reported that they stopped four Americans for getting lost in the tunnel but the posts from Nas appeared to confirm the report. The musician is in Oslo to perform at the outdoor Slottsffell festival on Wednesday (July 11). It is not the first time that a foreign tourist rode through part of a vast and busy tunnel system in the centre of the Norwegian capital on an electric scooter. In 2019, a man who said he followed a route given by Google Maps entered the nearly 10-mile long Opera Tunnel complex. He was not charged or detained. Story continues Best of Billboard Click here to read the full article. El Chullo Peruvian Restaurant & Bar, known for making exquisite ceviche, has opened its long-awaited second location in the Melrose district in Phoenix. El Chullo first debuted in Phoenix in 2014 and has since become a Valley favorite. The second location has been a long time in the making. The Arizona Republic first reported on the expansion in 2018 after the building's previous tenant Los Compadres Fine Mexican Restaurant closed. What's on the menu at El Chullo Restaurant? In addition to the ceviche, other menu highlights include tallarines con crema de mariscos, a creamy Peruvian seafood pasta made with spaghetti and topped with chopped cilantro; saltados stir-fried beef tenderloin, chicken or veggies; and Peruvian-Chinese fusion fried rice dishes. The new location will also serve some new items such as tallarines a la huancaina steak pasta; a "Poseidon platter" featuring nikkei, chalaquita, mozzarella and aji amarillo scallops; and the "Piqueo on 7th Avenue" combo, which includes anticuchos grilled skewers, papa rellena and papa a la huancaina. Details: 4414 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. elchullorestaurant.com. Brunch, tacos and Italian paninis: 32 new restaurants and bars are open in metro Phoenix Reach the reporter at endia.fontanez@gannett.com. Follow @EndiaFontanez on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Peruvian restaurant opens long-awaited second location NEW DELHI, July 11 (Xinhua) -- India's cash-strapped private airline Go First has once again extended its flight cancellations, aviation officials said on Tuesday. As per the latest announcement Go First said all its flights will remain suspended until July 14. The crisis-hit airline is struggling to resume its operations, a move which so far has not materialized. "We regret to inform that due to operational reasons, Go First flights scheduled till July 14, 2023, have been canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the flight cancellations," the airline said in a statement. "We acknowledge the flight cancellations might have disrupted your travel plans and we are committed to providing all the assistance we can." The fleet of the cash-strapped carrier was grounded on May 3 when it suddenly canceled scheduled flights for three days. Since then the airline has been extending the flight cancellations. Go First had already filed an application for immediate resolution and revival of operations. The private airline owned by the Wadia Group has filed for voluntary insolvency proceedings with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), blaming U.S. engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney (P&W) for its financial troubles. On Monday, Go First initiated the Expression of Interest (EoI) process to seek potential bidders as part of its ongoing insolvency proceedings. The airline's resolution professional, Shailendra Ajmera, has set the deadline for bid submissions as Aug. 9. The advertisement said that the airline has 4,200 employees and the total revenue from operations of Go First in the 2021-2022 financial year was over 507 million U.S. dollars. Microsofts $69 billion bid to become a video game behemoth by buying Activision Blizzard is one step closer to being completed, with a federal judge refusing to block the deal. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley on Tuesday denied the Federal Trade Commissions bid for a preliminary injunction, finding Microsofts ownership of Activision wont suppress competition in the video game library subscription and cloud gaming markets. She stressed that evidence pointed to more access by consumers to popular Activision titles. More from The Hollywood Reporter This Courts responsibility in this case is narrow. It is to decide if, notwithstanding these current circumstances, the merger should be haltedperhaps even terminatedpending resolution of the FTC administrative action, Corley wrote. For the reasons explained, the Court finds the FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content. The courts temporary restraining order, which was issued before a weeklong hearing to decide whether the merger should be temporarily blocked, will expire on July 14 unless the FTC wins a stay pending an appeal from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The agency could continue to pursue a case before its in-house judge in a trial set to start Aug. 2. If not, Microsoft can close the deal by July 18. In a statement, a FTC spokesperson stressed the clear threat this merger poses to open competition in cloud gaming, subscription services, and consoles. Microsoft president Brad Smith in a statement said, Were grateful to the Court in San Francisco for this quick and thorough decision and hope other jurisdictions will continue working towards a timely resolution. Story continues The FTCs suit alleged violations of Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which bars mergers and acquisitions that could potentially lessen competition or create a monopoly, and Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair methods of competition. The decision was issued after a five day mini trial in federal court in San Francisco. The agency in December sued to block the merger, arguing that it will enable the tech giant to suppress competition in gaming. The deal, if it goes through, will marry Microsoft, which owns the Xbox console and a game streaming service, with Activision, maker of Call of Duty, Diablo and Candy Crush, as the company maps out an aggressive expansion of its gaming arm. In the ruling, Corley stressed that the FTCs suit paid off. Microsoft has committed in writing, in public, and in court to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for 10 years on parity with Xbox, Corley wrote. It made an agreement with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty to Switch. And it entered several agreements to for the first time bring Activisions content to several cloud gaming services. The suit represented another aggressive step taken by antitrust enforcers to rein in consolidation of the tech industry. Arguing for an injunction, the agency said that it should have the authority to review deals to assess whether they violate antitrust laws before theyre allowed to go through. This case is not about whether the deal should go forward, said the FTCs lead lawyer James Weingarten in opening statements. This case is about whether the FTC should have its chance to evaluate the antitrust merits before the deal closes. Microsofts defense revolved around arguments that competition would increase in the industry if the merger is greenlit because itd be able to challenge Sonys dominance. For almost 20 years, Sony has been leader in the console market, said Microsofts lead attorney Beth Wilkinson on June 22. Sony has big margins and [Microsoft] is looking for an opportunity to move people away from consoles and provide more games on more devices to more people. The FTC maintained that the deal will harm gamers by giving Microsoft outsized power to, for example, make Activision content exclusive to Xbox or degrade the quality of its games on competing consoles. It pointed to the companys purchase in 2020 of ZeniMax, parent company of Bethesda Softworks and maker of The Elder Scrolls, Fallout and Starfield, for $7.5 billion. After the acquisition, Microsoft made one of ZeniMaxs most popular titles, Starfield, exclusive to Xbox and Windows despite assuring to European competition regulators that it wouldnt limit games on rival consoles. Microsoft reached a labor neutrality agreement last year with the Communication Workers of America to secure its approval of the deal. The Department of Justice has been assessing mergers impact on labor as part of its antitrust review process. As it relates to the impact on workers, the actions Microsoft have taken will not only prevent harm, they represent a true shift in the power workers will have in the video game industry, a CWA spokesperson said in a statement. Activision didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. Significant updates have taken place in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict over the last few weeks that could have major repercussions in the region, according to experts. Retired Gen. Robert Abrams, an ABC News contributor who served as the commander of United States Forces-Korea, spoke with ABC News Live Monday evening to discuss the fallout of the failed rebellion by the Wagner Group, the ongoing Ukraine counteroffensive and the NATO summit in Lithuania. ABC NEWS: Let's start with that claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the Wagner militia forces, Yevgeny Prigozhin, met just days after Prigozhin forces seized a key Russian city. What could this meeting signal? RETIRED GEN. ROBERT ABRAMS: Well, first, I'd be surprised if we actually see proof of life that Putin met with Prigozhin, and I think it's highly staged. And my personal assessment is that I doubt we'll see Prigozhin ever again publicly. I think he'll either be put in hiding or sent to prison or dealt with some other way, but I doubt we'll ever see him again. ABC NEWS LIVE: Do you think he's alive? ABRAMS: I personally don't think he is, and if he is, he's in a prison somewhere. PHOTO: Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin speaks inside the headquarters of the Russian southern army military command centre in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, in this still image taken from a video released June 24, 2023. (Press Service of ABC NEWS LIVE: The UK's Ministry of Defense says that Russia is losing an average of 400 soldiers a day, saying that half of those casualties could have been prevented with proper first aid. Stats like that, what do they tell you about how this war is going so far for Russia? ABRAMS: Well, that's a startling statistic, and to have a 50% [rate of] what we call died of wounds of rate. Someone is injured on the battlefield and they expire before they can reach appropriate medical care, and they die of their wounds. A 50% died of wounds rate is astounding. And it's a huge crush on the morale of fighting men and women everywhere. And that's why in our own military, many people have heard of it. We call it the golden hour rule, which is why we go to such great lengths to ensure that after point of injury, that point of injury after immediate first aid is applied, we get our soldiers to an initial aid station where advanced life-saving care can happen within an hour. And with that, we have a 98% survival rate. Story continues So I'd have to say that this has got to be severely demoralizing to the Russian forces. MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates ABC NEWS LIVE: And we just passed 500 days of war in Ukraine. Right now, Ukrainian troops are in the early stages of a counteroffensive. Give us a sense of how you think that counteroffensive is going and what success would look like for Ukraine at this point. ABRAMS: Well, I think it's by President Zelensky's own account, it's not going as fast or as well as everyone had hoped. But we have to understand a few things. The Russians have been preparing these defenses and they understand this terrain. But for over a year, this is a well-entrenched enemy with countless minefields, obstacles, ditches, [and] tank obstacles with well-sighted artillery targets on top of them. And in the end, a pretty hardened enemy. So it's going to be difficult. It's going to be, as I've said and I've described before, a slugfest. But clearly, the momentum is with the Ukrainian armed forces. PHOTO: Ukrainian soldiers fire toward Russian position on the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, June 24, 2023. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP, FILE) ABC NEWS LIVE: One of the factors that started this war was the potential of Ukraine joining NATO. NATO is meeting this week with Finland joining in April. Sweden is on the path to joining. But President Biden says that Ukraine isn't ready to become a NATO member yet. So in your view, what does Ukraine still need to do in order to get support in order to join the alliance? PHOTO:President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky takes part in a ceremony conducted by Patriarch Bartholomew I, during a visit to the Patriarchal Church of St. George, July 8, 2023, in Istanbul. (DPA Images via Getty Images) ABRAMS: Well, I think it's a bit unclear, what exactly is going to be required for Ukraine to join NATO. I think there are a couple of significant happenings that have occurred in the last week. The first one is, is that what I've been informed is that the Ukrainians will no longer have to follow the [Membership Action Plan] process; that's been set aside for their application into NATO. Many people forget that Ukraine was offered membership in NATO in 2008, but with no clear pathway. So they started the [Membership Action Plan] process in 2008. It was suspended in 2010 because Ukraine voted in a pro-Russian friendly president. So he laterally suspended their application process. MORE: Blinken talks high-stakes NATO summit and path to membership for Sweden, Ukraine I think the other significant thing that's demonstrating that we're on a clear pathway is the announcement today that Turkey is going to support Sweden's access to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. That is significant because now the heads of states that were there in Vilnius for the summit can focus on establishing a clear pathway. Retired US general questions alleged Putin, Prigozhin meeting originally appeared on abcnews.go.com "You Ripped Our Hearts Out": North Carolina Couple Charged in Connection with Teen's Murder After Online Date A North Carolina couple has been jailed on charges connected with the killing of a South Carolina 18-year-old who vanished after an online date late last month. Joshua Netwon, 25, was charged with first-degree murder and obstruction of justice in the disappearance and death of Kierstyn Williamson, the Union County Sheriffs Office announced on July 5. His girlfriend, Victoria Smith, 22, is charged with obstruction of justice, and accessory after the fact, in the teenagers murder. Some family friends told local media that Williamson was in the process of transitioning to become a male, and went by the name Jacob. RELATED: Man Who Texted Ex-Girlfriend "I'm Looking Dead at You" Hours Before Executing Her Gets Life Sentence Williamson was reported missing on June 30 and was last seen alive by family and friends, investigators said. On July 4, authorities found Williamsons body on Mangum School Road in Pageland, South Carolina. The remains were later positively identified. Detectives allege that Newton drove to a restaurant Williamson worked at in Laurens, South Carolina, and picked the 18-year-old up after the pair had met online, Charlotte television station WSOC reported. They said he later drove Williamson across state lines, more than 100 miles away, to his house Monroe, North Carolina. Williamsons body was ultimately located a few miles from Newtons home, according to the outlet. Mugshots of Victoria Smith and Joshua Newton Victoria Smith and Joshua Newton Photo: Union County Sheriff's Office/Facebook According to investigators, Newton killed Williamson, and Smith, his girlfriend, allegedly assisted him in hiding the corpse. I think they had planned on meeting up and spend some time together on a date and thats where [Williamson] met him. That was the plan, Union County Lt. James Maye said. And unfortunately, ended in the loss of [Williamsons] life. Law enforcement hasnt disclosed how Williamson may have died or a possible motive in the open case. Story continues A photo of Kouri Richins at KPCW Housekeeper of Grief Book Author Accused of Fatally Poisoning Husband Says She Sold Her Fentanyl My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the victim in this case as they begin to mourn this unimaginable loss, Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey said. Over the past several days, the men and women of the Union County Sheriffs Office have fully dedicated themselves to this case and ensuring the people responsible for this tragic loss were brought to justice. Williamsons murder has stunned loved ones. You dont just go out of town one day and decide one day, Im going to go out of town pick somebody up and kill them, Williamson's uncle, Chad Bible said, according to WSOC. That doesnt just pop into your head. Why? What did it do? What did you prove? Youre throwing your life away, and you ripped our hearts out," Bible added. RELATED: Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty Against Man Accused of Kidnapping, Killing Memphis Kindergarten Teacher This world was so cruel to Jacob his entire life, Williamsons friend, Promise Edwards told WBTV. I find peace in knowing that in the last month and a half, he found peace. The case remains open and active. No other information was released by authorities. Anyone with additional information related to Williamsons alleged murder is urged to contact the Union County Sheriffs Office by calling 704-283-3789 or Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600. Robert Downey Jr. admitted in a recent interview with The New York Times Magazine that he was concerned his acting chops might be at risk while playing Iron Man/Tony Stark for 11 years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor debuted as the superhero in 2008s Iron Man and was killed off in 2019s Avengers: Endgame, appearing in a total of nine Marvel movies. You start to wonder if a muscle you have hasnt atrophied, Downey Jr. said about the risks of playing the same character for over a decade. More from Variety When asked if he had any concerns about what effect playing Iron Man for 11 years might have on his acting, Downey Jr. replied: Yes. 100%, and I knew there was a point where Christopher Nolan was endorsing, lets work those other muscles, but lets do it while rendering you devoid of your usual go-to things. Downey Jr. is starring as Lewis Strauss in Nolans atomic bomb epic Oppenehimer. Strauss served two terms on the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. He was the organizations chairman during his second term. The film gave Downey Jr. a chance to flex acting muscles he couldnt in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Nolan didnt want the actor relying on his usual go-to things, which Downey Jr. described as fast-talking, charming, unpredictable, blah, blah, blah. Working with Nolan also brought Downey Jr. back to a far more practical mode of filmmaking. Unlike the green screens and VFX-heavy work of Marvel, Nolan shot Oppenheimer with practical effects and even reconstructed the Manhattan Project village so that he wouldnt be shooting the film on a studio lot. It was a welcome return for Downey Jr. Story continues Coming from that other place, entering the box-office-weekend-dominating place, then going into this spot now where Im happy that Im in this quality product Im happy that I regained my connection with a more purist approach to making movies, the actor told The New York Times Magazine. Hes one of our great actors, and though a generation of kids know what a great movie star he is, theyve not seen his subtlety and brilliance, Nolan recently told the Los Angeles Times about casting Downey Jr. I wanted to get him to do something completely different, to lose himself in another human being. When was the last time weve seen that? Chaplin? Directors are very aware of how talented Downey is, but because of his incredible energy that can punch through the screen, finding the right thing for him is difficult. Downey Jr. nearly lost out on the Iron Man role as his casting worried the Marvel board of directors. The actor was still on the outs of Hollywood during the casting process for Iron Man, having been arrested in April 1996 for possession of heroin, cocaine and an unloaded gun. Marvel was deciding between him or Timothy Olyphant to cast as Iron Man. My board thought I was crazy to put the future of the company in the hands of an addict, former Marvel Studios president David Maisel told The New Yorker earlier this year. I helped them understand how great he was for the role. We all had confidence that he was clean and would stay clean. Oppenheimer opens in theaters nationwide July 21 from Universal Pictures. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill is at 1500 Stickney Point Road in Sarasota. A Sarasota restaurant owner has pleaded guilty to failing to provide information to the Internal Revenue Service, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. Karl Knocker, of The Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill, pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to provide information to the IRS as required by law relating to his income tax liability, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced in a news release Monday. Knocker faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to Florida public records, Knocker is the manager and registered agent of 3900 Trios LLC, which has food service and retail beverage licenses under the DBA (doing business as) name of Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill. The seafood restaurant is at 1500 Stickney Point Road at the base of the Stickney Point Bridge, overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and south Siesta Key. More restaurant news: Two Sarasota area restaurants named among Top 100 in U.S. for outdoor dining by OpenTable Best waterfront restaurants with outdoor seating in Sarasota and what to eat, drink there Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday "Karl Knocker has resolved his tax issues from four years ago with three misdemeanors," read a statement provided to the Herald-Tribune by Simon Gaugush, an attorney representing Knocker. "These misdemeanors will have no impact on the continuing operation of the Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill, which has been a standard of the Sarasota food scene since 2010. Its noteworthy that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boatyard stayed open, employing dozens of local workers without taking one dollar of government assistance. Karl looks forward to resolving this matter with the government and operating the Boatyard for years to come." Beginning at least as early as August 2013, Knocker and his partner and restaurant co-owner Madeline Nikolson removed the records of daily cash sales from restaurant registers, leaving the record to consist only of credit card sales, the release said. Story continues The two restaurant owners provided this record to tax preparers, who prepared both their personal income tax returns and corporate tax returns for tax years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Consequently, they removed any reference to approximately $726,105 in sales income from their corporate and personal tax returns for those tax years, resulting in more than $100,000 of taxes due and owing on those sums of unreported income, the release said. Nikolson pleaded guilty earlier this year for her role in the case. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 1, 2023, the release said. Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota waterfront restaurant owner pleads guilty to tax charges 15 Minute Live Performances: Sam Himself Swiss instrumental outfit Leclair has built its fanbase exponentially since its maiden North American tour last summer, and ahead of a new round of live shows in the region beginning Friday (July 14) in Brooklyn, N.Y., the group has signed a new worldwide label deal with the Los Angeles-based Innovative Leisure. Best known as the home of genre-bending jazz group BADBADNOTGOOD, Innovative Leisure previously worked with Leclair on the 2021 album Souvenir, on which the quintet backed French composer/producer Frank Maston. Group member Stef Lilov tells SPIN Leclair is hoping to record its debut for the label in Los Angeles in the fall and release it next spring or early summer. It will be the follow-up to 2021s Confusions, which made inroads in the U.S. in part thanks to a well-received pandemic-era live session for Seattle radio station KEXP. More from Spin: In tandem with some musical friends and family, the group is also finalizing a deal with a major international distribution partner for its own imprint, Stone Pixels, which Lilov says will showcase talents from Geneva and around the world beyond Leclair. In the meantime, Geneva-based label Bongo Joe will continue to distribute Confusions as well as earlier albums such as Leclairs 2017 debut, Cruise Control. And although Leclairs groove-dominant, high-energy, and vocal-free sound owes its fair share to classic funk, disco, psychedelic rock, and fusion, Lilov says the groups newest material is clearly escaping from the 70s more and more. Weve been really motivated to include some surprises on the next record something we havent shown yet in our music that weve only felt comfortable doing when we collaborate with other people. Its really exciting to write and still keep the roots of what Leclair has been since the beginning. Were trying to make the end product easier to listen to, but were not giving away the sound and all the things people like about our music. Story continues To that end, Leclair will continue to polish unreleased songs on the upcoming tour, which runs through July 29 in St. Paul, Mn. Its the best thing to try out your songs that are a bit more uptempo before going into the studio, because you may end up with a new unexpected jam, Lilov says. adding that one new untitled track reminds him of Tom Cruise in Jamaica, Chemical Brothers, and Beastie Boys. Weve been really overwhelmed by people in the U.S. who genuinely were touched by our music. Weve had every age audience possible. Even some parents came because their kids listen to us but were too young to get into the show themselves. Maybe its just because we came all the way from Switzerland, but theres this real love for bands in the States, he continues. On the tour last year, we actually felt like we had fans, which is still weird for us to interpret. Even on some nights, like when there were only about 40 people at our show in Denver, everybody was dancing, and it really helps spread the word. Were all just friends from college making psychedelic music. What we do has so many roots in the U.S., so it was pretty insane to see people here get the groove. Following the North American run, Leclair will play a host of shows in the U.K. and Switzerland in September before returning across the Atlantic for a Sept. 28 appearance at the fifth annual Same Same But Different festival in Lake Perris, Ca. Here are Leclairs North American tour dates: July 14: Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Made) July 15: Philadelphia (Silk City Diner) July 16: Baltimore, Md. (Metro Gallery) July 18: Troy, N.Y. (No Fun) July 19: Brattleboro, Vt. (Stone Church) July 20: Burlington, Vt. (Monkey House) July 21: Montreal (LEscogriffe Bar Spectacle) July 22: Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec (Le Festif!) July 24: Toronto (Monarch Tavern) July 25: Detroit (UFO Factory) July 26: Indianapolis (Square Cat Vinyl) July 27: Chicago (Empty Bottle) July 28: Milwaukee (Cactus Club) July 29: St. Paul, Minn. (Turf Club) Sept. 28: Lake Perris, Ca. (Same Same But Different Festival) To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here. The post 15 Minute Live Performances: Sam Himself appeared first on SPIN. On the first episode of her new CNN primetime show The Source, Kaitlan Collins tried hard to give Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville a chance to walk back statements he made recently that sure sounded like he was defending the racist ideology known as white nationalism. Instead, while he repeatedly said he rejects racism, he also repeatedly (and incorrectly) insisted that white nationalism is not racist, that saying otherwise is merely some peoples opinion, and that most white people in the military actually are white nationalists. OK then! Tuberville: My opinion of a white nationalist.. its an American. If that white nationalist is a racist, Im totally against them. Collins: White nationalist is racist Tuberville: Thats your opinion pic.twitter.com/hT5wTPkCO4 Acyn (@Acyn) July 11, 2023 The context here is that in May, the hard right Republican appeared on a radio show where, among other things, he elaborated on his opposition to efforts by Democrats to keep extremists out of the military, and refused to condemn white nationalists. The term refers to the political ideology that promotes the political enshrinement of segregation and white supremacy, originally coined to describe South Africas apartheid government. But after his comments were criticized, Tuberville claimed that he merely meant that in his view, the term was used to smear people with conservative beliefs. He also disavowed racism in tepid terms, and continued to defend white nationalists, who he insisted are just patriots. On The Source, Collins brought this up in relation to the other reason Tuberville is in the news these days hes been using the U.S. Senates maddening procedural roadblocks to single-handedly block all military promotions in an attempt to force the military to adopt strict anti-abortion polices. Story continues Just to be clear, you agree that white nationalists should not be serving in the US military. Is that what youre saying? Collins asked him when the topic was broached. If people think that a white nationalist is a racist. I agree with that, I agree they shouldnt, Tuberville replied. A white nationalist is someone who believes that the white race is superior to other races, Collins said. Well, thats some peoples opinion,: Tuberville insisted. Asked Collins: Whats your opinion? My opinions of a white nationalist, if somebody wants to call them white nationalist, is to me an American, Tuberville said. Now, if that white nationalist is a racist, Im totally against anything they want to do, because I am 110% against racism. But I want somebody thats in our military, thats strong belief in this country, thats an American, that will fight alongside anybody, whether with a man or woman, black or white, red. It doesnt make any difference. And so Im totally against identity politics. I think its ruining this country. And I think that Democrats ought to be ashamed for how theyre doing this, because its divided this country and its making this country weaker every day. Thats not identity politics, Collins replied. You said a So White Nationalist in American politics and white nationalist is an American- It is an American, Tuberville interjected. But a white nationalist is someone who, who believes horrific things. Do you really think thats someone who should be serving in the military? Collins countered. Well, thats just the name that its been given, Tuberville said. Its not, theres a real a definition, theres real concerns about extremism, Collins said. So if youre gonna do away with most white people in this country out of the military, we got a huge problems, Tuberville said. Its not white people, its white nationalists, Collins responded. That have a few probably different beliefs, that have different beliefs, Tuberville said. Now, if racism is one of those beliefs, Im totally against. Im totally against racism. But a white nationalist is racist, senator, Collins said. Well, thats your opinion. Thats your opinion. But if its racism, if its racism, Im totally against any type of racism, any type of racism. I dont care what it is, Tuberville added. Also Read: Rachel Maddow Scoffs at Michigan GOP Brawl: Dont Need to Kick Anybody in the Whozie-Whatsy (Video) A good Iranian son would have learnt to speak Farsi in their teens but I rebelled (Rob Greig) When I was young, I went through a phase of desperately wanting to be a mod. Yet even though I had a keen eye for the crisp sartorial nuances of this very British subculture, something ultimately wasnt quite right. While my mod era was short-lived (I went to a club and someone threw a huge hulk of crumbling wall plaster at me, missing my head by a few inches), that phase stays with me for quite profoundly sad reasons. In pictures from that time, I see things now that I didnt see back then. I was a brown-skinned, mixed-raced, wavy-haired mod. Id never realised how far from the pale-skinned, straight-haired archetype I was. I looked like a confused mess. Someone trying to be something he wasnt. Though Ive lived in London almost my entire life, I estimate about 50 per cent of people Ive ever met would casually describe me as Iranian if asked. My mum is from Iran, my dad was from Essex. The longest Ive been to Iran is a three-week holiday when I was 14. Im the product of one white parent and one non-white parent. While everyone wants to know everything about Iran when they meet me, Id say only 13 people have ever asked me about my Essex heritage, a fact that weirdly pisses me off more than the pernicious racist banter Ive experienced in my life. Have a good look at me and youll see Im what you might call racially ambiguous. That sounds like its a problem but through a slowly unfurling series of realisations that went on until my thirties Ive decided finally that its actually not my problem at all. Its only a problem for the many, many people who belligerently try to guess my background on the first meeting. Italy, Turkey, Israel, Mexico, Spain, Iraq, Greece etc etc... the names of countries always whizz by, like talking to a coked-up travel agent. In my youth I used to unleash hell when I heard the dreaded phrase no, but where are you really from?. Without wishing to seem simpering and appeasing today, Ive actually made peace with it, after realising by virtue of living in a genuinely multicultural city that the majority of people asking me were themselves from elsewhere. I honestly think that when people use that phrase in London, its mostly done with a discrete optimism that you might somehow be from the same part of the world as them. Its still racist perhaps, but then, newsflash: non-white people can be racist. Its something you perhaps only learn when you have a non-white family. A good Iranian son would have learnt to speak Farsi in their teens, but I rebelled. I knew it would suck me into the Iranian diaspora in London, whereas all I wanted was to listen to Elastica, go to Camden Town and use straighteners to betray my wavy roots and have floppy indie-boy hair. FYI, I dont regret any of this today. As I reached my twenties, I slowly felt like my Iranian side was more passive in who I was and my white English side was much more active. So in my head I thought everyone just saw me as, well, white. But does anyone really know what they look like to other people? I remember the first few occasions when I started to get the hint that people didnt see me as simply white. One was realising that everyone I dated turned out to have a type. Second was the slow trickle of lookalikes that everyone gets shown or sent, except mine were always... Bollywood actors? So in 2008, aged 28, I started brazenly asking people I met for the first time a simple, deliberately naive question: Am I white? I still do it on occasion to this day. Most people I meet, because theyre respectful and sensitive, do a hilariously exaggerated inhale of breath, like theyre impersonating a distant rocket taking off. Then they ask a billion questions because they think its a trap, but once I assure them that theres no right answer or, in fact, any answer as far as Im concerned they mostly just say what they honestly think. Whats changed my life is that, like a human Brexit, my identity has historically split people 50:50. Half say yes, half say quite vehemently: No, you absolutely are not white at all. This has shifted over time, with more people now deferring to my brown side because major events have made people in the West discuss race with more depth and understanding. Since clearly nobody can make their mind up what I am, and because all the words we use are still dryer than toast, Im just saying yes to it all I was christened Oliver, but pretty much everyone calls me Oli. I dont write under the name Oli because, well, I think it sounds too much like Wally to be taken seriously. But at least that was my choice. Like lots of people with nicknames, I never chose it I just very slowly came to accept that everyone wanted to define me a certain way. Because Im in the privileged position of not having to think of race every moment of my life, of not feeling the effects of racism in the course of my living day since being a teen (when I may or may not have been racially attacked in a mod club, Ill never be quite sure), Ive let a similar laissez-faire attitude take over the way I think about being mixed-race today. Its empowering, I promise you. Since clearly nobody can make their mind up what I am, and because all the words we use are still dryer than toast, Im just saying yes to it all. Whatever you say I am, I am. If you have issues with me feeling white, then fine I dont have the energy to correct you. So what if the only thing I know about the Iranian language is that the word for popcorn translates as elephants farts? If you want to call me Iranian, go for it. Ill never forget the day when my kids, both under eight at the time, started making unprompted comparisons of their skin tone with mine. With a bluntness and forthrightness I love them for, they told me: You and grandma have brown skin, while weve got peach skin. Were not the same, daddy. Were different to you. It mortally wounded me for about three seconds. And then I just moved on. I know deep down were the same really. Tulsa Race Massacre The last three known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre are planning to appeal a judges recent ruling with the local supreme court. On Monday (July 10), the attorney for Lessie Benningfield Randle, 108; Viola Fletcher, 109; and her brother, Hughes Van Ellis, 102, spoke on behalf of his clients in a news conference. CNN reported the trio has been in a yearslong legal battle with several officials, including the city of Tulsa. In court, the survivors argued that opportunities were stripped from them when the citys Greenwood neighborhood, known as Black Wall Street, was burned down by a white mob in 1921. Hundreds were killed on the day of that violent attack, and years of building successful Black businesses were erased. However, despite hearing Randle, Fletcher, and Ellis stories, Judge Caroline Wall dismissed their lawsuit for reparations on Friday (July 7). We were forced to plead this case beyond what is required under Oklahoma standards, which is certainly a familiar circumstance when Black Americans ask the American legal system to work for them. And now, Judge Wall has condemned us to languish on Oklahomas appellate docket, a statement read by attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons said. Like so many Black Americans, we carry the weight of intergenerational racial trauma day in and day out. The dismissal of this case is just one more example of how Americas and specifically Tulsas legacy of racial harm, racial distress is disproportionally and unjustly borne by Black communities. During an interview with the outlet, Solomon-Simmons revealed he learned of the Walls decision on Friday night and was surprised. CNN noted that part of the shocking reaction to the ruling was because the judge who dismissed the lawsuit decided last year that the suit could move forward. Theyve waited 102 years trying to get justice and reparations for themselves, their families, and our community here in Tulsa. And for me to get the phone call I could not believe it. We were completely blown away, the attorney added. We will be moving forward with an appeal on this case to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Trending Stories Turkey has agreed to support Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance after a year of opposition, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday. He called the moment a "historic step." Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to send the accession protocol to the Turkish parliament for approval as soon as possible, Stoltenberg said, noting that Erdogan would "ensure ratification." Sweden will become a full member of the alliance, Stoltenberg said. Glad to announce that after the meeting I hosted with @RTErdogan & @SwedishPM, President Erdogan has agreed to forward #Sweden's accession protocol to the Grand National Assembly ASAP & ensure ratification. This is an historic step which makes all #NATO Allies stronger & safer. pic.twitter.com/D7OeR5Vgba Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) July 10, 2023 Stoltenberg held talks between Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson the evening before the NATO summit was scheduled to begin in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Tuesday. Erdogan and President Joe Biden discussed Swedens membership bid over the phone Monday. They decided to meet in person in Vilnius on Tuesday, said Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser. Most NATO members have supported Sweden's efforts to join in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Turkey, however, had maintained its opposition, which had stymied hopes for more than a year. Sweden originally applied with Finland in May 2022 after years of appearing neutral in the growing tension between Russia and the West. Finland finally joined the alliance in April, adding an 830-mile land border between NATO territory and Russia. Story continues Turkey had maintained its objections to Swedens bid because there is a prevailing view in Ankara that Sweden supports Kurdish groups that Turkish leadership considers to be terrorists. The Kurds, a Muslim minority group, make up about a fifth of Turkeys population, and they have had a volatile and, at times, violent relationship with the government. Image: NATO Holds 2023 Summit In Vilnius (Filip Singer / WPA Pool / Getty Images) Sweden is one of several European countries that have welcomed the Kurdish diaspora, and Stockholm has been host to several protests in support of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK which Sweden and Turkey officially consider a terrorist group. Stoltenberg said he worked with Kristersson and Erdogan "to address Turkey's legitimate security concerns." "Sweden has amended its constitution, changed its laws significantly, expanded its counterterrorism cooperation against the PKK and resumed arms exports to Turkey," Stoltenberg said. "Sweden's cooperation with Turkey in the fight against terrorism will continue beyond accession to NATO, and Sweden agreed today to establish a new bilateral security compact." As part of the agreement, NATO will also increase its efforts in those areas, Stoltenberg said, and he will create the post of special coordinator for counterterrorism. Boasting the second-largest military in the alliance, of which it has been a member since 1952, Turkey has held out against pressure to allow Sweden's ascension with the support of Hungary. It is believed, however, that Hungary will follow Turkey's lead, allowing Sweden to become a full member of NATO. Though it does not share a land border with Russia, Sweden will further impinge on Russia's power if its membership is approved, analysts say. Stockholm's naval and air power on the Baltic Sea, along with the eight NATO countries that border the sea, are likely to temper the Kremlin's power in the region and its ability to threaten NATO members. "Integrated control of the entire area will make defense of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania easier, since Swedish territory and airspace in particular are important for such efforts. This will strengthen deterrence and make a conflict there less likely," Carl Bildt, a former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden, wrote in Foreign Affairs last year. "But perhaps the most important consequence of Finnish and Swedish accession to NATO," he said, "would be to increase the alliances political strength as the pillar of the defense of Europe and the transatlantic area." CORRECTION (July 10, 2023, 7:30 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the name of the Kurdish party the Turkish government considers a terrorist group. It is the Kurdistan Workers Party, not the Kurdish Workers Party. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com JAKARTA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers from 10 ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste, and ASEAN partner countries discussed challenges faced by the bloc and its cooperation with other countries at the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Post Ministerial Conference (AMM-PMC) which kicked off here Tuesday. Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi in the opening remarks called on the leaders of the bloc to together show the world that ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) can navigate the regional and global dynamics and continue to create the paradigm of collaboration. Marsudi said ASEAN needs to show its credibility, by consistently implementing ASEAN Charter on decision-making processes, particularly in emergency situations, being in the driver's seat in navigating regional dynamics. "This is why we need to expand our inclusive engagement with other regions, and take bold steps to deter any potential conflicts and aggressively fight for peace through preventive diplomacy," Marsudi said. The AMM-PMC, held from July 11 to July 14, comprised a series of meetings, including ASEAN ministerial meetings with various countries and the European Union respectively. Besides, the 24th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the 13th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum are also listed on the agenda. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. US prosecutors unsealed an indictment Monday charging the co-director of a think tank with illicit arms trafficking, violating US sanctions laws, and other charges, five months after he was arrested in Cyprus and fled from authorities. The US-Israeli citizen, Gal Luft, co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, is also someone House Oversight Chairman James Comer, a top Republican, has described as an informant claiming to have incriminating information on Hunter Biden. Luft has tweeted denials of the allegations, saying in February, Ive been arrested in Cyprus on a politically motivated extradition request by the US. The US, claiming Im an arms dealer. It would be funny if it werent tragic. Ive never been an arms dealer. DOJ is trying to bury me to protect Joe, Jim & Hunter Biden. Robert Henoch, an attorney for Luft, called the indictment a vicious attempt to silence a witness to corruption. The attorney said there was no arms trading whatsoever and that Luft didnt act as an agent for a foreign entity or lie to federal agents, as alleged. The Institute for the Analysis of Global Security also defended Luft in a statement, saying he is an expert on energy security, economics and geopolitics. Luft is a fugitive, prosecutors say. He was charged with failing to register as an agent for China in the US, including acting through a former high-ranking US official who was then advising then-President-elect Donald Trump in 2016. He was also charged with acting as a middleman to aid Chinese companies buying weapons. The indictment also alleges Luft violated US sanctions by attempting to broker sales of Iranian oil. House Republicans are investigating the Biden familys financial dealings and have requested information from the Justice Department about its investigation into Hunter Biden, who has agreed to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors. At least one Republican, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, has claimed that Luft is an important witness in that investigation. Story continues Henoch said Luft met with two prosecutors and four FBI agents in Brussels to share allegations about Biden family financial dealings with the Chinese government. He told the DOJ prosecutors things which they did not want to hear, so they charged him with lying, Henoch said. Despite the charges, Comer told CNN Tuesday that he still wanted to speak with Luft because of his time at CEFC, the Chinese-backed energy company where Hunter Biden also formed a joint venture with executives of the now-bankrupt Chinese energy conglomerate. The Justice Department has scrutinized Hunter Bidens efforts, after his father Joe Biden left the vice presidency in 2017, to secure a deal with the company to invest in US energy projects, according to documents released by Republicans from two Senate committees. Luft may be a bad dude. But, heres why I want to talk to him. He worked for CEFC just like Hunter Biden and the federal government charge Luft with being an unregistered foreign agent, but they didnt charge Hunter Biden with anything, Comer told CNN. I want to know what exactly CEFC was and if he ever crossed paths with the president, the presidents son and what they did, Comer added. While his father was vice president, Hunter Biden allegedly made millions of dollars from business opportunities in Ukraine, China, Romania and elsewhere, according to House Republicans investigating the Biden family. But theres no evidence Joe Biden abused his office to enrich his family. Biden last month emphatically denied that he was involved or present when his son Hunter Biden is alleged to have texted a Chinese business partner in 2017, claiming that he was sitting with his father. Asked whether he was involved in the business dealings or was sitting with Hunter when the message was sent, Biden previously told reporters, No. I wasnt. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Annie Grayer and Alayna Treene contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A Rhode Island pizzeria has made the prestigious ranking of the 50 Best in the United States. Pasquales Pizzeria Napoletana in Wakefield was No. 12 on the list that was released last week by 50 Top Pizza USA. Last year, owner and pizzaiolo (pizza maker) Pasquale Illiano was No. 33 and he rose substantially higher on the rankings this year. By virtue of being in the top 15, his restaurant at South County Commons will now be added to 50 Top Pizzas ranking of the 100 best pizzerias in the world. Illiano is invited to be in Naples, Italy, on Sept. 13 for the unveiling of that international list. He wouldn't miss it. "Ive been doing this all my life and every day its a good day to get better and present an outstanding product to our customers," he said. "Delivering a true Neapolitan experience is what I live for." Chef Pasquale Illiano has earned a golden ticket to Naples now that his Pasquale's Pizza Napoletana ranked No. 12 on 50 Top Pizza's U.S. ranking. Illiano opened his pizzeria in 2015. The accomplished pizzaiolo not only has VPN certification from Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, which is not easy to get, but he is also on the board of the association. Here's how Pasquales Pizzeria's chef made it to the United States Like so many of Rhode Island's wonderful chefs and restaurateurs, Illiano, 50, came to America as an immigrant. It's hard not to notice that as the U.S. just celebrated its 247th birthday. He was born in Naples where he learned to cook on a little barbecue at his home. He got his first restaurant job at 15. He came to the United States in 1995 to visit friends on Long Island. He said he was in the right place at the right time when he was hired as a cook in Virginia and was sponsored by the restaurant owner for U.S. citizenship. His next stop was a restaurant in Connecticut, which led to Pasquale opening his first market in Westerly. He left that partnership to open his Wakefield pizzeria. "I feel very emotional being inducted among USA and world best pizzerias," Illiano said. "I want to dedicate it to all the great pizzerias and fellow pizzamen from Rhode Island with the hope that this is not only my achievement, but every other pizzeria in the state. Story continues "Little Rhody deserves to be on top of the table when it comes to pizza. We do know pizza in this state more than anyone recognizes," he added. A perfect pizza from Pasquale's. The Italian organization 50 Top Pizza describes itself as "the most influential guide in the world of pizza." They have more than 1,000 anonymous inspectors worldwide helping with the rankings. They launched the first list in 2018. They consider such criteria as the quality of pizza dough and topping ingredients as well as customer service, and the wine and beer lists. New York and San Francisco pizzerias dominate the list but not as much as they did a few years ago. Illiano respects 50 Top Pizza which he described as an organization of culinary journalists and inspectors from Italy and around the world. What 50 Top Pizza had to say about the Wakefield restaurant Here's what they wrote about his restaurant: "Pasquales pizza is authentically Neapolitan. It is light because it is well-leavened and masterfully baked in a wood-fired oven that was built professionally by a Neapolitan master craftsman. Among the pizzas, we recommend you try the New York style; like the very special Grandma, it is very tasty." Find the pizza menu, with photos, on their website at pasqualespizzeriari.com. Leading the 2023 list, for the second year in a row is New York City's Una Pizza Napoletana and chef Anthony Mangieri. New York led the rankings with 10 restaurants of the 50. Ranking No. 2 is Razza Pizza Artigianale in Jersey City, New Jersey. Owner Dan Richer also scored the Pizza Maker of the Year 2023 Ferrarelle Award. No. 3 is Kens Artisan Pizza in Portland, Oregon, which also received the only Green Oven award in the guide that recognizes environmental sustainability. No. 4 is Tonys Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco, which also won the Performance of the Year 2023 Robo Award as the only business with two pizzerias among the 50. Their Pizza Rock in Las Vegas, was at No. 18. No. 5 is Chris Bianco and his Pizzeria Bianco, in Phoenix, Arizona. RI dining: Explaining the Rhode Island pizza strip: What is it and why does it exist? Only two other New England restaurants made the list. Zeneli in New Haven is at No. 37 while Posto in Somerville, Massachusetts is at No. 47. Illiano opened a second business, Neapolis, a food emporium, across from his pizzeria in 2020. There you can buy his pizza dough, sauce and grated cheese to make a pizza at home. You can also get slices of his Roman pizza, buy prepared dinners, fresh bread, gelato, desserts and more. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Pasquale's Pizzeria in South Kingstown named top pizza place in US Westminster residents Britney and Jonathan Cashman's love for specialty coffee has led them to become the new owners of Identity Coffee Lab. and they plan to expand the brand all over New England. In October 2022 the couple officially bought the New Hampshire-based coffee shop. They were both customers and big fans of Identity Coffee before they made the decision to purchase the local business. Britney Cashman said both she and her husband both felt a calling from God to purchase the shop. "New England is still home to use and we both have a real heart for building community which was one of the major components that drew us to wanting to be owners of the coffee shop," she said. "I think that coffee is one of those things that just gets people together." Right after the Cashmans became the new Identity Coffee owners, they immediately opened a second seasonal location at the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Westminster. Cashman said they opened it during the last ski season between November to April, and they hope to continue the partnership because they saw a great response from the community. In October 2022, Jonathan and Britney Cashman became the new owners of Identity Coffee Lab and they have big plans to expand the brand all over New England. "Being able to carry the same quality of what we're doing into a second location was one of our initial focuses," she said. "We've been working really hard on expanding the brand and we're really excited to continue growing Identity and making it available into other communities within New England." Now the couple lives in Westminster with their two children and focusing on improving the Identity Coffee Lab brand. Cashman said they are not changing the brand but building from what the original owners established. Who are Britney and Jonathan Cashman? They are a Christian music band Before becoming the new owners of Identity Coffee Lab, the wife and husband duo made up the Christian music band The Cashmans. The couple have been in the music industry for almost a decade, and continue to write, perform and produce music, and have a live-worship project scheduled for release this year. Story continues Britney Cashman said when they were on tour in New England they became customers at the original Identity Coffee location at Rindge, NH. She said they have spent large amounts of time in the New England area because they have family and friends still living here and that's why they decided to move back from Nashville. Britney Cashman said they have been married for almost 17 years and that they have always been a good team. She said they are the kind of couple to dive into things. Jonathan Cashman is a big coffee nerd, Britney Cashman said, and he spearheaded the management side of the coffee business while she takes over the designing part of it. Her background is in interior design. "I love coffee don't get me wrong but he's far more the coffee nerd. He makes sure we stay up to our standard of excellence," she said. "It's been really fun to dive into the work as we continue to grow as a company, and I have fun with designing the locations and helping to create the spaces." All of the improvements the Cashmans have made are experimental and will leave them if they see positive results from the community. How Identity Coffee Lab is expanding services and hours This summer they expanded the operational hours of the New Hampshire location to 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. which was a major request from the New Hampshire store customers. Cashman said they are still figuring out if they should expand the fall season hours as well. As part of their improvements to the Identity Coffee Lab brand, the wife and husband duo wanted to give back by partnering with The Well Coffee House organization. The Well organization partners with local coffee shops in the United States to help local and global communities gain access to clean water and fight the slave trade that happens within the coffee industry. She said they wanted to do more for the global and local community besides using ethical and fair-trade ingredients in their products. Cashman said a portion of all purchase at Identity Coffee Lab goes to The Well organization. "There is a slave trade issue in the coffee industry, so we support fair trade initiatives which is very important to use," she said. "The Wells coffee is actually doing something to combat that issue by directly helping the needs of people in those parts of the world who are less fortunate." Other improvements coming soon include additional menu items and announcements of new locations. Cashman said they are not ready to officially announce anything, but they will be ready soon. "My husband and I really prayed about this, and we felt like the Lord was directing us in this way," she said. "We absolutely love what we're doing and the reception within the communities and the team we have built have all been really great." This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Identity Coffee Lab's owners are a Westminster pair building community U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that NATO is "stronger," "bigger" and "more united than it's ever been" with Sweden now close to becoming the alliance's 32nd member following the addition of Finland. "That sends a very strong message to Vladimir Putin that he's not going to outlast Ukraine, he's not going to outlast NATO," Blinken told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in an interview on "Good Morning America." Blinken, along with U.S. President Joe Biden, is in Lithuania's capital for a two-day NATO summit that kicked off Tuesday. On the eve of the summit in Vilnius, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to send Swedens NATO accession documents to Turkey's Parliament for approval "as soon as possible," one of the last steps in the membership process. It was unknown whether Erdogan's demands on other issues, including support from European leaders for Turkey's bid to join the European Union and for the United States to supply Turkey with F-16 fighter jets, were part of the agreement. MORE: Biden applauds Turkey's agreement to back Sweden's NATO entry on summit eve PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks on as he arrives at Vilnius airport on the eve of a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 10, 2023. (Ints Kalnins/Reuters) When asked by an ABC News reporter in Vilnius if he was surprised by the move, Biden replied: "Not at all." Sweden and Finland, which have historically embraced neutrality, applied for NATO membership together last year as Russian forces invaded neighboring Ukraine. Finland officially joined the alliance in April following Turkish ratification, but Turkey and Hungary have yet to ratify Sweden's membership. Ukraine is also pushing hard for NATO membership, though Biden made clear over the weekend that he doesn't believe the country is ready to join the alliance. Biden will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, marking their third face-to-face meeting this year. Story continues When asked what kind of assurances for Ukraine might come out of the NATO summit, Blinken told ABC News: "First, a very robust package of support both political and practical for Ukraine." "Second, when it comes to membership, I think the summit will take note of the progress that Ukraine has made, which has been significant," he added. "And at the same time, the fact that work remains to be done in terms of reforming its military and strengthening its democracy. So all of that will be coming out of the summit. But you've got a unified alliance that is going to demonstrate in very practical ways its enduring support for Ukraine, including the path to membership." MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates PHOTO: President Joe Biden, together with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, is greeted by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda upon his arrival at Vilnius International Airport in Lithuania on July 10, 2023, for the NATO summit. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Asked whether there was concern that granting NATO membership to Ukraine would put the U.S. and its allies directly into conflict with Russia, Blinken said: "President Biden has been very clear about this and, in fact, the Ukrainians have too that in the midst of a war, you're not going to take the membership step. But at the same time, beyond that -- and the Ukrainians acknowledge this as well -- they still have work to do." Ukrainian troops are currently in the "early weeks" of a counteroffensive against invading Russian forces, Blinken said, which will "play out over many more weeks and probably many more months." "I think the Ukrainians have in hand what they need to be successful," he added. "It is tough, it's challenging, the Russians have built up very strong defenses. But at the end of the day, besides all of the support that we've provided, it really comes down to this: This is Ukraine's land. It's their territory. It's their future. It's their freedom. I think that's the biggest difference-maker and I'm convinced you're going to see that play out over the next weeks. ABC News' Justin Gomez, Will Gretsky and Elizabeth Schulze contributed to this report. Blinken talks high-stakes NATO summit and path to membership for Sweden, Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Tuesday amid questions about how much the potential sale of U.S. F-16 fighter jets factored into Turkey's decision to back Sweden's entry to NATO. Biden thanked Erdogan for his "diplomacy and courage to take that on" as they held a bilateral meeting at the treaty organization's annual summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. The two leaders declined to take questions shouted from reporters before the discussion moved behind closed doors. It was their first face to face sit-down since Turkey agreed to support Sweden joining the alliance, an unexpected move announced the day before the 74th summit kicked off. MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates: Delaying Ukraine NATO invite lets Russia 'continue its terror,' Zelenskyy says Biden earlier Tuesday told ABC News he was "not at all" surprised by the development. He and Erdogan spoke Sunday in an hour-long call about Sweden's membership and the issue of U.S. F-16 fighter jets for Ankara. PHOTO: President Joe Biden meets with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, left, at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 11, 2023. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Turkey has long requested the jets, particularly after it was kicked out of the F-35 warplane program in 2019 for buying Russian S-400 air defense systems, but has faced opposition from U.S. lawmakers. The U.S. was concerned Russia would learn the F-35's secrets if there was a Russian-made system in Turkey. The current sale would include 40 new F-16s as well as kits to upgrade the jets already in Turkey's possession. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday the administration intends to move ahead with the sale of the jets to Turkey in consultation with Congress. But Sullivan brushed off suggestions that Turkey lifting its opposition to Sweden's bid was linked to the transfer of F-16s. "President Biden has been clear and unequivocal for months that he's supported the transfer of F-16s to Turkey, that this is in our national interest," Sullivan told reporters. "It's in the interests of NATO that Turkey get that capability. He has placed no caveats or conditions on that in his public and private comments over the past few months and he intends to move forward with that transfer in consultation with Congress," he said. Story continues Sullivan didn't elaborate on a timeline for when the F-16s would be sold to Turkey, or whether it would happen before the ratification of Sweden's membership. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been in active conversations with congressional lawmakers regarding the potential sale, according to a senior administration official. A bipartisan group of lawmakers in February expressed opposition to Turkey buying the jets until it signed off on Sweden's bid. Sen. Bob Menendez, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has long been against the transfer of jets to Turkey over the country's human rights record and concerns about Turkey's tensions with Greece. Menendez said Monday he's in talks with the administration about the issue. MORE: Blinken talks high-stakes NATO summit and path to membership for Sweden, Ukraine PHOTO: Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda (CL), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (CR) and NATO Foreign Ministers pose for a family photograph during the NATO summit, in Vilnius on July 11, 2023. (Ludovic Marin/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) The news that Erdogan was dropping his opposition to Sweden's entry to NATO followed a meeting between him, Stoltenberg and Sweden Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. In a joint statement, NATO underlined changes Sweden has made to alleviate Turkey's security concerns, including an expansion to counter-terrorism cooperation. NATO will also ramp up efforts in that arena, establishing a special coordinator for counter-terrorism. Sweden also agreed to help Turkey's effort to join the European Union, and to increase economic cooperation between the two countries. The NATO statement made no mention of F-16 fighter jets, and Stoltenberg on Tuesday dismissed a question of whether they had been an important factor in the final stage of the negotiations. "There are no other agreements, the agreement is public," he responded. Were US F-16 fighter jets a factor in Turkey's U-turn on Sweden's NATO bid? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com An Air China Airbus A330-243. Urbanandsport/NurPhoto/Getty Images A passenger and flight attendant were injured after an Air China flight hit severe turbulence. According to another passenger, the people on the plane were "genuinely frightened." Climate change is worsening plane turbulence, and experts say passengers should always wear seat belts. On Monday, an Air China flight from Shanghai to Beijing hit severe turbulence that left two people injured. According to ECNS Wire, the injured included one passenger and a flight attendant. After the flight landed, they were transported to a nearby hospital. "In the last 30-40 minutes or so before landing, there was a sudden sharp drop. Then there was another violent drop, which threw the flight attendant helping passengers return to their seats and a passenger to the ceiling," passenger Xing Lida shared on his Weibo account, according to ECNS Wire. The outlet reported that Lida also said the turbulence resulted in a shattered emergency exit sign and passengers were "genuinely frightened." "However, flight attendants provided medical assistance to the injured passengers in a professional and calm manner," Lida added, according to ECNS Wire. The turbulence the passengers experienced was clear-air turbulence, which occurs at high altitudes typically in a cloudless sky, according to Skybrary. A "no smoking" and "fasten seatbelt" sign on a commercial aircraft. Tony Savino/Corbis via Getty Images As Insider previously reported, a warming planet is making plane turbulence more common and more severe. Wind shear, which is a drastic change in the speed and direction of the wind, is often tied to clear-air turbulence, and changing global temperatures have increased wind shear by 15% since 1979, according to a report published in Nature. Each year, there is an average of 5,500 encounters with severe or greater turbulence, but that number has increased in recent years due to climate change, Insider previously reported. In 2023 alone, several events of severe turbulence have occurred. People on a Hawaiian Airlines flight experienced extreme turbulence that injured 25 people, and in June, a British Airways flight attendant required surgery after a flight from Singapore to London hit turbulence. Story continues But this doesn't necessarily mean passengers should expect more turbulence on future flights. Stephen Bennett, chairman of the American Meteorological Society's Committee on Financial Weather and Climate Risk, and co-founder and chief climate officer of The Demex Group, previously told Insider that as turbulence worsens, systems for air routing will likely adjust so flights can avoid turbulent areas. "I also expect that newly emerging technology will make it easier to detect clear-air turbulence in the decades ahead," Bennet said. "Even considering the impacts of climate change, it's actually likely that flights will become safer over time as opposed to more dangerous." However, that comes with a cost. Isabel Smith, meteorologist and PhD student at the University of Reading and lead author of a 2023 article on clear-air turbulence trends over the North Atlantic, also told Insider that she predicts that increasing turbulence will cause longer travel times, increased fuel consumption, and higher CO2 emissions. As a passenger, experts agreed that the best thing to do is to have your seatbelt fastened regardless of whether the seatbelt light is on. Representatives for Air China did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider Bethenny Frankel has weighed in on recent allegations against Jonah Hill and claimed that the Superbad star once made her feel like a loser. The Real Housewives of New York City (RHNYC) star shared her perspective on recent allegations of emotional abuse made by Hills ex-girlfriend Sarah Brady against him in a TikTok posted on Monday (10 July). Frankel, 52, recalled a time when both she and Hill appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and accused him of being a low-grade d***. She said: What the hell is going on? So, heres the thing. My perspective is the following: I did The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jonah Hill was the first guest, and he was a low-grade d***. Like, he was put upon and kind of treated me like he was better than [me], and I felt like a loser and the nobody that I was. So thats what Im walking into this as. Brady recently shared a series of screenshots purportedly showing text message exchanges between herself and Hill, whom she dated in 2021. The messages showed Hill allegedly asking Brady, a surf instructor, to take down photographs of herself in a bathing suit from her social media and setting out his boundaries for their relationship. In her TikTok, Frankel described the text messages as crazy, adding: And there are texts that I have sent to people and that people have sent to me that would seem nuts in a vacuum. However, she wondered if it was right of Brady to share her and Hills private text messages on social media. She referenced recent celebrity cases, including Johnny Depp and Amber Heards legal battle and Alec Baldwins infamous 2007 voicemail, in which he called his daughter Ireland a rude, thoughtless little pig. I want to know from you where the line is in what texts and phone calls should be shared? she asked her followers. In the past, Mel Gibsons crazy phone call that his ex shared, Alec Baldwin with his daughter, that crazy conversation was shared. Story continues A lot was shared with Johnny Depp and Amber Heard and until they got into court, everyone was team Amber. So I think its tricky to be reading texts. Some people might say, they might not want their girlfriend wearing bathing suits or posing in sexual poses or sexy poses, or hanging out with a lot of male friends, surfing, etc. Frankel continued: I dont know the whole story and Ive only read those snippets and headlines, but if youre in a relationship with someone for one year, are texts fair game? Has he abused her in a way that this is a cry for help and she needs help and she will not be silenced anymore? She claimed that both Hill and Brady seem a little nuts, before telling her followers that she wanted to hear their thoughts. Bradys allegations come a month after Hill and his partner Olivia Millar welcomed their first child together. It is unclear when she and Hill split up, but they appeared on the red carpet at the premiere of Dont Look Up in December 2021. Jonah Hill and Sarah Brady (Getty Images) In the screenshots of text messages, Hill allegedly told Brady to remove posts on her Instagram page, including pictures of her in a bathing suit. One message showed Brady asking if he would feel better if the cover frame was different on her best surfing video, to which Hill allegedly replied: Yes one that isnt of you a** in a thong. Elsewhere, Hill allegedly listed his boundaries for a romantic partnership, which stated he was not the right partner if Brady needed to do certain things, like surf with men, have boundaryless [sic] inappropriate friendships with men, model and post pictures of yourself in a bathing suit. Sarah Brady, Jonah Hills ex-girlfriend, shares a screenshot apparently showing a text message exchange between her and the actor (Instagram/Sarah Brady) Hill has not yet responded to any of the accusations. Representatives for Hill and Brady have been contacted for comment. In a recent update, Brady said she waited until after the actor welcomed his baby with Millar before she accused him of emotional abuse out of consideration for Millars pregnancy. In a voice memo shared to her Instagram Story, Brady said she was not trying to, like, slander someones reputation. Im literally sharing their own words and, not gonna lie, part of me waited until after [Millar] had given birth. Brady added that she didnt want Millar to see all of this while she was pregnant because she didnt know what kind of stress that would cause on her and her baby, physically. For Ashira Paraskevas, a mental health and self-love advocate based in Australia, recognizing her own self-worth hasnt always been easy. Paraskevas, who uses her social media platform to share her journey toward self-acceptance, previously struggled with an eating disorder between the ages 16 and 23. Its been a continuous battle since high school, Paraskevas told In The Know. I knew it wasnt normal, that I wasnt healthy. I loved how I got so much praise and love when I was skinny compared to being chubby. I was addicted to the validation, to feeling like it was the one thing in my life I could be in charge of, and the idea that the skinnier I get, the more love and respect I will get. It was in 2019 and 2020 when things got even worse. During this time, Paraskevas was competing in beauty pageants and the pressure for perfection was at its highest. I felt like I was never good enough, so I thought the skinner I got, the more beautiful I would be, she said. It got to the point of having severe health concerns, where I couldnt function, where it was ruling my life and hurting me more than ever and my relationships. Paraskevas ended up seeking professional help for her disordered eating, exercise obsessions and bulimia. Trying to unpack her obsession with her size and unlearn beliefs about standards of beauty that have long been ingrained in her were among the areas she focused on in recovery. And while she still, admittedly, may struggle at times, shes in remission. My body is my friend, not my enemy, she asserted. Life without an eating disorder will always be better than living with one. In the last few years, the Australian native has stopped seeking external validation, which is reflected in her social media presence, too. Paraskevas maintains candor with her upwards of 109,000 Instagram followers, and makes a conscious effort to show both her highs and lows. Story continues One day I just was so tired of trying to keep up a perfect image when behind the scenes, I was struggling with a lot, she said. I decided to share my journey with a photo and talk about my eating disorder recovery and what Im going through. What Paraskevas didnt expect was the outpouring of support shed receive. At the time, I was only OK with sharing a bit to show others that they arent alone and that what they see on social media isnt real life, she said. That post had comments that made me cry, others connecting and sharing, and people supporting me and inspiring me to keep going. From then on, I couldnt go back to having a fake social media, I wanted to create that community of people who uplift each other and where people feel safe, seen and heard. Still, she isnt immune to the dangers that scrolling on Instagram can pose to ones self-esteem. In fact, shes created a series of positive affirmations to combat any negative self-talk in those situations. When I see content that does negatively impact me, I have a page of selective affirmations that help self-validate if I find myself comparing and in that spiral, Paraskevas explained. Some affirmations include: Someone elses beauty doesnt take away from my beauty, Not all bodies are the same, there is nothing bad about my body, its how it is meant to be for me, I am grateful for everything my body allows me to do and choose to focus on that, What would you say right now to a friend who feels how you feel? Acceptance, for Paraskevas, was the first step on her self-love journey. While immediately falling head over heels for yourself would be ideal, the reality is that loving yourself is complicated, and, for some, hard. Self-love is more of a slow-burn romance, she explained. Acceptance doesnt mean you love everything about yourself. Its [about] developing an acknowledgement, contentment and understanding that you are you. As for any advice she has for people who may be struggling with their own body image? Even though the world may try and convince you that you are not beautiful, you are not worthy and enough as you are, I assure you, you are, she said. Nothing needs to change; you dont need to add or remove anything about yourself to be loved, belong and seen. In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News follow us here! The post My body is my friend, not my enemy: Ashira Paraskevas on detaching self-worth from size, and the slow-burn romance of self-love appeared first on In The Know. More from In The Know: Registered dietitian highlights commercials from the '80s, '90s, and '00s promoting diet culture: This is burned into my brain Creators discuss the second puberty women go through in their mid-20s These are the 7 best Amazon Prime Day kitchen deals, from a best-selling air fryer to a knife set These 25 stores are having major sales to compete with Amazon Prime Day and you can save big This article originally appeared on Backpacker A summer avalanche in Californias Sierra Nevada killed one hiker and left two others injured last week, search and rescue personnel said on Friday. In a Facebook post, Inyo County Search and Rescue said law enforcement received word of three hikers caught in a wet avalanche while descending Split Mountain near Big Pine at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 2. While two of the hikers had escaped with minor to moderate injuries, the third had died in the slide. After determining that conditions were safe enough to attempt a rescue, four members of the team flew in a naval helicopter to Red Lake, about 2,000 vertical feet below the site of the avalanche, and climbed to the scene of the incident. After helping evacuate the two surviving hikers by air, the team camped out at Red Lake, planning to return the next morning to recover the third hikers body. Retrieving the deceased hiker, however, turned out to be tricky for search and rescue personnel. The next morning, one member of the team flew to the accident site in a California Highway Patrol helicopter, but rough weather conditions prevented them from successfully recovering the body. Instead, the entire team climbed back to the site and lowered the hikers body by litter to near Red Lake, where the helicopter waited. Though not as common as their winter counterparts, fatal summer avalanches arent unknown, especially after heavy snow years such as the one the Sierra just notched. Warming snow can cause loose, wet avalanches, where unconsolidated slush begins to slide at the surface. Those avalanches may not often bury hikers, but they can still be deadly: In a post about the incident, the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center noted that last weeks avalanche apparently swept all three hikers in the party over steep and rocky terrain. Inyo County SAR noted that last weeks emergency response was the third fatal accident in three weeks where snow was a major contributing factor. The incident on Split Peak follows a skiers death in a slide on Mt. Hurd on June 14 and a climbers death on the north face of University Peak on June 30. For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, better known as the CORE, has opened a fact-finding investigation into Nike Canadas alleged ties with businesses that have profited from forced Uyghur labor in China. Its a first for the complaint mechanism, which was established by the Canadian government in 2019 to hold the countrys garment, mining, and oil and gas companies accountable for possible human rights abuses in their overseas operations. More from Sourcing Journal Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Sheri Meyerhoffer, who has headed the CORE since its inception, said that her office decided to launch a formal probe following the completion of an initial assessment report, which details potential supply relationships between Nike Canada and six Chinese companies: Changji Esquel Textile Co., Huafu Fashion, Haoyuanpeng Garment Group, Texhong Textile Group, Qingdao Jifa Huajin Garment Co. and Qingdao Taekwang Shoes. Both Changji Esquel Textile Co. and Huafu Fashions Aksu Huafu Textiles subsidiary are on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List in the United States. The assessment followed a complaintone of more than a dozen that the CORE has deemed admissible over the past yearby a coalition of 27 organizations, including Stop Uyghur Genocide Canada, the Uyghur Refugee Relief Fund and the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, which provided as evidence a 2020 report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a Canberra-based think tank, and a 2021 report by Sheffield Hallam Universitys Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice in England. The complainants said that Nike Canada failed to respond to a 2021 letter asking it to ensure that its not benefiting from forced Uyghur labor, cut off relations with Qingdao Taekwang Shoes and others, and take reasonable steps to ensure beyond a reasonable doubt that none of its materials are sourced from Xinjiang. Story continues Nike Inc., Nike Canadas parent company, told the CORE that it does not source materials or products from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and that it conducts ongoing due diligence with its suppliers to identify potential forced labor risks related to the employment of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in other parts of China. The Just Do It firm also denied relationships with three of the companies cited in the ASPI report: Changji Esquel Textile Co., Haoyuanpeng Garment Group and Qingdao Jifa Huajin Garment Co. Regarding Qingdao Taekwang Shoes, it said that the supplier no longer employs anyone from Xinjiang. But the CORE, which is also looking at allegations into a Canadian gold mining company with ties to the region, said it found conflicts in available information that may warrant further examination. The assessment pointed to bills of lading from a Vietnamese factory owned by Changji Esquel Textile Co.s parent company, Hong Kongs Esquel Group, noting that despite the absence of forced labor allegations in that facility, the complex nature of garment supply chains may warrant investigation of the relationship between Nike and Esquel. And while the sportswear maker has provided its statement on forced labor, human trafficking and modern slavery, it has supplied limited detail about the nature and scope of its human rights due diligence process, including whether it uses fiber tracing technology, the CORE said. Nike, it said, also declined to meet with the office for an initial assessment meeting, maintaining that all the allegations have been addressed. The Adidas rival, upon receiving a draft of the initial assessment report, later requested a meeting and the opportunity to provide a written submission. The CORE said it turned this down because it would have pushed back the timing of the reports release. Nike has responded to [the] COREs inquiries, a spokesperson told Sourcing Journal. While there are factual inaccuracies in their latest report, well continue to participate as these are important multi-stakeholder discussions, and Nike is deeply committed to ethical and responsible manufacturing, which includes both supply chain due diligence and traceability programs. Nike, in comments appended to the initial assessment report, reiterated its previous statements while adding that neither it nor any of its finished goods suppliers sources from Esquel Group. Speaking at the press conference, Meyerhoffer said that the Air Jordan maker declined to participate in a mediation process, though it left a door open for future engagement. This, along with the lack of a satisfactory response, the gravity of the allegations and the fact that the complaint has not been reviewed in any other forum, led the office to decide to pursue the matter using what she said will be a range of investigative methods. I have not prejudged the outcome of the investigations, Meyerhoffer said. We will await the results and then publish final reports with my recommendations to the companies. We will also make recommendations to the minister of international trade if appropriate. I have the authority to make recommendations to remedy harms resulting from human rights abuses and to prevent them from happening again. If I make recommendations, we will follow up on them and report whether or not they are implemented. The COREs investigation marks the second time in recent months that Nike is being scrutinized for its labor practices. In March, a group of 20 garment-sector unions representing workers in Nikes supply chains in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka filed an international labor complaint with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Washington, D.C., accusing the sportswear giant of violating the inter-governmental organizations guidelines for responsible business conduct by multinational enterprises. They alleged that the company has not only contributed to severe human rights impacts at the factories it contracts but it also does not address and remediate them as required by guidelines. The complaint also claimed that Nike failed to engage with worker unions despite their requests for dialogue and the OECDs own recommendations. It said that the Oregon-headquartered firm pours money into buyback schemes to falsely inflate its stock price rather than compensate workers or invest in safety or productivity schemes. With the money that Nike has made from stock buybacks, they could have paid workers 2,000 times than what we are asking, Anannya Bhattacharjee, international coordinator at the Asia Floor Wage Alliance, a garment worker advocacy group, said at the time. Bhattacharjee had harsher words at a recent press conference on Capitol Hill, where she helped Illinois Democratic representative Jesus Chuy Garcia unveil a bill that would stop corporations from buying back their own shares. Nike sells its products with advertisements that place their swoosh logo next to the word equality. Nike even has an ad campaign called until we all win, she said. But who is winning when Nike turns its back on economic devastation for women who make its clothing and chooses instead to funnel billions of dollars to its wealthiest investors in the form of stock buybacks? Nike did not respond to requests for comment about the OECD complaint and stock buyback bill. Canada has been tightening its forced labor laws. In May, it passed its first reporting legislation for modern slavery and child labor, which will go into effect next January. Previously, such information was voluntary. It, the United States and Mexico have also committed to forming a united front against forced labor via the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Canadians have strong values when it comes to respecting human rights and Canadas responsible business abroad strategy is clear, Meyerhoffer said, adding that the CORE will roll out the other investigations in the coming weeks. Canadian companies are expected to respect Canadian standards for human rights and environmental protection when they work outside of Canada. It is the COREs mission to resolve complaints in a fair and unbiased manner in order to help those impacted and to strengthen responsible business practices. Click here to read the full article. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with visiting Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing on Tuesday. Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2019, bilateral relations have developed rapidly and shown a positive and sound momentum. "The National People's Congress of China is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges with the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, focus on implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, give full play to the unique role of the legislative bodies, and make positive contributions to the development of China-Solomon Islands comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development in the new era," Zhao said. Pointing out the concept and practice of Chinese modernization, Zhao said the new achievements of Chinese modernization will provide new opportunities for the development of the world. "China is willing to deepen strategic communication with the Solomon Islands, tap cooperation potential and build an even closer community of shared future between China and Pacific island countries," Zhao added. There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China, Sogavare said, noting that Solomon Islands firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to deepen cooperation with China in various fields and push for deeper and more solid bilateral relations. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) In her new memoir, Third Girl From the Left, Christine Barker writes about interrupting her burgeoning showbiz career as a dancer in A Chorus Line to care for her older brother, Laughlin Barker, former president of Perry Ellis International, who was dying of AIDS. This was in the mid-1980s when there was so much ignorance and stigma associated with AIDS that neither Laughlin nor his business partner and lover Perry Ellis would disclose their illnesses. At the time, their failing health was shrouded in secrecy to protect their highly successful business, the employees and the brand, which had established itself at the forefront of American fashion for easy, understated dressing. In fact, in 1986, their obituaries attributed their deaths to lung disease for the 37-year-old Laughlin and, four months later, viral encephalitis for the 46-year-old Ellis. More from WWD Perry Ellis and Laughlin Barker in 1982 Christine Barker starts her book talking about leaving her hometown of Sante Fe, New Mexico, to pursue a professional dance career in New York. She studies with Alvin Ailey, Luigis Jazz Dance Centre at the American Ballet Theater School and gets jobs in summer stock, dinner theater and national tours. After dancing alongside Tommy Tune, she meets musical theater director Michael Bennett and wins the role of Kristine in the London production of A Chorus Line, the groundbreaking musical about Broadway dancers baring their souls as they audition for a musical. She then joined the New York cast, with which she performs for six years. I was in heaven. I was living my dream. How lucky to be in your 20s and you are living your dream. So many people dont get that chance in life. Believe me, I was so aware of that as a dancer. So many people could never get what I got, and I thanked Michael Bennett and God every day, says Barker during an interview in Greenwich, Connecticut. Story continues Just as her career was taking off, her brother Laughlin, who helped build Ellis business with key licensing deals such as the Perry Ellis America deal between Perry Ellis and Levi, Strauss & Co., was diagnosed with AIDS, and she left the Broadway show to care for him. Whats interesting is how much Barker is able to recall from that era, which she attributed to her grandmother, who spent the last week of her life with Barker and told the then-12-year-old girl that she should always keep a journal. My father was in the military, we moved everywhere, we lived in Europe as a child, and she said, You have very interesting life experiences. You should always keep a journal. It made an enormous impact on me, Barker says. She says she started keeping journals and had boxes of them. When Laughlin told her he had AIDS, she was sworn to secrecy because he was so concerned about what would happen with the business. He felt the business would die and thousands of people would lose jobs. She says the pressure was enormous. And the way that I coped was the writing. I would be with him and Perry at their house, and I would take the subway back downtown, and I would write on the subway. I have legal pads and some parts of my book were lifted exactly from that, she says. Barker says she knew instinctively that she had a story. I come from a theater background and you understand story when you do theater, and you particularly understand story when youre doing A Chorus Line, because A Chorus Line is beautifully written. It appears to be very simple, but its very highly constructed in the stories that they tell and what they chose to tell. And how it teaches you to tell a story where theres a sense of purpose and a sense of urgency, she says. A Chorus Line featured real stories from real people. Originally, Bennett had invited dancers to come to workshops and talk about their lives. The people whose stories were used got a percentage of the show, and the people who played the original parts also had a small piece. Some people didnt get hired to play themselves, but their stories were used or were blended. In the book, Barker gives a behind-the-scenes account of the highs and lows of dancing in A Chorus Line, when the spread of a devastating disease is all around her, destroying a generation of artists. She describes the horror of going through such a situation with so little information, the need to keep everything a secret and the devastating impact of stigma. Third Girl From the Left by Christine Barker. Barker says that when she saw Larry Kramers The Normal Heart at the Public Theater in New York, she felt people could only get the truth when they went to the theater. He wrote the truth, and every day at the Public Theater they reported statistics. The Gay Mens Health Crisis hadnt been formed yet, ACT UP hadnt been formed yet, there was nothing. What there was was this play and Larry Kramer, and people could get statistics there. You could not get statistics in The New York Times. By writing that play and Joe Papp producing, it was enormously powerful. When I saw that play, and knew what was going to go on [the decline of someones health once they had AIDS], thats when I decided to leave and take care of Laughlin, Barker says. She never had any regrets about quitting the show to become Laughlins caregiver, although it changed it changed my life drastically, she admits. You see this over and over again. Women who are faced with very difficult choices and become caregivers. I never regretted it because I spent the last part of his life with him. I spent the last part of Perrys life with him. I spent the last part of a lot of my friends lives with them. What I learned about life and what I learned about making choices and making decisions one thing I became very aware of is how women are impacted in times of emergencies, she says. Barker says her brother did not come out of the closet for a very long time; he married a woman in 1971, served in the U.S. Navy; had a daughter, Kate, and had gotten divorced. When he went to Georgetown Law School, it was basically against the law to be gay. He had a job at a white shoe law firm, and he would have been fired. It was only when Laughlin met Perry [around 1979-1980] that he had the confidence to say he was gay. I knew he was gay, but nobody in my family did. He and Perry lived privately. They were not ostentatious. They were the star couple because they showed that gay men could have a life together, and they didnt have to be afraid and they could go out in public. Thats what they did. They werent going to advertise it, but they also werent going to deny it. In the book, Barker describes how Laughlin and Perrys relationship just clicked, although their personalities differed. To the relationship, Laughlin brought a more tempered, Madison Avenue sensibility with his Georgetown law degree and extensive experience living and working in Europe. Perry was a master of promotion, well-mannered like a Southern aristocrat, but with a shyness that masked coldness and rigidity. Laughlin was the opposite. He was charismatic and warm. He could endear himself to the cleaning staff as easily as Georgia OKeefe, which he once did at a museum opening, when after being introduced she ignored the press and walked around the exhibit with Laughlin, Barker writes. In the mid-1980s, the press was skittish about reporting on gay life, she says. The lack of information, no social media, led to misinformation, confusion and fear, further isolating those of us dealing with AIDS, Barker adds. There was such a stigma. People do not remember what that stigma was like and the stigma was merciless. The Reagan administration, the Moral Majority, Pat Buchanan and Jerry Falwell. Jerry Falwell was on TV saying, AIDS is the wrath of God upon homosexuals,' she says. Following their deaths there was so much talk about Perry, and there was never any talk about Perry and Laughlins relationship, Barker says. Perrys obituary in the Times and most places never mentioned Laughlin. It was the business trying to separate themselves from Laughlin. That was very upsetting to me. [She says she didnt get invited to Ellis memorial service at the Society for Ethical Culture]. Laughlin had created the Levi Strauss deal. He built the business from five licensees to 23. She says the business became very successful when Laughlin took over Perry Ellis International. (In Ellis obituary in WWD, Laughlin was described in the article as the designers closest friend and companion. In Laughlins obituary in WWD, there is no mention of Ellis as a survivor or companion.) After Barker left the theater and many of her friends had died of AIDS, she raised her children and earned her M.F.A. in writing at Sarah Lawrence College, where she also finished her bachelors degree. She was in her 40s at the time. Barker will be part of a book discussion at the Bryant Park Reading Room on Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m. She says she waited to publish her book until her parents who lacked tolerance for their sons lifestyle died. My parents were of a different generation. That generation had it wrong, but Im not interested in repeating that. Im interested in telling the truth, she says. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. Were accustomed to seeing Rick Ross show off big ticket items on social media, but his latest is in a league of its own. On Monday, The Boss tried on a peerless Jacob & Co. watch worth $20 million. Im excited. Its amazing. And just thanks for getting it to the city for me to try on, he said during a FaceTime call with the companys founder and chairman, Jacob Arabo. This is the Billionaire. The world first saw the timepiecedubbed the Billionaire Timeless Treasureat the annual Watches & Wonders exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland, this past March. It was made on spec by the American jewelry company. Rick Ross says his $20M watch took 3 years to make https://t.co/52WCdDsvQr pic.twitter.com/9QpJz5uGcS HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) July 10, 2023 The story behind the timepiece sounds like a fairytale: it took three and a half years to create the watch because the company had to find enough yellow diamonds of the same hue and quality. Then, a team of 10 people had to sort all of the gems in order to coat the pieces bracelet, bezel, dial, and crown. Jacob & Co. said on its website that the global treasure hunt to find enough high-quality yellow diamonds for the piece almost dried up the market. Click here to read the full article. The gems were then cut down from the rough, producing 425 Asscher-cut diamonds that weigh just under 217 carats. The piece also includes 76 bright green, emerald-cut and kite-cut tsavorites that enclose the watchs movement. If you flip over the watch to see it move through its sapphire caseback, the word billionaire is engraved with a smiley face in the letter o. From my perspective, its a beautiful thing. Its a beautiful moment. This is an amazing timepiece, the rapper said. This cannot be duplicated. This cannot be replicated. Story continues Its not the first time Ross has sported a Jacob & Co. Billionaire watch. Earlier this year, the rapper posted a few high value items, including white-gold Billionaire III timepiece. The $3 million timepiece includes an 18-carat white gold case and 75 emerald-cut white diamonds. If that wasnt enough, the rapper paired the watch with large, gem-studded diamond pinky rings on each hand, also from the company. Click here to read the full article. Estee Lauder beauty brands are in trouble with its California staples such as Too Faced and Smashbox Cosmetics announce looming layoffs. According to recent WARN notices filed in California, Too Faced and Smashbox are enacting layoffs effective August 15. Too Faced will be laying off 22 employees at its Irvine, California office, while Smashbox is letting go of 37 employees from its Culver City office. Employees from both Estee Lauder Companies were made away of impending layoffs on June 5. The layoffs at Too Faced come a year after the brand changed its executive board. In June 2022, co-founders Jerrod Blandino and Jeremy Johnson departed the brand, with Tara Simon promoted to global brand president in July of that year. Estee Lauder pointed to the layoffs of Smashbox as it was part of its Post-COVID Business Acceleration Program, designed to Strategically reposition Smashbox to capitalize on changing consumer preferences and to mitigate the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the brand. said in a press release. Estee Lauder also houses makeup brands such as MAC Cosmetics and Tom Ford Beauty in its portfolio, which are positioned to be a few of its pillar brands. While camera-wielding tourists have given way to smartphone-sporting ones, travel photography for amateurs emerged in 1888, when Kodak founder George Eastman developed the first point-and-shoot camera. A decade later the introduction of the Kodak Brownie helped to democratize travel photography. Now the Autograph Collection Hotels and the photo-centric museum Fotografiska are giving that paradigm added dimensions with the help of four accomplished photographers. Their new partnership will bow on July 21 with the unveiling of Impressions at Fotografiskas New York City outpost. The installation will be the first among a few that are planned for select hotel properties. In addition to the images, there will be short films highlighting the photographers creative processes and inspirations. Some of the limited-edition prints will be available on Fotografiskas site and at a few of the Autograph Collection destinations, with proceeds earmarked to benefit the nonprofit Bronx Documentary Center. More from WWD The Marriott International-owned entity enlisted Jonas Bendiksen, Cristina de Middel, Gregory Halpern and Alessandra Sanguinetti. Each was assigned a certain city Bendiksen visited the Hotel Luc in Berlin, de Middel trooped off to its Alaia Belize in San Pedro, Halpern hit The National in Oklahoma City and Sanguinetti checked into the Mesm Tokyo. Using their respective hotels as launch pads, they captured the surrounding environs. After the New York debut of Impressions, the project will travel to some of the chains other sites, including its Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville in South Carolina, The Press Hotel in Portland, Maine, and the Bankside Hotel in London and Nanjing, Jiangning Autograph Collection in China. Running through this year and next, the alliance is also meant to motivate guests to look closer at photography and to take their own photos. Guests will receive complimentary museum admission to Fotografiskas locations in New York, Stockholm and Tallinn, Estonia, as well as ones in Berlin and Shanghai that are slated to open in October and some time next winter, respectively. Discounted guest tickets, select programming and special events at Fotografiska are also part of the offerings. Story continues Mister Give me de Rent, 2023 In addition, the Autograph Collection Hotels has joined forces with Lomography, which is tied to the Lomographic Society International and plugs the LOMO LC-A and other cameras. Overnighters at select properties will be able to test their skills with 35-mm cameras and rolls of film without any fees. They will also have access to some professional tips. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. You could be forgiven for thinking that recent events in France have little to do with race. This is the story we are told: An innocent teen is killed by the police in a Paris suburb, kicking off days of protests. Tens of thousands take to the streets, thousands are arrested and detained, and hundreds of stores are looted. Fires rip through the streets, burning as bright as the rage of Frances youth. President Emmanuel Macron chalks the unrest up to video games and juvenile delinquency. Days after 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk was fatally shot during a traffic stop, explorations into the events significance still have not told the whole story. Many of the articles that Ive seen focus on the policing angle Why do the people we hire to keep us safe frequently murder us? but they miss the race angle entirely. Nahels death was not an isolated tragedy in an otherwise peaceful and colorblind society. Nahel was visibly North African his parents are from Morocco and Algeria in France, a country with an incredibly brutal colonial history in North Africa. In the words of Mounia, Nahels mother, the policeman saw an Arab face, a little kid, and wanted to take his life. Not coincidentally, many of those arrested in the wave of protests that followed fit a similar description. The average age of the protestors was 17 and some of those arrested were as young as 12. While I wish I could tell you how many of them were North African, it is illegal in France to collect statistics based on race, ethnicity, or religion. Despite Frances success in codifying racial blindness, the discriminatory nature of French policing has been well-documented. This is especially true in the banlieues, the historically neglected suburbs where Frances most marginalized live, including millions from North Africa and other former French colonies. Frances police crackdowns on protesters, including those following the George Floyd protests of 2020, have been called draconian by Amnesty International. Story continues As a child of Moroccans and a visibly Black person, I never harbored the Francophilia that other Americans seemed to revel in. In college, I was shocked to find that an entire community of African American creatives, including the acclaimed writer James Baldwin, moved to France in the mid-20th century. I was even more shocked when I learned that they often felt safer there than they did in America, freed from an oppressive racial hierarchy. How could they feel that way about a country that colonized my ancestors in North Africa and came to understand its population as inferior? Did they not see that racial hierarchy? As it turns out, they quickly discovered it. Black expats in France during the 1940s and 50s came to witness the criminalization of North Africans firsthand, a criminalization that was exacerbated by the backdrop of Algerias bloody fight for independence. This fight for independence, hard-won in 1962, influenced how North Africans and Black Americans to say nothing of the rest of the world saw race, political ideology, and global struggle. There is a historic link between the Algerian struggle and the Black Panther movement, and the Black Panthers famously opened an office in Algeria in 1970. In a documentary that came out that year, Baldwin declares: The Algerian in France is the n***** in America. Baldwin was not alone in reflecting on the plight of the North African community in France. In Black Skin, White Masks (1952), psychiatrist Frantz Fanon recalls being stopped multiple times by policemen who mistook him for an Arab and released him when they found out that he was simply Black. William Gardner Smith, a lesser-known Black writer from Philadelphia who also sought refuge in Paris, wrote a novel focused on these racial tensions. The Stone Face (1963) follows an African American protagonist to Paris where he quickly realizes the parallels between the Arab experience in France and the one he just fled. He witnesses Arabs being brutalized by the police as well as the October 1961 Papon massacre a massacre in which at least a hundred Algerians were murdered and some of their bodies dumped into the Seine. At the end of the novel, the protagonist realizes that racism cannot be escaped and returns home to fight for Americas Algerians. Recently, Macron described Nahels death as inexplicable. It is typical for France to play dumb when it comes to its own racism. After all, one of the nations purported tenets is egalite. Like many countries, it cloaks itself in racial blindness when it is convenient. At other moments, it creates and enforces a racial hierarchy, especially in populations it wants to control. During the colonial era, France decided that Arabs and Berbers (Amazigh people) should be classified as two different races. France also distinguished between those races and the Black race. In Black Skin, White Masks, Fanon writes about the colonial strategy of using soldiers of color to put down insurrections men of color who nullified the liberation efforts of other men of color. Similarly, the very idea of a distinct North Africa is a colonial invention. If the streets of France have proven one thing during these protests, it is the importance of solidarity. Dont forgive or forget has been a particularly powerful refrain of the French protests and one that has haunted me in recent days. The slogan is a reminder that when injustice prevails, people will always be around all over the world to bear witness. It serves as a directive I plan to follow. Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue More Great Stories From Teen Vogue If youre ever jarred awake from a deep sleep by a blaring tornado alarm and swirling winds, do not ignore the warning just because you're in Knoxville! Theres a regional myth that Knoxville is protected from tornadoes because of its geographical location. In fact, about 90% of East Tennesseans believe the region is protected by the hilly terrain and the Great Smoky Mountains, according to a 2019 study by University of Tennessee researchers. But does the old tale really hold true? No. We are not protected just because of our location down in the valley, said Morristown-based National Weather Service meteorologist Sam Roberts. We can get tornadoes and we can get them at any time of the year. Storm clouds hover to the east as seen from Western Avenue as a tornado warning went into effect in June 2019 in Knoxville. Don't ignore warnings: Knoxville can get tornadoes at any time of year. How many tornadoes have hit East Tennessee? Fifteen tornadoes touched down in Knox County between 1950 and 2022, according to the National Weather Service. There have been 252 tornadoes in East Tennessee since 1950, including at least six so far in 2023. The Morristown National Weather Service office highlights a handful of significant tornado outbreaks in East Tennessee dating back to 1995. The stronger ones include an EF-3 (a mid-size tornado with 136-165 mile-per-hour wind gust speed) in Chattanooga in 2012 and two EF-2 tornadoes in Scott County (2021). An EF-1 (gust speed of 86-100 mph) touched down in Fountain City in 1995. Are tornadoes less common in East Tennessee than other regions? Peak season for severe weather and possible tornadoes in the Knoxville area is March-May, Roberts said. Don't let your guard down, he added, because theres a secondary peak in the fall during October and November. On average, East Tennessee does get fewer tornadoes than the middle and western parts of the state. Thats because those other areas are flatter and more exposed, University of Tennessee climatology professor Kelsey Ellis explained to the Tennessean in 2021. But the number of Tennessee tornadoes reported is increasing, and living in East Tennessee doesn't make you safe from twisters. The annual average number of tornadoes reported in the state grew from 11.3 for 1980-1999 to 18.1 for 2000-2019. Story continues The dangers of nighttime tornadoes Nearly half of East Tennessee tornadoes occur during the night, according to the 2019 UT study. Nocturnal tornadoes are more likely to cause fatalities than those occurring during daytime because they are harder to detect and it's harder to alert the public while most people are sleeping. Why we see those systems at night, it's just due to a timing thing, Roberts explained. Its because of where the storms are initiating in the Plains and how long it takes for them to travel this far east. Systems often originate out West toward the Rocky Mountains and progress eastward. Theyre strongest during the daytime, hitting West and Middle Tennessee first, and passing through East Tennessee overnight. But that doesnt necessarily mean they weaken. Roberts also noted strong storms can occur overnight, which could result in those late-night tornadoes. There have been 58 tornado-related deaths in East Tennessee since 1950, according to NWS data. This includes two in 2020 and 31 in 2011, the largest single year total. Debris fills the backyards of homes in a Chattanooga on April 14, 2020. A EF-3 tornado tore through Hamilton County. Weather radios save lives Using weather radios is the most reliable way to get overnight warnings and updates when severe weather hits, Roberts said. They can even be programmed for your specific location, instead of a large coverage area. Tornado alerts are pushed to smartphones as well. But Roberts noted that some people might get them while others wont because of phone company and contact variables. He also advised paying close attention to local weather forecasts when stormy weather is in the area. Know Your Knox answers your burning questions about life in Knoxville. Want your question answered? Email knowyourknox@knoxnews.com. Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. Twitter @dturner1208. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Do the Great Smoky Mountains protect Knoxville from tornadoes? A meteorite that landed in the waters off Papua New Guinea in 2014 might hold clues about far-off alien civilizations, according to one Harvard professor. Avi Loeb and his team just brought materials found in the crash back to the school for analysis, and the U.S. Space Command confirmed with 99.999-percent certainty that they came from another solar system. According to CBS News, Loeb and his crew took a boat out to where the meteorite was believed to have landed nearly a decade ago. They were able to pick up unique pieces of metal off the ocean floor by attaching magnets to a sled. "We found ten spherules. These are almost perfect spheres, or metallic marbles. When you look at them through a microscope, they look very distinct from the background," Loeb explained of the discovery. "They have colors of gold, blue, brown, and some of them resemble a miniature of the Earth." Analysis showed that the spherules are composed of 84 percent iron, 8 percent silicon, 4 percent magnesium, and 2 percent titanium, plus traces of other elements. And they're not exactly real-life marble-sized either, each measuring less than a millimeter in diameter. They found 50 of these minuscule dots in total. "It has material strength that is tougher than all space rock that were seen before, and catalogued by NASA," Loeb said. "The fact that it was made of materials tougher than even iron meteorites, and moving faster than 95 percent of all stars in the vicinity of the sun, suggested potentially it could be a spacecraft from another civilization or some technological gadget." More research and analysis needs to be done to determine the exact origins of the curious spherical objects, including culling through hours of unwatched footage from the camera attached to the team's sled. If they're found to be natural, it will give researchers insight into what materials may exist outside of our solar system. If they turn out to be artificial, they might have bigger questions on their hands. These little spheres, then, could lead scientists on a path toward much more significant discoveries. Story continues "They also help us pinpoint any big piece of the meteor we could find in a future expedition," Loeb noted. "We hope to find a big piece of this object that survived the impact because then we can tell if it's a rock or technological gadget." Because it takes thousands of years for us to travel across the vast expanses of space, the professor's discover would not only be possible alien technology, but ancient alien technology at that. "It will take us tens of thousands of years to exit our solar system with our current spacecraft to another star. This material spent that time arriving to us, but it's already here," Loeb smiled. "We just need to check our backyard to see if we have packages from an interstellar Amazon that takes billions of years for the travel." Mourners carry the coffin of former government advisor and political analyst Hisham al-Hashemi, who was killed by gunmen, during the funeral in Baghdad. Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters On July 6, 2020, as the prominent Iraqi historian Hisham al-Hashimi was walking toward his vehicle outside his home in eastern Baghdad, a group of gunmen sped toward him on motorcycles and fired five times at point-blank range. By the time he reached the hospital, al-Hashimi was dead. Often an outspoken critic of the country's militia groups, al-Hashimi was deeply connected within Iraq's various power factions, from ISIS to government and opposition politicians. In the months leading up to his death, viral posts on Facebook and other social-media sites accused al-Hashimi of being a spy for US, Israeli, or British forces, as well as conspiring to further destabilize Iraq. At the time, Iraq was going through the largest civil uprising in the country since the US invasion in 2003. Al-Hashimi knew that one of his closest friends, Aws al-Saadi, the founder of the nonprofit Tech4Peace, was a Meta "trusted partner" and had a direct line to the company to help remove content like the threats against his life. In September 2019, al-Hashimi reached out to al-Saadi to ask whether he could help remove the harmful posts targeting him on Facebook. Hisham al-Hashimi reached out to his friend Aws al-Saadi, a Meta Trusted Partner, to ask him to take down posts endangering his life. Photo courtesy of Aws al-Saadi Al-Saadi did what he could, but the responses from Meta were inconsistent. Some posts were removed within a day, while others stayed up for as long as a week. One post from April 2020, which wrongly claimed al-Hashimi was an al-Qaida leader, was never taken down. Al-Saadi flagged it, but Meta replied that the post did not violate the company's policies. On July 6, 2020, the day of al-Hashimi's death, al-Saadi wrote back: "They killed him now." "One of the reasons for his killing was Meta," al-Saadi told Insider. A draft report indicates problems within Meta's trusted-partner network are all too common Al-Saadi isn't alone. Facebook and its parent company, Meta, have faced fierce criticism for failing to adequately moderate the platform. In many countries, Meta relies on reporting from local civil-society groups and experts to flag hate speech and misinformation on Facebook. The trusted-partner program gained steam in the late 2010s after Meta drew criticism for its role in proliferating genocide in Myanmar, and the firm now considers the program essential to its moderation strategy in politically fraught countries, such as Iraq. Story continues A draft report by the media nonprofit Internews, obtained by Insider through a trusted partner, has concluded that the lapses in Meta's trusted-partner program are putting people at grave risk. Internews is also one of Meta's largest partners and receives funding from Meta for various projects. Meta did not respond to a request for comment on either the death of al-Hashimi or Internews' report. It did, however, provide three pages of answers to Internews' questions, which were included in the draft report. In those comments, Meta acknowledged that COVID-19 had "severely impacted" its operations, which "resulted in poor reporting experiences" for its trusted partners from 2019 to 2021. "During this period our content review teams operated at limited capacity and were unable to respond as quickly to trusted partner channel reports as we would like and as they have done in the past," the company said. "Under these difficult circumstances, we prioritized the most harmful content for our teams to review, such as risk of imminent physical harm or violence." Paul Barrett, Deputy Director of the Center for Business and Human Rights, NYU Stern School of Business Meta added that its response times had improved in 2022 and that it expected an action time of between one and five days. More complex cases Meta says trusted-partner reports often are complicated the response time can be longer. Four hundred sixty-five organizations have been enrolled in Meta's trusted-partner program, it said, and it has at least one trusted partner in 122 countries. Meta, which previously told Insider that the program launched in 2012, said in its comments to Internews that it didn't formalize its processes until 2019. Internews' report echoed the findings of an Insider investigation from earlier this year that revealed how Meta ignored, or was catastrophically delayed in reacting to, alarms sounded by its trusted partners in Ethiopia as two violent conflicts were underway in the country. Meta's responses to trusted partners around the world have been "erratic" The report, based on a survey of 24 trusted partners, including al-Saadi, suggests that trusted partners working around the world are met with severely delayed and "erratic" response times when flagging hate speech and other harmful content, as well as imminent threats to people's lives. Partners have at times waited weeks, if not months, for a response from Meta, the report found. In some cases, partners received no responses at all. Frustrations from this have led some partners to ditch the program. Al-Saadi and other partners found a work-around: appealing directly to personal contacts at Meta over WhatsApp or Signal, which often had better success than the dedicated reporting channel for trusted partners. Paul Barrett, the deputy director of the Center for Business and Human Rights at New York University's Stern School of Business, said the consequences of Meta ignoring its trusted partners were all too often dire. "The stakes here are the protection of individuals, how countries are able to sustain their political systems, or risks to public health," Barrett said. Partners are involved in surveying everything from political hate speech and disinformation to vaccine misinformation. One exception was Ukraine. There, the report said, partners experienced better response times from Meta, with an average of about 72 hours. By contrast, during the war in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, partners could wait months on end and receive no response. Rafiq Copeland, Senior Advisor for Global Platform Accountability at Internews Rafiq Copeland, a senior advisor at Internews and one of the authors of the report, said Meta did not provide an explanation for the disparity between response times for Ukrainian and Ethiopian partners. "I think we have to assume it's a matter of priorities and resourcing," Copeland said. The Internews report also said that these failures to respond to trusted partners and take down content could partly be attributed to the program being "significantly under-resourced and understaffed," a problem that has been compounded by the company's most recent layoffs. Internews found that participating in the trusted-partner program, in many cases, increased the risks to trusted partners themselves corroborating the stories of several trusted partners in Ethiopia who told Insider they received death threats as a result of their work. Trusted partners around the world are ditching the program In response to the death of al-Hashimi in Iraq, in emails viewed by Insider, Meta sent condolences and asked al-Saadi to participate in a meeting where he could provide the company more feedback on its processes. At the meeting, distraught over his friend's death, al-Saadi said he told the company: "Why are you asking me for my opinion if you aren't going to do anything about it?" Over the next few weeks, overcome with sadness and second-guessing what he could have done differently, he temporarily swore off reporting content. An Iraqi demonstrator walks past a poster of Hisham al-Hashimi in Baghdad. Thaier Al-Sudani Internews said trusted partners submitted only about 1,000 reports a month to Meta. "The partners we spoke to were shocked when they heard that number," said Copland, who acknowledged this may be an underestimate as it didn't capture reports filed through informal channels such as WhatsApp or Signal. "Mainly because they assumed that the slow response times had to do with a high volume of cases." Not all of those cases are acted upon. "When we see there's only 33 cases a day, that tells us that the system's failures are not directly related to volume," Copeland said. One explanation for this low figure might be that partners aren't using the program because of their poor experiences with it. "I think it's reasonable to say if partners were happier with the program, they'd report more often," Copeland said. Meta does not have a way for trusted partners to easily escalate reports when someone's life is in danger Meta's policies, the report found, have been opaque and inconsistent when partners have flagged posts threatening activists, journalists, or other human-rights defenders. Partners sometimes received responses saying no actions would be taken. But when they appealed through a personal contact at Meta, those decisions were often reversed. Insider previously reported that an Ethiopian trusted partner flagged the risks of viral hate speech targeting professor Meareg Amare through both the trusted-partner channel and subsequent zoom meetings with Meta, but the platform failed to act. This investigation is now critical evidence in a $1.6 billion hate-speech lawsuit against Facebook. In February, al-Saadi himself was targeted by viral misinformation claiming he was an American collaborator working to destabilize Iraq. Much like what happened to his friend al-Hashimi, he knew such accusations could jeopardize his life. Al-Saadi reported the posts to Meta on February 17. A week later, he escalated the issue to a personal contact at Meta who said they'd look into it but didn't follow up. The posts were removed on April 18, two months after they were first reported. Aws al Saadi, a Meta trusted partner, outside the Erbil Citadel in Iraq. Aws al Saadi "There needs to be a case-management system which allows for those really urgent cases to be identified and dealt with quickly, which one way or another doesn't seem to exist," Copeland said. If he were still in Iraq, al-Saadi, who now lives in the Netherlands, said he would have more strongly feared for his life. "You laugh, but at the same time, you cry about it," he said. Partners are calling for the system to be overhauled Copeland remains hopeful that Meta will reform the trusted-partner program. Internews said Meta needed to redesign the program with more direct collaboration with its trusted partners. Internews hopes this might help create a trusted-partner channel with improved communication, more transparency, and faster response times. "I think Meta needs to commit to reform and a genuine codesign of the program," Copeland said. "So far, we haven't seen that commitment, but it's a work in progress." Additional reporting by Reem Makhoul Are you a Meta trusted partner and would like to speak with me about your experience with the program? You can reach out to Tekendra Parmar on Signal: +1 347 770 4163. You can email me at tparmar@insider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider Kwame Nkrumah Tomb Ghanas historic Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra reopened its doors on Tuesday following a comprehensive renovation to preserve the legacy of the countrys first president. The park, originally established in 1992, has undergone a transformative makeover as part of a government-led initiative to bolster tourism and hospitality as pivotal drivers of socioeconomic progress in Ghana. The recent renovations have introduced several noteworthy additions to the park, including a digitalized payment system, a cafeteria, a mini-amphitheater, the Freedom Walk, and a presidential library. Ghanas government expects to enhance the overall visitor experience through these new features. Also, they believe that visitors can contribute to the parks status as a prominent cultural and heritage destination. During the reopening ceremony, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo reaffirmed Ghanas commitment to transforming the memorial park into a premier tourist attraction in West Africa. Emphasizing the significance of Kwame Nkrumahs contributions as an outstanding Pan-Africanist, the president stressed the importance of showcasing his remarkable efforts in liberating Africa from colonialism and imperialism. Hopes To Double the Influx of Tourists in Ghana President Akufo-Addo expressed his hopes that the renovated park would attract a larger number of visitors, aiming to double the current yearly count of 90,000 tourists. The governments ambitious plans for the site align with its broader strategy to capitalize on Ghanas rich cultural heritage and historical landmarks to boost the tourism industry and stimulate economic growth. Pierre Laporte, the World Bank national director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, praised the successful rehabilitation of the park and pledged ongoing assistance to Ghanas burgeoning tourism sector. Recognizing Kwame Nkrumah as a pivotal figure in 20th-century politics, Laporte commended the efforts to preserve his memory and promote his lasting influence on the continent. Since the Ghanaian governments The Year of Return initiative in 2019, African American travelers have been drawn to Ghanas vibrant culture and historical sites. Celebrities and influencers share their transformative experiences on social media, while the countrys stunning beaches, markets, and festivals attract visitors. A class action lawsuit brought against Macys more than five years ago was settled on May 1 in an Ohio U.S. District Court. The suit alleged the department store chain and manufacturing partner AQ Textiles inflated the true thread count of bedding and linen products, giving customers the false impression they were getting a higher quality product at a higher price point. More from Sourcing Journal The preliminary approval of the class action settlement signed by Judge Douglas R. Cole did not disclose monetary details of the settlement. However, a press release issued by court-appointed claims administrators on July 7 stated the settlement amount at $10.5 million. In the suit, original plaintiffs Amy Hill of Missouri and Californian Sarah Hawes claimed they were deceived by the thread counts listed on the packaging. Hill said she purchased Fairfield Square 1000TC Luxury Sateen sheets from a Macys store in St. Louis in 2016 but discovered the actual counts were lower. Hawes purchased her 900-thread-count queen-sized sheet set for $69.99 at a Macys store in Beverly Hills. Like Hill, Hawes claimed she was duped into believing the sheets contained a higher thread count and thus of higher quality, softer and better for sleep than sheets with lower thread counts. The real thread count of the sheets Hawes purchased was approximately 249, the complaint said. The suit contended that Macys inflated the actual thread counts by counting each strand of yarn, plied from an original thread and twisted back together, thereby doubling or tripling the actual thread count. The suit pointed to the prevalence of this practice in the textile industry, citing a Aug. 2, 2005 letter sent by the Federal Trade Commission to the National Textile Association that suggested the following remedy: A possible non-deceptive way to disclose both the thread count and the yarn ply would be to state, for example: 300 thread count, two-ply yarn. A representation of 600 thread count for this same product would likely mislead consumers about the quality of the product being purchased, the FTC wrote in response to a request from the NTA for an opinion on the matter. In 2013, the NTA merged with the National Council of Textile Organizations and the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition. Story continues The FTC has since declared the practice inappropriate, but hasnt banned it altogether. But the inappropriate label has opened the door to numerous lawsuits and companies that have been sued for allegedly inflating thread counts including Ross in 2021, and Simmons Bedding Company, which in May was sued in a California District Court for describing Simmons Beautyrest products as having a 1,000 thread count when the actual number was 216. A representative for Macys told Sourcing Journal the company does not comment on pending litigation. Consumers who purchased chief value cotton (CVC) sheets supplied by AQ Textiles, LLC, from a Macys store in the U.S. or at macys.com between Nov. 8, 2013 and March 24, 2023, could be eligible for compensation, the release said. Settlement class members must file their objections with the Cincinnati court by Sept. 6, 2023. A Sept. 20, 2023 approval hearing will determine whether the settlement should be ratified as fair, reasonable, and adequate. A final approval hearing is set for Oct. 20, 2023. Click here to read the full article. Participants pose for a photo during the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) VILNIUS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) gathered here on Tuesday for a two-day summit that seeks to address "the most pressing challenges" facing the alliance amid protests and growing criticisms. Strengthening defense and bridging differences on the Ukraine conflict are on top of the summit's agenda. The alliance aims to adopt three regional defense plans backed by 300,000 troops on high readiness. NATO also wants its member states to agree on "a more ambitious" defense investment pledge to spend a minimum of 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) annually on defense. After "nine consecutive years of increased defense spending" since 2014, only 11 of the alliance's 31 members have reached or exceeded this target. On Wednesday, the inaugural meeting of the new NATO-Ukraine Council will be held with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in attendance. NATO members are still divided on how to put Ukraine on a path to membership. Ahead of the summit, protests against NATO have been held in several European countries, while politicians and experts criticized the alliance's expansion and its impacts. Pointing out that the summit will see "calls for further escalation" of the Ukraine conflict, the Stop the War coalition organized a day of protests across Britain on Saturday, calling for peace. In Paris, a march against the military alliance drew hundreds of people, with many calling for France to withdraw from NATO. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova predicted the summit would be "a colorful spectacle in the worst traditions of Western manipulation," according to the RIA news agency. "NATO is not a defense alliance; it is an alliance that wages illegal wars," Sevim Dagdelen, a member of the German Left Party, told Xinhua, accusing NATO of fighting a proxy war against Russia by supplying military aid to Ukraine. A screen at the media center of the NATO summit shows NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg presiding over the summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) Participants are pictured at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023.(Photo by Alfredas Pliadis/Xinhua) The pilot has had aviation-related run-ins with the National Park Service before. A Colorado man is facing big fines and possible jail time after he landed a helicopter on a remote beach on the shore of Jackson Lake in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park. According to a National Park Service (NPS) press release, park rangers were alerted to the illegal landing at approximately 3 p.m. on Saturday June 24. They responded by boat and issued Peter Smith of Gunnison, Colorado two federal citations. Rangers said they found Smith and a woman lunching by the lake in an area thats only accessible by boat or a 10-mile hike, and Smiths aircraft was parked next to them on the gravel. "The unauthorized landing of helicopters is prohibited on the lands and waters within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park in order to protect wildlife and other natural resources and to preserve the visitor experience," NPS stated in the July 10 press release. In an interview with the Associated Press, Smith denied the agency's claim that he was picnicking along the lakeshore when rangers showed up to write him a ticket. We were trying to cross over the Tetons and we couldnt so we landed, Smith, owner of West Elk Air told the AP. We were not having a picnic. We were landing. If thats the safe course of action, thats what needs to happen. Smith has been cited for aerial antics before. He paid a $530 fine for flying too low across Colorado's Gunnison National Park in February. Grand Tetons penalty could be more severe. He faces two misdemeanor counts: One for operating an aircraft in an undesignated location and another for not following Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Combined, the penalties could total $10,000 and/or one year in jail. Smith will face a federal judge in Wyoming August 15. Read Next: Watch an 11-Year-Old Angler Reel in a 257-Pound Tuna Jackson Lake lies on the northern end of Grand Teton National Park near the southern boundary of Yellowstone in northwest Wyoming. The 25,000-acre lake is encircled by stunning views of the nearby Teton Range. Moran Bay, where Smith illegally landed his chopper, is roughly 26 miles from the town of Jackson Hole, as the crow flies. Metropolitan rail networks in Southeast Asia are set to experience a 20 percent growth by the end of next year, according to an analysis by Nikkei. The region faces the urgent need to tackle congestion and reduce vehicle emissions, driving the expansion of these rail systems. Nikkeis analysis focused on the commuter rail systems in major cities and capital regions across Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Bangkoks Yellow Line Thailand has taken a step forward with the inauguration of the Yellow Line. This line connects the outskirts of Bangkok to Samut Prakan province. With 23 stations, this elevated monorail has attracted attention since its recent opening. During the trial run in June, over 680,000 passengers rode the Yellow Line in two weeks. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha took a test ride and praised the experience, describing it as comfortable. He urged citizens to embrace this new transportation option. Operated by Eastern Bangkok Monorail, a joint venture between BTS Group Holdings and investors, including Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction, the Yellow Line is part of Thailands ongoing efforts to expand its metro rail network. Including subways, Thailands rail lines is approaching the coverage of leading Southeast Asian metro rail countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Vietnams First Metro Rail Line Photo credit: Unsplash Vietnam is preparing for the opening of its first metro line in Ho Chi Minh City next year. With 14 stations, this new line will be a significant addition to the countrys developing urban rail networks. In the Philippines, the Metro Rail Transit network also is expanding. San Miguel, a local conglomerate, recently announced that it has raised $1.79 billion for the construction of Line 7, which will connect the Manila metropolitan area with outer-ring communities. The President and CEO of San Miguel, Ramon Ang, highlighted the projects impact on job creation, local economies and opportunities for Filipinos. Story continues Southeast Asias rapid urban population growth and booming economy have led to severe traffic congestion and increased air pollution from vehicle emissions. Expanding metro networks has become a shared challenge among these countries as they aim to reduce commuting times and address environmental concerns. Japan and Europe Lead The Way In Contracts To Build Metro Lines Japanese and European rail infrastructure companies have been at the forefront of securing contracts in Southeast Asia. Japan with its extensive subway network plans to export its construction and operational expertise to the region, which it considers a key market. Chinese enterprises have made notable contributions to rail projects in the region, including the construction of the high-speed railway connecting Laos with Chinas Yunnan province. China is also leading Indonesias high-speed rail line, expected to commence service this year, putting them in competition with Japanese and European suppliers in the regions metro rail projects. One significant aspect of Southeast Asian rail networks is the absence of uniform nationwide systems, as countries practice a form of balanced diplomacy, maintaining favorable ties between the Eastern and Western camps. As a result, trains operate under different standards depending on the specific line. Photo credit: Red Line SRTET While rail projects present opportunities for real estate development, many Southeast Asian cities have a limited land capacity to expand. As a result, housing and commercial facility projects related to rail lines in the region are constrained. Junichiro Haseba, executive vice president of consultancy SBCS, highlights challenges countries face while striving to expand their metro rail networks. The region must find innovative solutions to overcome these obstacles in pursuit of efficient and sustainable urban transportation. A toddler in Arizona is dead after her mother ran her over while trying to maneuver her car, officials say. The Yavapai County Sheriffs Office said in a news release that deputies responded on Thursday morning after a woman in Cottonwood, Arizona, called 911 reporting that she had run over her 13-month-old baby with her car. The womans car was reportedly parked in a tight space in a gravel area near the home. Before the incident, she had positioned the baby in a car seat outside the car in an area she felt was safe, according to the release. While repositioning the vehicle, the front tire caught the canopy of the car seat, causing it to fall backward which led to the infant suffering critical injuries, the sheriffs office said. The child, whom law enforcement has not publicly identified, was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Medical personnel were performing life saving measures on the infant when YCSO arrived, but despite their heroic efforts, the child was pronounced deceased at the Verde Valley Medical Center, the release said. An investigation is ongoing, and its unclear if the woman will be charged in connection with her daughters death. The YCSO noted in its release that it has no further comment at this time. Its difficult to see both Manhattan and the Hamptons in one short stay, but the James New York NoMad has devised a way for travelers to enjoy the two upscale destinations in a single day. The 337-key boutique hotel just unveiled a new package that includes an overnight stint in the city and a beachside lunch in affluent East Hampton. Guests will be chauffeured between the two destinations in a private helicopter, no less. More from Robb Report The experience kicks off at the James. Set within an early 20th-century Beaux-Arts building on the corner of 29th Street and Madison Avenue, the hotel acts as a sophisticated sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding concrete jungle. Guests will enjoy one night in a Jimmy Suite, which offers separate living and sleeping areas, a custom-designed king-sized bed, and two full-size bathrooms upon request. The exterior of the James. The next morning breakfast will be served in Scarpettas cafe. The on-site Italian restaurant does lunch and dinner, too, if youre peckish at any other time. The hotel also has a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge called the Seville if you fancy a tipple at any point throughout your stay. A Blade helicopter will fly you to East Hampton. After breakfast, guests will board a Blade chopper for a 40-minute flight to East Hampton that includes a private tour of the area. You might remember the James and Blade previously offered a similar trip from N.Y.C. to Miami. The picnic will be set up next to a picturesque beach. A private car will then take you to a plush beachside location for lunch. Designed by Hamptons Picnic Co., the custom pop-up picnic will include three courses of locally curated fare from Harbor Market & Kitchen in Sag Harbor. Lobster rolls, anyone? You and your guest will also be gifted two bottles of local rose from Wolffer Estate to enjoy after the trip. Story continues The picnic includes three courses plus wine. Youll head home before sunset and arrive back in Manhattan for dinner in the Big Apple. The Michelin Guide just added 14 new restaurants to its New York list so you have plenty of places to choose from. The Hamptons Day Trip starts at $6,106 for two people. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Hawaiian professional surfer Mikala Jones passed away at the age of 44 while surfing in North Sipora in Indonesia. As reported by Surfline, Jones and his family were staying at the Awera Resort at the time. On Sunday, July 9, at approximately 9:15 a.m., Jones was surfing when he suffered an accident involving his surfboard that caused a long wound on the inside of his left groin. Jones was quickly escorted by boat to Tuapejat Pier where he was rushed to Mentawai Hospital by staff. He was declared dead at the hospital. No further details have been shared yet. >>> Sign up for Parade's Trending News newsletter and we'll keep you in the know on the viral pop culture moments and celebrity news everyone is talking about <<< After news came out about Jones' passing, his daughter Isabella shared an emotional message about her father on Instagram. Alongside photos of the two and various personal moments, she wrote, "Im not sure how to put this in words, but my dad got into a bad surfing accident and didnt make it. I'm happy he was doing what he loved the most. Life will never be the same without you. I miss you so much, i would do anything to get one more moment, even if it was us arguing and then laughing our asses off." She went on, "Thank you for teaching me so many life lessons, and always being there for me. I wish you were still here with us right now. I will always be think about you dad i love you so much, thank you for everything fly high ur a f-----g legend." Brian Bielmann, surf photographer and close friend, shared a couple of photos of Jones and noted his passing, before writing, "Were gonna miss him so much. Ive been sitting her all morning trying to grasp this reality . We all will pass on but its so shocking when its so unexpected like this. Story continues "What he packed into his 44 years was astounding. He lived a great life was loved by many and will never be forgotten. He left this world a beautiful soul can any of us ask to live a better life than that .Aloha Mikala We love you buddy," he concluded. Many more friends and colleagues in the surfing world also shared similar tributes, condolences, and kind messages about Mikala after his death. Jones is survived by his wife, Emma, their children, and his three siblings, fellow professional surfers Malia, Keoni, and Daniel Jones. Next: Andrea Evans, Soap Opera Star, Dead at 66 The sights and sounds of Talia Goddess musical library are something of a vortex into her eclectic yet enchanting world. From being a must-watch artist and producer to a recognized entrepreneur with the music label TRANCE, her multifaceted creative life means she spends her days chasing a melting pot of different influences in order to drive the music and culture of tomorrow. Its what allows her to speak to a new generation of diverse artists through her work. Drawing a parallel between Talias inspiring day-to-day life and Ray-Bans new concave eyewear collection, the brand releases a new campaign exploring how curiosity helps the two stay ahead of the curve in their creation. Produced by Hypebeast, the visuals see the two forces unite with the brands innovative eyewear collection becoming a new lens in which the artist breaks boundaries through an enriched receptiveness to experiences in the outside world. Driving around New York with your friends, blasting music and taking turns on AUX. You can kind of go anywhere, says Talia as she guides the way through her hometown in an update of the classic Wayfarer. Though it's a busy street bustling on every corner with shops, barbers and food stalls, the artist has drawn much of her inspiration from her hometown in Brooklyn, with its predominant Caribbean diaspora lending to her enrapturing sound. She finds the area to be an unfiltered environment where she is free to clear her mind and just look around. The biggest part of Talias creative process comes down to observation before creation. Using the collections elevated functionality, the new Ray-Ban lenses give the artist an enhanced view of her subjects and surroundings. The diverse communities in my day-to-day life show me how different lives are happening simultaneously, she says as she gazes out. Im an introspective person so I get to see this collective experience as well as the individual experiences. It allows me to connect the dots. From New York to London, and other cities where she finds herself performing, she uses new locations as an opportunity to take in alternative narratives. Fresh ideas and new perspectives are what keeps my sound evolving, she says. I will try everything and see what works and see what doesn't. Whether it's playing with the words that people didn't know that they needed to hear, or like the beats that they didn't know that could ignite a certain kind of rhythm or musicality. Like Ray-Bans one-of-a-kind collection, Talias storytelling is an example of how experimenting with the unknown can result in something game-changing. She hopes that with her growth she can inspire others to find their own truth and live their own purpose. Jumping off her skateboard and into a new journey she explains, This is what it means to be a leader, having the responsibility to play a proactive role for yourself and the community. A uniting perspective that continues to push both Talia and Ray-Ban to stay ahead of their curve. Go behind Talias creative journey in the campaign above. Shop Ray-Bans new Reverse collection by heading to the brands website or stores worldwide now. Roscioli has put down roots outside of Rome. The beloved Italian restaurant group found a kindred spirit in New York restauranteur Ariel Arce, and teamed up to open Roscioli NYC, its first location outside of Italy. The Roscioli family is pretty institutional in Rome, says Arce, whose other projects include Airs Champagne Parlor and Tokyo Record Bar. The Roscioli portfolio includes Salumeria Roscioli, a delicatessen turned restaurant, as well as the original bakery, cafe and wine bar. More from WWD The Roscioli NYC space was previously home to Niche Niche, Arces dinner party concept that was helmed by a rotating cast of beverage professionals and chefs. In 2021, the Salumeria Roscioli team was invited for a weeklong residency, which kicked off a bigger conversation around working together to bring Roscioli Stateside. Several months after that initial pop-up, Arce traveled to Italy and reconnected with the team, discovering that they were running similar culinary concepts in different cities. Were just planting seeds in a soil that was already fertile, because Niche Niche was already that thing, says Rimessa Roscioli partner Alessandro Pepe, who moved to New York earlier this spring along with chef Tommaso Fratini for the projects opening. This place is absolutely an homage to what exists in Rome, but were not unrealistic about the reality that we cant replicate what theyre doing nor are we trying to, says Arce. But we are trying to make them very proud. The bi-level space includes two separate concepts. The downstairs dining room, now open, is serving a tasting menu in a cozy dinner-party atmosphere similar to Niche Niche, while the upstairs Salumeria, opening later this summer, will house a delicatessen and more casual wine bar. Roscioli branded products and sourced wines will be for sale alongside a selection of cheeses, meats and prepared items; the wine bar will serve pasta, burrata and other Roman dishes. Story continues While some ingredients and items for sale will be sustainably imported from Italy, the team is mirroring the quality-first focus of the original restaurant in Rome by working with an upstate New York farm collective to source local milk and other produce. Were using the mentality of what the Romans would be doing by sourcing from Puglia, by us sourcing from upstate New York, Arce says. And then we get to pair that with all of these amazing preserved tomatoes and burratas and hams and canned products that we have. So its a nice balance to use that North Star to be able to develop the menu. Rather than replicating what exists in Rome, Roscioli NYC is more focused on mirroring a similar ethos: cultivating connections, whether thats through connection to an ingredient, person or place. The Alimentari is already leaning into the experiential; shortly before their official opening, the downstairs dining room hosted a discussion with several authors. The restaurant will also plans to host food artisans and producers. Pepe notes that the hope with the downstairs salon-style concept is to move away from the performative quality of dining, and create a space that transcends the culinary experience and dining trends. This place gains value if it is connected with Rome, if it is connected with winemakers and vineyards, Pepe says. We always risk that people will get tired of a place, he adds. When you give people something else, you create an attachment to a place that is more significant. Because its not just about the object, its about the relationship and the event. Our dogma is to not be dogmatic, Arce adds. Our goal is to make it very personable, very fun and not make it very precious. [Roscioli] has a tagline that is, at the end of the day, its just bread and salami. And thats very much the philosophy that we would like to talk about. At the end of the day, maybe thats all you need. Roscioli products for sale. Launch Gallery: Inside Roscioli's New York Restaurant Location Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. You can learn more about that process here. Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Sofia Vergara recently gifted her followers with a very special surprise for accomplishing a huge milestone on Instagram. (Hint: Its giving lavish vacay vibes.) In honor of hitting 30 million followers, the Modern Family actress thanked fans by posting not one, but two photos of herself posing in a neon green one-piece swimsuit. In the special snaps (taken during her trip to Italy), Vergara rocked the summery outfit while standing on a balcony in front of a beautiful backdrop. The caption read: 30,000,000 followers!! [red heart emojis] Thank u to u all! Thank u for always being there for me! Thank u for always supporting me in everything I do!! Besos from Italy!! We dont know the exact swimsuit that Vergara is wearing, but we found two similar options: Revolves Showtime One Piece ($120) in neon green and Left on Fridays Weekender Suit ($170) in apple green. Aside from hitting a major milestone on IG, the Americas Got Talent judge has been busy celebrating her 51st birthday with her closest friends. Shortly after posting the swimsuit pics, Vergara shared a photo of herself getting ready to attend her birthday dinner. In the caption, she wrote, Amigos!!! Bday weekend! In a more recent post, Vergara shared a series of swimsuit photos featuring herself relaxing on a yacht. She captioned the birthday slideshow, What a bday day!!! Congratulations on hitting such a huge milestone, Sofia! Want all the latest celebrity news sent right to your inbox? Subscribe here. Sofia Vergara Posts Cheeky Twitter Photo by Her Picturesque Swimming Pool PROVIDENCE SouthCoast Wind is denying allegations made by a state engineer that the company lied to regulators about permitting related to the $5 billion offshore wind farm it has proposed building off southern New England. In a letter filed with utilities regulators late Friday, the joint venture between Shell and Ocean Winds said the accusations contained in an email from David Ciochetto, an ocean engineer who is part of the team that reviews offshore wind projects for the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, are false. Contrary to the emails inaccurate assertions, SouthCoast Wind has and will continue to conduct its permitting and siting efforts in an open and transparent manner, diligently and in good faith, the company said in the filing with the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board. SouthCoast Wind has and will continue to work closely with federal and state regulators to satisfy their questions and concerns about this complex multi-jurisdictional project. A rendering of a wind farm proposed by SouthCoast Wind. SouthCoast Wind: CRMC is reviewing their Category B Assent application In a June 29 email to the coordinator of the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board and sent in the wake of a public hearing before the board on the SouthCoast Wind project, Ciochetto said the company made false statements in testimony about the state of a permit application filed with the coastal council and about discussions with a board that advises the council on fishing impacts from offshore wind development. Ciochetto said that, contrary to what SouthCoast Wind told the siting board, an application with the coastal council for the wind farms transmission cable was not moving forward and that no talks with the Fishermens Advisory Board had occurred. More on SouthCoast Wind: State engineer accuses SouthCoast Wind of lying to RI agencies. What the email says. In its letter, SouthCoast Wind pushed back against Ciochettos assertion about its application for whats known as a Category B assent for the transmission cable that would run through state waters and lands to a substation at the site of the former Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset. The application was filed in February and, although it has not been officially accepted for review, SouthCoast Wind has had five meetings with coastal council staff to discuss it, the company said. Story continues SouthCoast Winds filings with the Board for the Show Cause hearing fairly and accurately reported that the CRMC was currently reviewing the Category B Assent application, the letter said. CRMC contradicts engineer's email that SouthCoast Wind has been 'evasive' In a separate document filed Monday with the siting board, the coastal council said the sticking point for the application is that the company has failed to demonstrate that it has site control for the portion of the cable that would cut through Common Fence Point in Portsmouth. Please know that with any application to the CRMC, site control over which an activity is proposed is required to be shown so that the CRMC and the public at-large have assurances that the proposed activity has the permission of said property owner to perform the activity, if and once permitted, the council said. The council confirmed that discussions with the developer are continuing and that documentation on site control is anticipated. The letter also said Ciochettos email was not authorized by the council and contradicted his assertion that SouthCoast Wind had been evasive in its dealings with the coastal council. Due to CRMCs concurrent review of three to four offshore wind projects at one time, information requests between CRMC and SCW have not always been consistent, the council said. However, when CRMC has made information requests regarding various aspects of the project, SCW has been responsive, timely, and delivered the appropriate deliverables. More: Rhode Island is playing a key role in a pivotal year for offshore wind in America Fishermen's Advisory Board still contends they never met with SouthCoast Wind In its filing with the siting board, SouthCoast Wind also said it had met with members of the Fishermens Advisory Board in May 2022. The company gave a general overview of its project at that joint meeting with another panel that advises the coastal council, the Habitat Advisory Board. Moreover, during a Zoom meeting this past March that members of the FAB were invited to, the company presented its fisheries monitoring plan, according to the letter. The company said it had also been negotiating with Marisa Desautel, the FABs lawyer, about setting up an escrow account to pay for her legal fees a necessary next step in the FAB process, the letter said. But Desautel, who said last week that she had not attended any meetings between the board and SouthCoast Wind, filed a letter with the siting board saying that the companys statement about the May 2022 meeting appears to be misplaced. No substantive mitigation meetings have been held between the FAB and this developer, she said. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Offshore wind developer says they didn't lie to Rhode Island regulators Members of Victoria Police's tactical unit, known as the Special Operations Group A memoir by a former elite Australian police officer has been pulled from sale following questions over its accuracy. Released two weeks ago, Special Operations Group recounted Christophe Glasl's time as a member of the force. It told of murders, drug busts and the response to the Port Arthur massacre - Australia's worst mass shooting. But Victoria Police say Mr Glasl was not at Port Arthur and have cast doubts about his version of other events. Mr Glasl - who is described on LinkedIn as a self-employed author - has not responded to the allegations. He has been contacted for comment. Publisher Hachette Australia said it had come to its attention that some of the content in the book is "inaccurate". "We have taken the decision to withdraw this book from sale immediately while we undertake further review," a spokeswoman said in a statement. It has also removed mention of the book from its website. Hachette had previously promoted Mr Glasl's book as a "raw, behind-the-scenes look" at what went on in the Special Operations Group (SOG) - "where solidarity, camaraderie and loyalties were undermined by bullying, bastardisation, drug use, lies and betrayal". "It is... a gripping account of major jobs he attended: fatal shootings, a triple murder, a 100-million-dollar drug bust and the Port Arthur massacre, to name just a few." But in a statement, Victoria Police - where Mr Glasl is said to have worked for 16 years - raised questions about the accuracy of the book, including Mr Glasl's claims about incidents he attended. Of particular concern was a chapter focusing on his "claimed involvement" in the "resolution" of the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, the police force said. The Australian newspaper reported Mr Glasl has told his publishers that he was not in Tasmania on the day of the massacre and that he had always intended his account to be third-hand. Story continues In April 1996, 35 people were killed when gunman Martin Bryant opened fire at a former penal colony and tourist attraction. The mass shooting prompted a radical overhaul of the nation's gun control laws. A Victoria Police spokesperson told the Sydney Morning Herald that only 10 Victorian SOG members went to Tasmania that day. "To confirm, the former member was not part of the SOG deployment to Port Arthur nor was he even in Tasmania at the time," the statement said. BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development was held in Beijing on Monday. The conference was hosted by the China International Development Cooperation Agency with the theme "Global Development Initiative: Echo the Development Agenda and Call for Global Action." Focusing on eight key areas of cooperation under the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by China, more than 800 participants discussed and exchanged views on how to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity. In a congratulatory letter to the conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that development is the eternal theme of human society, and shared development is an important path to building a better world. As the largest developing country, China has always placed its own development within the larger context of human development and created new opportunities for the development of the world through its own development, Xi said. China will further increase its resource input for global development cooperation, work with the international community to further advance the GDI, and make new contributions to the realization of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, the Chinese president said. Xi's letter and the topics discussed at the conference have resonated with the participants who called for greater consensus and concerted efforts in accelerating common development. Reducing poverty and ensuring food security are important goals of the UN's sustainable development agenda. China's achievements in poverty eradication have been significant contributions to the global poverty reduction cause, and also brought important inspiration to other developing countries to get rid of poverty, said Kan Zaw, Union Minister of Myanmar's Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations. The GDI has made poverty reduction one of its key focuses, which is in line with common aspiration of people of all countries for a better life, and Myanmar fully supports the initiative, he said. "China has realized the poverty reduction target of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule, making positive contributions to the agenda's global implementation and setting an example for other developing countries," said Zhou Taidong, deputy director of the Center for International Knowledge on Development. President Xi's congratulatory letter once again demonstrated China's strong will and determination to implement the GDI, push the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and build a community with a shared future for mankind, Zhou said. Jong-Jin Kim, assistant director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said FAO highly appreciated China's strong commitment to international development cooperation and thanked the Chinese government for supporting South-South cooperation. The GDI's eight key cooperation areas are highly relevant to FAO's priorities, Kim said. FAO will continue to strengthen international cooperation with China in the food sector and make greater contributions to accelerating the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and building a world without hunger and poverty, Kim added. Xi's letter to the conference has reminded Lin Zhanxi, chief scientist of the China National Engineering Research Center for Juncao Technology, of using the Chinese-invented technology to assist other countries. Juncao, which literally means "mushroom" and "grass," refers to the technology using grass to grow mushrooms. China's Juncao technology has opened up a new path for developing countries, from South Pacific to Africa and Latin America, to increase employment, eradicate poverty, and achieve sustainable development, Lin said, adding that China has currently shared the technology with 106 countries worldwide. Ahmed Latheef, foreign secretary of the Maldivian foreign ministry, said the Maldives appreciates China's commitment to addressing climate change and achieving green development. The Maldives hopes to further cooperate with China in the blue economy and jointly promote the sustainable development of oceans and seas, he added. Ugandan Foreign Minister Odongo Jeje Abu expressed appreciation for China's contribution to the development of key infrastructure in Uganda. He said Uganda will continue to support the global initiatives proposed by China and expects the cooperation between Africa and China to reach a new high. Ban Ki-moon, former UN secretary-general and now chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, said only through joint efforts can the goals of sustainable development be realized. He called on all countries to unite as one and work together to achieve the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. To support the implementation of the GDI, China announced 32 concrete actions in 2022, half of which have been accomplished by now. The GDI project pool, with its first list of projects released last year, is being enlarged and now includes nearly 200 projects. China has created the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and increased its capital to 4 billion U.S. dollars. Over 100 countries and international organizations showed their support of the GDI, and nearly 70 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI. China has also signed Memorandums of Understanding on cooperation with nearly 20 countries and international organizations in this regard. The first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development is held in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) State prosecutors in Sarasota County filed charges against a New College of Florida student who allegedly spat on Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist vocally critical of diversity policies and critical race theory who was appointed as one of the colleges new trustees appointed to help transform the public liberal arts program. Catherine Libby Harrity, was named in a charging document accusing them of first-degree battery against Rufo at a May 15 state bill signing by Gov. Ron DeSantis on New Colleges campus. DeSantis visit drew vocal protest from students, who have organized against his reshaping of the college since January. The governor has said he wants to turn New College into a classical liberal college akin to the Christian, conservative Hillsdale College in Michigan. The charging document was not yet posted to the county's records website, but the State Attorney's Office confirmed its existence Monday. In a Twitter post, Rufo said Harrity broke the police line and spat on me as he was leaving the event and described the protesters outside the bill signing as a mob that surrounded me and screamed epithets. Reached for comment about the charge, Rufo responded with the same message he posted to Twitter. "I believe that everyone has a right to express dissent and engage in peaceful protest. But as a society, we must draw a line at politically motivated violence, which has no place in our public universities," Rufo wrote. In May, after a bill signing ceremony with Governor DeSantis, a mob of New College students surrounded me and screamed epithets. One of these students, Catherine Harrity ("they/them"), broke the police line and spat on me. She has now been charged with first degree battery. pic.twitter.com/B4pMlj1U99 Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) July 7, 2023 When contacted by the Herald-Tribune, Harrity referred to a previous quote given to the Tampa Bay Times. Story continues Rufo has already done so much to harass and harm students on this campus, Harrity said in an interview with the Times. The charges are an attempt to punish me and are a scare tactic to silence and harass students. Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at sbwalker@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New College of Florida student charged after complaint by trustee Rufo MARCO BERTORELLO - Getty Images Stage 11 - Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins (179.8km) - Wednesday, July 12 After a Rest Day sandwiched between two hard days in the hills, the Tours remaining field sprinters should get a chance to fight for the stage win in Moulins at the end of Stage 11, which might be their only chance to win one during the Tours second week. This isnt an easy stage, with three Category 4 ascents and a jagged profile throughout the first two thirds of the route. But things settle down considerably after the final climbthe Category 4 Cote de la Croix Blanchewhich the riders summit with 61.3km left to race. So theres lots of time for the sprinters teams to reel in whoever escaped earlier in the day. ASO As they head into Moulins for the finish, the riders will have two roundabouts to deal with followed by a right-left dog-leg with about 1,500m to-go. From there its more or less a straight shot to the finish line. The final 3km are flat as a pan, making this the perfect stage for the Tours purest sprinters. The intense heat of the past few days is expected to break overnight, with cloudy skies and temperatures in the high 70s expected throughout the day. Riders to watch This the first Tour de France stage finish in Moulins, but the town frequently hosts Marchs Paris-Nice. The Race to the Sun last visited in 2019, with Irelands Sam Bennett outsprinting Australias Caleb Ewan and the Netherlands Fabio Jakobsen to win the stage. Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe) didnt make the cut with his team this year, but Ewan (Lotto Destny) and Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step) are still in the race and desperate to win a stage for their respective teams. Of course, theyll both have Belgiums Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to contend with. Philipsens won three stages so far in this years Tour and is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. When to Watch With the race expected to end with a field sprint in Moulins, you can tune-in late on Stage 11. The stage is expected to end around 11:30 a.m. EDT, so tune-in about 30 minutes beforehand to check their progress and watch accordingly. You Might Also Like Historic properties made their way to the top of reader-voted hotels in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Courtesy of Riggs Washington D.C. The District of Columbia is known for its plethora of museums (many of them free), landmark buildings, and seasonal cherry blossoms. Lately, the new waterfront shopping and dining complex, The Wharf, has given travelers a fresh reason to visit. Regardless of what they plan to do in the nations capital, Travel + Leisure readers have just as many choices for where to stay, from historic grande dame hotels to stylish newcomers. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Courtesy of Riggs Washington D.C. What Readers Loved When it came to the best hotels in Washington, D.C., veteran luxury brands like Rosewood and Waldorf Astoria made the cut, and as did smaller independent properties that often (discreetly) welcome politicians and diplomats. One of these boutique winners is The Hay-Adams (No. 3), a nearly 100-year-old icon that sits across from whats arguably the worlds most famous address 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The Jefferson (No. 2) has an equally prime location near Dupont Circle and the National Mall. T+L readers praised its attention to detail: They thought of everything, down to having velvet stools for ladies pocketbooks, said one WBA voter. But that level of precision doesnt stray into fussiness, according to another reader who said the hotel feels like home cozy and comfortable, but all dressed up! Story continues A hallmark of the Conrad Washington D.C. (No. 7) was exceptional service. The staff extend themselves above and beyond every time, wrote one reader. For the second year in a row, relative newcomer Riggs Washington D.C. was T+L readers' pick for the best hotel in Washington, D.C. Read on to find out why it earned the top spot and to see the rest of the list. The Winner Riggs Washington D.C. Courtesy of Riggs Washington D.C. This property which opened in 2021 in a former bank building dating to 1891 is located in the citys energetic Penn Quarter, steps from the National Portrait Gallery. Of the 181 rooms, four special suites with soaking tubs and, in one, a baby grand piano pay homage to four First Ladies (Louisa Adams, Caroline Harrison, Ida McKinley, and Angelica Van Buren). All rooms feature elegant touches, such as Italian Carrara marble bathrooms and bold, jewel-toned fabrics. The design makes it, according to one reader, the chicest, most beautiful hotel in D.C, something Washington has long needed. The hotels beverage program is also earning raves, with the bar Silver Lyan, by celebrity mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana, being called the best cocktail experience Ive had in years by one visitor. The Full List 1. Riggs Washington D.C. Reader Score: 96.94 2. The Jefferson WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 94.79 3. The Hay-Adams WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 92.61 4. Thompson Washington D.C. Reader Score: 92.20 5. Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C. Reader Score: 90.75 6. Rosewood Washington, D.C. Reader Score: 90.40 7. Conrad Washington D.C. Reader Score: 90.39 8. Sofitel Washington D.C. Lafayette Square Reader Score: 89.70 9. InterContinental the Willard, Washington, D.C. Reader Score: 88.35 10. Park Hyatt Washington D.C. Reader Score: 86.93 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Readers had high praise for the incredible service and interesting itineraries on these river cruise lines in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Courtesy of Avalon Waterways A river cruise might just be the best way to see the world. Though many well-traveled readers have yet to hop aboard a river ship, those that have return home with high praise for this unique style of exploring. It makes sense: river cruises allow for slow and thoughtful enjoyment of a destination, while onboard amenities offer the kind of luxury found in five-star hotels. And its not just Europe: this years award winners have a global outlook, with operations on the Continent, yes, but also in Egypt, Southeast Asia, South America, and even closer to home in the U.S. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). For the cruise category, respondents were asked to rate individual ships; the results were separated by ocean cruises and river cruises. Ships were specifically rated on the criteria below: Cabins/facilities Food Service Itineraries/destinations Excursions/activities Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. What Readers Loved No. 2 Tauck held steady compared to last year, as voters praised the line for its faultless service and interesting itineraries. Its newest ship, Andorinha, launched in 2021 on the Douro River of Portugal, which is in huge demand among travelers these days. Another line thats making waves is No. 4 Viking, which added a couple of intriguing river ships in 2022: one, Viking Osiris, sails Egypts Nile River; another, Viking Mississippi, travels between St. Paul, Minnesota, and New Orleans. We loved our trip with Viking, one voter wrote. My husband had resisted going on a cruise for years, but now, after our sail on the Danube River, hes hooked. Story continues Moving up several spots from its 2022 ranking was No. 3 Grand Circle Cruise Line, which offers value-minded itineraries across Europe. My wife and I have been on seven of their ships on 10 different trips since 2004, said one devotee. Like all of those ships, River Aria is comfortable, clean, serves fantastic food, and has a great staff. Another surprise was this years top river cruise line: Aqua Expeditions rose from the fourth spot in 2022 to take the crown as the worlds best river cruise line this year. Read on for more on why it impressed. The Winner Aqua Expeditions Stevie Mann/Courtesy of Aqua Expeditions The brands three river ships are anything but ordinary: Aqua Mekong takes travelers on epic adventures in Cambodia and Vietnam, with temple touring and more recent history both on the agenda. Meanwhile Aqua Nera and Aria Amazon navigate the Peruvian stretch of this legendary river. All three vessels, none with more than 20 suites, offer a sense of privacy and exclusivity thats nearly impossible to find short of chartering ones own yacht. It was just amazing, marveled one guest, who traveled aboard the Aqua Nera, which entered service in 2021. Food is another focus for the line, which has partnered with the Peruvian chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, an expert on Amazonian ingredients, for culinary-minded voyages this year. The Full List 1. Aqua Expeditions Reader Score: 99.09 2. Tauck WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 95.69 3. Grand Circle Cruise Line Reader Score: 94.97 4. Viking WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 94.75 5. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 94.36 6. Oberoi Reader Score: 92.37 7. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours Reader Score: 90.15 8. AmaWaterways Reader Score: 90.14 9. Avalon Waterways Reader Score: 89.20 10. Emerald Cruises Reader Score: 86.21 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. The best domestic airlines in our Worlds Best Awards survey for 2023 prioritize safety and customer service. Chad Slattery/Courtesy of Alaska Airlines Though airlines have resumed nearly normal operations after the pandemic, 2022 was still a rough year for U.S.based operators. There were numerous meltdowns with delays, cancellations, and lost baggage yet prices were extremely high. "In general, good value, but post-COVID-19 prices have increased significantly," wrote one voter about Alaska Airlines (No. 2). As such, T+L readers have taken a pretty critical look at airlines to name the top domestic operators this year, highlighting the true best of the best in their reviews. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Airlines were specifically rated on the criteria below: Cabin comfort In-flight service Customer service Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Chad Slattery/Courtesy of Alaska Airlines What Readers Loved Interestingly, the top five airlines this year are the same as they were in 2022 though their order has shuffled around a little bit. Youngster Breeze Airways, which started operations in 2021 and made its WBA debut last year, has fallen two spots to No. 4. "Started off strong with cheap, on-time flights, but has had growing pains," one voter observed. Alaska Airlines, too, has fallen two spots to No. 5. Moving up two spaces each are Alaska Airlines (No. 2) and Delta Airlines (No. 3), with Delta's jump being particularly notable it had ranked No. 5 for the last four years. "I feel bad saying this because my mom was an American Airlines flight attendant for 20+ years, but the customer service for Delta cannot be beat," one WBA respondent said. Story continues But the winner is Hawaiian Airlines, which retains its No. 1 spot from last year. Though Hawaiian is a WBA Hall of Fame honoree, this is only its second year in the top spot. Read on to learn why readers picked Hawaiian Airlines as the World's Best domestic airline once again, and see the full list of winners. The Winner Hawaiian Airlines Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines If you're planning to fly to Hawaii, there's no better airline to book than Hawaiian. Voters praise the airline for, well, pretty much everything. "I think Hawaiian Airlines is seriously underrated. It's probably the best U.S. airline for service, friendliness, and food," one voter said. Another customer lauded Hawaiian for its effective communication regarding flight status updates, which is crucial in this era of delays and cancellations. If there's any room for criticism, it's primarily for its small route network though Hawaiian does fly to several international destinations across the Pacific, including Japan, and recently launched nonstop service to the Cook Islands. "Comfort, good food, and good service. All necessary for a long flight," noted one voter. "Comfort, good food, and good service." T+L Reader The Full List 1. Hawaiian Airlines WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 81.63 2. Alaska Airlines Reader Score: 77.25 3. Delta Air Lines Reader Score: 76.87 4. Breeze Airways Reader Score: 75.94 5. JetBlue Airways WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 75.80 6. Southwest Airlines WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 73.76 7. United Airlines Reader Score: 68.97 8. American Airlines Reader Score: 66.56 9. Sun Country Airlines Reader Score: 66.51 10. Allegiant Reader Score: 64.54 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Charming hotels took over the list of voter-ranked accommodations in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Courtesy of The Loutrel Throughout the past decade, plenty has changed in Charleston, South Carolina, but one thing has not: Travel + Leisure readers have ranked the Holy City the No. 1 city in the United States for more than 10 years running. During that time, new restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels have popped up in the historic lower peninsula neighborhoods and beyond, and the city has become all the more accessible thanks to increased airline routes to and from destinations around the country. But the things that make Charleston unique a charming waterfront setting packed with history, top-notch drinking and dining, and warm Southern hospitality entice visitors to travel down to the South Carolina Lowcountry year after year. And lucky for them, there are plenty of fantastic places to stay in Charleston just ask our readers. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Courtesy of The Loutrel What Readers Loved The 2023 list of reader-favorite hotels in Charleston shows that travelers really do love full-service luxury properties. That includes the palatial Hotel Bennett (No. 7) and the King Street icon, The Charleston Place (No. 12), along with beloved boutique hotels like French Quarter Inn (No. 8). HarbourView Inn (No. 9), which underwent a $1-million renovation in 2021, was praised by T+L readers for its excellent service; one reader even shared an anecdote in which the staff went above and beyond to cater to guests during a hurricane. Art-forward hotel The Vendue (refreshed just last year) in the No. 13 spot received praise for its rooftop bar and prime location, steps from some of the citys top attractions. Story continues Here are the hotels in Charleston that T+L readers can't stop raving about starting with 2023's top property, Wentworth Mansion. The Winner Wentworth Mansion Lindsey Harris Shorter After coming in second in last years ranking, Wentworth Mansion gained the top spot on this years list of the best hotels in Charleston. The historic home dating back to 1865 was transformed into a boutique hotel in 1997, welcoming guests to the picturesque Harleston Village neighborhood. Today the hotel offers 21 guest rooms and suites with period furnishings and modern comforts, and an expansive amenity menu includes daily breakfast, afternoon wine and hor d'oeuvres, complimentary valet parking, and fresh flowers. Several readers praised these amenities along with the hotel's warm service and interior design. One wrote, From the rooms, to the staff, to the food, to the location ... the Wentworth Mansion is just OUTSTANDING. "From the rooms, to the staff, to the food, to the location ... the Wentworth Mansion is just OUTSTANDING." T+L Reader The Full List 1. Wentworth Mansion Reader Score: 97.06 2. The Loutrel Reader Score: 96.59 3. Planters Inn Reader Score: 95.42 4. John Rutledge House Inn Reader Score: 94.38 5. Zero George Reader Score: 92.46 6. The Dewberry Reader Score: 92.17 7. Hotel Bennett Reader Score: 91.40 8. French Quarter Inn WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 91.00 9. HarbourView Inn Reader Score: 90.80 10. The Restoration Reader Score: 90.60 11. Emeline Reader Score: 89.88 12. The Charleston Place Reader Score: 89.80 13. The Vendue, Charleston's Art Hotel Reader Score: 89.64 14. Market Pavilion Hotel Reader Score: 89.60 15. Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton Reader Score: 89.25 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Manhattan cornered the market when it came to voter's top New York City hotels in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Courtesy of The Wall Street Hotel There is no place in the world like NYC. You can museum-hop or see a brilliant Broadway show in Manhattan, try mouth-watering cuisine in Queens, relax at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, catch a Yankee game in the Bronx, or take a free ride on the iconic Staten Island ferry. However you want to spend your time, Travel + Leisure readers will attest that the best hotels in New York City situate visitors in the middle of the action and provide an oasis for a good nights sleep before embarking on the next days adventures. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Courtesy of The Wall Street Hotel What Readers Loved Spanning the glamorous Upper East Side to downtowns vital Financial District, every hotel on this years list can be found in the borough of Manhattan. Hotels like The Lowell (No. 3), the Pierre - a Taj Hotel (No. 5), and the Waldorf Astoria New York (No. 8) stood out for their proximity to icons like the Museum of Modern Art and Central Park. Others, including Baccarat (No. 7) and the new Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad (No. 2), were lauded for their sublime service. I didn't touch a piece of luggage or a door handle my entire stay, one voter said of the latter. Story continues It was the bright and beaming Wall Street Hotel that reigned over all. Find out why readers chose it as this years best hotel in New York City. The Winner The Wall Street Hotel Greg Powers/Courtesy of The Wall Street Hotel In the heart of FiDi, this elegant 180-room property provides simple touches that didnt go unnoticed by T+L readers: heated bathroom flooring, Frette bed linens, and dog-friendly accommodations. Its an incredible addition to downtown NYC, said one voter, who also commented that the hotel was tastefully designed and had impeccable service. Complimentary bikes allow guests to zip around the city with ease, whether they want to head over to Battery Park or zip up the East Side. What one reader loved most were its spacious event spaces like the Gerdau Ballroom and Pearl Room: Wonderful venue for private events and dining. "The Wall Street Hotel is an incredible addition to downtown NYC." T+L Reader The Full List 1. The Wall Street Hotel Greg Powers/Courtesy of The Wall Street Hotel Reader Score: 96.80 2. The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad Opened in July 2022, this sophisticated newcomer debuted with 219 rooms, 30 suites, and 16 luxe residences, plus a serene spa and culinary outlets under the direction of chef Jose Andres. Reader Score: 96.15 3. The Lowell Nico Schinco/Courtesy of The Lowell It was our wedding anniversary and we were greeted with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc in our room and a note of welcome from the general manager, " says one enthusiastic T+L reader who praised the service. Quite nice treatment, having not stayed there before! Reader Score: 96.00 4, The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel Durston Saylor/Courtesy of The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel Voters flock to this Upper East Side property for its iconic bar: While Bemelmans Bar is enjoying a renaissance discovery from younger city residents, the hotel makes sure guests have priority seating and access," commented one WBA voter. "Always a classic for the martinis and music! Reader Score: 94.95 5. The Pierre - a Taj Hotel Donna Dotan/Courtesy of The Pierre, A Taj Hotel This 41-story landmark, with a three-story penthouse inspired by the Royal Chapel in Versailles, is known for its glamorous interiors and star-studded guests. The lovely staff and gracious service dazzled readers. Reader Score: 94.67 6. The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue Michael Weber/Courtesy of The Langham, New York One voter called this property, within walking distance of Grand Central Terminal and the stately New York Public Library, a hidden gem in NYC and the perfect place to be with your loved one. Reader Score: 93.78 7. Baccarat Hotel Eric Laignel/Courtesy of Baccarat Hotel A beautiful oasis in the middle of a very metropolitan area, declared one voter, whose comment mightve been inspired by the heated pool (white daybeds and cabanas are meant to evoke the Cote dAzur) or perhaps by the La Mer spa. Reader Score: 93.33 8. The Mark Todd Eberle/Courtesy of The Mark As a guest at this luxurious Upper East Side bolthole, located one block east of Central Park, you can request fine-dining delivery from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's kitchen straight to your room. Reader Score: 92.61 9. Soho Grand Hotel Courtesy of Soho Grand Hotel Fans of Soho Grand know they can count on the 17-story hotel for a festive night out. The menu is really good for eating and has an amazing variety of spirits in their whiskey bar, wrote one guest. Reader Score: 92.44 10. The Roxy Hotel Courtesy of The Roxy Hotel T+L readers homed in on a handful of specific attributes: It has some of the best coffee in the area, said one voter. Another reader commented on its memorable staff: Marko, the night manager, stood out as providing truly great service. Reader Score: 91.89 11. The Plaza Hotel Richard Mandelkorn/Courtesy of The Plaza a a Fairmont Managed Hotel This iconic hotel is all the magic it is made out to be, shared one pleased guest of the Central Park South landmark, which has appeared in North by Northwest, Baz Luhrmans version of The Great Gatsby, and countless other films. Reader Score: 91.76 12. Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown Courtesy of Four Seasons T+L readers adore this property for its authentic hospitality and attentive employees. It has the most incredible service and great soul, wrote one reader. The staff are genuine and truly care. Reader Score: 91.57 13. Pendry Manhattan West Courtesy of Pendry Manhattan West Just north of the bustling High Line, this stylish 164-room hotel part of the Hudson Yards complex appeals to both guests and locals with its hip lobby bar and its Eastern Mediterranean restaurant, Zou Zous. Reader Score: 91.56 14. Aman New York Kelly Marshall One reader raved about all there is to do in and around Aman New York, which opened last summer: Enjoy the different treatments at their huge spa facilities, eat at their top-notch restaurants, and enjoy their amazing Jazz Club. The hotel's also centered on Fifth Avenue for shopping and a trip to the MoMA. Reader Score: 91.45 15. The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel Courtesy of Hyatt This posh Financial District stalwart lays claim to two restaurants from two celebrity chefs (Tom Colicchio and Daniel Boulud), both of which earned raves from WBA voters. But even more than the high-caliber dining, readers appreciated the building itself a 19th-century landmark with an ornate, nine-level atrium that has been thoughtfully brought into the modern era, thanks to designer Martin Brudnizki. This hotel has so much history and charm without feeling old and dusty, wrote one person. Reader Score: 90.88 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. T+L readers chose European cities known for food, architecture, and a good deal in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images Did you know that, at midnight on New Years Eve, they waltz in Vienna (which snuck onto this years list at No. 15)? And that you can actually road trip from San Sebastian, Spain (No. 8) to Bordeaux, France (No. 14)? How about this one: did you know that you can cross a bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia (No. 9) that's guarded by four green dragons? Heres the point: Europe is full of magic, full of mystery, and full of surprises. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Cities were specifically rated on the criteria below: Sights/landmarks Culture Food Friendliness Shopping Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. What Readers Loved Spain had a fantastic year on this list. Four Spanish cities were named the best in Europe by T+L readers, trouncing Italy, Portugal, and Austria, each of which had two winners. From Seville (No. 6) to Madrid (No. 13), the Spanish cities mesmerized readers. We dont often see so many precious-stone analogies among reader responses. One voter called San Sebastian a jewel, another called Seville a gem. Its telling that the two Italian destinations both landed in the top five, with No. 2 Florence and No. 3 Rome. Rome is set to have a wild year, with a deluge of hotel openings, including a new Six Senses, Bulgari, InterContinental, and Edition, among others. Both cities made the list last year, but Florence gave up its No. 1 spot to last years runner-up: Istanbul. Story continues Read on to learn why Istanbul topped the podium this year and for more on the 15 best cities in Europe, according to T+L readers. The Full List 1. Istanbul, Turkey Kerem Uzel/Travel + Leisure Even as Turkey weathers the economic fallout from political and social unrest, a devastating earthquake, and the war in Ukraine, T+L readers still put Istanbul at the very top of the list. One reader said its a beautiful city with so much to offer, while another loved that its a city thats good for all budgets. Among readers, favorite sites include the Grand Bazaar, Sultanahmet Square where the Four Seasons claimed the title of Best Hotel in the World this year and, of course, the Bosphorous, Turkey's scenic strait bisecting Istanbul and connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Reader Score: 90.23 "Beautiful city with so much to offer." T+L Reader Suttipong Sutiratanachai/Getty Images 2. Florence, Italy Ah, Firenze. My favorite city in Italy, and maybe the world, said one voter, who added that theres really no wrong time to go. World-class art, food, and culture in the heart of Tuscany. Of course, the Uffizi Gallery is a must, and another reader added, you can't miss Galleria Accademia and seeing David. They also called Florence a perfect romantic destination! Reader Score: 89.48 Camilla Glorioso/Travel + Leisure 3. Rome, Italy Rome wasnt going to let Florence get away with being the only Italian city in the top five. One reader said the citys history, culture, and food are what make life worth living. Sightseeing recommendations from readers include the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Forum, Vatican City, Trastevere, and Villa Borghese. Reader Score: 88.91 Getty Images/Westend61 4. Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon is a hidden gem, one T+L reader said. Beautiful city. Fantastic shopping. Delicious food. Very friendly people. That about sums up our readers responses they love the history, architecture, food, affordability, and the beautiful beaches within a 30-minute drive. Our readers specifically recommended riding the clean metro and city trams, and taking a free walking tour of the Chiado area. Reader Score: 88.62 Wayfarerlife Photography/Getty Images 5. Porto, Portugal Looking to knock off two Worlds Best European cities in one go? One reader drove from Lisbon to Porto and said, the road trip itself was a delight; stopping in all the little towns in between was an amazing experience. That same reader said they were mesmerized by the food, the port tours, and the views of the Douro River. Reader Score: 88.09 Rory Fuller/Travel + Leisure 6. Seville, Spain Our readers rave about Seville because it's a relatively small city thats exceptionally easy to get around. Many say you dont need a car; one reader said their trains and buses are great and reasonable. The same person added people are very nice, restaurants are to die for, while another fan called Seville the gem of Andalusia. Reader Score: 87.83 Lauren Breedlove/Travel + Leisure 7. Ljubljana, Slovenia Slovenias capital, once under Habsburg rule, is a consistent favorite among T+L readers, ranking in the top 10 for the last two years. Reader Score: 87.82 Xantana/Getty Images 8. San Sebastian, Spain Why let Seville have all the glory? This city on the Bay of Biscay, so close to the French border its within driving distance from Bordeaux (No. 14), entrances readers. As one says, San Sebastian is one of my favorite cities in the world. It is beautiful with something for everyone; medieval city, beaches, the best restaurants in the world, culture, wine bars, sites, and nearby excursions. It's wonderful. Reader Score: 87.79 Alexander Spatari/Getty Images 9. Prague, Czech Republic The breathtaking beauty of Prague makes it a favorite among T+L readers. The architecture was phenomenal, one WBA voter said. The food was yummy, the city was easy to navigate, the people were friendly, and the place was very clean and well-maintained. Can't wait for a return visit. Reader Score: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images 10. Barcelona, Spain T+L readers love Barcelona for Antoni Gaudis Park Guell and Sagrada Familia, the al fresco restaurants lining Las Ramblas, and, of course, as a jumping off point to other smaller but no less idyllic Spanish cities, including those in the nearby Spanish wine region of Penedes. Reader Score: 87.66 Marie-Louise Titze/Getty Images 11. Salzburg, Austria Salzburg ranked higher than Vienna (No. 15) this year. The fourth-largest city in Austria is a marriage of old and new; its a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but this year it will get a brand-new Rosewood hotel. Reader Score: 87.53 Jess Macdonald/Travel + Lesiure 12. Edinburgh, Scotland Come for the history, stay for the idyllic Gleneagles Townhouse hotel, an It List winner this year. T+L readers say there is always more to explore in Edinburgh, whether this is your second visit or your 22nd. The highlight was probably the Original Rosslyn Inn, one reader said. A quaint bed-and-breakfast with a great restaurant; the staff were very helpful in guiding us around the small village and to the Rosslyn Chapel. Reader Score: 87.32 Rory Fuller/Travel + Leisure 13. Madrid, Spain The fourth Spanish city to make the list of best European cities, Madrid is the land of bocadillo de calamares, the Baroque arcades of Plaza Mayor, and dark El Greco paintings at the Prado Museum. It came in at No. 13, losing out to Edinburgh by just .04 points. Reader Score: 87.28 MarioGuti/Getty Images 14. Bordeaux, France Last year, Strasbourg was the only French city among readers' favorites in Europe. This year, the namesake hub of the Bordeaux wine region swooped in to nab the penultimate spot on the list. It is worth noting that one T+L reader succinctly commented, Wine! which about sums it up. Other readers touted the charming waterfront, classic architecture, and beautiful main square. But the best compliment of all? Very French, one reader raved. English not spoken by many. Thats how you know you picked the right city. Reader Score: 86.96 Alexander Spatari/Getty Images 15. Vienna, Austria Named the worlds most liveable city this year by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Vienna is where Gothic architecture meets postmodern design. The citys cup runneth over with charming bars serving Austrian natural wines, exceptional art museums (see: the new Albertina Modern), and a great transportation system makes it easy to get around, according to one T+L reader. Reader Score: 86.74 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. These glam properties perfect for chill staycations and international visits are celebrated by locals and visitors alike in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Courtesy of The Beverly Hills Hotel The best hotels in Los Angeles, according to T+L readers, nail that rare but important balancing act: attracting locals and visitors in equal measure. Residents of the Greater L.A. area often rely on these properties as social hubs, so theyre looking for hotels with stellar dining outlets, stylish bars that serve killer cocktails, and amenities like scene-y pools and serene spas that form the building blocks of a perfect staycation. Travelers, on the other hand, crave hotels with attributes that help them achieve the platonic ideal of a California getaway, whether thats proximity to the beach or the promise of rubbing elbows with famous clientele. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Courtesy of The Beverly Hills Hotel What Readers Loved Once again, the majority of T+L readers favorite hotels are situated on the Westside, with four in the tony enclave of Beverly Hills. Praise for the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel (No. 4) was particularly effusive. I'd rather be here than anywhere else in the world, wrote one guest. The history, the grandeur, privacy, and brunch on the patio at the Polo Lounge can't be beat. Red-carpet treatment, glorious rooms, impeccable service. Of course, the possibility of catching sight of Hollywood royalty is appealing to many visitors, one of whom touted her experience at another old-school gem, the No. 14 Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel: It was a wonderful site for the red-carpet after-party for the Oscars, which I attended. Story continues Still, Downtown L.A.s renaissance has been accompanied by the opening of several standout hotels. Among the newest is No. 6 Conrad Los Angeles, which opened in July 2022. Named on T+Ls 2023 list of the best new hotels, the 305-key property has already impressed readers with both its style and substance. The design is stunning, and the staff members are very dynamic and friendly, wrote one voter, who also praised the modern and well laid out rooms and the dining outlets directed by chef Jose Andres. Another DTLA honoree was the Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel (No. 9), which excelled with its hospitality. They made us feel so special the entire time, shared one reader. I left my laptop charger, and they overnighted it to me. Truly the best service. But in T+L readers eyes, nothing could beat a seaside location. Below, find out which Santa Monica retreat earned the No. 1 rank among the best hotels in Greater Los Angeles. The Winner Oceana Santa Monica: Santa Monica, California Lisa Romerein/Courtesy of Oceana Santa Monica, LXR Hotels & Resorts Perched on Ocean Avenue, this all-suite stunner makes the most of its prime, Pacific Ocean-facing real estate. We had a beautiful, clean suite with a fantastic ocean view, wrote one WBA voter, who also appreciated its sharp, attentive staff. Onsite amenities play up the seaside locale, too, with surf lessons, oceanfront yoga, and beach butler service all on offer. Menus at the guests-only bars and restaurants reflect a farm-to-table ethos, as chefs source ingredients from local producers at the nearby Santa Monica Farmers Market. In the evenings, the hotels rooftop Sunset Terrace offers a welcoming escape to savor drinks and the scenery. The Full List 1. Oceana Santa Monica: Santa Monica, California Reader Score: 96.35 2. LErmitage Beverly Hills: Beverly Hills, California Reader Score: 95.45 3. The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills: West Hollywood, California Reader Score: 95.10 4. The Beverly Hills Hotel: Beverly Hills, California Reader Score: 95.09 5. Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills: Beverly Hills, California Reader Score: 94.96 6. Conrad Los Angeles: Los Angeles, California Reader Score: 94.61 7. Santa Monica Proper Hotel: Santa Monica, California Reader Score: 94.29 8. The Garland: Los Angeles, California Reader Score: 93.38 9. Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel: Los Angeles, California Reader Score: 93.22 10. Shutters on the Beach: Santa Monica, California Reader Score: 92.38 11. Hotel Bel-Air: Los Angeles, California Reader Score: 91.30 12. Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills: Los Angeles, California Reader Score: 90.84 13. Pendry West Hollywood: West Hollywood, California Reader Score: 90.46 14. Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel: Beverly Hills, California Reader Score: 88.16 15. InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown: Los Angeles, California Reader Score: 87.16 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. These are the best stateside spots to relax island style, according to T+L readers who voted in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Michael Deemer/Getty Images Catching island vibes doesnt necessarily require a passport. With water views complimented by palm trees or pine trees, and outdoor activities ranging from swimming to hiking, every type of traveler is bound to find the island getaway they dream of right here in the United States if they know where to look. Luckily, T+L readers 2023 list of favorite U.S. islands can point them to pristine beaches and national parks, from Washington to Texas, and Florida up to Maine. The No. 1 spot on our domestic islands list this year went to the Golden Isles in Georgia, which climbed its way up from No. 5 in 2022. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Islands were specifically rated on the criteria below: Natural attractions/beaches Activities/sights Restaurants/food People/friendliness Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Michael Deemer/Getty Images What Readers Loved Travel + Leisure readers have long loved a Florida vacation especially with family but this year, theyre especially excited about its island destinations. Islands off of the Carolinas also took top spots some, like Hilton Head and Kiawah, charming readers over and over again. Off the New England coast, Maines Mount Desert Island and Massachusetts Nantucket both made the list. Heading west, readers loved South Padre Island in Texas for a relaxed vacation and Washingtons San Juan Islands for the dramatic scenery. And last years No. 1, Mackinac Island, Michigan, may have dropped to No. 2, but readers still cant resist its small-town charm. Story continues The Winner Golden Isles (Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, Sea Island, St. Simons Island) Courtesy of Explore Georgia Nestled between Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida, the Golden Isles consist of four barrier islands with wide stretches of sand, historical landmarks, and a variety of activities for all ages. The isles also boast antique shops, galleries, boutiques, and outdoor markets. And the Peach States beach destinations serve their own spin on beloved southern cuisine: coastal favorites like oysters and wild Georgia shrimp are aplenty. A visit to this Georgian gem is sure to give travelers a good dose of sun and sand with a side of southern charm, of course. The Full List 1. Golden Isles (Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, Sea Island, St. Simons Island), Georgia Reader Score: 92.15 2. Mackinac Island, Michigan Reader Score: 90.67 3. Kiawah Island, South Carolina Reader Score: 89.27 4. Mount Desert Island, Maine Reader Score: 86.77 5. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 85.55 6. Sanibel Island, Florida Reader Score: 84.96 7. Longboat Key, Florida Reader Score: 84.44 8. Amelia Island, Florida Reader Score: 84.19 9. Florida Keys, Florida Reader Score: 84.37 10. Captiva Island, Florida Reader Score: 82.90 11. San Juan Islands, Washington Reader Score: 82.60 12. Nantucket, Massachusetts Reader Score: 82.48 13. Daufuskie Island, South Carolina Reader Score: 81.94 14. South Padre Island, Texas Reader Score: 81.68 15. Outer Banks, North Carolina Reader Score: 81.61 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. CANBERRA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- An elderly man is in hospital after being attacked by a crocodile in Australia's Northern Territory (NT). The 67-year-old was swimming at Wangi Falls, a popular spot in the Litchfield National Park south of Darwin, on Monday when he was mauled by a saltwater crocodile estimated to be two meters long. He was given first aid at the scene by Taneka Starr, an off-duty police officer, and a nurse before being rushed to the nearby Batchelor medical center to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and back. He was later transferred to the Royal Darwin Hospital. Dean McAdam, head of Northern Australian Parks at the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security, said access to Wangi Falls would be closed until authorities could guarantee the public's safety. It is the fourth crocodile attack reported in the NT in 2023, none of which have been fatal. More than 160 crocodiles have been removed from waterways across the NT, including one measuring 3.4 meters from Wangi Falls in January. Trusted brands with locations in picturesque settings dominated the list of our readers favorite U.S. destination spas in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Fredrika Stjarne/Courtesy of Shou Sugi Ban House Whether its for a week or a weekend, visiting a destination spa can provide a much-needed reset. Away from the demands of daily life, these stunning retreats provide travelers with the mental, physical, and emotional space to set themselves on the path to feeling their best. Travel + Leisure readers know they dont have to venture far to experience some of the worlds most restorative destination spas especially if they live in California or Arizona. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Destination spas were specifically rated on the criteria below: Accommodations/facilities Treatments Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. What Readers Loved T+L readers are loyal when they find a brand they love perhaps thats why two properties from Canyon Ranch (including the Lenox, Massachusetts location, which has a newly renovated spa) and three from Miraval made the list of their favorite destination spas in the U.S. for 2023. One fan of Canyon Ranchs original Tucson location, which ranked No. 5, wrote about the impact of their most recent stay: You leave there feeling totally refreshed and grounded in yourself. It is my favorite place to reset and learn something new! Integrative wellness is key to the propertys philosophy, with services grouped into five categories: spa and beauty, fitness and movement, nutrition and food, health and performance, and mind and spirit. Focused programs are available to home in on specific concerns, but for guests who prefer to DIY their stay, wellness guides can help guests navigate the myriad options. Story continues Still, readers were drawn to plenty of independent spas. Located in Texas Hill Country, the 40-room Lake Austin Spa Resort (No. 11) impressed with its serene grounds, easy-going atmosphere, and variety of activities. Hikes, boat rides, exercise classes, cooking classes its impossible to do all of them, wrote one reader. In Arizona, the freshly reopened Mii Amo (No. 7) is situated in Boynton Canyon, one of Sedonas legendary energy vortexes. The setting surrounds you in nature and calms the soul, said one guest, who also appreciated the extensive property renovations. The casitas all have views that take your breath away and are so comfortable. And while readers dont need a January resolution to head to one of these retreats, many do make their trips an annual tradition. My first spend on myself every year, said one voter of Miraval Berkshires (No. 15). It's a deal I have with myself! That's how great this destination is for me. The Winner The Ranch Malibu: Malibu, California Courtesy of The Ranch Malibu Known for its structured fitness regimens and organic vegan meals, this iconic destination spa touts a results-driven approach that has made it legendary in wellness (and, yes, celebrity) circles. Readers raved about their stays, with one person remarking on the beautiful facilities and top-notch service, while another described their time onsite as amazing and dreamy. The multi-day programs have a reputation for being quite intensive blending low-impact exercise classes with rigorous hikes and the consensus seems to be that the experience is transformative, helping to break unwanted habits and kickstart improved well-being. "Beautiful facilities and top-notch service." T+L Reader The Full List 1. The Ranch Malibu: Malibu, California Reader Score: 97.18 2. Canyon Ranch Lenox: Lenox, Massachusetts Reader Score: 93.70 3. Hilton Head Health: Hilton Head, South Carolina Reader Score: 93.68 4. Golden Door: San Marcos, California Reader Score: 92.50 5. Canyon Ranch Tucson: Tucson, Arizona Reader Score: 92.36 6. Cal-a-Vie Health Spa: Vista, California Reader Score: 92.00 7. Mii Amo: Sedona, Arizona Reader Score: 91.41 8. The Lodge at Woodloch: Hawley, Pennsylvania WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 90.70 9. Miraval Austin: Austin, Texas Reader Score: 90.24 10. Shou Sugi Ban House: Water Mill, New York Reader Score: 90.14 11. Lake Austin Spa Resort: Austin, Texas WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 90.05 12. Ten Thousand Waves: Santa Fe, New Mexico Reader Score: 89.93 13. Miraval Arizona: Tucson, Arizona Reader Score: 89.72 14. Civana Wellness Resort & Spa: Carefree, Arizona Reader Score: 87.86 15. Miraval Berkshires: Lenox, Massachusetts Reader Score: 87.39 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Stunning natural settings gave Hawaiian resorts leverage among readers in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Courtesy of Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens Despite its relative remoteness, Hawaii continues to enthrall T+L readers with its natural beauty, distinct Polynesian culture, and a tourism infrastructure that seems to offer something for any type of traveler which is especially true for the vast range of hotels and resorts throughout this Pacific archipelago. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. What Readers Loved Our readers favorite Hawaiian resorts are located across the Island of Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, and Oahu, which also happen to be our readers five favorite Hawaiian islands. Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection had another strong showing this year, rising two spots to come in at No. 4. We stayed here for our honeymoon and it was such a great place, says one reader. The staff were so kind and wonderful to work with. We felt welcomed and at ease from the moment we arrived. The property, which completed a transformation in 2020, has managed to keep even longtime, pre-renovation guests coming back: We loved the Mauna Lani before Auberge updated the resort. We were worried that it would not have the wonderful aura that it had with its ancient fish ponds and lovely grounds. Well, it is now even better; the new pools are great, theres the same great beach and the food is much better. Story continues Over on Oahu Hawaiis most populous island and home to the capital, Honolulu Kaimana Beach Hotel (No. 3) impressed with maybe one of the best locations, with the beach right outside, and a gorgeous view of the ocean and the splendid sunsets. Another reader mentioned the service, noting that everyone was so lovely and helpful. For the second year in a row, though, it was Maui's Hotel Wailea that earned the top spot. Read on for more about what made it the favorite, as well as the full list of the best resort hotels in Hawaii. The Winner Hotel Wailea: Maui, Hawaii Courtesy of Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens Wailea is one of the main tourist zones on Maui, though you wouldnt know it while staying at Hotel Wailea, this years top resort in Hawaii. Its not on the beach but is perched on a hill overlooking the ocean. Theres a shuttle down to one of the best beaches in Maui, explained a reader. Its under-the-radar location and adults-only policy make it one of the quietest stays on Maui a sharp contrast to the big, bustling resorts on the shore below. Other standout features, according to another voter, include some of the best cocktails I have had and wonderful food. But the very best thing is the Birdcage, an open-air bar where dozens of birds nest, and from where you can watch the sunsets. Its heaven on earth. "Its heaven on earth." T+L Reader The Full List 1. Hotel Wailea: Maui, Hawaii Reader Score: 94.85 2. Montage Kapalua Bay: Maui, Hawaii Reader Score: 94.18 3. Kaimana Beach Hotel: Oahu, Hawaii Reader Score: 93.93 4. Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii Reader Score: 93.80 5. Halekulani: Oahu, Hawaii WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 93.76 6. The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua: Maui, Hawaii Reader Score: 93.56 7. The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii Reader Score: 93.19 8. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea: Maui, Hawaii WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 92.84 9. Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 92.53 10. (tie) Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort on Po'ipu Beach: Kauai, Hawaii WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 92.00 10. (tie) Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii Reader Score: 92.00 12. Four Seasons Resort Lanai: Lanai, Hawaii WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 91.89 13. Fairmont Kea Lani: Maui, Hawaii Reader Score: 91.80 14. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 91.49 15. Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort: Oahu, Hawaii Reader Score: 91.16 16. Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina: Oahu, Hawaii Reader Score: 90.29 17. Turtle Bay Resort: Oahu, Hawaii Reader Score: 90.15 18. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach: Oahu, Hawaii Reader Score: 89.50 19. Hana-Maui Resort, Destination by Hyatt: Maui, Hawaii Reader Score: 89.25 20. The Kahala Hotel & Resort: Oahu, Hawaii Reader Score: 89.24 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Travel + Leisure readers voted these as their favorite sunny island resorts in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Courtesy of Belmond The Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas boast some of the world's most pristine beaches, with crystal-clear water and tropical temperatures. Whether it's the soft beaches of the Bahamas or the lush rainforests in Dominica, these islands have something for everyone. Outdoor enthusiasts, for example, can immerse themselves in activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, zip lining, and sailing. But the islands are also known for their rich history and vibrant culture, which is reflected in their colorful architecture, culinary offerings, and music scene. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Courtesy of Belmond What Readers Loved Readers showed their love for St. Lucia this year, with five properties making the top 25 list, followed by Turks and Caicos with four resorts. In fact, this year's runner-up is Cap Maison Resort & Spa in St. Lucia, which rose the ranks from No. 7 last year. This property has views, villas, and private pools but it's a dream for food lovers. Think fine-dining venues with panoramic views, pop-up dinners with visiting chefs, and wine tastings at this all-inclusive resort. Story continues No. 4 Kamalame Cay on the Bahamas' Andros Island has an overwater spa, which one T+L reader said was the best part of the trip. Arubas Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort (No. 7) a T+L reader calls it heaven on Earth offers a multitude of tours, like a guided walk of Arubas downtown, a food tour visiting locals' favorite restaurants, or even a closer look at Arubas 160-year history of aloe farming. And Ambergris Cay in Turks and Caicos (No. 5) offers a guided whale-watching tour with a marine biologist. The No. 1 spot this year went to the Dominica resort that won last year, too: Secret Bay. Read on to learn why this Dominica enclave continues to top the list. The Winner Secret Bay: Portsmouth, Dominica Courtesy of Secret Bay Tucked in the Eastern Caribbean Sea is the island nation of Dominica, which was also named the best island in the Caribbean by T+L readers this year. On the eastern side of the island is an all-villa hotel called Secret Bay. I would recommend Secret Bay for everybody wanting a home away from their home, one T+L reader said. Another fan summed up the property in two simple words: absolutely excellent. The secluded clifftop villas each come with their own butler, indoor and outdoor living spaces, private plunge pool, gourmet kitchen (with a private chef), and covered terrace with sea views. Guests can indulge in outdoor activities like snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding, and kayaking; cultural experiences like a cooking class; or self-care experiences like yoga and a massage at the on-site wellness pavilion. The Full List 1. Secret Bay: Portsmouth, Dominica Reader Score: 98.30 2. Cap Maison Resort & Spa: Gros Islet, St. Lucia Reader Score: 96.80 3. Point Grace: Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos Reader Score: 96.73 4. Kamalame Cay: Kamalame Cay, Andros Island, The Bahamas Reader Score: 96.67 5. Ambergris Cay: Big Ambergris Cay, Turks and Caicos Reader Score: 96.46 6. Le Sereno: St. Barts Reader Score: 96.44 7. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort: Oranjestad, Aruba Reader Score: 96.30 8. Caerula Mar Club: South Andros Island, Bahamas Reader Score: 96.25 9. Le Toiny St. Barth: Anse de Toiny, St. Barts Reader Score: 96.09 10. Jamaica Inn: Ocho Rios, Jamaica WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 96.00 11. Round Hill Hotel and Villas: Montego Bay, Jamaica Reader Score: 95.85 12. Wymara Resort & Villas: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Reader Score: 95.70 13. Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort: Castries, St.Lucia Reader Score: 95.49 14. Ladera Resort: Soufriere, St. Lucia Reader Score: 95.38 15. Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth: Grand Cul de Sac, St. Barts Reader Score: 95.29 16. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla: Barnes Bay, Anguilla Reader Score: 94.83 17. Jade Mountain: Soufriere, St. Lucia WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 94.78 18. Eden Roc Cap Cana: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Reader Score: 94.45 19. Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort: Soufriere, St. Lucia Reader Score: 94.07 20. La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel: Marigot, St. Martin Reader Score: 93.90 21. Hermitage Bay: Jennings, Antigua and Barbuda Reader Score: 93.65 22. Frangipani Beach Resort: Meads Bay, Anguilla Reader Score: 93.52 23. The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas: Paradise Island, Bahamas Reader Score: 93.51 24. Grace Bay Club: Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos Reader Score: 93.29 25. Caribbean Club: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands Reader Score: 93.25 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Unspoiled beaches and posh resorts gave certain islands in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas an edge in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Viktor Hladchenko/Getty Images When Travel + Leisure readers head to the islands of the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas, theyre craving relaxation above all else. But as this years list of favorites proves, the places that help them fulfill that goal vary widely, from isles known for their sun-soaked shores and ultra-exclusive resorts to rustic sailors hideaways with pristine swimming coves and hiking trails. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Islands were specifically rated on the criteria below: Natural attractions/beaches Activities/sights Restaurants/food People/friendliness Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. What Readers Loved T+L readers dialed into three factors above all else when it came to sharing what they loved most about islands in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas: the people, beaches, and water. One voter praised Anguilla (No. 2) profusely: The island has 33 beaches most of which are stunning in different ways, like white sand or peaceful coves surrounded by rocks and the water is the bluest I've ever seen. The absolute best thing about this island is the friendliness of the people. They are the most welcoming people in the Caribbean. It is my happy place, and I will continue to go back as long as I can physically get around and can afford to do so. Another place that epitomized the trifecta: St. Vincent and the Grenadines (No. 17). Beaches are beautiful (especially Palm Island), and we have always found the locals to be so friendly plus, great snorkeling in the cays, shared one reader. Story continues But theres no shortage of options for travelers seeking activities under the sun either. I love that you can swim in a cove, hike a mountain, and eat sushi all in the same day, recalled one reader who spent time on Virgin Gorda (No. 7). The rock caves that you can hike through were beautiful, shared another, who toured the island via catamaran. Jamaica (No. 23) was memorable for another WBA voter who enjoyed the bamboo raft ride down the Martha Brae River, calling the adventure scenic and beautiful. And then theres No. 18 Bonaire, which has excellent scuba diving and snorkeling, restaurants, and friendly people, according to a reader. But it was the Nature Island that once again earned readers highest marks, securing the No. 1 spot for a second year in a row. Read on to find out what makes it such a special destination in WBA voters eyes. The Winner Dominica Elspeth Velten/Travel + Leisure In contrast to the Caribbean islands known for well-heeled crowds and white-sand beaches, this mountainous haven primarily draws eco-minded travelers who long to get lost in its rain forests, hot springs, and black-sand shores. It is a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of stressful living, mused one reader. This is a place that should be on everyone's bucket list. The people are friendly and welcoming, and there is so much to explore! Among the most popular activities: hiking to sites like the famed volcanic Boiling Lake and the serene Emerald Pool in Morne Trois Pitons National Park. And while the islands rugged glories are the driving force behind a visit, that doesnt mean there arent luxe places to stay, including Secret Bay this years reader-favorite Caribbean resort. "This is a place that should be on everyones bucket list." T+L Reader The Full List 1. Dominica Reader Score: 93.66 2. Anguilla Reader Score: 90.10 3. St. John: U.S. Virgin Islands Reader Score: 88.82 4. Eleuthera: Bahamas Reader Score: 88.30 5. St. Lucia Reader Score: 88.20 6. St. Bart's Reader Score: 88.18 7. Virgin Gorda: British Virgin Islands Reader Score: 87.93 8. Nevis: St. Kitts and Nevis Reader Score: 87.48 9. Aruba Reader Score: 86.96 10. Turks & Caicos Reader Score: 86.48 11. Jost Van Dyke: British Virgin Islands Reader Score: 86.38 12. Harbour Island: Bahamas Reader Score: 86.11 13. Exumas: Bahamas Reader Score: 85.92 14. Vieques: Puerto Rico Reader Score: 85.78 15. Grenada: Grenada Reader Score: 85.76 16. New Providence: Bahamas Reader Score: 85.18 17. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Reader Score: 85.04 18. Bonaire Reader Score: 84.75 19. Culebra: Puerto Rico Reader Score: 84.32 20. St. Maarten/St. Martin Reader Score: 84.26 21. Barbados Reader Score: 83.63 22. Antigua: Antigua and Barbuda Reader Score: 83.33 23. Jamaica Reader Score: 83.05 24. Cayman Islands Reader Score: 82.91 25. St. Kitts: St. Kitts and Nevis Reader Score: 82.44 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Readers chose properties that captures the spirit of NOLA with bright interiors and vibrant dining scenes in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Welcome to the Big Easy, where the good times roll whether youre strolling down Bourbon Street with a hurricane cocktail in hand, catching beads at Mardi Gras parades, chowing down on jambalaya and beignets, or tapping along to the live jazz the city is known for. New Orleans is an iconic Southern city with a feel all its own, thanks in part to its vibrant confluence of French, African, and American cultures. But when youre not out exploring Louisianas largest city, youll want a great home base where you can rest and recharge (or get the party started) for another great day in NOLA. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel What Readers Loved Readers chose a mix of accommodations in New Orleans for this year's World's Best Awards, from quirky inns that breathe fresh life into historic buildings to classic luxury hotels with old-school grandeur. The Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, No. 4 on this years list, is one of those quintessential NOLA hotels and has welcomed guests since 1893. With 67 suites, Maison de la Luz (No. 3) in the Warehouse District was described by one of our readers as an oasis in the crazy of New Orleans...such a gem. Story continues These are the hotels in New Orleans that T+L readers say are their favorites starting with this years No. 1 property, Hotel Saint Vincent. The Winner Hotel Saint Vincent Courtesy of Hotel Saint Vincent The 75-room Hotel Saint Vincent opened in 2021, bringing bright splashes of color to a beautifully restored building that dates back to 1864. Drinking and dining options include the sexy, moody Chapel Club and the bright and airy all-day restaurant San Lorenzo and both perfectly capture the spirit of the city. One reader described the hotel as one of the most magical hotels I have ever been in. Every inch of the property is beautifully and thoughtfully designed. Other noteworthy amenities include a gorgeous pool and courtyard, D.S. & Durga bath products, and custom Italian linens. "Hotel Saint Vincent is one of the most magical hotels I have ever been in." T+L Reader The Full List 1. Hotel Saint Vincent Reader Score: 96.55 2. The Windsor Court Reader Score: 95.45 3. Maison de la Luz Reader Score: 95.25 4. The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel Reader Score: 88.16 5. Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans Reader Score: 87.42 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Savannah is known for its Southern hospitality and our readers say these hotels offer the very best. Courtesy of JW Marriott With its Spanish-moss-draped oak trees, perfectly planned squares, quintessentially Southern food scene, charming downtown, and lively riverfront district, Savannah, Georgia is one of the Souths most beloved destinations. The Hostess City of the South is well known for its friendly residents, and the famous Southern hospitality visitors experience throughout the city extends to its hotels. For the second year, here are readers' favorite hotels in Savannah, so you can plan your next trip to the Peach State. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Courtesy of JW Marriott What Readers Loved Savannahs top hotels range from intimate bed-and-breakfasts set in historic homes to large luxury properties from top hotel brands. This year, readers named four Marriott Bonvoy properties to the list. And whether they choose a charming inn or full-service hotel, the reviews made it clear our readers are all about one thing: location. They loved the Alida Hotel Savannah, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel (No. 2)s convenient setting, within walking distance of the Savannah riverfront, while the Mansion on Forsyth Park (No. 5) was praised for its spot outside the citys hustle and bustle on picturesque Forsyth Park. Story continues Here are the hotels T+L readers voted as their favorite in Savannah, starting with 2023s top property. The Winner Perry Lane Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel Courtesy of Perry Lane Hotel Located in the heart of Savannahs Historic District, Perry Lane Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel offers 167 guest rooms including 12 suites with a fresh, contemporary take on classic Southern style. There are also three food and drink venues, including all-day restaurant The Emporium Kitchen & Wine Market and stylish rooftop bar Peregrin, which serves up tasty cocktails with a view of the city. A curated art collection inspired by the hotels fictional muse, Adelaide Harcourt, expands from public spaces into the guest rooms, highlighting work from young local artists. The Full List 1. Perry Lane Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel Reader Score: 93.85 2. The Alida, Savannah, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel Reader Score: 93.00 3. JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District Reader Score: 91.25 4. Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront Reader Score: 87.54 5. Mansion on Forsyth Park Reader Score: 87.31 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Readers voted for Indonesian resorts that celebrate natural beauty, culture, and unreal hospitality in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Courtesy of NIHI Sumba Without experiencing it firsthand, it can be hard to fathom the outrageous diversity of Indonesia, a somewhat mysterious archipelago of at least 17,000 islands. Its home to ancient temples and endangered species, famous waves and flavorful food, not to mention some of the most sincere and friendly people in the world. Its for this reason the country is a particular favorite for so many well-traveled readers. With much of Indonesia still unexplored by Westerners, this years top five resort hotels in the vast nation as chosen by Travel + Leisure readers specifically showcase the island of Balis range. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. Courtesy of NIHI Sumba What Readers Loved Four of the five resort winners in Indonesia in this years survey are on Bali, though each calls a completely unique neighborhood or area home. Tucked alongside the Ayung River and boasting an incomparable Sunday brunch of mouthwatering Indonesian cuisine plus a healing spa and a kids club, Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, held its No. 2 position from 2022. The resort wowed T+L readers, who called it heaven on earth and commented that the service is second to none! The Mulia, voted No. 3 on this year's list, is a large, luxurious favorite in the beach town of Nusa Dua. One guest said the food was extraordinary and delicious." Alila Manggis, meanwhile, returned to the list at No. 5 (it was voted No. 2 in 2021). Story continues An ultra-consistent favorite Indonesia resort of T+L readers year after year has been Nihi Sumba, No. 4, the opulent surf retreat on off-the-beaten-track Sumba Island with swimming horses and an indelible Spa Safari experience. Read on to be enticed by the new No. 1 selection and check out the highest scoring properties of 2023. The Winner Andaz Bali Courtesy of Andaz Bali Andaz Bali is one of the hotels that leaves a memory of Bali, wrote one enthusiastic T+L reader of this resort, opened in 2021, in the idyllic beach town of Sanur. Fantastic food and beverage, commented another. With just 149 rooms, suites, and villas, along with three swimming pools each with its own distinctive, heavenly setting and vibe its a wonderfully sized version of a traditional Balinese village, with artful design, lush environs, and luxurious amenities. Five atmospheric restaurants serve cuisines ranging from Indonesian to Mediterranean. Bottom line: It's the peaceful seaside retreats impeccable service, always helpful to guests with a smile, that sealed its fate as No. 1. "Andaz Bali is one of the hotels that leaves a memory of Bali." T+L Reader The Full List 1. Andaz Bali: Bali, Indonesia Reader score: 98.81 2. Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve: Bali, Indonesia Reader score: 98.58 3. The Mulia: Bali, Indonesia Reader score: 98.07 4. Nihi Sumba: Sumba Island, Indonesia Reader score: 98.04 5. Alila Manggis: Bali, Indonesia Reader score: 97.88 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Opportunities to experience wildlife propelled the Great Barrier Reef region to the top of readers favorite islands in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Matteo Colombo/Getty Images Oceania and the South Pacific have long drawn travelers for their paradisiacal landscapes. The islands there are saturated in the greenest of greens and bluest of blues. Volcanic peaks rise from white rimmed lagoons, and daily rhythms are guided by the sun, sea, and surf. Home to the worlds largest coral reef and some of the oldest living cultures in the world, it's a region with rich culture that deepens the experience of visiting. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Islands were specifically rated on the criteria below: Natural attractions/beaches Activities/sights Restaurants/food People/friendliness Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. What Readers Loved As ever, French Polynesia is a favorite destination for Travel + Leisure readers, with three of the five winning islands in this territory. Tahiti an archipelago 118 strong held onto its No. 5 position from last year. One reader gushed that it is the most beautiful place in the world. Bora Bora, the pearl of the South Pacific, also held its 2022 spot (No. 3), with a voter declaring it one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Fiji came in at readers No. 2 favorite, not just for its staggering beauty, but for the people and culture. The world would be a much better place if everyone was as kind and gracious as the Fijians, wrote one reader. Another summed it up as beautiful islands with lots of diversity, friendly people, and great value. Story continues But despite the raves these farther-flung destinations earned, it was the renowned Great Barrier Reef the natural wonder that sits just off the coast of Queensland that won the top spot as readers favorite islands in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific for 2023. The Winner The Great Barrier Reef: Australia John Crux Photography/Getty Images With more than 900 islands, the Great Barrier Reef is both the worlds largest coral reef system and one of the worlds greatest Technicolor marine wonders. As one returning reader said, I've stayed on Hamilton Island twice, once in 1988 and again in 2019 before the pandemic. I would go back tomorrow if I could. I cannot imagine a better place to stay to see the Barrier Reef. There is so much to do, and the physical beauty of the area is without equal. Just love the island and the people of Australia. The last couple of years have seen Australia kick up its conservation efforts to save the increasingly vulnerable reef, which include various citizen science projects, allowing curious and eco-conscious visitors to be part of the solution and learn about the ecosystem. Plus, newly renovated resorts such as the revamped InterContinental Hayman Island Resort and The House at Lizard Island are adding fresh appeal to the age-old wonder. "There is so much to do, and the physical beauty of the area is without equal." T+L Reader The Full List 1. Great Barrier Reef Islands: Australia Reader Score: 96.11 2. Fiji Islands Reader Score: 92.29 3. Moorea: French Polynesia WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 92.15 4. Bora-Bora: French Polynesia Reader Score: 90.80 5. Tahiti: French Polynesia Reader Score: 84.20 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. For the second year in a row, The Joseph was voted readers No. 1 favorite hotel in Nashville in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Courtesy of The Joseph, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville With neon-lit honky tonks, crispy hot chicken, and live music around every corner, Nashville is a constant party. But its not all country tunes and bachelorette parties the city is packed with fascinating museums, boutique shopping, gourmet eats, and a thriving arts scene. Whatever your reason for visiting Nashville, there are plenty of places to kick up your boots at the end of the day. Voted one of the best cities in the United States by Travel + Leisure readers, Nashville is home to historic properties boasting over 100 years of service and brand-new hotels offering a sleek take on Music City and everything in between. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. What Readers Loved Nashville saw the opening of 10 hotels in 2022, with top hospitality brands like Four Seasons, Soho House, and Hilton among those staking their claim in Music City. Conrad Nashville and 1 Hotel Nashville opened last year and earned the No. 3 and No. 5 spots on this years list of readers favorite hotels in Nashville. The Hermitage Hotel (No. 4), a stately property dating back over 110 years, completed renovations in 2022; as one reader put it, The Hermitage Hotel is the Grand Dame of Nashville. For over a hundred years it has led the way in defining Nashville luxury. Story continues Mixing old and new, these are T+L readers favorite hotels in Nashville starting with 2023s top property, The Joseph, A Luxury Collection Hotel. The Winner The Joseph, A Luxury Collection Hotel Courtesy of The Joseph, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville For the second year in a row, The Joseph was voted readers No. 1 favorite hotel in Nashville. The Luxury Collection Hotel offers guest accommodations ranging from standard king rooms to the expansive presidential suite, a luxury spa, rooftop saltwater pool, and fine dining at Yolan, where tasting menus highlight Italian cuisine. The hotel is located in the Sobro (south of Broadway) neighborhood downtown, just a short walk from some of the areas top attractions, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Readers commended the amenities, including the rooftop bar and Italian restaurant. The Full List 1. The Joseph, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville Reader Score: 95.43 2. Noelle Reader Score: 93.40 3. Conrad Nashville Reader Score: 92.40 4. The Hermitage Hotel Reader Score: 92.15 5. 1 Hotel Nashville Reader Score: 89.07 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. In New Mexicos majestic desert landscape, a thriving arts scene flourishes around these properties in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado The spirit of Santa Fe runs deep: The high-desert New Mexico town at the edge of the Sangre de Cristo hills is a place for artists and adventurers, spa-lovers and shoppers a place where never-ending blue skies meet majestic deserts, where luminaries such as Georgia OKeeffe found endless inspiration, and where the long enduring culture of tribes like the Apache and Navajo are a vital part of everyday life. With so much to engage every type of traveler, its no wonder Travel + Leisure readers rank it among their top destinations in the American Southwest. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. What Readers Loved What makes the hotels of Santa Fe so special? Readers voted that above all else, it was their connection to nature, heritage, and tradition. La Fonda on the Plaza, No. 2 on this years list, is the essence of Santa Fe, said one reader, who appreciated the historic hotels proximity to downtowns many cultural sites, as well as the Southwest-style rooms with beds that felt like sleeping on a cloud. The Santa Fe spirit is also alive at the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi (No. 4), another reader favorite thats super stylish and the best place to stay for the Santa Fe Indian Market, yet removed from the crowds of the Plaza, with its intimate Pueblo-style architecture and spa specializing in healing rituals. Story continues Here, find the five best hotels in Santa Fe according to T+L readers, starting with our No. 1 property, The Inn of the Five Graces. The Winner The Inn of the Five Graces Courtesy of Inn of the Five Graces T+L readers were captivated by this historic adobe resort on a quiet street of historic Santa Fe, just steps from the San Miguel Chapel. The 24 guest rooms and suites decorated with hand-laid mosaics, Moroccan textiles, and authentic kiva fireplaces are described by travelers as exquisite, comfortable, and tasteful. Guests were especially dazzled by the five-treatment-room spa, calling it world-class, and one of the most gorgeous spas in the world. The hotel is a short walk to the Georgia OKeeffe Museum and Santa Fe Plazas artisan markets, and an ideal home base for day trips to Pueblo villages like Taos and San Ildefonso and popular hikes in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains all of which the Inns professional and comfortably friendly staff are available to arrange. "One of the most gorgeous spas in the world." T+L Reader The Full List 1. The Inn of the Five Graces Reader Score: 93.65 2. La Fonda on the Plaza Reader Score: 88.14 3. Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe Reader Score: 86.24 4. Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi Reader Score: 85.19 5. Inn on the Alameda Reader Score: 84.75 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. CANBERRA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has been urged to stop approving the destruction of koala habitats to save the iconic species from extinction. The government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) on Tuesday said it is seeking thoughts from the community on a draft plan to protect Canberra's koalas after the marsupial was listed as endangered in the territory as well as Queensland and New South Wales in 2022. Launching the plan, ACT Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti said it reflected the urgent need to support koalas across the country and criticized the federal government for failing to act. "Unless the country takes urgent action to protect our koalas, they will be extinct. The only way to protect koalas is to protect all remaining koala habitat wherever it is," she said in a statement. This Native Species Conservation Plan is a crucial step towards protecting and conserving koalas in ACT. Despite this, the Federal Government can still do more to coordinate preservation efforts across the country, she added. "In the middle of an extinction crisis, the Federal Government last month gave the green light to the Isaac River coal mine in Queensland, a project which will see the destruction of endangered koala habitat." The long-term decline of koala populations on Australia's east coast was exacerbated by the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, during which more than 60,000 individuals were estimated to be perished. There are no known koala populations in the wild in the ACT and the Australian Koala Foundation estimates it is extinct in the region. Under the conservation plan, the government will seek to preserve a habitat suitable for koalas and investigate a possible breeding program, with the goal of releasing koalas back into the wild. The Galapagos ranked highest among readers favorite islands in Mexico and Central and South America in our annual "Worlds Best Awards" survey for 2023. zimmytws/Getty Images No matter what you have envisioned for your next beach getaway, the islands of Mexico and Central and South America can deliver. Whether youd rather follow up a jungle hike with a once-in-a-lifetime scuba diving experience, enjoy dinner a deux by candlelight with crashing waves as your soundtrack, or build sandcastles with your little ones along a placid, clear blue coast, this region has something to offer, and youll find it on one of Travel + Leisure readers favorite islands in Mexico and Central and South America. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Islands were specifically rated on the criteria below: Natural attractions/beaches Activities/sights Restaurants/food People/friendliness Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. What Readers Loved Ambergris Caye took the second-place spot this year, and with good reason Belizes biggest island is well-known as the place to go for superlative diving and snorkeling thanks to its proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef and the Great Blue Hole, beloved by none other than Jacques Cousteau. For those seeking an easygoing tropical beach destination, Belizes Caye Caulker just to the south of Ambergris came in at No. 3, with one reader highlighting its laid back vibe with friendly people and great food. Another recommended the tarpon-feeding experience, as well as the chance to kick back and enjoy cheap and delicious barbecued lobsters on the beach. Story continues Mexicos Isla Mujeres (No. 4) was another favorite, with one reader calling it a great getaway, thanks in part to its setting from the more touristed beaches of Cancun and Tulum. Id go back over and over, gushed one traveler. Worth every dime, wrote another, We had the best vacation with the best food. In Honduras, readers loved Roatan Island (No. 5), which one reader called out for its gorgeous, clean, well-patrolled beaches with crystal clear water, and multiple readers recommended it as a destination for snorkeling, diving, and fishing. Several travelers thought it a great day-trip spot for wildlife lovers, calling out its many animal sanctuaries and opportunities to see both animals and natural beauty. No beach getaway, no matter how magical, can compare with a once-in-a-lifetime escape to one of the most ecologically unique corners of the world. Perhaps that explains why the Galapagos Islands is, for the 21st time, T+L readers favorite set of islands in Mexico and Central and South America. The Winner Galapagos Islands: Ecuador guenterguni/Getty Images Readers reports of traveling the Galapagos shared a common refrain this is the kind of place you must go see once in your lifetime, as one adventurer put it. The Galapagos are on many peoples bucket list, and for good reason, said another reader. They live up to the hype. The island archipelago is synonymous with fascinating wildlife its globally renowned for such endemic species as giant tortoises, penguins, sea lions, fur seals, and Darwins legendary finches. The Galapagos are a birders dream, with 80 percent of the land birds found exclusively within this island chain, and for those with an interest in marine life, the geography of these islands means travelers can spot both reef-dwellers and deep-water creatures, including rays, reef sharks, marine iguanas, green turtles, and multiple whale and dolphin species. One reader summed it up well: Where nature, wildlife, science, and history meet. An extraordinary experience. Or, as a more exuberant traveler phrased it, Its the Galapagos! Its all amazing! "Where nature, wildlife, science, and history meet. An extraordinary experience." T+L Reader The Full List 1. Galapagos Islands: Ecuador WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 90.60 2. Ambergris Caye: Belize WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 85.70 3. Caye Caulker: Belize Reader Score: 83.88 4. Isla Mujeres: Mexico Reader Score: 83.57 5. Roatan Island: Honduras Reader Score: 81.02 For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Former President Trump on Monday took a swipe at Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) over her approach to the 2024 GOP presidential primary field amid reported frustrations from his team that Reynolds has been too cozy with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) campaign. I love Iowa, protected & expanded Ethanol, got 28 Billion Dollars from China for our great Farmers, ended the Estate (Death!) Tax on farms, made the best TRADE deals in history (USMCA, China, & many more), introduced the World to our FARMERS, & kept Iowas First in the Nation status, Trump wrote on Truth Social, referencing the GOPs decision to keep the Iowa caucuses first on its primary calendar despite a push from Democrats to change their primary schedule. I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won, Trump continued. Now, she wants to remain NEUTRAL. I dont invite her to events! DeSanctus down 45 points! Trumps post comes days after Reynolds appeared alongside DeSantiss wife, Casey DeSantis, at the launch of her Mamas for DeSantis initiative for the Florida governors presidential campaign. Thank you to my friend @KimReynoldsIA for joining me for the launch of Mamas for DeSantis, Casey DeSantis tweeted Friday. Iowa and Florida are blessed to have strong governors who are holding the line in the name of freedom. It also follows a New York Times report detailing frustrations within Trumps campaign about how Reynolds has appeared to embrace Gov. DeSantis, appearing alongside him at multiple events as he tries to make inroads in the state. The report noted Reynolds did not attend a recent event with Trump when he was in the state. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Reynolds has said she intends to remain neutral in the primary process, telling the Des Moines Register in February she wants all candidates to feel welcome to campaign in the state, which will host its caucus in January 2024 to kick off the GOP primary calendar. Polling out of Iowa in recent months has shown Trump with a sizable lead over DeSantis, who is running in second, and strategists have argued any challenger to the former president will need a strong showing in the Hawkeye State to have a chance at overtaking him. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CAIRO U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sudan was on the brink of a full-scale civil war as fierce clashes between rival generals continued unabated Sunday in the capital, Khartoum. He warned on Saturday evening that the war between the Sudanese military and a powerful paramilitary force is likely to destabilize the entire region, according to Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the secretary-general. Sudan descended into chaos after months of tension between military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and his rival Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, exploded into open fighting in mid-April. Health Minister Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim said in televised comments last month that the clashes have killed over 3,000 people and wounded over 6,000 others. The death tally, however, is highly likely to be much higher. More than 2.9 million people have fled their homes to safer areas inside Sudan or crossed into neighboring countries, according to U.N. figures. The fighting came 18 months after the two generals led a military coup in October 2021 that toppled a Western-backed civilian transitional government. The conflict dashed Sudanese hopes of a peaceful transition to democracy after a popular uprising forced the military removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. The war has turned the capital Khartoum and other urban areas across the country into battlefields. Residents in Khartoum said fierce fighting was underway early Sunday south of the capital. The warring factions were using heavy weapons in the battles in the Kalaka neighborhood and the militarys aircraft were seen hovering over the area, said resident Abdalla al-Fatih. In his statement, Guterres also condemned an airstrike Saturday that health authorities said killed at least 22 people in Omdurman, a city just across the Nile from the capital, Khartoum. The assault was one of the deadliest in the conflict. Story continues The RSF blamed the military for the attack in Omdurman. The military, in turn, denied the accusation saying in a statement Sunday that its air force didnt carry out any airstrikes in the city that day. The secretary-general also decried the large-scale violence and casualties in the western region of Darfur, which has experienced some of the worst fighting in the ongoing conflict, Haq said in a statement. There is an utter disregard for humanitarian and human rights law that is dangerous and disturbing, Guterres said. U.N. officials have said the violence in the region has recently taken an ethnic dimension, with the RSF and Arab militias reportedly targeting non-Arab tribes in Darfur, a sprawling region consisting of five provinces. Last month, the governor of Darfur, Mini Arko Minawi, said the region was sliding back to its past genocide, referring to the conflict that engulfed the region in the early 2000s. Entire towns and villages in West Darfur province were overrun by the RSF and their allied militias, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee to neighboring Chad. Activists have reported many residents killed, women and girls raped, and properties looted and burned to the ground. There were clashes between the military and the RSF elsewhere in Sudan on Sunday including the province of North Kordofan, South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Capt. Alex Rogers swims toward the life raft as his 33-foot offshore boat sinks into the Pacific behind him. Captain Alex Rogers will always remember the worst day of his sportfishing career. It was when he watched his 33-foot offshore fishing boat sink to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Rogers captured footage of the aptly named disaster at sea in July 2022 and shared the series of videos to his TikTok page, where theyve been seen by millions of viewers. To get the full story behind the videos, Outdoor Life caught up with Rogers over the phone. From his home base in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the 52-year-old charter captain shared the story of how his boat went down, and how he and his crew survived 12 hours in a life raft before they were rescued by one of his fishing buddies. A Sinking Feeling It all started the morning of July 18 with a 500-pound marlin, says Rogers, a California native who moved south to Cabo several years ago and started running offshore trips from a 33-foot Rampage he named the Protocol. The only reason I had a camera running that morning is because we were about 45 to 50 minutes into fighting a 500-pound blue marlin, and I wanted a video of the fight and catch, Rogers says. I was backing down hard on the fish, which washes big waves of water over the transom. Read Next: Hard-Fighting Marlin Punches Hole in Boat Engine, Strands Anglers in Open Ocean He says this is something that all bluewater captains do when trying to land a huge fish like a marlin. And hed backed down on other billfish in the Protocol countless times before. But unknown to Rogers, his first mate Cristian Balderas, and the four paying anglers on board, one of the through-hull fittings for the motors exhaust pipe had failed, which opened a giant hole in the boat's stern. I noticed water was still on the stern deck and we hadnt been backing down on the fish and taking water over the transom for awhile, he explains. That didnt make sense. Then my starboard engine went dead. Story continues At that point, around 10 a.m., Rogers climbed down from the tuna tower and opened the engine compartment. It was overflowing with water. His clients were still hooked up with the marlin and trying to land it, but Rogers had to pull them off the rod as the boat kept sinking lower. We got a bucket brigade working with the anglers, trying to pitch water out of the cockpit, but to no avail. At that point the scupper holes were underwater, and the boat was filling faster with water, Rogers says. I knew something bad was happening. Mayday Now realizing that the Protocol was beyond saving, Rogers climbed back in the tuna tower and used his radio to call in a mayday. I was on the radio broadcasting our location when my electronics died, Rogers says. I was clueless the boat would sink that fast, [but] when I realized we were going down, I tossed down the life raft box. By that time my boat was really going under, and I just stepped off the bridge and into the warm Pacific. His crew had already grabbed life jackets, and they swam away from the sinking boat to deploy the life raft. Rogers, meanwhile, kept filming as he watched his boat sink down in 10,000 feet of clear blue water. Thats when I realized the real challenge was ahead of us. 12 Hours in a Raft The Winslow life raft had a roof, along with basic emergency gear like water, flares, and fishing tackle. But it was rated for five people, and they had six adult men on board. The guys were distressed, Rogers recalls. We were cramped inside the raft with our legs entangled. It was pretty bad for the long hours we spent bobbing on the ocean. With a hurricane brewing 200 miles away, the waves were rough and most of the men got seasick. Some puked over the side of the raft. Even going to the bathroom was difficult as they had to jump into the ocean to relieve themselves. Its traumatic to be adrift in a raft on the open water. We had a range of emotions. Despair, hope, anger, frustration. I prayed to God. Apologized to God. Made promises to God. In between prayers, Rogers tried to stay positive. He says he was confident that one of his friends from Cabos close-knit fishing community would come save them. What he didnt realize at the time was that his GPS coordinates werent accurately received when he called in the mayday. This meant that some of his friends were searching more than 25 miles away from where the Protocol actually sank. High waves and strong currents made it harder to pinpoint their location, and even the Mexican Navy was unable to find them. Read Next: Hawaiian Angler Missing at Sea After Being Pulled Overboard by a Giant Tuna The Navy quit looking for us at 7 p.m., and they closed the harbor down for boats because the hurricane was bearing down on us, says Rogers, who credits his wife Brandi for coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, the American Consulate, and the charter captains they knew in Cabo. But the offshore fishing community headed out anyways [and looked] for us long after sundown. Finally, around 11 p.m., after 12 hours adrift in the Pacific, someone in the raft said they thought they heard a boat engine. I could see a boats running lights almost a mile away, and I started jumping and signaling to it, Rogers says. I watched the boat turn, then spotted its red-and-green navigation lights coming to us. Pancho Bojorquez, a local charter captain and one of Rogers friends, was at the wheel of the 35-foot Viking. He was joined by eight or 10 others, who were almost as happy to see the anglers as the anglers were to be rescued. I knew then we were going to be saved, Rogers says. And all of us just started going nuts in the raft. Back on shore, the fishermen reunited with their friends and families. And within two months time, Rogers bought a new 38-foot Egg Harbor boat, which he named the Right Rigger. Hes since replaced the roughly $60,000 worth of offshore tackle that sunk along with the Protocol. But he says the most important item on the new boat is a brand-new life raft. Those rafts are pricey, some up to about $5,000, but thats the best money anyone can spend who fishes open water, Rogers says. When I bought the Protocol, my friend the late Ted Barta told me to buy a good Winslow raft for the boat because one day it might save my life. Best advice I ever got from a legend in the offshore fishing world. That raft saved all our lives. Captain Vinny helps recover the lost rod; Kenney holds up the striper that pulled the lost rod overboard. If luck were money, then Ben Kenney would be filthy rich. In late June, the YouTuber from Massachusetts went fishing in the Atlantic and made an unbelievable catch. He landed a fishing rod with a giant striped bass still hooked up to it. Fortunately, Kenney has proof of the catch since he recorded a video and shared it on Instagram. This is one of the craziest things that has ever happened to me! Kenney wrote in the videos description. Im still in shock at how ridiculous and lucky this catch was. The episode began on or before June 27, when Kenney and some friends went fishing near Boston with Captain Vinny and Storm Buster Charters. At some point that morning, while they were targeting stripers, one of their trolling rods was yanked out of the rod holder. It disappeared into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, and Vinny wrote it off as just another lost piece of fishing tackle. A little while later, the group was still fishing when Kenney felt a tug on the end of his line and set the hook. Read Next: Angler Dies After Trying to Save Fishing Rod that Went Overboard The video starts here, with Kenney doing battle with what looks like a heavy fish. But after two minutes of reeling, they only see the tip of a fishing rod breaking the surface. It turns out to be the exact same spinning rod that fell into the drink earlier, and Kenneys crankbait is hooked solidly on the uppermost guide. Did I just catch your fishing rod?! Kenney asks the captain. Theres no way! Everyone on the boat starts to laugh as Vinny lifts on the recovered rod. Then he feels weight on the other end of the line. I think the fish is on this one, Vinny says, reeling in the slack and handing the rod back to Kenney. Yeah, take this. The anglers can hardly contain their laughter. They cheer Kenney on as he battles the fish, working the doubled-over rod up and down. Read Next: Alaska Man Hooks a Pike, Flips His Rowboat, Loses the Rod, Steals a Pedal Boat, Finds the Rodand Lands the Pike This is just way [more] bizarre than I wanted anything to be, Capt. Vinny jokes. This might be a boat that I lost a couple years ago. Moments later, Vinny slips the net underneath a giant striped bass. Then he hands it off to Kenney for a photo. It might not be the biggest catch of his life, but it will likely be remembered as the luckiest. Trucking giant Yellow Corp. might have gotten a second wind ahead of possible bankruptcy concerns, but shippers might be taking their business elsewhere. In a July 7 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the less-than-truckload (LTL) company said its lenders, which include the U.S. Treasury Department, among others, have eased some of the financial hurdles required to shed some of its $1.3 billion in debt due next year. More from Sourcing Journal Yellows debtors will allow the trucking firm to waive its minimum EBITDA compliance targets. The U.S. Treasury will waive this target for one financial quarter and term lenders will waive it for two. The trucking firm can also defer some of its health welfare and pension payments for July and August. Under the new agreement, the carrier cant allow its liquiditywhich dropped to $167.5 million as of March 31, from $276.9 million the year priorto fall below $35 million. The company faces a precarious balancing act. Yellow has to both pay off this debt while negotiating an ongoing labor dispute with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters over a new contract that expires next March 31, 2024. Over the next three years, Yellow has to repay $1.5 billion in outstanding debt. As part of the waiver process, the transportation provider must give a weekly progress report of the prior 13-weeks operating budget to the SEC, as well as monthly reports on key performance indicators. Under the agreement, Yellow also must designate a representative who would be a non-voting observer of any meetings of the companys board of directors or committees of the directors. Yellow filed a $137.3 million lawsuit against the Teamsters last month claiming that the union is blocking the trucking firm from advancing phase two of its One Yellow restructuring plan. Story continues A TD Cowen report indicated that the spat is scaring shippers way from the trucking giant and toward competitors including ArcBest, TFI International and XPO. The investment bank also expects strong private carriers to compete for business. Uncertainty on the future of operations is unnerving shippers, which we believe is leading to freight diversions in the LTL space and could become a very slippery slope for the Kansas City-based carrier, said the research note. The note did not specify the severity of the diversions and how they may have impacted Yellow so far. Approximately half of the 14.2 million shipments it made in 2022 were to retail customers, with Yellow CEO Darren Hawkins saying in a February earnings call that these clients tend to be very large shippers. The relationship with the Teamsters has been so contentious that Yellow wrote to President Joe Biden asking for federal intervention in the stalled negotiations. Some 30,000 jobs, including 22,000 Teamster-represented employees, are at risk, Yellow wrote in the letter to the president, saying the companys $5.2 billion in annual revenue supports another 57,000 adjacent jobs. Yellows struggles illustrate the trucking industry in general. The industry has weathered a freight recession amid collapsing freight rates and consumer demand, and now has too much capacity. According to DAT Freight & Analytics data, dry van spot trucking rates are down 22.6 percent from June 2022 totals to $2.10 per mile. This dynamic has forced many smaller and mid-tier trucking companies to close due to mounting losses, and put significant pressure on bigger players such as U.S. Xpress, who conducted three rounds of layoffs since last year before it was acquired by Knight-Swift Transportation. The TD Cowen report indicated that while recent history has produced several LTL bankruptcies, most lacked the size and scale to materially impact the market. However, Yellow going bankrupt would be a big deal because of the role it plays in the North American supply chain. The company commands about 10 percent of LTL market share, according to the report. The companys transportation network covers a wide swath of North America with 308 service facilities, and includes a fleet of 12,700 trucks and 42,000 trailers. Yellow got a $700 million federal loan in 2020 as part of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in exchange for the Treasury Department taking a 30.1 percent stake in the company. The Biden administration expects the loan to be repaid by September 2024, but it waived some requirements that would have needed to be achieved by the end of last month. As part of the SEC agreement, the company sold its Reddaway terminal in Compton, Calif. to ULH Properties. Yellow put the $79.5 million proceeds toward its outstanding loan balance, the filing said. Click here to read the full article. The Youth Diversion Office in Mitchell is looking to keep kids out of incarceration with a new kind of program that compliments its existing court diversion resources. Davison County is one of three counties in South Dakota taking a new approach to keeping juveniles out of detention and the criminal justice system as a whole. As part of its youth diversion program, Davison, Brown and Codington counties are creating Court Resource Homes. There, a licensed foster family will take care of a low-risk juvenile offender for up to a week, so the minor can stay in the community rather than being transferred to a juvenile corrections facility. While Minnehaha County and Pennington County have juvenile diversion resources, Davison County had to find something that would work for the county and for families, Alicia Odland, who works in the Davison County States Attorney Office, said. Recent reforms have led to fewer low-level offenders being placed in custody at facilities such as the Juvenile Detention Center in Sioux Falls. The states juvenile DOC population has decreased from 520 individuals in fiscal year 2015 to 170 in 2022. So [we] just had to get creative with creating what works for our community with the limited resources that we had, that would also benefit and do good things with our juveniles in the community, Odland said. The idea for better diversion programs was born in 2020 by Katie Buschbach and Odland, who work in the Davison County States Attorney Office as Youth Diversion coordinators. As for the court resource home, inspiration was taken from a similar program in rural Oregon. We try to keep as many of [the kids] out of the courts altogether starting with the detention alternatives, Odland said. And then from there, if we can keep them out, we try to keep them out of the court system when possible. In the past three years of the diversion program, Buschbach said its had a 95% success rate of juveniles not coming back through the court system. Typically, between 65 to 75 juveniles go through the diversion program. More: Funding, experience needed for court-appointed criminal defense services in South Dakota Court Resource Homes take new approaches to juvenile justice The Court Resource Home program is part of a three-year $20,000 grant from the Council for Juvenile Services, through the South Dakota Department of Corrections. Davison County recently received its second year grant for the program, Buschbach said. Story continues The family picked by the county for the resource home is licensed by the state to be a foster family, Odland explained. From there, a juvenile between the ages of 11 and 15 who is selected for the diversion program and deemed to not be a safety threat can be placed in the home ranging from a night up to a week. For example, if a juvenile keeps threatening to run away or is caught in a situation where they threw something during a fight when theyre not typically violent, they could be a candidate for the resource home. More: Study outlines barriers to civil legal service aid in South Dakota Those kinds of situations to just give them a break so both parties can cool down and come back together after having calmed down, Odland said. Buschbach said over email that with the program, at least 12 kids could be placed in the house per year, based on past reports from kids who would have benefited from the service. The home keeps low-level juvenile offenders out of the Juvenile Detention Center in Minnehaha County, which is over 70 miles away, and near their communities. Davison County also utilizes electronic monitoring for juveniles so they can stay at home while waiting for their court hearing. Diversion program, electronic monitoring cheaper for Davison County than detention center transportation While the diversion program is keeping Davison County kids out of the juvenile court system, its also saving the county money. John Claggett, the vice chair of the Davison County Commission who has served for 16 years, said the county has saved at least $190,000 by keeping the juveniles out of the court system, calling the savings the tip of the iceberg. Courtroom 2B sits on the second floor of the Lincoln County Courthouse, across from the state's attorney office, on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Rather than spend money on transporting the juveniles to detention centers in Sioux Falls or even Nebraska, which Claggett said used to happen, and then back to the courthouse for the juveniles hearing, Davison County funds the electronic monitoring for the juveniles. The electronics really is a game changer from way back when I first started and today, it's about $240 a day, so chunk change, Claggett said. He added the long-term benefit of the court resource home and other youth diversion programs is that it keeps juveniles out of the incarceration system, which also saves on county costs from jails to providing competent legal representation. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, youth who are placed in diversion programs are 45% less likely to reoffend than youth going through a formal court process. Expansion to the rest of South Dakota hoped for Claggett said his biggest hope for the court resource home program is that it goes across the state to all communities. Aberdeen and Watertown are also part of the pilot project. But Aberdeen has been unable to find a licensed foster family to get the program running, Kelsi Vinger, the diversion program coordinator, said. More: South Dakota's new parole absconder unit has apprehended more than 200 people in 7 months, DOC says Its a similar problem Mitchell has now. While the county was the first to get a licensed foster family for the court resource home in the state and wouldve been actively taking kids for the program, the family has recently moved. Now we're back to work and finding another family that will fit for that, Odland said. Despite the pause, Odland is still positive the court resource home will work and will fit into the larger picture of diversion resources in Davison County and across the state. We're all ready for that because I think that's going to be a huge benefit to the community and to the kids, she said. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Court resource home in Davison County latest juvenile diversion program Republican members of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee used a complex chart to present their preliminary findings into an investigation into financial dealings by President Joe Biden's family during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Gal Luft claims he has proof of Hunter Biden profiting off his family name in deals with China. Luft himself has been charged by the DOJ with false statements and being a foreign agent of China. After months of secrecy surrounding the charges against Luft, the indictment has been unsealed. A missing witness into the investigation of Hunter Biden's business dealings who claims he has proof of the President's son's corrupt connections to the Chinese government has reappeared after he himself was accused of being a Chinese agent and fled custody. Days after Gal Luft publicly dared the DOJ to unseal the indictment against him alleging the charges he's facing are a political attempt to cover up his claims of Hunter Biden's corruption officials did just that. The US Attorney's Office on Monday released the indictment against the US-Israeli dual citizen, who was arrested in Cyprus in February on charges of willfully failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act ("FARA"), arms trafficking, Iranian sanctions violations, and making false statements to federal agents. Luft and the US Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York, where the charges were filed, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. The indictment against Luft Prosecutors say while Luft was serving as the co-director of a strategic think tank, Analysis of Global Security, he agreed to "covertly recruit and pay" a former high-ranking government official and advisor to then-President Trump to publicly support policies that would benefit China without registering as an agent of a foreign entity. Luft told the New York Post that the high-ranking official is the former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, James Woolsey, who also worked as a consultant for Luft's think tank and was a senior advisor in Donald Trump's White House. Prosecutors allege Luft created a written "dialogue" between Woolsey and an associate at CEFC China Energy, a state-run energy company, which was then published in a Chinese newspaper online. Story continues As Luft was writing, his associate at CEFC China Energy said of Woolsey "[i]n these articles, we do not want to spill all the beans yet, just enough to let 'people' know he is in the corridor of power to be. Just broad stroke policy consideration that leaves plenty of room for interpretation and imagination to be filled in later." In addition to the alleged actions to influence US policy in favor of China, prosecutors argue Luft "worked to broker a deal for Chinese companies to sell certain weapons to Libya, including anti-tank launchers, grenade launchers, and mortar rounds (which LUFT and his associates referred to in coded language as "toys")." "LUFT also worked to broker deals for certain weapons to be sold to the United Arab Emirates, including aerial bombs and rockets," the indictment reads. Luft faces up to 100 years in prison if convicted of the eight counts against him. He vehemently denied the charges to the NY Post, claiming the investigation is politically motivated to prevent him from coming forward to share what he claims is proof of Hunter Biden profiting off his father's name in business deals with Chinese individuals who have ties to military intelligence. Luft's claims about the Biden family Through his own connections with CEFC China Energy, Luft said he was able to confirm Hunter Biden's dealings with the company, including meetings with officials and dollar amounts of deals that were completed. In addition, Luft claimed Hunter Biden was friendly with an FBI agent a mole called "One Eye" who Luft says tipped off Hunter's contacts at CEFC to alert them to investigations into their dealings with Biden's son. In an interview with the New York Post released last Wednesday, where he dared prosecutors to unseal the indictment saying it would "make (his) day," Luft says the charges originate from a meeting he arranged with agents of the FBI in 2019, in Brussels, Belgium, where Luft says he shared information with intelligence agents about the Biden family's connections with CEFC China Energy. Prior to his father taking office, the now-President's son made multi-million dollar deals with the company in 2017 to complete energy projects that never came to fruition, The Washington Post reported. Hunter is accused of leveraging Joe Biden's name in the deals in what would be a conflict of interest, though it remains unconfirmed whether the elder Biden personally knew about the business dealings. Emails between Hunter and his business partners make references to saving a percentage of the deal's profits for "the big guy," the NY Post reported, prompting investigations into what Joe Biden knew about the deals. Christopher Clark, a lawyer for Hunter Biden, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. On the run After being arrested in February while the indictment against him was still sealed from the public Luft fled once released on bail. His whereabouts are currently unknown. "I volunteered to inform the US government about potential security breach, and about compromising information about a man vying to be the next president," Luft told the NY Post. "I'm now being hunted by the very same people who I informed and may have to live on the run for the rest of my life." Luft added: "I warned the government about potential risks to the integrity of the 2020 elections ... Just think about it, and ask yourself who's a real criminal in this story?" Correction: An earlier version of this story's headline identified Luft as a "Fox News regular." Luft has never appeared on the network, according to a Fox spokesperson. Read the original article on Business Insider Foxconn said on Tuesday it plans to submit an application to access incentives under India's semiconductor manufacturing policy even as the Taiwanese giant has pulled out of the nation's flagship $19.5 billion joint venture with local conglomerate Vedanta. "Foxconn is working toward submitting an application related to the 'Modified Programme for Semiconductors and Display Fab Ecosystem.' We have been actively reviewing the landscape for optimal partners," the company said Tuesday in a statement. "Building fabs from scratch in a new geography is a challenge, but Foxconn is committed to invest in India. We have been working on challenges like this since the 1980s. Foxconn has no intention to do anything but continue to strongly support the government's 'Make in India' ambitions and establish a diversity of local partnerships that meet the needs of stakeholders," said Foxconn, which also goes by the name Hon Hai. The statement follows Foxconn confirming on Monday that it had ended its partnership to make chips with Vedanta in a move that analysts said was a setback to India's aggressive ambitious plan to become a semiconductor manufacturing hub. The two companies announced the $19.5 billion joint venture last year, which was slated to set up a semiconductor and display plant in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As part of the earlier agreement, Foxconn was supposed to bring technical expertise to the venture whereas Vedanta, which has a background in mining, would have financed the project. Modi's government has offered billions of dollars of incentives to companies in recent years as it races to turn India into an electronics manufacturing hub. The incentives have gained global attraction as U.S.-China geopolitical tension pushes many firms into cutting reliance with Beijing. Indian ministers insisted on Monday that Foxconn dropping out of the joint venture with Vedanta was not a setback. "Both the companies Foxconn and Vedanta are committed to Indias semiconductor mission and Make in India program," India's IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. Foxconn said the firm and Vedanta "mutually agreed" to part ways and that the move was "not a negative." Foxconn, which clarified that it had not injected capital or fixed assets into the joint venture, declined to disclose more information citing "competitive and sensitive issues involved in negotiating large scale investments." There is a strong chance that Leslie Van Houten would have remained behind bars had Gov. Gavin Newsom made a more compelling case as to why she should have stayed there for the murders of Rosemary and Leno LaBianca. Instead, he worried that the 73-year-old Van Houten would kill again. That rationale ended up setting her free. One of Californias most-watched parole cases will end in a quiet moment in the coming days, as Van Houten, once a member of the notorious Charles Manson Family cult, walks out of the California Institute for Women in Corona. Thanks to a Parole Board that recommended her release, and two of three appellate judges who agreed, she will be a free woman. This is a very un-Newsomesque moment for the governor. He did not stick up for his convictions. He gave up. He was worried that he was going to lose. This from a governor whos recently spent time campaigning for President Joe Biden in sure-loser states like Idaho and Arkansas. This from a former San Francisco mayor who legalized gay marriage in the city in 2004, which courts shot down just one month later. Opinion With Van Houten, Newsom ends up with contradictory moments of strictness and leniency. In 1988, Californians gave the state governor the right to be their own parole board when it comes to reviewing the potential release of a murderer. First, the Board of Parole Hearings will conduct its official review. Then, the governor may only affirm, modify or reverse the decision of the parole authority on the basis of the same factors which the parole authority is required to consider. Newsom bet the ranch on the factor of risk. In his rejection of parole in June, Newsom said, While I commend Ms. Van Houten for her efforts at rehabilitation and acknowledge her youth at the time of the crimes, I am concerned about her role in these killings and her potential for future violence. Van Houtens attorneys quickly appealed the decision. A three-judge panel of the Second District Court of Appeals reviewed the governors rationale. And a majority could find no basis to sustain it. Story continues We review the governors decision under the highly deferential some evidence standard, in which even a modicum of evidence is sufficient to uphold the reversal, the ruling stated. Even so, we hold on this record, there is no evidence to support the governors conclusions. There is another factor that Newsom could have emphasized, but curiously did not: the nature of the killing itself. A factor that shows parole unsuitability is how the commitment offense was committed in an especially heinous, atrocious or cruel manner. Van Houtens risk of committing another crime has undoubtedly decreased over time. That she stabbed Rosemary LaBianca 14 times will never change. And neither will the anguish of family members. I reached out to Leno LaBiancas daughter, Louise, for her thoughts on Newsoms latest decision. She respectfully declined, writing thank you for thinking of me. Nobody knows with absolute certainty how an Appellate Court would have ruled had Newsom rejected parole for Van Houten squarely on the basis of the savage crime and the voices of family members that speak to this day. The standard isnt whether Newsoms balancing was right. It was whether his rationale had evidence. Could the gruesome nature of the crime and the anguish it still causes somehow no longer be considered evidence? Regardless, the governor could have taken the appellate court decision to the Supreme Court to make the case that his reasoning that Van Houten remained a risk was sound. But he did not. The governor is disappointed by the court of appeals decision to release Ms. Van Houten but will not pursue further action as efforts to further appeal are unlikely to succeed, his office said on Saturday in a statement. Newsom is settling for the status quo all of a sudden. For him, that is rare political territory. Leslie Van Houtens heinous murders stunned a world that struggled at the time to understand what happened to a 20-year-old woman who had been a high school cheerleader on the homecoming court. That her release has its own perplexing quality somehow brings this story full circle. With one exception: The nightmare lives on for those in the LaBianca family whose lives were forever changed by an unspeakably violent night of August 9, 1969 in Los Angeles. That evidence is irrefutable. LANZHOU, July 11 (Xinhua) -- At the Russian pavilion at a trade fair in Lanzhou, the capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, Alisa Jurgenson was treating a flood of guests with Russian delicacies. "This is my first time participating in the fair. Russian dairy products and handicrafts are popular with local customers," Jurgenson said. As a sales specialist in a trading company, she hopes to expand the company's presence in the vast Chinese market through the fair. The 29th China Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair kicked off on July 6 and concluded on Monday. First held in 1993, the fair serves as a window for the opening of northwestern China and is a major event for Belt and Road economic and trade cooperation. A total of 1,172 contracts were inked during the five-day fair, a rise of 30.51 percent from the event's previous edition, said Zhang Yinghua, head of the provincial commerce department. Saudi Arabia and Thailand were present as the guest countries of honor at this year's fair. The number of guests to the fair exceeded 40,000, and more than 1,600 enterprises from home and abroad participated in the event. More than 20 enterprises from Thailand took part in this year's fair. Standing in front of the Thailand pavilion, Tawat Mahitapong, who runs a food company, had a busy schedule touting for business. "We've brought a wide variety of products this year, hoping to build a stronger brand recognition in China and find more partners," Mahitapong said. As an old friend of the fair, he is confident about the development prospects of China's northwestern market. Customs data shows the total trade volume between Thailand and Gansu Province increased by a whopping 17 times to 763 million yuan (about 106 million U.S. dollars) in the first five months. At this year's trade fair, more companies from home and abroad are eyeing cooperation opportunities in modern agriculture, desertification control, and new energy development. Li Bo, senior regional sales manager at Big Dutchman China Head Office and a newcomer to the fair, plans to conduct a market survey in Gansu following the fair. "We are working on a modern hen breeding industrial park in Gansu's Pingliang City. We hope to take this fair as a springboard to explore the vast northwestern Chinese market," Li said. Gansu will focus on developing the export-oriented agriculture economy, and deepen international cooperation on the processing and exporting of distinctive agriculture products, and agriculture exchange technologies, noted Ma Zhanying, a staffer at the Gansu provincial agriculture and rural affairs department. At a forum held during the fair, Saleh Ali Khabti, deputy minister of investment of Saudi Arabia, said the cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Gansu on desertification control, water resource utilization, and new energy development anticipates a broad prospect and the fair will serve as a vital platform to share experiences and further boost collaboration. The former president is also facing two criminal investigations A US grand jury that is expected to decide whether to charge former President Donald Trump and his allies over their efforts to overturn the 2020 election has been sworn in in Georgia. Mr Trump has been under investigation for his 2021 phone call to a Georgia election official, pressing him to find thousands of votes in his favour. The Republican has denied wrongdoing. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Wallis, a Democrat, launched the investigation in early 2021. She has previously hinted that any charges would probably be filed in August. A focal point of the inquiry is a January 2021 call between Mr Trump and Georgia's chief elections officer, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which the then-president suggested local officials could "find" more than 11,000 votes - enough to give him a victory in the Peach State. In a recording of the call, Mr Raffensperger is heard replying that Georgia's results are correct. Mr Trump continued to make unsubstantiated claims of widespread electoral fraud in the months after he left the White House. Currently the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Mr Trump continues to deny the 2020 presidential election results, and has called the Georgia probe a "political witch hunt", while describing his call with Mr Raffensperger as "perfect". There has already been a grand jury considering the Georgia case. Over six months last year, the special grand jury interviewed dozens of witnesses, but it did not have the power to charge anyone. The special grand jury found no widespread election fraud in Georgia, but did recommend multiple charges, known as indictments, for alleged perjury. Much of the special grand jury's report was hidden from the public in order to protect the rights of "potential future defendants", the judge overseeing the case said. Story continues But a brief unsealed section of the report said "a majority of the grand jury believes that perjury may have been committed by one or more of the witnesses testifying before it". The unsealed portions do not reveal which witnesses may have lied under oath. On Tuesday, a new grand jury term begins in Fulton County, which includes most of Atlanta and surrounding suburbs. Two 26-member panels were selected, one of which is expected to handle the case against Mr Trump and his allies. To bring criminal charges against the former president, the district attorney, Ms Willis, and her team must present her case to one of the grand juries assembled on Tuesday. Ms Wallis wrote in a letter to local officials that potential indictments in the case could come between 11 July and 1 September, which coincides with Fulton County's latest two-month term for its grand juries. Mr Trump is also facing charges in two separate criminal investigations in New York and Florida, which he denies. He was also ordered to pay millions of dollars to writer E Jean Carroll after being found liable for sexual abuse. A new assessment released by U.S. intelligence Monday revealed that Iran is boosting its nuclear capabilities but is not pursuing the development of nuclear weapons. The Office of the Director of National Intelligences assessment said Iran has undertaken research and development activities that would bring it closer to producing the fissile material needed to produce a nuclear weapon. However, the report noted that while Iran has accelerated its nuclear program since 2020, it is still not yet capable of producing a weapon. Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities that would be necessary to produce a testable nuclear device, the assessment reads. Former President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran in 2018 due to concerns he had over the countrys missile program. President Biden said last year that talks to restart the deal halted. The report added that Iran continues to exceed the limits set by the JCPOA, saying Iran has described its acceleration of its nuclear program as a reversible response to the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement. The report said Iran claims it will revert back to the limits set by the deal if the U.S. provided sanctions relief and fulfilled its JCPOA commitments, and if the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) closed its safeguards investigations related to three undeclared nuclear sites. Iran continues to increase the size and enrichment level of its uranium stockpile beyond JCPOA limits, the assessment states. Iran continues to exceed JCPOA restrictions on advanced centrifuge research and development, and continues uranium enrichment operations at the deeply buried Fordow facility, which was prohibited under the JCPOA. The report also noted that Irans ballistic missile program threatens countries across the Middle East, and that its development of space launch vehicles shortened the time it would take for it to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Oklahoma County Jail in Oklahoma City, Okla on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Oklahoma County's jail trust will use lawyers from the district attorney's office to handle its future legal affairs, members decided Monday. Members voted 6 to 0 to authorize District Attorney Vicki Behennas office to become the agency's counsel and assume control in defending it in all pending litigation against the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority. Assistant District Attorney Aaron Etherington told trustees the change could potentially impact a dozen pending cases filed against the trust. The trust, currently with two open seats and trustee Chad Alexander absent, approved the change, voted to terminate its contract for legal services with Williams, Box, Forshee & Bullard and voted to end insurance policies that had paid for legal representation on trust liabilities involving commercial properties, automobiles and crime, as well as public officials' actions. Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson did not attend Monday's trust meeting. However, his designated representative (Dawn Cash) cast votes supporting the changes. Before the trust was established, Oklahoma County's district attorney represented elected public officials responsible for the jail's operation during civil suits involving alleged mistreatments of detainees. In cases where the DA's office prosecuted an ex-jail employee in connection with allegations in a lawsuit, attorneys with its civil division would withdraw from representing elected leaders, Brook Arbeitman, communications director for Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna said. "We would handle it the same way we did when the sheriff ran the jail our civil division conflicts out of the representation and private counsel is hired," she said. Monday's decision was made before trust members entered into executive session to discuss two recent federal civil lawsuits it faces after the 2021 deaths of two detainees. Handcuffs are attached to a security bar at the Oklahoma County jail. Case claims improper medical treatment led to Christa Sullivan's death A case filed on April 6 in Oklahoma City federal court by Angela Leddy, Christa Sullivan's daughter, seeks compensation from the jail trust, Oklahoma County's board of county commissioners, Turn Key Health, Drs. Gabriel Cuka and Mark Winchester and nurses Stephanie Williams and Nancy Meyer. Story continues The case claims the jail, Turn Key and its employees were negligent in caring for Sullivan, 65, who died inside the jail on April 13, 2021. Sullivan had a documented history of mental illness, including schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, anxiety and depression, leading her to attempt to harm herself and others and resulting in her receiving treatment in a behavioral health hospital in late 2019 and early 2020, the lawsuit states. Oklahoma City police arrested her April 27, 2020, after she was accused of stabbing her husband. Sullivan was taken to the jail on a complaint of assault using a deadly weapon and was later charged. During medical intake, Sullivan told a Turn Key nurse she suffered from anxiety, schizophrenia, insomnia, mitral valve prolapse, high cholesterol, hypertension and fatty liver disease. She also told the nurse she was experiencing auditory hallucinations. While Turn Key and the jail put Sullivan on suicide watch until she could be evaluated further, she twice tried to kill herself. Subsequent evaluations by Turn Key personnel described Sullivan as being "sad" and exhibiting "severe" mental health symptoms. Over the next 11 months, additional suicide attempts were logged by jail and Turn Key employees as Sullivan's mental and physical health gradually declined and she became catatonic, the lawsuit states. The jail sent Sullivan to an area hospital for treatment twice in March 2021, first to be treated for a blood disorder, acute kidney injury, dehydration, vitamin D deficiency and a thyroid nodule. She was sent a second time after injuring herself during a fall. Earlier that same month, the judge in her case had ordered a competency review for her be conducted in Vinita. But a lack of an available bed prevented that from happening. "It was abundantly obvious, by at least March 18, 2021, that the Jail was not equipped to handle Ms. Sullivans severe and worsening medical and mental health conditions," the lawsuit states. Leddy's lawsuit asks for more than $75,000 in actual and compensatory damages, plus interest, attorneys fees and court costs and punitive damages from Turn Key-related defendants. "There were such gross deficiencies in training, supervision, facilities, practices, and procedures that Ms. Sullivan was effectively denied constitutional medical and mental health care," the lawsuit states. Holding cell death denied detainee his rights, lawsuit claims A case filed April 14 in federal court in Oklahoma City by Rachel Kimbrough on behalf of Lee Alexander Chouteau's estate also seeks money from the authority, Oklahoma County's commissioners, Turn Key and direct or contracted jail employees Lisa Hooker, Jeff Fitzpatrick, Rebecca Melton, Sinead Eastman, Melvin Wilson, Erin Byrd and John and Jane Does one through 10. Chouteau was pulled over and arrested on a driving under the influence complaint by an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper late June 23, 2021, after he failed a field sobriety test, the lawsuit states. While being taken to the jail, Chouteau was unruly and experienced heightened delusions, and once there, resisted being moved from the trooper's vehicle into the jail and was forcefully taken to the ground several times, it states. Chouteau was found dead inside of a holding cell the next day. Despite a booking officer's determination Chouteau needed a medical evaluation, either Turn Key wasn't notified or ignored the request, according to the lawsuit. While jail records show site checks on Chouteau's cell were conducted periodically throughout the night and into the next morning on June 24, a detention officer did not enter the cell and attempt to rouse the man until nearly 4:30 p.m., only to find Chouteau unresponsive. The medical examiner's report suggested he had been deceased for some time. The report also described contusions and abrasions scattered on Chouteaus body. More: Living Hell: The Oklahoma County jail Choteau's death prompted an Oklahoma health department inspection, which reported jail records showed Chouteau received no state-required medical or mental health intake screenings. Further, Chouteau's death caught the attention of the multicounty grand jury, which issued a report in March that detailed numerous problems with the facility involving inadequate controlled dangerous substance interdiction, inadequate health screenings during intakes and failures of detention officers to conduct proper site checks on inmates. In addition, the grand jury determined the operation was woefully understaffed, that sight checks at the Oklahoma County Detention Center had been inadequate and falsified site checks have led to deaths in the jail. "Jail staff knew Chouteau was arrested for a DUI, they knew Chouteau exhibited signs of intoxication, and they knew other officers had used force on Chouteau. The jail trust was responsible for training and supervising jail employees; adopting, implementing, and enforcing jail policies and for ensuring that the people in its custody received necessary medical care, as required under the United States Constitution and other laws. "Prior to his death, Chouteau was awaiting his day in court, having neither been tried or convicted of the alleged crime for which he was arrested. As a pretrial detainee, he was entitled to the protections afforded by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution," the lawsuit states. Kimbrough's lawsuit seeks all available compensatory damages, including damages for Chouteaus mental and physical pain and suffering, the loss of the value of his life, the mental anguish and grief of his surviving siblings and mother, all other compensatory damages available under state and federal law, plus punitive damages and any other relief the court deems equitable and just. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County jail trust to use district attorney for legal affairs Two people have been charged with allegedly kidnapping a woman from the Kansas City area Sunday night and driving her about an hour away before they were caught, officials said. Jose Gonzalez, 20, of Kansas City, Kansas and an unnamed 17-year-old boy were charged with second-degree kidnapping, unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest by fleeing. Their cash bond is set at $25,000. The sheriffs office learned around 10:15 p.m. that an 18-year-old was being held against her will and had been taken from the Kansas City area, according to a news release. The woman identified the suspects and their vehicle in a text to her mother, who told law enforcement officials. Within minutes, a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and a Bates County sheriffs deputy saw the suspect vehicle in Passaic as it traveled into a construction zone on Interstate 49. The trooper tried to stop the suspect vehicle near 52 Highway and I-49, but the pursuit continued until it was headed north on TT Highway. Thats where troopers deployed spike strips, causing the suspect vehicles tires to lose tread, officials said. Two deputies used their vehicles to try to pin in the suspect vehicle, but it broke free. Then, Sheriff Chad Anderson, whod been called in to assist, peformed a PIT maneuver with his patrol truck and pushed the suspect vehicle to the side of the road where deputies could stop it. The woman was rescued from the vehicle. She was taken to a hospital, where she was reunited with family and met by the Bates County Victim Advocate. Deputies searched the vehicle and found a loaded Draco AK47 pistol. The suspect vehicle was towed from the scene. The Jackson County Prosecutors Office is reviewing additional charges in the case. Former GOP Rep. Mayra Flores launched a comeback bid on Tuesday, months after she lost her South Texas district to Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez by 9 points. Flores made her announcement on Fox & Friends while criticizing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas work on the border. I am announcing for Congress. We are taking back our seat, she said in an early morning interview. We will flip this district and take back what is ours in 2024. The National Republican Congressional Committee had been working to recruit Flores to make another run, commissioning a poll that showed she could win the district that President Joe Biden carried by nearly 16 points in 2020. Flores, the wife of a Border Patrol agent, rose to prominence in 2022 when she won a special election to fill former Democratic Rep. Filemon Velas seat. Her victory was hailed on the right as a sign that Latinos were shifting quickly toward the GOP in Texas. In the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump made significant gains in the three Democratic-held districts along the Rio Grande Valley, but they proved to be somewhat short-lived. Thanks to redistricting, Flores had to run in a much more Democratic-leaning district to secure a full term and against an incumbent, Gonzalez. She lost that bid. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas) won an open seat in the Rio Grande Valley but Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar managed to hold on in a nearby district. Gonzalez, a moderate Democrat, has the ability to self-fund his campaigns. His 2022 battle with Flores saw millions of dollars of outside funds but ultimately was not among the closest contests of the midterms. Flores said Tuesday she planned to campaign on empowering Border Patrol agents, strengthening border security and better protecting children being trafficked. She made a plea for Latinos to consider sticking with the GOP. Our values align with the Republican Party. Our values align. I am pro-God, pro-life, pro-family, she said. The Democrat Party stands against everything we stand for. Authorities on Monday regained custody of a man facing a murder charge in Michigan following a massive search in Montana, where he was being transported from. Chadwick Shane Mobley, 42, escaped Sunday and was taken back into custody Monday in Plains, Montana, the Sander's County Sheriff Office said Monday night. People in Plains saw Mobley and tipped off law enforcement, the sheriff's office said. "Great work by all, together we made a difference! Not just for our community, but for the victims of the crimes he is suspected of, and being charged with," the sheriff's office said on Facebook. Mobley is a suspect in the 2011 death of Andrea Eilber, who was fatally shot in Michigan. Mobley's escape and subsequent capture comes as another escaped inmate is on the run from law enforcement in Pennsylvania. Michael Charles Burham is wanted in connection to a murder case and is separately charged with kidnapping an elderly couple. Chadwick Shane Mobley escaped at Montana gas station Mobley was being transported by private company around 10 a.m. Sunday when he escaped at a gas station and convenience store, according to the Sanders County Sheriff's Office. His transport was contracted by the U.S. Marshals Service, according to the sheriff's office. Why was Mobley being transported to Michigan? Mobley was identified as a suspect in the killing of Eilber, who was shot in the head at the home of a relative in Michigan, after evidence at the scene was tested for DNA, the attorney general's office in Michigan said in a statement last month. He was initially apprehended in June in Libby, Montana, and was awaiting transfer to Michigan to be arraigned on murder and firearm charges, according to the statement. Michael C. Burham, 34, escaped from the Warren County Prison, in Warren, Pa., on July 6, 2023, according to Warren police. The police released this photo on July 7, 2023. Pennsylvania authorities continue search for Michael Charles Burham Federal, state and local agencies in northern Pennsylvania continued to search Tuesday for an inmate who escaped prison using an improvised rope, authorities said. Story continues The City of Warren Police Department said Burham, 34, escaped from the Warren County Prison on Thursday by tying sheets together to make a rope and using it to slide off the roof of the prison, the Erie Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network reported. In a Saturday news conference, Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said Burham is a self-taught survivalist with military experience and could be potentially holed up in a wooded area. Monday, authorities said they found small campsites and stockpiles that may be connected to Burham in the northern Pennsylvania woods. Police also said they believe someone may be helping the Burham evade law enforcement, the Associated Press reported. Burham is wanted in connection to the killing of a woman in Jamestown, New York, on May 11, the publication reported. He is accused of fleeing the area after her death, which led to a multi-agency search that ended with his arrest in South Carolina on May 24. Burham who has not been charged in the homicide has been charged with kidnapping an elderly couple and stealing their SUV at gunpoint on May 20 to drive to South Carolina, the Times-News reported. Burham was being held on a $1 million bond in the kidnapping case. Contributing: Francisco Guzman, Ed Palattella, N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Escaped homicide suspect Chadwick Shane Mobley recaptured in Montana Missouri Tigers pitcher Austin Troesser was selected No. 135 overall by the New York Mets in the 2023 MLB Draft on Monday afternoon. That makes him the first player from a KC-area college program to be picked this year. Troesser was selected in Round 4C, held after Round 4 and ahead of Round 5 the first of two MU guys nabbed Monday by major-league clubs. Also selected Monday, by the Kansas City Royals, was outfielder Spencer Nivens of Missouri State. Nivens was taken with the No. 142 overall pick., one of three Bears or former Bears who were drafted on Monday (more about this below). A junior at Mizzou this past season, Troesser had entered the NCAA transfer portal early last month. He was 5-3 with a 4.73 ERA for the Tigers in 2023. He appeared in 22 games (three starts), striking out 53 in 45 2/3 innings. He was 8-5 across three seasons at MU, with 76 strkeouts and 36 walks in 77 2/3 innings. Nivens, selected by the Royals Monday, played at Columbia Rock Ridge High before attending Missouri State. He was the Missouri Valley player of the year for the 2023 season, batting .341 with 14 home runs, 16 doubles and 34 RBIs. The 2023 MLB Draft, which began Sunday night, continues through Tuesday. Among other draftees with local or regional connection to KC: Theres a wind turbine up and running on Marylands Eastern Shore. Its on the land, not at sea, but the pair of wind projects going into the water near Ocean City may be able to learn lessons from the crab-emblazoned, spinning sight to see in the small southern dock city of Crisfield. The turbine, located behind Crisfields wastewater treatment plant, was turned on in 2017. It has not been without its challenges the turbine was struck by lightning in 2021 and cost the city thousands of dollars when the electrical parts needed for repair were shipped from Germany. This led to a months' long pause in power production from the 69-foot blades that reach nearly a football fields length into the sky when attached to the 250-foot monopile near Seventh Street. But the climate contributions and cost savings from the project are worth considering too. A Maryland Department of the Environment report prepared in 2005 indicated that over half of Somerset County, including Crisfield, falls within a federally-designated flood zone, made more vulnerable by sea level rise, caused by warming temperatures and melting ice caps. Dorchester County, which has islands adjacent to Somerset Countys islands, falls 61 percent within a flood zone. Economic losses due to building damage alone were estimated by the report in the billions of dollars, statewide. A wind turbine, which helps power the city of Crisfield's wastewater treatment plant, spins on June 29, 2023. An image of a crab is located at the top of the 250-foot monopile. More: Embattled Crisfield wind turbine project gets underway More: Maryland offshore wind push gains momentum with federal help. Here's what lawmakers plan. The jurisdictions that are getting hit hardest, said Gov. Wes Moore, speaking about climate change during a June 27 interview at a convention center in Ocean City, is the Eastern Shore. The new governor, who signed legislation promoting offshore wind earlier this year, spoke about working with local elected officials and community groups on offshore wind projects near the towns coast, but the primary drivers of project implementation are the two companies involved. Story continues Two companies driving offshore wind future in and near Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks at the Maryland Municipal League Conference in Ocean City on June 27, 2023 before a meeting of his cabinet secretaries and local elected officials. Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, at right, looks on. Moore visited the US Wind facility in Sparrows Point on Monday. US Wind and rsted currently have federal leasing agreements to operate their scores of turbines in the ocean between 15 to 21 miles off the coast of Maryland. The Baltimore-based US Wind is considering properties in Ocean City for the maintenance and operations of the turbines that are scheduled to be operational by 2026. We are exploring multiple options to support operations of our wind farms locally, said Nancy Sopko, senior director of external affairs at US Wind, in an email. No cables from US Winds projects will come ashore in Ocean City, Maryland. The company plans to connect the turbines cables to the power grid in Sussex County, Delaware. A June report from the American Council on Renewable Energy said a lack of proactive transmission planning has resulted in the regional grid becoming increasingly congested. And the regional grid operator, PJM, which serves approximately 65 million people in 13 Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia, is working to reform its processes to clear up the crowding. The change is set to take effect in 2026, the same year the turbines are set to start pinning. A map of permitted and proposed areas for offshore wind energy in the Central Atlantic region. Maryland currently has two companies permitted to operate in an area about 15 to 21 miles off the coast. More: Ocean City delegate's amendment left behind as Maryland pushes ahead with offshore wind Similarly to US Wind, the Denmark-headquartered company rsted, which operates Americas first field of offshore wind turbines off the coast of Rhode Island, plans to avoid Marylands ocean shoreline with its cables and connect to the grid in the neighboring state of Delaware. We do not expect to make landfall in Ocean City, Maryland, said Maddy Voytek, rsteds head of government affairs and market strategy for Maryland, in an email. We are currently undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of landfall options in Delaware. A potential reason why? The mayor and Town Council of Ocean City passed a resolution in opposition to offshore wind turbines in 2018 and a lobbyist testified in opposition to the wind bill on their behalf this year. A 2022 chart from the U.S. Department of Energy's Offshore Wind Market Report shows the total pipeline of offshore wind projects in the U.S. Maryland has about 2,000 megawatts of energy in the permitting stage of the pipeline. Nevertheless, rsted is scheduled to build a nearly $20 million operations and maintenance facility in west Ocean City, Maryland, on Harbor Road to service the companys wind project. The facility will include a warehouse, serve as rsteds Ocean City area office and operate as a strategic embarkation point for up to three Crew Transfer Vessels that will service the turbines. More than 100 people will have either temporary or permanent jobs connected to the facility, including wind turbine maintenance technicians, engineers, and operations personnel. Marylands U.S. senators join call for more coordination on offshore wind A state Department of Environment report released last month called installation of offshore wind projects far more complex than a land wind project, indicating the plethora of job opportunities available supporting the nascent American industry, which has global competition. A 2022 U.S. Department of Energy report indicated China installed 13,790 megawatts in offshore wind energy in 2021, bringing its total offshore wind capacity to over 20 gigawatts. The same report indicated the U.S. had less than one gigawatt in operation that year, with over 20 gigawatts in the permitting stage. A cadre of U.S. senators wrote to the president on Friday requesting that the White House take a more active role in meeting U.S. offshore wind goals. The Biden administration in 2021 called for 30 gigawatts of U.S. offshore wind energy by the end of the decade. Marylands new law calls for 8.5 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2031. U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks about infrastructure improvements during the Maryland Association of Counties Summer Conference in Ocean City, Maryland on August 18, 2022. Meeting these goals requires a coordinated strategy to resolve conflicts between agencies and maximize the availability of leasing, Marylands U.S. senators, Democrats Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, wrote to the president, alongside six Senate colleagues from East Coast states. We urge you to designate a policy lead who can work to resolve existing use conflicts and ensure that projects remain viable and on track. Despite the lack of a White House policy lead, offshore wind projects are moving ahead in other states. New Yorks governor celebrated after the state installed its first steel monopile in the water last month. And in nearby New Jersey, where concerns regarding offshore wind's effect on marine life are being litigated, rsted got final federal approval for a project off the coast of New Jersey last week. MOORE AT 100 DAYS: Maryland moves forward with Gov. Wes Moore during first 100 days as bills get signed Marylands governor wants to be a pioneer on offshore wind, calling for partners on the Eastern Shore. Were going to take a leadership role, said Moore, during an interview in Ocean City late last month. Everything we need to get done in our state is going to be done with the Eastern Shore. Dwight A. Weingarten is an investigative reporter, covering the Maryland State House and state issues. He can be reached at dweingarten@gannett.com or on Twitter at @DwightWeingart2. This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Maryland governor's goals for offshore wind can use Crisfield as model [Source] A woman who brutally attacked an Asian man with a hammer on a Manhattan subway platform last year has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Ruling and sentencing: Christian Jeffers, 49, was found guilty on June 21 of first-degree attempted assault as a hate crime, second-degree assault, second-degree menacing as a hate crime, second-degree aggravated harassment and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon for the attack that took place on the night of March 8, 2022. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced her sentence on Friday, which included 12 years in state prison and five years of supervised release: A jury held Christian Jeffers accountable for this intentional assault in our subway system. This conviction sends a strong message that we will thoroughly investigate and prosecute those who target other New Yorkers with this type of violence. I thank our prosecutors for their work achieving this outcome and to the victims who testified and bravely shared their stories in court. More from NextShark: Captain of boys soccer team rescued from Thai cave in 2018 dies at 18 The attack: The violent incident began after Jeffers and the 29-year-old victim who was heading home with his wife lightly brushed into each other on the 7th Avenue and West 14th Street station on the 1/2/3 line in Chelsea. Jeffers asked the victim, Dont you have eyes, cant you see? and stomped on his foot. When the latter tried to push her away, Jeffers pulled out a hammer and struck the man in the left temple, causing him to bleed. Jeffers then threatened his wife with the same hammer. Rap sheet: Jeffers has been arrested 52 times in the past for crimes that include prostitution, grand larceny, public lewdness, theft of service and drug possession. Her latest prison stint, which resulted from a 2015 robbery, lasted for five years and ended with parole in June 2021. More from NextShark: Chinese City Sorry for Shaming People Wearing Pajamas in Public Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Senior Asian store clerk dies after being struck in the head with scooter by teen shoplifters NYC man sentenced to 22 years for anti-Asian killing of Yao Pan Ma Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, and Manasseh Sogavare, the prime minister of Solomon Islands, jointly unveil the nameplate of the Solomon Islands embassy while attending the inauguration ceremony of the embassy in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended the inauguration ceremony of Solomon Islands embassy in Beijing on Tuesday, together with Manasseh Sogavare, the prime minister of Solomon Islands. Wang offered warm congratulations on the opening of the embassy, saying that the country has established diplomatic ties with China, and stands on the side of international justice, historical correctness, and the future development of the country and people of Solomon Islands. He pointed out that, since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations, bilateral exchanges have moved forward in all aspects, vigorously promoted the development of Solomon Islands and brought tangible benefits to the people of the Pacific island country. "We are glad to see the historic breakthrough in relations between China and Solomon Islands," Wang said. On Monday, the two sides jointly announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development for a new era, opening a new chapter in the history of bilateral cooperation and charting the course for the development of bilateral relations, said Wang. The official opening of Solomon Islands Embassy in China is another important moment in the development of China-Solomon Islands relations, he noted. "We believe that the embassy will become a bond between the two peoples and a bridge for China-Solomon Islands relations," he said, adding that China is ready to work with Solomon Islands to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and set a benchmark for high-level mutual trust and high-quality cooperation between China and Pacific island countries. Sogavare said that, since the establishment of diplomatic ties nearly four years ago, bilateral cooperation has been expanding in breadth and depth. Solomon Islands has actively participated in the Belt and Road Initiative, and China has become the largest trading partner of Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands will unswervingly develop relations with China, firmly adhere to the one-China principle and consider Taiwan an inalienable part of China's territory, said Sogavare. Sogavare and Wang jointly unveiled the nameplate of the embassy. Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addresses the inauguration ceremony of Solomon Islands embassy in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2023. Wang and Manasseh Sogavare, the prime minister of Solomon Islands, jointly unveiled the nameplate of the embassy. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Manasseh Sogavare, the prime minister of Solomon Islands, addresses the inauguration ceremony of Solomon Islands embassy in Beijing, capital of China, July 11, 2023. Sogavare and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, jointly unveiled the nameplate of the embassy. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) A Russian submarine commander shot to death while jogging on Monday may have been targeted by an assailant tracking him on a popular running app, according to Russian media. Stanislav Rzhitsky was killed earlier this week in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar by an unknown person, state news agency TASS reported, adding that the motive for the crime is being investigated. Russias Investigative Committee said on Telegram a man has been detained in connection with Rzhitskys killing, adding the suspect had a pistol with a silencer in his possession by means of which, presumably, the murder was committed. Russian media earlier reported that Rzhitskys killer may have used Strava, a widely available app used by runners and cyclists, to follow his movements. Rzhitskys jogging and cycling routes appear on an account in his name on the Strava app. One of his regular jogging circuits that he took while working in Krasnodar include the park where he was killed early Monday. One Russian media outlet, Tsargrad, said the assailant planned the murder so carefully that the moment of the attack did not appear on any CCTV cameras. The killer waited in the park near the sports complex Olympus, where Rzhitsky regularly made morning jogs. The man died on the spot, the shooter is on the run. The Strava profile in Rzhitskys name shows that he also used to cycle in Sevastopol in 2014, where Russias Black Sea fleet is based. CNN cannot independently confirm the authenticity of the Strava profile, but it includes many photographs of him. Russian submarine commander Stanislav Rzhitsky was shot on Monday after potentially being tracked on a popular running app. - From Strava Ukraines Defense Intelligence disclosed how Rzhitsky was apparently shot, in an unusually detailed statement on Telegram. The agency did not explicitly take responsibility for the commanders death. The submariner was jogging in the 30th Anniversary of Victory park in Krasnodar. Around 6 a.m., he was shot seven times with a Makarov pistol. As a result of the gunshot wounds, Rzhitsky died on the spot, the statement said. Story continues Due to heavy rain, the park was deserted, so there were no witnesses who could provide details or identify the attacker. Rzhitsky commanded one of Russias Kilo-class submarine of the Black Sea fleet, capable of firing Kalibr cruise missiles, according to the Ukrainian statement and Russian news reports. Submarine-launched missile attacks have been responsible for some of the most destructive strikes on Ukrainian cities, including one almost exactly a year ago on the central city of Vinnytsia which killed dozens of people, including three children. A later statement by the Strategic Communications department of Ukraines armed forces sought on the face of it to downplay suggestions Kyiv might have carried out the attack. In language striking a detached, perhaps even sarcastic tone, the statement said Rzhitsky had come to the conclusion that missile strikes that killed civilians were ineffective. Obviously, he was eliminated by his own men for refusing to continue to carry out combat orders from his command regarding missile attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities, the statement concluded. Rzhitskys family said he didnt participate in the war on Ukraine in any way, and had sought to leave the Russian armed forces in 2021, according to the Russian media outlet Baza. Rzhitsky filed a report for dismissal from the Russian Armed Forces in December 2021. His father said he was in Sevastopol during his dismissal and did not go to sea, Baza reported. He had previously helmed a submarine based in Sevastopol, his father added. In August 2022, the commander was finally dismissed and later got a job in the administration of Krasnodar. Rzhitskys parents said they talked to him the day before he was killed and he had been in a great mood, according to Russian media outlet Izvestia. If he had any suspicions, he might have changed plans, routes and so on. But he didnt say anything, his father said. The Investigative Committee of Russia asked for a report on the progress of the investigation into Rzhitskys death. Second senior Russian killed The war in Ukraine has spread across the border with Russia in recent months, amid reports of intense shelling attacks, drone strikes, and brief incursions on villages in an apparent attempt to destabilize Moscows faltering invasion. Separately, a senior Russian commander, was killed near the Russian-occupied city of Berdiansk in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian officials. The adviser to Vadym Boichenko, the Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol, said that Lt. Gen. Oleg Tsokov was killed Tuesday. The mayor does not currently reside in Mariupol, which is under Russian control. CNN is unable to independently verify reports about the cause of Tsokovs death which would deprive Russia of one of its most experienced generals. Tsokov would also be the most senior Russian general to have been killed in Ukraine. However, a Russian Telegram channel, Military Informer, wrote Tuesday that a strike by British Storm Shadow cruise missiles on the 58th Armys reserve command post near Berdyansk, killed the deputy commander of the Southern Military District, Lt. Gen. Oleg Tsokov. Tsokov, 51, appears to have been a rising star in the Russian military. In 2021, he addressed a ceremony at the Kremlin attended by President Vladimir Putin for military cadets. Thanking Putin for driving the modernization of Russias military, Tsokov said: For us, the profession of an officer is not just service. This is the calling and meaning of all life, the willingness to sacrifice life for our great Motherland. Amid persistent turmoil in Russias command structure, Tsokov continued to be promoted through the campaign. A presidential decree in February promoted him to the rank of lieutenant general. He remained in the Russian armed forces despite reports by Russian military bloggers that hed been wounded last September in the Svatove area of Kharkiv. At that point he appears to have been the commander of the 20th Guards Army, having been recently promoted from command of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division. Independent analysts and CNNs own tally indicate that Russia has lost about 10 generals in combat since the invasion began. CNNs Natasha Bertrand, Katie Bo Lillis, Radina Gigova and Allegra Goodwin contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Law enforcement officials across the country searched Monday for inmates who escaped custody in Montana and Pennsylvania. Officials are searching for Chadwick Shane Mobley, 42, a suspect who was arrested and later escaped while he was being transported from Montana to Michigan to be arraigned on a murder charge, according to the Sanders County Sheriff's Office. Mobley's escape comes after Michael Charles Burham, who is wanted in connection with a homicide in New York, escaped from a Pennsylvania prison Thursday. Burham was arrested in South Carolina in May and charged with kidnapping an elderly couple. The search for Eric Abril, 35, ended Monday when he was taken into custody after he fled from a hospital in a Sacramento suburb. Abril was arrested in April in connection to the shootings of a California Highway Patrol officer and two hostages in an incident that left one person dead. A Placer County Sheriff's deputy, joined by two police officers, points toward a home on Greenbrae Road in Rocklin, Calif., on Sunday, July 9, 2023, after a potential sighting of murder suspect Eric Abril, who escaped earlier in the day from a Roseville hospital. Inmate escaped in Montana during transport to Michigan Mobley was being transported by private company around 10 a.m. Sunday when he escaped at a gas station and convenience store, according to the Sanders County Sheriff's Office. His transport was contracted by the U.S. Marshals Service, according to the sheriff's office. The Plains Police Department said Mobley, who removed his handcuffs and ankle shackles, is "dangerous and should not be approached." Mobley was identified as a suspect in the 2011 killing of Andrea Eilber, who was shot in the head at the home of a relative in Michigan, after evidence at the scene was tested for DNA, the attorney general's office in Michigan said in a statement last month. He was apprehended in June in Libby, Montana, and was awaiting transfer to Michigan to be arraigned on murder and firearm charges, according to the statement. Suspect in May killing escaped using bed sheets in Pennsylvania Federal, state and local agencies are still searching for Burham, 34, who escaped Warren County Prison on Thursday using a rope made of bed sheets, according to police. Story continues Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said Sunday police located stockpiles or campsites Burham might have used while in the woods. Michael C. Burham, 34, escaped from the Warren County Prison, in Warren, Pa., on July 6, 2023, according to Warren police. The police released this photo on July 7, 2023. Burham was being held on a $1 million bond after he was charged with kidnapping an elderly couple and stealing their SUV at gunpoint in May. He is also a suspect in the fatal shooting of a 34-year-old woman in Jamestown, New York, according to a criminal complaint the FBI in Buffalo filed against him in the kidnapping case. District Attorney Jason Schmidt of Chautauqua County, New York, said last month Burham is the prime suspect in the May 11 killing of Kala Hodgkin and a related arson. At the time of Hodgkin's death, Burham was also facing a charge that he raped her, according to the FBI. California inmate escaped from hospital Abril was taken into custody, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said Monday. More than 70 law enforcement personnel from numerous agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Marshals, assisted in the search for Abril, the sheriff's office said in a social media post earlier Monday. Abril was taken to the Sutter Roseville Medical Center in an ambulance Thursday and was recorded fleeing the hospital early Sunday, Roseville police said. Authorities have not said why Abril was taken to the hospital. The sheriff's office said it has launched an internal investigation to determine what happened before Abril escaped. Abril was charged with murder, aggravated kidnapping and attempted murder of a peace officer in connection with the shooting at a Roseville park and booked into the Placer County Jail without bail. This undated photo released by the Placer County Sheriff's Office shows fugitive Eric Abril, 35. Police are searching for Abril of California, who is accused of murder and has fled from a hospital in a Sacramento suburb early Sunday morning, July 9, 2023. Contributing: Francisco Guzman and Ed Palattella, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Homicide suspects escape custody in Montana, Pennsylvania Donald Trump is once again mad online, this time because a federal prosecutor he appointed struck a plea deal with Hunter Biden that didnt involved the presidents son being put to death. Weiss is a COWARD, a smaller version of Bill Barr, who never had the courage to do what everyone knows should have been done, the former president wrote of U.S. Attorney David Weiss. He gave out a traffic ticket instead of a death sentence. Because of the two Democrat Senators in Delaware, they got to choose and/or approve him. Maybe the judge presiding will have the courage and intellect to break up this cesspool of crime. The collusion and corruption is beyond description. TWO TIERS OF JUSTICE! Biden pleaded guilty last month to two misdemeanor tax charges. Trump was furious at the time, writing that the corrupt Biden DOJ just cleared up hundreds of years of criminal liability by giving Hunter Biden a mere traffic ticket.' Republicans echoed his outrage railing that the slap on the wrist, as House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer put it, was part of a Democratic conspiracy to let Biden off the hook for more serious crimes. Comer and his cronies have been desperately trying to dredge up evidence that the Biden and his son are guilty of said more serious crimes to no avail. In fact, the whistleblower Republicans have been propping up as the lynchpin to their claims that the Bidens carried out an illegal bribery scheme has been brought up on charges related to trafficking weapons and aiding the Chinese government without registering as a foreign agent. Comer has described the informant as a credible source. Comer and other Republicans have responded to the indictments release on Monday by pushing more conspiracies, specifically that the Justice Department is targeting the informant to protect the Bidens. Its just amazing the Department of Justice moves so quickly against some people, Comer told Laura Ingraham on Fox News, adding that the timing is always coincidental, according to the Democrats at the Department of Justice. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) added on Tuesday that the Justice Department is trying to silence our witness. Story continues A lack of evidence for any of this hasnt kept Republicans in Congress from recklessly pushing for the presidents impeachment, and it didnt keep Trump from calling for Hunters execution on Tuesday. Its a truly terrifying suggestion given that the former president has already outlined a plan to weaponize the Justice Department to bring the Bidens to justice should he win in 2024. Justice for what, exactly? It doesnt matter. Hell think of something. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Former President Donald Trump blasted Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) on Monday amid a report his team has grown frustrated by her closeness to his 2024 presidential competitor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Reynolds has vowed neutrality in the 2024 Republican primary race, telling the Des Moines Register earlier this year that she wanted to welcome all candidates to her state, which will hold the first nominating contest for Republicans in January. But The New York Times detailed growing concerns in the Trump orbit that the governor has lavished attention on DeSantis, appearing at three of his four events in the state this year and at a campaign event Thursday with his wife. I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Monday. Now, she wants to remain NEUTRAL. I dont invite her to events! DeSanctus down 45 points! Reynolds is popular among Republicans in Iowa, but the former presidents comments demonstrate his ongoing demand for loyalty from those hes supported in the past. She won a full term as governor in 2018 with 50.3% of the vote after Trump held a rally for her, but she surged to reelection with more than 58% of the vote last year. Still, the Times notes that Reynolds had grown frustrated with the former president after he suggested in June she owed him for her election. She did not appear at his recent rally in Iowa on Friday despite her pledge to try to appear with anyone who invites her to an event. Her team said the Trump camp did not formally invite her to join him. DeSantis and other 2024 GOP hopefuls rushed to defend Reynolds after Trumps barb. The Florida governor said she had earned a landslide re-election because she delivered big results, and she is poised to deliver even more for Iowans in the special session, adding she was a strong leader who knew how to ignore the chirping and get it done. Story continues Thank you to my friend @KimReynoldsIA for joining me for the launch of Mamas for DeSantis. Iowa and Florida are blessed to have strong governors who are holding the line in the name of freedom. pic.twitter.com/HG0nTb5tGw Casey DeSantis (@CaseyDeSantis) July 7, 2023 Other Iowa politicians have backed Reynolds decision to remain neutral. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) told the Times that her vow was important to retain the states first-in-the-nation nomination contest. We arent going to get involved in campaigns, because we want everybody to feel welcome in Iowa, Grassley told the Times. And if the governor were to back somebody, that may discourage other people from coming. Same way for me. DeSantis, who is still polling far below Trump in potential match-ups, will need to perform well in the Iowa caucuses, set for Jan. 15, if he is to have a chance to keep the former president from securing his third GOP nomination in a row. Related... A deal has been struck to begin training Ukrainian pilots, maintainers and support staff to operate F-16s Ukraine and 11 other nations have formalized a plan to train pilots, maintainers and support staff to operate F-16 Viper fighters, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced Tuesday in a Tweet. While the broad outlines for the training program were discussed in May, Reznikov said that the memorandum signed during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania on Tuesday outlines the terms. https://twitter.com/oleksiireznikov/status/1678784900282064896 The training will start in August in Denmark, and a training center will be set up in Romania, Reuters reported, citing officials on the sidelines of the NATO summit. The War Zone posited that Romania would be the epicenter for Ukraine's F-16 training initiative in mid June. You can read all about why Romania made sense here. https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1678825422836965376 Reznikov also opened the possibility "of including other types of fighter aircraft in the program. The coalition is ready to consider other means of granting [Ukraine] fully functional F-16 capabilities." He provided no specifics. Officials in Kyiv, from President Volodymyr Zelensky on down, have continuously pushed for more modern aircraft than its current fighter fleet consisting of Soviet-designed Su-27s and MiG-29s. You can read more about how any F-16s heading to Ukraine could be armed here and about where they might come from here. As we reported in May, a U.S. Air Force assessment earlier this year of Ukrainian pilots who came to the U.S. for simulator testing found that they could be trained in basic operations of American-made F-16 Viper fighter jets in around four months, far quicker than the Pentagon had previously suggested. That assessment, first reported by Yahoo News, is very close to the training schedule estimates that F-16 pilots provided to The War Zone for a feature published back in February. On May 25, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced after a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group that Denmark and the Netherlands would lead a European coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters. That came after U.S. President Joe Biden earlier that month finally signed off on training Ukrainian pilots on Vipers. Story continues In addition to Denmark and the Netherlands, Reznikov announced in his Tweet that Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom also signed the memorandum. F-16s will protect Ukraines skies and NATO's Eastern Flank, he said. The Ukrainian Air Force is prepared to master them as quickly as possible. Ukraine will win. While the training will begin at the end of the summer, the first Ukrainian pilots won't likely qualify on F-16s until next year. And there are no hard plans in place yet for when, or even if, Ukraine will get Vipers for those pilots to fly. Though there seems a great momentum now to make that happen, the success or failure of Ukraine's ongoing counteroffensive will likely have been determined by the time F-16s show up. We will continue to monitor this ongoing story as developments warrant. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com (Independent) A whistleblower who has repeatedly accused the Bidens of corruption has been charged by the Justice Department with arms trafficking, acting as a foreign agent for China and violating Iran sanctions. Gal Luft, who is a citizen of both the United States and Israel, is accused of paying a former adviser to Donald Trump on behalf of principals in China in 2016 without registering as a foreign agent. Prosecutors say that Mr Luft pushed the former government employee, who is not named, to push policies that were favourable to China. Mr Luft, 57, was arrested in Cyprus in February on US charges but fled after being released on bail while awaiting extradition, stated prosecutors. He is not currently in US custody. Prosecutors also allege that he set up meetings between officials of Iran and a Chinese energy company to discuss oil deals, which would violate US sanctions on the Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley will be in Greenville, Thursday, July 20, to muster support for her campaign. The Town Hall event, confirmed through Haley's campaign, will be held at Zen Greenville located at 924 S Main St. Greenville, SC 29601. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. Click here to RSVP and for more information. Haley, who has been an SC Gov. and U.N. Ambassador, was the first contender to jump into the presidential race after former President Donald Trump announced his intention to run. So far, she is the only female candidate in the race. Haley is joined by a crowded field of hopefuls, including Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, radio host Larry Elder, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and fellow South Carolinian Sen. Tim Scott. Her visit comes weeks after Trump and President Joe Biden made pitstops in the state. Her campaign recently announced that the South Carolinian had managed to raise $34.3 million since she announced her campaign. Her previous stump speeches have focused on border and immigration policies as well as enforcing competency tests for public officials older than 75, a veiled jab to not just Biden but other challengers like Trump in the Republican primary field. Devyani Chhetri covers SC politics for the Greenville News and the USA Today Network. Reach her via email at dchhetri@gannett.com. Check back for updates. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: GOP White House hopeful Haley to hold campaign event in Greenville A woman awaits sentencing after she pleaded guilty on Monday to allegations that she drove drunk and killed a man. Iliana Salayandia, 32, was indicted on one count of homicide by vehicle, attempt to commit tampering with evidence, driving on the wrong side of the road, and two other traffic charges. A judge dismissed the tampering charge in December 2022 before Salayandia pled guilty to the other charges, including the homicide charge, on July 10, 2023. The incident took the life of John Signore Jr., 80, on Dec. 2, 2021. According to an online obituary, Signore was a Marine veteran born in Massachusetts. He and his wife moved to Las Cruces after retiring from running his own business for several years. John Robert Signore Jr. Police said Signore was driving a Lexus sedan southbound on Roadrunner when Salayandia's Dodge Nitro collided with him. Police said in the affidavit that Salayandia traveled northbound in the southbound lanes of Roadrunner Parkway near Mars Avenue when she hit Signore. Police also said that Salayandia got up to about 60 mph on Roadrunner, where the posted speed limit is 35. When police arrived at the scene, they said they initially did not suspect Salayandia was intoxicated. They said she wore a face mask and told officers she'd had only one margarita a few hours before the crash. Later, a toxicology report administered six hours after the crash found Salayandia's blood alcohol content was at 0.10. The legal limit in New Mexico is 0.08. Police also accused Salayandia of trying to obfuscate her blood alcohol content. They said she asked a first responder to administer an IV Bolus which would introduce saline into her blood system diluting the amount of alcohol visible to tests. Salayandia was arrested and charged in March 2022. Now, after more than a year, Salayandia's guilty plea will be followed by sentencing. That hearing is scheduled for September. It's unclear from court records whether Salayandia will face prison time. She could face up to 15 years for the homicide by vehicle charge. Justin Garcia covers public safety and local government in Las Cruces. He can be reached via email at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com, via phone or text at 575-541-5449, or on Twitter @Just516Garc. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Woman pleads guilty in fatal Las Cruces DWI crash on Roadrunner Bahrain's Ministry of Works has announced that steady progress is being made on the Al Janabiiya Highway Expansion project with 30% of the infrastructure work already completed. The key infrastructure project, which features on the Government Action Plan, is being financed by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). The 5-km-long expansion will transform the Al Janabiya Highway into a three-lane artery on both directions to cope with the increasing flow of the traffic, said the ministry. The traffic flow on Al Janabiya Highway kept increasing over the past few years by 3% on average annually to reach 54,600 vehicles per day (6700 vehicles / hour), it stated. The new expansion will boost the capacity of the highway, which will be able to accommodate up to 10,500 vehicles per hour on average in both directions during the peak hours. BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China's maternal and infant mortality rates both dropped to historic lows in 2022, according to data from the National Health Commission. The country's maternal death rate dropped from 43.2 per 100,000 in 2002 to 15.7 per 100,000 in 2022, while infant mortality declined from 37.6 per 1,000 in the early days of reform and opening up to 4.9 per 1,000 last year, official figures show. The mortality rate of children under 5 fell to 6.8 per 1,000 in 2022, marking another record low, according to the commission. The World Health Organization considers average life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality rates as the main indicators of the health level of a country's people. China aims to reduce the maternal mortality rate to under 12 per 100,000 and the mortality rate of children under 5 to less than 6 per 1,000 by 2030, said Song Li, head of the commission's department of maternal and child health. The government is implementing a package of action plans to improve maternal and child health, while making related services more equitable, accessible and convenient. At present, the testing rate of HIV/AIDS, syphilis and hepatitis B in pregnant women is over 99 percent in China, while the mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV/AIDS has dropped to 3 percent amid efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of these diseases. Since 2009, China has been promoting a program to raise cervical and breast cancer screening. Covering over 90 percent of county-level regions across the nation, the program has provided free cervical cancer screening for 180 million women and free breast cancer screening for nearly 100 million women. The National Health Commission also launched a nationwide project this year to provide infants under 3 and their caregivers with nutritional feeding assessments, counseling and guidance, as well as parenting risk screening and regular health management follow-up services, especially aimed at those in rural areas. "China has been reforming its medical services for children in recent years," said Ni Xin, director of the National Center for Children's Health, noting that the government has set up one national and five regional children's medical centers to ensure more equitable allocation of pediatric medical resources in different regions. The National Health Commission would take steps to ensure more quality resources go to grassroots medical institutions, while implementing stimulus measures to ensure that pediatricians are well trained and willing to stay at the primary level, Song said. Yakima man accused of threatening to 'shoot up' YVC campus to appear in court Why many judges in Washington arent ordering alleged abusers to turn in guns Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference on the banks of the Rio Grande on June 26 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Gov. DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, visited the border and engaged residents and voters at an event earlier in the day. UNITED NATIONS, July 10 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians on Monday strongly condemned violence against health care operations in Haiti, including the recent gang-snatching of a gunshot patient undergoing surgery. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the UN humanitarian coordinator in Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, led condemnations against rising violence against medical staff and facilities in and around the capital Port-au-Prince and the rest of the country. In yet another distressing example of these attacks, last week a group of armed men forced their way into a Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in Tabarre, a commune in the capital, to violently remove a patient undergoing surgery for gunshot wounds, OCHA said. The office said that the humanitarian community in Haiti calls on all parties involved in attacks on health care to immediately cease all forms of violence against the population and humanitarian infrastructure while also urging respect for the neutrality of healthcare facilities and their staff. "These professionals represent a vital component of ongoing efforts by both local and international organizations to ensure access to health care and other essential services for the Haitian population, particularly during the ongoing battle against a cholera epidemic," OCHA said. Swaths of Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in the nation have been taken over by gangs, several competing against each other, reducing many areas into lawlessness and even sparking some vigilantes into action. Arestat pentru ca a furat din masini Politistii Biroului de Investigatii Criminale Targu Mures au dispus retinerea, pentru o perioada de 24 de ore, a unui barbat de 20 de ani, in cadrul unui dosar penal privind savarsirea infractiunii de furt calificat. Acesta a fost arestat preventiv, pentru 30 de zile. Cel in cauza este banuit ca, in cursul noptilor de 14/15, [citeste mai departe] July 11 in history 1428 - First documented attestation of Horaita monastery (Neamt county), issued by Chancellery of Moldova's ruler prince Alexandru cel Bun (1400-1432) CITESTE SI Fechet: Romania has a significant and diversified capacity to produce energy from renewable sources 10/07/2023 17 PNL's Ciuca: What happened in the nursing homes is inadmissible 10/07/2023 7 We want to better understand what Gov't wants in terms of charges, taxes (employers' confederation official) 10/07/2023 12 Ilfov inspected in January and February 10/07/2023 10 EXQUIS.RO Medicamentul Citeste articolul mai departe pe stiripesurse.ro Sursa articol si foto: stiripesurse.ro CITESTE SIhas a significant and diversified capacity to produce energy from renewable sources 10/07/2023 17 PNL's: What happened in the nursing homes is inadmissible 10/07/2023 7 We want to better understand what Gov't wants in terms of charges, taxes (employers' confederation official) 10/07/2023 12 HealthMin Rafila : The residential care homes ofinspected inand10/07/2023 10 EXQUIS.RO Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Health Minister Alexandru Rafila on Monday said that the residential care homes of Ilfov County, which are the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation, were inspected by the Public Heath Directorate (DSP) in January and February, and only minor infractions were found."In the months of January - Bucharest Bible and Cazania lui Varlaam, auctioned for the first time. The Biblia de la Bucuresti/Bucharest Bible of 1688 and Cazania lui Varlaam/Homiliary of Varlaam and the Letopisetele Tarii Moldovei/The Chronicles of the land of Moldova, together with other rare original copies from a private - King Charles III, currently in Romania, threw on Tuesday a reception in Viscri, on the 25th anniversary of his first visit to our country, on which occasion the sovereign wanted to meet all those with whom, over time, he collaborated.Among the guests of King Charles III was also the former prime - Growth coefficient of average net earnings in March 2023 stands at 15,426.83 compared to January 1990. The growth coefficient of the average net salary earnings on economy in March 2023 compared to January 1990 was 15,426.83 and 3,581.03 compared to February 1992, the National Institute of Statistics - Orthodox holiday: Ascension of the Lord CITESTE SI PM Ciuca highlights special bilateral relations, in telephone conversation with his Canadian counterpart 24/05/2023 12 Romania has a Scientific and Ethics Council in Artificial Intelligence 24/05/2023 9 WWII veterans, French Gendarmerie Director-general - Un primar din Moldova le ofera whisky celor care ii raspund la intrebari lansate de el pe Facebook. Prima intrebare pusa de Ion Rotaru, edil-sef la comuna Alexandru cel Bun din Neamt, a fost din domeniul muzical. - Aquila reports a 122pct increase in profit for the first quarter of 2023.Aquila, a company specialized in integrated distribution and logistics services for the consumer goods market of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, recorded a 122pct increase in profits in the first quarter of 2023 compared - European Commissioner for Transport Valean to visit Moldova, Romania, May 9-11.European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean will be on an official visit to Moldova and Romania, May 9-11, the Representation of the European Commission in Romania reports, told Agerpres. CITESTE SI New European Given the local shortage of welders, forklift drivers and truck drivers, ever more Filipinos, Indonesians, Kazakhs, Indians, Kyrgyz and Mongolians are coming to work in Hungary. According to recent draft legislation, the employment of foreign workers here may soon change. Participants in the Special Exporter Partnership Programme will able to bring in foreigners more easily while at the same time, the authorities will tighten restrictions on how long workers can stay, and reinforce governmental policy that they cannot settle or reunite here with their families. When this comes into effect, no one will be allowed to stay longer than three years, as opposed to the current norm of two-year intervals. As well as operators, drivers and welders, there is a high demand for unskilled workers in the automotive, electronics and food industries. In a large car factory, 70% of the workers may be unskilled, but they still have to meet demanding requirements. The authorities are relatively supportive, with simplified immigration procedures for both residence and employment for workers from 17 listed countries. This should allow a greater number of Asian workers to come to Hungary in larger numbers and under easier conditions. Source: telex.hu Words by Peterjon Cresswell for Xpatloop.com Peterjon has been researching the byways of Budapest for 30 years, extending his expertise across Europe to produce guidebooks for Time Out and his own website liberoguide.com The Ministry of Agriculture has announced this year's support schemes to support the work of beekeepers with a resource budget of HUF 2.8 billion, which play a key role in the life of the Hungarian bee sector, announced Minister of Agriculture Istvan Nagy, according to magro.hu. Those concerned can submit their applications from July 4, 2023. The grants help in the acquisition of new tools for beekeeping, in the protection against bee diseases and pests, in the transfer of knowledge in the sector, and in the field of honey marketing. A teacher demonstrates the tea ceremony at a ceremony held to mark the 16th anniversary of the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University in Lalitpur, Nepal on July 10, 2023. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua) "The Confucius Institute not just teaches language but is a part of cultural exchanges. We're proud that we have been part of this exchanges through the institute at our university," said Bhola Thapa, vice chancellor of Kathmandu University. KATHMANDU, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University has trained nearly 50,000 Chinese-language professionals for Nepal since its inception 16 years ago, as the university voiced readiness on Monday to do more to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. The institute has not only opened Chinese language courses at universities, colleges and primary and secondary schools in Nepal, but also launched other programs including Chinese classes for Nepal Army and government officials, said Gao Xiaofeng, vice president of Hebei University of Economics and Business, which is co-building the Confucius Institute with Kathmandu University. A student performs Shaolin Kung Fu at a ceremony held to mark the 16th anniversary of the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University in Lalitpur, Nepal on July 10, 2023. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua) And nearly 50,000 Chinese-language professionals have been trained for different sectors in Nepal in the past 16 years, Gao said at a ceremony held on Monday to mark the 16th anniversary of the Confucius Institute. Higher education institutions in north China's Hebei Province have co-built 12 Confucius Institutes and six Confucius Classrooms in 15 countries over the years, said Wang Liqian, deputy director-general of Hebei's Department of Education. Of the countries, Nepal, Zambia and Thailand have incorporated the Chinese language into their national education systems, Wang added. "The Confucius Institute not just teaches language but is a part of cultural exchanges. We're proud that we have been part of this exchanges through the institute at our university," said Bhola Thapa, vice chancellor of Kathmandu University. "We're open for further strengthening this effort," he said. Students sing a Chinese song at a ceremony held to mark the 16th anniversary of the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University in Lalitpur, Nepal on July 10, 2023. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua) For his part, Wang Xin, political counselor at the Chinese embassy in Nepal, said the Chinese embassy will continue to work hand in hand with the Nepali government and people from all walks of life to jointly implement the Global Civilization Initiative and create a better Chinese language learning environment for Nepali friends. China is also willing to strengthen educational cooperation with Nepal and train various talents for the South Asian country's development, Wang added. Teachers and students from the Confucius Institute made art performances on the occasion. Poets, composers and statesmen proudly stand around Budapest, their likenesses centrepiecing the citys main squares and boulevards. But what about the more unusual figures, the statues and installations whose stories have you wondering how and why they got there? In this insiders guide, we reveal seven significant and unusual statues and installations, from an anonymous chronicler to a little princess. Anonymous Statue Anonymus Szobor Location: By the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, City Park Legend has it that this mysterious statue represents an unknown chronicler of medieval Hungary. With his face shrouded by a hood, he holds a pen and a book, embodying the unsung heroes of history. Carved by Miklos Ligeti in 1903, this enigmatic figure invites contemplation on the importance of the written word. Batthyany Memorial Flame Batthyany Lajos-orokmecses Location: Bathory utca/Aulich utca Marking the spot where Hungarian hero Lajos Batthyany was executed in 1849, this moving memorial was unveiled on the anniversary of the event in 1926. Batthyany had been the Hungarian leader during the turbulent year of 1848, when the Magyars rose up against their Habsburg overlords. After the rebellion was put down, the Austrians hung or shot 13 Hungarian generals at Arad on the same day as Batthyany died by firing squad in Budapest. Long live the homeland he is said to have shouted, as the noise of gunfire filled the air. In a more unusual memorial, Hungarians never clink beer glasses by way of salutation, as that is how the Austrians celebrated their grim deed that day in Arad. Harry Hill Bandholtz Location: Szabadsag ter This stern-looking general from World War I stands at an appropriate location, near the American Embassy on one of the most prominent squares in downtown Budapest. Bandholtz was an unlikely hero in 1919 when he personally prevented Romanian forces from bursting into the National Museum and making off with no end of historic treasure. With Budapest in chaos in the aftermath of the conflict, this military man from Michigan stood as a beacon of calm as he shooed away the would-be looters with little more than a riding crop and, most potently, an official seal from the US Embassy, inserted on the doors. The statue was removed by the Communist authorities in 1949 but restored to its rightful place before a presidential visit by George Bush in 1989. Fat Policeman Bekebeli rendor Location: Zrinyi utca, corner of Oktober 6 utca, District V Prepare to chuckle as you encounter the amusing Fat Policeman statue on a busy corner of downtown Budapest. Depicting a robust traffic officer, this bronze figure stands proudly with a jolly expression, directing imaginary traffic with exaggerated gestures. Created by Andras lllyes in 2008, it is said to depict a cartoon character from Hungarian newspapers in the late 1800s, Andras Mihaszna. Passers-by rub his belly for good luck. The Little Princess Kiskiralylany szobor Location: Belgrad rakpart, near Vigado ter Perched by the Danube, this whimsical statue portrays a young girl sitting on a railing, gazing longingly toward the river. Crafted by Laszlo Marton, it represents the spirit of Budapest, capturing the city's innocence, dreams, and endless possibilities. A beloved figure and popular selfie spot, the Little Princess has become a symbol of hope and resilience. Imre Nagy Location: Jaszai Mari ter, by Margaret Bridge One of the most poignant statues in Budapest, this likeness of the hero of the 1956 Uprising stands halfway along a bridge. Originally overlooking the Parliament building where Nagy had served until the fateful day of 4 November 1956 when Soviet forces crushed the Hungarian rebellion, the statue was later moved to this quite hidden location near Margaret Bridge. A Communist leader who had defied Moscow, Nagy was later lured from his bolthole in the Yugoslav Embassy, tried in secret and executed. Details of his grave at Ujkoz Cemetery, the infamous plot 301, was also kept from Hungarians until 1989, when his reburial became a huge public occasion months before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Shoes on the Danube Bank Cipok a Duna-parton Location: id Antall Jozsef rakpart, near Parliament A poignant memorial, this sculpture pays tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. Created by Gyula Pauer and Can Togay, it comprises 60 pairs of iron shoes scattered along the riverbank, symbolising the Jews who were forced to remove their shoes before being shot and pushed into the Danube towards the end of World War II. A solemn reminder of the atrocities of the past, it stands as a call for compassion and remembrance. MTI Photos Words by Peterjon Cresswell for Xpatloop.com Peterjon has been researching the byways of Budapest for 30 years, extending his expertise across Europe to produce guidebooks for Time Out and his own website liberoguide.com A large-scale exhibition of works by renowned Hungarian painter Tivadar Csontvary Kosztka (1853-1919) has attracted over 170,000 visitors since it opened in Budapests Museum of Fine Arts in April, the museum said. The exhibition presenting 45 paintings and spanning the oeuvre of the most original Hungarian painter will run until July 16. The exhibition features titles including the iconic Ruins of the Ancient Greek Theatre at Taormina, the thirty-square-metre Baalbek, the Pilgrimage to the Cedars in Lebanon and the Lonely Cedar, among others. A section presents his early portraits, self-portraits, bird paintings and the landscapes inspired by his study visit to Italy. The exhibition in Budapest will be open for the public on Monday and for extended hours, from 9am until 9pm, on the weekend, the museum said. The show will then travel on to Pecs. Budapest is a mish-mash of many eras, Habsburg, Socialist and pre-war the most prominent. This is reflected in what you might find in the citys flea markets and junk shops, from elegant fin-de-siecle lampshades to posters from the early days of cinema and wind-up toys from the Soviet Union. Heres our guide to the best bazaars in town, where you can find one-of-a-kind furniture to embellish your home, a smoking jacket for social occasions and a slice of pop history in vinyl form. Take cash with you just in case and dont forget to haggle! Antik Placc For secondhand shopping in the city centre, this friendly retro fair is ideal, filling the renovated market hall at Klauzal ter, also accessible from Akacfa utca. The goods here tend to appeal to a more discerning clientele rather than a random dump of discarded artefacts restored jewellery, tools in working order, that kind of thing. Which doesnt mean to say you cant pick up a pre-war typewriter or a radio with an exotic frequency dial and, this being a short from the Nagykorut, its relatively easy to bring home your newly acquired treasure. Address: 1072 Budapest, Klauzal ter 11. Transport: Tram 4, 6 to Kiraly utca or Wesselenyi utca. Open: Sun 8am-4pm. Bakancsos bolhapiac A flea market in the classic sense, one that opens at the crack of dawn and puts out for sale a completely random selection of potential finds. Here, haggling might bring the price down a few hundred forints but having made the huge trek here to the other side of Budapest Airport close to the city limits, youre almost certain to buy something rather than go home empty-handed. Note that the 198 bus to Bulyovszky utca brings you closer to the site but youll have to pick it up somewhere in deepest, darkest Angyalfold. The train is an easier option. Address: 1173 Budapest, Szencinke utca. Transport: Train from Keleti station to Rakoshegy, 10min walk up Tancsics Mihaly ut. Open: Sat-Sun 5am-2pm. Budai Zsibvasar A popular spot for bargain hunters on the site of the Budaors flower market, the Buda rag fair is curated enough to scatter all the ornaments, chairs, clocks and toy cars in their own separate spaces, so collectors can make a beeline for them straight away. A lot of the stuff is in pretty good conditions, and vendors seem to specialise in their own particular field. Over a main road from Madarhegy bus stop so be careful when you cross. Address: 1112 Budapest, Budaorsi ut 172. Transport: Bus 40 from Kelenfold to Madarhegy. Open: Sat, Sun 7am-2pm. Ecseri piac All kinds of treasure fill these sprawling stalls, some covered, some left in the open air. Weekends see it packed with tourists, eager to pick up a bargain and a curio to take home with them. Paintings and homeware feature prominently remember whatever has taken your fancy, youll have to lug all the way back to your flat from deepest south Pest. If youre just after a fascinating mornings browse, perhaps picking up a few black-and-white postcards or pop singles from the Qualiton era, Ecseri is well worth the long bus ride from Boraros ter. Vendors tend to be savvy and unphased by haggling they know someone else will come along sooner rather than later. Address: 1194 Budapest, Nagykorosi ut 156. Transport: Bus 54, 55 from Boraros ter to Naszod utca (Hasznaltcikk piac). Open: Mon-Fri 9.30am-2.30pm, Sat 7.30am-1.45pm, Sun 8.30am-1pm. Gozsdu Weekend Market The closest secondhand fair to the city centre, this weekend bazaar attracts specialist vendors who sell to knowledgeable customers the camera stall is particularly active. This being Gozsdu Udvar, a busy passageway of bars and restaurants between Kiraly utca and Dob utca, it also brings a fair share of tourists happy to browse as they wander between the Great Synagogue and the nightlife quarter. Through December, it transforms into a Christmas market. Address: 1075 Budapest, Kiraly utca 13-Dob utca 16. Transport: M1, M2, M3 to Deak Ferenc ter. Open: Fri-Sun: 10am-5pm (winter Sat-Sun only). Industrial Lamp Budapest This facility differs from its counterparts in that its (a) more a yard aale than flea market and (b) switches to evening hours on certain summer weekends, such as 14-15 July, allowing browsers to escape the heat on Friday and Saturday evenings. As its name suggests, the artefacts here once occupied someones home or place or work, so this really is the place to come for a sexy lampshade or an elegant dining chair rather than obscure cassettes, and shoppers tend to come here with something in mind. Theres a nice communal feel about the place, however, and repeat custom is the norm. Address: Budapest 1117, Budafoki ut 70. Transport: Bus 33 from Moricz Zsigmond korter to Galvani utca. Open: Sat-Sun 6am-1pm. Lorinczi bolhapiac One of the positive things about these kinds of flea markets is that they take you to far-flung parts of Budapest you would never otherwise visit Pestszentlorinc, Lorinc to locals, wasnt even part of Budapest until 1950. The flea market runs six days a week alongside the districts main market although youll find a far wider selection on Saturdays. For seekers of treasure it says on the sign above the gateway, though you may have to rummage pretty extensively to find any of a Tuesday morning. Address: 1183 Budapest, Regeny utca. Transport: Bus 182 from Kobanya-Kispest to Regeny utca. Open: Tue-Sat 6am-2pm, Sun 6am-noon. Words by Peterjon Cresswell for Xpatloop.com Peterjon has been researching the byways of Budapest for 30 years, extending his expertise across Europe to produce guidebooks for Time Out and his own website liberoguide.com Success Story: The introduction of electricity transformed our way of life for decades, but the growing number of shortages and their lengthening frequency have made another invention necessary. Behind the scenes, a game changer with a non-technical background was putting in his hard work and commitment as this awful state of electricity deficit persisted for years. Kunwer Sachdev is the face of the power backup sector in India and the brains behind Su-Kam, one of the most progressive and rapidly expanding businesses in the country. Kunwer Sachdev: Rags To Riches A real "rags to riches" story, Kunwer Sachdev was raised by a railway clerk in Delhi's Punjabi Bagh neighborhood while dreaming of starting his own company one day. Following his graduation from college in 1984, he started working full-time in his brother's pen business. He attended a public school where the curriculum was taught in Hindi. He quickly recognized the potential in the field of power backup because he was a visionary from an early age. Due to the challenges of a severe power deficit, he made the decision to shut down his cable TV business and start Su-Kam in 1998. He has since launched numerous additional enterprises, but he has maintained the same Su-Kam throughout his entrepreneurial career for all of his ventures. But where did the name Su-Kam originate? The initials of his daughter's name, his name, and the names of his future children were once combined in Kunwer's mind to form the name of his company. cre Trending Stories Su-Kam- The Unmatched Product He had a difficult time raising money for his business, so it surprised him when clients returned his first 100 inverters due to issues. Never one to give up, he improved his invention and fixed all the flaws to make it better than anything else on the market. Before making cold calls to prospective new clients, he first spoke with a number of his cable TV clients. Realizing that selling to people directly would not help him grow his business, he started approaching dealers and wholesalers. The majority of producers quickly realized that Su-Kam was unmatched in terms of product quality and price, even though the market was already crowded at the time. Su-Kam: Monopoly They were therefore compelled to accept Kunwer's proposals in order to become his company's initial partner. Soon after, Su-Kam became the first company in the industry to start exporting its products to the aforementioned markets. Kunwer started expanding his business during this time by visiting other nations. Kunwer surmounted new barriers brought on by governmental restrictions, corporate traditions, legal frameworks, and rivalries to establish Su-Kam as a household name in many of these countries. For his achievements, Kunwer Sachdev was given various awards, including the "Bharat Shiromani" and the Ernst and Young "Entrepreneur of the Year" titles. Su-Kam Bankruptcy Su-Kam Power Systems Limited filed for bankruptcy as a result of a string of tragic events, and Kunwer Sachdev was forced to quit the company he had considered his own for 32 years of his career and distance himself from it after getting involved in various legal disputes. The man who altered the landscape of India's power backup industry was forced to fight his toughest battle. The business was closed for two years (April 2019-April 2022). There was no help available. Nobody was answering the phone calls or responding to emails. Dealers and customers both suffered greatly during this time. Khushboo Sachdev: A Blessing In Disguise Customers, distributors, suppliers, and other company associates were left with a void following Kunwer Sachdev's departure from the business that he started and oversaw from its beginning until 2018. Customers and dealers both suffered because they had unsold goods and services on their hands, and there was no way to resolve any warranty claims from customers. After great effort and difficulty, Kunwer Sachdev's wife, Khushboo Sachdev, stepped up to assist him in these circumstances. Su-Vastika And The Power Woman Under the guidance of Kunwer Sachdev, Khushboo Sachdev launched a new business called Su-vastika with a lot of assistance and support from friends and family. She created this new company with financial assistance from Kunwer's friends and family despite having no prior experience in business management. Her own struggles compelled her to do so, and there was no turning back after that. She met people, made plans, and was aware of every step. Although she was inexperienced, she started Su-vastika with a team thanks to her tenacity and enthusiasm. She made do with her children and elevated Su-vastika. The brand experience, according to Kunwer, begins inward and moves outward from there. It is for this reason that, on the one hand, he provided fresh challenges for his employees to advance their abilities. On the other hand, he observed all the holidays with fervor and took several steps to strengthen the bonds among his team members. The establishment of one of the most admired Indian firms, which revolutionized the power backup market, has earned Kunwer Sachdev his place in history, just like Thomas Edison did. And he is not done yet. Life will constantly present challenges that must be overcome. However difficult the times are, we can achieve our goals if we work consistently hard, have patience, and have confidence in ourselves. Something similar is the story of Kalpana Saroj, a Maharashtrian Dalit woman who was married off at the age of 12, suffered domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, but built a business empire worth Rs 900 crore despite all the challenges she faced. The story of Kalpana Saroj shows how a woman found ways out of the multitude of adversities and learned vital lessons on the importance of willpower and hard work in realising dreams. Who is Kalpana Saroj? cre Trending Stories Kalpana Saroj is an entrepreneur and the chairperson of Kamani Tubes. Kalpana received the Padma Shri for Trade and Industry, in 2013. She also sits on the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore's board of governors. Early Life And Struggle Days Of Kalpana Saroj Kalpana Saroj was born in 1961 in Roparkheda in Maharashtra to a Dalit family. Kalpana was married off at the age of 12. In her husband's family, Kalpana was physically and mentally tortured by her in-laws. Seeing the deplorable condition of his daughter Kalpana's father took her to his home. However, Kalpana was unable to live in peace even at her father's house because society used to judge her and her father for harbouring a married girl at her parents' house. Kalpana also made an early attempt at suicide because she was unable to handle the severe emotional anguish caused by society. However, Kalpana was not the type of person who would submit to the situation. She saw every obstacle as a chance to advance. Kalpana relocated to Mumbai and began working in a garment factory. Kalpana, a fearless and resilient lady, even borrowed Rs. 50,000 to launch her own business. In addition, Kalpana founded a film production company and produced a commercial about the hardships and injustices a Dalit family faces. She started a real estate business as well. Kalpanas Kamani Tubes Journey When Kalpana achieved some measure of financial stability, she was deeply impacted by the appalling situations of others who were out of work and suffering from a lack of resources. By this time, Kalpana had established a name for herself in the surrounding areas. As her influence grew, she was approached by a group of Kamani Tubes employees who requested help in order to stop the company from going out of business entirely. Kalpana invested money in the struggling company. She later took on a leadership position in the company and helped it recover from numerous lawsuits and significant debt. She changed Kamani Tubes for the better and turned it into a successful business thanks to her astute business sense and acumen. The government appreciated the hard work and dedication of Kalpana Saroj and awarded her with the Padma Shri in 2013. Today, Kalpana Saroj is a source of inspiration for every woman on how to overcome challenges and succeed as a leader. "Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." This quote by Mahatma Gandhi must have motivated people to overcome all physical obstacles in order to turn wish into reality. Srikanth Bolla of Andhra Pradesh is one such person who, with his indomitable courage and strong will, proved to the entire world that there is no limit to what is possible. Srikanth inspires people to never give up because the loser is the one who does not fight. Srikanth Bolla, a man with vision impairments, is the founder of Bollant Industries, a business that employs and educates people with disabilities to produce compostable and eco-friendly packaging. His business makes a staggering hundred crores in annual revenue and employs hundreds of people. Continue reading to learn more about the visually impaired entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla, whose life serves as a shining example of perspective obtained despite vision loss. Early Life Of Srikanth Bolla cre Trending Stories Srikanth Bolla was born blind in 1992 in Andhra Pradesh. Bolla, who was raised by impoverished, illiterate farmers, was shunned by his neighbours. His parents would be asked by many people to have him killed. But his parents disregarded everything and gave Bolla all the help he needed. Bolla has always desired to be an engineer and wanted to major in science and maths to pursue his dreams. However, numerous schools turned him down because they believed it was against the law for him to study maths and science in high school because he was blind. After being turned down, Bolla appealed in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh for reform in the law governing education so that blind students study maths and science. Bolla won his lawsuit, much to his joy. Bolla went back to a state board school where he studied math and science and received an average grade of 98%. His good marks however could not help him in attending the IIT as his blindness became an obstacle. He then applied to MIT, one of the best technical schools in the US, and was selected. Bolla was admitted to MIT as the first blind student from India and the first blind student from outside of the country. The Birth Of Bollant Industries Srikanth Bolla returned to India after completing his education in the US. Back in India, Bolla understood that not everyone could battle as hard as he did for everything in life. He therefore made the decision to launch his own business and hire people with impairments. In 2012, Bolla established Bollant Industries. He developed his company into one that generated enormous profits through his astute business sense, diligence, and commitment. The Bollant Industries manufactures packaging solutions. More than 600 people work for the company, with disabled people making up about half of the workforce. Additionally, Ratan Tata has also made investment funding in his company. Awards Received By Srikanth Bolla Srikanth Bolla has received several awards. He was awarded Emerging Leadership Award by ECLIF Malaysia in 2016. Bolla was included in the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list in 2017. In 2019, the Indian government presented him with the National Entrepreneurship Award. He was awarded Entrepreneur of the Globe by One Young World, UK in 2019. NEW DELHI: Seema Ghulam Haider, a Pakistani woman who fell in love with Greater Noida's Sachin Meena over the online gaming platform PUBG and later crossed multiple international borders ''illegally'' to live with him, has become a vegetarian and is quickly learning to adapt herself to the Hindu traditions and customs all for love. Ever since she came from Pakistan, Seema Haider is in awe of the Indian culture and lifestyle. Not only has she converted to Hinduism, Seema has also given up her favourite food - chicken biryani, meat and fish. The Pakistani Bhabhi is trying hard to wholeheartedly embrace Indian culture and doing everything to assimilate herself into Indian society. According to media reports, Seema Haider has converted to Hinduism and wears a Radhe-Radhe strap around her neck. She can be seen greeting guests with folded hands, seeking blessings by touching the feet of elders, and engaging in prayer. Seema, 30, said that she has adopted a vegetarian lifestyle like Sachins family and wants to live here in India for the rest of her life. cre Trending Stories The Pakistani woman grabbed a lot of eyeballs after she and Sachin Meena, 25, were arrested by the authorities on July 4. While Seema was charged with illegally entering India, Sachin was booked for sheltering the illegal immigrant. Seema was accused of illegally entering India without a valid visa via Nepal with her four children, all aged below seven years, to live with her lover Sachin. The two were granted bail by a court in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida on Friday. How Did Seema & Sachin Met? The couple's love story is as intriguing as a typical Bollywood potboiler. The two fell in love with each other while playing the online game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) during the Covid-19 pandemic. They met in Nepal earlier this year in March and got married. Narrating her story to reporters after walking out of jail, Seema said, "It was such a long and gruelling journey. I was very scared too. I first went from Karachi to Dubai, where we waited for 11 hours and couldn't sleep. We then flew to Nepal, before finally taking the road to Pokhara, where I met Sachin." While she then went back to Pakistan, Sachin returned to India from Nepal. Upon reaching Pakistan, Seema, who claimed discord with her husband, sold a plot for Pakistani Rupees 12 lakh and arranged flight tickets and a Nepal visa for herself and her four children. In May, she reached Nepal via Dubai and spent some time in the tourist city of Pokhara in the Himalayan nation. Then she took a bus to Delhi from Kathmandu and reached Greater Noida on May 13 with her children where Sachin had made arrangements for her to stay in a rented accommodation without disclosing her Pakistani identity. How Did Their Love Story Come To Fore? Their cross-border love story hit a dead-end after they were arrested on July 4 and put in jail. After getting bail from the court, Seema said that she will now focus on the paperwork to make her move to India official. She also said that she does want to go back to Pakistan and cited the stringent rules for women back in her country and a possible threat to her life. "No one has brought me to India by persuasion, I have come here of my own free will for the sake of love," Seema said. In an interview with the BBC, Seema Haider said that she would rather slit her throat or consume poison than return to her homeland. Seema also revealed that she was forced to marry her Pakistani husband Gulam, who works in Dubai, at a very young age. In his turn, Sachin, who works at a grocery store, said that he wants to live with Seema and her children in Greater Noida only. The duo also said they would contact lawyers to find out a way to legalise her stay in India. Seema said she will accept Hinduism. Sachin told reporters that they would soon take a dip in the holy Ganga together for her to embark on their new journey. Twist In Seema & Sachin's Love Story Adding a twist to their love story, Seema's husband, Gulam Haider, who stays in Saudi Arabia, has made an appeal to the Government Of India via a video message to help him reunite with his wife. In the video, he says that he got to know that his wife and children were in Noida, through the Indian media. Ghaziabad: At least six people died in a collision between a school bus and a car on the Delhi Meerut Expressway on Tuesday morning, the police said. According to the police, the school bus was empty and was reportedly coming from the wrong direction. "A school bus and a TUV met with an accident on the Delhi Meerut Expressway at 6.00 am today. The bus driver was coming from the wrong direction after filling CNG from Delhi near Ghazipur. The people in the car were coming from Meerut and had to go to Gurgaon. There was a head-on collision. 6 persons died and 2 are seriously injured. The driver of the bus has been caught. The entire fault was of the bus driver who was coming from the wrong direction", Ramanand Kushwaha ADCP Traffic Police told ANI. The ADCP further said that the deceased include two children and the injured are being treated. "The dead include 2 children. Women and men are also included. 2 people are injured and are being treated in the hospital. There were 8 people in the car," ADCP Kushwaha said. cre Trending Stories Earlier on Monday, at least nine people were killed after a tanker coming at a high speed collided with a tempo in Pratapgarh, said an official. The accident happened on the Lucknow Varanasi Highway near Mohanganj market in the Leelapur police station area in Pratapgarh. Kolkata: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has "banned" a monk who stirred a big controversy by criticising youth icon, great thinker and philosopher Swami Vivekananda and his revered guru Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Taking swift action against Das for making derogatory & snide remarks on Indias most revered saintly figures, the ISKCON said, ''We are very much pained by his totally inappropriate & unacceptable remarks and his lack of understanding about the great teachings of these two personalities. Whats The Controversy Surrounding Amogh Lila Das? cre Trending Stories The monk in question, Amogh Lila Das, courted controversy by criticised Swami Vivekananda for eating fish and saying that a virtuous person can never harm a living being. Das also made sarcastic remarks about Swami Vivekanandas teacher Ramakrishna's teaching of "Jato Mat Tato Path" (as many opinions, as many paths), saying that not every path leads to the same destination. A bitter controversy erupted after a video clip of the monk making those objectionable remarks went viral on social media, evoking sharp reactions. ISKCON punishes monk Amogh Lila Das for making derogatory & outrageous comments against Ramkrishna Paramhansa & Swami Vivekananda by banning him for one month. Monk Amogh Das will remain in the hills of Govardhan for one month & completely seclude himself from the public life pic.twitter.com/hLx1AvPvqg Pooja Mehta (@pooja_news) July 11, 2023 Sharing the clip, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh, tweeted, "We revere ISKCON. But they should stop him now. Insulting Ramakrishna and Vivekananda will not be tolerated. Immediate action should be taken against this so-called monk." One-Month Ban On The Monk Taking appropriate measures, ISKCON issued a statement in which it said that the views expressed by Das are not representative of its values and teachings. "We condemn any form of disrespect and intolerance towards other religious beliefs and practices," it said. It also said the "derogatory remarks" shows a lack of awareness in Das about the diversity of spiritual paths and personal choices. "Taking note of this serious mistake committed by him, ISKCON has decided to ban him for 1 month. We have communicated our decision to him. Amogh Lila Das has begged for forgiveness for his comments, and he is realizing what a great disservice he has done," the statement said. "He has taken a vow to go on 'prayaschit' (atonement) for 1 month in the hills of Govardhan and will completely seclude himself from the public life with immediate effect," it added. So, Who Is Amogh Lila Das? Amogh Leela Prabhu is a spiritual-motivational speaker and social worker. He currently serves as the Vice President of the Dwarka chapter of ISKCON. Born in a Punjabi family in Lucknow, Das, 43, is a software engineer by profession. His real name is Ashish Arora. Amogh Leela Das currently resides in Delhi. He was very religious from childhood and read the verses of the Bhagavad Gita while he was still studying in school. Impressed with the philosophy and life-changing teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Amogh Leela Das decided to delve deeper to know more about the ancient Hindu religious text. After obtaining his software engineering degree, Das worked as a software engineer for some time but soon quit his full-time job to tread on the path of spirituality. He went to the Dwarka centre of ISKCON for his spiritual training and took a vow of celibacy. Amogh Lila Das projects himself as a motivational strategist, spiritual activist and preacher and enjoys a huge fan following. His videos are very popular and get good traction on social media. NEW DELHI: In a big setback to the Centre, the Supreme Court on Tuesday termed the third extension of tenure granted to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra as 'illegal' but allowed him to continue on the post till July 31, 2023. A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol said in view of the peer review being conducted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) this year and to enable a smooth transition, Mishra can serve on the post till July 31. The top court also directed the Centre to look for a new chief for the central probe agency, adding that "Mishra's extended term violates the mandate of a judgment in 2021.'' The bench gave the verdict on a batch of petitions, including those filed by Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Thakur, and TMC's Mahua Moitra and Saket Gokhale. Who Is Sanjay Kumar Mishra? cre Trending Stories Sanjay Kumar Mishra is a 1984-batch IRS officer. If the SC order had not come, the 62-year-old IRS officer would have otherwise remained in office till November 18, 2023, according to the notification issued by the government earlier. Mishra is believed to be an expert in financial matters. Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, he is said to have personally supervised probes in several high-profile cases. He has become a point person in the Narendra Modi governments fight against corruption. It is for this reason that Mishra was appointed as the chief of ED on November 19, 2018, for a period of two years. Prior to his appointment, Mishra was posted as chief commissioner of Income Tax in Delhi. During Sanjay Kumar Mishras tenure, the ED has earned the sobriquet of the new CBI for the swiftness it has shown in probing financial fraud and money laundering cases involving big political figures in the country, angering the Opposition parties for the agencys actions. Its also said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attacked assets worth Rs 65000 crores in just four years alone under the supervision of Sanjay Kumar Mishra. The federal financial probe agency is believed to have conducted more than 2,000 raids under his supervision. Past Extensions SK Mishra joined as ED chief on November 19, 2018, for two year fixed tenure. Later, by an order dated November 13, 2020, the central government modified the appointment letter retrospectively and his two-year term was changed to three years. The government promulgated an ordinance last year under which the tenure of the ED and CBI chiefs could be extended by up to three years after the mandated term of two years. Petitions Challenging His Extensions? In the wake of the Centre bringing an ordinance, a batch of petitions were filed before the Supreme Court by several opposition parties challenging the amendments. In response to this, the government told the Supreme Court that it had extended Mishra's tenure in public interest as various cases were at a crucial juncture and required proper and expeditious disposal for which it was necessary to ensure the continuity of officers. Again in February this year, the Centre defended its decision to extend the tenure of the director of the Enforcement Directorate and urged the top court to dismiss the plea challenging the decision saying that the petition is motivated. The Centre told the Supreme Court that the petition challenging the decision to extend the ED directors tenure lacked merit and asked the apex court to dismiss the petition. The Centre also informed the top court that the petition was clearly motivated by an oblique personal interest rather than any public interest litigation, the report added. It argued that restricting the tenure of the director of ED or CBI would be counterproductive to the countrys efforts to fight against corruption and money laundering. A newly appointed person may take time to acclimatise to the working of the new organisation, the government said. Opposition parties have expressed disappointment over the extension given to Mishra accusing the government of misusing the federal agencies and harassing the political leaders and civil society members. High Profile Cases The Enforcement Directorate, which is the Centres apex agency that enforces the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and probed matters related to money launder and other big-ticket financial fraud cases. Under Sanjay Mishras supervision, the central investigative agency has launched a probe against several high-profile people and politicians such as Congress' Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband Robert Vadra. ED is also probing cases against Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah. Besides, the agency is also facilitating the extradition of fugitives such as Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. Money laundering accused such as former Yes Bank managing director and chief executive officer Rana Kapoor and ICICI Bank former MD-CEO Chanda Kochhars husband Deepak Kochhar have also fallen under the ED scanner under Mishras leadership. At present, the central probe agency is probing the National Herald case against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the sand mining case involving former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey. West Bengal the SSC recruitment scam against former Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee and aide Arpita Mukherjee and Delhi Excise policy case involving ex-Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. BEIRUT, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon prepared on Tuesday to file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council against "Israel's annexation" of the northern part of Ghajar, a disputed village on the border with Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructed the country's permanent mission to the UN to file a complaint over "Israel's full occupation and completion of the annexation of the Lebanese part of Ghajar," the ministry said in a statement. Israel's recent move in Ghajar adds to the daily and continued Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty and UN Resolution 1701, the statement noted, calling for "Israel's immediate and unconditional withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories." Lebanon accused Israel of erecting a wire fence and building a cement wall surrounding Ghajar. Israel was required to withdraw from the northern half of Ghajar as per the UN Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, although this has not yet occurred. Meanwhile, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon has for years called on Israel to end its building work in northern Ghajar and withdraw its troops. Apart from occasional tensions in recent months, the Lebanese-Israeli border has largely remained quiet after the month-long war in 2006. Being kind to others and showing love and generosity can have a remarkable and magical impact. Recently, an inspiring incident caught attention on the internet, highlighting the power of empathy and kindness. In Odhav, Ahmedabad, a female constable earned a lot of praise for her compassionate act, which let a mother write an exam. So, what did the constable do? Well, she took care of the child while the mother appeared for an exam. The incident unfolded at the centre of the Gujarat High Court's Peon Recruitment examination on Sunday, where the female constable was deployed. In photos shared by the Ahmedabad Police's Twitter handle, the female constable, identified as Daya Ben, is seen holding and playing with the six-month-old baby, while the mother focused on the examination inside the centre. While the kid looked quite calm and in a playful mood, the constable was seen handling the baby in a diligent manner. cre Trending Stories Daya, a woman police constable, came to the aid of a mother who was taking her exams in Odhav, Ahmedabad. The constable stepped in when the infant started crying, allowing the mother to continue her exams without worrying about the child, stated the Twitter post. Check: As per the post, the woman examinee with her six-month-old son arrived at the Odhav exam hall as a candidate for the post of a peon at the Gujarat High Court. Right before her exam was about to start, the baby started crying and thats when constable Daya Ben decided to intervene and help the woman. She offered to look after the infant for the entire duration of the exam. Thanks to her intervention, the babys mother could complete the paper. The pictures have gone viral on social media, with many praising the woman constable for her gesture. One user wrote, We are proud of you, ma'am. Another user commented, Dayaben, a female police officer, helped an examinee in a true sense today by becoming a mother and saving her child. "Comparable work. Salute to Ahmedabad police family," a third user said. The pictures have so far amassed a lot of views and likes on Twitter. Washington DC: US President Joe Biden on Monday (local time) welcomed his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan's commitment to transmit the accession protocal for Sweden to Turkey's Grand National Assembly for swift ratification. Biden expressed readiness to work with Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defence and deterrence. He stated that he looked forward to welcoming Sweden as US' 32nd North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally. He thanked NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for his "steadfast leadership." Biden was quoted as saying in a statement released by the White House, "I welcome the statement issued by Turkiye, Sweden and the NATO Secretary General this evening, including the commitment by President Erdogan to transmit the Accession Protocol for Sweden to Turkiye's Grand National Assembly for swift ratification." "I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkiye on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO Ally. And I thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for his steadfast leadership," he added. Biden's statement comes after NATO Secretary General announced that Turkey has agreed to support Sweden's bid to become a member of the military alliance. He made the announcement after his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. cre Trending Stories Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Stoltenberg said, "I am glad to announce that, as a result, President Erdogan has agreed to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible. And work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification." Responding to a question on when Sweden can be expected to officially become a part of NATO, Stoltenberg was unwilling to respond and said that it was up to Turkey to make an announcement and preferred to focus on the merits of the decision, CNN reported. He said, "I think that we have to respect that every parliament has their own integrity, their own timelines, so I welcome that the president has made this clear that he will work with the parliament to ensure ratification, but exactly when has to be announced by the Turkish parliament." Stoltenberg noted that the announcement was a result of a year of negotiations. NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg said that Sweden and Turkey have worked closely together to address "legitimate security concerns" of Ankara. He noted that Sweden has amended tis laws and expanded its counter-terrorism cooperation against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and resumed arms exports to Turkey. He said that Turkey and Sweden have agreed to establish a new bilateral Security Compact. The announcement on Sweden's NATO bid comes after months of opposition and demands from Turkey. Turkey had said that Sweden allows members of Kurdish terror groups to operate in the country, CNN reported. On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Brussels should clear the way for Turkey's accession to the European Union before his country gives approval to Sweden's bid for NATO membership, CNN reported. Addressing a news conference, Erdogan said, "First, let's clear Turkey's way in the European Union, then let's clear the way for Sweden, just as we paved the way for Finland," according to CNN. Erdogan stressed it was time to act on Turkey's bid to become part of the EU, adding, "Turkey has been waiting at the gate of the European Union for over 50 years now" and "almost all NATO member countries are European member countries. The South-Korean carmaker - Hyundai, has launched the Exter small SUV in the Indian market to rival the likes of the Tata Punch. The Hyundai Exter is priced from Rs 5.99 lakh (ex-showroom) and tops out at Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The pricing is in the same ballpark as the Punch. However, it is the Exter that gets slightly more features than the Tata Punch. Like a typical Hyundai car, the Exter is loaded to the gills. Therefore, it gets a host of segment-first and best-in-class features. So, scroll down to know about them. Electric Sunroof cre Trending Stories The favourite feature of Indian buyers is the electric sunroof, which is available on the Hyundai Exter. However, the Punch misses out on this feature. Although the Tata Punch with a sunroof was showcased at the Auto Expo 2023, its arrival is still a question that Tata Motors is keeping unanswered. Dash Cam With Dual Camera Yes, the Hyundai Exter comes fitted with a dash cam from the factory. Also, it gets a dual-camera setup, along with a small screen. The dashcam with record footage of both the road ahead and the cabin. Steering-Mounted Paddle Shifters An AMT transmission is available with the Exter, which further comes with steering-mounted paddle shifters if the driver wants to take over controls for himself. The Punch also gets an AMT unit, but there are no paddle shifters on offer. Tyre Pressure Monitoring System Another feature that is absent on the Tata Punch but is available on the Hyundai Exter is the Highline tyre pressure monitoring system. In modern cars, this feature is now becoming quite a common sight. 6 Airbags Along with the sunroof, Tata Punch was also showcased with 6 airbags at the 2023 Auto Expo. While the feature still remains absent on the indigenous SUV, the Hyundai Exter gets it for increased safety of occupants. A private commercial helicopter belonging to the Manang Air bearing tail number NA-MV has crashed near the Mount Everest region in Nepal, confirmed officials. The helicopter took off from the Surke Airport in Solukhumbu district at 10:04 am for Kathmandu with six people aboard, including five Mexican nationals. The chopper lost contact at an altitude above 12,000 feet at 10:13 am, said Gyanendra Bhul, Manager at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), reported PTI. The officials have now confirmed that the helicopter that went missing near the Mount Everest area in Nepal on Tuesday has crashed in a hilly terrain in the country's eastern region. Five Mexican nationals and pilot Chet B Gurung were aboard the helicopter. All the bodies of the six people on board the helicopter were found at the crash site. The helicopter crashed in the Lamjura area of the Likhupike Rural Municipality in the remote mountainous Solukhumbu district. They were returning to Kathmandu from Surke after enjoying a mountain flight. The flight was conducted from Lukla, the gateway to Mount Everest, Sitaula said. The official said the locals have informed him that the helicopter crashed with a loud explosion and they saw fire at the crash site. The locals discovered the crashed helicopter at Chihandanda, rural municipality deputy chair Nwang Lhakpa was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post newspaper. The last location of the chopper was tracked at 10:12 am in the Lamjura Pass area, said Raju Neupane, operation and safety manager of Manang Air. Local police have been mobilised in the area. cre Trending Stories Two helicopters sent earlier to locate the crash site had to return due to bad weather, the senior airport official said, adding that the exact reason behind the crash is not known yet. Earlier, TIA spokesperson Teknath Sitaula told the news website, "It has been reported that the helicopter of Manang Air is out of contact, there is no contact with the tower when it reached the Lamjura pass, it was reported that the helicopter only received a 'hello' message on Viber, the search is underway. Nepal's Manang Air Founded in 1997, Manang Air is a helicopter airline based in Kathmandu. It has been operating helicopters in commercial air transportation within the Nepalese territory under the Regulation of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. The company provides chartered services and is focused on personalised services such as adventure flights helicopter excursions or expedition work. Passengers Identified All five foreign passengers are members of a Mexican family. They have been identified as Sifuentes G. Fernando (95) and Sifuentes Rincon Ismail (98), both males, along with three females - Sifuentes Gongalez Abril (72), Gongalez Olacio Luz (65) and Sifuentes G. Maria Jese (52), MyRepublica news portal reported. Nepal's tourist and mountaineering season ended in May. The flights carrying tourists to the mountains are less common this time of year as visibility is poor and weather conditions fickle. New Delhi: Indian films have often been criticized for not portraying rural India in an authentic manner. Most of the time, films that are set in villages or smaller towns, are shot on artificially created sets. The makers of Panch Kriti - Five Elements were clear that they didnt want to go down this path. The film, which features five stories and is set in Chanderi in Bundelkhand, has been largely shot in real locations. Talking about the importance of shooting in real locations, director Sannjoy Bhargv says, A set can never offer a sense of realism. Thats the reason I always prefer shooting in real locations. When the audience sees a particular location in a film, they should be able to feel and smell it as well. I strongly believe that rural India is far more beautiful and magnificent than urban India. Unlike cities, villages, and towns are much cleaner and do not suffer from pollution. Aesthetically, too, they are much more pleasant. cre Trending Stories Chanderi has always been known for being a town with historical significance. Apart from its beautiful Jain temples, the quaint town in Madhya Pradesh is known for its natural beauty. The town is surrounded by picturesque hills from all corners and that adds to its visual appeal. All five stories in Panch Kriti - Five Elements are shot in and around Chanderi and showcase the different aspects of the town. Since there are five stories in the film, the viewers will get to see Chanderi in a new form with each film. Even though it is a small town, it has several interesting aspects to it. We have tried to explore them through the lens of this film. There is a particular reason why we decided to shoot the film in Chanderi. Chanderi, in a way, represents rural India in several ways. The local administration was very supportive throughout the shoot and ensured that everything happened smoothly, says Sannjoy. Panch Kriti - Five Elements is a women-centric film that touches upon several important themes and topics pertaining to women. It also delves into the importance of social movements taking place in India like Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and Beti Bachao Beti Padhaao Abhiyaan. Upon the film's release, audience members will get the opportunity to win several attractive prizes through a lucky draw. New Delhi: Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor Starrer 'Bawaal' is being promoted in Dubai. The two-day Dubai tour witnessed Varun and Janhvi along with the creators of the film. The team launched the trailer in the presence of global media on Queen Elizabeth II floating hotel. The QEII which used to be a transatlantic liner and cruise ship from the 1960s to 2008, also served as a troop ship for war soldiers in 1982, during the Falkland War. This iconic ship was the most apt venue for the promotions of the film. The event was also attended by Producer Sajid Nadiadwala, Director Nitesh Tiwari, co-Producers Warda Nadiadwala and Ashwini Iyer Tiwari who is also the co-writer of the film, and Manish Menghani, Director of Content Licensing, Prime Video India. The stars along with Director Nitesh Tiwari, then visited Amity International University, Dubai for a fan engagement activity, where they interacted with hundreds of fans who had gathered to meet them. 'Bawaal' will premiere on Prime Video on July 21 in India and other 200 countries and territories. AP EAMCET 2023: The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education APSCHE, will soon release the AP EAMCET Counselling 2023 dates for applicants who have qualified for the AP EAMCET Exam 2023. As the results were announced on June 14, 2023, applicants can expect counselling to begin this month; nevertheless, students are recommended to wait for official confirmation from the council. The announcement will be made on eapcet-sche.aptonline.in. According to reports the counselling date schedule will be out today. Counseling for EAPCET students is handled by the APSCHE. A notification will be issued with all important dates such as the date of online registration, choice filling, slot booking, certificate verification, provisional allotment date, reporting date, and other instructions. AP EAMCET 2023: List Of Documents Required cre Trending Stories 1. AP EAMCET rank card 2023 2. AP EAMCET 2023 hall ticket 3. Class 12-mark sheet and passing certificate. 4. Transfer certificate. 5. Date of birth proof or class 10 passing certificate. 6. EWS certificate (if any) 7. Residence certificate 8. Andhra Pradesh state residence certificate. 9. Integrated community certificate (If any) 10. Income certificate of parents 11. Local status certificate. 12. Category certificate (If any) Meanwhile, ahead of the counselling times, students can review the documents needed for registration and certificate verification. AP EAMCET Counselling Process 2023: Step By Step Process 1. Registration Process: Qualified candidates must complete the registration process in order to participate in the counselling process. 2. Choice Filling and Locking: Candidates must log into the site after successfully registering in order to select their desired college and course. Students will also need to lock the options. 3. Seat Allocation: The seats will be assigned to candidates based on their rank, preference, and seat availability. 4. Fee Payment: Those who have been assigned a seat must pay the necessary fee within the stipulated time frame. 5. Report to allotted college: This is the final stage, in which shortlisted candidates must report to the designated colleges for the document verification round. They are advised to bring the original documents with them for verification AP EAMCET 2023: Exam Date The AP EAMCET 2023 was conducted from May 15 to May 19 for the engineering stream. Whereas for the pharmacy and agriculture streams, the entrance exams were held from May 22 to May 23. Rajasthan University Result 2023: The Rajasthan University Result 2023 for the BA 2nd year exams has been released. Students who took the Rajasthan University semester examinations can access and obtain their results through the university's official website, uniraj.ac.in. Students can access the Uniraj Results by entering their name and roll number. The Rajasthan University BA 2nd Year 2023 exam was held from March 16th to May 31st, 2023. Students who took the tests were waiting for the results to be released. Students will be able to get Uniraj Results via SMS in addition to the Internet. Rajasthan University BA 2nd Year Result 2023: Heres how to download cre Trending Stories 1.Visit the official website--uniraj.ac.in 2. On the appeared homepage, click on the Uniraj Result Direct Link 3. A new login page would open 4. Enter your roll number and other details 5. Check the Rajasthan University BA 2nd Year Result 6. Download the PDF and take a print out for the future references Students must pass both the theory and practical tests to pass the Rajasthan University semester exam. Students must score 35% in theory papers and 50% in practical papers, according to university guidelines. New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday said that whoever heads the Enforcement Directorate is not important because whoever assumes this role will take note of the rampant corruption of a cosy club of entitled dynasts who have an anti-development mindset. Shah said this hours after the Supreme Court held as illegal the third extension granted to the Enforcement Directorate chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra and curtailed his extended tenure to July 31. The Union Home Minister said those rejoicing over the Supreme Court decision on the ED case are delusional for various reasons: the amendments to the CVC Act, which were duly passed by the Parliament, have been upheld. cre Trending Stories Those rejoicing over the Hon'ble SC decision on the ED case are delusional for various reasons: The amendments to the CVC Act, which were duly passed by the Parliament, have been upheld. Powers of the ED to strike at those who are corrupt and on the wrong side of the law Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 11, 2023 The senior BJP leader said the powers of the ED to strike at those who are corrupt and on the wrong side of the law remain the same as the ED is an institution which rises beyond any one individual and is focused on achieving its core objective - i.E., to investigate offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws. "Thus, who the ED director is - that is not important because whoever assumes this role will take note of the rampant corruption of a cozy club of entitled dynasts who have an anti-development mindset," he said. Extension Of SK Mishras Tenure Illegal: SC It may be noted that the Supreme Court on Tuesday termed the third extension of tenure granted to the Enforcement Directorate chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra as 'illegal' but allowed him to continue on the post till July 31, 2023. A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol said in view of the peer review being conducted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) this year and to enable a smooth transition, Mishra's tenure will be till July 31. The top court also directed the Centre to look for a new chief for the central probe agency, adding that "Mishra's extended term violates the mandate of a judgment in 2021.'' The bench gave the verdict on a batch of petitions, including those filed by Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Thakur, and TMC's Mahua Moitra and Saket Gokhale. Mishra, a 1984-batch IRS officer, was otherwise to remain in office till November 18, 2023, according to the notification issued by the government earlier. The bench, however, affirmed the amendments of the Central Vigilance Commission Act, and the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act to extend the tenure of ED director for a maximum of five years. On May 8, the top court had reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the third extension of service granted to the Enforcement Directorate chief which was defended by the Centre on grounds of the peer review being conducted by the FATF. The top court had on December 12 last sought the response from the Centre and others to a plea challenging the third extension granted to Mishra. In February this year, the Centre defended its decision to grant an extension to Mishra as the director of the Enforcement Directorate and urged the top court to dismiss the plea challenging the decision saying that the petition is motivated. The central government made its submission on an affidavit filed countering the submission of the petition challenging the extension of the ED director. Mishra, 62, was first appointed the director of the ED for two years on November 19, 2018. Later, by an order dated November 13, 2020, the central government modified the appointment letter retrospectively and his two-year term was changed to three years. The government promulgated an ordinance last year under which the tenure of the ED and CBI chiefs could be extended by up to three years after the mandated term of two years. NEW DELHI: As Foxconn decided to pull out of the semi-conductor joint venture with Indian conglomerate Vedanta, the Congress took a swipe at the BJP, saying "whether Gujarat Model or 'New India' never trust the manufactured headlines". The Opposition party's swipe came after Taiwan's Foxconn announced the break-up and said it is "working to remove the Foxconn name from what now is a fully-owned entity of Vedanta". Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Remember the publicity at the time of announcing the project? Gujarat CM even claimed 1 lakh jobs will be created! This has been the fate of many MOUs signed in Vibrant Gujarat summits year after year, and will be the fate in other such copycat summits like Global Investor Summits in UP." In another tweet, he said, "So Foxconn-Vedanta is off. But Micron still seems to be on for semiconductor chip assembly, packaging and testing." "Micron though is putting up just 30% of the USD 2.75 billion with 50% coming from the Centre and 20% from the Gujarat Govt. By any standards this appears to be a hugely hefty subsidy to an American company," Ramesh claimed. cre Trending Stories Foxconn has withdrawn from a USD 19.5-billion semiconductor joint venture with mining baron Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Ltd as the venture struggled to get a technology partner to make chips that are used in mobile phones to refrigerators and cars. In a statement, Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics maker, said it "has determined it will not move forward on the joint venture with Vedanta. Agarwal's metals-to-oil conglomerate responded saying it was "fully committed to its semiconductor fab project and we have lined up other partners to set up India's first foundry. It, however, did not give details of the new partners. This decision of Foxconn to withdraw from its JV wth Vedanta has no impact on India's #Semiconductor Fab goals. None. Both Foxconn n Vedanta have significant investments in India and are valued investors who are creating jobs n growth. It was well known that both https://t.co/0DQrwXeCIr July 10, 2023 Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn and mining behemoth Vedanta are committed to the semiconductor mission and the Make-in-India programme of the country, Union Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday. The comments came against the backdrop of Foxconn announcing pulling out of its semiconductor joint venture Vedanta Foxconn Semiconductors Private Limited. "Both the companies Foxconn and Vedanta are committed to India's semiconductor mission and Make in India program," Vaishnaw tweeted. TEHRAN, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Tuesday urged the officials of Sweden and other European states to take "immediate and effective" measures against the perpetrators of burning the Quran to prevent its recurrence in the future. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian issued the call in an address to an urgent meeting of the UN Human Rights Council held in Geneva to discuss the recent Quran burning in Sweden, the official news agency IRNA reported. He said any "hesitation or delay" in condemning the "sacrilegious" moves against the Quran is indicative of the "double standards and justification of abuse of freedom of expression." The recent "desecration" of the Quran, which was the sixth case in European states this year, explicitly "provokes violence, hatred and hostility against Muslims and is tantamount to discrimination against them," Amir-Abdollahian added. In Stockholm late last month, a Swedish citizen of Iraqi origin burned a copy of the Quran in front of a mosque during a demonstration authorized by the Swedish authorities, sparking furious reactions from Muslims across the world. Since the rain wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, Mandi's Superintendent of Police Soumya Sambasivan came to the limelight once again for carrying out the successful evacuation of locals who were not willing to leave their houses. However, do you know that Sambasivan was once a banking professional and is known for her strict discipline in the police department? Who Is Soumya Sambasivan? Soumya Sambasivan is a 2010-batch IPS officer. She was born in Palakkad town of Kerala. Since her father worked as an engineer with the Indian Army, she completed her early education at various schools. She did her graduation in Biotechnology from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore and PGDBA in Marketing and Finance from ICFAI, Hyderabad. After completing her PGDBA, she worked with a multinational bank as an investment banker for about three years. cre Trending Stories Investment Banker To IPS During her corporate journey, Soumya Sambasivan got bored easily and realised that she was not meant for the role. She then packed her bag and decided to crack the Union Public Service Commission exam. Since joining the IPS, she has worked with several departments including the 3rd IRB (India Reserve Battalion), CID and went on to become the Shimla's first female IPS officer. During this stint, her video went viral where she was seen training young women from Sirmaur district self-protection tips and manufacturing pepper spray. Solving Blind Cases Sambasivan has played a crucial role in cracking the drug mafia network besides solving several blind cases. Her name was also nominated for the President's Medal. During her posting in the Sirmaur district, she solved a blind murder case with her wisdom and eye for the details. Then, the police found a body whose identity could not be traced. In Sambasivan's words, the body looked like that of a Hindu lady by the looks as she had bindi and vermilion on her forehead. When no one claimed the body, it was cremated as per Hindu rites and the ashes were preserved. However, during the investigation, when Sambasivan took a close look at the photo of the victim, she realised that the lady had got her eyebrows plucked recently. Sambasivan then ordered her team to circulate the photograph in all the beauty salons in the area. The idea worked and one of the salon owners recognised her and the police were able to locate her house. It turned out that the deceased was not a Hindu woman but a Muslim and was killed by her husband only. Police later came to know that she was a bar dancer. Despite solving the case, Sambasivan felt bad about her last rites and then her team requested a maulvi to perform the last rites of her remains but maulvi refused. Then, Sambasivan herself went to a graveyard and did her last rites. Slapped An MLA Soumya Sambasivam also did a great job in curbing drugs, liquor and human trafficking. It is said that during a protest in 2006, Soumya asked an MLA to move away, but he refused. It was said in many media reports at that time that Soumya Sambasivam had slapped the MLA for obstructing police from doing their duty. Soumya Sambasivan is very close to her parents, especially her mother. She loves to write poems when free. It appears that the SDM Jyoti Maurya incident has opened a floodgate for similar incidents from across the country wherein wives have deserted their husbands after completing their education and getting a better job post their marriages. Similar incidents have been reported from Bihar's Samastipur and Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur as well. The Samastipur case is related to a school teacher who allegedly left her husband for the Principal of the school. The husband has filed an FIR with the police and alleged that her wife has absconded with the principal after 13 years of marriage. The husband claimed that he helped his wife become a teacher after being educated. But the woman fled leaving him. Now the husband has filed an FIR in the police station pleading for justice. Complainant Chandan Kumar claimed in the FIR that wife Sarita Kumari is absconding since last year's Durga Puja time. Sarita Kumari was posted in Primary School Jorpura. Chandan Kumar, a resident of Mahipura in Vaishali district, has alleged that his wife Sarita has eloped with the headmaster of the school, Rahul Kumar. The couple has two children. However, Rahul Kumar denied the allegation saying that teacher Sarita Kumari had taken treatment last May and is not coming to school after applying for leave. There is no doctor's report in this application and thus a written complaint has been given to the Block Education Officer in this regard. cre Trending Stories A similar case came to light from the Rasoolabad area in Kanpur Dehat where a husband accused his wife of infidelity after getting a government job. The husband claimed that he made his wife take a nursing course. He got a job as CHO (Community Health Officer) in Rasulabad CHC. After a few days, the wife went away saying that his social status is not of her level. He claimed to be paying the EMI of the loan he took for his wife's education. Arjun, a resident of Ravindrapuram in Rasulabad, was married in the year 2017 to Savita Maurya of Basti district. On the other hand, Savita has claimed that Arjun is not willing to do any work and he only bore her education expenses for one year. New Delhi: As the Supreme Court on Tuesday held as 'illegal' the third extension granted to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that they will 'never surrender'. Taking to her official Twitter account, Mamata Banerjee's party colleague also thanked the top court for ruling the extension invalid. "Victory in my plea in SC against extension of ED Director. Thank you SC for ruling extension invalid. BJP - we shall fight you in the polls, we shall fight you in the courts. we shall fight in the fields & in the streets, we shall never surrender," Mahua Moitra tweeted. Victory in my plea in SC against extension of ED Director. Thank you SC for ruling extension invalid. BJP - we shall fight you in the polls, we shall fight you in the courts. we shall fight in the fields & in the streets, we shall never surrender. Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 11, 2023 cre Trending Stories A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, and Sanjay Karol on Tuesday said in view of the peer review being conducted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) this year and to enable a smooth transition, ED director Sanjay Kumar Mishra's tenure will be till July 31. The 62-year-old was otherwise to remain in office till November 18, 2023, according to the notification issued by the government. The bench, however, affirmed the amendments of the Central Vigilance Commission Act, and the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act to extend the tenure of ED director for a maximum of five years. Earlier on May 8, the SC had reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the third extension of service granted to the Enforcement Directorate chief which was defended by the Centre on grounds of the peer review being conducted by the FATF. The top court had on December 12 last year sought the response from the Centre and others to a plea challenging the third extension granted to Mishra. It had issued notices to the Union of India, the Central Vigilance Commission and the ED director on a plea filed by Jaya Thakur which accused the central government of destroying the basic structure of democracy by misusing the enforcement agencies against its political opponents. The bench gave the verdict on a batch of petitions, including those filed by Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Thakur, and TMC's Mahua Moitra and Saket Gokhale. Sanjay Kumar Mishra was first appointed ED director in 2018 Sanjay Kumar Mishra, a 1984-batch IRS officer, was first appointed the director of the ED for two years on November 19, 2018. Later, by an order dated November 13, 2020, the central government modified the appointment letter retrospectively, and his two-year term was changed to three years. The government promulgated an ordinance last year under which the tenure of the ED and CBI chiefs could be extended by up to three years after the mandated term of two years. Patna: Opposition MLAs on Tuesday staged a protest inside Bihar Assembly against Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav's chargesheet in the land-for-jobs alleged scam case. During the protest, a BJP MLA reportedly raised a chair against the Speaker. In the clip shared by the news agency ANI, opposition MLAs are seen raising slogans against the Deputy CM while one of the MLAs continues his speech. In the same video, a chair is seen being raised against the speaker. After the ruckus, the assembly was adjourned till 2 pm. Meanwhile, taking to ANI, Bihar LoP Vijay Kumar said that according to the order of the Supreme Court, a monster against whom a charge sheet is filed cannot be part of the cabinet. He further said that the government is betraying its people and they will not accept it. cre Trending Stories #WATCH | Patna: Patna: Opposition MLAs staged protest inside Bihar Assembly against Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav charge-sheeted in land-for-jobs alleged scam case. During the protest, a BJP MLA reportedly raised a chair against the Speaker. Session adjourned till 2 pm. pic.twitter.com/rFJaRw9uqB ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2023 "It has been a ritual when former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi and other ministers were removed from the cabinet after an FIR, these ministers (Tejashwi Yadav) sitting in the cabinet are charge-sheeted," said Vijay Kumar. Mumbai: After rain caused havoc in different parts of the country, especially Himachal Pradesh, veteran actor Anupam Kher warned people not to mess with nature otherwise they would have to pay a price for it. The Kashmir Files actor took to Instagram and shared his thoughts on the situation. He wrote in Hindi, which read, The heartbreaking havoc that has caused in different parts of the country, especially in Himachal Pradesh due to rain, is terrifying and alarming. Not only innocent lives have been lost, but also the government and private property worth crores have suffered huge loss. My sympathies and prayers go out to all! But for the past several years I have also been warning that if we continue to mess with nature we will have to pay heavily compensation for it. Greed must end somewhere. There appears to be no immediate respite in the offing for Himachal Pradesh, which has been battered by rains over the last few days, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD), on Tuesday, issued "red" and "orange" alerts for several districts of the hill-state for the next 24 hours. "A red alert has been issued for very heavy rainfall in Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur, and Lahaul for the next 24 hours. Additionally, an orange alert has been issued in Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Chamba. A flash flood warning has been issued for Mandi, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti for the next 24 hours," said senior IMD Scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma on Monday. cre Trending Stories Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jairam Thakur on Monday said the state recorded unprecedented rains in the past few days, adding that he was concerned over the loss of lives and damage to public infrastructure. Thakur, who is now the Leader of the Opposition in the Himachal Assembly, told ANI that Himachal Pradesh had "not seen such rain in its history" as over 12 major bridges have been damaged. "We never saw such a situation in the past several years. I am very concerned over the prevailing situation in the state. Several big and small rivers are in spate and if the situation persists over the next few days, there could be further damage," he said. The rains have wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh triggering landslides, causing power disruption, blocking roads, and damaging bridges. Nature's fury in the state has claimed 20 lives over the past 48 hours. Tourists were stranded in parts of the hill-state, with the loss of infrastructure estimated at between Rs 3,000 crore and Rs. 4,000 crore. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said the state has not seen such heavy rains in the last 50 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, spoke to the Himachal CM on the prevailing situation, assuring full support from the Centre. Taking about Khers work front, he recently announced his new project in which he will be seen portraying the role of the poet, philosopher, and essayist, Rabindranath Tagore. Apart from that, he will be next seen in director Anurag Basu's upcoming anthology film 'Metro...In Dino'. The film also stars Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal and Neena Gupta in pivotal roles and is all set to hit the theatres on March 29, 2024. After remaining busy with work commitments and global events over the last few months, filmmaker SS Rajamouli took some time off and went on a road trip with his family. The acclaimed director had been busy of late, thanks to the global success of his film RRR, which kept him occupied in a series of events in India as well as abroad, including the 95th Academy Awards. After finishing his professional commitments, Rajamouli got together with his family and went to explore the cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu by embarking on a temple tour of the state. SS Rajamouli also shared glimpses from his trip as he explored prominent temples across the southern state. Apart from that, he also shared details of the sites he visited with his family. Rajamouli shares glimpses of his temple tour cre Trending Stories Mentioning that exploring central Tamil Nadu's rich heritage and divine tranquility was soul-stirring, the filmmaker shared a video that gave glimpses of the temples he visited. The list of temples included the Brihadeeswarar Koil in Thanjavur, Rameshwaram, Sri Ranganadhaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Tuttikudi, and Madurai. The video also included pictures of the family as they posed outside the temple and also the director's pictures outside the temple, enjoying kayaking, and having a drink outside a temple. Along with the video, SS Rajamouli noted that he always wanted to do a road trip to central Tamil Nadu, further crediting his daughter for making it happen in the last week of June this year. Adding that he could only visit a few temples, SS Rajamouli wrote, "Exquisite architecture, amazing engineering and deep spiritual thought of pandyas, chozhas Nayakkars and many other rulers was truly mesmerizing. Whether the fine dining in Mantrakoodam, Kumbakonam or a kaka hotel murugan mess in Rameshwaram the food has been marvelous everywhere I must have put on 2-3 kilos in a week. After 3 months of foreign travel and food, this home land tour has been refreshing and uplifting." Check: Fans react to SS Rajamouli's temple tour As soon as SS Rajamouli shared the video, fans took to the comment section and praised him for sharing glimpses from the South Indian state. A section of fans also asked humorously if the VFX is from his films. San Francisco: Apple fellow Phil Schiller, responsible for leading the App Store and Apple events, as well as Google and YoutTube have joined Threads. A Threads account with username 'PhilSchiller007' and no verification badge claimed to be Schiller. The Apple Fellow himself confirmed to 9To5Mac that the account belongs to him. Apple Music, Apple News, Apple Books and Shazam are on Metas new app too. cre Trending Stories Moreover, official Google and YouTube accounts have also joined the new application. Other Google accounts that have joined Threads are Google for Developers (@googlefordevs), Google Workspace (@googleworkspace) and Google DeepMind (@deepmind). Meta launched Threads on July 5 for iOS and Android users in 100 countries, and it is currently among the top free apps on the App Store. Announcing the 100 million user sign-ups on Threads, Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Monday said: "Threads reached 100 million sign ups over the weekend. That's mostly organic demand and we haven't even turned on many promotions yet. Can't believe it's only been 5 days!" On the other hand, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said: "Im not sure I can wrap my mind around that fact. Its insane; I cant make sense of it." The new app crossed 2 million sign-ups in just two hours after launch, 10 million users in seven hours and 30 million in just 12 hours. New Delhi: London-based consumer electronic brand Nothing will launch its next flagship smartphone, Phone (2) in India on July 11. The second-generation smartphone from Nothing's ecosystem, Phone (2), is one of the most eagerly awaited goods of the year, claims the company. cre Trending Stories Nothing Phone (2) India Launch Time, LiveStreaming And Other Details Nothing Phone (2) will be launched at 8:30 PM in India today. You can watch the live launch of the smartphoneon the companys official twitter and YouTube channel. Alternatively, you can also visit the company's website https://in.nothing.tech/ to watch the launch live. Come to the bright side. Meet Phone (2) on 11 July, 16:00 BST. Join us for the official launch on https://t.co/pLWW07l8G7 pic.twitter.com/WoSw0gLJOx Nothing (@nothing) June 13, 2023 Nothing on Thursday said the pre-order passes for its Phone (2), which is set to launch in India on July 11, have been sold out on its e-commerce partner Flipkart. Nothing, a company renowned for its original designs and distinguishing features, previously disclosed that Phone (2) will include a top-tier, powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 CPU. An 18-bit Image Signal Processor (ISP) on the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 can process over 4,000 times as much camera data than the ISP on the Phone (1). One of the most environmentally friendly smartphones on the market, Phone (2) will be produced in India for local consumers, the business revealed earlier this month. The smartphone will boast an SGS_SA (a Swiss multinational company that provides inspection, verification, testing, and certification services), a certified carbon footprint of 53.45 kg, over 5 kg lower than Phone (1), with a focus on recycled and plastic-free packaging experiences, renewable energy, and product lifespan. The business claimed that this was a noteworthy accomplishment in light of the overall performance improvement, 200 mAh battery boost, and 0.15-inch-larger screen than the Phone (1). Nothing announced the pre-booking of the Phone (2) on June 29 on Flipkart. KUWAIT CITY, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Kuwaiti National Assembly on Tuesday urged Islamic countries to take legal actions to criminalize any kind of violation of the holy Quran, the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported. The Kuwaiti parliament held a three-hour meeting to discuss the recent burning of the Quran in Sweden and its impact, the KUNA report said. The recommendations released after the meeting include playing a role in international forums, establishing international law, allowing for litigation in the International Court of Justice against anyone who insults or violates the Quran, and taking maximum diplomatic deterrence measures against countries that support the insulters. The parliament urged the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information to take action against the websites that spread insults to Islam, while calling on the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to ban trade with countries that violate the fundamental principles of Islam. Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said his ministry has taken all necessary measures to respond to the burning of the Quran in Sweden. He called the order by Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Monday to print 100,000 copies of the Quran translated into Swedish and distribute them in Sweden as a "very positive step." BAGHDAD, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani announced on Tuesday that Iraq and Iran signed a deal to end the Iranian gas supply crisis to support electricity production in the country. In a televised speech on the official Iraqiya channel, al-Sudani said the two countries agreed that Iraq would supply black oil to Iran in exchange for gas. "Iranian gas supply has resumed, and the quantities will increase, starting this evening, when 10 million cubic meters will be pumped, and the supply will return to the same previous level," he said. Al-Sudani attributed the gas crisis with Iran to the U.S. sanctions on Iran, as the Iraqi government was unable to transfer funds for imported Iranian gas, prompting Iran to reduce the gas supply by more than 50 percent. However, al-Sudani said the current gas production projects in Iraq, including gas production deals with the French company TotalEnergies, and other projects in the southern province of Basra, will end the need to import gas to feed power stations within two to three years. Iraq imports Iranian gas to feed its power stations across the country, but Iran occasionally reduces gas supply over accumulated debts owed by Iraq. BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed efforts to put in place new systems for a higher-standard open economy and promote the gradual transition from dual control over the amount and intensity of energy consumption to dual control over the amount and intensity of carbon emissions. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while presiding over a meeting of the central commission for deepening overall reform, which he heads. Xi said that new systems for a higher-standard open economy are a strategic move to proactively boost reform and development through opening up. He highlighted the importance of institutional opening up and deepening institutional reform in investment, trade, finance, and innovation, among other key areas of foreign exchanges and cooperation, to actively raise China's opening up to a new level. While staying focused on the strategic target of realizing modernization of agriculture and rural areas and building up its strength in agriculture, China should regard the handling of the relationship between farmers and land as its main task and work faster to shore up weak links in agricultural and rural development, to lay a solid foundation for building a modern socialist country in all respects, Xi said. The building of ecological civilization has entered a critical period where cutting carbon emissions has become a strategic focus, Xi said. He called for efforts to exercise better control over the amount and intensity of energy consumption and shift gradually towards controlling both the amount and intensity of carbon emissions. Xi stressed the necessity of promoting the reform of the salary system for university faculty members and research fellows in order to further unleash innovation vitality and creativity in institutions of higher learning and research institutes. On improving the national oil and gas supply capability, Xi said China should actively and prudently promote the institutional reform of the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of oil and gas industries and ensure a stable and reliable supply. On the electricity system, Xi demanded efforts to accelerate the building of a new power system that is clean and low-carbon, safe and sufficient, and cost-effective and highly efficient to promote the revolution of energy production and consumption and ensure national energy security. Li Qiang, Wang Huning, and Cai Qi, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy directors of the central commission for deepening overall reform, attended the meeting. The meeting noted that China's development is facing a complex international situation. Efforts should be made to optimize the top-level design of new systems for an open economy, deepen institutional reform in trade and investment sectors, expand market access, and optimize the business environment and the service and support system. China's comprehensive strength should be given full play to attract global resources and production factors based on China's strong domestic economy, which will improve the level and quality of trade and investment cooperation, according to the meeting. It urged a tight connection between building a higher-standard open economy and national strategies, such as high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, amid efforts to actively participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system. The meeting urged a holistic approach to deal with the relationship between development and carbon emissions, seeking truth from facts, being realistic and pragmatic, and adjusting and optimizing policies and measures scientifically. The meeting also urged reform in the oil and natural gas market and reserve system. In building a new electricity system, the proportion of traditional energy would decrease in a well-planned manner based on the safe and reliable substitution of new energy. An effective market and competent government should integrate better to deliver fundamental public services in electricity, according to the meeting. UNITED NATIONS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Tuesday condemned "in the strongest terms" the attack against the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic on Monday, which resulted in the death of one peacekeeper from Rwanda. In a press statement, the members of the Security Council expressed their condolences and sympathy to the family of the peacekeeper killed, as well as to Rwanda and to the United Nations. They called on the government of the Central African Republic to swiftly investigate the attack with the support of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, known as MINUSCA, bring perpetrators to justice and keep the relevant troop-contributing country informed of the progress. The council members underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. They stressed the importance of MINUSCA having the necessary capacities to fulfil its mandate and promote the safety and security of UN peacekeepers. In a separate statement issued Tuesday through his spokesman, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also strongly condemned the deadly attack, calling on the Central African Republic authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators and bring them to justice swiftly. UNITED NATIONS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Csaba Korosi, on Tuesday called for a "new economics of water" and a "global water education network." Korosi, who spearheaded the UN Water Conference in March, called for the development of a "new economics of water" based on innovations and the establishment of a "global water education network" to build the capacity and support for developing countries. Speaking at the water session of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the UNGA president also reminded that at the UN Water Conference, world leaders vowed "to move towards an inspiring, cooperative, transboundary and transformative Water Action Agenda," adding that 300 billion U.S. dollars were committed to its implementation with a potential of unlocking at least 1 trillion dollars for this purpose. Korosi underscored the need for inclusive and comprehensive transboundary agreements, based on the UN Water Convention, to support countries in all regions. "We need to reform the institutional architecture. We need a board of UN agencies, a UN water envoy to lead it, supported by reformed UN Water and a scientific practice panel," said Korosi. "We know what to do. We know how to do. What is missing now is the real action," said the UNGA president. With around 2.2 billion people lacking "safely managed drinking water," 3.5 billion without safe sanitation access, and 2 billion devoid of basic hygiene services in 2022, the world is moving too slowly to reach the SDG 6 ensuring that basic water needs can be met. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, achieving universal coverage by 2030 requires much faster progress. There needs to be a six-fold increase in providing access to drinking water, a five-fold boost for sanitation, and a three-fold increase for hygiene services to meet the targets, and urgent acceleration is needed in 107 countries. Delegates speaking at the water session expect that the UN secretary-general will soon announce a special envoy for water with a mandate aiming to strengthen the global water governance and to enhance the visibility of water as a crucial part of the international agenda. Among other topics the water session discussed were the development of an integrated water and climate policy at national and global levels by 2030, and the establishment of a global water information system. The Fitout, one of the leading service providers of comprehensive interior solutions in the Middle East, said it has completed the work on its latest project - renovation of the Uptown Mirdiff Mall food court. A subsidiary of Dubai-based Union Properties, The Fitout said following the revamp, the food court has been transformed into a modern and inviting space for diners to enjoy. The innovative design of the food court coupled with the accent tile and flooring beaming offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere for diners, with natural light brightening up the overall tone of the room and drawing further interests of customers, it stated. The Emirati interiors group pointed out that the green aspect of the design improved the overall aesthetic of the area by integrating nature within it. Moreover, ornamental lights were incorporated into the ceiling mesh to highlight its features and functionality. However, a major challenge the company faced during the renovation project was that it had to be consistent with the mall's overall interior style. With a strong commitment and tireless effort, the team at The Fitout created a fresh and elevated dining experience that is set to impress visitors, said its top official. "We are happy to have completed the restoration of the food court at Uptown Mirdiff. Our skilled and committed team worked around the clock to complete the project, without sacrificing the quality of our work," remarked Sherif Nagy, the General Manager of The Fitout. They transformed the 1,500 sq m food court space with modern design concepts and an appealing ambiance, with the goal of providing visitors with great dining experiences, he stated. The food courts distinctive interior design featured an extraordinary combination of floor tiles, decorative paints, artificial plants, ceiling mesh, and furniture to provide a refreshing setting for visitors, he added. A major aspect of the project was that throughout the renovation phase, the food court remained functioning, thus demonstrating The Fitout teams expertise in carrying out the interiors work with minimal disruption to everyday operations. Furthermore, the projects prompt and trouble-free completion showcases the company's proficiency and dedication to outstanding workmanship, remarked Nagy. "We also concentrated on executing the project by giving more significance to greenery and ensuring a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere. Currently, there is a lot of demand in the sector, and we are fervently trying to satisfy our customers specifications and requirements," he stated. "We are certain that visitors to the food court will enjoy the atmosphere we have created," he added.-TradeArabia News Service ISTANBUL, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol said on Tuesday that Turkiye will be able to meet its growing need for solar energy by carrying out cooperation with China. In a video message sent to the Turkiye-China Business Conference held in Istanbul, Birol said given Turkiye's fast-growing large demand for clean energy, important cooperation can be developed between China and Turkiye. "This cooperation can be expanded to many areas, from solar to digitalization to electric vehicles," he explained. As a result of the industrial policies the Chinese government put in place years ago, China now dominates the clean energy sector, said Birol. Today, 80 percent of the world's solar panels, 70 percent of wind turbines and one of every two electric cars are produced in China, he noted. According to Birol, China has very high capacity, particularly in the solar energy sector, and after meeting its own needs, its surplus capacity could be exported. "Developments in solar, wind and nuclear energy, and electric car production are continuing at a very fast pace, and the cost of clean energy is falling sharply," he said. "When we look at this picture, in terms of manufacturing of this (clean energies), the champion is definitely China by a wide margin," Birol added. The one-day Turkiye-China Business Conference, which was held for the first time, was organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkiye and the Turkish Industry and Business Association, in cooperation with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. ADEN, Yemen, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified gunmen have shot dead a senior police officer of Yemen's government forces in the southwestern province of Taiz, a local government official said on Tuesday. The officer, identified as Salah Amrany, was gunned down outside his residential building late on Monday night by motorcycle-riding assailants, the official said on condition of anonymity. He clarified that the masked gunmen opened fire on Amrany with a hail of bullets, killing him instantly at the scene. No motive for the killing has been revealed. Amrany was a high-ranking officer with the government's special police forces in Taiz, which has been an epicenter of sporadic armed confrontations between local warring factions. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Targeted killings of security personnel and government officials have become commonplace as the civil war continues for about nine years. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthi militia attacked several northern cities and forced the internationally-recognized Yemeni government to leave the capital Sanaa. KHARTOUM, July 10 (Xinhua) -- A meeting for a quartet committee of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, on Monday failed to bring together the two parties to the Sudanese conflict to a negotiating table in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The Sudanese army delegation boycotted the meeting in protest against Kenya's chairmanship of the quartet committee, which also include Ethiopia, Djibouti and South Sudan. "After its arrival in Addis Ababa, the government delegation was surprised that the quartet chairmanship had not been changed," Sudan's foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday. The Sudanese government has been calling for a change in the committee's chairmanship since the IGAD summit in Djibouti in June, citing Kenyan President William Ruto's lack of "impartiality" in the ongoing crisis, according to the statement. In a communique issued at the end of the one-day meeting, which was attended by Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, the Heads of State and Government of the IGAD Quartet Group of Countries urged the Sudanese warring parties to agree on an "unconditional and indefinite" ceasefire. The communique expressed deep concern about the devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict in Sudan and appreciated "the neighboring states of the Republic of Sudan that have opened their borders to protect our Sudanese brothers and sisters," emphasizing that there can be no military solution to the Sudanese conflict. The communique acknowledged the ongoing efforts of the United Nations, as well as countries such as the United States and Saudi Arabia, with whom the IGAD quartet shares an equal commitment to the cause of peace in Sudan. The IGAD quartet decided to request the convening of the East Africa Standby Force (EASF) summit to consider the possible deployment of the EASF to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access, as stated in the communique. Meanwhile, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) welcomed the meeting of the IGAD quartet committee in Addis Ababa. "The participation of our delegation in the Addis Ababa meeting was based on the belief in the need for reaching a peaceful solution to end the war," the RSF said in a statement. The RSF statement condemned the boycott of the meeting by the Sudanese army delegation, considering it evidence of its desire to prolong the war. At the 14th ordinary session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Djibouti on June 12, an initiative was adopted, including a roadmap for resolving the Sudanese conflict. The roadmap outlined the establishment of a quartet committee chaired by Kenya to oversee the Sudanese issue, organize face-to-face meetings between the Sudanese warring factions, and initiate an inclusive process toward a political settlement within three weeks. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, resulting in over 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to figures released by the Sudanese Health Ministry. ALGIERS, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Algeria's state-owned energy company Sonatrach announced on Monday that it had exported hydrocarbons with a total worth of 21 billion U.S. dollars from January to May. According to a report released by Sonatrach, the company sold 68 million tonnes of oil equivalent in the first five months of this year, registering a year-on-year increase of 2 percent. The company exported 38 million tonnes of oil equivalent from January to May, compared with the 37 million tonnes of oil equivalent exported during the same period of last year. Sonatrach's export revenue hit 60 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, according to the report. LUANDA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Angolan President Joao Lourenco said on Monday that Angola should start constructing warships and invest in building shipyards. Initiating warship construction in Angola could lay the groundwork for the country's naval industry, the president, who also serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, told a ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the Angolan Navy. He said that Angola, along with other countries in Central and Southern Africa, must be prepared to contribute to the security of the Gulf of Guinea, a crucial maritime route for international trade, due to its geographical location. The navy has the duty to protect territorial waters from external threats, maritime piracy, illegal fishing and the depletion of national marine resources, Lourenco said. The president said three modern corvettes have been ordered as part of his modernization efforts, and that two Airbus C-295 aircraft capable of maritime reconnaissance and surveillance missions will arrive later this year. ANTANANARIVO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The first round of presidential elections in Madagascar will be held on Nov. 9, Madagascan Prime Minister Christian Ntsay told reporters Tuesday after a cabinet meeting in the capital of Antananarivo. The second round, if it takes place, will be held on Dec. 20, he added. While thanking the Malagasy population for maintaining calm and solidarity, he called on voters to go to the polls on the dates set out by the calendar. He also called on all politicians to respect the principles of national solidarity to ensure that the elections are held peacefully. "We must have a president who will begin his term of office next January." The dates for the presidential elections were proposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission to the government and the High Constitutional Court on Feb. 10. Outgoing President Andry Rajoelina's term of office is due to end on Jan. 19, 2024. The timetable for the legislative and municipal elections, which are due to take place just after the presidential elections, will be announced at a later date. RABAT, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Morocco and Angola signed on Tuesday agreements to increase bilateral cooperation in various fields, the official news agency MAP reported. The agreements, which cover diplomacy, education, scientific research, tourism, justice, mining and hydrocarbons, were signed in Morocco's capital Rabat by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Angolan counterpart Tete Antonio on the sidelines of the 3rd meeting of the Moroccan-Angolan Joint Cooperation Commission. The deals aim at expanding the scope of cooperation in various fields, notably through the sharing of experience and expertise, the MAP report said. Antonio said Angola would continue to work with Morocco for protecting peace and security in Africa and promoting South-South relations, for the benefit of both countries and Africa as a whole. For his part, Bourita said Morocco and Angola are able to play a pioneering role for the benefit of the African continent. The two countries have capabilities and expertise that qualify them to play the role of the main locomotive for joint African actions, he added. CAIRO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Tuesday condemned the repeated burnings of the Quran by extremists, calling for international action to prevent such provocations in the future. Shoukry made the remarks in a recorded speech to an urgent session of the UN Human Rights Council held in Geneva to discuss the escalation of acts of religious hatred and the repeated violations of the Quran, most recently in Sweden, the Ahram Online website reported. The Egyptian top diplomat expressed deep concern over and condemned the "repeated crimes of burning the Holy Quran at the hands of extremists," stressing the need to address these crimes, prevent their recurrence and hold the perpetrators accountable. He said states must observe their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which mandates the adoption of legislation prohibiting incitement to religious hatred and the development of strategies to promote peaceful coexistence and tolerance. In late June, a Swedish citizen of Iraqi origin burned a copy of the Quran in front of a mosque in Sweden's capital Stockholm during a demonstration authorized by the Swedish authorities, sparking fury from Muslims around the world. COLOMBO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved a proposal to enter into a preferential trade agreement with Indonesia as a preliminary step to reach a long-term free trade agreement, a statement from the government information department said on Tuesday. The statement said that Indonesia has been identified as a trade partner with suitable potential to build profitable trade relations for Sri Lanka. Earlier, Sri Lanka launched a fact-finding mission to explore avenues for an early entry into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement, as announced by the foreign ministry in June. A team of senior officials of the Sri Lankan government concluded the mission to Jakarta, Indonesia on June 12-14, and Sri Lanka's strong interest in entering into RCEP was well received by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, and a number of ambassadors of RCEP members in Jakarta, said the ministry. COLOMBO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved the appointment of transaction advisors for the divestiture of seven state-owned enterprises, a statement from the state-owned enterprises restructuring unit said on Tuesday. The unit, operating under the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, said the government has taken a significant step towards state-owned enterprise reform with the appointment of transaction advisors for the divestiture of identified entities. It said the decision is in line with the policy directive set by the government and aims to ensure the effective and transparent divestiture of key entities. According to it, the cabinet has approved the appointment of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, for the divestiture of SriLankan Airlines Limited, Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC and Sri Lanka Telecom PLC. The appointment of advisors for the remaining four entities was carried out through a competitive bidding process. The Sri Lankan government has decided to reform the state-owned enterprises in line with the program inked with the International Monetary Fund. KPMG in Bahrain recently hosted an event to welcome over 25 interns as a part of their Hussain Kasim Professional Internship programme. The firms commitment to supporting the professional development of young Bahraini talent by nurturing them and grooming them across their Audit, Tax, Advisory and Support functions is an annual programme where they engage with a number of National Universities, and Bahraini students studying in International Educational Institutions. Including the newest batch of 25 interns, the firm has onboarded a total of 47 young professionals so far this year. It is expected to receive a total of 75 interns by the end of the current financial year, with the aim of developing, mentoring, and potentially progressing them towards a full-time role, depending on the businesss needs. Valuable opportunities Jamal Fakhro, Managing Partner of KPMG in Bahrain, commented: Supporting the professional development of young people in the kingdom is an important commitment for us to contribute towards both the economic growth of the kingdom and community development in Bahrain. Through our bespoke internship programme, we provide them with valuable opportunities aligned to their academic background to help them set the foundation towards a successful career. We truly believe that it is through the cultivation of young talent that we can build a vibrant, sustainable, and prosperous future for the kingdom." The Hussain Kasim Professional Internship programme was established to offer students the chance to gain practical work experience and learn while working as a part of the firms professional teams in audit, advisory, and tax functions. The programme is named after Hussain Kasim, a co-founder of KPMG in Bahrain and a highly respected teacher in the community who was passionate about supporting young professionals through lifelong learning opportunities. The programme aims to select and accommodate 50-80 university students each year, as with previous years.-- TradeArabia News Service GENEVA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday once again urged Japan to stop its plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean at the ongoing 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council. The UN Human Rights Council on Monday adopted the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) outcome of Japan. Speaking in the discussion on the UPR outcome of Japan, a Chinese diplomat emphasized that China once again urges Japan to stop the plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean. The Chinese diplomat urged Japan to dispose of it in a science-based, safe and transparent manner, and cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to put in place a long-term international monitoring mechanism involving Japan's neighbors and other stakeholders as soon as possible. The diplomat pointed out that out of economic cost considerations, Japan ignored the concerns and opposition of the international community, and its continuous discharge of millions of tons of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in the next 30 years is the equivalent of treating the Pacific Ocean like a "sewer." SEOUL, July 11 (Xinhua) -- One of the subway lines in South Korea's capital Seoul was temporarily suspended owing to heavy rain, Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday. Some sections of the Subway Line 1 halted operation at about 3:56 p.m. local time but resumed running around 15 minutes later. Some of the roads in Seoul were flooded and blocked as torrential rain hit the country entering the rainy season. The weather agency issued a heavy rain warning for the Seoul metropolitan area and the southeastern port city of Busan, and a heavy rain advisory for other regions. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecast that the capital area would get up to 180 mm of rain until Wednesday. BANGKOK, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on Tuesday his retirement from politics and resignation as a political party member. "I am announcing my retirement from politics and resigning as a member of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party (United Thai Nation Party)," he said in a statement released by his party. "Throughout the past nine years as Prime Minister, I have dedicated myself to the benefit of the beloved people. These efforts have begun to bear fruit, strengthening our country in all aspects," he said. Prayut will remain as the country's caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed. The Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party secured the fifth position in the May 14 general election, winning 36 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives. The announcement came ahead of the Thai parliament's bicameral National Assembly on Thursday, when the next prime minister will be elected. SYDNEY, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Australian mining company Illawarra Coal Holdings Pty. Ltd. has been ordered to pay out almost 2.9 million Australian dollars (about 1.9 million U.S. dollars), as it drained surface water without a licence over five years. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) of New South Wales said that the underground coal mine is at Kembla Heights, west of Wollongong, and the mine's operations caused the incidental take of surface water without a licence from 2018 to 2023. Under an enforceable undertaking with NRAR, the company will fund 2,878,138 Australian dollars (about 1.9 million U.S. dollars) in a community project benefiting local waterways or wetlands. NRAR Chief Regulatory Officer Grant Barnes was quoted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation as saying that the investigation found the mine caused the loss of up to five megaliters a day, the equivalent of two Olympic swimming pools. "These alleged breaches are very serious and they do concern significant quantities of water, water which is lost from an ecologically sensitive area both to surface creeks and wetlands above the Dendrobium coal mine," said Barnes. "It is also important to note that this is within Sydney's drinking water catchment, so any surface water losses are a loss of water that could be used to service Sydney's drinking water needs," he added. DHAKA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved 190 million U.S. dollars in additional funding for the ongoing Rural Connectivity Improvement Project in Bangladesh. "This is ADB's second additional financing for the project, further expanding improvement of rural road networks and introducing innovative features in climate and disaster resilience and road asset management to enhance living conditions in rural areas in Bangladesh," Masahiro Nishimura, principal rural development specialist of the environment, natural resources, and agriculture division in the South Asia department of the ADB, said in a statement Tuesday. "This project is helping improve transport efficiency and reliability in rural areas, boost agricultural productivity, and generate employment to help the country's sustainable economic growth," he said. According to the statement, the ongoing project, originally approved in November 2018, aimed to upgrade about 1,700 km rural roads, strengthen the capacity of rural infrastructure agencies and road users, and improve rural road master planning. More than 900 km rural roads have been added to the original target since 2020. This latest loan will further extend the improvement of another 1,350 km rural roads with all-weather standards, climate resilience, and safety features, according to the statement. It will provide equipment and trucks to 180 mobile road maintenance offices at the upazila (subdistrict) level. Zhang Anming, managing director of Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT), delivers a speech during a special welcome ceremony organized at Piraeus Sailing Club in Piraeus, Greece, July 10, 2023. Piraeus port welcomed on Monday OOCL PIRAEUS, a newbuild of the Orient Overseas Container Line Europe (OOCL) and also one of the largest container vessels in the world. (Photo by Panagiotis Moschandreou/Xinhua) ATHENS, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Piraeus port welcomed on Monday OOCL PIRAEUS, a newbuild of the Orient Overseas Container Line Europe (OOCL) and also one of the largest container vessels in the world. On its maiden 84-day round trip voyage connecting Asia with Europe, the container vessel arrived on Monday at the premises of Piraeus Container Terminal S.A. (PCT), a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping. With an overall length of 399.9 meters and a molded width of 61.3 meters, the OOCL PIRAEUS, has a nominal container capacity of 24,188 TEUs and is one of the largest container vessels in the world, according to a PCT press release. "The very presence of OOCL PIRAEUS here today signifies the fact that the Port of Piraeus has become a critical link of the new trade route connecting the Far East to Europe and Africa," Zhang Anming, managing director of PCT, said at a special welcome ceremony. Today Piraeus is at the top of container ports in the Mediterranean and among the four most important sea trade hubs in Europe, Zhang added. Taking over the management of Piraeus' terminals II and III in 2010, PCT has transformed Piraeus into one of the most important hubs for international freight transport in the Mediterranean and Europe. This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows OOCL PIRAEUS, one of the largest container vessels in the world, about to dock at Piraeus port in Piraeus, Greece. Piraeus port welcomed on Monday OOCL PIRAEUS, a newbuild of the Orient Overseas Container Line Europe (OOCL) and also one of the largest container vessels in the world.(Xinhua) OOCL PIRAEUS, one of the largest container vessels in the world, enters Piraeus port in Piraeus, Greece, July 10, 2023. Piraeus port welcomed on Monday OOCL PIRAEUS, a newbuild of the Orient Overseas Container Line Europe (OOCL) and also one of the largest container vessels in the world. (Xinhua) OOCL PIRAEUS, one of the largest container vessels in the world, enters Piraeus port in Piraeus, Greece, July 10, 2023. Piraeus port welcomed on Monday OOCL PIRAEUS, a newbuild of the Orient Overseas Container Line Europe (OOCL) and also one of the largest container vessels in the world. (Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows OOCL PIRAEUS, one of the largest container vessels in the world, arriving at Piraeus port in Piraeus, Greece. Piraeus port welcomed on Monday OOCL PIRAEUS, a newbuild of the Orient Overseas Container Line Europe (OOCL) and also one of the largest container vessels in the world.(Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows OOCL PIRAEUS, one of the largest container vessels in the world, arriving at Piraeus port in Piraeus, Greece. Piraeus port welcomed on Monday OOCL PIRAEUS, a newbuild of the Orient Overseas Container Line Europe (OOCL) and also one of the largest container vessels in the world. (Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows OOCL PIRAEUS, one of the largest container vessels in the world, arriving at Piraeus port in Piraeus, Greece. Piraeus port welcomed on Monday OOCL PIRAEUS, a newbuild of the Orient Overseas Container Line Europe (OOCL) and also one of the largest container vessels in the world.(Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows OOCL PIRAEUS, one of the largest container vessels in the world, arriving at Piraeus port in Piraeus, Greece. Piraeus port welcomed on Monday OOCL PIRAEUS, a newbuild of the Orient Overseas Container Line Europe (OOCL) and also one of the largest container vessels in the world.(Xinhua) THE HAGUE, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Mark Rutte's announcement of departure from Dutch politics came as an absolute surprise on Monday, marking the start of a new era for the country that had the same prime minister since 2010. On Friday, Rutte's fourth government fell, and on Monday Rutte was supposed to give a brief explanation prior to a debate at the House of Representatives in The Hague. It was expected to be a tough debate for Rutte, because opposition parties Green Left (GroenLinks), Labor Party (PvdA) and Party for Freedom (PVV) had already announced their support for a motion of no-confidence against Rutte. If the majority supports the motion of no-confidence, Rutte would have to resign immediately and not, as he intended, be able to continue as a caretaker prime minister until the swearing-in of a new government after the elections, probably to be held in November. Rutte started his speech by explaining the fall of the government. But in the end, he suddenly said that he also wanted to share something personal and announced his departure from politics, saying he will no longer be available as leader of his People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in the next elections. "There has been speculation in recent days about what would motivate me," Rutte said. "The only answer is the Netherlands. My position is completely subordinate to that. On Sunday I decided that I will not be available as a leader for the VVD in the upcoming elections." Accustomed to Rutte surviving every crisis, members of opposition parties and his coalition partners were much surprised by the announced departure. For some, the decision came too late, while others expressed their appreciation. "I have a lot of respect for the step he is taking now, which restores confidence that he can lead this outgoing government during the period until the elections," said GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver. Caroline van der Plas, leader of the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), called it a "right decision" while Socialist Party leader Lilian Marijnissen said that the departure was "good for the Netherlands." PVV leader Geert Wilders praised Rutte: "I am convinced that he wanted the best for the Netherlands. I have a lot of respect for what he has done in all those years." "Many thanks for your leadership and unbridled commitment to our country," Deputy Prime Minister Sigrid Kaag said. "In recent years we have worked closely and well together, always trying to bridge political differences in the interest of the country. Much respect for your decision." Rutte's departure marks the end of an era indeed. He stepped own after leading four governments since 2010 as prime minister. He was the man who survived every political storm and always managed to keep things together in the Netherlands. However, in recent years Rutte's survival skills became less convincing. During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, his popularity reached an absolute peak, but criticism increased later about his sometimes apparent indifference and poor memories of certain situations. His third government crashed on Jan. 15, 2021, as a result of the so-called child benefits tax scandal, in which innocent parents were wrongly accused of fraud. When Rutte's fourth cabinet was formed, his own position was seriously under pressure for the first time in early 2021. He survived again, refused to stop and started his fourth reign. On Friday, his last coalition government, with the VVD, the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Democrats 66 (D66) and Christian Union (CU) fell over a dispute on the migration policy. Afterward, Rutte showed his usual optimism. When asked whether he wanted to be VVD party leader, Rutte responded: "If you ask me now, I would naturally say yes. Because I have the energy and the ideas for it." Three days later, he nevertheless announced his departure from politics. No one foresaw it and the exact consequences are still uncertain. Rutte's own future and that of his successor at the VVD are unclear. What is clear is that the announced departure of the longest-serving prime minister in Dutch history will change the political landscape of the Netherlands a lot. ZAGREB, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The decision by the United States to send cluster munitions to Ukraine is "irresponsible and dangerous" and will certainly escalate the Ukraine crisis, Mladen Plese, a leading Croatian political analyst, told Xinhua on Tuesday. This decision could potentially be a war crime, Plese said, noting that the United States "does not respect international conventions and agreements and behaves only according to its own interests." In addition to escalating the crisis, the U.S. move could trigger the ultimate danger of nuclear weapons being put into use, "which would be a disaster for the whole world," Plese added, stressing that the only possible solution for the crisis is that all concerned parties have to sit down and negotiate. The United States announced on Friday that the cluster bombs will be a part of a new military assistance package worth 800 million U.S. dollars to Ukraine. The move has elicited sharp criticism worldwide. Though the highly contentious weapon is widely banned by many countries, including key U.S. allies, Washington has continued to hold these munitions in its arsenal and vowed to help Ukraine destroy what it called "heavily dug-in" Russian forces. by Pete Jones DENVER, the United States, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A Native American tribe living in the east of U.S. state of Arizona for centuries is fighting the odds to stop a massive multi-national mining conglomerate from destroying its ancestral, sacred land, and may get a reprieve from Mother Nature herself - the historic drought gripping the U.S. Southwest. "Arizona is facing a water crisis, unlike anything in our history," Terry Rambler, chairman of the San Carlos Apache tribe, wrote in an opinion article published on the Los Angeles Times last week, an intractable position that experts say could sway judicial review of the controversial project. Rambler and a host of environmentalists, native American tribes, and religious groups are banding together to stop the project that "will leave a crater approximately 1.5 miles wide and a thousand feet deep," Henry Munoz, a local resident and fifth-generation miner, was quoted as saying by local news outlet KTAR News in May. "It's science fiction stuff," Colorado environmentalist Doug Graham told Xinhua. "It's hard to believe it's even on the table," he said about the mining campaign that will leave a nuclear-bomb-looking area in its wake to extract copper lying 7,000-feet below. More prescient, with a historic drought gripping the Southwest, the mine's potential impact on some 40 million people in seven states, who rely on water from the Colorado River basin to survive, might tip the scales in favor of the legendary Native American tribe. "Arizona Must Stop the 400 billion U.S. dollar giveaway of groundwater to the world's largest foreign based mining companies," Rambler posted Saturday on the website of Apache Stronghold, a coalition of Apaches, other Native peoples, and their non-Native allies. The Apaches are a storied tribe, remembered like no other for their resistance to and armed stand against the U.S. government in the late 19th century. Tribal leaders highlighted the gigantic 21st century water problem - the fact that the colossal mining endeavor will consume an estimated 250 billion gallons of water at a time the U.S. Southwest is parched and states are fighting each other in courts over the rights to the Southwest's aorta of life, the Colorado River. Apache members also pointed to a June 2022 study by the Bureau of Land Management that sharply criticized the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) of its failure to adequately analyze the groundwater impact of the project to bolster their case. "The federal government is already paying $1.2 billion to Nevada, Arizona, and California to cut their consumption of the parched Colorado River," Rambler wrote. "To pass the seminal Groundwater Management Act of 1980, state politicians exempted the powerful mining industry from restrictions on how much water mines can pump. That decision is now colliding with the stark reality that Arizona is facing an economically devastating deficit in groundwater supplies," he noted. "The 1980 law allows mines to pump unlimited groundwater without paying the state a dime. Based on current water prices, Arizona is poised to give away $400 billion worth of diminishing groundwater to the two largest foreign-owned mining companies in the world that plan to construct the Resolution Copper Mine 70 miles east of Phoenix," he added. Rambler pointed out that "Resolution Copper estimates it will extract 40 billion pounds of copper, currently worth $3.80 a pound, for a total gross value of $152 billion, which is far less than the value of the water it will consume." The suit, Apache Stronghold v. United States, was filed in January 2021 in federal court. After it was rejected by a judge in Arizona, the Native rights group took the case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, according to local newspaper, The Arizona Republic. Apache Stronghold v. United States pits the underdog and impoverished San Carlos Apache tribe against Resolution Copper, a British-Australian mining conglomerate whose combined 2022 revenues exceeded 120 billion U.S. dollars, a single-project marriage between Australian mining giant Rio Tinto and British BHP, whereby the USFS is set to trade 2,422 acres of Tonto National Forest land, including the Apache tribe's sacred Oak Flat area, for private land where Resolution plans to reap potentially trillions of U.S. dollars in profits. Resolution says the mine will help create 3,700 jobs and provide 40 billion pounds of copper over the course of the project, and will boost state and local tax revenues by 88 million U.S. dollars to 113 million U.S. dollars a year. The company emphasizes that copper is a key mineral toward the Biden administration's clean energy plans. Although initially supported by the USFS of President Joe Biden, at the end of May, the agency applied brakes to the project until an environmental impact statement is authored and analyzed. USFS officials say they're not sure when the statement, after being completed, will be approved. Joan Pepin, a Department of Justice attorney representing the USFS, wrote to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the agency is conducting a "thorough review of the consultation record, and environmental and other associated documents, to ensure compliance with the applicable laws, regulations and policies," according to E&E news, which provides essential energy and environment news for professionals. The Biden administration and the USFS will use this time to further consult with the San Carlos Apache and other tribes that have voiced opposition to the project," the Arizona Daily Star reported last month. "There is overwhelming opposition in Indian Country to the Resolution mine and that will not change," Rambler told the media earlier this year. But the multi-national mining giant is increasing the hype to push the project. "Resolution Copper will be the most water efficient mine in Arizona - using fewer gallons of water per pound of copper produce than any other man operating in the world," the company noted on its website. "Copper is invaluable to America's #cleanenergy transition. As a 100% recyclable conductor, it has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions," the company posted on Twitter last week. Meanwhile, in just the past few weeks, public support for the Apache's cause in the form of donations has steadily increased on social media. "Drinking water is one of the most important things on our planet and we are looking forward to hotter summers worldwide. Secure your sources!" Silvia Zeinoff wrote on the tribe's Facebook page Saturday. "The water scarcity is becoming extremely hard on people and nature. Resources must be shared fairly. Once the country is destroyed, the damage can never be repaired. Even in Europe, countries like Spain, Italy and France are facing major challenges from the repeated dry spells of the summer of 2023." NEW YORK, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The unemployment rate for African Americans jumped for a second straight month in June as workers left the workforce amid early signs of a cooling labor market in the United States, according to a recent Bloomberg report. "That cooling has been uneven: the number of unemployed African Americans has increased by 267,000 since April, meaning they account for close to 90 percent of the 300,000 increase in overall joblessness during that period," noted the report. Black unemployment rose to 6 percent in June, the highest since August, and was once again nearly double that of White workers, whose rate fell to 3.1 percent, a Labor Department report showed. "Black workers are often among the first to be fired as the economy begins to weaken, research shows, and the recent declines in employment could be a canary in the coal mine for the broader labor market," said the report. "If conditions continue to weaken, or even accelerate, the gains won by Black workers and other vulnerable groups could diminish quickly," William Rodgers, director of the St. Louis Fed's Institute of Economic Equity, was quoted as saying. Squire Patton Boggs, one of the worlds strongest integrated legal practices, has appointed two of its partners - Gassan Baloul and Thomas Wilson - as co-chairs of its Middle East Practice. Chair and Global CEO Mark Ruehlmann said, We have operated in the Middle East for over 50 years and, under Gassan and Toms leadership, fully expect to continue to expand our practice to reflect the growth we anticipate the region will see in the years ahead. Baloul was born in the Middle East and brought up both there and in the US, allowing him to bring a unique perspective in helping clients achieve cross-border success. He is a member of the firms Global Board and leads its Directed Emerging Market Initiatives. Baloul concentrates his practice on a range of litigation, arbitration, investigations, and government relations matters focused on clients in the Middle East, including governments, financial institutions, and high net worth individuals. Wilson represents a range of clients including state entities and major multinationals in international arbitrations and other disputes arising from business and projects in Middle East countries, particularly in the engineering and construction industries. He also served on the firms Global Board. On his new role, Baloul said: "As part of the leadership of Squire Patton Boggs, I am delighted that we are further deepening our commitment to our clients in the region. The Middle East embraces a dynamic mix of cultures and economies." "Our firm has the perfect skill set and connections to collaborate with our clients to attain their objectives. We are all very excited to continue expanding our resources and relationships in this vital sector of the international community," he stated. Wilson, who has been based in the UAE for 15 years, said: "This is an exciting time for our firm and for the region as its economies continue to diversify. We have a great team in place with a deep understanding of the legal, regulatory and policy considerations of doing business in the Middle East." "We are already in active discussions with new, prospective team members and are excited for the future," he noted. Earlier this year, Squire Patton Boggs signed a co-operation agreement with The Law Office of Looaye M. Al Akkas, one of the leading, full-service law firms in Saudi Arabia.-TradeArabia News Service Mogadishu: Eight members of an extended family were killed in a roadside bombing in central Somalia that was attributed to the jihadist group Al-Shabab, the mayor of the area said on Monday. The explosion happened late on Sunday night close to a village outside of Buloburde, which is located about 136 miles (220 kilometres) north of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. 'Eight innocent civilians from the same family were killed, among them a woman,' the mayor of Buloburde, Sadam Abdi Idow, told reporters. "Terrorists from al-Shabab planted the mine after being overpowered in ongoing military operations in the area. These terrorists don't care about civilians at all. Also Read: A country in Latin America declares an emergency due to a rare disease Seven victims reportedly perished at the scene, and one died later, according to witnesses. Three people were from one family, and the remaining people were from other related families. They were all related, according to Buloburde resident Abdikarin Hassan. Since 2007, a bloody insurgency led by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabab has been attempting to topple the foreign-supported government in Mogadishu. Also Read: Pyongyang Slams Washington for 'Nuclear Blackmail' and 'Spying Beyond Wartime Despite a major offensive launched last August by pro-government forces, supported by African Union troops and US air strikes, its fighters were driven from Mogadishu in 2011 but it still maintains a deadly force. According to military sources, the attack in the vicinity of Buloburde came after a protracted firefight in the area. Also Read: NATO's Urgent Dash: In a Race Against Time, Powers Rally to Secure Ukraine's Future "During this armed conflict, the terrorists were victorious, but they exacted revenge on civilians. They placed a land mine along the main civilian road, a Somali military commander named Ahmed Ali said over the phone. Addis Ababa: After nearly three months of brutal fighting, the Sudanese government refused to participate in a regional meeting to put an end to it on Monday, blaming Kenya, which was in charge of the talks, for favouring the opposing paramilitaries. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the head of the Sudanese army, and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander, were engaged in a power struggle that erupted into war in the middle of April and has since resulted in the displacement of millions of people. While fighting continued to rage throughout Sudan, the east African regional group IGAD had invited the adversaries to a meeting in Ethiopia's capital on Monday. Although the RSF sent a representative to the "quartet" meeting presided over by Kenya, South Sudan, Djibouti, and Ethiopia, neither Burhan nor Daglo personally attended the talks in Addis Abeba. Also Read: Turkey releases Sweden NATO's bid will facilitate the summit According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, roughly 3,000 people have died in the violence since April 15. However, the actual death toll is likely much higher because some areas of the country are still inaccessible. According to the International Organisation for Migration, an additional three million people have either been internally displaced or have migrated across borders. The UN warned on Sunday that Sudan was "on the brink of a full-scale civil war, potentially destabilising the entire region," despite numerous diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting producing only fleeting respites. Also Read: NATO struggles with Ukraine's bid at a summit near Russia The United States and Saudi Arabia have previously mediated truce agreements, but the east African bloc now wants to take the lead. The foreign ministry of Sudan, however, announced on Monday that its delegation would not take part until Kenya's request to serve as the talks' chair was granted. According to the statement, the ministry had requested that "Kenyan President William Ruto (be) replaced... in particular because of his partiality." In a statement issued following their meeting on Monday, the quartet lamented "the regrettable absence of the delegation of the Sudanese Armed Forces in spite of the invitation and confirmation of attendance." While the RSF criticised the army's "irresponsible behaviour" in a statement, Daglo had sent a political adviser to the talks in Addis Abeba. The quartet decided to "mobilise and concentrate the efforts of all stakeholders towards delivering a face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the warring parties," according to a statement from the group. Additionally, it demanded that the opposing generals "immediately stop the violence and sign an unconditional and indefinite cease-fire." According to IGAD, it will ask the African Union to investigate the possibility of sending the East Africa Standby Forcewhich is typically tasked with conducting election observation missionsto Sudan "for the protection of civilians and... humanitarian access." Former Sudanese rebel leader Mubarak Ardol, who is now allied with Burhan, praised the army for not attending the meeting and denounced "a plan to occupy Sudan" and efforts to "promote military interference." For meetings with Sudanese and regional officials, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee was also present on Monday in the capital of Ethiopia. She had urged the supporters of Burhan and Daglo in a statement on Sunday to "immediately end the fighting." Phee continued, "We join the region's call to stop any military assistance or outside military interference that would only serve to escalate and prolong the conflict. According to experts, the army and the RSF are supported outside of Sudan. Burhan is supported by neighbouring Egypt, whereas Daglo is supported by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Residents on the ground reported battles and airstrikes in a number of Khartoum neighbourhoods. Also Read: King Charles III and Biden have tea and discuss the environment "Rockets fell on houses of civilians," one individual told AFP. Witnesses claimed to have seen fighting also in El-Obeid, the commercial centre and capital of North Kordofan, which is located 350 kilometres (220 miles) south of Khartoum. In the Blue Nile state, close to Ethiopia, an army source claimed that troops "pushed back against an attack" by rebel forces. Manila: Since there are still about 100 Filipinos in the war-torn nation, the Philippines has urged its citizens who chose to remain there to register for repatriation, according to a statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday. When deadly clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces broke out in April, nearly 900 overseas Filipino workers and their families were in Sudan. Since then, at least 748 people have returned home, been rescued by Saudi security forces and brought to safety in the Kingdom, or been evacuated by Philippine government teams to the neighbouring country of Egypt. Also Read: A crisis in Sri Lanka causes thousands of skilled workers to depart, mostly for the Gulf However, dozens continue to choose to remain in Sudan, raising concerns among Philippine officials due to the country's escalating tensions and the deadly violence there, which has already claimed hundreds of lives. According to DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega, "about 100 are still there." "Many Filipinos choose to remain in the nations where they are because they want to continue making money. When the situation is seriously affecting them personally, they only choose to leave. Also Read: Sudanese asylum seeker rejected by UK Home Office based on outdated information He claimed that because the terms of the ceasefire are not being observed, the situation "continues to deteriorate," citing reports from the Philippine mission in Cairo. The capital Khartoum has already deteriorated into a war zone in some areas. All (Filipinos) in Sudan are being advised by the embassy to leave as soon as possible, De Vega said. Also Read: UK Immigration Minister Orders Removal of Cartoon Murals from Asylum Seekers' Centre On Sunday, the Philippine Embassy in Egypt issued a reminder to all Filipinos living in Sudan to leave the country right away to ensure their safety. For those who request to be evacuated, the embassy offers two options: via the Egyptian border and via Port Sudan in the east of the country, where the evacuation process could take up to ten days. Vilnius: At their summit on Tuesday, NATO leaders will discuss Ukraine's aspirations to join the organisation. Sweden's progress towards joining the alliance has given them more confidence in their ability to take on Russia. As NATO leaders gathered in Lithuania, a country that was once occupied by Moscow and is located on NATO's eastern flank, German Patriot missile systems and French fighter jets were keeping an eye on the skies. Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is anticipated to travel to Vilnius for the two-day summit to argue that Kyiv has a right to join after the Kremlin's invasion is over. Also Read: Kremlin's Secret Summit: Putin Meets with Wagner Leader Prigozhin and His Rebel Fighters in Post-Mutiny Talks "Ukraine merits membership in the coalition. We need a clear signal, but not right now because there is a war, Zelensky said in Kyiv on the eve of the summit. The Western military alliance is prepared to give Kyiv its full support in its fight for victory, but its 31 members disagree on how far to go in allowing Ukraine to join their ranks. Although Ukraine's neighbours have pushed for a specific timeline, world powers like the United States and Germany are hesitant to go beyond a previous promise that it will join the club eventually. There is no agreement to grant Kyiv membership while its war with Russia rages, according to US President Joe Biden, who will meet with Zelensky on Wednesday. Doing so would draw NATO directly into the conflict. According to Biden on CNN, there is "I don't think unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now." Also Read: Investigation into the Greek migrant tragedy questions the coast guard's version of events But by delaying its eventual accession bid and removing a demand that it finish a formal road map of reforms, the alliance is giving Kyiv a break. According to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the alliance will map out the reforms Ukraine must make in order to eventually join, but it won't provide a "timetable" for doing so. The dominant powers of the United States, Britain, France, and Germany are negotiating long-term commitments on weapon supplies with Kiev as Ukraine engages in a punishing counteroffensive. These don't even come close to fulfilling Zelensky's desire to be covered by NATO's collective defence umbrella, but they might reassure him that his country can continue to fight. One option is to create a deal akin to the one the US has with Israel, under which the US will send $3.8 billion worth of weapons to Israel every year for the next ten years. Russian officials reportedly targeted Kyiv and the western port city of Odesa in an overnight drone attack, according to Ukrainian officials early on Tuesday. The interior ministry reported that drone wreckage had been found in the Kyiv region and that some windows and outbuildings had been damaged, but that there was no immediate word on casualties. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO's defences have undergone the most extensive overhaul as a result of the largest war in Europe since World War II. To defend against any potential Russian attack, alliance leaders should approve fresh regional plans and resolve to raise defence spending goals. But for now, some consider allowing Ukraine in to be a step too far. In an effort to persuade Ukraine that progress is being made, diplomats have been arguing over the precise wording of the final communique right up until the last minute. By promising Ukraine membership in 2008 but failing to deliver any results, NATO left Ukraine in a limbo. The Kremlin leader was incensed by Kyiv's efforts to join the Western bloc and used this as a pretext to justify his war. But after more than 500 days of fighting, Putin is up against a stronger NATO presence positioned to oppose Russia. After lengthy negotiations, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to submit Sweden's NATO membership application for approval to his parliament, breaking months of impasse. A "historic day" that should help Sweden become the second new member since Finland joined in April was hailed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Sweden's application to join the Atlantic alliance has been stalled by Turkiye, which accuses Stockholm of harbouring Kurdish activists who Ankara views as terrorists. Also Read: Manila urges the remaining Filipinos in Sudan to leave as security deteriorates Erdogan raised the stakes even higher by insisting that Sweden join NATO only if Turkey's dormant EU membership bid is revived. Stockholm announced in a statement that it will now "actively support" efforts to revive Turkey's long-stalled EU accession process. Hungary has not yet approved it either, despite Prime Minister Viktor Orban's administration's assurances that it won't be the last to do so and indications that it will do so soon. Southeast Asia: Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia offer a combination of beautiful landscapes, vibrant cultures, and affordable prices for accommodation, food, and transportation. Thailand, Known for its beautiful beaches, rich cultural heritage, and bustling cities like Bangkok, Thailand offers a range of budget-friendly options for accommodation, food, and transportation. Don't miss exploring the vibrant street markets and visiting historical sites like Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. Vietnam: From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the beautiful landscapes of Halong Bay and the ancient town of Hoi An, Vietnam has a lot to offer. The cost of living is relatively low, and you can enjoy delicious street food, explore vibrant markets, and visit historic sites like the Cu Chi Tunnels. Cambodia is a must-visit destination in Southeast Asia. In addition to exploring ancient temples, you can experience the bustling city of Phnom Penh, visit the beautiful beaches of Sihanoukville, and learn about the country's history. Eastern Europe: Countries such as Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, and Romania offer rich histories, charming cities, and affordable prices compared to Western Europe. Poland offers a blend of historical sites, charming cities, and beautiful landscapes. Explore the historic city of Krakow, visit the somber Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, and wander through the picturesque streets of Gdansk. Hungary's capital, Budapest, is a must-visit destination known for its stunning architecture, thermal baths, and vibrant nightlife. Don't miss the chance to explore Buda Castle, visit the famous Parliament building, and relax in one of the city's many thermal spas. The Baltic country of Estonia is known for its medieval old towns, such as Tallinn, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the cobblestone streets, visit ancient castles, and experience the unique blend of Nordic and Eastern European cultures. India: Is a culturally rich country with a diverse range of experiences to offer. It has a low cost of living, making it an excellent destination for budget travelers. India is a diverse and captivating country with a rich history, vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and a wide array of tourist attractions. India is known for its magnificent historical sites, such as the Taj Mahal in Agra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Other notable historical sites include the Red Fort and Jama Masjid in Delhi, the ancient ruins of Hampi, and the intricate temples of Khajuraho. India is home to a variety of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Embark on a safari in Ranthambore National Park to spot tigers, visit the Kaziranga National Park to see one-horned rhinoceroses, or explore the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. Mexico: Is a popular destination known for its beautiful beaches, ancient ruins, and vibrant culture. It offers a range of budget-friendly options for accommodation and food. Mexico is home to impressive archaeological sites from ancient civilizations, such as the Mayans and Aztecs. Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the most famous archaeological sites, known for the iconic El Castillo pyramid. Other notable sites include Teotihuacan near Mexico City and the ruins of Palenque and Tulum in the Yucatan Peninsula. Mexico boasts beautiful coastlines along the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum on the Riviera Maya offer stunning white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant nightlife. The Baja California Peninsula is renowned for its whale-watching opportunities, and Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan are popular beach destinations on the Pacific coast. Portugal: Offers beautiful coastal towns, historic cities, and delicious cuisine at relatively low costs compared to other Western European destinations. Portugal's capital city, Lisbon, is a vibrant and historic destination. Explore the narrow streets of the Alfama district, visit the iconic Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery, and take in panoramic views from the hilltop Sao Jorge Castle. Don't forget to indulge in delicious pasteis de nata (custard tarts) and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the city's neighborhoods. Portugal's capital city, Lisbon, is a vibrant and historic destination. Explore the narrow streets of the Alfama district, visit the iconic Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery, and take in panoramic views from the hilltop Sao Jorge Castle. ALSO READ : The Benefits of Traveling: Broadening Perspectives and Cultivating EmpathyTravel Tips: How to Plan the Perfect TripGujarat's Treasures: Exploring the Top 10 Famous Destinations in the Vibrant StateEasyJet's Summer Flights: Air Traffic Concerns Lead to 2% Cancellations London: The Home Office turned away a Sudanese asylum seeker who was trying to leave his war-torn nation for the UK because of out-of-date information, according to the Metro newspaper. In order to assess the country's level of safety and decide whether to grant asylum, authorities had used data from 2021, before the start of the civil war. In a letter of denial, it was stated that there was "not a real risk" to the Sudanese national from "indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict." Moreover, he wouldn't "face a real risk of suffering serious harm." Also Read: Australia pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and joins the G7-sponsored 'climate club' As a result of the violence that erupted in April and claimed hundreds of lives, more than 600,000 people have left Sudan. According to Metro, based on the dated information, it is unknown how many additional Sudanese asylum seekers have been turned down by the UK. Also Read: 8 family members are killed in Somalia by a roadside bomb: mayor A spokesperson for the Home Office stated that they would speak with the Sudanese national to "review his asylum application," and further stated that "all asylum applications are considered on their individual merits in line with the asylum rules and the evidence presented." Also Read: Ukraine adopts a defensive stance above the volatile city of Bakhmut "With over 5,000 Sudanese asylum seekers stuck in the government's legacy backlog, they should be getting on with processing claims and providing them protection," said Hannah Marwood, legal access manager for Care4Calais. There was a lot of excitement as The Archies, the highly awaited movie from Zoya Akhtar, took centre stage at Netflix's Tudum event in Brazil. Fans of the film, which was produced by Tiger Baby Productions and directed by Zoya Akhtar, are anticipating its release after watching the trailer. One of the movie's major stars, Khushi Kapoor, has recently uploaded a new video on social media that documents the cast's travels in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This has increased the interest surrounding the movie. Suhana posted a Reel of her vacation to Brazil with the The Archies cast on Instagram. She tagged her co-stars and wrote, "Life with The Archies: Sao Paulo Edition" as the caption of the photo. She appeared in the humorous Reel, "The Archies in Brazil," together with co-stars Agastya Nanda and Khushi Kapoor, Dot, Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina, and Yuvraj Menda. Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda, and other celebrities can be seen dancing and posing in the video against the colourful backdrop of Sao Paulo. The young actors may be seen interacting with the locals while touring a gaming area and playing a game based on the well-liked Netflix series Squid Game. The cast is shown interacting with one another while roller skating and participating in other enjoyable activities in the footage. A glimpse of their performance at the Tudum event on the big stage at the end of the video. The video was captioned by Khushi, Life with The Archies: Sao Paulo Edition. The convention event, which was a part of Netflix, took place in Sao Paulo last month from June 16 to 18. The convention offered attendees the chance to meet their favourite performers up close and featured over 2000 square metres of activities, games, live music, and more. The Archies is a television show based on the well-known American comic book franchise, and it is set in 1964 in the made-up town of Riverdale. Agastya Nanda, Amitabh Bachchan's grandson, Khushi Kapoor, and Suhana Khan, Shah Rukh Khan's daughter, all make their highly awaited cinematic debuts in this one, which has attracted a lot of fan interest. Preity Zinta shares adorable pic of Jai and Gia from their mundan ceremony The upbeat dance song "Jam Jam Jajjanaka" from Bholaa Shankar is catchy Priyanka Chopra's Daughter Malti Marie appeared in a cool look Erdogan agrees to unblock Sweden's accession to NATO Stoltenberg 11 July, 11:47 AM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Jens Stoltenberg and Ulf Kristersson (Photo:Jens Stoltenberg/Twitter) After blocking Swedens bid to join NATO for months, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to send the protocol on Sweden's accession to the alliance to Turkeys parliament, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Twitter on July 10. Stoltenberg said he had met with Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, after which the Turkish leader agreed to support Sweden's accession to NATO. Read also: Turkey resumes Finland and Sweden NATO accession talks "Glad to announce that after the meeting I hosted with Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish PM, President Erdogan has agreed to forward Sweden's accession protocol to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible and ensure ratification," the NATO chief wrote. Video of day This is a historic step which makes all NATO Allies stronger and safer. NATO officially invited Sweden and Finland to join the alliance on June 29, 2022. The day before, Turkey, Finland, and Sweden signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding. On April 4, 2023, Finland officially became the 31st member of NATO. Sweden's accession to NATO has already been ratified by 28 out of 30 member states. Previously, only Turkey and Hungary did not support it. Ankara slowed down the approval of the accession, in particular, because of the issue of Kurdish communities living in Sweden. Stockholm amended its legislation to increase responsibility for terrorism and agreed to lift the arms embargo on Turkey, but Ankara continued to block Sweden's application. Hungary has also said it will ratify Swedens accession to NATO, and would not be the last to do so. 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. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Zelenskyy to attend Vilnius summit, Turkey gives green light to Swedish membership 11 July, 11:24 AM The host of the summit, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, and US President Joe Biden in Vilnius (Photo:REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque) After threatening not to attend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to show up for the NATO summit meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11 after last-minute reports emerged that the alliance would shorten the path Ukraine needs to take to gain membership. Zelenskyy plans to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden on the second day of the two-day summit in the Lithuanian capital. The summit will be attended by leaders from 31 NATO countries, including Biden, along with non-NATO delegations from Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Ukraine, and Sweden. Video of day It emerged late on July 10 that Turkey has finally agreed to unblock Swedens membership, which was stalled for months after Ankara raised objections over the activities of Turkish dissidents in Sweden. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Sweden had amended its constitution and laws and resumed arms exports to Turkey in order to placate Ankara. Meanwhile, ahead of the summit, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the United States would send "a positive signal" regarding Ukraine's membership of the alliance, and that a new package of assistance for Ukraine from the alliance would be announced during the two-day meeting. Long before the Vilnius NATO Summit, Ukraine emphasized its expectations of clear decisions regarding future membership, the shortest path to achieve it, and a transparent algorithm for joining NATO. Official Kyiv has made extraordinary diplomatic efforts for months to convince alliance members of the urgency to expedite Ukraines accession to NATO, including a blitz visit to Eastern Europe and Turkey by President Zelenskyy last week. According to reports in international media and statements by Stoltenberg, the following steps regarding Ukraine may be agreed upon during the NATO summit: A joint declaration by NATO countries, including the "big four" the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany regarding bilateral security guarantees for Ukraine from each country during the period when Ukraine remains outside NATO. This includes commitments related to arms supplies, training of Ukrainian forces, intelligence sharing, and assistance in defense policy reform, among other aspects. A "practical support program" aimed at ensuring full operational compatibility between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO forces. A decision to establish the Ukraine-NATO Council as a "platform for consultations and decision-making." Official cancellation of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) status for Ukraine on its path to NATO membership. This issue is the most contentious when it comes to formulating Kyivs membership prospects. At the same time, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that individual security guarantees from NATO member countries cannot be a substitute for full membership of the alliance, but should be viewed as an interim step. At present, opinion polls say 89% of Ukrainians support Ukraines NATO membership, while only 18% of citizens say they are willing to forgo joining the alliance in order to achieve peace and end the war. That option is deemed unacceptable by 76% of respondents. 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. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News In this piece, we will take a look at the 12 best mining stocks hedge funds are buying. If you want to skip our analysis of the mining industry and want to jump to the top five stocks in this list, head on over to 5 Best Mining Stocks Hedge Funds Are Buying. The mining industry is responsible for powering up and providing raw materials to a variety of different industries. Whether it's bauxite for making aluminum, coal for power generation, metals for jewelry, or rare Earth metals for electronics production, mining products contribute significantly to a variety of crucial industries. Not to mention, one particular metal, gold, is quite important in the financial world as well. Gold's relationship with the U.S. dollar is a well known phenomenon, with changes to the dollar's value also creating changes in gold prices. Gold prices are generally inversely correlated to the dollar, as the precious metal is seen as the ultimate safe haven asset. Therefore, gold is also often seen as a barometer of investor sentiment against the dollar - and one that's been quite important, particularly over the past twelve months or so. The dollar has been quite strong as of late thanks to the Federal Reserve's ten interest rate hikes that have attracted deposits in U.S. banks and lent strength to the greenback due to higher demand. However, within the period of these rate hikes, as sentiment sometimes sputtered towards a weaker currency, gold prices have also soared correspondingly. Apart from being important for investors, gold is also becoming quite popular among central banks. The high interest rate environment and its effect on the yields for U.S. Treasury Bonds have stimulated interest among central banks to diversify away from these bonds as their reserves and turn to gold. Multiple data points favor this point of view. For instance, data from the World Gold Council shows that seven out of ten central banks believe that gold reserves will increase over the next twelve months, with 24% expecting to increase their reserves until May 2024. Shifting our focus from macroeconomics to the mining industry, some of the biggest mining companies in the world are BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP), Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX), and Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR). Their operations range from mining for fertilizers to metals and the firms rake in billions of dollars of revenue each year. Given the mining giant that it is, BHP has several interesting initiatives that it is focusing on these days. One of these is its collaboration with the technology behemoth Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). BHP and Microsoft have teamed up to use artificial intelligence to improve productivity and extraction efficiency at the world's largest copper mine in Chile. The firm is also looking into innovative accounting methods to include the value of the environment in mine valuation estimates so that it can quantify and inform the public and investors about potential damage to the environment from their operations. Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR), an agricultural inputs company that is one of the biggest potash mining companies in the world, expects that America will increase its major crop plantation area by eight million acres this year. At the same time, higher demand coupled with the supply chain constraints that have become an everyday occurrence these days will also ensure that the fertilizer market in the U.S. remains tight. Global potash demand is also expected to stray strong this year, and where supplies from Russia lack, those from Belarus are estimated to pick up the pace. Finally, another mining giant, Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) is looking to grow its copper supply in America. The firm is expanding its mining activities in Utah to invest close to half a billion dollars to deliver 250 thousand tonnes of copper over the next decade. Through these investments, Rio Tinto aims to capture the growing demand for copper from the electric vehicle market which uses the material to make batteries. Concluding our industry introduction by taking a look at what's going on in coal mining is worthwhile since the mineral has grown in popularity recently since the energy market's shakeup due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here's what the management of the coal mining firm CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CEIX) had to say during the firm's first quarter of 2023 earnings call: Overall sales into the export market accounted for 66% of our total PAMC realized coal revenue, including 33% coming from the export industrial market and 13% from the export crossover metallurgical coal market. This is a crucial development for us as it demonstrates our ability to be nimble in utilizing our export marketing and logistic advantages to offset weakness in the domestic energy markets, a unique capability that few domestic coal and E&P companies possess. Furthermore, our sales team opportunistically increased our forward sell position by 13.5 million tons in the first quarter for delivery through 2026, in essence increasing our sales backlog despite a challenging market backdrop. More importantly, the majority of these tons are part of the long-term contracts in the Indian industrial market through 2026, which is exciting, because we expect this market to expand substantially in the coming decade. As we work to increase the capacity of the CONSOL Marine Terminal, well be even better positioned to serve this growing market. As a result of our marketing efforts in 1Q 23, we are now near fully contracted for 2023 and have 14.7 million tons contracted for 2024. Now let me provide an update on our balance sheet management and capital allocation progress before discussing our financial results and sustainability initiatives. We continue to make considerable progress on our stated financial priority in the quarter. First, we generated $221 million of free cash flow, approximately 45% of which was deployed toward continuing to reduce our gross debt level. When factoring in our unrestricted cash and short-term investments, our total net debt on March 31 stood at $14 million. With these details in mind, let's take a look at the top mining stocks among hedge funds, with some notable names being Teck Resources Limited (NYSE:TECK), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX), and Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM). 12 Best Mining Stocks Hedge Funds Are Buying Pixabay/Public Domain Our Methodology To compile our list of the best mining stocks to buy, we first made a list of the forty largest mining companies in the world based on their market capitalization. Then, the number of hedge funds that had bought their shares as of March 2023 was determined from Insider Monkey's database of 943 hedge funds. The top companies chosen for our list of the 12 best mining stocks to buy are as follows. We excluded lithium companies from this list as they were already covered in 11 Best Lithium Stocks to Buy earlier today. 12 Best Mining Stocks Hedge Funds Are Buying 12. Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC) Number of Hedge Fund Investors In Q1 2023: 26 Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC) is a Canadian firm that explores gold in different countries. The firm has an average share price target of $6, a significant upside over the current share price of $4.55. By the end of 2023's first quarter, 26 out of the 943 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey had bought a stake in Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC). Out of these, the firm's largest investor is Jim Simons' Renaissance Technologies with a $120 million stake. Along with Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX), Teck Resources Limited (NYSE:TECK), and Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM), Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC) is a top mining stock that hedge funds are piling into. 11. Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM) Number of Hedge Fund Investors In Q1 2023: 29 Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM) mines and sells different metals such as gold, silver, and palladium. The firm expanded its mining property portfolio in May when it acquired purchase rights from a gold mine in Canada. 29 of the 934 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey's database had invested in the firm as of March 2023. Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM)'s biggest hedge fund shareholder in our database is Jean-Marie Eveillard's First Eagle Investment Management, through its $977 million investment. 10. Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) Number of Hedge Fund Investors In Q1 2023: 29 Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) is a Brazilian mining giant that is involved primarily in the production of iron ore and iron pellets. The firm's shares have an average rating of Buy, with ten out of the 24 analysts covering the stock rating it as a Buy or Strong Buy. By March 2023 end, 29 of the 943 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey had bought Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE)'s shares. Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke, and John Campbell's Arrowstreet Capital is the firm's largest investor, owning 31.5 million shares that are worth $498 million. 9. Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE:FNV) Number of Hedge Fund Investors In Q1 2023: 31 Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE:FNV) is a gold royalty firm, meaning that it collects payments from other miners or enters into agreements with them to purchase their outputs. The firm's revenues have grown by 16.2% over the past three years, faster than most of its peers. After sifting through 943 hedge funds for their first quarter of 2023 shareholdings, Insider Monkey found out that 31 had invested in the firm. Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE:FNV)'s largest shareholder in our database is Jim Simons' Renaissance Technologies through its $506 million stake. 8. Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) Number of Hedge Fund Investors In Q1 2023: 33 Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) is a diversified British mining company that extracts a variety of metals and minerals such as diamond, iron, gold, and lithium. The firm announced in June that it will now make its own batteries in a laboratory to see how its mining products perform in the real world. Insider Monkey's first quarter of 2023 survey of 943 hedge funds revealed that 33 had held a stake in Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO). Out of these, Ken Fisher's Fisher Asset Management is the biggest investor since it has a $1 billion investment. 7. MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) Number of Hedge Fund Investors In Q1 2023: 35 MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) is one of the more crucial companies particularly in today's geopolitical scene since it extracts and sells rare earth metals. After China announced restrictions on rare earth exports, MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) is an important stock to watch out for since it is an American firm with facilities in the U.S. 35 of the 943 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey's database had bought MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP)'s shares as of Q1 2023. The firm's largest hedge fund shareholder is James H. Litinsky's JHL Capital Group since it has an $805 million stake. 6. Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD) Number of Hedge Fund Investors In Q1 2023: 41 Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD) is a gold mining company. It is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, and has facilities all over the world. Insider Monkey surveyed 943 hedge funds for their first quarter of 2023 shareholdings to find out that 41 had invested in the company. Out of these, Jean-Marie Eveillard's First Eagle Investment Management is the largest investor courtesy of its $785 million investment. Teck Resources Limited (NYSE:TECK), Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX), and Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) are some great hedge fund mining stock buys. Click to continue reading and see 5 Best Mining Stocks Hedge Funds Are Buying. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 12 Best Mining Stocks Hedge Funds Are Buying is originally published on Insider Monkey. A Saudi high-profile delegation visit to China has resulted in new and strengthened strategic collaborations, positioning Saudi Arabia and China together at the forefront of a new global, digitally driven bloc. As the trip concludes, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and eWTP Arabia Capital (eWTPA) stand as the driving forces behind this transformative endeavour, strengthening the ties between the two nations. The delegation was led by Eng Abdullah Al-Swaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology. Economic and trade relations As part of the visit, the Saudi Arabia-China Entrepreneurs Association has deepened economic and trade relations and cemented the Saudi-China investment bridge with first overseas chapter and 11 Memorandums of Understanding. Saudi-China Entrepreneur Association will help 100 Chinese companies enter Saudi Arabia and 20 Saudi Arabian companies enter China in the next two years, The weeklong itinerary included trips to Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Beijing where they visited companies like Huawei, Meituan, and some of Chinas aerospace technology companies. During the trip, Eng Al-Swaha held high level meetings with Chinese government representatives including Jin Zhuanglong, Minister of Information Industry and Information, Yin Yong, Mayor of Beijing, John Lee, Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR, and Professor Dong Sun, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry at the HKSAR government, as well as delegations from several provincial governments. He also met with senior executives of leading enterprises and investment institutions, including Nicolas Aguzin, CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) and Jerry Li, Founder & Managing Partner of eWTPA and the Director-General of the Saudi Arabia-China Entrepreneurs Association (SCEA). One Gateway, Shared Vision One of the highlights was the "One Gateway, Shared Vision - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region x Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" event, hosted in Hong Kong by eWTPA in partnership with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP). Minister Al-Swaha's visit served to strengthen bilateral ties, explore technological opportunities, and align Chinas Belt and Road Initiative with the transformative goals of Saudi Vision 2030. SCEA to foster cross border partnerships During this visit, the Saudi Arabia-China Entrepreneurs Association inaugurated its new office in Hong Kong. The office will serve as a hub for knowledge exchange and business opportunities, further cementing the Sino-Arab relationship. The SCEA was established with the support of the MCIT and was founded during the LEAP conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, earlier this year. Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee, acknowledged and appreciated the contributions of the SCEA and expressed gratitude towards eWTPA for strengthening ties between Saudi-Arabia and Hong Kong SAR. The signing of 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Saudi Arabia-China Entrepreneurs Association (SCEA) and companies such as Aerosim (HK) Limited, D-Engraver Limited, and XtalPi marked a significant milestone during the trip. These agreements solidify the commitment of these companies to establish or expand their presence in Saudi Arabia, whilst actively engaging the dynamic ecosystem fostered by the association. With MCIT and eWTPA serving as primary facilitators, these partnerships will drive mutually beneficial collaborations in innovation and technology, promoting advancements in key sectors between KSA and China. Pivotal role Jerry Li, Founder & Managing Partner of eWTPA and the Director-General of the SCEA underscored the pivotal role that Hong Kong plays in facilitating collaboration between Greater China and Saudi Arabia. Li emphasised the shared vision of MCIT and eWTPA to empower Hong Kong's leading financial and technology companies, enabling them to establish a prominent foothold in Saudi Arabia. He also emphasised that the aim of the SCEA is to assist 100 Chinese companies to be able to enter the KSA market and for 20 Saudi Arabian companies to be able to enter China in the next two years. This strategic partnership aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, promotes economic diversification, and facilitates the listing of companies from both nations on the stock exchanges of Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. Key role Minister Al-Swaha emphasised the significant role of Saudi Vision 2030 as a driving force behind the trip. The transformative vision aims to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy and fuel technological advancements, with innovation and technology serving as key pillars. The collaboration with eWTPA and MCIT is a testament to Saudi Arabia's commitment to achieving these ambitious goals, Li said. Key Insights Significant insider control over Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad implies vested interests in company growth 54% of the business is held by the top 5 shareholders Ownership research, combined with past performance data can help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock To get a sense of who is truly in control of Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad (KLSE:KSENG), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. We can see that individual insiders own the lion's share in the company with 36% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). So, insiders of Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad have a lot at stake and every decision they make on the companys future is important to them from a financial point of view. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. Institutions have a very small stake in Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad. That indicates that the company is on the radar of some funds, but it isn't particularly popular with professional investors at the moment. So if the company itself can improve over time, we may well see more institutional buyers in the future. It is not uncommon to see a big share price rise if multiple institutional investors are trying to buy into a stock at the same time. So check out the historic earnings trajectory, below, but keep in mind it's the future that counts most. Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is Ho Yeow Koon & Sons Pte Ltd, with ownership of 17%. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 14% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 11% by the third-largest shareholder. Interestingly, the bottom two of the top three shareholders also hold the title of Top Key Executive and Member of the Board of Directors, respectively, suggesting that these insiders have a personal stake in the company. Furthermore, CEO Cheng Chong Ho is the owner of 6.9% of the company's shares. On looking further, we found that 54% of the shares are owned by the top 5 shareholders. In other words, these shareholders have a meaningful say in the decisions of the company. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. We're not picking up on any analyst coverage of the stock at the moment, so the company is unlikely to be widely held. Insider Ownership Of Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad. Insiders have a RM476m stake in this RM1.3b business. We would say this shows alignment with shareholders, but it is worth noting that the company is still quite small; some insiders may have founded the business. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 34% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad. 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. 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. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad . Of course this may not be the best stock to buy. Therefore, you may wish to see our free collection of interesting prospects boasting favorable financials. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Amazon tells court it shouldn't have to police its platforms for hate speech and disinformation An Amazon warehouse in France. SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images Amazon has filed a petition with an EU court challenging its upcoming Digital Services Act. The retail giant asked the court to annul its designation as a "very large online platform." Because that comes with obligations related to policing hate speech and disinformation. Amazon has become the first US company to challenge the European Union's upcoming laws on online disinformation. The online retail giant filed a petition to the general court in Luxembourg on Tuesday, in relation to rules on tackling disinformation, the Financial Times first reported. The EU's Digital Services Act which comes into force on August 25 is a wide-ranging set of regulations designed to regulate big tech companies. 19 companies have been designated as "very large online platforms" or "very large online search engines" because they reach at least 45 million monthly active users. And this means they will have extra obligations, including being required to tackle online hate speech and disinformation. Amazon has asked the court to annul its designation as a "very large online platform" (VLOP) under the act, according to a summary of the petition viewed by Insider. That's primarily because Amazon says some of these rules shouldn't apply to it as an online retailer rather than a social network or search engine and that other large retailers in the EU haven't received the same designation. "The DSA was designed to address systemic risks posed by very large companies with advertising as their primary revenue and that distribute speech and information," an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement shared with Insider. "We agree with the EC's objective and are committed to protecting customers from illegal products and content, but Amazon doesn't fit this description of a 'Very Large Online Platform' (VLOP) under the DSA and therefore should not be designated as such. "The vast majority of our revenue comes from our retail business, we are not the largest retailer in any of the EU countries where we operate, and none of these largest retailers in each European country has been designated as a VLOP," it added. The European Commission declined to comment on Amazon's decision specifically, but a spokesperson said: "the designated platforms and search engines will need to adapt their systems, resources, and processes for compliance, set up an independent system of compliance. They also need to complete the first annual risk assessment exercise to examine risks such as how illegal content might be disseminated through their service, how their services might pose a risk to fundamental rights, civic discourse, and public health, amongst others. "That being said, not all platforms are the same and therefore they would not pose the same risks, neither they would be required to take the same risk mitigation measures: social media platforms are of course very different from marketplaces." Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- Armed men have forced truck drivers out of their vehicles before setting them ablaze on a northern stretch of South Africas N2 highway, the third such attack within the space of two days. Most Read from Bloomberg The incident happened at about 10 p.m. on Monday, said Brigadier Jay Naicker, a police spokesman in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal. He said the road, the main route along the countrys Indian Ocean coast, remained open. It is alleged that a group of armed men attacked the drivers of the two trucks and robbed them of their belongings, Naicker said. The men were then forced out of the trucks before the trucks were set alight. Police at Empangeni are investigating a case of armed robbery, malicious damage to property and attempted murder. Truckers regularly block major arterial roads in South Africa in protest at the hiring of foreign drivers. The protests threaten trade and employment because 80% of all goods moved in and around South Africa are ferried by road, according to the Road Freight Association. On Monday, unidentified assailants set fire to five trucks on the N4 highway that links the commercial hub of Gauteng province to the port of Maputo in neighboring Mozambique, police spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala told Johannesburg-based broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. The route is a key corridor for coal and chrome exports from South Africa. On Sunday, six trucks were torched on the N3 highway that links Gauteng to the port of Durban, Africas biggest container harbor. The ongoing attacks have led some companies to move their cargo through ports in neighboring countries instead of those in South Africa. If we cant provide secure supply chains, if we cant provide secure roads for goods to migrate in and out of our country, we slowly kill our country, said Abdool Kamdar, manager of decarbonization and net zero at KDG Logistics, which had one of its trucks burnt in a community protest in Chesterville, Durban, three weeks ago. What we are seeing here is symptoms of a cancer that will eventually kill our economy, and we cant let this continue. The latest incidents come two years after South Africa was rocked by seven days of violence in the worst instance of civil unrest since the advent of multiracial democracy in 1994. The N3 was shut down and shops were looted during violence that led to the deaths of more than 350 people and cost the economy an estimated 50 billion rand ($2.7 billion). The orchestrators of the unrest have yet to be prosecuted. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday expressed concern about the negative impact the attacks were having on the economy. Its almost like economic sabotage to burn six trucks on a main logistics artery, he told reporters after a meeting of the governing African National Congresss top leaders. The N3 was closed for most of Sunday as mop-up operations got under way. The police are yet to make any arrests. The targeted precision of the attack is worrying, the Road Freight Association said. This was well planned and efficiently implemented. At this point, no group has acknowledged that they are responsible. --With assistance from Matthew Hill and Mpho Hlakudi. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Audience Analytics' (Catalist:1AZ) stock is up by 3.2% over the past week. Given its impressive performance, we decided to study the company's key financial indicators as a company's long-term fundamentals usually dictate market outcomes. In this article, we decided to focus on Audience Analytics' ROE. ROE or return on equity is a useful tool to assess how effectively a company can generate returns on the investment it received from its shareholders. In short, ROE shows the profit each dollar generates with respect to its shareholder investments. See our latest analysis for Audience Analytics How To Calculate Return On Equity? ROE can be calculated by using the formula: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Audience Analytics is: 36% = S$5.7m S$16m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022). The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. Another way to think of that is that for every SGD1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn SGD0.36 in profit. What Has ROE Got To Do With Earnings Growth? Thus far, we have learned that ROE measures how efficiently a company is generating its profits. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or "retain", we are then able to evaluate a company's future ability to generate profits. Assuming all else is equal, companies that have both a higher return on equity and higher profit retention are usually the ones that have a higher growth rate when compared to companies that don't have the same features. Audience Analytics' Earnings Growth And 36% ROE First thing first, we like that Audience Analytics has an impressive ROE. Additionally, the company's ROE is higher compared to the industry average of 8.5% which is quite remarkable. As a result, Audience Analytics' exceptional 23% net income growth seen over the past five years, doesn't come as a surprise. Next, on comparing with the industry net income growth, we found that Audience Analytics' growth is quite high when compared to the industry average growth of 7.3% in the same period, which is great to see. Earnings growth is an important metric to consider when valuing a stock. The investor should try to establish if the expected growth or decline in earnings, whichever the case may be, is priced in. This then helps them determine if the stock is placed for a bright or bleak future. Is Audience Analytics fairly valued compared to other companies? These 3 valuation measures might help you decide. Is Audience Analytics Using Its Retained Earnings Effectively? Audience Analytics has a three-year median payout ratio of 47% (where it is retaining 53% of its income) which is not too low or not too high. By the looks of it, the dividend is well covered and Audience Analytics is reinvesting its profits efficiently as evidenced by its exceptional growth which we discussed above. While Audience Analytics has seen growth in its earnings, it only recently started to pay a dividend. It is most likely that the company decided to impress new and existing shareholders with a dividend. Conclusion In total, we are pretty happy with Audience Analytics' performance. Particularly, we like that the company is reinvesting heavily into its business, and at a high rate of return. Unsurprisingly, this has led to an impressive earnings growth. If the company continues to grow its earnings the way it has, that could have a positive impact on its share price given how earnings per share influence long-term share prices. Remember, the price of a stock is also dependent on the perceived risk. Therefore investors must keep themselves informed about the risks involved before investing in any company. Our risks dashboard would have the 3 risks we have identified for Audience Analytics. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Federal regulators are accusing Bank of America of opening accounts in people's name without their knowledge, overcharging customers on overdraft fees and stiffing them on credit card reward points. The Wall Street giant will pay $250 million in government penalties on Tuesday, including $100 million to be returned to customers, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said on Tuesday. "Bank of America wrongfully withheld credit card rewards, double-dipped on fees and opened accounts without consent," CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a statement. "These practices are illegal and undermine customer trust. The CFPB will be putting an end to these practices across the banking system." The agency, which was launched in 2010 after the housing crash to protect Americans from financial abuse, also said Bank of America illegally accessed customer information to open sham bank accounts on their behalf. The allegation echoes a 2017 scandal involving Wells Fargo, whose employees were found to have opened millions of fake accounts for unsuspecting customers in order to meet unrealistic sales goals. "From at least 2012, in order to reach now disbanded sales-based incentive goals and evaluation criteria, Bank of America employees illegally applied for and enrolled consumers in credit card accounts without consumers' knowledge or authorization," the CFPB said. "Because of Bank of America's actions, consumers were charged unjustified fees, suffered negative effects to their credit profiles and had to spend time correcting errors." Bank of America also offered people cash rewards and bonus points when signing up for a card, but illegally withheld promised credit card account bonuses, the regulators said. Bank of America no longer charges the fees that triggered the government's fine, spokesperson Bill Haldin told CBS News. "We voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all non-sufficient fund fees in the first half of 2022. As a result of these industry leading changes, revenue from these fees has dropped more than 90%," he said. The company didn't address the CFPB's allegations that it opened fake credit card accounts and wrongly denied them reward points. "Repeat offender" The $250 million financial penalty is one of the highest ever levied against Bank of America. Last year, the bank was hit with a $10 million fine for improperly garnishing customers' wages and also paid a separate $225 million for mismanaging state unemployment benefits during the pandemic. In 2014, it paid $727 million for illegally marketing credit-card add-on products. "Bank of America is a repeat offender," Mike Litt, consumer campaign director at U.S. PIRG, a consumer advocacy group, said in a statement. "The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's strong enforcement action shows why it makes a difference to have a federal agency monitoring the financial marketplace day in and day out." The Associated Press contributed reporting. File - A customer uses an ATM at a Bank of America location in San Francisco, Monday, April 24, 2023. Bank of America is being ordered to pay more than $100 million to customers for double-dipping on some fees imposed on customers, withholding reward bonuses explicitly promised to credit card customers, and misappropriating sensitive personal information to open accounts without customer knowledge or authorization. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) NEW YORK (AP) Bank of America will reimburse customers more than $100 million and pay $150 million in fines for double-dipping on overdraft fees, withholding reward bonuses on credit cards and opening accounts without customer consent. Combined, it is one of the highest financial penalties in years against Bank of America, which has largely spent the last 15 years trying to clean up its reputation and market itself to the public as a bank focused on financial health and not on overdraft fee income and financial trickery. BofA must refund $100 million to customers, pay $90 million in penalties to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and $60 million to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Bank of America wrongfully withheld credit card rewards, double-dipped on fees, and opened accounts without consent, said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, in a statement. These practices are illegal and undermine customer trust." Empowered by a broad mandate from the White House, Chopra and the bureau have focused heavily in the past year on the issue of junk fees fees charged to Americans that are often seen as unnecessary or exploitative by banks, debt collectors, airlines and concert venues. Banks such as BofA, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and others have been a target for the bureau under the Biden administration. Part of the fines and penalties come because Bank of America had a policy of charging customers $35 after the bank declined a transaction because the customer did not have enough funds in their account, the CFPB said. The agency determined that the bank double-dipped by allowing fees to be repeatedly charged for the same transaction. The fees often came when customers had routine monthly transactions, like a gym membership. If a customer had too low of a balance to cover the transaction, it would be declined and BofA would charge the customer a $35 fee. The business, who hasn't been paid, often would recharge the customer's account, resulting in another $35 non-sufficient funds fee. The bank ended this practice last year, but will still have to repay customers who got charged before the policy was changed. BofA has been cutting down on its reliance on overdraft fee revenue for more than a decade, and cut how much it charges customers for an overdraft to $15 last year. Brian Moynihan, the bank's CEO and chairman, told The Associated Press in 2022 that under these new policies, overdraft fee income was down 90% from 2021. The bank said that it voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all non-sufficient fund fees in the first half of last year. Bank of America also offered people cash rewards and bonus points when signing up for a card, but the CFPB said the bank illegally withheld promised credit card account bonuses. The CFPB also found that, since at least 2012, Bank of America employees illegally applied for and enrolled consumers in credit card accounts without their knowledge or authorization. It is a similar to, but smaller than, a charge that was made against Wells Fargo, which paid billions in fines after it was determined that the San Francisco bank opened millions of unauthorized bank accounts in order to meet unrealistic sales goals. In 2014 the CFPB ordered Bank of America to pay $727 million for illegal credit card practices. Last year it was ordered to pay a $10 million civil penalty over unlawful garnishments. Also in 2022, the CFPB and OCC fined Bank of America $225 million and required it to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in redress to consumers for botched disbursement of state unemployment benefits at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bath and Shower Products Market to Worth USD 70.88 Billion by 2030 | With a 5.47% CAGR Fortune Business Insights Pune, India, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global bath and shower products market size was valued at USD 46.70 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 48.83 billion in 2023 to USD 70.88 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.47% during the forecast period. In maintaining personal health and hygiene, bath products have evolved from simple scrubbing soaps to novel bath salts and gels. Aromatherapy is gaining momentum among consumers supporting the adoption of fragranced bathroom products due to the rising concerns regarding body odor. This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights in its research report titled Bath and Shower Products Market, 2023-2030. Get a Free Sample Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/bath-and-shower-products-market-103302 List of Key Players Profiled in the Bath and Shower Products Market Report: Unilever (U.K.) Colgate Palmolive Co. (U.S.) Beiersdorf AG (Germany) Henkel AG & Co. KG aA (Germany) Natura & Co. Holding S.A. (Brazil) Procter & Gamble (U.S.) LOccitane International S.A (Switzerland) Lion Corporation (Japan) Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (U.S.) Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (U.K.) Report Scope & Segmentation: Report Attributes Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 5.47% 2030 Value Projection USD 70.88 Billion Market Size in 2022 USD 46.70 Billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 198 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Product Type By Form By End-User By Distribution Channel By Region Regions Covered North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East and Africa Bath and Shower Products Market Growth Drivers Increasing Demand for Baby Products and In-Shower Products to Propel Growth Expanded Usage in Hospitality Sector to Augment Growth Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/bath-and-shower-products-market-103302 Report Coverage: The report offers: Major growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities, and potential challenges for the market. Comprehensive insights into regional developments. List of major industry players. Key strategies adopted by the market players. Latest industry developments such as product launches, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions. Drivers and Restraints: Growing Demand for Baby Products and In-Shower Product Range to Propel Growth The demand for baby care products is gaining popularity globally as parents are more concerned about their babys health. Manufacturers are formulating these products with safer ingredients that do not cause any harm or irritation to the babys skin. In-shower products segment gains traction due to their dual effects as bathing and sun-protective and bathing and moisturizing effects delivered by a single product. Various shower and bath products contain harmful and toxic ingredients such as 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde, showing negative effects on the skin, such as allergic reactions or rashes. This is anticipated to come up as a challenge to market growth. COVID-19 Impact: Rising Focus on Personal Hygiene during COVID-19 to Drive the Market Growth The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic skyrocketed the demand for personal cleansing products globally. As the strict lockdown regulations were imposed on the peoples movement during COVID-19, people started stock-pilling everyday consumer goods, which resulted in a shortage of hygiene products in most retail stores. Segmentation: Bath Soaps to Hold the Maximum Share Owing to Widespread Availability On the basis of product, bath soaps are cheaper compared to other types; hence this segment drives the market growth. The cheaper price and affordability of these products have made it a preferred choice among several developing nations such as India, Mexico, and various African countries. Solid Segment to Dominate the Market Owing to the Huge Range of Products Based on form, the market is divided into solid, liquid, gel, and others. The solid segment includes various products such as bath bombs, bars, salts, and petals. The attract customers and kids, soaps are prepared in various uniquely shaped solid bathing products with cartoon characters in attractive colors are gaining momentum. Women Segment to Hold the Largest Share Owing to Growing Feminine Hygiene According to end-users, the market is bifurcated into men and women. The growing number of working women and increasing awareness regarding feminine hygiene will help the womens segment to hold its position in the market during the projected period. Supermarket/Hypermarket Segment to Dominate Owing to Easy Purchase As per distribution, the market is divided into online channels, hypermarkets/supermarkets, convenience stores, and others. The supermarkets/hypermarkets are best for buying household products in bulk, as they offer discounts on the big pouches of shower gel refills and bar soaps. Get a Quote Now: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/bath-and-shower-products-market-103302 Regional Insights: Asia Pacific to Dominate the Market Due to Warmer Climate Condition to Drive the Market Growth Asia Pacific held the largest share in 2022 and is anticipated to dominate the global bath and shower products market during the projected period. This dominance is credited to growing hygiene awareness and high temperature. The Asian population pays for higher demand for these products. North America is mostly driven by the adoption of shower gel products and the high-cost body was owing to high-income groups in the U.S. and Canada. Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Market Trends Key Insights Overview of the Parent/Related Markets Regulatory Analysis Industry SWOT Analysis Recent Industry Developments - Policies, Partnerships, New Product Launches, and Mergers & Acquisitions Impact of COVID on Supply Chain of Bath and Shower Products Market Impact of COVID-19 Supply Chain Challenges Potential Opportunities due to COVID-19 Global Bath and Shower Products Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast, By Product Type (Value) Bath Soaps Body Wash/Shower Gels Bath Additives Others By Product Form (Value) Solid Gels & Jellies Liquid Others By End User (Value) Women Men By Distribution Channel (Value) Supermarkets/ Hypermarkets Convenience Stores Online Sales Channel Others By Region (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa TOC Continued...! Speak to Our Expert: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/bath-and-shower-products-market-103302 Competitive Landscape: Key Players to Adopt Growth Strategies to Gain a Competitive Advantage Key players such as Natura, Unilever, Henkel, and Natura & Co., among other key players, adopt key strategies to gain momentum in the market growth. Moreover, the growing popularity among consumers towards vegan and organic bath and shower products offered delivered in recyclable packaging supports its sustainability. Key Industry Development: July 2022: CLEANO2 announced the launch of body bar soap. The launch will help the company in growing its product line and revenue of the company. Read Related Insights: Hand Wash Market to Hit USD 4.29 Billion by 2028 | Industry to Generate 6.6% CAGR During (2021-2028) With 3.1% CAGR, Hand Sanitizer Market to Hit USD 3.47 Billion by 2028 | Presence of Prominent Players to Propel Market Progress in North America Liquid Soap Market Size Worth USD 28.79 Billion by 2027 | Fortune Business Insights About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Address: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 9th Floor, Icon Tower, Baner, Mahalunge Road, Baner, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter Microsoft founder Bill Gates thinks powerful new artificial intelligence could program deepfakes and misinformation so severe that it disrupts political processes worldwide. "Deepfakes and misinformation generated by AI could undermine elections and democracy," Gates said in a new post on his blog Tuesday. "On a bigger scale, AI-generated deepfakes could be used to try to tilt an election. Of course, it doesnt take sophisticated technology to sow doubt about the legitimate winner of an election, but AI will make it easier." The post marks an intensification of Gates's tone around AI compared to his more hopeful view of it in a March blog entry. Bill Gates discusses his book "How to Prevent the Next Pandemic" at the 92nd Street Y on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Gates is correct to stand up the warning ahead of what is already shaping up to be another contentious presidential election in 2024. There have been three times as many deepfakes in video form and eight times as many voice deepfakes posted online this year versus 2022, Reuters reported, citing data from DeepMedia. One of the most prominent political deepfakes of 2023 came in mid-April. An AI-generated clip circulated on social media showed former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endorsing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president. The video is considered a deepfake. But it's unclear if the clip has swayed the minds of voters. A tally of 500,000 video and voice deepfakes will be shared on social media websites around the world this year, DeepMedia projects. A woman in Washington, DC, views a manipulated video on January 24, 2019, that changes what is said by President Donald Trump and former president Barack Obama, illustrating how deepfake technology can deceive viewers. (ROB LEVER/AFP via Getty Images) The AI arms race Gates's comments on AI and the political process are likely to send ripples throughout the tech beast he founded. That's because Microsoft (MSFT) is making a huge bet today that the future will be heavily reliant on AI. In early February, Microsoft unveiled a new version of its Bing search engine that runs on a more powerful version of OpenAI's ChatGPT natural language AI technology. Microsoft said it would add ChatGPT to its 365 suite of business software which includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. This came after Microsoft unveiled a $10 billion investment in OpenAI in late January, which triggered an arms race in tech land. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during a keynote address announcing ChatGPT integration for Bing at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, on February 7, 2023. (Photo by JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images) Google (GOOG, GOOGL) responded by introducing its chatbot Bard. Salesforce (CRM) unveiled Einstein GPT, which it says is the world's first generative AI customer relationship management (CRM) technology. Einstein GPT can generate personalized emails for salespeople to fire off to customers and create specific responses to key customer questions. Amid this flurry of AI development, Gates still struck a somewhat hopeful note. "Two things make me guardedly optimistic," Gates said. "One is that people are capable of learning not to take everything at face value. For years, email users fell for scams where someone posing as a Nigerian prince promised a big payoff in return for sharing your credit card number. But eventually, most people learned to look twice at those emails. As the scams got more sophisticated, so did many of their targets." "Well need to build the same muscle for deepfakes," Gates added. "The other thing that makes me hopeful is that AI can help identify deepfakes as well as create them." Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor. Follow Sozzi on Twitter @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn. Tips on deals, mergers, activist situations or anything else? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Bank of America (BAC) is paying $250 million after regulators concluded the giant lender "double-dipped" on overdraft fees and opened accounts for customers without their consent. Harmed consumers will get $100 million and another $150 million will go to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The nation's-largest bank once charged consumers a $35 fee when they authorized a transaction from their accounts that lacked sufficient funds. The CFPB said Bank of America "double-dipped" by charging consumers a fee each time those transactions were re-attempted by merchants. Read more: What are bank fees, and how do I avoid them? For multiple years starting in September 2018, it made hundreds of millions of dollars in such fees. The OCC also called out Bank of America for the same double-dipping practice. FA customer uses an ATM at a Bank of America in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) "Consumers could not reasonably understand that they could be assessed a new $35 fee each time," the CFPB said in its order. Even when consumers did understand they were charged for each new transaction, "they still could not reasonably avoid them or otherwise protect their interest," the regulator added. Beginning in January of last year, Bank of America said it eliminated all non-sufficient fund fees. "As a result of these industry leading changes, revenue from these fees has dropped more than 90 percent," a Bank of America spokesman said. The CFPB said the bank also withheld credit card rewards and opened accounts for customers without their consent since 2012. Read more: How to close a bank account The bank is paying a $30 million fee for opening unauthorized consumer financial accounts and its misleading statements regarding certain credit cards rewards, according to another CFPB order filed Tuesday. From at least 2012, the banks employees illegally applied for and enrolled consumers in credit card accounts without their knowledge, the regulator said. The CFPB also found the lender advertised credit card rewards on its website and later denied bonuses to consumers who applied over the phone or in person. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Nubank, a Brazilian FinTech startup celebrates the company's IPO at the NYSE in New York By Carolina Pulice MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Brazilian financial technology company Ebanx said on Tuesday it has signed a deal to partner with digital bank Nubank to offer more payment services for customers as it tries to consolidate and expand operations in Latin America. Ebanx will now offer corporate customers the option of paying via NuPay, an alternative payment method developed by Nubank for international purchases. Ebanx's 1,600 corporate clients include Airbnb, Shopee and Uber. Alternative payment methods have helped drive the growth of e-commerce in Latin America and already account for 39% of the total digital commerce volume in the region, Ebanx said. "We have to integrate payment methods that will make life easier for global customers wanting to operate in the markets ... so that the customer has the best business penetration in these countries," Paula Bellizia, global payments executive at Ebanx, told Reuters. In April last year, Ebanx announced a partnership with digital commerce platform VTEX to enable cross-border payments to Brazilian companies operating in Latin America. Ebanx also plans to kick off operations in eight African countries by the end of the year, the company said in a statement. (Reporting by Carolina Pulice in Mexico City; Editing by Matthew Lewis) Saudi-based Bena Steel Industries has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with UK-based energy solutions provider Alderley to develop joint opportunities in KSA's energy sector in line with its Vision 2030 plan. The MoU is focused on building in-country capability, supply chains and solutions in the energy sector to support Saudi Arabia's long-standing endeavours to deliver energy security to the world through existing hydrocarbon production and the development of new cleaner technologies, including in areas such as hydrogen. A major player in Saudi energy sector for the last 30 years, Alderley has two manufacturing facilities in Dammam including the M24 unit which is a fully approved and equipped advanced engineering centre in the kingdom. Registered with global energy leader Saudi Aramco, the plant is for the manufacture and supply of production critical assets including custody metering systems, modular wellsite skids, chemical injection systems, as well as truck loading and unloading skids. As part of the MoU, Bena Steel said it also plans to invest in the M24 branch. "Partnering with Alderley will enable us to establish the platform to be the leading system integrator in-Kingdom, strengthen the countrys supply chain and deliver long-term sustainable growth and prosperity for the people of Saudi Arabia," said Bena Steel Industries CEO Fawaz Albawardi. "With this MoU we are taking another positive step forward to delivering on the ambitious Vision 2030 programme," he added. Alderley said this strategic partnership builds on several years of its successful collaboration with the Saudi company, a key in-Kingdom supplier of steel products used on the British groups skid-mounted, integrated solutions for the energy industry. The MoU deepens this collaboration further and positions both companies as leading players in the countrys burgeoning low-carbon space, said a top official. CEO Colin Elcoate said: "Our strategic partnership with Bena Steel is symbolic of our long-standing commitment to grow our business in Saudi Arabia a country, which continues to show global leadership in energy production." "This strategic endeavour will enable both companies to develop long-term supply chain solutions for the Kingdom to meet its needs to develop a more efficient and lower carbon energy sector. This wont just benefit Saudi Arabia but will also positively impact international energy markets," he noted. Alderley (Middle East) Managing Director Dermot Clarke said: "Were thrilled to sign a strategic partnership with one of the leading companies in Saudi Arabia, if not the whole Mena region. This partnership will enable Alderley and BSI to address the current and future needs of the whole energy sector both the traditional hydrocarbon sector and the emerging low carbon economy." "Its fantastic to continue putting down deep roots into a country pivotal to meeting the worlds growing demand for energy," he stated. The company has delivered over 500 systems in-country to date and developed its first hydrogen metering system for Saudi Arabia in 2011, he added.-TradeArabia News Service (Bloomberg) -- For Thai markets, July may well be a make or break month as the nations parliament picks a prime minister, which would signal a successful transition of power after almost a decade of military-backed rule. Most Read from Bloomberg Since the May election in which pro-democracy parties racked up the most seats but werent able to immediately form a government global investors have sold more than a net $2.4 billion of stocks and bonds. The uncertainty from the prolonged process hurt the baht, which fell some 2.5%. Lawmakers will meet to endorse the leader of an eight-party coalition led by Move Forward Party on Thursday. Should Pita Limjaroenrat fail to get enough support, analysts expect second-place Pheu Thai to lead instead. Either outcome will end stasis in government, and is likely to spur a series of market-friendly reforms and a relief rally. The election for prime minister should mark the end to political uncertainty for the next one to two years, said Alan Richardson, a fund manager at Samsung Asset Management in Hong Kong. For that reason, it should be viewed as the turning point for foreign fund selling and the start of a stock market recovery. The 10% slide in Thailands SET Index this year is among the steepest globally in major equity benchmarks, and the most in Asia. The nations bonds have seen a selloff of about $1.1 billion since the ballot. Ahead of the vote, the baht surged as much as 1.1% Tuesday, the most since April. The stock index added as much as 0.4%. Front runner Pita needs the support of more than a quarter of the unelected Senate, a body appointed by the royalist military establishment. Resistance to his leadership is based largely on Move Forwards platform to amend a law that penalizes criticisms against the king and other royals. The parliament can meet more than once to vote until a clear winner emerges, further delaying the installation of a new government. Barring an extreme outcome, Thailands political risks look reasonably priced in at this point, said Hong Kong-based Minyue Liu, an investment specialist at BNP Paribas Asset Management Asia Ltd. Once a government is installed, the market should generally expect broad-based investor friendly reforms to follow. Liu and Samsung Assets Richardson have been buying Thai equities ahead of the selection. BNP Paribas is overweight Thailand in its Asia ex-Japan portfolio, according to Liu, favoring companies that will benefit from a tourism revival and additional infrastructure investments. Once theres a government, Richardson plans to add banks, retail, tourism, telecom and utilities, including Advanced Info Service Pcl and Gulf Energy Development Pcl. The coalitions unified stance on revitalizing the economy includes decentralizing the budget and dismantling monopolies, especially in the liquor industry. It aims to raise wages and review power costs. While there are signs of an economic pickup with a revival in tourism, a global slowdown is hurting Thai exports. We expect the focus to shift back to the economic agenda once the political situation stabilizes, said Darunrat Piyayodilokchai, head of equities at abrdn (Thailand). Thailand, as an export dependent economy, has also felt the impact of Chinas stalling recovery, she said. With valuations below the 10-year average of 16, Thailand equities remain attractive, Darunrat said, adding that abrdn is overweight in the small-caps and underweight large-cap in its regional strategy. Still, even after the selloff, the SET Index remains the most expensive in Southeast Asia with the one-year forward price-to-earnings ratio at 15.97 times. According to Nomura analysts, a failure by Pita to become premier could trigger short-lived uncertainty that would likely weaken the baht. Still, the new government is increasingly likely to be led by Pheu Thai, an outcome that would likely be favorable overall to domestic markets, they said. There may be delays while negotiations continue and, under such uncertainty, I would rather keep Thailand assets underweight, said Rajeev de Mello, a global macro fund manager at GAMA Asset Management SA in Geneva. A new government would be positive for the domestic equity market. An announcement would also reassure foreign investors, who are still very cautious about Thailand. The SET Index may rally to 1,600 in a best-case scenario, according to Nuttachart Mekmasin, an analyst at Trinity Securities. The target suggests about a 7% gain from Mondays close. On the other hand, should the leadership vote trigger street protests, the measure may drop an implied 7.1% to 1,390. While not a screaming bargain, we view that the type of perfect storm seen in the second quarter is most likely over, said Amonthep Chawla, head of research at CIMB Thai Bank Pcl. --With assistance from Anuchit Nguyen. (Updates baht move in second paragraph, adds todays move in sixth.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Steve Alterman received the Donald D. Engen Aero Club Trophy for Aviation Excellence on Nov. 17, 2022. (Photo: CAA) The Cargo Airline Association, which represents ABX Air, Atlas Air, FedEx and UPS in the halls of government, has named Lauren Beyer, the vice president of security and facilitation at Airlines for America (A4A), to succeed Steve Alterman as president. Alterman is retiring after leading the organization for more than 40 years, it announced Tuesday. On behalf of the Cargo Airline Association (CAA), I would like to thank Steve Alterman for his dedicated advocacy efforts over the past four decades, said John Maxwell, general counsel for the Americas for FedEx Express and chairman of the CAA board of directors. Through Steves leadership, we have been able to build and advance the U.S. air cargo industry, creating expansive global supply chains that connect the U.S. and global economy. The CAA advocates for air cargo issues and educates policymakers, regulators and the public about the importance and operational realities of air logistics. Alterman began his aviation career in 1968 at the Bureau of Enforcement for the former U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board. Initially hired as a trial attorney, he was soon promoted to chief of the legal division. He joined the CAA in 1975 as executive director and was named president in 1982. Since then, Alterman has led the association in promoting the all-cargo airline industry, formulating industry policy and overseeing the associations daily activities. Alterman currently serves on the Transportation Security Administrations Aviation Security Advisory Committee. He has lent his time and expertise to many committees, commissions and advisory boards at the Federal Aviation Administration and elsewhere in government. Last year, the Aero Club of Washington gave him a lifetime achievement award for supporting the aviation industry. At Airlines for America, which represents the largest U.S. passenger and cargo airlines, including Atlas Air, FedEx and UPS, Beyer was the government liaison on security, cybersecurity, cargo and passenger facilitation issues. She led key COVID-19 response efforts on behalf of the U.S. airlines, including managing an independent research project on the safety of air travel. Prior to that, Beyer was the director of aviation and surface transportation security at the White House National Security Council. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. Twitter: @ericreports / LinkedIn: Eric Kulisch / ekulisch@freightwaves.com RELATED READING: TSA security exemption for unwieldy air cargo sunsets Oct. 31 The post Cargo Airline Associations Alterman ends 40-year leadership run appeared first on FreightWaves. China blocked from slew of takeovers under new National Security Act Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden claims China represents the largest state-based threat to economic security - JESSICA TAYLOR/AFP More than half of deals challenged under new UK national security laws involved Chinese buyers, according to government data. The UK intervened 15 times to block, reverse or impose conditions on takeovers last year under the National Security and Investment Act, which came into force in January 2022. Chinese buyers were involved in eight of the cases, many of which involved sensitive technologies. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden told the BBC: China represents the largest state-based threat to economic security. So its not a surprise that we should look carefully at Chinese transactions. But equally, we look across the board. The most high-profile intervention was in the case of Newport Wafer Fabs acquisition by a China-backed chip manufacturer Nexperia. Grant Shapps, then the Business Secretary, issued a final order last year forcing Nexperia to unwind its 63m takeover of the Welsh plant, which was originally announced in 2021. China-backed chip manufacturer Nexperia was forced to unwind its 63m takeover of Newport Wafer Fab last year - Matthew Horwood/Getty Images Overall, the Cabinet Office received 866 notifications of potential breaches of the rules and 65 acquisitions were called in for review. Fifteen final orders were issued to protect national security during the year to the end of March. The new national security rules were brought in last year to ensure that businesses dealing with sensitive products were not sold without first being investigated. Sectors covered by the rules include defence, satellite and space technology, robotics and nuclear power. The first Chinese deal blocked by the legislation was an attempt by Beijing-based Infinite Vision Technology to buy imaging technology from the University of Manchester. Other interventions include stopping Bristol-based Pulsic, a supplier of semiconductor design tools, from being sold to Chinese investor Super Orange HK Holding last summer. Pulsic was ultimately bought by Cadence, a $55bn (43bn) US-listed company in May this year. Besides the eight deals involving Chinese buyers that were challenged, four other transactions involving UK acquirers faced action as did three deals involving a US buyer. Mr Dowden said: Security and prosperity go hand in hand in todays world, and this report shows we are using our investment screening powers quickly, transparently and predictably. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Chinas monetary and fiscal stimulus measures will only go so far to lift its stock market, with structural reforms necessary for a long-term boost, according to Allianz Global Investors. Most Read from Bloomberg Its a confidence issue, Raymond Chan, the firms equity chief investment officer for the Asia Pacific, said in an interview. Reforms to Chinas heavyweight property sector and listed companies overall are needed to restore consumer and corporate faith in spending and investing, he added. The selloff in Chinese assets deepened this month as worries mount about the economy amid continued concern over the property sector, which contributes about a fifth of the nations growth and the bulk of its household wealth. The MSCI China Index has fallen more than 20% from a January high into a bear market, as gains from support measures have proved short-lived. AllianzGI, which manages about $560 billion globally, has held an underweight position on mainland China and Hong Kong equities in regional mandates and funds this year. The Allianz China Equity fund is down 21% over the past year, beating 67% of peers, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Hong Kong-based Chan said the firm is waiting for reforms and more supportive measures before increasing exposure to Chinese real estate and consumer stocks. Curbing property supply after ensuring that stalled projects have been completed would help stabilize prices, he said. The government could also tweak its rhetoric aimed at dissuading property speculation to promote more investing, making it a viable asset class, added Chan, who has managed Asian equity investments for the past three decades. Among possible steps to support the overall market, authorities could push companies to increase returns on equity, similar to the Tokyo Stock Exchanges directive earlier this year asking firms to improve their valuations, Chan said. The MSCI Japan Index is up 20% in 2023, with the bourses efforts seen as a major contributor to the gains. If the message is clear, good companies will undertake efforts to improve ROE and valuations, he said. Thats the only way for the market to perform. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Chicago Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara is leaving City Hall, marking the highest-profile departure from the previous mayoral administration since Mayor Brandon Johnson took office. Novara announced her resignation Tuesday after leading the department for four years and through a time when the city saw mounting concerns over gentrification and homelessness as well as a pandemic. She was appointed in 2019 by then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot after serving as vice president of the Metropolitan Planning Council. Novara told the Tribune said she appreciates Johnsons commitment to affordable housing but its time for her to pass the baton to another commissioner. Going into a job like this, time is not promised to you so I really thought of it as a four-year opportunity, Novara said. I therefore ran a four-year pace. Novara marks the first major department head to exit under Johnson, who has been in office for about two months after defeating Lightfoot in the February mayoral race and then going on to win the runoff election in April. Johnson asked Lightfoot appointees to stay on for a transitional period but some are starting to leave. Department of Human Resources head Chris Owen also left City Hall recently. Over the past four years, Novara publicly focused on affordable housing and reversing Chicagos entrenched segregation, which was a hallmark of her boss efforts to center racial equity in housing development and more. But like other Lightfoot appointees, she sometimes faced criticism from progressives in the City Council over not moving aggressively enough on those goals, while more conservative aldermen dinged her for pushing through affordable housing over their objections. One of the biggest pieces of legislation Novara championed was an overhaul of the citys Affordable Requirements Ordinance that vastly raised the bar for affordable unit requirements for developers in the city. That came after a previous version of the ordinance in 2015 was followed by lackluster progress. Supporters praised the ordinance revamp for its intent to increase the supply of affordable homes in areas that lacked it, serve lower-income households, expand the number of family-sized units and emphasize affordability near transit. Another highlight Novara shared with the Tribune was the citys plan to create $1.3 billion in affordable housing around the city, an effort aimed at spurring investment in underdeveloped neighborhoods while boosting affordability in gentrifying areas. Novaras tenure also saw a rare victory over aldermanic prerogative when the City Council approved plans for an affordable housing development on the Far Northwest Side that was supported by Lightfoots administration despite vehement pushback from the wards alderman. However, the first-term mayor ultimately did not find much success in dismantling the informal Chicago tradition of giving aldermen massive sway over development and other decisions in their wards, and the controversial Far Northwest Side development has been paused as of April due to market concerns, Block Club Chicago reported. Novara also led negotiations with a group of activists fighting for affordable housing protections in Woodlawn and other areas near the Obama Presidential Center that is under construction. The deal struck between the city and the Obama Community Benefits Agreement Coalition capped off a long, contentious debate in which activists felt the concerns of longtime South Siders being displaced were not being taken urgently enough by Lightfoots administration. Still, the final ordinance that passed the City Council in 2020 was seen as a strong start for neighbors who fear being priced out of their homes with the advent of the sprawling complex planned in Jackson Park. During the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Novaras team secured hotel rooms and additional shelter for emergency housing as well as managed the citys housing assistance grants. Last year, another sweeping housing ordinance known as Connected Communities passed the City Council following collaboration between Novaras department and others on how to incentivize affordable housing near public transit, a move she argued would combat segregation. Novara also pushed to develop a major affordable housing project at 18th and Peoria streets in Pilsen, a neighborhood long roiled by rising costs. gpratt@chicagotribune.com ayin@chicagotribune.com Key Insights Cobram Estate Olives' estimated fair value is AU$0.93 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of AU$1.25 suggests Cobram Estate Olives is potentially 34% overvalued The AU$1.52 analyst price target for CBO is 63% more than our estimate of fair value Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Cobram Estate Olives Limited (ASX:CBO) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Cobram Estate Olives Is Cobram Estate Olives Fairly Valued? We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$27.2m AU$20.1m AU$36.9m AU$19.5m AU$19.3m AU$19.2m AU$19.3m AU$19.5m AU$19.7m AU$20.0m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -1.11% Est @ -0.19% Est @ 0.45% Est @ 0.91% Est @ 1.22% Est @ 1.44% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 6.7% AU$25.5 AU$17.7 AU$30.4 AU$15.0 AU$13.9 AU$13.0 AU$12.3 AU$11.6 AU$11.0 AU$10.5 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$161m After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.7%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$20m (1 + 2.0%) (6.7% 2.0%) = AU$430m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$430m ( 1 + 6.7%)10= AU$224m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$385m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of AU$1.2, the company appears potentially overvalued at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Cobram Estate Olives as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Cobram Estate Olives Strength No major strengths identified for CBO. Weakness Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Food market. Expensive based on P/S ratio and estimated fair value. Opportunity Expected to breakeven next year. Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Paying a dividend but company is unprofitable. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price exceeding the intrinsic value? For Cobram Estate Olives, we've compiled three fundamental aspects you should further examine: Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Cobram Estate Olives you should know about. Future Earnings: How does CBO's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Virologists Robert Garry, left, and Kristian Andersen listen patiently at a Congressional hearing Tuesday as a gang of politicians tell them their scientific method was flawed. (House Oversight Committee) Opening Tuesday's House subcommittee hearing on the origin of the COVID virus, the panel's chairman, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), promised an impartial inquiry. "This is not an attack on science," he said. "And it's not an attack on an individual." He and his GOP colleagues proceeded over nearly three hours to accuse Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases one of the most respected such scientists in the world of having masterminded the creation of the virus, with the connivance of Dr. Francis Collins, then the director of the National Institutes of Health. Misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories...have resulted in significant harassment and threats....Online there are so-called kill lists and I have found myself on those lists. Virological expert Kristian G. Andersen The Republicans' main "evidence," such as it is, involves a seminal paper in the scientific study of the virus. Published as a letter in the journal Nature Medicine on March 17, 2020, under the title "The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2," the paper weighed the two major theories of COVID's origin: that it reached the human population from infected wildlife (known as zoonosis) or that it leaked from a government lab in Wuhan, China, the teeming metropolis where the first COVID outbreak occurred in late 2019. The paper's authors noted that all the features of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, are observable in nature, coinciding with the zoonosis hypothesis. They added, "we do not believe that any type of laboratory-based scenario is plausible." For years, Republicans have asserted without a scintilla of evidence that Fauci and Collins manipulated the scientific consensus away from the lab-leak hypothesis. Why have they seized on this theory? Its provenance may offer a clue: It flowered during the Trump administration among political appointees in the State Department, who saw it as a cudgel with which to beat the Chinese government, which they viewed as an economic threat to the U.S. It was also useful to undermine the authority of Fauci, whose skepticism about Trump's COVID policies was manifest. Read more: Column: U.S. government debunks COVID lab-leak conspiracy theory, enraging conspiracy theorists Soon enough, it became Republican orthodoxy. Lab leak proponents in government and Congress have smeared and vilified Fauci and Collins, among other scientists, in the service of purely partisan claims, ignoring the utter absence of any scientific evidence for a lab leak and the mounting evidence that it first reached humans through interactions with susceptible animals being sold illegally at a wildlife market in Wuhan. The foils for this phase of the GOP effort to construct an evidence-free narrative of COVID's origin were two of the five authors of the "Proximal Origin" paper, Robert F. Garry of Tulane and Kristian G. Andersen of Scripps Research in La Jolla. Garry and Andersen sat patiently at the witness table in the committee room as the Republican members used cherry-picked quotes from their emails, misrepresented their research findings and ignored their painstaking explanations of how science is done in the real world. They listened stoically to committee members some of whom have medical degrees but none any evident expertise in scientific research harangue them about supposed flaws in their scientific methods. "We do know something for certain," Westrup said: "that the drafting, coordination and publication of 'Proximal Origin' and downplaying the lab leak was antithetical to science." One low note among many others during the hearing came from Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), who charged that "Dr. Anthony Fauci and Francis Collins realized that they had been implicated in the creation of production or the creation of this virus and they were doing everything they could including both of you to come on board as tools or vehicles to undermine that theory." Truth to tell, however, the committee majority's purpose was no secret from the start. The hearing was titled, after all, "Investigating the Proximal Origin of a Cover Up." It may be useful to examine the path the subcommittee's GOP majority traveled to come to its assertions that the Proximal Origin paper was a sham. Read more: Column: These 'experts' sold the U.S. on a disastrous COVID plan, and never paid a professional price As laid out in written testimony submitted to the subcommittee by Garry and Andersen, it started in January 2020, when almost nothing was known about the virus and not much about its genomic family. The first examinations of its structure revealed several features unfamiliar to virologists. At first glance, they looked like nothing occurring in nature. Many thought this pointed to some sort of laboratory engineering. When Andersen brought this concern to Fauci during a call on Jan. 31, Fauci urged him to write a scientific paper about the issue, and suggested that if confirmed, the matter should be referred to the FBI and the British intelligence service MI5. Jeremy Farrar, an infectious disease expert who is currently the chief scientist of the World Health Organization, convened a conference call on Feb. 1 among nine scientists, including Andersen and Garry. Fauci and Collins joined the call, but by all accounts merely listened in without contributing any opinions. New data came to the scientific community in a torrent over the next few days and weeks. The unfamiliar features turned out to be more common in nature than many virologists had known, and the process by which they might become incorporated in SARS-CoV-2 progressively better understood. By the end of February, when the authors of the Proximal Origin paper submitted an initial draft to Nature Medicine, they still did not have enough data to rule out either major theory but had become more certain that a laboratory role was plausible. The subcommittee Republicans profess to be thunderstruck that a theory about COVID's origin could be posed and discarded in the space of a few days, but Andersen and Garry tried to explain that they're wrong. The scientists started with no data, and incorporated new information into their viewpoints as it arrived. In any event, Andersen testified, the period between the conference and the publication of the paper wasn't three days, as the Republicans kept insisting, but 45 days. Neither Fauci nor Collins played any role in guiding the authors' conclusions, the witnesses said. The published paper, moreover, made clear that the state of SARS-CoV-2 research was in its infancy. "More scientific data could swing the balance of evidence to favor one hypothesis over another," the authors wrote. Read more: Column: How Trump's anti-science meddling erased 3 years of crucial COVID research But its general conclusion that a lab leak is implausible and the virus probably emerged by natural spillover from animals "has only been further supported by additional evidence and studies," Andersen told the subcommittee. He and Garry said that if evidence emerged supporting a lab leak, they would examine it objectively and be guided by their findings. As of this moment, there is none. Under prompting by subcommittee Democrats, the witnesses pointed to the long-term consequences of the Republican efforts to foment mistrust of science by mainstreaming conspiracies. "Misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories around the paper have resulted in significant harassment and threats," Andersen said. "Including everything from typical targets on social media to emails, to telephone calls to my office ... to death threats.... Online there are so-called kill lists and I have found myself on those lists together with my co-authors." The thrust of the subcommittee's claims, he said, "is that the virus was created and that American scientists played a role in that and have been covering that up.... All of which, as the record clearly shows, is false.... The focus has been that there's a need to blame someone." What has been going on here has been nothing less than a partisan witch hunt. Westrup made clear that the Republican narrative was predetermined: "We're examining any conflicts of interest, biases or suppression of scientific discourse regarding the origins of COVID-19," he said. The record shows, however, that what occurred was the scientific method in action. If the subcommittee members are truly devoted to protect Americans from a future pandemic, they couldn't find a worse way to reach that goal. "If I was a future scientist, looking at the attacks directed at us, for example, maybe I wouldn't go into infectious disease research.... It's incredibly damaging," Anderson said. Get the latest from Michael Hiltzik Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Microsoft Britains competition watchdog has paused a legal battle with Microsoft over its $69bn (53bn) takeover of Call of Duty maker Activision, after the X-Box maker won a separate court victory in the US. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) agreed to halt litigation against Microsoft to allow further talks that could enable the deal to close. It comes after Microsoft on Tuesday won a crucial case against US regulators, paving the way for it to complete its takeover despite opposition from competition authorities and rivals. A California judge denied an attempted injunction by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), led by Joe Bidens competition tsar Lina Khan, that would have stopped the Activision deal from closing. Microsofts takeover has been opposed by Sony, which makes the Playstation console. Sony had argued Microsoft could try and make the lucrative Call of Duty action franchise exclusive to its Xbox consoles and online streaming services. Regulators including the CMA and FTC sided with Sony, moving to block the deal. In a judgment on Tuesday, California judge Jacqueline Scott Corley rejected arguments against the takeover and wrote: The record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content. Shortly after the ruling, Microsoft president Brad Smith said the CMA, Microsoft and Activision had made a joint court submission to halt their separate court dispute in Britain over the deal. Mr Smith said: Microsoft and Activision have agreed with the CMA that a stay of the litigation in the UK would be in the public interest and the parties have made a joint submission to the Competition Appeal Tribunal to this effect. The CMA blocked the deal in April in a shock move that provoked a fierce response from Microsoft and a challenge to the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The decision caused Microsoft to declare Europe was a more attractive destination for investing than the UK. Bosses at the watchdog said that it would now consider accepting concessions under the deal rather than blocking it altogether. Microsoft had previously offered remedies, including confirming Call of Duty would remain available to other console makers for 10 years, but the CMA said the proposals contained significant shortcomings and rejected them. A spokesman said: We stand ready to consider any proposals from Microsoft to restructure the transaction in a way that would address the concerns set out in our final report. In order to be able to prioritise work on these proposals, Microsoft and Activision have agreed with the CMA that a stay of litigation in the UK would be in the public interest and all parties have made a joint submission to the Competition Appeal Tribunal to this effect. Bobby Kotick, chief executive of Activision, said We stand ready to work with UK regulators to address any remaining concerns so our merger can quickly close. The return to the negotiating table comes at a critical moment, giving Microsoft a few days to finish the deal before a deadline of July 18. If the takeover falls apart it faces being forced to pay a $3bn break fee to Activision. Microsoft had previously been exploring options to close the deal regardless of the CMAs decision, which could see it carve out part of Activision in the UK, the news service MLex reported. It came after Amazon launched a legal challenge against the European Unions new tech laws designed to regulate Silicon Valleys tech giants, accusing Brussels of discriminatory treatment. The online retailer filed a petition at the Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the first US tech giant to do so, arguing it had been wrongly grouped under the blocs Digital Services Act. The Digital Services Act subjects some of the worlds biggest tech giants, including Google, Apple and Facebook, to strict rules to remove disinformation, illegal content and protect children. Failure risks potentially billions of pounds in fines. Amazon said it was unfair that it would be regulated under the rules, while rival retail giants in Europe would not. A European Commission spokesman said it would fight the challenge in court. A report from Parliaments spending watchdog found preparations by Ofcom to regulate tech giants in the UK will cost nearly 60m more than previously forecast. The regulator said this was due to delays to the Online Safety Bill becoming law. It aims to recoup the costs through a levy on the tech industry once the bill is passed. 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. jetcityimage / Getty Images Costco is famous for its bulk offerings and $1.50 hot dogs, but some Costco products are said to rival name brands. See: Costco Prices Are Dropping Faster Than Inflation Expect Savings Up To 25% on These Items Find: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases According to Eat This, Not That!, shoppers have compared Costco products, such as its Kirkland Signature brand, to other well-known (and more expensive) labels. Online, shoppers have even said they prefer the Costco dupes. If youve been searching for the right Costco dupes to replace some of your favorite items, here are several items that shoppers say are just as good as the name brand. Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks Eat This, Not That! reported this frozen food went viral in Jan. 2021 after TikTok user @floridamomofthree, or Costco Mamma, and her daughter, Maddie, said the Just Bare product compared to Chick-fil-As chicken nuggets. Just Bares Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks cost $22.99 on Costcos website, but Eat This, Not That! noted that the price does fluctuate. Also, products sold online may have different pricing than the same products in stores. Kirkland Signature Grass-Fed Butter Kirkland Signature Grass-Fed Butter has been compared to Kerryholds Irish Butter for a fraction of the price. Eat This, Not That! says that a four-count package of Kerrygolds Salted Irish Butter was $17.99, while a four-count box of the Kirkland Signature Grass-Fed Butter was being sold for $10.99 at a Costco location in Clifton, New Jersey. Across several Reddit threads, users said Kerrygold is better as a spread, but Kirkland is the best for baking, Eat This, Not That! added. Kirkland Signature French Vodka Kirkland Signature French Vodka bares a close resemblance to the famous Grey Goose brand. Eat This, Not That! said the Kirkland Signature French Vodka is a favorite, even beating Grey Goose in blind taste tests by Reddit users. None of the five participants could tell the difference, wrote one Reddit user. Another commented, Kirklands is 1000x better, and added, Even if they were the same price, Im taking Kirkland, but the price differential makes it a no-brainer. A 1.75-liter bottle of the Kirkland product is $20 to $25, while a bottle of Grey Goose of the same size ranges from $40 to $60. Kirkland Signature Mini Thin & Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies Kirkland Signature Mini Thin & Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies is the perfect dupe for Tates Chocolate Chip Cookies. Shoppers on Reddit wrote that theyre similar to Tates, but they prefer the Costco dupe and compared it to the Thinsters, Eat This, Not That! Wrote. On Costcos website, a box containing 30 pouches of cookies costs $18.99. Costcos Best Deals? Employee Reveals 10 Standout Buys for Your Money Kirkland Signature Nut Bars Similar to the Kind brand, Costco sells its own nut bar, per Eat This, Not That! One Reddit user wrote, Forget the Kind bars, buy the Kirkland [N]ut bars instead! The same Reddit user also noted that one box of the Kirkland Signature Nut Bars costs less and contains more bars. The redditor also said that the flavor was superior to Kind bars and easier to bite into. Mondetta Leggings Lululemon has earned the reputation of being the go-to legging, but it comes at a price. The most popular Lululemon leggings range from $98 to $128, but theres a Costco dupe listed on the stores website for $12.97, according to Best Life. TikTok user @jsapproved posted a video in April claiming that the Mondetta legging available at Costco is a great dupe for Lululemons Sofstreme pants, which sell for $148. Best Life says that other TikTok accounts have posted videos pointing out other great clothing brand dupes, including a Sage Collective sweatshirt similar to the Sofstreme Crew at Lululemon and the Lole belt bag for $14.99 at Costco compared to the $38 to $52 version at Lululemon. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Costco Sells These Top Brand Dupes: Do Experts Think Theyre a Good Deal? Red Sea Mall in Jeddah, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary, has collaborated with Disneyland Paris, also celebrating its 30th anniversary, to offer visitors an special experience like no other from July 3 till July 16. During the celebration of this special event, the collaboration will bring several offerings to families, children, and visitors from all ages to enjoy a magical experience for 14 days. There will be an enchanted treasure hunt, puzzles, virtual reality activities, and an opportunity to participate in a competition to win a full-board trip with three additional guests to The Place Where Dreams Come True, Disneyland Paris. The magical experience continues with an enchanted photo session opportunity with a backdrop of a reproduced 7-metre-high Disneyland Paris castle.-- TradeArabia News Service Fortune Business Insights Key Companies Covered in Drone Services Market are Aerodyne Group (Malaysia), Terra Drone (Japan), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (U.S.), Cyberhawk (U.K.), DroneDeploy (U.S.), Matternet (U.S.), PrecisionHawk (U.S.), Phoenix Drone Services LLC (U.S.), SenseFly (Switzerland) and Sky Futures Ltd (U.K.), and more players profiled. Pune, India, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global drone services market size was valued at USD 13.9 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 18.9 billion in 2023 to USD 189.4 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 38.9% during the forecast period. Drone services refer to the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for various purposes such as capturing images or video, delivering packages, conducting surveys, and so on. Drones are equipped with sensors, cameras, and other technologies that enable them to perform a wide range of tasks. These services are useful in several applications including agriculture, construction, real estate, and others. Moreover, they can also be used in hazardous environments such as to inspect power lines and oil wells. This is propelling their demand and driving market expansion in the forthcoming years. This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights, in its report titled, Drone Services Market, 2023-2030. Get a Free Sample Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/drone-services-market-102682 List of Key Players Profiled in the Drone Services Market Report: Aerodyne Group (Malaysia) Terra Drone (Japan) AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (U.S.) Cyberhawk (U.K.) DroneDeploy (U.S.) Matternet (U.S.) PrecisionHawk (U.S.) Phoenix Drone Services LLC (U.S.) SenseFly (Switzerland) Sky Futures Ltd (U.K.) Report Scope & Segmentation: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 38.9% 2030 Value Projection USD 189.4 Billion Market Size in 2023 USD 18.9 Billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 200 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Service Type Analysis By Application Analysis By End-use Industry Analysis Regions Covered North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East and Africa Drone Services Market Growth Drivers Rising Demand for Drone Services from Various End-user Industries is Expected to Propel Market Growth Increasing Government Initiatives and Investments are Projected to Boost the Market Growth Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/drone-services-market-102682 Segments: Drone Platform Services Segment to Dominate Owing to the Rising Use of Drones for Public Safety Based on service type, the market is divided into drone platform services, drone MRO services, and drone training & simulation services. Among these, the drone platform services segment leads the market in 2022. Drone platform services refer to a range of hardware and software solutions that enable the efficient and safe operation of drones. The rising use of drones for public safety and emergency response further attributed to segment growth. Surveillance & Inspection Segment to Hold Major Share Stoked by Surging Use in Oil and Gas Sector As per application, the market is divided into aerial photography, product delivery, surveillance & inspection, data acquisition & analytics, and others. The surveillance & inspection segment captured the largest market share due to the rising demand of drones for surveillance and inspection operations in agriculture, mining, and oil and gas sectors. Infrastructure Segment to Dominate Due to Rising Product Demand for Aerial Surveying and Mapping According to end-use industry, the market is arrayed into agriculture, infrastructure, oil & gas, logistics, and others. The infrastructure segment held the largest market share due to the usage of drones in aerial mapping and surveying in the construction industry. Geographically, the market is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Rest of the World. Russia-Ukraine War Impact: Growing Government Initiatives to Procure More Drones for Military Use Boosted Market Growth During the War The Russia-Ukraine war has significantly boosted the usage of drone services for surveillance and attack missions. This has encouraged both governments to invest in procuring more drones. For instance, in January 2023, Ukraine government announced its decision of increasing the procurement of UAVs for the Armed Forces of Ukraine by allocating almost USD 550 million toward purchasing drones. Additionally, in September 2022, according to Rostec, Russia's KUB and Lancet kamikaze drones were extensively deployed during combat operations in Ukraine. Thus, the extensive usage of drones especially in the military sector aided market expansion during the Russia-Ukraine war. However, the demand for drones declined in the commercial sector. COVID-19 Impact: Application of Drones in Healthcare, Logistics, and Other Sectors Aided Market to Expand Amid COVID-19 Outbreak The spread of COVID-19 worldwide resulted in the implementation of stringent travel restrictions, social distancing norms, and lockdowns. Drones were extensively used by the logistics sector for delivery of goods in a contactless manner. Moreover, they were used in the healthcare sector for disinfecting public spaces and delivering medicines to remote areas. For instance, Zipline partnered with the Ghana government to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to remote areas of the country. Drones have proven to very useful in last-mile delivery, which is the final stage of the delivery process to the recipient's doorstep. These applications of drones attributed to market proliferation amid the pandemic. Inquire Before Buying This Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/drone-services-market-102682 Report Coverage: The report entails valuable insights regarding growth stimulants and restraints affecting market dynamics. The market is studied at both micro and macro levels by dividing it into segments and regions. Market share, growth rate, and valuation of each region and segment is also given in the report. Moreover, the impact of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War is analyzed as well. Drivers and Restraints: Surging Demand for Drone Services from Agriculture, Construction, and Other End-use Industries to Drive Market Growth Drones are becoming lighter and smaller making them more reliable to perform a wide variety of tasks such as disaster relief, search and rescue, and monitoring. They offer various benefits such as cost-effectiveness, safety, and efficiency. Moreover, technological developments such as artificial intelligence are making it easier to automate drones making them ideal for use for inspection and surveying purposes in construction, agriculture, and energy sectors. They can cover large areas safely and quickly reducing the risk of accidents and need for manual labor. These factors are driving the drone services market growth over the forecast period. On the other hand, concerns regarding the safety of drones and stringent government regulations regarding their usage will hinder market expansion in the forthcoming years. Regional Insights: North America to Lead Due to the Presence of Major OEMs in the Region North America captured majority of the drone services market share in 2022 owing to rising investments in R&D of advanced drone technologies and presence of leading OEMs in the region. For example, in March 2023, Wing launched its new delivery system. The system includes customizable, cost-effective pickup stations, and numerous charging hubs. The Europe market is projected to grow significantly in the forthcoming years owing to the growing demand for introspection services. Moreover, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has developed regulations to allow the usage of drones in commercial operations, thus creating a favorable regulatory environment contributing to regional market growth. Competitive Landscape: Product Innovations by Leading Companies to Aid Market Augmentation Leading companies in the global market are focusing on product innovations and geographical expansions to earn higher profits and hold the largest market share. They are expanding their services to the renewable energy industry, providing services such as wind turbine inspections, solar panel inspections, and oil and gas pipeline inspections. Ask for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/drone-services-market-102682 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Key Industry Developments Key Contracts & Agreements, Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Latest technological Advancements Porters Five Forces Analysis Supply Chain Analysis Impact of Russia Ukraine War & COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Drone Services Market Global Drone Services Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Definition Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Service Type Drone Platform Services Drone MRO Services Drone Training & Simulation Services Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Aerial Photography Product Delivery Surveillance & Inspection Data Acquisition & Analytics Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By End-Use Industry Agriculture Infrastructure Oil & Gas Logistics Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region North America Europe Asia-pacific Middle East Rest of the World North America Drone Services Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Service Type Drone Platform Services Drone MRO Services Drone Training & Simulation Services Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Aerial Photography Product Delivery TOC Continued...! Speak to Our Expert: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/drone-services-market-102682 Key Industry Development: February 2023 Aerodyne Group invested in Aiviewgroup, a leading drone services provider based in Italy. Through this deal, both parties can harness synergies from their respective areas of expertise and technologies and enhance their geographical reach. Read Related Insights: Commercial Drones Market Size to Hit USD 47.38 Bn by 2029 | With a 28.58% CAGR Small Drone Market to Reach USD 46.68 Billion by 2028 | At a CAGR 22.86% Military Drone Market to Worth USD 30.86 Billion by 2029 | With a 14.82% CAGR About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Address: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 9th Floor, Icon Tower, Baner, Mahalunge Road, Baner, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter Tesla boss Elon Musk has outlined a master plan to lead global efforts to eliminate fossil fuels - JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images Elon Musks Tesla is poised to gatecrash Britains energy market by selling electricity to households. Tesla is developing plans to register as an electricity provider with the industry regulator and launch a retail electricity product in the UK, a job listing has revealed. The company is seeking to hire an experienced energy executive as its UK head of operations for Tesla Electric. It is thought that the service, which would be available to owners of the companys Powerwall home battery, would sell electricity to UK households and buy back stored energy at times of peak demand. Powerwall batteries can be set to automatically charge up overnight when energy is cheap and then release this energy for use during the day, when buying direct from the grid is more expensive. An advert for the role, based in London or Manchester, states that Tesla is seeking to support the transition of the entire electricity grid to 100pc renewables by making more use of home batteries. Tesla is best known as the worlds biggest maker of electric cars but also sells home batteries, which cost around 9,500 to install. Between 10,000 and 20,000 are believed to have been put into UK households, according to an industry source. Owners of Tesla cars could also eventually use the service, under Ofgem plans to allow electric vehicles to sell electricity back to the grid. Mr Musk earlier this year outlined a master plan to lead global efforts to eliminate fossil fuels, which included moving people to electric cars, massively increasing renewable generation and switching households to heat pumps. Tesla launched an energy utility in Texas in December, promising to save households money by selling electricity from owners batteries to the grid during peak times and buying it back when it is cheaper. In Texas, the companys off peak rate is around a third below the standard rate from other energy providers. Some users have reported making more than $100 (78) by selling energy on days when a heat wave puts extra strain on the states unreliable electricity grid. New Tesla owners who sign up to the plan are also able to charge their electric vehicles overnight for free for the first year, which the company says saves around $360. The virtual power plant system is designed to eliminate the need to switch on coal and gas generation during peak times when renewable sources fail to match demand by instead pulling electricity stored in peoples homes. Users are able to track their consumption and manage bills through the Tesla app. Teslas job advert states that the company is seeking to apply to Ofgem for an electricity supply licence, which allows utilities to sell energy to domestic and non-domestic premises. Providers must need a separate licence to distribute gas. The advert states that the company is seeking candidates with demonstrated experience in delivering retail energy programs and with a healthy scepticism of the status quo. Tesla has flirted with the UK energy market in the past. It launched an electricity plan provided by Octopus Energy in 2020, but the carmaker pulled the plug on the deal earlier this year, in a sign it was planning to launch its own service. It also has a generation licence, which allows it to sell electricity commercially. Mr Musk suggested earlier this year that Tesla would manufacture and sell its own heat pumps, which are seen as critical to moving households away from gas-powered heating and onto electricity. The companys entry comes amid two years of turmoil for Britains energy providers. Surging wholesale costs led dozens of providers to go bust, while a price cap on bills has led to stagnant competition among providers. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. The most you can lose on any stock (assuming you don't use leverage) is 100% of your money. But if you buy shares in a really great company, you can more than double your money. For example, the EnPro Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NPO) share price has soared 192% in the last three years. That sort of return is as solid as granite. Also pleasing for shareholders was the 37% gain in the last three months. So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. View our latest analysis for EnPro Industries While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. EnPro Industries was able to grow its EPS at 27% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. This EPS growth is lower than the 43% average annual increase in the share price. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did three years ago. That's not necessarily surprising considering the three-year track record of earnings growth. This optimism is also reflected in the fairly generous P/E ratio of 135.06. 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? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, EnPro Industries' TSR for the last 3 years was 203%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective It's nice to see that EnPro Industries shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 72% over the last year. Of course, that includes the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 15%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand EnPro Industries better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for EnPro Industries you should know about. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Key Insights The projected fair value for Las Vegas Sands is US$58.25 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity With US$57.63 share price, Las Vegas Sands appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value Our fair value estimate is 16% lower than Las Vegas Sands' analyst price target of US$69.29 In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Las Vegas Sands Is Las Vegas Sands Fairly Valued? We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$3.32b US$2.95b US$3.27b US$3.50b US$3.59b US$3.67b US$3.76b US$3.84b US$3.92b US$4.01b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x6 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 2.48% Est @ 2.37% Est @ 2.29% Est @ 2.24% Est @ 2.20% Est @ 2.17% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 9.5% US$3.0k US$2.5k US$2.5k US$2.4k US$2.3k US$2.1k US$2.0k US$1.9k US$1.7k US$1.6k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$22b After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.1%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 9.5%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$4.0b (1 + 2.1%) (9.5% 2.1%) = US$56b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$56b ( 1 + 9.5%)10= US$22b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$45b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$57.6, the company appears about fair value at a 1.1% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Las Vegas Sands as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.240. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Las Vegas Sands, we've put together three important elements you should further research: Risks: For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Las Vegas Sands that you should be aware of. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for LVS's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Exclusive - Mexico's Pemex to lose some 100,000 bpd of crude this month after fire -source FILE PHOTO: PEMEX logo at the headqurters of the oil company in Mexico City By Ana Isabel Martinez MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos will see its crude output reduced by some 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) until the beginning of August after a massive fire on Friday at an offshore platform, a top company source said. The reduced production implies that in total Pemex will lose at least 2 million barrels of crude through the end of July, according to Reuters estimates. The source agreed on the calculation. Pemex did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Fire broke out at dawn Friday on the platform Nohoch-A, later spreading to a compression facility at the iconic Cantarell field, which used to be Pemex's largest producing field. The accident left at least two people dead. Pemex, which produces in total about 1.6 million bpd of oil, said on Saturday it had an output loss of 700,000 barrels on the day of the accident at the Gulf of Mexico gas processing hub explaining "it shut down practically all the wells in the area." By Saturday, the company said it had already recovered some 600,000 barrels per day. But the source said that fully recovering production will only be possible at the beginning of August. That means output from Pemex's offshore fields, from which the company extracts most of its oil, will be impacted in the meantime. He did not provide details on the company's schedule to progressively restart output. "We are short of a little less than 100,000 barrels (per day). We expect that by the first days of August we will recover all the crude," he said. MOUNTING CLAIMS Cantarell, which produced more than 2 million bpd of oil two decades ago, currently produces about 170,000 bpd. Along with Ku-Maloob-Zaap, which contributes some 620,000 bpd from Pemex's northeastern marine region, they provide around 41% of the company's total production of 1.9 million bpd of crude and condensate. Pemex has had several severe accidents in recent years at its facilities, including refineries and production hubs. In August 2021, a gas leak from an offshore platform triggered a fire that killed seven workers and caused the loss of 1.6 million barrels of oil output. The government blames previous administrations for the condition of Pemex saying it inherited the company on the verge of bankruptcy. Opponents and analysts say the company's management during the current administration has been ineffective at growing production and preventing accidents. Pemex said on Friday the fire had been extinguished promptly, preventing its spread to four other processing centers, which are part of the so-called Sonda de Campeche, a series of marine fields about 85 kilometers from Ciudad del Carmen, in the southeastern state of Campeche. Pemex's safety performance indicators have deteriorated according to its own figures. The accumulated frequency index -accidents per million man-hours worked- rose to 0.58 in the first quarter of 2023 from 0.37 in the same period of the previous year, while the accumulated severity index -days lost per million man-hours worked- went to 32 from 11 in the same period. (Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez; Editing by Conor Humphries) Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story misstated the relationship between Farmers Insurance and its California customers. Another property insurer is dropping coverage in Florida. Farmers Insurance will stop writing new business and not renew its existing Farmers-branded automobile, home and umbrella policies in the Sunshine State, the company said Tuesday. On Monday, Farmers sent notice of its plans to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, which is reviewing it. Insurers must give the office 90 days' notice if they want to discontinue writing business in Florida. This business decision was necessary to effectively manage risk exposure, the company said in a statement. Floridians on average are paying about $6,000 for their yearly home insurance premium, an increase of 42% compared with last year, said Mark Friedlander, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute. By comparison, the average annual premium in the U.S. costs $1,700. The move will impact 30% of the company's business in Florida or roughly 100,000 policies. Policyholders affected by the decision are required to be given 120 days' notice that their coverage will not be renewed. Farmers joined Bankers Insurance and Lexington Insurance, a subsidiary of AIG, in withdrawing from the market since last year, he added. A Citizens Property Insurance Corp. billing document that Vinnette Williams received for her home in Boynton Beach, Fla. Citizens rolls continue to grow as other property insurers not to do business in Florida. Farmers pulling out of Florida leaves residents few options, high costs Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate Tasha Carter called the decision from Farmers Insurance "devastating for all Floridians." "It creates a ripple effect it directly impacts Farmers policyholders who will be thrust into a position of having to find new insurance potentially during hurricane season and into a homeowners insurance market that is significantly limited in availability and affordability," Carter said. Mel Montagne, president of Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe, a grassroots activist group in the Florida Keys, who spoke out against the most recent rate increase proposed by Citizens Property Insurance, said he anticipates that this will result in increased insurance rates and more homeowners relying on the state-run insurer. Citizens continues to grow, with 1.3 million policies as of the end of May. "It's becoming the only insurer in the state of Florida, it seems," he said. Learn More: Here are the best home insurance companies Policies under other Farmers brand names won't be affected Policies under its other brands such as Bristol West, Foremost Signature, Farmers GroupSelect, Foremost Choice and Foremost-branded policies will not be affected. This marks the latest stumble into instability for Floridas property insurance market. Seven Florida property insurers were declared insolvent in the past 18 months, and another 15 have stopped writing new business in the same time period, Friedlander said. State lawmakers react In a letter to a Farmers executive Tuesday, Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky expressed that he would have preferred to speak with the company prior to being given notice and that his office was "disappointed by the hastiness in this decision and troubled by how this decision may have cascading impacts to policyholders." The decision to pull business from Florida was "made independently" of a number of legislative changes made to address the insurance market, Yaworsky wrote, and was "part of a broader series of actions Farmers is making across the country and not solely focused on Florida." The letter also notes that Farmers committed to transferring affected policyholders to other insurance companies. Anyone who receives a nonrenewal notice from Farmers should contact their agent as soon as possible to seek other coverage. State lawmakers attempted to address the property insurance crisis with two special sessions last year and the most recent regular session. This included stopping one-way attorney fees and prohibiting third parties such as roofers or contractors from being paid directly by insurance companies. More: Citizens wants its rates to go up by double digits. Will insurance regulators agree? State CFO Patronis calls out Farmers on Twitter A day before the Farmers announcement was made public, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis tweeted that he heard rumors about Farmers leaving Florida and that the Department of Financial Services "is going to explore every avenue possible for holding them accountable." "Don't get to leave after taking policyholder money. Can't write auto if you're not doing homeowners either. Zero communication!" Patronis wrote. The Palm Beach Post reached out to the department on Tuesday for further comment and whether the policies under other Farmers brands would be looked into. A spokesperson did not respond and instead directed a reporter to the Office of Insurance Regulation. Contributing: James Powel, USA TODAY Hannah Morse covers consumer issues for The Palm Beach Post. Drop a line at hmorse@pbpost.com, call 561-820-4833 or follow her on Twitter @mannahhorse. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Farmers Insurance pulling out of certain home policies in Florida An attorney representing the plaintiffs in an ongoing class action lawsuit against DeFi project Fei Labs said that the platform's Discord server was not seized by authorities last week as previously reported. Instead, the widely covered notice was intended to spread the word to investors negatively affected by its shaky launch event two years ago. On Friday, Crypto Twitter shared screenshots of a legal notice posted on Fei's Discord server that was issued by the Superior Court of San Francisco. The notice, referencing a legal NFT airdropped into the wallets of investors, informed users that they can apply to get a slice out of a multimillion-dollar preliminary settlement reached in the case. Some observers characterized the move as a seizure of the Discord server, but a plaintiffs' lawyer told Decrypt that this was not the case. Instead, they said Fei Labs worked with a settlement administrator to post the notice. Fei Labs did not reply to Decrypts request for comment. In a message published on their website, Fei Labs said that its Tribe DAO and Fei Protocol are no longer under development, and urged users to withdraw any funds they held in Tribe DAO-related contracts. Looks like @feiprotocol's discord has been taken over by San Fransisco's superior courts This is the first I've personally seen courts take over a discord, is this common? A link to the class action -- https://t.co/fD20xLofTX pic.twitter.com/5HI1EpFZp2 Julian Traversa (@TraversaJulian) July 7, 2023 Fei Labs Raised Almost $1.3 Billion for Decentralized StablecoinNow Some Investors are Stuck The settlement notice is the latest episode in a saga that began two years ago when Fei Labs first issued its namesake algorithmic stablecoin Fei and its governance token Hunt in April 2021. An algorithmic stablecoin uses incentives to keep the coin pegged to the value of a fiat currency, in Fei's case, the U.S. dollar. Fei's token was unique due to its use of software that penalized anyone trying to sell it below its peg, while rewarding those who bought it below the peg. A bug emerged during the launch that left the tokens beneath their peg, but the developers still managed to raise nearly $1.3 billion from Fei and Tribe. $1.2 Billion Stablecoin Project Fei Stumbles Out of the Gate In a class-action complaint filed on April 1, 2022 in a San Francisco court, Fei and four of its developers were accused of selling unregistered securities via these tokens. Ultimately, the two sides agreed to a preliminary settlement in May 2023 that meant Fei Labs was not required to admit to any wrongdoing. A nearly $18 million dollar fund was created to cover both notices and fees incurred during the litigation, with all claimants having until October 1 to submit a notice for compensation. A final settlement hearing is also scheduled to take place on October 27 to consider whether to approve the settlement. SINGAPORE, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a significant development for the EV industry, Quantum Mobility, a 2-wheeler start-up has received its first fleet of electric motorcycles in the shores of Singapore. The arrival of these eco-friendly vehicles marks a significant step forward in Quantum Mobility's efforts to accelerate the adoption of electric motorcycles, promote sustainable transportation and reduce carbon emissions. Quantum Mobility accelerates the adoption of electric motorcycles, promotes sustainable transportation, and reduces carbon emissions while Quantum Volts is set to take the lead to deploy charge and swap infrastructure across the island. Singapore's Land Transport Authority, known for its stringent safety standards has approved the G2 Quantum electric motorcycles for Singapore roads. With the country's strong commitment to environmental sustainability, Singapore has been actively promoting the adoption of electric vehicles. The arrival of Quantum Mobility's electric motorcycles aligns with the government's initiatives to encourage cleaner transportation options and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Co-founder and COO of Quantum Mobility, Anders Quek shared that the electric motorcycles feature state-of-the-art technology, combining sleek design with high reliability and safe riding capabilities. He added that these vehicles are equipped with 3000w electric motor, multi-mode riding options, reverse gear, and many other features that will offer the rider smooth acceleration and a comfortable riding experience. With a range of 90km and with a 2-hour charge time, the rider is able to charge up the motorcycle at various Type 2- AC charge stations across the island. With zero tailpipe emissions, the G2 Quantum offers an environmentally friendly alternative to 140,000 traditional gasoline-powered motorcycles in Singapore. To provide more charging options to the riders, Quantum Volts, a sister company of the incumbent is set to take the lead and deploy charge and swap infrastructure across the island. This will ensure fleet owners and consumers alike, have easy access to power their electric motorcycles continuously. In working with national power grid infrastructure owners, Quantum Volts's CEO, Lawrence Oei, reaffirms his focus on addressing the national electrification agenda, in delivering a multi-modal charge infrastructure that is jointly developed with Honda, Yamaha, and Piaggio, introducing universality to the proven concept of battery swap technologies. "The inclusion of Quantum Volts charge infrastructure to be empowered by the sun, has perhaps, been the boldest move of the company, and we are proud to be recognized as a Singapore brand that can play her part in fulfilling the Singapore Green Plan 2030 agenda." In February 2023, Quantum Mobility also signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with ComfortDelgro Driving Centre (CDC) to advocate safe riding for electric motorcycles in Singapore. Moving forward, new owners of the G2 Quantum electric motorcycle will be able to attend the Electric Motorcycle Familiarization course conducted by CDC. In a statement by Mr. Edmund Lim, Co-Founder and CEO of Quantum Mobility, he expressed his enthusiasm about the company's entry into the Singaporean market. He said, "We are delighted to introduce our electric motorcycles that suit both the lifestyle seeker and the commercial rider here. Quantum Mobility is committed to providing sustainable mobility solutions that not only benefit the environment but also enhance the overall riding experience. We believe these motorcycles will be well-received by Singaporeans who value both style and sustainability." The company intends to launch its sales in August through road shows and through specific online channels. Quantum Mobility is an Electric Motorcycle Startup to accelerate the adoption of electric motorcycles in Singapore and eventually in the APAC region. It is located at Blk 79, Ayer Rajah Crescent JTC@Launchpad. Visit us on social media Facebook, Instagram Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/the-first-shipment-of-electric-motorcycles-by-quantum-mobility-arrives-in-singapore-301872733.html SOURCE Quantum Mobility (Bloomberg) -- India is set to sign a naval fighter deal worth nearly 3 billion ($3.3 billion) with France when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits this week, the latest defense deal for the South Asian nation as it presents itself as a bulwark against China in the Asia Pacific. Most Read from Bloomberg Nearly three dozen Rafale-Marine fighters will be sold to the Indian Navy for use on its locally manufactured aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant, according to senior officials familiar with the developments. The deal is a key part of Modis two-day visit, which includes talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, said the officials who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private. Modi will also attend Bastille Day celebrations on Friday. Macrons office declined to comment. Indias External Affairs and Defense Ministries didnt comment. A spokesperson for Dassault Aviation, which produces the Rafale jet, didnt respond to a request for comment. The growing closeness between Moscow and Beijing has allowed Modi to position India as a partner in Asia for Washington and its allies looking to draw New Delhi into their orbit by offering sophisticated weapon platforms and investments. Last month, India signed a flurry of defense agreements with the US during Modis first state visit including a project by General Electric Co. to jointly manufacture the F414 engines used in fighter jets with state-owned Indian firm Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Germanys Thyssenkrupp AGs marine arm and Indias Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. have also signed an initial agreement to jointly build submarines for the Indian navy. Shares of defense equipment makers in India rallied in Mumbai Tuesday as state-run Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. rose by its 10% daily limit while ammunition maker Bharat Dynamics Ltd. jumped as much as 18%, its biggest single-day surge since April last year. Dassault Aviation SAs Paris-listed shares traded 4.1% higher. US-based Boeings F/A-18 Super Hornets (Block III) fighters were also in the race to secure the Indian contract and the decision to buy from France reflects the governments desire to deepen engagement beyond Washington. New Delhi last bought 36 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force in 2015 for about 7.9 billion. Paris-based engine maker Safran and the Indian defense public sector firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will also set up a joint venture to produce engines for locally-made helicopters that will replace an aging Russian-made fleet, according to people familiar with the matter. An initial agreement was signed last year. France is sweetening defense deals with India by offering to jointly design, manufacture and transfer jet engine technology without restrictions, the people said. This is in contrast to Indias recent agreement with GE, which is subject to clearance from US Congress, the people added. The latest deal sees France closing in on Russia, which is traditionally Indias biggest weapons supplier but is slowing down deliveries due to sanctions for its war in Ukraine. India has two-squadrons comprised of 18 Russian-made MiG-29K fighters each, which are based on INS Vikramaditya its second aircraft carrier. Modi and Macron will also discuss producing jet engines for twin-engine fighters that are under development in India, additional jets for the Indian Air Force, and nuclear reactors for a new power plant in the western state of Maharashtra, the people said. The joint venture solves a near three-decade problem for India, which has struggled to develop a local engine so that it can power aircraft. Safran didnt respond to a request for comment. --With assistance from Samy Adghirni. (Updates with stock market movement.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. An executive from the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX is under investigation for allegedly making illegal donations to his girlfriends political campaign, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are examining a series of donations by former FTX executive Ryan Salame to his then-girlfriend Michelle Bond during her bid to win the Republican nomination for a congressional district on Long Island. Specifically, they are looking at money transferred from Salame to Bond, as well as loans the candidate made to her own campaign. Bond, whose run was supported by prominent conservatives, received just over $56,000 in donations from Salame and other FTX employees, according to Federal Election Commission records. FTX Execs Maxed Out Donations to Rep. George Santos In total, Bond received over $659,000 in contributions for her campaign in 2022. A representative for Salame did not return a request for comment from Decrypt. Salame has floated in the crosshairs of federal investigators since the collapse of FTX last year, and the arrest of its disgraced CEO Sam Bankman-Fried on charges for illegal political contributions. Formerly the head of FTX Bahamas, Salame is known as a prolific political donor who has given heavily to Republican candidates, including Bonds fellow Long Island Republican, Rep. George Santos. Two days before FTX collapsed, Salame reportedly flagged questionable transactions to authorities in the Bahamas, triggering an investigation into funds transferred to Alameda Research. FBI Searches Home of Former FTX Exec and Sam Bankman-Fried Ally In April, FBI agents raided a Washington D.C. home belonging to Salame as part of an investigation into Bankman-Fried's political operation. Federal authorities are looking into an estimated $24 million in donations made by Salame during the 2022 midterm elections, funds that they allege was taken from FTX's customer funds. For her part, Bond ran on a campaign that included pro-cryptocurrency positions, although they did not appear to figure prominently in her campaign. She previously served as president of the Association for Digital Asset Markets, a lobbying group that advocates for pro-crypto policies in Washington D.C. Iraq and French oil major TotalEnergies on Monday signed a long-delayed $27 billion energy deal that aims to increase oil production and help the country to produce energy with oil, gas and renewables projects, a Reuters report said. Initially signed in 2021, the deal for the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) has faced delays amid disputes between Iraqi politicians over the terms, but was finally closed in April when Iraq agreed to take a smaller than initially demanded stake in the project of 30 per cent, Reuters said. TotalEnergies will hold the lions share with a 45 per cent stake in the project, followed by Iraqi state-owned Basra Oil Company with 30 percent, and QatarEnergy with 25 per cent. TotalEnergies Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne signed the agreement with Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani at a ceremony in Baghdad, with Pouyanne calling it a "historic day". He said the project would break ground this summer and would see an investment of $10 billion over the next four years. The Gas Growth Integrated Project aims to improve the country's electricity supply, including by recovering flared gas at three oilfields and using the gas to supply power plants, helping to reduce Iraq's import bill. TotalEnergies said it would also develop a 1 GW solar power plant to supply electricity to the Basra regional grid, inviting Saudi company Acwa Power to join the project, Reuters added. (Bloomberg) -- Gary Genslers Securities and Exchange Commission is filling the crypto regulatory void, and the industry and its backers on Capitol Hill have so far been unable to check him. Most Read from Bloomberg The tide was supposed to turn when Republicans gained control over the House last November. Finally, the thinking went, there would be restraints on the SEC chief. Yet after six months of hearings, initial plans and fiery statements about regulatory overreach, GOP lawmakers have yet to formally introduce their key proposals. The 2024 campaign season is about to kick into gear, and that means less time to debate complex policy issues and garner support from Democrats, who control the US Senate. Even if they do pull a rabbit out of the hat and get this out of the committee in a bipartisan way, get this to a floor vote, get it out of the House, theres still going to be a significant hurdle to overcome with the Senate, said Ron Hammond, director of government relations at the Blockchain Association, a crypto trade group. Although the SEC faces significant challenges in court, its power over the asset class appears to be growing. In the absence of new legislation, the watchdog keeps asserting jurisdiction and claiming the industry must abide by its strict investor-protection rules. Wall Streets main regulator has signaled that it considers everything from crypto trading platforms to the vast majority of tokens as under its authority. The agency has recently sued two of the largest crypto exchanges, casting a cloud over the entire industry. The SEC also keeps thwarting plans for a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund and has sought sway over stablecoins. Overreach? Crypto backers argue that the SECs approach is mistaken and an overreach. They say many tokens are technically commodities under US rules and shouldnt be subject to onerous and expensive SEC regulations. Hopes for a pullback have been pinned largely on a plan from Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican who leads the House Financial Services Committee, and Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, a GOP lawmaker from Pennsylvania. Their panels may advance the measure later this month. A draft of that bill calls for more clearly delineating when digital assets are commodities or securities, meaning the SEC could have less discretion and more assets would likely be overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Industry advocates generally prefer their assets to be regulated by the CFTC, which they view as being more flexible and willing to work with the industry. The derivatives regulator has said, however, it would be a tough overseer, pointing to the dozens of enforcement actions it brought against the sector. Under the McHenry-Thompson plan, a tokens classification would depend largely on whether the blockchain network its affiliated with is sufficiently decentralized. The bill would also offer a pathway for assets that begin as securities to eventually be regulated as commodities, and require the SEC to modify rules to better accommodate crypto trading platforms. Despite the industry support, the outlook dimmed when House Financial Services Committees top Democrat, Maxine Waters, recently said she has concerns about the proposal, which was initially drafted without input from Democrats. Any bill would so dramatically overhaul our nations capital markets must be worked on collaboratively with the minority, she said. Thats a bad omen for attracting Democratic support, especially where its most needed in the Senate. 20% Chance Waters also said its imperative for policymakers to first consult with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and the SECs Gensler. A blessing from the SEC chief is unlikely as hes said that existing rules are adequate and digital-asset firms just refuse to follow them. Alex Grieve, a lobbyist for crypto companies at Tiger Hill Partners, gives the legislation just a 20% chance of becoming law this year unless Republicans can sway a significant number of Democrats. The level of bipartisanship dictates whether the Senate decides to sit up and take notice, he said. In another problematic sign, the Senate Banking and Agriculture committees have been far less engaged than their House counterparts. The panels have only held one hearing on crypto this year, combined. Senator Sherrod Brown, the chairman of the Banking Committee, has also signaled he broadly supports the SECs current role. He told Bloomberg News in a statement that there are abuses in the crypto industry that must be addressed, and hes considering proposals from colleagues, as well as engaging with regulators. Quick Turnaround Even with the hurdles, the industrys backers havent given up. There are promising conversations between Republicans and Democrats, said Brett Quick, head of government affairs for the Crypto Council for Innovation. The main issue is timing. Its a quick turnaround to make sure that both sides feel a part of the process and that theyve had an opportunity to contribute their priorities and see modifications to the original text, she said. One potential area of agreement could be on crypto stablecoins, which lawmakers from both parties have seized upon as a potential unregulated threat to financial stability. Waters, for example, has said she looked forward to negotiating with Republicans on a plan. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. ETF euphoria is still wafting through both the crypto and finance space, and would-be Bitcoin investors are holding their breath ahead of what they hope will be the first approved exchange traded fund for spot markets. Their spirits were lifted after regulators gave their blessing to 2X Volatility Shares to start trading the first ETF in leveraged Bitcoin futures on June 23. For many observers, the move was a step in the right direction, toward the inevitable approval of a spot market ETF. The news was more bittersweet, however, for another contender hoping for a chance to offer a spot ETF: Grayscale. Donald Verilli, one of the lawyers representing Grayscale in its battle with the SEC, argued that approving the Volatility Shares ETF ran contrary to its own stance against any fund dealing with spot markets. Grayscale Is Suing SEC After Spot Bitcoin ETF Rejection The fact that the Commission has allowed a leveraged bitcoin futures ETP to begin trading demonstrates that the Commission continues to arbitrarily treat spot Bitcoin ETPs differently than bitcoin futures ETPs, Verilli wrote in a letter to the clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. on Monday. For the better part of a year, the asset manager has been locked in a lawsuit against the Securities and Exchange Commission, which it accuses of being unfair and arbitrary in its approval process. Grayscale sued the SEC last June after the agency rejected its application to convert its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a spot market ETF. The SEC argued that Grayscale's application lacked a plan to monitor any impact on spot prices that came from fraud or market manipulation. Grayscale has rejected this claim, countering that futures prices themselves are drawn from spot markets, a stance that the federal judge hearing the lawsuit showed some sympathy towards at a hearing in March. Judges Scrutinize SEC Over Denial of Grayscale Bitcoin ETF For Grayscale, the approval of the Volatility Shares ETF was just more proof of the SECs inconsistency. In his letter, Verilli argued that by dealing with futures markets using leverage to achieve bigger returns, the fund was exposing investors to more risk than a spot or traditional futures ETF would. This, he argues, should invalidate their rationale opposing Grayscales filing. "While the commission could theoretically correct its discriminatory treatment of spot bitcoin ETPs by rescinding its approval of all Bitcoin-based ETPs, the Commission's apparent willingness to permit even a leveraged bitcoin futures ETPa particularly high-risk version of a Bitcoin futures productmakes clear [it] has no intention of doing so," said Verilli. Representatives from Volatility Shares declined to comment on Verillis arguments. In an earlier interview with Decrypt, the ETFs co-founder and president Justin Young said that it was Grayscales initial application that cracked the door open to recent entrants like BlackRock to also seek a spot market product. He added that it was his belief that approval of the Volatility Shares ETF could facilitate approval for one. Bitcoin Spot ETF Will Open Door to New Investors: Volatility Shares Co-Founder "I think it brings to a lot of people's attention the thought that if the SEC has let a leveraged Bitcoin linked product through, why on Earth wouldn't they allow spot Bitcoin through?" Young said. In a Twitter thread, Grayscale appeared to be in some agreement with this view, noting that it is not claiming that products like Volatility Shares' ETF should not exist. The firm insisted instead that it was motivated to speak out against the SEC's approval process. "Ultimately, excitement for these products backs up what weve been saying all along: that investors are eager for $BTC exposure with the protections of the ETF wrapper," it wrote. (Bloomberg) -- Industries including metals producers are bracing for curbs on electricity supplies in Sichuan province, as parts of China grapple with extreme weather thats lifting demand and disrupting hydropower generation. Most Read from Bloomberg Power consumption in Sichuan reached a record high on Monday with temperatures above 35C (95F), according to local media. Thats exacerbating already low hydro dam levels after a drought in the southwestern province last year. Aluminum smelters near the provincial capital of Chengdu have been ordered to reduce power consumption, which may see annualized capacity of about 50,000 tons of the metal idled, Shanghai Metals Market said in a note. Silicon producers in Sichuans Ebian county have been asked to cut production from July 3-21 due to extreme weather, according to a notice reported by researcher Mysteel. Sichuan is only responsible for 1 million tons of the nations total aluminum capacity of more than 40 million tons, but the heat is fueling concerns that there could be a repeat of last years shutdown of all local smelters. That hit output from a variety of sectors, including suppliers to Tesla Inc. and solar module producers. Still, current supply risks may be offset by the resumption of units in nearby Yunnan province, where smelters are bringing back more than 1 million tons of capacity by next month after heavy rain in June eased shortages. Across the entire country, hydro generation fell about 33% in May from a year earlier, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. President Xi Jinping visited State Grid Corp. of Chinas research unit in Nanjing last week and reiterated that energy security and safety was of great importance to the country. The nation has ramped up coal production and imports of the fossil fuel in a bid to secure enough power supplies this summer. Aluminum prices rallied as much as 2.1% on the London Metal Exchange, and were trading up 1.3% at $2,175 a ton as of 11:44 a.m. local time. Other metals were mixed, with additional stimulus measures for Chinas real estate sector lending some support. To revive the market, the countrys regulators have long been expected to come up with more supportive policies. --With assistance from Kathy Chen. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. New Henderson mine ready to hire hundreds 'now,' but will market for coal be there? CORYDON, Ky. The start of construction of Alliance Coals new Henderson County Mine south of Corydon is months away, and coal mining wont begin until 2025 but the company is eager to start hiring new miners. Were going to start a recruiting campaign for Henderson County now, General Manager Bill Adelmansaid following a ceremonial groundbreaking on Thursday morning. Mining experience isnt required. Well train them, Adelman said. While the new underground mine isnt expected to begin production until January 2025, Alliance wants to start hiring now to train new miners at its River View Mine in Union County so they will have experience when the Henderson County Mine is ready to start operations. Hundreds of miners will be hired. A news release put the number at 260, but Adelman said the mine would need 450 employees to achieve its production goal of 3 million tons of coal per year and the mines bathhouse will be big enough to accommodate 500 workers. Wages will range from $30 to $35 per hour, Adelman said. Including benefits, total compensation will average $49 an hour, the company said last year. In all, the Henderson County Mine will create an annual impact in the community of approximately $300 million, Missy Vanderpool, executive director of Henderson Economic Development, which helped recruit Alliance and secure economic development incentives for it, said in a statement. Henderson news: One-million-square-foot building pad to be developed at Henderson's 4-Star Park Its a great day in Henderson County, Vanderpool told the groundbreaking ceremony audience. I couldnt be more thankful, Henderson County Judge/Executive Brad Schneider declared. Among the economic benefits the new mine will provide is coal severance revenue for the county that Schneider said will help avoid the need to raise local taxes. Dozens of community officials, Alliance representatives and supporters turned out for the ceremony on the 56-acre future site of the new mine along Sulphur Springs Road, just off Kentucky 145 in the rural Little Dixie community of Henderson County, approximately 3 miles south of Corydon. At that site, Alliance will construct a 30,000-square-foot building that will serve as the main office, warehouse and bathhouse for the Henderson County Mine. A man shaft will be dug to transport miners down 330 feet to the No. 9 coal seam. Construction is expected to begin in October. The company will invest $35 million in the operation. Coal mining illustration image. Mined coal will be transported by underground conveyor about 4 miles to the former Highland Mine in Union County, which Alliance acquired several years ago. From there, coal will be carried by an existing above-ground conveyor some 11 miles to the companys coal terminal on the Ohio River near Uniontown. River View has begun underground mining of coal from the No. 11 coal seam near Highland and is moving southeasterly toward the site of the Henderson County Mine. Once there in late 2024, a slope will be constructed down to the No. 9 seam, providing the underground connection between the Henderson County and Highland mine sites. River View Coal LLC, a subsidiary of Alliance Coal LLC, operates the River View Mine near Waverly and will serve as operator of the Henderson County Mine. However, the River View and Henderson County mines will operate under separate mining permits. That will enable either mine to continue operations should circumstances, such as a major fire, force one to be permanently closed. Joseph Craft, chairman, president and CEO of parent company Alliance Resource Partners LLP, said just such an event forced the closure of a competitors mine in Illinois. Subsequently, Some of our customers came to us, Craft told the crowd at the ceremony. They wanted to give us more business but asked that Alliance operate the new mine under a separate permit from River View. Alliance produces coal for sale to electric utility companies that operate coal-fired power plants. Craft said America needs more electricity for multiple reasons. The federal government has made the decision to electrify America, he said, referring to the push to electric cars that he said every automaker in the world has embraced. That means that not only is more electricity needed to charge e-vehicles, but also to power the mammoth, multi-billion-dollar e-vehicle battery plants being built by Ford Motor Co. and SK Innovation at Glendale, Kentucky, and by Envision in Bowling Green. I believe in that story, Craft said. Im a believer. I think the governor (Andy Beshear) is a believer. They have to build out that charging network. The demand for energy is just going to be larger and larger and larger. He cited the $600 million Pratt Paper complex under construction along the Kentucky 425/South as another customer that will require vast amounts of electricity around the clock. We are talking to utilities as we speak on (prospective) three-year contracts, Craft said. Were confident we will be able to sell the coal. Henderson news: Henderson woman struck and killed by large truck; no charges filed He said the Henderson County Mine has sufficient reserves to last 25 years or longer, which potentially means it could operate until 2050 or beyond. Craft commended state Sen. Robby Mills (R-Henderson) for his support of legislation that passed this year that will slow or halt the retirement of coal-fired power plants in Kentucky, although many such plants (including Hendersons Station One and Station Two, among others) have already been permanently shut down around the state. Coal To meet electricity needs, it makes no sense to close a coal plant, he said. Various electric utilities that have retired aging coal-fired plants, including Henderson Municipal Power & Light, have said such plants were no longer economically competitive and that cheaper power could be purchased from other sources. That trend has suppressed demand for coal in recent years. U.S. consumption of coal fell from 716.9 million tons in 2017 to 512.6 million tons in 2022, a decline of 28.5%, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. However, Adelman remarked that the Henderson County Mines reserves have good coal thats marketable for domestic use and international use, and global consumption of coal is on the rise, thanks largely to growing economies in south Asia such as in India. The International Energy Agency reported that global coal demand surpassed 8 billion metric tons for the first time last year, and it is forecasting that it will remain at similar levels in the following years in the absence of stronger efforts to accelerate the transition to clean energy internationally. People who dont believe in the future of coal arent paying attention, Schneider said. He emphasized that Henderson County officials have a healthy working relationship with Alliance. I want to make sure everybody understands that while this mine is new, Alliance is not new to Henderson County, Schneider said, recalling that when he was first appointed judge/executive in 2016, some of the first people I met with were Alliance officials, including Kim Humphrey, the companys Union County-based director of community and employee programs. (And, as was evident at the ceremony, local officials are on a first-name basis with CEO Craft, repeatedly referring to him as Joe.) Other officials lauded Alliance as well. Mills said having Alliance develop a mine in Henderson County is tremendous. Anytime you can welcome new jobs to Henderson County it is a great day, state Rep. Jonathan Dixon (R-Henderson) said. He said he grew up in the Little Dixie area of Henderson County and noted there were some concerns in the community over increased traffic and other issues when the mine was first announced last September. Joe and Kim are top-notch and they addressed those concerns, Dixon said. He also commended Henderson Economic Development, including Vanderpool and Whitney Risley, its director of existing industry and workforce development. River View Mine began operations in 2009 and is the largest room-and-pillar underground mine in North America. It produces about 9 million tons of coal annually and employs approximately 900 people, according to Adelman. Tulsa-based parent company Alliance Resource Partners reported a record year in 2022 with $2.4 billion in revenue and $577 million in net profits. Persons wanting to apply for a job with the Henderson County Mine can fill out an employment application in person at River View Coal at 835 Kentucky 1179 in Union County between Waverly and Uniontown. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: New Henderson County Mine set to hire, train hundreds of miners Hong Kong will ban more products from Japan if treated wastewater is discharged, its leader says FILE - An employee of Tokyo Electric Power Company explains to the media about the facility to be used to release treated radioactive water at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima, northern Japan, on June 26, 2023. Hong Kong's leader warned Tuesday, July 11, that the city will ban marine products from a large number prefectures if Japan discharges treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. (Kyodo News via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) HONG KONG (AP) Hong Kong's leader warned Tuesday that the city will ban marine products from a large number prefectures if Japan discharges treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. Chief Executive John Lee said in a press briefing that his government would err on the side of caution because the planned release of wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean is an unprecedented exercise. He said he has to take the issue seriously because it affects not only the current population of Hong Kong but also the next generation. The action we will take, if the exercise really starts, is that we will be banning a large number (of) prefectures' sea products, he said. But he did not name which prefectures and what products will be affected. A massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plants cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt and releasing large amounts of radiation. The tanks storing the water used since the accident to cool the reactor cores will reach their capacity in early 2024. In 2021, Japans government announced plans to gradually release the treated but still slightly radioactive water following its dilution to what it says are safe levels. Japanese officials say the water, currently stored in about a thousand tanks at the plant, needs to be removed to prevent accidental leaks in case of an earthquake and to make room for the plants decommissioning. On Monday, the operator of the wrecked nuclear plant began testing equipment constructed for discharging the wastewater. Last week, the United Nations nuclear agency endorsed the plan, saying it meets international standards and the environmental and health impact would be negligible. But the plan has faced fierce protests from local fishing communities concerned about safety and reputational damage. Neighboring countries, including South Korea, China and Pacific Island nations, have also raised safety concerns. Chinese authorities last week highlighted import restrictions on food products from 10 prefectures in Japan, including Fukushima. The Hong Kong government will formulate policies in response to Japan's plans, Lee said Tuesday, and they will be announced when ready. The risks are very unknown, he said. I must ensure that food safety is protected in Hong Kong. In the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city, the import of certain products such as fruits and vegetables from Fukushima is currently banned. Other products such as meat and poultry from there are allowed in if they come with a radiation certificate. The import of many food products from four other Japanese prefectures immediately south of Fukushima Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Chiba will also have to be accompanied with radiation certificate. Last year, the major food imports from Japan amounted to about 2% of the total food supply in Hong Kong, official data showed. Although the city is not highly dependent on Japanese food products in terms of quantity, many residents are fond of Japanese food and there are many Japanese restaurants across the territory, the government said. Atlanta, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlanta, Georgia - HOPE worldwide Lawes road clinic U.S. Secretary of State Blinken ATLANTA, GA (June 27, 2023) - HOPE worldwide, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to providing sustainable, high-impact, community-based services, including critical healthcare services, disaster relief, and education, to underserved communities globally, is proud to announce the recognition received by the Lawes Road Clinic in Papua New Guinea during a recent visit by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. This visit highlighted the impactful work carried out by HOPE worldwide global network member, HOPE worldwide Papua New Guinea (PNG), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the U.S. governments largest effort to combat HIV. During his visit to Papua New Guinea, Secretary Blinken had the opportunity to tour HOPE worldwide PNGs Lawes Road Clinic, which is led by HOPE worldwide PNG Country Director Priscilla Sine Mal, and witness firsthand the incredible efforts undertaken by the dedicated team. The clinic's commitment to improving the lives of the local community in various areas, including HIV prevention and treatment, and treatment for victims of violence against women, deeply impressed Secretary Blinken. In his remarks, Secretary Blinken expressed his admiration for the clinic's work, stating, "This was a real privilege to be here at the Lawes Road Clinic where quite literally our partners are saving lives, changing lives, every single day." The visit showcased the significant impact of HOPE worldwide Papua New Guineas clinic on the region, highlighting its vital role in providing essential healthcare services to those most in need and who often have the most difficult time getting treatment, in part due to the social stigma often associated with their conditions. The Lawes Road Clinic operates under the auspices of the Presidential Emergency Plan For HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), funded through USAID and implemented in collaboration with FHI 360 and HOPE worldwide. The clinic has been instrumental in providing critical care, support, and testing for HIV/AIDS patients in Papua New Guinea, contributing to the nationwide efforts to combat the disease. This year, PEPFAR celebrates its 20th anniversary, and its 17th year of implementation in Papua New Guinea. HOPE worldwide is honored by the recognition bestowed upon HOPE worldwide Papua New Guinea and the Lawes Road Clinic by Secretary Blinken and remains committed to its mission of transforming communities and improving lives through local, volunteer-based initiatives. With the continuous support of partners like USAID and the unwavering dedication of its teams on the ground, HOPE worldwide and its global network of members like HOPE worldwide PNG strive to create a healthier, more resilient future for all. About The Lawes Road Clinic in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea HOPE worldwide PNGs Lawes Road Clinic operates under the auspices of the Presidential Emergency Plan For HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), funded through USAID and implemented in collaboration with FHI 360 and HOPE worldwide. It is managed and staffed by HOPE worldwide Papua New Guinea, with a dedicated team led by Country Director Priscilla Sine Mal. The clinic has been instrumental in providing critical care, support, and testing for HIV/AIDS patients in Papua New Guinea, contributing to the nationwide efforts to combat the disease. About HOPE worldwide HOPE worldwide is an international charity that partners with our neighbors in need, equips volunteers, responds to disasters and strengthens communities to inspire greater hope in our world. Today HOPE worldwide serves more than 1.5 million people annually on every inhabited continent. For over 30 years, motivated by Gods love, HOPE worldwide continues to be an organization dedicated to serving, teaching, healing and loving communities made vulnerable due to poverty, disease or disasters. Together everyone can inspire greater hope in the world. Learn more at HOPEww.org ### For more information about HOPE worldwide, contact the company here: HOPE worldwide Ryan Brown, Director of Communications 470-816-2255 hope.worldwide@hopeww.org 290 Interstate N Cir SE, Suite 130 Atlanta, GA 30339 CONTACT: Ryan Brown, Director of Communications A Foxconn shareholder poses for photos after the annual shareholder meeting in New Taipei City By Yimou Lee TAIPEI (Reuters) -The Indian government and Foxconn had concerns over the financial situation of Vedanta, which led to the Taiwanese company parting ways with Vedanta on a chipmaking joint venture, sources familiar with the information told Reuters. Indian conglomerate Vedanta Ltd's London-based parent, Vedanta Resources, has been plagued by a rising debt pile. In a statement to Reuters, Vedanta said its Indian unit, Vedanta Ltd, is in "a comfortable financial position" and there was "no basis" to such speculation. India's IT ministry did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Some ratings agencies downgraded Vedanta Resources this year amid concerns about risks of a debt default. There have been no defaults on debts from the group, Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal has said. (Reporting by Yimouy Lee; Additional reporting by Aditya Kalra and Munsif V; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) HONG KONG, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Integrum Global , a provider of transformative technology solutions, is excited to announce its entry into the Hong Kong market with the establishment of Integrum (HK) Limited. This significant milestone follows Integrum Global's successful pre-seed funding round, securing SGD 1.5 million earlier this year. Building on its success in Singapore, Integrum Global is now ready to drive digital innovation in Hong Kong. Dr Jack Hong, Founder and CEO of Integrum Global (third from right) at the Singapore Business Review Technology Excellence Awards with members from EVCo and Origin Exterminators last month, receiving an award in the category of AI-Environmental Services. With a focus on delivering rapid experimentation and speed to production, Integrum Global specialises in digital transformation by offering a range of capabilities, including computer vision applications, large language models (LLMs), and optimisation using deep reinforcement learning techniques. Their integrative and composable platform solution, Kailash, empowers enterprises by bridging digital capability gaps rapidly, efficiently, and at scale. In their latest project, Integrum Global has made significant strides in the mobility sector, supporting EVCo (Strides-DST) in revolutionising the transport industry. In addition, their collaboration with Origin Exterminators resulted in impressive outcomes, such as a 50% reduction in manpower requirements and a 45% decrease in working hours, achieved through streamlined assignment workflows and improved resource utilisation. "We are thrilled to bring Integrum Global's cutting-edge solutions and expertise to the vibrant market of Hong Kong," said Dr Jack Hong, Founder and CEO of Integrum Global. "Our proven track record in Singapore enabling organisational digital transformation in various industries, positions us well to make a significant impact on businesses and society in Hong Kong." Dr Ke Jinghao, Chief Research Officer of Integrum Global, added, "Integrum Global is driven by a passion for leveraging data and AI to drive real-world outcomes. We are excited to bring our decade of business transformation experience to collaborate with businesses, organisations, and educational institutions in Hong Kong, enabling them to harness the power of AI for sustainable growth and success." Integrum Global aims to demonstrate its expertise in data-driven solutions and artificial intelligence (AI) as they focus on bringing in solutions and capabilities to serve customers and companies in Hong Kong. Their commitment to digital transformation extends beyond business solutions as they are proud supporters of Travcon Academy's drone program at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, which will also be introduced to the Hong Kong Adventist Academy. Apart from its commitment to technological excellence, Integrum Global is dedicated to nurturing talent in the field of data science and AI by actively engaging in training youth and working professionals in Hong Kong to ensure that the local workforce is equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the digital age. As Integrum Global expands into Hong Kong, it is ready to revolutionise industries, empower businesses, and unlock a world of new possibilities through the strategic application of data and AI. Backed by a solid foundation in academia, research, operational implementation, and entrepreneurship, Integrum Global strives to bring the capabilities and potential of AI to businesses, automating processes and driving remarkable efficiency gains. For more information about Integrum Global and its transformative solutions, please visit https://integrum.global. About Integrum Global: Integrum Global is a leading provider of transformative technology solutions, empowering businesses to achieve digital excellence through the strategic integration of data and artificial intelligence (AI). With a focus on delivering tangible results and driving sustainable growth, Integrum Global offers cutting-edge capabilities in computer vision applications, large language models (LLMs), and optimisation using deep reinforcement learning techniques. The company's integrative platform solution, Kailash, enables enterprises to rapidly close digital capability gaps and achieve scalable transformation. Media Contact Information For further media enquiries or interview requests, please contact info@socium.sg. ( Socium is the PR partner for Integrum Global) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/integrum-global-announces-new-international-office-in-hong-kong-301874007.html SOURCE Integrum Global One simple way to benefit from the stock market is to buy an index fund. But if you buy good businesses at attractive prices, your portfolio returns could exceed the average market return. Just take a look at Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX), which is up 64%, over three years, soundly beating the market return of 33% (not including dividends). On the other hand, the returns haven't been quite so good recently, with shareholders up just 5.3% , including dividends . With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. View our latest analysis for Raytheon Technologies To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. During three years of share price growth, Raytheon Technologies achieved compound earnings per share growth of 0.2% per year. This EPS growth is lower than the 18% average annual increase in the share price. This indicates that the market is feeling more optimistic on the stock, after the last few years of progress. It's not unusual to see the market 're-rate' a stock, after a few years of growth. The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). We know that Raytheon Technologies has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? If you're interested, you could check this free report showing consensus revenue forecasts. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Raytheon Technologies the TSR over the last 3 years was 77%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective Raytheon Technologies provided a TSR of 5.3% over the last twelve months. But that return falls short of the market. On the bright side, the longer term returns (running at about 8% a year, over half a decade) look better. Maybe the share price is just taking a breather while the business executes on its growth strategy. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Raytheon Technologies better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Raytheon Technologies that you should be aware of before investing here. But note: Raytheon Technologies may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here One simple way to benefit from the stock market is to buy an index fund. But many of us dare to dream of bigger returns, and build a portfolio ourselves. For example, the Wincanton plc (LON:WIN) share price is up 53% in the last three years, clearly besting the market return of around 5.8% (not including dividends). Now it's worth having a look at the company's fundamentals too, because that will help us determine if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. See our latest analysis for Wincanton In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During the three years of share price growth, Wincanton actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) drop 4.4% per year. Companies are not always focussed on EPS growth in the short term, and looking at how the share price has reacted, we don't think EPS is the most important metric for Wincanton at the moment. So other metrics may hold the key to understanding what is influencing investors. We note that the dividend is higher than it was preciously, so that may have assisted the share price. It could be that the company is reaching maturity and dividend investors are buying for the yield. The revenue growth of about 8.9% per year might also encourage buyers. The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). This free interactive report on Wincanton's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Wincanton's TSR for the last 3 years was 65%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective Wincanton shareholders are down 27% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 1.0%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 1.5%, each year, over five years. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Wincanton you should know about. If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will launch the IATA World Sustainability Symposium (WSS) in Madrid, Spain on October 3-4. With governments now aligned with the industrys commitment to decarbonize aviation by 2050, this symposium will facilitate critical discussions, in seven key areas: The overall strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, including Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) The crucial role of government and policy support Effective implementation of sustainability measures Financing the energy transition Measuring, tracking and reporting emissions Addressing non-CO2 emissions The significance of value chains In 2021 airlines committed to net zero emissions by 2050. Last year governments made the same commitment through the International Civil Aviation Organization. Now the WSS will bring together the global community of sustainability experts in the industry and governments to debate and discuss the key enablers for aviations successful decarbonization, our biggest challenge ever, said Willie Walsh, IATAs Director General who is confirmed to speak at WSS. The WSS will provide a platform specifically tailored for airline sustainability professionals, regulators and policy makers, as well as stakeholders in the industrys value chain. Speakers will include: Patrick Healy, Chair, Cathay Pacific Roberto Alvo, CEO, LATAM Airlines Group Robert Miller, Professor of Aerothermal Technology and Director of the Whittle Laboratory at the University of Cambridge Suzanne Kearns, Founding Director, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aviation (WISA) Andre Zollinger, Policy Manager, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT Marie Owens Thomsen, Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, IATA TradeArabia News Service Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Fraport fair value estimate is 92.35 Current share price of 48.40 suggests Fraport is potentially 48% undervalued Our fair value estimate is 66% higher than Fraport's analyst price target of 55.74 Does the July share price for Fraport AG (ETR:FRA) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Fraport The Model We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) -211.6m 190.9m 498.0m 766.0m 975.9m 1.16b 1.32b 1.45b 1.55b 1.62b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x9 Analyst x9 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 27.40% Est @ 19.25% Est @ 13.55% Est @ 9.55% Est @ 6.76% Est @ 4.80% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 12% -189 152 353 485 551 586 593 580 552 516 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 4.2b After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 12%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = 1.6b (1 + 0.2%) (12% 0.2%) = 14b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 14b ( 1 + 12%)10= 4.4b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is 8.5b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 48.4, the company appears quite good value at a 48% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Fraport as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 12%, which is based on a levered beta of 2.000. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Fraport Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Weakness Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the German market. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Looking Ahead: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Fraport, we've compiled three relevant items you should explore: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 2 warning signs for Fraport (1 can't be ignored!) we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does FRA's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every German stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here (Bloomberg) -- Jack Mas fortune is dwindling further as a planned repurchase of shares reveals a much reduced valuation for Ant Group Co., the payments business he co-founded. Most Read from Bloomberg The 58-year-old tycoon has a 9.9% stake thats now estimated to be worth $4.1 billion less than almost a year ago, based on the share buyback, average analyst estimates and Fidelity Investments valuation, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Once Chinas richest person, Ma could now be worth about $30 billion, less than half of his peak fortune prior to the derailing of the worlds biggest initial public offering in 2020, according to Bloombergs wealth index. Chinese authorities said on Friday they would wrap up a probe of Ant, with the company paying a fine of almost $1 billion. The Jack Ma Foundation didnt respond to an emailed request for comment. The financial technology firm has had to overhaul its business model, pulling back from sensitive sectors and easing up on competition with state-backed banks. Its valuation, envisioned at roughly $315 billion after the IPO, has dropped to about $78.5 billion with Ants proposed share buy back. Ant might need to rebuild its profit base as its 2022 earnings almost halved from 2020, despite the likely end of the regulatory probe, which could delay its plan to relaunch its IPO, Francis Chan, a senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, said in a note Monday. We calculate its value at just $24-$60 billion. Ma, who is also co-founder of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., gave up controlling rights in Ant in January as he further retreats from his online empire following Chinas unprecedented tech crackdown. In its 2022 annual report, Alibaba reiterated that Mas direct and indirect economic interest in Ant Group will be reduced over time to a percentage that doesnt exceed 8.8%. Read More: Fidelity Cuts Ant Group Valuation by Another 9% to $64 Billion The former English teacher returned to his hometown of Hangzhou to visit a school in March, after spending years traveling overseas since the government cracked down on private sectors. Hes still Chinas fifth-richest person, according to the Bloomberg index, which tracks the worlds 500 wealthiest people. Fidelity trimmed its valuation estimate for Ant to about $63.8 billion as of the end of November. The fintech giant recorded a 56% slump in quarterly profit in the three months ended Dec. 31., a May regulatory filing shows. Mas interest in Ant is based on his ownership in Hangzhou Junhan and Hangzhou Junao, two limited partnerships that mainly count Ant executives as shareholders, according to a Bloomberg analysis of the companys 2020 IPO prospectus. The buyback plan would allow Ants existing shareholders to sell as much as 7.6% of its equity interest, granting a way to cash out part of their investment. The individual limited partners of Junhan and Junao decided not to participate in the Ant buyback out of the long-term commitment to the company. --With assistance from Jane Zhang and Pei Yi Mak. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Slots machine showing up three one thousand pound signs illustration Jeremy Hunt used his first Mansion House speech on Monday night to make a bold pledge: todays young workers will be 1,000-a-year better off in retirement thanks to a series of post-Brexit reforms. The Chancellor hopes to unlock better returns for pension savers by encouraging retirement funds to invest more cash in riskier but higher yielding ventures such as start-ups and private equity. While the Chancellors plans may be met with scepticism in certain parts of the City, executives in the Square Mile largely welcomed the Governments attempts to overhaul the investment landscape amid growing fears that London is falling behind rival financial centres. UK pension funds stand accused of becoming increasingly conservative in their investment strategies over the last two decades to the detriment of both pensioners and businesses. Data shows funds have largely shunned investment in UK stocks and instead placed their capital in safer but less lucrative assets such as bonds. Figures released earlier this year by the think tank New Financial showed that pension funds investment in UK stocks has plunged from 53pc of total assets in 1997 to just 6pc in 2021. Critics argue that this so-called de-equitisation is part of the reason why UK retirement funds have delivered lower returns than their counterparts in Australia and Canada, which have been given more freedom to invest in higher risk asset classes such as listed and early-stage companies, venture capital and private equity. Hunt is trying to reverse that trend to the benefit of both pension savers and British businesses who stand to raise cheaper capital more easily if retirement funds pile in. On Monday, Hunt revealed a new agreement among some of Britains biggest pension providers, including Phoenix, Aviva and Legal & General, to commit 5pc of their DC investments into productive assets like early-stage companies and private equity. The Treasury estimates that this could unlock up to 50bn of investment into fast-growing companies by 2030 if the rest of the UKs DC market follows suit. The Chancellor said: Todays announcements could have a real and significant impact on people across the country. For an average earner who starts saving at 18, these measures could increase the size of their pension pot by 12pc over their career thats worth over 1,000 more a year in retirement. The 1,000 figure will prove difficult to audit given the long horizon of the prediction. Yet whether the exact number proves to be accurate or not, Steve Webb, a former pensions minister, agreed that the proposed changes could make a significant difference. Hunt also announced measures to accelerate the consolidation of pension pots to create superfunds that have the scale needed to invest in high-growth companies and other illiquid assets. The reforms have been well received in the City. David Livingstone, Citigroups chief executive for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said they would be key to the collective prosperity of all the countrys pensioners, while also creating a higher growth, more productive, and innovative economy. Encouraging the creation of superfunds would be immensely beneficial to the UK, he added. In terms of DB pension funds, Hunt announced a consultation on the possible role the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and DB schemes could play in productive investment whilst still securing members interests and protecting the sound functioning and effectiveness of the gilt market. The PPF currently protects people in retirement schemes when their employer goes bust but the pensions lifeboat has consistently delivered higher returns than many other schemes thanks to its large and diverse investment portfolio. Earlier this year, Sir Tony Blairs think tank proposed merging thousands of smaller DB schemes into just half a dozen 400bn superfunds to turbocharge investment in businesses and infrastructure. While Webb said he disagrees with Blairs horrifically complicated proposal, he said reforming the sector to make better use of DB scheme assets has the potential to be win-win. He said: There is the potential for these huge funds to be invested for long-term growth creating a larger pie to be shared around, whilst ensuring DB member benefits are fully secured. As well as boosting retirement incomes, Hunt hopes his new reforms will also improve the standing of Londons financial sector. The Chancellor hopes that the reforms will channel pension capital into fast-growing British businesses, allowing them to grow in the UK and ultimately list in London. The City has struggled to attract new stock market listings in recent years compared to venues like New York, especially when it comes to fast-growing technology companies. Cambridge-based tech darling Arm exemplified this trend earlier this year after announcing that it would snub the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in favour of New York. Worse still, UK companies are increasingly fleeing abroad. Last week, Julia Hoggett, chief executive of the LSE, warned that the City risks falling into a perpetual cycle of decline without urgent action to halt the flight of companies abroad. While Hunt said he recognised the challenges, he was quick to play up the strength of the UKs financial services industry. He said: A strong City needs a successful economy, and a strong economy needs a successful City. Recent challenges have led some to lose hope and even peddle a declinist narrative. They are profoundly wrong. Other changes announced on Monday aimed at boosting Londons competitiveness including scrapping Mifid 2 rules, the unpopular EU legislation that forced financial companies to separate the cost of investment research from trading expenses. This time last year, Hunt had crashed out of the Conservative leadership election in the first round and his chances of holding high office again appeared slim. Twelve months on and his fortunes have turned around. The Mansion House audience will be hoping Hunt can be similarly effective in breathing new life into the Square Mile. 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. JetBlue stock (JBLU) fell as much as 3% on Tuesday after a rating downgrade from Evercore ISI that cited balance sheet concerns from the airline's merger with Spirit. Analysts downgraded JetBlue to Underweight from In-line and left the price target unchanged at $8. Evercore ISI analysts cited JetBlue's pending merger with Spirit and the impact it will have on the companys balance sheet as a reason. The acquisition will cost JetBlue $3.8 billion in cash. While there will be twists and turns along the way, we believe the Spirit acquisition ultimately gets done while the premium JBLU is paying for Spirit continues to expand, wrote Duane Pfennigwerth and his team. The companys balance sheet is on a journey from average to worst, they added. JetBlue Airbus A321LR is displayed at the 54th International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 20, 2023. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier In contrast, Delta (DAL), which kicks off airline earnings on Thursday is a top pick at Evercore ISI. The company is expected to double its profit over the second quarter of last year on the back of lower costs and pricing power. Calling it a strong leadoff hitter, the analysts noted Delta has done a nice job expectation-setting this year, aided by lower fuel, while a recent investor day was a good reminder of Deltas positive longer term attributes. The company aims at prioritizing free cash flow and debt reduction. Lower jet fuel costs are expected to balance out higher labor expenses. Earlier this year, Delta announced a new agreement with pilots that offers $7 billion in higher pay and benefits. The major airline stocks are up more than 40% year-to-date. Travel stocks have gone through the roof this year, with cruise line operators gaining the most, followed by the airlines. Delta is up 47% year-to-date, while JetBlue is up 40% and American Airlines (AAL) is 46% higher during the same period. Travel and Leisure is one of the sectors of the economy that has been going strong despite the Feds initiatives to tighten monetary policy. Ines is a senior business reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @ines_ferre Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance By buying an index fund, you can roughly match the market return with ease. But many of us dare to dream of bigger returns, and build a portfolio ourselves. Just take a look at Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (NYSE:JLL), which is up 57%, over three years, soundly beating the market return of 33% (not including dividends). On the back of a solid 7-day performance, let's check what role the company's fundamentals have played in driving long term shareholder returns. View our latest analysis for Jones Lang LaSalle 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. Jones Lang LaSalle was able to grow its EPS at 0.4% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. In comparison, the 16% per year gain in the share price outpaces the EPS growth. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did three years ago. That's not necessarily surprising considering the three-year track record of earnings growth. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Jones Lang LaSalle's earnings, revenue and cash flow. A Different Perspective Jones Lang LaSalle shareholders are down 7.5% for the year, but the market itself is up 15%. 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. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 0.6% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Even so, be aware that Jones Lang LaSalle is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those can't be ignored... Of course Jones Lang LaSalle may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here We just dont like him: Mike Ashley goes to war with Morgan Stanley Mike Ashley Morgan Stanley feud Morgan Stanley demanded 1bn in cash from Frasers following a personal visceral objection to Mike Ashley from the banks most senior dealmaker, the High Court has heard. Simon Smith, joint global head of investment banking, allegedly rejected an attempt by Mr Ashley to open a prime brokerage account over animus towards him. Such a relationship with Morgan Stanley would have given Frasers access to the full suite of financial tools used by institutions and hedge funds to play the markets. In an email to subordinates in March 2021 Mr Smith, then head of Europe, wrote: Guys its coming to me that we are talking to Mike Ashleys team and its getting more real. I honestly dont like it It will take an awful lot to convince me. Documents disclosed to the court by Morgan Stanley describe Mr Smiths reaction as visceral. There is no suggestion that his view was unlawful. When Morgan Stanley discovered Frasers was using its share trading services through the back door two months later, it sparked a series of concerned phone calls between bankers about the franchise risk of doing business with Mr Ashley, the documents show. They referred to him as an activist investor whose campaigns to influence his targets might threaten the banks relationships with other corporate clients. The documents cite a very clear edict from our CEO [James Gorman] around this type of business and our inability to support it. In one transcript, Dominic Freemantle, a senior equities banker, told colleague Chris Cheverall: [The investment banking division] have had interactions with [Mr Ashley] in the past where they think that he did not behave in a way that was trustworthy. These are the words that theyre throwing around. Mr Cheverall subsequently told another colleague: We just dont like the ultimate beneficial owner behind it. We just dont like him. A spokesman for Morgan Stanley said: Frasers has never been a client of Morgan Stanley. This claim is contrived and without merit and we will defend it vigorously. Frasers, a frequent High Court claimant, is pursuing a damages claim against Morgan Stanley that it believes will expose what it regards as the machinations of the investment banking establishment. At a hearing last month Morgan Stanley agreed to add Mr Smith to the list of individuals whose communications will be searched for evidence before a trial next year. The bank denies any wrongdoing in what it labels a contrived claim from a company with which it has never had a direct contractual relationship. It told the court it has absolute discretion over whether to accept a client. In circumstances where one division of Morgan Stanley had rejected Frasers as a client, it is entirely unsurprising that another division declined to adopt an inconsistent stance, Morgan Stanley told the High Court. The case hinges on Frasers claims that the margin call was unlawful because it was arbitrary, irrational, capricious, and/or in breach of good faith and/or market practice. At 1bn it was out of all proportion to any risk to which Morgan Stanley was exposed, Fraser alleges. After the retailer was refused a brokerage account, it turned to the much smaller Danish institution Saxo Bank to help it build a stake in the German fashion house Hugo Boss. One of Mr Ashleys frequent stock market punts on what he viewed as an undervalued target, the investment in Boss was also intended to improve Frasers relationship with an important supplier to its House of Fraser and Flannels chains. The margin call a demand for cash within hours to cover the risk of adverse share price movements was calculated and imposed on Saxo and passed onto Frasers after Morgan Stanley applied a stress test that assumed a 400pc move in Boss stock. The Wall Street giant maintains that it did not know Mr Ashley was Saxos client when it imposed the margin call, which came against a backdrop of increased concern over risk in the market. However, Frasers alleges that Mr Smiths view of Mr Ashley played a significant role in Morgan Stanleys irrational refusal to accept attempts to pledge shares or other collateral. Frasers had used options to build its stake and offered to pledge its actual shares in Boss. When that was turned down Mr Ashley offered up his entire 1.9bn stake in Frasers, as well as 100m cash as collateral, which was also rejected. It threatened to force Mr Ashley into a chaotic retreat that he claims would have destabilised the entire Frasers empire through speculation about its finances. The retailer told the High Court this represented an inappropriate attempt to coerce Frasers into closing out its positions and/or transferring the options away from Morgan Stanley. Through the disclosure process it is seeking to explore whether Morgan Stanley might have somehow benefitted from such trades. It denies it was acting as an activist against Boss. The bank told the court its decisions on collateral were rational and partly driven by Frasers insistence it gave unacceptable undertakings. Documents show that while negotiations with Frasers and Saxo remained open, Morgan Stanley had decided it would not accept any form of collateral and wanted the Boss position off its books. The sensitivities of its apparently shifted position described in one internal call as moving the goalposts meant it would seek a very quiet off the record conversation with Saxo to explain. Mr Freemantle told Mr Cheverall: I dont want to have a f---ing call with five people mate if were going to have this conversation with them about this issue it has to be a quiet conversation. Later that day Mr Cheverall told a colleague he had been warned not to say anything negative about Frasers. These people dont hesitate to get litigious, he said. The case has taken on new significance as Frasers steps up its investing in other companies in the retail industry. In just the last few weeks it has emerged on the shareholder registers at Boohoo, AO World, Currys and Next, and increased its stake in Asos. After parting company with Saxo and Morgan Stanley, Mr Ashley was able to agree a prime brokerage account with HSBC which he is now using to confound retail analysts as to his aims. Mr Ashley was able to transfer the Boss options with significant commercial and reputational damage risked by the margin call. Nevertheless, Frasers has claimed more than 45m in damages from the restrictions the crisis imposed on its share dealing. The case continues. 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. Health insurers in Michigan are looking to raise premiums again next year, with soaring demand for expensive diabetes and weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy contributing to what they consider necessary rate hikes. A report from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, which reviews and approves insurers' rates, shows that health insurance companies are seeking increases that would average 7.1% for their 2024 small group policies those for businesses and organizations with fewer than 51 employees. There are currently 428,328 Michiganders enrolled in such plans. Ozempic was originally approved by the FDA to treat people with Type 2 diabetes who risk serious health consequences without medication. In recent months, there has been a spike in demand for Ozempic, or semaglutide, due to its weight loss benefits, which has led to shortages. Some doctors prescribe Ozempic off-label to treat obesity. For individual policies, such as those sold on the Healthcare.gov website, also known as Obamacare, insurers are seeking an average 5.5% increase. Those plans currently cover 372,999 Michiganders. Last year, state regulators approved rate increases that averaged 5.8% for small groups and 5.5% for individual plans. Insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan cited "higher-than-average pharmacy cost trends" as among the reasons it needs to raise rates. More: Obamacare in Michigan: How Affordable Care Act tax credits boosted enrollment More: Surge of Michigan urgent cares may have saturated the market Some of those costs relate to the increasingly popular class of injectable GLP-1 drugs used for treating Type 2 diabetes and obesity. In an interview Monday, Blue Cross Chief Pharmacy Officer Atheer Kaddis said the insurer began noticing a big increase in demand for the class of drugs starting late last year. Some of the drugs, such as Ozempic, are specifically for Type 2 diabetes, yet also have significant weight-loss side effects because they suppress a person's appetite. Others, such as Wegovy, are specifically aimed at weight loss and aren't primarily for diabetes. Kaddis cited two things for the uptick in demand: new diabetes treatment guidelines that recommend Ozempic-type drugs as first-line treatments and the widespread promotion on social media of the various drugs' weight-loss effects. Some doctors have been prescribing the diabetes drugs for off-label use by patients who don't have diabetes and just want to go down in waist size. "They are very effective for weight loss," Kaddis said. "Most people will see between 10 to 15% body weight loss when theyre on these drugs. Health insurers are seeking higher rates for 2024. But the drugs aren't cheap. The list price for popular GLP-1 drugs is roughly $1,000 to $1,200 for a month's supply or $12,000-plus per year. Health insurers generally pay less than list price, although precisely how much less is not typically disclosed. Since Feb. 1, Blue Cross has required prior authorization for the GLP-1 diabetes drugs including Ozempic. It took this step to ensure that only diabetes patients are getting the drugs not people simply wanting to lose weight. However, Blue Cross is continuing to cover the off-label use of Ozempic-type drugs until Aug. 15 for the patients who were on the drugs prior to Feb. 1. According to Kaddis, Blue Cross found that about 25% of patients on the diabetes drugs were using them off-label. Health Alliance Plan also has been experiencing high pharmacy costs stemming from the popularity of GLP-1 drugs. Margaret Anderson, a HAP senior vice president, said the insurer expects the drugs to ultimately have a positive effect on the overall health of patients who are taking them in the next 12 to 18 months, "so right now we are paying those upfront costs." HAP currently is not covering the Ozempic-type drugs for patients who don't have diabetes yet wish to use them off-label, she said. "Were working really hard to make sure that these drugs are covered for the people who really need them," Anderson said. "There are people who will ask if they can just pay out-of-pocket. And thats between them and their doctor." To be sure, weight-loss drugs aren't the sole reason why health insurers want to raise premiums for 2024. Blue Cross has also seen significant increases in price and demand for specialty pharmaceuticals used to treat cirrhosis and dermatitis and for the drug Humira. For early 2023, The Blue's entire book of business saw pharmacy cost increases of over 20%. Blue Cross is seeking a 6.7% rate increase for its small group PPO plans and a 5.8% increase for its small group HMO plans, according to the state. HAP is seeking a 12.8% rate increase in 2024 for its small group plans, largely as a result of higher demand for preventive care, health screenings and other services. Were just seeing a very high amount of utilization," said Anderson of HAP. Were happy that people are getting out and getting the care, its just that there is a tremendous amount of pent-up demand still in the system were needing to work through. The Department of Insurance and Financial Services is accepting public comments on the proposed rate increases until July 24. Comments can be sent to the email address DIFS-healthratecomments@michigan.gov. Contact JC Reindl: 313-378-5460 or jcreindl@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @jcreindl. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mich. insurers seek premium hikes as demand for weight-loss drugs soar (Bloomberg) -- The implied chance of Microsoft Corp.s takeover of Activision Blizzard Inc. going through jumped to around 80% from roughly 40% a day earlier after a US judge gave the deal a green light. Most Read from Bloomberg The odds are calculated assuming the stocks standalone value without a deal is in the $75 to $80 range, according to Aaron Glick, a merger arbitrage specialist at TD Cowen. Shares in the video-game company rose 10% to $90.99 on Tuesday, putting its gap with Microsofts $95-a-share offer at about $4, compared with $12.70 at the end of trading Monday. Investors are clearly more encouraged about the deals path to closing after the courts ruling, which also prompted UK regulators to pause their litigation over the $69 billion takeover. Read: Microsoft Cleared to Buy Activision in US as UK Pauses Fight With the companies and the UK antitrust regulator seeking to work on a resolution, closing by the July 18 deal deadline is much more likely now, said Glick. Most arbs were previously skeptical that Microsoft would be able to resolve the UK challenge, he noted. Since the deal was announced in early 2022, its spread has fluctuated alongside regulatory updates, with shares sinking to almost $70 in November before gradually climbing back. Still, Activision remains one of the most popular positions for merger arbitragers, attracting bets from experienced players like Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and Pentwater Capital. Some traders even packed into the San Francisco courtroom last month to follow the hearing. By the end, a consensus emerged that the US Federal Trade Commission was unlikely to be able to pause the deal. Developments in the Microsoft-Activision merger also gave a boost to other pending deals that are facing heightened regulatory scrutiny. VMware Inc., which Broadcom Inc. proposed to acquire for $61 billion, climbed 5.2%, while iRobot Corp., which agreed to be bought by Amazon.com Inc, rose 2.2%. Perceptions changed dramatically toward the Activision deal after the US clearance, and more importantly the news from the UK Competition and Markets Authority, said Cabot Henderson, who focuses on arbitrage and special situations at JonesTrading. Before the market saw the deal as a tossup, he said. It would now be a surprise were it not to close. (Updated stock price, chart; added seventh graph on other deals) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. VANCOUVER, BC, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) (OTCQX: NKGFF) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its 100%-owned Atlanta Gold Mine Project, located in the prolific Battle Mountain Trend 264km northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. Highlights: The Company recently staked an additional 947 lode claims around the existing Atlanta land package, increasing total claims held to 1,562, covering 131 km 2 or 13,100 hectare (Figure 1). The land package now covers and creates a buffer around all high-priority gold prospects in and around the Atlanta district identified historically and by Nevada King through its geophysical, geological, and geochemical studies conducted since 2019. The Company has commenced a Phase II CSAMT (Controlled Source Audio-frequency Magneto-tellurics) survey, a low-impact, non-intrusive, ground geophysical survey method that provides critical information about geologic structure and lithology, particularly in debris covered terrain such is as at Atlanta. Nevada King initially conducted a 51 line kilometre Phase I CSAMT survey in 2022 that covered 8.3 km 2 centred over the current resource zone. Results outlined known structural features and faults and identified a number of new structures and high-priority targets at Atlanta, two of which led to the development of the East Ridge and South Extension Targets. Based on the CSAMT survey's high degree of accuracy with respect to locating mineralized structures, the Company has expanded the survey to 111 line-kilometres in order to cover potential distal target areas throughout the Atlanta district (Figure 2). The new CSAMT data will be integrated with 56 km2 of detailed ground gravity, 119 km2 of drone magnetic surveys and geochemical data as well as existing showings in order to enhance the existing exploration model. The Company anticipates releasing a detailed review of district targets at Atlanta in the coming weeks. Cal Herron, Exploration Manager of Nevada King, commented, "Nevada King's initial interest in acquiring the Atlanta Project centred on the district-scale potential connected to hydrothermal activity localized around the perimeter of the Indian Peak caldera. Our drilling within the West Atlanta Graben target in late 2022 and early 2023 revealed potential for a much larger deposit hosted within the Tertiary volcanic section above the basement Paleozoic carbonates and quartzite. This West Atlanta Graben mineralization opened our eyes to the potential in the altered volcanic section west and south of the current Atlanta resource zone. Our district scale work has succcesfully identified numerous structural trends between various mineralized zones scattered across the district, thus occasioning the recent, major expansion in our claim holdings. The Company now possesses a substantial claim buffer zone outside of what we perceive to be the limit of volcanic-hosted mineralization around the Atlanta deposit." Figure 1. Current distribution of claims owned by Nevada King at Atlanta. (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.) Figure 2. Location of Phase 1 and Phase II CSAMT lines in relation to Atlanta pit, visible on top right. (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.) Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016, the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million-ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada. The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $19 million as of July 2023. The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a NI 43-101 compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000's) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Nevada King, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans and the Company's ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Nevada King Gold Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nevada-king-doubles-land-package-to-13-100-ha-at-atlanta-initiates-district-scale-csamt-survey-301873861.html SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp. OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Chick-fil-A will open its new Route 35 restaurant on Thursday as a new shopping center under construction at the corner of Deal Road continues to take shape. A sign has come up outside the restaurant ticking down the days. "Opening in 3 days," it said on Monday. Chick-fil-A will open at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. Its hours are 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The chain is closed on Sundays. At the new Ocean Commons shopping center, it joins Miller's Ale House, which has opened. Wawa is expected to open this summer and Turning Point, Qdoba Mexican Eats, LA Bikini, Great Clips, Strollo's Lighthouse and Sweat 440 are on the way too. Chick-fil-A will open its store on Route 35 in Ocean on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Ocean Township: New school boss is one of their own, and here's what she plans to do Ramon Varona, a Chick-fil-A owner and operator in Monmouth County since September 2020, is the franchisee for the Ocean restaurant. Chick-fil-A has other locations in Hazlet, Eatontown, Howell, Freehold Township, Brick and Stafford as well as spots at Freehold Raceway Mall and Monmouth Mall. "Throughout my time as an operator, Ive learned that a good leader creates a culture of care for our guests and team members, and my goal is to bring those principles to Chick-fil-A Ocean Township, Varona said in a statement. He has been with Chick-fil-A in various roles for more than 15 years. My goal is to create job opportunities for people to support their families, raise their children and achieve their aspirations and empower the next generation of leaders, Varona said. What's Going There? Hot chicken chain opening first Shore store in Ocean Township; sub sandwich chain too The new restaurant will have about 120 full- and part-time employees. As part of the opening, Chick-fil-A Inc. will donate $25,000 to Feeding America in honor of the new restaurant. These funds will be distributed to partners in the greater New Jersey area to aid in the fight against hunger. Chick-fil-A Ocean Township is recognizing 100 local heroes making an impact in the area by providing them with free Chick-fil-A entrees for a year. David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 25 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There and Press on Your Side columns and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Chick fil-A opening at Ocean Commons in Ocean Township Soaring to 1,022 feet, Waterline will become the tallest tower in Texas when it opens in 2026. The mixed-use high-rise in downtown Austin will have hotel rooms, office space and apartment units. Hello, and thank you for subscribing to Building Austin, our weekly newsletter focused on real estate, growth and development in the Austin region. I'm Shonda Novak, the American-Statesman's real estate reporter. I had occasion to chat with Perry Lorenz last week for an upcoming article about downtown Austin. Lorenz knows downtown as well as heck, better than most due to his longevity as an Austin-area real estate developer, investor, landowner and landlord, both downtown and East Austin. In both areas, he was a pioneer of mid- and high-rise development starting more than two decades ago. Lorenz is one of those legendary former Austin hippies from a bygone era who attended the University of Texas, earning a bachelor's degree in English and a few years later, an MBA. He has been credited with trying to help save landmark Austin venues like the iconic Hole in the Wall, a campus-area live music venue, and trying, though without success, to spare Eddie Wilson's beloved Threadgill's south Austin restaurant location at West Riverside Drive and Barton Springs Road from closing a few years ago. As high-rise development proliferated exponentially on Austin's skyline starting in the 2000s, Lorenz has been known for his involvement as a co-developer of downtown's highest-profile towers. They include Spring, the 42-story condo building near Whole Foods Market's flagship store and headquarters at West Sixth Street and Lamar Boulevard on downtown's west end, and The Independent, the 58-story condo high-rise (also known as the "Jenga tower" for its stacked, offset design) in downtown's Seaholm District. During our conversation, Lorenz dropped a detail that I wasn't aware of, but thought interesting to share. Lorenz said he has owned or controlled through partnerships many of the sites (all virtually full city blocks) where some of downtown Austin's tallest buildings now stand or soon will, in the case of the Waterline skyscraper now under construction in downtown's booming Rainey Street District. Austin real estate developer/investor Perry Lorenz The sites that Lorenz has co-owned or controlled have given rise to: The Independent and Spring condominium towers Waterline, the 74-story mixed-use tower on track to become the tallest skyscraper on Austin's skyline, and in all of Texas for that matter The ritzy 47-story Austin Fairmont hotel at East Cesar Chavez and Red River streets, which was built on land that Lorenz and business partner Robert Knight lease to the hotel The Bowie, a 36-story apartment tower near Whole Foods downtown 300 West Sixth, a 23-story office building downtown Sixth and Guadalupe, a 66-story mixed-use skyscraper under construction at that address. Sixth and Guadalupe currently stands as the tallest building on the Austin skyline at least for now, until Waterline eclipses it. Lorenz credits being "in the right business at the right time in the right town" for his ownership of the dirt where downtown's newest generation of towers have risen. "For the most part I got involved early, well before Austin became the center of the universe of booming downtowns," Lorenz said. Before the 1990s, "there was no real fascination with downtown Austin real estate," Lorenz recalls. "I believe every Class A office building up to that point had failed and had been taken back by the lender. Those projects got built but no one came. There were very few buyers and so little competition when buying down town property because projects simply didn't work financially. And all of that was complicated by the devastating bank/savings and loan bust that started in 1986." In addition, for those who may not know, here are a few other colorful factoids about Lorenz: He was one of the original bartenders at Austin's famed Soap Creek Saloon back in the day; he made sandwiches in the kitchen the night Pecan Street Cafe opened on East Sixth Street; he ran a printshop producing posters and underground comic books in San Francisco; and he appeared in, and was involved with, the making of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie in 1974. He's also a former longtime member, and past chairman, of both the city of Austin's Downtown Commission the city's Design Commission. My work isnt possible without Statesman subscribers. If you subscribe, thank you! And if you dont, please consider supporting us today.Have tips or story ideas? Contact me at 512.913.4503, snovak@statesman.com or @snovak999. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin's Perry Lorenz: One developer's true 'tall' tale By buying an index fund, investors can approximate the average market return. But if you choose individual stocks with prowess, you can make superior returns. For example, the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (SGX:O39) share price is up 32% in the last three years, clearly besting the market return of around 5.4% (not including dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 12% in the last year , including dividends . So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. See our latest analysis for Oversea-Chinese Banking In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One 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. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Oversea-Chinese Banking's TSR for the last 3 years was 50%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective We're pleased to report that Oversea-Chinese Banking shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 12% over one year. And that does include the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 6% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Oversea-Chinese Banking you should know about. Of course Oversea-Chinese Banking may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Singaporean exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Paradigm, a prominent crypto investment firm, has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) case against the U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex, saying it rejects the regulators unsupported attempt to expand its jurisdiction over crypto secondary markets. Amicus briefs are legal documents supplied to a court of law containing advice or information relating to a case from an organization or an individual who isn't party to a case and acts as a friend of the court. The SECs claims against Bittrex and the other crypto exchanges are fundamentally different from its many prior cases against token sellers, Paradigm said in a statement shared by the firms special counsel Rodrigo Seira. . @paradigm filed an amicus brief in SEC vs. Bittrex that rejects @SECGov unsupported attempt to expand its jurisdiction over crypto secondary marketshttps://t.co/o8VTXyK4Ow Rodrigo (@RSSH273) July 10, 2023 Paradigm also pointed out that while in those cases the SEC was seeking to regulate fundraising schemes under the Howey test, in the recent cases targeting crypto exchanges the agency is attempting to expand its authority past the initial fundraising transactions, to encompass downstream sales of crypto assets. Through these actions, which earlier this year involved Coinbase and Kraken, the SEC is wrongfully attempting to lay claim over crypto secondary markets, argues Paradigm. The Seattle-based Bittrex served American users until March this year when it announced it was winding down operations due to the "current U.S. regulatory and economic environment." Bittrex then filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, reporting more than 100,000 creditors with estimated liabilities and assets both within the $500 million to $1 billion range. The SEC filed charges against Bittrex a month earlier, alleging the crypto exchange failed to comply with securities laws. The lawsuit also named Bill Shihara, the co-founder and former CEO of Bittrex, as well as Bittrex Global, the Bermuda and Liechtenstein-based entity that is legally and operationally distinct from Bittrex US. SEC Charges Bittrex, Former CEO for Operating Unregistered Securities Exchange Bittrex lawsuit should be dismissed, says Paradigm The crypto investment firm, which in May filed a similar amicus brief in support of Coinbase, also slammed the SEC chair Gary Gensler, pointing to his own acknowledgment that the agency lacked the authority to regulate these same secondary markets. Paradigm maintains that since the time Gensler made those statements in 2021, the legal landscape surrounding the issue has remained unchanged. However, recent developments have seen the SEC assert that the agency now possesses the very same authority that Gensler acknowledged was absent. Consequently, the SEC is now pursuing the imposition of retroactive penalties on companies that have failed to comply with this newfound authority. Moreover, the crypto investment firm argues that even if a cryptocurrency asset was first sold in a fundraising event such as an ICO, the SEC has no legal basis to argue that the asset itself embodies an investment contract, or that secondary market transactions in that asset are investment contract transactions. In the last six years, the SEC has pursued dozens of enforcement actions against persons who have sold crypto assets as part of their fundraising efforts, and courts have agreed that some of those sales were 'investment contract' offerings under the Howey test, reads the court filing. SEC Chair Gary Gensler: The US Doesn't Need Cryptocurrency According to the firm, the few courts that managed to actually see with the distinction between token offerings and tokens involved have all recognized that the Howey test doesn't apply to transactions between third parties in a secondary market. "The SECs theories are thus completely unprecedented, said Paradigm, adding that the court should dismiss the Bittrex case. The firm also believes that instead of continued enforcement actions and lawsuits, the regulator should join Congress in working on crypto legislation that supports innovation and protects investors. Decrypt has reached out to Bittrex US for comment and will update this story once we hear back. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2023 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:PX)(OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that settlement agreements have been reached to resolve all outstanding litigation with respect to an action commenced in 2009 in the Ghana High Court involving the vendor of two of the four prospecting licenses comprising Pelangio's Obuasi property. The two prospecting licenses involved in the litigation and referenced as Kyereboso 2 License and Kyereboso 3 License in the attached Figure 1 are hereinafter referred to as the "Property". The litigation related to a dispute between the Property vendor's corporate history and the estate of one of its founding shareholders (the "Plaintiff). Pelangio was subsequently added as a co-defendant in 2012. Although no monetary consideration was claimed from Pelangio by the Plaintiff in the litigation, an interlocutory injunction had been granted which had the effect of preventing all parties from selling any interest in or conducting mining on the Property pending final determination of the matter. "This settlement is a positive development for Pelangio," stated Ingrid Hibbard President and CEO. "It avoids the continued uncertainty, expense, and burden associated with litigation and removes the injunction preventing the sale of any interest in or mining of the Property. We are excited to have these impediments removed and planning for the next phase of exploration at the Property is underway." Terms of Settlement The settlement provides that upon the acceptance of the settlement terms by the Ghana High Court and entry of such settlement terms as a binding consent judgment resulting in full resolution in addition to release of all claims asserted by the Plaintiff, or such claims that could have been asserted by the Plaintiff, directly or indirectly in the litigation and permanently releasing any injunction or other restrictions on the Property resulting from the litigation, Pelangio will make five payments of US$20,000 and issue Pelangio common shares having a value of CDN$50,000 in three tranches over one year, subject to approval of the share issuances by the TSXV. The consideration has been agreed upon as a compromise and final settlement of disputed claims and payment of the amounts set forth herein and the issuance of the Common Shares is not an admission of liability by any party and is not to be construed as an admission that any party engaged in any wrongful, tortious, or unlawful activity. Obuasi Property Pelangio's Obuasi Property consists of 4 prospecting licenses, including the Kyereboso 2 and 3 licenses, totaling 284.4 square kilometers in area and located adjacent to AngloGold-Ashanti's giant Obuasi Mine on the Ashanti Belt, the most gold endowed greenstone belt in West Africa. The Obuasi mine has produced over 33 million ounces of gold since 1897 and currently hosts a resource of 24.5 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 8.0 g/t Au including a Proved and Probable Reserve of 7.7 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 9.3 g/t Au. (Source: AngloGold Ashanti Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Report December 2022). The geological stratigraphy which hosts the Obuasi deposits extends into Pelangio's Obuasi Property and Obuasi-style geology, alteration and mineralization has been observed in historical drilling by Pelangio at multiple prospects. Pelangio conducted considerable work on the Obuasi Property between 2007 and 2011 until the Manfo Resource Project became the focus, including geological and geochemical surveys, trenching, airborne geophysical surveys and 28,000 meters of diamond drilling which was largely focussed upon a handful of prospects. The two principal target areas for continued exploration which have been delineated from Pelangio's work include the Obuasi Targets Area' along the extension of the Obuasi Mine stratigraphy, and the NGA (North Government Area) Targets Area' located along the Birimian-Tarkwaian contact structure. Refer to Figure 1. With a resumption of exploration activity on the Obuasi Property, one of the first prospects which will be revisited is located in the NGA Target Area where two Pelangio drill holes returned high-grade intercepts of 24.5 g/t Au over 1 meter and 11.3 g/t Au over 2 meters, and recent artisanal mining has sunk a series of shallow vertical shafts to explore and mine quartz veining along the principal structure. A broader exploration plan will also be developed to assess the Obuasi and NGA Target Areas in detail to include geological mapping and prospecting, drill core relogging, auger drilling to refine geochemical targets, and a rework of the geophysics, geological and structural interpretations culminating in an updated targeting exercise to direct future exploration drilling. Figure 1. Simplified Geology of the Obuasi District and Location of Pelangio's Obuasi Property Pelangio Exploration Inc. , Monday, July 10, 2023, Press release picture Qualified Persons Mr. Kevin Thomson, P.Geo. (Ontario, #0191), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Thomson approved the technical data disclosed in this release. About Pelangio Pelangio acquires and explores world-class land packages on strategic gold belts in Ghana, West Africa and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is exploring its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo property, the site of seven near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km2 Obuasi property, located four km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as its Dankran property located adjacent to its Obuasi property. See www.pelangio.com for further detail. For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com , or contact: Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO T: 905-336-3828 / TF: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@pelangio.com Forward Looking Statements Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the satisfaction of the conditions of the Obuasi litigation settlement and Pelangio's proposed payments and share issuances pursuant to the settlement, and TSX Venture exchange approval of such share issuances. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made numerous assumptions, including assumptions about applicable court and regulatory approvals for the settlement and the proposed share issuances. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include our ability to conduct our exploration programs as planned, changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/766537/Pelangio-Exploration-Announces-Settlement-of-Obuasi-Litigation Renault and Aston Martin-backer make 5bn bet on hybrid and petrol cars despite net zero push Renault factory Renault and Geely, the Chinese backer of Aston Martin, are to spend up to 7bn (5.4bn) on developing petrol and hybrid cars despite a global push toward electric vehicles. The two companies said the investment would help lower emissions by developing more efficient petrol engines and hybrid petrol-battery drivetrains, which connects the engine to the wheels enabling the vehicle to move. It comes at a time when most car manufacturers are investing heavily in electric vehicles as governments prepare to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the race to hit net zero. Eric Li, chairman of Geely, said: We are pleased to be embarking on this journey to become a global leader in hybrid technologies, providing low-emission solutions for automakers around the world. The joint venture will employ 19,000 staff at 17 plants, supplying the two companies plus other customers which may include Volvo, which is owned by Geeley. Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil giant, which signed a letter of intent with Renault and Geely in March, is evaluating a strategic investment in the new company, Renault said. The move comes as carmakers warned the US that a rapid switch to electric cars could outpace the ability of miners and refiners to supply the raw materials necessary to build them. Companies including Toyota have asked President Joe Bidens administration to consider a slower pace to avoid resources drying up and outpricing car buyers. Renault is hedging its bets further, with plans to develop a hydrogen-powered car based on its Scenic model. Hydrogen, which burns in oxygen to produce water, is seen as an efficient way to fuel heavy goods vehicles because of the weight of batteries needed to turn them electric. As a car fuel it has struggled to gain traction because of the expense of making green hydrogen compared to using green electricity to charge a battery. But the slow rollout of charging infrastructure plus the prospect that some customers will demand rapid refuelling have seen some car makers change their minds. Currently, mass market hydrogen-powered cars can only be bought from Japanese and Korean car makers. Koreas Hyundai makes the Nexo, a hydrogen powered SUV, while Toyota has made the Mirai since 2014. 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. PARIS (Reuters) - French automaker Renault said on Tuesday worldwide sales of its flagship brand rose 11% in the first half of the year to 770,807 units, extending a rebound after four years of declines. The increase marks an acceleration from the 9% growth in sales reported in the first quarter of 2023. In 2022 sales for the Renault brand - which account for around two thirds of overall group sales - had fallen by 9.4% - their fourth consecutive yearly decline. (Reporting by Gilles Guillaume, editing by Silvia Aloisi) Ground support crews guide a jumbo jet freighter to its parking position at Rickenbacker International Airport. (Photo: Columbus Regional Airport Authority) Cargo-focused Rickenbacker International Airport is diversifying its business with the opening of the first cold storage facility in Ohio dedicated to pharmaceuticals shipped by air transport. While most airports typically act as landlords for companies granted development rights, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority opted to invest, build and manage the pharma handling center itself while outsourcing operations through an innovative revenue-sharing program. The 9,600-square-foot temperature-controlled warehouse, which resides within an existing air cargo terminal, cost about $2 million, including a pallet-sized X-ray screening machine, Bryan Schreiber, manager of air cargo business development, told FreightWaves. A former office and warehouse space was retrofitted to create the two-zone refrigerated space (2-8 degrees and 15-25 degrees Celsius) for vaccines, therapeutics and other life-science products for which there is increased demand. The area is completely self-contained, with no access to other tenants. JobsOhio, the states economic development agency, contributed a $600,000 grant for the project, which was originally expected to open two years ago. Rickenbacker Airport (LCK) handles some drugs shipped in active refrigerated containers. The new storage room will allow the airport to expand that line of business and open up new opportunities for airlines and freight forwarders serving the pharma sector. We had a lot of requests from our airline and forwarding partners for proper pharma handling capabilities but no takers in the private sector to invest in one. If our market was to continue to grow, we knew we needed to add this capability, Schreiber said. The investment in health care cold storage is part of the airport authoritys strategy to build out airfreight handling capabilities. The airport, for example, recently built a USDA-certified animal export inspection facility. Rickenbacker is a former Army air base with 12,000-foot runways surrounded by distribution centers for retailers such as Eddie Bauer, Lululemon and Abercrombie & Fitch. The airport authority decided a revenue-sharing agreement was the best option for a return on its investment. Alliance Ground International, a rapidly growing airport services company based in Miami that already serves the airport, will operate the pharma center. The new refrigerated warehouse at Rickenbacker International Airport is ready to receive pharmaceutical and life sciences shipments. (Photo: Columbus Regional Airport Authority) Schreiber is marketing the facility, with a focus on scheduled cargo airlines that can provide connectivity from Germany and other countries in the European Union. Several top health care companies have visited the site. We understand these things take time, though, and we are confident that this new capability will be a good long-term play for our forwarding and airline partners building business through Rickenbacker, he said. The number of biomedical distribution, manufacturing and R&D facilities in central Ohio has grown substantially in recent years. The Columbus region imported $2.2 billion worth of pharmaceuticals from a single company in Germany last year and companies exported $614 million worth of non-temperature-controlled medical devices, instruments and medicines to the EU by air from LCK, Schreiber said. Life sciences organizations in Ohio attracted $3.5 billion in 2021, according to the Ohio Life Sciences Association. Rickenbacker airport is not alone feeling the effects of a freight recession that has seen global air cargo demand fall more than 10% in the past 16 months. LCK volumes tumbled 33% last year from a record 338.7 million pounds in 2021 as retailers, which make up a large chunk of the airports end users, ordered fewer imports because of bloated inventories. LCKs cargo volumes are down 48% year-to-date through May, according to airport figures. Vietnam is the airports largest trading partner. The construction of the pharma center will strengthen our market, enabling our forwarding and airline partners to benefit from a healthier and more downturn-resistant mix of air freight, said Schreiber. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. RECOMMENDED READING: US airport agent AGI plans South America expansion Azerbaijan cargo airline debuts at Rickenbacker airport The post Rickenbacker Airport adds refrigeration for Ohio pharma industry appeared first on FreightWaves. Royal Bank of Canada (TSE:RY) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 24th of August to CA$1.35. This takes the annual payment to 4.3% of the current stock price, which is about average for the industry. View our latest analysis for Royal Bank of Canada Royal Bank of Canada's Earnings Will Easily Cover The Distributions Unless the payments are sustainable, the dividend yield doesn't mean too much. Having distributed dividends for at least 10 years, Royal Bank of Canada has a long history of paying out a part of its earnings to shareholders. Based on Royal Bank of Canada's last earnings report, the payout ratio is at a decent 51%, meaning that the company is able to pay out its dividend with a bit of room to spare. The next 3 years are set to see EPS grow by 2.1%. Analysts estimate the future payout ratio will be 47% over the same time period, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend. Royal Bank of Canada Has A Solid Track Record Even over a long history of paying dividends, the company's distributions have been remarkably stable. Since 2013, the dividend has gone from CA$2.40 total annually to CA$5.40. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 8.4% over that duration. Companies like this can be very valuable over the long term, if the decent rate of growth can be maintained. Royal Bank of Canada Could Grow Its Dividend Investors could be attracted to the stock based on the quality of its payment history. We are encouraged to see that Royal Bank of Canada has grown earnings per share at 5.2% per year over the past five years. The company is paying a reasonable amount of earnings to shareholders, and is growing earnings at a decent rate so we think it could be a decent dividend stock. We Really Like Royal Bank of Canada's Dividend Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that Royal Bank of Canada is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. The company is easily earning enough to cover its dividend payments and it is great to see that these earnings are being translated into cash flow. All of these factors considered, we think this has solid potential as a dividend stock. It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 11 Royal Bank of Canada analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with our free report on analyst estimates for the company. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here (Bloomberg) -- The billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times, Patrick Soon-Shiong, sold the San Diego Union-Tribune to MediaNews Group, a chain controlled by the hedge fund Alden Global Capital. Most Read from Bloomberg The sale was announced Monday by Soon-Shiongs California Times company. The purchase price wasnt disclosed. The new owners plan to eliminate jobs as part of their takeover of the San Diego newspaper, citing the need to improve efficiency in business operations, distribution and production. Soon-Shiong, a biotech billionaire, spent $500 million in June 2018 to buy the Times and the Union-Tribune from Chicago-based Tribune Publishing, the newspaper reported. MediaNews operates about 70 newspapers across the country, including three in the greater Los Angeles area. Alden acquired the Chicago Tribune and NY Daily News in 2021. The hedge fund is known for hollowing out newsrooms to boost profit, the Times said at the time. (Updates with job cut plans in third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Generally speaking long term investing is the way to go. But no-one is immune from buying too high. For example, after five long years the OnTheMarket plc (LON:OTMP) share price is a whole 68% lower. That is extremely sub-optimal, to say the least. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 38% in the last year. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 26% in the last three months. We note that the company has reported results fairly recently; and the market is hardly delighted. You can check out the latest numbers in our company report. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. See our latest analysis for OnTheMarket OnTheMarket isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth. Over five years, OnTheMarket grew its revenue at 21% per year. That's well above most other pre-profit companies. In contrast, the share price is has averaged a loss of 11% per year - that's quite disappointing. This could mean high expectations have been tempered, potentially because investors are looking to the bottom line. Given the revenue growth we'd consider the stock to be quite an interesting prospect if the company has a clear path to profitability. The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). If you are thinking of buying or selling OnTheMarket stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet. A Different Perspective Investors in OnTheMarket had a tough year, with a total loss of 38%, against a market gain of about 1.0%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 11% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with OnTheMarket , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Siili Solutions Oyj Siili selected as supplier in National Land Survey's public tender Siili Solutions Plc Press release 11 July 2023 at 9:45 EET Siili Solutions Plc's success in public tenders continues as it was selected as a supplier of expert services for the development and maintenance of information systems for the National Land Survey of Finland. Siili was selected as a supplier in the areas of BackEnd (2.1), FrontEnd (2.2), and new projects BackEnd (2.5). The estimated total value of these three areas during the four-year contract period is 17 million euros. The competence of the suppliers who participated in the public tender process was evaluated in terms of general competence and special competence. The weight of general competence was 20% and special competence 80% of the total score. "Public sector is one of the focus areas in our strategy, and success in this public tender is yet another strong footstep in the implementation of the strategy. We are looking forward to continuing our good cooperation with the National Land Survey, and thus helping the utilization of the important information and services produced by the NLS in Finland", says Siilis CEO Tomi Pienimaki. Siili received the procurement decisions on 4 July, 2023 and 5 July, 2023, and they will enter into force after the end of the appeal period according to the Procurement Act. Read more about the cooperation between Siili and the National Land Survey of Finland in the digitalization of apartment data here: https://www.siili.com/nls-revolutionazing-residential-property-information For further information: Jukka Lepisto, Business Unit Director Email: jukka.lepisto(at)siili.com, phone: +358 (0)40 801 8759 Siili Solutions in brief: Siili Solutions in brief Siili Solutions Plc is a unique combination of a digital agency and a technology powerhouse. We believe in human-centricity in everything we deliver. Siili is the go-to partner for clients seeking growth, efficiency and competitive advantage through digital transformation. Siili has offices in Finland, Germany, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the United Kingdom and USA. Siili Solutions Plc shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. Siili has grown profitably since it was founded in 2005. www.siili.com (Bloomberg) -- Silicon Valley venture capitalists are racing to get into artificial intelligence companies including investors who once bet big on crypto. Most Read from Bloomberg In the most recent quarter, VCs spent less on crypto and digital asset companies than at any point since 2020, according to data from the research firm PitchBook. At the same time, the total global value of investments in AI for the April-June period was higher than crypto even at its peak. The numbers reflect the recent tendency of many tech investors even those who once backed crypto to move away from the scandal-plagued digital asset industry toward the latest advances in AI, said Robert Le, a crypto analyst at PitchBook. New developments in AI have made it highly attractive to investors, at the same time as a barrage of scandals, new regulations and tumbling prices have made crypto toxic. Joe Zhao, Millennia Capital managing partner, said hes ready to leave digital assets behind. Zhao and Millennia once backed crypto companies like Blockstream and Lumida; now theyre diving further into artificial intelligence. Millennia has already invested in closely watched startups including Stability AI. AI is offering so many more use cases than blockchain, Zhao said. Some crypto investors have come under fire for kindling an interest in AI. Paradigm, the high-profile crypto VC firm started by Coinbase Global Inc. co-founder Fred Ehrsam and former Sequoia Capital partner Matt Huang, removed crypto mentions from its website and played up its interest in AI instead, crypto news outlet the Block reported in May. Huang tweeted this month that the website update had been a mistake and directed users to a new version of the companys homepage that includes moving neon green and black banners emblazoned with the word CRYPTO. Huang said in a tweet in June that both the crypto and AI sectors are interesting and will have plenty overlap and that Paradigm is excited to continue exploring. Meanwhile, Sequoia Capital investor Michelle Fradin, who helped lead the firms decision to invest in now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, has recently tweeted more about AI than crypto. She also recently co-authored a piece for the firm titled, The New Language Model Stack: How companies are bringing AI applications to life. Sequoia did not respond to a request for comment. Some investors believe there are ways to invest in both AI and digital assets. There is a lot of interest in the intersection of AI and crypto, Le said. He noted that two startups that straddle these industries Tools For Humanity, the developer of Worldcoin, and Gensyn both raised significant funding rounds during the second quarter. AI and crypto are natural counterweights for one another, said Ali Yahya, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, which backed both Tools for Humanity and Gensyn. Crypto will will enhance AI by providing some of the decentralization that AI maybe needs, he said, noting that companies like OpenAI, Alphabet Inc.s Google and Microsoft Corp. have already amassed significant control over the growing industry. The co-founders of Gensyn, Ben Fielding and Harry Grieve, said that they were more interested in machine learning than crypto prior to founding the startup. And now, despite being mainly backed by crypto venture investors, Gensyn sees itself as more of a technology infrastructure startup. We dont think of ourselves as a crypto project so to speak, Grieve said. Gensyn is building a blockchain protocol that will underpin a decentralized marketplace for buying and selling compute power that can be used for machine learning models. Fielding said the platform could make the compute market more competitive, since the only suppliers are very, very large organizations who have amassed huge data centers and then rent them out. Global AI venture funding was roughly flat in the second quarter from the year earlier, though there was a substantial uptick in investments in the US market. By contrast, in the same period, global investment for digital asset startups plunged 76% compared to the same period last year, PitchBook said. Despite the drop, though, crypto deals are still happening. Le noted that crypto markets in Europe, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore are showing more strength than in the US, where regulation has hit the industry hard. He also said he expects to see crypto venture investing continue in the US and abroad, since many crypto funds have mandates that require them to back the space. Andreessen Horowitz, which raised the biggest-ever crypto fund at $4.5 billion, recently announced that it was opening an office in London because of the UKs crypto-friendly environment. Yahya said the firm is still committed to investing in crypto startups, including through token rounds. We don't have any plans of slowing down, he said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The most you can lose on any stock (assuming you don't use leverage) is 100% of your money. But when you pick a company that is really flourishing, you can make more than 100%. For example, the Ashley Services Group Limited (ASX:ASH) share price has soared 242% in the last half decade. Most would be very happy with that. It's down 2.1% in the last seven days. Now it's worth having a look at the company's fundamentals too, because that will help us determine if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. Check out our latest analysis for Ashley Services Group There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During five years of share price growth, Ashley Services Group achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 44% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 28% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market has become relatively pessimistic about the company. The reasonably low P/E ratio of 8.76 also suggests market apprehension. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). This free interactive report on Ashley Services Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Ashley Services Group, it has a TSR of 435% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective Ashley Services Group shareholders are up 5.8% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 40% over five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Ashley Services Group . Of course Ashley Services Group may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Australian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here This in-depth article will shed light on the top steel companies in the world and the countries they are headquartered in. We'll also discuss which sector consumes the most steel and what are the projections for the metal's usage in the future. If you want to skip the details, read Top 8 Steel Companies In World. 11 out of the top 20 steel companies in the world are from China, showing the country's monopoly in the global steel sector. Other major steel companies are from Luxembourg, Japan, South Korea, India, and the United States. The biggest Chinese steel producing companies are China Baowu Group, Ansteel Group, and Shagang Group, among others. Aside from the top companies in China, ArcelorMittal S.A. (NYSE:MT) is the largest steel producing company in Europe (and the 2nd largest worldwide). In 2022 alone, ArcelorMittal S.A. (NYSE:MT) had a steel tonnage production of over 68 million metric tons, slightly down from the company's yield of 79.26 million metric tons in 2021. Owing to its production mills spread in Europe, Brazil, and Mexico, the company's revenue of crude steel reached $79.8 billion in 2022. The biggest steel producing company in the US is Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE), based in Charlotte. Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) is also the biggest scrap recycler in North America and the main mini-mill steelmaker in the country. In 2022, steel tonnage of Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) exceeded 20 million metric tons, and the company has announced a new $100 million electric arc furnace melt shop at its Arizona bar mill that will have to produce over 0.6 million metric tons annually. In Asia, South Korea's POSCO Holdings Inc (NYSE:PKX) is at the top, along with Japan's Nippon Steel Corporation. POSCO Holdings Inc (NYSE:PKX) has a market cap of $23.363 billion as of current and produces a generous amount of the metal each year. In 2021, POSCO Holdings Inc (NYSE:PKX) was ranked 6th in the world based on its production volume but has now been de-ranked by one position owing to its reduced production in 2022. If you want to invest in this ever-growing metal to solidify your investment portfolio, read 11 Best Steel Stocks To Buy. Which Is The Biggest Steel Company In The World? As of the present date, Baowu Steel Group, headquartered in Shanghai, China, is the world's largest steel producer. The company was formed in 2016 through the merger of Baosteel Group and Wuhan Iron and Steel Corporation and has incredible production capacities. As per World Steel Association data from 2022, Baowu's annual crude steel output reached an impressive 131.84 million metric tons, representing a significant proportion of the global steel production, which stood at approximately 1.87 billion metric tons. Post-Pandemic Changes in the Global Steel Sector The World Steel Association reported a global downturn in finished steel consumption by 2.3% in 2022. The decrease came in the wake of the escalating conflict in Ukraine, COVID-19 containment measures in China, global inflation, and a worldwide surge in energy prices that took a toll on the metal mining sector. Conversely, the United States exhibited a contrasting trend as the country's estimated consumption of finished steel products increased by 2% over the same year. According to USGS, the resurgence resulted from the economic recovery that stemmed from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Another important factor that influenced global steel production was the economic climate in China. In 2022, Chinese finished steel production fell by 4%, a trend projected to persist into 2023. The static state can be traced back to the continuation of COVID-19 mitigation policies that induced a slump in demand for real estate and construction investments. Further east, Japan and South Korea also witnessed a decline in steel demand in 2022, primarily associated with reduced activity within the construction industry. However, in the same period, India saw a notable uptick in the production of finished steel products, with an expected rise of around 6%, according to USGS. Substantial infrastructure expenditures, rising consumer goods demand, and a resurgence in the automotive sector are the drivers behind this growth. Which Sector Is The Biggest Consumer Of Steel? According to the World Steel Organization, the prevailing demand for steel in the housing and construction sector accounts for over 50% of the world's steel consumption. Comprising residential and non-residential structures such as bridges, highways, and tunnels, this sector is pivotal in the constant expansion of global urban landscapes. Data also indicates that per capita steel use has escalated from 150 kilograms in 2001 to approximately 230 kilograms in 2020. Also, reports predict a continuous uptick in steel consumption and say there is expected to be a 20% surge in global steel usage by 2050. The forecasted growth will stem from population growth, urbanization trends, and economic development, especially in emerging economies with extensive infrastructure development. Which Is The Largest Producer of Steel in the World? China is the largest producer of steel in the world and accounted for approximately half of the world's output in 2022. Data from the World Steel Association reveals that in 2022, China manufactured about 1.013 billion metric tons of crude steel. The government's policies promoting self-sufficiency in metal mining have encouraged the growth of domestic steel industries, such as Baowu Steel Group and HBIS Group, among others, that reinforce China's leading position in global steel production. We have already done a detailed overview of the 15 Largest Steel Producing Countries in the World; give this insightful article a read to know which countries are the largest steel producers. Top 20 Steel Companies In The World Top 20 Steel Companies In The World Our Methodology We ranked the top 20 largest steel producing companies in the world according to their steel production tonnage in 2022. The sources we consulted included World Steel Organization, S&P Global and USGS, among others. Based on extensive data, these were the top steel-producing companies in 2022: 20. IMIDRO Headquarters: Iran Steel Tonnage in 2022: 18 million metric tons In 2022, Iran's major mining conglomerate, Iranian Mines & Mining Industries Development & Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), produced 18 million metric tons of steel. The throughput represents an increase compared to the previous year, where the output totaled 16.7 million metric tons and shows a noteworthy year-on-year growth in the company's steel yield. 19. Liuzhou Steel (SS:601003) Headquarters: China Steel Tonnage in 2022: 18.21 million metric tons Lizhou Steel company's annual output for 2022 stood at 18.21 million metric tons, compared to 2021's yield of 18.83 million metric tons. In the span of a year, the company registered a slight decline in steel production. 18. Hyundai Steel (KS:004020) Headquarters: South Korea Steel Tonnage in 2022: 18.77 million metric tons Hyundai Steel is a pillar in South Korea's mining sector. The company yielded 18.77 million metric tons of steel in 2022. This figure, while substantial, denotes a minor decline when compared to the yield of the preceding year. In 2021, Hyundai Steel's output was reported to be slightly higher at 19.64 million metric tons. 17. Fangda Steel (SS:600507) Headquarters: China Steel Tonnage in 2022: 19.70 million metric tons In FY 2022, China's Fangda Steel Company reported a steel output of 19.70 million metric tons. This production showed a slight dip when contrasted with the company's production performance in 2021. For context, the company's yield in the previous year stood at a slightly higher mark of 19.98 million metric tons, according to the World Steel Organization. 16. Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) Headquarters: United States Steel Tonnage in 2022: 20.60 million metric tons Nucor Corporation is the biggest steel producing company in the US, reflected by its recorded output of 20.60 million metric tons. Comparative data reveals that the company's production volume in 2021 reached a higher peak of 23.13 million metric tons. Moreover, the company's market cap at the time of writing the article is $40.686 billion. 15. JSW Steel Limited (NSE:JSWSTEEL) Headquarters: India Steel Tonnage in 2022: 23.38 million metric tons India's JSW Steel Limited experienced a significant increase in steel production, registering a volume of 23.83 million metric tons in 2022. This upsurge reflects a notable improvement when contrasted with the previous year's 18.59 million metric tons yield. JSW Steel Limited was ranked 19th according to production volume in 2021, but owing to its increased production in the following year, the company is now 15th amongst the top steel companies in the world. 14. JFE Steel Corporation (TYO:5411) Headquarters: Japan Steel Tonnage in 2022: 26.20 million metric tons JSW Steel Limited reported a total steel output of 26.20 million metric tons for the 2022 fiscal year. However, this tonnage reflects a slight downturn from the preceding year, when the company's production reached 26.85 million metric tons. 13. Hunan Steel Group (Former Valin Group) Headquarters: China Steel Tonnage in 2022: 26.43 million metric tons In 2022, Huna Steel Group saw 26.43 million metric tons of steel throughput. Data shows that the company's yield stood at 26.21 million metric tons in 2021, marking a year-on-year production volume growth. Hunan Steel Group upped a rank from 14 to 13 in 2022 based on its production volume. Also, the company's market cap is $33.852 billion as of current. 12. Delong Steel (SZ:000593) Headquarters: China Steel Tonnage in 2022: 27.90 million metric tons Delong Steel is another Chinese company among the top steel companies in the world. The crude steel company saw a throughput of 27.90 million metric tons of steel in 2022. The firm's production volume was relatively slightly lower in 2021, totaling 27.82 million metric tons. 11. Shandong Steel Group (SS:600022) Headquarters: China Steel Tonnage in 2022: 29.42 million metric tons Shandong Steel Group's annual steel production output was 29.42 million metric tons in 2022. The company saw a comparatively lower yield of 28.25 million metric tons in 2021. Such stable steel yield underlines the company's substantial annual production upsurge. 10. Tata Steel (NSE:TATASTEEL) Headquarters: India Steel Tonnage in 2022: 30.18 million metric tons Tata Steel Group is an Indian multinational corporation that reported a steel production of 30.18 million metric tons in 2022. Notably, this figure indicates a slight downturn from their previous year's performance. In 2021, the conglomerate's yield was 30.59 million metric tons. Tata Steel company's market cap is $1.421 trillion as of current, and it's the largest steel producer in India. 9. Shougang Group (SZ:000959) Headquarters: China Steel Tonnage in 2022: 33.82 million metric tons Shougang Group, a prominent player in the Chinese steel industry, is one of the top steel corporations in the world and Asia. It reported a steel production of 33.82 million metric tons in 2022. However, the Chinese company's steel tonnage decreased from 35.43 million metric tons in 2021 to reach the current record yield. Click to continue reading Top 8 Steel Companies In World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. Top 20 Steel Producing Companies In World is originally published at Insider Monkey. Melbourne, Victoria --News Direct-- Toubani Resources Inc. CDI Toubani Resources Inc (ASX:TRE, OTC:AGGFF) CEO Phil Russo discusses with Proactive an optimised definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the 3.1-million-ounce Kobada Gold Project in southern Mali. The company is on a mission to develop West Africas next major gold mine, underpinned by a substantial initial oxide mining operation. The revitalised DFS (first released in 2021) will consider how Toubani can achieve a higher processing rate and boost Kobadas future annual production. The DFS update will pursue the potential for the project to be reoptimized to a throughput level that more aptly supports a bulk mining and lower overall technical risk approach, which is further strengthened when considering the significant existing resources of oxide, free digging material at Kobada, Russo said. We believe Kobada has all the attributes to distinguish itself from its other West African development peers, being free milling ore, a large oxide resource with attractive fresh rock optionality, while also permitted. We look forward to completing the update to the DFS later this year to aim to demonstrate the robustness and lower overall risk profile that a larger Kobada project could deliver. Contact Details Proactive Australia Jonathan Jackson +61 413 713 744 jonathan@proactiveinvestors.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/toubani-resources-kicks-off-dfs-update-for-kobada-gold-project-202534171 Iceland warns tourists to stay away from volcano erupting with lava and noxious gases Lava emerges from a fissure of the Fagradalsfjall volcano near the Litli-Hrutur mountain, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland, Monday July 10, 2023. Authorities in Iceland on Tuesday warned spectators to stay away from a newly erupting volcano that is spewing lava and noxious gases from a fissure in the countrys southwest. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco) REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) Authorities in Iceland on Tuesday warned tourists and other spectators to stay away from a newly erupting volcano that is spewing lava and noxious gases from a fissure in the countrys southwest. The eruption began Monday afternoon after thousands of earthquakes in the area, meteorological authorities said. This one comes 11 months after its last eruption officially ended. The eruption is in an uninhabited valley near the Litli-Hrutur mountain, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of the capital, Reykjavik. The area, known broadly as Fagradalsfjall volcano, erupted in 2021 and 2022 without causing damage or disruptions to flights, despite being near Keflavik Airport, Icelands international air traffic hub. The airport remained open on Tuesday. The Icelandic Meteorological Office said the eruption was initially more explosive than the previous two. Aerial footage showed streams of orange molten lava and clouds of gases spewing from a snaking fissure about 900 meters (half a mile) long. Gas pollution is high around the eruption and dangerous, the Met Office said. Travelers are advised not to enter the area until responders have had a chance to evaluate conditions. By Tuesday morning, the fissure and the volume of the eruption had shrunk, scientists said. This has become a small eruption, which is very good news, University of Iceland geophysics professor Magnus Tumi Gumundsson told national broadcaster RUV. He said the eruption could certainly last a long time, but luckily were not looking at a continuation of what we saw in the first few hours. A 2021 eruption in the same area produced spectacular lava flows for several months. Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to see the sight. Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, averages an eruption every four to five years. The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which sent huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures over Europe. More than 100,000 flights were grounded, stranding millions of international travelers and halting air travel for days because of concerns the ash could damage jet engines. Transfix reportedly has struggled to close a Series F round after failing to go public. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) The weak freight market has taken its toll on FreightTech valuations. FreightWaves late Monday obtained a release showing digital freight marketplace Transfix is looking to raise a $50 million Series F at a $376 million valuation, a 60% reduction from the $940 million the New York City-based company was valued at in its last funding round in March 2020. A source attributed the valuation drop to largely market forces. Transfix reportedly has secured $30 million in financing from New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and G-Squared and is shopping for investors to contribute the remaining $20 million. A Transfix spokesperson responded to FreightWaves request for comment, saying, We do not comment on rumors or speculation regarding our business. 2nd attempt FreightWaves reported in October that after announcing the company would not go public through a special purpose acquisition company combination with G-Squared, Transfix said it would be working with NEA and G-Squared on private financing. The company had hoped to gain a $1.1 billion valuation through the public offering but pointed to market conditions for the change in direction. Although, according to the MerQube FreightWaves Supply Chain Tech Index, which tracks the share price of FreightTech service providers, FreightTech service providers who are public have seen a 38.9% increase in price since September 2022 coinciding with the S&P 500 up 22.98%. Chart: (SONAR: MQFWSCTP.USA). The MerQube FreightWaves Supply Chain Tech Index (Price Returns) tracks the performance of large and liquid companies around the world identified by FreightWaves as best in class in delivering freight technology solutions. The Price Return index considers price movements (capital gains or losses) of the securities that make up the index. To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. In June 2022, when the business combination agreement was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a statement that is no longer available on Transfixs website said the company would be looking to close a $50 million round with G-Squared, with $50 million in capital committed by the investment group even if the SPAC deal did not close. It appears that deal is still on the table. The source told FreightWaves that Transfix hopes to close the funding round in September. Transfix announced in March that Lily Shen, its chief executive officer, was stepping down and co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Jonathan Salama would take over the role. Watch now: Transforming Complexity: Leveraging Data and AI for Optimal Global Supply Chains with Halliburton Articles by Grace Sharkey Read more Transfix announces Shen stepping down, appoints new CEO TrueRate+ is Transfixs attempt to battle broken trucking contracts Transfix pulls IPO, new private funding round planned The post Transfix looks to raise Series F with 60% devaluation, source suggests appeared first on FreightWaves. UK regulator open to looking at Microsoft-Activision deal again FILE PHOTO: The Microsoft sign is shown on top of the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California By Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's antitrust regulator said it was open to Microsoft changing its acquisition of Activision Blizzard to address its concerns that blocked the deal in April, after a U.S. court ruled on Tuesday that the $69 billion deal could go ahead. Microsoft responded by saying it was considering how the transaction might be modified to address concerns made by Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the first regulator to block the deal. All sides said they had agreed to ask the British court due to hear Microsoft's appeal later this month to put it on hold while they worked on new proposals. The deal to buy the "Call of Duty" maker is the largest ever for Microsoft and the biggest in videogame history. The CMA became the first major antitrust regulator to block the deal in April, citing concerns about competition in the nascent cloud gaming market. Both companies reacted furiously to the decision, with Microsoft saying it "had shaken confidence" in Britain as a destination for tech businesses. The European Union gave it the green light shortly after Britain blocked it, when it accepted broadly the same commitments that the UK had rejected. Britain's government said it had noted the decision. "The CMA is an independent body responsible for investigating the impact of mergers and acquisitions," a spokesperson said. A U.S. judge ruled on Tuesday that Microsoft could go ahead with the deal, rejecting antitrust enforcer FTC's request for a temporary stop. (Reporting by Paul Sandle, writing by William James; Editing by Kate Holton) FILE PHOTO: FCA signage is seen at its head office in London LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Financial Conduct Authority said on Tuesday it has stopped 26 machines across the country for illegally offering cryptocurrencies, warning consumers they could lose all of their money. A member of the public paid in a thousand pounds into a crypto ATM in Sheffield, northern England, in an attempt to buy cryptocurrencies, but no cryptocurrency or funds were returned, the FCA said. The watchdog, in a coordinated operation with other law enforcement agencies, inspected 34 locations suspected of hosting crypto ATMs since the start of this year and "disrupted" 26 machines. "If you use a crypto ATM in the UK, you are using a machine that is operating illegally and you may be handing your money over to criminals," Steve Smart, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said in a statement. "You will not be protected if something goes wrong, and you could lose your money," Smart said. (Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by David Evans) UPS workers may go on strike: What it would mean for you and your packages The last time UPS workers went on strike in 1997, FedEx and the postal service scrambled to pick up the slack as the nation's largest package delivery company slowed to a near standstill. Small businesses struggled to restock their shelves and hospitals had a hard time securing supplies, according to New York Times reporting at the time. Consumers could face that and more if the Teamsters union and management cannot reach a new contract deal by the end of the month. If a strike does occur, it will be very disruptive, said Jason Miller, interim chairperson for the Department of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University (MSU). "The consumer is going to be much more affected getting just everyday products that we buy online." United Parcel Services (UPS) workers walk a 'practice picket line' on July 7, 2023, in the Queens borough of New York City, ahead of a possible UPS strike. UPS workers could go on strike by the end of July after the Teamsters Union, representing more than 300,000 UPS drivers and and warehouse workers, announced July 5, labor talks with the shipping giant broke down. UPS strike update: Strike not off the table What will happen if UPS workers go on strike? While the 1997 strike threw a wrench in the supply chain, a 2023 stoppage could have an even greater effect on consumers now that the U.S. economy is even more reliant on e-commerce. Census data shows that less than 1% of total retail trade sales came from e-commerce in 1999, the first year the data was reported. At the beginning of this year, it was 15%. The Teamsters union has also grown since its last work stoppage, from about 185,000 members to 340,000. If a strike does take place, it would be the largest single-employer strike in U.S. history. Even a short-lived strike could have huge consequences for consumers, according to Terry Esper, a logistics professor at The Ohio State University. "They have a large network, he said of UPS, which delivers nearly 25 million packages daily and about a quarter of all U.S. parcel volume. Taking that kind of capacity out of the market, even for a day, will have significant ripple effects. Here's what consumers can expect during a strike, according to experts. Slower delivery times Longer wait times are to be expected during a strike as shipping carriers like FedEx and the United States Postal Service deal with an influx of packages from UPS customers. Esper said this would be especially noticeable in rural areas and among smaller retailers, which may rely more heavily on UPS as their delivery service provider. FedEx last week said it will prioritize existing customers amid any industry disruptions, which means UPS customers switching over may have a harder time getting packages send through quickly. "We might be looking at three to five days of longer delivery lead times in certain areas as other carriers try to handle the additional capacity," he said. "It's really a matter of how long this will last, if it does happen, and where consumers are in the market." Big-box retailers are expected to weather the impacts of a UPS strike more easily since they use a diverse mix of delivery service providers, according to Esper. Supply chain disruptions Miller said spare parts for motor vehicles which rely on shipments from wholesalers to dealerships may be harder to get if theres a strike. The healthcare supply chain could also take a hit since the wholesale companies that manufacture medical devices and supplies heavily rely on companies like UPS. Other industries with dealers that rely on getting spare parts from wholesalers via UPS, including farming and construction, could also face supply chain issues. Consumers are not only going to be affected by stuff not showing up at their houses, Miller said. "It would be a new shock to a (supply chain) system that has largely reverted to pre-COVID levels. Higher shipping costs A strike could also raise the cost of shipping. Even if delivery companies don't increase their rates amid a stoppage, UPS customers may need to turn to higher-priced alternatives from competitors or pay for expedited shipping amid lengthened delivery times. It may not be "an immediate change in prices, (but) it is maybe leaning into some direct payments for more expedited shipping in order to support the delivery of really important and key things like medications," Esper said. What can consumers do? Miller said consumers who are planning to shop online should do it now, especially if they know the product is being shipped by UPS. If you do need to shop online during a strike, shopping in larger batch quantities can help you avoid delivery lags. Buying from companies that don't rely on UPS can also help cut down wait times. Other shoppers should consider shopping in person or ordering pick-up to avoid delayed deliveries, a feat that should be easier to accomplish amid the warmer summer months. "A blessing in disguise is the fact that this is summer," said Kingshuk Sinha, a supply chain and operations professor at the University of Minnesota. "We can go out and do our shopping and have that shopping experience." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What a UPS strike would mean for you and your packages (Bloomberg) -- US prosecutors charged a New York man with stealing millions of dollars in crypto after exploiting vulnerabilities on a decentralized finance or DeFi platform the latest sign of increased willingness by authorities to wade into this corner of the digital-asset market to thwart alleged wrongdoing. Most Read from Bloomberg Shakeeb Ahmed, a 34-year-old senior security engineer for an international technology company, took advantage of a flaw in one of the exchanges smart contracts to insert fake pricing data, generating about $9 million of inflated and unearned fees that he was able to withdraw in crypto, the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York said in an indictment unsealed Tuesday. Manhattan prosecutors also accused Ahmed of laundering the stolen funds through a series of complex transactions, including using overseas digital-asset exchanges. The Southern District of New York has always been on the cutting edge of catching and prosecuting criminals who use new technologies to commit old-fashioned fraud, Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams said in a video statement posted to Twitter. SDNY is watching and were determined to follow the digital fingerprints to bring fraudsters to justice. Williams said the charges mark the first criminal case involving an attack on a smart contract on a decentralized crypto exchange. DeFi platforms allow users to trade, borrow and lend digital assets without having to go through an intermediary. They achieve this through the use of smart contracts computer programs that automatically execute transactions when predetermined conditions are met. Thats different from how centralized exchanges like Coinbase Global Inc. or Binance Holdings Ltd. operate and has often led those in the DeFi community to maintain that it shouldnt be subject to the same rules that apply to traditional finance. But US authorities have increasingly pushed back on that idea, pursuing DeFi projects they allege have broken the law or individuals who use the platforms to commit crimes. This case is another reminder that DeFi markets are not a Hobbesian marketplace where no laws exist and any conduct is fair game, Ashok Ayyar, counsel at Ashbury Legal, said. Theft is theft, and code is not law. The action against Ahmed has similarities to charges brought against trader Avraham Eisenberg, who is accused of stealing $110 million worth of cryptocurrency from DeFi exchange Mango Markets by manipulating the price of futures contracts. Hes set to face a criminal trial in New York on Dec. 4. Markets regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission, have also turned their attention to DeFi actors. The CFTC, the USs derivatives regulator, recently won a case against a decentralized autonomous organization called Ooki DAO. A federal judge in June sided with the CFTCs accusations that the organization operated an illegal trading platform and violated other agency rules. The judge ordered Ooki DAO to shut down and pay a penalty of $643,542. The CFTC, at the time, said the decision was precedent-setting. BarnBridge DAO also disclosed on social media earlier this month that it was being investigated by the SEC. A lawyer for the DAO said it would be halting operations until further notice. --With assistance from Chris Dolmetsch and Muyao Shen. (Adds comment in the sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. US Senator Warren, others warn against L3Harris plan to buy Aerojet The logo of L3Harris is displayed on a screen on the floor of the NYSE in New York WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat and frequent merger critic, joined three other lawmakers on Tuesday to urge the Defense Department to thoroughly review defense contractor L3Harris Technologies' $4.7 billion deal for Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings. The Defense Department is influential with the antitrust agencies on decisions about approving deals that touch on military issues, and often take too soft an approach, Warren and the other lawmakers wrote. "Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing are all dependent on products that only Aerojet is able to produce, and their operations could be hamstrung by its acquisition," they wrote. The letter was sent to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and William LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. In addition to Warren, the letter was signed by Representatives Chris Deluzio, John Garamendi and Mark Pocan. All are Democrats. The lawmakers said the department had previously conducted what the letter called "flawed merger reviews." With the Ukraine war driving up demand for missiles and defense systems, Aerojet became an attractive takeover target. L3Harris was formed by the merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corp in 2019. The United States has assisted Ukraine with billions of dollars in military aid, including missiles and air defense systems. Aerojet develops and manufactures liquid and solid rocket propulsion and hypersonic engines for space, defense, civil and commercial applications. Another customer is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), one of Aerojet's main customers, which is pursuing moon and deep space missions. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by David Gregorio) US welcomes Iraq, TotalEnergies' massive oil, gas and renewables deal Signing ceremony of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) in Baghdad By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Tuesday welcomed Iraq's oil, gas and renewables deal with French oil major TotalEnergies, which was signed a day earlier. Iraq and TotalEnergies on Monday signed a long-delayed $27 billion energy deal that aims to increase oil production and boost the country's capacity to produce energy with four oil, gas and renewables projects. "Formally signed this week, this massive deal, which will include participation from regional and American companies, is a major step towards both establishing Iraq's energy self-sufficiency and meeting its climate goals," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. The United States supports Iraq's ongoing efforts "to enhance domestic resilience", and diversify its energy supply, Sullivan said. Initially signed in 2021, the deal had faced delays amid disputes between Iraqi politicians over the terms, but was finally closed in April when Iraq agreed to take a smaller than initially demanded stake in the project of 30%. TotalEnergies took a 45% stake and QatarEnergy holds the remaining 25%. The project signed with TotalEnergies will improve Iraqs energy security and the reliability of its electricity network, Sullivan added. TotalEnergies Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne signed the deal on Monday with Iraqi oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani. He said the project would break ground this summer and would see an investment of $10 billion over the next four years. The project called the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) aims to improve the country's electricity supply, including by recovering flared gas at three oilfields and using the gas to supply power plants, helping to reduce Iraq's import bill. Iraq hopes the project will attract fresh foreign investment into its energy sector that has not been forthcoming since a flurry of post U.S.-invasion deals over a decade ago. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Rami Ayyub in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Angus MacSwan) FILE PHOTO: A Volkswagen logo is pictured in a production line at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg By Victoria Waldersee and Jan Schwartz BERLIN/HAMBURG (Reuters) - Volkswagen was challenged by an investor association on Tuesday about the planned audit of its co-owned site in Xinjiang, China, adding to concerns raised by human rights activists that the measure would be ineffective. The Association of Critical Shareholders (DKA), which represents small investors on environmental, social and governance issues, asked Volkswagen in an open letter how it would ensure results were independent given China's anti-espionage laws. It highlighted restrictions imposed by the Chinese government on international auditors, including the raid of U.S. corporate auditor Mintz Group's offices in Beijing and reports China instructed state-owned enterprises to stop using PwC, EY, KPMG and Deloitte. "We therefore see a very high risk that the Chinese government will misuse the audit for its international disinformation campaign to conceal the actual conditions at the plant," the DKA wrote. Volkswagen did not comment on the specific questions in the letter, referring to its previous statement that it plans to carry out an independent audit this year and is in talks with joint venture partner SAIC on the matter. SAIC declined to comment. The United Nations and rights groups estimate that more than a million people, mainly Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, have been detained in recent years in a system of camps in Xinjiang and used for low-paid and coercive labour. China denies any human rights abuses in the western region. Volkswagen said at its capital markets day in June it would carry out an independent audit of the site it jointly owns with Chinese state-owned enterprise SAIC in Urumqi, after investors called on the company to do so. (Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Jan Schwartz; Editing by Rachel More and Barbara Lewis) Many of todays university students dont seem to realize that they should thank the donor when they receive a scholarship or grant. Here are some ways to fix that. It is so interesting how a sentence or two in an article has the power to open the floodgates of reader comments. Thats what happened after my article Charitable Giving at Work: Why Pressuring Employees Can Backfire ran in June. ADA Violation or Just Bad Business? Honey, I Shrunk the Menu! Your story looked at certain approaches management should avoid as a way to encourage charity by its employees and briefly touched on something that has bothered those of us who work with charities in the scholarship and foundation offices of universities across the country, wrote Earl. For the past several years, donors the people who make a college education possible for hundreds of thousands of young people arent hearing two of the most important words in any language: thank you. We have an academic concentration on international aid equipping students with the tools to work in poor countries, helping them improve their agricultural practices. Toward that end, both private and corporate donors send students overseas for a real hands-on experience. And these are not inexpensive trips. You would be surprised at the phone calls Ive received from donors months after the students returned asking, When are they going? So Ive asked our students, Did you send a thank-you card or letter to the donor? And you know the answer I get that wants to make me pull out my hair? Oh, were we supposed to? Nobody ever told us. How were the croissants? In May, a group of 10 West Coast university students returned from a faculty-led, two-week intensive French trip to Paris, paid for by a financial services company based in their city. All were taking French, and none had ever been out of California, emailed UA. We heard that they had a great time, but not one called our office to say thanks or just come over and share their experiences. To say that we are disappointed is an understatement. Mr. Beaver, do you have any idea what has happened to the desire of showing appreciation? Yes, I have an idea. Two possible reasons for the lack of thanks Several callers offered two possible explanations for this absence of any sense of appreciation by the recipients of these grants and scholarships: A sense of entitlement. A well-intentioned but poorly thought-out effort to eliminate bias or discrimination in the selection process. Trudy, an advancement officer at an East Coast college, explained, Years ago, donors would meet with applicants, discuss the scholarship, the students desires, talk about you name it everything in the world and especially the importance of generosity. But selection of the recipient was always made by faculty that is an IRS requirement if a donor seeks a charitable tax deduction. Then someone objected to a donor even as much as meeting applicants. It was, Just give us the money. So students had no contact with donors and typically none afterwards. Many schools do not require the recipient to write a thank-you letter. So that important connection which had existed for decades was frustrated. It is so sad and deprives donors the joy of seeing their money put to good use. Here are some ways to get back on track The people I spoke with from both universities and charities offered these suggestions as ways to develop good feelings for both donors and recipients. Host a meet-and-greet for students and donors. Often, students and beneficiaries of charitable contributions do not realize that the money comes from real people instead of the government. So, where possible, invite donors and applicants to something like a town hall meeting where donors can discuss their scholarships or charity, share the reasons they created the grants and describe the positive impact on recipients. Can a Potential Employee Negotiate Conditions of Criticism? Representation at meetings. It is important to always have a faculty member or someone from the schools administration present in any meeting between a donor and applicant. Consider recording the session, upon clearance by your organizations legal office. This could be extremely important if someone complains of being a victim of discrimination or bias. Require a thank-you letter. Where a scholarship has been awarded but not yet paid, require conditional receipt of the funds on the student writing a thank-you letter. Where the scholarship is on a yearly, self-renewing basis, the office that processes grants and scholarships could make clear that funding could be pulled if the student doesnt write that letter in a timely manner. The student should provide proof a copy of the letter which will be kept in the students file. Explain letter-writing basics. Hold a letter-writing seminar, open to all students, and go over the elements of a sincere letter of appreciation. Expect a few moans and groans from students who feel they know it all. Be prepared to cite an example of one of your donors who was so touched by a students letter of appreciation that the amount of the scholarship was increased for that student. Teach the art of appreciation. Many university students may not have been taught the art of appreciation at home, and if they are from other countries, different concepts of etiquette might be an issue. Therefore, especially for business majors, host a seminar on what is expected of students in general, including the art of socializing, how to be a good host and other skills that will be of tremendous benefit once they leave the nest, i.e., your school. Being on a First-Name Basis Can Make Everything Better The implementation of any of these suggestions could help college students better understand why its important, and even just plain the polite thing to do, to acknowledge anyone who lends them a helping hand. Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield, Calif., and welcomes comments and questions from readers, which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993, or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1@gmail.com. And be sure to visit dennisbeaver.com. Vladimir Putin has steered the Russian economy to the brink of catastrophe. Anadolu Agency / Getty Images Vladimir Putin has crippled Russia's economy to fund the war in Ukraine, experts tell Insider. Experts say the official data from Moscow suggests it's faring far better than it actually is. The ruble has is crashing, the labor force has seen an exodus, and civil war remains possible. The West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow since it launched its war on Ukraine last February, but much of Russia's economic troubles can be chalked up to suspect and counterproductive leadership by Vladimir Putin. Before the "special military operation" began, Russia was the 11th largest economy in the world, accounting for almost 40% of Europe Union's natural gas imports and a quarter of its crude oil. A year and a half later, Putin's turned Moscow into a pariah state, isolated from the global financial system, barred from its most lucrative trade routes, and in the midst of a worker brain drain. Experts say the damage has been largely self-inflicted. Speaking with Insider on Monday, Yale researchers Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian said that Putin has lost the economic battle to a profound degree, and now he's scrambling to maintain a status quo that's quickly dissolving beneath his feet. "He's devouring core bedrock industries," Sonnenfeld said. "The lion's share of the economy is controlled by the state, the energy and financial sectors, and Putin is taking from the seed capital of those businesses to use as a cookie jar for his war chest." Trade will never be the same Russia is barely breaking even on its energy trade, and most of its other top commodities like wheat, lumber, and metals sell cheaper today than before the invasion. The lack of trade income pushed Putin to levy draconian windfall taxes on businesses and individuals, which the Yale academics see as part of his "cannibalization" of the economy. "Laying on onerous taxes is doing nothing for the economic health of the country, but they allow him to pay bills," Sonnenfeld said. Putin's policy missteps became inevitable after he made the initial call to invade Ukraine, Tian said, adding that Russia's trade status may never be the same. It's become increasingly clear that other countries can get by just fine without Russia as a trading partner. "He's destroying the historical underpinnings of the Russian economy," Tian said. "Its main exports have always been commodities, but now nobody needs to buy Russian commodities anymore." Yale data shared with Insider showed that Russia's natural gas market in particular has been permanently lost. The initial supply shock in February 2022 has quickly been overcome, with nearly 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas going online since then thanks to regasification projects commissioned across Europe. Germany has led nations including France, Netherlands, and Italy to develop new floating storage units that have come online in record time. Russia's LNG markets are permanently lost, according to Yale data. Gas production across other major exporters jumped following the invasion of Ukraine. Courtesy of Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute While China and India have stepped in as big buyers of cheap Russian crude since last year, steep discounts and lengthy shipping routes prevent those sales from propping up the Russian economy in a meaningful way. "If Putin were on the call with us today, he couldn't point to a single policy or economic positive for himself, the Russian people, or the economy," Sonnenfeld said. Potential for Soviet-style collapse Volodymyr Lugovskyy, an economics professor at Indiana University, told me he expects to see a dramatic economic change within the next three or four months. "Many people still don't realize how bad the situation in Russia might be," he said. Official government data point to an economy that's been able to withstand the costs of war, but under-the-hood numbers like retail sales, flight purchases, and business activity suggest otherwise. "Things are much worse than the reported 2% drop in GDP," Lugovskyy said. "Sales of new cars, sales of new computers, those dropped by 40% to 60%. And if you remove military activity from the data, production looks far worse [than reported]." The country's currency in particular looks vulnerable. After the Wagner Group's attempted mutiny in June, the ruble crashed to a 15-month low. On Monday, it hovered just above 90 per dollar, but that could weaken to 149 per dollar, in Lugovskyy's view. A change in power, civil war, or another attempt at mutiny, the professor maintained, could drag on the exchange rate and ultimately lead to the collapse of the economy. "Russia might collapse into multiple pieces, like the Soviet Union, and that might not be a bad thing for the world," Lugovskyy said. "It's resembling an empire right now, with a central power. Extreme events are highly possible." Read the original article on Business Insider UPDATED: 6:47 p.m., Thursday, July 13 The Dodge County Attorney Office is experiencing an exodus of lawyers, as three of the five staff attorneys on the county payroll have announced their departures in the past four weeks, with one already leaving employment. Dodge County Attorney Pamela Hopkins, in her first term after being elected in November 2022, confirmed that one deputy attorney had already resigned and is no longer working in her office, and two other deputy attorneys have submitted their resignation letters to her, but are still on the job. Micki Gilfry, who is the human resources manager for Dodge County in addition to her county clerk and elections manager duties, confirmed to the Tribune that three attorneys in the County Attorney Office had submitted letters of resignation since early June, with one of those three having left employment with the county as of June 16. Neither Hopkins nor Gilfry would provide the names of the attorneys who resigned. In total, the county attorney office has six lawyers on staff, including Hopkins. The Fremont Tribune has requested via a Nebraska Public Records Request the identities of the three deputy attorneys who have submitted resignation letters. On Thursday, July 13, Hopkins responded to the Tribune's request by only providing one name of the three who had submitted resignation letters. According to Hopkins' response, former county Deputy Attorney Anthony Hernandez left the office on Friday, June 16. In a telephone interview about the departures on Friday, July 7, Hopkins stated that she had campaigned for the elected office on a platform of restoring integrity to the office, and noted staff changes are normal. Hopkins said the departures are, totally within the norm for a change of administration. I have six total attorneys in this office. When the office is fully staffed, it is five deputy (attorneys) and me. I have five attorneys (right now) with two leaving within the next month. I am replacing the people who are leaving. I am expecting to have replacements in for the people who are leaving, Hopkins said. It is not unusual for there to be a change in administration in office, and as a result in change of leadership, there be a change in staff. Hopkins was elected in November 2022 and technically filled the office previously held by the prior-elected county attorney, Oliver Glass. Glass resigned in March 2021 after being charged with federal crimes. Glass is currently serving a nine-month prison sentence at U.S. Penitentiary Leavenworth, in Kansas. He was replaced by acting county attorney Sara Sopinksi, who was aided during her tenure by former county attorney Paul Vaughan. When I ran for this office, one of the platforms I ran for this office on was to change the tone and the functioning of this office, and how it works. Having significant staff changes is not inconsistent with that goal, Hopkins stressed. Along with Hopkins, other publicly known lawyers in the county office include Duke Drouillard, Rachel Greifenkemp, Justin Bignell and Brianna McLarty. Sopinski, who was the acting Dodge County Attorney before Hopkins was sworn in on Jan. 5, worked her last day for the county on Jan. 4. As of July 10, the Nebraska State Bar Association website lists only four lawyer employees in the Dodge County Attorney Office: Hopkins, Bignell, McLarty and Drouillard. Attempts to contact the five deputy attorneys in the Dodge County Attorney Office have been unsuccessful. When asked to provide the identities of the deputy attorneys who are leaving her office, Hopkins on July 11 refused to name the three officials. On July 13, Hopkins identified one of the three lawyers. Gilfry also declined to provide the names of the departing lawyers. Im not going to comment publicly (on) internal personnel dealings, Hopkins said. These are internal personnel issues. I have not discussed with these people you are talking about anything in regard to such a thing (identifying them). I have not discussed with them anything related to them (and) putting their names in the paper and what theyre doing with their professional careers. A source in the Dodge County law enforcement community who has been granted anonymity by the Tribune contacted the newspaper, claiming that the three attorneys who were departing had allegedly done so as a group due to professional disagreements with Hopkins. The source alleged local law enforcement officials had concerns that the departing attorneys and resulting lack of staff may cause disruptions to prosecutions of criminal suspects. Hopkins adamantly denied those claims. As far as law enforcement, (they) have never reached out to me to express concern of any aspect of my office. I am managing my office. There is no regard to concerns about being able to adequately prosecute cases, she stated in a telephone interview. Dodge County Sheriff Dustin Weitzel said on June 23 he was not aware of the resignations of the three attorneys, but said in a telephone interview with the Tribune he would look into the issue and possibly comment at a later date. He stated he had a good working relationship with the County Attorney Office and Hopkins. Bob Missel, chairman of the Dodge County Supervisors, said he does not oversee the County Attorney Office, and he noted that as of June 22, he was not aware of the resignations. Missel also expressed his support of Hopkins. Pam had not shared that with me (as of June 22), but Im sure she will. That is a pretty big exodus, and absolutely, she will have to react quickly and fill those positions, Missel said in a telephone interview. The amount of work that office does, it requires that (six) amount of employees. Pam is the elected official, and she is the county attorney, and that is her office. (The supervisors) only interplay is her budget. Outside of that, it is her baby. Missel also said the departures were concerning, but that he believed Hopkins would act quickly to hire replacements and keep the work for the public flowing as required. Any time you have a disruption in staffing, it doesnt affect one office it affects the whole programthe courts and the support staff and the schedule of things. It is a concern, but I am confident Pam will address it, Missel added. Ive been at this for a number of years, and when you get a new person that steps to the helm, and (the person) brings in a new culture, not everyone is on board or happy. I am confident she will recover, and that she will find some people to replace them. I am sorry to hear we lost some people. Hopkins stressed that the departures of the three deputy attorneys will not in any manner affect the prosecution of criminal suspects arrested and put forth to her office by local law enforcement personnel. Im not going to discuss internal personnel issues, except to say, my office is going to continue to provide effective, ethical, efficient public safety services to Dodge County, Hopkins said. Fremont Police officers responded at about 4:33 a.m. Monday, July 10, to a burglary to a business in the 1800 block of North Bell Street. An investigation showed force was used to gain entry, a press release from FPD said. Estimated loss is undetermined. Anyone with information may contact CrimeStoppers at 402-727-4002 or use the P3 app to leave a tip. Reference Case #3105. Tuesday Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Keene Memorial Librarys Out & About Storytime, 10 a.m., RVR Bank, 1005 E. 23rd St., Fremont. Attendees will be able to enjoy stories, songs and information from the local bank. Entry is free. Letters to the Churches of Revelation, 10 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Summer Lunch Program, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fremont Presbyterian Church, 520 W. Linden Ave., Fremont. Kids ages 1-18 eat free all summer (parents also). Registration is not required to eat lunch. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous Steps of Freedom meeting, 1 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511. Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. 2003 John C. Fremont Days Business After Hours, 4-6 p.m., LA Fire Proof Door Co., 325 N. Main St., Fremont. The event is being sponsored by Premier Staffing. Utility and Infrastructure Board meeting, 4 p.m., Fremont Municipal Building, second floor, 400 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The meeting is open to the public. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Mens and Womens Bible Study, 6 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Fremont City Council meeting, 7 p.m., Fremont Municipal Building, second floor, 400 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The meeting is open to the public. Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Wednesday 93rd Annual Fremont 4-H Expo, Christensen Field, Fremont. The horse show will begin at 9 a.m. in the livestock arena. Dodge County Board of Supervisors, Dodge County Board of Equalization and Dodge County Board of Corrections meetings, 9 a.m., board room, third floor, Dodge County Courthouse, 435 N. Park Ave., Fremont. The meetings are open to the public. Summer Lunch Program, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fremont Presbyterian Church, 520 W. Linden Ave., Fremont. Kids ages 1-18 eat free all summer (parents also). Registration is not required to eat lunch. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Mens Bible Study, 1 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Fremont Community Breastfeeding Support Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Three Rivers Health Department conference room, 2400 N. Lincoln Ave., Fremont. This support group is for mothers and their babies. Siblings are welcome. Lutheran High School Feasibility Gathering, 6-7 p.m., Trinity Lutheran School Gym, 1546 N. Luther Rd., Fremont. Trinity Lutheran invites everyone to collaborate as it looks forward to the possibility of starting a Lutheran high school in the Fremont area. This gathering will be an opportunity to hear what work has been done, is being done, and still needs to be done. Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511. Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Thursday Mens Bible Study, 8 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont. 93rd Annual Fremont 4-H Expo, Christensen Field, Fremont. Coffee and rolls will be served at 8:30 a.m. Other events will include the sheep show, meat goat show, archery competition, and culinary challenge contest. Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Rental rehabilitation program meeting, 11 a.m., Council Chambers, second floor, Fremont Municipal Building, 400 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The City of Fremont has received a Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund award for a rental rehabilitation program. The rental rehabilitation project was approved in the amount of up to $310,500 for the completion of seven rental units. Property owners may be eligible to receive up to $40,000 with a 1:1 match requirement to make improvements to rental properties. The meeting will discuss the program, eligibility and requirements. For more information, contact Mandy Gear at mandy@nenedd.org. Summer Lunch Program, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fremont Presbyterian Church, 520 W. Linden Ave., Fremont. Kids ages 1-18 eat free all summer (parents also). Registration is not required to eat lunch. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. The kitchen will be open from 5:30-7 p.m. The menu will include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, tacos and soup. Everyone is welcome. Keene Memorial Library Lego Club, 4-5 p.m., Gallery 92 West, 92 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Lego bricks will be supplied. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. John C. Fremont Days opening ceremony, 6 p.m., John C. Fremont Park, Ninth and Broad streets, Fremont. The opening ceremony will be followed by a Concert in the Park sponsored by MainStreet of Fremont. Civil Air Patrol, 7 p.m., 1201 W. 23rd St., in yellow hangar at Fremont Airport. Concert in the Park featuring The SilverMoon Band, 7-9 p.m., John C. Fremont Park. Childrens activities with the Fremont Parks & Recreation Department will begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. Food trucks will be selling a variety of food and drinks. Marine Corps League, 7 p.m., Disabled American Veterans Club, 137 N. D St., Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave. Tally Ho Toastmasters, 7-8 p.m., Midland Universitys Anderson Building, Ninth and Clarkson streets, Fremont. Everyone is welcome to learn skills in communication, self-confidence and leadership. For more information, call 402-936-3479. Narcotics Anonymous Back to Basics meeting, 7:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 N. Davis St., Oakland. Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Classics with a Cause featuring Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, dusk (about 9:10 p.m.), Quasar Drive-In Theater, 13427 N. 300th St., near Valley. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Free admission is being provided by Backlund Plumbing. Donations will benefit Omaha Soap Box Derby. WASHINGTON After major blows to his agenda by the Supreme Court, President Joe Biden is intent on making sure voters will have the final say. When the court's conservative majority effectively killed his plan to cancel or reduce federal student loan debts for millions of people, Biden said, Republicans snatched away the hope that they were given. When the justices ended race-based affirmative action in college admissions, he said, This is not a normal court. When they overturned Roe v. Wade and a national right to abortion last year, the president said, Voters need to make their voices heard. As Biden heads into the 2024 election, he is running not only against the Republicans who control one-half of Congress but also against the conservative bloc that dominates the nation's highest court. It's a subtle but significant shift in approach toward the Supreme Court, treating it more like a political entity even as Biden stops short of calling for an overhaul. That shift is becoming apparent in everything from the White House's messaging to its legal strategy. The president respects the courts authority, but if its judgments are going to be political and there are members of the court who are saying that, he owes it to voters to make it clear what his positions are and what hes doing to address it, said Ron Klain, his former chief of staff. Many members of the current court testified that Roe is settled law and still overturned it, he added, referring to the court's ruling on abortion. That has its consequences. Biden, who once led the Senate Judiciary Committee, is focusing on the politicization of the court as a way to encourage voters to back him. Yet he has not embraced any effort to make big changes to the court. Instead, Biden is increasingly vocal about his belief that the court is abandoning mainstream constitutional interpretation. He tells voters they need more Democrats in Congress and a Democrat in the White House to counter the impact of the conservative-leaning court. Biden has won his share of cases, including on immigration, before a court where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority. But the student loan defeat capped a term when justices imposed significant roadblocks. White House officials say Biden is keen to explore other ways to pursue the same priorities and explain to the American people about the obstacles. Theres only upside in running against the court as an institution because the court is doing things that are wildly unpopular and theyre preventing the president from implementing his agenda, said Chris Kang, chief counsel of the progressive group Demand Justice and a onetime deputy counsel to President Barack Obama. I think that its important to make clear that the Supreme Court is making it impossible to implement and advance policies that should not have any controversy attached to them, he added. Republicans are working to portray Biden as overstepping his legal authority in pursuit of his agenda. They say the high court's policies are in step with much of the country and they are trying to motivate their own voters by highlighting what the GOP has achieved through court rulings. Former President Donald Trump, at the recent Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington, praised the three justices he had nominated to the Supreme Court. Exactly one year ago today, those justices were the pivotal votes in the Supreme Courts landmark decision ending the constitutional atrocity known as Roe v. Wade, Trump said. He drew a standing ovation by noting that conservatives had been trying for 50 years, to overturn that ruling. But I got it done and nobody ever thought it was a possibility. Other administration officials said the courts conservative dominance has lowered the political cost to Biden when the justices scuttle some of his legally suspect actions such as on student loans and coronavirus mandates. On the latter, the Supreme Court struck down Bidens attempt to require employees of large companies to get shots but left the requirement in place for health care workers, though by that time the pandemic had started to wane. Klain insisted that everything Biden has put forward had a solid legal basis and was approved by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. "There was no sense of taking the legal issues lightly or just do it and take whatever the court says,' he said. Confidence in the Supreme Court fell to its lowest point in at least 50 years after the leaked draft opinion in the abortion case in 2022. Those who view the current court favorably are largely Republican. According to the Pew Research Centers September 2022 report, only 28% of Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents now view the court favorably, down nearly 40 percentage points since 2020. And people in the United States increasingly favor term limits. Positive views of the court among Republicans and those who lean Republican has increased to 73%. As a result, the partisan gap is larger than at any other point in the 35 years of polling that Pew has done on the court. Republicans have focused for years on remaking the federal judiciary and Supreme Court. When Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-K.Y., was the majority leader, he refused to even meet in 2016 with Obamas pick for the high court current Attorney General Merrick Garland, a federal judge at that time. The nomination stalled until a Republican president, Trump, took over. Establishment GOP operatives backed Trump because of his pledge to name as many judges to the bench as possible. Their gamble worked. Trump ended up with three Supreme Court nominees and 54 federal appeals court judges, reshaping the courts for a generation. The 9 current justices of the US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Justice Clarence Thomas Justice Samuel Alito Justice Sonia Sotomayor Justice Elena Kagan Justice Neil Gorsuch Justice Brett Kavanaugh Justice Amy Coney Barrett Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson When Dylan Tapleys new all-terrain vehicle was stolen last January, he and his mother, Shay Bryan, were sure they would never see it again. We talked to the police, and they said theyd investigate, Bryan said. But we just assumed it was gone. I never thought Id get it back, said Tapley, 19. Tapley, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia two years ago, received the 2020 Yamaha Raptor 700 ATV as a gift from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization that fulfills the wishes of critically ill children and teens. According to his mother, he had the bike for about two months before it was stolen. Ten or so months later, just in time for the holidays, the family received its Make-A-Wish gift back. All told, the vehicle had traveled about 4,000 miles, had been involved in a crash, was taken apart and reassembled and spent six months in an impound lot. The story of the ATVs long, strange trip involves theft, self-recrimination, frustration and near hopelessness. But it is also a tale of empathy and generosity. One night in January, hampered by limited garage space at the Copper Range Apartments in northeast Colorado Springs, Bryan set the brake on the ATV and parked it outside her apartment. It was right outside Dylans window, and it was just for one night, she said. The next morning, Tapleys Make-A-Wish gift, the four-wheeler he rode to take his mind off his illness, was gone. It was the one thing that made him happy, Bryan said. The theft was a huge blow to Tapley, according to his mother. He wasnt doing well with his chemotherapy at the time, Bryan said. So this was a huge setback. The family reported the theft to Colorado Springs police, but any hopes of getting the ATV back dwindled with each passing month. They had pretty much given up hope when Bryan got a phone call in late June. It was the Miami Police Department, telling me that the four-wheeler was in Florida, Bryan said. I was like, Florida? Are you kidding me? The four-wheeler had been found in the back of a truck that had been involved in a hit-and-run crash in February. Because the vehicle identification number had been stripped off, Miami investigators couldnt trace the bikes origin. As a result, the ATV spent months in an impound lot before an employee set in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead the bike back to its rightful owner. One of the workers thought something looked weird with the body, so he took it apart, and found the VIN etched someplace else on the four-wheeler, Bryan said. When they looked it up, they found that it was stolen, and thats when they called me. At first, Bryan took little solace in the fact that the bike had been found. For starters, it was 2,000 miles away. To further complicate matters, the impound lot wanted nearly $3,000 in fees to release the vehicle a total that increased by $14 each day. As far as Bryan was concerned, they were no closer to getting the bike back. That was insane, she said. I didnt even know it was (at the impound lot). Plus, it had been stolen from us. Why should we have to pay $3,000 to get it back? At her wits end, Bryan contacted the Colorado chapter of Make-A-Wish to see if there was anything they could do to help. I mean, I would have either had to drive down there, pay $3,000 and haul the bike back or fly to Miami and rent a vehicle to bring it here, she said. I didnt have any way to do that. The situation got the attention of Scott Dishong, CEO of Make-A-Wish Colorado. I reached out to the impound lot on her behalf, Dishong said. As soon as they heard it was a Make-A-Wish kid, they said they would waive all the fees. Bryan added, As it turned out, the owner of the towing company is a 3-year cancer survivor. When he heard Dylans story, he had a change of heart and wiped out all the charges. Next was the matter of transporting the vehicle back to Colorado Springs. It took an interstate, interagency partnership to finally make it happen, Dishong said. Staff members from Make-A-Wish South Florida helped facilitate the release of the ATV from the impound lot. Kavkaz Express, a Colorado-based trucking company, paid to have the bike shipped from Miami to the Make-A-Wish office in Denver. And Outdoor Innovations, a local landscaping company, engineered the final leg of the trip, delivering the ATV from Denver to Colorado Springs. There was a lot of work that went into it, and it took a lot longer than we expected, Dishong said. But ultimately we were able to give the family a happy ending. Bryan said she has made provisions to ensure that the ATV wont be stolen again. The four-wheeler did not come back unscathed. It had been custom-outfitted for Tapley, who has lost some motor control due to illness and chemotherapy. Most of the custom accessories are gone now, Bryan said. But it runs just fine, and Tapley rides it every day, weather permitting. I have it back, he said. Thats all I care about. Contact the writer: [email protected] The Air Force is suspending some bonuses and putting some base reassignments on hold, after an Alabama lawmaker blocked a routine request from the Department of Defense to reallocate funds. U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper called out U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, for blocking a routine request for reallocation of funds across the Department of Defense to force a decision on the permanent home for Space Command. The delay that has already caused problems for the Air Force is "dangerous and harmful," Hickenlooper said. The Alabama delegation is holding our military service members hostage. They are risking our national security to get what they want," Hickenlooper said, in a statement. "This is not how our nation should make basing decisions. Period. It is, however, how you penalize our troops for the sake of narrow political interests. Space Command has been at the center of a political fight for about two years since President Donald Trump announced it would move from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Ala., in January 2021. Since then, Colorado lawmakers have advocated for retaining Space Command in Colorado Springs, where many other Space Force guardians work and would remain if Space Command moved. Space Command is housed in existing office space at Peterson Space Force Base. In those offices, 1,200 people from all services protect an area 100 kilometers above the Earth to the edges of the universe, Space Command Gen. James Dickinson said previously. Rogers has been a vocal proponent of moving Space Command to Huntsville and recently backed a proposed addition to next year's military funding bill that would block 50% of the secretary of the Air Force's travel budget until a report on Space Command is released. His legislation would also halt spending on the Space Command offices in Colorado Springs, including minor upgrades. The house committee has also announced it would investigate delays around which town should host the base and changes to plans for the command's offices that happened without civilian oversight. In this latest push for a Space Command decision, only the leadership of the House Armed Services Committee held up the DODs request to reallocate funding. The routine request passed through the leadership of three other committees that approve military funding. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, has floated amendments to restore funding for Space Command's facilities, but they have not gained traction. I look forward to a resolution of the U.S. Space Command decision in the near future. Airmen and Guardians can then focus on national security imperatives - countering and deterring Chinese and Russian aggression, he said in a statement Tuesday. Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The Air Force is the first military branch to be impacted by Rogers' decision to hold up approval of the routine reallocation of funds and took measures Monday because it is facing a shortfall in its personnel budget. The Air Force Academy, Peterson Space Force Space and Schriever Space Force Base, Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command all employ airmen in Colorado Springs. Selective reenlistment bonuses for fiscal year 2023 will be suspended Tuesday for airmen, according to a news release. The Air Force is allowing airmen to extend their current enlistment into 2024 to allow those who would have qualified for bonuses to take advantage of the program after the deadline to access bonuses under fiscal year 2023 rules until the next program starts, the statement said. A small number of people may not be able to extend their enlistment through October, the beginning of the new fiscal year, but the solution should work for most, said Ann Stefanek, a spokeswoman for the Air Force. "We worked really hard to come up with strategies that would have the least effect on our airmen," she said. The Air Force is pausing a bonus program that opened on June 6 for pilots. Within the next two weeks, the Air Force expects to reopen a restructured bonus program and officers who want to participate can sign up then as long as funds remain, the release said. The new assignment incentive pay program is also on pause until October. Airmen who are already part of the program will continue to receive that pay. Airmen on long overseas tours expecting to return between October and December will have their return date extended between January and March as well. The Air Force will be reviewing orders for basing reassignments in August and after on a priority basis and some moves will be delayed. This is most likely to affect those with moves planned in November or December, she said. The Space Force is not affected by the Air Force's recent announcement. Airmen with questions can call the Total Force Service Center at 210-565-0102 or 800-525-0102. Fort Carson expected to start training exercises Monday that will create noise and dust. Air Force AC-130s planned to train with large-caliber ammunition in and around Fort Carson Monday through Thursday. In addition, the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, will be training through the end of July, according to a news release. The training will generate noise and dust that will last into the evening and throughout the night, Fort Carson said. Fort Carson said it strives to balance training requirements with respecting neighboring communities. The post's Public Affairs Office will field noise complaints at (719) 526-9849. According to Rocky Mountain National Park officials, a 26-year-old woman has died after a 500-foot fall while free-solo climbing the Four Aces formation on Ypsilon Mountain's Blitzen Ridge on Sunday. The woman was climbing with a 27-year-old man, who contacted park rangers following her fall. The man, who was no hurt, was airlifted from his location via a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter. Rocky Mountain Rescue Group also assisted in the helicopter operation. The woman's body was recovered from the area above Ypsilon Lake. The identification of the fallen climber has not yet been released. The entirety of the Blitzen Ridge is rated as a 5.4 route on Mountain Project, meaning that it is beginner-level rock climbing. That being said, free-solo climbing means using no protection, such as a rope, leaving little margin for error. Crumbling rock can be a key hazard on routes of this nature even for the most skilled climbers. The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway is offering interested patrons a unique opportunity to view a sunrise over the plains of eastern Colorado from the top of Americas Mountain, according to an announcement Monday. The first-ever Sunrise Train ride will depart from the Manitou Springs railway station on July 21 at 4:30 a.m., officials said. The date coincides with National Parks and Recreation Day, a celebration of the park employees who help optimize the outdoor experience. A portion of the proceeds from the early-morning ride will benefit the Manitou Springs Carnegie Library renovation project. The library building was closed to the public in 2020 when it was found to be out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Manitou Springs Mayor John Graham. Its a beautiful building, but it was built in 1910, Graham said. We need to make it more accessible so it can reopen, because its always been an important resource. (The renovation) is a pretty critical project for the community. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. A primary goal of the project is to make the buildings common spaces more accessible to patrons with disabilities, while maintaining most of the historic architecture, officials said. Earlier this year, Graham began a series of conversations with Ted Johnston, the Cog Railways General Manager, after Johnston expressed a desire for the railway to become more involved with the Manitou Springs community. He mentioned helping with the fundraising for the Carnegie project, and said he wanted to get the Cog involved in other ways as well, Graham said. I think its a nice cooperative gesture for the Cog to work with us on something thats genuinely important to our community. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets for the morning ride can visit the Cog Railway website, select July 21 on the calendar, and choose the 4:30 a.m. Sunrise Train time. A barricaded suspect that prompted a shelter-in-place in a neighborhood east of The Citadel mall was found dead, according to a tweet from the Colorado Springs Police Department. Officers responded to the area of Potter Drive and Maxwell Drive to locate a wanted party Monday evening. Upon arrival, police located the suspect who then barricaded himself inside a vehicle, officials said. Police set up containment on the vehicle and attempted to communicate with the wanted man. A shelter-in-place was ordered at 6:40 p.m. for an area around 600 Potter Dr. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "After awhile they learned the suspect was deceased inside the vehicle," the tweet said. Officials said no officers were injured nor used lethal force. Officials added that police did not fire their weapons during the call for service. The shelter-in-place was lifted just before 7:30 p.m., and officials said there is no danger to the public. Detectives with the Violent Crimes Section have assumed responsibility for the ongoing death investigation. All parties involved in the call are accounted for, officials said. By Valentyn Ogirenko and Gleb Garanich KYIV (Reuters) -Russia launched attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, the Black Sea port of Odesa and the southern region of Kherson on Tuesday before the start of a NATO summit in Lithuania where security threats from Moscow were on the agenda. No deaths were reported in overnight drone strikes on Kyiv and Odesa, but Russian shelling killed a woman in the southern village of Sofiivka and wounded two people in Kherson city, Kherson governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Air alerts were issued across Ukraine and fighting continued as NATO leaders gathered for a summit which the Kremlin criticised, warning that Moscow would respond to protect its own security. "The enemy attacked Kyiv from the air for the second time this month," Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. The air force said 26 of the 28 kamikaze Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia overnight had been shot down. The military said falling debris had damaged a number of buildings in the Kyiv region. An administrative building at Odesa port was also damaged, and a fire was quickly extinguished at a grain terminal near the port, officials said. Hours later, Prokudin said the southern region's main city, also called Kherson, was being shelled by Russian troops based in an occupied part of the region. He said an unspecified humanitarian headquarters and five residential buildings had been hit, and that two people had been wounded. At the Vilnius summit, NATO leaders said Ukraine would receive a "positive message" as it seeks membership. Moscow has cited NATO's eastward expansion as a factor in its decision to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians. (Writing by Lidia Kelly and Anna Pruchnicka; Editing by Timothy Heritage) By Steve Holland and Justyna Pawlak VILNIUS (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's administration will move ahead with the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey in consultation with Congress, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday, a day after Ankara gave the green light for Sweden to join NATO. Turkey, which had been the main stumbling bloc on Sweden's path towards the alliance, had requested in October 2021 to buy $20 billion of Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighters and nearly 80 modernisation kits for its existing warplanes. Speaking ahead of a summit of NATO leaders in Lithuania, Sullivan said Biden "had been clear that he supports the transfer." "He has placed no caveats on this ... He intends to move forward with that transfer," Sullivan told reporters, without giving details on the timing. U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, a Democrat who has blocked the F-16 sale, said on Monday he was in talks with the Biden administration about his hold and that he could make a decision "in the next week." State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Secretary of State Antony Blinken had spoken to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and members of Congress, including Menendez, in recent weeks. "And as the national security adviser said today, we will move forward with that sale, which we do understand needs to be approved by key members of Congress," he told a daily news briefing. Blinken pressed Fidan on Sweden's accession to NATO during calls on Wednesday and Saturday, according to State Department readouts. He spoke to Fidan again on Monday, hours before Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced that he had agreed to approve Sweden's accession. "I am not going to characterize those conversations other than to say we have always made clear that we have supported the sale of F-16s to Turkey and we will continue to do so," Miller said. Tensions between Turkey and fellow NATO member Greece - which wants to buy F-35 jets from the United States - could be a stumbling block for the F-16 sale, however. Blinken also spoke to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday. Menendez had said he had concerns about Turkey that extended beyond Sweden joining NATO, including human rights and Turkish overflights of Greek airspace. 'THE SWEDISH BLACKMAIL' Some diplomats and analysts believe Erdogan had been using Swedish membership of NATO to pressure Washington on the warplanes, and that Biden made a deal. "There seems to have been a big push by the Biden administration to allow Turkey to modernise its air force and acquire new F-16s," said Camille Grand, a defence specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank. "This push together with the Swedish efforts on the PKK front might have played an important role in convincing Erdogan to move forward on Sweden." A former French ambassador to Washington, Gerard Araud, wrote on Twitter that "'The Swedish blackmail' paid." Ankara had accused Sweden of doing too little against people Turkey sees as terrorists, mainly members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and the United States. A statement issued by Turkey and Sweden on Monday said Sweden had reiterated that it would not provide support to the Kurdish groups and would actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkey's EU accession process. Russian officials said Sweden's expected accession to NATO would have "negative implications" for Russia's security and Moscow would have to respond. The timing of both the F-16 transfer and Sweden's NATO entry remains unclear. Turkey's parliament is not scheduled to convene until after the summer, and Hungary also still needs to ratify the accession treaty, although Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a statement on Tuesday that it was "only a technical issue". All NATO states must ratify a new member. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Erdogan had agreed to push ratification in parliament "as soon as possible", but could not give a specific time frame. It took two weeks for Turkey's parliament to ratify Finland's membership. Finland had applied alongside Sweden after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 overturned the two Nordic nations' security considerations. (Reporting by Steve Holland, Justyna Pawlak, Simon Lewis, Richard Cowan and Patricia Zengerle; editing by John Irish, Heather Timmons, Devika Syamnath and Rosalba O'Brien) By Brian Snyder and Rich McKay MONTPELIER, Vermont (Reuters) - A dam upstream from the Vermont state capital was holding at maximum capacity on Tuesday after "catastrophic" flooding shut down roadways leading out of Montpelier and trapped people in their homes. The Wrightsville Dam, which forms a reservoir four miles (6.4 km) north of Montpelier, neared the point at which a spillway would need to release water into the North Branch of the Winooski River, city officials said. That would aggravate what the National Weather Service has called "catastrophic" flooding in Montpelier's picturesque downtown district, where people navigated the submerged streets in canoes and floodwaters reached the windows of businesses and the tops of vehicles. The North Branch converges with a second, larger branch of the Winooski near the Vermont statehouse. The growing frequency and intensity of severe weather across the United States is symptomatic of global, human-driven climate change, climate scientists say. While a Northeast state capital is under water, ocean temperatures have soared to as high as 90 Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) in Florida, Texas is sizzling under a heat dome, and California is bracing for temperatures as high as 120 F (49 C) in desert areas this weekend. Much of the U.S. Northeast including parts of New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut have already had as much as 8 inches (20 cm) of rain over the last several days. "Make no mistake, the devastation and flooding we're experiencing across Vermont is historic and catastrophic," Vermont Governor Phil Scott said at a briefing Tuesday. Montpelier City Manager William Fraser in a Facebook post urged the city's 8,000 people to be prepared to move to the upper floors of their homes as highway closures made evacuations difficult or impossible. Throughout the state, search teams have rescued 117 people from their homes and cars by swift boat, as officials fielded calls that even more people were trapped in their homes in remote areas, Mike Cannon, leader of the state's Urban Search and Rescue operation, told a briefing. Vermont officials called the flooding the worst since Hurricane Irene reached the New England state as a tropical storm in 2011 and caused about $750 million in damages and seven deaths in the state. The city's topography - bordered by hills with the downtown in a valley - increases the potential for flooding, Montpelier City Council member Conor Casey said. "My wife and I live right on the river and it's about two feet from coming in the living room," Casey said. "We're a bit used to it from Irene, so it's not totally foreign, but I think the scary thing is that it feels a bit worse so far." The flood took its toll on the regional economy, with private forecaster AccuWeather estimating damages and economic loss at $3 billion to $5 billion. Most of the crops at Boyd Family Farm in Wilmington, Vermont, were lost in the storm, said Janet Boyd, who owns the 80-year-old business along with her husband and son at the southern end of the Green Mountains. "We lost all the vegetables and only have our blueberries left," Boyd said, "all the greens, the tomatoes, the peppers, the garlic." Joe Miles, 59, owner of the Montpelier-based R.K. Miles Building Materials, said three of his eight locations in the state were heavily damaged, with two of them cut off by flooding. Much of his lumber and plywood inventory was lost to water damage. "It's awful and tragic, but fortunately no one got hurt," Miles said. "We'll get through it." (Reporting by Brian Snider in Montpelier, Brendan O'Brien in Chicago and Rich McKay in Atlanta; Additional reporting by Rachel Nostrant and Daniel Trotta; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Devika Syamnath, Bill Berkrot and Sandra Maler) President Joe Biden has declared a state of emergency in Vermont due to severe flooding that has wreaked havoc on the area. The storms, which have affected states across the Northeast but have been especially acute in Vermont, have caused flash flooding, flight delays, and severe damage, exceeding the levels seen during Hurricane Irene in the summer of 2011. WALL OF WASTE: BIDEN ENDING TRUMP WALL LEAVES BORDER RANCHER WITH FIELD OF 'RUSTING' STEEL Melissa Morgan, of Northfield, Mass., looks at the water flow at the Whetstone Brook in Brattleboro, Vt., Monday, July 10, 2023. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP) Kristopher Radder/AP Biden made the emergency declaration while on his visit to Lithuania for the NATO Vilnius summit, underscoring the problems the president faces at home and abroad. Biden's action authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency "to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures," the White House announcement stated. A man views flood damage in Bridgewater, Vt., that submerged vehicles and threatened homes Monday, July 10, 2023. Heavy rain drenched part of the Northeast, washing out roads, forcing evacuations and halting some airline travel. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) Hasan Jamali/AP Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) has warned residents to stay away from waterways and remain vigilant throughout Monday night. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Over 6 million people across the northeastern U.S. were under flood watches or warnings Monday night, with the largest affected area spread across New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. The storms are expected to halt on Tuesday. Original Location: Biden declares state of emergency in Vermont due to flooding Washington Examiner Videos President Joe Biden will arrive at the 2023 NATO summit, this year in Vilnius, Lithuania, amid a critical juncture in Russia's war in Ukraine. But as Ukraine is coming under increasing pressure to recapture territory, Biden has to contend with NATO alliance politics before domestic politics surrounding the conflict changes ahead of next year's election. WALL OF WASTE: BIDEN ENDING TRUMP WALL LEAVES BORDER RANCHER WITH FIELD OF 'RUSTING' STEEL The outcome of the Vilnius NATO summit matters, according to Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, former undersecretary of state and now a Harvard University Belfer Center senior fellow. "Will it send a clear, unambiguous signal that Ukraine will secure NATO membership within a precisely specified and short time period and, in the interim, provide definitive key security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression in Europe and protect U.S. national security interests?" Dobriansky asked the Washington Examiner. "Or will it send a signal of weakness and ambiguity by not doing anything beyond vague promises?" The top priority for NATO and its partners should be helping Ukraine "fully expel" Russia, per Rebeccah Heinrichs, head of the Congressional Commission on U.S. Strategic Posture. "Which means rallying behind the British, Polish, [and] Baltic positions, officially [walking] away from the Russia-NATO Founding Act, and then providing real, binding commitments with timelines for shoring up defenses of the alliance's Eastern front," Heinrichs said. "Above all, this means a permanent German brigade in Lithuania." The United Kingdom, Poland, and Baltic NATO member states have been more muscular in their military support of Ukraine. The Russia-NATO Founding Act reaffirms a shared commitment to European peace, creating mechanisms for consultation, cooperation, joint decision-making, and joint action. "All discussions about Ukraine and NATO are far too premature when the alliance can't even agree on the next steps for empowering Ukraine to win the war and on strengthening the alliance's defenses along the areas that are most vulnerable to Russian gray zone activity," Heinrichs, a Hudson Institute senior fellow and Vandenberg Coalition advisory board member, said. In addition to Ukraine and approving a new NATO defense plan, for Dan Hamilton, a Brookings Institution senior fellow, other priorities include encouraging 2% gross domestic product defense spending to be the "floor" instead of the "ceiling" and conducting Indo-Pacific outreach. The Transatlantic Leadership Network president also cited French opposition to a Japanese NATO office as a potential point of tension. As Dobriansky and Heinrichs alluded, Swedish and Ukrainian NATO membership is additionally expected to be on the agenda, though Biden downplayed Ukraine's prospects until after the war during a TV interview last weekend. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan consented to Sweden's ascension on Monday despite demanding days ago that Turkey be admitted to the European Union first. Hungary is still against Sweden becoming a member. Victoria Coates, a deputy national security adviser to former President Donald Trump, warned against another 1994 Budapest Memorandum security guarantee with Ukraine as Ukraine works toward NATO membership. Pursuant to the Budapest Memorandum, Russia promised not to threaten or use military force or economic coercion against Ukraine if Ukraine forfeited its nuclear weapons. "If we are going to take on that kind of obligation for European security, it needs to be crystal clear that European partners are going to be right there with us," she said, adding any agreement should be ratified by the Senate. "Ukraine's NATO membership shouldn't be a messaging vehicle... It all seems like you're sending messages and not actually trying to win a war." Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Heinrichs, too, dismissed NATO disagreement over the United States deploying cluster bombs to Ukraine because the munitions have "low dud rates" and will be leveraged "against Russian military targets on its own soil that has to be demined anyway." Biden's decision was criticized by NATO members that have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits production, transfer, and stockpiling. "NATO allies know that the biggest threat to Ukrainian children and other civilians are Russian soldiers, not Ukrainian cluster munitions," Heinrichs said. "If you noticed the German official's statement on it from last week, it was essentially 'We know this was tough for the Americans and we understand.' That's about as close to an endorsement as possible considering their nations' legal limitations." "Democrats in Congress will be a bigger problem," she continued. "Republicans are the ones who have been pressuring the White House to provide these to speed up the war in Ukraine's favor." A spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters Monday that Sunak raised the issue and his convention responsibilities at 10 Downing St. during his meeting with Biden before the NATO summit. "When it comes to munitions, I think the first thing to say is this was difficult choice for the U.S. that's been forced on them by Russia's war of aggression," the spokesman said. "They discussed the commitment the U.K. has under that convention, both not to produce cluster munitions and to discourage their use." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Complementing NATO and alliance partner meetings, such as the new NATO-Ukraine Council, Biden is scheduled to sit down with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. He will then deliver an address in Vilnius on Wednesday before departing for Helsinki, Finland. There, he will participate in the U.S.-Nordic Leaders Summit on Thursday, as well as a bilateral meeting and press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto. "It would be great to hear something new from the president besides his whole global struggle for democracy and Ukraine rhetoric," Coates, a Heritage Foundation senior fellow, said. "It would be interesting to have him propose that the Wales pledge from 2014 for NATO members to commit 2% of GDP to defense. It would be interesting for him to propose making that binding." Original Location: Biden faces NATO test during Ukrainian counteroffensive Washington Examiner Videos House Republicans will have a member-only policy meeting on Thursday focused on the investigations and oversight efforts by House committees. The policy meeting will have briefing and updates from Chairmen James Comer (R-KY) of Oversight, Mark Green (R-TN) of Homeland Security, Jim Jordan (R-OH) of Judiciary, and Jason Smith (R-MO) of Ways and Means, according to an email obtained by the Washington Examiner. GOP WHIP REPORTS MASSIVE FUNDRAISING HAUL AS PARTY FIGHTS TO KEEP HOUSE MAJORITY The chairman will be talking to their fellow House Republicans about the investigations their committees are conducting concerning the Biden administration. For Smith, Comer, and Jordan, that is the investigation into different areas of Hunter Biden's criminal case and alleged misconduct on behalf of the Department of Justice. Following whistleblower testimony from two IRS employees that alleged the Department of Justice interfered with U.S. Attorney David Weiss' criminal investigation into Hunter Biden, Smith, Comer, and Jordan's committees have begun to work together to investigate the misconduct during the investigation. The whistleblowers claimed Weiss was blocked from bringing charges in the jurisdiction of his choice, his request for special counsel status was denied, and the DOJ "concealed" foreign bribery allegations involving Hunter Biden and then-Vice President Joe Biden from the IRS and FBI investigators. Comer's Oversight Committee has been looking into an unverified FBI-generated FD-1023 that alleged Hunter Biden and then Vice-President Joe Biden were each paid $5 million by the head of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company where Hunter Biden was a board member. The payments were allegedly for the Bidens to put pressure on the Ukrainian government to fire Viktor Shokin, a prosecutor allegedly investigating Burisma. The three committees requested transcribed interviews from more than 13 people: Jordan's committee requested 11 DOJ employees involved in the Hunter Biden investigation sit for transcribed interviews, Smith's committee has requested two IRS employees sit for transcribed interviews, and the Oversight committee has requested that an unspecified number of US Secret Service Agents sit for transcribed interviews. All of these have to do with the whistleblower testimony about the Hunter Biden investigation. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Green's Homeland Security Committee has been probing Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas' handling of the southern border. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The briefing from the four chairmen comes amid immense pressure from members of the conference to impeach Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland. While impeachment is unlikely to happen soon, the inquiries into the two Biden appointees have ramped up in recent weeks. The policy meeting is set for 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. Original Location: House Republicans having a members-only meeting Thursday on Biden investigations Washington Examiner Videos Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) attempted to put out fires caused by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and his comments on white nationalism Tuesday. McConnell condemned white supremacy as "unacceptable." "White supremacy is simply unacceptable in the military and in our whole country," he said to reporters when asked about Tuberville's latest controversial comments. 2024 HOPEFULS DEFEND KIM REYNOLDS AFTER TRUMP ATTACK Tuberville caused a stir on Monday night after saying that he rejected racism but is "totally against" Democrats saying that white nationalists are racist. He said earlier this year that he considers white nationalists who are serving in the military "Americans." The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines white nationalists as "one of a group of militant white people who espouse white supremacy and advocate enforced racial segregation." Tuberville argued that the definition of white nationalism is "some people's opinion," and he said that Democrats use the term to push "identity politics." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) admonished Tuberville for his comments on the Senate floor on Tuesday. "For the senator from Alabama to obscure the racist nature of white nationalism is indeed very, very dangerous," Schumer said. "He is fanning the flames of bigotry and intolerance." Original Location: Mitch McConnell denounces white supremacy in wake of Tuberville comments Washington Examiner Videos The Supreme Court could take up a petition from third-party political groups in New York who say the state's ballot restrictions effectively limit the electoral playing field to only Democratic and Republican voter appetites. On June 30, the New York State Board of Elections responded in opposition to a petition filed by the Libertarian Party of New York and the Green Party of New York that seeks to challenge the state's "virtually impossible" thresholds for independent minor political parties to gain and retain access to the ballot. The minority parties argue the rules violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments. CALIFORNIA REPARATIONS: HOW LIKELY ARE THE PROPOSALS TO PASS? Polling workers inspect and count absentee ballots, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, in New York. Counties across New York began to count more than 1.5 million absentee ballots Monday, a last push that will determine the outcome of several races that remain undecided nearly a week after Election Day. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo/AP Since 2020, to become or remain a recognized party in the Empire State, a political organization needs to obtain greater than 2% of the actual votes cast or 130,000 votes "in a single, top-of-the-ticket race, every two years," according to the NYSBE response brief. "The Second Circuit concluded that these measures pass constitutional muster," attorneys for the board wrote, arguing that the 2020 changes align with the Supreme Court's Anderson-Burdick test, under which almost any voting rule can be subjected to judicial scrutiny. Center for Competitive Democracy legal counsel Oliver Hall, who is filing on behalf of the third-party organizations, told the Washington Examiner he recognizes the Supreme Court takes up a minimal percentage of cases petitioned each term, "particularly so with cases involving claims from non-major political parties, which the Court has not entertained in several decades." "Nevertheless, that context is exactly where the Anderson-Burdick framework was developed and this case provides the court with an ideal vehicle to clarify or replace that framework," Hall said. In the two parties' March 13 petition to the justices, they say that the question of how ballot access requirements should be constitutionally judged should be ripe for reconsideration, given that it is "virtually impossible for any but the two major parties to achieve ballot positions for their candidates." "The increased petition threshold is the third highest in the nation in absolute terms," according to Richard Winger, editor of Ballot Access News, who submitted testimony in support of the challengers at the federal district court level. Winger also said that in order to qualify to run for the 2024 presidential election in New York, the state "has the nation's third earliest petition deadline." Winger also told the Washington Examiner that the 2020 changes to Empire State election law force the party seeking to qualify for the ballot to run a candidate for president. "Why should a ballot-qualified party be forced to run a presidential nominee when history is full of important state third parties that didn't want to be involved in the presidential race?" Winger said. Brian Ginsberg, a partner in the appellate practice group at Harris Beach PLLC who is representing the NYSBE, told the Washington Examiner in an email that the requirement for a political organization to win sufficient voter support at both the gubernatorial and presidential election in order to achieve and retain "party" status in the state "does not impose an unconstitutional burden on the electoral process." "This new requalification standard simply recognizes the importance of ensuring that any political organization enjoying an entitlement to place candidates on the ballot has at least a modicum of consistent, sustained voter support among the electorate," Ginsberg said. But Winger has also said that the Supreme Court should resort to an earlier standard that was found in 1974's Storer v. Brown and 1977's Mandel v. Bradley, saying those cases set the idea that state ballot access restrictions should be judged with heightened scrutiny if their effects appear to stifle third-party candidates' ability to qualify in a state's race. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) and Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) during a debate Oct. 25, 2022. (AP/Mary Altaffer) The effects of the rule changes were already on display in the 2022 general election. For the first time since 1946, New Yorkers had just two choices for governor in the match-up between Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R). The Green and Libertarian parties argued that the Empire State's former governor sought to limit third parties in future elections, writing in their brief that "Governor Cuomo publicly stated that he intended to eliminate all but what he considered 'legitimate' parties." The challengers lost their bid to overturn the ballot access rules at the federal district and appeals court level, prompting their petition to the high court for review. In the Supreme Court's more recent term, the justices settled a dispute in a high-profile case known as Moore v. Harper, which found that state courts do have a role in adjudicating legislature-drawn maps or weighing new election law rules that are challenged in court. "In Moore v. Harper, the court has shown that there remains a federal role in policing state legislatures' manipulation of the electoral process," Hall told the Washington Examiner. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER New York Governor Andrew Cuomo address a regional summit of governors on public health issues around cannabis and vaping, Thursday Oct. 17, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Bebeto Matthews/AP "Governor Cuomo included them in a budget at the height of the COVID pandemic not as part of an independent bill intended to amend the Election Code and any non-biased observer will see them as designed to eliminate all independent minor parties in New York State," Hall added. With around 16 arguments based on 17 cases set for the 2023 Supreme Court term this fall, the justices still have plenty of room to add more cases to the docket, though it remains to be seen whether they will agree to grant the case, LBNY v. NYSBE this coming term. A decision on whether to take it will likely be made by sometime this fall. Original Location: New York third parties want Supreme Court to reverse 'impossible' 2024 ballot access rules Washington Examiner Videos Former GOP Rep. Mayra Flores announced she is running for her old congressional seat, months after losing the general election against Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX). Flores announced her 2024 congressional bid in an appearance on Fox News on Tuesday morning. She was first elected in a special election in 2022, before losing in the general election, which took place in a redrawn district. WALL OF WASTE: BIDEN ENDING TRUMP WALL LEAVES BORDER RANCHER WITH FIELD OF 'RUSTING' STEEL "I'm announcing for Congress. We are taking back our seat Texas District 34. I'm very excited, and I have a lot of faith in god and my family and my amazing team that we will flip this district and take back what is ours in 2024. The people of South Texas, the American people, deserve to have a voice in Washington," Flores said on Fox News's Fox and Friends. Flores outlined border security, the economy, and eliminating child trafficking as chief concerns for her congressional campaign. "We want to empower our border patrol agents, strengthen our border security, of course our economy as well, and protect the children like I mentioned before that are being trafficked in this country right now," Flores said. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "This is for the people, and I ask the American people to support this campaign. This is a people's campaign," she added. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Flores, the first Mexican-born congresswoman, won the longtime Democratic House district on the border with Mexico in June 2022 in an upset. Her general election loss occurred in a redrawn district, which was more favorable to Democrats, but she is hoping to flip that redrawn district in 2024. The Cook Political Report rates Texas's 34th Congressional District as Democrat +9 on its Partisan Voting Index while also rating the 2024 race in the district as "likely Democrat." Original Location: Republican Mayra Flores announces 2024 House bid to retake Texas seat Washington Examiner Videos After a monthslong dispute, the Texas House and Senate have come to a deal regarding property tax reform. The dispute had ground the workings of the legislature to a halt as Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) used his veto power to reject almost everything from the Senate until a compromise was reached. The compromise, to the tune of $18 billion, provides tax cuts to small businesses and subsidies to schools in order to allow them to cut their tax rates. It also gives tax relief to the state's 5.7 million homeowners, according to the Texas Tribune. The compromise effectively puts to rest some of the increasing strife between Republicans in the state. WALL OF WASTE: BIDEN ENDING TRUMP WALL LEAVES BORDER RANCHER WITH FIELD OF 'RUSTING' STEEL Abbott expressed his satisfaction with the compromise in a statement. "I promised during my campaign that the state would return to property taxpayers at least half of the largest budget surplus we have ever had," he said following Monday's announcement. "Today's agreement between the House and the Senate is a step toward delivering on that promise. I look forward to this legislation reaching my desk, so I can sign into law the largest property tax cut in Texas history." Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R-TX), who had butted heads with his ally Abbott over the dispute, also expressed his satisfaction with the deal. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "It has been a long road, but this is a great day for all property owners," he said. "It may have taken overtime, but the process has produced a great bill for homeowners and businesses." The final bill is expected to pass later this week. Original Location: Texas House and Senate reach property tax deal after months of debate Washington Examiner Videos Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced NATO for developing an "absurd" statement on the future of Western ties to Ukraine, throwing a harsh glare on closed-door resistance to giving his country "an invitation [or] a timetable" for a possible invitation to join NATO. "It's unprecedented and absurd when [a] time frame is not set, neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership," Zelensky tweeted. "While at the same time vague wording about conditions' is added even for inviting Ukraine. It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to NATO nor to make it a member of the Alliance." 2024 HOPEFULS DEFEND KIM REYNOLDS AFTER TRUMP ATTACK Zelensky's public blast cracked the veneer of unity that Western leaders sought to craft for a summit characterized by a monthslong dispute on Ukraine's prospects for membership in the alliance. NATO leaders have declared since 2008 that Ukraine would join the trans-Atlantic alliance eventually, but their inability to build on that pledge has raised doubts about their sincerity. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, addresses the public during an event on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday blasted as "absurd" the absence of a timetable for his country's membership in NATO, injecting harsh criticism into a gathering of the alliance's leaders that was intended to showcase solidarity in the face of Russian aggression. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) "There's no affirmative language [to the effect] Ukraine is going to be brought into NATO," former Ambassador Kurt Volker, who led the U.S. mission to NATO in 2008 and served as special envoy for Ukraine from 2017 to 2019, told the Washington Examiner. "By repeating, it sends a weaker signal, because at this moment, to actually go no further, is showing a bit of weakness." Zelensky's words also put a spotlight on negotiations that persisted into the beginning of the summit. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his Ukrainian counterpart, Andriy Yermak, skipped their scheduled appearances at a NATO Public Forum, while the European leaders who did appear before the audience acknowledged that the debate was underway. "What Ukraine needs beyond equipment, ammunition, [and] money is encouragement and assurance, because this will maintain high morale of Ukrainian forces," Czech President Petr Pavel said Tuesday. "They need to see the light at the end of the tunnel ... to feel that one day they would be welcomed in a family. And we can give them such an assurance by simply saying, 'Once the war is over, we will start [the] accession process.' This is what they would like to hear, and this is what I would wish them to hear." Zelensky maintained in recent months that he would not attend the summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, unless assured that Ukraine would be "given a signal" to confirm its eventual membership in NATO, though he acknowledged in May that Ukraine could not enter the alliance during the war. Yet the current NATO members have struggled to agree, as the United States and Germany are widely perceived as having resisted proposals to extend a formal invitation to Ukraine to begin an accession process despite the entreaties of Central European and Baltic allies. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "We want to avoid a situation where Ukraine's NATO membership becomes a horizon it's a more you get closer, the more it moves forward from you," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said Monday. "For me, what is also very important is that Ukraine has a real algorithm of how it's going to go closer to NATO." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Yet that aspiration seemed poised for a defeat on Tuesday morning. "Ukraine will receive neither an invitation nor a timetable for possible accession," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, whose government has a tense relationship with Ukrainian officials, wrote on social media. Zelensky turned to public diplomacy in a final bid to influence the outcome. "Today I embarked on a trip here with faith in decisions, with faith in partners, with faith in a strong NATO," he tweeted. "And I would like this faith to become confidence confidence in the decisions that we deserve all of us deserve, and every warrior, every citizen, every mother, every child expects. And is that too much to expect?" Original Location: Zelensky fumes as NATO hesitates to show Ukraine 'light at the end of the tunnel' Washington Examiner Videos Its one of the worst-kept secrets at the State Capitol. When legislative leaders need to huddle with party members for a quick strategy session caucusing, in their lingo they typically try to do so out of earshot of the press and public. And it turns into a game of cat and mouse. The meetings might involve head counts to gauge support for a bill before a key vote; going over talking points to sell the partys position on a touchy issue; last-minute amendments to stop unfavorable legislation the kinds of things members of one party dont want to telegraph in advance to their counterparts across the aisle. So, theyll herd their members into the majority leaders or minority leaders office both parties do it, of course and post a junior staffer outside to serve as a lookout. Any reporter from the Capitol press corps who comes nosing around has to be let in under Colorados open-meeting law. But the objective is to finish the meeting before the press finds out. Its in that context that a couple of freshman Democratic state lawmakers have filed suit against legislative leaders in both parties in order to end the practice, as reported Monday by Colorado Politics. Their quest may seem a long shot and perhaps a bit naive in light of their relative inexperience with Capitol politics as usual but theres arguably also some merit to it. Granted, its unlikely any such litigation will end the legislatures routine efforts to meet on the sly. The strategies and tactics sorted out in the meetings are central to shaping legislation and squaring off over the issues in the legislative branch of government. And keeping it all on the down-low is probably essential to the success of those strategies and tactics. And its worth pointing out that the actual proceedings of the legislature itself as a lawmaking body the committee hearings and the floor sessions of the full House and Senate, where policy is hammered out, debates drone on for hours and votes are tallied are subject to much stricter scrutiny. All are by definition open to the public. Anyone can listen in via the internet. Their deliberations are entered into the public record, researchable on the web. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Yet, the law-skirting of the caucuses even if its mostly to conceal internal gamesmanship between the two parties may warrant a review in its own right. Even if its only to make it better jibe with the law while still affording each party the ability to strategize effectively. One of the lawsuits plaintiffs, state Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, seemed to allow as much. "We're blatantly and brazenly violating (Colorado's open meeting law) constantly," Marshall told Colorado Politics. "If they had to strictly follow it as written, it is very unworkable to do it. But the right answer isn't 'we don't like this law because it's hard to comply, so we just won't comply.' ... This is not right, we need to fix it. He said the ultimate goal is to adjust Colorado's open meeting law to a version that is more workable for the legislature, instead of ignoring it. A hallmark of democracy must be transparent government. At the same time, partisan lawmaking bodies like the legislature must allow parties to effectively advance their philosophical agendas which can involve planning in private. It goes with the competition inherent in our adversarial political system. Members of one team cant listen in on the other teams huddle on the gridiron, after all. The lawmakers legal action might lead to a more precise rendering of the law which could mean lawmakers no longer would have to caucus with a wink and a nudge. Thank you, Colorado Springs! I am Stephannie Fortunes husband and I want to thank the community for honoring my wife this past month. At a City Council meeting, Scott Marble coined a phrase (the Fortunates) for the individuals that were blessed to have had Stephannie invest in them to be their very best version. I got to experience this everyday as I had the honor of being chosen to be her husband. I wanted to thank you and then challenge us to continue building on Stephannies legacy. She always focused on caring about people and our community. When we do that and dont care who gets the credit, anything is possible. While we arent always going to agree, if we listen, learn from one another and show respect, magical things happen. Stephannie excelled at finding people with different backgrounds, different thought processes and getting everyone together to share their ideas. Compromise isnt a bad word as tweaking an original idea to come up with a better one adds value. Do we have enough belief in ourselves and strength to make things happen? Can we love one another, respect our peers and find ways that you can make a difference in Colorado Springs like Stephannie did? That is my wish for all of us. My wife loved the word JOY and experienced it when helping others succeed. From simple things to big things. So, what brings you JOY? There are so many things that we can choose from. We each need to find our joy, our passion and then help others. It starts with US! Lets not waste time as we dont know how long we have on this earth. Thank you for caring for my Stephannie, for me and my family! She truly loved you and Colorado Springs. Kent Fortune Colorado Springs Beware of misinformation I am a retired UPS manager with 36 years of service. I was based in Denver during the 15-day Teamster strike in 1997. Today there are approx 250 drivers in the two Colorado Springs facilities, and another 400-500 in the two Denver area buildings. I believe UPS drivers (package car and tractor trailer) are among the highest paid in the industry. I remember a few things from 1997: Ron Carey was the Teamster President who openly said he would strike UPS, which he did for 15 days in August. Sounds to me like Sean OBrien is following in Careys footsteps? I dont believe that UPS changed the contract before the Teamsters returned to work. That union mantra well make up the lost pay in the new contract sometimes does not materialize. Im sure there are still some UPS drivers around from 1997 that remember it was not very good losing 2-3 weeks of pay. Using current hourly rates, a UPS driver makes between $1,500 2,000 per week. Each driver should do some homework and determine how many dollars they are willing to give up. My advice to the current drivers: Beware of misinformation when it comes time to vote on a work stoppage. Jim Weglarz Larkspur Black and grey marketers Regarding: Dont pity Colorados marijuana peddlers. In January 2021 Colorado Springs Medical Marijuana Sales reached $11,617,216. By December 2022 Sales had fallen to $6,132,953. Meanwhile, costs of testing and remediation, utilities and almost all costs incurred in the production of legal marijuana have risen. So: 1. Do you really think that a 50% drop in marijuana sales reflects a 50% drop in demand? The reality is that the Black Market (from Mexico) and the Grey Market (from California, Oklahoma etc) is satisfying that demand. And its cheaper, much cheaper. 2. (T)he industry wishes already lax state and local regulation aimed especially at keeping pot away from kids would be even laxer. You are kidding, right? The Black and Grey Market producers are very happy to supply your kids with pot today and worse, much worse. And they dont incur the costs of testing, remediation, re-testing, licensing and they dont pay taxes. You dont get Medical Marijuana in Colorado Springs without a doctors approval for a Medical Marijuana Card. As a resident of this great Little City, I think you should reconsider your editorial. Rather than criticizing the medical marijuana providers resident here, you should start attacking the Black and Grey marketers who have no regard for our community or our kids welfare. I dread the effects of Fentanyl tainted pot supplied by the illegal market taking innocent lives. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Peter Green Colorado Springs Traumatic fi reworks celebrations Unintended consequences: I still remember attending a 4th of July fireworks show in the 1970s where a young refugee family from Viet Nam was brought to see Americas celebration of independence. Just as soon as the first booming rocket went off the entire family including the two small children were profoundly traumatized. I then realized that those of us that had not experienced the horrors of warfare had absolutely no understanding of how our fireworks celebrations induce such trauma for not only our pets but also refugees from war torn countries, our veterans fought in those theaters. All gave some and some gave all. Bill Leake Golden Dealing with climate change Be careful who you make out to be a hero; it is often not as simple as it appears. I read with interest Robert Koehlers opinion on the Vietnam War while depicting Daniel Ellsberg as somewhat of a hero. First off, every war is hell visited upon humanity. Koehler writes about Ellsbergs conclusion that the Vietnam War was not winnable. Ellsberg is also quoted as saying it would lead to an irrevocable stalemate. Lets ask the South Korean people if a stalemate is pointless! It is time to remember that the US Armed Forces won every major battle in the Vietnam War. The 1968 TET Offensive was a major defeat for the NVA and Viet Cong; a story not reported at the time by the American Press Corp. In later years North Vietnam Senior Officers admitted they were losing. It is also time to remember many of our liberal political class (Ellsberg was an anti-war activist) assisted in handing victory to North Vietnam and for decades were a part of heaping disdain upon American Vietnam Veterans. The Vietnam War has many heroic and tragic stories that all feed to the narrative. Again, lets be careful who we ordain to be heroes. Steve Dant Colorado Springs The Isak Heartstone giant wooden troll in Breckenridge is about to get troll company near Colorado Springs. Artist Thomas Dambo will be returning to Colorado to build another one of his famous trolls during a troll-building road trip across the U.S., according to an Instagram post. Among 10 trolls set to be built is one in Cripple Creek, about 45 minutes west of Colorado Springs. A local group called the Gold Camp District Impact Group is involved with the effort, raising funds for the project on its website. While artist Dambo has achieved worldwide fame for his many "troll" installations around the globe, he's best known in Colorado for the construction of Isak Heartstone, which is a 15-foot-tall troll he's built twice in Breckenridge. Why has Isak Heartstone built it twice? The first construction of Heartstone was so popular that it overwhelmed the trail it was on, forcing officials to ask Dambo to tear it down and rebuild it in a more sustainable spot. Currently, the construction of Dambo's latest Colorado troll is set to take place in Teller County from the end of July and mid-August. According to Gold Camp District Impact Group, Dambo's team will consist of about five to eight members, using locally sourced scrap wood for the project. Read more about the effort or make a donation to the project here. A federal judge last week dismissed a Colorado Springs man's lawsuit that sought to declare multiple gun safety laws unconstitutional in the wake of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision expanding gun rights. Delbert Elmer Sgaggio Jr. sued to halt enforcement of Colorado's law prohibiting those who are subject to protection orders, also known as restraining orders, from possessing guns. He also challenged the requirement for most gun buyers to undergo background checks and, finally, Colorado's "red flag" law, which enables law enforcement to temporarily confiscate guns from people who pose a danger to themselves or others. On July 6, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer found Sgaggio had no standing to challenge any of those laws. "Mr. Sgaggios complaint does not state when he intends to purchase firearms or provide any other details indicating that he has concrete plans to purchase firearms," Brimmer wrote. "Accordingly, Mr. Sgaggio has failed to describe his plans in sufficient detail to establish that he is likely to suffer actual or imminent injury." The Colorado Attorney General's Office suggested Sgaggio had filed the lawsuit in retaliation for the state's handling of another one of Sgaggio's complaints. Sgaggio, who has filed multiple lawsuits himself against government officials, maintained gun safety regulations are akin to "slavery" and Colorado is engaged in "a scheme to disarm the public." Saggio filed his constitutional challenge earlier this year, citing the the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen. The court's conservative majority laid down a new legal framework for analyzing the constitutionality of gun regulations broadly, requiring the government to show a restriction is "consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation." In his lawsuit, Sgaggio claimed he was not allowed to take possession of his stepson's semiautomatic rifles because Colorado law prohibits people who are subject to protection orders from surrendering their firearms to those living in the same household. Sgaggio's stepson, Zain Aguilera-Valdez, is facing attempted murder and domestic violence charges and lives with Sgaggio while he is on bond. Sgaggio also likened background checks, and the accompanying small-dollar fee, as "a defacto gun registration." Finally, he alleged that because he is a "Spiritual Guide, Journalist and Civil rights Activist," he faces a credible threat of the government taking away his guns under the red flag law. The defendants, Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen and Gov. Jared Polis, responded that Sgaggio failed to show his prosecution was imminent. As for his inability to take possession of his stepson's guns, Sgaggio's Second Amendment rights "are not implicated in this situation," they argued. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "He can purchase them, acquire them from someone not under a court order, or if he prefers these specific firearms take possession of them from his son, while asking his son to reside elsewhere while awaiting trial," wrote the attorney general's office. "The Second Amendment does not establish a right to obtain a specific firearm from someone under court order to relinquish it." The defendants added that the Supreme Court in Bruen did not question the constitutionality of background checks, and the red flag law has "procedural safeguards" that render it constitutional. "I seem to be confused," Sgaggio responded, because "in 2019 Defendant Michael Allen, states that the red flag law is unconstitutional. However now he chooses to defend it." Sgaggio attached a screenshot of Allen condemning the law as unconstitutional in a tweet. However, Brimmer agreed with the defendants that Sgaggio's allegations did not amount to a viable challenge. "Mr. Sgaggio offers no support for the proposition that the Second Amendment protects an individuals right to receive particular firearms from an individual who has been ordered to relinquish them pursuant to an otherwise valid law, and the Court is aware of none," Brimmer wrote in addressing the protection order law. As for the background check law, Sgaggio provided no details about future firearm purchases, making it unclear whether he would suffer any harm from having to pay the fee. Similarly, there was nothing to suggest Sgaggio would be subject to firearm confiscation under the red flag law. Although Sgaggio is currently facing a misdemeanor charge from Allen's office for possessing a prohibited large-capacity magazine, Sgaggio did not challenge the constitutionality of that law. The attorney general's office suggested to Brimmer that Sgaggio only filed his lawsuit because he perceived "disrespectful energy" in Sgaggio's words from the government in one of his previous cases. Days before Brimmer's order, the Supreme Court announced it would hear a challenge to a federal law that, like Colorado's, prohibits firearm possession by those subject to protection orders. The case is Sgaggio v. Polis et al. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son is scheduled to attend a number of meetings within the framework of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM 56) and related meetings in Indonesia between July 11 and 14. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son. Photo by Vietnamnet He is set to attend a meeting of the Committee of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), a dialogue between ASEAN Foreign Ministers and representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), and the opening ceremony of AMM 56 on July 11. He will attend the AMM Retreat and witness the signing of documents on the accession of Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Panama to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) on July 12. On July 13, Son will co-chair the ASEAN Republic of Korea Foreign Ministers Meeting, and attend meetings between foreign ministers of ASEAN and partners (India, New Zealand, Russia, Australia, China, Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada), along with the 24th ASEAN +3 Foreign Ministers Meeting. On the following day, he will attend the 13th East Asia summit (EAS), the ASEAN US Foreign Ministers Meeting, and the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). The meetings are to review recent developments and outline orientations for closer cooperation within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners. The ministers will also examine perorations for the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings to be held in September 2023. The meetings take place at a time when regional and global situations continue to witness new and complicated developments. The global economy is showing gradual signs of recovery, while countries are actively introducing trade, investment and production restructuring policies towards the digital economy, green economy and circular economy, strongly affecting the shift in financial, investment and production chains. In addition, competition is occurring more intensely among major powers, while regional hot spots such as the Russia-Ukraine military conflict, the East Sea, the Korean peninsula, the Taiwanese Strait and Myanmar remain complicated, negatively impacting peace, security, stability and development in the region. In this context, ASEAN will continue to uphold the spirit of solidarity, consolidate its central role in addressing regional and global issues, successfully build the community, and chart its development course moving forward. The success of AMM 56 and related meetings will help further concritise ASEAN leaders perceptions at the 42nd ASEAN Summit, and at the same time prepare for the blocs activities in the second half of the year. Thirty five years ago, my late father Tun Abdul Razak, then prime minister of Malaysia, set foot in China marking the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations that opened up a historic chapter in Sino-Malaysian relationship. It was a brave, bold and momentous decision that prompted other South East Asian nations to follow Malaysia's lead in establishing diplomatic relations with China. North Iowa Youth Center celebrated 25 years of respect, caring, honesty and responsibility Friday. In a community party filling the All Seasons building at the North Iowa Events Center, hundreds of children, caregivers and the young at heart came together to rejoice in the lessons and opportunities they have gained since the Youth Centers founding. On July 7, 1998, the YMCA Teen Leadership program debuted. The youth program was spearheaded by Regan Banks. Banks had moved to Mason City in 1989 as a part of his successful drug rehabilitation. It was serendipity. Banks knew hes been called by God to work with kids, but hadnt found the right avenue. The YMCA saw plenty of success with the Teen Leadership program that started with just 14 children. Eventually, it added Junior Teens for kids nine to 11 and Awesome Youth for younger children. By 2005, the programs had grown so popular they were filling the gym for their activities. The YMCA Board decided to provide $6,000 in seed money for Banks to take the youth programs under his wing. The North Iowa Youth Center was born. Since that time, Banks estimates more than 8,000 kids have come through the doors of the Youth Center. Weve had good times and bad, but we stay positive. Its all about the kids, said Banks. Jamie Daniels is a volunteer who holds the mission close to her heart. When I first moved to Mason City, there wasnt a lot for the kids to do. Of course, mine are all grown now, but I love being here. Every child deserves a smile, she said. Everyones story is different, said Sabrina Haag of Mason City. I grew up at the Youth Center, so now I love giving back. Haag was on hand at the anniversary party with coloring pages and prizes for the kids on behalf of her company, Advance America. Boy Scout Troop 14 made root beer floats as a fundraiser for their pack. Such community partnerships are part of the strength of the center. Working together toward positive goals is an important lesson in life. There was face painting and hair tinsel, inflatable bounce houses and slides, law enforcement officers in uniform and plenty of hamburgers and hot dogs to go around. Brittany Coomer is a first-time Youth Center attendee. We havent ever been to the center. We saw the anniversary advertised on Facebook, and it seemed like a great way to spend a rainy evening, she said. Her daughter, Brenna, had a glittery purple butterfly painted on one cheek. Kids and adults find their way to the center from all kinds of paths. Some are looking for direction; some just drift in through by chance and settle into a groove. No matter the situation, the North Iowa Youth Center is an open and welcoming place for kids of all ages, abilities and incomes. Haag has fond memories of lock-in overnights at the YMCA. All the kids would show up, and theyd lock the doors behind us. Wed all hang out on the racquetball court, but thats where we were supposed to sleep, so there were some late-night arguments, she said. I dont think I ever slept when we had a lock-in. Events and activities are overseen by adult volunteers as the Youth Center doesnt have any paid staff. Banks, who has led the center for 25 years, doesnt take a salary. Like Haag, many volunteers benefited from the center when they were young. Banks describes the center as being self-sustaining at this time. We havent written a grant in over 12 years. Half of all the money from the inflatable rentals goes to the Youth Center. We do fundraisers and take donations to keep going. RKB Inflatables has been a boon to the center. Its Banks company, set up to take reservations and provide rented inflatables for private parties and events. Originally, the YMCA would rent the inflatables locally, but since Youth Center activities are usually free, the loss of money was tough to bear. Eventually, two inflatables were donated to reduce costs and open a path toward financial stability for the center. At the beginning, it wasnt so easy, said Terry Carpenter, former YMCA board member. The effort and the heart really come from the Banks family. The feminists of revolutionary France were not the only persons hoping that the current paroxysm of social change would bring about improvement of their Line state. A most singular category of men, the public executioners, had thought that the advent of a new regime would transform that peculiar disdain in which society held them. For hundreds of years, the post of Master of the High Works in France's major cities was held by men from ten or so dynastic families, members of an abominable elite that had developed as a consequence of social prejudice: Anyone who had ever been a bourreau could never hope to find another job, nor could he aspire to marry any woman not herself the daughter of a colleague. In this way the dreadful dynasties developed. The best known recipients of this peculiar distinction were the Sanson family, who operated in Paris and Versailles from 1688 to 1847; the diary kept by Charles Henri Sanson, executioner of Paris during the Terror, provides details of the deaths of many illustrious victims. Several passages in the Sanson diary suggest that professional executioners did not particularly like having to kill women. This chivalrous repugnance later spread through the Court d'Assizes; while women were regularly condemned to death in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, in fact they were almost always reprieved. A roughly contemporaneous reluctance to execute women in the United States has been explained by recent American feminists as evidence of women's almost nonexistent social status at that time; to compensate for legal inegality the men who were women's judges, prosecutors, and jurors adopted a "protective" stance, frequently acquitting women who, in modern retrospect, seem guilty. In France the egalitarian practices of earlier centuries were ultimately reinstated, which guillotined five women. This temporary preservation of execution as an exclusively male domaina thing too necessary and revolting to be inflicted on or endured by half the populationapparently did not strike legislators as being intolerably illogical, or as being rather a back-handed sort of compliment to men. Proper equality would have involved either equal rights and equal punishment for men and women, or else abolition. However, arguments against the death penalty tend rather to develop from general humanitarian principles, and less from the putative equality of women. Chivalry, indeed, would seem to have been the nineteenth century's solution to the problems posed to the authorities by "female" executions. But more importantly, chivalry enabled society to observe a version of that logic set forth in 1791 by Olympe de Gouges, a logic echoed later in the United States by Wendell Phillips, who bluntly declared, "You have granted that women may be hung; therefore you must grant that woman may vote." In not executing women, the judiciary body was able to sidestep these irritating formulations: If women did not receive equal punishment under law, perhaps they need not be assured of equal rights. Which of the following best describes the authors attitude toward the formation of public executioner dynasties? A. Qualified appreciation B. Studied neutrality C. Tempered disapproval D. Vehement condemnation E. Resigned acceptance According to the passage, the unwillingness of men to condemn women to death in the United States during the late nineteenth century was A. a reflection of the influence of the Court dAssizes on the judicial system in the United States B. in accordance with womens low standing in society and their lack of legal rights C. a result of a popular movement promoting the chivalrous idea that women should be protected from harm D. a misinterpretation on the part of modern historians, who believed many of the women to be guilty E. a reaction to the excesses of the French Revolution and the large number of women who were guillotined The passage suggests that, during the French Revolution, popular arguments against the death penalty did which of the following? A. Emphasized the failure of the death penalty to suppress dissent B. Asserted that the defense of the death penalty was based upon faulty logic C. Supported indirectly the notion that men were equal to women D. Addressed only the needs of men, at the expense of those of women E. Failed to employ the reasoning that men and women should have equal rights Which of the following best describes the authors attitude toward the formation of public executioner dynasties?A. Qualified appreciationB. Studied neutralityC. Tempered disapprovalD. Vehement condemnationE. Resigned acceptanceAccording to the passage, the unwillingness of men to condemn women to death in the United States during the late nineteenth century wasA. a reflection of the influence of the Court dAssizes on the judicial system in the United StatesB. in accordance with womens low standing in society and their lack of legal rightsC. a result of a popular movement promoting the chivalrous idea that women should be protected from harmD. a misinterpretation on the part of modern historians, who believed many of the women to be guiltyE. a reaction to the excesses of the French Revolution and the large number of women who were guillotinedThe passage suggests that, during the French Revolution, popular arguments against the death penalty did which of the following?A. Emphasized the failure of the death penalty to suppress dissentB. Asserted that the defense of the death penalty was based upon faulty logicC. Supported indirectly the notion that men were equal to womenD. Addressed only the needs of men, at the expense of those of womenE. Failed to employ the reasoning that men and women should have equal rights 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. 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 children. Call 434-799-5150. No fee. MONDAY, JULY 17 COATES DAY CAMP-ART APPRECIATION WEEK: 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 first through sixth 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, North Carolina. 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: 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. A supply list will be sent out, all campers are responsible for all gear on the supply list. Call 434-799-5150. SATURDAY, JULY 29 FREE HOT DOG LUNCH: A free hot dog lunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 409 Arnett Blvd., Danville. MONDAY, JULY 31 COATES DAY CAMP: Splish, Splash Week is from July 31 to Aug. 4 at Coates Recreation Center. Spend summer building friendships, exploring the outdoors and participating in healthy activities in a quality camp program. Breakfast and lunch are provided through Danville Public Schools. Participants will need to bring an afternoon snack. This program is for rising first through sixth grade students. Participants are welcome to bring their own snacks and lunch. Registration is required by calling 434-799-5150. In the last week of camp the group will go swimming at North East Park, learning about water safety and enjoying the Fun Wagon. Cost is $125 per person and $10 per person for field trip. 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. TUESDAY, AUG. 15 CROCHET FOR KIDS: Crochet for Kids at Coates Recreation Center for ages six to 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at cost of $10 per person. Get wrapped up in crochet and learn something new, while making something useful. The group will start off by making dishcloths. They will learn basics during the first class and then continue working on skills the next two classes. All yarn and crochet needles will be provided in the first class. Registration is required. Call 434-799-5150. TUESDAY, AUG. 22 CROCHET FOR KIDS: Crochet for Kids at Coates Recreation Center for ages 6 to 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at cost of $10 per person. Get wrapped up in crochet and learn something new, while making something useful. The group will start off by making dishcloths. They will learn basics during the first class and then continue working on skills the next two classes. All yarn and crochet needles will be provided in the first class. Registration is required. Call 434-799-5150. THURSDAY, AUG. 24 YOUTH LEGO CLUB: Youth Lego Club at Coates Recreation Center from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for ages five to 12. Registration is required by calling (434) 799-5150. No fee. THURSDAY PADDLE: Thursday Paddle meets at the boathouse and will travel on the Dan River in hopes to catch glimpses of river otters, blue herons, and turtles. Registration is required. Must be at least 8 years old; all children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. From 6 to 8 p.m. at cost of $17 per person. For more information, call 434-799-5150 or email brownmc@danvilleeva.gov. SATURDAY, AUG. 26 FAMILIES UNPLUGGED: Come to Coates Recreation Center for fun family time for Board Games Day from 10 to 11 a.m. This program is designed for families with children ages 2-12. Registration is required by calling (434) 799-5150. TUESDAY, AUG. 29 CROCHET FOR KIDS: Crochet for Kids at Coates Recreation Center for ages six to 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at cost of $10 per person. Get wrapped up in crochet and learn something new, while making something useful. The group will start off by making dishcloths. They will learn basics during the first class and then continue working on skills the next two classes. All yarn and crochet needles will be provided in the first class. Registration is required. Call 434-799-5150. 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. Catrena Ingram pulled up Friday morning next to the Danville Public School systems food truck, a mobile way of feeding students for free over the summer. Walking up to the door, she asked Kris Clark for six meals. Clark, who has worked with the mobile vehicle for about four years, went to the back and emerged with bags of food. Its very helpful, Ingram told the Register & Bee at Cedar Terrace Apartments. A lot of children, a lot of families, cant afford food like that. She explained the rising cost of groceries adds yet another burden for parents. The best thing they can do is have this food out here feeding these children, Ingram said. The food truck is just one method the school system acknowledging a high percentage of food insecurity in the city is using to provide nourishment to students over the summer. On average, about 1,950 meals are prepared daily for summer school students, camp participants, children in the community and food truck deliveries. Danville Public Schools purchased the food delivery vehicle in 2019. The goal was to reach more students in the community by bringing the food directly to neighborhoods. In the summertime, it makes five stops at apartment complexes throughout the city four days a week. The need The United States Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life. The concern is great, Kimberly Mims, director of child nutrition for Danville Public Schools, told the Register & Bee. We know that a number of our students rely on school meals during the school year, and we want to continue to offer those during the summer, she said. Nearly 9% of Virginia children come from food-insecure homes, according to the nonprofit organization No Kid Hungry. And its not just families living below the poverty level who are impacted. While 68% of Virginia parents with lower incomes said its become more difficult to afford food in the last year, about 1-in-5 families with middle incomes report their children have skipped a meal because of the soaring prices, the groups data shows. In fact, 95% of parents with middle income said they struggle to afford to put food on the table on a monthly basis, No Kid Hungry reports. According to Feeding America, another charity on a mission to end hunger, 13.7% of Danvilles overall population is food insecure. While Ingram was picking up meals, Janessa Bradley walked up with two little children in tow. I enjoy the food truck, she said. Weve been coming to it every year. Two other children at Cedar Terrace also approached the cheery and colorful vehicle that could almost be mistaken for an ice cream truck and picked up meals. The lunch items include some kind of meat, grain/bread, vegetables, fruit and milk, Mims explained. In the case of the food truck, a breakfast for the next day also comes in the bag. Anyone under the age of 18 can just walk up for the truck and ask for a meal. The service also is available for those 19 and older who are mentally or physically disabled and participating in a public or private nonprofit school program for the mentally or physically, Mims said. Over at Cardinal Village, Rita Murphy has two children who go to Schoolfield Elementary School. She picked up meal bags on a recent sweltering morning. Its a good idea to have it here for the kids for summer, she said. Clark, often wiping sweat from her head, and a driver keep the food truck rolling to the stops on time. With no air conditioning and temperatures in the mid-80s by morning, the work isnt easy. But they keep smiling anyway. I think its a great service to help the community, Clark said. The program The Summer Feeding program its official title has been around for about 10 years. For students in school, hot meals are available. Its supported via the Virginia Department of Education and the USDA. To participate, DPS must apply, and we continue to do that because we want to make sure that our students are fed during the summer, Mims said. The general Monday-Thursday schedule is designed to fit with the summer school schedule. Last weeks Fourth of July holiday extended the program to Friday. Our community partners and the food truck offer a five-day meal schedule that includes a pre-delivery for Fridays, Mims said. The program started June 12, a Monday, after school let out for the summer the previous Friday. Itll run through July 20. For the week of July 24, the school nutrition team will use the time to do things like restock inventories, perform maintenance on equipment and prepare the kitchens for students to return Aug. 7. The following week July 31-Aug. 4 school nutrition managers and staff will attend professional development sessions. By the foods we plan, prepare and offer, school nutrition plays a very important role in the educational process, Mims said. Every opportunity that we have to nourish education, we benefit both the mind and body of each child we serve. A federal appeals court has granted a second stay of construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, this time essentially shutting down work on the entire 303-mile stretch of the highly disputed project. Tuesday morning, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that work not proceed while it considers a challenge by environmental groups of a government finding that the pipeline would not jeopardize protected species of bats and fish along its route. The same three-judge panel of the court issued a similar stay late Monday in a second case, in which The Wilderness Society is contesting a U.S. Forest Service permit allowing the pipeline to pass through 3.5 miles of the Jefferson National Forest. While the first stay was limited to work in the forest, Tuesdays action was far more sweeping. In both cases, the environmental groups are challenging a provision of a law passed by Congress last month that fast-tracks the completion of the pipeline, which cuts through the New River and Roanoke Valleys. The 303-mile pipeline runs from northern West Virginia, through the New River and Roanoke valleys, to connect with an existing pipeline in Pittsylvania County. Congress violated the separation of powers doctrine by asserting its authority over that of the courts, Mountain Valley opponents argue in a dispute that will be decided later by the Fourth Circuit. In a statement Tuesday, the lead partner in the joint pipeline venture said it was disappointed in the briefly-worded decisions of the court, which gave no reasons for granting the stays. The Courts decision defies the will and clear intent of a bipartisan Congress and this Administration in passing legislation to expedite completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline project, which was deemed to be in the national interest, Equitrans Midstream Corp. said in a written statement. Equitrans said it was considering an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Unless this decision is promptly reversed, it would jeopardize Mountain Valleys ability to complete construction by year-end 2023, the company said. The Supreme Court's right-wing majority seems to be declaring war on young people. In recent days alone, the court has halted affirmative action in colleges, derailed student loan debt forgiveness and approved discrimination against LGBTQ+ couples in certain cases. The conservative justices seem hellbent on making the country a more hostile place for Gen Z and millennials, the most diverse voters in terms of race, ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation. Many young people are wondering if they'll ever be able to afford a house or a safe and comfortable life for themselves, let alone their children. They're less inclined to have kids at all because of the high costs of living and other concerns. They see in the Supreme Court an older, mostly white and male cohort hoarding power in defiance of America's shifting demographics. But young people shouldn't despair. While it might be tempting to unplug from politics and renounce the democratic process, voting in elections still offers a path for change. If Democrats secure a big enough majority in Congress, they could carry out reforms of the Supreme Court such as term limits and court expansion to rein in the outsize power of conservatives and defeat their campaign to send the country back decades. So far, Gen Z-ers in particular appear to have what it takes to persevere and reverse the march backward. They're more politically engaged than millennials were at their age, and they've repeatedly turned Republicans' attacks into fury and fuel. "Young people are tired, but we are also committed to making sure we're the last generation that has to face this," Santiago Mayer, a 21-year-old Mexican immigrant who founded the youth voter engagement nonprofit Voters of Tomorrow, told me. Young people have reason to feel overwhelmed by the onslaught of bad news, but they're also finding ways to avoid becoming paralyzed by apathy. Some find that activism and action is a psychological antidote to fear. "Young people don't have a choice but to walk in the footsteps of our grandparents and our great grandparents," says Olivia Julianna, a 20-year-old queer Latina from Texas who has raised millions of dollars for social justice on social media. "We are going to have to march in the same way they did. We're going to have to vote and fight for our rights in the same way they did." She's urging people to vote in the 2024 elections, regardless of how disillusioned they feel. If more had voted in 2016, the Supreme Court wouldn't have its stranglehold on civil rights. "I don't think the system is broken in terms of people don't have a voice," she said. "It's broken in terms of there's so many people out there who choose not to use it. Your vote is your voice." But it takes work to convince people to exercise their civic duties if they've lost faith in the system, or if they never had faith in it. First, people who are politically engaged have to venture outside of their ideological echo chambers. Rather than preaching to their choir of Twitter followers and close friends, they should be having in-person conversations with apolitical or semi-political people. For those conversations to work, they should be rooted in understanding and empathy rather than shaming. I recently had an encounter that gave me hope that this type of persuasion may not be as difficult as we imagine it to be. I was having dinner with a fellow millennial who expressed progressive values and who told me he doesn't vote because he gets overwhelmed following politics. I told him I empathize if my job as a journalist didn't require me to stay up on current events, I said, I'd want to unplug more often as well. I told him my reason for voting and staying engaged was to act on behalf of people who can't vote, whose rights are under attack. By the end of the conversation, he said I'd changed his mind and that he was going to vote in 2024. I don't know that he will, of course, but he seemed sincere in reconsidering his stance. I've found that Gen Z-ers who are caricatured as dogmatic but are well-versed in navigating diverse communities and negotiating differences are unusually skilled at these conversations. Mariah Allen, a 19-year-old Black student at Loyola Marymount University whom I've interviewed about Gen Z's political leanings, has already been practicing respect-based discussions with her peers. "I'm not one for forcing opinions," she said, adding that she prefers to ask people questions about their views if she doesn't understand or agree. She told me the Supreme Court's decisions are unsettling, but they won't cause her to sit on the sidelines. She's just as motivated, if not more so, to vote and talk with others about the importance of voting. "Complacency is not an option," she said, reflecting on the Black activists who paved the way for her to be able to exercise her right to vote in the first place. Allen, who hopes to have kids someday, says she wants to be a part of a movement to build a country where children can grow up safely. The Supreme Court may not care about preserving the rights that matter to the youngest generation, but she does. It's up to Gen Z and millennials to remake the government for the youth who are coming next. GREENSBORO The general manager of the citys ABC Board could earn up to $200,000 annually under a resolution the city council will consider at its meeting Tuesday night. Niegel Sullivan, whos been the general manager since December 2021, currently receives a $150,000 annual salary. Councilwoman Nancy Hoffmann, the city councils liaison to the Greensboro ABC board, said Sullivan will get a $30,000 raise retroactive to May 30 if the resolution is approved. Hoffmann said the ABC board asked for authorization for up to $200,000 because it wanted to have that leeway. Greensboro ABC board Chairman Jim Galyon said Monday the figure would allow us some flexibility in the future. He has done a very, very good job, and it has been commensurate with the other top 10 boards in the state, Galyon said of Sullivan. Were in an expansion mode right now. We have two new stores planned before the end of the year, and that is an additional bit of work that he has to do as general manager. The Greensboro ABC includes 16 liquor stores including one it operates for the town of Summerfield. Sullivan, who did not respond to a voicemail and email seeking comment Monday, oversees 80 full-time and 31 part-time employees and has an administrative staff of eight. He is a logistics specialist, and thats what Greensboro ABC does, Galyon said. We have a warehouse, and we make sure that we get the inventory distributed out to our stores, our retail and beverage outlets. According to his LinkedIn profile, Sullivan previously worked as general manager for the Durham County ABC Board for two years and as an executive team leader for Target for 10 years prior to that. Sullivan has a bachelors degree in music from UNCG. He runs an $80 million business that is a significant contributor to the general fund of the city, Hoffmann said, noting that the Greensboro ABC is the third largest in the state. We position ourselves as related to Charlotte and Raleigh, she said. According to the North Carolina ABC Commissions website, 85% of the local boards profit goes to the city of Greensboro and 15% goes to Guilford County and its municipalities that do not have liquor stores. According to Sullivans budget message for Fiscal Year 2023-24, the Greensboro ABC Board will pay slightly more than $2.7 million to local governments, though the amount could change based on how much it nets in the coming year. Nearly $19 million in taxes from the sale of liquor is expected, according to the boards budget message. Its total operating budget is about $13.8 million, including more than $5.2 million for salaries. An analysis by Lee Newspapers earlier this year found the average salary of the general managers running about 140 of the states 171 boards is about $70,000, with the highest being $217,000 in Mecklenburg County. North Carolina is one of 17 states where liquor sales are controlled by the government. It is the only state where liquor sales are controlled by local boards, rather than the state. Ten Greensboro police officers were finally assigned brand-new take-home vehicles Friday morning after an 18-month delay caused by supply-chain issues. The vehicles, Ford Police Interceptor Utility SUVs, are the first vehicles from a program that the city council approved in late 2021, which authorized spending $1.1 million for 20 extra vehicles. At a press briefing, Chief John Thompson said the department is still committed to the programs larger goal of buying 100 cars for the police department over five years. The take-home car program is another one of the improvements the city government has provided to the Greensboro police department in order to drive recruiting efforts the most notable being a increase in salary to $55,000 a year. This has been a long time coming, Thompson said. The city council took what I think is a bold step. Never in the history of the department have we had a program for officers to take home their vehicles. For me, this is personal. It shows our officers that our elected officials and the community support our police officers. The vehicles are all-wheel-drive with a hybrid gasoline engine and lithium electric battery. Thompson estimated that each of the vehicles cost around $50,000-$55,000. Ford Police Interceptor Utility cars have such a significant cost because they are considered police package vehicles, which are specially built to withstand heavy mileage, quick stops and quick starts. The cars also have an integrated computer, an improvement that frees space in the front cabin. City council members Hugh Holston, Marikay Abuzuaiter and Dr. Goldie Wells attended in support of the program. Abuzuaiter acknowledged the 18-month delay in providing take-home SUVs for police officers from the date they had been originally purchased. We have been getting comments from our constituents almost daily saying Where are the take-home cars for our officers?, Abuzuaiter said. This is just a start. Others will be coming forth... Hopefully everyone will get one eventually. Thompson confirmed that there are several more vehicles that are currently being upfitted and made ready for use. He projected that seven to 10 more cars would be available for duty by the end of August, and about 40 vehicles ready for use by the end of the year. The Greensboro Police Department had to purchase new cars so that existing cars can be located at the station by duty officers. The SUVs are assigned based on factors such as seniority and the departments policy to prioritize officers within a 30-mile radius of headquarters. Thompson also explained that the Greensboro Police Departments order for vehicles was not high on a priority list within car manufacturers larger quotas containing hundreds of vehicles. Ford notified the police department in 2022 that their order would take more than a year. Lt. K.B. Johnson told the News & Record that there was more to the supply-chain issues that caused the delay than meets the eye. Even though the contract was signed a couple years ago, there were multiple vendors that had problems, Johnson said. The manufacturers of the consoles within the cars had issues, and so did the manufacturers of body-worn cameras. There were many different supply-chain issues holding things up. Thomas Boyer, a police officer who has served the city of Greensboro for 24 years and was assigned a new vehicle, was grateful for the upgrade. Itll be easier to get out of the new cars, Boyer said. And itll be nice for it to be your own vehicle. You wont have to share it with another officer. Mayor Nancy Vaughan, who could not attend the meeting, wrote about the improvements that the take-home car program would add to the Greensboro Police Department. Law enforcement is a tough job, which is getting increasingly more difficult due to a shortage of police officers, Vaughan wrote. This measure enhances police visibility throughout the community, while evening the recruitment playing field. This take-home vehicle policy places GPD in lockstep with out neighboring law enforcement agencies when it comes to recruiting new officers. We dont want to lose our competitive edge against High Point, Winston-Salem, and Burlington, where this practice is already in place, Vaughan added. Just before noon on Thursday, Peter Lacewell parked his car off Elm Street downtown. He walked down the block, went into Bonchon, picked up food for his girlfriend, walked back to his car and drove off. The process took less than three minutes once Lacewell finally parked. The Greensboro resident spent more time searching for a parking spot than actually using it. Lacewell circled the block at least twice in an attempt to find free streetside parking, but eventually had to settle for a paid lot, at a rate he wasnt even sure of until he left. Its really inconvenient, he said. It discourages me from even coming downtown. For years, Greensboro residents have criticized the citys on-street and off-street public-parking options, saying there arent enough spaces available. But according to a recently released study, the number isnt necessarily the problem. The downtown parking study, conducted by consulting firm Kimley-Horn, started in September 2022 as an effort to measure how the rise of work from home and the declining demand of physical office space impacted downtown Greensboro. The Atlanta-based company and the city of Greensboro released those findings and a few possible solutions in a series of public meetings held last month. What was found is that of the 424 acres of non-roadway land in the downtown Greensboro area, 36% of it is used for parking. This includes multi-level decks and both public and private surface lots and is considered high for cities of a similar size. The city does not manage all 36%, but between the seven surface lots, five decks and countless sidewalk curbs, it does manage quite a number of individual spots 6,319 to be exact. The study found that on average about 2,500 of those parking spots are available. In a comparison with five other cities, (Raleigh, Greenville, SC, Savannah, Ga., Columbus, Ohio, Boise, Idaho), the study found that Greensboros parking rates were cheaper than those of the citys peers. Greensboro is the only city of the group to offer a free first hour in parking decks and has the second-lowest daily maximum at $10 Greenville caps parking at $7. In terms of on-street parking, Greensboros practices are fairly routine. The city allows for free parking on the weekends and after 6 p.m. on the weekdays. So, if availability and price arent the main concern, what is? According to a survey put out by city officials in April and May, over 70% of respondents prioritized convenience and distance to their destination when searching for a parking place downtown. Some even go as far as saying that a nearby parking space is the deciding factor of whether or not they make a trip downtown. Sheri and Tito Jamieson, also residents of Greensboro, recalled hosting an event at Scuppernong Books on Elm Street a few years ago and having people leave because they couldnt find a close parking space. You have to be strategic about when you want to be downtown, Sheri Jamieson said. Im sure (not finding a parking space) deters people from coming, Tito Jamieson added. It deters us. After looping the block multiple times Thursday morning, the Jamiesons were able to find a spot along Lewis Street. One man filling up a Greene Street meter placed the matter in perspective quite simply, calling it a pain. The ultimate goal of the downtown parking plan study is to remedy any parking pains with an official proposal of solutions placed in front of city council this fall. Some possible solutions were discussed at the public meetings in late June. None of them mentioned setting aside any more downtown space for parking, preferring a revamp of both the already existing facilities and and proper management techniques to maximize efficiency. Currently, the city is building its sixth parking deck at the corner of Market and Davie streets. No opening date has been announced, but the February One Deck will add 720 parking spaces to the city-operated total. As a part of the $268,599 study, structural assessments were completed on each parking deck facility. Davie Street, Greensboros oldest parking deck, was found to have structural integrity concerns, but none pressing enough to elicit an immediate closure. Decommissioning the deck once its soon-to-be neighbor is complete is a possible option. (Davie Street Deck) has outlived its useful life, director of transportation Hanna Cockburn said. She added that for a concrete structure that is exposed to the elements for at least 50 years, this is not unanticipated. For the four other decks scattered around the downtown area, the main concern is improving safety. Cockburn says her team has identified ways to increase lighting and navigability so customers can feel safer when using the downtown facilities. Another mission is to improve legibility, or awareness of the various parking options in the city. As of now, none of the decks are marked with the standard blue P sign, making it difficult for visitors and locals alike to know where they are allowed to park. Marc Silverstein was in Greensboro on Thursday from New York City to watch his son play in the Eastern Music Festival. He wanted to walk around and go into the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, which he anticipated would take longer than the allotted two hours for street parking, so Silverstein was searching for a long-term option. The signs could be a little clearer, he said. I honestly just turned down a side street and got lucky. Other possible solutions to improve the parking infrastructure include a demand-based payment model for street parking to discourage all-day spot campers, provide discounted parking passes for service and hospitality workers who frequent downtown and increased micro-mobility options, like rentable scooters, bikes or the trolley service that starts Monday, July 17. Free parking spaces right in front of storefronts may go away, but in its place would be easy maneuverability around the downtown area. Monica Walker was present on June 29 when these solutions were proposed. I appreciate free parking, Walker said. But I also appreciate equity, and if having more paid spaces is going to create more equity of opportunity to be able to park, then perhaps it would be the best way to go. What seems to have been a conversation just about parking is not just about parking. Its really about redevelopment. Its really about economic opportunities, who gets to come in the city, who gets to park in the city, whos getting the incentives in terms of any invitations to growing economic possibilities in downtown Greensboro. ... I would love to see a lot more input from communities who border downtown and the communities who frequent downtown. After this round of public meetings, Kimley-Horn and the city of Greensboro are in the number-crunching stage, determining which solutions will be economically feasible. Another round of public comment is expected to occur in August. The final proposal will hopefully reach city council in October, says Cockburn. Mayor Nancy Vaughan makes a good point: Public comment periods at City Council meetings can take ugly turns. Actually, thats been the case for years. By its nature, representative government isnt always pretty. People get angry. They personally attack council members. Some exceed their time limit. Others use language they shouldnt (hence the warning in bold letters before each televised council meeting: Viewer discretion advised!) Still others mug for the cameras and then post the footage on social media. Raucous audiences sometimes cheer or boo or shout random comments from the gallery, despite repeated requests not to. Passions can run high during discussions of taxes, public safety, civil rights, neighborhood disputes and contentious zoning matters. Especially in Greensboro, where everybody seems not only to have an opinion but to be convinced beyond doubt that his or her take on an issue is the only right one. It all comes with the territory. Thats why, when the council has attempted in the past to restrict public comments or discourage them (as in, for example, placing them at the tail end of long meetings), weve opposed it. An occasional breach in taste or decorum is one of the prices of doing the publics business. A better way? In light of theatrics at the June 6 meeting, however, Vaughans latest idea for a change is an elegant solution that could improve decorum without restricting speech. During that meeting, no fewer than 40 people signed up to speak, many for and against the firing of city firefighter Dustin Jones over controversial social media posts that violated city policy. With tensions already running high, a man who had previously addressed the council barged back into the council chamber and yelled profanities at another speaker. The mayor ordered that the man, a repeat offender when it comes to disruptive conduct, be removed from the room. Ironically, after that individual had supported the citys firing of Jones for being uncivil, he then chose to be crass and uncivil himself. Vaughan later suggested at a council work session the idea that she plans to implement beginning tonight: If a speaker is removed for being disruptive during the public comment period, that individual will be banned from attending the next three council meetings in person. The person can, however, attend remotely via Zoom or phone. If that person disrupts a meeting again, the penalties will repeat. The rules also apply to audience members. The new protocols most appealing feature is that it sanctions individuals without silencing them. It still gives them a voice, with the same audience, but at a distance, and on a smaller stage. Supportive reactions Vaughan said Monday that public feedback has been extremely positive. Yet, as council member Sharon Hightower has cautioned, You have to be careful with peoples rights. Hightowers right. We are tilling sensitive ground here. This is essentially a First Amendment debate (Jones right to express his opinions online) that sparked yet another First Amendment debate (peoples right to express their opinions in person about Jones right to express his opinion). But mean and aggressive rhetoric especially when it is directed at public speakers, could discourage some from voicing their views. For many, standing at a lectern in front of the council, an-person audience and a TV audience already can be a nerve-wracking experience. Should people also have to fear being heckled by strangers? The mayors idea strikes an intriguing balance between allowing citizens to have their say and discouraging disrespect for the rules. She shouldnt have to be doing this to get adults to behave like grown-ups, but, well, here we are. And weve got company. Vaughan said public comments have been a hot topic recently among North Carolina mayors (not to mention school boards). Her idea seems fair-minded and thoughtful and well worth a try. The rest of us could help by behaving ourselves setting a better example for our children. The presses started rolling about 10:30 pm. on Saturday and came to a halt about 20 minutes later. And, just like that, the last daily press run of the Independent Record was over. The paper is moving to a three-day-a-week format and switching from carrier delivery to mail delivery by the U.S. Post Office. The Independent Record will now be printed for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday delivery while its online product will be updated 24/7. In a June 11 note to readers of the Independent Record, the newspaper, which has roots in the community going back to 1865, said changes were made to adjust to changing news consumption habits: Our commitment to being the strongest local news provider remains steadfast, but we also continue to change with the habits of our readers. Carrier Eileen OBrien stood in the parking lot along Washington Street behind the Independent Record waiting for her papers for her last run. She had her route for six months. It was a huge shock actually, she said about hearing carriers would no longer be used. Its a huge change. But she said she would find something else. For John Moe, it was the end of a 16-year run. Im not really happy about it, the 77-year-old Moe said as he sat in his Mazda Tribute. When you get to be my age you like to keep active. He said he delivered papers to 130 customers and drove about 100 miles a night in the Yacht Basin/Spokane Creek area. He said he made about $600 a month and noted that in one year he made $1,800 in tips. He said with a smile that several people along his route had contacted him saying they would leave a tip for him on his last night. He said he planned to keep working. Im gonna have to find another job cause you have to keep active, he said. The Helena City Commission will meet Thursday with U.S. Army Reserve 88th Readiness Division commander, Maj. Gen. Matthew Baker. They will discuss the Army Reserve, economic impacts of the Reserve in Montana, Army Reserve soldiers as residents and other local topics, according to an email provided by the city. The meeting is 2:30 p.m. in conference room 326 of the City-County Building, 316 N. Park Ave. No official business will be discussed and no decisions regarding city issues will be made, Helena officials said. The public may attend. Baker assumed command of the division, based at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on July 30, 2022. He was previously the commander of the 416th Theater Engineer Command, Darien, Illinois, according to the website, www.usar.army.mil. Baker has held numerous command and staff positions throughout the U.S. Army Reserve. He earned his bachelor of science degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a masters in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. He has received many military awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal and Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. The 88th Readiness Division, headquartered at Fort Snelling, and Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, is a two-star command that provides base operations support to more than 46,500 Army Reserve soldiers, 2,594 active Guard and Reserve soldiers and 2,524 civilians serving in 525 units at 277 sites in 19 states in the northwestern U.S., from the Ohio River Valley to the Pacific Coast. BROWNING Some people call it a spaceship. Others suggest that it looks like a giant hat or one of the great pyramids. Visible from any high point in Browning, the new multi-purpose arbor was the talk of the town at this years North American Indian Days celebration. Have you seen the new arbor? Family members asked each other while waiting for the parade to begin Saturday morning. I love it! visitors replied to their friends during powwow events. At 42,000 square feet and made with 368,000 pounds of steel, the new arbor seats 2,400 people in its bleachers and has a capacity of about 4,500 people total. The $9.8 million building, which was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, is shaded with openings for breeze and has turf in the center to provide cushion for dancers. And its not done yet. Soon, the building will have additional wings the northwest side will have concessions, storage, a custodial closet, electric room and potentially an office, and the southeast addition will have restrooms, a mechanical room, storage and another closet. Inside, the arbor eventually will feature the tribes flag emblem and a stand-up eagle feather bonnet. With heating and cooling, when its complete, the arbor will be available for year-round use and will boast sound and lighting systems that can be operated remotely from a phone. Ed Kennedy, hired by the tribe as the lead contractor for the project, said he hopes the building will be near completion by next years Indian Days celebration. When its finished, he said the arbor will cover about 58,658 square feet. Michael Gervais, the arbors architect, called the structure an engineering marvel and said the fact that its a circle is unique, as most arbors have faceted sides. The original arbor was a circle, and in Native American culture, circles are an important symbol, he explained. But the concept of a circle this big required constant innovation. We had to overcome obstacles to do that, and its since become a guiding project for other entities who want to build something similar. Located near Willow Creek, the powwow grounds near the old arbor would often flood when it rained hard. But Gervais said in building this arbor, crews raised the floor by 3 feet to prevent standing puddles and flooding. The old arbor would also sometimes fall down, buckling under the intense winds in Browning. Because it wasnt enclosed, that arbor was typically was used just four days out of the year for North American Indian Days. By contrast, the new building will be used year-round for things like powwows, job fairs, craft shows, concerts and more. Kennedy said it can withstand 120-mph winds. This thing isnt going anywhere for the next 80 to 100 years, he said. Even before the Indian Days celebrations kicked off last weekend, people were eager to gather in the new building. Children laughed and screamed as they bounced a beach ball on the turf. Teens sat in the bleachers talking quietly and eating shaved ice, and parents enjoyed the shade as they watched their children play. Kennedy said he took pride in hiring locals to get the job done. He said he hired at least 72 Blackfeet workers, and each week, he distributed $49,000 in payroll. That (money) all went into the local economy to local Indian guys, he said. When I was young, I wished someone would just hire us. Construction crews would have a few Blackfeet guys but mostly white guys, and the money they were paid would leave our local economy. On the Blackfeet Reservation, where the median household income is $36,447, Kennedy said the money made a big difference for families. Because the money was spent locally, he hopes the investment will benefit the community as a whole. Ive seen this money change lives, he said. People bought cars with it. They got things for their kids. Its huge. For Kennedy, the arbor also symbolizes progress and sovereignty. By partnering with local businesses, he said the tribe not only created jobs and pumped money into the economy, but also avoided red tape that often accompanies government bureaucracy. The point is self-sufficiency, he explained. Were showing that to outsiders, but also, were showing ourselves that we can do this. Ive always had a belief that as Piegans (a band of the Blackfeet), we can do whatever we want to do, and this is the first step on our road to freedom. The tribe has something to be proud of. Something we can show to the world. While the arbor brought jobs to the community, it also drew criticism from some community members. Some argued the tribe shouldve spent the nearly $10 million in other areas. And others worried that because the tribe isnt required to follow building codes, the arbor wouldnt be structurally sound. Despite this complaint, Kennedy said his crew followed the International Building Code and is compliant with the 2023 electric code. He also said private contractors worked on the building and would not put their licenses at risk by ignoring codes. Gervais said he suspects the criticism came, in part, because the project was new and hadnt been done before. He said he expected some of that criticism to turn positive last weekend when the arbor was finally put to use at Indian Days. And for many people, thats exactly what happened. Maliya Eagle Speaker admitted she was among the people who were skeptical of the building. We couldve spent the money on other things, she said. But its nice. Its a lot nicer than the old one. Ramona Croff, another community member, shared similar feelings. Seeing it made her change her mind. We get harsh winters and unpredictable weather here, and now people can be protected from the elements. she said. I like that its year-round, and everyone can enjoy it. Pamela Bare Shin Bone, who visited Browning from Canada for North American Indian Days, said she was stunned by the buildings beauty. I love it, she said. Its getting better and better every day. A temporary restraining order against Republican Senate President Jason Ellsworth has been vacated after his former fiancee withdrew her request for the protective measure on Tuesday, according to court filings. Respondent has had no contact with the petitioner, an agreement between Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, and his former partner, Lindsey Murolo, reads. Petitioner does not require judicial intervention or entry of a permanent order for her protection. The order of protection for Lewis and Clark County resident Murolo had been issued by a justice of the peace in early May. That temporary measure, pending a July court hearing, came after an attestation from Murolo alleging that Ellsworth physically assaulted her and threatened her with a loaded gun last October. Her request, first reported by Montana Free Press Monday, also said Ellsworth had continued to send her unwanted communication after she asked him to leave her residence in the wake of that alleged incident. No charges related to the claims have been filed. In a Tuesday statement released by his attorney, Joan K. Mell of Ravalli County, Ellsworth denied that he had been abusive toward Murolo and that he posed a threat to his former fiancee or her daughter, a minor plaintiff in the petition. My ex-fiance (sic) unwisely and without representation filed claims against me that are not true, Ellsworths statement said. She prepared her petition in May on her own when she was angry that I still wanted her to return my property after I ended our relationship in March. She has voluntarily dismissed her claims and has conceded that she does not require any orders for her protection, which is correct. I have not been abusive and do not wish her or her daughter any harm. We were there for each other for six years. Sadly that came to an end earlier this year. We are both moving on respectfully. A copy of the agreement between the two parties, provided by Ellsworths attorney and verified with the justice court, is dated July 11, one day after the publication of MTFPs story reporting the temporary protective order and Murolos allegations. Court records show that Murolo did not retain her attorney, William Hooks with the Montana Legal Services Association, until July 9. Hooks did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication of this story Tuesday afternoon. A hearing about whether the temporary protective order should be made permanent was originally scheduled for May 22, roughly three weeks after Justice of the Peace Mark Piskolich issued the original decision. That court date was rescheduled at the request of Mell, the attorney Ellsworth retained three business days before the scheduled hearing. Murolo filed a handwritten note with the court expressing frustration about the rescheduled hearing date. The note is dated May 22, the same day the hearing was originally scheduled to take place. I would like to continue my court date hearing to July 17, 2023 at 9:30 am. I am a provider at a doctors office and have a full patient schedule to maintain. When I filed this order three weeks ago I had to reschedule several patients and [lose] my hourly and commission pay, Murolo wrote, adding that she had not been notified of the changed court date. I was not served and did not receive any notice in the mail. I feel this is beyond unfair due to Jason Ellsworths status being a state senator, she wrote. The Tuesday agreement, signed by Hooks on Murolos behalf, says the petition is dismissed without prejudice, meaning the complainant can bring a later action on the same grounds. Earlier Tuesday, the Montana Democratic Party called for Ellsworths resignation. Neither of Ellsworths fellow Republican leaders in the Senate, Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick and President Pro Tempore Kenneth Bogner, returned requests for comment. Ellsworth has served in the state Senate since 2019, and was elected Senate president ahead of the 2023 legislative session. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing a peace officer resulting from a traffic stop on a highway east of Helena. Also on Tuesday, Lee newspapers State News Bureau published a dashcam video of the traffic stop, which it obtained following a yearlong lawsuit. The video, which confirms previous reporting based on court records, shows Ellsworth ignoring a state troopers direction to remain in his vehicle and invoking the state attorney general in an effort to be released. Montana will soon crack down on synthetic marijuana and intoxicating hemp products that have proliferated through regulatory loopholes despite concerns they pose a health risk to children. The Cannabis Control Division, the marijuana regulatory arm of the Montana Department of Revenue, said Tuesday eradicating synthetic products will be the "biggest lift" for the agency between now and the 2025 Legislature. "Most of these businesses that we will be inspecting will be glass shops, gas stations, vape shops," division administrator Kristan Barbour told the committee. "Were just going in and making sure they know that any synthetic cannabinoid or hemp intoxicating product is no longer carried." The substances were identified by the agency in January as the likely culprit in a rash of youth hospitalizations raised by local health officials after the first year of marijuana legalization in Montana. House Bill 948, carried by Republican Rep. Steve Galloway of Great Falls, established a statewide prohibition on the manufacturing and sale of synthetic marijuana and intoxicating hemp products. Such substances previously fell outside of purview of the Cannabis Control Division, or state and federal agriculture departments that regulate hemp. The result was anyone could sell the products, and anyone of any age could purchase them. "There's a lot of products out there that aren't being regulated that folks who are being regulated in the marijuana business are really upset about," Galloway told a legislative committee in April. "Not to mention that a lot of this stuff's being sold to underage kids and there's really no control and really no statutes to regulate this." Galloway's bill passed the House on a, 81-15 vote, and it cleared the Senate 38-12. "Spice" is a common synthetic product sold in retail stores that fit through that regulatory loophole. Clamping down on such products has previously proven challenging, because manufacturers can change a compound and wiggle out from under new regulations. The bill defined synthetic cannabinoids as "any cannabindoids produced artificially, whether from chemical synthesis or biosynthesis using recombinant biological agents, including but not limited to yeast and algae." Further, the bill defines a synthetic marijuana product as "marijuana or marijuana products that contain synthetic cannabindoids." In an update to the Economic Affairs Interim Committee on Tuesday, Barbour told lawmakers the state's work will be a mix of education and enforcement. "What were finding out is sometimes people don't even know what theyre carrying, they don't realize their breaking the law," he said. "And so our job is really to educate them and enforce that these products are no longer available in Montana." The Cannabis Control Division is still in the process of interviewing and hiring for the inspector position that will lead the effort on synthetics, Barbour said. One of the committee's tasks between now and the 2025 Legislature will be monitoring the prohibition's rollout. Editors note: Due to a production error, the wrong text ran with Mike Garritys column on Tuesday. The following is the correct version. Thanks to a successful court challenge by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, over 10,000 acres of grizzly bear habitat in northwestern Montana will not be decimated by commercial logging. In late June, our lawsuit in a federal district court in Montana halted a large-scale logging project in endangered grizzly bear habitat to protect the small, isolated, and imperiled Cabinet-Yaak grizzly bear population from further harm. The Ripley logging project authorized almost 17 square miles of commercial logging (10,854 acres) on publicly owned National Forest lands, including roughly 5 square miles of clearcuts (3,223 acres). By the U.S. Forest Services own estimate, the project would cost federal taxpayers $643,000 to implement since receipts from the commercial timber sales do not cover the cost of the post-logging ecological remediation. The court ruled the project is illegal because the government did not analyze the cumulative impacts on grizzly bears from concurrent logging and road-building on public lands, state lands and private lands in the area. The project authorized construction of 30 miles of new logging roads and reconstruction of 93 miles of logging roads. It is well-documented that roads pose the greatest threat to grizzly bears, followed by logging and habitat removal. The court victory is especially significant because the Cabinet-Yaak grizzly population is in very bad shape. The actual count of grizzlies published in 2021 for the 2020 monitoring year found 45 bears, down from 50 bears in 2019, and 54 bears in 2018. The governments own Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan requires 100 bears for the minimum viable population. The Cabinet-Yaak grizzly population is also failing every recovery target and goal: it is failing the target for females with cubs; the target for distribution of females with cubs; the female mortality limit and the mortality limit for all bears (which is zero mortalities until a minimum of 100 bears is reached). A peer-reviewed scientific research paper, Kendall et al. (2016), analyzed the Cabinet-Yaak grizzly population in detail based on extensive and systematic DNA collection in the region and found: In the small Cabinet and Yaak populations, the difference between growth and decline is 1 or 2 adult females being killed annually or not. Last year three female Cabinet-Yaak grizzly bears died. The study concluded the small size, isolation, and inbreeding documented by this study demonstrate the need for comprehensive management designed to support (Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem) population growth and increased connectivity and gene flow with other populations. The court acknowledged that this population is uniquely vulnerable, and it found the governments analysis factually false because the government assumed, contrary to the evidence before them, that the non-federal lands do not provide habitat for grizzly bears. They then used that false assumption to conclude that because the Project would not substantially reduce secure habitat on USFS land, the Project would not jeopardize the grizzly bear. The court ruled the Forest Service violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to adequately consider the cumulative effects of how private and state roads in the area affected the bears ability to move to secure habitat, and chastised the agencys obfuscation of the facts, writing: The court and the public should not have to embark on a scavenger hunt through a nearly thirty-thousand page administrative record to find information that the BiOp [Biological Opinion} itself was supposed to disclose. This win is a great victory for the Cabinet-Yaak grizzlies and we will continue our fight to ensure this dwindling population of grizzly bears will not be extirpated by the Forest Services reckless corporate welfare giveaways of our public National Forests to private logging companies. Theres a simple fix to head off the gloom and doom of our recent high home appraisals and impending residential property tax hikes or at least to lessen the blow. And what a blow itll be to Montanans being priced out of their homes while juggling rising costs for energy, food, medicine and more. Older Montanans and others on a fixed income will be especially hurt. The solution from Democrats like me that youve probably read about by now is a one-day special session of the Legislature to reduce the state residential property tax rate from 1.35 to 0.94 percent. Thats the rate set by the Legislature to figure out the taxable value of your property. From time to time back to the 1980s, legislatures have dropped the rate to mitigate tax increases when it looked like home appraisals were coming in high. The state Department of Revenue warned the Legislature in November 2022 that home values would soar. We couldve lowered the tax rate during our regular legislative session, but the Republican majority ignored the warning and did nothing to drop the tax rate a radical departure from what legislatures have done in a bipartisan way in the past. Instead, Republicans showered corporations with tax benefits and raised your taxes, shifting the property tax liability from corporations to you. Now, they blame local governments and stir the pot of property tax revolt to get you so riled up that youll vote for a statewide general sales tax. It doesnt take a crystal ball to see a sales tax plot and strategy of tax unfairness to put the tax burden on folks like you who cant afford it. Finally, dont buy the gimmick and PR of upcoming tax rebates. Theyre a short-term distraction in sheeps clothing. We dont need a state sales tax, we just need this simple legislative fix to reduce Montanas residential property tax rate. Together, we can head off a property tax crisis and avoid a state sales tax. Lets get to the business of tax fairness. Many Montanans will suffer if we dont. Community members are invited to an informational open house on July 13 dealing with updates to the FEMA flood map for Bristol, Tennessee. The event will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and hosted by the citys planning and engineering divisions who can review the maps with interested property owners along with answering any questions they may have, according to a written statement. As a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program, city officials work with FEMA to help make periodic updates to the flood insurance rate map, which depicts special flood hazard areas and other flood-related data in the city. Homes and businesses in high-risk flood areas are generally required to carry flood insurance as a condition of their mortgage, as flood damage is not covered under most homeowners policies. When flood maps are updated, property owners may find no change in their flood risk compared to previous maps, or they may see that it is now higher or lower than before. These changes could have an impact on the requirement for and cost of flood insurance on a property. The preliminary flood map changes may be viewed online at msc.fema.gov/fmcv When preliminary flood maps are issued, individuals have 90 days to file an appeal to FEMA through their local community if they disagree with the new flood risk identified for a property. Appeals must be supported by an analysis or scientific evidence showing that the information on the preliminary map is scientifically or technically incorrect. The preliminary maps for Bristol were issued on May 10, but thus far, no requests for appeal have been received by the city. All decisions regarding the information contained in the preliminary flood maps and any subsequent appeals are made by the federal government, while at the local level, we are primarily here to serve as a point of contact for our community, said Cherith Young, Bristol, Tennessee Director of Community Development and Planning. We wanted to make this opportunity available to anyone who may have questions about changes in their flood risk while the FEMA appeal window is still open. The flood map open house will be at the Ewell L. Easley Municipal Annex, 104 8th Street, Bristol, Tennessee. Individuals may drop in at any point during this time to meet with staff. For those unable to attend the open house but who still have questions about changes to their flood risk, questions may be submitted to floodinfo@bristoltn.org or by calling (423) 989-5514. A judge is scheduled to hear a motion to dismiss embezzlement charges against Catawba County Register of Deeds Donna Spencer near the end of August. Spencer, 57, appeared in court Tuesday for a brief hearing in which both attorney Blair Cody and prosecutor Nikki Shaffer agreed to have the matter pushed back to the week of Aug. 28. Shaffer said Codys motion to dismiss was filed on Monday and she had not had time to review it. Superior Court Judge Bradley Letts agreed to push back the hearing. He also said he wanted to address a potential trial date at that hearing. Letts noted the charges against Spencer have been pending since 2021, saying: Im a little concerned, this being a 21 case, I want to get this case moving. Spencer was indicted on charges of embezzlement by a local or charitable officer, failing to discharge her duties as Catawba County Register of Deeds and two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses in December 2021. The embezzlement and false pretenses charges are felonies. The N.C. Conference of District Attorneys, which is the state agency prosecuting the case, said Spencer fraudulently received compensation for time she did not work and took government property for her own use. Spencer has asserted her innocence, a point she reiterated Tuesday as she left the courtroom with her husband and mother-in-law. Cody, Spencers attorney, has questioned how it is possible for a salaried employee who is not required to log hours could be charged with stealing time. Spencer has remained in office since her indictment and said late last year she intends to run for reelection. She has served as the countys register of deeds for nearly 20 years. There is a chance the legal case could be ongoing during the election campaign. Filing for the register of deeds race will occur in December while the primary is scheduled for March. Spencer will be legally allowed to remain in the office as long as she is not convicted of a felony. A Hickory teen charged in the shooting of a 16-year-old will be tried as an adult. Sabion Jahsye Boyd, 18, of Hickory, is charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, according to court documents. Boyd appeared in Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday. Authorities have linked Boyd to a shooting that occurred on May 4 at an apartment complex at 811 First St. SE, in Hickory, according to a Hickory Police Department incident report. The victim in the case was 16 at the time. Boyd was 17, Assistant District Attorney Nancy Lee said. The shooting occurred shortly before 6 p.m. on May 4, according to the report. Following the shooting, the victim was transported to a hospital in Charlotte via helicopter, according to a previous news release from Hickory police. The victim was released from the hospital on June 27. The victim is paralyzed due to the gunshot injuries, Lee said. The victim was shot three times, she said. According to the police report, the weapon used in the shooting was a handgun. Defense attorney Charles Bostian requested that Boyds bond be reduced. That motion was denied by Superior Court Judge Bradley Letts. Attorney Lisa Dubbs made a court appearance to take over Boyds defense. Bostian withdrew from the case. Boyds family hired Dubbs to represent him, she said. Floyd Lucas retired from his post as the City of Hickorys Chief of Police in 2007, but he has not forgotten the challenges of the job. Lucas, 81, compared being police chief to a juggling clown. He always has to have a smile on his face, regardless of how he feels, and he is always juggling five balls. Lucas said the top law officers must balance city management, elected leaders, the community, the police department staff and the media. As long as he does not drop one of the five and keeps a smile on his face, hes OK. But if he drops one? Big trouble. Lucas should know, he served as police chief for 27 years. That's the longest tenure in city history, according to data provided by the city. In retirement, Lucas is an avid reader. He says he has seven Kindle e-readers and a hankering for a new one with a large screen. He talked from his living room, where he keeps an impressive stock of top-end bourbons. He also showed off a room of police and military memorabilia, including a large array of plaques and awards. Lucas was dressed for the office. He wore a blue button-up shirt and a pair of khakis on the day of the interview. The thoughtful cadence of his responses has changed little since his days in the public spotlight. Lucas answered questions about his life, career and what keeps him in Hickory during a two-hour interview. The responses have been edited for length and clarity. How he came to Hickory Hickory was trying to recruit a police chief, but no one would take the job. Hickory had had something like five police chiefs in seven years. I got a call from the city manager to see if I would come to Hickory to talk about the job. I did not return his call. I was happy in Tarboro. (Lucas was chief of police and director of public safety in the town in Edgecombe County.) I went to see the town manager. He said I should talk to the people in Hickory because he had once had a chance to work in Hickory, turned it down and regretted the decision. I found out this time the city council would hire the chief in Hickory. I met with them and said I was interested with two stipulations. One, I would be in charge of the police department. Two, that a certain police captain, who was a neighbor of the city manager, would not be a member of the department when I came to work. I was on the job 45 days later. Setting the tone I remember once, in the very early 1980s. At the old police headquarters we had one of two city jails in North Carolina. One of our local, well-known drunks every Friday night would beat his wife up and the police would arrest him and bring him to jail. This particular evening, a police lieutenant and a young female police officer were taking this particular drunk up the stairs toward the jail. The drunk would stagger up the stairs and the police lieutenant would hit him across the back of the legs with his nightstick. And he kept doing this going up the stairs. He kept striking him with the nightstick. The young female officer did not think this was right. It bothered her. Keep in mind that female police officers were very rare at the time. She told me this story. Shortly thereafter I terminated this police lieutenant. This created some concern. Even the city manager was concerned about it. But I insisted and it held up. I hope that set a tone that those types of things are not acceptable. Call me Frank One time they arrested this guy. They brought him in. He said, You cant arrest me. I know the chief personally. Frank and I are friends. Shortly after that it was my birthday, and I get this big birthday card in the office addressed to Frank. And for a long time around there my nickname was Frank. His childhood Daddy bought a farm on the border of Moore and Hoke counties. We raised pigs and tobacco. We had no electricity. We used kerosene lamps. I can remember when REA put up electrical lines along the road. His father In the 1940s, Daddy was recruited to be the chief of police in a place called McCain (in Hoke County). There were two TB (tuberculosis) hospitals. There was one for whites and one for Blacks. There was a large prison for TB prisoners. There was a farm and a housing development with Lustron houses where the state employees lived. (This site was the first state sanatorium in N.C. for treating tuberculosis, according to hdmb.org, a website of historical markers.) Lessons learned Daddy was a mean man. You learn a great deal by watching what other people do that you dont want to do. I watched Daddy mistreat my mother. I watched Daddy mistreat his children. My Daddy mistreated Black people. I always made it a point to never mistreat women or children. I never mistreated Black people. Sometimes we think growing up in a segregated South was bad for us. Instead, it was a tremendous opportunity for us to make sure we did things differently. This is home I ended up working past my mid-60s. I have no children. All my close friends live here in Hickory. My doctors are here. We live in this nice little gated community. The weather here is great. Were not too far from the ocean. Were not too far from Hilton Head or Blowing Rock. There really is no reason to live anywhere else. Hickory is a beautiful, beautiful town. Floyd Lucas through the years: A collection of images 071123-hdr-news-lucas-p11 071123-hdr-news-lucas-p12 071123-hdr-news-lucas-p13 071123-hdr-news-lucas-p14 071123-hdr-news-lucas-p15 071123-hdr-news-lucas-p16 071123-hdr-news-lucas-p17 071123-hdr-news-lucas-p18.jpg It is very easy to stay more than busy with the day-to-day operations of a dairy farm. Yet, we know there is value in finding time to connect with the public to teach them about agriculture. During the Vita Plus Midwest Dairy Conference, dairy farmer Sadie Frericks emphasized the importance of making inroads with local, state, and national political leaders as well. Those individuals, she explained, have a lot of say about what happens on our farms when it comes to influencing policies. Getting involved with lawmakers is such an important part of what we do as a dairy industry and community, said Frericks. She farms with her husband and three children in central Minnesota where they milk 100 cows. Frericks is active with several dairy organizations and serves on a number of dairy-related boards. Her first piece of advice for connecting with political leaders is to let them know who you are. Influencing dairy policy, like influencing consumers, starts with telling your story, she shared. The goal is to build and maintain relationships with these individuals. I want to be their number one resource when they have a dairy farming or small business-related question, she stated. Frericks said to stay up-to-date on who represents your area at each level of government, and if new people are elected or appointed, make a point to introduce yourself, tell your story, and hopefully find some common ground. As for finding chances to connect with political leaders, Frericks encouraged farmers to get involved with dairy organizations that do political advocacy. Many of these groups offer opportunities to visit capitals at the state or national level to talk with elected officials. Although visiting with these individuals on behalf of your fellow dairy farmers may seem daunting, Frericks said it is normal to feel nervous or ineffective the first time you do this. However, each time you participate in legislative visits, you will become more confident and more competent. It is also important that these decision makers get to see agriculture firsthand. Having a lawmaker out to your farm is hands down one of the best ways to influence policy, build that relationship, tell that story, and help them connect to the issues, Frericks said. She said if you are hosting a dairy breakfast or other event on the farm, or if your county fair is coming up, invite your representatives. Give them opportunities to connect with the dairy community. Frericks also encouraged youth involvement. Including your children in conversations with elected officials gives them a chance to see the importance of influencing policy. It also reminds lawmakers that farms are family businesses and generational endeavors, and the laws made today not only affect the current farm but our kids future, too, Frericks noted. If you ever get stuck when talking to an elected official and are not sure what to say, Frericks reminded the audience that it all comes back to the sentiment that what is good for dairy is good for America. When we lose farms, we lose other businesses in our small towns as well. Farms are good for America, Frericks reiterated. Thats why it is critical we are all engaged, in some way, shape, or form, in influencing policy. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2023 July 10, 2023 Meta is stepping up its resources to tackle misinformation ahead of the Voice referendum. Photo: Shutterstock Meta is increasing funding for fact-checkers and working with Australian organisations in a bid to tackle misinformation and abuse on its platforms leading up to the Voice to Parliament referendum. Later this year, Australian voters will be asked to approve an alteration to the Australian Constitution which would usher in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander "Voice" representing Indigenous Australians to parliament on matters of Indigenous affairs. In preparation for the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, Meta the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and the newly released Threads has committed to a "comprehensive strategy" aimed at combating misinformation, voter interference and abuse across its platforms. In a Monday blog post, the social media giant announced it would provide a one-off funding boost for its independent Australian fact-checkers, deploy its specialised global teams to identify and take action against "threats" to the referendum, and work with misinformation monitoring service RMIT CrossCheck to increase monitoring for "misinformation trends" in coming months. Meta also said it is sharing best-practice guidance with journalists and other stakeholders on how to combat false information, and is further working alongside Australian government ahead of the referendum. "We are also coordinating with the Governments election integrity assurance taskforce and security agencies in the lead up to the referendum, said Meta's Director of Public Policy for Australia, Mia Garlick. "Weve also improved our AI so that we can more effectively detect and block fake accounts, which are often behind this activity. "Meta has been preparing for this years Voice to Parliament referendum for a long time, leaning into expertise from previous elections." Meta's push for factual integrity arrives alongside warnings from social media experts that fake accounts and disinformation could see an uptick during the referendum campaign. Liberal senators have warned the integrity of the referendum warrants protection from "foreign interference", and that there is a "clear risk" it "could be used as another vehicle to subvert Australias democracy." Meta may also be looking to avoid a repeat of the Cambridge Analytica scandal which saw alleged "micro-targeting" ad campaigns against US voters on Facebook in 2016 as the company announced it will maintain mandatory transparency tools for political ads and remove unauthorised ads from Facebook and Instagram. "With the Voice to Parliament referendum set to take place towards the end of the year, the referendum will be a significant moment for Australia," said Garlick. "Many Australians will use digital platforms to engage in advocacy, express their views, or participate in democratic debate. "At Meta, were committed to playing our part to safeguard the integrity of the referendum." Meta prepares for uptick in abuse Leading into the referendum, Meta will increase its efforts to combat hate speech and provide mental health support to users. Mental health groups are concerned First Nations Australians could see similar online abuse to what LGBTQIA+ communities went through during Australia's marriage equality postal vote in 2017 and the eSafety commission has already pointed out an uptick in "racial vilification" of Indigenous people in response to the referendum. To address this, Meta is partnering with online youth mental health service ReachOut to form a dedicated youth mental health initiative. "No one should have to experience hate or racial abuse online and we dont want it on our platforms," said Garlick. "Feedback weve heard is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples may need additional support, before, during and after the referendum." Towards the end of July, Meta will also host a "Safety School" training session to bring members of Parliament, not-for-profits and advocacy groups up to speed on its policies, tools, and Facebook's latest moderation tool, Moderation Assist. These efforts fall in line with an increased push for positivity and safety on Meta platforms Last week, when Meta launched its latest social media product Threads, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the new Twitter rival was intended as "an open and friendly public space for public conversation." Meanwhile, Twitter has experienced a reported surge in online hate, leading Australia's eSafety Commissioner to issue a "please explain" notice before labelling the site a "bin fire". Meta said it was willing to take further steps as necessary leading into the Voice referendum, and is further allowing Australian users to see fewer political ads in their feeds if they so choose. "As we get more information regarding the date of the referendum, well stay vigilant to emerging threats and take additional steps if necessary to prevent abuse on our platform while also empowering people in Australia to use their voice by voting," said Garlick. After about 90 minutes of discussion during a Monday work session, the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners failed to agree on a replacement for former commissioner Barbara Strang. Strang, who first won election in November 2020, announced her resignation June 26 to take a job as a magistrate judge in Mecklenburg County. Under a new law recently passed by the N.C. General Assembly, commissioners have 20 days to appoint a replacement. If they dont do so, Bill Baggs, the Clerk of Superior Court, must make an appointment within 10 days. The person appointed also has to be of the same political affiliation as the member being replaced, which ensures the board will again be comprised of all Republicans. Although the commissioners each received names in the past few weeks from people interested in filling Strangs position, including a few names from the Cabarrus County GOP, the board was divided about whether to publicly disclose these individuals. After about 90 minutes of discussion, the commissioners came to agreement that no consensus could be reached on Strangs replacement. Due to this impasse, the board approved a motion to have board clerk Lauren Linker send a letter to Baggs on Tuesday, giving him final authority over the matter. Some commissioners, like Chris Measmer, advocated for taking the necessary time to discuss possible replacements. I dont understand this mentality that we all have to agree. Were not all going to agree, he said. Thats why theres multiple commissioners, because we each have different opinions. Were here to discuss things, he continued. If we all agreed on something or talked to each other on the phone and had an agreement before we get to a meeting, thats not transparency. I feel like this is necessary to have this discussion. Measmer offered a motion to allow the public the opportunity to provide comment on the issue, but that motion failed. Other commissioners, such as Vice-Chairman Lynn Shue, worried about bringing peoples names up, only to have them not be approved. I dont want anybody embarrassed or feeling hurt, Shue said, noting thats more important to me than anything. After much back and forth, the commissioners agreed to open the floor to nominations. Commissioner Kenny Wortman nominated Ray Helms, who finished fourth in the Republican primary last year, while Chair Steve Morris nominated former commissioner Diane Honeycutt. Neither candidate garnered a majority of support (at least three votes): Helms received one vote while Honeycutt received two. Measmer did not vote. At that point, Measmer made the motion to send a letter to Baggs, stating the commissioners could not decide on a replacement. Baggs will have 10 days from Tuesday to appoint the fifth commissioner. His motion was approved unanimously. I felt like the process was extremely rushed, Measmer said afterward. This is the very first opportunity that we have all been together to be able to even initiate a conversation. Measmer said his choice to not vote was not as much an abstention as it was a decision to not support either of the two nominees. Go back to the citizens Several members of the Cabarrus chapter of Down Home North Carolina, a statewide nonprofit working to uplift and empower poor and working-class citizens in rural counties, were in attendance, including regional director Jasmine Lewter. In an interview with the Independent Tribune, Lewter said the groups main concern is that the public had not been consulted regarding who the new commissioner should be. In the 20-day period that they have to appoint somebody, there isnt public comment, there isnt feedback from the community, there isnt any kind of way to engage the community in that process, Lewter said. Though aware Strangs replacement will be a Republican, she said that ideally the person who received the next highest amount of votes in last years election should get the seat, regardless of political party. That person was Sabrina Berry, a Democrat and a member of Down Home NC, who received more than 40,000 votes. Our members endorsed Sabrina Berry last election cycle and they feel strongly about this matter, Lewter wrote last week in an email to the paper, noting Berry would be the correct appointment in the eyes of democracy. Berry, who was not at the session but watched online, said it was pretty disappointing that Measmers motion to allow for public comment failed. That spoke volumes to me because now you say that we dont matter when we are the people who put you there, Berry said. She believes a special election should be held whenever a commissioner resigns. This should go back to the citizens of Cabarrus and let them decide who takes that seat. SALISBURY Rowan-Cabarrus Community College received a $100,000 grant from the North Carolina Community College Systems Expanding Community College Economic Impact grant program to expand the Colleges paramedic program. During the fall of 2022, the program welcomed students at the South Campus in Cabarrus County, in addition to classes at its North Campus in Salisbury. The Paramedic program expansion is an effort to train more Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers, which include paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), in order to address the paramedic shortages in the region and across the state. While paramedics and EMTs both provide life-saving services, the paramedic program is an expanded credential that includes additional training and course hours. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is the eighth largest community college in the state, but since 2018, it has tripled its EMS program enrollment making it the second-largest EMS program in the state. Annually, North Carolina EMS agencies need more than 740 newly credentialed paramedics, yet in 2021, the state only provided credentials to 530 paramedics. Rowan-Cabarrus is pleased to be able to expand our paramedic program offering with this innovative model, said Carol Spalding, president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Paramedics play a critical role in our communities, and the need for them continues to grow locally and statewide. We are grateful for the services they provide and happy to be able to support our community in this way. The expansion introduces a new academy-style instructional format, solving both acute and chronic problems in the workforce needs of paramedics. Similar to an apprenticeship-style program, the new Cabarrus County Paramedic Program is one of the first of its kind implemented in the state. The former paramedic program model required 12-15 months to complete. Then, students were required to find employment and participate in an intensive orientation and probation period. The new Cabarrus County academy-style model works with agencies to enroll employed EMTs in a six- to eight-month paramedic program. The addition of the academy model expands the Colleges capacity and will increase the annual number of graduates. As the second highest enrolled EMS program in the state, this project will serve the region by preparing more local, highly qualified emergency responders in a shorter amount of time. Students enrolled in the program will complete a combination of class and lab work, along with field and clinical experiences. Students will attend classes, labs and clinicals 32 hours per week and work at their respective agencies eight hours per week. Students who are attaining a North Carolina or National Paramedic credential may apply for the Associate in Applied Science Degree Program in Emergency Medical Science (Bridge Program) Continuing Education Program at Rowan-Cabarrus. For information about Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, visit www.rccc.edu or call 704-216-RCCC (7222). This weeks federal approval of a medication called lecanemab the brand name for which is Leqembi represents a watershed moment for treating Alzheimers disease. Alzheimers is a progressive, neurodegenerative illness that causes memory loss and other problems with the brain. Until now, it has not really had any treatment addressing what we think are the underlying causes to try to modify the course of this illness, said Dr. Greg Cooper, director of the Norton Neuroscience Institute Memory Center . Alzheimers is a complex condition, the causes of which are still being studied and debated, Cooper said. One hypothesis is that the disease is driven by the accumulation of an abnormal protein called beta-amyloid in the brain that then leads to everything else we see in Alzheimer's disease. Lecanemab is designed to help remove that amyloid from the brain, Cooper told reporters at a news conference in Louisville Friday. Its an antibody developed in the laboratory that is given to people through an IV, intravenously. This new medication is not a cure for Alzheimers. But Cooper said studies indicate it can slow the progression of the disease by around 30 percent. Hes hopeful that as the drugs impacts on patients are studied over longer periods of time, it could prove to be even more effective. The new treatment is mainly targeted toward people who are in the early stages of Alzheimers and have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, Cooper told reporters. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approved the lecanemab medication on Thursday. The FDA noted the drug potentially can cause serious side effects, such as swelling in the brain. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it intends for Medicare to cover the treatment, which will make the drug much more accessible to people who receive those federal benefits. Shannon White, who leads the Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana chapter of the Alzheimers Association , said theyre hopeful that private insurance companies will follow suit and provide coverage for lecanemab. She talked Friday about why this is such a huge milestone. Alzheimer's was discovered in 1906, and this is the first drug that is addressing the underlying cause of Alzheimer's and other dementia, White said. So we are thrilled that there is now (FDA) approval, and hopefully people that are in the early stages of cognitive decline will be able to get these treatments and really have more time with their families. More than 110,000 people in Kentucky and Southern Indiana are living with Alzheimers or other forms of dementia, she said. There also are around 250,000 caregivers supporting those people across the region. Cooper said he and other professionals at Norton Healthcare have been working for months to plan out the process for how to determine whos eligible to receive lecanemab and to then provide the IV infusions every two weeks to approved patients. It's a challenge I've waited 25 years for, he said. I really hope this is the first step to a whole new era in our field. He hopes Norton will be able to start treating patients with lecanemab within a few weeks. In addition to Norton, White said the University of Kentuckys Sanders-Brown Center on Aging also will offer the treatment. For anyone interested in the possibility of taking lecanemab, Cooper recommended they first speak with their primary care provider. He said theyll likely get referred to a specialist after that. Godrej Aerospace is in discussions to build aircraft parts for suppliers to Airbus (AIR.PA) and Boeing (BA.N) as airlines place record jet orders, a top executive at the Indian company said. Air India and IndiGo (INGL.NS) between them have nearly 1,000 fresh planes on order, said Maneck Behramkamdin, associate vice president and business head at Godrej Aerospace, which means 2,000-2,500 engines would at some point need maintenance."With so many aircraft coming into India, Airbus and Boeing need to augment their supply chain. Tier two suppliers of Airbus and Boeing are now looking at India ... we are in talks with them," Behramkamdin. There are a lot of opportunities in supplying for the structure of the aircraft and there are also large titanium requirements, he said, adding there will also be demand for maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft parts.Godrej Aerospace already exports some key components to engine makers General Electric (GE) and Rolls-Royce (RR.L), Behramkamdin said after a media tour of its plant in Mumbai. The company expects its civil aviation business to clock revenues of 1 billion rupees ($12 million) in the current fiscal year, making up 35% of Godrej's total revenues, he said in an interview, adding that he expects this to grow to 50% next year.India has been pushing for indigenous manufacturing as well as local sourcing of components for aerospace and defense, and companies like Airbus and Boeing have recently committed to more local manufacturing and investment. Godrej Aerospace will also pitch to manufacture modules of GE 414 engines and become part of the supply chain for the work horses that will power the next generation of Indian fighter jets.Under a deal announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the U.S. last month, the engines will be made jointly by GE (GE.N) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Godrej Aerospace said separately in a statement it is planning to invest 2.5 billion rupees ($30 million) to build a new facility in Khalapur in Maharashtra for advanced manufacturing and assembly and integration facilities. Reporting by Dhwani Pandya in Mumbai; Writing by Aditi Shah and Sethuraman NR; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Alexander Smith. Black & Blue Deadly trajectory How Dallas police failed to stop officer Christopher Hess decadelong streak of violence First in a series: An examination of the Dallas Police Departments history of officer violence and its impact on people of color. Editors note: This story contains graphic depictions of violence. By the time Dallas police Officer Christopher Hess responded to a call about a suspicious person one dark morning in 2017, he had faced 10 internal investigations for punching, kneeing, tackling and injuring people over his decade with the department. Most portrayed the 6-foot-1-inch patrolman with the lineman build as swift with his blows. Hess said they resisted his commands. In all but two instances, his accusers were arrested for minor offenses such as public intoxication. Twice Hess was investigated for potential crimes. At the center of one case was a video that captured him striking a Black man with his fists and knees, dragging him into the street by the handcuffs and slamming his head against a car. Hess violence amounted to torture and should have been prosecuted, according to two experts who reviewed the dash-cam footage for The Dallas Morning News. As with the other cases, the department cleared him of wrongdoing citing insufficient evidence and he remained on patrol. Hess previously unreported complaint history reveals not only shocking patterns of violent behavior but systemic flaws in how the Dallas Police Department investigates its own officers, a three-year News investigation that included a review of thousands of department records found. Detectives rarely conducted interviews with officers or people who filed complaints, failed to track down civilian witnesses and appeared to take Hess and other officers at their word for why they used force, our analysis shows. Such practices, experts say, should raise alarms about whether the department has conducted meaningful investigations into allegations of excessive force, especially when public safety and trust in law enforcement hinge on accountability. These are the types of problems we see in the internal affairs investigations of police departments that have patterns of misconduct, Christy Lopez, a former lead investigator for the Department of Justices civil rights division, said after reviewing The News findings. When you dont take these sorts of complaints seriously enough, thats when a culture of impunity begins to develop, and you get patterns of violating peoples rights. On Jan. 18, 2017, two weeks after Hess was cleared in his 10th excessive force case, he arrived at the scene of the suspicious person call: an apartment complex in Old East Dallas. He joined five officers in surrounding a parked Dodge Journey with their guns drawn. A license plate check showed the SUV was stolen. Its windows were fogged, but one officer got close enough to see two people sleeping inside. The officers yelled at them to show their hands. When the SUVs engine started, Hess moved a squad car closer. The SUV backed up, bumped the squad car, and drove forward, hitting a fence. Then it slowly reversed again. Hess squeezed off 12 rounds, shattering the front passenger window. Another officer, Jason Kimpel, fired once. Hess gunfire killed the driver, Genevive Dawes, a Latina mother of two toddlers. Dawes boyfriend Virgilio Rosales and her puppy escaped serious injury. They could have stopped him. If they had just done their jobs Mary Dawes, mother of Genevive Dawes Hess violated four policies, including shooting at a moving vehicle, the department found. Five months later, in June 2017, a grand jury indicted him for aggravated assault. He was the first Dallas police officer to be indicted in a fatal on-duty shooting in 43 years. Police fired him two weeks later. Hess was acquitted in a 2020 trial after his lawyers said he feared for his colleagues safety. The fact the SUV was stolen reinforced Hess concerns, his attorneys argued. Dawes family said Genevive did not know the car was stolen when she bought it. The legal issues are not over. For the last six years, the city of Dallas has defended itself and Hess against a federal wrongful death lawsuit brought by Dawes family, seeking to avoid a trial. Mary Dawes, Genevives mother, says the family deserves a chance at holding Hess and the city accountable for violating her daughters civil rights. She didnt know about Hess history of violence until The News shared it with her last year, she said. They could have stopped him, Dawes said. If they had just done their jobs She could not finish her sentence. Genevive Dawes' mother photographed her with the Rosa Parks statue in downtown Dallas about a year before she was killed. (Mary Dawes) Breaking with standards For Hess story and our Black and Blue series, The News filed hundreds of open record requests to obtain policies, records and data tied to the departments more than 3,000-member force, the ninth largest in the United States. Reporters reviewed thousands of pages of documents. Most were internal affairs cases. The series focuses on forms of police violence that are far more common than fatal shootings but often stay hidden because cases are handled as personnel matters, through internal affairs, instead of criminal investigations. Texas law generally keeps such cases confidential unless officers are suspended. But Dallas, unlike the states four other largest cities, allows public access to the files. The News enlisted several law enforcement experts to help evaluate cases and policies. Our analysis found that at least eight of the Dallas Police Departments internal investigative practices fall short of guidelines recommended by the Department of Justice. Dallas police, for example, do not require internal affairs investigators, who handle the vast majority of complaints, to have investigative experience. The department has no written protocol for guiding detectives on when they should consult with prosecutors during criminal investigations of officers. And although the Justice Department recommends internal affairs detectives check past complaints for patterns of conduct, The News found no indication they did so in Hess 10 excessive force cases. An idiom among cops is that criminals past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior, said David Thomas, a Washington, D.C.-based national police trainer and expert witness in police misconduct cases, reacting to The News findings. Police and all human beings need to apply that concept to themselves. Eight ways Dallas police fall short of federal standards when investigating their own Previous slide Next slide U.S. Department of Justice recommendation: A complaint that alleges or suggests that an officers use of force was willfully, intentionally, recklessly or knowingly excessive or unreasonable should be classified as a criminal complaint. Dallas police policy mandates a criminal investigation if an officer kills or seriously injures someone. Serious injury is defined as force that causes serious permanent disfigurement or impairs the bodys function. But Dallas does not require a criminal investigation based on an accusation that an officer willfully or recklessly used force. Justice department recommendation: Law enforcement agencies should develop an explicitly codified protocol for the presentation of cases for potential prosecution. Federal officials advise that such protocols be developed with district attorney offices. Dallas police say they have no written protocol. Justice department recommendation: Facts revealing a pattern of conduct should be considered. For example, when an officer has been accused of the same act before in other cases involving other complainants, there may be reason to believe that the current case is not isolated. An examination of dozens of Dallas internal investigations by The News found no indication detectives examined accused officers complaint histories for patterns. Dallas police have used computer programs to track complaints against officers. Top police officials declined to discuss their effectiveness. A new $900,000 system was projected to be up and running in 2021. Police officials recently told The News the system is not in use. They would not explain why. Justice department recommendation: 24-hour hotlines help create an effective complaint process. Dallas police agreed in 2019 to install a 24-hour complaint hotline to take complaints against officers by phone, but has not done so. The public can submit complaints online 24 hours a day. Justice department recommendation: Those selected to serve in internal affairs must possess highly advanced investigation skills similar to those used in conducting formal criminal investigations. Dallas police say investigative experience is considered an asset but is not mandatory. Officials told The News that every patrol officer has investigative experience gained through their calls for service. Lopez, the former justice department official, said that is not adequate. They need to be trained specifically in how to investigate police officers, she said. Justice department recommendation: Electronic recording of the live, word-for-word statements of all interviewees, including accused employees, is the best practice. The police department told The News that internal affairs detectives record interviews on a case-by-case basis. The departments public integrity detectives, who investigate potential crimes by officers, record most interviews. Justice Department recommendation: Each investigative report should contain a detailed, comprehensive summary and identify inconsistencies among statements and evidence. Dallas police officials declined to say what steps they take to ensure investigators identify discrepancies between officers statements and evidence. A News review of internal excessive force investigations into former Officer Christopher Hess showed detectives summaries rarely highlighted differences between officers accounts and other evidence. Justice department recommendation: Police departments should consider creating units that audit investigative practices to determine whether policies are being followed and to pinpoint weaknesses in systems. Such audits let the public know that the agency takes its integrity seriously. Dallas police do not have an internal compliance unit. They declined to say whether they have considered forming one, and said there are no plans to audit practices in the near future. Dallas city auditor occasionally evaluates police practices, and last looked into its internal investigative processes in 2019. The News shared its findings with Hess, now 45, but he declined to comment. His lawyers did not respond to messages. Dallas police Chief Eddie Garcia, who joined the department in 2021, turned down repeated requests for interviews, citing the litigation involving Hess. Garcias staff provided written responses to some of The News questions while expressing confidence in the departments internal investigations. The staff also said the Office of Community Police Oversight helps vet complaints. We conduct thorough and complete investigations, said Kristin Lowman, public information officer for the department. It was community concerns over the departments handling of officer violence that had led to the oversight offices creation four years ago. Still, after officers used aggressive tactics during the historic George Floyd protests in 2020, criticisms intensified. At that time, The News began investigating Dallas officers use of force on people of color. Among our findings was that Sgt. Roger Rudloff, a 28-year veteran, fired pepper balls into the breast of a Latina demonstrator during the mass protests after she objected to him and his officers swarming Black people. The News published photographs of his aggression. Last year police cleared him of wrongdoing. The case marked at least the fifth time Rudloff had avoided punishment after being accused of using excessive force against minorities. Overall, Hess was investigated 22 times for misconduct, encompassing 42 allegations ranging from missing court to excessive force, our analysis found. Records show that before Hess was fired following Dawes death, he was disciplined for eight allegations, mostly minor, and received nothing more serious than a reprimand. As with Rudloffs history, a majority of people at least eight who alleged excessive force in Hess cases were minorities. Over the decades, the police departments defense of violent officers has only encouraged them, said Peter Johnson, a former staffer for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who founded the Institute for Non-Violence in Dallas. The more officers get away with brutality, the more brutal they become, Johnson said. People of color usually bear the consequences. Peter Johnson, founder of the Institute for Non-Violence in Dallas, says the police department's defense of violent officers has only encouraged them. (Tom Fox/Staff Photographer) First warning sign Hess was a bald, brawny 29-year-old former construction worker who weighed in at 265 pounds when he joined the department. His beat: Dallas central division, covering downtown and swaths of the city to the east. By September 2007, Hess had completed his first year on the force and received seven commendations for quick responses and his investigative skills, personnel records show. That same month, Ralph Garrett, a Northeast Dallas resident, submitted the first documented complaint against Hess after the officer responded to a police call to his home. Garrett, who was 54 at the time, recently provided his account to The News. Garrett said he had been drinking that day, upset that his Labrador had gone missing. He suspected some men across the street had taken him. Garrett stepped into his front yard, carrying a pistol for protection, and asked the men about his dog, he said. He realized he was wrong and went to bed, he said. Someone called the police to report a man holding a pistol in a driveway in a threatening way, police records show. Ralph Garrett, who filed the first documented complaint against Hess in 2007, said the officer grabbed him by the neck and threw him against his driveway. (Tom Fox/Staff Photographer) Garrett woke to noises at his front door. He grabbed his gun and opened the door to see an officer pointing a pistol at him. Garrett said he immediately handed over his own weapon and stepped outside. He and the officer were walking away from his house when Garrett felt a hand around his neck, he said. I was just standing there peacefully when he grabbed me there and twisted, Garrett told The News. Then he threw me against my driveway. Garrett said he could barely turn his head. Officers took Garrett to Parkland Memorial Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. He was not charged with any crime. Medical records The News reviewed from Garretts visit to a doctor a few days later show he suffered post-traumatic changes to his cervical spine. Since then, Garrett has lived with chronic pain, his doctor informed The News earlier this year. In Garretts complaint to internal affairs that September, he wrote: It was a shaved headed white guy who hurt me. Garrett later discovered the officer was Hess after he checked his badge number, he said. Advertisement Investigative missteps One of detectives first steps under Dallas internal affairs written procedures is to interview the complainant. Garrett said that never happened. The News found no recordings, transcripts or notes of an interview with him in case records. The next step is to interview civilian witnesses. The detective phoned one potential witness, his report shows, but the man said he did not see Garretts arrest. According to the detectives chronology, he did not seek out other witnesses at that time. Internal affairs procedures advise detectives to interview accused officers last. The News found no indication the detective interviewed Hess or his four colleagues who responded to Garretts home. He took their written statements. Under Texas law, detectives also must alert accused officers about complaints and give the names of their accusers before taking their statements or interviewing them. This allows officers time to talk with lawyers beforehand. The Justice Department said in a 2009 report that officers are not entitled to any specific information prior to an interview or interrogation, unless required by law. The officers version of events conflicted with Garretts. Though the officers had not described using force on Garrett in their report of the incident, records show, Hess and the others said in their written statements to the detective that they had to pull Garrett off his porch by his arms because he did not immediately let go of his gun. If the detective pressed the other officers for details about Hess actions or why they did not divulge using force in their incident report, as the department advises, the case records do not reflect it. The officers denied using excessive force. Hess was the only officer to mention a struggle with Garrett on the ground. In November 2007, almost two months after Garrett filed his complaint, the investigator visited Garretts neighborhood to meet with witnesses, he wrote. He left business cards but documented no contact with anyone. It was tarnished from the beginning because the detective did not appear to interview Garrett. That says youre taking the officers statements at face value and dont care about getting at the truth. Kent Schoonover, an Arizona-based internal affairs consultant, on the investigation into Hess. The internal affairs detective concluded in his report that due to conflicting statements and a lack of independent witnesses, he could not substantiate Garretts complaint. In a letter to Garrett dated February 2008, the department said his allegation had been thoroughly investigated and regretted if his contact with officers was less than satisfactory. After The News provided Garrett with the investigative file for the first time, he called the officers accounts fiction and devastating to read. It blows my mind, Garrett said. I was just trying to do my civic duty and warn them about Hess. Kent Schoonover, an Arizona-based internal affairs consultant who reviewed several of Hess complaint files for The News, said the investigation lacked credibility. It was tarnished from the beginning because the detective did not appear to interview Garrett, he said. That says youre taking the officers statements at face value and dont care about getting at the truth. Advertisement Allegations of false arrest In his next two excessive force cases, Hess was investigated for allegedly injuring and falsely arresting two men of color for public drunkeness. In May 2008, eight months after the first complaint, Dallas resident Kenneth Smith said he was walking across a street when he was tackled and arrested for public intoxication though he was not drunk, according to his complaint. Hess said Smith fit the description of a Black shooting suspect in the area and ignored orders to stop talking on his cellphone. Hess said Smith smelled of alcohol. When he tried to handcuff Smith, he pulled away so Hess took him to the ground, the officer said. The next day Smith sought treatment at Baylor University Medical Center, for chest pain, a sprained and bruised shoulder and cuts to his wrists, his medical records show. The case documents bear no mention of the internal affairs detective canvassing the neighborhood to find witnesses. They do not reflect whether the detective raised questions about why Hess did not disclose using force on Smith in his arrest report, as required. The News also found no indication the detective asked the officers why they believed Smith matched the shooting suspects description other than his skin color. The detective cleared both officers. In December 2008, Nagy Nageb and Ramez Ghobrial, Egyptian Americans, filed complaints with the police department saying they were beaten by officers outside a nightclub in North Dallas. Nageb said he was falsely arrested for public intoxication. Nageb said a third friend was hit by a bottle inside the club and they tried to get several Dallas officers moonlighting as security guards outside the club to investigate. One officer asked Nageb what language he spoke. When Nageb said Arabic, the officer called him and his friends f---ing Arab mother f---ers, he said. Then Nageb was pushed and punched in the face, his complaint said. Chief Eddie Garcia, the first Latino to head up the department, turned down several interview requests, citing litigation. (Shafkat Anowar/Staff Photographer) I fell down and he kicked me, Nageb wrote. Another cop was helping him, each twisting one arm. I could not breathe. Nageb recently told The News he went into a panic attack, believing he was suffering heart failure and could not recall what the officers looked like. He said customers were standing nearby. Hess arrested Nageb and Ghobrial, records show. He denied kicking or punching anyone or using derogatory language. Hess wrote in a statement to investigators more than two months later that Nageb tried to push past us into the club multiple times so he took him to the ground by his arm. Case files showed the investigator did not track down civilian witnesses. The News found no reference to the detective contacting Nageb, Ghobrial or the friend who accompanied them to internal affairs to file his own complaint. Hess arrest report again did not mention he used force and The News found no indication the detective flagged the omission. The detective cleared Hess and the other officers. Due to the lack of an independent witness, there is insufficient evidence to either prove or disprove that the officers kicked or punched anyone, the detective wrote. For years, legal advocates and civil rights groups have criticized Dallas police for heavily policing residents for public drunkenness and other minor offenses, saying it contributes to racial disparities in the criminal justice system. In Texas, officers have wide discretion to make public intoxication arrests without a sobriety test. Critics of the law say the charge gives officers a pretext to arrest people for merely disagreeing with officers or because of their skin color. The majority of Dallas low-level arrests involve Black or Latino people, according to a study published this year by the Leadership Conference Education Fund and the citys Office of Community Police Oversight. The researchers found Black people made up 36% or more of low-level arrests each year between 2018 and 2022 while they make up 24 percent of the population. Socked in the eye Even when witnesses substantiated allegations against Hess, their statements did not lead to disciplinary action, our analysis found. Dallas resident Jimmy Max Navarez reported in a September 2009 complaint that Hess and another officer barged into his apartment one night searching for a felon with a gun. When Hess partner pulled out a gun, Navarez asked for a warrant. According to Navarezs written complaint, Hess said: We dont need a f---ing warrant, and could throw you out the f---ing window if we wanted to. Navarez also said Hess grabbed him by the shirt, pulled him into the hallway and cuffed him. Then Hess socked him in the eye, he said. Navarez blacked out. In his written statement, Hess said Navarez fell down due to his level of intoxication. Navarezs wife told internal affairs in a statement that when she tried to enter the hallway, Hess threw her 10 feet back into the apartment. Two other people in the apartment also submitted statements saying Hess threw her. Hess said he pushed Navarezs wife back by the arm because she was trying to push her way past him. A downstairs neighbor also gave a written statement to the department saying she looked through her front-door peephole to see Hess and the other officer carrying Navarez down the stairs in an unusual position. They had the handcuffs and arms pushed up so far that Max was forced to bend over almost toward his knees, she said in her statement. Navarez cried out in pain while the officers shouted at him to stop faking, she said. The News found no documentation reflecting the investigating detective, interviewed any of the witnesses or other residents of the apartment complex. The detective cleared Hess based on conflicting accounts and insufficient evidence. The department, as it did in other Hess cases, wrote Navarez a letter saying a thorough investigation had been conducted. It was Hess third excessive force case in two years. Self-styled work operating system monday.com is now running in the AWS Asia Pacific (Sydney) region, its first data centre presence in APAC. Benefits to customers in the region include reduced latency and the ability to store data onshore. This, the company says, means organisations in sectors such as financial services and health will be able to expand their use of monday.com. "Offering our customers an option to connect to a local data centre supports the momentum we've experienced in the past year with the launch of our APAC headquarters in Sydney. The region will be invaluable for empowering customer growth, enabling them to securely manage and store their data on local soil for all monday.com products, including monday sales CRM," said monday.com APJ regional vice president Dean Swan. "We're committed to continually evolving and enhancing our customers' experience, and AWS' Sydney Region will play an integral role in supporting the infrastructure and business requirements of local companies, large and small." monday.com head of infrastructure David Virtser said "Using local AWS infrastructure increases our data resiliency and allows locally generated customer data to be housed onshore in Australia. "Onboarding customers to their native and closest data centre will also optimise their platform experience, by reducing latency to end-users, and streamlining rigid compliance processes." monday.com already operates in AWS regions in the United States and Europe. The Logitech Rally Bar being used for a meeting. Computer peripherals manufacturer Logitech is focusing on the issue of meeting equity, something that arises due to the fact that office meetings pull together staff on-site and from home. In a statement, Sean Byrne, head of Logitech B2B ANZ, said: "Meeting equity starts when we understand who we are building video collaboration meeting rooms for. "You must strike a balance between creating a space built for the people joining remotely and the people in the physical office. Strong leadership is then needed on the call to ensure everyone is seen and allowed to be heard." Logitech cited the Google policy for creating a positive hybrid meeting environment; it includes these guidelines: Acknowledge virtual team members when they join a meeting and use the first five minutes to connect with the team and check in. Avoid "in-the-room" side conversations that may exclude virtual team members. Provide multiple ways for people to provide feedback, including soliciting feedback in the agenda doc or through Chat, Q&A, and polls. Encourage team members to add their working hours, working location, and focus time into their calendars so scheduling can consider things like well-being, personal commitments, or childcare. Include only those who need to be a part of the conversation, but cast a wide net. When in doubt, invite people as optional and ask if they'd like to attend. Logitech said in-office meeting rooms should have the right equipment to prioritise video meetings, pointing to its ownan AI-powered tabletop conference camera, and claiming it was a game changer in facilitating meeting equity in the hybrid model. The Sight works with the Logitech Rally Bar camera (above) and is claimed to capture a comprehensive view of meeting participants, following the conversation as it moves around the conference table. Logitech Sight is claimed to solve the disparity between hybrid teams by giving remote workers an immersive "at the table" experience when engaging with office-based colleagues. LOGITECH SIGHT Dimensions Table-mounted Height: 299.0 mm Width: 169 mm Depth: 169 mm Grommet-mounted Height: 291.2 mm Width: 93.4 mm Depth: 93.4 mm Grommet hole 25 mm or larger Weight: 1.5 kg Video Platform Compatibility Integration and feature compatibility will vary by platform. General Specifications Built-in Components Seven beamforming microphones, dual lens camera, Logitech Collab OS platform Device Management Logitech Sync Camera Sensor resolution: 4K Zoom: X1 Horizontal Field of View: 315 Vertical Field of View: 97 Diagonal Field of View: 180 Focal Length: 1.87 mm Depth of Field: 50 cm-5 m Frame Rate (max): 60 fps Microphone Specifications Beamforming Elements: Seven omni-directional digital MEMS microphones forming six adaptive acoustic endfire beams Pickup Range: 2.3 m radius Microphone Type: digital MEMS microphones with 72 dB SNR and 130 dB AOP, dirt and water resistant to IP57 spec Frequency Response: 90Hz 16 kHz Sensitivity: >-36 dBFS +/-1 dB @ 1 Pa Audio processing: AEC (Acoustic Echo Cancellation), Machine Learning VAD (Voice Activity Detector) Noise suppression: Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning to attenuate both stationary and non-stationary noises Additional mic pods Rally Bar: Supports up to 3 Mic Pods and 2 Mic Pod Hubs Rally Bar Mini: Supports up to 2 Mic Pods and 2 Mic Pod Hubs Rally/Rally Plus: Supports up to total of 6 Mic Pods and/or Mic Pod Hubs Environmentals Operating Temperature: 0 to 40C @ 10% - 90% RH (Non-condensing) Storage Temperature: -40 to 70C @ 10% - 90% RH (Non-condensing) LOGITECH RALLY BAR Certifications and Compatibility Certifications Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android (for medium-sized rooms) Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows (for medium-sized rooms) Zoom Rooms RingCentral Rooms Tencent Meeting Rooms Google Meet (ChromeOS/USB) Appliance Mode: Supports compatible video conferencing software in appliance mode (no PC required), including Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android Zoom Rooms RingCentral Rooms Tencent Meeting Rooms Power and cables Power supply: Auto-sensing Operating Voltage/Power: 100-240V, 19V, 4.74A Power Supply Dimensions: 127 mm x 51 mm x 30 mm DC Cable: 1.5 m AC Cable: 1 m HDMI 1.4 Cable: 2 m USB A to USB C 3.0 Cable: 2.2 m Environmental Operating Temperature: 0 to 40C Storage Temperature: -40 to 70 C Humidity: 10 to 95% BTU/hr: 57 idle, 64 in meeting Security Full Disk Encryption: AES-128 Data Encryption: Symmetric Keys, PKI Device Identity: Protected by device attestation Device Access: Authenticated using API Key Protection: Arm TrustZone, RPMP Accessories Mounts: Wall Mount for Video Bars, TV Mount for Video Bars Audio: Rally Mic Pod, Rally Mic Pod Hub, Rally Mic Pod Mount, Rally Mic Pod Extension Cable Connectivity: Logitech Strong USB (10 m, 25 m, 45 m) Touch Controller: Logitech Tap and Tap IP 6 Interfaces HDMI Out: 2 (up to 1080p) HDMI In: 1 MAC: 3x Type A, 1x Type C Network: 10/100/1G Ethernet WiFi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac External Mic Input: Yes (proprietary input supports optional Rally Mic Pod, Rally Mic Pod Hub, and Rally Mic Pod Extension Cable) Remote Control: Bluetooth Low Energy Apple has issued emergency updates to fix zero-days in its iOS, iPadOS and macOS Ventura operating systems, the 10th fix for zero-days being exploited in the wild issued this calendar year. The fixes were issued as part of the company's Rapid Security Responses, which the company says is "a new type of software release for iPhone, iPad, and Mac". "They deliver important security improvements between software updates for example, improvements to the Safari Web browser, the WebKit framework stack, or other critical system libraries. "They may also be used to mitigate some security issues more quickly, such as issues that might have been exploited or reported to exist 'in the wild'. "New Rapid Security Responses are delivered only for the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, starting with iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1." The patches issued on Monday were for iOS 16.5.1, iPadOS 16.5.1 and macOS Ventura 13.4.1. Regarding the macOS patch, Apple said: "Processing Web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited. The issue was addressed with improved checks." A similar description and solution was provided for the iPadOS and iOS patches. An anonymous researcher was credited with reporting the bug. Elaborating on the Rapid Security Responses releases, Apple added: "By default, your device automatically applies Rapid Security Responses. If necessary, you'll be prompted to restart your device. To check your device settings: "iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates, then make sure that 'Security Responses & System Files' is turned on. "Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then click Software Update on the right. Click the Show Detail button next to Automatic Updates, then make sure that 'Install Security Responses and system files' is turned on. "When a Rapid Security Response has been applied, a letter appears after the software version number, as in this example: macOS 13.3.1 (a). "If you choose to turn off this setting or not to apply Rapid Security Responses when theyre available, your device will receive relevant fixes or mitigations when theyre included in a subsequent software update." Contacted for comment, Satnam Narang, senior staff research engineer at security firm Tenable, said: "The newly introduced Rapid Security Response process from Apple is a true implementation of what we call an out-of-band patch. "Apple has done out-of-band patches before, but the updates werent automatic. Theyre more akin to browser-based security updates. By implementing this process, Apple is ensuring that devices receive these critical security updates in a timely manner. "However, because these Rapid Security Responses are only available for the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS and macOS, it leaves other devices vulnerable until patches are rolled out more broadly. "Users should be running the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS and macOS, but understandably, some devices are older and may not be eligible for these new releases. Debrup Ghosh, senior product manager at application security firm Synopsys Software Integrity Group, commented: "Speed matters in business, especially when it comes to securing its digital assets. "With its Rapid Security Response updates, Apple has set the industry benchmark for not only addressing security vulnerabilities swiftly, but also rolling out these updates across millions of devices. "Further, enabling automatic updates ensures that, for most customers, these security updates are applied without the any action from the end user. "Although development and security teams, whether at Apple or an emerging software start-up, strive to eliminate as many vulnerabilities as possible, they can often still be found in software released to production. "However, what really matters is how quickly an organisation can move to fix and remediate these vulnerabilities to prevent or mitigate active exploits, and Apples Rapid Security Updates seem to be an effective and efficient method towards achieving that goal." Australian infrastructure company Ventia has been breached in an online attack, with some of its systems affected. In a statement on Saturday, the company, which specialises in long-term operation, maintenance, and management of critical public and private assets and infrastructure, said it had identified an intrusion and taken some "key systems" offline. It added: "Ventia has engaged external cyber-security experts and is actively working with regulators and law enforcement. "As we work to restore our networks, we will prioritise the security and safety of our people, our customers, and our stakeholders. "Ventia will provide further details to our nominated customer representatives, regulators, and other stakeholders as they become available. "We understand and apologise for the inconvenience and concern that this event may cause." In an update on Sunday, the company said: "At all times we will prioritise the security and safety of our people, our customers, and our stakeholders. "Ventias operations are continuing. We are maintaining vigilance across our systems. We will not hesitate to take further protective action if required as operations return to normal in the days ahead." Ventia operates in both Australia and New Zealand and is one of the bigger essential services providers in the two countries. In 2022, it pulled in revenue of $5.1 billion, an increase of 13.4% on the previous calendar year. Justin Trudeau: "They made the wrong choice by deciding to attack Canada. We want to defend democracy." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stepped up the rhetoric over the recently enacted Online News Act, likening the fight with Facebook and Google to defending democracy in Ukraine or during World War II. Federal Government advertising with Facebook and Instagram was suspended on 6 July, though no such ban was adopted by Trudeau's Liberal Party. Law professor Michael Geist pointed out that the sum spent on Federal Government advertising was just C$11 million (A$12.4 million), compared to the C$100 million or so that Meta would have to pay to news organisations under the Act, which is known as C-18. The Act was approved by the Senate, the upper chamber of the Canadian parliament, on 29 June. It was later passed by the lower chamber. Even before it was passed, Meta, on 23 June: "Today, we are confirming that news availability will be ended on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada prior to the Online News Act taking effect." Google reacted on 30 June, saying it would "remove links to Canadian news from our Search, News and Discover products in Canada", adding that C-18 would "also make it untenable for us to continue offering our Google News Showcase product in Canada". Geist quoted Trudeau as claiming that Meta had attacked Canada, saying: "Facebook decided that Canada was a small country, small enough that they could reject our asks. "They made the wrong choice by deciding to attack Canada. We want to defend democracy. This is what were doing across the world, such as supporting Ukraine. "This is what we did during the Second World War. This is what were doing every single day in the United Nations." Geist was sceptical of this claim, writing, "the suggestion that stopping sharing news links on a social network is in any way comparable to World War II is embarrassingly hyperbolic and gives the sense of a government that has lost perspective on the issue. "Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has repeatedly described the manner of compliance with... C-18 as a business choice for the Internet companies, yet the prime minister now calls that choice an attack on the country." According to CBC News, Rodriguez said on 8 July he would not be pushed around by Google and Facebook. "They're superpowers. They're huge. They're rich, powerful. Lots of big lawyers. They can be intimidating," he was quoted as saying. "But are we going to let ourselves be intimidated? We can't." Rodirguez' refusal to be intimidated was said to be couched in existential terms. "We cannot have tech giants as powerful as they are, with big lawyers and everything, coming here and telling members of Parliament and the government elected by the people, 'This is what you're going to do'," he was said to have told CTV during the previous week. "We can't accept that. We're a sovereign nation." CBC clarified that the position it and Radio-Canada had taken on the Online News Act was that it would help level the playing field and contribute to a healthy news ecosystem in Canada. Geist said if the moves by Facebook and Google "were truly comparable to a world war, then surely the Liberal Party (joined by the NDP) would not continue to advertise on the platform". "Yet since the 2021 election call, the party alone has run approximately 11,000 ads on Facebook and Instagram. That is separate from individual MPs, who have also run hundreds of ads. "The Meta Ad Library provides ample evidence of how reliant the party has been on social media. For example, since the start of the year, Anna Gainey ran over 500 ads as part of her by-election campaign in Quebec. "David Hilderley, who was a candidate in the Oxford by-election, ran approximately 180 ads on Facebook during the same timeframe." And Geist concluded: "...everyone loses with Bill C-18 and that includes Meta. But it is readily apparent that the Canadian media sector will take the biggest hit with lost links, cancelled deals, and a bill that may not generate any new revenue. "The recent experience of the CBCs Brodie Fenlon provides a vivid illustration of the harm to Canadian media outlets that awaits under Bill C-18. In fact, even if Google finds a compromise position the government is clearly holding out hope it can strike a deal the lost revenues from even one platform means this legislation may prove to be a net-negative for the media sector. "That suggests that it will soon be time for Plan C, starting with a de-escalation of the prime ministers absurd rhetoric of a country under attack." Asked for his take, Brett Callow, a threat researcher who is from Britain, but resides in Canada, said: "It seems a little peculiar that the government has reacted badly to Facebooks decision to block Canadian news links. "If news links being shared on Facebook was financially harming Canadian media, youd think the government would have been ticked pink and crowing about its victory." When the Australian Government tried to push through its News Media Bargaining Code in 2021, digital platforms, chiefly Facebook and Google, lined up in opposition. The code was derived from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's Digital Platforms Inquiry report which was handed to the government in June 2019. Negotiations between digital platforms and news organisations went on for a while, with the provisions for the code being passed into law in February 2021. But there was plenty of resistance from the digital platforms and though Google took a more low-key stance, Facebook upped the ante and blocked the ingress of news content into Australia. The government hurried to placate Facebook and made numerous changes to the legislation after which the social media company reversed its block on content. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. Picture a Republican administration engaging with social media companies to recommend that they delete or slow the spread of posts discussing voter suppression. Why? Because the White House's experts have debunked most of the claims, and the rest, even if not provably false, nevertheless are dubious. Imagine that some of the requests are as specific as this: [W]anted to flag the below tweet and am wondering if we can get moving on the process of having it removed. ASAP. And just in case the companies miss the point, suppose that an administration official states publicly that the White House is assessing whether social-media platforms are legally liable for misinformation spread on their platforms. I'd like to think we'd all be outraged. We should all be similarly outraged by the Joe Biden administration's effort to police misinformation on COVID-19 on social media platforms, a campaign from which all the above quotes are taken. For reasons I'll come to, I doubt that last week's preliminary injunction by a Louisiana federal judge aimed at halting the program will stand up on appeal. But the likelihood that the order will be narrowed doesn't reduce the extent to which the White House's actions rest on principles antithetical to democracy. No joke. When the lawsuit was first filed, I was skeptical. The feds jawbone companies all the time. Now, having made my way not once but twice through Judge Terry A. Doughty's 155-page opinion, I find myself stunned and depressed at the degree to which the Biden administration, from its first days in office, has used its influence to limit the audience for views that differ from its own. To occasionally ask for a story to be held on national security grounds (in most cases, temporarily), or even to ask a personal favor regarding a post or two would be business as usual subject to abuse, yes, but generally minor in scope. What makes this case different and even scary is the systematic nature of what the White House has been doing from the micromanagement of which posts should come down to demanding regular reports on compliance. The opinion is impossible to summarize, so let me just set forth a handful of examples. Consider the issue of COVID vaccine hesitancy. My wife and I are both pro-vaccines. We're happily vaccinated and fully boosted. But it's absurd to suppose that no rational person could fear the unknown risks of newly approved medications. Long-term problems are exceedingly rare, but they certainly exist. Yet the administration pressed hard, and successfully, for the removal or downgrading of posts counseling hesitancy. Consider the case of the novelist Alex Berenson. Maybe his views on COVID vaccines are hooey that the rest of us should ignore. But what I hadn't known until read Doughty's opinion is that Twitter took action to suspend Berenson's account only after the White House demanded to know why he hadn't been kicked off the platform; or that the decision was made within hours of Biden's public criticism of how social media companies were handling misinformation about the pandemic. The opinion also details the administration's efforts to reduce the spread of claims that prior infection with COVID-19 conferred some protection, at a time when experts were hotly debating whether illness and recovery created a durable natural immunity. Similarly, the White House successfully pressured the platforms to downgrade and in some cases delete posts and videos that criticized lockdowns or mask mandates. The examples go on and on. Whatever one thinks of any single instance, the overall picture is one in which the government seeks to establish an official position on an issue of public importance, and then, through pressure on social media companies, makes it difficult for those who disagree to find an audience. That's the very definition of restricting dissent; and labeling dissent as misinformation in no way broadens the authority of government to regulate debate. It's not sufficient to respond that the companies might have barred a lot of this content anyway. Most of the posts detailed in Doughty's opinion did not violate platform policies; nevertheless, the White House succeeded in getting the companies to downgrade, label or remove them entirely. How great was the pressure? Sufficiently great that a Facebook executive responded to one official by assuring the administration that the company wanted to know how to get back into the White House's good graces. Another wrote: [W]e're keen to amplify any messaging you want us to project. And, again, these are only a few examples of the efforts by the platforms to please officialdom. I don't blame the social media platforms for cooperating with the campaign. They're businesses for profit, obligated to protect shareholders from unspoken threats down the line. When government pressures others to suppress speech, the blame rests entirely on the government. (And if you're wondering about corporations pressuring other corporations, that issue raises no First Amendment problems. Nevertheless, it's an important challenge, and one worth monitoring.) My criticisms aren't partisan. I thought the Donald Trump administration's pandemic response, with the exception of Operation Warp Speed, was terrible. And I appreciate that the Biden administration officials who pushed the platforms to restrict dissent over COVID policy thought they were doing the right thing maybe even helping to save lives. But to borrow from my colleague Bruce Ackerman, the constitutional structure is designed to economize on virtue. The system's rules do not depend on the motives of those in charge. And suppressing speech with the best of intentions is still antithetical to democracy. True, the pandemic was an emergency. Lives really were at risk. But the existence of an emergency doesn't cancel the freedom of speech. When the government makes swift decisions out of a sense of urgency, it is more likely to err, not less. Thus dissent is of even greater importance; and suppressing it is even more contrary to the public interest. Moreover, whatever the justification in the past, the emergency is now over by the government's own admission. Yet as described in Doughty's ruling, the administration's pressure on social media companies continues, and is growing to encompass other issues. Given all of this, why do I think the injunction is unlikely to stand? For one thing, although the First Amendment restricts the use of official power to pressure private entities to suppress speech, the contours of the prohibition remain largely unexplored. Second, because the injunction itself might well be overbroad in the degree to which it prohibits contacts between the government and the social media companies. Therefore, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the court of appeals stayed the injunction and sent the case back to Judge Doughy with orders to be more specific about what he intends to prohibit. But an appellate victory won't vindicate what the administration has been up to. Among the pillars on which democracy rests are the right to vote and the right to engage in free and open debate. Suppression of the second is every bit as undemocratic as suppressing the first. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> GET ARGUS' DAILY SMILES TO YOUR INBOX. SIGN UP FOR THE JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. Science Daily published the results of a comprehensive study which found that having your kids play board games greatly increases their skills in math and deductive reasoning. And the skills stay with you all your life. Last night I won a game of Clue when I guessed Hunter in the West Wing with a Straw. The Weather Channel reported that the brutal heat wave made Texas the hottest place on earth last week alongside the Sahara Desert and the Persian Gulf. Then theres the air quality. Texas has so much dust in the air that people suspect somebody must have opened the Dallas Cowboys trophy case. California was ranked Americas craziest state in a national poll Friday. Just when you thought California couldnt get any crazier weve started paroling members of the Manson Family. Just this week, Leslie Van Houten gets out of prison and she already has a job lined up as a panelist on The View. Bud Light transgender endorser Dylan Mulvaney slammed Bud Light for lack of support in the wake of customer boycotts. Included in consumer complaints was the Pride Month merchandise sold at Target. A lot of guys hate it when they over-inflate their new doll and she changes sex with a loud pop. A United Nations global conference on technology meeting in Geneva last week was addressed by Artificial Intelligence humanoid robots. The robots said they know a way to run the world better than humans can. With the likelihood of a Biden-Trump rematch in 2024, I say we hear the robots pitch. The Biden Administration gave the go ahead for the construction of three massive wind farms in the ocean fifteen miles off the Jersey shore Friday that can power five hundred thousand homes. Its no secret that Biden likes wind power. Thats apparent from all the blow they found in the White House. The White House cocaine discovery quickly turned into a Deep State fire drill Friday. The FBI got a FISA warrant to investigate possible Trump-Colombia collusion. Dr. Fauci urged us to wear a mask over our noses while Pfizer creates a mandatory vaccine to protect us from the cocaine epidemic. The Weather Channel reported that record-high worldwide temperature readings were set for the fourth consecutive day on Friday. I suppose relief is possible by traveling to colder climates. Two years ago California brushfires kept their promise to move to Canada if Joe Biden was elected president. President Biden began joking about his old age onstage at fundraisers last week but they showed he needs new writers. A stockbroker recently offered Joe a stock guaranteed to triple in value every year for the next ten years, but Biden turned him down. At Joes age, he doesnt even buy green bananas. California Governor Gavin Newsom campaigned for Biden in Red States while denying any intentions to run for president himself. Hes full of annoying progressive ideas. To try to store more energy on the grid to power EVs, Gavin Newsom is planning to outlaw the Electric Slide at all weddings. The New York Times ripped the First Family for refusing to acknowledge Hunters four-year-old daughter by the Arkansas stripper. The child is not allowed to claim being a Biden. When a family splits up incoming millions like Indians divide casino revenue, no new members of the tribe are welcome. Manson family member Leslie Van Houten will be paroled in California after fifty-three years in prison. As for Charlie, while he was dying in prison in 2017 he broke off a marriage engagement with a Los Angeles girl when he found out she was planning to sell tickets to see his body. It tells you all you need to know about L.A. women when Charles Manson is the voice of reason in the relationship. (COMMENT, BELOW) A veteran bar owner has opened a tiki bar in the Downtown Arts District. Tony Stevens, the owner of Vintage Sofa Bar and Whiskey Dawgs, opened Bamboo Lounge on June 24 at 631 N. Trade St., in the spot formerly occupied by The Tasting Room. Stevens said he also has been interested in Caribbean food and drink because he had previously lived on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands for four years. I wanted something Caribbean. And I thought, You know, there arent any tiki bars around here. Stevens wants to make Bamboo Lounge a little nicer than your average tiki bar, he said. Our cocktails arent all sweet and sugary. Theyre well-balanced. And were using fresh juices, like guava, mango and papaya. Bamboo Lounge Address: 631 N. Trade St. Phone: 336-880-5009 Hours: 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to midnight Sunday. Instagram: @bambooloungews House cocktails are priced at $10 and include rum punch, painkiller, jungle bird, mai tai and queens park swizzle. And were pouring 2 ounces of rum in those, he said. But the bar also will make any classic cocktail, and it also serves beer and wine. I brought some of our better wines from Vintage, and were adding beers as people ask for things. He hopes to add a daiquiri bar in the next month or so. He also wants to serve some bar snacks. Hes still working on the menu, he said, but it may include such items as mango chicken skewers and coconut shrimp. Bamboo Lounge features lots of bamboo paneling, as well as colorful wallpaper and wicker lightshades. In addition to bar seating, there are tables in the front, and cushioned chairs in the back. The green leafy wallpaper is even matched by some of the upholstery on the chairs, and there are tiki totems everywhere. Longtime Vintage Sofa employee Shawn Holland is the general manager for Bamboo, which operates as a private club. Stevens said he purposefully chose a concept different from his other bars for Bamboo Lounge. All three of them are totally different. Whiskey Dawgs is a college, country bar. Vintage is a sofa bar, a place where people turn off their phones and have conversations. Honda Aircraft Co. confirmed Tuesday plans to expand its Piedmont Triad International Airport campus with production of its new HondaJet 2600 11-seat corporate model. The manufacturers commitment to a $55.7 million capital investment and up to 280 new jobs represents the conclusion of an economic-development recruitment project that just surfaced publicly on June 13. At that time, Honda Aircraft unveiled the HondaJet 2600 concept at the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition. The company said it is finalizing engineering designs for the new light jet, with fabrication activities under way. Although Honda Aircraft considered a production site in Albertville, Ala., it became clear it wanted to expand at PTI after a legal notice for a public hearing on Project Sage was submitted June 29 by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. Honda Aircraft said it will utilize existing footprint and facilities at PTI to manufacture the 11-seat aircraft. The expansion primarily involves creating production lines and focusing initially on the design phase and production readiness of the plane. We are thrilled that North Carolina will be home to the new Honda light jet that represents the next chapter of our skyward mobility, Hideto Yamasaki, president and chief executive of Honda Aircraft, said in a statement. Honda Aircraft is based on a 133-acre campus at PTI, where it has spent more than $245 million on its hub and has more than 1,500 employees. The agenda item says the company currently has 723 full-time and 93 employees in Guilford. Yiyi Cui, in corporate communications for Honda Aircraft, said the manufacturer has been preparing for the 11-seat aircraft since 2019 by adding engineers for the development process. "Honda Aircraft is continuously seeking passionate, talented individuals to join our team across our organization, extending beyond the scope of the new light jet program,' Cui said. "We will soon host open house interviews, where candidates will get a better understanding about the innovative things we are doing at Honda Aircraft, and to expedite the hiring process." Cui said the open houses also will cater to existing production operations. For more information, go to the career page on the HondaJet website or email to Haci_recruiting@haci.honda.com. The state of North Carolina provides a rich talent pool and tremendous support from our local community, Yamasaki said. Having our facilities located right next to the Piedmont Triad International Airport is an ideal location to develop and produce our new light jet. Kevin Baker, executive director of the airport authority, said the Honda Aircraft expansion "further solidifies the airports growing role as a national and global center for the next generation of aerospace companies. Honda Aircrafts decision is a testament to the talented workforce of the community, and the commitment the state has for this important industry. They are a keystone company in the airports plan to be the center of excellence and innovation for the next century of the aerospace industry," Baker said. Incentive status In an unusual, but not unprecedented step, Honda Aircraft committed to the expansion before gaining approval for local incentives from the Greensboro City Council (which voted 8-0 Tuesday night on up to $420,000) and Guilford County Board of Commissioners (voting Thursday on up to $712,820). The states package from the Job Development Investment Grant program consists of up to $3.43 million in performance-based incentives paid over 12 years. The package was approved Tuesday morning by the states Economic Investment committee. It also included a $504,000 training grant from the N.C. Community College System. By comparison, the Albertville, Ala., economic incentive package was valued at up to $9.2 million. The company has until Dec. 31, 2027, to fulfill the $55.7 million capital investment and 280-job pledges, or the incentive grant would be allowed to expire and clawed back. Up to 25 of the new jobs could be filled by remote workers residing in North Carolina. The state Economic Investment committee took into consideration the retention of 592 jobs that Honda Aircraft affiliate AHM has in Sweponsville, and the 93 jobs with Honda Aero Inc. in Burlington. The company is eligible for an additional $250 incentive per job for any new employee whose permanent address is located in an Impact Zone or who is hired through NCWorks Career Centers. The average annual salary will be $88,761. By comparison, the average annual wage in Guilford is $57,190. Gov. Roy Cooper said the Honda Aircraft commitment shows our states commitment to developing a skilled workforce, not only in the key industry of aerospace with a flagship brand like HondaJet, but in the entire advanced manufacturing arena. State Sen. Michael Garrett, D-Guilford, said Honda Aircraft is one of our areas signature employers and were so pleased theyve decided to expand in Greensboro. The Triad is the beating heart of North Carolinas growing aviation industry, and we welcome this new investment in our region. Honda 2600 aircraft The manufacturer said HondaJet 2600 will be the first-ever transcontinental light jet and the longest-range single pilot business aircraft. It will be capable of providing 20% better fuel efficiency compared with typical light jets, and more than 40% better fuel efficiency than medium-sized jets during a typical mission. The commercialization of our new light jet represents Hondas next chapter of skyward mobility, which further expands the potential of peoples lives, Yamasaki said on June 13. By building on the expertise behind our technological innovations, we will accelerate the development of the program with sustainability a key element throughout. The manufacturer expects to complete type certification in 2028 for the new light jet. It will continue to offer its very light jet model HondaJet Elite II, which has room for four passengers and two pilots. Among suppliers for HondaJet 2600 will be: Aernnova for aerostructures and components; Garmin for avionics; Spirit AeroSystems for the fuselage; and Williams International for engines. In January 2021, Honda Aircraft commenced operations at its 83,100-square-foot Wing Production and Service Parts facility at PTI. The facility contains a new wing assembly process for the HondaJet Elite aircraft, along with a hangar, service parts warehouse for parts storage and distribution, paint booth and office areas. Reactions Greensboro and Guilford elected officials pointed to overall investments in nuturing advanced manufacturing and transportation hubs as a key incentive for Honda Aircraft to expand at PTI. The city is very pleased Honda Aircraft will further invest its operations at Piedmont Triad International Airport," Greensboro mayor Nancy Vaughan said. "The companys continued investment in our community makes a strong statement regarding Greensboros robust business climate. We take pride in the high salary jobs coming online and the exceptional products Honda Aircraft manufactures right here in Greensboro. Melvin "Skip" Alston, chairman of the Guilford commissioners, said the board has "made a commitment to attracting 21st century jobs to Guilford County so that our hard-working citizens can count on a more secure future for their families." "Honda Aircrafts technology-focused jobs will create this kind of opportunity, while reinforcing the message that Guilford County is open for business." Members of Forsyth Countys House delegation said Tuesday they will oppose a fast-track attempt to de-annex three tracts from the Village of Clemmons. The opposition from Republican Reps. Donny Lambeth and Jeff Zenger comes as much out of concern that an out-of-county legislator Sen. Steve Jarvis, R-Davidson submitted the amendment to House Bill 5 as the actual de-annex proposal. HB5 was changed June 27 by Jarvis who did not sign the amendment to insert language that would serve to de-annex 1520, 1526 and 1532 Lewisville-Clemmons Road. The three properties are owned by Lindsay Vogler Jr. and Robert Vogler. The 1520 tract of 0.35 acres has Mad Greek Grill as a tenant, while the 1526 tract is 0.97 acres and the 1532 tract is 0.43 acres and contains a 1,508-square-foot residence. HB5 as a local bill only requires House approval of the Senate changes before the bill becomes law. The bill is on Wednesdays House floor calendar for a potential final vote. It is typical for legislators to approve most local bills with little, if any, scrutiny in an I-scratch-your-back-you-scratch-mine manner. However, Rep. Jeff Zenger, R-Forsyth, said Tuesday that I will be making a motion to not concur with the Senate changes that included the de-annexation of the Clemmons property. I will be on the conference committee to have it removed. I have spoken to all the players involved and expect it to be removed and for Rep. Erin Pares bill to advance. The initial version of HB5 filed by Pare, R-Wake, addresses a de-annex request in Fuquay-Varina. The Voglers sent a letter to the Forsyth legislative delegation saying they are 100% opposed to our propertys inclusion in this bill. We have never requested de-annexation and those who indicate otherwise have no authority to do so, the Voglers wrote. We view this action as a forceful taking of our property. We do not consent. This action will almost certainly harm our property value. Jarvis could not be immediately reached for comment on his involvement with the HB5 amendment. Whats at stake The three Clemmons properties also were at the heart of a 2019 de-annex legislation attempt related to a proposed 38-acre mixed-use project by local developer Stan Forester near the intersection of Styers Ferry and Lewisville-Clemmons roads. The proposed legislation in 2019 was derailed separately in the House and Senate amid a vigorous protest at the legislature by Clemmons village officials. Forester could not be reached for comment on whether he or Paragon Properties has revived the development plans and are again pursuing the de-annexation approvals. Once the Clemmons de-annex language was inserted, HB5 was fast-tracked through the Senate Finance committee on June 27, Senate Rules and Operations committee on June 28 and then cleared the Senate by a 46-0 vote on June 29. Both Forsyth senators Republican Joyce Krawiec and Democrat Paul Lowe voted in favor of the latest version of HB5. This edition to House Bill 5 occurred without the knowledge or request of either the property owners or the village, Clemmons mayor Mike Rogers said Tuesday. We have passed along this mayors collation of support to numerous representatives for their assistance in ensuring this rogue action does not reach approval in the House. Background In August 2019, the de-annexation legislation for the properties was filed as House Bill 392 by then-GOP Reps. Debra Conrad and Lee Zachary. The proposed 2019 legislation would have de-annexed 2.6 acres from the village, potentially paving the way for a large development proposal that would include a convenience store with 16 gas pumps, 360 apartment units and a grocery store. Conrad told the Winston-Salem Journal in July 2019 that Foresters shopping-center plans could enhance the retail sector in that part of Clemmons. The intersection of U.S. 421 and Lewisville-Clemmons Road already has a grocery store, two convenience stores with gas pumps, and several restaurants, including fast food and casual dining. HB392 cleared the House State and Local Government committee before stalling in House Finance in April 2019. The village council passed a resolution opposing the de-annexation legislation, sending it to its local legislative delegation. Lambeth withdrew his support based on that local opposition. In July 2019, the Clemmons de-annex language was inserted into Senate Bill 270 initially a Durham de-annex bill at Conrad and Zacharys request. The opposition from council members led to a rare occurrence of SB270 being removed from a fast-track Senate floor vote and sent back to Senate Finance, where it was shelved for the remainder of the 2019-20 sessions. In August 2019, the Clemmons de-annex language was taken out of SB270, allowing the Durham de-annex legislation to proceed through the legislature and into law. Several Village council members expressed their concerns in 2019 about increased traffic generating from the mixed-use development, particularly considering it would be near the main entrances and exits for Southwest Elementary and West Forsyth High schools. According to a traffic study that Forester submitted to the council in 2019, the development would add 16,500 vehicle trips to Lewisville-Clemmons Road each day. Mayors opposition The mayors of all eight Forsyth municipalities stated their opposition to the Clemmons de-annexation attempt to the Forsyth delegation. Besides Rogers, the signees of the joint letter were Bethanias Brent Rockett, Kings Jack Warren, Lewisvilles Mike Horn, Tobaccovilles Myson Marion, Walkertowns Kenneth Doc Davis, and Winston-Salems Allen Joines. In the joint letter, the mayors said that we were startled to learn of the late insertion of this provision into an unrelated local bill. The mayors cited the opposition from the landowners and Village of Clemmons officials, as well as Jarvis involvement that occurred without consulting the Forsyth delegation first. This process has not met the high standards of the Forsyth County legislative delegation for advance public review of a controversial local action, according to the letter. We urge you to lead the House in rejecting the amended bill. Kernersville mayor Dawn Morgan sent a separate letter that encouraged the delegation to talk with Clemmons officials and the landowners before taking action on HB5. Unprecedented maneuvering Zenger said he was familiar with the 2019 de-annex attempt while serving on the Lewisville Town Council. I understand the municipal opinion on this, Zenger said. It was brought to me when I first came to the N.C. House, and I stopped it before it could get moving. Had Sen. Jarvis come to me before doing this, I would have opposed it yet again. Lambeth said Tuesday that he and Zenger believe it is generally not acceptable for a legislator outside the district to meddle in a local bill, but it seems the Senate is doing some rather unprecedented maneuvering on bills this session. A high-profile example surfaced June 29 when an amendment to House Bill 75 was made in an attempt to advance the bipartisan and controversial Senate medical marijuana bill through the House. The amendment filer was Sen. Bill Rabon, R-New Hanover, chairman of the Senate Rules and Operations committee and primary sponsor of medical marijuana legislation Senate Bill 3, titled NC Compassionate Care Act. HB75 retained its legislation on changes to how physician assistants are supervised and licensure procedures. At the end of the bill was inserted language that HB75 only becomes law if SB3 does as well and both on the same effective date. Winston-Salem police arrested bank robbery suspect in the parking lot of a Jonestown Road fast-food restaurant on Monday. Police said a man came into the Wells Fargo bank at the corner of Country Club and Jonestown roads about 3:30 p.m. Monday and passed a note to a teller demanding money. The man showed no weapon, but was given an undisclosed amount of money and ran away. While officers investigated, a man whose description matched that of the robbery suspect was seen leaving a Subway restaurant in the 300 block of Jonestown Road nearby. When the man saw police he tried to run away, but he was caught in the parking lot of the Burger King nearby. Brandon Scott Watson, 30, who has no permanent address, was charged with common law robbery and placed in the county jail with bond set at $25,000. He has a court appearance on Tuesday. No one was injured in the robbery or the arrest, police said. Police said anyone with information may call police at 336-773-7700 or Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800. Undocumented immigrants comprise an estimated 11 million of the US population. Access to health care for this community is limited; nearly 50%70% lack health care insurance.1 Undocumented immigrants can receive primary care through safety-net clinics, such as federally qualified health centers, and they can receive emergency medical treatment as mandated by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). There are medical conditions, however, with treatments that do not fall into primary care or emergency medical care, as strictly defined by EMTALA. This is the case for undocumented immigrants with kidney failure. There are an estimated six to 9000 undocumented immigrants with kidney failure across the United States.2 The 1972 Medicare ESKD entitlement program provides health care coverage of all kidney replacement therapy options for US citizens and permanent residents present for 5 years, regardless of age.2 Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for this Medicare benefit. In 2019, 12 states provided state-wide access to outpatient thrice-weekly hemodialysis through Medicaid or Emergency Medicaid. In the other 38 states, undocumented immigrants did not have uniform state-wide access to kidney replacement therapy through Medicaid or Emergency Medicaid; in those states, many relied on emergency only hemodialysis (dialysis only after presenting critically ill to an emergency department). The costs of emergency-only hemodialysis are likely different than providing routine thrice-weekly hemodialysis sessions or home dialysis. Providing care to a growing number of patients who may need treatment may generate concern about costs. Before 2019 in Colorado, undocumented immigrants could only receive dialysis approximately every 7 days and if they met hospital-based criteria qualifying as a medical emergency, as mandated by EMTALA. Under EMTALA, uninsured individuals can only receive health care coverage if treatment is for an emergency medical condition such that absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the patient's health in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to the bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part (Social Security Act 1903; https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title19/1903.htm). Research demonstrated that undocumented immigrants who rely on emergency-only hemodialysis and their family caregivers (who are often US citizens) experience psychosocial distress from weekly near-death experiences.3,4 Their treating clinicians report drivers of burnout from witnessing needless suffering and moral distress from providing care on the basis of nonmedical factors, such as immigration and health insurance status.5 In addition, compared with undocumented immigrants who receive routine thrice-weekly hemodialysis, these patients have a 5- and 14-fold higher 1- and 5-year mortality rates, respectively, as well as higher resource utilization.6,7 Under EMTALA, the services and conditions that qualify as an emergency and are reimbursed under Emergency Medicaid are decided at the state level. In 1997, the Office of the Inspector General affirmed the state's role in defining an emergency medical condition: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services allows each state to identify which conditions qualify as emergencies (Office of the Inspector General Report on New Jersey's Program A-02-07-01038; https://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region2/20701038.pdf). Before 2019, undocumented immigrants in Colorado qualified for Emergency Medicaid health care coverage for emergency dialysis. This health care coverage included emergency department visit and hospitalization; outpatient-related services (e.g., medications and surgeries) were not included. In 2019, Colorado decided to include the diagnosis of kidney failure as a qualifying condition for Emergency Medicaid, thereby expanding health care coverage to outpatient thrice-weekly hemodialysis, home dialysis, as well as health care coverage of dialysis-related medications and surgeries for undocumented immigrants with kidney failure.8 Undocumented immigrants who transition from emergency to routine thrice-weekly hemodialysis in Colorado reported an improvement in quality of life and symptom burden and felt that their humanity had been restored.9 Research demonstrates that, in general, undocumented immigrants with kidney failure are more likely to work because they do not receive federal benefits. With this health care policy change, undocumented immigrants are able to work and contribute a tax surplus to the US financing system, helping to subsize the health care of US residents.10 The health care policy change in Colorado reimbursing outpatient dialysis centers at Medicaid rates took effect on February 1, 2019. Data from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing show that the annual Emergency Medicaid Service (EMS) dialysis expenditures for all undocumented immigrants with kidney failure undergoing emergency-only hemodialysis in 2017 and 2018 (n=81 and n=78 per month, respectively) was almost $20,000,000, with an average monthly EMS dialysis patient expenditure of $20,000 (Figure 1). After the health care policy change, in 2019 and 2020, total annual and monthly expenditures decreased almost three-fold and by 2021, total monthly expenditures decreased four-fold. In 2021, total annual expenditures increased to over $9,000,000, with an increase in the number of patients served (n=135 per month); however, the average monthly patient expenditure remained lower at $5574. While the number of undocumented immigrants with kidney failure has increased, the Medicaid program in Colorado is paying less than half of what it paid before the health care policy change. Evaluation over time is needed to know whether the cost savings can be sustained if care is extended to more patients. In addition, states that may similarly benefit would be those similar to Colorado, where Emergency Medicaid pays for the emergency department visit and hospitalization related to emergency dialysis. Finally, our findings are similar to a Houston, Texas, study that assessed 1-year cost savings among undocumented immigrants with kidney failure who transitioned from emergency dialysis to scheduled dialysis after enrolling into private health insurance. They estimated a net savings of nearly $6000 per person per month or $720,000 per person per year.7 Figure 1: Medicaid dialysis expenditures for undocumented immigrants before and after change in state Medicaid policy . There are several explanations for the increase in the number of undocumented immigrants with kidney failure in the state. There may be concern that more undocumented patients with kidney failure are being attracted to the state by the change in health care coverage policy. However, as patients transitioned to standard outpatient dialysis, their risk of mortality likely decreased as shown in prior studies.6,7 Likely, newly diagnosed patients with kidney failure add to the number of existing patients who are living longer. It is possible that changes in risk factors of kidney failure (e.g., coronavirus disease 2019 and diabetes), which disproportionately burden the undocumented immigrant community, could contribute to increases in the kidney failure incidence. The National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology have urged state Medicaid directors to expand access to kidney replacement therapy, including kidney transplantation, for undocumented immigrants in a letter that was supported by several physician organizations, including the Society of General Internal Medicine, the American Society of Nephrology, and the Society of Hospital Medicine. Clinician and advocacy groups have engaged in changing access to kidney replacement therapy for undocumented immigrants in their states. Indeed, a Colorado team of clinicians, community organizations, and state Medicaid employees described the Medicaid policy strategy to inform other states similarly interested in expanding this access.8 In addition, a national approach to expanding access to kidney replacement therapy may be more effective and may address concerns regarding the movement of undocumented immigrants to states where there is adequate health care coverage. This economic analysis demonstrates that states seeking to control Medicaid program costs should consider expanding access to care for undocumented immigrants with kidney failure. Doing so, not only helps contain costs but also benefits patients, caregivers, and providers challenged by the provision of emergency-only hemodialysis care for kidney failure. Nearly two dozen state senators signed a letter late last month urging the Southeast Community College Board of Governors to reconsider a plan to raise the districts property tax levy to the maximum allowed under state law. Led by Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk, 23 state senators are objecting to SCCs plan to increase its levy to 11.25 cents per $100 of valuation before a state law changing how community colleges are funded goes into effect. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, under a property tax reform package (LB243) from Sen. Tom Briese, a Community College Future Fund will replace the property tax funding with state appropriations at Nebraskas six community colleges. The change is expected to reduce property owners tax bills by 5%-6% annually, according to an estimate from the conservative-leaning Platte Institute at a legislative hearing earlier this year. The baseline amount community colleges will receive when the law takes effect will be equal to the property tax levy set for the upcoming 2023-24 school year plus an added 3.5%. The funding to each community college will grow by 3.5% annually thereafter. SCC President Paul Illich told the Board of Governors at its June meeting the funding change will slow and ultimately limit the colleges ability to fund its operations over the coming decade, and require either steep increases to student tuition or cuts to programs. In response, the board gave preliminary approval to a plan to increase the tax levy to the maximum allowed. Final approval for the plan will go before the Board of Governors in September. If approved, the owner of a home valued at $228,660 the average 2022 home value in Lincoln could expect to pay roughly $257 in property taxes to support SCC, up from $214 this year. Neal Stenberg, the chair of the SCC Board of Governors, said the proposed levy increase is a one-time chance for the board to ensure the college remains financially secure in the future, open to all students, and responsive to the community and industrys needs. (The boards) judgment is that unless we raise the levy for 2023-24 that there is going to be a shortfall in general fund revenue in future years, Stenberg said. I think thats a very serious concern of the board. Stenberg also said SCC is planning a series of public meetings across its 15-county service area beginning in late July and continuing through August to educate taxpayers about a tax credit they can claim to reimburse taxes paid to support the college. The tax credit will repay 50% of the taxes paid to the college in 2024 and 100% of the taxes paid in 2025; the letter from state senators casts doubt that many taxpayers would ultimately seek the credit, however. And Dover, who just finished his first year in the Legislature after being appointed to fill a seat vacated by Rep. Mike Flood, said SCC is the only community college seeking to raise its levy ahead of the change. As property valuations continue to rise the average valuation increase across SCCs service area is 15.3% other community college leaders have assured senators they do not plan to follow SCCs lead in raising property tax levies next year. What they are doing is wrong, Dover said in a phone interview, noting that some SCC taxpayers could pay 40% more to SCC in the coming year than they did last year. Its going against everything the state Legislature is trying to do and everything the public wants. In addition to asking more from taxpayers in SCCs 15-county area in the coming year, Dover said the colleges move to increase its levy would also mean taxpayers across the state would be paying more in the coming years. Those increases, if the plan moves forward, would be based on budget projections and not actual needs, Dover added: It just isnt a responsible decision for the board to put forward. The letter asks for the board to reconsider the proposed property tax levy increase and suggests state lawmakers could enact new legislation if SCC doesnt budge. If the Board of Governors determines that it is in the best interest of SCC to continue this course of action, we will consider addressing this issue in the next legislative session, the letter states. Dover said no bills are currently in the works, but he added that the Legislature could consider several changes to state statute to prevent SCC or others from continuing down the current path. Stenberg said he believes the board will give the lawmakers letter careful consideration in the coming weeks as it meets with constituents and taxpayers to discuss the plan. I think it illustrates their concern, he said. Its up to our board to do what we judge to be right. The senators who signed the letter are: Tom Brandt of Plymouth, Myron Dorn of Adams, Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, Loren Lippincott of Central City, Julie Slama of Peru, Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, Robert Clements of Elmwood, Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, Barry DeKay of Niobrara, Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn, Mike Jacobson of North Platte, Jana Hughes of Seward, Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, John Lowe of Kearney, Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, Dave Murman of Glenvil, Tom Briese of Albion, Teresa Ibach of Sumner, John Arch of Papillion, Tom Brewer of Gordon and Rita Sanders of Bellevue. Top Journal Star photos for July 2023 A year after he got probation, community service and a $25,000 fine for lying to FBI agents investigating foreign campaign contributions, former Rep. Jeff Fortenberrys case was back in court, this time before a panel of appellate judges homing in on the heart of his appeal: why the case was tried in California. Fortenberrys attorney, Kannon Shanmugam, said the convictions could not stand. First, venue did not lie in California because the statements at issue were made in in-person interviews in Nebraska and Washington, D.C., Shanmugam said. In March 2022, a federal jury in Los Angeles found the nine-term Nebraska congressman guilty of one count of concealing conduit campaign contributions and two counts of lying to federal agents in an interview at his home in Lincoln and in a follow-up interview he requested in Washington in 2019. The FBI investigation related to a controversial Nigerian billionaire, Gilbert Chagoury, funneling $30,000 to Fortenberry at a fundraiser in Los Angeles in February 2016 as a reward for his support of a group formed to protect Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East. Fortenberry didnt initially know it, but he later learned about the money and ultimately donated it to charity because it is illegal for U.S. elected officials to accept foreign money. But it was the false statements that got him charged. You had a Nebraska citizen elected to represent the people of Nebraska in the House of Representatives who made a misstatement of fact in Nebraska. However did that case get tried in Los Angeles? an incredulous Judge James Donato asked Alexander Robbins of the U.S. Attorneys Office. Donato asked how that squared with the venue clause in the Sixth Amendment and the countys long tradition that says youre tried in the community where you were accused of committing your crime. Robbins said Fortenberry was charged and tried in California because his false statements were material to the investigation there. And the reason that that investigation was in the central district of California was the defendant chose to have a fundraiser in Los Angeles, he said. Donato, who appeared unconvinced, said an investigation could be done anywhere. But when it comes to charging and trying a case, why not refer it to the local office where the statement was made. Why drag these people all across the country to foreign venues and not just pass it off to the district where the statement was made? he asked. Robbins said it wasnt constitutionally required to try Fortenberry in two jurisdictions. The defense asked to transfer venue to Nebraska and the judge denied it. But they didnt appeal that ruling, he said. The defense is here making a constitutional argument that constitutionally he cant be prosecuted in the district where the statement was material, Robbins said. In an exchange on the other side, Donato asked Shanmugam where he thinks the case should have been tried. Shanmugam said Nebraska or the District of Columbia, where Fortenberry made the statements at issue. This is really an unprecedented prosecution where a member of Congress is being hauled across the country simply because the AUSAs (assistant U.S. attorneys) and the agents happen to be here, the defense attorney argued. At the same time, he conceded if the conversation had been over the phone, they would have jurisdiction to try him on either end of the call. But I think what makes this case different is that by its own concession the government recognizes that their theory of venue ultimately depends on the fact that the investigation itself was taking place in California, Shanmugam said. Donato said the government was coat-tailing on decisions in the Second, Fourth and Seventh circuits, which looked at an effects test to determine whether the false statement was capable of affecting a decision-maker in another state. He said he was concerned about that, because the effects can be felt anywhere, which I think leads to a potentially terrible result. Shanmugam said under that theory the government could make a calculated decision that the most government-friendly juries in the country are in North Dakota and put that jurisdiction in charge of investigations in other states. He said the fundamental problem is the government is trying to turn venue from something about the conduct itself into something about potential effects. A mans life lies in ruins as a result of the governments decision to prosecute this case and prosecute him in the central district of California, he said. And we would submit at a minimum that the congressman is entitled to a new trial. The court will make its ruling later. Photos: Jeff Fortenberry through the years Jeff Fortenberry Memorial Day Osborne in congress RB12081602.jpg wl04110203 Czech ambassador Ben Sasse Memorial Day Fortenberry in France Pilger tornado damage Prange Funeral Jeff Fortenberry, Columbus Jeff Fortenberry fortenberry Jeff Fortenberry at military recruitment center Offutt Air Force Base Task Force Election 2016: Republican Party Yazidi Cultural Center Fortenberry Fortenberry Meets with Malawi's Ambassador Fortenberry Town Hall Fortenberry Town Hall Fortenberry 79 James Terry Fortenberry town Hall Jeff Fortenberry campaign sign vandalism Election 2018 Nebraska Republicans Senator Deb Fischer wins re-election The 2019 Inaugural Ball at Pinnacle Bank Arena Fortenberry town hall 2 Legislative Summit Nebraska CHIEF STANDING BEAR Fortenberry Jeff Fortenberry and Pete Ricketts Lincoln South Beltway event Trump rally GOP Election Party, 11.3 GOP Election Party, 11.3 Walk for Life 1.16 Republicans Election Day, 5.4 Fortenberry Kadhimi Jeff Fortenberry at Mexico border Watch now: Fortenberry overlooks the Rio Grande near the border Federal Legislative Summit Federal Legislative Summit Fortenberry, 10.5 Fortenberry, 10.5 Fortenberry, 10.5 Fortenberry, 10.5 GENOA Bodies of dozens of children who died at a Native American boarding school have been lost for decades, a mystery that archeologists aim to unravel as they dig in a central Nebraska field that a century ago was part of the sprawling campus. Crews toting shovels, trowels and even smaller tools are searching at the site experts suspect is the Genoa Indian Industrial School cemetery. Genoa was part of a national system of more than 400 Native American boarding schools that attempted to integrate Indigenous people into white culture by separating children from their families and cutting them off from their heritage. The school, about 90 miles west of Omaha, opened in 1884 and at its height was home to nearly 600 students from more than 40 tribes across the country. It closed in 1931 and most buildings were long ago demolished. For decades, residents of the tiny community of Genoa, with help from Native Americans, researchers and state officials, have sought the location of a forgotten cemetery where the bodies of up to 80 students are believed to be buried. Judi gaiashkibos, the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, whose mother attended the school in the late 1920s, has been involved in the cemetery effort for years and planned to travel to Genoa on Monday. She said it's difficult to spend time in the community where many Native Americans suffered, but the vital search can help with healing and bringing the children's voices to the surface. "It's an honor to go on behalf of my ancestors and those who lost their lives there and I feel entrusted with a huge responsibility," gaiashkibos said. Newspaper clippings, records and a student's letter indicate at least 86 students died at the school, usually due to diseases such as tuberculosis and typhoid, but at least one death was blamed on an accidental shooting. Researchers identified 49 of the children killed but have not been able to find names for 37 students. The bodies of some of those children were returned to their homes but others are believed to have been buried on the school grounds at a location long ago forgotten. As part of an effort to find the cemetery, last summer dogs trained to detect the faint odor of decaying remains searched the area and signaled they had found a burial site in a narrow piece of land bordered by a farm field, railroad tracks and a canal. A team using ground-penetrating radar last November also showed an area that was consistent with graves, but there will be no guarantees until researchers can dig into the ground, said Dave Williams, Nebraska's state archeologist. The process is expected to take several days. "We're going to take the soil down and first see if what's showing up in the ground-penetrating radar are in fact grave-like features," Williams said. "And once we get that figured out, taking the feature down and determining if there are any human remains still contained within that area." If the dig reveals human remains, the State Archeology Office will continue to work with the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs in deciding what's next. They could rebury the remains in the field and create a memorial or exhume and return the bodies to tribes, Williams said. DNA could indicate the region of the country each child was from but narrowing that to individual tribes would be challenging, Williams said. The federal government is taking a closer examination of the boarding school system. The U.S. Interior Department, led by Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico and the first Native American Cabinet secretary, released an initial report in 2022 and is working on a second report with additional details. Photos: Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School, search for the cemetery SAINT FRANCIS In June 2022, Holly McManus was overcome with grief. Her retired K9 Bane had been diagnosed with the terminal disease degenerative myelopathy, which affects the spinal cord and results in slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis. The St. Francis Police Department detective and Caledonia Village Board trustee found herself dealing with sadness, anger, heartache and despair. She also found peace, relief and happiness as she recalled memories and created new ones. I wanted to honor his sacrifice and dedication in my life and my fellow officers in the community while representing K9s on a larger scale, McManus said. She also wanted to honor future K9s after Bane. McManus has been able to do all of that with a bronze K9 Bane Legacy Statue, which was installed last week in the front of the St. Francis Civic Center, 3400 E. Howard Ave., and officially dedicated on Friday. It looks exactly like him, St. Francis Police Chief Kevin Hunter said. Honoring past and present McManus, a Caledonia resident, approached the St. Francis City Council about installing a K9 legacy statue and presented a plan for the K9 Bane Hero Fund in July 2022. The fund, raised via GoFundMe and Bane merchandise purchases, covers Banes medical treatment costs, plus the legacy statue, which is is 12 feet tall including the base. The bronze dog statue was made by artist Kristen Douglas-Seitz of Washington state. K9 Bane and McManus are the first two names engraved on the granite below the dog statue. K9 Riggs, also of the SFPD, is the third. Theres enough room on the monument to honor future K9s for the next 60-70 years, McManus said. Looking at the statue and touching it for the first time Thursday, McManus said it brought her to tears. Its Bane. It gives me goosebumps, she said, her voice wavering. Thats my boy up there. My boy is going to be with me every single day when I come to work. McManus didnt think Bane would be able to make it to the dedication ceremony. She thought he would only be alive until May. The plan was to put his ashes inside an urn and mold it inside the statue. Instead, the urn is currently a paperweight. While the statue is not a generic German Shepherd and is specifically K9 Bane, that doesnt mean K9 Bane is any more important than other K9s across the nation, McManus said. This Bane statue represents the unique bond that handlers are privileged to have with their working dogs, she said. It truly is the best job in law enforcement This bronze Bane represents the journey that all handlers walk with their partners and the community support that surrounds these journeys. A successful career Bane, age 11, was the first K9 officer at the St. Francis Police Department and the first K9 in Wisconsin to earn the First Responder of the Year Award. McManus met Bane in January 2014 in Fond du Lac. He was dopey, he was friendly, believe it or not, but he was stubborn, she said. During the next six years, Bane and McManus developed a relationship built on trust and love. Bane began his career with the SFPD in March 2014 and retired from the department in November 2020 when McManus was promoted to detective. McManus helped launch the K9 program. During his career with McManus, Bane assisted with 51 high-risk tactical warrants and 72 building searches, where he was often the first officer to enter a structure. In addition, Bane responded to 560 calls for assistance that were directly responsible for the arrest of 220 offenders, mutual aid assistance to 174 individuals and recovery of $63,074 in suspected drug money. He had McManus back on every call, during every shift and at home. He was difficult to train, but that made her a better handler, she said. In addition to receiving the 2021 First Responder of the Year Award, Bane and McManus have been recognized by the FBI for their three years as federal task force members assisting in 36 tactical missions, as well as by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler Association, which awarded them the Meritorious Narcotic Find Award. In his last year, Bane did drive-by visits to homes for childrens birthday parties. Bane has gathered national and international attention. His Facebook page, K9 Bane, has more than 10,000 followers. Viewers from Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico tuned into the dedication ceremony through Facebook live. McManus used to train Bane with other Racine County police departments, such as Caledonia, the City of Racine, Sturtevant and Mount Pleasant. Bane even attended the K9 Titans last training day at Regency Mall in July 2020. McManus, with the blessing of her boss, still brings her dog to work sometimes. But they dont do any police work together. The statue is for all the countless hours and time these K9s train and what they do to protect the community, the handlers, all the officers, Hunter said. Their service I cannot understate what they do for the police departments and for our communities. Caledonia trustee's K9 honored with bronze statue, in photos and video Holly McManus makes opening remarks at statue dedication Holly McManus makes closing remarks at K9 Bane statue dedication Former handler Holly McManus pets retired K9 Bane after ceremony Uncovering the statue Kevin Hunter plays with retired K9 Bane Holly and Bane With artist Officials Officials K9 Bane statue K9 Bane Hero Fund K9 Bane statue Eric Look Band K9 Bane cookies Eric Look Band performs "She's Not Just a Pretty Face" by Shania Twain Installing It took an expanded role in Tom Visintainers former career to help him see a clear future for his next. After earning his Gateway ArchitecturalStructural Engineering associate degree, what Tom sees now is much different than what he was looking at a year ago. He feels his newfound role is a perfect fit for him and hes happy. Last February, I was staring at a gray wall. I didnt like my job or my outlook, says Tom. Right now, at my desk, I have a beautiful view of Kenosha Harbor, and Im at a job that I absolutely love. The view has gotten way better, as has my job. My job responsibilities are awesome, and I couldnt have done it without Gateway. Gateway helped me to get where I am today. Gateway helps in two career journeys The college helped Tom in his first career and became the catalyst to enter his second. As a high-schooler taking Gateway credits, he gained the skills to enter his first career, manufacturing. His former employer contracted with Gateways Business and Workforce Solutions team to provide professional development training for their workers. Because of that effort, Tom realized his dream of becoming an architect. Toms employer encouraged him to consider those career goals and asked him to produce some CAD drawings for a planned expansion of one of their buildings. We were expanding the building and I was using my CAD experience as part of that. At some point, I realized thats really what I wanted to do, says Tom. I knew I needed a degree to get into this field and I knew I had to earn it at Gateway. That professional development lit the fire under me to consider my options. He says his previous Gateway experience helped him earn his degree, and his work in manufacturing also helped him to broaden his knowledge of the structures he would be soon designing. College training, instructors, Fab Lab college strengths says grad He says he enjoyed Gateways atmosphere, the knowledge of the instructors and the resources and training equipment available to students. Its an amazing place to be in and learn in, says Tom. The instructors have a great teaching style. My program instructors were easy to work with and challenge you if you want to go the extra step. Tom particularly enjoyed and benefited from the colleges Fab Lab, located in its SC Johnson iMET Center. The Fab Lab has something for everyone, no matter the program. I could go there and work on new designs and use it to figure out other concepts in my classes. I think its a resource everyone should know about. Tom also benefited from Gateways Promise 2 Finish program, a scholarship that helps students whove earned some college credit to return and earn a degree tuition-free. How about the decision to change? Tom says hes never felt happier about his career. Gateway provided him with the initial spark of an idea to return and the subsequent training to succeed in the industry. I use what I learned at Gateway every day. I love my job and my career. 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 KEARNEY American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Central Nebraska is having an online auction from now through Saturday. The items were to be part of the silent auction at the 31st annual Relay For Life at Harmon Park June 9, but the event was rained out. Some 80 items are now up for auction through 8 p.m. Saturday. A link to the page can be found at Relay for Life of Central Nebraska on Facebook. This is the first time we have been completely rained out, and we decided not to reschedule, Kim Troudt, co-lead of the event, said. Despite the rain, 50 breast cancer survivors came to the June 9 event. They enjoyed a meal provided by Little Mexico and dessert from Dairy Queen served inside the Harmon Park Activity Center. Thanks to pledges and donations, the event raised $59,000. The current amount raised is now $62,658. The June 9 event included participants from Adams, Buffalo, Dawson, Hall, Hamilton, Kearney, Merrick and Phelps counties, and beyond. The annual Relay for Life walk celebrates cancer survivors, remembers loved ones lost to cancer and raises funds to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families. We are the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research and patient support to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer, Theresa Baack, co-chair, said. For more information, call 800-227-2345. By Song Kyung-jin Last week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's visit to China drew keen attention from around the world, as did U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China last month. Secretary Yellen said at her press conference that the relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China, which collectively represents about 40 percent of the global economy, is one of the most consequential of our time; therefore, both nations are obliged to responsibly manage the relationship. She also unambiguously stressed the difference between decoupling and diversifying critical supply chains or taking targeted national security actions. Incidentally, an event occurred three days before Secretary Yellen's visit to China last week, highlighting the importance of diversifying critical minerals supply chains. On July 3, China's Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs announced that from Aug. 1 China's exports of gallium and germanium, and related chemical compounds, will require prior approval from authorities. Gallium is essential for next-generation semiconductors, electronic devices, solar panels and electric vehicles, while germanium is critical for optical fiber communication, night vision goggles and solar cells for satellites. It came as China's response to the U.S., Japan and the Netherlands' export restrictions on semiconductor equipment to China. This is the first application of China's Export Control Law enacted in 2020 after the U.S.-China competition began intensifying. Prolonged export restrictions will likely cause global price hikes of gallium and germanium and difficulties in the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies. Changes in the geopolitical and geoeconomic environment may generate more cases of weaponization of resources, such as export restrictions and nationalization, by countries that have dominated the supply chain of critical minerals and rare earths. Moreover, critical minerals and rare earths are absolutely essential for accelerating the Fourth Industrial Revolution and for energy transition to respond to climate change. It is a matter directly impacting the nation's economic growth and competitiveness. Therefore, it is urgent to step up diversification efforts to reduce excessive dependence on a few particular countries. Cooperation with critical minerals-rich countries is a priority in securing a stable and resilient supply chain. Korea joined the U.S.-led Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) in June last year. During his state visit last month to Vietnam, the world's second-largest reserve of rare earths, President Yoon Suk Yeol signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a Korea-Vietnam critical mineral supply chain center. On June 27, in Ulaanbaatar, Korea, the United States and Mongolia held the first trilateral critical minerals dialogue in which some of the private sector also participated, promising more relevant information exchange and cooperation. Korea is also strengthening cooperation with other critical mineral-rich countries including Indonesia and Australia. However, there is no one country that can replace China's monopoly position in the supply of rare earths and critical minerals for the time being. From development to production of newly discovered critical minerals, it takes about 15-16 years with current technology available. Volatilities and vulnerabilities in the supply chain of critical minerals due to geopolitical conflicts between the U.S. and China as well as energy transition and climate change cannot afford to wait another 15-16 years. This is why the development of new and alternative technologies that advance mine development, refining and smelting is more urgent. Sodium batteries using sodium abundant around the world have been developed as substitutes for lithium-ion batteries, but there are still technical limitations in terms of durability, mass production and commercialization. In addition, since critical minerals production is an environmentally unfriendly industry that emits a lot of pollutants, the development of eco-friendly technologies must be carried out at the same time. Research and development for the development of new, alternative and eco-friendly technologies requires huge long-term investment. Like-minded countries must come together to demonstrate collective leadership and cooperation. I propose the establishment of a "Global R&D Center" for the development of new, alternative and environmental technologies. Thirteen members of the MSP and/or 14 members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework can participate as founding members. In order to prevent any one particular country or two from dominating the scene regarding the purpose and direction of the center, the principle of equal quota and investment by participating countries should be applied. The proposed center can become a genuine example of a global public-private partnership by involving not only their own governments but also related private companies. Korea, which imports 95 percent of critical minerals, is a suitable candidate to attract this Global R&D Center. Besides, Korea is a non-threatening country. It is safe, clean and affordable. It has a well-equipped infrastructure, abundant human resources and a high level of overall technology. There is no reason for Korea not to step in. Korea, which takes the lead in helping the world to stabilize critical minerals supply chains, will then be taken seriously as a global pivotal state. Dr. Song Kyung-jin (kj_song@hotmail.com) led the Institute for Global Economics (IGE), based in Seoul and served as special adviser to the chairman of the Presidential Committee for the Seoul G20 Summit in the Office of the President. Now, she is executive director of the Innovative Economy Forum Coon Valley resident Mary Hohlfeld supports one of her favorite music festivals of the year by crafting a music-themed quilt each year to raffle off at the fest. Each featuring a music-themed design, her quilts have collectively generated thousands of dollars for Larryfest, an annual Bluegrass music festival held in August in rural La Farge. The 2022 quilt alone brought in close to $2,000, which Hohlfeld donated to the fest. Learning to sew at a young age from her mother, Hohlfeld has grown her quilting skills more recently by joining a Tomah, Wisconsin, quilting group: PIECE-N-QUIET Guilt Guild. She has made four quilts so far to raffle off during Larryfest celebrations. She recently finished this years quilt, an original design featuring images of music instruments forming an X. Hohlfeld says she is happy to share her talents for the cause. I do it because it supports the music I love, she says. My husband plays music and Im learning to play guitar. Its just my way of supporting music and this festival. Larryfest features two outdoor stages of live music performances from local and national talent, as well as rustic and RV camping in a La Farge valley 40 miles from La Crosse, Aug. 17-19. Learn more about the festival at www.kvama.org. Imagine youre a young child again, getting lost in a great story someone is reading you. Then, just when you think its over, the reader gives you your very own copy of the book to keep. Thats how Wisconsin Bookworms encourages reading, builds literacy and better prepares young children for school. The Wisconsin Association for Home and Community Education founded the program 25 years ago. Since then, volunteers have given 934,000 books to more than 100,000 children in families around the state each experience and each book a result of grants, donations, and dedicated volunteers. Sheryl Smith is the secretary of the La Crosse Association for Home and Community Education and a fundraiser for Wisconsin Bookworms. What is the greatest benefit children get from reading? The greatest benefit of the Bookworms project is helping children at a young age develop a love of reading, along with an enthusiasm for learning. Yet, many children do not have the opportunity to own books. The Wisconsin Bookworms reading program is designed to provide FREE books and an early reading experience to children from limited-income families in Wisconsin. Volunteers read a book each month to the children in the Head Start classrooms and engage them in an activity related to the books content. The books are then presented to each child to take home to help them create their own in-home library. Families of the children become involved in reading and doing family literacy activities. The La Crosse Association for Home and Community Education raises money to purchase these books through grants and donations. In addition, members of LAHCE sew book bags so each child receives a book bag at the start of the school year to take home to keep their books in. According to one teacher, The Wisconsin Bookworms Program puts books into the hands of children. It shows the importance of literacy and reading to children. If you were to write a childrens book for the Wisconsin Bookworms program, what would it be? If I were to write a book for this program, the title would be I Want a Pet. So many children want a cat or dog but dont realize all the work that is involved with taking care of a pet. The main character would be a dog since I have owned several in my life. The story would start with the child picking out a rescue dog since those are the best. The family would then go to a pet store or other store that sells pet supplies and pick out what is needed, such as a collar, leash, food and water dishes, toys, puppy pads (if it is not house-broken just to be safe), a dog bed, and food and treats. The story would also show the dog going to the vet for check-ups and shots. I would stress that the child needs to care for the dog, making sure it has food and water and goes for regular potty breaks and walks. It would show the dog growing up along with the child as friends. Of all the books read and provided to children through Wisconsin Bookworms, which have children seemed to like the most? As a Wisconsin Bookworms reader, I have read a variety of books through the years. Children respond to books differently. I was also on the team to choose the books for the upcoming year. It is really difficult to say which one children seem to like most. There are seven books read each year multiplied by 20 years in La Crosse County. I have noticed that children seem to like rhyming stories with repetition of one or two lines they can repeat as we read the story. Books that are shorter and have more concise information seem to hold the attention of the children better since these are preschool children who have short attention spans. Some of them seem to like stories about animals or children doing various activities such as sports. Every child is different, so every child likes a different story. Erdogan Agrees to NATO Membership for Sweden July 10, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)In a statement on Monday afternoon, July 10, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to forward Swedens accession protocol to the Grand National Assembly ASAP and ensure ratification. This is an historic step which makes all NATO Allies stronger & safer. Stoltenberg claimed that the decision by Erdogan was prompted by a meeting set up by the NATO Secretary-General between Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Erdogan has claimed that his opposition to NATO membership for Sweden for the past year was rooted in his concern that Sweden hadnt done enough to help crack down on pro-Kurdish terrorist organizations. Analysts have suggested that the Kurdish issue was essential for scoring domestic political points for the recently concluded presidential election in Turkiye, but also gave Erdogan leverage in negotiations with NATO nations on matters such as advanced fighter jets from the United States, or possible EU membership. In fact, earlier on Monday as he was leaving for Vilnius, Erdogan told reporters: Turkiye has been waiting at the door of the European Union for over 50 years now, and almost all of the NATO member countries are now members of the European Union.... Come and open the way for Turkiyes membership in the European Union. When you pave the way for Turkiye, well pave the way for Sweden as we did for Finland. Stoltenberg has since denied that Erdogans agreement for Swedish acceptance to NATO was tied to any quid pro quo on EU membership for Turkiye. Sputnik International reported that a source told the news agency that there were no specific deadlines on the Turkish parliaments approval of Swedens membership application: The process will take some time, first there will be discussions in the commission, then it will be presented to the General Assembly. I cant give you specific dates right now. As of this writing, there has been no official statement from the Russian government. However, it should be recalled the statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin from a year ago in Turkmenistan in the weeks following the statement of intent by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Speaking at a June 29, 2022 press conference in Ashgabat after the 6th Caspian Summit, posted to the Kremlin website, Putin responded to a media question: On the other hand, as regards Sweden and Finland. We do not have such problems with Sweden and Finland, which, unfortunately, we have with Ukraine. We have no territorial issues, no disputes, we have nothing to worry about in terms of Finlands or Swedens membership in NATO. Well, they wantplease. Only they should clearly and clearly understand that before there were no threats to them, now if we deploy military contingents and infrastructure there, we will have to respond in a mirror manner and create the same threats for the territories from which threats are created to us. And the thesis that we fought against NATO expansion at the expense of Ukraine, and now we got it by accepting Sweden and Finland, does not have any serious grounds, because for us the membership of Finland and Sweden in NATO is not at all what Ukraines membership in NATO. These are completely different things. They understand this very well, they simply throw this thesis into public opinion in order to show: aha, here Russia did not want it, but now it has received it twice. ... Ukraine is completely different. From Ukraine they began to make anti-Russia, a springboard in order to try to somehow shake Russia itself, they began to fight Russian culture, the Russian language, they began to persecute people who feel they are part of the Russian world. There is nothing similar in Finland and Sweden, this is a completely different situation, he insisted. The Earth set unofficial record high temperatures last week. Scientists said they were a clear sign of how pollutants released by humans are warming the environment. But the heat is also just one way the planet is telling us something is seriously wrong, they added. Heat sets the pace of our climate in so many ways ... its never just the heat, said Kim Cobb. She is a climate scientist at Brown University in Rhode Island. Dying coral reefs, more intense storms, and the wildfire smoke that much of North America experienced this summer are other signs of climate troubles. The increasing heating of our planet caused by fossil fuel use is not unexpected, but it is dangerous for us humans and for the ecosystems we depend on. We need to stop it, fast, said Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. Other recent natural events also show that climate change has entered new territory. Ocean warming Most of the planet is covered by oceans, which have taken in 90 percent of the recent warming caused by planet-warming gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. In April, worldwide ocean temperature rose to 21.1 degrees Celsius, which scientists believe was caused by a combination of planet-warming gases and the early El Nino formation. El Nino is a period of warming Pacific Ocean waters. Newly published data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service documented exceptionally warm ocean temperatures in the North Atlantic. And it documented extreme sea heat waves near Ireland, Britain, and in the Baltic Sea. Wildfire smoke High levels of wildfire smoke are more common on the West Coast. But, recently, several rounds of wildfire smoke from wildfires in northern Canada brought dangerous air quality levels to eastern North America. Scientists say that climate change will make wildfires and smoke more likely and intense and that the East Coast will see more of it. El Nino arrives early The current El Nino formed a month or two earlier than usual. It replaced La Nina that, with its cooling of Pacific waters, kept worldwide temperatures down. That means that it will have more time than usual to strengthen. The World Meteorological Organization predicts there is a 98 percent chance that at least one of the next five years will be the warmest on record. One of these years would beat temperatures from 2016 when an exceptionally strong El Nino was present. Shrinking Antarctic sea ice Scientists are watching Antarctic sea ice shrink to record lows. On June 27, about 11.7 million square kilometers were covered by the ice sheet. Data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center found that the amount was almost 2.6 million square kilometers less than average for that date for the period from 1981-2010. Put another way, an area nearly four times the size of the American state of Texas was gone from the ice sheet. Im Gregory Stachel. Steve Wartenberg reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story pace n. the speed at which something happens coral reef n. a long line of coral that lies in warm, shallow water fossil fuel n. energy in the form of gas, coal and oil that is taken from the ground and comes from the breakdown of old matter ecosystem n. everything that exists in an environment and how all those things interact exceptionally adj. not usual shrink v. to become smaller in amount, size, or value sheet n. a wide, flat surface or area of something ______________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: LEXINGTON The Lexington School board passed a resolution opposing the opening of a homeless shelter in the former Plum Creek Care Center facility during their meeting on Monday, July 10. The resolution is related to an effort by Crossroads Mission Avenue, which has been working to bring homeless shelter services and transitional housing to Lexington since September 2022. After presenting the plan to Lexingtons Planning Commission, it received approval, despite several local business owners and residents raising concerns about a homeless shelter in their vicinity. However, plans have changed as Crossroads has signed a purchase agreement for $2.3 million to purchase the former Plum Creek Care Center facility, located at 1505 N. Adams St, just across the street from Lexington High School. After meeting in executive session, the school board voted unanimously to oppose the granting of a conditional use permit to Crossroads, due to the proximity to Lexington High School and safety concerns for students and staff. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend denial to the city council regarding the permit for the shelter. The school board also met in executive session to discuss action related to a proposed real estate purchase. Following the discussion, the board approved purchasing the house located at 1215 N. Grant St., just north of Lexington Middle School and the Orthman Community YMCA, for $153,000.00. Employee contracts approved the board included: Shelbi Hammond, LHS Alternative Education; Mitch Muma, Pershing PE teacher and Julie Sampson, special education teacher. During the reports and comments section, Early Learning Academy Director Tracy Naylor presented the Results Matter 2022-2023 report to the board. ELA is required to follow Results Matter in Nebraska which is a child, program, and family outcomes measurement system designed and implemented to improve programs and supports for all young children served by districts and their community partners, Naylor wrote. Naylor noted that students tested in 2022 arrived with higher scores than those in fall 2021, likely due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. She also noted that attendance at ELA is not mandatory and a student missing class days can have an impact on their test scores. The rest of the items on the agenda mostly concerned housekeeping items, such as policy changes, annual requirements, etc. The board took time to receive any public comment related to district efforts to comply with the provisions of the state statues related to the social studies and civics curriculum and the districts Plan for Safe Return. The Plan for Safe Return must be reviewed every six months and is related to the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds distributed by the federal government. Also approved was an agreement with Lexington Regional Health Center for physical and occupational therapy services for the 2023-2024 school year. Annual requirements approved include: Parental Involvement Policy Bullying Policy Compulsory Attendance and Excessive Absenteeism An amendment was made to the firearm and weapons policy, regarding recent legislative actin that eliminated the need for a permit to conceal carry. The amendment changes the language to reflect the new law. Firearms and weapons are still banned from school property. The board also approved the district handbook for the 2023-2024 school year, with a few changes to reflect the last legislative session. The World Aids Conference in South Africa has announced trials for a new HIV vaccine will begin in Britain. Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris will be one of 18 healthy volunteers who will take part in the first toxicity tests. The MP for Oxford West, Dr Harris, 35, said: I hope to be a small part of a process that will deliver something that will save Africa from further devastation. The vaccine has been developed by researchers at Oxford and Nairobi Universities who studied prostitutes in Kenya and found a group who resisted the disease in spite of daily exposure to it. If the tests in Oxford are successful, trials will go to Nairobi in October under the supervision of Professor Job Bwayo and his team. Professor of immunology at Oxford University Andrew McMichael said: Our chances of developing a vaccine are better than 50-50. But the earliest we could expect a vaccine to be ready would be in seven to 10 years. There are currently 34 million people in the world suffering from HIV and 70% of them are in Africa. This is the first time a vaccine has been based on the HIV strain in Africa. It uses DNA and a wild animal virus similar to that used to combat smallpox. The Oxford-Nairobi project is one of 11 similar groups around the world funded by the International Aids Vaccine Initiative (Iavi). It has received 14m from the British Government. Iavi estimates that three times more than the 200m currently spent on research programmes is needed to find a vaccine within ten years. Vaccination should provide a much cheaper and more effective means of tackling the pandemic, especially for the Third World which cannot afford HIV drugs and is barred from developing generic variations. According to Iavi only 2% of the $20m spent annually on Aids around the world is for vaccine development. Courtesy BBC News In context The trials began in Oxford in August 2000. In April 2002 the Oxford-Nairobi project trials were extended to a further 120 volunteers in Oxford and London In July 2002 US pharmaceutical company VaxGen announced that it might develop a vaccine within five years and began the final phase of human testing. By 2001, 15,000 people were being infected with HIV every day around the World. By 2005 1.3 million people had access to Anti-Retroviral Treatment or ART although still short of the 3 million target set for 2005, the figure has increased rapidly in recent years. In 2006 an estimated 38.6 million people around the world are living with Aids. Prior to his departure for Guizhou, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng has met with a delegation from the Asia-Pacific and China Office of global accounting firm PwC. The delegation was led by the president of the Office, Raymund Chao Pak-ki, who is also the Hong Kong member of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference. Chao spoke highly of Macaus MICE and supporting facilities, adding that improvements in network speed and charges will attract more events. The firm had also set up an office in Hengqin, the executive added. Related Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country could approve Swedens membership in NATO if European nations open the way to Turkeys bid to join the European Union. Erdogan, whose country has been holding off its final approval to Swedens NATO membership, made the comments in Ankara on Monday before departing to the alliances summit meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania. Turkey has been waiting at the door of the European Union for over 50 years now, and almost all of the NATO member countries are now members of the European Union. I am making this call to these countries that have kept Turkey waiting at the gates of the European Union for more than 50 years, Erdogan said. Come and open the way for Turkeys membership in the European Union. When you pave the way for Turkey, well pave the way for Sweden as we did for Finland, he added. Turkey is a candidate to join the EU, but its membership bid has been stalled due to Ankaras democratic backsliding and disputes with EU-member Cyprus. Earlier Monday, Swedens foreign minister had expressed optimism that Turkey would drop its objections to Swedish NATO membership, saying the Nordics countrys accession is a question of when, not if. Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson were expected to meet later Monday in Vilnius ahead of the two-day NATO summit. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told public broadcaster SVT that he expects Turkey will eventually signal that it will let Sweden join the alliance, though he couldnt say whether that would happen at the annual summit. What we are counting on, of course, is to reach a point where we get a message back from President Erdogan that there will be what you might call a green light a message that the ratification process in the Turkish Parliament can start, Billstrom said. Turkey has stalled Swedens NATO accession, saying it needs to do more to crack down on Kurdish militants and other groups that Ankara considers as threats to its national security. Anti-Turkey and anti-Islam protests in Stockholm raised doubts that an agreement could be reached before the alliances summit. Billstrom said Sweden has fulfilled its part of a tripartite deal that Sweden, Finland and Turkey signed at last years NATO summit in Madrid. We should consider it as a settled question in the sense that it is not a question of if. In connection with the NATO summit in Madrid last year, Turkey already gave Sweden status as an invitee to NATO. It is therefore a question of when, he said. Billstrom said he expects Hungary, which also hasnt ratified Swedens accession, to do so before Turkey. In a statement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that Finnish and soon Swedish membership of the alliance is a historic milestone for NATO, the Nordic region and Denmarks security. And there is no doubt that they will strengthen the security of all allies. Previously non-aligned Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership last year following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Finland joined in April this year. MDT/AP Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin days after a short-lived rebellion by the mercenary chief and his private army, the Kremlins spokesman said Monday. The three-hour meeting took place at the Kremlin on June 29 and also involved commanders from the military company Prigozhin founded, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Wagner mercenaries have fought alongside Russian troops in Ukraine. Prigozhin has a long-simmering feud with Russias top military brass which on June 24 culminated in an armed mutiny in which he led his fighters into Russia. Prigozhin ended the mutiny after a deal was brokered for him to be exiled to Belarus. The confirmation of a face-to-face meeting with Putin, who has branded Prigozhin as a backstabbing traitor, adds a new twist to the uncertainty surrounding the mercenary chief. His fate and whereabouts have been unknown since the abortive mutiny, which severely weakened Putins authority. Peskov said that during the June 29 meeting, Putin offered an assessment of Wagners actions on the battlefield in Ukraine and of the events of June 24. The president also listened to the explanations of the commanders and offered them options for further employment and further use in combat, the Kremlin spokesman said. A total of 35 people took part in the meeting, including Wagner commanders and the leadership of the company, namely Prigozhin himself, Peskov said. MDT/AP The city has obtained a score of 94.33 in the Consumer Confidence Index in the second quarter of the year, on a scale of 0 to 200, the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) has announced. The passing grade for the index is 100. The university interviewed 829 Macau residents at or above the age of 18 years during the time frame from Jun. 1 to 10. Despite the below-passing index, the score for the latest quarter has seen a rise of 7.89% or 6.9 index points from the previous quarter. Of the six determinants, five recorded a rise quarter-over-quarter. It was explained that economic recovery in Macau, as seen in rising employment and casino figures, has improved consumer confidence. The university added that economic diversification should be expedited so as to maintain rising consumer confidence. The determinant of employment has recorded the highest increase 18.89% quarter-over-quarter to 101.9 index points. The second-highest rise was seen in the determinant of stock investment from 91.06 to 103.85 index points. As for other determinants, commodity prices scored 76.41 points, local economy 95.92 points, standard of living 98.44 points, as well as residence purchases 89.45 points. The last determinant recorded a fall of 1.71% quarter-over-quarter. The university pointed out that external economic conditions are still unstable, but national recovery policies are starting to take effect, despite internal economic synergies still being insufficient. Considering the latest Consumer Confidence Index, president Samuel Tong Kai Chung of the Macau Institute of Management told local media outlet Exmoo that more time should be expected for the citys economy to recover to 2019 levels. He also underlined that there will be different pace of recovery across different economic activities. Despite the city having recovered to 88.8% of the first quarter of 2019 in terms of private consumption, Tong stressed that the latest figure is still behind those of the first quarters of 2021 and 2022. Explaining this, Tong recapped that during the past three years, many local enterprises and domestic consumers had relied on loans to survive. They will need more time to balance off their accounts, the academic added. From a macro perspective, the academic sees that the city is still within a recovery and economic restructuring phase. In addition, Tong pointed out that certain industries are still experiencing bottle necks. For example, airline companies shall need more time to fill positions vacated during the past three years. Myanmars prolonged civil strife, tensions in the disputed South China Sea and concern over arms buildups in the region are expected to dominate the agenda when Southeast Asias top diplomats gather for talks this week in Indonesia. Russias year-old invasion of Ukraine and the U.S.-China rivalry will also be under the spotlight as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang participate as dialogue partners of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. North Korea has yet to say whether its foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, will attend the ASEAN Regional Forum, an annual regional security meeting. Its also unclear who among the key figures in the worlds most intractable conflicts will meet on the sidelines of the groups ministerial meetings. The top diplomats of ASEAN, which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, will meet today and Wednesday before their Asian and Western counterparts join them in discussions on Thursday and Friday. Founded in 1967, the often-unwieldy collective of democracies, autocracies and monarchies has been held together for decades by bedrock principles of non-interference in each others domestic affairs and consensus-based decision-making. But that approach has also prevented the 10-nation bloc from dealing swiftly with crises that spill across borders. ASEANs principles have been tested since Myanmars army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and plunged the country into deadly chaos. More than 3,750 civilians, including pro-democracy activists, have been killed by security forces and nearly 24,000 arrested since the military takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group that keeps tallies of such arrests and casualties. Myanmars military government has largely ignored a five-point plan by ASEAN heads of state that includes an immediate end to the violence and dialogue among all contending parties. That prompted the regional group to take an unprecedented punitive step by barring Myanmars military leaders from its top-level gatherings, including the ministerial meetings, that Indonesia will host. Since assuming ASEANs rotating chairmanship this year, Indonesia has initiated some 110 meetings with groups in Myanmar and provided humanitarian aid to build trust, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said, adding that continuing violence would hurt efforts to return the nation to normalcy within ASEAN. ASEAN is still very concerned about the increasing use of violence in Myanmar which has resulted in civilian casualties and the destruction of public facilities, Retno told a news conference on Friday. This must stop immediately. Two months ago, an aid convoy with Indonesian and Singaporean embassy representatives on an ASEAN mission to provide help to displaced people came under fire from unknown attackers in a road ambush in Myanmars eastern Shan State. A security team returned fire and a security vehicle was damaged, but no one in the convoy was injured, state-run television MRTV reported. ASEAN is under international pressure to effectively address the crisis in Myanmar. But ASEAN members appear divided over how to proceed, with some recommending to ease punitive actions aimed at isolating Myanmars generals and invite its top diplomat and officials back to the high-profile summit meetings. Retno stressed the group would continue to focus on enforcing the ASEAN leaders five-point plan. A draft of a post-meeting communique to be issued by the ASEAN foreign ministers remained blank on Myanmar, reflecting the difficulty of reaching agreement on the issue. Their concerns over other contentious issues, such as the South China Sea disputes, were included in the draft, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, director of the Jakarta-based think tank Habibie Center, said the situation in Myanmar could become a long-term problem like the South China Sea disputes given ASEANs limited capacity to solve it. The bloc, however, should try to convince Myanmars military government that it has better options, she said. Its recalcitrant. Its determination to hang on to power is not going to be sustainable because its only going to incite conflicts, Anwar told the AP. Myanmar is scheduled next year to assume the role of coordinating ASEANs engagements with the European Union. But the E.U., which has imposed sanctions on the military government, has opposed such a role for Myanmar, two Southeast Asian diplomats told the AP on condition of anonymity because they lack authority to discuss the issue publicly. On the South China Sea conflicts, ASEAN foreign ministers are expected to renew a call for self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, according to the draft communique, repeating language used in previous statements that does not name China. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have been embroiled in long-simmering territorial conflicts with China and Taiwan for decades. ASEAN and China have been negotiating a non-aggression pact that aims to prevent an escalation of the disputes, but the talks have faced years of delay. The disputed waters have emerged as a delicate front in the rivalry between China and the United States. Washington has challenged Beijings expansive territorial claims and regularly deploys warships and fighter jets in what it calls freedom of navigation and overflight patrols that have incensed China. Other Western and European nations have deployed navy ships on occasional patrols in the busy waterway, where a bulk of the worlds trade transits, with similar calls for unimpeded commerce and mobility. Chinas increasingly aggressive actions have prompted other countries to boost their territorial defenses. We expressed concern about the growing arms race and naval power projection in the region, which could lead to miscalculation, increased tensions, and may undermine regional peace, security, and stability, the ASEAN foreign ministers said without elaborating in their draft communique, whose wording is still subject to negotiations and could change. Anwar said theres no solution in sight for the South China Sea disputes and ASEAN could only take steps to help prevent full-blown conflict. We hope that China will give up this claim, but dont hold your breath on that, she said. NINIEK KARMINI & JIM GOMEZ, JAKARTA, MDT/AP Hong Kongs newly named Roman Catholic cardinal said yesterday that he hopes for reconciliation and wants the city to give young people more hope following the economic downturn and a campaign to crush a pro-democracy movement. On Sunday, Pope Francis announced he had chosen 21 new cardinals, including Hong Kong Bishop Stephen Sau-yan Chow, 64. Chow said it was somewhat unbelievable to learn that he was picked, and that he felt it is a new mission that God assigned to him through the pope. The ceremony to formally install him as a cardinal will be held in September. For Hong Kong, (I hope) the city can have more reconciliation, he told reporters on Monday. This is what I hope (we) can achieve. Beijing and the Vatican severed diplomatic ties in 1951 following the Communist Partys rise to power and the expulsion of foreign priests. For decades, the Vatican and China have experienced tensions alternating with improvement of relations over Chinas insistence that it has the right to appoint bishops and the jailing of priests who professed loyalty to the pope. Chow, who will become the citys fourth cardinal, is expected to guide flocks in a geopolitical area of keen concern to the Vatican. In April, he already made a trip to Beijing, marking the first visit to the Chinese capital by the citys bishop in nearly three decades. At the end of his trip, he said he invited the state-appointed archbishop of Beijing to visit his city, a symbolic gesture that experts said could strengthen the fragile relationship between China and the Vatican. In Hong Kong, Chow is widely seen as a moderate, or politically neutral, figure. But before the Beijings trip, Chow suggested the arrested protesters who committed relatively minor crimes in Hong Kongs 2019 anti-government movement but have not been charged should be handled leniently. He wrote in an article that would help bring hopes and positive energy to those who feel hurt and making them wait for an indefinite time would not help the Hong Kong society recover. Asked yesterday if he still hopes for more lenient treatments for those arrested, he said he hopes there will be more reconciliation and more hopes can be given to young people. Especially for those who have made mistakes, so that they can have a future. This is very important, he added. KANIS LEUNG, HONG Kong, MDT/AP Bravos Top Chef television program is coming to Madison and Milwaukee for its 21st season. In the show, which has gotten Emmy, James Beard and Critics Choice Awards, chefs from across the country compete for the Top Chef title. According to a Bravo announcement, Madison and Milwaukee, and perhaps other locations in Wisconsin, will provide a backdrop of picturesque landscapes, acres of farmland, miles of shoreline and vibrant urban communities. The cheftestants will explore the fresh flavors and local bounty of this rising culinary destination, it continued. Madison is a hidden gem of the American culinary scene, and Top Chef could not have chosen a better place to include for its upcoming season, Destination Madison president and CEO Ellie Westman Chin said in a statement. Madison has innovative chefs, exciting culinary makers, and is surrounded by some of the best agriculture in the country. We know contestants and viewers will be surprised and excited by what they find in Madison, she said. Rob Gard, a spokesperson for Destination Madison, said a team from Top Chef did a couple of site visits in the past two months. They were kind of on their own exploring Madison and getting some ideas, he said, adding that he doesnt know yet where or what they plan to film. Were just happy that they found a compelling culinary story here in Madison. And we are excited to find out what theyre going to feature when they do film here, Gard said. A representative from NBCUniversal, which runs Bravo, said information about exact locations wont be available until later this summer. Chef and season 10 winner Kristen Kish has been named the host of the program and joins head judge Tom Colicchio and frequent judge Gail Simmons at the judges table this season. Colicchio, a celebrity chef who co-founded the Gramercy Tavern in New York City, and Simmons, a Canadian-American food writer and cookbook author, both serve as executive producers for the series. Padma Lakshmi hosted for the last 19 seasons. Ryan Flynn, senior vice president at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said Kish, who was born in South Korea and adopted into a family in Kentwood, Michigan, is the perfect host for the next chapter of Top Chef as we take on a new region of the country we havent explored. The show has had many international adaptations and spinoffs since debuting in 2006. It has filmed seasons in New Orleans, Boston, Kentucky and Colorado and other U.S. cities. The reality show awards cash prizes to those not told to please pack your knives and go. Season 20, World All-Stars, was based in London, and brought together former Top Chef competitors from around the world. The Top Chef Wisconsin shows are being produced in partnership with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Travel Wisconsin, Visit Milwaukee, Destination Madison, Destination Door County, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association. See the Wisconsin State Journal photo staff's favorites of 2022 A large wildfire in central Wisconsin that drew a massive response was reported to be 99% contained late Monday and smaller than originally estimated. Initial estimates pegged the fire at about 800 acres but a revised estimate late Monday put the fire at about 400 acres, said Amy Penn, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Natural Resources. The blaze, named the "Pallet Fire," started at about 1 p.m. southeast of Coloma along Cumberland Avenue and then spread north of Highway 21. No one was injured but some evacuations had taken place and "a few structures were reported lost" about 75 miles north of Madison. The fire burned a mix of pine and hardwoods and depending on overnight conditions, could be fully contained by Tuesday morning, Penn said. "We're in a good place at this point in the evening," Penn said just before 9:30 p.m. from the command center at the Coloma Fire Department station. "We were at high fire danger today its hot and dry and windy. We normally dont get large fires in the summer. It's unusual." It was not immediately known how many people were evacuated and what type of buildings were lost in the fire. Officials on the scene reported erratic fire behavior and reports of torching with the fire moving into the crowns of the trees late Monday afternoon. Several spot fires also occurred ahead of the fire and were suppressed. "Todays weather conditions resulted in elevated fire danger ahead of a developing storm front," the DNR said in a press release. "Contributing factors include warm temperatures, low relative humidity, gusty winds and dry vegetation due to extended drought. Eleven other wildfires occurred today in DNR protection areas and have subsequently been suppressed." The response includes 13 DNR engines, 10 bulldozers and one air attack plane along with several local fire departments, including the Coloma Fire Department, where a command center has been established by the DNR's Northeast District Incident Management Team. A nearby Wisconsin Operating Engineers training facility provided assistance along with Waushara County Emergency Management. The DNR's Twitter account, which was providing updates on the fire, reported at 6:30 p.m. that the fire had grown to 500 acres but exploded to 800 acres by 7 p.m. However, those were just estimates, with the size of the fire downgrades after further evaluation, the DNR said. "After aerial review, more accurate mapping indicated the fire is roughly 400-acres," the DNR reported in a press release issued at about 9:40 p.m. "Lines along the fire perimeter are holding; there are still reports of unburned fuel burning inside the perimeter." A small wildfire that burned at Devil's Lake State Park is fully contained as of Tuesday morning, according to Lt. Sean Neverman with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The cause of the fire that broke out Monday is still under investigation. Neverman said fire crews are at the park monitoring any areas that may still be smoldering. It's estimated that around one-acre of the park was damaged by the fire. There were no injuries.